Legal ResearchPEOPLE VS. PRINGASRepublic of the PhilippinesSUPREME COURTManilaFIRST DIVISIONG.R. No. 175928 August 31, 2007PEOPLE OF THE PHLPPNES, Plaintiff-Appellee, vs.AL!N PRNGAS " PANGAN#AN Accuse-Appellant.D ! " I S I O NCHCO$NA%ARO, J.:On appeal befo#e $s is the Decision% of the "ou#t of Appeals in "A-&.R. "R-'" No. (()() ate )%Au*ust +((, -hich affi#.e in toto the ecision+ ate %, Au*ust +((/ of the Re*ional T#ial "ou#t 0RT"1 of Pasi* "it2, 3#anch %4/, convictin* accuse-appellant Alvin Pan*aniban P#in*as of Violationof Sections 4,) %%/ an %+4 of Republic Act No. 5%,4, othe#-ise 6no-n as "o.p#ehensive Dan*e#ous D#u*s Act of +((+.On +4 Ap#il +((), appellant -as cha#*e befo#e the RT" of Pasi* "it2 -ith Violation of Sections 4, %% an %+ of Republic Act No. 5%,4 une# the follo-in* info#.ations7"#i.inal "ase No. %+),(-DOn o# about Ap#il ++, +((), in Pasi* "it2, an -ithin the 8u#isiction of this 'ono#able "ou#t, the accuse, not bein* la-full2 autho#i9e to sell, possess o# othe#-ise use an2 an*e#ous #u*, i then an the#e -illfull2, unla-full2 an feloniousl2 sell, elive# an *ive a-a2 to Police Office# :oselito !s.allane#, a police poseu# bu2e#, one 0%1 s.all heat-seale t#anspa#ent plastic ba* containin* -hite c#2stalline substance -ei*hin* th#ee 0)1 centi*#a.s 0(.() *#a.s1, -hich -as foun positive to the test fo# .etha.pheta.ine h2#ochlo#ie 0shabu1, a an*e#ous #u*, in violation of thesai la-.,"#i.inal "ase No. %+),%-DOn o# about Ap#il ++, +((), in Pasi* "it2, an -ithin the 8u#isiction of this 'ono#able "ou#t, the accuse, not bein* la-full2 autho#i9e to possess an2 an*e#ous #u*, i then an the#e -illfull2, unla-full2 an feloniousl2 have in his possession an une# his custo2 an cont#ol th#ee 0)1 s.all heat-seale t#anspa#ent plastic ba*s containin* -hite c#2stalline substance -ei*hin*, the follo-in* to -it70a1 t-ent2-five 0+41 eci*#a.s 0(.+4 *#a.s1;0b1 t-o 0+1 centi*#a.s 0(.(+ *#a.s1; anLEANGIE MORA 1Legal ResearchPEOPLE VS. PRINGAS0c1 t-o 0+1 centi*#a.s 0(.(+ *#a.s1.fo# a total of t-ent2-nine 0+51 eci*#a.s 0(.+5 *#a.s1, -hich -e#e foun positive to the test fo# .etha.pheta.ine h2#ochlo#ie, a an*e#ous #u*, in violation of the sai la-.hen a##ai*ne on / Septe.be# +((), appellant, -ith the assistance of counsel e oficio, pleae not *uilt2 to the c#i.es cha#*e.%+Du#in* the p#e-t#ial confe#ence, appellant a.itte the e?istence an the contents of the Re@uest fo#Aabo#ato#2 !?a.ination%) an the Fo#ensic "he.ist Repo#t,%/ -ith the @ualification that the sub8ect ofthe fo#ensic #epo#t -as not ta6en f#o. hi., an if eve# sa.e -as ta6en f#o. hi., it -as obtaine ille*all2.%4LEANGIE MORA 2Legal ResearchPEOPLE VS. PRINGAS>ith the te#.ination of the p#e-t#ial confe#ence, the cases -e#e hea# 8ointl2.The p#osecution p#esente t-o -itnesses7 PO% :oselito !s.allane#%, an SPO) Aeneal Matias,%< both .e.be#s of the Station D#u* !nfo#ce.ent $nit of the Pasi* "it2 Police Station.The ve#sion of the p#osecution is as follo-s7On ++ Ap#il +((), SPO/ Danilo TuaBo, Office#-in-"ha#*e of the Station D#u* !nfo#ce.ent $nit of thePasi* "it2 Police Station, esi*nate PO% :oselito !s.allane# to act as a