8epubllc of Lhe hlllpplnes

!"#$%&% ()"$*
Manlla
SLCCnu ulvlSlCn

+,$, -., /0112/ !34536738 09: /;;<
*=% #%)#>% )? *=% #=@>@##@-%!: peLlLloner,
vs.
*=% =)-)$AB>% C"D+% %!*$%>>A *, %!*$ADA: #$%!@D@-+ C"D+%: $*(: B$A-(= <E:
F"%G)- (@*HI JKL A@D%- >A-"GA: respondenLs.

&A$*@-%G: !"#
1he eople of Lhe hlllpplnes, Lhrough Lhls peLlLlon for revlew, seeks Lhe reversal of Lhe
order of respondenL !udge LsLrella 1. LsLrada, daLed uecember 7, 1993, whlch granLed
prlvaLe respondenL Alden Lanuza's moLlon Lo quash Search WarranL no. 938 (93), as
well as Lhe order daLed Aprll 1, 1996 denylng peLlLloner's moLlon for reconslderaLlon of
Lhe earller order.
Cn !une 27, 1993, ALLy. Lorna lrances l. Cabanlas, Chlef of Lhe Legal, lnformaLlon and
Compllance ulvlslon (LlCu) of Lhe 8ureau of lood and urugs (8lAu), flled wlLh Lhe
8eglonal 1rlal CourL of Cuezon ClLy, 8ranch 83, an appllcaLlon for Lhe lssuance of a
search warranL agalnsL "Alden Lanuza of 316 San !ose de la MonLana SLreeL, Mabolo,
Cebu ClLy," for vlolaLlon of ArLlcle 40 (k) of 8epubllc AcL 7394 (1he Consumer AcL of Lhe
hlllpplnes).
ln her appllcaLlon for search warranL, ALLy. Cabanlas alleged, among oLhers, as follows:
1. Cn !une 3, 1993, ln my offlclal capaclLy as ALLorney v and Chlef of LlCu,
l recelved reporLs from SC4 Manuel . Cablles of Lhe 8eglonal
lnLelllgence Croup lv, lnLelllgence Command of Lhe n LhaL cerLaln -
1.a. Alden Lanuza of 316 San !ose de la MonLana SLreeL,
Mabolo, Cebu ClLy sold Lo sald Cfflcer Cablles varlous drug
producLs amounLlng Lo Seven 1housand 1wo Pundred
1hlrLy 1wo esos (7,232.00) on May 29, 1993,
1.b. Sald Alden Lanuza or her address aL 316 San !ose de la
MonLana SLreeL, Mabolo, Cebu ClLy has no llcense Lo
operaLe, dlsLrlbuLe, sell or Lransfer drug producLs from Lhe
8lAu,
1.c. ulsLrlbuLlon, sale or offer for sale or Lransfer of drug
producLs wlLhouL llcense Lo operaLe from 8lAu ls ln
vlolaLlon of ArL. 40 (k) of 8A 7394 (or "Lhe Consumer AcL").
2. ln supporL of Lhe reporL, Lhe subscrlbed affldavlL of Mr. Cablles, hls
reporL and Lhe varlous drug producLs sold and purchased conLalned ln a
(!"#) plasLlc bags marked "Lanuza 8ag 1 of 1" and "Lanuza 8ag 2 of 2"
were enclosed, and Lhe same are llkewlse submlLLed herewlLh.
xxx xxx xxx.
/
(Lmphasls supplled)
1he appllcaLlon, however, ended wlLh Lhe sLaLemenL LhaL Lhe warranL ls Lo search Lhe
premlses of anoLher person aL a dlfferenL address:
3. 1hls ls execuLed Lo supporL afflanL's appllcaLlon for a search warranL on
Lhe premlses of 8elen Cabanero aL new lronLler vlllage, 1allsay
Cebu.
0
(Lmphasls supplled)
ln supporL of Lhe appllcaLlon, Lhe affldavlL of SC4 Manuel . Cablles, a member of Lhe
8eglonal lnLelllgence Croup lv of Lhe n lnLelllgence Command, Camp vlcenLe Llm,
Canlubang, Laguna, was aLLached LhereLo, whereln he declared LhaL:
1. upon Lhe requesL for asslsLance by 8lAu, he conducLed survelllance
for persons dlsLrlbuLlng, selllng or Lransferrlng drug producLs wlLhouL
llcense Lo operaLe from 8lAu.
2. Cn May 29, 1993, a cerLaln Alden Lanuza of 316 San !ose de la
MonLana SL., Mabolo, Cebu ClLy sold Lo hlm varlous drug producLs
amounLlng Lo 7,232.00 and
3 upon furLher verlflcaLlon ln Lhe 8lAu reglsLry of llcensed persons or
premlses, Lhe sald person and place have ln facL no llcense Lo operaLe.
4. Larller Lhan May 29, 1993, afflanL saw a dellvery of drug producLs from
Lhe resldence of Ms. Lanuza ln 316 San !ose de la MonLana SL., Mabolo,
Cebu ClLy Lo anoLher person.
