CONSTITUTIONAL LAW REVIEW

G.R. No: 167710

Date: June 5, 2009
34 PEOPLE V. DE GRANO
Petitioner: People of the Philippines
Respondent: Joen De Grano, !r"ando De Grano, Do"in#o $andi%ho and &stanislao $a%a'a
FACTS:
(his is a petition for reie) on %ertiorari under Rule *5 of the Rules of +ourt.
,n Noe"'er 1991, an infor"ation for "urder a#ainst &""anuel -endo.a )as filed in the R(+ of /atan#as a#ainst herein
respondents and other %o0a%%used )ho )ere at lar#e. (he infor"ation read that all the a%%used %onspired to shoot &""anuel
-endo.a )ith firear"s and infli%ted upon hi" ei#ht #unshot )ounds )hi%h %aused his death. !fter arrai#n"ent, Joen, !r"ando
and &stanislao pleaded not #uilt1 )hile all the other a%%used re"ained at lar#e. (he1 then applied for 'ail %ontendin# that the
eiden%e of #uilt is not stron#.
/e%ause one of the a%%used )as the in%u"'ent "a1or of /atan#as at the ti"e of the %ri"e, 2enior 2tate Prose%utor /arrios "oed
that the enue 'e transferred fro" R(+ of /atan#as to -anila. /efore this )as #ranted, the hearin# for the 'ail )as deferred. 3pon
#rantin# the "otion to hae the enue transferred, the %ase )as eentuall1 raffled to /ran%h 27 R(+ of -anila.
(he prose%ution presented (eresita Duran, the %o""on la) )ife of the i%ti" and Dr. 2alador. !fter findin# that the prose%ution4s
eiden%e to proe trea%her1 and eident pre"editation )as not stron#, the R(+, /ran%h 11, -anila #ranted 'ail. (he prose%ution
filed an -R 'ut )as denied. (he1 then filed a petition for %ertiorari )ith the +! 'ut )as also denied. (hen, the1 )ent to the 2+
)hi%h #ranted their petition and ordered for the re0arrest of the a%%used. ,nl1 &stanislao )as re0arrested. (he a%%used filed an -R
and the 2+ re"anded the %ase to the R(+.
3pon presentation of eiden%e, the RTC ruled that all the re!"#de#t "$ th% &ae 'ere (u%lt) "$ the &r%*e "$ *urder 'h%le all
the "ther 'h" 'ere at lar(e 'ere "rdered t" +e arreted. O#l) Eta#%la" 'a !ree#t dur%#( the !r"*ul(at%"# "$ the
de&%%"#.
5n 2002, herein re!"#de#t $%led a ,"%#t -R see6in# that the1 'e a%7uitted %ontendin# that the eiden%e of the prose%ution )as
'ased solel1 on the testi"on1 of (eresita Duran and that their #uilt )as not proen 'e1ond reasona'le dou't. (he prose%ution
opposed their petition statin# that sin%e onl1 &stanislao )as present durin# the pro"ul#ation and that the others re"ained at lar#e,
the1 lost their ri#ht to file an -R as fu#ities are 'e1ond the 8udi%ial a"'it.
5n 200*, the RTC re#dered a de&%%"# a&.u%tt%#( /"0e# a#d Ar*a#d" a#d redu&ed the e#te#&e "$ D"*%#(" a#d
Eta#%la".
Eta#%la" $%led a #"t%&e "$ a!!eal 'h%le the !r"e&ut%"# "u(ht a# -R, ar#uin# that there )as no 'asis to ta6e %o#ni.an%e of
the 8oint -R9 that the testi"on1 of (eresita Duran deseres %reden%e and that Joen and !r"ando parti%ipated in the %onspira%1.
(he &"urt de#%ed the -R +ut (ra#ted the #"t%&e "$ a!!eal.
