THE ALLEGED middleman in the shipment in May last year of shabu worth P6.4 billion has pleaded “not guilty” to drug trafficking charges before a Manila court.
“Tinanong po si Kenneth Dong kung inaamin niya ‘yung mga akusasyon sa kanya at ang kanyang plea ay not guilty, (Kenneth Dong was asked if he admits to the accusations against him and his plea is not guilty),” said Raymond Fortun, legal counsel of customs fixer Mark Ruben G. Taguba II who is among the accused in connection with the smuggled drugs discovered in Valenzuela City.
Mr. Fortun also said, “Ngayon matutuloy ‘yung pre-trial tungkol sa kanya bukas at merong pangako ‘yung abogado nila na maghahain rin sila ng petition for bail para sa kaso.” (The pre-trial is scheduled tomorrow and his lawyer said they will file a petition for bail).
Mr. Dong, whose real name is Dong Yi Shen, was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation on Feb. 4, by virtue of an arrest warrant issued in January by Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 46 Judge Rainelda Estacio-Montesa.
Messrs. Dong and Taguba, together Eirene Mae A. Tatad, Chen Ju Long (also known as Richard Tan), Li Guang Feng (also known as Manny Li), Tee Jay Marcellana, Chen I-Min, Jhu Ming Jhun and Chen Rong Juan, are charged with violation of Section 4 in relation to 26 (a) of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
The petitions for bail by Mr. Taguba and Ms. Tatad are up for resolution. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

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