3. Accompanylng Lhls affldavlL are Lhe varlous producLs sold Lo/and
purchased by Lhe afflanL conLalned ln Lwo (2) plasLlc bags marked
"Lanuza 8ag 1 of 1" and "Lanuza 8ag 2 of 2."
1hls ls execuLed ln supporL of Lhe afflanL's reporL Lo 8lAu and for
whaLever leglLlmaLe purpose Lhls may serve.
E
(Lmphasls supplled)
1he 8lAu also submlLLed wlLh Lhe appllcaLlon a copy of Lhe skeLch
1
of Lhe locaLlon of
Alden Lanuza's resldence aL her sLaLed address.
Cn Lhe same day Lhe appllcaLlon was flled, Lhe respondenL !udge lssued Search WarranL
no. 938 (93), whlch reads ln full:
8Lu8LlC Cl 1PL PlLllnLS
8LClCnAL 18lAL CCu81
nA1lCnAL CAl1AL !uulClAL 8LClCn
88AnCP 83 - CuLZCn Cl1?
LCLL Cl 1PL PlLllnLS,
lalnLlff,
-versus- SLA8CP WA88An1 nC. 938 (93)
AluLn LAnuZA,
uefendanL.
x-------------------------------x
SLA8CP WA88An1
lL appears Lo Lhe saLlsfacLlon of Lhls CourL, afLer examlnlng under oaLh
ALLy. Lorna lrances l. Cabanlas, Chlef of Lhe Legal lnformaLlon and
Compllance ulvlslon (LlCu) of Lhe 8ureau of lood and urugs (8lAu) and
her wlLness. Manuel . Cablles, member of Lhe lnLelllgence Croup lv,
lnLelllgence Command, n, Camp vlcenLe Llm, Canlubang, Laguna, LhaL
Lhere are reasonable grounds Lo belleve LhaL a vlolaLlon of ArLlcle 40(k) ln
relaLlon Lo ArLlcle 41 of 8epubllc AcL no. 7394 (Consumer AcL) has been
commlLLed or abouL Lo be commlLLed and Lhere are good and sufflclenL
reasons Lo belleve LhaL Ms. Alden Lanuza of 316 San !ose dela MonLana
SLreeL, Cebu ClLy has ln her possesslon and conLrol aL sald address Lhe
followlng descrlbed properLles:
medlclnes and drugs of undeLermlned quanLlLy among
whlch are 8rlcanyl 1ableL, 8lsolvon 1ableL, 8uscopan
1ableL, 8uscopan Ampoule, Mucosolvan Ampoule,
ersanLln 1ableL, 1egreLol 1ableL, ZA-Clba 1ableL,
volLaren 1ableL, ZanLac Ampoule, venLolln 1ableL, venLolln
lnhaler, uermovaLe Cream, lorLum vlal, Zlnacef vlal,
leldene 1M Ampoule, norvasc 1ableL, 8acLrlm lorLe
1ableL, 8ochephln vlal, 1llcoLll 1ableL, Llbrax 1ableL,
MeLhergln 1ableL and 1agameL 1ableL
whlch she ls selllng, dlsLrlbuLlng and Lransferrlng wlLhouL Lhe necessary
llcense from Lhe ueparLmenL of PealLh.
?ou are hereby commanded Lo make an lmmedlaLe search aL any Llme of
Lhe uA? or nlCP1 of Lhe premlses above-descrlbed and forLhwlLh selze
and Lake possesslon of Lhe undeLermlned amounL of drugs and medlclnes
sub[ecL of Lhe offense and Lo brlng Lhe same Lo Lhls CourL Lo be dealL wlLh
as Lhe law dlrecLs.
?ou are furLher dlrecLed Lo submlL a reLurn of Lhls Search WarranL wlLhln
Len (10) days from Loday.
1hls Search WarranL ls valld wlLhln a perlod of Len (10) days from Lhe daLe
of lssue.
ClvLn unuL8 1PL PAnu Anu SLAL of Lhls CourL Lhls 27Lh day of !une
1993 aL Cuezon ClLy.
(Sgd.) LS18LLLA 1. LS18AuA
Second vlce LxecuLlve !udge
9

(Lmphasls supplled)
Cn !une 28, 1993, Lhe search warranL was served aL prlvaLe respondenL Lanuza's
resldence aL Lhe lndlcaLed address by a composlLe Leam of pollcemen from Lhe n 7Lh
Crlmlnal lnvesLlgaLlon Command, Camp SoLero Cabahug, Cebu ClLy.
Pow Lhe search warranL was lmplemenLed was brlefly narraLed ln Lhe !olnL
AffldavlL,
2
daLed !une 29, 1993, of SC2 lrucLuoso 8eLe, !r. and SC2 Marckbllly
Capalungan, boLh members of Lhe search and selzure Leam. 1hey sLaLed ln Lhelr affldavlL
LhaL Lhelr Leam, armed wlLh Lhe search warranL, "conducLed a rald aL Lhe premlses of
one AluLn LAnuZA of 316 San !ose de la MonLana SLreeL, Cebu ClLy . . .," LhaL "Lhe rald
was wlLnessed by Luls 8lvera, uemeLrlo anlmdlm and lranclsco C[ales, boLh (!"#) 8rgy.
