Facts:

• Frederick Richie Teodoro y Dela Cruz was charged with violating Sections 5 and 11, Article II of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
• The charges were a result of a buy-bust operation conducted by the police in Mandaluyong City on May 28, 2004.
• Teodoro was caught selling and possessing methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu).
• Two separate informations were filed against him, one for possession and another for sale of the illegal substance.
• Teodoro pleaded not guilty to both charges and a joint trial ensued.
• The prosecution presented witnesses who testified that Teodoro was involved in selling illegal drugs.
• The police officers involved in the buy-bust operation testified that Teodoro sold a sachet of shabu to an undercover police officer and was found in possession of another sachet of the substance when he was apprehended.
• The seized substances were sent to the crime laboratory for examination, which confirmed that they were indeed shabu.
• Teodoro claimed that he was a victim of a frame-up and extortion by the police officers.
• He argued that the police officers entered his house without a warrant, handcuffed him, and demanded money from him.
• He also argued that the prosecution failed to establish the chain of custody of the seized substances.
• The trial court found Teodoro guilty beyond reasonable doubt and sentenced him to twelve years and one day to life imprisonment, as well as fines totaling P800,000.
• Teodoro appealed the decision to the Court of Appeals (CA), but the CA affirmed the trial court's decision.

Issue:

• (Unlock)

Ruling:

• The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the CA, finding Teodoro guilty beyond reasonable doubt of violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.
• The Court held that the prosecution was able to establish all the elements necessary to prove the charges against Teodoro.
• The testimonies of the police officers involved in the buy-bust operation, as well as the examination of the seized substances by the crime laboratory, provided sufficient evidence of Teodoro's guilt.
• Teodoro's defense of frame-up and extortion was rejected by the Court, as he failed to present clear and convincing evidence to overcome the presumption of regularity in the perform...(Unlock)

Ratio:

• The illegal sale of shabu was established by the cle...continue reading