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01 People v. Mariacos (2010)
01 People v. Mariacos (2010)
01 People v. Mariacos (2010)
SUPREME COURT
Manila
SECOND DIVISION
G.R. No. 188611 June 16, 2010
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Appellee,
vs.
BELEN MARIACOS, Appellant.
D E C I S I O N
NACHURA, J.:
Befoe this Cout is an appeal fo! the Decision
"
of the Cout of Appeals #CA$ in CA%
&.R. CR%'C No. ()*"+, ,hich affi!e- the -ecision
)
of the Re.ional /ial Cout
#R/C$, Banch )0, San 1enan-o Cit2, 3a 4nion, in Ci!inal Case No. *"55, fin-in.
appellant Belen Maiacos .uilt2 of violatin. Aticle II, Section 6 of Republic Act #R.A.$
No. 0"76, o the Co!pehensive Dan.eous Du.s Act of )(().
/he facts of the case, as su!!ai8e- b2 the CA, ae as follo,s9
Accuse-%appellant Belen Maiacos ,as cha.e- in an Info!ation, -ate- Nove!be *,
)((6 of violatin. Section 6, Aticle II of Republic Act :No.; 0"76, alle.e-l2 co!!itte- as
follo,s9
</hat on o about the )*th -a2 of Octobe, )((6, in the Municipalit2 of San &abiel,
Povince of 3a 4nion, Philippines, an- ,ithin the =uis-iction of this 'onoable Cout,
the above%na!e- accuse-, -i- then an- thee ,illfull2, unla,full2 an- feloniousl2
tanspot, -elive *,(>(.>, #sic$ .a!s of -ie- !ai=uana fuitin. tops ,ithout the
necessa2 pe!it o authoit2 fo! the pope .oven!ent a.enc2 o office.
CON/RAR? /O 3A@.<
@hen aai.ne- on Dece!be ">, )((6, accuse-%appellant plea-e- not .uilt2. Duin.
the pe%tial, the follo,in. ,ee stipulate- upon9
<". Accuse- a-!its that she is the sa!e peson i-entifie- in the info!ation
as Belen MaiacosA
). /hat accuse- is a esi-ent of B.2. 3uno2, San &abiel, 3a 4nionA
>. /hat at the ti!e of the aest of the accuse-, accuse- ha- =ust ali.hte-
fo! a passen.e =eepne2A
5. /hat the !ai=uana alle.e-l2 taBen fo! the possession of the accuse-
containe- in t,o #)$ ba.s ,ee sub!itte- fo eCa!ination to the Ci!e 3abA
6. /hat pe Che!ist2 Repot No. D%"(0%)((6, the alle.e- -u. sub!itte- fo
eCa!ination .ave positive esult fo the pesence of !ai=uanaA
7. /hat the -u.s alle.e-l2 obtaine- fo! the accuse- containe- #sic$ an-
sub!itte- fo eCa!ination ,ei.he- *,(>(.> .a!sA
*. /he Posecuto a-!its the eCistence of a counte%affi-avit eCecute- b2 the
accuse-A an-
+. /he eCistence of the affi-avits eCecute- b2 the ,itnesses of the accuse-
fa!il2 #sic$9 32n Punasen, Mece-es /ila an- Ma.-alena Caino.<
Duin. the tial, the posecution establishe- the follo,in. evi-ence9
On Octobe )7, )((6, in the evenin., the San &abiel Police Station of San &abiel, 3a
4nion, con-ucte- a checBpoint nea the police station at the poblacion to intecept a
suspecte- tanspotation of !ai=uana fo! Baan.a2 Balbala2an., San &abiel, 3a
4nion. /he .oup at the checBpoint ,as co!pose- of PO) 3unes B. Palla2oc #<PO)
Palla2oc<$, the Chief of Police, an- othe police!en. @hen the checBpoint -i- not 2iel-
an2 suspect o !ai=uana, the Chief of Police instucte- PO) Palla2oc to pocee- to
Baan.a2 Balbala2an. to con-uct suveillance opeation #sic$.
At -a,n on Octobe )*, )((6, in Baan.a2 Balbala2an., PO) Palla2oc !et ,ith a
secet a.ent of the Baan.a2 Intelli.ence Net,oB ,ho info!e- hi! that a ba..a.e of
!ai=uana ha- been loa-e- on a passen.e =eepne2 that ,as about to leave fo the
poblacion. /he a.ent !entione- thee #>$ ba.s an- one #"$ blue plastic ba.. 1uthe,
the a.ent -escibe- a bacBpacB ba. ,ith an <O.D.< !aBin.. PO) Palla2oc then
boa-e- the sai- =eepne2 an- positione- hi!self on top theeof. @hile the vehicle ,as
in !otion, he foun- the blacB bacBpacB ,ith an <O.D.< !aBin. an- peeBe- insi-e its
contents. PO) Palla2oc foun- bicBs of !ai=uana ,appe- in ne,spapes. 'e then
asBe- the othe passen.es on top of the =eepne2 about the o,ne of the ba., but no
one Bne,.
