laurel vs misa to burgos vs chief of staff crim law 2

8/9/2019 Laurel vs Misa to Burgos vs Chief of Staff crim Law 2

1/42

Republic of the Philippines

SUPREME COURT

Manila

EN BANC

G.R. No. L-!" #anua$% &!' (")

ANASTAC*O LAUREL' petitione$'

+s.

ER*BERTO M*SA' $espon,ent.

Claro M. Recto and Querube C. Makalintal for petitioner.

First Assistant Solicitor General Reyes and Solicitor Hernandez, Jr., for

respondent.

R E S O L U T * O N

In G.R. No. L-409,Anastacio Laurel vs. Eriberto Misa, etc., the Court, acting on the

petition for habeas corpusled by na!tacio Laurel and ba!ed on a theory that a"ilipino citi#en $ho adhered to the ene%y gi&ing the latter aid and co%fort during

the 'apane!e occupation cannot be pro!ecuted for the cri%e of trea!on dened and

penali#ed by article ((4 of the Re&i!ed )enal Code, for the rea!on *(+ that the

!o&ereignty of the legiti%ate go&ern%ent in the )hilippine! and, con!euently, the

correlati&e allegiance of "ilipino citi#en! thereto $a! then !u!pended and *+ that

there $a! a change of !o&ereignty o&er the!e I!land! upon the procla%ation of the

)hilippine Republic/

*(+ Con!idering that a citi#en or !ubect o$e!, not a ualied and

te%porary, but an ab!olute and per%anent allegiance, $hich con!i!t! in the

obligation of delity and obedience to hi! go&ern%ent or !o&ereign and that thi!

ab!olute and per%anent allegiance !hould not be confu!ed $ith the ualied and

te%porary allegiance $hich a foreigner o$e! to the go&ern%ent or !o&ereign of the

territory $herein he re!ide!, !o long a! he re%ain! there, in return for the protection

he recei&e!, and $hich con!i!t! in the obedience to the la$! of the go&ern%ent or

!o&ereign. *Carli!le vs.1nite 2tate!, ( La$. ed., 49 2ecretary of 2tate 3eb!ter

Report to the )re!ident of the 1nited 2tate! in the ca!e of hra!er, 5 3eb. 3or6!,

75+

Con!idering that the ab!olute and per%anent allegiance of the inhabitant!

of a territory occupied by the ene%y of their legiti%ate go&ern%ent or !o&ereign i!

not abrogated or !e&ered by the ene%y occupation, becau!e the !o&ereignty of the

go&ern%ent or !o&ereign de jure i! not tran!ferred thereby to the occupier, a! $e

ha&e held in the ca!e! of Co Kim Cham vs. Valdez Tan Keh and Dizon *87 )hil., ((+

and of eralta vs. Director o! risons *87 )hil., :7+, and if it i! not tran!ferred to theoccupant it %u!t nece!!arily re%ain &e!ted in the legiti%ate go&ern%ent that the

!o&ereignty &e!ted in the titular go&ern%ent *$hich i! the !upre%e po$er $hich

go&ern! a body politic or !ociety $hich con!titute the !tate+ %u!t be di!tingui!hed

fro% the e;erci!e of the right! inherent thereto, and %ay be de!troyed, or !e&ered

and tran!ferred to another, but it cannot be !u!pended becau!e the e;i!tence of

!o&ereignty cannot be !u!pended $ithout putting it out of e;i!tence or di&e!ting the

po!!e!!or thereof at lea!t during the !o-called period of !u!pen!ion that $hat %ay

be !u!pended i! the e;erci!e of the right! of !o&ereignty $ith the control and

go&ern%ent of the territory occupied by the ene%y pa!!e! te%porarily to the

occupant that the !ub!i!tence of the !o&ereignty of the legiti%ate go&ern%ent in aterritory occupied by the %ilitary force! of the ene%y during the $ar, of the right! of !o&ereignty, becau!e a! thi! re%ain! &e!ted in the legiti%ate

go&ern%ent and i! not tran!ferred to the occupier, it cannot be !u!pended $ithout

putting it out of e;i!tence or di&e!ting !aid go&ern%ent thereof and that in the

!econd ca!e, that i!, if the !aid conclu!ion or doctrine refer! to the !u!pen!ion of the

!o&ereignty it!elf, it ha! beco%e ob!olete after the adoption of the >agueRegulation! in (908, and therefore it can not be applied to the pre!ent ca!e

Con!idering that e&en adopting the $ord!


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!o&ereign if he adhere! to the ene%ie! of the latter by gi&ing the% aid and co%fort

and that if the allegiance of a citi#en or !ubect to hi! go&ern%ent or !o&ereign i!

nothing %ore than obedience to it! la$! in return for the protection he recei&e!, it

$ould nece!!arily follo$ that a citi#en $ho re!ide! in a foreign country or !tate

$ould, on one hand, ipso !actoacuire the citi#en!hip thereof !ince he ha! enforce

public order and regulate the !ocial and co%%ercial life, in return for the protection

he recei&e!, and $ould, on the other hand, lo!e hi! original citi#en!hip, becau!e he

$ould not be bound to obey %o!t of the la$! of hi! o$n go&ern%ent or !o&ereign,

and $ould not recei&e, $hile in a foreign country, the protection he i! entitled to in

hi! o$n

Con!idering that, a! a corollary of the !u!pen!ion of the e;erci!e of the

right! of !o&ereignty by the legiti%ate go&ern%ent in the territory occupied by the

ene%y %ilitary force!, becau!e the authority of the legiti%ate po$er to go&ern ha!

pa!!ed into the hand! of the occupant *rticle 4, >ague Regulation!+, the political

la$! $hich pre!cribe the reciprocal right!, dutie! and obligation of go&ern%ent and

citi#en!, are !u!pended or in abeyance during %ilitary occupation *Co @i%

cha% vs.Aalde# an @eh and di#on, supra+, for the only rea!on that a! they

e;clu!i&ely bear relation to the ou!ted legiti%ate go&ern%ent, they are inoperati&e

or not applicable to the go&ern%ent e!tabli!hed by the occupant that the cri%e!

again!t national !ecurity, !uch a! trea!on and e!pionage inciting to $ar,

corre!pondence $ith ho!tile country, Bight to ene%y?! country, a! $ell a! tho!e

again!t public order, !uch a! rebellion, !edition, and di!loyalty, illegal po!!e!!ion ofrear%!, $hich are of political co%ple;ion becau!e they bear relation to, and are

penali#ed by our Re&i!ed )enal Code a! cri%e! again!t the legiti%ate go&ern%ent,

are al!o !u!pended or beco%e inapplicable a! again!t the occupant, becau!e they

can not be co%%itted again!t the latter *)eralta vs.irector of )ri!on!, supra+ and

that, $hile the oDen!e! again!t public order to be pre!er&ed by the legiti%ate

go&ern%ent $ere inapplicable a! oDen!e! again!t the in&ader for the rea!on abo&e

!tated, unle!! adopted by hi%, $ere al!o inoperati&e a! again!t the ou!ted

go&ern%ent for the latter $a! not re!pon!ible for the pre!er&ation of the public

order in the occupied territory, yet article ((4 of the !aid Re&i!ed )enal Code, $a!

applicable to trea!on co%%itted again!t the national !ecurity of the legiti%ate

go&ern%ent, becau!e the inhabitant! of the occupied territory $ere !till bound by

their allegiance to the latter during the ene%y occupation

Con!idering that, although the %ilitary occupant i! enoined to re!pect or

continue in force, unle!! ab!olutely pre&ented by the circu%!tance!, tho!e la$! that

enforce public order and regulate the !ocial and co%%ercial life of the country, he

ha!, ne&erthele!!, all the po$er! of de !actogo&ern%ent and %ay, at hi! plea!ure,

either change the e;i!ting la$! or %a6e ne$ one! $hen the e;igencie! of the

%ilitary !er&ice de%and !uch action, that i!, $hen it i! nece!!ary for the occupier to

do !o for the control of the country and the protection of hi! ar%y, !ubect to the

re!triction! or li%itation! i%po!ed by the >ague Regulation!, the u!age! e!tabli!hed

by ci&ili#ed nation!, the la$! of hu%anity and the reuire%ent! of public con!cience

*)eralta vs.irector of )ri!on!, supra (940 1nited 2tate! Rule! of Land 3arfare 85,

88+ and that, con!euently, all act! of the %ilitary occupant dictated $ithin the!e

li%itation! are obligatory upon the inhabitant! of the territory, $ho are bound toobey the%, and the la$! of the legiti%ate go&ern%ent $hich ha&e not been

adopted, a! $ell and tho!e $hich, though continued in force, are in conBict $ith

!uch la$! and order! of the occupier, !hall be con!idered a! !u!pended or not in

force and binding upon !aid inhabitant!

Con!idering that, !ince the pre!er&ation of the allegiance or the obligation

of delity and obedience of a citi#en or !ubect to hi! go&ern%ent or !o&ereign doe!

not de%and fro% hi% a po!iti&e action, but only pa!!i&e attitude or forbearance

fro% adhering to the ene%y by gi&ing the latter aid and co%fort, the occupant ha!

no po$er, a! a corollary of the preceding con!ideration, to repeal or !u!pend the

operation of the la$ of trea!on, e!!ential for the pre!er&ation of the allegiance o$edby the inhabitant! to their legiti%ate go&ern%ent, or co%pel the% to adhere and

gi&e aid and co%fort to hi% becau!e it i! e&ident that !uch action i! not de%anded

by the e;igencie! of the %ilitary !er&ice or not nece!!ary for the control of the

inhabitant! and the !afety and protection of hi! ar%y, and becau!e it i! tanta%ount

to practically tran!fer te%porarily to the occupant their allegiance to the titular

go&ern%ent or !o&ereign and that, therefore, if an inhabitant of the occupied

territory $ere co%pelled illegally by the %ilitary occupant, through force, threat or

inti%idation, to gi&e hi% aid and co%fort, the for%er %ay la$fully re!i!t and die if

nece!!ary a! a hero, or !ub%it thereto $ithout beco%ing a traitor

Con!idering that adoption of the petitioner?! theory of !u!pended

allegiance $ould lead to di!a!trou! con!euence! for !%all and $ea6 nation! or

!tate!, and $ould be repugnant to the la$! of hu%anity and reuire%ent! of public

con!cience, for it $ould allo$ in&ader! to legally recruit or enli!t the Eui!ling

inhabitant! of the occupied territory to ght again!t their o$n go&ern%ent $ithout

the latter incurring the ri!6 of being pro!ecuted for trea!on, and e&en co%pel tho!e

$ho are not aid the% in their %ilitary operation again!t the re!i!ting ene%y force! in

order to co%pletely !ubdue and conuer the $hole nation, and thu! depri&e the% all

of their o$n independence or !o&ereignty F !uch theory $ould !anction the action

of in&ader! in forcing the people of a free and !o&ereign country to be a party in the

nefariou! ta!6 of depri&ing the%!el&e! of their o$n freedo% and independence and

repre!!ing the e;erci!e by the% of their o$n !o&ereignty in other $ord!, to co%%it

a political !uicide

*+ Con!idering that the cri%e of trea!on again!t the go&ern%ent of the)hilippine! dened and penali#ed in article ((4 of the )enal Code, though originally

intended to be a cri%e again!t !aid go&ern%ent a! then organi#ed by authority of

the !o&ereign people of the 1nited 2tate!, e;erci!ed through their authori#ed

repre!entati&e, the Congre!! and the )re!ident of the 1nited 2tate!, $a! %ade,

upon the e!tabli!h%ent of the Co%%on$ealth Go&ern%ent in (97, a cri%e again!t

the Go&ern%ent of the )hilippine! e!tabli!hed by authority of the people of the

)hilippine!, in $ho% the !o&ereignty re!ide! according to !ection (, rticle II, of the

