Makati’s anti-drug drive nets two drug peddlers

Makati City’s intensified campaign against the illegal drug trade continues to bear fruit in ridding the country’s financial capital of drug peddlers through arrests and monitoring of cases that were already filed in court.

The city’s information department made such an assessment after the Makati City Regional Trial Court (MCRTC) sentenced two notorious drug pushers to life imprisonment last week.

Evangeline Sobangee and Edwin Ulat were found guilty of drug trafficking and were also ordered to pay a fine of P1 million and P500,000, respectively.

MCRTC Branch 65 Judge Salvador Abad Santos handed down the sentence which now placed them behind bars for the rest of their lives.

Court records reveal that Sobangee and Ulat were arrested in separate buy-bust operations conducted by the Makati Anti-Drug Abuse Council (MADAC) Task Force and the Makati Police Drugs Enforcement Unit (DEU).

Sobangee was arrested on Nov. 21, 2002 at Starbucks Café in Rockwell Power Plant after selling P150,000 worth of shabu.

Abad Santos cited the evidence and testimonies of MADAC and DEU personnel against Sobangee, and said the prosecution succeeded in proving the offenses. The plastic sachets containing crystalline substance recovered from the accused were positively tested for shabu by a forensic chemist.

Ulat, alias Pudong, on the other hand, was arrested in Barangay Rizal on Feb. 10, 2003 after selling 0.02 grams of shabu.

The court noted that the accused has attained notoriety as he has been charged several times for the sale and possession of dangerous drugs.

Ulat was also found guilty beyond reasonable doubt for possession of regulated drugs under Criminal Case No. 02-280 by RTC Branch 135.

Abad Santos ruled that the denials made by the two drug offenders were weak, especially since these were not substantiated by clear and convincing evidence.

"The defense of denial, frame-up or the likes have been invariably viewed by the courts with disfavor for it can just as easily be concocted and is a common and standard defense ploy in most prosecution for violation of Dangerous Drugs Act," he said.

"The rule is that affirmative testimony is far weightier than a mere denial, especially when it comes from the mouth of a credible witness," he explained.

Abad Santos added that the testimony of the police officers carried with a presumption of regularity in the performance of official functions.

"Law enforcers are presumed to have performed their duties regularly in the absence of evidence that would suggest any improper motive on their part," he said.

Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado, who chairs MADAC, lauded Abad Santos’ decision, saying the verdict further boosts Makati’s campaign against illegal drugs.

Mercado also heads the Association of Metro Manila Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (AMMADAC) and under his leadership, Makati has been cited by the Philippine National Police (PNP) for Best Practice in the war against drugs. — Michael Punongbayan