Valmonte vs de Villa, 178 SCRA 211 - 1989

EN BANC [G.R. No. 83988. September 29, 1989.] RICA RICARDO C. VALMON VALMONTE TE AND UNION UNION OF LAWYE LAWYERS RS AND ADVOCA DVOCATES FOR PEOP PEOPLE LE'S 'S RIGH RIGHTS TS (ULA (ULAP), P), peti petiti tio oe!" e!",, #". #". GEN. GEN. RENA RENAT TO DE VILLA VILLA AND NATIONA NATIONAL L CAPITAL CAPITAL REGION DISTRICT COMMAND, !e"po$et". Ricardo C. Valmote !or "im#el! ad "i# co$petitioer#. S%&&AB'S SAR()EN*+, ., di##eti- 1. C+NS C+NS* *)*'* )*'*)+ )+NA NA& & &A/ &A/0 C+NS C+NS* *)*'* )*'*)+ )+N0 N0 BER BER+C +C  + *4E *4E REG) REG)(E (E + &A/ AN C+NS*)*'*)+NA&)S(. 5 *"e C"arter #a6# t"at t"e people e7o6 t"e ri-"t o! #ecrit6 o! per#o, "ome, ad e!!ect#. C+NS*., art. ))), #ec. 2.: )t i# al#o t"e bedroc; 5 t"e t"e ri-"t i-"t o! t"e t"e peop people le to be le!t le!t alo aloe e 5 o <"ic" "ic" t"e t"e re-i re-ime me o! la< la< ad ad co#tittioali#m re#t. )t i# ot, a# t"e ma7orit6 eiece#, di#com!ort ad e>e irritatio.= Re#oltio, ?.: *o #a6 t"at it i#, i# 5 #o ) #bmit 5 to tri>iali@e t"e plai commad o! t"e Co#tittio. 2. ).0 ).0 SEAR SEARC C4 AN AN SE) SE)'R 'RE0 E0 B'R B'REN EN + R+V R+V)N )NG G REA REAS+NA S+NAB B&ENE &ENESS SS )NC'(BEN* '+N *4E S*A*E. 5 /"ile t"e ri-"t a-ai#t rea#oable #earc"e# ad #ei@re#, a# m6 bret"re ad>ace, i# a ri-"t per#oal to t"e a--rie>ed part6, t"e petit petitio ioer er#, #, preci preci#e #el6 l6,, "a>e "a>e come come to Cort Cort beca beca# #e e t"e6 t"e6 "ad "ad bee, bee, or "ad !elt, !elt, a--rie>ed. ) #bmit t"at i t"at e>et, t"e brde i# t"e State#, to demo#trate t"e rea#oablee## o! t"e #earc". *"e petitioer#, Ricardo Valmote i particlar, eed ot, t"ere!ore, "a>e ill#trated t"e =detail# o! t"e icidet= Re#oltio, #pra, ?: i all t"eir  -ore ad -re#omee##. 3. ).0 ).0 ).0 ).0 ABS ABSEN ENCE CE A&+NE &+NE + + A SEAR SEARC4 C4 /A /ARRAN RRAN* * (A (AES ES C4E C4EC C+ +)N )N* * SEARC4ES 'NREAS+NAB&E. 5 *"e ab#ece aloe o! a #earc" e a>er a>erre red, d, ma;e ma;e# # c"ec c"ec;p ;poi oit t #ear #earc" c"e# e# re rea# a#o oab able le,, ad ad b6 it#e it#el! l!,, #b7 #b7ec ectt to co#t co#tit ittio tioal al c"all c"alle e-e -e#. #. Sp Spra. ra.:: A# it i#, =c"ec =c"ec;p ;poi oit#= t#=,, "a>e "a>e beco become me =#ear =#earc" c" e# 5 a ro>i- oe at t"at. ?. ).0 ).0 ).0 ).0 CAS CASE A* A* BAR BAR N+* N+* S)( S)(& &% A +&) +&)CE CE(A (AN N +N *4E *4E BEA BEA*. 5 *"e *"e  America ca#e# t"e ma7orit6 re!er# to i>ol>e i>ol>e rotie c"ec;# compelled compelled b6 =probable =probable ca#e=. /"at e "ere, "oer, i# ot #impl6 a policema policema o t"e beat bt armed me, CAG' or Al#a (a#a, <"o "old t"e poer t"e citi@er6, <"o !ire ocatio pro>ocatio ad
EC)S)+N A)&&A, A)&&A,  p

