Man gets life for illegal drugs

CEBU - The Regional Trial Court yesterday sentenced yet another man to life imprisonment for selling shabu two years ago.

Solomon Dequitos and his brother Federico were arrested in a buy-bust operation on September 22, 2006 at their own residence in barangay Tejero.

Months later, however, Federico passed away, thus the court had to dismiss the case against him.

The two brothers pleaded not guilty to the offense but Judge Gabriel Ingles of RTC Branch 58 said the evidence presented by the police established beyond reasonable doubt that Dequitos sold 0.01 grams of shabu to the policeman who posed as a poseur buyer.

“It is also clear from the documentary evidence, particularly the laboratory examination…the crystalline substance was found positive for dangerous drug,” Ingles said.

Aside from imprisonment, Ingles also ordered Dequitos to pay a fine of P500,000,000. — Jasmin R. Uy/JMO (THE FREEMAN)