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EN BANC

MARCELO G. SALUDAY, G.R. No. 215305

Petitioner,
Present:

SERENO, CJ.,·
CARPIO••·
' JR.,
VELASCO,
LEONARDO-DE CASTRO,
PERALTA,
BERSAMIN,
DEL CAST1LLO,
- versus - PERLAS-BERNABE, ...
LEON EN,
JARDELEZA, ....
CAGUIOA,
MARTIRES,
TIJAM,
0
REYES, JR., * and
GESMUNDO, JJ.

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Promulgated:

x- _________ -~~s:~~~e~~-- ____________ ~~~i_l_ -~ ~ -~ ~ x
I

DECISION ~
CARPIO, Acting C.J.:

The Case

Before the Court is a Petition fo,r Review on Certiorari assailing the

Decision dated 26 June 2014 1 and the Resolution dated,15 October 2014 2 of
the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CR No. 01099. The Court of Appeals
affirmed with modification the Sentence dated 15 September 2011 3 rendered
by the Regional Trial Court, Branch 11, Davao City in Criminal Case
On leave.
Acting Chief Justice.
On wellness leave.
No part.
On wellness leave,
Rollo, pp. 25-34, Penned by Associate Justice Edgardo T. Lloren. with Associate Justices Edward
B. Contreras and Rafael Antonio M. Santos concurring.
Id. at 41-42,
CA rollo, pp. 22-25. Penned by Judge Virginia 1-lofilcfia Europa.
v
Decision 2 G.R. No. 2 I 5305

No. 65, 734-09, finding petitioner Marcelo G. Saluday (petitioner) guilty

beyond reasonable doubt of illegal possession of high-powered firearm,
ammunition, and explosive under Presidential Decree No. 1866," as
amended (PD 1866).

The Antecedent Facts

On 5 May 2009. Bus No. 66 of Davao Metro Shuttle was flagged

down by Task Force Davao of the Philippine Army at a checkpoint near the
Tefasco Wharf in Ilang, Davao City. SCAA Junbert M. Buco (Buco), a
member of the Task Force, requested all male passengers to disembark from
the vehicle while allowing the female passengers to remain inside. He then
boarded the bus to check the presence and intercept the entry of any
contraband, illegal firearms or explosives, and suspicious individuals.

SCAA Buco checked all the baggage and personal effects of the
passengers, but a small, gray-black pack bag on the seat at the rear of the bus
caught his attention. He lifted the bag and found it too heavy for its small
size. SCAA Buco then looked at the male passengers lined outside and
noticed that a man in a white shirt (later identified as petitioner) kept
peeping through the window towards the direction of the bag. Afterwards,
SCAA Buco asked who the owner of the bag was, to which the bus
conductor answered that petitioner and his brother were the ones seated at
the back. SCAA Buco then requested petitioner to board the bus and open
the bag. Petitioner obliged and the bag revealed the following contents:
( 1) an improvised .30 caliber carbine bearing serial number 64702; (2) one
magazine with three live ammunitions; (3) one cacao-type hand grenade;
and (4) a ten-inch hunting knife. SCAA Buco then asked petitioner to
produce proof of his authority to carry firearms and explosives. Unable to
show any, petitioner was immediately arrested and informed of his rights by
SCAA Buco.

Petitioner was then brought for inquest before the Office of the City
Prosecutor for Davao City. In its Resolution dated 7 May 2009,5 the latter
found probable cause to charge him with illegal possession of high-powered
firearm, ammunition, and explosive under PD l 866. ·rhe Information dated
8 May 2009 thus reads:
That on or about May 5, 2009, in the City of Davao, Philippines,
and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the above-mentioned
accused, willfully, unlawfully and knowingly, with i.ntent to possess, had
in his possession and under his custody 2m improvised high powered

Entilled "Codifying the Laws on ltlcgal/Unlawful Possession, Manufacture. Dealing in.

Acquisition or Disposition, of Firearms, Ammunition or Exptos.ives or Instruments Useu in the
Manufacture of Firearms, Ammunition or Explosives, and Imposing Stiffer Penalties for Certain
Violations Thereof and for Relevant Purposes." Effective 29 June 1983.
Records, pp. 2-3.

v
Decision 3 G.R. No. 2l 5305

firearm caliber .30 carbine bearing Serial No. 64702 (made in Spain) with
one (1) magazine loaded with three {3) live ammunitions and one (1)
"'cacao" type hand grenade explosive, without first securing the necessary
license to possess the same.