1anod of kasambagan, Cebu ClLy," LhaL "Lhe servlce of Lhe (search) warranL resulLed ln
Lhe conflscaLlon of flfLy-Lwo (32) carLoons (!"#) of assorLed medlclnes from Lhe
possesslon and conLrol of AluLn LAnuZA," and LhaL Lhe "sald lLems were broughL Lo Lhe
7ClC8C offlce for deLalled lnvenLory headed by ALLy. Lorna l. Cabanlas, Chlef of Lhe
Legal lnformaLlon and Compllance ulvlslon of Lhe 8lAu, Manlla."
M
(Lmphasls supplled)
1he presenL peLlLlon, however, narraLes a dlfferenL accounL of whaL acLually happened
durlng Lhe lmplemenLaLlon of Lhe search warranL. aragraph 3 of Lhe peLlLlon sLaLes: "AL
Lhe commencemenL of Lhe search, Lhe members of Lhe Leam dlscovered LhaL Lhe
premlses descrlbed as 316 San !ose de la MonLana SL., Mabolo, Cebu ClLy was acLually a
flve Lhousand (3,000) square meLer compound conLalnlng aL leasL flfLeen (13) sLrucLures
whlch are elLher leased resldences, offlces, facLorles, workshops or warehouse. 1he
pollcemen proceeded Lo search Lhe resldence of prlvaLe respondenL Lanuza aL %&' (&)
*+ of sald address. llndlng no drug producLs LhereaL, Lhey proceeded Lo search a nearby
warehouse aL %&' (&) ,- wlLhln Lhe same compound and address above sLaLed. 1hls
search ylelded flfLy-Lwo (32) carLons of assorLed drug producLs whlch were Lhen
lnvenLorled ln due course. . . . ."
<
(Lmphasls supplled)
ln an order
;
daLed !uly 3, 1993, Lhe respondenL !udge noLed Lhe lnvenLory of Lhe selzed
drugs and auLhorlzed Lhe 8lAu Lo reLaln cusLody of Lhe same, Lo have samples of Lhe
drugs analyzed and be broughL Lo Lhe reglsLered drug manufacLurers for parallel LesLlng.
Cn AugusL 22, 1993, prlvaLe respondenL Alden Lanuza flled a verlfled moLlon
/N
praylng
LhaL Search WarranL no. 938 (93) be quashed and LhaL Lhe selzed arLlcles be declared
lnadmlsslble ln any proceedlng and ordered reLurned Lo Lhe warehouse owned by lolk
ArLs LxporL & lmporL Company locaLed aL LoL no. 38 lnslde Lhe compound aL 316 San
!ose de la MonLana SLreeL, Cebu ClLy. 1he moLlon ls based on Lhe grounds LhaL Lhe
search warranL ls lllegal and null and vold because: (1) lL was applled Lo search Lhe
premlses of one 8elen Cabanero aL new lronLler vlllage, 1allsay, Cebu, buL was lssued
Lo search Lhe resldence of prlvaLe respondenL Alden Lanuza aL 316 San !ose de la
MonLana SLreeL, Cebu ClLy, (2) lL was lssued for a non-exlsLlng offense, (3) ALLy. Lorna
lrances l. Cabanlas was noL duly auLhorlzed by appllcanL 8lAu Lo apply Lherefor, (4) lL
falled Lo parLlcularly descrlbe Lhe place Lo be searched and Lhe Lhlngs Lo be selzed, (3)
Lhe appllcanL's wlLnesses had no personal knowledge of Lhe facLs upon whlch lL was
lssued, and (6) lLs lmplemenLaLlon was unreasonable as lL was enforced on a dlfferenL or
wrong place whlch was lawfully occupled by a dlfferenL or wrong person.
//

ALLy. Lorna lrances Cabanlas, who appeared for Lhe 8lAu, opposed
/0
Lhe moLlon Lo
quash Lhe search warranL, Lo whlch Lhe prlvaLe respondenL counLered wlLh a reply.
AfLer Lhe conLendlng parLles had submlLLed Lhelr respecLlve poslLlons wlLhouL furLher
oral argumenLs, Lhe respondenL !udge lssued Lhe assalled order
/E
daLed uecember 7,
1993, quashlng Search WarranL no. 938 (93). Accordlngly, Lhe order daLed !uly 3, 1993
was revoked and all Lhe arLlcles selzed were declared lnadmlsslble ln any and all
proceedlngs agalnsL prlvaLe respondenL Alden Lanuza. Also, Lhe 8lAu was ordered Lo
reLurn aL lLs expense all Lhe selzed lLems Lo Lhe warehouse of lolk ArLs lmporL & LxporL
Company aL LoL no. 38, 316 San !ose de la MonLana SL., Mabolo, Cebu ClLy wlLhln a
perlod of flfLeen (13) days from noLlce of Lhe sald order.
