[ No .4 59 50 .J une2 0,1 93 8] s . LEONAPASI ON VI UDADEGARCI A,pe t i t i o ne r ,v DI EGO Loc SI N,JudgeofFi r s t I ns t a nc eo fTa r l a c ,FELI XI MPERI AL,Pr o v i nc i a lFi s c a lo fTa r l a c ,a ndt heANTI USUR URYBOARD,r e s po nde nt s . 1 .1 . CONSTI TUTI ONAL LAW; W; SEARCHE HES AND ND SEI ZURES; SEARCH WARRANT. — Fr e e d o mf r o m unr e a s o n ab l es e a r c he sa nds e i z u r e si sd e c l a r e dap o pul a rr i g hta nd f o ras e a r c hwa r r a ntt obev al i d,( 1 )i tmu mus tb ei s s u e dupo npr o b ab l ec a us e ;( 2 )t he p r o b a bl ec a us emu mus tb ede t e r mi ne dbyt hej ud g ehi ms e l fa ndno tb yt hea pp l i c a nt o ra nyo t he rpe r s o n;( 3 )i nt hed e t e r mi na t i o no fp r o b a bl ec a us e ,t hej ud g emus t ex ami mi ne,underoat h oraffir ffir mat i on,t hec ompl ai nantand s uc h wi t ness esast he l a t t e rma ma ypr o d uc e ; a nd( 4 )t hewa r r a nti s s u e dmus tpa r t i c u l a r l yde s c r i b et hepl a c e t o be s ear c hed and per s ons ort hi ngs t o be s ei ze d.Thes er equi r eme ment s ar e c o mp mp l e me me nt e db yt heCo d eo fCr i mi na lPr o c e d ur e( G.O.No58 ) ,p ar t i c ul a r l ywi t h r e f e r e nc et ot hedur a t i o no ft hev al i di t yo ft hes e a r c hwa r r a nta ndt heo b l i g at i o no f t heo ffic ffic e rs e i z i ngt h epr o p e r t yt od e l i v e rt hes a me met ot hec o r r e 690
6 90
PHILIPPINE REPORTS REPORTS ANNOTATED
Garcia vs. Locsin. 1 .s p o ndi ngc o ur t( s e c s .1 02 1 04 ) .Onmo r et hano neo c c a s i o n,s i nc et hea ppr o v a lo ft he Co ns t i t ut i o n,weha de mp mpha s i z e dt hene c e s s i t yo fa dhe r e nc et ot h ec o ns t i t ut i o na l r e q ui r e me me nt so nt hi ss ub j e c ta ndwed ono td e e mi tne c e s s a r yt or e i t e r a t ewha tha s b ee ns a i do ro b s e r v e di nt ho s ec a s e s . 1. 2. I D. ;I D. ;I D. ; DETERMI NATI ON OFPROBABLE CAUSE. —I nt hei ns t antc as et he e x i s t e nc eo fp r o b a bl ec a us ewa sde t e r mi ne dno tb yt hej ud g ehi ms e l fb utb yt he a pp l i c a nt .Al lt ha tt hej ud gedi dwa st oac c e p ta st r u et heaffid a vi tma deb ya g e nt A.Hedi dno tde c i def o rhi ms e l f .I tdo e sno tappe art hathee x ami ne dt heappl i c ant a ndhi swi t ne s s e s ,i fa ny .Ev e na c c e p t i ngt hede s c r i p t i o no ft hepr o p e r t i e st obe s e i z e dt obes uffic i e nta ndo nt heas s ump t i o nt ha tt her e c e i p ti s s ue di ss u ffic ffic i e nt l y de t a i l e dwi t hi nt heme me a ni ngo ft hel a w,t hepr o p e r t i e ss e i z e dwe r eno tde l i v e r e dt o t hec o ur twhi c hi s s ue dt hewa r r a nt ,a sr e q ui r e db yl a w.( Se e s e c s . 9 5,a nd1 04 ,G.O. No .6 8. )I ns t e ad,t he ywe r et ur ne do v e rt ot her e s po nde ntpr o v i nc i a lfis c a la ndus e d b yhi mi nb ui l di ngupc a s e sa ga i ns tt hepe t i t i o ne r .Co ns i de r i ngt ha ta tt het i met he wa r r a ntwa si s s ue dt h e r ewa snoc a s ep e ndi ngag ai ns tt hep e t i t i o ne r ,t hea v e r m me e nt t ha tt hewa r r a ntwa si s s u e dpr i ma r i l yf o re x pl o r a t i o npur p o s e si sno twi t ho utb as i s .
