Philippines: Farmer gets life for planting marijuana

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Raquel C. Bagnol

Sun Star, Philippines

Saturday 29 Nov 2003

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DAVAO -- A 34-year-old farmer was convicted by the Regional Trial Court
(RTC) to a reduced penalty of life imprisonment and was ordered to pay a
fine of P500,000 for planting marijuana in his farm in Buhangin, Davao City
last May.

Judge Adoracion Avisado of RTC Branch 9 sentenced on Thursday Artfil
Melmida of Buhangin, Davao City, after the court found him guilty of
planting the marijuana in his farm at the boundary of Barangays Acacia and
Tigatto, Buhangin.

At least 298.5 grams of marijuana plants were uprooted from Melmida's farm.

Melmida availed of the lower penalty when he pleaded guilty to the charges
of violation of RA 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002),
escaping the supreme penalty of death.

The prosecution panel, headed by government prosecutor Serafica Weis, did
not oppose the plea, prompting Avisado to rule for the lower sentence.

Court records show that on May 18, an informant tipped Tigatto barangay
chief Reynante Gumahin that Melmida was cultivating marijuana plants in his
farm.

Gumahin and some barangay officials visited the area and found the reports
to be true.

At around 1 a.m. the following day, Gumahin returned to the area with
police authorities, leading to Melmida's arrest. Melmida had admitted
cultivating the marijuana plants. (Sun.Star Davao)

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