By Vir B. Lumicao
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| Be wary of accepting parcels from people you hardly know, as they could contain drugs such as this |
Michelle Mardo, a 41-year-old mother of three, was
speechless when the prosecutor told Kowloon City Magistrate Lam Tsz-kan that
the charge of “trafficking in a dangerous drug” against her was being
withdrawn.
But she reportedly told prison chaplain Fr. John Wotherspoon
afterwards that she wanted to file a claim for damages against the Customs and
Excise Department for her wrongful arrest.
“Michelle has phoned me and I've put her in contact with a
lawyer. I hope publicity about her case can warn others,” said the priest, who
has been helping women jailed for acting as couriers, wittingly or unwittingly,
for drug syndicates.
Consul Paulo Saret also welcomed the news of the acquittal, but
again warned Filipinos to be wary of accepting parcels sent to them, especially
by people they hardly know.
“Mabuti pa, ireport ninyo sa pulis kung duda kayo sa padala
o sa nagpadala,” he added.
Saret said he has been telling newly arrived Filipina
domestic workers attending post-arrival orientation seminars not to be too
trusting with men they meet online or on chance encounters, as they could use
them for illicit purposes.
Mardo was arrested on Sept 27 by customs officers, one of
whom was disguised as a UPS delivery man, after accepting the parcel containing
nearly 300 grams of pure cocaine.
The drug was found hidden between layers of four wooden boxes
sent via air mail to Mardo’s Yuen Long address.
Earlier, on Mar 14, another Filipina maid was freed four
months after taking delivery of a parcel which turned out to contain ketamine
tablets. Prosecutors also withdrew a drug trafficking charge against her.
Calin Baybayan was fetched from the West
Kowloon court after her release by her employer, who also retained
her services.
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