kho vs. lazanas
TRANSCRIPT
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FIRST DIVISION
ELIDAD KHO and VIOLETA
KHO,
Petitioners,
- versus -
HON. ENRICO LANZANAS,
Presiding Judge o !"e Regiona#Tria# Cour! o $ani#a %ran&" '
and
S($$ERVILLE )ENERAL
$ERCHANDISIN),
Respondents.
).R. No. *+-''
Present:
PANGANIBAN, C.J.
Chairperson,
YNARES-SANTIAGO,
AUSTRIA-MARTINE,
CA!!E"O, SR., and
C#ICO-NAARIO, JJ .
Pro$%&'ated:
Ma( ), *++
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E C I S I O N
C#ICO-NAARIO, J .:
C%&&ed /ro$ the re0ords are the /o&&o1in' ante0edent /a0ts:
Sh%n Yih Che$istr( 2a0tor( 3SYC24, a 5%siness eistin' and operatin' in Tai1an
and en'a'ed in the $an%/a0t%re and sa&e o/ Chin Ch%n S% Crea$s6Cos$eti0s,
appointed Yo%n' 2a0tor Enterprises in the Phi&ippines, o1ned and operated
5( 7%intin Chen' a&so 8no1n as 9ho Sen' #io8, as its distri5%tor o/ Chin Ch%n
S% prod%0ts in the Phi&ippines /or a ter$ o/ t1o (ears 5e'innin' ;? 7%intin Chen' re'istered 1ith the B%rea% o/ 2ood and r%'s 3B2A4 as
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distri5%tor o/ Chin Ch%n S% prod%0ts. 7%intin Chen' s%5se@%ent&( se0%red a
s%pp&e$enta& re'istration /or Chin Ch%n S% and dei0e.>*? This s%pp&e$enta&
re'istration 1as ordered 0an0e&&ed 5( the B%rea% o/ Patents, Trade$ar8s and
Te0hno&o'( Trans/er >? on the 'ro%nd o/ /ai&%re o/ the re'istrant to /i&e the re@%ired
a//idait o/ non-%se as re@%ired 5( Se0tion * o/ Rep%5&i0 A0t No. , as
a$ended.>)?
Not1ithstandin' this 0an0e&&ation, 7%intin Chen' ee0%ted on + "an%ar( ;;+ an
Assi'n$ent o/ a Re'istered Trade$ar8 >? and a S%pp&e$entar( eed o/
Assi'n$ent>? dated* Noe$5er ;; 1herein he so&d a&& his ri'ht, tit&e, interest
and 'ood1i&& in the trade$ar8 Chin Ch%n S% and dei0e to petitioner E&idad 9ho.
In the $eanti$e, ani$osit( arose 5et1een SYC2 and 7%intin Chen' res%&tin' in
the ter$ination o/ their distri5%torship a'ree$ent on + O0to5er ;;+.>
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1) Civil Case No. Q-91-10926 before the Regional Trial Court (RTC)
of Queon Cit!" #ran$h 90
On *+ e0e$5er ;;, E&idad 9ho69EC !a5orator( /i&ed a Co$p&aint /or
In%n0tion and a$a'es a'ainst An' Tia$ Cha( and S%$$eri&&e Genera&
Mer0handisin' 5e/ore the RTC o/ 7%eFon Cit(, Bran0h ;+, do08eted as Cii& Case
No. 7-;-+;*. P&ainti// therein E&idad 9ho69EC !a5orator( so%'ht to enoin
de/endants An' Tia$ Cha( andS%$$eri&&e Genera& Mer0handisin' /ro$ %sin'
the na$e Chin Ch%n S% in their 0rea$ prod%0ts.