Con!titution of the )hilippine!, by &irtue of the pro&i!ion of !ection , rticle AI

thereof, $hich pro&ide! that


3/42

Con!idering that the Co%%on$ealth of the )hilippine! $a! a !o&ereign

go&ern%ent, though not ab!olute but !ubect to certain li%itation! i%po!ed in the

Independence ct and incorporated a! =rdinance appended to our Con!titution, $a!

recogni#ed not only by the Legi!lati&e epart%ent or Congre!! of the 1nited 2tate!

in appro&ing the Independence La$ abo&e uoted and the Con!titution of the

)hilippine!, $hich contain! the declaration that


4/42

t the trial of the ca!e, t$o $itne!!e! $ere called on behalf of the pro!ecution and

three $itne!!e! on behalf of the defen!e. ccording to the r!t $itne!! for the

Go&ern%ent, 'uan Lu%bao, the %unicipal pre!ident of )ilar, $hat )ere# !aid on the

occa!ion in ue!tion $a! thi!/


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!upre%acy of the con!titution and the la$!, and the e;i!tence of the 2tate. *III

3harton?! Cri%inal La$, pp. (8 et se(. 1.2. vs.purado (908O, 8 )hil., 4

)eoplevs.)erfecto, supra.+

>ere, the per!on %aligned by the accu!ed i! the Chief ;ecuti&e of the )hilippine

I!land!. >i! oHcial po!ition, li6e the )re!idency of the 1nited 2tate! and other high

oHce!, under a de%ocratic for% of go&ern%ent, in!tead, of aDording i%%unity fro%

pro%i!cuou! co%%ent, !ee%! rather to in&ite abu!i&e attac6!. Kut in thi! in!tance,

the attac6 on the Go&ernor-General pa!!e! the furthe!t bound! of free !peech $a!

intended. here i! a !editiou! tendency in the $ord! u!ed, $hich could ea!ilyproduce di!aDection a%ong the people and a !tate of feeling inco%patible $ith a

di!po!ition to re%ain loyal to the Go&ern%ent and obedient to the la$!.

he Go&ernor-General i! an e;ecuti&e oHcial appointed by the )re!ident of the

1nited 2tate! by and $ith the ad&ice and con!ent of the 2enate of the 1nited 2tate!,

and hold! in hi! oHce at the plea!ure of the )re!ident. he =rganic ct &e!t!

!upre%e e;ecuti&e po$er in the Go&ernor-General to be e;erci!ed in accordance

$ith la$. he Go&ernor-General i! the repre!entati&e of e;ecuti&e ci&il authority in

the )hilippine! and of the !o&ereign po$er. !editiou! attac6 on the Go&ernor-

General i! an attac6 on the right! of the "ilipino people and on %erican !o&ereignty.

*Concepcion vs.)arede! (9(O, 4 )hil., 799 1.2. vs.orr (90O, )hil., .+

2ection : of ct No. 9 of the )hilippine Co%%i!!ion, a! a%ended by ct No. (59,

appear! to ha&e been placed on the !tatute boo6! e;actly to %eet !uch a !ituation.

hi! !ection read! a! follo$!/

&ery per!on $ho !hall utter !editiou! $ord! or !peeche!, or $ho !hall

$rite, publi!h or circulate !currilou! libel! again!t the Go&ern%ent of the

1nited 2tate! or again!t the Go&ern%ent of the )hilippine I!land!, or $ho

!hall print, $rite, publi!h utter or %a6e any !tate%ent, or !peech, or do any

act $hich tend! to di!turb or ob!truct any la$ful oHcer in e;ecuting hi!

oHce or in perfor%ing hi! duty, or $hich tend! to in!tigate other! to cabal

or %eet together for unla$ful purpo!e!, or $hich !ugge!t! or incite!

rebelliou! con!piracie! or $hich tend! to !tir up the people again!t the

la$ful authoritie!, or $hich tend! to di!turb the peace of the co%%unity or

the !afety or order of the Go&ern%ent, or $ho !hall 6no$ingly conceal !uch

e&il practice! fro% the con!tituted authoritie!, !hall be puni!hed by a ne

not e;ceeding t$o thou!and dollar! 1nited 2tate! currency or by

i%pri!on%ent not e;ceeding t$o year!, or both, in the di!cretion of the

court.

In the $ord! of the la$, )ere# ha! uttered !editiou! $ord!. >e ha! %ade a !tate%ent

and done an act $hich tended to in!tigate other! to cabal or %eet together forunla$ful purpo!e!. >e ha! %ade a !tate%ent and done an act $hich !ugge!ted and

incited rebelliou! con!piracie!. >e ha! %ade a !tate%ent and done an act $hich

tended to !tir up the people again!t the la$ful authoritie!. >e ha! %ade a !tate%ent

and done an act $hich tended to di!turb the peace of the co%%unity and the !afety

or order of the Go&ern%ent. ll of the!e &ariou! tendencie! can be a!cribed to the

action of )ere# and %ay be characteri#ed a! penali#ed by !ection : of ct No. 9 a!

a%ended.

udg%ent and !entence con&icting the accu!ed of a &iolation of !ection : of ct

No. 9 a! a%ended, i!, in eDect, re!pon!i&e to, and ba!ed upon, the oDen!e $ith

$hich the defendant i! charged. he de!ignation of the cri%e by the !cal i! notconclu!i&e. he cri%e of $hich the defendant !tand! charged i! that de!cribed by

the fact! !tated in the infor%ation. In accordance $ith our !ettled rule, an accu!ed

%ay be found guilty and con&icted of a gra&er oDen!e than that de!ignated in the

infor%ation, if !uch gra&er oDen!e i! included or de!cribed in the body of the

infor%ation, and i! after$ard! u!tied by the proof pre!ented during the trial.

*Gue&arra?! Code of Cri%inal )rocedure, p. 9 e 'oya?! Code of Cri%inal )rocedure,

p. 9.+

he penalty %eted out by the trial court fall! $ithin the li%it! pro&ided by the

rea!on and 2edition La$, and $ill, $e thin6, !uHciently puni!h the accu!ed.

hat $e ha&e gi&en %ore attention to thi! ca!e than it de!er&e!, %ay be po!!ible.=ur cour!e i! u!tied $hen it i! recalled that only la!t year, Jr. Chief 'u!tice aft of

the 1nited 2tate! 2upre%e Court, in !pea6ing of an outrageou! libel on the Go&ernor

of the )orto Rico, ob!er&ed/


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T0E PEOPLE O1 T0E P0*L*PP*NES' plainti4-appellee'

+s.

EUARO PR*ETO 5aliasE*E 6ALENC*A7' ,efen,ant-appellant.

Alfonso !. Mendoza for appellant.

First Assistant Solicitor General Roberto A. Gianzon and Solicitor "sidro C.

#orro$eo for appellee.

TUASON'J.8

he appellant $a! pro!ecuted in the )eople?! Court for trea!on on 8 count!. fter

pleading not guilty he entered a plea of guilty to count! (, , and 8, and

%aintained the original plea to count! 4, 7, and 5. he !pecial pro!ecutor introduced

e&idence only on count 4, !tating $ith reference to count! 7 and 5 that he did not

ha&e !uHcient e&idence to !u!tain the%. he defendant $a! found guilty on count 4

a! $ell a! count! (, , , and 8 and $a! !entenced to death and to pay the ne of

)0,000.$o $itne!!e! ga&e e&idence on count 4 but their !tate%ent! do not

coincide on any !ingle detail. 'uanito lbano, the r!t $itne!!, te!tied that in

Jarch, (947, the accu!ed $ith other "ilipino underco&er! and 'apane!e !oldier!

caught an %erican a&iator and had the $itne!! carry the %erican to to$n on a!led pulled by a carabao that on the $ay, the accu!ed $al6ed behind the !led and

a!6ed the pri!oner if the !led $a! fa!ter than the airplane that the %erican $a!

ta6en to the @e%petai headuarter!, after $hich he did not 6no$ $hat happened to

the Bier. Aalentin Cui!on, the ne;t $itne!!, te!tied that one day in Jarch, (947, he

!a$ the accu!ed follo$ing an %erican and the accu!ed $ere 'apane!e and other

"ilipino!.

he!e $itne!!e! e&idently referred to t$o diDerent occa!ion!. he la!t $itne!!

!tated that the %erican $a! $al6ing a! $ell a! hi! captor!. nd there $a! no !led,

he !aid, nor did he !ee 'uanito lbano, e;cept at night $hen he and lbano had a

drin6 of tuba together.

hi! e&idence doe! not te!tify the t$o-$itne!! principle. he t$o $itne!!e! failed to

corroborate each other not only on the $hole o&ert act but on any part of it.

*)eople vs. driano, 44 =D. Ga#., 400 Cra%er vs. 1. 2., 57 2. Ct. 9(:.+

he lo$er court belie&e! that the accu!ed i!


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the )hilippine trea!on la$ and under the 1nited 2tate! con!titution dening trea!on,

after $hich the for%er $a! patterned, there %u!t concur both adherence to the

ene%y and gi&ing hi% aid and co%fort. =ne $ithout the other doe! not %a6e

trea!on.

In the nature of thing!, the gi&ing of aid and co%fort can only be acco%pli!hed by

!o%e 6ind of action. It! &ery nature parta6e! of a deed or phy!ical acti&ity a!

oppo!ed to a %ental operation. *Cra%er vs. 1.2., ante.+ hi! deed or phy!ical

acti&ity %ay be, and often i!, in it!elf a cri%inal oDen!e under another penal !tatute

or pro&i!ion. &en !o, $hen the deed i! charged a! an ele%ent of trea!on it beco%e!identied $ith the latter cri%e and can not be the !ubect of a !eparate puni!h%ent,

or u!ed in co%bination $ith trea!on to increa!e the penalty a! article 4: of the

Re&i!ed )enal Code pro&ide!. 'u!t a! one can not be puni!hed for po!!e!!ing opiu%

in a pro!ecution for !%o6ing the identical drug, and a robber cannot be held guilty of

coercion or tre!pa!! to a d$elling in a pro!ecution for robbery, becau!e po!!e!!ion

of opiu% and force and tre!pa!! are inherent in !%o6ing and in robbery re!pecti&ely,

!o %ay not a defendant be %ade liable for %urder a! a !eparate cri%e or in

conunction $ith another oDen!e $here, a! in thi! ca!e, it i! a&erred a! a

con!tituti&e ingredient of trea!on. hi! rule $ould not, of cour!e, preclude the

puni!h%ent of %urder or phy!ical inurie! a! !uch if the go&ern%ent !hould elect to

pro!ecute the culprit !pecically for tho!e cri%e! in!tead on relying on the% a! an

ele%ent of trea!on. it i! $here %urder or phy!ical inurie! are charged a! o&ert act!

of trea!on that they can not be regarded !eparately under their generaldeno%ination.

>o$e&er, the brutality $ith $hich the 6illing or phy!ical inurie! $ere carried out

%ay be ta6en a! an aggra&ating circu%!tance. hu!, the u!e of torture and other

atrocitie! on the &icti%! in!tead of the u!ual and le!! painful %ethod of e;ecution

$ill be ta6en into account to increa!e the penalty under the pro&i!ion of article (4,

paragraph (, of the Re&i!ed )enal Code, !ince they, a! in thi! ca!e, aug%ented the

!uDering! of the oDended partie! unnece!!arily to the attain%ent of the cri%inal

obecti&e.

hi! aggra&ating circu%!tance i! co%pen!ated by the %itigating circu%!tance of

plea of guilty. it i! true that the accu!ed pleaded not guilty to count! 4, 7 and 5 butcount 4 ha! not be !ub!tantiated $hile count! 7 and 5 $ere abandoned.

