Republic of the Philippines

SUPREME COURT
Manila
SECOND DIVISION
G.R. No. 11!1 "p#il 1$% &''(
PEOP)E O* T+E P+I)IPPINES% "ppellee%
,s.
GERM"N "GO-O . )UN"% "ppellant.
D E C I S I O N
TING"% -./
Sub0ect of this appeal is the Ma#ch !'% &''1 2ecision1 of the Cou#t of "ppeals in C"3
G.R. CR3+.C. No. ''(4$% affi#5in6 the No,e5be# 11% &''& 0u265ent& of the Re6ional
T#ial Cou#t 7RTC8 of Tanauan% 9atan6as% fin2in6 appellant Ge#5an "6o0o . )una 6uilt.
of ,iolation of Section 1:% "#ticle III of Republic "ct 7R.".8 No. $4&:.
"ppellant ;as cha#6e2 ;ith ille6al sale of shabu in an Info#5ation 2ate2 Octobe# 14%
1(((% the accusato#. po#tion of ;hich #ea2s/
That on o# about the &1th 2a. of "u6ust 1((( at about 11/!' o<cloc= in the e,enin6 at
Poblacion% Municipalit. of Tanauan% P#o,ince of 9atan6as% Philippines an2 ;ithin the
0u#is2iction of this +ono#able Cou#t% the abo,e3na5e2 accuse2% ;ithout autho#it. of la;%
2i2 then an2 the#e ;illfull.% unla;full. an2 feloniousl. sell% an2 2eli,e# 748 plastic ba6s
of 5etha5pheta5ine h.2#ochlo#i2e co55onl. =no;n as >shabu%> ;ei6hin6 :1.''%
:1.1'% :&.$1 an2 :1.:: 6#a5s% ;ith a total ;ei6ht of &'$.!& 6#a5s% a #e6ulate2 2an6e#ous
2#u6.
Cont#a#. to la;.!
"ppellant ;as also cha#6e2 ;ith ,iolation of P#esi2ential Dec#ee No. 1$$ 7P.D. No.
1$$8 as a5en2e2 b. Republic "ct No. &(4 in an Info#5ation% the accusato#. po#tion of
;hich #ea2s/
That on o# about the &1th 2a. of "u6ust 1((( at about 11/!' o<cloc= in the e,enin6 at
Poblacion% Municipalit. of Tanauan% P#o,ince of 9atan6as% Philippines% an2 ;ithin the
0u#is2iction of this +ono#able Cou#t% the abo,e3na5e2 accuse2% 2i2 then an2 the#e
;illfull.% unla;full. an2 feloniousl. ha,e in his possession% custo2. an2 cont#ol one 718
calibe# .4: pistol Ithaca ;ith 2eface2 se#ial nu5be#% one 718 5a6a?ine an2 se,en 718
#oun2s of li,e a55unitions fo# calibe# .4:% ;ithout ha,in6 secu#e2 the necessa#. license
an2@o# pe#5it f#o5 the p#ope# autho#ities to possess the sa5e.
Cont#a#. to la;. 4
"ppellant ente#e2 a not 6uilt. plea upon a##ai6n5ent.: The#eafte#% t#ial ensue2. "s culle2
f#o5 the #eco#2% the e,i2ence fo# the p#osecution is as follo;s/
On "u6ust &!% 1(((% Ro2olfo "lon?o% a ci,ilian info#5ant% #epo#te2 the 2#u6 t#a2in6
acti,ities of appellant to Police Chief Inspecto# "blan6.$ "lon?o na##ate2 that appellant
a6#ee2 to sell hi5 &'' 6#a5s of shabu fo# P1'%'''.'' on a :'A cash an2 :'A c#e2it
basis. The sale ;as to ta=e place in f#ont of the Me#ca2o +ospital in Tanauan% 9atan6as%
on "u6ust &1% 1((( at 11/!' p.5. "blan6 fo#5e2 a tea5 to con2uct the bu.3bust
ope#ation.1
On "u6ust &1% 1(((% the tea5 p#ocee2e2 to Me#ca2o +ospital. "blan6 then ent#uste2
"lon?o ;ith P11%'''.'' each 5a#=e2 >-U".> "lon?o ;as inst#ucte2 to #e5o,e his hat to
si6nal the tea5 that the sale ha2 been consu55ate2. The bu.3bust tea5 a##i,e2 at
Me#ca2o +ospital at 11/'' p.5. The tea5 5e5be#s i55e2iatel. too= st#ate6ic positions.
