Professional Documents
Culture Documents
PROCEDURE (20186)
BY ATTY. CAESAR S. EUROPA
JURISDICTION
ELEMENTS OF JURISDICTION IN CRIMINAL CASES:
The constitution is quite explicit. The Supreme Court could order "a change
of venue or place of trial to avoid a miscarriage of justice." The Constitutional
Convention of 1971 wisely incorporated the ruling in the landmark decision of
People v. Gutierrez, where Justice J.B.L. Reyes as ponente vigorously and
categorically affirmed: "In the particular case before Us, to compel the
prosecution to proceed to trial in a locality where its witnesses will not be at
liberty to reveal what they know is to make a mockery of the judicial process,
and to betray the very purpose for which courts have been established."
“It may be added that there may be cases where the fear, objectively
viewed, may, to some individuals, be less than terrifying, but the question must
always be the effect it has on the witnesses who will testify. The primordial
aim and intent of the Constitution must ever be kept in mind. In case of
doubt, it should be resolved in favor of a change of venue”
Example:
transfer of the record of the case to the City Court of Quezon City
and the holding of the trial at Camp Crame.
May a court act on a motion to quash the Information without the surrender
or arrest of the accused?
not yet in the custody of the law. The entire paragraph of our
pronouncement in Pico reads:
the special jurisdiction of the court applies for bail, he must first
submit himself to the custody of the law.
SUMMARY
Renato M. David vs. Editha A. Agbay, Et Al
G.R. No. 199113, March 18, 2015
Note: All the three elements must exist otherwise the court has no jurisdiction to
try and decide a criminal case.
APPELLATE JURISDICTION
Basic Premises:
General Rule:
Exceptions:
If CA affirms it will render judgment but will not enter judgment and will
transmit the case to the SC; Note: If other accused are imposed lesser
penalties for offenses committed on the same occasion or which arose out of
the same occurrence, all will be transmitted to the SC.
Exception:
2. To the Sandiganbayan:
1
BLACK’S LAW DICTIONARY (Abridged 7th ed., 2000). Formatted: Font: Not Bold
2
Badillo v. Gabo, G.R. No. 145846, April 3, 2003, 400 SCRA 494, 506; citing Manalili v.
De Leon, G.R. No. 140858, November 27, 2001, 370 SCRA 625, 630.
3
Basuel v. Fact-Finding and Intelligence Bureau, G.R. No. 143664, June 30, 2006, 494
SCRA 118, 123.
7
(b) The appeal to the Court of Appeals in cases decided by the Regional Trial Court in the
exercise of its appellate jurisdiction shall be by petition for review under Rule 42.
(c) The appeal to the Supreme Court in cases where the penalty imposed by the Regional Trial
Court is reclusion perpetua, or life imprisonment, or where a lesser penalty is imposed but for
death,
offenses committed on the same occasion or which arose out of the same occurrence that gave rise to the
more serious offense for which the penalty of death, reclusion perpetua, or life imprisonment is imposed,
shall be by filing a notice of appeal in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section.
(d) No notice of appeal is necessary in cases where the death penalty is imposed by the Regional Trial
Court. The same shall be automatically reviewed by the Supreme Court as provided in section 10 of this Rule.
(e) Except as provided in the last paragraph of section 13, Rule 124, all other appeals to the Supreme
Court shall be by petition for review on certiorari under Rule 45.
The provision provides that where the penalty imposed by the RTC is reclusion
perpetua or life imprisonment, an appeal is made directly to this Court by filing a notice of
appeal with the court which rendered the judgment or final order appealed from and by
serving a copy thereof upon the adverse party. On the other hand, a case where the
penalty imposed is death will be automatically reviewed by the Court without a need for
filing a notice of appeal.
Rule 122
Sec. 3. How appeal taken. — (a) The appeal to the Regional Trial Court,
or to the Court of Appeals in cases decided by the Regional Trial
Court in the exercise of its original jurisdiction, shall be by notice of
appeal filed with the court which rendered the judgment or final order
appealed from and by serving a copy thereof upon the adverse party.
(b) The appeal to the Court of Appeals in cases decided by the Regional
Trial Court in the exercise of its appellate jurisdiction shall be by petition for
review under Rule 42.
(c) The appeal in cases where the penalty imposed by the Regional
Trial Court is reclusion perpetua, life imprisonment or where a lesser
penalty is imposed for offenses committed on the same occasion or
which arose out of the same occurrence that gave rise to the more,
serious offense for which the penalty of death, reclusion perpetua, or
life imprisonment is imposed, shall be by notice of appeal to the Court
of Appeals in accordance with paragraph (a) of this Rule.
xxx
xxx
Rule 124
Sec. 12. Power to receive evidence. — The Court of Appeals shall have
the power to try cases and conduct hearings, receive evidence and perform
all acts necessary to resolve factual issues raised in cases falling within its
original and appellate jurisdiction, including the power to grant and conduct
new trials or further proceedings. Trials or hearings in the Court of Appeals
must be continuous and must be completed within three months, unless
extended by the Chief Justice. 12(a)
(b) Where the judgment also imposes a lesser penalty for offenses
committed on the same occasion or which arose out of the same
occurrence that gave rise to the more severe offense for which the penalty
of death is imposed, and the accused appeals, the appeal shall be included
in the case certified for review to, the Supreme Court.
Also affecting the rules on appeal is the enactment of R.A. No. 9346 or An Act
Prohibiting the Imposition of the Death Penalty in the Philippines, which took effect on
June 29, 2006. Under Section 2 of R.A. No. 9346, the imposition of the death penalty is
prohibited, and in lieu thereof, it imposes the penalty of reclusion perpetua, when the law
violated makes use of the nomenclature of the penalties of the Revised Penal Code (RPC);
or life imprisonment, when the law violated does not make use of the nomenclature of the
penalties of the RPC. Consequently, in the provisions of the Rules of Court on appeals,
death penalty cases are no longer operational.
2. To the Sandiganbayan:
This is stated in R.A. No. 8249, amending P.D. No. 1606 thus:
9
Issue:
Held:
The Sandiganbayan, not the CA, has appellate jurisdiction over the
RTC’s decision not to allow Atty. Sitoy to prosecute the case on behalf of the
Ombudsman.
xxx
“In the present case, the CA erred when it took cognizance of the
petition for certiorari filed by Magno. While it is true that the interlocutory
order issued by the RTC is reviewable by certiorari, the same was incorrectly
filed with the CA. Magno should have filed the petition for certiorari with the
Sandiganbayan, which has exclusive appellate jurisdiction over the RTC
since the accused are public officials charged of committing crimes in their
capacity as Investigators of the National Bureau of Investigation.
Nota Bene:
10
The SC nullified the ruling of the CA but did not rule on whether or not Atty.
Sitoy could prosecute the case but gave the petitioners 15 days to seek relief from
the Sandiganbayan.
ORGINAL JURISDICTION
“Determining the court which has original jurisdiction over a criminal case is
a process of elimination in the following order
1. Sandiganbayan
2. Special Courts:
2. Special Courts:
a. Family Courts
b. Dangerous Drugs Court (NOTE: PerA.M. NO.
16-07-06-SC, July 19, 2016…)
Formatted: No bullets or numbering
b.
c. Intellectual Property Courts
SANDIGANBAYAN
1 + 1 = 2 METHOD
11
1+ 1 =2
IN THE FIRST COLUMN IN THE SECOND IF BOTH THE CRIME
LIST DOWN ALL THE COLUMN LIST DOWN AND THE PERSON ARE
CRIMES COVERED BY ALL THE PERSONS COVERED BY THE
THE SANDIGANBAYAN COVERED BY THE SANDIGANBAYAN LAW
LAW SANDIGANBAYAN THEN SANDIGANBA-
LAW YAN WILL HAVE
ORIGINAL JURISDIC-
TION OVER THE CASE
IF NOT THEN THE
REGULAR COURTS
WILL HAVE
JURISDICTION
A. Violations of Republic Act No. 3019, as amended, other known as the Anti-Graft
and Corrupt Practices Act, Republic Act No. 1379, and Chapter II, Section 2, Title
VII, Book II of the Revised Penal Code, where one or more of the accused are
officials occupying the following positions in the government, whether in a
permanent, acting or interim capacity, at the time of the commission of the offense:
"(1) Officials of the executive branch occupying the positions of regional director and
higher, otherwise classified as Grade '27' and higher, of the Compensation and
Position Classification Act of 989 (Republic Act No. 6758), specifically including:
"(c) Officials of the diplomatic service occupying the position of consul and
higher;
"(d) Philippine army and air force colonels, naval captains, and all officers of
higher rank;
"(e) Officers of the Philippine National Police while occupying the position of
provincial director and those holding the rank of senior superintended or
higher;
"(f) City and provincial prosecutors and their assistants, and officials and
prosecutors in the Office of the Ombudsman and special prosecutor;
"(2) Members of Congress and officials thereof classified as Grade '27' and up under
the Compensation and Position Classification Act of 1989;
12
"(3) Members of the judiciary without prejudice to the provisions of the Constitution;
"(5) All other national and local officials classified as Grade '27' and higher under the
Compensation and Position Classification Act of 1989.
C. Civil and criminal cases filed pursuant to and in connection with Executive Order
Nos. 1, 2, 14 and 14-A, issued in 1986.“
People v. Sandiganbayan,
G.R. No. 169004, September 15, 2010.
AUTHOR:
Clearly, as decided in the earlier case and by simple
application of the pertinent provisions of the law, respondent Please specify footnote
Commented [CE3R2]: People v. Sandiganbayan and
Amante, G.R. No. 167304, August 25, 2009
13
d. the fact that the offense was committed in relation to the office must
be alleged in the information.
Some Cases:
“That on or about the 5th day of August 1997 in Cabanatuan City, Nueva
Ecija, Philippines and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the above-
named accused, JUDGE ROGELIO M. ESTEBAN, a public officer, being then the
Presiding Judge of Branch 1 of the Municipal Trial Court in Cabanatuan City, who
after having been rejected by the private complainant, Ana May V. Simbajon, of
his sexual demands or solicitations to be his girlfriend and to enter his room daily
for a kiss as a condition for the signing of complainant’s permanent
appointment as a bookbinder in his Court, thus in relation to his office or
position as such, with lewd design and malicious desire, did then and there willfully,
unlawfully and feloniously grab private complainant, kiss her all over her face and
touch her right breast against her will and consent, to her damage and detriment.
Because “he could not have committed the crimes charged were it not for
the fact that as the Presiding Judge of the MTCC, Branch I, Cabanatuan City, he
has the authority to recommend the appointment of Ana May as bookbinder. In
other words, the crimes allegedly committed are intimately connected with his
office”
The SB does not have jurisdiction over a private individual charged with
malversation of public funds simply because he was designated by the BIR as a
custodian of distrained property. He did not become a public officer thereby.
Lacson v. The Executive Secretary, 301 SCRA 298, January 20, 1999.
How to allege an offense committed by the accused “in relation to his office.
“The stringent requirement that the charge be set forth with such
particularity as will reasonably indicate the exact offense which the accused is
alleged to have committed in relation to his office was, sad to say, not satisfied.
We believe that the mere allegation in the amended information that the offense
was committed by the accused public officer "in relation to his office" is not
sufficient. That phrase is merely a conclusion of law, not a factual averment that
would show the close intimacy between the offense charged and the discharge of
the accused's official duties.”
15
“In the aforecited case of People vs. Montejo, it is noteworthy that the
phrase "committed in relation to public office" does not appear in the information,
which only signifies that the said phrase is not what determines the jurisdiction of
the Sandiganbayan. What is controlling is the specific factual allegations in the
information that would indicate the close intimacy between the discharge of the
accused's official duties and the commission of the offense charged, in order to
qualify the crime as having been committed in relation to public office.”
Soller v. Sandiganbayan,
G.R. No. 144261-62, May 9, 2001.
Even if the Information described the accused as being “all public officers,
then being the Municipal Mayor, Municipal Health Officer, SPO II, PO I, Sanitary
Inspector and Midwife” if there was no allegation that the offense of altering and
suppressing the gunshot wound of the victim with intent to impair the veracity,
authenticity and availability as evidence in the investigation of the criminal case for
murder (Criminal Case No. 25521) or of giving false and fabricated information in
the autopsy report and police report to mislead the law enforcement agency and
prevent the apprehension of the offender (Criminal Case No. 25522) was done in
the performance of official function, then the SB has no jurisdiction.
In a case where the Municipal Treasurer was charged together with the
Municipal Mayor for Malversation, can the Sandiganbayan have jurisdiction
over the Municipal Treasurer when her Salary Grade is 24, it was the Mayor,
not her who was the accountable officer for the funds, and the Information
does not state the intimate relationship between her office and the crime
charged?
Held:
According to the SC: We agree with the ruling of the Sandiganbayan that the
public office of the accused Municipal Mayor Virginio E. Villamor is a constituent
element of malversation and illegal use of public funds or property. Accused
mayor’s position is classified as SG 27. Since the Amended Informations
alleged that the petitioner conspired with her co-accused, the municipal
mayor, in committing the said felonies, the fact that her position as municipal
16
a) Criminal cases where one or more of the accused is below eighteen (18)
years of age but not less than nine (9) years of age, or where one or more
of the victims is a minor at the time of the commission of the offense:
Provided, That if the minor is found guilty, the court shall promulgate
sentence and ascertain any civil liability which the accused may have
incurred. The sentence, however, shall be suspended without need of
application pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 603, otherwise known as
the "Child and Youth Welfare Code";
xxx
If any question involving any of the above matters should arise as an incident in
any case pending in the regular courts, said incident shall be determined in that court.
17
REGULAR COURTS
FROM B.P. Blg. 129 and R.A. No. 7691, the jurisdiction of regular courts, the
RTC and the MTC may be outlined as follows:
General Rule:
"The institution of the criminal action shall interrupt the running of the
period of prescription of the offense charged unless otherwise provided in
special laws." (Sec. 1, last par.)
Issue:
Rule:
Meaning:
Interesting Case:
Held:
Section 62.1 specifically sets out the prescriptive period for the liabilities
created under Sections 56, 57, 57.1(a) and 57.1(b). Section 56 refers to Civil
Liabilities on Account of False Registration Statement while Section 57 pertains to
Civil Liabilities on Arising in Connection with Prospectus, Communications and
Reports. Under these provisions, enforcement of the civil liability must be brought
within two (2) years or five (5) years, as the case may be.
On the other hand, Section 62.2 provides for the prescriptive period to
enforce any liability created under the SRC. It is the interpretation of the phrase
"any liability" that creates the uncertainty. Does it include both civil and criminal
liability? Or does it pertain solely to civil liability?
Section 62.2 should not be read in isolation of the other provision included
in Section 62, particularly Section62.1, which provides for the prescriptive period
for the enforcement of civil liability in cases of violations of Sections 56, 57, 57.1(a)
and 57.1(b).
Moreover, it should be noted that the civil liabilities provided in the SRC are
not limited to Sections 56 and 57. Section 58 provides for Civil Liability For Fraud
in Connection With Securities Transactions; Section 59 – Civil Liability For
Manipulation of Security Prices; Section 60 – Civil Liability With Respect to
Commodity Future Contracts and Pre-need Plans; and Section 61 – Civil Liability
on Account of Insider Trading. Thus, bearing in mind that Section 62.1 merely
addressed the prescriptive period for the civil liability provided in Sections 56, 57,
57.1(a) and 57.1(b), then it reasonably follows that the other sub-provision, Section
62.2, deals with the other civil liabilities that were not covered by Section 62.1,
namely Sections 59, 60 and 61. This conclusion is further supported by the fact
that the subsequent provision, Section 63, explicitly pertains to the amount of
damages recoverable under Sections 56, 57, 58, 59, 60 and 61,22 the trial court
having jurisdiction over such actions, the persons liable and the extent of their
liability.
The CA, therefore, did not commit any error when it ruled that "the phrase
‘any liability’ in subsection 62.2 can only refer to other liabilities that are also civil
in nature. The phrase could not have suddenly intended to mean criminal liability
for this would go beyond the context of the other provisions among which it is
found."
1. Must be in writing;
Will the failure of the Information to include other persons who also
appear to be responsible be a ground to dismiss the case against those who
were included?
“It appears that the Court of Appeals was, without saying so, applying the
rule in civil cases that all indispensable parties must be impleaded in a civil action.
There is no equivalent rule in criminal procedure, and certainly the Court of
Appeals' decision failed to cite any statute, procedural rule or jurisprudence to
support its position that the failure to implead the traders who directly dealt with
petitioners is indeed fatal to the complaint.
b) peace officer
c) other public officer charged with the enforcement of the law violated
This is a formal defect that can be cured by having the complaint signed
and sworn to by the person who filed it.
“other public officer charged with the enforcement of the law violated”
Held:
If the person who signed the information is not authorized to do so, the entire
proceedings will be null and void even if the accused participated actively in the
proceedings.
2. A complaint may be filed with the public prosecutor or it can be filed with
the proper MTC or MCTC, for trial in the cases where direct filing is allowed by law.
An Information, on the other hand, can only be filed with the proper court for trial
of the accused.
Note:
22
Only a complaint filed in court for TRIAL not PI must be subscribed by the
offended party, peace officer or other public officer charged with enforcing the law
violated.
General Rule:
Exception:
b) peace officer;
c) other public officer charged with the enforcement of the law violated.
Can the offended party elevate the criminal aspect of a case to the CA
or SC without the participation of the Office of the Solicitor General?
This doctrine is laid down in our ruling in Heirs of Federico C. Delgado and
Annalisa Pesico v. Luisito Q. Gonzalez and Antonio T. Buenaflor, Cariño v. de
Castro, Mobilia Products, Inc. v. Umezawa, Narciso v. Sta. Romana-Cruz, Perez
v. Hagonoy Rural Bank, Inc., and People v. Santiago, where we held that only the
OSG can bring or defend actions on behalf of the Republic or represent the People
or the State in criminal proceedings pending in this Court and the CA.
Exception:
“there may be rare occasions when the offended party may be allowed to
pursue the criminal action on his own behalf, as when there is a denial of due
process.” (Merciales v. Court of Appeals, 429 Phil. 70 [2002])
Note:
“I’m formally charging my wife and ‘X’ and would request this affidavit be
considered a formal complaint against them.”
The prosecutor phrased the Information, filed after the death of the
complainant, in this manner:
“the undersigned city fiscal upon sworn statement originally filed by the
offended husband, Xerox copies of which are hereto attached as annexes ‘A’ AND
‘B’.
Held:
Note:
Rape has been removed from the coverage of private crimes because
under the new Anti-Rape Law, rape is now a crime against persons rather than
chastity. It is no longer a private crime.
Section 5 provides a list of the people who can file the complaint in cases
of seduction, abduction and acts of lasciviousness. These are the following:
24
e) The State;
As stated in Section 5, from the parents to the State, the list is exclusive
and followed in the order given.
In practical terms this means that if the offended party, EVEN IF SHE IS A
MINOR, unless she is incompetent or incapable of filing the complaint for reasons
other than minority, if she wants to file the case, her decision is to be followed
regardless of the decision of her parents or of other people.
As probably discussed in the study of the Revised Penal Code, the reason
for this is the fact that the offended party may choose to suffer in silence rather
than suffer the scandal of a public trial.
In these cases, even if there is clear evidence that a crime has been
committed the public prosecutor is helpless to do anything unless there is a
complaint signed by the offended party.
“Once the violation of the law becomes known through a direct original
participation initiated by the victim, the requirements of Article 344 of the Revised
Penal Code (RPC), to the effect that the offense of rape "shall not be prosecuted
except upon a complaint filed by the offended party or her parents," are satisfied.
Said provision is not determinative of the jurisdiction of courts over the
private offenses because the same is governed by the Judiciary law, not the
Revised Penal Code which deals with the definition of felonies and their
punishment. Stated differently, the complaint required in Article 344 is but a
condition precedent to the exercise by the proper authorities of the power to
prosecute the guilty parties.”
Notable case:
Purpose:
PpPeople of the .Philippines v. Rosalindo Cutamora, et al., Commented [u5]: QUERY: replace with “People”?
G.R. Nos. 133448-53, October 6, 2000.
The purpose of the above-quoted rule is to inform the accused of the nature
and cause of the accusation against him, a right guaranteed by no less than the
fundamental law of the land. Elaborating on the accused's right to be informed, this
Court held in Pecho v. People, 262 SCRA 518 that the objectives of this right are:
3. To inform the court of the facts alleged, so that it may decide whether
they are sufficient in law to support a conviction if one should be had.
The rule is that the designation of the offense is not material. What is
material are the averments in the body of the Information. Thus, an error in the
designation of the offense will not invalidate the Information.
26
Exception to the Rule: When the facts appearing in the body of the complaint or
information are AMBIGUOUS as to permit two or more interpretations, the
designation appearing in the caption controls.
Example:
U.S. v. TICSON, 25 PHIL 67.
Recite the elements of the crime but not necessarily in the actual words of the law.
Other words can be used for as long as the same idea is conveyed.
Example:
Intent to kill in homicide can be inferred from the other allegations in the
Information.
Intent to gain in theft can be presumed from the allegation of appropriating a thing
belonging to another.
connecting all the accused with one another in the web of the conspiracy. Neither
is it necessary to describe conspiracy with the same degree of particularity
required in describing a substantive offense. It is enough that the indictment
contains a statement of the facts relied upon to be constitutive of the offense in
ordinary and concise language, with as much certainty as the nature of the case
will admit, in a manner that can enable a person of common understanding to know
what is intended, and with such precision that the accused may plead his acquittal
or conviction to a subsequent indictment based on the same facts. It is said,
generally, that an indictment may be held sufficient ‘if it follows the words of
the statute and reasonably informs the accused of the character of the
offense he is charged with conspiring to commit, or, following the language
of the statute, contains a sufficient statement of an overt act to effect the
object of the conspiracy, or alleges both the conspiracy and the
contemplated crime in the language of the respective statutes defining
them.’"
In the same case, is it sufficient to alleged that the accused “did then
and there, willfully, unlawfully and knowingly participate in and facilitate the
transportation, concealment, and possession of dutiable electronic
equipment and accessories with a domestic market value of P20,000,000.00
contained in container van no. TTNU9201241, but which were declared in
Formal Entry and Revenue Declaration No. 118302 as assorted men's and
ladies' accessories . . ."?
On this issue the Supreme Court ruled “We find the phrase ‘participate in
and facilitate’ to be a clear and definite allegation of conspiracy sufficient for those
being accused to competently enter a plea and to make a proper defense.”
Very Important:
Sections 8 and 9 of the Rules have been amended by the Revised Rules
on Criminal Procedure. The said provisions now require that BOTH QUALIFYING
AND ORDINARY AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCES MUST be stated in the
Information.
PpPeople of the .Philippines v. Daniel Mauricio, Commented [u6]: QUERY: replace with People or
G.R. No. 133695, February 28, 2001. People of the Philippines?
28
“The use of the word ‘must’ indicates that the requirement is mandatory,
therefore failure to comply with Sec. 4, Rule 110, means that generic aggravating
circumstances, although proven at the trial, cannot be appreciated against the
accused if such circumstances are not stated in the information. It is a cardinal rule
that rules of criminal procedure are given retroactive application insofar as they
benefit the accused.”
Example:
PpPeople of the .Philippines v. Rogelio R. Moreno, Commented [u7]: Query: People? or People of the
G.R. No. 140033, January 25, 2002. Philippines?
Nocturnity was not alleged in the Information filed prior to December 1, 2000
but it cannot be appreciated EVEN IF PROVEN because the new rule is
MANDATORY and is to be given retroactive effect.
The twin circumstances of minority of the victim and her relationship to the
offender must concur to qualify the crime of rape. In the instant case, only
relationship was duly alleged and proved.
“A rapacious father who vented his lust on his own daughter without any qualms
is allowed to suffer the lesser penalty because of the failure of the criminal information
to aver his relationship with the victim. Even so, the Court condemns his most
despicable crime.”
People v. Suela,
373 SCRA 163, January 15, 2002.
citing People v. Catubig,
363 SCRA 621.
29
Are the Suela and Catubig ruling still applicable to cases where the
Information was filed AFTER the effectivity of the 2000 Rules of Criminal
Procedure?
