Man who chained wife gets 17 years

MANILA, Philippines - A Parañaque City man who kept his wife in chains was sentenced to a maximum of 17 years in prison for drug possession.

Jose Calixto Jr. stood motionless as his sentence was read to him before Judge Danilo Suarez of Paranaque Regional Trial Court Branch 221 on Wednesday. His wife, who refused to press charges, was not present during the sentencing.

Calixto was meted a sentence of 12 to 17 years and ordered to pay a fine of P300,000.

He was arrested over complaints of physically abusing his wife in their Sitio Sto. Nino, Barangay San Martin de Porres residence. Police Officer 2 Abdulmuin Tula told the court that when Calixto’s house was checked on March 29, 2008, police officers, barangay peacekeepers, and a GMA-7 crew saw Calixto’s wife chained by her feet.

Calixto was “caught by surprise” at the police officers’ arrival, according to court records. When asked to empty his pockets, Calixto yielded a plastic sachet containing 0.04 grams of shabu or methylamphetamine hydrocloride and drug paraphernalia.

Calixto and his wife were brought to the barangay hall, but the wife did not press charges. Court records do not indicate how long Calixto had his wife in chains since she refused to talk to police officers and barangay officials. Policemen charged Calixto instead for illegal drug possession.

When he testified before the court, Calixto admitted to quarreling with his wife but denied the other allegations against him, claiming he was framed.

In convicting Calixto, Suarez said “denial or frameup is a standard defense ploy in most prosecutions for violation of the dangerous drugs law.” He said he believes “the prosecution has established its case against accused…with moral certainty.”