Live Breaking News & Updates on Na 23 Page Decision Dated February 22

(File photo) MANILA - The Court of Appeals (CA) has affirmed the life imprisonment sentence handed down by a Manila court to a septuagenarian Colombian national who was nabbed in 2017 for entering the country with 1.17 kilograms of cocaine in rubber pellets inside his stomach. The appellate court's Ninth Division, in a 23-page decision dated February 22, denied the appeal filed by Alberto Quijano, 72, and affirmed the decision of the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 31, that convicted him of transportation of illegal drugs and ordered him to pay a PHP2 million fine. Quijano was apprehended by operatives of the Airport Drug Interdiction Task Group at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 on Nov. 12, 2017, following a tip from the United States government about the suspect who arrived in the country onboard Emirates Airline flight EK-332 from Dubai. Law enforcers accosted and immediately brought the suspect to the Pasay General Hospital, where he underwent an x-r ....

Ninoy Aquino International Airport , United Arab Emirates , United States , Alberto Quijano , Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency , Emirates Airline , Manila Regional Trial Court Branch , Airport Drug Interdiction Task Group , Ninth Division , Pasay General Hospital , Ile Photo Manila The Court Of Appeals Ca Has Affirmed Life Imprisonment Sentence Handed Down Bya Toa Septuagenarian Colombian National Who Was Nabbed In 2017 For Entering Country With 1 17 Kilograms Cocaine Rubber Pellets Inside His Stomach Appellate 39s Ninth Division , Na 23 Page Decision Dated February 22 , Enied The Appeal Filed By Alberto Quijano , Nd Affirmed The Decision Of Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 31 , Hat Convicted Him Of Transportation Illegal Drugs And Ordered To Paya Php2 Million Fine Quijano Was Apprehended By Operatives The Airport Drug Interdiction Task Group At Ninoy Aquino International Naia Terminal 3 On Nov 12 , Ollowinga Tip From The United States Government About Suspect Who Arrived In Country Onboard Emirates Airline Flight Ek 332 Dubai Law Enforcers Accosted And Immediately Brought To Pasay General Hospital , Here He Underwent Anx Ray Medical Scanning Procedure Which Later Showed 79 Rubber Pellets In His Stomach The Substances Inside Tested Positive For Cocaine , Lthough Quijano Himself Tested Negative For Cocaine And Marijuana The Medical Staff Took More Than 24 Hours Excreting Rubber Pellets From Suspect Substance Was Brought To Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Pdea Laboratory Examination , Hile Quijano Underwenta Drug Test And Was Detained At The Agency 39s Detention Center Ruling Against His Appeal , He Appellate Court Said Quot Quijano Was Validly Arrested , Nd The Pieces Of Evidence Recovered From Him Are Admissible Quot It Cannot Be Said That Foreign Intelligence Consisting Quijano 39s Name , Flight Details , Nd The Means By Which He Would Transport Illegal Drugs Was Sole Basis For Quijano 39s Arrest These Were Complemented Fact That Complained Of Stomach Ache , He Presence Of Foreign Pills Shaped Objects In His Stomach As Revealed By Thex Ray , Nd His Excretion Of These Pill Shaped Objects , Uot The Court Added Pna ,