Drug queen’s daughter acquitted

Over ‘planted’ evidence

MANILA, Philippines — A Manila judge yesterday cleared the daughter of drug queen Yu Yuk Lai of illegal drug charges and ordered her released from detention. 

In his decision, Judge Daniel Villanueva of Regional Trial Court Branch 49 said the evidence against Diana Yu Uy was not enough to convict her and the search warrant used against her was “invalid for lack of probable cause.” 

He said there was strong compelling evidence that the packets of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu recovered from her were “planted” and thus “inadmissible” in court.

Diana was arrested during a raid on her condominium unit in San Miguel, Manila near Malacañang hours after authorities recovered P5 million worth of shabu and bank checks in her mother’s cell at the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong in November last year. 

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said Yu allegedly used her daughter as an operator while she was in prison. 

PDEA director general Aaron Aquino alleged that Diana used her rice retailing business as a front for her illegal drug activities. 

She was reportedly a contracted supplier of CIW’s catering facility and had a special VIP access, which allowed her to smuggle shabu and contraband into the facility, he said. 

Diana reportedly tried to offer the agents P5 million so they would not confiscate the drugs, Aquino said.

However, Diana said the seized drugs were planted by lawmen.

PDEA public information chief Derrick Arnold Carreon told The STAR they have been informed about Diana’s acquittal and their legal department is studying the order before they make any move.