WOMAN IN CAVITE 'SHABU' CASE DRAWS DEATH PENALTY

TRECE MARTIRES CITY - A Regional Trial Court (RTC) judge here has
sentenced to death a woman drug pusher who was caught by the policemen
for possession of one kilo of "shabu" five years ago.

Meted to die by lethal injection was Carolina Santos of Tanza,
Cavite.

She was also ordered by the RTC Judge Aurelio "Bong" Icasiano to pay a
R50,000 fine.

In a 10-page decision promulgated last Monday, the court gave credence
to the testimony of the arresting police officers that Santos sold one
kilo of "shabu" to a police poseur.

The lawmen told the court that the accused was nabbed at about 9 a.m.
on Oct. 19, 1999 in front of the McDonald's restaurant in Tanza.

They said that Santos sold the illegal drugs to poseur-buyer SPO1
Geronimo Pastrana inside his car in front of the food outlet.

For her defense, the woman claimed that she was buying food at
McDonald's when the policemen accosted her. She also told the court
that the policemen framed her up.