Professional Documents
Culture Documents
TOPIC: JURISDICTION
UY v. CA
276 SCRA 374
BELLOSILLO, J.:
FACTS:
Rosa Uy was employed as an
accountant in Don Tim Shipping
Company owned by the husband of
one Consolacion Leong. While
helping her husband manage their
lumber
business
Rosa
and
Consolacion agreed to form a
partnership. Various sums were
claimed to have been given by
Consolacion as capital of the
lumber business of Rosa, but no
receipt was ever issued. The
friendship of the two turned sour,
thus, Consolacion demanded the
return of her money but the checks
issued by Rosa were all dishonored
for
insufficiency
of
funds.
Consolacion filed a complaint for
Estafa and for violation of BP 22.
The Manila RTC acquitted the
petitioner of Estafa but convicted
her of the charges under BP 22.
Petitioner contends that Manila
RTC never acquired jurisdiction
over offenses under BP 22 and
assuming arguendo that she raised
the matter of jurisdiction only
upon appeal, she cannot be
estopped from questioning the
jurisdiction.
ISSUE:
Whether or not the RTC of Manila
acquired jurisdiction over the
violation of the
Bouncing checks law.
RULING:
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decision of respondent Court of
Appeals affirming the decision of
the trial court dated 24 September
1991 is REVERSED and SET
ASIDE, without prejudice to the
filing of appropriate charges
against petitioner with the court of
competent
jurisdiction
when
warranted.
CRUZ v. CA
388 SCRA 79
Carpio, J.;
TOPIC: JURISDICTION
FACTS:
Lutgarda Cruzexecuted before a
Notary Public the City of Manila an
Affidavit of Self-Adjudication of a
parcel of land stating that she was
the sole surviving heir of the
registered owner when in fact she
knew there were other surviving
heirs. After trial on the merits, the
trial court rendered its decision
acquitting petitioner on the ground
of reasonable doubt. However, on
the same decision, the trial court
rendering decision on the civil
aspect of the case, ordered the
return to the surviving heirs of the
parcel of land located in Bulacan.
A Petitioner filed a Motion for
Reconsideration but was denied
for lack of merit. A second move
for a reconsideration was likewise
denied by the trial court. Petitioner
asserts that both copies of the
motion for reconsideration were
sent to the trial court and the City
Prosecutor by registered mail on
February 10, 1994. CA held that if
service is made by the registered
mail, proof shall be made by such
affidavit
and
registry-receipt
issued by the mailing office.
ISSUE:
1. Whether or not the CA erred in
not finding that the prosecution
was duly furnished a copy of the
petitioners
motion
for
reconsideration with respect to the
decision on the civil aspect of the
case.
Whether or not the CA erred in
finding that the RTC of Manila had
jurisdiction to render judgment on
the civil aspect of the case.
RULING:
1. Petitioner asserts that both
copies
of
the
motion
for
reconsideration were sent to the
trial court and the City Prosecutor
by registered mail on Feb. 10,
1994.
SC agrees to the ruling of the CA.
An MR filed, thru a registered
mail, without proof of service is
considered a mere scrap of paper.
Hence the period continued to run
and lapsed making the trial courts
decision final and executory. Proof
of service is mandatory.
2. Being a civil liability arising
from the offense charged, the
governing law is the Rules of
Criminal Procedure, not the civil
procedure rules that pertain to
civil action arising from the
initiatory pleading that gives rise
to the suit. There are 3 important
requisites which must be present
in order that a court acquires
jurisdiction: first, jurisdiction over
the subject matter; second, over
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the territory; third, over the
person. The trial court had
jurisdiction over the subject matter
as the law has conferred on the
court the power to hear cases
involving
Estafa
through
falsification of document. The RTC
also had jurisdiction over the
offense charged since the crime
was
committed
within
its
territorial jurisdiction. Lastly, RTC
had jurisdiction over the person of
the accused-petitioner because she
voluntarily submitted to the courts
authority.
WHEREFORE, petitioner is given
five days from receipt of this
decision within which to serve a
copy
of
her
motion
for
reconsideration on the offended
party. Let this case be remanded to
the
trial
court
for
further
proceedings.
Dela Cruz vs. Moya
160 SCRA 838
CORTES, J.:
TOPIC: JURISDICTION
FACTS:
Rodolfo Dela Cruz is a member of
the Armed Forces Intelligence and
Operations Section. Armed with a
MISSION ORDER, Dela Cruz
proceeds to Maco, Davao del Norte
to investigate reports of illegal
cockfighting being conducted. Dela
cruz and company caught in
flagrante delicto the operators of
cockfighting, but the latter refused
arrest. The operators, including
Eusebio Cabilto, followed the
soldiers on their way bak to the OC
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Crame,
Quezon
appropriate action.
City,
for
GUEVARRA v. ALMODOVAR
169 SCRA 476
PARAS, J.:
TOPIC: JURISDITION
FACTS:
John Philipp Guevarra, then 11
years old, was playing with his
best friend, Teodoro Amine, Jr. and
other children. They were targetshooting a bottle cap with an air
rifle borrowed from a neighbor. In
the course of their game, Teodoro
was hit by a pellet on his left
collarbone
which
caused
his
unfortunate
death.
After
preliminary investigation, Fiscal
acquitted petitioner due to his age
and because the unfortunate event
appeared to be an accident. The
parents of Teodoro appealed to the
Ministry of Justice, which ordered
to file a case against petitioner
Guevarra for Homicide through
reckless imprudence.
ISSUE:
1. Whether or not an 11 year old
could be charged with the crime of
homicide thru reckless imrpudence
2. Whether or not the court had
jurisdiction
over
the
case
notwithstanding the fact that it did
not pass thru the barangay lupon.
RULING:
1. Intent and discernment are two
different concepts. While they are
products of mental processes
within a person, intent refers to
the desire of ones act while
PEOPLE v. MARIANO
71 SCRA 600
MUNOZ PALMA, J.:
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TOPIC: JURISDICTION
FACTS:
Hermogenes
Mariano
is
an
appointed Liaison officer by Mayor
Constantino Nolasco of San Jose
del Monte, Bulacan. Mariano is
authorized to receive and be
receipted for US excess property
of USAID/NEC. Mariano, instead of
delivering it to the Office of the
Mayor, misappropriated, misapply
and converteed the said items for
his personal benefit. Hence, the
Office of Provinsial Fiscal of
Bulacan filed an Information
accusing
private
reponsdent
Mariano of Estafa. Mariano filed a
motion to quash thee information.
He claimed that the items which
were the subject matter of the
Information against him were the
same items for which Mayor
Nolasco was indicted before a
Military Commission under a
charge of malversation of public
property. The judge of RTC
granted the motion to quash on the
ground of lack of jurisction. It held
that
it
had
already
taken
cognizance of the malversation
case
against
Mayor
Nolasco
involving the same subject matter,
as such the court has without the
jurisdiction to pass upon anew the
same subject matter.
ISSUE:
Whether or not civil courts and
military
commissions
exercise
concurrent jurisdiction over the
offense of estafa of goods allegedly
committed by a civilian.
RULING:
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over the offense under the Rules of
Court (People vs. Mission, 48 O.G.,
1331; Rule 110, section 9). It is
well-established that once vested,
the jurisdiction is not tolled by
subsequent amendment or which
in this case amounted to no more
than an avowal by the prosecution
that it could not establish the other
elements of the offense.
Furthermore, the court actually
rejected the defense motion to
dismiss, and directed that the cue
be tried on the original charge of
repledging property already
encumbered. The accused obeyed
that directive, and by so doing it
renounced the claim that the
information had been so amended
as to discard that particular
averment.
Even if the Court of First Instance
of Manila had jurisdiction over the
case, the accused cannot be found
guilty on the evidence on record of
the crime for which he stands
indicted. FOR THE FOREGOING
REASON, the appealed decision is
hereby reversed, and another one
entered acquitting the accused
Jose L. Chupeco.
MANILA RAILROAD CO. vs
ATTY.GENERAL, 20 Phil 523
TOPIC: JURISDICTION
Facts: In the month of December,
1907, the plaintiff began an action
in the Court of First Instance of
the Province of Tarlac for the
condemnation of certain real
estate, stated by the plaintiff in his
complaint to be located in the
Province of Tarlac. It is alleged in
the complaint that the plaintiff is
authorized by law to construct a
railroad line "from Paniqui to
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Act. No. 1258 are applicable and
therefore the CFI has no
jurisdiction.
Held:
1. Yes, CFI Tarlac has power and
authority to take cognizance of
condemnation of real estate
located in another province.
Sections 55 and 56[1] of Act No.
136 of the Philippine Commission
confer perfect and complete
jurisdiction upon the CFI of these
Islands with respect to real estate
in the Philippine Islands. Such
jurisdiction is not made to depend
upon locality. There is no
suggestion of limitation. The
jurisdiction is universal. It is
nowhere suggested, much less
provided, that a CFI of one
province, regularly sitting in said
province, may not under certain
conditions take cognizance of an
action arising in another province
or of an action relating to real
estate located outside of the
boundaries of the province to
which it may at the time be
assigned.
Furthermore, in terms of
jurisdiction over person of the
plaintiff, the procedure does not
alter or change that power or
authority; it simply directs the
manner in which it shall be fully
and justly exercised. To be sure, in
certain cases, if that power is not
exercised in conformity with the
provisions of the procedural law,
purely, the court attempting to
exercise it loses the power to
exercise it legally. This does not
mean that it loses jurisdiction of
the subject matter. It means simply
that he may thereby lose
jurisdiction of the person or that
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Its object is to secure to him a
convenient trial.
Section 377 of the Code of Civil
Procedure is not applicable to
actions by railroad corporations to
condemn lands; and that, while
with the consent of defendants
express or implied the venue may
be laid and the action tried in any
province selected by the plaintiff
nevertheless the defendants whose
lands lie in one province, or any
one of such defendants, may, by
timely application to the court,
require the venue as to their, or, if
one defendant, his, lands to be
changed to the province where
their or his lands lie. In such case
the action as to all of the
defendants not objecting would
continue in the province where
originally begun. It would be
severed as to the objecting
defendants and ordered continued
before the court of the appropriate
province or provinces. While we
are of that opinion and so hold it
can not affect the decision in the
case before us for the reason that
the defendants are not objecting to
the venue and are not asking for a
change thereof. They have not only
expressly submitted themselves to
the jurisdiction of the court but are
here asking that that jurisdiction
be maintained against the efforts
of the plaintiff to remove it.
The judgment must be REVERSED
and the case REMANDED to the
trial court with direction to
proceed with the action according
to law.
FUKUZUME vs. PEOPLE, 474
SCRA 580
TOPIC: JURISDICTION
RULE 110
his own personal use and benefit
the said amount and despite
repeated demands failed and
refused and still fails and refuses
to account for, to the damage and
prejudice of Javier Yu y Ng in the
aforementioned
amount
of P424,000.00.
Upon being arraigned on
February 28, 1995, Fukuzume
pleaded not guilty.[27] Trial ensued.
In its Decision dated October 21,
1996, the trial court found
Fukuzume guilty as charged. On
March
13,
2000,
the
CA
promulgated its decision affirming
the findings and conclusions of the
trial court but modifying the
penalty imposed.
Issue: Whether or not the RTC of
Makati have jurisdiction over the
case of Fukuzume.
Held: No. With respect to the
sworn statement of Yu, which was
presented in evidence by the
prosecution, it is clear that he
alleged therein that on July 12,
1991, he gave Fukuzume the
amount
of P50,000.00
at the
Intercontinental Hotel in Makati.
However,
we
agree
with
Fukuzumes contention that Yu
testified
during
his
direct
examination that on July 12, 1991
he gave the amount of P50,000.00
to Fukuzume in the latters house.
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Thus, it cannot take jurisdiction
over a person charged with an
offense
allegedly
committed
outside of that limited territory.
Furthermore, the jurisdiction of a
court over the criminal case is
determined by the allegations in
the complaint or information. And
once it is so shown, the court may
validly take cognizance of the
case. However, if the evidence
adduced during the trial show
that the offense was committed
somewhere else, the court
should dismiss the action for
want of jurisdiction. (Emphasis
supplied)
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but the reception of evidence was
suspended because of the motions
for inhibition of Judge Gravilles
filed by several accused. Garvilles
voluntarily inhibited himself and
the case was re-raffled. However,
the prosecution moved for the
transmittal of the records to the
Sandiganbayan because the
offenses charged were committed
in relation to the office of the
accused PNP officers. The trial
court ruled that the
Sandiganbayan does not have
jurisdiction because the
informations do not state that the
offenses charged were committed
in relation to the office of the
accused PNP officers and denied
the Motion for the Transfer of
Records to Sandiganbayan. The
prosecution moved to reconsider
but the same was denied. The
reception of evidence was resumed
but the judge later inhibited
himself. The cases were then reraffled to Branch 49 of the
Regional Trial Court of Bacolod.
The prosecution filed a petition for
certiorari, prohibition and
mandamus with prayer for a
temporary restraining order,
challenging the refusal of the
judge to transfer the cases to the
Sandiganbayan. The private
respondents were required to
comment on the petition and
issued a temporary restraining
order enjoining the respondent
judge to desist from proceeding
with the trial of the case.
Issue: Whether or not the
Sandiganbayan has the jurisdiction
over this case.
Held: The jurisdiction of a court
may be determined by law in force
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classified as Grade 27 or higher.
Accused Torres, who is the highest
in rank among the accused only
has a rank classified Grade 18.
Lastly, the courts cannot be
divested of jurisdiction which was
already acquired before the
subsequent enactment R.A. 7975
which limited the Sandiganbayans
jurisdiction to officers whose rank
is Grade 27 or higher, because
the courts retain its jurisdiction
until the end of litigation. Hence,
cases already under the
jurisdiction of the courts at the
time of the enactment of R.A.7975
are only referred to the proper
courts if trial has not yet begun at
that time. Petition is DENIED and
the challenged orders are
AFFIRMED.
