crimpro sept 2

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FELICIDAD UY, petitioner, vs. HON. MAXIMO C. CONTRERAS,Presidin !"de, Metropo#it$n Tri$# Co"rt, %r$n&' (), M$*$ti, MetroM$ni#$+ HON. MAURO M. CASTRO, Provin&i$# Prose&"tor o P$si,Metro M$ni#$+ SUSANNA ATAYDE $nd -INNIE !AIER, respondents.

G.R. No. 111416, September 26, 1994

FACTS/1Felicidad Uy (Uy) subleased rom Susa!!a "tayde ("tayde) #al o t#e 2!d loor o a buildi!$ located i! %a&ati. Uy operated a!dmai!tai!ed a beauty parlor t#ere.2'#e! t#e sublease co!tract epired a! ar$ume!t arose betee!Uy a!d "tayde because t#e ormer as u!able to completelyremo*e all #er mo*able properties rom t#e premises+#e ar$ume!t lead to a scule betee! Uy, "tayde a!d "tayde-semployees.46 days later, "tayde a!d #er employees iled a complai!t it# t#ebara!$ay captai! o ale!/uela, %a&ati.0! t#e sc#eduled co!ro!tatio! betee! t#e parties i! t#ebara!$ay, o!ly Uy appeared. #e co!ro!tatio! as reset.62 i!ormatio!s or sli$#t p#ysical i!uries a$ai!st Uy it# t#e %3

o %a&ati.5! #er cou!teraida*it, Uy alle$ed t#e prematurity o ili!$ t#ecrimi!al cases because o t#e u!der$oi!$ o co!ciliatio!proceedi!$s betee! t#em.7S#e later o! iled a motio! to dismiss or !o!complia!ce it# t#ere8uireme!t o .:. No. 10;7 o! prior reerral to t#e <upo!$a$apamayapa a!d pursua!t to Sectio! 17 o t#e 1991 Re*isedRule o! Summary rocedure. S#e also attac#ed t#e certiicatio! o t#e bara!$ay captai!, attesti!$ to t#e eiste!ce o a! o!$oi!$co!ciliatio! proceedi!$s betee! t#em.9%3 de!ied t#e motio! to dismiss, eplai!i!$ t#at t#e oe!seas about to prescribe or barred by t#e statute o limitatio!s

a!yay.1;#e motio! or reco!sideratio! by Uy as de!ied, #e!ce t#eili!$ o Uy it# t#e Supreme 3ourt o t#e special ci*il actio! or certiorari.

ISSUE/'N t#e ud$e o %3 %a&ati $ra*ely abused #is discretio!#e! #e de!ied t#e motio! to dismiss o t#e petitio!er co!sideri!$t#at t#e pri*ate respo!de!ts ailed to comply it# t#e ma!datoryre8uireme!t o .:. 10;7 as reiterated i! Sec. 412 o t#e <ocalGo*er!me!t 3ode a!d t#e 1991 Re*ised Rule o! Summaryrocedure = >?S.

RATIO/5t may t#us be obser*ed t#at t#e re* ised @ataru!$a!$ ambara!$ay la #as atleast t#ree !e si$!iica!t eatures, to itA

a5t i!creased t#e aut#ority o t#e lupo! i! crimi!al oe!ses rom t#osepu!is#able by impriso!me!t !ot eceedi!$ t#irty days or a i!e !oteceedi!$ 2;;.;; i! .:. No. 10;7 to t#ose oe!ses pu!is#able byimpriso!me!t !ot eceedi!$ o!e year or a i!e !ot eceedi!$0,;;;.;;.b"s to *e!ue, it pro*ides t#at disputes arisi!$ at t#e or&place #eret#e co!te!di!$ parties are employed or at t#e i!stitutio! #ere suc#parties are e!rolled or study, s#all be brou$#t i! t#e bara!$ay #eresuc# or&place or i!stitutio! is located.c5t pro*ides or t#e suspe!sio! o t#e prescripti*e periods o oe!sesduri!$ t#e pe!de!cy o t#e mediatio!, co!ciliatio!, or arbitratio!process.

#e irst eature #as !ecessarily broade!ed t#e urisdictio! o t#e lupo! a!d i t#e mediatio! a!d co!ciliatio! process at t#at le*el ould be eecti*elypursued, e cases ould reac# t#e re$ular courts, ustice ould be ac#ie*edat less epe!se to t#e liti$a!ts, cordial relatio!s#ips amo!$ prota$o!ists i! asmall commu!ity ould be restored, a!d peace a!d order t#erei! e!#a!ced.

#e seco!d eature, #ic# is co*ered by para$rap# (d), Sectio! 4;9 o t#e<ocal Go*er!me!t 3ode, also broade!s t#e aut#ority o t#e lupo! i! t#e se!set#at appropriate ci*il a!d crimi!al cases arisi!$ rom i!cide!ts occurri!$ i!or&places or i!stitutio!s o lear!i!$ s#all be brou$#t i! t#e bara!$ay #eresuc# or&place or i!stitutio! is located. #at bara!$ay may !ot be t#eappropriate *e!ue i! eit#er para$rap# (a) or para$rap# (b) o t#e said sectio!.#is rule pro*ides co!*e!ie!ce to t#e parties. rocedural rules i!cludi!$ t#oserelati!$ to *e!ue are desi$!ed to i!sure a air a!d co!*e!ie!t #eari!$ to t#eparties it# complete ustice betee! t#em as a result. 14 ?lseise stated,co!*e!ie!ce is t#e raiso! d- etre o t#e rule o! *e!ue.

#e t#ird eature is aimed at maimi/i!$ t#e eecti*e!ess o t#e mediatio!,co!ciliatio!, or arbitratio! process. 5t discoura$es a!y i!te!tio!al delay o t#ereerral to a date close to t#e epiratio! o t#e prescripti*e period a!d t#e!i!*o&i!$ t#e proimity o suc# epiratio! as t#e reaso! or immediate recourseto t#e courts. 5t also aords t#e parties suicie!t time to cool o a!d ace eac#ot#er it# less emotio!alism a!d more obecti*ity #ic# are esse!tiali!$redie!ts i! t#e resolutio! o t#eir dispute. #e sityday suspe!sio! o t#eprescripti*e period could spell t#e diere!ce betee! peace a!d a ullblo!,earisome, a!d epe!si*e liti$atio! betee! t#e parties.

'#ile .:. No. 10;7 #as bee! repealed by t#e <ocal Go*er!me!t 3ode o 1991, t#e urisprude!ce built t#ereo! re$ardi!$ prior reerral to t#e lupo! as apreco!ditio! to t#e ili!$ o a! actio! i! court remai!s applicable because itspro*isio!s o! prior reerral ere substa!tially reproduced i! t#e 3ode.



.:. No. 10;7 ma&es t#e co!ciliatio! process at t#e Bara!$ay le*el aco!ditio! precede!t or t#e ili!$ o a complai!t i! 3ourt. No!complia!ceit# t#at co!ditio! precede!t could eect t#e suicie!cy o t#e plai!ti-scause o actio! a!d ma&e #is complai!t *ul!erable to dismissal o! t#e$rou!d o lac& o cause o actio! or prematurity. #e co!ditio! is a!alo$ousto e#austio! o admi!istrati*e remedies, or t#e lac& o ear!est eorts tocompromise suits betee! amily members, lac&i!$ #ic# t#e case ca! bedismissed.

rior recourse to t#e co!ciliatio! procedure re8uired u!der .:. 10;7 is !ota urisdictio!al re8uireme!t, !o!complia!ce it# #ic# ould depri*e acourt o its urisdictio! eit#er o*er t#e subect matter or o*er t#e perso! o t#e dee!da!t. '#ere, #oe*er, t#e act o !o!complia!ce it# a!d !o!obser*a!ce o suc# procedure #as bee! seaso!ably raised as a! issuebeore t#e court irst ta&i!$ co$!i/a!ce o t#e complai!t, dismissal o t#eactio! is proper.

5! *ie o t#e pri*ate respo!de!ts- ailure to appear at t#e irst sc#eduledmediatio! o! 27 "pril 199+ or #ic# t#e mediatio! as reset to 26 %ay199+, !o complai!t or sli$#t p#ysical i!uries could be *alidly iled it# t#e

%3 o %a&ati at a!y time beore suc# date. #e ili!$ t#e! o 3rimi!al3ases Nos. 1402++ a!d 1402+4 it# t#e said court o! 11 %ay 199+ aspremature a!d, pursua!t to para$rap# (a), Sectio! 412 o t#e <ocalGo*er!me!t 3ode, respo!de!t Cud$e 3o!treras s#ould #a*e $ra!ted t#emotio! to dismiss t#e crimi!al cases. De ca!!ot ustiy its de!ial by ta&i!$reu$e u!der Sectio! 6 o .:. No. 10;7 (more properly, Sectio! 412(b) (4)o t#e <ocal Go*er!me!t 3ode o 1991) #ic# states t#at t#e parties may$o directly to court #ere t#e actio! is about to prescribe. #is is because,as earlier stated, pursua!t to para$rap# (c), Sectio! 41; o t#e 3ode, t#eprescripti*e period as automatically suspe!ded or a maimum period o sity days rom 2+ "pril 199+ #e! t#e pri*ate respo!de!ts iled t#eir complai!ts it# t#e lupo! o ale!/uela, %a&ati.

STEE TAN $nd MARCIANO TAN, petitioners, vs. FA%IAN MENDE0,!R., respondent.

6 Cu!e 2;;2 E uisumbi!$, J.

P Ste*e a! %arcia!o a!A o!ers o %aster ours a!d ra*el

3orporatio!H operators o #ilippi!e <ai! Bus 3o., 5!c.

R Fabia! %e!de/, CrA o!er o t#ree $asoli!e statio!s 5ri$a 3ity, <i$ao,

"lbay, a!d Sipocot, 3amari!es Sur

P T$n ope!ed a credit li!e it# R Mende1 or buses- lubrica!ts a!d uel

co!sumptio!. R as also desi$!ated as t#e boo&i!$ a!d tic&eti!$ a$e!t o P i!

5ri$a 3ity. P-s dri*ers purc#ased o! credit uel *arious oil products or its

buses t#rou$# it#draal slips issued by P, it# periodic payme!ts to R

t#rou$# c#ec&s. R remitted t#e proceeds o tic&et sales also t#rou$# issua!ce

o c#ec&s.

4 Cu!e 1991A P issued a c#ec& ort# 07,2+.0 (Far ?ast Ba!& a!d rust

3ompa!yBi!o!do 3#ec& No. ;422) to R, &!oi!$ ully ell t#at t#ey #ad !o

suicie!t u!ds or credit it# t#e draee ba!& Upo! its prese!tme!t or

payme!t to draee ba!&, t#e same as dis#o!ored a!d reused payme!t or

t#e reaso! I:ra! "$ai!st 5!suicie!t Fu!ds.I

21 Cu!e 1991A R se!t dema!d letter to ma&e $ood t#e c#ec& or pay t#e

amou!t t#ereo, a!d se*eral ot#er dema!ds subse8ue!t to t#is, to !o a*ail. "!

i!ormatio! or *iolatio! o B 22 as iled a$ai!st P beore R3 o 5ri$a 3ity,

Bra!c# +.

P pleaded !ot $uilty duri!$ arrai$!me!t a!d trial e!sued.

R2s $r"3ents/ rese!ted Fabia! %e!de/, Cr. %ulry %e!de/ to testiy t#at

3#ec& No. ;422 as dis#o!ored upo! prese!tme!t or payme!t to t#e ba!&.

#at P, i!stead o #eedi!$ t#eir re8uest to ma&e $ood t#e c#ec& or pay t#e

*alue, told t#em to ait or as t#ey ere also still aiti!$ or a ta credit

certiicate ort# 01,997 to be issued by t#e %i!istry o Fi!a!ce t#at t#ey

ould use to settle t#eir cases.

P2s $r"3ents/ rese!ted %arcia!o a! 5sidro a! as it!esses. %arcia!o

a*erred t#at #e ca!!ot be #eld liable or a *iolatio! o B 22 because t#e

amou!t subect o t#e c#ec& #ad already bee! eti!$uis#ed by oset or

compe!satio! a$ai!st t#e collectio! rom tic&et sales rom t#e boo&i!$ oices.De prese!ted a memora!dum dated 1; Cu!e 1991 s#oi!$ t#e retur! o

*arious e!cas#ed c#ec&s totali!$ 66,7+9.20 represe!ti!$ remitta!ce o tic&et

sales i! t#e 5ri$a a!d Baao oices. "ter t#e alle$ed oset, t#ere remai!s a

bala!ce o 226,70.7+

rial 3ourtA co!*icted petitio!ers or *iolatio! o B 22A bot# as pri!cipals,

se!te!ced to suer 6 mo!t#s impriso!me!t to i!dem!iy R oi!tly a!d

se*erally, t#e sum o 07,2+.0 it# le$al i!terest rom date o udicial

dema!d, plus costs.

3"A "irmed co!*ictio!



ISSUESA

1. 'JN petitio!ers ca! be #eld liable or *iolatio! o B.. 22 or t#e

Bou!ci!$ 3#ec&s <aH

2. 'JNpayme!t t#rou$# compe!satio! or oset ca! preclude prosecutio!

or *iolat io! o B.. 22H a!d

+. 'JN pe!alty o impriso!me!t is proper.

E#e3ents o %P 44/

1 #e ma&i!$, drai!$, a!d issua!ce o a!y c#ec& to apply or

accou!t or or *alueH

2 #e &!oled$e o t#e ma&er, draer, or issuer t#at at t#e time o

issue #e does !ot #a*e suicie!t u!ds i! or credit it# t#e draee

ba!& or t#e payme!t o t#e c#ec& i! ull upo! its prese!tme!tH a!d

3 #e subse8ue!t dis#o!or o t#e c#ec& by t#e draee ba!& or

i!suicie!cy o u!ds or credit or dis#o!or or t#e same reaso! #ad

!ot t#e draer, it#out a!y *alid cause, ordered t#e ba!& to stop

payme!t.

HELD/

1. Yes, Ps are liable or *iolatio! o B 22. S3 #eld t#at all eleme!ts o B

22 ere prese!t i! t#is case.

%arcia!o admitted t#at #e dre t#e subect c#ec& as payme!t or t#e uel

a!d oil products o respo!de!ts. De &!e at t#at time t#at t#ere ere !o

suicie!t u!ds to co*er t#e c#ec& because #e #ad u!collectedrecei*ables. #e c#ec& as t#us dis#o!ored upo! prese!tme!t to t#e ba!&

or payme!t.

#e la #as made t#e mere act o issui!$ a bum c#ec& a malum

pro#ibitum, a! act proscribed by le$islature or bei!$ deemed per!icious

a!d i!imical to public elare. T'e r$v$3en o t'e oense "nder t'is

#$5 is t'e $&t o iss"in $ 5ort'#ess &'e&* or $ &'e&* t'$t is

dis'onored "pon its present3ent or p$63ent. #us, e*e! i t#ere #ad

bee! payme!t, t#rou$# compe!satio! or some ot#er mea!s, t#ere could

still be prosecutio! or *iolatio! o B.. 22.

2. No.

#e issue o #et#er or !ot t#e obli$atio!s co*ered by t#e subect c#ec& #ad

bee! paid by compe!satio! or oset is a actual issue t#at re8uires e*aluatio!

a!d assessme!t o certai! acts. Fi!di!$s o act by t#e 3ourt o "ppeals are

co!clusi*e upo! t#e 3ourt abse!t a!y s#oi!$ t#at suc# i!di!$s are e!tirely

de*oid o a!y substa!tiatio!.

3" airmed t#at t#e alle$ed compe!satio! is !ot supported by clear a!d

positi*e e*ide!ce. otal amou!t o to c#ec&s issued by PA 29+,620.;7H total

amou!t o retur!ed c#ec&sA 66,9+9.0. No applicatio! o payme!t as made

as to #ic# c#ec& as to be paid. #ese i!di!$s s#ould be accorded respect

a!d i!ality.

P-s dee!se is u!a*aili!$ because P did !ot clearly speciy i! its memora!dum

dated 1; Cu!e 1991 #ic# dis#o!ored c#ec& is bei!$ oset. (Folloi!$ N33

1279 i! relatio! to N331204, t#e u!e!cas#ed c#ec&s amou!ti!$ to 66,7+9.20

s#ould #a*e bee! applied to t#e earlier dis#o!ored c#ec& amou!ti!$ to

2+0,+7.++ #ic# is more o!erous t#a! t#e subect c#ec& amou!ti!$ to o!ly

07,2+.0.)

"lso, !o compe!satio! ca! ta&e place betee! P R as t#e latter is !ot adebtor o t#e ormer i!soar as t#e to c#ec&s represe!ti!$ collectio!s rom

t#e Baao tic&et sales are co!cer!ed. N33 127 re8uires as a prere8uisite or

compe!satio!, t#at bot# parties be mutually a!d pri!cipally bou!d as creditors

a!d debtors. 5! t#is case, t#e memora!dum s#os t#at some u!e!cas#ed

c#ec&s retur!ed to respo!de!t to alle$edly oset t#e dis#o!ored c#ec& ere

rom t#e Baao tic&et sales #ic# are separate rom t#e tic&et sales o

respo!de!t. Respo!de!t o!ly acted as a! i!termediary i! remitti!$ t#e Baao

tic&et sales a!d, t#us, is !ot a debtor o petitio!ers.

5!teresti!$ly, petitio!ers !e*er alle$ed compe!satio! #e! t#ey recei*ed t#e

dema!d letter, duri!$ t#e prelimi!ary i!*esti$atio!, or beore trial by ili!$ amotio! to dismiss. %oreo*er, i i!deed t#ere as payme!t by compe!satio!,

petitio!ers s#ould #a*e redeemed or ta&e! t#e c#ec&s bac& i! t#e ordi!ary

course o busi!ess.

+. No, S3 i!stead imposed a i!e amou!ti!$ to double t#e *alue o t#e subect

c#ec&, it# subsidiary impriso!me!t i! case o i!sol*e!cy or !o!payme!t.

S"pre3e Co"rt Ad3inistr$tive Cir&"#$r No. )474888, $s &#$riied 96

Ad3inistr$tive Cir&"#$r No. ):7488), establis#ed a r"#e o preeren&e in

i3posin pen$#ties in %.P. 44 &$ses. Sectio! 1 o B.. 22 imposes t#e

olloi!$ alter!ati*e pe!alties or its *iolatio!, to itA (a) impriso!me!t o !otless t#a! +; days but !ot more t#a! o!e yearH or (b) a i!e o !ot less t#a! but



!ot more t#a! double t#e amou!t o t#e c#ec& #ic# i!e s#all i! !o case

eceed 2;;,;;;H or (c) bot# suc# i!e a!d impriso!me!t at t#e discretio!

o t#e court.

Ratio!aleA it ould best ser*e t#e e!ds o crimi!al ustice i, i! ii!$ t#e

pe!alty to be imposed or *iolatio! o B.. 22, t#e same p#ilosop#y

u!derlyi!$ t#e 5!determi!ate Se!te!ce <a is obser*ed, i.e. t#at o

redeemi!$ *aluable #uma! material a!d pre*e!ti!$ u!!ecessary

depri*atio! o perso!al liberty a!d eco!omic useul!ess it# due re$ard to

t#e protectio! o t#e social order.

"s clariied by "dmi!istrati*e 3ircular 1+2;;1, t#e clear te!or a!d

i!te!tio! o "dmi!istrati*e 3ircular No. 122;;; is !ot to remo*e

impriso!me!t as a! alter!ati*e pe!alty, but to lay do! a rule o

preere!ce i! t#e applicatio! o t#e pe!alties pro*ided or i! B.. 22. #is

rule o preere!ce does !ot oreclose t#e possibility o impriso!me!t or

*iolators o B.. 22. Neit#er does it deeat t#e le$islati*e i!te!t be#i!d t#e

la. Needless to say, t#e determi!atio! o #et#er t#e circumsta!ces

arra!t t#e impositio! o a i!e alo!e rests solely upo! t#e ud$e. 5! t#is

case, e !ote t#at petitio!ers #ad eerted eorts to settle t#eir obli$atio!s.

#e act o retur!i!$ t#e u!e!cas#ed c#ec&s to respo!de!t i!dicates $ood

ait# o! t#e part o petitio!ers. "bse!t a!y s#oi!$ t#at petitio!ers acted

i! bad ait#, t#e deletio! o t#e pe!alty o impriso!me!t i! t#is case is

proper.

:5SS55?A

-HEREFORE, t#e petitio! is :?N5?: a!d t#e :ecisio! o 3ourt

o "ppeals i! 3"G.R. 3R No. 2;;+;, is "FF5R%?: it#

%:5F53"5N. etitio!ers are ordered to i!dem!iy respo!de!t

i! t#e amou!t o 07,2+.0 it# le$al i!terest rom date o udicialdema!d. #e se!te!ce o impriso!me!t o si mo!t#s is S?

"S5:? a!d i! lieu t#ereo, a F5N? i! t#e amou!t o 116,40.0; is

imposed upo! petitio!ers, it# subsidiary impriso!me!t !ot to

eceed si mo!t#s i! case o i!sol*e!cy or !o!payme!t.

PANFILO M. LACSON, petitioner,vs.THE EXECUTIE SECRETARY,

THE SANDI;AN%AYAN, OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR,

THE DEPARTMENT OF !USTICE, MYRNA A%ALORA, NENITA ALAP7

AP, IMELDA PANCHO MONTERO, $nd THE PEOPLE OF THE

PHILIPPINES, respondent.

ROMEO M. ACOP AND FRANCISCO ;. 0U%IA, !R., petitioner7intervenors

FACTSA

#e @urato!$ Balele!$ Ga!$ as alle$edly a! or$a!i/ed crime

sy!dicate #ic# #ad committed ba!& robberies i! %etro %a!ila. 11 peoplebelie*ed to be t#eir members ere slai! by eleme!ts o t#e "!tiBa!& Robbery

a!d 5!telli$e!ce as& Group ("BR5G). etitio!er <acso! as 3#ie

Superi!te!de!t o reside!tial "!ti3rime 3ommissio! K as& Force Daba$at

("33FD), #ile petitio!eri!ter*e!ors "cop a!d Lubia ere t#e Se!ior

Superi!te!de!t o t#e raic %a!a$eme!t 3omma!d (%3) a!d 3#ie

Superi!te!de!t o t#e 3rimi!al 5!*esti$atio! 3omma!d (353).

Based o! i!ormatio! rom o!e o t#e i!*ol*ed policeme!,

mbudsma! "!ia!o :esierto i!*esti$ated t#e alle$atio!s t#at #at #appe!ed

as !ot actually a s#oot out, but rat#er a summary eecutio!. #ey ere

e*e!tually c#ar$ed, a!d petitio!er a!ilo <acso! as amo!$ t#ose c#ar$edas pri!cipal i! ele*e! (11) i!ormatio! or murder beore t#e Sa!di$a!baya!-s

Seco!d :i*isio!, #ile i!ter*e!ors Romeo "cop a!d Fra!cisco Lubia, Cr. ere

amo!$ t#ose c#ar$ed i! t#e same i!ormatio!s as accessories ateri!t#e

act.

"ccused iled motio!s 8uestio!i!$ t#e urisdictio! o t#e

Sa!di$a!baya!. #ey asserted t#at accordi!$ to R" 90, t#e cases s#ould be

it#i! t#e urisdictio! o t#e R3. #e la limited t#e urisdictio! o t#e

Sa!di$a!baya! to cases #ere o!e or more o t#e pri!cipal accused are

$o*er!me!t oicials it# Salary Grade (SG) 2 or #i$#er, or N oicials it#

t#e ra!& o 3#ie Superi!te!de!t. #e #i$#est ra!&i!$ pri!cipal o!ly #ad a ra!&o 3#ie 5!spector, a!d !o!e #ad t#e e8ui*ale!t o at least SG 2.

#e Sa!di$a!baya!, t#rou$# a Resolutio!, ordered t#e case to

tra!serred to t#e R3. #e ice o t#e Special rosecutor mo*ed or a

reco!sideratio!, sayi!$ t#at t#e case s#ould stay i! t#e Sa!di$a!baya!. '#ile

t#is %R as pe!di!$, R" 7249 as passed. #e la epa!ded t#e urisdictio!

o Sa!di$a!baya!, by deleti!$ t#e ord Mpri!cipal rom t#e p#rase Mpri!cipal

accused i! Sectio! 2 o R" 90

Subse8ue!tly t#e Sa!di$a!baya! issued a Resolutio! de!yi!$ t#e %R

o t#e Special rosecutor. But o! t#e same day, t#e Sa!di$a!baya! added a!



adde!dum to its resolutio!, claimi!$ t#at t#ere #as bee! a c#a!$e o *otes

a!d Sa!di$a!baya! ill retai! urisdictio! to try a!d decide t#e cases.

etitio!er !o 8uestio!s t#e co!stitutio!ality o R" 7249, i!cludi!$

t#e pro*isio! t#at t#e said la Is#all apply to all cases pe!di!$ i! a!y court

o*er #ic# trial #as !ot be$u! as to t#e appro*al #ereo.I Dis claims ere

t#at 1) t#e statute as i!troduced i! bad ait#, a!d *iolated petitio!erOs ri$#t

to procedural due process a!d e8ual protectio! clause, 2) t#e la is e

post acto le$islatio! as it as retroacti*ely applied, t#at it as passed it#

t#e i!te!tio! to apply it to petitio!erOs pe!di!$ case.

