Case Digest on De la Camara vs.

Enage 41 SCRA 1
November 10, 2010

The (Moot and Academic)Facts*: November 7, 196 ! Then Ma"sa#sa# Misamis $rienta% Ma#or de %a &amara 'as arrested and detained at the (rovincia% )ai% o* A"+san, *or his a%%e"ed ,artici,ation in the -i%%in" o* *o+rteen and the 'o+ndin" o* t'e%ve other %aborers o* the Tirador .o""in" &o/, on A+"+st 21, 196 / 1 da#s %ater, the (rovincia% Fisca% o* A"+san *i%ed 'ith the &F0 a cases o* m+%ti,%e *r+strated m+rder and *or m+%ti,%e m+rder a"ainst ,etitioner, his co1acc+sed Ta"+nan and 2a%"o/ )an+ar# 13, 19691 An a,,%ication *or bai% *i%ed b# ,etitioner 'ith the %o'er co+rt, ,remised on the assertion that there 'as no evidence to %in- him 'ith s+ch *ata% incident o* A+"+st 21, 196 / 4e %i-e'ise maintained his innocence/ 5es,ondent )+d"e started the tria% o* ,etitioner on Febr+ar# 23, 1969, the ,rosec+tion restin" its case on )+%# 10, 1969/ As o* the time o* the *i%in" o* the ,etition, the de*ense had not ,resented its evidence/ A+"+st 10, 19701 )+d"e 6na"e iss+ed an order "rantin" ,etitioner7s a,,%ication *or bai%, admittin" that there 'as a *ai%+re on the ,art o* the ,rosec+tion to ,rove that ,etitioner 'o+%d *%ee even i* he had the o,,ort+nit#, b+t *i8ed the amo+nt o* the bai% bond at the e8cessive amo+nt o* (1,199,200/00 (( 30,000/00 *or the 13 co+nts o* m+%ti,%e m+rder ,%+s (:99,200/00 *or the 12 co+nts o* m+%ti,%e *r+strated m+rder/) There 'as a motion *or reconsideration to red+ce the amo+nt/ 6na"e ho'ever remained adamant/ ;e %a &amara then *i%es a ,etition *or certiorari assai%in" 6na"e7s order and ,ra#s *or its n+%%i*ication/ March 9, 19711 6na"e ans'ers that set *orth the circ+mstances concernin" the iss+ance o* the above order and the other incidents o* the case, 'hich, to his mind, 'o+%d dis,rove an# char"e that he 'as "+i%t# o* "rave ab+se o* discretion/ 0t stressed, moreover, that the cha%%en"ed order 'o+%d *ind s+,,ort in circ+%ars o* the ;e,artment o* )+stice "iven sanction b# this &o+rt/ 4e so+"ht the dismissa% o* the ,etition *or %aco* merit/ March :1, 19711 both ;e %a &amara and 6na"e did not a,,ear at the hearin" 'ith ;e %a &amara, +,on 'ritten motion 'as "iven :0 da#s to s+bmit a memorand+m in %ie+ o* ora% ar"+ment, 6na"e in t+rn havin" :0 da#s *rom recei,t o* memorand+m to *i%e his re,%#/ ;e %a &amara s+bmitted the memorand+m on A,ri% 6, 1971/ Ma# 26, 197116na"e, instead o* a re,%#, s+bmitted a s+,,%ementa% ans'er 'herein he a%%e"ed that ,etitioner esca,ed *rom the ,rovincia% <ai% on A,ri% 2 , 1971 and had since been remained at %ar"e/ There 'as a reiteration then o* the dismissa% o* his ,etition *or %ac- o* merit, to 'hich ,etitioner co+ntered in a ,%eadin" dated )+ne 7, 1971, and *i%ed 'ith this &o+rt the ne8t da# 'ith this ,%ea: =The undersigned counsel, therefore, vehemently interpose opposition, on behalf of petitioner, to respondents prayer for dismissal of the present petition for lack of merit. For, the issue in this case is not alone the fate of petitioner Ricardo de la Camara. The issue in the present petition that calls for the resolution of this Honorable Tribunal is the fate of countless other Ricardo de la Camaras who may be awaiting the clear cut definition and declaration of the power of trial courts in regard to the fi!ing of bail/> * ?hi%e the *acts o* this case is moot and academic, it did not ,rec%+de the @& *rom settin" *orth in %an"+a"e c%ear and +nmista-ab%e, the ob%i"ation o* *ide%it# on the ,art o* %o'er co+rt <+d"es to the +neA+ivoca% command o* the &onstit+tion that e8cessive bai% sha%% not be reA+ired/ 0@@B6: ?A@ T46 AM$BNT $F CA0. $5;656; CD 6NA26 6E&6@@0F6G 46.;: Des #es #o -aba#oH @a#an" %an" at ,+m+"aIt+ma-as si ma#or, -a#a n"a moot (co+rt) J academic an" ,etition ;0@($@0T0F6: =?4656F$56, this case is dismissed *or bein" moot and academic/ ?itho+t ,rono+ncement as to costs/>

@&7s rationa%e *or reA+irement o* non1e8cessive bai%: 1/ Ce*ore conviction, ever# ,erson is bai%ab%e e8ce,t i* char"ed 'ith ca,ita% o**enses 'hen the evidence o* "+i%t is stron"/ @+ch a ri"ht *%o's *rom the ,res+m,tion o* innocence in *avor o* ever# acc+sed 'ho sho+%d not be s+b<ected to the %ass o* *reedom as therea*ter he 'o+%d be entit%ed to acA+itta%, +n%ess his "+i%t be ,roved be#ond reasonab%e do+bt/ 0t is not be#ond the rea%m o* ,robabi%it#, ho'ever, that a ,erson char"ed 'ith a crime, es,ecia%%# so 'here his de*ense is 'ea-, 'o+%d <+st sim,%# ma-e himse%* scarce and the *r+strate the hearin" o* his case/ A bai% is intended as a "+arantee that s+ch an intent 'o+%d be th'arted/ Nor is there an#thin" +nreasonab%e in den#in" this ri"ht to one char"ed 'ith a ca,ita% o**ense 'hen evidence o* "+i%t is stron", as the %i-e%ihood is, rather than a'ait the o+tcome o* the ,roceedin" a"ainst him 'ith a death sentence, an ever ,resent threat, tem,tation to *%ee the <+risdiction 'o+%d be too "reat to be resisted/ 2/ ?here, ho'ever, the ri"ht to bai% e8ists, it sho+%d not be rendered n+"ator# b# reA+irin" a s+m that is e8cessive/ @o the &onstit+tion commands/ 0t is +nderstandab%e 'h#/ 0* there 'ere no s+ch ,rohibition, the ri"ht to bai% becomes meanin"%ess/ 0t 'o+%d have been more *orthri"ht i* no mention o* s+ch a "+arantee 'ere *o+nd in the *+ndamenta% %a'/ Nothin" can be c%earer, there*ore, than that the cha%%en"ed order o* A+"+st 10, 1970 *i8in" the amo+nt o* (1,199,200/00 is c%ear%# vio%ative o* this constit+tiona% ,rovision/ Bnder the circ+mstances, there bein" on%# t'o o**enses char"ed, the amo+nt reA+ired as bai% co+%d not ,ossib%# e8ceed (90,000/00 *or the in*ormation *or m+rder and (29,000/00 *or the other in*ormation *or *r+strated m+rder/ Nor sho+%d it be i"nored in this case that the ;e,artment o* )+stice did recommend the tota% s+m o* (30,000/00 *or the t'o o**enses/ :/ There is an attem,t on the ,art o* res,ondent )+d"e to <+sti*# 'hat, on its *ace, a,,ears to be inde*ensib%e b# the a%%e"ed re%iance on Fi%%aseKor v/ AbaKo case/ The "+ide%ines in the *i8in" o* bai% 'as there s+mmariLed, in the o,inion o* )+stice @ancheL, as *o%%o's: =(1) abi%it# o* the acc+sed to "ive bai%M (2) nat+re o* the o**enseM (:) ,ena%t# *or the o**ense char"edM (3) character and re,+tation o* the acc+sedM (9) hea%th o* the acc+sedM (6) character and stren"th o* the evidenceM (7) ,robabi%it# o* the acc+sed a,,earin" in tria%M ( ) *or*eit+re o* other bondsM (9) 'hether the acc+sed 'as a *+"itive *rom <+stice 'hen arrestedM and (10) i* the acc+sed is +nder bond *or a,,earance at tria% in other cases/> 6na"e i"nored the decisive consideration a,,earin" at the end o* the above o,inion: =;iscretion, indeed, is 'ith the co+rt ca%%ed +,on to r+%e on the A+estion o* bai%/ ?e m+st stress, ho'ever, that 'here conditions im,osed +,on a de*endant see-in" bai% 'o+%d amo+nt to a re*+sa% thereo* and render n+"ator# the constit+tiona% ri"ht to bai%, 'e 'i%% not hesitate to e8ercise o+r s+,ervisor# ,o'ers to ,rovide the reA+ired remed#/> No attem,t at rationa%iLation can there*ore "ive a co%or o* va%idit# to the cha%%en"ed order/ Nor is there an# <+sti*ication then *or im,+tin" his inabi%it# to *i8 a %esser amo+nt b# virt+e o* an a%%e"ed re%iance on a decision o* this Trib+na%/ 6ven i* one 'ere charitab%# inc%ined, the mi%dest characteriLation o* s+ch a res+%t is that there 'as a c%ear misreadin" o* the AbaKo o,inion 'hen s+ch a meanin" 'as ascribed to it/ No doctrine re*inement ma# e%icit a,,rova% i* to do so 'o+%d be to red+ce the ri"ht to bai% to a barren *orm o* 'ords/

.M. No. RTJ-93-936 September 10, 1993 ALBINA BORINAGA, complainant, vs. JUDGE AMILO E. TAMIN, Re!"o#$% Tr"$% respondent.

o&rt, Br$#'( )3, Mo%$*e, +$mbo$#!$ ,e% S&r,

REGALADO, J.: In a sworn letter-complaint 1 dated November 20, 1992 filed by Albina Borinaga, erein respondent !"dge #amilo $. %amin of t e &egional %rial #o"rt of 'olave, (amboanga del )"r, Branc 2* was c arged wit grave incompetence and ignorance of t e law in connection wit #riminal #ase No. 92-10-*00 for m"rder, entitled +,eople vs. Antonio &"aya, et al.,+ w ic is now pending before said co"rt.

-n !an"ary 2., 199*, t is #o"rt re/"ired respondent 0"dge to file is comment and, "pon receipt t ereof, t e matter was referred to t e -ffice of t e #o"rt Administrator for eval"ation, report and recommendation. -n !"ly 21, 199*, 2ep"ty #o"rt Administrator !"anito A. Bernad s"bmitted a memorand"m ) wit t e corresponding eval"ation and recommendation, d"ly approved by t e #o"rt Administrator. % e records s ow t at an amended criminal complaint for m"rder 3 dated 'arc 3, 1992, or t e 4illing of erein complainant5s "sband, &egino Borinaga, was filed by t e # ief of ,olice of 2"mingag, (amboanga del )"r against Antonio &"aya, alias %ony &"aya6 &oberto !. &ada, alias %otoy6 $dwin &ada, alias Negger6 and !o0o 7alen8"ela before t e 29t '"nicipal #irc"it %rial #o"rt of 2"mingag-'a ayag, (amboanga del )"r, for preliminary investigation. It appears t at w ile t e case was pending wit t e said lower co"rt, a petition for bail - dated 'arc 2:, 1992 was filed by one of t e acc"sed, Antonio &"aya, before respondent !"dge #amilo $. %amin in Branc 2* of t e &egional %rial #o"rt of 'olave w ere it was doc4eted as )pecial #ivil #ase No. 92-:0,00:. In said petition, acc"sed &"aya averred t at e was a detention prisoner at t e '"nicipal !ail of 2"mingag, (amboanga del )"r6 t at e was c arged wit m"rder6 t at no bail was fi;ed by t e investigating 0"dge w o iss"ed a warrant of arrest against im6 t at e ad waived t e second stage of t e preliminary investigation, wit a reservation to c allenge t e criminal action against im6 and t at t e evidence of g"ilt against im was not strong, ence e was entitled to bail as a matter of rig t. Acc"sed &"aya prayed t at t e bail be fi;ed at ,20,000.00. In an order . dated 'arc 2:, 1992, respondent 0"dge ordered t e p"blic prosec"tor +to appear on 'arc *0, 1992 at 1<*0 in t e morning to present evidence t at t e g"ilt of t e petitioner for t e crime c arged =is> strong.+ At t e sc ed"led earing, t e p"blic prosec"tor failed to appear, by reason of w ic respondent 0"dge iss"ed an order 6 dated 'arc *0, 1992, granting bail to acc"sed &"aya in t e amo"nt of ,20,000.00 and olding t at<
?nder )ection 1* of Article III of o"r #onstit"tion it =is> provided t at @ +All persons, e;cept t ose c arged wit offenses p"nis able by Reclusion Perpetua w en evidence of g"ilt is strong, s all, before conviction, be bailable by s"fficient s"reties.+ ?nder t is provision of law, if t e prosec"tor fails to present evidence t at t e g"ilt of t e acc"sed is strong, t en t e acc"sed wo"ld be entitled to t e constit"tional rig t to bail. No evidence ave = sic> been introd"ced by t e prosec"tion to prove t at t e g"ilt of t e acc"sed of t e crime c arged is strong. Necessarily, t is co"rt find =sic> t at t e acc"sed is entitled to bail "nder )ection 1*, Article III of o"r #onstit"tion. AB$&$C-&$, finding t at t e acc"sed as t e rig t to bail, t e provisional liberty of t e acc"sed is set at ,20,000.00 bail =sic> as prayed for in t e petition.

-n t e same day, 'arc *0, 1992, !"dge 2ionisio #. Arriesgado of t e 29t '"nicipal #irc"it %rial #o"rt of 2"mingag-'a ayag, w o cond"cted t e preliminary investigation, iss"ed a resol"tion recommending t e filing of an information for m"rder against, among ot ers, Antonio &"aya, after said acc"sed failed to file is co"nter-affidavit and ot er evidence in is defense. % e resol"tion was affirmed by t e ,rovisional ,rosec"tor, as a conse/"ence of w ic an information for m"rder was later filed against all t e acc"sed wit no bail recommended. )"bse/"ently, t e p"blic prosec"tor, toget er wit complainant5s co"nsel, filed a +'otion to #ancel Bailbond =sic> and to Arrest t e Acc"sed,+ on t e gro"nd t at said acc"sed is c arged wit a capital offense, t e evidence of g"ilt is strong, and no bail was recommended in t e information. Bowever, on -ctober 9, 1992, respondent !"dge iss"ed an order denying said motion wit o"t cond"cting a earing t ereon. In is comment, w erein e essayed is position on t e controversy and w ic we /"ote at lengt to demonstrate is line of t o"g t and mode of ratiocination, respondent 0"dge averred<
1. % at on 'arc 2:, 1992, acc"sed Antonio &"aya filed a petition for bail wit t e co"rt of respondent in ),D #iv. #ase No. 30,01* =sic>, a tr"e copy of w ic , toget er wit t e anne;es, are ereto attac ed as Anne;es +1+ to +1-I+, based on t e gro"nd t at t e evidence of g"ilt is not strong. 2. % at on t e date of receipt of said petition, t e respondent iss"ed an order, a tr"e copy w ereof is attac ed as anne; +2+, re/"iring t e p"blic prosec"tor to appear on 'arc *0, 1992 at 1<*0 in t e morning to present evidence t at t e g"ilt of t e petitioner-acc"sed for t e crime c arged is strong.

A copy of t is order was act"ally received by t e -ffice of t e ,"blic ,rosec"tor on 'arc 29, 1992. % e respondent also noted t at t e office of t e ,"blic ,rosec"tor was li4ewise served wit a copy of t e said petition for bail, on 'arc 2:, 1992 by t e petitioner-acc"sed6 *. % at on 'arc *0, 1992, at t e earing of t e petition for bail, t e ,"blic ,rosec"tor did not appear. It did not also send any p"blic prosec"tor, despite t e fact t at t e office of t e ,rovincial ,rosec"tor of (amboanga del )"r ad plenty of p"blic prosec"tors. Neit er was t ere also any re/"est to reset t e earing of t e petition for bail to anot er date6 3. % at for fail"re to present any evidence of g"ilt against t e petitioner-acc"sed, t e respondent iss"ed is order, dated 'arc *0, 1992, a tr"e copy of w ic is ereto attac ed as anne; +*+, finding t at t e petitioner-acc"sed as t e constit"tional rig t to bail, and set t e bail bond for t e provisional liberty at ,20,000, as prayed for in t e petition6 :. % at on t e same day, 'arc *0, 1992, t e petitioner-acc"sed posted a cas bond of ,20,000 for is provisional liberty6 .. % at before proceeding f"rt er wit following relevant facts< is comment, t e respondent wo"ld li4e first to state t e

..1> % at t e acc"sed Antonio &"aya as not 0"mp = sic> bail b"t as been present in co"rt every time is case is called and is as4ing for a speedy earing of t e criminal c arge against im6 ..2> % e t e only evidence against t e acc"sed Antonio &"aya is t e e;tra-0"dicial statement of is co-acc"sed &oberto !. &ada, alias +%otoy+ w o, w en d"ly arraigned in open co"rt wit t e assistance of co"nsel, entered a plea of not g"ilty6 ..*> % at as t e co-acc"sed &oberto !. &ada, cannot be compelled to testify in co"rt, t e prosec"tor =bot t e p"blic and private prosec"tor> admitted in open co"rt t at t e prosec"tion does not ave any admissible evidence against t e acc"sed Antonio &"aya6 ..3> % at t e co-acc"sed &oberto !. &ada, t e only witness against t e acc"sed Antonio &"aya, is a prisoner convicted for life for t e commission of robbery wit omicide =a crime involving moral t"rpit"de> in 7alencia, B"4idnon, and presently serving sentence at t e 2avao ,rison and ,enal Carm, ,anabo, 2avao del Norte6 ..:> % at t e respondent is partic"larly wary of "ncorroborated statements of prisoners, specially of t ose convicted for life, beca"se it is notorio"sly easy to let a prisoner sign any doc"ment for a fee as low as ,1006 ...> % at considering t e prevailing depressed economic condition in is 0"dicial district, t e respondent as adopted as a standard for granting bail at t e rate of ,1,000 for every year of probable imprisonment for common crimes, e;cept w en t e offenses involved 4idnapping for ransom, rebellion and pro ibited dr"gs, in w ic cases, t e respondent set t e bail bond at ,10,000 for every probable years =sic> of imprisonment. % e respondent as consistently ad ered to t is standard in ot er cases sit"ated, w ic standard is also followed by ot er &egional %rial #o"rts in t e area6 ..9> % at co-acc"sed $dwin &ada, alias +Negger+, s"bse/"ently also filed a similar petition for bail w ic was not opposed by t e prosec"tion, and so the respondent likewise granted bail to said accused, also in the amount of P20,000 6 9. % at w en t e petition for bail was filed by acc"sed &"aya wit t e co"rt of t e respondent, t e said acc"sed as already waived is rig t to t e second stage of t e preliminary investigation, leaving not ing f"rt er to be done by t e m"nicipal trial co"rt b"t t e performance of t e ministerial d"ty to forward t e case to t e office of t e ,rovincial ,rosec"tor wit its recommendations6 1. % at as alleged in t e nint paragrap of t e letter-complaint, t e case against t e acc"sed &"aya was forwarded to t e -ffice of t e ,rovincial ,rosec"tor on 'arc *0, 1992, wit t e recommendation to file an information for m"rder against said acc"sed. In ot er words, t e case against acc"sed &"aya was no longer pending preliminary investigation in t e m"nicipal co"rt on 'arc *0, 1992, w en t e respondent granted bail to said acc"sed in is order on t e same day =Anne; +*+>6 9. % at t e prosec"tion is ma4ing m"c of its arg"ment in paragrap 3 and 9 of t e complaint t at t e respondent granted bail w en t e case against t e acc"sed &"aya was +still "nder preliminary investigation+ in t e '"nicipal %rial #o"rt. % e prosec"tion was given t e opport"nity to p"t "p said arg"ment on 'arc *0, 1992 w en it was ordered by t e respondent to appear and present evidence t at t e g"ilt of t e acc"sed was strong. B"t despite d"e notice, t e prosec"tion did not

appear and t ereby forfeit =sic> t e opport"nity to invo4e said arg"ment. % e fail"re of t e prosec"tion to invo4e t e aforesaid arg"ment at t e proper opport"nity given to it constitute =sic> a waiver on its part to invoke the said argument and it is legally already under estoppel to rely on the same6 10. % at not only did t e prosec"tion not file a written opposition to, or a re/"est to postpone t e earing of t e application for bail, it did not even onor t e earing of t e petition wit its presence, despite t e fact, t at t ere are plenty of prosec"tors in t e office of t e ,rovincial ,rosec"tor. #learly, t e prosec"tion was remissed =sic> in t e performance of its d"ty and now it is as4ing t e respondent to be p"nis ed beca"se it =prosec"tion> failed to do its d"ty properly6 11. % at it is now too late and "nfair for t e prosec"tion to invo4e t e arg"ment t at t e respondent granted bail w en t e case was still "nder preliminary investigation in t e lower co"rt. It is too late beca"se t e prosec"tion is "nder estoppel and as already effectively waived to invo4e = sic> said arg"ment w en it c ose not to appear in t e earing of t e petition for bail despite d"e notice given to it. % e said arg"ment is clearly an aftert o"g t and t e prosec"tion s o"ld be t e one to s"ffer t e conse/"ences of its own negligence and not pass t e matter "nfairly to t e respondent. It is "nfair, beca"se after t e co"rt as conferred "pon t e acc"sed t e rig t to bail at t e proper earing wit d"e notice, the right to bail becomes thereafter a vested constitutional right which is already beyond the power and authority of the respondent to recall "nless t ere is a violation of t e condition of t e bail. % e respondent, t erefore, cannot recall the right already vested, even if he wants to, without violating the right of the accused to due process . % e prosec"tion did not t en give t e respondent an opport"nity to r"le "pon said arg"ment at t e proper time before t e rig t to bail became irrevocably vested "pon =sic> t e acc"sed. % e act"ations of t e prosec"tion is =sic> not ing else b"t laying =sic> in amb"s at and stabbing t e respondent at t e bac4 after t e prosec"tion neglected to perform its d"ty properly. 12. % at contrary to t e misinterpretation in paragrap 1 of t e complaint, t e '-%I-N %#AN#$D BAIDB-N2 AN2 %- A&&$)% %B$ A##?)$2, dated )eptember 22, 1992 was properly eard by t e respondent on )eptember 22, 1992, and t e prosec"tion even s"bmitted its '$'-&AN2?', dated -ctober :, 1992. Bowever, since t e motion involved p"rely a /"estion of law, partic"larly, as to w et er or not, t e rig t to bail given to an acc"sed c arged for m"rder, p"rs"ant to t e provisions of sections :, ., 9 and 1 of &"le 113 of t e &"les, can still be recalled by t e co"rt after its conferral, @ t e respondent resolved t e same in t e negative "nder its order of -ctober 9, 1992, and w ic is attac ed as Anne; +A+ to t e instant complaint6 1*. % at 0"dicial remedy e;ists to correct any error of 0"dgment committed by t e respondent6 13. % at it is "n4ind for t e co"nsel of t e complaint = sic> to ma4e t e grat"ito"s, barb =sic> and snipping =sic> remar4 t at t e respondent is t e co"nsel of t e acc"sed. &espondent ve emently denies it. % e respondent only acted in accordance wit w at e t en saw as t e rig t and proper t ing to do "nder t e circ"mstances. =$mp asis s"pplied.> /

% e 1919 #onstit"tion provides t at all persons, e;cept t ose c arged wit offenses p"nis able by reclusion perpetua w en evidence of g"ilt is strong s all, before conviction, be bailable by s"fficient s"reties or be released on recogni8ance as may be provided by law. #orollarily, t e &"les of #o"rt, "nder )ection *, &"le 113 t ereof, provides t at all persons in c"stody s all, before final conviction, be entitled to bail as a matter of rig t, e;cept t ose c arged wit a capital offense or an offense w ic , "nder t e law at t e time of its commission and at t e time of t e application for bail, is p"nis able by reclusion perpetua, w en evidence of g"ilt is strong. As now revised in t e 191: &"les of #riminal ,roced"re and provided in &"le 113 t ereof, t e r"les on availability of bail to an acc"sed may be restated as follows< 1. Admission to bail is a matter of rig t at any stage of t e action w ere t e c arge is not for a capital offense or is not p"nis able by reclusion perpetua. 0 2. &egardless of t e stage of t e criminal prosec"tion, no bail s all be allowed if t e acc"sed is c arged wit a capital offense or of an offense p"nis able by reclusion perpetua and t e evidence of g"ilt is strong6 9 *. $ven if a capital offense is c arged and t e evidence of g"ilt is strong, t e acc"sed may still be admitted to bail in t e discretion of t e co"rt if t ere are strong gro"nds to appre end t at is contin"ed confinement will endanger is life or res"lt in permanent impairment of ealt , 10 b"t only before 0"dgment in t e regional trial co"rt6 and

3. No bail s all be allowed after final 0"dgment, "nless t e acc"sed as applied for probation and as not commenced to serve sentence, 11 t e penalty and offense being wit in t e p"rview of t e probation law. -n t e foregoing bases, it is evident t at bail is a matter of discretion w ere t e acc"sed is c arged wit a capital offense or an offense p"nis able by reclusion perpetua and t e evidence of g"ilt is strong. % is precept gains added significance from t e fact t at t e sit"ation it envisages determines t e partic"lar co"rt w ere an application for bail s o"ld be filed. )ection 13 of &"le 113 pertinently provides<
)ec. 13. Bail, where filed. @ =a> Bail in t e amo"nt fi;ed may be filed wit t e co"rt w ere t e case is pending, or, in t e absence or "navailability of t e 0"dge t ereof, wit anot er branc of t e same co"rt wit in t e province or city. If t e acc"sed is arrested in a province, city or m"nicipality ot er t an w ere t e case is pending, bail may be filed also wit any regional trial co"rt of said place, or, if no 0"dge t ereof is available, wit any metropolitan trial 0"dge, m"nicipal trial 0"dge or m"nicipal circ"it trial 0"dge t erein. =b> Whenever the grant of bail is a matter of discretion , or t e acc"sed see4s to be released on recogni8ance, t e application t erefor may be filed only in the particular court where the case is pending w et er for preliminary investigation, trial, or on appeal. =c> Any person in c"stody w o is not yet c arged in co"rt may apply for bail wit any co"rt in t e province, city or m"nicipality w ere e is eld. =$mp asis o"rs.>

,aragrap =a> allows t e acc"sed to post bail in certain specified co"rts, ot er t an t at w ere is case is pending, "nder t e circ"mstances stated t erein. -n t e ot er and, paragrap =c> allows t e detainee to post bail wit any co"rt in t e province, city or m"nicipality w ere e is eld, if no complainant or information as as yet been filed against im. % e sit"ations contemplated "nder t ese two provisions of t e r"les clearly do not obtain in t e case at bar. In t e present case, acc"sed &"aya, w o applied for bail, was c arged wit m"rder in an amended complaint filed before t e m"nicipal circ"it trial co"rt w ere e was named as t e mastermind, w ic in all probability is t e reason w y no bail was recommended by t e investigating 0"dge w o iss"ed t e warrant of arrest against im, in addition to t e fact t at m"rder is a capital offense p"nis able by reclusion perpetua. ,erforce, bail in t is case is a matter of discretion and t e application t erefor s o"ld ave been filed in t e co"rt w ere t e preliminary investigation was t en pending, t at is, before t e '"nicipal #irc"it %rial #o"rt of 2"mingag-'a ayag, (amboanga del )"r, p"rs"ant to paragrap =b>, )ection 13 of &"le 113 above /"oted. % e reason for t e r"le is t at t e co"rt w erein t e case against t e acc"sed is pending is ass"med to be in a better position to pass "pon t e propriety and conditions for granting bail to t e acc"sed, since it is more conversant wit t e facts of said case and t e representations of t e prosec"tion t erein. C"rt ermore, s o"ld t e acc"sed 0"mp bail, t e primary responsibility rests wit t e co"rt w ere is case is pending. Alt o"g , as alleged by respondent 0"dge, t e order granting t e petition for bail was iss"ed on t e same day t at t e preliminary investigation was s"pposedly terminated in t e lower co"rt, t is did not c"re t e infirmity w ic attended t e iss"ance t ereof. -f greater import is t e fact t at t e petition for bail was filed wit t e regional trial co"rt, as a so-called +special civil case,+ w ile t e preliminary investigation was still pending before t e m"nicipal circ"it trial co"rt. Bence, respondent 0"dge ad no 0"risdiction to entertain t e same, as t e sit"ation of t e acc"sed definitely did not fall "nder any of t ose contemplated in paragrap s =a> and =c>, )ection 13 of &"le 13. C"rt er, respondent 0"dge acted wit o"t 0"risdiction in ta4ing cogni8ance of and event"ally granting t e petition for bail t ere aving been no information filed in is co"rt against t e acc"sed-applicant. Act"ally, it was only on 'arc *0, 1992 w en t e records of t e criminal case were forwarded by t e lower co"rt to t e -ffice of t e ,rovincial ,rosec"tor wit t e recommendation t at an information for m"rder be filed against acc"sed &"aya. -n t e ot er and, even ass"ming arguendo t at respondent 0"dge ad 0"risdiction to ear t e petition for bail, "nder t e circ"mstances attendant to t e case e s o"ld nonet eless be eld liable for granting t e same wit o"t benefit of a earing. % is re/"irement is so basic and f"ndamental t at it wo"ld amo"nt to 0"dicial apostasy for any member of t e 0"diciary to disclaim 4nowledge or awareness t ereof.

It is tr"e t at at t e earing of an application for admission to bail, w ere admission to bail is a matter of discretion, t e prosec"tion as t e b"rden of s owing t at evidence of g"ilt is strong. 1) Bowever, we ave eld t at admission to bail as a matter of discretion pres"pposes t e e;ercise t ereof in accordance wit law and g"ided by t e applicable legal principles. % e prosec"tion m"st first be accorded an opport"nity to present evidence beca"se by t e very nat"re of deciding applications for bail, it is on t e basis of s"c evidence t at 0"dicial discretion is weig ed against in determining w et er t e g"ilt of t e acc"sed is strong. In ot er words, discretion m"st be e;ercised reg"larly, legally and wit in t e confines of proced"ral d"e process, t at is, after eval"ation of t e evidence s"bmitted by t e prosec"tion. Any order iss"ed in t e absence t ereof is not a prod"ct of so"nd 0"dicial discretion b"t of w im and caprice and o"trig t arbitrariness. 13 Accordingly, w ile t e determination of w et er or not t e evidence of g"ilt is strong is a matter of 0"dicial discretion, t is discretion, by t e nat"re of t ings, may rig tly be e;ercised only after t e evidence is s"bmitted to t e co"rt at s"c earing. 1- A et er t e motion for bail of an acc"sed w o is in c"stody for a capital offense be resolved in a s"mmary proceeding or in t e co"rse of a reg"lar trial, t e prosec"tion m"st be given an opport"nity to present, wit in a reasonable time, all t e evidence t at it may desire to introd"ce before t e co"rt may resolve t e motion for bail. If t e prosec"tion s o"ld be denied s"c an opport"nity, t ere wo"ld be a violation of proced"ral d"e process, and t e order of t e co"rt granting bail s o"ld be considered void on t at gro"nd. 1. #onse/"ent to t e foregoing considerations, an order granting or ref"sing bail m"st contain a s"mmary of t e evidence by t e prosec"tion. -n t e basis t ereof, t e 0"dge s o"ld t en form"late is own concl"sion as to w et er t e evidence so presented is strong eno"g as to indicate g"ilt and t ereby ca"se t e contin"ed detention of t e acc"sed. -t erwise, t e acc"sed m"st be released on bail. 16 In t e case at bar, t e petition for bail was granted by respondent 0"dge on t e simple reason t at t e prosec"tion failed to appear and present evidence despite d"e notice. Cort wit , e concl"des t at by reason of t e fail"re of t e prosec"tion to appear at t e sc ed"led earing, t e applicant is entitled to bail as a matter of rig t. Be aggravated t is flagrant error w en in is afore/"oted comment, e 0"stified is s"bse/"ent denial of t e prosec"tion5s motion for t e cancellation of t e bail bond and t e arrest of t e acc"sed on t e incredible t eory t at t e prosec"tion5s fail"re to appear was a +waiver on its part . . . .and it is allegedly already in estoppel+ to c allenge t e grant of bail since t at rig t to bail +became irrevocably vested+ in t e acc"sed w o ad t ereby ac/"ired +a vested constit"tional rig t beyond t e power and a"t ority of t e respondent to recall.+ In t e first place, respondent 0"dge did not ave t e a"t ority to set t e petition for bail for earing in view of t e fact t at e ad not even ac/"ired 0"risdiction over t e criminal case since t e information t erefor ad not yet been filed in t e trial co"rt. In doing so, e acted wit grave ab"se of discretion and in wanton disregard of establis ed r"les and 0"rispr"dence. )econdly, it as been eld t at even w ere t e prosec"tor ref"ses to add"ce evidence in opposition to t e application to grant and fi; bail, t e co"rt may as4 t e prosec"tion s"c /"estions as wo"ld ascertain t e strengt of t e state5s evidence or 0"dge t e ade/"acy of t e amo"nt of bail. 1/ Bere, t e non-appearance of t e prosec"tion at t e earing sc ed"led by respondent 0"dge on 'arc *0, 1992 was obvio"sly 0"stified since, to repeat, respondent ad no a"t ority to sc ed"le andEor cond"ct t e same. It is at once apparent, even from a c"rsory glance of t e assailed order of respondent 0"dge t at, to say t e least, t ere is m"c to be desired. It is "tterly defective in form and s"bstance6 t ere is no recital of any evidence presented by t e prosec"tion, m"c less a concl"sion t erefrom or a prono"ncement t erein t at t e re/"isite proof of g"ilt of t e acc"sed is not evident. As s"c , t e c allenged order of respondent 0"dge cannot be s"stained or be given a semblance of validity. 10 ,arent etically, t e +vested constit"tional rig t+ t eory of respondent 0"dge does not merit 0"dicial review and is best disregarded. It is apropos to repeat ere w at we e;plicated in t e aforecited case of Libarios vs. abalos<
. . . Fenerally, a 0"dge cannot be eld liable to acco"nt, or answer criminally, civilly or administratively, for an erroneo"s 0"dgment or decision rendered by im in good fait . Bowever, good faith may be negated by the circumstances on record .