BUAYA vs. POLO, 169 SCRA 471
Facts:
TOPIC: JURISDICTION
Petitioner Solemnidad Buaya was
an insurance agent of Country
Bankers Insurance Corporation
(CBIC) and was authorized to
collect premiums for and in behalf
of CBIC then make a report and
accounting of the transactions and
remit the same to the principal
office of CBIC in Manila. However,
an audit of Buayas account
showed that there was a shortage
in the amount of P358,850.7. As a
result, she was charged with estafa
before the Regional Trial Court of
Manila has no jurisdiction because
she is based in Cebu City, but the
same was denied by respondent
Judge Polo. The subsequent motion
for reconsideration was likewise
RULE 110
ANADILLA, RAFAEL ANADILLA
and
JOSE
ANADILLA, respondents
Facts:
That on or about June 29,
1994 in the afternoon Rey Sunga,
Ramil Lansang, Inocencio Pascua,
Jr., and Lito Octac as principals,
and Locil Cui alias Ginalyn Cuyos
as accomplice by means of force,
violence and intimidation, to wit:
by pinning down one JOCELYN
TAN, a minor, fifteen (15) years of
age, succeeded in having carnal
knowledge of her against her will
and without her consent; that on
the occasion of said rape and to
enable them to conceal the
commission of the crime, the
herein accused in furtherance of
the conspiracy together with
LOCIL CUI, a minor, acting with
discernment and who cooperated
in the execution of the offense as
ACCOMPLICE, did then and there
willfully, unlawfully and feloniously,
taking advantage of their superior
number and strength, with intent
to
kill,
treacherously
attack,
assault, and use personal violence
upon JOCELYN TAN by repeatedly
stabbing and smashing a stone on
her head, thereby inflicting upon
her mortal wounds and multiple
fractures on her skull which were
the direct cause of her death
shortly thereafter.
On October 18, 1994 a motion to
discharge accused Locil Cui (Locil)
to be a state witness, averring
therein that the legal requisites for
her discharge had been complied
with, and submitting her sworn
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placed himself on top of Jocelyn,
inserted his penis into her vagina
and "seemed to be pumping."
After Lansang, Sunga took turn to
have sexual intercourse with
Jocelyn as Lansang and one who
was not known to Locil and whom
the latter described as one who
has "chinky" or "narrow eyes,"
later identified to be Pascua, kept
Jocelyn pinned down by her hands.
Pascua too subsequently had
carnal knowledge of Jocelyn who
all along struggled against her
malefactors.
After Pascua satisfied his lust,
Sunga, with a sharp bladed
weapon, stabbed the abdomen of
the motionless Jocelyn, drawing
her to rise to a sitting position and
clutch her abdomen. Sunga then
passed on the bladed weapon to
Lansang who smashed Jocelyn's
head with an irregularly shaped
stone, causing her to fall to the
ground
lifeless.
Locil,
who
witnessed everything, was then
pulled by the lesbian and led back
into the tricycle where they
awaited Lansang, Sunga and
Pascua to ride with them. All five
thereafter headed back to Puerto
Princesa City proper, leaving
Jocelyn's body behind.
When the five reached the
Mendoza
Park
where
Locil
alighted, she heard the voice of
someone from inside the tricycle
warning her to keep mum about
the incident, otherwise something
would also happen to her. Locil
all
the
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witness is in accordance with law;
and
(2) Whether the guilt of appellants
has
been
proven
beyond
reasonable doubt
(3) Is Sunga's sworn statement
admissible as evidence?
HELD:
The accused were acquitted.
(1) NO.
Requisites: 1. the discharge must
be with the consent of the accused
sought to be a state witness; - YES
2. his testimony
necessary; - YES
is
absolutely
Locil's account for they relate --not to the crime itself but to events
THEREAFTER.
An exhaustive review of the
transcript of stenographic notes of
Locil's testimony reveals, however,
that the manner by which she
related it was punctuated with
marks of tentativeness, uncertainty
and indecisiveness which the trial
court unfortunately failed to take
note of in its decision on review.
b. To recapitulate, Locil claimed
that on June 29, 1994 she boarded
a tricycle bearing a lesbian who
invited her for a joyride, proceeded
to the Mendoza Park and picked up
Jocelyn, whom she was not
acquainted with, then brought by
the same tricycle to Irawan where
the latter was raped and brutally
murdered. In other words, she
wanted to convey that she was
deliberately brought by appellants
with them on June 29, 1994 to the
place where they were to carry
out,
which
they
did,
their
abominable acts against Jocelyn.
This
strikes
this
Court
as
improbable if not bizarre.
5. He does not appear to be the
most guilty; and. - YES
4.
His
testimony
can
be
substantially corroborated in its
material points; - NO
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being traced by her mother and
aunt?
(2) NO, see items 1 and 2.
In light of the weak evidence for
the prosecution, the defense of
alibi as well as of denial by
appellants is accorded credence,
for it is precisely when the
prosecution's case is weak that the
defense
of
alibi
assumes
importance and becomes crucial in
negating criminal liability.
In fine, regardless of the probative
weight of appellants' alibi, the
prosecution still has the onus of
proving
the
guilt
beyond
reasonable doubt of the accused
and cannot rely on the weakness of
the
defense
evidence.
The
prosecution
having
failed
to
discharge its burden, appellants'
presumed innocence remains and
must thus be acquitted.
(3) NO.
From the testimony of SPO2
Janoras, it can be gathered that
Atty. Rocamora (Sunga's counse
during custodial investigation) did
not, if at all, fully apprise Sunga of
his rights and options prior to
giving his (Sunga's) admission.
Evidently, Atty. Rocamora, without
more, merely acted to facilitate the
taking of the admission from
Sunga.
Any information or admission
given by a person while in custody
which may appear harmless or
innocuous at the time without the
competent
assistance
of
an
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by unimpeachable testimony and
strong circumstances and must be
to such an extent that its
trustworthiness becomes manifest.
a.
Was
Locil's
testimony
corroborated in its material points
by
the
prosecution's
other
evidence? - NO
b. If in the affirmative, was the
corroborative
evidence
unimpeachable
testimony
and
strong circumstances to such an
extent that Locil's trustworthiness
becomes manifest? - NO
In
the
appreciation
of
circumstantial
evidence,
there
must be at least two proven
circumstances which in complete
sequence lead to no other logical
conclusion than that of the guilt of
the accused. [This was not present
in this case]
NOTES:
(1) Custodial investigation is the
stage
"where
the
police
investigation is no longer a general
inquiry into an unsolved crime but
has begun to focus on a particular
suspect taken into custody by the
police who carry out a process of
interrogation that lends itself to
elicit incriminating statements.
.
JOSE C. MIRANDA, ALBERTO P.
DALMACIO, and ROMEO B.
OCON, Petitioners,
vs.
VIRGILIO
M.
TULIAO, Respondent.
FACTS:
Two burnt cadavers were
discovered in Ramon, Isabela
which were identified as the bodies
of Vicente Bauzon and Elizer
Tuliao. The latter is the son of
respondent SPO2 Maderal was
arrested and executed a sworn
confession
identifying
Jose
Miranda, PO3 Romeo Ocon and
SPO3
Alberto
Dalmacio
(Petitoners0 as responsible for the
death. Hence, private respondent
filed a criminal complaint for
murder
against
the
three
petitioners. A motion to quash
warrant of arrest was filed by
petitioner. Noting the absence of
petitioners,
Judge
Tumaliluan
denied the same on the ground
that jurisdiction over the person of
the accused is not yet acquired.
ISSUE:
Is the dismissal valid?
HELD:
No,
it
is
not
valid.
Adjudication of a motion to quash
a warrant of arrest requires
neither
jurisdiction
over
the
person of the accused nor custody
of the law over the body of the
accused. As a general rule, the act
of
seeking
affirmative
relief
constitutes voluntary submission
to the jurisdiction of the court. The
exemptions to this rule are those
whose pleading whose prayers is
avoidance of the jurisdiction of the
court. In criminal cases, these
pleadings include motion to quash
a complaint on lack of jurisdiction
over the person of the accused and
motion to quash warrant. In these
cases, custody over the body of the
accused no jurisdiction over his
person is not required.
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chapter, shall
be
filed
simultaneously or separately
with the court of first
instance [now, the Regional
Trial Court] of the province
or city where the libelous
article is printed and first
published or where any of
the offended parties actually
resides at the time of the
commission of the offense
xxx
MAYOR
FRANCISCO
LECAROZ, Petitioner,
v.
SANDIGANBAYAN, Respondent.
FACTS:
Petitioner was charged with
the crime of grave coercion in an
information
filed
before
the
Sandiganbayan. The complaint
alleged that the accused, a public
officer, being then the mayor of
Sta. Cruz, Marinduque, taking
advantage of his public position
and which offense was committed
in relation to his office, did then
and there, willfully, unlawfully and
feloniously take over the operation
and control of the gasoline station
owned by Pedro Par, sell the
gasoline therein to the public
issuing the invoices of said
gasoline station and some pieces of
yellow pad paper for the purpose,
and padlock dispensing pump
thereof without authority of law,
depriving Pedro Par of the
possession and exercise of a lawful
trade
or
occupation.
The
information was amended with the
insertion of the phrase "by
ordering
his
policemen
companions" between the words
"Pedro Par" and "to sell the
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gasoline. Petitioner filed a motion
to
quash
the
information
principally on the ground that the
respondent court lacks jurisdiction
to entertain the case and that it
should have been filed with the
ordinary courts in Marinduque
where the alleged crime was
committed.
ISSUE:
Does
Sandiganbayan
has
jurisdiction to try the case?
HELD:
Yes,
Sandiganbayan
has
jurisdiction. Rspondent court has
jurisdictional competence not only
over criminal and civil cases
involving
graft
and
corrupt
practices committed by public
officers and employees but also
over other crimes committed by
them in relation to their office,
though not involving graft and
corrupt practices, as may be
determined by law. If petitioner
were not the mayor he would not
have
allegedly
directed
the
policeman and the latter would not
have followed his orders and
instructions to sell Pedro Pars
gasoline and padlocked the station.
PANFILO
M.
LACSON, petitioner vs.
THE
EXECUTIVE
SECRETARY,
THE
SANDIGANBAYAN,
OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL
PROSECUTOR,
THE
DEPARTMENT
OF
JUSTICE,
MYRNA
ABALORA, NENITA ALAPAP,
IMELDA
PANCHO
MONTERO,
and
THE
PEOPLE
OF
THE
PHILIPPINES, respondent
s.
ROMEO
M.
ACOP
and
FRANCISCO
G.
ZUBIA,
JR., petitioners-intervenors.
FACTS:
Eleven persons believed to
be members of the Kuratong
Baleleng gang,
reportedly
an
organized crime syndicate which
had been involve in a spate of bank
robberies in Metro Manila, were
slain along Commonwealth Avenue
in Quezon City by elements of the
Anti-Bank
Robbery
and
Intelligence Task Group (ABRITG).
The ABRITG was composed of
police officers with Presidential
Anti-Crime Commission Task Force
Habagat (PACC-TFH) headed by
petitioner Chief Superintendent
Panfilo M. Lacson. An information
for murder was filed against
petitioner after an allegation that
was transpired was a summary
execution (or a rub out) and not a
shoot-out between the Kuratong
Baleleng gang members and the
ABRITG. Ombudsman filed on
March
1,
1996
eleven
amended informations
before
the Sandiganbayan,
wherein
petitioner was charged only as an
accessory. Accused filed separate
motions
questioning
the
jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan,
asserting that under the amended
information, the cases fall within
the jurisdiction of the Regional
Trial Court because RA 8249
ISSUE: Does Sandiganbayan has
jurisdicition over the case?
RULE 110
HELD:
No.
Fo acase to be within the
jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan,
it must be shown that the offense
charged in the informationwas
committed in relation to the office
of the accused.
In People vs. Montejo, the
court held that an offense is said to
have been committed in relation to
the office if it is intimately
connected with the office of the
offender and perpetrated whie he
was in the performance of his
official functions. This intimacy
must be alleged in he information,
which determines the jurisdiction
of the court. The controlling factor
is the specific factual allegations in
the information that would sow the
close intimacy of the discharge of
the accused official duties and the
commission of the offense charged.
It does not even matter the phrase
committed in relation to his
office appears in the information
or not.
In the case at bar, what the
amended information contains is a
mere allegation that the offense
was committed by the accused
public officer in relation to his
office and that is not sufficient.
Such phrase is merely a conclusion
of law. Since it was not proven that
the
crime
of
murder
was
committed in the discharge of their
duties, the Sandiganbayan does
not have jurisdiction over the case
RULE 110
RULE 110
commands
greater
weight
considering that affidavits taken ex
parte are inferior to testimony
given in court, the former being
almost invariably incomplete and
oftentimes inaccurate. Moreover,
we find nothing in the cross
examination of Yu to establish that
he gave any money to Fukuzume
anywhere in Makati for that
matter. Venue in criminal cases is
an
essential
element
of
jurisdiction. From the foregoing, it
is evident that the prosecution
failed to prove that Fukuzume
committed the crime of estafa in
Makati or that any of the essential
ingredients of the offense took
place in the said city. Hence, the
judgment of the trial court
convicting Fukuzume of the crime
of estafa should be set aside for
lack
of
jurisdiction,
without
prejudice, however, to the filing of
appropriate charges with the court
of competent jurisdiction.
REPUBLIC OF THE
PHILIPPINES vs. HON.
ASUNCION, MANIO, G.R. No.
108208, March 11, 1994
Topic: Venue of criminal actions
FACTS:
Private
respondent
Alexander Dionisio y Manio, a
member of the PNP assigned to
the
Central
Police
District
Command Station 2 in Novaliches,
Quezon City, was dispatched by his
Commanding Officer to Dumalay
Street in Novaliches to respond to
a complaint that a person was
creating trouble there. Dionisio
proceeded to that place, where he
subsequently shot to death T/Sgt.
Romeo
Sadang.
Pursuant
to
Section 7, Rule 112 of the Rules of
Court, the Office of the City
Prosecutor filed with the RTC of
Quezon
City
an
Information
charging Dionisio with the crime of
homicide. The respondent Judge
dismissed the criminal complaint
"for
re-filing
with
the
Sandiganbayan" on the ground
that the Sandiganbayan, and not
the RTC, has jurisdiction over the
case for crimes committed by
public
officer
when
penalty
prescribed by law for the offense is
higher than prision correccional.
