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Mustang Lumber Inc. v. CA and Factoran || G.R. No. 104988 || 1st Cv!

Case
"eo#!e v. $udge %&on'Ca#u!ong and R C(u) "o *RC"+ || G.R. No. 10,4-4 || Crmna! Case
Mustang Lumber Inc. v. CA and Rob!es || G.R. No. 1-./84 || -nd Cv! Case
$une 18 199,
FACTS
0(s case s t(e conso!daton o1 t(e t(ree a1orementoned cases stated above.
'"ettoner s a !umber dea!er c(arged 1or vo!atng "% /02 or t(e Revsed Forestr) Code
'"rvate Res#ondent Fu!genco Factoran s t(e %3NR 4ecretar)
'"rvate Res#ondent Att) 5ncent Rob!es s t(e C(e1 o1 t(e 4#eca! Actons and Investgaton %vson
*4AI%+ o1 t(e %3NR
'$udge %&on'Ca#u!ong s t(e #resdng 6udge o1 R0C 5a!en&ue!a #resdng over t(e crmna! case c(arged
aganst t(e o7ner o1 Mustang Lumber8 #rvate res#ondent RC"
Antecedents to t(e 1st Cv! Case
9n 1 A#r! 19908 actng on an n1ormaton t(at a (uge stoc:#!e o1 narra 1!tc(es8 s(orts8 and s!abs 7ere seen nsde t(e
!umber)ard o1 t(e #ettoner n 5a!en&ue!a8 Metro Man!a8 t(e 4AI% organ&ed a team o1 1oresters and #o!cemen and sent
t to conduct surve!!ance at t(e sad !umber)ard. In t(e course t(ereo18 t(e team members sa7 comng out 1rom t(e
!umber)ard t(e #ettoner;s truc:8 7t( "!ate No. CC<'.--8 !oaded 7t( !auan and a!macga !umber o1 assorted s&es and
dmensons. 4nce t(e drver cou!d not #roduce t(e re=ured nvoces and trans#ort documents8 t(e team se&ed t(e truc:
toget(er 7t( ts cargo and m#ounded t(em at t(e %3NR com#ound at 5sa)as Avenue8 >ue&on Ct). 0(e team 7as not
ab!e to gan entr) nto t(e #remses because o1 t(e re1usa! o1 t(e o7ner.
9n . A#r! 19908 t(e team 7as ab!e to secure a searc( 7arrant 1rom 3?ecutve $udge Adrano R. 9soro o1 t(e Regona!
0ra! Court *R0C+ o1 5a!en&ue!a8 Metro Man!a. @) vrtue t(ereo18 t(e team se&ed on t(at date 1rom t(e #ettoners
!umber)ard 1our truc:!oads o1 narra s(orts8 trmmngs8 and s!absA a neg!gb!e number o1 narra !umberA and a##ro?mate!)
-008000 board 1eet o1 !umber and s(orts o1 varous s#eces nc!udng a!macga and su#a.
9n 4 A#r! 19908 t(e team returned to t(e #remses o1 t(e #ettoner ;s !umber)ard n 5a!en&ue!a and #!aced under
admnstratve se&ure t(e remanng stoc:#!e o1 a!macga8 su#a8 and !auan !umber 7t( a tota! vo!ume o1 .118000 board
1eet because t(e #ettoner 1a!ed to #roduce u#on demand t(e corres#ondng cert1cate o1 !umber orgn8 au?!ar)
nvoces8 ta!!) s(eets8 and de!ver) rece#ts 1rom t(e source o1 t(e nvoces coverng t(e !umber to #rove t(e !egtmac) o1
t(er source and orgn.
9n 10 A#r! 19908 counse! 1or t(e #ettoner sent a !etter to Rob!es re=uestng an e?tenson o1 11teen da)s 1rom 14 A#r!
1990 to #roduce t(e re=ured documents coverng t(e se&ed artc!es because some o1 t(em8 #artcu!ar!) t(e cert1cate o1
!umber orgn8 7ere a!!eged!) n t(e "rovnce o1 >urno. Rob!es dened t(e moton on t(e ground t(at t(e documents
beng re=ured 1rom t(e #ettoner must accom#an) t(e !umber or 1orest #roducts #!aced under se&ure.
9n -. A#r! 19908 4ecretar) Factoran ssued an order sus#endng mmedate!) t(e #ettoner;s !umber'dea!er;s #ermt
drectng t(e #ettoner to e?#!an n 7rtng 7t(n 11teen da)s 7() ts !umber'dea!er;s #ermt s(ou!d not be cance!!ed. 9n
t(e same date8 counse! 1or t(e #ettoner sent anot(er !etter to Rob!es n1ormng t(e !atter t(at t(e #ettoner (ad a!read)
secured t(e re=ured documents and 7as read) to submt t(em. None8 (o7ever8 7as submtted.