Thel o we rc o ur ti s ,t he r e f o r e ,c o r r e c ti nr e a c hi ngt hec o n c l us i o nt ha tt h es e a r c h war r a nt( Ex hi bi tB)wasi l l e gal l yi s s ue db yt hej us t i c eo ft hepe ac eo fTar l ac , Tar l ac . 1 .3. I D. ;I D. ;I D. ; CONSTI TUTI ONAL I MMUNI TY; WAI VER. —The c o ns t i t ut i o nal i mmuni t ya g ai ns tu nr e a s o n ab l es e a r c he sa nd s e i z u r e si sa p e r s o na lr i g htwhi c h ma yb ewa i v e d .Thewa i v e rma yb ee i t he re x p r e s so ri mp l i e d .Noe x p r e s swa i v e rha s b e e nma dei nt hec a s eb e f o r eu s .I ti sur g e d,ho we v e r ,t ha tt he r eh asb e e nawa i v e r b yi mpl i c a t i o n.I ti swe l l s e t t l e dt hatt oc o ns t i t ut eawai v ero fac o ns t i t ut i o nalr i ght , i tmus ta ppe ar ,fir s t ,t ha tt h er i g hte x i s t s ;s e c o ndl y ,t ha tt h epe r s o ni nv o l v e dha d kno wl e dg e,e i t he rac t ualo rc o ns t r uc t i v e,o ft hee xi s t e nc eo fs uc hr i ght ;and,l as t l y , t ha ts a i dpe r s o nhada na c t ua li nt e nt i o nt or e l i nq ui s ht her i g ht .Thec o ns t i t ut i o na l I mmuni t yf r o m unr e a s o n ab l es e a r c he sa nds e i z u r e s ,b e i ngap e r s o na lo ne ,c a nno t bewai ve d byanyonee xc eptt heper s on whoser i ght sarei nvaded oro ne whoi s e x pr e s s l yaut ho r i z e dt odos oi nhi so rhe rb ehal f . 1 .4 . I D. ;I D. ;I D. ;I D. ;I D. —Thef a i l ur eo nt hepa r to ft hepe t i t i o ne ra ndhe rbo o kk ee pe r t or e s i s to ro bj e c tt ot hee x e c u t i o no ft hewa r r a ntd o esno tc o ns t i t ut ea ni mpl i e d wai v e ro fc o ns t i t ut i o nalr i g ht .I ti sbutas ubmi s s i o nt ot heaut ho r i t yo ft hel a w.As t hec o ns t i t ut i o na lg ua r a nt yi sno td e pe nde ntup o na nya ffir ma t i v eac to ft hec i t i z e n , t hec o ur t sdono tp l a c et hec i t i z e ni nt hepo s i t i o no fe i t he rc o nt e s t i nga no ffic e r ' s aut ho r i t yb yf o r c e ,o r 691
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Garcia vs. Locsin. 1 .wai v i nghi sc o ns t i t ut i o nalr i g ht s ;buti ns t e adt he yho l dt hata pe ac e f uls ub mi s s i o nt o as e a r c ho rs e i z u r ei sno ta c o ns e nto ra ni n vi t a t i o nt he r e t o ,b uti sme r e l ya de mo ns t r a t i o no fr e g ar df o rt hes up r e ma c yo ft hel a w. 1 .5 . I D. ;I D. ;I D. ;I D.;I D. —Thewa i v e rma yb et her e s ul to faf a i l ur et oob j e c twi t hi na r e a s o n ab l et i met oas e a r c ha nds e i z ur ei l l e g al l yma de .Ho we v e r ,und e rt hef a c t s s t a t e di nt heo pi ni o no ft hec o u r ti twa she l dt ha tt hede l a yi nma ki ngde ma ndf o r t her e t ur no ft hedo c ume nt ss e i z e di sno ts uc ha st or e s ul ti nwa i v e rb yi mpl i c a t i o n.