Private prosecutor moved for a
reconsideration of the dismissal,
citing the opinion of the Secretary
of Justice that "crimes committed
by
PNP
members
are
not
cognizable by the Sandiganbayan"
because "they fall within the
exclusive
jurisdiction
of
the
regular
courts"
and
"the
Sandiganbayan is not a regular
court but a special court."
ISSUE:
Whether or not the Sandiganbayan
has jurisdiction over all crimes
committed by public officers with a
penalty
higher
than
prision
correccional
RULING:
No. If the crime committed
by the public officer is not related
to his public function, then the
RTC has exclusive jurisdiction of
the offense. There is no indication
at all that the trouble-maker was
the victim and that he was shot by
the private respondent in the
course of the latter's mission.
RULE 110
However, it may yet be true that
the crime of homicide charged
therein was committed by the
private respondent in the course of
his public mission, which fact,
however, was not alleged in the
information. In view of this
eventuality
and
the
special
circumstances of this case, and to
avoid further delay, we shall direct
the court a quo to conduct a
preliminary hearing in this case to
determine whether the crime
charged was committed by the
private respondent in relation to
his office. If it be determined in the
affirmative, then it shall order the
transfer of the case to the
Sandiganbayan
which
shall
forthwith docket and proceed with
the case as if the same were
originally filed with it. Otherwise,
the court a quo shall set aside the
challenged orders, proceed with
the trial of the case, and render
judgment thereon. Any officer
authorized
to
conduct
a
preliminary investigation who is
investigating an offense committed
by a public officer where the
penalty prescribed by law is higher
than prision correccional, must
determine if the crime was
committed by the respondent in
relation to his office. If it was, the
investigating officer shall forthwith
inform
the
Office
of
the
Ombudsman which may either (a)
take over the investigation of the
case pursuant to Section 15(1) of
R.A. No. 6770, 59 or (b) deputize a
prosecutor to act as special
investigator or prosecutor to assist
in
the
investigation
and
prosecution of the case pursuant to
Section
31
thereof.
If
the
RULE 110
Reform
(DARAB).
Adjudication
Board
ISSUE:
Whether or not the RTC of
Surigao City has jurisdiction over
the charge for estafa even if it
involves agricultural tenants of the
private complainant
RULING:
Yes. In the instant case, the
RTC has jurisdiction over the
subject matter because the law
confers on it the power to hear and
decide cases involving estafa.
Second.
The
RTC
also
has
jurisdiction
over
the
offense
charged since the crime was
committed within its territorial
jurisdiction.
Third. The RTC likewise acquired
jurisdiction over the persons of the
respondents
because
they
voluntarily submitted to the RTC's
authority. Where the court has
jurisdiction over the subject matter
and over the person of the
accused, and the crime was
committed within its territorial
jurisdiction, the court necessarily
exercises jurisdiction over all
issues that the law requires the
court to resolve. Thus, based on
the law and material allegations of
the information filed, the RTC
erroneously concluded that it lacks
jurisdiction over the subject matter
on the premise that the case
before it is purely an agrarian
dispute. In the instant case, the
RTC failed to consider that what is
lodged before it is a criminal case
for estafa involving an alleged
misappropriated
amount
of
RULE 110
Spanish. Moreover, petitioner also
contended that the ordinance is
invalid, because it is arbitrary,
unreasonable, and not justified
under the police power of the city.
ISSUE:
Whether or not the enactment of
the ordinance is a valid exercise of
police power of the City of Manila
RULING:
Yes. The ordinance invades
no fundamental right, and impairs
no
personal
privilege.
The
ordinance is neither discriminatory
nor unreasonable in its operation.
It applies to all public laundries
without distinction, whether they
belong to Americans, Filipinos,
Chinese, or any other nationality.
All, without exception, and each
everyone
of
them
without
distinction, must comply with the
ordinance. Equally and uniformly
the ordinance applies to all
engaged in the laundry business,
and, as nearly as may be, the same
burdens are cast upon them. Even
if private rights of person or
property are subjected to restraint,
and even if loss will result to
individuals from the enforcement
of the ordinance, this is not
sufficient ground for failing to
uphold the hands of the legislative
body. The very foundation of the
police power is the control of
private interests for the public
welfare. After the case was
submitted to this court, counsel for
appellants
asked
that
a
preliminary
injunction
issue,
restraining the defendant or any of
its officers from enforcing the
RULE 110
contends that the prescriptive
period was suspended upon the
filing of the complaint against her
with the Office of the Provincial
Prosecutor. Agreeing with the
respondent judge, the Solicitor
General invokes Section 1, Rule
110 of the 1985 Rules on Criminal
Procedure, which provides that for
offenses not subject to the rule on
summary procedure in special
cases, the institution of criminal
action interrupts the period of
prescription
of
the
offense
charged.
ISSUE:
Whether or not the said offense is
governed by the Rules on Criminal
Procedure or by the Rule of
Summary Procedure.
RULING:
The offense is governed by
the Rule of Summary Procedure.
The Court held that if there be a
conflict between the Rule on
Summary Procedure and Section 1
of Rule 110 of the Rules on
Criminal Procedure, the former
should prevail as the special law.
And if there be a conflict between
Act. No. 3326 and Rule 110 of the
Rules on Criminal Procedure, the
latter must again yield because
this Court, in the exercise of its
rule-making power, is not allowed
to "diminish, increase or modify
substantive rights" under Article
VIII,
Section
5(5)
of
the
Constitution.
Prescription
in
criminal cases is a substantive
right. Our conclusion, therefore, is
that the prescriptive period for the
crime imputed to the petitioner
commenced
from
its
alleged
commission on May 11, 1990, and
ended two months thereafter, on
July 11, 1990, in accordance with
Section 1 of Act No. 3326. It was
not interrupted by the filing of the
complaint with the Office of the
Provincial Prosecutor on May 30,
1990, as this was not a judicial
proceeding.
The
judicial
proceeding
that
could
have
interrupted the period was the
filing of the information with the
MTC of Rodriguez, but this was
done only on October 2, 1990,
after the crime had already
prescribed.
BENJAMIN K. GOROSPE, ET
AL., VS. MARIANO B.
PEAFLORIDA, ET AL.
G.R. No. 11583, 19 JULY 1957,
EN BANC (BAUTISTA ANGELO,
J.:)
Topic: Criminal actions, when
enjoined; Petition for Quo
Warranto
Zulueta and Peaflorida were
candidates for the position of
Provincial Governor of Iloilo.
Penaflorida was declared elected
by the Board of Canvassers.
Zulueta filed with the Court of
First Instance of Iloilo a protest
contesting
the
election
of
Peaflorida on the grounds of
errors, irregularities, frauds and
corrupt
practices.
Similarly,
Ceferino de los Santos, Jr., a
defeated candidate for board
member, filed a criminal complaint
in said court against Peaflorida
and Ladrido charging the latter
RULE 110
with a violation of Section 49 of
the Revised Election Code relative
to
corrupt
practices.
This
complaint was dismissed on the
ground that, the violation charged
being a public offense, the same
can only be prosecuted by a
government prosecutor and not by
a private individual. And taking
cue of this suggestion, Zulueta
lodged a complaint with the fiscal
involving
the
same
charged
against Peaflorida and Ladrido.
Peaflorida
and
Ladrido,
through counsel, filed a petition
for-prohibition with injunction with
the Court of First Instance of Iloilo
praying that the provincial fiscal
be enjoined from proceeding with
the investigation of the criminal
case until after the election contest
shall have been finally determined,
and the court issued a preliminary
injunction after petitioner had filed
a bond in the amount of P1,000.
On the other hand, Zulueta
filed in the election protest an
amended petition seeking to strike
out from the original protest the
averment
relative
to
corrupt
practices which are involved in the
criminal
case
then
under
investigation by the fiscal, which
was
strongly
resisted
by
Peaflorida. The court admitted
the
amended
petition.
Peafloridas motion to file an
amended answer containing a
counterclaim was denied.
Peaflorida
and
Ladrido
brought the case by way of
certiorari to the Court of Appeals.
The Court of Appeals denied the
RULE 110
qualifications required by law with
regard to citizenship, residence,
age, loyalty, etc. On the other
hand, the principal purpose of the
criminal
action
is
the
imprisonment of the offender, be
he a candidate or not, and the
grounds of the action vary
depending
upon
the
acts
committed. Here the acts involved
are those prohibited by Section 49
of the Election Cade relative to
corrupt practices. The fact that the
present offense carries with it the
accessory
penalty
of
disqualification from holding office
does not convert it into an action
of quo warranto. Lastly, there is a
difference
as
regards
the
prescriptibility of the action. While
an action of quo warranto should
be filed within one week from
proclamation, an election offense
prescribes after two years, from
the date of its commission, and if
the discovery is made on the
occasion of an election contest, the
period shall commence on the date
the
judgment
becomes
final
(Section 188, Revised Election
Code).
Another
point
to
be
considered is that, as a general
rule, an injunction will not be
granted to restrain a criminal
prosecution (Kwong Sing vs. City
of Manila, 41 Phil., 1.03). The
reason is obvious. Public interest
requires that criminal acts be
immediately
investigated
and
prosecuted for the protection of
society. This is more so in
connection with a violation of the
Election Law. The only way to curb
fraud, terrorism and other corrupt
practices that are committed in the
RULE 110
Due to this order of the court, the
action for mandamus was filed by
Jesus Guiao to compel the fiscal to
include
Porfirio
Dizon
and
Emiliano Manalo as accused in his
information.
ISSUE:
Whether or not a fiscal may
be
compelled
by mandamus to
include in an information persons
who appear to be responsible for
the crime charged therein, but
whom the fiscal believes to be
indispensable witnesses for the
State.
HELD:
No. The rules of Court make
it a mandatory duty for the fiscal to
file charges against whomsoever
the evidence may show to be
responsible for an offense.
When it becomes necessary
to
exclude
from
prosecution
persons who appear responsible
for a crime in order that they may
be used as State witnesses, the
exclusion is lodged in the sound
discretion of the competent court,
not in that of the prosecuting
officer.
When the fiscal chose to
ignore his legal duty to include the
said Porfirio Dizon and Emiliano
Manalo as accused in the criminal
case, and to follow the procedure
outlined in the rules by which said
persons may be discharged in
order that they may be utilized as
witnesses for the prosecution, it
became proper and necessary for
the competent court to require him
to comply therewith.
Petitioner-appellee
Jesus
Guiao has no right to institute the
action of mandamus, because he
has no clear right to the
RULE 110
Preventive Detention Action (PDA)
allegedly issued against them.
Neither the original, duplicate
original nor certified true copy of
the PDA was ever shown to them.
Brocka,
et
al.
were
subsequently charged with Inciting
to Sedition, without prior notice to
their
counsel.The
original
informations filed recommended
no
bail.
The
circumstances
surrounding the hasty filing of this
second offense are cited by
Brocka, et al.
Brocka, et al. contend that
respondents' manifest bad faith
and/or harassment are sufficient
bases for enjoining their criminal
prosecution, aside from the fact
that the second offense of inciting
to sedition is illegal, since it is
premised on one and the same act
of attending and participating in
the ACTO jeepney strike. They
maintain that while there may be a
complex crime from a single act
(Art. 48, RTC), the law does not
allow the splitting of a single act
into two offenses and filing two
informations therefor, further, that
they will be placed in double
jeopardy.
ISSUE:
Whether or not the prosecution of
the criminal cases for Inciting to
Sedition may lawfully be enjoined.
HELD:
Yes. Indeed, the general rule
is that criminal prosecution may
not be restrained or stayed by
injunction, preliminary or final.
RULE 110
show that the criminal proceedings
had become a case of persecution,
having been undertaken by state
officials in bad faith.
Thus,
the
tenacious
invocation of a spurious and
inoperational PDA and the sham
and hasty preliminary investigation
were clear signals that the
prosecutors intended to keep
Brocka, et al. in detention until the
second offense of "Inciting to
Sedition" could be facilitated and
justified without need of issuing a
warrant of arrest anew. As a
matter of fact the corresponding
informations
for
this
second
offense were hastily filed on
February 11, 1985, or two days
after Brocka, et al.'s release from
detention was ordered by the trial
judge on February 9, 1985.
JOSELITO V. NARCISO vs. FLOR
MARIE STA. ROMANA-CRUZ
G.R. No. 134504, 17 March
2000, THIRD DIVISION
(PANGANIBAN, J.)
Topic: Control of Prosecution
Petitioner was charged with
parricide which is punishable
with reclusion perpetua. Judge
Pedro T. Santiago of the Regional
Trial court (RTC) granted his
Motion to Post Bail. However,
Court of Appeals (CA) ruled
otherwise. He argued before the
CA that he was entitled to bail
because the evidence of his guilt
was not strong. He contended that
the prosecutor's conformity to his
Motion for Bail was tantamount to
a finding that the prosecution
evidence
strong.
against
him
was
not
or
RULE 110
charged with a capital offense.
The absence of objection from
the prosecution is never a basis
for the grant of bail in such
cases, for the judge has no
right to presume that the
prosecutor knows what he is
doing on account of familiarity
with the case. "Said reasoning
is tantamount to ceding to the
prosecutor
the
duty
of
exercising judicial discretion to
determine whether the guilt of
the accused is strong. Judicial
discretion is the domain of the
judge before whom the petition
for provisional liberty will be
decided. The mandated duty to
exercise discretion has never
been
reposed
upon
the
prosecutor.
Additionally,
the
courts
grant or refusal of bail must
contain a summary of the
evidence for the prosecution,
on the basis of which should be
formulated the judge's own
conclusion on whether such
evidence is strong enough to
indicate the guilt of the
accused. The summary thereof
is considered an aspect of
procedural due process for
both the prosecution and the
defense;
its
absence
will
invalidate the grant or the
denial of the application for
bail. Clearly, the grant of bail
by Executive Judge Santiago
was laced with grave abuse of
discretion and the Court of
Appeals
was
correct
in
reversing him.
RULE 110
the same lifted and the case itself
dismissed.
Thereafter,
the
Supreme
Court
issued
a
Temporary
Restraining Order (TRO) ordering
the respondents to desist from
further
proceedings.
