LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE 2nd Sem, AY 09-10, Prof. La V!

a DIGEST #117
Arias v. SB Arias v. SB
GR. No. 81563 & GR. No. 82512 December 19, 1989
Amado C. Ara! & Cre!e"co D. Da#a "e##oner$ %$. T$e
SANDIGAN%A&AN, re$"onden#$.
Pe##on #o SC
G'TIERRE(, )R., J:
Summary of Facts: Ara$ &D$#r'# En(neer) and Da#a &C*ef A+d#or), off'a,$
of #*e Pro%n'e of R-a, .ere fo+nd (+,#/ 0/ #*e Sand(an0a/an &S1) #o(e#*er
.#* #*er $+0ordna#e$ and a "r%a#e '#-en &$e,,er of ,and) for 2*a%n( 'a+$ed
n3+r/ #o 4 dama(e #o #*e Re"+0,' of #*e P*,""ne$5 n 'onne'#on .#*
$'anda,o+$ o%er"r'n( of ,and "+r'*a$ed 0/ #*e Go%ernmen# a$ r(*# of .a/ for
a f,ood.a/ "ro3e'#, 0/ a,,o.n( 4 a""ro%n( #*e ,,e(a, d$0+r$emen# 4
e6"end#+re of "+0,' f+nd$. T*e de'$on of S1 n$ofar a$ Ara$ 4 Da#a are
'on'erned .a$ o%er#+rned 0/ #*e SC 0a$ed on #*e rea$onn( of re*a"ce o+
,ood +a#$ o" !-bord"a#e!.
Facts
Pe##oner$ Ara$ Ara$ &D$#r'# En(neer) and Da#a &C*ef A+d#or),
.ere fo+nd (+,#/ 0/ S1 for %o,a#n( $e'. 7 &e) of #*e An#-Graf# Pra'#'e$ A'#8
SEC. 3. Corrupt Practices of Public Officers-In addition to acts or omissions of
public officers already penalized by eistin! la". t#e following shall
constitute corrupt practices of any public officer and are #ereby declared
to be unla"ful$

(e) Causing any undue injury to any party, including the Goernment,
or giing any priate party any unwarranted benefits, adantage or
preference in t#e disc#ar!e of #is official administrative or %udicial functions
t#rou!# manifest partiality& evident bad fait# or !ross inecusable ne!li!ence.
'#is provision shall apply to officers and employees of offices or
goernment corporations charged with the grant of licenses or permits
or other concessions
Ara$ and Da#a .ere 'on%'#ed 0/ S1 %o,a#n( #*e a0o%e "ro%$on
#o(e#*er .#* #*er 7 $+0ordna#e$ 4 1 "r%a#e '#-en G+#erre- &$e,,er of ,and)
() silan! la#at na convicted*.
T*e 0a'9(ro+nd of #*e $#or/ da#e$ 0a'9 n /ear 19:;, .*en #*e
1+rea+ of P+0,' <or9$ ",anned #*e 2Man(a*an =,ood.a/ Pro3e'#5 #o ea$e #*e
"erenna, f,ood$ n $ome "ar#$ of Mar9na and Pa$(, Me#ro Man,a. T*$
f,ood.a/ "ro3e'# .,, #ra%er$e 'er#an "or#on$ of Or#(a$, .*ere #$e *a"d !o*d
b. G-#erre/ #o #$e Go0# 1!-b2ec# ma##er " #$! ca!e3 .a$ ,o'a#ed.
T*e m",emen#a#on of #*$ +*ood4a. 5ro2ec# 4a! e"#r-!#ed #o #$e
6a!, E","eer", D!#rc# $eaded b. Da#a 1D!#rc# E","eer3. >n #*$
re(ard, Da#a formed a comm##ee *eaded 0/ =ernando 1S-5er0!", C0*
E",r3 a$ o%er-a,, n-'*ar(e &=ernando dd no# fa'e #ra, and reman$ a#-,ar(e)
and 7 o#*er $+0ordna#e$. T*e $+0ordna#e$ .ere 7e"do/a 4 ?+'om, for
a'@+$#on and m"ro%emen#$, and )o!e #*e >n$#r+men# man for $+r%e/$
17e"do/a & )o!e are 2 o#$er co"0c#ed co8acc-!ed3. T*$ 'omm##ee .a$
#a$9ed #o nform affe'#ed ,o# o.ner$ affe'#ed 0/ #*e f,ood.a/ "ro3e'# a"d #o
rece0e a"d 5roce!! 5a.me"#!.
Amon( #*e ,o# o.ner$ affe'#ed .a$ a 19, 99: !;.m. rce*a"d
1!-b2ec# ma##er " #$! ca!e3 o.ned 0/ A(,e*am, .*'* .a$ "re%o+$,/
o.ned 0/ "aren#$ of G-#erre/ 15r0a#e c#/e" & co"0c#ed co8acc-!ed3
from .*om A(,e*am a'@+red *$ "ro"er#/. G+#erre- .a$ one of #*o$e .*o
f,ed an a"",'a#on for "a/men#, *o,dn( .#* *er a S"e'a, Po.er of A##orne/
a,,e(ed,/ e6e'+#ed 0/ A(,e*am. >n *er a"",'a#on, !$e !-bm##ed +a<e a"d
+a*!+ed doc-me"#! .e. Ta= Dec*ara#o" Cer#+ca#e 5-r5or#", #$a# #$e
*a"d 4a! residential 4#$ +ar mar<e# 0a*-e o+ !"#$s% m.
T*e$e do'+men#$ .ere $+0m##ed #o 2 o#*er 'on%'#ed 'o-a''+$ed --
e6amned 0/ Arca.a 1Adm". >++cer3 .*,e Cr-/ 1Se"or E","eer3
n#a,ed #*e do'+men#$ 4 "re"ared a Deed of Sa,e. Cr+- ,a#er #ran$m##ed
#*em #o D$#r'# En(neer Da#a. Da#a and G+#erre- 0o#* ,a#er $(ned #*e Deed
of Sa,e. T*e$e do'+men#$ .ere $en# #o Dre'#or Ano,n of 1+rea+ of P+0,'
<or9$, .*o re'ommended a""ro%a, of #*e Deed of Sa,e and ,a#er re#+rned #o
Da#aA$ off'e. ?en'e #*e $a,e .a$ re($#ered and a TCT .a$ $$+ed n #*e name
of #*e Go%#.
=or #*$ $a,e, a Ge"era* ?o-c$er .a$ "re"ared, for #*e amo+n# of
P1.;M ",+$ .#* 'er#f'a#on$ of Da#a and *$ 7 $+0ordna#e$ &=ernando ,Cr+-,
and one a''o+n#an#). T*$ (enera, %o+'*er and o#*er $+""or#n( do'+men#$
.ere "re-a+d#ed and a""ro%ed for "a/men# 0/ Ara! 1C$e+ A-d#or3,
5e#o"er a"d co"0c#ed co8acc-!ed. Ara$ #*en ,a#er $$+ed 1B PN1 '*e'9$
for #o#a, $+m of P1.;M ",+$ for G+#erre- a$ "a/men# of "ro"er#/ n 19:C.
>n 19:9, an n%e$#(a#on .a$ 'ond+'#ed 0/ #*e Mn$#r/ of Na#ona,
Defen$e on #*$ a,,e(ed (ro$$ o%er"r'n( of A(,e*amA$ "ro"er#/. Se%era,
Go%ernmen# em",o/ee$ dened $(nn( #*e 'er#f'a#on and (a%e $.orn
$#a#emen#$. One of #*em $ O'o, an A$$$#an# M+n. A$$e$$or 4$o 5ro0ded
#$e ,e"-"e Ta= Dec*ara#o" Cer#+ca#e, $*o.n( amon( o#*er$ #*a# #*e
$+03e'# "ro"er#/ $ a'#+a,,/ a rce*a"d 1b-# c*a!!+ed a! re!de"#a*3 a"d
o0er5rced a# 689@!;.m. 1"!#ead o+ a55ra!ed 0a*-e o+ 65@!;.m.3 88
$*o.n( #*a# #*e off'a,$ of #*e D$#r'# En(neern( Off'e fa,$fed #*em. T*e
n%e$#(a#or$ a,$o fo+nd #*a# #*e Deed of Sa,e .a$ a""ro%ed 0/ Ara$ for
"a/men# of P1.;, .*o ddnA# @+e$#on #*e a,#ered amo+n# &$no.f,a9ed and
amo+n# $+"erm"o$ed) nor '*e'9ed #*e %era'#/ of #*e fa9e do'+men#$.
LOCGO
V
Arias v. SB
NaomA! B#c$e" ma9e$
and $e,,$ C*o'o,a#e$
$##5C@@"aom!<#c$e".m-*#5*..com
LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE 2nd Sem, AY 09-10, Prof. La V!a DIGEST #117
Arias v. SB Arias v. SB
T*e 'a$e .a$ on #ra, for B /ear$, and S1 fo+nd 2 "e##oner$ AR>AS 4
DATA, #*er 7 $+0ordna#e$ &CRDE, FOSE, 4 ARCAYA) 4 "r%a#e '#-en
GDT>ERREE (+,#/ of %o,a#on of An#-Graf# and Corr+"# Pra'#'e$ A'#.
Amon( #*e B 'on%'#ed a''+$ed, on,/ #*e 2 "e##oner$, Ara$ &D$#r'#
En(neer) and Da#a &C*ef A+d#or) a""ea,ed.
>SSDE8 <ON S1 "e##oner$ AR>AS and DATA are (+,#/ a$ 'o-'on$"ra#or$ n #*e
'on$"ra'/ #o 'a+$e n3+r/ #o #*e Go%ernmen# #*ro+(* #*e rre(+,ar
d$0+r$emen# and e6"end#+re of "+0,' f+nd$. N>
RAT>O8 No.
1. Dnder #*e Sand(an0a/anG$ de'$on, a de"ar#men# $e're#ar/, 0+rea+
'*ef, 'omm$$on '*arman, a(en'/ *ead, and a,, '*ef a+d#or$ .o+,d
0e e@+a,,/ '+,"a0,e for e%er/ 'rme ar$n( from d$0+r$emen#$ .*'*
#*e/ *a%e a""ro%ed. &he department head or chief auditor would
be guilty of conspiracy simply because he was the last of a long
line of officials and employees who acted upon or affi'ed their
signatures to a transaction( Guilt must be premised on a more
)nowing, personal, and deliberate participation of each
indiidual who is charged with others as part of a conspiracy.
2. T*e Sa"d,a"ba.a", 4#$o-# a". c*ear +ac#-a* ba!! for don( $o
*a$ a$$+med #*a# #*e P;.00 "er $@+are me#er %a,+e f6ed 0/ #*e
a$$e$$or n #*e #a6 de',ara#on$ .a$ #*e 'orre'# mar9e# %a,+e of #*e
Man(a*an "ro"er#/ and f #*e Go%ernmen# "+r'*a$ed #*e ,and for
PC0.00 a $@+are me#er, # fo,,o.$ #*a# # m+$# *a%e $+ffered +nd+e
n3+r/. In the instant case, the assessor's low evaluation, in the fxing
of which the landowner had no participation, was used for a purpose
infnitely more weighty than mere expropriation of land It forms the
!asis for a criminal conviction !y the "#
T*e Co+r# $ no# "re"ared #o $a/ #*a# PC0.00 #o P;00.00 a
$@+are me#er for ,and n Pa$( n 19:C .o+,d 0e a far e%a,+a#on. T$e
0a*-e m-!# be de#erm"ed " em"e"# doma" 5roceed",! b. a
com5e#e"# co-r#. <e are 'er#an, *o.e%er, #*a# # 'anno# 0e P;.00 a
$@+are me#er. ?en'e, #*e de'$on, n$ofar a$ # $a/$ #*a# #*e H'orre'#H
%a,+a#on $ P;.00 "er $@+are me#er and on #*a# 0a$$ 'on%'#ed #*a#
"e##oner$ of 'a+$n( +nd+e n3+r/, dama(e, and "re3+d'e #o #*e
Go%ernmen# 0e'a+$e of (ro$$ o%er"r'n(, $ (ro+nded on $*a9/
fo+nda#on$.
T$ere ca" be "o o0er5rc", +or 5-r5o!e! o+ a crm"a*
co"0c#o" 4$ere "o 5roo+ add-ced d-r", order*. 5roceed",!
$a! bee" 5re!e"#ed a"d acce5#ed.
3. %ASIC REAS>N >D SCC <e .o+,d 0e $e##n( a 0ad "re'eden# f a
$ead o+ o++ce 5*a,-ed b. a** #oo commo" 5rob*em!8d!$o"e!#
or "e,*,e"# !-bord"a#e!, o0er4or<, m-*#5*e a!!,"me"#! or
5o!#o"!, or 5*a" "com5e#e"ce ! !-dde"*. !4e5# "#o a
co"!5rac. co"0c#o" !m5*. beca-!e $e dd "o# 5er!o"a**.
e=am"e e0er. !",*e de#a*, 5a"!#a<",*. #race e0er. !#e5
+rom "ce5#o", a"d "0e!#,a#e #$e mo#0e! o+ e0er. 5er!o"
"0o*0ed " a #ra"!ac#o" be+ore a++=",, $! !,"a#-re a! #$e
+"a* a55ro0", a-#$or#..
T*ere a""ear$ #o 0e no @+e$#on from #*e re'ord$ #*a#
do'+men#$ +$ed n #*e ne(o#a#ed $a,e .ere fa,$fed. A 9e/ #a6
de',ara#on *ad a #/"e.r##en n+m0er n$#ead of 0en( ma'*ne-
n+m0ered. T*e re($#ra#on $#am"mar9 .a$ an#eda#ed and #*e ,and
re',a$$fed a$ re$den#a, n$#ead of r'efe,d. %-# 4ere #$e
5e##o"er! ,-*#. o+ co"!5rac. " #$e +a*!+ca#o" a"d #$e
!-b!e;-e"# c$ar,e o+ ca-!", -"d-e " "2-r. a"d dama,e #o
#$e Go0er"me"#E
<e 'an, n re#ro$"e'#, ar(+e #*a# Ara$ $*o+,d *a%e "ro0ed
re'ord$, n$"e'#ed do'+men#$, re'e%ed "ro'ed+re$, and @+e$#oned
"er$on$. I# ! do-b#+-* + a". a-d#or +or a +ar*. !/ed o++ce
co-*d personally do a** #$e!e #$",! " a** 0o-c$er! 5re!e"#ed
+or $! !,"a#-re. T$e Co-r# 4o-*d be a!<", +or #$e m5o!!b*e.
A** $ead! o+ o++ce! $a0e #o re*. #o a rea!o"ab*e e=#e"# Fo" #$er
!-bord"a#e! a"d o" #$e ,ood +a#$ o+ #$o!e 5re5are bd!,
5-rc$a!e !-55*e!, or e"#er "#o "e,o#a#o"!. >f a de"ar#men#
$e're#ar/ en#er#an$ m"or#an# %$#or$, #*e a+d#or $ no# ordnar,/
e6"e'#ed #o 'a,, #*e re$#a+ran# a0o+# #*e amo+n# of #*e 0,,, @+e$#on
ea'* (+e$# .*e#*er *e .a$ "re$en# a# #*e ,+n'*eon, n@+re .*e#*er
#*e 'orre'# amo+n# of food .a$ $er%ed and o#*er.$e personally ,oo9
n#o #*e rem0+r$emen# %o+'*erG$ a''+ra'/, "ro"re#/, and $+ff'en'/.
T*ere *a$ #o 0e $ome added rea$on .*/ *e $*o+,d e6amne ea'*
%o+'*er n $+'* de#a,. A". e=ec-#0e $ead o+ e0e" small
,o0er"me"# a,e"ce! or comm!!o"! ca" a##e!# #o #$e 0o*-me
o+ 5a5er! #$a# m-!# be !,"ed. T$ere are $-"dred! o+ doc-me"#
, *e##er! a"d !-55or#", 5a5er #$a# ro-#"e*. 5a!! #$ro-,$ $!
$a"d!. T$e "-mber " b,,er o++ce! or de5ar#me"#! ! e0e"
more a55a**",.
T*ere $*o+,d 0e o#*er (ro+nd$ #*an #*e mere $(na#+re or
a""ro%a, a""earn( on a %o+'*er #o $+$#an a 'on$"ra'/ '*ar(e and
'on%'#on.
ARIASA 6ARTICI6ATI>NC Ara$ 3oned #*e Pa$( off'e on F+,/ 19, 19:C. T*e
ne(o#a#on$ for #*e "+r'*a$e of #*e "ro"er#/ $#ar#ed n 19::. T*e deed of $a,e
.a$ e6e'+#ed on A"r, 20, 19:C. T#,e .a$ #ran$ferred #o #*e Re"+0,' on F+ne
C, 19:C. I" o#$er 4ord!, #$e #ra"!ac#o" $ad a*read. bee"
co"!-mma#ed be+ore $! arr0a*. S*o+,d #*e 0( amo+n# of P1,;20,720.00
*a%e 'a+$ed *m #o n%e$#(a#e . (a#e #*e $ma,,e$# de#an$ of #*e #ran$a'#onI
&e!, + #$e *a"d 4a! rea**. 4or#$ o"*. 65.99 a !;-are me#er. Go4e0er, +
*a"d " 6a!, 4a! a*read. 4or#$ 689.99 a !;-are me#er a# #$e #me, "o
4ar"", be** o+ "#-#o" 4o-*d $a0e !o-"ded a" ""er a*arm. Land a,on(
Or#(a$ A%en+e on #*e .a/ #o Pa$( $ no. .or#* P20,000.00 #o P70,000.00 a
s+uare meter.
LOCGO
V
Arias v. SB
NaomA! B#c$e" ma9e$
and $e,,$ C*o'o,a#e$
$##5C@@"aom!<#c$e".m-*#5*..com
LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE 2nd Sem, AY 09-10, Prof. La V!a DIGEST #117
Arias v. SB Arias v. SB
DATAAS 6ARTICI6ATI>NC T*e 'omm##ee *e formed de#ermned #*e
a+#*en#'#/ of #*e do'+men#$ "re$en#ed #o #*em for "ro'e$$n( and on #*e
0a$$ #*ereof "re"ared #*e 'orre$"ondn( deed of $a,eJ #*ereaf#er, #*e
'omm##ee $+0m##ed #*e deed of $a,e #o(e#*er .#* #*e $+""or#n( do'+men#$
#o "e##oner Da#a for $(nn(J on #*e 0a$$ of #*e $+""or#n( 'er#fed
do'+men#$ .*'* a""eared re(+,ar and 'om",e#e on #*er fa'e, "e##oner Da#a,
a$ *ead of #*e off'e and #*e $(nn( a+#*or#/ a# #*a# ,e%e,, mere,/ $(ned 0+#
dd no# a""ro%e #*e deed of $a,e a$ #*e a""ro%a, #*ereof .a$ #*e "rero(a#%e of
#*e Se're#ar/ of P+0,' <or9$ for #$ fna, a""ro%a,.
GEHDC S1 de'$on SET AS>DE n$ofar a$ # 'on%'#$ and $en#en'e$ "e##oner$
Ara$ 4 Da#a. T*e/ are 0o#* a'@+##ed on (ro+nd$ of rea$ona0,e do+0#.
>nade@+a'/ of e%den'e $ no# $+ff'en# #o .arran# a 'on%'#on.
DISSENTING >6INI>N >D GRIN>8AI'IN>C Co"!5rac. o+ S*e"ce a"d
I"ac#o" - T*e "e##onerG$ "ar#a,#/ for A(,e*amKG+#erre- ma/ 0e nferred
from #*er *a%n( de,0era#e,/ ',o$ed #*er e/e$ #o #*e defe'#$ and rre(+,ar#e$
of #*e #ran$a'#on n *$ fa%or and #*er $eemn( ne(,e'#, f no# de,0era#e
om$$on, #o '*e'9, #*e a+#*en#'#/ of #*e do'+men#$ "re$en#ed #o #*em for
a""ro%a,. Sn'e "ar#a,#/ $ a men#a, $#a#e or "red,e'#on, n #*e a0$en'e of
dre'# e%den'e, # ma/ 0e "ro%ed 0/ #*e a##endan# 'r'+m$#an'e n$#an'e$.
LOCGO
V
Arias v. SB
NaomA! B#c$e" ma9e$
and $e,,$ C*o'o,a#e$
$##5C@@"aom!<#c$e".m-*#5*..com