G.R. No. 224588 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, VS. RODEL BELMONTE Y SAA, ACCUSED-.DECISION - Supreme Court E-Library

Ruling

WHEREFORE, premises considered, this Court hereby finds: In Criminal Case No. 2010-713, accused RODEL BELMONTE y SAA GUILTY BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT of the crime defined and penalized under Section 11, Article II of R.A. No. 9165, and hereby sentences him to an imprisonment ranging from twelve (12) years and one (1) day to thirteen (13) years, and to pay a fine in the amount of P300,000.00 without subsidiary imprisonment in case of non-payment of fine. In Criminal Case No. 2010-714, accused RODEL BELMONTE y SAA GUILTY BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT of the offense defined and penalized under Section 5, Article II of R.A. No. 9165 as charged in the information, and hereby sentences him to suffer the penalty of LIFE IMPRISONMENT and to pay the fine of P500,000.00 without subsidiary imprisonment in case of non-payment of fine. The period of his detention shall be credited in full for the purpose of service of his sentence. Let the penalty imposed on the accused be a lesson and an example to all who have the same criminal propensity and proclivity to commit the same forbidden act that no man is above the law, and that crime does not pay. The pecuniary gain and benefit which one can enjoy from selling or manufacturing or trading drugs, or other illegal substance, or from committing any other acts penalized under Republic Act No. 9165, cannot compensate for the penalty which one will suffer if ever he is prosecuted, convicted, and penalized to the full extent of the law. SO ORDERED.