Case Digest (G.R. No. 229046)
Facts:
People of the Philippines v. Noel Cardenas y Halili, G.R. No. 229046, September 11, 2019, Supreme Court Second Division, Caguioa, J., writing for the Court. The prosecution (the People of the Philippines) charged accused-appellant Noel Cardenas y Halili with illegal sale of dangerous drugs under Section 5, Article II of RA 9165. The case arose from a September 12, 2008 buy-bust operation initiated after a confidential informant reported Cardenas’s alleged drug dealings to Police Inspector Romeo Rabuya. Police Officer 2 Jorge Santiago acted as poseur-buyer using a marked Php100 bill; the prosecution says Cardenas produced a small heat-sealed sachet of marijuana fruiting tops, the money and sachet were exchanged, Santiago signaled the team, and the buy-bust team arrested Cardenas. Santiago and others marked the sachet with initials “JS” and “NC,” an Inventory Receipt was prepared, a media representative (Jimmy Mendoza) witnessed marking and inventory, and the item was allegedly turned over to investigating officers and sent to the PNP Crime Laboratory where Engr. Leonard Jabonillo reported the substance as marijuana (0.62 g).At trial, Cardenas denied the prosecution’s account, testifying that police barged into his home and arrested him while he was sleeping; he denied selling marijuana and claimed coercion. The Regional Trial Court (Quezon City, Branch 82, Presiding Judge Lily Ann M. Padaen) convicted Cardenas on June 5, 2014, sentencing him to life imprisonment and a fine. The Court of Appeals (Second Division; penned by Inting, J., with Salazar-Fernando and Baltazar-Padilla, JJ., concurring) affirmed the RTC in a June 27, 2...(Subscriber-Only)
Issues:
- Whether accused-appellant Noel Cardenas was proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt of illegal sale of dangerous drugs under Section 5, Article II of RA 9165.
- Whether the prosecution established an unbroken chain of custody and complied with Section 21 of RA 9165 (or justified any non-compliance) such that the seized specimen retained its identity, inte...(Subscriber-Only)
Ruling:
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Ratio:
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Doctrine:
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