People v. Arellaga
People v. Arellaga
PO2 Reyes then introduced himself as a police officer The defense presented the testimonies of appellant and
and arrested appellant. He then frisked the appellant and his stepdaughter, Nica Andrea Cruz (Nica).
recovered from him the marked money and the coin
purse containing three more heat-sealed sachets. PO2 Appellant claimed that on May 23, 2013, he and Nica
Reyes marked the sachet he bought from appellant with were at the house of his mother-in-law watching
"JSA," while the other three sachets found in appellant's television when suddenly, PO2 Reyes and PO3 Baladjay
possession were marked as "JSA-1," "JSA-2," and "JSA- barged in. One of the police officers pointed a firearm at
him while PO2 Reyes proceeded to search the second the men handcuffed appellant and brought him to the
floor of the house. Appellant claimed that due to the ground floor living room. The men told Nica to keep
unwarranted invasion and search of the house, personal quiet since she was crying and shouting at the time.
items such as cellular phones, jewelry, and cash were lost
and presumably stolen. After the men had left, Nica discovered that her
grandmother's jewelry and cash were missing. She filed
The police officers then brought appellant to the police an incident report at the precinct and the barangay. She
station where the police demanded money in exchange also visited appellant at the District Anti-Illegal Drugs
for his release. Appellant claimed that he was repeatedly unit in Ermita, Manila where he was detained. It was
punched and interrogated about the drugs. The police there that appellant told her that the police beat him up
officers covered his face with a plastic bag causing him to while his head was covered with a plastic bag. She also
lose consciousness. claimed that the police asked for money.
After three days, appellant was released and thereafter Ruling of the Regional Trial Court:
charged with illegal sale and possession of drugs.
On June 15, 2015, the RTC found appellant guilty
Nica testified that on May 23, 2013, five to six men in beyond reasonable doubt of violation of Sections 5 and
civilian clothing entered their house. They pointed a gun 11, Article II of R.A. No. 9165. The RTC was convinced
at her and appellant and proceeded to search the second that the prosecution was able to establish, through the
floor. Nica only identified PO3 Baladjay. She claimed that testimonies of the police officers, the guilt of appellant
beyond reasonable doubt for both charges of illegal sale pay a fine of 300,000.00 and
and possession of shabu. The RTC found that the police
officers positively identified appellant as the person who In Crirn. Case No. 13-297290, finding accused JOHNNY
received the P500.00 marked money in exchange for the ARELLAGA y SABADO, GUILTY beyond reasonable
heat-sealed sachet of shabu.7 The RTC likewise found that doubt of the crime charged and is hereby sentenced to
the prosecution had established that during his arrest, life imprisonment and to pay a fine of P500,000.00.
appellant was in possession of three additional plastic
sachets of shabu. The RTC also found an unbroken chain The specimens are forfeited in favor of the government
of custody of the seized drugs. and the Branch Clerk of Court, accompanied by the
Branch Sheriff, is directed to turn over with dispatch and
The dispositive portion of the RTC's Decision upon receipt the said specimens to the Philippine Drug
reads: ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary Enforcement Agency (PDEA) for proper disposal in
WHEREFORE, judgment is hereby rendered as follows, accordance with the law and rules.
to wit:
SO ORDERED.8cralawlawlibrary
In Crim. Case No. 13-297289, finding accused JHONNY Aggrieved by the RTC's Decision, appellant appealed to
ARELLAGA y SABADO, GUILTY beyond reasonable the CA.
doubt of the crime charged and is hereby sentenced to
suffer the indeterminate penalty of 12 years and 1 day as Ruling of the Court of Appeals:
minimum to 17 years and 4 months as maximum, and to
Appellant argues that the RTC erroneously convicted
On September 30, 2016, the CA affirmed the RTC's him since the attesting officers failed to strictly comply
Decision and held that all the elements of the crimes were with the requirements of Section 21, Article II of R.A.
present. According to the CA, the RTC was correct in No. 9165. He claims that the prosecution failed to
finding PO2 Reyes' testimony sufficient to prove sufficiently establish the integrity and evidentiary value of
appellant's guilt beyond reasonable doubt, especially the seized drugs through an unbroken chain of custody.
since the chain of custody was unbroken.9 Further, the Lastly, appellant asserts that the RTC erred in not
CA held that even if the requirements of Section 21, appreciating his defense of denial and extortion.12
Article II of R.A. No. 9165 were not strictly complied
with, the integrity and evidentiary value of the seized Our Ruling
items were properly preserved.10
The appeal is meritorious. Accordingly, the appellant is
Dissatisfied with the CA's Decision, appellant filed a acquitted.
Notice of Appeal.11 To secure a conviction for illegal sale of dangerous drugs
under Section 5, Article II of R.A. No. 9165, the
Issue prosecution must establish the following elements: (1)
the identity of the buyer and the seller, the object of the
The issue in this case is whether appellant is guilty of sale and its consideration; and (2) the delivery of the thing
illegal sale and possession of shabu. sold and the payment therefor. What is important is that
the sale transaction of drugs actually took place and that
the object of the transaction is properly presented as certitude as that required in sustaining a
evidence in court and is shown to be same drugs seized conviction."15 "The chain of custody rule performs this
from the accused.13cralawlawlibrary function as it ensures that unnecessary doubts
With regard to the charge for illegal possession of concerning the identity of the evidence are removed."16
dangerous drugs; (2) such possession was not authorized that the prosecution failed to clearly establish that the
by law; and (3) the accused was freely and consciously requirements of Section 21, Article II of R.A. No. 9165
aware of being in possession of dangerous drugs."14 have been complied with, particularly regarding the
three-witness rule.
utmost importance that the integrity and identity of the 1064017 on July 15, 2014, is the law applicable as the
seized drugs must be clearly shown to have been duly alleged crimes in this case were committed on May 23,
preserved with moral certainty. "This means that on top 2013. The original version of Section 21 requires the
of the elements of possession or illegal sale, the fact that presence of three witnesses during the inventory and
the substance illegally sold or possessed is, in the first photograph taking: (1) media representative; (2)
instance, the very substance adduced in court must representative from the Department of Justice (DOJ);
likewise be established with the same exacting degree of and (3) any elected public official.
