No bail recommended for "shabu queen"

CEBU, Philippines - Unlike in her previous arrests, the Regional Trial Court has denied bail to Chueve Lim tagged by police as the “shabu queen.”

Prosecutors yesterday charged Lim and her friend Edna Flores before the court for drug possession and selling. They were caught in a buy-bust operation last February 3 in barangay Basak San Nicolas.

Police said Lim was in possession of 4.89 grams of shabu in big plastic packs and 1.74 grams of shabu in medium plastic packs. She also allegedly sold 4.42 grams of shabu during the buy-bust.

Meanwhile, Flores was charged of selling 0.18 grams of shabu. Prosecutors recommended P200,000 as bail, but she may have to remain in jail owing to the other non-bailable offense.

Lim and Flores are currently detained at the Cebu City Jail.

Under Sec. 5, Art. 2 of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Drugs Act of 2002, a person who sells, delivers or distributes a dangerous drug, regardless of the quantity and purity involved, faces a penalty of life imprisonment or death, which can be an unbailable offense if evidence of guilt is strong.

It was the fourth time that Lim was arrested on drug charges, police said.

On February 2008, Lim and her friend Grace Alejandrino were arrested by police during a raid at Alejandrino’s home in Quimada Street, barangay Guadalupe.

Lim was allowed to post bail because only less than three grams of shabu was found in her possession.

Alejandrino, on the other hand, was not allowed to post bail after police recovered shabu worth about P1 million from her residence. — Jasmin U. Labaco/JMO   (FREEMAN NEWS)