ISSUE/

(1) '#et#er or !ot R" 7249 *iolate t#e petitio!ersO ri$#t to due process a!d

t#e e8ual protectio! clause o t#e 3o!stitutio! as t#e pro*isio!s seemed to

#a*e bee! i!troduced or t#e Sa!di$a!baya! to co!ti!ue to ac8uire

urisdictio! o*er t#e @urato!$ Balele!$ case.

(2) '#et#er or !ot R" 7249 is epost acto statute.

(+) '#et#er or !ot t#e Sa!di$a!baya! #as urisdictio! o*er petitio!erOs

case

HELD/

(1) etito!ersO ar$ume!t t#at R" 7249 *iolates tbeir ri$#ts to e8ual

protectio! o t#e la is s#allo a!d does !ot deser*e merit. No co!crete

e*ide!ce or co!*i!ci!$ ar$ume!t ere prese!ted. ?*ery classiicatio!

made by la is presumed reaso!able. #e tra!sitory pro*isio! t#at says it

ill apply to all cases pe!di!$ i! a!y court is !ot directed o!ly to t#e

@urato!$ Balele!$ cases. "!d it does !ot o!ly apply to cases i! t#e

Sa!di$a!baya! but also i! a!y court. #e @urato!$ Balele!$ cases are

o!ly o!e o t#ose aected by t#e la.

(2) "! e post acto la, $e!erally pro#ibit retrospecti*ity o pe!al

las. But petitio!ers are mista&e! i! assumi!$ t#at R" 7249 is a pe!al la.

5t is a substa!ti*e la o! urisdictio! #ic# is !ot pe!al i! c#aracter. e!al

las pro#ibit certai! acts a!d establis# pe!alties or *iolatio!s, or dei!e

crimes a!d pro*ide or t#eir pu!is#me!t. R" 90, t#e ame!ded la, #ic#

i! tur! ame!ded : 16;6 as re$ards t#e Sa!di$a!baya!Os urisdictio!, is

clearly a procedural statute, o!e #ic# prescribes rules o procedure by

#ic# courts applyi!$ las o all &i!ds ca! properly admi!ister ustice.

(+) #e multiple murder c#ar$e alls u!der Sectio! 4 o R" 7249. 5t

re8uires t#at t#e oe!se c#ar$ed must be committed by t#e oe!der i! relatio!

to #is oice i! order or t#e Sa!di$a!baya! to #a*e urisdictio! o*er it. #e

8uestio! is t#e! #et#er t#e oe!se o multiple murder as committed i!

relatio! to t#e oice o t#e accused N oicers.

5! pre*ious cases t#e S3 #as #eld t#at a! oe!se is committed i!

relatio! to t#e oice i t#e oe!se is Mi!timately co!!ected it# t#e oice o

t#e oe!der, a!d perpetrated #ile #e as i! t#e perorma!ce o #is oicial

u!ctio!s. Bot# o t#ese must be alle$ed i! t#e i!ormatio!s. " re*ie o t#e

iled i!ormatio! re*eals t#at #ile it i!dicated t#at t#e murder as committed

i! relatio! to t#eir public oice, t#ere is !o speciic alle$atio! o acts t#at s#o

t#at t#e s#ooti!$ by t#e pri!cipal accused as i!timately related to t#e

disc#ar$e o t#eir oicial duties as police oicers. ?*e! t#e alle$atio!s

co!cer!i!$ t#e crimi!al participatio! o petitio!er a!d i!ter*e!ors is *a$ue.

#ere are !umerous co!licts i! t#e i!ormatio!, suc# as t#e place #ere t#e

arrest a!d t#e s#ooti!$ ere alle$edly #eld. For ailure to s#o t#e ame!ded i!

t#e ame!ded i!ormatio!s t#at t#e c#ar$e o murder as i!timately co!!ected

it# t#e disc#ar$e o oicial u!ctio!s o t#e accused N oicers, t#e oe!se

c#ar$ed i! t#e subect crimi!al cases is plai! murder a!d, t#ereore, it#i! t#e

eclusi*e ori$i!al urisdictio! o t#e Re$io!al rial 3ourt.

AN;ELITO P. MA;NO, etitio!er, *s. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES,

MICHAEL MONSOD, ESTHER LU0 MAE ;RE;ORIO, ;IAN CARLO

CA!OLES, NENETTE CASTILLON, DONATO ENA%E $nd ALFIE

FERNANDE0, Respo!de!ts.%RION, J.:

FACTS

! %ay 14, 2;;+, t#e ice o t#e mbudsma! iled a case or multiple

rustrated murder a!d double attempted murder a$ai!st se*eral accused,

i!cludi!$ t#e petitio!er, #o ere public oicers or&i!$ u!der t#e NB5. :uri!$

arrai$!me!t, %a$!o, obected to t#e ormal appeara!ce a!d aut#ority o a

certai! "tty. Sitoy #o as t#ere as priv$te prose&"tor to prosecute t#e case

or a!d o! be#al o t#e ice o t#e mbudsma!, citi!$ t#e pro*isio!s o

Sectio! +1 o Republic "ct (RA) No. 6;.

#e R3 ruled or %a$!o, a!d de!ied t#e mbudsma!Os motio! or

reco!sideratio! a!d t#e case as ele*ated to t#e 3", #e ice o t#e

mbudsma! co!te!di!$ t#at t#e R3 committed a $ra*e abuse o discretio!



i! pro#ibiti!$ t#e appeara!ce o "tty. Sitoy as cou!sel or t#e pri*ate

oe!ded parties, as t#e Rules o 3ourt epressly pro*ides t#at a pri*ate

oe!ded party may i!ter*e!e, by cou!sel, i! t#e prosecutio! o oe!ses.

%a$!o #oe*er ar$ued t#at #at #e 8uestio!ed beore t#e R3 as t#e

appeara!ce a!d aut#ority o t#e pri*ate prosecutor to prosecute t#e case i!

be#al o t#e mbudsma!, ar$ui!$ t#at #ile t#e ice o t#e

mbudsma! ca! desi$!ate prosecutors to assist i! t#e prosecutio! o

crimi!al cases, its $"t'orit6 in $ppointin, dep"ti1in or $"t'ori1in

prose&"tors to prose&"te &$ses is &onined on#6 to is&$#s, st$te

prose&"tors $nd overn3ent #$56ers a!d does !ot ete!d to pri*ate

practitio!ersJpri*ate prosecutors. De urt#er stressed t#at #ile t#e rder

o t#e R3 states t#at t#e ice o t#e mbudsma! is t#e proper le$al a!d

aut#ori/ed e!tity to prosecute t#e case, it did !ot aect t#e ri$#t to

i!ter*e!e perso!ally, as t#e ice o t#e mbudsma! ca! ta&e t#e

cud$els or t#e pri*ate respo!de!ts i! prosecuti!$ t#e ci*il aspect o t#e

case.

5! a! ame!ded decisio!, t#e 3" ruled i! a*our o t#e oice o t#embudsma! stati!$ t#at t#e pri*ate prosecutor may represe!t t#e

respo!de!ts i! t#e crimi!al case *ersus %a$!o. "ter bei!$ de!ied a

motio! or reco!sideratio!, %a$!o ele*ated t#e case to t#e S3, co!te!di!$

t#at t#e Sa!di$a!baya! a!d !ot t#e 3" #ad urisdictio! o*er t#e case.

ISSUE

'N t#e 3" #ad urisdictio! o t#e certiorari case o! t#e R3Os decisio!.

RULIN;

No. #e Sa!di$a!baya!, !ot t#e 3", #as appellate urisdictio! o*er t#e

R3Os decisio! !ot to allo "tty. Sitoy to prosecute t#e case o! be#al o t#e mbudsma!

Sectio! 4 o : 16;6 establis#es t#e Sa!di$a!baya!Os urisdictio!A

Se&tion <. Jurisdiction. #e Sa!di$a!baya! s#all eercise eclusi*e

ori$i!al urisdictio! i! all cases i!*ol*i!$A

". iolatio!s o Republic "ct No. +;19, as ame!ded, ot#erise &!o! as

t#e "!tiGrat a!d 3orruptio! ractices "ct, Republic "ct No. 1+9, a!d

3#apter 55, Sectio! 2, itle 55, o t#e Re*ised e!al 3ode, #ere o!e or

more o t#e accused are oicials occupyi!$ t#e olloi!$ positio!s i! t#e

$o*er!me!t, #et#er i! a perma!e!t, acti!$ or i!terim capacity, at t#e time

o t#e commissio! o t#e o e!se

#e Sa!di$a!baya! s#all eercise eclusi*e appellate urisdictio! o*er i!al

ud$me!ts, resolutio!s or orders o re$io!al trial courts #et#er i! t#e eercise

o t#eir o! ori$i!al urisdictio! or o t#eir appellate urisdictio! as #erei!

pro*ided.

#e Sa!di$a!baya! s#all #a*e eclusi*e ori$i!al urisdictio! o*er petitio!s or

t#e issua!ce o t#e rits o ma!damus, pro#ibitio!, certiorari, #abeas corpus,

i!u!ctio!s, a!d ot#er a!cillary rits a!d processes i! aid o its appellate

urisdictio! a!d o*er petitio!s o simi lar !ature, i!cludi!$ 8uo arra!to, arisi!$

or t#at may arise i! cases iled or #ic# may be iled u!der ?ecuti*e rder

Nos. 1, 2, 14 a!d 14", issued i! 1976A ro*ided, #at t#e urisdictio! o*er

t#ese petitio!s s#all !ot be eclusi*e o t#e Supreme 3ourt.

#e Sa!di$a!baya! #as eclusi*e appellate urisdictio! o*er resolutio!s

issued by R3s i! t#e eercise o t#eir o! ori$i!al urisdictio! or o t#eir

appellate urisdictio!. 5! t#is case, t#e 3" erred #e! it too& co$!i/a!ce o t#e

petitio! or certiorari iled by %a$!o. "lt#ou$# t#e order issued by t#e R3

could be re*ieed t#rou$# certiorari, t#e proper *e!ue or appeal s#ould #a*e

bee! t#e Sa!di$a!baya!, !ot t#e 3", bei!$ t#at %a$!o as a public oicial.

#e 3" s#ould #a*e dismissed t#e petitio! outri$#t. Si!ce it acted it#outaut#ority, e o*errule t#e September 26, 2;;0 "me!ded :ecisio! o t#e 3"

a!d t#e subse8ue!t de!ial o %a$!oOs motio!s or reco!sideratio!.

Curisdictio! is co!erred by la, a!d t#e 3"Os ud$me!t, issued it#out

urisdictio!, is *oid. #is rule applies e*e! i t#e issue o! urisdictio! as raised

or t#e irst time o! appeal or e*e! ater i!al ud$me!t.

PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP

M$r&' 48, 488)

;EOR;E UY, petitioner, vs. THE HON. SANDI;AN%AYAN, THE HON.

OM%UDSMAN AND THE HON. RO;ER C. %ER%ANO, SR., SPECIAL

PROSECUTION OFFICER III, OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL

PROSECUTOR, respondents.

F$&ts/ Beore t#e 3ourt is t#e %otio! or Furt#er 3lariicatio! iled by

mbudsma! "!ia!o ". :esierto o t#e 3ourt-s ruli!$ i! its decisio! dated

"u$ust 9, 1999 a!d resolutio! dated February 22, 2;;; t#at t#e prosecutory

poer o t#e mbudsma! ete!ds o!ly to cases co$!i/able by t#e

Sa!di$a!baya! a!d t#at t#e mbudsma! #as !o aut#ority to prosecute cases

alli!$ it#i! t#e urisdictio! o re$ular courts.



See&i!$ clariicatio! o t#e ore$oi!$ ruli!$, respo!de!t mbudsma!

raises t#e olloi!$ poi!tsA

M(1) #e urisdictio! o t#e Do!orable Sa!di$a!baya! is !ot parallel to or

e8uated it# t#e broader urisdictio! o t#e ice o t#e mbudsma!H

(2) #e p#rase Iprimary urisdictio! o t#e ice o t#e mbudsma! o*er

cases co$!i/able by t#e Sa!di$a!baya!I is !ot a delimitatio! o its

urisdictio! solely to Sa!di$a!baya! casesH a!d

(+) #e aut#ority o t#e ice o t#e Special rosecutor to prosecute cases

beore t#e Sa!di$a!baya! ca!!ot be co!used it# t#e broader

i!*esti$atory a!d prosecutorial poers o t#e ice o t#e mbudsma!.

Iss"e/ '#at is t#e scope o t#e mbudsma!Os poer to co!duct

prelimi!ary i!*esti$atio! a!d t#e subse8ue!t prosecutio! o crimi!al

oe!ses u!der t#e mbudsma! "ct o 1979 (R" 6;)Q

He#d/ #e mbudsma! is clot#ed it# aut#ority to co!duct prelimi!ary

i!*esti$atio! a!d to prosecute all crimi!al cases i!*ol*i!$ public oicers

a!d employees, !ot o!ly t#ose it#i! t#e urisdictio! o t#e

Sa!di$a!baya!, but t#ose it#i! t#e urisdictio! o t#e re$ular courts as

ell.

Basis is Sec. 10 a!d 11 o R" 6;. Sec. 10 *ests t#e mbudsma! it#

t#e poer to i!*esti$ate a!d prosecute a!y act or omissio! o a!y public

oicer or employee, oice or a$e!cy, #e! suc# act or omissio! appears

to be ille$al, u!ust, improper or i!eicie!t, t#usA

=Se&. )>. Powers, Functions and Duties.77#e ice o t#e

mbudsma! s#all #a*e t#e olloi!$ poers, u!ctio!s a!d dutiesA

(1) Investi$te $nd prose&"te o! its o! or o! complai!t by a!y

perso!, $n6 $&t or o3ission o $n6 p"9#i& oi&er or e3p#o6ee, oi&e

or $en&6, 5'en s"&' $&t or o3ission $ppe$rs to 9e i##e$#, "n?"st,

i3proper or inei&ient. 5t #as primary urisdictio! o*er cases co$!i/able

by t#e Sa!di$a!baya! a!d, i! t#e eercise o t#is primary urisdictio!, it

may ta&e o*er, at a!y sta$e, rom a!y i!*esti$atory a$e!cy o

Go*er!me!t, t#e i!*esti$atio! o suc# casesH

Sec. 11 $ra!ts t#e ice o t#e Special rosecutor, a! or$a!ic compo!e!t

o t#e ice o t#e mbudsma! u!der t#e latterOs super*isio! a!d co!trol,

t#e poer to co!duct prelimi!ary i!*esti$atio! a!d prosecute crimi!al cases

it#i! t#e urisdictio! o t#e Sa!di$a!baya!.

=Se&. )). Structural Organization.@

(4) #e ice o t#e Special rosecutor s#all, u!der t#e super*isio! a!d

co!trol a!d upo! aut#ority o t#e mbudsma!, #a*e t#e olloi!$ poersA

$B To &ond"&t pre#i3in$r6 investi$tion $nd prose&"te &ri3in$# &$ses5it'in t'e ?"risdi&tion o t'e S$ndi$n9$6$nH

#e poer to i!*esti$ate a!d to prosecute $ra!ted by la to t#e mbudsma!

is ple!ary a!d u!8ualiied. 5t pertai!s to $n6 $&t or o3ission o $n6 p"9#i&

oi&er or e3p#o6ee 5'en s"&' $&t or o3ission $ppe$rs to 9e i##e$#,

"n?"st, i3proper or inei&ient. #e la does !ot ma&e a disti!ctio! betee!

cases co$!i/able by t#e Sa!di$a!baya! a!d t#ose co$!i/able by re$ular

courts. 5t #as bee! #eld t#at t#e clause Ma!y ille$al act or omissio! o a!y

public oicial is broad e!ou$# to embrace a!y crime committed by a public

oicer or employee.

#e reere!ce made by R" 6; to cases co$!i/able by t#e Sa!di$a!baya!,

particularly i! Sec. 10 (1) a!d Sec. 11 (4), s#ould !ot be co!strued as co!i!i!$

t#e scope o t#e i!*esti$atory a!d prosecutory poer o t#e mbudsma! to

suc# cases.

Sectio! 10 $i*es t#e mbudsma! primary urisdictio! o*er cases co$!i/able

by t#e Sa!di$a!baya!. #e la dei!es suc# primary urisdictio! as

aut#ori/i!$ t#e mbudsma! Ito ta&e o*er, at a!y sta$e, rom a!y i!*esti$atory

a$e!cy o t#e $o*er!me!t, t#e i!*esti$atio! o suc# cases.I #e $ra!t o t#is

aut#ority does !ot !ecessarily imply t#e eclusio! rom its urisdictio! o cases

i!*ol*i!$ public oicers a!d employees co$!i/able by ot#er courts. 5!deed, it

must be stressed t#at t#e poers $ra!ted by t#e le$islature to t#e mbudsma!

are *ery broad a!d e!compass all &i!ds o maleasa!ce, miseasa!ce a!d

!o!easa!ce committed by public oicers a!d employees duri!$ t#eir te!ure

o oice.

%oreo*er, t#e urisdictio! o t#e ice o t#e mbudsma! s#ould !ot be

e8uated it# t#e limited aut#ority o t#e Special rosecutor (S) u!der Sectio!

11. #e S ice is merely a compo!e!t o t#e ice o t#e mbudsma! a!d

may o!ly act u!der t#e super*isio! a!d co!trol a!d upo! aut#ority o t#e

mbudsma!. 5ts poer to co!duct prelimi!ary i!*esti$atio! a!d to prosecute is

l imited to &ri3in$# &$ses 5it'in t'e ?"risdi&tion o t'eS$ndi$n9$6$n. 3ertai!ly, t#e lama&ers did !ot i!te!d to co!i!e t#e



i!*esti$atory a!d prosecutory poer o t#e mbudsma! to t#ese types o

cases. #e mbudsma! is ma!dated by la to act o! all complai!ts

a$ai!st oicers a!d employees o t#e $o*er!me!t a!d to e!orce t#eir

admi!istrati*e, ci*il a!d crimi!al liability i! e*ery case #ere t#e e*ide!ce

arra!ts. o carry out t#is duty, t#e la allos #im to utili/e t#e perso!!el

o #is oice a!dJor desi$!ate a!y iscal, state prosecutor or layer i! t#e

$o*er!me!t ser*ice to act as special i!*esti$ator or prosecutor to assist i!

t#e i!*esti$atio! a!d prosecutio! o certai! cases.

#e prosecutio! o oe!ses committed by public oicers a!d employees is

o!e o t#e most importa!t u!ctio!s o t#e mbudsma!. 5! passi!$ R"

6;, t#e 3o!$ress deliberately e!doed t#e mbudsma! it# suc#

poer to ma&e #im a more acti*e a!d eecti*e a$e!t o t#e people i!

e!suri!$ accou!tability i! public oiceKt#e de*elopme!t o our

mbudsma! la re*eals t#is i!te!t.

Fi!ally, it must be clariied t#at t#e aut#ority o t#e mbudsma! to

prosecute cases i!*ol*i!$ public oicers a!d employees beore t#e re$ular

courts does !ot co!lict it# t#e poer o t#e re$ular prosecutors u!der t#e

:epartme!t o Custice to co!trol a!d direct t#e prosecutio! o all crimi!alactio!s u!der Rule 11;. Rules o court read i! co!u!ctio! it# R" 6;

%rie 'istor6A 3o!cept o mbudsma! ori$i!ated i! Sede! 19t#

ce!tury Q 5! #ils., se*eral mbudsma!li&e a$e!cies ere establis#ed by

past reside!ts to ser*e as t#e peopleOs medium or airi!$ $rie*a!ces a!d

see&i!$ redress a$ai!st abuses a!d misco!duct i! t#e $o*er!me!t. Q 19+

3o!sti, creatio! o a!odbaya! positio!. Q *arious ame!dme!ts, created

S oice, but as u!der Custice Secretary Q 197 3o!sti, oice o

mbudsma! created, a!odbaya! became ice o S Q ra 6; as

e!acted pro*idi!$ or t#e u!ctio!al a!d structural or$a!i/atio! o t#e

prese!t ice o t#e mbudsma!. #is later la retai!ed i! t#e

mbudsma! t#e poer o t#e ormer a!odbaya! to i!*esti$ate a!d

prosecute o! its o! or o! complai!t by a!y perso!, a!y act or omissio! o

a!y public oicer or employee, oice or a$e!cy, #e! suc# act or omissio!

appears to be ille$al, u!ust, improper or i!eicie!t.

Fr$n*#in A#e?$ndro vs. Oi&e o t'e O39"ds3$n F$&t7Findin $ndInte##ien&e %"re$"GR No. 1+121 E "pr. +, 2;1+ E C. Brio!

N$t"re/ etitio! or re*ie o! certiorari

F$&ts/

•%ay 4, 2;;;A Dead o t#e No!Re*e!ue 'ater Reductio! :ept o t#e

%a!ila 'ater Ser*ices (%'S5) recei*ed a report t#at t#e %ico 3ar 'as# (%53) o!ed by "lredo "lea!dro #as bee! ille$ally ope!i!$a! %'S5 ire #ydra!t a!d usi!$ it to operate its caras# busi!ess i!Bi!o!do

•

•

%ay 1;, 2;;;A %'S5 it# N3rimi!al 5!*esti$atio! a!d :etectio!Group co!ducted a! a!tiater pilera$e operatio! a$ai!st %53. #eyarrested t#e caras# boys a!d co!iscated t#e co!tai!ers.

•

•Doe*er, duri!$ t#e operatio!, t#e petitio!er "lea!dro, #o as "lredoOs

at#er a!d also t#e Br$y. 3#airma!, i!terered it# t#e operatio! byorderi!$ me! to u!load t#e co!iscated co!tai!ers. Because o t#is,t#e caras# boys escaped.

• "u$. 0, 2;;+A Respo!de!t iled it# t#e ice o t#e *erall :eputy

mbudsma! a! admi!istrati*e complai!t a$ai!st petitio!er or reusi!$to reco$!i/e a le$itimate police acti*ity a!d or i!tereri!$

•

• "u$. 2;, 2;;4A ice o t#e :eputy mbudsma! ou!d petitio!er $uilty o $ra*e misco!duct a!d ordered #is dismissal rom t#e ser*ice or o*erete!di!$ #is aut#ority as Br$y. 3#airma! a!d tolerati!$ t#e ille$alacts. etitio!er iled a! %R but t#is as de!ied.

•

•etitio!er t#e! appealed to t#e 3", but t#is as de!ied due to premature

ili!$. "ccordi!$ to t#e 3"A petitio!er ailed to e#aust proper admi!istrati*e remedies because #e did !ot appeal t#e :eputymbudsma!Os decisio! to t#e mbudsma!. etitio!er a$ai! iled a! %Rbut as de!ied.

Iss"esA

1'JN t#ere as already a! e#austio! o admi!istrati*e remedies

•etitio!erA #ere as already a! e#austio! o remedies a!d 3"

erred i! dismissi!$ petitio! it#out co!sideri!$ Rule 4+ o t#eR3 a!d " No. ; (Rules o rocedure o t#e ice o t#embudsma!)

•Respo!de!tA No e#austio! yet as petitio!er ailed to appeal to

t#e mbudsma!

•

)-N t'e Oi&e o t'e O39"ds3$n '$s ?"risdi&tion to order dis3iss$#



•etitio!erA U!der t#e <ocal Go*t 3ode, a! electi*e local

oicial may be remo*ed rom oice o!ly by t#e order o aproper court

•Respo!de!tA U!der R" 6; (mbudsma! "ct o 1979), t#e

ice o t#e mbudsma! #as discipli!ary aut#ority o*er all electi*e a!d appoi!ti*e oicials

•

1'JN t#e pe!alty o dismissal is arra!ted

He#d/1>es. #ere is !o urt#er !eed to e#aust admi!istrati*e remedies ast#e :eputy mbudsma! as already acti!$ i! be#al o t#embudsma!.

• " No. ; did !ot pro*ide or a!ot#er appeal rom t#edecisio! o t#e :eputy mbudsma! to t#e mbudsma! asit o!ly pro*ided a remedy or t#e ice o t#e :eputymbudsma!, or t#e mbudsma!, to correct itsel i!certai! cases.

•

1>es. #e mbudsma! #as co!curre!t urisdictio! o*er admi!istrati*e

cases #ic# are it#i! t#e urisdictio! o t#e re$ular courts or admi!istrati*e a$e!cies, a!d it #as t#e poer to impose admi!istrati*esa!ctio!s.

•U!der t#e 3o!stitutio!, t#e ice o t#e mbudsma! is

tas&ed to eercise discipli!ary aut#ority o*er all electi*ea!d appoi!ti*e oicials, sa*e o!ly or impeac#ableoicers. '#ile Sec. 21 o t#e mbudsma! "ct a!d t#e<ocal Go*t 3ode bot# pro*ide or t#e procedure todiscipli!e electi*e oicials, t#e 2 las may be reco!ciledby u!dersta!di!$ t#e pri3$r6 urisdictio! a!d &on&"rrent

urisdictio! o t#e mbudsma!.