In t e absence of fra"d, dis onesty or corr"ption, t e acts of a 0"dge done in is 0"dicial capacity are not s"b0ect to disciplinary action, even t o"g s"c acts may be erroneo"s. B"t, w ile 0"dges s o"ld not be disciplined for inefficiency on acco"nt merely of occasional mista4es or errors of 0"dgment, yet, it is ig ly imperative t at t ey s o"ld be conversant wit basic legal principles. In every case, a 0"dge s o"ld endeavor diligently to ascertain t e facts and t e applicable law "nswayed by partisan or personal interests, p"blic opinion or fear of criticism. Respondent !udge should not have allowed himself to be swayed into issuing an order fi"ing bail for the temporary release of the accused charged with murder, without a hearing, which is contrary to established principles of law. # !udge owes it to the public and the administration of !ustice to know the law he is supposed to apply to a given controversy. $e is called upon to e"hibit more than !ust a cursory ac%uaintance with the statutes and procedural rules. &here will be faith in the administration of !ustice only if there be a belief on the part of litigants that the occupants of the bench cannot !ustly be accused of deficiency in their grasp of legal principles. =$mp ases o"rs.>

In res"mG, w at stamps t is case wit a "ni/"e feat"re and ma4es t e act"ations of respondent 0"dge more distressing is t e fact t at, aside from granting bail wit o"t a earing and denying t e prosec"tion proced"ral d"e process, s"c irreg"larity was committed in connection wit a criminal case over w ic respondent 0"dge ad not at t at instance ac/"ired 0"risdiction. C"rt ermore, t ro"g t at "na"t ori8ed proced"re w ic e ad adopted, respondent 0"dge illegally granted bail not only to acc"sed &"aya b"t also to t e latter5s co-acc"sed, $dwin &ada. -n t ese environmental facts, t e sanction to be imposed on respondent 0"dge s o"ld not be less t an t at w ic we approved in Libarios. AB$&$C-&$, respondent !"dge #amilo A. %amin is ereby ordered to pay a fine of ,20,000.00, wit a stringent warning t at t e commission of a similar offense in t e f"t"re will be dealt wit more severely. % is decision is wit o"t pre0"dice to w atever action t e p"blic prosec"tor may deem appropriate wit respect to #riminal #ase No. 92-10-*00 and )pecial #ivil #ase No. 92-:0,00:. )- -&2$&$2. N2/5/ Nos/ 1::799160/ $ctober 17, 200:O (6$(.6 $F T46 (40.0((0N6@, appellee, vs. .6$N0T$ .$56NP$, appellant/ ;6&0@0$N "#R C$R%&': This is an a+tomatic a,,ea% *rom the ;ecision N1O o* the 5e"iona% Tria% &o+rt o* $rienta% Mindoro, Cranch 30, in &rimina% &ases Nos/ 3 :2 and 3 ::, convictin" a,,e%%ant .eonito .orenLo o* t'o co+nts o* A+a%i*ied ra,e and sentencin" him to s+**er the ,ena%t# o* death *or each co+nt, and to ,a# civi% indemnit# and mora% dama"es, %i-e'ise *or each co+nt/
1

The 0ndictments $n $ctober 12, 1999, an 0n*ormation, doc-eted as &rimina% &ase No/ &13 :2, 'as *i%ed, char"in" the a,,e%%ant 'ith A+a%i*ied ra,e/ The acc+sator# ,ortion o* the 0n*ormation reads: That on or abo+t the 23th da# o* )+%#, 1999, at 2::0 o7c%oc- in the a*ternoon, at Caran"a# ?ater, M+nici,a%it# o* Caco, (rovince o* $rienta% Mindoro, (hi%i,,ines, and 'ithin the <+risdiction o* this 4onorab%e &o+rt, the above1named acc+sed, motivated b# %+st, %e'd desi"n, and b# ta-in" advanta"e o* innocence and minorit# o* .6A FAN6@@A A;AD # ;6.$@ 56D6@, 'ho is on%# *o+r (3) #ears o%d, did then and there, 'i%*+%%#, +n%a'*+%%# and *e%onio+s%# had carna% -no'%ed"e to said .6A FAN6@@A A;AD b# to+chin" and insertin" in some de"ree his ,enis 'ithin the %abia o* the ,+dend+m o* the o**ended ,art# b+t 'as not ab%e to ,enetrate dee,%# d+e to the acc+sed e8citement o* the moment ca+sed an +ntime%# e<ac+%ation, a%% a"ainst her 'i%% and consent/ &ontrar# to %a'/ N2O
2

1 2

A second 0n*ormation, doc-eted as &rimina% &ase No/ &13 ::, 'as *i%ed, 'here the a,,e%%ant 'as a%so char"ed 'ith A+a%i*ied ra,e/ The acc+sator# ,ortion reads as *o%%o's: That on or abo+t the 17th da# o* A+"+st, 1999, at aro+nd 1:00 o7c%oc- in the a*ternoon, at Caran"a# ?ater, M+nici,a%it# o* Caco, (rovince o* $rienta% Mindoro, (hi%i,,ines, and 'ithin the <+risdiction o* this 4onorab%e &o+rt, the above1named acc+sed, motivated b# %+st, %e'd desi"n, and b# ta-in" advanta"e o* innocence and minorit# o* .6A FAN6@@A A;AD # ;6.$@ 56D6@, 'ho is on%# *o+r (3) #ears o* a"e, did then and there, 'i%*+%%#, +n%a'*+%%# and *e%onio+s%# had carna% -no'%ed"e to said .6A FAN6@@A A;AD b# to+chin" and insertin" in some de"ree his ,enis 'ithin the %abia o* the ,+dend+m o* the o**ended ,art# b+t 'as not ab%e to ,enetrate dee,%# d+e to the acc+sed e8citement o* the moment ca+sed an +ntime%# e<ac+%ation, a%% a"ainst her 'i%% and consent/ &ontrar# to %a'/ N:O
:

The a,,e%%ant 'as arrai"ned, assisted b# co+nse%, and entered a ,%ea o* not "+i%t# to the char"es/ The 6vidence o* the (rosec+tion N3O
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;e%acrosa Ada# and her h+sband had seven chi%dren: 5ichard, 19 #ears o%dM 5+e%, 12 #ears o%dM .eone%, 10 #ears o%dM .eo, #ears o%dM 2%enver, 7 #ears o%dM .ea Fanessa, 3 #ears o%dM and &%arissa A,,%es, 1 1I2 #ears o%d/ ;e%acrosa made a %ivin" b# se%%in" ve"etab%es and ,astries, 'hi%e her h+sband 'as a *isherman/ ?hen the co+,%e ,arted 'a#s, ;e%acrosa sta#ed 'ith her chi%dren in ?ater, Caco, $rienta% Mindoro, 'hi%e her h+sband resided some'here in Catan"as/ ;e%acrosa %ived abo+t 90 meters a'a# *rom her a+nt .+cinia and the %atter7s h+sband, .eonito .orenLo/ 0n )+ne 1999, *o+r1#ear1o%d .ea Fanessa, 'ho 'as born on Ma# 19, 1991, N9O 'as seated at her mother7s %a,/ ;e%acrosa 'as ta%-in" to her da+"hter, and to%d the chi%d that she 'as "ro'in" +,, and that she sho+%d not a%%o' others to see or to+ch her ,rivate ,artsM i* she 'anted to ans'er the ca%% o* nat+re, she sho+%d be the one to c%ean her ,rivate ,arts, and not someone e%se/ ?hen .ea as-ed her mother 'h#, ;e%acrosa re,%ied that it 'as bad/ .ea then as-ed her mother 'h# her "rand*ather .eonito .orenLo, 'hom she ca%%ed =Mama# .ito,> stri,,ed o** her c%othes, *ond%ed her ,rivate ,arts/ .ea reco+nted ho' Mama# .ito e8,osed his ,rivate or"an and r+bbed it a"ainst her ,rivate ,artsM she 'as even as-ed to ho%d his ,rivate or"an and to r+b it a"ainst her ,rivate ,arts, b+t she re*+sed/ .ea *+rther stated that she noticed somethin" mi%-# comin" o+t *rom his ,enis and that .eonito therea*ter ,%aced his or"an inside his ,ants/ ;e%acrosa 'as a"hast at her #o+n" da+"hter7s reve%ation/ @he 'anted to con*ront her Bnc%e .eonito, b+t desisted/
9

$n )+%# 23, 1997 at 10:00 a/m/, ;e%acrosa and .eo %e*t their ho+se to see a doctor as .eo 'as i%%/ 5+e% and .eone% 'ere in schoo%, 'hi%e 5ichard, 2%enver, .ea and &%arissa 'ere %e*t in the ho+se/ At abo+t 2:00 ,/m/, 5ichard ,+t &%arissa to s%ee, and %e*t to "ather *ire'ood at the *oothi%%s/ 4e to%d 2%enver and .ea to "o to s%ee,/ Momentari%#, .eonito arrived and as-ed 2%enver to b+# candies/ 2%enver %e*t, %eavin" .ea and &%arissa a%one in the ho+se/ .eonito removed his ,ants and .ea7s ,anties, and ,%aced his ,enis in her va"ina/ 4o'ever, on%# the ti, o* his ,enis to+ched her va"ina/ @hort%# therea*ter, .eonito %e*t the ho+se/ ;e%acrosa and .eo arrived home at 3:00 ,/m/ .ea to%d her mother that .eonito had been to their ho+se/ @he narrated that 'hen 2%enver %e*t to b+# candies as instr+cted, .eonito removed his ,ants 4e then removed .ea7s ,anties and -ne%t on the *%oor, caressed her va"ina and r+bbed his ,enis a"ainst it/ 4e tried to insert his ,enis into her va"ina b+t on%# the ti, o* his ,enis to+ched her or"an/ ;ec%acrosa e8amined her da+"hter7s va"ina and sa' that it 'as s'o%%en and reddish/ @he sa' traces o* semen in *ront o* .ea7s ,anties/ ;e%acrosa 'as so *+rio+s that she 'anted to -i%% .eonito/ At 1:00 ,/m/ on A+"+st 17, 1999, ;e%acrosa 'as at the 'e%% 'ashin" soi%ed c%othes, abo+t 90 meters a'a# *rom her ho+se/ @he had instr+cted .eo, 2%enver, .ea and &%arissa to s%ee,, and that she 'o+%d be bacshort%#/ $n her 'a# to the 'e%%, ;e%acrosa had seen .eonito standin" in *ront o* his ho+se/ A+nt .+cinia 'as a%so at the 'e%%, 'ashin" soi%ed c%othes 'ith ;e%acrosa/ The ,%ace 'as a%so abo+t 90 meters a'a# *rom a ho+se 'hich 'as +nder constr+ction, that be%on"ed to 6ddie de%os 5e#es, ;e%acrosa7s #o+n"er brother/
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0n the meantime, ?i%son ;+%ce, a member o* the %glesia ni Cristo, 'as on his 'a# home a*ter "atherin" ni,a ,a%m/ 4e ,assed b# the ho+se o* 6ddie de%os 5e#es and sa' .eonito, ho%din" .ea7s hand/ ?i%son s,o-e 'ith .eonito *or abo+t three min+tes and then %e*t/ 0t a,,eared that aside *rom .ea and .eonito, there 'as no one e%se in the ho+se/ A*ter 'ashin" and rinsin" c%othes, ;e%acrosa 'ent home/ The door 'as %oc-ed/ ?hen she event+a%%# "ot inside the ho+se, she discovered that .ea 'as not there/ ;e%acrosa 'as so incensed and, in a %o+d voice, demanded to -no' 'here .ea 'as/ .eo to%d his mother that .ea had re*+sed to "o inside the ho+se a*ter she %e*t, and to tease their sister, he and 2%enver c%osed the door to -ee, her o+t/ Momentari%#, .eonito and .ea arrived/ .eonito dec%ared that the# had been to the =ho+se +nder constr+ction> o'ned b# 6ddie de%os 5e#es/ A*ter .eonito %e*t, ;e%acrosa noticed that .ea 'as tremb%in"/ Bnconscio+s%#, .ea %o'ered her ,anties, scratched her crotch and ,+%%ed +, her ,anties ane'/ @+s,icio+s, ;e%acrosa ,+%%ed do'n .ea7s +nder'ear and 'as shoc-ed 'hen she sa' traces o* semen in her da+"hter7s nave%, her crotch, and the *ront ,ortion o* her ,anties/ ;e%acrosa as-ed .ea 'hat ha,,ened, b+t the chi%d mere%# shoo- her head in re,%#/ A*ter a co+,%e o* ho+rs, .ea ca%med do'n and to%d her mother that .eonito had removed his ,ants, then her ,anties and attem,ted to insert his ,enis into her va"ina/ 4e *ai%ed to do so, as on%# the ti, o* his ,enis 'as ab%e to ,enetrate her va"ina/ ;e%acrosa, 'ho 'as a member o* the %glesia ni Cristo, so+"ht he%, *rom their head Ave%ino Ce%ano and re,orted the incident to him/ ;e%acrosa bro+"ht Ave%ino to her ho+se and sho'ed him .ea7s ,anties/ Ave%ino noticed that the ,anties 'ere 'et 'ith a stic-# s+bstance/ 4e advised ;e%acrosa to re,ort the matter to the minister o* the %glesia ni Cristo, 'ho therea*ter advised her to re,ort the incidents invo%vin" .eonito and her da+"hter to the ,o%ice a+thorities/ $n @e,tember 22, 1999, ;e%acrosa bro+"ht .ea to the ,o%ice, 'here she "ave a s'orn statement to @($1 ;ante AbarA+eL, s+bscribed and s'orn to be*ore the (residin" )+d"e o* the M+nici,a% &irc+it Tria% &o+rt o* (+erto 2a%era/ ;e%acrosa a%so e8ec+ted a s'orn statement/ N6O Mother and da+"hter si"ned t'o crimina% com,%aints *or ra,e a"ainst .eonito, therea*ter *i%ed 'ith the M+nici,a% &irc+it Tria% &o+rt/ N7O As s+""ested b# the ,+b%ic ,rosec+tor, ;e%acrosa bro+"ht .ea to the (rovincia% 4ea%th $**ice on $ctober 19, 1999 'here ;r/ 5omeo 2/ Anda%, Medica% $**icer F, cond+cted a ,h#sica% e8amination o* .ea/ The doctor7s re,ort contained the *o%%o'in" *indin"s:
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(4D@0&A. 6EAM0NAT0$N: 466NT O &I. O No abrasions nor hematoma Abdomen O FA20NA. @(6&B.BM J 0NT65NA. 6EAM0NAT0$N: 1 Absence o* ,+bic hair, 'ith com,%ete hea%ed h#mena% %acerations on 2, (, 7 J 9 o7c%oc,ositions/ 1 Fa"ina 1 admits the 9th *in"er 'ith ease/ .AC$5AT$5D 6EAM0NAT0$N: &ervice va"ina% smear *or the ,resence o* s,ermatoLoa revea%ed/ Ne"ative res+%t/ N O The 6vidence o* the Acc+sed .eonito denied the char"e/ 4e testi*ied that on )+%# 23, 1999, he 'as b+s# ,%o'in" his rice*ie%d, 'hich 'as abo+t nine meters a'a# *rom his ho+se/ At noontime, 'hi%e he and his 'i*e .+cinia 'ere restin", ;e%acrosa arrived and as-ed .+cinia to ta-e care o* her chi%dren as .eo had to be bro+"ht to the doctor/ .+cinia a"reed and too- care o* ;e%acrosa7s chi%dren +nti% 3:00 ,/m/ 'hen ;e%acrosa arrived home *rom the c%inic/ There 'ere other ,revio+s occasions 'hen .+cinia too- care o* the chi%dren 'hi%e ;e%acrosa 'as a'a#/ .eonito insisted that he co+%d not have ,ossib%# mo%ested .ea on A+"+st 17, 1999/ 4e 'as in the ho+se o* 6ddie de%os 5e#es, 'hich 'as abo+t ten meters a'a# *rom his ho+se/ ;e%acrosa and his 'i*e .+cinia 'ere then at the 'e%% 'ashin" soi%ed c%othes/
6 7 8

.eonito averred that the char"es a"ainst him 'ere insti"ated b# ;e%acrosa beca+se she 'as envio+s o* himM the *arm%and, 'hich her deceased mother and her a+nt .+cinia inherited *rom their ,arents, 'ere "iven to him to ti%% and 'or- on/ 0nstead o* s+in" .eonito and .+cinia, ;e%acrosa *abricated the char"es and ordered her da+"hter .ea to testi*# a"ainst him/ .+cinia corroborated her h+sband7s testimon#/ @he testi*ied that she as-ed ;e%acrosa to have .ea e8amined b# a doctor b+t ;e%acrosa re*+sed/ @he demanded that ;e%acrosa dro, the char"es a"ainst .eonito beca+se the# 'ere base%ess, b+t ;e%acrosa re*+sed/ The Ferdict o* the Tria% &o+rt A*ter tria%, the co+rt rendered <+d"ment convictin" .eonito 'ith t'o co+nts o* A+a%i*ied ra,e/ The decreta% ,ortion o* the decision reads: A&&$5;0N2.D, *indin" the acc+sed .eonito .orenLo # Ma%i"o "+i%t# be#ond reasonab%e do+bt o* the crime o* ra,e (2 co+nts) 'ith the A+a%i*#in" circ+mstance that the victim is a chi%d be%o' 7 #ears o%d, he is hereb# sentenced to s+**er the ma8im+m o* t'o (2) death ,ena%ties, to"ether 'ith the accessor# ,ena%ties as ,rovided *or b# %a', and to indemni*# the victim .ea Fanessa Ada# the amo+nt o* *i*t# tho+sand (,90,000/00) ,esos *or each crime o* ra,e or a tota% amo+nt o* one h+ndred tho+sand ((100,000/00) ,esos, 'itho+t s+bsidiar# im,risonment in case o* inso%venc# and to ,a# the cost/ @$ $5;656;/ N9O
9

0n this case, the a,,e%%ant asserts that the ,rosec+tion *ai%ed to ,rove his "+i%t *or the *e%onies char"ed be#ond reasonab%e do+bt/ 4e contends that the ,rivate com,%ainant admitted in her testimon# that he mere%# removed her ,anties b+t did nothin" to her ,rivate ,artsM and that she 'as mere%# instr+cted b# her mother ;e%acrosa to testi*# that the a,,e%%ant had ra,ed her/ The $**ice o* the @o%icitor 2enera%, *or its ,art, ar"+es that the a,,e%%ant mere%# nit1,ic-ed the testimon# o* the ,rivate com,%ainant and ascribed i%% motive to her mother, in a %ast ditch e**ort to e8tricate himse%* *rom certain conviction/ 0t contends that in ca%ibratin" the testimon# o* the ,rivate com,%ainant, the entiret# o* her testimon# m+st be considered/ ?e a"ree 'ith the $**ice o* the @o%icitor 2enera%/ 0n ra,e cases, the testimon# o* the ,rivate com,%ainant m+st be considered and ca%ibrated in its entiret# and not mere%# b# tr+ncated ,ortions or iso%ated ,assa"es thereo*/ N10O The tr+e meanin" o* ans'ers to iso%ated A+estions is to be ascertained b# d+e consideration o* a%% the A+estions ,ro,o+nded to the 'itness and her ans'ers thereto/ To disti%% the *acts estab%ished b# the testimon# o* a 'itness, ever#thin" stated b# her on direct e8amination, on cross1e8amination, redirect and re1cross1e8amination m+st be considered/ Facts im,er*ect%# or incom,%ete%# stated in ans'er to one or more A+estions on direct e8amination s+,,%ied b# her ans'ers to other A+estions on redirect or re1cross1 e8aminationM and 'hen *rom one statement considered b# itse%* an in*erence ma# be ded+ced, that in*erence ma# be stren"thened or re,e%%ed b# the *acts disc%osed in another/ N11O The testimonies o* 'itnesses m+st not be mere%# se%ected to convenient%# s+it the c%aim o* a ,art#/ N12O 0n "eople v. )rtega, N1:O this &o+rt r+%ed:
10 11 12 1:

0t is so+nd ,o%ic# that se%*1contradictions in testimonies sho+%d be reconci%ed, i* ,ossib%e, the r+%e bein" the same as that 'hich obtains 'here 'itnesses a,,arent%# contradict each other/ These contradictor# statements sho+%d be considered in %i"ht o* e8,%anations and attendin" circ+mstances, and 'hether inconsistencies or incon"r+ities res+%t *rom misconce,tion o* an innocent 'itness or 'i%%*+% and corr+,t misre,resentation/ /// N13O
13

0n this case, the a,,e%%ant mere%# A+oted a ,ortion o* the ,rivate com,%ainant7s testimon# on redirect e8amination 'hich a,,eared to s+,,ort the c%aim that he did not insert his ,enis into the va"ina o* the victim:
9 10 11 12 13 14

(5$@/ @6Q$56N: R 4o' did #o+r Mama# .ito se8+a%%# ab+se #o+ or =hinindotG>

ATTD/ ACA@: Do+r 4onor, it is im,ro,er *or the ,rosec+tor to as- that A+estion in the redirect/ &$B5T: That is a *o%%o'1+, A+estion/ ?0TN6@@: A Mama# .ito *irst removed m# ,ants and then m# ,ant#, sir/

(5$@/ @6Q$56N: R A R A R ?hat did #o+r Mama# .ito do a*ter he removed #o+r ,ants and ,ant#G 4e to%d me to ho%d his ,enis, sir/ And did #o+ ho%d the ,enis o* Mama# .itoG No, sir/ A*ter Mama# .ito to%d #o+ to ho%d #o+r ,enis, 'hat did Mama# .ito do 'ith his ,enisG

ATTD/ ACA@: .eadin", Do+r 4onor/ &$B5T: .et the 'itness ans'er/ ?0TN6@@: A @omethin" %i-e mi%- ooLed *rom his ,enis, sir/

(5$@/ @6Q$56N: R A R And 'hat more did #o+r Mama# .ito do to #o+G None an#more, sir/ 4o' abo+t his ,enis, 'hat did he do 'ith his ,enis a*ter somethin" mi%-# 'as e<ac+%atedG

ATTD/ ACA@: 0ncom,etent, Do+r 4onor/ &$B5T: Ans'er/ ?0TN6@@: A 4e ,+t on his ,ants, sir/

(5$@/ @6Q$56N:

R .ea Fanessa, be*ore #o+r Mama# .ito reA+ested #o+ or directed #o+ to ho%d his ,enis, 'hat did Mama# .ito do 'ith #o+r se8+a% or"an, i* an#G ATTD/ ACA@: Fer# %eadin", Do+r 4onor/ &$B5T: Ans'er/ ?0TN6@@: A 4e <+st removed m# ,ants b+t did nothin" 'ith m# ,rivate ,art, sir/
19

N19O

C# itse%*, the a*oreA+oted ,ortion o* the testimon# o* the ,rivate com,%ainant 'o+%d ne"ate the char"es o* A+a%i*ied ra,e a"ainst him/ 4e 'o+%d be "+i%t# on%# o* acts o* %ascivio+sness/ 4o'ever, the rest o* the testimon# o* the ,rivate com,%ainant conc%+sive%# ,roves that she 'as ra,ed b# the a,,e%%ant/ @he testi*ied on direct e8amination, redirect e8amination and even on re1cross1e8amination that the a,,e%%ant had ra,ed her/ $n direct e8amination, she testi*ied that the a,,e%%ant had se8+a% interco+rse 'ith her severa% times: R A R A R A R A C# the 'a#, .ea Fanessa, 'h# do #o+ -no' Mama# .ito or .eonito .orenLoG Ceca+se this .eonito .orenLo is the h+sband o* Nana# @enia, sir/ ;o #o+ -no', .ea Fanessa, 'h# #o+r Mama# .ito is here no'G Des, sir/ ?h# is #o+r Mama# .ito here no'G Mama# .ito 'as arrested b# the ,o%ice, sir/ ?h# did the ,o%ice arrest #o+r Mama# .itoG Ceca+se he had se8+a% interco+rse 'ith me, sir (=hinindot ,o a-o>)/

R .ea Fanessa, ho' man# times did #o+r Mama# .ito or .eonito .orenLo have se8+a% interco+rse 'ith #o+G A R A R A R A @evera% times, sir/ ?here did #o+r Mama# .ito have se8+a% interco+rse 'ith #o+G 0n o+r ho+se and in the ho+se o* Tito 6ddie, sir/ ?ho is this Tito 6ddie #o+ have <+st mentionedG 4e is the brother o* m# mother, sir/ 4o' *ar is the ho+se o* #o+r Tito 6ddie *rom #o+r ho+seG Near, sir/
16

N16O

$n incisive re1cross1e8amination b# the a,,e%%ant7s co+nse%, the ,rivate com,%ainant st+c- to her testimon# on direct e8amination that the a,,e%%ant inserted his ,enis into her va"ina severa% times, th+s: ATTD/ ACA@:
15 16

4o' ma# times did Mama# .ito insert his ,enis to #o+r va"inaG

?0TN6@@: A R A R A R A R A R R A R A Man# times, sir/ ?hen 'as the *irstG =Noon" mata"a% na ,o/> The second timeG =Noon" anim ,on" ara'/> The third timeG =(am,ito ,o/> ?hen 'as the *o+rth time #o+ 'ere ab+sed b# Mama# .itoG @evenNthO da#s, sir/ The *i*th timeG ?here *or the *irst time 'ere #o+ ab+sed b# Mama# .itoG 0n the ho+se o* Tita Pen#, sir/ The second time, in 'hat ,%aceG 0n o+r ho+se, sir/

R ?hen #o+ 'ere ab+sed b# Mama# .ito the second time, #o+ 'ere to"ether 'ith #o+r brothers and sistersG A R A R A R A R A R A R A R No, sir/ Do+r mother 'as thereG M# mother at that time bro+"ht m# brother to a doctor *or treatment, sir/ Do+ 'ere a%one in #o+r ho+seG No, sir, S+#a 2%en 'as there b+t Mama# .ito sent him to a store to b+# candies/ 0mmediate%#, #o+r S+#a 2%en ret+rned *rom b+#in" candiesG Des, sir/ And #o+r Mama# .ito 'as sti%% there 'hen #o+r S+#a 2%en ret+rnedG Des, sir/ ?here 'ere #o+ ab+sed b# Mama# .ito the third timeG 0n the ho+se o* Mama# .ito, sir/ ?ho 'as thereG That ho+se 'as sti%% +nder constr+ction, sir/ ?ere there ,ersons in that ho+seG

A R A R A R A R A R A R A

None, sir/ The *o+rth time, 'here 'ere #o+ ab+sed b# Mama# .itoG A%so in the ho+se o* Mama# .ito, sir/ And that ho+se 'as sti%% +nder constr+ctionG Des, sir/ No *%oorin" #etG Des, sir/ And it had no 'a%%in" #et at that timeG Des, sir/ No door #etG Des, sir/ The ne8t time, in 'hat ,%ace 'ere #o+ se8+a%%# ab+sed b# Mama# .itoG 4e a%'a#s ab+sed me in the ho+se 'hich 'as sti%% +nder constr+ction, sir/
17

N17O

0t bears stressin" that the ,rivate com,%ainant on redirect e8amination testi*ied not on%# on the n+mber o* times she 'as ra,ed b# the a,,e%%ant, b+t a%so indicated the ,%aces 'here she 'as ra,ed, and revea%ed the detai%s re%atin" to the crimes/ A%tho+"h the ,rivate com,%ainant mista-en%# testi*ied that the ho+se +nder constr+ction 'here she 'as ra,ed 'as o'ned b# the a,,e%%ant, 'hen in *act the ho+se 'as o'ned b# 6ddie de%os 5e#es, ;e%acrosa7s #o+n"er brother and the ,rivate com,%ainant7s +nc%e, s+ch mista-e sho+%d not be ta-en a"ainst a *o+r1#ear1o%d "ir%, 'ho innocent%# tho+"ht that the a,,e%%ant o'ned the ho+se/ The Medica% &erti*icate iss+ed b# ;r/ 5omeo Anda% re"ardin" the ,h#sica% e8amination cond+cted on the ,rivate com,%ainant con*irms the veracit# o* the ,rivate com,%ainant7s testimon#, that she 'as ra,ed b# the a,,e%%ant not on%# on )+%# 23 and A+"+st 17, 1999, b+t on other occasions as 'e%%/ The doctor *o+nd com,%ete%#1hea%ed h#mena% %acerations at t'o o7c%oc-, *ive o7c%oc-, seven o7c%oc- and nine o7c%oc,ositions and that the va"ina admitted the entr# o* the *i*th *in"er 'ith ease/ N1 O 0n "eople v. *aring, N19O the &o+rt he%d that 'hen the victim7s testimon# o* her vio%ation is corroborated b# ,h#sica% *indin"s o* ,enetration, there is s+**icient *o+ndation to ,rove the e8istence o* the essentia% reA+isite o* carna% -no'%ed"e/ N20O
1 19 20

A,,arent%#, .ea erred 'hen on redirect e8amination, she *ai%ed to mention that the a,,e%%ant inserted his ,enis into her va"ina/ 4o'ever, s+ch circ+mstance sho+%d not discredit her and her testimon#/ 0t m+st be stressed that .ea 'as bare%# *o+r #ears o%d 'hen she 'as ra,ed and 'hen she testi*ied/ @he co+%d not be e8,ected to +nderstand ever# A+estion as-ed o* her in the co+rse o* e8amination/ Am,%e mar"in o* error and +nderstandin" sho+%d be accorded to .ea 'ho, m+ch more than ad+%ts, 'o+%d be "ri,,ed 'ith tension d+e to the nove%t# o* the e8,erience o* testi*#in" be*ore a co+rt/ 6rror1*ree testimon# cannot be e8,ected, most es,ecia%%# 'hen a 'itness is reco+ntin" vivid detai%s o* a harro'in" e8,erience, one 'hich even an ad+%t 'o+%d %i-e to b+r# in ob%ivion/ N21O Fictims o* ra,e o*ten ta-e into memor# %a,ses in their desire to *or"et their dread*+% e8,eriences/ These memor# "a,s sho+%d
21

17 18 19 20 21

not necessari%# be ta-en as evidence o* *a%se testimon#/ N22O Fa+%t%ess testimon# cannot be e8,ected o* a ra,e victim o* tender a"e *or she ma# be tr#in" not to reca%% in her mind, m+ch %ess, reco+nt in o,en co+rt ever# +"%# detai% o* her distressin" e8,erience, and the a,,a%%in" o+tra"e she 'ent thro+"h, as it is too ,ain*+% and horri*ic to remember/ N2:O A%so, the &o+rt cannot im,ose the b+rden o* e8actness in the victim7s reco%%ection o* her harro'in" e8,erience, more so in this case 'here the victim 'as bare%# *o+r #ears o%d/ @he ma# have been con*+sed as to the e8act detai%s o* each and ever# se8+a% ab+se she 'as s+b<ected to b# the a,,e%%ant/ 0t is in *act e8,ected that s+ch a victim 'o+%d rather 'ish and even ,+r,ose%# *or"et the abhorrent memories o* ever# sin"%e occasion/ 0t 'o+%d be e8actin" too m+ch sho+%d the &o+rt demand a ver# acc+rate and *%a'%ess acco+nt o* the t'o crimes s+b<ect o* her char"es/ N23O 0t is not +nnat+ra% *or inconsistencies to cree, into the testimon# o* a ra,e victim, es,ecia%%# one 'ho is o* tender a"e as the victim .ea, in narratin" the detai%s o* her shoc-in" e8,erience/ N29O
22 2: 23 29

The &o+rt is inc%ined to be%ieve that the incident re*erred to b# the ,rivate com,%ainant on redirect e8amination 'as that 'hich she revea%ed to ;e%acrosa, her mother, in )+ne 1999 as "%eaned *rom the %atter7s testimon#, th+s: R (rior to )+%# 23, 1999, did #o+ have an# conversation 'ith #o+r da+"hter .eah +sic, Fanessa abo+t his Mama# .itoG A R A R Des, sir/ ?hen 'as thatG 0t 'as on )+ne 1999, sir/ ?hat 'as the s+b<ect matter o* #o+r conversation 'ith #o+r da+"hter .eah FanessaG

A That a*ternoon 'hi%e 0 'as restin", m# da+"hter .eah Fanessa 'ho is b# nat+re cariKosa 'as then %#in" on m# %a,, 0 'as te%%in" her ho' to ta-e care o* herse%*, sir/ R A R A*ter that 'hat ha,,enedG ?hat 0 'anted is that 'hi%e she is "ro'in" +,, she sho+%d ta-e care o* herse%*, sir/ ?hat other thin"s did #o+ ta%- 'ith #o+r da+"hterG

A ?hi%e she 'as %#in" on m# %a,, 0 to+ched her va"ina and to%d her not to a%%o' that va"ina o* hers to be to+ched and 0 to%d her that i* she is "oin" to ans'er the ca%% o* nat+re she sho+%d be the one to *i8 herse%* and not a%%o' her brothers to c%ean it, sir/ R A R A sir/ R A R
22 23 24 25

