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People vs. Abelarde

PEOPLE OF THE PHILPPINES, PLAINTTFF-APPELLEE, VS. BOBBY S. ABELARDE, ACCUSED-APPELLANT.

G.R. No. 215713 | 2018-01-22

D E C I S I O N
 
DEL CASTILLO, J.:
 
"Law enforcers should not trifle with the legal requirement [set forth in Section 21 of Republic Act (RA) No. 9165] to ensure integrity in the chain of custody of seized dangerous drugs and drug paraphernalia. This is especially true when only a miniscule amount of dangerous drugs is alleged to have been taken from the accused."[1]

Factual Antecedents:

On April 4, 2005, the Office of the City Prosecutor of Cebu City charged the accused-appellant Bobby S. Abelarde a.k.a. Roberto S. Abelarde, with violation of Section 5, Article II of RA 9165, under an Information which alleged –
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