People Vs Edano Digest
People Vs Edano Digest
People Vs Edano Digest
188133 July 7, 2014 appellant heard a gunfire; four (4) persons approached him, and
then tied his hands with a masking tape.13 The police placed
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Appellee,vs. OLIVER RENATO him on board a pick-up truck, and then brought him to Bicutan.
EDAÑO y EBDANE, Appellant. In Bicutan, the police brought him to the interrogation room,
where they punched him and placed a plastic on his head.
FACTS:
RTC found the appellant guilty beyond reasonable doubt of
The prosecution charged the appellant and Godofredo illegal possession of shabu.The RTC, however, acquitted Siochi
Siochi with violation of Section 11, Article II of R.A. No. 9165 on the ground of reasonable doubt.
under two separate Informations, docketed as Criminal Case
Nos. Q-02-111200 and Q-02-112104. On appeal, the CA affirmed the RTC decision in toto. The CA
found PO3 Corbe to be a credible witness. The CA also found the
The appellant and Siochi pleaded not guilty to the charge appellant’s warrantless arrest to be valid; it explained that the
on arraignment. Joint trial on the merits followed. appellant’s act of running when PO3 Corbe was approaching him
reinforced the latter’s suspicion that "something was amiss."
At around 7:00 p.m., the appellant arrived on board a
space wagon driven by Siochi.5 The informant approached the The CA added that strict compliance with Section 21,
appellant and talked to him inside the vehicle. Afterwards, the Article II of R.A. No. 9165 was not required as long as the
informant waved at PO3 Corbe.6 When PO3 Corbe was integrity of the seized item had been ensured. It further held
approaching the appellant, the latter went out of the vehicle and that the police officers were presumed to have regularly
ran away. PO3 Corbe, PO3 Padpad and PO3 Alcancia chased the performed their official duties. Finally, the CA held that the
appellant; PO3 Corbe was able to grab the appellant, causing the prosecution was able to establish all the elements of illegal
latter to fall on the ground. PO3 Corbe recovered a "knot-tied" possession of shabu.
transparent plastic bag from the appellant’s right hand, while
PO3 Alcancia seized a gun tucked in the appellant’s waist. The In his brief16 and supplemental brief,17 the appellant
other members of the police arrested Siochi. Thereafter, the essentially alleged that PO3 Corbe’s testimony was "vague and
police brought the appellant, Siochi and the seized items to the equivocal;"18 it lacked details on how the appellant was lured to
police station for investigation.7 sell shabu to the informant, and how the entrapment operation
had been planned. The appellant also argued that his
P/Insp. Casignia, the Forensic Chemical Officer of the warrantless arrest was illegal since he was not committing any
Western Police District Crime Laboratory, examinedthe seized crime when the police arrested him. He alsoclaimed that the
items and found them positive for the presence of shabu.8 police did not mark and photograph the seized items, and that
there was a broken chain of custody over the confiscated drugs.