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(People v. Macasling, GM, No. 90342, May 27,1993
(People v. Macasling, GM, No. 90342, May 27,1993
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PhilippineSupremeCourtJurisprudence >Year 1993 > May 1993 Decisions >G.R. No.90342May 27,1993
PEOPLEOFTHEPHIL.v.HILARIOC.MACASLING,JR.:
ChanRoblesOnLineBarReview
THIRDDIVISION
[G.R.No.90342.May27,1993.]
PEOPLEOFTHEPHILIPPINES,PlaintiffAppellee,v.HILARIOMACASLING,JR.yCOLOCADO,
AccusedAppellant.
TheSolicitorGeneralforplaintiffappellee.
PublicAttorneysOfficeforAccusedAppellant.
SYLLABUS
1. CRIMINAL LAW R.A. No. 6425 (THE DANGEROUS DRUGS ACT) AS AMENDED BY BATAS PAMBANSA
BLG. 179 "SHABU" (A "STREET NAME" FOR METAMPHETAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE "SHABU" IS A
DERIVATIVE OF A REGULATED DRUG, THE POSSESSION, SALE, TRANSPORTATION, ADMINISTRATION,
DISPENSATION,DELIVERYANDDISTRIBUTIONOFWHICHISSUBJECTTOR.A.NO.6425,ASAMENDED
THE USE OF CRIMINAL INFORMATION OF THE CASUAL TERM "SHABU" INSTEAD OF ITS SCIENTIFIC
NAMEDOESNOTAFFECTTHELEGALRESPONSIBILITYOFTHEACCUSED.ThisCourthasinfacttaken
judicial notice that shabu is a "street name" for metamphetamine hydrochloride (or "methyl
amphetamine hydrochloride"). Considering the chemical composition of shabu, the Court has declared
that shabu is a derivative of a regulated drug, 8 the possession, sale, transportation, etc. of which is
subjecttotheprovisionsofR.A.No.6425asamended.Itremainsonlytopointoutthat,inthecaseat
bar, the laboratory examination conducted on the crystalline granules recovered from appellant in fact
DebtKollectCompany,Inc. yieldedthecompoundmetamphetaminehydrochloride.Theuseinthecriminalinformationofthecasual
orvulgartermshaburatherthanthescientifictermmetamphetaminehydrochloride,doesnotaffectthe
legalresponsibilityofappellantundertherelevantprovisionsofR.A.No.6425asamended.
2. REMEDIAL LAW CRIMINAL PROCEDURE INFORMATION IT IS THE CHARACTER OF THE ACTS
CHARGEDINTHECRIMINALINFORMATION AND PROVEN AT THE TRIAL THAT IS IMPORTANT, RATHER
THAN THE CORRECTNESS OF THE DESIGNATION OF THE SECTION AND ARTICLE OF THE STATUTE
VIOLATED. It is true, as pointed out by the trial court, that the preambular portion of the criminal
informationinthiscasereferredtoviolationof"Section21(b)inrelationtoSection4,ArticleIIofR.A.
No.6425asamendedbyBatasPambansaBlg.179."Section21(b)ofthestatutereadsasfollows:"Sec.
21. Attempt and Conspiracy. The same penalty prescribed by this Act for the commission of the
offenseshallbeimposedincaseofanyattemptorconspiracytocommitthesameinthefollowingcases:
....(b)Sale,administration,delivery,distributionandtransportationofdangerousdrugs...Section4,
Article II of the statute deals with "sale, administration, distribution and transportation of prohibited
drugs." Upon the other hand, Section 15 of the statute is concerned with the "sale, administration,
dispensation, delivery, transportation and distribution of regulated drugs." It will be recalled that the
term "dangerous drugs" as used in the statute covers both "prohibited drugs" and "regulated drugs."
Thus,againaspointedoutbythetrialcourt,theopeningclauseofthecriminalinformationshould,more
precisely,havereferredtoSection15whichdealswith"regulateddrugs"ratherthantoSection4which
refers to "prohibited drugs." This imprecision in the specification of the appropriate section of R.A. No.