?hat 'as the re,%# o* #o+r da+"hter .eah Fanessa a*ter sa#in" thatG @he as-ed me ='h#G>, sir/ And 'hat 'as #o+r ans'erG 0 to%d her to ta-e care o* herse%* not to sho' her ,rivate or"an es,ecia%%# so that she is "ro'in" +,, ?hat 'as the re,%# o* .eah Fanessa, i* an#G @he as-ed me a"ain and 0 to%d her that it is bad, sir/ And 'hat 'as her re,%#G

A R

@he to%d me in A+estion manner, =0s it badG> ?hat other thin" did she sa#G

A ?hen 0 as-ed her that she a%so as-ed me, =?h# is it badG> and then she to%d me, =Ca-it si Mama# .itoG> R ?hat more did she sa# to #o+G

ATTD/ ACA@: Ma# 0 move that the ans'er be stric-en o+t, Do+r 4onor/ (5$@/ @6Q$56N: That is ,art o* her narration, Do+r 4onor/ ?0TN6@@: @he to%d me that, =?h# did Mama# .ito stri,,ed me and to+ched m# ,rivate ,arts/ (5$@/ @6Q$56N: R ?hat ha,,ened, i* an#G

A @he to%d me that a*ter the acc+sed stri,,ed o** her c%othes and *ond%ed her ,rivate ,arts, Mama# .ito 'i%% e8,ose his ,rivate or"an and r+b it in her va"ina, sir/ R A R A sir/ ?hat e%se did #o+r da+"hter te%% #o+G @he a%so to%d me that a*ter Mama# .ito e8,osed his or"an, he to%d her to r+b it in her va"ina, sir/ ?hat e%se ha,,enedG M# da+"hter to%d me that a*ter the acc+sed e8,osed his ,enis, he 'o+%d as- m# da+"hter to ho%d it,
26

N26O

The a,,e%%ant A+oted a ,ortion o* the ,rivate com,%ainant7s testimon# on cross1e8amination to sho' that she 'as instr+cted b# her mother to testi*# that the a,,e%%ant had ra,ed her: R A C# the 'a#, 'ho instr+cted #o+ to te%% be*ore this &o+rt that #o+ 'ere ra,ed b# #o+r Mama# .itoG 0 'ithdra' that/

R Do+ stated be*ore this &o+rt that a chi%d 'ho is te%%in" a %ie 'i%% "o to the sea o* *ire or as 'hat #o+ ca%% =da"at1da"atan" a,o#,> correctG A R A R A Des, sir/ And that 'as the instr+ction made b# #o+r mother to #o+G Des, sir/ And #o+r mother instr+cted #o+ to te%% the &o+rt that Mama# .ito ra,ed #o+G Des, sir/
27

N27O

4o'ever, the a,,e%%ant a"ain *ai%ed to mention that the ,rivate com,%ainant %i-e'ise testi*ied on re1cross1 e8amination that she 'as not th+s coached:
26 27

And #o+ are testi*#in" here beca+se #o+r mother to%d #o+ to testi*#G

(5$@/ @6Q$56N: 0 thin- the A+estion has a%read# been ans'ered, Do+r 4onor/ &$B5T: Ans'er/ ?0TN6@@: Des, sir/ ATTD/ ACA@: R A And a%% #o+ are sa#in" 'as coached b# #o+r motherG No, sir/
2

N2 O

There is no evidence that ;e%acrosa instr+cted her da+"hter to ,revaricate or *a%se%# testi*# that the a,,e%%ant had ra,ed her/ The &o+rt *inds it incredib%e that a mother 'o+%d advise her da+"hter =not to te%% a %ie %est she be en"+%*ed in a sea o* *ire,> and therea*ter te%% the chi%d to *a%se%# testi*# that the a,,e%%ant ra,ed her/ 0ndeed, 'hen as-ed b# the ,+b%ic ,rosec+tor i* she instr+cted her da+"hter to testi*# as she did a"ainst the a,,e%%ant, ;e%acrosa e8,%ained: (5$@/ @6Q$56N: R The acc+sed .eonito .orenLo, inc%+din" his 'i*e .+ciKa +sic, .orenLo, a%so testi*ied that the reason 'h# .ea Fanessa testi*ied a"ainst him 'as beca+se #o+ instr+cted her to testi*# in the manner she testi*ied a"ainst the acc+sed/ ?hat can #o+ sa# abo+t this statementG A 0t is tr+e that 0 to%d m# da+"hter .ea Fanessa to come to &o+rt and narrate b+t 'hat 0 to%d her is to te%% the &o+rt a%% that Mama# .ito did to her/ 0 a%so to%d her to te%% a%% 'hat is on%# tr+e beca+se 0 to%d her that the chi%d 'ho 'o+%d not te%% the tr+th 'o+%d be ,%aced in a sea o* *ire/ R A ?ho is this Mama# .ito #o+ are re*errin" toG This .eonito .orenLo is -no'n to m# da+"hter .ea Fanessa as Mama# .ito/

&$B5T: R A Are #o+ re*errin" to the acc+sedG Des, Do+r 4onor/

29

N29O

0t bears stressin" that the ,rivate com,%ainant, 'ho 'as bare%# *o+r #ears o%d 'hen she testi*ied, 'as s+b<ected to intense and s+stained cross1e8amination and re1cross1e8amination b# the a,,e%%ant7s co+nse%/ The chi%d remained stead*ast in her testimon# that she 'as ravished b# the a,,e%%ant, not on%# t'ice, b+t severa% timesM not on%# in their ho+se, b+t a%so in the ho+se o* 6ddie de%os 5e#es/ The ,rivate com,%ainant even s,ontaneo+s%# demonstrated to the tria% co+rt, 'ith the +se o* her *in"ers, the %en"th and the 'idth o* the ,enis o* the a,,e%%ant: R A R
28 29

4ave #o+ seen the ,enis o* Mama# .itoG Des, sir/ 4o' bi" is itG

?0TN6@@: (;emonstrates sho'in" her arm havin" a diameter o* a,,ro8imate%# 2 inches)/ R A R A And that siLe 'as inserted in #o+r va"inaG $n%# the ti, o* the ,enis 'as ab%e to ,enetrate, sir/ 4o' %on" is the ,enis o* #o+r Mama# .itoG Aro+nd *ive inches, sir/

(?itness demonstrates)/ R A R A And #o+ 'ere ab%e to ho%d thatG No, sir/ ?h# did #o+ not to+ch his ,enis 'hen #o+r Mama# .ito to%d #o+ to to+ch the sameG 0 didn7t %i-e to ho%d it, sir/
:0

N:0O

0t 'o+%d be at the a,e8 o* de,ravit# *or a mother to coach her *o+r1#ear1o%d da+"hter into *a%se%# testi*#in" that she 'as ra,ed b# no %ess than her "rand*ather, and s+b<ect her da+"hter to s+ch dis"race i* the %atter 'as not a*ter a%% ra,ed b# the a,,e%%ant/ 0n this case, ;e%acrosa so+"ht the ,rosec+tion and conviction o* the a,,e%%ant, her +nc%e no %ess, *or his bestia% acts on her ha,%ess da+"hter/ Ce*ore she did, she so+"ht co+nse% *rom o**icia%s o* the %glesia ni Cristo, o* 'hich she 'as a member/ 4er co%%ective acts 'ere not those o* a de,raved mother, b+t one 'ho so+"ht <+stice *or her da+"hter/ A%tho+"h .+cinia, the a,,e%%ant7s 'i*e, demanded that ;e%acrosa 'ithdra' the com,%aints a"ainst the a,,e%%ant, ;e%acrosa 'as adamant/ To A+ote ;e%acrosa7s testimon#: R .+ciKa +sic, .orenLo a%so testi*ied that on $ctober 2, 1999, she reA+ested #o+ to dro, #o+r char"es a"ainst her h+sband, .eonito .orenLo, 'hen #o+ 'ere in #o+r mother7s ho+se, beca+se accordin" to her, there is no tr+th to #o+r char"es a"ainst her h+sband/ And in that occasion, #o+ to%d her that #o+ 'o+%d on%# dro, #o+r char"es a"ainst her h+sband i* the# 'o+%d %eave that ,%ace/ ?hat can #o+ sa# abo+t this statementG A 0t is tr+e that she a,,roached me and reA+ested me to dro, the char"es a"ainst her h+sband b+t did not acceed +sic, to her reA+est beca+se 0 -no' that it is tr+e/ A%tho+"h she 'as sa#in" that it is not tr+e, it is tr+e/ ATTD/ ACA@: Ma# 'e move that the Ta"a%o" ans'er o* the 'itness be ,+t on record/ &$B5T: (+t the Ta"a%o" ans'er o* the 'itness on record/ A =Sa#a ho si#a %+ma,it a# na-i-i+sa, ho si#a sa a-in na i+ron" -o an" demanda %aban sa -an#an" asa'a dahi% sa ,anini'a%a ni#a na hindi "ina'a n" -an#an" asa'a i#on/ 4indi ,o a-o ,+ma#a" na i+ron" an" demanda %aban sa -an#an" asa'a dahi% sa an" totoo a# ta%a"an" "inahasa ni#a an" ana- -o/ &$B5T: (roceed/
:1

N:1O

;e%acrosa a%so be%ied the c%aims o* the a,,e%%ant and his 'i*e .+cinia that the a,,e%%ant 'as char"ed 'ith ra,e beca+se ;e%acrosa 'as envio+s o* him *or havin" been a%%o'ed to c+%tivate a bi" ,ortion o* the
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,ro,erties %e*t b# her "rand,arents, 'hi%e she and her *ami%# did not have an# *arm to c+%tivate/ ;e%acrosa testi*ied that the ,ro,erties 'hich her mother and her sib%in"s had inherited *rom their ,arents had a%read# been divided amon" the heirs/ Cesides, she e8,%ained, she 'as not interested 'ith the %and as she 'as not a *armerM neither 'as her h+sband, th+s: R .+ciKa +sic, .orenLo %i-e'ise stated and it 'as a%so the statement o* the acc+sed .eonito .orenLo that the reason 'h# #o+ *i%ed these t'o ra,e cases a"ainst the acc+sed .eonito .orenLo 'as beca+se #o+ envied him *or c+%tivatin" a bi" ,ortion o* %and 'hi%e #o+ and #o+r *ami%# do not have an# *arm to 'oron/ ?hat can #o+ sa# abo+t this statementG A R 0t is not tr+e that 0 envied him/ ?hat is then the tr+thG

A The *arm that the# 'ere re*errin" to had a%read# been divided amon" m# mother and her other sisters inc%+din" .+ciKa .orenLo/ The# have their o'n share/ 0 did not env# him beca+se m# h+sband and m# chi%dren even do not -no' ho' to *arm, so, 'h# sho+%d 0 env# him/ R A R A R A ?hat is the occ+,ation o* #o+r h+sbandG Fisherman, sir/ 4o' abo+t #o+, 'hat is #o+r occ+,ationG Fe"etab%es and ,astries vendor, sir/ ;o #o+ -no' ho' to *armG No, sir/
:2

N:2O

The tria% co+rt "ave credence and *+%% ,robative 'ei"ht to the testimon# o* the ,rivate com,%ainant and those o* the other 'itnesses *or the ,rosec+tion/ &ase %a' has it that the ca%ibration b# the tria% co+rt o* the testimonia% evidence o* the ,arties and its assessment o* the ,robative 'ei"ht thereo* are accorded b# the a,,e%%ate co+rt hi"h res,ect, i* not conc%+sive e**ect, ,recise%# beca+se o* the +niA+e advanta"e o* the tria% co+rt o* observin" and monitorin" at c%ose ran"e the demeanor and de,ortment o* the 'itnesses as the# testi*#/ ?e *ind no reason to deviate *rom the *indin"s o* the tria% co+rt and its assessment o* the credibi%it# and ,robative 'ei"ht o* the testimonia% evidence on record/ The a,,e%%ant7s bare denia% o* the crimes char"ed are mere ne"ative se%*1servin" evidence and cannot ,revai% over the testimon# o* the ,rosec+tri8 and her 'itnesses, 'hich the tria% co+rt *o+nd ,ositive, credib%e and entit%ed to *+%% ,robative 'ei"ht/ The a,,e%%ant7s a%ibi is %i-e'ise barren o* merit, "iven the ,ro8imit# o* the ho+se o* the a,,e%%ant to the ho+se o* ;e%acrosa and that o* 6ddie de%os 5e#es, 'here the a,,e%%ant ra,ed the victim/ A%ibi is a 'ea-, i* not the 'ea-est o* de*enses/ The a,,e%%ant is b+rdened to add+ce c%ear and convincin" evidence that he 'as in a ,%ace other than the situs o* the crime at the time o* its commission s+ch that it 'as ,h#sica%%# im,ossib%e *or him to have committed the same/ N::O The a,,e%%ant *ai%ed to ,rove his a%ibi, re%#in" so%e%# on his *ra"i%e testimon#/
::

The &rimes &ommitted b# the A,,e%%ant and the (ro,er (ena%ties There*or The tria% co+rt correct%# r+%ed that the a,,e%%ant is "+i%t# o* t'o co+nts o* ra,e +nder Artic%e --( o* the 5evised (ena% &ode, as amended, b# 5e,+b%ic Act No/ 7699 N:3O 'hich reads:
:3

Art/ ::9/ .hen and how rape is committed. 1 5a,e is committed b# havin" carna% -no'%ed"e o* a 'oman +nder an# o* the *o%%o'in" circ+mstances:
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1/ C# +sin" *orce or intimidationM 2/ ?hen the 'oman is de,rived o* reason or other'ise +nconscio+sM and :/ ?hen the 'oman is +nder t'e%ve #ears o* a"e or is demented/ The crime o* ra,e sha%% be ,+nished b# reclusion perpetua. The tria% co+rt a%so correct%# sentenced the a,,e%%ant to s+**er the death ,ena%t#/ The ,rivate com,%ainant 'as bare%# *o+r #ears o%d 'hen she 'as ra,ed b# the a,,e%%ant/ Bnder Artic%e ::9 o* the 5evised (ena% &ode, as amended b# 5e,/ Act No/ 7699, the death ,ena%t# sha%% be im,osed i* the victim is a chi%d be%o' seven #ears o%d: The death ,ena%t# sha%% a%so be im,osed i* the crime o* ra,e is committed 'ith an# o* the *o%%o'in" attendant circ+mstances: T 3/ 'hen the victim is a re%i"io+s or a chi%d be%o' seven (7) #ears o%d/ &ivi% .iabi%ities o* the A,,e%%ant The tria% co+rt ordered the a,,e%%ant to ,a# to ,rivate com,%ainant .ea Fanessa Ada# the amo+nt o* (90,000 as civi% indemnit# *or each o* the t'o crimes/ The tria% co+rt did not a'ard an# mora% dama"es, nor did it order the a,,e%%ant to ,a# to the ,rivate com,%ainant e8em,%ar# dama"es/ The decision o* the tria% co+rt sha%% th+s be modi*ied/ IN LIGHT OF ALL THE FOREGOING, the ;ecision o* the 5e"iona% Tria% &o+rt o* $rienta% Mindoro, Cranch 30, in &rimina% &ases Nos/ 3 :2 and 3 ::, is AFF05M6; ?0T4 M$;0F0&AT0$N/ The a,,e%%ant .eonito .orenLo is *o+nd "+i%t# be#ond reasonab%e do+bt o* t'o co+nts o* A+a%i*ied ra,e +nder Artic%e ::9 o* the 5evised (ena% &ode, as amended b# 5e,/ Act No/ 7699, and is sentenced to s+**er the death ,ena%t# *or each co+nt/ 4e is a%so directed to ,a# the ,rivate com,%ainant .ea Fanessa Ada# (79,000 as civi% indemnit# *or each co+nt, *or a tota% amo+nt o* (190,000M (79,000 as mora% dama"es *or each co+nt or (190,000M and (29,000 as e8em,%ar# dama"es *or each co+nt o* ra,e or a tota% o* (90,000/ N:9O &osts de oficio.
:9

@$ $5;656;/ N2/5/ No/ 13::99/ )+%# 23, 200:O ?0.F56;$ @0.F650$, 65N6@T$ ;6. &A@T0..$, and 4$N$5AT$ ;6. &A@T0..$, )5/, petitioners, vs. 4$N/ &$B5T $F A((6A.@ and 26.A5;A T$.6NT0N$ re,resented b# her attorne#1 in1*act MAT0.;6 T/ CA;0..$, respondents/ ;6&0@0$N &$5$NA, /.0 Ce*ore +s is a ,etition *or revie' o* the reso%+tion N1O dated Febr+ar# 19, 2000 o* the &o+rt o* A,,ea%s N2O den#in" the ,etitioners7 a,,ea% *rom the decision N:O dated November 10, 1999 o* the 5e"iona% Tria% &o+rt (5T&), Cranch 136, o* Ma-ati &it# 'hich in t+rn a**irmed the decision dated Febr+ar# 29, 1999 o* the Metro,o%itan Tria% &o+rt (MT&), Cranch 62, o* Ma-ati &it#/
:6 :7 :

(etitioners ?i%*redo @i%verio, 6rnesto de% &asti%%o and 4onorato de% &asti%%o, )r/ c%aim that their a+nt, 6+"enia de% &asti%%o, o'ned a :99 sA+are1meter %ot (evidenced b# Trans*er &erti*icate o* Tit%e No/ 172 :
35 36 37 38

iss+ed b# the 5e"ister o* ;eeds o* 5iLa%) and three residentia% ho+ses erected thereon %ocated at 6conomia @treet, Ma-ati &it#/ ?hen she died in 19 :, the#, as *orced heirs o* 6+"enia, became the co1o'ners o* the s+b<ect %ot and so the# %ived in the ho+ses thereon/ 0n 1997, ,etitioners discovered that a certain Man+e% de% &asti%%o a%read# o'ned the s+b<ect %ot b# virt+e o* a deed o* donation e8ec+ted b# 6+"enia in *avor o* Man+e% 'ho %ater had it tit%ed in his name/ $n March 10, 1997, ,etitioner 4onorato annotated an adverse c%aim on Man+e%7s tit%e/ ;es,ite the notice, the ,ro,ert# 'as nonethe%ess trans*erred to Man+e%7s 'i*e, C%esi%da de% &asti%%o, and their minor chi%dren and a ne' tit%e iss+ed in their name/ C%esi%da and her minor chi%dren then so%d the ,ro,ert# to herein res,ondent 2e%arda To%entino/ A*ter the sa%e 'as <+dicia%%# a,,roved b# the 5T& o* R+eLon &it#, Trans*er &erti*icate o* Tit%e No/ 211:01 'as iss+ed in the name o* res,ondent/ Therea*ter, res,ondent 'ent to the s+b<ect ,remises and verba%%# as-ed the ,etitioners to vacate the ,remises/ ?hen ,etitioners ,%eaded to be "iven s+**icient time to %eave, res,ondent "ranted them +nti% )+ne 19, 199 to vacate/ 4o'ever, the said ,eriod %a,sed 'itho+t the ,etitioners vacatin" the s+b<ect %ot/ 5es,ondent7s %e"a% co+nse% then sent a demand %etter to the ,etitioners b+t the %atter re*+sed to receive the same and even threatened to h+rt the messen"er i* he insisted on havin" the doc+ment o**icia%%# received/ 4ence, the %etter 'as served b# re"istered mai% and a co,# o* the same 'as ,osted at the entrance o* the s+b<ect ,ro,ert#/ $n A+"+st 29, 199 , ,etitioners *i%ed a case *or reconve#ance o* ,ro,ert# and dama"es a"ainst res,ondent and the 5e"ister o* ;eeds o* Ma-ati &it#/ $n @e,tember 19, 199 , res,ondent co+ntered b# *i%in" be*ore the MT& o* Ma-ati &it# the s+b<ect e<ectment case a"ainst the ,etitioners/ $n Febr+ar# 29, 1999, the MT& rendered a decision in *avor o* res,ondent/ Three da#s a*ter the recei,t o* the decision, the ,etitioners *i%ed a notice o* a,,ea% and ,aid the doc-et *ee/ @ince no s+,ersedeas bond 'as *i%ed 'ithin the re"%ementar# ,eriod, res,ondent *i%ed a motion *or e8ec+tion ,endin" a,,ea%/ The tria% co+rt "ranted the motion and iss+ed a 'rit o* e8ec+tion/ Therea*ter, the 5T& o* Ma-ati &it# denied the ,etitioners7 a,,ea% in a decision dated November 10, 1999/ @aid decision 'as a,,ea%ed to the &o+rt o* A,,ea%s/ $n Febr+ar# 19, 2000, the &o+rt o* A,,ea%s denied the a,,ea% on the "ro+nd that the ,etitioners *ai%ed to attach (1) a d+,%icate ori"ina% or tr+e co,# o* the decision o* the MT& (2) materia% ,%eadin"s and (:) doc+ments to s+,,ort their ,etition, in vio%ation o* @ection 2, 5+%e 32 o* the 1997 5+%es o* &ivi% (roced+re/ N3O The a,,e%%ate co+rt a%so denied the ,etitioners7 motion *or reconsideration beca+se the# did not bother to correct the de*iciencies in the ,etition/ N9O
:9 30

4ence, this ,etition ar"+in" that the &o+rt o* A,,ea%s erred: 0 0N ;0@M0@@0N2 T46 (6T0T0$N F$5 56F06? 0N &A12/5/ N$/ @(/ 96:06 $N M656 T6&4N0&A.0TD AN; 0N ;0@562A5; $F T46 M650T@ $F (6T0T0$N65@7 &AB@6M and 00 0N N$T 20F0N2 ;B6 &$B5@6 T$ T46 (6T0T0$N (B5@BANT T$ AN; 0N A&&$5;AN&6 ?0T4 6@TAC.0@46; )B50@(5B;6N&6 .A0; ;$?N CD T40@ 4$N$5AC.6 &$B5T $N 0;6NT0&A. &A@6@/ N6O
31

Accordin" to the ,etitioners, the a,,e%%ate co+rt erroneo+s%# denied the ,etition on a technica% iss+e 'itho+t considerin" its s+bstantia% merits/ The ,etitioners a%so see- the dismissa% o* the com,%aint on the "ro+nd that res,ondent did not s+**icient%# ,rove that a demand 'as e**ected ,rior to the *i%in" o* the e<ectment case/ The co+rts a 1uo %i-e'ise erred *or its *ai%+re to s+s,end the e<ectment ,roceedin"s on acco+nt o* the ,endenc# o* the ,etitioners7 civi% case *or reconve#ance and dama"es a"ainst the
39 40 41

res,ondent/ .ast%#, the ,etitioners ar"+e that the 5T& erred in iss+in" a 'rit o* e8ec+tion ,endin" a,,ea% des,ite the *act that their a,,ea% 'as *i%ed 'ithin the re"%ementar# ,eriod/ ?e den# the ,etition/ (etitioners ar"+e that the ri"id a,,%ication o* ,roced+ra% r+%es sho+%d be avoided 'hen it *r+strates s+bstantia% <+stice/ 4ence, the a,,e%%ate co+rt sho+%d have disre"arded the ,roced+ra% %a,ses in their ,etition, i/e/, the absence o* a c%ear%# %e"ib%e d+,%icate ori"ina% or tr+e co,# o* the decision o* the MT&, ,%eadin"s and other re%evant ,ortions o* the records, and sho+%d have instead %oo-ed at the s+bstantia% merits o* their c%aims/ ;id the &o+rt o* A,,ea%s err in den#in" the ,etition *or the *ai%+re o* the ,etitioners to attach a d+,%icate ori"ina% or tr+e co,# o* the decision o* the MT&, materia% ,%eadin"s and doc+ments to s+,,ort their ,etitionG 0n "aras vs. *aldado, N7O this &o+rt, thr+ then Associate )+stice Minerva 2onLa"a15e#es, r+%ed that a ,art#1%iti"ant sho+%d be "iven the *+%%est o,,ort+nit# to estab%ish the merits o* his com,%aint or de*ense/ 4e o+"ht not to %ose %i*e, %ibert#, honor or ,ro,ert# on technica%ities/ 5+%es o* ,roced+re sho+%d be vie'ed as mere too%s desi"ned to *aci%itate the attainment o* <+stice/ Their strict and ri"id a,,%ication based on technica%ities 'i%% on%# *r+strate rather than ,romote s+bstantia% <+stice/ ?e he%d that the a%%e"ed *ai%+re o* a ,art# to attach to the ,etition certi*ied tr+e co,ies o* the im,+"ned 5T& orders did not merit the denia% o* the ,etition beca+se the records ind+bitab%# sho'ed that d+,%icate ori"ina% co,ies o* the said 5T& orders 'ere in *act attached to one o* the seven co,ies o* the ,etition *i%ed in the &o+rt o* A,,ea%s/ Moreover, co,ies o* the same orders 'ere s+bmitted b# the ,etitioners in their motion *or reconsideration/
32

0n the case at bar, it 'as ina,,ro,riate *or the &o+rt o* A,,ea%s to den# the ,etition on the "ro+nd a%one that the ,etitioner *ai%ed to attach to the said ,etition a d+,%icate ori"ina% or tr+e co,# o* the MT& decision beca+se it 'as s+,,osed to revie' the decision not o* the MT& b+t o* the 5T&, not'ithstandin" that the %atter a**irmed in toto the <+d"ment o* the MT&/ 0n short, the *ai%+re to attach the MT& decision did not adverse%# a**ect the s+**icienc# o* the ,etition beca+se it 'as, in an# event, accom,anied b# the 5T& decision so+"ht to be revie'ed/ A%% this not'ithstandin" the ,etition has no merit/ (etitioners ,ra# *or the dismissa% o* the e<ectment case d+e to the *ai%+re o* the res,ondent to prove that she made a demand on them to %eave the ,remises ,rior to the *i%in" o* the s+it/ ?hat ,revents a tria% co+rt *rom acA+irin" <+risdiction in e<ectment cases is the *ai%+re to a%%e"e in the com,%aint that a demand 'as made, not the *act that ,%ainti** *ai%ed to ,rove said a%%e"ation/ 0n e<ectment cases, the tria% co+rt does not ass+me <+risdiction i* the com,%aint *ai%s to a%%e"e that a demand has been made/ N O 0n case the ,%ainti** *ai%s to ,rove said demand des,ite a%%e"ations in the com,%aint to that e**ect, the case sho+%d be dismissed not beca+se o* %ac- o* <+risdiction b+t beca+se the com,%ainant did not meet the evidentiar# reA+irement (,re,onderance o* evidence) to merit the <+dicia% eviction o* a de*endant/
3:

0n the case at bar, the com,%aint sho's that res,ondent made an ora% and therea*ter a 'ritten demand on the ,etitioners to vacate the ,remises/ (ara"ra,h 9 o* the com,%aint reads as *o%%o's: 9/ $n 01 @e,tember 199 , the +ndersi"ned co+nse%, con*ormab%# (sic) to the instr+ction o* ,%ainti**, e**ected a demand a"ainst de*endants to vacate the s+b<ect ,ro,ert#/ A%tho+"h the intention 'as to have the a*orestated demand %etter ,ersona%%# de%ivered, this 'as not e**ected b# reason *or (sic) de*endants7 re,eated re*+sa% to receive the same/ 4ence, resort to service thro+"h re"istered mai% 'as ado,ted and a co,# o* the demand %etter 'as conseA+ent%# ,osted in the entrance o* the @+b<ect (ro,ert#/ N9O
33

42 43

33N2/5/ No/ 1:0612/ Ma# 11, 1999O

(6$(.6 $F T46 (40.0((0N6@, plaintiff appellee, vs/ C65NA5;0N$ ;$MANTAD, U =)BN0$5 $T$T,> accused appellant/ ;6&0@0$N M6N;$PA, //:

&onseA+ent%#, the tria% co+rt acA+ired <+risdiction over the case beca+se the com,%aint e8,ress%# a%%e"ed that res,ondent made a demand on ,etitioners to %eave the s+b<ect ,remises/ And, based on the records, both the MT& and 5T& *o+nd that res,ondent ,roved that she made ora% and 'ritten demands on the ,etitioners/ ?e have no reason to de,art *rom this *act+a% disA+isition o* the co+rts a 1uo in vie' o* the r+%e that *indin"s o* *act o* the tria% co+rts are, as a "enera% r+%e, bindin" on this &o+rt/ N10O
39

(etitioners a%so a%%e"e that the s+b<ect e<ectment case sho+%d have at %east been s+s,ended ,endin" their action *or reconve#ance and dama"es *i%ed a"ainst res,ondent/ ?e do not thin- so/ The ,endenc# o* an action A+estionin" the o'nershi, o* the ,ro,ert# does not bar the *i%in" or consideration o* an e<ectment s+it nor the e8ec+tion o* the <+d"ment therein/ N11O
36

.ast%#, ,etitioners A+estion the order "rantin" the 'rit o* e8ec+tion on the "ro+nd that the same 'as iss+ed des,ite the ,er*ection o* their a,,ea%/ The *i%in" o* the notice o* a,,ea% and the ,a#ment o* the necessar# doc-et *ees sho+%d have sta#ed the e8ec+tion o* the decision/ ?e disa"ree/ 0n con*ormit# 'ith @ection 19, This case is here on a,,ea% *rom the decisionN1O o* the 5e"iona% Tria% &o+rt o* ;a"+,an &it# (Cranch 97), *indin" acc+sed1a,,e%%ant "+i%t# o* ra,e 'ith homicide and sentencin" him to death, and to indemni*# the heirs o* the victim in the amo+nt o* (3 0,000/00, and to ,a# the costs/ The *acts har- bac- to the a*ternoon o* $ctober 17, 1996, at aro+nd 3 o7c%oc-, 'hen the bod# o* si81#ear o%d )enni*er ;omanta# 'as *o+nd s,ra'%ed amidst a bamboo "rove in 2+i%i", Ma%asiA+i, (an"asinan/ The chi%d7s bod# bore severa% stab 'o+nds/ )enni*er had been missin" since %+nch time/ The medica% e8amination cond+cted the *o%%o'in" da# b# ;r/ Ma/ Fe .eticia Macaranas, the r+ra% hea%th ,h#sician o* Ma%asiA+i, sho'ed that )enni*er died o* m+%ti,%e or"an *ai%+re and h#,ovo%emic shocsecondar# to : stab 'o+nds at the bac-/ ;r/ Macaranas *o+nd no %acerations or si"ns o* in*%ammation o* the o+ter and inner %abia and the va"ina% 'a%%s o* the victim7s "enita%ia, a%tho+"h the va"ina% cana% easi%# admitted the %itt%e *in"er 'ith minima% resistance/ Notin" ,ossib%e commission o* acts o* %ascivio+sness, ;r/ Macaranas recommended an a+to,s# b# a medico1%e"a% e8,ert o* the NC0/N2O The investi"ation b# the Ma%asiA+i ,o%ice ,ointed to acc+sed1a,,e%%ant Cernardino ;omanta#, a co+sin o* the victim7s "rand*ather, as the %one s+s,ect in the "r+esome crime/ At aro+nd 6::0 in the evenin" o* that da#, ,o%ice o**icers Montema#or, de %a &r+L, and de 2+Lman o* the Ma%asiA+i (hi%i,,ine Nationa% (o%ice ((N() ,ic-ed +, acc+sed1a,,e%%ant at the Ma%asiA+i ,+b%ic mar-et and too- him to the ,o%ice station 'here acc+sed1a,,e%%ant, +,on A+estionin" b# @($1 Antonio 6s,inoLa, con*essed to -i%%in" )enni*er ;omanta#/ 4e %i-e'ise disc%osed that at aro+nd :::0 that a*ternoon, he had "iven the *ata% 'ea,on +sed, a ba#onet, to 6%sa and )or"e &asin"a%, his a+nt and +nc%e res,ective%#, in (ob%acion @+r, Ca#amban", (an"asinan/ The ne8t da#, $ctober 1 , 1996, @($1 6s,inoLa and another ,o%iceman too- acc+sed1 a,,e%%ant to Ca#amban" and recovered the ba#onet *rom a tric#c%e be%on"in" to the &asin"a% s,o+ses/ The ,o%ice o**icers e8ec+ted a recei,t to evidence the con*iscation o* the 'ea,on/N:O $n the basis o* the ,ost1mortem *indin"s o* ;r/ Macaranas, @($3 )+an &ar,iLo, the (hi%i,,ine Nationa% (o%ice chie* investi"ator at Ma%asiA+i, *i%ed, on $ctober 21, 1996, a crimina% com,%aint *or m+rder a"ainst acc+sed1a,,e%%ant be*ore the M+nici,a% Tria% &o+rt (MT&) o* Ma%asiA+i/ $n $ctober 29, 1996, ;r/ 5ona%d Candoni%%, medico1%e"a% e8,ert o* the NC0, ,er*ormed an a+to,s# on the emba%med bod# o* )enni*er/ The res+%t o* his e8amination o* the victim7s "enita%ia indicated that the chi%d7s h#men had been com,%ete%# %acerated on the ri"ht side/ Cased on this *indin", @($3 &ar,iLo amended the crimina% com,%aint a"ainst acc+sed1a,,e%%ant to ra,e 'ith homicide/ @+bseA+ent%#, the *o%%o'in" in*ormation 'as *i%ed:N3O That on or abo+t the 17th da# o* $ctober, 1996, in the a*ternoon, in baran"a# 2+i%i", M+nici,a%it# o* Ma%asiA+i, ,rovince o* (an"asinan, (hi%i,,ines and 'ithin the <+risdiction o* this 4onorab%e &o+rt, the above1named acc+sed, 'ith %e'd desi"n and armed 'ith a ba#onnete, did then and there, 'i%*+%%#, +n%a'*+%%# and *e%onio+s%# have se8+a% interco+rse 'ith )enni*er ;omanta#, a minor o* 6 #ears o%d a"ainst her 'i%% and consent, and on the same occasion, the said acc+sed 'ith intent to -i%%, then and there, 'i%*+%%#, +n%a'*+%%# and *e%onio+s%# stab 'ith the +se o* a ba#onnete, the said )enni*er ;omanta#, in*%ictin" +,on her m+%ti,%e stab 'o+nds, 'hich res+%ted to her death, to the dama"e and ,re<+dice o* her heirs/ At the tria%, the ,rosec+tion ,resented seven 'itnesses, name%#, 6d'ard, )ieL%, .orenLo, a%% s+rnamed ;omanta#, )ose%ito Me<ia, Antonio 6s,inoLa, &e%so Man+e%, and ;r/ 5ona%d Candoni%%, to estab%ish its char"e that acc+sed1a,,e%%ant had ra,ed and -i%%ed )enni*er ;omanta#/

