People vs. Dela Cruz (92 Phil. 906) The People of the Philippines, plaintiff and appellee, vs.

Pablo Dela Cruz, defendant and appellant April 17, 1953 Ben zon, !" Facts: Pablo Dela Cruz sold a #an of $il% for 3& #entavos. 'e violated ()e#utive *rder +o. 331 ,issued b- authorit- of .epubli# A#t +o. 5&9/ 0hi#h fi)ed 1& #entavos as the $a)i$u$ pri#e for that %ind of #o$$odit-. Dela Cruz 0as senten#ed to i$prison$ent for 5 -ears and to pa- a fine of P5,&&&.&& plus #osts. 'e 0as also barred fro$ en a in in 0holesale and retail business for 5 -ears. 'e 2uestioned the penalties i$posed. Issue: 3hether or not ()e#utive *rder +o. 331 pres#ribes e)#essive penalties. o 3hether or not the penalties i$posed too e)#essive for a $er#hant 0ho sells ood at pri#es be-ond the #eilin s established in the ()#e#utive *rder. o 3hether or not the penalties i$posed #ruel and unusual for a violation that $erel- netted a ten4#entavo profit to the a##used. Held: +o, but de#reased the penalties be#ause Dela Cruz has a fa$il- to support. Ratio: 5n oversteppin the pri#e barriers, he $i ht derive profits a$ountin to thousands of pesos. Thus, the penalties i$posed 0ere 0ithin the statutor- li$its. The da$a e #aused to the state is not $easured e)#lusivel- b- the ains obtained b- the a##used, inas$u#h as one violation 0ould $ean others, and the #onse2uential brea%do0n of the benefi#ial s-ste$ of pri#e #ontrols.