PRESIDENT, POLICE TO AWARD JUDGE FOR FIGHT V. DRUGS

A CEBUANO Regional Trial Court (RTC) judge will receive an award from
President Arroyo for his contribution in the campaign against illegal drugs.

RTC Branch 15 Judge Fortunato de Gracia Jr. will receive a plaque of
recognition at Malacanang's Heroes' Hall tomorrow from Arroyo, PNP Director
General Hermogenes Ebdane and PNP Deputy Director General Edgar Aglipay.

De Gracia is the only judge among the four individual awardees.

The committee on awards of the PNP's Anti-illegal Drugs Special Operations
Task Force chose de Gracia for his "invaluable contribution in the campaign
against illegal drugs," particularly in his landmark decision in Salamoden
A. Arimaw case.

"I thought all the things we have done will be put in oblivion. They
appreciated the gravity of the problem and I' m happy they appreciated what
other sectors have done to help solve this problem," de Gracia said.

Aside from de Gracia, Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, Kilos Laya
Laban sa Droga-Cagayan Province Chapter, and US DEA-Manila Country Office
are also getting the award.

Last Jan. 29, de Gracia convicted 24-year-old Arimaw and lambasted the
arresting policemen for reversing their earlier testimony in order to get
the accused off the hook.

De Gracia imposed two life imprisonment terms (20 to 40 years) on Arimaw,
who was arrested for selling and possessing 100.64 grams of shabu last May
9,2003 in Duljo-Fatima, Cebu City.

Judge de Gracia also slapped Arimaw of Marawi City with a P1-million fine
for the two criminal offenses.

Scolding

In his decision, Judge de Gracia said Chief Insp. Marvin Sanchez, PO3 Rey
Albotra, PO3 Paquito Monterroyo Jr. and PO3 Ismael Gandionco, all of the
Cebu City Police Office's Vice Control Section, made a "concerted and
uniform effort" to exculpate Arimaw.

"The oral testimonies were discarded as futile, vain and definitely an
innovative effort to exculpate (Arimaw)— acts most foul and dastardly, and
unspeakable and deliberate subversion of the truth," the ruling read.

De Gracia, who served the military court for 10 years, joined the judiciary
in March 2001. Barely nine months in the judiciary, he was appointed to
handle a drugs court through en banc resolution of the Supreme Court.