G.R.Nos.17060913.January30,2009.

*
BERNIEG.MIAQUE,petitioner,vs.HON.VIRGILIOM.PATAG,inhiscapacity
asPresidingJudgeoftheRegionalTrialCourtofIloiloCity,Branch33,VICENTE
C.ARAGONA,andPEOPLEOFTHEPHILIPPINES,respondents.

Appeals;ThegeneralrulethatadirectresorttotheSupremeCourtinapetitionfor
certiorari is incorrect for it violates the hierarchy of courts may be relaxed when pure
questionsoflawareraised.Generally,adirectresorttousinapetitionforcertiorariis
incorrect for it violates the hierarchy of courts. A regard for judicial hierarchy most
certainlyindicatesthatpetitionsfortheissuanceofextraordinarywritsagainstfirstlevel
courtsshouldbefiledintheRTCandthoseagainstthelattershouldbefiledintheCourtof
Appeals.Thisrule,however,mayberelaxedwhenpurequestionsoflawareraisedasin
thiscase.
CriminalProcedure;WheretheallegedactsoflibelwerecommittedinIloiloCity,the
authority to sign and file the Informations is properly lodged with the Iloilo City
ProsecutorsOfficetheIloiloProvincialProsecutorsOfficeisbereftofauthoritytofilethe
same; An Information, when required by law to be filed by a public prosecuting officer,
cannotbefiledbyanother.Itisundisputedthattheallegedactsoflibelwerecommittedin
Iloilo City. Who then had the authority to file and sign the new informations against
petitionerandhiscoaccused?TheCharteroftheCityofIloiloprovides:[TheCityFiscal,
nowCityProsecutor]shallalsohavechargeoftheprosecutionofallcrimes,misdemeanors
and violations of city ordinances, in the Court of First Instance (now RTC) and in the
MunicipalTrialCourtofthecity,andshalldischargeallthedutiesinrespecttocriminal
prosecutions enjoined by law upon provincial fiscals. The city fiscal shall cause to be
investigatedallchargesofcrimes,misdemeanors,andviolationsofordinances,andhave
thenecessaryinformationsorcomplaintspreparedagainstthepersonsaccused.xxxThe
authority to sign and file the new Informations is properly lodged with the Iloilo City
ProsecutorsOffice.TheIloiloProvincialProsecutorsOfficewasclearlybereftofauthority
tofilethenew
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*FIRSTDIVISION.

395

VOL. 577, JANUARY 30, 2009 395

Miaquie vs. Patag
Informationsagainstpetitioner.AnInformation,whenrequiredbylawtobefiledbya
public prosecuting officer, cannot be filed by another. The court does not acquire
jurisdictionoverthecasebecausethereisadefectintheInformation.

SPECIALCIVILACTIONintheSupremeCourt.Certiorari.
ThefactsarestatedintheresolutionoftheCourt.
Rico&Associatesforpetitioner.
VicenteAragonaforrespondent.
 RESOLUTION

CORONA,J.:
Thisisaspecialcivilactionforcertiorari1assailingtheordersoftheRegional
TrialCourt(RTC)ofIloiloCity,Branch33datedAugust25,2005 2andSeptember
19, 20053in Criminal Case Nos. 0561407 to 0561411 captionedPeople of the
PhilippinesversusBernieMiaque,etal.
OnJanuary31,2000,fiveInformationsforlibel 4werefiledintheRTCofIloilo
City,Branch26,againstpetitionerBernieG.Miaqueandthreeothers. 5Inanorder
datedFebruary17,2005,6theseInformationswerequashedforlackofjurisdiction
overtheoffensescharged.Specifically,saidInformations
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1UnderRule65oftheRulesofCourt.Thepetitionwasaccompaniedbyaprayerfortheissuanceofa
temporaryrestrainingorderand/orwritofpreliminaryinjunctionwhichwasdeniedforlackofmeritby
theCourtinaresolutiondatedDecember6,2006.Rollo,pp.318.
2PennedbypublicrespondentJudgeVirgilioM.Patag.Id.,p.19.
3Id.,p.20.
4Id.,pp.3251.
5PetitionerscoaccusedwereTonyMauricio,NoelCabobosandRodolfoDivinagracia.
6Rollo,pp.6166.