@hen the =eepne2 eache- the poblacion, PO) Palla2oc ali.hte- to.ethe ,ith the
othe passen.es. 4nfotunatel2, he -i- not notice ,ho tooB the blacB bacBpacB fo!
atop the =eepne2. 'e onl2 eali8e- a fe, !o!ents late that the sai- ba. an- thee #>$
othe ba.s, inclu-in. a blue plastic ba., ,ee alea-2 bein. caie- a,a2 b2 t,o #)$
,o!en. 'e cau.ht up ,ith the ,o!en an- into-uce- hi!self as a police!an. 'e tol-
the! that the2 ,ee un-e aest, but one of the ,o!en .ot a,a2.
1
PO) Palla2oc bou.ht the ,o!an, ,ho ,as late i-entifie- as heein accuse-%
appellant Belen Maiacos, an- the ba.s to the police station. At the police station, the
investi.atos contacte- the Ma2o of San &abiel to ,itness the openin. of the ba.s.
@hen the Ma2o aive- about fifteen #"6$ !inutes late, the ba.s ,ee opene- an-
thee #>$ bicBs of !ai=uana ,appe- in ne,spape, t,o #)$ oun- bun-les of
!ai=uana, an- t,o #)$ bicBs of !ai=uana fuitin. tops, all ,appe- in a ne,spape,
,ee ecovee-.
/heeafte, the investi.atos !aBe-, inventoie- an- fo,a-e- the confiscate-
!ai=uana to the ci!e laboato2 fo eCa!ination. /he laboato2 eCa!ination sho,e-
that the stuff foun- in the ba.s all teste- positive fo !ai=uana, a -an.eous -u..
@hen it ,as accuse-%appellantEs tun to pesent evi-ence, she testifie- that9
On Octobe )*, )((6, at aoun- *9(( in the !onin., accuse-%appellant, to.ethe ,ith
3ani 'ebacio, ,as insi-e a passen.e =eepne2 boun- fo the poblacion. @hile the
=eepne2 ,as still at the te!inal ,aitin. fo passen.es, one Bennie 3ao%an. #<3ao%
an.<$, he nei.hbo, eFueste- he to ca2 a fe, ba.s ,hich ha- been loa-e- on top
of the =eepne2. At fist, accuse-%appellant efuse-, but she ,as pesua-e- late ,hen
she ,as tol- that she ,oul- onl2 be ca2in. the ba.s. @hen the2 eache- the
poblacion, 3ao%an. han-e- accuse-%appellant an- he co!panion, 3ani 'ebacio, the
ba.s, an- then 3ao%an. su--enl2 an a,a2. A fe, !o!ents late, PO) Palla2oc ,as
upon the!, aestin. the!. @ithout eCplanation, the2 ,ee bou.ht to the police
station. @hen the2 ,ee at the police station, 3ani 'ebacio -isappeae-. It ,as also
at the police station that accuse-%appellant -iscovee- the tue contents of the ba.s
,hich she ,as asBe- to ca2. She !aintaine- that she ,as not the o,ne of the ba.s
an- that she -i- not Bno, ,hat ,ee containe- in the ba.s. At the police station #sic$
she eCecute- a Counte%Affi-avit.
>
On Ganua2 >", )((*, the R/C po!ul.ate- a -ecision, the -ispositive potion of ,hich
states9
@'ERE1ORE, the Cout fin-s the accuse- Belen Maiacos &4I3/? as cha.e- an-
sentences hee #sic$ to suffe the penalt2 of life i!pison!ent an- to pa2 a fine of
P6((,(((.((.
/he *,(>(.> .a!s of !ai=uana ae o-ee- confiscate- an- tune- ove to the
Philippine Du. Enfoce!ent A.enc2 fo -estuction in the pesence of the Cout
pesonnel an- !e-ia.
SO ORDERED.
5
Appellant appeale- he conviction to the CA. She a.ue- that the tial cout ee- in
consi-ein. the evi-ence of the posecution -espite its ina-!issibilit2.
6
She clai!e-
that he i.ht a.ainst an uneasonable seach ,as fla.antl2 violate- b2 Police Office
#PO$) Palla2oc ,hen the latte seache- the ba., assu!in. it ,as hes, ,ithout a
seach ,aant an- ,ith no pe!ission fo! he. She avee- that PO) Palla2ocEs
pupose fo appehen-in. he ,as to veif2 if the ba. she ,as ca2in. ,as the sa!e
one he ha- ille.all2 seache- ealie. Moeove, appellant conten-e- that thee ,as no
pobable cause fo he aest.
