MANILA, Philippines – Four men were sentenced to 12-16 years in prison by a regional trial court Friday for involvement in the trade of illegal drugs two years ago at the notorious shabu “tiangge” (market) in Mapayapa Compound in Pasig City.

Judge Librado Correa of the Pasig RTC Branch 164 found Rene Mijares, Gually Fausto, Andres Villamina and Emelito Balanquit guilty of violating a provision of the Dangerous Drugs Act.

In his decision, Correa also ordered the four, the third group to be tried in connection with the Pasig tiangge in the same court, to pay a fine of P100,000 each.

Only Villamina and Balanquit were present when the decision was read. Mijares and Fausto were tried in absentia. They jumped bail and remain at large.

Villamina and Balanquit were also found guilty of using illegal drugs after they tested positive for methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) when arrested on Feb. 10, 2006.

On top of their prison sentence, they were also ordered to spend six months in the drug rehabilitation facility at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.

The four were arrested during a raid of the illegal drugs market a few meters from the City Hall allegedly ran by Amin Imam Boratong, who is facing a separate illegal drugs case before another judge, Abraham Borreta of Branch 154.

The men were arrested by PO3 Reynaldo Pascua and Roderick Araneta during an operation led by the Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force.

In his decision, Correa said the testimonies of the arresting officers, delivered in a “clear, direct and straightforward manner,” should be given greater weight since the defense failed to raise doubts about the policemen’s credibility.

The accused denied the charges, claiming their arrest was illegal.

Villamina claimed he was walking with his wife and son on F. Soriano Street when a soldier confronted him and brought him to Camp Crame in Quezon City with the other suspects after he was frisked.

Balanquit told the court he was in his house on the same street when a soldier arrested him for no reason.

But Correa said the two failed to substantiate their claims. He said they also failed to present evidence contradicting the results of the drug test.

Branch clerk Rachel Matalang said the cases of more than 50 others charged with the same offense remain pending in Correa’s sala. More than 200 were arrested in the 2006 raid. Some cases are being heard in two other Pasig courts.

In January, Borreta sentenced two of the alleged den operators to life terms and meted various jail terms to 63 others. Four months later, Correa found another man guilty of participating in the illegal drugs market and sentenced him to 12-16 years in prison.