National Judgment Day
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
National Judgment Day, when first and second level courts are directed by the Office of the Court Administrator to conduct an inventory of cases, took place last Friday in Bacolod City, where 167 cases were disposed of and 52 were heard, which resulted in 19 dismissals and seven sentenced to life in prison.
Executive Judge Raymond Joseph Javier of Bacolod City Regional Trial Court-Branch 52, in separate decisions, sentenced Rey Steve Escaran Esteban, Randolf Padilla San Luis, Rhoda Bautista de Asis, Charlito Tabanaw Sayon, Dante Amarilla Parandas, Lyle Lopez Infante, and James Patrick William de Asis to life behind bars.
Their cases all involved the sale and distribution of illegal drugs and the seven will be serving their sentences at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.
In addition to those sentenced, a total 97 prisoners were released following the review of cases.
Meanwhile, another seven were sentenced to a maximum 17 years and eight months on drug possession charges./DGB, WDJ