On ** "an%ar( ;;, a de0ision in Cii& Case No. 7-;-+;* 1as rendered,
the dispositie portion o/ 1hi0h proides:
ACCORING!Y, %d'$ent is here5( rendered:
. e0&arin' that p&ainti// is not &e'a&&( a%thoriFed to %se the trade$ar8
C#IN C#UN SU and %pho&din' the ri'ht o/ de/endant
S%$$eri&&e Genera& Mer0handisin' Co. to %se said trade$ar8
as a%thoriFed 5( Sh%n Yih Che$istr( 2a0tor( o/ Tai1anH
*. e0&arin' p&ainti// to hae the ri'ht to %se the 0op(ri'ht 0&ai$ on
ODA! 2ACIA! CREAM CONTAINER6CASE 5( irt%e o/
Certi/i0ate o/ Cop(ri'ht Re'istration No. =< iss%ed 5( the
Nationa& !i5rar( on Ma( *, ;;H
. No a1ard o/ da$a'esH
). Co%nse&s /or p&ainti// and de/endants are a1arded P+?
Both parties appea&ed the RTC de0ision to the Co%rt o/ Appea&s, do08eted as CA-
G.R. CD NO. )=+) entit&ed, E&idad C. 9ho, doin' 5%siness %nder the st(&e o/
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9EC Cos$eti0 !a5orator( . S%$$eri&&e Genera& Mer0handisin' and Co., et
a&. In a de0ision>? dated ** Noe$5er ;;;, the appe&&ate 0o%rt
a//ir$ed in toto the de0ision o/ the tria& 0o%rt.>*? E&idad 9ho e&eated the 0ase to
this Co%rt, do08eted as G.R. No. ))++. In a reso&%tion dated *= A%'%st *+++, 1e
denied the petition. e he&d that:
The iss%e is 1ho, 5et1een petitioner E&idad C. 9ho and respondent
S%$$eri&&e Genera& Mer0handisin' and Co$pan( has the 5etter ri'ht
to %se the trade$ar8 Chin Ch%n S% on their /a0ia& 0rea$ prod%0tJ
e a'ree 1ith 5oth the Co%rt o/ Appea&s and the tria& 0o%rt that
S%$$eri&&e Genera& Mer0handisin' and Co$pan( has the 5etter ri'ht
to %se the trade$ar8 Chin Ch%n S% on its /a0ia& 0rea$ prod%0t 5( irt%eo/ the e0&%sie i$portation and distri5%tion ri'hts 'ien to it 5(
Sh%n Yih Che$istr( 2a0tor( o/ Tai1an on Noe$5er *+, ;;+ a/ter the
&atter 0an0e&&ed and ter$inated on O0to5er +, ;;+ its So&e
istri5%torship A'ree$ent 1ith one 7%intin Chen', 1ho assi'ned and
trans/erred his ri'hts %nder said a'ree$ent to
petitioner E&idad C. 9ho on "an%ar( , ;;+.
As 0orre0t&( he&d 5( the Co%rt o/ Appea&s, petitioner 9ho is not the
a%thor o/ the trade$ar8 Chin Ch%n S% and his on&( 0&ai$ to the %se o/
the trade$ar8 is 5ased on the eed o/ A'ree$ent ee0%ted in his /aor 5( 7%intin Chen'. B( irt%e thereo/, he re'istered the trade$ar8 in his
na$e. The re'istration 1as a patent n%&&it( 5e0a%se petitioner is not the
0reator o/ the trade$ar8 Chin Ch%n S% and, there/ore, has no ri'ht to
re'ister the sa$e in his na$e. 2%rther$ore, the a%thorit(
o/ 7%intin Chen' to 5e the so&e distri5%tor o/ Chin Ch%n S% in
the Phi&ippines had a&read( 5een ter$inated 5( Sh%n Yih Che$istr( o/
Tai1an. itha&, he had no ri'ht to assi'n or to trans/er the sa$e to
petitioner 9ho.
#ERE2ORE, the instant petition is here5( denied d%e 0o%rse.>?
2) #%&' Coseti$ Case No. C-0*0-91
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At the other end o/ the spe0tr%$, d%e to the pro&i/eration o/ /a8e Chin Ch%n S%
prod%0ts, S%$$eri&&e Genera& Mer0handisin' /i&ed a Co$p&aint>)? 5e/ore the
B2A a'ainst 9EC Cos$eti0 !a5orator( o1ned 5( E&idad 9ho.
