6 drug convicts get life in prison

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — The Regional Trial Court on Friday convicted six men to life imprisonment after they were found guilty for selling, delivering and posessing illegal drugs.

RTC-Branch 30 Judge Crescencio Tan Jr. promulgated the sentence on Jemmar Ortega Ramos, Marcial Flores Melon, Sidrick Diaz Somoza, Kristofferson Peacidad, Analine Tomarong and Roy del Castillo Temperatura.

Ramos was also fined with P1,000,000 for having in his possession 122.94 grams of shabu, while the rest were meted with a penalty of P500,000 each.

The judge also ordered the six convicts to be sent to the National Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa, in order to decongest the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology jail in Barangay Bajumpandan of this city.

Tan further said defenses of denial and frame up "are invariably viewed with disfavor because such defenses can easily be fabricated and are a common ploy in prosecutions for illegal sale and possession of dangerous drugs."

He added: "In the absence of any ill motive on the part of the law enforcers, denial and plea of frame up deserve scant consideration in the light of positive identification made by law enforcers."  (FREEMAN)