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People v. Cloma
People v. Cloma
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* SECOND DIVISION.
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RESOLUTION
CARPIO, J.:
The Case
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The Facts
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5 Id., at p. 5.
6 Id., at p. 7.
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shown.7
The defense denied all the allegations of the prosecution
and presented Cloma as sole witness. Cloma testified that
there was no buy-bust operation. He claimed he never sold
any shabu and the buy-bust team violated his rights under
Republic Act No. 7438.8 Consequently, all evidence seized
from him were inadmissible for being the fruit of the
poisonous tree. Lastly, he claimed that the procedure for
the handling and custody of evidence prescribed in RA 9165
was not followed.
In its Judgment dated 19 November 2007, the RTC
found Cloma guilty beyond reasonable doubt of violating
Section 5, Article II of RA 9165. The RTC gave credence to
the testimonies of the arresting officer and poseur-buyer.
The RTC ruled that Cloma was arrested pursuant to an
entrapment operation. Hence, there was probable cause to
conduct a warrantless arrest and the evidence seized from
him was admissible.
The RTC also found that, in the absence of ill motive,
the positive testimony of the arresting officer is stronger
than the negative self-serving denial by Cloma.
The Judgment listed the elements of the offense that
were present, to wit:
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7 Id.
8 AN ACT DEFINING CERTAIN RIGHTS OF PERSON ARRESTED, DETAINED OR
VIOLATIONS THEREOF.
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The Issue
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11 Rollo, p. 9.
12 Id., at p. 14.
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13 People v. De Guzman, 564 Phil. 282; 539 SCRA 306 (2007), citing
People v. Nicolas, 544 Phil. 123; 515 SCRA 187 (2007).
14 Id.
15 669 Phil. 122; 653 SCRA 673 (2011).
16 Id., at p. 135; pp. 686-687, citing People v. Encila, 598 Phil. 165;
578 SCRA 341 (2009).
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[4] the turnover and submission of the marked illegal drug seized
by the forensic chemist to the court.21
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19 People v. Climaco, 687 Phil. 593; 672 SCRA 631 (2012), citing
Malillin v. People, 576 Phil. 576; 553 SCRA 619 (2008).
20 624 Phil. 289; 610 SCRA 295 (2010).
21 Id., at p. 304; pp. 307-308.
22 TSN, 20 February 2006, pp. 14-15.
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Q: You said you brought the accused to the PNP Crime Lab which I am
showing to you this request for the laboratory examination, please tell
us whether this is [the] one you submitted to the PNP Crime
Laboratory?
A: Yes, sir, this is the one.
xxxx
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Q: When for the first time did you see this particular sachet?
A: I saw it for the first time after Ellevera gave it to me.
Q: At your office?
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A: Yes, MaÊam.
Q: And after he gave it to you, you gave it to somebody else?
A: No, MaÊam. We brought it to the PNP Crime Lab but it was Tabalon who
gave [it] to the [person-in-charge].24
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24 Id., at p. 12.
25 Records, p. 98.
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COURT:
Q: What is the marking?
A: Capital letter „A‰ with my signature, Your Honor.26 (Emphasis
supplied)
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