poseu#-bu2e# in a bu2-bust ope#ation to be conucte a*ainst appellant alon* 3eve#l2 St#eet, 3a#an*a2 3utin*, Pasi* "it2. At a#oun %(7)( p..., the bu2-bust tea. heae b2 SPO) Aeneal Matias a##ive at the ta#*et a#ea. PO% !s.allane# an the info#.ant p#oceee to the unnu.be#e house of appellant, -hile SPO) Matias an the othe# .e.be#s of the tea. positione the.selves a#oun ten 0%(1 .ete#s a-a2 to se#ve as bac6-up.Afte# the info#.ant 6noc6e on appellantCs f#ont oo#, the latte# ca.e out. $pon #eco*ni9in* the info#.ant, appellant as6e, DPa#e, i6a- pala. 3ibili 6a baED The info#.ant -ho -as stanin* ne?t to PO% !s.allane# #eplie DOo, iton* 6asa.a 6o 6u6uha.D Appellant then as6e PO% !s.allane# ho- .uch #u*s he intene to bu2 to -hich PO% !s.allane# #eplie, DP%(( lan*.D PO% !s.allane# the#eafte# *ave a one hun#e peso 0P%((.((1 bill to the appellant. The#eafte#, the appellant -ent insie the house. Appellant #etu#ne an hane to PO% !s.allane# a plastic sachet containin* a -hite c#2stalline substance late# foun to be shabu.%=$pon #eceivin* the plastic sachet, PO% !s.allane# *#abbe appellantCs han an *ot the P%((.(( bill f#o. the #i*ht f#ont poc6et of appellantCs pants. 'e int#ouce hi.self as a police office# an info#.e the appellant of his violation an his constitutional #i*hts. PO% !s.allane# then .a#6e the plastic sachet%5 an place his initials D:!D on the uppe# #i*ht po#tion of the P%((.((+( bill -ith se#ial nu.be# FF+)(%)).+%Afte# seein* that PO% !s.allane# t#ie to *#ab the han of appellant, -ho -as able to #un insie the house an t#ie to loc6 the oo#, SPO) Matias an the othe# .e.be#s of the tea. follo-e PO% !s.allane# insie appellantCs house. Matias sa- th#ee pieces of heat-seale t#anspa#ent plastic sachets++ containin* a -hite c#2stalline substance -hich tu#ne out to be shabu, t-o isposable li*hte#s,+) si? st#ips of alu.inu. foil -ith t#aces of shabu,+/ i.p#ovise -ate# pipe use as toote#,+4 i.p#ovise bu#ne#,+, -ooen seale#, s.all scisso#s,+< %/ pieces of t#anspa#ent plastic sachets,+= an one s.all neele+5 on top of a s.all chai# 0ban*6ito1. The ite.s confiscate -e#e .a#6e an tu#ne ove# to the Investi*ato# -ho #e@ueste labo#ato#2 e?a.ination on sai ite.s.On +) Ap#il +((), "he.ist#2 Repo#t No. D-hen he as6e fo# the #eason -h2 he -as bein*a##este, he -as tol that he -oul 8ust be info#.e in thei# office. >ith his hans on his bac6, appellant -as hancuffe. The police.en subse@uentl2 conucte a sea#ch in the house, but the2 neithe# #ecove#e no# too6 an2thin*. Afte# that, appellant -as b#ou*ht to the police station, investi*ate an place in 8ail. 'e ae that the violent ent#2 .ae b2 the police.en -as -itnesse b2 so.e of his nei*hbo#s, na.el2, 3ubo2, Mac.ac an Gal2, -ho -e#e then havin* a #in6in* session.On %5 Au*ust +((/, the t#ial cou#t p#o.ul*ate its ecision finin* appellant *uilt2 be2on #easonable oubt of the c#i.es cha#*e. It ispose of the cases as follo-s7>'!R!FOR!, p#e.ises consie#e, the accuse AAVIN PRIN&AS is he#eb2 foun &$IATH be2on#easonable oubt of Violation of Section 4 of R.A. 5%,4 0ille*al sale of shabu1 an he is he#eb2 sentence to suffe# the penalt2 of AIF! IMPRISONM!NT an to pa2 a fine of P4((,(((.