In thi! r!t a!!ign%ent of error, coun!el !ee6! re&er!al of the udg%ent becau!e of

the trial court?! failure to appoint ttorney Carin did hi! be!t, although it $a! not the be!t of a $illing $or6er.< 3e do

not di!cern in the record any indication that the for%er coun!el did not conduct the

defen!e to the be!t of hi! ability. if ttorney Carin did hi! be!t a! a !$orn %e%ber of

the bar, a! the pre!ent attorney ad%it!, that $a! enough h i! !enti%ent! did not cut

any inBuence in the re!ult of the ca!e and did not i%peril the right! of the appellant.

In conclu!ion, $e nd the defendant not guilty of count 4 and guilty of trea!on a!

charged in count! (,, and 8. here being an aggra&ating circu%!tance, the

penalty to be i%po!ed i!reclusion perpetua. he udg%ent of the lo$er court $ill be

%odied in thi! re!pect accordingly. In all other particular!, the !a%e $ill be

aHr%ed. it i! !o ordered, $ith co!t! of thi! in!tance again!t the appellant.Moran,

C.)., *eria, ablo, er!ecto, +ilado, en-zon, and adilla, )).,concur.

Republic of the )hilippine!SUPREME COURT

JanilaN KNC

G.R. No. L-)) #une &!' (")T0E PEOPLE O1 T0E P0*L*PP*NES'plaintiD-appellee,&!.APOL*NAR*O AR*ANO'defendant-appellant.&emedios . u!able !or appellant.

Assistant /olicitor "eneral Kapunan, )r., and /olicitor Lacson !or appellee.TUASON'J.8

hi! i! an appeal fro% a udg%ent of con&iction for trea!on by the )eople?! Court!entencing the accu!ed to life i%pri!on%ent, )(0,000 ne, and the co!t!.

he infor%ation charged/

hat bet$een 'anuary and pril, (947 or thereabout, during the occupationof the )hilippine! by the 'apane!e I%perial "orce!, in the )ro&ince of Nue&a

cia and in the %ountain! in the I!land of Lu#on, )hilippine!, and $ithin theuri!diction of thi! Court, the abo&e-na%ed accu!ed, polinario driano,$ho i! not a foreigner, but a "ilipino citi#en o$ing allegiance to the 1nited2tate! and the Co%%on$ealth of the )hilippine!, in &iolation of !aidallegiance, did then and there $illfully, cri%inally and trea!onably adhere tothe Jilitary "orce! of 'apan in the )hilippine!, again!t $hich the )hilippine!and the 1nited 2tate! $ere then at $ar, gi&ing the !aid ene%y aid andco%fort in the %anner a! follo$!/

hat a! a %e%ber of the Ja6apili, a %ilitary organi#ation e!tabli!hed andde!igned to a!!i!t and aid %ilitarily the 'apane!e I%perial force! in the)hilippine! in the !aid ene%y?! $ar eDort! and operation! again!t the1nited 2tate! and the )hilippine!, the herein accu!ed bore ar% and oinedand a!!i!ted the 'apane!e Jilitary "orce! and the Ja6apili r%y in ar%ed

conBict! and engage%ent! again!t the 1nited 2tate! ar%ed force! and theGuerrilla! of the )hilippine Co%%on$ealth in the Junicipalitie! of 2an


8/42

Leonardo and Gapan, )ro&ince of Nue&a cia, and in the %ountain! ofLu#on, )hilippine!, !o%eti%e bet$een 'anuary and pril, (947. Contrary toLa$.

he pro!ecution did not introduce any e&idence to !ub!tantiate any of the fact!alleged e;cept that of defendant?! ha&ing oined the Ja6apili organi#ation. 3hat the)eople?! Court found i! that the accu!ed participated $ith 'apane!e !oldier! incertain raid! and in con!cation of per!onal property. he court belo$, ho$e&er, !aidthe!e act! had not been e!tabli!hed by the te!ti%ony of t$o $itne!!e!, and !oregarded the% %erely a! e&idence of adherence to the ene%y. Kut the court did nd

e!tabli!hed under the t$o-$itne!! rule, !o $e infer,


9/42

con&iction for trea!on diHcult, the rule

he 1nited 2tate! 2upre%e Court !a$ the ob!tacle! placed in the path of thepro!ecution by a literal interpretation of the rule of t$o $itne!!e! but !aid that thefounder! of the %erican go&ern%ent fully reali#ed the diHcultie! and $ent aheadnot %erely in !pite but becau!e of the obection!. *Cra%er vs.1nited 2tate!,ante.+Jore, the rule, it i! !aid, attracted the %e%ber! of the Con!titutional Con&ention


10/42

authority and done animo !urandi, and in the !pirit and intention of uni&er!al

ho!tility.

It cannot be contended $ith any degree of force a! $a! done in the lo&er court and

a! i! again done in thi! court, that the Court of "ir!t In!tance $a! $ithout uri!diction

of the ca!e. )irate! are in la$ hostes humani -eneris. )iracy i! a cri%e not again!t

any particular !tate but again!t all %an6ind. It %ay be puni!hed in the co%petent

tribunal of any country $here the oDender %ay be found or into $hich he %ay be

carried. he uri!diction of piracy unli6e all other cri%e! ha! no territorial li%it!. ! it

i! again!t all !o %ay it be puni!hed by all. Nor doe! it %atter that the cri%e $a!co%%itted $ithin the uri!dictional -%ile li%it of a foreign !tate,


11/42

he Con!titution of the 1nited 2tate! declare! that the Congre!! !hall ha&e the

po$er to dene and puni!h piracie! and felonie! co%%itted on the high !ea!, and

oDen!e! again!t the la$ of nation!. *1.2. Con!t. rt. I , !ec. :, cl. (0.+ he Congre!!,

in putting on the !tatute boo6! the nece!!ary ancillary legi!lation, pro&ided that

$hoe&er, on the high !ea!, co%%it! the cri%e of piracy as de1ned b$ the la0 o!

nations, and i! after$ard! brought into or found in the 1nited 2tate!, !hall be

i%pri!oned for life. *1.2. Cri%. Code, !ec. 90 penalty for%erly death/ 1.2. Re&.

2tat., !ec. 75:.+ he fra%er! of the Con!titution and the %e%ber! of Congre!!

$ere content to let a denition of piracy re!t on it! uni&er!al conception under the

la$ of nation!.

It i! e&ident that the pro&i!ion! of the )enal Code no$ in force in the )hilippine!

relating to piracy are not incon!i!tent $ith the corre!ponding pro&i!ion! in force in

the 1nited 2tate!.

Ky the reaty of )ari!, 2pain ceded the )hilippine I!land! to the 1nited 2tate!.

logical con!truction of article! of the )enal Code, li6e the article! dealing $ith the

cri%e of piracy, $ould be that $here&er


12/42

PEOPLE O1 T0E P0*L*PP*NES' plaintiD-appellee,

&!.

PETER PONCE % BULAu!ini I!%ael =%bra, 2abturani 1lag, Jutalib 2arahadil, Kaubar

da%, Euiller%o 3ee, Reuben 2ego&ia >o, Jichael Lao, Qu!op buba6ar, >ahi

>u!!in @ula&an, %ad Eue#on, Rebuan Jaid dgar an, bdura!ul liala% "ederico

Cani#are!, =%ar ahil Gilbert Eue, raul 2aliala%, Ja!ihul Kandahala, !ola

Joha%%addin, Katoto 2ulpicio, 2a6irani Ka!!al, Ibrahi% 'a%il, 2aupi Jalang and

Gula% 2ahiddan, thereby inBicting upon the% %ultiple gun!hot $ound! $hich

cau!ed their in!tantaneou! death and li6e$i!e cau!ing phy!ical inurie! upon the

per!on! of Inggal I!!ao bduha!an Inda!an >adi Qu!op >. lfad and >adi Jahalaillfad, thu! perfor%ing all act! of e;ecution $hich could ha&e produced the death of

!aid per!on!, but ne&erthele!! did not produce it by rea!on or cau!e independent of

the $ill of !aid accu!ed, that i!, by the ti%ely and able %edical a!!i!tance rendered

to !aid &icti%! $hich pre&ented death.

C=NRRQ = L3, $ith the aggra&ating circu%!tance! of treachery, e&ident

pre%editation, night ti%e and the u!e of !uperior !trength. *pp. 98-9:, Rollo of L-

5(059+

1pon arraign%ent on "ebruary 7, (9:, 'ai%e Rodrigue# and Rico Lope#, a!!i!ted

by their coun!el, pleaded guilty to the charge, $ere con&icted on Jarch 7, (9: and

!entenced each o$e&er,

he $ithdre$ hi! plea and !ub!tituted it $ith that of guilty. =n Jarch (0, (9: he $a!

con&icted of the cri%e charged and !entenced < to !uDer the e;tre%e penalty of

death.adi Jahalail lfad, another pa!!enger, heard co%%otion! fro% the %otor launch,

follo$ed by gunre. >e hid by laying do$n a%ong the !ac6! of copra. >e !a$

appellant! )eter )once, 'ai%e Rodrigue#, Rico Lope# and ario ece co%ing do$n

the !tair! a! they $ere ring !hot! until "red Cani#are! and Guilbert Eue $ere hit,

their bodie! falling upon hi%. 3hen he tried to %o&e, he reali#ed that he $a! al!o

hit on the right !ide of hi! !to%ach. hereafter, he pretended to be dead till dayti%e.

%il Jaca!aet, 'r., the !6ipper of the &e!!el heard the co%%otion fro% one of the

cabin!. >e ordered hi! %en to open the door but it could not be opened. fter

a$hile, the door opened and he !a$ a gun pointed at the%. 3hereupon, he hid

behind the bag! of copra until appellant 'ai%e Rodrigue# ca%e and red at hi%.

Luc6ily, he $a! not hit. >e and !o%e of hi! %en cra$led and they too6 co&er in the

bodega of copra. 3hile in hiding there $ere gunre! co%ing fro% ario ece and

)eter )once. bout four *4+ hour! later, hi! Chief Jate 1!%an per!uaded hi% to

co%e out other$i!e !o%ething $or!e $ould happen. >e !a$ 'ai%e Rodrigue# $ho

ordered hi% to direct hi! %en to thro$ the copra! a! $ell a! the dead bodie!

o&erboard.

bout ten o?cloc6 in the %orning of the !a%e day, the &e!!el reached an i!land$here the four appellant! $ere able to !ecure pu%pboat!. Jaca!aet $a! ordered to

load in one of the pu%pboat! nine *9+ attache ca!e! $hich $ere full of %oney. Rico

Lope# and 'ai%e Rodrigue# boarded one pu%pboat, $hile )eter )once and ario

ece boarded another, bringing $ith the%/ dre!!ed chic6en, !oftdrin6!, durian,

bo;e! of a%%unition!, gallon! of $ater and !o%e %eat, a! $ell a! riBe!.

Junicipal >ealth =Hcer Leopoldo Lao $ent aboard the &e!!el JA Noria $hen it

arri&ed at Cagayan de a$i-a$i on 2epte%ber , (9:( and !a$ at the $harf ten

dead bodie!, all &icti%! of the !ea-ac6ing, na%ely/ Gula% 2ahiddan, raul Naran

2aliala%, Jallang 2aupi, Guilbert Eue, "rederico Cani#are!, Ja!ihul Kandahala,

Ribo$an Jaid dgar an, =%ar 2abdani ahir and bdura!ul 2aliala%.

In their brief, appellant! 'ai%e Rodrigue#, Rico Lope# and ario ece clai% that the

trial court erred *(+ in i%po!ing the death penalty to the accu!ed-appellant! 'ai%e

Rodrigue# alia! 3ilfred de Lara, Rico Lope# y "ernande# and a&ao de Reye!, alia!

ario ece Ray%undo y lau!a de!pite their plea of guilty *+ in gi&ing $eight to

the alleged !$orn !tate%ent! of )eter )once y Kulaybulay, Identied a! ;hibit!