5+%e 70 o* the 1997 5+%es o* &ivi% (roced+re, 'e have consistent%# r+%ed that, to sta# the immediate e8ec+tion o* a <+d"ment in an e<ectment case 'hi%e a,,ea% is ,endin", the de*endant m+st: (a) ,er*ect his a,,ea%M (b) *i%e a s+,ersedeas bondM and (c) ,eriodica%%# de,osit the renta%s 'hich become d+e d+rin" the ,endenc# o* the a,,ea%/ N12O Ceca+se ,etitioners did not *i%e a s+,ersedeas bond, the tria% co+rt, +,on motion o* the res,ondent, correct%# ordered the e8ec+tion o* the <+d"ment/
37

HEREFORE, ,remises considered, the a,,ea% is hereb# ;6N06;/ &osts a"ainst the ,etitioners/ @$ $5;656;/ !eo"le vs. Oanis G.R. No. L#4$$%% &'l( %$, 1)4* Facts: As a "ro+, ta-in" the ro+te to 5iLa% street, &hie* o* (o%ice Antonio P/ $anis and his co1acc+sed &or,ora% A%berto 2a%anta 'ere +nder instr+ctions to arrest Anse%mo Ca%a"tas, a notorio+s crimina% and 6d'ard ;omanta# testi*ied that in the mornin" o* $ctober 17, 1996, acc+sed1a,,e%%ant and his t'o brothers1in1%a', )aime &aba%%ero and ;a+dencio Macasaeb, had a ro+nd o* drin-s in *ront o* the %atter7s ho+se in 2+i%i", Ma%asiA+i, (an"asinan/ 6d'ard ;omanta# said that he 'as in *ront o* Macasaeb7s ho+se, tendin" to some ,i"eons in his #ard/N9O A*ter the "ro+, had cons+med severa% bott%es o* @an Mi"+e% "in, acc+sed1a,,e%%ant "ave mone# to 6d'ard ;omanta# and as-ed him to b+# t'o bott%es o* "in and a bott%e o* @,rite/N6O 6d'ard said he <oined the "ro+, and sat bet'een ;a+dencio Macasaeb and acc+sed1 a,,e%%ant/N7O 6d'ard said that acc+sed1a,,e%%ant, 'ho, a,,arent%# had one too man# then, ro%%ed +, his shirt and said: =2o diad &ntipolo tan 34i5pa et walay massacre, diad 6uilig wala, walay massacren kod dia, walay onakis akis> (=0n Anti,o%o and .i,a, there 'ere massacresM here in 2+i%i", there 'i%% a%so be a massacre/ 0 'i%% massacre somebod# here, and the# 'i%% cr# and cr#>)/ 6d'ard ;omanta# sa' that t+c-ed in the %e*t side o* acc+sed1a,,e%%ant7s 'aist%ine 'as a ba#onet 'itho+t a cover hand%e/N O 0t 'as not the *irst time that 6d'ard had seen acc+sed1a,,e%%ant 'ith the -ni*e as the %atter +s+a%%# carried it 'ith him/N9O )ieL% ;omanta#, 10, %i-e'ise testi*ied/ @he said that, at abo+t 2 o7c%oc- in the a*ternoon on $ctober 17, 1996, she and *o+r other chi%dren 'ere ,%a#in" in *ront o* their ho+se in 2+i%i", Ma%asiA+i, (an"asinan/ )ieL% sa' acc+sed1a,,e%%ant and )enni*er ;omanta# 'a%-in" to'ards the bamboo "rove o* Am,aro ;omanta# 'here )enni*er7s bod# 'as %ater *o+nd/ Acc+sed1a,,e%%ant 'as abo+t t'o meters ahead o* )enni*er/ The bamboo "rove 'as abo+t to 10 meters *rom the ho+se o* )ieL% ;omanta#/N10O .orenLo ;omanta#, a re%ative o* the victim, corroborated )ieL%7s testimon# that acc+sed1a,,e%%ant had "one to Am,aro ;omanta#7s bamboo "rove in the a*ternoon o* $ctober 17, 1996/ .orenLo said that that a*ternoon, on his 'a# to his *arm, he sa' acc+sed1a,,e%%ant abo+t :0 meters a'a#, standin" at the s,ot in the bamboo "rove 'here )enni*er7s bod# 'as %ater *o+nd/ Acc+sed1a,,e%%ant a,,eared rest%ess and 'orried as he -e,t %oo-in" aro+nd/ 4o'ever, as .orenLo 'as in a h+rr#, he did not tr# to *ind o+t 'h# acc+sed1a,,e%%ant a,,eared to be nervo+s/N11O (rosec+tion 'itness )ose%ito Me<ia, a tric#c%e driver, said that, in the a*ternoon o* $ctober 17, 1996, he 'as abo+t to ta-e his %+nch at home in A%acan, a nei"hborin" baran"a# abo+t ha%* a -i%ometer *rom 2+i%i", 'hen acc+sed1a,,e%%ant im,%ored Me<ia to ta-e him to Ma%asiA+i at once/ Me<ia to%d acc+sed1a,,e%%ant that he 'as "oin" to ta-e his %+nch *irst, b+t the %atter ,%eaded 'ith him, sa#in" the# 'i%% not be "one *or %on"/ Me<ia, there*ore, a"reed/ Me<ia noticed that acc+sed1a,,e%%ant 'as nervo+s and a*raid/ Acc+sed1 a,,e%%ant %ater chan"ed his mind/ 0nstead o* "oin" to the to'n ,ro,er, he a%i"hted near the Mormon7s ch+rch, o+tside Ma%asiA+i/N12O 0n addition, the ,rosec+tion ,resented @($1 Antonio 6s,inoLa and &e%so Man+e% 'ho testi*ied that, on se,arate occasions, acc+sed1a,,e%%ant had con*essed to the br+ta% -i%%in" o* )enni*er ;omanta#/ @($1 6s,inoLa testi*ied that he investi"ated acc+sed1a,,e%%ant a*ter the %atter had been bro+"ht to the Ma%asiA+i ,o%ice station in the evenin" o* $ctober 17, 1996/ Ce*ore he commenced his A+estionin", he a,,rised acc+sed1a,,e%%ant o* his constit+tiona% ri"ht to remain si%ent and to have com,etent and inde,endent co+nse%, in 6n"%ish, 'hich 'as %ater trans%ated into (an"asinense/N1:O Accordin" to @($1 6s,inoLa, acc+sed1a,,e%%ant a"reed to ans'er the A+estions o* the investi"ator even in the absence o* co+nse% and admitted -i%%in" the victim/ Acc+sed1a,,e%%ant a%so disc%osed the %ocation o* the ba#onet he +sed in -i%%in" the victim/N13O $n cross1e8amination, 6s,inoLa admitted that at no time d+rin" the co+rse o* his A+estionin" 'as acc+sed1a,,e%%ant assisted b# co+nse%/ Neither 'as acc+sed1a,,e%%ant7s con*ession red+ced in 'ritin"/N19O 6s,inoLa7s testimon# 'as admitted b# the tria% co+rt over the ob<ection o* the de*ense/

esca,ed convict, and i* over,o'ered, to "et him dead or a%ive/ (roceedin" to the s+s,ected ho+se, the# 'ent into a room and on seein" a man s%ee,in" 'ith his bac- to'ards the door, sim+%taneo+s%# *ired at him 'ith their /:2 and /39 ca%iber revo%vers, 'itho+t *irst ma-in" an# reasonab%e inA+ir# as to his identit#/ The victim t+rned o+t to be a ,eace*+% and innocent citiLen, @era,io Tecson 'ho +,on a+to,s#, m+%ti,%e "+nshot 'o+nds 'ere *o+nd on his bod# 'hich ca+sed his death/ The de*endants a%%e"ed and a,,ea%ed that in the honest ,er*ormance o* their o**icia% d+ties, the# acted in innocent mista-e o* *act/ 0ss+e: ?hether or not &hie* o* (o%ice $anis and &or,ora% 2a%anta 'ere "+i%t# o* m+rder/

&e%so Man+e%, *or his ,art, testi*ied that he is a radio re,orter o* station ;?(5, an AM station based in ;a"+,an &it#/ 4e covers the third district o* (an"asinan, inc%+din" Ma%asiA+i/ @ometime in $ctober 1996, an +nc%e o* the victim came to ;a"+,an &it# and in*ormed the station abo+t )enni*er ;omanta#7s case/N16O $n $ctober 2:, 1996, Man+e% 'ent to Ma%asiA+i to intervie' acc+sed1a,,e%%ant 'ho 'as then detained in the m+nici,a% <ai%/ 4e described 'hat trans,ired d+rin" the intervie' th+s:N17O (5$@/ RB0N0T: R A R ;id #o+ introd+ce #o+rse%* as a media ,ractitionerG Des, sir/ 4o' did #o+ introd+ce #o+rse%* to the acc+sedG

A 0 sho'ed to Cernardino ;omanta# a%ias =)+nior $tot> m# 0/;/ card and 0 ,resented m#se%* as a media ,ractitioner 'ith m# ta,e recorder NinO m# hand, sir/ R A ?hat 'as his reaction to #o+r reA+est *or an intervie'G 4e 'as 'i%%in" to state 'hat had ha,,ened, sir/

R ?hat are those matters 'hich #o+ bro+"ht o+t in that intervie' 'ith the acc+sed Cernardino ;omanta# a%ias =)+nior $tot>G A 0 as-ed him 'hat 'as his ,+r,ose *or h+man interest7s sa-e as a re,orter, 'h# did he commit that a%%e"ed crime/ And 0 as-ed a%so i* he committed the crime and he ans'ered =#es/> That7s it/ //// (5$@/ RB0N0T: R Do+ mentioned abo+t acc+sed admittin" to #o+ on the commiNssionO o* the crime, ho' did #o+ ashim thatG A R 0 as-ed him ver# ,o%ite%#/ More or %ess 'hat have #o+ as-ed him on that ,artic+%ar matterG

A 0 as-ed =)+nior $tot,> Cernardino ;omanta#, =S+n" ,ina"sisisihan mo ba an" i#on" "ina'aG> =$,o> sabi ni#a, =0bi" mo ban" sabihin )+n, i-a' an" ,+mata# -a# )enni*erG>, =A-o n"a ,o>/ The N%Oast ,art o* m# intervie', =S+n" na-i-ini" an" m"a ma"+%an" ni )enni*er, ano an" "+sto mon" i,aratin"G>, =-+n" "+sto ni%an" ma-amtan an" h+stis#a a# tatan""a,in -o>/ That is 'hat he said, and 0 a%so as-ed )+nior $tot, 'hat 'as his ,+r,ose, and he said, it 'as abo+t the bo+ndar# dis,+te, and he +sed that %itt%e "ir% in his reven"e/ $n cross1e8amination, Man+e% e8,%ained that the intervie' 'as cond+cted in the <ai%, abo+t t'o to three meters a'a# *rom the ,o%ice station/ An +nc%e o* the victim 'as 'ith him and the nearest ,o%icemen ,resent 'ere abo+t t'o to three meters *rom him, inc%+din" those 'ho 'ere in the radio room/N1 O There

5+%in": Ne' 5+%es o* &o+rt, 5+%e 109, @ection 2 ,ara"ra,h 2 ,rovides, VNo +nnecessar# or +nreasonab%e *orce sha%% be +sed in ma-in" an arrest, and the ,erson arrested sha%% not be s+b<ect to an# "reater restraint than is necessar# *or his detention/W As the deceased 'as -i%%ed 'hi%e as%ee,, the crime committed b# both 'as m+rder 'ith the A+a%i*#in" circ+mstance o* a%evosia/ 6ven i* it 'ere tr+e that the victim 'as the notorio+s crimina%, the acc+sed 'o+%d not be <+sti*ied in -i%%in" him 'hi%e the %atter 'as s%ee,in"/ 0n a,,rehendin" even the most notorio+s crimina%, the %a' does not ,ermit the ca,tor to -i%% him/ 0t is on%# 'hen the *+"itive *rom <+stice is determined to *i"ht the o**icers o* the %a' 'ho are tr#in" to ca,t+re him that -i%%in" him 'o+%d be <+sti*ied/ N2/5/ No/ 1330:7/ @e,tember 26, 200:O (6$(.6 $F T46 (40.0((0N6@, plaintiff appellee, vs. N$6. TB;TB; y (AD(A and ;0N;$ C$.$N2 y NA56T, accused appellants. 'as no %a'#er ,resent/ Ce*ore intervie'in" acc+sed1a,,e%%ant, Man+e% said he ta%-ed to the chie* o* ,o%ice and as-ed ,ermission to intervie' acc+sed1a,,e%%ant/N19O $n A+estionin" b# the co+rt, Man+e% said that it 'as the *irst time he had been ca%%ed to testi*# re"ardin" an intervie' he had cond+cted/N20O As in the case o* the testimon# o* @($1 6s,inoLa, the de*ense ob<ected to the admission o* Man+e%7s testimon#, b+t the %o'er co+rt a%%o'ed it/ ;r/ Candoni%%, the NC0 medico1%e"a% 'ho cond+cted an a+to,s# o* the victim on $ctober 29, 1996, testi*ied that )enni*er ;omanta# died as a res+%t o* the n+mero+s stab 'o+nds she s+stained on her bac-, N21O the avera"e de,th o* 'hich 'as si8 inches/N22O 4e o,ined that the 'o+nds 'ere ,robab%# ca+sed b# a =,ointed shar,1ed"ed instr+ment/>N2:O 4e a%so noted cont+sions on the *orehead, nec-, and breast bone o* the victim/N23O As *or the res+%ts o* the "enita% e8amination o* the victim, ;r/ Candoni%% said he *o+nd that the %aceration on the ri"ht side o* the h#men 'as ca+sed 'ithin 23 ho+rs o* her death/ 4e added that the "enita% area sho'ed si"ns o* in*%ammation/N29O (aci*ico C+%atao, the ,hoto"ra,her 'ho too- the ,ict+res o* the scene o* the crime and o* the victim a*ter the %atter7s bod# 'as bro+"ht to her ,arents7 ho+se, identi*ied and a+thenticated the *ive ,ict+res (68hibits A, C, &, ;, and 6) o**ered b# the ,rosec+tion/ The de*ense then ,resented acc+sed1a,,e%%ant as its %one 'itness/ Acc+sed1a,,e%%ant denied the a%%e"ations a"ainst him/ 4e testi*ied he is an +nc%e o* )enni*er ;omanta# (he and her "rand*ather are co+sins) and that he 'or-ed as a <anitor at the Ma%asiA+i M+nici,a% 4a%%/ 4e said that at aro+nd 1 o7c%oc- in the a*ternoon o* $ctober 17, 1996, he 'as bathin" his ,i"s o+tside the ho+se o* his brother1in1%a' ;a+dencio Macasaeb in 2+i%i", Ma%asiA+i, (an"asinan/ 4e con*irmed that ;a+dencio 'as then havin" drin-s in *ront o* his (Macasaeb7s) ho+se/ Acc+sed1a,,e%%ant c%aimed, ho'ever, that he did not <oin in the drin-in" and that it 'as 6d'ard ;omanta#, 'hom the ,rosec+tion had ,resented as 'itness, and a certain )aime &aba%%ero 'ho <oined the ,art#/ 4e a%so c%aimed that it 'as he 'hom Macasaeb had reA+ested to b+# some more %iA+or, *or 'hich reason he "ave mone# to 6d'ard ;omanta# so that the %atter co+%d "et t'o bott%es o* "in, a bott%e o* @,rite, and a ,ac- o* ci"arettes/N26O 4e denied 6d'ard ;omanta#7s c%aim that he (acc+sed1 a,,e%%ant) had raised his shirt to sho' a ba#onet t+c-ed in his 'aist%ine and that he had said he 'o+%d massacre someone in 2+i%i"/N27O Acc+sed1a,,e%%ant a%so con*irmed that, at abo+t 2 o7c%oc- in the a*ternoon, he 'ent to A%acan ,assin" on the trai% beside the bamboo "rove o* Am,aro ;omanta#/ C+t he said he did not -no' that )enni*er ;omanta# 'as *o%%o'in" him/ 4e *+rther con*irmed that in A%acan, he too- a tric#c%e to Ma%asiA+i/ The tric#c%e 'as driven b# )ose%ito Me<ia/ 4e said he a%i"hted near the Mormon ch+rch, <+st o+tside o* the to'n ,ro,er o* Ma%asiA+i to meet his brother/ As his brother did not come, acc+sed1a,,e%%ant ,roceeded to to'n and re,orted *or 'or-/ That ni"ht, 'hi%e he 'as in the Ma%asiA+i ,+b%ic mar-et, he 'as ,ic-ed +, b# three ,o%icemen and bro+"ht to the Ma%asiA+i ,o%ice station 'here he 'as interro"ated b# @($1 6s,inoLa re"ardin" the -i%%in" o* )enni*er ;omanta#/ 4e denied havin" o'ned to the -i%%in" o* )enni*er ;omanta# to @($1 6s,inoLa/ 4e denied he had a "r+d"e a"ainst the victim7s ,arents beca+se o* a bo+ndar# dis,+te/N2 O ?ith res,ect to his e8tra<+dicia% con*ession to &e%so Man+e%, he admitted that he had been intervie'ed b# the %atter, b+t he denied that he ever admitted an#thin" to the *ormer/N29O As a%read# stated, the tria% co+rt *o+nd acc+sed1a,,e%%ant "+i%t# as char"ed/ The dis,ositive ,ortion o* its decision reads:N:0O ?4656F$56, in %i"ht o* a%% the *ore"oin", the &o+rt hereb# *inds the acc+sed, Cernardino ;omanta# U =)+nior $tot> "+i%t# be#ond reasonab%e do+bt 'ith the crime o* 5a,e 'ith 4omicide de*ined and

;6&0@0$N T0N2A, /.: T/ 0t is desirab%e that crimina%s sho+%d be detected, and to that end that a%% avai%ab%e evidence sho+%d be +sed/ 0t a%so is desirab%e that the "overnment sho+%d not itse%* *oster and ,a# *or other crimes, 'hen the# are the means b# 'hich the evidence is to be obtained/ 0* it ,a#s its o**icers *or havin" "ot evidence b# crime, 0 do not see 'h# it ma# not as 'e%% ,a# them *or "ettin" it in the same 'a#, and 0 can attach no im,ortance to ,rotestations o* disa,,rova% i* it -no'in"%# acce,ts and ,a#s and anno+nces that it 'i%% ,a# *or the *r+its/ ?e have to choose, and *or m# ,art 0 thin- it a %ess evi% that some crimina%s sho+%d esca,e than that the "overnment sho+%d ,%a# an i"nob%e ,art/

,ena%iLed +nder Artic%e ::9 o* the 5evised (ena% &ode in re%ation and as amended b# 5e,+b%ic Act No/ 7699 and accordin"%#, the &o+rt hereb# sentences him to s+**er the ,ena%t# o* death b# %etha% in<ection, and to indemni*# the heirs o* the victim in the tota% amo+nt o* Fo+r 4+ndred 6i"ht# Tho+sand (esos ((3 0,000/00),N:1O and to ,a# the costs/ @$ $5;656;/ 0n this a,,ea%, acc+sed1a,,e%%ant a%%e"es that:N:2O 0/ T46 &$B5T A RB$ 6556; 0N A((56&0AT0N2 T46 6ET5A)B;0&0A. &$NF6@@0$NN@O MA;6 CD T46 A&&B@6;1A((6..ANT/ 00/ T46 &$B5T A RB$ 6556; 0N &$NF0&T0N2 T46 A&&B@6; ;6@(0T6 FA0.B56 $F T46 (5$@6&BT0$N T$ (5$F6 40@ 2B0.T C6D$N; 56A@$NAC.6 ;$BCT/ First/ Acc+sed1a,,e%%ant contends that his a%%e"ed con*essions to @($1 Antonio 6s,inoLa and &e%so Man+e% are inadmissib%e in evidence beca+se the# had been obtained in vio%ation o* Art/ 000, X12(1) o* the &onstit+tion and that, 'ith these vita% ,ieces o* evidence e8c%+ded, the remainin" ,roo* o* his a%%e"ed "+i%t, consistin" o* circ+mstantia% evidence, is inadeA+ate to estab%ish his "+i%t be#ond reasonab%e do+bt/ N::O Art/ 000, X12 o* the &onstit+tion in ,art ,rovides: (1) An# ,erson +nder investi"ation *or the commission o* an o**ense sha%% have the ri"ht to be in*ormed o* his ri"ht to remain si%ent and to have com,etent and inde,endent co+nse% ,re*erab%# o* his o'n choice/ 0* the ,erson cannot a**ord the services o* co+nse%, he m+st be ,rovided 'ith one/ These ri"hts cannot be 'aived e8ce,t in 'ritin" and in the ,resence o* co+nse%/ //// (:) An# con*ession or admission obtained in vio%ation o* this section or section 17 hereo* sha%% be inadmissib%e in evidence/ This ,rovision a,,%ies to the sta"e o* c+stodia% investi"ation, that is, ='hen the investi"ation is no %on"er a "enera% inA+ir# into an +nso%ved crime b+t starts to *oc+s on a ,artic+%ar ,erson as a s+s,ect/>N:3O 5/A/ No/ 73: has e8tended the constit+tiona% "+arantee to sit+ations in 'hich an individ+a% has not been *orma%%# arrested b+t has mere%# been =invited> *or A+estionin"/N:9O ;ecisionsN:6O o* this &o+rt ho%d that *or an e8tra<+dicia% con*ession to be admissib%e, it m+st satis*# the *o%%o'in" reA+irements: (1) it m+st be vo%+ntar#M (2) it m+st be made 'ith the assistance o* com,etent and inde,endent co+nse%M (:) it m+st be e8,ressM and (3) it m+st be in 'ritin"/ 0n the case at bar, 'hen acc+sed1a,,e%%ant 'as bro+"ht to the Ma%asiA+i ,o%ice station in the evenin" o* $ctober 17, 1996,N:7O he 'as a%read# a s+s,ect, in *act the on%# one, in the br+ta% s%a#in" o* )enni*er

@o 'rote )+stice $%iver ?ende%% 4o%mes in )lmstead v. $.7. N1O $n this occasion, this &o+rt is made to choose bet'een %ettin" s+s,ected crimina%s esca,e or %ettin" the "overnment ,%a# an i"nob%e ,art/
3

@ometime d+rin" the months o* )+%# and A+"+st 1999, the Tori% (o%ice @tation, ;avao &it# received a re,ort *rom a =civi%ian asset> named Cobon" @o%ier abo+t a certain Noe% T+dt+d/ N2O @o%ier re%ated that his nei"hbors have been com,%ainin" abo+t T+dt+d, 'ho 'as a%%e"ed%# res,onsib%e *or the ,ro%i*eration o* mari<+ana in their area/ N:O
39 90

5eactin" to the re,ort, ($1 5ona%d ;esierto, ($1 5ami% F%oreta and their s+,erior, @($1 Fi%%a%on"han, N3O a%% members o* the 0nte%%i"ence @ection o* the Tori% (o%ice @tation, cond+cted s+rvei%%ance in @o%ier7s nei"hborhood in @a,a, Tori%, ;avao &it#/ N9O For *ive da#s, the# "athered in*ormation and %earned that T+dt+d 'as invo%ved in i%%e"a% dr+"s/ N6O Accordin" to his nei"hbors, T+dt+d 'as en"a"ed in se%%in" mari<+ana/ N7O
92 9: 93

91

;omanta#/ 4e 'as, there*ore, a%read# +nder c+stodia% investi"ation and the ri"hts "+aranteed in Art/ 000, X12(1) o* the &onstit+tion a,,%ied to him/ @($1 6s,inoLa narrated 'hat trans,ired d+rin" acc+sed1 a,,e%%ant7s interro"ation:N: O N0O interro"ated Cernardino ;omanta#, ,rior to the interro"ation cond+cted to him, 0 in*ormed him o* his constit+tiona% ri"ht as *o%%o'sM that he has the ri"ht to remain si%entM that he has the ri"ht to a com,etent %a'#er o* his o'n choice and i* he can not a**ord Na co+nse%O then he 'i%% be ,rovided 'ith one, and *+rther in*ormed NhimO that a%% he 'i%% sa# 'i%% be red+ced into 'ritin" and 'i%% be +sed the same in the ,roceedin"s o* the case, b+t he to%d me that he 'i%% coo,erate even in the absence o* his co+nse%M that he admitted to me that he -i%%ed )enni*er ;omanta#, and he revea%ed a%so the 'ea,on +sed NandO 'here he "ave NitO to/ C+t tho+"h he 'aived the assistance o* co+nse%, the 'aiver 'as neither ,+t in 'ritin" nor made in the ,resence o* co+nse%/ For this reason, the 'aiver is inva%id and his con*ession is inadmissib%e/ @($1 6s,inoLa7s testimon# on the a%%e"ed con*ession o* acc+sed1a,,e%%ant sho+%d have been e8c%+ded b# the tria% co+rt/ @o is the ba#onet inadmissib%e in evidence, bein", as it 'ere, the =*r+it o* the ,oisono+s tree/> As e8,%ained in "eople v. &licando:N:9O / / / Accordin" to this r+%e, once the primary source (the =tree>) is sho'n to have been +n%a'*+%%# obtained, an# secondary or derivative evidence (the =*r+it>) derived *rom it is a%so inadmissib%e/ @tated other'ise, i%%e"a%%# seiLed evidence is obtained as a direct res+%t o* the i%%e"a% act, 'hereas the Yfruit of the poisonous tree> is at %east once removed *rom the i%%e"a%%# seiLed evidence, b+t it is eA+a%%# inadmissib%e/ The r+%e is based on the ,rinci,%e that evidence i%%e"a%%# obtained b# the @tate sho+%d not be +sed to "ain other evidence beca+se the ori"ina%%# i%%e"a% obtained evidence taints a%% evidence s+bseA+ent%# obtained/ ?e a"ree 'ith the @o%icitor 2enera%, ho'ever, that acc+sed1a,,e%%ant7s con*ession to the radio re,orter, &e%so Man+e%, is admissib%e/ 0n "eople v. &ndan,N30O the acc+sed in a ra,e 'ith homicide case con*essed to the crime d+rin" intervie's 'ith the media/ 0n ho%din" the con*ession admissib%e, des,ite the *act that the acc+sed "ave his ans'ers 'itho+t the assistance o* co+nse%, this &o+rt said:N31O NAO,,e%%ant7s Nora%O con*essions to the ne'smen are not covered b# @ection 12(1) and (:) o* Artic%e 000 o* the &onstit+tion/ The Ci%% o* 5i"hts does not concern itse%* 'ith the re%ation bet'een a ,rivate individ+a% and another individ+a%/ 0t "overns the re%ationshi, bet'een the individ+a% and the @tate/ The ,rohibitions therein are ,rimari%# addressed to the @tate and its a"ents/ Acc+sed1a,,e%%ant c%aims, ho'ever, that the atmos,here in the <ai% 'hen he 'as intervie'ed 'as =tense and intimidatin"> and 'as simi%ar to that 'hich ,revai%s in a c+stodia% investi"ation/N32O ?e are not ,ers+aded/ Acc+sed1a,,e%%ant 'as intervie'ed 'hi%e he 'as inside his ce%%/ The intervie'er sta#ed o+tside the ce%% and the on%# ,erson besides him 'as an +nc%e o* the victim/ Acc+sed1a,,e%%ant co+%d have re*+sed to be intervie'ed, b+t instead, he a"reed/ 4e ans'ered A+estions *ree%# and s,ontaneo+s%#/ Accordin" to &e%so Man+e%, he said he 'as 'i%%in" to acce,t the conseA+ences o* his act/ &e%so Man+e% admitted that there 'ere indeed some ,o%ice o**icers aro+nd beca+se abo+t t'o to three meters *rom the <ai% 'ere the ,o%ice station and the radio room/N3:O ?e do not thin- the ,resence o* the ,o%ice o**icers e8erted an# +nd+e ,ress+re or in*%+ence on acc+sed1a,,e%%ant and coerced him into "ivin" his con*ession/

$n A+"+st 1, 1999, @o%ier in*ormed the ,o%ice that T+dt+d had headed to &otabato and 'o+%d be bac%ater that da# 'ith ne' stoc-s o* mari<+ana/ N O @o%ier described T+dt+d as bi"1bodied and short, and +s+a%%# 'ore a hat/ N9O At aro+nd 3:00 in the a*ternoon that same da#, a team com,osed o* ($1 ;esierto, ($1 F%oreta and @($1 Fi%%a%on"han ,osted themse%ves at the corner o* @ai,on and McArth+r 4i"h'a# to a'ait T+dt+d7s arriva%/ N10O A%% 'ore civi%ian c%othes/ N11O
99 96 97 9

Abo+t :00 %ater that evenin", t'o men disembar-ed *rom a b+s and he%,ed each other carr# a carton N12O mar-ed =Sin" F%a-es/> N1:O @tandin" some *ive *eet a'a# *rom the men, ($1 ;esierto and ($1 F%oreta observed that one o* the men *it T+dt+d7s descri,tion/ N13O The same man a%so toted a ,%astic ba"/ N19O
99 60 61 62

($1 F%oreta and ($1 ;esierto then a,,roached the s+s,ects and identi*ied themse%ves as ,o%ice o**icers/ N16O ($1 ;esierto in*ormed them that the ,o%ice had received in*ormation that stoc-s o* i%%e"a% dr+"s 'o+%d
6:

Acc+sed1a,,e%%ant contends that =it is / / / not a%to"ether im,robab%e *or the ,o%ice investi"ators to as- the ,o%ice re,orter (Man+e%) to tr# to e%icit some incriminatin" in*ormation *rom the acc+sed/>N33O This is ,+re con<ect+re/ A%tho+"h he testi*ied that he had intervie'ed inmates be*ore, there is no evidence to sho' that &e%so 'as a ,o%ice beat re,orter/ 6ven ass+min" that he 'as, it has not been sho'n that, in cond+ctin" the intervie' in A+estion, his ,+r,ose 'as to e%icit incriminatin" in*ormation *rom acc+sed1 a,,e%%ant/ To the contrar#, the media are -no'n to ta-e an o,,osite stance a"ainst the "overnment b# e8,osin" o**icia% 'ron"doin"s/ 0ndeed, there is no sho'in" that the radio re,orter 'as actin" *or the ,o%ice or that the intervie' 'as cond+cted +nder circ+mstances 'here it is a,,arent that acc+sed1a,,e%%ant con*essed to the -i%%in" o+t o* *ear/ As a%read# stated, the intervie' 'as cond+cted on $ctober 2:, 1996, 6 da#s a*ter acc+sed1a,,e%%ant had a%read# con*essed to the -i%%in" to the ,o%ice/ Acc+sed1a,,e%%ant7s e8tra<+dicia% con*ession is corroborated b# evidence o* corpus delicti, name%#, the *act o* death o* )enni*er ;omanta#/ 0n addition, the circ+mstantia% evidence *+rnished b# the other ,rosec+tion 'itnesses dovetai%s in materia% ,oints 'ith his con*ession/ 4e 'as seen 'a%-in" to'ard the bamboo "rove, *o%%o'ed b# the victim/ .ater, he 'as seen standin" near the bamboo "rove 'here the chi%d7s bod# 'as *o+nd/ 5+%e 1:: o* the 5evised 5+%es on 6vidence ,rovides: X:/ #!tra8udicial confession, not sufficient ground for conviction. Z An e8tra<+dicia% con*ession made b# an acc+sed, sha%% not be s+**icient "ro+nd *or conviction, +n%ess corroborated b# evidence o* corpus delicti/ X3/ #vidence necessary in treason cases/ Z No ,erson char"ed 'ith treason sha%% be convicted +n%ess on the testimon# o* t'o 'itnesses to the same overt act, or on con*ession in o,en co+rt/ Acc+sed1a,,e%%ant ar"+es that it 'as im,robab%e *or a br+ta% -i%%in" to have been committed 'itho+t the chi%dren 'ho 'ere ,%a#in" abo+t ei"ht to ten meters *rom Am,aro ;omanta#7s "rove, 'here the crime too- ,%ace, havin" heard an# commotion/N39O The contention has no merit/ Acc+sed1a,,e%%ant co+%d have covered the #o+n" chi%d7s mo+th to ,revent her *rom ma-in" an# so+nd/ 0n *act, ;r/ Candoni%% noted a *ive b# t'o inch (9> 8 2>) cont+sion on the %e*t side o* the victim7s *orehead, 'hich he said co+%d have been ca+sed b# a hard b%+nt instr+ment or b# im,act as her head hit the "ro+nd/N36O The b%o' co+%d have rendered her +nconscio+s, th+s ,rec%+din" her *rom sho+tin" or cr#in"/ Acc+sed1a,,e%%ant a%so contends that the testimon# o* )ieL% ;omanta# contradicts that o* .orenLo ;omanta# beca+se 'hi%e )ieL% said she had seen acc+sed1a,,e%%ant 'a%-in" to'ards the bamboo "rove, *o%%o'ed b# the victim, at aro+nd 2 o7c%oc- in the a*ternoon on $ctober 17, 1996, .orenLo said he sa' acc+sed1a,,e%%ant standin" near the bamboo "rove at abo+t the same time/ These 'itnesses, ho'ever, did not testi*# concernin" 'hat the# sa' at e8act%# the same time/ ?hat the# to%d the co+rt 'as 'hat the# had seen =at aro+nd> 2 o7c%oc- in the a*ternoon/ There co+%d have been a di**erence in time, ho'ever %itt%e it 'as, bet'een the time )ieL% sa' acc+sed1a,,e%%ant and the victim 'a%-in" and the time .orenLo sa' acc+sed1a,,e%%ant near the ,%ace 'here the victim7s bod# 'as %ater *o+nd/ Far *rom contradictin" each other, these 'itnesses con*irmed 'hat each had said each one sa'/ ?hat is stri-in" abo+t their testimonies is that 'hi%e )ieL% said she sa' acc+sed1a,,e%%ant "oin" to'ard the bamboo "rove *o%%o'ed b# the victim =at aro+nd> 2 o7c%oc- in the a*ternoon on $ctober 17, 1996, .orenLo said he had seen acc+sed1a,,e%%ant near the bamboo "rove =at aro+nd> that time/ 4e described acc+sed1a,,e%%ant as nervo+s and 'orried/ There is no reason to do+bt the c%aim o* these 'itnesses/

be arrivin" that ni"ht/ N17O The man 'ho resemb%ed T+dt+d7s descri,tion denied that he 'as carr#in" an# dr+"s/ N1 O ($1 ;esierto as-ed him i* he co+%d see the contents o* the bo8/ N19O T+dt+d ob%i"ed, sa#in", =it 'as a%ri"ht/> N20O T+dt+d o,ened the bo8 himse%* as his com,anion %oo-ed on/ N21O
63 69 66 67 6