Pet%t%"#er the# $%led a Pet%t%"# $"r Cert%"rar% u#der Rule 12 'efore the +! ar#uin# that sin%e the priate respondents eaded
arrest, the1 )ere no lon#er entitled to "oe for re%onsideration9 the1 also ar#ued that the #rounds relied upon '1 the R(+ is
erroneous.
Petitioner alle#ed that there )as no other plain, ade7uate and speed1 re"ed1 %onsiderin# that the 2tate %annot appeal an a%7uittal
e:%ept onl1 '1 )a1 of a petition for %ertiorari under Rule 65. +onse7uentl1, the a%%used %annot 'e %onsidered in dou'le 8eopard1.
Respondent filed a -otion to Dis"iss ar#uin# that there )as a fla)ed %ertifi%ation as it )as not si#ned '1 the a##rieed part1 and
did not %ontain %onfor"it1 of the 2oli%itor General.
Petitioner filed an opposition to the -D and %ontended that there )as no suffi%ient ti"e to #et the %ertifi%ation of the 2olGen and that
the1 )ould #et a %ertifi%ation fro" the 2olGen. ;hen the prose%utor sou#ht the %onfor"it1 of the ,2G, the latter adised that rather
than 'elatedl1 affi:in# its 'elated %onfor"it1, it )ould rather )ait for the initial resolution of the %ase. 5t also adised the priate
prose%utor to see6 the ne%essar1 endorse"ent fro" the D,J to pursue the %ase.
(he CA "utr%(htl) d%*%ed the &ae statin# that it )as not filed '1 the ,2G and that the %opies filed )ere not %ertified true
%opies. Petitioner filed an -R and in%luded the %orre%tions re7uired.
&en after 'ein# endorsed '1 D,J 2e%retar1 Raul Gon.ale. to the ,2G for his %onfor"it1, the CA t%ll de#%ed the &ae tat%#(
that the rule "# d"u+le ,e"!ard) !r"h%+%t the tate $r"* a!!eal%#( "r $%l%#( a !et%t%"# $"r re0%e' "$ a ,ud(*e#t "$ a&.u%ttal
that 'a +aed "# the *er%t "$ the &ae. I$ there % a# a&.u%ttal3 a# a!!eal there$r"*3 %$ %t '%ll #"t !ut the a&&ued %#
d"u+le ,e"!ard)3 "# the &r%*%#al a!e&t3 *a) +e u#derta4e# "#l) +) the State thr"u(h the S"l%&%t"r Ge#eral. It added that a
!e&%al &%0%l a&t%"# $"r &ert%"rar% u#der Rule 12 "$ the Rule "$ C"urt *a) +e $%led +) the !er"# a((r%e0ed. I# u&h &ae3
the a((r%e0ed !art%e are the State a#d the !r%0ate "$$e#ded !art) "r &"*!la%#a#t. -oreoer, the re%ords reeal that the
petition )as not filed in the na"e of the offended part19 and )orse, the erifi%ation and %ertifi%ation of non0foru" shoppin# atta%hed
to the petition )as si#ned not '1 the priate offended part1, 'ut '1 her %ounsel. Not)ithstandin# the efforts e:erted '1 the petitioner
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to se%ure the %onfir"ation of the ,2G and the endorse"ent of the D,J, there is no sho)in# of an1 su'se7uent parti%ipation of the
,2G in the %ase.
Ben%e, this petition.
ISSUE:
;@N the +! erred )hen it dis"issed the %ase on the #round of dou'le 8eopard1. A&2
;@N the +! erred in dis"issin# the %ase 'e%ause it )as not in the na"e of the priate offended part1. A&2
;@N the +! erred in dis"issin# the %ase 'e%ause it )as the prose%utor )ho si#ned the erifi%ation and %ertifi%ation of foru"
shoppin# and not the priate offended part1. A&2
5ELD:
W5EREFORE, the petition is GRANTED. (he Resolutions dated Januar1 25, 2005 and !pril 5, 2005, issued '1 the +ourt of
!ppeals in +!0G.R. 2P No. CC160, are R&D&R2&D and 2&( !25D&. (he pertinent portions of the ,rder dated !pril 15, 200*
issued '1 the Re#ional (rial +ourt, %oni%tin# Do"in#o $andi%ho of the %ri"e of Bo"i%ide and a%7uittin# !r"ando de Grano and
Joen de Grano, are !NN3$$&D and D&$&(&D. 5n all other aspe%ts, the ,rder stands.
