Four Chinese get life term over floating shabu lab case

MANILA— Four Chinese nationals were meted life imprisonment after they were found guilty by a local court on Friday for illegal possession of drugs and their involvement in the 2016 floating shabu laboratory.

The Department of Justice said the Regional Trial Court Branch 74 in Olongapo City convicted Win Fai Lo, Shu Fook Leung, Kam Wah Kwok and Kwok Tung Chan. They were also ordered to pay P5 million.

“There is strong evidence that the four accused conspired and confederated together to commit the crime of illegal possession of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu,” the nine-page court ruling read.

Presiding Judge Roline Ginez-Jabalde, however, acquitted them from the charge of manufacturing of illegal drugs “for failure of prosecution to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt.”

The case stemmed from an operation conducted by the police at a suspected shabu laboratory disguised as a 50-meter fish carrier vessel in 2016. The police also said that the crew was not able to produce any registration documents, which prompted the search. A search with K-9 units also indicated the presence of illegal drugs on board.

A hydrogenerator, used in shabu manufacturing, was also found in the vessel.

The court, however, noted that while authorities found a laboratory equipment—evidence of manufacture of illegal drugs—it is still not proof beyond reasonable doubt that the four are engaged in manufacturing shabu.

DOJ spokesperson, Undersecretary Mark Perete, said that while the department was "dismayed" when the court acquitted the four foreigners on the charge of manufacturing illegal drugs, they are "satisfied that the four accused have been handed the sentence of life imprisonment."

"Such a sentence would keep them off the trade," Perete added.

"This conviction brings the government a step closer to curbing and hopefully eradicating the supply of illegal drugs," the spokesperson also said.—Philstar.com