AntiGraftLeague
moved
to have
it lifted
and the
case
itself
dismissed. On the other hand, the
petitioner submits that
the
prosecutions
in
question
are
politically motivated as he being a
candidate
for
reelection
as
Governor of Zamboanga del Sur
and citing provisions of EO 264
"OUTLINING THE PROCEDURE
BY
WHICH
COMPLAINANTS
CHARGING
GOVERNMENT
OFFICIALS
AND
EMPLOYEES
WITH
COMMISSION
OF
IRREGULARITIES SHOULD BE
GUIDED."
ISSUE:
1. Whether or not respondents
City Fiscal and the Anti-Graft
League failed to comply with
the provisions of Executive
Order No. 264, "OUTLINING
THE
PROCEDURE
BY
WHICH
COMPLAINANTS
CHARGING GOVERNMENT
OFFICIALS
AND
EMPLOYEES
WITH
COMMISSION
OF
IRREGULARITIES SHOULD
BE GUIDED.
2. Whether or not the AntiGraft
League
has
the
standing to commence the
series of prosecutions below
(G.R. No. 33628).
3. Whether
or
not
the
prosecutions in question are
politically
motivated,
initiated by his rivals, he
being,
as
we
said,
a
candidate for reelection as
Governor of Zamboanga del
Sur.
HELD:
1. No.
Executive Order No.
264 (October 6, 1970) has
exclusive
application
to
administrative, not criminal
complaints. The very title
speaks of "COMMISSION OF
IRREGULARITIES." There is
no mention, not even by
implication,
of
criminal
"offenses," that is to say,
"crimes."
While
"crimes"
amount to "irregularities,"
the Executive Order could
have very well referred to
the more specific term had it
intended to make itself
applicable thereto.
2. Yes. The Anti-Graft League of
the Philippines is not an
"offended party" within the
meaning of Sec. 2, Rule 110,
of the Rules of Court (now
Section 3 of the 1985 Rules
on
Criminal
Procedure).
However, A complaint for
purposes
of
preliminary
investigation by the fiscal
need not be filed by the
"offended party." The rule
has been that, unless the
offense subject thereof is one
that cannot be prosecuted de
oficio, the same may be filed,
for preliminary investigation
RULE 110
purposes, by any competent
person.
The
"complaint"
referred to in the Rule 110
contemplates one filed in
court, not with the fiscal. In
that case, the proceeding
must be started by the
aggrieved party himself.
3. It is not our business to
resolve
complaints
the
disposition of which belongs
to another agency, in this
case, the respondent Fiscal.
But more than that, and as a
general rule, injunction does
not lie to enjoin criminal
prosecutions. The rule is
subject to exceptions, to wit:
(1)
for
the
orderly
administration of justice;
(2) to prevent the use of
the strong arm of the law
in
an
oppressive
and
vindictive manner; (3) to
avoid
multiplicity
of
actions; (4)
to
afford
adequate protection to
constitutional rights; and
(5) because the statute
relied
on
is
constitutionally infirm or
otherwise void. We cannot
perceive
any
of
the
exceptions applicable here.
The petitioner cries foul, in a
manner of speaking, with
respect to the deluge of
complaints commenced by
the
private
respondent
below, but whether or not
they
were
filed
for
harassment purposes is a
question we are not in a
position to decide. The
proper venue, we believe, for
RULE 110
include the State and the private
offended party or complainant.
It is well-settled that in
criminal cases where the offended
party is the State, the interest of
the private complainant or the
private offended party is limited to
the civil liability. Thus, in the
prosecution of the offense, the
complainant's role is limited to
that of a witness for the
prosecution. If a criminal case is
dismissed by the trial court or if
there is an acquittal, an appeal
therefrom on the criminal aspect
may be undertaken only by the
State through the Solicitor
General. Only the Solicitor General
may represent the People of the
Philippines on appeal. The private
offended party or complainant may
not take such appeal. However, the
said offended party or complainant
may appeal the civil aspect despite
the acquittal of the accused.
In a special civil action for
certiorari filed under Section 1,
Rule 65 of the Rules of Court
wherein it is alleged that the trial
court committed a grave abuse of
discretion amounting to lack of
jurisdiction
or
on
other
jurisdictional grounds, the rules
state that the petition may be filed
by the person aggrieved. In such
case, the aggrieved parties are the
State and the private offended
party
or
complainant.
The
complainant has an interest in the
civil aspect of the case so he may
file such special civil action
questioning the decision or action
of the respondent court on
jurisdictional grounds. In so doing,
complainant should not bring the
action in the name of the People of
RULE 110
manifestation informing the city
court of his inability to prosecute
the case because of his sincere and
honest belief that he has no prima
facie
case
to
warrant
the
prosecution of the accused. The
court
filed
a
petition
for
mandamus, ordering the city fiscal
to
file
the
corresponding
information for falsification of
public documents. The court of
appeals reversed the decision or
the trial court and dismissed the
petition for mandamus.
Issue:
Whether or not the appellate
court can direct the City Fiscal to
file the corresponding information
and to prosecute the case.
Ruling:
The Supreme Court did not
find any cogent reason to set aside
the decision of the respondent
Court of Appeals
Section 4, Rule 110 of the
Revised Rules of Court, specifically
provides that "all criminal action
either commenced by complaint or
by information shall be prosecuted
under the direction and control of
the fiscal.
Indeed,
how
can
the
prosecuting fiscal secure the
conviction of an accused on
evidence beyond reasonable doubt
when he himself is not convinced
that he has a prima facie case
against the petitioners. The better
procedure would be to appeal the
Fiscal's decision to the Ministry of
Justice and/or ask for a special
prosecutor.
Crespo v. Mogul
No. L-53373, June 30, 1987
Facts:
The Assistant Fiscal with the
approval of the Provincial Fiscal
filed information for estafa against
Mario Fl. Crespo in the Circuit
Criminal Court of Lucena City.
When the case was set for
arraigment the accused filed a
motion to defer arraignment on the
ground that there was a pending
petition for review filed with the
Secretary
of
Justice
of
the
resolution of the Office of the
Provincial Fiscal for the filing of
the information. However, the
presiding judge, Leodegario L.
Mogul, denied the motion. So the
accused filed a petition for
certiorari and prohibition with
prayer for a preliminary writ of
injunction in the Court of Appeals.
CA, restrained Judge Mogul from
proceeding with the arraignment.
On the other hand, Undersecretary
of Justice resolved the petition for
review by reversing the resolution
of the Office of the Provincial
Fiscal and directed the Fiscal for
Immediate
dismissal
of
the
information. However, respondent
Judge denied the motion and set
the
arraignment.
Hence,
the
accused filed a petition for
certiorari,
prohibition
and
mandamus with petition for the
issuance of preliminary writ of
prohibition
and/or
temporary
restraining order in the Court of
Appeals.
Issue:
Whether or not the trial
court acting on a motion to dismiss
RULE 110
a criminal case filed by the
Provincial Fiscal upon instructions
of the Secretary of Justice to whom
the case was elevated for review,
may refuse to grant the motion and
insist on the arraignment and trial
on the merits.
Ruling:
Petition was dismissed.
The rule therefore is that
once a complaint or information is
filed in the Court any disposition of
the case as its dismissal or the
conviction or acquittal of the
accused rests in the sound
discretion of the court.
The Secretary of Justice who
reviewed the action of the fiscal
may be disregarded by the trial
court, the secretary of Justice, as
far as practicable, refrain from
entertaining a petition for review
or appeal from the action of the
fiscal, when the complaint or
information has already been filed
in the court
Padilla v. CA
L-39999, May 31, 1984
Facts:
The Fiscal accused the
petitioners of the crime of grave
coercion.
Confederating
and
mutually helping one another, and
acting without any authority of
law, did then and there willfully,
unlawfully, and feloniously, by
means of threats, force and
violence prevent Antonio Vergara
and his family to close their stall.
In committing the offense, the
accused took advantage of their
public positions: Roy Padilla, being
RULE 110
exist. (Rule 111, Sec. 3 (c), Rev.
Rules of Court; Laperal v. Aliza, 51
OG.R. 1311, People v. Velez, 44
OG. 1811)
Article
29
clearly
and
expressly provides is a remedy for
the plaintiff in case the defendant
has been acquitted in a criminal
prosecution on the ground that his
guilt has not been proved beyond
reasonable
doubt.
It
merely
emphasizes that a civil action for
damages is not precluded by an
acquittal for the same criminal act
or omission.
People v. Camba
L-36471, November 19, 1980
Facts:
Camba was found guilty of
murder qualified by treachery with
assault upon an agent of a person
in authority was sentenced to
death and to indemnify the heirs of
Gongora. However, upon the
observation of the court, the crime
committed is more of robbery with
homicide, for the reason that the
victim Pat. Gongora was killed
while responding to the call for
help of a victim of snatching.
Hencem the appellant claims that
his conviction for murder should
be set aside.
Ruling:
It should be born in mind in
this connection that the label or
caption in the information in
respect of the crime committed is
not controlling- what matters are
the material allegations in the
information.
The trial court found the
appellant
guilty
of
murder
qualified by treachery but without
any other modifying circumstance.
The crime was compounded,
according to the trial court, with
assault upon an agent of a person
in authority. In this light the
appropriate penalty, pursuant to
Art. 48 of the Revised Penal Code,
is death.
If it be held as we do that the
crime committed was robbery with
homicide, the result will be the
same
for
the
aggravating
circumstances of treachery and
contempt of public authority will
have to be assigned.
The death penalty, however,
cannot
be
imposed
on
the
appellant who was only 20 years
old when he committed the crime
for lack of the necessary votes.
The judgment of the court a
quo is modified by reducing the
sentence on the appellant to
reclusion
perpetua
and
consolidating the damages in the
amount of P30,000.00.
Issue:
Whether or not the court
erred in convicting the accused of
the offense charged despite the
fact that what was proven was a
different crime.
Manangan Jaeniz
Buhat vs. CA 265 scra 701
Topic:
Amendment
Information
of
the
RULE 110
Facts:
On March 25, 1993, an
information for HOMICIDE was
filed in the RTC against petitioner
Danny Buhat, John Doe and
Richard Doe. The information
alleged that on October 16, 1992,
petitioner Danilo Buhat, armed
with a knife, unlawfully attacked
and killed one Ramon George Yu
while the said two unknown
assailants held his arms, using
superior strength, inflicting x x x
mortal wounds which were x x x
the direct x x x cause of his death.
Even before petitioner could be
arraigned, the prosecution moved
for
the
deferment
of
the
arraignment on the ground that
the private complainant in the
case, one Betty Yu, moved for the
reconsideration of the resolution of
the City Prosecutor which ordered
the filing of the aforementioned
information
for
homicide.
Petitioner however, invoking his
right to a speedy trial, opposed the
motion. Thus, petitioner was
arraigned on June 9, 1993 and,
since petitioner pleaded not guilty,
trial ensued.
On February 3, 1994, then
Secretary of Justice Franklin M.
Drilon, finding Betty Yus appeal
meritorious, ordered the City
Prosecutor of Roxas City to amend
the information by upgrading the
offense charged to MURDER and
implead therein additional accused
Herminia Altavas, Osmea Altavas
and Renato Buhat.
On March 10, 1994, the
Assistant City Prosecutor filed a
RULE 110
accused had pleaded "not
guilty" to the crime of
homicide
Held:
1. No. The additional allegation
of conspiracy is only a formal
amendment,
hence
petitioner's participation as
principal is not affected by
such amendment.
Petitioner undoubtedly is charged
as a principal in the killing of
Ramon George Yu
whom he is alleged to have
stabbed
while
two
unknown
persons held the victim's
arms. The addition of the phrase,
"conspiring, confederating and
helping one
another" does not change the
nature of petitioner's participation
as principal in
the killing.
Whether under the original or the
amended information, petitioner
would have to defend
himself as the People makes a case
against him and secures for public
protection the
punishment
of
petitioner
for
stabbing to death, using superior
strength, a fellow citizen in
whose health and safety society as
a whole is interested. Petitioner,
thus, has no tenable
basis to decry the amendment in
question
2. The Court ruled in the
negative. In the case of
Dimalibot
v.
Salcedo,the
Court
ruled
that
the
amendment
of
the
information so as to change
the crime charged from
homicide to murder, may be
made "even if it may result in
altering the nature of the
charge so long as it can be
done without prejudice to
the rights of the accused."
Petitioner in the case at bench
maintains that having already
pleaded "not guilty" to the
crime of homicide, the amendment
of the crime charged in the
information from homicide to
murder
is
a
substantial
amendment prejudicial to his right
to be informed of the nature of the
accusation against him. He utterly
fails to dispute, however, that the
original information did allege that
petitioner stabbed his victim
"using superior strength." This
particular allegation qualifies a
killing to murder, regardless of
how such
a killing is technically designated
in the information filed by the
public prosecutor, as provided for
in Article 248 of the RPC.
Thus, the allegation of petitioner
using superior strength constitutes
a mere formal amendment, which
is
permissible
even
after
arraignment.
Tehankee Jr. vs Madayag 207
scra 134
Topic:
Amendment
Information
of
the
RULE 110
Facts:
Petitioner was originally charged
on July 19, 1991 in an information
for the crime of frustrated murder
of one Maureen Navarro Hultman.
After the prosecution had rested
its case, petitioner was allowed to
file a motion for leave to file a
demurrer to evidence. However,
before the said motion could be
filed, Maureen Navarro Hultman
died.
Consequently, private prosecutor
Rogelio A. Vinluan filed an
omnibus motion for leave of court
to file an amended information and
to
admit
said
amended
information.
The
amended
information, filed on October 31,
1991, reads:
That on or about the 13th
day of July, 1991, in the
Municipality
of
Makati,
Metro Manila, Philippines
and within the jurisdiction
of this Honorable Court, the
said Claudio Teehankee, Jr.
y. Javier, armed with a
handgun, with intent to kill
and evident premeditation
and by means of treachery,
did then and there willfully,
unlawfully and feloniously
attack, assault and shoot
with the said handgun
Maureen Navarro Hultman
who was hit in the head,
thereby inflicting mortal
wounds
which
directly
caused the death of said
Maureen Hultman.
RULE 110
information. What is involved here
is not a variance in the nature of
different offenses charged, but
only a change in the stage of
execution of the same offense from
frustrated
to
consummated
murder. This is being the case, we
hold that an amendment of the
original information will suffice
and, consequent thereto, the filing
of the amended information for
murder is proper.
