Friday, June 09, 2006
Grandma face life imprisonment for selling marijuana
By Jay Dooma Balnig
A 79-YEAR-OLD woman from Barangay Malipayon-Delgado, City Proper was meted a life sentence by a local court for selling bricks of marijuana two years ago.
Judge Victor Gelvezon of the Regional Trial Court Branch 36 sentenced Anita Goriona with life imprisonment for violation of Section 5, Article II of Republic Act 9165 or selling illegal drugs under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002.
The court also ordered Goriona to pay P500,000 as fine.
Goriona was arrested by agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) last April 27 of 2004, 3 p.m. inside her residence.
PDEA agents, Cirilo Baluma, Rudy Gepanaga and Hernan Ecal posted as buyers hours before their buy-bust operation.
With the use of marked money, they were able to buy P1,000 worth of dried leaves of marijuana in brick form during the operation. Originally, they agreed on P7,000 worth of stock but it was later reduced.
Aside from the test buy, the operatives were able to recover another brick of marijuana weighing 911 grams.
Due to her age, the court did not convict her of death penalty, which is the maximum punishment for drug pushing.
During the trial, Goriona who was represented by a lawyer from the Public Attorneys Office defended herself by saying that the PDEA agents only planted the stocks.
However, the court still believed the police and prosecution's presentation.
Goriona is set to be transferred to the National Penitentiary in Metro Manila.
(June 9, 2006 issue)
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