DAISY C.L. MANDAP, GMANews.TV
MANILA, Philippines - The head of the assistance to nationals (ATN) section of the Philippine Consulate in Hong Kong clarified that there are only two Filipinas recently detained in the territory on drug trafficking charges.
Vice Consul Val Roque’s statement came in the wake of reports coming from Manila that at least seven Filipinas from the Cordilleras were used as couriers or "mules" by a drug syndicate which may be operating from Africa. The drugs are believed to be destined for China.
According to Roque, a check with Hong Kong authorities revealed that only two Filipinas were recently arrested for drug trafficking, and are now detained at the Tai Lam correctional facility for women.
"We knew about these cases even before the reports came out in Manila because we extended assistance to both women," Roque said.
He said only one of the women is from Baguio, as the other one is from Pangasinan.
But just to make sure, he said he contacted Hong Kong authorities to inquire if there were other Filipinas recently arrested for drug trafficking.
He also checked their updated list of Filipinos being held in HK jails. Neither yielded any more recent arrests.
Earlier, HK police said the two Filipinas who were found to have carried a total of 8.6 kilogram of heroin into HK were among eight arrested between March and April this year on drug trafficking charges.
The six others were all African males who swallowed 9 kilogram of heroin in pellets.
The total value of the drug haul was said to be HK$10.6 million, or about Php55 million.
The first Filipina to be held has been identified as Vilma Tambogon, 35 years old, married, from Pangasinan. She was arrested at HK’s Chek Lap Kok airport on Mar 26 after her suitcase allegedly revealed 3.1 kg of heroin in a secret compartment. She appeared in Tsuen Wan magistracy on Friday, May 9, on a charge of trafficking in a dangerous drug. She is due to appear in court again on May 30.
The second is Michelle Gabriel, 27, single, from Baguio City. She was arrested at HK’s airport on Mar 30, allegedly with 5.5 kg of heroin in her suitcase. She will appear in court on May 26.
According to police, the drugs were smuggled into HK via different routes: Dubai, India, the Philippines and Malaysia, and were destined for mainland China.
The drugs reportedly came from a drug-producing area known as the Golden Crescent, which goes through Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan.
Reports from Manila say the drug couriers had been introduced to three Liberian nationals by a common acquaintance, a certain Benny Annaway, whose wife is reportedly in Guangzhou, China, and who knows another Liberian national living there.
The Liberians are said to be the object of a manhunt by both Chinese and Philippine authorities.
Annaway reportedly told NBI investigators that a Chinese-based benefactor, identified from remittance receipts only as “IFEANYI" sent him US$2,500 (Php105,700), which he used to pay for the women’s air fare, and US$400 (Php16,912) travel allowance for each.
But Annaway said he was not aware that they were duped into carrying illegal drugs to China.