CONTRARY TO LAW.6

When arraigned, petitioner pleaded not guilty.

During the trial, the prosecution presented two witnesses namely,

NUP Daniel Tabura (Tabura), a representative of the Firearms and
Explosives Division of the Philippine National Police, and SCAA Buco.
NUP Tabura identified the Certification dated 5 November 2009 7 attesting
that petitioner was "not a licensed/reg.istered holder of any kind and caliber
per verification from records." Meanwhile, SCAA Buco identified petitioner
and the items seized from the bag, and testified on the details of the routine
inspection leading to the immediate an-est of petitioner. On cross-
examination, SCAA Buco further elaborated on the search conducted:
Atty. Mamburam

Q And that check point, which was conducted along llang [R)oad,
Davao City, was by virtue of a memorandum?
A Yes, Your Honor.

xx xx

Q Now, you said that at around 5:00 of said date, you were able to
intercept a Metro Shuttle passenger bus and you requested all
passengers to alight?
A Yes.

Q AH female passengers \Vere left inside?

A Yes, Your Honor.

Q And, after all passengers were able to alight, you checked al.I
cargoes of the passengers in the bus?
A Yes.

xx xx

Q And, you testified that one of those things inside the bus was a black
gray colored pack bag which was placed at the back portion of the bus?
A Yes.

Q You said that the hag was heavy?

A Yes.

Id. at I.
Exhihit "F;'' Folder of Exhibit::., p. 2.

~
Decision 4 G.R. No. 215305

Q And you picked up or carried also the other belongings or

cargo[e]s inside the bus and that \Vas the only thing or item inside
the bus which was heavy. ls that correct?
A There were many bags and they were heavy. When l asked who is
the owner of the bag because it was heavy but the bag was small.
when I asked, he said the content of the bag was a cellphone. But 1
noticed that it was heavy.

xx xx

Q And you said that somebody admitted ownership of the bag. Is that
correct?
A Yes.

Q Who admitted ownership of the bag?

A (WITNESS POINTS TO THE ACCUSED)

Q Now, you said that while you are looking at the bag, you noticed that
one male passenger you pointed as the nccused kept looking at you'?
A Yes.

Q And, aside from the accused, all the other male passengers were
not looking at you?
A The other passengers were on the ground but he was in front of
[the] window looking towards his bag.

xx xx

Q And the accused admitted that he owned the bag, you

requested him to open the bag'?
A Not yet. I let him board the bus and asked him if he can open it.

Q And, when he opened it?

A I savv the handle of the firearm. 8 (Emphasis supplied)

On the other hand, the defense presented petitioner as sole witness.

On direct examination, petitioner denied ownership of the bag. Hov•lever, he
also admitted to answering SCAA Buco when asked about its contents and
allowing SCAA Buco to open it after the latter sought for his permission:
ATTY. MAMBURAM

Q x xx !Alftcr the conductor of the bus told the member of the task
force that you and your brother were seated at the back of the bus.
can you please tell us what happened next'?
A The member of the task force asked who is the owner of the bag
and what were the contents of the bag.

Q To whom did the member of the task force address that question?
A To me because I was pointed to by the conductor.

TSN, 11 November 1009. pp. 14-16.

v
Decision 5 G.R. No. 215305

Q And what was your reply to the question of the member of the task
force?
A l told him it was only a cellphone.

Q By the way, Mr. Witness, who owned that bag?

A My elder brother.

Q And why did you make a reply to the question of the member of
the task force when, in fact, you were not the owner of the bag?
A Because I was pointed to by the conductor that it was me and my
brother who were seated at the back.

xx xx
Q Now, after you told the member of the task force that probably
the content of the bag was cellphone, what happened next?
A He asked if he can open it.

Q And what was your reply'!

A I told him yes, just open it.

xx xx

Q Now, you said that the owner of the bag and the one who carried
that bag was your brother, what is the name of your brother?
A Roger Saluday.

Q Where is your brother Roger now?

A Roger is already dead. He died in September 2009.-0 (Emphasis
supplied)

On cross-examination, petitioner clarified that only he was pointed at

by the conductor when the latter was asked who owned the bag. Petitioner
also admitted that he never disclosed he was with his brother when he
boarded the bus:
PROS. VELASCO

Q You said that you panicked because they pulled you but as a way of
suving yourself considering you don't own the bag> did you not
volunteer to inform them that [the] bag was O\Nned by your
brother?
A I told them I have a companion but I did not tell them that it was
my brother because I was also afraid of my_ brother.

