Drug suspect cleared over cop’s failure to appear in court

Regional Trial Court Branch 58 Judge Gabriel Ingles yesterday acquitted a suspected drug user from barangay Sambag II after one of the police officers who arrested him five years ago failed to appear in court despite of the several subpoena issued to him.

The records of the case showed that PO2 Albert Makinano failed to testify in court despite several resetting of the hearings that prompted Ingles to acquit accused Sisinio P. Belocura of the charges of violating section 11, Article II of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Law.

Ingles said the testimony of prosecution witness Dennis Labra as regards the manner of the accused’s arrest was not corroborated because of Makinano’s failure to testify in court.

“The more serious flaw in the prosecution’s case is the failure to establish the chain of custody of the object evidence,” Ingles ruled. — Rene U. Borromeo/LPM