LARRANAGA V. THE PHILIPPINES

CCPR/C/87/D/1421/2005
14 September 2006

Facts:

Fran
ranci
cisco
sco Juan
Juan LaLarr
rraa
aa!a"
!a" a Fi#ipin
i#ipino
o an$
an$ Spani
Spanis%
s% natio
nationa#
na#"" born
born on 27
Decem
De cember
ber 1&
1&77'
77' (e is sen
senten
tence$
ce$ to $ea
$eat%
t% (e c#aims
c#aims to be a )ictim
)ictim o* 
)io#ations o* artic#e 6+ artic#e 7+ artic#e &" an$ artic#e 14 o* t%e Co)enant b,
t%e P%i#ipp
P%i#ippines'
o* i$
i$na
napp ines'
ppin
in!
! an$
an-%e aut%or"
aut%o
$ ser
seriou sr" i##e!a
ious a#on!
i##e!a## .it%
$e
$etensi
tentio
tion
nco$e
co$e*en$ants"
o* *en$ants"
Jacu
Jacue#i ne.as
e#ine *oun
*oun$
C%ion
C%ion!! $b,!ui#t,
t%e
Specia# (einous Crimes Court in Cebu Cit, an$ .as sentence$ to rec#usion
perpetua'
perpetu a' 3n  Februar,
Februar, 2004" t%e Supr Supreme
eme Cour
Courtt o* t%e P%i#ippines
P%i#ippines *oun$
t%e
t%e auaut%o
t%orr a#
a#so
so !u
!ui#t
i#t,
, o* i$n
i$napp
appin!
in! an
an$$ serio
serious
us i##
i##e!
e!a#
a# $eten
$etentio
tion
n .it%
.it%
%omici$e an$ rape o* ario, C%ion! an$ sentence$ %im to $eat%' (e .as
a#so sentence$ to rec#usion perpetua *or t%e simp#e i$nappin! an$ serious
i##e!a# $etention o* Jacue#ine C%ion!'

 -%e Specia# (einous Crimes Court *oun$ t%e aut%or !ui#t, o* t%e i$nappin!
an$ serious i##e!a#
i##e!a# $etentio
$etention
n o* Jacue#i
Jacue#ine
ne C%io
C%ion!
n! an$ sentenc
sentence$
e$ %im to
rec#usion perpetua' t $eci$e$ t%at t%ere .as insucient e)i$ence to 9n$ %im
!ui#t, o* t%e i$nappi
i$nappin!
n! an$ serious i##e!a# $etention .it% %omici$e an$ rape
o* ario,
ario, C%io
C%ion!'
n!' -%e auaut%o
t%orr appe
appea#e$
a#e$ to
to t%e Su
Supr
preme
eme Court'
Court' :%i#e
:%i#e t%e
Supreme Court %as t%e po.er to con$uct %earin!s un$er t%e Ru#es o* Court"
it *o##o.e$ its usua# practice o* not %earin! t%e testimon, o* an, .itnesses
$urin! t%e re)ie. process" re#,in! so#e#, upon t%e #o.er court;s appreciation
o* t%e e)i$ence' 3n  Februar, 2004" it *oun$ t%e aut%or !ui#t, not on#, o* 
t%e i$nappin! an$ serious i##e!a# $etention o* Jacue#ine C%ion!" but a#so o* 
t%e comp#e crime o* i$nappin! an$ serious i##e!a# $etention .it% %omici$e
an$ rape o* ario, C%ion!' -%e aut%or .as sentence$ to $eat% b, #et%a#
inection'

The Communication:
Communication:

