villarin vs people & razul vs sandiganbayan

7/25/2019 Villarin vs People & Razul vs Sandiganbayan

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Republic of the PhilippinesSupreme Court

Manila

FIRST DIVISION CRISOSTOMO VILLARIN an ANIANO LATA!ADA" Petitioners" # $ersus #

P%OPL% OF T&% P&ILIPPIN%S" Responent '(R( No( )*+,-.

Promul/ate0 Au/ust 1)" ,2))

3 # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # 3 D % C I S I O N D%L CASTILLO" 4(0 Mere possession of timber 5ithout the le/al ocuments re6uire uner forest

la5s an re/ulations ma7es one automaticall8 liable of $iolation of Section 9-"Presiential Decree :P(D(; No( *2+"<)= as amene( Lac7 of criminal intent is not a$ali efense(

This petition for re$ie5 on certiorari see7s to re$erse the 4une ,-" ,22+Decision<,= of the Court of Appeals :CA; in CA#'(R( CR No( ,9*,2 5hich a>rmein all respects the 4u/ment<1= of the Re/ional Trial Court :RTC;" ?ranch 1-"Ca/a8an De Oro Cit8" @nin/ petitioners /uilt8 be8on reasonable oubt of$iolation of Section 9-" P(D( No( *2+" as amene( Li7e5ise assaile in thispetition is the September ,," ,229 Resolution<= en8in/ petitioners Motion forReconsieration(<+=

Factual Anteceents In a Criminal Complaint<9= @le before the Municipal Trial Court in Cities" ?ranch" Ca/a8an e Oro Cit8 b8 Marcelino ?( Pio6uinto :Pio6uinto;" Chief of the ForestProtection an La5 %nforcement Bnit uner the TL Stri7e Force Team ofDepartment of %n$ironment an Natural Resources :D%NR;" petitioner AnianoLata8aa :Lata8aa; an three others namel8" ?aran/a8 Captain Camilo Suaria:Suaria; of Ta/pan/i" Ca/a8an e Oro Cit8" Marlon ?aillo :?aillo; an Cipriano?o8atac :?o8atac;" 5ere char/e 5ith $iolation of Section 9-" P(D( No( *2+ asamene b8 %3ecuti$e Orer No( ,**(<*= Subse6uentl8" ho5e$er" the O>ce of the Cit8 Prosecutor of Ca/a8an e Oro Cit8issue a Resolution<-= ate March )1" )..9 recommenin/ the @lin/ of an



Information for the aforesai char/e not onl8 a/ainst Lata8aa" ?aillo an?o8atac but also a/ainst petitioner Crisostomo Villarin :Villarin;" then ?aran/a8Captain of Pa/alun/an" Ca/a8an e Oro Cit8( The ismissal of the complainta/ainst Suaria 5as li7e5ise recommene( Sai Resolution 5as then appro$eb8 the O>ce of the Ombusman#Minanao throu/h a Resolution<.= ate Ma8 .")..9 orerin/ the @lin/ of the Information in the RTC of Ca/a8an e Oro Cit8(

Thus" on October ,." )..9" an Information<)2= 5as @le a/ainst petitionersVillarin an Lata8aa an their co#accuse ?aillo an ?o8atac" for $iolation ofSection 9-" P(D( No( *2+ as follo5s0

That on or about 4anuar8 )1" )..9" in Pa/alun/an" Ca/a8an e Oro Cit8"Philippines" an 5ithin the urisiction of this &onorable Court" pursuant to RA*.*+" the accuse" Crisostomo Villarin" a public o>cer bein/ the ?aran/a8Captain of Pa/alun/an" this Cit8" 5ith salar8 /rae belo5 ,*" ta7in/ a$anta/e of his o>cial position an committin/ the oense in relation to his o>ce" an theother abo$e#name accuse" all pri$ate ini$iuals" namel80 Marlon ?aillo"

Cipriano ?o8atac" an Aniano Lata8aa" confeeratin/ an mutuall8 helpin/ oneanother i then an there" 5illfull8" unla5full8 an feloniousl8 /ather anpossess si3t8#three :91; pieces Eitches of $ar8in/ sies belon/in/ to the Apiton/specie 5ith a total $olume of Four Thousan Three &unre T5ent8 Si3 :"1,9;boar feet $alue at P)2-")+2(22" 5ithout an8 authorit8 an supportin/ocuments as re6uire uner e3istin/ forest la5s an re/ulation to the ama/ean preuice of the /o$ernment( CONTRAR! TO LAG(<))=

On 4anuar8 )" )..*" Villarin" ?o8atac an ?aillo" @le a Motion forRein$esti/ation(<),= The8 alle/e that the 4oint A>a$it<)1=of the personnel ofthe D%NR 5hich became one of the bases in @lin/ the Information ne$ermentione Villarin as one of the perpetrators of the crime 5hile the accusationsa/ainst ?aillo an ?o8atac 5ere not base on the personal 7no5le/e of thea>ants( The8 also asserte that their inictment 5as base on pollute sources"consistin/ of the s5orn statements of 5itnesses li7e Lata8aa an Suaria" 5hoboth appeare to ha$e participate in the commission of the crime char/e(Instea of resol$in/ the Motion for Rein$esti/ation" the RTC" in its Orer<)=ate 4anuar8 ,*" )..*" irecte Villarin" ?o8atac" an ?aillo to @le their Motionfor Rein$esti/ation 5ith the O>ce of the Ombusman#Minanao" it bein/ theentit8 5hich @le the Information in Court( On March 1)" )..*" onl8 Villarin @le

a Petition for Rein$esti/ation<)+= but same 5as" ho5e$er" enie b8 the O>ce of the Ombusman#Minanao in an Orer<)9= ate Ma8 )+" )..* because the/rouns relie upon 5ere not base on ne5l8 isco$ere e$ience or errors offact" la5 or irre/ularities that are preuicial to the interest of the mo$ants"pursuant to Aministrati$e Orer No( 2* or the Rules of Proceure of the O>ce of the Ombusman in Criminal Cases( The O>ce of the Ombusman#Minanaoli7e5ise opine that Villarin 5as irectl8 implicate b8 Lata8aa" his co#accuse(

The RTC thus proceee 5ith the arrai/nment of the accuse 5ho entereseparate pleas of not /uilt8(<)*= Thereafter" trial ensue(

The Version of the Prosecution



On December 1)" )..+" at aroun @$e ocloc7 in the afternoon" prosecution5itness Rolan 'ranaa :'ranaa; notice that a public utilit8 eep loae 5ithtimber stoppe near his house( The ri$er" petitioner Lata8aa" 5asaccompanie b8 four to @$e other persons" one of 5hom 5as ?o8atac 5hile therest coul not be ienti@e b8 'ranaa(<)-= The8 ali/hte from the eep anunloae the timber )2 to )+ meters a5a8 from the ?atina8 bri/e at ?aran/a8Pa/alun/an" Ca/a8an De Oro Cit8( Another prosecution 5itness" Pastor Pansacala:Pansacala;" also notice the eep 5ith plate number M?? ,,9 an o5ne b8Suaria" loae 5ith timber(<).= ?ein/ then the presient of a communit8#baseor/aniation 5hich ser$es as a 5atcho/ of ille/al cuttin/ of trees"<,2= Pansacalae$en orere a certain Mario ?ael to count the timber(<,)= At si3 ocloc7 in the e$enin/ of the same a8" ?aran/a8 Captain An/eles Alarcon:Alarcon;<,,= notice that the pile of timber 5as alrea8 place near the bri/e(Since she ha no 7no5le/e of an8 scheule repair of the ?atina8 bri/e she5as surprise to isco$er that the timber 5oul be use for the repair( Afterin6uirin/ from the people li$in/ near the bri/e" she learne that Lata8aa an

?o8atac eli$ere the timber(<,1= Another prosecution 5itness" Ariel Palan/a :Palan/a;" testi@e that at se$enocloc7 in the mornin/ of 4anuar8 )" )..9" ?o8atac bou/ht a stic7 of ci/arettefrom his store an re6ueste him to co$er the pile of timber near the bri/e for afee( Palan/a accee an co$ere the pile 5ith coconut lea$es(<,= On 4anuar8 )1" )..9" at aroun ten ocloc7 in the mornin/" prosecution 5itness

4uan Casenas :Casenas;" a raio an TV personalit8 of RMN#TV-" too7 foota/es of the timber<,+= hien an co$ere b8 coconut lea$es( Casenas also too7foota/es of more lo/s insie a boe/a at the other sie of the bri/e( In the

follo5in/ e$enin/" the foota/es 5ere sho5n in a ne5s pro/ram on tele$ision( On the same a8" members of the D%NR Re/ion )2 Stri7e Force Team measurethe timber 5hich consiste of 91 pieces of Apiton/ Eitches an etermine thatit totale "1,9 boar feet<,9= an subse6uentl8 entruste the same to Alarconfor safe7eepin/( Bpon further in$esti/ation" it 5as learne that the timber 5as re6uisitione b8Villarin" 5ho 5as then ?aran/a8 Captain of Pa/ulan/an" Ca/a8an e Oro Cit8(Villarin /a$e Suaria the speci@cations for the re6uisitione timber( Thereafter"?o8atac informe Villarin that the timber 5as alrea8 eli$ere on December 1)")..+(<,*=

On 4anuar8 )-" )..9" Feli3 Vera Cru :Vera Cru;" a securit8 /uar at the D%NRRe/ion )2 O>ce" recei$e an si/ne for the con@scate timber since thepropert8 custoian at that time 5as not aroun(

The @lin/ of the aforestate Information follo5e( The Version of the Defense In response to the clamor of the resients of ?aran/a8s Tampan/an" Pi/sa/#an"

Tuburan an Ta/linao" all in Ca/a8an De Oro Cit8" Villarin" ecie to repair theimpassable ?atina8 bri/e( The proect 5as alle/el8 5ith the concurrence of the

?aran/a8 Council(



Pressure to immeiatel8 commence the neee repairs" Villarin commissione?o8atac to in6uire from Suaria about the a$ailabilit8 of timber 5ithout @rstinformin/ the Cit8 %n/ineer( Suaria as7e for the speci@cations 5hich Villarin/a$e( Villarin then as7e ?aillo an ?o8atac to atten to the same( Ghen thetimber 5as alrea8 a$ailable" it 5as transporte from Ta/pan/i to ?atina8(&o5e$er" the timber Eitches 5ere seie b8 the D%NR Stri7e Force Team anta7en to its o>ce 5here the8 5ere recei$e b8 Vera Cru" the securit8 /uar onut8( Rulin/ of the Re/ional Trial Court In its Memoranum @le before the trial court" the efense noti@e the court of?o8atacs emise(<,-= &o5e$er" the trial court i not act on such notice(Instea" it proceee to rule on the culpabilit8 of ?o8atac( Thus" in its 4u/ment"the trial court foun herein petitioners an the ecease ?o8atac /uilt8 aschar/e( On the other han" it foun the e$ience a/ainst ?aillo insu>cient( Theispositi$e portion of the 4u/ment reas0

G&%R%FOR%" in $ie5 of the fore/oin/ @nin/s" u/ment is hereb8 renere@nin/ the accuse Crisostomo Villarin" Cipriano ?o8atac an Aniano Lata8aa/uilt8 be8on reasonable oubt of $iolatin/ Section 9- of Presiential Decree No(*2+ as amene" an hereb8 sentences each of them to suer an ineterminatesentence of t5el$e :),; 8ears of prision ma8or as minimum to se$enteen :)*;8ears of reclusion temporal as ma3imum( Accuse Marlon ?aillo is hereb8 ac6uitte for lac7 of e$ience(SO ORD%R%D(<,.=

In reachin/ sai conclusions" the RTC note that0 Githout an iota of oubt" accuse Crisostomo Villarin" bein/ then a ?aran/a8Captain of Pa/alun/an" Ca/a8an e Oro Cit8" 5as the one 5ho procure thesubect Eitches" 5hile accuse Aniano Lata8aa an Cipriano ?o8atac mutuall8helpe him an each other b8 transportin/ the Eitches from Sitio ?atina8 to thePa/alun/an ?ri/e( The accuse 5oul li7e to impress upon the Court that thesubect Etiches 5ere intene for the repair of the Pa/alun/an ?ri/e an 5ereac6uire b8 $irtue of ?aran/a8 Resolution No( ))2 of ?aran/a8 Pa/alun/an( TheCourt is not impresse b8 this lame e3cuse( There is no ispute that the Eitches5ere intene for the repair of the bri/e( The Court @ns it a lauable moti$e(

The fact remains thou/h that the sai forest proucts 5ere obtaine 5ithout thenecessar8 authorit8 an le/al ocuments re6uire uner e3istin/ forest la5s anre/ulations(<12=

Petitioners @le a Motion for Reconsieration<1)= 5hich 5as enie b8 the RTC in its Orer<1,= ate Au/ust ,2" ,22,( Rulin/ of the Court of Appeals

Petitioners @le an appeal 5hich 5as enie b8 the CA in its Decision ate 4une,-" ,22+( The ispositi$e portion of 5hich reas0



G&%R%FOR%" in $ie5 of all the fore/oin/" the u/ment of the court a 6uo @nin/<=efenant#<a=ppellants Crisostomo Villarin" Cipriano ?o8atac an AnianoLata8aa 'BILT! be8on reasonable oubt for $iolatin/ Sec( 9- of PresientialDecree *2+ is hereb8 AFFIRM%D in toto( No pronouncement as to cost(

SO ORD%R%D(<11=

Petitioners @le a Motion for Reconsieration<1= 5hich the appellate courtenie for lac7 of merit in its Resolution<1+= promul/ate on September ,,",229( Issues Bneterre" petitioners @le the instant petition raisin/ the follo5in/ issues0

)( G&%T&%R H H H T&% COBRT OF APP%ALS<"= ON <T&%= MATT%R OFPR%LIMINAR! INV%STI'ATION<"= D%CID%D NOT IN ACCORD GIT& 4BRISPRBD%NC%OF T&% SBPR%M% COBRT ,( G&%T&%R H H H T&% COBRT OF APP%ALS D%PART%D FROM G&AT T&%SBPR%M% COBRT &AS ALGA!S ?%%N SA!IN'" T&AT" TO CONVICT AN ACCBS%DALL %L%M%NTS OF T&% CRIM% MBST ?% PROV%N ?%!OND R%ASONA?L% DOB?Tan 1( G&%T&%R H H H T&% COBRT OF APP%ALS<"= IN AFFIRMIN' T&% P%NALT!IMPOS%D ?! T&% COBRT A JBO<"= D%PART%D FROM 4BRISPRBD%NC% T&AT %V%N

IN CRIM%S <INVOLVIN'= VIOLATION OF SP%CIAL LAGS<"= SP%CIAL CONSID%RATIONS&OBLD ?% 'IV%N TO CIRCBMSTANC%S T&AT <CAN ?% CONSID%R%D ASMITI'ATIN' &AD T&% VIOLATION ?%%N P%NALIK%D BND%R T&% R%VIS%D P%NALCOD%" IN ORD%R TO R%DBC% P%NALT!=(<19=

Petitioners ar/ue that the refusal of the Ombusman to conuct a rein$esti/ationis tantamount to a enial of the ri/ht to ue process( As Villarin 5as inicte inthe Information espite his not bein/ inclue in the criminal complaint @le b8Pio6uinto of the TL Stri7e Force Team of the D%NR" the8 claim that he 5as notaore a preliminar8 in$esti/ation( The8 also be5ail the fact that persons 5ho

appear to be e6uall8 /uilt8" such as Suaria" ha$e not been inclue in theInformation( &ence" the8 ar/ue that the Ombusman acte 5ith /ra$e abuse ofiscretion in en8in/ their petition for rein$esti/ation because it epri$e Villarinof his ri/ht to preliminar8 in$esti/ation an in refusin/ an to e6uall8 prosecutethe /uilt8( The8 conten that the Ombusman shoul not ha$e relie on theprosecutors Certi@cation<1*= containe in the Information to the eect that apreliminar8 in$esti/ation 5as conucte in the case( Moreo$er" petitioners conten that the e$ience 5as insu>cient to pro$e their/uilt be8on reasonable oubt since the8 ha no intention to possess the timberan ispose of it for personal /ain( The8 li7e5ise claim that there 5as failure onthe part of the prosecution to present the timber" 5hich 5ere the obect of the

oense(



Our Rulin/

The petition is unmeritorious( Villarin 5as properl8 aore his ri/ht to ue process(

Recors sho5 that the in$esti/atin/ prosecutor recei$e a criminal complaintchar/in/ Suaria" Lata8aa" ?aillo an ?o8atac 5ith $iolation of Section 9- ofP(D( No( *2+" as amene(<1-= The sai complaint i not state the 7no5naresses of the accuse( Neither 5as the notarie oint#a>a$it of thecomplainants attache thereto( The subpoena issue to the accuse an thecop8 of their counter#a>a$its 5ere also not part of the recor( Moreo$er" thecomplaint i not inclue Villarin as a responent( &o5e$er" sai in@rmities onot constitute enial of ue process particularl8 on the part of Villarin( It is e$ientl8 clear from the Resolution ate March )1" )..9 of the O>ce of theCit8 Prosecutor that Villarin an all the accuse participate in the scheule

preliminar8 in$esti/ation that 5as conucte prior to the @lin/ of the criminalcase(<1.= The8 7ne5 about the @lin/ of the complaint an e$en enie an8in$ol$ement in the ille/al cuttin/ of timber( The8 5ere also /i$en the opportunit8to submit counter$ailin/ e$ience to con$ince the in$esti/atin/ prosecutor oftheir innocence( Fore/oin/ @nin/s consiere" there is no factual basis to the assertion thatVillarin 5as not aore a preliminar8 in$esti/ation( Accorin/l8" 5e @n no/ra$e abuse of iscretion on the part of the O>ce of the Ombusman#Minanaoin en8in/ Villarins motion for reconsieration( It $alil8 relie on the certi@cationcontaine in the Information that a preliminar8 in$esti/ation 5as properl8

conucte in this case( The certi@cation 5as mae uner oath b8 no less thanthe public prosecutor" a public o>cer 5ho is presume to ha$e re/ularl8performe his o>cial ut8(<2= ?esies" it aptl8 note that Villarin 5as implicateb8 3 3 3 Lata8aa in his a>a$it ate 4anuar8 ,," )..9 before Marcelino ?(Pio6uinto" Chief" Forest Protection an La5 %nforcement Bnit( The enial ofVillarin cannot pre$ail o$er the eclaration of 5itnesses(<)= Moreo$er" the absence of a proper preliminar8 in$esti/ation must be timel8raise an must not ha$e been 5ai$e( This is to allo5 the trial court to hol thecase in abe8ance an conuct its o5n in$esti/ation or re6uire the prosecutor tohol a rein$esti/ation" 5hich" necessaril8 in$ol$es a re#e3amination an re#e$aluation of the e$ience alrea8 submitte b8 the complainant an the

accuse" as 5ell as the initial @nin/ of probable cause 5hich le to the @lin/ ofthe Informations after the re6uisite preliminar8 in$esti/ation(<,= &ere" it is concee that Villarin raise the issue of lac7 of a preliminar8in$esti/ation in his Motion for Rein$esti/ation( &o5e$er" 5hen the Ombusmanenie the motion" he ne$er raise this issue a/ain( &e accepte theOmbusmans $erict" entere a plea of not /uilt8 urin/ his arrai/nment anacti$el8 participate in the trial on the merits b8 attenin/ the scheulehearin/s" conuctin/ cross#e3aminations an testif8in/ on his o5n behalf( It 5asonl8 after the trial court renere u/ment a/ainst him that he once a/ainassaile the conuct of the preliminar8 in$esti/ation in the Motion for

