- Petitioner
- Orlando A. Fua, Jr.
- Respondent
- People
- Citation
- G.R. No. 237815
- Court
- Supreme Court
- Division
- Third Division
- Ponente
- Inting, J.
- Decided
- October 12, 2022
Summary
Provincial Governor Orlando Fua, Jr. was charged with obstruction of justice under PD 1829 for allegedly impeding the implementation of a search warrant against his childhood friend James Largo in 2010. The Sandiganbayan convicted him, finding that his presence and questioning during the nighttime search constituted obstruction. However, the Supreme Court reversed the conviction and acquitted Fua, ruling that his questioning of the search warrant's legality and implementation was a legitimate exercise of constitutional rights against unreasonable searches and seizures. The Court found that Fua cooperated with the process by signing the inventory as a witness and that the search proceeded in an orderly manner despite his inquiries. The prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Fua's conduct constituted the willful obstruction contemplated by PD 1829, as questioning the legality of police operations does not fall within the punishable acts enumerated in the decree.