Post by E-Q on Apr 19, 2008 21:09:31 GMT 8
Mayor Lim’s son refuses to enter plea in drug trial
MANILA, Philippines -- Manuel Lim, son of Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, refused on Thursday to enter a plea during his arraignment on drug pushing charges filed in the Manila Regional Trial Court.
The court entered a not-guilty plea for the younger Lim, who was charged with violations of Sec. 5 and Sec. 15 of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).
His fellow respondents, Ronald Pascual and Joel Sabado, pleaded not guilty.
Clerk of court Nelia Rosario said the suspect’s lawyer, Reynaldo Bagatsing, questioned the legality of his client’s arrest in declining to enter a plea in the sala of Judge Adelina Bargas of the Manila RTC Branch 13.
The younger Lim was nabbed by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on March 14 with Pascual and Sabado in a buy-bust in Sta. Cruz, Manila.
The 44-year-old businessman claimed in his affidavit that he was merely buying shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) worth P500. He added that he was surprised when he was arrested for allegedly selling 100 grams of the illegal drugs valued at P340,000.
A pretrial was set by the court for April 24. The three accused are now detained at the PDEA Custodial Center.
MANILA, Philippines -- Manuel Lim, son of Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, refused on Thursday to enter a plea during his arraignment on drug pushing charges filed in the Manila Regional Trial Court.
The court entered a not-guilty plea for the younger Lim, who was charged with violations of Sec. 5 and Sec. 15 of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).
His fellow respondents, Ronald Pascual and Joel Sabado, pleaded not guilty.
Clerk of court Nelia Rosario said the suspect’s lawyer, Reynaldo Bagatsing, questioned the legality of his client’s arrest in declining to enter a plea in the sala of Judge Adelina Bargas of the Manila RTC Branch 13.
The younger Lim was nabbed by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on March 14 with Pascual and Sabado in a buy-bust in Sta. Cruz, Manila.
The 44-year-old businessman claimed in his affidavit that he was merely buying shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) worth P500. He added that he was surprised when he was arrested for allegedly selling 100 grams of the illegal drugs valued at P340,000.
A pretrial was set by the court for April 24. The three accused are now detained at the PDEA Custodial Center.