663 Phil. 132
PERALTA, J.:
That on or about the 10th day of January 2007. in the city of Laoag, Philippines, and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the above-named accused, without any authority, did then and there willfully, unlawfully and feloniously sell and deliver to a police poseur buyer methamphetamine hydrocholoride (sic) "Shabu" weighing more or less 0.6411 (excluding plastic container), in violation of the aforecited law.
CONTRARY TO LAW.
On January 10. 2007, at around 6:00 o'clock (sic) in the evening, Edwin Rumbaoa, a confidential police informant, went to the intelligence office of the Laoag City Poiice Station and reported to SPO3 Rovkmanuel Balolong (or "SPO3 Balolong''), Chief of Intelligence Division, that there was a transaction involving a certain "Gorio," (sic) herein [Felipe], for the delivery of "shabu" worth P6,000.00 to a prospective buyer at the Rizal Park in Laoag City. SPO3 Balolong immediately relayed the information to the Chief of Police, Police Superintendent Wilson Lopez, who instructed him to organize a team to conduct a buy-bust operation. SPO3 Balolong then presided over a briefing, wherein he designated PO2 Randy Diego (or "PO2 Diego") as poseur-buyer, while he and SPO3 Arthur Mateo (or "SPO3 Mateo") would act as back-up security.
At around 6:45 o'clock (sic) in the evening, while still in the investigation office, the confidential informant contacted [Felipe] to confirm the transaction and informed the ialter of the description of the prospective buyer as one wearing a white bull cap, white t-shi't and maong short pants, who would be waiting in front of Rizal Park along the northernmost part of Ablan Avenue, Laoag City at around 7:00 o'clock (sic) in the evening. Thereafter. PO2 Diego proceeded to the area on board a motorcycle, white the rest of the members of the team followed riding on a separate vehicle. PO2 Diego positioned himself at the designated place, while the rest of the members of the group parked their vehicle in front of Mariano Marcos State University.
After about fifteen (15) minutes, PO2 Diego, who went directly to the northernmost part of Rizal Park riding on his motorcycle, saw [Felipe] driving a tricycle coming from the south. [Felipe] parked his tricycle north of the place where PO2 Diego was. When [Felipe] saw PO2 Diego, he immediately approached the latter and uttered "Ne daytoyen ti ideliberko kenka" ("here is the thing I am going to deliver to you"). [Felipe] then handed over the "shabu" contained in a Hope brand cigarette case to PO2 Diego who, upon examination that the case contained two (2) plastic sachets of white crystalline substance, pocketed the same and introduced himself as a police officer. Thereafter, PO2 Diego arrested [Felipe] who resisted and tried to free himself. Upon seeing the commotion from where they positioned themselves, SPO3 Balolong and SPO3 Mateo immediately went to assist PO2 Diego. They restrained [Felipe], informed him of his constitutional rights and he was taken to the Laoag Police Station where the incident was recorded in the police blotter.
The two (2) plastic sachets of "shabu" were marked by PO2 Diego with his initials "RD" at the police station and were turned-over to SPO2 Loreto Ancheta (or "SPO2 Ancheta") who recorded the receipt of said evidence in his logbook and marked the same with "LCPS" which stands for Laoag City Police Station and "GF" for [Felipe's] name. Afterwards, SPO2 Ancheta delivered the two (2) plastic sachets to the Ilocos Norte Provincial Crime Laboratory Office at Camp Captain Valentine S. Juan, Laoag City, where they were received by SPO3 Diosdado Mamotos in the presence of P/Insp. Chris Cabatic, the Forensic Chemist Officer. After a qualitative examination of the contents of two (2) plastic sachets, the same tested positive for methamphetamine hydrochloride, a prohibited drug.[3]
For his defense, [Felipe] averred that on January 10, 2007, at around 6:30 o'clock (sic) in the evening, he was ferrying a passenger that he picked up in front of PLDT office in Laoag City to Marcos Stadium. After his passenger alighted from the tricycle, he decided to park at the northeastern part of Rizal Park and wait for other passengers.' While thereat, somebody suddenly grabbed his collar and hands. When he looked, he saw PO2 Diego with three (3) companions whom he was not able to recognize. He asked PO2 Diego why was he (sic) being held and the latter answered that he was being put under arrest. His hands were cuffed at his back by PO2 Diego's companions. He asked them again what his fault was, but the group told him that they will go to the police station. While [Felipe] was being pulled and boarded on his tricycle, he pleaded for his freedom and afterwards, shouted for help from the tricycle drivers around, but to no avail.
When [Felipe] arrived at the police station, he was allegedly locked up inside a room and SPO3 Balolong, whom he had known for a long time as he would usually convey passengers at the police headquarters, suddenly went inside and asked, "is he the one?" and immediately punched him on the abdomen. [Felipe] was then asked by SPO3 Balolong who the operator of his tricycle was and he answered that it was a certain Ian Ganitano. SPO3 [Balolong] again asked whether it was "Ian Ganitano or Virgilio Ganitano?" He answered that Virgilio Ganitano is the father of Ian Ganitano. SPO3 Balolong said that if that was the case, then [Felipe] was a follower of Virgiiio Ganitano. [Felipe] answered that he was not, after which, SPO3 Balolong punched him again on the abdomen.
