doj petition for review rule 45

8/9/2019 DOJ Petition for Review Rule 45

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Republic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Manila

MELISSA MERCADO MARTEL Complainant-Appellant,

- versus - I!S! No! "#$ D$%&%'

RO(ERT PU)AT MARTEL

Respondent-Appellee.

x -------------------------------------------- x

APPEAL*PETTITION FOR RE+IE, TO T-E

-ONORA(LE SECRETAR) OF JUSTICE

COMPLAINANT-APPELLANT MELISSA MERCAO MARTEL

!"Complainant#$, assisted %& 'ounsel, respe't(ull& (iles t)is APPEAL*PETITION +OR

REIE !"Appeal#$ to t)e onora%le Se'retar& o( /usti'e to REERSE AN SET

ASIE t)e )i0)l& ar%itrar&, 'ompletel& %aseless, 0rossl& un1usti(ied and mani(estl&

erroneous RESOL2TION o( Senior State Prose'utor Ro%erto A. Lao, a'tin0 as Assistant

Cit& Prose'utor o( Ma3ati Cit& !"ACP LAO#$4, dated Au0ust 44, 5667 !"Resolution$,

'op& re'eived on t)e same date, dismissin0 (or "insu((i'ien'& o( eviden'e#5 t)e

Complaint-A((idavit (iled %& Complainant a0ainst )er )us%and, Respondent Ro%ert Pu&at

Martel !"Respondent#$ (or +rustrated Parri'ide !t)e "Complaint#$.

A 'erti(ied true 'op& o( t)e 8uestioned Resolution, 9)i') does not %ear t)e

)eadin0 o( t)e epartment o( /usti'e, is atta')ed as Anne. /A0and made an inte0ral part

)ereo(.

I!TIMELINESS OF T-E APPEAL

4. Se'tion : o( epartment Cir'ular No. ;6 provides t)at t)e appeal s)all %e

ta3en 9it)in (i(teen !4


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5. T)e 'ounsel o( Complainant re'eived a 'op& o( t)e 8uestioned Resolution

on Au0ust 44, 5667 or on t)e same date it 9as issued.

:. T)e 4


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III! STATEMENT OF MATERIAL FACTS

?. T)e Complaint (or +rustrated Parri'ide (iled %& t)e Complainant a0ainst

t)e Respondent states t)at@

"!a$ On Au0ust 5=, 566: at or around 5@66 PM, I 9as 9at')in0 television in

m& sons room, Paolo M. Martel !)ereina(ter "PAOLO#$, lo'ated at t)e

RitB To9ers, Apt.


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0uard Nimes !)ereina(ter "Nimes#$. ROD 9al3ed slo9l& to9ards me

9it) t)e pistol on )is side and in a )us)ed an0r& tone said, "Putan0-ina

moF )o t)e )ell do &ou t)in3 &ou areG# e t)en 9rapped )is le(t arm

around me, )eld up t)e 0un, pointed t)e 0un 'lose to m& a%domen, pulled

t)e tri00er and s)ot me.

!($ Stunned and %leedin0, I as3ed Castillo to )elp me es'ape t)e apartment.

Castillo 'are(ull& led me do9n t)e emer0en'& stair9ell and as 9e 9al3ed

do9n to9ards t)e lo%%& o( t)e RitB To9ers, I )eard ROD s)outin0 at

Castillo, "Putang-ina mo Castillo! Mamili ka, pera ko o buhay niya!

Castillo replied sa&in0, "Buhay po Sir.

!0$ 2pon rea')in0 t)e lo%%& o( t)e RitB To9ers, I 9as immediatel& rus)ed to

t)e emer0en'& room o( t)e Ma3ati Medi'al Center %& t)e driver, Ri'ardo

anaa0 !)ereina(ter "anaa0#$, Castillo and m& &oun0er son, Anton.