/1

eLlLloner's moLlon for reconslderaLlon of Lhe uecember 7, 1993 order was denled ln an
order
/9
daLed Aprll 1, 1996, lmpelllng peLlLloner Lo flle Lhe presenL peLlLlon asserLlng
LhaL Lhe respondenL !udge erred:
a) ln holdlng LhaL Lhe defecL appearlng ln 8lAu's
appllcaLlon for a search warranL ls so "grave" ln naLure as
Lo warranL quashal of Lhe search warranL lssued
Lhereunder, conslderlng LhaL such varlance ls acLually a
harmless clerlcal error.
b) ln holdlng LhaL ALLy. Cabanlas was noL, auLhorlzed by
Lhe 8lAu Lo apply for a search warranL concernlng Lhe
unllcensed dlsLrlbuLlon of drugs, conslderlng LhaL Lhe granL
of 8lAu auLhorlzaLlon upon her Lo lnvesLlgaLe fake,
mlsbranded adulLeraLed or unreglsLered drugs necessarlly
conLemplaLes Lhe auLhorlLy Lo lnvesLlgaLe Lhe unllcensed
acLlvlLles above noLed.
c) ln holdlng LhaL appllcanL 8lAu had falled Lo dlscharge
Lhe burden of provlng probable cause for lssuance of a
search warranL, by falllng Lo presenL documenLary proof
lndlcaLlng LhaL prlvaLe respondenL had no llcense Lo sell or
dlsLrlbuLe drug producLs, conslderlng LhaL under Lhe
auLhorlLy of ./0"11& 2) 34&514 (229 SC8A 386) Lhe 8lAu only
had Lhe burden of provlng Lhe negaLlve lngredlenL of Lhe
offense charged on Lhe basls of Lhe besL evldence
procurable under Lhe clrcumsLances.
d) ln holdlng LhaL Lhe place soughL Lo be searched had noL
been descrlbed wlLh sufflclenL parLlcularlLy ln SW no. 938
(93), conslderlng LhaL Alden Lanuza's resldence aL LoL no.
41, 316 San !ose de la MonLana SL., Mabolo, Cebu ClLy was
noL so consplcuously or noLorlously represenLed Lo Lhe
publlc as such by her as Lo conLradlcL Lhe lnvesLlgaLlng and
servlng offlcers' percepLlon of Lhe ouLward appearance of
her dwelllng, whlch led Lhem Lo belleve LhaL Lhe more
general address of 316 San !ose de la MonLana SL.,
Mabolo, Cebu ClLy referred Lo her dwelllng.
e) ln orderlng Lhe reLurn of Lhe Lhlngs selzed, Lhe
possesslon of whlch ls prohlblLed.
/2

We granLed, Lhe peLlLloner's appllcaLlon for Lhe lssuance of a Lemporary resLralnlng
order ln a resoluLlon
/M
daLed !une 26, 1996 and resLralned Lhe lmplemenLaLlon of Lhe
assalled orders, effecLlve lmmedlaLely and unLll furLher orders from Lhls CourL.
rlvaLe respondenL Alden Lanuza laLer flled her commenL
/<
on Lhe peLlLlon, buL
peLlLloner's reply LhereLo was noL admlLLed by Lhls CourL ln a resoluLlon
/;
daLed !anuary
13, 1997, for fallure by Lhe SollclLor Ceneral Lo flle Lhe same wlLhln hls flrsL exLenslon of
LhlrLy (30) days, LhaL was granLed, buL wlLh a warnlng LhaL no furLher exLenslon would
be glven. lnsLead of flllng hls reply, Lhe SollclLor Ceneral asked for Lwo (2) more
exLenslons of Llme, whlch were denled.
now Lo Lhe asslgned errors of Lhe respondenL !udge ralsed by peLlLloner.
1he requlremenLs for Lhe lssuance of a search warranL are lnscrlbed ln SecLlon 2, ArLlcle
lll of Lhe 1987 ConsLlLuLlon, Lo wlL:
Sec. 2. 1PL 8lCP1 Cl 1PL LCLL 1C 8L SLCu8L ln 1PLl8 L8SCnS,
PCuSLS, AL8S, Anu LllLC1S ACAlnS1 un8LASCnA8LL SLA8CPLS,
SLlZu8LS Cl WPA1LvL8 nA1u8L Anu lC8 An? u8CSL SPALL 8L
lnvlCLA8LL, Anu nC SLA8CP WA88An1 C8 WA88An1 Cl A88LS1 SPALL
lSSuL LxCL1 uCn 8C8A8LL CAuSL 1C 8L uL1L8MlnLu L8SCnALL?
8? 1PL !uuCL Al1L8 LxAMlnA1lCn unuL8 CA1P Cl Alll8MA1lCn Cl
1PL CCMLAlnAn1 Anu 1PL Wl1nLSSLS PL MA? 8CuuCL, Anu
A81lCuLA8L? uLSC8l8lnC 1PL LACL 1C 8L SLA8CPLu Anu 1PL
L8SCnS C8 1PlnCS 1C 8L SLlZLu. (Lmphasls supplled)
ln quashlng Lhe sub[ecL search warranL, lL ls Lhe flndlng of Lhe respondenL !udge LhaL Lhe
appllcaLlon for lLs lssuance suffered from a "grave" defecL, "whlch escaped (her)
aLLenLlon," conslderlng LhaL lL was applled Lo search Lhe premlses of one 8elen
Cabanero aL new lronLler vlllage, 1allsay, Cebu, buL was lssued Lo search Lhe resldence
of hereln prlvaLe respondenL Alden Lanuza aL 316 San !ose de la MonLana SL., Cebu
ClLy.