Reconsieration(<1= Ghate$er ar/ument Villarin ma8 ha$e re/arin/ the alle/eabsence of a preliminar8 in$esti/ation has therefore been moote( ?8 enterin/



his plea" an acti$el8 participatin/ in the trial" he is eeme to ha$e 5ai$e hisri/ht to preliminar8 in$esti/ation( Petitioners also conten that Suaria shoul also ha$e been inclue as aprincipal in the commission of the oense( &o5e$er" 5hether Suaria shoul or

shoul not be inclue as co#accuse can no lon/er be raise on appeal( An8ri/ht that the petitioners ma8 ha$e in 6uestionin/ the non#inclusion of Suaria inthe Information shoul ha$e been raise in a motion for reconsieration of theMarch )1" )..9 Resolution of the O>ce of the Cit8 Prosecutor 5hichrecommene the ismissal of the complaint a/ainst Suaria(<= &a$in/ faileto a$ail of the properproceural reme8" the8 are no5 estoppe from assailin/ his non#inclusion(

T5o Oenses Penalie Bner Sec( 9- of Presiential Decree No( *2+( Section 9- of P(D( No( *2+" as amene" pro$ies0

Section 9-( Cuttin/" 'atherin/ anor Collectin/ Timber or Other Forest ProuctsGithout License( An8 person 5ho shall cut" /ather" collect" remo$e timber orother forest proucts from an8 forest lan" or timber from alienable or isposablepublic lan" or from pri$ate lan" 5ithout an8 authorit8" or possess timber orother forest proucts 5ithout le/al ocuments as re6uire uner e3istin/ forestla5s an re/ulations" shall be punishe 5ith the penalties impose uner Articles12. an 1)2 of the Re$ise Penal Coe0 Pro$ie" that in the case ofpartnerships" associations" or corporations" the o>cers 5ho orere the cuttin/"/atherin/" collection or possession shall be liable" an if such o>cers are aliens"the8 shall" in aition to the penalt8" be eporte 5ithout further proceein/s onthe part of the Commission on Immi/ration an Deportation(

There are t5o istinct an separate oenses punishe uner Section 9- of P(D(No( *2+" to 5it0 :); Cuttin/" /atherin/" collectin/ an remo$in/ timber or other forest prouctsfrom an8 forest lan" or timber from alienable or isposable public lan" or frompri$ate lan 5ithout an8 authoriation an :,; Possession of timber or other forest proucts 5ithout the le/al ocumentsre6uire uner e3istin/ forest la5s an re/ulations(<+=

The Information char/e petitioners 5ith the secon oense 5hich isconsummate b8 the mere possession of forest proucts 5ithout the properocuments( Ge re$ie5e the recors an hol that the prosecution ha ischar/e theburen of pro$in/ all the elements of the oense char/e( The e$ience of theprosecution pro$e be8on reasonable oubt that petitioners 5ere in custo8 oftimber 5ithout the necessar8 le/al ocuments( Incientall8" 5e note that se$eraltranscripts of steno/raphic notes :TSNs; 5ere not submitte b8 the trial court( Noe3planation 5as pro$ie for these missin/ TSNs( Not5ithstanin/ theincomplete TSNs" 5e still @n that the prosecution 5as able to pro$e be8on

reasonable oubt petitioners culpabilit8(



The prosecution auce se$eral ocuments to pro$e that timber 5ascon@scate from petitioners( It presente a Tall8 Sheet<9= to pro$e that theD%NR Stri7e Force Team e3amine the seie timber on 4anuar8 )1" )..9( Thenumber" $olume an appraise $alue of sai timber 5ere also note in the Tall8Sheet( Seiure receipts 5ere also presente to pro$e that the con@scate timber5ere place in the custo8 of Alarcon<*= an e$entuall8 ta7en to the D%NRO>ce(<-= There 5as a photo/raph of the timber ta7en b8 the tele$ision cre5 leb8 Casenas(<.=

The prosecution li7e5ise presente in e$ience the testimonies of e8e5itnesses'ranaa an Pansacala 5ho testi@e that Lata8aa an ?o8atac 5ere the ones5ho eli$ere the timber(<+2= More si/ni@cantl8" Villarin amitte that he 5as the one 5ho commissione theprocurement of the timber<+)= for the repair of the ?atina8 bri/e( &e e$eneputie ?o8atac to ne/otiate 5ith Suaria an /a$e Lata8aa P,"222(22 totransport the lo/s( ?o8atac later informe him of the eli$er8 of timber(

&o5e$er" he coul not present an8 ocument to sho5 that his possession thereof 5as le/al an pursuant to e3istin/ forest la5s an re/ulations(Rele$ant portions of the testimon8 of Villarin are as follo5s0 J As ?aran/a8 Captain of Pa/alun/an" of course" 8ou hear reports prior to theincient on December 1)" )..+ that ?aran/a8 Captain Camilo Suaria 5as alsoen/a/e in suppl8in/ forest proucts li7e forest lumberA !es" because I al5a8s /o to Ca/a8an e Oro an I can al5a8s rie on his

eepne8( J An 8ou 5ere sure that information of 8ours 5as recei$e b8 8ou an not onl8

b8 one but se$eral persons from ?aran/a8 Ta/pan/i e$en up to ?aran/a8Pa/alun/anA Thats true because he e$en has a recor 5ith the police( J An 8ou learne <this= prior to 4anuar8 )..+A !es" Sir( J An 8our information 5as e$en to the eect that Suaria 5as suppl8in/ille/all8 cut lumber re/ularl8A Ghat I ha$e notice because I al5a8s rie on his eep 5herein lumber 5asbein/ loae" the lumber 5ill be ta7en 5hen it arri$e in Lumbia" 7ilometer +( J %$en if there 5ere alrea8 rais bein/ conucte to the person of CamiloSuaria" still he continue to loa ille/all8 cut lumberA &e slo5e o5n after se$eral arrest because ma8be he 5as ashame becausehe 5as the ?aran/a8 Captain of Ta/pan/i( J An his arrest an the slac7enin/ of his acti$ities of ille/all8 cut lumberoccurre prior to 4une )..+A !es" sir( J <In spite= of 8our 7no5le/e that he is en/a/e <in= ille/all8 cut<tin/= forestproucts" 8ou as ?aran/a8 Captain of Pa/alun/an transacte 5ith him for the

purpose of ac6uirin/ lumber <for= the bri/e at Pa/alun/an



A As 5e roe to/ether in his eep" he informe me that he has some lumber to beuse to buil his house an he tol me he 5ill sell it for the repair of the bri/e inPa/alun/an( J An because of that" in aition" 8ou sent him the speci@cations of materials

for the repair of the bri/e in Pa/alun/anA I let ?o8atac /o to him an <in6uire= from him if he has those speci@cations( J An he communicate to 8ou that he has a$ailable lumber of thosespeci@cationA !es" because he sent to ?o8atac some re6uirements of the speci@cations anhe let me si/n it( J An after that" 8ou close the <eal= 5ith SuariaA !es" because I sent somebo8 to him an 5e i not tal7 an8more( J An thereafter on December 1)" )..+" accorin/ to 8our testimon8 before"

Aniano Lata8aa eli$ere the lumber Eitches 8ou orere on boar thepassen/er eep of Camilo SuariaA Ghen the speci@cations 5ere /i$en" 5e 5ere informe that the lumber 5erealrea8 there( So" it 5as eli$ere( J Gho informe 8ou that the lumber 5ere alrea8 eli$ereA ?o8atac( J An he is referrin/ to those lumber place alon/sie the ?atina8 ?ri/e(A !es" Sir(

J An e$en 5ithout personall8 inspectin/ it" 8ou immeiatel8 pai Lata8aa thecompensation for the eli$er8 of those lumberA There 5as alrea8 an a$ance pa8ment for his eli$er8( J To 5hom i 8ou /i$e the a$anceA To Lata8aa( J !ou ha$e not /i$en the amount to Camilo SuariaA No" Sir( J In fact" the mone8 that 8ou pai to Lata8aa 5as speci@call8 for the

transportation of the lumber from Ta/pan/i to ?atina8 bri/eA !es" Sir( PROS( 'ALARRITA0J An at that time" 8ou pai Lata8aa P,"222 as pa8ment of the lumberA !es" Sir( COBRT0J Di 8ou pa8 Lata8aaA !es" Sir( J &o5 muchA P,"222(



J An 8ou /a$e this to the conuctorA !es" Sir( J !ou tol the conuctor to pa8 the mone8 to Lata8aaA !es" sir(

J Ghat i the conuctor sa8A The conuctor sai that the mone8 5as for the pa8ment for the transportin/ of lumber from Ta/pan/i(<+,= :Bnerscorin/ ours(;

Violation of Sec( 9- of Presiential Decree No( *2+" as amene" ismalum prohibitum(

As a special la5" the nature of the oense is malum prohibitum an as such"criminal intent is not an essential element( &o5e$er" the prosecution must pro$ethat petitioners ha the intent to possess :animus possieni; the timber(<+1=Possession" uner the la5" inclues not onl8 actual possession" but alsoconstructi$e possession( Actual possession e3ists 5hen the <obect of the crime=is in the immeiate ph8sical control of the accuse( On the other han"constructi$e possession e3ists 5hen the <obect of the crime= is uner theominion an control of the accuse or 5hen he has the ri/ht to e3erciseominion an control o$er the place 5here it is foun(<+=

There is no ispute that petitioners 5ere in constructi$e possession of the timber5ithout the re6uisite le/al ocuments( Villarin an Lata8aa 5ere personall8in$ol$e in its procurement" eli$er8 an stora/e 5ithout an8 license or permit

issue b8 an8 competent authorit8( 'i$en these an consierin/ that the oenseis malum prohibitum" petitioners contention that the possession of the ille/all8cut timber 5as not for personal /ain but for the repair of sai bri/e is" therefore"inconse6uential( Corpus Delicti is the Fact of the Commission of the Crime

Petitioners ar/ue that their con$ictions 5ere improper because the corpus elictiha not been establishe( The8 assert that the failure to present the con@scatetimber in court 5as fatal to the cause of the prosecution(

Ge isa/ree( <C=orpus elicti refers to the fact of the commission of the crimechar/e or to the bo8 or substance of the crime( In its le/al sense" it oes notrefer to the ransom mone8 in the crime of 7inappin/ for ransom or to the bo8of the person murere<++= or" in this case" to the seie timber( Since thecorpus elicti is the fact of the commission of the crime" this Court has rule thate$en a sin/le 5itness uncorroborate testimon8" if creible" ma8 su>ce to pro$eit an 5arrant a con$iction therefor( Corpus elicti ma8 e$en be establishe b8circumstantial e$ience(<+9= &ere" the trial court an the CA hel that the corpus elicti 5as establishe b8the ocumentar8 an testimonial e$ience on recor( The Tall8 Sheet" Seiure

Receipts issue b8 the D%NR an photo/raph pro$e the e3istence of the timberan its con@scation( The testimonies of the petitioners themsel$es statin/ in no



uncertain terms the manner in 5hich the8 consummate the oense the8 5erechar/e 5ith 5ere li7e5ise crucial to their con$iction( Ge @n no reason to e$iate from these @nin/s since it has been establishethat factual @nin/s of a trial court are binin/ on us" absent an8 sho5in/ that it

o$erloo7e or misinterprete facts or circumstances of 5ei/ht an substance(<+*= The le/al precept applies to this case in 5hich the trial courts @nin/s 5erea>rme b8 the appellate court(<+-=

The Proper Penalt8 Violation of Section 9- of P(D( No( *2+" as amene" is penalie as 6uali@etheft uner Article 1)2 in relation to Article 12. of the Re$ise Penal Coe :RPC;(

The pertinent portions of these pro$isions rea0 Art( 1)2( Juali@e Theft The crime of theft shall be punishe b8 the penaltiesne3t hi/her b8 t5o e/rees than those respecti$el8 speci@e in the ne3t

precein/ articles" if committe b8 a omestic ser$ant" or 5ith /ra$e abuse ofcon@ence" or if the propert8 stolen is motor $ehicle" mail matter or lar/e cattleor consists of coconuts ta7en from the premises of the plantation or @sh ta7enfrom a @shpon or @sher8" or if propert8 is ta7en on the occasion of @re"earth6ua7e" t8phoon" $olcanic eruption" or an8 calamit8" $ehicular accient orci$il isturbance( Art( 12.( Penalties( An8 person /uilt8 of theft shall be punishe b80 )( The penalt8 of prision ma8or in its minimum an meium perios" if the $alueof the thin/ stolen is more than ),"222 pesos but oes not e3cee ,,"222 pesos

but if the $alue of the thin/ stolen e3cees the latter amount" the penalt8 shallbe the ma3imum perio of the one prescribe in this para/raph" an one 8ear foreach aitional ten thousan pesos" but the total of the penalt8 5hich ma8 beimpose shall not e3cee t5ent8 8ears( In such cases" an in connection 5ith theaccessor8 penalties 5hich ma8 be impose an for the purpose of the otherpro$isions of this Coe" the penalt8 shall be terme prision ma8or or reclusiontemporal" as the case ma8 be( 3 3 3

The Information @le a/ainst the petitioners alle/e that the 91 pieces of timber5ithout the re6uisite le/al ocuments measurin/ "1,9 boar feet 5ere $alueat P)2-")+2(22( To pro$e this alle/ation" the prosecution presente Pio6uinto totestif8" amon/ others" on this amount( Tall8 Sheets an Seiure Receipts 5erealso presente to corroborate sai amount( Gith the $alue of the timbere3ceein/ P,,"222(22" the basic penalt8 is prision ma8or in its minimum anmeium perios to be impose in its ma3imum" the ran/e of 5hich is ei/ht :-;8ears" ei/ht :-; months an one :); a8 to ten :)2; 8ears( Since none of the6ualif8in/ circumstances in Article 1)2 of the RPC 5as alle/e in the Information"the penalt8 cannot be increase t5o e/rees hi/her( In eterminin/ the aitional 8ears of imprisonment" P,,"222(22 is to beeucte from P)2-")+2(22" 5hich results to P-9")+2(22( This remainer mustbe i$ie b8 P)2"222(22" isre/arin/ an8 amount less than P)2"222(22(

Conse6uentl8" ei/ht :-; 8ears must be ae to the basic penalt8( Thus the



ma3imum imposable penalt8 ran/es from si3teen :)9; 8ears" ei/ht :-; monthsan one :); a8 to ei/hteen :)-; 8ears of reclusion temporal( Appl8in/ the Ineterminate Sentence La5" the minimum imposable penalt8shoul be ta7en an85here 5ithin the ran/e of the penalt8 ne3t lo5er in e/ree"

5ithout consierin/ the moif8in/ circumstances( The penalt8 one e/ree lo5erfrom prision ma8or in its minimum an meium perios is prision correccional inits meium an ma3imum perios" the ran/e of 5hich is from t5o :,; 8ears" four:; months an one :); a8 to si3 :9; 8ears( Thus" the RTC" as a>rme b8 the CA"erroneousl8 @3e the minimum perio of the penalt8 at t5el$e :),; 8ears ofprision ma8or( Finall8" the case a/ainst ?o8atac must be ismisse consierin/ his emise e$enbefore the RTC renere its 4u/ment( G&%R%FOR%" the petition is D%NI%D( The assaile Decision ate 4une ,-" ,22+an the Resolution ate September ,," ,229 in CA#'(R( CR No( ,9*,2 are

AFFIRM%D 5ith the MODIFICATIONS that petitioners Crisostomo Villarin anAniano Lata8aa are each sentence to suer imprisonment of t5o :,; 8ears"four :; months" an one :); a8 of prision correccional" as minimum" to si3teen:)9; 8ears" ei/ht :-; months" an one :); a8 of reclusion temporal" asma3imum( The complaint a/ainst Cipriano ?o8atac is hereb8 DISMISS%D( SO ORD%R%D(



of the PhilippinesSBPR%M% COBRT?a/uio Cit8

T&IRD DIVISION

'(R( Nos( )-9*1.#.92 April )*" ,2)1

L%OV%'ILDO R( RBKOL" Petitioner"$s(

T&% &ON( SANDI'AN?A!AN an the P%OPL% OF T&% P&ILIPPIN%S" Responents(

D % C I S I O N

V%LASCO" 4R(" 4(0

This is an appeal see7in/ to nullif8 the December )." ,22- Decision) of the FirstDi$ision of the Sani/anba8an in Criminal Case Nos( S?#2-#CRIM#221. to 2,+."5hich con$icte Leo$e/ilo R( Ruol :Ruol;" then Ma8or of 'eneral Na7ar"Jueon" of Bsurpation of O>cial Functions penalie uner Article )** of theRe$ise Penal Coe :RPC;(

