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Issues:
1. Whether or not there is a validity of the creation of the Court of Special and
Exclusive Criminal Jurisdiction, and of the summary procedure adopted for that
court
2. Whether or not the validity of the sentence which imprisonment during the
Japanese military occupation;
3. if they were then valid, the effect on said punitive sentence of the reoccupation
of the Philippines and the restoration therein of the Commonwealth Government
Held:
1. The creation of the Court of Special and Exclusive Criminal Jurisdiction and the
summary procedure is valid. The existence of such court is to serve as a
government instrumentality of the belligerent occupant, which in this case are the
Japanese Imperial Army. It functions solely to apply the law to any case that falls
within their jurisdiction.
With regards to the summary of procedure adopted by the Special court, such
procedure is also considered valid. An invader, the Japanese Army for this
matter, can set up military courts and provide laws to ensure their safety and
relations towards the inhabitants of the occupied territory to preserve public
order.
2. The validity of the sentence that imposes life imprisonment depends on the
competence of the belligerent occupant to promulgate the penalties provided in
Art. No. 65 of the National Assembly. In the present case, the sentence of life
imprisonment is within the power and competence of the Japanese to promulgate
such law.
3. All judgments of political complexion of the courts during Japanese regime
ceased to be valid upon reoccupation of the Islands, as such, the sentence which
convicted the petitioner of a crime of a political complexion must be considered
as having ceased to be valid by the principle of Postliminy. The sentence of life
imprisonment is lifted and the writ of habeas corpus is granted.