2 men get jail terms for drug possession

A driver was sentenced to suffer life imprisonment and ordered to pay a fine of almost P1 million after he was found guilty of drug pushing and possession of illegal drugs, while another drug user was sentenced to suffer 12 years imprisonment for possession of a marijuana stick.

Judge Fortunato de Gracia of the Regional Trial Court branch 15 yesterday convicted Nelson Cogay, 38, of A. Lopez, Labangon of the two charges filed against him. Cogay was found guilty of selling a pack of shabu to a poseur buyer used by the Punta Princesa Police in conducting a buy bust operation last January 30, 2003.

Cogay was likewise found guilty of possession of illegal drugs when the police found another pack of shabu in his pocket when frisked after his arrest.

Cogay, however, denied he was selling shabu to a poseur buyer of the police and said he was only watching a billiards game when the police raided the area and ordered everybody to stay put. Cogay said there were five of them in the billiard hall but the four others eluded arrest.

Cogay claimed that the police did not get anything from him but he was surprised when the police showed two packs of shabu at the police station allegedly bought and recovered from him.

The court, however, dismissed his denial, saying that the prosecution was able to present enough evidence to convict the accused.

Cogay was sentenced life imprisonment for selling shabu and was ordered to pay a P500,000 fine. He was also sentenced to another 12 years imprisonment for possession of shabu and was made to pay a P300,000 fine.

Meanwhile, another drug user was meted 12 years imprisonment and made to pay a P300,000 fine after he was found guilty of possessing a stick of marijuana. Joselito Nuñez was arrested on January 10, 2003 by elements of the Carbon Police Station for possession of a deadly weapon. A stick of marijuana was later found in his pocket. - Fred P. Languido