!)$ 2pon arrivin0 at t)e emer0en'& room o( t)e Ma3ati Medi'al Center, t)e

do'tors and t)e nurses as3ed me 9)at )appened and I told t)em, "I 9as

s)ot %& m& )us%and.#

!i$ M& mot)er i'toria C. Mer'ado, rus)ed to m& side and I told )er ROD

s)ot me.#

>. On Ma&


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A 'op& o( t)e A((idavit o( esistan'e is atta')ed as ANNE1 /3# and made an

inte0ral part )ereo(.

46. Nimes and Castillo are %od&0uards o( Respondent 9)o admit t)at t)e&

'ontinue to %e emplo&ed %& Respondent. Ni33i, a minor, and Paolo are ')ildren o( t)e

Complainant and Respondent livin0 9it) Respondent. Att&. avid Pu&at is Respondents

'ounsel and (irst 'ousin.

44. Riodi8ue is a poli'e investi0ator 9it) t)e Criminal Investi0ation ivision,

omi'ide Se'tion, Ma3ati Cit& Poli'e Station 9)o investi0ated t)e s)ootin0 o(

Complainant. e stated in )is A((idavit !ANNE1 /-0$ t)at@

":. urin0 t)e entire investi0ation, Ms. Martel nevermentioned t)at s)e 9as s)ot %& Mr. Ro%ert Martel, nor did s)e mention

t)at t)e 0uns)ot 9ound s)e sustained resulted (rom t)e (ault o( Mr. Martel.

7. S)e also mentioned t)at s)e 9as not interested in (ilin0 an& ')ar0es

a0ainst an&one %e'ause t)e in1uries s)e sustained 9ere t)e result o( an

a''ident.#

45. o9ever, in Riodi8ues +inal Investi0ation Report, 9)i') Respondent

annexed to t)e Petition (or Certiorari t)at )e (iled in t)e Court o( Appeals:as Annex "C,#

Riodi8ue 'ontradi'ted )is A((idavit !ANNE1 /-0$ 9)en )e stated t)at !a$ t)e

Complainant re(used to 0ive an& statement, t)ere(ore, t)e& never spo3e to ea') ot)er and,

!%$ )e 'on'luded it 9as an a''ident solelyon t)e %asis o( t)e A((idavit o( esistan'e

personall& su%mitted to )im %& Att&. Ra(ael Har'ia, a la9&er o( Respondent and 9)o

misrepresented )imsel( as t)e la9&er o( t)e Complainant. To 8uote pertinent portions o(

t)e +inal Investi0ation Report@

";.T)e vi'tim 9)o re(used to 0ive an& statement momentaril& 0ave

instead a mani(estation t)at an& in8uiries 9it) re0ards to t)e said in'ident

s)ould %e 'oursed to )er son !PAOLO$.

?. T)is o((i'e sent a letter to MR. ROERTO MARTEL,

)us%and o( MELISSA re8uestin0 )im to appear %e(ore t)is o((i'e to s)ed

li0)t on t)e in'ident 9)i') 9as re'eived %& t)eir se'urit& aide RICAROT2MAHO. o9ever, Mr. MARTEL (ailed to appear %e(ore t)is o((i'e

to 0ive an& in(ormation a%out t)e in'ident. Li3e9ise, t)is pro%er sent a

letter to PAOLO MARTEL, 9)om )er mot)er 0ave an aut)orit& torepresent on )er %e)al( to appear %e(ore t)is o((i'e %ut )e also (ailed to

report to t)is o((i'e to 0ive an& 'omment.

: CA H.R. Sp. No. ?:;


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>. On O'to%er 4=, 566:, ATTD. RA+AEL HARCIA 9)o 9as t)e 'ounsel de

parte o( t)e vi'tim appeared to t)is o((i'e and su%mitted personall& an

A((idavit o( esistan'e exe'uted %& MELISSA MARTEL statin0 t)ereint)at t)e 0uns)ot 9ound s)e sustained 9as a result (rom an a''ident,

9it)out t)e (ault o( ne0li0en'e o( an&%od& and t)ere(ore, s)e voluntaril&

desisted (rom (ilin0 an& 'omplaint, 'riminal or 'ivil, a0ainst an& person,in'ludin0 )er )us%and, ROERT MARTEL.