*"i# i# a petitio !or pro"ibitio e, to direct t"e re#podet# to !ormlate -idelie# i t"e implemetatio o! c"ec;poit#, !or  t"e protectio o! t"e people. etitioer Ricardo C. Valmote #e# i "i# capacit6 a# citi@e o! t"e Repblic, tapa6er, member o! t"e )te-rated Bar o! t"e "ilippie# )B:, ad re#idet o! Vale@ela, (etro (aila0 <"ile petitioer 'io o! &a<6er# ad Ad>ocate# !or eople# Ri-"t# '&A: #e# i it# capacit6 a# a a##ociatio <"o#e member# are all member# o! t"e )B. *"e !actal bac;-rod o! t"e ca#e i# a# !ollo<# + 2F aar6 198, t"e Natioal Capital Re-io i#trict Commad NCRC: ated pr#at to &etter o! )#trctio F2D8 o! t"e "ilippie Geeral 4eadHarter#,  A, e territorial de!e#e, maitaii- peace ad order, ad pro>idi- a atmo#p"ere codci>e to t"e #ocial, ecoomic ad political de>elopmet o! t"e Natioal Capital Re-io. 1 A# part o! it# dt6 to maitai peace ad order, t"e NCRC i#talled c"ec;poit# i >ario# part# o!  Vale@ela, (etro (aila. etitioer# a>er t"at, beca#e o! t"e i#tallatio o! #aid c"ec;poit#, t"e re#idet# o!  Vale@ela are e"icle# are bei- #b7ected to re-lar #earc"e# ad c"ec;$p#, e#peciall6 at i-"t or at da<, eral occa#io#, "e "ad -oe t"r t"e#e c"ec;poit# <"ere "e e t"e re#podet# a bla;et at"orit6 to ma;e #earc"e# adDor #ei@re# iolatio o! t"e Co#tittio0 2 ad, i#tace# "a>e occrred <"ere a citi@e, <"ile ot ;illed, "ad bee "ara##ed. etitioer# cocer !or t"eir #a!et6 ad appre"e#io at bei- "ara##ed b6 t"e militar6 mai- t"e c"ec;poit# are ot #!!iciet -rod# to declare t"e c"ec;poit# a# per #e ille-al. No proo! "a# bee pre#eted be!ore t"e Cort to #"o< t"at, i t"e cor#e o! t"eir  rotie c"ec;#, t"e militar6 ideed committed #peci!ic >iolatio# o! petitioer# ri-"t a-ai#t la
) a ca#e !iled b6 t"e #ame petitioer or-ai@atio, 'io o! &a<6er# ad Ad>ocate# !or  eople# Ri-"t '&A: >#. )te-rated Natioal olice, 3 it idal petitioer# <"o do ot alle-e t"at a6 o! t"eir ri-"t# iolated are ot Hali!ied to bri- t"e actio, a# real partie# i itere#t. *"e co#tittioal ri-"t a-ai#t rea#oable #earc"e# ad #ei@re# i# a per#oal ri-"t i>ocable ol6 b6 t"o#e <"o#e ri-"t# "a>e bee i!ri-ed, ? or t"reateed to be i!ri-ed. /"at co#titte# a rea#oable or rea#oable #earc" ad #ei@re i a6 particlar ca#e i# prel6 a 7dicial He#tio, determiable !rom a co#ideratio o! t"e circm#tace# i>ol>ed. I etitioer Valmote# -eeral alle-atio to t"e e!!ect t"at "e "ad bee #topped ad #earc"ed iolatio o! "i# ri-"t a-ai#t laiolatio o! Valmote# ri-"t a-ai#t laed accordi- to t"e !act# o! eac" ca#e. J /"ere, !or eample, t"e o!!icer merel6 dra<# a#ide t"e crtai o! a >acat >e"icle <"ic" i# par;ed o t"e pblic !air -rod#,  or #impl6 loo;# ito a >e"icle, 8 or !la#"e# a li-"t t"erei, 9 t"e#e do ot co#titte rea#oable #earc". *"e #etti- p o! t"e He#tioed c"ec;poit# i Vale@ela ad probabl6 i ot"er  area#: ma6 be co#idered a# a #ecrit6 mea#re to eable t"e NCRC to pr#e it# mi##io o! e#tabli#"i- e!!ecti>e