PEOPLE VS QUE G.R. No. 120365 December 17, 1996 FACTS FACTS:: Acc Accuse used- d-!!e !!e""# ""#$$ %&"so# %&"so# '. (ue !!e" !!e"s s )rom )rom *&s co#+&c co#+&c$&o $&o# # )or +&o" +&o"$ $&o &o# # o) Sec$&o Sec$&o# # 6 o) D No. No. 705, 705, s me#de me#ded d b / No. No. 277. 277. e c"&med $*$ *e cu&red $*e 25 !&eces o) $#u&"e "umber )rom "e" source. Dur&# $*e $r&", *e !rese#$ed $*e !r&+$e "#d $&mber !erm&$s 4T &ssued b $*e De!r$me#$ o) /#+&ro#me#$ #d N$ur" Resources 4D/NR $o /#r&c /#r&c Cos Cos #d /"!&d& /"!&d&o o Sb". Sb". T*e T T u$*or u$*or&e &es s &$s *o"der *o"der $o cu$, cu$, $*er #d d&s!ose $&mber )rom $*e )ores$ re co+ered b $*e !erm&$. e ""eed $*$ $*e $#u&"e "umber cme )rom $*e )ores$ re co+ered b $*e T8s o) Cos #d Sb" #d $*$ $*e ere &+e# $o *&m b Cos #d Sb" s !me#$ )or *&s *u"&# ser+&ces. A!!e""#$ rues $*$ *e c##o$ be co#+&c$ed )or +&o"$&o# o) Sec$&o# 6 o) .D. 705 becuse /.. 277 *&c* me#ded Sec$&o# 6 $o !e#"&e $*e !ossess&o# o) $&mber or o$*er )ores$ !roduc$s &$*ou$ $*e !ro!er "e" docume#$s d&d #o$ &#d&c$e $*e !r$&cu"r docume#$s #ecessr $o me $*e !ossess&o# "e". Ne&$*er d&d $*e o$*er )ores$ "s #d reu"$&o#s e;&s$&# $ $*e $&me o) &$s e#c$me#$.
es. T*ere re $o 42 d&s$&#c$ #d se!r$e o))e#ses !u#&s*ed u#der Sec$&o# 6 o) .D. 705, $o &$: 41 Cu$$&#, $*er&#, co""ec$&# #d remo+&# $&mber or o$*er )ores$ !roduc$s )rom # )ores$ "#d, or $&mber )rom "&e#b"e or d&s! d&s!o os sb" b"e e !ub" !ub"&c &c "#d "#d,, or )rom )rom !r&+ !r&+ $e "#d "#d &$ &$*o *ou$ u$ # # u$*or&$? #d 42 ossess&o# o) $&mber or o$*er )ores$ !roduc$s &$*ou$ $*e "e "e"" docu docume me#$ #$s s reu reu&r &red ed u#de u#derr e;&s e;&s$& $&# # )ore )ores$ s$ "s "s #d #d reu"$&o#s. <# $*e )&rs$ o))e#se, o#e c# r&se s de)e#se $*e "e"&$ o) $*e c$s o) cu$$&#, $*er&#, co""ec$&# or remo+&# $&mber or o$*er )ores$ !roduc$s b !rese#$&# $*e u$*or&$&o# &ssued b $*e D/NR. <# $*e seco#d o))e#se, *oe+e *oe+err, &$ &s &mm$e &mm$er& r&"" *e$*e *e$*err $*e cu$$&# cu$$&#, , $*er $*er&# &#,, co" co""ec "ec$&# $&# #d remo+" o) $*e )ores$ !roduc$s &s "e" or #o$. @ere !ossess&o# o) )ores$
!roduc$s &$*ou$ $*e !ro!er docume#$s co#summ$es $*e cr&me. %*e$*er or #o$ $*e "umber comes )rom "e" source &s &mm$er&" becuse /. 277 co#s&ders $*e mere !ossess&o# o) $&mber or o$*er )ores$ !roduc$s &$*ou$ $*e !ro!er "e" docume#$s s malum prohibitum.