In the instant case, the information for rape was filed in 2003 or after the
effectivity of the Revised Rules. Following the doctrine in the second set of cases,
the Court can very well deny the award of exemplary damages based on Article
2230 because the special qualifying circumstances of minority and relationship, as
mentioned above, were not sufficiently alleged.
Nevertheless, by focusing only on Article 2230 as the legal basis for the grant
of exemplary damages — taking into account simply the attendance of an
aggravating circumstance in the commission of a crime, courts have lost sight of
the very reason why exemplary damages are awarded. Catubig is enlightening on
this point, thus —
example, to serve as deterrent to elders who abuse and corrupt the youth,
and to protect the latter from sexual abuse.
It must be noted that, in the said cases, the Court used as basis Article 2229,
rather than Article 2230, to justify the award of exemplary damages. Indeed, to
borrow Justice Carpio Morales' words in her separate opinion in People of the
Philippines v. Dante Gragasin y Par, "[t]he application of Article 2230 of the
Civil Code strictissimi juris in such cases, as in the present one, defeats the
underlying public policy behind the award of exemplary damages — to set a
public example or correction for the public good."
In this case, finding that appellant, the father figure of the victim, has
shown such an outrageous conduct in sexually abusing his ward, a minor at
that, the Court sustains the award of exemplary damages to discourage and
deter such aberrant behavior. However, the same is increased to P30,000.00 in
line with prevailing jurisprudence.
Important Issue:
“x x x, the Court has repeatedly held, even after the recent amendments to
the Rules of Criminal Procedure, that qualifying circumstances need not be
preceded by descriptive words such as ‘qualifying’ or ‘qualified by’ to
properly qualify an offense. The Court has repeatedly qualified cases of rape
where the twin circumstances of minority and relationship have been specifically
alleged in the Information even without the use of the descriptive words ‘qualifying’
or ‘qualified by.’ "
“We therefore reiterate that Sections 8 and 9 of Rule 110 merely require
that the Information allege, specify or enumerate the attendant
circumstances mentioned in the law to qualify the offense. These
circumstances need not be preceded by the words ‘aggravating/qualifying,’
‘qualifying,’ or ‘qualified by’ to be considered as qualifying circumstances. It
is sufficient that these circumstances be specified in the Information to apprise the Commented [u8]: QUERY: appraise?
accused of the charges against him to enable him to prepare fully for his defense, Commented [CE9R8]: Nope apprise is correct
thus precluding surprises during the trial. When the prosecution specifically alleges
in the Information the circumstances mentioned in the law as qualifying the crime,
and succeeds in proving them beyond reasonable doubt, the Court is constrained
to impose the higher penalty mandated by law. This includes the death penalty in
proper cases.”
31
In cases of rape, is the allegation in the Information that the accused is the
“uncle” of the victim or that the latter is his “niece” sufficient to qualify the
offense?
The information:
"That on or about (the) twelfth day of November, 1999 at Pasay City and
within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the above-named accused, actuated
by lust, with use of a knife, through force, violence and intimidation, and by taking
advantage of his moral ascendancy over his twelve (12) year old minor niece
MARIA CRISTY T. BALISI, did then and there willfully, unlawfully and feloniously
have carnal knowledge of Ma. Cristy T. Balisi against her will and consent, to her
damage and prejudice in whatever amounts may be awarded to her under
provisions of the Civil Code."
Held:
“In a catena of cases, we have ruled that the allegation that the accused is
the "uncle" of the victim and the latter is his "niece" is not specific enough to satisfy
the special qualifying circumstance of relationship under Art. 266-B, supra. In
People v. Lachica, we held:
As applied:
The failure to allege the accused’s lack of a license for a gun in the
Information negates the appreciation of the special aggravating
circumstance against him.
“Under Republic Act No. 8294, the use of an unlicensed gun to commit
homicide is a special aggravating circumstance. The culprit's lack of a license for
the gun is an essential element of such circumstance, which must be alleged in
the Information as mandated by Section 8, Rule 110 of the Revised Rules of
Criminal Procedure. However, there is no allegation in the Information that the
appellant had no license to possess the firearm he used to kill Donque. Thus, the
appellant's use of an unlicensed firearm cannot be considered against him.”
32
The allegation in the Information that the accused is “armed with a knife” is
sufficient to comply with the need to allege that the accused was “armed
with a deadly weapon” to qualify the crime of rape to rape with the use of a
deadly weapon.
“Appellant on the other hand argues that the allegation in the Amended
Information that he was "armed with a knife" does not comply with Sections 8 and
9 of Rule 110 of the 2000 Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure. The allegation in
the Amended Information that the accused was "armed with a knife" is not in any
way equivalent to "use of a deadly weapon." The "knife" could simply be a "butter
knife," a harmless knife. Appellant opines that the Amended Information should
have stated that accused was "armed with a deadly knife, which is a deadly
weapon."
We have held in several cases that the allegation "armed with a knife" is
sufficient to inform the accused of the nature of the accusation against him. The
prosecution also proved during the trial appellant's use of a deadly weapon.
Remilyn testified that she was not able to shout because appellant pointed an
eight-inch kitchen knife at her throat.”
ON SECTION 5(b) OF R.A. 7610
The Information:
Formatted: Font: 11 pt, Bold
(a)xxxxxxxxx
The place need not be specific for as long as it is clear that the offense was
committed within the jurisdiction of the court where it was filed.
On the date of the commission of the offense (Sec. 11, Rule 110)
The date or the time of commission need not be specific. The phrase “On
or about” is sufficient to cover a span of a few months.
Example: Violation of the liquor ban on the day prior to or on the day of
the elections. Also in the crime of “infanticide” which must be committed
within 72 hours (three days) from the birth of the child otherwise it would be
murder.
Is an allegation that the offense of statutory rape was committed “on or about
the month of August 1996” sufficient?
“In rape, the gravamen of the offense, being the carnal knowledge of a
woman, the date is not an essential element, hence, the specification of the exact
date or time of its commission is not important.
In statutory rape, like in this case, what matters most is that the information
alleges that the victim is a minor under twelve years of age and that the accused
had carnal knowledge of her.”
Information for Rape alleges the date of commission as “on or about the
20th day of April, 2003 but the testimony showed that the offense was committed
in the early morning of April 21, 2003.
“[T]he Court sustains the lower courts in holding that the date of the
commission of the rape is not an essential element of the crime. Even a variance
of a few months between the time in the Information and that established by the
evidence during the trial has been held not to constitute a serious error warranting
the reversal of a conviction on that ground.” (reiterated in People v. Gualberto s.
Cinco, G.R. No. 186460, December 4, 2009)
General Rule: “The complaint or information must state the name and surname of
the person against whom or against whose property the offense was committed,
or any appellation or nickname by which such person has been or is known.”
Examples:
Slander
PpPeople of the Philippines v. Juliana Uba, 99 Phil 134. Commented [u10]: QUERY: People of the
Philippines?
“While it is probably true that the fiscal or his clerk made a clerical error in
putting in the information the name of Pastora Somod-ong instead of that of
Demetria Somod-ong, as the offended party, the mistake thus committed was on
a very material matter in the case, such that it necessarily affected the identification
of the act charged. The act of insulting X is distinct from a similar act of insult
against Y, even if the insult is preferred by the same person, in the same language
and at about the same time. Note that the pleading that give the court jurisdiction
to try the offense is not the complaint of the offended party, but the information by
the fiscal, because the charge is the utterance of insulting or defamatory language,
not the imputation of an offense which can be prosecuted only at the instance of
the offended party. (People v. Marquez, 68 Phil. 521; Blanco v. People, 70 Phil.
735)
Statutory Rape
PpPeople of the .Philippines v. Renato Puzon Commented [u11]: QUERY: People of the Philippines
36
We rule that it was error for the lower court to dismiss the Information. The
Information was already sufficient in form and substance. The argument that it was
fatal for the prosecution not to have alleged the State as the offended party is
without merit for in the case of Sayson v. People, G.R. No. 51745, October 28,
1988, 166 SCRA 680, in construing Section 11 of Rule 110 (now Sec. 12, Rules
of Court of the 1985 Rules on Criminal Procedure), we have clearly held that in
offenses against property, the designation of the name of the offended party is not
absolutely indispensable as long as the criminal act charged in the complaint or
information can be properly identified.
offenses against property, the designation of the name of the offended party is not
absolutely indispensable for as long as the criminal act charged in the Complaint
or Information can be properly identified.
Duplicitous Information
Rule:
PpPeople of the .Philippines v. Manalili, Commented [u12]: QUERY: People of the Philippines
G.R. No. 121671, August 14, 1998.
Under the Constitution, an accused has the right to be informed, before trial,
of the nature of the offense with which he or she is charged. Regardless of how
conclusive and convincing the evidence of guilt may be, there can be no conviction,
unless the offense is charged (or is necessarily included) in the Complaint or
Information. On the other hand, an accused, who fails to object prior to arraignment
to a duplicitous information, may be found guilty of any or all of the crimes alleged
therein and duly proven during the trial, for the allegation of the elements of such
component crimes in the said information has satisfied the constitutional guarantee
that an accused be informed of the nature of the offense with which he or she is
being charged.
38
Does not apply to complex crimes, compound crimes, continued crimes, and
special complex crimes and other instances where only one penalty will be
imposed on several crimes.
PpPeople of the Philippines v. Glenn De Los Santos, Commented [u13]: Query: People of the Philippines?
G.R. No. 131588, March 27, 2001.
Interesting case:
PpPeople of the Philippines. v. Bonifacio Lopez, Commented [u15]: Query: People of the Philippines
G.R. No. 136861, November 15, 2000.
In a complex crime, the penalty for the more or the most serious crime shall
be imposed, the same to be applied in its maximum period. As between murder
and unintentional abortion, murder is the more serious crime and the penalty
therefor is reclusion perpetua to death. Death being the maximum or the greater
penalty must then be imposed, and since this is an indivisible penalty, the presence
of mitigating or aggravating circumstances is inconsequential.
A series of acts arising out of a single criminal intent not under Article 48
but is applied by the Supreme Court in the case of 49 Phil. 437 [1926].
(1) The theft of 13 cows belonging to two different owners committed by the
accused at the same place and at the same period of time. (People v.
Tumlos, 67 Phil. 320 [1939])
(2) The theft of six roosters belonging to two different owners from the same
coop and at the same period of time. (People v. Jaranillo, 55 SCRA 563
[1974])
(3) The theft of two roosters in the same place and on the same occasion.
(People v. De Leon, 49 Phil. 437 [1926])
(4) The illegal charging of fees for services rendered by a lawyer every time he
collects veteran's benefits on behalf of a client, who agreed that the
attorney's fees shall be paid out of said benefits. (People v. Sabbun, 10
SCRA 156 [1964]) The collections of the legal fees were impelled by the
same motive, that of collecting fees for services rendered, and all acts of
collection were made under the same criminal impulse. (People v. Lawas,
97 Phil. 975 [1955])
(1) Two estafa cases, one of which was committed during the period from
January 19 to December 1955 and the other from January 1956 to July Commented [u16]: QUERY: incomplete year?
1956. (People v. Dichupa, 113 Phil. 306 [1961]) The said acts were
committed on two different occasions.
(2) Several malversations committed in May, June, and July 1936, and
falsifications to conceal the said offenses committed in August and October
1936. The malversations and falsifications "were not the result of only one
purpose or of only one resolution to embezzle and falsify . . ." (People v.
Cid, 66 Phil. 354 [1938])
(3) Two estafa cases, one committed in December 1963 involving the failure of
the collector to turn over the installments for a radio and the other in June
1964 involving the pocketing of the installments for a sewing machine.
(People v. Ledesma, 73 SCRA 77 [1976])
40
One shot three dead = one crime (PpPeople of the Philippines v. Hubilo 220 Commented [u17]: QUERY: People?
SCRA 389) – compound crime (delito complejo)
Three shots three dead on one occasion = separate crimes (People v. Ducay, 225
SCRA 1)
4. Hernandez Doctrine
People of the Philippine vs. Amado Hernandez, 99 Phil 515 and Enrile v. Commented [u19]: QUERY: incomplete citation. Pls.
Salazar 186 SCRA 217 supply the whole citation. ty
Examples:
Robbery with Rape Article 335 of the RPC, as amended by R.A. No. 7659
Note:
An Information alleging more than one way the same crime was committed
IS NOT DUPLICITOUS.
Example:
“[W]here the defendant was charged with violation of the Medical Law and
the [I]nformation charged both illegal practice of medicine and illegally advertising
41
oneself as a doctor, it was held that "the [I]nformation was not bad for duplicity
inasmuch as the acts charged were merely different means of committing the same
offense, notwithstanding the fact that they are prohibited by separate sections of
the statute.”
The chairman and three other members of the Board for Marine Deck
Officers in the May 1979 examinations, two of whom are petitioners, were charged
in the Sandiganbayan for violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt
Practices Act, for giving unwarranted benefits to particular examinees. In the
motion to quash the aforesaid Information, petitioners Gallego and Agoncillo
claimed, among others, that Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices
Act is null and void because it is unconstitutionally vague and therefore cannot be
a basis of any criminal prosecution and that the information charges the accused
with three distinct offenses, to wit: "(a) the giving of 'unwarranted' benefits through
manifest partiality; (b) the giving of 'unwarranted' benefits through evident bad
faith; and (c) the giving of 'unwarranted' benefits through gross inexcusable
negligence" while in the discharge of their official and/or administrative functions.
The motion to quash was denied by the Sandiganbayan. Hence this petition.
The Supreme Court held that Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt
Practices Act does not suffer from the constitutional defect of vagueness since the
phrases "manifest partiality,'' "evident bad faith'' and "gross inexcusable
negligence'' merely describe the different modes by which the offense penalized
in the said section of the statute may be committed, and the use of all the phrases
in the same information does not mean that the indictment charges three distinct
offenses.
General Rule:
Before the arraignment of the accused, the prosecution may amend the
Information whether in form or in substance.
However, any amendment before plea, which downgrades the nature of the
offense charged in or excludes any accused from the complaint or information, can
be made only upon motion by the prosecutor, with notice to the offended party and
with leave of court. The court shall state its reasons in resolving the motion and
copies of its order shall be furnished all parties, especially the offended party. (n)
“After the plea and during the trial, a formal amendment may only be made
with leave of court and when it can be done without causing prejudice to the rights
of the accused”
42
Requisites:
2. it does not affect or alter the nature of the offense originally charged;
4. it does not expose the accused to a charge which would call for a
higher penalty;
Cases:
Vega v. Panis, No. L-40842, September 30, 1982, 117 SCRA 269.
People v. Casey, No. L-30146, February 24, 1981, 103 SCRA 21.
PpPeople of the .Philippines v. Zulueta, 89 Phil. 755 Commented [u20]: QUERY: People
substantial amendment saddling the respondents with the need of a new defense
in order to meet a different situation in the trial court.
PpPeople of the Philippines vs. Juliana Uba, 99 Phil 134 Commented [u21]: QUERY: People?
“[T]he amendment to replace the name, "John Doe" with the name of
Renato Buhat who was found by the Secretary of Justice to be one of the two
persons who held the arms of the victim while petitioner was stabbing him, is only
a formal amendment and one that does not prejudice any of the accused's rights.
Such amendment to insert in the [I]nformation the real name of the accused
involves merely a matter of form as it does not, in any way, deprive any of the
accused of a fair opportunity to present a defense; neither is the nature of the
offense charged affected or altered since the revelation of accused's real name
does not change the theory of the prosecution nor does it introduce any new and
material fact. In fact, it is to be expected that the information has to be amended
as the unknown participants in the crime became known to the public prosecutor.”
While it has been held that except when time is a material ingredient of an
offense, the precise time of commission need not be stated in the Information, this
Court stated that this does not mean that the prosecuting officer may be careless
about fixing the date of the alleged crime, or that he may omit the date altogether,
or that he may make the allegation so indefinite as to amount to the same thing.
The prosecution is given the chance to allege an approximation of time of the
commission of the offense and the precise date need not be stated but it does not
mean that it can prove any date remote or far removed from the given approximate
date so as to surprise and prejudice the accused.
Note:
1991 to May 1993" to "January 1991 to May 1992." Petitioner opposed the motion
contending that the proposed amendment was substantial in nature, hence to allow
the same would be a violation of his right to be informed of the cause and nature
of the accusation against him, and would negate or prejudice defenses that were
otherwise available to him.”
Held:
In the case at bar, it is clear that the questioned amendment is one of form
and not of substance. The allegation of time when an offense is committed is a
matter of form, unless time is a material ingredient of the offense. It is not even
necessary to state in the Information the precise time the offense was committed
unless time is a material factor. It is sufficient that the act is alleged to have been
committed at any time as near to the actual date at which the offense was
committed as the Complaint or Information will permit.
Note:
But if the change is only within a span of a few months such as from June
24, 1981 to August 28, 1981, the amendment is formal. (PpPeople of the
.Philippines v. Borromeo, 123 SCRA 253) (See also PpPeople of the .Philippines Commented [u22]: Query: People of the Philippines?
v. Molero 144 SCRA 397) Commented [u23]: QUERY: People of the
Philippines?
“when it can be done without causing prejudice to the rights of the accused”
Can four Informations for Simple Illegal Recruitment be amended into one
Information for Large Scale Illegal Recruitment before arraignment?
“Simply stated, before the accused enters his plea, a formal or substantial
amendment of the complaint or information may be made without leave of court.
After the entry of a plea, only a formal amendment may be made but with leave of
court and only if it does not prejudice the rights of the accused. After arraignment,
a substantial amendment is proscribed except if the same is beneficial to the
accused.
Following the above provisions and considering that petitioner has not yet
entered her plea, the four Informations could still be amended.
Petitioner also contends that the above Rule refers to an amendment of one
Information only, not four or multiple Informations which cannot be joined into only
one Information.
We disagree.
A careful scrutiny of the above Rule shows that although it uses the singular
word complaint or information, it does not mean that two or more complaints or
Informations cannot be amended into only one Information. Surely, such could not
have been intended by this Court. Otherwise, there can be an absurd situation
whereby two or more complaints or Informations could no longer be amended into
one or more Informations.”
SUBSTITUTION
Rule:
There is identity between the two offenses when the evidence to support a
conviction for one offense would be sufficient to warrant a conviction for the other,
or when the second offense is exactly the same as the first, or when the second
offense is an attempt to commit or a frustration of, or when it necessarily includes
or is necessarily included in, the offense charged in the first Information. In this
connection, an offense may be said to necessarily include another when some of
the essential elements or ingredients of the former, as this is alleged in the
information, constitute the latter. And, vice versa, and offense may be said to be
46
Galvez v. CA,
237 SCRA 695.
The first paragraph provides the rule for amendment of the information or
complaint, while the second paragraph refers to the substitution of the information
or complaint. Under the second paragraph, the court can order the filing of another
information to charge the proper offense, provided the accused would not be
placed thereby in double jeopardy and that could only be true if the offense proved
does not necessarily include or is not necessarily included in the offense charged
in the original information.
General Rule:
Ratio Legis:
What is the reason why the rules provide that the case should be tried in the place
where the crime was committed?
1. The interest of the public requires that to secure the best results and effects
in the punishment of crimes, it is necessary to prosecute and punish the
criminal in the very place or as near as may be where he committed the
crime.
In the crime of perjury where the false sworn Petition for Reconstituion of
Lost Title was subscribed and sworn to in Pasig City and filed in Makati City
and Tagaytay, where is the proper venue of the criminal case?
was false and untrue because the said title was in the possession of the Commented [u25]: QUERY: incomplete paragraph?
complainant, Erlinda K. Ilusorio, and the above false statement was made Pls. verify
in order to obtain a New Owner’s Duplicate Copy of Condominium Commented [CE26R25]: Nope, this is as quoted from
Certificate of Title No. 21578, to the damage and prejudice of complainant the cited case
Erlinda K. Ilusorio.”
Held:
“The allegation in each of the four similarly-worded Informations that perjury was
committed in Pasig is neither controlling nor sufficient to show that the Pasig MeTC has
jurisdiction over them. The purported perjurious petition quoted in each of the
Informations in fact indicates that, with respect to the CCT of the Registry of Deeds of
Makati the TCTs of the Registry of Deeds of Tagaytay, venue of the criminal action arising
therefrom is in Makati and Tagaytay, respectively.
There are thus four elements to be taken into account “in determining whether there
is a prima facie case” of perjury, viz.:
(a) that the accused made a statement under oath or executed an affidavit
upon a material matter; (b) that the statement or affidavit was made before
a competent officer, authorized to receive and administer oath; (c) that in
the statement or affidavit, the accused made a willful and deliberate
assertion of a falsehood; and (d) that the sworn statement or affidavit
containing the falsity is required by law or made for a legal purpose. .6[27] Commented [u27]: QUERY: delete this?
(Citation omitted)
Venue, in criminal cases, being jurisdictional, the action for perjury must be
instituted and tried in the municipality or territory where the deliberate making of an
untruthful statement upon any matter was made, in this case, in Makati and Tagaytay.
It was in Makati and Tagaytay where the intent to assert an alleged falsehood
became manifest and where the alleged untruthful statement finds relevance or materiality
in deciding the issue of whether new owner’s duplicate copies of the CCT and TCTs may
issue.
Whether the perjurious statements contained in the four petitions were subscribed
and sworn in Pasig is immaterial, the gist of the offense of perjury being the intentional
giving of false statement.
Examples:
1. Article 360 of the Revised Penal Code on Libel allows the filing of
the case: (a) where the libelous matter was printed or first published; (b)
where the offended party resides; or (c) if he is a public officer, where
he holds office at the time of commission.
2. R.A. No. 8249 – Cases covered by the Sandiganbayan Law will be tried
in the places designated by the law.
MARKER
What are the types of offenses as to place of commission?
50
As to estafa:
of robbery and fencing are clearly then two distinct offenses. The law on fencing
does not require the accused to have participated in the criminal design to commit,
or to have been in any wise involved in the commission of, the crime of robbery or
theft. Neither is the crime of robbery or theft made to depend on an act of fencing
in order that it can be consummated. True, the object property in fencing must have
been previously taken by means of either robbery of theft but the place where the
robbery or theft occurs is inconsequential. It may not be suggested, for instance,
that, in the crime of bigamy which presupposes a prior subsisting marriage of an
accused, the case should thereby be triable likewise at the place where the prior
marriage has been contracted.
Instituted and tried in the court of any municipality or territory where such
train, aircraft, or other vehicle passed during its trip, including the place of its
departure and arrival.
Example:
The accused stole a passenger jeepney and killed the owner in Alabang,
Muntinlupa and were arrested, still riding the stolen jeepney in Calamba,
Laguna.
Held:
Shall be instituted and tried in the court of the first port of entry or of any
municipality or territory where the vessel passed during such voyage, subject
to the generally accepted principles of international law.
1. First Port of Entry – where the vessel will first dock. Note: does not
include place of departure
Example:
Petitioner and four other persons were accused of killing Edgardo Bernal
by allegedly throwing him overboard the M/V "Cebu City," an interisland
52
passenger ship owned and operated by William Lines, Inc., while the vessel was
sailing from Ozamis City to Cebu City on the night of May 12, 1991. The case was
filed in Oroquieta City.
“The exact location where the alleged offense was committed was not duly
established. The Marine protest simply adverted that the vessel was within the
waters of Siquijor Island when the captain was informed of the incident, which
does not necessarily prove that the alleged murder took place in the same area.
In any case, where the crime was actually committed is immaterial since it
is undisputed that it occurred while the vessel was in transit. "In transit"
simply means "on the way or passage; while passing from one person or
place to another. In the course of transportation." Hence, undoubtedly, the
applicable provision is par. (c) of Sec. 15 (now Section 14), Rule 100 which
provides that "(w)here an offense is committed on board a vessel in the course of
its voyage, the criminal action may be instituted and tried in the proper court of
the first port of entry of any municipality or territory through which the vessel
passed during such voyage subject to the generally accepted principles of
international law."
Petitioner further contends that even if Sec. 15(c), Rule 110 governs,
Oroquieta City would still be excluded as a proper venue because the reckoning
point for determining the venue under the aforementioned paragraph is the first
port of entry or the municipalities/territories through which the ship passed after
the discovery of the crime, relying on Act No. 400.