"lon?o sta.e2 in an eate#. in f#ont of the hospital.
"6o0o a##i,e2 at 11/!' p.5. aboa#2 a ;hite Mitsubishi )ance# 7)ance#8 ;ith plate nu5be#
DRB3!(&. "ppellant then app#oache2 "lon?o to as= if the latte# ha2 the 5one.. "lon?o
han2e2 appellant the 5a#=e2 5one.. "ppellant too= a V+S boC f#o5 his ca# an2 han2e2
it to "lon?o. "ppellant an2 "lon?o then ;al=e2 alon6 the hospital 6ate nea# the
e5e#6enc. #oo5. "ppellant then ente#e2 the hospital.
"lon?o eCa5ine2 the V+S boC then too= off his cap to si6nal the bu.3bust tea5. The
bu.3bust tea5 i55e2iatel. p#ocee2e2 to the scene. "lon?o tol2 the tea5 that appellant
ha2 ente#e2 the hospital. "lon?o han2e2 the V+S boC to "blan6. Upon eCa5ination% the
boC ;as foun2 to contain fou# 748 plastic ba6s of a c#.stalline substance ;hich the tea5
suspecte2 ;as shabu. "blan6 inst#ucte2 Sala?a# to info#5 the appellant that his ca# ha2
been bu5pe2.
"ppellant then eCite2 f#o5 the hospital ,ia the e5e#6enc. #oo5 2oo#. Sala?a# int#o2uce2
hi5self as a police5an an2 atte5pte2 to a##est +IM.( "ppellant #esiste2% but the othe#
tea5 5e5be#s han2cuffe2 appellant. The tea5 #eco,e#e2 P1'%'''.'' of the bu.3bust
5one.. "blan6 opene2 appellant<s )ance# an2 #eco,e#e2 a .4: calibe# pistol containin6
se,en 718 bullets an2 a Panasonic cellula# phone f#o5 the passen6e# seat.
"#senio Rice#o% the Chief of the PNP 9atan6as Intelli6ence an2 In,esti6ation Section%
late# #eDueste2 a labo#ato#. eCa5ination of the contents of the fou# 748 plastic sachets
confiscate2 f#o5 appellant.1' )o#na T#ia% a che5ist at the Philippine National Police
7PNP8 c#i5e labo#ato#. in Ca5p Vicente )i5 con2ucte2 an eCa5ination of the fou# 748
plastic sachets. The eCa5ination #e,eale2 that the sachets containe2 5etha5pheta5ine
h.2#ochlo#i2e ;ith a total ;ei6ht of &'$.!& 6#a5s.
"ppellant p#esente2 a 2iffe#ent ,e#sion of the facts% in suppo#t of the 2efenses of 2enial
an2 f#a5e up. +e sai2 that on "u6ust &1% 1(((% appellant a##i,e2 at Me#ca2o +ospital at
/&: p.5. The#eafte#% he sta.e2 in the #oo5 of a ce#tain I5el2a Papasin. "t this ti5e% his
;ife% P#ecilla ;as also confine2 in the hospital. She ha2 as=e2 hi5 to b#in6 5one. to
settle he# bills% so she coul2 be 2ischa#6e2 the neCt 2a.. Upon bein6 info#5e2 b. a
secu#it. 6ua#2 that his ca# ha2 been si2es;ipe2% he ;ent 2o;n. The police late# a##este2
hi5 ;hen he #eache2 the 6#oun2 floo#. The police late# opene2 his ca#. +e ;as 5a2e to
boa#2 a police ,ehicle. Bhile aboa#2% the police confiscate2 P$%'''.'' in cash% a ;#ist
;atch an2 a nec=lace f#o5 hi5. +e ;as b#ou6ht to the police hea2Dua#te#s in Eu5intan6
Ila.a% 9atan6as Cit..
