Woman gets life for selling shabu

MANILA, Philippines - A Parañaque City court has sentenced a woman to life imprisonment for selling illegal drugs in 2007.

Judge Danilo Suarez of Regional Trial Court Branch 250 found Jesulita Zamora Menoy guilty of selling 0.04 grams of shabu or metamphetamine.

Suarez also sentenced Menoy to another 17 years for possession of illegal drugs and ordered her to pay a total of P800,000 for both violations, as he dismissed her claim that she was just framed up. Menoy said she was just having barbecue at a stand near her house when the cops apprehended her.

“No material witness was presented by the defense to corroborate the allegation of frame-up relied upon by the accused. Not even her friend who allegedly invited her over to eat barbecue at a stand near her house or even the vendor was presented to confirm her story,” according to Suarez’s decision.

“In order for the court to appreciate such defenses, there must be clear and convincing evidence to prove such defense... In the case at bar, the defense failed to show any evidence of ill motive on the part of the police officers,” it added.

With Suarez’s decision, Menoy will be transferred from the Pasay City Jail to the Women’s Correctional Facility, Mandaluyong City.