Re!ub"&c o) $*e *&"&!!&#es SUPREME COURT @#&" S/CND D<
PUNO, J.: p Accused-!!e""#$ %&"so# '. (ue !!e"s )rom *&s co#+&c$&o# )or +&o"$&o# o) Sec$&o# 6 o) res&de#$&" Decree 4.D. 705 1 s me#ded b /;ecu$&+e rder 4/.. 277. 2 T*e )c$s s*o $*$ $o ees be)ore @rc* , 199B, S1 De;$er Cor!u, member o) $*e ro+&#c&" Ts Force o# <""e" o&#, rece&+ed # &#)orm$&o# $*$ $e#-*ee"er $ruc ber&# !"$e #umber AD-5B "oded &$* &""e"" cu$ "umber &"" !ss $*rou* <"ocos Nor$e. Ac$&# o# s&d &#)orm$&o#, members o) $*e ro+&#c&" Ts Force e#$ o# !$ro" se+er" $&mes &$*&# $*e +&c&#&$ o) Ge#er" Seu#do A+e#ue &# o C&$. 3 # @rc* , 199B, S1 Cor!u, $oe$*er &$* S1 "d Asu#c&o# #d S1 /"mer $oc e#$ o# !$ro" rou#d $*e re. A$ bou$ 1:00 &# $*e mor#&#, $*e !os$ed $*emse"+es $ $*e cor#er o) Ge#er" Seu#do A+e#ue #d R&" S$ree$. T*&r$ m&#u$es "$er, $*e s $e#-*ee"er $ruc &$* !"$e #umber AD-5B !ss b. T*e )o""oed $*e $ruc #d !!re*e#ded &$ $ $*e @rcos 'r&de. & T*ere ere $*ree !erso#s o# bord $*e $ruc: dr&+er %&")redo Cco, ccused-!!e""#$ %&"so# (ue, #d # u##med !erso#. T*e dr&+er &de#$&)&ed ccused- !!e""#$ s $*e o#er o) $*e $ruc #d $*e cro. 5
S1 Cor!u c*eced $*e cro #d )ou#d $*$ &$ co#$&#ed coco#u$ s"bs. %*e# &#$er+&eed, ccused-!!e""#$ $o"d S1 Cor!u $*$ $*ere ere s# "umber &#ser$ed &# be$ee# $*e coco#u$ s"bs. 6 S1 Cor!u sed ccused-!!e""#$ )or $*e cro8s su!!or$&# docume#$s, s!ec&)&c"": 41 cer$&)&c$e o) "umber or&&#, 42 cer$&)&c$e o) $r#s!or$ reeme#$, 43 u;&"&r &#+o&ce, 4B rece&!$ )rom $*e D/NR, #d 45 cer$&)&c$&o# )rom $*e )ores$ r#er rerd&# $*e or&&# o) $*e coco#u$ s"bs. Accused-!!e""#$ )&"ed $o !rese#$ # o) $*ese docume#$s . A"" *e cou"d s*o s cer$&)&c$&o# 7 )rom $*e Commu#&$ /#+&ro#me#$ #d N$ur" Resources ))&ce 4C/NR, S#c*e @&r, C# $*$ *e "e"" cu&red $*e coco#u$ s"bs. T*e cer$&)&c$&o# s &ssued $o )c&"&$$e $r#s!or$ o) $*e s"bs )rom S#c*e @&r, C# $o S# &ce#$e, =rd#e$, #s&##. 7 S1 Cor!u brou*$ ccused-!!e""#$ $o $*e o))&ce o) $*e ro+&#c&" Ts Force $ $*e !ro+&#c&" c!&$o". A&#, ccused-!!e""#$ dm&$$ed $o $*e members o) $*e ro+&#c&" Ts Force $*$ $*ere ere s# "umber u#der $*e coco#u$ s"bs. A$ 10:00 o8c"oc &# $*e mor#&#, $*e members o) $*e ro+&#c&" Ts Force, $oe$*er &$* $*ree C/NR !erso##e" e;m&#ed $*e cro. T*e e;m&#$&o# co#)&rmed $*$ $*e cro co#s&s$ed o) coco#u$ s"bs #d s# $#u&"e "umber. T*e coco#u$ s"bs ere !