In a reso&%tion o/ the B2A dated ) 2e5r%ar( ;;*, it r%&ed that:
#ERE2ORE, the 5rand na$e 0&earan0e o/ CCS in /aor o/ 9EC is
re0a&&ed and 0os$eti0 re'istration n%$5er R-K-
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Ch%a . E&idad and Dio&eta 9ho, 5e/ore the O//i0e o/ the Cit( Prose0%tor o/
Mani&a.
E&idad and Dio&eta 9ho /i&ed their 0o%nter-a//idait in the Co$p&aint /or
Un/air Co$petition 1hi0h sered as their 0o%nter0har'e
a'ainst An' Tia$ Cha( and Di0tor Ch%a, &i8e1ise /or Un/air Co$petition,
do08eted as I.S. No. OOB-+;
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, iss%ed an Order dated *) O0to5er *++ dire0tin' the dis$issa& o/ the Co$p&aint
in Cri$ina& Case No. ++-=*.>*? S%$$eri&&e Genera& Mer0handisin' /i&ed
1ith the RTC o/ Mani&a, Bran0h , a $otion /or re0onsideration o/ its Order o/
dis$issa& o/ Cri$ina& Case No. ++-=*. 2or their
part, E&idad and Dio&eta 9ho a&so /i&ed 1ith the sa$e 0o%rt a s%pp&e$enta& $otion
insistin' that the Order dis$issin' Cri$ina& Case No. ++-=* 0annot 5e set
aside 5e0a%se to do so 1o%&d, in e//e0t, reinstate the said 0ri$ina& 0ase and 1o%&d
a&read( 0onstit%te do%5&e eopard(. A0tin' on these $otions, the RTC o/ Mani&a,
Bran0h , iss%ed an Order dated * A%'%st *++* reso&in' the $otions in the
/o&&o1in' $anner:
The /ore'oin' d%&( esta5&ished /a0ts ind%5ita5&(
s%pports a00%seds 0ontention that a re-/i&in' >o?/ the In/or$ation 1o%&d
p%t the$ in do%5&e eopard(. As r%&ed 5( the S%pre$e Co%rt in Mar0e&o
. Co%rt o/ Appea&s, * SCRA ;, %pon 1ithdra1a& o/ the In/or$ation,
1hi0h is the &o'i0a& 0onse@%en0e o/ the 'rant o/ the Motion to ithdra1,
there no &on'er re$ained an( 0ase to dis$iss.
A00ordin'&(, /indin' $erit in the Motion /or Re0onsideration, the sa$e
is here5( 'ranted.
The in/or$ation a'ainst a00%sed is here5( dis$issed.
The C&er8 o/ Co%rt is here5( dire0ted to ret%rn to the a00%sed the 0ash
5onds posted 5( the &atter /or their proisiona& &i5ert( %pon presentation
o/ the re@%isite re0eipts.
The r%&in' renders the re$ainin' in0idents $oot and a0ade$i0. >**?
Therea/ter, on < Septe$5er *++*, the O" Se0retar(, #ernando B. PereF, 'ranted
the pendin' $otion o/ S%$$eri&&e Genera& Mer0handisin' /or re0onsideration o/
the O" reso&%tion>*? dated *= Septe$5er *++, 1hi0h dis$issed the Co$p&aint
o/ $oant S%$$eri&&e Genera& Mer0handisin' in I.S. No. ++A-+*;, and
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a00ordin'&( iss%ed another reso&%tion a0atin' the @%estioned *= Septe$5er *++
reso&%tion and dire0tin' the Cit( Prose0%tor o/ Mani&a to 0ontin%e 1ith the
0ri$ina& prose0%tion o/ the 9hos /or Un/air Co$petition.