(o the e:tent herein altered or "odified, the pertinent portions of the De%ision dated !pril 25, 2002 of the Re#ional (rial +ourt are
R&5N2(!(&D.
(he ,ffi%e of the +ourt !d"inistrator is DIRECTED to 5ND&2(5G!(& Jud#e (eresa P. 2oriaso for possi'le iolation@s of the la)
and@or the +ode of Judi%ial +ondu%t in issuin# the ,rder dated !pril 15, 200* in +ri"inal +ase No. 9E01299CC.
RATIO:
!s to the te%hni%al aspe%t:
!s re#ards the issue of the %(#at"r) "$ the 0er%$%&at%"# a#d &ert%$%&at%"# "$ #"#6$"ru* h"!!%#(3 a l%+eral a!!l%&at%"# "$ the
Rule h"uld +e a!!l%ed t" the !ree#t &ae.
(he purpose of re7uirin# a erifi%ation is to se%ure an assuran%e that the alle#ations in the petition hae 'een "ade in #ood faith9 or
are true and %orre%t, not "erel1 spe%ulatie. (his re7uire"ent is si"pl1 a %ondition affe%tin# the for" of pleadin#s, and
non%o"plian%e there)ith does not ne%essaril1 render it fatall1 defe%tie. (rul1, erifi%ation is onl1 a for"al, not a 8urisdi%tional,
re7uire"ent. Ben%e, %t 'a u$$%&%e#t that the !r%0ate !r"e&ut"r %(#ed the 0er%$%&at%"#.
;ith respe%t to the %ertifi%ation of non0foru" shoppin#, it has 'een held that the %ertifi%ation re7uire"ent is rooted in the prin%iple
that a part10liti#ant shall not 'e allo)ed to pursue si"ultaneous re"edies in different fora, as this pra%ti%e is detri"ental to an
orderl1 8udi%ial pro%edure. Bo)eer, this +ourt has rela:ed, under 8ustifia'le %ir%u"stan%es, the rule re7uirin# the su'"ission of
su%h %ertifi%ation %onsiderin# that althou#h it is o'li#ator1, it is not 8urisdi%tional. Not 'ein# 8urisdi%tional, it %an 'e rela:ed under the
rule of su'stantial %o"plian%e.
(hus, !et%t%"#er #eed "#l) h"' that there 'a rea"#a+le &aue $"r the $a%lure t" %(# the &ert%$%&at%"# a(a%#t $"ru*
h"!!%#(3 a#d that the "utr%(ht d%*%al "$ the !et%t%"# '"uld de$eat the ad*%#%trat%"# "$ ,ut%&e.
We $%#d that the !art%&ular &%r&u*ta#&e "$ th% &ae ad0a#&e 0al%d rea"# $"r !r%0ate &"*!la%#a#t7 $a%lure t" %(# the
&ert%$%&at%"#. A !"%#ted "ut %# the !et%t%"#3 %t 'a "ut "$ e8tre*e $ear that !r%0ate &"*!la%#a#t $a%led t" !er"#all) %(# the
&ert%$%&at%"#. It % t" +e #"ted that 'he# Ar*a#d" a#d /"0e# 'ere a&.u%tted3 Tere%ta 'a alread) "ut "$ the '%t#e
!r"te&t%"# !r"(ra* a#d 'a %# h%d%#( %# the V%a)a. !s su%h, she %ould not trael to -anila to personall1 si#n the petition.
