Pubdate: Wed, 25 Aug 2004 Source: Sunstar Davao (Philippines) Copyright: 2004 Sunstar Contact: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1991 Note: also listed for feedback Author: Raquel C. Bagnol Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prison.htm (Incarceration) MAN GETS LIFE FOR MARIJUANA PUSHING FOR a measly sum of P200, a 24-year-old man was convicted to spend his life behind bars after the court found him guilty of selling five packs of dried Indian Hemp, popularly known as marijuana leaves, to a high-school student in Calinan, Davao City in January this year. In a seven-page decision issued Tuesday, Judge Renato A. Fuentes of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branches 17 and 9 sentenced Ricardo Gaputan of Barangay Cawayan, Calinan District, Davao City for violation of Section 11 of the Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. Gaputan entered a guilty plea when arraigned through the assistance of his counsel Marlon Melodias on March 4. Court records show that on the morning of January 19, a fourth year student identified only as Jerry (name withheld for being a minor) of Calinan National High School was arrested for possessing a rolled stick of marijuana in front of the school. When questioned, Jerry told police authorities that he bought the marijuana from Gaputan. Immediately, police authorities formed a team to conduct a buy-bust operation led by PO1 Allan Simangan and tasked Jerry to act as poseur-buyer. A P200 marked money was prepared and Jerry was briefed on what to do. Proceeding to Gaputan's house just a few meters away from the school, policemen placed themselves in strategic locations and immediately arrested Gaputan as soon as the marked money changed hands. Confiscated from Gaputan were five packs of dried marijuana leaves weighing a total of 13 grams. Based on the law, Gaputan will also pay a fine ranging from P500,000 to P10 million to the government inaddition to his life imprisonment penalty. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake