In absentia, Chinese national gets death penalty for shabu

A Chinese national was sentenced to death by a Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court yesterday after he was found guilty of violating the Anti-Drug Law last year.

Judge Norma Perello, of Branch 276, found Shao Jiau Cheng, alias Michael Chang, 39, of Unit 11 Corinthian Village, Posadas Ave., Barangay Sucat, Muntinlupa, guilty of illegally possessing 1.7 kilos of shabu.

He was tried in absentia.

In a 10-page decision, Judge Perello said that after posting P1 million bail Chang failed to show up in the succeeding court hearings.

Court records showed that Chang was arrested by elements of the Western Police District (WPD) by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued by Manila Judge Mario Guarina III of Branch 13 on September of last year.

Police applied and eventually secured the arrest warrant against Shao following reports that he was engaged in the sale of illegal drugs in Manila and Parañaque.

Aside from 1.7 kilos of shabu, authorities also found in his possession a MP5K, a sub-machine gun and two 9mm pistols. – Evelyn Macairan