14/42

E nd $hat you !tated i! all the truth before the authority in @udat

Qe!, !ir. *pp. -4, t!n, Jay :, (9:+

Relati&e to the appeal of appellant )eter )once *G.R. No. L-5(059+, $hich 3e li6e$i!e

declare to be $ithout %erit, e&idence !ho$! that hi! participation in the co%%i!!ion

of the oDen!e $a! po!iti&ely te!tied to by the %a!ter of the &e!!el, %il Jaca!aet,

'r., and a pa!!enger, >adi Jahalail lfad. nother $itne!!, pa!!enger Clyde Eue

al!o pointed to ha&e !een hi% *)eter )once+ ar%ed $ith an J-(4 riBe.

Con!idering the te!ti%onie! of Clyde Eue and %il Jaca!aet, 'r. $ho actually !a$

appellant )eter )once ring hi! $eapon indi!cri%inately at the pa!!enger! and cre$

%e%ber! in $anton di!regard of hu%an li&e! and the fact that after the looting and

6illing, appellant )eter )once, !till ar%ed, oined ario ece in one pu%pboat, there

can be no ue!tion that he $a! in con!piracy $ith the three other defendant!. fter

hi! arre!t, )once ga&e a !tate%ent to the authoritie! !tating therein hi! participation

a! $ell a! tho!e of hi! co%panion! *;hibit! , =JR@QJ @IRJ,

NJLI INNN and N3 'J>LI $ere accu!ed of ualied piracy $ith triple

%urder and fru!trated %urder !aid to ha&e been co%%itted according to the

infor%ation a! follo$!/

hat on or about the (4th day of 'uly, (989, and $ithin the uri!diction ofthi! >onorable Court, &i#., at Jataa I!., Junicipality of Lanta$an, )ro&ince of


15/42

Ka!ilan, )hilippine!, the abo&e na%ed accu!ed, being !tranger! and $ithout la$ful

authority, ar%ed $ith rear%! and ta6ing ad&antage of their !uperior !trength,

con!piring and confederating together, aiding and a!!i!ting one $ith the other, $ith

intent to gain and by the u!e of &iolence or inti%idation again!t per!on! and force

upon thing!, did then and there $illfully, unla$fully and feloniou!ly, re their gun!

into the air and !top the pu%pboat $herein Rodolfo de Ca!tro, anilo >iolen,

na!tacio de Gu#%an and ntonio de Gu#%an $ere riding, tra&eling at that ti%e

fro% the i!land of Kalu6-Kalu6 to$ard! )ila!, boarded the !aid pu%pboat and ta6e,

!teal and carry a$ay all their ca!h %oney, $ri!t $atche!, !tereo !et!, %erchandi!e

and other per!onal belonging! a%ounting to the total a%ount of ) (:,4.00,)hilippine Currency that the !aid accu!ed, on the occa!ion of the cri%e herein

abo&e-de!cribed, ta6ing ad&antage that the !aid &icti%! $ere at their %ercy, did

then and there $illfully, unla$fully and feloniou!ly, $ith intent to 6ill, ordered the%

to u%p into the $ater, $hereupon, the !aid accu!ed, red their gun! at the% $hich

cau!ed the death of Rodolfo de Ca!tro, anilo >iolen, na!tacio de Gu#%an and

$ounding one ntonio de Gu#%an thu! the accu!ed ha&e perfor%ed all the act! of

e;ecution $hich $ould ha&e produced the cri%e of Eualied )iracy $ith Euadruple

Jurder, but $hich, ne&erthele!!, did not produce it by rea!on! of cau!e! in

dependent of their $ill, that i!, !aid ntonio de Gu#%an $a! able to !$i% to the

!hore and hid hi%!elf, and due to the ti%ely %edical a!!i!tance rendered to !aid

&icti%, ntonio de Gu#%an $hich pre&ented hi! death. *E4pediente, pp. (-.+

n order of arre!t $a! i!!ued again!t all of the accu!ed but only 'ulaide 2iyoh and=%ar-6aya% @ira% $ere apprehended. *5d, p. :.+

fter trial, the court a (uorendered a deci!ion $ith the follo$ing di!po!iti&e portion.

3>R"=R, in &ie$ of the fore going con!ideration!, thi! Court nd! the accu!ed

=%ar-6aya% @ira% and 'ulaide 2iyoh guilty beyond rea!onable doubt of the cri%e of

Eualied )iracy $ith riple Jurder and "ru!trated Jurder a! dened and penali#ed

under the pro&i!ion of )re!idential ecree No. 7, and hereby !entence! each one

of the% to !uDer the !upre%e penalty of >. >o$e&er, con!idering the pro&i!ion

of 2ection (05 of the Code of Jindanao and 2ulu, the illiteracy or ignorance or

e;tre%e po&erty of the accu!ed $ho are %e%ber! of the cultural %inoritie!, under a

regi%e of !o called co%pa!!ionate !ociety, a co%%utation to life i%pri!on%ent i!reco%%ended. *5d, p. (0.+

In their appeal, 2iyo and @ira% %a6e only one a!!ign%ent of error/

> L=3R C=1R RR IN "INING > > G1IL =" > CC12-

))LLN2 =JR-@QJ @IRJ N '1LI 2IQ=> >2 KN )R=A KQ=N

R2=NKL =1K. *rie!, p. :.+

he )eople?! &er!ion of the fact! i! a! follo$!/

lberto urea $a! a bu!ine!!%an engaged in !elling dry good! at the Lar%itan

)ublic Jar6et, in the pro&ince of Ka!ilan *pp. -, t!n+. =n 'uly 8, (989 and on 'uly(0, (989, ntonio de Gu#%an, anilo >iolen, Rodolfo de Ca!tro and na!tacio de

Gu#%an recei&ed good! fro% hi! !tore con!i!ting of %o!uito net!, blan6et!, $ri!t

$atch !et! and !tereophono $ith total &alue of )(7,000 %ore or le!! *pp. 4-5, t!n+.

he good! $ere recei&ed under an agree%ent that they $ould be !old by the abo&e-

na%ed per!on! and thereafter they $ould pay the &alue of !aid good! to urea and

6eep part of the prot! for the%!el&e!. >o$e&er the!e people neither paid the &alue

of the good! to urea nor returned the good! to hi% *pp. 5-8, t!n+. =n 'uly (7, (989,

urea $a! infor%ed by ntonio de Gu#%an that hi! group $a! held up near Kalu6-

Kalu6 I!land and that hi! co%panion! $ere hac6ed *p. :, t!n+. =n 'uly (5, (989, the

bodie! of Rodolfo de Ca!tro, anilo >iolen and na!tacio de Gu#%an $ere brought

by the )C !eaborne patrol to I!abela, Ka!ilan *pp. (8-(:, 9, t!n+. =nly ntonio deGu#%an !ur&i&ed the incident that cau!ed the death of hi! co%panion!.

It appear! that on 'uly (0, (989, ntonio de Gu#%an together $ith hi! friend! $ho

$ere al!o tra&elling %erchant! li6e hi%, $ere on their $ay to )ila! I!land, )ro&ince of

Ka!ilan, to !ell the good! they recei&ed fro% lberto urea. he good! they brought

$ith the% had a total &alue of )(:,000.00 *pp- 5-8, t!n+. hey left for )ila! I!land

at /00 p.%. of 'uly (0, (989 on a pu%pboat. hey too6 their dinner and !lept that

night in the hou!e of =%ar-6aya% @ira% at )ila! I!land *pp. 8-:, t!n+.

he follo$ing day, 'uly ((, (989, de Gu#%an?! group, together $ith @ira% and

'ulaide 2iyoh, !tarted !elling their good!, hey $ere able to !ell good! $orth )

,700.00. =n 'uly (, (989, the group, again acco%panied by @ira% and 2iyoh, $ent

to !ell their good! at another place, 2angbay, $here they !old good! $orth )

(,000.00 *pp. 40-4, t!n+. hey returned to )ila! I!land at 7/00 o?cloc6 in the

afternoon and again !lept at @ira%?! hou!e. >o$e&er that night @ira% did not !leep

in hi! hou!e, and upon inuiry the follo$ing day $hen ntonio de Gu#%an !a$ hi%,

@ira% told the for%er that he !lept at the hou!e of 2iyoh.

=n that day, 'uly (, (989, the group of ntonio de Gu#%an $ent to Kalu6-Kalu6, a

place !ugge!ted by @ira%. hey $ere able to !ell good! $orth ),000.00 *pp. 4-45,

t!n+. hey returned to )ila! I!land for the night but @ira% did not !leep $ith the% *p.

48, t!n+.

he follo$ing day, 'uly (4, (989, the group again $ent to Kalu6-Kalu6 acco%panied

by @ira% and 2iyoh *pp. 4:, 70 t.!.n+, hey u!ed the pu%pboat of @ira%. @ira% and2iyoh $ere at that ti%e ar%ed $ith ?barong!?. hey arri&ed at Kalu6-Kalu6 at about

(0/00 o?cloc6 in the %orning and upon arri&al at the place @ira% and 2iyoh going

ahead of the group $ent to a hou!e about (7 %eter! a$ay fro% the place $here the

group $a! !elling it! good! *pp. 70-7, t!n+. @ira% and 2iyoh $ere !een by the group

tal6ing $ith t$o per!on! $ho!e face! the group !a$ but could not recogni#e *pp. 7-

74, t!n+. fter !elling their good!, the %e%ber! of the group, together $ith @ira%

and 2iyoh, prepared to return to )ila! I!land. hey rode on a pu%pboat $here 2iyoh

po!itioned hi%!elf at the front $hile @ira% operated the engine. =n the $ay to )ila!

I!land, ntonio de Gu#%an !a$ another pu%pboat painted red and green about 00

%eter! a$ay fro% their pu%pboat *pp. 77, t!n+. 2hortly after< @ira% turned oD the

engine of their pu%pboat. hereafter t$o !hot! $ere red fro% the other pu%pboat

a! it %o&ed to$ard! the% *pp. 78-7:, t!n+. here $ere t$o per!on! on the other

pu%pboat $ho $ere ar%ed $ith ar%ante!. e Gu#%an recogni#ed the% to be the!a%e per!on! he !a$ @ira% con&er!ing $ith in a hou!e at Kalu6-Kalu6 I!land. 3hen


16/42

the boat ca%e clo!e to the%, @ira% thre$ a rope to the other pu%pboat $hich

to$ed de Gu#%an?! pu%pboat to$ard! Jataa I!land. =n the $ay to Jataa I!land,

ntonio de Gu#%an and hi! co%panion! $ere di&e!ted of their %oney and their

good! by @ira% *pp. 79-5(, t!n+. hereafter @ira% and hi! co%panion! ordered the

group of de Gu#%an to undre!!. a6ing fancy on the pant! of ntonio de Gu#%an,

@ira% put it on. 3ith e&erybody undre!!ed, @ira% !aid ?It $a! good to 6ill all of you?.

fter that re%ar6, 2iyoh hac6ed anilo >iolen $hile @ira% hac6ed Rodolfo de Ca!tro.

ntonio de Gu#%an u%ped into the $ater. ! he $a! !$i%%ing a$ay fro% the

pu%pboat, the t$o co%panion! of @ira% red at hi%, inuring hi! bac6 *pp. 5-57,

t!n+. Kut he $a! able to reach a %angro&e $here he !tayed till nightfall. 3hen heleft the %angro&e, he !a$ the dead bodie! of na!tacio de Gu#%an, anilo >iolen

and Rodolfo de Ca!tro. >e $a! pic6ed up by a !hing boat and brought to the

)hilippine r%y !tation at Jalu!o $here he recei&ed r!t aid treat%ent. Later he

$a! brought to the '.2. lano Je%orial >o!pital at I!abela, Ka!ilan pro&ince *pp. 55-

5:, t!n+.