A 'op& o( t)e +inal Investi0ation Report exe'uted %& Riodi8ue, dated O'to%er 5


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COMPLAINANT ,IT-OUT APPRECIATIN2 T-E TRUT-

T-AT IT ,AS PROCURED () T-E RESPONDENT AND

T-AT T-E COMPLAINANT ,AS FORCED

INTIMIDATED AND -ARRASSED TO SI2N IT ,-ILE

S-E ,AS STILL L)IN2 IN -ER -OSPITAL (ED

FI2-TIN2 FOR -ER LIFE!

!$ACP LAO ERRONEOUSL) CONCLUDED T-AT T-ECOMPLAINANT IS NOT CREDI(LE (ECAUSE S-E

FILED -ER COMPLAINT /MORE T-AN EI2-T 4:5

MONT-S AFTER T-E INCIDENT!0#

+!AR2UMENTS IN SUPPORT OF T-E APPEAL

4A5 ACP LAO ACTED ,IT- 2RA+E A(USE OF

AUT-ORIT) AND DISCRETION IN CONDUCTIN2 T-E

PRELIMINAR) IN+ESTI2ATION AS IF IT ,ERE A

TRIAL ON T-E MERITS AND DISMISSED T-E

COMPLAINT FOR /INSUFFICIENC) OF E+IDENCE0

AFTER FINDIN2 T-AT T-E RESPONDENT AND -IS

(OD)2UARDS ,ERE MORE CREDI(LE T-AN T-E

+ICTIM T-E COMPLAINANT!

4=. ACP LAO 0ravel& a%used )is aut)orit& and dis'retion 9)en )e issued t)e 8uestioned

Resolution as i( )e 'ondu'ted a trial on t)e merits and dismissed t)e Complaint a(ter

(indin0 t)at Respondents de(ense o( a''ident, as 'orro%orated %& )is %od&0uards, 9as

more 'redi%le@

"As )it)erto s)o9n, 'omplainants narration o( t)e events is (ar

(rom t)e trut) as testi(ied to %& t)e (amil&s o9n se'urit& 0uards emplo&edsin'e 5666, disinterested 9itnesses as t)e& are. In t)is re0ard, t)e %alan'e

o( 'redi%ilit& tilts in (avor o( respondent. More so in vie9 o( t)e a((idavit

o( desistan'e 'omplainant )ersel( exe'uted on O'to%er 4


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%elieve t)at t)e a''used is pro%a%l& 0uilt& o( t)e 'rime and t)ere(ore, 9)et)er an

in(ormation s)ould %e (iled a0ainst t)e a''used !People s. nting, 4?; SCRA ;??$.

Simpl& stated, all t)at ACP LAO is re8uired to do is to determine t)e existen'e o(

pro%a%le 'ause.

4>. To determine t)e existen'e o( pro%a%le 'ause, t)e prose'utor onl& )as to

(ind t)at t)ere is reasona%le 0round to %elieve t)at t)e a''used 'ommitted t)e 'rime. As

stated %& t)e Supreme Court in Pilapil s. Sandiganbayan, H.R. No. 464>;?, April ;,

4>>:@

"Pro%a%le 'ause is a reasona%le 0round or presumptions t)at amatter is, or ma& %e 9ell-(ounded, su') as a state o( (a'ts in t)e mind o(

t)e prose'utor as 9ould lead a person o( ordinar& a'tuation and pruden'eto %elieve, or entertain an )onest or stron0 suspi'ion, t)at a t)in0s is so.

