Suspect in Sta. Ana drug raid claims shabu 'entrusted' to him

MANILA, Philippines – One of five Chinese nationals arrested for possession of 20 kilos of shabu, raw materials and equipment worth P100 million during a raid in Sta. Ana, Manila last July 8 has admitted that the drugs had been given to him.

Ben Wang, police attaché of the Chinese embassy said Danny Tan, 30, claimed the seized contraband was entrusted to him “by somebody he did not know.”

Tan made his admission during a talk with Wang, who visited him and his fellow inmates at the detention cell of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City last week.

But NCRPO chief Director Roberto Rosales belittled Tan’s confession, claiming it was “maybe his way of defending himself on the gravity of his offense.”

“He (Tan) wanted to wash his hands on the shabu and the other illegal shipment seized from his possession,” said Rosales. “It is now up to the court to decide his fate and those of his companions.”

The NCRPO filed possession of dangerous drugs, equipment, instrument, apparatus and other paraphernalia against the five Chinese nationals before the Manila prosecutor’s office.

Tan along with four others – Ming Yuan Yuet, 40;  Aga Co, 33; Eugene Co, 32, and Michelle Lee, 24, all natives of China – were arrested by a police team headed by Superintendent Leo Francisco, chief of the NCRPO’s regional police intelligence and operations unit during a raid at a condominium unit in Manila.

Tan told Wang he rented a unit at Eurovilla Homes on New Panaderos street in Sta. Ana for P27,000 a month for five years. He said the four other suspects joined him later.

Francisco told The Star that neighbors said Tan has been staying in the unit for more than five years.

“The neighbors claimed they did not notice anything unusual about the Chinese nationals except the arrival of many packages in their condo unit,” said Francisco.

Wang strongly believes that the five Chinese nationals are using fictitious names. He took photographs of the five suspects to find out their real identities and whether they have derogatory records in China.