7
1uthe, appellant clai!e- that the posecution faile- to pove the copus -elicti of the
ci!e.
*
She alle.e- that the appehen-in. police offices violate- Dan.eous Du.s
Boa- Re.ulation No. >, Seies of "0*0, as a!en-e- b2 Boa- Re.ulation No. ),
Seies of "00(, ,hich pescibes the poce-ue in the custo-2 of sei8e- pohibite- an-
e.ulate- -u.s, instu!ents, appaatuses, an- aticles. /he sai- e.ulation -iects the
appehen-in. tea! havin. initial custo-2 an- contol of the -u.s an-Ho
paaphenalia, i!!e-iatel2 afte sei8ue o confiscation, to have the sa!e ph2sicall2
inventoie- an- photo.aphe- in the pesence of appellant o he epesentative, ,ho
shall be eFuie- to si.n copies of the invento2. /he failue to co!pl2 ,ith this
-iective, appellant clai!e-, casts a seious -oubt on the i-entit2 of the ite!s alle.e-l2
confiscate- fo! he. She, liBe,ise, avee- that the posecution faile- to pove that
the ite!s alle.e-l2 confiscate- ,ee in-ee- pohibite- -u.s, an- to establish the
chain of custo-2 ove the sa!e.
On the othe han-, the People, thou.h the Office of the Solicito &eneal #OS&$,
a.ue- that the ,aantless aest of appellant an- the ,aantless sei8ue of
!ai=uana ,ee vali- an- le.al,
+
=ustifie- as a seach of a !ovin. vehicle. It avee-
that PO) Palla2oc ha- easonable .oun- to believe that appellant ha- co!!itte- the
ci!e of -elivein. -an.eous -u.s base- on eliable info!ation fo! thei a.ent,
,hich ,as confi!e- ,hen he peeBe- into the ba.s an- s!elle- the -istinctive o-o of
!ai=uana.
0
/he OS& also a.ue- that appellant ,as no, estoppe- fo! Fuestionin.
the ille.alit2 of he aest since she voluntail2 entee- a plea of <not .uilt2< upon
aai.n!ent an- paticipate- in the tial an- pesente- he evi-ence.
"(
/he OS&
bushe- asi-e appellantEs a.u!ent that the bicBs of !ai=uana ,ee not
photo.aphe- an- inventoie- in he pesence o that of he counsel i!!e-iatel2 afte
confiscation, positin. that ph2sical invento2 !a2 be -one at the neaest police station
o at the neaest office of the appehen-in. tea!, ,hicheve ,as pacticable.
""
In a Decision -ate- Ganua2 "0, )((0, the CA -is!isse- appellantEs appeal an-
affi!e- the R/C -ecision in toto.
")
It hel- that the posecution ha- successfull2 poven
that appellant caie- a,a2 fo! the =eepne2 a nu!be of ba.s ,hich, ,hen inspecte-
b2 the police, containe- -an.eous -u.s. /he CA ule- that appellant ,as cau.ht in
fla.ante -elicto of <ca2in. an- conve2in.< the ba. that containe- the ille.al -u.s,
an- thus hel- that appellantEs ,aantless aest ,as vali-. /he appellate cout
atiocinate-9
It !ust be stesse- that PO) Palla2oc ha- ealie ascetaine- the contents of the ba.s
,hen he ,as aboa- the =eep. 'e sa, the bicBs of !ai=uana ,appe- in ne,spape.
/hat sai- !ai=uana ,as on boa- the =eepne2 to be -elivee- to a specifie-
-estination ,as alea-2 unla,ful. PO) Palla2oc nee-e- onl2 to see fo hi!self to
,ho! those ba.s belon.e-. So, ,hen he sa, accuse-%appellant ca2in. the ba.s,
PO) Palla2oc ,as ,ithin his la,ful -ut2 to !aBe a ,aantless aest of accuse-%
appellant.
2
C C C C
1istl2, this Cout opines that the invocation of Section ), Aticle III of the Constitution is
!isplace-. At the ti!e, ,hen PO) Palla2oc looBe- into the contents of the suspicious
ba.s, thee ,as no i-entifie- o,ne. 'e asBe- the othe passen.es atop the =eepne2
but no one Bne, ,ho o,ne- the ba.s. /hus, thee coul- be no violation of the i.ht
,hen no one ,as entitle- theeto at that ti!e.
Secon-l2, the facts of the case sho, the u.enc2 of the situation. /he local police has
been t2in. to intecept the tanspot of the ille.al -u.s fo !oe than a -a2, to no
avail. /hus, ,hen PO) Palla2oc ,as tippe- b2 the secet a.ent of the Baan.a2
Intelli.ence Net,oB, PO) Palla2oc ha- no othe ecouse than to veif2 as po!ptl2 as
possible the tip an- checB the contents of the ba.s.
