People vs. Beringuil (2018)

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES vs. ARNULFO BALENTONG BERINGUIL

G.R. No. 220141, June 27, 2018

MARTIRES, J.:

Facts: The prosecution charged appellant before the RTC for the illegal sale of one (1) brick of cocaine. The prosecution claimed that appellant was caught in a buy-bust operation conducted by PDEA. Intelligence Officer 1 Germiniano Laus, Jr. (IO1 Laus) and a confidential informant were waiting for appellant whom they knew was looking for a buyer of cocaine worth P20,000.00. Not long after, a certain Sammy Macajeto and appellant arrived who then invited IO1 Laus and the confidential informant to a dimly lit area. There, appellant showed IO1 Laus the brick of cocaine wrapped in manila paper with a Coca-Cola sticker. In turn, IO1 Laus gave him the boodle money which appellant put inside his right pocket. At this moment, IO1 Laus took off his hat as the prearranged signal that the sale had already been consummated. When the backup team arrived, appellant was arrested and the boodle money was recovered from him.

In his defense, appellant denied the charges against him and claimed that the whole incident was a frame-up. He said that he went to the public market because a certain Melvin Fabe (Melvin) requested that he bring his personal belongings and carpentry tools with him. When he alighted from the motorcycle, appellant handed the bag to Melvin; at the same time, four (4) men approached and asked if he was Nonoy Beringuil. After he answered "yes," the men pinned his arms behind his back and made him get in a white van.

Issue: Whether or not the elements for the illegal sale of dangerous drugs are present.

Ruling: Yes, all the elements for the crime were present.

In the prosecution of illegal sale of drugs, what is material is proof that the transaction actually took place, coupled with the presentation in court of the corpus delicti as evidence. In the present case, we confirm the lower court findings that the prosecution clearly showed that the sale for one (1) brick of cocaine actually took place and that the authorities seized it; which thereafter passed through the proper custodial chain until it was identified and submitted to the court as evidence.

Ratio Decidendi: Where the integrity of the adduced evidence has never been tainted, it should retain its full evidentiary value.

Gist: This is an appeal from the Decision of the CA affirming the RTC which found accused-appellant Arnulfo Balentong Beringuil guilty beyond reasonable doubt of violating Section 5, Article II of R.A. No. 9165.