ChanRoblesIntellectualProperty 6425asamendedhas,however,noconsequencesinthecaseatbar.Foritisthecharacteroftheacts
Division chargedinthecriminalinformationandprovenatthetrialthatisimportant,ratherthanthecorrectness
ofthedesignationofthesectionandarticleofthestatuteviolated.Itshouldalsonotescapenoticethat
the penalty provided in Section 4: "life imprisonment to death and a fine ranging from P20,000.00 to
P30,000.00,"isexactlythesamepenaltyimposedinSection15ofthestatute.
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11/8/2017 G.R. No. 90342 May 27, 1993 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. HILARIO C. MACASLING, JR. : MAY 1993 - PHILIPPINE SUPREME COURT JURISPRUDE
3. ID. ARREST WITHOUT WARRANT ENTRAPMENT THE WARRANTLESS ARREST OF APPELLANT WAS
MERELY THE CULMINATION OF AN ENTRAPMENT OPERATION. Appellants next contention is that
becausehewasnolawfullyarrested,thepackagewitha"HappyDays"wrappercontaining50gramsof
shabu,takenfromhimwasinadmissibleinevidence.Appellantsclaimthathewasunlawfullyarrestedis
anchoredonthefactthatthearrestingofficershadneitherwarrantofarrestnorasearchwarrant.The
basic difficulty with appellants contention is that it totally disregards the antecedents of the arrest of
appellant inside Room No. 77 of the Hyatt Terraces Hotel. It will be recalled that the arresting officers
hadbeeninformedbytheChiefoftheNarcomRegionalOfficethatatransactionhadbeenagreedupon
byappellantinLasPias,MetroManila,involvingdeliveryofshabu,whichdeliverywas,however,totake
placeinRoomNo.77attheHyattTerracesHotelinBaguioCity.OnlyappellantwithEdithaGagarinand
the undercover Narcom agent showed up at Room No. 77 at the Hyatt Terraces Hotel and the Narcom
undercover agent had signalled that appellant had with him the shabu. The reception prepared by the
arrestingofficersforappellantinsideRoomNo.77wasinfactanentrapmentoperation.Thesaleofthe
shabu(understoodasthemeetingofthemindsofsellerandbuyer)didnot,ofcourse,takeplaceinthe
presenceofthearrestingofficers.Thedeliveryorattempteddeliveryofthesubjectmatterdid,however,
takeplaceintheirpresence.
4. ID. ID. EVIDENCE CREDIBILITY OF WITNESS THE APPRAISAL BY THE TRIAL COURT OF THE
CREDIBILITY OF THE WITNESSES IS ENTITLED TO GREAT RESPECT FROM APPELLATE COURTS. The
trialcourtwasnotpersuadedbyappellantselaboratedisclaimerofknowledgeabouttheshabu,finding
such disclaimer as contrived and improbable and not worthy of credence. The rule, of course, is that
testimonytobebelievedmustnotonlyoriginatefromacrediblewitness,butmustalsoitselfbecredible.
Weseenoreason,andwehavebeenpointedtonone,whytheCourtshouldoverturntheappraisalofthe
trialcourtofthecredibility(orratherlackofcredibility)ofthelongstoryofferedbyappellant.Wefindno
basisfordepartingfromthebasicrulethattheappraisalbythetrialcourtofthecredibilityofwitnesses
who appeared before it is entitled to great respect from appellate courts who do not deal with live
witnessesbutonlywiththecoldpagesofawrittenrecord.
5. POLITICAL LAW CONSTITUTION BILL OF RIGHTS THE RIGHT TO BE INFORMED OF THE NATURE
ANDCAUSEOFTHEACCUSATIONAGAINSTTHEACCUSEDTHEACTSWITHWHICHTHEACCUSEDWAS
CHARGED ARE PLAINLY SET OUT IN THE OPERATIVE PORTION OF THE CRIMINAL INFORMATION.