In a Decision11 2ate2 No,e5be# 11% &''&% the RTC foun2 appellant 6uilt. be.on2
#easonable 2oubt of the cha#6e a6ainst hi5 fo# ,iolation of Section 1:1& of R.". No.
$4&: an2 acDuitte2 hi5 of the cha#6e of ,iolation of P.D. No. 1$$ fo# lac= of sufficient
e,i2ence. The case ;as b#ou6ht on auto5atic #e,ie; befo#e the Sup#e5e Cou#t% since
appellant ;as sentence2 to 2eath b. the t#ial cou#t.1!
In his b#ief 2ate2 -ul. !'% &''!%14 appellant i5pute2 th#ee 7!8 e##o#s to the t#ial cou#t%
na5el./ 718 the t#ial cou#t con,icte2 hi5 2espite failu#e of the p#osecution to o,e#co5e
the p#esu5ption of innocence an2 to p#o,e his 6uilt be.on2 #easonable 2oubtF 7&8 the t#ial
cou#t e##e2 in #el.in6 on the ;ea=ness of the 2efense #athe# than on the st#en6th of the
p#osecution e,i2enceF an2 7!8 the t#ial cou#t e##e2 in consi2e#in6 the a66#a,atin6
ci#cu5stances of ni6htti5e an2 use of a 5oto# ,ehicle.
On Septe5be# &% &''!% "6o0o 5o,e2 fo# ne; t#ial a2 cautela5.1: "ppellant clai5e2 to
ha,e secu#e2 the statistical 2ata list f#o5 the cash 2epa#t5ent of 9an6=o Sent#al n6
Pilipinas that se,en 718 of the P11%'''.'' peso bills use2 in the bu.3bust ope#ation on
Septe5be# 4% &''! ;e#e bo6us. "ppellant clai5e2 that "blan6 5ust ha,e 5e#el. copie2
the se#ial nu5be#s of bills of othe# 2eno5inations ;hen he #an out of se#ial nu5be#s of
one thousan2 peso bills.
In his b#ief 2ate2 -anua#. !'% &''4% fo# the People% the Solicito# Gene#al asse#te2 that the
positi,e 2ecla#ations of "lon?o an2 the bu.3bust tea5 shoul2 p#e,ail o,e# "6o0o<s self3
se#,in6 2enial an2 alle6ations of ha,in6 been f#a5e2 up.1$ +o;e,e#% he u#6e2 the cou#t
to lo;e# "6o0o<s penalt. to #eclusion pe#petua% as the t#ial cou#t e##e2 in #ulin6 that
ni6htti5e an2 the use of a 5oto# ,ehicle ha2 atten2e2 the offense.
On Ma#ch &% &''4% the Solicito# Gene#al file2 its co55ent on "6o0o<s 5otion fo# ne;
t#ial%11 a,e##in6 that the 5otion lac=e2 5e#it since% 2u#in6 the t#ial% appellant coul2 ha,e
secu#e2 2u#in6 the t#ial the 9SP<s ce#tification ;hich ;as #elie2 upon fo# the ne; t#ial
sou6ht.
In a #esolution 2ate2 "u6ust !1% &''4% this Cou#t t#ansfe##e2 the case to the appellate
cou#t fo# inte#5e2iate #e,ie;% follo;in6 the #ulin6 in People ,. Mateo.1 "n eCchan6e of
plea2in6s befo#e the appellate cou#t follo;e2% ;he#ein the pa#ties #eite#ate2 thei# ea#lie#
stances.
On Ma#ch !'% &''1% the appellate cou#t a22#esse2 both the e##o#s #aise2 in the appellant<s
b#ief an2 the appellant<s 5otion fo# ne; t#ial. It affi#5e2 ;ith 5o2ification the 2ecision
of the t#ial cou#t% but #e2uce2 the penalt. to #eclusion pe#petua in line ;ith Republic "ct
No. (!4$% >"n "ct P#ohibitin6 the I5position of the Death Penalt. in the Philippines%>
an2 because of the fin2in6 that a66#a,atin6 ci#cu5stances ;e#e not p#esent.1(
The case ;as a6ain ele,ate2 to this Cou#t. In a #esolution 2ate2 Ma#ch 1(% &''% this
Cou#t #eDui#e2 the pa#ties to file thei# supple5ental b#iefs.&'
The Solicito# Gene#al 2e5u##e2% a,e##in6 that the b#ief ea#lie# file2 ;ith the Cou#t ;as
sufficient.&1
"ppellant file2 a supple5ental 5e5o#an2u5% #eite#atin6 that the appellate cou#t ha2
e##e2.&& "ppellant 5aintains that the p#osecution ;as not able to p#o,e his 6uilt be.on2
#easonable 2oubt.&! +e also clai5s that the e,i2ence p#o,es that he ;as in fact f#a5e23
up b. the bu.3bust tea5.
