SMALL AMOUNT OF DRUGS SETS 3 INMATES FREE

BECAUSE only a very small percentage of the shabu seized from them is
genuine, the Regional Trial Court released three women from jail after
serving preventive imprisonment since they were arrested four years ago.

Judge Anacleto Caminade ordered the release of Haidee Supangan, Elizabeth
Sala and Augie Marie Antipala after a quantitative examination at Camp
Crame revealed that only 10.04 grams of the total confiscated substance
weighing 1,495.78 grams was genuine.

The three accused were put in jail after they were arrested for allegedly
selling two plastic packets of shabu weighing 1,495.78 grams noon of April
2, 2000. They were not granted bail then with the large amount of the
substance seized.

The seized shabu was forwarded to Camp Crame after the lawyer of the three
respondents argued in court that only a qualitative examination was
conducted here in Cebu. Josefino Remotigue argued that the determination of
the exact amount of metamphetamine hydrocloride in the confiscated
substance is necessary for the proper resolution of the case.

With the result of the qualitative examination, Caminade released the three
respondents, saying that they already have undergone preventive
imprisonment since their arrest in 2000.

Caminade also anchored his order on a Supreme Court memorandum that an
accused of a case may be released from jail if he has undergone preventive
imprisonment "for a period equal to or more than the possible maximum
imprisonment penalty for the offense charged to which they may be sentenced
for a period equal to or more than the possible maximum imprisonment
penalty for the offense charged".

Prior to the release, Caminade already granted the motion of the three
accused to post bail, which was anchored on the qualitative examination
result. The three accused were prosecuted for violation of the old drugs
law otherwise known as the Anti-Dangerous Drugs Act.

Meanwhile, the Lapu-Lapu City Special Weapons and Tactics team arrested two
brothers who were caught repacking shabu in their house yesterday in
barangay Babag II, Lapu-Lapu City.

Arrested were Arnel Despi, 33, and his brother Leonardo, 38, both residents
of Babag II.

The SWAT team led by S/Insp. Jonathan Pineda earlier secured a warrant of
arrest issued by Lapu-Lapu Regional Trial Court Branch 53 Judge Benedicto
Cobarde.

When the team of Pineda arrived in barangay Babag II, they went to the
house of Arnel where they caught him and his brother Leonardo repacking shabu.

Confiscated from the possession of both Arnel and Leonardo were 23 small
heated-sealed transparent plastic sachets of shabu, drug paraphernalia, a
cellular phone and P360 believed to be drug money.

The suspects are presently detained at the Lapu-Lapu City Jail awaiting the
hearing of the case filed against them.