Appellantscontentionthathehadbeendeprivedofhisrighttobeinformedofthenatureandcauseof
theaccusationagainsthim,isbereftofmerit.Theactswithwhichhewaschargedarequiteplainlyset
out in the operative portion of the criminal information: that appellant "did willfully, unlawfully and
May-1993 Jurisprudence feloniouslysell,deliver,distribute,dispatchintransitortransport50gramsofshabu,knowingfullywell
that said shabu [is] a prohibited drug . . .." We agree with the trial court that the use of the term
"prohibiteddrug"wasmerelyaconclusionoflaw,somethingwhichisfortheCourttodetermineinthe
G.R.No.88167May3,1993UNIVERSITYOFTHE
PHILIPPINES,ETAL.v.TEODOROP.REGINO,ETAL. circumstances of this case, the inaccurate use of the term "prohibited drug" was also merely a falsa
descriptio.
G.R.No.98442May4,1993PEOPLEOFTHEPHIL.
v.SANTIAGOFEROLINO
DECISION
G.R. No. 103313 May 5, 1993 PEOPLE OF THE
PHIL.v.ALFREDOVERGARA,ETAL.
FELICIANO,J.:
G.R.No.104404May6,1993SPOUSESTIUPECK,
ETAL.v.COURTOFAPPEALS,ETAL.
HilarioMacasling,Jr.appealsfromtheDecisionoftheRegionalTrialCourtwhichsentencedhimtosuffer
G.R. No. 97169 May 10, 1993 PEOPLE OF THE
lifeimprisonment,topayafineandcostsoflitigation.
PHIL.v.TEOFILOKEMPIS
G.R. No. 101798 May 10, 1993 PEOPLE OF THE Appellant Macasling was charged with violation of Republic Act ("R.A.") No. 6425, as amended, in an
PHIL.v.MARIORIVERA informationwhichreadsasfollows: jgc:chanrobles.com.ph
G.R. No. 94469 May 11, 1993 PEOPLE OF THE "The undersigned accuses Hilario Macasling, Jr. y Colocado for violation of Section 21(b) in relation to
PHIL.v.JUANVILLA Section IV, Article II of Republic Act No. 6425, as amended by Batas Pambansa Blg. 179 (Sale,
Administration,Delivery,Transportation&Distribution),committedasfollows:
chanrob1esvirtual1awlibrary
G.R. No. 94761 May 17, 1993 MAERSK LINE v.
We consider first appellants argument that he cannot be convicted of the offense charged in the
COURTOFAPPEALS,ETAL.
informationconsideringthatshabuthetermusedintheinformationisnotadangerousdrug,since
G.R. No. 94977 May 17, 1993 PEOPLE OF THE itisnotoneofthoseenumeratedassuchinR.A.No.6425(TheDangerousDrugsAct).
PHIL.v.GILBERTOYUMANG
R.A. No. 6425, as amended, distinguishes between "prohibited drugs" and "regulated drugs." Article I,
G.R. No. 97218 May 17, 1993 PROVIDENT Section 2 (e) defines the term "dangerous drugs" as referring either to "prohibited drugs" or to
SAVINGSBANKv.COURTOFAPPEALS,ETAL. "regulateddrugs"inthefollowingmanner: jgc:chanrobles.com.ph
G.R. No. 98382 May 17, 1993 PHILIPPINE "(e)DangerousDrugsreferstoeither:
chanrob1esvirtual1awlibrary
NATIONALBANKv.COURTOFAPPEALS,ETAL.
(1)Prohibiteddrug,whichincludesopiumanditsactivecomponentsandderivatives,suchasheroinand
G.R. No. 101124 May 17, 1993 PEOPLE OF THE morphine coca leaf and its derivatives principally cocaine alpha and beta eucaine, hallucinogenic
PHIL.v.CARMELINAC.TABAR,ETAL.
drugs, such as mescaline, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and other substances producing similar
G.R. No. 101426 May 17, 1993 PHILIPPINE effects Indian hemp and its derivatives all preparations made from any of the foregoing and other
AMERICAN GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY, INC. v. drugsandchemicalpreparations,whethernaturalorsynthetic,withthephysiologicaleffectsofanarcotic
COURTOFAPPEALS,ETAL. orahallucinogenicdrugor(AsamendedbyB.P.Blg.179,March12,1982.).
