The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (Teco) in the Philippines has promised to send a police attache to see two of its nationals who were recently arrested in a raid that yielded P195-million worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu.
Tseng Shien Ming, 33 years old; and Huang Zheng Kai, alias Chua, 25 were arrested by joint elements of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Special Enforcement Service (PDEA-SES) and the Philippine National Police Anti-Illegal Drugs Group (AIDG) last June 14 on Macapagal Boulevard, Barangay (village) Don Galo, Parañaque City. Authorities confiscated 39 kilograms contained inside 39 vacuum-sealed plastic bags.
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Assistant State Prosecutor MaryJane Sytat said whatever assistance the Taiwanese Embassy will provide the two, they will remain in detention after signing a waiver and having been required to appear before the Department of Justice (DOJ) for a preliminary investigation on June 20.
During the inquest proceeding, the two were provided with a counsel from the Public Attorneys Office (PAO).
Both respondents however want to have their own lawyer.
“The PAO lawyer contacted their embassy for assistance,” Sytat said.
A case for violation of Section 5 (Transportation of Dangerous Drugs) and Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs), Article II of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, has been filed against the two before the DOJ.