0N

We noneLheless flnd such error ln Lhe appllcaLlon for search warranL a negllglble defecL.
1he LlLle of Lhe quesLloned appllcaLlon, whlch reads:
LCLL Cl 1PL PlLllnLS,
lalnLlff,
-versus- SLA8CP WA88An1 nC. 938 (93)
AluLn LAnuZA, lor: vlolaLlon of ArLlcle
316 San !ose de la 40 (k) ln relaLlon Lo
MonLana SLreeL, Mabolo, ArLlcle 41 of 8epubllc
Cebu ClLy, AcL no. 7394 (or Lhe
uefendanL. Consumer AcL)
x---------------------------------------------------------------------------x
0/

(Lmphasls supplled)
and Lhe allegaLlons conLalned Lhereln, perLlnenL porLlons of whlch we quoLe:
1. Cn !une 3, 1993, ln my offlclal capaclLy as ALLorney v and Chlef of LlCu,
l recelved reporLs from SC4 Manuel . Cablles of Lhe 8eglonal
lnLelllgence Croup lv, lnLelllgence Command of Lhe n LhaL cerLaln -
1.a. Alden Lanuza of 316 San !ose de la MonLana SLreeL,
Mabolo, Cebu ClLy sold Lo sald Cfflcer Cablles varlous drug
producLs amounLlng Lo Seven 1housand 1wo Pundred
1hlrLy 1wo esos (7,232.00) on May 29, 1993,
1.b. Sald Alden Lanuza or her address aL 316 San !ose de la
MonLana SLreeL, Mabolo, Cebu ClLy has no llcense Lo
operaLe, dlsLrlbuLe, sell or Lransfer drug producLs from Lhe
8lAu.
xxx xxx xxx
2. ln supporL of Lhe reporL, Lhe subscrlbed affldavlL of Mr. Cablles, hls
reporL and Lhe varlous drug producLs sold and purchased conLalned ln a
(!"#) plasLlc bags marked "Lanuza 8ag 1 of 1" and "Lanuza 8ag 2 of 2"
were enclosed, and Lhe same are llkewlse submlLLed herewlLh.
xxx xxx xxx.
00
(Lmphasls supplled)
unmlsLakably reveal LhaL Lhe sald appllcaLlon was speclflcally lnLended agalnsL
prlvaLe respondenL Alden Lanuza of 316 San !ose de la MonLana SLreeL, Mabolo,
Cebu ClLy. She has been Lhe only one ldenLlfled ln Lhe appllcaLlon, as well as ln
Lhe aforequoLed affldavlL of SC4 Manuel Cablles upon whlch Lhe appllcaLlon
was based, as havlng allegedly sold Lo sald SC4 Cablles varlous drugs amounLlng
Lo 7,232.00 on May 29, 1993, wlLhouL any llcense Lo do so, ln alleged vlolaLlon
of ArLlcle 40 (k) of 8.A. 7394. lL ls noLeworLhy LhaL, as sLaLed ln Lhe above-quoLed
paragraph 2 of Lhe appllcaLlon, Lhe plasLlc bags whlch conLalned Lhe selzed drugs
and whlch were submlLLed LogeLher wlLh Lhe appllcaLlon, were marked as
"Lanuza 8ag 1 of 1" and "Lanuza 8ag 2 of 2." 1hese marklngs wlLh Lhe name
"Lanuza" obvlously refer Lo no oLher Lhan Lhe hereln prlvaLe respondenL. And
when Lhe respondenL !udge lssued Lhe search warranL, lL was dlrecLed solely
agalnsL prlvaLe respondenL Alden Lanuza aL her address: 316 San !ose de la
MonLana SLreeL, Mabolo, Cebu ClLy.
1he SollclLor Ceneral explalned Lhe error ln Lhe appllcaLlon by saylng LhaL on Lhe same
day appllcanL ALLy. Lorna lrances Cabanlas flled Lhe quesLloned appllcaLlon on !une 27,
1993, anoLher appllcaLlon for search warranL was also flled agalnsL one 8elen Cabanero
aL her resldence aL new lronLler vlllage, 1allsay, Cebu ClLy. 1hls can be deduced from
Lhe followlng examlnaLlon conducLed by respondenL !udge on ALLy. Cabanlas:
(CCu81)
C. And who ls your respondenL?
A. Mrs. Alden Lanuza and Lhe oLher one ls
8elen Cabanero.
C. Where are Lhey slLuaLed?
A. Mrs. Lanuza ls slLuaLed ln no. 316 San
!ose de la MonLana SLreeL, Mabolo, Cebu
ClLy.
C. AbouL Lhe oLher?
A. new lronLler vlllage, 1allsay, Cebu.
C. uo you have any speclflc address aL new
lronLler vlllage?
