Man gets 14 years in jail for drugs

A resident of barangay Tangke, Talisay City, was sentenced in absentia to 14 years in prison after he was arrested for having shabu five years ago.

Regional Trial Court judge Silvestre Maamo Jr. yesterday convicted Allan Manguilimotan after the accused chose not to present evidence on his behalf and failed to appear during the scheduled hearings of his case despite several summons sent on him.

“Despite several opportunities given by the court, the defense failed to present its evidence.  Consequently, the version and the evidence presented by the prosecution remained uncontradicted and unrebutted,” Maamo said in his two-page decision.

The court reminded those accused in various cases that they must appear during trial to present controverting and convincing evidence to prove their innocence, otherwise they will be convicted.

The records of the case showed that Manguilimotan was arrested by the police together with a certain Frederick Maneja shortly before noon of March 14, 2003, in sitio Galaxy, barangay Tangke.

The policemen were patrolling the area when they saw the two talking to each other, but when both of them noticed the approaching lawmen, Manguilimotan quickly threw a small pack of tinfoil to the ground.

When the policemen picked it up, they found out that it contained shabu that prompted them to place the two under arrest.  Maneja was later absolved of the case after his name was dropped from the charges through the intervention of his counsel.

Manguilimotan only appeared in court during his arraignment.  He pleaded guilty to the charges and paid bail, but later on he ignored the court’s subpoenas for him to appear during the succeeding trial.

The court is expected to issue a warrant of arrest against Manguilimotan.  He was also ordered to pay P300,000 as fine for violating the Dangerous Drugs Law.  — Rene U. Borromeo/BRP