=n 'uly (7, (989, $hile $aiting for the dead bodie! of hi! co%panion! at the $harf,

de Gu#%an !a$ 2iyoh and @ira%. >e pointed the% out to the )C and the t$o $ere

arre!ted before they could run. 3hen arre!ted, @ira% $a! $earing the pant! he too6

fro% de Gu#%an and de Gu#%an had to a!6 )at. Kayaba! at the )ro&incial 'ail to get

bac6 hi! pant! fro% @ira% *pp. 59-8, t!n+.

ntonio de Gu#%an $a! phy!ically e;a%ined at the '.2. lano Je%orial >o!pital at

I!abela, Ka!ilan and nding! !ho$ed/ ?gun!hot $ound, !capular area, bilateral,

tangenital? *;h. C, pro!ecution+. *pp. (4-(5, t!n+. r. 'ai%e J. 'unio, )ro&incial

>ealth =Hcer of Ka!ilan, e;a%ined the dead bodie! of Rodolfo de Ca!tro and anilo

>iolen and i!!ued the corre!ponding death certicate! *;h!. and , pro!ecution+.

*pp. (8-(: (40-(4(, t!n+. *Krief, pp. 7-((.+

! can be !een fro% the lone a!!ign%ent of error, the i!!ue i! the credibility of

$itne!!e!. 3ho !hould be belie&ed ntonio de Gu#%an $ho $a! the lone

pro!ecution eye-$itne!! or 2iyoh and @ira% the accu!ed-appellant! $ho clai%! that

they $ere al!o the &icti%! of the cri%e he trial court $hich had the opportunity of

ob!er&ing the de%eanor of the $itne!!e! and ho$ they te!tied a!!igned credibility

to the for%er and an e;a%ination of the record doe! not re&eal any fact orcircu%!tance of $eight and inBuence $hich $a! o&erloo6ed or the !ignicance of

$hich $a! %i!interpreted a! $ould u!tify a re&er!al of the trial court?!

deter%ination. dditionally, the follo$ing clai%! of the appellant! are not

con&incing/

(. hat if they $ere the culprit! they could ha&e ea!ily robbed their &icti%! at the

@ira% hou!e or on any of the occa!ion! $hen they $ere tra&elling together. 2uHce it

to !ay that robbing the &icti%! at @ira%?! hou!e $ould %a6e @ira% and hi! fa%ily

i%%ediately !u!pect and robbing the &icti%! before they had !old all their good!

$ould be pre%ature. >o$e&er, robbing and 6illing the &icti%! $hile at !ea and after

they had !old all their good! $a! both ti%ely and pro&ided !afety fro% prying eye!.

. hat the accu!ed i%%ediately reported the incident to the )C. he record doe!

not !upport thi! a!!ertion. "or a! the pro!ecution !tated/


17/42

4. hat there i! no e&idence na!tacio de Gu#%an $a! 6illed together $ith Rodolfo

de Ca!tro and anilo >iolen becau!e hi! re%ain! $ere ne&er reco&ered. here i! no

rea!on to !uppo!e that na!tacio de Gu#%an i! !till ali&e or that he died in a

%anner diDerent fro% hi! co%panion!. he incident too6 place on 'uly (4, (989 and

$hen the trial court decided the ca!e on 'une :, (9:( na!tacio de Gu#%an $a! !till

%i!!ing. Kut the nu%ber of per!on! 6illed on the occa!ion of piracy i! not %aterial.

).. No. 7 con!ider! ualied piracy, i.e. rape, %urder or ho%icide i! co%%itted

a! a re!ult or on the occa!ion of piracy, a! a !pecial co%ple; cri%e puni!hable by

death regardle!! of the nu%ber of &icti%!.

7. hat the death certicate! are &ague a! to the nature of the inurie! !u!tained by

the &icti%! $ere they hac6ed $ound! or gun!hot $ound! he cau!e of death

!tated for Rodolfo de Ca!tro and anilo >iolen i!/ e%orrhage due to hac6ed

$ound!, po!!ible gun!hot $ound!.< *;h!. and .+ he cau!e i! con!i!tent $ith the

te!ti%ony of ntonio de Gu#%an that the &icti%! $ere hac6ed that the appellant!

$ere ar%ed $ith


18/42

The /olicitor "eneral !or the respondents.

PER CUR*AM8

he are eight *:+ petitioner! for habeas corpusled before the Court, $hich ha&e

been con!olidated becau!e of the !i%ilarity of i!!ue! rai!ed, praying for the i!!uance

of the $rit of habeas corpus, ordering the re!pecti&e re!pondent! to produce the

bodie! of the per!on! na%ed therein and to e;plain $hy they !hould not be !et at

liberty $ithout further delay.

In their re!pecti&e Return!, the re!pondent! unifor%ly a!!ert that the pri&ilege of the

$rit of habeas corpusi! not a&ailable to the petitioner! a! they ha&e been le-all$

arrestedand are detained by &irtue of valid in!ormationsled in court again!t the%.

he petitioner! counter that their detention i! unla$ful a! their arre!t! $ere

%ade 0ithout 0arrantand, that no preliminar$ investi-ation$a! r!t conducted, !o

that the infor%ation! led again!t the% are null and &oid.

he Court ha! carefully re&ie$ed the contention! of the partie! in their re!pecti&e

pleading!, and it nd! that the per!on! detained ha&e not been illegally arre!ted nor

arbitrarily depri&ed of their con!titutional right to liberty, and that the circu%!tance!

attending the!e ca!e! do not $arrant their relea!e on habeas corpus.

he arre!t of a per!on $ithout a $arrant of arre!t or pre&iou! co%plaint i!

recogni#ed in la$. he occa!ion! or in!tance! $hen !uch an arre!t %ay be eDected

are clearly !pelled out in 2ection 7, Rule (( of the Rule! of Court, a! a%ended,

$hich pro&ide!/

2ec. 7.Arrest 0ithout 0arrant 0hen la0!ul. F peace oHcer or a pri&ate per!on

%ay, $ithout a $arrant, arre!t a per!on/

*a+ 3hen, in hi! pre!ence, the per!on to be arre!ted ha! co%%itted, i! actually

co%%itting, or i! atte%pting to co%%it an oDen!e

*b+ 3hen an oDen!e ha! in fact u!t been co%%itted, and he ha! per!onal

6no$ledge of fact! indicating that the per!on to be arre!ted ha! co%%itted it and

*c+ 3hen the per!on to be arre!ted i! a pri!oner $ho ha! e!caped fro% a penal

e!tabli!h%ent or place $here he i! !er&ing nal udg%ent or te%porarily conned

$hile hi! ca!e i! pending, or ha! e!caped $hile being tran!ferred fro% one

conne%ent to another.

In ca!e! falling under paragraph! *a+ and *b+ hereof, the per!on arre!ted $ithout a

$arrant !hall be forth$ith deli&ered to the neare!t police !tation or ail, and he !hall

be proceeded again!t in accordance $ith Rule ((, 2ection 8.

n arre!t $ithout a $arrant of arre!t, under 2ection 7 paragraph! *a+ and *b+ of Rule

(( of the Rule! of Court, a! a%ended, i! u!tied $hen the per!on arre!ted i!

caught in?a-ranti delicto, viz., in the act of co%%itting an oDen!e or $hen an

oDen!e ha! u!t been co%%itted and the per!on %a6ing the arre!t ha! per!onal

6no$ledge of the fact! indicating that the per!on arre!ted ha! co%%itted it. he

rationale behind la$ful arre!t!, $ithout $arrant, $a! !tated by thi! Court in the ca!eof eople vs. Ka-ui Malasu-ui(thu!/

o hold that no cri%inal can, in any ca!e, be arre!ted and !earched for the e&idence

and to6en! of hi! cri%e $ithout a $arrant, $ould be to lea&e !ociety, to a large

e;tent, at the %ercy of the !hre$de!t, the %o!t e;pert, and the %o!t depra&ed of

cri%inal!, facilitating their e!cape in %any in!tance!.

he record of the in!tant ca!e! $ould !ho$ that the per!on! in $ho!e behalf the!e

petition! for habeas corpusha&e been led, had fre!hly co%%itted or $ere actually

co%%itting an oDen!e, $hen apprehended, !o that their arre!t! $ithout a $arrant

$ere clearly u!tied, and that they are, further, detained by &irtue of &alid

infor%ation! led again!t the% in court.

brief narration of the fact! and e&ent! !urrounding each of the eight *:+ petition! i!

in order.

I

In G.R. No. :(758 *1%il &!. Ra%o!+, the record !ho$! that, on ( "ebruary (9::, the

Regional Intelligence =peration! 1nit of the Capital Co%%and *RI=1-C)C=J+

recei&ed condential infor%ation about a %e%ber of the N) 2parro$ 1nit

*liuidation !uad+ being treated for a gun!hot $ound at the 2t. gne! >o!pital in

Roo!e&elt &enue, Eue#on City. 1pon &erication, it $a! found that the $ounded

per!on, $ho $a! li!ted in the ho!pital record! a! Ronnie 'a&elon, i! actually Rolando

ural, a %e%ber of the N) liuidation !uad, re!pon!ible for the 6illing of t$o *+

C)C=J !oldier! the day before, or on ( 'anuary (9::, in Jacanining 2treet,

Kagong Karrio, Caloocan City. In &ie$ of thi! &erication, Rolando ural $a!

tran!ferred to the Regional Jedical 2er&ice! of the C)C=J, for !ecurity rea!on!.

3hile conned thereat, or on 4 "ebruary (9::, Rolando ural $a! po!iti&ely

identied by eye$itne!!e! a! the gun%an $ho $ent on top of the hood of the

C)C=J %obile patrol car, and red at the t$o *+ C)C=J !oldier! !eated in!ide

the car identied a! 2gt. Carlo! )abon and CIC Renato Janligot.

! a con!euence of thi! po!iti&e identication, Rolando ural $a! referred to the

Caloocan City "i!cal $ho conducted an inue!t and thereafter led $ith the Regional

rial Court of Caloocan City an infor%ation charging Rolando ural aliasRonnie

'a&elon $ith the cri%e of


19/42

$a! reco%%ended. =n (7 "ebruary (9::, the infor%ation $a! a%ended to include,

a! defendant, Kernardo Itucal, 'r. $ho, at the ling of the original infor%ation, $a!

!till unidentied.

Jean$hile, on 5 "ebruary (9::, a petition for habeas corpus$a! led $ith thi!

Court on behalf of &oberto @mil,&olando Dural, and &enato Villanueva. he Court

i!!ued the $rit of habeas corpuson 9 "ebruary (9:: and the re!pondent! led a

Return of the 3rit on ( "ebruary (9::. hereafter, the partie! $ere heard on (7

"ebruary (9::.

=n 5 "ebruary (9::, ho$e&er, &oberto @miland &enato Villanuevapo!ted bail

before the Regional rial Court of )a!ay City $here charge! for &iolation of the nti-

2ub&er!ion ct had been led again!t the%, and they $ere accordingly relea!ed.

he petition for habeas corpus, in!ofar a! 1%il and Aillanue&a are concerned, i! no$

%oot and acade%ic and i! accordingly di!%i!!ed, !ince the $rit of habeas

corpusdoe! not lie in fa&or of an accu!ed in a cri%inal ca!e $ho ha! been relea!ed

on bail.

! to &olando Dural, it clearly appear! that he $a! not arre!ted $hile in the act of

!hooting the t$o *+ C)C=J !oldier! afore%entioned. Nor $a! he arre!ted u!t

after the co%%i!!ion of the !aid oDen!e for hi! arre!t ca%e a da$ a!terthe !aid

!hooting incident. 2ee%ingly, hi! arre!t $ithout $arrant i! unu!tied.