The appeal lac=s 5e#it.
The e##o#s #aise2 b. the appellant boil 2o;n to the issue of ;hethe# appellant<s 6uilt ;as
p#o,en be.on2 #easonable 2oubt% as ;ell as to the Duestion ;hethe# appellant ;as
f#a5e23up b. the bu.3bust tea5.
" tho#ou6h #e,ie; of the #eco#2s clea#l. sho;s that the p#osecution p#o,e2 be.on2
#easonable 2oubt that appellant sol2 the shabu to the poseu#3bu.e#. The testi5on. of
"lon?o on the sale of ille6al 2#u6s an2 the i2entification of appellant as the selle# is clea#
an2 st#ai6htfo#;a#2% thus/&4
C C C
G/ "n2 afte# .ou ;e#e info#5e2 b. Ge#5an "6o0o that he has onl. &'' 6#a5s a,ailable%
;hat else 2i2 .ou tell hi5% if an.H
"/ Be tal=e2 about the p#ice an2 ;e a6#ee2 that I ;ill be in cash an2 I ;ill be on
consi6n5ent ;hich is P1'%'''.'' pe# 1'' 6#a5s% si#.&:
C C C C
G/ Di2 .ou call up Ge#5an "6o0o on the 2ate .ou a6#ee2H
"/ Jes% si#.
G/ Bhen ;as thatH
"/ In the e,enin6 of "u6ust of &1% 1((( at about 1/'' o<cloc= in the e,enin6% si#.
G/ "n2 ;hat ;as the sub0ect of .ou# con,e#sationH
"/ Be a6#ee2 that ;e ;ill 5eet at the Me#ca2o +ospital% si#.&$
C C C C
G/ "fte# .ou tal=e2 ;ith Ge#5an "6o0o about the 2eal to be pe#fo#5e2 at the Me#ca2o
+ospital at 11/'' o<cloc= in the e,enin6 of "u6ust &1% 1(((% ;hat happen neCtH
"/ Ma0o# "blan6 o#6ani?e2 a tea5 ;ho ;ill be p#ocee2in6 to Me#ca2o +ospital% si#.&1
C C C C
G/ Bhat else 2i2 Ma0o# "blan6 2o% if an.% asi2e f#o5 o#6ani?in6 a tea5 to p#ocee2 to
Me#ca2o +ospital% Tanauan% 9atan6asH
"/ Ma0o# "blan6 6a,e 5e the 5one.% P1'%'''.''% suppose2 to be pai2 fo# the 1'' 6#a5s
of shabu% si#.&
C C C C
G/ Di2 he 6i,e inst#uction to .ou on that ni6ht ;hen to p#ocee2 to Tanauan% 9atan6asH
"/ Jes% si#.
G/ Bhat ;as the inst#uctionH
"/ +e tol2 5e that ;hate,e# is 5. a6#ee5ent ;ith Ge#5an "6o0o% I ha,e to 2o it an2 he
e,en inst#ucte2 5e to 6i,e si6nal to his 5en% si#.&(
C C C C
G/ Bhat ;as then that si6nal .ou a6#ee2 ;ith SPO4 CalapatiH
"/ To #e5o,e 5. hat o# cap% si#.
G/ "n2 afte# that inst#uction ;as 5a2e b. Ma0o# "blan6% ;hat else happene2H
"/ Be ;aite2 fo# a ;hile an2 afte# KsicL fe; hou#s% ;e p#ocee2e2 to Tanauan% 9atan6as%
si#.!'
C C C C
G/ Bas the#e a ti5e that Ge#5an "6o0o a##i,e2H
"/ Jes% si#.