/hi-l2, C C C the seach ,as con-ucte- in a !ovin. vehicle. /i!e an- a.ain, a seach
of a !ovin. vehicle has been =ustifie- on the .oun- that the !obilit2 of !oto vehicles
!aBes it possible fo the vehicle to !ove out of the localit2 o =uis-iction in ,hich the
,aant !ust be sou.ht. /hus, un-e the facts, PO) Palla2oc coul- not be eCpecte- to
secue a seach ,aant in o-e to checB the contents of the ba.s ,hich ,ee loa-e-
on top of the !ovin. =eepne2. Othe,ise, a seach ,aant ,oul- have been of no use
because the !oto vehicle ha- alea-2 left the localit2.
">
Appellant is no, befoe this Cout, appealin. he conviction.
Once a.ain, ,e ae asBe- to -ete!ine the li!its of the po,es of the StateEs a.ents to
con-uct seaches an- sei8ues. Ove the 2eas, this Cout ha- lai- -o,n the ules on
seaches an- sei8ues, povi-in., !oe o less, clea paa!etes in -ete!inin. ,hich
ae pope an- ,hich ae not.1avvphi1
AppellantEs !ain a.u!ent befoe the CA centee- on the ina-!issibilit2 of the
evi-ence use- a.ainst he. She clai!s that he constitutional i.ht a.ainst
uneasonable seaches ,as fla.antl2 violate- b2 the appehen-in. office.
/hus, ,e !ust -ete!ine if the seach ,as la,ful. If it ,as, then thee ,oul- have
been pobable cause fo the ,aantless aest of appellant.
Aticle III, Section ) of the Philippine Constitution povi-es9
Section ). /he i.ht of the people to be secue in thei pesons, houses, papes, an-
effects a.ainst uneasonable seaches an- sei8ues of ,hateve natue an- fo an2
pupose shall be inviolable, an- no seach ,aant o ,aant of aest shall issue
eCcept upon pobable cause to be -ete!ine- pesonall2 b2 the =u-.e afte
eCa!ination un-e oath o affi!ation of the co!plainant an- the ,itnesses he !a2
po-uce, an- paticulal2 -escibin. the place to be seache- an- the pesons o
thin.s to be sei8e-.
3a, an- =uispu-ence have lai- -o,n the instances ,hen a ,aantless seach is
vali-. /hese ae9
". Warrantless search incidental to a lawful arrest eco.ni8e- un-e Section
") :no, Section ">;, Rule ")7 of the Rules of Cout
an- b2 pevailin.
=uispu-enceA
). Sei8ue of evi-ence in <plain vie,,< the ele!ents of ,hich ae9
#a$ a pio vali- intusion base- on the vali- ,aantless aest in
,hich the police ae le.all2 pesent in the pusuit of thei official
-utiesA
#b$ the evi-ence ,as ina-vetentl2 -iscovee- b2 the police ,ho ha-
the i.ht to be ,hee the2 aeA
#c$ the evi-ence !ust be i!!e-iatel2 appaent:A; an-A
#-$ <plain vie,< =ustifie- !ee sei8ue of evi-ence ,ithout futhe
seach.
>. Seach of a !ovin. vehicle. 'i.hl2 e.ulate- b2 the .oven!ent, the
vehicleIs inheent !obilit2 e-uces eCpectation of pivac2 especiall2 ,hen its
tansit in public thoou.hfaes funishes a hi.hl2 easonable suspicion
a!ountin. to pobable cause that the occupant co!!itte- a ci!inal activit2A
5. Consente- ,aantless seachA
6. Custo!s seachA
7. Stop an- 1isBA an-
*. ECi.ent an- E!e.enc2 Cicu!stances.
"5
Both the tial cout an- the CA anchoe- thei espective -ecisions on the fact that the
seach ,as con-ucte- on a !ovin. vehicle to =ustif2 the vali-it2 of the seach.
In-ee-, the seach of a !ovin. vehicle is one of the -octinall2 accepte- eCceptions to
the Constitutional !an-ate that no seach o sei8ue shall be !a-e eCcept b2 vitue of
a ,aant issue- b2 a =u-.e afte pesonall2 -ete!inin. the eCistence of pobable
cause.
"6
In People v. Ba.ista,
"7
the Cout sai-9
3
/he constitutional posciption a.ainst ,aantless seaches an- sei8ues a-!its of
cetain eCceptions. Asi-e fo! a seach inci-ent to a la,ful aest, a ,aantless
seach ha- been uphel- in cases of a !ovin. vehicle, an- the sei8ue of evi-ence in
plain vie,.
@ith e.a- to the seach of !ovin. vehicles, this ha- been =ustifie- on the .oun- that
the !obilit2 of !oto vehicles !aBes it possible fo the vehicle to be seache- to !ove
out of the localit2 o =uis-iction in ,hich the ,aant !ust be sou.ht.
