SI BUHAY Rep. Lito Atienza niingon nga ang mga “ninja cops” nakalapas sa 17 ka tuig na nga balaod nga nagmando nga ang mga sakop sa media mosaksi sa inventory sa nasakmit nga illegal nga drugas aron malikayan ang recycling niini.

Unsa man kining maong balaod? Mao kining ang Republic Act 9165, ang Comprehensive Dangerous Act of 2002. Ang Sec. 21 niini nagkanayon:

“The apprehending team having initial custody and control of the drugs shall, immediately after seizure and confiscation, physically inventory and photograph the same in the presence of the accused or the person/s from whom such items were confiscated and/or seized, or his/her representative or counsel, a representative from the media and the Department of Justice, and any elected public official who shall be required to sign the copies of the inventory and be given a copy thereof.”

Nag-una isip saksi ang representante sa media ug sa Department of Justice ug gisundan sa bisan kinsang elected public official. Apan giamendahan kini sa Republic Act 10640 niadtong Hulyo 15, 2014. Mao na kini karon ang Sec. 21:

“The apprehending team having initial custody and control of the dangerous drugs, controlled precursors and essential chemicals, instruments/paraphernalia and/or laboratory equipment shall, immediately after seizure and confiscation, conduct a physical inventory of the seized items and photograph the same in the presence of the accused or the person/s from whom such items were confiscated and/or seized, or his/her representative or counsel, with an elected public official and a representative of the National Prosecution Service or the media who shall be required to sign the copies of the inventory and be given a copy thereof.”

Dinhi, nag-una na ang elected public official ug gisundan sa representante sa National Prosecution Service, sa piskaliya, ug nauwahi na ang sakop sa media.

Pananglit way makasaksi nga pinili nga opsiyal sa gobyerno o way representante sa piskaliya ug sa media sa pag-imbentaryo sa nasakmit nga illegal nga drugas, mahimo ba kining way balor isip ebidensiya?

Dili. Ang RA 10640 nagkanayon, “noncompliance of these requirements under justifiable grounds, as long as the integrity and the evidentiary value of the seized items are properly preserved by the apprehending officer/team, shall not render void and invalid such seizures and custody over said items.”

Gani, ang Korte Suprema, sa kaso nga People vs. Sammy Umpang y Abdul (GR No. 190326, April 25, 2012) niingon, “the absence of a witness or witnesses by itself does not invalidate the evidence.” Gawas pa, human sa pagpirma sa mga saksi sa imbentaryo, kinsay nasayod nga girecycle diay sa mga ninja cops ang ebidensiya nga druga. (edbarrita@ gmail.com)