Section 21 pertinently from the media and the Department of Justice (DOJ),
states: ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary and any elected public official who shall be required to
Section 21. Custody and Disposition of Confiscated, sign the copies of the inventory and be given a copy
Seized, and/or Surrendered Dangerous Drugs, Plant thereof; (Emphasis supplied)
Sources of Dangerous Drugs, Controlled Precursors and The Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) further
Essential Chemicals, Instruments/Paraphernalia and/or elaborate on the proper procedure to be followed in
Laboratory Equipment-The PDEA shall take charge and Section 21(a), Article II of R.A. No. 9165. It
have custody of all dangerous drugs, plant sources of provides: ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary
dangerous drugs, controlled precursors and essential (a) The apprehending office/team having initial custody
chemicals, as well as instruments/paraphernalia and/or and control of the drugs shall, immediately after seizure
laboratory equipment so confiscated, seized and/or and confiscation, physically inventory and photograph
surrendered, for proper disposition in the following the same in the presence of the accused or the person/s
manner: from whom such items were confiscated and/or seized,
or his/her representative or counsel, a representative
(1) The apprehending team having initial custody and from the media and the Department of Justice (DOJ),
control of the drugs shall, immediately after seizure and and any elected public official who shall be required to
confiscation, physically inventory and photograph the sign the copies of the inventory and be given a copy
same in the presence of the accused or the person/s from thereof: Provided, that the physical inventory and
whom such items were confiscated and/or seized, photograph shall be conducted at the place where the
or his/her representative or counsel, a representative
search warrant is served; or at the nearest police station [PO3 BALADJAY]: Yes, ma'am.
or at the nearest office of the apprehending officer/team,
whichever is practicable, in case of warrantless seizures; Q: In fact, you could not remember how many items, at
Provided, further that non-compliance with these this time, am I correct?
requirements under justifiable grounds, as long as the A: Yes, ma'am.
integrity and the evidentiary value of the seized items are
properly preserved by the apprehending officer/team, Q: Mr. Witness, you earlier said that the inventory was
shall not render void and invalid such seizures of and merely submitted to you, correct?
custody over said items; A: Yes, ma'am.
In this case, the Court finds that the buy-bust team failed
to establish the presence of the three required witnesses Q: It was not done in your office?
at the time of the inventory and photograph taking of the A: Yes, ma'am.
which were submitted to you during the investigation, am that receipt form?
The Court has held that the presence of the required frame-up as the witnesses would be able to testify that
number of witnesses at the time of the apprehension and the buy-bust operation and inventory of the seized drugs
inventory, is mandatory, and that their presence serves an were done in their presence in accordance with Section
In this case, there was only one witness during the most (3) the elected official themselves were involved in the
crucial stage of the buy-bust operation: the apprehension punishable acts sought to be apprehended; (4) earnest
efforts to secure the presence of a DOJ or media
representative and an elected public official within the
period required under Article 125 of the Revised Penal In this case, the prosecution did not explain the absence
Code prove futile through no fault of the arresting of the three required witnesses nor did it try to justify the
officers, who face the threat of being charged with police's deviation from the mandatory procedure
arbitrary detention; or (5) the constraints and urgency of outlined in Section 21. Without the three witnesses, there
the anti-drug operations, which often rely on tips of is reasonable doubt on the identity of the seized drugs
confidential assets, prevented the law enforcers from itself. Without the three witnesses, the Court is unsure
obtaining the presence of the required witnesses even whether there had been planting of evidence and/or
before the offenders could escape. contamination of the seized drugs. Because of this, the
The IRR of R.A. No. 9165 provides for a saving clause integrity and evidentiary value of the corpus delicti had
to ensure that not every non-compliance with the been compromised. Consequently, appellant must be
must be present: (1) the existence of justifiable grounds overcome appellant's presumption of innocence; (2)
to allow departure from the rule on strict compliance; and prove that the requirements of securing three witnesses
(2) the integrity and the evidentiary in Section 21, Article II of R.A. No. 9165 had been
value of the seized items are properly preserved by complied with; (3) offer any explanation for non-
the apprehending team. compliance with Section 21, Article II of R.A. No. 9165;
and (4) prove the corpus delicti of the crime with moral
certainty. For these reasons, the Court is constrained to Department of Justice for their information and
acquit the appellant. guidance.
WHEREFORE, the appeal is GRANTED. The Let entry of judgment be made immediately.
assailed Decision of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CR
HC No. 07604 dated September 30, 2016 SO ORDERED.
is REVERSED and SET ASIDE. Appellant Johnny
Arellaga y Sabado is hereby ACQUITTED for failure of Perlas-Bernabe, (Chairperson), Inting, and Delos Santos,
the prosecution to prove his guilt beyond reasonable JJ., concur.
doubt. He is ordered immediately RELEASED from Baltazar-Padilla, J., On official leave.
detention, unless he is confined for any other lawful
cause.