Petitioner would insist, however,
that the additional allegation on
the fact of death of the victim
Maureen
Navarro
Hultman
constitutes
a
substantial
amendment which may no longer
be allowed after a plea has been
entered.
The
proposition
is
erroneous and untenable.
Section 14 of Rule 110 provides
that an amendment, either of form
or substance, may be made at any
time before the accused enters a
plea to the charge and, thereafter,
as to all
After arraignment and during the
trial, amendments are allowed, but
only as to matters of form and
provided that no prejudice is
caused to the rights of the
accused.
Now, an objective appraisal of the
amended information for murder
filed against herein petitioner will
readily show that the nature of the
offense originally charged was not
actually changed. Instead, an
additional allegation, that is, the
supervening fact of the death of
the victim was merely supplied to
RULE 110
petition is DISMISSED for lack of
merit.
Topic: Jurisidction
Facts:
Petitioner instituted a criminal
complaint for libel in the Municipal
Court of the Municipality of
Batangas presided over by the
respondent Judge. The accused
named therein was Serafin D.
Cruz. There was the corresponding
preliminary examination of the
witnesses for the complainant with
respondent Judge finding that
there was reasonable ground to
believe that such offense was
committed by the person named.
After respondent Cruz posted the
corresponding bail bond for his
provisional liberty, the respondent
Judge set the case for hearing on
the merits on July 13, 1964, at 2:30
o'clock in the afternoon. When that
time came, complainant, now
petitioner,
through
counsel
manifested in open court that
under Article 360 of the Revised
Penal Code, respondent Judge was
devoid of jurisdiction to do so.
There was, as noted, a negative
response. After hearing arguments
on such motion for desistance
including memoranda submitted
by both sides, respondent Judge
issued
an
order
denying
petitioner's verbal motion to have
Criminal Case No. 801 elevated to
the Court of First Instance of
Batangas. With a motion for
reconsideration meeting the same
RULE 110
Respondents Tomas Narbasa,
Tambac Alindo and Rufino Borres
stand indicted before the Court of
First Instance of Lanao del Norte,
as principals, in five (5) separate
cases for murder.
On July 29, 1965, spouses Teofilo
Mendoza and Valeriana Bontilao de
Mendoza, along with their children
were
attacked
by
private
respondents.
Teofilo
and
the
children were shot dead, leaving
only Valeriana alive but wounded.
Two of the three defendants in the
five criminal cases heretofore
listed Tomas Narbasa and
Tambak Alindo moved for a
consolidation thereof "into one (1)
criminal case." Their plea is that
"said cases arose out of the same
incident and motivated by one
impulse."
Giving the nod to defendants'
claim, respondent Judge directed
the City Fiscal to unify all the five
criminal cases, and to file one
single information in Case 1246.
He also ordered that the other four
cases, Nos. 1247, 1248, 1249 and
1250 "be dropped from the
docket."
The City Fiscal balked at the
foregoing
order,
sought
reconsideration thereof, upon the
ground that "more than one gun
was used, more than one shot was
fired and more than one victim was
killed." The defense opposed.
Respondent Judge denied the
motion to reconsider. He took the
position that the acts complained
RULE 110
Nonetheless, the statute confers
upon the trial judge the power to
try these cases jointly, such that
the fear entertained by respondent
Judge could easily be remedied.
Upon the facts and the law, the
Court holds that the City Fiscal of
Iligan City correctly presented the
five separate informations four
for murder and one for frustrated
murder.
People vs. Devaras 228 scra 482
Topic: Qualifying circumstances
shall
be
alleged
in
the
Information
Facts:
A pedicab driver and his
passenger were attacked without
provocation by two men who
hacked them to death and later
threw their bodies over the bridge
with the help of another person.
Investigation that same night
disclosed the participation of the
herein
appellants,
who
were
subsequently accused of murder in
two informations alleging that they
committed
the
offenses
in
conspiracy with each other and
with treachery and abuse of
superior strength.
The principal witness for the
prosecution was Raul Animos, who
claimed to have witnessed the
killing of the two victims. He said
that on July 10, 1990, at about 7
o'clock in the evening, the three
appellants were drinking with him
in the house of Devaras and that
thereafter they joined him on his
RULE 110
All
three
accused
denied
participation in the killings. After
assessing the evidence of parties,
the trial court decided in favor of
the prosecution and convicted
Blademir Devaras as principal and
Pablo Devaras as accessory in the
murder of Efren Verzosa; and
Ronilo Caisek for the murder of
Felix Verzosa.
Issues:
1. Whether or not the RTC
erred in convicting them of
murder instead of homicide
2. Whether or not the RTC
erred in convicting appellant
Pablo
Devaras
as
an
accessory
Held:
1. The first error assigned by
the appellants is untenable
because the evidence of
record clearly shows that
Blademir
and
Ronilo
suddenly
attacked
their
unarmed victims with bolos,
thereby
insuring
the
commission of the offense
without
risk
themselves
arising from the defense the
victims might make. The
killings would have been
homicide only without the
attendance
of
treachery,
which is one of the qualifying
circumstances mentioned in
Article 248 of the Revised
Penal Code.
We agree that there was no
conspiracy between the appellants
RULE 110
therein, either as principal or an
accomplice, takes part subsequent
to its commission by concealing or
destroying the body of the crime,
or the effects or instruments
thereof in order to prevent its
discovery. For having assisted in
throwing Efren's dead body into
the river, Pablo Devaras was
correctly
held
guilty
as
an
accessory.
WHEREFORE, the decision of the
trial court is AFFIRMED, but with
modification.
PEOPLE OF THE
PHILIPPINES v. NARCISO
NAZARENO, et. al.
G.R. No. 103964, August 1,
1996, Mendoza, J., Second
Division
TOPIC: Prosecution of Offenses
FACTS:
This is an appeal from the decision
of the Regional Trial Court of
Makati (Branch 136), finding
accused-appellants
Narciso
Nazareno and Ramil Regala guilty
of murder for the killing of Romulo
"Molet" Bunye II in Muntinlupa,
Metro Manila. Two others, accused
with them, Manuel Laureaga and
Orlando Hular, were acquitted.
On December 14, 1988, between
8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., Bunye
took a stainless tricycle, which
was
driven
by
Fernando
Hernandez. Unknown to Bunye
was that two men were waiting
outside his house and that the two
hailed another tricycle in order to
RULE 110
hand, Hular claimed that, although
he was not tortured, he admitted
to the crime and signed the
affidavit because he was afraid he
would also be tortured. Nazareno
also claimed to have been tortured
to admit to the crime but refused
to sign any written statement. The
trial court ruled the confessions of
Regala
and
Hular
to
be
inadmissible. However, it held
Regala and Nazareno guilty on the
basis of their positive identification
by Hernandez and de Limos during
the police line-up and their
testimony in court.
ISSUE:
Whether or not the constitutional
right to due process of the
accused-appellants was violated.
RULING:
No, there was no violation of due
process in the prosecution and
subsequent conviction of Nazareno
and Regala. Accused-appellants
claim that their arrests without
warrant were illegal and justify the
nullification of the proceedings of
the trial court. The warrantless
arrest
of
accused-appellant
Nazareno was upheld by this Court
in 1990 in a petition for habeas
corpus. It appears that, on January
9, 1989, Nazareno filed a motion
for bail. As the trial court denied
his motion, a petition for habeas
corpus was filed on his behalf with
this Court. It was alleged that
Nazareno's arrest was illegal
because it was made without
warrant fourteen days after the
killing of Bunye. This Court
dismissed the petition. He filed a
RULE 110
G.R. No. 114046, October 24,
1994, Regalado, J., Second
Division
TOPIC:
Prosecution
Offenses;
Amendment
Substitution
of
complaint
information
of
or
or
FACTS:
On November 12, 1993, petitioners
Honorato Galvez, the incumbent
Mayor of San Ildefonso, Bulacan,
and one Godofredo Diego were
charged
in
three
separate
informations with homicide and
two
counts
of
frustrated
homicide. Both accused posted
their respective cash bail bonds
and were subsequently released
from detention. On November 15,
1993,
Bulacan
Provincial
Prosecutor Liberato L. Reyes filed
a Motion to Defer Arraignment and
Subsequent Proceedings to enable
him "to review the evidence on
record and determine once more
the proper crimes chargeable
against the accused," which was
granted
by
Judge
Villajuan.
Respondent Prosecutor Dennis M.
Villa-Ignacio
was
designated
Acting Provincial Prosecutor of
Bulacan and was instructed to
conduct a re-investigation of the
aforesaid criminal cases filed
against herein petitioners.
By virtue of a Manifestation
with Ex-parte Motion
filed
by
respondent
prosecutor,
the
proceedings were again ordered
suspended by Judge Villajuan until
after the prosecution's request for
change of venue shall have been
resolved by the Supreme Court,
RULE 110
Motion
to
Quash
the
new
informations for lack of jurisdiction
was filed by petitioners before
Judge
Pornillos. At
the
court
session set for the arraignment of
petitioners, Judge Pornillos issued
an order denying the motion to
quash and, at the same time,
directed that a plea of not guilty be
entered for petitioners when the
latter refused to enter their plea.
In the meantime, and prior to the
arraignment of herein petitioners
before Judge Pornillos, an order
was issued by Judge Villajuan
granting
the
motion
for
reconsideration
filed
by
petitioners. However,
the
arraignment was suspended and,
in the meanwhile, petitioners filed
a petition for certiorari, prohibition
and mandamus with
respondent
Court of Appeals, assailing the
order dated January 24, 1994
issued by Judge Pornillos which
denied petitioners' motion to
quash. Respondent court dismissed
the petition.
ISSUE:
Whether the ex parte motion to
withdraw the original informations
is null and void on the ground that
(a) there was no notice and
hearing as required by Sections 4,
5 and 6, Rule 15 of the Rules of
Court; and (b) the appropriate
remedy which should have been
adopted by the prosecution was to
amend
the
informations
by
charging the proper offenses
pursuant to Section 14 of Rule
110.
RULING:
RULE 110
these new informations not been
filed, there would obviously have
been no cause for the instant
petition. Petitioners' contention
that the dismissal of the original
informations and the consequent
filing of the new ones substantially
affected their right to bail is too
strained and tenuous an argument.
They would want to ignore the fact
that had the original informations
been amended so as to charge the
capital offense of murder, they still
stood to likewise be deprived of
their right to bail once it was
shown that the evidence of guilt is
strong. Petitioners could not be
better
off
with
amended
informations
than
with
the
subsequent ones. It really made no
difference considering that where
a capital offense is charged and
the evidence of guilt is strong, bail
becomes a matter of discretion
under either an amended or a new
information.
DOCTRINE:
The rule is now well settled that
once a complaint or information is
filed in court any disposition of the
case, whether as to its dismissal or
the conviction or the acquittal of
the accused, rests in the sound
discretion of the court. Although
the
prosecutor
retains
the
direction and control of the
prosecution of criminal cases even
when the case is already in court,
he cannot impose his opinion upon
the tribunal. For while it is true
that the prosecutor has the quasijudicial discretion to determine
whether or not a criminal case
should be filed in court, once the
case had already been brought
therein
any
disposition
the
prosecutor may deem proper
thereafter should be addressed to
the court for its consideration and
approval. The only qualification is
that the action of the court must
not impair the substantial rights of
the accused or the right of the
People to due process of law.
FELIX A. VELASQUEZ v. HON.
UNDERSECRETARY OF
JUSTICE, HON. ARTEMIO G.
TUQUERO, et. al
G.R. No. 88442, February 15,
1990, Grio-Aquino, J., First
Division
FACTS:
RULE 110
after deducting the 3% interest of
6,000. Instead of returning the
borrowed amount on due date or
giving a satisfactory explanation
for the supposed borrower's failure
to pay the loan despite written
demands, Avila resigned from the
company on December 17, 1986
promising that: "... I shall set aside
the P200,000 upon its subsequent
collection xxx to answer for the
P100,000
portion
of
Tony's
P700,000 loan to you; please treat
the P100,000 balance, less my
unpaid professional fee and gas
expenses from November 16 to
December
15,
1986, as
my
separation
and
compulsory
benefit".
On December 23, 1986, petitioner
Felix A. Velasquez, as Executive
Vice-President/Managing Director
of Techtrade, filed a complaint for
estafa against Avila in the Manila
City Fiscal's Office. Assistant
Fiscal Romulo Lopez dismissed the
complaint. However, upon review
by the Chief, Investigation Division
of the City Fiscal's Office, the
latter set aside Fiscal Lopez'
resolution and ordered the filing of
an information for estafa against
Avila in the RTC.
Avila
twice
sought
a
reconsideration of that resolution,
but both motions were denied by
the
City
Fiscal.
Before
arraignment, Avila filed on June
29, 1987 in the Department of
Justice a petition for review which
the petitioner opposed. Justice
Undersecretary Silvestre Bello III
denied the petition for review. A
RULE 110
Although the fiscal retains the
direction and control of the
prosecution of criminal cases even
while the case is already in Court,
he cannot impose his opinion on
the trial court. The Court is the
best and sole judge on what to do
with the case before it. The
determination of the case is within
its
exclusive jurisdiction and
competence. A motion to dismiss
the case filed by the fiscal should
be addressed to the Court who has
the option to grant or deny the
same. It does not matter if this is
done
before
or
after
the
arraignment of the accused or that
the motion was filed after a
reinvestigation
or
upon
instructions of the Secretary of
Justice who reviewed the records
of the investigation.
DOCTRINE:
Once a complaint or information is
filed in Court, any disposition of
the case as its dismissal or the
conviction or acquittal of the
accused rests in the sound
discretion of the Court.
instituted,
FACTS:
On March 21, 1974, petitioner filed
a complaint for attempted theft of
materials (scrap iron) forming part
of the installations on its mining
property at Jose Panganiban,
Camarines Norte against private
respondents Romeo Garrido and
Gil Alapan with the Office of the
Provincial Fiscal of Camarines
Norte, then headed by Provincial
Fiscal Joaquin Ilustre. The case
was assigned to third Assistant
Fiscal Esteban P. Panotes for
preliminary
investigation
who,
after conducting said investigation,
issued a resolution dated August
26, 1974 recommending that an
information for Attempted Theft be
filed against private respondents
on a finding of prima facie case
which resolution was approved by
Provincial Fiscal Joaquin Ilustre.
