Customs 'fixer' Mark Taguba, 2 others convicted over drug import raps

Two months after being sentenced on a related case, Customs "fixer" Mark Taguba and two others were convicted over drug importation charges in connection with a P6.4-billion shabu shipment from China in 2017 by a Manila court.
In a 37-page decision promulgated on Nov. 18, the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 46 sentenced Taguba, Eirene Mae Tatad, a consignee of the shipment, and businessman Dong Yi Shen to life imprisonment.
The court found them guilty beyond reasonable doubt of violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.
"In this case, the Prosecution was able to establish that the accused imported methamphetamine hydrochloride, a dangerous drug, into the Philippines without being authorized by law," the RTC said.
Meanwhile, the court directed them to pay a fine of P500,000 each.
This is over the shipment of container MCLU6001881 that arrived in the country in May 2017 that contained illegal drugs.
In its ruling, the RTC found that Taguba, Tatad, and Dong contributed, directly or indirectly, in importing illegal drugs into the country.
According to the court, Taguba admitted to facilitating and processing the entry of the container through the Bureau of Customs (BOC). He also admitted that the container was loaded into a truck that was owned by his company.
"It is clear from the foregoing that Taguba played a central role in facilitating the importation of the illegal drugs," the court said.
"Taguba's direct involvement in processing and facilitating the shipment's entry through the BOC is a clear overt act in furtherance of the conspiracy," it added.
Meanwhile, the RTC said Tatad acted as a consignee for the shipments for P1,500 for every container. It said that her admission implicates her in conspiracy.
The court also said Dong's involvement in translating and facilitating the communication between Taguba and another accused furthered the conspiracy.
It said it found the defenses of the accused to be "inherently weak."
Meanwhile, the court said the case against the other respondents were sent to the archives pending their arrest.
Last September, the Manila RTC-Branch 46 found Taguba, Tatad, Dong, and warehouseman Fidel Dee guilty for importation, receipt and facilitation, and misdeclaration under the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act in connection with the same P6.4-billion shabu shipment from China in 2017.
They were sentenced to reclusion perpetua or up to 40 years of imprisonment and directed to pay a fine of P50 million for each count, totaling to P150 million. — VDV, GMA Integrated News