 -%e aut%or a##e!es a )io#ation

)io#ation o* artic#e 6 o* t%e Co)enant because t%e State
part, reintro$uce$ t%e $eat% pena#t, a*ter abo#is%in! it' -%e aut%or a##e!es a
)io#ation o* artic#e 6 on t%e !roun$ t%at t%e Supreme Court automatica##,
sentence$ %im to capita# punis%ment un$er artic#e 267 o* t%e Re)ise$ Pena#
Co$e
Co $e'' -%
-%er
ere*
e*or
ore"
e" it $i$
$i$ nonott ta
tae ininto
to acco
accoun
untt an,
an, po
possi
ssib#
b#e
e miti
miti!a
!ati
tin!
n!
circumstances .%ic% ma, %a)e bene9te$ %im" suc% as %is re#ati)e ,out%' (e
ar!ues t%at man$ator, $eat% pena#t, )io#ates %is ri!%t not to be arbitrari#,
$epri)e$ o* %is #i*e' -%e aut%or a##e!es a )io#ation o* artic#e 14" para!rap% 2"
an$ t%at t%e e)a#uation o* *acts an$ e)i$ence b, t%e Specia# (einous Crimes
Court an$ t%e Supreme Court .ere mani*est#, arbitrar, an$ amounte$ to a
$enia# o* ustice" in )io#ation o* %is ri!%t to be presume$ innocent unti# pro)e$
!ui#t,' Secon$#," t%e aut%or ar!ues t%at t%ere .as no eua#it, to ca## an$
eamine .itnesses in )io#ation o* artic#e 14" para!rap% <e=' -%e tria# u$!e
re*use$ to %ear se)era# $e*ence .itnesses an$ e>ecti)e#, .it%%e#$ e)i$ence
in$icatin! t%at anot%er person or persons ma, %a)e committe$ t%e crimes o* 
.%ic% t%e aut%or .as accuse$' -%e aut%or ar!ues t%at %is ri!%t to cross
eamine prosecution .itnesses .as un*air#, restricte$ in )io#ation o* artic#e
14" para!rap%
para!rap% <e=' -%e aut%or ar ar!ues
!ues t%at bearin!
bearin! in min$ t%e irre)ersib#e
irre)ersib#e
natur
na ture
e o* t%e $eat%
$eat% pepena
na#t,
#t, an$ t%e in ine>e
e>ecti
cti)e
)enes
nesss o* court
courtap
appo
point
inte$
e$
#a.,ers in t%ese cases" %is counse# $i$ not %a)e sucient time to prepare
t%e $e*ense" inin )io#ation oo** artic#e 14" para!rap%
para!rap% <b=' -%e aut%aut%or
or .as not
trie$ b, an in$epen$ent
in$epen$ent an$ im impartia#
partia# trib
tribuna#
una# in )io#ation
)io#ation o* ?rtic#e 14' -%e
 

aut%or a##e!es )io#ations o* ?rtic#es &<=" 14 <=<c= an$ 14<5= because t%ere
.ere un$ue $e#a,s in t%e procee$in!s'

The State Party’s e!ense:

:it% re!ar$ to t%e reintro$uction o* t%e $eat% pena#t," it ar!ues t%at t%e
$eat% pena#t, .as ne)er abo#is%e$ b, t%e 1&87 Constitution' t reca##s t%at
artic#e " section 1&<1= o* t%e Constitution pro)i$es t%at t%e $eat% pena#t,
s%a##
s%a## no
nott be impo
impose$
se$ @un#es
@un#ess"
s" *or compe
compe##i
##in!
n! reaso
reasons
ns in
in)o#
)o#)i
)in!
n! %e
%eino
inous
us
crimes" t%e Con!ress %erea*ter pro)i$es *or it@' :it% re!ar$ to t%e a##e!ation
t%at
t%at t%e imposi
impositio
tion
n o* $eat%
$eat% pena
pena#t,
#t, on t%e aut%o
aut%orr .as man$
man$ato
ator,
r,"" b,
operation o* #a." .it%out re!ar$ to possib#e miti!atin! circumstances" t%e
State part, reca##s t%at t%e Re)ise$ Pena# Co$e pro)i$es t%at a person ma,
be con)icte$ *or t%e crimina# act o* anot%er .%ere" bet.een t%em" t%ere %as
been conspirac, or unit, o* purpose an$ intention in t%e commission o* t%e
crime' State part, ar!ues t%at t%e Supreme Court u$!ment $emonstrates
t%at t%ere .as c#ear e)i$ence o* %omici$e an$ rape' t reca##s t%at a crimina#
appea# opens up t%e entire case *or re)ie. an$ t%at to %a)e ora# ar!uments
be*ore t%e Supreme Court is not a matter o* ri!%t' 3n t%e a##e!e$ incorrect
stan$ar$ an$ bur$en o* proo*" t%e State part, ar!ues t%at .%i#e it is t%e $ut,
o* t%e prosecution to pro)e t%e a##e!ations in t%e in$ictment re!ar$in! t%e
e#ements o* t%e crime" it is t%e $ut, o* t%e $e*ence to pro)e t%e eistence o* 
an a#ib
a#ibi"
i" or o* usti*,
usti*,in!
in! or e
eempt
emptin!
in! cir
circums
cumstanc
tances'
es' :it%
:it% re!ar
re!ar$
$ to t%e
a##e!ation t%at *air %earin! )io#ations in)a#i$ate t%e $ecision o* t%e Specia#
(einous
(eino us Crime
Crimes s Co
Cour
urt"
t" t%e State
State pa
part,
rt, ar!u
ar!ues
es t%
t%at
at t%e aut%o
aut%orr .as
.as not
not
pre)ente$ *rom testi*,in!" since t%e prosecution an$ t%e $e*ence a!ree$ to
$ispense .it% %is testimon," as mentione$ in t%e aut%or;s o.n submission to
t%e Committee' -%e aut%or cannot t%us attribute %is *ai#ure to testi*, to t%e
tria# court' :it% re!ar$ to t%e a##e!ation t%at t%ere .as no eua#it, o* arms to
ca## an$ eamine .itnesses" t%e State part, reca##s t%at it is t%e responsibi#it,
o* t%e
t%e tria
tria## u$!
u$!ee to enensu
surre t%at
t%at t%er
t%eree is an or$e
or$er#
r#,
, an
an$$ epe
epe$i
$iti
tiou
ouss
presentation o* .itnesses an$ t%at time .as not .aste$' :it% re!ar$ to t%e
a##e!ation t%at t%e aut%or;s ri!%t to an impartia# tribuna# .as )io#ate$" t%e
State part, ar!ues t%at t%e tria# u$!e %as t%e po.er to as uestions to
.itne
.i tnesse
sses"
s" ei
eit%e
t%err $ir
$irect
ect#,
#, or on cr cross
osse
ea
amin
minati
ation
on'' :it%
:it% re!ar
re!ar$$ to t%e
a##e!e$ )io#ation o* t%e ri!%t to appea# to a %i!%er tribuna# accor$in! to #a."
t%e State part, reca##s t%at t%e aut%or appea#e$ %is con)iction pronounce$
b, t%e tria# court to t%e Supreme Court" an$ ar!ues t%at %is c#aim %as no
merit'

The Committee’s Vie":

 -%e Committee reca#reca##s

#s its urispru$ence
urispru$ence t%at t%e automatic
automatic an$ man$ator,
man$ator,
imposition
impositio n o* t%e $eat% pena#t, constitutes an arbitrar
arbitrar,
, $epri)ation o* #i*e" in
)io#ation o* artic#e 6" para!rap% 1" o* t%e Co)enant" in circumstances .%ere
t%e $eat% pena#t, is impose$ .it%out an, possibi#it, o* tain! into account
t%e
t%e $e*e
$e*en$
n$an
ant;
t;s
s pe
pers
rson
ona#
a# ci
cirrcu
cums
msta
tanc
nces
es or t%e
t%e ci
cirrcums
cumsta
tanc
nces
es o* t%et%e
particu#ar o>ence' -%e Committee %as note$ t%e ar!uments o* t%e aut%or
t%at t%e reintro$uction o* t%e $eat% pena#t, *or @%einous crimes@" as set out
in Repub#ic ?ct Ao' 765&" constitutes a )io#ation o* artic#e 6 o* t%e Co)enant'
t%e Committee conc#u$es t%at t%e aut%or;s tria# $i$ not respect t%e princip#e
o* presumption o* innocence" in )io#ation o* artic#e 14" para!rap% 2' -%e
Committee consi$ers t%at in a capita# case" .%en counse# *or t%e $e*en$ant
reuests
reue sts an a$our
a$ournment
nment because %e .as not !i)en enou!% time to acuaint
%imse#* .it% t%e case" t%e court must ensure t%at t%e $e*en$ant is !i)en an
 

