Kenneth Dong, alleged middleman in P6.4-B shabu case, enters not guilty plea

MANILA, Philippines — Kenneth Dong, alleged middleman in the 2017 P6.4-billion shabu case, pleaded not guilty to the government’s drug importation charge against him.

Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 46 on Monday started its trial on the illegal drug importation case against Dong, Bureau of Customs “fixer” Mark Taguba, and six others over the multi-billion shabu shipment that slipped past the Bureau of Customs on May 2017.

A report from GMA News said that Dong pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Dong is believed to be the middleman of businessman Richard Tan, the owner of Hong Fei Logistics warehouse in Valenzuela where the shipment was found.

National Bureau of Investigation agents arrested Dong on February 3 in Katarungan Village in Muntinlupa City after almost a year of eluding authorities.

The Chinese trader had long, dyed hair when the agents collared him, a look that is different from the short black hair he was sporting when he attended Senate hearings on the issue.

In a press conference a day after his arrest, Dong insisted on his innocence saying that he was merely in charge of translation and referral of clients.

“I do not process [the shipments],” he added.

The pre-trial of the hearing is set on Tuesday, February 19.

Aside from Dong, authorities have also arrested and detained Taguba, the warehouseman Anoche Dee, and Eirene Mae Tatad, the alleged consignee of the shipment.

Other personalities, that include Chinese businessmen, have yet to be arrested by the authorities. — Kristine Joy Patag