The bo8 #ie%ded ,ieces o* dried *ish, beneath 'hich 'ere t'o b+nd%es, one 'ra,,ed in a stri,ed ,%astic ba" N22O and another in ne's,a,ers/ N2:O ($1 ;esierto as-ed T+dt+d to +n'ra, the ,ac-a"es/ N23O The# contained 'hat seemed to the ,o%ice o**icers as mari<+ana %eaves/ N29O
69 70 71 72

The ,o%ice th+s arrested T+dt+d and his com,anion, in*ormed them o* their ri"hts and bro+"ht them to the ,o%ice station/ N26O The t'o did not resist/ N27O
7: 73

.orenLo is a re%ative o* acc+sed1a,,e%%ant/ There is no reason he 'o+%d testi*# *a%se%# a"ainst the %atter/ )ieL%, on the other hand, is a%so s+rnamed ;omanta# and co+%d a%so be re%ated to acc+sed1a,,e%%ant and has not been sho'n to have an# reason to testi*# *a%se%# a"ainst acc+sed1a,,e%%ant/ At the time o* the incident, she 'as on%# 10 #ears o%d/ For the *ore"oin" reasons, the &o+rt is convinced o* acc+sed1a,,e%%ant7s "+i%t 'ith res,ect to the -i%%in" o* the chi%d/ 0t is c%ear that the ,rosec+tion has ,roven be#ond reasonab%e do+bt that acc+sed1a,,e%%ant is "+i%t# o* homicide/ Art/ 239 o* the 5evised (ena% &ode ,rovides: An# ,erson 'ho, not *a%%in" 'ithin the ,rovisions o* Artic%e 236 N,arricideO sha%% -i%% another 'itho+t the attendance o* an# o* the circ+mstances en+merated in the ne8t ,recedin" artic%e Nm+rderO, sha%% be deemed "+i%t# o* homicide and be ,+nished b# reclusion temporal/ The -i%%in" 'as committed 'ith the "eneric a""ravatin" circ+mstance o* ab+se o* s+,erior stren"th/ The record sho's that the victim, )enni*er ;omanta#, 'as si8 #ears o%d at the time o* the -i%%in"/ @he 'as a chi%d o* sma%% b+i%d, 36> in hei"ht/N37O 0t is c%ear then that she co+%d not have ,+t +, m+ch o* a de*ense a"ainst acc+sed1a,,e%%ant7s assa+%t, the %atter bein" a *+%%# "ro'n man o* 29 #ears/ 0ndeed, the ,h#sica% evidence s+,,orts a *indin" o* ab+se o* s+,erior stren"th: acc+sed1a,,e%%ant had a 'ea,on, 'hi%e the victim 'as not sho'n to have had an#M there 'ere : stab 'o+ndsM and a%% the -ni*e 'o+nds are %ocated at the bac- o* )enni*er7s bod#/ C+t 'e thin- the %o'er co+rt erred in *indin" that the -i%%in" 'as committed 'ith cr+e%t#/N3 O The tria% co+rt a,,ears to have been %ed to this conc%+sion b# the n+mber o* 'o+nds in*%icted on the victim/ C+t the n+mber o* 'o+nds is not a test *or determinin" 'hether there 'as cr+e%t# as an a""ravatin" circ+mstance/ N39O =The test / / / is 'hether the acc+sed de%iberate%# and sadistica%%# a+"mented the victim7s s+**erin" th+s / / / there m+st be ,roo* that the victim 'as made to a"oniLe be*ore the Nthe acc+sedO rendered the b%o' 'hich sn+**ed o+t NherO %i*e/>N90O 0n this case, there is no s+ch ,roo* o* cr+e%t#/ ;r/ Candoni%% testi*ied that an# o* the ma<or 'o+nds on the victim7s bac- co+%d have ca+sed her death as the# ,enetrated her heart, %+n"s and %iver, -idne# and intestines/N91O Se+on,/ There is, ho'ever, no s+**icient evidence to ho%d acc+sed1a,,e%%ant "+i%t# o* ra,in" )enni*er ;omanta#/ Art/ ::9 o* the 5evised (ena% &ode, as amended, in ,art ,rovides: A5T/ ::9/ .hen and how rape is committed/ Z 5a,e is committed b# havin" carna% -no'%ed"e o* a 'oman +nder an# o* the *o%%o'in" circ+mstances/ 1/ C# +sin" *orce or intimidationM 2/ ?hen the 'oman is de,rived o* reason or other'ise +nconscio+sM and :/ ?hen the 'oman is +nder t'e%ve #ears o* a"e or is demented/ As the victim here 'as si8 #ears o%d, on%# carna% -no'%ed"e had to be ,roved to estab%ish ra,e/ &arna% -no'%ed"e is de*ined as the act o* a man havin" se8+a% interco+rse or se8+a% bodi%# connections 'ith a 'oman/N92O For this ,+r,ose, it is eno+"h i* there 'as even the s%i"htest contact o* the ma%e se8 or"an 'ith the %abia o* the victim7s "enita%ia/N9:O 4o'ever, there m+st be ,roo*, b# direct or indirect evidence, o* s+ch contact/

The con*iscated items 'ere t+rned over to the (hi%i,,ine Nationa% (o%ice ((N() &rime .aborator# *or e8amination/ N2 O Forensic tests cond+cted b# (o%ice &hie* 0ns,ector Noemi A+stero, *orensic chemist o* the (N( &rime .aborator#, 5e"ion E0, on s,ecimens ta-en *rom the con*iscated items con*irmed the ,o%ice o**icers7 s+s,icion/ The ,%astic ba" contained :,200 "rams o* mari<+ana %eaves 'hi%e the ne's,a,ers contained another 90 "rams/ N29O (o%ice &hie* 0ns,ector A+stero red+ced her *indin"s in her re,ort, (h#sica% @ciences 5e,ort No/ ;1220199 dated 2 A+"+st 1999/ N:0O
79 76 77

Noe% T+dt+d and his com,anion, ;indo C+%on", 'ere s+bseA+ent%# char"ed N:1O be*ore the 5e"iona% Tria% &o+rt (5T&) o* ;avao &it# 'ith i%%e"a% ,ossession o* ,rohibited dr+"s/ N:2O B,on arrai"nment, both acc+sed ,%eaded not "+i%t#/ N::O The de*ense, ho'ever, reserved their ri"ht to A+estion the va%idit# o* their arrest and the seiL+re o* the evidence a"ainst them/ N:3O
7 79 0 1

Tria% ens+ed therea*ter/

;r/ 5ona%d Candoni%%7s re,ort on the "enita% e8amination he had ,er*ormed on the deceased reads:N93O 26N0TA. 6EAM0NAT0$NM sho'ed a com,%ete %aceration o* the ri"ht side o* the h#men/ The s+rro+ndin" "enita% area sho's si"ns o* in*%amation/ //// 56MA5S@: 1) Findin"s at the "enita% area indicate the ,robabi%it# o* ,enetration o* that area b# a hard, ri"id instr+ment/ 4#mena% %aceration is not necessar# to ,rove ra,eMN99O neither does its ,resence ,rove its commission/ As he%d in "eople v. $lili,N96O a medica% certi*icate or the testimon# o* the ,h#sician is ,resented not to ,rove that the victim 'as ra,ed b+t to sho' that the %atter had %ost her vir"init#/ &onseA+ent%#, standin" a%one, a ,h#sician7s *indin" that the h#men o* the a%%e"ed victim 'as %acerated does not ,rove ra,e/ 0t is on%# 'hen this is corroborated b# other evidence ,rovin" carna% -no'%ed"e that ra,e ma# be deemed to have been estab%ished/N97O This conc%+sion is based on the medica%%# acce,ted *act that a h#mena% tear ma# be ca+sed b# ob<ects other than the ma%e se8 or"anN9 O or ma# arise *rom other ca+ses/N99O ;r/ Candoni%% himse%* admitted this/ 4e testi*ied that the ri"ht side o* the victim7s h#men had been com,%ete%# %acerated 'hi%e the s+rro+ndin" "enita% area sho'ed si"ns o* in*%ammation/N60O 4e o,ined that the %aceration had been in*%icted 'ithin 23 ho+rs o* the victim7s death and that the in*%ammation 'as d+e to a tra+ma in that area/N61O ?hen as-ed b# the ,rivate ,rosec+tor 'hether the %acerations o* the h#men co+%d have been ca+sed b# the insertion o* a ma%e or"an he said this 'as ,ossib%e/ C+t he a%so said 'hen A+estioned b# the de*ense that the %acerations co+%d have been ca+sed b# somethin" b%+nt other than the ma%e or"an/ Th+s, he testi*ied:N62O (5$@/ F/ RB0N0T: R No', 'hat mi"ht have ca+sed the com,%ete %aceration o* the ri"ht side o* the h#men, doctorG

A ?e%%, sir, i* #o+ %oo- at m# re,ort there is a remar- and it sa#s thereM *indin"s at the "enita% area indicated the ,robabi%it# o* ,enetration o* that area b# a hard ri"id instr+ment/ R A //// ATTD/ FA.;6P: R 0n #o+r remar-sM *indin" at the "enita% area indicates the ,robabi%it# o* ,enetration o* that area b# a hard ri"id instr+ment, this ma# have a%so been ca+sed b# a da""er +sed in the -i%%in" o* )enni*er ;omanta# is that correctG A ?e%%, sir 'hen 0 sa# hard ri"id instr+ment it sho+%d not be shar, ,ointed and shar, ri"id, it sho+%d be a hard b%N+Ont instr+ment/ &o+%d it have been ca+sed b# a h+man or"anG 0* the h+man ma%e or"an is erect, *+%%# erect and hard then it is ,ossib%e, sir/

The ,rosec+tion ,resented *ive 'itnesses, name%#, arrestin" o**icers ($1 ;esierto and ($1 F%oreta, their civi%ian in*ormant Cobon" @o%ier, *orensic chemist (o%ice &hie* 0ns,ector Noemi A+stero, and @($: Nico%as A%"abre, e8hibit c+stodian o* the (N( &rime .aborator#/ @aid 'itnesses testi*ied to the *ore"oin" narration o* *acts/ The acc+sed, den#in" the char"es a"ainst them, cried *rame1+,/ Noe% T+dt+d reca%%ed that on A+"+st 1, 1999 he had "one to Sabacan, North &otabato to se%% ,airs o* .evi7s ,ants, 'hich 'as his =side%ine/> N:9O At abo+t 9:00 in the a*ternoon, he ret+rned to ;avao &it# b# b+s/ N:6O B,on reachin" Tori%, T+dt+d, a%on" 'ith %ess than ten ,assen"ers, "ot do'n the b+s/ N:7O
2 : 3

@+dden%#, a man 'ho identi*ied himse%* as a ,o%ice o**icer a,,roached him, ,ointin" a /: ca%iber revo%ver/ N: O The man to%d him not to r+n/ N:9O T+dt+d raised his arms and as-ed, =@ir, 'hat is this
9 6

R A

;o #o+ consider a bo%o a b%N+Ont instr+ment, or a da""erG The da""er is a shar, ri"id b+t it is not a b%N+Ont instr+ment, sir/

R This 2enita% 68amination sho'ed a com,%ete %aceration o* the ri"ht side o* the h#men, this ma# have been ,ossib%# ca+sed b# a da""er, is it notG A No, sir/ 0 'on7t sa# that this 'o+%d have been ca+sed b# a da""er, beca+se a da""er 'o+%d have made at its incision / / / not a %aceration, sir/ R C+t this %aceration ma# a%so have been ca+sed b# other *actors other the h+man ma%e or"an, is that correctG A R A //// &$B5T: R A Do+ mentioned that the h#men 'as %acerated on the ri"ht sideG Des, #o+r 4onor/ A hard b%N+Ont instr+ment, sir co+%d sho'/ M# A+estion is other than the h+man ma%e or"anG (ossib%e, sir/

R And i* there is a com,%ete erection b# a h+man or"an is this ,ossib%e that the %aceration can on%# be on the ri"ht side o* the h#menG A R Des, #o+r 4onor, its ,ossib%e/ 4o' abo+t i* the ,enetration 'as done b# a *in"er, 'as it the same as the h+man or"anG

A ?e%%, it de,ends on the siLe o* the *in"er that ,enetratNesO the or"an, i* the *in"er is sma%% it co+%d the s+,er*icia% %aceration, and i* the *in"er is %ar"e then it is ,ossib%e #o+r honor/ R A 4o' abo+t t'o *in"ersG (ossib%e, sir/

To be s+re, this &o+rt has s+stained a n+mber o* convictions *or ra,e 'ith homicide based on ,+re%# circ+mstantia% evidence/ 0n those instances, ho'ever, the ,rosec+tion 'as ab%e to ,resent other te%%1ta%e si"ns o* ra,e s+ch as the %ocation and descri,tion o* the victim7s c%othin"s, es,ecia%%# her +nder"arments, the ,osition o* the bod# 'hen *o+nd and the %i-e/N6:O 0n "eople v. 'acalino,N63O *or instance, the &o+rt a**irmed a conviction *or the ra,e o* a t'o #ear1o%d chi%d on the basis o* circ+mstantia% evidence:N69O

abo+tG> N30O The man ans'ered that he 'o+%d %i-e to ins,ect the ,%astic ba" T+dt+d 'as carr#in", and instr+cted T+dt+d to o,en the ba", 'hich revea%ed severa% ,airs o* .evi7s ,ants/ N31O
7

The man then directed T+dt+d to o,en a carton bo8 some t'o meters a'a#/ N32O Accordin" to T+dt+d, the bo8 'as a%read# there 'hen he disembar-ed the b+s/ N3:O T+dt+d to%d the man the bo8 'as not his, b+t ,roceeded to o,en it o+t o* *ear a*ter the man a"ain ,ointed his revo%ver at him/ N33O T+dt+d discovered ,ieces o* dried *ish, +nderneath 'hich 'as somethin" 'ra,,ed in ce%%o,hane/ N39O
9 90 91 92

=?hat is thatG> the man as-ed/ N36O T+dt+d re,%ied that he did not -no'/ N37O ?itho+t even +n'ra,,in" the ce%%o,hane, the man said it 'as mari<+ana and abr+,t%# handc+**ed T+dt+d/ N3 O
9: 93 99

The &o+rt notes that the testimon# or medica% o,inion o* ;r/ 2a<ardo that the *resh %aceration had been ,rod+ced b# se8+a% interco+rse is corroborated b# the testimon# "iven b# com,%ainant 6%iLabeth that 'hen she r+shed +,stairs +,on hearin" her da+"hter s+dden%# cr# o+t, she found appellant 'acalino beside the child buttoning his own pants and that she *o+nd some sticky fluid on the childs buttocks and some blood on her private part/ (6m,hasis in the ori"ina%) 0n contrast, in the case at bar, there is no circ+mstantia% evidence *rom 'hich to in*er that acc+sed1 a,,e%%ant se8+a%%# ab+sed the victim/ The on%# circ+mstance *rom 'hich s+ch in*erence mi"ht be made is that acc+sed1a,,e%%ant 'as seen 'ith the victim 'a%-in" to'ard the ,%ace 'here the "ir%7s bod# 'as *o+nd/ Ma#be he ra,ed the "ir%/ Ma#be he did not/ Ma#be he sim,%# inserted a b%+nt ob<ect into her or"an, th+s ca+sin" the %acerations in the h#men/ $ther'ise, there is no circ+mstance *rom 'hich it mi"ht reasonab%# be in*erred that he ab+sed her, e.g., that he 'as Li,,in" +, his ,ants, that there 'as s,ermatoLoa in the "ir%7s va"ina% cana%/ 0ndeed, the ver# a+to,s# re,ort o* ;r/ Candoni%% mi%itates a"ainst the *indin" o* ra,e/ 0n describin" the stab 'o+nds on the bod# o* the victim, he testi*ied:N66O NAO*ter e8aminin" the bod# 0 too- note that there 'ere severa% stab 'o+nds / / / these were all found at the back area sir / / / e8tendin" *rom the bac- sho+%der do'n to the %o'er bac- area *rom the %e*t to the ri"ht/ &onsiderin" the re%ative ,h#sica% ,ositions o* the acc+sed and the victim in crimes o* ra,e, the +s+a% %ocation o* the e8terna% bodi%# in<+ries o* the victim is on the *ace,N67O nec-,N6 O and anterior ,ortionN69O o* her bod#/ A%tho+"h it is not +nnat+ra% to *ind cont+sions on the ,osterior side, these are +s+a%%# ca+sed b# the do'n'ard ,ress+re on the victim7s bod# d+rin" the se8+a% assa+%t/N70O 0t is +nA+estionab%# di**erent 'hen, as in this case, all the stab 'o+nds (e8ce,t *or a minor c+t in the %o'er %e*t %e") had their entr# ,oints at the bac- r+nnin" *rom the +,,er %e*t sho+%der to the %o'er ri"ht b+ttoc-s/ 0t is note'orth# that the deceased 'as *+%%# c%othed in b%+e shorts and 'hite shirt 'hen her bod# 'as bro+"ht to her ,arent7s ho+se immediate%# a*ter it 'as *o+nd/N71O F+rthermore, there is a h+"e b%oodstain in the bac- ,ortion o* her shorts/N72O This m+st be beca+se she 'as 'earin" this ,iece o* c%othin" 'hen the stab 'o+nds 'ere in*%icted or immediate%# therea*ter, th+s a%%o'in" the b%ood to see, into her shorts to s+ch an e8tent/ As acc+sed1a,,e%%ant 'o+%d nat+ra%%# have to ,+%% do'n the "ir%7s %o'er "arments in order to cons+mmate the ra,e, then, he m+st have, re"ard%ess o* 'hen the stab 'o+nds 'ere in*%icted, ,+%%ed +, the victim7s shorts and +nder"arments a*ter the a%%e"ed ra,e, other'ise, the victim7s shorts 'o+%d not have been stained so e8tensive%#/ A"ain, this is contrar# to ordinar# h+man e8,erience/ 6ven ass+min" that )enni*er had been ra,ed, there is no s+**icient ,roo* that it 'as acc+sed1a,,e%%ant 'ho had ra,ed her/ 4e did not con*ess to havin" ra,ed the victim/ From the *ore"oin", 'e cannot *ind that acc+sed1a,,e%%ant a%so committed ra,e/ 0n the s,ecia% com,%e8 crime o* ra,e 'ith homicide, both the ra,e and the homicide m+st be estab%ished be#ond reasonab%e do+bt/ N7:O T-ir,. The tria% co+rt ordered acc+sed1a,,e%%ant to ,a# the heirs o* )enni*er ;omanta# the amo+nt o* (:0,000/00 as act+a% dama"es/ 4o'ever, the %ist o* e8,enses ,rod+ced b# the victim7s *ather, )aime ;omanta#, on%# tota%ed (2 ,3:0/00/ $* this amo+nt, on%# (12,000/00 'as s+,,orted b# a recei,t/ Art/ 2199 o* the &ivi% &ode ,rovides that a ,art# ma# recover act+a% or com,ensator# dama"es on%# *or s+ch %oss as he has d+%# ,roved/ There*ore, the a'ard o* act+a% dama"es sho+%d be red+ced to (12,000/00/

@im+%taneo+s%#, another man 'as ,ointin" a *irearm at ;indo Co%on" at the other side o* the street, some ei"ht meters *rom T+dt+d/ N39O
96

Co%on" reco+nted that he 'as on his 'a# to a re%ative in ;a%iao a*ter attendin" a co+sin7s 'eddin" in 4a"ono#, ;avao de% @+r 'hen he 'as accosted/ N90O A*ter a%i"htin" the b+s, Co%on" crossed the street/ N91O @omeone then a,,roached him and ,ointed a "+n at him/ N92O The man ordered him not to move and handc+**ed him/ N9:O Co%on" as-ed 'h# he 'as bein" arrested b+t the man <+st to%d him to "o 'ith them/
97 9 99 100

101

N93O

The s+s,ects 'ere then ta-en to the ,o%ice station 'here, the# 'o+%d %ater c%aim, the# met each other *or the *irst time/ N99O
102

0n addition, the heirs o* )enni*er ;omanta# are entit%ed to recover e8em,%ar# dama"es in vie' o* the ,resence o* the a""ravatin" circ+mstance o* ab+se o* s+,erior stren"th/ Art/ 22:0 o* the &ivi% &ode ,rovides *or the ,a#ment o* e8em,%ar# dama"es 'hen the crime is committed 'ith one or more a""ravatin" circ+mstance/ An amo+nt o* (29,000/00 is deemed a,,ro,riate/N73O 0n accordance 'ith o+r r+%in"s in "eople v. RoblesN79O and "eople v. 'engote,N76O the indemnit# sho+%d be *i8ed at (90,000/00 and the mora% dama"es at (90,000/00 HEREFORE, the <+d"ment o* the tria% co+rt is @6T A@0;6 and another one is rendered F0N;0N2 acc+sed1a,,e%%ant "+i%t# o* homicide 'ith the a""ravatin" circ+mstance o* ab+se o* s+,erior stren"th and sentencin" him to a ,rison term o* 12 #ears o* prision mayor, as minim+m, to 20 #ears o* reclusion temporal, as ma8im+m, and $5;650N2 him to ,a# the heirs o* )enni*er ;omanta# the amo+nts o* (90,000/00, as indemnit#, (90,000/00, as mora% dama"es, (29,000/00, as e8em,%ar# dama"es, and (12,000/00, as act+a% dama"es, and the costs/ @$ $5;656;/

45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61

Assai%in" the credibi%it# o* in*ormant Cobon" @o%ier, the de*ense o**ered the testimonies o* Fe%icia )+%aton, N96O Cranch : &%er- o* &o+rt, &%a+dio Cohevia, N97O Cranch 7 &%er- o* &o+rt, and Mercedita Ab+nda, N9 O Cranch 9 Bti%it# &%er-, a%% o* the ;avao &it# M+nici,a% Tria% &irc+it &o+rt/ The# testi*ied and ,resented co+rt doc+ments sho'in" that one =Cobo> or =Cobon"> 5amireL 'as char"ed in their res,ective branches 'ith vario+s crimes, s,eci*ica%%#, %i"ht threats, %ess serio+s ,h#sica% in<+ries and robber#/ The de*ense asserted that the =Cobo> or =Cobon"> 5amireL acc+sed in these cases is the same ,erson as the in*ormant Cobon" @o%ier/ N99O
10: 103 109 106

@'a#ed b# the ,rosec+tion7s evidence be#ond reasonab%e do+bt, the 5T& rendered <+d"ment convictin" both acc+sed as char"ed and sentencin" them to s+**er the ,ena%t# o* reclusion perpetua and to ,a# a *ine o* (900,000/00/ N60O
107

62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89

$n a,,ea%, Noe% T+dt+d and ;indo Co%on" assi"n, amon" other errors, the admission in evidence o* the mari<+ana %eaves, 'hich the# c%aim 'ere seiLed in vio%ation o* their ri"ht a"ainst +nreasonab%e searches and seiL+res/ The ri"ht a"ainst +nreasonab%e searches and seiL+res is sec+red b# @ection 2, Artic%e 000 o* the &onstit+tion, 'hich states: @6&/ 2/ The ri"ht o* the ,eo,%e to be sec+red in their ,ersons, ho+ses, ,a,ers, and e**ects a"ainst +nreasonab%e searches and seiL+res o* 'hatever nat+re and *or an# ,+r,ose sha%% be invio%ab%e, and no search 'arrant or 'arrant o* arrest sha%% iss+e e8ce,t +,on ,robab%e ca+se to be determined ,ersona%%# b# the <+d"e a*ter e8amination +nder oath or a**irmation o* the com,%ainant and the 'itnesses he ma# ,rod+ce, and ,artic+%ar%# describin" the ,%aces to be searched and the ,ersons or thin"s to be seiLed/ The r+%e is that a search and seiL+re m+st be carried o+t thro+"h or 'ith a <+dicia% 'arrantM other'ise, s+ch search and seiL+re becomes =+nreasonab%e> 'ithin the meanin" o* the above1A+oted constit+tiona% ,rovision, and an# evidence sec+red thereb#, 'i%% be inadmissib%e in evidence =*or an# ,+r,ose in an# ,roceedin"/> N61O @ection : (2), Artic%e 000 o* the &onstit+tion e8,%icit%# ,rovides:
10

(2) An# evidence obtained in vio%ation o*T the ,recedin" section sha%% be inadmissib%e *or an# ,+r,ose in an# ,roceedin"/ The ,roscri,tion in @ection 2, Artic%e 000, ho'ever, covers on%# =+nreasonab%e> searches and seiL+res/ The *o%%o'in" instances are not deemed =+nreasonab%e> even in the absence o* a 'arrant: 9. .arrantless search incidental to a lawful arrest/ (@ec/ 12, 5+%e 126 o* the 5+%es o* &o+rt and ,revai%in" <+ris,r+dence)M

90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108

:. 7earch of evidence in ;plain view.< The e%ements are: (a) a ,rior va%id intr+sion based on the va%id 'arrant%ess arrest in 'hich the ,o%ice are %e"a%%# ,resent in the pursuit o* their o**icia% d+tiesM (b) the evidence 'as inadvertent%# discovered b# the ,o%ice 'ho have the ri"ht to be 'here the# areM (c) the evidence m+st be immediate%# a,,arentM (d) =,%ain vie'> <+sti*ied mere seiL+re o* evidence 'itho+t *+rther searchM -. 7earch of a moving vehicle. 4i"h%# re"+%ated b# the "overnment, the vehic%e7s inherent mobi%it# red+ces e8,ectation o* ,rivac# es,ecia%%# 'hen its transit in ,+b%ic thoro+"h*ares *+rnishes a hi"h%# reasonab%e s+s,icion amo+ntin" to ,robab%e ca+se that the occ+,ant committed a crimina% activit#M 3/ 9/ 6/ 7/ Consented warrantless searchM Customs searchM 7top and Frisk= and #!igent and emergency circumstances/
109

N62O

The 5T& <+sti*ied the 'arrant%ess search o* a,,e%%ants7 be%on"in"s +nder the *irst e8ce,tion, as a search incident to a %a'*+% arrest/ 0t cited as a+thorities this &o+rt7s r+%in"s in "eople v. Claudio, N6:O "eople v. Tangliben, N63O "eople v. 'ontilla, N69O and "eople v. >alde?/ N66O The $**ice o* the @o%icitor 2enera% ($@2), in ar"+in" *or the a**irmance o* the a,,ea%ed decision, invo-es the cases o* "eople v. 'aspil, /r., N67O "eople v. 'almstedt, N6 O and "eople v. *agista/ N69O
110 111 112 11: 119 116

113

A search incidenta% to a %a'*+% arrest is sanctioned b# the 5+%es o* &o+rt/ (rior to its revision in 2000, @ection 12, N70O 5+%e 126 o* said 5+%es read as *o%%o's:
117

@6&/ 12/ 7earch incident to lawful arrest. ! A ,erson %a'*+%%# arrested ma# be searched *or dan"ero+s 'ea,ons or an#thin" 'hich ma# be +sed as ,roo* o* the commission o* an o**ense, 'itho+t a search 'arrant/ @ection 9 (a), 5+%e 11: o* the 5+%es, in t+rn, a%%o's 'arrant%ess arrests: @6&/ 9/ &rrest without warrant= when lawful. ! A ,eace o**icer or a ,rivate ,erson ma#, 'itho+t a 'arrant, arrest a ,erson: (a) ?hen, in his ,resence, the ,erson to be arrested has committed, is act+a%%# committin", or is attem,tin" to commit an o**enseM T/ 0t is si"ni*icant to note that the search in A+estion ,receded the arrest/ 5ecent <+ris,r+dence ho%ds that the arrest m+st ,recede the searchM the ,rocess cannot be reversed/ N71O Neverthe%ess, a search s+bstantia%%# contem,oraneo+s 'ith an arrest can ,recede the arrest i* the ,o%ice have ,robab%e ca+se to ma-e the arrest
11

109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118

at the o+tset o* the search/ N72O The A+estion, there*ore, is 'hether the ,o%ice in this case had ,robab%e ca+se to arrest a,,e%%ants/ (robab%e ca+se has been de*ined as:
119

an act+a% be%ie* or reasonab%e "ro+nds o* s+s,icion/ The "ro+nds o* s+s,icion are reasonab%e 'hen, in the absence o* act+a% be%ie* o* the arrestin" o**icers, the s+s,icion that the ,erson to be arrested is ,robab%# "+i%t# o* committin" the o**ense, is based on act+a% *acts, i.e., s+,,orted b# circ+mstances s+**icient%# stron" in themse%ves to create the ,robab%e ca+se o* "+i%t o* the ,erson to be arrested/ A reasonab%e s+s,icion there*ore m+st be *o+nded on ,robab%e ca+se, co+,%ed 'ith "ood *aith o* the ,eace o**icers ma-in" the arrest/ N7:O
120

The %on"1standin" r+%e in this <+risdiction, a,,%ied 'ith a "reat de"ree o* consistenc#, is that =re%iab%e in*ormation> a%one is not s+**icient to <+sti*# a 'arrant%ess arrest +nder @ection 9 (a), 5+%e 11:/ The r+%e reA+ires, in addition, that the acc+sed ,er*orm some overt act that 'o+%d indicate that he =has committed, is act+a%%# committin", or is attem,tin" to commit an o**ense/> 0n the %eadin" case o* "eople v. *urgos, N73O this &o+rt he%d that =the o**icer arrestin" a ,erson 'ho has <+st committed, is committin", or is abo+t to commit an o**ense m+st have "ersonal .no/le,ge o* that *act/ The o**ense m+st a%so be committed in his ,resence or 'ithin his vie'/> N79O 0n *urgos, the
121 122

a+thorities obtained in*ormation that the acc+sed had *orcib%# recr+ited one &esar Masam%o- as member o* the Ne' (eo,%e7s Arm#, threatenin" the %atter 'ith a *irearm/ B,on *indin" the acc+sed, the arrestin" team searched his ho+se and discovered a "+n as 'e%% as ,+r,orted%# s+bversive doc+ments/ This &o+rt, in dec%arin" then @ection 6 (a), 5+%e 11: o* the 5+%es o* &o+rt ina,,%icab%e, r+%ed that:
There is no s+ch ,ersona% -no'%ed"e in this case/ ?hatever -no'%ed"e 'as ,ossessed b# the arrestin" o**icers, it came in its entiret# *rom the in*ormation *+rnished b# &esar Masam%o-/ The %ocation o* the *irearm 'as "iven b# the a,,e%%ant7s 'i*e/ At the time o* the a,,e%%ant7s arrest, he 'as not in act+a% ,ossession o* an# *irearm or s+bversive doc+ment/ Neither 'as he committin" an# act 'hich co+%d be described as s+bversive/ 4e 'as, in *act, ,%o'in" his *ie%d at the time o* the arrest/ The ri"ht o* a ,erson to be sec+re a"ainst an# +nreasonab%e seiL+re o* his bod# and an# de,rivation o* his %ibert# is a most basic and *+ndamenta% one/ The stat+te or r+%e 'hich a%%o's e8ce,tions to the reA+irement o* 'arrants o* arrest is strict%# constr+ed/ An# e8ce,tion m+st c%ear%# *a%% 'ithin the sit+ations 'hen sec+rin" a 'arrant 'o+%d be abs+rd or is mani*est%# +nnecessar# as ,rovided b# the 5+%e/ ?e cannot %ibera%%# constr+e the r+%e on arrests 'itho+t 'arrant or e8tend its a,,%ication be#ond the cases s,eci*ica%%# ,rovided b# %a'/ To do so 'o+%d in*rin"e +,on ,ersona% %ibert# and set bac- a basic ri"ht so o*ten vio%ated and so deservin" o* *+%% ,rotection/ N76O
12:

&onseA+ent%#, the items seiLed 'ere he%d inadmissib%e, havin" been obtained in vio%ation o* the acc+sed7s constit+tiona% ri"hts a"ainst +nreasonab%e searches and seiL+res/ 0n "eople v. &minnudin, N77O this &o+rt %i-e'ise he%d the 'arrant%ess arrest and s+bseA+ent search o* a,,e%%ant therein i%%e"a%, "iven the *o%%o'in" circ+mstances:
123