opportunit, to prepare %is $e*ence' n t%e instant case" bot% t%e aut%or;s
appointe$ an$ c%osen counse# s%ou#$ %a)e been !rante$ an a$ournment' n
t%e circumstances"
circumstances" t%e Committee 9n$s a )io#ation o* artic#e 14" para!rap% 
<b=
<b= an
an$ $ <$="
<$=" o* t%e CoCo)en
)enant
ant'' -o t%e e
eten
tentt t%at
t%at t%
t%ee aut%o
aut%orr .a.ass $enie
$enie$ $
e>ecti)e representation b, counse# o* %is o.n c%oosin! an$ t%at t%is issue
.as
.a s rais
raise$
e$ be*o
be*orre t%
t%ee Supr
Suprememe e Co
Cour
urtt .%ic
.%ic%% *ai#
*ai#e$
e$ to corcorrec
ectt it
it"" t%
t%e
e
re
eui
uirrem
emenents
ts o* ararti
tic#
c#e
e 14"
14" pa para
ra!r
!rap
ap%% <<$=
$="" %a)e
%a)e nonott been
been met'
met' -%e -%e
Comm
Co mmit itte
tee
e co
cons
nsi$
i$er
ers
s t%at
t%at"" as t%e
t%e Su
Supr
prem
emee Cour
Courtt in t%t%e
e pr
pres
esen
entt ca case
se""
accor$in! to nationa# #a." %a$ to eamine t%e case as to t%e *acts an$ t%e
#a." an$ in particu#ar %a$ to mae a *u## assessment o* t%e uestion o* t%e
aut%
au t%or
or;s
;s !ui#
!ui#tt or in
inno
noce
cenc
nce"
e" it s%ou
s%ou#$
#$ %a
%a)e
)e use$
use$ it
its
s po.e
po.err to co
con$
n$uc
uctt
%earin!s" as pro)i$e$ un$er nationa# #a." to ensure t%at t%e procee$in!s
comp#ie$ .it% t%e reuirements o* a *air tria# as #ai$ $o.n in artic#e 14"
para!rap% 1' -%e Committee *urt%er notes t%at t%e Supreme Court *oun$ t%e
aut%or !ui#t, o* rape an$ %omici$e a*ter %e %a$ been acuitte$ o* t%e same
crime at 9rst instance' ?s a resu#t" t%e aut%or %a$ no possibi#it, to %a)e t%e
$eat% sentence re)ie.e$ b, a %i!%er tribuna# accor$in! to #a." as reuire$
b, artic#e 14" para!rap% 5' -%e Committee conc#u$es t%at t%e *acts be*ore it
$isc#ose a )io#ation
)io#ation o* artic#e
artic#e 14" par
para!rap%s
a!rap%s 1 an
an$
$ 5" o* t%e Co)enant'
Co)enant' -%e
Committee consi$ers t%at a $e#a, o* se)en ,ears an$ ten mont%s *rom t%e
aut%or;s arrest
arrest in Septembe
Septemberr 1&&7 to t%e 9na# $ecision o* t%e Supreme
Supreme Court
$ismissin! %is motion *or reconsi$eration in Ju#, 2005 is incompatib#e .it%
t%e reuiremen
reuirements ts o* artic#e 14" para!
para!rap%
rap% <c=' -%e imposition
imposition o* t%e $eat%
sentence on t%e aut%or a*ter t%e conc#usion o* procee$in!s .%ic% $i$ not
meet t%e reuirements o* artic#e 14 o* t%e Co)enant amounts to in%uman
treatment" in )io#ation o* artic#e 7'

The Ri#hts Vio$ate%:

1' Bio#atio
Bio#ationn o* artic#e
artic#e 6"
6" para!rap%
para!rap% 1 1"" o* t%e Co)enant
2' Bio#atio
Bio#ationn o* artic#e
artic#e 14" p
para!rap%
ara!rap%  <b= an$ an$ <$=" o* t%e Co)enant
Co)enant
' ?rti
?rtic#e
c#e 14" para
para!rap
!rap%%<c=
<c=
4' Bio#a
Bio#atio
tion
n o* aarti
rtic#e
c#e 7
5' ?rti
?rtic#e
c#e 6" para!
para!rap%
rap% 1+ art
artic#e
ic#e 7+ an$ art
artic#e
ic#e 14"
14" para!rap%
para!rap%ss 1" 2"  <b="
<c=" <$=" <e=" 5" o* t%e Co)enant