Arrest Digest

8/15/2019 Arrest Digest

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G.R. No. 186471People Vs. De Leon

The Prosecutions Version of Facts On November 9, 2003, at about 5 oclock in the afternoon, a condential informant arrived at

the oce of the Station Anti-lle!al "ru! S#ecial O#eration $a%k &orce at the Novaliche%'olice Station in (ue)on *it+ and re#orted the ille!al activitie% of a #er%on named odante"e eon.

$hereafter, 'olice Senior n%#ector /'Sn%#.1 Nilo on! formed a team for a bu+-bu%to#eration ith 'O2 4a!cala+o a% #o%eur-bu+er. A #re-o#eration re#ort a% #re#ared.'Sn%#. on! then handed to 'O2 4a!cala+o to /21 #iece% of 'h' 00 bill% a% bu+-bu%tmone+ and on hich 'O2 4a!cala+o rote hi% initial% N4. At around 6730 #.m. in the evenin!, the team #roceeded Barangay Sta. 4onica,Novaliche%, (ue)on *it+, here the condential informant introduced 'O2 4a!cala+o toa##ellant a% a bu+er of shabu. 'O2 4a!cala+o then a%ked a##ellant if he had shabu and thelatter an%ered in the armative and a%ked him ho much he ould bu+. 'O2 4a!cala+ohanded the mone+ and, in return, a##ellant handed him one /1 #la%tic %achet containin!hite cr+%talline %ub%tance. 8e then %cratched hi% head, hich a% the #re-arran!ed %i!nalthat the tran%action a% con%ummated, and thereafter arre%ted a##ellant. 8e recovered thebu+-bu%t mone+ from a##ellant a% 'O2 *ollado a##roached them and handcued a##ellant.:#on fri%kin! a##ellant, 'O2 *ollado di%covered another #la%tic %achet on the #er%on of a##ellant. Afterard%, a##ellant a% brou!ht to the #olice %tation for inve%ti!ation. 'O2 *ollado then#laced hi% initial% on the %achet and the evidence a% %ub%e;uentl+ turned over to the#olice inve%ti!ator, ho #re#ared a re;ue%t for it% laborator+ e


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not le a ca%e a!ain%t them, becau%e he had no mone+ and becau%e he kne that he a%not !uilt+. On cro%%-e


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G.R. No. 18!87 "arch 16# $$7

People Vs. La%uio

Facts

On 6 4a+ 996, at about @700 #.m., #olice o#erative% of the "G arre%ted S'O2Cer!el de "io%, o!elio Anoble and a certain Arellano, for unlaful #o%%e%%ion of %habu. nthe cour%e of the inve%ti!ation of the three arre%ted #er%on%, edentor $eck, alia% &rank, and

Ho%e#h Hunio ere identied a% the %ource of the dru!. An entra#ment o#eration a% then %etafter the three ere #revailed u#on to call their %ource and #retend% to order another %u##l+of %habu.

At around 700 #.m. that %ame date, $eck and Hunio ere arre%ted hile the+ ereabout to hand over another ba! of %habu to S'O2 "e "io% and com#an+. (ue%tioned, $eckand Hunio informed the #olice o#erative% that the+ ere orkin! a% talent mana!er and!+mna%t in%tructor, re%#ectivel+, of Glamour 4odelin! A!enc+ oned b+ arence an!.

$he to did not di%clo%e their %ource of %habu but admitted that the+ ere orkin! for

an!. $he+ %aid the+ kne of a %cheduled deliver+ of %habu earl+ the folloin! mornin! andthat their em#lo+er /an!1 could be found at the 4aria Oro%a A#artment in 4alate. $he#olice o#erative% decided to look for an! to %hed li!ht on the ille!al dru! activitie% of $eckand Hunio. 'olice n%#ector *oronel and hi% men then #roceeded to 4aria Oro%a A#artmentand #laced the %ame under %urveillance.

