FACTS:
Petitioners Jay Candelaria and Eric Basit were arrested during an alleged buy-bust operation for delivering counterfeit Fundador Brandy. They were charged with violation of the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines. Petitioners filed a motion to suppress/exclude evidence, arguing that the evidence was obtained in violation of their constitutional right against unreasonable searches and seizures. The Regional Trial Court (RTC) denied the motion, stating that any objection to an arrest must be made before an accused enters his plea on arraignment. The RTC also ruled that the evidence obtained during the search and seizure is admissible since it was incidental to a valid warrantless arrest. Petitioners filed a motion for reconsideration, which the RTC denied. Petitioners then filed the present petition for certiorari, claiming that the RTC committed grave abuse of discretion in denying their motion to set the case for suppression hearing.
ISSUES:
- Whether or not the Regional Trial Court (RTC) committed grave abuse of discretion in denying the motion of the petitioners to set the case for suppression hearing.
RULING:
- The petition is dismissed for failure to allege that there is no appeal, nor any plain, speedy and adequate remedy in the ordinary course of law as to justify resort to certiorari. Assuming that the RTC's order is erroneous, it is considered as an error in judgment which is beyond the scope of certiorari.