Republic of the Philippines

SUPREME COURT
Manila
EN BANC

G.R. No. 128222 June 17, 1999
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee,
vs.
CHUA HO SAN @ TSAY HO SAN, accused-appellant.

A!IE, JR., C.J.:
Chua Ho San @ sa! Ho San "he#eafte# CH$A% p#a!s fo# his ac&uitttal and the
#eve#sal of the 'ud()ent of *+ ,eb#ua#! *--. of the Re(ional #ial Cou#t "RC% of San
,e#nando, /a $nion, B#anch 00, findin( hi) (uilt! of t#anspo#tin(, 1ithout app#op#iate
le(al autho#it!, the #e(ulated substance )etha)pheta)ine h!d#ochlo#ide, in violation
of Section *2,
1
A#ticle 333 of Republic Act No. 0452, othe#1ise 6no1n as the 7an(e#ous
7#u(s Act of *-.5 as fu#the# a)ended b! R.A. No. .02-,
2
and sentencin( hi) to 8die
b! lethal in'ection.8 3n vie1 the#eof, the 'ud(e)ent 1as b#ou(ht to this Cou#t fo#
auto)atic #evie1 pu#suant to A#ticle 4. of the Revised Penal Code, as a)ended b!
Section ** of R.A. No. .02-.
3n #esponse to #epo#ts of #a)pant s)u((lin( of fi#ea#)s and othe# cont#aband, 9i)
/a(asca Cid "he#eafte# C37%, as Chief of Police of the Bacnotan Police Station, of /a
$nion be(an pat#ollin( the Bacnotan coastline 1ith his office#s. :hile )onito#in( the
coastal a#ea of Ba#an(a! Bulala on 5- Ma#ch *--2, he inte#cepted a #adio call at
a#ound *5;42 p.). f#o) Ba#an(a! Captain 9uan Al)oite "he#eafte# A/M<3E% of
Ba#an(a! a))ocalao #e&uestin( police assistance #e(a#din( an unfa)ilia#
speedboat the latte# had spotted. Acco#din( to A/M<3E, the vessel loo6ed diffe#ent
f#o) the boats o#dina#il! used b! fishe#fol6 of the a#ea and 1as poised to doc6 at
a))ocalao sho#es. C37 and si= of his )en led b! his Chief 3nvesti(ato#, SP<*
Re!noso Badua "he#eafte# BA7$A%, p#oceeded fo#th1ith to a))ocalao beach and
the#e confe##ed 1ith A/M<3E. C37 then obse#ved that the speedboat fe##ied a lone
)ale passen(e#. As it 1as #outine fo# C37 to deplo! his )en in st#ate(ic places 1hen
dealin( 1ith si)ila# situations, he o#de#ed his )en to ta6e up positions thi#t! )ete#s
f#o) the coastline. :hen the speedboat landed, the )ale passen(e# ali(hted, and
usin( both hands, ca##ied 1hat appea#ed a )ulticolo#ed st#a1ba(. He then 1al6ed
to1a#ds the #oad. B! this ti)e, A/M<3E, C37 and BA7$A, the latte# t1o conspicuous
in thei# unifo#) and issued side-a#)s, beca)e suspicious of the )an as he suddenl!
chan(ed di#ection and b#o6e into a #un upon seein( the app#oachin( office#s. BA7$A,
ho1eve#, p#evented the )an f#o) fleein( b! holdin( on to his #i(ht a#). Althou(h C37
int#oduced the)selves as police office#s, the )an appea#ed i)passive. Spea6in( in
En(lish, C37 then #e&uested the )an to open his ba(, but he see) not to unde#stand.
C37 thus t#ied spea6in( a(alo(, then 3locano, but still to no avail. C37 then #eso#ted to
1hat he te#)ed 8si(n lan(ua(e>8 he )otioned 1ith his hands fo# the )an to open the
ba(. his ti)e, the )an appa#entl! unde#stood and acceded to the #e&uest. A sea#ch
of the ba( !ielded seve#al t#anspa#ent plastic pac6ets containin( !ello1ish c#!stalline
substances. C37 then (estu#ed to the )an to close the ba(, 1hich he did. As C37
1ished to p#oceed to the police station, he si(naled the )an to follo1, but the latte# did
not to co)p#ehend. Hence, C37 placed his a#) a#ound the shoulde#s of the )an and
esco#ted the latte# to the police head&ua#te#s.
At the police station, C37 su#)ised, afte# havin( obse#ved the facial featu#es of the
)an, that he 1as p#obabl! ai1anese. C37 then 8#ecited and info#)ed the )an of his
constitutional #i(hts8 to #e)ain silent, to have the assistance of a counsel, etc. Elicitin(
no #esponse f#o) the )an, C37 o#de#ed his )en to find a #esident of the a#ea 1ho
spo6e Chinese to act as an ente#p#ete#. 3n the )eanti)e, BA7$A opened the ba( and
counted t1ent!-nine "5-% plastic pac6ets containin( !ello1ish c#!stalline substance
1hich he and C37 suspected 1as shabu. he inte#p#ete#, M#. ?o Pin( ?uan, finall!
a##ived, th#ou(h 1ho) the )an 1as 8app#ised of his constitutional #i(hts.8 he police
autho#ities 1e#e satisfied that the )an and the inte#p#ete# pe#fectl! unde#stood each
othe# despite thei# unce#taint! as to 1hat lan(ua(e 1as spo6en. But 1hen the
police)en as6ed the )an seve#al &uestions, he #et#eated to his obstinate #eticence
and )e#el! sho1ed his 3.7. 1ith the na)e Chua Ho San p#inted the#eon. CH$A@s ba(
and its contents 1e#e sent to the PNP C#i)e /abo#ato#! at Ca)p 7ie(o Silan(,
Ca#latan, San ,e#nando, /a $nion fo# labo#ato#! e=a)ination. 3n the )eanti)e, CH$A
1as detained at the Bacnotan Police Station.1wphi1.nt
/ate# that sa)e da!, Police Chief 3nspecto# and ,o#ensic Che)ist he#esa Ann
Bu(a!on( Cid of the Philippine National Police, Re(ion 3, #eceived a lette# #e&uest
"

f#o) C37 A incidentall! he# husband A to conduct a labo#ato#! e=a)ination of t1ent!-
nine "5-% plastic pac6ets placed inside a )ulticolo#ed st#a1ba(. 3n he# Che)ist#!
Repo#t No. 7-+52--2,
#
she stated that he# &ualitative e=a)ination established the
contents of the plastic pac6ets, 1ei(hin( 5B.. 6ilos, to be positive of
)etha)pheta)ine h!d#ochlo#ide o# shabu, a #e(ulated d#u(.
CH$A 1as initiall! cha#(ed 1ith ille(al possession of )ethapheta)ine h!d#ochlo#ide
befo#e the RC 1hich doc6eted the case as C#i)inal Case No. 4+C.. Ho1eve#,
pu#suant to the #eco))endation of the <ffice of the P#ovincial P#osecuto#, /a $nion,
that the facts of the case could suppo#t an indict)ent fo# ille(al t#anspo#t of a #e(ulated
d#u(, the info#)ation 1as subse&uentl! a)ended to alle(e that CH$A 81illfull!,
unla1full! and feloniousl! t#anspo#"ted% 5B.. 6ilos of D)Eetha)pheta)ine
DhE!d#ochlo#ide "shabu% 1ithout the necessa#! pe#)it o# autho#it! to t#anspo#t the
sa)e8 in violation of Section *2, A#ticle 333 of R.A. 0452 as a)ended b! R.A. .02-.
At his a##ai(n)ent on C* 9ul! *--2, CH$A ente#ed a plea of not (uilt!. he RC 1as
satisfied that CH$A unde#stood the a)ended info#)ation #ead to hi) in ,u6ien b! the
,u6ien-spea6in( inte#p#ete#, hel)a Sales ?o.
1
he#eafte#, the RC e=e#ted all effo#ts to obtain the se#vices of a ai1anese 3nte#p#ete#
th#ou(h the auspices of the 7epa#t)ent of ,o#ei(n Affai#s. Ho1eve#, it 1as onl! afte#
di#ectin( the #e&uest to the aipei Econo)ic and Cultu#al <ffice in the Philippines that
inte#p#ete#s 1e#e assi(ned to CH$A.
#ial finall! ensued. he State p#esented evidence tendin( to establish the above
na##ation of facts 1hich 1e#e culled chiefl! f#o) the testi)on! of C37, its fi#st 1itness,
and 1hose testi)on!, in tu#n, 1as substantiall! co##obo#ated b! 1itnesses BA7$A and
A/M<3E.
E=pe#ts 1itness he#esa Ann Cid, confi#)ed the ent#ies of he# che)ist#! #epo#t in that
the contents of the 5- plastic pac6ets 1ei(hin( 5B.. 6ilos sent to he# fo# che)ical
anal!sis 1e#e pu#e, unadulte#ated )etha)pheta)ine h!d#ochlo#ide o# shabu. She also
e=plained that the! 1e#e un1ashed, hence the! appea#ed !ello1ish.
,o# the defense, CH$A testified in his o1n behalf th#ou(h inte#p#ete# Steven Fu. He
disclosed that he hails f#o) ai1an and 1as e)plo!ed in a shipbuildin( and #epai#in(
co)pan!. <n 5* Ma#ch *--2, he 1as inst#ucted b! his e)plo!e# Cho Chu Ron(
"he#eafte# R<N?% to boa#d the latte#@s C2-tonne# ship 1hich 1ould e)ba#6 fo# Nan Au
Po#t, Mainland China 1he#e the! 1ould bu! fish. $pon a##ival at thei# destination,
R<N? left the ship, ca)e bac6 1ithout the fish, but 1ith t1o ba(s, the contents of
1hich he neve# divul(ed to CH$A. R<N? then sho1ed to CH$A a docu)ent
pu#po#tedl! (#antin( the) autho#it! to fish on Philippine 1ate#s. So the! sailed to1a#ds
the Philippines and #eached 7a(upan, Pan(asinan on 5- Ma#ch *--2. At a#ound *+;C+
a.)., the! dise)ba#6ed on a s)all speedboat 1ith the t1o ba(s R<N? b#ou(ht 1ith
hi) f#o) China. :hile, sailin(, R<N? )ade seve#al phone calls usin( his )obile
phone. CH$A hea#d R<N? as6ed the pe#son on the othe# side of the line if he could
see the speedboat the! 1e#e #idin(. Appa#entl!, the pe#son on sho#e could not see
the) so the! c#uised ove# the 1ate#s fo# about five hou#s )o#e 1hen finall!, lo1 on
fuel and telephone batte#!, the! decided to doc6. CH$A ancho#ed the boat 1hile
R<N? ca##ied the ba(s to sho#e. he tas6s co)pleted, R<N? left to loo6 fo# a
telephone 1hile CH$A #ested and sat one and half "* *G5% )ete#s a1a! f#o) one ba(.
A child the#eafte# pointed out to hi) that one ba( 1as )issin( )uch to R<N?@s
dis)a! 1hen he lea#ned of it. :hen a c#o1d sta#ted to )ill a#ound the), the police
a##ived. CH$A then #ealiHed that R<N? 1as no1he#e to be found. he police
i))ediatel! app#oached CH$A, and 1ith na#! an! spo6en 1o#d, onl! (estu#es and
hand )ove)ents, the! esco#ted hi) to the p#ecinct 1he#e he 1as handcuffed and tied
to a chai#. /ate#, the police, led b! an office# 1ho CH$A (uessed as the Chief of Police
a##ived 1ith the )oto# en(ine of the speedboat and a ba(. he! p#esented the ba( to
hi), opened it, inspected and 1ei(hed the contents, then p#oclai)ed the) as
)ethapheta)ine h!d#ochlo#ide.
CH$A denounced the p#osecution@s sto#! as a disto#tion of the t#uth. He denied he 1as
eve# favo#ed 1ith an inte#p#ete# o# info#)ed of his 8constitutional #i(hts,8 pa#ticula#l! of
his #i(ht to counsel. Conse&uentl!, his a##est 1as tainted 1ith ille(alit! and the
)etha)pheta)ine h!d#ochlo#ide found in the ba( should have been #e(a#ded
inad)issible as evidence. He also )aintained that C37 neve# (#aced the occasion of
his settin( foot fo# the fi#st ti)e at a))ocalao beach. BA7$A ce#tainl! neve#
p#evented hi) f#o) #unnin( a1a!, as such thou(ht failed to )a6e an i)p#ession in his
)ind. Most si(nificantl!, he denied o1ne#ship and 6no1led(e of the contents of the
ba(, e)phasiHin( that R<N? alone e=e#cised do)inion ove# the sa)e.
El)e# Pa#on(, "he#eafte# PAR<N?% a San((unian( Ba!an )e)be#, #ecalled that on
the date in &uestion, he a##ived at the beach 1ith the police. He sa1 CH$A standin(
1ith a ba( beside hi). He also #e)e)be#ed hea#in( f#o) the people con(#e(atin( at
the beach that CH$A a##ived 1ith a co)panion and a ce#tain police)an Anneb had
chased the latte#@s ca#. He additionall! clai)ed that 1hen the c#o1d beca)e un#ul!, the
police decided to b#in( CH$A to police head&ua#te#s. he#e, the )a!o# too6 cha#(e of
the situation A he opened CH$A@s ba( 1ith the assistance of the police, he called fo#
a fo#ensic che)ist su#na)ed C37 to ta6e a sa)ple of the contents of the ba(, and he
o#de#ed his officials to find an inte#p#ete#. h#ou(hout the p#oceedin(s, photo(#aphe#s
1e#e bus! ta6in( pictu#es to docu)ent the event.
/ast to testif! 1as A#senio CRA3?, a fa#)e# and #esident of a))ocalao 1ho na##ated
that he 1as standin( 1ith CH$A on the beach 1hen t1o )en and a lad! a##ived. he!
1e#e about to (et a ba( situated nea# CH$A 1hen the! detected the a##ival of the local
police. he! &uic6l! disappea#ed. CRA3? then noticed A/M<3E and PAR<N? at the
beach but not C37.
3n a decision p#o)ul(ated on *+ ,eb#ua#! *--., the RC found that the p#osecution
successfull! discha#(ed its bu#den of p#ovin( that CH$A t#anspo#ted 5B.. 6ilos of
)etha)pheta)ine h!d#ochlo#ide 1ithout le(al autho#it! to do so. 3nvo6in( People v.
Tagliben
$
as autho#it!, the RC cha#acte#iHed the sea#ch as incidental to a valid in
flagrante delicto a##est, hence it allo1ed the ad)ission of the )etha)pheta)ine
h!d#ochlo#ide as corpus delicti. he RC also noted the futilit! of info#)in( CH$A of
his constitutional #i(hts to #e)ain silent, and to have co)petent and independent
counsel p#efe#abl! of his o1n choice, conside#in( the lan(ua(e ba##ie# and the
obse#vation that such i##e(ula#it! 1as 8#ectified 1hen accused 1as dul! a##ai(ned and .
. . "afte#1a#ds% pa#ticipated in the t#ial of this case.8 he RC then dis#e(a#ded the
inconsistencies and cont#adictions in the testi)onies of the p#osecution 1itnesses as
these #efe##ed to )ino# details 1hich did not i)pai# the c#edibilit! of the 1itnesses o#
ta#nish the c#edence confe##ed on the testi)onies thus delive#ed.
he RC also believed that CH$A conspi#ed not onl! 1ith his alle(ed e)plo!e# R<N?
and the Captain of the C2-tonne# vessel in the ille(al t#ade of p#ohibited d#u(s on
Philippine sho#es, but 1ith seve#al othe# )e)be#s of an o#(aniHed s!ndicate bent on
pe#pet#atin( said illicit t#affic. Such p#edilection 1as plainl! evident in the dispositive
po#tion, to 1it;
:HERE,<RE, and in vie1 of all the fo#e(oin(, as p#oven and established b!
convincin( and satisfacto#! evidence that the accused had conspi#ed and acted in
conce#t 1ith one Cho Chu Ron(, not to )ention Chen Ho ,a, the S6ippe# of the C2-
tonne# ship the! used in co)in( to the Count#! f#o) China and ai1an, this Cou#t finds
the accused Chua Ho San @ sa! Ho San (uilt! be!ond #easonable doubt of the
offense of Iiolation of Sec. *2, A#t. 333 of R.A. No. 0452, as a)ended b! R.A. No. .02-
as cha#(ed in the 3nfo#)ation, and conside#in( the p#ovisions of Sec. 5+ of R.A. No.
2
.02- that the )a=i)u) penalt! shall be i)posed if the &uantit!
soldGpossessedGt#anspo#ted is 85++ (#a)s o# )o#e8 in the case of Shabu, and
conside#in(, fu#the# that the &uantit! involved in this case is 5B.. 6ilo(#a)s 1hich is fa#
be!ond the 1ei(ht ceilin( specified in said Act, coupled 1ith the findin(s of conspi#ac!
o# that accused is a )e)be# of an o#(aniHed s!ndicated c#i)e (#oup, this Cou#t,
havin( no othe# #ecou#se but to i)pose the )a=i)u) penalt! to accused, this Cou#t
he#eb! sentences the said accused Chua Ho San @ sa! Ho San to die b! lethal
in'ection> to pa! a fine of en Million Pesos "P*+,+++,+++.++%> and to pa! the costs.
he Cou#t he#eb! o#de#s 7i#ecto# Rica#eido DsicE Sa#)iento of the Philippine National
Police to i))ediatel! fo#) an investi(atin( Co))ittee to be co)posed b! DsicE )en of
uni)peachable inte(#it!, 1ho 1ill conduct an e=haustive investi(ation #e(a#din( this
case to dete#)ine 1hethe# the#e 1as ne(li(ence o# conspi#ac! in the escape of Cho
Chu Ron( and the t1o "5% o# th#ee "C% pe#sons 1ho app#oached the accused in the
seasho#e of a))ocalao, Bacnotan, /a $nion, and atte)pted to ta6e the #e)ainin(
ba( f#o) accused, as 1ell as the 1he#eabouts of the othe# ba(> and to fu#nish this
Cou#t a cop! of the #epo#tG#esult of the said investi(ation in o#de# to sho1 co)pliance
he#e1ith si=t! "0+% da!s f#o) #eceipt he#eof.
he confiscated 5B.. 6ilo(#a)s of Methapheta)ine H!d#ochlo#ide o# Shabu is o#de#ed
tu#ned ove# i))ediatel! to the 7an(e#ous 7#u(s Boa#d fo# dest#uction in acco#dance
1ith the la1.
he fibe#(lass boat 1ith its )oto# en(ine is he#eb! o#de#ed confiscated in favo# of the
(ove#n)ent and to be tu#ned ove# to the Philippine National Police, /a $nion
Co))and, fo# use in thei# Banta!-7a(at ope#ations a(ainst all ille(al seabo#ne
activities.
S< <R7ERE7.
%
Befo#e this Cou#t, CH$A posits that the RC e##ed in "*% ad)ittin( as co)petent
evidence the 5- plastic pac6ets of )etha)pheta)ine h!d#ochlo#ide since the! 1e#e
indubitabl! 8fo#bidden f#uits>8 "5% (#antin( 1ei(ht and c#edence to the testi)onies of
p#osecution 1itnesses despite (la#in( inconsistencies on )ate#ial points> and in "C%
app#eciatin( conspi#ac! bet1een hi) and an o#(aniHed s!ndicate in the illicit
co))e#ce of p#ohibited d#u(s since this 1as not alle(ed in the info#)ation.
he Solicito# ?ene#al t#ave#ses CH$A@s contentions b! asse#tin( that; "*% the sea#ch
1as licitl! conducted despite the absence of sea#ch and seiHu#e 1a##ants as
ci#cu)stances i))ediatel! p#ecedin( to and co)te)po#aneous 1ith the sea#ch
necessitated and validated the police action> and "5% that the#e 1as an effective and
valid 1aive# of CH$A@s #i(ht a(ainst un#easonable sea#ches and seiHu#es since he
consented to the sea#ch.
:e #eve#se the RC.
Ensh#ined in the Constitution is the inviolable #i(ht to p#ivac! ho)e and pe#son. 3t
e=plicitl! o#dains that people have the #i(ht to be secu#e in thei# pe#sons, houses,
pape#s and effects a(ainst un#easonable sea#ches and seiHu#es of 1hateve# natu#e
and fo# an! pu#pose.
7
3nsepa#able, and not )e#el! co#olla#! o# incidental to said #i(ht
and e&uall! hallo1ed in and b! the Constitution, is the e=clusiona#! p#inciple 1hich
dec#ees that an! evidence obtained in violation of said #i(ht is inad)issible fo# an!
pu#pose in an! p#oceedin(s.
8
he Cosntitutional p#osc#iption a(ainst un#easonable sea#ches and seiHu#es does not,
of cou#se, fo#estall #easonable sea#ches and seiHu#e. :hat constitutes a #easonable o#
even an un#easonable sea#ch in an! pa#ticula# case is pu#el! a 'udicial &uestion,
dete#)inable f#o) a conside#ation of the ci#cu)stances involved.
9
Ie#il!, the #ule is,
the Constitution ba#s State int#usions to a pe#son@s bod!, pe#sonal effects o# #esidence
e=cept if conducted b! vi#tue of a valid of a valid sea#ch 1a##ant issued in co)pliance
1ith the p#ocedu#e outlined on the Constitution and #eite#ated in the Rules of Cou#t>
8othe#1ise such sea#ch and seiHu#e beco)e 8un#easonable8 1ithin the )eanin( of the
afo#e)entioned constitutional p#ovision.8
1&
his inte#diction a(ainst 1a##antless
sea#ches and seiHu#es, ho1eve#, is not absolute and such 1a##antless sea#ches and
seiHu#es have lon( been dee)ed pe#)issible b! 'u#isp#udence
11
in instances of "*%
sea#ch of )ovin( vehicles, "5% seiHu#e in plain vie1, "C% custo)s sea#ches, "4% 1aive#
o# consent sea#ches, "2% stop and f#is6 situations "e##! sea#ch%,
12
and "0% sea#ch
incidental to a la1ful a##est. he last includes a valid 1a##antless sea#ch and seiHu#e
pu#suan to an e&uall! valid 1a##antless a##est, fo#, 1hile as a #ule, an a##est is
conside#ed le(iti)ate if effected 1ith a valid 1a#a#nt of a##est, the Rules of Cou#t
#eco(niHe pe#)issible 1a##antless a##ests, to 1it; "*% a##ests in flagrante delicto, "5%
a##ests effected in hot pu#suit, and "C% a##ests of escaped p#isone#s.
1"
his Cou#t is the#efo#e tas6ed to dete#)ine 1hethe# the 1a##antless a##est, sea#ch and
seiHu#e conducted unde# the facts of the case at ba# constitute a valid e=e)ption f#o)
the 1a##ant #e&ui#e)ent. E=pectedl! and &uite unde#standabl!, the p#osecution and
the defense painted e=t#e)el! dive#(ent ve#sions of the incident. But this Cou#t is
ce#tain that CH$A 1as a##ested and his ba( sea#ched 1ithout the benefit of a 1a##ant.
3n cases of in fragrante delicto, a##ests, a peace office# o# a p#ivate pe#son )a! 1ithout
a 1a##ant, a##est a pe#son, 1hen, in his p#esence, the pe#son to be a##ested has
co))itted, is actuall! co))ittin(, o# is atte)ptin( to co))it an offense. he a##estin(
office#, the#efo#e, )ust have pe#sonal 6no1led(e of such facts
1#
o# as #ecent case la1

1$
adve#ts to, pe#sonal 6no1led(e of facts o# ci#cu)stances convincin(l! indicative o#
constitutive of p#obable cause. he te#) p#obable cause had been unde#stood to
)ean a #easonable (#ound of suspicion suppo#ted b! ci#cu)stances sufficientl! st#on(
in the)selves to 1a##ant a cautious )an@s belief that the pe#son accused is (uilt! of
the offense 1ith 1hich he is cha#(ed.
1%
Specificall! 1ith #espect to a##ests, it is such
facts and ci#cu)stances 1hich 1ould lead a #easonabl! disc#eet and p#udent )an to
believe that an offense has been co))itted b! the pe#son sou(ht to be
a##ested.
17
3n People v. Montilla,
18
the Cou#t ac6no1led(ed that 8the evidentia#!
)easu#e fo# the p#op#iet! of filin( c#i)inal cha#(es, and co##elativel!, fo# effectin(
1a##antless a##est, has been #educed and libe#aliHed.8 Notin( that the p#evious
statuto#! and 'u#isp#udential evidentia#! standa#d 1as 8prima facie evidence8 and that it
had been dubiousl! e&uated 1ith p#obable cause, the Cou#t e=plained;
3
D,Eelicitousl!, those p#oble)s and confusin( concepts "#efe##in( to prima facie
evidence and p#obable cause% 1e#e cla#ified and set a#i(ht, at least on the issue unde#
discussion, b! the *-B2 a)end)ent of the Rules of Cou#t 1hich p#ovides in Rule **5
the#eof that the &uantu) of evidence #e&ui#ed in p#eli)ina#! investi(ation is such
evidence as suffices to 8en(ende# as 1ell founded belief8 as to the fact of the
co))ission of the c#i)e and the #espondent@s p#obable (uilt the#eof. 3t has the sa)e
)eanin( as the #elated ph#aseolo(! used in othe# pa#ts of the sa)e Rule, that is, that
the investi(atin( fiscal 8finds cause to hold the #espondent fo# t#ial,8 o# 1he#e 8a
p#obable cause e=ists.8 3t should, the#efo#e, be in that sense, 1he#ein the #i(ht to effect
a 1a##antless a##est should be conside#ed as le(all! autho#iHed.8 "e)phasis supplied%

19
?uided b! these p#inciples, this Cou#t finds that the#e a#e no facts on #eco#d
#easonabl! su((estive o# de)onst#ative of CH$A@s pa#ticipation in on (oin( c#i)inal
ente#p#ise that could have spu##ed police office#s f#o) conductin( the obt#usive
sea#ch. he RC neve# too6 the pains of pointin( to such facts, but p#edicated )ainl!
its decision on the findin( that 1as 8accused 1as cau(ht #ed-handed ca##!in( the
ba(ful of DsEhabu 1hen app#ehended.8 3n sho#t, the#e is no p#obable cause. At least in
People v. Tangliben, the Cou#t a(#eed 1ith the lo1e# cou#t@s findin( that co)pellin(
#easons "e.g., accused 1as actin( suspiciousl!, on the spot identification b! an
info#)ant that accused 1as t#anspo#tin( p#ohibitive d#u(, and the u#(enc! of the
situation% constitutive of p#obable cause i)pelled police office#s f#o) effectin( an in
flagrante delicto a##est. 3n the case at ba#, the Solicito# ?ene#al p#oposes that the
follo1in( details a#e su((estive of p#obable cause A pe#sistent #epo#ts of #a)pant
s)u((lin( of fi#ea#) and othe# cont#aband a#ticles, CH$A@s 1ate#c#aft diffe#in( in
appea#ance f#o) the usual fishin( boats that co))onl! c#uise ove# the Bacnotan
seas, CH$A@s ille(al ent#! into the Philippines "he lac6ed the necessa#! t#avel
docu)ents o# visa%, CH$A@s suspicious behavio#, i.e. he atte)pted to flee 1hen he
sa1 the police autho#ities, and the appa#ent ease b! 1hich CH$A can #etu#n to and
navi(ate his speedboat 1ith i))ediate dispatch to1a#ds the hi(h seas, be!ond the
#each of Philippine la1s.
his Cou#t, ho1eve#, finds that these do not constitute 8p#obable cause.8 None of the
telltale clues, e.g., ba( o# pac6a(e e)anatin( the pun(ent odo# of )a#i'uana o# othe#
p#ohibited d#u(,
2&
confidential #epo#t andGo# positive identification b! info#)e#s of
cou#ie#"s% of p#ohibited d#u( andGo# the ti)e and place 1he#e the! 1ill t#anspo#tGdelive#
the sa)e,
21
suspicious de)eano# o# behavio#
22
and suspicious bul(e in the 1aist
2"
A
accepted b! this Cou#t as sufficient to 'ustif! a 1a##antless a##est e=ists in this case.
he#e 1as no classified info#)ation that a fo#ei(ne# 1ould dise)ba#6 at a))ocalao
beach bea#in( p#ohibited d#u( on the date in &uestion. CH$A 1as not identified as a
d#u( cou#ie# b! a police info#)e# o# a(ent. he fact that the vessel that fe##ied hi) to
sho#e bo#e no #ese)blance to the fishin( boats of the a#ea did not auto)aticall! )a#6
hi) as in the p#ocess of pe#pet#atin( an offense. And despite clai)s b! C37 and
BA7$A that CH$A atte)pted to flee, A/M<3E testified that the latte# 1as )e#el!
1al6in( and oblivious to an! atte)pt at conve#sation 1hen the office#s app#oached
hi). his cast se#ious doubt on the t#uthfulness of the clai), thus;
J; Ho1 fa# 1e#e !ou 1hen the accused put the ba( on his sholde#K
A; :e 1e#e then ve#! nea# hi) about th#ee )ete#s a1a! f#o) the )ale pe#son
ca##!in( the ba(.
J; o 1hat di#ection 1as he facin( 1hen he put the ba( on his shoulde#K
A; o the east di#ection.
J; 3n #elation to !ou, 1he#e 1e#e !ou.
A; :ith the co)pan! of S(t. Re!noso and Ma'. Cid 1e app#oached the accused and
1hen Ma'. Cid 1ent nea# hi), he spo6e in a(alon(, En(lish and 3locano 1hich
accused did not unde#stand because he did not #espond.
J; :hen Ma'. Cid 1as tal6in(, 1hat 1as the accused doin( at that ti)eK
A; He 1as 1al6in(.
J; o 1hat di#ection he 1as 1al6in(K
A; He 1as 1al6in( to the east di#ection. "sic%
J; He 1as 1al6in( a1a! f#o) !ou o# (oin( nea# !ouK
A; He 1as (oin( a1a! f#o) us. hat is 1h! S(t. Re!noso held the #i(ht a#) of the
accused.
J; :as S(t. Badua able to hold the #i(ht a#) of the accusedK
A; Fes si# and he stopped.
2#
#ue, CH$A ente#ed Philippine te##ito#! 1ithout a visa. his 1as not obvious to the
police. But (ossa)e# to the office#s@ sense pe#ception and vie1 1e#e CH$A
dise)ba#6in( f#o) a speedboat, CH$A 1al6in( casuall! to1a#ds the #oad, and CH$A
ca##!in( a )ulticolo#ed st#a1ba(. hese acts did not conve! an! i)p#ession that he
ille(all! ente#ed Philippine sho#es. Neithe# 1e#e these ove#t )anifestations of an
on(oin( felonious activit! no# of CH$A@s c#i)inal behevio# as clea#l! established in
C37@s testi)on!, thus;
J :as the accused co))ittin( a c#i)e 1hen !ou int#oduced !ou#selves;
A No, si#.
J No, so the#e 1as no #eason fo# !ou to app#oach the accused because he 1as not
doin( an!thin( 1#on(K
4
A No, si#, that is ou# ob'ective, to app#oach the pe#son and if eve# o# 1hateve#
assistance that 1e can (ive 1e 1ill (ive.
2$
he sea#ch cannot the#efo#e be deno)inated as incidental to an a##est. :hile a
conte)po#aneous sea#ch of a pe#son a##ested )a! be effected to delive# dan(e#ous
1eapons o# p#oofs o# i)ple)ents used in the co))ission of the c#i)e and 1hich
sea#ch )a! e=tend to the a#ea 1ithin his i))ediate cont#ol 1he#e he )i(ht (ain
possession of a 1eapon o# evidence he can dest#o!,
2%
a valid a##est )ust p#ecede the
sea#ch. he p#ocess cannot be #eve#sed.
3n a sea#ch incidental to a la1ful a##est, as the p#ecedent a##est dete#)ines the validit!
of the incidental sea#ch, the le(alit! of the a##est is &uestioned in a la#(e )a'o#it! of
these cases, e.g., 1hethe# an a##est 1as )e#el! used as a p#ete=t fo# conductin( a
sea#ch. 3n this instance, the la1 #e&ui#es that the#e be fi#st a la1ful a##est befo#e a
sea#ch can be )ade A the p#ocess cannot be #eve#sed.
27
o #eite#ate, the sea#ch 1as not incidental to an a##est. he#e 1as no 1a##ant of a##est
and the 1a##antless a##est did not fall unde# the e=e)ptions allo1ed b! the Rules of
Cou#t
28
as al#ead! sho1n. ,o) all indications, the sea#ch 1as nothin( but a fishin(
e=pedition. 3t is 1o#th )entionin( he#e that afte# int#oducin( the)selves, the police
officce#s i))ediatel! in&ui#ed about the contents of the ba(. :hat else could have
i)pelled the office#s f#o) displa!in( such ino#dinate inte#est in the ba( but to fe##et out
evidence and discove# if a felon! had indeed been co))itted b! CH$A A in effect to
8#et#oactivel! establish p#obable cause and validate an ille(al sea#ch and seiHu#e.8
he State then atte)pted to pe#suade this Cou#t that the#e 1as a consented sea#ch, a
le(iti)ate 1aive# of the constitutional (ua#antee a(ainst obt#usive sea#ches. 3t is
funda)ental, ho1eve#, that to constitute a 1aive#, it )ust fi#st appea# that the #i(ht
e=ists> secondl!, that the pe#son involved had 6no1led(e, actual o# const#uctive, of the
e=istence of such a #i(ht> and lastl!, that said pe#son had an actual intention to
#elin&uish the #i(ht.
29
CH$A neve# e=hibited that he 6ne1, actuall! o# const#uctivel! of
his #i(ht a(ainst un#easonable sea#ches o# that he intentionall! conceded the sa)e.
his can be infe##ed f#o) the )anne# b! 1hich the sea#ch pe#fo#)ed, thus;
J o(ethe# 1ith !ou# Chief 3nvesti(ato#, 1hat 1as the fi#st thin( that !ou did 1hen !ou
app#oached hi) "CH$A%K
A :e int#oduced ou#selves as police office#s, si#.
J <6e!, in the fi#st place 1h! did !ou int#oduce !ou#selvesK
A hat is no#)al p#actice in ou# pa#t, si#.
=== === ===
J 3f it is possible. <6e! "sic% no1, afte# int#oducin( !ou#selves 1hat did !ou doK
A He did not ans1e# )e and he did not utte# an! 1o#d,
J :hen he did not utte# an! 1o#d. :hat else did he doK
A 3 as6ed a(ain a &uestion that if he can open his ba( si#.
J And did he unde#stand !ou# &uestion 1hen !ou #e&uested hi) to open his ba(K
A No, si#, the#e is no ans1e#.
J No ans1e#K
A Fes, si#, no ans1e#.
J And 1hen the#e 1as no ans1e# 1hat did !ou do ne=tK
A 3 used si(n lan(ua(e si#.
J :ill !ou de)onst#ate to this Hono#able Cou#t ho1 !ou de)onst#ated that si(n
lan(ua(e of openin( the ba( )#. "sic% 1itnessK
A 3 pointed to the Hippe# of the ba( and then )ade an action li6e this si#.
=== === ===
SHER3,,;
he 1itness de)onst#atin( "sic% b! pointin( to the st#a1 ba( and then )anifestin( a
si(n to open the Hippe# of the st#a1 ba( )ovin( his #i(ht hand f#o) left to #i(ht o# f#o)
the openin( to the end of the Hippe#.
C<$R; ,#o) the sta#t of the Hippe# 1he#e !ou open it up to the end of the Hippe#.
:itness; Fes, si#, and then 3 )ade a )otion li6e this.
"he 1itness #epeatin( the )otion desc#ibed on #eco#d.%
C<$R; 7id !ou open that pe#sonall!K
:3NESS;
A No, !ou# hono#.
5
J No1, )#. "sic% 1itness, 1h! did !ou #e&uest the accused to open the ba(K
A Because it is ou# dut! also to inspect his belon(in(s si#.
J :h!, 1h! 1as it A no, 3 #efo#) )! &uestion !ou# hono#. 3s it no#)al p#ocedu#e fo#
!ou to e=a)ine an!bod! o# to #e&uest an!bod! to open his ba(K
A he fact that he 1as a fo#ei(ne#, si#, it is also ou# dut! to inspect the ba((a(e, it is
ou# #outine dut! of a police "sic%, si#.
J 3s that the no#)al dut! of a police office# to #e&uest a pe#son to open his ba(K
A !es, si#.
J <6e!, "sic% !ou did not as6 the accused, )#. "sic% 1itness, to open his ba(K
A No, si#.
J But !ou si)pl! #e&uested hi) to open the na(K
A Fes, si#.
"&
CH$A obviousl! failed to unde#stand the events that ove##an and ove#1hel)ed hi).
he police office#s al#ead! int#oduced the)selves to CH$A in th#ee lan(ua(es, but he
#e)ained co)pletel! deadpan. he police hence concluded that CH$A failed to
co)p#ehend the th#ee lan(ua(es. :hen CH$A failed to #espond a(ain to the police@s
#e&uest to open the ba(, the! #eso#ted to 1hat the! called 8si(n lan(ua(e.8 he!
clai)ed that CH$A finall! unde#stood thei# hand )otions and (estu#es. his Cou#t
disa(#ees. 3f CH$A could not unde#stand 1hat 1as o#all! a#ticulated to hi), ho1 could
he unde#stand the police@s 8si(n lan(ua(e.8 Mo#e i)po#tantl!, it cannot lo(icall! be
infe##ed f#o) his alle(ed co(niHance of the 8si(n lan(ua(e8 that he delibe#atel!,
intelli(entl!, and consciousl! 1aived his #i(ht a(ainst such an int#usive sea#ch. his
Cou#t is not un)indful of cases upholdin( the validit! of consented 1a##antless
sea#ches and seiHu#e. But in these cases, the police office#s@ #e&uest to sea#ch
pe#sonnel effects 1as o#all! a#ticulated to the accused and in such lan(ua(e that left
no #oo) fo# doubt that the latte# full! unde#stood 1hat 1as #e&uested. 3n so)e
instances, the accused even ve#ball! #eplied to the #e&uest de)onst#atin( that he also
unde#stood the natu#e and conse&uences of such #e&uest.
"1
3t 1as eventuall! discove#ed that the ba( contained the #e(ulated subtance. But this is
a t#iflin( )atte#. 3f evidence obtained du#in( an ille(al sea#ch even if tendin( to confi#)
o# actuall! confi#)in( initial info#)ation o# suspicion of felonious activit! is absolutel!
conside#ed inad)issible fo# an! pu#pose in an! p#oceedin(, the sa)e bein( the f#uit of
a poisonous t#ees
"2
ho1 )uch )o#e of 8fo#bidden f#uits8 1hich did not confi#) an!
initial suspicion of c#i)inal ente#p#ise as in this case A because the police ad)itted
that the! neve# ha#bo#ed an! initial suspicion. Castin( aside the #e(ulated substance
as evidence, the #e)ainin( evidence on #eco#d a#e insufficient, feeble and ineffectual
to sustain CH$A@s conviction.
3ndeed, the li6elihood of CH$A havin( actuall! t#anspo#ted )etha)pheta)ine
h!d#ochlo#ide cannot be &uic6l! dispelled. But the constitutional (ua#antee a(ainst
un#easonable sea#ches and seiHu#es cannot be so ca#elessl! dis#e(a#ded, as
ove#Healous police office#s a#e so)eti)es 1ont to do. ,ealt! to the Constitution and
the #i(hts it (ua#antees should be pa#a)ount in thei# )inds, othe#1ise thei# (ood
intentions 1ill #e)ain as such si)pl! because the! have blunde#ed. 8he#e a#e those
1ho sa! that . . . @the c#i)inal is to (o f#ee because the constable has blunde#ed.@. . . 3n
so)e cases this 1ill undoubtedl! be the #esult. But . . . @the#e is anothe# conside#ation
A the i)pe#ative of 'udicial inte(#it! . . . he c#i)inal (oes f#ee, if he )ust, but it is the
la1 that sets hi) f#ee. Nothin( can dest#o! a (ove#n)ent )o#e &uic6l! than its failu#e
to obse#ve its o1n la1s, o# 1o#se, its dis#e(a#d of the cha#te# of its o1n e=istence.8
""
As to the ave##ed (la#in( inconsistencies in the testi)onies of the posecution
1itnesses, this Cou#t conside#s the) t#ivial as the! #efe# to insi(nificant details 1hich
1ill not affect the outco)e of the case. <n a passin( note, this Cou#t calls the attention
of the t#ial cou#t #e(a#din( its e##oneous app#eciation of conspi#ac!. his a((#avatin(
ci#cu)stance is 1ithout &uestion unsuppo#ted b! the #eco#ds. Conspi#ac! 1as not
included in the indict)ent no# #aised in the pleadin(s o# p#oceedin(s of the t#ial cou#t. 3t
is also funda)ental that conspi#ac! )ust be p#oven 'ust li6e an! othe# c#i)inal
accusation, that is, independentl! and be!ond #easonable doubt.
"#
:HERE,<RE, fo# all the fo#e(oin(, the decision of the Re(ional #ial Cou#t, B#anch
00, San ,e#nando, /a $nion in C#i)inal Case No. 4+C. is he#eb! REIERSE7 and
SE AS37E and accused-appellant CH$A H< SAN @ SAF H< SAN is he#eb!
ACJ$3E7 of the c#i)e cha#(ed, the evidence not bein( sufficient to establish his
(uilt be!ond #easonable doubt.
Costs de oficio.
S< <R7ERE7.
6
7