T the acc+sed1a,,e%%ant 'as not, at the moment o* his arrest, committin" a crime nor 'as it sho'n that he 'as abo+t to do so or that he had <+st done so/ ?hat he 'as doin" 'as descendin" the "an",%an- o* the MIF ?i%con 9 and there 'as no o+t'ard indication that he ca%%ed *or his arrest/ To a%% a,,earances, he 'as %i-e an# o* the other ,assen"ers innocent%# disembar-in" *rom the vesse%/ 0t 'as on%# 'hen the in*ormer ,ointed to him as the carrier o* the mari<+ana that he s+dden%# became s+s,ect and so s+b<ect to
119 120 121 122 123 124

a,,rehension/ 0t 'as the *+rtive *in"er that tri""ered his arrest/ The identi*ication b# the in*ormer 'as the ,robab%e ca+se as determined b# the o**icers (and not a <+d"e) that a+thoriLed them to ,o+nce +,on Aminn+din and immediate%# arrest him/ N7 O
129

Th+s, not'ithstandin" ti,s *rom con*identia% in*ormants and re"ard%ess o* the *act that the search #ie%ded contraband, the mere act o* %oo-in" *rom side to side 'hi%e ho%din" one7s abdomen, N79O or o* standin" on a corner 'ith one7s e#es movin" ver# *ast, %oo-in" at ever# ,erson 'ho came near, N 0O does not <+sti*# a 'arrant%ess arrest +nder said @ection 9 (a)/ Neither does ,+ttin" somethin" in one7s ,oc-et, N 1O handin" over one7s ba""a"e, N 2O ridin" a motorc#c%e, N :O nor does ho%din" a ba" on board a trisikad N 3Osanction @tate intr+sion/ The same r+%e a,,%ies to crossin" the street per se/ N 9O
126 127 12 129 1:0 1:1 1:2

(ersona% -no'%ed"e 'as a%so reA+ired in the case o* "eople v. @oria/ N 6O 5ecent%#, in "eople v. *inad 7y Chua, N 7O this &o+rt dec%ared inva%id the arrest o* the acc+sed, 'ho 'as 'a%-in" to'ards a hote% c%+tchin" a sea%ed Pest1$ <+ice bo8/ For the e8ce,tion in @ection 9 (a), 5+%e 11: to a,,%#, this &o+rt r+%ed, t'o e%ements m+st conc+r: (1) the ,erson to be arrested m+st e8ec+te an overt act indicatin" he has <+st committed, is act+a%%# committin", or is attem,tin" to commit a crimeM and (2) s+ch overt act is done in the ,resence or 'ithin the vie' o* the arrestin" o**icer/ 5e%iab%e in*ormation a%one is ins+**icient/
1:: 1:3

0n the *o%%o'in" cases, the search 'as he%d to be incidenta% to a %a'*+% arrest beca+se o* =s+s,icio+s> circ+mstances: "eople v. Tangliben N O (acc+sed 'as =actin" s+s,icio+s%#>), "eople v. 'almstedt N 9O (a b+%"e on the acc+sed7s 'aist), and "eople v. de 6u?man N90O (%i-e'ise a b+%"e on the 'aist o* the acc+sed, 'ho 'as 'earin" ti"ht1*ittin" c%othes)/
1:9 1:6 1:7

There is, ho'ever, another set o* <+ris,r+dence that deems =re%iab%e in*ormation> s+**icient to <+sti*# a search incident to a 'arrant%ess arrest +nder @ection 9 (a), 5+%e 11:, th+s deviatin" *rom *urgos/ To this c%ass o* cases be%on" "eople v. 'aspil, /r., N91O "eople v. *agista, N92O "eople v. *alingan, N9:O "eople v. 3ising, N93O "eople v. 'ontilla, N99O "eople v. >alde?, N96O and "eople v. 6on?ales/ N97O 0n these cases, the
1: 1:9 130 131 132 13: 133

125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144

arrestin" a+thorities 'ere actin" on in*ormation re"ardin" an o**ense b+t there 'ere no overt acts or s+s,icio+s circ+mstances that 'o+%d indicate that the acc+sed has committed, is act+a%%# committin", or is attem,tin" to commit the same/ @i"ni*icant%#, these cases, e8ce,t the %ast t'o, come +nder some other e8ce,tion to the r+%e a"ainst 'arrant%ess searches/ Th+s, 'aspil, /r. invo%ved a chec-,oint search, *alingan 'as a search o* a movin" vehic%e, *agista 'as both, and 3ising and 'ontilla 'ere consented searches/ Neverthe%ess, the "reat ma<orit# o* cases con*orms to the r+%e in *urgos, 'hich, in t+rn, more *aith*+%%# adheres to the %etter o* @ection 9(a), 5+%e 11:/ Note the ,hrase =in his ,resence> therein, connotin" ,ersona% -no'%ed"e on the ,art o* the arrestin" o**icer/ The ri"ht o* the acc+sed to be sec+re a"ainst an# +nreasonab%e searches on and seiL+re o* his o'n bod# and an# de,rivation o* his %ibert# bein" a most basic and *+ndamenta% one, the stat+te or r+%e that a%%o's e8ce,tion to the reA+irement o* a 'arrant o* arrest is strict%# constr+ed/ 0ts a,,%ication cannot be e8tended be#ond the cases s,eci*ica%%# ,rovided b# %a'/ N9 O
139

The cases invo-ed b# the 5T& and the $@2 are, there*ore, "rave%# mis,%aced/ 0n Claudio, N99O the acc+sed, 'ho 'as seated aboard a b+s in *ront o* the arrestin" o**icer, ,+t her ba" behind the %atter, th+s aro+sin" the %atter7s s+s,icion/ 0n Tangliben and 'almstedt, the acc+sed had a%so acted s+s,icio+s%#/
136

As noted ear%ier, 'aspil, /r., *agista and 'ontilla 'ere <+sti*ied b# other e8ce,tions to the r+%e a"ainst 'arrant%ess searches/ 'ontilla, moreover, 'as not 'itho+t its critics/ There, ma<orit# o* the &o+rt he%d: A,,e%%ant insists that the mere *act o* seein" a ,erson carr#in" a trave%in" ba" and a carton bo8 sho+%d not e%icit the s%i"htest s+s,icion o* the commission o* an# crime since that is norma%/ C+t ,recise%#, it is in the ordinar# nat+re o* thin"s that dr+"s bein" i%%e"a%%# trans,orted are necessari%# hidden in containers and concea%ed *rom vie'/ Th+s, the o**icers co+%d reasonab%# ass+me, and not mere%# on a ho%%o' s+s,icion since the in*ormant 'as b# their side and had so in*ormed them, that the dr+"s 'ere in a,,e%%ant7s %+""a"e/ 0t 'o+%d obvio+s%# have been irres,onsib%e, i* no' do'nri"ht abs+rd +nder the circ+mstances, to reA+ire the constab%e to ado,t a ='ait and see> attit+de at the ris- o* event+a%%# %osin" the A+arr#/ 4ere, there 'ere s+**icient *acts antecedent to the search and seiL+re that, at the ,oint ,rior to the search 'ere a%read# constit+tive o* ,robab%e ca+se, and 'hich b# themse%ves co+%d ,ro,er%# create in the minds o* the o**icers a 'e%%1"ro+nded and reasonab%e be%ie* that a,,e%%ant 'as in the act o* vio%atin" the %a'/ The search #ie%ded a**irmance both o* that ,robab%e ca+se and the act+a%it# that a,,e%%ant 'as then act+a%%# committin" a crime b# i%%e"a%%# trans,ortin" ,rohibited dr+"s/ ?ith these attendant *acts, it is ine%+ctab%e that a,,e%%ant 'as ca+"ht in flagrante delicto, hence his arrest and the search o* his be%on"in"s 'itho+t the reA+isite 'arrant 'ere both <+sti*ied/ N100O
137

?hi%e conc+rrin" 'ith the ma<orit#, Mr/ )+stice Fit+" reserved his vote on the disc+ssion on the 'arrant%ess search bein" incidenta% to a %a'*+% arrest/ Mr/ )+stice (an"aniban, <oined b# Messrs/ )+stices Me%o and (+no, *i%ed a @e,arate $,inion/ A%tho+"h %i-e'ise conc+rrin" in the ma<orit#7s r+%in" that a,,e%%ant consented to the ins,ection o* his ba""a"e, )+stice (an"aniban disa"reed 'ith the conc%+sion that the 'arrant%ess search 'as incidenta% to a %a'*+% arrest/ 4e ar"+ed that <+ris,r+dence reA+ired ,ersona% -no'%ed"e on the ,art o* the o**icers ma-in" the in flagrante delicto arrest/ 0n 'ontilla, the a,,e%%ant =did not e8hibit an# overt act or stran"e cond+ct that 'o+%d reasonab%# aro+se in their minds s+s,icion that he 'as embar-in" on some *e%onio+s enter,rise/> .a' and <+ris,r+dence in *act reA+ire stricter "ro+nds *or va%id arrests and searches 'itho+t 'arrant than *or the iss+ance o* 'arrants there*ore/ 0n the *ormer, the arrestin" ,erson m+st have act+a%%# 'itnessed the crime bein" committed or attem,ted b# the ,erson so+"ht to be arrestedM or he m+st have ,ersona% -no'%ed"e o* *acts indicatin" that the ,erson to be arrested ,er,etrated the crime that had <+st occ+rred/ 0n the %atter case, the <+d"e sim,%# determines ,ersona%%# *rom testimonies o* 'itnesses that there e8ists reasonab%e "ro+nds to be%ieve that a crime 'as committed b# the acc+sed/ T/
145 146 147

To sa# that =re%iab%e ti,s> constit+te ,robab%e ca+se *or a 'arrant%ess arrest or search is in m# o,inion, a dan"ero+s ,recedent and ,%aces in "reat <eo,ard# the doctrines %aid do'n in man# decisions made b# this &o+rt, in its e**ort to Lea%o+s%# "+ard and ,rotect the sacred constit+tiona% ri"ht a"ainst +nreasonab%e arrests, searches and seiL+res/ 6ver#one 'o+%d be ,ractica%%# at the merc# o* so1ca%%ed in*ormants, reminiscent o* the ma-a,i%is d+rin" the )a,anese occ+,ation/ An# one 'hom the# ,oint o+t to a ,o%ice o**icer as a ,ossib%e vio%ator o* the %a' co+%d then be s+b<ect to search and ,ossib%e arrest/ This is ,%acin" %imit%ess ,o'er +,on in*ormants 'ho 'i%% no %on"er be reA+ired to a**irm +nder oath their acc+sations, *or the# can a%'a#s de%a# their "ivin" o* ti,s in order to <+sti*# 'arrant%ess arrests and searches/ 6ven %a' en*orcers can +se this as an o,,ressive too% to cond+ct searches 'itho+t 'arrants, *or the# can a%'a#s c%aim that the# received ra' inte%%i"ence in*ormation on%# on the da# or a*ternoon be*ore/ This 'o+%d c%ear%# be a circ+mvention o* the %e"a% reA+isites *or va%id%# e**ectin" an arrest or cond+ctin" a search and seiL+re/ 0ndeed the ma<orit#7s r+%in" 'o+%d o,en %oo,ho%es that 'o+%d a%%o' +nreasonab%e arrests, searches and seiL+res/ N101O
13

'ontilla 'o+%d short%# *ind mention in )+stice (an"aniban7s conc+rrin" o,inion in "eople v. @oria, supra, 'here this &o+rt r+%ed: Acc+sed1A,,e%%ant 2addao 'as arrested solely on the basis o* the a%%e"ed identi*ication made b# her co1 acc+sed/ ($: Man%an"it, ho'ever, dec%ared in his direct e8amination that a,,e%%ant ;oria named his co1 acc+sed in res,onse to his (($: Man%an"it7s) A+er# as to 'here the mar-ed money 'as/ A,,e%%ant ;oria did not ,oint to a,,e%%ant 2addao as his associate in the dr+" b+siness, b+t as the ,erson 'ith 'hom he %e*t the mar-ed bi%%s/ This identi*ication does not necessari%# %ead to the conc%+sion that a,,e%%ant 2addao cons,ired 'ith her co1acc+sed in ,+shin" dr+"s/ A,,e%%ant ;oria ma# have %e*t the mone# in her ho+se, 'ith or 'itho+t an# cons,irac#/ @ave *or acc+sed1a,,e%%ant ;oria7s 'ord, the Narcom a"ents had no sho'in" that the ,erson 'ho a**ected the 'arant%ess arrest had, in his o'n ri"ht, -no'%ed"e o* *acts im,%icatin" the ,erson arrested to the ,er,etration o* a crimina% o**ense, the arrest is %e"a%%# ob<ectionab%e/ N102O N0ta%ics in the ori"ina%/O
139

68,ressin" his accord 'ith Mr/ )+stice (+no7s ponencia, )+stice (an"aniban said that @oria =ri"ht*+%%# brin"s the &o+rt bac- to 'e%%1sett%ed doctrines on 'arrant%ess arrests and searches, 'hich have seemin"%# been modi*ied thro+"h an obiter in "eople v. Ruben 'ontilla/> N10:O
190

'ontilla, there*ore, has been seemin"%# discredited inso*ar as it sanctions searches incidenta% to %a'*+% arrest +nder simi%ar circ+mstances/ At an# rate, 'ontilla 'as a consented search/ As 'i%% be demonstrated %ater, the same co+%d not be said o* this case/ That %eaves the ,rosec+tion 'ith "eople v. >alde?, 'hich, ho'ever, invo%ved an =on1the1s,ot in*ormation/> The +r"enc# o* the circ+mstances, an e%ement not ,resent in this case, ,revented the arrestin" o**icer therein *rom obtainin" a 'arrant/ A,,e%%ants in this case 'ere neither ,er*ormin" an# overt act or actin" in a s+s,icio+s manner that 'o+%d hint that a crime has been, 'as bein", or 'as abo+t to be, committed/ 0* the arrestin" o**icers7 testimonies are to be be%ieved, a,,e%%ants 'ere mere%# he%,in" each other carr# a carton bo8/ A%tho+"h a,,e%%ant T+dt+d did a,,ear =a*raid and ,ers,irin",> N103O =,a%e> N109O and =tremb%in",> N106O this 'as on%# a*ter, not be*ore, he 'as as-ed to o,en the said bo8/
191 192 19:

0n no sense can the -no'%ed"e o* the herein arrestin" o**icers that a,,e%%ant T+dt+d 'as in ,ossession o* mari<+ana be described as =,ersona%,> havin" %earned the same on%# *rom their in*ormant @o%ier/ @o%ier, *or his ,art, testi*ied that he obtained his in*ormation on%# *rom his nei"hbors and the *riends o* a,,e%%ant T+dt+d:

148 149 150 151 152 153

R! ?hat 'as #o+r basis in #o+r re,ort to the ,o%ice that T+dt+d is "oin" to &otabato and "et stoc-s o* mari<+anaG A! Ceca+se o* the ,rotest o* m# nei"hbors 'ho 'ere sa#in" 'ho 'i%% be the ,erson 'ho+ NsicO 'o+%d ,oint to him beca+se he had been "ivin" tro+b%e to the nei"hborhood beca+se accordin" to them there are NsicO ,ro%i*eration o* mari<+ana in o+r ,%ace/ That 'as the com,%ained NsicO o* o+r nei"hbors/ R! A! 0nso*ar as the acc+sed T+dt+d is concerned 'hat 'as #o+r basis in re,ortin" him ,artic+%ar%#G 4is *riends 'ere the once 'ho to%d me abo+t it/

R! For ho' %on" have #o+ -no' NsicO this *act o* a%%e"ed activit# o* T+dt+d in ,ro%i*eration o* mari<+anaG A! T/ R! 5e"ardin" the re,ort that T+dt+d 'ent to &otabato to "et stoc-s o* mari<+ana 'hich %ed to his a,,rehension sometime in the evenin" o* A+"+st 1 and accordin" to the re,ort N'hichO is based on #o+r re,ort m# A+estion is, ho' did #o+ -no' that T+dt+d 'i%% be brin"in" a%on" 'ith him mari<+ana stoc-s on A+"+st 1, 1999G T/ A! Ceca+se o* the in*ormation o* his nei"hbor/
193

Abo+t a month/

N107O

0n other 'ords, @o%ier7s in*ormation itse%* is hearsa#/ 4e did not even e%aborate on ho' his nei"hbors or T+dt+d7s *riends acA+ired their in*ormation that T+dt+d 'as res,onsib%e *or the ,ro%i*eration o* dr+"s in their nei"hborhood/ 0ndeed, it a,,ears that ($1 F%oreta himse%* do+bted the re%iab%i%it# o* their in*ormant/ 4e testi*ied on cross1e8amination: R! A! R! A! Do+ mean to sa# that Cobot @o%ier, is not re%iab%eG 4e is tr+st'orth#/ ?h# NdidO #o+ not consider his in*ormation not re%iab%e i* he is re%iab%eG ('itness did not ans'er)/

ATTD/ &AQ6T6: Never mind, do not ans'er an#more/ That7s a%%/

199

N10 O

The ,rosec+tion, on re1direct e8amination, did not attem,t to e8tract an# e8,%anation *rom ($1 F%oreta *or his te%%in" si%ence/ &on*ronted 'ith s+ch a d+bio+s in*ormant, the ,o%ice ,erha,s *e%t it necessar# to cond+ct their o'n =s+rvei%%ance/> This =s+rvei%%ance,> it t+rns o+t, did not act+a%%# consist o* sta-in" o+t a,,e%%ant T+dt+d to catch him in the act o* ,%#in" his i%%e"a% trade, b+t o* a mere ="atherNin"O o* in*ormation *rom the assets there/> N109O The ,o%ice o**icers 'ho cond+cted s+ch =s+rvei%%ance> did not identi*# 'ho these =assets> 'ere or the basis o* the %atter7s in*ormation/ &%ear%#, s+ch in*ormation is a%so hearsa#, not o* ,ersona% -no'%ed"e/
196

154 155 156

Neither 'ere the arrestin" o**icers im,e%%ed b# an# +r"enc# that 'o+%d a%%o' them to do a'a# 'ith the reA+isite 'arrant, ($1 ;esierto7s assertions o* %ac- o* time N110O not'ithstandin"/ 5ecords sho' that the ,o%ice had am,%e o,,ort+nit# to a,,%# *or a 'arrant, havin" received @o%ier7s in*ormation at aro+nd 9:00 in the mornin"M T+dt+d, ho'ever, 'as e8,ected to arrive at aro+nd 6:00 in the evenin" o* the same da#/ N111O 0n "eople v. #ncinada, supra, the &o+rt r+%ed that there 'as s+**icient time to ,roc+re a 'arrant 'here the ,o%ice o**icers received at 3:00 in the a*ternoon an inte%%i"ence re,ort that the acc+sed, 'ho 'as s+,,osed%# carr#in" mari<+ana, 'o+%d arrive the ne8t mornin" at 7:00 a/m/:
197 19

6ven i* the in*ormation 'as received b# Co%onia abo+t 3:00 ,/m/ o* Ma# 20, 1992 at his ho+se, there 'as s+**icient time to sec+re a 'arrant o* arrest, as the MIF @'eet (ear% 'as not e8,ected to doc- +nti% 7:00 a/m/ the *o%%o'in" da#/ Administrative &irc+%ar No/ 1: a%%o's a,,%ication *or search 'arrants even a*ter o**ice ho+rs: =:/ 5a**%in" sha%% be strict%# en*orced, e8ce,t on%# in case 'here an a,,%ication *or search 'arrant ma# be *i%ed direct%# 'ith an# <+d"e 'hose <+risdiction the ,%ace to be searched is %ocated, after office hours, or during 7aturdays, 7undays, and legal holidays, in 'hich case the a,,%icant is reA+ired to certi*# +nder oath the +r"enc# o* the iss+ance thereo* a*ter o**ice ho+rs, or d+rin" @at+rda#s, @+nda#s and %e"a% ho%ida#sM> / / // The same ,roced+ra% dis,atch *inds va%idation and reiteration in &irc+%ar No/ 19, series o* 19 7, entit%ed =Amended 2+ide%ines and (roced+res on A,,%ication *or search 'arrants *or 0%%e"a% (ossession o* Firearms and $ther @erio+s &rimes Fi%ed in Metro Mani%a &o+rts and $ther &o+rts 'ith M+%ti,%e @a%as>: =This &o+rt has received re,orts o* de%a# 'hi%e a'aitin" ra**%e, in actin" on a,,%ications *or search 'arrants in the cam,ai"n a"ainst %oose *irearms and other serio+s crimes a**ectin" ,eace and order/ There is a need *or ,rom,t action on s+ch a,,%ications *or search 'arrant/ Accordin"%#, these amended "+ide%ines in the iss+ance o* a search 'arrant are iss+ed: 1/ A%% a,,%ications *or search 'arrants re%atin" to vio%ation o* the Anti1s+bversion Act, crimes a"ainst ,+b%ic order as de*ined in the 5evised (ena% &ode, as amended, i%%e"a% ,ossession o* *irearms andIor amm+nition and vio%ations o* the ;an"ero+s ;r+"s Act o* 1972, as amended, sha%% no %on"er be ra**%ed and sha%% immediate%# be ta-en co"niLance o* and acted +,on b# the 68ec+tive )+d"e o* the 5e"iona% Tria% &o+rt, Metro,o%itan Tria% &o+rt, and M+nici,a% Tria% &o+rt +nder 'hose <+risdiction the ,%ace to be searched is %ocated/ 2/ 0n the absence o* the 68ec+tive )+d"e, the >ice #!ecutive /udge sha%% ta-e co"niLance o* and personally act on the same/ 0n the absence o* the 68ec+tive )+d"e or Fice168ec+tive )+d"e, the a,,%ication ma# be ta-en co"niLance o* and acted +,on b# any <+d"e o* the &o+rt 'here a,,%ication is *i%ed/ :/ A,,%ications *i%ed after office hours, during 7aturdays, 7undays and holidays, shall likewise be taken cogni?ance of and acted upon by any 8udge of the Court having 8urisdiction of the place to be searched, b+t in s+ch cases the a,,%icant sha%% certi*# and state the *acts +nder oath, to the satis*action o* the <+d"e, that its iss+ance is +r"ent/ 3/ An# <+d"e actin" on s+ch a,,%ication sha%% immediate%# and 'itho+t de%a# ,ersona%%# cond+ct the e8amination o* the a,,%icant and his 'itnesses to ,revent the ,ossib%e %ea-a"e o* in*ormation/ 4e sha%% observe the ,roced+res, sa*e"+ards, and "+ide%ines *or the iss+ance o* search 'arrants ,rovided *or in this &o+rt7s Administrative &irc+%ar No/ 1:, dated $ctober 1, 19 9/> N112O N0ta%ics in the ori"ina%/O
199

2iven that the ,o%ice had adeA+ate time to obtain the 'arrant, ($1 F%oreta7s testimon# that the rea% reason *or their omission 'as their be%ie* that the# %ac-ed s+**icient basis to obtain the same ass+mes "reater si"ni*icance/ This 'as ($1 F%oreta7s *ami%iar re*rain: R! ?hen @o%ier re,orted to #o+ that *act, that T+dt+d 'i%% be comin" *rom &otabato to "et that (sic) stoc-s, #o+ did not "o to co+rt to "et a search 'arrant on the basis o* the re,ort o* Cobot @o%ierG
157 158 159

A! R! A!

No/ ?h#G Ceca+se 'e have no rea% basis to sec+re the search 'arrant/

R! ?hen #o+ have no rea% basis to sec+re a search 'arrant, #o+ have a%so no rea% basis to search T+dt+d and C+%on" at that timeG A! T/ R! A! R! A! R! A! R! A! R! A! R! A! And Cobot @o%ier to%d #o+ that T+dt+d, that he 'o+%d a%read# brin" mari<+anaG Des, sir/ And this 'as 9:00 a/m/G Des, sir/ The arriva% o* T+dt+d 'as e8,ected at 6:00 ,/m/G Des, sir/ Tori% is <+st 16 -i%ometers *rom ;avao &it#G Des, sir/ And the $**ice o* the 5e"iona% Tria% &o+rt is on%# abo+t 16 -i%ometers, is that correctG Des, sir/ And it can be ne"otiated b# thirt# min+tes b# a <ee, rideG Des, sir/ Des, sir/

R! And #o+ can as-ed NsicO the assistance o* an# ,rosec+tor to a,,%# *or the search 'arrant or the ,rosec+tor do NsicO not assistG A! R! A! The# he%,/ C+t #o+ did not come to ;avao &it#, to as-ed NsicO *or a search 'arrantG As 0 said, 'e do not have s+**icient basis/
160

N11:O

0t ma# be conceded that =the mere s+b<ective conc%+sions o* a ,o%ice o**icer concernin" the e8istence o* ,robab%e ca+se is not bindin" on Nthe co+rtsO 'hich m+st inde,endent%# scr+tiniLe the ob<ective *acts to determine the e8istence o* ,robab%e ca+se> and that =a co+rt ma# a%so *ind ,robab%e ca+se in s,ite o* an o**icer7s <+d"ment that none e8ists/> N113O 4o'ever, the *act that the arrestin" o**icers *e%t that the# did not have s+**icient basis to obtain a 'arrant, des,ite their o'n in*ormation1"atherin" e**orts, raises serio+s A+estions 'hether s+ch =s+rvei%%ance> act+a%%# #ie%ded an# ,ertinent in*ormation and even 'hether the# act+a%%# cond+cted an# in*ormation1"atherin" at a%%, thereb# erodin" an# c%aim to ,ersona% -no'%ed"e/
161

Fina%%#, there is an e**ective 'aiver o* ri"hts a"ainst +nreasonab%e searches and seiL+res i* the *o%%o'in" reA+isites are ,resent: 1/
160 161

0t m+st a,,ear that the ri"hts e8istM

2/ :/

The ,erson invo%ved had -no'%ed"e, act+a% or constr+ctive, o* the e8istence o* s+ch ri"htM @aid ,erson had an act+a% intention to re%inA+ish the ri"ht/
162

N119O

4ere, the ,rosec+tion *ai%ed to estab%ish the second and third reA+isites/ 5ecords disc%ose that 'hen the ,o%ice o**icers introd+ced themse%ves as s+ch and reA+ested a,,e%%ant that the# see the contents o* the carton bo8 s+,,osed%# containin" the mari<+ana, a,,e%%ant T+dt+d said =it 'as a%ri"ht/> 4e did not resist and o,ened the bo8 himse%*/ The *+ndamenta% %a' and <+ris,r+dence reA+ire more than the ,resence o* these circ+mstances to constit+te a va%id 'aiver o* the constit+tiona% ri"ht a"ainst +nreasonab%e searches and seiL+res/ &o+rts ind+%"e ever# reasonab%e ,res+m,tion a"ainst 'aiver o* *+ndamenta% constit+tiona% ri"htsM acA+iescence in the %oss o* *+ndamenta% ri"hts is not to be ,res+med/ N116O The *act that a ,erson *ai%ed to ob<ect to a search does not amo+nt to ,ermission thereto/
16:

T/ As the constit+tiona% "+arant# is not de,endent +,on an# a**irmative act o* the citiLen, the co+rts do not ,%ace the citiLen in the ,osition o* either contestin" an o**icer7s a+thorit# b# *orce, or 'aivin" his constit+tiona% ri"htsM b+t instead the# ho%d that a ,eace*+% s+bmission to a search or seiL+re is not a consent or an invitation thereto, b+t is mere%# a demonstration o* re"ard *or the s+,remac# o* the %a'/ N117O NBnderscorin" s+,,%ied/O
163

Th+s, even in cases 'here the acc+sed vo%+ntari%# handed her ba" N11 O or the chairs N119O containin" mari<+ana to the arrestin" o**icer, this &o+rt he%d there 'as no va%id consent to the search/
169 166

$n the other hand, beca+se a 'arrant%ess search is in dero"ation o* a constit+tiona% ri"ht, ,eace o**icers 'ho cond+ct it cannot invo-e re"+%arit# in the ,er*ormance o* o**icia% *+nctions and shi*t to the acc+sed the b+rden o* ,rovin" that the search 'as +nconsented/ N120O
167

0n an# case, an# ,res+m,tion in *avor o* re"+%arit# 'o+%d be severe%# diminished b# the a%%e"ation o* a,,e%%ants in this case that the arrestin" o**icers ,ointed a "+n at them be*ore as-in" them to o,en the s+b<ect bo8/ A,,e%%ant T+dt+d testi*ied as *o%%o's: R! This ,erson 'ho a,,roached #o+ accordin" to #o+ ,ointed somethin" at #o+N/O N?hatO 'as that somethin"G A! R! A : ca%/ 5evo%ver/ 4o' did he ,oint it at #o+G

A! .i-e this (?itness demonstratin" as i* ,ointin" 'ith his t'o arms ho%din" somethin" to'ards somebod#)/ R! A! R! A! R!
162 163 164 165 166 167

This manN,O 'hat did he te%% #o+ 'hen he ,ointed a "+n at #o+G 4e said do not r+n/ ?hat did #o+ doG 0 raised m# hands and said =@ir, 'hat is this abo+tG> ?h# did #o+ ca%% him @irG

A! R! A! R! A! T R! A! R! A! R! A!

