Makati City court convicts alleged Sinaloa drug member for drug trafficking

February 13, 2019

The Makati City Regional Trial Court Wednesday sentenced an alleged member of the Mexican Sinaloa drug syndicate to life imprisonment for selling P12 million worth of cocaine.

In a decision, Judge Selma Alarcio-Alaras of Makati City RTC, Branch 63, ordered Horacio Hernandez Herrera , a Mexican, to pay a fine of P500, 000 to P10 million.

Herrera was found guilty of violating Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, specifically Section 5 Article II of RA 9165 for selling 2,515.7 grams of cocaine

"After due assessment of the facts and evidence adduced, the Court is of the considered view that there is basis to support a finding of guilt beyond reasonable doubt against the accused as the circumstances surrounding his arrest are in order," the RTC ruled.

Herrera said he will appeal.

Herrera, who arrived in the country on Oct. 28, 2013, was reportedly tasked to conduct illegal drug deals in the country through an operation with a Chinese drug ring.

He supposedly “supplied cocaine and shabu to a Manila-based drug trafficker.”

Authorities said he was a mid-level member of the Sinaloan Mexican Drug Cartel.

Authorities seized 10 pieces of self-sealing transparent plastic bags containing cocaine. Also seized are mobile phones and leather wallet containing the boodle money.

During trial, Herrera failed to disprove the prosecution's allegations.

"Accused merely denied the accusation against him. The court cannot give credence to this testimony as his defense was unsubstantiated with evidence," the court said.

Herrera claimed police forced him to wear a bag containing drugs as it would show in a CCTV footage of the area where the buy-bust operation was conducted.

The court said "the defense did not produce the CCTV footages, which the counsel were supposed to present notwithstanding the time given by the court for their production. Also, there were no eyewitnesses presented to substantiate his claim."

The Department of Justice hailed the decision. 

Justice Undersecretary and spokesperson Markk Perete  said :“The Department welcomes the conviction handed down by Judge Alaras and congratulates the prosecutors for their able handling of this case. It is through their effort, as well as that of our law enforcers, that we were able to keep safe our communities,” Perete said. DMS