G.R. No. 191266 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, VS. DARIUS BAUTISTA Y ORSINO @ DADA, ACCUSED-.D E C I S I O N - Supreme Court E-Library

Ruling

Accordingly, common evidence was then presented during the trial. At the arraignment, the accused, who was assisted by counsel, pleaded not guilty to the offense charged. Trial proceeded after the pre-trial. During the trial, the prosecution offered the testimonies of Police Officer 2 Jonathan Ruiz (PO2 Ruiz) and PO2 Crispino Ocampo (PO2 Ocampo) both of the Western Police District's (WPD's) District Anti-Illegal Drugs-Special Operations Task Group (DAID-SOTG) on United Nations Avenue, Ermita, Manila. On the other hand, the defense presented, as its witnesses, the accused; co-accused Marcos; Irene Manabat (Manabat), a kakanin (native delicacy) vendor; and Anna Marie Ignacio (Ignacio), accused's neighbor and operator of a video karera . [4] At the pre-trial, the parties likewise stipulated the qualifications of Forensic Chemist Elisa G. Reyes (Reyes), and sought that the following documents be marked and admitted: [5] Exh. A Letter Request for Laboratory Examination Exh. A-1 Stamp receipt appearing at the bottom portion of Exh. "A" Exh. B One (1) heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing white crystalline substance with marking "AMB" Exh. B-1 One heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing white crystalline substance with marking "DBO" Exh. B-2 Small brown envelope with marking D-1589-04 Exh. C Chemistry Report No. D-1589-04 Exh. C-1 Findings and Conclusions Exh. C-2 Signatures appearing at the bottom Exh. D Joint Affidavit of Apprehension Exh. D-1 Page 2 of Joint Affidavit of Apprehension Exh. D-2 Signatures of the police officers Exh. E Booking Sheet and Arrest Report of Darius Bautista Exh. E-1 Booking Sheet and Arrest Report of Armando Marcos Exh. F Letter Request to the prosecutor, showing that both accused were properly booked and that inquest was properly conducted within the reglementary period. Reyes conducted the laboratory examination of the specimen that is subject of the case. But her testimony, not having personal knowledge of the subject incident, was dispensed with by the RTC. [6] The Prosecution's Version of Facts The prosecution presented PO2 Ruiz as its first witness. He testified that a confidential informant called the WPD's office several times on October 15, 2004 to report that a certain person called "Dada" was engaged in dealing illegal drugs along Mata Street, Tondo, Manila. A buy-bust operation was, therefore, organized by Police Inspector Angel De Leon (P/Insp. De Leon) of the WPD. The buy-bust team was composed of PO2 Ruiz, PO2 Ocampo, PO2 Rhumjalie Salazar, PO2 Dranred Cipriano, and PO1 Erwin Castro. [7] For this purpose, PO2 Ruiz was designated as the poseur-buyer and a one hundred-peso bill, which was to serve as the buy-bust money, was marked with "JR," representing the initials of PO2 Ruiz. [8] He narrated that on the same day, at about 11:30 in the evening, the buy-bust team organized by the WPD went to Mata Street in Tondo, Manila, the site pointed out by the confidential informant, in order to exec