Oro court gets commendation on illegal drug trader's conviction

Friday, February 10, 2012

SENATOR Vicente “Tito” Sotto III congratulated the Cagayan de Oro City Prosecutor’s Office for handing down a verdict on alleged illegal drug trader Sammy Mohammad Yusop on Thursday.

Yusop was ordered to serve life imprisonment and pay a fine of P500,000 by Cagayan de Oro City Regional Trial Court (RTC) branch 25 Judge Arthur L. Abundiente

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Lawyer Clarence Paul Oaminal, former vice chair of the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), disclosed that Sotto intends to visit Cagayan de Oro City to personally thank the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the prosecutor’s office and the court for the accomplishment.

Oaminal said Sotto relayed his hopes that other regional offices and PDEA’s central office will also have the same accomplishment.

“The arrest of suspected drug pushers is not enough since the most important part is the conviction,” he said.

For his part, City Prosecutor Fidel Macauyag was thankful for Sotto’s appreciation on the prosecution’s endeavor.

It was learned that the prosecution led by Macauyag was able to secure Yusop’s conviction in less than three months from his arrest and after six continuous trial dates.

Yusop was arrested last November 21, 2011 while he was about to load a package he claimed from a courier company that contained almost two kilos of shabu (methamphetamine) worth P20 million inside his Toyota Hi-Ace van parked outside a mall in Cagayan de Oro.

The illegal drug was taped inside the picture tube of television set sent to Yusop through the courier company.

Investigation showed that Yusop is believed to be a member of a drug syndicate operating in Mindanao.

“Sana ganun tayo nationwide,” Macauyag told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.

Oaminal said they also appreciated Judge Abundiente for the speedy disposition of the case.

Under the law, preliminary investigation of drug cases must be resolved within 30 days from the date of filing and once the information is filed at the court, it must be resolved within 60 days.

Meanwhile, Oaminal said for 2012, PDEA will have a budget of P543 million which should be reasonably distributed to 16 regional offices for its maintenance and operating expenses.

However, the allocated funds for the regional offices do not show in PDEA’s budget.

Because of this, Oaminal plans that this year’s budget hearing for the 2013 general appropriations act, PDEA must itemize the budget for the regional expenses similar to that of the Philippine National Police and other executive departments where budget is being itemized per region. (Annabelle L. Ricalde)