The Facts

Ruol 5as the ma8or of 'eneral Na7ar" Jueon from ,22) to ,22( %arlier in histerm" he or/anie a Multi#Sectoral Consultati$e Assembl8 compose of ci$ilsociet8 /roups" public o>cials an concerne sta7eholers 5ith the en in $ie5of re/ulatin/ an monitorin/ the transportation of sal$a/e forest proucts5ithin the $icinit8 of 'eneral Na7ar( Amon/ those present in the or/aniationalmeetin/ 5ere Pro$incial %n$ironment an Natural Resources O>cer :P%NRO;Ro/elio Del/ao Sr( an ?ishop 4ulio Ha$ier Laba8en" the OCD#DD of the Prelatureof Infanta %meritus of the Catholic Church an Chairperson of TIPAN" anen$ironmental non#/o$ernment or/aniation that operates in the municipalitiesof 'eneral Na7ar" Infanta an Real in Jueon pro$ince( Durin/ the sai assembl8"the participants a/ree that to re/ulate the sal$a/e forests proucts" the O>ceof the Ma8or" throu/h Ruol" shall issue a permit to transport after pa8ment ofthe corresponin/ fees to the municipal treasurer(,

Conse6uentl8" from ,22) to ,22" t5o hunre t5ent8#one :,,); permits to

transport sal$a/e forest proucts 5ere issue to $arious recipients" of 5hichfort8#three :1; bore the si/nature of Ruol 5hile the remainin/ one hunrese$ent8#ei/ht :)*-; 5ere si/ne b8 his co#accuse 'uillermo T( Sabiuria:Sabiuria;" then municipal aministrator of 'eneral Na7ar(1

On 4une ,229" on the basis of the issue Permits to Transport" ,,) Informationsfor $iolation of Art( )** of the RPC or for Bsurpation of Authorit8 or O>cialFunctions 5ere @le a/ainst Ruol an Sabiuria" oc7ete as Criminal Case Nos(S?#2-#CRIM#221. to 2,+.(

%3cept for the ate of commission" the escription of forest prouct" person/i$en the permit" an o>cial receipt number" the sai Informations uniforml8

rea0



That" on :ate of commission; or sometime prior or subse6uent thereto" in'eneral Na7ar" Jueon" an 5ithin the urisiction of this &onorable Court" theabo$e#name accuse Leo$e/ilo R( Ruol an 'uillermo M( Sabiuria" bothpublic o>cers" bein/ then the Municipal Ma8or an Municipal Aministrator"respecti$el8" of 'eneral Na7ar" Jueon" ta7in/ a$anta/e of their o>cial positionan committin/ the oense in relation to their o>ce" conspirin/ anconfeeratin/ 5ith each other i then an there 5illfull8" unla5full8 ancriminall8" issue permit to transport :escription of forest prouct; to :person/i$en the permit; uner O(R( No( :o>cial receipt number; uner the pretense ofo>cial position an 5ithout bein/ la5full8 entitle to o so" such authorit8properl8 belon/in/ to the Department of %n$ironment an Natural Resources" tothe ama/e an preuice of the of the /o$ernment(

CONTRAR! TO LAG(

The etails for each Information are as follo5s0+

CriminalCase No(Date of Commission( Description of Forest Prouct Person 'i$en thePermit O R No(221. ,2 4an( ,22 )"222 boar ft malaruhatmaran/ Da$i Villareal

4r( )9,19222 )9 4an( ,22 922 boar ft la5aan Pepito Aumentao )9,19122) )+ 4an( ,22 )22 pcs( malaruhat:assorte sies; Francisco Menoa

)*2-1+,22, )+ 4an( ,22 122 cubic m or 1"222 boarft /oo lumber%muno elaVe/a )*2-1+1221 )+ 4an( ,22 922 boar ft /oo lumber Da$i Villareal" 4r( )*2-1,)22 )+ 4an( ,22 )"2+2 boar ft /oo lumber Romeo Sabiuria )*2-1,,22+ ), 4an( ,22 )"222 boar ft malaruhat Nestor Asteaa )9,++,)229 2. 4an( ,22 "222 boar ft /oo lumber:assorte sies; Nat8 Oroco

)9,1,)22* 2- 4an( ,22 *22 boar ft lauan Ginnie Acebo6ue )9,1)+22- 2+ 4an( ,22 +22 boar ft lauan %muno ela Ve/a )9,12)22. 2* 4an( ,22 3 + hali/i Merc8 Var/as )9,11)22+2 29 4an( ,22 /oo lumber Mario Puea)9,11)222+) ,) Oct( ,22,)"222 boar ft slicelumber Conchita Oi2-12-,+22+, ,) Oct( ,22,22 boar ft slice lumber Lita Crisostomo 2-12-,922+1 ,- Oct( ,22,+2 boar ft maran/lumber A/osto Asto$ea 2-12-,.22+ 2- 4an( ,221 122 boar ft slice lumber:assorte sies; %na %( Moises

2.1.)22++ )1 4an( ,221 )"+22 boar ft slicelumber :assorte sie;Dante K( Meina2.1.9

22+9 )9 4an( ,221 22 boar ft slice lumber:assorte sies;4ohnn8 A( Asto$ea2.1.*+

22+* ,* 4an( ,221 * pcs slice lumber )piece )- roa Sonn8 Le8nes))-)-,*

22+- ) Feb( ,221,"222 pcs troph8 :5oocar$in/s; Florelia %spiritu))-,211

22+. )* Feb( ,221*22 boar ft slice lumber:assorte sies; Nestor Asteaa))-).)*

2292 )- Feb( ,221)"91, boar ft har 5oo"7isame sanipa Arthur Lanie

Occea ))-,,2*229) ,2 Feb( ,22),9 pcs lumber LambertoAumentao )*2--)2



229, 1 March ,221 +2 boar ft har 5oo:assorte sies;Nestor Asto$ea))-,)1

2291 9 March ,221 )92 pcs slice lumber:assorte sies; RemeiosOroco ))-,199229 )2 March ,221 )"+22 boar ft malaruhat:assorte sies; NestorAsteaa ))-)..9229+ )) March ,221 .22 boar ft slice lumber assorte sies; FernanoCalao ))-,,112299 )1 March ,221 )"2- boar ft har 5oo:assorte sies; NestorAsteaa ))-,++1229* ,2 March ,221 .2 pcs( slice lumber:assorte sies; Rem8 Oroco

))-,)+*229- ,) March ,221 .2 pcs( slice lumber:assorte sies; Rene Francia

))-,)9-229. ,+ March ,221 +22 boar ft lumberassorte sies; Thelma Ramia

))-,)*.22*2 ,9 March ,221 ) pc( 92 3 *+ be :narra;@nishe prouct Ro8 4usto

))-,,922*) ) April ,22 .+ pcs( 7alap :. ft(; 9 pcs(post :)2 ft(; +22pcs(Anaha5 Anita Solloa 19+)2+.22*, 2- April ,22 92 boar ft lumber:assorte sies; Rem8 Oroco

19+))2)22*1 ) April ,22 9. pcs( slice lumber:assorte sies; Dino America 19+))2)22* ,1 April ,221 -*2 boar ft har lumber:assorte sies; Amao Praillaa 19+),9-22*+ , April ,221 22 boar ft lumber:assorte sies; Rom8 ?uenicho 19+),1*22*9 , April ,221 22 boar ft rattan %mmanuel?uenicho 19+)1,22** 12 April ,22 )"222 boar ft /oo lumber:assorte sies; M8lene Moises 19+)11+#C22*- 12 April ,22 +22 boar ft slice lumber:assorte sies; Carlito Var/as 19+)11922*. 2- Ma8 ,221*, 3 *- be :narra; 1 pcs(92 3 *+ be :lin/ mano7; ) pc( - 3 *+ e :7ulin/mano7; @nishe prouct Fel8 4usto 19+)+).22-2 ), Ma8 ,221,. boar ft lumber Vir/ilio Cuero 19+2.,*22-) )1 Ma8 ,2211 pcs( slice lumber

:assorte sies; Amano Larea 19+)*-122-, ) Ma8 ,221*+2 boar ft /oo lumber Gilma Cuero 19+)+,.22-1 )+ Ma8 ,2212 boar ft lumber Marte Cuballes 19+)+1,22- )+ Ma8 ,221,) pcs( ,393* or )"+22boar ft @nishe prouct Annelia Var/as 19+)+1)22-+ ,9 Ma8 ,221+* pcs( slice lumber:assorte sies; Dann8 Sanche 19+)+-+22-9 ,* Ma8 ,22122 boar ft cut 5oos %m8 Francia 19+)1.22-* 12 Ma8 ,221122 boar ft lumber Dais8 Cuero 19+2.122-- 12 Ma8 ,221)"222 boar ft lumber:assorte sies; Lea Asto$ea 19+))9)22-. 2+ 4une ,221 )12 pcs( or )"+22 boar ft

lumber cut 5oos 4ose Nol8 Moises 19+)-2.22.2 29 4une ,221 122 boar ft lumber Merc8 %scara/a 19+))9.



22.) )- 4une ,221 -22 boar ft /oo lumber Dante Meena 19+)*.22., , 4une ,221 ,- pcs( /oo lumber:assorte sies; Vir/ilio Cuero ),*)2,22.1 ,+ 4une ,221 ).2 pcs( /oo lumber:assorte sies; Dante Meina ),*,2+22. 2, 4ul8 ,221 -22 boar ft( /oo lumber Dante Meina ),*,,)22.+ 2, 4ul8 ,221 )2+ pcs( fresh cut lumber:assorte sies; %mmanuel Lusan/ ),*)9*22.9 2 4ul8 ,221 Assorte sies of /ooLumber Alberto ela Cru ),*)*,22.* 2* 4ul8 ,221 ?ulu7an 5oos Conchita Li/a8a ),*)*+22.- 2* 4ul8 ,221 9 pcs( &ali/i 4ane ?ula/a8),*)*122.. )) 4ul8 ,221 *22 boar ft( cut 5oos Dominaor A$eno ),*+,2)22 ) 4ul8 ,22 -22 boar ft( cut 5oolumber Dante Meina ),*)-22)2) )9 4ul8 ,221 922 boar ft( cut lumber Rachelle Solana ),*)-,2)2, ,1 4ul8 ,221 )",22 boar ft( har lumber Necito Crisostomo ),*)--

2)21 ,1 4ul8 ,221 *22 boar ft( /oo lumber Nestor Asteaa ),*),.2)2 ,- 4ul8 ,221 .+. boar ft( cut lumber Necito Crisostomo ),*,-2)2+ ,. 4ul8 ,221 922 boar ft( lumber Marilou Asteaa ),*).)2)29 2) Au/( ,221 )"222 boar Malaruhat Ruel Ruol ),*).-2)2* 2+ Au/( ,221 -22 boar ft( lumber Vir/ilio Aumentao )1,,-+12)2- 2- Au/( ,221 (- cubic ft( Amlan/5oosRosa Tur/o )1,,-9,2)2. ), Au/( ,221 *-- ?oar ft( cut 5oos Maria TeresaAornao )1,,-9+2))2 ,+ Au/( ,221 +22 boar ft( assortelumber Rom8 ?uenicho )1,,.,.2))) ,- Au/( ,221 , sala sets Ro8 4usto )1,,-*.2)), ,. Au/( ,221 +9 pieces /oo lumber:assorte sies; Marilou Asteaa )1,12+92))1 21 Sept( ,221 + cubic ft soft5oos:assorte sies; Rosa Tur/o )1,,-12)) 2+ Sept( ,221 )"222 boar ft( /oolumber :assorte sies; A/ustin Var/as )1,1292))+ 2- Sept( ,221 -2 pcs( 5oo post Peter ?anton)1,1),2))9 2. Sept( ,221 ) for5ar loa :soft 5oo; %@fania V( Astre/a

)1,12,12))* )) Sept( ,221 ) for5ar loa :assortespecies; Nolin/ Multi

Purpose Corp( )1,12*,2))- )) Sept( ,221 +22 boar ft( /oo lumber A/ustin Var/as)1,12*)

2)). ), Sept( ,221 .22 boar ft( /oo lumber:assorte sies; Nestor Asteaa )1,12*12),2 )+ Sept( ,221 .+2 boar ft( Malaruhat %na Moises )1,1),-2),) )9 Sept( ,221 ) pcs( Panel oor Ro8 4usto )1,12)2),, )* Sept( ,221 +9 boar ft( soft 5oos Mr( Mar6ue )1,,.+)2),1 ). Sept( ,221 )"922 boar ft( /oolumber :assorte sies; DecembranoSabiuria )1,12-+2), ,, Sept( ,221 .22 boar ft( /oo lumber 4ere8 ela Ve/a

)1,12.+2),+ ,, Sept( ,221 ) 4eep loa har 5oo Feerico Mar6ue )1,1)22



2),9 ,+ Sept( ,221 *+2 boar ft( MalaruhatMaran/ Vir/ilio Villareal )1,1,+,2),* 21 Oct( ,221*+2 boar ft( MalaruhatMaran/ Vir/ilio Villareal )1,1,+,2),- 2, Oct( ,22192 pcs( /oo lumber:assorte sies; Nestor Astora )-,99,2),. 21 Oct( ,221)"922 boar ft( /oolumber :assorte sies; Vir/ilio Villareal )-,9992)12 21 Oct( ,22122 boar ft( Malaruhat:assorte sies; Amao Praillaa )-,-)+2)1) 21 Oct( ,221) full loa :soft 5oo; Florelia %spiritu )-,-9*2)1, 21 Oct( ,2219"1, boar ft stic7s 4oel Pacai6ui )-,*)92)11 21 Oct( ,2219"2.2 boar ft stic7s 4oel Pacai6ui )-,*)*2)1 2* Oct( ,221.22 boar ft( /oo lumber:assorte sies; M8lene Moises )-,9*22)1+ )1 Oct( ,221922 boar ft( La5aan:assorte sies; Ginnie Aceba6ue )-,*1

2)19 )1 Oct( ,221)"*22 boar ft( Malaruhat:assorte sies; Nestor ?autista )-,*22)1* )1 Oct( ,221122 boar ft( La5aan:assorte sies; Trinia 'uerero )-,**2)1- )9 Oct( ,221*22 boar ft( La5aan Feerico Mar6ue )-,*-,2)1. )* Oct( ,221"92, boar ft( /oolumber :assorte sies; Nenita 4untreal )-,*-*2)2 ,2 Oct( ,221)"*22 boar ft( Malaruhat:assorte sies; ?elen Orinao )-,*.12)) ,1 Oct( ,22199 pcs( /oo lumber:assorte sies; Nestor Asteaa )-,-*2), ,+ Oct( ,221)"*22 boar ft( /oolumber Dante Meina )1,1,**2)1 ,* Oct( ,221)"-22 boar ft( /oolumber :assorte sies; Dante Meina )-,.+)2) ,- Oct( ,221)",+ boar ft( /oolumber :assorte sies; 4onathan Supremo )1,1,-)2)+ ,- Oct( ,221,"+22 boar ft( lumber:assorte sies; Ramir Sanche )-122)2)9 ,- Oct( ,221+22 boar ft( /oo lumber:assorte sies; Rolano Franela )1,1,-22)* 21 No$( ,221 -+2 @nishe proucts:cabinet component"

balusters" oor ambs; Nat8 Oroco )-12,22)- 21 No$( ,221 22 boar ft( /oo lumber:assorte sies; 9bunles of stic7s %liabeth 4unio )-12,,2). )2 No$( ,221 )"**2 boar ft( /oolumber :assorte sies; Dante Meina )-121,2)+2 )2 No$( ,221 )"222 boar ft( lumber Nestor Asteaa )-12112)+) ), No$( ,221 .22 boar ft( lumber:assorte sies; Feerico Mar6ue )-12)2)+, ), No$( ,221 Mini ump truc7 /oolumber :assorte sies; Rialito Francia )-12,2)+1 ) No$( ,221 +22 components" )22 pcs

balusters :assorte sies of strin/ers" tassels; Annie 'onales )-12*2



2)+ ) No$( ,221 *22 boar ft( /oo lumber Ginnie Acebo6ue)1,1,-*

2)++ )* No$( ,221 )"922 boar ft( Malaruhatlumber :assorte sies; Feerico Mar6ue )-12*,2)+9 2+ No$( ,221 22 boar ft( Tapil *pcs( )3)23) ?elen Orinao )-12,12)+* 2+ No$( ,221 )"222 boar ft( lumber:assorte sies; Leonaro A$eno )9,12212)+- 2+ No$( ,221 )+2 boar ft( /oo lumber Francisco Menoa

)-12,*2)+. 2* No$( ,221 11 bunles of semi#@nishe proucts Nat8 Oroco

)-121)2)92 2- No$( ,221 -22 boar ft( lumber:assorte sies; Armano Praillaa)-1)12)9) ,+ No$( ,221 12 pcs( slice lumber Ariel Molina )91,2+.2)9, ). No$( ,221 )"222 boar ft( /oolumber :assorte sies; Dante Meina )9,12+1

2)91 ,2 No$( ,221 +22 boar ft( /oo lumber:assorte sies; Maria TeresaAornao )1,1,--2)9 ,2 No$( ,221 )"+22 boar ft( /oolumber :assorte sies; Romeo Sabiuria )-12-22)9+ ,) No$( ,221 )"222 boar ft( Malaruhatlumber :assorte sies; Dante Meina )9,12+*2)99 ,+ Oct( ,221,"222 boar ft( lumber:assorte sies; Feerico Mar6ue )1,,.-,2)9* ,+ No$( ,221 +22 boar ft( Malaruhat Feerico Mar6ue )-12.22)9- ,+ No$( ,221 *2 bunles of Rattan:assorte sies; Manuel ?uenicho )-12.+2)9. ,- No$( ,221 9"+, boar ft( @nisheproucts :cabinet ancomponents; Nenita 4untareal )9,12).2)*2 2) Dec( ,221 22 boar ft( Malaruhat Feerico Mar6ue )9,129)2)*) 2) Dec( ,221 +22 boar ft( /oo lumber Nestor Asteaa