T)e term does not mean Ja'tual and positive 'ause nor does it import

a%solute 'ertaint&. It is merel& %ased on opinion and reasona%le %elie(.T)us, a (indin0 o( pro%a%le 'ause does not re8uire an in8uir& into 9)et)er

t)ere is su((i'ient eviden'e to pro'ure a 'onvi'tion. It is enou0) t)at it is

%elieved t)at t)e a't or omission 'omplained 'onstitutes t)e o((ense

')ar0ed. Pre'isel&, t)ere is a trial (or t)e re'eption o( eviden'e o( t)eprose'ution in support o( t)e ')ar0e.#

!See, also People . Castillo, ::: SCRA


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54. is error is made more e0re0ious 9)en )e 'on'luded t)at t)e Respondent

and )is %od&0uards 9ere more 'redi%lesolelyon t)e %asis o( t)eir prepared a((idavits.

T)e re'ords s)o9 t)at t)e ACP LAO never 'ondu'ted an& 'lari(i'ator& 8uestionin0 o( t)e

parties and t)eir 9itnesses, t)ere(ore, never )ad t)e opportunit& to o%serve t)eir

deportment, manner o( testi(&in0, or )e 9ould )ave veri(ied t)at t)e %od&0uards 9ere

not e&e 9itnesses to t)e s)ootin0. T)e re'ords s)o9 t)at ACP LAO onl& re8uired t)e

parties and t)eir 9itnesses to appear %e(ore )im (or t)e purpose o( rene9in0 t)e oat)s on

t)eir respe'tive a((idavits.

55. It is (undamental la9 t)at t)e 1ud0ement o( 'redi%ilit& is derived (rom an

open 'ourt examination o( testimonial eviden'e, dire't examination or 'ross-examination.

/ud0ement o( 'redi%ilit& is )ardl& possi%le %& a mere readin0 o( t)e dr& 'ontents o(

Respondents Counter-A((idavit and )is 9itnesses respe'tive A((idavits, 9)i') are, (or

t)e most part, prepared %& t)e la9&er. T)e 'redi%ilit& o( t)e 9itnesses 'annot %e in(erred

%& mere examination o( t)e do'uments !a((idavits$ t)at t)e parties presented spe'iall& in

t)is 'ase 9)ere t)ere 9as no )earin0 set (or 'lari(i'ator& 8uestions. As t)e Supreme Court

pointed out in Mondia, $r. . 'eputy "mbudsman)*isayas #rea, :7= SCRA :=


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)ersel( in t)e a%domen. T)e p)oto0rap)s o( t)e Complainant, t)e Medi'o Le0al Report

and t)e is')ar0e Summar&, 9)i') prove t)at t)e Complainant 9as too %adl& %eaten and

%ruised %& t)e Respondent, totall& 'ontradi't ACP LAOS (indin0s t)at t)e s)ootin0 9as

a''idental and sel(-in(li'ted.

57.T)e t9o p)oto0rap)s o( t)e Complainant ta3en t9o da&s a(ter t)e s)ootin0

9)ile s)e 9as t)e Intensive Care 2nit vividl& s)o9 t)e %eatin0 s)e re'eived on )er e&es,

(a'e and ot)er parts o( )er %od&;.

5undou%tedl& supports Complainants alle0ations t)at s)e 9as

severel& %eaten and %ruised %e(ore %ein0 s)ot %& Respondent@

/(RIEF -ISTOR)6

Nature o( In'ident@ Huns)ot 9ound

PERTINENT P-)SICAL E1AMINATION6

4. Point o( entr&, HS, 4 'm, !$ tattooin0, epi0astri' area.5. Point o( exit, !$ HS, 4 'm, t)ora'olum%ar area, le(t.

:. !$ S9ellin0


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5;. ACP LAO s)ould )ave appre'iated t)e (a't t)at it 9as Respondent 9)o

9as t)e a00ressor and not t)e Complainant. It is 'ompletel& ridi'ulous to 'on'lude t)at

Complainant intended or 'ould in1ure or 3ill Respondent 9it) onl& a REA 3ni(e or a

%ottle o( "patis.#46I( t)e Complainant 0ra%%ed a REA 3ni(e or a %ottle o( "patis,# it

9as to de(end )ersel( a0ainst an& (urt)er atta'3 %& t)e Respondent. )at t)e

Respondents %od&0uards a'tuall& sa9 9as not a mere "8uarrel# %et9een )us%and and

9i(e %ut 9as an a't o( IOLENCE a0ainst t)e Complainant, 9)i') is no9 a 'rime

under Repu%li' A't No. >5=5, ot)er9ise 3no9n as t)e Anti-iolen'e A0ainst omen and

t)eir C)ildren A't o( 5667.