((.Accuse AAVIN PRIN&AS is also foun &$IATH OF Violation of Section %% of the sa.e la- an he is he#eb2 sentence to suffe# the inete#.inate penalt2 of T>!AV! 0%+1 H!ARS an ON! 0%1 DAH to FIFT!!N 0%41 H!ARS of i.p#ison.ent an to pa2 a fine of P/((,(((.(( an also of violation of Section %+ of R.A. 5%,4, an he is he#eb2 sentence to suffe# i.p#ison.ent f#o. SIF 0,1 MONT'S 0an1 ON! 0%1 DAH as .ini.u. to T'R!! 0)1 H!ARS an ON! 0%1 DAH as .a?i.u., an to pa2 a fine of P%(,(((.((."onsie#in* the penalt2 i.pose, the i..eiate co..it.ent of the accuse to the National 3ilibi P#isons is o#e#e.The "ou#t full2 #eali9es that the penalt2 p#esc#ibe b2 la- fo# the offense co..itte b2 the accuse is @uite seve#e. 'o-eve#, the "ou#t -ill not @uestion the -iso. of the la- an of the le*islato#s -hopasse it. Du#a le?, se le?. The onl2 thin* that the "ou#t can o is to #eco..en that the accuse be pa#one afte# he shall have se#ve the .ini.u. pe#io of the penalt2 i.pose on hi..)/On ) Septe.be# +((/, appellant, th#ou*h counsel, appeale the ecision to the "ou#t of Appeals viaa Notice of Appeal.)4 >ith the filin* of the Notice of Appeal, the t#ial cou#t t#ans.itte), the #eco#s of the case to the "ou#t of Appeals fo# #evie- pu#suant to People v. Mateo.)ith the elevation of the #eco#s to the "ou#t an the acceptance of the appeal, the pa#ties -e#e #e@ui#e to file thei# #espective supple.ental b#iefs, if the2 so esi#e, -ithin )( a2s f#o. notice./( The pa#ties .anifeste that the2 -e#e not filin* supple.ental b#iefs, a#*uin* that the issues of the case ha been iscusse in thei# #espective b#iefs./%LEANGIE MORA 4Legal ResearchPEOPLE VS. PRINGASAppellant .a6es a lone assi*n.ent of e##o#, to -it7T'! TRIAA "O$RT &RAV!AH !RR!D IN FINDIN& T'! A""$S!D-APP!AAANT &$IATH OF T'!OFF!NS!S "'AR&!D D!SPIT! T'! INADMISSI3IAITH OF T'! !VID!N"! 'AVIN& 3!!N O3TAIN!D IN VIOAATION OF S!"TIONS +% AND =,, R!P$3AI" A"T NO. 5%,4.Appellant a#*ues that the app#ehenin* police office#sC failu#e to co.pl2 -ith the p#ovisions 0Sections +% an =,1 of Republic Act No. 5%,4 casts oubt on the valiit2 of appellantCs a##est an the a.issibilit2 of the evience alle*el2 sei9e f#o. hi.. 'e .aintains that since the p#ocu#e.ent of the evience, both ocu.enta#2 an testi.onial, u#in* the bu2-bust ope#ation -as violative of sai la- an of his constitutional #i*ht a*ainst ille*al a##est, the sa.e shoul not have been #eceivein evience to p#ove his *uilt the2 bein* ina.issible une# the la-.Appellant clai.s that the police office#s violate Section =, of Republic Act No. 5%,4 -hen the alle*e bu2-bust ope#ation that le to the app#ehension of appellant -as conucte -ithout the involve.ent of the Philippine D#u* !nfo#ce.ent A*enc2 0PD!A1. It is his contention that no-he#e in the :oint Affiavit of A##est e?ecute b2 the .e.be#s of the a##estin* tea. -as it sho-n that the bu2-bust ope#ation -as conucte -ith the assistance, coo#ination, 6no-le*e o# consent of the PD!A.>e fin this clai. untenable.In the :oint Affiavit of A##est, it is state that DThat, on o# about %(7)( PM Ap#il ++, +((), as inst#ucte b2 SPO/ DANIAO T$AIO, OI"JSD!