Sunday, August 15, 2004 RTC convicts drug user By Victor Camion
THE Regional Trial Court convicted a drug user for possessing methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu while on board a vessel bound for Dumaguete six year ago.
RTC Branch 34 Judge Rosendo Bandal, Jr. sentenced Jun Cris Mananquil to six months minimum to six years maximum of imprisonment.
Bandal also ordered Mananquil's transfer to New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila.
Mananquil is presently detained at Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center (BBRC) in Cebu City in another drug case.
In his 6-page decision, the Bandal found Mananquil guilty beyond reasonable doubt of violating Section 16 of Article III of Republic Act 6425 or the 1972 amended anti-drugs law.
Court records show that PO1 Achilles Gimenez saw Mananquil holding a glass "tooter", a drug paraphernalia used for sniffing of shabu, a regulated drug on August 13, 1998, while on board the M/V Filipinas of Cokaliong Shipping Lines.
During the body search, Mananquil was caught possessing 13 pieces of tooter pipes, one disposable lighter, five candles, one bottle of 100 ml distilled water, 20 cotton balls, five undetermined capsules, three pairs of forceps, five empty plastic packs, one cotton thread and a pencil torch.
The policeman also found a gallon marked acetone, one bottle marked tincture, two butane fuel gas and a camping gas with butane.
"...Mananquil was caught in flagrante delicto is possession of methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as shabu," said Judge Bandal in his August 13 decision, adding, " ...a person lawfully arrested may be searched for dangerous weapons which may constitute proof in the commission of an offense, without a search warrant."
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