territorial de!e#e ad maitaii- peace ad order !or  t"e bee!it o! t"e pblic. C"ec;poit# ma6 al#o be re-arded a# mea#re# to t"ermet, i t"e itere#t o! pblic #ecrit6. ) t"i# coectio, t"e Cort ma6 ta;e 7dicial otice o! t"e #"i!t to rba ceter# ad t"eir #brb# o! t"e i#r-ec6 mo>emet, #o clearl6 re!lected i t"e icrea#ed ;illi-# i citie# o! police ad militar6 me b6 NA =#parro< it#,= ot to metio t"e abdace o! lice#ed !irearm# ad t"e alarmi- ri#e i laiolece i #c" rba ceter#, ot all o! <"ic" are reported i media, mo#t li;el6 bro-"t abot b6 deteriorati- ecoomic coditio# 5 <"ic" all #m p to <"at oe ca ri-"tl6 co#ider, at t"e >er6 lea#t, a# abormal time#. Betidal# ri-"t a-ai#t a er rea#oabl6 codcted, t"e !ormer #"old pre>ail. *re, t"e mai- o! c"ec;poit# b6 t"e militar6 i# ##ceptible o! ab#e b6 t"e me i i!orm, i t"e #ame maer t"at all -o>ermetal poeiece, di#com!ort ad e>e irritatio to t"e citi@e, t"e c"ec;poit# dri- t"e#e abormal time#, <"e codcted
iall6, o 1 l6 1988, militar6 ad police c"ec;poit# i (etro (aila ie< ad re!iemet o! t"e rle# i t"e codct o! t"e police ad militar6 mai- t"e c"ec;poit# a#a, (elecio$4errera, Gtierre@, r., ara#, eliciao, Gaca6co, Bidi, Corte#, GriKo$AHio, (edialdea ad Re-alado, ., cocr. Separate +piio# CR', ., di##eti- ) di##et. *"e #idal libert6. *"e blad declaratio t"at idi>idal ri-"t# m#t 6ield to t"e demad# o! atioal #ecrit6 i-ore# t"e !act t"at t"e Bill o! Ri-"t# e i! a##erted o t"e -rod o! atioal #ecrit6. /"at i# e e territorial de!e#e, maitaii- peace ad order, ad pro>idi- a atmo#p"ere codci>e to t"e #ocial, ecoomic ad political de>elopmet o! t"e Natioal Capital Re-io.= or t"e#e prpo#e#, e>er6 idi>idal ma6 be #topped ad #earc"ed at radom ad at a6 time #impl6 beca#e "e ecite# t"e ##picio, caprice, "o#tilit6 or malice o! t"e o!!icer# mai- t"e c"ec;poit#, o pai o!  arre#t or e bei- #"ot to deat", i! "e re#i#t#. ) "a>e o Harrel e"icle o a dar; #treet a# a rotie mea#re o! #ecrit6 ad crio#it6. Bt t"e ca#e at bar i# di!!eret. (ilitar6 o!!icer# are #6#tematicall6 #tatioed at #trate-ic c"ec;poit# to acti>el6 !erret ot ##pected crimial# b6 detaii- ad #earc"i- a6 idi>idal <"o i t"eir opiio mi-"t impair =t"e #ocial, ecoomic ad political de>elopmet o! t"e Natioal Capital Re-io.= )t i# icredible t"at e der martial la<. 'le## i-ilat o! or ri-"t#, e# bac; to t"e dar; era o! t"e trc"eo ad t"e barbed e o! it# o< complai#ace ad #itti- at t"e deat"$bed o! libert6. SAR()EN*+, ., di##eti- ) 7oi #tice )#a-ai Cr@ i "i# di##et, deli>ered #o #trai-"t$!or
