3 Chinese get life term in jail for drugs

MANILA, Philippines - A  Parañaque  City court has sentenced three Chinese to a life imprisonment after they were caught inside a shabu laboratory during a raid in a house four years ago, the Philippine Drug Enforcement said on Tuesday.

In a statement, PDEA director general Arturo Cacdac Jr. welcomed the decision of Judge Danilo Suarez of  Parañaque  Regional Trial Court branch 259  for convicting Chu Kin Tung, 39, a Hongkong native; Wong Meng Pin, 47, a Macau narive; and Chinese Li A Ging, 29, for violation of Section 8 (Manufacture of Dangerous Drugs and/or Controlled Precursors and Essential Chemicals) and Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs), Article II of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

The court ordered them to pay a fine of P10 million each.                                                          

"I am  very pleased with the decision of Judge Suarez for ensuring that justice is promptly served. Also, congratulations are in order to the operating team of PNP (Philippine National Police) Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AIDSOTF), who conducted the search, paving the way to the discovery of the shabu lab,” Cacdac said.    

The Chinese were arrested by PNP-AIDSOTF operatives on Jan.29, 2010 during the implementation of two search warrants in No. 144 Concha Cruz Drive, BF Homes, Parañaque City.

Seized during the operation were an undetermined volume of shabu, various equipment and apparatus used in the manufacture of shabu, one Glock pistol with suppressor and a hand grenade.

The co-accused in the case identified as Robin Bayubay Co and Xiu Xiu, who are not yet arraigned,  remain at large.

"This is another victory scored by the national anti-drug campaign against high-profile foreign drug personalities who operate clandestine shabu laboratories in the country,” Cacdac said.