Two former bodyguards of a mayor of a town in Zamboanga del Sur, who claimed to be dried fish vendors, were sentenced yesterday to 40 years imprisonment for the sale of shabu in Kabankalan City three years ago.

Kabankalan Regional Trial Court Judge Henry Arles sentenced Mario Arangcana and Aldin Acson to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua and to pay a fine of P500,000 each.

The two were arrested by Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency agents for the sale of 3.88 grams of shabu in a buy bust operation in Barangay Hilamonan, Kabankalan City , on July 27, 2004 , the judge said.

The PDEA based in Camp Alfredo Montelibano Sr. in Barangay Camingawan, Bacolod City , conducted the buy bust operation after receiving information of the rampant illegal drug trade in Barangay Hilamonan, SPO1 Arnold Yusay, one of the apprehending officers, told the court.

His testimony was corroborated by PO2 Norman Guillergan.

Arangcana and Acson claimed that they were framed and that there was no such buy-bust operation conducted against them.

Arles , in his decision, said the court finds no reason to disbelieve of discredit the testimonies of Yusay and Guillergen.

The defense failed to attribute any ill motive on the two PDEA officers to impute such serious charge and falsely testify against the accused, Arles said.

“The defense of denial of the accused claiming that they have been set up, could not be given credence. It is a defense that could be fabricated with facility,” the judge ruled.

“Besides the accused do not appear to be legitimate dried fish vendors as they claimed to be,” he added.

The judge also pointed out that the accused were caught in flagrante delicto delivering to the poseur-buyer the shabu in the presence of police officers.*CPG

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