Q So, in short, Mr. Witness, you did not actually inform them that
you had a brother at that time when you were boarding that
bus, correct'!
A No, sir, I did not.

xx xx

TSN, 22 March 20 I 0. pp. 5-6, 8.

~
 Decision 6 G.R. No. :215305

Q So, you were answering all questions by saying it is not your bag
but you confirm now that it was the conductor of that bus who
pointed you as the owner of the bag, correct?
A Yes, sir, the conductor pointed at me as the one who [sic] seated
at the back. 10 (Emphasis supplied)

The defonse subsequently rested its case and the prosecution waived
the right to present rebuttal evidence. Upon order from the trial court, the
parties submitted their respective memoranda.

The Decision of the Trial Court

Finding the denials of petitioner as self-serving and weak, the trial

court declared him to be in actual or constructive possession of firearm and
explosive without authority or license. Consequently, in the dispositive
portion of the Sentence dated 15 September 2011, petitioner was adjudged
guilty beyond reasonable doubt of illegal possession of fireatm, ammunition,
and explosive under PD 1866:
WHEREFORE, in view of all the foregoing, judgment is hereby
rendered finding Marcelo Gigbalen Saluday GUILTY of illegal possession
of high powered firearm, ammunition and explosive. For the offonse of
illegal possession of high powered firearm and ammunition, he is hereby
sentenced to suffer an imprisonment of prision mayor in its minimum
period. He is likewise ordered to pay a fine of P30,000.00. For the offense
of ilkgal possession of explosive, he is hereby sentenced to suffer an
imprisonment of prision mayor in its maximum period to reclusion
temporal. He is likewise ordered to pay a fine of P-50,000.00.

xx xx

SO ORDERED. 11

On 12 October 2011, petitioner timely filed his Notice of Appeal. 12

The Decision of the Court of Appeals .

On appeal, petitioner challenged his conviction raising as grounds the

alleged misappreciation of evidence by the trial court and the supposed
illegality of the search. 13 On the other hand, the Office of the Solicitor
General (OSG) argued that the warrantless search was valid being a
consented search, and that the factual findings of the trial court can no
longer be disturbed. 14
l(J
TSN, 22 March 2010. p. 10.
!:
CA rvllo. pp. 24-25.
'" Id. at 8.
,." Id. at 15-19.
Id. at 46-60.
'1---
 Decision 7 G.R. No. 215305

In its Decision dated 26 June 2014, the Comi of Appeals sustained the
conviction of petitioner and affirmed the ruling of the trial court with
modification:
WHEREFORE. the instant appeal is DISMISSED. The Sentence
dated September 15, 2011 of the Regional Trial Court, 11 rh Judicial
Region, Branch 11, Davao City, in Criminal Case No. 65, 734-09, finding
Marcelo Gigbalen Saluday guilty beyond reasonable doubt of illegal
possession of high powered firearm, ammunition and explosive is
AFFIRMED with the MODIFICATION that:

(1) for the offense of illegal possession of high-powered

firearm and ammunition, he is imposed an indclenninate sentence
of four (4) years, eight (8) months and twenty-one (21) days of
pn~~'ion correccional maximum, as the minimum term, to seven
(7) years and one (1) day of prision mayor minimum, as the
maximum term, in addition to the fine of Thirty thousand pesos
(1230,000.00); and

(2) for the offense of illegal possession of explosive, he is

sentenced to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua without
eligibility for parole.

SO ORDERED. 15

Petitioner then filed a Motion for Reconsid~ration, 16 to which the OSG

filed its Comment. 17 In its Resolution dated J5 October 2014, 18 the Court of
Appeals denied petitioner's Motion for Reconsideration for being proforma.
Hence, petitioner filed this Petition for Review on Certiorari under Rule 45
of the Rules of Court.

The Issue

Petitioner assails the appreciation of evidence by the trial court and

the Court of Appeals as to warrant his conviction for the offenses charged.

The Ruling of this Court

\Ve affirm.

