Professional Documents
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Collector of Customs
Collector of Customs
VILLALUZ In these six cases, one common legal issue is whether a Circuit Criminal Court possesses
G.R. No. L-34038 / JUNE 18, 1976 / MAKASIAR, J. / CRIMPRO – Return of property illegally seized/ the power to conduct preliminary investigations which is significant to determine whether
GRACEGAR items may be returned or not.
NATURE
PETITIONERS Collector of Customs ISSUE & RATIO.
RESPONDENTS Hon. Onofre Villaluz et. al. WON the items seized may be returned – NO
SUMMARY. Collector of Customs, Salvador T. Mascardo, filed against Cesar T. The dismissal of a case, even with prejudice, during the stage of preliminary investigation
Makapugay, a letter complaint with respondent Judge of the Circuit Criminal Court for does not bar subsequent prosecution and conviction if the evidence warrants the re-filing of
violation of: (a) Section 174 of the National Internal Revenue Code, as amended by the same becomes next to impossible. For the enforcement of such order would virtually
Republic Act No. 4713, (b) Central Bank Circular No. 265, in relation to Section 34 of deprive herein petitioner Collector of Customs of the evidence indispensable to a successful
Republic Act No. 265, otherwise known as The Central Bank Act, and (c) Section 3601 and prosecution of the case against the private respondent. Worse, the order nullified the power of
3602 of Republic Act No. 1937, in relation to Sections 2505 and 2530 (m) 1 of the same seizure of the customs official.
Act. Respondent Judge ordered the return of the properties. Petitioner Collector of Customs
refused to obey the order due to the “prior institution of seizure proceedings thereon.” The Respondent Judge ignored the established principle that from the moment imported goods
refusal prompted respondent Makapugay to file a complaint for “Open Disobedience” are actually in the possession or control of the Customs authorities, even if no warrant of
under Article 231 of the Revised Penal Code, before the City Fiscal of Pasay City. SC ruled seizure had previously been issued by the Collector of Customs in connection with
in favor of the Collector of Customs. seizure and forfeiture proceedings, the Bureau of Customs acquires exclusive jurisdiction
over such imported goods for the purpose of enforcing the Customs laws, subject to an
DOCTRINE. A circuit court judge cannot order return to importer of goods seized by the appeal only to the Court of Tax Appeals and to final review by the Supreme Court.
Collector of Customs even if the criminal complaint against the importer is dismissed by
said judge. Jurisdiction to replevin seized imported articles belongs exclusively to the Such exclusive jurisdiction precludes the Court of First Instance as well as the Circuit
Bureau of Customs subject to appeal to the Court of Tax Appeals. Criminal Court from assuming cognizance of the subject matter and divests such courts
of the prerogative to replevin properties subject to seizure and forfeiture proceedings for
FACTS. violation of the Tariff and Customs Code because proceedings for the forfeiture of goods
Petitioner Collector of Customs, Salvador T. Mascardo filed against Cesar T. Makapugay, a illegally imported are not criminal in nature since they do not result in the conviction of
letter complaint with respondent Judge of the Circuit Criminal Court for violation of NIRC, wrongdoer nor in the imposition upon him of a penalty.
Central Bank Circular 265 and RA 1937 claiming that Cesar T. Makapugay "with malicious
intention to defraud the government criminally, willfully and feloniously brought into the
country FORTY (40) cartons of "untaxed blue seal" Salem cigarettes and FIVE (5) bottles DECISION.
of Johny Walker Scotch Whiskey, also "untaxed", without the necessary permit from the Petitions dismissed. Writs lifted.
proper authorities. The respondent submitted a Baggage Declaration Entry which did not NOTES.
declare the said articles. Fernando, J., concurring:
Respondent Judge assumed jurisdiction to conduct and did conduct the preliminary Constitutional law; Preliminary examination; Constitution confers of circuit criminal judge
investigation, and on July 6, 1971, issued the challenged order, dismissing "the case with power to conduct preliminary examination, but said judges should curb any eagerness to make
prejudice and ordering the return to private respondent the amount of P2,280.00, his use of such competence. It is my understanding then that the decision reached is at most an
passport No. Ag-2456 FA - No. B103813, and one (1) box of air-conditioning evaporator affirmation that the present Constitution, as did the 1935 Constitution, confers the power to
only, as well as the forfeiture of forty (40) cartons of untaxed blue seal Salem cigarettes and conduct preliminary examination preparatory to issuing a warrant of arrest, to a circuit
five (5) bottles of Johnny Walker Scotch Whiskey" (p. 13, rec.). criminal court judge. Even then, however, he should for sound policy reasons curb any
Armed with said order, private respondent Makapugay demanded that petitioner eagerness or propensity to make use of such competence. x x x As to his competence
release the articles so stated. Petitioner Collector of Customs refused to obey the order due regarding a preliminary investigation, it is my understanding that the question has been left
to the "prior institution of seizure proceedings thereon." The refusal prompted respondent open.
Makapugay to file a complaint for "Open Disobedience" under Article 231 of the Revised
Penal Code, before the City Fiscal of Pasay City. Barredo, J., concurring in result:
Hence, this petition for certiorari with preliminary injunction, seeking to annul and set aside Constitutional law; Preliminary examination; Congress did not intend to confer on circuit
the order dated July 6, 1971 on the ground that respondent Judge has no power to conduct a criminal courts the power to conduct preliminary investigations. Notwithstanding the
preliminary investigation of criminal complaints directly filed with him, cannot legally scholarly and extended main opinion, I am not persuaded that the legislature ever intended to
order the dismissal "with prejudice" of a criminal case after conducting a preliminary confer upon Circuit Criminal Courts the power to conduct preliminary investigations. Not only
investigation thereon, and is without authority to order the return of articles subject of the specific words of the above provision, but the development of the law on preliminary
seizure proceedings before Customs authorities. investigations and circumstances obtaining at the time R.A. 5179 was enacted point
unmistakably, in my considered opinion, to this conclusion.