Nahuli na may dalawang uri ng droga

ni Atty. Persida Rueda-Acosta @Magtanong Kay Attorney | September 27, 2025

Dear Chief Acosta,

Ano ang mangyayari kung ang isang tao ay maaresto at mayroon siyang dalawang uri ng mapanganib na droga sa kanyang pag-iingat o posesyon? Maaari ba siyang kasuhan ng magkahiwalay na kaso ng illegal possession para sa bawat uri ng droga?

– Rhea

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Dear Rhea, 

Ang sagot sa iyong katanungan ay hindi po. Ito ay alinsunod sa naging paglilinaw ng Korte Suprema sa kasong Raul David vs. People of the Philippines (G.R. No. 181861, 17 October 2011) sa panulat ni Honorable Chief Justice Diosdado M. Peralta, na nagsasabi:

“[I]t is clear that the deliberate elimination of the classification of dangerous drugs is the main reason that under R.A. 9165, the possession of any kind of dangerous drugs is now penalized under the same section. The deliberations, however, do not address a case wherein an individual is caught in possession of different kinds of dangerous drugs. In the present case, petitioner was charged under two Informations, one for illegal possession of six (6) plastic heat-sealed sachets containing dried marijuana leaves weighing more or less 3.865 grams and the other for illegal possession of three (3) plastic heat-sealed sachets containing shabu weighing more or less 0.327 gram. Under Section 11 of R.A. 9165, the corresponding penalty for each charge, based on the weight of the dangerous drugs confiscated, is imprisonment for twelve (12) years and one (1) day, as minimum, to fourteen (14) years, as maximum, and a fine of three hundred thousand pesos (P300,000.00). The trial court imposed a single penalty of imprisonment for twelve (12) years and one (1) day, as minimum, to fourteen (14) years, as maximum, and a fine of three hundred thousand pesos (P300,000.00), while the CA modified it by imposing the corresponding penalty for each charge.

Absent any clear interpretation as to the application of the penalties in cases such as the present one, this Court shall construe it in favor of the petitioner for the subject provision is penal in nature. It is a well-known rule of legal hermeneutics that penal or criminal laws are strictly construed against the state and liberally in favor of the accused. Thus, an accused may only be convicted of a single offense of possession of dangerous drugs if he or she was caught in possession of different kinds of dangerous drugs in a single occasion. If convicted, the higher penalty shall be imposed, which is still lighter if the accused is convicted of two (2) offenses having two (2) separate penalties. This interpretation is more in keeping with the intention of the legislators as well as more favorable to the accused.” 

Sa madaling salita, kahit na dalawang uri ng ipinagbabawal o mapanganib na droga, tulad ng marijuana at shabu, ang nasa pag-iingat ng isang tao sa oras ng pagkakahuli, ayon sa nasabing desisyon ng Kataas-taasang Hukuman, iisang kaso lamang ng Illegal Possession of Dangerous Drugs ang maaaring isampa laban sa kanya. Kapag siya ay nahatulan, ang mas mabigat na parusa ang ipapataw. Ang ganitong interpretasyon, ayon sa Korte Suprema, ay mas naaayon sa layunin ng mga mambabatas at mas pabor sa nasasakdal.

Sana ay nabigyan namin ng linaw ang iyong katanungan. Ang payong aming ibinigay ay base lamang sa mga impormasyon na iyong inilahad at maaaring magbago kung mababawasan o madaragdagan ang mga detalye ng iyong salaysay. 

Maraming salamat sa iyong patuloy na pagtitiwala.