G/ +o; 5an. 5inutes inte#,al f#o5 .ou# a##i,al up to the ti5e Ge#5an "6o0o a##i,e2H
"/ "#oun2 thi#t. 5inutes% si#.
G/ Bhen he a##i,e2% ;e#e .ou insi2e .ou# ,ehicle o# outsi2eH
"/ Outsi2e% si#.
G/ Bhen he a##i,e2% ;hat happene2H
"/ +e app#oache2 5e an2 as=e2 5e if I b#ou6ht the 5one..
G/ "n2 ;hat ;as .ou# ans;e#H
"/ I tol2 hi5 that I ha,e the 5one. an2 6a,e it to hi5% si#.
G/ Jou 6a,e the P1'%'''.'' to Ge#5an "6o0oH
"/ Jes% si#.
G/ "fte# .ou 6a,e the 5one. to hi5% ;hat happene2H
"/ "fte# that he #etu#ne2 to his ca# an2 too= so5ethin6% si#% an2 ;hen he ca5e bac= he
p#esente2 to 5e a cassette tape case sa.in6 >it is the#e%> si#.
G/ "fte# .ou #ecei,e2 the cassette tape case% ;hat 2i2 .ou 2oH
"/ "fte# that he place2 his han2 on 5. shoul2e#. Be ;ent to the e5e#6enc. #oo5 nea#
the 6ate an2 he ente#e2 the hospital% si#.
G/ Bhat 2i2 .ou 2o ;ith the cassette tape caseH
"/ "fte# eCa5inin6 the cassette tape case an2 KsicL I foun2 that the#e ;as shabu insi2e
an2 I 6a,e a si6nal to SPO4 Calapati% si#.
G/ Bhat else happene2 afte# .ou 5a2e that si6nalH
"/ SPO4 Calapati an2 PO! Sala?a# app#oache2 5e an2 inDui#e2 if it is shabu an2 I tol2
the5 that it is shabu then the. info#5e2 Ma0o# "blan6% si#.!1
C C C
G/ "fte# that% ;hat else happene2H
"/ Ma0o# "blan6 app#oache2 5e an2 I han2e2 to hi5 the cassette tape case% si#.
G/ +o; about the suspecte2 shabu ;hich acco#2in6 to .ou ;as place2 insi2e the cassette
tape caseH
"/ I han2e2 it also to Ma0o# "blan6% si#.
G/ "fte# .ou han2e2 the sa5e to Ma0o# "blan6% ;hat else happene2H
"/ The. #eDueste2 the secu#it. 6ua#2 of Me#ca2o +ospital to info#5 Ge#5an "6o0o that
his ca# ;as bu5pe2 fo# hi5 to 6et out of the hospital% si#.
G/ Di2 the secu#it. 6ua#2 info#57e28 Ge#5an "6o0oH
"/ Jes% si#.
G/ Bhat happene2 afte# thatH
"/ +e ;ent 2o;n% si#.
G/ In ;hat pa#ticula# place of Me#ca2o +ospital 2i2 he 6o ;hen .ou sai2 he ;ent 2o;nH
"/ "t the lobb. of the hospital% si#% nea# the e5e#6enc. #oo5.
G/ "fte# he ;ent 2o;n the hospital% ;hat happene2H
"/ PO! Sala?a# int#o2uce2 hi5self as a police5an to Ge#5an "6o0o an2 info#5e2 hi5
that he is a##estin6 hi5% si#% an2 the#e ;as a scuffle because Ge#5an "6o0o #esiste2%
a##est% si#.!&
The testi5on. of "lon?o ;as co##obo#ate2 b. 5e5be#s of the bu.3bust tea5% pa#ticula#l.
Calapati!! an2 Sala?a#%!4 ;ho both testifie2 that the. sa; appellant han2 "lon?o the
V+S tape containin6 the shabu 2espite onl. pa#tial pa.5ent fo# the shabu.