•

•#e mbudsma! #as pri3$r6 urisdictio! to i!*esti$ate a!yact or omissio! o a public oicer or employee #o isu!der t#e urisdictio! o t#e Sa!di$a!baya! publicoicials occupyi!$ positio!s correspo!di!$ to Grade 2a!d #i$#er.

•

•But, as #eld i! Office of the Ombudsman vs. Rodriguez , a!y

act or omissio! o a public oicer or employee occupyi!$ asalary $rade loer t#a! 2 is it#i! t#e &on&"rrent

urisdictio! o t#e mbudsma! a!d o t#e re$ular courts or ot#er i!*esti$ati*e a$e!cies.

•

•5! admi!istrati*e cases i!*ol*i!$ t#e co!curre!t urisdictio! o to

or more discipli!i!$ aut#orities, t#e body #ere t#e complai!tis iled irst, a!d #ic# opts to ta&e co$!i/a!ce o t#e case,ac8uires urisdictio! to t#e eclusio! o ot#er tribu!alseercisi!$ co!curre!t urisdictio!.

•

•5! i!sta!t case, u!der R" 16;, t#e sangguniang panlungsod or

sangguniang bayan #as discipli!ary aut#ority o*er a!y electi*e

br$y oicial. But as t#e complai!t as initi$##6 i#ed it# t#embudsma!, t#e mbudsma!Os eercise o urisdictio! is tot#e eclusio! o t#e sangguniang bayan #o #as co!curre!t

urisdictio!.

•

•Sectio! 101 o R" 6; re*eals t#e ma!iest i!te!t o t#e

lama&ers to $i*e t#e ice o t#e mbudsma! ulladmi!istrati*e discipli!ary aut#ority. "s urt#er elucidated i!Office of the Ombudsman vs. Apolonio: 5t as $i*e!discipli!ary aut#ority o*er all electi*e a!d appoi!ti*e oicialso t#e $o*er!me!t a!d its subdi*isio!s, i!strume!talities a!d

1 Sectio! 10. oers, Fu!ctio!s a!d :uties. K #e ice o t#e mbudsma! s#all #a*e t#e

olloi!$ poers, u!ctio!s a!d dutiesA(1) 5!*esti$ate a!d prosecute o! its o! or o! complai!t by a!y perso!, a!y act or omissio! o a!ypublic oicer or employee, oice or a$e!cy, #e! suc# act or omissio! appears to be ille$al, u!ust,improper or i!eicie!t. 5t #as primary urisdictio! o*er cases co$!i/able by t#e Sa!di$a!baya! a!d,i! t#e eercise o t#is primary urisdictio!, it may ta&e o*er, at a!y sta$e, rom a!y i!*esti$atorya$e!cy o Go*er!me!t, t#e i!*esti$atio! o suc# casesH(2) :irect, upo! complai!t or at its o! i!sta!ce, a!y oicer or employee o t#e Go*er!me!t, or oa!y subdi*isio!, a$e!cy or i!strume!tality t#ereo, as ell as a!y $o*er!me!to!ed or co!trolledcorporatio!s it# ori$i!al c#arter, to perorm a!d epedite a!y act or duty re8uired by la, or tostop, pre*e!t, a!d correct a!y abuse or impropriety i! t#e perorma!ce o dutiesH(+) :irect t#e oicer co!cer!ed to ta&e appropriate actio! a$ai!st a public oicer or employee atault or #o !e$lectTs to perorm a! act or disc#ar$e a duty re8uired by la, a!d recomme!d #isremo*al, suspe!sio!, demotio!, i!e, ce!sure, or prosecutio!, a!d e!sure complia!ce t#ereit#H or

e!orce its discipli!ary aut#ority as pro*ided i! Sectio! 21 o t#is "ctA pro*ided, t#at t#e reusal bya!y oicer it#out ust cause to comply it# a! order o t#e mbudsma! to remo*e, suspe!d,demote, i!e, ce!sure, or prosecute a! oicer or employee #o is at ault or #o !e$lects toperorm a! act or disc#ar$e a duty re8uired by la s#all be a $rou!d or discipli!ary actio! a$ai!stsaid oicerH(4) :irect t#e oicer co!cer!ed, i! a!y appropriate case, a!d subect to suc# limitatio!s as it maypro*ide i! its rules o procedure, to ur!is# it it# copies o docume!ts relati!$ to co!tracts ortra!sactio!s e!tered i!to by #is oice i!*ol*i!$ t#e disburseme!t or use o public u!ds orproperties, a!d report a!y irre$ularity to t#e 3ommissio! o! "udit or appropriate actio!H(0) Re8uest a!y $o*er!me!t a$e!cy or assista!ce a!d i!ormatio! !ecessary i! t#e disc#ar$e oits respo!sibilities, a!d to eami!e, i !ecessary, perti!e!t records a!d docume!tsH(6) ublici/e matters co*ered by its i!*esti$atio! o t#e matters me!tio!ed i! para$rap#s (1), (2),(+) a!d (4) #ereo, #e! circumsta!ces so arra!t a!d it# due prude!ceA pro*ided, t#at t#embudsma! u!der its rules a!d re$ulatio!s may determi!e #at cases may !ot be made publicApro*ided, urt#er, t#at a!y publicity issued by t#e mbudsma! s#all be bala!ced, air a!d trueH(7) Determine the causes of ineciency, red tape, mismanagement, fraud, andcorruption in the Government, and make recommendations for their elimination andthe oservance of high standards of ethics and eciency!



a$e!cies (it# t#e eceptio! o!ly o impeac#able oicers,members o 3o!$ress a!d t#e Cudiciary).

•

1>es, petitio!er is liable or $ra*e misco!duct.

• "s Bara!$ay 3#airma!, t#e petitio!er as clearly i! t#eperorma!ce o #is oicial duty #e! #e i!terered. U!der Sectio! +79(b)(+) o R" 16;, t#e la pro*ides t#at apu!o!$ bara!$ay must mai!tai! public order i! t#e

bara!$ayV . #us, #e as dutybou!d to i!*esti$atea!d try to mai!tai! public order. #e petitio!er, asBara!$ay 3#airma!, is tas&ed to e!orce all las a!dordi!a!ces #ic# are applicable it#i! t#e bara!$ay, i! t#esame ma!!er t#at t#e police is bou!d to mai!tai! peacea!d order it#i! t#e commu!ity.

•

•'#at e ca! co!clusi*ely co!irm is t#at t#e petitio!er

*iolated t#e la by directly i!tereri!$ it# a le$itimatepolice acti*ity #ere #is o! so! appeared to be i!*ol*ed.#is act 8ualiies t#e misco!duct as $ra*e. Sectio! 02(")(+), Rule 5 o t#e Re*ised U!iorm Rules o!

"dmi!istrati*e 3ases i! t#e 3i*il Ser*ice pro*ides t#at t#epe!alty or $ra*e misco!duct is dismissal rom t#e ser*ice.

•%isco!duct is co!sidered r$ve i accompa!ied by

corruptio!, a clear i!te!t to *iolate t#e la, or ala$ra!t disre$ard o establis#ed rules, #ic# mustall be supported by substa!tial e*ide!ce. 5 t#emisco!duct does !ot i!*ol*e a!y o t#e additio!aleleme!ts to 8ualiy t#e misco!duct as $ra*e, t#eperso! c#ar$ed may o!ly be #eld liable or simplemisco!duct.

Petition DENIED.

AMADO ;. PERE0 DECEASEDB REPRESENTED %Y HIS -IDO-

;UILLERMA T. PERE0, MARIO S. FRANCISCO, RAFAEL P. AR;AME,

MIRASOL . MENDO0A, ;LORIA S. ;ON0ALO AND MARIA FE .

%OM%ASE, petitioners, vs. OFFICE OF THE OM%UDSMAN, MAYOR

I;NACIO R. %UNYE, CARLOS ;. DOMIN;UE0, RO;ELIO P.

MADRIA;A, RECTO CORONADO, TEODORA A. DIAN;, TOMAS M.

OSIAS, REYNALDO CAMILON AND %EN!AMIN %ULOS, respondents.

NatureA "ppeal by certiorari u!der Rule 40 to t#e Supreme 3ourt

F$&ts/

etitio!ers, members o t#e @ilusa!$ Baya! !$ m$a %a$titi!da !$ Ba$o!$

amili#a!$ Baya! !$ %u!ti!lupa, 5!c. (@B%B%), i!stituted to complai!ts at

t#e ice o t#e mbudsma! a$ai!st se*eral respo!de!ts, o!e o #om as

t#e! %ayor 5$!acio R. Bu!ye, or *iolatio! o R" +;19 also &!o! as t#e

M"!tiGrat a!d 3orrupt ractices "ct (t#e speciic crime alle$edly committed

as !ot me!tio!ed).

Respo!de!ts alle$edly destroyed t#e doors o t#e @B%B% oice #ile

ser*i!$ o! petitio!ers t#e a&e*er rder o t#e @B%B% ma!a$eme!tdated ctober 27, 1997 issued by t#e! "$riculture Secretary 3arlos G.

:omi!$ue/.

! "pril 11, 199, t#e ice o t#e mbudsma! issued a resolutio! ecludi!$

respo!de!t Bu!ye rom t#e crimi!al i!dictme!t. #e petitio!ers assailed t#e

eclusio! i! t#e 3" o! September 1, 199 t#rou$# a! ori$i!al petitio!

or certiorari a!d ma!damus to compel t#e mbudsma! to i!clude Bu!ye i!

t#e i!dictme!t.

September 9, 199 t#e 3" issued a resolutio! dismissi!$ petitio!ersO petitio!

or certiorari a!d ma!damus o! t#e $rou!d o lac& o urisdictio! i! accorda!ceit# Sec. 26 o R" 6; or t#e mbudsma! "ct o 1979. De!ce t#is petitio! to

t#e Supreme 3ourt.

Iss"e/ 'N t#e 3" as correct i! d ismissi!$ t#e petit io!

or certiorari a!d ma!damusQ

He#d/ >es. 5t is t#e !ature o t#e case t#at determi!es t#e proper remedy to be

iled a!d t#e appellate court #ere suc# remedy s#ould be iled by a party

a$$rie*ed by t#e decisio!s or orders o t#e ice o t#e mbudsma!. 5 it is

a! $d3inistr$tive &$se, appeal s#ould be ta&e! to t#e Co"rt o Appe$#s

u!der Rule 4+ o t#e Rules o 3ourt.5 it is a &ri3in$# &$se, t#e proper remedyis to ile it# t#e S"pre3e Co"rt a! ori$i!al petitio! or certiorari u!der Rule

60.

'e i!d t#at, alt#ou$# t#e 3" as correct i! dismissi!$ t#e petitio!

or certiorari, it erro!eously i!*o&ed as ratio decide!di Sectio! 2 o R" 6;

#ic# $pp#ies in $d3inistr$tive &$ses on#6, not &ri3in$# &$ses, suc# as t#e

$rat a!d corruptio! c#ar$e at bar.

5! Fabia! *s. :esierto e #eld t#at Sectio! 2 applies o!ly #e!e*er a!

appeal by certiorari u!der Rule 40 is ta&e! rom a decisio! i! a! admi!istrati*e

discipli!ary actio!. Ne*ert#eless, e declared Se&tion 4 "n&onstit"tion$#

or eGp$ndin t'e S"pre3e Co"rts $ppe##$te ?"risdi&tion 5it'o"t its



$dvi&e $nd &onsent. -e t'"s 'e#d t'$t $## $ppe$#s ro3 de&isions o

t'e Oi&e o t'e O39"ds3$n in $d3inistr$tive dis&ip#in$r6 &$ses

s'o"#d 9e t$*en to t'e Co"rt o Appe$#s "nder R"#e <: o t'e )

R"#es o Co"rt.

As t'e present &ontrovers6 pert$ined to $ &ri3in$# &$se, t'e

petitioners 5ere &orre&t in $v$i#in o t'e re3ed6 o petition

or &ertior$ri "nder R"#e (> 9"t t'e6 erred in i#in it in t'e Co"rt o

Appe$#s. #e procedure set out i! @ui/o! *s. mbudsma! a!d %e!do/a "rce *s. mbudsma!,re8uiri!$ t#at petitio!s or certiorari 8uestio!i!$ t#e

mbudsma!Os orders or decisio!s i! crimi!al cases s#ould be iled in t'e

S"pre3e Co"rt $nd not t'e Co"rt o Appe$#s, is still t#e pre*aili!$ rule.

On t'e s"9st$ntive $spe&t o t'e &$se/

But e*e! i t#e petitio! or certiorari #ad bee! iled i! t'is Co"rt, 5e

5o"#d '$ve dis3issed it ?"st t'e s$3e. First, petitioners s'o"#d '$ve

i#ed $ 3otion or reco!sideratio! o t#e mbudsma! resolutio! as it ast#e plai!, speedy a!d ade8uate remedy i! t#e ordi!ary course o la, !ot

ili!$ a petitio! or certiorari directly i! t#e Supreme 3ourt. Seco!d, t#e

Oi&e o t'e O39"ds3$n did not $&t 5it'o"t or in eG&ess o its

?"risdi&tion or 5it' r$ve $9"se o dis&retion $3o"ntin to #$&* or

eG&ess o ?"risdi&tion in iss"in t'e O39"ds3$n reso#"tion.

5! t#is case, t#ere as !o $ra*e abuse o discretio! o! t#e part o t#e

ice o t#e mbudsma! i! dismissi!$ t#e complai!t a$ai!st respo!de!t

Bu!ye upo! t#e actual i!di!$ t#atA 5!deed !o e*ide!ce is s#o! i! t#e

record t#at respo!de!t %ayor Bu!ye speciically participated i! t#e *iole!t

impleme!tatio! o Secretary :omi!$ue/O rder o ctober 27, 1977 #ic#alloed t#e demolis#i!$ o t#e property o t#e @B%B%. #e mere act

t#at %ayor Bu!ye as prese!t #e! t#e i!cide!t as #appe!i!$ does !ot

ma&e #im liable. 5t is #is duty u!der t#e <ocal Go*er!me!t 3ode to restore

disorder, riot, laless *iole!ce, or to appre#e!d *iolators o t#e la #e!

public i!terest so re8uires.

etitio! de!ied.

PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP

;.R. No. )<> M$r&' <, 488<

!ESSIE MACALALA; *s OM%UDSMAN, PA%LO ALORO $nd COURT OF

APPEALS (ITU;, J .B

ISSUE/ 'N t#e 3ourt o "ppeals #as urisdictio! o*er actio!s or a!!ulme!t

o decisio!s or orders o t#e mbudsma! i! admi!istrati*e cases.

FACTS/

SU%STANTIAL

•R "loro is a reside!t o Bacolod 3ity a!d a retired employee

recei*i!$ a mo!t#ly pe!sio! rom t#e Social Security System.

• "s o September 10, 1996, #oe*er, #e a iled to recei*e #is pe!sio!

c#ec&s correspo!di!$ to t#e mo!t#s o "pril, %ay a!d Culy 1996.

•'#e! #e e!t to Bacolod 3ity ost ice to *eriy about t#e matter,

#e lear!ed t#at #is missi!$ c#ec&s ere ta&e! by %acalala$, a!

employee o t#e #ilippi!e ostal 3orporatio! i! Bacolod 3ity, #o

e!dorsed a!d e!cas#ed t#em or #is perso!al be!eit.

•'#e! co!ro!ted by R "loro, %acalala$ issued to t#e ormer #is

perso!al c#ec& i! t#e amou!t o ,+2;.;; i! payme!t o t#e c#ec&s.

•Doe*er, #e! R "loro prese!ted t#e c#ec& or payme!t, it as

dis#o!ored by t#e draee ba!& or #a*i!$ bee! dra! a$ai!st

i!suicie!t u!ds.

•No!et#eless, R "loro eecuted a! aida*it o desista!ce or t#e

purpose o see&i!$ t#e dismissal o t#e case a$ai!st %acalala$. Q

But said aida*it as reected a!d, i!stead, %acalala$ as declaredadmi!istrati*ely liable a!d ordered dismissed rom t#e ser*ice it#

oreiture o all be!eits a!d dis8ualiicatio! rom $o*er!me!t ser*ice.

• %acalala$ sou$#t a co!sideratio! but t#e same as de!ied.

• %acalala$ appealed to S3 by ay o a petitio! or re*ie o!

certiorari. Q Doe*er, i! t#e li$#t o t#e decisio! i! Fabia! *s. :esierto,

T1997 a!d "dmi!istrati*e 3ircular No. 992;1S3, t#e appeal as

dismissed.

•

5! t#e i!terim, t#e ad*erse mbudsma! decisio! attai!ed i!ality.



PROCEDURAL

•+ February 199 R ablo "loro lod$ed it# t#e ice o t#e

mbudsma! or isayas a complai!t or dis#o!esty a$ai!st t#e

petitio!er Cessie %acalala$, a! employee o t#e #ilippi!e ostal

3orporatio!, Bacolod 3ity.

• %acalala$ as directed to ile #is a!ser t#rou$# 3ourt rders

but #e did !ot bot#er to ile a!y.

•'#e! t#e case as called or prelimi!ary co!ere!ce, #e se!t a

tele$ram re8uesti!$ or postpo!eme!t a!d prayi!$ t#at #e be

alloed to submit #is positio! paper ater #ic# t#e case s#all be

deemed submitted or resolutio!. Q BU N S55N "?R

as e*er submitted by #im

• "ccordi!$ly, t#e i!*esti$ator as co!strai!ed to resol*e t#e case

o! t#e basis solely o t#e e*ide!ce ur!is#ed by t#e R "loro.

• %acalala$ iled a! actio! or a!!ulme!t o ud$me!t it# 3" o!t#e $rou!d t#at It#e $ross i$!ora!ce, !e$li$e!ce a!d

i!compete!ce o petitio!er-s ormer layer depri*ed petitio!er o

#is day i! court #ic# (ould) ustiy t#e a!!ulme!t o t#e assailed

Resolutio! a!d rder.I

•3" dismissed petitio! or <"3@ F CUR5S:535N ratioci!ati!$A

I U!der Sectio! 9 (2) o B.. Bl$. 129, t'is Co"rt '$s

eG&#"sive oriin$# ?"risdi&tion on#6 over $&tions or $nn"#3ent

o ?"d3ents o t'e Reion$# Tri$# Co"rts. Not'in is

3entioned t'erein $9o"t ?"d3ents o ot'er &o"rts, 3"&'

#ess o t'e O39"ds3$n or $n6 J"$si7?"di&i$# 9od6 . T'e &$se

o F$9i$n v. Desierto, 4> SCRA <8 )KB, vested t'is Co"rt

on#6 5it' eG&#"sive appellate jurisdiction to revie5 de&isions

o t'e Oi&e o t'e O39"ds3$n in $d3inistr$tive dis&ip#in$r6

$&tions 5'i&' s'o"#d 9e t$*en vi$ $ petition or revie5 "nder

R"#e <: o t'e ) R"#es o Civi# Pro&ed"re.

• %acalala$ iled t#e i!sta!t petitio! or re*ie, ar$ui!$ t#at

Sectio! 4 o t#e Rules o 3ourt o! a!!ulme!t o ud$me!ts, reers

to IRe$io!al rial 3ourtsI i! its $e!eric se!se t#at s#ould t#us

i!clude 8uasiudicial bodies #ose u!ctio!s or ra!& are coe8ualit# t#ose o t#e Re$io!al rial 3ourt.

DECISION/ etitio! :ismissed. 3" :ecisio! "FF5R%?:.

RATIO/

•etitio!er-s t#esis i!ds !o support i! la a!d urisprude!ce.

•Rule 4, e!titled I"!!ulme!t o Cud$me!ts or Fi!al rders a!d

Resolutio!s,I is a !e pro*isio! u!der t#e 199 Rules o 3i*il

rocedure albeit t#e remedy #as lo!$ bee! $i*e! imprimatur by t#ecourts. #e rule co*ers Ia!!ulme!t by t#e 3ourt o "ppeals o

ud$me!ts or i!al orders a!d resolutio!s i! ci*il actio!s o Regional

Trial Courts or #ic# t#e ordi!ary remedies o !e trial, appeal,

petitio! or relie or ot#er appropriate remedies could !o lo!$er be

a*ailed o t#rou$# !o ault o t#e petitio!er.I "! actio! or a!!ulme!t o

ud$me!t is a remedy i! la i!depe!de!t o t#e case #ere t#e

ud$me!t sou$#t to be a!!ulled is re!dered. #e co!cer! t#at t#e

remedy could so easily be resorted to as a! i!strume!t to delay a i!al

a!d eecutory ud$me!t, #as prompted sae$uards to be put i! place

i! order to a*oid a! abuse o t#e rule. #us, t#e $nn"#3ent o

?"d3ent 3$6 9e 9$sed on#6 on t'e ro"nds o eGtrinsi& r$"d

$nd #$&* o ?"risdi&tion, a!d t#e remedy may not be i!*o&edV

•(1) #ere t#e party #as a*ailed #imsel o t#e remedy o !e trial,

appeal, petitio! or relie or ot#er appropriate remedy a!d lost

t#ererom, or

•(2) #ere #e #as ailed to a*ail #imsel o t#ose remedies t#rou$# #is

o! ault or !e$li$e!ce.

•Sectio! 2 o Republic "ct No. (R.".) 6;, also &!o! as #e

mbudsma! "ct o 1979, pro*ides t#at orders, dire&tives $nd

de&isions o t'e O39"ds3$n in $d3inistr$tive &$ses $re

$ppe$#$9#e to t'e S"pre3e Co"rt vi$ R"#e <> o t'e R"#es o

Co"rt. 5! Fabian v. esierto, t#e 3ourt #as declared Se&tion 4 o t'e

A&t to 9e "n&onstit"tion$# sin&e it eGp$nds t'e S"pre3e Co"rt2s

?"risdi&tion 5it'o"t its $dvi&e $nd &onsent reJ"ired "nder Arti&#e

I, Se&tion :8, o t'e )K Constit"tion . Hen&e, $## $ppe$#s ro3

de&isions o t'e O39"ds3$n in $d3inistr$tive dis&ip#in$r6 &$ses

$re inste$d to 9e t$*en to t'e Co"rt o Appe$#s "nder R"#e <: o

t'e ) R"#es o Civi# Pro&ed"re. T'e r"#e is reiter$ted in

Ad3inistr$tive Cir&"#$r No. 7478)7SC.



•P$rent'eti&$##6, R.A. (8 is si#ent on t'e re3ed6 o

$nn"#3ent o ?"d3ents or in$# orders $nd reso#"tions o t'e

O39"ds3$n in $d3inistr$tive &$ses. 5! Tirol! Jr. v. el Rosario,

t#e 3ourt #as #eld t#at si!ce #e mbudsma! "ct speciically

deals it# t#e remedy o a! a$$rie*ed party rom orders, directi*es

a!d decisio!s o t#e mbudsma! i! admi!istrati*e discipli!ary

cases o!ly, t'e ri't to $ppe$# is not to 9e &onsidered r$nted

to p$rties $rieved 96 orders $nd de&isions o t'e

O39"ds3$n in &ri3in$# or non7$d3inistr$tive &$ses. T'e

ri't to $ppe$# is $ 3ere st$t"tor6 privi#ee $nd 3$6 9e

eGer&ised on#6 in t'e 3$nner pres&ri9ed 96, $nd in

$&&ord$n&e 5it', t'e provisions o #$5. T'ere 3"st t'en 9e $

#$5 eGpress#6 r$ntin s"&' ri't. T'is #e$# $Gio3 is $#so

$pp#i&$9#e $nd even 3ore tr"e in $&tions or $nn"#3ent o

?"d3ents 5'i&' is $n eG&eption to t'e r"#e on in$#it6 o

?"d3ents.

•Moreover, petitioner 3$6 no #oner resort to t'e re3ed6 o

$nn"#3ent o ?"d3ent $ter '$vin i#ed $n $ppe$# 5it' t'eS"pre3e Co"rt. Neit#er ca! #e claim t#at #e is !ot bou!d by #is

layer-s actio!sH it is o!ly i! case o $ross or palpable !e$li$e!ce

o cou!sel #e! t#e courts ca! step i! a!d accord relie to a clie!t

#o ould #a*e suered t#ereby. 5 e*ery percei*ed mista&e,

ailure o dili$e!ce, lac& o eperie!ce or i!suicie!t le$al

&!oled$e o t#e layer ould be admitted as a reaso! or t#e

reope!i!$ o a case, t#ere ould be !o e!d to co!tro*ersy.

Fu!dame!tal to our udicial system is t#e pri!ciple t#at e*ery

liti$atio! must come to a! e!d. 5t ould be a clear moc&ery i it

ere ot#erise. "ccess to t#e courts is $uara!teed, but t#ere must

be a limit to it.

•

•

•

•

•

•!O-ETT . ;OLAN;CO*s.ATTY. !ONE %. FUN; ;.R. No. )<(<8, O&t.

)4, 488(B

OFFICE OF THE OM%UDSMAN *s.HON. COURT OF APPEALS $nd ATTY.