&"ed $ $*e s&des o) $*e $ruc, co#ce"&# $*e $#u&"e "umber. 10 %*e# $*e C/NR !erso##e" &#+e#$or&ed #d sc"ed $*e se&ed )ores$ !roduc$s, $*e cou#$ed $o *u#dred )&)$ e&*$ 425 !&eces o) $#u&"e "umber &$* $o$" +o"ume o) 3,729.3 bord )ee$ 4.79 cub&c me$ers #d $o$" ssessed +"ue o) 93,232.50. 11 # u#e 23, 199B, ccused-!!e""#$ s c*red be)ore $*e Re&o#" Tr&" Cour$ o) o &$* +&o"$&o# o) Sec$&o# 6 o) .D. 705 s me#ded b /.. 277. T*e <#)orm$&o# ""eed: T*$ o# or bou$ $*e $* d o) @rc*, 199B, &# $*e C&$ o) o, *&"&!!&#es, #d &$*&# $*e Eur&sd&c$&o# o) $*&s o#orb"e Cour$, $*e bo+e-#med ccused, be&# $*e# $*e o#er o) # <4suu Te# *ee"er Truc ber&# "$e No. AD-5B, &$* &#$e#$ o) &#, d&d $*e# #d $*ere &"")u"", u#")u"" #d )e"o#&ous" *+e &# !ossess&o#, co#$ro" #d cus$od 25 !&eces o) +r&ous s&es o) Fores$ roduc$s c*&#s# "umber 4s!ec&es o) T#u&"e
&$* $o$" +o"ume o) 3,729.3 bd. )$. or eu&+"e#$ $o .79 cub&c me$ers +"ued &# $*e $o$" mou#$ o) 93,232.50 $ 25.00bd. )$., #ecessr !erm&$, "&ce#se or u$*or&$ $o do so )rom $*e !ro!er u$*or&$&es, $*us +&o"$&# $*e )orec&$ed !ro+&s&o# o) $*e ", $o $*e dme #d !reEud&ce o) $*e o+er#me#$. CNTRAR> T A%.
12
Accused-!!e""#$ de#&ed $*e c*re &#s$ *&m. e c"&med $*$ *e cu&red $*e 25 !&eces o) $#u&"e "umber )rom "e" source. Dur&# $*e $r&", *e !rese#$ed $*e !r&+$e "#d $&mber !erm&$s 4T &ssued b $*e De!r$me#$ o) /#+&ro#me#$ #d N$ur" Resources 4D/NR $o /#r&c Cos 13 #d /"!&d&o Sb". 1& T*e T u$*or&es &$s *o"der $o cu$, $*er #d d&s!ose $&mber )rom $*e )ores$ re co+ered b $*e !erm&$. e ""eed $*$ $*e $#u&"e "umber cme )rom $*e )ores$ re co+ered b $*e T8s o) Cos #d Sb" #d $*$ $*e ere &+e# $o *&m b Cos #d Sb" s !me#$ )or *&s *u"&# ser+&ces. 15 Accused-!!e""#$ "so obEec$ed $o $*e dm&ss&o# o) $*e 25 !