FIRST DIVISION
[G.R. No. 219877. April 23, 2018.]
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee,vs. CHIT LAPADA VELASCO, accused-appellant.
NOTICE
Sirs/Mesdames :
Please take notice that the Court, First Division, issued a Resolution datedApril 23, 2018which reads as follows: HTcADC
"G.R. No. 219877 — People of the Philippines, plaintiff-appellee, v. Chit Lapada Velasco, accused-appellant.
This Court's thorough review of the records of this case finds the appeal to be unmeritorious. We therefore adopt the findings of the trial court as affirmed by the Court of Appeals. The Court of Appeals correctly affirmed the ruling of the Regional Trial Court of the City of Parañaque, Branch 259, in Criminal Case No. 09-0030 dated February 27, 2012 that appellant Chit Lapada Velasco is guilty beyond reasonable doubt of violation of Section 5, Article II of Republic Act No. 9165. The prosecution satisfactorily established the evidence of the following elements of illegal sale of shabu, a dangerous drug: (1) the identity of the buyer and the seller, the object, and consideration; and (2) the delivery of the thing sold and the payment therefor. The trial court and the Court of Appeals found the testimonies of prosecution witnesses consistent with each other and sufficient to prove the guilt of appellant for selling shabu for marked money during the buy-bust operation.
There is no evidence on record that the police officers had ill motives to testify against appellant. They are, therefore, entitled to the legal presumption of regularity in the performance of official functions and their testimonies are accorded full faith and credence.
Under the same provision of law, the penalty for the unauthorized illegal sale of shabu, regardless of its quantity and purity, is life imprisonment to death and fine ranging from P500,000.00 to P10 million. Accordingly, appellant was sentenced to suffer the penalty of life imprisonment and to pay a fine of P500,000.00.
WHEREFORE, the appeal is DISMISSED. We ADOPT the findings of the trial court as affirmed by the Court of Appeals. The assailed Decision dated August 5, 2013 of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CR-H.C. No. 05464 that affirmed the Decision of the Regional Trial Court of the City of Parañaque, Branch 259 in Criminal Case No. 09-0030 finding appellant Chit Lapada Velasco GUILTY beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of violation of Section 5, Article II of Republic Act No. 9165 and sentencing her to suffer life imprisonment and a fine of P500,000.00 is AFFIRMED.
SO ORDERED." C.J. Sereno on leave; J. De Castro designated as Acting Chairperson per Special Order No. 2540 dated February 28, 2018; J. Bersamin designated as additional member per January 17, 2018 raffle vice J. Jardeleza who recused due to prior action as Solicitor General. aScITE
Very truly yours,
(SGD.) LIBRADA C. BUENADeputy Division Clerk of Court