Only questions of law may be raised in a petition for review on

certiorari under Rule 45 of the Rules of Court. 19 As a result, the Comt, on
appeal, is not duty-bound to weigh and sift through the evidence presented

,, Rullo, pp. 33-34.

l<i
Id. at 35-39.
17
CA roflo, pp. 87-90.
18
,,, Rollo, pp. 41-42.
Section I, Rule 45, Rules of Court.
~
 Decision 8 G.R. No. 215305

during trial. 2° Further, factual findings of the trial court, when affirmed by
the Court of Appeals, are accorded great respect, even finality. 21

Here, petitioner assails his conviction for illegal possession of high-

powered firearm and ammunition under PD 1866, and illegal possession of
explosive under the same law. The elements of both offenses are as follows:
(1) existence of the firearm, ammunition or explosive; (2) ownership or
possession of the firearm, ammunition or explosive; and (3) lack of license
to own or possess. 22 As regards the second and third elements, the Corn1: of
Appeals concurred with the trial court that petitioner was in actual or
constructive possession of a high-powered firearm, ammunition, and
explosive without the requisite authority. The Decision dated 26 June 2014
reads in pertinent pait:
In the present case, the prosecution proved the negative fact that
appellant has no license or permit to own or possess the firea1111.
ammunition and explosive by presenting NUP Daniel Tab[u]ra (Tab[u]ra),
a representative of the Firearms and Explosives Division (FED) of the
PNP. He identified the Ce11ification issued by the Chief. Records Section.
FED of the PNP, stating that appellant ·'is not a licensed/registered holder
of any kind and caliber per verification from records of this office.,.

Appellant, however, questions the competence of Tab[u]ra to

testify on the veracity or truthfulness of the Ce1tification. He claims that
the officer who issued it should have been the one presented so he would
not be denied the right to confront and cross-examine the witnesses
against him.

There is no merit to petitioner's claim. The following is pertinent:

xx xx

The Court on several occasions ruled that either the

testimony of a representative of, or a certification from, the
Philippine National Police (PNP) Firearms and Explosive
Office attesting that a person is not a licensee of any
firearm would suffice to prove hcyond reasonable doubt the
se<:ond element of possession of illegal firearms. The
prosecution more than complied when it presented both.

xx xx

Also, appellant denies having physical or constructi vc possession

of the firearms, ammunition and explosive. However, his denial flies in the
face of the following testimonies which he himself made:

xx xx
:!Ci
Jose v. People, 479 Phil. 969, 978 (2004).
De la Cru:: v. Cour/ (.)/'Appeals, 333 Phil. 126, 135 (1996). See also Castillo v. Court of,.Jppeals,
329 Phil. 150, 158-159 (1996); 1Vava/lo •~ Sandiganb<~vun, 304 Phil. 343, 354 (1994); People v.
Cahal/Jin, 301 Phil. 494, 504 ( 1994).
People v Dela Cru:::, 400 Phil. 872. 879-880 (2000), citing People i'. Bergmue. 350 Phil. 275, 291
( 1998),

v--
 Decision 9 G.R. No. 215305

Appellant gave infoimation, albeit mislcaciing, on the contents of

the bag. He even allowed the police officer to open it. Based on his
actuations, there could be no doubt that he owned the bag containing the
fireann, ammunition and explosive.

Shifting the blame to his dead brother is very easy for appellant to
fabricate. Besides, the allegation that his brother owned the bag is
uncorroborated and self-serving. 2'

As above-quoted, the presence of the second and third elements of

illegal possession of firearm, ammunition, and explosive raises questions of
fact. Considering fmther that the Court of Appeals merely echoed the factual
findings of the trial court, the Court finds no reason to disturb them.

As regards the first element, petitioner corroborates the testimony of

SCAA Buco on four important points: one, that petitioner was a passenger of
the bus flagged down on 5 May 2009 at a military checkpoint in Ilang,
Davao City; two, that SCAA Buco boarded and searched the bus; three, that
the bus conductor pointed at petitioner as the owner of a small, gray-black
pack bag on the back seat of the bus; and four, that the same bag contained
a .30-caliber firearm with one magazine loaded whh three live ammunitions,
and a hand grenade. Notably, petitioner does not challenge the chain of
custody over the seized items. Rather, he merely raises a pure question of
law and argues that they are inadmissible on the ground that the search
conducted by Task Force Davao was illegal.

The Court disagrees.

Section 2, Article Ill of the Constitution, which was patterned after the
Fourth Amendment to the United States (U.S.) Constitution, 24 reads:
SEC. 2. The right of the people to be secure in their persons,
houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures
of whatever nature and for any purpose shall be inviolable, and no search
warrant or warrant of arrest shall issue except upon probable cause to be
determined personally by the judge after examination under oath or
affirmation of the complainant and the witnesses he may produce, and
particularly describing the place to be searched and the persons or things
to be seized. (Emphasis supplied)

Indeed, the constitutional guarantee is not a blanket prohibition.

