BASCO vs.

RAPATALO 269 SCRA 220

THE FACTS: An information for murdr !as fi"d a#ainst $ornt. T% a&&usd $ornt fi"d
a 'tition for (ai". T% %arin# for said 'tition !as st for $a) *+, +99- () 'titionr (ut !as
not %ard sin& t% rs'ondnt .ud# !as t%n on "av. /t !as rst to .un 0,
+99- (ut on said dat, rs'ondnt .ud# rst it to .un 22, +99-. T% %arin# for
.un 22, +99-, %o!vr, did not matria"i1. /nstad, t% a&&usd !as arrai#nd and tria"
!as st. A#ain, t% 'tition for (ai" !as not %ard on said dat as t% 'ros&ution2s !itnsss in
&onn&tion !it% said 'tition !r not notifid. Anot%r attm't !as mad to rst t% %arin# to
.u") +3, +99-.
Com'"ainant a""#d") sa! t% a&&usd in Rosario, La 4nion on .u") *, +99- and "atr "arnd
t%at t% a&&usd !as out on (ai" ds'it t% fa&t t%at t% 'tition %ad not (n %ard at a"". 4'on
invsti#ation, &om'"ainant dis&ovrd t%at (ai" %ad (n #rantd and a r"as ordr datd .un
29, +99- !as issud on t% (asis of a mar#ina" not datd .un 22, +99-, at t%
(ottom of t% (ai" 'tition () Assistant Pros&utor O"iva !%i&% statd: 56o o(7&tion:
P00,000.00,5 si#nd and a''rovd () t% assistant 'ros&utor and vntua"") () rs'ondnt
.ud#. 6ot t%at t%r !as a"rad) a r"as ordr datd .un 29, +99- on t% (asis of t%
mar#ina" not of t% Assistant Pros&utor datd .un 22, +99- !%n t% %arin# of t% (ai"
'tition !as a(ortd and instad arrai#nmnt too8 '"a&9 !%n anot%r %arin# !as s&%du"d
for .u") +3, +99-.
Rs'ondnt .ud# a""#d t%at % #rantd t% 'tition (asd on t% 'ros&utor2s o'tion not to
o''os t% 'tition as !"" as t% "attr2 s r&ommndation sttin# t% (ai" (ond in
t% amount of P00,000.00. H avrrd t%at !%n t% 'ros&ution &%os not to o''os t%
'tition for (ai", % %ad t% dis&rtion on !%t%r to a''rov it or not. H furt%r
d&"ard t%at !%n % a''rovd t% 'tition, % %ad a ri#%t to 'rsum t%at t%
'ros&utor 8n! !%at % !as doin# s i n & % !a s mor f a mi " i a r !i t % t %
& a s , %a vi n# & o nd u& t d t % ' r " i mi n a r ) i nv s t i #a t i o n. F u r t % r mo r ,
t % ' r i v a t ' r o s & u t o r ! a s n o t a r o u n d a t t % t i m t % ' u ( " i &
' r o s & u t o r r&ommndd (ai". Rs'ondnt .ud# statd t%at in an) &as, t% (ai" (ond
'ostd () a&&usd !as &an&""d and a !arrant for %is arrst !as issud on a&&ount
of &om'"ainant2 s motion for r&onsidration. T% Assistant Provin&ia" Pros&utor
a''arnt") &onformd to and a''rovd t% motion for r&onsidration. A&&usd is &onfind
at t% La 4nion Provin&ia" .ai". On Au#ust +:+9 9- , i n a s !o r n " t t r ;
& om' " a i n t , & o m' " a i n a n t Ba s & o & % a r # d r s ' on d nt . ud # L o $. Ra'ata"o
!it% #ross i#noran& or !i""fu" disr#ard of sta("is%d ru" of "a! for #rantin# (ai" to an
a&&usd in a murdr &as !it%out r&ivin# vidn& and &ondu&tin# a %arin#.
/SS4E: CA6 A .4<=E SET BA/L E>E6 ?@O CO6<4CT/6= A HEAR/6= OR
RECE/>/6=E>/<E6CEA
HEL<: 6o'.
</SPOS/T/>E: B?HEREFORE, in vi! of t% for#oin#, rs'ondnt .ud# Lo
$. Ra'ata"o, RTC, Bran&% *2, A#oo, La 4nion, is %r() REPR/$A6<E< !it% t%
?AR6/6= t%at a t% sam or simi"ar a&ts in t% futur !i"" ( da"t !it% mor svr").C
HEL<: /f t% dnia" of (ai" is aut%ori1d in &a'ita" offnss, it is on") in t%or) t%at t% 'roof
(in# stron#, t% dfndant !ou"d f", if % %as t% o''ortunit), rat%r t%an fa&
t% vrdi&t of t% &ourt. Hn& t% D&'tion to t% fundamnta" ri#%t to ( (ai"d s%ou"d (
a''"id in dir&t ratio to t% Dtnt of 'ro(a(i"it) of vasion of t% 'ros&ution. /n 'ra&ti&, (ai"
%as a"so (n usd to 'rvnt t% r"as of an a&&usd !%o mi#%t ot%r!is (
dan#rous to so&it ) or !%om t% 7ud#s mi#%t not !ant to r"as.