ORI GI NALACTI ON i nt heSupr e meCo ur t .Mand amus . Thef ac t sar es t at e di nt heo pi ni o no ft hec o ur t . Be ni gnoS.Aq ui no Ma c i alP.Li c hauc o an d r fo rpe t i t i o ne r .
Ado l f oN.Fe l i c i ano f o rt her e s po nde ntAnt i Us u r yBo a r d . So l i c i t o r Ge ne r alTuas o n f o ro t he rr e s po nde nt s . J : LAUREL ,. Thi si sa p e t i t i o nf o rma nd amuspr e s e n t e dt os e c ur et hea nnul me n to fas e a r c h wa r r a nta nd t woo r d e r so ft her e s p o nd e ntj ud ge ,a nd t her e s t o r a t i o no fc e r t a i n d o c u me nt sa l l e g e dt o ha v eb e e ni l l e g a l l ys e i z e db ya na g e nto ft he Ant i Us u r y Boar d. I ta pp e a r st ha to nNo v e mb e r1 0 ,1 9 34 ,Ma r i a noG.Al me d a ,a na g e nto ft heAnt i Us u r y Bo a r d ,o b t a i ne df r o m t hej us t i c eo ft hepe a c eo fTa r l a c ,Ta r l a c ,a s e a r c h wa r r a nt/ Ex hi b i tB)c o mma nd i nga n yo ffic e ro ft hel a wt os e a r c ht hepe r s o n ,ho u s e o rs t o r eo ft hepe t i t i o ne ratVi c t o r i a,Tar l ac ,f o r" c e r t ai nbo oks ,l i s t s ,c hi t s ,r e c e i pt s , d o c u me nt sa nd o t he rp ap e r sr e l a t i ng t o he ra c t i v i t i e sa s us u r e r . "The s e a r c h warr antwasi s s ueduponan affidavi tgi ve n byt hes ai dAl meda" t hathehasand t he r e( i s )j us tandpr o b ab l ec a us et obe l i e v eandhedo e sb el i e v et ha tLe o naPas i o n deGa r c i ak e e psandc o nc e a l si n he rho us eand s t o r ea tVi c t o r i a ,Ta r l a c ,c e r t a i n bo oks ,l i s t s ,c hi t s ,r e c e i pt s ,do c ume nt s ,ando t he rpape r sr e l at i ngt ohe rac t i v i t i e sas us ur e r ,a l lo fwhi c hi sc o nt r a r yt ot hes t a t ut ei ns uc hc a s e sma deandpr o v i de d. "On t hes a med at e ,t hes a i dMa r i a noG.Al me d a,a c c o mp ani e dbyac a pt a i no ft hePhi l 692
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Garcia vs. Locsin. i ppi neCo ns t abul ar y , we ntt ot heo ffic eo ft hepe t i t i o ne ri nVi c t o r i a,Tar l aca nd,af t e r s h o wi ng t he s e a r c h wa r r a ntt ot he pe t i t i o ne r ' sb o o kk e e pe r ,Al f r e d o Sa l a s ,a nd, wi t hout t he pr es enc e oft he pet i t i oner who was i l land c onfined att he t i me, pr o c e e d e dwi t ht hee x e c u t i o nt he r e o f .Twopa c k ag e so fr e c o r d sa ndal o c k e d fil i ng c abi ne tc ont ai ni ng s ev er alpaper sand doc ument swer es ei ze d by Al meda and a r e c e i p tt he r e f o ri s s ue db yhi mt oSa l a s .Thepa pe r sa ndd o c ume nt ss e i z e dwe r ek e pt f o ra c o ns i d e r a b l el e ng t ho ft i meb yt heAnt i Us u r y Bo a r da nd t he r e a f t e rwe r e t ur ne do v e rb yi tt ot her e s p o nd e ntfi s c a lwhos u bs e q ue nt l yfil e d ,i nt heCo ur to f Fi r s tI ns t anc eofTar l ac ' ,s i xs e par a t ec r i mi nalc a s e sag ai ns tt hehe r e i npe t i t i o ne r f o rv i o l a t i o no ft he Ant i Us u r y La w.On s e v e r a lo c c a s i o ns ,a f t e rs e i z ur e ,t he p e t i t i o ne r ,t hr o ug hc o uns e l ,d e ma nd e df r o mt her e s p o nd e ntAnt i Us u r yBo a r dt he r e t ur no ft hed o c ume nt ss e i z e d .OnJ anua r y7 ,a nd,b ymo t i o n,o nJ une4 ,1 93 7 ,t he l e g al i t yo ft hes e ar c hwar r antwasc hal l e ng e db yc o uns e lf o rt hepe t i t i o ne ri nt hes i x
