People v. Villete

Summary

Jojo Villete was charged with illegal possession of dangerous drugs after PDEA operatives implementing a search warrant for a different address chased a fleeing suspect to his residence and allegedly found drugs in plain view. The RTC and CA convicted him, but the Supreme Court acquitted him on March 21, 2022. The SC ruled that his constitutional right against unreasonable searches and seizures was violated because the search warrant was for a different address and there was no valid basis for warrantless arrest. The Court also found fatal procedural violations of Section 21 of RA 9165, including absence of required witnesses and failure to photograph evidence, which created substantial gaps in the chain of custody that were not properly justified by the prosecution.