!ONE %. FUN; ;.R. No. )<(4, O&t. )4, 488(B

FACTS/

• "tty. Co!e B. Fu!$ is a! employee o t#e #ilippi!e *erseas?mployme!t "dmi!istratio! (?") a!d as, at t#at time, assi$!ed as

icer5!3#ar$e o t#e peratio!s a!d Sur*eilla!ce :i*isio!, "!ti

5lle$al Recruitme!t Bra!c#, <ice!si!$ a!d Re$ulatio! ice, u!der t#e

auspices o t#e :epartme!t o <abor a!d ?mployme!t (:<?).

•#e :<? Secretary recei*ed a letter rom ?di! Belarmi!o sayi!$

t#at t#e Gola!$co a!d %o!te*erde recruitme!t a$e!cy (G%

#ilippi!es i! Sa! %i$uel, %a!ila) re8uired #im to pay 2;,;;;.;; as

i!itial payme!t o t#e total recruitme!t ee o 00,;;;.;; beore #is

applicatio! as actory or&er i! aia! could be processed.

•#e ?" <ice!si!$ a!d Re$ulatio! ice as put i! c#ar$e o t#is

case. #ey 8uestio!ed Gola!$co #o de!ied t#at t#ey ere as&i!$ or

ecessi*e ees rom its applica!ts. Fu!$ dispatc#ed S4 :omi!$o

Bo!ita a!d S2 "lo!so Lacarias, N35S operati*es, to perorm a

sur*eilla!ce operatio! o! t#e acti*ities o t#e a$e!cy a!d to submit a

ritte! report o t#eir i!di!$s a!d recomme!datio!s. #ey decided

t#at a! e!trapme!t operatio! s#ould be co!ducted o! t#e employees

o t#e a$e!cy.

•iolatio!s o t#e <abor 3ode a!d admi!istrati*e c#ar$es ere iled

a$ai!st Gola!$co, G% #il. a!d ot#er employees.

•;o#$n&o i#ed $ &ri3in$# &o3p#$int $$inst respondent 9eore

t'e Oi&e o t'e O39"ds3$n or $r9itr$r6 detention $nd vio#$tion

o Se&tion :, p$r$r$p's $B $nd eB o Rep"9#i& A&t No. :8). "!

admi!istrati*e complai!t or oppressio!, abuse o aut#ority, $ross

i!eicie!cy, $ross !e$lect o duty a!d $ra*e misco!duct arisi!$ rom

t#e same i!cide!t as li&eise iled a$ai!st respo!de!t.

•Grat 5!*esti$atio! icer !os already recomme!ded t#e dismissal

o bot# t#e crimi!al a!d admi!istrati*e complai!ts a$ai!st Fu!$. #is

as appro*ed by *eral l mbudsma! illa. Doe*er, #e! "!ia!o ".



:esierto assumed t#e ice o t#e mbudsma!, #e reerred t#e

de!ial o t#e %R to t#e ice o t#e Special rosecutor or urt#er

study.

•Special rosecutio! icer 5 <emuel %. :e Gu/ma! issued a

%emora!dum dated 22 Ca!uary 1996 indin pro9$9#e &$"se

$$inst petitioner ;o#$n&o or vio#$tion o Se&tion :eB o

Rep"9#i& A&t No. :8). #us, :e Gu/ma! recomme!ded t#e

ili!$ o t#e complai!t a$ai!st Fu!$ or *iolatio! o R" +;19 a!d

t#at t#e dismissal o t#e admi!istrati*e complai!t be disappro*ed.

De belie*es t#at s#e s#ould #a*e bee! ou!d $uilty o t#e

admi!istrati*e complai!t. 'it# t#e mbudsma!Os appro*al o t#e

5!ormatio! prepared by :e Gu/ma!, said i!ormatio! as

subse8ue!tly iled beore t#e R3, Bra!c# +7, %a!ila, doc&eted as

3rimi!al 3ase No. 96149144.

•:is$ru!tled it# t#e actio!s o t#e mbudsma! i! %B":%;

9+;149, respondent i#ed $ Petition or Revie5 on Certiorari

5it' t'is Co"rt i3p"nin t'e v$#idit6 o t'e oreoin

Reso#"tion $nd Order $d?"din 'i3 "i#t6 o oppression,

ross inei&ien&6, ross ne#e&t o d"t6 $nd r$ve

3is&ond"&t. #e petitio!, doc&eted as G.R. No. 11270, as later

reerred to t#e 3ourt o "ppeals based o! t#e doctri!e laid do! i!

Fabian v. "on. esierto+ #ic# *ested i! t#e 3ourt o "ppeals t#e

appellate urisdictio! o*er decisio!s o t#e mbudsma! pertai!i!$

to admi!istrati*e discipli!ary cases.

•5! a :ecisio! dated 24 "u$ust 2;;;, t'e Co"rt o Appe$#s

reversed t'e r"#in o t'e O39"ds3$n. 5t li&eise directed t#e

mbudsma! to cause t#e it#draal o t#e i!ormatio! iled it#t#e R3 o %a!ila, Bra!c# +7, i! t#e crimi!al case iled a$ai!st

respo!de!t, doc&eted as 3rimi!al 3ase No. 96149444.

ISSUE/

'N t#e 3" erred a!d eceeded its aut#ority i! ruli!$ o! t#e crimi!al

case a$ai!st Fu!$

HELD/

>es, t#ey s#ould !ot #a*e ruled o! t#e crimi!al case. #eir decisio! is

*oid.

•#e 3ourt o "ppeals #as urisdictio! o*er orders, directi*es a!d

decisio!s o t#e ice o t#e mbudsma! i! admi!istrati*e

discipli!ary cases o!ly.1+ 5t ca!!ot, t#ereore, re*ie t#e orders,

directi*es or decisio!s o t#e ice o t#e mbudsma! i! crimi!al or

!o!admi!istrati*e cases.

•5! #uizon v. esierto, t#e 3ourt saidA T'e $ppe##$te &o"rt &orre&t#6

r"#ed t'$t its ?"risdi&tion eGtends on#6 to de&isions o t'e Oi&e

o t'e O39"ds3$n in $d3inistr$tive &$ses. 'e cate$orically stated

t#at said pro*isio! is i!*ol*ed o!ly #e!e*er a! appeal by certiorari

u!der Rule 40 is ta&e! rom a decisio! i! a! admi!istrati*e discipli!ary

actio!. It &$nnot 9e t$*en into $&&o"nt 5'ere $n oriin$# $&tion

or &ertior$ri "nder R"#e (> is resorted to $s $ re3ed6 or ?"di&i$#

revie5, s"&' $s ro3 $n in&ident in $ &ri3in$# $&tion.

•Suc# act by t#e 3ourt o "ppeals ca!!ot be cou!te!a!ced. 5t is

settled t#at a ud$me!t re!dered by a court it#out urisdictio! o*er t#e

subect matter is *oid. Si!ce t#e 3ourt o "ppeals #as !o urisdictio!

o*er decisio!s a!d orders o t#e mbudsma! i! crimi!al cases, itsruli!$ o! t#e same is *oid.

"R +;19, Sectio! +(e)A 3ausi!$ a!y u!due i!ury to a!y party, i!cludi!$ t#e

Go*er!me!t, or $i*i!$ a!y pri*ate party a!y u!arra!ted be!eits, ad*a!ta$e

or preere!ce i! t#e disc#ar$e o #is oicial admi!istrati*e or udicial u!ctio!s

t#rou$# ma!iest partiality, e*ide!t bad ait# or $ross i!ecusable !e$li$e!ce.

#is pro*isio! s#all apply to oicers a!d employees o oices or $o*er!me!t

corporatio!s c#ar$ed it# t#e $ra!t o lice!ses or permits or ot#er

co!cessio!s.

?leme!tsA

1#at t#e accused is a public oicer or a pri*ate perso! c#ar$ed i!

co!spiracy it# public oicers

2#at said public oicer commits t#e pro#ibited acts duri!$ t#e

perorma!ce o #is oicial duties or i! relatio!s to #is public positio!

+#at #e caused u!due i!ury to a!y party, #et#er $o*er!me!t or

pri*ate i!di*iduals

4#at e# public oicer #as acted it# ma!iest partiality, e*ide!t bad

ait# or $ross i!ecusable !e$li$e!ce



%$rto#o3e vs. Peop#e o t'e P'i#ippines $nd Honor$9#e

S$ndi$n9$6$n

G.R. No. <64047 E Culy , 1976 E C. 3ru/

FACTS

Beore us is a decisio! o t#e Sa!di$a!baya! co!*icti!$ petitio!ers o t#e

crime o Falsiicatio! o a ublic :ocume!t.

Article $%$! paragraph &! of the R'C ( )*a+ing untruthful statements in a

narration of facts,

-lements:

$That the offender ma+es in a document statements in a narration of facts

That he has a legal obligation /there must be a la01 to disclose the truth

of the facts narrated by him

2That the facts narrated by the offender are absolutely false

&That the perversion of truth in the narration of facts 0as made 0ith the

0rongful intent of in3uring a third person.

#e 5NFR%"5N readsA

#at o! or about t#e 12t# day o Ca!uary, 19, i! t#e 3ity o %a!ila,

#ilippi!es, a!d it#i! t#e urisdictio! o t#is Do!orable 3ourt, accused

R<"N: B"R<%? > ?R?L, a public oicer #a*i!$ bee! duly

appoi!ted a!d 8ualiied as Se!ior <abor Re$ulatio! icer a!d 3#ie o t#e <abor Re$ulatio!s Sectio!, %i!istry o <abor, Natio!al 3apital Re$io!,

%a!ila, co!spiri!$ a!d co!!i*i!$ it# t#e ot#er accused ?<5N 3RN?<

> S"NS, also a public oicer #a*i!$ bee! duly appoi!ted a!d 8ualiied

as <abor Re$ulatio! icer o t#e same oice, ta&i!$ ad*a!ta$e o t#eir

oicial positio!s, did t#e! a!d t#ere ilully, u!laully a!d elo!iously

prepare a!d alsiy a! oicial docume!t, to itA t#e 3S erso!al :ata

S#eet (3i*il Ser*ice Form No. 212) #ic# bears t#e Reside!ce 3ertiicate

No. " 9;76+4 issued at %a!ila o! Ca!uary 12, 19, by ma&i!$ it appear

i! said docume!t t#at accused R<"N: B"R<%? > ?R?L #ad

ta&e! a!d passed t#e -3areer Ser*ice (roessio!al ualiyi!$

?ami!atio! o! -%ay 2, 196- it# a rati!$ o -+.+0W i! %a!ila- a!d t#at

#e as a -4t# >ear "B stude!t at t#e Far ?aster! U!i*ersity (F?U), #e! i!

trut# a!d i! act, as bot# accused ell &!e, accused R<"N:

B"R<%? > ?R?L #ad !ot ta&e! a!d passed t#e same !or as #e a -4t#

>ear "B stude!t, t#ereby ma&i!$ u!trut#ul stateme!ts i! a !arratio! o acts.

ISSUE

'N t#e proceedi!$s i! t#e Sa!di$a!baya! are !ull a!d *oid due to lac& o

urisdictio! o*er t#e case

HELD

>?S.

U!der Sectio! 4 o .:. 16;6, #ic# created t#is special courtA

4ec. &. Jurisdiction 5 The 4andiganbayan shall have 3urisdiction over:

a6iolations of Republic Act 7o. 28$9! as amended! other0ise +no0n as the

Antiraft and Corrupt 'ractices Act! and Republic Act 7o. $2%9;

bCrime committed by public of ficers and employees! including those employed

in governmento0ned or controlled corporations! embraced in Title 6< < of the

Revised 'enal Code! 0hether simple or comple=ed 0ith other crimes; and

cOther crimes or offenses committed by public officers or employees! including

those employed in governmento0ned or controlled corporations! in relation to

their office.

" careul readi!$ o Republic "ct No. +;19 a!d Republic "ct No. 1+9 ill

re*eal t#at !o#ere i! eit#er statute is alsiicatio! o a! oicial docume!t

me!tio!ed, e*e! ta!$e!tially or by implicatio!.

#e !earest approac# to t#e claimed urisdictio! is para$rap# (c) o t#e abo*e

8uoted sectio!, #ic# spea&s o crimes committed by public oicers a!d

employees i! relatio! to t#eir oice. U!der eisti!$ urisprude!ce, #oe*er, t#e

crime imputed to t#e petitio!ers ca!!ot come u!der t#is #eadi!$. #e case i!

poi!t is %o!tilla *s. Dilario.



DIFFERENCESMONTILLA vs. Hi#$rioPeop#e vs. MONTE!OSI;NIFICANCEGe!eral rule

?ceptio! to t#e $e!eral rule FACTS%u!icipal mayor a!d t#ree policeme! c#ar$ed it# murder a!d

rustrated murder retai!ed Rep. Floro 3risolo$o as t#eir cou!sel. #e prosecutio! sou$#t to

dis8ualiy #im o! t#e $rou!d t#at a member o 3o!$ress could !ot appear as cou!sel Ii! a!y crimi!al

case #erei! a! oicer or employee o t#e Go*er!me!t is accused o a! oe!se committed i!

relatio! to #is oice.I " city mayor a!d se*eral members o t#e police ere also accused o murder

#ey retai!ed as t#eir cou!sel Se!. Roseller <im #o as also c#alle!$ed o! t#e basis o t#e same

"rticle 5, Sectio! 1, o t#e 19+0 3o!stitutio!. #e le$islator as dis8ualiied because, as t#e 3ourt

put it, t#ere as o! t#e ace o t#e i!ormatio! a! i!timate co!!ectio! betee! t#e commissio! o t#e

oe!se a!d t#e disc#ar$e o public oice t#at made t#e crime a! oe!se committed i! relatio! to t#e

oice o t#e accused.

5t is alle$ed i! said ame!ded i!ormatio! t#at -<eroy S. Bro!, 3ity %ayor o Basila! 3ity, as suc#,

#as or$a!i/ed $roups o police patrol a!d ci*ilia! comma!does co!sisti!$ o re$ular policeme!

a!d ... special policeme!, appoi!ted a!d pro*ided by #im it# pistols a!d #i$# poer $u!s a!d

t#e! establis#ed a camp ... at ipoipo,- #ic# is u!der #is -comma!d, ... super*isio! a!d co!trol,-

#ere #is co dee!da!ts ere statio!ed, e!tertai!ed crimi!al complai!a!ts a!d co!ducted t#e

correspo!di!$ i!*esti$atio!s, as ell as assumed t#e aut#ority to arrest a!d detai! perso!s

it#out due process o la a!d it#out bri!$i!$ t#em to t#e proper court, a!d t#at, i! i!e it# t#is

setup establis#ed by said %ayor o Basila! 3ity as suc#, a!d acti!$ upo! #is orders, #is co

dee!da!ts arrested a!d maltreated "ali! eba$ #o died i! co!se8ue!ce t#ereo.

RULIN;#e Supreme 3ourt alloed #is appeara!ce.

From t#e alle$atio!s o t#e i!ormatio! it does !ot appear t#at t#e oicial positio!s o t#e accused

ere co!!ected it# t#e oe!ses c#ar$ed. 5! act, t#e attor!eys or t#e prosecutio! stated t#at t#e

moti*es or t#e cra!es ere -perso!al it# political c#aracter.- 5t does !ot e*e! appear, !or is t#ere

assertio!, t#at t#e crimes ere committed by t#e dee!da!ts i! i!e o duty or i! t#e perorma!ce

o t#eir oicial u!ctio!s.

#e relatio! betee! t#e crime a!d t#e oice co!templated by t#e 3o!stitutio! is, i! our opi!io!,

direct a!d !ot accide!tal. o a! i!to t#e i!te!t o t#e 3o!stitutio!, t#e relatio! #as to be suc# t#at,

i! t#e le$al se!se, t#e oe!se ca!!ot eist it#out t#e oice. 5! ot#er ords, t#e oice must be a

co!stitue!t eleme!t o t#e crime as dei!ed i! t#e statute, suc# as, or i!sta!ce, t#e crimes

dei!ed a!d pu!is#ed i! 3#apter o to Si, itle Se*e!, o t#e Re*ised e!al 3ode.5t is appare!t

rom t#ese alle$atio!s t#at, alt#ou$# public oice is !ot a! eleme!t o t#e crime o murder i!

abstract, as committed by t#e mai! respo!de!ts #erei!, accordi!$ to t#e ame!ded i!ormatio!, t#e

oe!se t#erei! c#ar$ed is i!timately co!!ected it# t#eir respecti*e oices a!d as perpetrated

#ile t#ey ere i! t#e perorma!ce, t#ou$# improper or irre$ular, o t#eir oicial u!ctio!s. 5!deed,

t#ey #ad !o perso!al moti*e to commit t#e crime a!d t#ey ould !ot #a*e committed it #ad t#ey

!ot #eld t#eir araid oices. #e codee!da!ts o respo!de!t <eroy S. Bro!, obeyed #is

i!structio!s because #e as t#eir superior oicer, as %ayor o Basila! 3ity.

"s t#e alle$ed alsiicatio! as !ot a! oe!se committed i! relatio! to t#e

oice o t#e accused, it did !ot come u!der t#e urisdictio! o t#e

Sa!di$a!baya!.

Eve#6n Rodri"e1 $nd Andres A9onit$, !r. S S$ndi$n9$6$n $nd Peop#eo t'e P'i#sGR No 1411; E %arc# +, 2;;4 E C. 3arpio%orales

N$t"re/ etitio! or certiorari assaili!$ + separate rders o Sa!di$a!baya!de!yi!$ petitio!ersO motio! to 8uas# t#e 2!d ame!ded i!ormatio!, de!yi!$ t#emotio! to deer arrai$!me!t, a!d e!teri!$ a plea o NG or petitio!ers i! li$#to t#eir reusal to plead

F$&ts/ (The dates in the decision are 0eird ( < copied them all the same11Sept. 24, 1996A "cti!$ upo! a! i!ormatio! or rampa!t ille$al lo$$i!$

acti*ities, a oi!t team composed o t#e ?co!omic 5!telli$e!ce a!d5!*esti$atio! Bureau (?55B), ro*i!cial ?!*iro!me!t a!d NaturalResources ice (?NR), N, Ba!tay alaa!, a!d #ilippi!e%ari!es co!iscated res#ly cut ipil lumber i! Br$y. a!col, aytay,alaa!. #e cutti!$ a!d sai!$ ere alle$edly do!e u!der t#esuper*isio! o a!col Br$y. 3aptai! Sama!ie$o upo! orders o petitio!er %ayor ?*ely! Rodri$ue/ a!d "ssociatio! o Br$y. 3aptai!sreside!t Roberto Rodri$ue/, ere it#out proper permit or lice!se.Some o t#e lumber ere #auled i!side t#e Rural "$riculture 3e!ter i!aytay.

2

+Sept. 20, 199A Br$y. 3aptai! Rodri$ue/ dema!ded t#e release o t#elumber, prese!ti!$ a letterre8uest duly i!dorsed by %ayor Rodri$ue/.Doe*er, it as!Ot appro*ed by t#e 3?NR (3ity ?!*iro!me!t a!dNatural Resources ice) so #is re8uest as de!ied.

40ct. 0, 199A a!col Br$y. 3aptai! Sama!ie$o a!d ot#er petitio!er, 5$a!$

Br$y. 3aptai! "!dres "bo!ita, e!t to t#e compou!d but as a$ai!de!ied. #ey retur!ed t#e same day a!d, acti!$ upo! orders o %ayor Rodri$ue/, orcibly too& possessio! o t#e lumber it# t#e #elp o 2ully armed policeme!.

6

7No*. , 1996A ?!ri8ue 3uyos o t#e ?55B iled complai!ts or robbery a!d

*iolatio! o Sec. 1(b), : No. 1729 (:?3R?? ?N"<5L5NGBSRU35N F "R?D?NS5N "N: RS?3U5N F



3R5%5N"< FF?N:?RS) a$ai!st petitio!ers %ayor Rodri$ue/ a!dBara!$ay 3aptai! "bo!ita beore t#e ro*i!cial rosecutio! iceo alaa!.

7

"Feb. 17, 199A By Resolutio!, t#e :eputi/ed mbudsma!5!*esti$ator orarded t#e case to t#e ice o t#e mbudsma! <u/o! as petitio!er %ayor as a public oicer a!d t#e c#ar$ea$ai!st #er as or&co!!ected. mbudsma! <u/o! t#us ileda! i!ormatio! a$ai!st petitio!ers or *iolatio! o Sec. 1(b), : No.1729 beore t#e Sa!di$a!baya!.

1;11:ec. 14, 1997A " arra!t o arrest as issued a!d t#e 2 petitio!ers

subse8ue!tly *olu!tarily surre!dered. #ey iled a %otio! to :eer "rrai$!me!t a!d a %otio! to uas# o! Ca!. 2, 1999. :uri!$ t#esc#eduled arrai$!me!t, t#e special prosecutor mo*ed to deer t#earrai$!me!t as recomme!ded c#ar$es i! t#e i!ormatio! ere !otyet acted upo! by t#e mbudsma! $ra!ted.

12

13De also iled a %otio! to "dmit 5!ormatio!, #ic# as admitted byt#e Sa!di$a!baya! (1st ame!ded i!o). etitio!ers tried to 8uas#t#is ame!ded i!ormatio! but t#e special prosecutor ar$ued it as

because o t#e tra!ser o records o #is oice.14

1##ereater, t#e special prosecutor iled a!ot#er ?parte %otio! to

"dmit "me!ded 5!ormatio!, #ic# as a$ai! $ra!ted (2!d

ame!ded i!o). Doe*er, petitio!ersO motio! to 8uas# as de!ieda!d t#eir arrai$!me!t as ordered o! Ca!. 1, 2;;;.

161Ca!. 1, 2;;; ("RR"5GN%?N)A t#e assailed orders i! t#is case(see Nature) ere issued, #ic# petitio!ers alle$e #a*e bee! re!deredit# G":

etitio!ersO ar$ume!tsA

1!#e period o t#e pe!de!cy o t#e prelim i!*esti$atio! isu!reaso!able a!d *iolates t#eir ri$#ts to due process a!d aspeedy trial, citi!$ Tatad vs. 4andiganbayan.

2.+.#e ili!$ o 2 i!ormatio!s a$ai!st t#em, o!e beore t#e

Sa!di$a!baya! a!d t#e ot#er beore t#e R3uertori!cesa, co!stitutes orum s#oppi!$ as t#ey i!*ol*e t#esame subect matter.

4.0.#e case is !ot u!der t#e urisdictio! o t#e Sa!di$a!baya!, ast#ey are !ot tas&ed it# t#e e!orceme!t o : No. ;0(R?5S?: FR?SR> 3:? F D? D5<55N?S) as !eit#er

o t#em are la e!orceme!t oicers or prosecutors but are mereeecuti*e oicials o t#eir respecti*e local $o*er!me!t u!its it#

e!tirely diere!t oicial u!ctio!s a!d, as suc#, t#e accusatio! a$ai!stt#em is !ot i! relatio! to t#eir oice. Sec. 4 o R" 7249 limits t#e

urisdictio! o t#e Sa!di$a!baya! to oe!ses pe!ali/ed i! 3#apter 55,Sec. 2, itle 55, Boo& 55 o t#e R3.

Iss"es/ erive from the petitioners> arguments

He#d/

•No, it as !ot u!reaso!able, a!d Tatad vs. 4andiganbayan ca!!ot be

relied o! as t#e actual circumsta!ces i! t#e case are diere!t.

•

•5! Tatad vs. 4andiganbayan, t#e case remai!ed dorma!t or

almost + years a!d t#is delay as u!ustiied.

•

•5! i!sta!t case, it too& + mo!t#s or ro*i!cial rosecutor o

alaa! to come up it# its resolutio!H 7 mo!t#s or :eputymbudsma! <u/o! to re*ie t#e caseH 2 mo!t#s or mbudsma!. #e records ere passed upo! by + oices a!ddid !ot eceed 2 yearsH #e!ce, ca!!ot be deemed a *iolatio!

o procedural due process a!d speedy dispositio! o cases.•

•Furt#ermore, petitio!ers also co!tributed to said delay, it# t#eir

ili!$ o motio!s to 8uas#.

•

•T'e r"#e is 5e## sett#ed t'$t t'e ri't to $ speed6 disposition

o &$ses is dee3ed vio#$ted on#6 5'en t'e pro&eedin is$ttended 96 veG$tio"s, &$pri&io"s, $nd oppressive de#$6.

•#e 3ourt did !ot d iscuss t#is it o!ly saidA

"ssumi!$ ar$ue!do t#at i!deed t#e same i!ormatio! or *iolatio! o

Sectio! 1(b) o .:. 1729 as also iled beore t#e Re$io!al rial 3ourto uerto ri!cesa, alaa!, t#e! as t#e eople by t#e ice o t#embudsma! t#rou$# t#e Special rosecutor co!te!ds i! its%emora!dum, Msi!ce t#e 5!ormatio! i! 3rimi!al 3ase No. 20;60 asiled it# t#e Sa!di$a!baya! o! :ecember 7, 1977, #ile t#ei!ormatio! beore t#e re$io!al rial 3ourt as alle$edly iled o!February 24, 1999, t#e!, i t#ere is a!y case to be dismissed or orums#oppi!$, t#at case s#ould be t#e o!e beore t#e Re$io!al trial 3ourt,as it as t#e seco!d actio! iled.

