PH Law Students - Notes and Case Digests

G.R. No. L-62114 July 5, 1983 ISIDRO BERNARDO and CAYETANO BERNARDO, petitioners,  vs.  THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, respondent. FACTS Petitioners are tenants of Ledda Sta Rosa in her riceland in Plaridel, Bulacan. Petitioners has constructed a house for his family’s dwelling. Ledda Sta Rosa took possession of the whole riceland through overseer Dr. Patricio E. Cruz. A case of forcible entry was filed against the petitioners at the Municipal Trial Court of Plaridel, Bulacan. Petitioners lost before the inferior court, Court of First Instance of Bulacan, as well as their petition for certiorari and madamus before the Court of Appeals. Ledda Sta Rosa ordered the Petitioners to vacate the land that a criminal complaint for violation of Presidential Decree 772 was filed with the Fiscal’s office. ISSUE Whether petitioners are guilty of possessing and squatting on the parcel of land as per PD 772 RULING It was held that Presidential Decree No. 772 does not apply to p...

FACTS Ah Sing appealed a judgement of the Court of First Instance for violation of Section 4 of Act No 2381 Opium Law. Ah Sing is a subject of China employed as a fireman on the steamship Shun Chang. The steamer arrived at the port of Cebu from Saigon. The defendant has brought with him eight cans of opium that were found hidden in the ashes below the boiler of the steamer’s engine. The defendant claims that he owns the opium and did not confess his purpose of buying the opium. ISSUE Whether it has been proven that there had been illegal importation of opium into the Philippine Islands RULING Possession of a thing prohibited in the Philippines aboard a foreign vessel in transit does not constitute a crime triable by the courts in the country as a vessel is an extension of its own nationality. However, the Sec 4 of Act No 2381 begins with Any person who shall unlawfully import or bring any prohibited drug into the Philippine Islands. Import and bring are synonymous by terms, and...