Oting That The Joint Affidavit Of Arrest Subscribed Days After Operation Confirms There Was No Presented When Case Against Padua First For Inquest Prosecutor Also Said Documents Submitted Showed Signature From Receiving Clerk Regional Crime Laboratory Quot Thereby Creatinga Gap In Handling Evidence He Added News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana
MANILA - The Supreme Court (SC) cleared a prosecutor sued for disbarment by a police officer for dismissing a drug case in 2012 for incomplete documentation. In a resolution released on December 3, the high court's second division dismissed the case filed against lawyer Dorina A. Hernandez-Joya, adopting the recommendation of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines' (IBP) Board of Governors. A complaint filed in November 2012 before the SC Office of the Bar Confidant by Alex A. Dela Cerna, then team leader of the Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operation Task Group (AIDSOTG) of the Philippine National Police-Mimaropa, sought the disbarment as he filed criminal charges against Joya, who was then a Calapan City prosecutor. The bad blood between Dela Cerna and Joya arose from the arrest of Ernie Padua, a drug suspect, by the PNP on Oct. 17, 2012 when the prosecutor noted "a gap in the chain of custody of evidence", prompting the prosecutor to order the release of Padua