RA 9165: UNLAWFUL ACTS AND PENALTIES

Section 4. IMPORTATION OF DANGEROUS DRUGS and/or CONTROLLED PRECURSORS

and ESSENTIAL CHEMICALS

Offenders and their penalties:

Importer = Life to Death + P500k-P10M)
Importer using Diplomatic Passport (Death +P10M)
Financier, Organizer, Manager of Importation (death + P10M)
Protector/Coddler (12years 1 day to 20 years + 100k to 500k)

Section 5. SALE, TRADING, ADMINISTRATION, DISPENSATION, DELIVERY,

DISTRIBUTION & TRANSPORTATION of Dangerous Drugs

Penalty: Life to Death + P500k to P10M

Note: Maximum penalty is imposed on:

>committed within 100 m from a school
> Use of minors or mentally incapacitated persons as runners, couriers and messengers or in any
other capacity
>If the victim is a minor or mentally incapacitated
>Dangerous drug is the proximate cause of death of victim

Section 6. MAINTENANCE OF A DEN, DIVE OR RESORT

Penalty:
Maintenance- Life to Death + P500k to P10M fine
Caters to minor clients = Death +P10M fine
Financier = death + P10M fine
Protector/Coddler = 12 years 1 day- 20 years + p100k to P500k fine
Client dies = Death + P1M to P15M fine

Note: The den/dive/resort shall be confiscated in favor of government

Section 7. Employees and Visitors of a Den, Dive or Resort

1. Any employees of a den, dive or resort who IS AWARE of the NATURE OF THE PLACE as
such; AND
2. Any person who, not being included in the provisions of Section 8, is AWARE OF THE
NATURE of the place as such AND KNOWINGLY VISIT the same.

Penalty: Imprisonment: 12 years 1 day to 20 years + fine: P100k-P500k

Section 8. MANUFACTURE of Dangerous Drugs and/or Controlled Precursors and Essential
Chemicals.

Penalty for manufacture of dangerous drugs: Life Imprisonment to Death + 500k to 10M fine

Penalty for the manufacture of Controlled precursors and Essential Chemicals : 12 years 1 day
to 20 years + P100k to P500k fine

Note: the presence of any controlled precursor and essential chemical or laboratory equipment in
the CLANDESTINE laboratory is a PRIMA FACIE proof of manufacture of any dangerous
drugs.

Aggravating circumstances are:

Any phase of the manufacturing process was conducted in the presence or with the help of
minor/s
Any phase or manufacturing process was established or undertaken within 100 meters of a
residential business, church or school premises;
Any clandestine laboratory was secured or protected with booby traps
Any clandestine laboratory was concealed with legitimate business operations ; or
Any employment of a practitioner, chemical engineer, public official or foreigner

Section. 11 POSSESSION of Dangerous Drugs

Elements:

Person is in possession which is identified to be a prohibited drug

Such possession is not authorized by law
Person freely and consciously possessed the said prohibited drug

Penalty depends on the quantity of the drugs possessed

Section 12. POSSESSION OF EQUIPMENT, INSTRUMENTS, APPARATUS and OTHER

PARAPHERNALIA for Dangerous Drugs
Penalty: Imprisonment of 6 months and 1 day to 4 years and a fine of P10k to P50k.

Note: The possession of such shall be prima facie evidence that the possessor has smoked,
consumed, administered, to himself/herself, injected, ingested or used a dangerous drug and shall
be presumed to have violated Section 15 of RA 9165

Section 13. POSSESSION of Dangerous Drugs Drugs during parties, social gatherings or
meetings.

Any person found possessing any dangerous drug during a party, or at a social gathering or
meeting, or in the proximate company of at least two (2) persons, shall suffer the MAXIMUM
penalties provided for in Section 11 of RA 9165, regardless of the quantity and purity of the
dangerous drugs.

Section 14. Possession of Equipment, Instrument, Apparatus and Other Paraphernalia for
Dangerous Drugs During Parties, Social Gatherings or Meetings.