le!t aloe 5 o <"ic" t"e re-ime o! la< ad co#tittioali#m re#t. )t i# ot, a# t"e ma7orit6 eiece#, di#com!ort ad e>e irritatio.= Re#oltio, ?.: *o #a6 t"at it i#, i# 5 #o ) #bmit 5 to tri>iali@e t"e plai commad o! t"e Co#tittio. C"ec;poit#, ) !rt"er #bmit, are t"i-# o! martial rle, ad t"i-# o! t"e pa#t. *"e6 !ir#t #a< t"e li-"t o! da6 b6 >irte o! Geeral +rder No. JJ A'*4+R))NG *4E C4)E + C+NS*AB'&AR% *+ ES*AB&)S4 C4EC+)N*S, 'A*E &)S*S + /AN*E ERS+NS AN C+N'C* RAGNE* +ERA*)+NS AN +R +*4ER 'R+SES:, a martial la< i##ace, a# ameded b6 Geeral +rder No. J A(EN)NG AN A(&)%)NG ARAGRA4  + GENERA& +RER N+. JJ A*E SE*E(BER 12,198F:, 6et aot"er martial la< i##ace. See +.G. ?22?$ ?22J0 ?22J$?22 [A-., 1983].: *"e6 are, #o ) #tro-l6 #bmit, repre##i>e mea#re#, t"e #ame mea#re# a-ai#t <"ic" ace, i# a ri-"t per#oal to t"e a--rie>ed part6, t"e petitioer#, preci#el6, "a>e come to Cort beca#e t"e6 "ad bee, or "ad !elt, a--rie>ed. ) #bmit t"at i t"at e>et, t"e brde i# t"e State#, to demo#trate t"e rea#oablee## o! t"e #earc". *"e petitioer#, Ricardo Valmote i particlar, eed ot, t"ere!ore, "a>e ill#trated t"e =detail# o! t"e icidet= Re#oltio, #pra, ?: i all t"eir -ore ad -re#omee##. ) a6 e>et, t"e ab#ece aloe o! a #earc" e a>erred, ma;e# c"ec;poit #earc"e# rea#oable, ad b6 it#el!, #b7ect to co#tittioal c"alle-e#. Spra.: A# it i#, =c"ec;poit#=, "a>e become =#earc" e# 5 a ro>i- oe at t"at. *"at =[]ot all #earc"e# ad #ei@re# are pro"ibited,= t"e ma7orit6 poit# ot, i# !ie. Ad #o i# =a rea#oable #earc" i# ot to be determied b6 a6 !ied !ormla bt i# to be re#ol>ed accordi- to t"e !act# o! eac" ca#e.= Spra: Bt t"e He#tio, eactl6, i# )# are: t"e #earc"e#: i t"i# ca#e rea#oableL ) #bmit t"at itt"e6: i#are: ot, !or oe #imple rea#o No #earc" acat >e"icle . . . or #impl6 loo;i-: #pra: t"ere, =or !la#"i-: a li-"t t"erei. =Spra: /"at e "ere i# +rer6 #tep er6 mo>e ol>e rotie c"ec;# compelled b6 =probable ca#e=. /"at e "ere, "oer, i# ot #impl6 a policema o t"e beat bt armed me, CAG' or Al#a (a#a, <"o "old t"e poer t"e citi@er6, <"o !ire ocatio ad e
/a#"i-to #aid t"at militia ca ot be made to dictate t"e term# !or t"e atio. 4e ca ot be a6more correct "ere. =Betidal# ri-"t a-ai#t a ail. Spra: ir#t, t"i# i# t"e #ame lie t"at t"e "ated de#pot !oi#ted o t"e ilipio people. )t i# a #erio# mi#ta;e to !all !or it a #ecod time arod. Secod, t"e c"ec;poit #earc"e# "erei are rea#oable *"ere i- realit6. ) >ote t"e, to -rat t"e petitio. ootote# 1. Commet o! Re#podet#. Rollo, p. 32. 2. Article ))), Sectio 2, 198 Co#tittio pro>ide# *"e ri-"t o! t"e people to be #ecre i t"eir per#o#, "o#e#, paper#, ad e!!ect# a-ai#t rea#oable #earc"e# ad #ei@re# o! <"ate>er atre ad !or a6 prpo#e #"all be i>iolable, ad o #earc" . Robi. '.S., +;l., J S. Ct. 1F98 M 331 '.S. 1?I, 9? &. Ed. 1810 (arti >. '.S., C.A. Va., 183 2d ?3J0 JJ, 9 C..S., 83I$83J. . )bid., citi- t"e ca#e o! eople >. Ca#e, 19F (/ 289, 22F (ic". 39, 2 A.&.R. J8J. 8. )bid., citi- t"e ca#e o! State >. Gaia, 9 SE J2, 111 S.C. 1?, 3 A.&.R. 1IFF. 9. )bid., citi- t"e ca#e o! Ro. Commo