$, this Office effecte a coo#ination to 0sic1 Met#o Manila Re*ional Office of PD!A an fo#.e a tea. of SD!$ ope#atives -ith a confiential info#.antto conuct anti-na#coticsJ3u2-bust ope#ation a*ainst the sai pe#son ? ? ?.D/+ This po#tion of the affiavit clea#l2 ne*ates appellantCs clai. that the bu2-bust ope#ation sub8ect of the case -as not -ith the involve.ent of the PD!A. !ven assu.in* ex gratia argumenti that the afo#e.entione state.ent -as not containe in the affiavit, appellantCs clai. of lac6 of involve.ent of the PD!A -ill#ene# neithe# his a##est ille*al no# the evience sei9e f#o. hi. ina.issible. Kuotin* People v. Sta. Maria,/) -e #esolve the ve#2 sa.e issue in this -ise7Appellant -oul ne?t a#*ue that the evience a*ainst hi. -as obtaine in violation of Sections +% an =, of Republic Act No. 5%,4 because the bu2-bust ope#ation -as .ae -ithout an2 involve.entof the Philippine D#u* !nfo#ce.ent A*enc2 0PD!A1. P#escinin* the#ef#o., he conclues that the p#osecutionCs evience, both testi.onial an ocu.enta#2, -as ina.issible havin* been p#ocu#e in violation of his constitutional #i*ht a*ainst ille*al a##est.The a#*u.ent is specious.Section =, of Republic Act No. 5%,4 #eas7Sec. =,. T#ansfe#, Abso#ption, an Inte*#ation of All Ope#atin* $nits on Ille*al D#u*s into the PD!A an T#ansito#2 P#ovisions. L The Na#cotics oup of the PNP, the Na#cotics Division of the N3I an the "usto.s Na#cotics Inte#iction $nit a#e he#eb2 abolishe; ho-eve# the2 shall continue -ith the pe#fo#.ance of thei# tas6 as etail se#vice -ith the PD!A, sub8ect to sc#eenin*, until such ti.e that the o#*ani9ational st#uctu#e of the A*enc2 is full2 ope#ational an the nu.be# of *#auates of the PD!A Acae.2 is sufficient to o the tas6 the.selves7 P#ovie, That such pe#sonnel -ho a#e LEANGIE MORA 5Legal ResearchPEOPLE VS. PRINGASaffecte shall have the option of eithe# bein* inte*#ate into the PD!A o# #e.ain -ith thei# o#i*inal .othe# a*encies an shall, the#eafte#, be i..eiatel2 #eassi*ne to othe# units the#ein b2 the hea of such a*encies. Such pe#sonnel -ho a#e t#ansfe##e, abso#be an inte*#ate in the PD!A shall be e?tene appoint.ents to positions si.ila# in #an6, sala#2, an othe# e.olu.ents an p#ivile*es *#ante to thei# #espective positions in thei# o#i*inal .othe# a*encies.The t#ansfe#, abso#ption an inte*#ation of the iffe#ent offices an units p#ovie fo# in this Section shall ta6e effect -ithin ei*hteen 0%=1 .onths f#o. the effectivit2 of this Act7 P#ovie, That pe#sonnel abso#be an on etail se#vice shall be *iven until five 041 2ea#s to finall2 ecie to 8oint the PD!A.Nothin* in this Act shall .ean a i.inution of the investi*ative po-e#s of the N3I an the PNP on all othe# c#i.es as p#ovie fo# in thei# #espective o#*anic la-s7 P#ovie, ho-eve#, That -hen the investi*ation bein* conuctet b2 the N3I, PNP o# an2 a hoc anti-#u* tas6 fo#ce is foun to be a violation of an2 of the p#ovisions of this Act, the PD!A shall be the lea a*enc2. The N3I, PNP o# an2 of the tas6 fo#ce shall i..eiatel2 t#ansfe# the sa.e to the PD!A7 P#ovie, fu#the#, That the N3I, PNP an the 3u#eau of "usto.s shall .aintain close coo#ination -ith the PD!A on all #u* #elate .atte#s."u#so#2 #ea, the fo#e*oin* p#ovision is silent as to the conse@uences of failu#e on the pa#t of the la- enfo#ce#s to t#ansfe# #u*-#elate cases to the PD!A, in the sa.e -a2 that the I.ple.entin* Rules an Re*ulations 0IRR1 of Republic Act No. 5%,4 is also silent on the .atte#. 