Facts:

• Richael Luna y Torsilino was charged with illegal sale and possession of dangerous drugs under Republic Act No. 9165.
• The events occurred on April 14, 2008, in Marikina City, Philippines.
• A buy-bust operation was organized by the Marikina City Police based on a tip from a confidential informant.
• Senior Police Officer 1 (SPO1) Ramiel Soriano acted as the poseur-buyer with marked bills to purchase drugs from Luna.
• SPO1 Soriano approached Luna at his residence and purchased a plastic sachet containing methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu).
• Following the transaction, Luna was arrested, and the drugs were confiscated and inventoried in his presence.
• The prosecution presented three witnesses, including police officers, while Luna and his mother-in-law testified for the defense, claiming the drugs were planted and proper procedures were not followed.
• The Regional Trial Court (RTC) found Luna guilty and sentenced him to life imprisonment for drug sale and an indeterminate prison term for possession.
• Luna's appeal to the Court of Appeals (CA) affirmed the RTC's decision, leading to his appeal to the Supreme Court.

Issue:

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Ruling:

• The Supreme Court reversed the Court of Appeals' decision and acquitted Richael Luna of the charges due to the prosecution's f...(Unlock)

Ratio:

• The Supreme Court stressed the necessity of strict compliance with procedural requirements in Section 21 of Republic Act No. 9165, which mandates the presence of certain witnesses during the inventory and photographing of seized drugs.
• The Court found that police officers did not follow these requirements, as no required witnesses were present during the seizure, and the inventory was not conducted in their presence.
• The prosecution failed to provide justifiable reasons f...continue reading