5?. Respondents alle0ation t)at "9e t)en ended up 9restlin0 all over our 3it')en#44 is

'ompletel& un%elieva%le. e ma3es it appear t)at Complainant is stron0er and (ier'er t)at

)e is 9)en t)e Medi'o-Le0al Report and t)e is')ar0e Summar& prove t)at it 9as t)e

Complainant 9)o sustained severe %eatin0 prior to %ein0 s)ot %& Respondent. T)e trut)

is 9)en Complainant tried to (ee%l& de(end )ersel( 9it) a REA 3ni(e and a %ottle o(

"patis,# Respondent 0ot an0rier and, in a s)o9 o( po9er, s)ot )er in )er a%domen 9it)

deli%erate intent to 3ill.

5. RESPONDENT8S ACTIONSIMMEDIATEL) AFTER T-E

S-OOTIN2 ARE E+IDENCE OF

2UILT!

5>. ACP LAO misappre'iated t)e (a't t)at Respondents a'tions immediatel& a(ter s)ootin0

t)e Complainant, are eviden'e o( 0uilt.

!a$ Respondent admits t)at )e did not ma3e an& e((ort to )elp )is 9i(e

0et up (rom t)e 3it')en (loor nor did )e )elp )er out o( t)eir 'on1u0al d9ellin0 to

0o to t)e )ospital. e did not 'all (or immediate medi'al attention nor did )e 'all

t)e )ospital to as3 (or )elp. e did not report it to t)e Ma3ati poli'e. e did

a%solutel& not)in0 to tr& to save t)e li(e o( )is 9i(e. T)e 8uestion t)at ACP LAO

s)ould )ave as3ed is, i( as Respondent 'laims t)at t)e s)ootin0 9as an a''ident,

46Resolution'itin0 A((idavits o( Nimes and Castillo, pa0es 7, < and =.

44 A((idavit o( Respondent, pa0e 5, par. 4:, ANNE1 /D!0

45


13/27


14/27

!e$ Respondent admits t)at )e (led t)e 'ountr& "as earl& as 5 Septem%er 566: and

onl& returned on < e'em%er 566:# and atta')ed )is passport to prove t)e same4=.

In ot)er 9ords, exa'tl& seven !;$ da&s a(ter s)ootin0 )is 9i(e, Respondent (led t)e

'ountr&. T)e 8uestion t)at ACP LAO s)ould )ave as3ed is 9)& did Respondent

(lee t)e 'ountr& immediatel& a(ter )is 9i(e 9as s)ot and 9)ile s)e 9as (i0)tin0

(or )er li(e in)e Intensive Care 2nitG Are t)ese t)e a'tuations o( a man 9)o )ad

no intent to 3ill or in1ure )is 9i(eG

As )eld in a lon0 line o( 'ases, "(li0)t %etra&s a 0uilt& 'ons'ien'e, (or as t)e 0ood

%oo3 sa&s, t)e 9i'3ed (leet) even 9)en no man pursuet), 9)ereas t)e ri0)teous are as

%rave as a lion !Sealle . Court o+ #ppeals, :


15/27

:4. ACP LAO 0rossl& misappre'iated t)e (a't t)at Complainant s)ot )ersel( as s)e and

Respondent stru00led (or possession o( t)e 0un. T)is (indin0 is outra0eous sin'e t)e

p)oto0rap)s, t)e Medi'o Le0al Report and t)e is')ar0e Summar& su%mitted %& t)e

Complainant prove ot)er9ise. More importantl&, Respondents o9n statements in )is

Counter-A((idavit %elie )is de(ense o( a''ident.