3ut b2 no st#etch of i.a*ination coul this silence be inte#p#ete as a le*islative intent to .a6e an a##est -ithout the pa#ticipation of PD!A ille*al no# evience obtaine pu#suant to such an a##est ina.issible.It is a -ell-establishe #ule of statuto#2 const#uction that -he#e *#eat inconvenience -ill #esult f#o. apa#ticula# const#uction, o# *#eat public inte#ests -oul be enan*e#e o# sac#ifice, o# *#eat .ischief one, such const#uction is to be avoie, o# the cou#t ou*ht to p#esu.e that such const#uction -as not intene b2 the .a6e#s of the la-, unless #e@ui#e b2 clea# an une@uivocal -o#s.As -e see it, Section =, is e?plicit onl2 in sa2in* that the PD!A shall be the Dlea a*enc2D in the investi*ations an p#osecutions of #u*-#elate cases. The#efo#e, othe# la- enfo#ce.ent boies still possess autho#it2 to pe#fo#. si.ila# functions as the PD!A as lon* as ille*al #u*s cases -ill eventuall2 be t#ansfe##e to the latte#. Aitionall2, the sa.e p#ovision states that PD!A, se#vin* as the i.ple.entin* a#. of the Dan*e#ous D#u*s 3oa#, D7shall be #esponsible fo# the efficient an effective la- enfo#ce.ent of all the p#ovisions on an2 an*e#ous #u* anJo# cont#olle p#ecu#so# an essential che.ical as p#ovie in the Act.D >e fin .uch lo*ic in the Solicito# &ene#alCs inte#p#etation that it is onl2 app#op#iate that #u*s cases bein* hanle b2 othe# la- enfo#ce.ent autho#ities be t#ansfe##e o# #efe##e to the PD!A as the Dlea a*enc2D in the ca.pai*n a*ainst the .enace of an*e#ous #u*s. Section =, is .o#e of an a.inist#ative p#ovision. 32 havin* a cent#ali9e la- enfo#ce.ent bo2, i.e., the PD!A, the Dan*e#ous D#u*s 3oa# can enhance the efficac2 of the la- a*ainst an*e#ous #u*s. To be su#e, Section =,0a1 of the IRR e.phasi9es this point b2 p#oviin*70a1 RelationshipJ"oo#ination bet-een PD!A an Othe# A*encies. L The PD!A shall be the lea a*enc2 in the enfo#ce.ent of the Act, -hile the PNP, the N3I an othe# la- enfo#ce.ent a*encies shall continue to conuct anti-#u* ope#ations in suppo#t of the PD!A ? ? ?. P#ovie, finall2, that nothin* in this IRR shall ep#ive the PNP, the N3I, othe# la- enfo#ce.ent pe#sonnel an the pe#sonnel of the A#.e Fo#ces of the Philippines 0AFP1 f#o. effectin* la-ful a##ests an sei9u#es in consonance -ith the p#ovisions of Section 4, Rule %%) of the Rules of "ou#t.LEANGIE MORA 6Legal ResearchPEOPLE VS. PRINGASAs #e*a#s the non-pa#ticipation of PD!A in a bu2-bust ope#ation, -e sai7MTNhe challen*e bu2-bust ope#ation, albeit .ae -ithout the pa#ticipation of PD!A, i not violate appellantCs constitutional #i*ht to be p#otecte f#o. ille*al a##est. The#e is nothin* in Republic Act No.5%,4 -hich even #e.otel2 inicate the intention of the le*islatu#e to .a6e an a##est .ae -ithout the pa#ticipation of the PD!A ille*al an evience obtaine pu#suant to such an a##est ina.issible. Mo#eove#, the la- i not ep#ive the PNP of the po-e# to .a6e a##ests.