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MANILA, Philippines?Australian authorities have apologized for mistakenly arresting a Filipina for alleged drug smuggling in Melbourne, it was learned.
The Filipina, Maria Cecilia Silva, was released March 18, five days after her arrest on March 13 shortly after she arrived at the Melbourne Airport on suspicion that she was bringing in prohibited amphetamine allegedly inside iced tea packets.
In a joint statement issued on the day of Silva?s release, the Australian Customs and Australian Federal Police called the incident "regrettable." They confirmed the Magistrate Court of Melbourne?s decision ordering Silva?s release after the result of forensic testing on the iced tea packets she brought to Melbourne proved negative for drug traces.
The Court awarded her 5,000 Australian dollars.
The Philippine embassy in Canberra, in a media statement, urged the Australian Customs to ensure that similar mistakes do not happen in the future. The embassy said such mistakes not only cause distress to the person involved, but also to the relatives back in the Philippines.
For her part, Silva thanked Consul General Uriel Norman Garibay for the quick assistance, coordination, and close monitoring of her case.
The Melbourne police had allowed her to call the Philippine embassy, which together with the Philippine honorary consulate and Silva's friends in Melbourne, coordinated closely to work on her immediate release.