/t is in vi! of t% a(ovmntiond 'ra&ti&a" fun&tion of (ai" t%at it is not a mattr of ri#%t in
&ass !%r t% 'rson is &%ar#d !it% a &a'ita" offns 'unis%a(" () dat%, r&"usion 'r'tua
or "if im'risonmnt. Arti&" ++:, s&tion 3 of t% Ru"s of Court, as amndd,
stats, 56o 'rson B & % a r # d ! i t % a & a ' i t a " o f f n s , o r a n o f f n s
' u n i s % a ( " ( ) r&"usion 'r'tua o r " i f im'risonmnt !%n t% vidn&
of #ui"t is stron#, s%a"" ( admittd to (ai" r#ard"ss of t% sta# of t% &rimina"
a&tion.5
?%n t% #rant of (ai" is dis&rtionar), t% 'ros&ution %as t% (urdn of
s%o!in# t%at t% vidn& of #ui"t a#ainst t% a&&usd is stron#. Ho!vr, t% dtrmination
of !%t%r or not t% vidn& of #ui"t is stron#, (in# a mattr of 7udi&ia"
dis&rtion, rmains !it% t% 7ud#. T%is di s & r t i on ( ) t % v r ) n a t ur of
t %i n# s , ma ) r i # %t " ) ( D r & i s d on " ) a f t r t % vi d n& i s su(mittd to t%
&ourt at t% %arin#. Sin& t% dis&rtion is dir&td to t% !i#%t of t% vidn& and sin&
vidn& &annot 'ro'r") ( !i#%d if not du") D%i(itd or 'rodu&d (for t% &ourt,it is
o(vious t%at a 'ro'r Dr&is of 7udi&ia" dis&rtion rEuirs t%at t% vidn& of
#ui"t ( su(mittd to t% &ourt, t% 'titionr %avin# t% ri#%t of &ross Damination and to
introdu& %is o!n vidn& in r(utta".

To ( sur, t% dis&rtion of t% tria" &ourt, 5is not a(so"ut nor ()ond &ontro". /t must ( sound,
and Dr&isd !it%in rasona(" (ounds. .udi&ia" dis&rtion, () its vr) natur
invo"vs t% Dr&is of t% 7ud#2 s individua" o'inion and t% "a! %as !is")
'rovidd t%at its Dr&is ( #uidd () !"";8no!n ru"s !%i&%, !%i" a""o!in# t% 7ud#
rationa" "atitud for t% o'ration of %is o!n individua" vi!s, 'rvnt t%m from #ttin# out of
&ontro".
ConsEunt"), in t% a''"i&ation for (ai" of a 'rson &%ar#d !it% a &a'ita" offns 'unis%a(" ()
dat%, r&"usion 'r'tua or "if im'risonmnt, a %arin#, !%t%r summar) or ot%r!is in t%
dis&rtion of t% &ourt, must a&tua"") ( &ondu&td to dtrmin !%t%r or not t% vidn&
of #ui"t a#ainst t% a&&usd is stron#. On su&% %arin#, t% &ourt dos not sit to tr) t% mrits or
to ntr into an) ni& inEuir) as to t% !i#%t t%at ou#%t to ( a""o!d to t% vidn& for or
a#ainst t% a&&usd, nor !i"" it s'&u"at on t% out&om of t% tria" or on !%at furt%r vidn&
ma) ( t%rin offrd and admittd. T% &ours of inEuir) ma) ( "ft to t% dis&rtion of t%
&ourt !%i&% ma) &onfin its"f to r&ivin# su&% vidn& as %as rfrn& to su(stantia" mattrs,
avoidin# unn&ssar) t%orou#%nss in t% Damination and &ross Damination. /f a
'art) is dnid t% o''ortunit) to ( %ard, t%r !ou"d ( a vio"ation of 'ro&dura" du
'ro&ss.
T% & i t d & a s s F !@ & / di dn G t i n & " ud 8s ma d a mi 9
a r a " " t o t % f f & t t % a t ! % n ( a i " i s dis&rtionar), a %arin#, !%t%r
summar) or ot%r!is in t% dis&rtion of t% &ourt, s%ou"d first( &ondu&td to dtrmin t%
Distn& of stron# vidn&, or "a&8 of it, a#ainst t% a&&usd tona(" t% 7ud# to ma8 an
int""i#nt assssmnt of t% vidn& 'rsntd () t% 'artis.
