CA affirms life term against a Colon drug pusher

CEBU, Philippines - The Court of Appeals has affirmed the penalty of life imprisonment against a drug pusher.

CA Associate Justice Marilyn Lagura-Yap has affirmed the conviction of a certain Ronald Natividad of Cebu City for  violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

"In fine, the accused-appellant failed to convince us of the merits of his defense. Mere allegations and self-serving statements will not overcome the presumption of regularity in the performance of official duties accorded to police officers," the decision reads.

Yap said based on the evidence, she found no mistake in the decision of the trial court convicting Natividad for illegal selling of drugs and sentenced him to suffer life imprisonment and a fine of P1 million.

The accused was arrested by the authorities on June 21, 2005 at about 3:00 p.m. during an entrapment operation.

Prior to the operation, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said that on June 16, 2005 they received report from a confidential informant that Natividad was engaged in illegal drugs activities.

One week surveillance was conducted by the authorities against him which found to be positive.

The transaction was done inside a hotel in Colon Street where the accused delivered four packs of shabu with a total weight of 200.71grams to the poseur buyer before he was arrested.

Accused denied the accusation saying that on the said date, he received a call from a friend if he wanted to earn some money.

He was told by his friend to deliver the package in a hotel however, when he asked what's inside the package, his friend just said not to bother asking as he was only tasked to deliver.

Accused said he went to the room of the hotel and therein, he was arrested for selling shabu which he denied.

Yap said the prosecution witnesses were able to prove the regularity of their operation.

"The appeal is not meritorious," the decision read. (FREEMAN)