'ro%ecution itne%% 'olice n%#ector *oronel te%tied that at about 270 a.m. of @4a+ 996, an!, ho a% de%cribed to the o#erative% b+ $eck, came out of the a#artmentand alked toard% a #arked ?4 car. On nearin! the car, he /itne%%1 to!ether ith*a#tain 4ar!allo and to other #olice ocer% a##roached an!, introduced them%elve% tohim a% #olice ocer%, a%ked hi% name and, u#on hearin! that he a% arence an!,immediatel+ fri%ked him and a%ked him to o#en the back com#artment of the ?4car.@ hen fri%ked, there a% found in%ide the front ri!ht #ocket of an! and con%catedfrom him an unlicen%ed A4$ *al. 3B0 9mm automatic ?ack-u# 'i%tol loaded ithammunition%. At the %ame time, the other member% of the o#erative% %earched the ?4 carand found in%ide it ere the folloin! item%7

• 32 tran%#arent #la%tic ba!% of %habuI

• ca%h in the amount of'650,000.00I

• one electronic and one mechanical %cale%I and

• an unlicen%ed "aeoo 9mm 'i%tol ith ma!a)ine.

• $hen and there, an! re%i%ted the arrantle%% arre%t and %earch.

$hree /31 %e#arate nformation% led a!ain%t arence *. an! in the court of ori!in.

• Ciolation of "an!erou% "ru!% Act

• lle!al 'o%%e%%ion of &irearm%

• Ciolation of *omelec Gun ?an

"urin! hi% arrai!nment, accu%ed an! refu%ed to enter a #lea to all the nformation% and

in%tead inter#o%ed a continuin! ob=ection to the admi%%ibilit+ of the evidence obtained b+the #olice o#erative%. $hu%, the trial court ordered that a #lea of JNot Guilt+J be entered forhim.5 $hereafter, =oint trial of the three /31 con%olidated ca%e% folloed.an! a% !ranted 25 da+% from %aid date ithin hich to le hi% intended "emurrer to>vidence.K

On 9 Hanuar+ 99@, an! led hi% undated "emurrer to >vidence, #ra+in! for hi%ac;uittal and the di%mi%%al of the three /31 ca%e% a!ain%t him for lack of a valid arre%t and%earch arrant% and the inadmi%%ibilit+ of the #ro%ecutionL% evidence a!ain%t him.

http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2007/mar2007/gr_128587_2007.html#fnt7http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2007/mar2007/gr_128587_2007.html#fnt5http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2007/mar2007/gr_128587_2007.html#fnt11http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2007/mar2007/gr_128587_2007.html#fnt7http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2007/mar2007/gr_128587_2007.html#fnt5http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2007/mar2007/gr_128587_2007.html#fnt11


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On 2 &ebruar+ 99@, the #ro%ecution led it% O##o%ition alle!in! that thearrantle%% %earch a% le!al a% an incident to the laful arre%t and that it ha% #roven it%ca%e, %o it i% no time for the defen%e to #re%ent it% evidence.

On 3 4arch 99@, the re%#ondent =ud!e, the 8on. 'erfecto A.S. a!uio, Hr., i%%uedthe herein a%%ailed e%olution !rantin! an!L% "emurrer to >vidence and ac;uittin! him of all char!e% for lack of evidence.

%%ue%7hether there a% laful arre%t, %earch and %ei)ure b+ the #olice o#erative% in thi% ca%ede%#ite the ab%ence of a arrant of arre%t andor a %earch arrant.

Rulin%&:nder Section 5, ule 3 of the Ne ule% of *ourt, a #eace ocer ma+ arre%t a #er%onithout a arrant7

/a1 hen in hi% #re%ence, the #er%on to be arre%ted ha% committed, i% actuall+committin!, or i% attem#tin! to commit an oen%eI

/b1 hen an oen%e ha% in fact =u%t been committed, and he ha% #er%onal knoled!e of fact% indicatin! that the #er%on to be arre%ted ha% committed it, and

/c1 hen the #er%on to be arre%ted i% a #ri%oner ho ha% e%ca#ed from a #enale%tabli%hment or #lace here he i% %ervin! nal =ud!ment or tem#oraril+ connedhile bein! tran%ferred from one connement to another.

