TWO Makati City prosecutors were charged criminally and administratively by the Philippine National Police Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force over the release of two arrested drug trafficking suspects described by the AIDSOTF as highly-irregular, officials said yesterday.

Sued for negligence in the handling of drug cases and gross ignorance of the law before the Ombudsman and Supreme Court, respectively were Prosecutors Lody Tantioco and Christopher Gravida.

AIDSOTF legal counsel Chief Insp. Roque Merdegia, Jr. said they initiated the complaints against the two following their decision to release suspects Gerard Madamba and Joy Cueto who were nabbed in front of the Amorsolo Mansion in Makati City on April 13.

AIDSOTF officials lambasted the release of the two suspects and called on Vice President Jejomar Binay to look into the case.

They urged Binay to find out  as to why the two prosecutors ordered the release of the suspects despite solid evidence presented against them.

Madamba and Cueto were caught in a buy-bust operation that resulted in the seizure of three sachets containing cocaine, two Ecstasy tablets and 20 pieces of Diazepam tablets, said AIDSOTF commander Deputy Director General Raul L. Castañeda.

Authorities said Madamba did not avail of his right to preliminary investigation while Cueto insisted on her right to preliminary inquiry as provided by law.

Charges of violation of  Republic Act 9165 or theComprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 were filed against the suspects, but Lantioco ordered their release for further   investigation.

The Makati prosecutors could not be contacted for comment on the matter.

Earlier, the AIDSOTF scored the presence of some prosecutors known for their decision to “release for further investigation” arrested drug offenders despite the presence of enough  evidence and witnesses against them.

The so-called “RFI” prosecutors are said to be earning huge bucks from moneyed drug personalities to the consternation of policemen and other anti-narcotics agents who are risking their lives and limbs to put behind bars notorious drug dealers and users.

Anti-narcotics agents told the Journal Group they have arrested dozens, if not hundreds of known drug traffickers in Metro Manila and other parts of the country in the past but ended up being “released for further investigation” by prosecutors.

Agents also scored the move of some prosecutors to downgrade the charges against arrested drug suspects to allow them to post bail.