Sin& t% dtrmination of !%t%r or not t% vidn& of #ui"t a#ainst t% a&&usd is stron# is
amattr of 7udi&ia" dis&rtion, t% 7ud# is mandatd to &ondu&t a %arin# vn in &ass !%r t%
'ros&ution &%ooss to 7ust fi" a &ommnt or "av t% a''"i&ation for (ai" to t% dis&rtion of
t% &ourt. A %arin# is "i8!is rEuird if t% 'ros&ution rfuss to addu& vidn& in
o''osition to t% a''"i&ation to #rant and fiD (ai".
Coro""ari"), anot%r rason !%) %arin# of a 'tition for (ai" is rEuird, as &an ( #"and from
t%Tu&a) v. <oma#as, i s f or t % & o ur t t o t a 8 i n t o & o ns i d r a t i o n t %
# ui d " i n s s t f or t % i n S&tion 6, Ru" ++: of t% Ru"s of Court in fiDin# t% amount of
(ai". T%is Court, in a num(r of &ass %"d t%at vn if t% 'ros&ution fai"s to addu& vidn&
in o''osition to an a''"i&ation for (ai" of an a&&usd, t% &ourt ma) sti"" rEuir t%at it
ans!r Eustions in ordr to as&rtain not on") t% strn#t% of t% stat2 s vidn& (ut
a"so t% adEua&) of t% amount of (ai".
Aftr %arin#, t% &ourt2s ordr #rantin# or rfusin# (ai" must &ontain a summar) of t% vidn&
for t% 'ros&ution. On t% (asis t%rof, t% 7ud# s%ou"d t%n formu"at %is o!n &on&"usion as
to !%t%r t% vidn& so 'rsntd is stron# nou#% as to indi&at t% #ui"t of
t% a&&usd. Ot%r!is, t% ordr #rantin# or dn)in# t% a''"i&ation for (ai" ma) (
inva"idatd (&aus t% summar) of vidn& for t% 'ros&ution !%i&% &ontains t% 7ud#2s
va"uation of t% vidn& ma) ( &onsidrd as an as'&t of 'ro&dura" du 'ro&ss
for (ot% t% 'ros&ution and t% dfns.
An va"uation of t% r&ords in t% &as at (ar rva"s t%at rs'ondnt .ud# #rantd (ai" to
t%a&&usd !it%out first &ondu&tin# a %arin# to 'rov t%at t% #ui"t of t% a&&usd is stron#
ds'it%is 8no!"d# t%at t% offns &%ar#d is a &a'ita" offns in disr#ard of
t% 'ro&dur "aiddo!n in S&tion 0, Ru" ++: of t% Ru"s of Court as amndd ()
Administrativ Cir&u"ar 6o. +2;9:.
Rs'ondnt 7ud# admittd") #rantd t% 'tition for (ai" (asd on t% 'ros&ution2s
d&"arationnot to o''os t% 'tition. Rs'ondnt2s assrtion, %o!vr, t%at % %as a ri#%t to
'rsum t%att% 'ros&utor 8no!s !%at % is doin# on a&&ount of t% "attr2s fami"iarit) !it% t%
&as du to%is %avin# &ondu&td t% 'r"iminar) invsti#ation is fau"t ). Said
rasonin# is tantamount to&din# to t% 'ros&utor t% dut) of Dr&isin# 7udi&ia" dis&rtion
to dtrmin !%t%r t% #ui"t of t% a&&usd is stron#. .udi&ia" dis&rtion is t% domain of t%
7ud# (for !%om t% 'tition for 'rovisiona" "i(rt ) !i"" ( d&idd. T% mandatd
dut) to Dr&is dis&rtion %as nvr (n r'osd u'on t% 'ros&utor.
T% a(sn& of o(7&tion from t% 'ros&ution is nvr a (asis for #rantin# (ai" to t% a&&usd.
/tis t% &ourt2s dtrmination aftr a %arin# t%at t% #ui"t of t% a&&usd is not stron# t%at
formst % ( a s i s f o r # r a n t i n # ( a i " . R s ' o n d n t . u d #
s % o u " d n o t % a v r " i d s o " " ) o n t % r&ommndation mad ()
t% 'ros&utor (ut s%ou"d %av as&rtaind 'rsona"" ) !%t%r t% vidn& of #ui"t
is stron#. Aftr a"", t% 7ud# is not (ound () t% 'ros&utor2s r&ommndation. $orovr, t%r
!i"" ( a vio"ation of du 'ro&ss if t% rs'ondnt .ud# #rants t% a''"i&ation for (ai" !it%out
%arin# sin& S&tion 0 of Ru" ++: 'rovids t%at !%atvr vidn& 'rsntd for or a#ainst t%
a&&usd2s 'rovisiona" r"as !i"" ( dtrmind at t% %arin# .
