BAGUIO CITY – A court here has convicted the drug courier of a Filipino-Somali syndicate.
Judge Lilibeth Sindayen-Libiran of Branch 61, Regional Trial Court, Baguio City, sentenced Areeya Fernandez Damogo, 28, Monday, August 8, to a minimum of two years and one day to a maximum of four years in jail.
Librina also ordered Damogo to pay a P30,000 fine.
Damogo, who was proven to be a drug mule by other drug dealers here and used her charm to entice drug addicts, had availed of plea bargaining, prompting Libiran to lower the sentence that should have been reclusion temporal or 12 years and one day minimum imprisonment up to 20 years.
According to the court, in addition to the sentence, Damogo is required to undergo six months of rehabilitation and 18 months of aftercare program related to drug use.
Damogo was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation-Cordillera, together with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and Baguio City Police Office, July 2021 in Barangay Pacdal here.
She was aligned with the group that lured young women for drugs and sex and recruited them to become drug transporters.
Atty. Cesar Bacani, NBI-Cordillera chief, said the conviction of Damogo is a victory for the government in the campaign against illegal drugs.
He encouraged his staff and other law enforcement agencies to continue fighting illegal drugs.