)-1),12)*, 2) Dec( ,221 )"+22 boar ft( lumber:assorte sies; ?elen Orinao )9,12912)*1 21 Dec( ,221 +22 boar ft( Laniti Rosa Tur/o )-1),+2)* 2 Dec( ,221 )"222 boar ft( lumber Dante Meina )-1),*2)*+ 2 Dec( ,221 ,9 pcs( lumber :assorte

sies; , bunles of stic7s Nenita 4untareal )-1),-2)*9 2+ Dec( ,221 -22 boar ft( lumber Nestor Asteaa )-1)1)2)** 2- Dec( ,221 9*- boar ft( /oo lumber:assorte sies; %lenor Ruta6uio )9,12-,2)*- 2- Dec( ,221 ,22 boar ft( lumber:assorte sies; Gilliam Ruta6uio )9,12)22)*. 2. Dec( ,221 )"-22 boar ft( lumber Nestor Asteaa )9,12.22)-2 ), Dec( ,221 One eep loa of /oolumber :assorte sies; An/elo A$ellano )9,12..2)-) ), Dec( ,221 One eep loa of /oolumber :assorte sies; An/elo A$ellano )9,12..2)-, ), Dec( ,221 -22 boar ft( lumber Pepito Aumentao )-1)*

2)-1 )9 Dec( ,221 922 boar ft( Malaruhat 4onathan Marcial )9,12112)- )9 Dec( ,221 9+2 boar ft( lumber Pepito Aumentao )-,.-*



2)-+ )9 Dec( ,221 )"222 boar ft( Malaruhat Dante Meina )-,.-92)-9 )- Dec( ,221 )22 boar ft( lumber Alain A$eno)1,,..,2)-* ). Dec( ,221 *-2 boar ft( lumber Pepito Aumentao )1,12222)-- ). Dec( ,221 )"+22 boar ft( cocolumber Felecita Mar6ue )1,,..-2)-. ,, Dec( ,221 922 boar ft( lumber ?elen C( Orinao )9,1,2.2).2 ,. Dec( ,221 922 boar ft( La5aan Ginnie Acibo6ue )9,1,))2).) ,. Dec( ,221 122 boar ft( lumber !olana Crisostomo)9,1,)22)., 12 Dec( ,221 -22 boar ft( La5aan Pepito Aumentao )9,1,)+2).1 ,2 No$( ,221 )+2 boar ft( /oo lumber:assorte sies; Francisco Menoa )-12-92). 12 4une ,221 +2 boar ft( fresh cutlumber M8lene Moises ),*),92).+ )1 4ul8 ,22) ) L#122 loa of @nishean semi#@nishe proucts %$an/eline Moises .-.-1#J2).9 2, 4ul8 ,22) .9 pcs( /oo lumber:assorte sies; Rollie L( Velasco .-...9#J

2).* 2* Ma8 ,22)"+22 boar ft( baba8ahinlumber Nemia Molina ,229*2).- ). April ,22 )2* pcs( slice lumber:assorte sies; Carlo 'umalin )-9-2+22).. + March ,22 )2 pcs( Dea5oo:?ula7an; %liabeth 4unio )*2--..2,22 , March ,22 922 boar ft( Amalan/5oo Roa Tur/o )-9*92-2,2) ) March ,22 ). slice lumber :assortesies; Necito Crisostomo )*2--.)2,2, ) March ,22 -2 bunles of rattan Manuel ?uenicho )*2--.22,21 ,1 Feb( ,2212 pcs( slice lumber:assorte sies; Leonaro A$eno )*2--912,2 )1 Feb( ,22+2 pcs( slice slice lumber:assorte sies; Feerico Mar6ue )*2-9.-2,2+ ), Feb( ,229. pcs( slice slice lumber:assorte sies; Florencio ?orreo )*2-9.2,29 )* Feb( ,22+2 pcs( slice slice lumber:assorte sies; Ronnie Asteaa )*2-**2,2* 2 Feb( ,22922 boar ft( slice lumber:assorte sies; Pepito Aumentao )*2--92,2- ) March ,22 ,) pcs( La5aan :assortesies; Atan Mar6ue )*2--*-

2,2. Feb( ,22 +91 boar ft( slice lumber:assorte sies; DecembranoSabiuria )*2--*2,)2 29 Feb( ,22-2 pcs( ?uu7an :B/at; Maila S( Oroco )*2-+*2,)) 12 4an( ,22 )"222 boar ft( /oolumber :assorte sies; Pepito Aumentao )*2-+12,), ,. 4an( ,22 .+2 boar ft( /oo lumber:assorte sies; Leonaro Moises )*2-+,-2,)1 ,- 4an( ,22 )"222 boar ft( /oolumber :assorte sies; Pepito Aumentao )*2-+)-2,) ,- 4an( ,22 +" 222 boar ft( /oolumber :assorte sies; Carmelita Loreno )*2-+,)

2,)+ ,- 4an( ,22 1+2 boar ft( /oo lumber:assorte sies; Amano Praillaa )*2-19-



2,)9 ,1 4an( ,22 -22 boar ft( lumber:assorte sies; Pepito Aumentao )*2-+)*2,)* ,) 4an( ,22 )"2+2 boar ft( /oolumber :assorte sies; Romeo Sabiuria )*2-+2-2,)- 29 April ,22 -22 boar ft( slice lumber:assorte sies; M8lene Moises )-9-2,+2,). )) March ,22 122 pieces or )" ,22 boarft( slice lumber :assortesies; %rnesto Aumentao )*2-.*+2,,2 2, Feb( ,22*"222 boar ft( /oolumber Carmelita Loreno )*2-1*92,,) 2- 4an( ,22 922 boar ft( Malaruhat Nestor Asteaa )9,1+)2,,, )2 Dec( ,221 122 pieces /oo lumber Francisco Menoa )9,12.92,,1 )- No$( ,221 9"1, boar ft( assortespecies Nat8 Oroco )-12-2,, 12 Oct( ,221-"222 boar ft( Malauban Ma( TeresaAornao )-12).

2,,+ ,) Oct( ,221)"**2 boar ft( /oolumber :assorte sies; Dante Meina )-,*.92,,9 ,) Oct( ,221122 boar ft( Malaruhat:assorte sies; Leonaro S( A$eno )1,1,*)2,,* ,) Oct( ,221)2"-*+ boar ft( lumber:assorte sies; Annie 'onales )1,1,*12,,- ,2 Oct( ,221122 boar ft( slice lumber ?ernaro 'onal$o )-,-1+2,,. )* Oct( ,2219"2.2 boar ft( lumber Nat8 Oroco )-,-12,12 )* Oct( ,221)9 pcs( panel oor:@nishe prouct; Ro8 4usto )-,*12,1) 2) Oct( ,221122 boar ft( /oo lumber:assorte sies; Analia Var/as )-,*)22,1, 2) Oct( ,221*22 boar ft( Malaruhat:assorte sies; %n/r( Mercao )-,*922,11 12 Sept( ,221 +22 boar ft( slice lumber:assorte sies; M8lene Moises )-,-)22,1 ,. Sept( ,221 -22 boar ft( /oo lumber:assorte sies; Gennie Acebu6ue )-,*212,1+ )+ Sept( ,221 )"+22 boar ft( malaruhatlumber :assorte sies; DecembranoSabiuria )1,12*92,19 )2 Sept( ,221 ,22 boar ft( /oo lumber:assorte sies; 4unier Fran6uia )1,12,*

2,1* ,. Au/( ,221 922 boar ft( /oo lumber Annalia Var/as)1,,-122,1- 2* Au/( ,221 ,"222 boar ft( lumber:assorte sies; Abilaro ela Cru ),*,222,1. 29 Au/( ,221 )"222 boar ft( har5oo 4ennifer Nualo )1,,-2,2,2 ,+ 4une ,221 922 boar ft( /oo lumber Ro8 4usto ),*2,2,) ,9 Ma8 ,221-22 boar ft( lumber Aelino Larea 19+)2.92,, ,9 Ma8 ,221Assorte sies /oo lumber Rollie Velasco 19+)+-*2,1 ,1 Ma8 ,2211, slice lumber :assortesies; Dolores S( 'loria 19+)..2, ,2 Ma8 ,221+22 boar ft( lumber Mar8l8n e LoretoMelita Masilan/ 19+)+*

2,+ 2, Ma8 ,221),1 pieces slice lumber:assorte sies; Armano Laria 19+)9+9



2,9 )* Feb( ,221*2 pieces slice lumber:assorte sies; %fren Tena RomeoSera@nes ))-,,22,* 2* Feb( ,221) piece narra be ) piecenarra panel oor 9 pcs(Refri/erator stan ) pc(Narra cabinet :@nisheprouct; Ro8 D( 4usto ))-,2922,- 2+ Dec( ,22, )2 pcs( roun poles Lamberto R( Ruol 2.19*2,. ,2 No$( ,22, +22 boar ft( lumber:assorte sies; Lu Asto$ea 2.19)-2,+2 12 Oct( ,22,)",22 boar ft( slicelumber :assorte sies; Arceli Fortunao 2-129.-2,+) 2 Oct( ,22,+22 boar ft( &ulin/Mano7 Ro8 4usto 2-12992,+, ,* Sept( ,22, 122 boar ft( slice lumber:assorte sies; Ro8 4usto 2-129,+

2,+1 , Sept( ,22, )"222 boar ft( slicelumber :assorte sies; Inna L( Customerao 2-12**)2,+ ,1 Sept( ,22, )"222 boar ft( slicelumber :assorte sies; Normelita L(Curioso 2-129)22,++ 21 Sept( ,22, ,"222 pcs( troph8 :5oocar$in/s; Floreelia D(%spiritu 9-99,2,+9 * March ,22, ,"222 sets troph8 :5oocar$in/s; Floreelia D(%spiritu 2.2+.2,+* 21 Dec( ,22) )2"222 sets troph8 :5oocar$in/s; Floreelia D(%spiritu 2.2*9.2,+- ), Sept( ,22) )"2*+ boar ft of stic7s )"+2 boar ft( ?ollilo:assorte sies; Lea A( Ri$era **-91112,+. 2* Oct( ,221Assorte lumber Ro8 D( 4usto )-,*9+Consierin/ that the facts are unispute" the parties urin/ Pre#Trial a/ree toispense 5ith the presentation of testimonial e$ience an submit the case forecision base on the ocumentar8 e$ience an oint stipulation of factscontaine in the Pre#Trial Orer( Thereafter" the accuse an the prosecutionsubmitte their respecti$e memorana(9

Ruols Defense

As summarie b8 the Sani/anba8an" Ruol professes his innocence base onfollo5in/ ar/uments0

:); As Chief %3ecuti$e of the municipalit8 of 'eneral Na7ar" Jueon" he isauthorie to issue permits to transport forest proucts pursuant to RA *)925hich /i$e the L'B not onl8 e3press po5ers but also those po5ers that arenecessaril8 implie from the po5ers e3pressl8 /rante as 5ell as those that arenecessar8" appropriate or inciental to the L'BQs e>cient an eecti$e/o$ernance( The L'B is li7e5ise /i$en po5ers that are essential to the promotion

of the /eneral 5elfare of the inhabitants( The /eneral 5elfare clause pro$ie inSection )9" Chapter ," Title One" ?oo7 I of R(A( *)92 is a massi$e /rant of



authorit8 that enables L'Bs to perform or e3ercise ust about an8 po5er that 5illbene@t their local constituencies(

:,; In aition to the fore/oin/" R(A( *)92 has e$ol$e certain functions anresponsibilities of the D%NR to the L'B( An the permits to transport 5ere issuepursuant to the e$ol$e function to mana/e an control communal forests 5ithan area not e3ceein/ @ft8 :+2; s6uare 7ilometers(

:1; The Permits to Transport 5ere issue as an incient to the pa8ment of Transport Fees le$ie b8 the municipalit8 for the use of local public roas for thetransport of sal$a/e forest proucts( Bner :a; Section +" Article H of theConstitution" :b; Section ),." Chapter I" Title One ?oo7 II of R(A( *)92" an :c;Section )-9" Article Fi$e" Chapter +" Tile One" ?oo7 II of R(A( *)92" themunicipalit8 is /rante the po5er to create its o5n sources of re$enue an tole$8 fees in accorance there5ith(

:; The onl8 7in of ocument the D%NR issues relatin/ to lo/" timber or lumber

is enominate Certi@cate of Timber Ori/in or CTO for lo/s an Certi@cate ofLumber Ori/in or CLO for lumber hence" e$en if accuse issue the TransportPermits on his sie" a person 5antin/ to transport the sai forest proucts 5oulha$e to appl8 an obtain a CTO or CLO from the D%NR( The Transport Permitsissue b8 the accuse 5ere ne$er ta7en as a substitute for the CTO or CLO" anthis is the reason 5h8 sai permits contain the annotation Subect to D%NRrules" la5s an re/ulations(

:+; There is no proof of conspirac8 bet5een the accuse( The Transport Permits5ere issue b8 accuse Sabiuria in his capacit8 as Municipal Aministrator anhis mere issuance is not enou/h to impute upon the accuse Ruol an8trans/ression or 5ron/oin/ that ma8 ha$e been committe in the issuancethereof follo5in/ the rulin/ in Arias $( Sani/anba8an :)-2 SCRA 12.;(

:9; The D%NR irectl8 sanctione an e3pressl8 authorie the issuance of the,,) Transport permits throu/h the Pro$incial %n$ironment an natural Resourceso>cer Ro/elio Del/ao Sr(" in a Multi#Sectoral Consultati$e Assembl8(

:*; The accuse cannot be con$icte of Bsurpation of Authorit8 since the8 inot act uner the pretense of o>cial position" accuse Ruol ha$in/ issue thepermits in his capacit8 as Ma8or an there 5as no pretense or misrepresentationon his part that he 5as an o>cer of D%NR(*

Rulin/ of the Sani/anba8an

search

Republic of the PhilippinesSBPR%M% COBRT?a/uio Cit8

T&IRD DIVISION

'(R( Nos( )-9*1.#.92 April )*" ,2)1

L%OV%'ILDO R( RBKOL" Petitioner"



$s( T&% &ON( SANDI'AN?A!AN an the P%OPL% OF T&% P&ILIPPIN%S" Responents(

D % C I S I O N

V%LASCO" 4R(" 4(0

This is an appeal see7in/ to nullif8 the December )." ,22- Decision) of the FirstDi$ision of the Sani/anba8an in Criminal Case Nos( S?#2-#CRIM#221. to 2,+."5hich con$icte Leo$e/ilo R( Ruol :Ruol;" then Ma8or of 'eneral Na7ar"Jueon" of Bsurpation of O>cial Functions penalie uner Article )** of theRe$ise Penal Coe :RPC;(

The Facts

Ruol 5as the ma8or of 'eneral Na7ar" Jueon from ,22) to ,22( %arlier in histerm" he or/anie a Multi#Sectoral Consultati$e Assembl8 compose of ci$il

societ8 /roups" public o>cials an concerne sta7eholers 5ith the en in $ie5of re/ulatin/ an monitorin/ the transportation of sal$a/e forest proucts5ithin the $icinit8 of 'eneral Na7ar( Amon/ those present in the or/aniationalmeetin/ 5ere Pro$incial %n$ironment an Natural Resources O>cer :P%NRO;Ro/elio Del/ao Sr( an ?ishop 4ulio Ha$ier Laba8en" the OCD#DD of the Prelatureof Infanta %meritus of the Catholic Church an Chairperson of TIPAN" anen$ironmental non#/o$ernment or/aniation that operates in the municipalitiesof 'eneral Na7ar" Infanta an Real in Jueon pro$ince( Durin/ the sai assembl8"the participants a/ree that to re/ulate the sal$a/e forests proucts" the O>ceof the Ma8or" throu/h Ruol" shall issue a permit to transport after pa8ment ofthe corresponin/ fees to the municipal treasurer(,

Conse6uentl8" from ,22) to ,22" t5o hunre t5ent8#one :,,); permits totransport sal$a/e forest proucts 5ere issue to $arious recipients" of 5hichfort8#three :1; bore the si/nature of Ruol 5hile the remainin/ one hunrese$ent8#ei/ht :)*-; 5ere si/ne b8 his co#accuse 'uillermo T( Sabiuria:Sabiuria;" then municipal aministrator of 'eneral Na7ar(1

On 4une ,229" on the basis of the issue Permits to Transport" ,,) Informationsfor $iolation of Art( )** of the RPC or for Bsurpation of Authorit8 or O>cialFunctions 5ere @le a/ainst Ruol an Sabiuria" oc7ete as Criminal Case Nos(S?#2-#CRIM#221. to 2,+.(

%3cept for the ate of commission" the escription of forest prouct" person/i$en the permit" an o>cial receipt number" the sai Informations uniforml8rea0

That" on :ate of commission; or sometime prior or subse6uent thereto" in'eneral Na7ar" Jueon" an 5ithin the urisiction of this &onorable Court" theabo$e#name accuse Leo$e/ilo R( Ruol an 'uillermo M( Sabiuria" bothpublic o>cers" bein/ then the Municipal Ma8or an Municipal Aministrator"respecti$el8" of 'eneral Na7ar" Jueon" ta7in/ a$anta/e of their o>cial positionan committin/ the oense in relation to their o>ce" conspirin/ anconfeeratin/ 5ith each other i then an there 5illfull8" unla5full8 ancriminall8" issue permit to transport :escription of forest prouct; to :person

/i$en the permit; uner O(R( No( :o>cial receipt number; uner the pretense ofo>cial position an 5ithout bein/ la5full8 entitle to o so" such authorit8



properl8 belon/in/ to the Department of %n$ironment an Natural Resources" tothe ama/e an preuice of the of the /o$ernment(

CONTRAR! TO LAG(

The etails for each Information are as follo5s0+

Criminal( Date of Case No( Commission( Description of Forest Prouct Person 'i$enthePermit O>cialReceipt No(221. ,2 4an( ,22 )"222 boar ft malaruhatmaran/ Da$i Villareal 4r(

)9,19222 )9 4an( ,22 922 boar ft la5aan Pepito Aumentao )9,19122) )+ 4an( ,22 )22 pcs( malaruhat:assorte sies; Francisco Menoa