Note: Section 13 and 14 are the most applicable offense for pot session offenders sharing
SAME quantities of drugs and pieces of paraphernalias kaya lang NO BAIL RECOMMENDED
xa.

Section 15. USE OF DANGEROUS DRUGS

A person apprehended or arrested, who is found to be positive for use of any dangerous drug,
after confirmatory test, shall be imposed a penalty of a MINIMUM of 6 months
REHABILITATION in a government center for the FIRST OFFENSE.

If apprehended using any dangerous drug for the SECOND TIME, imprisonment of 6 years and
1 day to 12 years + fine of 50k to 200k

Note: twist in the filing of the case when the offender is found positive for the use of drugs
For Section 11- Section 15 is an aggravating circumstance
If no Section 11 but only Section 12- add mo sa filing ang Section 15.

Section 16. CULTIVATION or CULTURE OF PLANTS CLASSIFIED AS DANGEROUS

DRUGS or ARE SOURCES THEREOF
Life Imprisonment to Death plus Fine of 500k to P10M

Section 17. Maintenance and Keeping of Original Records of Transactions n Dangerous Drugs
and/or Controlled Precursor and Essential Chemicals

Section 18. Unnecessary Prescription of Dangerous Drugs

Section 19. Unlawful Prescription of Dangerous Drugs
Section 37. Issuance of False or Fraudulent Drug Test Results

Section 26 ATTEMPT OR CONSPIRACY. Any attempt or conspiracy to commit the following

unlawful acts shall be penalized by the same penalty prescribed for the commission of the same.

a) Importation;
b) Sale, trading, administration, dispensation, delivery, distribution and transportation;
c) Maintenance of a den, dive or resort where any dangerous drug is used in any form;
d) Manufacture of any dangerous drug and/or controlled precursor and essential chemical; and
e) Cultivation or culture of plants which are sources of dangerous drugs.
Section 27 Public Officer or Employee is criminally liable for Misappropriation, Misapplication
or Failure to Account for the Confiscated, Seized and/or Surrendered Dangerous Drugs, Plant
Sources of Dangerous Drugs, Controlled Precursors and Essential Chemicals,
Instruments/Paraphernalia and/or Laboratory Equipment Including the Proceeds or Properties
Obtained from the Unlawful Act Committed

Section 29. Criminal Liability for Planting of Evidence.

Any person who is found guilty of planting of dangerous drug and/or controlled precursor and
essential chemical, regardless of quantity and purity, shall suffer the penalty of DEATH

Section 91. Responsibility and Liability of Law Enforcement Agencies and other Government
Officials and Employees in testifying as Prosecution Witnesses in Dangerous Drugs Cases

who, AFTER DUE NOTICE, fails or refuses intentionally or negligently, to appear as a

witness for the prosecution in any proceedings, involving violations of this Act, without any
valid reason
Penalty: Imprisonment of 12 years and 1 day to 20 years plus fine of 500k in addition to the
administrative liability he/she may be meted out by his/her immediate superior and/or
appropriate body.

Section 91. Responsibility and Liability of Law Enforcement Agencies..

Note the IMMEDIATE SUPERIOR of the member of the law enforcement agency or any other
government employee mentioned in the preceding paragraph, if despite due notice to them and to
the witness concerned, the former does not exert reasonable effort to present the latter to the
court

Penalty: Imprisonment of 2 onths and 1 day to 6 years plus 10k to P50k fine in addition,
perpetual absolute disqualification from public office

The member of the law enforcement agency.. shall not be transferred or re-assigned to any other
government office located in another territorial jurisdiction during the pendency of the case.
However, the concerned member of the law enforcement agency or government employee may
be transferred or re-assigned for compelling reasons.

