Philippine Law Updates

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE, VS. DIOSDADO REBUTON Y MELENDEZ A.K.A. "DADO" AND MARILOU REBUTAZO Y ENCABO A.K.A. "LOI," ACCUSED; MARILOU REBUTAZO Y ENCABO A.K.A. "LOI," ACCUSED-APPELLANT. [ G.R. No. 224581, October 09, 2024 ]

Amicus Juris Production Season 1 Episode 22

The absence of the insulating witnesses at the time of apprehension and for approximately 30 minutes thereafter constituted a significant gap in the chain of custody, which casts reasonable doubt as to the identity and integrity of the corpus delicti. Moreover, the prosecution did not provide any explanation whatsoever as to the buy-bust team's failure to secure the presence of the insulating witnesses prior to the operation.