A. lL was reporLed by Mr. Manuel Cablles.
C. Wlll he be LesLlfylng?
A. ?es Ma'am. ?our Ponor, Lhls ls Lhe
vlclnlLy of Lhe new lronLler vlllage, Cebu
(wlLness presenLlng a skeLch) (!"#)
C Pow abouL Lhls San !ose de la MonLana.
1hls ls [usL ln Cebu ClLy?
A AL 316 San !ose de la MonLana SLreeL,
Mabolo, Cebu
ClLy.
0E

lrom Lhe foregolng dlscusslon, lL ls obvlous LhaL Lhe name and address of one 8elen
Cabanero were erroneously copled ln paragraph 3 of Lhe appllcaLlon ln quesLlon. Such
defecL, as lnLlmaLed earller, ls noL of such a gravlLy as Lo call for Lhe lnvalldaLlon of Lhe
search warranL.
1here are, however, Lwo (2) serlous grounds Lo quash Lhe search warranL.
llrsLly, we cannoL faulL Lhe respondenL !udge for nulllfylng Lhe search warranL as she
was noL convlnced LhaL Lhere was probable cause for lLs lssuance due Lo Lhe fallure of
Lhe appllcanL Lo presenL documenLary proof lndlcaLlng LhaL prlvaLe respondenL Alden
Lanuza had no llcense Lo sell drugs.
lL musL be noLed LhaL ln Lhe appllcaLlon for search warranL, prlvaLe respondenL ls
charged wlLh Lhe speclflc offense of selllng drugs wlLhouL Lhe requlred llcense from Lhe
ueparLmenL of PealLh, whlch ls ln vlolaLlon of ArLlcle 40 (k) of 8.A. 7394, and penallzed
under ArLlcle 41 Lhereof. 1he sald appllcaLlon was supporLed by Lhe affldavlL of SC4
Manuel Cablles where, ln paragraph 3 Lhereof, he declared LhaL he made a "verlflcaLlon
ln Lhe 8lAu reglsLry of llcensed persons or premlses" and dlscovered LhaL prlvaLe
respondenL Alden Lanuza had "no llcense" Lo sell drugs.
We agree wlLh Lhe respondenL !udge LhaL appllcanL ALLy. Lorna lrances Cabanlas should
have submlLLed documenLary proof LhaL prlvaLe respondenL Alden Lanuza had no such
llcense. AlLhough no explanaLlon was offered by respondenL !udge Lo supporL her
posLure, we hold LhaL Lo esLabllsh Lhe exlsLence of probable cause sufflclenL Lo [usLlfy
Lhe lssuance of a search warranL, Lhe appllcanL musL show "facLs and clrcumsLances
whlch would lead a reasonably dlscreeL and prudenL man Lo belleve LhaL an offense has
been commlLLed and LhaL Lhe ob[ecLs soughL ln connecLlon wlLh Lhe offense are ln Lhe
place soughL Lo be searched."
01

1he facLs and clrcumsLances LhaL would show probable cause musL be Lhe besL evldence
LhaL could be obLalned under Lhe clrcumsLances. 1he lnLroducLlon of such evldence ls
necessary especlally ln cases where Lhe lssue ls Lhe exlsLence or Lhe negaLlve lngredlenL
of Lhe offense charged - for lnsLance, Lhe absence of a llcense requlred by law, as ln
Lhe presenL case - and such evldence ls wlLhln Lhe knowledge and conLrol of Lhe
appllcanL who could easlly produce Lhe same. 8uL lf Lhe besL evldence could noL be
secured aL Lhe Llme of appllcaLlon, Lhe appllcanL musL show a [usLlflable reason Lherefor
durlng Lhe examlnaLlon by Lhe [udge. 1he necesslLy of requlrlng sLrlngenL procedural
safeguards before a search warranL can be lssued ls Lo glve meanlng Lo Lhe
consLlLuLlonal rlghL of a person Lo Lhe prlvacy of hls home and personalLles. As well
sLaLed by Lhls CourL Lhrough former Chlef !usLlce Lnrlque lernando ln 6"11/7842/ 2!)