)*2-1+,22, )+ 4an( ,22 122 cubic m or 1"222 boarft /oo lumber%muno elaVe/a )*2-1+1

221 )+ 4an( ,22 922 boar ft /oo lumber Da$i Villareal" 4r( )*2-1,)22 )+ 4an( ,22 )"2+2 boar ft /oo lumber Romeo Sabiuria )*2-1,,22+ ), 4an( ,22 )"222 boar ft malaruhat Nestor Asteaa )9,++,)229 2. 4an( ,22 "222 boar ft /oo lumber:assorte sies; Nat8 Oroco

)9,1,)22* 2- 4an( ,22 *22 boar ft lauan Ginnie Acebo6ue )9,1)+22- 2+ 4an( ,22 +22 boar ft lauan %muno ela Ve/a )9,12)22. 2* 4an( ,22 3 + hali/i Merc8 Var/as )9,11)22+2 29 4an( ,22 /oo lumber Mario Puea)9,11)222+) ,) Oct( ,22,)"222 boar ft slicelumber Conchita Oi2-12-,+22+, ,) Oct( ,22,22 boar ft slice lumber Lita Crisostomo 2-12-,922+1 ,- Oct( ,22,+2 boar ft maran/lumber A/osto Asto$ea 2-12-,.22+ 2- 4an( ,221 122 boar ft slice lumber:assorte sies; %na %( Moises

2.1.)22++ )1 4an( ,221 )"+22 boar ft slice lumber :assorte sies;Dante K( Meina

2.1.922+9 )9 4an( ,221 22 boar ft slice lumber:assorte sies;4ohnn8 A( Asto$ea

2.1.*+22+* ,* 4an( ,221 * pcs slice lumber )piece )- roa Sonn8 Le8nes

))-)-,*22+- ) Feb( ,221,"222 pcs troph8 :5oocar$in/s; Florelia %spiritu

))-,21122+. )* Feb( ,221*22 boar ft slice lumber:assorte sies; Nestor Asteaa

))-).)*2292 )- Feb( ,221)"91, boar ft har 5oo"7isame sanipa ArthurLanieOccea))-,,2*229) ,2 Feb( ,22),9 pcs lumber LambertoAumentao )*2--)2229, 1 March ,221 +2 boar ft har 5oo:assorte sies;Nestor Asto$ea

))-,)12291 9 March ,221 )92 pcs slice lumber:assorte sies; RemeiosOroco ))-,199229 )2 March ,221 )"+22 boar ft malaruhat:assorte sies; NestorAsteaa ))-)..9229+ )) March ,221 .22 boar ft slice lumber:assorte sies;FernanoCalao ))-,,11

2299 )1 March ,221 )"2- boar ft har 5oo:assorte sies; NestorAsteaa ))-,++1



229* ,2 March ,221 .2 pcs( slice lumber :assorte sies; Rem8 Oroco))-,)+*

229- ,) March ,221 .2 pcs( slice lumber:assorte sies; Rene Francia))-,)9-

229. ,+ March ,221 +22 boar ft lumber:assorte sies; Thelma Ramia))-,)*.

22*2 ,9 March ,221 ) pc( 92 3 *+ be :narra;@nishe prouct Ro8 4usto))-,,9

22*) ) April ,22 .+ pcs( 7alap :. ft(; 9 pcs(post :)2 ft(; +22pcs(Anaha5 Anita Solloa 19+)2+.22*, 2- April ,22 92 boar ft lumber:assorte sies; Rem8 Oroco

19+))2)22*1 ) April ,22 9. pcs( slice lumber:assorte sies; Dino America

19+))2)22* ,1 April ,221 -*2 boar ft har lumber:assorte sies;AmaoPraillaa 19+),9-22*+ , April ,221 22 boar ft lumber:assorte sies; Rom8

?uenicho 19+),1*22*9 , April ,221 22 boar ft rattan %mmanuel ?uenicho 19+)1,22** 12 April ,22 )"222 boar ft /oo lumber :assorte sies; M8leneMoises 19+)11+#C22*- 12 April ,22 +22 boar ft slice lumber :assorte sies; CarlitoVar/as 19+)11922*. 2- Ma8 ,221*, 3 *- be :narra; 1 pcs(92 3 *+ be :lin/ mano7; ) pc( -3 *+ e :7ulin/mano7; @nishe prouct Fel8 4usto 19+)+).22-2 ), Ma8 ,221,. boar ft lumber Vir/ilio Cuero 19+2.,*22-) )1 Ma8 ,2211 pcs( slice lumber:assorte sies; Amano Larea

19+)*-122-, ) Ma8 ,221*+2 boar ft /oo lumber Gilma Cuero 19+)+,.22-1 )+ Ma8 ,2212 boar ft lumber Marte Cuballes 19+)+1,22- )+ Ma8 ,221,) pcs( ,393* or )"+22 boar ft @nishe prouctAnneliaVar/as19+)+1)22-+ ,9 Ma8 ,221+* pcs( slice lumber :assorte sies; Dann8 Sanche

19+)+-+22-9 ,* Ma8 ,22122 boar ft cut 5oos %m8 Francia 19+)1.22-* 12 Ma8 ,221122 boar ft lumber Dais8 Cuero 19+2.122-- 12 Ma8 ,221)"222 boar ft lumber :assorte sies; Lea Asto$ea

19+))9)22-. 2+ 4une ,221 )12 pcs( or )"+22 boar ft lumber cut 5oos4ose Nol8Moises 19+)-2.

22.2 29 4une ,221 122 boar ft lumber Merc8 %scara/a 19+))9.22.) )- 4une ,221 -22 boar ft /oo lumber Dante Meena 19+)*.22., , 4une ,221 ,- pcs( /oo lumber :assorte sies; Vir/ilio Cuero

),*)2,22.1 ,+ 4une ,221 ).2 pcs( /oo lumber :assorte sies; Dante Meina

),*,2+22. 2, 4ul8 ,221 -22 boar ft( /oo lumber Dante Meina ),*,,)22.+ 2, 4ul8 ,221 )2+ pcs( fresh cut lumber :assorte sies;%mmanuel Lusan/

),*)9*22.9 2 4ul8 ,221 Assorte sies of /oo lumber Alberto ela Cru ),*)*,22.* 2* 4ul8 ,221 ?ulu7an 5oos Conchita Li/a8a ),*)*+22.- 2* 4ul8 ,221 9 pcs( &ali/i 4ane ?ula/a8),*)*1

22.. )) 4ul8 ,221 *22 boar ft( cut 5oos Dominaor A$eno ),*+,2)22 ) 4ul8 ,22 -22 boar ft( cut 5ooLumber Dante Meina ),*)-2



2)2) )9 4ul8 ,221 922 boar ft( cut lumber Rachelle Solana ),*)-,2)2, ,1 4ul8 ,221 )",22 boar ft( har lumber Necito Crisostomo ),*)--2)21 ,1 4ul8 ,221 *22 boar ft( /oo lumber Nestor Asteaa ),*),.2)2 ,- 4ul8 ,221 .+. boar ft( cut lumber Necito Crisostomo ),*,-2)2+ ,. 4ul8 ,221 922 boar ft( lumber Marilou Asteaa ),*).)2)29 2) Au/( ,221 )"222 boar Malaruhat Ruel Ruol ),*).-2)2* 2+ Au/( ,221 -22 boar ft( lumber Vir/ilio Aumentao )1,,-+12)2- 2- Au/( ,221 (- cubic ft( Amlan/ 5oos Rosa Tur/o )1,,-9,2)2. ), Au/( ,221 *-- ?oar ft( cut 5oos Maria Teresa Aornao

)1,,-9+2))2 ,+ Au/( ,221 +22 boar ft( assorteLumber Rom8 ?uenicho

)1,,.,.2))) ,- Au/( ,221 , sala sets Ro8 4usto )1,,-*.2)), ,. Au/( ,221 +9 pieces /oo lumber:assorte sies; MarilouAsteaa )1,12+92))1 21 Sept( ,221 + cubic ft soft5oos:assorte sies; Rosa Tur/o

)1,,-1

2)) 2+ Sept( ,221 )"222 boar ft( /oolumber :assorte sies; A/ustinVar/as )1,1292))+ 2- Sept( ,221 -2 pcs( 5oo post Peter ?anton)1,1),2))9 2. Sept( ,221 ) for5ar loa :soft 5oo; %@fania V( Astre/a

)1,12,12))* )) Sept( ,221 ) for5ar loa :assortespecies;Nolin/ MultiPurposeCorp( )1,12*,2))- )) Sept( ,221 +22 boar ft( /oo lumber A/ustin Var/as

)1,12*)2)). ), Sept( ,221 .22 boar ft( /oo lumber:assorte sies; NestorAsteaa )1,12*12),2 )+ Sept( ,221 .+2 boar ft( Malaruhat %na Moises )1,1),-2),) )9 Sept( ,221 ) pcs( Panel oor Ro8 4usto )1,12)2),, )* Sept( ,221 +9 boar ft( soft 5oos Mr( Mar6ue )1,,.+)2),1 ). Sept( ,221 )"922 boar ft( /oo lumber :assortesies;DecembranoSabiuria)1,12-+2), ,, Sept( ,221 .22 boar ft( /oo lumber 4ere8 ela Ve/a

)1,12.+2),+ ,, Sept( ,221 ) 4eep loa har 5oo Feerico Mar6ue )1,1)222),9 ,+ Sept( ,221 *+2 boar ft( MalaruhatMaran/ Vir/ilio Villareal

)1,1,+,2),* 21 Oct( ,221*+2 boar ft( Malaruhat Maran/Vir/ilio Villareal )1,1,+,2),- 2, Oct( ,22192 pcs( /oo lumber :assorte sies; Nestor Astora

)-,99,2),. 21 Oct( ,221)"922 boar ft( /oo lumber :assorte sies; Vir/ilio Villareal)-,999

2)12 21 Oct( ,22122 boar ft( Malaruhat :assorte sies; AmaoPraillaa )-,-)+2)1) 21 Oct( ,221) full loa :soft 5oo; Florelia %spiritu )-,-9*2)1, 21 Oct( ,2219"1, boar ft stic7s 4oel Pacai6ui )-,*)92)11 21 Oct( ,2219"2.2 boar ft stic7s 4oel Pacai6ui )-,*)*2)1 2* Oct( ,221.22 boar ft( /oo lumber:assorte sies; M8lene Moises

)-,9*22)1+ )1 Oct( ,221922 boar ft( La5aan:assorte sies; Ginnie Aceba6ue

)-,*1

2)19 )1 Oct( ,221)"*22 boar ft( Malaruhat:assorte sies; Nestor ?autista)-,*2



2)1* )1 Oct( ,221122 boar ft( La5aan :assorte sies; Trinia 'uerero)-,**

2)1- )9 Oct( ,221*22 boar ft( La5aan Feerico Mar6ue )-,*-,2)1. )* Oct( ,221"92, boar ft( /oo lumber :assorte sies; Nenita 4untreal

)-,*-*2)2 ,2 Oct( ,221)"*22 boar ft( Malaruhat :assorte sies; ?elen Orinao

)-,*.12)) ,1 Oct( ,22199 pcs( /oo lumber :assorte sies; Nestor Asteaa

)-,-*2), ,+ Oct( ,221)"*22 boar ft( /oo lumber Dante Meina )1,1,**2)1 ,* Oct( ,221)"-22 boar ft( /oo lumber :assorte sies; Dante Meina

)-,.+)2) ,- Oct( ,221)",+ boar ft( /oo lumber :assorte sies;4onathanSupremo )1,1,-)2)+ ,- Oct( ,221,"+22 boar ft( lumber:assorte sies; Ramir Sanche

)-122)2)9 ,- Oct( ,221+22 boar ft( /oo lumber:assorte sies;Rolano Franela

)1,1,-22)* 21 No$( ,221 -+2 @nishe proucts:cabinet component"balusters"oor ambs; Nat8 Oroco )-12,22)- 21 No$( ,221 22 boar ft( /oo lumber :assorte sies; 9bunlesof stic7s %liabeth 4unio )-12,,2). )2 No$( ,221 )"**2 boar ft( /oolumber :assorte sies; DanteMeina )-121,2)+2 )2 No$( ,221 )"222 boar ft( lumber Nestor Asteaa )-12112)+) ), No$( ,221 .22 boar ft( lumber:assorte sies; FeericoMar6ue )-12)2)+, ), No$( ,221 Mini ump truc7 /oolumber :assorte sies; RialitoFrancia )-12,2)+1 ) No$( ,221 +22 components" )22 pcs balusters :assorte sies ofstrin/ers" tassels; Annie 'onales )-12*22)+ ) No$( ,221 *22 boar ft( /oo lumber Ginnie Acebo6ue

)1,1,-*2)++ )* No$( ,221 )"922 boar ft( Malaruhat lumber :assortesies;Feerico Mar6ue)-12*,2)+9 2+ No$( ,221 22 boar ft( Tapil * pcs( )3)23) ?elen Orinao

)-12,12)+* 2+ No$( ,221 )"222 boar ft( lumber :assorte sies;Leonaro A$eno

)9,12212)+- 2+ No$( ,221 )+2 boar ft( /oo lumber Francisco Menoa

)-12,*2)+. 2* No$( ,221 11 bunles of semi#@nishe proucts Nat8 Oroco)-121)

2)92 2- No$( ,221 -22 boar ft( lumber :assorte sies; ArmanoPraillaa )-1)12)9) ,+ No$( ,221 12 pcs( slice lumber Ariel Molina )91,2+.2)9, ). No$( ,221 )"222 boar ft( /oo lumber :assorte sies; DanteMeina )9,12+12)91 ,2 No$( ,221 +22 boar ft( /oo lumber:assorte sies;Maria TeresaAornao)1,1,--2)9 ,2 No$( ,221 )"+22 boar ft( /oo lumber :assorte sies;RomeoSabiuria )-12-2

2)9+ ,) No$( ,221 )"222 boar ft( Malaruhat lumber :assorte sies;DanteMeina )9,12+*



2)99 ,+ Oct( ,221,"222 boar ft( lumber:assorte sies; Feerico Mar6ue)1,,.-,

2)9* ,+ No$( ,221 +22 boar ft( Malaruhat Feerico Mar6ue )-12.22)9- ,+ No$( ,221 *2 bunles of Rattan:assorte sies; Manuel?uenicho )-12.+2)9. ,- No$( ,221 9"+, boar ft( @nishe proucts :cabinet ancomponents; Nenita 4untareal )9,12).2)*2 2) Dec( ,221 22 boar ft( Malaruhat Feerico Mar6ue )9,129)2)*) 2) Dec( ,221 +22 boar ft( /oo lumber Nestor Asteaa

)-1),12)*, 2) Dec( ,221 )"+22 boar ft( lumber:assorte sies; ?elen Orinao

)9,12912)*1 21 Dec( ,221 +22 boar ft( Laniti Rosa Tur/o )-1),+2)* 2 Dec( ,221 )"222 boar ft( lumber Dante Meina )-1),*2)*+ 2 Dec( ,221 ,9 pcs( lumber :assortesies; , bunles ofstic7sNenita 4untareal )-1),-2)*9 2+ Dec( ,221 -22 boar ft( lumber Nestor Asteaa )-1)1)

2)** 2- Dec( ,221 9*- boar ft( /oo lumber:assorte sies; %lenorRuta6uio )9,12-,2)*- 2- Dec( ,221 ,22 boar ft( lumber:assorte sies; GilliamRuta6uio )9,12)22)*. 2. Dec( ,221 )"-22 boar ft( lumber Nestor Asteaa )9,12.22)-2 ), Dec( ,221 One eep loa of /oo lumber :assorte sies;An/eloA$ellano )9,12..2)-) ), Dec( ,221 One eep loa of /oo lumber :assorte sies;An/eloA$ellano )9,12..2)-, ), Dec( ,221 -22 boar ft( lumber Pepito Aumentao )-1)*2)-1 )9 Dec( ,221 922 boar ft( Malaruhat 4onathan Marcial )9,12112)- )9 Dec( ,221 9+2 boar ft( lumber Pepito Aumentao )-,.-*2)-+ )9 Dec( ,221 )"222 boar ft( Malaruhat Dante Meina )-,.-92)-9 )- Dec( ,221 )22 boar ft( lumber Alain A$eno)1,,..,2)-* ). Dec( ,221 *-2 boar ft( lumber Pepito Aumentao )1,12222)-- ). Dec( ,221 )"+22 boar ft( cocolumber Felecita Mar6ue )1,,..-2)-. ,, Dec( ,221 922 boar ft( lumber ?elen C( Orinao )9,1,2.2).2 ,. Dec( ,221 922 boar ft( La5aan Ginnie Acibo6ue )9,1,))2).) ,. Dec( ,221 122 boar ft( lumber !olana Crisostomo)9,1,)22)., 12 Dec( ,221 -22 boar ft( La5aan Pepito Aumentao )9,1,)+2).1 ,2 No$( ,221 )+2 boar ft( /oo lumber :assorte sies; FranciscoMenoa )-12-9

2). 12 4une ,221 +2 boar ft( fresh cut lumber M8lene Moises),*),92).+ )1 4ul8 ,22) ) L#122 loa of @nishe an semi#@nishe proucts%$an/elineMoises .-.-1#J2).9 2, 4ul8 ,22) .9 pcs( /oo lumber:assorte sies; Rollie L( Velasco

.-...9#J2).* 2* Ma8 ,22)"+22 boar ft( baba8ahinlumber Nemia Molina

,229*2).- ). April ,22 )2* pcs( slice lumber:assorte sies; Carlo 'umalin

)-9-2+22).. + March ,22 )2 pcs( Dea5oo:?ula7an; %liabeth 4unio

)*2--..

