Cop gets 14 years for shabu possession

MANILA, Philippines - A Parañaque City regional trial court sentenced a police officer to 14 years of imprisonment after he was found guilty of illegal possession of dangerous drugs.

Presiding Judge Danilo Suarez of Parañaque City RTC Branch 259 also ordered Police Officer 3 Gerardo Aquino Maniaul to pay a fine of P300,000.

Court records showed that arresting officers on April 15, 2004 received a tip from an informant about “illegal drug activities” taking place along J. Gabriel St., Barangay Tambo, Parañaque City, where Maniaul was apprehended. Immediately, the team of Police Officer 2 Edwin Plopinio trooped to the site and intercepted Maniaul, who was also in possession of a firearm. As part of police procedure, Miniaul was asked to empty his pockets and yielded two plastic sachets of shabu.

Miniaul did not resist arrest but pleaded not guilty during his arraignment. At the same time, he no longer showed up at court hearings after securing his bail bond, the court record said.

In his six-page decision, Suarez said that there was enough evidence to convict the police officer based on the evidence submitted by the prosecution.

A warrant of arrest, signed by Suarez on May 14, has already been issued against Maniaul who has remained at large.