//As #e*a#s Section +% of Republic Act No. 5%,4, appellant insists the#e -as a violation of sai section -hen pictu#es, sho-in* hi. to*ethe# -ith the confiscate shabu, -e#e not i..eiatel2 ta6enafte# his a##est. 'e ae that the :oint Affiavit of A##est of the app#ehenin* tea. i not inicate ifthe .e.be#s the#eof ph2sicall2 .ae an invento#2 of the ille*al #u*s in the p#esence of the appellant o# hisJhe# #ep#esentative o# counsel, a #ep#esentative f#o. the .eia an the Depa#t.ent of :ustice, an an2 electe public official -ho shall be #e@ui#e to si*n the copies of the invento#2 an *iven a cop2 the#eof. In sho#t, appellant insists that non-co.pliance -ith Section +% #e*a#in* the custo2 an isposition of the confiscateJsei9e an*e#ous #u*s an pa#aphe#nalia, i.e., the ta6in* of pictu#es an the .a6in* of an invento#2, -ill .a6e these ite.s ina.issible in evience.>e o not a*#ee. Section +% #eas7S!". +%. "usto2 an Disposition of "onfiscate, Sei9e, anJo# Su##ene#e Dan*e#ous D#u*s, Plant Sou#ces of Dan*e#ous D#u*s, "ont#olle P#ecu#so#s an !ssential "he.icals, Inst#u.entsJPa#aphe#nalia anJo# Aabo#ato#2 !@uip.ent. L The PD!A shall ta6e cha#*e an have custo2 of all an*e#ous #u*s, plant sou#ces of an*e#ous #u*s, cont#olle p#ecu#so#s an essential che.icals, as -ell as inst#u.entsJpa#aphe#nalia anJo# labo#ato#2 e@uip.ent so confiscate, sei9e anJo# su##ene#e, fo# p#ope# isposition in the follo-in* .anne#70%1 The app#ehenin* tea. havin* initial custo2 an cont#ol of the #u*s shall, i..eiatel2 afte# sei9u#e an confiscation, ph2sicall2 invento#2 an photo*#aph the sa.e in the p#esence of the accuse o# the pe#sonJs f#o. -ho. such ite.s -e#e confiscate anJo# sei9e, o# hisJhe# #ep#esentative o# counsel, a #ep#esentative f#o. the .eia an the Depa#t.ent of :ustice 0DO:1, an an2 electe public official -ho shall be #e@ui#e to si*n the copies of the invento#2 an be *iven a cop2 the#eof.Non-co.pliance b2 the app#ehenin*Jbu2-bust tea. -ith Section +% is not fatal as lon* as the#e is 8ustifiable *#oun the#efo#, an as lon* as the inte*#it2 an the evientia#2 value of the confiscateJsei9e ite.s, a#e p#ope#l2 p#ese#ve b2 the app#ehenin* office#Jtea../4 Its non-co.pliance -ill not #ene# an accuseCs a##est ille*al o# the ite.s sei9eJconfiscate f#o. hi. ina.issible. >hat is of ut.ost i.po#tance is the p#ese#vation of the inte*#it2 an the evientia#2 value of the sei9e ite.s, as the sa.e -oul be utili9e in the ete#.ination of the *uilt o# innocence of the accuse. In the case une# consie#ation, -e fin that the inte*#it2 an the evientia#2 value of the ite.s involve -e#e safe*ua#e. The sei9eJconfiscate ite.s -e#e i..eiatel2 .a#6e fo# p#ope# ientification. The#eafte#, the2 -e#e fo#-a#e to the "#i.e Aabo#ato#2 fo# e?a.ination.Thou*h the 8ustifiable *#oun fo# non-co.pliance -ith Section +% -as not e?p#essl2 state b2 the a##estin*Jbu2-bust tea., this oes not necessa#il2 .ean that appellantCs a##est -as ille*al o# the ite.s sei9eJconfiscate ina.issible. In the case at ba#, as in Sta. Maria, the 8ustifiable *#oun -ill #e.ain un6no-n because appellant i not @uestion u#in* the t#ial the custo2 an isposition of LEANGIE MORA 7Legal ResearchPEOPLE VS. PRINGASthe ite.s ta6en f#o. hi.. Assu.in* that Sections +% an =, -e#e inee b#eache, appellant shoul have #aise these issues befo#e the t#ial cou#t. This, he i not o. Neve# i he @uestion the custo2 an isposition of the ite.s that -e#e supposel2 ta6en f#o. hi.. It -as onl2 on appeal befo#e the "ou#t of Appeals that he #aise the.. This, he cannot o. >e hel7The la- e?cuses non-co.pliance une# 8ustifiable *#ouns. 'o-eve#, -hateve# 8ustifiable *#ouns .a2 e?cuse the police office#s involve in the bu2-bust ope#ation in this case f#o. co.pl2in* -ith Section +% -ill #e.ain un6no-n, because appellant i not @uestion u#in* t#ial the safe6eepin* of the ite.s sei9e f#o. hi.. Inee, the police office#sC alle*e violations of Sections +% an =, of Republic Act 5%,4 -e#e not #aise befo#e the t#ial cou#t but -e#e #aise instea fo# the fi#st ti.e on appeal. In no instance i appellant least inti.ate at the t#ial cou#t that the#e -e#e lapses in the safe6eepin* of sei9e ite.s that affecte thei# inte*#it2 an evientia#2 value. Ob8ection to evience cannot be #aise fo# the fi#st ti.e on appeal; -hen a pa#t2 esi#es the cou#t to #e8ect the evience offe#e, he .ust so state in the fo#. of ob8ection. >ithout such ob8ection he cannot #aise the @uestion fo# the fi#st ti.e on appeal./,Appellant -as cha#*e -ith violations of Sections 4, %% an %+ of Republic Act No. 5%,4. Appellant -as cha#*e -ith violation of Section 4 fo# sellin* (.() *#a. of .etha.pheta.ine h2#ochlo#ie 0shabu1. The ele.ents necessa#2 fo# the p#osecution of ille*al sale of #u*s a#e7 0%1 the ientit2 of the bu2e# an the selle#, the ob8ect, an consie#ation; an 0+1 the elive#2 of the thin* sol an the pa2.ent the#efo#./< >hat is .ate#ial to the p#osecution fo# ille*al sale of an*e#ous #u*s is the p#oofthat the t#ansaction too6 place, couple -ith the p#esentation in cou#t of evience of co#pus elicti./=The evience fo# the p#osecution sho-e the p#esence of all these ele.ents. The poseu#-bu2e# an the tea. leae# of the app#ehenin* tea. na##ate ho- the bu2-bust happene, an that the shabu sol -as p#esente an ientifie in cou#t. The poseu#-bu2e#, PO% :oselito !s.allane#, ientifie appellant as the selle# of the shabu. !s.allane#Cs testi.on2 -as co##obo#ate b2 the tea. leae#, SPO) Aeneal Matias. The -hite c#2stalline substance -ei*hin* (.() *#a.s -hich -as bou*ht f#o. appellant fo# P%((.(( -as foun positive fo# .etha.pheta.ine h2#ochlo#ie 0shabu1 pe# "he.ist#2Repo#t No. D-e, li6e-ise, uphol the p#esu.ption of #e*ula#it2 in the pe#fo#.ance of official uties. Sai p#esu.ption -as not ove#co.e, as the#e -as no evience sho-in* that PO% :oselito !s.allane# an SPO) Aeneal Matias -e#e i.pelle b2 i.p#ope# .otive. Appellant an his co..on-la- -ife testifie that the .e.be#s of the bu2-bust tea. -e#e co.plete st#an*e#s.4)AppellantCs efense that the#e -as no bu2-bust ope#ation ese#ves scant consie#ation. 