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Petitioners Side:
Search warrant was issued without the complainants or any witnesses having been examined,
is untenable. The depositions speak for themselves. It is also contended that the application
and the warrant did not particularly describe the things to be seized. The verified statements
of the two internal revenue agents and the warrant issued by the Court of First Instance of
Manila all describe the property sought to be seized as "fraudulent books, invoices and
records".
Furthermore, "the books, invoices, and records seized are property which one may lawfully
possess; they were searched and seized solely for the purpose of using them as evidence to
prove an offense supposed to have been committed by appellant against the internal revenue
customs laws, which search and seizure for the purpose intended is prohibited by law."
Respondents Side:
It has been shown that the internal revenue agents strictly obeyed the command of their
warrant by seizing no other property than that described therein.
ISSUE:
Whether or not appellant's books, invoices, and records seized solely for use as evidence of a
crime of which the appellant was accused or suspected? or whether or not the books,
invoices, and records seized in order to prevent the further perpetration of fraud?
HELD:
It is to be observed that the public has an interest in the proper regulation of appellant's
books. (Act No. 3292, section 4.) Moreover, the books belonged to a corporation of which the
appellant was simply the manager. And lastly, the search warrant only issued on a showing of
probable cause to adopt the language alike of section 96 of the Code of Criminal
Procedure and the search warrant that "fraudulent books, invoices, and records" were
"now being used in the commission of a felony."
Finally, while the assertion is oft-repeated that the books, invoices, and records were taken
solely for the purpose of being used as evidence against Rubio, we find no support for this
contention in the record. In the trial court, the assistant city fiscal said: "As we have stated
above, the search and seizure in this case were made under the provisions of the internalrevenue laws and the authority of a search warrant, and not for the purpose of obtaining
evidence, but with a view to seize the instruments used in the violation of said laws
committed by the defendant." On appeal, the prosecution persistently maintains its position
that the seizure was made with the object of preventing the use of the books of account,
documents, and papers in the commission of further offenses or fraud or against the
Government. Not a scintilla of evidence is to be found in the record to prove that the
Government has used the books of account, documents, and papers as evidence against the
appellant, or that the Government ever had the intention of so doing. All we know is, that an
information was filed against Rubio, charging him with a violation of the Customs Law, and
that he compromised another case with the Bureau of Internal Revenue on the payment of the
sum of P100,000. On this showing, we perforce cannot deduce that the books of account,
documents, and papers were wanted solely for use as evidence of a crime.
RULING:
A thorough reexamination of the case, in the light of the arguments presented and the
authorities cited, leads us to the same conclusion as before, namely, that no constitutional
right of the appellant was violated; that the letter of the law was followed, and that the order
of the trial judge was correct in all particulars. Wherefore , the judgment will be affirmed, with the
costs of this instance against the appellant.