DISPOSITIVE:

ACCORDINGLY, the appeal is DISMISSED. The Decision dated April 26, 2019 and Resolution dated October 9, 2019 of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CR-HC No. 08244 are AFFIRMED. Appellant SPOl ALEXANDER ESTABILLO y P ALARA is found GUILTY of violation of Sections 5 and 11 of Republic Act No. 9165 and sentenced to LIFE IMPRISONMENT and a FINE of Pl0,000,000.00 for each offense.

SO ORDERED.

SUBJECTS/DOCTRINES/DIGEST:

WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS CASE?

PDEA FAILED TO DESTROY THE BRICKS OF COCAINE IN VIOLATION OF WHAT THE LAW REQUIRES. BUT THE COURT SAID THIS WOULD NOT AFFECT THE INTEGRITY AND EVIDENTIARY VALUE OF THE SEIZED DRUGS. AT MOST THE VIOLATION COULD BE GROUND FOR POSSIBLE DISCIPLINARY ACTION.

The Court recognizes though that the PDEA’s failure to destroy the (4) bricks of cocaine beforehand nevertheless constituted a breach of Section 21(4), RA 9165. To repeat, however, this would not affect the integrity and evidentiary value of the entirety of the seized items but could, at most, be ground for possible disciplinary action.

All told, the prosecution has successfully established the chain of custody of the seized items. Consequently, the integrity and evidentiary value of these seized items are deemed preserved. The corpus delicti of the crimes charged against appellant were therefore established. As such, there is no reason to depart from the assailed verdicts of conviction.

TO READ THE DECISION, JUST CLICK/DOWNLOAD THE FILE BELOW. IF FILE DOES NOT APPEAR ON SCREEN GO TO DOWNLOAD. IT IS THE FIRST ITEM. OPEN IT.

scd-2021-0022-people-of-the-philippines-vs.-spo1-alexander-estabillo-y-palara-g.r.-no.-252902.-june-16-2021Download

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