Pubdate: Fri, 18 Jun 2004 Source: The Freeman (Philippines) articles_20040618&id=19088 Copyright: 2004 The Freeman Website: http://thefreeman.com/ Contact: Joeberth M. Ocao and Jose P. Sollano SMALL AMOUNT OF DRUGS SETS 3 INMATES FREE BECAUSE only a very small percentage of the shabu seized from them is genuine, the Regional Trial Court released three women from jail after serving preventive imprisonment since they were arrested four years ago. Judge Anacleto Caminade ordered the release of Haidee Supangan, Elizabeth Sala and Augie Marie Antipala after a quantitative examination at Camp Crame revealed that only 10.04 grams of the total confiscated substance weighing 1,495.78 grams was genuine. The three accused were put in jail after they were arrested for allegedly selling two plastic packets of shabu weighing 1,495.78 grams noon of April 2, 2000. They were not granted bail then with the large amount of the substance seized. The seized shabu was forwarded to Camp Crame after the lawyer of the three respondents argued in court that only a qualitative examination was conducted here in Cebu. Josefino Remotigue argued that the determination of the exact amount of metamphetamine hydrocloride in the confiscated substance is necessary for the proper resolution of the case. With the result of the qualitative examination, Caminade released the three respondents, saying that they already have undergone preventive imprisonment since their arrest in 2000. Caminade also anchored his order on a Supreme Court memorandum that an accused of a case may be released from jail if he has undergone preventive imprisonment "for a period equal to or more than the possible maximum imprisonment penalty for the offense charged to which they may be sentenced for a period equal to or more than the possible maximum imprisonment penalty for the offense charged". Prior to the release, Caminade already granted the motion of the three accused to post bail, which was anchored on the qualitative examination result. The three accused were prosecuted for violation of the old drugs law otherwise known as the Anti-Dangerous Drugs Act. Meanwhile, the Lapu-Lapu City Special Weapons and Tactics team arrested two brothers who were caught repacking shabu in their house yesterday in barangay Babag II, Lapu-Lapu City. Arrested were Arnel Despi, 33, and his brother Leonardo, 38, both residents of Babag II. The SWAT team led by S/Insp. Jonathan Pineda earlier secured a warrant of arrest issued by Lapu-Lapu Regional Trial Court Branch 53 Judge Benedicto Cobarde. When the team of Pineda arrived in barangay Babag II, they went to the house of Arnel where they caught him and his brother Leonardo repacking shabu. Confiscated from the possession of both Arnel and Leonardo were 23 small heated-sealed transparent plastic sachets of shabu, drug paraphernalia, a cellular phone and P360 believed to be drug money. The suspects are presently detained at the Lapu-Lapu City Jail awaiting the hearing of the case filed against them. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth