Chinese woman charged, jailed

CEBU, Philippines - The Lapu-Lapu City Prosecutor's Office has charged 27-year-old Chinese national Zhou Liming yesterday for transporting illegal drugs worth P6 million.

Charges for violating Section 5 of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002 has been filed against Zhou, who is now inside Lapu-Lapu City Jail.

Angelo Barrios, Associate Prosecution Attorney II of Lapu-Lapu City Prosecutor's Office, said he recommended Section 5 of RA 9165 as it is the most appropriate case to be filed against Zhou.

Zhou, a native of Hunan Province in Central China, was arrested at the international arrival of Mactan-Cebu International Airport on Wednesday after she was caught carrying 11 packs of suspected shabu in her suitcase.

"Ang gi-file nga case kay violation of section 4, 5 and 11. Pero ang among resolution, we decided nga one case lang i-file and that is for violation of section 5," he told reporters yesterday.

Section 5 of RA 9165 covers the "sale, trading, administration, dispensation, delivery, distribution and transportation of dangerous drugs and /or controlled precursors and essential chemicals."

The court resolution states that "The evidence on record submitted thus far amply demonstrates that all the elements of the crime charged are prima facie existent in this case. The identity of the transporter was established pointing to respondent Liming Zhou. There is actual conveyance on the part of the respondent as it appears that she was responsible for the carriage of the luggage containing the prohibited drugs, in an attempt to have these pass thru the x-ray examination undetected."

Barrios dismissed Section 4 and 11 since the respondent, according to the resolution, "cannot be accused of another crime for the same act as this would violate her right against double jeopardy."

"Og ari gud ka sa Section 4, about importing of illegal drugs, mag-lisod ta pag-prove didto sa court kay dili 'ta ka prove kung dis-a gikan ang drugs. Ang Section 11 kay same act man gud na," he explained.

The prosecutor said Zhou's case is similar to that of Kenyan national Asha Atiano Oguto, who was also arrested at MCIA last September 29, 2011, for transporting three kilos of shabu.  After four months on the same year, Oguto was convicted to life imprisonment at Lapu-Lapu City Jail.

Zhou, who was assisted by SWAT personnel and the Aviation's Security Unit-7, was presented before Judge Victor Teves of the Regional Trial Court- Branch 54 past 3 p.m. yesterday.

She arrived past 2 p.m. at Lapu-Lapu City Hall of Justice.

Avsu-7 chief Senior Superintendent Ritchie Posadas, who also assisted Zhou to the RTC-Branch 54, revealed that Zhou, who was subjected to a drug test following her arrest, tested negative for illegal drug use.

Posadas however said that the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency -7 confirmed that Zhou was indeed carrying shabu when she arrived at MCIA.

"Confirmed (nga) shabu ang packages as per confirmatory test from PDEA-7," he said.

Zhou was sent to the city jail around 4 p.m. after RTC-Branch 54 issued a commitment order.

Barrios said that the suspect will undergo medical examination at the city jail.  Zhou, according to Barrios had no lawyer with her and if the suspect has no legal counsel, the court will provide one for her.

Meanwhile, Police Regional Office-7 director Noli Taliño said Zhou's arrest will have a great impact on drug traffickers.

"It has a great impact against drug traffickers because everybody now is concern and on the watch against illegal drugs as one of the priority programs of the president," Taliño's text message to The FREEMAN read.

As to their investigation, Taliño said they are still looking into the possible local contacts of the suspect.

He said he directed his men to review the closed-circuit television camera (CCTV) footage showing Zhou in her former visits in Cebu, from the MCIA up to the hotel where she stayed. (FREEMAN)