A Bacolod resident was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment yesterday for possession of shabu.

Bacolod Regional Trial Court Judge Edgar Garvilles found Jessen Nepomuceno Bautista, alias Pablo Bautista, guilty beyond reasonable doubt of violating Republic Act 9165 or possession of dangerous of drugs and sentenced him to suffer a prison term of 12 years and one day as minimum to 15 years as maximum.

Garvilles also ordered Bautista to pay a fine of P300,000 and to be committed to the national penitentiary for the service of his sentence.

The police had apprehended Bautista with six sachets containing shabu with a total weight of .22 gram in a raid in Purok Narra Baybay, Brgy. 8, Bacolod, on Dec. 11, 2004.

The simplistic defense of denial by the accused does not persuade, Garvilles said.

Denial is a weak form of defense, particularly when it is not substantiated by clear and convincing evidence, the judge said.*CPG

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