G.R. No. 102539 May 17, 1993 PEOPLE OF THE (2) Regulated drug which includes selfinducing sedatives, such as secobarbital phenobarbital,
PHIL.v.JOSEARGUELLES pentobarbital,barbital,amobarbitalandanyotherdrugwhichcontainsasaltoraderivativeofasaltof
barbituricacidandsalt,isomerorsaltofanisomer,ofamphetamine,suchasbenzedrineordexedrine,
G.R. No. 103125 May 17, 1993 PROVINCE OF oranydrugwhichproducesaphysiologicalactionsimilartoamphetamineandhypnoticdrugs,suchas
CAMARINES SUR, ET AL. v. COURT OF APPEALS, ET methaqualone,nitrazepamoranyothercompoundproducingsimilarphysiologicaleffects(samendedby
AL. P.D.No.1683,March14,1980.)
G.R. No. 103805 May 17, 1993 PEOPLE OF THE
xxx
PHIL.v.REYNALDOKYAMKO
G.R. No. 73875 May 18, 1993 PEOPLE OF THE
PHIL.v.JOSELITOAGBULOS (Emphasissupplied)
G.R. No. 73907 May 18, 1993 PEOPLE OF THE The statute penalizes the sale, administration, delivery, distribution and transportation of both
PHIL.v.BUENAVENTURAARUTA,ETAL. "prohibiteddrugs"and"regulateddrugs:"
G.R. No. 75906 May 18, 1993 AMERICAN "ArticleII.
EXPRESSPHIL.LOCALEMPLOYEESASSOCIATION,ET
AL.v.VICENTELEOGARDO,JR.,ETAL. ProhibitedDrugs
G.R. No. 79089 May 18, 1993 PEOPLE OF THE
xxx
PHIL.v.ROGELIOBONDOY
G.R. No. 80078 May 18, 1993 ATOK FINANCE
CORPORATIONv.COURTOFAPPEALS,ETAL. SECTION 4. Sale, Administration, Delivery, Distribution and transportation of Prohibited Drugs. The
penaltyoflifeimprisonmenttodeathandafinerangingfromtwentythousandtothirtythousandpesos
G.R. No. 92504 May 18, 1993 PEOPLE OF THE shall be imposed upon any person who, unless authorized by law, shall sell, administer, deliver, give
PHIL.v.WELLIQUIONES awaytoanother,distribute,dispatchintransitortransportanyprohibiteddrug,orshallactasabroker
inanyofsuchtransactions.Ifthevictimoftheoffenseisaminor,orshouldaprohibiteddruginvolvedin
G.R. No. 95755 May 18, 1993 PEOPLE OF THE any offense under this Section be the proximate cause of the death of a victim thereof, the maximum
PHIL.v.ENRIQUEA.COLOMA penaltyhereinprovidedshallbeimposed.(AsamendedbyP.D.No.1675,February17,1980.)
G.R. No. 97175 May 18, 1993 DEVELOPMENT xxx
BANKOFTHEPHILIPPINESv.NLRC,ETAL.
G.R. No. 98318 May 18, 1993 HALILI INN,
INCORPORATEDv.CRESENCIANOB.TRAJANO,ETAL. ArticleIII
G.R. No. 100311 May 18, 1993 JUANITO LIM v. RegulatedDrugs
COURTOFAPPEALS,ETAL.
xxx
G.R. No. 103219 May 18, 1993 PETER PAUL
PHILIPPINESCORP.v.NATIONALLABORRELATIONS
COMMISSION,ETAL. SECTION 15. Sale, Administration, Dispensation, Delivery, Transportation and Distribution of Regulated
Drugs. The penalty of life imprisonment to death and a fine ranging from twenty thousand to thirty
A.M. No. R710RTJ May 21, 1993 FILOMENO R. thousand pesos shall be imposed upon any person who, unless authorized by law, shall sell, dispense,
NEGADOv.MANUELE.AUTAJAY
deliver, transport or distribute any regulated drug. If the victim of the offense is a minor, or should a
A.M. No. 921030RTC May 21, 1993 LOLITA regulateddruginvolvedinanyoffenseunderthissectionbetheproximatecauseofthedeathofavictim
HERNANDEZLOYv.WILLIAMBADEN thereof,themaximumpenaltyhereinprovidedshallbeimposed.(AsamendedbyP.D.No.1683,March
14,1980.)
G.R. No. L46717 May 21, 1993 ANTONIO
BANZAGALES, ET AL. v. SPS. HERMINIA GALMAN, ET xxx
AL.