/his in no ,a2, ho,eve, .ives the police offices unli!ite- -iscetion to con-uct
,aantless seaches of auto!obiles in the absence of pobable cause. @hen a
vehicle is stoppe- an- sub=ecte- to an eCtensive seach, such a ,aantless seach
has been hel- to be vali- onl2 as lon. as the offices con-uctin. the seach have
easonable o pobable cause to believe befoe the seach that the2 ,ill fin- the
instu!entalit2 o evi-ence petainin. to a ci!e, in the vehicle to be seache-.
It is ,ell to e!e!be that in the instances ,e have eco.ni8e- as eCceptions to the
eFuie!ent of a =u-icial ,aant, it is necessa2 that the office effectin. the aest o
sei8ue !ust have been i!pelle- to -o so because of pobable cause. /he essential
eFuisite of pobable cause !ust be satisfie- befoe a ,aantless seach an- sei8ue
can be la,full2 con-ucte-.
"*
@ithout pobable cause, the aticles sei8e- cannot be
a-!itte- in evi-ence a.ainst the peson aeste-.
"+
Pobable cause is -efine- as a easonable .oun- of suspicion suppote- b2
cicu!stances sufficientl2 ston. in the!selves to in-uce a cautious !an to believe
that the peson accuse- is .uilt2 of the offense cha.e-. It efes to the eCistence of
such facts an- cicu!stances that can lea- a easonabl2 -isceet an- pu-ent !an to
believe that an offense has been co!!itte-, an- that the ite!s, aticles o ob=ects
sou.ht in connection ,ith sai- offense o sub=ect to sei8ue an- -estuction b2 la, ae
in the place to be seache-.
"0
/he .oun-s of suspicion ae easonable ,hen, in the absence of actual belief of the
aestin. offices, the suspicion that the peson to be aeste- is pobabl2 .uilt2 of
co!!ittin. the offense is base- on actual facts, i.e., suppote- b2 cicu!stances
sufficientl2 ston. in the!selves to ceate the pobable cause of .uilt of the peson to
be aeste-. A easonable suspicion theefoe !ust be foun-e- on pobable cause,
couple- ,ith .oo- faith on the pat of the peace offices !aBin. the aest.
)(
Ove the 2eas, the ules .ovenin. seach an- sei8ue have been stea-il2 libeali8e-
,heneve a !ovin. vehicle is the ob=ect of the seach on the basis of pacticalit2. /his
is so consi-ein. that befoe a ,aant coul- be obtaine-, the place, thin.s an-
pesons to be seache- !ust be -escibe- to the satisfaction of the issuin. =u-.e J a
eFuie!ent ,hich bo-es on the i!possible in instances ,hee !ovin. vehicle is
use- to tanspot contaban- fo! one place to anothe ,ith i!punit2.
)"
/his eCception is eas2 to un-estan-. A seach ,aant !a2 ea-il2 be obtaine- ,hen
the seach is !a-e in a stoe, -,ellin. house o othe i!!obile stuctue. But it is
i!pacticable to obtain a ,aant ,hen the seach is con-ucte- on a !obile ship, on
an aicaft, o in othe !oto vehicles since the2 can FuicBl2 be !ove- out of the
localit2 o =uis-iction ,hee the ,aant !ust be sou.ht.
))
&iven the -iscussion above, it is ea-il2 appaent that the seach in this case is vali-.
/he vehicle that caie- the contaban- o pohibite- -u.s ,as about to leave. PO)
Palla2oc ha- to !aBe a FuicB -ecision an- act fast. It ,oul- be uneasonable to
eFuie hi! to pocue a ,aant befoe con-uctin. the seach un-e the
cicu!stances. /i!e ,as of the essence in this case. /he seachin. office ha- no
ti!e to obtain a ,aant. In-ee-, he onl2 ha- enou.h ti!e to boa- the vehicle befoe
the sa!e left fo its -estination.
It is ,ell to e!e!be that on Octobe )7, )((6, the ni.ht befoe appellantEs aest, the
police eceive- info!ation that !ai=uana ,as to be tanspote- fo! Baan.a2
Balbala2an., an- ha- set up a checBpoint aoun- the aea to intecept the suspects. At
-a,n of Octobe )*, )((6, PO) Palla2oc !et the secet a.ent fo! the Baan.a2
Intelli.ence Net,oB, ,ho info!e- hi! that a ba..a.e of !ai=uana ,as loa-e- on a
passen.e =eepne2 about to leave fo the poblacion. /hus, PO) Palla2oc ha- pobable
cause to seach the pacBa.es alle.e-l2 containin. ille.al -u.s.
