MANILA—The Supreme Court of the Philippines has acquitted a man previously convicted of illegal firearms possession, ruling that a mere traffic violation does not justify a warrantless search and seizure. The decision marks a significant assertion of privacy rights and limits on police authority in cases involving minor infractions.
According to Philippines News Agency, the court overturned the conviction of Angelito Ridon, who was arrested in Makati City after failing to stop for a traffic violation. Associate Justice Mario Lopez, writing for the court’s Second Division, stated that the firearm found on Ridon during a subsequent search was inadmissible in court due to the illegality of the search and seizure process.
The incident began when Ridon was seen making an illegal turn onto a one-way street while riding a motorcycle in Barangay Comembo. Instead of stopping, Ridon made a U-turn, prompting a chase by police officers and a village watchman. Although the officers eventually detained Ridon and discovered an unregistered revolver during a frisk, the Supreme Court found that the initial stop did not warrant an arrest, rendering the search unlawful.
The Court noted that the basis for pursuing Ridon was a minor traffic violation, which under local laws, would typically require only the confiscation of the driver’s license rather than arrest. Consequently, the court held that “As there was no valid arrest, the warrantless search done on Ridon after was also not valid.”
This landmark ruling emphasizes the court’s stance that violations of ordinances, which do not necessitate imprisonment, cannot alone justify warrantless searches or seizures. The decision reinstates the necessity of adhering to legal protocols when conducting searches to ensure that civil liberties are not unduly compromised.
With the inadmissibility of the seized firearm as evidence, Ridon was acquitted of all charges, underscoring the importance of procedural correctness and the protection of individual rights against unreasonable searches.