>o$e&er, Rolando ural $a! arre!ted for being a %e%ber of the Ne$ )eople! r%y

*N)+, an outla$ed !ub&er!i&e organi#ation. 2ub&er!ion being a continuin- o'ense,

the arre!t of Rolando ural $ithout $arrant i! u!tied a! it can be !aid that he $a!

co%%itting an oDen!e $hen arre!ted. he cri%e! of rebellion, !ub&er!ion,

con!piracy or propo!al to co%%it !uch cri%e!, and cri%e! or oDen!e! co%%itted in

furtherance thereof or in connection there$ith con!titute direct a!!ault! again!t the

2tate and are in the nature of continuin- crimes. ! !tated by the Court in an earlier

ca!e/

"ro% the fact! a! abo&e-narrated, the clai% of the petitioner! that they $ere initially

arre!ted illegally i!, therefore, $ithout ba!i! in la$ and in fact. he cri%e! of

in!urrection or rebellion, !ub&er!ion, con!piracy or propo!al to co%%it !uch cri%e!,and other cri%e! and oDen!e! co%%itted in the furtherance, on the occa!ion

thereof, or incident thereto, or in connection there$ith under )re!idential

)rocla%ation No. 047, are all in the nature of continuing oDen!e! $hich !et the%

apart fro% the co%%on oDen!e!, a!ide fro% their e!!entially in&ol&ing a %a!!i&e

con!piracy of nation$ide %agnitude. Clearly then, the arre!t of the herein detainee!

$a! $ell $ithin the bound! of the la$ and e;i!ting uri!prudence in our uri!diction.

. he arre!t of per!on! in&ol&ed in the rebellion $hether a! it! ghting ar%ed

ele%ent!, or for co%%itting non-&iolent act! but in furtherance of the rebellion, i!

%ore an act of capturing the% in the cour!e of an ar%ed conBict, to uell the

rebellion, than for the purpo!e of i%%ediately pro!ecuting the% in court for a

!tatutory oDen!e. he arre!t, therefore, need not follo$ the u!ual procedure in the

pro!ecution of oDen!e! $hich reuire! the deter%ination by a udge of the e;i!tence

of probable cau!e before the i!!uance of a udicial $arrant of arre!t and the granting

of bail if the oDen!e i! bailable. =b&iou!ly, the ab!ence of a udicial $arrant i! no

legal i%pedi%ent to arre!ting or capturing per!on! co%%itting o&ert act! of &iolence

again!t go&ern%ent force!, or any other %ilder act! but eually in pur!uance of the

rebelliou! %o&e%ent. he arre!t or capture i! thu! i%pelled by the e;igencie! of the

!ituation that in&ol&e! the &ery !ur&i&al of !ociety and it! go&ern%ent and duly

con!tituted authoritie!. If 6illing and other act! of &iolence again!t the rebel! nd

u!tication in the e;igencie! of ar%ed ho!tilitie! $hich i! of the e!!ence of $aging a

rebellion or in!urrection, %o!t a!!uredly !o in ca!e of in&a!ion, %erely !ei#ing their

per!on! and detaining the% $hile any of the!e contingencie! continue! cannot be

le!! u!tied. . . . &

he record, %oreo&er, !ho$! that the cri%inal ca!e led again!t &olando

Duraland ernardo 5tucal,)r. for e identied !o%e of hi! for%er

co%rade! a!


20/42

Kureau


21/42

=n 4 ugu!t (9::, a petition for habeas corpus$a! led before thi! Court on

behalf of %elia Roue and 3ilfredo Kuenaobra. t the hearing of the ca!e,

ho$e&er, 3ilfredo Kuenaobra %anife!ted hi! de!ire to !tay in the )C-IN) 2toc6ade at

Ca%p Cra%e, Eue#on City. ccording, the petition for habeas corpusled on hi!

behalf i! no$ %oot and acade%ic. =nly the petition of %elia Roue re%ain! for

re!olution.

he contention of re!pondent! that petitioner! Roue and Kuenaobra are oHcer!

andor %e%ber! of the National 1nited "ront Co%%i!!ion *N1"C+ of the C)) $a! not

contro&erted or tra&er!ed by !aid petitioner!. he contention %u!t be dee%edad%itted. 9! oHcer! andor %e%ber! of the N1"C-C)), their arre!t, $ithout

$arrant, $a! u!tied for the !a%e rea!on! earlier !tated vis%a%vis&olando Dural.

he arre!t $ithout $arrant of Roue $a! additionally u!tied a! !he $a!, at the

ti%e of apprehen!ion, in po!!e!!ion of a%%unition! $ithout licen!e to po!!e!!

the%.

III

In G.R. No!. :47:-:4 *nonue&o &!. Ra%o!+, the arre!t of Domin-o

Anonuevoand &amon Casiple, $ithout $arrant, i! al!o u!tied under the rule!. Koth

are ad%ittedly %e%ber! of the !tanding co%%ittee of the N1"C and, $hen

apprehended in the hou!e of Renato Con!tatino, they had a bag containing

!ub&er!i&e %aterial!, and both carried rear%! and a%%unition for $hich they had

no licen!e to po!!e!! or carry.

he record of the!e t$o *+ ca!e! !ho$! that at about 8/0 o?cloc6 in the e&ening of

( ugu!t (9::, o%ingo . nonue&o and Ra%on Ca!iple arri&ed at the hou!e of

Renato Con!tatino at Jari6ina >eight!, Jari6ina, $hich $a! !till under !ur&eillance

by %ilitary agent!. he %ilitary agent! noticed bulging obect! on their $ai!t line!.

3hen fri!6ed, the agent! found the% to be loaded gun!. nonue&o and Ca!iple $ere

a!6ed to !ho$ their per%it or licen!e to po!!e!! or carry rear%! and a%%unition,

but they could not produce any. >ence, they $ere brought to )C >eaduarter! for

in&e!tigation. "ound in their po!!e!!ion $ere the follo$ing article!/

a+ Aolu%inou! !ub&er!i&e docu%ent!

b+ =ne *(+ Cal. 8.57 J= : C )i!tol 2N/ 00(4( $ith one *(+ %aga#ine for Cal.

8.57 containing ten *(0+ li&e a%%unition of !a%e caliber

c+ =ne *(+ Cal. 8.57 )ietro Karreta 2N (::5: la!t digit ta%pered $ith one *(+

%aga#ine containing &e *7+ li&e a%%unition of !a%e caliber.

t the )C 2toc6ade, o%ingo nonue&o $a! identied a!


22/42

hi! i! to certify that the accu!ed ha! been charged in accordance $ith 2ec.

8, Rule (( of the (9:7 Rule! on Cri%inal )rocedure, that no preli%inary

in&e!tigation $a! conducted becau!e the accu!ed ha! not %ade and !igned a

$ai&er of the pro&i!ion! of rt. (7 of the Re&i!ed )enal Code, a! a%ended that

ba!ed on the e&idence pre!ented, there i! rea!onable ground to belie&e that the

cri%e ha! been co%%itted, and that the accu!ed i! probably guilty thereof.

Nor did petitioner! a!6 for a preli%inary in&e!tigation after the infor%ation! had

been led again!t the% in court. )etitioner! cannot no$ clai% that they ha&e been

depri&ed of their con!titutional right to due proce!!.

IA

In G.R. No. :(5 *=caya &!. guirre+, the arre!t $ithout $arrant, of Vic2$ Bca$ai!

u!tied under the Rule!, !ince !he had $ith her unlicen!ed a%%unition $hen !he

$a! arre!ted. he record of thi! ca!e !ho$! that on ( Jay (9::, agent! of the )C

Intelligence and In&e!tigation of the Ri#al )C-IN) Co%%and, ar%ed $ith a !earch

$arrant i!!ued by 'udge utropio Jigrino of the Regional rial Court of )a!ig, Jetro

Janila, conducted a !earch of a hou!e located at Kloc6 (9, )ha!e II, Jari6ina Green

>eight!, Jari6ina, Jetro Janila, belie&ed to be occupied by Kenito ia%!on, head of

the C))-N). In the cour!e of the !earch, Aic6y =caya arri&ed in a car dri&en by

anny Ri&era. 2ub&er!i&e docu%ent! and !e&eral round! of a%%unition for a .47

cal. pi!tol $ere found in the car of Aic6y =caya. ! a re!ult, Aic6y =caya and anny

Ri&era $ere brought to the )C >eaduarter! for in&e!tigation. 3hen Aic6y =caya

could not produce any per%it or authori#ation to po!!e!! the a%%unition, an

infor%ation charging her $ith &iolation of ) (:55 $a! led $ith the Regional rial

Court of )a!ig, Jetro Janila. he ca!e i! doc6eted therein a! Cri%inal Ca!e No.

8448. anny Ri&era, on the other hand, $a! relea!ed fro% cu!tody.

=n (8 Jay (9::, a petition for habeas corpus$a! led, $ith thi! Court on behalf of

Aic6y =caya and anny Ri&era. It $a! alleged therein that Aic6y =caya $a! illegally

arre!ted and detained, and denied the right to a preli%inary in&e!tigation.

It $ould appear, ho$e&er, that Aic6y =caya $a! arre!ted in ?a-ranti delicto!o that

her arre!t $ithout a $arrant i! u!tied. No preli%inary in&e!tigation $a! conductedbecau!e !he $a! arre!ted $ithout a $arrant and !he refu!ed to $ai&e the pro&i!ion!

of rticle (7 of the Re&i!ed )enal Code, pur!uant to 2ec. 8, Rule (( of the Rule of

Court, a! a%ended.

A

he petitioner! Aic6y =caya, o%ingo nonue&o, Ra%on Ca!iple, and %elia Roue

clai% that the rear%!, a%%unition and !ub&er!i&e docu%ent! alleged to ha&e

been found in their po!!e!!ion $hen they $ere arre!ted, did not belong to the%, but

$ere


23/42

! to petitioner Roue, $a! it unrea!onable for the %ilitary authoritie! to

eDect her arre!t $ithout $arrant con!idering that it $a! Kuenaobra $ho pro&ided

the lead! on her identity It cannot be denied that Kuenaobra had connection $ith

Roue. Kecau!e the for%er ha! the phone nu%ber of the latter. 3hy the nece!!ity of

u%bling Roue?! telephone nu%ber a! $ritten on a piece of paper ta6en fro%

Kuenaobra?! po!!e!!ion )etitioner! Roue and Kuenaobra ha&e not oDered any

plau!ible rea!on !o far.

In all the abo&e incident!, re!pondent! %aintain that they acted

rea!onably, under the ti%e, place and circu%!tance! of the e&ent! in ue!tion,e!pecially con!idering that at the ti%e of petitioner?! arre!t, incri%inatory

e&idence, i.e, rear%!, a%%unition! andor !ub&er!i&e docu%ent! $ere found in

their po!!e!!ion.

)etitioner!, $hen arre!ted, $ere neither ta6ing their !nac6! nor innocently

&i!iting a ca%p, but $ere arre!ted in !uch ti%e, place and circu%!tance!, fro%

$hich one can rea!onably conclude tat they $ere up to a !ini!ter plot, in&ol&ing

ut%o!t !ecrecy and co%prehen!i&e con!piracy.

IA

In. G.R. No. :788 *!piritu &!. Li%+, the relea!e on habeas corpusof the petitionereogracia! !piritu, $ho i! detained by &irtue of an Infor%ation for Aiolation of

rticle (4 of the Re&i!ed )enal Code *Inciting to 2edition+ led $ith the Regional

rial Court of Janila, i! !i%ilarly not $arranted.

he record of the ca!e !ho$! that the !aid petitioner i! the General 2ecretary of the

)inag6ai!ahang 2a%ahan ng !uper at =perator! Nation$ide *)I2=N+, an

a!!ociation of dri&er! and operator! of public !er&ice &ehicle! in the )hilippine!,

organi#ed for their %utual aid and protection.

)etitioner clai%! that at about 7/00 o?cloc6 in the %orning of No&e%ber (9::,

$hile he $a! !leeping in hi! ho%e located at 5 Aalencia 2t., 2ta. Je!a, Janila, he

$a! a$a6ened by hi! !i!ter Jaria )a# Lalic $ho told hi% that a group of per!on!

