Editor jailed for marijuana

BAUANG, La Union – A Manila-based editor of a community newspaper was jailed after he failed to post P200,000 bail for his temporary release when he was caught for allegedly selling marijuana in Barangay Baccuit Norte here on night of July 5.

Suspect Leo Gamit, 46, a resident of Inarawan, Antipolo City, showed his identification card to police saying he was the feature editor of Alppa Times and was only on vacation at the house of a relative here during his arrest.

He said he was framed up when he was arrested by tanods (watchmen) in civilian clothes while drinking beer with a friend at a sari-sari store.

“While we were drinking, several tanods went near us and confronted me. And at that moment they ordered me to show what’s inside my pocket. I refused and I said I want to see first their identification cards, after which they forced me and a commotion happened and then suddenly they showed marijuana which allegedly came from me,” Gamit said.

A police officer said that they got from the suspect’s possession a total of 10.64 grams wrapped in newspaper.

A case for violation of RA 9165 or the Dangerous Drug Act of 2002 was already filed against Gamit.

Gamit said he was not given due process because he was allegedly inquested without his knowledge.

“Wala naman akong kasalanan eh. Ang dami ngang opportunity na tumakbo ako pero di ko ginawa. Sa tingin ko pinagkaisahan ako kasi bigla na lang na-inquest ako na hindi ko alam,” Gamit said.

But Supt. Manuel Castro, Bauang police chief, said that the arrest of Gamit was legitimate and no irregularities happened.

“There was no frame up. It was very clear from our investigation that the suspect ordered one of our police assets to buy marijuana. As soon as the marijuana was delivered, our asset then reported the matter to the tanods (watchmen) who later arrested him with the illegal drugs in his possession,” Castro said.