Case Digest (G.R. No. 97143)
Facts:
People of the Philippines v. Arturo Figueroa, G.R. No. 97143. October 02, 1995, the Supreme Court Third Division, Vitug, J., writing for the Court.The accused-appellant is Arturo Figueroa; the prosecution is the People of the Philippines. On November 10, 1989, around 7:00 a.m., Captain Lodivino Rosario and members of the 215th PC Company went to Figueroa's residence in San Francisco Subdivision, Brgy. San Juan, General Trias, Cavite, to serve arrest warrants issued by the Regional Trial Court, Makati, Branch 56, in Criminal Case Nos. 411 and 412 (relating to illegal possession of ammunitions and violation of Sec. 16, Art. III, R.A. No. 6425). While executing the arrest, the officers noticed aluminum-foil packages in the sala and, suspecting illegal drugs, asked Figueroa and his household for consent to search the premises.
The officers seized a .45 caliber pistol with defaced serial number, one magazine, seven live rounds of ammunition, and an aluminum-foil package containing alleged "shabu" found in a matchbox. Figueroa denied ownership of the items. An inventory of the seized items was prepared and attested to by Barangay Captain Bigornia. Figueroa was arraigned and pleaded not guilty; trial ensued.
On October 30, 1990, the trial court found Arturo Figueroa guilty of Illegal Possession of Firearm and Ammunition and sentenced him to reclusion perpetua; it ordered confiscation of the firearm and ammunitions and the return of a motorcycle taken on November 10, 1989. Figueroa appealed, arguing (a) that the firearm and ammunition were inadmissible because they were discovered and seized in a wa...(Pro-only)
Issues:
- Was the .45 caliber pistol, magazine, and ammunition lawfully admissible despite being seized without a separate search warrant?
- Did the trial court err in accrediting the prosecution witnesses’ testimony despite alleged inconsistencies and the appellant’s claim of...(Pro-only)
Ruling:
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Ratio:
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Doctrine:
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