SALTO, DIANNE D.

JD4201

On November 21, 2016, I was able to witness a Trial involving a drug

cases in Valenzuela Trial Court. All inmates for various drugs cases were
present and the last case was the only one proceeded to tried by the
Judge because of presentation of evidence of the prosecution and cross
examination. The prosecution presented Police Officer Isagani Manait as
he was the arresting officer and also the poseur-buyer in the entrapment
operation they had conducted against Ricardo Caguioa. The trial court
proceeded to the witness testimony. He narrated what had happened
before during and after the buy-bust operation. The prosecutor also asked
questions so as to enlighten the Trial Court of certain points that the Police
Officer was unable to give clearly. After that, the cross-examination was
then conducted by the Counsel of the accused, Atty. Crisostomo.
As I have observed during the cross-examination he conducted against
the Police Officer, he was trying to break the chain of custody so that the
Trial Court may decide that the accused is not guilty of the crime charged
against him specifically violations of sections 5 & 11 of Republic Act 9165
(Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act). The counsel for the accused
started asking questions about the marked-money that was used by the
Police Officer in buying for the alleged drugs that was caught on hand on
the accused. He was insisting that money that was used was not really the
money that the Police Officer used as a poseur-buyer. Also, he went on
asking about the bags were the drugs were placed. According to the Police
Officer, he was buying for only 2 sachet of drugs and that was the time
that he made signal that the sale was made. His co-officers arrested
Caguioa after the exchanged of articles and money. After that, the Police
Officer also searched the body of the accused were he found 3 more
sachets on his left side pocket. The counsel of the accused stated that
there was an anomaly on the bags that were used to keep the drugs.
On the marked-money, the Trial Court Judge asked for an additional
evidence to prove that the one he presented before the prosecution and
the Trial Court was really the marked money that he used. The Police
Officer stated that there was a blotter that was made and the serial
number of the money was stated in the information. After the crossexamination of the Counsel for the accused that lasted for about 2 hours,
the Trial Court Judge set the case for the next hearing wherein the
prosecution will present another witness to the Trial Court.
It was really an amazing feeling for I was able to witness a drug case
hearing because nowadays, criminal cases for drugs were rampant and

also the killings of drug addicts and pushers. Atleast, there are still hopes
in our Judiciary that the cases for drugs will still be resolved and decided
accordingly.