-oreoer, as "aintained '1 the petitioner, sin%e the period for filin# the petition for %ertiorari )as a'out to lapse, the priate
prose%utor )as left )ith no option 'ut to si#n the erifi%ation and %ertifi%ation, instead of allo)in# the period to file the petition to
pass )ithout it 'ein# filed. ! rela:ation of the pro%edural rules, %onsiderin# the parti%ular %ir%u"stan%es, is 8ustified. (he re7uire"ent
)as thus su'stantiall1 %o"plied )ith.
!s to the su'stantie aspe%t:
! pe%uliar situation e:ists in the instant %ase. Petitioner has sou#ht re%ourse 'efore the +!, ia a petition for %ertiorari under Rule
65, fro" an ,rder of the trial %ourt drasti%all1 "odif1in# its earlier findin#s %oni%tin# the respondents of the %ri"e of "urder, '1
a%7uittin# Joen and !r"ando, and do)n#radin# the %oni%tions of their %o0a%%used fro" "urder to ho"i%ide9 this, not)ithstandin#
that all the a%%used, e:%ept &stanislao $a%a'a, failed to personall1 appear at the pro"ul#ation of the De%ision despite due noti%e
thereof.
Petitioner %ontends that its petition for certiorari under Rule 65 of the Rules of +ourt )ith the +! )as the proper re"ed1, sin%e the
R(+ %o""itted #rae a'use of dis%retion a"ountin# to la%6 or e:%ess of 8urisdi%tion )hen it entertained the Joint -otion for
Re%onsideration )ith respe%t to !r"ando and Joen despite the fa%t that the1 had not re#ained their standin# in %ourt.
Petitioner4s re%ourse to the +! )as %orre%t.
Dou'le 8eopard1 has the follo)in# essential ele"ents: >1? the a%%used is %har#ed under a %o"plaint or an infor"ation suffi%ient in
for" and su'stan%e to sustain a %oni%tion9 >2? the %ourt has 8urisdi%tion9 >E? the a%%used has 'een arrai#ned and he has pleaded9
and >*? he is %oni%ted or a%7uitted, or the %ase is dis"issed )ithout his e:press %onsent.

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Alth"u(h th% C"urt d"e #"t a+"lutel) !re&lude the a0a%l*e#t "$ the re*ed) "$ certiorari t" &"rre&t a# err"#e"u
a&.u%ttal3 the !et%t%"#er *ut &learl) a#d &"#0%#&%#(l) de*"#trate that the l"'er &"urt +lata#tl) a+ued %t auth"r%t) t" a
!"%#t " (ra0e a#d " e0ere a t" de!r%0e %t "$ %t 0er) !"'er t" d%!e#e ,ut%&e.
3nder &n#lish %o""on la), e:%eptions to the pleas of prior %oni%tion or a%7uittal e:isted )here the trial %ourt la%6ed 8urisdi%tion,
the theor1 'ein# that a defendant 'efore su%h a %ourt )as not a%tuall1 pla%ed in 8eopard1. Ben%e, an1 a%7uittal or %oni%tion 'efore
a %ourt hain# no 8urisdi%tion )ould not iolate the prin%iple of dou'le 8eopard1 sin%e it failed to atta%h in the first pla%e.
2e%tion 1*>2?, !rti%le 555 of the +onstitution, authori.in# trials in absentia , allo)s the a%%used to 'e a'sent at the trial 'ut not at
%ertain sta#es of the pro%eedin#s, to )it: >a? at arrai#n"ent and plea, )hether of inno%en%e or of #uilt9 >'? durin# trial, )heneer
ne%essar1 for identifi%ation purposes9 and >%? at the pro"ul#ation of senten%e, unless it is for a li#ht offense, in )hi%h %ase, the
a%%used "a1 appear '1 %ounsel or representatie. !t su%h sta#es of the pro%eedin#s, his presen%e is re7uired and %annot 'e
)aied.
