MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE 3) One of the high-profile suspects nabbed by agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has pleaded not guilty to charges of possession of illegal drugs and drug peddling before the Quezon City regional trial court on Monday.

Joseph Ramirez Tecson, one of the so-called "Alabang Boys," entered his plea before Judge Jaime Salazar of the Quezon City RTC Branch 103, a court specializing in drug cases.

Judge Salazar set the hearing date for Tecson’s motion to post bail in the morning of May 18 this year.

Tecson was the only one arraigned in Quezon City. His fellow accused Richard Brodette and Jorge Joseph face charges filed before the Muntinlupa court because they were both arrested in Alabang.

From PDEA detention, Tecson will be transferred to the Quezon City Jail after undergoing physical examination.

In a statement, PDEA Director General Dionisio Santiago welcomed Tecon’s transfer to a city jail.

“It is about time. They have been here since their arrest in September last year. As we’ve been telling everyone again and again, PDEA is only a temporary detention facility. The other two will soon follow,” Santiago said, Brodett and Joseph who remain under PDEA’s custody.

Santiago said that formal charges have also been filed against Brodett and Joseph and an urgent motion for their transfer to the Muntinlupa City Jail was also filed.

“We are happy with the recent developments. After everything we’ve gone through over this case, we are finally seeing a semblance of order and justice. The ball is now entirely on the hands of the courts,” he added.

Early April, the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office formally filed charges of possession of illegal drugs and drug peddling against Tecson.

In two separate criminal information filed by assistant city prosecutor Alfredo Agcaoili, Tecson was charged with violating Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Tecson, along with the two other Alabang Boys, were nabbed in separate incidents on September 20, 2008, for allegedly peddling Diazepam.

Tecson was nabbed in follow-up operations in Cubao by the PDEA, while his two companions were arrested in Ayala Alabang Village in Muntinlupa City.

A Malacañang review had reversed an earlier Department of Justice resolution dismissing the case against the three suspects.

He was quietly taken from his detention cell at the PDEA shortly after 8 a.m. for his arraignment at 8:30 a.m., said Carreon.