4 Sinos in Aurora shabu lab charged

BALER, Aurora — The Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed with the regional trial court (RTC) here charges against four Chinese nationals who were arrested during a raid on a clandestine shabu laboratory in Dingalan town late last month.

Charged in two separate information sheets with RTC Branch 66 Judge Armando Yanga were Sy Tho, 35; Wang Tha Ti, 25; Chin Na Chua, 29, alias Joey; and Chen Chien, 28, all of Xiamen, China.

The four Chinese are presently detained at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) central office in Manila. No bail was recommended for their provisional liberty.

Yanga told The STAR that he has set an ocular inspection of the shabu lab later this month.

Chief state prosecutor Jovencito Zuño approved the filing of the two cases for violation of Sections 8 (manufacture), 11 (possession) and 15 (use of dangerous drugs) of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Act of 2002, based on the recommendation of state prosecutor Irwin Maraya and prosecution lawyer Marlon Almero.

The charges stemmed from the seizure of 5.44 kilograms of shabu during the raid by operatives of the NBI’s Reaction, Arrest and Interdiction Division and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Simon and Joey’s Place, a resort in Barangay Butas na Bato, Dingalan town, last Aug. 30.

The raid was carried out on the strength of a search warrant issued by Manila RTC Executive Judge Reynaldo Ros.

In a joint affidavit of arrest, the NBI and PDEA operatives, headed by lawyer Jonathan Ross Galicia, said the four Chinese were caught wearing gloves while chemical fumes could be smelled from the place.

Also arrested during the raid was Francisco Ramos, 54, of Barangay Dabil-dabilan, Dingalan town. Another suspect, identified only as Simon, was able to escape.

The raid yielded white crystalline and brownish substances contained in transparent plastic bags, iodine and phosphorous crystals, and paraphernalia used in manufacturing shabu.

In a laboratory examination, the NBI’s forensic chemistry division confirmed that the white crystalline and brownish substances were shabu.

Subjected to drug tests, the four Chinese nationals were found positive for shabu.

Based on the evidence presented, the DOJ found probable cause to indict the four aliens.

However, it recommended further investigation in Ramos’ case after he tested negative for shabu. Ramos has been released from NBI custody.

Yanga said the prosecution may file an amended information if additional evidence surfaces.