PEOPLE V.

MARIACOS

G.R. NO. 188611

JUNE 16, 2010

FACTS:

The San Gabriel Police Station of San Gabriel, La Union conducted a checkpoint near the police
station to intercept a suspected transport of marijuana from Barangay Balbayang. The checkpoint
however did not yield any suspect, so the Chief of Police instructed PO2 Pallayoc to proceed to Barangay
Balbalayang to conduct surveillance operation. The secret agent whom PO2 Pallayoc met informed him
that three (3) bags and one (1) blue plastic bag and a backpack bag with an "O.K." marking carrying
marijuana has been loaded on a passenger jeepney bound for Poblacion. PO2 Pallayoc then boarded the
said jeepney and found the backpack with bricks of marijuana inside, however, he did not know the
owner thereof, so he alighted the jeepney together with the other passengers. A few moments later, he
realized that the bag and 3 other bags were being carried away by 2 women. He arrested the women
but one of them got away. The police identified the other woman as accused-appellant Belen Mariacos.
She was the found guilty by the Regional Trial Court and the Court of Appeals of violation of Article II,
Section 5 of Republic Act (R.A.) No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

ISSUE:

Whether or not the warrantless search and arrest of accused Mariacos was lawful

RULING:

Yes. The search of a moving vehicle is one of the doctrinally accepted exceptions to the Constitutional
mandate that no search or seizure shall be made except by virtue of a warrant issued by a judge after
personally determining the existence of probable cause.

In People v. Bagista, the Court said:

The constitutional proscription against warrantless searches and seizures admits of certain exceptions.
Aside from a search incident to a lawful arrest, a warrantless search had been upheld in cases of a
moving vehicle, and the seizure of evidence in plain view.

With regard to the search of moving vehicles, this had been justified on the ground that the mobility of
motor vehicles makes it possible for the vehicle to be searched to move out of the locality or jurisdiction
in which the warrant must be sought.

This in no way, however, gives the police officers unlimited discretion to conduct warrantless searches
of automobiles in the absence of probable cause. When a vehicle is stopped and subjected to an
extensive search, such a warrantless search has been held to be valid only as long as the officers
conducting the search have reasonable or probable cause to believe before the search that they will find
the instrumentality or evidence pertaining to a crime, in the vehicle to be searched.

It is well to remember that in the instances we have recognized as exceptions to the requirement of a
judicial warrant, it is necessary that the officer effecting the arrest or seizure must have been impelled to
do so because of probable cause. The essential requisite of probable cause must be satisfied before a
warrantless search and seizure can be lawfully conducted. Without probable cause, the articles seized
cannot be admitted in evidence against the person arrested.

Probable cause is defined as a reasonable ground of suspicion supported by circumstances sufficiently

strong in themselves to induce a cautious man to believe that the person accused is guilty of the offense
charged. It refers to the existence of such facts and circumstances that can lead a reasonably discreet
and prudent man to believe that an offense has been committed, and that the items, articles or objects
sought in connection with said offense or subject to seizure and destruction by law are in the place to be
searched.

The grounds of suspicion are reasonable when, in the absence of actual belief of the arresting officers,
the suspicion that the person to be arrested is probably guilty of committing the offense is based on
actual facts, i.e., supported by circumstances sufficiently strong in themselves to create the probable
cause of guilt of the person to be arrested. A reasonable suspicion therefore must be founded on
probable cause, coupled with good faith on the part of the peace officers making the arrest.

Given the discussion above, it is readily apparent that the search in this case is valid. The vehicle that
carried the contraband or prohibited drugs was about to leave. PO2 Pallayoc had to make a quick
decision and act fast. It would be unreasonable to require him to procure a warrant before conducting
the search under the circumstances. Time was of the essence in this case. The searching officer had no
time to obtain a warrant. Indeed, he only had enough time to board the vehicle before the same left for
its destination.

It is well to remember that on October 26, 2005, the night before appellant’s arrest, the police received
information that marijuana was to be transported from Barangay Balbalayang, and had set up a
checkpoint around the area to intercept the suspects. At dawn of October 27, 2005, PO2 Pallayoc met
the secret agent from the Barangay Intelligence Network, who informed him that a baggage of
marijuana was loaded on a passenger jeepney about to leave for the poblacion. Thus, PO2 Pallayoc had
probable cause to search the packages allegedly containing illegal drugs.

This Court has also, time and again, upheld as valid a warrantless search incident to a lawful arrest. Thus,
Section 13, Rule 126 of the Rules of Court provides:

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.23

For this rule to apply, it is imperative that there be a prior valid arrest. Although, generally, a warrant is
necessary for a valid arrest, the Rules of Court provides the exceptions therefor, to wit:

SEC. 5. Arrest without warrant; when lawful.—A peace officer or a private person may, without a
warrant, arrest a person:

(a) When, in his presence, the person to be arrested has committed, is actually committing, or is
attempting to commit an offense;
(b) When an offense has just been committed and he has probable cause to believe based on personal
knowledge of facts or circumstances that the person to be arrested has committed it; and

(c) When the person to be arrested is a prisoner who has escaped from a penal establishment or place
where he is serving final judgment or is temporarily confined while his case is pending, or has escaped
while being transferred from one confinement to another.

In cases falling under paragraphs (a) and (b) above, the person arrested without a warrant shall be
forthwith delivered to the nearest police station or jail and shall be proceeded against in accordance
with section 7 of Rule 112.24

Be that as it may, we have held that a search substantially contemporaneous with an arrest can precede
the arrest if the police has probable cause to make the arrest at the outset of the search.

Given that the search was valid, appellant’s arrest based on that search is also valid.