E&idad and Dio&eta 9ho /i&ed a $otion /or re0onsideration o/ the reso&%tion
dated < Septe$5er *++* 5e/ore the O". The O",>*)? thr% the ne1 Se0retar(
Si$eon A.at%$anon' denied that do%5&e eopard( &ies, in a reso&%tion dated <
"%&( *++, de0&ared that:
A/ter an ea&%ation o/ the re0ord, 1e reso&e to den( the $otion /or re0onsideration. 2or do%5&e eopard( to atta0h, the /o&&o1in'
re@%ire$ents $%st 5e present: 34 %pon a a&id indi0t$entH 3*4 5e/ore a
0o$petent 0o%rtH 34 a/ter arrai'n$entH 3)4 1hen a a&id p&ea has 5een
enteredH and 34 1hen the de/endant 1as 0oni0ted, a0@%itted, or the 0ase
1as dis$issed or other1ise ter$inated 1itho%t the epress 0onsent o/
the a00%sed. 3 eole v. Court of &eals, += SCRA =
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The C&er8 o/ Co%rt is here5( dire0ted to ret%rn to the a00%sed the 0ash
5ond posted 5( the$ /or their proisiona& &i5ert( %pon presentation o/
the re@%ired re0eipts.>*?
Th%s, S%$$eri&&e Genera& Mer0handisin' raised its 0ase to the Co%rt o/ Appea&s,
do08eted as CA-G.R. SP No.
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1as iss%ed a'ainst E&idad, Dio&eta and Ro'er 9ho on the sa$e da(.>+? Its
en/or0e$ent &ed to the seiF%re o/ seera& Chin Ch%n S% prod%0ts.>?
On < "an%ar( *+++, E&idad, Dio&eta and Ro'er 9ho /i&ed 5e/ore the RTC o/
Mani&a, Bran0h
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E&idad and Dio&eta 9ho /i&ed a Petition /or Certiorari and Pre&i$inar(
Mandator( In%n0tion,>
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RESO!UTION O2 T#E EPARTMENT O2 "USTICE 2INING NO
PROBAB!E CAUSE.
#ET#ER OR NOT T#E COURT O2 APPEA!S ERRE IN
2INING T#AT NO GRADE ABUSE O2 ISCRETION AS
COMMITTE BY #ONORAB!E "UGE ENRICO !ANANAS IN2INING T#AT PROBAB!E CAUSE EKISTE AGAINST T#E
PETITIONERS 2OR T#E ISSUANCE O2 SEARC# ARRANT
NO. ;;-*+.
#ET#ER OR NOT T#E COURT O2 APPEA!S ERRE IN
2INING T#AT BRANC# < O2 T#E REGIONA! TRIA! COURT O2
MANI!A #A "URISICTION TO ISSUE SEARC# ARRANT
NO. ;;-*+.
#ET#ER OR NOT T#E COURT O2 APPEA!S ERRE IN
2INING T#AT NO GRADE ABUSE O2 ISCRETION AS
COMMITTE BY #ONORAB!E "UGE ENRICO !ANANAS IN
RU!ING T#AT SEARC# ARRANT NO. ;;-*+ AS !A2U!!Y
EKECUTE.
#ET#ER OR NOT T#E COURT O2 APPEA!S ERRE IN
2INING T#AT NO GRADE ABUSE O2 ISCRETION AS
COMMITTE BY #ONORAB!E "UGE ENRICO !ANANAS IN
NOT ORERING T#E RETURN O2 T#E ITEMS SEIE UNER SEARC# ARRANT NO. ;;-*+.>)?
The petition is deoid o/ $erit.
As to the /irst iss%e, it $%st 5e noted that the dis$issa& o/ Cri$ina& Case No.
++-=* 5( the RTC o/ Mani&a, Bran0h , 1as initia&&( 5( irt%e o/ the
reso&%tion o/ the O" dated *= Septe$5er *++>))? orderin' the dis$issa& o/ the
0ri$ina& 0ase /or %n/air 0o$petition.
