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The United States has canceled the visa of alleged drug trafficker Guia Gomez Castro, the Philippines’ justice department announced yesterday, giving Filipino immigration officials the opportunity to bring her back to the country.
Castro, the chairwoman of the village of 484 in Manila, had been accused by Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Director General Aaron Aquino of purchasing illegal drugs from policemen who seized them during anti-drug operations, GMA News reported.
“Upon the request of the Department of Justice, the US visa granted to alleged drug queen Guia Castro has been canceled,” Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete said. “The Bureau of Immigration is now working with US immigration authorities to effect her deportation to the Philippines.”
Authorities said on Monday said that Castro left the country for Bangkok on Sept. 21, flew to Taiwan, then went to the US. The justice department said there was no hold departure order filed against her despite the existence of three warrants seeking her arrest issued by multiple courts dating as far back as 2002.
The National Bureau of Investigation said they had failed to arrest Castro because of her “connections,” according to Rappler.
Nicknamed Manila’s “drug queen,” Castro has denied the allegations against her. In a statement sent to news show 24 Oras late last month, she said in Filipino and English: “Whatever I say I know people who don’t know me will not believe me because they have already prejudged me in their minds.”
“If remaining quiet means my family will be safe, I will choose to keep quiet. I will not worry whether other people think I’m guilty. [If that’s the case] so be it.”
Meanwhile, the Manila Police District on Saturday arrested a man in Sampaloc named Marlon dela Cruz whom they alleged was Castro’s accomplice. The authorities said that they found methamphetamine worth PHP30,000 (US$577) in his possession.
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