Man caught sneaking shabu into jail gets life

BAGUIO CITY , Philippines — A man who tried to sneak shabu into the city jail here has been sentenced to life imprisonment.

Jhon Raymond Pinto was also ordered to pay a fine of P500,000, Baguio Regional Trial Court Branch 61 Judge Lilybeth Sindayen-Libiran said in a decision issued on Thursday.

Pinto tried to bring in shabu worth P150,000 and drug paraphernalia stuffed in adobo and beef stew that he brought for an inmate on Feb. 12, 2021.

Jail guards discovered the illegal drugs upon inspection.

Pinto managed to escape at the time, but was arrested a week after the incident.

The court dismissed as an “alibi” Pinto’s claim that he was working at a construction site when the incident occurred.

It cited the testimonies of the jail guards and other witnesses who identified Pinto as the man who brought the illegal drugs.

Meanwhile, Ibrahim Sally, who has alleged links with the terrorist group Dawlah Islamiya was arrested in Koronadal City on Thursday.

Sally yielded shabu valued at P408,000 in a sting in Barangay Zone 3, Aileen Lovitos, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Soccsksargen director, said.

Police said the suspect was behind the distribution of  illegal drugs in Datu Anggal Midtimbang and nearby towns.

In Bataan, Florencio Malicdem and Marissa Reyes, who are on the drug watchlist, were arrested in Barangay Culis in Hermosa town. —  John Unson, Ramon Efren Lazaro