THE Las Piñas City Regional Trial Court on Friday acquitted Juanito Jose Diaz Remulla III, son of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, of violation of Republic Act No. 9165 or The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 due to reasonable doubt.

Remulla III on Friday was released from the Las Piñas City Jail shortly after the trial court acquitted him on illegal drugs possession.

“There is reasonable doubt that the accused received and possessed the parcel delivered to him with the knowledge, consciousness, and awareness that said parcel contained marijuana,” the 34-page decision written by Branch 197 acting Presiding Judge Ricardo A. Moldez II read.

“Unfortunately, apart from showing that the package or parcel was handed to the accused, the prosecution did not present other evidence to show that the former knew that it contained marijuana,” it added.

For his part, Atty. Pearlito Campanilla, counsel of Juanito, said the court came up with an acquittal after it was found that Remulla III was not the importer of the subject narcotics.

“We are pleased with the decision of…finding our client Joey Remulla innocent of the charge of illegal possession of dangerous drugs. It is very clear from the prosecution’s evidence that Joey Remulla is not the importer of these dangerous drug,” Campanilla said after the promulgation.

Furthermore, Campanilla told reporters that law enforcers have failed to comply with the” Chain of Custody Rule” of the seized drugs.

“Sinabi rin ng court na walang compliance sa Section 21 Republic Act of 9165, yung chain of custody. Ano po ba yung chain of custody? Hindi po technical matter ‘yan. That is a substantive matter, na walang preservation nung integrity nung evidence from the time that it was confiscated,” Campanilla said.

Chain of custody is defined as the duly recorded authorized movements and custody of seized drugs at each stage, from the time of seizure/confiscation to receipts in the forensic laboratory, to safekeeping and to presentation in court for destruction.

Also, Campanilla said the package of drugs was addressed to one “Jose Juanito Remulla,” not Juanito Jose Diaz Remulla III, which is his client’s real name.

Remulla III, 38, was arrested last October 11 for alleged possession of 893.91 grams or around P1.25 million worth of suspected high-grade marijuana or “kush.”

They were allegedly confiscated during a controlled delivery conducted by anti-illegal drugs operatives in Las Piñas City where the younger Remulla was allegedly the intended recipient.

He was brought for inquest on October 13 for violation of Section 4 (Importation of Dangerous Drugs), Article II, of Republic Act 9165 and Section 1401 of Republic Act 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.

Immediately after the arrest, the Justice secretary said he will not interfere in the illegal drugs charges involving his son.

In a handwritten note sent to reporters covering the Department of Justice, Remulla said “he will let the wheels of justice to take its rightful course.”

“I will not intervene in nor influence my son’s predicament, and I have not done so in any way. A person should always face the consequence of their actions and I will let justice to take its right course,” Remulla added.