Court of Appeals affirms conviction of mayor's aide

MANILA, Philippines - The conviction of an aide of a former town mayor in Quezon province of violating the Dangerous Drugs Act has been affirmed by the Court of Appeals.

In a decision last July 13, the CA ruled that Javier Morilla engaged in a conspiracy with his boss, former Panukulan town Mayor Ronnie Mitra, to transport more than 503 kilos of shabu from Quezon province to Metro Manila using a government ambulance in 2001.

Mitra did not appeal to the CA.

In his appeal, Morilla claimed he was unaware that the ambulance he was driving was carrying millions of pesos worth of shabu when police stopped him on his way to Metro Manila.

He thought he was transporting wooden tiles and learned of the shabu shipment when police stopped him, he added.

The claim that he had no knowledge of the true nature of the cargo is “incredulous” and “not a valid defense,” the CA said.

“(Morilla) could not feign ignorance of the true contents thereof and claim that they were wooden tiles,” read the decision.

“The differences in shape, size and volume of a wooden tile from a white crystalline substance are highly noticeable even if inside a sack.

“Furthermore, accused-appellant committed an infraction when he used a government ambulance for a purpose other than to carry patients.

In August 2007, Judge Ma. Theresa de la Torre Yadao of Quezon City Regional Trial Court convicted Mitra and Morilla of violating the Dangerous Drugs Law and also ordered each of them to pay a fine of P10 million.