/his Cout has also, ti!e an- a.ain, uphel- as vali- a ,aantless seach inci-ent to a
la,ful aest. /hus, Section ">, Rule ")7 of the Rules of Cout povi-es9
SEC. ">. Search incident to lawful arrest.KA peson la,full2 aeste- !a2 be
seache- fo -an.eous ,eapons o an2thin. ,hich !a2 have been use- o constitute
poof in the co!!ission of an offense ,ithout a seach ,aant.
)>
1o this ule to appl2, it is i!peative that thee be a pio vali- aest. Althou.h,
.eneall2, a ,aant is necessa2 fo a vali- aest, the Rules of Cout povi-es the
eCceptions theefo, to ,it9
SEC. 6. Arrest without warrant; when lawful.KA peace office o a pivate peson !a2,
,ithout a ,aant, aest a peson9
#a$ @hen, in his pesence, the peson to be aeste- has co!!itte-, is
actuall2 co!!ittin., o is atte!ptin. to co!!it an offenseA
#b$ @hen an offense has =ust been co!!itte- an- he has pobable cause to
believe base- on pesonal Bno,le-.e of facts o cicu!stances that the
peson to be aeste- has co!!itte- itA an-
#c$ @hen the peson to be aeste- is a pisone ,ho has escape- fo! a
penal establish!ent o place ,hee he is sevin. final =u-.!ent o is
te!poail2 confine- ,hile his case is pen-in., o has escape- ,hile bein.
tansfee- fo! one confine!ent to anothe.
4
In cases fallin. un-e paa.aphs #a$ an- #b$ above, the peson aeste- ,ithout a
,aant shall be foth,ith -elivee- to the neaest police station o =ail an- shall be
pocee-e- a.ainst in acco-ance ,ith section * of Rule "").
)5
Be that as it !a2, ,e have hel- that a seach substantiall2 conte!poaneous ,ith an
aest can pece-e the aest if the police has pobable cause to !aBe the aest at the
outset of the seach.
)6
&iven that the seach ,as vali-, appellantEs aest base- on that seach is also vali-.
Aticle II, Section 6 of the Co!pehensive Dan.eous Du.s Act of )(() states9
SEC. 6 Sale, /a-in., A-!inistation, Dispensation, Delive2, Distibution an-
/anspotation of Dan.eous Du.s an-Ho Contolle- Pecusos an- Essential
Che!icals. J /he penalt2 of life i!pison!ent to -eath an- a fine an.in. fo! 1ive
hun-e- thousan- pesos #P6((,(((.(($ to /en !illion pesos #P"(,(((,(((.(($ shall be
i!pose- upon an2 peson, ,ho, unless authoi8e- b2 la,, shall sell, ta-e, a-!iniste,
-ispense, -elive, .ive a,a2 to anothe, -istibute, -ispatch in tansit o tanspot an2
-an.eous -u., inclu-in. an2 an- all species of opiu! popp2 e.a-less of the
Fuantit2 an- puit2 involve-, o shall act as a boBe in an2 of such tansactions.
/he penalt2 of i!pison!ent an.in. fo! t,elve #")$ 2eas an- one #"$ -a2 to t,ent2
#)($ 2eas an- a fine an.in. fo! One hun-e- thousan- pesos #P"((,(((.(($ to 1ive
hun-e- thousan- pesos #P6((,(((.(($ shall be i!pose- upon an2 peson ,ho,
unless authoi8e- b2 la,, shall sell, ta-e, a-!iniste, -ispense, -elive, .ive a,a2 to
anothe, -istibute, -ispatch in tansit o tanspot an2 contolle- pecuso an-
essential che!ical, o shall act as a boBe in such tansactions.
In he -efense, appellant avee- that the pacBa.es she ,as ca2in. -i- not belon. to
he but to a nei.hbo ,ho ha- asBe- he to ca2 the sa!e fo hi!. /his contention,
ho,eve, is of no conseFuence.
@hen an accuse- is cha.e- ,ith ille.al possession o tanspotation of pohibite-
-u.s, the o,neship theeof is i!!ateial. ConseFuentl2, poof of o,neship of the
confiscate- !ai=uana is not necessa2.
)7
AppellantEs alle.e- lacB of Bno,le-.e -oes not constitute a vali- -efense. 3acB of
ci!inal intent an- .oo- faith ae not eCe!ptin. cicu!stances ,hee the ci!e
cha.e- is malum prohibitum, as in this case.
)*
Mee possession an-Ho -elive2 of a
pohibite- -u., ,ithout le.al authoit2, is punishable un-e the Dan.eous Du.s Act.
)+
Anti%nacotics la,s, liBe anti%.a!blin. la,s, ae e.ulato2 statutes. /he2 ae ules of
convenience -esi.ne- to secue a !oe o-el2 e.ulation of the affais of societ2, an-
thei violation .ives ise to ci!es !ala pohibita. 3a,s -efinin. ci!es !ala pohibita
con-e!n behavio -iecte- not a.ainst paticula in-ivi-uals, but a.ainst public o-e.
)0
Guispu-ence -efines <tanspot< as <to ca2 o conve2 fo! one place to anothe.<
>(
/hee is no -efinitive !o!ent ,hen an accuse- <tanspots< a pohibite- -u.. @hen
the cicu!stances establish the pupose of an accuse- to tanspot an- the fact of
tanspotation itself, thee shoul- be no Fuestion as to the pepetation of the ci!inal
act.
>"
/he fact that thee is actual conve2ance suffices to suppot a fin-in. that the act
of tanspotin. ,as co!!itte- an- it is i!!ateial ,hethe o not the place of
-estination is eache-.
>)
Moeove, appellantEs possession of the pacBa.es containin. ille.al -u.s .ave ise to
the -isputable pesu!ption
>>
that she is the o,ne of the pacBa.es an- thei
contents.
>5
Appellant faile- to ebut this pesu!ption. 'e uncooboate- clai! of lacB
of Bno,le-.e that she ha- pohibite- -u. in he possession is insufficient.
AppellantEs naation of facts -eseves little ce-ence. If it is tue that Bennie 3ao%an.
!eel2 asBe- he an- he co!panion to ca2 so!e ba..a.es, it is but lo.ical to fist
asB ,hat the pacBa.es containe- an- ,hee these ,oul- be taBen. 3iBe,ise, if, as
appellant sai-, 3ao%an. an a,a2 afte the2 -ise!baBe- fo! the =eepne2, appellant
an- he co!panion shoul- have an afte hi! to .ive hi! the ba.s he ha- left ,ith
the!, an- not to continue on thei =oune2 ,ithout Bno,in. ,hee the2 ,ee taBin. the
ba.s.
NeCt, appellant a.ues that the posecution faile- to pove the copus -elicti of the
ci!e. In paticula, she alle.e- that the appehen-in. police offices faile- to follo,
the poce-ue in the custo-2 of sei8e- pohibite- an- e.ulate- -u.s, instu!ents,
appaatuses, an- aticles.
In all posecutions fo violation of the Dan.eous Du.s Act, the eCistence of all
-an.eous -u.s is a sine Fua non fo conviction. /he -an.eous -u. is the ve2
copus -elicti of that ci!e.
>6
/hus, Section )" of R.A. No. 0"76 pescibes the poce-ue fo custo-2 an-
-isposition of sei8e- -an.eous -u.s, to ,it9
Section )". Custody and Disposition of Confiscated, Seized, andor Surrendered
Dan!erous Dru!s, "lant Sources of Dan!erous Dru!s, Controlled "recursors and
#ssential Chemicals, $nstruments"araphernalia andor %aboratory #&uipment. J /he
PDEA shall taBe cha.e an- have custo-2 of all -an.eous -u.s, plant souces of
-an.eous -u.s, contolle- pecusos an- essential che!icals, as ,ell as
instu!entsHpaaphenalia an-Ho laboato2 eFuip!ent so confiscate-, sei8e- an-Ho
suen-ee-, fo pope -isposition in the follo,in. !anne9
#"$ /he appehen-in. tea! havin. initial custo-2 an- contol of the -u.s shall,
i!!e-iatel2 afte sei8ue an- confiscation, ph2sicall2 invento2 an- photo.aph the
sa!e in the pesence of the accuse- o the pesonHs fo! ,ho! such ite!s ,ee
confiscate- an-Ho sei8e-, o hisHhe epesentative o counsel, a epesentative fo!
the !e-ia an- the Depat!ent of Gustice #DOG$, an- an2 electe- public official ,ho
shall be eFuie- to si.n the copies of the invento2 an- be .iven a cop2 theeof.
5
/he I!ple!entin. Rules an- Re.ulations #IRR$ of R.A. No. 0"76 futhe povi-es9
SECTION 21. Cuso!" #n! $%s&os%%on o' Con'%s(#e!, Se%)e! #n!*o+
Su++en!e+e! $#n,e+ous $+u,s, P-#n Sou+(es o' $#n,e+ous $+u,s, Con+o--e!
P+e(u+so+s #n! Essen%#- C.e/%(#-s, Ins+u/ens*P#+#&.e+n#-%# #n!*o+
L#0o+#o+" E1u%&/en. J /he PDEA shall taBe cha.e an- have custo-2 of all
-an.eous -u.s, plant souces of -an.eous -u.s, contolle- pecusos an-
essential che!icals, as ,ell as instu!entsHpaaphenalia an-Ho laboato2 eFuip!ent
so confiscate-, sei8e- an-Ho suen-ee-, fo pope -isposition in the follo,in.
