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People vs. Aspa, Jr. Digest
People vs. Aspa, Jr. Digest
(2018)
SUMMARY: In this rare instance in the period August to December 2018, the SC affirmed Aspa’s conviction for
illegal sale of dangerous drug. The Court was satisfied that the chain of custody rule was not broken despite
deviations with Section 21, RA 9165.
DOCTRINE: Primarily, buy-bust operations are recognized in this jurisdiction as a legitimate form of entrapment
of the persons suspected of being involved in drug dealings. Unless there is a clear and convincing evidence
that the members of the buy-bust team were inspired by any improper motive or were not properly performing
their duty, their testimonies with respect to the operation deserve full faith and credit. In the prosecution of illegal
sale of dangerous drugs in a buy-bust operation, there must be a concurrence of all the elements of the offense:
(1) the identity of the buyer and the seller, the object, and the consideration; and (2) the delivery of the thing sold
and the payment thereof. The prosecution must also prove the illegal sale of the dangerous drugs and present
the corpus delicti in court as evidence. The commission of the offense of illegal sale of dangerous drugs requires
merely the consummation of the selling transaction, which happens the moment the buyer receives the drug
from the seller. The crime is considered consummated by the delivery of the goods.
When the confiscated and/or seized drugs were not handled precisely in the manner prescribed by the
chain of custody rule, particularly the making of inventory and the photographing of the drugs, its consequence
would not relate to inadmissibility that would automatically destroy the prosecution's case but rather to the
evidentiary merit or probative value to be given the evidence.
FACTS:
On September 2, 2011 while on duty at the Vigan City Police Station, Deputy Chief of Police PCI Mar
Louise Tamargo Bundoc received a report from a confidential informant that a certain Domingo Aspa, Jr. is
selling marijuana. Thereafter, a buy-bust team against the suspect was constituted with PCI Mar Louise Bundoc,
SPO4 Elpidio Ponce, SPO2 Dionisio Adela, SPO1 Amado Somera, Jr., PO2 Denni[s] Reoliquio and PO1 Mark
Anthony Italin as members. PO1 Italin was briefed to act as the poseur-buyer and accompany the confidential
informant.
Later around 9:45 am, the buy-bust team proceeded to the northern part of the Vigan Public Market near
Pardo's Lechon Manok, where the buy-bust operation will be conducted. They positioned themselves in front of
Pardo's Lechon Manok and in front of the north portion of the public market. After a few minutes, appellant
Domingo Aspa arrived. PO1 Italin, along with the civilian informant, went to the alley beside Pardo's Lechon
Manok. Then PO1 Italin heard the confidential informant asking Aspa whether he already has the marijuana, to
which Aspa answered in the affirmative. After their conversation, Aspa handed over to the confidential informant
three (3) heat- sealed plastic sachets allegedly containing dried marijuana leaves. In turn, the confidential
informant handed over to Aspa the buy-bust money worth Php300.00, in three (3) Php100.00 bills. After the
transaction, the confidential informant gave the pre-arranged signal, then Aspa was immediately arrested.
At the crime scene, the recovered evidence were inventoried and marked by SPO1 Somera, in front of
appellant [and] in the presence of PO1 Italin, members of the media and councilor from Barangay VIII. Thereafter,
PO1 Lopez photographed the evidence. The suspect was then turned over to the investigation section. The three
(3) sachets of marijuana, on the other hand, were carried by SPO1 Somera who then proceeded to the Crime
Laboratory at Ilocos Norte, together with the letter request for the confirmation and identification of the substance
personally prepared and delivered by him, signed by PCI Mar Louise Bundoc. PSI Roanalaine B. Baligod
received the said letter request and conducted a qualitative examination to determine the presence of marijuana
after the examination. Consequently, she prepared the pertinent laboratory and chemistry reports finding that
the specimen submitted yielded positive results to the test of marijuana, a dangerous drug.
Aspa, Jr. was charged with illegal sale of dangerous drug, for which he was convicted. CA affirmed.
ISSUES: