Source: http://lawlibrary.chanrobles.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=83831:57486&catid=1587&Itemid=566
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 08:24:40+00:00

Document:
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. REYNALDO BATURI, Accused-Appellant.
This is an appeal from the July 7, 2009 Decision1 of the Court of Appeals (CA) in CA-G.R. CR-H.C. No. 02929 that affirmed in toto the May 30, 2007 Decision2 of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Rosales, Pangasinan, Branch 53, in Criminal Case No. 4938-R, finding appellant Reynaldo Baturi (appellant) guilty beyond reasonable doubt of violating Section 5, Article II of Republic Act (RA) No. 91653 and imposing upon him the penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of P500,000.00.
That on or about the 7th day of August, 2005, in the morning, in Brgy. Carmen East, Municipality of Rosales, Province of Pangasinan, and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the above-named accused, with intent to gain and without being authorized by law to possess and [sell], did then and there, willfully, unlawfully, and feloniously [sell] ten (10) sachet[s] of heat[-]sealed transparent plastic bags containing white crystalline substance known as “shabu” with a total weight of 49.1 grams, a dangerous drug.
During arraignment, appellant entered a plea of “not guilty.” After the pre-trial conference, trial ensued.
On August 6, 2005, a confidential informant reported to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) office in Dagupan City the illegal drug activities of appellant, a.k.a. Naldong, in Brgy. Carmen East, Rosales, Pangasinan. PO3 Velasquez received and relayed the information to SP02 Pedro Rabago (SPO2 Rabago), the Special Enforcement Team Leader of the PDEA, who, in turn, ordered the former to conduct a surveillance to verify the information.
Together with SPO1 Flash Ferrer (SPO1 Ferrer) and the confidential informant, PO3 Velasquez proceeded to Brgy. Carmen East to conduct the surveillance. Upon reaching the area, the confidential informant introduced PO3 Velasquez to appellant as a buyer of shabu. The two closed a deal regarding the sale of 10 “bultos” of shabu for the discounted price of P90,000.00 that would transpire the next day in appellant’s house.
SPO2 Rabago thus immediately formed a team to conduct an entrapment operation where PO3 Velasquez was to act as poseur-buyer and SPO1 Ferrer as back-up. The buy-bust team then placed on top of a bundle of boodle money a 500-peso bill marked with the initials of PO3 Velasquez and SPO1 Ferrer which were MMV and FF, respectively. It was further agreed that SPO1 Ferrer would give PO3 Velasquez a call in his cellular phone as a pre-arranged signal that the sale of shabu is already consummated.
The next day, August 7, 2005, the buy-bust team coordinated with the police authorities stationed in the Municipality of Rosales and held a final briefing before proceeding to appellant’s abode. Upon arrival thereat, PO3 Velasquez and the confidential informant approached appellant who was sitting in front of his house while SPO1 Ferrer positioned himself about 15 meters away from them. When PO3 Velasquez informed appellant that he already had the payment, appellant took out a carton, opened it and showed the contents thereof to PO3 Velasquez, who, in turn, gave the boodle money.
PO3 Velasquez examined the contents of the carton and upon seeing that it contained plastic sachets with white crystalline granules, he made the pre-arranged signal. SPO1 Ferrer immediately showed up and recovered the buy-bust money from appellant, while PO3 Velasquez seized the carton containing the sachets of white crystalline granules. After informing appellant of his rights, the police officers arrested and took him to the PDEA office for further investigation.
A Certificate of Inventory was then prepared by the police authorities which was signed by two barangay officials and a media representative. Appellant was requested to sign the certificate of inventory which he refused. This whole process was photographed. Thereafter, on the basis of a formal request,7 the seized shabu was referred and delivered to the Philippine National Police (PNP) Provincial Crime Laboratory on August 8, 2005. P/Insp. Roderos issued Chemistry Report No. D-121-2005-U8 stating that the white crystalline substance was positive for shabu.
WHEREFORE, premises considered, judgment is hereby rendered finding the accused REYNALDO BATURI GUILTY beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of Illegal Sale of Methamphetamine Hydrochloride or “shabu” in violation of Section 5 of Republic Act No. 9165.
Considering that the penalty of death was abolished, this Court hereby sentence[s] the accused to suffer the penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of P500,000.00.
The sachets of shabu are hereby confiscated in favor of the government. Let the same be turned over to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency for destruction in accordance with law.
In his Brief,15 appellant pointed out that the buy-bust team failed to comply with the procedure governing the handling, custody and disposition of the illegal drugs. Because of this, there was failure on the part of the prosecution to establish the corpus delicti. Hence, the RTC erred in finding him guilty of the crime charged.
WHEREFORE, premises considered, the instant appeal is DENIED, and accordingly, the herein assailed May 30, 2007 Decision of the trial court is hereby AFFIRMED IN TOTO.
In a successful prosecution for illegal sale of shabu, the following elements must concur: “(1) the identity of the buyer and the seller, the object and the consideration; and (2) the delivery of the thing sold and the payment therefor. x x x What is material in a prosecution for illegal sale of dangerous drugs is the proof that the transaction or sale actually took place, coupled with the presentation in court of the corpus delicti”21 or the illicit drug in evidence.
That on or about 11:00 o’clock the morning of August 6, 2005 a certain confidential informant reported to our office about the illegal activity of one @ “Naldong” of Carmen East, Rosales, Pangasinan, sir.
Did he give you the real name of that alyas Naldong?
No, sir, only a.k.a. Naldong.
To whom did this confidential asset report?
And what action did you take when that information was relayed to you?
I relayed the information to our Special Enforcement Team Leader, sir.
Who is your team leader then?
SPO2 Pedro S. Rabago, sir.
And what measures did Police Officer Rabago take, if any, upon receiving that information relayed by you?
They tasked us to conduct surveillance, sir.
Did you conduct that surveillance as ordered by your superior officer?
How did you conduct that surveillance?
We went to the place and as part of our surveillance, [I] and the CI went directly to the place of a.k.a. Naldong, sir.
In Brgy. Carmen East, Rosales, Pangasinan, sir.
Aside from your confidential informant, did you have any companion at that time?
Did you reach that place of alyas Naldong?
What transpired, if any, when you reached that place?
The confidential informant introduced me as a buyer, sir.
How did you know that the CI introduced you to Naldong?
The CI said “this is the buyer of shabu” then Naldong said, “I will give a discount if you will buy a large amount of shabu”, sir.
When alyas Naldong told you that, what was your reply?
I told Naldong that I am going to buy 10 bultos of shabu, sir.
When you said bultos, what does that mean?
It was placed in a shabu [sic] weighing more or less 4.5 grams or 5 grams, sir.
And what else did you talk about?
When I told x x x Naldong that x x x I am going to buy 10 bultos, I asked him how much is the cost of that and he told me P9,500 per bulto but since I ordered large amount of shabu, he said he will give it for P9,000 or P90,000 for ten (10) bultos, sir.
So do we understand that the cost of one (1) bulto is P9,500 but if you order large quantity you will be given a discount of P500 per bulto?
So the 10 bultos you ordered is worth P90,000?
And was that your final agreement?
The CI and I closed the deal and we [had] an agreement that we will come back the following day to give the money and pick up the shabu, sir.
We returned to our office, sir.
When you reached your office, what happened there?
We relayed our agreement to our Team Leader, sir.
What did you relay to your Team Leader?
We relayed the agreement that the amount of shabu is P90,000 and that we will be returning x x x the following day at 11:00 A.M. for the payment and to pick up the shabu, sir.
And after you relayed that to your Team Leader, what action did he take?
He formed a team to conduct buy[-]bust operation and I was designated as the poseur[-]buyer and SPO1 Flash Ferrer [as] the immediate back[-]up and then they gave us the buy-bust money and we prepared the boodle money and we agreed that the pre-arranged signal is by ringing the cellphone, sir.
So the following day that is August 7, 2005, what happened then?
At around 10:30 A. M. of August 7, 2005 we coordinated [with] the PNP Rosales and after the briefing we immediately proceeded to the place of operation, sir.
Before coming to Rosales, what happened [in] your office, if any?
We marked the money, sir.
What money did you mark?
How many P500 bill[s] did you mark x x x?
One (1) piece of P500 bill, sir.
Who made the markings, Mr. Witness?
[I] and SPO1 Flash Ferrer, sir.
I have here x x x one (1) piece of P500, xerox copy, do you know where [the original is]?
We submitted [it] to the Court, sir.
May we ask that the original of the P500 bill be brought out.
You mentioned about the boodle money, what do you mean? We know what is boodle money but for record purposes?
So this P500 plus boodle money was supposed to be the P90,000 to be used in buying the 10 bultos of shabu, is that what you mean?
After you have coordinated with the Police Station of Rosales, Pangasinan, what happened next?
We [had] the final briefing and after that we immediately proceeded to the place, sir.
I am showing to you this P500 which was previously submitted to the Clerk of Court of this Honorable Court, will you please examine if this is the same P500 bill that you are referring to?
Yes, sir, this is the same money that we used in buying shabu.
At the right upper corner below the number 500, this is my initial MMV, sir.
What about the markings made by SPO1 Flash Ferrer?
This FF at the right lower corner of the money, sir.
May we ask the good counsel for the defense to make [a] comparison between the original and the xerox attached to the record.
We confirm that the xerox copy attached to the record is a religious reproduction of the original, your Honor.
So after the final briefing made at the Rosales Police Station, what happened next, Mr. Witness?
We proceeded to the place of operation, sir.
Where you able to reach that place?
And where was this alyas Naldong when you reached the place?
He was in front of the house sitting, sir.
Did he have any companion at that time?
We proceeded directly to where a.k.a. Naldong was, sir.
You said “we”, who was your companion?
How about Police Officer Flash Ferrer, where was he at that time?
He was at a distance as my immediate back[-]up, sir.
About 10 to 15 meters, sir.
Prior to that, do you have agreement about your signal?
And what happened when you approached alyas Naldong?
I told him that I already have the P90,000 then a.k.a. Naldong took a carton of medicine below and took the shabu and showed it to me, he gave it to me, the medicine box and I handed to him the money, sir.
After alyas Naldong handed to you that box of medicine where the shabu was placed inside, what did you do?
I examined if it is really shabu and when I found that it is x x x shabu, I gave to him the buy[-]bust money and immediately I gave the [pre-arranged] signal which is the ringing of the cellphone then I introduced myself as PDEA agent, sir.
When I arrested him, SPO1 Flash Ferrer arrived and we conducted a body search if there is a bladed weapon, sir.
Who recovered the buy[-]bust money from his possession?
It was SPO1 Flash Ferrer, sir.
Did you see him recover that money?
How about the bulto of shabu, who was in possession?
It [was] in my possession, sir.
After you x x x apprehended him, what transpired next?
In the last hearing, you were asked to identify the person of the accused but the accused was not here. Will you please look around inside the courtroom and see if the accused Reynaldo Baturi is inside this court?
Will you please stand and point to the accused?
Clearly, the prosecution, through the testimonies of PO3 Velasquez and P/Insp. Roderos, was able to successfully establish the elements of illegal sale of shabu.
The Defenses of Denial and Frame-Up are Unavailing.
Chain of Custody Rule is not Fatal.
It is true that the prosecution did not formally offer in evidence the Certificate of Inventory and the formal request for examination of the confiscated substance. Be that as it may, the Court has previously held that even if an exhibit is not formally offered, the same “may still be admitted against the adverse party if, first, it has been duly identified by testimony duly recorded and, second, it has itself been incorporated in the records of the case.”37 PO3 Velasquez categorically testified that an inventory of the seized drugs was performed, a corresponding certificate was prepared, and a formal request for examination was made. He further narrated that together with the formal request, he submitted and delivered the confiscated drugs to the crime laboratory. On the basis of the said formal request, P/Insp. Roderos examined the specimen and she likewise testified on this. Appellant’s counsel even asked the said prosecution witnesses regarding these documents.38 Considering the said testimonies and the fact that the documents were incorporated in the records of the case, they are therefore admissible against appellant.
