5 Makati drug pushers get life terms

MANILA, Philippines - Five notorious drug pushers in Makati City have been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Makati regional trial court in five separate promulgations.

Based on a report of the Makati RTC presented at a recent meeting of the Makati Anti-Drug Abuse Council, two Makati RTC branches imposed the life sentence to five drug offenders for violating Section 5 of Republic Act 9165, also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado welcomed the news and lauded Judge Tranquil Salvador and Judge Edgardo Cardona of the Makati RTC for the speedy resolution of the said cases.

“These recent convictions serve to prove the effectiveness of our campaign against illegal drugs in Makati, and have motivated us to pursue it with even greater resolve,” Mercado, who is also MADAC chairperson, said.

The RTC reported that Salvador of Branch 63 imposed life terms on Margarito Gamil and Hilario Rodriguez for drug pushing, while Cardona of Branch 65 meted out life imprisonment to Edgardo Drillon, Julieta Robles and Gerry Octavio, also for drug pushing. They were also ordered to pay a fine of P500,000 each.

Aside from life imprisonment, the five convicted pushers also got an additional sentence of 12 to 20 years imprisonment for violating Section 11, (illegal possession of dangerous drugs), and were ordered to pay another P300,000 each by the court.

In their decisions, the two judges cited the evidence and testimonies of MADAC operatives and police who conducted the raid and buy-bust operations, stating that the respective prosecutors were able to prove their case beyond reasonable doubt. Likewise, the judges said denials of the accused were weak especially since these were not substantiated by clear and convincing evidence.

“The defense of denial, frame-up, like alibi, has 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 the Dangerous Drugs Act. The rule is that affirmative testimony is far weightier than a mere denial, especially when it comes from the mouth of a credible witness,” the report said.

Mercado also heads the Association of Metro Manila Anti-Drug Abuse Councils. Under his leadership, MADAC has been cited as a Best Practice by the different institutions in the war against drugs.