A.C. No. 5364 - Manaois vs. Deciembre

The case involved the People of the Philippines as the plaintiff-appellee versus accused-appellants Nhelmar Mendiola y Martin (alias "Honda"), Noel Mendiola y Ponce (alias "Noel"), and Glen Ramos y Akiatan (alias "Glen").
The accused-appellants were charged with violation of Section 5, Article II of Republic Act No. 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) for the illegal sale of dangerous drugs.
Additionally, accused-appellant Noel was charged separately with violation of Section 11, Article II of the same law for illegal possession of dangerous drugs.
The charges arose from two separate Informations in Criminal Case Nos. 20724-D-PSG (illegal sale) and 20725-D-PSG (illegal possession), based on events in Pasig City on or about September 27, 2015.

A confidential informant (CI) reported to the Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group (RAID-SOTG) that "Honda" and his cohorts were selling illegal drugs in Pasig City.
Police Inspector Michael Yap was instructed to form a buy-bust team including PO3 Junjun Mataverde (poseur buyer), Senior Police Officer 2 Nirbert Porlucas (arresting officer), and other backup officers.
The CI arranged a buy-bust operation scheduled around 8:00 p.m. at the Jollibee parking lot, Ortigas Extension, Brgy. Rosario, Pasig City.
On the scheduled date, two Honda Civic sedans arrived; accused Nhelmar alighted and introduced the poseur buyer, resulting in the sale of a self-sealing plastic bag containing about 1,050.68 grams of white crystalline substance later identified as methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu).
Arrest followed immediately after the sale; accused Noel was found in possession of another black bag containing 979.07 grams of the same substance.

The police read the accused their constitutional rights and conducted marking, inventory, and photographing of the seized items at the place of arrest in the presence of accused and multiple witnesses, including media representatives and barangay officials.
Markings included initials of the poseur buyer, the accused, and the date of seizure on the plastic bags and their contents.
The seized items were transferred to the PNP Crime Laboratory for chemical analysis.
Forensic chemist PCI Alejandro De Guzman performed physical, chemical, and confirmatory tests, confirming the substances as methamphetamine hydrochloride.
The chain of custody was fully documented and maintained from seizure, marking, laboratory testing, to presentation in court.

Accused appellants denied the charges.
Accused Noel testified to being arrested without justification early morning on a different date, alleging the accused were handcuffed, brought to Camp Bagong Diwa, and that the vehicles used were different from those in the charge.
Accused Glen similarly testified to being accosted and forcibly taken into custody.

The RTC found accused-appellants guilty beyond reasonable doubt, sentencing them to life imprisonment and imposing fines.
The Court of Appeals affirmed the RTC decision in its entirety.

Whether the evidence presented sufficiently proved the illegal sale of dangerous drugs against the accused-appellants in Criminal Case No. 20724-D-PSG.
Whether accused-appellant Noel’s illegal possession of dangerous drugs was proven beyond reasonable doubt in Criminal Case No. 20725-D-PSG.
Whether the buy-bust operation and the subsequent chain of custody procedures complied with the requirements of Section 21, Article II of RA 9165, as amended by RA 10640.
Whether the accused-appellants’ defense of denial and allegation of being framed up overcomes the presumption of regularity in the performance of official duties by the law enforcement officers.