A Silay-based drug pusher is now serving his sentence of life imprisonment at the National Penitentiary in Muntinlupa, after he was found guilty beyond reasonable doubt for having in his possession of 2.53 grams of marijuana, police said.

Alberto Premaylon who was charged for violation of Sections 5 and 11 of the Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Drug Act of 2002, was also meted an additional imprisonment of 14 years, aside from the life sentence, by Silay Regional Trial Court Judge Felipe Banzon.

Premaylon was arrested by a team of policemen led by SPO1 Dante Victor Escorpion during a buy-bust operation at Purok Kalubihan, Brgy. Rizal, Silay City, on May 3 last year.

Escorpion said the arrest of Premaylon yielded 45 sticks of dried marijuana cigarets, weighing 2.53 grams, and a marked money of P50.

Premaylon denied having sold 10 sticks of marijuana to a poseur-buyer who was later identified as Police Officer 1 Jessie Peacita. He further claimed that he was forced to admit that the marijuana was taken from his possession.

Banzon, in a 9-page decision, said the prosecution had aptly shown a detailed chronology of the incident, which started from an initial contact of the poseur-buyer to the arrest of Premaylon.

He said the denial of Premaylon cannot overcome the positive identification of the accused and a positive narration of the acts he did. Such, negative declarations cannot prevail over the affirmative testimonies of the apprehending police officers, especially when they harbored no ill motive against the accused, Banzon also said.

The Silay judge also noted that the defense failed to present evidence to show, or in the very least, suggest that the concerned police officers acted with improper and suspicious motives.

Aside from sentencing him to a life term, and an additional 14 years of imprisonment, Banzon also ordered Premaylon to pay a fine of P800,000.*GPB

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