The Immediate superior shall notify the court where the case is pending of the order to transfer
or re-assign, within 24 hours from its approval. Should the immediate superior fail to notify the
court of such order to transfer or re-assign: Imprisonment of 2 months and 1 day to 6 years plus
fine of P10k to P50k in addition, perpetual absolute disqualification from public office

Section 92. DELAY AND BUNGLING in PROSECUTION OF DRUG CASES

Any government officer or employee tasked with the prosecution of drug-related cases under this
act, who through PATENT LAXITY, INEXCUSABLE NEGLECT, UNREASONABLE DELAY
or DELIBERATELY CAUSES the UNSUCCESSFUL PROSECUTION and/or DISMISSAL of
the said drug cases; Imprisonment of 12 years and 1 day to 20 years

RA9165

BuybustOperation(Sec5)
...

Wethereforestressthatthe"objective"testinbuybustoperationsdemandsthatthedetailsofthepurportedtransactionmustbe
clearlyandadequatelyshown.Thismuststartfromtheinitialcontactbetweentheposeurbuyerandthepusher,theofferto
purchase,thepromiseorpaymentoftheconsiderationuntiltheconsummationofthesalebythedeliveryoftheillegaldrug
subjectofthesale.Themannerbywhichtheinitialcontactwasmade,whetherornotthroughaninformant,theoffertopurchase
thedrug,thepaymentofthe"buybust"money,andthedeliveryoftheillegaldrug,whethertotheinformantaloneorthepolice
officer,mustbethesubjectofstrictscrutinybycourtstoinsurethatlawabidingcitizensarenotunlawfullyinducedtocommitan
offense.Criminalsmustbecaughtbutnotatallcost.Atthesametime,however,examiningtheconductofthepoliceshouldnot
disablecourtsintoignoringtheaccusedspredispositiontocommitthecrime.Ifthereisoverwhelmingevidenceofhabitual
delinquency,recidivismorplaincriminalproclivity,thenthismustalsobeconsidered.Courtsshouldlookatallfactorsto
determinethepredispositionofanaccusedtocommitanoffenseinsofarastheyarerelevanttodeterminethevalidityofthe
defenseofinducement.(PeoplevsDeGuzman,G.R.No.151205)

Elements(Sec5)

Theelementsnecessaryfortheprosecutionofillegalsaleofdrugsare(1)theidentityofthebuyerandtheseller,theobject,and
consideration;and(2)thedeliveryofthethingsoldandthepaymenttherefor.Whatismaterialtotheprosecutionforillegalsale
ofdangerousdrugsistheproofthatthetransactionorsaleactuallytookplace,coupledwiththepresentationincourtofevidence
ofcorpusdelicti.(PeoplevsDelMonte,G.R.No.179940)

Elements(Sec11)

Theelementsnecessaryfortheprosecutionofillegalpossessionofdangerousdrugsare:(1)theaccusedisinpossessionofan
itemorobjectwhichisidentifiedtobeaprohibiteddrug;(2)suchpossessionisnotauthorizedbylaw;and(3)theaccusedfreely
andconsciouslypossessedthesaiddrug.[19]Elucidatingonthenatureofthisoffense,theCourtinPeoplev.Tirawrote:xxx
Thiscrimeismalaprohibita,and,assuch,criminalintentisnotanessentialelement.However,theprosecutionmustprovethat
theaccusedhadtheintenttopossess(animusposidendi)thedrugs.Possession,underthelaw,includesnotonlyactual
possession,butalsoconstructivepossession.Actualpossessionexistswhenthedrugisintheimmediatephysicalpossessionor
controloftheaccused.Ontheotherhand,constructivepossessionexistswhenthedrugisunderthedominionandcontrolofthe
accusedorwhenhehastherighttoexercisedominionandcontrolovertheplacewhereitisfound.Exclusivepossessionor
controlisnotnecessary.Theaccusedcannotavoidconvictionifhisrighttoexercisecontrolanddominionovertheplacewhere
thecontrabandislocated,issharedwithanother.(PeoplevsGutierrez,G.R.No.177777)

