Chain of Custody Rule

In the case of People of the Philippines v. Rosario, G.R. No. 235658, June 22, 2020, the Supreme Court held that to sustain a conviction for the offense of illegal sale or possession of dangerous drugs under R.A. No. 9155, it is of utmost importance to establish with moral certainty the identity of the confiscated drug. To remove any doubt or uncertainty on the identity and integrity of the seized drug, it must be shown that the substance illegally possessed or sold by the accused is the same substance offered and identified in court. This requirement is known as the Chain of Custody Rule under Republic Act No. 9165.

Alburo Law
October 24, 2025

Chain of Custody Rule

In the case of People of the Philippines v. Rosario, G.R. No. 235658, June 22, 2020, the Supreme Court held that to sustain a conviction for the offense of illegal sale or possession of dangerous drugs under R.A. No. 9155, it is of utmost importance to establish with moral certainty the identity of the confiscated drug. To remove any doubt or uncertainty on the identity and integrity of the seized drug, it must be shown that the substance illegally possessed or sold by the accused is the same substance offered and identified in court. This requirement is known as the Chain of Custody Rule under Republic Act No. 9165.

The Supreme Court decides: Police officers’ failure to state with accuracy the actual denomination of bets amounts to reasonable doubt

In our criminal justice system, the overriding consideration is not whether the court doubts the innocence of the accused, but whether it entertains a reasonable doubt as to their guilt. Where there is no moral certainty as to their guilt, they must be acquitted even though their innocence may be questionable. The constitutional right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty can be overthrown only by proof beyond reasonable doubt.

Why choose ALBURO LAW?

Alburo Alburo & Associates Law Offices:

• Have labor law and business law as our main fields of practice. For almost a decade now, we have been helping businesses improve their productivity and profitability by helping them comply with relevant laws, rules, and regulations.

• Observe high standards of excellence.

• Always consider innovative approaches to effectively address the legal concerns of our clients, covering a wide range of industries such as food, manufacturing, chemicals, real estate, retail and wholesale trade, and services in fields such as information technology, human resources, security, training, process outsourcing and other manpower services, among many others.

Email us: [email protected] | [email protected]