We disagree. Obviously, Act No. 400 was amended by Sec. 15(c), Rule
110 of the Revised Rules of Court in that under the former law, jurisdiction was
conferred to the CFI of any province into which the ship or water craft upon which
the crime or offense was committed shall come after the commission thereof,
while the present rule provides that jurisdiction is vested "in the proper court of
the first port of entry or of any municipality or territory through which the vessel
passed during such voyage . . ." This is the applicable provision and since it does
not contain any qualification, we do not qualify the same.
Shall be cognizable by the court where the criminal action is first filed.
(15a)
2. Should forge or counterfeit any coin or currency note of the Philippine Islands or
obligations and securities issued by the Government of the Philippine Islands;
53
3. Should be liable for acts connected with the introduction into these islands of the
obligations and securities mentioned in the preceding number;
5. Should commit any of the crimes against national security and the law of nations,
defined in Title One of Book Two of this Code.
In these cases, the first court that takes cognizance of the case will have
jurisdiction to try it.
PRIVATE PROSECUTORS:
Where the civil action for recovery of civil liability is instituted in the criminal
action pursuant to Rule 111, the offended party may intervene by counsel in
the prosecution of the offense. (Sec. 16, Rule 110)
What are the rights of the offended party in relation to a criminal case?
It is the fact of damage or injury party that is the basis of civil liability in a
criminal case, thus there can be an award of civil liability in Violations of B.P. Blg.
22 even if it is a crime against public order.
Under Section 16, Rule 110 of the Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure,
the offended party may also be a private individual whose person, right, house,
liberty or property was actually or directly injured by the same punishable act or
omission of the accused, or that corporate entity which is damaged or injured by
the delictual acts complained of. Such party must be one who has a legal right; a
substantial interest in the subject matter of the action as will entitle him to recourse
under the substantive law, to recourse if the evidence is sufficient or that he has
the legal right to the demand and the accused will be protected by the satisfaction
of his civil liabilities. Such interest must not be a mere expectancy, subordinate or
inconsequential. The interest of the party must be personal; and not one based on
a desire to vindicate the constitutional right of some third and unrelated party.
54
Formatted: Normal
MAJOR AMENDMENT
Under the 1985 Rules of Criminal Procedure, the civil action for the recovery
of civil liability arising out of ALL SOURCES of civil liability was deemed instituted
in the criminal case and a waiver of any of the civil actions extinguishes the others
and even the institution of, or the reservation of the right to file, any of said civil
actions separately waives the others.
However, under the Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure ONLY THE CIVIL
LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF THE OFFENSE CHARGED IS DEEMED
INSTITUTED.
2. The acquittal of the accused in the criminal case or the failure of the
judge therein to award civil liability against the accused will not bar,
by res judicata, the filing of a separate civil action based on quasi
delicts. (Jose S. Cancio, Jr. v. Emerenciana Isip, November 12,
2002)
4. The pendency of the criminal case will not preclude THE ACCUSED
therein from filing a separate civil action based on quasi-delict
against the private complainant. (Casupanan v. Laroya, August 26,
2002)
When is the claim for civil liability ARISING out of the offense charged NOT
deemed instituted?
4. He institutes the civil action after the criminal action but before presentation
of prosecutions evidence and he duly informs the court where the criminal
case is pending of the institution of the civil action. (Yakult v. CA 190 SCRA
357)
Note:
Again, the civil action referred to here is one ARISING OUT OF THE
OFFENSE CHARGED.
MARKER
Example:
B.P. Blg. 22 cases and recently Estafa Cases
Distinguish rules on docket fees in criminal cases from the rules in civil
cases.
1. In civil cases, docket fees are levied on ALL FORMS OF DAMAGES while
in criminal cases no docket fees are charged on ACTUAL DAMAGES.
2. In civil cases, the amount of the claims must be stated in the Complaint or
Counterclaim so that the proper docket fees can be computed and paid. In
criminal cases in general, even if the amount of the damages are not stated
in the Information or Complaint, these can still be proven and the docket
fees on these claims will be a lien on the judgment.
Another Amendment:
The rules now require MANDATORY consolidation of the claim for civil
liability in B.P. 22 cases but if the civil case was filed ahead, consolidation will be
done only if the trial of the civil case has not yet commenced and there must be an
application for consolidation in the court trying the criminal case.
Interesting Case:
Facts:
Petitioner Anita Cheng filed two estafa cases before the RTC, Branch 7,
Manila against respondent spouses William and Tessie Sy (Criminal Case No. 98-
969952 against Tessie Sy and Criminal Case No. 98-969953 against William Sy)
for issuing to her Philippine Bank of Commerce (PBC) Check Nos. 171762 and
71860 for P300,000 each, in payment of their loan, both of which were dishonored
upon presentment for having been drawn against a closed account.
Meanwhile, based on the same facts, petitioner, on January 20, 1999, filed
against respondents two cases for violation of B.P. Blg. 22 before the Metropolitan
Trial Court (MeTC), Branch 25, Manila (Criminal Case Nos. 341458-59).
On March 16, 2004, the RTC, Branch 7, Manila dismissed the estafa cases
for failure of the prosecution to prove the elements of the crime. The Order
dismissing Criminal Case No. 98-969952 contained no declaration as to the civil
liability of Tessie Sy. On the other hand, the Order in Criminal Case No. 98-969953
contained a statement, “Hence, if there is any liability of the accused, the same is
purely ‘civil,’ not criminal in nature.”
Later, the MeTC, Branch 25, Manila, dismissed, on demurrer, the B.P. Blg.
22 cases in its Order dated February 7, 2005 on account of the failure of petitioner
to identify the accused respondents in open court. The Order also did not make
any pronouncement as to the civil liability of accused respondents.
On April 26, 2005, petitioner lodged against respondents before the RTC,
Branch 18, Manila, a complaint for collection of a sum of money with damages
(Civil Case No. 05-112452) based on the same loaned amount of P600,000
covered by the two PBC checks previously subject of the estafa and B.P. Blg. 22
cases.
In the assailed Order dated January 2, 2006, the RTC, Branch 18, Manila,
dismissed the complaint for lack of jurisdiction, ratiocinating that the civil action to
collect the amount of P600,000 with damages was already impliedly instituted in
the B.P. Blg. 22 cases in light of Section 1, par. (b) of Rule 111 of the Revised
Rules of Court.
Issues:
2. Considering that the reason of the dismissal in this case was the
failure of the prosecutor to have the complainant identify the
accused in the case and since they were not represented by a
private prosecutor, will the negligence of the public prosecutor be
binding upon the complainant?
Ruling:
Petitioner is in error when she insists that the 2000 Rules on Criminal
Procedure should not apply because she filed her B.P. Blg. 22 complaints in 1999.
It is now settled that rules of procedure apply even to cases already pending at the
time of their promulgation. The fact that procedural statutes may somehow affect
the litigants’ rights does not preclude their retroactive application to pending
actions. It is axiomatic that the retroactive application of procedural laws does not
violate any right of a person who may feel that he is adversely affected, nor is it
constitutionally objectionable. The reason for this is that, as a general rule, no
vested right may attach to, nor arise from, procedural laws.
Indeed, under the present revised Rules, the criminal action for violation of
B.P. Blg. 22 includes the corresponding civil action to recover the amount of the
checks. It should be stressed, this policy is intended to discourage the separate
filing of the civil action. In fact, the Rules even prohibits the reservation of a
separate civil action, i.e., one can no longer file a separate civil case after the
criminal complaint is filed in court. The only instance when separate proceedings
are allowed is when the civil action is filed ahead of the criminal case. Even then,
the Rules encourages the consolidation of the civil and criminal cases. Thus,
where petitioner’s rights may be fully adjudicated in the proceedings before the
court trying the B.P. Blg. 22 cases, resort to a separate action to recover civil
liability is clearly unwarranted on account of res judicata, for failure of petitioner to
appeal the civil aspect of the cases. In view of this special rule governing actions
for violation of B.P. Blg. 22, Article 31 of the Civil Code is not applicable.
Faced with the dismissal of the B.P. Blg. 22 cases, petitioner’s recourse
pursuant to the prevailing rules of procedure would have been to appeal the civil
action to recover the amount loaned to respondents corresponding to the bounced
checks. Hence, the said civil action may proceed requiring only a preponderance
of evidence on the part of petitioner. Her failure to appeal within the reglementary
period was tantamount to a waiver altogether of the remedy to recover the civil
liability of respondents. However, due to the gross mistake of the prosecutor in
the B.P. Blg. 22 cases, we are constrained to digress from this rule.
It is true that clients are bound by the mistakes, negligence and omission of
their counsel. But this rule admits of exceptions – (1) where the counsel’s mistake
is so great and serious that the client is prejudiced and denied his day in court, or
(2) where the counsel is guilty of gross negligence resulting in the client’s
deprivation of liberty or property without due process of law. Tested against these
guidelines, we hold that petitioner’s lot falls within the exceptions.
58
Under OCA Circular 21-03, docket fees are NOW also assessed on estafa
cases UPON filing of the information in court.
Note:
This applies only to the civil aspect arising out of the offense charged
(based on Art. 100 of the RPC and related articles)
If the offended party reserves the right to file a separate civil action, it cannot
be filed until the criminal case is finished.
If he filed the separate civil action ahead of the criminal case, then the civil
case will be suspended until the criminal case is finished.
The prescriptive period of the suspended action will be tolled until there is
a final judgment in the criminal case while the criminal case is still ongoing.
Option:
The offended party can ask for the consolidation of the separate civil action
with the criminal case only if there has been no judgment yet in the civil case.
Note:
Otherwise, it would not make sense. Why would the prosecution cross-
examine the witnesses of the offended party when they are on the same side?
General Rule:
“The extinction of the penal action does not carry with it extinction of
the civil action. However, the civil action based on delict shall be deemed
extinguished if there is a finding in a final judgment in the criminal action
that the act or omission from which the civil liability may arise did not exist.”
Old Rule:
Extinction of the penal action does not carry with it extinction of the civil
unless the extinction proceeds from a declaration in a final judgment that the fact
from which the civil liability might arise did not exist.
liability might arise did not exist. Thus, the civil liability is not extinguished by
acquittal where:
(b) where the court expressly declares that the liability of the
accused is not criminal but only civil in nature; and (Even if not
expressly declared if based on an exempting circumstance.)
(c) where the civil liability is not derived from or based on the
criminal act of which the accused is acquitted.
Note:
“IF ACQUITTAL IS BASED ON AN JUSTIFYING CIRCUMSTANCE except
STATE OF NECESSITY then there is NO CIVIL LIABILITY.”
Note:
People v. Salao,
284 SCRA 493
“The civil liability referred to in this Rule is the civil liability arising from crime
(ex delicto). It is not the civil liability for quasi delict which is allowed to be brought
"separately and independently" of the criminal action by Art. 33 of the Civil Code.
The civil liability based on such cause of action is not extinguished even by a
declaration in the criminal case that the criminal act charged has not happened or
has not been committed by the accused. Indeed, because the offended party does
not intervene in the criminal prosecution, it is entirely possible that all the witnesses
presented in the civil action may not have been presented by the public prosecutor
in the criminal action with the result that the accused in the criminal case may be
acquitted. This is what happened in the recent case of Heirs of Guaring v. Court of
Appeals where, because the only survivor in a motor car accident whose
testimony proved to be pivotal in the civil case was not called to testify in the
criminal prosecution of the driver of the other vehicle, the latter was acquitted on
reasonable doubt.”
marker
“Under the present rule, only the civil liability arising from the offense
charged is deemed instituted with the criminal action unless the offended party
waives the civil action, reserves his right to institute it separately, or institutes the
civil action prior to the criminal action.
What are the effects of the removal of the reservation requirement for
independent civil actions?
“At the outset, we must explain that the 2000 Rules on Criminal Procedure
deleted the requirement of reserving independent civil actions and allowed these
to proceed separately from criminal ones. Thus, the civil actions referred to in
Articles 32, 33, 34 and 2176 of the Civil Code shall remain "separate, distinct and
independent" of any criminal prosecution based on the same act. Here are some
direct consequences of such revision and omission:
1. The right to bring the foregoing actions based on the Civil Code need not
be reserved in the criminal prosecution, since they are not deemed included
therein.
2. The institution or waiver of the right to file a separate civil action arising from
the crime charged does not extinguish the right to bring such action.
3. The only limitation is that the offended party cannot recover more than once
for the same act or omission.
PpPeople of the Philippines. v. Pedro Abungan, September 28, 2000. Commented [u31]: QUERY: People of the
also in ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. Et Al vs. Office of the Ombudsman Et Al. Philippines?
G.R. No. 133347. October 15, 2008. Commented [u32]: QUERY: pls. provide SCRA or GR
No.
“1. Death of the accused pending appeal of his conviction extinguishes his criminal
liability as well as the civil liability based solely thereon. As opined by Justice
Regalado, in this regard, “the death of the accused prior to final judgment
terminates his criminal liability and only the civil liability directly arising from and
based solely on the offense committed, i.e., civil liability ex delicto in senso
strictiore.”
62
“2. Corollarily, the claim for civil liability survives notwithstanding the death of (the)
accused, if the same may also be predicated on a source of obligation other than
delict. Article 1157 of the Civil Code enumerates these other sources of obligation
from which the civil liability may arise as a result of the same act or omission:
a) Law
b) Contracts
c) Quasi-contracts
d) ...
e) Quasi-delicts.
"3. Where the civil liability survives, as explained in Number 2 above, an action for
recovery therefor may be pursued but only by way of filing a separate civil action
and subject to Section 1, Rule 111 of the 1985 Rules on Criminal Procedure as
amended. This separate civil action may be enforced either against the
executor/administrator or the estate of the accused, depending on the source of
obligation upon which the same is based as explained above.
"4. Finally, the private offended party need not fear a forfeiture of his right to file this
separate civil action by prescription, in cases where during the prosecution of the
criminal action and prior to its extinction, the private offended party instituted
together therewith the civil action. In such case, the statute of limitations on the
civil liability is deemed interrupted during the pendency of the criminal case,
conformably with the provisions of Article 1155 of the Civil Code, that should
thereby avoid any apprehension on a possible privation of right by prescription."
Major Change:
Old Elements:
New Elements:
(b) the resolution of such issue determines whether or not the criminal
action may proceed.
Petitioner interprets Sec. 7(a) to mean that in order for a civil case to create a
prejudicial question and, thus, suspend a criminal case, it must first be established that
the civil case was filed previous to the filing of the criminal case. This, petitioner argues,
is specifically to guard against the situation wherein a party would belatedly file a civil
action that is related to a pending criminal action in order to delay the proceedings in the
latter.
On the other hand, private respondent cites Article 36 of the Civil Code which
provides:
Private respondent argues that the phrase “before any criminal prosecution may
be instituted or may proceed” must be interpreted to mean that a prejudicial question exists
when the civil action is filed either before the institution of the criminal action or during the
pendency of the criminal action. Private respondent concludes that there is an apparent
conflict in the provisions of the Rules of Court and the Civil Code in that the latter considers
a civil case to have presented a prejudicial question even if the criminal case preceded
the filing of the civil case.
Xxxxx
In other words, every effort must be made to harmonize seemingly conflicting laws.
It is only when harmonization is impossible that resort must be made to choosing which
law to apply.
In the instant case, Art. 36 of the Civil Code and Sec. 7 of Rule 111 of the
Rules of Court are susceptible of an interpretation that would harmonize both
64
provisions of law. The phrase “previously instituted civil action” in Sec. 7 of Rule
111 is plainly worded and is not susceptible of alternative interpretations. The
clause “before any criminal prosecution may be instituted or may proceed” in Art.
36 of the Civil Code may, however, be interpreted to mean that the motion to
suspend the criminal action may be filed during the preliminary investigation with
the public prosecutor or court conducting the investigation, or during the trial with
the court hearing the case.
This interpretation would harmonize Art. 36 of the Civil Code with Sec. 7 of Rule
111 of the Rules of Court but also with Sec. 6 of Rule 111 of the Civil Code, which provides
for the situations when the motion to suspend the criminal action during the preliminary
investigation or during the trial may be filed.
“The rule is clear that the civil action must be instituted first before the filing of the
criminal action. In this case, the Information for Frustrated Parricide was dated 30 August
2004. It was raffled to RTC Quezon City on 25 October 2004 as per the stamped date of
receipt on the Information. The RTC Quezon City set Criminal Case No. Q-04-130415 for
pre-trial and trial on 14 February 2005. Petitioner was served summons in Civil Case No.
04-7392 on 7 February 2005. Respondent's petition in Civil Case No. 04-7392 was dated
4 November 2004 and was filed on 5 November 2004. Clearly, the civil case for annulment
was filed after the filing of the criminal case for frustrated parricide. As such, the
requirement of Section 7, Rule 111 of the 2000 Rules on Criminal Procedure was not met
since the civil action was filed subsequent to the filing of the criminal action.
-in this case the Supreme Court used the dates of the filing of the Information in
court vis a vis the filing of the complaint in the civil case to determine if the civil
case is a previously instituted action.
Nota Bene: The SC also ruled in this case that an action for annullment of marriage
under Art. 36 of the Family Code is NOT a prejudicial question to a pending case for
frustrated parricide. Thus:
a. Land Bank of the Phils. Vs. Ramon P. Jacinto (G.R. No. 154622. August
3, 2010)- an action for Declaration of Novation of a Credit Line Agreement is
NOT a prejudicial question to criminal charges for Violation of BP 22
b. Krizia Katrina Ty- De Zuzuarregui vs. Joselito C. Villarosa, Et Al (G.R.
No. 183788. April 5, 2010)- a pending action for annullment of judgment in
the Court of Appeals involving the determination of whether or not some
persons are biological heirs of the decedent IS A PREJUDICIAL QUESTION
to a crimnal case for falsification based on alleged false statements about the
very same question of filiation.
c. Teodoro Reyes vs. Ettore Rossi G.R. No. 159823, February 18, 2013
(BERSAMIN, J.) An action for rescission of a contract of sale is not a prejudicial
question that will warrant the suspension of the criminal proceedings
commenced to prosecute the buyer for violations of the Bouncing Checks Law
(Batas Pambansa Blg. 22) arising from the dishonor of the checks the buyer
issued in connection with the sale.
d. Rafael Consing Jr. vs. People of the Philippines G.R. No. 161075, July 15,
2013 (BERSAMIN, J).: An independent civil action based on fraud initiated by
the defrauded party does not raise a prejudicial question to stop the
proceedings in a pending criminal prosecution of the defendant for estafa
through falsification. This is because the result of the independent civil action
is irrelevant to the issue of guilt or innocence of the accused.
Generally, there can be a prejudicial question vis a vis a criminal case can only arise from
a CIVIL case
However, in
San Miguel Properties, Inc. vs. Sec. Hernando Perez G.R. No. 166836, September 4,
2013 (BERSAMIN, J:)
“The pendency of an administrative ease for specific performance brought by the
buyer of residential subdivision lots in the Housing and Land Use Regulatory .Board
(IILURH) to compel the seller to deliver the transfer certificate of title (TCTs) of the fully
paid Jots is properly considered a ground to suspend a criminal prosecution for violation
of Section 25 of Presidential Decree No. 957 on tile ground of a prejudicial question. The
administrative determination is a logical antecedent of the resolution of the criminal
charges based on non-delivery of the TCTs.”
Read:
Dreamwork Construction, Inc. v. Cleofe S. Janiola, et al.,
G.R. No. 184861, June 30, 2009.
Some cases:
The Implementing Rules, for their part, clarify that "The implementation and
payment of administrative fines shall not preclude criminal prosecution of the
offender under Section 39 of the Decree." Thus, the implementing rules
themselves expressly acknowledge that two separate remedies with differing
consequences may be sought under the Decree, specifically, the administrative
remedy and criminal prosecution.
Unless the contrary appears under other provisions of law (and in this case
no such provision applies), the determination of the criminal liability lies within the
realm of criminal procedure as embodied in the Rules of Court. Section 2, Rule
112 of these Rules provide that the prerogative to determine the existence or non-
existence of probable cause lies with the persons duly authorized by law.”
4. When the civil action is not one intended to enforce the civil
liability arising from the offense.
67
(Naguiat v. IACCA 164 SCRA 505 ) Commented [u35]: QUERY: incomplete citation. Pls.
provide G.R. No. or SCRA. Thanks
PI is required if the imposable penalty for the offense exceeds four years
and two months.
Note:
The “4 y 2 m” guideline is a major amendment because the 1985 Rules
required PI for all RTC cases and this was heavily affected when R.A. No. 7691
expanded the jurisdiction of the MTCs. The amendment, restored the situation
prior to R.A. No. 7691.
Citing Ledesma v. Court of Appeals, 151 SCRA 462 Commented [u36]: QUERY: pls supply GR or SCRA.
thanks
“The primary objective of a preliminary investigation is to free the
respondent from the inconvenience, expense, ignominy and stress of defending
himself/herself in the course of a formal trial, until the reasonable probability of his
or her guilt in a more or less summary proceeding by a competent office designated
by law for that purpose. Secondarily, such summary proceeding also protects the
state from the burden of the unnecessary expense and effort in prosecuting alleged
offenses and in holding trials arising from false, frivolous or groundless charges.”
If the change in an Information is only formal and thereby does not affect
the defense of the accused, a new P.I. is not required.
Note:
MTC, MTCC, MCTC Judges cannot conduct preliminary investigations
anymore under the amendments of the rules in A.M. No. 05-8-26-SC which took
effect last October 3, 2005.
Held:
If the person who signed the information is not authorized to do so, the entire
proceedings will be null and void even if the accused participated actively in the
proceedings.
Other officers :
May the Office of the Ombudsman investigate a public official even if the
offense is not in relation to his public office?
“The clause "any [illegal] act or omission of any public official" is broad
enough to embrace any crime committed by a public official. The law does not
qualify the nature of the illegal act or omission of the public official or employee
that the Ombudsman may investigate. It does not require that the act or omission
be related to or be connected with or arise from, the performance of official duty.
Since the law does not distinguish, neither should we. The reason for the creation
of the Ombudsman in the 1987 Constitution and for the grant to it of broad
investigative authority, is to insulate said office from the long tentacles of
officialdom that are able to penetrate judges' and fiscals' offices, and others
involved in the prosecution of erring public officials, and through the exertion of
official pressure and influence, quash, delay, or dismiss investigations into
malfeasances and misfeasances committed by public officers.”
As we held in Aguinaldo v. Domagas (G.R. No. 98452, En Banc Resolution Commented [u37]: QUERY: incomplete citation?
of September 26, 1991) and recently, Sanchez v. Demetriou (G.R. Nos. 111771- Commented [u38]: QUERY: incomplete citation?
77, November 9, 1993), such authority of the Ombudsman "is not an exclusive
authority but rather a shared or concurrent authority in respect of the offense
charged," in other words, concurrent with similarly authorized agencies of the
government. Accordingly, the Ombudsman may take over the investigation
of such case at any stage from any investigative agency of the Government.
“The respondent shall have the right to examine the evidence submitted by
the complainant which he may not have been furnished and to copy them at his
expense. If the evidence is voluminous, the complainant may be required to specify
70
those which he intends to present against the respondent, and these shall be made
available for examination or copying by the respondent at his expense.
We uphold the legal basis of the right of petitioners to demand from their
prosecutor, the NBI, the original copy of the April 28, 1995 sworn statement of
Alfaro and the FBI Report during their preliminary investigation considering their
exculpatory character, and hence, unquestionable materiality to the issue of their
probable guilt. The right is rooted on the constitutional protection of due process
which we rule to be operational even during the preliminary investigation to a
potential accused. It is also implicit in [S]ection (3)(a) of Rule 112 which requires
during the preliminary investigation the filing of a sworn complaint which shall ‘. . .
state the known address of the respondent and be accompanied by affidavits of
the complainant and his witnesses as well as other supporting documents. . ."
Will a delay in the resolution of the preliminary investigation violate the right
of the respondent to speedy disposition of cases?
The delay of three years was already violative of the right of the respondent
to speedy disposition of cases and right to due process in view of the simplicity
of the issues in the cases.
“We have only to reiterate the declaration made in Tatad to the effect that
in the application of the constitutional guaranty of the right to speedy disposition of
cases, particular regard must also be taken of the facts and circumstances peculiar
to each case. It is palpably clear that the application of the Tatad doctrine should
not be made to rely solely on the length of time that has passed but equal concern
should likewise be accorded to the factual ambiance and considerations.