Actualvs.ConstructivePossession

Possession,underthelaw,includesnotonlyactualpossession,butalsoconstructivepossession.Actualpossessionexistswhen
thedrugisintheimmediatephysicalpossessionorcontroloftheaccused.Ontheotherhand,constructivepossessionexitswhen
thedrugisunderthedominionandcontroloftheaccusedorwhenhehastherighttoexercisedominionandcontroloverthe
placewhereitisfound.Exclusivepossessionorcontrolisnotnecessary.Theaccusedcannotavoidconvictionifhisrightto
exercisecontrolanddominionovertheplacewherethecontrabandislocated,issharedwithanother.(PeoplevsHuangZhen
Hua,G.R.No.139301)

Intenttopossess

Thus,convictionneednotbepredicateduponexclusivepossession,andashowingofnonexclusivepossessionwouldnot
exoneratetheaccused.Suchfactofpossessionmaybeprovedbydirectorcircumstantialevidenceandanyreasonableinference
drawntherefrom.However,theprosecutionmustprovethattheaccusedhadknowledgeoftheexistenceandpresenceofthedrug
intheplaceunderhiscontrolanddominionandthecharacterofthedrug.Sinceknowledgebytheaccusedoftheexistenceand
characterofthedrugsintheplacewhereheexercisesdominionandcontrolisaninternalact,thesamemaybepresumedfrom
thefactthatthedangerousdrugisinthehouseorplaceoverwhichtheaccusedhascontrolordominion,orwithinsuchpremises
intheabsenceofanysatisfactoryexplanation.(PeoplevsHuangZhenHua,G.R.No.139301)

Presumptionofintenttopossess

Inthecaseatbar,appellantwascaughtinactualpossessionofaprohibiteddrugwhichhecouldnotshowwasdulyauthorizedby
law.Havingbeencaughtinflagrantedelicto,thereisaprimafacieevidenceofanimuspossidendionappellantspart.Asheldby
thisCourtinU.S.v.Bandoc,thefindingofadangerousdruginthehouseorwithinthepremisesofthehouseoftheaccusedis
primafacieevidenceofknowledgeoranimuspossidendiandisenoughtoconvictintheabsenceofasatisfactoryexplanation.
(PeoplevsDanilaCruz,G.R.No185381)

Bondadvs.People(Sec21)

INFINE,asthefailuretocomplywiththeaforesaidrequirementsofthelawcompromisedtheidentityoftheitemsseized,which
isthecorpusdelictiofeachofthecrimeschargedagainstappellant,hisacquittalisinorder.(BondadvsPeople,G.R.No
173804)

PreservationofIntegrityofSeizedItems

Itisveryclearfromthelanguageofthelawthatthereareexceptionstotherequirements.Therefore,contrarytoappellants
assertions,Sec.21neednotbefollowedwithpedanticrigor.IthasbeensettledthatnoncompliancewithSec.21doesnotrender
anaccusedsarrestillegalortheitemsseized/confiscatedfromtheaccusedinadmissible.Whatisessentialis"thepreservationof
theintegrityandtheevidentiaryvalueoftheseizeditems,asthesamewouldbeutilizedinthedeterminationoftheguiltor
innocenceoftheaccused."(DaniloCruzcase)
*FollowSec21topreservetheintegrityoftheitems

ChainofCustody

AsheldbytheCourtinMalillinv.People,thetestimoniesofallpersonswhohandledthespecimenareimportanttoestablishthe
chainofcustody.Thus,theprosecutionofferedthetestimonyofPO3Arago,thepoliceofficerwhofirsthandledthedangerous
drug.ThetestimonyofP/SInsp.Fermindoza,whoconductedtheexaminationonthedangerousdrug,was,however,dispensed
withafterthepublicprosecutorandthedefensecounselstipulatedthatthespecimenssubmittedtestedpositivefor
methamphetaminehydrochlorideandthatthesaidspecimenswereregularlyexaminedbythesaidwitness.(DaniloCruzcase)

