Christian Hermosisima was also meted with a 13-year imprisonment for possessing shabu by Regional Trial Court Judge Silvestre Maamo Jr., who found him guilty of violating Sections 5 and 11 of Republic Act 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.
Aside from the two jail terms, Maamo likewise ordered Hermosisima to pay a fine of P800,000.
On August 11, 2003, Hermosisima was arrested in barangay Poblacion II, Carcar after he sold a pack of shabu to an undercover policeman. After his arrest, four more packs of shabu were recovered from his pockets.
Saying there was no buy-bust operation, Hermosisima denied selling shabu to the policemen and claimed that he was only attending the wake of his friend when being arrested.
He said despite his refusal, the policemen forcibly brought him to the police station.
Hermosisima claimed that several months prior to his arrest, the policemen told him to reveal the names of those involved in the illegal drug trade in the area. His refusal to cooperate, Hermosisima added, could be the motive for his arrest.
However, the court did not give credence to his claim, saying that the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses were given in a straightforward manner. - Fred P. Languido/LPM