"ppellant<s asse#tion that he ;as f#a5e23up has no 5e#it. In al5ost e,e#. case in,ol,in6
a bu.3bust ope#ation% the accuse2 puts up the 2efense of f#a5e3up. This cou#t has
#epeate2l. e5phasi?e2 that the 2efense of >f#a5e3up> is ,ie;e2 ;ith 2isfa,o#%!: since
the 2efense is easil. concocte2 an2 is a co55on plo. of the accuse2.!$ The#efo#e% clea#
an2 con,incin6 e,i2ence of the f#a5e3up 5ust be sho;n fo# such a 2efense to be 6i,en
5e#it.!1
In this case% appellant points to the a##est not bein6 in fla6#ante 2elicto% the eCistence of
2isc#epancies in the se#ial nu5be#s of the bu.3bust 5one. an2 a p#io# atte5pt to f#a5e
hi5 up as p#oofs of the f#a5e3up. +o;e,e#% the fact that the a##est ;as not in fla6#ante
2elicto is of no conseDuence. The a##est ;as ,ali2l. eCecute2 pu#suant to Section :%
pa#a6#aph 7b8 of Rule 11! of the Rules of Cou#t% ;hich states/
Sec. :. "##est ;ithout ;a##antF ;hen la;ful. M " peace office# o# a p#i,ate pe#son 5a.%
;ithout a ;a##ant% a##est a pe#son/ 7a8 Bhen% in his p#esence% the pe#son to be a##este2 has
co55itte2% is actuall. co55ittin6% o# is atte5ptin6 to co55it an offenseF 7b8 Bhen an
offense has in fact been co55itte2 an2 he has pe#sonal =no;le26e of facts in2icatin6 that
the pe#son to be a##este2 has co55itte2 itF an2% 7c8 Bhen the pe#son to be a##este2 is a
p#isone# ;ho has escape2 f#o5 penal establish5ent o# place ;he#e he is se#,in6 final
0u265ent o# te5po#a#il. confine2 ;hile his case is pen2in6% o# has escape2 ;hile bein6
t#ansfe##e2 f#o5 one confine5ent to anothe#. 7E5phasis supplie281a,,phi1
The secon2 instance of la;ful ;a##antless a##est co,e#e2 b. pa#a6#aph 7b8 cite2 abo,e
necessitates t;o st#in6ent #eDui#e5ents befo#e a ;a##antless a##est can be effecte2/ 718 an
offense has 0ust been co55itte2F an2 7&8 the pe#son 5a=in6 the a##est has pe#sonal
=no;le26e of facts in2icatin6 that the pe#son to be a##este2 has co55itte2 it.! " #e,ie;
of the #eco#2s sho;s that both #eDui#e5ents ;e#e 5et in this case.
*#o5 the spot ;he#e the bu.3bust tea5 ;as% the. 2efinitel. ;itnesse2 the sale of shabu
too= place. So% too% the#e ;as a la#6e 5easu#e of i55e2iac. bet;een the ti5e of
co55ission of the offense an2 the ti5e of the a##est.!( "fte# "lon?o ha2 si6nale2 the
bu.3bust tea5 ;hen he #ecei,e2 the V+S tape f#o5 appellant% "blan6 app#oache2
"lon?o an2 i55e2iatel. eCa5ine2 the tape.4' Soon the#eafte#% he eCecute2 the #use to
5a=e appellant to 6o 2o;n% as the latte# ha2 in the 5eanti5e 6one up. The #use
succee2e2 ;hen appellant ;ent 2o;n% an2 he ;as a##este2 #i6ht then an2 the#e.
The#e is si5ila#l. little ;ei6ht in the clai5 of appellant that the inconsistencies #e,eale2
b. the 9an6=o Sent#al n6 Pilipinas 79SP8 ce#tification in the se#ial nu5be#s of the
5a#=e2 5one.% as ;ell as the fact that onl. a f#action of the 5one. ;as #eco,e#e2%
shoul2 eCone#ate hi5. The 5a#=e2 5one. use2 in the bu.3bust ope#ation is not
in2ispensable in 2#u6 cases.41 Othe#;ise state2% the absence of 5a#=e2 5one. 2oes not
c#eate a hiatus in the e,i2ences p#o,i2e2 that the p#osecution a2eDuatel. p#o,es the
sale.4& Onl. appellant ;oul2 =no; ;hat happene2 to the #est of the 5a#=e2 5one. since
onl. P1'%'''.'' out of the P1'%'''.'' ;as #eco,e#e2 f#o5 hi5. In an. e,ent% the pa#tial
#eco,e#. of the 5a#=e2 5one. f#o5 appellant ;oul2 in2icate that the bu.3bust ope#ation
2i2 ta=e place.