In this case, the Court finds no hiatus or confusion in the confiscation, handling, custody and examination of the shabu. The illegal drug that was inventoried at the PDEA office, subjected to qualitative examination at the crime laboratory, and finally introduced in evidence against appellant was the same illegal drug that was confiscated from him when he was caught in flagrante delicto selling the same. No apparent irregularity is sufficiently shown to have attended the chain of custody of the shabu. Its identity, integrity and probative value were preserved and kept intact by the police officers.
All told, there is no reason to disturb the findings of the RTC, as affirmed by the CA, that appellant is guilty beyond reasonable doubt of illegal sale of shabu, as defined and penalized under Section 5, Article II of RA 9165. Under this law, the penalty for the unauthorized sale of shabu, regardless of its quantity and purity, is life imprisonment to death and a fine ranging from P500,000.00 to P10 million. However, with the enactment of RA 9346,41 only life imprisonment and fine shall be imposed42 upon appellant, without eligibility for parole pursuant to Section 2 of the Indeterminate Sentence Law.
WHEREFORE, the Decision dated July 7, 2009 of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CR-HC No. 02929 which affirmed the Decision dated May 30, 2007 of the Regional Trial Court of Rosales, Pangasinan, Branch 53, in Criminal Case No. 4938-R, convicting appellant Reynaldo Baturi for violation of Section 5, Article II of Republic Act No. 9165, as amended by Republic Act No. 9346, and sentencing him to suffer the penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of P500,000.00, is AFFIRMED with the MODIFICATION that he shall not be eligible for parole.
Carpio, (Acting Chief Justice),* Villarama, Jr.,** Reyes,*** and Leonen, JJ., concur.
*** Per Special Order No. 1776 dated August 28, 2014.
1 CA rollo, pp. 107-121; penned by Associate Justice Rosmari D. Carandang and concurred in by Associate Justices Mariflor P. Punzalan Castillo and Priscilla J. Baltazar-Padilla.
2 Records; pp. 109-119; penned by Judge Teodorico Alfonso P. Bauzon.
3 Otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
6 TSN, January 30, 2006, pp. 4-18; TSN, February 15, 2006, pp. 2, 5 and 6.
9 TSN, August 9, 2006, pp. 2-19.
10 TSN, October 2, 2006, pp. 3-7; TSN, January 8, 2007, pp. 3-10.
15 CA rollo, pp. 49-64.
16 See Appellee’s Brief, id. at 89-100.
18 Id. at 120; Emphases in the original.
19 See Brief for the Accused-Appellant, id. at 51.
20 See Supplemental Brief for the Accused-Appellant, rollo, p. 35.
21People v. Dilao, 555 Phil. 394, 409 (2007).
22 TSN, January 30, 2006, pp. 5-18.
23 TSN, February 27, 2006, pp. 2-3.
25 TSN, February 15, 2006, pp. 2-7.
26People v. Hajili, 447 Phil. 283, 295-296 (2003).
27People v. Alberto, G.R. No. 179717, February 5, 2010, 611 SCRA 706, 715.
30People v. Bandang, G.R. No. 151314, June 3, 2004, 430 SCRA 570, 589.
31People v. Gonzaga, G.R. No. 184952, October 11, 2010, 632 SCRA 551, 569.
32People v. Saludes, 451 Phil. 719, 727 (2003).
35 TSN, February 27, 2006, p. 16.
37Tabuena v. Court of Appeals, 274 Phil. 51, 56 (1991).
38 See People v. Libnao, 443 Phil. 506, 519 (2003).
39People v. Abedin, G.R. No. 179936, April 11, 2012, 669 SCRA 322, 337.
41 AN ACT PROHIBITING THE IMPOSITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY IN THE PHILIPPINES.
42People v. Abedin, supra note 39 at 339.

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