Drug trader gets life sentence

AFP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – A 24-year-old female drug pusher was sentenced to life imprisonment after she was found guilty of selling illegal drugs to college students in Baguio City, a Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency official said Friday.

PDEA Director General Arturo Cacdac Jr. said Marie Flor Rodriguez was convicted by Judge Antonio Reyes of Branch 61 of Baguio City’s regional trial court for violation of Section 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs), Article II of Republic Act 9165 otherwise known as the “Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002”.

The court also ordered Rodriguez to pay a fine of P5 million.

Rodriguez was arrested in a buy-bust operation by operatives of PDEA Regional Office-Cordillera Administrative Region (PDEA-CAR) on June 23, 2011 at Pinsao Pilot Project, Baguio City.

Rodriguez and her accomplice, identified as Eugenio Cestona, were caught selling shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) in Irisan, Baguio City.

Prior to her arrest, Rodriguez reportedly sold shabu mostly to students in Baguio City and got her supplies from Dagupan City, Pangasinan.

During the investigation, it was also found out that Rodriguez’s parents Manny and Marivic Rodriguez were also arrested for drug-related offenses three years ago. They were, however, acquitted.