2,22 , March ,22 922 boar ft( Amalan/5oo Roa Tur/o )-9*92-



2,2) ) March ,22 ). slice lumber :assortesies; NecitoCrisostomo )*2--.)2,2, ) March ,22 -2 bunles of rattan Manuel ?uenicho )*2--.22,21 ,1 Feb( ,2212 pcs( slice lumber:assorte sies; LeonaroA$eno)*2--912,2 )1 Feb( ,22+2 pcs( slice slice lumber :assorte sies;Feerico Mar6ue

)*2-9.-2,2+ ), Feb( ,229. pcs( slice slice lumber:assorte sies;Florencio ?orreo

)*2-9.2,29 )* Feb( ,22+2 pcs( slice slice lumber:assorte sies;Ronnie Asteaa

)*2-**2,2* 2 Feb( ,22922 boar ft( slice lumber:assorte sies;Pepito Aumentao

)*2--92,2- ) March ,22 ,) pcs( La5aan :assortesies; Atan Mar6ue

)*2--*-2,2. Feb( ,22 +91 boar ft( slice lumber assorte sies;DecembranoSabiuria )*2--*

2,)2 29 Feb( ,22-2 pcs( ?uu7an :B/at; Maila S( Oroco )*2-+*2,)) 12 4an( ,22 )"222 boar ft( /oo lumber :assorte sies;PepitoAumentao )*2-+12,), ,. 4an( ,22 .+2 boar ft( /oo lumber :assorte sies;Leonaro Moises

)*2-+,-2,)1 ,- 4an( ,22 )"222 boar ft( /oo lumber :assorte sies;PepitoAumentao )*2-+)-2,) ,- 4an( ,22 +" 222 boar ft( /oo lumber :assorte sies;CarmelitaLoreno )*2-+,)2,)+ ,- 4an( ,22 1+2 boar ft( /oo lumber :assorte sies;Amano Praillaa

)*2-19-2,)9 ,1 4an( ,22 -22 boar ft( lumber :assorte sies; Pepito Aumentao

)*2-+)*2,)* ,) 4an( ,22 )"2+2 boar ft( /oo lumber :assorte sies; RomeoSabiuria )*2-+2-2,)- 29 April ,22 -22 boar ft( slice lumber :assorte sies; M8leneMoises )-9-2,+2,). )) March ,22 122 pieces or )" ,22 boar ft( slice lumber :assortesies; %rnesto Aumentao )*2-.*+2,,2 2, Feb( ,22*"222 boar ft( /oo lumber Carmelita Loreno )*2-1*92,,) 2- 4an( ,22 922 boar ft( Malaruhat Nestor Asteaa )9,1+)2,,, )2 Dec( ,221 122 pieces /oo lumber Francisco Menoa )9,12.92,,1 )- No$( ,221 9"1, boar ft( assorte species Nat8 Oroco )-12-

2,, 12 Oct( ,221-"222 boar ft( Malauban Ma( Teresa Aornao )-12).2,,+ ,) Oct( ,221)"**2 boar ft( /oo lumber :assorte sies; Dante Meina)-,*.9

2,,9 ,) Oct( ,221122 boar ft( Malaruhat :assorte sies; Leonaro S(A$eno )1,1,*)2,,* ,) Oct( ,221)2"-*+ boar ft( lumber :assorte sies; Annie 'onales

)1,1,*12,,- ,2 Oct( ,221122 boar ft( slice lumber ?ernaro 'onal$o )-,-1+2,,. )* Oct( ,2219"2.2 boar ft( lumber Nat8 Oroco )-,-12,12 )* Oct( ,221)9 pcs( panel oor :@nishe prouct; Ro8 4usto )-,*12,1) 2) Oct( ,221122 boar ft( /oo lumbe :assorte sies; Analia Var/as

)-,*)2

2,1, 2) Oct( ,221*22 boar ft( Malaruhat :assorte sies; %n/r( Mercao)-,*92



2,11 12 Sept( ,221 +22 boar ft( slice lumber :assorte sies; M8leneMoises )-,-)22,1 ,. Sept( ,221 -22 boar ft( /oo lumber :assorte sies; GennieAcebu6ue )-,*212,1+ )+ Sept( ,221 )"+22 boar ft( malaruhat lumber :assorte sies;

Decembrano Sabiuria )1,12*92,19 )2 Sept( ,221 ,22 boar ft( /oo lumber :assorte sies; 4unierFran6uia )1,12,*2,1* ,. Au/( ,221 922 boar ft( /oo lumber Annalia Var/as

)1,,-122,1- 2* Au/( ,221 ,"222 boar ft( lumber :assorte sies;Abilaro elaCru ),*,222,1. 29 Au/( ,221 )"222 boar ft( har5oo 4ennifer Nualo )1,,-2,2,2 ,+ 4une ,221 922 boar ft( /oo lumber Ro8 4usto ),*2,2,) ,9 Ma8 ,221-22 boar ft( lumber Aelino Larea 19+)2.92,, ,9 Ma8 ,221Assorte sies /oo lumber Rollie Velasco 19+)+-*2,1 ,1 Ma8 ,2211, slice lumber :assorte sies; Dolores S( 'loria

19+)..2, ,2 Ma8 ,221+22 boar ft( lumber Mar8l8n e Loreto Melita Masilan/

19+)+*2,+ 2, Ma8 ,221),1 pieces slice lumber :assorte sies; Armano Laria

19+)9+92,9 )* Feb( ,221*2 pieces slice lumber :assorte sies; %fren TenaRomeo Sera@nes ))-,,22,* 2* Feb( ,221) piece narra be ) piecenarra panel oor 9 pcs(Refri/eratorstan ) pc(Narra cabinet :@nisheprouct; Ro8 D( 4usto ))-,2922,- 2+ Dec( ,22, )2 pcs( roun poles Lamberto R( Ruol 2.19*2,. ,2 No$( ,22, +22 boar ft( lumber :assorte sies; Lu Asto$ea

2.19)-2,+2 12 Oct( ,22,)",22 boar ft( slice lumber :assorte sies; Arceli Fortunao

2-129.-2,+) 2 Oct( ,22,+22 boar ft( &ulin/ Mano7 Ro8 4usto 2-12992,+, ,* Sept( ,22, 122 boar ft( slice lumber :assorte sies; Ro8 4usto

2-129,+2,+1 , Sept( ,22, )"222 boar ft( slice lumber :assorte sies; Inna L(Customerao 2-12**)2,+ ,1 Sept( ,22, )"222 boar ft( slice lumber :assorte sies; NormelitaL( Curioso 2-129)22,++ 21 Sept( ,22, ,"222 pcs( troph8 :5oo car$in/s; Floreelia D(

%spiritu 9-99,2,+9 * March ,22, ,"222 sets troph8 :5oo car$in/s;Floreelia D(%spiritu2.2+.

2,+* 21 Dec( ,22) )2"222 sets troph8 :5oocar$in/s;Floreelia D(%spiritu 2.2*9.2,+- ), Sept( ,22) )"2*+ boar ft of stic7s )"+2 boar ft( ?ollilo:assorte sies; Lea A( Ri$era **-91112,+. 2* Oct( ,221Assorte lumber Ro8 D( 4usto )-,*9+

Consierin/ that the facts are unispute" the parties urin/ Pre#Trial a/ree toispense 5ith the presentation of testimonial e$ience an submit the case for

ecision base on the ocumentar8 e$ience an oint stipulation of facts



containe in the Pre#Trial Orer( Thereafter" the accuse an the prosecutionsubmitte their respecti$e memorana(9

Ruols Defense

As summarie b8 the Sani/anba8an" Ruol professes his innocence base onfollo5in/ ar/uments0

:); As Chief %3ecuti$e of the municipalit8 of 'eneral Na7ar" Jueon" he isauthorie to issue permits to transport forest proucts pursuant to RA *)925hich /i$e the L'B not onl8 e3press po5ers but also those po5ers that arenecessaril8 implie from the po5ers e3pressl8 /rante as 5ell as those that arenecessar8" appropriate or inciental to the L'BQs e>cient an eecti$e/o$ernance( The L'B is li7e5ise /i$en po5ers that are essential to the promotionof the /eneral 5elfare of the inhabitants( The /eneral 5elfare clause pro$ie inSection )9" Chapter ," Title One" ?oo7 I of R(A( *)92 is a massi$e /rant ofauthorit8 that enables L'Bs to perform or e3ercise ust about an8 po5er that 5ill

bene@t their local constituencies(

:,; In aition to the fore/oin/" R(A( *)92 has e$ol$e certain functions anresponsibilities of the D%NR to the L'B( An the permits to transport 5ere issuepursuant to the e$ol$e function to mana/e an control communal forests 5ithan area not e3ceein/ @ft8 :+2; s6uare 7ilometers(

:1; The Permits to Transport 5ere issue as an incient to the pa8ment of Transport Fees le$ie b8 the municipalit8 for the use of local public roas for thetransport of sal$a/e forest proucts( Bner :a; Section +" Article H of theConstitution" :b; Section ),." Chapter I" Title One ?oo7 II of R(A( *)92" an :c;Section )-9" Article Fi$e" Chapter +" Tile One" ?oo7 II of R(A( *)92" themunicipalit8 is /rante the po5er to create its o5n sources of re$enue an tole$8 fees in accorance there5ith(

:; The onl8 7in of ocument the D%NR issues relatin/ to lo/" timber or lumberis enominate Certi@cate of Timber Ori/in or CTO for lo/s an Certi@cate ofLumber Ori/in or CLO for lumber hence" e$en if accuse issue the TransportPermits on his sie" a person 5antin/ to transport the sai forest proucts 5oulha$e to appl8 an obtain a CTO or CLO from the D%NR( The Transport Permitsissue b8 the accuse 5ere ne$er ta7en as a substitute for the CTO or CLO" anthis is the reason 5h8 sai permits contain the annotation Subect to D%NRrules" la5s an re/ulations(

:+; There is no proof of conspirac8 bet5een the accuse( The Transport Permits5ere issue b8 accuse Sabiuria in his capacit8 as Municipal Aministrator anhis mere issuance is not enou/h to impute upon the accuse Ruol an8trans/ression or 5ron/oin/ that ma8 ha$e been committe in the issuancethereof follo5in/ the rulin/ in Arias $( Sani/anba8an :)-2 SCRA 12.;(

:9; The D%NR irectl8 sanctione an e3pressl8 authorie the issuance of the,,) Transport permits throu/h the Pro$incial %n$ironment an natural Resourceso>cer Ro/elio Del/ao Sr(" in a Multi#Sectoral Consultati$e Assembl8(

:*; The accuse cannot be con$icte of Bsurpation of Authorit8 since the8 i

not act uner the pretense of o>cial position" accuse Ruol ha$in/ issue the



permits in his capacit8 as Ma8or an there 5as no pretense or misrepresentationon his part that he 5as an o>cer of D%NR(*

Rulin/ of the Sani/anba8an

After ue consieration" the Sani/anba8an renere on December )." ,22- aDecision" ac6uittin/ Sabiuria but @nin/ Ruol /uilt8 as char/e" to 5it0

G&%R%FOR%" premises consiere" the Court resol$es these cases as follo5s0

)( A/ainst the accuse L%OV%'ILDO R( RBKOL" u/ment is hereb8 renere@nin/ him 'BILT! be8on reasonable oubt of T5o &unre T5ent8 One :,,);counts of the oense of Bsurpation of O>cial Functions as e@ne an penalieuner Article )** of the Re$ise Penal Coe an hereb8 sentences him to suerfor each case a strai/ht penalt8 of SIH :9; MONT&S an ON% :); DA!(

&o5e$er" in the ser$ice of his sentences" accuse Ruol shall be entitle to the

bene@t of the three#fol rule as pro$ie in Article *2 of the Re$ise Penal Coe"as amene(

,( On the /roun of reasonable oubt" accuse 'BILL%RMO M( SA?IDBRIA isACJBITT%D of all ,,) char/es( The cash bon poste b8 him for his pro$isionallibert8 ma8 no5 be 5ithra5n b8 sai accuse upon presentation of the ori/inalreceipt e$iencin/ pa8ment thereof subect to the usual accountin/ an auitin/proceures( The hol eparture proceure issue b8 this Court ate )9 April,22- is set asie an the Orer issue b8 the ?ureau of Immi/ration ate ,.April ,22- incluin/ the name of Sabiuria in the &ol Departure List is orererecalle an cancelle(

SO ORD%R%D(-

The Sani/anba8an preicate its rulin/ on the postulate that the authorit8 toissue transport permits 5ith respect to sal$a/e forest proucts lies 5ith theDepartment of %n$ironment an Natural Resources :D%NR; an that suchauthorit8 ha not been e$ol$e to the local /o$ernment of 'eneral Na7ar(. Tothe /raft court" RuolQs issuance of the subect permits constitutes usurpation ofthe o>cial functions of the D%NR(

The Issue

The critical issue ha$in/ a eterminati$e bearin/ on the /uilt or innocence ofRuol for usurpation re$ol$es aroun the $aliit8 of the subect permits totransport" 5hich in turn resol$es itself into the 6uestion of 5hether the authorit8to monitor an re/ulate the transportation of sal$a/e forest prouct is solel85ith the D%NR" an no one else(

The Rulin/ of this Court

The petition is partl8 meritorious(

Subsiiar8 Issue0

Ghether the Permits to Transport Issue b8 Ruol Are Vali



In rulin/ that the D%NR" an not the local /o$ernment units :L'Bs;" has theauthorit8 to issue transportation permits of sal$a/e forest proucts" theSani/anba8an in$o7e Presiential Decree No( *2+ :PD *2+;" other5ise 7no5nas the Re$ise Forestr8 Coe of the Philippines an in relation to %3ecuti$e OrerNo( ).," Series of ).-* :%O ).,;" or the Reor/aniation Act of the Department of %n$ironment an Natural Resources(

Section + of PD *2+ pro$ies0

Section +( 4urisiction of ?ureau( The ?ureau of Forest Mana/ement shall ha$e urisiction an authorit8 o$er all forest lan" /rain/ lans" an all forestreser$ations incluin/ 5atershe reser$ations presentl8 aministere b8 other/o$ernment a/encies or instrumentalities(

It shall be responsible for the protection" e$elopment" mana/ement"re/eneration" an reforestation of forest lans the re/ulation an super$ision ofthe operation of licensees" lessees an permittees for the ta7in/ or use of forest

proucts therefrom or the occupanc8 or use thereof the implementation ofmultiple use an sustaine 8iel mana/ement in forest lans the protection"e$elopment an preser$ation of national par7s" marine par7s" /ame refu/esan 5illife the implementation of measures an pro/rams to pre$ent 7ain/inan mana/e occupanc8 of forest an /rain/ lans in collaboration 5ith otherbureaus" the eecti$e" e>cient an economic classi@cation of lans of the publicomain an the enforcement of forestr8" reforestation" par7s" /ame an 5illifela5s" rules" an re/ulations(

The ?ureau shall re/ulate the establishment an operation of sa5mills" $eneeran pl85oo mills an other 5oo processin/ plants an conuct stuies ofomestic an 5orl mar7ets of forest proucts( :%mphasis Ours(;

On the other han" the pertinent pro$isions of %O )., state0

S%CTION ( Manate( The Department shall be the primar8 /o$ernment a/enc8responsible for the conser$ation" mana/ement" e$elopment" an proper use ofthe countr8Qs en$ironment an natural resources" speci@call8 forest an /rain/lans of the public omain" as 5ell as the licensin/ an re/ulation of all naturalresources as ma8be pro$ie for b8 la5 in orer to ensure e6uitable sharin/ ofthe bene@ts eri$e therefrom for the 5elfare of the present an future/enerations of Filipinos(

3 3 3 3

S%CTION +( Po5ers an Functions( To accomplish its manate" the Departmentshall ha$e the follo5in/ functions0

3 3 3 3

:; %3ercise super$ision an control o$er forest lans" alienable an isposallans" an mineral resources an in the process of e3ercisin/ such control theDepartment shall impose appropriate pa8ments" fees" char/es" rentals an an8such re$enues for the e3ploration" e$elopment" utiliation or /atherin/ of suchresources(

3 3 3 3



:; Re/ulate the e$elopment" isposition" e3traction" e3ploration an use of thecountr8Qs forest" lan an mineral resources

:7; Assume responsibilit8 for the assessment" e$elopment" protection"conser$ation" licensin/ an re/ulation as pro$ie for b8 la5" 5here applicable"of all natural resources the re/ulation an monitorin/ of ser$ice contractors"licensees" lessees" an permittees for the e3traction" e3ploration" e$elopmentan utiliation of natural resources proucts the implementation of pro/ramsan measures 5ith the en in $ie5 of promotin/ close collaboration bet5een the/o$ernment an the pri$ate sector the eecti$e an e>cient classi@cation ansub#classi@cation of lans of the public omain an the enforcement of naturalresources la5s" rules an re/ulations

:l; Promul/ate rules" re/ulations an /uielines on the issuance of co#prouction" oint $enture or prouction sharin/ a/reements" licenses" permits" concessions"leases an such other pri$ile/es an arran/ement concernin/ the e$elopment"

e3ploration an utiliation of the countr8Qs natural resources an shall continueto o$ersee" super$ise an police our natural resources to cancel or cause tocancel such pri$ile/es an arran/ement upon failure" non#compliance or$iolations of an8 re/ulations" orers" an for all other causes 5hich arefurtherance of the conser$ation of natural resources an supporti$e of thenational interests

3 3 3 3

:n; Implement measures for the re/ulation an super$ision of the processin/ offorest proucts" /rain/ an inspection of lumber an other forest proucts anmonitorin/ of the mo$ement of timber an other forest proucts( :%mphasisOurs(;

In$o7e too is D%NR Aministrati$e Orer No( ,222#*- :DAO ,222#*-; 5hichmanates that the permittee shoul secure the necessar8 transport an otherrelate ocuments before the retrie$e 5oo materials are sol to thebu8ersusers anor 5oo processin/ plants()2 DAO ,222#*- obli/es the entit8or person concerne to secure a Goo Reco$er8 Permita permit issue b8 theD%NR to /atherretrie$e an ispose abanone lo/s" rifte lo/s" sun7en lo/s"uproote" an @re an t8phoon ama/e tress" tree stumps" tops anbranches()) It prescribes that the permittee shall onl8 be allo5e to /ather orreco$er lo/s or timber 5hich ha alrea8 been mar7e an in$entorie b8 the

Communit8 %n$ironment an Natural Resources O>cer(), To the Sani/anba8an"this manator8 re6uirement for Goo Reco$er8 Permit illustrates that D%NR isthe sole a/enc8 $este 5ith the authorit8 to re/ulate the transportation ofsal$a/e forest proucts()5phi)