0 'as a*raid beca+se 'hen somebod# is ho%din" a "+n, 0 am a*raid/ (recise%#, 'h# did #o+ address him as @irG Ceca+se he 'as ho%din" a "+n and 0 be%ieved that somebod# 'ho is carr#in" a "+n is a ,o%iceman/ ?hen #o+ as-ed him 'hat is thisG ?hat did he sa#G 4e said =0 'o+%d %i-e to ins,ect 'hat #o+ are carr#in"/N>O

?hat did #o+ sa# 'hen #o+ 'ere as-ed to o,en that carton bo8G 0 to%d him that is not mine/ ?hat did this man sa#G 4e a"ain ,ointed to me his revo%ver and a"ain said to o,en/ ?hat did #o+ doG @o 0 ,roceeded to o,en *or *ear o* bein" shot/
16

N121O

A,,e%%ants7 im,%ied acA+iescence, i* at a%%, co+%d not have been more than mere ,assive con*ormit# "iven +nder coercive or intimidatin" circ+mstances and is, th+s, considered no consent at a%% 'ithin the ,+rvie' o* the constit+tiona% "+arantee/ N122O &onseA+ent%#, a,,e%%ants7 %ac- o* ob<ection to the search and seiL+re is not tantamo+nt to a 'aiver o* his constit+tiona% ri"ht or a vo%+ntar# s+bmission to the 'arrant%ess search and seiL+re/ N12:O
169 170

As the search o* a,,e%%ants7 bo8 does not come +nder the reco"niLed e8ce,tions to a va%id 'arrant%ess search, the mari<+ana %eaves obtained thereb# are inadmissib%e in evidence/ And as there is no evidence other than the hearsa# testimon# o* the arrestin" o**icers and their in*ormant, the conviction o* a,,e%%ants cannot be s+stained/ The Ci%% o* 5i"hts is the bedroc- o* constit+tiona% "overnment/ 0* ,eo,%e are stri,,ed na-ed o* their ri"hts as h+man bein"s, democrac# cannot s+rvive and "overnment becomes meanin"%ess/ This e8,%ains 'h# the Ci%% o* 5i"hts, contained as it is in Artic%e 000 o* the &onstit+tion, occ+,ies a ,osition o* ,rimac# in the *+ndamenta% %a' 'a# above the artic%es on "overnmenta% ,o'er/ N123O
171

The ri"ht a"ainst +nreasonab%e search and seiL+re in t+rn is at the to, o* the hierarch# o* ri"hts, N129O ne8t on%# to, i* not on the same ,%ane as, the ri"ht to %i*e, %ibert# and ,ro,ert#, 'hich is ,rotected b# the d+e ,rocess c%a+se/ N126O This is as it sho+%d be *or, as stressed b# a co+,%e o* noted *reedom advocates, N127O the ri"ht to ,ersona% sec+rit# 'hich, a%on" 'ith the ri"ht to ,rivac#, is the *o+ndation o* the ri"ht a"ainst +nreasonab%e search and seiL+re =inc%+des the ri"ht to e8ist, and the ri"ht to en<o#ment o* %i*e 'hi%e e8istin"/> 6m,hasiLin" s+ch ri"ht, this &o+rt dec%ared in "eople v. &ruta:
172 17: 173

Bnreasonab%e searches and seiL+res are the menace a"ainst 'hich the constit+tiona% "+arantees a**ord *+%% ,rotection/ ?hi%e the ,o'er to search and seiLe ma# at times be necessar# to the ,+b%ic 'e%*are, sti%% it ma# be e8ercised and the %a' en*orced 'itho+t trans"ressin" the constit+tiona% ri"hts o* the citiLens, *or
168 169 170 171 172 173 174

the en*orcement o* no stat+te is o* s+**icient im,ortance to <+sti*# indi**erence to the basic ,rinci,%es o* "overnment/ Those 'ho are s+,,osed to en*orce the %a' are not <+sti*ied in disre"ardin" the ri"hts o* the individ+a% in the name o* order/ $rder is too hi"h a ,rice to ,a# *or the %oss o* %ibert#/ As )+stice 4o%mes dec%ared: =0 thin- it is %ess evi% that some crimina%s esca,e than that the "overnment sho+%d ,%a# an i"nob%e ,art/> 0t is sim,%# not a%%o'ed in *ree societ# to vio%ate a %a' to en*orce another, es,ecia%%# i* the %a' vio%ated is the &onstit+tion itse%*/ N12 O
179

Th+s, "iven a choice bet'een %ettin" s+s,ected crimina%s esca,e or %ettin" the "overnment ,%a# an i"nob%e ,art, the ans'er, to this &o+rt, is c%ear and ine%+ctab%e/ HEREFORE, the ;ecision o* the 5e"iona% Tria% &o+rt o* ;avao &it# is 56F65@6;/ A,,e%%ants Noe% T+dt+d y (a#,a and ;indo Co%on" y Naret are hereb# A&RB0TT6; *or ins+**icienc# o* evidence/ The ;irector o* the C+rea+ o* (risons is ordered to ca+se the immediate re%ease o* a,,e%%ants *rom con*inement, +n%ess the# are bein" he%d *or some other %a'*+% ca+se, and to re,ort to this &o+rt com,%iance here'ith 'ithin *ive (9) da#s *rom recei,t hereo*/ @$ $5;656;/ AD$ F@/ &406F $F ($.0&6 $F MAN0.A 0 (40. 99 (193 ) FA&T@: B,on com,%aint o* one Cernardino Ma%inao, char"in" the ,etitioners 'ith havin" committed the crime o* robber#, Cen<amin ;+m%ao, a ,o%iceman o* the &it# o* Mani%a, arrested the ,etitioners on A,ri% 2, 193 , and ,resented a com,%aint a"ainst them 'ith the *isca%[s o**ice o* Mani%a/ Bnti% A,ri% 7, 193 , the ,etitioners 'ere sti%% detained or +nder aarest, and the cit# *isca% had not #et re%eased or *i%ed a"ainst them an in*ormation 'ith the ,ro,er co+rt o* <+stice/ 0@@B6: ?hether or not ,etitioners had been i%%e"a%%# restrained o* their %ibert#G 5B.0N2: Des/ (etitioners are bein" i%%e"a%%# restrained o* their %ibert#, and their re%ease is hereb# ordered +n%ess the# are no' detained b# virt+e o* a ,rocess iss+ed b# a com,etent co+rt o* <+stice/ Artic%e 129 o* the 5evised (ena% &ode ,rovides that =the ,ena%ties ,rovided in the ne8t ,recedin" artic%e sha%% be im,osed +,on the ,+b%ic o**icer or em,%o#ee 'ho sha%% detain an# ,erson *or some %e"a% "ro+nd and sha%% *ai% to de%iver s+ch ,erson to the ,ro,er <+dicia% a+thorities 'ithin the ,eriod o* si8 ho+rs/> (o%iceman ;+m%ao ma# have acted in "ood *aith in be%ievin" that he had com,%ied 'ith the mandate o* artic%e 129 b# de%iverin" the ,etitioners 'ithin si8 ho+rs to the o**ice o* the cit# *isca%, and the %atter ma# have i"nored the *act that the ,etitioners 'ere bein" act+a%%# detained 'hen said ,o%iceman *i%ed a com,%aint a"ainst them 'ith the cit# *isca%/

!" vs s'+ro

175

Fa+ts0 (at/ F+%"encio 'ent to Ar%ie 5e"a%ado7s ho+se at &/ R+im,o to monitor activities o* 6dison @B&5$ (acc+sed)/ @+cro 'as re,orted to be se%%in" mari<+ana at a cha,e% 2 meters a'a# *rom 5e"a%ado7s ho+se/ @+cro 'as monitored to have ta%-ed and e8chan"ed thin"s three times/ These activities are re,orted thro+"h radio to (I.t/ @eras,i/ A third b+#er 'as transactin" 'ith a,,e%%ant and 'as re,orted and %ater identi*ied as 5onnie Macabante/ From that moment, (I.t/@eras,i ,roceeded to the area/ ?hi%e the ,o%ice o**icers 'ere at the Do+th 4oste% in Maa"ama @t/ F+%"encio to%d .t/ @eras,i to interce,t/ Macabante 'as interce,ted at Mabini and Maa"ama crossin" in *ront o* A-%an Medica% center/ Macabante sa' the ,o%ice and thre' a tea ba" o* mari<+ana on the "ro+nd/ Macabante admitted b+#in" the mari<+ana *rom @+cro in *ront o* the cha,e%/ The ,o%ice team interce,ted and arrested @B&5$ at the corner o* &/ R+im,o and Feterans/ 5ecovered 'ere 19 stic-s and 3 teaba"s o* mari<+ana *rom a cart inside the cha,e% and another teaba" *rom Macabante/

Iss'es0 (1) ?hether or Not arrest 'itho+t 'arrant is %a'*+%/ (2) ?hether or Not evidence *rom s+ch arrest is admissib%e/

Hel,0 @earch and seiL+res s+,,orted b# a va%id 'arrant o* arrest is not an abso%+te r+%e/ 5+%e 126, @ec 12 o* 5+%es o* &rimina% (roced+re ,rovides that a ,erson %a'*+%%# arrested ma# be searched *or dan"ero+s 'ea,ons or an#thin", 'hich ma# be +sed as ,roo* o* the commission o* an o**ense, 'itho+t a search 'arrant/((eo,%e v/ &asti%%er) The *ai%+re o* the ,o%ice o**icers to sec+re a 'arrant stems *rom the *act that their -no'%ed"e reA+ired *rom the s+rvei%%ance 'as ins+**icient to *+%*i%% reA+irements *or its iss+ance/ 4o'ever, 'arant%ess search and seiL+res are %e"a% as %on" as !RO1A1LE CA2SE e8isted/ The ,o%ice o**icers have ,ersona% -no'%ed"e o* the act+a% commission o* the crime *rom the s+rvei%%ance o* the activities o* the acc+sed/ As ,o%ice o**icers 'ere the ones cond+ctin" the s+rvei%%ance, it is ,res+med that the# are re"+%ar%# in ,er*ormance o* their d+ties/

G.R. No. 1345%)

A'g'st *, %616

!EO!LE OF THE !HILI!!INES, A,,e%%ee, vs/ &AC7 RACHO ( RA82ERO, A,,e%%ant/ ;6&0@0$N NACH2RA, J.: $n a,,ea% is the &o+rt o* A,,ea%s (&A) ;ecision1 dated Ma# 22, 200 in &A12/5/ &514/&/ No/ 00329 a**irmin" the 5e"iona% Tria% &o+rt2 (5T&) )oint ;ecision: dated )+%# , 2003 *indin" a,,e%%ant )ac- 5acho # 5aA+ero "+i%t# be#ond reasonab%e do+bt o* Fio%ation o* @ection 9, Artic%e 00 o* 5e,+b%ic Act (5/A/) No/ 9169/ The case stemmed *rom the *o%%o'in" *acts: $n Ma# 19, 200:, a con*identia% a"ent o* the ,o%ice transacted thro+"h ce%%+%ar ,hone 'ith a,,e%%ant *or the ,+rchase o* shab+/ The a"ent %ater re,orted the transaction to the ,o%ice a+thorities 'ho immediate%# *ormed a team com,osed o* member o* the (hi%i,,ine ;r+" 6n*orcement A"enc# ((;6A), the 0nte%%i"ence "ro+, o* the (hi%i,,ine Arm# and the %oca% ,o%ice *orce to a,,rehend the a,,e%%ant/3 The a"ent "ave the ,o%ice a,,e%%ant7s name, to"ether 'ith his ,h#sica% descri,tion/ 4e a%so ass+red them that a,,e%%ant 'o+%d arrive in Ca%er, A+rora the *o%%o'in" da#/ $n Ma# 20, 200:, at 11:00 a/m/, a,,e%%ant ca%%ed +, the a"ent and in*ormed him that he 'as on board a 2enesis b+s and 'o+%d arrive in Ca%er, A+rora, an#time o* the da# 'earin" a red and 'hite stri,ed T1shirt/ The team members then ,osted themse%ves a%on" the nationa% hi"h'a# in Ca%er, A+rora/ At aro+nd ::00 ,/m/ o* the same da#, a 2enesis b+s arrived in Ca%er/ ?hen a,,e%%ant a%i"hted *rom the b+s, the con*identia% a"ent ,ointed to him as the ,erson he transacted 'ith ear%ier/ 4avin" a%i"hted *rom the b+s, a,,e%%ant stood near the hi"h'a# and 'aited *or a tric#c%e that 'o+%d brin" him to his *ina% destination/ As

a,,e%%ant 'as abo+t to board a tric#c%e, the team a,,roached him and invited him to the ,o%ice station on s+s,icion o* carr#in" shab+/ A,,e%%ant immediate%# denied the acc+sation, b+t as he ,+%%ed o+t his hands *rom his ,ants7 ,oc-et, a 'hite enve%o,e s%i,,ed there*rom 'hich, 'hen o,ened, #ie%ded a sma%% sachet containin" the s+s,ected dr+"/9 The team then bro+"ht a,,e%%ant to the ,o%ice station *or investi"ation/ The con*iscated s,ecimen 'as t+rned over to (o%ice 0ns,ector 5o"e%io @arenas ;e Fera 'ho mar-ed it 'ith his initia%s and 'ith a,,e%%ant7s name/ The *ie%d test and %aborator# e8aminations on the contents o* the con*iscated sachet #ie%ded ,ositive res+%ts *or metham,hetamine h#droch%oride/6 A,,e%%ant 'as char"ed in t'o se,arate 0n*ormations, one *or vio%ation o* @ection 9 o* 5/A/ 9169, *or trans,ortin" or de%iverin"M and the second, o* @ection 11 o* the same %a' *or ,ossessin", dan"ero+s dr+"s, the acc+sator# ,ortions o* 'hich read: YThat at abo+t ::00 o7c%oc- (sic) in the a*ternoon on Ma# 20, 200: in Ca%er, A+rora and 'ithin the <+risdiction o* this 4onorab%e &o+rt, the said acc+sed, did then and there, +n%a'*+%%#, *e%onio+s%# and 'i%%*+%%# have in his ,ossession *ive ,oint Lero one (9/01) Nor 3/93O "rams o* Metham,hetamine 4#droch%oride common%# -no'n as Y@hab+Y, a re"+%ated dr+" 'itho+t an# ,ermit or %icense *rom the ,ro,er a+thorities to ,ossess the same/ &$NT5A5D T$ .A?/Y7 YThat at abo+t ::00 o7c%oc- (sic) in the a*ternoon on Ma# 20, 200: in Ca%er, A+rora, the said acc+sed did then and there, +n%a'*+%%#, *e%onio+s%# and 'i%%*+%%# trans,ortin" or de%iverin" dan"ero+s dr+" o* 9/01 Nor 3/93O "rams o* shab+ 'itho+t an# ,ermit or %icense *rom the ,ro,er a+thorities to trans,ort the same/ &$NT5A5D T$ .A?/Y ;+rin" the arrai"nment, a,,e%%ant ,%eaded YNot 2+i%t#Y to both char"es/ At the tria%, a,,e%%ant denied %iabi%it# and c%aimed that he 'ent to Ca%er, A+rora to visit his brother to in*orm him abo+t their ai%in" *ather/ 4e maintained that the char"es a"ainst him 'ere *a%se and that no shab+ 'as ta-en *rom him/ As to the circ+mstances o* his arrest, he e8,%ained that the ,o%ice o**icers, thro+"h their van, b%oc-ed the tric#c%e he 'as ridin" inM *orced him to a%i"htM bro+"ht him to @ea CreeLe .od"eM stri,,ed his c%othes and +nder'earM then bro+"ht him to the ,o%ice station *or investi"ation/9 $n )+%# , 2003, the 5T& rendered a )oint )+d"ment10 convictin" a,,e%%ant o* Fio%ation o* @ection 9, Artic%e 00, 5/A/ 9169 and sentencin" him to s+**er the ,ena%t# o* %i*e im,risonment and to ,a# a *ine o* (900,000/00M b+t acA+itted him o* the char"e o* Fio%ation o* @ection 11, Artic%e 00, 5/A/ 9169/ $n a,,ea%, the &A a**irmed the 5T& decision/11 4ence, the ,resent a,,ea%/ 0n his brie*,12 a,,e%%ant attac-s the credibi%it# o* the 'itnesses *or the ,rosec+tion/ 4e %i-e'ise avers that the ,rosec+tion *ai%ed to estab%ish the identit# o* the con*iscated dr+" beca+se o* the team7s *ai%+re to marthe s,ecimen immediate%# a*ter seiL+re/ 0n his s+,,%ementa% brie*, a,,e%%ant assai%s, *or the *irst time, the %e"a%it# o* his arrest and the va%idit# o* the s+bseA+ent 'arrant%ess search/ 4e A+estions the admissibi%it# o* the con*iscated sachet on the "ro+nd that it 'as the *r+it o* the ,oisono+s tree/ The a,,ea% is meritorio+s/ ?e have re,eated%# he%d that the tria% co+rt7s eva%+ation o* the credibi%it# o* 'itnesses and their testimonies is entit%ed to "reat res,ect and 'i%% not be dist+rbed on a,,ea%/ 4o'ever, this is not a hard and *ast r+%e/ ?e have revie'ed s+ch *act+a% *indin"s 'hen there is a sho'in" that the tria% <+d"e over%oo-ed, mis+nderstood, or misa,,%ied some *act or circ+mstance o* 'ei"ht and s+bstance that 'o+%d have a**ected the case/1: A,,e%%ant *oc+ses his a,,ea% on the va%idit# o* his arrest and the search and seiL+re o* the sachet o* shab+ and, conseA+ent%#, the admissibi%it# o* the sachet/ 0t is note'orth# that a%tho+"h the circ+mstances o* his arrest 'ere brie*%# disc+ssed b# the 5T&, the va%idit# o* the arrest and search and the admissibi%it# o* the evidence a"ainst a,,e%%ant 'ere not sA+are%# raised b# the %atter and th+s, 'ere not r+%ed +,on b# the tria% and a,,e%%ate co+rts/

0t is 'e%%1sett%ed that an a,,ea% in a crimina% case o,ens the 'ho%e case *or revie'/9avvphi9 This &o+rt is c%othed 'ith am,%e a+thorit# to revie' matters, even those not raised on a,,ea%, i* 'e *ind them necessar# in arrivin" at a <+st dis,osition o* the case/ 6ver# circ+mstance in *avor o* the acc+sed sha%% be considered/ This is in -ee,in" 'ith the constit+tiona% mandate that ever# acc+sed sha%% be ,res+med innocent +n%ess his "+i%t is ,roven be#ond reasonab%e do+bt/13 A*ter a thoro+"h revie' o* the records o* the case and *or reasons that 'i%% be disc+ssed be%o', 'e *ind that a,,e%%ant can no %on"er A+estion the va%idit# o* his arrest, b+t the sachet o* shab+ seiLed *rom him d+rin" the 'arrant%ess search is inadmissib%e in evidence a"ainst him/ The records sho' that a,,e%%ant never ob<ected to the irre"+%arit# o* his arrest be*ore his arrai"nment/ 0n *act, this is the *irst time that he raises the iss+e/ &onsiderin" this %a,se, co+,%ed 'ith his active ,artici,ation in the tria% o* the case, 'e m+st abide 'ith <+ris,r+dence 'hich dictates that a,,e%%ant, havin" vo%+ntari%# s+bmitted to the <+risdiction o* the tria% co+rt, is deemed to have 'aived his ri"ht to A+estion the va%idit# o* his arrest, th+s c+rin" 'hatever de*ect ma# have attended his arrest/ The %e"a%it# o* the arrest a**ects on%# the <+risdiction o* the co+rt over his ,erson/ A,,e%%ant7s 'arrant%ess arrest there*ore cannot, in itse%*, be the basis o* his acA+itta%/ 19 As to the admissibi%it# o* the seiLed dr+" in evidence, it is necessar# *or +s to ascertain 'hether or not the search 'hich #ie%ded the a%%e"ed contraband 'as %a'*+%/16 The 19 7 &onstit+tion states that a search and conseA+ent seiL+re m+st be carried o+t 'ith a <+dicia% 'arrantM other'ise, it becomes +nreasonab%e and an# evidence obtained there*rom sha%% be inadmissib%e *or an# ,+r,ose in an# ,roceedin"/17 @aid ,roscri,tion, ho'ever, admits o* e8ce,tions, name%#: 1/ ?arrant%ess search incidenta% to a %a'*+% arrestM 2/ @earch o* evidence in Y,%ain vie'MY :/ @earch o* a movin" vehic%eM 3/ &onsented 'arrant%ess searchM 9/ &+stoms searchM 6/ @to, and Fris-M and 7/ 68i"ent and emer"enc# circ+mstances/1 ?hat constit+tes a reasonab%e or +nreasonab%e 'arrant%ess search or seiL+re is ,+re%# a <+dicia% A+estion, determinab%e *rom the +niA+eness o* the circ+mstances invo%ved, inc%+din" the ,+r,ose o* the search or seiL+re, the ,resence or absence o* ,robab%e ca+se, the manner in 'hich the search and seiL+re 'as made, the ,%ace or thin" searched, and the character o* the artic%es ,roc+red/19 The 5T& conc%+ded that a,,e%%ant 'as ca+"ht in *%a"rante de%icto, dec%arin" that he 'as ca+"ht in the act o* act+a%%# committin" a crime or attem,tin" to commit a crime in the ,resence o* the a,,rehendin" o**icers as he arrived in Ca%er, A+rora brin"in" 'ith him a sachet o* shab+/20 &onseA+ent%#, the 'arrant%ess search 'as considered va%id as it 'as deemed an incident to the %a'*+% arrest/ 5ecent <+ris,r+dence ho%ds that in searches incident to a %a'*+% arrest, the arrest m+st ,recede the searchM "enera%%#, the ,rocess cannot be reversed/ Neverthe%ess, a search s+bstantia%%# contem,oraneo+s 'ith an arrest can ,recede the arrest i* the ,o%ice have ,robab%e ca+se to ma-e the arrest at the o+tset o* the search/21 Th+s, "iven the *act+a% mi%ie+ o* the case, 'e have to determine 'hether the ,o%ice o**icers had ,robab%e ca+se to arrest a,,e%%ant/ A%tho+"h ,robab%e ca+se e%+des e8act and concrete de*inition, it ordinari%# si"ni*ies a reasonab%e "ro+nd o* s+s,icion s+,,orted b# circ+mstances s+**icient%# stron" in themse%ves to 'arrant a ca+tio+s man to be%ieve that the ,erson acc+sed is "+i%t# o* the o**ense 'ith 'hich he is char"ed/22 The determination o* the e8istence or absence o* ,robab%e ca+se necessitates a ree8amination o* the estab%ished *acts/ $n Ma# 19, 200:, a con*identia% a"ent o* the ,o%ice transacted thro+"h ce%%+%ar ,hone 'ith a,,e%%ant *or the ,+rchase o* shab+/ The a"ent re,orted the transaction to the ,o%ice a+thorities 'ho immediate%# *ormed a team to a,,rehend the a,,e%%ant/ $n Ma# 20, 200:, at 11:00 a/m/, a,,e%%ant ca%%ed

+, the a"ent 'ith the in*ormation that he 'as on board a 2enesis b+s and 'o+%d arrive in Ca%er, A+rora an#time o* the da# 'earin" a red and 'hite stri,ed T1shirt/ The team members ,osted themse%ves a%on" the nationa% hi"h'a# in Ca%er, A+rora, and at aro+nd ::00 ,/m/ o* the same da#, a 2enesis b+s arrived in Ca%er/ ?hen a,,e%%ant a%i"hted *rom the b+s, the con*identia% a"ent ,ointed to him as the ,erson he transacted 'ith, and 'hen the %atter 'as abo+t to board a tric#c%e, the team a,,roached him and invited him to the ,o%ice station as he 'as s+s,ected o* carr#in" shab+/ ?hen he ,+%%ed o+t his hands *rom his ,ants7 ,oc-et, a 'hite enve%o,e s%i,,ed there*rom 'hich, 'hen o,ened, #ie%ded a sma%% sachet containin" the s+s,ected dr+"/2: The team then bro+"ht a,,e%%ant to the ,o%ice station *or investi"ation and the con*iscated s,ecimen 'as mar-ed in the ,resence o* a,,e%%ant/ The *ie%d test and %aborator# e8aminations on the contents o* the con*iscated sachet #ie%ded ,ositive res+%ts *or metham,hetamine h#droch%oride/ &%ear%#, 'hat ,rom,ted the ,o%ice to a,,rehend a,,e%%ant, even 'itho+t a 'arrant, 'as the ti, "iven b# the in*ormant that a,,e%%ant 'o+%d arrive in Ca%er, A+rora carr#in" shab+/ This circ+mstance "ives rise to another A+estion: 'hether that in*ormation, b# itse%*, is s+**icient ,robab%e ca+se to e**ect a va%id 'arrant%ess arrest/ The %on" standin" r+%e in this <+risdiction is that Yre%iab%e in*ormationY a%one is not s+**icient to <+sti*# a 'arrant%ess arrest/ The r+%e reA+ires, in addition, that the acc+sed ,er*orm some overt act that 'o+%d indicate that he has committed, is act+a%%# committin", or is attem,tin" to commit an o**ense/23 ?e *ind no co"ent reason to de,art *rom this 'e%%1estab%ished doctrine/ The instant case is simi%ar to (eo,%e v/ Ar+ta,29 (eo,%e v/ T+dt+d,26 and (eo,%e v/ N+evas/27 0n (eo,%e v/ Ar+ta, a ,o%ice o**icer 'as ti,,ed o** b# his in*ormant that a certain YA%in" 5osaY 'o+%d be arrivin" *rom Ca"+io &it# the *o%%o'in" da# 'ith a %ar"e vo%+me o* mari<+ana/ Actin" on said ti,, the ,o%ice assemb%ed a team and de,%o#ed themse%ves near the (hi%i,,ine Nationa% Can- ((NC) in $%on"a,o &it#/ ?hi%e th+s ,ositioned, a Fictor# .iner C+s sto,,ed in *ront o* the (NC b+i%din" 'here t'o *ema%es and a man "ot o**/ The in*ormant then ,ointed to the team members the 'oman, YA%in" 5osa,Y 'ho 'as then carr#in" a trave%in" ba"/ Therea*ter, the team a,,roached her and introd+ced themse%ves/ ?hen as-ed abo+t the contents o* her ba", she handed it to the a,,rehendin" o**icers/ B,on ins,ection, the ba" 'as *o+nd to contain dried mari<+ana %eaves/2 The *acts in (eo,%e v/ T+dt+d sho' that in )+%# and A+"+st, 1999, the Tori% (o%ice @tation, ;avao &it#, received a re,ort *rom a civi%ian asset that the nei"hbors o* a certain Noe% T+dt+d (T+dt+d) 'ere com,%ainin" that the %atter 'as res,onsib%e *or the ,ro%i*eration o* mari<+ana in the area/ 5eactin" to the re,ort, the 0nte%%i"ence @ection cond+cted s+rvei%%ance/ For *ive da#s, the# "athered in*ormation and %earned that T+dt+d 'as invo%ved in i%%e"a% dr+"s/ $n A+"+st 1, 1999, the civi%ian asset in*ormed the ,o%ice that T+dt+d had headed to &otabato and 'o+%d be bac- %ater that da# 'ith a ne' stoc- o* mari<+ana/ At aro+nd 3:00 ,/m/ that same da#, a team o* ,o%ice o**icers ,osted themse%ves to a'ait T+dt+d7s arriva%/ At :00 ,/m/, t'o men disembar-ed *rom a b+s and he%,ed each other carr# a carton/ The ,o%ice o**icers a,,roached the s+s,ects and as-ed i* the# co+%d see the contents o* the bo8 'hich #ie%ded mari<+ana %eaves/29 0n (eo,%e v/ N+evas, the ,o%ice o**icers received in*ormation that a certain ma%e ,erson, more or %ess 973Y in hei"ht, 29 to :0 #ears o%d, 'ith a tattoo mar- on the +,,er ri"ht hand, and +s+a%%# 'earin" a sando and maon" ,ants, 'o+%d ma-e a de%iver# o* mari<+ana %eaves/ ?hi%e cond+ctin" stationar# s+rvei%%ance and monitorin" o* i%%e"a% dr+" tra**ic-in", the# sa' the acc+sed 'ho *it the descri,tion, carr#in" a ,%astic ba"/ The ,o%ice accosted the acc+sed and in*ormed him that the# 'ere ,o%ice o**icers/ B,on ins,ection o* the ,%astic ba" carried b# the acc+sed, the ba" contained mari<+ana dried %eaves and bric-s 'ra,,ed in a b%+e c%oth/ 0n his bid to esca,e char"es, the acc+sed disc%osed 'here t'o other ma%e ,ersons 'o+%d ma-e a de%iver# o* mari<+ana %eaves/ B,on seein" the t'o ma%e ,ersons, %ater identi*ied as 5e#na%do ;in and Fernando 0nocencio, the ,o%ice a,,roached them, introd+ced themse%ves as ,o%ice o**icers, then ins,ected the ba" the# 'ere carr#in"/ B,on ins,ection, the contents o* the ba" t+rned o+t to be mari<+ana %eaves/:0 0n a%% o* these cases, 'e re*+sed to va%idate the 'arrant%ess search ,recise%# beca+se there 'as no adeA+ate ,robab%e ca+se/ ?e reA+ired the sho'in" o* some overt act indicative o* the crimina% desi"n/ As in the above cases, a,,e%%ant herein 'as not committin" a crime in the ,resence o* the ,o%ice o**icers/ Neither did the arrestin" o**icers have ,ersona% -no'%ed"e o* *acts indicatin" that the ,erson to be arrested had committed, 'as committin", or abo+t to commit an o**ense/ At the time o* the arrest, a,,e%%ant had <+st a%i"hted *rom the 2emini b+s and 'as 'aitin" *or a tric#c%e/ A,,e%%ant 'as not actin" in an# s+s,icio+s manner that 'o+%d en"ender a reasonab%e "ro+nd *or the ,o%ice o**icers to s+s,ect and

conc%+de that he 'as committin" or intendin" to commit a crime/ ?ere it not *or the in*ormation "iven b# the in*ormant, a,,e%%ant 'o+%d not have been a,,rehended and no search 'o+%d have been made, and conseA+ent%#, the sachet o* shab+ 'o+%d not have been con*iscated/ ?e are not +na'are o* another set o* <+ris,r+dence that deems Yre%iab%e in*ormationY s+**icient to <+sti*# a search incident to a %a'*+% 'arrant%ess arrest/ As cited in (eo,%e v/ T+dt+d, these inc%+de (eo,%e v/ Mas,i%, )r/,:1 (eo,%e v/ Ca"ista,:2 (eo,%e v/ Ca%in"an,:: (eo,%e v/ .isin",:3 (eo,%e v/ Monti%%a,:9 (eo,%e v/ Fa%deL,:6 and (eo,%e v/ 2onLa%es/:7 0n these cases, the &o+rt s+stained the va%idit# o* the 'arrant%ess searches not'ithstandin" the absence o* overt acts or s+s,icio+s circ+mstances that 'o+%d indicate that the acc+sed had committed, 'as act+a%%# committin", or attem,tin" to commit a crime/ C+t as a,t%# observed b# the &o+rt, e8ce,t in Fa%deL and 2onLa%es, the# 'ere covered b# the other e8ce,tions to the r+%e a"ainst 'arrant%ess searches/: Neither 'ere the arrestin" o**icers im,e%%ed b# an# +r"enc# that 'o+%d a%%o' them to do a'a# 'ith the reA+isite 'arrant/ As testi*ied to b# (o%ice $**icer 1 A+re%io 0ni'an, a member o* the arrestin" team, their o**ice received the Yti,,ed in*ormationY on Ma# 19, 200:/ The# %i-e'ise %earned *rom the in*ormant not on%# the a,,e%%ant7s ,h#sica% descri,tion b+t a%so his name/ A%tho+"h it 'as not certain that a,,e%%ant 'o+%d arrive on the same da# (Ma# 19), there 'as an ass+rance that he 'o+%d be there the *o%%o'in" da# (Ma# 20)/ &%ear%#, the ,o%ice had am,%e o,,ort+nit# to a,,%# *or a 'arrant/:9 $bvio+s%#, this is an instance o* seiL+re o* the Y*r+it o* the ,oisono+s tree,Y hence, the con*iscated item is inadmissib%e in evidence consonant 'ith Artic%e 000, @ection :(2) o* the 19 7 &onstit+tion, Yan# evidence obtained in vio%ation o* this or the ,recedin" section sha%% be inadmissib%e *or an# ,+r,ose in an# ,roceedin"/Y ?itho+t the con*iscated shab+, a,,e%%ant7s conviction cannot be s+stained based on the remainin" evidence/ Th+s, an acA+itta% is 'arranted, des,ite the 'aiver o* a,,e%%ant o* his ri"ht to A+estion the i%%e"a%it# o* his arrest b# enterin" a ,%ea and his active ,artici,ation in the tria% o* the case/ As ear%ier mentioned, the %e"a%it# o* an arrest a**ects on%# the <+risdiction o* the co+rt over the ,erson o* the acc+sed/ A 'aiver o* an i%%e"a%, 'arrant%ess arrest does not carr# 'ith it a 'aiver o* the inadmissibi%it# o* evidence seiLed d+rin" an i%%e"a% 'arrant%ess arrest/30 $ne *ina% note/ As c%ear%# stated in (eo,%e v/ N+evas,31 8 8 8 0n the *ina% ana%#sis, 'e in the administration o* <+stice 'o+%d have no ri"ht to e8,ect ordinar# ,eo,%e to be %a'1abidin" i* 'e do not insist on the *+%% ,rotection o* their ri"hts/ @ome %a'men, ,rosec+tors and <+d"es ma# sti%% tend to "%oss over an i%%e"a% search and seiL+re as %on" as the %a' en*orcers sho' the a%%e"ed evidence o* the crime re"ard%ess o* the methods b# 'hich the# 'ere obtained/ This -ind o* attit+de condones %a'1brea-in" in the name o* %a' en*orcement/ 0ronica%%#, it on%# *osters the more ra,id brea-do'n o* o+r s#stem o* <+stice, and the event+a% deni"ration o* societ#/ ?hi%e this &o+rt a,,reciates and enco+ra"es the e**orts o* %a' en*orcers to +,ho%d the %a' and to ,reserve the ,eace and sec+rit# o* societ#, 'e neverthe%ess admonish them to act 'ith de%iberate care and 'ithin the ,arameters set b# the &onstit+tion and the %a'/ Tr+%#, the end never <+sti*ies the means/32 ?4656F$56, ,remises considered, the &o+rt o* A,,ea%s ;ecision dated Ma# 22, 200 in &A12/5/ &51 4/&/ No/ 00329 is 56F65@6; and @6T A@0;6/ A,,e%%ant )ac- 5aA+ero 5acho is A&RB0TT6; *or ins+**icienc# o* evidence/ The ;irector o* the C+rea+ o* &orrections is directed to ca+se the immediate re%ease o* a,,e%%ant, +n%ess the %atter is bein" %a'*+%%# he%d *or another ca+seM and to in*orm the &o+rt o* the date o* his re%ease, or the reasons *or his con*inement, 'ithin ten (10) da#s *rom notice/ No costs/ @$ $5;656;/

!EO!LE OF THE !HILI!!INES, plaintiff-appellee vs. AL9IN TAN ( LAGA:A;O, accused-appellants. DECISION

DA9IDE, &R., C.J.0 0n this ,etition *or revie' +nder 5+%e 39 o* the 5+%es o* &o+rt, ,etitioner A%vin Tan (herea*ter TAN) see-s his acA+itta% b# a reversa% o* the 29 )+ne 199 decision N1O o* the &o+rt o* A,,ea%s in &A12/5/ &5 No/ 206 'hich a**irmed his conviction *or vio%atin" 5e,+b%ic Act No/ 69:9, An Act (reventin" and (ena%iLin" &arna,,in"/ N2O TAN[s motion *or reconsideration o* said decision and motion *or ora% ar"+ments 'ere denied *or %ac- o* merit b# the &o+rt o* A,,ea%s in its 6 $ctober 199 reso%+tion/ N:O @aid decision and reso%+tion o* the &o+rt o* A,,ea%s a**irmed the 19 ;ecember 1993 <+d"ment o* conviction a"ainst TAN b# the 5e"iona% Tria% &o+rt, Cranch 99, R+eLon &it# in &rimina% &ase No/ R19:139339/
176 177 17

TAN7s indictment

179

N3O

*or vio%ation o* 5e,+b%ic Act No/ 69:9 reads as *o%%o's:

That on or abo+t the 7th da# o* November, 1992, in R+eLon &it#, (hi%i,,ines, the above1 named acc+sed, 'ith intent to "ain and 'itho+t the consent o* the o'ner thereo*, did, then and there 'i%%*+%%#, +n%a'*+%%# and *e%onio+s%# ta-e, stea% and carr# a'a# one (1) Mits+bishi 2a%%ant car co%ored b%+e, bearin" (%ate No/ &2@172: o'ned b# one (40.0( @66, o* +ndetermined va%+e, to the dama"e and ,re<+dice o* said (hi%i, @ee/ B,on his arrai"nment on 13 )+%# 199: and 'ith the assistance o* co+nse%, Tan ,%eaded not "+i%t# to the char"e/ Tria% immediate%# ens+ed as the ,arties 'aived the ho%din" o* a ,re%iminar# con*erence/ The tria% co+rt[s terse reca,it+%ation o* the ,rosec+tion evidence ,roceeded in this manner:
1 0

