Case Digest (G.R. No. 70287)
Facts:
- Feliciano Rualo was convicted by the Regional Trial Court of Manila for violating the Dangerous Drugs Act.
- The incident took place on November 14, 1983, after authorities received a tip about illegal marijuana sales in Sampaloc, Manila.
- Lt. Francisco M. Fausto led a buy-bust operation involving a team of five policemen.
- Undercover Patrolman Wilfredo S. Ortega arranged to purchase P20.00 worth of marijuana from Rualo.
- Rualo returned with two plastic tea bags containing marijuana after receiving marked bills.
- He was arrested, and the marked bills were recovered from him.
- Rualo claimed he was framed and denied any involvement in drug trafficking, asserting he was simply walking home.
- He alleged that he was not informed of his rights and was coerced during his detention.
- The trial court found him guilty based on the evidence presented.
Issue:
- (Unlock)
Ruling:
- The Supreme Court affirmed the trial court's decision, finding Rualo guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
- The Court concluded that the trial court's assessment of the evidence was accurate.
- Rualo...(Unlock)
Ratio:
- Appellate courts typically give significant weight to the factual findings of trial courts unless there are substantial reasons to overturn them.
- The prosecution's evidence was robust, demonstrating that Rualo accepted marked money and provided marijuana.
- Rualo's defense of being fr...continue reading
Case Digest (G.R. No. 70287)
Facts:
In the case of People vs. Feliciano Rualo y Bellen, G.R. No. 70287, decided on July 31, 1987, the defendant, Feliciano Rualo, was convicted by the Regional Trial Court of Manila, Branch 22, for violating Section 4, Article II of the Dangerous Drugs Act. The incident occurred on the evening of November 14, 1983, when Lt. Francisco M. Fausto, who was the Chief of the Investigation Division of the Drugs Enforcement Section of the Western Police District, received a tip from an informer about illegal marijuana sales taking place in Sampaloc, Manila. Acting on this information, Lt. Fausto organized a team of five policemen to conduct a buy-bust operation. During this operation, Patrolman Wilfredo S. Ortega acted as an undercover buyer and arranged to purchase P20.00 worth of marijuana from Rualo. After receiving marked bills from Ortega, Rualo left but returned shortly with two plastic tea bags containing dried leaves, which were later confirmed through laboratory analysis to be marijuana. Following this, Rualo was arrested, and the marked bills were recovered from him. In his defense, Rualo claimed he was framed and denied any involvement in drug trafficking, asserting that he was merely walking home with friends when the police approa...