c r i mi na lc a s e sa nd t hed e v o l ut i o no ft hed o c ume n t sd e ma nd e d .By r e s o l ut i o no f Oc t o b e r5 ,1 9 37 ,t he r e s p o nde ntJ udg eo fFi r s tI ns t a nc ed e ni e dt hepe t i t i o ne r ' s mo t i o no fJ une4f o rt her e a s o nt ha tt ho ug ht hes e a r c hwa r r a ntwa si l l e g a l ,t he r e En e lc a s o pr e s e nt e , " wa s a wa i v e ro nt he p ar to ft he p e t i t i o ne r ." d e c l a r e dt he t e ni e ndoe nc ue nt aq uel aa c u s a da p o rs iop o rme di odes u r e s p o nde ntj udg e ," r e pr e s e nt ant e ,nopr e s e nt ópr o t e s t aal g una,c o nt r ae lr e g i s t r odeaut o s ,alv e r i fic ar s e e lmi s mo ,o de s pué sdeun t i e mpo r az o nabl e ,e lj uz g ado de c l ar aq uel a,c i t ada ac u s ada,c o ns us i l e nc i oyc o nduc t a,har e nunc i adoi mpl i c i t ame n t eas ude r e c hoano s e rs o me t i do a un r e g i s t r oi r r az o nabl e ,po rl oq ueno l ee s pe r mi t i do q ue j ar s e de s pué s ,pue s t oquec u al q ui e rd e f e c t oquehaado l e c i dol ae x p e di c i ó ndel ao r de nde r e g i s t r oys ue j e c uc i ó n, ha q ue da do i mp l í c i t a me nt es ub s a na do A . " mo t i o nf o r r ec onsi der at i on was pr es ent ed but was deni ed by or der ofJanuary 3,1938. Pe t i t i o ne rr e gi s t e r e dhe re x c e p t i o n.Ther e s o l ut i o no fOc t o be r5 ,1937andt heo r de r o fJ anua r y3 ,1 93 8a r es o u ght ,t o g e t he rwi t ht hes e a r c hwa r r a nt ,Ex hi b i tB,t obe nul l i fie di nt he s epr o c e e di ng s . 693
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Garcia vs. Locsin. Par a gr a ph3,s e c t i o n1o ft hebi l lo fr i ght so fo urCo ns t i t ut i o npr o v i de sasf o l l o ws : " Ther i g hto ft hepe o pl et ob es e c ur ei nt he i rpe r s o ns ,ho us e s ,pa pe r s ,ande ffe c t s a ga i ns tunr e a s o na bl es e a r c he sa nds e i z ur e ss ha l lno tb ev i o l a t e d ,a ndnowa r r a nt s s hal li s s ue but upon pr obabl ec aus e,t o be det er mi ned by t he j udge af t er e x a mi na t i o nund e ro a t ho ra ffir ma t i o no ft hec o mp l a i na nta ndt hewi t ne s s e shema y pr o d uc e ,a ndpa r t i c ul a r l yd e s c r i b i ngt hep l a c et ob es e a r c he d ,a ndt hepe r s o n so r t hi ng st obes e i z e d. " Fr e e d o mf r o m unr e a s o n ab l es e a r c he sa nd s e i z u r e si sd e c l a r e d ap o pul a rr i g ht a ndf o ras e ar c hwar r antt obev al i d,( 1)i tmus tb ei s s ue dupo npr o b ab l ec a us e ;( 2 ) t he pr obabl ec ause mustbe det er mi ned by t he j udge hi ms el fand notby t he a ppl i c a nto ra nyo t he rpe r s o n;( 3 )i nt hede t e r mi na t i o no fpr o b ab l ec aus e ,t hej udg e muste xami ne,undero at h oraffir mat i on,t heco mpl ai nantands uc h wi t nes s esas t hel a t t e rma yp r o d uc e ;a nd( 4 )t hewa r r a nti s s ue dmus tp ar t i c ul a r l yde s c r i b et he p l a c et ob es e a r c he da ndp e r s o nso rt hi ng st ob es e i z e d .The s er e q ui r e me nt sar e c o mpl e me nt e db yt heCo d eo fCr i mi na lPr o c e d ur e( G.O.No .5 8) ,p ar t i c ul a r l ywi t h r e f e r e nc et ot hedur a t i o no ft hev al i di t yo ft hes e ar c hwar r antandt heo bl i g at i o no f t heo ffic e rs e i z i ngt hepr o p e r t yt ode l i v e rt hes a met ot hec o r r e s p o ndi ngc o ur t( s e c s . 1 021 04 ) .Onmo r et hano neo c c a s i o n,s i nc et hea ppr o v alo ft heCo ns t i t ut i o n,weha d e mpha s i z e dt hene c e s s i t yo fa dhe r e nc et ot hec o ns t i t ut i o na lr e q ui r e me nt so nt hi s
s .Co s ub j e c t ( Al v ar e zv ur t o f Fi r s t I ns t anc e o f Tay abas and Ant i Us ur y s .Sy Juc Bo ar d[ 1937] , 35 Off. Gaz . , 1183;Pe opl ev o[ 19 37 ] ,G. R. No . 4 19 57 ;Ro d r i g ue zv V s .i l l ami e l[ 1937] ,G.R.No .44328;andMo l ov s . Yat c o[ 1 936] ,35 Off.Ga z . ,1 93 5)a ndwedono td e e mi tne c e s s a r yt or e i t e r a t ewha tha sb e e ns a i do r o b s e r v e di nt he s ec a s e s . I nt hei ns t a ntc a s et hee x i s t e nc eo fp r o b a bl ec a us ewa sd e t e r mi ne dno tb yt he j udg ehi ms e l fbutbyt heappl i c ant .Al lt hatt hej udg edi dwast oac c e ptast r uet he a ffid a vi tma deb ya g e ntAl me d a.Hed i dno td e c i d ef o rhi ms e l f . 694
69 4
PHILIPPINE REPORTS ANNOTATED
Garcia vs. Locsin. I tdo e sno ta pp e art ha thee x ami ne dt heappl i c a nta ndhi swi t ne s s e s ,i fa ny .Ev e n a c c e p t i ngt hede s c r i p t i o no ft hepr o p e r t i e st obes e i z e dt obes uffic i e nta ndo nt he a s s ump t i o nt ha tt her e c e i p ti s s ue di ss u ffic i e nt l yde t a i l e dwi t hi nt heme a ni ngoft he l a w,t hepr o p e r t i e ss e i z e dwe r eno tde l i v e r e dt ot hec o ur twhi c hi s s ue dt hewar r ant , a sr e q ui r e db yl a w.( Se e s e c s .9 5a nd1 04 ,G.O.No .5 8. )I ns t e a d,t he ywe r et u r ne d o v e rt ot her e s p o nde ntpr o v i nc i a lfis c ala ndus e dbyhi mi nb ui l di ngupc a s e sa ga i ns t t hepe t i t i o ne r .Co ns i de r i ngt ha ta tt het i met hewa r r a ntwa si s s ue dt he r ewa sno c a s ep e nd i ng a g ai ns tt he p e t i t i o ne r ,t he a v e r me ntt ha tt he wa r r a ntwa si s s ue d pr i mar i l yf o re x pl o r at i o npur po s e si sno twi t ho utbas i s .Thel o we rc o ur ti s ,t he r e f o r e , c o r r e c ti nr e a c hi ngt hec o nc l us i o nt hatt hes e ar c hwar r ant( Ex hi bi tB)wasi l l e g al l y i s s ue db yt hej us t i c eo ft hepe ac eo fTar l ac , Tar l ac . The i mpor t antques t i on pr es ent ed i swhet herupon t he f ac t sand undert he c i r c ums t a nc e so ft hepr e s e ntc a s e ,t he