Binay v. Sandiganbayan,
G.R. Nos. 120681-83, October 1, 1999.
In Tatad v. Sandiganbayan (159 SCRA 70 (1988)), the Court held that the
length of delay and the simplicity of the issues did not justify the delay in the
disposition of the cases therein. The "unexplained inaction" of the prosecutors
called for the dismissal of the cases against petitioner Tatad.
In Alvizo v. Sandiganbayan (220 SCRA 55 (1993)), the Court also ruled that Commented [u39]: QUERY: incomplete citation?
there was no violation of the right to speedy disposition. The Court took into
account the reasons for the delay, i.e., the frequent amendments of procedural
laws by presidential decrees, the structural reorganizations in existing
prosecutorial agencies and the creation of new ones by executive fiat, resulting in
71
In Cadalin v. POEA’s Administrator (238 SCRA 722), the Court, considering Commented [u40]: QUERY: incomplete citation?
also the complexity of the cases ("not run-of-the-mill variety") and the conduct of
the parties’ lawyers, held that the right to speedy disposition was not violated
therein.
Will the Tatad Ruling apply even if the respondent did not take actions to
accelerate the disposition of his case?
The lack of a certification will not invalidate the information because the
certification is not an essential part of the information. It is merely a formal defect.
Note:
Note:
The amendment to include the Ombudsman or his deputy is intended
to avoid conflicts of jurisdiction since the authority of the Office of the
Ombdusman to conduct PIs is concurrent with the prosecutors.
“Within ten (10) days from the filing of the complaint or information, the
judge shall personally evaluate the resolution of the prosecutor and its supporting
evidence. He may immediately dismiss the case if the evidence on record clearly
fails to establish probable cause. If he finds probable cause, he shall issue a
warrant of arrest, or a commitment order if the accused has already been arrested
pursuant to a warrant issued by the judge who conducted the preliminary
investigation or when the complaint or information was filed pursuant to section 7
of this Rule. In case of doubt on the existence of probable cause, the judge may
order the prosecutor to present additional evidence within five (5) days from notice
and the issue must be resolved by the court within thirty (30) days from the filing
of the complaint of information.”
It bears remembering that "in determining probable cause, the average man
weighs facts and circumstances without resorting to the calibrations of our
technical rules of evidence of which his knowledge is nil. Rather, he relies on the
calculus of common sense of which all reasonable men have an abundance."
Thus, the standard used for the issuance of a warrant of arrest is less stringent
than that used for establishing the guilt of the accused. As long as the evidence
presented shows a prima facie case against the accused, the trial court judge has
sufficient ground to issue a warrant of arrest against him.”
Some Notes:
The requirement that the judge, upon filing of the information, shall
personally evaluate the resolution of the prosecutor and its supporting evidence
and the additional power of the judge to immediately dismiss a case if he finds that
the evidence on record clearly fails to establish probable cause or to require the
prosecutor to present additional evidence in case he has doubts as to the
existence of probable cause are amendments recognizing jurisprudence
establishing the following:
1. The judge may issue a warrant of arrest on the basis of the records
of the preliminary investigation but he cannot rely on the certification
of the prosecutor alone. (Soliven v. Makasiar, 167 SCRA 393, Lim v.
Felix 194 SCRA 292, Teresa Ho v. People of the Philippines, 280
SCRA 365)
Pursuant to the aforementioned provision, the RTC judge, upon the filing of
an Information, has the following options: (1) dismiss the case if the evidence on
record clearly failed to establish probable cause; (2) if he or she finds probable
cause, issue a warrant of arrest; and (3) in case of doubt as to the existence of
probable cause, order the prosecutor to present additional evidence within five
days from notice, the issue to be resolved by the court within thirty days from the
filing of the information.
Distinguish probable cause to hold an accused for trial from probable cause
to issue a warrant of arrest.
The purpose of the mandate of the judge to first determine probable cause
for the arrest of the accused is to insulate from the very start those falsely charged
with crimes from the tribulations, expenses and anxiety of a public trial.
The function of the judge to issue a warrant of arrest upon the determination
of probable cause is exclusive; thus, the consequent implementation of a warrant
of arrest cannot be deferred pending the resolution of a petition for review by the
75
Can the Resolution of the Inquest Prosecutor be the subject of a Motion for
Reconsideration?
“The accelerated process of inquest, owing to its summary nature and the
attendant risk of running against Article 125, ends with either the prompt filing of an
information in court or the immediate release of the arrested person. Notably, the rules
on inquest do not provide for a motion for reconsideration”
Can the private complainant file a Petition for Review to the Office of the Secretary
vis a vis the said Resolution?
provides that the Rule shall "apply to appeals from resolutions . . . in cases subject of
preliminary investigation/reinvestigation." IN CASES SUBJECT OF INQUEST,
THEREFORE, THE PRIVATE PARTY SHOULD FIRST AVAIL OF A PRELIMINARY
INVESTIGATION OR REINVESTIGATION, IF ANY, BEFORE ELEVATING THE
MATTER TO THE DOJ SECRETARY.
If a case involving the same facts and parties has already been filed with the Office
of the Ombudsman, the DOJ cannot assume jurisdiction over the new case filed.
Facts: On January 8, 2001, Mary Ong filed criminal cases with the Office of the
Ombudsman against PNP General Panfilo M. Lacson, PNP Colonel Michael Ray B.
Aquino, other high-ranking officials of the PNP, and several private individuals. The Office
of the Ombudsman required the respondents to file counteraffidavits.
Held: No. The law and the constitution gives the Office of the Ombudsman
primary jurisdiction over cases against public officers particularly in cases
cognizable by the Sandiganbayan. The Ombudsman is even given authority to take
over, at any stage, from any investigatory agency, the investigation of such cases.
subject matter, the settled rule is that the body or agency that first takes cognizance of the
complaint shall exercise jurisdiction to the exclusion of the others.
NOTE: If the situation were reversed and the 2nd case was filed with the Ombudsman, the
latter could still take over under the doctrine of primary jurisdiction.
Can a private prosecutor file a Motion for Reconsideration of an order of the trial
court granting the motion of the Provincial Prosecutor to withdraw the information?
Under Section 5, Rule 110 of the 1985 Rules on Criminal Procedure, all criminal
actions either commenced by complaint or information shall be prosecuted under the
direction and control of the prosecutor. The prosecution of a criminal case is the
responsibility of the public prosecutor and no one else. This is true even if a private
prosecutor is allowed to assist him. In the case at bar, it was the private prosecutor
who sought to have the libel case revived by filing a motion for reconsideration.
Such motion should have been dismissed by the trial court.
Rule 112, particularly Section 3 of the Rules of Court, lays down the basic
procedure in preliminary investigation
This provision of the Rules does not require a confrontation between the parties.
Preliminary investigation is ordinarily conducted through submission of affidavits and
supporting documents, through the exchange of pleadings.
(the New Rules on Criminal Procedure) do not require as a condition sine qua non
to the validity of the proceedings (in the preliminary investigation) the presence of the
accused for as long as efforts to reach him were made, and an opportunity to controvert
evidence of the complainant is accorded him. The obvious purpose of the rule is to block
attempts of unscrupulous respondents to thwart the prosecution of offenses by hiding
themselves or by employing dilatory tactics.
Lastly, we hold that the investigating prosecutors did not abuse their
discretion when they denied the request of the complainant for the conduct of
78
General Rule:
d. When the acts of the officer are without or in excess of authority (Planas v.
Gil, 67 Phil. 62);
g. Where the court has no jurisdiction over the offense (Lopez v. City Judge,
L-25795, October 29, 1966, 18 SCRA 616);
i. Where the charges are manifestly false and motivated by the lust for
vengeance (Recto v. Castelo, 18 L.J. (1953), cited in Rañoa v. Alvendia,
CA G.R. No. 30720-R, October 8, 1962; cf., Guingona, et al. v. City Fiscal,
L-60033, April 4, 1984, 128 SCRA 577);
If a person is arrested without a warrant, the police have a limited time within
which to FILE A CASE WITH THE COURT because Article 125 requires the
delivery of the person arrested to JUDICIAL AUTHORITIES within the periods
provided therein.
1. Arrest;
5. Within five days from the time he learns of its filing, the accused may
ask for a preliminary investigation with the same right to adduce
evidence in his defense as provided in this Rule. (People v. Court of
Appeals, G.R. No. 116623. March 23, 1995March 23, 1995 – the Commented [u42]: QUERY: incomplete citation?
five-day period is mandatory)
Situation:
When may a criminal case be filed DIRECTLY with the courts for trial ?
(a) If filed with the prosecutor. – If the complaint is filed directly with
the prosecutor involving an offense punishable by imprisonment of less than
four (4) years, two (2) months and one (1) day, the procedure outlined in
section 3(a) of this Rule shall be observed. The prosecutor shall act on the
complaint based on the affidavits and other supporting documents
submitted by the complainant within ten (10) days from its filing.
B. Criminal Cases:
(5) All other criminal cases where the penalty prescribed by law for the
offense charged is imprisonment not exceeding six months, or a fine
not exceeding one thousand pesos (P1,000.00), or both irrespective
of other imposable penalties, accessory or otherwise, or of the civil
liability arising therefrom: Provided, however, That in offenses
involving damage to property through criminal negligence, this Rule
shall govern where the imposable fine does not exceed ten thousand
pesos (P10,000.00).
The Courts will acquire jurisdiction over the person of the accused through
the arrest or voluntary submission of the accused.
Rule 113 deals with the provisions or procedure relating to the arrest of
persons accused of criminal offenses.
1. Issued by a judge;
2. probable cause;
Pangandaman v. Casar,
159 SCRA 599, April 14, 1988.
“A warrant is issued against fifty (50) "John Does" not one of whom the
witnesses to the complaint could or would identify, it is of the nature of a general
warrant, one of a class of writs long proscribed as unconstitutional and once
anathematized as "totally subversive of the liberty of the subject." Clearly violative
of the constitutional injunction that warrants of arrest should particularly describe
the person or persons to be seized, the warrant must, as regards its unidentified
subjects, be voided.”
An invalid arrest will mean that the Court did not acquire jurisdiction over
the person of the accused.
However in
PpPeople of the .Philippines v. Salvatierra, Commented [u43]: QUERY: People of the
276 SCRA 55. Philippines?
PPPEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES v. ROLANDO ZASPA, Commented [u44]: Query: People of the Philippines?
September 21, 2000.
“any objection regarding the regularity of an arrest must be made before the
accused enters his plea otherwise, the defect shall be deemed cured by the
voluntary submission by the accused to the jurisdiction of the trial court. “
The head of the office to whom the warrant of arrest was delivered for
execution shall cause the warrant to be executed within ten (10) days from its
83
receipt. Within ten (10) days after the expiration of the period, the officer to whom
it was assigned for execution shall make a report to the judge who issued the
warrant. In case of his failure to execute the warrant, he shall state the reason
therefore. (4a)
Malaloan v. CA,
May 6, 1994
(b) When an offense has just been committed and he has probable cause
to believe based on personal knowledge of facts or circumstances that
the person to be arrested has committed it; and
(c) When the person to be arrested is a prisoner who has escaped from
a penal establishment or place where he is serving final judgment or
is temporarily confined while his case is pending, or has escaped while
being transferred from one confinement to another.
Plus
84
(e) For the purpose of surrendering the accused, his bondsmen may
arrest him without a warrant. (Sec. 23, Rule114)
IN FLAGRANTE DELICTO
PpPeople of the .Philippines v. Sucro March 18, 1991, 195 SCRA 388, Commented [u45]: QUERY: People of the
repeated in People v. Evaristo 216 S 431 Philippines?
as stated in PpPeople of the .Philippines v. Joselito del Rosario, Commented [u46]: QUERY: SCRA?
April 14, 1999. Commented [u47]: QUERY: People of the
Philippines?
“It must be recalled that del Rosario was arrested by SP04 De Leon during Commented [u48]: QUERY: pls. provide the GR or
the police raid at the place of "Jun" Marquez at Brgy. Dicarma on 14 May 1996. In SCRA. thanks
People vs. Sucro44 [G.R. No. 93239, 18 March 1991, 195 SCRA 388.] we held
that when a police officer sees the offense, although at a distance, or hears
the disturbances created thereby, and proceeds at once to the scene thereof,
he may effect an arrest without a warrant on the basis of Sec. 5, par. (a), Rule
113, since the offense is deemed committed in his presence or within his
view. In essence, Sec. 5, par. (a), Rule 113, requires that the accused be
caught in flagrante delicto or caught immediately after the consummation of
the act. The arrest of del Rosario is obviously outside the purview of the
aforequoted rule since he was arrested on the day following the commission of the
robbery with homicide.”
“When an offense has just been committed and he has probable cause
to believe based on personal knowledge of facts or circumstances that the
person to be arrested has committed it.”
People v. Manlulu,
G.R. No. 102140 April 22, 1994. Commented [u49]: QUERY: pls. provide GR or SCRA
PpPeople of the Philippines. v. Anthony Escordial Commented [u50]: QUERY: People of the
G.R. No. 138934-35, January 16, 2002. Philippines?
Posadas v. Ombudsman, Commented [u51]: QUERY: pls. supply SCRA or GR
341 SCRA 388, 397
citing People v. Doria, 301 SCRA 668, 709 (1991).
PpPeople of the .Philippines v. Nasario Molina, Commented [u54]: QUERY: People of the Philippines
G.R. No. 133917. February 19, 2001
February 19, 2001 Commented [u55]: QUERY: pls. provide the GR or
SCRA
Comprehensive discussion of situations relating to “probable cause.”
No explanation needed.
PpPeople of the .Philippines v. Jose Rayray, Commented [u56]: QUERY: People of the
G.R. No. 90628, February 1, 1995. Philippines?
“We cannot yield to appellant's view that just because Lt. Ancheta was
assigned in Baguio City he could not arrest persons caught in the act of committing
86
a crime in some other place, especially so where he was the intended victim. A
policemen cannot callously set aside his essential duty of apprehending criminal
offenders and of keeping peace and order on the shallow excuse that he is not in
his place of assignment. His responsibility to protect the public by apprehending
violators of the law, especially one caught in flagrante delicto is not limited by
territorial constraints. It follows him wherever he goes. Moreover, Sec. 5, par. (a),
Rule 113, of the Revised Rules on Criminal Procedure authorizes a warrantless
arrest, otherwise called a citizen's arrest, "when, in his presence, the person to be
arrested has committed, is actually committing, or is attempting to commit an
offense." Thus, although officially assigned in Baguio City, Lt. Ancheta’s act of
arresting accused-appellant (after the latter offered to sell him marijuana in San
Fernando, La Union) is justified not only by his duty as a law enforcer but also by
Sec. 5 of Rule 113, which authorizes instances of warrantless or citizens' arrests.”
An arrest may be made on any day and at any time of the day or night.
(6)
General Rule:
2. The fact that a warrant has been issued for his arrest.
Except:
“The officer NEED NOT HAVE THE WARRANT in his possession at the
time of the arrest but after the arrest, if the person arrested so requires, the
warrant shall be shown to him as soon as practicable.”
“At this juncture, the Court would like to stress that this is not a case of a
warrantless arrest but merely an instance of an arrest effected by the police
authorities without having the warrant in their possession at that precise moment.
Finding as it does, this Court deems it unnecessary to delve into the applicability
of Section 5, Rule 113 of the Rules of Court and on the merits of both the
87
petitioner's and the Office of the Solicitor General's arguments with respect thereto.
The applicable provision is not Section 5, Rule 118 of the Rules of Court on
warrantless arrests, but Section 7, Rule 113 which provides as follows:
General Rule:
Except:
PpPeople of the .Philippines v. Larry Mahinay Commented [u57]: QUERY: People of the Philippines
G.R. No. 122485, February 1, 1999.
2. He must be warned that he has a right to remain silent and that any
statement he makes may be used as evidence against him;
88
3. He must be informed that he has the right to be assisted at all times and
have the presence of an independent and competent lawyer, preferably of
his own choice;
5. That whether or not the person arrested has a lawyer, he must be informed
that no custodial investigation in any form shall be conducted except in the
presence of his counsel or after a valid waiver has been made;
6. The person arrested must be informed that, at any time, he has the right to
communicate or confer by the most expedient means — telephone, radio,
letter or messenger — with his lawyer (either retained or appointed), any
member of his immediate family, or any medical doctor, priest or minister
chosen by him or by any one from his immediate family or by his counsel,
or be visited by/confer with duly accredited national or international non-
government organization. It shall be the responsibility of the officer to
ensure that this is accomplished;
7. He must be informed that he has the right to waive any of said rights
provided it is made voluntarily, knowingly and intelligently and ensure that
he understood the same;
9. That the person arrested must be informed that he may indicate in any
manner at any time or stage of the process that he does not wish to be
questioned with warning that once he makes such indication, the police may
not interrogate him if the same had not yet commenced, or the interrogation
must cease if it has already begun;
10. The person arrested must be informed that his initial waiver of his right to
remain silent, the right to counsel or any of his rights does not bar him from
invoking it at any time during the process, regardless of whether he may
have answered some questions or volunteered some statements;
11. He must also be informed that any statement or evidence, as the case may
be, obtained in violation of any of the foregoing, whether inculpatory or
exculpatory, in whole or in part, shall be inadmissible in evidence.
General Rule:
Except:
89
When can an officer making an arrest break into any building or enclosure?
(Sec. 11, Rule 113)
Right to break out from building or enclosure. (Sec. 12, Rule 113)
Right of attorney or relative to visit person arrested (Sec. 14, Rule 113) Commented [u58]: QUERY: insert Rule 113?
Any member of the Philippine Bar shall, at the request of the person
arrested or of another acting in his behalf, have the right to visit and confer privately
with such person in the jail or any other place of custody at any hour of the day
or night. Subject to reasonable regulations, a relative of the person arrested can
also exercise the same right. (14a)
Note:
A fiancé or fiancée is considered as “immediate family.”
Section 4
night shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment of not less than four (4) years nor
more than six (6) years, and a fine of four thousand pesos (P4,000.00).”
Bail is the security given for the release of a person in custody of the
law, furnished by him or a bondsman, to guarantee his appearance before
any court as required under the conditions hereinafter specified. Bail may be
given in the form of corporate surety, property bond, cash deposit, or
recognizance. (1a)
“We find that the right to bail invoked by the private respondents in G.R.
Nos. 95020 has traditionally not been recognized and is not available in the
military, as an exception to the general rule embodied in the Bill of Rights. This
much was suggested in Arula, where we observed that "the right to a speedy trial
is given more emphasis in the military where the right to bail does not exist."
The justification for this exception was well explained by the Solicitor
General as follows:
The argument that denial from the military of the right to bail would violate
the equal protection clause is not acceptable. This guaranty requires equal
treatment only of persons or things similarly situated and does not apply where the
subject of the treatment is substantially different from others. The accused officers
can complain if they are denied bail and other members of the military are not. But
they cannot say they have been discriminated against because they are not
allowed the same right that is extended to civilians.”
“Section 13, Article III of the Constitution lays down the rule that before
conviction, all indictees shall be allowed bail, except only those charged with
offenses punishable by reclusion perpetua when the evidence of guilt is strong. In
pursuance thereof, Section 4 of Rule 114, as amended, now provides that all
persons in custody shall, before conviction by a regional trial court of an offense
not punishable by death, reclusion perpetua or life imprisonment, be admitted to
bail as a matter of right. The right to bail, which may be waived considering its
personal nature and which, to repeat, arises from the time one is placed in the
custody of the law, springs from the presumption of innocence accorded
every accused upon whom should not be inflicted incarceration at the outset
since after the trial he would be entitled to acquittal, unless his guilt be
established beyond reasonable doubt.”
“Bail is defined as the "security given for the release of a person in custody
of the law." By its definition, bail requires that a person must first be arrested or
deprived of liberty before it can be availed of: Thus, although the posting thereof
is tantamount to submission to the jurisdiction of the court, it presupposes that the
accused is under detention or in the custody of law. Indeed, it would be absurd
and incongruous to grant bail to one who is free. In this case, respondent deemed
it appropriate for the accused to file the corresponding bail bonds, even when the
latter had not yet been arrested or placed under custody.”
94
“From the above recitals of the factual and procedural antecedents of the
criminal cases before the trial court, it is obvious that the accused filed their
petitions to grant bail and to reduce bail, motion to reinstate petition to grant bail
and urgent motion to quash warrants of arrests before the court acquired
jurisdiction over their persons either through the effective service and enforcement
of the warrants of arrest or their voluntary surrender, i.e., before they were placed
in the custody of the law or otherwise deprived of their liberty. Such being so, the
trial court, initially, denied correctly the petition for grant of bail but subsequently
disregarded law and jurisprudence when it favorably acted on the motion to
reinstate the petition for grant of bail and set the motion for hearing on 6 April 1991,
directing, for that purpose the Department of Justice and the Office of the
Provincial Prosecutor to forward to it the records of the preliminary investigation.
In this jurisdiction it is settled that a person applying for bail should be in the
custody of the law or otherwise deprived of his liberty x x x”
The undeniable fact is that petitioner was by then in the constructive custody
of the law. Apparently, both the trial court and the prosecutors agreed on that point
since they never attempted to have him physically restrained. Through his lawyers,
he expressly submitted to physical and legal control over his person, firstly, by filing
the application for bail with the trial court; secondly, by furnishing true information
of his actual whereabouts; and, more importantly, by unequivocally recognizing the
jurisdiction of the said court. Moreover, when it came to his knowledge that a
warrant for his arrest had been issued, petitioner never made any attempt or
evinced any intent to evade the clutches of the law or concealed his whereabouts
from the authorities since the day he was charged in court, up to the submission
of his application for bail, and until the day of the hearing thereof.”
TYPES OF BAIL:
95
Corporate Surety
Property Bond
Cash Bond
Refers to the type of bail whereby the accused or somebody else will
actually deposit the amount fixed by the court as bail to warrant compliance with
the conditions of bail. If these conditions are violated, the money can be forfeited.
Recognizance
Refers to the type of bail where a person is released in his own custody or
to the custody of a responsible person. This type of bail is allowable only in the
cases when specific provisions of the law or the rules allow it.
(a) The undertaking shall be effective upon approval, and unless cancelled,
shall remain in force at all stages of the case until promulgation of the
judgment of the Regional Trial Court, irrespective of whether the case
was originally filed in or appealed to it;
(b) The accused shall appear before the proper court whenever required by
the court or these Rules;
(c) The failure of the accused to appear at the trial without justification and
despite due notice shall be deemed a waiver of his right to be present
thereat. In such case, the trial may proceed in absentia; and
(d) The bondsman shall surrender the accused to the court for execution of
the final judgment.
96
The Court has the right to restrict the travel of the accused
“A court has the power to prohibit a person admitted to bail from leaving the
Philippines.Philippines This is a necessary consequence of the nature and function
of a bail bond. The condition imposed upon petitioner to make himself available at
all times whenever the court requires his presence operates as a valid restriction
on his right to travel. As we have held in People v. Uy Tuising, 61 Phil. 404 (1935).
" . . . the result of the obligation assumed by appellee (surety) to hold the accused
amenable at all times to the orders and processes of the lower court, was to
prohibit said accused from leaving the jurisdiction of the Philippines, because,
otherwise, said orders and processes will be nugatory, and inasmuch as the
jurisdiction of the courts from which they issued does not extend beyond that of
the Philippines they would have no binding force outside of said jurisdiction."
Indeed, if the accused were allowed to leave the Philippines without sufficient
reason, he may be placed beyond the reach of the courts.”
1. AFTER conviction by the RTC if the penalty IMPOSED is six years or lower;
2. AFTER conviction by the RTC even if the penalty imposed is greater than
six years if none of the conditions under par. 3 of Section 5 are present
except if the penalty imposed is death, reclusion perpetua, or life
imprisonment.
(b) That the accused has previously escaped from legal confinement,
evaded sentence, or violated the conditions of his bail without
valid justification;
(c) That the accused committed the offense while under probation,
parole, or conditional pardon;
(d) That the circumstances of the case indicate the probability of flight
if released on bail; or
(e) That there is undue risk that the accused may commit another
crime during the pendency of the appeal.
