Pubdate: Wed, 12 Oct 2005
Source: Sun.Star Baguio (Philippines)
Copyright: 2005, Sunstar
Contact:  http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/bag/2005/02/27/index.html
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1942
Author: Rimaliza Opina
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prison.htm (Incarceration)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Philippines

MAN METED LIFE FOR 95 GRAMS HASHISH

THE Baguio City's Special Drugs Court has sentenced to life
imprisonment John Junas alias John Buguias after he was found guilty
of selling 95.2 grams of hashish or marijuana resin worth P25,000 to
an agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in 2003.

Junas was also ordered to pay a fine of P500,000.

Senior Police Officer 4 Marquez Madlon, team leader of the PDEA agents
who conducted the buy-bust, were also commended by the court for his
"tenacity in bringing the accused to where he belongs and (to get)
what he deserves - jail and for a lifetime."

Madlon displayed the patience of a seasoned officer in the operation,
which he single-handedly initiated, as he and fellow PDEA agents were
able to entrap the accused, which in the end, had taken out in
circulation almost 100 grams of the potent and dangerous hashish,"
said Judge Antonio Reyes, presiding judge of the Regional Trial Court
(RTC) Branch 61.

Court records revealed that on Oct. 11, 2003, an informant reported to
the PDEA Regional Office that Junas was dealing hashish coming from
Sagada, Mountain Province. That same afternoon, Madlon and the
informant met Junas at the Dangwa bus terminal canteen.

Madlon was introduced to Junas as the informant's friend from Manila
who buys hashish for distribution there. The accused reportedly told
Madlon that he had with him about 100 grams of hashish worth P25,000
but that its delivery would have to come later as the contraband would
still have to arrive from Sagada.

Two days later, Madlon received a call from Junas that he was already
preparing to deliver the contraband.

On Nov. 14, 2003, the police officer received another call from Junas
and was asked that they should meet at the terminal's canteen where
Junas brought out a sample of about five grams of hashish, for which
Madlon paid P5,000.

After the transaction, PDEA Regional Director Danilo Flordeliza formed
the team led by Madlon to conduct the buy-bust.

On Nov. 16, 2003, PDEA agents, also composed of Doroteo Supa, Edgar
Apalla and Daniel Akia arrested Junas after he was caught in the act
of selling hashish.

Junas, when arraigned, pleaded not guilty and denied that he was into
the sale of hashish. He said the PDEA agents accosted and brought him
to the hospital for medical examination for "no reason at all".

But the court said Junas's denial should be substantiated with
evidence. "Denial is a weak defense and cannot prevail over the
positive identification of Junas as the doer of the crime. In the
absence of proof of an evil motive, the presumption is that the police
officers' motive in carrying out the buy-bust was simply to perform
their official duty, which included the enforcement of our laws
relating to dangerous drugs." 
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