Man gets 15 years for keeping shabu

The court sentenced yesterday a confessed drug pusher from Alaska-Mambaling to 15 years imprisonment two years following his arrest by police for possessing shabu.

Regional Trial Court Judge Gabriel Ingles found Danilo P. Uralde of sitio Pungtod guilty for keeping two packs of shabu when police arrested him on January 20, 2004.

During arraignment, Uralde pleaded guilty to the charges filed against him, court records showed.

Police said they arrested Uralde during a buy-bust operation, but it was not clear why the City Prosecutor's Office only filed a case for shabu possession, which carries a lower penalty.

Police Officer Girlie Salimbangon said that after he was arrested for selling a pack of shabu, Uralde was frisked and yielded two more packs of the illegal drug.

Uralde did not present any controverting evidence before the court, prompting Ingles to decide that the case is set for promulgation.

During the promulgation, Uralde was not around since he gained temporary liberty after posting bail. A warrant of arrest will be issued against him. - Rene U. Borromeo