:4.I( ACP LAO a'tuall& read Respondents Counter-A((idavit, )e 9ould dis'over

t)at Respondent admitted t)at !a$ )e )ad 'ontrol and possession o( t)e 0un and, !%$ )e

s)ot )er on'e@

"KI I NOT SOOT m& 9i(e 9it) t)e intention o( 3illin0 )er nor did Iintend to in1ure )er in an& 9a&. T)ere 9as a%solutel& no intention o( m& part to

3ill Melissa! If it =e;e t;ue that I ha> such intention =hB then =oul> I not

fi;e a secon> o; thi;> shot =hen I =oul> hae un>e; such situation ee;B

oppo;tunitB to >o so!# !Emp)asis Ours A((idavit o( Respondent, par. 4?,

ANNE1 /D0$.

is alle0ation t)at )e )as to (ire t9o or t)ree times to s)o9 intent to 3ill is totall&

ridi'ulous %e'ause t)e realit& is it ta3es onl& one %ullet, one s)ot, to 3ill anot)er. Sin'e

t)e Respondent admitted t)at )e s)ot )is 9i(e, t)ere is no ot)er reasona%le 'on'lusion

t)an a (indin0 o( pro%a%le 'ause, and let t)e Respondent prove )is de(ense o( "a''idental

s)ootin0# in 'ourt.

:5. ACP LAO also erroneousl& 'on'ludedsolely on Respondents alle0ations t)at t)e "t)e

0un a''identall& 9ent o(( "4;9)en "our momentum 'aused us to slam into t)e

re(ri0erator door#4?. T)e ridi'ulous 'on'lusion is t)at t)e Complainant s)ot )ersel(.

::.T)e "slam!min0$ into t)e re(ri0erator door# 'ould not )ave 'aused t)e .:?

'ali%er pistol to 0o o(( on its o9n and penetrate t)e a%domen o( Complainant at t)e

pre'ise entr& and exit point stated in t)e Medi'o Le0al Report !"4. Point o( entr&, HS, 4

'm, !$ tattooin0, epi0astri' area. 5. Point o( exit, !$ HS, 4 'm, t)ora'olum%ar area,

le(t#$. Someone )ad to 'o'3 t)e 0un, pull t)e tri00er and (ire it at point-%lan3 ran0e in t)e

a%domen o( t)e Complainant and produ'e t)e entr& and exit point o( t)e %ullet stated in

t)e Medi'o-Le0al Report. T)at person is t)e Respondent, 9)o is %i00er and stron0er t)an

4;Resolution, pa0e =.

4? A((idavit o( Respondent, pa0e 5, par. 4


16/27


17/27


18/27

,AS FORCED INTIMIDATED AND -ARRASSED TO

SI2N IT ,-ILE S-E ,AS STILL L)IN2 IN -ER

-OSPITAL (ED FI2-TIN2 FOR -ER LIFE!

:>. ACP LAO 0ravel& a%used )is aut)orit& and dis'retion 9)en )e 'on'luded t)at t)e

A((idavit o( esistan'e, 9)i') 9as pro'ured %& Respondent 9as a (ree and voluntar& a't

o( t)e Complainant.

76. ACP LAO (ailed to appre'iate t)e (a'ts t)at !a$ t)e A((idavit o( esistan'e 9as prepared

%& Respondents la9&er, Att&. avid Pu&at, !%$ it 9as pro'ured %& Respondent, t)rou0)

Att&. avid Pu&at and Complaints son Paolo, 9)ile t)e Complainant 9as still l&in0 in

)er )ospital %ed at t)e Ma3ati Medi'al Center, and !'$ t)at s)e 9as in an extremel&

vulnera%le state 9it) no mone& to pa& (or )er medi'al %ills in t)e )ospital a(ter )er

dis')ar0e, (or t)e 'ontinuin0 medi'al 'osts as a result o( )er in1ur& amountin0 to a%out

P76,666 a mont). Hiven t)ese 'ir'umstan'es, t)e Complainant 9as )elpless and

'on'luded t)at s)e )ad no ')oi'e %ut to si0n t)e desistan'e.

