Pasig ‘shabu tiangge’ boss, wife convicted of drug raps
MANILA, Philippines — The Pasig Regional Trial Court on Thursday slapped Amin Imam Boratong with life imprisonment for owning and maintaining the infamous “shabu tiangge" in a decision met with cheers from government anti-drug forces and citizens hailing the conviction a “triumph of the Filipino people" and proof that the government is determined to crush drug organizations.
After finding Boratong “guilty beyond reasonable doubt," presiding judge Abraham Borreta of the Pasig RTC branch 154 also ordered Boratong to pay a fine of P10 million for violating section 6 of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.
The conviction of Boratong, whose case dragged on for three years, was cause for celebration not only for authorities but for millions of families whose loved ones have been victims of the drug menace.
The illegal drug trade is big business in the Philippines, which the United Nation’s Office on Drug and Crime has recently named a major transshipment point for methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu. Some drug operators allegedly try to avoid prosecution by bribing prosecutors, judges, politicians and anti-narcotics agents.
Aside from being meted with life imprisonment and being ordered to pay a fine of P1 million for conspiring with Boratong in maintaining the drug den in Mapayapa Compound, Molera-was also slapped with another life imprisonment penalty and another fine of P1-million for violation of Section 11 of RA 9165, as 52.19 grams of shabu was found in her possession when she was arrested in 2006.
In its decision, the court said it was convinced that the couple ran the shabu tiangge or the one-stop shop for drug users to buy and use shabu, in a compound on F. Soriano Street in Barangay Sto. Tomas which is within spitting distance of the Pasig City Hall.
The compound was raided by police in 2006 following a tip from an informant.
The court said in its decision that the incriminating testimony of Boratong’s brother and purported former right-hand man Samer Palao was “credible," “believable," and backed by other witnesses’ testimonies.
In contrast, the court found the defense’s testimonies lacking and seemingly “coached" and “rehearsed," Borreta said in his decision.
The court said it would immediately schedule a hearing on the confiscation of Boratong’s bank deposits and properties linked to the drug trade.
Boratong and his wife were under the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation prior to their conviction. With the conviction, Boratong will be brought to the New Bilibid Prison, while Sheryl Molera will be taken to the correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City.
Their lawyers said they would file a motion for reconsideration soon.
The two accused, who were both clad in standard orange suits for the detained, were surrounded by several National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents all throughout the promulgation.
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