TACLOBAN CITY– A woman who was caught in a buy-bust with more than half-a-kilo of ”shabu” or methamphetamine hydrochloride last December 9, 2022 in Ormoc City was sentenced to a two life sentences by a regional trial court judge here for her crimes.
Facing the double life sentence is Reaiza Wenceslao alias “Madame or Lyka” who was busted for selling a police-poseur 45.15 grams of shabu worth P 350,000 and whose bag, on inspection, yielded another 58 sachets of shabu weighing 693.6 grams during the buy-bust in Barangay Linao, Ormoc City.
She was also ordered to pay a fine of P 500,000 for each count.
Judge Maria Corazon Vergara-Naraja, presiding judge of the Regional Trial Court-Branch 46, issued the decision on June 2, this year.
Police filed two cases of violation of RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Anti-Illegal Drugs Act against her. One for selling and another for possession.
Wenceslao, 29, it was learned, initially pleaded guilty to the charges against her. She retracted it later, claiming she only pleaded guilty because she was threatened by the police, especially one named “Cyrus.”
The court, however, did not allow Wenceslao’s retraction of her guilty plea.
The judge noted that the suspect was educated having gone to college and finished second year of her education course.
She, however, noted that in one hearing, it was gleaned that the pusher was not fully cognizant of the difference between selling and possession.
Judge Naraja said that the elements of illegal sale under Section 5, Article 11 of RA 9165 were present. The same also for illegal possession under Section 11, Article 11 of RA 9165. (JOEY A. GABIETA)
