Cebu City – Because of a mere stick of weed and two grams of dried marijuana leaves, a retired Philippine Navy serviceman will lose 13 years of freedom after he was found guilty of possessing such illegal substances.

Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Meinrado Paredes meted the penalty of 13 years imprisonment to Jerry Loseo, 46, for possessing a stick of marijuana weighing a mere 0.10 grams and dried marijuana leaves weighing 2.11 grams in 2006.

On March 7, 2006, Loseo’s vehicle was stopped along Manalili Street for speeding off despite the red light. A police patrol car tried to flag down Loseo but he continued to speed off towards Juan Luna Street where he was finally pulled over.

When traffic police asked for Loseo’s driver’s license, a stick of marijuana was found inserted into the plastic
packet bearing his driver’s license.

Also, while being body-searched, police recovered dried marijuana leaves placed in a pack of cigarettes inside his pocket. Loseo confirmed that he was stopped by the police but alleged that he was arrested after the police officers failed to apprehend the person they were actually chasing. However, the court said it cannot lend credence to his testimony because it was vague and uncorroborated.

Army corporal nabbed for gun ban violation

Bacolod City (PNA) - A member of the 61st Infantry Battalion based in Cauayan town was arrested by local policemen in Kabankalan City for violating the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) gun ban, a police report from the Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office said.

Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office (NOPPO) spokesman
Police Chief Inspector Rico Santotome Jr. said arrested was Corporal Larry Eribal Villaruz, 36, a member of the Headquarters Service Company of the 61st IB stationed in Barangay Tiling, Cauayan.

In his report to the Operations and Plans Branch of NOPPO, P/Supt. Calixto Mabugat, Police Chief of Kabankalan City, said that the army trooper was arrested inside Totem Bar and Restaurant along Guanzon Street in Barangay 1 of the city with his firearm.

A caliber .45 pistol with serial number BG000955 with 12 rounds of live bullets was seized from Villaruz, added Mabugat. Negros Occidental PNP Provincial Director Sr. Supt. Manuel Felix directed Mabugat to file the appropriate charges against the suspect.

Police gets patrol cars

Dumaguete City (PNA) – The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Negros Oriental has received this week additional patrol cars for some of its police stations, said Provincial Police Director, Sr. Supt. Augusto Marquez, Jr.

The brand new patrol vehicles are for Bayawan City, Zamboanguita, Ayungon while the 705th Provincial Public Safety Management Company is also expected to receive a new vehicle on Monday, he added.

Another vehicle, a Toyota Innova, which was originally intended for Amlan town, shall be given to the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team instead as Amlan had already earlier received a patrol pick-up vehicle, Marquez said.

Meanwhile, the provincial police official expressed hope that the PNP hierarchy will also send two more brand new vehicles for the police stations of Dumaguete City and nearby Valencia town. He noted it is ironic these areas are the only ones that have not received brand new patrol vehicles when Dumaguete is the capital city and Valencia is just a few minutes ride west of here.