Padua%v%People%%

%
Doctrine/s:%
%
1. (RA% 9344% JJWA)% Suspended% Sentence:% Section% 38% of% Rep.% Act% No.% 9344%
provides%that%once%a%child%under%18%years%of%age%is%found%guilty%of%the%offense%
charged,% instead% of% pronouncing% the% judgment% of% conviction,% the% court% shall%
place% the% child% in% conflict% with% the% law% under% suspended% sentence% while%
Section% 40% provides% that% once% the% child% reaches% 18% years% of% age,% the% court%
shall%determine%whether%to%discharge%the%child,%order%execution%of%sentence,%
or%extend%the%suspended%sentence%for%a%certain%specified%period%or%until%the%
child%reaches%the%maximum%age%of%21%years.%
%
2. (RA% 9165% Drugs% Act):% SEC.% 24.% NonQApplicability% of% the% Probation% Law% for%
Drug%Traffickers%and%Pushers.Any%person%convicted%for%drug%trafficking%or%
pushing% under% this% Act,% regardless% of% the% penalty% imposed% by% the% Court,%
cannot% avail% of% the% privilege% granted% by% the% Probation% Law% or% Presidential%
Decree%No.%968,%as%amended.%
%
Facts:''
June%13,%2003%Michael%Padua%and%Edgar%Allan%Ubalde%were%charged%of%Section%5%of%
RA%9165%(Selling%drugs).%During%preQtrial,%Paduas%counsel%manifested%that%his%client%
was%willing%to%withdraw%his%plea%of%not%guilty%and%enter%a%plea%of%guilty%to%avail%of%the%
benefits% granted% to% firstQtime% offenders% under% Section% 70% of% Rep.% Act% No.% 9165%
(Probation%or%community%service%for%a%first%time%minor%offender).%This%was%granted%
by%prosecutor%and%RTC.%%
%
He%subsequently%filed%a%motion%for%probation,%a%recommendation%was%obtained%from%
the%Chief%Probation%and%Parole%officer%however%the%petition%was%denied%by%the%judge%
on% the% ground% that% Section% 24% of% 9165% states% that% any' person' convicted' of' drug'
trafficking'cannot'avail'of'the'privilege'granted'by'the'Probation'Law.''
%
Padua%filed%a%motion%for%reconsideration%to%CA%but%was%denied.%%
%
Issue:''
1.'W/N%Padua,%as%minor,%can%avail%of%the%benefits%under%Sec%70.%%
NO.' CA:%The%intention%of%the%legislators%in%Section%24%of%Rep.%Act%No.%9165%is%
to% provide% stiffer% and% harsher% punishment% for% those% persons% convicted% of% drug%
trafficking% or% pushing% while% extending% a% sympathetic% and% magnanimous% hand% in%
Section% 70% to% drug% dependents% who% are% found% guilty% of% violation% of% Sections11%
(Possession)%and%Section%15(Use).%%
The'law'considers'users'and'possessors'of'drugs'as'victims'while'pushers'and'
traffickers'as'predators.''
'
2. W/N%Padua%can%avail%of%the%benefit%of%Section%38,%RA%9344%(JJWA).%%

NO.' Although%Section%38%of%JJWA%provides%that%once%a%child%under%18%years%
of% age% is% found% guilty% of% the% offense% charged,% instead% of% pronouncing% the%
judgment%of%conviction,%the%court%shall%place%the%child%in%conflict%with%the%law%
under% suspended% sentence;% this% finds% no% applicability% in% this% case% because%
Padua%has%already%reached%21%years%of%age%or%over%and%thus,%could%no%longer%
be%considered%a%child%for%purposes%of%applying%Rep.%Act%9344.'