G.R. No. 262644 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, VS. JAMES WILLIAMS Y FRANCIS AND JOY MONTECILLO Y BUTASLAC, ACCUSED

Ruling

Accordingly, the meet-up was purposely for Williams to accompany Montecillo to purchase plane tickets as per the request of the latter's husband. However, right there and then, he was immediately accosted and arrested by the PDEA elements. Thereafter, the PDEA elements allegedly brought him for a "joy-ride" around the Malate-Singalong-Luneta area then back to the [ Ministop ] store along Leon Guinto Street, Manila. [13] Ruling of the RTC In its Decision [14] dated November 15, 2016, the RTC found Williams and Montecillo guilty beyond reasonable doubt of illegal sale of dangerous drugs under Section 5 in relation to Section 26 of Republic Act No. 9165. The dispositive portion of the RTC Decision reads: WHEREFORE, in view of the foregoing, this Court finds the accused JAMES WILLIAMS y FRANCIS [and] JOY MONTECILLO y BUTASLAC GUILTY beyond reasonable doubt as principals for violation of Sections 5 and 26 of Republic Act No. 9165 otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (for pushing [ shabu ]) as charged and sentences each of them to suffer the penalty of LIFE IMPRISONMENT and to pay a Fine in the amount of [PHP] 500,000.00 each. The plastic sachet of [ shabu ] and other items recovered from the accused [Williams and Montecillo] are ordered confiscated in favor of the government to be disposed of in accordance with law. Issue mittimus orders committing (1) JOY MONTECILLO [ y ] BUTASLAC to the Correctional Institution for Women and (2) JAMES WILLIAMS [ y ] FRANCIS to the National Bilibid Prisons for service of sentence. Send copies of this Decision to the Director General of the [PDEA], to the Director of the National Bureau of Investigation[,] and to the Philippine National Police Anti-Illegal Drugs Group (PNP-AIDG). SO ORDERED.