By Rey E. Requejo

The independent investigating committee that probed the alleged bribery in the ?Alabang Boys? case will convene on May 4, this time to look into the irregular dismissal of a case against a big-time drug lord in Subic, according to a justice official.

Solicitor General Agnes Devanadera disclosed that the three-member panel chaired by retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Carolina Gri?o-Aquino will determine whether or not prosecutors from the Department of Justice and agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency could be held liable for dismissing the case against Anthony Ang, a Taiwanese national.

The two other members of the panel are San Beda Law Dean Fr. Ranhilio Aquino and retired Sandiganbayan Justice Raoul Victorino.

Devanadera said the Aquino panel will also investigate the liabilities of officers of the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority who were involved in Ang?s arrest.

According to the Solicitor General, who is under the administrative jurisdiction of the Justice Department, her office has been tapped to provide assistance to the committee.

The panel will meet soon to decide when to start the probe, who to summon first and where to hold the inquiry.

?We are being asked to specifically look into any irregularities in the handling of this case against Anthony Ang,? Aquino, the law dean, said, confirming that Malaca?ang asked the panel to investigate the Subic drug case.

The Aquino panel had investigated charges that prosecutors took bribes to dismiss the drug case against Richard Brodett, Jorge Joseph and Joseph Tecson, all residents of the upscale Alabang Village in Muntinlupa. Its findings and recommendations were submitted to President Arroyo, who ordered the filing of administrative charges against the state prosecutors who handled the case.