None of the%e circum%tance% ere #re%ent hen the accu%ed a% arre%ted. $he accu%ed a%merel+ alkin! from the 4aria Oro%a A#artment and a% about to enter the #arked ?4 carhen the #olice ocer% arre%ted and fri%ked him and %earched hi% car. $he accu%ed a% notcommittin! an+ vi%ible oen%e at the time of hi% arre%t. Neither a% there an indication thathe a% about to commit a crime or that he had =u%t committed an oen%e. $he unlicen%edA4$ *al.3B0 9mm Automatic ?ack-u# 'i%tol that the accu%ed had in hi% #o%%e%%ion a%concealed in%ide the ri!ht front #ocket of hi% #ant%. $he arre%tin! ocer% had no informationand knoled!e that the accu%ed a% carr+in! an unlicen%ed hand!un, nor did the+ %ee himin #o%%e%%ion thereof immediatel+ #rior to hi% arre%t.

$he 32 ba!% of %habu and the other unlicen%ed "aeoo 'i%tol ith ma!a)ine that erefound and %ei)ed from the car ere not in #lain vie. $he %habu ere in the trunkcom#artment, and the "aeoo hand!un a% underneath the driverL% %eat of the car. $he#olice ocer% had no information, or knoled!e that the banned article% ere in%ide the car,or that the accu%ed had #laced them there. $he #olice ocer% %earched the car on mere%u%#icion that there a% %habu therein.

*learl+ therefore, the arrantle%% arre%t of the accu%ed and the %earch of hi% #er%on and thecar ere ithout #robable cau%e and could not be licit. $he arre%t of the accu%ed did not fallunder an+ of the e


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e


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G.R. No. 17$18$ No'e()er *# $$7Val+e, Vs. People

Around B730 #.m. of @ 4arch 2003, he a% conductin! the routine #atrol alon! San ?enitoNorte, Arin!a+, a :nion to!ether ith Arata% and Ordoo hen the+ noticed #etitioner,lu!!in! a ba!, ali!ht from a mini-bu%. $he tanods ob%erved that #etitioner, ho a##eared

%u%#iciou% to them, %eemed to be lookin! for %omethin!. $he+ thu% a##roached him but thelatter #ur#ortedl+ attem#ted to run aa+. $he+ cha%ed him, #ut him under arre%t andthereafter brou!ht him to the hou%e of ?aran!a+ *a#tain Orencio 4ercado /4ercado1 herehe, a% averred b+ ?auti%ta, a% ordered b+ 4ercado to o#en hi% ba!. 'etitioner% ba!alle!edl+ contained a #air of denim #ant%, ei!hteen #iece% of e!!#lant and dried mari=uanaleave% ra##ed in ne%#a#er and cello#hane. t a% then that #etitioner a% taken to the#olice %tation for further inve%ti!ation.E9F

Arata% and Ordoo corroborated ?auti%ta% te%timon+ on mo%t material #oint%. On cro%%-e


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$he *ourt of A##eal% found no co!ent rea%on to overturn the #re%um#tion of re!ularit+ anda!reed ith the $* that there a% #robable cau%e to arre%t #etitioner.n thi% a##eal, #etitioner #ra+% for hi% ac;uittal and a%%ert% that hi% !uilt of the crimechar!ed had not been #roven be+ond rea%onable doubt.

