Case Digest (G.R. No. L-5790)
Facts:
The People of the Philippines v. Pablo De La Cruz, G.R. No. L-5790. April 17, 1953, the Supreme Court En Banc, Bengzon, J., writing for the Court.
The prosecution charged Pablo de la Cruz with selling a six‑ounce tin of "Carnation" milk at thirty centavos when Executive Order No. 331, issued under Republic Act No. 509, fixed twenty centavos as the maximum price for that commodity. The purchaser, Eduardo Bernardo, Jr., bought the tin at the defendant's Sampaloc, Manila store on the morning of October 14, 1950; the purchase had been made for Ruperto Austria, who was not in good terms with the defendant, and the matter was brought to the City Fiscal's office, resulting in criminal prosecution.
At trial in the Court of First Instance of Manila, the People presented evidence that the sale occurred as charged. The trial court convicted De la Cruz and sentenced him to five years' imprisonment, fined him five thousand pesos plus costs, and ordered him barred from engaging in wholesale and retail business for five years. De la Cruz appealed, arguing (a) fabrication of the charge and entrapment, (b) that the punishment imposed was wholly disproportionate and therefore unconstitutional, and (c) that Republic Act No. 509 was invalid insofar as it prescribed excessive penalties.
The case reached the Supreme Court by appeal. The Court reviewed the trial record, addressed the factual sufficiency o...(Subscriber-Only)
Issues:
- Was the prosecution's case fabricated or, alternatively, was the conviction tainted by entrapment?
- Are the penalties imposed on the defendant — and/or the penalties prescribed by Republic Act No. 509, Sec. 12 — excessive or so disproportionate as to violate the constitutional prohibition against excessive fines and cruel and unusual punishmen...(Subscriber-Only)
Ruling:
- (Subscriber-Only)
Ratio:
- (Subscriber-Only)
Doctrine:
- (Subscriber-Only)