Man gets 12 years for possessing shabu

A court sentenced a motorcycle-for-hire driver to 12 years in jail for possessing shabu two years ago.

Regional Trial Court Branch 15 presiding judge Fortunato de Gracia Jr. also fined Geronimo "Gerome" Rama at least P300,000.

Last July 22, 2003, the police apprehended Rama in Villa Bulsita, barangay Pardo, for being "suspicious-looking".

One of the arresting officers, PO3 Benjamin Herbias, testified before the court that while they were patrolling the place, they noticed Rama and his two persons "acting suspiciously" on board a motorcycle. He said that after seeing them, Rama's companions ran away.

Herbias said that when they arrested Rama, they recovered from him a .38 cal. revolver with five live rounds, an improvised shotgun with two rounds of live shells, a holster and a fan knife.

Later at the police station Rama was also found with a pack of shabu weighing .03 grams while an improvised tooter, two lighters, and a rolled tin foil were recovered from his pockets.

In his defense Rama said he was driving his motorcycle-for-hire with two passengers that day. When police stopped him, he said, his passengers ran away.

He admitted possessing the fan knife, but only for self-defense. Rama told the court that he was surprised when he was accused of possessing shabu.

But the court did not believe Rama's testimonies.

"The accused expectedly denied possession of the incriminating substance claiming that it was planted," De Gracia said his decision, adding that Rama's disclaimers "stood alone and unsubstantiated."

"It was his words against the declaration of the arresting officers," De Gracia added. - Liv G. Campo