Manila court bars foreigners indicted over P6.4-billion shabu shipment mess from leaving PHL

Richard Chen, owner of HongFei Logistics, attends a Senate hearing on the P6.4-billion shabu shipment that slipped through the country via Customs express lanes in May 2017. /Eagle News Service/

(Eagle News) — The Manila Regional Trial Court has issued hold departure orders against the foreigners indicted over the P6.4-billion shabu shipment mess.

Richard Chen, Manny Li, Kenneth Dong, Chen Rong Huan,  Chen I-Min and Jhu Ming Jyun are now barred from leaving the Philippines.

This was after Manila RTC Branch 46 Judge Rainelda Estacio-Montesa granted the motion of prosecutors which argued there was a strong probability the six would escape prosecution from the case filed against them in connection with the smuggling of P6.4 billion worth of shabu into the country via Customs express lanes in May last year.

The six were indicted for drug importation and drug transportation, along with Mark Taguba II, Eirene Mae Tatad, and Teejay Marcellana.