2 Sinos, 2 Pinoys get death for ‘grass’

Two Chinese nationals and their two Filipino partners were meted two death penalties each by a Malabon City regional trial court (RTC) judge yesterday after they were found guilty of possessing and trafficking 90 kilos of dried Indian hemp in December last year.

In his 26-page decision, Judge Benjamin Aquino Jr. also ordered Luk Wai, Cheung Sai Wah, both of Hong Kong, Danilo King and Danilo Regala, of Catmon, Malabon to pay a fine of P10 million each for the two cases and the costs of litigation.

Court records showed that on Dec. 15, 2001, the Malabon City police drug enforcement unit (DEU) received a tip from an informer that he was able to close a deal with a certain "Sam" for the sale of P25,000 worth of high grade dried marijuana leaves.

A team composed of seven members was quickly formed to conduct buy bust operations on Dec. 19, 2001 at about 1 a.m. along Gov. Pascual Street in Barangay Catmon, Malabon.

Before the buy-bust at about 7 p.m., some members of the team went to Pascual Street and waited for the arrival of Sam who said he would be on board a white Tamaraw FX. At about 1 a.m., the FX taxi arrived with four persons aboard and parked along Gov. Pascual Avenue. "Sam" turned out to be Wai. Wah transacted with the poseur-buyer. Later, Wai ordered Wah to hand over 10 plastic bags of marijuana bricks where upon they were immediately handcuffed by law enforcers deployed around them.

When policemen checked the back of the FX, they found at least 80 bricks of marijuana. Police estimated the total haul at about 90 kilos with an estimated street value of P270,000. King and Regala, considered active conspirators in the commission of the crime despite not participating in the transactions itself, were arrested in subsequent pursuit operations.

Meanwhile, in Manila unidentified thieves broke into the treasure’s office of the Manuel Luis Quezon University Wednesday and carted away some P196,000.

Detectives of the Western Police District’s Theft and Robbery section are still probing the incident which took place at the office of MLQU treasurer Amador Almendia, 52.

Almendia, who filed a complaint with the WPD Theft and Robbery Section last Wednesday night, told probers that the incident took place between 5:25 p.m. last Wednesday and about 2:30 p.m. last Thursday. – Jerry Botial, Mike Frialde