The Sani/anba8an further reasone that the monitorin/ an re/ulatin/sal$a/e forest proucts is not one of the D%NRQs functions 5hich ha beene$ol$e upon L'Bs( It cite Sec( )* of Republic Act No( *)92 :RA *)92; or theLocal 'o$ernment Coe :L'C; of )..) 5hich pro$ies0

Section )*( ?asic Ser$ices an Facilities( #

:a; Local /o$ernment units shall enea$or to be self#reliant an shall continuee3ercisin/ the po5ers an ischar/in/ the uties an functions currentl8 $este



upon them( The8 shall also ischar/e the functions an responsibilities ofnational a/encies an o>ces e$ol$e to them pursuant to this Coe( Local/o$ernment units shall li7e5ise e3ercise such other po5ers an ischar/e suchother functions an responsibilities as are necessar8" appropriate" or incientalto e>cient an eecti$e pro$isions of the basic ser$ices an facilitiesenumerate herein(

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:,; For a Municipalit80

3 3 3 3

:ii; Pursuant to national policies an subect to super$ision" control an re$ie5 ofthe D%NR" implementation of communit8#base forestr8 proects 5hich inclueinte/rate social forestr8 pro/rams an similar proects mana/ement ancontrol of communal forests 5ith an area not e3ceein/ @ft8 :+2; s6uare

7ilometers establishment of tree par7s" /reenbelts" an similar foreste$elopment proects( :%mphasis Ours(;

Accorin/ to the Sani/anba8an" Sec( )* of the L'C has limite the e$ol$efunctions of the D%NR to the L'Bs to the follo5in/0 :); the implementation ofcommunit8#base forestr8 proucts :,; mana/ement an control of communalforests 5ith an area not e3ceein/ @ft8 :+2; s6uare 7ilometers an :1;establishment of tree par7s" /reenbelts an similar forest e$elopmentproects()1 It also referre to D%NR Aministrati$e Orer No( 12" Series of )..,:DAO )..,#12;" 5hich enumerates the forest mana/ement functions" pro/ramsan proects of the D%NR 5hich ha been e$ol$e to the L'Bs" as follo5s0)

Section 1() Forest Mana/ement

a( Implementation of the follo5in/ communit8#base forestr8 proects0

i( Inte/rate Social Forestr8 Proects" currentl8 fune out of re/ularappropriations" e3cept at least one proect per pro$ince that shall ser$e asresearch an trainin/ laborator8" as ienti@e b8 the D%NR" an those areaslocate in protecte areas an critical 5atershes

ii( %stablishment of ne5 re/ular reforestation proects" e3cept those areaslocate in protecte areas an critical 5atershes

iii( Complete famil8 an communit8#base contract reforestation proects"subect to policies an proceures prescribe b8 the D%NR

i$( Forest Lan Mana/ement A/reements in accorance 5ith D%NRAministrati$e Orer No( *)" Series of )..2 an other /uielines that the D%NRma8 aopt an

$( Communit8 Forestr8 Proects" subect to concurrence of @nancin/ institution:s;"if forei/n assiste(

b( Mana/ement an control of communal forests 5ith an area not e3ceein/ @ft8

:+2; s6uare 7ilometers or @$e thousan :+"222; hectares" as e@ne in Section ,"



abo$e( Pro$ie" that the concerne L'Bs shall enea$or to con$ert sai areasinto communit8 forestr8 proects

c( Mana/ement" protection" rehabilitation an maintenance of small 5atersheareas 5hich are sources of local 5ater suppl8 as ienti@e or to be ienti@e b8the D%NR an

( %nforcement of forest la5s in communit8#base forestr8 proect areas" small5atershe areas an communal forests" as e@ne in Section , abo$e" such asbut not limite to0

i( Pre$ention of forest @re" ille/al cuttin/ an 7ain/in

ii( Apprehension of $iolators of forest la5s" rules an re/ulations

iii( Con@scation of ille/all8 e3tracte forest proucts on site

i$( Imposition of appropriate penalties for ille/al lo//in/" smu//lin/ of naturalresources proucts an of enan/ere species of Eora an fauna" slash an burnfarmin/ an other unla5ful acti$ities an

$( Con@scation" forfeiture an isposition of con$e8ances" e6uipment an otherimplements use in the commission of oenses penalie uner P(D( *2+ asamene b8 %(O( ,**" series of ).-* an other forestr8 la5s" rules anre/ulations(

Pro$ie" that the implementation of the fore/oin/ acti$ities outsie thee$ol$e areas abo$e mentione" shall remain 5ith the D%NR(

The Sani/anba8an rule that since the authorit8 relati$e to sal$a/e forestproucts 5as not inclue in the abo$e enumeration of e$ol$e functions" thecorrelati$e authorit8 to issue transport permits remains 5ith the D%NR)+ an"thus" cannot be e3ercise b8 the L'Bs(

Ge isa/ree an refuse to subscribe to this postulate su//estin/ e3clusi$it8( Asshall be iscusse shortl8" the L'B also has" uner the L'C of )..)" ampleauthorit8 to promul/ate rules" re/ulations an orinances to monitor anre/ulate sal$a/e forest proucts" pro$ie that the parameters set forth b8 la5for their enactment ha$e been faithfull8 complie 5ith(

Ghile the D%NR is" inee" the primar8 /o$ernment instrumentalit8 char/e 5iththe manate of promul/atin/ rules an re/ulations for the protection of theen$ironment an conser$ation of natural resources" it is not the onl8 /o$ernmentinstrumentalit8 clothe 5ith such authorit8( Ghile the la5 has esi/nate D%NRas the primar8 a/enc8 tas7e to protect the en$ironment" it 5as not theintention of the la5 to arro/ate unto the D%NR the e3clusi$e prero/ati$e ofe3ercisin/ this function( Ghether in orinar8 or in le/al parlance" the 5orprimar8 can ne$er be ta7en to be s8non8mous 5ith sole or e3clusi$e( Infact" neither the pertinent pro$isions of PD *2+ nor %O )., su//est that theD%NR" or an8 of its bureaus" shall e3ercise such authorit8 to the e3clusion of allother /o$ernment instrumentalities" i(e(" L'Bs(

On the contrar8" the claim of D%NRQs supposel8 e3clusi$e manate is easil8ne/ate b8 the principle of local autonom8 enshrine in the ).-* Constitution)9



in relation to the /eneral 5elfare clause uner Sec( )9 of the L'C of )..)" 5hichpro$ies0

Section )9( 'eneral Gelfare( # %$er8 local /o$ernment unit shall e3ercise thepo5ers e3pressl8 /rante" those necessaril8 implie therefrom" as 5ell aspo5ers necessar8" appropriate" or inciental for its e>cient an eecti$e/o$ernance" an those 5hich are essential to the promotion of the /eneral5elfare( Githin their respecti$e territorial urisictions" local /o$ernment unitsshall ensure an support" amon/ other thin/s" the preser$ation an enrichmentof culture" promote health an safet8" enhance the ri/ht of the people to abalance ecolo/8" encoura/e an support the e$elopment of appropriate anself#reliant scienti@c an technolo/ical capabilities" impro$e public morals"enhance economic prosperit8 an social ustice" promote full emplo8ment amon/their resients" maintain peace an orer" an preser$e the comfort ancon$enience of their inhabitants( :%mphasis Ours(;

Pursuant to the afore6uote pro$ision" municipal /o$ernments are clothe 5ith

authorit8 to enact such orinances an issue such re/ulations as ma8 benecessar8 to carr8 out an ischar/e the responsibilities conferre upon them b8la5" an such as shall be necessar8 an proper to pro$ie for the health" safet8"comfort an con$enience" maintain peace an orer" impro$e public morals"promote the prosperit8 an /eneral 5elfare of the municipalit8 an itsinhabitants" an ensure the protection of propert8 in the municipalit8()*

As hel in Oposa $( Factoran" 4r(")- the ri/ht of the people to a balance anhealthful ecolo/8 carries 5ith it the correlati$e ut8 to refrain from impairin/ theen$ironment( In ensurin/ that this ut8 is uphel an maintaine" a local/o$ernment unit ma8" if it eems necessar8" promul/ate orinances aime atenhancin/ the ri/ht of the people to a balance ecolo/8 an" accorin/l8"pro$ie ae6uate measures in the proper utilit8 an conser$ation of naturalresources 5ithin its territorial urisiction( As can be euce from RuolQsmemorana" as a>rme b8 the parties in their 4oint Stipulation of Facts" it 5as inthe pursuit of this obecti$e that the subect permits to transport 5ere issue b8Ruolto re/ulate the sal$a/e forest proucts foun 5ithin the municipalit8 of'eneral Na7ar an" hence" pre$ent abuse an occurrence of an8 unto5ar ille/allo//in/ in the area().

In the same $ein" there is a clear merit to the $ie5 that the monitorin/ anre/ulation of sal$a/e forest proucts throu/h the issuance of appropriatepermits is a share responsibilit8 5hich ma8 be one either b8 D%NR or b8 the

L'Bs or b8 both( DAO )..,#12" in fact" sa8s as much" thus0 the L'Bs shall share5ith the national /o$ernment" particularl8 the D%NR" the responsibilit8 in thesustainable mana/ement an e$elopment of the en$ironment an naturalresources 5ithin their territorial urisiction(,2 The si/ni@cant role of the L'Bs inen$ironment protection is further echoe in 4oint Memoranum Circular No( .-#2):4MC )..-#2); or the Manual of Proceures for D%NR#DIL'#L'B Partnership onDe$ol$e an other Forest Mana/ement Functions" 5hich 5as promul/ate

ointl8 b8 the DIL' an the D%NR in )..-" an pro$ies as follo5s0

Section )( ?asic Policies

Subect to the /eneral policies on e$olution as containe in RA *)92 an D%NR

Aministrati$e Orer No( 12" Series of )..," the follo5in/ basic policies shall



/o$ern the implementation of D%NR#DIL'#L'B partnership on e$ol$e an otherforest mana/ement functions0

)()( The Department of %n$ironment an Natural Resources :D%NR; shall be theprimar8 /o$ernment a/enc8 responsible for the conser$ation" mana/ement"protection" proper use an sustainable e$elopment of the countr8Qsen$ironment an natural resources(

)(,( The L'Bs shall share 5ith D%NR the responsibilit8 in the sustainablemana/ement an e$elopment of the forest resources 5ithin their territorial

urisiction( To5ar this en" the D%NR an the L'Bs shall enea$or tostren/then their collaboration an partnership in forest mana/ement(

)(1( Comprehensi$e lan use an forest lan use plans are important tools in theholistic an e>cient mana/ement of forest resources( To5ar this en" the D%NRan the L'Bs to/ether 5ith other /o$ernment a/encies shall unerta7e forestlan use plannin/ as an inte/ral acti$it8 of comprehensi$e lan use plannin/ to

etermine the optimum an balance use of natural resources to support local"re/ional an national /ro5th an e$elopment(

)(( To full8 prepare the L'Bs to unerta7e their share responsibilities in thesustainable mana/ement of forest lan resources" the D%NR" in coorination 5ithDIL'" shall enhance the capacities of the L'Bs in the $arious aspects of forestmana/ement( Initiall8" the D%NR shall coorinate" /uie an train the L'Bs inthe mana/ement of the e$ol$e functions( As the L'BsQ capacit8 in forestmana/ement is enhance" the primar8 tas7s in the mana/ement of e$ol$efunctions shall be performe b8 the L'Bs an the role of the D%NR becomesassisti$e an coorinati$e(

)(+( To further the ens of local autonom8" the D%NR in consultation 5ith theL'Bs shall e$ol$e <sic= aitional functions an responsibilities to the local/o$ernment units" or enter into a/reements 5ith them for enlar/e forestmana/ement an other %NR#relate functions(

)(9( To see7 a$ocac8" popular support an ultimatel8 help achie$e communit8empo5erment" D%NR an DIL' shall for/e the partnership an cooperation of theL'Bs an other concerne sectors in see7in/ an stren/thenin/ the participationof local communities for forest mana/ement incluin/ enforcement of forestr8la5s" rules an re/ulations( :%mphasis Ours(;

To our min" the re6uirement of permits to transport sal$a/e forest proucts isnot a manifestation of usurpation of D%NRQs authorit8 but rather an aitionalmeasure 5hich 5as meant to complement D%NRQs ut8 to re/ulate an monitorforest resources 5ithin the L'BQs territorial urisiction(

This is consistent 5ith the canon of le/al hermeneutics that instea of pittin/one statute a/ainst another in an ine$itabl8 estructi$e confrontation" courtsmust e3ert e$er8 eort to reconcile them" rememberin/ that both la5s eser$erespect as the hani5or7 of coorinate branches of the /o$ernment(,) &ence" if there appears to be an apparent conEict bet5een promul/ate statutes" rules orre/ulations issue b8 ierent /o$ernment instrumentalities" the proper action isnot to immeiatel8 uphol one an annul the other" but rather /i$e eect to both

b8 harmoniin/ them if possible(,, Accorin/l8" althou/h the D%NR re6uires aGoo Reco$er8 Permit" an L'B is not necessaril8 preclue from promul/atin/"



pursuant to its po5er uner the /eneral 5elfare clause" complementar8 orers"rules or orinances to monitor an re/ulate the transportation of sal$a/e forestproucts(

Not5ithstanin/" Ge still @n that the Permits to Transport issue b8 Ruol arein$ali for his failure to compl8 5ith the proceural re6uirements set forth b8 la5for its enforcement(

Then an no5" Ruol insists that the Permit to Transport parta7es the nature oftransport fees le$ie b8 the municipalit8 for the use of public roas(,1 In thisre/ar" he ar/ues that he has been conferre b8 la5 the ri/ht to issue subectpermits as an incient to the L'BQs po5er to create its o5n sources of re$enuepursuant to the follo5in/ pro$isions of the L'C0

Section )+1( Ser$ice Fees an Char/es( Local /o$ernment units ma8 imposean collect such reasonable fees an char/es for ser$ices renere(

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Section )-9( Po5er to Le$8 Other Ta3es" Fees or Char/es( Local /o$ernmentunits ma8 e3ercise the po5er to le$8 ta3es" fees or char/es on an8 base orsubect not other5ise speci@call8 enumerate herein or ta3e uner thepro$isions of the National Internal Re$enue Coe" as amene" or otherapplicable la5s0 Pro$ie" That the ta3es" fees" or char/es shall not be unust"e3cessi$e" oppressi$e" con@scator8 or contrar8 to eclare national polic80Pro$ie" further" That the orinance le$8in/ such ta3es" fees or char/es shallnot be enacte 5ithout an8 prior public hearin/ conucte for the purpose(:%mphasis Ours(;

Ruol further ar/ue that the permits to transport 5ere issue uner his po5eran authorit8 as Municipal Ma8or uner Sec( of the same la50

:i$; Issue licenses an permits an suspen or re$o7e the same for an8 $iolationof the conitions upon 5hich sai licenses or permits ha been issue" pursuantto la5 or orinance

3 3 3 3

$ii; Aopt ae6uate measures to safe/uar an conser$e lan" mineral" marine"forest" an other resources of the municipalit8 pro$ie e>cient an eecti$e

propert8 an suppl8 mana/ement in the municipalit8 an protect the funs"creits" ri/hts an other properties of the municipalit8( :%mphasis Ours(;

Ruol is correct to a point( Ne$ertheless" Ge @n that an enablin/ orinance isnecessar8 to confer the subect permits 5ith $aliit8( As correctl8 hel b8 theSani/anba8an" the po5er to le$8 fees or char/es uner the L'C is e3ercise b8the San//unian/ ?a8an throu/h the enactment of an appropriate orinance5herein the terms" conitions an rates of the fees are prescribe(, Neeless tosa8" one of the funamental principles of local @scal aministration is that localre$enue is /enerate onl8 from sources e3pressl8 authorie b8 la5 ororinance(,+

It is li7e5ise e3pressl8 state in Sec( :b;:1;:i$; of the L'C that the authorit8of the municipal ma8or to issue licenses an permits shoul be pursuant to a



la5 or orinance( It is the San//unian/ ?a8an" as the le/islati$e bo8 of themunicipalit8" 5hich is manate b8 la5 to enact orinances a/ainst acts 5hichenan/er the en$ironment" i(e(" ille/al lo//in/" an smu//lin/ of lo/s an othernatural resources(,9

In this case" an e3amination of the pertinent pro$isions of 'eneral Na7arQsRe$ise Municipal Re$enue Coe,* an Municipal %n$ironment Coe,- re$ealsthat there is no pro$ision unto 5hich the issuance of the permits to transportma8 be /roune( Thus" in the absence of an orinance for the re/ulation antransportation of sal$a/e proucts" the permits to transport issue b8 Ruol arein@rm(

RuolQs insistence that his actions are pursuant to the L'BQs e$ol$e function tomana/e an control communal forests uner Sec( )* of the L'C an DAO)..,#12,. is specious( Althou/h Ge reco/nie the L'BQs authorit8 in themana/ement an control of communal forests 5ithin its territorial urisiction"Ge reiterate that this authorit8 shoul be e3ercise an enforce in accorance

5ith the proceural parameters establishe b8 la5 for its eecti$e an e>ciente3ecution( As can be /leane from the same Sec( )* of the L'C" the L'BQsauthorit8 to mana/e an control communal forests shoul be pursuant tonational policies an is subect to super$ision" control an re$ie5 of D%NR(

As correctl8 hel b8 the Sani/anba8an" the term communal forest12 has a5ell#e@ne an technical meanin/(1) Conse6uentl8" as an entit8 eno5e 5ithspecialie competence an 7no5le/e on forest resources" the D%NR cannot beiscounte in the establishment of communal forest( The DIL'" on behalf of theL'Bs" an the D%NR promul/ate 4MC )..-#2) 5hich outline the follo5in/proceure0

Section -( Communal Forest

-(() %3istin/ Communal Forest

The e$olution to an mana/ement of the communal forest b8 the cit8 anmunicipal /o$ernments shall be /o$erne b8 the follo5in/ /eneral proceures0

