G.R. No. 248529 - People vs. Lacson y Marquesses

Plaintiff-Appellee: People of the Philippines; Accused-Appellants: Mark Alvin Lacson y Marquesses and Noel Agpalo y Sacay; Co-accused: Moises Dagdag y Corpuz.
Five separate Informations (Crim. Case Nos. 152327–152331-TG) charged them with:

Illegal possession of a hand grenade (P.D. No. 1866 as amended).
Illegal possession of a hand grenade during the election period (Comelec Resolution No. 9735).
Illegal possession of a “paltik” revolver and live ammunition (RA 10591).
Possession of the same firearms/ammunition during the election period (Comelec Resolution No. 9735).
Illegal carrying of a bladed weapon during the election period (Comelec Resolution No. 9735).

On October 7, 2013, members of the Taguig Police’s Tactical Motorcycle Riders Unit, under “Oplan Sita,” received a report on a snatching along C-5 Road, saw Lacson, Agpalo, and Dagdag loitering, and approached them. The three fled but were intercepted.
Frisking recovered from Agpalo a loaded “paltik” revolver with four live rounds; from Lacson a hand grenade. Dagdag was separately apprehended; a bladed weapon was allegedly seized from him.
Defendants denied ownership, claimed frame-up and brutality. At the precinct, police allegedly used Agpalo’s phone to lure him in and then arrested him.
RTC (Sept. 5, 2017) convicted Lacson and Agpalo of the charged offenses, acquitted Dagdag for lack of proof, and ordered forfeiture of seized items.
CA (Jan. 17, 2019) affirmed RTC, ruling appellants had waived any arrest/search irregularity by not quashing the Informations before arraignment.

Whether the warrantless arrests of Lacson and Agpalo were valid.
Whether the warrantless searches (stop-and-frisk) yielding the grenade, firearm, and ammunition were valid.
Whether the guilt of Lacson and Agpalo was proven beyond reasonable doubt.