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Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. v. Bright Future
Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. v. Bright Future
DECISION
CARPIO-MORALES, J : p
The RTC's finding that the two-witness rule governing the execution of search
warrant was not complied with, which rule is mandatory to ensure regularity in the
execution of the search warrant, 28 is in order, however.
Observed the RTC:
At this point, it is worthy of note [sic] the two statements issued by
Barangay Police Subrino P. de Castro and Gaudencio A. Masambique who
affirmed in their testimonies in Court that, to wit:
xxx xxx xxx
3. Noong ako ay makarating sa nasabing lugar nadatnan
ko ang mga pulis at mga miyembro ng Raiding Team na nasa loob na
ng gusali ng Bright Future at nagsisiyasat sa mga gamit at
makinaryang naroroon. Pagkatapos ay nilapitan ako ng isang pulis at
ipinatanggap sa akin ang nasabing search warrant.
The police were already searching ("nagsisiyasat") the area of
respondent BFTI in clear violation of the two-witness rule provided for by
Section 8 of Rule 126. These statements of the two Barangay Police
ostensibly arriving late while a search was going on was corroborated by
Insp. Macatlang's testimony that the Barangay officials arrived at about 11:30
PM to 12 AM. 29(Underscoring supplied)
The RTC did not thus err in ordering the quashal of the search warrants.
SCEI insists, however, that the searching team waited for the arrival of the
barangay officials who were summoned to witness the search, 30 and that "[e]ven
when the enforcing officers were moving towards the actual BFTI premises . . . they
wereaccompanied at all times by one of the security guards on duty until the
barangay officials arrived." 31 SCEI's position raises an issue of fact which is not
proper for consideration in a petition for review on certiorari before this Court under
Rule 45, which is supposed to cover only issues of law. 32 In any event, a security
guard may not be considered a "lawful occupant" or "a member of [the lawful
occupant's] family" under the earlier quoted Section 8 of Rule 126. SDTaHc
As the two-witness rule was not complied with, the objects seized during the
April 1, 2005 search are inadmissible in evidence. Their return, on motion of BFTI,
was thus in order. 33
A final word. The RTC order requiring BFTI to file a bond to ensure the return
of the seized items should the Department of Justice find probable cause against it in
I.S. No. 2005-315, SCEI v. Anthony Bryan B. Sy, et al., has no basis in law. Besides,
the seized items being inadmissible in evidence, it would serve no purpose to ensure
their return.
WHEREFORE, the petition is DENIED.
The August 8, 2005 Order of the Regional Trial Court of Manila, Branch 8
granting the Urgent Motion to Quash filed by respondent, Bright Future Technologies,
Inc., is AFFIRMED.
The August 10, 2005 Order granting the Ex Parte Motion to Return Seized
Articles filed by respondent is AFFIRMED, with the MODIFICATION that the portion
requiring respondent to file a bond is SET ASIDE. Let the bond then filed by
respondent be CANCELLED.
SO ORDERED.
Quisumbing, Carpio, Tinga and Velasco, Jr., JJ., concur.
Footnotes
1. RTC records, Vol. I, pp. 181-182, 184-185, 187-188, 190-191, 193-194, 196-197,
199-200, 202-203.
2. Id. at 305-306.
3. Id. at 240-258.
4. Id. at 243-244.
5. Id. at 493-514.
6. Id. at 528-535.
7. Id. at 529.
8. Id. at 428-436.
9. Id. at 462.
10. Vide RTC records, Vol. I, p. 527.
11. RTC records, Vol. 2, pp. 222-231;Rollo, p. 14.
12. RTC records, Vol. 1, pp. 538-540.
13. Id. at 556-567.
14. Id. at 547-555.
15. Id. at 596.
16. Vide RTC records, Vol. 2, p. 4.
17. RTC records, Vol. 3, p. 261.
18. Id. at 264-265.
19. Id. at 266-268.
20. Id. at 272-274.
21. Id. at 275.
22. Id. at 279-284.
23. Rollo, pp. 3-44.
24. Id. at 20.
25. G.R. No. 163858, June 28, 2005, 461 SCRA 574.
26. Id. at 592, citing 20th Century Fox v. Court of Appeals (G.R. No. L-76649-51,
August 19, 1988, 164 SCRA 655). In 20th Century Fox v. Court of Appeals, this
Court did not deny the private complainant the personality to appear in the search
warrant proceedings.
27. RTC records, Vol. 3, p. 264.
28. People v. Gesmundo, G.R. No. 89373, March 9, 1993, 219 SCRA 743, 751.
29. RTC records, Vol. 3, pp. 263-264.Vide RTC records, Vol. 2, pp. 191-192; RTC
records, Vol. 3, pp. 129-133, 136-139.
30. Rollo, p. 35.
31. Id. at 34.
32. Vide RULES OF COURT, Rule 41, Section 2 (c); Sps. Calvo v. Sps. Vergara, 423
Phil. 939, 947 (2001).
33. Vide Rep. of the Philippines v. Sandiganbayan, 454 Phil. 504, 550 (2003).