Case Digest (G.R. No. 215942)
Facts:
- Kusain Amin y Ampuan, known as "Cocoy," was charged with the illegal sale of prohibited drugs under Republic Act No. 9165.
- The alleged incident took place on January 2, 2004, at 5:40 p.m. in Landless, Colrai, Macabalan, Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines.
- Amin was accused of selling a heated-sealed plastic sachet containing approximately 0.09 grams of shabu, valued at around P100, to a poseur-buyer from the Philippine National Police (PNP).
- After pleading not guilty, Amin's trial began.
- On June 14, 2013, the Regional Trial Court (RTC) found him guilty based on police testimonies and sentenced him to life imprisonment with a fine of P500,000.
- The Court of Appeals (CA) affirmed the RTC's decision on October 16, 2014, dismissing Amin's appeal.
Issue:
- (Unlock)
Ruling:
- The Supreme Court reversed the CA's decision, acquitting Kusain Amin y Ampuan due to reasonable doubt.
- The Court highlighted that the absence of the poseur-buyer was detrimental to t...(Unlock)
Ratio:
- The Supreme Court clarified that prior coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is not required for a valid buy-bust operation.
- However, the absence of the poseur-buyer's testimony significantly undermined the prosecution's case.
- The Court emphasized that the validity of a buy-bust operation hinges on the presumption that the suspect was caught in the act.
- Testimonies from police officers who did not directly witness the transaction were deemed insufficient to establish the i...continue reading
Case Digest (G.R. No. 215942)
Facts:
In the case of People vs. Amin y Ampuan, G.R. No. 215942, the accused-appellant, Kusain Amin y Ampuan, also known as "Cocoy," was charged with the illegal sale of prohibited drugs under Section 5, paragraph 1, Article II of Republic Act No. 9165. The incident occurred on January 2, 2004, at approximately 5:40 p.m. in Landless, Colrai, Macabalan, Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines. The prosecution claimed that Amin sold a small heated-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing a white crystalline substance, locally known as shabu, weighing around 0.09 grams and valued at approximately P100, to a poseur-buyer from the Philippine National Police (PNP). Following his arraignment, Amin pleaded not guilty, leading to the commencement of the trial. On June 14, 2013, the Regional Trial Court (RTC) found Amin guilty beyond reasonable doubt, primarily relying on the testimonies of the police officers involved in the buy-bust operation. The RTC sentenced him to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of P500,000. The Court of Appeals (CA) affirmed the RTC's decision on October 16, 2014, dismissing Amin's appeal and asserting that the p...