Man gets 12 years for illegal drugs

CEBU, Philippines – A man was sentenced yesterday to 12 years in prison for illegal possession of illegal drugs.

Gilbert Laborte was also ordered to pay a fine of P400,000 after he was found guilty by the court of possessing 0.05 grams of shabu during his arrest on March 4, 2007.

Barangay Tanod Vicente Basque, one of the prosecution witnesses, said he was with other tanods conducting a roving patrol along Magallanes Street in Cebu City when a woman, who was allegedly robbed by Laborte, shouted for help.

After Laborte’s arrest, a body search was conducted on him and tanods recovered from his possession a cell phone, a knife and a pack of shabu.

But while Laborte confirmed that there was a robbery alarm at the time of the incident, he denied that he was the suspect, saying he was just arrested without a cause.

Regional Trial Court Judge Gabriel Ingles, in his decision, said that the testimonies of the tanods have more weight compared to the weak defense of the suspect.

Ingles also said that it was established by the prosecution that the arrest was legal because it was a hot pursuit operation. The tanods arrested Laborte when a lady asked for assistance because she was robbed.

The warrantless body search was also legal because it was incidental during the valid arrest that led to the recovery of the knife. — Jasmin R. Uy/LPM (THE FREEMAN)