N9O

888 N(Orivate com,%ainant (hi%i, @ee is the re"istered o'ner o* a 19 7 Mits+bishi 2a%%ant *o+r1door va%+ed at (320,000/00, bearin" ,%ate no/ &2@172:, co%ored b%+e, and 'ith motor no/ 32:21F22703 and seria%Ichassis no/ A161B.1:011/ @ometime in March 1992, acc+sed A%vin Tan 'as introd+ced to (hi%i, b# A%vin[s *iancee, one Fienna D+, and *rom then on, (hi%i, and A%vin became *riends and started to see each other on severa% occasions therea*ter/ $n November 7, 1992, abo+t 9::0 a/m/, (hi%i, to"ether 'ith his 'i*e 5+b# @ee and 5obert &h+a (a nei"hbor) 'as at his ,%ace o* residence 888 'hen A%vin arrived thereat/ 4e made it -no'n to (hi%i, that he 'as intendin" to b+# (hi%i,[s a*oresaid car and that he 'anted to test1drive it/ $n acco+nt o* their *riendshi, and be%ievin" A%vin[s ass+rance that he 'o+%d ret+rn the car a*ter he sha%% have test1driven it, (hi%i, "ranted A%vin[s reA+est 888/ $n th+s "ettin" ho%d o* the car, A%vin s,ed a'a# and never ret+rned/ 0n vain, (hi%i, 'aited *or A%vin to sho' +, and ret+rn the carM A%vin sim,%# did not sho' +,, m+ch %ess ca+se the ret+rn o* the car/ )-sm Th+s, (hi%i, started to ca%% +, and %oo- *or A%vin at his o**ice at 5ooseve%t Aven+e, R&, b+t A%vin avoided him b# re*+sin" to ans'er the te%e,hone ca%%s or ,retendin" he 'as not aro+ndM and (hi%i,[s attem,ts to see A%vin at his o**ice simi%ar%# ,roved *+ti%e, *or 'henever (hi%i, 'o+%d "o to said o**ice, A%vin 'o+%d re*+se to see him/ ;isma#ed tho+"h he 'as, (hi%i, desisted as %on" as he co+%d *rom re,ortin" and com,%ainin" abo+t the matter to the a+thoritiesM (hi%i, sti%% be%ieved that bein" a *riend, A%vin event+a%%# 'o+%d come aro+nd to ret+rnin" the car to him/ Mean'hi%e, sometime on March 9, 199:, 'ith the assistance o* some ,ersonne% o* the .and Trans,ortation $**ice (.T$), (hi%i, 'as ab%e to ca+se the car[s 199: rene'a% re"istration in the absence o* the vehic%e and he 'as iss+ed the corres,ondin" o**icia% recei,t there*or/ @ometime on Ma# 19, 199:, (hi%i, a"ain tried to see A%vin at his ,%ace at 5ooseve%t/ A"ain (hi%i, 'as to%d that A%vin 'as not aro+nd/ $ne o* A%vin[s em,%o#ees, ho'ever, advised (hi%i, to the e**ect that the car 'as ,ar-ed and hidden ri"ht behind A%vin[s 'areho+se/ The
176 177 178 179 180

%ocation o* the 'areho+se havin" been "iven to him, (hi%i, 'ent to the ,%ace and at a distance o* some *ive *eet, he sa' the vehic%e ,ar-ed at the rear end o* the 'areho+se/ To his shoc- and s+r,rise, he sa' that ,arts o* the car, %i-e the b+m,er, a door, and severa% interior accessories, had been dismant%ed and 'ere a%read# missin"/ ?orse, severa% ,ieces o* 'ood 'ere ,i%ed on to, o* the car as i* ,+r,ose%# hide and concea% it *rom vie'/ @ti%% *ai%in" to recover his car, (hi%i, on or abo+t )+ne 2, 199:, *orma%%# %od"ed a com,%aint *or carna,,in" a"ainst A%vin be*ore the R& ,o%ice station/ @ome t'o da#s %ater, or on )+ne 3, 199:, (hi%i, re,orted the %oss o* his car to the (hi%i,,ine Nationa% (o%ice ((N() Tra**ic Mana"ement &ommand and he accordin"%# si"ned the corres,ondin" com,%aint sheets/ Too, an a%arm *or the s+b<ect car 'as iss+ed/ To his *+rther shoc- and consternation, (hi%i, 'as in*ormed b# the (N([s 4i"h'a# (atro% 2ro+, (4(2) that somebod# had a,,%ied *or a c%earance to se%% the car and that the a,,%icant 'as made to a,,ear as one (hi%i, @ee/ 888 (hi%i, denied his a%%e"ed si"nat+re on the a,,%ication and a%so denied havin" s+,,osed%# a,,%ied *or c%earance to se%% his vehic%e/ Mean'hi%e, actin" on the com,%aint %od"ed b# (hi%i, a"ainst A%vin be*ore the R& ,o%ice station 1, the ,o%ice a+thorities sched+%ed a visit to the ,%ace o* A%vin, 'ith (hi%i, bein" as-ed b# them to ,in,oint and identi*# A%vin in the co+rse thereo*/ Accordin"%#, at A%vin[s ,%ace, he 'as identi*ied and invited b# the ,o%ice to the station *or investi"ation/ ?hi%e sti%% at A%vin[s o**ice, (hi%i, sa' on to, o* A%vin[s tab%e 'hat (hi%i, be%ieved to be accessories *rom his car, consistin" o* a t'o1'a# radio antenna and car stereo, 'hich a,,eared to him to have been dismant%ed *rom the s+b<ect car/ At that time A%vin too- the car s+,,osed%# to test1drive it on November 7, 1992, the car 'as in to, condition, had %o' mi%ea"e, 'as [*+%%# %oaded[ 'ith com,%ete interior accessories inc%+din" an im,orted Sen'ood stereo, and had im,orted ma"'hee%s/ &hie* 68,ected%#, Tan im,+"ned the ,rosec+tion[s version and ,resented a com,%ete%# diverse ta%e/ First%#, TAN asserted that (hi%i, @ee (herea*ter @66) *i%ed the com,%aint to ,+r,ose%# co%%ect a debt *rom him and 'ittin"%# +se the co+rt as co%%ectin" a"ent/ @econd%#, TAN c%aimed that @66 instit+ted the com,%aint in reven"e o* the A+arre%s the# had over TAN7s "ir%*riend 'hom @66 'ooed, and (2) in reta%iation a"ainst the com,%aint *or "rave threats and i%%e"a% ,ossession o* *irearms *i%ed b# one o* TAN[s em,%o#ees a"ainst @66/ TAN then traced this %e"a% ,redicament to the time 'hen his "ir%*riend introd+ced him to @66 in March 1992/ TAN and @66 instant%# became *riends *or the# shared a simi%ar ac+men *or b+siness and ,assion *or tar"et shootin"/ 0nevitab%#, the# en"a"ed in and entered into severa% b+siness transactions 'hich res+%ted in TAN[s indebtedness to @66 in the amo+nt o* ( 00,000/ 0ns,ite o* this, @66 sti%% o**ered to se%% the s+b<ect Mits+bishi 2a%ant to TAN *or the amo+nt o* (2 0,000/ TAN dec%ined the o**er/ @66 ,ersisted to the e8tent that he bro+"ht the car to TAN[s residence on 26 November 1992 and "enero+s%# s+""ested that he 'o+%d <+st add into the %atter[s e8istin" indebtedness to him the car[s ,+rchase ,rice/ @ometime in Febr+ar# 199:, @66 tried to co%%ect the car[s ,+rchase ,rice b+t TAN had sti%% no *+nds/ @o TAN s+""ested that he 'o+%d a,,%# 'ith a ban- *or a car %oan +sin" the car as sec+rit# and a,,%# the ,roceeds o* said %oan in ,a#ment *or the car/ @66 a"reed/ @+bseA+ent%#, TAN s+bmitted in his name a %oan a,,%ication 'ith the C(0 Fami%# Can- in Ma-ati/ 0n com,%iance 'ith the reA+irements o* the %oan a,,%ication, @66 ,ersona%%# s+,ervised the car[s a,,raisa% and ins,ection on 19 March 199:/ TAN additiona%%# maintained that he and @66 si"ned a deed o* sa%e coverin" the s+b<ect a+tomobi%e b+t that TAN did not receive a co,# o* said deed +,on @66[s ,rete8t that he 'o+%d +se it *or *aci%itation o* the %oan/ The ban- a,,roved the %oan a,,%ication b+t on%# in the amo+nt o* (129,000/ Nat+ra%%#, @66 considered the amo+nt ins+**icient and hence, re*+sed to acce,t the terms o* the %oan/ &onseA+ent%#, TAN did not see- the re%ease o* the %oan/ 6sm The *riendshi, event+a%%# so+red and the res+%tin" Ymis+nderstandin"Y 'ith @66 im,e%%ed TAN on 19 Ma# 199: to instr+ct his 'areho+se overseer to ret+rn the car to @66[s residence/ TAN[s em,%o#ee drove the car to @66[s ho+se, ,ar-ed the car o+tside the "ate and then handed over the -e#s o* the car to @66[s 'i*e, 5+b#/

Tan 'as there*ore s+r,rised 'hen on 13 )+ne 199:, ,o%ice o**icers arrived at his residence and invited him to the ,o%ice stationM this, to TAN[s additiona% be'i%derment, 'as in connection 'ith @66[s com,%aint *or the carna,,in" o* the car he a%read# ret+rned/ TAN ,eace*+%%# 'ent 'ith the ,o%ice a+thorities to the station/ N6O
1 1

?ei"hin" the evidence th+s ,ro**ered, the tria% co+rt be%ieved in the ,rosec+tion7s version, ,artic+%ar%# in @66[s c%ear, ,ositive, and strai"ht*or'ard acco+nt 1 'hich said co+rt *o+nd am,%# demonstrated 1 that @66 had 'ithdra'n the consent initia%%# "iven to TAN 'hen the %atter 'ent be#ond test1drivin" and a,,ro,riated the car *or his o'n +se and bene*it/ To the tria% co+rt, TAN[s *ai%+re to ret+rn the car and his conseA+ent a,,ro,riation thereo* constit+ted +n%a'*+% ta-in" 11 the "ravamen o* the crime char"ed/ 0t then conc%+ded that TAN 'as obvio+s%# act+ated b# intent to "ain/ The tria% co+rt then considered as com,%ete%# +ndeservin" o* be%ie*, TAN[s s+,,osition that des,ite his heav# indebtedness and "iven his increasin" di**ic+%t# to ,a# his %oans, @66 had beni"n%# e8tended him credit, de%ivered to him the s+b<ect car and besto'ed +,on him the +%timate ,rivi%e"e o* ,a#in" the car at his convenience/ Th+s, in a decision ,rom+%"ated on 19 )an+ar# 1993, the tria% co+rt convicted TAN, the dis,ositive ,ortion o* 'hich read as *o%%o's: N7O
1 2

?4656F$56, the &o+rt *inds acc+sed A%vin Tan # .a"ama#o "+i%t# be#ond reasonab%e do+bt o* the crime o* carna,,in" char"ed herein, de*ined and ,+nished in @ec/ 2, in connection 'ith @ec/ 13, both o* 5e,/ Act No/ 69:9 888 and, accordin"%#, he is hereb# sentenced to s+**er the indeterminate ,ena%t# o* im,risonment o* *rom *o+rteen #ears, ei"ht months, and *i*teen da#s as minim+m, to seventeen #ears and *o+r months as ma8im+mM to restore to the o**ended ,art#, (hi%i, @ee, the s+b<ect car 8 8 8 or in de*a+%t thereo*, to indemni*# said o**ended ,art# in the s+m o* *o+r h+ndred t'ent# tho+sand ,esosM and, to ,a# the costs, 'itho+t ,re<+dice to the a,,%ication o* 5e,/ Act No/ 6127 in acc+sed[s *avor/
6smsc

TAN *i%ed a motion *or ne' tria% on the "ro+nd o* ne'%# discovered evidence 'hich 'as "ranted b# the tria% co+rt in its 3 )+%# 1993 order/ @66 then moved *or reconsideration, b+t 'as denied b# the tria% co+rt in its 1 March 1999 order/ @66 cha%%en"ed these a*orementioned orders o* the tria% co+rt in a ,etition *or certiorari *i%ed 'ith the &o+rt o* A,,ea%s/ $n 2: A+"+st 1999, the a,,e%%ate co+rt "ave d+e co+rse to and "ranted the ,etition/ TAN assai%ed the decision o* the &o+rt o* A,,ea%s thro+"h a ,etition *or revie' be*ore the @+,reme &o+rt, 'hich ,rom,t%# dismissed the ,etition/ N O
1 :

@+bseA+ent%#, based on TAN[s YNotice o* A,,ea% #! &bundanti &d Cautelam,Y the tria% co+rt ordered the e%evation o* the records o* the case to the &o+rt o* A,,ea%s/ Mean'hi%e, TAN cha%%e"ed the &o+rt o* A,,ea%s[ a**irmance o* his conviction/ 4e ar"+es be*ore this &o+rt that the a,,e%%ate co+rt erred in (1) i"norin" the ,ec+%iar nat+re o* the %a' on carna,,in", (2) disre"ardin" that there 'as no +n%a'*+% ta-in", and (:) re<ectin" circ+mstances on record 'hich, i* considered, 'o+%d be s+**icient to acA+it him on reasonab%e do+bt/ 0n invo-in" the s,eci*icit# o* the carna,,in" %a', TAN contends that the &o+rt o* A,,ea%s sho+%d not have em,%o#ed as bases *or his conviction the basic ,rinci,%es in the*t en+nciated in (1) "eople v. Ro!as, N9O 'here rice 'as received, carted a'a# and cons+med, (2) $.7. v. de >era, N10O 'here a bar o* "o%d and (200 in ban- notes 'ere received *or e8amination and chan"in" into coins b+t instead a,,ro,riated, and (:) "eople v. Trinidad, N11O 'here a rin" 'as received *or ,%ed"in" b+t 'as so%d and the ,roceeds thereo* a,,ro,riated *or the ,ersona% +se o* receiver/
1 3 1 9 1 6

A c+rsor# readin" o* the ,ertinent ,ortion o* the cha%%en"ed &o+rt o* A,,ea%s decision revea%s that the basic ,rinci,%es o* the*t a%%+ded to ,ertain to the si"ni*ication o* +n%a'*+% ta-in" and as to 'hen this ta-es ,%ace/ Th+s, the &o+rt in Ro!as, de >era and Trinidad dec%ared that Ythe +n%a'*+% ta-in" or de,rivation
181 182 183 184 185 186

ma# occ+r at or soon a*ter the trans*er o* ,h#sica% ,ossessionY 'here Yan act done b# the receiver soon a*ter the act+a% trans*er o* ,ossession res+%ted in +n%a'*+% ta-in"/Y 0n s+ch a case, Ythe artic%e 'as ta-en a'a#, not received, a%tho+"h at the be"innin" the artic%e 'as in *act "iven and received/Y 4ence, in a,,%#in" these ,rinci,%es, the &o+rt o* A,,ea%s ado,ted the theor# o* the @o%icitor 2enera% that @66 entr+sted his car to TAN mere%# *or test drivin", and the %atter initia%%# received the same *or that ,+r,ose on%#M TAN m+st ,er*orce be deemed to have +n%a'*+%%# Yta-enY the car soon a*ter the test1drivin" *or he *ai%ed to sho'1+, and ret+rn said vehic%e/ N12O
1 7

There is no ar"+in" that the anti1carna,,in" %a' is a s,ecia% %a', di**erent *rom the crimes o* robber# and the*t inc%+ded in the 5evised (ena% &ode/ 0t ,artic+%ar%# addresses the ta-in", 'ith intent o* "ain, o* a motor vehic%e be%on"in" to another 'itho+t the %atter7s consent, or b# means o* vio%ence a"ainst or intimidation o* ,ersons, or b# +sin" *orce +,on thin"s/ N1:O C+t a care*+% com,arison o* this s,ecia% %a' 'ith the crimes o* robber# and the*t readi%# revea%s their common *eat+res and characteristics, to 'it: +n%a'*+% ta-in", intent to "ain, and that ,ersona% ,ro,ert# be%on"in" to another is ta-en 'itho+t the %atter7s consent/ 4o'ever, the anti1carna,,in" %a' ,artic+%ar%# dea%s 'ith the the*t and robber# o* motor vehic%es/ N13O 4ence, a motor vehic%e is said to have been carna,,ed 'hen it has been ta-en, 'ith intent to "ain, 'itho+t the o'ner7s consent, 'hether the ta-in" 'as done 'ith or 'itho+t vio%ence or intimidation o* ,ersons or 'ith or 'itho+t the +se o* *orce +,on thin"s/ ?itho+t the anti1carna,,in" %a', s+ch +n%a'*+% ta-in" o* a motor vehic%e 'o+%d *a%% 'ithin the ,+rvie' o* either the*t or robber# 'hich 'as certain%# the case be*ore the enactment o* said stat+te/ 6smmis
1 1 9

$bvio+s%#, TAN7s ,ro,osition that the r+diments o* the*t, ,artic+%ar%# as re"ards +n%a'*+% ta-in", sho+%d not have been a,,%ied b# the &o+rt o* A,,ea%s, 'as mis,%aced/ ?e sha%% see %ater on that the a,,e%%ate co+rt7s inter,retation redo+nded in TAN7s *avor/ As an e%ement common to the*t, robber# and carna,,in", +n%a'*+% ta-in" 11 its im,ort, intention and conce,t 11 sho+%d be considered as a%so common to these crimes/ N19O 4o'ever, 'e re<ect the &o+rt o* A,,ea%s7 acce,tance, hoo-, %ine and sin-er o* the $**ice o* the @o%icitor 2enera%7s thesis that there 'as +n%a'*+% ta-in" in this case/
190

@66 asserted that on 7 November 1992 he t+rned over ,ossession o* his Mits+bishi 2a%ant to TAN *or test1drivin" on%#, b+t the %atter did not ret+rn the same a*ter the %a,se o* not <+st severa% ho+rs b+t a n+mber o* months/ @66 *orma%%# *i%ed the com,%aint *or carna,,in" on 2 )+ne 199:/ 0n the meantime, d+rin" the seven1month interva% 'hen the car 'as a%%e"ed%# in TAN7s ,ossession, (1) @66 had ,ersistent%# and ,erseverin"%# attem,ted to ta%- to and see TAN b+t the %atter adamant%# re*+sed to res,ond to his te%e,hone ca%%s or ,ersona%%# receive him in his visitsM (2) @66 'as ab%e to re"ister the car 'ith the .T$ on 9 March 199:M and (:) @66 had seen his car on 19 Ma# 199: *rom a distance o* some *ive *eet, ,ar-ed at the rear o* TAN7s 'areho+se and in the initia% sta"es o* dismant%in"/ @66 a%so be%ieved that Ybein" a *riend, NTANO event+a%%# 'o+%d come aro+nd to ret+rnin" the car to him/Y N16O 6smso
191

6ven so%e%# *rom this testimon#, this &o+rt *inds that there 'as no +n%a'*+% ta-in"/ A *e%onio+s ta-in" ma# be de*ined as the act o* de,rivin" another o* the ,ossession and dominion o* movab%e ,ro,ert# 'itho+t his ,rivit# and consent and 'itho+t animus revertendi/ N17O Th+s, an +n%a'*+% ta-in" ta-es ,%ace 'hen the o'ner or <+ridica% ,ossessor does not "ive his consent to the ta-in"M or, i* the consent 'as "iven, it 'as vitiatedM or in the case o* Ro!as, Trinidad and de >era, 'here an act b# the receiver soon a*ter the act+a% trans*er o* ,ossession constit+tes +n%a'*+% ta-in"/ 0n the %ast scenario, the receiver7s act co+%d be considered as havin" been e8ec+ted 'itho+t the consent o* the "iver/ @667s testimon# c%ear%# evinced his assent to TAN7s ta-in" o* the car not on%# at the time he #ie%ded the ,h#sica% ,ossession thereo* *or the a%%e"ed test1drivin" b+t even therea*ter, *or he neither 'ithhe%d his consent nor 'ithdre' the same d+rin" the seven month ,eriod the car 'as 'ith TAN/ At the ver# %east, @66 to%erated TAN[s ,ossession o* the car/ A contrar# conc%+sion ins,ires on%# disbe%ie*/ For i* the car 'as tr+%# carna,,ed, 'h# did @66 'ait *or seven months be*ore he re,orted the sameG F+rther, TAN7s a%%e"ed re*+sa% to meet @66 des,ite his re,eated attem,ts to do so sho+%d have s+**icient%# a%erted him o* the *ormer7s s+,,osed ma%evo%ent intent, #et he sti%% did not re,ort the ta-in"/ 6ven i* he *ai%ed to re,ort the ta-in", months a*ter the a%%e"ed test1
192

187 188 189 190 191 192

drivin", he had a%%e"ed%# seen his car in the initia% sta"es o* dismemberment on 19 Ma# 199: #et, a"ain, he did not re,ort the carna,,in" on that da# nor on the ne8t, b+t m+ch %ater on 7 )+ne 199: or a%most a month therea*ter/ @66 said he be%ieved and e8,ected that the car 'o+%d inevitab%# be ret+rned to him/ This is not on%# +nsatis*actor# b+t irreconci%ab%e and contradictor# 'ith his im,+tations o* carna,,in"/ For i* he be%ieved that the vehic%e 'o+%d be ret+rned to him *or *riendshi,[s sa-e then he co+%d not have at the same time a%so be%ieved that this *riend carna,,ed his car/ &%ear%#, @667s behavior immediate%# ,recedin", contem,oraneo+s and s+bseA+ent to the a%%e"ed +n%a'*+% ta-in" 'as de*inite%# not the distra+"ht cond+ct o* a man 'hose car 'as carna,,ed/ 4e 'as even ab%e to re"ister the averred sto%en vehic%e 'itho+t so+ndin" the a%arm/ & fortiori, the cases o* Ro!as, Trinidad and de >era cited b# the &o+rt o* A,,ea%s have no a,,%ication here as no +n%a'*+% de,rivation or ta-in" o* @667s ,ossession o*, en<o#ment and bene*it over the car occ+rred soon or %on" a*ter his initia% consent to the trans*er thereo*/ Neither 'as there an act e8ec+ted b# TAN soon a*ter the a%%e"ed test1drivin" that 'o+%d constit+te +n%a'*+% ta-in"/ These conc%+sions are b+ttressed b# TAN7s testimon#, d+%# s+,,orted b# doc+mentar# evidence, that @66 coo,erated 'ith him *or the avai%ment o* a car %oan 'ith the C(0 Fami%# Can- in Ma-ati, and that @66 ,ersona%%# attended to the ins,ection and a,,raisa% o* the s+b<ect car/ The records, there*ore, do not s+,,ort the *indin" o* carna,,in"/ Msesm Noticeab%#, the &o+rt o* A,,ea%s[ erroneo+s contrar# conc%+sions 'ere heavi%# ,redicated on the ar"+ments o* the $**ice o* the @o%icitor 2enera% that TAN7s *ai%+re to sho' a 'ritten deed o* sa%e and to see- the re%ease o* his car %oan Y'ere inconsistent 'ith Nthe %atter[sO idea o* sa%e/Y 0t then ,osed *o+r A+estions 'hich it conc%+ded Ycertain%# debi%itated the ,retensions o* NTANO,Y th+s: N1 O
19:

0* there 'as rea%%# a deed o* sa%e, 'h# co+%d not NTANO ,resent a co,# thereo*G Ass+min" arguendo that N@66O "ot NTAN7sO co,# o* the deed o* sa%e, 'h# did he not sec+re another co,# *rom the notar# ,+b%ic 'ho notariLed the sameG $r, better sti%%, 'h# did he not ,resent the notar# ,+b%ic to testi*# on the *act o* the sa%eG ?h# did N@66O have to se%% the s+b<ect car to NTANO at (2 0,000/00 'hen the %atter 'as admitted%# indebted to the *ormer to the t+ne o* ( 00,000G 0* NTANO rea%%# bo+"ht the s+b<ect car *rom ,rivate com,%ainant, 'h# did he have to ret+rn the same (car) to the %atter on Ma# 13, 199:G From this %ine o* reasonin", 'e easi%# ded+ce that the &o+rt o* A,,ea%s sim,%# eA+ated the %ac- o* a 'ritten deed o* sa%e to @66[s %ac- o* consent to TAN[s ta-in" o* the car/ C+t the mere absence o* a 'ritten contract o* sa%e in this case does not necessari%# mean that @66 did not a%so consent to the ta-in" nor that TAN[s ,ossession o* the car 'as +n%a'*+%/ The ,rosec+tion sti%% has the onus probandi o* sho'in" that TAN[s ta-in" 'as +n%a'*+%/ ?hat too- ,%ace in these ,roceedin"s 'as that the a,,e%%ate co+rt ma"ni*ied the 'ea-ness o* the de*ense and over%oo-ed the ,rosec+tion7s *ai%+re to dischar"e the onus probandi 11 to sho' be#ond reasonab%e do+bt that the crime o* carna,,in" 'as indeed ,er,etrated/ 0n short, the &o+rt o* A,,ea%s and the tria% co+rt sim,%# be%ieved and acce,ted the ,rosec+tion7s ta%e/ 0t i"nored the basic %e"a% ,rece,ts that conviction rests +,on the stren"th o* evidence o* the ,rosec+tion and not on the 'ea-ness o* the evidence *or the de*enseM and ass+min" that the evidence o* the acc+sed is 'ea-, the same is no reason to convict, es,ecia%%#, as in this case, 'here the case o* the ,rosec+tion is not stron" eno+"h to s+stain a conviction/ N19O To reiterate, the b+rden o* ,roo* rests +,on the ,rosec+tion, and +n%ess the @tate s+cceeds in ,rovin" b# over'he%min" evidence the "+i%t o* the acc+sed, the constit+tiona% ,res+m,tion o* innocence a,,%ies/ A conviction in crimina% cases m+st rest on nothin" %ess than the mora% certaint# o* "+i%t/ N20O 68sm
193 199

There is no A+arre% in the conc%+siveness o* the *indin"s o* *act o* the &o+rt o* A,,ea%s, *or +,on this ,rinci,%e hin"es the r+%e that the <+risdiction o* the @+,reme &o+rt in cases bro+"ht be*ore it *rom the &o+rt o* A,,ea%s is %imited to revie'in" errors o* %a'/ 4o'ever, it a,,ears on record that the a,,e%%ate
193 194 195

co+rt over%oo-ed, i"nored, and disre"arded some *act and circ+mstance o* 'ei"ht or si"ni*icance that i* considered 'o+%d have a%tered the res+%t/ &o"ent reasons there*ore e8ist <+sti*#in" the disre"ard o* the *indin"s o* the a,,e%%ate co+rt, s+,ersedin" the same 'ith o+r o'n determinations and conc%+sions, and orderin" the reversa% o* the A+estioned decision and reso%+tion o* said &o+rt o* A,,ea%s/ N21O
196

HEREFORE, in vie' o* a%% the *ore"oin", the herein im,+"ned 29 )+ne 199 decision and 6 $ctober 199 reso%+tion o* the &o+rt o* A,,ea%s a**irmin" the tria% co+rt7s <+d"ment convictin" acc+sed1a,,e%%ant A%vin Tan o* vio%ation o* the Anti1&arna,,in" Act o* 1972 are hereb# 56F65@6; and @6T A@0;6M a ne' <+d"ment is entered A&RB0TT0N2 said acc+sed1a,,e%%ant on "ro+nd o* reasonab%e do+bt/ &osts de officio/ SO ORDERED.

Case Digest on !osa,as v. Om<',sman G.R. No. 1*14)% =Se"tem<er %), %666>
November 10, 2010

FA&T@: B,on the reA+est o* the Bniversit# &hance%%or, the NC0 sent a"ents to the +niversit# and tried to arrest t'o members o* a *raternit# 'ho 'ere identi*ied b# t'o 'itnesses as res,onsib%e *or the -i%%in" o* a member o* another *raternit#/ 46.;: The NC0 a"ents had no ,ersona% -no'%ed"e o* an# *act 'hich mi"ht indicate that the t'o st+dents 'ere ,robab%# "+i%t# o* the crime/ Their attem,t to arrest them 'itho+t a 'arrant 'as i%%e"a%/

Case Digest on !OSADAS v O:12DS:AN

November 10, 2010

%666 0F1T46N 5B.6@ in this case: 1/ 0F there no ,robab%e ca+se *or the *i%in" o* an in*ormation a"ainst an acc+sed T46N the co+rt ma# en<oin crimina% ,rosec+tion to ,rotect the citiLen7s ri"ht to be *ree *rom +n'arranted and ve8atio+s ,rosec+tion NATB56: @,ecia% &ivi% Action in the @+,reme &o+rt/ &ertiorari J (rohibition/ FA&T@: 1 5o"er (osadas, then B( ;i%iman &hance%%or, as-ed the ;irector o* the NC0 *or assistance in determinin" the ,ersons res,onsib%e *or the -i%%in" o* ;ennis Fent+rina, @i"ma 5ho member, in a r+mb%e bet'een @i"ma 5ho and another *raternit# on ;ecember , 1993 2 $r%ando ;iLon, &hie* o* the @,ecia% $,erations 2ro+, o* the NC0, and his team 'ent to B( \ attem,ted to arrest Francis &ar%o Ta,aran J 5a#m+nd Nara", members o* the @cinti%%a )+ris Fraternit#, as s+s,ects in the -i%%in" o* Fent+rina o $n the basis o* ,ositive identi*ication o* t'o a%%e"ed e#e'itnesses, .eonardo .achica J &esar Man"roban"

196

Ta,aran and Nara" 'ere then at the B(;( @tation, *or a ,eace ta%- bet'een @) J @i"ma 5ho

: (osadas, Marich+ .ambino (Asst/ .e"a% &o+nse%), 5osario Torres1D+ (Fice1&hance%%or) J a certain Att#/ Fi%%amor (co+nse% o* the s+s,ects) ob<ected to the arrest on the "ro+nd that the NC0 did not have 'arrants o* arrest 'ith them \ s+s,ects not arrest as a res+%t o* the intervention b+t (osadas and Fi%%amor ,romised to ta-e the s+s,ects to the NC0 o**ice the ne8t da# : ;iLon *i%ed a com,%aint in the $**ice o* the @,ecia% (rosec+tor char"in" (osadas, .ambino, Torres1 D+, Fi%%amor and &o%/ 6d+ardo Centain (&hie* o* @ec+rit# Force o* B( (o%ice) 'ith vio%ation o* (; 1 29 ! ma-in" it +n%a'*+% *or an#one to obstr+ct the a,,rehension J ,rosec+tion o* crimina% o**enders 3 0n*ormation *i%ed stated that: ,etitioners =888 de%a#ed the investi"ation and ,rosec+tion o* the heino+s case b# harborin" an concea%in" 888 s+s,ects th+s %eadin" to the s+ccess*+% esca,e o* s+s,ects Nara" and another ,rinci,a% s+s,ect )oe% &ar%o ;enosta 888> 9 $n motion, $**ice o* the @,ecia% (rosec+tor recommended dismissa% o* the case \ recommendation disa,,roved b# $**ice o* the $mb+dsman ! directed the @,ecia% (rosec+tor to ,roceed 'ith ,rosec+tion o* ,etitioners in the @andi"anba#an/ 6 4ence, this ,etition to set aside the reso%+tion o* the $**ice o* the $mb+dsman orderin" the ,rosec+tion o* ,etitioners/ 0@@B6@: (1) ?$N there 'as ,robab%e ca+se *or ,rosec+tin" ,etitioners *or vio%ation o* (;1 29 ! None 7 &o+rt he%d

o 5e"ard%ess o* ,etitioners7 s+s,icion, the# co+%d not have a+thoriLed the arrest 'itho+t 'arrant or even e**ected the arrest themse%ves \ on%# co+rts co+%d decide the A+estion o* ,robab%e ca+se since the st+dents 'ere not ca+"ht in *%a"rante de%icto X @,ecia% (rosec+tor in recommendin" dismissa%: B( o**icia%s then ,resent had ever# ri"ht to ,revent the commission o* i%%e"a% arrests o* st+dents on cam,+s/ (2) ?$N co+rts ma# en<oin crimina% ,rosec+tion 26N65A. 5B.6: &rimina% ,rosec+tion cannot be en<oined/ &o+rt ordinari%# does not inter*ere 'ith the discretion o* the $mb+dsman to determine 'hether there e8ists reasonab%e "ro+nd to be%ieve that a crime has been committed and that the acc+sed is ,robab%# "+i%t# thereo* and thera*ter, to *i%e corres,ondin" in*ormation 'ith the a,,ro,riate co+rts 6E&6(T0$N@: C5$&SA v 6N50.6 (cited in F6NB@ v ;6@065T$) 1/ To a**ord ,rotection to constit+tiona% ri"hts o* the acc+sed 2/ ?hen necessar# *or the order%# administration o* <+stice and to avoid o,,ression or m+%ti,%icit# o* s+its :/ ?hen there is ,re<+dicia% A+estion 'hich is s+b <+dice 3/ Acts o* o**icer are 'itho+t or in e8cess o* a+thorit# 9/ (rosec+tion +nder an inva%id %a', ordinance or re"+%ations 6/ ;o+b%e <eo,ard# c%ear%# a,,arent 7/ &o+rt has no <+risdiction over the o**ense

/ &ase o* ,ersec+tion rather than ,rosec+tion 9/ &har"es are mani*est%# *a%se and motivated b# %+st *or ven"eance 10/ &%ear%# no ,rima *acie case a"ainst the acc+sed and a motion to A+ash has been denied 11/ @& iss+ed a ,re%iminar# in<+nction to ,revent the threated +n%a'*+% arrest o* ,etitioners \4656, ,etitioners had a ri"ht to ,revent the arrest 9 @A.$N2A v &5BP (AN$ a,,%ies ! 0n*inite%# more im,ortant than conventiona% adherence to "enera% r+%es o* crimina% ,roced+re is res,ect *or citiLens7 ri"ht to be *ree not on%# *rom arbitrar# arrest and ,+nishment b+t a%so *rom +n'arranted and ve8atio+s ,rosec+tion ** (etitioners cha%%en"e to (; 1 29 as +nconstit+tiona% not necessar# \ case dis,osed o* on some other "ro+nd 88 (etition "ranted/ $mb+dsman J a"ents ,rohibited *rom ,rosec+tin" *or vio%ation o* ,;1 29 ,ar/1NcO, 'hi%e @andi"anba#an ordered to dismiss in*ormation in &rimina% &ase no 22 01/