SR. INSP. JERRY C.

VALEROSO, Petitioner, vs. COURT OF APPEALS and PEOPLE OF THE

PHILIPPINES,

G.R. No. 164815September 3, 2009THIRD DIVISION(NACHURA, J.:)

Unreasonable searches and seizures are the menace against which the constitutional guarantees
afford full protection. While the power to search and seize may at times be necessary for public
welfare, still it may be exercised and the law enforced without transgressing the constitutional rights
of the citizens, for no enforcement of any statute is of sufficient importance to justify indifference to
the basic principles of government. Those who are supposed to enforce the law are not justified in
disregarding the rights of an individual in the name of order. Order is too high a price to pay for the
loss of liberty.

EC. 2. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against
unreasonable searches and seizures of whatever nature and for any purpose shall be inviolable, and
no search warrant or warrant of arrest shall issue except upon probable cause to be determined
personally by the judge after examination under oath or affirmation of the complainant and the
witnesses he may produce, and particularly describing the place to be searched and the persons or
things to be seized.

FACTS

 That on or about the 10th day of July, 1996, in Quezon City, Philippines, the said accused
without any authority of law, did then and there willfully, unlawfully and knowingly have in
his/her possession and under his/her custody and control
 On July 10, 1996, at around 9:30 a.m., Disuanco received a Dispatch Order from the desk
officer directing him and three (3) other policemen to serve a Warrant of Arrest, issued by
Judge Ignacio Salvador, against Valeroso for a case of kidnapping with ransom
 On July 10, 1996, Valeroso was sleeping inside a room in the boarding house of his children
located at Sagana Homes, Barangay New Era, Quezon City. He was awakened by four (4)
heavily armed men in civilian attire who pointed their guns at him and pulled him out of the
room.
 The raiding team tied his hands and placed him near the faucet (outside the room) then went
back inside, searched and ransacked the room. Moments later, an operative came out of the
room and exclaimed, "Hoy, may nakuha akong baril sa loob!"
 Disuanco informed Valeroso that there was a standing warrant for his arrest. However, the
raiding team was not armed with a search warrant.
 On May 6, 1998, the Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 97, Quezon City, convicted
Valeroso as charged and sentenced him to suffer the indeterminate penalty of four (4) years,
two (2) months and one (1) day, as minimum, to six (6) years, as maximum. The gun subject
of the case was further ordered confiscated in favor of the government.

ISSUES

Whether the warrantless search and seizure of the firearm and ammunition has merit and valid
HELD
The court answer the issues in Negative;

For one, the warrantless search could not be justified as an incident to a lawful arrest. Searches and
seizures incident to lawful arrests are governed by Section 13, Rule 126 of the Rules of Court, which
reads:

SEC. 13. Search incident to lawful arrest. – A person lawfully arrested may be searched for
dangerous weapons or anything which may have been used or constitute proof in the commission of
an offense without a search warrant.

Without the illegally seized firearm, Valeroso’s conviction cannot stand. There is simply no sufficient
evidence to convict him. All told, the guilt of Valeroso was not proven beyond reasonable doubt
measured by the required moral certainty for conviction. The evidence presented by the prosecution
was not enough to overcome the presumption of innocence as constitutionally ordained. Indeed, it
would be better to set free ten men who might probably be guilty of the crime charged than to convict
one innocent man for a crime he did not commit.

WHEREFORE, in view of the foregoing, the February 22, 2008 Decision and June 30, 2008
Resolution are RECONSIDERED and SET ASIDE. Sr. Insp. Jerry Valeroso is hereby ACQUITTED of
illegal possession of firearm and ammunition.