Sunday, December 02, 2007 Doubtful testimony saves 2 ‘drug pushers’
TWO suspected drug pushers were acquitted of their charges because of the “inconsistent” testimonies of the policemen who arrested them.
Cleared by Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 58 Judge Gabriel Ingles were Joan Bacus and Randy Igot.
The court found in the testimony of PO1 Christopher Torregosa on Bacus’ case unusual circumstances leading to her arrest.
Torregosa told the court that in July last year, they received information from a police asset about the alleged illegal activities on A. Lopez St, Sitio Mahayahay, Calamba, Cebu.
Buy-bust
A buy-bust was conducted, where police bought from Bacus .02 grams of shabu.
Bacus said she was merely talking with friends when two men arrested her. She said the men demanded P200,000 from her.
The court said that based on the testimonies, Torregosa did not really hear the conversation between Bacus and the police asset who acted as poseur buyer.
The court also wondered why despite Torregosa’s police training, he didn’t negotiate directly with Bacus for the buy-bust and used an asset instead.
Torregasa’s superiors originally assigned him to act as poseur buyer during the briefing. That’s why the court wondered why during the buy-bust, a decoy was used instead.
In Igot’s case, PO1 Ricarfort Sugcang told the court he saw the buy-bust. But when he was cross-examined, he was no longer sure if he really saw the buy-bust at all. (KNT)