This order o/ dis$issa&, ho1eer, 1as a'ain set aside 5( the O" in its reso&%tion
dated < Septe$5er *++*>)? dire0tin' that appropriate in/or$ation /or Un/air
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Co$petition 5e /i&ed a'ainst the 9hos. The $otion /or re0onsideration
o/ E&idad and Dio&eta 9ho 1as denied 5( the O" in its reso&%tion dated < "%&(
*++.>)? This is the &atest eistin'reso&%tion o/ the O" on the $atter, dated < "%&(
*++, 1hi0h a//ir$ed the reso&%tion o/ the then O" Se0retar( #ernando B. PereF
dire0tin' the Cit( Prose0%tor o/ Mani&a to /i&e the appropriate in/or$ation
a'ainst E&idad and Dio&eta 9ho /or Un/air Co$petition as de/ined and pena&iFed
%nder Se0tion =.3a4, in re&ation to Se0tions = and
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The iss%an0e o/ Sear0h arrants is 'oerned 5( R%&e * o/ the Reised R%&es o/
Co%rt reprod%0ed 5e&o1:
SECTION . /ear$h 8arrant efine . A sear0h 1arrant is an order in
1ritin' iss%ed in the na$e o/ the Peop&e o/ the Phi&ippines, si'ned 5( a
%d'e and dire0ted to a pea0e o//i0er, 0o$$andin' hi$ to sear0h /or
persona& propert( des0ri5ed therein and 5rin' it 5e/ore the 0o%rt.
SEC. *. Court 8here ali$ation for sear$h 8arrant shall be file. - An
app&i0ation /or sear0h 1arrant sha&& 5e /i&ed 1ith the /o&&o1in':
a4 An( 0o%rt 1ithin 1hose territoria& %risdi0tion a
0ri$e 1as 0o$$itted.
54 2or 0o$pe&&in' reasons stated in the
app&i0ation, an( 0o%rt 1ithin the %di0ia& re'ion 1here the
0ri$e 1as 0o$$itted i/ the p&a0e o/ the 0o$$ission o/ the
0ri$e is 8no1n, or an( 0o%rt 1ithin the %di0ia& re'ion
1here the 1arrant sha&& 5e en/or0ed.
#o1eer, i/ the 0ri$ina& a0tion has a&read( 5een /i&ed, the
app&i0ation sha&& on&( 5e $ade in the 0o%rt 1here the 0ri$ina& a0tion is
pendin'.
SEC. . ersonal roert! to be seie . A sear0h 1arrant $a( 5e iss%ed
/or the sear0h and seiF%re o/ persona& propert(:
3a4 S%5e0t o/ the o//enseH
354 Sto&en or e$5eFF&ed and other pro0eeds or /r%its o/ the
o//enseH or
304 Used or intended to 5e %sed as the $eans o/ 0o$$ittin'
an o//ense.
SEC. ). Reuisites for issuing sear$h 8arrant . A sear0h 1arrant sha&& not
iss%e e0ept %pon pro5a5&e 0a%se in 0onne0tion 1ith one spe0i/i0 o//ense
to 5e deter$ined persona&&( 5( the %d'e a/ter ea$ination %nder oath or
a//ir$ation o/ the 0o$p&ainant and the 1itnesses he $a( prod%0e, and
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parti0%&ar&( des0ri5in' the p&a0e to 5e sear0hed and the thin's to 5e
seiFed 1hi0h $a( 5e an(1here in the Phi&ippines.
SEC.. 3:aination of $olainant; re$or. The %d'e $%st, 5e/ore
iss%in' the 1arrant, persona&&( ea$ine in the /or$ o/ sear0hin'
@%estions and ans1ers, in 1ritin' and %nder oath, the 0o$p&ainant andthe 1itnesses he $a( prod%0e on /a0ts persona&&( 8no1n to the$ and
atta0h to the re0ord their s1orn state$ents to'ether 1ith the a//idaits
s%5$itted.
SEC. . ssuan$e an for of sear$h 8arrant . I/ the %d'e is satis/ied o/
the eisten0e o/ /a0ts %pon 1hi0h the app&i0ation is 5ased or that there is
pro5a5&e 0a%se to 5e&iee that the( eist, he sha&& iss%e the 1arrant,
1hi0h $%st 5e s%5stantia&&( in the /or$ pres0ri5ed 5( these R%&es.
hat 0onstit%tes pro5a5&e 0a%se is 1e&& sett&ed. In i$rosoft Cororation
v. a:i$or" n$.,>)
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0a%se is deter$ined in the &i'ht o/ 0onditions o5tainin' in a 'ien
sit%ation.
