Arraignment of 6 Chinese in Tarlac drug bust deferred

MANILA, Philippines - A Tarlac court has deferred the arraignment of six Chinese arrested during a raid on a shabu laboratory in Camiling, Tarlac last month due to the lack of an interpreter.

The Tarlac regional trial court Branch 61 on Wednesday reset the arraignment to Jan. 28.

“The court gave the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) five days to coordinate with the Chinese embassy for an interpreter. Although there’s an interpreter, it must be accredited by the Supreme Court,” Assistant State Prosecutor Mark Roland Estepa said.

Estepa said the accused also filed a motion for preliminary investigation since they were not able to submit their answers during the inquest proceedings.

Charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act were filed on Nov. 11 against Sand Chai Wang, Xia Jian Jun, Xu Jian Dong, Hueng Zhogjie, Wang Xiao Bing and Zhan Zhi Long.

At least P3 billion worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride, chemicals and equipment were seized from the Chinese during a raid on Nov. 6 on what is believed to be the biggest shabu laboratory in the country.  

Police said the laboratory is capable of producing up to 100 kilos of shabu.