Rather, it operates against "unreasonable" searches and seizures only. 25

~3
Rollo, pp. 28-3 l.
::..i
The Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution reads:
The right of the people to be secure in their per$ons, houses, papers, and effects, against
unreasonable searches and seizures. shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but
upon probable cause, supported by Oath or atfamation, and particularly describing the place
to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. (Emphasis supplied)
2~
People v. Aruta, 351 Phil. 868, 878 ( 1998).
0
 Decision 10 G.R. No. 215305

Conversely, when a search is "reasonabJe," Section 2, Article HI of the

Constitution does not apply. As to what qualifies as a reasonable search,
the pronouncements of the U.S. Supreme Court, which are doctrinal in this
jurisdiction, 26 may shed light on the matter.

In the seminal case of Katz v. United States, 27 the U.S. Supreme Court
held that the electronic surveillance of a phone conversation without a
warrant violated the Fourth Amendment. According to the U.S. Supreme
Court, what the Fourth Amendment protects are people, not places such that
what a person knowingly exposes to the public, even in his or her own home
or office, is not a subject of Fourth Amendment protection in much the same
way that what he or she seeks to preserve as private, even in an area
accessible to the public, may be constitutionally protected, thus:
Because of the misleading way the issues have been formulated,
the parties have attached great significance to the characterization of tbc
telephone booth from which the petitioner placed his calls. The petitioner
has strenuously argued that the booth was a "constitutionally protected
area." The Government has maintained with equal vigor that it was not.
But this effo1i to decide whether or not a given "area,'' viewed in the
abstract, is "constitutionally protected" deflects attention from the problem
presented by this case. For the Fourth Amendment protects people, not
places. What a person knowingly exposes to the public, even in his
own home or office, is not a subject of Fourth Amendment protection.
See Lewis v. United States, 385 U.S. 206, 210; United States v. Lee, 274
U.S. 559, 563. But what he seeks to preserve as private, even in an area
accessible to the public, may be constitutionally protected. See Rios 1'.
United States, 364 U.S. 253; £:y; parte Jackson, 96 U.S. 727, 733.:c 8
(Emphasis supplied)

Further, Justice John Harlan laid down in his concurring opinion the
two-part test that would trigger the application of the Fourth Amendment.
First, a person exhibited an actual (subjective) expectation of privacy.2')
Second, the expectation is one that society is prepared to recognize as
reasonable (objective). 30

The prohibition of unreasonable search and seizure ultimately sterns

from a person's right to privacy. Hence, only when the State intrudes into a
person's expectation of privacy, which society regards as reasonable, is the
Fourth Amendment triggered. Conversely, where a person does not have an
expectation of privacy or one's expectation of privacy is not reasonable to
society, the alleged State intrusion is not a "search" within the protection of
the Fourth Amendment.

l<>
l'eople 1: !\1arti, 271 Phil. 51, 57 ( 1991 ).
389 U.S. 347 (1967).
1•
Id. at 351.
~(J
Id. at 361.
JO
Jd.
v
 Decision 1l G.R. No. 215305

A survey of Philippine case law would reveal the same jurisprudential

reasoning. To illustrate, in People v. Johnson, 31 the Court declared airport
searches as outside the protection of the search and seizure clause due to the
lack of an expectation of privacy that society will regard as reasonable:
Persons may lose the protection of the search and seizure clause by
exposure of their persons or property to the public in a manner reflecting a
lack of subjective expectation of privacy, which expectation society is
prepared to recognize as reasonable. Such recognition is implicit in airport
security procedures. With iilcreased concern over airplane hijacking and
terrorism has come increased security at the nation's airports. Passengers
attempting to board an aircraft routinely pass through metal detectors;
their carry-on baggage as well as checked luggage are routinely subjected
to x-ray scans. Should these procedures suggest the presence of suspicious
objects. physical searches are conducted to determine what the objects are.
There is little question that such searches are reasonable, given their
minimal intrusiveness, the gravity of the safety interests involved, and the
reduced privacy expectations associated with airline travel. Indeed,
travelers are often notified through airport public address systems, signs.
and notices in their airline tickets that they are subject to search and, if any
prohibited materials or substances are found, such would be subject to
seizure. These announcements place passengers on notice that ordinary
constitutional protections against warrantless searches and seizures do not
apply to routine airport procedures~ 32 (Citations omitted)

Similarly, in Dela Cruz v. People, 33 the Court described seaport

searches as reasonable searches on the ground that the safety of the traveling
public overrides a person's right to pdvacy:
Routine baggage inspections conducted by port authorities,
although done without search warrants, are not unreasonable searches per
se. Constitutional provisions protecting privacy should not be so literally
understood so as to deny reasonable safeguards to ensure the safety of the
traveling public.