98408:"7:
09

lL ls deference Lo one's personallLy LhaL lles aL Lhe core of Lhls rlghL, buL lL
could be also looked upon as a recognlLlon of a consLlLuLlonally proLecLed
area, prlmarlly one's home buL noL necessarlly LhereLo conflned (.;) Poffa
v. unlLed SLaLes, 383 u.S. 293 [1966]). WhaL ls soughL Lo be guarded ls a
man's prerogaLlve Lo choose who ls allowed enLry Lo hls resldence. ln LhaL
haven of refuge, hls lndlvlduallLy can asserL lLself noL only ln Lhe cholce of
who shall be welcome buL llkewlse ln Lhe klnd of ob[ecLs he wanLs around
hlm. 1here Lhe sLaLe, however powerful, does noL as such have access
excepL under Lhe clrcumsLances above noLed, for ln Lhe LradlLlonal
formulaLlon, hls house, however humble, ls hls casLle. 1hus ls ouLlawed
any unwarranLed lnLruslon by governmenL, whlch ls called upon Lo refraln
from any lnvaslon of hls dwelllng and Lo respecL Lhe prlvacles of hls llfe
(.;) Schmerber v. Callfornla, 384 uS 737 8rennam, !. and 8oyd v. unlLed
SLaLes, 116 uS 616, 630). ln Lhe same veln, Landynskl ln hls auLhorlLaLlve
work, Search and Selzure and Lhe Supreme CourL (1966), could flLly
characLerlze Lhls consLlLuLlonal rlghL as Lhe embodlmenL of a splrlLual
concepL: Lhe bellef LhaL Lo value Lhe prlvacy of home and person and Lo
afford lLs consLlLuLlonal proLecLlon agalnsL Lhe long reach of governmenL
ls no less, Lhan Lo value human dlgnlLy, and LhaL hls prlvacy musL noL be
dlsLurbed excepL ln case of overrldlng soclal need, and Lhen only under
sLrlngenL procedural safeguards (<:"=, p. 47). (Lmphasls supplled)
ln Lhe case aL bar, Lhe besL evldence procurable under Lhe clrcumsLances Lo prove LhaL
prlvaLe respondenL Alden Lanuza had no llcense Lo sell drugs ls Lhe cerLlflcaLlon Lo LhaL
effecL from Lhe ueparLmenL of PealLh. SC4 Manuel Cablles could have easlly procured
such cerLlflcaLlon when he wenL Lo Lhe 8lAu Lo verlfy from Lhe reglsLry of llcensed
persons or enLlLy. no [usLlflable reason was lnLroduced why such cerLlflcaLlon could noL
be secured. Mere allegaLlon as Lo Lhe non-exlsLence of a llcense by prlvaLe respondenL ls
noL sufflclenL Lo esLabllsh probable cause for a search warranL. 1he presumpLlon of
regularlLy cannoL be lnvoked ln ald of Lhe process when an offlcer underLakes Lo [usLlfy
lL.
02
We apply by analogy our rullng ln >?'@ .47'80A B&C B"1D .&05&0/'"&7 2!) .&80' &;
E554/1!F 4'. /1.:
0M

1he presenLaLlon of Lhe masLer Lapes of Lhe copyrlghLed fllms from whlch
Lhe plraLed flrms were allegedly copled, was necessary for Lhe valldlLy of
search warranLs agalnsL Lhose who have ln Lhelr possesslon Lhe plraLed
fllms. 1he peLlLloner's argumenL Lo Lhe effecL LhaL Lhe presenLaLlon of Lhe
masLer Lapes aL Lhe Llme of appllcaLlon may noL be necessary as Lhese
would be merely evldenLlary ln naLure and noL deLermlnaLlve of wheLher
or noL a probable cause exlsLs Lo [usLlfy Lhe lssuance of Lhe search
warranL ls noL merlLorlous. 1he courL cannoL presume Lhe dupllcaLe or
copled Lapes were necessarlly reproduced from masLer Lapes LhaL lL
owns.
1he appllcaLlon for search warranLs was dlrecLed agalnsL vldeo Lape
ouLleLs whlch allegedly were engaged ln Lhe unauLhorlzed sale and
renLlng ouL of copyrlghLed fllms belonglng Lo Lhe peLlLloner pursuanL Lo
.u. 49.
1he essence of a copyrlghL lnfrlngemenL ls Lhe slmllarlLy or aL leasL
subsLanLlal slmllarlLy of Lhe purporLed plraLed works Lo Lhe copyrlghLed
work. Pence, Lhe appllcanL musL presenL Lo Lhe courL Lhe copyrlghLed
fllms Lo compare Lhe wlLh Lhe purchased evldence of Lhe vldeo Lapes
allegedly plraLed Lo deLermlne wheLher Lhe laLLer ls an unauLhorlzed
reproducLlon of Lhe former. 1hls llnkage of Lhe copyrlghLed fllms Lo Lhe
plraLed fllms musL be esLabllshed Lo saLlsfy Lhe requlremenLs of probable
cause. Mere allegaLlons as Lo Lhe exlsLence of Lhe copyrlghLed fllms
cannoL serve as basls for Lhe lssuance of a search warranL. (Lmphasls
supplled)
Secondly, Lhe place soughL Lo be searched had noL been descrlbed wlLh sufflclenL
parLlcularlLy ln Lhe quesLloned search warranL, conslderlng LhaL prlvaLe respondenL
Alden Lanuza's resldence ls acLually locaLed aL LoL no. 41, 316 San !ose de la MonLana
SL., Mabolo, Cebu ClLy, whlle Lhe drugs soughL Lo be selzed were found ln a warehouse
aL LoL no. 38 wlLhln Lhe same compound. 1he sald warehouse ls owned by a dlfferenL
person. Agaln, Lhe respondenL !udge ls correcL on Lhls polnL.
1hls CourL has held LhaL Lhe appllcanL should parLlcularly descrlbe Lhe place Lo be
searched and Lhe person or Lhlngs Lo be selzed, wherever and whenever lL ls
feaslble.