CAPITAL OFFENSE – is an offense which, under the law existing at the time of
its commission and of the application for admission to bail, may be punished with
death. (Sec. 6, Rule 114)
Once an application for bail has been filed in cases, punishable by death,
reclusion perpetua, or life imprisonment THE BURDEN OF EVIDENCE shifts to
the prosecution to prove that the evidence of guilt is strong.
Note:
What is discretionary on the part of the court in a hearing under Section 8
is only the determination of whether or not the evidence of guilt is strong.
Important:
98
If the evidence of guilt is strong the court MUST DENY bail. On the other
hand if the evidence of guilt is not strong the court MUST GRANT bail.
Basco v. Rapatalo,
269 SCRA 220.
"(1) Notify the prosecutor of the hearing of the application for bail or
require him to submit his recommendation;
"(3) Decide whether the evidence of guilt of the accused is strong based
on the summary of evidence of the prosecution;
"(4) If the evidence of the guilt of the accused is not strong, discharge
the accused upon the approval of the bailbond.
(Sec. 19, supra) Otherwise, petition should be denied." Commented [u59]: QUERY: pls. provide full citation.
thanks
Hearing is MANDATORY Commented [CE60R59]: Just delete this, this is as
quoted from the basco case
Borinaga v. Tamin
26 SCRA 206 (1993);
Cardines v. Rozete, 242 SCRA 557 (1995).
“Petitioner's posture hardly finds support in the law. Under Section 5 of Rule
114 of the Rules of Court, a capital offense is "an offense which, under the law
existing at the time of its commission, and at the time of the application to be
admitted to bail, may be punished by death." It his clear from this provision that the
capital nature of an offense is determined by the penalty prescribed by law, with
reference to which it is relatively easy to ascertain whether the evidence of guilt
against the accused is strong. Moreover, when the Constitution or the law speaks
of evidence of guilt, it evidently to refers to a finding of innocence or culpability,
regardless of the modifying circumstances.”
“Where it has been established without objection that the accused is only
16 years old, it follows that, if convicted, he would be given "the penalty next lower
then that prescribed by law," which effectively rules out the death penalty. The
Constitution withholds the guaranty of bail from one who is accused of a capital
offense where the evidence of guilt is strong. The obvious reason is that one who
faces a probable death sentence has a particularly strong temptation to flee. This
reason does not hold where the accused has been established without objection
to be a minor who by law cannot be sentenced to death.”
Can a judge fix the amount of bail upon motion of the accused in a case for
murder if in a prior denial of a demurrer to evidence there was a finding that
there was sufficient evidence to convict for homicide but not for murder?
“Since Judge Tan concurred with the assessment by Judge Buyser of the
prosecution evidence when he denied the Demurrer and the latter's statement that
the evidence was sufficient to convict respondent of Homicide, holding a summary
hearing merely to determine whether respondent was entitled to bail would have
been unnecessary as the evidence in chief was already presented by the
prosecution.”
In the same case, will not Section 5 of Rule 114 which provides that “if the
decision of the trial court convicting the accused changed the nature of the
offense from non-bailable to bailable, the application for bail can only be filed
with and resolved by the appellate court.” be violated if bail is fixed?
ON RECOGNIZANCE:
What are the instances when recognizance is allowed by the law and the
rules?
(b) where a person has been in custody for a period equal to or more
than the minimum of the imposable principal penalty, without
application of the Indeterminate Sentence Law or any modifying
circumstance, in which case the court, in its discretion, may allow his
release on his own recognizance;
(c) where the accused has applied for probation, pending resolution of
the case but no bail was filed or the accused is incapable of filing
one; and
(a) Separate detention from adults except where families are accommodated
as family units;
(b) Immediate free legal assistance;
(c) Immediate notice of such arrest to the parents or guardians of the child; and
(d) Release of the child on recognizance within twenty-four (24) hours to the
custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development or any
responsible member of the community as determined by the court.”
101
(f) When he commits the offense while on parole or under conditional pardon;
and
(g) When the accused has previously been pardoned by the municipal or city
mayor for violation of municipal or city ordinance for at least two times.
and subject to the authority of a responsible citizen in the community who may be
willing to accept the responsibility. In such a case the affidavit herein mentioned
shall include a statement of the person charged that he binds himself to accept the
authority of the citizen so appointed by the Court. The Clerk of Court shall
immediately report the presence of the accused person to the Court. Except when
his failure to report is for justifiable reasons including circumstances beyond his
control to be determined by the Court, any violation of this sworn statement shall
justify the Court to order his immediate arrest unless he files bail in the amount
forthwith fixed by the Court.
SECTION 16. Arrest of accused. — The court shall not order the
arrest of the accused except for failure to appear whenever required. Release of
the person arrested shall either be on bail or on recognizance by a responsible
citizen acceptable to the court.
“When a person has been in custody for a period equal to or more than the
possible maximum imprisonment prescribed for the offense charged, he shall be
released immediately, without prejudice to the continuation of the trial or the
proceedings on appeal. If the maximum penalty to which the accused may be
sentenced is destierro, he shall be released after thirty (30) days of preventive
imprisonment.”
A person in custody for a period equal to or more than the minimum of the
principal penalty prescribed for the offense charged, without application of the
Indeterminate Sentence Law or any modifying circumstance, shall be released on
a reduced bail or on his own recognizance, at the discretion of the court. (16a)
General Rule:
Bail must be filed with the court where the case is pending.
Exceptions:
3. Any person in custody who is not yet charged in court may apply for
bail with any court in the province, city, or municipality where he is
held.
Sec. 14. Bail, where filed. — (a) Bail in the amount fixed may be filed
with the court where the case is pending, or, in the absence or unavailability of the
judge thereof, with another branch of the same court within the province or city. If
the accused is arrested in a province, city or municipality other than where the
case is pending, bail may be filed also with any regional trial court of said place,
or, if no judge thereof is available, with any metropolitan trial judge, municipal trial
judge or municipal circuit trial judge therein. . .
The OCA's Report revealed that the accused Rosalina Mercado was not
arrested. The proper procedure, according to the above-cited rules, would have
been to file her bail bond with the RTC Branch 41, San Fernando, Pampanga
where her case was pending. Had complainant Judge been absent or was
unavailable at that time, the accused could have filed for bail with another branch
of the RTC in Pampanga or in San Fernando City. However, the accused filed her
surety bond with the MTC of Sta. Maria, Bulacan, where it was approved by
respondent Judge.
Not only did respondent Judge erroneously order the release of the
accused, but he also failed to require submission of the supporting documents
needed in the application for a bond.
When the presence of the accused is required by the court or these Rules,
his bondsmen shall be notified to produce him before the court on a given date
and time. If the accused fails to appear in person as required, his bail shall be
declared forfeited and the bondsmen given 30 days within which to produce their
principal and to show why no judgment should be rendered against them for the
amount of their bail. Within the said period, the bondsmen must:
104
(a) produce the body of their principal or give the reason for his non-
production; and
(b) explain why the accused did not appear before the court when first
required to do so.
Upon application of the bondsmen, with due notice to the prosecutor, the
bail may be cancelled upon surrender of the accused or proof of his death.
“SEC. 26. Bail not a bar to objections on illegal arrest, lack of or irregular
preliminary investigation. – An application for or admission to bail shall not bar the
accused from challenging the validity of his arrest or the legality of the warrant
issued therefore, or from assailing the regularity or questioning the absence of a
preliminary investigation of the charge against him, provided that he raises them
before entering his plea. The court shall resolve the matter as early as practicable
but not later than the start of the trial of the case. (n)”
This abandons the ruling of the Supreme Court in the case of People v.
Timon, 281 SCRA 597 (1997) and similar cases that “an application for bail
constitutes a waiver of right of the accused to question whatever irregularities and
defects attended the arrest”
Rationale
“Inasmuch as `not only the liberty but even the life of the accused may be
at stake, it is always wise and proper that the accused should be fully apprised of
the true charges against them, and thus avoid all and any possible surprises which
may be detrimental to their rights and interests.’ The main purpose of this
requirement is to enable the accused to suitably prepare his defense. He is
presumed to be innocent and has, therefore, no independent knowledge of the
acts that constitute the offense with which he is charged. (Matilde v. Jabson, 68
SCRA 456)
PpPeople of the .Philippines v. Artemio Calayca Jan. 20, 1999. Commented [u61]: QUERY: People of the
PpPeople of the .Philippines v. Cesar Larena June 29, 1999. Philippines?
Commented [u62]: QUERY: People of the
A person charged with simple rape cannot be convicted of qualified forms Philippines?
of rape if the qualifying circumstances are not stated in the Information. Otherwise Commented [u63]: QUERY: pls. provide SCRA or GR
there will be a violation of his right to be informed.
PpPeople of the .Philippines v. Rufino Bermas, April 21, 1999. Commented [u64]: QUERY: People of the
Philippines?
"In criminal cases there can be no fair hearing unless the accused be given
an opportunity to be heard by counsel. The right to be heard would be of little avail
if it does not include the right to be heard by counsel. Even the most intelligent or
educated man may have no skill in the science of the law, particularly in the rules
of procedure, and, without counsel, he may be convicted not because he is guilty
but because he does not know how to establish his innocence. And this can
happen more easily to persons who are ignorant or uneducated. It is for this reason
that the right to be assisted by counsel is deemed so important that it has become
a constitutional right and it so implemented that under our rules of procedure it is
not enough for the Court to apprise an accused of his right to have an attorney, it
is not enough to ask him whether he desires the aid of an attorney, but it is
essential that the court should assign one de oficio for him if he so desires and he
is poor or grant him a reasonable time to procure an attorney of his own." (Citing
PpPeople of the .Philippines v. Holgado 85 Phil. 752) Commented [u65]: QUERY: People?
own choice. In addition, the waiver must be in writing and in the presence of
counsel. If the waiver complies with the constitutional requirements, then the
extrajudicial confession will be tested for voluntariness, i.e., if it was given freely
— without coercion, intimidation, inducement, or false promises; and credibility, 2 Commented [u68]: QUERY: delete this?
i.e., if it was consistent with the normal experience of mankind.
PpPeople of the Philippines. v. Ayson July 7, 1989. Commented [u69]: QUERY: People?
1) BEFORE THE CASE IS FILED IN COURT (or with the public prosecutor,
for preliminary investigation), but after having been taken into custody or
otherwise deprived of his liberty in some significant way, and on being
interrogated by the police: the continuing right to remain silent and to
counsel, and to be informed thereof, not to be subjected to force, violence,
threat, intimidation or any other means which vitiates the free will; and to
have evidence obtained in violation of these rights rejected; and
a) to refuse to be a witness;
b) not to have any prejudice whatsoever result to him by such refusal;
c) to testify to his own behalf, subject to cross-examination by the
prosecution;
d) WHILE TESTIFYING, to refuse to answer a specific question which
tends to incriminate him for some crime other than that for which he is
prosecuted.
or model. Police investigators either automatically type it together with the curt
"Opo" as the answer or ask the accused to sign it or even copy it in their
handwriting. Its tired, punctilious, fixed, and artificially stately style does not create
an impression of voluntariness or even understanding on the part of the accused.
The showing of a spontaneous, free, and unconstrained giving up of a right is
missing.
“This is not to say that a counsel should try to prevent an accused from
making a confession. Indeed, as an officer of the court, it is an attorney's duty to,
first and foremost, seek the truth. However, counsel should be able, throughout
the investigation, to explain the nature of the questions by conferring with his client
and halting the investigation should the need arise. The duty of a lawyer includes
ensuring that the suspect under custodial investigation is aware that the right of an
accused to remain silent may be invoked at any time.”
Beltran v. Samson,
53 Phil. 570 (1929).
An affidavit is hearsay and has weak probative value, unless the affiant is
placed on the witness stand to testify on it. Being hearsay evidence, it is
inadmissible because the party against whom it is presented is deprived of his right
and opportunity to cross-examine the person to whom the statement or writing is
attributed. The right to confront and cross-examine the witnesses against him is a
fundamental right of every accused which may not be summarily done away with.
Another reason why the right to confrontation is so essential is because the trial
judge's duty to observe and test the credibility of the affiant can only be met by his
being brought to the witness stand. That the affidavit formed part of the record of
the preliminary investigation does not justify its being treated as evidence because
the record of the preliminary investigation does not form part of the record of the
case in the RTC. Such record must be introduced as evidence during trial, and the
trial court is not compelled to take judicial notice of the same. The prosecution
having failed to present Cesar Delima as a witness, his sworn statement was
patently inadmissible and deserves no consideration at all.
If the defense believes that there are other witnesses who could have
exculpated the accused, it should have called for them even by compulsory
process. (People v. Boholst, 152 SCRA 263 [1987])
Roque v. Desierto May 12, 1999 Commented [u74]: QUERY: incomplete citation
G.R. No. 129978. May 12, 1999
Consistent with the rights of all persons to due process of law and to speedy
trial, the Constitution commands the Office of the Ombudsman to act promptly on
complaints filed against public officials. Thus, the failure of said office to resolve a
complaint that has been pending for six years is clearly violative of this mandate
109
and the public officials’ rights. In such event, the aggrieved party is entitled to the
dismissal of the complaint.
Canson v. Garchitorena, July 28, 1999 Commented [u75]: QUERY: incomplete citation
SB-99-9-J. July 28, 199
Once again we reiterate that tired old legal maxim, justice delayed is justice
denied. It need not be over-emphasized that this oft-repeated adage requires the
expeditious resolution of disputes much more so in criminal cases where an
accused is constitutionally guaranteed the right to a speedy trial, which, as defined
is one "[c]onducted according to the law of criminal procedure and the rules and
regulations, free from vexatious, capricious and oppressive delays." The primordial
purpose of this constitutional right is to prevent the oppression of the accused by
delaying criminal prosecution for an indefinite period of time. It, likewise, is
intended to prevent delays in the administration of justice by requiring judicial
tribunals to proceed with reasonable dispatch in the trial of criminal prosecutions.
Binay vs. Sandiganbayan Oct. 1, 1999 Commented [u76]: QUERY: incomplete citation
G.R. Nos. 120681-83, October 1, 1999.
However, the right to speedy disposition of a case, like the right to speedy
trial, is deemed violated only when the proceedings is attended by vexatious,
capricious, and oppressive delays; or when unjustified postponements of the trial
are asked for and secured, or when without cause or justifiable motive a long
period of time is allowed to elapse without the party having his case tried. Equally
applicable is the balancing test used to determine whether a defendant has been
denied his right to a speedy trial, or a speedy disposition of a case for that matter,
in which the conduct of both the prosecution and the defendant is weighed, and
such factors as the length of the delay, the reasons for such delay, the assertion
or failure to assert such right by the accused, and the prejudice caused by the
delay. The concept of speedy disposition is a relative term and must necessarily
be a flexible concept.
Right to appeal. The only right under Rule 115 not found in the Constitution.
“The accused must be arraigned before the court where the complaint
or information was filed or assigned for trial. The arraignment shall be made
in open court by the judge or clerk by furnishing the accused with a copy of
the complaint or information, reading the same in the language or dialect
known to him, and asking him whether he pleads guilty or not guilty. The
prosecution may call at the trial witnesses other than those named in the
complaint or information.” (Sec. 1, par. [a])
PpPeople of the Philippines v. Demetrio Cabale May 8, 1990 Commented [u77]: QUERY: incomplete citation
In the instant cases, counsel for the appellant entered into trial without
objecting that his client, the appellant herein, had not yet been arraigned. Said
counsel had also the full opportunity of cross-examining the witnesses for the
prosecution. Then, when the cases were being retried after the appellant had been
arraigned, appellant's counsel filed a joint manifestation with the prosecution,
adopting all proceedings had previous to the arraignment of the appellant. There
was, therefore, no violation of the appellant's constitutional right to be informed of
the nature and cause of the accusation against him.
The rule is that the right to preliminary investigation is waived when the
accused fails to invoke it before or at the time of entering a plea at arraignment.
(Go v. Court of Appeals, 206 SCRA 138)
Exceptional case:
Francisco Larranaga v. Court of Appeals, March 13, 1998 Commented [u78]: QUERY: incomplete citation
“The rule is that the right to preliminary investigation is waived when the
accused fails to invoke it before or at the time of entering a plea at arraignment.
Petitioner, in this case, has been actively and consistently demanding a regular
preliminary investigation even before he was charged in court. Also, petitioner
refused to enter a plea during the arraignment because there was a pending case
in this Court regarding his right to avail of a regular preliminary investigation.
Clearly, the acts of petitioner and his counsel are inconsistent with a waiver.
Preliminary investigation is part of procedural due process. It cannot be waived
unless the waiver appears to be clear and informed.”
“The records of the court must clearly indicate full compliance with Section
1 of Rule 116, otherwise, the arraignment, and consequently all subsequent
proceedings will be declared null and void.
The requirement that the reading be made in a language or dialect that the
accused understands and knows is a mandatory requirement, just as the whole of
said Section 1 should be strictly followed by trial courts. This the law affords the
accused by way of implementation of the all-important constitutional mandate
regarding the right of an accused to be informed of the precise nature of the
accusation leveled at him and is, therefore, really an avenue for him to be able to
hoist the necessary defense in rebuttal thereof. It is an integral aspect of the due
process clause under the Constitution.”
“(b) The accused must be present at the arraignment and must personally
enter his plea. Both arraignment and plea shall be made of record, but failure
to do so shall not affect the validity of the proceedings.”
“(c) When the accused refuses to plead or makes a conditional plea, a plea
of not guilty shall be entered for him. (1a)”
If the accused will make a conditional plea, i.e., I am guilty but it was his
fault or “Opo sinakal ko sya pero kasi inunahan nya ako” or if he refuses to plea at
all, the court will enter a plea of not guilty.
“When the accused pleads guilty but presents exculpatory evidence, his plea
shall be deemed withdrawn and a plea of not guilty shall be entered for him.
(n)”
Where the accused pleads guilty and proceeds, in a hearing to prove the
mitigating circumstance of incomplete self-defense, to state facts constituting full
and complete self-defense. The trial judge should declare his plea of guilty thereby
withdrawn, order that a plea of not guilty be entered and proceed to trial on the
merits.
This provision is NEW and is meant to ensure compliance with the right of
an accused to speedy trial.
This is from Section B par. 1 of Supreme Court Circular No. 1-89. However,
there is an additional proviso that the failure of the private offended party to appear
will be a waiver of the requirement of his consent to a plea bargain.”
At arraignment, the accused, with the consent of the offended party and
prosecutor, may be allowed by the trial court to plead guilty to a lesser offense
which is necessarily included in the offense charged. After arraignment but before
trial, the accused may still be allowed to plead guilty to said lesser offense after
withdrawing his plea of not guilty. No amendment of the complaint or information
is necessary. (Sec. 2, Rule 116)
REQUISITES:
In the case at bar, the private respondent (accused) moved to plead guilty
to a lesser offense after the prosecution had already rested its case. In such
situation, jurisprudence has provided the trial court and the Office of the Prosecutor
with a yardstick within which their discretion may be properly exercised. Thus, in
People v. Kayanan (L-39355, May 31, 1978, 83 SCRA 437, 450), We held that the
rules allow such a Plea only when the prosecution does not have sufficient
evidence to establish the guilt of the crime charged. In his concurring opinion in
People v. Parohinog (G.R. No. L-47462, February 28, 1980, 96 SCRA 373, 377),
then Justice Antonio Barredo explained clearly and tersely the rationale or the law:
". . . (A)fter the prosecution had already rested, the only basis
on which the fiscal and the court could rightfully act in allowing the
appellant to change his former plea of not guilty to murder to guilty to
the lesser crime of homicide could be nothing more nothing less than
the evidence already in the record. The reason for this being that
Section 4 of Rule 118 (now Section 2, Rule 116) under which a plea
for a lesser offense is allowed was not and could not have been
intended as a procedure for compromise, much less bargaining."
“necessarily included”
This produced too much confusion and the Supreme Court apparently
decided to go back to the language of the 1964.
Thus, the rule under the Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure now
require that the plea be made to an offense that is necessarily included in the
offense charged.
Panfilo Amatan vs. Vicente Aujero Sept. 27, 1995 Commented [u84]: QUERY: incomplete citation
Despite a plea of guilt to a capital offense, the Court MUST require the
prosecution to present evidence to prove the guilt of the accused and to determine
the precise degree of culpability.
The rule is that where the accused desires to plead guilty to a capital
offense, the court is enjoined to observe the following:
2. The court must require the prosecution to present evidence to prove the
guilt of the accused and the precise degree of his culpability; and
3. The court must ask the accused if he desires to present evidence in his
behalf and allow him to do so if he desires.
“A searching inquiry must focus on the voluntariness of the plea and the full
comprehension by the accused of the consequences of the plea so that the plea
of guilty can truly be said to be based on a free and informed judgment. While there
can be no hard and fast rule as to how a judge may conduct a searching inquiry,
we declared in People v. Aranzado (418 Phil. 125 [2001]) citing a plethora of cases,
that it would be well for the court to do the following:
(1) Ascertain from the accused himself (a) how he was brought into the
custody of the law; (b) whether he had the assistance of a competent
counsel during the custodial and preliminary investigations; and (c)
under what conditions he was detained and interrogated during the
investigations. These the court shall do in order to rule out the
possibility that the accused has been coerced or placed under a state
of duress by actual threats of physical harm coming from malevolent
or avenging quarters.
(3) Elicit information about the personality profile of the accused, such
as his age, socio-economic status, and educational background
which may serve as a trustworthy index of his capacity to give a free
and informed plea of guilty.
115
(4) Inform the accused the exact length of imprisonment or nature of the
penalty under the law and the certainty that he will serve such
sentence. Not infrequently indeed an accused pleads guilty in the
hope of a lenient treatment or upon bad advice or because of
promises of the authorities or parties of a lighter penalty should he
admit guilt or express remorse. It is the duty of the judge to see to it
that the accused does not labor under these mistaken impressions.
(5) Require the accused to fully narrate the incident that spawned the
charges against him or make him reenact the manner in which he
perpetrated the crime, or cause him to supply missing details of
significance.
Moreover, in some cases, we ruled that the trial court should also explain
to the accused the essential elements of the crime charged, as well as the penalty
and civil liabilities.”
PpPeople of the .Philippines vs. Paulino Sevilleno March 29, 1999. Commented [u85]: QUERY: incomplete citation?
Facts:
After the accused pleaded guilty to rape with homicide, the judge asked
him only two questions, First, “Do you understand your plea of guilt?” and second
“Do you know that your plea of guilt could bring death penalty?”
Held:
“Only a clear, definite and unconditional plea of guilty by the accused must
be accepted by trial courts. There is no such rule which provides that simply
because the accused pleaded guilty to the charge that his conviction should
automatically follow. A judge should always be an embodiment of competence. As
an administrator of justice, it is imperative that the trial judge carry out his duties
ably and competently so as not to erode public confidence in the judiciary.”
People v. Mendoza,
231 SCRA 264.
Facts:
Accused pleaded guilty to robbery but the court required presentation of
evidence. When the prosecution failed to present sufficient evidence, the court
acquitted the accused.
Held:
While the court was correct in acquitting the accused, the proper procedure
should have been to consider the plea of guilt withdrawn and a plea of not guilty
116
entered before acquitting the accused to avoid the absurd situation of an acquittal
when the plea was guilty.
At any time before the judgment of conviction becomes final, the court may
permit an improvident plea of guilty to be withdrawn and be substituted by a plea
of not guilty.
Duty of court to inform accused of his right to counsel. (Sec. 6, Rule 116)
What are the steps that a court must take to properly inform the accused of
his right to counsel?
(1) It must inform the defendant that it is his right to have attorney before
being arraigned;
(2) After giving him such information the court must ask him if he desires
the aid of an attorney;
(3) If he desires and is unable to employ attorney, the court must assign
attorney de oficio to defend him; and
(4) if the accused desires to procure an attorney of his own the court
must grant him a reasonable time therefor.
PpPeople of the .Philippines v. Mario Serzo, Jr., June 20, 1997 Commented [u88]: QUERY: incomplete citation?
Bill of particulars
alleged defects of the complaint or information and the details desired. (Sec.9,
Rule 116)
The accused is basically asking the Court to Order the the prosecution to
set forth the details in vague portions of a Complaint or an Information.
