Man cleared of killing stude faces drug raps

CEBU, Philippines - A year after being acquitted of a non-bailable offense, Carl Mark Villa Carteciano is facing drug charges in court.

Prosecutor Noel Cellona recommended the filing of the case in court after the accused chose not to file his counter-affidavit in the case filed against him for violation of Section 11, Article II of Republic Act 9165 otherwise known as Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

Cellona recommended P200,000 bail for the accused’s temporary liberty.

Last year, Carteciano was acquitted for robbery with homicide after the prosecution failed to prove his guilt.

Carteciano was one of those accused of robbing and killing Ruby Jade Ruba, a graduating nursing student of Cebu Doctors University.

His co-accused Aivan Barabat and Mark Anthony Gabriel were convicted of the crime and were sentenced to reclusion perpetua or 20 to 40 years imprisonment.

Ruba was killed along Gov. M. Roa St., Barangay Capitol Site last March 6, 2008, weeks away from her graduation.

But this time, Carteciano, 25, a resident of Unit-5 Oprra, Barangay Kalunasan, Cebu City, was arrested for illegal possession of shabu.

Carteciano was arrested on August 23, 2012 at 10: 00 p.m. at NB.G. Escario Street, Barangay Camputhaw, Cebu City.

In the affidavit executed by the arresting officers, they alleged that on the said date, they conducted a checkpoint where they got from the possession of the accused 0.04 gram of shabu. He was riding a motorcycle.     - THE FREEMAN