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. 'A triumph for Filipinos' Heads of anti-drug agencies hailed the Pasig court's decision to convict Boratong and his second wife Sheryl Molera-Boratong with life imprisonment. According to the court, Molera conspired with Boratong in running the drug den. Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) chair Vicente Sotto III hailed the decision as a "triumph of the Filipino people," adding that the imprisonment of Boratong and Molera proves that the government is working hard in going after drug pushers. "This [decision] sends a strong message that the three pillars of enforcement, prosecution and judiciary are working together to hit the drug peddlers with its full force," Sotto said. “This just proves that in the end justice will prevail," said PDEA director-general Dionisio Santiago, as he noted that the Boratong case was "complete" with all the elements of a high-profile drug case: plenty of drugs, "intimidation," and lots of money. "Hindi lahat kaya ng pera e [Not everything can be bought off]," said Dionisio. National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) deputy director for intelligence services Ruel Lasala, commander of the agency's Anti-Illegal Drugs Task Force, said they are happy about the conviction. "Their conviction is a resounding victory in the fight against illegal trafficking of drugs and we are happy that we are instrumental in making it possible," Lasala said in a statement. Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Jesus Verzosa, for his part, said the conviction should send a strong message to drug traffickers in the country that the government is serious with its campaign against the illegal drug menace. "This case should serve as a stern warning to all persons engaged in drug trafficking that the long arm of the law will always find its way to get to the criminals," he said. Wife also gets life imprisonment 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 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. Tight security While Molera-Boratong continuously wept after the decision was read, Boratong kept calm as he maintained his innocence. “Puro imbento, puro gimik [This is pure invention, just a gimmick]," Boratong said of the prosecution side and the police. He also maintained that Palo was the actual maintainer of the drug den. “Mapagtakpan lang niya yung ginawa niya, sinakripisyo niya ako [He sacrificed me just to cover up his deeds]," he said. “Sana makarma siya sa ginawa niya sa akin [I hope he gets karma for what he did to me]." Security was tight inside and outside the Pasig City RTC before the promulgation of the high-profile case, with numerous police and NBI officials visible inside and outside the building. The "shabu tiangge" supposedly owned by Boratong gained notoriety when a man who reportedly sneaked a camera into the compound before the 2006 raid and gave the footage to GMA-7 was found dead with three gunshot wounds in Pasig City. Last June, anti-drug agents discovered that illegal drug operations continued inside the controversial shabu compound despite the 2006 raid. In the June 2009 raid, agents from the PDEA and the Armed Forces’ National Capital Region Command seized P2.5-million worth of shabu from Boratong’s three-storey home. - with Mark Merueñas and Aie B. See, GMANews.TV