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A Manila regional trial court sentenced Mark Ruben Taguba II and two others to life in prison for importing 605 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride (locally known as shabu) in May 2017
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Manila RTC Branch 46 in a decision dated November 18 found Taguba and co-accused, Eirene Mae Tatad and Dong Yi Shen (alias Kenneth Dong) guilty beyond reasonable doubt for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act
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The court also fined each of the three P500,000
A Manila regional trial court (RTC) sentenced Mark Ruben Taguba II and two others to life in prison for importing 605 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride (locally known as shabu) valued at P6.4 billion in May 2017.
In a 37-page decision dated November 18, Manila RTC Branch 46 presiding judge Rainelda Estacio-Montesa found Taguba, an alleged Customs “fixer”, and co-accused, Eirene Mae Tatad and Dong Yi Shen (alias Kenneth Dong), guilty beyond reasonable doubt for violating Section 4 (Importation of Dangerous Drugs and/or Controlled Precursors and Essential Chemicals) of Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.
The court also ordered each of the three to to pay a fine of P500,000.
Tatad was the shipment’s consignee, EMT Trading, while Dong helped Taguba process the shipment.
“Every conviction for a crime should only be handed down after proof beyond reasonable doubt of the guilt of the accused for the crime charged has been adduced. In this case, the prosecution was able to discharge its burden of proving the guilt of accused Taguba, Tatad and Dong beyond reasonable doubt,” the decision read.
The decision noted that Taguba “processed the importation documents and used his logistics company, Golden Strike Logistics, Inc. to arrange for the transport of the container.”
The cases against the other co-accused, Chen Julong alias Richard Tan or Richard Chen (chairman and general manager of Hongfei Logistics Group of Companies, Inc., which owns the warehouse where the shipment was found), Li Guang Feng alias Manny Li, Teejay Marcellana (shipment’s customs broker), Chen I-Min and Jhu Ming Jyun (who rented the warehouse), and Chen Rong Huan, were ordered archived pending their arrest.
The shabu shipment arrived at the Manila International Container Port on May 16, 2017 and transported on May 24, 2017 to the warehouse of Hongfei Logistics in Valenzuela.
It was recovered on May 26 by operatives of the Bureau of Customs, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and National Bureau of Investigation during a raid of the warehouse.
Last September, the Manila RTC-Branch 46 also found Taguba, Tatad, Dong, and warehouseman Fidel Dee guilty of violating the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act in connection with the same shipment.
They were sentenced to up to 40 years and directed to pay a fine totaling P150 million.
READ: Smuggling case vs Taguba, 9 others in shabu shipment pushed anew
