Court dismisses two drug cases
The court dismissed criminal charges filed against an alleged drug pusher and a drug user in barangay Pasil and Kamagayan since the judge refused to believe the testimonies of policemen who acted as prosecution witnesses.
Regional Trial Court Judge Soliver Peras dismissed the cases for violation of the anti-drugs law filed against Lorna Cajes and Ven Matabalan and ordered for their immediate release from jail unless they have other pending cases in courts.
Cajes was arrested in sitio Lawis, Pasil by elements of the Punta Princesa Police Station after she allegedly sold a pack of shabu to a poseur-buyer during a buy-bust operation in the evening of
During the trial, policemen Stanley Biaoco and Ramon Bolongaita issued conflicting statements that prompted Peras to rule in favor of the accused.
Peras observed that Biaoco declared that after their poseur-buyer had bought a pack of shabu from Cajes, the police asset quickly proceeded to him and gave the prohibited drug, prompting them to immediately arrest the suspect.
But Bolangaita testified that after the poseur-buyer gave the pre-arranged signal to inform the support team that the buy-bust had already consummated, policemen hurriedly rushed up to the place and arrested Cajes.
“Biaoco’s claim is totally opposite of Bolongaita, since Biaoco allowed the lapse of few seconds to pass by after the transaction was consummated, since he waited for the poseur-buyer to approach him and hand over to him the packet of shabu. Bolongaita’s version is the opposite,” Peras said in his decision.
In the case of Matabalan, the police claimed that while patrolling in barangay Kamagayan in the evening of
Peras said the policemen’s declarations have been doubtful, saying that a person who brings a pack of shabu would not be holding it while walking.
“Instead, he would place it in his pocket or wallet. The policemen’s contention would, therefore be incredible,” said Peras. — Rene U. Borromeo/LPM
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