•#e case is u!der t#e urisdictio! o t#e Sa!di$a!baya! a!d t#ere as !o

G": o! its part. etitio!ers co!used t#e c#ar$e a$ai!st t#em

(*iolatio! o Sec. 1(b) o : 1729 obstructio! o ustice) it# t#e



oe!se subect o t#e i!*esti$atio! #ic# petitio!ers alle$edlyobstructed it# (: No. ;0 orestry la), sayi!$ t#ee!orceme!t a!d impleme!tatio! o t#e latter la ere !ot i!relatio! to t#eir oiceH t#us, Sa!di$a!baya! #as !o urisdictio!.

•

1: No. 16;6, ame!ded by R" 7249, pro*ides t#at $s #on$s one o t#e accused is a! oicial o t#e eecuti*ebra!c# occupyi!$ positio! classiied Grade 2 or #i$#er,t#e Sa!di$a!baya! eercises eG&#"sive oriin$#

?"risdi&tionV crimes &o33itted 96 p"9#i& oi&i$#s $nde3p#o6ees in re#$tion to t'eir oi&e.

2

35! 'eople vs. *onte3o! t#e 3ourt #eld t#at alt#ou$# publicoice is !ot a! eleme!t o a! oe!se c#ar$ed, as lo!$ ast#e oe!se c#ar$ed i! t#e i!ormatio! is i!timatelyco!!ected it# t#e oice a!d is alle$ed to #a*e bee!perpetrated #ile t#e accused as i! t#e perorma!ce,t#ou$# improper or irre$ular, o #is oicial u!ctio!s, t#erebei!$ !o perso!al moti*e to commit t#e crime a!d #ad t#eaccused ould !ot #a*e committed it #ad #e !ot #eld t#eaoresaid oice, t#e accused is #eld to #a*e bee! i!dicted

or Ma! oe!se committed i! relat io! to #is oice.405! t#e prese!t case, public oice is !ot a! esse!tial eleme!to t#e oe!se o obstructio! o ustice u!der Sectio! 1(b) o .:. 1729. #e circumsta!ces surrou!di!$ t#e commissio! o t#e oe!se alle$ed to #a*e bee! committed by petitio!er Rodri$ue/ are suc#, #oe*er, t#at t#e oe!se may !ot #a*ebee! committed #ad said petitio!er !ot #eld t#e oice o t#emayor.

Petition DISMISSED.

Acts Punished ! PD "#$%:

(a) re*e!ti!$ it!esses rom testiyi!$ i! a!y crimi!al proceedi!$ or romreporti!$ t#e commissio! o a!y oe!se or t#e ide!tity o a!y oe!derJs bymea!s o bribery, misreprese!tatio!, deceit, i!timidatio!, orce or t#reatsH

(b) "lteri!$, destroyi!$, suppressi!$ or co!ceali!$ a!y paper, record,docume!t, or obect, it# i!te!t to impair its *erity, aut#e!ticity, le$ibility,a*ailability, or admissibility as e*ide!ce i! a!y i!*esti$atio! o or oicialproceedi!$s i!, crimi!al cases, or to be used i! t#e i!*esti$atio! o, or oicial proceedi!$s i!, crimi!al casesH

(c) Darbori!$ or co!ceali!$, or acilitati!$ t#e escape o, a!y perso! #e&!os, or #as reaso!able $rou!d to belie*e or suspect, #as committed a!y

oe!se u!der eisti!$ pe!al las i! order to pre*e!t #is arrest prosecutio! a!dco!*ictio!H (d) ublicly usi!$ a ictitious !ame or t#e purpose o co!ceali!$ a crime,e*adi!$ prosecutio! or t#e eecutio! o a ud$me!t, or co!ceali!$ #is true!ame a!d ot#er perso!al circumsta!ces or t#e same purpose or purposesH

(e) :elayi!$ t#e prosecutio! o crimi!al cases by obstructi!$ t#e ser*ice o process or court orders or disturbi!$ proceedi!$s i! t#e iscal-s oices, i!

a!odbaya!, or i! t#e courtsH

() %a&i!$, prese!ti!$ or usi!$ a!y record, docume!t, paper or obect it#&!oled$e o its alsity a!d it# i!te!t to aect t#e course or outcome o t#ei!*esti$atio! o, or oic ial proceedi!$s i!, crimi!al casesH

($) Soliciti!$, accepti!$, or a$reei!$ to accept a!y be!eit i! co!sideratio! o abstai!i!$ rom, discou!ti!$, or impedi!$ t#e prosecutio! o a crimi!aloe!derH

(#) #reate!i!$ directly or i!directly a!ot#er it# t#e i!lictio! o a!y ro!$upo! #is perso!, #o!or or property or t#at o a!y immediate member or

members o #is amily i! order to pre*e!t suc# perso! rom appeari!$ i! t#ei!*esti$atio! o, or oicial proceedi!$s i!, crimi!al cases, or imposi!$ aco!ditio!, #et#er laul or u!laul, i! order to pre*e!t a perso! romappeari!$ i! t#e i!*esti$atio! o or i! oicial proceedi!$s i!, crimi!al casesH

(i)Gi*i!$ o alse or abricated i!ormatio! to mislead or pre*e!t t#e lae!orceme!t a$e!cies rom appre#e!di!$ t#e oe!der or rom protecti!$ t#elie or property o t#e *ictimH or abricati!$ i!ormatio! rom t#e data $at#eredi! co!ide!ce by i!*esti$ati!$ aut#orities or purposes o bac&$rou!di!ormatio! a!d !ot or publicatio! a!d publis#i!$ or dissemi!ati!$ t#e same tomislead t#e i!*esti$ator or to t#e court.iiB

A.M. No. 8<778>7SC7

Re/ Unior3 Reso#"tion on t'e Tr$nser o C$ses t'e Co"rt o Appe$#s

per Peop#e vs. M$teo.

"cti!$ o! t#e <etter dated 7 %ember 2;;4 o 3#ie Custice Dilario G. :a*ide,

Cr., stati!$ t#at "ssociate Custice "rtemio . a!$a!iba! #as i!itiated a mo*e

to adopt a u!iorm solutio! or t#e First, Seco!d a!d #ird :i*isio!s o! t#e

tra!ser o cases to 3ourt o "ppeals per eople *s. %ateo, a!d su$$esti!$



t#at t#e ?! Ba!c adopt t#e ormat o t#e recomme!ded resolutio!, t#e

3ourt Resol*ed to "R? t#e said ormat, to itA

Conformably 0ith the decision promulgated on % July 88& in .R. 7os.

$&%?%@@%! entitled The 'eople of the 'hilippines vs. -fren *ateo y

arcia! modifying the pertinent provisions of the Revised Rules on Criminal

'rocedure! more particularly 4ection 2 and 4ection $8 of Rule $! 4ection

$2 of Rule $&! 4ection 2 of Rule $B and any other rule insofar as they

provide for direct appeals from the Regional Trial Courts to the 4upremeCourt in cases 0here the penalty imposed is death! reclusion perpetua or

life imprisonment! as 0ell as the resolution! of the 4upreme Court en banc!

dated $9 4eptember $99B! in )<nternal Rules of the 4upreme Court, in

cases similarly involving the death penalty! pursuant to the Court>s po0er to

promulgate rules of procedure in all courts under Article 6<<<! 4ection B of

the Constitution! and allo0ing an intermediate revie0 by the Court of

Appeals before such cases are elevated to this Court! the Court Resolved

to TRA74F-R this case to the Court of Appeals! for appropriate action and

disposition.

<? all t#e perti!e!t records o t#is case be R"NSF?RR?: to t#e 3ourto "ppeals.

Hen&eort', t'e Oi&e o t'e C#er* o Co"rt en 9$n& s'$## "se t'eoreoin or3$t or t'e tr$nser o &$ses to t'e Co"rt o Appe$#s per Peop#e vs. M$teo. Mor$#es, !., on oi&i$# #e$ve. C'i&o7N$1$rio, !., on#e$ve.

;.R. No. )(8 "u$ust +1, 2;;6THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, 'laintiffAppellee,*ersusNICANOR SALOME, AccusedAppellant .

Cri3e/ RapeE#e3ents/(1) t#at t#e oe!der is a ma!H(2) t#at t#e o e!der #ad car!al &!oled$e o a oma!H a!d(+) t#at suc# act is accomplis#ed by usi!$ orce or i!timidatio!.

F$&ts/Sometime i! Culy o 199, Sally, t#e! t#irtee! years old, as

sleepi!$ it# #er t#reeyear old brot#er i!side t#eir #ouse #e! appella!t

e!tered t#eir #ouse. S#e as aa&e!ed by t#e prese!ce o t#e latter #o,

alle$edly, as po&i!$ a &!ie at t#e base o #er !ec&. '#ile #oldi!$ t#e

&!ie it# o!e #a!d, appella!t u!dressed #er it# #is ot#er #a!d. De

t#reate!ed #er t#at #e ould &ill #er a!d #er amily i s#e ould tell a!yo!e

about t#e i!cide!t. "ter u!dressi!$ #er, appella!t orced #er to lie do!. De

remo*ed #is s#orts a!d u!derear. De t#e! spread #er le$s a!d i!serted #is

pe!is i!to #er *a$i!a. "ccordi!$ to Sally, s#e ust closed #er eyes #ile

appella!t #ad #is ay it# #er. S#e did !ot call or #elp because s#e as

araid t#at !obody ould be i! t#e !et #ouse #ic# as about 7;; meters

aay.

Fearul or #er lie a!d or #er amilyOs saety, s#e did !ot i!orm

a!yo!e o t#e i!cide!t. "lt#ou$# it e!tered #er mi!d t#at s#e could be

pre$!a!t, s#e let #er pro*i!ce to or& as a domestic #elper i! t#e #ouse o

S2 3o!sta!ti!o B. Saret i! 'est 3rame, Sa! Cua!, %a!ila. ! No*ember

12, 199, s#e #ad a pel*ic ultrasou!d eami!atio! #ic# co!irmed #er

pre$!a!cy. Upo! lear!i!$ t#is, s#e reported t#e rape i!cide!t to t#e police o!

No*ember 1, 199. S#e eecuted a sor! stateme!t a!d iled a complai!t.

" crimi!al complai!t or rape as i!itiated beore t#e %u!icipal 3ircuit

rial 3ourt (%33) o a!da!3aramora!, a!da!, 3ata!dua!es. !

February 17, 1997,, a! i!ormatio! as iled a$ai!st appella!t u!der t#e !ame

3a!or Sabe!ia!o. "ppella!t, #oe*er, iled a motio! or rei!*esti$atio! o! t#e

$rou!d t#at #is !ame is Nica!or Salome a!d !ot 3a!or Sabe!ia!o. "!

ame!ded i!ormatio! as iled o! "u$ust 26, 1997 accusi!$ 3"NR

S"B?N5"N also &!o! as N53"NR S"<%?, o t#e crime o R"?

dei!ed a!d pe!ali/ed u!der "rticle ++0 o t#e re*ised e!al 3ode, as

ame!ded by Republic "ct 609. "ppella!t pleaded !ot $uilty to t#e c#ar$e

duri!$ t#e arrai$!me!t. ! "pril +, 2;;1, t#e trial court re!dered its decisio!

co!*icti!$ appella!t o t#e crime o rape a!d se!te!ci!$ #im to suer t#e

pe!alty o deat#.

:ue to t#e impositio! o deat# pe!alty o! appella!t, t#e case asdirectly ele*ated to t#is 3ourt or re*ie. Subse8ue!tly, #oe*er, t#e case as

reerred to t#e 3ourt o "ppeals or i!termediate re*ie pursua!t to our ruli!$

i! eople *. %ateo. #e 3ourt o "ppeals, ater re*iei!$ t#e case, re!dered

its :ecisio! o! Cu!e 10, 2;;0 airmi!$ t#e co!*ictio! o appella!t, i!creasi!$

t#e aard o ci*il i!dem!ity rom 0;,;;; to 0,;;;, a!d re8uiri!$ #im to pay

moral a!d eemplary dama$es.

Iss"es/1) 'N t#e trial court erred i! $i*i!$ ei$#t to t#e testimo!y o pri*atecomplai!a!t

2) 'N t#e trial court erred i! appreciati!$ delli!$ as a! a$$ra*ati!$circumsta!ce



He#d/1) No. "ppella!t asserts t#at t#e co!duct o pri*ate complai!a!tduri!$ a!d ater t#e commissio! o t#e oe!se militates a$ai!st #er credibility because it is i!co!siste!t it# #uma! eperie!ce. S#e did !ots#out !or oer a!y resista!ce as epected o a oma! bei!$ seuallyabused. S#e li&eise &ept t#e i!cide!t to #ersel u!til s#e lear!ed o #er pre$!a!cy t#ree mo!t#s later. "ppella!t urt#er claims t#at t#ere is !oe*ide!ce t#at #e t#reate!ed #er or #er amily or t#at #e pre*e!ted #er rom

reporti!$ t#e i!cide!t to a!ybody.

#e 3ourt i!ds !ot#i!$ i!credible i! SallyOs be#a*ior. S#e o&e upit# appella!t po&i!$ a &!ie at t#e base o #er !ec&. #e act o #oldi!$ a&!ie, by itsel, is stro!$ly su$$esti*e o orce or at least i!timidatio!, a!dt#reate!i!$ t#e *ictim it# a &!ie is suicie!t to bri!$ #er to submissio!.#e *ictimOs ailure to s#out or #elp or resist t#e seual ad*a!ces o t#erapist does !ot !e$ate t#e commissio! o rape. Not all rape *ictims ca! beepected to act co!ormably to t#e usual epectatio!s o e*eryo!e.:iere!t a!d *aryi!$ de$rees o be#a*ioral respo!ses is epected i! t#eproimity o, or i! co!ro!ti!$, a! aberra!t episode. 5t is settled t#atdiere!t people react diere!tly to a $i*e! situatio! or type o situatio! a!d

t#ere is !o sta!dard orm o #uma! be#a*ioral respo!se #e! o!e isco!ro!ted it# a stra!$e, startli!$ or ri$#tul eperie!ce.

2) #ere is !o 8uestio! t#at t#e ame!ded i!ormatio! suicie!tlyalle$ed Mt#at t#e commissio! o t#e crime as a$$ra*ated by delli!$ t#eact t#at t#e crime as committed i!side t#e #ouse o t#e oe!ded party.

"ccusedappella!t does !ot dispute t#at t#e crime as committed i!sidet#e *ictimOs #ouse. Doe*er, #e posits t#at t#e prosecutio! must pro*e t#eabse!ce o pro*ocatio! by Sally.

5t suices to state t#at pri*ate complai!a!t cate$orically testiiedt#at s#e as sleepi!$ i!side #er #ouse #e! appella!t came a!dperpetrated t#e crime. #is is proo e!ou$# o t#e abse!ce o pro*ocatio!o! t#e part o pri*ate complai!a!t. For a sleepi!$ t#irtee! (1+) year oldbarrio $irl ca!!ot possibly $i*e a!y &i!d o pro*ocatio! to appella!t u!der t#e circumsta!ces.

DISCUSSION OF PENALTIES (Rele*a!t art)Si!ce t#e crime o rape as committed by appella!t it# t#e use o

a deadly eapo!, pu!is#able by reclusio! perpetua to deat#, t#e prese!ceo t#e a$$ra*ati!$ circumsta!ce o delli!$, it#out t#e prese!ce o a!ymiti$ati!$ circumsta!ce, ustiied t#e trial courtOs impositio! o t#e deat#pe!alty. #e ruli!$ is i! accorda!ce it# "rticle 6+ o t#e Re*ised e!al3ode #ic# pro*ides t#at i! all cases i! #ic# t#e la prescribes a pe!altycomposed o to i!di*isible pe!alties, t#e $reater pe!alty s#all be applied

#e! a! a$$ra*ati!$ circumsta!ce, suc# as delli!$ i! t#is case, is prese!t i!t#e commissio! o t#e oe!se.

5! li$#t, #oe*er, o t#e passa$e o Republic "ct No. 9+46, e!titled M"! "ct ro#ibiti!$ t#e 5mpositio! o :eat# e!alty i! t#e #ilippi!es, #ic# assi$!ed i!to la by reside!t Gloria %acapa$al"rroyo o! Cu!e 24, 2;;6, t#eimpositio! o t#e deat# pe!alty #as bee! pro#ibited.

"ter a t#orou$# re*ie o t#e records, t#e 3ourt a$rees it# t#e

e*aluatio! o t#e e*ide!ce by t#e Re$io!al rial 3ourt a!d t#e 3ourt o "ppeals. ursua!t to t#e !e la, e*e! as t#e 3ourt sustai!s t#e co!*ictio! o appella!t, t#e pe!alty imposed upo! #im s#ould be reduced to reclusio!perpetua, but appella!t s#all !ot be eli$ible or parole u!der t#e 5!determi!ateSe!te!ce <a.

5t s#ould be !oted t#at #ile t#e !e la pro#ibits t#e impositio! o t#edeat# pe!alty, t#e pe!alty pro*ided or by la or a #ei!ous oe!se is stilldeat# a!d t#e oe!se is still #ei!ous. 3o!se8ue!tly, t#e ci*il i!dem!ity or t#e*ictim is still 0,;;;. On t'e ot'er '$nd, t'e $"to3$ti& $ppe$# in &$ses5'en t'e tri$# &o"rt i3poses t'e de$t' pen$#t6 5i## 'en&eort' not $pp#6,sin&e its i3position is no5 pro'i9ited, so t'$t t'ere is $ need to pere&t

$n $ppe$#, i $ppe$# is desired, ro3 $ ?"d3ent o &onvi&tion or $noense 5'ere t'e pen$#t6 i3posed is re&#"sion perpet"$ in #ie" o t'ede$t' pen$#t6 p"rs"$nt to t'e ne5 #$5 pro'i9itin its i3position.

ATTY. ERNESTO A. TA%U!ARA III $nd CHRISTINE S. DAYRIT, Petitioners,vs PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES $nd DAISY AFA%LE 3D53N"L"R5, J .A

F"3SA Respo!de!t :aisy :adi*as"able simulta!eously iled to crimi!alcomplai!ts a$ai!st petitio!ers or Gra*e 3oercio! a!d respass to :elli!$.

etitio!ers iled t#eir Coi!t 3ou!ter"ida*it.T2 #ey de!ied t#e alle$atio!s

a$ai!st t#em. #ey ar$ued t#at o! 14 September 1999, t#ey e!t to t#e

#ouse o respo!de!t to t#res# out matters re$ardi!$ some missi!$ pieces

o eelry. Respo!de!t as a ormer employee o %iladay Ceels, 5!c., a

compa!y o!ed by t#e :ayrits a!d #o as t#e! bei!$ admi!istrati*ely

i!*esti$ated i! co!!ectio! it# missi!$ eelries.

%3A Cud$e 3alitro . "driatico o t#e %u!icipal rial 3ourt o %eycauaya!,

Bulaca!, Bra!c# 55, co!ducted t#e prelimi!ary eami!atio!. De issued a!

rder dismissi!$ t#e complai!ts or lac& o probable cause. Respo!de!t iled a



%otio! or Reco!sideratio! alle$i!$ t#at #e! s#e iled t#e complai!ts or

$ra*e coercio! a!d trespass to delli!$ o! 1 September 1999 a$ai!st

petitio!ers, !o i!ormatio! or estaa #as yet bee! iled a$ai!st #er. 5! act,

t#e i!ormatio! as iled o! 0 ctober 1999.

5! t#eir ppositio! to t#e %otio! or Reco!sideratio!, petitio!ers

ar$ued t#at e*e! beore respo!de!t iled t#e crimi!al complai!ts or $ra*e

coercio! a!d trespass to delli!$, s#e as already bei!$ admi!istrati*ely

i!*esti$ated or t#e missi!$ eelriesH etitio!ers urt#er alle$ed t#at

respo!de!t iled t#e crimi!al complai!ts or $ra*e coercio! a!d trespass to

delli!$ as le*era$e to compel petitio!ers to it#dra t#e estaa case.

%3A Cud$e "driatico issued a! rder re*ersi!$ #is earlier i!di!$s o lac&

o probable cause. #is time, #e ou!d probable cause to #old petitio!ers

or trial a!d to issue arra!ts o arrest,

etitio!ers iled a motio! or reco!sideratio! i!sisti!$ t#at t#ealle$ed aida*it o %auro . de <ara o! #ic# t#e court a uo based its

i!di!$s o probable cause as #earsay because it as !ot sor! beore

Cud$e "driaticoH t#at :e <ara did !ot perso!ally appear beore t#e

i!*esti$ati!$ ud$e duri!$ prelimi!ary i!*esti$atio!. Doe*er, petitio!ersO

motio! or reco!sideratio! as de!ied i! t#e rder dated 14 Culy 2;;;,

t#usA

etitio!ers mo*ed or clariicatory #eari!$s. Doe*er, beore t#e

court a uo could re!der a resolutio! based o! said clariicatory #eari!$s,petitio!ers iled o! 10 September 2;;; a petitio! or certiorari beore t#e

Re$io!al rial 3ourt it# prayer or issua!ce o temporary restrai!i!$ order

a!d rit o prelimi!ary i!u!ctio!. T7 etitio!ers sou$#t to a!!ul t#e 2 %ay

2;;; a!d 14 Culy 2;;; rders o t#e court a uo or #a*i!$ bee! issued

it# $ra*e abuse o discretio!.

R3A ?ecuti*e Cud$e :a!ilo ". %a!alastas o t#e Re$io!al rial 3ourt

issued a! rder T9 $ra!ti!$ a restrai!i!$ order a!d e!oi!i!$ t#e %u!icipal

rial 3ourt rom proceedi!$ it# t#e prosecutio! o petitio!ers. #e case

as t#ereater raled to Bra!c# 9 #ic# re!dered its :ecisio! T1; de!yi!$

t#e petitio! or a!!ulme!t o t#e 2 %ay 2;;; a!d 14 Culy 2;;; rders o t#e

%u!icipal rial 3ourt.

etitio!ers iled a etitio! or Re*ie beore t#e 3ourt o "ppeals asserti!$

t#at t#e court a uo acted it# $ra*e abuse o discretio! i! basi!$ its i!di!$s

o probable cause a!d orderi!$ t#e issua!ce o arra!ts o arrest solely o! t#e

u!sor! stateme!t o %auro :e <ara #o !e*er appeared duri!$ prelimi!ary

i!*esti$atio! a!d #o as !ot perso!ally eami!ed by t#e i!*esti$ati!$

ud$e.

3"A :e!ied. 3ourt o "ppeals de!ied t#e petitio! o! t#e $rou!d t#at petitio!ers

resorted to t#e ro!$ mode o appealH i.e.! i!stead o a! ordi!ary appeal,

petitio!ers iled a petitio! or re*ie. etitio!ers iled a motio! or

reco!sideratio! but it as de!ied. T10

5SSU?A '#et#er or !ot t#e 3ourt o "ppeals properly de!ied t#epetitio! or re*ie iled by t#e petitio!ers u!der Rule 42 o t#e Rules o 3ourt.

'N D? R5"< 3UR D": "3?: '5D GR"? "BUS? F:5S3R?5N 5N B"S5NG 5S F5N:5NG F RB"B<? 3"US? D<: ?55N?RS FR R5"< N D? %?R5S "N: 5SSU"N3?F '"RR"NS F "RR?S "G"5NS D?%, UN

"N UNS'RN S"?%?N F " '5N?SS 'D N??R "?"R?: B?FR?, NR '"S ?RSN"<<> ?X"%5N?: B>,D? R5"< 3UR.

D?<:A 5! de!yi!$ t#e petitio! or re*ie u!der Sectio! 1, T1 Rule 42 o t#e 199 Rules o 3ourt iled by petitio!ers, t#e appellate courtstressed t#at t#ey a*ailed o t#e ro!$ mode o re*ie i! bri!$i!$ t#ecase to it si!ce t#e petitio!ers iled a! ori$i!al actio! u!der Rule 60 o t#e Rules o 3ourt to t#e R3, t#e remedy a*ailed o s#ould #a*ebee! a! appeal u!der Sectio! 2(a) o Rule 41 o t#e Rules o 3ourt. 5tis o!ly #e! t#e decisio! o t#e R3 as re!dered i! t#e eercise o appellate urisdictio! ould a petitio! or re*ie u!der Rule 42 beproper T17

'#ile it is true t#at rules o procedure are i!te!ded to promote rat#er t#a!

rustrate t#e e!ds o ustice, a!d #ile t#e sit u!clo$$i!$ o t#e doc&ets o

t#e courts is a laudable obecti*e, it !e*ert#eless must !ot be met at t#e



epe!se o substa!tial ustice.T2;#e 3ourt o "ppeals s#ould #a*e loo&ed

beyo!d t#e alle$ed tec#!icalities to ope! t#e ay or t#e resolutio! o t#e

substa!ti*e issues i! t#e i!sta!ce case.