G.R. No. 87667 May 21, 1993 PEOPLE OF THE (Emphasissupplied)
PHIL.v.ROLANDOS.QUETUA
Thetrialcourtafternotingtheabovequotedprovisionsofthestatute,wentontosaythat:
G.R. No. 90257 May 21, 1993 PEOPLE OF THE
jgc:chanrobles.com.ph
PHIL.v.CESARCERVANTES
"From the above provisions of law, it is clear that shabu which is the street name of metamphetamine
hydrochloride,isnotamongthoseenumeratedasprohibiteddrugsunderNo.1(e),Section2,ArticleIon
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11/8/2017 G.R. No. 90342 May 27, 1993 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. HILARIO C. MACASLING, JR. : MAY 1993 - PHILIPPINE SUPREME COURT JURISPRUDE
G.R. No. 92847 May 21, 1993 PEOPLE OF THE DefinitionofTermsofRepublicAct6425,asamended.
PHIL.v.CATALINOL.QUIMING,ETAL.
Obviously, metamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) is a derivative of amphetamine or a compound
G.R. No. 93947 May 21, 1993 PEOPLE OF THE thereof,meaningtosay,amphetamineincombinationwithotherdrugsorelementswhich,ifonelooks
PHIL.v.AGUSTINABIERA closer, is actually enumerated among the regulated drugs under No. 2(e), Section 2, Article I on
DefinitionofTermsofRepublicAct6425,asamended.
G.R. No. 97028 May 21, 1993 PEOPLE OF THE
PHIL.v.ALICIAB.GAOAT
Notethatthelawsayswhenitdefinesregulateddrugsasthose`whichincludesselfinducingsedatives
G.R.Nos.9842526May21,1993PEOPLEOFTHE such as . . . of amphetamine such as benzedrine or dexedrine, or any other drug which produces a
PHIL.v.REYNALDOAGUILAR physiological action similar to amphetamine, and hypnotic drugs, such as methaqualone or any other
compound producing similar physiological effects. Since shabu is actually metamphetamine
G.R. No. 101831 May 21, 1993 PEOPLE OF THE hydrochloride, it would then be obvious that its component parts would be the compound of
PHIL.v.ROGELIOA.BALIDIATA amphetamine with other elements to form metamphetamine hydrochloride. In other words, among the
elementscontainedinmetamphetaminehydrochlorideisamphetamine,aregulateddrug.
G.R. Nos. 10344245 May 21, 1993 NATIONAL
POWERCORPORATION,ETAL.v.COURTOFAPPEALS, xxx6
ETAL.
(Emphasissupplied)
G.R. Nos. 10428586 May 21, 1993 PEOPLE OF
THEPHIL.v.VICTORR.ANGELES
Weagreewiththeaboverulingofthetrialcourt.ThisCourthasinfacttakenjudicialnoticethatshabuis
G.R.No.89252May24,1993RAULSESBREOv. a "street name" for metamphetamine hydrochloride (or "methyl amphetamine hydrochloride"). 7
COURTOFAPPEALS,ETAL. Considering the chemical composition of shabu, the Court has declared that shabu is a derivative of a
regulateddrug,8thepossession,sale,transportation,etc.ofwhichissubjecttotheprovisionsofR.A.
G.R. No. 91436 May 24, 1993 METROPOLITAN No.6425asamended.Itremainsonlytopointoutthat,inthecaseatbar,thelaboratoryexamination
BANK&TRUSTCOMPANYv.QUILTS&ALL,INC. conducted on the crystalline granules recovered from appellant in fact yielded the compound
metamphetaminehydrochloride.Theuseinthecriminalinformationofthecasualorvulgartermshabu
G.R.No.95775May24,1993DANILORABINO,ET ratherthanthescientifictermmetamphetaminehydrochloride,doesnotaffectthelegalresponsibilityof
AL.v.ADORACRUZ,ETAL. appellantundertherelevantprovisionsofR.A.No.6425asamended.