xx xx

Thus, with port security personnel's functions having the color of

state-related functions and deemed agents of government, Jvfarti is
inapplicable in the present case. Nevertheless, searches pursuant to port
security measures are not unreasonable per se. The security measures of
x-ray scanning and inspection in domestic ports are akin to routine
security procedures in airports.

xx xx

Port authorities were acting within their duties and functions when
[they] used x'."ray scanning machines for inspection of passengers' bags.
When the results of the x-ray scan revealed the existence of fircanns in the
bag, the port authorities had probable cause to conduct u search of

:<1
40 I Phil. 734 (2000).
Id. at 743.
n

~
776 Phil. 653 (2016).
 Decision 12 G.R. No. 215305

petitioner's bag. Notably, petitioner did not contest the results of the x-ray
scan. 34

ln People v. Breis, 35 the Court also justified a bus search owing to the
reduced expectation of privacy of the riding public:
Unlike the officer in Chan }()()k, IO l Mangili did not exceed his
authority in the performance of his duty. Prior to Breis' resistance, IO 1
Mangili laid nary a finger on Breis or Yurnol. Neither did his presence in
the bus constitute an excess of authority. The bus is public transportation,
and is open to the public. The expectation of privacy in relation to the
constitutional right against unreasonable searches i·n a public bus is not the
same as that in a person's dwelling. In fact, at that point in time, only the
bus was being searched, not Yumol, Breis. or their belongings, and the
search of moving vehicles has been upheld. 36

lndeed, the reasonableness of a person's expectation of privacy must

be determined on a case-to-case basis since it depends on the factual
circumstances sun·ounding the case. 37 Other factors such as customs,
physical surroundings and practices of a particular activity may diminish this
expectation. 38 In Fortune Express, Inc. v. Court of Appeals, 39 a common
carrier was held civilly liable for the death of a passenger due to the hostile
acts of armed men who boarded and subsequently seized the bus. The
Cou11 held that "simple precautionary measures to protect the safety of
passengers, such as frishJng passengers and inspecting their baggages,
preferably with non-intrusive gadgets such as metal detectors, before
allowing them on board could have been employed without violating the
passenger's constitutional rights."40 In Costabel!a Corp. v. Court (~l
Appeals,41 a compulsory right of way was found ·improper. for the failure of
the owners of the dominant estate to allege that the passageway they sought
to be re-opened was at a point least prejudicial to the owner of the scrvient
estate. The Court thus explained, ''[ c ]onsidering that the petitioner operates a
hotel and beach resort in its property, it must undeniably maintain a strict
standard of security within its premises. Otherwise, the convenience,
privacy, and safety of its clients and patrons would be compromised." 42
Similarly, shopping malls install metal detectors and body scanners, and
require bag inspection as a requisite for entry. Needless to say, any security
lapse on the part of the mall owner can compromise public safety.

Concededly, a bus, a hotel and beach resort, and a shopping mall are
all private property whose owners have every right to exclude anyone from
entering. At the same time, however, because these private premises
q

. ~
Id. at 661, 681, 683-684 .
766 Phil. 785 (2015).
)(>
Id. at 812 .
•'"i
Sps. llingv. Choachr(V. S1:, 712 Phil. 337, 350 (2013).
IS
Opie\\ forres, 354 Phil. 948. 981 ( 1998).
l'!
364 Phil. 480 ( 1999).
,n
ld. at 490.
·ll
271 Phil.350(1991).

~
;7
lei. at 359.
 Decision 13 G.R. No. 215305

are accessible to the public, the State, much like the owner, can impose
non-intrusive security measures and filter those going in. The only
difference in the imposition of security measures by an owner and the State
is, the former emanates from the attributes of ownership under Article 429 of ·
the Civil Code, while the latter sten:is from the exercise of po] ice power for
the promotion of public safety. Necessad1y, a person's expectation of
privacy is diminished whenever he or she enters private premises that arc
accessible to the public.

In view of the foregoing, the bus inspection conducted by Task Force

Davao at a military checkpoint constitutes a reasonable search. Bus No. 66
of Davao Metro Shuttle was a vehicle of public transportation where
passengers have a reduced expectation of privacy. Further, SCAA Buco
merely lifted petitioner's bag. This visual and minimally intrusive inspection
was even less than the standard x-ray and physical inspections done at the
airport and seaport terminals where passengers may further be required to
open their bags and luggages. Considering the reasonableness of the bus
search, Section 2, Article III of the Constitution finds no application, thereby
precluding the necessity for a warrant.