Issue&

N the arrantle%% arre%t eected a!ain%t him b+ the baran!a+ tanod a% unlaful. N the arrantle%% %earch of hi% ba! that folloed a% likei%e contrar+ to la and themari=uana leave% #ur#ortedl+ %ei)ed from him are inadmi%%ible in evidence for bein! thefruit of a #oi%onou% tree. Rulin%& At the out%et, e ob%erve that nohere in the record% can e nd an+ ob=ection b+#etitioner to the irre!ularit+ of hi% arre%t before hi% arrai!nment. *on%iderin! thi% and hi%active #artici#ation in the trial of the ca%e, =uri%#rudence dictate% that #etitioner i% deemedto have %ubmitted to the =uri%diction of the trial court, thereb+ curin! an+ defect in hi%arre%t. $he le!alit+ of an arre%t aect% onl+ the =uri%diction of the court over hi%#er%on. 'etitioner% arrantle%% arre%t therefore cannot, in it%elf, be the ba%i% of hi% ac;uittal. 8oever, to determine the admi%%ibilit+ of the %ei)ed dru!% in evidence, it i% indi%#en%ableto a%certain hether or not the %earch hich +ielded the alle!ed contraband a% laful. $he%earch, conducted a% it a% ithout a arrant, i% =u%tied onl+ if it ere incidental to a lafularre%t.E9F >valuatin! the evidence on record in it% totalit+, a% earlier intimated, therea%onable conclu%ion i% that the arre%t of #etitioner ithout a arrant i% not laful a% ell. 'etitioner maintain%, in a nut%hell, that after he a% a##roached b+ the tanod and a%ked to%ho the content% of hi% ba!, he a% %im#l+ herded ithout even ca%tin! a%ide #etitioner% ver%ion and ba%in! the re%olution of thi% ca%e on the !eneralthru%t of the #ro%ecution evidence, the unlafulne%% of #etitioner% arre%t %tand% out =u%t the%ame. Section 5, ule 3 of the ule% on *riminal 'rocedure #rovide% the onl+ occa%ion% on hicha #er%on ma+ be arre%ted ithout a arrant, to it7 Section 5. Arrest without warrant; when lawful.A #eace ocer or a #rivate #er%on ma+,ithout a arrant, arre%t a #er%on7 /a1 hen, in hi% #re%ence, the #er%on to be arre%ted ha% committed, i% actuall+committin!, or i% attem#tin! to commit an oen%eI/b1 hen an oen%e ha% =u%t been committed and he ha% #robable cau%e to believe ba%edon #er%onal knoled!e of fact% or circum%tance% that the #er%on to be arre%ted ha%

committed itI and/c1 hen the #er%on to be arre%ted i% a #ri%oner ho ha% e%ca#ed from a #enale%tabli%hment or #lace here he i% %ervin! nal =ud!ment or tem#oraril+ conned hile hi%ca%e i% #endin!, or ha% e%ca#ed hile bein! tran%ferred from one connement to another.

t i% obviou% that ba%ed on the te%timonie% of the arre%tin! baran!a+ tanod, not one of the%ecircum%tance% a% obtainin! at the time #etitioner a% arre%ted. ?+ their on admi%%ion,#etitioner a% not committin! an oen%e at the time he ali!hted from the bu%, nor did he

http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2007/november2007/170180.htm#_ftn19http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2007/november2007/170180.htm#_ftn19http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2007/november2007/170180.htm#_ftn19


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a##ear to be then committin! an oen%e. $he tanod did not have #robable cau%eeither to =u%tif+ #etitioner% arrantle%% arre%t. &or the e


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Notabl+, the inadmi%%ibilit+ in evidence of the %ei)ed mari=uana leave% for bein! the fruit of an unlaful %earch i% not the lone cau%e that militate% a!ain%t the ca%e of the #ro%ecution.e likei%e nd that it ha% failed to convincin!l+ e%tabli%h the identit+ of the mari=uanaleave% #ur#ortedl+ taken from #etitioner% ba!.n thi% ca%e, the totalit+ of the evidence #re%ented utterl+ fail% to overcome the #re%um#tionof innocence hich #etitioner en=o+%. $he failure of the #ro%ecution to #rove all the element%

of the oen%e be+ond rea%onable doubt mu%t #erforce re%ult in #etitioner% e

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Arrest Digest