Alleged fixer Mark Taguba during the Senate Blue Ribbon hearing on the shabu smuggling from China valuing to P6.4 billion. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA — The Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 46 has convicted alleged customs fixer Mark Taguba and others guilty of violation of Section 4 Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

Taguba, as well as Eirene Mae Tatad, Dong Yi Shen Xi were all sentenced to suffer the penalty of life imprisonment.

They were also ordered to pay a fine of P500,000.

Taguba and his co-accused were charged following the discovery of the controversial P6.4 billion shabu haul from China that slipped past the Bureau of Customs in 2017.

DOJ finds probable cause to indict Mark Taguba, others for 2017 P6.4-B 'shabu' haul

In the decision of the court, Taguba played a central role in facilitating the importation of the illegal drugs.

“He processed the importation documents and used his logistics company, Golden Strike Logistics, Inc. to arrange for the transport of the container,” Presiding Judge Rainelda Estacio-Montesa said in the decision.

The court said the defenses of all of the accused were inherently weak.

Taguba claimed that he had no criminal intent of importing drugs into the Philippines.

“These defenses, however, cannot outweigh the evidence presented by the prosecution,” Estacio-Montesa said.

Last September, Taguba and several others were also convicted by another Manila court for violation of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.

They were sentenced to reclusion perpetua and ordered to pay a total fine of P150 million.