Fixer Mark Taguba during the Senate Blue Ribbon hearing on the shabu smuggling from China valuing to P6.4 billion. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

MANILA – The House Quad Committee wrote to the Bureau of Corrections to request the transfer of alleged Customs fixer Mark Taguba to its custody due to an alleged security threat.

Taguba attended the mega panel's 12th hearing on Wednesday. 

The 33-year old was convicted by a Manila Court over the P6.4-billion shabu shipment that slipped past the Bureau of Customs in 2017.

Former senator Antonio Trillanes appealed to lawmakers for Taguba’s transfer, saying he was among the witnesses in a drug smuggling complaint that the ex-lawmaker filed before the justice department last July.

"I got word from his lawyer that he is receiving threats from some people involved in the case. That's why I am going to plead on his behalf that he be transferred into the Detention facility of the House of Representatives just so we can protect him," he said.

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Quad comm co-chairperson Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano, who Taguba spoke with, made the motion later in the hearing.

"With the request of mister Taguba because of security threat, may I move Mister Chairman that we request the BuCor through Usec. Gregorio Catapang for mister Taguba to be transferred to the House Sergeant-at-Arms until the Committee completes its investigation or until the perceived threat is fully eliminated," he said. 

The mega panel approved the motion after it was duly seconded.

Earlier in the hearing, Taguba turned emotional while being asked by Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro on his involvement in drug smuggling. 

He said he stood by what he wrote in his judicial affidavit, which he submitted to the mega panel. 

"Napakahirap po talaga kasi tingin ng mga tao sa akin, drug lord ako… Buti sana kung ginawa ko talaga eh. Ang hirap po talaga. Kung meron man akong kasalanan, yun po yung sa tara (payoff) system. Totoo naman po lahat yun," he said.  

"Hindi ako nagkakaso tungkol sa bribery, kahit perjury nga lang hindi nila ginawa eh. Siguro takot sila eh, Palibhasa tine-text nila ako eh… Pero yung shabu hindi ko talaga ginawa yan. Hindi ko talaga magagawa yan," he added. 

Taguba lamented the "unfair" events that led to his life imprisonment. He said his motion for reconsideration and motion to inhibit remained pending.

"May apela po kami… Yes very unfair [yung decision]. Kami lang nakasuhan. Wala [Customs] kahit isa," he said. 

Earlier this month, he was sentenced to life imprisonment for the shabu shipment. 

Alleged customs fixer Mark Taguba gets another conviction from a Manila court

Quad comm chairperson Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said they were awaiting the response of the BuCor on its request.

"Meron kaming letter na we sent via fax kay [Director General Gregorio] Catapang. So siguro lalabas yun maya-maya," he told reporters after the hearing.

"Now that he appeared before this committee, they probably thought may i-spill siya, ika nga spill the beans," Barbers said.

The Surigao Del Norte congressman said Taguba would remain in House custody until the team leader in charge of him could make a decision.

"Sabi ko temporarily diyan muna siya sa detention hanggang lumabas yung order ng ano. Kasi hindi naman pwedeng hindi. Siguro pwede naman i-dahilan huwag muna i-biyahe for his safety," Barbers added.