As regards the warrantless inspection of petitioner's bag, the OSG

argues that petitioner consented to the search) thereby making the seized
items admissible in evidence. 43 Petitioner contends otherwise and insists
that his failure to object cannot be construed as an implied waiver.

Petitioner is wrong.

Doubtless, the constitutiona] immunity against unreasonable searches

and seizures is a personal right, which may be waived. 44 However, to be
valid, the consent must be voluntary such that it is unequivocal~ specific, and
intelligently given, uncontaminated by any duress or coercion. 45 Relevant to
this determination of voluntariness are the following characteristics of the
person giving consent and the environment in which consent is given: (a) the
age of the consenting party; (b) whether he or she was in a public or
secluded location; (c) whether he or she objected to the search or passively
looked on; 46 {d) his or her education and intelligence; (e) the presence of
coercive police procedures; (f) the belief that no incriminating evidence will
be found; 47 (g) the nature of the police questioning; (h) the environment in
which the questioning took place; and (i) the possibly vulnerable subjective
state of the person consenting." 8

41
Rollo, pp. 108-110.
·14
Cub!11les v. Cvurt qfAppeals, 424 Phil. 263, 286 (2002).
·i~

~·
Id., citing 68 Am Jur 2d Searches and Sei:tures, § 135.
41>
Id., citing United States v. Barahona, 990 F. 2d 412.
47
Id., citing United States'-'. Lopez, 911 F. '.M 1006.
4S
Id., citing United States\.'. Najzger. 965 F. 2d 213.
 Decision 14 G.R. No. 215305

In Asuncion v. Court ~f Appeals,'19 the apprehending officers sought

the permission of petitioner to search the car, to which the latter agreed.
According to the Court, petitioner himself freely gave his consent to the
search. In People v. Montilla, 50 the Court found the accused to have
spontaneously performed affirmative acts of volition by opening the bag
without being forced or intimidated to do so, which acts amounted to a clear
waiver of his right. In People v. Omaweng, 51 the police officers asked the
accused if they could see the contents of his bag, to which the accused said
"you can see the contents but those are only clothings." The policemen then
asked if they could open and see it, and the accused answered "you can see
it." The Court held there was a valid consented search.

Similarly in this case, petitioner consented to the baggage inspection

done by SCAA Buco. When SCAA Buco asked if he could open petitioner's
bag, petitioner answered ''yes, just open if' based on petitioner's mvn
testimony. This is clear consent by petitioner to the search of the contents of
his bag. In its Decision dated 26 June 2014, the Court of Appeals aptly held:
A waiver was found in People v. Omaweng. There, the police
officers asked the accused if they could see the contents of hi.s bag and he
answered "you can see the contents but those are only clothings.'' When
askt:d i 1· they could open and see it, he said --you can see it." In the present
case, accused-appellant told the member of the task force that "it \.vas only
a cellphone" when asked who owns the bag and what are its contents.
When asked by the member of the task force if he could open it, accused-
appellant told him "yes, just open it." Hence, as in Omaweng, there was a
waiver of accused-appellanfs right against warrantless search« 2

To emphasize, a reasonable search, on the one hand, and a warrantless

search, on the other, are mutually exclusive. While both State intrusions are
valid even without a warrant, the underlying reasons for the absence of a
warrant are different. A reasonable search arises from a reduced expectation
of privacy, for which reason Section 2, Article III of the Constitution finds
no application. Examples include searches done at airp01ts, seaports, bus
terminals, malls, and similar public ·places. In contrast, a warrantless search
is presumably an "unreasonable search," but for reasons of practicality, a
search warrant can be dispensed with. Examples include search incidental to
a lawful arrest, search of evidence in plain view, consented search, and
extensive search of a private moving vehicle.

Fmther, in the conduct of bus searches, the Court Jays down the
following guidelines. Prior to entry, passengers and thei.r bags and luggages
can be subjected to a routine inspection akin to airport and seaport security
protocol. In this regard, metal detectors and x-ray scanning machines can be
installed at bus terminals. Passengers can also be frisked. In lieu of
-1•.:
362 Phil. l 18, 127 ( 1999).
"' 349 Phil. 640, 661 (1998).
~ l
288 Phil. 350, 358-359 ( 1992).
';~
Rtil!o. p. 32.
~
 Decision 15 G.R. No. 215305

electronic scanners, passengers can be required instead to open their

bags and luggages for inspection, which inspection must be made in the
passenger's presence. Should the passenger object, he or she can validly be
refused entry into the terminal.

