A drug pusher was sentenced yesterday to life imprisonment by the drugs court at the Halls of Justice, Barangay Piapi, Dumaguete City .

Convicted by Regional Trial Court Branch 30 Judge Rafael Crescencio Tan Jr. to a jail term while alive was Albert Medalle, married, of Upper Luke Wright, Barangay Poblacion 2, in Dumaguete.

Court records show that on June 25, 2005, Medalle, was arrested in a raid through a search warrant by operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, National Bureau of Investigation, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, and the Dumaguete Philippine National Police.

Policemen confiscated from Medalle two sachets containing shabu placed in a plastic container during the raid. Also seized were a .45 caliber pistol with magazine containing six live ammunition, but without pertinent documents.

The accused was charged with violation of Section 11, Article II of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and for violating Presidential Decree No. 1866 as amended by RA 8294, or illegal possession of firearms.

Judge Tan found Medalle guilty beyond reasonable doubt for possessing 11.83 grams of shabu and ordered the accused to pay a fine of P400,000.

The court however, dismissed the illegal possession of firearm and ammunitions but ordered the confiscation of the gun in favor of the government.

Tan said the accused may have illegally possessed the firearm and ammunition, but he cannot be convicted of the offense in view of the enactment of Republic Act 8294, which states that “there can be no separate offense of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition if there is another crime committed such as, in this case, that of illegal possession of dangerous drugs,” the court added.*RG

back to top