Title
Supreme Court
People vs. Laba y Samanoding
Case
G.R. No. 199938
Decision Date
Jan 28, 2013
Appellant caught at Manila Airport with 196.63g shabu concealed in shoes, convicted for transporting under RA 9165; SC upheld conviction, citing preserved chain of custody.

Case Digest (G.R. No. 199938)
Expanded Legal Reasoning Model

Facts:

  • Incident and Arrest
    • On July 18, 2005 at around 10:45 AM, appellant arrived at the Manila Domestic Airport in Pasay City to board a flight to Davao City.
    • Mark Anthony Villocillo, a non-uniformed personnel frisker, physically searched appellant and suspected rice-like contents in his oversized white rubber shoes marked “Spicer.”
  • Discovery and Seizure
    • Upon inspection, Villocillo found three plastic sachets containing shabu (two in the left shoe, one in the right).
    • Appellant offered a rolled wad of cash and said, “Baka pwedeng pag-usapan ito,” before supervisor SPO2 Nolasco Peji arrived, arrested him, and read him his rights.
  • Handling and Testing of Evidence
    • Appellant was brought to an office for investigation by PO2 Edwin Caimoso, who turned over the seized sachets to arriving PDEA agents.
    • Police Inspector Peter P. Alvarez requested a forensic examination; PSI Stella Garciano Ebuen tested the marked sachets—EXH-A (98.81 g), EXH-B (96.65 g), EXH-C (1.17 g)—revealing 196.63 g total of methylamphetamine hydrochloride.
  • Information and Plea
    • On June 18, 2005, appellant was charged under Section 5, Article II of RA 9165 for transporting 196.63 g of shabu concealed in his shoes.
    • Arraigned on June 27, 2005, appellant pleaded not guilty.
  • Defense
    • Appellant claimed he was framed by SPO2 Peji, who allegedly planted the shabu and extorted ₱100,000.
    • He denied wearing the “Spicer” shoes, owning the sachets, and asserted that cash in his wallet (₱1,600) and pants pocket (₱2,000) was taken by the officers.

Issues:

  • Core Issue
    • Whether the Court of Appeals and the RTC committed reversible error in convicting appellant for transporting dangerous drugs.

Ruling:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

Ratio:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

Doctrine:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

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