Rolly Moncillo Asumbra and Inocentes Villanueva Posadas were sentenced to two counts of life imprisonment on Friday*Barbara Mijares photo
Bacolod Regional Trial Court Judge Raymond Joseph Javier sentenced eight persons facing charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act to life imprisonment and acquitted four others on Friday, November 18.
They were sentenced on National Judgment Day in celebration of the 47th anniversary of the Office of the Court Administrator.
“We are required to swiftly dispose of cases in order to decongest court dockets”, Javier said.
Sentenced to life imprisonment were Rolly Moncillo Asumbra, Inocentes Villanueva Posadas, Edgar Belenio Jr., Sandra de Asis Parimar, Hernan Beato de Asis, Dennis Bito-on Salazar, Andrew Amihan Sia and Rodolfo Jamelo Trinidad Jr., court records show.
Asumbra and Posadas were sentenced to two counts of life imprisonment for the sale and possession of drugs, and ordered to pay fines of P2 million each.
They were charged for the sale of 23.584 grams of shabu to a policeman in a buy bust operation in Barangay 31, Bacolod City, on Sept. 19, 2021, and for possession of 67.098 grams of shabu.
Belenio, who was arrested for possession of 14.361 grams of shabu in Barangay 2 Bacolod, on March 12, 2021, was sentenced to life imprisonment and ordered to pay a fine of P400,000.
Parimar, who was arrested for the sale of .044 grams of shabu to a policeman in a buy bust operation in Barangay 8, Bacolod City, on March 4, 2020, was sentenced to life imprisonment and ordered to pay a fine of P500,000
She was also sentenced to 12 years and eight months as minimum to 17 years and 8 months as maximum imprisonment and ordered to pay a fine of P300,000 for possession of .455 gram of shabu.
De Asis was sentenced to life imprisonment and ordered to pay a fine of P500,000 for the sale of .089 gram of shabu to a police poseur-buyer at Barangay 27, Bacolod on Jan. 13, 2020.
He was also sentenced to 12 to 17 years imprisonment for possession of .585 grams of shabu and to 6 months to 2 years imprisonment for possession of dangerous drug paraphernalia.
Salazar was sentenced to two counts of life imprisonment and to pay fines totaling P900,000 for selling .091 gram of shabu to a police poseur-buyer in Barangay 3, Bacolod, on May 13, 2021, and for possession of 12.982 grams of shabu.
Sia was sentenced to life imprisonment and ordered to pay a fine of P500,000 for the sale of .064 gram of shabu to a policeman in Barangay 31, Bacolod City, on Sept. 6, 2020
He was also sentenced to 12 to 17 years imprisonment for possession of 1.684 gram of shabu and 6 months to 2 years for possession of dangerous drugs paraphernalia.
Trinidad was sentenced to life imprisonment and ordered to pay a fine of P500,000 for the sale of .044 gram of shabu to a policeman in Barangay Zone 7, Talisay City, on March 20,2020.
He was also sentenced to 12 to 17 years imprisonment for possession of .524 gram of shabu and 6 months to 2 years for possession of dangerous drugs paraphernalia.
The judge ordered the immediate transfer of Asumbra, Posadas, Belenio, Asis, Salazar, Sia and Trinidad to the National Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City for the service of their sentences.
He also ordered the immediate transfer of Parimar to the Correctional Institution of Women in Mandaluyong City for the service of her sentence.
The judge ordered the turnover of the seized drugs to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 6 for destruction.
Meanwhile, the judge acquitted four other persons facing facing drug charges and ordered their release form detention unless detained for some other lawful causes.
Acquitted were Jude Magallanes Villarmino, Marlon Corral Pango, Eddie Boy Belibestre and Leo Almario Casiano.*