While in transit, a bus can still be searched by government agents or

the security personnel of the bus owner in the following three instances.
First, upon receipt of information that a passenger carries contraband or
illegal articles, the bus where the passenger is aboard can be stopped en
route to allow for an inspection of the person and his or her effects. This is
no different from an airplane that is forced to land upon receipt of
information about the contraband or illegal articles carried by a passenger
onboard. Second, whenever a bus picks passengers en route, the prospective
passenger can be frisked and his or her bag or luggage be subjected to the
same routine inspection by government agents or private security personnel
as though the person boarded the bus at the terminal. This is because unlike
an airplane, a bus is able to stop and pick passengers along the way, making
it possible for these passengers to evade the routine search at the bus
terminal. Third, a bus can be flagged down at designated military or police
checkpoints where State agents can board the vehicle for a routine inspection
of the passengers and their bags or luggages.

In both situations, the inspection of passengers and their effects prior

to entry at the bus terminal and the search of the bus while in transit must
also satisfy the following conditions to qualify as a valid reasonable search.
First, as to the manner of the search, it must be the least intrusive and
must uphold the dignity of the person or persons being searched,
minimizing~ if not altogether eradicating, any cause for public
embarrassment, humiliation or ridicule. Second, neither can the search result
from any discriminatory motive such as insidious profiling, stereotyping and
other similar motives. In all instances, the fundamental rights of vulnerable
identities, persons with disabilities, children and other similar groups should
be protected. Third, as to the purpose
. of the search,
. it must be confined to
ensuring public safety. Fourth, as to the evidence seized from the reasonable
search, courts must be convinced that precautionary measures were in place to
ensure that no evidence was planted against the accused.

The search of persons in a pub.lie place is valid because the safety of

others may be put at risk. Given the present circumstances, the Court takes
judicial notice that public transport buses and their tenninals, just like passenger
ships and seaports, are in that category.

Aside from public transport buses, any moving vehicle that similarly
accepts passengers at the terminal and along its route is likewise covered by
these guidelines. Hence, whenever compliant with these guidelines, a routine
inspection at the terminal or of the vehicle itself while in transit constitutes a

v
 Decision 16 G.R. No. 215305

reasonable search. Otherwise, the intrusion becomes unreasonable, thereby

triggering the constitutional guarantee under Section 2, Article lll of the
Constitution.

To emphasize, the guidelines do not apply to privately-owned cars.

Neither are they applicable to moving vehicles dedicated for private or
personal use, as in the case of taxis, which are hired by only one or a group
of passengers such that the vehicle can no longer be flagged down by any
other person unti1 the passengers on board alight from the vehicle.

WHEREFORE, the petition is DENIED. The Decision dated 26 June

2014 and the Resolution dated 15 October 2014 uf the Court of Appeals in
CA-G.R. CR No. 01099 are AFFIRMED.

SO ORDERED.

~
ANTONIO T. CARPIO
Acting Chief Justice

WE CONCUR:

(on ieave)
MARIA LOURDES P.A. SERENO
Chief Justice

PRESBITER_K) J. VELASCO, .JR.

j~ ~ hi!Mk
TERESITA J..LEONARDO-DE CASTRO
Ass6ciate Justice Associate Justice

.
i
\
\

.,
·... ,_
'·
'·
'·
 Decision 17 G.R. No. 215305

. PERALTA

"
~;:::; (on wellness leave)
RIANO C. DEL CASTILLO ESTELA M. PERLAS-BERNABE
Associate Justice Associate Justice

(no part)
FH.AN.CIS H. JARDELEZA
Associate Justice

S. CAGUlOA s

~
( (on wellness leave)
NOEL l\.~·Z TIJAM. ANDRES B. REYES, JR.
Ass e ~~~ice Associate Justice

V,qoJ ~Uif b9ftlhe:>

· • .'. ·; .. · • ·~p~ .R U·AMAA

; ,.~.' l :. ·, '; .. , cq.;1;) ytuqa(''
. :J •d '."• ,)
Decision 18 G.R. No. 215305 .

CERTIFICATION

Pursuant to Section I 3, Article VIII of the Constitution, I certify that

the conclusions in the above Decision had been reached in consultation
before the case was assigned to the writer of the opinion of the Court.

/l~
~'l
ANTONIO T. CAR
Acting Chief Justice

c.tlled True Copy

ANN~~=c;.,BIO
Deputy Clerk of Court En Banet
OCC En Banc.Supreme Court