9n 11 $u!) 19908 t(e #ettoner 1!ed 7t( t(e R0C o1 Man!a a #etton 1or certorar and #ro(bton 7t( a #ra)er 1or a
restranng order or #re!mnar) n6uncton aganst 4ecretar) Fu!genco 4. Factoran8 $r.8 and Att). 5ncent A. Rob!es. 0(e
#ettoner =uestoned t(eren t(e se&ure on 1 A#r! 19908 7t(out an) searc( and se&ure order ssued b) a 6udge8 o1 ts
truc: 7t( "!ate No. CC<'.-- and ts cargo o1 assorted !umber consstng o1 a#tong8 tangu!e8 and !auan o1 d11erent s&es
and dmensons 7t( a tota! va!ue o1 ".88000.00.
In reso!vng t(e sad case8 t(e tra! court (e!d t(at t(e 7arrant!ess searc( and se&ure on 1 A#r! 1990 o1 t(e #ettoner;s
truc:8 7(c( 7as movng out 1rom t(e #ettoner;s !umber)ard n 5a!en&ue!a8 Metro Man!a8 !oaded 7t( !arge vo!umes o1
!umber 7t(out coverng document s(o7ng t(e !egtmac) o1 ts source or orgn dd not o11end t(e consttutona! mandate
t(at searc( and se&ure must be su##orted b) a va!d 7arrant. 0(e stuaton 1e!! under one o1 t(e sett!ed and acce#ted
e?ce#tons 7(ere 7arrant!ess searc( and se&ure s 6ust1ed8 v&.8 a searc( o1 a movng ve(c!e.
As to t(e 4 A#r! 1990 se&ure o1 a !arge vo!ume o1 a!macga8 su#a8 and !auan !umber and s(orts8 t(e tra! court ru!ed t(at
t(e sad se&ure 7as a contnuaton o1 t(at made t(e #revous da) and 7as st!! #ursuant to or b) vrtue o1 t(e searc(
7arrant ssued b) 3?ecutve $udge 9soro 7(ose va!dt) t(e #ettoner dd not even =ueston. And8 a!t(oug( t(e searc(
7arrant dd not s#ec1ca!!) menton a!macga8 su#a8 and !auan !umber and s(orts8 t(er se&ure 7as va!d because t s
sett!ed t(at t(e e?ecutng o11cer s not re=ured to gnore contrabands observed durng t(e conduct o1 t(e searc(.
0(e tra! court8 (o7ever8 set asde 4ecretar) Factoran;s order o1 . Ma) 1990 orderng t(e con1scaton o1 t(e se&ed
artc!es n 1avor o1 t(e Government 1or t(e reason t(at snce t(e artc!es 7ere se&ed #ursuant to t(e searc( 7arrant
ssued b) 3?ecutve $udge 9soro t(e) s(ou!d (ave been returned to (m n com#!ance 7t( t(e drectve n t(e 7arrant.
0(e #ettoner 1ort(7t( a##ea!ed 1rom t(e decson to t(e Court o1 A##ea!s8 dsmssng 1or !ac: o1 mert t(e #ettoner;s
a##ea! 1rom t(e decson n t(e FIR40 CI5IL CA43 and a11rmng t(e tra! court;s ru!ngs on t(e ssues rased. Bence t(s
#etton.
Antecedents to t(e Crmna! Case
Rob!es 1!ed 7t( t(e %e#artment o1 $ustce *%9$+ a com#!ant aganst t(e #ettoner;s #resdent and genera! manager8 R
C(u) "o8 1or vo!aton o1 4ecton ,8 o1 ".%. No. /028 as amended b) 3.9. No. -//. A1ter a##ro#rate #re!mnar)
nvestgaton8 t(e nvestgatng #rosecutor8 C!aro Are!!ano8 (anded do7n a reso!uton to a!!o7 t(e 1!ng o1 t(e n1ormaton
aganst RC". 9n t(e bass o1 t(at reso!uton8 an n1ormaton 7as 1!ed on 2 $une 1991 b) t(e %9$ 7t( @ranc( 1/- o1 t(e
R0C o1 5a!en&ue!a8 c(argng R C(u) "o 7t( t(e vo!aton o1 4ecton ,8 o1 ".%. No. /02.
0(e #ettoner (ad moved to =uas( t(e n1ormaton n Crmna! Case No. .-4'5'91 on t(e ground t(at t does not c(arge
an o11ense. Res#ondent $udge %&on'Ca#u!ong granted t(e moton reasonng t(at t(e sub6ect matter o1 t(e n1ormaton n
t(e CRIMINAL CA43 s LCM@3R8 7(c( s net(er DtmberD nor Dot(er 1orest #roductD under 4ecton ,8 o1 ".%. No. /028 as
amended8 and (ence8 #ossesson t(ereo1 7t(out t(e re=ured !ega! documents s not #ro(bted and #ena!&ed under t(e
sad secton.