Private
respondents
sought
reconsideration of the resolution
but the same was denied by Fiscal
Ilustre in a resolution.
RULE 110
October 22, 1974, the private
respondents
requested
the
Secretary of Justice for a review of
the Resolutions of the Office of the
Provincial Fiscal. On November 6,
1974, the Chief State Prosecutor
ordered the Provincial Fiscal by
telegram to "Please elevate entire
records PFO Case 577 against
Garrido et al., review in five days
and defer all proceedings pending
review."
A
motion
to
dismiss
dated
September 16, 1975 was then filed
by the Provincial Fiscal but the
ISSUE:
After a case has been filed in
court, whether or not a fiscal be
compelled to prosecute the same,
after his motion to dismiss it has
been denied.
RULING:
There is no question that the
institution of a criminal action is
addressed to the sound discretion
of the investigating fiscal. He may
or he may not file the information
according to whether the evidence
RULE 110
is in his opinion sufficient to
establish the guilt of the accused
beyond reasonable doubt. And
when he decides not to file the
information, in the exercise of his
discretion,
he
may
not
be
compelled to do so. However, after
the case had already been filed in
court, "fiscals are not clothed with
power, without the consent of the
court, to dismiss criminal actions
actually instituted and pending
further proceedings. The power to
dismiss criminal actions is vested
solely in the court".
Notwithstanding
his
personal
convictions or opinions, the fiscal
must proceed with his duty of
presenting evidence to the court to
enable the court to arrive at its
own independent judgment as to
the culpability of the accused. The
fiscal should not shirk from his
responsibility much less leave the
prosecution of the case at the
hands of a private prosecutor. At
all times, the criminal action shall
be prosecuted under his direction
and control. Otherwise, the entire
proceedings will be null and void.
DOCTRINE:
Once a complaint or information is
filed in Court any disposition of the
case as its dismissal or the
conviction or acquittal of the
accused rests in the sound
discretion of the Court. Although
the fiscal retains the direction and
control of the prosecution of
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criminal cases even while the case
is already in Court, he cannot
impose his opinion on the trial
court.
FIDEL M. BAARES II, et. al., v.
ELIZABETH BALISING, et. al.
G.R. No. 132624, March 13,
2000, Kapunan, J., First
Division
TOPICS: Prosecution of
Offenses; Criminal Actions, how
instituted
FACTS:
Petitioners Fidel M. Baares II,
Lilia C. Valeriano, Edgar M.
Baares, Emilia Gatchialian and
Fidel Besarino were the accused in
sixteen
criminal
cases
for
estafa filed
by
the
private
respondents. The cases were
assigned to the Municipal Trial
Court of Antipolo, Rizal, Branch II.
After
the
petitioners
were
arraigned and entered their plea of
not guilty, they filed a Motion to
Dismiss the aforementioned cases
on the ground that the filing of the
same was premature, in view of
the failure of the parties to
undergo conciliation proceedings
before the Lupong Tagapamayapa
of Barangay Dalig, Antipolo, Rizal.
Petitioners averred that since they
lived in the same barangay as
private respondents, and the
amount involved in each of the
cases did not exceed Two Hundred
Pesos (P200.00), the said cases
were required under Section 412
in relation to Section 408 of the
Local
Government
Code
of
1991 and Section 18 of the 1991
Revised
Rule
on
Summary
Procedure to be referred to the
Lupong Tagapamayapa or Pangkat
ng
Tagapagkasundo
of
the
barangay
concerned
for
conciliation proceedings before
being filed in court.
The MTC issued an Order denying
petitioners' motion to dismiss on
the ground that they failed to
seasonably invoke the non-referral
of the cases to the Lupong
Tagapamayapa or Pangkat ng
Tagapagkasundo. It added that
such failure to invoke non-referral
of the case to the Lupon amounted
to a waiver by petitioners of the
right to use the said ground as
basis for dismissing the cases.
Petitioners filed a motion for
reconsideration
of
the
aforementioned Order, claiming
that nowhere in the Revised Rules
of Court is it stated that the
ground of prematurity shall be
deemed waived if not raised
seasonably
in
a
motion
to
dismiss. On November 13, 1995,
the
MTC
issued
an
Order
dismissing the sixteen criminal
cases against petitioners without
prejudice. More than two months
later, private respondents through
counsel, filed a motion to revive
the abovementioned criminal cases
against petitioners, stating that the
requirement of referral to the
Lupon for conciliation had already
been complied with. The parties
appeared
before
said
body
regarding the charges of estafa
filed
by
private
respondents
against petitioners but they failed
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to reach an amicable settlement
with respect thereto.
Petitioners filed a comment and
opposition to motion to revive
claiming that the Order of the MTC
dismissing the cases had long
become final and executory; hence,
private respondents should have
re-filed the cases instead of filing a
motion to revive. The MTC issued
an
Order granting
private
respondents' motion to revive.
Petitioners filed a motion for
reconsideration of
the
aforementioned Order which was
denied by the MTC.
Petitioners thereafter filed with the
Regional Trial Court of Antipolo,
Rizal, a petition for certiorari,
injunction and prohibition assailing
the Order of the MTC. They
claimed that the said Order,
dismissing the criminal cases
against them had long become
final and executory considering
that the prosecution did not file
any motion for reconsideration of
said Order. In response thereto,
private respondents filed their
Comment, arguing that the motion
to revive the said cases was in
accordance with law.
The RTC rendered the assailed
decision denying the petition
for certiorari,
injunction
and
prohibition. The RTC, likewise,
denied petitioners' motion for
reconsideration.
ISSUES:
1. Whether or not an order
dismissing a case or action without
prejudice may attain finality if not
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injunction and prohibition and
ruled that the order of the MTC,
dismissing without prejudice the
criminal cases against petitioners
had not attained finality and
hence, could be reinstated by the
mere filing of a motion to revive.
Equally
erroneous
is
private
respondents' contention that the
rules
regarding
finality
of
judgments under the Revised
Rules of Court do not apply to
cases covered by the 1991 Revised
Rule on Summary Procedure.
Private respondents claim that
Section 18 of the 1991 Revised
Rule on Summary Procedure
allows the revival of cases which
were dismissed for failure to
submit the same to conciliation at
the barangay level, as required
under Section 412 in relation to
Section
408
of
the
Local
Government Code.
Section 18 merely states that when
a case covered by the 1991
Revised
Rule
on
Summary
Procedure is dismissed without
prejudice for non-referral of the
issues to the Lupon, the same may
be revived only after the dispute
subject of the dismissed case is
submitted to barangay conciliation
as required under the Local
Government Code. There is no
declaration to the effect that said
case may be revived by mere
motion even after the fifteen-day
period within which to appeal or to
file a motion for reconsideration
has lapsed. Moreover, the 1991
Revised
Rule
on
Summary
Procedure expressly provides that
the
Rules
of
Court
applies
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therefrom is timely filed. The law
grants an aggrieved party a period
of fifteen (15) days from his
receipt of the court's decision or
order disposing of the action or
proceeding to appeal or move to
reconsider the same. After the
lapse of the fifteen-day period, an
order becomes final and executory
and is beyond the power or
jurisdiction of the court which
rendered it to further amend or
revoke.
Maxim interpretare et concordare
legibus est optimus interpretandi.
(Every
statute
must
be
so
construed and harmonized with
other statutes as to form a uniform
system of jurisprudence.)
Magbalon Reboroso
People of the Philippines vs.
Edgardo Barcena y Poca
G.R No. 168737 February 16,
2006
Topic: AVERMENTS IN
COMPLAINT/ INFORMATION
Facts:
Edgardo Barcena, the accused, is
the common law wife of Nenita
Barcena, which is the mother of
victim, Estrella Cabida. Barcena
was charge with qualified rape as
defined and penalized under Art.
335 of the Revised Penal Code as
amended by Republic Act No.
7659, due to the fact that the
victim is a minor (15yrs old) and
the accused was the common-law
husband of his mother.
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Held: Yes.
R.A. No. 7659, which took effect on
December 31, 1993, imposes the
death penalty for rape committed
under any of the circumstances
provided under Section 11 thereof.
Article 335 of the Revised Penal
Code, as amended by R.A. No.
7659, provides that the death
penalty shall be imposed if the
victim of rape is under 18 years of
age and the offender is the parent,
ascendant, step-parent, guardian,
relative by consanguinity or
affinity within the third civil
degree or the common-law spouse
of the parent of the victim.
Minority and relationship
constitute special qualifying
circumstances, which, in
accordance with the settled rule,
must be alleged in the information
and proven during trial.
In the instant case, the filial
relationship between appellant and
the complainant has been
sufficiently alleged in the
information and established during
trial. Several witnesses from both
the prosecution and the defense
testified that the appellant is the
common law husband of Nenita,
the mother of the victim. In fact,
the appellant himself admitted that
he exercised parental authority
over the children, including the
complainant, of his common-law
wife Nenita.
With regard to Etrellas minority;
even granting that the certificate
of live birth is only a photocopy of
the original, the same sufficiently
proved Estrellas age and minority.
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be established from them is only
the general result of the whole;
and
(d) When the original is a public
record in the custody of a public
officer or is recorded in a public
office.
Without doubt, a certificate of live
birth is a public record in the
custody of the local civil registrar
who is a public officer. Clearly,
therefore, the presentation of the
photocopy of the birth certificate
of Alpha Jane is admissible as
secondary evidence to prove its
contents. Production of the
original may be dispensed with, in
the trial courts discretion,
whenever in the case at hand the
opponent does not bona fide
dispute the contents of the
document and no other useful
purpose will be served by
requiring production.
Doctrine: Qualifying circumstances
must be alleged in the information
to be appreciated by the court.
Anything not alleged cannot be
acted upon.
People of the Philippines vs.
Juan Manggasin y Lucanas
G.R No. 130599-600
21, 1999
April
Topic:
Facts: Qualifying circumstances
must be alleged in the
information
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claim of rape was false since he
reported for work at that time,
which the complainants mother
assented. The accused further
contends that he and the
complainant engaged in an
amorous relationship and had
several occasions of sexual
intercourse and all started when
the complainant was seventeen
(17) years old.
The trial court found him guilty of
two (2) counts of rape and
sentenced him to DEATH. By
virtue of R.A 7659, otherwise
known as the Death Penalty Law
which provides that death penaly
shall be imposed in the if the crime
of rape is committed when the
victim is under eighteen (18) years
of age and the offender is a parent,
ascendant, step-parent, guardian,
relative by consanguinity or
affinity within the third civil
degree, or the common-law spouse
of the parent of the victim.
Issue:
Whether or not the imposition of
death as penalty is correct.
Held: No.
As this Court has held, the
concurrence of the minority of the
victim and her relationship to the
offender being a special qualifying
circumstance, which increases the
penalty as opposed to a generic
aggravating circumstance which
only affects the period of the
penalty, should be alleged in the
information, because of the
accused's right to be informed of
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DEMETRIOU (in her capacity as
Presiding Judge of Regional
Trial Court, NCR, Branch 70,
Pasig), The Honorable
FRANKLIN DRILON (in his
capacity as Secretary of
Justice), JOVENCITO R. ZUO,
LEONARDO C. GUIYAB,
CARLOS L. DE LEON,
RAMONCITO C. MISON,
REYNALDO J. LUGTU, and
RODRIGO P. LORENZO, the last
six respondents in their official
capacities as members of the
State Prosecutor's Office)
G.R No. 111771-77
November 9, 1993
Topic:
SUITS
`DUPLICITY OF
Facts:
Mayor Antionio L. Sanchez of
Calauan, Laguna, was among
others, charged in connection of
the rape-slay of Mary Elieen
Sarmena and the killing of Allan
Gomez of seven (7) counts of rape
with homicide which was
requested to be acted upon by the
Presidential Anti-Crime
Commission.
Mayor Sanchez was invited for
investigation at Camp Vicente Lim,
and was immediately taken there.
The Mayor was positively
identified as suspect by witnesses
present in the investigation and
was placed on arrest status and
taken to DOJ Manila. The
respondent prosecutors
immediately conducted an inquest
upon arrival, and after hearing a
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It is clearly provided in Rule 110 of
the Rules of Court that:
Sec. 13.
Duplicity of offense. A
complaint or information must
charge but one offense, except
only in those cases in which
existing laws prescribe a simple
punishment for various offenses.
Rape with homicide comes within
the exception under R.A. 2632 and
R.A. 4111, amending the Revised
Penal Code.
The petitioner and his six coaccused are not charged with only
one rape committed by him in
conspiracy with the other six. Each
one of the seven accused is
charged with having himself raped
Sarmenta instead of simply helping
Sanchez in committing only one
rape. In other words, the
allegation of the prosecution is
that the girl was raped seven
times, with each of the seven
accused taking turns in abusing
her with the assistance of the
other six. Afterwards, their lust
satisfied, all seven of them decided
to kill and thus silence Sarmenta.
Every one of the seven accused is
being charged separately for
actually raping Sarmenta and later
killing her instead of merely
assisting the petitioner in raping
and then slaying her. The separate
informations filed against each of
them allege that each of the seven
successive rapes is complexed by
the subsequent slaying of
Sarmenta and aggravated by the
killing of Allan Gomez by her seven
attackers. The separate rapes were
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the element of force and
intimidation in rape. Hence, the
crime of Rape and Homicide are
not distinct from each other. By
virtue of this, it does not run afoul
the rule on duplicity of suits,
although there were only two
counts of death in this case, each
one who participated in the crime
shall be charged with one count of
Rape with Homicide.
Issue:
Whether or not the offenses
charged in the eight informations
actually constitute only one offense
or were correctly considered as
eight separate crimes of estafa.
Held: The lower court and the CA
were correct in considering eight
separate crimes of estafa.
The crime of estafa committed
against respondent corporation, on
the one hand, and those committed
against the lot buyers, on the
other, are definitely separate
felonies. They were dictated by
different criminal intents,
committed under different modes
of commission provided by the law
on estafa, perpetrated by different
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acts, consummated on different
occasions, and caused injury to
different parties.
