4 released in suspected Marikina ‘shabu warehouse’ case

Photo from EPD

The household members of a suspected “shabu” (crystal meth) manufacturer who was arrested earlier this month were released from police custody after the investigation failed to prove that the chemicals found at the family’s Marikina City residence were raw materials for making illegal drugs.

The Marikina Prosecutor’s Office on Tuesday ordered the release of the wife, mother and two housemaids of Chinese national John Ming Shen, saying the complaint filed against them  required further investigation.

Shen’s wife Hong Lulu, 44; his mother Zheng Chongli, 76; and housemaids Eva Biyang and  Ma. Christine Locsin were detained after an April 20 police raid on their house in Barangay Nangka yielded  more than 30 containers of chemicals in liquid and powder form.

Crime lab findings

A resolution signed by Senior Assistant Prosecutor Raymond Joseph Soroñgon took note of the April 21 findings from Philippine National Police crime laboratory that the chemicals proved negative for methamphetamine, marijuana, opium or their derivatives.

The raid was conducted a week after Shen and his driver, Laurio Santiago, were arrested in Malabon where Shen allegedly operated a shabu laboratory.

According to the Marikina police chief, Senior Supt. Roger Quesada, Jiang moved into the city five years ago and was known to locals more as Mocario Lim.

Prior to his arrest, he was known as a businessman dealing in used cars and hardware supply, the official added.