Case Title: People of the Philippines vs.

Teodoro Sabio

G.R. No.: L-23734

Date of Decision: April 27, 1967

Facts: Teodoro Sabio was charged with illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
The police received information that Sabio was in possession of firearms and conducted
a warrantless search of his residence. During the search, they found and confiscated
several firearms and a quantity of ammunition.

Issue: The primary issue in this case was whether the warrantless search conducted on
Teodoro Sabio's premises was lawful.

Ruling: The Supreme Court ruled that the warrantless search conducted on Teodoro
Sabio's premises was unlawful, and therefore, the evidence obtained during the search
was inadmissible in court.

Legal Principles Applied:

1. The Constitution protects individuals against unreasonable searches and seizures.

A search conducted without a valid search warrant or any recognized exception
to the warrant requirement is deemed unreasonable.
2. Exceptions to the warrant requirement include searches incidental to a lawful
arrest, searches in plain view, and searches based on probable cause and exigent
circumstances.

Disposition: Since the evidence was obtained through an illegal search, it was excluded
from the case. As a result, there was insufficient evidence to support Teodoro Sabio's
conviction for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. Therefore, the Supreme
Court ordered his acquittal.

This case highlights the importance of adherence to constitutional safeguards,

particularly the requirement for a valid search warrant, in the conduct of searches and
the admissibility of evidence in criminal cases. In this instance, the evidence obtained
without a warrant was declared inadmissible, leading to the acquittal of the accused.