Eight years for shabu

A judge sentenced a Chinese mestizo in absentia to eight years imprisonment for illegal possession of shabu in Manila six years ago.

Judge Reynaldo Alhambra of Regional Trial Court Branch 53 found Ernesto Lim guilty of illegal possession of 5.12 grams of shabu. Lim posted bail after his arraignment and never showed up to attend the trial.

In his four-page ruling, Alhambra said Lim failed to refute the evidence presented by the prosecution against him.

The judge said Lim preferred to jump bail and flee from participating in the trial of the case, instead of taking the witness stand to defend himself.

"Fundamental is the rule that flight is indicative of guilt," Alhambra said, noting that Lim has in fact remained at large, "then this is a flight from which could be drawn the conclusion that he is guilty of the offense charged."

Court records showed that Lim was arrested while in possession of shabu at the corner of Juan Luna and Hermosa streets in Tondo, Manila on Feb. 21, 1996.

Prior to the arrest, operatives of the Western Police District went to the area to verify reports about the rampant selling of illegal drugs. An informant pointed to Lim, who was then on board a car, as the source of shabu. — Cecille Suerte Felipe