5! t#e i!sta!t case, respo!de!t directly iled t#e crimi!al complai!ts

a$ai!st petitio!ers or $ra*e coercio! a!d trespass to delli!$ beore t#e

%u!icipal rial 3ourt. #e pe!alty prescribed by la or bot# oe!ses

is arresto mayor! #ic# ra!$es rom 1 mo!t# a!d 1 day to 6 mo!t#s. #us,

Sectio! 9, Rule 112 o t#e Rules o 3ourt applies. (Da!api! !yo !ala!$)

3orollarily, Sectio! 6 o t#e same Rule pro*idesA

S?3. 6. Dhen 0arrant of arrest may issue. (b) Ey the

*unicipal Trial Court. T#e ud$e may issue a arra!t o arrest i #e

i!ds ater a! eami!atio! i! riti!$ a!d u!der oat# o t#e complai!a!t a!d

#is it!esses i! t#e orm o searc#i!$ 8uestio!s a!d a!sers, t#at a

probable cause eists a!d t#at t#ere is a !ecessity o placi!$ t#e

respo!de!t u!der immediate custody i! order !ot to rustrate t#e e!ds o

ustice.

3learly, Cud$e "driatico $ra*ely abused #is discretio! i! issui!$

t#e assailed 2 %ay 2;;; a!d 14 Culy 2;;; rders i!di!$ probable cause

to #old petitio!ers liable or trial a!d to issue arra!ts o arrest because it

as based solely on the statement of 0itness *auro e ara 0hom Judge

Adriatico did not personally e=amine in 0riting and under oath; neither did

he propound searching uestions. "e merely stated in the assailed *ay

888 Order that he overloo+ed the said statement of e araH!e*ert#eless, it#out co!ducti!$ a perso!al eami!atio! o! said it!ess

or propou!di!$ searc#i!$ 8uestio!s, Cud$e "driatico still ou!d :e <araOs

alle$atio!s suicie!t to establis# probable cause.

#e records s#o t#at respo!de!t ud$e #as *iolated t#e rules o!

prelimi!ary i!*esti$atio! a!d issua!ce o a arra!t o arrest. His pr$&ti&e

o iss"in 5$rr$nts o $rrest 5it'o"t eG$3inin t'e &o3p#$in$nts $nd

t'eir 5itnesses is i3provident $nd &o"#d '$ve ne&ess$ri#6 deprived

t'e $&&"sed o t'eir #i9ert6 'o5ever 3o3ent$r6 it 3$6 9e. ur 3o!stitutio! re8uires t#at all members o t#e udiciary must be o pro*e!

compete!ce, i!te$rity, probity a!d i!depe!de!ce. Respo!de!t ud$eOs

stubbor! ad#ere!ce to improper procedures a!d #is co!sta!t vio#$tion o t'e

&onstit"tion$# provision reJ"irin 'i3 to person$##6 eG$3ine t'e

&o3p#$in$nt $nd t'e 5itness in 5ritin $nd "nder o$t' 9eore iss"in $

5$rr$nt o $rrest ma&es #im u!it to disc#ar$e t#e u!ctio!s o a ud$e.

?5N GR"N?:.


Fr$n&is&o M$estr$do vs Peop#e o t'e P'i#ippines $nd E#en$ M. LI9ro?o

;R No. )<K84 Culy 1;, 2;; 3#icoNa/ario, C.

Re#ev$nt L$5A "ppeals to t#e 3" rom R3A "ppeal a!d 3ertiorari

disti!$uis#ed. Certiorari $e!erally lies o!ly #e! t#ere is !o appeal !or a!y

ot#er plai!, speedy or ade8uate remedy a*ailable to petitio!ers. Dere, appeal

as a*ailable. 5t as ade8uate to deal it# a!y 8uestio! #et#er o act or o

la, #et#er o error o urisdictio! or $ra*e abuse o discretio! or error o ud$me!t #ic# t#e trial court mi$#t #a*e committed. But petitio!ers i!stead

iled a special ci*il actio! or certiorari .

E#e3ents o Per?"r6/

#e eleme!ts o perury u!der "rticle 17+ areA

(a) #at t#e accused made a statement under oath or e=ecuted an

affidavit upo! a material matter .

(b) #at t#e stateme!t or aida*it as made before a competent

officer , aut#ori/ed to recei*e a!d admi!ister oat#.

(c) #at i! t#e stateme!t or aida*it, t#e accused made a 0illful

and deliberate assertion of a falsehood .

(d) #at t#e sor! stateme!t or aida*it co!tai!i!$ t#e alsity is

reuired by la0 or made for a legal purpose.

FACTSA

ri*ate respo!de!t <ibroo iled a crimi!al complai!t or perury a$ai!st

petitio!er it# t#e ice o t#e 3ity rosecutor o 3. "ter illi!$ o

petitio!erOs cou!teraida*it, t#e ice o t#e 3ity rosecutor recomme!ded



t#e ili!$ o a! i!ormatio! or perury a$ai!st petitio!er. #us, "ssista!t

3ity rosecutor iled a! 5!ormatio! or perury a$ai!st petitio!er it# t#e

%etropolita! rial 3ourt #ic# pro*ides t#at t#e accused made a!

u!trut#ul stateme!t u!der oat# upo! a material matter beore a compete!t

oicer aut#ori/ed to admi!ister oat#. #e accused sore to a! "ida*it o

<oss beore Notary ublic alsely alle$i!$ t#at #e lost !erOs :uplicate

3ertiicate #ic# as used i! support o a!ot#er petitio!.

etitio!er iled a motio! o suspe!sio! o proceedi!$s based o! a

preudicial 8uestio!. De alle$ed t#at t#e 2 ci*il cases must be resol*ed irst

beore t#e crimi!al case may proceed si!ce t#e issues i! t#e said cases

are similar. %e3 de!ied peitio!erOs motio! because it ruled t#at t#e

resolutio! o t#e issues raised i! t#e ci*il actio!s is !ot determi!ati*e o t#e

$uilt or i!!oce!ce o t#e accused.

%otio! or reco!sideratio! iled by petitio!er as de!ied by o t#e %e3.

De!ce petitio!er iled it# t#e 3" a etitio! or 3ertiorari u!der Rule 60

alle$i!$ t#at R3 Cud$e committed $ra*e abuse o discretio!. 3"

dismissed sayi!$ t#at petitio!erOs remedy s#ould #a*e bee! a! appealrom t#e dismissal by R3. 3" de!ied petitio!erOs %otio! or

Reco!sideratio!. De!ce petitio!er raises t#e issue to t#e S3 *ia a etitio!

or Re*ie o! 3ertiorari.

ISSUEA 'N petitio!erOs petitio! or certiorari is t#e proper remedy

HELDRATIOA N. #e proper remedy is !ot petitio! or certiorari but a!

ordi!ary appeal.

#e correct procedural recourse or petitio!er as appeal, !ot o!ly

because R3 did !ot commit a!y $ra*e abuse o discretio! i! dismissi!$petitio!erOs etitio! or Certiorari but also because R3Os rder o

dismissal as a i!al order rom #ic# petitio!ers s#ould #a*e appealed i!

accorda!ce it# Sectio! 2, Rule 41 o t#e Re*ised Rules o 3ourt.

"! order or a ud$me!t is deemed i!al #e! it i!ally disposes o a

pe!di!$ actio!, so t#at !ot#i!$ more ca! be do!e it# it i! t#e trial court.

5! ot#er ords, t#e order or ud$me!t e!ds t#e liti$atio! i! t#e loer court.

Au contraire! a! i!terlocutory order does !ot dispose o t#e case

completely, but lea*es somet#i!$ to be do!e as re$ards t#e merits o t#e

latter. R3Os rder dismissi!$ petitio!erOs etitio! or Certiorari i!ally

disposes o t#e said case a!d R3 ca! do !ot#i!$ more it# t#e case.

Under R"#e <) o t'e R"#es o Co"rt, $n $ppe$# 3$6 9e t$*en ro3 $

?"d3ent or in$# order t'$t &o3p#ete#6 disposes o t'e &$se, or o $

p$rti&"#$r 3$tter t'erein 5'en de&#$red 96 t'e Revised R"#es o Co"rt to

9e $ppe$#$9#e.

Certiorari $e!erally lies o!ly #e! t#ere is !o appeal !or a!y ot#er plai!,

speedy or ade8uate remedy a*ailable to petitio!ers. Dere, appeal as

a*ailable. 5t as ade8uate to deal it# a!y 8uestio! #et#er o act or o la,

#et#er o error o urisdictio! or $ra*e abuse o discretio! or error o ud$me!t#ic# t#e trial court mi$#t #a*e committed. But petitio!ers i!stead iled a

special ci*il actio! or certiorari .

'e #a*e time a!d a$ai! remi!ded members o t#e be!c# a!d bar t#at a

spe&i$# &ivi# $&tion or certiorari "nder R"#e (> o t'e Revised R"#es o

Co"rt #ies on#6 5'en =t'ere is no $ppe$# nor p#$in, speed6 $nd $deJ"$te

re3ed6 in t'e ordin$r6 &o"rse o #$5. Certiorari &$nnot 9e $##o5ed 5'en

$ p$rt6 to $ &$se $i#s to $ppe$# $ ?"d3ent despite t'e $v$i#$9i#it6 o t'$t

re3ed6, certiorari not 9ein $ s"9stit"te or #ost $ppe$#.

"s certiorari is !ot a substitute or lost appeal, e #a*e repeatedly emp#asi/edt#at t#e perectio! o appeals i! t#e ma!!er a!d it#i! t#e period permitted by

la is !ot o!ly ma!datory but urisdictio!al, a!d t#at t#e ailure to perect a!

appeal re!ders t#e decisio! o t#e trial court i!al a!d eecutory.

#e ri$#t to appeal is !ot part o due process o la but is a mere statutory

pri*ile$e to be eercised o!ly i! t#e ma!!er a!d i! accorda!ce it# t#e

pro*isio!s o t#e la. Neit#er ca! petitio!er i!*o&e t#e doctri!e t#at rules o

tec#!icality must yield to t#e broader i!terest o substa!tial ustice. '#ile

e*ery liti$a!t must be $i*e! t#e amplest opportu!ity or t#e proper a!d ust

determi!atio! o #is cause, ree rom co!strai!ts o tec#!icalities, t#e ailure to

perect a! appeal it#i! t#e re$leme!tary period is !ot a mere tec#!icality. 5traises a urisdictio!al problem as it depri*es t#e appellate court o urisdictio!

o*er t#e appeal.

! 21 :ecember 2;;;, petitio!er recei*ed a copy o t#e rder o t#e R3

de!yi!$ #is motio! or reco!sideratio! o t#e dismissal o #is etitio! or

Certiorari i! 3i*il 3ase No. 99+9+07H #e!ce, #e #ad u!til 17 Ca!uary 2;;1

it#i! #ic# to ile a! appeal it# t#e 3ourt o "ppeals. #e etitio! or

Certiorari iled by petitio!er o! 19 February 2;;1 it# t#e 3ourt o "ppeals

ca!!ot be a substitute or t#e lost remedy o appeal. "s petitio!er ailed to ile

a timely appeal, R3Os dismissal o #is etitio! or Certiorari #ad lo!$ become

i!al a!d eecutory.




PPP

PEOPLE S AYOCHO ;.R. No. )>K<

"u$ust 20, 2;1; LEONARDO7DE CASTRO, J ./

FACTS/

! "u$ust 1+, 2;;+, Caime "yoc#o& as ou!d by R3 Ba$uio$uilty beyo!d reaso!able doubt o t#e crime o %urder, #e! #e s#otS1 3laudio 3ali$ta! #ile #is bac& as tur!ed to t#e accused. '#e!arrai$!ed, "yoc#o& pleaded !ot $uilty.

"! appeal as directly ele*ated but due to modiicatio! i! t#eRules o 3rimi!al rocedure re$ardi!$ direct appeals rom R3 to S3,t#e case as tra!serred to 3". 3" airmed R3Os co!*ictio!, sa*e or modiyi!$ "yoc#o&Os ci*il liability.

5!itially, "yoc#o& iled a %otio! or Reco!sideratio! o t#e

ore$oi!$ :ecisio! o t#e 3ourt o "ppeals. Subse8ue!tly, #oe*er, "yoc#o& iled a %otio! to 'i t#dra %otio! or Reco!sideratio! it# Noticeo "ppealsi!ce #e belie*ed t#ere as !o c#a!ce t#at t#e appellate courtould re*erse itsel, a!d prayed t#at t#e case already be orarded to t#eS3 i!stead.

! February 12, 2;;, t#e S3 re8uired t#e parties to ile t#eir suppleme!tal bries.

Doe*er, i! a letter dated February 16, 2;1;, Culio ". "rcia$a, t#e "ssista!t :irector or riso!s a!d Security o t#e Bureau o 3orrectio!s,i!ormed t#e court t#at "yoc#o& #ad died o! Ca!uary 10, 2;1; at t#e

#ilippi!e Ge!eral Dospital, %a!ila. " copy o t#e deat# report si$!ed bya medical oicer o t#e Ne Bilibid riso! Dospital as attac#ed to saidletter.

5SSU?A 'JN "yoc#o&Os deat# eti!$uis#ed #is crimi!al a!d ci*il liabilities >?S

R"5A

"yoc#o&Os deat# duri!$ t#e pe!de!cy o #is appeal, eti!$uis#ed!ot o!ly #is crimi!al liability but also #is ci*il liability solely arisi!$ rom or based o! said crime.

"ccordi!$ to "rticle 79(1) o t#e Re*ised e!al 3ode, crimi!al liabilityis totally eti!$uis#edA

1. By t#e deat# o t#e co!*ict, as to t#e perso!al pe!altiesH a!das to pecu!iary pe!alties, liability t#ereor is eti!$uis#ed o!ly #e! t#e deat#o t#e oe!der occurs beore i!al ud$me!t.

"pplyi!$ t#e ore$oi!$ pro*isio!, t#e court laid do! t#e

olloi!$ $uideli!es i! 'eople v. EayotasA

1. :eat# o t#e accused pe!di!$ appeal o #is co!*ictio!eti!$uis#es #is crimi!al liability as ell as t#e ci*illiability based solely t#ereo!. "s opi!ed by CusticeRe$alado, i! t#is re$ard, Mt#e deat# o t#e accusedprior to i!al ud$me!t termi!ates #is crimi!al liabilitya!d o!ly t#e ci*il liability directly arisi!$ rom a!dbased solely o! t#e oe!se committed, i.e., ci*illiability e= delicto i! senso strictiore.

2. 3orollarily, t#e claim or ci*il liability sur*i*es

!otit#sta!di!$ t#e deat# o (t#e) accused, i t#e samemay also be predicated o! a source o obli$atio! ot#er t#a! delict. "rticle 110 o t#e 3i*il 3ode e!umeratest#ese ot#er sources o obli$atio! rom #ic# t#e ci*illiability may arise as a result o t#e same act or omissio!

+. '#ere t#e ci*il liability sur*i*es, as eplai!ed i!Number 2 abo*e, a! actio! or reco*ery t#ereor maybe pursued but o!ly by ay o ili!$ a separate ci*ilactio! a!d subect to Sectio! 1, Rule 111 o t#e 1970Rules o! 3rimi!al rocedure as ame!ded. #is

separate ci*il actio! may be e!orced eit#er a$ai!stt#e eecutorJadmi!istrator or t#e estate o t#eaccused, depe!di!$ o! t#e source o obli$atio! upo!#ic# t#e same is based as eplai!ed abo*e.

4. Fi!ally, t#e pri*ate oe!ded party !eed !ot ear aoreiture o #is ri$#t to ile t#is separate ci*il actio! byprescriptio!, i! cases #ere duri!$ t#e prosecutio! o t#e crimi!al actio! a!d prior to its eti!ctio!, t#epri*ateoe!ded party i!stituted to$et#er t#ereit# t#eci*il actio!. 5! suc# case, t#e statute o limitatio!s o!t#e ci*il liability is deemed i!terrupted duri!$ t#e

pe!de!cy o t#e crimi!al case, co!ormably it# t#epro*isio!s o "rticle 1100 o t#e 3i*il 3ode t#at s#ould



t#ereby a*oid a!y appre#e!sio! o! a possiblepri*atio! o ri$#t by prescriptio!.

Because "yoc#o&Os appeal as still pe!di!$ a!d !o i!al ud$me!to co!*ictio! #ad bee! re!dered a$ai!st #im #e! #e died, #is ci*il liabilityarisi!$ rom t#e crime, bei!$ ci*il liability e= delicto, as li&eiseeti!$uis#ed by #is deat#.

3"S? :5S%5SS?:.

PEOPLE OF THE PHILS., p#$inti7$ppe##ee, vs. ARNULFO %ARRO,

SR., ARNULFO %ARRO, !R., %ENI;NO %ARRO, !UAN %ARRO, !OEL

%ARRO, -ILFREDO ARROYO, !OEY FLORIN, $nd CRISTO%AL

SARTE, $&&"sed, %ENI;NO %ARRO $nd !OEL FLORIN, $&&"sed7

$ppe##$nts 4888+ %"en$+ ::K SCRA 4)4B

FACTS/ Cu!e 29, 1979, 6%, at Sitio 3atduce, ura$ue, Sa!$ay,

3amari!es SurA '#ile aiti!$ or t#e dri//le to stop, ir$ilio Saba, :a!ilo

<iba!$, Rui!o Saba, ?e8uiel :acu!o a!d Dilario 3risto, dra!& 2 bottles

o Y$i!O a!d ate some Ypolota!O at store o!ed by ?li 3redo. #ey stayed i!

t#e &itc#e! o said store.

"t about t#e same time, Nima Saba, Rui!oOs ie, also arri*ed. utside

t#e store, Cua! Barro, "r!ulo Barro, Cr., Coel Flori!, Coel Barro a!d

3ristobal "rte ere playi!$ Ypusoy.O

"t arou!d %, ir$ilioOs $roup decided to $o #ome. ! t#eir ay #ome,

Dilario (dru!&) &ept o! ma&i!$ oral c#alle!$es to a!ybodyA G4iisay an

maorag> (#o is tou$#). Suc# oral i!*ecti*es i!uriated t#e $roup o Coel#o as t#e! still playi!$ pusoy at t#e store. "!d #ile ir$ilioOs $roup as

about ; m aay rom t#e store, Cua! co!ro!ted Dilario, olloed

immediately by "r!ulo Cr., Be!i$!o Barro, Coel B., Coel F., 3ristobal a!d

'il redo "rroyo. Cua! as&ed Dilario #at #e a!ted.

ir$ilio, Rui!o a!d Nima tried to paciy t#e $roup, telli!$ t#em to i$!ore

Dilario si!ce #e as dru!&. Doe*er, i!stead o melloi!$ do!, t#eir

actio!s all t#e more ir&ed Be!i$!o, resulti!$ i! a #eated co!ro!tatio!

betee! t#e latter a!d ir$ilio. o calm do! t#e te!se situatio!, :a!ilo

pulled aay ir$ilio rom Be!i$!o.

Belie*i!$ t#at e*eryt#i!$ as already settled, ir$ilioOs $roup co!ti!ued t#eir

our!ey #ome. But, to t#eir surprise, a! e!ra$ed "r!ulo Sr. i!sta!ta!eously

ali$#ted #e! t#e $roup passed by #is #ouse. "r!ulo Sr., bra!dis#i!$ a

Ydi!alayapO (bolo) co!ro!ted ir$ilioOs $roup, iercely utteri!$ G"aen an mga

hayop na iyanH> ('#ere are t#ose a!imalsQ) 5mmediately t#ereater, ir$ilio

embraced "r!ulo Sr. telli!$ t#e latter, GDala ito 7ol! 0ala pang nangyayari.>

'ilredo, Be!i$!o, Cua!, "r!ulo Cr., Coel B., Coel F. a!d 3ristobal "rte t#e!

positio!ed t#emsel*es i! ro!t o ir$ilio a!d it#out orear!i!$ t#e latter,'ilredo sudde!ly struc& ir$ilio it# a &!ie directly #itti!$ #im o! t#e

abdomi!al re$io!. #ereater, t#e Barros, Coel F. a!d 3ristobal, all armed it#

bladed eapo! bris&ly too& tur!s i! $a!$i!$up mercilessly ir$ilio, #itti!$ #im

all o*er #is body se*eral times.

Rui!o ra! aay lea*i!$ be#i!d Nima, :a!ilo a!d ir$ilio #o as still bei!$

mauled. :a!ilo as about to ete!d some #elp but as pre*e!ted si!ce

3ristobal a!d Cua! &!oi!$ t#at :a!ilo as about to aid ir$ilio c#ased #im,

so #e as let it# !o ot#er alter!ati*e but to also ru! aay.

Nima it!essed #o ir$ilio as bei!$ mauled to deat# by BarroOs$roup. '#e! s#e as about to approac# ir$ilio, s#e tripped, t#roi!$ aay

t#e lamp s#e as carryi!$. De!ce, s#e e!t bac& to loo& or a!ot#er. '#ile

carryi!$ a lamp o! #er ay bac&, "r!ulo Cr. passed by #er.

Upo! reac#i!$ crime sce!e, Nima sa ?li 3redo, Rui!o a!d ir$ilioOs ie

edia Saba. S#e a!d edia decided to board ir$ilio to a eep a!d brou$#t #im

strai$#t to t#e #ospital #ere ir$ilio as pro!ou!ced dead.

Based o! t#e autopsy co!ducted o! ir$ilioOs cada*er by :r. Ro$er "ta!acio,

ir$ilioOs deat# as caused by massi*e #emorr#a$e, seco!dary to multiple stab

ou!ds.

ct. +1, 1979A #e ro*i!cial rosecutor o 3amari!es Sur iled a! 5!ormatio!

a$ai!st "r!ulo Barro, Sr., "r!ulo Barro, Cr., Be!i$!o Barro, Cua! Barro, Coel

Barro, 'il redo "rroyo, Coel Flori! a!d 3ristobal "rte or committi!$ murder.

•Q Be!i$!o a!d Coel F.Os dee!seA alibi == t#ey ere i! t#e #ouse o "r!ulo

Barro, Sr. i! 3atduce, ura$ue, Sa!$ay, 3amari!es Sur, #e! t#e i!cide!t

#appe!ed.

•Q Coel B. ailed to testiy because #e escaped rom t#e i!a!$is e!al Farm,

i! a ailbrea&.



#e R3 (Sa! Cose, 3amari!es Sur) ou!d Be!i$!o, Coel F. a!d Coel B.

$uilty beyo!d reaso!able doubt o t#e crime o %UR:?R.

Si!ce Coel escaped rom priso!, a !otice o appeal as iled o!ly by

Be!i$!o a!d Coel F. t#rou$# t#eir cou!sel.

Subse8ue!tly, Coel iled a motio! to it#dra appeal #ic# as $ra!ted by

t#e S3. #e sole appella!t i! t#e case at bar is Be!i$!o Barro.

ISSUES errors r$ised 96 $ppe##$ntB/

1. 'N t#e R3 erred i! co!*icti!$ t#e + accused o t#e oe!se c#ar$ed

o! t#e basis o t#e co!tradictory a!d irreco!cilable testimo!ies o t#e 2

prosecutio! it!esses :a!ilo a!d Nima, #o are blood relati*es o t#e

*ictim, a!d o! t#e basis o t#e ou!ds sustai!ed by t#e latter

2. 'N t#e R3 erred i! #oldi!$ t#at, it# 19 ou!ds i!licted o! t#e

body o t#e deceased, co!spiracy is establis#ed

+. 'N R3 erred i! $i*i!$ u!due relia!ce o! t#e medical i!di!$s o :r.

Ro$er "ta!acio o! t#e cause o deat# a!d t#e surrou!di!$ circumsta!cest#ereo !otit#sta!di!$ t#e act t#at said it!ess as !ot 8ualiied as a!

epertH a!d i! !ot disalloi!$ #ypot#etical 8uestio!s as&ed t#at te!ds to

elicit co!clusio!s as to t#e acts directly i! issue

RULIN;/

1. a. Great respect is accorded to t#e actual co!clusio!s dra! by t#e trial

court, particularly o! t#e matter o credibility o it!esses, si!ce t#e trial

ud$e #ad t#e opportu!ity to obser*e t#e be#a*ior a!d demea!or o

it!esses #ile testiyi!$. "lso, t#e alle$ed *aria!ce i! t#e testimo!y o t#e

prosecutio!Os to eyeit!esses relate to i!co!se8ue!tial details.

b. 'it!esses testiyi!$ o! t#e same e*e!t do !ot #a*e to be co!siste!t i!

e*ery detail as diere!ces i! recollectio!s, *iepoi!ts, or impressio!s are

i!e*itable.

c. Relatio!s#ip per se o a it!ess to t#e *ictim, #et#er by co!sa!$ui!ity

or ai!ity, is !o i!dicator o a! impaired credibility o a it!ess, !or ould it

aect #is positi*e a!d clear testimo!y a!d re!der it u!ort#y. #e dee!se

did !ot e*e! prese!t e*ide!ce to i!dicate t#at t#e said prosecutio!

it!esses ere mo*ed by improper moti*es.

2. #e . circumsta!ces all poi!t out u!e8ui*ocally to t#e eiste!ce o

co!spiracyA t#e prosecutio! it!esses ere able to cate$orically ide!tiy t#e

accused as amo!$ t#ose prese!t i! t#e store o ?li 3redo playi!$ M pusoy

duri!$ t#at !i$#tH t#ey ere t#e compa!io!s o Cua! Barro #e! t#e latter tried

to accost a! u!ruly Dilario 3ristoH t#ey ere all t#ere, prese!t, a!d armed it#

bladed eapo!s, duri!$ t#e precise mome!t #e! "r!ulo Barro, Sr.,

bra!dis#i!$ a bolo, erociously co!ro!ted t#e $roup o t#e deceasedH a!d t#eir

acti*e participatio! i! t#e mauli!$, stabbi!$ a!d &illi!$ o t#e #elpless *ictim.

