A Bacolod resident, who is in the police order of battle for the proliferation of illegal drugs, was sentenced yesterday to life imprisonment for the sale of shabu to a police officer in a buy-bust operation.

Bacolod Regional Trial Court Judge Edgar Garvilles found Rodolfo Noblezada Gamoyao guilty beyond reasonable doubt for violation of Section 5, Article II of Republic Act 9165 prohibiting the sale and delivery of dangerous drugs in Criminal Case 03-25045 and meted the penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of P500,000.

In Criminal Case No. 03-25046 Gamoyao he was found guilty of possession of .09 gram of shabu and meted the indeterminate prison term of 12 to 14 years, and to pay the fine of P300,000.

Senior Inspector Clarence Dongail, then Bacolod Police Precinct 2 commander, testified that on June 27, 2003 he conducted a buy-bust operation at the footwalk of Purok Kagaykay, Barangay 2, Bacolod.

He said that when he reached the area, he was met by Gamoyao who asked him if he was going to buy shabu and he said yes.

Dongail said he handed a marked P1,000 bill in exchange for .15 gram of shabu.

As soon as the shabu was handed to him, Dongail said he identified himself as a police officer and searched Gamoyao for a weapon or contraband. He said he recovered more shabu, and an improvised tooter from Gamoyao.

"Ostensibly, the penalties prescribed by RA 9165 are harsh. But it is the law, it has to be applied," Garvilles said.*CPG

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