:a; D%NR" throu/h its C%NRO" an the concerne L'B shall unerta7e the actualienti@cation an assessment of e3istin/ communal forests( The assessmentshall etermine the suitabilit8 of the e3istin/ communal forests( If these are nolon/er suitable" then these communal forests ma8 be isestablishe( The

Appro$al for isestablishment shall be b8 the R%D upon recommenation of theD%NR#L'B assessment Team throu/h the P%NRO an the RTD for Forestr8

:b; %3istin/ communal forest 5hich are foun an recommene b8 the D%NR#L'B Assessment Team as still suitable to achie$e their purpose shall bemaintaine as such( Thereafter" the San//unian/ Pan/lun/so or San//unian/?a8an 5here the communal forest is locate shall pass resolution re6uestin/ theD%NR Secretar8 for the turno$er of sai communal forest to the cit8 ormunicipalit8( Bpon receipt of sai resolution" the D%NR Secretar8 shall issue anAministrati$e Orer o>ciall8 transferrin/ sai communal forest to theconcerne L'B( The D%NR R%D shall eect the o>cial transfer to the concerneL'B 5ithin @fteen :)+; a8s from the issuance of the aministrati$e orer



:c; Githin t5el$e months from the issuance of the Aministrati$e Orer anturno$er of sai communal forest to the cit8 or municipalit8" the L'B to 5hichthe communal forest 5as transferre shall formulate an submit to the Pro$incial%NR Council for appro$al a mana/ement plan /o$ernin/ the sustainablee$elopment of the communal forest(

For the purpose of formulatin/ the communal forest mana/ement plan" D%NRshall" in coorination 5ith the concerne L'B" unerta7e a forest resourcein$entor8 an etermine the sustainable le$el of forest resource utiliation anpro$ie the L'B technical assistance in all facets of forest mana/ement plannin/to ensure sustainable e$elopment( The mana/ement plan shoul incluepro$ision for replantin/ b8 the communities an the L'Bs of the communalforests to ensure sustainabilit8(

-((, %stablishment of Ne5 Communal Forest

The establishment of ne5 communal forests shall be /o$erne b8 the follo5in/

/uielines0

:a; D%NR" throu/h its C%NRO" to/ether 5ith the concerne cit8municipal L'Bshall ointl8 ientif8 potential communal forest areas 5ithin the /eo/raphic

urisiction of the concerne cit8municipalit8(

:b; Communal forests to be establishe shall be ienti@e throu/h a forest lanuse plannin/ to be unerta7en ointl8 bet5een the D%NR an the concerne L'B(

The ensuin/ forest lan use plan shall inicate" amon/ others" the site anlocation of the communal forests 5ithin the prouction forest cate/orie assuch in the forest lan use plan

:c; Once the forest lan use plan has been a>rme" the local chief e3ecuti$eshall initiate the passa/e b8 the L'BQs san//unian of a resolution re6uestin/ theD%NR Secretar8 to issue an Aministrati$e Orer eclarin/ the ienti@e area asa communal forest( The re6uire aministrati$e orer shall be issue 5ithin si3t8:92; a8s after receipt of the resolution

:; Bpon acceptance of the responsibilit8 for the communal forest" thecit8municipal L'B shall formulate the mana/ement plan an submit the same toits %NR Council( The mana/ement plan shall inclue pro$ision for replantin/ b8the communities an the L'Bs of the communal forests to ensure sustainabilit8(

The communal forests of each municipalit8 shall in no case e3cee a total of+"222 hectares( :%mphasis Ours(;

It is clear" therefore" that before an area ma8 be consiere a communal forest"the follo5in/ re6uirements must be accomplishe0 :); an ienti@cation ofpotential communal forest areas 5ithin the /eo/raphic urisiction of theconcerne cit8municipalit8 :,; a forest lan use plan 5hich shall inicate"amon/ other thin/s" the site an location of the communal forests :1; a re6uestto the D%NR Secretar8 throu/h a resolution passe b8 the San//unian/ ?a8anconcerne an :; an aministrati$e orer issue b8 D%NR Secretar8 eclarin/the ienti@e area as a communal forest(

In the present case" the recors are bereft of an8 sho5in/ that thesere6uirements 5ere complie 5ith( Thus" in the absence of an establishe



communal forest 5ithin the Municipalit8 of 'eneral Na7ar" there 5as no 5a8 thatthe subect permits to transport 5ere issue as an incient to the mana/ementan control of a communal forest(

This is not to sa8" ho5e$er" that compliance 5ith abo$ementione statutor8re6uirements for the issuance of permits to transport fore/oes the necessit8 ofobtainin/ the Goo Reco$er8 Permit from the D%NR( As earlier iscusse" thepermits to transport ma8 be issue to complement" an not substitute" the GooReco$er8 Permit" an ma8 be use onl8 as an aitional measure in there/ulation of sal$a/e forest proucts( To eluciate" a person see7in/ totransport sal$a/e forest proucts still has to ac6uire a Goo Reco$er8 Permitfrom the D%NR as a prere6uisite before obtainin/ the corresponin/ permit totransport issue b8 the L'B(

Main Issue0

Ghether Ruol Is 'uilt8 of Bsurpation of O>cial Functions

The fore/oin/ not5ithstanin/" Ruol cannot be hel /uilt8 of Bsurpation ofO>cial Functions as e@ne an penalie uner Art( )** of the RPC" to 5it0

Art( )**( Bsurpation of authorit8 or o>cial functions( U An8 person 5ho shall7no5in/l8 an falsel8 represent himself to be an o>cer" a/ent or representati$eof an8 epartment or a/enc8 of the Philippine 'o$ernment or of an8 forei/n/o$ernment" or 5ho" uner pretense of o>cial position" shall perform an8 actpertainin/ to an8 person in authorit8 or public o>cer of the Philippine'o$ernment or an8 forei/n /o$ernment" or an8 a/enc8 thereof" 5ithout bein/la5full8 entitle to o so" shall suer the penalt8 of prision correccional in itsminimum an meium perios( :%mphasis Ours(;

As the aforementione pro$ision is formulate" there are t5o 5a8s of committin/this crime0 @rst" b8 7no5in/l8 an falsel8 representin/ himself to be an o>cer"a/ent or representati$e of an8 epartment or a/enc8 of the Philippine'o$ernment or of an8 forei/n /o$ernment or secon" uner pretense of o>cialposition" shall perform an8 act pertainin/ to an8 person in authorit8 or publico>cer of the Philippine 'o$ernment or an8 forei/n /o$ernment" or an8 a/enc8thereof" 5ithout bein/ la5full8 entitle to o so(1, The former constitutes thecrime of usurpation of authorit8" 5hile the latter act constitutes the crime ofusurpation of o>cial functions(11

In the present case" Ruol stans accuse of usurpation of o>cial functions forissuin/ ,,) permits to transport sal$a/e forest proucts uner the alle/epretense of o>cial position an 5ithout bein/ la5full8 entitle to o so" suchauthorit8 properl8 belon/in/ to the Department of %n$ironment an NaturalResources(1 The Sani/anba8an rule that all the elements of the crime 5ereattenant in the present case because the authorit8 to issue the subect permitsbelon/s solel8 to the D%NR(1+

Ge rule other5ise(

First" it is settle that an accuse in a criminal case is presume innocent untilthe contrar8 is pro$e an that to o$ercome the presumption" nothin/ but proof

be8on reasonable oubt must be establishe b8 the prosecution(19 As hel b8this Court in People $( Sitco01*



The imperati$e of proof be8on reasonable oubt has a $ital role in our criminal ustice s8stem" the accuse" urin/ a criminal prosecution" ha$in/ a sta7einterest of immense importance" both because of the possibilit8 that he ma8 losehis freeom if con$icte an because of the certaint8 that his con$iction 5illlea$e a permanent stain on his reputation an name( :%mphasis supplie(;

Citin/ Rabanal $( People"1- the Court further e3plaine0

La5 an urispruence eman proof be8on reasonable oubt before an8person ma8 be epri$e of his life" libert8" or e$en propert8( %nshrine in the ?illof Ri/hts is the ri/ht of the petitioner to be presume innocent until the contrar8is pro$e" an to o$ercome the presumption" nothin/ but proof be8onreasonable oubt must be establishe b8 the prosecution( The constitutionalpresumption of innocence re6uires courts to ta7e a more than casualconsieration of e$er8 circumstance of oubt pro$in/ the innocence ofpetitioner( :%mphasis ae(;

Veril8" an accuse is entitle to an ac6uittal unless his or her /uilt is sho5nbe8on reasonable oubt an it is the primorial ut8 of the prosecution topresent its sie 5ith clarit8 an persuasion" so that con$iction becomes the onl8lo/ical an ine$itable conclusion" 5ith moral certaint8(1. As e3plaine b8 thisCourt in People $( ?erro8a02

The necessit8 for proof be8on reasonable oubt lies in the fact that :i;n acriminal prosecution" the State is arra8e a/ainst the subect it enters thecontest 5ith a prior inculpator8 @nin/ in its hans 5ith unlimite means ofcomman 5ith counsel usuall8 of authorit8 an capacit8" 5ho are re/are aspublic o>cers" an therefore as spea7in/ semi#uiciall8" an 5ith an attitue oftran6uil maest8 often in stri7in/ contrast to that of efenant en/a/e in aperturbe an istractin/ stru//le for libert8 if not for life( These ine6ualities ofposition" the la5 stri$es to meet b8 the rule that there is to be no con$iction5hen there is a reasonable oubt of /uilt(

Inee" proof be8on reasonable oubt oes not mean such a e/ree of proof"e3cluin/ possibilit8 of error" prouces absolute certaint8 moral certainl8 onl8 isre6uire" or that e/ree of proof 5hich prouces con$iction in an unpreuicemin() &o5e$er" contrar8 to the rulin/ of the Sani/anba8an" Ge @n that acareful scrutin8 of the e$ents surrounin/ this case faile to pro$e that Ruol is/uilt8 be8on reasonable oubt of committin/ the crime of usurpation of o>cial

functions of the D%NR(

Ge note that this case of usurpation a/ainst Ruol rests principall8 on theprosecutionQs theor8 that the D%NR is the onl8 /o$ernment instrumentalit8 thatcan issue the permits to transport sal$a/e forest proucts( The prosecutionasserte that Ruol usurpe the o>cial functions that properl8 belon/ to theD%NR(

?ut erst5hile iscusse at len/th" the D%NR is not the sole /o$ernment a/enc8$este 5ith the authorit8 to issue permits rele$ant to the transportation ofsal$a/e forest proucts" consierin/ that" pursuant to the /eneral 5elfareclause" L'Bs ma8 also e3ercise such authorit8( Also" as can be /leane from the

recors" the permits to transport 5ere meant to complement an not to replacethe Goo Reco$er8 Permit issue b8 the D%NR( In eect" Ruol re6uire the



issuance of the subect permits uner his authorit8 as municipal ma8or aninepenentl8 of the o>cial functions /rante to the D%NR( The recors areli7e5ise bereft of an8 sho5in/ that Ruol mae representations or falsepretenses that sai permits coul be use in lieu of" or at the least as an e3cusenot to obtain" the Goo Reco$er8 Permit from the D%NR(

Secon" contrar8 to the @nin/s of the Sani/anba8an" Ruol acte in /oo faith(

It bears stressin/ at this point that in People $( &il$ano", this Court enunciatethat /oo faith is a efense in criminal prosecutions for usurpation of o>cialfunctions(1 The term /oo faith is orinaril8 use to escribe that state ofmin enotin/ honest8 of intention" an freeom from 7no5le/e ofcircumstances 5hich ou/ht to put the holer upon in6uir8 an honest intention toabstain from ta7in/ an8 unconscientious a$anta/e of another" e$en thou/htechnicalities of la5" to/ether 5ith absence of all information" notice" or bene@tor belief of facts 5hich rener transaction unconscientious( 'oo faith isactuall8 a 6uestion of intention an althou/h somethin/ internal" it can be

ascertaine b8 rel8in/ not on oneQs self#ser$in/ protestations of /oo faith but one$ience of his conuct an out5ar acts(+

In ismissin/ RuolQs claim of /oo faith" the Sani/anba8an reasone as follo5s0

If it is reall8 true that Ruol belie$e himself to be authorie uner R(A( *)92 toissue the subect permits" 5h8 i he ha$e to secure the appro$al of the $ariousN'Os" PeopleQs Or/aniations an reli/ious or/aniations before issuin/ the saipermits &e coul $er8 5ell ha$e issue subect permits e$en 5ithout theappro$al of these $arious or/aniations if he trul8 belie$e that he 5as le/all8empo5ere to o so consierin/ that the enorsement of these or/aniations isnot re6uire b8 la5( That Ruol ha to arm himself 5ith their enorsement coulonl8 mean that he actuall8 7ne5 that he ha no le/al basis for issuin/ the saipermits thus he ha to loo7 else5here for support an bac7#up(9 :%mphasisOurs(;

Ge" ho5e$er" cannot subscribe to this posture as there is neither le/al basis norestablishe octrine to ra5 a conclusion that /oo faith is ne/ate 5hen anaccuse sou/ht another personQs appro$al( Neither is there an8 octrine in la55hich pro$ies that ba faith is present 5hen one see7s the opinion ora>rmation of others(

Contrar8 to the conclusions mae b8 the Sani/anba8an" Ge @n that the

conuct of the public consultation 5as not a ba/e of ba faith" but a si/nsupportin/ RuolQs /oo intentions to re/ulate an monitor the mo$ement ofsal$a/e forest proucts to pre$ent abuse an occurrence of unto5ar ille/allo//in/( In fact" the recors 5ill bear that the re6uirement of permits to transport5as not RuolQs ecision alone it 5as" as earlier narrate" a result of thecollecti$e ecision of the participants urin/ the Multi#Sectoral Consultati$eAssembl8( As atteste to b8 ?ishop 4ulio Ha$ier Laba8en" it 5as the participants5ho a/ree that the subect permits be issue b8 the O>ce of the Ma8or of'eneral Na7ar" throu/h Ruol" in the e3ercise of the latterQs authorit8 as localchief e3ecuti$e(*

The Sani/anba8an also posits the $ie5 that RuolQs /oo faith is ne/ate b8 the

fact that if he trul8 belie$e he 5as authorie to issue the subect permits"



Ruol i not ha$e to re6uest the presence an obtain the permission of P%NRORo/elio Del/ao Sr( urin/ the Multi#Sectoral Assembl8(-

The /raft courtQs abo$e posture" ho5e$er" oes not commen itself forconcurrence( If" inee" Ruol 5illfull8 an eliberatel8 intene to usurp theo>cial functions of the D%NR as a$erre b8 the prosecution" he 5oul not ha$eas7e the presence of a D%NR o>cial 5ho has the authorit8 an creibilit8 topublicl8 obect a/ainst RuolQs alle/el8 intene usurpation( Thus" the presenceof P%NRO Del/ao urin/ the Multi#Sectoral Assembl8 oes not ne/ate" butstren/thens RuolQs claim of /oo faith(

As a @nal note" Ge emphasie that the buren of protectin/ the en$ironment isplace not on the shoulers of D%NR aloneeach an e$er8 one of us" 5hetherin an o>cial or pri$ate capacit8" has his or her si/ni@cant role to pla8( Inee"protectin/ the en$ironment is not onl8 a responsibilit8 but also a ri/ht for 5hich acitien coul an shoul freel8 e3ercise( Consierin/ the rampant forestenuation" en$ironmental e/raation an pla/uin/ scarcit8 of natural

resources" each of us is no5 obli/ate to contribute an share in theresponsibilit8 of protectin/ an conser$in/ our treasure natural resources(

Ruol chose to e3ercise this ri/ht an to share in this responsibilit8 b8 e3ercisin/his authorit8 as municipal ma8oran act 5hich 5as e3ecute 5ith theconcurrence an cooperation of non#/o$ernmental or/aniations" inustr8sta7eholers" an the concerne citiens of 'eneral Na7ar( Amittel8" Geconsier his acts as in$ali but it oes necessaril8 mean that such mista7esautomaticall8 eman Bs to rule a con$iction( This is in consonance 5ith thesettle principle that all reasonable oubt intene to emonstrate error annot crime shoul be inul/e in for the bene@t of the accuse(.

Bner our criminal uicial s8stem" e$il intent must unite 5ith the unla5ful actfor a crime to e3ist" as there can be no crime 5hen the criminal min is5antin/(+2 Actus non facit reum" nisi mens sit rea(

In the present case" the prosecution has faile to pro$e be8on reasonable oubtthat Ruol possesse that criminal min 5hen he issue the subect permits(Ghat is clear from the recors is that Ruol" as municipal ma8or" intene tore/ulate an monitor sal$a/e forest proucts 5ithin 'eneral Na7ar in orer toa$ert the occurrence of ille/al lo//in/ in the area( Ge @n that to hol himcriminall8 liable for these seemin/l8 noble intentions 5oul be a step bac75aran 5oul run contrar8 to the stanin/ a$ocac8 of encoura/in/ people to ta7e a

pro#acti$e stance in the protection of the en$ironment an conser$ation of ournatural resources(

Incientall8" consierin/ the peculiar circumstances of the present case anconsierin/ further that this case emans onl8 the etermination of Ruols/uilt or innocence for usurpation of o>cial functions uner the RPC" for 5hich theissue on the $aliit8 of the subect Permits to Transport is onl8 subsiiar8" Gehereb8 resol$e this case onl8 for this purpose an onl8 in this instance" pro hac$ice" an" in the interest of ustice" rule in fa$or of Ruol s ac6uittal(

IN VI%G OF T&% FOR%'OIN'" the December )." ,22- Decision of theSani/anba8an First Di$ision in Criminal Case Nos( S?#2-#CRIM#221. to 2,+."

@nin/ Leo$e/ilo R( Ruol /uilt8 of $iolatin/ Art( )** of the Re$ise Penal Coe"is hereb8 R%V%RS%D an S%T ASID%(



Accuse Leo$e/ilo R( Ruol is" thus" ACJBITT%D on the basis of reasonableoubt of the crimes as char/e(

SO ORD%R%D(

PR%S?IT%RO 4( V%LASCO" 4R(Associate 4ustice

villarin vs people & razul vs sandiganbayan

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