The government on Friday lost its case against two people from prominent families accused of drug-pushing as a result of the police’s mishandling of the evidence against them.

Judge Juanita Guerrero of Muntinlupa City acquitted Richard Brodett and Jorge Joseph of the charges against them and ordered them released from detention .

Brodett and Joseph were two of three so-called Alabang Boys whose arrests on Sept. 19, 2008 triggered allegations that some Justice Department prosecutors had received a P50-million bribe to have the case dismissed.

The third suspect, Joseph Tecson, is still being tried by a Quezon City court.

Guerrero said the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency’s arresting officers failed to follow the “chain-of-custody” rule in handling, preserving and presenting the drugs that supposedly were seized from the suspects during a sting operation.

The chain-of-custody rule is a legal requirement that refers to the recognized chronological documentation of the seizure, custody, control, transfer, analysis, and disposition of the evidence.

Guerrero cited a press conference called by former PDEA head Dionisio Santiago on Sept. 20, 2008, when he presented to reporters one of six sachets of ecstasy tablets, a sachet with a powdery substance, and another plastic container holding what appeared to be capsules that supposedly were seized from the suspects.

She said that ran contrary to the testimony of a PDEA forensic chemist who had told the court that at the time of the press conference, the seized drugs were still being inventoried in her office.

Brodett and Joseph’s lawyer, Felizberto Verano, welcomed the court’s decision.

“Once evidence is confiscated, the police officers should be very careful in handling and transporting it to court,” he said.

“Once the carrying of evidence is broken, it would cast suspicion. It might have been tainted or switched.”

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said she was shocked by the judge’s decision to release the suspects.

“I will check what went wrong in that case,” she said.

“I’ll look into that.’’ ManilaStandardToday