MANILA, Philippines - A local court has sentenced Taiwanese Li Yong Le to life imprisonment for running a shabu laboratory in Alubijid, Misamis Oriental in 2004.

Judge Arthur Abundiente of the Misamis Oriental Regional Trial Court found Li guilty of violating Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 for running the shabu lab. The judge said the case took a long time to resolve because prosecutors had a hard time establishing evidence against Li.

"Let the penalty imposed to accused Li Yong Le be a lesson and as an example as well as a warning to all who have the same criminal propensity and proclivity to commit forbidden acts, that crime does not pay," he said in his verdict.

Li's accomplice, Genalyn Bulo, also known as Genalyn Tan and two unidentified cohorts are still the subject of a manhunt.