Procedure:
Coverage:
The court may order the prosecution to produce and permit the
inspection and copying or photographing of any written statement given by
the complainant and other witnesses in any investigation of the offense
conducted by the prosecution or other investigating officers, as well as any
designated documents, papers, books, accounts, letters, photographs,
object, or tangible things not otherwise privileged, which constitute or
contain evidence material to any matter involved in the case and which are
in the possession or under the control of the prosecution, police, or other
law investigating agencies.
Purpose:
(c) A petition for review of the resolution of the prosecutor is pending at either
the Department of Justice, or the Office of the President; Provided, That the
period of suspension shall not exceed sixty (60) days counted from the filing
of the petition with the reviewing office. (12a)
118
Effects of insanity:
General Rule:
Exception:
c) facts that have been admitted or are not denied by the prosecution.
(Edgardo Lopez v. Sandiganbayan October, 13, 1995)
“It is clear from this Section that a motion to quash may be based on
factual and legal grounds, and since extinction of criminal liability and
double jeopardy are retained as among the grounds for a motion to quash
in Section 3 of the new Rule 117, it necessarily follows that facts outside the
information itself may be introduced to prove such grounds.”
“The court shall consider no ground other than those stated in the motion,
except lack of jurisdiction over the offense charged.”
PpPeople of the .Philippines v. David G. Nitafan, Feb. 1, 1999 Commented [u91]: QUERY: pls. provide GR or SCRA
“It is also clear from Section 1 that the right to file a motion to quash belongs
only to the accused. There is nothing in the rules which authorizes the court or
judge to motu proprio initiate a motion to quash if no such motion was filed by the
accused. A motion contemplates an initial action originating from the accused. It is
the latter who is in the best position to know on what ground/s he will based his
objection to the information. Otherwise, if the judge initiates the motion to quash,
then he is not only pre-judging the case of the prosecution but also takes side with
the accused. This would violate the right to a hearing before an independent and
impartial tribunal. Such independence and impartiality cannot be expected from a
magistrate, such as herein respondent judge, who in his show cause orders, orders
dismissing the charges and order denying the motions for reconsideration stated
and even expounded in a lengthy disquisition with citation of authorities, the
grounds and justifications to support his action. Certainly, in compliance with the
orders, the prosecution has no choice but to present arguments contradicting that
of respondent judge. Obviously, however, it cannot be expected from respondent
judge to overturn the reasons he relied upon in his different orders without
contradicting himself. To allow a judge to initiate such motion even under the guise
of a show cause order would result in a situation where a magistrate who is
supposed to be neutral, in effect, acts as counsel for the accused and judge as
well. A combination of these two personalities in one person is violative of due
process which is a fundamental right not only of the accused but also of the
prosecution.”
(i) That the accused has been previously convicted or acquitted of the offense
charged, or the case against him was dismissed or otherwise terminated
without his express consent. (3a)
This ground simply means that the facts as alleged in the complaint or
information do not charge an offense.
In other words, there is no law penalizing the acts stated in the complaint or
information. NULLUM CRIMEN NULLE POENA SINE LEGE
Contrary to law”
The Information:
“That on the 28th day of December 1996, in the evening at Sitio Buenlag,
Brgy. Nancamaliran West, Municipality of Urdaneta, Province of Pangasinan,
Philippines and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the above-named
accused, with deliberate intent and by means of force and intimidation, did then
and there, willfully, unlawfully, criminally and feloniously sexually abuse the herein
complaining witness FILIPINA FLORES, an 11 years old and daughter of the
herein accused with the use of sharp pointed bladed weapon and all against her
will.”
Held:
The case at bar, however, is not one of variance between allegation and
proof. The recital of facts in the criminal complaints simply does not properly
charge rape, "sexual abuse" not being an essential element or ingredient thereof.
Neither can accused-appellant be convicted of acts of lasciviousness or of
any offense for that matter under our penal laws. It is settled that what
characterizes the charge is the actual recital of facts in the complaint or
information. For every crime is made up of certain acts and intent which must be
set forth in the complaint or information with reasonable particularity of time, place,
names (plaintiff and defendant), and circumstances. In other words, the complaint
must contain a specific allegation of every fact and circumstance necessary to
constitute the crime charged, the accused being presumed to have no independent
knowledge of the facts that constitute the offense.
The Information charging the accused with Sexual Abuse stated thus:
That accused is the stepfather of AAA, who was born on January 29, 1988.
HELD: Under Section 8, Rule 110 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure, it provides:
Sec. 8. Designation of the offense. — The complaint or information shall state the
designation of the offense given by the statute, aver the acts or omissions constituting the
offense, and specify its qualifying and aggravating circumstances. If there is no
designation of the offense, reference shall be made to the section or subsection of the
statute punishing it.
(b) That the court trying the case has no jurisdiction over the offense
charged;
(d) That the officer who filed the information had no authority to do so;
Can the lack of authority on the part of the officer signing the Information
be cured by silence, acquiescence or express consent?
Cudia v. CA
G.R. No. 110315, January 16, 1998.
Held:
If the person who signed the Information is not authorized to do so, the
entire proceedings will be null and void even if the accused participated actively in
the proceedings.
(f) That more than one offense is charged except when a single
punishment for various offenses is prescribed by law;
In relation to Libel
Danguilan-Vitug v. CA,
232 SCRA 460.
Where the complaint or information itself alleged that the averred libelous
material was privileged communication, then this would constitute a legal excuse
or justification.
(i) That the accused has been previously convicted or acquitted of the
offense charged, or the case against him was dismissed or otherwise
terminated without his express consent. (3a)
double jeopardy
If the motion to quash is sustained, the court may order that another
complaint or information be filed except if it was sustained on the grounds of
double jeopardy or extinction of criminal liability. In such case, the accused, if
in custody, shall not be discharged unless admitted to bail.
If not, or if the prosecutor fails to comply with the order of the court within
the time allowed, the accused, if in custody, shall be discharged unless he is also
in custody for another charge.
Note:
The quashal of an Information will not prevent the refilling of the same case
unless it was quashed due to double jeopardy or extinction of the criminal liability.
(Sec. 6, Rule 117)
“Section 21. No person shall be twice put in jeopardy of punishment for the
same offense. If an act is punished by a law and an ordinance, conviction or
acquittal under either shall constitute a bar to another prosecution for the same
act.”
RULE:
Double jeopardy will bar a second prosecution for the SAME ACT only if it
is punished by a national law AND a local ordinance.
Example:
B.P. Blg. 22 and ESTAFA can co-exist because both are punished by
national laws. Nierra v. Dacuycuy ,181 S 1 Commented [u93]: QUERY: SCRA?
Where a bank officer borrows money from the bank where there is a failure
to observe and comply with procedural, reportorial or ceiling requirements
prescribed by law in the grant of a loan to a director, officer, stockholder and
other related interests in the bank and is also charged with estafa through
falsification of commercial documents can he still be charged with a criminal
violation of the General Banking Act for violation of DOSRI rules?
As aptly pointed out by the BSP in its memorandum, there are differences
between the two offenses. A DOSRI violation consists in the failure to observe and
comply with procedural, reportorial or ceiling requirements prescribed by law in the
grant of a loan to a director, officer, stockholder and other related interests in the
bank, i.e., lack of written approval of the majority of the directors of the bank and
failure to enter such approval into corporate records and to transmit a copy thereof
to the BSP supervising department. The elements of abuse of confidence, deceit,
fraud or false pretenses, and damage, which are essential to the prosecution for
estafa, are not elements of a DOSRI violation. The filing of several charges against
Soriano was, therefore, proper.
(a) the first jeopardy must have attached prior to the second;
(b) the first jeopardy must have been validly terminated; and
(c) the second jeopardy must be for the same offense as that in the first
or the second offense includes or is necessarily included in the
offense charged in the first information, or is an attempt to commit
the same or is a frustration thereof.
Will the pendency of another criminal case for the same offense bar
subsequent prosecution by reason of double jeopardy?
This is already clear under the new rules because the phrase “previously
convicted or in jeopardy of being convicted” under the old Section 3 has been
amended to read “previously convicted or acquitted of the offense charged.”
The change was based on the ruling in PpPeople of the .Philippines vs.
Pineda ( G.R. No. 44205, 16 February 1993) which overturned the ruling in cases Commented [u94]: QUERY: incomplete citation
like PpPeople of the .Philippines v. City Court of Manila 121 SCRA 627 where a Formatted: Font: Not Bold
contrary rule was espoused.
Formatted: Font: Not Bold
Commented [u95]: QUERY: incomplete citation/SCRA
Later reiterations:
125
Binay vs. Sandiganbayan Oct. 1, 1999. Commented [u97]: QUERY: incomplete citation
G.R. Nos. 120681-83, October 1, 1999.
The filing of the Information in the Sandiganbayan did not put petitioners in
double jeopardy even though they had already pleaded "not guilty" to the
information earlier filed in the RTC. The first jeopardy never attached in the first
place, the RTC not being a court of competent jurisdiction. There can be no double
jeopardy where the accused entered as plea in a court that had no jurisdiction. The
remedy of petitioners, therefore, was not to move for the quashal of the information
pending in the Sandiganbayan on the ground of double jeopardy. Their remedy
was to move for the quashal of the information pending in the RTC on the ground
of lack of jurisdiction.
YES- double jeopardy will set in because it is the Reckless Imprudence that is the
crime not the consequences thereof
The two charges against petitioner, arising from the same facts, were prosecuted
under the same provision of the Revised Penal Code, as amended, namely, Article 365
defining and penalizing quasi-offenses.
Indeed, the notion that quasi-offenses, whether reckless or simple, are distinct
species of crime, separately defined and penalized under the framework of our penal laws,
is nothing new. As early as the middle of the last century, we already sought to bring clarity
to this field by rejecting in Quizon v. Justice of the Peace of Pampanga the
proposition that "reckless imprudence is not a crime in itself but simply a way of
committing it . . ." on three points of analysis: (1) the object of punishment in quasi-
crimes (as opposed to intentional crimes); (2) the legislative intent to treat quasi-crimes as
distinct offenses (as opposed to subsuming them under the mitigating circumstance of
minimal intent) and; (3) the different penalty structures for quasi-crimes and intentional
crimes
Issue: Can an Information for Bigamy be quashed on the basis of the subsequent
declaration of nullity of a marriage AFTER the second marriage BUT BEFORE the
filing of the filing of the Bigamy case?
HELD: The Family Code has settled once and for all the conflicting jurisprudence on the
matter. A declaration of the absolute nullity of a marriage is now explicitly required either
as a cause of action or a ground for defense. It has been held in a number of cases that
a judicial declaration of nullity is required before a valid subsequent marriage can be
contracted; or else, what transpires is a bigamous marriage, reprehensible and immoral.
126
XXX
(2)That the first marriage has not been legally dissolved or, in case his or her spouse is
absent, the absent spouse could not yet be presumed dead according to the Civil Code;
(4)That the second or subsequent marriage has all the essential requisites for validity.
(b) the facts constituting the graver charge became known or were
discovered only after a plea was entered in the former complaint
or information; or
Note: Under the 1985 RULES “after filing of the information” NEW
RULES “after a plea was entered.”
(c) the plea of guilty to the lesser offense was made without the
consent of the prosecutor and of the offended party except as
provided in section 1(f) of Rule 116.
Section 1(f) of Rule 116- If the offended party fails to show up during the Commented [u98]: QUERY: incomplete provision?
arraignment, there can be a plea to a lesser offense even if only the prosecutor Pls. verify
agrees.
If the accused invokes his right to a speedy trial and the case is dismissed,
can the case be refiled? NO, it cannot because DOUBLE JEOPARDY WILL
ATTACH.
127
People v. Vergara,
221 SCRA 960.
If the acquittal was void, double jeopardy will not lie (PpPeople of the Commented [u99]: QUERY: People?
Philippines. v. Bagul
131 SCRA 296 Gorion v. RTC of Cebu) Commented [u100]: QUERY: replace with “SCRA”?
213 SCRA 138 Commented [u101]: QUERY: incomplete case title
“The test for the third element is whether one offense is identical with the
other or is an attempt to commit it or a frustration thereof; or whether one offense
necessarily includes or is necessarily included in the other, as provided in Section
7 of Rule 117 of the Rules of Court.”
“Indeed, the crime under Section 3(e) of RA 3019 shares two common
elements with the felony under Article 171 of the Revised Penal Code — that the
offender is a public officer and that the act is related to the officer's public position.
However, the latter offense is not necessarily inclusive of the former. The essential
elements of each are not included among or do not form part of those enumerated
in the former. For there to be double jeopardy, the elements of one offense should
— like the ribs of an umbrella — ideally encompass those of the other. The
elements of a violation of Section 3(e) of RA 3019 fall outside the realm of those
of falsification of a public document and vice versa. At most, the two offenses may
be considered as two conjoined umbrellas with one or two common ribs. Clearly,
one offense does not include the other.”
Provisional dismissal. (NEW, Sec. 8, Rule 117) Commented [u102]: QUERY: incomplete citation:
“NEW”?
A case shall not be provisionally dismissed except with the express consent
of the accused and with notice to the offended party.
In a B.P. 22 case, upon motion of the accused, in the absence of the private
complainant and private prosecutor, the cases were ordered provisionally
dismissed in open court on June 9, 2003 pursuant to Sec. 8, Rule 117.
The order was received by the private complainant on July 2, 2003 and by the private
prosecutor on July 3, 2003.
A motion to revive the case was filed on July 2, 2004 and was granted by the MTC
on October 14, 2004.
ISSUES:
Co argues that the June 9, 2003 Order provisionally dismissing Criminal Case Nos.
206655-59, 206661-77 and 209634 should be considered as a final dismissal on the
ground that his right to speedy trial was denied. He reasons out that from his arraignment
on March 4, 2002 until the initial trial on June 9, 2003, there was already a "vexatious,
capricious and oppressive" delay, which is in violation of Section 6 of Republic Act 8493
(Speedy Trial Act of 1998) 24 and Section 2, Paragraph 2, Rule 119 of the Revised Rules
of Criminal Procedure 25 mandating that the entire trial period should not exceed 180 days
from the first day of trial. As the dismissal is deemed final, Co contends that the MeTC lost
its jurisdiction over the cases and cannot reacquire jurisdiction over the same based on a
mere motion because its revival would already put him in double jeopardy.
Assuming that the criminal cases were only provisionally dismissed, Co further
posits that such dismissal became permanent one year after the issuance of the
June 9, 2003 Order, not after notice to the offended party. He also insists that both
the filing of the motion to revive and the trial court's issuance of the order granting
the revival must be within the one-year period. Lastly, even assuming that the one-
year period to revive the criminal cases started on July 2, 2003 when Uy received the June
9, 2003 Order, Co asserts that the motion was filed one day late since year 2004 was a
leap year.
HELD:
First, Co's charge that his right to a speedy trial was violated is baseless. Obviously, he
failed to show any evidence that the alleged "vexatious, capricious and oppressive" delay
in the trial was attended with malice or that the same was made without good cause or
justifiable motive on the part of the prosecution. This Court has emphasized that "'speedy
trial' is a relative term and necessarily a flexible concept." In determining whether the
accused's right to speedy trial was violated, the delay should be considered in view of the
entirety of the proceedings. The factors to balance are the following: (a) duration of the
delay; (b) reason therefor; (c) assertion of the right or failure to assert it; and (d) prejudice
caused by such delay. Surely, mere mathematical reckoning of the time involved would
not suffice as the realities of everyday life must be regarded in judicial proceedings which,
after all, do not exist in a vacuum, and that particular regard must be given to the facts
and circumstances peculiar to each case. 29 "While the Court recognizes the accused's
right to speedy trial and adheres to a policy of speedy administration of justice, we cannot
deprive the State of a reasonable opportunity to fairly prosecute criminals. Unjustified
postponements which prolong the trial for an unreasonable length of time are what offend
the right of the accused to speedy trial." AEIDTc
the time-bar in the second paragraph thereof, to wit: (1) the prosecution with the express
conformity of the accused or the accused moves for a provisional (sin perjuicio) dismissal
of the case; or both the prosecution and the accused move for a provisional dismissal of
the case; (2) the offended party is notified of the motion for a provisional dismissal of the
case; (3) the court issues an order granting the motion and dismissing the case
provisionally; and (4) the public prosecutor is served with a copy of the order of provisional
dismissal of the case. In this case, it is apparent from the records that there is no notice
of any motion for the provisional dismissal of Criminal Cases Nos. 206655-59, 206661-77
and 209634 or of the hearing thereon which was served on the private complainant at
least three days before said hearing as mandated by Section 4, Rule 15 of the Rules. The
fact is that it was only in open court that Co moved for provisional dismissal "considering
that, as per records, complainant had not shown any interest to pursue her complaint."
The importance of a prior notice to the offended party of a motion for provisional dismissal
is aptly explained in People v. Lacson:
Third, there is evident want of jurisprudential support on Co's supposition that the
dismissal of the cases became permanent one year after the issuance of the June 9, 2003
Order and not after notice to the offended party. When the Rules states that the provisional
dismissal shall become permanent one year after the issuance of the order temporarily
dismissing the case, it should not be literally interpreted as such. Of course, there is a vital
need to satisfy the basic requirements of due process; thus, said in one case:
Although the second paragraph of the new rule states that the order
of dismissal shall become permanent one year after the issuance
thereof without the case having been revived, the provision should
be construed to mean that the order of dismissal shall become
permanent one year AFTER SERVICE OF THE ORDER OF
DISMISSAL ON THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR WHO HAS CONTROL
OF THE PROSECUTION WITHOUT THE CRIMINAL CASE HAVING
BEEN REVIVED. The public prosecutor cannot be expected to
comply with the timeline unless he is served with a copy of the order
of dismissal.
from the court should be sent to the latter at his/her given address. Section 2, Rule
13 of the Rules analogously provides that if any party has appeared by counsel,
service upon the former shall be made upon the latter.
Fourth, the contention that both the filing of the motion to revive the case and the
court order reviving it must be made prior to the expiration of the one-year period
is unsustainable. Such interpretation is not found in the Rules. Moreover, to permit
otherwise would definitely put the offended party at the mercy of the trial court, which may
wittingly or unwittingly not comply. Judicial notice must be taken of the fact that most, if
not all, of our trial court judges have to deal with clogged dockets in addition to their
administrative duties and functions. Hence, they could not be expected to act at all times
on all pending decisions, incidents, and related matters within the prescribed period of
time. It is likewise possible that some of them, motivated by ill-will or malice, may simply
exercise their whims and caprices in not issuing the order of revival on time.
Fifth, the fact that year 2004 was a leap year is inconsequential to determine the timeliness
of Uy's motion to revive the criminal cases. What is material instead is Co's categorical
admission that Uy is represented by a private counsel who only received a copy of the
June 9, 2003 Order on July 3, 2003. Therefore, the motion was not belatedly filed on July
2, 2004. Since the period for filing a motion to revive is reckoned from the private counsel's
receipt of the order of provisional dismissal, it necessarily follows that the reckoning period
for the permanent dismissal is likewise the private counsel's date of receipt of the order of
provisional dismissal. HEcTAI
And Sixth, granting for the sake of argument that this Court should take into account 2004
as a leap year and that the one-year period to revive the case should be reckoned from
the date of receipt of the order of provisional dismissal by Uy, We still hold that the motion
to revive the criminal cases against Co was timely filed. A year is equivalent to 365 days
regardless of whether it is a regular year or a leap year. Equally so, under the
Administrative Code of 1987, a year is composed of 12 calendar months. The number of
days is irrelevant. This was our ruling in Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Primetown
Property Group, Inc., which was subsequently reiterated in Commissioner of Internal
Revenue v. Aichi Forging Company of Asia, Inc., thus:
Applying Section 31, Chapter VIII, Book I of the Administrative Code of 1987 to this case,
the one-year period reckoned from the time Uy received the order of dismissal on July 2,
2003 consisted of 12 calendar months, computed as follows:
Abubakar v. Abubakar,
G.R. No. 134622. October 22, 1999October 22, 1999. Commented [u103]: QUERY: incomplete citation/ title
The accused now assails the validity of the proceedings in the criminal case.
Held:
It was during pre-trial conference when the parties agreed to adopt their
respective evidence in the civil case to the criminal case. This is allowed under
Section 2(e) of Rule 118 of the Rules of Court 17 which provides that during pre-
trial conference, the parties shall consider "such other matters as will promote a
fair and expeditious trial." The parties, in compliance with Section 4 of Rule 118 ,
18 reduced to writing such agreement. Petitioner, her counsel, and the public Commented [u104]: QUERY: delete this?
prosecutor signed the agreement. Petitioner is bound by the pre-trial agreement,
and she cannot now belatedly disavow its contents.
The express admission of the accused during pre-trial that he is the father
of the complainant is inadmissible if he and his counsel did not sign the
Stipulation of Facts.
People v. Dionisio,
G.R. No. 142431, January 14, 2004.
“Moreover, the fact that appellant admitted that he is the father of Ginalyn
during the pre-trial, thus dispensing with the need to present evidence to prove the
same, will not justify the trial court's appreciation of the qualifying circumstance of
relationship. A perusal of the pre-trial order would readily show that the said
stipulation was not signed by the appellant and his counsel. Hence, it cannot be
used as evidence against him. Rule 118, Sec. 2 of the Revised Rules of Criminal
Procedure provides that "all agreements or admissions made or entered during
the pre-trial conference shall be reduced in writing and signed by the accused and
counsel, otherwise, they cannot be used against the accused." This requirement
is mandatory. Thus, the omission of the signature of the accused and his counsel,
as mandatorily required by the Rules, renders the Stipulation of Facts inadmissible
in evidence.”
133
SEC. 4. Pre-trial order. – After the pre-trial conference, the court shall
issue an order reciting the actions taken, the facts stipulated, and evidence
marked. Such order shall bind the parties, limit the trial to matters not
disposed of, and control the course of the action during the trial, unless
modified by the court to prevent manifest injustice. (3)
Trial is the time allotted by law for the parties to present their evidence
in accordance with the rules of procedure.
Under the old rule (1985 Rules) the time to prepare for trial was only
two days.
The court shall, after consultation with the prosecutor and defense
counsel, set the case for continuous trail on a weekly or other short-term
trial calendar at the earliest possible time so as to ensure speedy trial. In no
case shall the entire trial period exceed one hundred eighty (180) days from
the first day of trial, except as otherwise authorized by the Supreme Court.
(Sec. 8, Cir. 38-98)
The time limitations provided under this section and the preceding
section shall not apply where special laws or circulars of the Supreme Court
provide for a shorter period of trial. (n)
The second and third paragraphs are new provisions that are taken from
the Speedy Trial Act and, more particularly, from Supreme Court Circular No. 38-
98
134
What is important to remember here is to remember that the law now sets
or provides for a time limit of (180) days from the first day of trial, except as
otherwise authorized by the Supreme Court for the trial to be terminated.
Nota Bene:
SEC. 9. Remedy where accused is not brought to trial within the time
limit. – If the accused is not brought to trial within the time limit required by
Section 1(g), Rule 116 and Section 1, as extended by Section 6 of this rule,
the information may be dismissed on motion of the accused on the ground
of denial of his right to speedy trial. The accused shall have the burden of
proving the motion but the prosecution shall have the burden of going
forward with the evidence to establish the exclusion of time under section 3
of this rule. The dismissal shall be subject to the rules on double jeopardy.
Section 1(g) Rule 116 – accused should be arraigned within 30 days from the
date the court acquires jurisdiction over his person
excluding the pendency of a motion to quash or for a
bill of particulars or other grounds for suspending
arraignment
Section 1 Rule 119 – trial should begin within 30 days from receipt of pre-
trial order. (Note: pre-trial should be conducted within
30 days from the date the court acquires jurisdiction
over the person of the accused – Section 1, Rule 118)
Extension under Sec. 6 – period from arraignment to trial is 80 days. (Note: This
is because over three years have already passed since
September 15, 1998)
Note: Failure of the accused to move for dismissal prior to trial shall
constitute a waiver of the right to dismiss under this section. (Sec. 14, Cir. 38-98)
Law on speedy trial not a bar to provision on speedy trial in the Constitution.
(Sec. 10, Rule 119)
What is the balancing test in applying the time limits imposed in the Speedy
Trial Act of 1998?