In Colubia i$tures" n$. v. Court of &eals,>)=? 1e ep&ained /%rther that:
A&tho%'h the ter$ pro5a5&e 0a%se has 5een said to hae a 1e&&-de/ined
$eanin' in the &a1, the ter$ is e0eedin'&( di//i0%&t to de/ine, in this
0ase, 1ith an( de'ree o/ pre0isionH indeed, no de/inition o/ it 1hi0h
1o%&d %sti/( the iss%an0e o/ a sear0h 1arrant 0an 5e /or$%&ated 1hi0h
1o%&d 0oer eer( state o/ /a0ts 1hi0h $i'ht arise, and no /or$%&a or
standard, or hard and /ast r%&e, $a( 5e &aid do1n 1hi0h $a( 5e app&ied
to the /a0ts o/ eer( sit%ation. As to 1hat a0ts 0onstit%te pro5a5&e 0a%se
see$ in0apa5&e o/ de/inition. There is, o/ ne0essit(, no ea0t test.
At 5est, the ter$ pro5a5&e 0a%se has 5een %nderstood to $ean a
reasona5&e 'ro%nd o/ s%spi0ion, s%pported 5( 0ir0%$stan0es s%//i0ient&(
stron' in the$se&es to 1arrant a 0a%tio%s $an in the 5e&ie/ that the
person a00%sed is '%i&t( o/ the o//ense 1ith 1hi0h he is 0har'edH or the
eisten0e o/ s%0h /a0ts and 0ir0%$stan0es as 1o%&d e0ite an honest
5e&ie/ in a reasona5&e $ind a0tin' on a&& the /a0ts and 0ir0%$stan0es
1ithin the 8no1&ed'e o/ the $a'istrate that the 0har'e $ade 5( the
app&i0ant /or the 1arrant is tr%e.
Pro5a5&e 0a%se does not $ean a0t%a& and positie 0a%se, nor does iti$port a5so&%te 0ertaint(. The deter$ination o/ the eisten0e o/ pro5a5&e
0a%se is not 0on0erned 1ith the @%estion o/ 1hether the o//ense 0har'ed
has 5een or is 5ein' 0o$$itted in /a0t, or 1hether the a00%sed is '%i&t(
or inno0ent, 5%t on&( 1hether the a//iant has reasona5&e 'ro%nds /or his
5e&ie/. The re@%ire$ent is &ess than 0ertaint( or proo/, 5%t $ore than
s%spi0ion or possi5i&it(.
In Phi&ippine %rispr%den0e, pro5a5&e 0a%se has 5een %ni/or$&( de/ined
as s%0h /a0ts and 0ir0%$stan0es 1hi0h 1o%&d &ead a reasona5&e, dis0reet
and pr%dent $an to 5e&iee that an o//ense has 5een 0o$$itted, and thatthe o5e0ts so%'ht in 0onne0tion 1ith the o//ense are in the p&a0e so%'ht
to 5e sear0hed. It 5ein' the d%t( o/ the iss%in' o//i0er to iss%e, or re/%se
to iss%e, the 1arrant as soon as pra0ti0a5&e a/ter the
app&i0ation there/or is /i&ed, the /a0ts 1arrantin' the 0on0&%sion o/
pro5a5&e 0a%se $%st 5e assessed at the ti$e o/ s%0h %di0ia&
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deter$ination 5( ne0essari&( %sin' &e'a& standards then set /orth in &a1
and %rispr%den0e, and not those that hae (et to 5e 0ra/ted therea/ter.
e a&so de0&ared in eole v. Chiu,>);? 0itin' alaloan v. Court of &eals"
[50] that a sear0h 1arrant is $ere&( a %di0ia& pro0ess desi'ned 5( the R%&es to
respond on&( to an in0ident in the $ain 0ase, i/ one has a&read( 5een instit%ted, or
in anti0ipation thereo/.
