CA’s decision to uphold arrest warrant for Guia Gomez Castro leaves her facing trial for a case that has become emblematic of allegations against local authorities linked to drug trafficking

MANILA, Philippines – The Court of Appeals (CA) has upheld an arrest warrant for a former barangay chairman accused of being behind a drug ring with the help of so-called “ninja cops” and having orchestrated a murder linked to illegal drug trafficking.

The decision of the CA to maintain the arrest warrant for Guia Gomez Castroaccused of being the “drug queen” of the city of Manila, faces trial in a case that has become emblematic of allegations against local officials linked to the country’s illegal drug trade.

Associate Justice Jaime Fortunato Caringal of the CA 3rd Division, in a 16-page ruling on November 15, denied Castro’s motion to quash the warrant issued by a regional court in Quezon City in connection with the 2011 murder of Police Officer 1 Roderick Valencia.

Valencia, suspected of reselling confiscated illegal drugs, was killed by gunmen riding motorcycles in Barangay Salvacion, Quezon City on July 13, 2011.

The case remained unresolved for eight years until one of the suspects, Ernesto Encarnado, executed an extrajudicial confession linking Castro to the crime.

Encarnado, who was identified as the driver of the motorcycle, claimed that it was Castro who ordered the attack because Valencia, it appeared, had not paid the proceeds from recycling illegal drugs.

He alleged that there was a P50,000 arrangement for the murder and identified the triggerman only as one “Alex.”

It was Encarnado’s confession that became the basis of the murder charge against Castro, who denied any involvement.

Castro, for her part, claimed that she did not know Valencia and Encarnado and that the accusations were fabricated to frame her.

She also questioned the long delay in the case, the lack of an autopsy or death certificates and the weight given to Encarnado’s confession years after the alleged plot.

In 2021, the 88th Branch of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Quezon City denied his motion to quash the arrest warrant, but the judge later blocked the case from proceeding. The case was transferred to RTC Branch 224, which upheld the warrant, prompting Castro to take the case to the appeals court.

The CA, however, found no merit in Castro’s arguments and upheld the decisions of the Quezon City courts. The appeals court also said probable cause was sufficiently established by Encarnado’s detailed confession.

The CA noted that Encarnado had a long-standing relationship with Castro, who spoke about their shared neighborhood and alleged involvement in illegal drug operations. He added that Encarnado’s statement provides strong arguments, calling his account “consistent and plausible.”

These details, according to the CA, could be examined in more detail during the trial. – Rappler.com