Drug pusher pleads not guilty

CEBU, Philippines - An alleged drug pusher pleaded not guilty to charges yesterday during an arraignment in the sala of Judge Macaundas Hadjirasul of Regional Trial Court Branch 8.

Maria Theresa Gimenez, 35, a cousin of suspected big-time drug personality Giovannie Gimenez entered a not guilty plea to the violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act. She was assisted by lawyer Alex Tolentino.

Gimenez, a resident of Pakigne, Minglanilla was charged with illegal possession and selling of drugs.

Gimenez was arrested in an entrapment operation set up by a team from the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operation Task Force inside a hotel.

Seized from Gimenez were a large plastic pack containing alleged illegal drugs, seven other large plastic packs containing white crystalline substance weighing 200 grams, and 'budol' money.

The seized drugs allegedly have a street value of P1.2 million.

Meanwhile, Judge Hadjirasul granted the omnibus motion filed by Gimenez through his counsel Attorney Tolentino asking the court to order the PNP Crime Laboratory to surrender the alleged shabu to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) laboratory in Quezon City.

Gimenez also asked the court to order the management of a hotel at Juana Osmeña St. where she was supposedly arrested to bring the CCTV footages to the court.

Moreover, Maria Theresa asked the court to order the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 to conduct a forensic investigation at her room in Deca Homes, Tungkil, Minglanilla.

Gimenez argued the subject specimen was never submitted by the PNP Crime Laboratory to the PDEA forensics laboratory for qualitative and quantitative examination, violating Section 21 paragraph 2 of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

She claimed that on December 27, 2010 at around 11:00 p.m. she was abducted by the complainants, PO3 Brazilio Borinaga and company, while she was in her house at Deca Homes.

At around 2:00 a.m. the next day, she alleged she was taken by Borinaga to the hotel and was forced to stay there, guarded by a lady police officer.

Maria Theresa claimed that in the morning of the same date, PO2 Norman Años went inside the room and placed some plastic packets of shabu on a table.

After a while, she said, Police Superintendent Paul Labra entered the room and told her she will be charged with possession of illegal drugs.