r eha sbe e nawa i v e rb yt hepe t i t i o ne ro fhe r c o ns t i t ut i o na li mmuni t ya g ai ns tunr e a s o na bl es e a r c he sa nd s e i z u r e s .Whi l et he So l i c i t o r Ge ne r a ladmi t st hat ,i nt hel i g hto fde c i s i o nso ft hi sc o ur t ,t hes e a r c h war r antwa si l l e g al l yi s s ue d,hema i nt ai ns" ( 1)t hatt hepe t i t i o ne rhadwai v e dhe r c o ns t i t ut i o na lr i g htb yhe rac q ui e s c e nc eaf t e rt hes e a r c ha nds e i z ur e ,a nd( 2)t ha t t heappl i c a t i o nf o rt her e t ur no ft hedo c u me nt si l l e g al l ys e i z e dwa sma deaf t e ran unr e a s o na bl el e ng t ho ft i meaf t e rt hedat eofs e i z ur e . "Do ubt l e s s ,t hec o ns t i t ut i o nal i mmuni t ya g ai ns tunr e a s o na bl es e a r c he sand s e i z u r e si sa p e r s o na lr i g htwhi c h ma yb ewa i v e d .( Pe o p l ev s . Ka g uiMa l a s ug ui ,3 4Off.Ga z . ,p p.2 16 3,2 16 4;5 6C.J . , s .i s a. pp.1 17 8,1 17 9;Cf .Ro dr i g ue zv V l l ami e l ,upr )Thewa i v e rma ybee i t he re x p r e s s o ri mpl i e d( 6 7C.J . ,p.3 04 ) .Noe x pr e s swai v e rha sbe e nma dei nt hec a s eb e f o r eu s . I ti sur g e d,ho we v e r ,t hatt he r ehasbe e nawai v e rb yi mpl i c a t i o n.I ti swe l l s e t t l e d t hatt oc o ns t i t ut eawai v e ro fac o ns t i t ut i o nalr i g ht ,i tmus ta ppe ar ,fir s t ,t hatt he
r i g hte x i s t s ;s e c o ndl y ,t ha tt hepe r s o ni nv o l v e d ha d kno wl e dg e ,e i t he ra c t ualo r c o ns t r uc t i v e,o ft he 695
VOL. 65, JUNE 20, 1938
695
Garcia vs. Locsin. e x i s t e nc eo fs uc hr i g ht ;a nd,l as t l y ,t ha ts a i d pe r s o n ha da n ac t ua li nt e nt i o nt o r e l i nqui s ht her i g ht .( 67C.J. ,299. )I ti st r uet hatt hepe t i t i o ne rdi dno to bj e c tt ot he l e g a l i t yo ft hes e a r c hwhe ni twa sma de .Shec o u l dno tha v eo b j e c t e db e c a us es he wass i c k andwasno tpr es entwhent hewar r antwass er ve dupon Al f r edoSal as . Ce r t a i nl y ,t hec o ns t i t ut i o na li mmuni t yf r o m unr e a s o na bl es e a r c he sand s e i z ur e s , b e i ngap e r s o na lo ne ,c a nno tb ewa i v e db ya ny o n ee x c e p tt hepe r s o nwho s er i g ht s a r ei n v ade do ro newhoi se x pr e s s l ya ut ho r i z e dt odos oi nhi so rhe rb e ha l f .( 5 6C. J . ,p.1 183 . )Ofc o u r s e ,t hepe t i t i o ne rc a met okno wl a t e ro ft hes e i z ur eo fs o meo f herpaper sand doc ument s .Butt hi swaspr ec i s el yt her eas on why s hes enther at t or neyst ot he offic e oft he Ant i Us ury Boar dt o demand t he r e t ur n oft he do c ume nt ss e i z e d .I na nye v e n t ,t hef a i l ur eo nt hep ar to ft hep e t i t i o ne randhe r bo o kke e pe rt or e s i s to ro bj e c tt ot hee x e c ut i o no ft hewar r antdo e sno tc o ns t i t ut ean i mp l i e d wa i v e ro fc o ns t i t ut i o na lr i g ht .I ti s ,a sJ ud ge Co o l e yo b s e r v e s ,b uta s ubmi s s i o nt ot heaut ho r i t yo ft hel a w.