Drug user leads way to supplier’s arrest

A supposed user of shabu led the way to the arrest of his supplier and eventually to the latter’s conviction for selling the drug.

Regional Trial Court Judge Meinrado Paredes sentenced to life imprisonment Denongapong Baracuna, an ambulant vendor, after authorities seized a packet of shabu from him during a buy-bust operation. The operation came about after one of Baracuna’s regular customers reported his other business to authorities.

Authorities testified that on December 3, 2003, the Muslim informant went to the Drug Enforcement Unit of the PNP to report Baracuna’s involvement in the illegal drug trade in Paradise Village, Kinasang-an, Pardo. Both Baracuna and the informant live in Paradise Village.

Taking the informant’s report into consideration, the authorities immediately planned of a buy-bust operation and implemented the same together with the informant. One of the police officers acted as the poseur-buyer.

When they reached the Village, the informant called Baracuna and the poseur-buyer gave him the P500. Baracuna then went away and came back moments later with a packet of shabu weighing 0.19 grams. Upon Baracuna’s return, authorities swooped on him.

For his defense, Baracuna interposed plain denial. He said he did not know the police officers who arrested him before the incident happened. Defense witness Abdullah Dumarpa also testified that he knew the accused for a year and knew him not as drug pusher but an ambulant vendor. Dumarpa, himself, is an ambulant vendor.

But in his decision, Paredes said the police officers testified in a straightforward and frank manner. He said they were not motivated by ill-will in testifying against Baracuna because they did not know the accused.

“There is a presumption of regularity in the performance of official duty in favor of the arresting officers. The accused failed to prove that he was framed up or that the evidence against him was planted by the arresting officers to incriminate him,” Paredes said.

“The exchange of money for shabu was established by clear and convincing evidence. The shabu and the money were identified, marked, presented and admitted in evidence. The prosecution established the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt,” Paredes added. — Joeberth M. Ocao/MEEV