PeoplevsMarcelino

Here,thechainofcustodywasestablishedthroughthefollowinglinks:(1)SPO1DelaCruzmarkedtheseizedsachetwith
"MDC1"forthesachetthatwasthesubjectofthebuybust,and"MDC2"forthesachetfoundonaccusedappellantsperson;
(2)arequestforlaboratoryexaminationoftheseizeditems"MDC1"and"MDC2"wassignedbyPoliceSeniorInspector
ArthurFelixAsis;(3)therequestandthemarkeditemsseizedwerereceivedbytheBulacanProvincialCrimeLaboratory;(4)
ChemistryReportNo.D62802confirmedthatthemarkeditemsseizedfromaccusedappellantwereshabu;and(5)themarked
itemswereofferedinevidenceasExhibits"C1"and"C2."(PeoplevsMarcelino,G.R.No189278)

SJSvsDangerousDrugBoard&PDEA

SEC.36.AuthorizedDrugTesting.Authorizeddrugtestingshallbedonebyanygovernmentforensiclaboratoriesorbyanyof
thedrugtestinglaboratoriesaccreditedandmonitoredbytheDOHtosafeguardthequalityofthetestresults.xxxThedrug
testingshallemploy,amongothers,two(2)testingmethods,thescreeningtestwhichwilldeterminethepositiveresultaswellas
thetypeofdrugusedandtheconfirmatorytestwhichwillconfirmapositivescreeningtest.xxxThefollowingshallbe
subjectedtoundergodrugtesting:
xxxx

(c)Studentsofsecondaryandtertiaryschools.Studentsofsecondaryandtertiaryschoolsshall,pursuanttotherelatedrulesand
regulationsascontainedintheschoolsstudenthandbookandwithnoticetotheparents,undergoarandomdrugtestingxxx;

(d)Officersandemployeesofpublicandprivateoffices.Officersandemployeesofpublicandprivateoffices,whether
domesticoroverseas,shallbesubjectedtoundergoarandomdrugtestascontainedinthecompanysworkrulesandregulations,
xxxforpurposesofreducingtheriskintheworkplace.Anyofficeroremployeefoundpositiveforuseofdangerousdrugsshall
bedealtwithadministrativelywhichshallbeagroundforsuspensionortermination,subjecttotheprovisionsofArticle282of
theLaborCodeandpertinentprovisionsoftheCivilServiceLaw;
xxxx

(f)Allpersonschargedbeforetheprosecutorsofficewithacriminaloffensehavinganimposablepenaltyofimprisonmentof
notlessthansix(6)yearsandone(1)dayshallundergoamandatorydrugtest;

(g)Allcandidatesforpublicofficewhetherappointedorelectedbothinthenationalorlocalgovernmentshallundergoa
mandatorydrugtest.

InadditiontotheabovestatedpenaltiesinthisSection,thosefoundtobepositivefordangerousdrugsuseshallbesubjecttothe
provisionsofSection15ofthisAct.(SJSvsDangerousDrugBoard&PDEA,G.R.No157870)

*SJSquestionedtheconstitutionalityCGofSec36

StudentsConstitutional

GuidedbyVernoniaandBoardofEducation,theCourtisoftheviewandsoholdsthattheprovisionsofRA9165requiring
mandatory,random,andsuspicionlessdrugtestingofstudentsareconstitutional.Indeed,itiswithintheprerogativeof
educationalinstitutionstorequire,asaconditionforadmission,compliancewithreasonableschoolrulesandregulationsand
policies.Tobesure,therighttoenrollisnotabsolute;itissubjecttofair,reasonable,andequitablerequirements.

