Three persons accused of violation of Section 11 of Republic Act 9165 otherwise known as Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 were convicted Friday to a maximum of 14 years and fined P400,000 each.
Judge Crescencio Tan, Jr., presiding judge of the Regional Trial Court Branch 30, meted the jail terms on Jerome Oliveros Salinas, Christopher Vergara Fandialan and Jay Roleda.
They were arrested in separate anti-illegal drugs operations in May last year in Dumaguete City.
The court found them guilty beyond reasonable doubt for illegal possession of shabu as provided for in Section 11 of RA 9165.
In an interview, Roleda claimed the evidence against him was planted.
But Judge Tan stressed he failed to substantiate his claim by filing administrative charges against the concerned policeman.
Judge Tan has also scheduled another promulgation of judgment next week for three drugs cases lodged in his sala.
Meanwhile, a suspected drug peddler in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental was arrested Thursday with one big “bulto” or large plastic sachet of suspected shabu, and one sachet of suspected shabu which was the subject of a buy-bust operation.
The suspect Julito Acosta Banico, 27 years old, married, tried to elude arrest by destroying the jalousie blades and jumped from the second floor of their house in Poblacion 7, Tanjay City but was subdued by blocking operatives composed of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and Philippine Drug Enforcement Administration agents.
Also recovered from his possession was a homemade cal. 38 revolver with no ammunition, disposable lighters, a digital weighing scale, improvised sealer, clips, and the P500 buy bust money.
Bandico is listed as among the top ten alleged illegal drugs personality in Tanjay City.
In an interview, the suspect admitted somebody just delivered to him the alleged shabu in Bais City and that he was asked to look for friends to pawn the firearm. (PNA/JFP/Juancho Gallarde)