( Co ns t .Li m. ,8t he d. ,Vo l .I ,p.630. )Ast he c o ns t i t ut i o na lg uar a nt yi sno tde pe nde ntupo na nyaffir ma t i v eac to ft hec i t i z e n,t he c o ur t sd o no tpl a c et he c i t i z e ni nt he p o s i t i o no fe i t he rc o nt e s t i ng a no ffic e r ' s aut ho r i t yb yf o r c e ,o rwai v i nghi sc o ns t i t ut i o nalr i g ht s ;buti ns t e adt he yho l dt hata pe ac e f uls ubmi s s i o nt oas e ar c ho rs e i z ur ei sno tac o ns e nto ra ni nv i t at i o nt he r e t o , b uti sme r e l yade mo ns t r at i o no fr e g a r df o rt hes upr e ma c yo ft hel a w.( 5 6C.J . ,pp. 1 18 0,1 181 . ) Asag e ne r alpr o po s i t i o n,i tma ybeadmi t t e dt hatwai v e rma ybet her e s ul to fa f ai l ur et oobj e c twi t hi nar e a s o nabl et i met oas e ar c hands e i z ur ei l l e gal l yma de .I t mus tbeo bs e r v e d,ho we v e r ,t hatt hepe t i t i o ne r ,o ns e v e r a lo c c as i o ns ,andpr i o rt ot he fil i ngo fc r i mi na lac t i o nsag ai ns the r ,ha dde ma nde dv e r b al l y ,t hr o u ghc o u ns e l ,t he r e t ur nb yt heAnt i Us ur yBo a r do ft hepr o p e r t i e ss e i z e d .Thi si sa dmi t t e db yAdo l f o N.Fe l i c i ano ,a c t i ngc hi e fo ft hebo a r d,whos a i dt hatt hede ma ndwasr e f us e ds i mpl y b e c a u s enoha bí a mo st e r mi na doc o nnue s t r ai nv e s t i g a c i ó n. ( T.s .n. ,pp.2425. )On Jul y7 ,1936,c o uns e lf o rt hepe t i t i o ne r 696
69 6
PHILIPPINE REPORTS ANNOTATED
People vs. Talok.
wr o t eal e t t ert ot he Ant i Us ury Boar d demandi ng agai nt he r e t ur n oft he do c ume nt swi t hhe l d.Andi nc o nne c t i o nwi t ht hec r i mi na lc a s e sp e ndi ngag ai ns tt he p e t i t i o ne r ,s i mi l a rd e ma nd swe r ema deo nJ anua r y7 ,1 93 7a ndo nJ une4 ,1 93 7 .I n t he l i g hto ft he s ec i r c ums t a nc e s ,we find t ha tt he p e t i t i o ne rdi d no twa i v ehe r c o ns t i t ut i o na lr i g ht .Thed e l a yi nma ki ngd e ma ndf o rt her e t ur no ft hed o c u me nt s s e i z e di sno ts uc hast or e s ul ti nwai v e rbyi mpl i c a t i o n. I nv i e wo ft hef o r e g o i ng ,t hewr i tp r a y e df o ri sgr a nt e d .Thes e a r c h wa r r a nt , Ex hi b i tB,i she r e b yde c l ar e dv o i dando fnoe ffe c t ;t heo r d e r so fOc t o b er5 ,1 93 7a nd J anua r y3 ,1 93 8o ft her e s p o nd e ntj udg ear es e ta s i d e ;a ndt her e s p o nd e nt sAnt i Us ur yBo a r da ndt hepr o v i nc i a lfis c a lo fTar l aco rt ho s eac t i ngi nt he i rb e ha l f ,a r e he r e b yo r d er e dt or e t ur nandr e s t o r et ot hepe t i t i o ne ra l lt hepr o p er t i e s ,do c ume nt s , pape r sa nde ffe c t si l l e g al l ys e i z e df r o m he r ,wi t hi nf o r t y e i g ht( 48)ho ur sf r o mt he t i met hi sd ec i s i o nb ec o me sfina l .Wi t ho utc o s t s . Soo r d e r e d. Av anc e ña, C. J. ,Vi l l aRe al , Abad
Sant o s ,I mpe r i al ,Di az ,andCo nc e p c i o n,
JJ, , c o nc u r . Wr i tg r a nt e d . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
