A RETIRED policeman of Cagayan de Oro City, who figured in one of President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug list, was sentenced to life imprisonment over drug-related charges.
The Regional Trial Court Branch 25 of Judge Arthur Abundiente, in a ruling promulgated last February 14, found former Senior Police Officer 1 Reynaldo dela Victoria guilty beyond reasonable doubt of selling and possession of illegal drugs but was acquitted in the charge of possession of illegal drug paraphernalia.
"Acquitted siya sa Section 12 because the court found that there was no enough evidence to prove the existence and possession of drug paraphernalia," Uy said.
Apart from the penalty of life imprisonment, the special drugs court also ordered Dela Victoria to pay an P11 million fine, P10 million for selling and P1 million sa possession of methamphetamine hydrochloride or locally known as “shabu.”
Uy said Dela Victoria, who was detained at the City Jail at Lumbia, will be transferred to the Davao Penal Colony (Dapecol) to begin serving his sentence.
But, Uy said Dela Victoria can still appeal and seek legal remedy.
"He will be brought to Dapecol to serve his sentence despite the fact nga mag-appeal siya (that he's appealing), that's the only legal remedy. While the appeal is pending, the judgment remains nga convicted siya (that he's convicted)," Uy said.
It can be recalled that Dela Victoria was arrested by agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Northern Mindanao in an inn at Capistrano Street on September 2, 2014.
Authorities seized P200,000 worth of "shabu" from dela Victoria.
PDEA-Northern Mindanao agent Ben Kalibre said the anti-narcotics agency considered the case closed.
Kalibre said PDEA-Northern Mindanao had so far 80 percent conviction rate in drug cases.
For his part, Chief inspector Mardy Hortillosa, spokesperson of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office said the conviction of Dela Victoria must be a reflection that the law does not choose even the enforcers.
"Dili naman siya police pero nalipay mi kay naa positive results para mahimo kini leksyon nga walay gipili ang balaod (He's not a policeman now but we're happy because there are positive results. The lesson here is the law spares no one)," Hortillosa said.
