2 Chinese, Pinay get life for drugs

MANILA, Philippines - A Parañaque City court has sentenced two Chinese men and their Filipina cohort to life in prison for shabu trafficking six years ago.

Judge Danilo Suarez of the Parañaque City Regional Trial Court Branch 259 found Lam Chee Tat, alias Cheung Gak Shang; Samuel Chan, alias Peter, and Roseriza Maureen Nicholas guilty of violating the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

The court ordered the accused to pay a fine of P5 million each.

The three were nabbed by operatives of the Philippine National Police Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AIDSOTF) in their rented apartment at 504-B Cernan street, Moonwalk Village in Parañaque on Oct. 14, 2009.

AIDSOTF chief Senior Superintendent Antonio Gardiola said the recent conviction of the accused was a victory in the fight against illegal drugs.

The two Chinese belonged to a well-organized drug ring operating in the country, Gardiola said.