396
396 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
Miaquie vs. Patag
failedtoallegeeitherthatprivaterespondent(thereinprivatecomplainant)Vicente
Aragona actually held office in Iloilo City at the time of the commission of the
offensesorthattheallegedlibelousremarkswereprintedorfirstpublishedinIloilo
City.7
On June 22, 2005, Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Jerry Maraon issued a
resolutionrecommendingthefilingofInformationsforlibelagainstpetitionerand
hiscoaccused.Accordingly,fivenewInformationsforlibeldocketedasCriminal
CaseNos.0561407to0561411werefiledagainstpetitionerandhiscoaccusedin
theRTCofIloiloCity,Branch33,presidedbyrespondentJudgeVirgilioM.Patag.
ThenewInformationsweresimilarlywordedasthosepreviouslyquashedbut
with these added allegations: (1) Aragona, Regional State Prosecutor VI of the
DepartmentofJustice,heldofficeattheHallofJustice,IloiloCityor(2)thealleged
libelousremarkswerewritten,printedandpublishedinIloiloCity(onthepertinent
dates thereof). Said Informations were likewise signed and filed by Assistant
ProvincialProsecutorMaraon.
InviewofthefilingofthenewInformations,petitionerfiledhismotions(dated
August8,2005)nottoissuewarrantsofarrestand,ifalreadyissued,torecallthem
andremandtheInformationstotheProvincialProsecutorsOfficeforpreliminary
investigation.8In an order dated August 25, 2005, respondent judge denied
petitioners motions on the ground that petitioner was beyond the courts
jurisdictionashewasnotunderthecustodyofthecourt. 9Petitionersmotionfor
recon
_______________

7Id.,p.58.
8Id.,pp.2126.
9Id.,p.19.Therelevantportionoftheorderread:
TherecordsindicatethattheaforenamedaccusedarebeyondthejurisdictionofthisCourt
becausetheyarenotincustodialegisand/orunderthecustodyofthisCourt.Byreasonofthefact
thatWedonotpossessjurisdictionoverthe

397
VOL. 577, JANUARY 30, 2009 397
Miaquie vs. Patag
siderationwasdeniedinanorderdatedSeptember19,2005.Hence,thispetition.
Petitioner challenges the August 25, 2005 and September 19, 2005 orders of
respondentjudgeforbeingcontrarytolawandforhavingbeenissuedwithgrave
abuse of discretion. He contends that the Informations were filed without the
mandatorypreliminaryinvestigation.Moreover,thenewInformationswerefiledby
onewhohadnoauthoritytodosobecausethesewerefiledbytheIloiloProvincial
ProsecutorsOfficeandnottheIloiloCityProsecutorsOffice.Jurisdictionoverthe
subject matter supposedly belonged to the latter. Petitioner likewise assails the
refusalofrespondentjudgetorecallthewarrantsofarrestissuedagainsthim.
The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), representing the People of the
Philippines, contends that the quashed Informations were merely amended to
includetheallegationsthatAragonaactuallyheldofficeinIloiloCityatthetimeof
thecommissionoftheoffensesorthatthelibelousremarkswereprintedandfirst
published in Iloilo City. A new preliminary investigation was therefore
unnecessary.Onthewarrantofarrest,theOSGallegesthatthetrialcourtacquired
jurisdictionoverpetitionerinviewofthefilingofhisAugust8,2005motions.The
filingofthemotionssupposedlywastantamounttovoluntarilysubmittingtothe
jurisdictionofthecourt.
Generally, a direct resort to us in a petition forcertiorariis incorrect for it
violates the hierarchy of courts.10A regard for judicial hierarchy most certainly
indicatesthatpetitionsfortheissuanceofextraordinarywritsagainstfirstlevel
courts
_______________

three aforenamed accused, We are likewise without jurisdiction over the subject matter of the
instantmotion.

Basedontheforegoing,Weherebydenytheaforecitedmotionforlackofmerit.
SOORDERED.
 10Pacoyv.Cajigal,G.R.No.157472,28September2007,534SCRA338,346.

398
398 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
Miaquie vs. Patag
shouldbefiledintheRTCandthoseagainstthelattershouldbefiledintheCourt
ofAppeals.11Thisrule,however,mayberelaxedwhenpurequestionsoflaw 12are
raisedasinthiscase.
Wegrantthepetition.TheInformationsmustbequashed.
OneoftheissuesraisedinthepetitionistheauthorityoftheIloiloProvincial
Prosecutors Office tofile and sign thenewInformations against petitioner.The
offenses charged in each of the new Informations were alleged to have been
committedinIloiloCitybutsaidInformationswerefiledbytheIloiloProvincial
ProsecutorsOffice.
Sections9and11ofPresidentialDecreeNo.127513provide:
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11Chavez v. National Housing Authority, G.R. No. 164527, 15 August 2007, 530 SCRA 235, 285
citingPeoplev.Cuaresma,G.R.No.133250,9July2002,384SCRA152.
12Aquestionoflawexistswhenthedoubtordifferencecentersonwhatthelawisonacertainstate
of facts. There is a question of law if the issue raised is capable of being resolved without need of
reviewingtheprobativevalueoftheevidence.Theresolutionoftheissuemustrestsolelyonwhatthelaw
providesonthegivensetofcircumstances.Moralesv.SkillsInternationalCompany,G.R.No.149285,30
August 2006, 500 SCRA186,194 citingMicrosoft Corporation v. Maxicorp, Inc.,G.R.No. 140946, 13
September2004,438SCRA224.
13ReorganizingtheProsecutionStaffoftheDepartmentofJusticeandtheOfficesoftheProvincial
andCityFiscals,RegionalizingtheProsecutionService,andCreatingtheNationalProsecutionService.
ThistookeffectonApril11,1978.ProvincialandCityFiscalsarenowknownasProvincialandCity
ProsecutorsbyvirtueofSection9,Chapter2,TitleIII,BookIVoftheAdministrativeCodeof1987which
provides:
SEC.9.Provincial/CityProsecutionOffices.TheProvincialandCityFiscalsOfficeestablishedin
eachoftheprovincesandcitiespursuanttolaw,isretainedandrenamedProvincial/CityProsecution
Service.ItshallbeheadedbyaProvincialProsecutororCityProsecutor,asthecasemaybe,assistedby
suchnumberofAssistantProvincial/CityProsecutorsasfixedand/orauthorizedby