Guestions ha,e been #aise2 in connection ;ith the a25itte2 peculia# business sense of the
appellantNsellin6 &'' 6#a5s of shabu fo# P1'%'''.'' an2 acceptin6 pa.5ent b.
install5ents fo# the cont#aban2. This aspect of the tale 5a. st#i=e as inc#e2ulous% but the
e,i2ence is plain that it 2i2 happen. T#uth 5a. so5eti5es be st#an6e# than fiction% an2 as
lon6 as such t#uth is co##obo#ate2 b. e,i2ence% the Cou#t is boun2 b. the facts.4!
This Cou#t has also ta=en 0u2icial notice that 2#u6 pushe#s sell thei# ;a#es to an.
p#ospecti,e custo5e#% st#an6e# o# not% in both public o# p#i,ate places% ;ith no #e6a#2 fo#
ti5e as the. ha,e beco5e inc#easin6l. 2a#in6 an2 blatantl. 2efiant of the la;.44 It is
the#efo#e not su#p#isin6 that 2#u6 pushe#s ;ill e,en accept pa#tial pa.5ent fo# thei# ;a#es
;ith the balance pa.able on install5ent.
"ppellant<s asse#tion that the chain of custo2. o,e# the 2#u6s ;as not p#ese#,e2 also
lac=s 5e#it. " tho#ou6h #e,ie; of the #eco#2s of this case #e,eals that the chain of custo2.
of the sei?e2 substance ;as not b#o=en% an2 that the p#osecution p#ope#l. i2entifie2 the
2#u6s sei?e2 in this case. "ppellant sol2 the 2#u6s to "lon?o in a le6iti5ate bu.3bust
ope#ation.4: "lon?o then han2e2 the V+S tape containin6 the 2#u6s to Ma0o# "blan6%4$
;ho =ept the 2#u6s 2u#in6 appellant<s
2etention% an2 then tu#ne2 the5 o,e# to Rice#o% so that the pac=ets coul2 be 5a#=e2 ;hen
the bu.3bust tea5 #etu#ne2 ;ith "6o0o to the Police P#o,incial Office in Eu5intan6
Ila.a% 9atan6as.41 The 2#u6s% alon6 ;ith a lette# #eDuest% ;e#e then sent b. Rice#o to the
PNP c#i5e labo#ato#. in Ca5p Vicente )i5% Canluban6% )a6una fo# eCa5ination. )o#na
T#ia% a PNP che5ist ;o#=in6 at Ca5p Vicente )i5% eCa5ine2 the 5a#=e2 pac=ets% ;hich
ha2 teste2 positi,e fo# shabu.4 These sa5e 5a#=e2 pac=ets ;e#e i2entifie2 in open cou#t
b. Ma0o# "blan6%4( Rice#o:' an2 T#ia.:1 Thus% the unb#o=en chain of custo2. of the
shabu% f#o5 thei# sei?u#e f#o5 appellant until thei# p#esentation in cou#t% ;as clea#l.
establishe2.
*inall.% the asse#tion that the bu.3bust tea5 ha2 the habit of f#a5in6 hi5 up is si5ila#l.
5islea2in6. The appellate cou#t acDuitte2 appellant of a p#e,ious cha#6e of possession of
shabu% because he ;as cha#6e2 ;ith ille6al sale #athe# than 5e#e possession of shabu.:&
+ence% the#e ;as no atte5pt to f#a5e hi5 up in a p#io# case% no# ;as the#e an. e,i2ence
that such an atte5pt to f#a5e hi5 up ;as 5a2e in this case.
B+ERE*ORE% the appeal is DISMISSED% the 2ecision 2ate2 Ma#ch !'% &''1 of the
Cou#t of "ppeals in C"3G.R. CR3+.C. No. ''(4$ is "**IRMED.
SO ORDERED.
D"NTE O. TING""ssociate -ustice
BE CONCUR/