Lack of interpreter defers arraignment of Chinese nationals in drug case
MANILA, Philippines–Due to lack of interpreter, the Camiling, Tarlac Regional Trial Court Branch 61 has deferred the arraignment of six Chinese nationals arrested in a raid last Nov. 6 at a drug laboratory in Tarlac where some P3-billion worth of illegal drugs and chemicals were confiscated.
During the arraignment, the accused were supposed to be appraised of the case filed against them by reading the charge sheet and then the accused will enter a plea of guilty or not guilty.
Assistant State Prosecutor Mark Roland Estepa said while there was an interpreter from the Chinese embassy, the arraignment did not push through because interpreters must be accredited by the Supreme Court.
Estepa added that all the accused, through their lawyer Raymond Palad, also asked the Tarlac court to order a preliminary investigation of the case.
The government prosecutor has opposed the motion due to lapse of period to seek a preliminary probe.
Under the rules, a motion for preliminary investigation should be filed within five days from the filing of the complaint.
The six Chinese nationals Sand Chai Wang, Xia Jian Jun, Xu Jian Dong, Hueng Zhogjie, Wang Xiao Bing and Zhan Zhi Long are facing a case for violation of Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
The raid was conducted in a former office of a farmer’s cooperative on Bonifacio Street in Camiling town.
During the raid, aside from shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) and chemicals for making shabu, the NBI also seized tools for making shabu such as cauldrons, vacuum pump, cooling system units, convection stoves, hydrogenator.
This is not the first time that a case against Chinese nationals were delayed due to lack of interpreter. The case against the Chinese poachers in Palawan province was delayed several times for the same reason.
The court has set a tentative date for the arraignment on Jan. 28, 2015.
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