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People vs. Acub

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE, VS. GAJIR ACUB Y ARAKANI A.K.A. "ASAW," ACCUSED-APPELLANT.

G.R. No. 220456 | 2019-06-10

DECISION
 
LEONEN, J.:
 
State agents must strictly comply with the legal safeguards established in Section 21 of Republic Act No. 9165, as amended, for the custody and disposition of seized illegal drugs, to ensure that the evidence was not tampered with, substituted, or planted. For the saving clause in Section 21 to apply, the prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that noncompliance was justified and that the integrity and evidentiary value of the seized item were preserved.

This Court reviews the March 16, 2015 Decision[1] of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CR HC No. 01003-MIN, affirming the conviction of...