The crime of estafa against
respondent corporation was
committed through unfaithfulness
or abuse of confidence, specifically
as provided in Paragraph 1(b) of
Article 315, Revised Penal Code.
The operative act in the
perpetration thereof was the
failure to turn over or deliver to
respondent corporation the
amounts collected by the accused,
despite their duty to do so. The
felony was consummated on the
dates when and at the places
where such amounts were to be
delivered to respondent
corporation under the agency
agreement therefor or within a
reasonable time from receipt of the
payments made by the lot buyers.
The aggrieved party was
respondent corporation which
suffered damages basically to the
extent of the sums collected in its
behalf but not delivered or
accounted for by the accused.
With respect to the lot buyers, the
offense of swindling was
committed by deceit or false
pretenses employed prior to or
simultaneously with the
commission of the fraud, more
specifically as provided in
Paragraph 2(a) of the same article
of the Code, that is, by the accused
falsely pretending to possess the
power to collect the payments due
from said buyers, despite the
peculiar but specific prohibition
imposed by their said principal.
The felony was perpetrated
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Act, allegedly commited by her
favoring unqualified aliens with
the benefit of the Alien
Legalization Program.
Issue:
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stroke of the pen, as when the
approval was embodied in the
same document.
Likewise, the public prosecutors
manifested at the hearing the
motion for a bill of particulars that
the Government suffered a single
harm or injury. The Sandiganbayan
in its Order dated November 13,
1992 stated as follows: . . . Equally,
the prosecution has stated that
insofar as the damage and
prejudice to the government is
concerned, the same is
represented not only by the very
fact of the violation of the law
itself but because of the adverse
effect on the stability and security
of the country in granting
citizenship to those not qualified.
Doctrine: A continuing crime
comprises of several acts but only
constitute of one offense, because
the sole criminal motive of the
offender.
Jose Gamboa v. Court of
Appeals
and Benjamin Lu Hayco
68 SCRA 308; November 28, 1975
Topic: Continuing Crimes
Facts:
The
private
respondent
Benjamin Lu Hayco was a former
employee of petitioner company in
its optical supply business at Sta.
Cruz, Manila. One hundred twentyfour (124) complaints of estafa
under Article 315, para. 1-b of the
Revised Penal Code were filed
against him by the petitioner
consequence,
private
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respondent Benjamin Lu Hayco
appealed to the Court of Appeals
which reversed the order of the
lower court and granted the
petition for prohibition. It directed
the respondent City Fiscal "to
cause the dismissal of the seventyfive (75) criminal cases filed
against petitioner- appellant, to
consolidate in one information all
the charges contained in the
seventy-five (75) informations and
to file the same with the proper
court."
Issues:
(1)Whether or not the crime
committed is a continuous
crime.
(2)Whether
or
not
the
necessary elements of
estafa
may
separately
take place in different
territorial
jurisdictions
until the crime itself is
consummated.
Rulings:
(1)No.
Delito
continaudo
or
continuous crime is a single crime
consisting of a series acts arising
from a single criminal resolution or
intent not susceptible of division.
For Cuello Calon, when the actor,
there being unity of purpose and of
right violated, commits diverse
acts, each of which although of a
delitual
character,
merely
constitutes a partial execution of a
single particular delict, such
concurrence or delictual acts is
called a delito continuado.
In order that it may exist,
there should be plurality of acts
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essential to the crime and
requisite to its consummation
occur in one province and
some in another, the court of
either province has jurisdiction
to try the case, it being
understood that the first court
taking cognizance of the case
will exclude the other.
Doctrine:
When a crime committed
constitutes a single act with an
independent
existence
and
criminal intent of its own it cannot
be
considered
a
continuing
crime.
People v. Hubilo
220 SCRA 389; March 23, 1993
Topic:
Continuing
Preliminary Investigation
Crimes;
Facts:
On 18 August 1988, at
around
5:00
o'clock
in
the
afternoon,, Hermogenia Cacayurin,
Cesario Gamiz and Ferdinand
Gamiz were riding on a tricycle
driven
by
Rogelio
Antonio,
proceeding north toward Barangay
Nagcuralan, Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija,
where they resided. As they
approached
the
cemetery
of
Nagcuralan, gunfire greeted them
and driver Rogelio, being hit fell
off the tricycle. Ferdinand Gamiz
who had been seated behind the
tricycle driver jumped off the
tricycle and ran in a northerly
direction.
He
was
met
or
confronted by an armed man
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case, including the motion to fix
bail, be forwarded to the Regional
Trial Court ("RTC") of Guimba,
Nueva Ecija. Defense counsel also
requested that accused Hubilo be
transferred
and
detained
at
Guimba.
The MTC thereupon
issued an order granting the
request. An information was filed
by Assistant Provincial Prosecutor
Ubaldino A. Lacuron against
appellant, with the RTC. Appellant
Hubilo filed another motion to fix
bail, but this motion was detained
by the trial court.
On
a
motion
for
reconsideration, however the trial
court reversed itself and held a
hearing on the application for bail.
Ultimately, the RTC denied the
application for bail, holding that
the evidence of guilt of accused
Hubilo was strong.
Appellant responded by filing
a motion to disqualify or inhibit the
judge alleging that appellant
would not be afforded a fair trial
because of the findings of the RTC.
Judge Raymundo Z. Annang then
inhibited himself and ordered the
records of the case forwarded to
the Executive Judge, but Executive
Judge Pablo D. Atienza ordered the
return of the case to the sala of
Judge Annang. Judge Annang set
the case for arraignment, pre-trial
and trial; but these settings did not
materialize.
Appellant Hubilo filed a
Petition for certiorari before this
Court, questioning the denial of his
application for bail and the order
of
Executive
Judge
Atienza
returning the case to Judge
Annang
for
continuation
of
proceedings. This Petition was
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three (3) passengers
driver approached.
and
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They passed the time there
drinking "tuba" and eating bread
while they were conversing in
subdued voices.
At past 6:00 o'clock that
afternoon, Victor and Montebon
left and proceeded towards a
bridge
where
they
were
subsequently joined by Guneda,
who led them to the house of
Myles Castle along Rodriguez
Street. As they entered the gate of
Castle's house, a maid went out to
get the clothes which were being
hanged
to
dry.
Forthwith,
Montebon held her and said:
"Don't move this is a hold up!"
Frightened the maid instinctively
shouted, causing the three to
scamper away and return to the
bridge where they stayed for a
while.
From
there,
the
trio
proceeded to rob Charles Turner in
his rented cottage located at
Lusapon Beach in the outskirts of
Boljoon Poblacion. However, upon
entering Charles Turner's cottage,
Montebon shot him at the back of
his head upon instruction of
Guneda, who wanted the American
killed because the latter knew him.
After killing Turner, the trio
ransacked the cottage of Turner's
personal belongings, and returned
to the culvert near the bridge
where they left the things which
they found to be unimportant. At
about 6:30 o'clock in the morning
of October 17, 1984, a report was
made to the Police Force of Boljoon
that Charles Turner was seen
lifeless in his cottage.
Forthwith,
Patrolman
Marcos
Florida,
Archimedes
Villanueva and Romulo Medida
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doubt of the offense of simple
Robbery, with two mitigating
circumstances of plea of guilty to
Robbery and testifying as to true
facts in favor of the State.
It is argued that Guneda
cannot be convicted of the special
complex crime of Robbery with
Homicide as the information filed
against him failed to allege that
the Homicide was committed "by
reason of or on the occasion of the
robbery," and that neither may one
infer from that charge alone that
the alleged Homicide was done for
purposes of committing the alleged
Robbery, thus violating Guneda's
right to be informed of the nature
and cause of the accusation
against him.
Issue:
Whether or not Guneda can
be convicted of the special
complex crime of Robbery with
Homicide as the information filed
against him failed to allege that
the Homicide was committed "by
reason of or on the occasion of the
robbery,"
Ruling:
Yes. The court held that
although the phrase "by reason or
on occasion of the robbery", as
provided for by the Revised Penal
Code, was not literally used in the
recital of facts alleging the
commission of the crime of
Robbery
with
Homicide,
the
Information, as filed, sufficiently
and
distinctly
alleges
the
commission of the two crimes of
"Robbery" and "Homicide" and
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down.
Abeleda
and
Abrea
scampered away to find help, while
the accused fled from the crime
scene. Ten (10) minutes later,
Abeleda and Abrea, accompanied
by Barangay Tanod Tito Abrina and
a certain Inyong Adion, returned to
the locus criminis. They found
Sotto dead.
After trial, the accused was
found guilty as charged. He was
sentenced to suffer the penalties of
reclusion perpetua, for murder,
and imprisonment of twenty (20)
years, for illegal possession of
firearm. He was further ordered to
pay the heirs of Sotto the amount
of
fifty
thousand
pesos
(P50,000.00), as civil indemnity.
The appellant now contends
that the trial court erred in
appreciating
the
qualifying
circumstance of treachery as
attending the commission of the
crime alleged and in holding
accused-appellant guilty of murder
in the killing of Sonny Sotto.
Issue:
Whether or not the trial
court erred in appreciating the
qualifying
circumstance
of
treachery
as
attending
the
commission of the crime alleged
and in holding accused-appellant
guilty of murder in the killing of
Sonny Sotto.
Ruling:
No. Under par. 16, Article 14
of the Revised Penal Code, the
qualifying
circumstance
of
treachery is present when the
offender employs means, methods,
or forms in the execution of the
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raised at the earliest possible time
otherwise it shall be deemed
waived.
People v. Valdez
304 SCRA 611
Topic: Complex Crimes
Facts:
William Montano (16 years
old), Randy Tibule (17 years old),
Jean Maria Garcia, Willie Acosta,
Sandra Montano and Ramon
Garcia, Jr. were at the house of
Randy
Tibule
in
Manaoag,
Pangasinan. They were discussing
how to go to the wedding party of
Jean Marie's cousin in Sitio
Cabaoangan. After discussion, they
rode in the tricycle driven by
Ramon
Garcia
going
to
Cabaoangan. Behind Garcia were
Tibule and Willie. Jean was seated
inside the side car with Sandra and
William Montano. After making a
turn along the barangay road
leading to Sitio Cabaoangan they
met appellant Rolando Valdez and
his companions who were armed
with guns. The tricycle's headlight
flashed on their faces. Without
warning, they pointed their guns
and fired at Montano's group.
Thereafter, after uttering the
words, "nataydan, mapan tayon"
(They are already dead. Let us go),
Valdez and companions left. The
shooting incident left Ramon
Garcia, Jean Marie Garcia, Sandra
Montano and Willie Acosta dead.
The trial court held that the
accused Ronaldo Valdez is guilty
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frustrated murder. It was upon
reinvestigation by the Office of the
Provincial
Prosecutor
of
Pangasinan that a case for the
complex crime of murder with
double frustrated murder was
instead
filed
per
its
Joint
Resolution dated November 17,
1995.
The concept of a complex
crime is defined in Article 48 of the
Revised Penal Code, to wit:
Art. 48. Penalty for
complex crimes
When a single act
constitutes two or
more grave or less
grave felonies or
when an offense is a
necessary means for
committing
the
other, the penalty
for the most serious
crime
shall
be
imposed, the same
to be applied in its
maximum
period.
(As amended by Act
No. 4000.)
The case at bar does not fall
under any of the two instances
defined above. The Office of the
Provincial
Prosecutor
of
Pangasinan
erroneously
considered the case as falling
under the first. It is clear from the
evidence on record, however, that
the four crimes of murder resulted
not from a single act but from
several individual and distinct acts.
For one thing, the evidence
indicates that there was more than
one gunman involved, and the act
of each gunman is distinct from
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sentences of reclusion perpetua. In
addition, he being guilty of two
counts
of
frustrated
murder,
accused-appellant must be meted
out an indeterminate sentence
ranging from a minimum of 6 years
and 1 day of prison mayor to
maximum of 12 years and 1 day of
reclusion
perpetua
for
each
offense.
Accused- appellant is found
guilty beyond reasonable doubt of
four counts of murder and hereby
sentenced to suffer the penalty of
four
sentences
of
reclusion
perpetua. He is also found guilty
beyond reasonable doubt of two
counts of frustrated murder and
hereby meted two indeterminate
sentences, each, ranging from six
(6) years and one (1) day of prision
mayor, as minimum, to twelve (12)
years and one (1) day of reclusion
temporal, as maximum.
Doctrine:
When a single act constitutes
two or more grave or less grave
felonies or when an offense is a
necessary means for committing
the other, the penalty for the most
serious crime shall be imposed, the
same to be applied in its maximum
period.
Issues:
I
II
III
Facts:
Petitioner Isabelita Reodica was
driving a van along Dona Soledad
Avenue, Better Living Subdivision,
Paranaque, Metro Manila. Due to
IV
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VI
Ruling:
I
II
petitioner.
III
IV
RULE 110
resulting in damage to
property in the amount
of P8,542.00, the same was
also under the jurisdiction of
MeTCs, MTCs or MCTCs
because the imposable
penalty therefor was arresto
mayor in its minimum and
medium periods.
VI
Ruling:
No. The Supreme Court held that
when the accused-employee
absconds or jumps bail, the
judgment meted out becomes final
and executory. The employer
cannot defeat the finality of the
judgment by filing a notice of
appeal on its own behalf in the
guise of asking for a review of its
subsidiary civil liability. Both the
primary civil liability of the
accused-employee and the
subsidiary civil liability of the
employer, as set forth in Article
103 of the Revised Penal Code, are
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carried in one single decision that
has become final and executory.
Javier v. Intermediate Appellate
Court
G.R. No. 75379, March 31, 1989
Topic: Prosecution of Civil Action
Facts:
Private respondent, Leon S.
Gutierrez, Jr., issued to petitioners,
Reynaldo and Estelita Javier, a
check that was subsequently
dishonored and not made good
despite the required notice of
dishonor. For this he has been
charged with estafa under B.P. Blg.
22 in the Regional Trial Court of
Makati. The information against
the private respondent was filed
before the Regional Trial Court of
Makati and the civil case was not
reserved. Gutierrez then filed a
complaint for damages against the
petitioners in the Regional Trial
Court of Catarman, Northern
Samar, in the complaint, the herein
petitioners were charged with
having inveigled Gutierrez into
signing the very check subject of
the criminal case in the Makati
court. The complaint in effect
explains why he issued the check
for which he was facing
prosecution for.
