Two meted life for 17 grams shabu

CEBU, Philippines - The Regional Trial Court has sentenced two men to life imprisonment for selling illegal drugs to policemen last April 11, 2005.

RTC Branch 17 Judge Silvestre Maamo ordered Hadji Abubakar Mohammad and Helbert Pancho to pay a fine of P500,000 after they were found guilty of selling illegal drugs weighing 17.20 grams to police.  

Upon arraignment, the two accused pleaded not guilty to the offense charged. However, Maamo in his decision said that the two testimonies of the accused were “so blatant that these failed to merit belief.”

PO3 Cesar Pandong of the Cebu City Police Office testified that a confidential agent went to their office and reported of a certain Helbert Pancho who was about to deliver to him shabu worth P40,000 and even asked him to look for a buyer.

With the information given, police mapped out a buy-bust operation with the help of their superior, Chief Supt. Pablo Labra. They prepared a team and cash made of wad of papers topped with four P100 bills.

Upon reaching the place near a warehouse club in barangay Bulacao-Pardo, Pandong who acted as poseur buyer along with the agent boarded a taxicab. When they met the accused, Pancho demanded for the money and that they were told to wait because the person (Mohammad) who will be delivering the item is still on his way from Minglanilla town.

When Mohammad arrived, Pandong and his companions arrested the two and were able to confiscate from them 17.20 grams of shabu.

On the other hand, Pancho alleged that on April 11, 2005, he went to the Bulacao branch of the Prince Warehouse Club supposedly to buy window blinds. But since the item was not available, he left the store and waited at a jeepney stop outside for a ride to San Fernando town.

Pancho said that, to his shock, three men approached him and asked from where he was and then immediately arrested him without giving a reason. Pancho alleged that he was even asked if he has P60,000 in exchange for his release.

Because he refused to give the amount, Pancho claimed that a case was filed against him the following day. He denied being arrested along with Mohammad and said that he only met the latter at around 3 p.m. that day at the prosecutors office.

Maamo mentioned that in Pancho’s counter affidavit, the accused said he was at the warehouse club that day hoping to sell his mobile phone through an acquaintance named “Jeje” who assured him that he can find a buyer for the gadget. But these were contrary to his earlier statements in court, Maamo said.

Pancho also mentioned of meeting by chance Mohammad he claimed to be a resident of San Fernando. But in court, he denied knowing him at all.

“These incongruous remarks give rise to incredulity and disbelief as to the innocence of the two accused,” Maamo’s decision read.

Meanwhile, police has filed drug charges against an alleged drug peddler who managed to escape when they raided his house in sitio Paihib, barangay Sambag II, also here in the city yesterday.

John Abella, also known as “Wintoy”, was charged yesterday for drug possession after police confiscated five heat-sealed plastic packs of shabu and 71 opened sachets inside his house last July 14, 2009.

Fuente Police and Special Weapons and Tactics operatives led by Chief Insp. Arnel Banzon were supposed to implement a search warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 13 Judge Meinrado Paredes against Abella.

However, before they could capture the suspect, the latter escaped through the window of his house.

Police also recovered a digital scale, a calculator, some drug paraphernalia, and two television sets inside Abella’s house. — Jasmin U. Labaco/MEEV   (FREEMAN NEWS)