'avin* been cau*ht in fla*#ante elicto, his ientit2 as selle# of the shabu can no lon*e# be oubte. A*ainstthe positive testi.onies of the p#osecution -itnesses, appellantCs plain enial of the offenses cha#*e, unsubstantiate b2 an2 c#eible an convincin* evience, .ust si.pl2 fail.4/ 3ein* his co..on-la- -ife, -e fin &ina Dean not to be a c#eible -itness. Appellant sai th#ee of his nei*hbo#s -itnesse the violent ent#2 .ae b2 the police.en in his house, but he faile to p#esent the. o# an2 of the. to p#ove his point.Appellant -as, li6e-ise, cha#*e -ith possession of th#ee sachets of shabu -ith a total -ei*ht of (.+5 *#a.. In ille*al possession of an*e#ous #u*s, the ele.ents a#e7 0%1 the accuse is in possession of an ite. o# ob8ect -hich is ientifie to be a p#ohibite #u*; 0+1 such possession is notautho#i9e b2 la-; an 0)1 the accuse f#eel2 an consciousl2 possesse the sai #u*.44 All these ele.ents have been establishe.SPO) Aeneal Matias na##ate ho- he iscove#e the th#ee pieces of heat-seale t#anspa#ent plastic sachets containin* a -hite c#2stalline substance an othe# #u* pa#aphe#nalia on top of a s.all chai#0ban*6ito1 in the house of appellant.K. Afte# the accuse hane so.ethin* to PO% !s.allane#, -hat else happeneEA. I sa- PO% !s.allane# t#2 to *#ab the han of the accuse, but the accuse -as able to #un insie thei# house, an t#ie to close the oo#, si#.K. As a .e.be# of the bac6-up tea. upon seein* this incient, -hat i 2ou o, if an2EA. >e *ave suppo#t to PO% !s.allane#, si#.K. >ill 2ou please tell us -hat 6in of suppo#t i 2ou *ive to PO% !s.allane#EA. To a##est the accuse, si#.K. >hat i 2ou o in pa#ticula#EA. PO% !s.allane# follo-e the accuse insie .e an .2 *#oup follo-e !s.allane# also insie the house, si#.K. So, in othe# -o#s 2ou, an 2ou# co-.e.be#s also -ent insie the houseEA. Hes, si#.K. >hen M2ouN -ent insie the house, -hat i 2ou fin out if an2ELEANGIE MORA 9Legal ResearchPEOPLE VS. PRINGASA. PO% !s.allane# accoste the accuse, -hile I iscove#e th#ee 0)1 pieces of heat seale t#anspa#ent plastic sachet containin* unete#.ine a.ount of -hite c#2stalline substance suspecte to be shabu, an othe# pa#aphe#nalia on top of the s.all Dban*6ito,D si#.K. >e#e these th#ee 0)1 sachet an pa#aphe#nalia -e#e scatte#e on the s.all Dban*6itoEDA. Hes, si#.K. An -hat i 2ou o, if an2 -hen 2ou iscove#e the p#esence of these ite.sEA. I confiscate it an then I .a#6e it, si#.K. >hen 2ou sai it -hat -oul thisEA. The #u* pa#aphe#nalia, an the heat plastic sachet, si#.K. "oul 2ou #e.e.be# one b2 one -hat a#e those pa#aphe#nalia that 2ou confiscate an .a#6e itEA. The pa#aphe#nalia a#e t-o 0+1 isposable li*hte# colo#e #e an 2ello-, si? 0,1 pieces of s.all st#ipe of alu.inu. foil -ith t#aces of suspecte shabu i.p#ovise -ate# pipe use as toote#, i.p#ovise bu#ne#, -ooen seale#, an the th#ee 0)1 pieces heat plastic sachet, fou#teen 0%/1 pieces of t#anspa#ent plastic sachet. That is all I can #e.e.be#, si#.K. Di 2ou place .a#6in*s on that ite.s that 2ou confiscateEA. Hes, si#.4,Appellant -as inee the o-ne# of these ite.s fo# the2 -e#e foun in his house on top of the ban*6ito follo-in* the bu2-bust ope#ation an afte# his a##est. The substance in the plastic sachets -as shabu as confi#.e b2 "he.ist#2 Repo#t No. D-