135
“The time limits set by the Speedy Trial Act of 1998 do not thus preclude
justifiable postponements and delays when so warranted by the situation. To the
Court, the reasons for the postponements and delays attendant to the present case
reflected above are not unreasonable. While the records indicate that neither
petitioner nor his counsel was notified of the resetting of the pre-trial to October
23, 2003, the same appears to have been occasioned by oversight or simple
negligence which, standing alone, does not prove fatal to the prosecution's case.
The faux pas was acknowledged and corrected when the MeTC recalled the arrest
warrant it had issued against petitioner under the mistaken belief that petitioner
had been duly notified of the October 23, 2003 pre-trial setting.
Applying the balancing test for determining whether an accused has been
denied his constitutional right to a speedy trial, or a speedy disposition of his case,
taking into account several factors such as the length and reason of the delay, the
accused's assertion or non-assertion of his right, and the prejudice to the accused
resulting from the delay, the Court does not find petitioner to have been unduly
and excessively prejudiced by the "delay" in the proceedings, especially given that
he had posted bail.”
“When the accused admits the act or omission charged in the complaint or
information but interposes a lawful defense, the order of trial may be
modified.”
Modifying the Order of Trial is within the sound discretion of the court.
Section 11(e) uses the phrase “the order of trial MAY be modified,” Section 7 of
R.A. No. 8493 (Speedy Trial Act) uses the phrase “MAY modify the order of trial”
and Section 3 of Supreme Court Circular No. 38-98 uses the SAME phrase.
13- Examination may be made before any member of the bar in good
standing or the judge of an inferior court designated by the judge of
the court where the case is pending.
137
15- Examination may be made only before the judge or the court where
the case is pending.
[G.R. No. 152643. August 28, 2008.] Commented [u105]: QUERY: Sir, saang case title po
Concepcion Cuenco Vda. De Manguerra and the Hon. Ramon C. Codilla, Jr., natin ilalagay ang GR No.? thanks po
Presiding Judge of the Regional Trial Court of Cebu City, Branch 19,
Petitioners v. Raul Risos, Susana Yongco, Leah Abarquez and Atty. Gamaliel
D.B. Bonje, Respondents.
It is basic that all witnesses shall give their testimonies at the trial of the
case in the presence of the judge. This is especially true in criminal cases in order
that the accused may be afforded the opportunity to cross-examine the witnesses
pursuant to his constitutional right to confront the witnesses face to face. It also
gives the parties and their counsel the chance to propound such questions as they
deem material and necessary to support their position or to test the credibility of
said witnesses. Lastly, this rule enables the judge to observe the witnesses'
demeanor.
The very reason offered by the petitioners to exempt Concepcion from the
coverage of Rule 119 is at once the ground which places her squarely within the
coverage of the same provision. Rule 119 specifically states that a witness may be
conditionally examined: 1) if the witness is too sick or infirm to appear at the trial;
or 2) if the witness has to leave the Philippines with no definite date of returning.
Thus, when Concepcion moved that her deposition be taken, had she not been too
sick at that time, her motion would have been denied. Instead of conditionally
examining her outside the trial court, she would have been compelled to appear
before the court for examination during the trial proper. EAcTDH Commented [u108]: QUERY: delete this?
Undoubtedly, the procedure set forth in Rule 119 applies to the case at bar.
It is thus required that the conditional examination be made before the court where
the case is pending. It is also necessary that the accused be notified, so that he
can attend the examination, subject to his right to waive the same after reasonable
notice. As to the manner of examination, the Rules mandate that it be conducted
in the same manner as an examination during trial, that is, through question and
answer.
We agree with the CA and quote with approval its ratiocination in this wise:
Petitioners further insist that Rule 23 applies to the instant case, because
the rules on civil procedure apply suppletorily to criminal cases. TSEcAD Commented [u110]: QUERY: delete this?
It is true that Section 3, Rule 1 of the Rules of Court provides that the rules
of civil procedure apply to all actions, civil or criminal, and special proceedings. In
effect, it says that the rules of civil procedure have suppletory application to
criminal cases. However, it is likewise true that the criminal proceedings are
primarily governed by the Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure. Considering that
139
Rule 119 adequately and squarely covers the situation in the instant case, we find
no cogent reason to apply Rule 23 suppletorily or otherwise.
People vs. Noel Enojas, Et Al, (G.R. No. 204894, March 10, 2014) the Supreme Court
affirmed that in view of A.M. No. 01-7-01-SC, September 24, 2002, expanding the
coverage of the Rules on Electronic Evidence, the said rules are APPLICABLE TO
CRIMINAL CASES.8
Section 1. Electronic testimony. – After summarily hearing the parties pursuant to Rule 9
of these Rules, the court may authorize the presentation of testimonial evidence by
electronic means. Before so authorizing, the court shall determine the necessity for such
presentation and prescribe terms and conditions as may be necessary under the
circumstances, including the protection of the rights of the parties and witnesses
concerned.
Section 3. Storage of electronic evidence. – The electronic evidence and recording thereof
as well as the stenographic notes shall form part of the record of the case. Such transcript
and recording shall be deemed prima facie evidence of such proceedings.
8
Nota Bene: There was previously a problem with the application of the Rules on
Electronic Evidence to Criminal Cases because in the case of Rustan Ang vs. Court of
Appeals, G.R. No. 182835, April 20, 2010, the Supreme Court held that “The Rules on
Electronic Evidence applies only to civil actions, quasi-judicial proceedings, and
administrative proceedings” although it did not mention the 2002 amendment to the said
rules.
140
(d) Said accused does not appear to be the most guilty; and
(e) Said accused has not at any time been convicted of any offense
involving moral turpitude.
Important principles:
2. Even if the judge erred in granting the discharge (e.g., the accused was the
most guilty) this will not affect the validity of the discharge or the
admissibility of the testimony of the witness but judges are warned in these
instances to take the said testimony with a grain of salt. (Goco Case, 209
SCRA 329)
3. The term “does not appear to be the most guilty” refers to degree of actual
participation and not to the imposable penalty which would be equal if there
is conspiracy (PpPeople of the Philippines. v. Sumail, 212 SCRA 626) Commented [u112]: QUERY: People
5. The fiscal has no right to omit the inclusion of any of the accused from the
information even if he intends to use him as a state witness (because under
Rule 110, Sec. 2 the information is supposed to be filed against all persons
who appear to be responsible for the offense involved) and it is the
judge who is trying the case who has the authority, under Sec. 17, to order
the discharge of the accused. (Note: exception is if a person has been
141
“In the case of Webb vs. De Leon, where, as in this case, the petitioners
questioned the non-inclusion of Alfaro in the Information considering her alleged
conspiratorial participation in the crime, this Court explained:
“To require the two witnesses Parane and Salazar to corroborate the
testimony of Abutin and Tampelix on the exact same points is to render nugatory
142
the other requisite that “there must be no other direct evidence available for
the proper prosecution of the offense committed, except the testimony of the
state witness.” The corroborative evidence required by the Rules does not have
to consist of the very same evidence as will be testified on by the proposed
state witnesses. We have ruled that “a conspiracy is more readily proved by the
acts of a fellow criminal than by any other method. If it is shown that the statements
of the conspirator are corroborated by other evidence, then we have convincing
proof of veracity. Even if the confirmatory testimony only applies to some
particulars, we can properly infer that the witness has told the truth in other
respects.” It is enough that the testimony of a co-conspirator is corroborated by
some other witness or evidence. In the case at bar, we are satisfied from a reading
of the records that the testimonies of Abutin and Tampelix are corroborated on
important points by each other’s testimonies and the circumstances disclosed
through the testimonies of the other prosecution witnesses, and “to such extent
that their trustworthiness becomes manifest.”
SEC. 19. When mistake has been made in charging the proper offense.
– When it becomes manifest at any time before judgment that a mistake has
been made in charging the proper offense and the accused cannot be
convicted of the offense charged or any other offense necessarily included
therein, the accused shall not be discharged if there appears good cause to
detain him. In such case, the court shall commit the accused to answer for
the proper offense and dismiss the original case upon the filing of the proper
information. (11a)
“If it appears at anytime before judgment that a mistake has been made in
charging the proper offense, the court shall dismiss the original complaint or
information upon the filing of a new one charging the proper offense in accordance
with section 19, Rule 119, provided the accused shall not be placed in double
jeopardy. The court may require the witnesses to give bail for their appearance at
the trial.” (14a)
within such further time as the court may allow for good cause, the accused, if in
custody, shall be discharged unless he is also in custody of another charge. (5a)
The judge may, motu proprio, exclude the public from the courtroom
if the evidence to be produced during the trial is offensive to decency or
public morals. He may also, on motion of the accused, exclude the public
from the trial except court personnel and the counsel of the parties. (13a)
The right of the accused to a public trial is not absolute. The public may be
excluded if the evidence to be produced is offensive to decency or public
morals.
Examples of instances when the public or some of the public may be excluded:
Cf., Section 2, Rule 111 – TAKE NOTE that Rule 111 refers to
consolidation of the civil aspect with the criminal in case where a separate
civil action was filed.
DEMURRER TO EVIDENCE
1. After the prosecution rests, the court motu propio can dismiss the case
due to insufficiency of evidence without the accused filing a demurrer to
evidence. However, the judge must give the prosecution an opportunity to
be heard before he can dismiss the case.
2. The motion for leave of court to file demurrer to evidence shall be filed within
a non-extendible period of five days after the prosecution rests its case and
the prosecution may oppose the motion within a non-extendible period of
five days from its receipt.
144
4. The order denying the motion for leave of court to file demurrer to evidence
or the demurrer itself shall not be reviewable by appeal or by certiorari
before judgment.
5. If the court grants a demurrer to evidence and thus, dismisses the case, this
amounts to an acquittal. DOUBLE JEOPARDY CAN ARISE DESPITE
THE FACT THAT THE DEMURRER WAS FILED BY THE ACCUSED. (i.e.,
filing a demurrer to evidence does not amount to the express consent of the
accused to the dismissal)
Section 15, Rules 119 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure is clear on the fact
that if an accused files a Demurrer to Evidence WITHOUT LEAVE OF COURT,
he WAIVES the right to present evidence if it is DENIED.
When is the prosecution deemed to have rested or when will the 5 day period
to file a motion for leave start?
“Section 23, Rule 119 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure provides that a
“motion for leave of court to file demurrer to evidence shall specifically state
its grounds and shall be filed with in a non-extendible period of five (5) days after
the prosecution rests its case.” This period runs, according to Cabador v.
People (G.R. No. 186001, October 2, 2009) only after the court shall have
ruled on the prosecution’s formal offer for that is when it can be deemed
to have rested its case”
Judgment is the adjudication by the court that the accused is guilty or not
guilty of the offense charged and the imposition on him of the proper penalty
and civil liability, if any. It must be written in the official language, personally
and directly prepared by the judge and signed by him and shall contain clearly
and distinctly a statement of the facts and the law upon which it is based. (1a)
Marcelino Rivera, Jr. v. PpPeople of the Philippines Commented [u115]: QUERY: People?
August 30, 1990 G. R. No. 93219 August 30, 1990 Commented [u116]: QUERY: pls. supply SCRA or
GR. thanks
"Where there is a valid information and the accused has been arraigned, an
order of dismissal issued by the court, motu proprio, in the course of a trial of a
criminal case, whether based on the merits or for failure of prosecution witnesses
to appear, has the effect of a judgment of acquittal and double jeopardy attaches.
The order is also immediately executory. However, this order of dismissal must be
written in the official language, personally and directly prepared by the judge and
signed by him conformably with the provisions of Rule 120, section 2 of the Rules
of Court. In the instant case, it is very clear that the order was merely dictated in
open court by the trial judge. There is no showing that this verbal order of dismissal
was ever reduced to writing and duly signed by him. Thus, it did not yet attain the
effect of a judgment of acquittal, so that it was still within the powers of the judge
to set it aside and enter another order, now in writing and duly signed by him,
reinstating the case."
IF FOR CONVICTION:
(4) the civil liability or damages caused by his wrongful act or omission
to be recovered from the accused by the offended party, if there is
any, unless the enforcement of the civil liability by a separate civil
action has been reserved or waived.
“The decision of the trial court falls short of this requirement in at least three
respects. First, it does not contain an evaluation of the evidence of the parties and
a discussion of the legal questions involved. It does not explain why the trial court
considered the complainant's testimony credible despite the fact that, as accused-
appellant points out, complainant could not remember the time of the day when
she was allegedly raped. It does not explain why accused-appellant's licking of
complainant's genital constituted attempted rape and not another crime. Second,
the complainant testified that she had been raped five times, to wit, in November
1989, on December 24, 1989, in June 1990, on March 14, 1991, and on December
23, 1991, and that once, on January 17, 1992, she was molested by her father
who licked her private part, for which reason six informations were filed against
him, but the decision found the accused-appellant guilty of only four counts of rape
(which the trial court erroneously said three counts) and one count of attempted
rape, without explaining whether accused-appellant was being acquitted of one
charge of rape. Third, the decision is so carelessly prepared that it finds the
accused-appellant guilty of three counts of consummated rape but sentences him
to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua ‘for each of the four counts of . . . rape.’"
“The requirement that the decisions of courts must be in writing and that
they must set forth clearly and distinctly the facts and the law on which they are
based serves many functions. It is intended, among other things, to inform the
parties of the reason or reasons for the decision so that if any of them appeals, he
can point out to the appellate court the finding of facts or the rulings on points of
law with which he disagrees. More than that, the requirement is an assurance to
the parties that, in reaching judgment, the judge did so through the processes of
legal reasoning. It is, thus, a safeguard against the impetuosity of the judge,
preventing him from deciding by ipse dixit. Vouchsafed neither the sword nor the
purse by the Constitution but nonetheless vested with the sovereign prerogative of
passing judgment on the life, liberty or property of his fellowmen, the judge must
ultimately depend on the power of reason for sustained public confidence in the
147
justness of his decision. The decision of the trial court in this case disrespects the
judicial function.”
"This Court, in accordance with the rules, required the parties to submit
their corresponding memorandum or brief. The prosecution filed its memorandum,
and also with the defense.
"After a careful perusal of the record of the case and evaluating the
evidence thereto and exhibits thereof, this Court finds no ground to modify, reverse
or alter the above-stated decision and hereby affirms the decision of the lower
court in toto."
The Constitution requires that "[N]o decision shall be rendered by any court
without expressing therein clearly and distinctly the facts and the law on which it is
based." The 1985 Rules of Criminal Procedure, as amended, provides that "[T]he
judgment must be written in the official language, personally and directly prepared
by the judge and signed by him and shall contain clearly and distinctly a statement
of the facts proved or admitted by the accused and the law upon which the
judgment is based."
IF FOR ACQUITTAL
Considering that it has already been settled that while under Rule 110, an
information or complaint should only charge one offense and that this is a ground
for quashal under Rule 117, this defect is waivable.
“The information against the accused has charged him with multiple rape,
at least six times according to the trial court in its findings. Section 3, Rule 120, of
the Rules of Court provides that "when two or more offenses are charged in a
single complaint or information, and the accused fails to object to it before trial, the
court may convict the accused of as many offenses as are charged and proved,
and impose on him the penalty for each and every one of them . . ." Rapisora can
thus be held responsible for as many rapes as might have been committed by him
which are duly proven at the trial.”
The body of the Information for Double Murder in this case stated thus:
“That on or about the 6th day of November, 2002, in the Municipality of Carigara,
Province of Leyte, Philippines and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the
above-named accused, with deliberate intent to kill, with treachery and evident
premeditation and abuse of superior strength, did then and there willfully, unlawfully and
feloniously attack, assault and wound FELIPE LAGERA Y OBERO, 65 years old and
RANIL TAGPIS Y LAGERA, 1 year old, with the use of a long bolo (sundang) which the
accused had provided himself for the purpose, thereby inflicting upon Felipe Lagera:
Hypovolemic shock, massive blood loss and multiple hacking wounds upon Ranil
Tagpis:
Hypovolemic shock, massive blood loss and hacking wound, head[,] which wounds
caused the death of Felipe Lagera y Obera and Ranil Tagpis y Lagera, immediately
thereafter.”
Held:
With regard to the conflicting rulings of the RTC and the Court of Appeals vis-a-vis
the nature of crimes committed, we agree with the appellate court that the accused-
appellant should be held liable for two (2) separate counts of murder, not the complex
crime of double murder.
Article 48 of the Revised Penal Code provides that [w]hen 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. There are, thus, two kinds of complex crimes. The
first is known as compound crime, or when a single act constitutes two or more grave or
less grave felonies. The second is known as complex crime proper, or when an offense is
a necessary means for committing the other.
The Court finds that there is a paucity of evidence to prove that the instant case
falls under any of the two classes of complex crimes. The evidence of the prosecution
failed to clearly and indubitably establish the fact that Felipe and Ranil were killed by a
single fatal hacking blow from the accused-appellant. The eyewitness testimony of
Carmela did not contain any detail as to this material fact. To a greater degree, it was
neither proven that the murder of Felipe was committed as a necessary means for
committing and/or facilitating the murder of Ranil and vice versa. As the factual milieu of
the case at bar excludes the application of Article 48 of the Revised Penal Code, the
149
accused-appellant should be made liable for two separate and distinct acts of murder. In
the past, when two crimes have been improperly designated as a complex crime,
this Court has affirmed the conviction of the accused for the component crimes
separately instead of the complex crime.
Judgment in case of variance between allegation and proof. (Sec. 4, Rule 120)
“In this case, the correct offense of murder was charged in the information.
The commission of the said crime was established by the evidence. There is no
variance as to the offense committed. The variance is in the participation or
complicity of the petitioner. While the petitioner was being held responsible as a
principal in the information, the evidence adduced, however, showed that his
participation is merely that of an accessory. The greater responsibility necessarily
includes the lesser. An accused can be validly convicted as an accomplice or
accessory under an information charging him as a principal.”
“A comparison of the two articles reveals that their elements are entirely
distinct and different from the other. In malversation of public funds, the offender
misappropriates public funds for his own personal use or allows any other person
to take such public funds for the latter's personal use. In technical malversation,
the public officer applies public funds under his administration not for his or
another's personal use, but to a public use other than that for which the fund was
appropriated by law or ordinance. Technical malversation is, therefore, not
included in nor does it necessarily include the crime of malversation of public funds
charged in the information. Since the acts constituting the crime of technical
malversation were not alleged in the information, and since technical malversation
does not include, or is not included in the crime of malversation of public funds, he
cannot resultantly be convicted of technical malversation.”
allegation therein of the elements of the good reputation of the offended party and
of the latter being over 12 but under 18 years of age, which are essential for the
commission of the crime simple seduction.”
Rape and qualified seduction are not identical offenses. The elements of
rape — (1) that the offender has had carnal knowledge of a woman; and (2) that
such act is accomplished (a) by using force or intimidation, or (b) when the woman
is deprived of reason or otherwise unconscious, or (c) when the woman is under
twelve (12) years of age — substantially differ from the elements of qualified
seduction. The latter requires (1) that the offended party is a virgin, which is
presumed if she is unmarried and of good reputation; (2) that she must be over
twelve (12) and under eighteen (18) years of age; (3) that the offender has sexual
intercourse with her; and (4) that there is abuse of authority, confidence or
relationship on the part of the offender. While the two felonies have one common
element, i.e., carnal knowledge of a woman, they significantly vary in all other
respects. Contrary to the assertion of accused-petitioner, the case of People vs.
Samillano (56 SCRA 573), did not hold that qualified seduction is necessarily
included in rape; what this Court has said is that one who is charged with rape may
be found guilty of qualified seduction when the "verified complaint for rape contains
allegations which aver the crime of seduction."
PpPeople of the Philippines. v. Eutiquia Carmen, et al., Commented [u128]: QUERY: replace with “People”?
G.R. No. 137268, March 26, 2001.
The parents of a young boy, believing that their son is “possessed” brought
him to a “healer” who said she could exorcise the “bad spirit”. However the process
of “exorcism” done through immersing the boy head first into a drum of water
resulted to his death. The accused, the healer and her assistants, were charged
with murder.
Held:
“In United States v. Divino, the accused, who was not a licensed physician,
in an attempt to cure the victim of ulcers in her feet, wrapped a piece of clothing
which had been soaked in petroleum around the victim's feet and then lighted the
clothing, thereby causing injuries to the victim. The Court held the accused liable
for reckless imprudence resulting in physical injuries. It was noted that the accused
had no intention to cause an evil but rather to remedy the victim's ailment.
In another case, People v. Vda. de Golez, the Court ruled that the proper
charge to file against a non-medical practitioner, who had treated the victim despite
the fact that she did not possess the necessary technical knowledge or skill to do
so and caused the latter's death, was homicide through reckless imprudence.”
“The fact that the information odes not allege that the falsification was
committed with imprudence is of no moment for here this deficiency appears
supplied by the evidence submitted by appellant himself and the result has proven
beneficial to him.”
“In People v. Fernando, the accused was charged with, and convicted of,
murder by the trial court. On appeal, this Court modified the judgment and held the
accused liable for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide after finding that he
did not act with criminal intent.”
Can an information charging the accused with having “sexually abused” the
victim be sufficient to justify a conviction for rape?
The information:
“That on the 28th day of December 1996, in the evening at Sitio Buenlag,
Brgy Nancamaliran West, Municipality of Urdaneta, Province of Pangasinan,
Philippines and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the above-named
153
accused, with deliberate intent and by means of force and intimidation, did then
and there, willfully, unlawfully, criminally and feloniously sexually abuse the herein
complaining witness FILIPINA FLORES, an 11 years old and daughter of the
herein accused with the use of sharp pointed bladed weapon and all against her
will”
Held:
The case at bar, however, is not one of variance between allegation and
proof. The recital of facts in the criminal complaints simply does not properly
charge rape, "sexual abuse" not being an essential element or ingredient thereof.
Neither can accused-appellant be convicted of acts of lasciviousness or of
any offense for that matter under our penal laws. It is settled that what
characterizes the charge is the actual recital of facts in the complaint or
information. For every crime is made up of certain acts and intent which must be
set forth in the complaint or information with reasonable particularity of time, place,
names (plaintiff and defendant), and circumstances. In other words, the complaint
must contain a specific allegation of every fact and circumstance necessary to
constitute the crime charged, the accused being presumed to have no independent
knowledge of the facts that constitute the offense.
And even under the provisions of Republic Act No. 7610 (The Special
Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act),
accused-appellant cannot be held liable.
Section 2 (g) of the Rules and Regulations on the Reporting and
Investigation of Child Abuse Cases 40, issued pursuant to Section 32 of Republic
Act No. 7610, defines "sexual abuse" by inclusion as follows:
Sexual abuse includes 1) the employment, use, persuasion, enticement, or
coercion of a child to engage in, or assist another person to engage in sexual
intercourse or lascivious conduct or 2) the molestation, 3) prostitution, or 4) incest
with children. (Emphasis supplied.)
From this broad, non-exclusive definition, this Court finds that the phrase
"sexually abuse" in the criminal complaints at bar does not comply with the
requirement that the complaint must contain a specific averment of every fact
necessary to constitute the crime. Notably, the phrase "sexual abuse" is not used
under R.A. No. 7610 as an elemental fact but as an altogether separate offense.
above-quoted Section 5 thereof enumerates the punishable acts that must be
alleged in the complaint or information to hold an accused liable, none of which is
reflected, in the complaints at bar charging accused-appellant.”
The Supreme Court found the information to be VOID and DISMISSED the
case.
“In the same vein, petitioner cannot be held responsible for the wound
inflicted on the victim's right outer lateral arm for the same reason that there is no
evidence proving beyond moral certainty that said wound was caused by the bullet
fired from petitioner's .45 caliber pistol.
Nevertheless, petitioner is not completely without liability. The Court
sustains the finding of the trial court that petitioner fired his .45 caliber pistol
towards the victim. From the attendant circumstances, it appears that there is no
154
evidence tending to prove that petitioner had animus interficendi or intent to kill the
victim. Note that the prosecution witnesses did not see whether petitioner aimed
to kill the victim. Intent to kill cannot be automatically drawn from the mere fact that
the use of firearms is dangerous to life. Animus interficendi must be established
with the same degree of certainty as is required of the other elements of the crime.
The inference of intent to kill should not be drawn in the absence of circumstances
sufficient to prove such intent beyond reasonable doubt.
