People v.

Bagista,

GR No. 86218

Personal Knowledge of the Offense

Facts:

The Narcotics Command (NARCOM) Detachment Office located at the Arix Building, Baguio City,
received information from one of its regular informants that a certain woman, 23 years of age, with naturally
curly hair, would be transporting marijuana from up north. Acting upon this piece of information, they
established a checkpoint and flagged down all vehicles, both private and public, coming from the north to check
if any of these vehicles were carrying marijuana leaves on board. Later on, the NARCOM agents stopped a
Dangwa Tranco bus Parajas and Fider boarded the bus and Sgt. Parajas announced to the passengers that they
were NARCOM agents and that they were going to search their baggages. At the back, Sgt. Parajas noticed a
woman with curly hair seated at the right side of the last seat of the bus, with a travelling bag with black and
orange stripes on her lap. Sgt. Parajas inspected the bag and discovered three (3) bundles of marijuana leaves
covered by assorted clothing. The bag and the contents were confiscated and the woman arrested; she was later
brought to the NARCOM office in Baguio City where she was booked and investigated.

Issue:

WON probable cause is present in the conduct of the warrantless search?

WON the warrantless search is valid?

Held:

Yes, The constitutional proscription against warrantless searches and seizures admits of certain
exceptions. Aside from a search incident to a lawful arrest, a warrantless search had been upheld in cases of a
moving vehicle, and the seizure of evidence in plain view. This in no way, however, gives the police officers
unlimited discretion to conduct warrantless searches of automobiles in the absence of probable cause.

In this case, the NARCOM officers had probable cause to stop and search all vehicles coming from the north at
Acop, Tublay, Benguet in view of the confidential information they received from their regular informant that a
woman having the same appearance as that of accused-appellant would be bringing marijuana from up north.
They likewise have probable cause to search accused-appellant’s belongings since she fits the description given
by the NARCOM informant.