THE LAW ON DANGEROUS DRUGS AND CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES

Atty. Bensaud O. Degusman

Primary reading materials:

1. The cases herein assigned.
a. All cases are required reading.
2. Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Law of 2002 - Republic Act No. 9165
a. Implementing Rules and Regulation of Republic Act No. 9165
b. Republic Act No. 10640 – Amendments to Section 21 of Republic Act No. 9165
3. Supreme Court Issuances on Plea Bargaining – A.M. No. 18-03-16-SC
a. Also read DOJ Circular No. 27 on Plea Bargaining

Secondary reading materials (Do not purchase the books if you are financially-strained, they are all
available in the library):
1. Portions of Criminal Law Book 2 on Dangerous and Prohibited Drugs by Reyes
2. Portions of Dangerous Drugs Handbook by Ulep

The topics for this portion will be divided into the following:
1. Introduction and Preliminary Matters and Concerns on Dangerous Drug Cases
2. Punishable Acts and their Penalties
3. Constitutional and Procedural Matters involving Dangerous Drugs

I
INTRODUCTION AND PRELIMINARY MATTERS AND CONCERNS
ON DANGEROUS DRUG CASES

1. Introduction
a. Why we penalize drug cases?
i. Section 2, Republic Act No. 9165
ii. People vs. Alejandro 296 Phil 348 (See 354 – 355 for philosophy on penalizing
drugs)
iii. People vs. Kalubiran, 274 Phil 45 (See 51)
b. What do we penalize?
i. Dangerous Drugs
ii. Controlled Substances
iii. Precursor Substances
c. Drug crimes as mala prohibita
2. Agencies to Note
a. Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency
b. Local Government
c. Rehabilitation Facilities
3. Treatment and Rehabilitation of Drug Dependents
4. Definition of Terms
5. Confiscation and Forfeiture of Proceeds or Instruments related to Punishable Acts.
6. Reward for reporting violation
a. Immunity
b. Termination of immunity

II
PUNISHABLE ACTS AND THEIR PENALTIES
7. Section 4. Importation of Dangerous Drugs and/or Controlled Precursor and Essential
Substances
a. People vs. Chi Chan Liu (On definition of importation) 1
8. Section 5. Sale, Trading, Administration, Dispensation, Delivery, Distribution and Transportation
of Dangerous Drugs and/or Controlled Precursors and Essential Chemicals ***
a. People vs. Ismael, 806 Phil 21, (Elements of Sale of Drugs)

1
Note: While the case involves RA 6425, the definition of importation as established in this case is still applicable
 b. People vs. Teng Moner, GR No. 202206, 5 March 2018 (Elements for successful
prosecution of Sale of Dangerous Drugs)
c. People vs. Hilario GR No. 210610 citing People vs. Ismael
d. People vs. Dejos, GR No. 237423
e. People vs. Otico, GR No. 231133
f. People vs. Ching, 819 Phil 575 (On prohibited substances and/or controlled precursors)
g. People vs. Rivera, GR No. 252886
9. Section 6. Maintenance of a Den, Dive or Resort.
a. People vs. Galicia, GR No. 218402
b. People vs. Rom, GR No. 198452
10. Section 7. Employees and Visitors of a Den, Dive or Resort
a. Coronel vs. People, GR No. 214536
11. Section 8. Manufacture of Dangerous Drugs and/or Controlled Precursors and Essential
Chemicals
a. People vs. Court of Appeals and Borromeo, GR No. 227899
12. Section 9. Illegal Chemical Diversion of Controlled Precursors and Essential Chemicals.
13. Section 10. Manufacture or Delivery of Equipment, Instrument, Apparatus, and Other
Paraphernalia for Dangerous Drugs and/or Controlled Precursors and Essential Chemicals.
14. Section 11. Possession of Dangerous Drugs.***
a. People vs. Que, GR No. 212994, 31 January 2018 (Elements for successful prosecution of
Illegal Possession of Drugs)
b. People vs. Rangaig, GR No. 240447
c. People vs. Minanga, 751 Phil 240
d. LLamado vs. People, GR No. 243375
e. People vs. Arellaga, GR No. 231796
15. Section 12. Possession of Equipment, Instrument, Apparatus and Other Paraphernalia for
Dangerous Drugs.***
a. Cuico vs. People, GR No. 232293
b. People vs. Villar, GR No. 215937
16. Section 13. Possession of Dangerous Drugs During Parties, Social Gatherings or Meetings.
a. Plan, Jr. vs. People, GR No. 247589
17. Section 14. Possession of Equipment, Instrument, Apparatus and Other Paraphernalia for
Dangerous Drugs During Parties, Social Gatherings or Meetings.
18. Section 15. Use of Dangerous Drugs.***
a. Dela Cruz vs. People, GR No. 200748 (When drug test can be made)
19. Section 16. Cultivation or Culture of Plants Classified as Dangerous Drugs or are Sources Thereof.
20. Section 17. Maintenance and Keeping of Original Records of Transactions on Dangerous Drugs
and/or Controlled Precursors and Essential Chemicals.
21. Section 18. Unnecessary Prescription of Dangerous Drugs.
22. Section 19. Unlawful Prescription of Dangerous Drugs.
23. Conspiracy or attempt punishable
a. People vs. Quinones, GR No. 250908 (Attempted Illegal Sale of Dangerous Drugs)
24. Criminal liability of
a. Section 27 – Public Officers or Employees
b. Section 28 – Government Officials or Employees
c. Section 29 – When planting evidence ***
d. Section 30 – Partnerships, Corporations etc.
e. Section 31 – Aliens

III
CONSTITUTIONAL AND PROCEDURAL MATTERS INVOLVING DRUGS

25. Chain of Custody (Section 21)

a. People vs. Teng Moner, GR No. 202206, 5 March 2018
b. Zalameda vs. People
c. Saraum vs. People
d. Mallilin vs. People
 e. People vs. Que, GR No. 212994, 31 January 2018 – Presumption of Regularity,
Amendments for Section 21
f. People vs. Nandi – Four Links
g. People vs. Morales – Effect of non-compliance
h. People vs. Holgado – Purpose
i. People vs. Lorenzo
j. People vs. Kamad – Presumption of Regularity
k. People vs. Laxa
l. People vs. Kimura
m. People vs. Lacdan, GR No. 232161
n. People vs. Sipin, GR No. 224290
o. People vs. Romy Lim, GR No. 231989
26. Plea Bargaining
a. Salvador Estipona vs. Hon. Frank Lobrigo, GR No. 226679
b. A.M. No. 18-03-16-SC
c. DOJ Circular No. 027
d. Sayre vs. Xenos, GR No. 244413
e. People vs. Reafor, GR No. 247575
f. Pascua vs. People
g. People vs. Borras, GR No. 250295
27. Buy Bust
a. People vs. Guzon
b. People vs. Tadepa
c. People vs. Amin y Tapuan
d. People vs. Delina, GR No. 243578
28. Other Constitutional Cases
a. Warrantless Arrest/Warrantless Search
i. Veridiano vs. People