0<
ln Lhe presenL case, lL musL be noLed LhaL Lhe appllcaLlon for search warranL
was accompanled by a skeLch
0;
of Lhe compound aL 316 San !ose de la MonLana SL.,
Mabolo, Cebu ClLy. 1he skeLch lndlcaLed Lhe 2-sLorey resldenLlal house of prlvaLe
respondenL wlLh a large "x" enclosed ln a square. WlLhln Lhe same compound are
resldences of oLher people, workshops, offlces, facLorles and warehouse. WlLh Lhls
skeLch as Lhe gulde, lL could have been very easy Lo descrlbe Lhe resldenLlal house of
prlvaLe respondenL wlLh sufflclenL parLlcularlLy so as Lo segregaLe lL from Lhe oLher
bulldlngs or sLrucLures lnslde Lhe same compound. 8uL Lhe search warranL merely
lndlcaLed Lhe address of Lhe compound whlch ls 316 San !ose de la MonLana SL.,
Mabolo, Cebu ClLy. 1hls descrlpLlon of Lhe place Lo be searched ls Loo general and does
noL plnpolnL Lhe speclflc house of prlvaLe respondenL. 1hus, Lhe lnadequacy of Lhe
descrlpLlon of Lhe resldence of prlvaLe respondenL soughL Lo be searched has
characLerlzed Lhe quesLloned search warranL as a general warranL, whlch ls vlolaLlve of
Lhe consLlLuLlonal requlremenL.
Whlle Lhe quesLloned search warranL had all Lhe characLerlsLlc of a general warranL, lL
was correcLly lmplemenLed. lor, Lhe searchlng Leam wenL dlrecLly Lo Lhe house of
prlvaLe respondenL Alden Lanuza locaLed aL LoL no. 41 lnslde Lhe compound known as
316 San !ose de la MonLana SLreeL, Mabolo, Cebu ClLy. Powever, Lhe Leam dld noL flnd
any of Lhe drug producLs whlch were Lhe ob[ecL of Lhe search. lrusLraLed, and
apparenLly dlsappolnLed, Lhe Leam Lhen proceeded Lo search a nearby warehouse of
lolk ArLs LxporL & lmporL Company owned by one uavld o locaLed aL LoL no. 38 wlLhln
Lhe same compound. lL was ln Lhe warehouse LhaL drug producLs were found and selzed
whlch were duly recelpLed. ln Lhe !olnL AffldavlL of SC2 lrucLuoso 8eLe, !r. and SC2
Markbllly Capalungan, members of Lhe searchlng Leam, ls a sLaLemenL LhaL Lhe
conflscaLed 32 carLons of assorLed medlclnes were found ln Lhe 5&!!4!!"&7 /7=
#&7'0&1 of prlvaLe respondenL Alden Lanuza. 1hls ls a blaLanL falsehood and ls aggravaLed
by Lhe facL LhaL Lhls was commlLLed by offlcers sworn Lo uphold Lhe law. ln searchlng Lhe
warehouse of lolk ArLs LxporL & lmporL Company owned by one uavld o, Lhe searchlng
Leam wenL beyond Lhe scope of Lhe search warranL. As Lhe Lrlal courL apLly observed:
. . . . 1he verlfled moLlon Lo quash and reply also show LhaL Lhe search aL
Lhe house of defendanL-movanL ylelded negaLlve resulL and Lhe
conflscaLed arLlcles were Laken from anoLher place whlch ls Lhe
warehouse of lolk ArLs lmporL and LxporL Company owned by anoLher
person. ln Lhe reLurn of Lhe search warranL, lL ls sLaLed LhaL Search
WarranL no. 938 (93) was served aL Lhe premlses of 316 San !ose dela
MonLana SL., Cebu ClLy and LhaL durlng Lhe search, drug producLs were
found and selzed Lherefrom whlch were duly recelpLed. Accompanylng,
sald reLurn ls Lhe !olnL AffldavlL of Lwo (2) members of Lhe searchlng
Leam, namely: SC2 lrocLuoso 8eLe and SC2 Markbllly Capallngan, boLh
of Lhe 7Lh Crlmlnal lnvesLlgaLlon Command, n, wlLh sLaLlon aL Camp
SoLero Cabahug, Cerardo Avenue, Cebu ClLy whlch also menLloned only
Lhe address as 316 San !ose dela MonLana SL., Mabolo, Cebu ClLy and Lhe
conflscaLlon of 32 carLoons(!"#) of assorLed medlclnes purporLedly from
Lhe possesslon and conLrol of defendanL-movanL. Powever, as lndlcaLed
ln Lhe skeLch aLLached Lo Lhe appllcaLlon for search warranL, sald lolk
ArLs lmporL and LxporL Company ls owned by one uavld o, whlch ls a
concreLe proof LhaL Lhe searchlng Leam exceeded Lhelr auLhorlLy by
conducLlng a search noL only ln Lhe resldence of defendanL-movanL
Lanuza buL also ln anoLher place whlch Lhe appllcanL lLself has ldenLlfled
as belonglng Lo anoLher person, uavld o. 1he foregolng are sLrong
reasons Lo supporL Lhe concluslon LhaL Lhere has been an unreasonable
search and selzure whlch would warranL Lhe quashal of Lhe search
warranL.
EN

1he respondenL !udge acLed correcLly ln granLlng Lhe moLlon Lo quash Lhe search
warranL.
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