Court junks Taguba's plea for bail, says lawyer

MANILA, Philippines — The Manila court hearing the government’s illegal drug case over the P6.4-billion shabu smuggling case has junked Customs “fixer” Mark Taguba’s plea for temporary liberty.

Lawyer Raymond Fortun, counsel of Taguba, confirmed in a text message that the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 46 dismissed the petition for bail.

Asked for the court’s reason for junking their plea, Fortun said: “Typical for denial of bail petitions—the prosecution’s evidence is strong.”

“We respectfully disagree,” he also said, adding that they would file an appeal before the same court.

Taguba claimed that he was only acting upon the orders of businessman Kenneth Dong, believed to be the middleman in the case. He also said that he did not know there were drugs in the shipment of the metal cylinders.

READ: Kenneth Dong, alleged middleman in P6.4-B shabu case, insists innocence

Dong, who was nabbed by authorities last month after a year of eluding arrest, pleaded not guilty to the charge against him before the same court.

Taguba, Dong and several others are facing violation of the Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002

Taguba and Eirene Mae Tatad, owner of the consignee of the shipment, are being held at the Manila City Jail.