Guban now leaves fate up to God

Teary-eyed former Customs intelligence officer Jimmy Guban now leaves his fate up to God after the Senate endorsed him to the Department of Justice to be part of the Witness Protection Program.

While Senator Richard Gordon was discussing the need to protect Guban during a press conference, the latter was seen wiping his eyes.

Asked what he felt when President Rodrigo Duterte ordered his arrest, Guban initially refused to comment. He later said the President is a lawyer and knows that there is no warrant issued against him.

Prodded to comment if he was scared, Guban just said that “I believe in God.”

He later told reporters that “I leave it (up) to God.”

Guban said he and his family are receiving threats.

“Umaali-aligid sa bahay at through text,” he said.

Asked where the threats could be coming from, Gordon said it could be from anybody who is involved in the smuggling of illegal drugs through the magnetic lifters.

“He can be threatened by (former Senior Supt. Eduardo) Acierto, he is the main witness against him right now. He can be threatened by his cohorts, mga dating general diyan sa Customs, mga taong nasa tara, yung mga X-ray examiners, yung mga appraisers. Lahat ‘yan may sinasabing tao, may sariling palo,” he said.

In previous hearings of the Senate blue ribbon committee, Guban said it was Acierto who informed him about the shabu shipments and how they would arrive in the country. Guban said Acierto also gave him tips on how to open the magnetic lifters.

Acierto, who was dismissed from the Philippine National Police in August over the issuance of licenses for over 1,000 AK-47s that went missing, has denied Guban's allegation that he was behind the shabu shipment. He said that he got the information from a trusted informant.

Gordon said during the press conference that he already asked Justice Secretary Menandro Guevarra to study if Guban could be accepted to the WPP.

He said Guban has revealed information regarding the shipment which made the senator decide to lift the order citing the latter in contempt and putting him under protective custody of the Senate.

The senator said he would only release Guban from the Senate custody once he and his family are accepted to the WPP.

“I would not net Guban go anywhere without enough security,” Gordon said. — RSJ, GMA News