RTC convicts man for shabu

CEBU, Philippines - Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Macaundas Hadjirasul of Branch 8 convicted a man for illegal possession of shabu.

 Hadjirasul found accused Victorino Caballes guilty beyond reasonable doubt for violation of Section 11, Article II of Republic Act 91675 or Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

 â€œThis court finds for the prosecution, at least in criminal case for a violation of Section 11 Article II of A 9165. It has no reason to doubt the testimonies of the prosecution’s witnesses,” reads the 11-page decision of Hadjirasul.

 The accused was sentenced to suffer the penalty of imprisonment from 12 to 15 years and a fine of P300,000.

 On July 16, 2010 at 10:30 p.m. the accused was arrested by the police. They seized from him 53 small sachets of shabu weighing 4.13 grams and drugs paraphernalia including 99 pieces of small empty transparent packs for repacking, four empty plastic packs, 14 pieces crumpled tin foil, two pieces of lighter, a forceps, two pieces of stainless clips, two pieces of pullers, one aluminum funnel, a roll of tissue and two improvised small plastic containers.

 In his testimony, SPO4 Roy Salazar said they implemented the search warrant on July 16, 2010 with other policemen. He said he served as perimeter guard at the house of the accused in Sitio Yellow Bells, Barangay Kalunasan, Cebu City.

 He said when their team was about to serve the warrant, the accused attempted to escape by jumping out of the window. But he was immediately cornered by the back-up policemen after he fell.

 Salazar’s testimony was corroborated by two other policemen.

 For his part, the accused denied the charges. He said they were eating outside their house with his family at the time the policemen arrived. He said the policemen went inside their house without showing them document.

 The police then arrested him. He accused the police of planting evidence against him. —(FREEMAN)