Sergio Santiago de Leon Syjuco, Cesar Paolo Inciong Ubaldo, and Arjyl Revereza all entered a plea of “not guilty” to charges of exporting weapons without a license. 

 

They were arrested last month after yearlong undercover operations where federal agents, posing as Mexican drug cartel members, allegedly bought US made military grade weapons from them in the Philippines.

 

Representatives from the Philippine Consulate were present in the court room and have been in touch with the family of the accused.

 

Their lawyers declined to comment on the case. However, they say they may try to request a judge to set a bail for them. 

 

A conviction could give them as much as 20 years each in prison. They were ordered to appear for trial on March 6th.