MANILA, Philippines – An illegal drug user was convicted Friday and sentenced to reclusion temporal or a maximum of 20 years in jail after he was found guilty of selling and using shabu in Manila, a police official said.

Rudy Abaya Ong, a Chinese national, was also meted a P500,000 fine by the Manila regional trial court Branch 35 under judge Eugenio Mendinueto for violating Section 15, Article III of Republic Act 6425 (Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) or the use of dangerous drugs, director general Dionisio Santiago of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said.

Ong was arrested on May 11, 2002 by the Manila Police District (MPD) station 9 Drug Enforcement Unit in a buy-bust operation. Police seized 111.43 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) in his possession.