See - 192785.pdf
"x x x.
As a final note, it does not escape the Court’s attention that there was also no testimony from the police officers that they conducted a physical inventory and took photographs of the sachets of shabu confiscated from appellant pursuant to Section 21(1)27 of Article II of RA 9165. Their sworn statements did not mention any inventory-taking or photographing of the same. They also did not bother to offer any justification for this omission.28
At this point, it is apt to restate the Court's pronouncement in People v. ,Pepino-Consulta:29
[T]he Court cannot emphasize enough that zealousness on the part of law enforcement agencies in the pursuit of drug peddlers is indeed laudable. However, it is of paramount importance that the procedures laid down by law be complied with, especially those that involve the chain of custody of the illegal drugs. It is is necessary in order to dispel even the most infinitesimal of doubts on the outcome of arrests any buy-bust operations, so as not to render naught the efforts and the resources put forth in the apprehension and prosecution of violators of our drug laws.30
x x x."
