Peralta vs. People (2017)

JOSELITO PERALTA vs. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES

G.R. No. 221991, August 30, 2017

PERLAS-BERNABE, J.:

Facts: A team of police officers responded to a telephone call received by their desk officer-on-duty that there was a man firing a gun at the back of the PLDT Building in Pantal District, Dagupan City. Upon arrival thereat, the police officers saw two (2) men walking, later identified as Peralta and his companion, Calimlim, holding a gun and a knife respectively. Upon seeing the police officers, the men became uneasy, which prompted the police officers to swoop in. Upon apprehension, they recovered a caliber .45 pistol with Serial Number 4517488 containing a magazine with five (5) live ammunitions from Peralta and a knife from Calimlim. The men were then brought to the Region I Medical Center, and later, to the community precinct for paraffin and gun powder residue test. Meanwhile, the pistol and the magazine with live ammunitions were endorsed to the duty investigator.

While admitting that the police recovered a knife from Calimlim, Peralta vigorously denied having a firearm with him, much less illegally discharging the same.

Issue: Whether or not appellant is guilty of Illegal Possession of Firearm and Ammunition.

Ruling: Yes. The corpus delicti in the crime of illegal possession of firearms is the accused's lack of license or permit to possess or carry the firearm, as possession itself is not prohibited by law. To establish the corpus delicti, the prosecution has the burden of proving that: (a) the firearm exists; and (b) the accused who owned or possessed it does not have the corresponding license or permit to possess or carry the same.

In this case, the prosecution had proven beyond reasonable doubt the existence of the aforesaid elements, considering that: (a) the police officers positively identified Peralta as the one holding a .45 caliber pistol with Serial Number 4517488 with magazine and live ammunitions, which was seized from him and later on, marked, identified, offered, and properly admitted as evidence at the trial; and (b) the Certification dated August 10, 2011 issued by the Firearms and Explosives Office of the Philippine National Police which declared that Peralta "is not a licensed/registered firearm holder of any kind and calibre, specifically Caliber .45 Pistol, make (unknown) with Serial Number 4517488 per verification from the records of this office as of this date.

Ratio Decidendi: In order that one may be found guilty of a violation of the decree, it is sufficient that the accused had no authority or license to possess a firearm.

Gist: This is an appeal from the Decision of the CA, which affirmed the Decision of the RTC finding him guilty beyond reasonable doubt of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition under Section 1 of Presidential Decree No. 1866,5 as amended by Republic Act No. 8294.