Issue:
Whether or not private respondent
can raise the reason that he was
inveigled into signing the very
check subject of the criminal case
in the RTC of Makati in
another court, in a separate civil
action for damages filed by him
against the petitioners
Ruling:
No. The Supreme Court reversed
the decision of the Intermediate
Appellate Court sustaining the trial
judge. It held that as the civil
action was not reserved by the
petitioners, it was deemed
impliedly instituted with the
criminal case in the Regional Trial
Court of Makati in accordance with
Rule 111, Section 1, of the Rules of
Court. It was before the Makati
court that the private respondent,
as defendant in the criminal
charge of violation of B.P. Blg. 22,
could explain why he had issued
the bouncing check. As the civil
action based on the same act was
also deemed filed there, it was also
before that same court that he
could offer evidence to refute the
claim for damages made by the
petitioners. Further, the Court held
that the private respondent should
have done in the form of a
counterclaim for damages for his
alleged deception by the
petitioners. In fact, the
counterclaim was compulsory and
should have been filed by the
private respondent upon the
implied institution of the civil
action for damages in the criminal
action.
Casupanan v. Laroya
G.R. No. 145391, August 26, 2002
Topic: Prosecution of Civil Action
Facts:
Two vehicles, one driven by
respondent Mario Llavore Laroya
and the other owned by petitioner
Roberto Capitulo and driven by
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petitioner Avelino Casupanan ,
figured in an accident. As a result,
two cases were filed with the
Municipal Circuit Trial Court of
Capas, Tarlac. Laroya filed a
criminal case against Casupanan
for reckless imprudence resulting
in damage to property. On the
other hand, Casupanan and
Capitulo filed a civil case against
Laroya for quasi-delict. When the
civil case was filed, the criminal
case was then at its preliminary
investigation stage. Laroya,
defendant in the civil case, filed a
motion to dismiss the civil case on
the ground of forum-shopping
considering the pendency of the
criminal case. The MCTC granted
the motion and dismissed the civil
case. On Motion for
Reconsideration, Casupanan and
Capitulo insisted that the civil case
is a separate civil action which can
proceed independently of the
criminal case. The MCTC denied
the motion for reconsideration.
Casupanan and Capitulo filed a
petition for certiorari under Rule
65 before the Regional Trial Court
of Capas, Tarlac which was
dismissed for lack of merit. The
Capas RTC ruled that the proper
remedy should have been an
appeal.
Issue:
Whether or not an accused in a
pending criminal case for reckless
imprudence can validly file,
simultaneously and independently,
a separate civil action for quasidelict against the private
complainant in the criminal case
Ruling:
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of the accused may be litigated in
a separate civil action.
General v. Claravall
G.R. No. 96724, March 22, 1991
Topic: Prosecution of Civil Action
Facts:
Private respondent Benneth
Thelmo filed a sworn complaint
accusing petitioner, Honesto
General, and another person of
libel, and alleged that by reason of
the offense he had suffered actual,
moral and exemplary damages in
the total sum of P100 million. The
information for libel was
subsequently filed with the RTC at
Pasig, after preliminary
investigation, did not however
contain any allegation respecting
the damages due the offended
party. At the trial, the defense
raised the issue of non-payment of
the docket fees corresponding to
the claim of damages contained in
Thelmo's sworn complaint before
the fiscal, as a bar to Thelmo's
pursuing his civil action therefor.
The trial Court overruled the
objection. It also denied the
defendants' motion for
reconsideration and motion for
suspension of proceedings.
Issue:
Whether or not the rule should be
that the filing fees for the civil
action for the recovery of civil
liability arising from the offense
should first be paid in order that
said civil action may be deemed to
have been impliedly instituted with
the criminal and prosecuted in due
course.
Ruling:
The Supreme Court found no error
in the challenged orders of the
respondent and held that when a
civil action is deemed impliedly
instituted with the criminal in
accordance with Section 1, Rule
111 of the Rules of Court because
the offended party has not waived
the civil action, or reserved the
right to institute it separately, or
instituted the civil action prior to
the criminal actionthe rule is as
follows:
1) when "the amount of damages,
other than actual, is alleged in the
complaint or information" filed in
court, then "the corresponding
filing fees shall be paid by the
offended party upon the filing
thereof in court for trial;"
Tan v. Mendez
G.R. No. 138669; June 6, 2002
Topic: Prosecution of Civil Action
(Rule 111)
Facts:
Petitioners Steve Tan and
Marciano Tan are the owners of
Master
Tours
and
Travel
Corporation and operators of
Philippine Lawin Bus Co., Inc.,
while respondent Fabian Mendez,
Jr. is the owner of three gasoline
stations in Iriga City, Ligao, Albay,
and
Sipocot,
Camarines
Sur.
Petitioners opened a credit line for
their buses lubricants and fuel
consumption with respondent. At
the same time, the latter was also
RULE 110
designated by petitioners as the
booking and ticketing agent of
Philippine Lawin Bus Co. in Iriga
City.
Petitioners issued several
checks to respondent as payment
for oil and fuel products. One of
the checks was dishonored by the
bank
upon
presentment
for
payment for being drawn against
insufficient funds. Respondent sent
a
demand
letter
dated
to
petitioners demanding that they
make good the check or pay the
amount thereof, to no avail.
However, petitioners failed to pay
the amount thereof. Hence, an
information for violation of B.P. 22
was filed against petitioners before
the RTC.
Petitioners argue that he cannot be
held liable for violation of B.P. 22
because the amount subject of the
check
had
already
been
extinguished
by
offset
or
compensation
against
the
collection from ticket sales from
the booking offices. He presented
a memorandum showing the return
to
respondent
of
various
unencashed checks in the total
amount
of
Php
66,839.25
representing remittance of ticket
sales that were earlier sent by
respondent. After the alleged
offset, there remains a balance of
P226,785.83.
On
cross-examination,
Marciano admitted to have drawn
the subject check to pay private
respondents gasoline station and
that it was not covered by
sufficient funds at the time of its
issuance
due
to
uncollected
receivables. Upon query by the
1. the
amount
of
the
four
unencashed checks totaling
P66,839.25 could not have
offset the amount of the
dishonored
checks
since
petitioners total obligations at
that time had already reached
P906,000; and
2. the compensation did not take
place
as
there
was
no
application of payment made by
the
petitioners
in
their
memorandum
dated
June
10,1991.
Ruling:
1. Yes. The elements of B.P. 22 are
present in the case at bar.
The
law
enumerates
elements of B.P. Blg. 22:
the
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a. the making, drawing, and
issuance of any check to
apply for account or for
value;
b. the knowledge of the maker,
drawer, or issuer that at the
time of issue he does not
have sufficient funds in or
credit with the drawee bank
for the payment of the check
in full upon its presentment;
and
c. (3) the subsequent dishonor
of the check by the drawee
bank for insufficiency of
funds or credit or dishonor
for the same reason had not
the drawer, without any
valid cause, ordered the
bank to stop payment.
2. No. The law has made the mere
act of issuing a bum check a
malum prohibitum, an act
proscribed by legislature for
being deemed pernicious and
inimical to public welfare. Thus,
even
if
there
had
been
payment,
through
compensation or some other
means, there could still be
prosecution for violation of B.P.
22.
Furthermore, according
to the Court, petitionerss
defense of compensation is
unavailing because petitioners
did not clearly specify in the
memorandum dated June 10,
1991 which dishonored check is
being offset. The Court also
said, in accordance Article 1279
of
the
Civil
Code,
no
compensation can take place
between
petitioners
and
respondent as respondent is not
Republic v. Bello
G.R. No. L-34906;
1983
January
27,
RULE 110
suffered damage or prejudice
as the accused's disbursements
were for the benefit of the
Capiz Agricultural and Fishery
School; and
4. the funds claimed to be missing
in the amount of Php6,619.34 is
not really missing for the
accused demonstrated that said
amounts were spent for and in
the interest of the Capiz
Agricultural
and
Fishery
School.
A judgment of acquittal on
the ground that accused had no
criminal intent and that the
evidence of the prosecution was
not sufficient to establish the guilt
of the accused does not bar a civil
action for recovery of government
funds disturbed without prior
approval by the auditor.
It is also to be noted that the
subject subject-matter of the
malversation case was the amount
of Php6,619.34, the sum sought to
be recovered in the civil action
totalled
Php13,790.70
which
included the additional sum of
Php7,170.31
representing
the
income of the school from its
various projects for which the
accused failed to issue official
receipts.
Even insofar as the amount
of P6,619.34 is concerned, the
finding by the respondent court is
not a declaration that the fact
upon which the civil case is based
does not exist. The civil action
barred by such a declaration is the
civil liability arising from the
offense charged, which is the one
impliedly
instituted
with
the
criminal action. Such a declaration
would not bar a civil action filed
against an accused who had been
acquitted in the criminal case if
the criminal action is predicated
on factual or legal considerations
other than the commission of the
offense charged.
Therefore, Arceo cannot
invoke the provision of Section 3(c)
of Rule 111 of the Rules of Court
to dismiss the civil case filed
against him.
RULE 110
Dela Cruz v. Ejercito
G.R. No. L-40895; November 6,
1975
Topic: Prosecution of Civil Action
(Rule 111)
Facts:
On May 20, 1974, the first
husband of Milagros Dela Cruz
filed a complaint in the Court of
First
Instance
of
Pampanga
charging the Dela Cruz with
bigamy
for
having
married
Sergeant Dominick L. Gaccino on
September 15, 1973.
On August 1, 1974, Dela
Cruz filed in the same court a
complaint for the annulment of her
marriage with Gaccino on the
ground of duress. Since the court
did not receive an answer from
Gaccino and there was no collusion
on the part of both parties, Judge
Castaneda rendered a decision
annulling the marriage of Dela
Cruz and Gaccino. The decision
became final.
On January 27, 1975, in view
of the annulment of her second
marriage, Dela Cruz filed a motion
to dismiss the bigamy charge
against her. Judge Ejercito denied
the motion to dismiss on the
ground that the decision in the
annulment case is not controlling
in the criminal case because the
parties and the issues in the two
cases are not the same.
Issue:
Whether or not the bigamy
case became moot or untenable
after the second marriage was
annulled.
Ruling:
Yes. It is necessary in a
prosecution for bigamy that the
second marriage be declared valid
if its validity is questioned in a civil
action.
The Court ruled that the
finding in the annulment case that
the second marriage contracted by
Dela Cruz with Sergeant Gaccino
was a nullity is determinative of
her innocence and precludes the
rendition of a verdict that she
committed bigamy. To try the
criminal case in the face of such a
finding would be unwarranted.
Furthermore, the Court said
that even supposing that the
decree
annulling
the
second
marriage was questionable or
erroneous because it was issued in
a judgment by default, still that
would not prevent the decree from
having legal effect. "An erroneous
judgment is not a void judgment."
Donato v. Luna
G.R. No. L-53642; April 15, 1988
Topic: Prosecution of Civil Action
(Rule 111)
Facts:
On January 23, 1979, the
City Fiscal of Manila filed an
information for bigamy against
Leonilo C. Donato with the Court
of First Instance of Manila based
on the complaint of private
respondent Paz Abayan.
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On September 28, 1979,
before
the
petitioner's
arraignment, private respondent
filed with
the Juvenile
and
Domestic
Relations
Court
of
Manila
a
civil
action
for
declaration of nullity of her
marriage with petitioner on the
ground that the private respondent
had no previous knowledge that
the petitioner was already married
to a certain Rosalinda R. Maluping.
Prior to the date set for the
trial on the merits of the bigamy
case, petitioner filed a motion to
suspend the proceedings of said
case on the ground that the civil
case seeking the annulment of his
second
marriage
raises
a
prejudicial question which must
first be determined or decided
before the criminal case can
proceed.
Hon.
Artemon
D.
Luna
denied the motion to suspend the
proceedings for bigamy based on
the ruling laid down in the case of
Landicho vs. Relova.
Petitioner filed a motion for
reconsideration citing as one of his
grounds
for
suspension
of
proceedings the ruling laid down
in the case of De la Cruz vs.
Ejercito. The motion was likewise
denied due to lack of merit.
Issue:
Whether or not a criminal
case for bigamy pending before
the lower court be suspended in
view of a civil case for annulment
of marriage pending before the
juvenile and domestic relations
court on the ground that latter
constitutes a prejudicial question.
Ruling:
No. The requisites of a
prejudicial question is not present
in the case at bar.
A prejudicial question has
been defined to be one which
arises in a case, the resolution of
which question is a logical
antecedent of the issue involved in
said case, and the cognizance of
which pertains to another tribunal.
It is one based on a fact distinct
and separate from the crime but so
intimately connected with it that it
determines the guilt or innocence
of the accused, and for it to
suspend the criminal action, it
must appear not only that said
case involves facts intimately
related to those upon which the
criminal prosecution would be
based but also that in the
resolution of the issue or issues
raised in the civil case, the guilt or
innocence of the accused would
necessarily be determined.
The Court stated the ruling
in Landicho vs. Relova that it
must
be
shown
that
the
petitioner's
consent
to
such
marriage must be the one that was
obtained by means of duress, force
and intimidation to show that his
act in the second marriage must be
involuntary and cannot be the
basis of his conviction for the
crime of bigamy.
In the case at bar, petitioner
has not even sufficiently shown
that his consent to the second
marriage has been obtained by the
use
of
threats,
force
and
intimidation.
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With regard to the contention of
the petitioner alleging that the
case of Dela Cruz vs. Ejercito
should be applied to the case at
bar, the Court said that the Dela
Cruz case and the case at bar are
markedly different due to the
following reasons:
1. Dela Cruz, the party who was
accused of bigamy was the one
who
filed
an
action
or
annulment
of
the
second
marriage while in the case at
bar,
it
was
the
private
respondent who filed an action
of
their
2. A
judgment
was
already
rendered in the civil case that
the second marriage of De la
Cruz was null and void, thus
determinative of the guilt or
innocence of the accused in the
criminal case. In the present
case, there is as yet no such
judgment in the civil case.