+. #e testimo!y o a! epert it!ess is !ot i!dispe!sable to a successul

prosecutio! or murder. '#ile t#e autopsy report o a medico le$al epert i!

cases o murder, or #omicide, is preerably accepted to s#o t#e ete!t o t#e

i!uries suered by t#e *ictim, it is !ot t#e o!ly compete!t e*ide!ce to pro*e

t#e i!uries a!d t#e act o deat#.

De!ce, $ra!ti!$ t#at :r. "ta!acioOs opi!io!s as to t#e i!strume!t used i! t#e

&illi!$ o ir$ilio, a!d t#e cause o deat# s#ould be epu!$ed rom t#e record

as #e mi$#t !ot 8ualiy as a! epert it!ess, co!*ictio! o #erei! accused is

still i! order. :r. "ta!acioOs opi!io! o! t#e matter as merely corroborati*e.

Q 5 t#i!& t#is is t#e o!ly 3rimpro part (eect o ailure to appeal a pate!tly

ro!$ ud$me!t) o t#e caseA Coel, belo 10 yJo at t#e time o t#e commissio!

o t#e oe!se, is e!titled to t#e pri*ile$ed miti$ati!$ circumsta!ce o mi!ority

("rt. 67, par. 1, R3). #e pe!alty or murder is R i! its ma. period to deat#.

o de$rees loer is 3 ma. to % med. Si!ce Coel escaped rom ail, #e is

dis8ualiied rom t#e be!eits o t#e 5S<. De s#ould, t#ereore, be meted t#e

strai$#t pe!alty o 7 yrs. #ic# is it#i! t#e medium period (6 yrs. 1 mo. a!d

11 days to 7 yrs. a!d 2; days) o t#e said pe!alty. #e R3 erred i! imposi!$

t#e pe!alty o impriso!me!t o 7 yrs. a!d 7 mos. because it is outside t#e

ra!$e o said pe!alty. T'e re&ords s'o5 t'$t !oe# %$rro did not

$ppe$#. Ho5ever, 5'ere t'e pen$#t6 i3posed on t'e &o7$&&"sed 5'o didnot $ppe$# 5$s $ n"##it6 9e&$"se it 5$s never $"t'ori1ed 96 #$5, t'$t

pen$#t6 i3posed on t'e $&&"sed 5'o did not $ppe$# &$n 9e &orre&ted to

3$*e it &onor3 to t'e pen$#t6 pres&ri9ed 96 #$5, t'e re$son 9ein t'$t,

s$id pen$#t6 &$n never 9e&o3e in$# $nd eGe&"tor6 $nd it is 5it'in t'e

d"t6 $nd in'erent po5er o t'e Co"rt to '$ve it &onor3$9#e 5it' #$5.

Art. &@. *urder. 5 Any person 0ho! not falling 0ithin the provisions of Article

&? shall +ill another! shall be guilty of murder and shall be punished

by reclusion temporal in its ma=imum period to death! if committed 0ith any of

the follo0ing attendant circumstances:



$. Dith treachery! ta+ing advantage of superior strength! 0ith the aid of

armed men! or employing means to 0ea+en the defense or of means or

persons to insure or afford impunity.

. <n consideration of a price! re0ard! or promise.

2. Ey means of inundation! fire! poison! e=plosion! ship0rec+! stranding of

a vessel! derailment or assault upon a street car or locomotive! fall of an

airship! by means of motor vehicles! or 0ith the use of any other meansinvolving great 0aste and ruin.

&. On occasion of any of the calamities enumerated in the preceding

paragraph! or of an earthua+e! eruption of a volcano! destructive cyclone!

epidemic or other public calamity.

B. Dith evident premeditation.

?. Dith cruelty! by deliberately and inhumanly augmenting the suffering of

the victim! or outraging or scoffing at his person or corpse.

PEOPLE OF THE PHILS. *s. Hon. ENRIUE C. ASIS, in 'is &$p$&it6 $s

Presidin !"de o t'e Reion$# Tri$# Co"rt o %i#ir$n Provin&e,

%r$n&' )(, $nd !AIME A%ORDO A""st 4>, 48)8

Ponente/ MENDO0A, J.:

FACTS/

! ctober , 2;;2, at 12A+; "%, respo!de!t Caime "bordo /Abordo1 as

ridi!$ #is motorcycle o! #is ay #ome. De as met by pri*ate

complai!a!ts @e!!ard %aait /*a3ait1!Coe!iel 3al*e/ /Calvez1 a!d Cose

%o!tes /*ontes1. "! altercatio! e!sued betee! t#em. "bordo s#ot %aaiti! t#e le$ #ile 3al*e/ as #it i! t#e loer let side o #is abdome!.

%o!tes escaped u!#urt.

"bordo as c#ar$ed it# to (2) cou!ts o attempted murder a!d o!e (1)

cou!t o rustrated murder beore t#e Re$io!al rial 3ourt, Bilira!

ro*i!ce, Bra!c# 16 /RTC1. #e trial court ou!d !o treac#ery a!d e*ide!t

premeditatio!. #us, i! its "u$ust 29, 2;;0 :ecisio!, t#e R3 #eld "bordo

liable o!ly or Serious #ysical 5!uries or s#ooti!$ 3al*e/ a!d <ess

Serious #ysical 5!uries it# re$ard to %aait. 5t also appreciated our (4)

$e!eric miti$ati!$ circumsta!ces i! a*or o "bordo. 'it# respect to t#e

complai!t o %o!tes, "bordo as ac8uitted.

#e SG iled a petitio! or certiorari u!der Rule 60 beore t#e 3ourt o

"ppeals, but t#e 3" dismissed t#e petitio! or bei!$ t#e ro!$ remedy.

"ccordi!$ to t#e 3", t#e remedy s#ould #a*e bee! a! appeal, !ot petitio! or

certiorari.

ISSUE/

'N 3" committed $ra*e abuse o discretio! or dismissi!$ t#e petitio! or

certiorari as a remedy to 8uestio! t#e *erdict o ac8uittal YESB

RATIO/

A petition or &ertior$ri "nder R"#e (>, not $ppe$#, is t'e re3ed6 to

J"estion $ verdi&t o $&J"itt$# 5'et'er $t t'e tri$# &o"rt or $t t'e

$ppe##$te #eve#. 5! our urisdictio!, 'e ad#ere to t#e i!alityoac8uittal

doctri!e, t#at is, a ud$me!t o ac8uittal is i!al a!d u!appealable. #e rule,

#oe*er, is !ot it#out eceptio!. 5! se*eral cases, t#e 3ourt #as e!tertai!ed

petitio!s or certiorari 8uestio!i!$ t#e ac8uittal o t#e accused i!, or t#e

dismissals o, crimi!al cases.

By t#is time, it is settled t#at t#e appellate court may re*ie dismissal orders o

trial courts $ra!ti!$ a! accusedOs demurrer to e*ide!ce. #is may be do!e *ia

t#e spe&i$# &ivi# $&tion o &ertior$ri "nder R"#e (> based o! t#e $rou!d o

$ra*e abuse o discretio!, amou!ti!$ to lac& or ecess o urisdictio!. Suc#

dismissal order, 9ein &onsidered void ?"d3ent, does not res"#t in

?eop$rd6. #us, #e! t#e order o dismissal is a!!ulled or set aside by a!

appellate court i! a! ori$i!al special ci*il actio! *ia certiorari, t#e ri$#t o t#e

accused a$ai!st double eopardy is !ot *iolated.

5! t#is petitio!, t#e SG claims t#at "bordoOs ac8uittal as improper. Si!ce

appeal could !ot be ta&e! it#out *iolati!$ "bordoOs co!stitutio!ally

$uara!teed ri$#t a$ai!st double eopardy, t'e OS; 5$s &orre&t in p"rs"in

its &$"se vi$ $ petition or certiorari "nder R"#e (> 9eore t'e $ppe##$te

&o"rt. 5t as a serious error by t#e 3" to #a*e depri*ed t#e petitio!er o its

ri$#t to a*ail o t#at remedy.

As t'e &$se 5$s s"33$ri#6 dis3issed on $ te&'ni&$#it6, t'e 3erits o t'e

petition or &ertior$ri 5ere not $t $## dis&"ssed. T'"s, t'e proper

re&o"rse 5o"#d 9e $ re3$nd to t'e CA.

" re*ie o t#e records, 'o5ever, s'o5s t'$t t'e &$se need not 9e

re3$nded to t'e CA or $ppropri$te pro&eedins. T'e OS;s petition

or certiorari , 5'i&' or3s p$rt o t'e re&ords, 5o"#d not 3erit $



$vor$9#e revie5 even i it 5o"#d 9e iven d"e &o"rse si3p#6 9e&$"se

it is 9eret o 3erit

No!e o t#e records beore t#e 3" s#o t#at t#e prosecutio! as depri*ed

o its ri$#t to due process. #e SG petitio! does !ot e*e! me!tio! t#at

t#ere as a curtailme!t o its ri$#t. Bot# parties #ad t#eir opportu!ity to

crosseami!e it!esses a!d scruti!i/e e*ery piece o e*ide!ce.

#ereater, t#e trial court eercisi!$ its discretio! e*aluated t#e e*ide!ce

beore it a!d re!dered its decisio!. 3ertai!ly, t'ere 5$s no 3istri$#.

#e SG ar$ued or a re7ev$#"$tion o t#e e*ide!ce a!d acts co!cer!i!$

t#e case t#at #ad already bee! ruled upo!.

'#at t#e SG is 8uestio!i!$, t#ereore, are errors o ud$me!t. #is,

#oe*er, ca!!ot be resol*ed it#out *iolati!$ "bordoOs co!stitutio!ally

$uara!teed ri$#t a$ai!st double eopardy. An $ppe##$te &o"rt in $

petition or &ertior$ri &$nnot revie5 $ tri$# &o"rts ev$#"$tion o t'e

eviden&e $nd $&t"$# indins. ?rrors o ud$me!t ca!!ot be raised i! a

Rule 60 petitio! as a rit o certiorari ca! o!ly correct errors o urisdictio!

or t#ose i!*ol*i!$ t#e commissio! o $ra*e abuse o discretio!

Summi!$ t#em all up, t#e 3" clearly erred i! dismissi!$ t#e petitio!

or certiorari iled beore it by t#e SG o! t#e $rou!d t#at it as t#e ro!$

remedy. T'ere is, 'o5ever, no need or t'e re3$nd o t'e &$se to t'e

CA $s t'e petition or &ertior$ri, on its $&e, &$nnot 9e iven d"e

&o"rse.

DISPOSITIE/ etitio! is PARTIALLY ;RANTED. #e Cu!e , 2;;6

Resolutio! o t#e 3ourt o "ppeals dismissi!$ t#e petitio! or certiorari or

bei!$ t#e ro!$ remedy is SET ASIDE. "cti!$ o! t#e petitio! or certiorari ,

t#e 3ourt resol*es to DENY t#e same or lac& o merit.

Leti&i$ Mer&i$#es v CA, Peop#e, !ose#ito N"$d$, et $#

;R No. )4<)), M$r&' )K, 4884

F$&ts /

•199+, 6 3rimi!al 3ases or rape it# #omicide i! co!!ectio! it# t#e deat# o

%aritess %erciales ere iled a$ai!st 6 pri*ate respo!de!ts beore R3. "ter

prese!ti!$ it!esses, public prosecutor iled motio! to disc#ar$e Coselito

Nuada to be utili/ed as state it!ess a!d t#at !o e*ide!ce is !eeded to be

prese!ted si!ce #e as already admitted i!to t#e 'it!ess rotectio! ro$ram

o :C. Cud$e de!ied it or ailure o prosecutio! to prese!t e*ide!ce as per

R3 119, sec. 9 (!o sec. 1)

•rosecutio! iled petitio! or certiorari it# S3, 8uestio!i!$ ud$eOs de!ial o motio! to disc#ar$e Nuada.

•:uri!$ t#e #eari!$ o t#e crimi!al case, prosecutio! iled %R i!stead o

prese!ti!$ urt#er e*ide!ce. "!ot#er %R, i!*o&i!$ its pe!di!$ petitio! or

certiorari it# S3. Cud$e called or a recess to let prosecutio! decide 'oN to

prese!t a! NB5 a$e!t #o as prese!t to pro*e t#e due eecutio! o NuadaOs

etraudicial co!essio!.

• "ter recess, prosecutor decli!ed to prese!t NB35 a$e!t a!d ma!iested #e

as !ot prese!ti!$ urt#er e*ide!ce.

•:ee!se mo*ed t#at t#e cases be submitted or decisio! a!d as&ed lea*e o

court to ile demurrer to e*ide!ce.

•R3 ac8uitted t#e accused or ailure to pro*e $uilt beyo!d reaso!able doubt.

•3" dismissed. Sister appealed.

Iss"e / 'oN t#e case s#ould #ad bee! dismissed

He#d / No. #e public prosecutor is ordered to complete t#e prese!tatio! o all

a*ailable it!esses or t#e prosecutio!.

#e public prosecutor as $uilty o serious !o!easa!ce. 5t is t#e duty o t#e

public prosecutor to bri!$ t#e crimi!al proceedi!$s or t#e pu!is#me!t o t#e

$uilty. 3o!!ected it# t#is is t#e duty to pursue t#e prosecutio! o a crimi!al

actio! a!d to represe!t t#e public i!terest. " crime is a! oe!se a$ai!st t#e

State, a!d #e!ce is prosecuted i! t#e !ame o t#e eople o t#e #ilippi!es.

#e public prosecutor &!e t#at #e #ad !ot prese!ted suicie!t e*ide!ce to

co!*ict t#e accused. >et, despite repeated mo*es by t#e accused or t#e trial

court to co!ti!ue #eari!$ t#e case, #e deliberately ailed to prese!t a!

a*ailable it!ess a!d t#ereby alloed t#e court to declare t#at t#e prosecutio!

#as rested its case.



By reusi!$ to comply it# t#e trial courtOs order to prese!t e*ide!ce, t#e

public prosecutor $rossly *iolated R3 119, sec 1. De *iolated #is

bou!de! duty to protect t#e i!terest o t#e oe!ded party, at least i!soar

as t#e crimi!al aspect is co!cer!ed. "ter t#e trial court de!ied #is motio!

to disc#ar$e Nuada as a state it!ess, 'e s'o"#d '$ve pro&eeded to

&o3p#ete t'e eviden&e o t'e prose&"tion 96 ot'er 3e$ns. 5!stead, #e

illully a!d deliberately reused to prese!t a! a*ailable it!ess, i.e., t#e

NB5 "$e!t #o as prese!t i! court o! t#at date a!d time. #e public

prosecutor as dutybou!d to e#aust all a*ailable proos to establis# t#e$uilt o t#e accused a!d bri!$ t#em to ustice or t#eir oe!se a$ai!st t#e

i!ured party.

'D?R?FR?, i! *ie o t#e ore$oi!$, t#e petitio! is GR"N?:. #e

:ecisio! o t#e 3ourt o "ppeals i! 3"G.R. S No. ++41 is R??RS?:

"N: S? "S5:?. #e rder dismissi!$ 3rimi!al 3ase Nos. 6+;6+12 is

"NNU<<?:, a!d t#is case is R?%"N:?: to t#e Re$io!al rial 3ourt o

<e$a/pi 3ity, Bra!c# 7, or urt#er proceedi!$s. #e public prosecutor is

R:?R?: to complete t#e prese!tatio! o all a*ailable it!esses or t#e

prosecutio!.


HON. !UD;E !ESUS %. MUPAS, Presidin !"de, Reion$# Tri$#Co"rt, %r$n&' ))4 $nd CARMELITA F. 0AFRA, C'ie Ad3inistr$tiveOi&er, DS-D, Petitioners vs. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, t'r"its d"#6 $"t'ori1ed represent$tive, t'e Le$# Servi&e o t'e DS-D,"e1on Cit6 $nd t'e Oi&e o t'e So#i&itor ;ener$#, Respondents

G.R. No. 179+60

FACTS/ ri*ate petitio!er 3armelita F. Lara as Supply icer o

:S':. ! 14 No*ember 1997, s#e arra!$ed or t#e it#draal or

replaceme!t o 2;; carto!s o Bear Bra!d odered %il& t#at ere

!eari!$ t#eir epiry date. etitio!er Lara i!structed %arceli!a Beltra! to

#a*e someo!e rom t#e :S': roperty :i*isio! it#dra t#e 2;; carto!s o

mil& rom t#e :S':illamor "irbase Relie peratio! 3e!ter. Beltra! relayed

t#is i!structio! to Ro$a. ! t#e appoi!ted date, #oe*er, !o o!e rom t#e

roperty :i*isio! arri*ed to pic& up t#e mil& cases. 5!stead, t#ree u!ide!tiied

perso!s o! board a our#eeler truc& came a!d #auled t#e 2;; cases o mil&.

!e o t#e t#ree perso!s #o came to pic& up t#e mil& cases i!troduced

#ersel as elia Saclaya! to Ro$a, t#e o!ly :S': employee prese!t at t#at

time. Saclaya! tur!s out to be t#e sister o Lara. #e 2;; cases o mil&

it#dra! by Saclaya! a!d #er u!ide!tiied compa!io!s ere *alued at+;6,+6.

:S': made a! i!ter!al i!*esti$atio! a!d ou!d Lara, Beltra! a!d Ro$a

$uilty o dis#o!esty a!d !e$li$e!ce o duty. #e + employees ere dismissed.

#is report as appealed to t#e 3i*il Ser*ice 3ommissio!. #e 3S3Os

Resolutio! absol*ed petitio!er Lara a!d Beltra! (!oteA Ro$a did !ot appeal) o

t#e c#ar$e o dis#o!esty but ou!d t#em $uilty o simple !e$lect a!d eac# are

imposed t#e pe!alty o si (6) mo!t#s suspe!sio! it#out pay.

PROCEDURAL ASPECT/

1mbudsma! iled 2 i!ormatio!s it# R3asay a$ai!st Lara,

Beltra!, a!d Ro$a. #ey are c#ar$ed it# (1) *iolati!$ Sectio! +(e) o

R" +;19, "!tiGrat a!d 3orrupt ractices "ct, a!d (2) mal*ersatio!

u!der "rticle 21 R3.

2

+retrial as atte!ded o!ly by Lara a!d Beltra!. " oi!t trial e!sued

or bot# o t#em. rosecutio! prese!ted 4 it!esses o t#e i!cide!t.

4

# "ter t#e prosecutio! rested its case, petitio!er Lara iled a %otio!

or :emurrer to ?*ide!ce.

•L"FR"A #e prosecutio! ailed to prese!t proo t#at s#e a!d #er co

accused #ad illully, u!laully, a!d elo!iously caused t#e it#draal

o t#e 2;; cases o %il& a!d appropriated t#ese or t#emsel*es to t#e

preudice o :S':. #ey ailed to establis# t#e eleme!ts o t#e crime

o mal*ersatio! u!der "rt. 21 R3. S#e li&eise co!te!ded t#at t#e

prosecutio! as !ot able to prese!t proo t#at s#e a!d #er coaccused

#ad do!e so i! *iolatio! o Sectio! + (e) o R. ". +;19.

•RS?3U5NA e #a*e establis#ed a!d pro*ed t#e eleme!ts o

t#e crimes as c#ar$ed. 'e ere also able to establis# co!spiracy

amo!$ t#e accused a!d #ad e*ide!ce to s#o t#at petitio!er Lara

caused t#e it#draal o t#e $oods t#rou$# #er sister coaccused

elia Saclaya!, #o as a! u!aut#ori/ed perso!



•

1Cud$e %upas $ra!ted t#e demurrer to e*ide!ce o Lara. De

ou!d t#e e*ide!ce substa!tially i!suicie!t to arra!t t#e

co!*ictio! o petitio!er Lara. 'it# t#e $ra!t o #er demurrer to

e*ide!ce, petitio!er as ac8uitted.

2

+#e prosecutio! iled a %otio! or Reco!sideratio!. #e motio!

as de!ied or lac& o merit.

4

##e 'eople iled it# t#e 3" a etitio! or 3ertiorari u!der Rule

60, assaili!$ t#e loer courtOs $ra!t o petitio!er LaraOs demurrer

to e*ide!ce, resulti!$ i! #er ac8uittal. #e petitio! is iled t#rou$#

t#e le$al oicers o :S':.

6

3" directed Lara to ile a 3omme!t o! t#e certiorari petitio! a!d

t#ereater i!structed t#e ice o t#e Solicitor Ge!eral to ile a

Reply.

•L"FR" assailed t#e appeal o t#e :S': or bei!$ improper,

#a*i!$ bee! iled directly it# t#e appellate court i!stead o see&i!$ t#e i!ter*e!tio! o t#e SG to act o! :S':Os be#al. S#e

also poi!ted out t#e lac& o aut#ority o t#e si$!atory #o #ad

eecuted t#e certiicate o !o!orum s#oppi!$ attac#ed to t#e

petitio!.

•SG iled a %a!iestatio! a!d %otio! adopti!$ t#e etitio! or

3ertiorari iled by t#e :S':. 5t prayed or t#e relaatio! o t#e

Rules o! rocedure pertai!i!$ to t#e aut#ority o t#e perso!

si$!i!$ t#e eriicatio! a!d 3ertiicatio! a$ai!st orums#oppi!$

attac#ed to t#e petitio! iled by t#e :S':.

•L"FR" iled a 3omme!tJppositio! to t#e SGOs %a!iestatio!

a!d %otio! a!d mo*ed t#at it be epu!$ed rom t#e records, as it

as iled out o time.

•3" $ra!ted t#e SGOs %a!iestatio! a!d %otio!.

•

13" $ra!ted t#e eopleOs petitio! a!d set aside <3Os rder

$ra!ti!$ pri*ate respo!de!tOs demurrer to e*ide!ce. Doldi!$ t#at

t#e prosecutio! as able to prese!t suicie!t e*ide!ce to pro*e

t#e eleme!ts o t#e crimes i! t#e 5!ormatio! iled a$ai!st pri*ate

respo!de!t, t#e appellate court saidA

•:emurrer to e*ide!ce relied #ea*ily o! t#e $rou!d t#at t#e

etitio!er miserably ailed to s#o t#at t#e Respo!de!t #ad a!y

direct participatio! i! t#e actual it#draal o t#e $oods. 5t bears to

emp#asi/e t#at t#e crime o mal*ersatio! may be committed eit#er

t#rou$# a positi*e act o misappropriatio! o public u!ds or property or

passi*ely t#rou$# !e$li$e!ce by alloi!$ a!ot#er to commit suc#

misappropriatio!.

•?*e! i t#e 5!ormatio! alle$es illul mal*ersatio!, t#is does !ot

preclude co!*ictio! o mal*ersatio! t#rou$# !e$li$e!ce i t#e e*ide!ce

sustai!s mal*ersatio! t#rou$# !e$li$e!ce.

•5! *ie o t#e eopleOs e*ide!ce s#oi!$ Respo!de!tOs i!ecusable

!e$li$e!ce i! t#e it#draal o t#e $oods i! 8uestio!, Respo!de!t

ca!!ot li&eise be ac8uitted o *iolatio! o Sectio! +(e) o R" +;19

si!ce i!ecusable !e$li$e!ce is o!e o t#e eleme!ts o t#e said

oe!se.

•

1etitio!er Lara iled a %otio! or Reco!sideratio! prayi!$ t#at t#e

3" decisio! be set aside. S#e urt#er prayed t#at t#e crimi!al cases

iled a$ai!st #er be dismissed 0ith preudice.

•SG iled its 3omme!t o! t#e %otio! or Reco!sideratio! o

petitio!er Lara. 5t mo*ed or t#e de!ial o #er %otio! or Reco!sideratio! a!d prayed t#at t#e assailed be airmed.

•

13" de!ied L"FR"Os %otio! or Reco!sideratio!

2etitio!er Lara iled #er etitio! or Re*ie it# S3 o! 3ertiorari

u!der Rule 40 o t#e Rules o! 3i*il rocedure.

ISSUE/ '#et#er or !ot 3" committed a! error i! re*ersi!$ t#e <3Os $ra!t or

:emurrer o ?*ide!ce to LaraQ N

HELD/ S3 "FF5R%S t#e e!tire ruli!$ o t#e 3ourt o "ppeals.

'e a$ree it# t#e 3"Os dis8uisitio! t#at t#e loer courtOs $ra!t o t#e demurrer

to e*ide!ce o petitio!er Lara as atte!ded by $ra*e abuse o discretio!. #e

prosecutio!Os e*ide!ce as, prima acie, suicie!t to pro*e t#e crimi!al

c#ar$es iled a$ai!st #er or #er i!ecusable !e$li$e!ce, subect to t#e

dee!se t#at s#e may prese!t i! t#e course o a ullblo! trial. #e loer court

improperly eami!ed t#e prosecutio!Os e*ide!ce i! t#e li$#t o o!ly o!e mode

o committi!$ t#e crimes c#ar$edH t#at is, t#rou$# positi*e acts. #e appellate

court correctly co!cluded t#at t#e crime o mal*ersatio! may be committed

eit#er t#rou$# a positi*e act o misappropriatio! o public u!ds or passi*ely

t#rou$# !e$li$e!ce by alloi!$ a!ot#er to commit suc# misappropriatio!.