"eo#!e no7 1!es a #etton 1or certorar 7t( t(s Court n G.R. No. 10,4-48 7(eren t contends t(at t(e res#ondent $udge
acted 7t( grave abuse o1 dscreton n grantng t(e moton to =uas( and n dsmssng t(e case.
Antecedents to t(e -nd Cv! Case
9n 1/ 4e#tember 19908 a team o1 %3NR agents 7ent to t(e busness #remses o1 t(e #ettoner. 0(e team caug(t t(e
#ettoner o#eratng as a !umber dea!er a!t(oug( ts !umber'dea!er;s #ermt (ad a!read) been sus#ended on -. A#r!
1990. 4nce t(e gate o1 t(e #ettoner;s !umber)ard 7as o#en8 t(e team 7ent nsde and sa7 an o7ner't)#e 6ee# 7t( a
tra!er !oaded 7t( !umber. C#on nvestgaton8 t(e team 7as n1ormed t(at t(e !umber !oaded on t(e tra!er 7as to be
de!vered to t(e #ettoner;s customer. It a!so came u#on t(e sa!es nvoce coverng t(e transacton. 0(e members o1 t(e
team t(en ntroduced t(emse!ves to t(e careta:er8 one Ms. C(ua8 7(o turned out to be t(e 71e o1 t(e #ettoner;s
#resdent and genera! manager8 RC"8 7(o 7as t(en out o1 to7n. 0(e team;s #(otogra#(er 7as ab!e to ta:e #(otogra#(s
o1 t(e stoc:#!es o1 !umber nc!udng ne7!) cut ones8 1res( dust around sa7ng or cuttng mac(neres and e=u#ment8 and
t(e trans#ort ve(c!es !oaded 7t( !umber. 0(e team t(ereu#on e11ected a constructve se&ure o1 a##ro?mate!) -08000
board 1eet o1 !auan !umber n assorted s&es stoc:#!ed n t(e #remses b) ssung a rece#t t(ere1or.
As a conse=uence o1 t(s 1/ 4e#tember 1990 ncdent8 t(e #ettoner 1!ed 7t( t(e R0C o1 Man!a a #etton
1or certorar and #ro(bton.
9n -4 4e#tember 199-8 @ranc( -4 o1 t(e R0C o1 Man!a (anded do7n a decson dsmssng t(e #etton 1or certiorari and
#ro(bton because *a+ t(e #ettoner dd not e?(aust admnstratve remedesA *b+ 7(en t(e se&ure 7as made on 1/
4e#tember 1990 t(e #ettoner cou!d not !a71u!!) se!! !umber8 as ts !cense 7as st!! under sus#ensonA *c+ t(e se&ure 7as
va!d under 4ecton ,8'A o1 ".%. No. /028 as amendedA and *d+ t(e se&ure 7as 6ust1ed as a 7arrant!ess searc( and
se&ure under 4ecton 80 o1 ".%. No. /028 as amended.
0(e #ettoner a##ea!ed t(e decson to t(e Court o1 A##ea!s8 but dsmssed t(e #ettoner;s a##ea!8 1urt(er em#(as&ng
t(at a 1orest o11cer or em#!o)ee can se&e t(e 1orest #roduct nvo!ved n a vo!aton o1 4ecton ,8 o1 ".%. No. /02 #ursuant
to 4ecton 80 t(ereo18 as amended b) ".%. No. 1//2. Bence t(s #etton.
ISSUES
E1st Cv! CaseF GHN t(e se&ure o1 t(e truc: 7Ho 7arrant 7as va!d
ECrmna! CaseF GHN Res#ondent $udge acted n GA% 1or grantng t(e M0>
E-nd Cv! CaseF GHN t(e admnstratve se&ure o1 t(e !umber 7Ho 7arrant 7as va!d
B3L%
1st Cv! Case
I34. (e se&ure o1 suc( truc: and ts cargo 7as a va!d e?ercse o1 t(e #o7er vested u#on a 1orest o11cer or em#!o)ee b)
4ecton 80 o1 ".%. No. /028 as amended b) ".%. No. 1//2. 0(en8 too8 as correct!) (e!d b) t(e tra! court and t(e Court o1
A##ea!s8 t(e searc( 7as conducted on a movng ve(c!e. 4uc( a searc( cou!d be !a71u!!) conducted 7t(out a searc(
7arrant.