74. A 9i(e su((erin0 (rom a serious 0uns)ot 9ound in )er a%domen in(li'ted %& )er )us%and,

9)ile at t)e %rin3 o( li(e or deat) and 9it) 9ea3ened mental (a'ult&, 'ould not %e

expe'ted to utter in 'lear terms t)at )er "0uns)ot 9ound resulted (rom an a''ident,

9it)out t)e (ault or ne0li0en'e o( an&%od&.#5:Certainl&, t)e pressure o( li(e or deat) and

t)e pressure o( survival on t)e part o( t)e Complainant, l&in0 in )er )ospital %ed 9ere too

real, erasin0 an& (air-minded in(eren'e t)at t)e A((idavit o( esistan'e 9as )er (ree and

voluntar& a't.

75. ACP LAO also (ailed to see t)is 'ase (rom a 0ender perspe'tive. omen su')

Complainant are po9erless a0ainst t)eir )us%ands 9)o in most 'ases ! espe'iall& in t)is

'ase$ )ave t)e mone&, politi'al in(luen'e and po9er. iolen'e is 'ommitted %& men

a0ainst 9omen %e'ause o( t)eir une8ual relations)ips 9it)in marria0e and 9it)in

intimate relations)ips. Prior to t)e s)ootin0 and t)rou0)out t)eir t9ent&-t)ree !5:$ &ears

o( marria0e, Respondent )ad repeatedl& %eaten t)e Complainant, )umiliated )er and

t)reatened )er li(e 9it) a 0un. T)e Complainant testi(ied to t)e )orrendous a%uses s)e

5: A((idavit o( esistan'e, par. :, Annex "

4?


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su((ered in t)e )ands o( t)e Respondent at t)e )earin0 o( )er appli'ation (or Temporar&

Prote'tion Order in t)e Re0ional Trial Court o( Ma3ati Cit&, ran') 4:=, 9)i') t)e Court

0ranted.

7:. T)e Complainants 'ounsel, Att&. o9ard Calle1a, stron0l& advised )er not to si0n t)e

A((idavit o( esistan'e, %ut s)e 9as 'ompelled to si0n t)e same %e'ause t)e Respondent,

t)rou0) )is la9&er and son, t)reatened )er t)at t)e Respondent 9ould not pa& (or )er

medi'al %ills !amountin0 to a%out t)ree !:$ million pesos$ or support )er a(ter s)e leaves

t)e )ospital, and s)e 9ill not see )er ')ildren a0ain unless s)e exe'uted t)e A((idavit o(

esistan'e. A 'op& o( t)e A((idavit o( Att&. o9ard Calle1a is atta')ed as ANNE1 /N0

o( t)is Appeal.

76.ACP LAO (ailed to appre'iate t)e (a't t)at an inno'ent )us%and 9ould not

)ave made )is 9i(e exe'ute an A((idavit o( esistan'e (or it 9ould )ave served no

purpose i( )e )ad not done an&t)in0 9ron0. & so doin0, t)e Respondent )ad in e((e't

admitted t)at )e intentionall& s)ot t)e Complainant, and to ensure t)at t)e Complainant

9ould not (ile a 'ase a0ainst )im, sent )is la9&er and son to (or'e, intimidate and )arass

t)e Complainant into si0nin0 an A((idavit o( esistan'e.

74. It 9as patentl& erroneous (or ACP LAO to 'on'lude t)at t)e A((idavit o(

esistan'e exonerated t)e Respondent (rom 'riminal responsi%ilit& espe'iall& sin'e t)e

Complainant )ad expressl& retra'ted and repudiated it in )er Complaint ! ANNE1 /(#$

and Repl&-A((idavit !ANNE1 /M#$.

77. T)e Supreme Court )as )eld t)at a 'omplainant 9)o exe'uted an a((idavit o( desistan'e

'an repudiate or renoun'e or retra't it %& pursuin0 t)e 'riminal 'ase and prose'utin0 it.