$anted to hire hi! eepney. 3hen he $ent do$n to tal6 to the%, he $a! i%%ediately

put under arre!t. 3hen he a!6ed for the $arrant of arre!t, the %en, headed by Col.

Ricardo Reye!, bodily lifted hi% and placed hi% in their o$ner-type eepney. >e

de%anded that hi! !i!ter, Jaria )a# Lalic, be allo$ed to acco%pany hi%, but the

%en did not accede to hi! reue!t and hurriedly !ped a$ay.

>e $a! brought to )olice 2tation No. : of the 3e!tern )olice i!trict at Klu%entritt,

Janila $here he $a! interrogated and detained. hen, at about 9/00 o?cloc6 of the

!a%e %orning, he $a! brought before the re!pondent Li% and, there and then, the

!aid re!pondent ordered hi! arre!t and detention. >e $a! thereafter brought to the

General !!ign%ent 2ection, In&e!tigation i&i!ion of the 3e!tern )olice i!trict

under )olice Capt. Cre!enciano . Caba!al $here he $a! detained, re!trained and

depri&ed of hi! liberty.)

he re!pondent! clai% ho$e&er, that the detention of the petitioner i! u!tied in

&ie$ of the Infor%ation led again!t hi% before the Regional rial Court of Janila,

doc6eted therein a! Cri%inal Ca!e No. ::-5:-:7, charging hi% $ith &iolation of rt.

(4 of the Re&i!ed )enal Code *Inciting to 2edition+.

he re!pondent! al!o clai% that the petitioner $a! la$fully arre!ted $ithout a

udicial $arrant of arre!t !ince petitioner $hen arre!ted had in fact u!t co%%itted

an oDen!e in that in the afternoon of No&e%ber (9::, during a pre!! conference

at the National )re!! Club.

eogracia! !piritu through tri-%edia $a! heard urging all dri&er! and

operator! to go on nation$ide !tri6e on No&e%ber , (9::, to force the

go&ern%ent to gi&e into their de%and! to lo$er the price! of !pare part!,

co%%oditie!, $ater and the i%%ediate relea!e fro% detention of the pre!ident of

the )I2=N *)inag-i!ang 2a%ahan ng !uper =perator! Nation$ide+. "urther, $e

heard eogracia! !piritu ta6ing the place of )I2=N pre!ident Jedardo Roda and

al!o announced the for%ation of the lliance ri&er! !!ociation to go on nation$ide

!tri6e on No&e%ber , (9::. 3

)olice%en $aited for petitioner out!ide the National )re! Club in order to in&e!tigate

hi%, but he ga&e the la$%en the !lip. ">e $a! ne;t !een at about 7/00 o?cloc6 that

afternoon at a gathering of dri&er! and !y%phati#er! at the corner of Jag!ay!ay

Kl&d. and Aalencia 2treet, 2ta. Je!a, Janila $here he $a! heard to !ay/

Ku6a! tuloy ang $elga natin, !u%agot na ang Cebu at Kicol na 6a!ali !ila,

at hindi tayo titigil hanggang hindi binibigay ng gobyerno ni Cory ang gu!to nating

pagbaba ng halaga ng !pare part!, bilihin at and pagpapalaya !a ating pinuno na !i

@a Roda han--an- sa ma-2a-ulo na. (!*e%pha!i! !upplied+

he police nally caught up $ith the petitioner on No&e%ber (9::. >e $a!

in&ited for ue!tioning and brought to police headuarter! after $hich an

Infor%ation for &iolation of rt. (4 of the Re&i!ed )enal Code $a! led again!t hi%

before the Regional rial Court of Janila. ((

2ince the arre!t of the petitioner $ithout a $arrant $a! in accordance $ith the

pro&i!ion! of Rule ((, 2ec. 7*b+ of the Rule! of Court and that the petitioner i!

detained by &irtue of a &alid infor%ation led $ith the co%petent court, he %ay not

be relea!ed on habeas corpus. >e %ay, ho$e&er be relea!ed upon po!ting bail a!

reco%%ended. >o$e&er, $e nd the a%ount of the reco%%ended bail *)50,000.00+

e;ce!!i&e and $e reduce it to )(0,000.00 only.

AII

In G.R. No. :5 *Na#areno &!. 2tation Co%%ander+, $e al!o nd no %erit in the

!ub%i!!ion of arciso azarenothat he $a! illegally arre!ted and i! unla$fully

detained. he record of thi! ca!e !ho$! that at about :/0 o?cloc6 in the %orning of

(4 ece%ber (9::, one Ro%ulo Kunye II $a! 6illed by a group of %en near the


24/42

corner of . Jolina and Jendiola 2treet! in labang, Juntinglupa, Jetro Janila. =ne

of the !u!pect! in the 6illing $a! Ra%il Regal $ho $a! arre!ted by the police on :

ece%ber (9::. 1pon ue!tioning, Regal pointed to Narci!o Na#areno a! on of hi!

co%panion! in the 6illing of the !aid Ro%ulo Kunye II. In &ie$ thereof, the police

oHcer!, $ithout $arrant, pic6ed up Narci!o Na#areno and brought hi% to the police

headuarter! for ue!tioning. =b&iou!ly, the e&idence of petitioner?! guilt i! !trong

becau!e on 'anuary (9:9, an infor%ation charging Narci!o Na#areno, Ra%il

Regala, and t$o *+ other!, $ith the 6illing of Ro%ulo Kunye II $a! led $ith the

Regional rial Court of Ja6ati, Jetro Janila. he ca!e i! doc6eted therein a! Cri%inal

Ca!e No. 8(.

=n 8 'anuary (9:9, Narci!o Na#areno led a %otion to po!t bail, but the %otion $a!

denied by the trial court in an order dated (0 'anuary (9:9, e&en a! the %otion to

po!t bail, earlier led by hi! co-accu!ed, Januel Laureaga, $a! granted by the !a%e

trial court.

=n ( 'anuary (9:9, a petition for habeas corpus$a! led $ith thi! Court on behalf

of Narci!o Na#areno and on ( 'anuary (9:9, the Court i!!ued the $rit of habeas

corpus, returnable to the )re!iding 'udge of the Regional rial Court of KiMan,

Laguna, Kranch 4, ordering !aid court to hear the ca!e on 0 'anuary (9:9 and

thereafter re!ol&e the petition.

t the conclu!ion of the hearing, or on ( "ebruary (9:9, the )re!iding 'udge of the

Regional rial Court of KiMan, Laguna i!!ued a re!olution denying the petition

for habeas corpus, it appearing that the !aid Narci!o Na#areno i! in the cu!tody of

the re!pondent! by rea!on of an infor%ation led again!t hi% $ith the Regional rial

Court of Ja6ati, Jetro Janila $hich had ta6en cogni#ance of !aid ca!e and had, in

fact, denied the %otion for bail led by !aid Narci!o Na#areno *pre!u%ably becau!e

of the !trength of the e&idence again!t hi%+.

he nding! of the )re!iding 'udge of the Regional rial Court of KiMan, Laguna are

ba!ed upon the fact! and the la$. Con!euently, $e $ill not di!turb the !a%e.

&idently, the arre!t of Na#areno $a! eDected by the police $ithout $arrant

pur!uant to 2ec. 7*b+, Rule ((, Rule! of Court after he $a! po!iti&ely i%plicated by

hi! co-accu!ed Ra%il Regala in the 6illing of Ro%ulo KunyeII and after in&e!tigation by the police authoritie!. ! held in eople vs.Ancheta/ (

he obligation of an agent of authority to %a6e an arre!t by rea!on of a

cri%e, doe! not pre!uppo!e a! a nece!!ary reui!ite for the fulll%ent thereof, the

indubitable e;i!tence of a cri%e. "or the detention to be perfectly legal, it i!

!uHcient that the agent or per!on in authority %a6ing the arre!t ha! rea!onably

!uHcient ground! to belie&e the e;i!tence of an act ha&ing the characteri!tic! of a

cri%e and that the !a%e ground! e;i!t to belie&e that the per!on !ought to be

detained participated therein.

AIII

It i! to be noted that, in all the petition! here con!idered, cri%inal charge! ha&e

been led in the proper court! again!t the petitioner!. he rule i!, that if a per!on

alleged to be re!trained of hi! liberty i! in the cu!tody of an oHcer under proce!!

i!!ued by a court udge, and that the court or udge had uri!diction to i!!ue the

proce!! or %a6e the order, ofi! such person is char-ed be!ore an$ court, the $rit

of habeas corpus$ill not be allo$ed. 2ection 4, Rule (0, Rule! of Court, a!

a%ended i! uite e;plicit in pro&iding that/

2ec. 4. hen 0rit is allo0ed or dischar-e authorized. F If it appear! that

the per!on alleged to be re!trained of hi! liberty i! in the cu!tody of an oHcer underproce!! i!!ued by a court or udge or by &irtue of a udg%ent or order of a court of

record, and that the court or udge had uri!diction to i!!ue the proce!!, render the

udg%ent, or %a6e the order, the $rit !hall not be allo$ed or if the uri!diction

appear! after the $rit i! allo$ed, the per!on !hall not be di!charged by rea!on of

any infor%ality or defect in the proce!!, udg%ent, or order. or shall an$thin- in

this rule be held to authorize the dischar-e o! a person char-ed 0ith a convicted o!

an o'ense in the hilippinesor of a per!on !uDering i%pri!on%ent under la$ful

udg%ent. *e%pha!i! !upplied+

t thi! point, $e refer to petitioner?! plea for the Court of re-e;a%ine and, thereafter,

abandon it! pronounce%ent in 5la-an vs. Enrile, (&that a $rit of habeas corpusi! no

longer a&ailable after an infor%ation i! led again!t the per!on detained anda

$arrant of arre!t or an order of co%%it%ent, i! i!!ued by the court $here !aidinfor%ation ha! been led. (he petitioner! clai% that the !aid ruling, $hich $a!

handed do$n during the pa!t dictatorial regi%e to enforce and !trengthen !aid

regi%e, ha! no place under the pre!ent de%ocratic di!pen!ation and collide! $ith

the ba!ic, funda%ental, and con!titutional right! of the people. )etitioner! point out

that the !aid doctrine %a6e! po!!ible the arre!t and detention of innocent per!on!

de!pite lac6 of e&idence again!t the%, and, %o!t often, it i! only after a petition

for habeas corpusi! led before the court that the %ilitary authoritie! le the

cri%inal infor%ation in the court! of la$ to be able to hide behind the protecti&e

%antle of the !aid doctrine. hi!, petitioner! a!!ert, !tand! a! an ob!tacle to the

freedo% and liberty of the people and per%it! la$le!! and arbitrary 2tate action.

3e nd, ho$e&er, no co%pelling rea!on to abandon the !aid doctrine. It i! ba!ed

upon e;pre!! pro&i!ion of the Rule! of Court and the e;igencie! !er&ed by the la$.

he fear! e;pre!!ed by the petitioner! are not really unre%ediable. ! the Court

!ee! it, re-e;a%ination or reapprai!al, $ith a &ie$ to it! abandon%ent, of the Ilagan

ca!e doctrine i! not the an!$er. he an!$er and the better practice $ould be, not to

li%it the function of thehabeas corpusto a %ere inuiry a! to $hether or not the

court $hich i!!ued the proce!!, udg%ent or order of co%%it%ent or before $ho%

the detained per!on i! charged, had uri!diction or not to i!!ue the proce!!,

udg%ent or order or to ta6e cogni#ance of the ca!e, but rather, a! the Court it!elf

!tate! in Morales, )r. vs. Enrile, (9


25/42

done in all future ca!e! of habeas corpus. In 2hort, all ca!e! in&ol&ing depri&ation of

indi&idual liberty !hould be pro%ptly brought to the court! for their i%%ediate

!crutiny and di!po!ition.

