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SOJ, et. al. vs. Cabanes; SOJ, et. al. vs. Uy

SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE LEILA DE LIMA AND THE BUREAU OF CUSTOMS, PETITIONERS, VS. JORLAN C. CABANES, RESPONDENT. SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE LEILA DE LIMA AND THE BUREAU OF CUSTOMS, PETITIONERS, VS. DENNIS A. UY, RESPONDENT.

G.R. No. 219295-96 | 2021-07-14

THIRD DIVISION

DECISION
 
LEONEN, J.:
 
When probable cause is judicially determined by the trial court, questions on the propriety of the executive determination of probable cause becomes moot.[1] At that point, questions on the accused's guilt or innocence rests on the trial court's sound discretion.[2]

This Court resolves consolidated Petitions for Review on Certiorari filed by Secretary Leila M. De Lima, Bureau of Customs, and People of the Philippines (De Lima, et al.) with respect to charges filed against Jorlan C. Cabanes (Cabanes) and Dennis A. Uy (Uy) for violations of the Tariff and Customs Code.

In the first...