4 convicted for illegal drugs in Makati

MANILA, Philippines - Operations by the Makati Anti-Drug Abuse Council (MADAC) led to the conviction of four persons in drug-related cases, an official said yesterday.

In a report to Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay, MADAC operations chief Superintendent Jaime Santos said Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 135 Judge Josephine Advento-Vito Cruz sentenced Jose Presnede last March 31 to life imprisonment and to pay a fine of P500,000 for violating Republic Act 9165.

Presnede was arrested in a drug bust conducted by a joint team from MADAC and the Makati police on March 12, 2012 in Barangay Tejeros. He was caught selling 0.02 grams of shabu to an undercover MADAC agent while another 0.03 gram was found in his possession.

Meanwhile, Gary Garces, Arlene Cumpa and Mary Grace Manuel were sentenced to serve a minimum of 12 years and one day to a maximum of 14 years and eight months for drug possession.

Cumpa and Manuel were nabbed by Makati City Jail guards as they tried to smuggle shabu and dried marijuana leaves into the jail.