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Supreme Court (File photo) MANILA - The Supreme Court (SC) has acquitted two men convicted of illegal drug charges by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) in 2019 after finding lapses in the custody of evidence. In its ruling published online on August 17, the SC reversed the RTC which convicted Jimmy Saavedra and Ohmar Li. "Absent any evidence or stipulation on how the seized drugs were handled while the specimens were in the evidence room, the chain of custody could not be deemed established to a moral certainty," the SC ruled. "If the chain of custody procedure has not been complied with, or no justifiable reason exists for its noncompliance, it is the Court's duty to overturn the verdict of conviction," it added. The police reported the two were caught red-handed during a buy-bust operation on May 7, 2019 at Saavedra's residence in Barangay Unang Sigaw, following a tip from a confidential informant. Undercover police said they were able to purchase

Ohmar liJimmy saavedraBarangay unang sigawSupreme courtQuezon city regional trial courtQuezon city police district stationSupreme court file photo manila the sc has acquitted two men convicted of illegal drug charges by quezon city regional trial rtc in 2019 after finding lapses custody evidence its ruling published online on august 17He sc reversed the rtc which convicted jimmy saavedra and ohmar li quot absent any evidence or stipulation on how seized drugs were handled while specimens in roomHe chain of custody could not be deemed established toa moral certaintyUot the sc ruled quot if chain of custody procedure has not been complied withR no justifiable reason exists for its noncomplianceT is the court 39s duty to overturn verdict of convictionUot it added the police reported two were caught red handed duringa buy bust operation on may 7019 at saavedra 39s residence in barangay unang sigawOllowinga tip froma confidential informant undercover police said they were able to purchase php200 worth of shabu from saavedra and li the defense two arrested separately at balintawak on his way home taken toa house where there other suspects for detention brought quezon city district station 3 in novaliches following day sc no safekeeping measures after confiscated contraband was turned over prosecution likewise failed present testimony evidence custodian undertaken maintain integrity seized items pna