Revaldo v. People

OLYMPIO REVALDO v. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, (A w/ Mod)
G.R. No. 170589, April 16, 2009

FACTS:

• Petitioner was charged with the offense of illegal possession of premium hardwood lumber in violation of Section 68 of the Forestry Code.
• June 17, 1992, in the Municipality of Maasin, Province of Southern Leyte, Philippines, the accused, with intent of gain, did then and there willfully, unlawfully and feloniously possess 96.14 board ft. of flat lumber with a total value of P1,730.52, Philippine Currency, without any legal document as required under existing forest laws and regulations from proper government authorities.
• Maceda, the person in charge of the operations section of the PNP in Maasin, Southern Leyte, testified that on 18 June 1992, at around 11:00 in the morning, he went with Chief Alejandro Rojas, SPO3 Melquiades Talisic and SPO3 Nicasio Sunit to the house of petitioner to verify the report of Sunit that petitioner had in his possession lumber without the necessary documents. They were not armed with a search warrant on that day.They confiscated 20 pieces of lumber of different varieties lying around the vicinity of the house of petitioner. 
• September 5, 1997, the RTC-Branch 25 rendered judgment convicting petitioner of the offense charged and sentencing him.
• August 23 2004, the Court of Appeals affirmed the judgment of the trial court. The Court of Appeals ruled that motive or intention is immaterial for the reason that mere possession of the lumber without the legal documents gives rise to criminal liability.

ISSUE:

• Whether or not the warrantless search and seizure conducted by the police officers was legal.

HELD:

• Yes, even without a search warrant, the personnel of the PNP can seize the forest products cut, gathered or taken by an offender pursuant to Section 80 of the Forestry Code.
• Petitioner was in possession of the lumber without the necessary documents when the police officers accosted him. In open court, petitioner categorically admitted the possession and ownership of the confiscated lumber as well as the fact that he did not have any legal documents therefor and that he merely intended to use the lumber for the repair of his dilapidated house. Mere possession of forest products without the proper documentation consummates the crime. Dura lex sed lex. The law may be harsh but that is the law.
• On the penalty imposed by the lower courts, we deem it necessary to discuss the matter. Violation of Section 68 of the Forestry Code is punished as Qualified Theft with the penalties imposed under Articles 309 and 310 of the Revised Penal Code