MANILA, Philippines- Hinatulang guilty ng Manila court si Customs “fixer” Mark Taguba at tatlo pang indibidwal kaugnay ng P6.4 bilyong shabu shipment mula China noong 2017.
Sa 89-page consolidated decision, hinatulan ng Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 21 sina Taguba; Eirene Tatad, consignee ng shipment; warehouseman Fidel Dee; at businessman Dong Yi Shen ng guilty sa importation, receipt and facilitation, and misdeclaration sa ilalim ng Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
Sinintensyahan sila ng reclusion perpetua o hanggang 40 taong pagkakakulong at pinagmumulta ng tig-P50 milyon sa bawat count, nagkakahalaga ng kabuuang P150 milyon.
Ipinalabas ang desisyon nitong Huwebes.
Dumating sa bansa ang shipment of container MCLU6001881 noong Mayo 2017 at idineklarang packages ng cutting board, footwear, kitchenware, at moulds.
Kasunod ng tip mula sa Chinese counterpart ng Bureau of Customs (BOC), nasabat nito katuwang ang National Bureau of Investigation ang 602.2 kilo ng shabu mula sa isang warehouse sa Valenzuela City noong Mayo 26.
Sa desisyon nito, sinabi ng korte na naisagawa ang importasyon sa “indispensable participation” ng mga akusado.
“The importation of the subject shipment container… which was found to contain about 602 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu with appraised value of P6.4 billion was accomplished with the indispensable participation of accused Dong, Taguba, Tatad and Dee,” anito.
“All told, the prosecution having established the guilt of the accused… beyond reasonable doubt, the Court has no other recourse except to hold them criminally liable,” giit ng korte. RNT/SA
