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Thursday, September 22, 2005
Ermita man gets double life terms
A 33-YEAR-OLD man was meted a double life sentence, aside from being ordered to pay P1 million, for separate violations of the Dangerous Drugs Law in one incident.
Rommel Camacho was found guilty of selling and possessing shabu on Aug. 1, 2003.
Camacho was entrapment by members of the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Branch (CIIB) of the Cebu City Police Office.
PO2 Dhonel Salazar, who acted as a poseur buyer in the buy-bust, was the one who contacted him.
The deal was for Camacho to deliver 20.5 grams of shabu to Salazar for P8,000.
The two decided to meet at the foodcourt of a downtown store, where Salazar’s other policemen-companions were waiting.
Camacho placed the contraband inside a paper bag.
When Salazar came to check the contents of the paper bag, his policemen-companions immediately made their way towards the two men and arrested Camacho, who tried to resist.
Inside the bag was 20.14 grams of shabu. One of the arresting officers, PO2 Bezaleel Olmedo, found 50.32 more grams of shabu inside Camacho’s pocket.
Separate charge
Camacho was subsequently charged with violation of section 5 of Republic act (RA) 9165 or the illegal sale or delivery of shabu to a buyer.
A separate charge of illegal possession of shabu or a violation of Section 11 of the same law was filed against Camacho.
Since the arrest was made before Salazar handed the money to the accused, the bundled P10,000 was not presented as evidence.
Camacho denied the charge against him and claimed that it was only a matter of mistaken identity.
He also said at the witness stand that he was beaten by his arresting officers to reveal names of drug dealers in his neighborhood of Ermita.
He refused, and was beaten even more, he said.
As for the meeting, Camacho said he was only there expecting to receive from Salazar some crabs and calamay sent to him by a friend.
He was surprised that he was arrested when he met Salazar.
Two witnesses were presented to prove Camacho’s innocence, but RTC Judge Fortunato de Gracia Jr. gave gave weight to the testimonies of the police officers.
Credence
“In cases involving violations of the Dangerous Drugs Act, credence is given to prosecution witnesses who are police officers for they are presumed to have performed their duties in a regular manner, unless there is evidence to the contrary,” de Gracia said in his nine-page decision.
The judge also cited that Camacho never explained his possession of shabu. (JGA)
(September 22, 2005 issue)
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