T% 'ra&ti& () tria" &ourt 7ud#s of #rantin# (ai" to t% a&&usd !%n t% 'ros&utor rfuss
or fai"s to 'rsnt vidn& to 'rov t%at t% vidn& of #ui"t of t% a&&usd is stron# &an (
tra&dto t% &as of Hrras T%an8 v. <ir&tor of Prisons. /t is to ( r&a""d t%at Hrras T%an8
!as d&idd -0 )ars a#o undr a &om'"t") diffrnt fa&tua" mi"iu. Ha)d Hrras T%an8
!as indi&td undr a "a! da"in# !it% trason &ass and &o""a(oration !it% t% nm). T%
said5instru&tions5 #ivn in t% said &as undr t% +9:0 Ru"s of Court no "on#r
a''") du to t%amndmnts introdu&d in t% +90- Ru"s of Court.
/ t s % ou " d ( n ot d t % a t t % r % a s ( n a dd d i n S & t i on 0 & r u & i a "
s n t n& B T% vidn& 'rsntd durin# t% (ai" %arin#s s%a"" ( &onsidrd
automati&a"") r'rodu&d at t% tria", (ut u'on motion of it%r 'art), t% &ourt ma) r&a"" an)
!itnss for additiona" Damination un"ss t% !itnss is dad, outsid of t% P%i"i''ins
or ot%r!is una(" to tstif). C i s n ot f ou nd i n t % &ountr'art 'rovision, S&tion
3, Ru" ++0 of t% +9:0 Ru"s of Court. T% a(ov;undrs&ord sntn& in s&tion 0, Ru" ++:
of t% +90- Ru"s of Court, as amndd, !as addd to addrss a situation !%r in &as t%
'ros&ution dos not &%oos to 'rsnt vidn& to o''os t% a''"i&ation for (ai",
t% 7ud# ma) f" dut);(ound to #rant t% (ai" a''"i&ation. T% 'ros&ution undr t% rvisd
'rovision is dut) (ound to 'rsnt vidn& in t% (ai" %arin# to 'rov !%t%r t% vidn&
of #ui"t of t% a&&usd is stron# and not mr") to o''os t% #rant of (ai" to t%
a&&usd. Ho!vr, t% natur of t% %arin# in an a''"i&ation for (ai" must ( Euatd !it% its
'ur'os i.
. , to dtrmin t% (ai" a(i"it) of t% a&&usd. /f t% 'ros&ution !r 'rmittd
to & on du & t a % a r i n# f or ( a i " a s i f i t ! r a f u " " ; d r s s t r i a " on t %
m r i t s , t % 'u r ' os of t % 'ro&din#, !%i&% is to s&ur t% 'rovisiona" "i(rt) of t%
a&&usd to na(" %im to 'r'ar for %is dfns, &ou"d ( dfatd. At an) rat, in &as
of a summar) %arin#, t% 'ros&ution !itnsss &ou"d a"!a)s ( r&a""d at t% tria" on
t% mrits.
/n t% "i#%t of t% a''"i&a(" ru"s on (ai" and t% 7uris'rudntia" 'rin&i'"s 7ust nun&iatd, SC
ritratd t% dutis of t% tria" 7ud# in &as an a''"i&ation for (ai" is fi"d:
F+9 6otif) t% 'ros&utor of t% %arin# of t% a''"i&ation for (ai" or rEuir %im to su(mit %is
r&ommndation FS&tion +0, Ru" ++: of t% Ru"s of Court as amndd9H
F29 Condu&t a %arin# of t% a''"i&ation for (ai" r#ard"ss of !%t%r or not t%'ros&ution
rfuss to 'rsnt vidn& to s%o! t%at t% #ui"t of t% a&&usd isstron# for t% 'ur'os of
na("in# t% &ourt to Dr&is its sound dis&rtionFS&tions 3 and 0,
su'ra9H
F*9 <&id !%t%r t% vidn& of #ui"t of t% a&&usd is stron# (asd on t%summar) of
vidn& of t% 'ros&ution FBa)"on v. Sison9H
F:9 /f t% #ui"t of t% a&&usd is not stron#, dis&%ar# t% a&&usd u'on t%a''rova" of t%
(ai"(ond. FS&tion +9,
su'ra9. Ot%r!is, 'tition s%ou"d (dnid.T% a(ov;numratd 'ro&dur s%ou"d no! "av
no room for dou(t as to t% dutis of t% tria" 7ud# in &ass of (ai" a''"i&ations.