Manila, June 10 -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) welcomed the conviction of Canadian national Thomas Gordon O'Quinn on drug possession charges linked to a PHP9.5-billion shabu haul in Batangas, describing the ruling as a significant victory in the country's campaign against illegal drugs.

According to PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., the conviction demonstrates the value of a rules-based enforcement approach that leads not only to arrests and drug seizures but also to successful prosecutions.

"The suspect was arrested without loss of life, evidence was preserved, and the judicial process ultimately resulted in a conviction, reflecting the effectiveness of a rules-based approach to law enforcement," Nartatez said in a s...