Supreme Court reinstates arrest warrant for exec in massive drug case

MANILA — The Supreme Court has overturned a Court of Appeals ruling and reinstated an arrest warrant against Bernand Lu Chong in connection with one of the country's largest drug busts. The warrant had been quashed by the appellate court, but the high court's Second Division reversed that decision in a ruling made public Monday. The case stems from the 2019 seizure of P1.877 billion worth of shabu, or crystal methamphetamine, marking one of the most significant illegal drug shipments intercepted in recent years. The Office of the Solicitor General had filed the petition seeking restoration of Chong's arrest warrant, arguing that the Court of Appeals erred in dismissing the charges against him. The Supreme Court's decision clears the way for authorities to apprehend the executive and proceed with criminal proceedings related to the massive drug trafficking operation. Details regarding the specific grounds for the appellate court's original decision to quash the warrant were not immediately disclosed.