THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency yesterday hailed the life sentence imposed on a 38-year-old driver arrested for trafficking 1.5 kilos of shabu worth P7.5 million in Cagayan de Oro City on November 11, 2011.

PDEA chair Undersecretary Jose S. Gutierrez Jr. also expressed his full appreciation to Judge Arthur Abundiente of the Cagayan de Oro City Regional Trial Court Branch 25 for his speedy resolution of the drug case filed against Sammy Yusop.

Judge Abundiente found Yusop guilty beyond reasonable doubt of violating Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and sentenced him to life apart from ordering him to pay a fine of P500,000.

“Yusop’s arrest on November 21, 2011, was a result of a controlled delivery operation,” Gutierrez said as he stressed the legitimacy of a controlled delivery operation in the conduct of anti-drug operations as provided by Paragraph (g), Section 3, Article I of RA 9165.

Controlled delivery operation is usually conducted when authorities are alerted on an illegal shipment and the transportation of the same is allowed under surveillance to be able to track down, identify and apprehend the intended receiver. 

Yusop was arrested by operatives of PDEA Regional Office 12  after he claimed from a courier service a 20-inch color television set containing 1.5 kilograms of shabu consigned to him. 

Gutierrez said they are all praises for Judge Abundiente for ensuring that justice is promptly served.

“It only took him a little over two months to decide on the case in favor of the government and the People of the Philippines.  Record-breaking,” Gutierrez said of Abundiente whom he described as a known supporter of the national anti-drug campaign having convicted many drug personalities including three Korean nationals who were members of an international drug ring operating in The Philippines.

The Cagayan de Oro City judge was among the awardees during the PDEA’s 9th anniversary celebration. The judge was presented a distinguished plaque of appreciation by the PDEA for his unwavering support and commitment to the national anti-drug campaign. 

Gutierrez said they are pleased with the recent developments on drug cases that resulted in the conviction of drug personalities.

Recently, Judge Toribio S. Quiwag, Lapu-Lapu RTC Branch 27 sentenced to life imprisonment a Kenyan national for transporting three kilograms of shabu.  Earlier this week, three Chinese nationals were sentenced to life imprisonment by Judge Carlos Valenzuela of the Mandaluyong RTC Branch 213 after the three were found guilty beyond reasonable doubt of violating RA 9165.                        Alfred Dalizon