"s a $e!eral rule, a! order $ra!ti!$ t#e accusedOs demurrer to e*ide!ce

amou!ts to a! ac8uittal. #ere are certai! eceptio!s, #oe*er, as #e!

t#e $ra!t t#ereo ould !ot *iolate t#e co!stitutio!al proscriptio! o! double

eopardy. 5! t#e i!sta!t case, #a*i!$ airmed t#e 3" i!di!$ $ra*e abuse

o discretio! o! t#e part o t#e trial court #e! it $ra!ted t#e accusedOs

demurrer to e*ide!ce, e deem its co!se8ue!t order o ac8uittal *oid.

PP

?leme!ts 3ommo! to "ll "cts o %al*ersatio!A1. #at t#e oe!der be a public oicer

2. #at #e #ad t#e custody or co!trol o u!ds or property by

reaso! o t#e duties o #is oice

+.#at t#ose u!ds or property ere public u!ds or property or

#ic# #e as accou!table

4.#at #e appropriated, too&, misappropriated or co!se!ted or, t#ru

aba!do!me!t or !e$li$e!ce, permitted a!ot#er perso! to ta&e t#em

;.R. No. )4<<<. Septe39er ):, 4888Q PEOPLE OF THEPHILIPPINES, petitioner, vs. HON. TIRSO D. C. ELASCO in 'is&$p$&it6 $s t'e Presidin !"de, RTC7%r. KK, "e1on Cit6, $ndHONORATO ;ALE0, respondents.& %ELLOSILLO, J ./opicA etitio! or 3ertiorari= Rule 60= Fi!ality o ac8uittal a!d doctri!e

eceptio!

FACTS/

!e mor!i!$ i! Sa! 5ldeo!so, Bulaca!, $u!s#ots ere ired i! rapidsuccessio!. #e s#ooti!$ claimed t#e lie o you!$ "le i!culado a!dseriously maimed #is ti! brot#er <e*i #o perma!e!tly lost #is let*isio!. #eir u!cle, %i$uel i!culado, Cr. as also s#ot. " slu$ tu!!eledt#rou$# #is ri$#t arm, pierced t#e ri$#t side o #is body a!d burroed i! #isstomac# #ere it remai!ed u!til etracted by sur$ical procedure.

+ crimi!al 5!ormatio!s 1 or #omicide a!d 2 or rustrated #omicide ereori$i!ally iled beore t#e %alolos R3 a$ai!st Do!orato Gal*e/, %ayor o Sa! 5ldeo!so, a!d Godoredo :ie$o, a mu!icipal employee a!d alle$ed

body$uard o t#e mayor. #ese c#ar$es ere a!d a !e set iled a$ai!st t#esame accused up$radi!$ t#e crimes to murder. %ayor Gal*e/ as c#ar$ed, i!additio!, it# *iolatio! o : 1766 or u!aut#ori/ed carryi!$ o irearm outside#is reside!ceH #e!ce, a ourt# 5!ormatio! #ad to be iled.

Subse8ue!tly, t#e *e!ue as t#e! mo*ed to R3 %a!ila. ! 7 ctober 1996 aco!solidated decisio! o! t#e 4 cases as promul$ated. #e trial court ou!dt#e accused Godoredo :ie$o $uilty beyo!d reaso!able doubt o t#e crimes o murder a!d double rustrated murder. Doe*er, it ac8uitted %ayor Do!orato

Gal*e/ o t#e same c#ar$es due to i!suicie!cy o e*ide!ce. 5t also absol*ed#im rom t#e c#ar$e o ille$al carryi!$ o irearm upo! its i!di!$ t#at t#e actas !ot a *iolatio! o la.

#e Go*er!me!t c#alle!$ed t#e ac8uital *ia etitio! or 3ertiorari u!der Rule60 o t#e R3 a!d Sec. 1, "rt. 555, o t#e 3o!stitutio!. "ccordi!$ to t#epetitio!er t#ere as G": amou!ti!$ to lac& o urisdictio! by Respo!de!tCud$e irso elasco or #e deliberately a!d ro!$ully disre$arded certai!acts a!d e*ide!ce o! record #ic#, i udiciously co!sidered, ould #a*e ledto a i!di!$ o $uilt o t#e accused beyo!d reaso!able doubt. #us, t#ispate!tly $ross udicial i!discretio! a!d arbitrari!ess s#ould be rectiied by a reeami!atio! o t#e e*ide!ce by t#e S3 upo! a determi!atio! t#at a re*ie o

t#e case ill !ot tra!s$ress t#e co!stitutio!al $uara!tee a$ai!st double eopardy.

etitio!erA " re*ie o t#is case by t#e S3 ould !ot co!stitute double eopardy becase olloi!$ U.S. urisprude!ce, #ic# #as persuasi*e *alue i!t#is cou!try, t#e :ouble Ceopardy 3lause permits a re*ie o ac8uittalsdecreed by US trial ma$istrates #ere, as i! t#is case, !o retrial is re8uireds#ould ud$me!t be o*ertur!ed. etitio!er i! t#is re$ard ur$es t#e 3ourt tota&e a seco!d loo& at #epner , it bei!$ t#e Icor!ersto!e o t#e battleme!t o t#e:ouble Ceopardy 3lauseI i! t#e #ilippi!es a!d seriously eami!e #et#er t#eprecede!ts it establis#ed almost a ce!tury a$o are still $erma!e a!d useultoday i! *ie o certai! modiicatio!s rou$#t o! t#e doctri!e by t#esucceedi!$ "merica! cases o Inited 4tates v. Dilson a!d Inited 4tates v.4cott

epner/ #ilippi!e Ge!. Rule= :ee!da!t #o #ad bee! ac8uitted by t#e*erdict duly retur!ed a!d recei*ed, t#e court could ta&e !o ot#er actio! t#a! toorder #is disc#ar$e. M ormer eopardy i!cludes o!e #o #as bee!ac8uitted by a *erdict duly re!dered, alt#ou$# !o ud$me!t be e!tered o! t#e*erdict, a!d it as ou!d upo! a deecti*e i!dictme!t. #e protectio! is !ot a$ai!st t#e peril o seco!d pu!is#me!t, but a$ai!st bei!$ tried a$ai! or t#esame oe!se.

(?X3?5NS D? G?N. RU<?)AU.S. v -i#son/ ost*erdict ac8uittal based o! a ruli!$ o la a!d !ot o! a

resolutio! o acts,



U.S. S&ott/ #e dee!da!t secured t#e dismissal o t#e c#ar$es a$ai!st#im it#out a!y submissio! to eit#er ud$e or ury as to #is $uilt or i!!oce!ce, but o! a $rou!d totally outside e*ide!tiary

ISSUES HELD/

•DO7 certiorari is proper as a! etraordi!ary mode o re*ie u!der

Rule 60 #ere t#e result actually i!te!ded is t#e re*ersal o t#eac8uittal o pri*ate respo!de!t Gal*e/ Yes, i it $##s "nder t'e

eG&eption.

•DO7 a re*ie by t#e 3ourt o a ud$me!t o ac8uittal i! li$#t o t#e

co!stitutio!al i!terdict a$ai!st double eopardy may be alloed Yes, i it $##s "nder t'e eG&eption.

RATIO/

'ilso! a!d Scott is N applicable. #e dismissal o t#e c#ar$es a$ai!stpri*ate respo!de!t Gal*e/ as !ot upo! #is o! i!sta!ceH !eit#er did #esee& to a*oid trial, as it as i! 4cott! to be co!sidered as #a*i!$ ai*ed

#is ri$#t to be adud$ed $uilty or i!!oce!t. Dere, trial o! t#e merits as#eld duri!$ #ic# bot# $o*er!me!t a!d accused #ad t#eir respecti*e dayi! court.

S3 ill !ot adopt petitio!erOs co!cept o Ia!ot#er trialI because itdisre$ards t#e co!tetual i!terpretatio! o t#e term i! li$#t o t#e le$al a!dactual morp#olo$y o t#e double eopardy pri!ciple obtai!i!$i! Dilson a!d 4cott . o sum up, i! t#e cause beore us, t#e records s#ot#at respo!de!t trial ud$e based #is i!di!$ o ac8uittal, !o matter #oerro!eous it mi$#t seem to petitio!er, upo! t#e e*ide!ce prese!ted by bot#parties. #e ud$me!t #ere as !o less t#a! a actual resolutio! o t#ecase.

S6nt'esis on R"#e on Do"9#e !eop$rd6 Sec. ', (ule ""', (OC) *+re8uisites or i!*o&i!$ double eopardyA (a) a *alid complai!t or i!ormatio!H (b) beore a compete!t court beore #ic# t#e same is iledH(c) t#e dee!da!t #ad pleaded to t#e c#ar$eH a!d, (d) t#e dee!da!tas acuitted , or co!*icted, or t#e case a$ai!st #im dismissed or ot#erise termi!ated it#out #is epress co!se!t.5t bears repeati!$ t#at#ere ac8uittal is co!cer!ed, t#e rules do !ot disti!$uis##et#er it occursat t#e le*el o t#e trial court or o! appeal rom a ud$me!t o co!*ictio!. #is irmly establis#es t#e i!alityoac8uittal rule i! our

urisdictio!. #ereore, as ma!dated by our 3o!stitutio!, statutes a!dco$!ate urisprude!ce, a! ac8uittal is i!al a!d u!appealable o! t#e $rou!d

o double eopardy, #et#er it #appe!s at t#e trial court le*el or beore t#e3ourt o "ppeals.

5! $e!eral, t#e rule is t#at a rema!d to a trial court o a ud$me!t o ac8uittalbrou$#t beore t#e Supreme 3ourt o! certiorari ca!!ot be #ad. ?ceptio!s aret#ere is a i!di!$ o 3istri$#, as i! alman v. 4andiganbayan. (a&a MS#amrial=%arcos as o*erseei!$ t#e trial ac8uitti!$ Galma! or &i lli!$ Ni!oy).

Petitioner/ decisio! re!dered by t#e court a uo as blata!tly i!co!siste!t it#t#e material acts a!d e*ide!ce o! record, reaso! e!ou$# to c#ar$erespo!de!t ud$e it# $ra*e abuse o discretio! amou!ti!$ to lac& o

urisdictio! resulti!$ i! a de!ial o due process.

Priv$te respondent remo!strates a$ai!st t#e proprietyo petitio!erOs certiorari as a mode o impu$!i!$ t#e ud$me!t o ac8uittal !oto!ly as a strate$y to camoula$e t#e issue o double eopardy but also or t#eact t#at, co!trary to petitio!erOs assertio!s, e*ide!ce i! t#e case at bar assubected to scruti!y, re*ie, assessme!t a!d e*aluatio! by respo!de!t trial

ud$e. By reaso! t#ereo, t#ere ca!!ot be percei*ed $ra*e abuse o discretio!o! t#e part o t#e ud$e to arra!t issua!ce o t#e $reat rit o certiorari .

SC $rees. #e oice o t#e commo! la rit o certiorari is to bri!$ beoret#e court or i!spectio! t#e record o t#e proceedi!$s o a! i!erior tribu!al i!order t#at t#e superior court may determi!e rom t#e ace o t#e record#et#er t#e i!erior court #as eceeded its urisdictio!, or #as !ot proceededaccordi!$ to t#e esse!tial re8uireme!ts o t#e la.

"s a $e!eral rule, t#e prosecutio! ca!!ot appeal or bri!$ error proceedi!$srom a ud$me!t i! a*or o t#e dee!da!t i! a crimi!al case i! t#e abse!ce o a statute clearly co!erri!$ t#at ri$#t. #e problem comes i!to s#arper ocus#e! t#e dee!da!t co!te!ds, i! eect, t#at t#e prosecutio! is attempti!$ toaccomplis# by t#e rit #at it could !ot do by appeal, a!d t#at #is

co!stitutio!al ri$#ts are bei!$ t#us e!croac#ed upo!.

5 a ud$me!t sou$#t to be re*ieed as o!e e!tered ater a! ac8uittal by a ury or t#e disc#ar$e o t#e accused o! t#e merits by t#e trial court, t#esta!di!$ o t#e prosecutio! to re*ie it by certiorari is ar more li&ely to bede!ied t#a! i it ere suc# a! order as o!e sustai!i!$ a demurrer to, or 8uas#i!$ t#e i!dictme!t, or $ra!ti!$ a motio! or arrest o ud$me!t ater a*erdict o $uilty.

#e petitio! at #a!d #ic# see&s to !ulliy t#e decisio! o respo!de!t ud$eac8uitti!$ t#e accused Do!orato Gal*e/ $oes deeply i!to t#e trial court-s

appreciatio! a!d e*aluatio! in esse o t#e e*ide!ce adduced by t#e parties. "



readi!$ o t#e 8uestio!ed decisio! s#os t#at respo!de!t ud$e co!sideredt#e e*ide!ce recei*ed at trial.

"s suc#, it becomes a! improper obect o a!d t#ereore !o!re*ieable by certiorari . o reiterate, errors o ud$me!t are !ot to beco!used it# errors i! t#e eercise o urisdictio!.

-HEREFORE, t#e i!sta!t petitio! or certiorari is :5S%5SS?:.

NOTES/

Rule 11A 4ec. %. Former conviction or acuittal; double 3eopardy. Dhenan accused has been convicted or acuitted! or the caseagainst himdismissed or other0ise terminated 0ithout his e=press consent by a court of competent 3urisdiction! upon a valid complaint or informationor other formal charge sufficient in form and substance to sustain aconviction and after the accused had pleaded to thecharge! the convictionor acuittal of the accused or the dismissal of the case shall be a bar toanother prosecution for the offense charged! or for any attempt to commit the same or frustration thereof! or for any offense 0hich necessarily

includes or is necessarily included in the offense charged in the former complaint or information = = = =

--*-7T4 OF *IR-R: 1) #at a perso! as &illed. 2) #at t#e

accused &illed #im. +) #at t#e &illi!$ as atte!ded by any o t#e

8ualiyi!$ circumsta!ces me!tio!ed i! "rt. 247. 4) #e &illi!$ is !ot

parricide or i!a!ticide

?<?%?NS F 5<<?G"< SS?SS5N F F5R?"R%S UN:?R .:.1766A1) t#e eiste!ce o t#e subect irearm ammu!itio! or eplosi*e #ic#may be pro*ed by t#e prese!tatio! o t#e subect irearm or eplosi*e or byt#e testimo!y o it!esses #o sa accused i! possessio! o t#e same,a!d 2) t#e !e$ati*e act t#at t#e accused #as !o lice!se or permit to o!

or possess t#e irearm, ammu!itio! or eplosi*e #ic# act may beestablis#ed by t#e testimo!y or certiicatio! o a represe!tati*e o t#e NFirearms a!d ?plosi*es U!it t#at t#e accused #as !o lice!se or permit topossess t#e subect irearm or eplosi*e.

ELIRA O. ON; etitio!er, *s. !OSE CASIM ;ENIO, Respo!de!t.

;.R. No. )K4::( + De&e39er 4:, 488 + N$&'"r$

F$&ts/

1?l*ira !$ iled a complai!t a$ai!st Cose Ge!io beore t#e R3%a&ati or

t#e crime o robbery. "lle$edly, Ge!io e!tered !$Os &itc#e! a!d stole !$Os

coo&i!$ e8uipme!t amou!ti!$ to ;;&.

2R3 dismissed t#e case upo! ROs motio! to dismiss due to lac& o probable

cause. R3 stated t#at t#e i!ormatio! ailed to alle$e 2 eleme!ts o t#e crime

o robberyA 1) i!te!t to $ai! a!d 2) * iole!ce a$ai!st or i!timidatio! o a!yperso! or orce upo! t#i!$s.

3R iled a artial %otio! or Reco!sideratio!, stati!$ t#at t#e complai!t a$ai!st

#im s#ould be "<<> :5S%5SS?: due to <ac& o robable 3ause Q R3

$ra!ted a!d dismissed t#e case. Q iled a! %R, citi!$ t#e rosecutorOs

resolutio!Ji!di!$ o prob. cause Q R3 de!ied Os %R, stati!$ t#at t#e R3 is

also empoered to re*ie t#e e*ide!ce relied upo! by t#e prosecutor i!

stati!$ t#at t#ere is probable cause to iled a case a$ai!st R. R3 ou!d t#at

t#ere is N RB"B<? 3"US?.

$, i3p#e$din t'e Peop#e o t'e P'i#ippines, iled a etitio! or 3ertioraria!d %a!damus beore t#e 3". 5! respo!se, R mo*ed to :5S%5SS due to Os

lac& o perso!ality. !ly t#e SG may appeal t#e case. Q 3" se!t a letter to

t#e SG to ile its comme!t re. Os petitio! Q SG stated t#at R is correctA o!ly

t#e SG may rep t#e State o! appeal. Q 3" dismissed Os petitio!, it#out

preudice to a subse8ue!t ili!$ o a ci*il suit a$ai!st R.

# iled a Petition or Revie5 on Certior$ri "nder R"#e <> , see&i!$ re*ersal

o 3" decisio!.

Iss"e/ 'N t#e petitio! or certiorari u!der rule 40 may prosper

He#d/ No.

R$tio/

3#apter 12, itle 555, Boo& 5 o t#e "dmi!istrati*e 3ode o 197 states t#at t#e

SG s#all represe!t t#e Go*er!me!t o t#e #ilippi!es, its a$e!cies a!d

i!strume!talities a!d its oicials a!d a$e!ts i! a!y liti$atio!, proceedi!$,

i!*esti$atio!, or matter re8uiri!$ t#e ser*ices o layers. <i&eise, t#e Solicitor

Ge!eral s#all represe!t t#e Go*er!me!t i! t#is 3ourt a!d t#e 3" i! all crimi!al

proceedi!$s. De!ceA



S?3. +0. oers a!d Fu!ctio!s. SG s#all #a*e t#e . poers a!d

u!ctio!sA XXX (1) Represe!t t#e Go*er!me!t i! t#e Supreme 3ourt a!d

t#e 3ourt o "ppeals i! all crimi!al proceedi!$s

Beore t#e 3", t#e SG itsel opi!ed t#at t#e petitio! t#erei! as atally

deecti*e or #a*i!$ bee! iled it#out t#e SG-s participatio!. Beore t#is

3ourt, petitio!er ailed to ad*a!ce a!y ustiicatio! or ecuse #y s#e

ailed to see& t#e assista!ce o t#e SG #e! s#e sou$#t relie rom t#e

3", ot#er t#a! t#e perso!al belie t#at t#e SG as burde!ed it# soma!y cases.

EXCEPTION TO RULE ON OS; AS THE REPRESENTATIE OF THE

STATE %EFORE THE SC $nd t'e CA in $## &ri3in$# pro&eedins/ 5! a

special ci*il actio! or certiorari iled u!der Sectio! 1, Rule 60 o t#e Rules

o 3ourt #erei! it is alle$ed t#at t#e trial court committed a $ra*e abuse

o discretio! amou!ti!$ to lac& o urisdictio! or o! ot#er urisdictio!al

$rou!ds, t#e rules state t#at t#e petitio! may be iled by t#e perso!

a$$rie*ed. 5! suc# case, t#e a$$rie*ed parties are t#e State a!d t#e

pri*ate oe!ded party or complai!a!t. #e complai!a!t #as a! i!terest i!

t#e ci*il aspect o t#e case so #e may ile suc# special ci*il actio!8uestio!i!$ t#e decisio! or actio! o t#e respo!de!t court o! urisdictio!al

$rou!ds. 5! so doi!$, complai!a!t s#ould !ot bri!$ t#e actio! i! t#e !ame

o t#e eople o t#e #ilippi!es. #e actio! may be prosecuted i! !ame o

said complai!a!t.

E#e3ents o Ro99er6/

1a&i!$

2 property o!ed by a!ot#er

+'it# i!te!t to $ai! a!d

4'it# * iole!ceJi!timidatio! a$ai!st a!y perso! or orce upo! t#i!$s

PALU7AY v CA )KB

"eading: For lac+ of due process or e=trinsic fraud; by private complainant

FACTS/

• "t arou!d 0A+; o! %arc# +;, 1976, ice!te aluay as #a*i!$ dri!&s it#

accused :omi!$o ulmo!es, alo!$ it# a couple o rie!ds.

•!e ?meterio :ermil tried to oi! but #e as se!t aay by ulmo!es sayi!$ it

as a amily e*e!t. De rese!ted t#is, a!d because o t#at, ulmo!es ra!ater #im. '#e! ulmo!es retur!ed, #e as #oldi!$ a $u!.

•Prose&"tion/ De retur!ed it# a $u! a!d s#ot aluay it# it. T'e

prose&"tion t'en &#$i3s t'$t P"#3ones ired t'e "n de#i9er$te#6

$nd tre$&'ero"s#6.

•Deense/ "s ulmo!es tried to reoi! t#e $roup (ater ru!!i!$ ater

:ermil), #e sa a $u! at t#e bac& o ?re! <auro! (o!e o t#eir rie!ds). De

placed t#e $u! i! #is palm, a!d s#oed it to aluay, #oe*er, #e! #e

loo&ed at #im, aluayOs ace touc#ed t#e $u! a!d it e!t o. T'ereore,

t'e &#$i3 o t'e deense 5$s t'$t t'e s'ootin 5$s $&&ident$#.

7 "! i!ormatio! or r"str$ted 'o3i&ide, later ame!ded to r"str$ted 3"rder

as iled i! t#e R3 o 5loilo.

RTC/ ulmo!es $uilty o serious p#ysical i!uries t#rou$# rec&less imprude!ce

•ruled t#at t#ere as !o moti*e or ulmo!es to do #arm to aluau as t#ere

ere close rie!ds a!d relati*es

•5! all probability, ulmo!esO i!$er as resti!$ o! t#e tri$$er #e! #e s#oed

t#e $u! to aluay, so t#at #e! #e loo&ed at #im, #is c#ee& touc#ed t#e

$u! a!d ulmo!es accide!tally pressed t#e tri$$er.

•ulmo!es did N appeal #is co!*ictio!, #e!ce ud$me!t became i!al a!d

eecutory. aluay iled or t#e a!!ulme!t o ud$eme!t.

CA/ dismissed t#e petitio! or a!!ulme!t o t#e ud$me!t because it as !ot

appro*ed by t#e Solicitor Ge!eralJdouble eopardy

etitio!er comes to t#e S3 a!d ar$ues t#at t#e TC de&ided t'e &$se o"tside

o t'e iss"es 3$de o"t in t'e p#e$dins $nd t'ereore, $&ted 5it'o"t d"e

pro&ess.



De ar$ues t#at #e! 3 ou!d out t#at t#e $u! ired because

ulmo!es re&*#ess#6 s#oed it to t#e *ictim, it e!t outside t#e actual

issues as t#e case o!ly co!cer!s #et#er it as de#i9er$te#6 or

$&&ident$##6 ired.

ISSUESHELD/

11. 'N aluay #ad t#e perso!ality to ile t#e petitio! or a!!ulme!t o

ud$eme!t Q N

22. 'N ud$eme!t s#ould be a!!ulled.

RATIOA

1.1. De could !ot ile a! a!!ulme!t o ud$me!t or t#e crimi!al aspect o

t#e case because #is i!terest is o!ly limited to ci*il l iability.

•Dis role is a mere it!ess.

•!ly t#e State, t#rou$# t#e Solicitor Ge!eral could appeal t#e crimi!al

aspect o t#e decisio!.

•EXCA #e! t#e prosecutio! #as bee! depri*ed o due process Q !ot

prese!t i! t#is case.

).4. On t'e $nn"#3ent o ?"d3ent

•U!der R"#e ):K, Se&. ), 4, t#ere is !o ot#er mea!s #ereby a deeated

party may procure i!al a!d eecutory ud$me!t to be set aside it# a *ie

o re!eal o t#e liti$atio! u!lessA

11. ud$eme!t is *oid or a!t o urisdictio! or lac& o due processo la

−t#ere is lac& o due process i t#e party is depri*ed o t#e

opportu!ity to be #eard Q !ot prese!t i! t#is case

$. it has been obtained by fraud

etri!sic raud is a $rou!d or t#e a!!ulme!t o ud$me!t because

it pre*e!ts a party rom #a*i!$ a trial or a real co!test or rom

prese!ti!$ #is case to t#e court Q !ot prese!t

•5! decidi!$ t#e case, t#e 3 o!ly $a*e its opi!io! o! #at it belie*ed

#appe!ed because it could !ot belie*e t#e *ersio!s o bot# t#e prosecutio!

a!d dee!se. " ud$e is ree to decide based o! probability.

•5! t#is case, a #eari!$ as #eld beore ud$me!t as re!dered based o!

e*ide!ce. 5 t#ere as a!y error made by t#e 3, it 5$s on#6 $n error o

?"d3ent 9"t not o ?"risdi&tion.

• " re*ie o t#e 8uestio! at t#is poi!t ill *iolate t#e ri$#ts o t#e accused

a$ai!st double eopardy.

N?A :o!-t or$et t#e cases rom last ee&. 5 t#i!& e stopped at pa$e 4Q "lso, Sir said to read t#e pro*isio!s Good luc& A)

crimpro sept 2

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