3nder the 2e%tion 6, Rule 120 of the Rules of +ourt, the a%%used is re7uired to 'e present at the pro"ul#ation of the 8ud#"ent. If
the judgment is for conviction and the failure of the accused to appear was without justifiable cause, he shall lose the remedies
available in these Rules against the judgment and the court shall order his arrest. Within fifteen (15) das from promulgation of
judgment however, the accused ma surrender and file a motion for leave of court to avail of these remedies. !e shall state the
reasons for his absence at the scheduled promulgation and if he proves that his absence was for a justifiable cause, he shall be
allowed to avail of said remedies within fifteen (15) das from notice.
(hus, the a&&ued 'h" $a%led t" a!!ear '%th"ut ,ut%$%a+le &aue hall l"e the re*ed%e a0a%la+le %# the Rule a(a%#t the
,ud(*e#t. Bo)eer, )ithin 15 da1s fro" pro"ul#ation of 8ud#"ent, the a%%used "a1 surrender and file a "otion for leae of %ourt
to aail of these re"edies. Be shall state in his "otion the reasons for his a'sen%e at the s%heduled pro"ul#ation, and if he proes
that his a'sen%e )as for a 8ustifia'le %ause, he shall 'e allo)ed to aail of said re"edies )ithin 15 da1s fro" noti%e.

Whe# the De&%%"# dated A!r%l 923 9::9 'a !r"*ul(ated3 "#l) Eta#%la" La&a+a 'a !ree#t. 2u'se7uentl1 thereafter,
)ithout surrenderin# and e:plainin# the reasons for their a'sen%e, Joen, !r"ando, and Do"in#o 8oined &stanislao in their Joint
-otion for Re%onsideration. 5n 'latant disre#ard of the Rules, the R(+ not onl1 failed to %ause the arrest of the respondents )ho
)ere at lar#e, it also too6 %o#ni.an%e of the 8oint "otion.
The RTC &learl) e8&eeded %t ,ur%d%&t%"# 'he# %t e#terta%#ed the ,"%#t -"t%"# $"r Re&"#%derat%"# '%th re!e&t t" the
re!"#de#t 'h" 'ere at lar(e. It h"uld ha0e &"#%dered the ,"%#t *"t%"# a a *"t%"# $"r re&"#%derat%"# that 'a "lel)
$%led +) Eta#%la". /ein# at lar#e, Joen and Do"in#o hae not re#ained their standin# in %ourt. ,n%e an a%%used 8u"ps 'ail or
flees to a forei#n %ountr1, or es%apes fro" prison or %onfine"ent, he loses his standin# in %ourt9 and unless he surrenders or
su'"its to the 8urisdi%tion of the %ourt, he is dee"ed to hae )aied an1 ri#ht to see6 relief fro" the %ourt.
Thu3 /"0e#3 Ar*a#d"3 a#d D"*%#("3 'ere #"t !la&ed %# d"u+le ,e"!ard) +e&aue3 $r"* the 0er) +e(%##%#(3 the l"'er
tr%+u#al had a&ted '%th"ut ,ur%d%&t%"#. Ver%l)3 a#) rul%#( %ued '%th"ut ,ur%d%&t%"# %3 %# le(al &"#te*!lat%"#3 #e&ear%l)
#ull a#d 0"%d a#d d"e #"t e8%t. I# &r%*%#al &ae3 %t &a##"t +e the "ur&e "$ a# a&.u%ttal.
5"'e0er3 '%th re!e&t t" Eta#%la"3 the RTC &"**%tted #" re0er%+le err"r 'he# %t e#terta%#ed the -"t%"# $"r
Re&"#%derat%"#. 5e 'a %# &ut"d) a#d 'a !ree#t at the !r"*ul(at%"# "$ the ,ud(*e#t. 5e#&e3 the RTC #e0er l"t
,ur%d%&t%"# "0er h% !er"#. C"#e.ue#tl)3 the RTC7 rul%#( d"'#(rad%#( h% &"#0%&t%"# $r"* *urder t" h"*%&%de ta#d.
F"r Eta#%la"3 a#d $"r h%* al"#e3 the !r"&r%!t%"# a(a%#t d"u+le ,e"!ard) a!!l%e.
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