A local court meted two drug peddlers life sentences after they were found guilty of selling and possessing shabu in 2012.

Regional Trial Court Branch 30 Presiding Judge Crescencio Tan Jr. slapped Juryn Lambojon, of Bantayan, Dumaguete, with two life sentences, while his companion, Amado Batomalaque, was sentenced to life imprisonment, and an additional 12 to 14 years.

They were also fined P500,000 each for selling shabu, in violation of Section 5 of Republic Act 9165, and P400,000 for possessing several sachets of the prohibited drug.

Court records show that Lambojon and Batomalaque conspired in selling three sachets of shabu, weighing 1.39 grams and worth P7,220, to a poseur buyer, later identified as Police Officer 1 Julius Cesar Gajetos, in Poblacion, Sibulan, on February 29, 2012.

After their arrest, 25 pieces of transparent plastic sachets of shabu, weighing 11.76 grams, and the marked money, were seized from Lambojon, and 10 sachets of shabu granules, weighing 4.66 grams, from Batomalaque, records added.

In his decision promulgated Thursday, Tan said the defense of the two accused was predicated on denial and frame-up, and their testimonies “pure allegations bereft of credible proof”.

The defenses of denial and frame-up cannot stand unless the defense could show with clear and convincing evidence that PO1 Gajetos and PO2 Eugene Calumba were inspired by ill motives, or they were not properly performing their duties, Tan said.

He added that their defenses are viewed with disfavor because such can easily be fabricated and are common ploys in the prosecutions of illegal sale and possession of prohibited drugs.*JG

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