G.R.No.9714142May24,1993 PEOPLEOF THE
Itistrue,aspointedoutbythetrialcourt,thatthepreambularportionofthecriminalinformationinthis
PHIL.v.LUCILOM.BERNARDO,ETAL.
case referred to violation of "Section 21 (b) in relation to Section 4, Article II of R.A. No. 6425 as
G.R. No. 97427 May 24, 1993 PEOPLE OF THE amendedbyBatasPambansaBlg.179."Section21(b)ofthestatutereadsasfollows: jgc:chanrobles.com.ph
PHIL.v.REYNALDOP.CRISOSTOMO
"SECTION21.AttemptandConspiracy.ThesamepenaltyprescribedbythisActforthecommissionof
G.R. No. 100232 May 24, 1993 PEOPLE OF THE theoffenseshallbeimposedincaseofanyattemptorconspiracytocommitthesameinthefollowing
PHIL.v.ROBERTOALIB cases:
chanrob1esvirtual1awlibrary
G.R. No. 105907 May 24, 1993 FELICIANO V. xxx
AGBANLOGv.PEOPLEOFTHEPHIL.,ETAL.
G.R. No. 76951 May 25, 1993 PEOPLE OF THE (b)Sale,administration,delivery,distributionandtransportationofdangerousdrugs
PHIL.v.ARMANDOMAESTRO,ETAL.
G.R.No.100525May25,1993SOCORROABELLA xxx
SORIANOv.COURTOFAPPEALS,ETAL.
G.R. Nos. 10180407 May 25, 1993 PEOPLE OF (Emphasissupplied)
THEPHIL.v.FELIMONRAMOS,ETAL.
Section 4, Article II of the statute deals with "sale, administration, distribution and transportation of
G.R.No.105360May25,1993PEDROP.PECSON prohibited drugs." Upon the other hand, Section 15 of the statute is concerned with the "sale,
v.COURTOFAPPEALS,ETAL. administration, dispensation, delivery, transportation and distribution of regulated drugs." It will be
recalled that the term "dangerous drugs" as used in the statute covers both "prohibited drugs" and
G.R. No. 74189 May 26, 1993 PEOPLE OF THE "regulated drugs." Thus, again as pointed out by the trial court, the opening clause of the criminal
PHIL.v.ANTONIOV.ENRILE,ETAL. informationshould,moreprecisely,havereferredtoSection15whichdealswith"regulateddrugs"rather
than to Section 4 which refers to "prohibited drugs." This imprecision in the specification of the
G.R.No.97203May26,1993ISIDROCARIO,ET
AL.v.IGNACIOM.CAPULONG,ETAL. appropriatesectionofR.A.No.6425asamendedhas,however,noconsequencesinthecaseatbar.For
itisthecharacteroftheactschargedinthecriminalinformationandprovenatthetrialthatisimportant,
G.R.No.98043May26,1993 BAGUIOCOLLEGES ratherthanthecorrectnessofthedesignationofthesectionandarticleofthestatuteviolated.Itshould
FOUNDATION, ET AL. v. NATIONAL LABOR also not escape notice that the penalty provided in Section 4: "life imprisonment to death and a fine
RELATIONSCOMMISSION,ETAL. ranging from P20,000.00 to P30,000.00," is exactly the same penalty imposed in Section 15 of the
statute.
G.R. No. 102314 May 26, 1993 LEA O. CAMUS v.