Thereafter, PO2 Diego allegedly handed a Hope cigarette pack to SPO3 Balolong who asked [Felipe] if he was smoking. [Felipe] answered in the affirmative and SPO3 Balolong said, "here also is a shabu. where did this come from? From Virgilio?" [Felipe] replied that he did not know about any "shabu" contained in the cigarette pack. PO2 Diego then frisked him and took away his cellular phone and wallet. The police officers then asked [Felipe] if he wanted a palit-ulo to which he asked what palit-ulo means. The police officers explained that if he gives information where Virgilio Ganitano was keeping "shabu" and from where he sourced it, they will arrest Virgilio Ganitano. instead of [Felipe]. However. [Felipe] answered that he did not know anything about the "shabu" being kept by Virgilio Ganitano. Thereafter, SPO3 Balolong led [Felipe] inside a room and the other police officers, and since they were the only ones inside the room now, [Felipe] could freely tell him everything about Virgilio Ganitano who should be charged in court. [Felipe], however, told SPC£ Balolong that he did not know anything about Ganitano's keeping "snabu'' and had he known it. he would have told them at the first instance. The police officers then brought [Felipe] out and placed him in a detention cell at the police headquarters and filed A the instant case against him.[4]
WHEREFORE, judgment is hereby rendered finding accused Gregorio Felipe GUILTY beyond reasonable doubt of illegal delivery of shabu and is therefore sentenced to suffer (he penalty of life imprisonment and to pay a fine of P500,000.00 The two (2) plastic sachets of shabu subject hereof, weighing 0.6411 gram(s), is hereby confiscated, the same to be disposed as the law prescribes.
SO ORDERED.[6]
WHEREFORE, premises considered, the assailed decision of the RTC of Laoag City, Branch 13, dated September 28, 2007. is hereby AFFIRMED IN TOTO.
SO ORDERED.
I
THE TRIAL COURT GRAVELY ERRED IN CONVICTING THE ACCUSED-APPELLANT DESPITE THE LACK OF PROOF THAT THE ACCUSED-APPELLANT KNOWINGLY SOLD AND DELIVERED THE DANGEROUS DRUGS.II
THE TRIAL COURT GRAVELY ERRED IN CONVICTING THE ACCUSED-APPELLANT BASED ON THE HIGHLY INCREDIBLE TESTIMONIES OF THE PROSECUTION WITNESSES.III
THE TRIAL COURT GRAVELY ERRED IN CONVICTING THE ACCUSED-APPELLANT DESPITE THE FAILURE OF THE PROSECUTION TO ESTABLISH THE CHAIN OF CUSTODY OF THE DRUG SPECIMENS.[10]
In the case at bar, We find that the prosecution was able to establish the fact of sale, starting from the time that SP03 Balolong received the information from their "police asset" up to the time that the buy-bust learn proceeded to the target location at Riza) Park where the actual sale happened. Noteworthy is the fact that even before the actual delivery of the prohibited drugs to the poseur-buyer, the "police asset" confirmed first with appellant, through text messages, the intended delivery of the said drugs with a value of P6,000.00. Thus, as far as the sale is concerned, the same was already perfected earlier through a confirmed text massage by appellant. The agreement between him and P02 Diego to meet later on at the agreed place was only for purposes of confirming the sale by the delivery of the prohibited drugs.[14]
More significantly, the claims of the accused that he was just arrested without any reason at all and that the police just planted the shabu against him are simply incredible. If the police did so, then rhyme and reason dictate that they had some sinister and greedy motives against the accused. But the accused never asserted any reason why the police would have just arrested him and then planted the shabu against him. He did not claim that the policemen tried to extort from him or that they had a previous grudge to grind against him. He did not say that they did it for promotion or out of over zealousness in the performance of their duty as police officers. What is clear on record is that he never had any quarrel with the policemen, PO2 Randy Diego and SP03 Balolong. In this connection, the Court cannot even believe the claim of the accused that he knows PO2 Diego. Again, it was so easy for him to have laid such a claim. Aside from his self-serving testimony that he had seen and known P02 Diego at the DPS where he would register whenever he conveyed a passenger (out of city limits) at nighttime, there is no other evidence to prove that P02 Diego was indeed assigned at one time or another at the DPS, As the Court would take notice from his many court appearances, P02 Diego had always been assigned at the Intelligence and Investigation section of the Laoag City Police Station. In fact, he testified that he has been assigned in that section for more or less three years.[16]
SECTION 21. Custody and Disposition of Confiscated, Seized and/or Surrendered Dangerous Drugs, Plant Sources of Dangerous Drugs, Controlled Precursors and Essential Chemicals, Instruments/Paraphernalia and/or Laboratory Equipment. - The PDEA shall take charge and have custody of all dangerous drugs, plant sources of dangerous drugs, controlled precursors and essential chemicals, as well as instruments/paraphernalia and/or laboratory equipment so confiscated, seized and/or surrendered, for proper disposition in the following manner:(a) The apprehending officer/team having initial custody and control of the drugs shall, immediately after seizure and confiscation, physically inventory and photograph the same in the presence of the accused or the person/s from whom such items were confiscated and/or seized, or his/her representative or counsel, a representative from the media and the Department of Justice (DOJ), and' any elected public official who shall be required to sign the copies of the inventory and be given a copy thereof; Provided, that the physical inventory and photograph shall be conducted at the place where the search warrant is served; or at the nearest police station or at the nearest office of the apprehending officer/team, whichever is practicable, in case of warrantless seizures; Provided, further, that non-compliance with these requirements under justifiable grounds, as long as the integrity and evidentiary value of the seized items are properly preserved by the apprehending officer/team, shall not render void and invalid such seizures of and custody over said items, x x x[19]
SEC. 5. Sale, Trading, Administration, Dispensation, Delivery, Distribution and Transportation of Dangerous Drugs and/or Controlled Precursors and Essential Chemicals. - The penalty of life imprisonment to death and a fine ranging from Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00) to Ten million pesos (P10,000,000.00) shall be imposed upon any person, who, unless authorized by law, shall sell, trade, administer, dispense, deliver, give away to another, distribute, dispatch in transit or transport any dangerous drug, including any and all species of opium poppy regardless of the quantity and purity involved, or shall act as a broker in any of such transactions.