!anne9
#a$ /he appehen-in. officeHtea! havin. initial custo-2 an- contol of the -u.s shall,
i!!e-iatel2 afte sei8ue an- confiscation, ph2sicall2 invento2 an- photo.aph the
sa!e in the pesence of the accuse- o the pesonHs fo! ,ho! such ite!s ,ee
confiscate- an-Ho sei8e-, o hisHhe epesentative o counsel, a epesentative fo!
the !e-ia an- the Depat!ent of Gustice #DOG$, an- an2 electe- public official ,ho
shall be eFuie- to si.n the copies of the invento2 an- be .iven a cop2 theeof9
Povi-e-, that the ph2sical invento2 an- photo.aph shall be con-ucte- at the place
,hee the seach ,aant is seve-A o at the neaest police station o at the neaest
office of the appehen-in. officeHtea!, ,hicheve is pacticable, in case of ,aantless
sei8uesA Povi-e-, futhe, that non%co!pliance ,ith these eFuie!ents un-e
=ustifiable .oun-s, as lon. as the inte.it2 an- the evi-entia2 value of the sei8e-
ite!s ae popel2 peseve- b2 the appehen-in. officeHtea!, shall not en-e voi-
an- invali- such sei8ues of an- custo-2 ove sai- ite!s.
PO) Palla2oc testifie- that afte appehen-in. appellant, he i!!e-iatel2 bou.ht he
to the police station. At the station, the police eFueste- the Ma2o to ,itness the
openin. of the ba.s sei8e- fo! appellant. @hen the Ma2o aive-, he opene- the
ba. in font of appellant an- the othe police offices. /he blacB ba. 2iel-e- thee
bicBs of !ai=uana ,appe- in ne,spape, ,hile the plastic ba. 2iel-e- t,o bun-les of
!ai=uana an- t,o bicBs of !ai=uana fuitin. tops.
>7
PO) Palla2oc i-entifie- the
bicBs. 'e an- PO> Stanle2 Ca!pit then !aBe- the sa!e. /hen the sei8e- ite!s
,ee bou.ht to the PNP Ci!e 3aboato2 fo eCa!ination.
It is a-!itte- that thee ,ee no photo.aphs taBen of the -u.s sei8e-, that appellant
,as not acco!panie- b2 counsel, an- that no epesentative fo! the !e-ia an- the
DOG ,ee pesent. 'o,eve, this Cout has alea-2 peviousl2 hel- that non%
co!pliance ,ith Section )" is not fatal an- ,ill not en-e an accuse-Es aest ille.al,
o !aBe the ite!s sei8e- ina-!issible. @hat is of ut!ost i!potance is the
pesevation of the inte.it2 an- evi-entia2 value of the sei8e- ite!s.
>*
Base- on the testi!on2 of PO) Palla2oc, afte appellantEs aest, she ,as i!!e-iatel2
bou.ht to the police station ,hee she sta2e- ,hile ,aitin. fo the Ma2o. It ,as the
Ma2o ,ho opene- the pacBa.es, evealin. the ille.al -u.s, ,hich ,ee theeafte
!aBe- an- sent to the police ci!e laboato2 the follo,in. -a2. Conta2 to
appellantEs clai!, the posecutionEs evi-ence establishes the chain of custo-2 fo! the
ti!e of appellantEs aest until the pohibite- -u.s ,ee teste- at the police ci!e
laboato2.
@hile it is tue that the aestin. office faile- to state eCplicitl2 the =ustifiable .oun- fo
non%co!pliance ,ith Section )", this -oes not necessail2 !ean that appellantEs aest
,as ille.al o that the ite!s sei8e- ae ina-!issible. /he =ustifiable .oun- ,ill e!ain
unBno,n because appellant -i- not Fuestion the custo-2 an- -isposition of the ite!s
taBen fo! he -uin. the tial.
>+
Even assu!in. that the police offices faile- to abi-e
b2 Section )", appellant shoul- have aise- this issue befoe the tial cout. She coul-
have !ove- fo the Fuashal of the info!ation at the fist instance. But she -i- not.
'ence, she is -ee!e- to have ,aive- an2 ob=ection on the !atte.
1uthe, the actions of the police offices, in elation to the poce-ual ules on the
chain of custo-2, en=o2e- the pesu!ption of e.ulait2 in the pefo!ance of official
functions. Couts acco- ce-ence an- full faith to the testi!onies of police authoities,
as the2 ae pesu!e- to be pefo!in. thei -uties e.ulal2, absent an2 convincin.
poof to the conta2.
>0
In su!, the posecution successfull2 establishe- appellantEs .uilt. /hus, he conviction
!ust be affi!e-.
@'ERE1ORE, the foe.oin. pe!ises consi-ee-, the appeal is DISMISSED. /he
Decision of the Cout of Appeals in CA%&.R. CR%'C No. ()*"+ is A11IRMED.
SO ORDERED.
6