Absent an intent to kill in firing the gun towards the victim, petitioner should
be held liable for the crime of illegal discharge of firearm under Article 254 of the
Revised Penal Code. The elements of this crime are: (1) that the offender
discharges a firearm against or at another person; and (2) that the offender has no
intention to kill that person. Though the information charged the petitioner with
murder, he could be validly convicted of illegal discharge of firearm, an offense
which is necessarily included in the crime of unlawful killing of a person.”
The acquittal of the accused does not prevent a judgment against him on
the civil aspect of the case where:
(b) where the court declared that the liability of the accused is only civil;
(c) where the civil liability of the accused does not arise from or is not based
upon the crime of which the accused was acquitted.
The 2nd paragraph of Section 2 of Rule 120 of the Revised Rules of Court provides
that “In case the judgment is of acquittal, it shall state whether the evidence of the
prosecution absolutely failed to prove the guilt of the accused or merely failed to prove his
guilt beyond reasonable doubt. In either case, the judgment shall determine if the act or
omission from which the civil liability might arise did not exist.”
Thus, the rule is that the acquittal of an accused of the crime charged will not
necessarily extinguish his civil liability, unless the court declares in a final
judgment that the fact from which the civil liability might arise did not exist. Courts
can acquit an accused on reasonable doubt but still order payment of civil damages
in the same case. It is not even necessary that a separate civil action be instituted
The trial court erred in ordering complainant petitioner Maccay and prosecution
witness Potenciano, as part of the judgment in the criminal case, to reimburse the
P300,000 and pay damages to the accused respondent spouses. This Court ruled in
Cabaero v. Hon. Cantos that a court trying a criminal case should limit itself to the criminal
and civil liability of the accused, thus:
[Thus,] the trial court should confine itself to the criminal aspect and the possible
civil liability of the accused arising out of the crime. The counterclaim (and cross-claim or
third-party complaint, if any) should be set aside or refused cognizance without prejudice
to their filing in separate proceedings at the proper time.
On PROMULGATION
“Light felonies are those infractions of law for the commission of which the
penalty of arresto menor or a fine not exceeding 200 pesos or both, is provided.”
The delay in the promulgation of the decision in Crim. Case No. 1603 was
ironically caused by respondent Judge. We find that he acquitted complainants in
the case. Such being the case, the presence of accused was not necessary as the
judgment was one of acquittal. Moreover, Sec. 6, Rule 120, of the Rules of Court
explicitly provides that if the accused fails to appear, the promulgation shall consist
in the recording of the judgment in the criminal docket and a copy thereof served
upon his counsel.
With regard to the absence of the accused during the promulgation of the
judgment, we hold that respondent Judge did not administratively err in proceeding
with the promulgation. In a verdict of acquittal, the presence of the accused is not
indispensable since no appeal is necessary and the judgment become final and
executory immediately after promulgation. The reading of the sentence in open
156
court to counsel for the accused or giving a copy of the decision to the accused or
his counsel is sufficient promulgation.
The last paragraph was taken from the case of PpPeople of the Philippines. Commented [u133]: QUERY: People
v. Omar Mapalao, G.R. No. 92415. May 14, 1991
May 14, 1991 Commented [u134]: QUERY: incomplete case title
“If the judgment is for conviction and the failure of the accused to appear
was without justifiable cause, he shall lose the remedies available in these rules
against the judgment and the court shall order his arrest. Within fifteen (15) days
from promulgation of judgment, however, the accused may surrender and file a
motion for leave of court to avail of these remedies. He shall state the reasons for
his absence at the scheduled promulgation and if he proves that his absence was
for a justifiable cause, he shall be allowed to avail of said remedies within fifteen
(15) days from notice. (6a)”
The reason for this rule is because once an accused escapes from prison
or confinement or jumps bail or flees to a foreign country, he loses his standing in
court and unless he surrenders or submits to the jurisdiction of the court he is
deemed to have waived any right to seek relief from the court.
PpPeople of the Philippines. v. CFI of Quezon City, Commented [u135]: QUERY: People?
227 SCRA 457.
Judge who penned the decision detailed to another branch of the RTC OF
QC.
(a) that the accused was notified of the scheduled date of promulgation;
(d) that a copy thereof shall be served upon the accused or counsel.
If the accused fails to appear during promulgation despite notice and the
judgment is read in the presence of her counsel, will the failure of the
recording of the judgment in the criminal docket affect the validity of the
promulgation?
In the absence of the recording of the judgment in the criminal docket, there
can be NO VALID PROMULGATION.
In the same case, will the fact that the accused subsequently received a copy
of the decision cause the 15-day period to appeal to begin to run?
“We rule in the negative. Petitioner's later receipt of the copy of the
decision does not in any way cure an invalid promulgation. And even if said
decision be recorded in the criminal docket later, such piece-meal compliance with
the Rules will still not validate the May 5, 1998 promulgation which was invalid at
the time it was conducted. The express mention in the provision of both
requirements for a valid promulgation in absentia clearly means that they indeed
must concur.”
In the case before us, the accused-employee has escaped and refused to
surrender to the proper authorities; thus, he is deemed to have abandoned his
appeal. Consequently, the judgment against him has become final and executory.”
If there is more than one accused and, during the promulgation, only one of
the accused was present and the others jumped bail, can the court take
cognizance of a joint motion for reconsideration?
The RTC should have considered the joint motion to have been filed solely
by the accused who was present as the other accused had lost all remedies
against the judgment.
If, in the same case, the judge ACQUITTED two of the accused on the basis
of the motion for reconsideration, can these two claim double jeopardy if the
case against them is reinstated?
In 1985, Section 7 of Rule 120 was amended to include the phrase "upon
motion of the accused" — effectively resurrecting the Ang Cho Kio ruling (95 Phil.
159
Significantly, the present Rules, as amended last year, retained the phrase
"upon motion of the accused,"
Note: Even if finality of the criminal aspect is accelerated, the civil aspect will
become final only after the lapse of the 15-day period to appeal.
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.
2. Within fifteen days from the date of promulgation the accused can appeal.
The period to appeal is interrupted by the filing of a Motion for
Reconsideration or a Motion for New Trial. The period will run again from
160
notice of the denial of the Motion. (A new 15-day period per the Neypes
Ruling)
3. If the accused files a Motion for New Trial or a Motion for Reconsideration,
he waives the right against double jeopardy. This means that the court can
modify the judgment to a graver offense, e.g., Charged with Murder
Convicted of Homicide, filed a Motion for Reconsideration, judge modified
the judgment to murder.
This refers to instances where there was a serious breach of procedure that
prejudiced the substantial rights of the accused. Examples:
Requisites:
(c) In all cases, when the court grants new trial or reconsideration,
the original judgment shall be set aside or vacated and a new
judgment rendered accordingly. (6a)
Any party may appeal from a judgment or final order, unless the
accused will be placed in double jeopardy. (2a)
The provisions of the Revised Penal Code on subsidiary liability Articles 102 and
103 are deemed written into the judgments in cases to which they are applicable. Thus,
in the dispositive portion of its decision, the trial court need not expressly
pronounce the subsidiary liability of the employer. Nonetheless, before the employers
subsidiary liability is enforced, adequate evidence must exist establishing that (1) they are
indeed the employers of the convicted employees; (2) they are engaged in some kind of
industry; (3) the crime was committed by the employees in the discharge of their duties;
and (4) the execution against the latter has not been satisfied due to insolvency. The
determination of these conditions may be done in the same criminal action in which the
employees liability, criminal and civil, has been pronounced, in a hearing set for that
precise purpose, with due notice to the employer, as part of the proceedings for the
execution of the judgment.
What is the remedy of the offended party if the court grants an accused’s
motion to withdraw the Information?
“As to what mode of review petitioners may avail of after a court grants an
accused’s motion to withdraw information and/or to dismiss the case, Section 1
of Rule 122 of the 2000 Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure instructs: “Any
party may appeal from a judgment or final order, unless the accused will be
placed in double jeopardy.”
The records of the cases show, however, that the motion was granted by
the MeTC before respondents were arraigned. Thus, the prohibitionagainst appeal
in case a criminal case is dismissed as the accused would be placed in double
jeopardy does not apply. “
Section 9(c) Rule 122, provides that the RTC must decide the appeal “on the basis
of the entire record of the case and of such memoranda or briefs as may have been filed”
upon the submission of the appellate memoranda or briefs, or upon the expiration of the
period to file the same.
(a) An appeal taken by one or more of several accused shall not affect those
who did not appeal, except insofar as the judgment of the appellate court
is favorable and applicable to the latter;
(b) The appeal of the offended party from the civil aspect shall not affect
the criminal aspect of the judgment or order appealed from;
165
(c) Upon perfection of the appeal, the execution of the judgment or final
order appealed from shall be stayed as to the appealing party. (11a)
People of the Philippines vs. PO2 Eduardo Valdez and Edwin Valdez
G.R. No. 175602, February 13, 2013 (BERSAMIN, J.)
Facts: Edwin and Eduardo were convicted by the RTC for three (3) counts of murder
which was affirmed by the CA. They both appealed to the SC but pending the appeal,
Edwin filed a motion to withdraw appeal which was granted the SC deemed the appeal,
as to him, closed and terminated.
Issue: Whether or not the SC’s judgment should benefit Edwin in view of the withdrawal
of his appeal
Ruling: Yes. Section 11(a), Rule 122 of the Rules of Court is applicable. “Section 11.
Effect of appeal by any of several accused. – (a) An appeal taken by one or more of
several accused shall not affect those who did not appeal, except insofar as the
judgment of the appellate court is favorable and applicable to the latter.
This right to a counsel de oficio does not cease upon the conviction of an
accused by a trial court. It continues, even during appeal, such that the duty of
the court to assign a counsel de oficio persists where an accused interposes an
intent to appeal. Even in a case, such as the one at bar, where the accused had
signified his intent to withdraw his appeal, the court is required to inquire into the
reason for the withdrawal. Where it finds the sole reason for the withdrawal to be
poverty, as in this case, the court must assign a counsel de oficio, for despite such
withdrawal, the duty to protect the rights of the accused subsists and perhaps,
with greater reason. After all, "those who have less in life must have more in law."
Justice should never be limited to those who have the means. It is for everyone,
whether rich or poor. Its scales should always be balanced and should never
equivocate or cogitate in order to favor one party over another.
It is with this thought in mind that we charge clerks of court of trial courts
to be more circumspect with the duty imposed on them by law (Section 13, Rule
122 of the Rules of Court) so that courts will be above reproach and that never (if
possible) will an innocent person be sentenced for a crime he has not committed
nor the guilty allowed to go scot-free.
166
B. Criminal Cases:
This Rule shall not apply to a civil case where the plaintiffs cause of action
is pleaded in the same complaint with another cause of action subject to the
ordinary procedure; nor to a criminal case where the offense charged is
necessarily related to another criminal case subject to the ordinary
procedure.
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and
effects against unreasonable searches and seizures of whatever nature and for
any purpose shall be inviolable, and no search warrant or warrant of arrest shall
issue except upon probable cause to be determined personally by the judge after
examination under oath or affirmation of the complainant and the witnesses he
may produce, and particularly describing the place to be searched and the persons
or things to be seized.
The "stop and frisk" concept is of American origin, the most notable case
thereon being Terry v. Ohio. The idea is that a police officer may after properly
introducing himself and making initial inquiries, approach and restrain a person
manifesting unusual and suspicious conduct, in order to check, the latter's outer
clothing for possibly concealed weapons. The strict manner in which this notion
should be applied has been laid down as follows:
"x x x where a police officer observes unusual conduct which leads him
reasonably to conclude in the light of his experience that criminal activity may be
afoot and that the persons with whom he is dealing may be armed and presently
dangerous, where in the course of investigating this behavior, he identifies himself
as a policeman and makes reasonable inquiries, and where nothing in the initial
stages of the encounter serves to dispel his reasonable fear for his own and others'
safety, he is entitled for the protection of himself and others in the area to conduct
a carefully limited search of the outer clothing of such persons in an attempt to
discover weapons which might be used to assault him."
As in the warrantless arrest of a person reasonably suspected of having
just committed a crime, mere suspicious behavior would not call for a "stop and
frisk." There must be a genuine reason, in accordance with the police officer's
experience and the surrounding conditions, to warrant the belief that the person to
be held has weapons (or contraband) concealed about him.
A valid application of the doctrine was recognized in Posadas v. Court of
Appeals and in Manalili v. Court of Appeals. In Manalili, the law enforcers who were
members of the Anti-Narcotics Unit of the Caloocan City Police, observed during
their surveillance that appellant had red eyes and was walking in a wobbly manner
along the city cemetery which, according to police information, was a popular
hangout of drug addicts. Based on police experience, such suspicious behavior
was characteristic of persons who were "high" on drugs. The Court held that past
experience and the surrounding circumstances gave the police sufficient reason
to stop the suspect and to investigate if he was really high on drugs. The marijuana
that they found in the suspect's possession was held to be admissible in evidence.
Application for search warrant was filed with RTC of Caloocan and
enforced/implemented in Quezon City.
Held:
“No law or rule imposes such a limitation on search warrants, in the same
manner that no such restriction is provided for warrants of arrest. Parenthetically,
in certain states within the American jurisdiction, there were limitations of the time
wherein a warrant of arrest could be enforced. In our jurisdiction, no period is
provided for the enforceability of warrants of arrest, and although within ten days
from the delivery of the warrant of arrest for execution a return thereon must be
made to the issuing judge, said warrant does not become functus officio but is
enforceable indefinitely until the same is enforced or recalled. On the other hand,
the lifetime of a search warrant has been expressly set in our Rules at ten days
but there is no provision as to the extent of the territory wherein it may be enforced,
provided it is implemented on and within the premises specifically described
therein which may or may not be within the territorial jurisdiction of the issuing
court.”
1. The Court wherein the criminal case is pending shall have primary
jurisdiction to issue search warrants necessitated by and for purposes of
said case. An application for a search warrant may be filed with another
court only under extreme and compelling circumstances that the applicant
must prove to the satisfaction of the latter court which may or may not give
due course to the application depending on the validity of the justification
offered for not filing the same in the court with primary jurisdiction thereover.
2. When the latter court issues the search warrant, a motion to quash the same
may be filed in and shall be resolved by said court, without prejudice to any
proper recourse to the appropriate higher court by the party aggrieved by
the resolution of the issuing court. All grounds and objections then available,
existent or known shall be raised in the original or subsequent proceedings
for the quashal of the warrant, otherwise they shall be deemed waived.
4. Where the court which issued the search warrant denies the motion to
quash the same and is not otherwise prevented from further proceeding
thereon, all personal property seized under the warrant shall forthwith be
transmitted by it to the court wherein the criminal case is pending, with the
necessary safeguards and documentation therefor.
“it may be seen that A.M. No. 99-10-09-SC authorizes the Executive
Judge and Vice Executive Judges of the RTCs of Manila and Quezon City to
act on all applications for search warrants involving heinous crimes, illegal
gambling, dangerous drugs and illegal possession of firearms on application
filed by the PNP, NBI, PAOC-TF, and REACT-TF. On the other hand, Rule 126
of the Revised Rules on Criminal Procedure provides that the application for
search warrant shall be filed with: (a) any court within whose territorial
jurisdiction a crime was committed, and (b) for compelling reasons, any
court within the judicial region where the crime was committed if the place
of the commission of the crime is known, or any court within the judicial
region where the warrant shall be enforced.
Republic v. Sandiganbayan,
255 SCRA 438, March 29, 1996.
(3) the complainant and the witnesses he or she may produce are personally
examined by the judge, in writing and under oath or affirmation;
(4) the applicant and the witnesses testify on facts personally known to them;
and
(5) the warrant specifically describes the place to be searched and the things
to be seized;
Add:
Abdula v. Guiani
G.R. No. 118821. February 18, 2000
Feb. 18, 2000 Commented [u150]: QUERY: incomplete case title
Paper Industries Corp. of the Phil. vs. Asuncion Commented [u151]: QUERY: incomplete case title
G.R. No. 122092. May 19, 1999May 19, 1999 Formatted: Font: Not Bold
Formatted: Font: Bold
Formatted: Font: Bold
175
Held:
"Mere affidavits of the complainant and his witnesses are thus not
sufficient. The examining Judge has to take depositions in writing of the
complainant and the witnesses he may produce and attach them to the record.
Such written deposition is necessary in order that Judge may be able to properly
determine the existence or non-existence of the probable cause, to hold liable for
perjury the person giving it if it will be found later that his declarations are false.”
"It is axiomatic that the examination must be probing and exhaustive not
merely routinary or pro forma, if the claimed probable cause is to be established.
The examining magistrate must not simply rehash the contents of the affidavit but
must make his own inquiry on the intent and justification of the application.”
As to place
adjoining Barrio Maria Cristina, this Court "admitted that the deficiency in the writ
is not of sufficient gravity to call for its invalidation."
In this case, it was not shown that a street similarly named Hernan Cortes
could be found in Cebu City. Nor was it established that the enforcing officers had
any difficulty in locating the premises of petitioner corporation. That Search
Warrant A-1, therefore, inconsistently identified the city where the premises to be
searched is not a defect that would spell the warrant's invalidation in this case.
As to things to be seized
“We agree that most of the items listed in the warrants fail to meet the test
of particularity, especially since witness Abos had furnished the judge photocopies
of the documents sought to be seized. The issuing judge could have formed a
more specific description of these documents from said photocopies instead of
merely employing a generic description thereof. The use of a generic term or a
general description in a warrant is acceptable only when a more specific
description of the things to be seized is unavailable. The failure to employ the
specificity available will invalidate a general description in a warrant. The use by
the issuing judge of the terms "multiple sets of books of accounts, ledgers, journals,
columnar books, cash register books, sales books or records, provisional & official
receipts," "production record books/inventory lists, stock cards," "sales records, job
order," "corporate financial records," and "bank statements/cancelled checks" is
therefore unacceptable considering the circumstances of this case.
Tambasan v. People,
246 SCRA 184, July 14 1995.
On its face, the search warrant violates Section 3, Rule 126 of the Revised
Rules of Court, which prohibits the issuance of a search warrant for more than one
177
specific offense. The caption of Search Warrant No. 365 reflects the violation of
two special laws: P.D. No. 1866 for illegal possession of firearms, ammunition and
explosives; and R.A. No. 1700, the Anti-Subversion Law. Search Warrant No. 365
was therefore a "scatter-shot warrant" and totally null and void.
No such crime under the Intellectual Properties Code that should be given
retroactive effect to benefit the accused.
Quintero v. NBI,
162 SCRA 467.
NBI agents, armed with a search warrant, raided a house. There was a
witness but the NBI agents searched different rooms simultaneously.
But was the witness-to-search rule violated by the police officers who
conducted the search notwithstanding the absence of private respondent and
despite the refusal of the members of his household to act as witnesses to the
search?
The witness-to-search rule is embodied in Section 7 of Rule 126, which
reads:
We find merit in the petitioner's argument that private respondent's wife had
no justifiable reason to refuse to be a witness to the search and that her refusal to
be a witness cannot hamper the performance of official duty. In the absence of the
lawful occupant of the premises or any member of his family, the witness-to-search
rule allows the search to be made "in the presence of two witnesses of sufficient
age and discretion residing in the same locality." There was no irregularity when
the PNP-CISC team asked the bailiff of the Parañaque court and the barangay
security officer to act as witnesses to the search. To hold otherwise would allow
lawful searches to be frustrated by the mere refusal of those required by law to be
witnesses.
The general rule is that search warrants must be served during the daytime.
However, the rule allows an exception, namely, a search at any reasonable hour
of the day or night, when the application asserts that the property is on the person
or place ordered to be searched. In the instant case, the judge issuing the warrant
relied on the positive assertion of the applicant and his witnesses that the firearms
and ammunition were kept at private respondent's residence. Evidently, the court
issuing the warrant was satisfied that the affidavits of the applicants clearly
satisfied the requirements of Section 8, Rule 126 of the Rules of Court. The rule
on issuance of a search warrant allows for the exercise of judicial discretion in
fixing the time within which the warrant may be served, subject to the statutory
requirement fixing the maximum time for the execution of a warrant. We have
examined the application for search warrant, and the deposition of the witnesses
supporting said application, and find that both satisfactorily comply with the
requirements of Section 8, Rule 126. The inescapable conclusion is that the judge
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who issued the questioned warrant did not abuse his discretion in allowing a
search "at any reasonable hour of the day or night." Absent such abuse of
discretion, a search conducted at night where so allowed, is not improper.”
We also affirm the rulings of both the trial court and the Court of Appeals
that the search on 4 April 1990 was a continuation of the search on 3 April 1990
done under and by virtue of the search warrant issued on 3 April 1990 by Executive
Judge Osorio. Under Section 9, Rule 126 of the Rules of Court, a search warrant
has a lifetime of ten days. Hence, it could be served at any time within the said
period, and if its object or purpose cannot be accomplished in one day, the same
may be continued the following day or days until completed. Thus, when the search
under a warrant on one day was interrupted, it may be continued under the same
warrant the following day, provided it is still within the ten-day period.
A search warrant shall be valid for ten (10) days from its date.
Thereafter, it shall be void. (Sec. 10, Rule 126)
Important questions:
Can the court that issued the warrant entertain a motion to quash the warrant
if the case is still pending preliminary investigation?
“Petitioners also argue that Section 14, Rule 126 of the Revised Rules of
Criminal Procedure, supra, while intended "to resolve conflicts of responsibility
between courts," "does not expressly cover the situation where the criminal
complaint is pending with the prosecutor." In such a case, petitioners submit, the
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The Court finds this interpretation too contrived. Section 14, Rule 126
precisely covers situations like the one at bar. Section 14 expressly provides that
a motion to quash a search warrant and/or to suppress evidence obtained thereby
may be filed in and acted upon only by the court where the action has been
instituted. Under the same section, the court which issued the search warrant may
be prevented from resolving a motion to quash or suppress evidence only when a
criminal case is subsequently filed in another court, in which case, the motion is to
be resolved by the latter court. It is therefore puerile to argue that the court that
issued the warrant cannot entertain motions to suppress evidence while a
preliminary investigation is ongoing. Such erroneous interpretation would place a
person whose property has been seized by virtue of an invalid warrant without a
remedy while the goods procured by virtue thereof are subject of a preliminary
investigation”
(f) In an action against a party who does not reside and is not found in
the Philippines, or on whom summons may be served by publication.
(1a)
Very Important:
KATARUNGANG PAMBARANGAY
History
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Guidelines:
Venue:
(a) Disputes between persons actually residing in the same barangay shall be
brought for amicable settlement before the lupon of said barangay.
(b) Those involving actual residents of different barangays within the same city or
municipality shall be brought in the barangay where the respondent or any of
the respondents actually resides, at the election of the complaint.
(c) All disputes involving real property or any interest therein shall be brought in
the barangay where the real property or the larger portion thereof is situated.
(d) Those arising at the workplace where the contending parties are employed or
at the institution where such parties are enrolled for study, shall be brought in
the barangay where such workplace or institution is located.
Procedure:
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(a) Who may initiate proceeding — Upon payment of the appropriate filing
fee, any individual who has a cause of action against another individual involving
any matter within the authority of the lupon may complain, orally or in writing, to
the lupon chairman of the barangay.
Bañares II v. Balising,
G.R. No. 132624, March 13, 2000.
prior to the filing of the cases as soon as they received the complaints against
them, petitioners raised the said ground only after their arraignment.
However, while the trial court committed an error in dismissing the criminal
cases against petitioners on the ground that the same were not referred to the
Lupon prior to the filing thereof in court although said ground was raised by them
belatedly, the said order may no longer be revoked at present considering that the
same had already become final and executory, and as earlier stated, may no
longer be annulled by the Municipal Trial Court, nor by the Regional Trial Court or
this Court.
Section 1 of Rule 47 provides thus “This Rule shall govern the annulment
by the Court of Appeals of judgments or final orders and resolutions in CIVIL
ACTIONS of Regional Trial Courts for which the ordinary remedies of new trial,
appeal, petition for relief or other appropriate remedies are no longer available
through no fault of the petitioner.
Moreover, Section 18 of Rule 124 excludes Rule 47 from the rules on civil
procedure that are suppletorily applicable to criminal cases, to wit:
The Court of Appeals may also, upon motion of the appellee or motu
proprio, dismiss the appeal if the appellant escapes from prison or confinement,
jumps bail or flees to a foreign country during the pendency of the appeal.
(Emphasis supplied.)