399
VOL. 577, JANUARY 30, 2009 399
Miaquie vs. Patag
SEC.9.Offices of Provincial Fiscals and City Fiscals Staffing.There shall be in
eachprovince andeach subprovince; oneprovincial fiscalandsuchnumber ofassistant
provincialfiscalsasmayhereinafterbeprovidedfor.
Thereshallbeineachcityonecityfiscalsandsuchnumberofassistantcityfiscalsas
mayhereinafterbeprovided.
xxx
SEC.11.ProvincialFiscalsandCityFiscals;DutiesandFunctions.Theprovincial
fiscalorthecityfiscalshall:
a)xxx
 b)Investigate and/or cause to be investigated all charges of crimes,
misdemeanors and violations of all penal laws and ordinanceswithin their
respectivejurisdictionsandhavethenecessaryinformationorcomplaintprepared
ormadeagainstthepersonsaccused.xxx(emphasissupplied)

ItisundisputedthattheallegedactsoflibelwerecommittedinIloiloCity.Who
thenhadtheauthoritytofileandsignthenewinformationsagainstpetitionerand
hiscoaccused?TheCharteroftheCityofIloiloprovides:14
[TheCityFiscal,nowCityProsecutor]shallalsohavechargeoftheprosecutionofall
crimes,misdemeanorsandviolationsofcityordinances,intheCourtofFirstInstance(now
RTC)andintheMunicipalTrialCourtofthecity,andshalldischargeallthedutiesin
respecttocriminalprosecutionsenjoinedbylawuponprovincialfiscals.
Thecityfiscalshallcausetobeinvestigatedallchargesofcrimes,misdemeanors,and
violations of ordinances, and have the necessary informations or complaints prepared
againstthepersonsaccused.xxx 15

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law.ThepositiontitlesofProvincialandCityFiscalandAssistantProvincialandCityFiscalarehereby
abolished.xxx

14CommonwealthActNo.57,otherwiseknownasAnActEstablishingaFormofGovernmentforthe
CityofIloilo.Section1thereofstates:SECTION1.ThisActshallbeknownastheCharteroftheCityof
Iloilo.
15CommonwealthActNo.57(1936),Sec.58.

400
400 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
Miaquie vs. Patag
TheauthoritytosignandfilethenewInformationsisproperlylodgedwiththe
IloiloCityProsecutorsOffice.TheIloiloProvincialProsecutorsOfficewasclearly
bereftofauthoritytofilethenewInformationsagainstpetitioner.AnInformation,
whenrequiredbylawtobefiledbyapublicprosecutingofficer,cannotbefiledby
another.16Thecourtdoesnotacquirejurisdictionoverthecasebecausethereisa
defectintheInformation.WeheldinPeoplev.Hon.Garfin:17
It is a valid information signed by a competent officer which, among other requisites,
confers jurisdiction on the court over the person of the accused and the subject matter
thereof.xxxQuestionsrelatingtolackofjurisdictionmayberaisedatanystageofthe
proceeding.Aninfirmityintheinformation,suchaslackofauthorityoftheofficersigning
it,cannotbecuredbysilence,acquiescence,orevenbyexpressconsent.

Theforegoingconsidered,theInformationscorrespondingtoCriminalCaseNos.
0561407 to 0561411 were fatally defective. The common infirmity in the
Informationsconstitutedajurisdictionaldefectthatcouldnotbecured. 18Therewas
nopointinproceedingunderadefectiveInformationthatcouldneverbethebasisof
avalidconviction.19
 WHEREFORE, the petition is hereby GRANTED. The orders of the Regional
TrialCourtofIloiloCity,Branch33datedAugust25,2005andSeptember19,2005
are hereby REVERSED AND SET ASIDE. Criminal Case Nos. 0561407 to 05
61411areDISMISSEDWITHOUTPREJUDICEtothefilingofnewInformations
byanauthorizedofficer.ThewarrantsofarrestissuedarelikewiseQUASHED.
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16Peoplev.Hon.Garfin,G.R.No.153176,29March2004,426SCRA393,398.
17Id.
18Id.
19DelaChicav.Sandiganbayan,462Phil.712,723;417SCRA242,249(2003).