It 5ears repeatin' that the pro0eedin's 5e/ore the RTC o/ Mani&a, Bran0h ?
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In deter$inin' pro5a5&e 0a%se in the iss%an0e o/ a sear0h 1arrant, the oath
re@%ired $%st re/er to the tr%th o/ the /a0ts 1ithin the persona& 8no1&ed'e o/ the
app&i0ant or his 1itnesses, 5e0a%se the p%rpose thereo/ is to 0onin0e the
0o$$ittin' $a'istrate, not the indiid%a& $a8in' the a//idait and see8in' the
iss%an0e o/ the 1arrant, o/ the eisten0e o/ pro5a5&e 0a%se.>*?
2ro$ the a//idait dated < "an%ar( *+++ o/ SPO) Nedita Ba&a'5is, in
s%pport o/ the app&i0ation /or sear0h 1arrant, she stated that S%$$eri&&e Genera&
Mer0handisin' represented 5( Mr. Di0tor Ch%a so%'ht the assistan0e o/ their po&i0e
station in 0onne0tion 1ith the pro&i/eration o/ /a8e Chin Ch%n S% prod%0ts. ith
Di0tor Ch%a, the( $ade a s%rei&&an0e o/ t1o p&a0es,
na$e&( *)+< Topa0io Street and *)* Ra($%ndo Street 5oth in San
Andres, Mani&a. Thro%'h this, the( 1ere a5&e to eri/( that p&asti0 0ontainers 1ere
5ein' &a5e&ed 1ith Chin Ch%n S% sti08ers /i&&ed 1ith 0rea$
at *)+< Topa0io Street. On the other hand, in the a//idait dated < "an%ar( *+++ o/
Di0tor Ch%a, he stated that S%$$eri&&e Genera& Mer0handisin', 5ein' the
e0&%sie i$porter, distri5%tor and dea&er o/ Chin Ch%n S% prod%0ts re0eied
re&ia5&e in/or$ation that persons 'oin' 5( the na$e o/ E&idad, Dio&eta and
Ro'er 9ho 1ere en'a'ed in the i&&e'a& $an%/a0t%re and sa&e o/ these
prod%0ts. 2ro$ the s%rei&&an0e 0ond%0ted 1ith the he&p o/ SPO) Ba&a'5is, the(
sa1 a tri0(0&e /%&& o/ 0ontainers ta8en to a ho%se at *)* Ra($%ndo Street, San
Andres, Mani&a. It 1as at this address that Chin Ch%n S% sti08ers 1ere 5ein'
a//ied. The 0ontainers 1ere therea/ter ta8en to *)+< Topa0io Street to 5e /i&&ed
1ith the 0rea$ prod%0t.
C&ear&(, pro5a5&e 0a%se eisted /or the iss%an0e o/ the 1arrant as sho1n 5(
the a//idaits o/ the a5oe a//iants 1ho had persona& 8no1&ed'e o/ /a0ts indi0atin'
that an o//ense ino&in' io&ation o/ inte&&e0t%a& propert( ri'hts 1as 5ein'
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a sear0h 1arrant. e are, there/ore, 5o%nd to respe0t his /indin' o/ pro5a5&e 0a%se
/or iss%in' Sear0h arrant No. ;;-*+.
A/ter de0&arin' that Sear0h arrant No. ;;-*+ 1as a&id&( iss%ed 5( the
RTC o/ Mani&a, Bran0h
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C E R T I 2 I C A T I O N
P%rs%ant to Arti0&e DIII, Se0tion o/ the Constit%tion, it is here5( 0erti/ied that
the 0on0&%sions in the a5oe e0ision 1ere rea0hed in 0ons%&tation 5e/ore the 0ase
1as assi'ned to the 1riter o/ the opinion o/ the Co%rts iision.
ARTE$IO V. PAN)ANI%AN
Chie/ "%sti0e