COURTOFAPPEALS,ETAL. Inmuchthesameway,appellantscontentionthathehadbeendeprivedofhisrighttobeinformedof
the nature and cause of the accusation against him, is bereft of merit. The acts with which he was
G.R. No. 90342 May 27, 1993 PEOPLE OF THE chargedarequiteplainlysetoutintheoperativeportionofthecriminalinformation:thatappellant"did
PHIL.v.HILARIOC.MACASLING,JR. willfully,unlawfullyandfeloniouslysell,deliver,distribute,dispatchintransitortransport50gramsof
shabu,knowingfullywellthatsaidshabu[is]aprohibiteddrug...."Weagreewiththetrialcourtthat
G.R.No.99327May27,1993ATENEODEMANILA
UNIVERSITY, ET AL. v. IGNACIO M. CAPULONG, ET theuseoftheterm"prohibiteddrug"wasmerelyaconclusionoflaw,somethingwhichisfortheCourtto
AL. determineinthecircumstancesofthiscase,theinaccurateuseoftheterm"prohibiteddrug"wasalso
merelyafalsadescriptio.Thetrialcourtsaid:
chanrobles.com.ph:virtuallawlibrary
Thus,towaitforthedelivery,theNarcomelementsdeployedthemselvesinsideRoom77inplaceofthe
Chinese businessman to entrap the party who will appear to deliver the shabu which they will know
wouldbeinhispossessionthruaprearrangedsignaloftheirundercoveragent.Whosoevercomesand
appearsinRoom77wouldbeit.Allotherpersonsareunexpected(sic)tocometoRoom77andhaveno
businessappearingthereexcepttodelivertheshabuunlessexplained.Andultimatelytheirwaitingpaid
off as accused Hilario Macasling, Jr. appeared in Room 77 to deliver the shabu and from whom it was
takenbytheNarcom.Thelackofwarrantofarrestisnotfatalasthiswouldbecoveredbythesituation
provided for warrantless arrests under Section 5, Rule 113 of the Rules of Court where an offender is
arrestedwhileactuallycommittinganoffenseorattemptingtocommittheoffenseinthepresenceofa
peaceofficer.
xxx
TheCourtmuststressthatthesituationinthecaseatbarisverydifferentfromasituationwherethelaw
enforcingagentsorelementswillsimplyaccostpeopleatrandomontheroad,street,boat,planeorbus
withoutanyprearrangedtransactionandwithoutwarrantofarrestorsearchwarrantandbychancefind
drugs in the possession of a passerby. This latter situation is clearly not permissible and would be in
violationoftheconstitutionalrightsofapersonagainstunreasonablesearchesandseizures.Thiswould
beafishingexpedition.Yousearchfirst,andifyoufindanythingunlawfulyouarrest.
Buthereitisnotatrandom.Therewasapreviousunlawfultransaction.Thereisadesignatedplacefor
delivery, Room 77 and a specified time frame, that very day of August 19, 1988 or thereabouts, and
limited to a particular person, in the sense that whoever would appear thereat would be it. Those who
dont knock at Room 77 and dont go inside Room 77 will not certainly be arrested. But those who will
thereatthattimeandinthatplacewillsurelybearrestedbecauseoftheadvanceinformation,thruthe
intelligencesources,onthedeliveryandthepriortransactionmade.Thismakesalotofdifference.
xxx
Butinthecaseatbar,AccusedHilarioMacasling,Jr.,atthetimeofhisarrest,wasactuallyintheactof
committingacrimeorattemptingtocommitacrimeinthepresenceofthepeaceofficersasheappeared
there in Room 77 to deliver 50 grams of shabu, a regulated drug, which was previously bought but
directedtobedeliveredthereat.
TheaccusedhadnoreasontobeatRoom77,knockingtherein,andgoinginside,ifhewasnottheparty
to deliver the shabu, and indeed he was. And the Narcom elements have the right to pounce on him
immediately lest he gets away, or is tipped off, or can sense something is amiss or wrong. Unless, of
course,Accused can explain then and there that he knocked on the door and went inside Room 77 by
mistakelikebeinganinnocenthotelboy,roomboyorhotelemployeewhoisgoinginsidetheroomtofix
theroom.Orthataccusedisahotelguestwhocommittedamistakeastohiscorrectroom.Butthisis
notthesituationathandasnosuchexplanationwasimmediatelymadebytheaccused.Onthecontrary,
Accusedwentinsidetheroomwhenletinindicatingbeyondreasonabledoubtthathewasthepartyto
deliver, and indeed he was, as the shabu was taken from his person after the prearranged signal was
given by the undercover agent. These circumstances speak for themselves. Res Ipsa Loquitor. The
accusedwascaughtinflagrantedelicto.
xxx"10
(Emphasissupplied)
We consider that under the total circumstances of this case, the warrantless arrest of appellant inside
RoomNo.77wasmerelytheculminationofanentrapmentoperationandthatthetakingofshabufrom
appellantwaseitherdoneimmediatelybefore,orwasanincidentof,alawfularrest.11
As his principal factual defense, appellant denied knowledge of the fact that the package bearing the
"Happy Days" wrapper contained a quantity of a dangerous drug, claiming that he had merely been
instructed by his employer, Mr. Ben Diqueros, to bring the package to Baguio City as a gift for Mrs.
