OLONGAPO CITY- Four Chinese nationals who were arrested by police authorities in a “fl oating shabu laboratory” in Barangay Calapandayan were convicted by the Regional Trial Court here.
Judge Roline Ginez-Jabalde of the Olongapo City Regional Trial Court Branch 74 sentenced to suffer life imprisonment Win Fai Lo, Shu Fook Leung, Kam Wah Kwok, and Kwok Tung Chan.
The court also directed them to pay a fine of P5 million.
The Chinese nationals were arrested last July 11, 2016 onboard an unmarked vessel in the waters off Barangay Calapandayan.
Jabalde found the four foreigners from Hong Kong “guilty beyond reasonable doubt” for drug possession. But they were acquitted from charges of manufacturing dangerous drugs with the court citing the prosecution’s failure to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
“The presence of a laboratory equipment in the clandestine laboratory is only a prima facie proof of manufacture of any dangerous drug but not a proof beyond reasonable doubt that they are engaged in the manufacture of illegal drugs particularly methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu,” the court said.
Authorities seized a total of 467.8 grams of shabu and a hydrogenator, which is used in making shabu.
All suspects were detained at Bureau of Jail and Management Penology in Barangay Barretto, Olongapo City.