4earc( o1 a movng ve(c!e s one o1 t(e 1ve doctrna!!) acce#ted e?ce#tons to t(e consttutona! mandate t(at no searc(
or se&ure s(a!! be made e?ce#t b) vrtue o1 a 7arrant ssued b) a 6udge a1ter #ersona!!) determnng t(e e?stence o1
#robab!e cause.
Crmna! Case
I34. Res#ondent $udge granted t(e M0> n GA%8 reasonng t(at t(e sub6ect matter o1 t(e n1ormaton n t(e CRIMINAL
CA43 s LCM@3R8 7(c( s net(er DtmberD nor Dot(er 1orest #roductD under 4ecton ,8 o1 ".%. No. /028 as amended8 and
(ence8 #ossesson t(ereo1 7t(out t(e re=ured !ega! documents s not #ro(bted and #ena!&ed under t(e sad secton.
0(e Revsed Forestr) Code contans no de1nton o1 et(er tmber or !umber. G(!e t(e 1ormer s nc!uded n 1orest
#roducts as de1ned n #aragra#( *=+ o1 4ecton .8 t(e !atter s 1ound n #aragra#( *aa+ o1 t(e same secton n t(e de1nton
o1 J"rocessng #!antAK 7(c( readsL
*aa+ "rocessng #!ant s an) mec(anca! set'u#8 mac(ne or combnaton o1 mac(ne used 1or t(e #rocessng o1 !ogs and ot(er 1orest ra7
matera!s nto !umber8 veneer8 #!)7ood8 7a!!board8 b!oc:'board8 #a#er board8 #u!#8 #a#er or ot(er 1ns(ed 7ood #roducts.
0(s sm#!) means t(at !umber s a #rocessed !og or #rocessed 1orest ra7 matera!. C!ear!)8 t(e Code uses t(e
term !umber n ts ordnar) or common usage. In t(e 199. co#)rg(t edton o1 Gebster;s 0(rd Ne7 Internatona!
%ctonar)8 !umber s de1ned8 nter a!a8 as Jtmber or !ogs a1ter beng #re#ared 1or t(e mar:et.K 4m#!) #ut8 !umber s a
#rocessed !og or tmber.
It s sett!ed t(at n t(e absence o1 !egs!atve ntent to t(e contrar)8 7ords and #(rases used n a statute s(ou!d be gven
t(er #!an8 ordnar)8 and common usage meanng. And nso1ar as #ossesson o1 tmber 7t(out t(e re=ured !ega!
documents s concerned8 4ecton ,8 o1 ".%. No. /028 as amended8 ma:es no dstncton bet7een ra7 or #rocessed
tmber. Ubi lex non distanguit nec nos distinguere debemus.
-nd Cv! Case
0(e Court o1 A##ea!s correct!) dsmssed t(e #ettoner;s a##ea! 1rom t(e 6udgment o1 t(e tra! court n t(e 43C9N% CI5IL
CA43. 0(e #ettoner never ds#uted t(e 1act t(at ts !umber'dea!er;s !cense or #ermt (ad been sus#ended b) 4ecretar)
Factoran on -. A#r! 1990. 0(e sus#enson 7as never !1ted8 and snce t(e !cense (ad on!) a !1etme o1 u# to -2
4e#tember 19908 t(e #ettoner (as abso!ute!) no rg(t to #ossess8 se!!8 or ot(er7se ds#ose o1 !umber. Accordng!)8
4ecretar) Factoran or (s aut(or&ed re#resentatve (ad t(e aut(ort) to se&e t(e !umber #ursuant to 4ecton ,8'A o1 ".%.
No. /028 as amended8 7(c( #rovdes as 1o!!o7sL
4ecton ,8'A. Admnstratve Aut(ort) o1 t(e %e#artment Bead or (s %u!) Aut(or&ed Re#resentatve to 9rder Con1scaton. M In a!! cases o1
vo!atons o1 t(s Code or ot(er 1orest !a7s8 ru!es and regu!atons8 t(e %e#artment Bead or (s du!) aut(or&ed re#resentatve ma) order t(e
con1scaton o1 an) 1orest #roducts !!ega!!) cut8 gat(ered8 removed8 or #ossessed or abandoned. . . .
0(e #ettoner;s nsstence t(at #ossesson or sa!e o1 !umber s not #ena!&ed must a!so 1a! n ve7 o1 our ds=uston and
ru!ng on t(e same ssue n G.R. No. 10,4-4. @esdes8 t(e ssue s tota!!) rre!evant n t(e 43C9N% CI5IL CA43 7(c(
nvo!ves admnstratve se&ure as a conse=uence o1 t(e vo!aton o1 t(e sus#enson o1 t(e #ettoner;s !cense as !umber
dea!er.

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