In the Decision dated July 16, 2010, 31 the Regional Trial Court found Veridiano guilty beyond reasonable doubt for the crime of illegal possession of marijuana. 29 Still, Veridiano was accosted and brought to the police station where he was informed that "illegal drug was. 28 However, they found nothing on his person. 27 Two (2) armed men boarded the jeepney and frisked Veridiano. When the jeepney reached Barangay Buboy, Nagcarlan, the motorcyclists flagged down the jeepney. 25 Veridiano noticed that the jeepney was being followed by three (3) motorcycles, each with two (2) passengers in civilian attire. 24 At around 10:00 a.m., the jeepney passed a police checkpoint in Barangay Taytay, Nagcarlan. 23 After participating in the festivities, he decided to go home and took a passenger jeepney bound for Nagcarlan. 22įor his defense, Veridiano testified that he went to the fiesta in San Pablo City on January 15, 2008.
21 The contents of the tea bag tested positive for marijuana. 20 PO 1 Solano then made a laboratory examination request, which he personally brought with the seized tea bag to the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory. 19Īt the police station, PO 1 Cabello turned over the seized tea bag to PO 1 Solano, who also placed his initials. 18 He was then brought to the police station.
17 Veridiano was arrested and apprised of his constitutional rights. The police officers recovered from Veridiano "a tea bag containing what appeared to be marijuana." 16 POI Cabello confiscated the tea bag and marked it with his initials. 14 The police officers instructed the passengers to raise their t-shirts to check for possible concealed weapons and to remove the contents of their pockets. 13 They flagged down the jeepney and asked the passengers to disembark. 12 At around 10:00 a.m., they chanced upon Veridiano inside a passenger jeepney coming from San Pablo, Laguna. They allowed some vehicles to pass through after checking that he was not on board. The police officers at the checkpoint personally knew Veridiano. 10 Chief of Police June Urquia instructed POI Cabello and P02 Vergara to set up a checkpoint at Barangay Taytay, Nagcarlan, Laguna. P03 Esteves immediately relayed the information to PO I Cabello and P02 Alvin Vergara (P02 Vergara) who were both on duty. of January 15, 2008, a concerned citizen called a certain P03 Esteves, police radio operator of the Nagcarlan Police Station, informing him that a certain alias "Baho," who was later identified as Veridiano, was on the way to San Pablo City to obtain illegal drugs. 8Īccording to the prosecution, at about 7:20 a.m. 7ĭuring trial, the prosecution presented PO 1 Guillermo Cabello (PO 1 Cabello) and POI Daniel Solano (POI Solano) to testify. He pleaded not guilty to the offense charged. On October 9, 2008, Veridiano was arraigned.
72 grams of dried marijuana leaves, a dangerous drug. That on or about January 15, 2008, in the Municipality of Nagcarlan, Province of Laguna and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the above-named accused, not being permitted or authorized by law, did then and there willfully, unlawfully and feloniously have in his possession, control and custody one (1) small heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing 2. In an Information filed before the Regional Trial Court of San Pablo City, Laguna, 5 Veridiano was charged with the crime of illegal possession of dangerous drugs. 33588, which affirmed his conviction for violation of Article II, Section 11 of Republic Act No. Through this Petition for Review on Certiorari, 1 Mario Veridiano y Sapi (Veridiano) assails the Decision 2 dated Novemand Resolution 3 dated Januof the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R.