By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Escalante City Prosecutor Ranela dela Fuente yesterday lauded the new Department of Justice (DOJ) guidelines on entering plea bargains for drug suspects, calling them “good.”

The guidelines were introduced last month, amending RA 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2000.

The city prosecutor noted, those who plead guilty for violating Section 11, possession of dangerous drugs, and Section 12, possession of drug-related equipment or paraphernalia, through a plea bargain, would be eligible for probation.

Under the original law, violators of Section 11 may be subject to 12 to 20 years in jail, while those who violate Section 12 could receive between six months and four years behind bars.

Also among those eligible to enter a plea bargain are individuals who plead guilty to the sale of dangerous drugs, working or visiting a drug den, and possession of a dangerous drug at a social gathering.

The department circular also notes, all plea bargains entered are “subject to strict control and monitoring” by DOJ./DGB, WDJ