Diqueros. Appellant sought to explain his trip to Baguio by insisting that he had been asked by Mr.
DiquerostodrivethelattersToyotaCelicacartotheDiquerosresidenceinTrancoVille,BaguioCity,as
Mrs. Diqueros was planning to sell the car. Macasling had in turn invited Editha Gagarin, together with
thelatterschildrenandmother,tojoinhiminBaguioCity.TheyreachedBaguioCitylaterintheevening
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of19August1988andstayedtemporarilyattheCastillaMonte.Appellantcontendedthathehadleftthe
CastillaMontetoseeMrs.DiquerosattheirresidenceinTrancoVillebutwasthereinformedbyoneMario
and a domestic helper that Mrs. Diqueros was at the Hyatt Terraces Hotel. Appellant then had Mario
accompanyhimtothehotelwheretheyfoundMrs.Diquerosplayinginthecasino.Appellant,however,
decidednottobotherMrs.DiquerosandsoreturnedtotheCastillaMonte.
WhileattheCastillaMonte,appellantcontinued,hereceivedatelephonecallfromMarioinforminghim
thatMrs.Diqueroshadfinishedplayingatthecasino.Althoughitwasthenmidnight,appellanttogether
with Editha Gagarin proceeded to the Hyatt Terraces Hotel. There they were met at the hotel lobby by
MariowhoinformedthemthatMr.DiqueroswasatRoomNo.77.Appellantclaimedthathewas,inRoom
No. 77, searched at gunpoint and that the package he was carrying for Mrs. Diqueros was seized.
Unknowntohim,heinsisted,thegiftpackagecontained"shabu."12
The trial court was not persuaded by appellants elaborate disclaimer of knowledge about the shabu,
findingsuchdisclaimerascontrivedandimprobableandnotworthyofcredence.13Therule,ofcourse,
isthattestimonytobebelievedmustnotonlyoriginatefromacrediblewitness,butmustalsoitselfbe
credible.14 We see no reason, and we have been pointed to none, why the Court should overturn the
appraisal of the trial court of the credibility (or rather lack of credibility) of the long story offered by
appellant.Wefindnobasisfordepartingfromthebasicrulethattheappraisalbythetrialcourtofthe
credibilityofwitnesseswhoappearedbeforeitisentitledtogreatrespectfromappellatecourtswhodo
notdealwithlivewitnessesbutonlywiththecoldpagesofawrittenrecord.
WHEREFORE,theDecisionoftheRegionalTrialCourtBaguioCity,inCriminalCaseNo.5936Rishereby
AFFIRMEDintoto.Nopronouncementastocosts.
SOORDERED.
Bidin,Davide,Jr.,RomeroandMelo,JJ.,concur.
Endnotes:
1.Record,p.1.
2.TrialCourtDecision,pp.1415Record,pp.7879.
3.TSN,4January1989,pp.217TSN,5January1989,pp.1941.
4.TSN,8February1989,pp.4351ChemistryReport,dated21August1988.
5.AppellantsBrief,p.1Rollo,p.42.
6.TrialCourtDecision,pp.1314Rollo,pp.2728.
7.See,e.g.,Peoplev.Angeles,209SCRA801(1992)Peoplev.DelMar,210SCRA448
(1992)Peoplev.Buendia,210SCRA531(1992).
8.Id.
9.TrialCourtDecision,pp.1011Rollo,pp.2425.
10.TrialCourtDecision,pp.58Rollo,pp.1922.
11. See People v. Malmstedt, 198 SCRA 401 (1991) People v. Asio, 177 SCRA 250
(1989) People v. Lo Ho Wing, 193 SCRA 122 (1991) Manipon v. Sandiganbayan, 143
SCRA267(1986).
12.TSN,8March1989,pp.28.
13.TrialCourtsDecision,Rollo,pp.2324.
14.E.g.,Peoplev.Maspil,188SCRA751(1990)Peoplev.Aldana,175SCRA635(1989)
Peoplev.Maribang,149SCRA292(1987).
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