G.R. No.

231839
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee
vs.
MICHAEL RYAN N. ARELLANO, Accused-Appellant

FACTS:

Accused Arellano was charged with three (3) criminal cases: 1)

illegal possession of shabu; 2) illegal sale of shabu; and 3) illegal
possession of drug paraphernalia.

A tip regarding the illegal drug activities of the accused by a

confidential informant prompted the conduct of a buy-bust
operation against the former. PO3 Dalere was assigned as the
poseur-buyer. In the conduct of the entrapment, PO3 Dalere has
given signal to his companions as an indicator that the sale was
already consummated. The team then arrived at the area and
seized the accused. When the barangay officials arrived, PO3 Dalere
then marked the seized items and took photographs and made a
Certificate of Inventory of the seized items.

The accused was then brought to the office of the

apprehending team and the seized items were delivered to the PNP
Crime Laboratory for examination. The specimens were positive to
be shabu.

The accused testified that he was just framed-up and that a

female acquaintance was at the same area of arrest when the
operation happened.

RTC ruled that accused was guilty beyond reasonable doubt of

the crimes charged. The CA affirmed the conviction.

Hence, this appeal.

ISSUE:

Whether or not, CA correctly affirmed the RTC decision in

finding accused guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crimes
charged.

RULING OF THE COURT:

The appeal was meritorious.

 The present case squarely falls under some of the exceptions
when the trial court’s findings have been affirmed by the appellant
court, said findings are binding generally upon the court.

The police officers were inconsistent in their testimonies

regarding the presence of the female companion of the accused
inside a small room where the arrest happened. It was not very
prudent of the police officers to just release the female companion
of the accused without first ascertaining what her involvement in
the whole transaction or trade was. Such inaction by the police
officers was inherently wrong in so many levels. Their indifference
to the presence of the lady was suspicious and their failure to even
routinely ask for the name and personal details of the said female
companion was highly curious.

Thus, considering the facts and the records of this case, the
court was unconvinced as to the culpability of accused for crimes
charged. Therefore, accused Arellano was acquitted.