Hiven t)e )i0)l& suspi'ious 'ir'umstan'es t)at 0enerall& surround t)e exe'ution o( an

a((idavit o( desistan'e, t)e Supreme Court )as also )eld t)at its due exe'ution s)ould %e

su%1e'ted to ri0orous examination %& t)e trial 'ourt and not %& t)e prose'utor@

"An a((idavit o( desistan'e is easil& o%tained (or monetar& 'onsideration

or t)rou0) intimidation. T)us, t)e& are treated 9it) suspi'ion and reservation. In

t)is 'ase, t)e a((idavit o( desistan'e must not %e di0ni(ied. R)iBa, in )er tendera0e, 'oura0eousl& de'lared in open 'ourt t)at s)e pursued t)e rape 'ase and

disre0arded t)e a((idavit o( desistan'e %e'ause s)e 9anted to o%tain 1usti'e.

4>


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21/27

%e0an to ma3e 'ontradi'tor& statements in re0ard to t)is 'rimeKe )imsel( %&

)is o9n a't o( 0ivin0 (alse testimon& impea')es )is o9n testimon& and t)e 'ourt

is 'ompelled to ex'lude it (rom all 'onsideration.#

4D5 ACP LAO ERRONEOUSL) CONCLUDED T-E

COMPLAINANT IS NOT CREDI(LE (ECAUSE S-E

FILED -ER COMPLAINT /MORE T-AN EI2-T 4:5

MONT-S AFTER T-E INCIDENT!0

7?. T)e Complainant (iled t)e 'ase seven !;$ mont)s a(ter t)e s)ootin0 and not "more t)an

ei0)t !?$ mont)s a(ter t)e in'ident# as ACP LAO erroneousl& pointed out.

7>. In an& 'ase, it is 9it)in t)e Complainants ri0)t to (ile t)e Complaint as t)e a'tion to (ile

t)e same )as not pres'ri%ed. Arti'le 57= o( t)e Revised Penal Code states t)at parri'ide is

punis)a%le %& reclusion perpetua to deat). Arti'le >6 o( t)e same la9 provides t)at

'rimes 9)i') are punis)a%le %& deat), reclusion perpetuaor reclusion temporalpres'ri%e

in t9ent& !56$ &ears. It is immaterial i( s)e (iled it one !4$ da& or seven !;$ mont)s or

ei0)t !?$ mont)s a(ter t)e tra0i' in'ident. Ones ri0)t to (ile a 'riminal a'tion 'annot %e

extin0uis)ed %& t)e (a't t)at s)e %elatedl& (iled it, most espe'iall& i( t)e a'tion )as not

pres'ri%ed.


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23/27


24/27

FILED DURIN2 T-E PRELIMINAR) IN+ESTI2ATION


25/27

+II! SU(MISSION OF ADDITIONAL PLEADIN2S


26/27

In t)e interest o( 1usti'e and (air pla&, t)e Complainant most respe't(ull& pra&s (or

ot)er 1ust and e8uita%le relie( as t)e onora%le Se'retar& o( /usti'e ma& (ind 9arranted in

t)e premises.

Pasi0 Cit&, Au0ust 57, 5667

LO2RES CR2 MATTERS

Counsel (or Private Respondent PTR No. :66


27/27

MELISSA M. MARTEL

S2SCRIE AN SORN to %e(ore me t)is QQQQQ da& o( Au0ust at Ma3ati

Cit&, a((iant ex)i%itin0 to me )er Comm. Tax Cert. No. QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ issued on

QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ at QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ.

NOTARD P2LIC

o'. No. QQQQ

Pa0e No. QQQQoo3 No. QQQ

Series o( 5667.

Cop& +urnis)ed@

ATTD. EOHRACIAS P. C2STOIO

Counsel (or RespondentPu&at /a'into and Santos La9 O((i'es

45t)+loor, Manila an3 uildin0

=;;5 A&ala Avenue, Ma3ati Cit&

455= Metro Manila

5;

doj petition for review rule 45

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