Professional Documents
Culture Documents
158763
(March 31, 2006)
FACTS
On 8 March 1996, the burnt cadavers of Vicente Buazon and Elizer Tuliao (son of
respondent, Virgilio Tuliao) was discovered at Ramon Isabela, two informations for murder was
filed at the Regional Trial Court of Santiago City, Isabela against SPO1 Wilfredo Leano, SPO1
Ferdinand Marzan, SPO1 Ruben B. Agustin, SPO2 Alexander Micu, SPO2 Rodel Maderal and
SPO4 Emilio Ramirez due to it. The venue was later transferred to RTC Manila. On 22 April
1999, RTC of Manila convicted the accused and sentenced them two counts of reclusion
perpetua, except SPO2 Maderal who was yet to be arraigned at that time, being at large. The case
was appealed at the Supreme Court and the accused were acquitted on the ground of reasonable
doubt.
After the issuance of warrant of arrest to SPO2 Maderal he confessed that petitioners Jose
Miranda et, al., were the ones responsible for the said murder, respondent Virgilio Tuliao then
filed a complaint against the petitioners. Upon the issuance of warrant of arrest petitioners filed
an Urgent Motion to Complete Preliminary Investigation, to Reinvestigate and to Recall and/or
Quash the Warrants of Arrest. During the hearing of the said motion, Judge Tumaliaun noticed
the absence of the petitioners, he then issued a joint order denying the motion on the ground that
since, the court did not acquire jurisdiction over their persons, the motion cannot be properly
heard by the court.
Judge Tumaliuan was then replaced by Judge Anghad and the latter reversed the order of
the previous judge thereby dismissing the case against the petitioners. Upon appeal of the
respondent to the Court of Appeals, the said court reinstated the order of Judge Tumaliuan and
ordered the criminal cases of murder against petitioners to be reinstated.
ISSUE
Whether or not the court has lawfully acquired jurisdiction over the person of the
accused.
HELD
Yes, in criminal cases, jurisdiction over the person of the accused is deemed waived (you
submit yourself to the jurisdiction of the court) by the accused when he files any pleading
seeking san affirmative relief, except in cases when he invokes the special jurisdiction over his
person. Therefore, in narrow cases involving special appearances, an accused can invoke the
processes of the court even though there is neither jurisdiction over the person nor custody of the
law. However, if a person invoking the special jurisdiction of the court applies for bail, he must
first submit himself to the custody of the law. In cases not involving the so-called special
appearance, the general rule applies, i.e., the accused is deemed to have submitted himself to the
jurisdiction of the court upon seeking affirmative relief. Notwithstanding this, there is no
requirement for him to be in the custody of the law.
Therefore, upon issuance of the warrant of arrest to Petitioners Jose Miranda et al., and
upon petitioners filing of Motion to Complete Preliminary Investigation, to Reinvestigate and to
Recall and/or Quash the Warrants of Arrest, the court has already acquired jurisdiction upon
them as accused.
DATE SIGNIFICANT EVENT REMARKS/
DECISION/RULING
8 March 1996 Two burnt cadavers were discovered in
Purok Nibulan, Ramon, Isabela, which
were later identified as the dead bodies of
Vicente Bauzon and Elizer Tuliao, son of
private respondent Virgilio Tuliao who is
now under the witness protection
program.
The Supreme
9 October Court acquitted
2001 the accused
SPO1 Wilfredo
Leaño, SPO1
Ferdinand
Marzan, SPO1
Ruben B.
Agustin, SPO2
Alexander Micu,
SPO2 Rodel
Maderal, and
SPO4 Emilio
Ramirez on the
ground of
reasonable doubt.
(This was the
first case)