High affirms pusher’s conviction

CEBU, Philippines – The Supreme Court affirmed the conviction of a man who was found guilty of possession of illegal drugs.  The SC, in a decision penned by Associate Justice Jose Portugal Perez, found no grounds that would warrant the acquittal of Ramonito Asignar, a resident of Cebu City.

“No cogent reason has been adduced to warrant a reversal of the findings and conclusions of the Court of Appeals and the Regional Trial Court adjudging (Asignar) guilty of violation of Sections 5, 11 and 12, Article II of Republic Act No. 9165 or Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. Wherefore, the judgment appealed from is hereby affirmed,” read the decision.

Asignar appealed his conviction before the high court after the Court of Appeals affirmed the decision of the Regional Trial Court convicting him and sentencing to life imprisonment in 2012.

The SC, however, ruled that the prosecution was able to prove the elements of the crime.

“The seller and the buyer of shabu are clearly identified. They both testified. The 0.02 gram of shabu taken from accused-appellant was identified, marked, presented and admitted in evidence. It was found positive for the presence of methylamphetamine hydrochloride. The chain of custody of the object evidence was also well established,” the decision further read.

Aside from life imprisonment, Asignar was also slapped with a fine of P500,000 for illegal drug sale; P300,000 for illegal drug possession; and 10,000 for possession of drug paraphernalia. — Mylen P. Manto/NSA (FREEMAN)