Italian court rules Filipina not guilty of drug charges

MANILA, Philippines—After a seven-month trial, a city tribunal in Rome has acquitted a Filipina of drug charges, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday.

The Tribunale di Civitavecchiaon on May 4 found the 59-year-old Filipina not guilty of the charge of sneaking methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) into Italy, the DFA, quoting a report of the Philippine Embassy in Rome, said.

“The Filipina continually maintained her innocence throughout the trial and her statements with the courts were consistent,” it said in a statement.

Italian authorities arrested her at the Fiumicino Airport on October 4 last year while carrying 49.50 grams of shabu hidden in a small plastic sachet. She said during the trial she was unaware the portable DVD player she was asked to carry for a fellow overseas Filipino worker in Rome had drug hidden inside.

“When the embassy learned of her case, it immediately made representations with the Italian Ministry of Justice that embassy representatives be allowed to attend the hearing, and engaged the services of a lawyer,” the DFA said.

The Filipina was jailed at the Civitavecchia prison but her lawyer pleaded for house arrest, citing medical reasons. It was granted on October 18.

The DFA said that embassy representatives regularly visited her while she was on house arrest. Civitavecchia is a town more than 150 kilometers from Rome.

The Filipino community in Rome also provided assistance to the Filipina.

“The Filipino Chaplaincy launched a signature campaign attesting to her good moral character. More than 500 signatures were collected in this campaign, which was also presented to the court,” the DFA said.

After her acquittal, she expressed her gratitude to the Filipino community and the Chaplaincy for their support and guidance during her trial. She also personally thanked Philippine Ambassador to Italy Romeo Manalo for the assistance.