Ex-Erap adviser to fight conviction

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – An economic adviser for Western Mindanao of former President Joseph Estrada vowed to exhaust all legal means to clear his name after the local court sentenced him to 20 years in jail for the smuggling of a chemical substance.

“It’s not over yet, we maintain our faith in our judicial system and we will avail (ourselves of) all existing remedies because ultimately the truth will set us free,” the family of Wee Dee Ping, alias Lepeng Wee, said in a statement.

In a 58-page decision last Friday, Judge Gregorio de la Peña III convicted Wee, along with Nancy Lim and Malaysian businessman Tan Nge Foo, for two counts of smuggling over the importation of 39 drums of an unknown chemical substance.

Foo, who has been in jail for six years, was ordered to be immediately deported. Lim, for her part, could not be reached for comment.

Wee was also ordered to pay a fine of P10,000.

Wee, however, said he was just dragged into the case, which he believes was politically motivated.

“All these years, we have maintained our innocence and we continue to do so. We will appeal the decision,” Wee’s family said.

Wee’s wife Cely said their family was saddened by the court decision.

“We could hardly believe the turnaround of events and our family was really in trauma. We have been living in decency to suffer such charges,” she said.