Vendor meted life for selling shabu

The Regional Trial Court yesterday sentenced a 34-year-old vendor to life imprisonment for selling shabu worth P100 during a buy-bust operation four years ago.

Aside from imprisonment, Judge Meinrado Paredes of RTC Branch 13 also ordered Ali Ramas of Bato, Carbon, Cebu City to pay P500,000 as fine.

Ramas was nabbed on October 3, 2004 for selling 0.04 grams of shabu to authorities during an operation at sitio Bato, barangay Ermita.

Ramas pleaded not guilty to the offense but the court said the prosecution successfully proved all elements of the crime he was accused of, particularly the identity of the seller and the buyer.

The prosecution presented PO2 Reynaldo Labating and SPO1 Necito dela Victoria, the arresting officers during the operation. 

 “The prosecution was able to prove all the elements of the crime of selling dangerous drugs. Thus the identities of the seller and the buyer were established.

Two police officers saw the actual exchange of money and shabu. The consideration relative to the transaction was also marked and admitted in evidence,” Paredes said.

Paredes also said Ramas’ testimony was not corroborated by any credible witnesses, thus, was unreliable. — Jasmin R. Uy/JMO