&eces o) "umber s e+&de#ce &#s$ *&m. e co#$e#ded $*$ $*e ere )ru&$s o) # &""e" serc* #d se&ure #d o) # u#cou#se""ed e;$rEud&c&" dm&ss&o#. T*e $r&" cour$ )ou#d ccused-!!e""#$ u&"$ #d se#$e#ced *&m $o reclusion perpetua. <$ "so ordered $*e co#)&sc$&o# o) $*e se&ed "umber #d $*e $e#-*ee"er $ruc o#ed b ccused-!!e""#$. T*e d&s!os&$&+e !or$&o# o) $*e Dec&s&o# 16 s$$es: %/R/FR/, Eudme#$ &s *ereb re#dered dec"r&# ccused %&"so# '. (ue u&"$ beo#d reso#b"e doub$ o) $*e +&o"$&o# o) Sec$&o# 6 o) D 705, s me#ded b /;ecu$&+e rder No. 277 #d *e &s *ereb se#$e#ced $o su))er $*e !e#"$ o) RECLUSION PERPETUA, !"us "" $*e ccessor !e#"$&es !ro+&ded b ". T*e b&" bo#d )&"ed )or $*e !ro+&s&o#" "&ber$ o) $*e ccused &s CANC//D. T*e $o *u#dred )&)$-e&*$ 425 !&eces o) "umber 4$#u&"e s!ec&e #d $*e $e#-*ee"er $ruc ber&# !"$e No. AD-5B *&c* s used &# $*e comm&ss&o# o) $*e cr&me re *ereb
ordered co#)&sc$ed &# )+or o) $*e o+er#me#$ $o be d&s!osed o) &# ccord#ce &$* ". Cos$s &#s$ $*e ccused. S RD/R/D. 17 A!!e""#$ errors: 1'
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1. <$ s error )or $*e Cour$ $o co#+&c$ ccused u#der Sec$&o# 6, D 705 s me#ded b / 277 )or !ossess&# $&mber or o$*er )ores$ !roduc$s &$*ou$ $*e "e" docume#$s s reu&red u#der e;&s$&# )ores$ "s #d reu"$&o#s o# $*e rou#d $*$ s&#ce &$ &s o#" &# / No. 277 *ere )or $*e )&rs$ $&me mere !ossess&o# o) $&mber s cr&m&#"&ed, $*ere re #o e;&s$&# )ores$ "s #d reu"$&o#s *&c* reu&red cer$&# "e" docume#$s )or !ossess&o# o) $&mber #d o$*er )ores$ !roduc$s. 2. T*e Cour$ erred &# ""o&# e+&de#ce secured &# +&o"$&o# o) $*e co#s$&$u$&o#" r&*$s o) ccused &#s$ u#")u" serc*es #d se&ures. 3. T*e Cour$ erred &# ""o&# e+&de#ce secured &# +&o"$&o# o) $*e co#s$&$u$&o#" r&*$s o) ccused u#der cus$od&" &#+es$&$&o#. # $*e )&rs$ ss&#me#$ o) error, !!e""#$ rues $*$ *e c##o$ be co#+&c$ed )or +&o"$&o# o) Sec$&o# 6 o) .D. 705 becuse /.. 277 *&c* me#ded Sec$&o# 6 $o !e#"&e $*e !ossess&o# o) $&mber or o$*er )ores$ !roduc$s &$*ou$ $*e !ro!er "e" docume#$s d&d #o$ &#d&c$e $*e !r$&cu"r docume#$s #ecessr $o me $*e !ossess&o# "e". Ne&$*er d&d $*e o$*er )ores$ "s #d reu"$&o#s e;&s$&# $ $*e $&me o) &$s e#c$me#$. A!!e""#$8s rume#$ deser+es sc#$ co#s&der$&o#. Sec$&o# 6 o) .D. 705 !ro+&des: Sec. 6. Cu$$&#, G$*er&# #dor Co""ec$&# T&mber, or o$*er Fores$ roduc$s %&$*ou$ &ce#se. A# !erso# *o s*"" cu$, $*er, co""ec$, remo+e $&mber or o$*er )ores$ !roduc$s )rom # )ores$ "#d, or $&mber )rom "&e#b"e or d&s!osb"e !ub"&c "#d, or
