The Department of Justice scored another victory with the conviction of a high value target of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) for Violation of the Dangerous Drugs Law.

Ali Omar alias Philip, of G-1053 Blk. 1, Lot 22, St. Joseph Homesville, Sitio Balili, Brgy. Palanginan, Iba, Zambales,  was arrested on May 8, 2009, by about 60 PDEA agents by virtue of a search warrant issued by the Manila Regional Trial Court.

In the Information filed against him, he was accused of having “in his possession, control and custody nine hundred ninety five point fifty (995.50) grams of Ephedrine, a dangerous drug, a non-bailable offense.”

During trial, PDEA agents Roger Junio, Jr. and Walter Estanda testified about the operation leading to the arrest of Omar. They stated that their team served the arrest warrant on Omar and that they found “a plastic self-sealing bag containing white crystalline substance which turned out later as positive for ephedrine.”

In a 28-page Decision, Judge Omar Viola of the Angeles City Regional Trial Court Branch 57 said “In the case at bar, the testimony of Junio and Estanda are clear and convincing” and that “all the elements of the crime for violation of Section 11 of RA 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) are present.”

The court sentenced Omar to suffer the penalty of life imprisonment and to pay a fine of P500,000.

Justice Secretary Leila De Lima commended Assistant State Prosecutor Irwin Maraya for obtaining the conviction of Omar.

She said “Omar’s conviction is a big boost in the government’s drive against illegal drugs. With his arrest, PDEA was able to squeeze information from him (Omar) about the extent of illegal drugs operation especially in Zambales province."