Couple indicted for illegal drugs

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office has indicted a couple before the court for alleged illegal drug possession.

Prosecutor III Alex Gabud held spouses Michael and Aidel Uy for trial for violation of Section 11, Article II of Republic Act 9165, otherwise known as Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

“…that on the basis of the sworn statement and other evidence submitted before me there is reasonable ground to believe that the crime has been committed and that the accused herein are probably guilty thereof,” read the document.

 Gabud recommended P200,000 bail for each Michael and Aidel’s temporary liberty.

 On September 25 at around 12:30 p.m., operatives of City Intelligence Branch had implemented a search warrant against the couple at their residence in sitio Lower Tapoco, Barangay Pit-os, Cebu City. The couple was not around during the search.

 Prior to the implementation of the warrant, the operatives conducted surveillance.

 The operatives allegedly recovered one medium-size plastic pack containing 21 small heat-sealed plastic packs, one medium-size pack containing three small heat-sealed plastic packs, nubain, weighing scale and cash amounting to P26,608.75.

 The couple, in separate counter-affidavits, denied the allegations filed against them. They alleged that they never engaged in any illegal drug transaction and that they lived a simple and ordinary life.

 They claimed that during the search, none were recovered from their possession or from their room, saying that those seized were from a separate room rented by a certain Lina Codilla alias “Otik.”

 Gabud, however, found probable cause to charge the couple. He ruled that the defenses of the couple were evidentiary in nature.

 “The defense of denial and that the said room was allegedly rented out by the respondents to a certain Otik is evidentiary in nature which must be fully threshed out in court during the full blown hearing,” the resolution read.

 The couple filed a motion for reconsideration seeking for the reversal of the earlier resolution of Gabud but Prosecutor III Anna Lou Fernandez-Cavada denied the same.

 Cavada ruled that she found no grounds to reverse Gabud’s ruling.

 “The undersigned finds no reason to disturb the findings in the assailed resolution. It is evident that respondents did not present any new issues that were not raised in their counter-affidavit which were already tackled by ACP Gabud in his original resolution,” said Cavada’s the resolution.  (FREEMAN)