TheCourtcantakejudicialnoticeoftheproliferationofprohibiteddrugsinthecountrythatthreatensthewellbeingofthe
people,particularlytheyouthandschoolchildrenwhousuallyendupasvictims.Accordingly,anduntilamoreeffectivemethod
isconceptualizedandputinmotion,arandomdrugtestingofstudentsinsecondaryandtertiaryschoolsisnotonlyacceptablebut
mayevenbenecessaryifthesafetyandinterestofthestudentpopulation,doubtlessalegitimateconcernofthegovernment,are
tobepromotedandprotected.ToborrowfromVernonia,[d]eterringdrugusebyourNationsschoolchildrenisasimportantas
enhancingefficientenforcementoftheNationslawsagainsttheimportationofdrugs;thenecessityfortheStatetoactis
magnifiedbythefactthattheeffectsofadruginfestedschoolarevisitednotjustupontheusers,butupontheentirestudentbody
andfaculty.Needlesstostress,therandomtestingschemeprovidedunderthelawarguesagainsttheideathatthetestingaimsto
incriminateunsuspectingindividualstudents.(SJScase)

EmployeesinthePrivateSectorConstitutional

Takingintoaccounttheforegoingfactors,i.e.,thereducedexpectationofprivacyonthepartoftheemployees,thecompelling
stateconcernlikelytobemetbythesearch,andthewelldefinedlimitssetforthinthelawtoproperlyguideauthoritiesinthe
conductoftherandomtesting,weholdthatthechallengeddrugtestrequirementis,underthelimitedcontextofthecase,
reasonableand,ergo,constitutional.(SJScase)

Governmentofficial&EmployeesConstitutional

Liketheircounterpartsintheprivatesector,governmentofficialsandemployeesalsolaborunderreasonablesupervisionand
restrictionsimposedbytheCivilServicelawandotherlawsonpublicofficers,allenactedtopromoteahighstandardofethicsin
thepublicservice.AndifRA9165passesthenormofreasonablenessforprivateemployees,themorereasonthatitshouldpass
thetestforcivilservants,who,byconstitutionalcommand,arerequiredtobeaccountableatalltimestothepeopleandtoserve
themwithutmostresponsibilityandefficiency.(SJScase)

PersonsCharged(6years&1day)Unconstitutional

Toimposemandatorydrugtestingontheaccusedisablatantattempttoharnessamedicaltestasatoolforcriminalprosecution,
contrarytothestatedobjectivesofRA9165.Drugtestinginthiscasewouldviolateapersonsrighttoprivacyguaranteedunder
Sec.2,Art.IIIoftheConstitution.Worsestill,theaccusedpersonsareveritablyforcedtoincriminatethemselves.(SJScase)

CandidatesforPublicOfficeamendmenttotheConstitution(unconstitutional)

Viewed,therefore,initspropercontext,Sec.36(g)ofRA9165andtheimplementingCOMELECResolutionaddanother
qualificationlayertowhatthe1987Constitution,attheminimum,requiresformembershipintheSenate.Whetherornotthe
drugfreebarsetupunderthechallengedprovisionistobehurdledbeforeorafterelectionisreallyofnomoment,asgetting
electedwouldbeoflittlevalueifonecannotassumeofficefornoncompliancewiththedrugtestingrequirement.

Itmayofcoursebeargued,indefenseofthevalidityofSec.36(g)ofRA9165,thattheprovisiondoesnotexpresslystatethat
noncompliancewiththedrugtestimpositionisadisqualifyingfactororwouldworktonullifyacertificateofcandidacy.This
argumentmaybeaccordedplausibilityifthedrugtestrequirementisoptional.Buttheparticularsectionofthelaw,without
exception,madedrugtestingonthosecoveredmandatory,necessarilysuggestingthattheobstinateonesshallhavetosufferthe
adverseconsequencesfornotadheringtothestatutorycommand.Andsincetheprovisiondealswithcandidatesforpublicoffice,
itstandstoreasonthattheadverseconsequenceadvertedtocanonlyrefertoandrevolvearoundtheelectionandtheassumption
ofpublicofficeofthecandidates.AnyotherconstrualwouldreducethemandatorynatureofSec.36(g)ofRA9165intoapure
jargonwithoutmeaningandeffectwhatsoever.(SJScase)