2 marijuana dealers get life sentence

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – A marijuana dealer and his cohort were convicted by a Benguet court on Monday to be jailed for life.

In a 14-page decision by Judge Francis Buliyat, Jr. of the First Judicial Region’s Regional Trial Court  branch 9 in La Trinidad, Benguet, Warton Fred, then 29, a farmer and native of Polis, Tacadang, Kibungan, Benguet and 'Matthew,' then 16, also a farmer and native of Kibungan Central, in the same town were each sentenced to life imprisonment and have to pay half a million pesos.

Buliyat found the two guilty for unlawful possession of dangerous drugs after they were both caught red-handed with 17.60 kilos of marijuana fruiting tops in blocks, worth 440,000 pesos, at Betag four years ago.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) – Cordillera intercepted them near the road leading to the Strawberry Farm, just across the Benguet State University in Kilometer 6, La Trinidad, Benguet on April 7, 2010 at around 9 p.m.

Reportedly, Fred was carrying seven marijuana blocks in a paper box while the minor was carrying the other three blocks in a plastic bag when accosted.

Fred even tried to run away but was immediately caught. He again tried to escaped while in custody, Emily Fama, PDEA-Cordillera spokesperson said.

According to the PDEA, a tipster offered to them the two’s illegal activity a few hours before they were caught.

Fama added that Fred is the older brother of a certain Pinrad Fred who was part of the “Vegetable drug group” responsible for the illicit trade of marijuana in Benguet, Pangasinan, La Union, Tarlac, Bulacan, Pampanga and Metro Manila.

The older Fred was sentenced on January 26, 2010 with life imprisonment and fined with P5 million by a Baguio court.

He was nabbed on May 6, 2008 at Rizal Park in Baguio City after he delivered 10 blocks or 10 kilos of marijuana fruiting tops with market value of P250,000 to a law enforcement officer of PDEA who posed as buyer.

The Vegetable Group was subsequently disbanded and deactivated in 2008 under PDEA – CAR’s Case Operation Plan 'Vegetable Gold Rush.'