Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
al
G.R. No. 134002. September 12, 2002
Ynares-Santiago, J.
Doctrine: Any objection pertaining to the illegality of arrest and or search must be made
before one enters his plea otherwise the objection is deemed waived. Also, any irregularity
will be deemed waived upon entering a plea and participation in the trial.
FACTS
Accused-appellants were charged with a violation of the Dangerous Drugs Act. It is alleged
in the information that the accused-appellants were in conspiracy with one another in carrying and
transporting marijuana bricks which is an illegal drug. However, only accused-appellant Baccoy
was arrested and he pleaded not guilty. Trial ensued, and the prosecution narrated its own version
of the facts. According to the prosecution, Sgt. Pio Kidpo was asked to go on a secret mission to
Mr. Data, Bauko, Mountain Province. He then proceeded to the bus station and while waiting for
the bus, he and another police officer received a report that someone will be transporting marijuana
to Baguio. The policemen then boarded the bus and at a certain junction, the bus stopped to take
on three passengers including the accused-appellant. According to the police, one of the three men
immediately boarded the bus while the two others passed three bags through the window before
boarding the bus. Said men seated on the last row and the bags were dirty and covered with grass.
15 minutes after boarding, the men expressed their desire to go down, but the bus did not
stop. Nevertheless, the men picked up their bags and were preparing to alight the vehicle which
aroused the suspicion of the police and demanded them to put down their bags and demanded to
see the contents thereof. However, four passengers of the bus, including two of the accused-
appellants jumped through the window. Accused-appellant Baccoy also tried to jump but was
prevented by the police. Upon inspection of the bags, it is found that two of which contains
marijuana bricks while the dark bag contains only clothes. Accused-appellant was brought to the
police station and was detained therein.
The defense presents another version of the story. According to accused-appellant Baccoy,
he was assigned to tour Evans couple when he alighted at a certain junction to bring supplies to
his children to Baguio. He felt the need to defecate and had barely finished when he heard the bus
approaching. He asserts that he only had one dark bag with him and that he seated at the back row
since all others seats were occupied. Moments later, he was surprised to hear someone yell and
that people started jumping through the window. He was about to look into the commotion when
the police grabbed him from behind and took him to the police station.
Notwithstanding this, the trial court rendered the assailed decision and convicted accused-
appellants for the crime charged on the basis that they acted on conspiracy. On appeal, accused-
appellant Baccoy faults the trial court for convicting him despite lack of sufficient evidence and
for admitting the confiscated marijuana despite its inadmissibility.
SERAPIO C2021 | 1
knowledge of facts that would form an actual belief or reasonable grounds of suspicion that a
crime had just been committed, is being committed, or about to be committed by him. He
further argues that since the arrest was illegal ab initio, the accompanying search was likewise
illegal.
However, it is to be noted that failure to raise any objection to any irregularity of attendant
to an arrest and search would cause any person to be estopped from assailing the same. Any
objection must be made before he enters his plea otherwise the objection is deemed waived.
Accordingly, in submitting himself to the jurisdiction of the trial court by entering a plea of
not guilty and by participating in the trial, any irregularity that may have attended accused-
appellants arrest was cured. In the present case, the accused-appellant failed to raise the
irregularity at the opportune time and pleaded not guilty to the present case. Hence, he is now
estopped from questioning or objecting any search or arrest made against him.
WHEREFORE, the decision of the Regional Trial Court of Bontoc, Mountain Province, Branch
35, finding accused-appellant Carlos Baccoy guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of
violation of Section 4 of Republic Act No. 6425, is REVERSED and SET ASIDE. Accused-
appellant is ACQUITTED of the crime charged based on reasonable doubt. He is ordered
RELEASED from detention unless he is being held for some other lawful cause.
SERAPIO C2021 | 2