3>R"=R, the petition! are hereby I2JI22, e;cept that in

".&.o. 68:


26/42

denied po!!e!!ion of !aid rear% but later, upon ue!tion profounded by 2gt.

leandro Kuncalan $ith the $ife of the accu!ed, the latter pointed to a place belo$

their hou!e $here a gun $a! buried in the ground. *2N, page :, >earing-=ctober

(4, (9:+

)at. Kioco then &eried the place pointed by accu!ed?! $ife and dug the ground!,

after $hich he reco&ered the rear%, Caliber .: re&ol&er, %ar6ed a! ;hibit e $a! al!o $arned not to re&eal anything $ith the

go&ern%ent authoritie!. Kecau!e of the threat to hi! life and fa%ily, Ce!ar Ja!a%lo6

oined the group. ccu!ed then told hi%, he !hould attend a !e%inar !cheduled on

pril (9, (9:. long $ith thi! in&itation, accu!ed pulled gut fro% hi! $ai!tline a .:

caliber re&ol&er $hich Ja!a%lo6 really !a$, being only about t$o *+ %eter! a$ay

fro% accu!ed, $hich %a6e hi% ea!ily Identied !aid rear%, a! that %ar6ed a!

;hibit earing-'anuary 4,

(9:+.

=n pril (9, (9:, a! pre&iou!ly in&ited, Ja!a%lo6, acco%panied by hi! father,

Jatuguil Ja!a%lo6, I!abel Ilan and yo6 Ide! $ent to the hou!e of accu!ed and

attended the !e%inar, ho!e pre!ent in the !e%inar $ere/ accu!ed Ruben Kurgo!,

ntonio Kurgo!, =!car Go%e#, Landrino Kurgo!, alia! )edipol and one alia! 'a%per.

he r!t !pea6er $a! accu!ed Ruben Kurgo!, $ho !aid &ery di!tinctly that he i! an

N) together $ith hi! co%panion!, to a!!ure the unity of the ci&ilian. hat he

encouraged the group to o&erthro$ the go&ern%ent, e%pha!i#ing that tho!e $ho

attended the !e%inar $ere already %e%ber! of the N), and if they re&eal to the

authoritie!, they $ill be 6illed.

ccu!ed, $hile tal6ing, !ho$ed to the audience pa%phlet! and docu%ent!, then

nally !houted, the N) $ill be &ictoriou!. Ja!a%lo6 li6e$i!e Identied the

pa%phlet! a! tho!e %ar6ed a! ;h. e;hibit!


27/42

"inally, in order to pro&e illegal po!!e!!ion by accu!ed of the !ubect rear%, 2gt.

pifanio Co%abig in-charge of rear%! and e;plo!i&e!, NC= >eaduarter, )hilippine

Con!tabulary, igo!, a&ao del 2ur, $a! pre!ented and te!tied, that a%ong the

li!t! of rear% holder! in a&ao del 2ur, nothing $a! li!ted in the na%e of accu!ed

Ruben Kurgo!, neither $a! hi! na%e included a%ong the li!t! of per!on! $ho

applied for the licen!ing of the rear% under )re!idential ecree No. (847.

fter the abo&e-te!ti%ony the pro!ecution for%ally clo!ed it! ca!e and oDered it!

e;hibit!, $hich $ere all ad%itted in e&idence, de!pite obection interpo!ed by

coun!el for accu!ed, $hich $a! accordingly o&erruled.

=n the other hand, the defendant-appellant?! &er!ion of the ca!e again!t hi% i!

!tated in the deci!ion a! follo$!/

"ro% hi! far%, the %ilitary per!onnel, $ho% he !aid he cannot recogni#e, brought

hi% to the )C Karrac6! at igo!, a&ao del 2ur, and arri&ed there at about /00

o?cloc6, on the !a%e date. t about :/00 o?cloc6 ).J., in the e&ening, he $a!

in&e!tigated by !oldier!, $ho% he cannot Identify becau!e they $ere $earing a

ci&ilian attire. *2N, page (4 (, >earing-'une (7, (9:+

he in&e!tigation $a! conducted in the )C barrac6!, $here he $a! detained $ith

re!pect to the !ubect rear%, $hich the in&e!tigator, $i!hed hi% to ad%it butaccu!ed denied it! o$ner!hip. Kecau!e of hi! refu!al accu!ed $a! %auled, hitting

hi% on the left and right !ide of hi! body $hich rendered hi% uncon!ciou!. ccu!ed

in an at%o!phere of ter!ed !ole%nity, crying and $ith e%otional attach%ent,

de!cribed in detail ho$ he $a! tortured and the ordeal! he $a! !ubected.

>e !aid, after reco&ery of hi! con!ciou!ne!!, he $a! again confronted $ith !ubect

rear%, ;hibit


28/42

left the gun, alleging that it $a! not in order, and that they $ill lea&e it behind,

te%porarily for the% to clai% it later. hey $ere the one! $ho buried it. 2he !aid,

her hu!band, the accu!ed, $a! not in their hou!e at that ti%e and that !he did not

infor% hi% about !aid rear% neither did !he report the %atter to the authoritie!,

for fear of the life of her hu!band. *2N, page 4, No&e%ber , (9:+

=n cro!!-e;a%ination, !he !aid, e&en if Ja!a%lo6 during the

reco&ery of the rear%, $a! $earing a %a!6, !he can !till Identify

hi%. *2N, page 5, >earing-No&e%ber , (9:+

fter the abo&e-te!ti%ony, accu!ed through coun!el for%ally

re!ted hi! ca!e in !upport of accu!ed?! through coun!el

%anife!tation for the de%urrer to e&idence of the pro!ecution, or

in the alternati&e for &iolation %erely of !i%ple illegal po!!e!!ion

of rear%, ?under the Re&i!ed d%ini!trati&e Code, a! a%ended by

Republic ct No. 4, reBected in the %anife!tation of coun!el for

accu!ed. *2N, page! ((-((4, >earing-Jay (:, (9:+

ccu!ed-appellant Ruben Kurgo! no$ rai!e! the follo$ing a!!ign%ent! of error, to

$it/

I > RIL C=1R RR IN >=LING > *2IC+ > RR2 =" CC12-))LLN 3I>=1 ALI 3RRN = K L3"1L.

II > RIL C=1R RR IN >=LING > 2RC> IN > >=12 =" CC12-

))LLN "=R "IRRJ 3I>=1 ALI 3RRN = K L3"1L.

III > RIL C=1R RR IN >=LING CC12-))LLN G1ILQ KQ=N

R2=NKL =1K "=R AI=LI=N =" ).. No. 9 IN RLI=N = GNRL

=RR2 N=2. 5 N 8

3a! the arre!t of Ruben Kurgo! la$ful 3ere the !earch of hi! hou!e and the

!ub!euent con!cation of a rear% and docu%ent! allegedly found therein

conducted in a la$ful and &alid %anner oe! the e&idence !u!taining the cri%echarged %eet the te!t of pro&ing guilt beyond rea!onable doubt

he record! of the ca!e di!clo!e that $hen the police authoritie! $ent to the hou!e

of Ruben Kurgo! for the purpo!e of arre!ting hi% upon infor%ation gi&en by Ce!ar

Ja!a%lo6 that the accu!ed allegedly recruited hi% to oin the Ne$ )eople?! r%y

*N)+, they did not ha&e any $arrant of arre!t or !earch $arrant $ith the% *2N, p.

7, =ctober (4, (9: and 2N, p. 5(, No&e%ber (7, (9:+.

rticle IA, 2ection of the Con!titution pro&ide!/

he right of the people to be !ecure in their per!on!, hou!e!, paper!, and eDect!

again!t unrea!onable !earche! and !ei#ure! of $hate&er nature and for any purpo!e!hall not be &iolated, and no !earch $arrant or $arrant of arre!t !hall i!!ue e;cept

upon probable cau!e to be deter%ined by the udge, or !uch other re!pon!ible

oHcer a! %ay be authori#ed by la$, after e;a%ination under oath or aHr%ation of

the co%plainant and the $itne!!e! he %ay produce, and particularly de!cribing the

place to be !earched, and the per!on! or thing! to be !ei#ed.

he con!titutional pro&i!ion i! a !afeguard again!t $anton and unrea!onable

in&a!ion of the pri&acy and liberty of a citi#en a! to hi! per!on, paper! and eDect!.

hi! Court e;plained in Villanueva vs. uerubin*4: 2CR 47+ $hy thi! right i! !o

i%portant/

It i! deference to one?! per!onality that lie! at the core of thi! right, but it could be

al!o loo6ed upon a! a recognition of a con!titutionally protected area, pri%arily

one?! ho%e, but not nece!!arily thereto conned. *Cf. >oDa &. 1nited 2tate!, :7 12

9 (955(+ 3hat i! !ought to be guarded i! a %an?! prerogati&e to choo!e $ho i!

allo$ed entry to hi! re!idence. In that ha&en of refuge, hi! indi&iduality can a!!ert

it!elf not only in the choice of $ho !hall be $elco%e but li6e$i!e in the 6ind of

obect! he $ant! around hi%. here the !tate, ho$e&er po$erful, doe! not a! !uch

ha&e acce!! e;cept under the circu%!tance! abo&e noted, for in the traditional

for%ulation, hi! hou!e, ho$e&er hu%ble, i! hi! ca!tle. hu! i! outla$ed any

un$arranted intru!ion by go&ern%ent, $hich i! called upon to refrain fro% any

in&a!ion of hi! d$elling and to re!pect the pri&acie! of hi! life, *Cf. 2ch%erber &.

California, :4 12 878 (955O, Krennan, '. and Koyd &. 1nited 2tate!, ((5 12 5(5,

50 (::5O+. In the !a%e &ein, Landyn!6i in hi! authoritati&e $or6 *2earch and2ei#ure and the 2upre%e Court (955O, could tly characteri#e thi! con!titutional

right a! the e%bodi%ent of a ?!piritual concept/ the belief that to &alue the pri&acy

of ho%e and per!on and to aDord it! con!titutional protection again!t the long reach

of go&ern%ent i! no leg! than to &alue hu%an dignity, and that hi! pri&acy %u!t not

be di!turbed e;cept in ca!e of o&erriding !ocial need, and then only under !tringent

procedural !afeguard!.? *5bid, p. 48+.

he trial court u!tied the arre!t of the accu!ed-appelant $ithout any $arrant a!

falling under one of the in!tance! $hen arre!t! %ay be &alidly %ade $ithout a

$arrant. Rule ((, 2ection 5 U of the Rule! of Court, pro&ide! the e;ception! a!

follo$!/

a+ 3hen the per!on to be arre!ted ha! co%%itted, i! actually co%%itting, or i!

about to co%%it an oDen!e in hi! pre!ence

b+ 3hen an oDen!e ha! in fact been co%%itted, and he ha! rea!onable ground to

belie&e that the per!on to be arre!ted ha! co%%itted it

c+ 3hen the per!on to be arre!ted i! a pri!oner $ho ha! e!caped fro% a penal

e!tabli!h%ent or place $here he i! !er&ing nal udg%ent or te%porarily conned

$hile hi! ca!e i! pending or ha! e!caped $hile being tran!ferred fro% one

conne%ent to another.

he Court !tated that e&en if there $a! no $arrant for the arre!t of Kurgo!, the factthat


29/42

!ub&er!i&e acti&itie! fro% a reliable !ource *report of Ce!ar Ja!a%lo6+ the

circu%!tance! of hi! arre!t, e&en $ithout udicial $arrant, i! la$fully $ithin the

a%bit of 2ection 5- of Rule (( of the Rule! of Court and applicable uri!prudence

on the %atter.e $a!, in fact, plo$ing hi! eld at the ti%e of the arre!t.

he right of a per!on to be !ecure again!t any unrea!onable !ei#ure of hi! body and

any depri&ation of hi! liberty i! a %o!t ba!ic and funda%ental one. he !tatute or

rule $hich allo$! e;ception! to the reuire%ent of $arrant! of arre!t i! !trictly

con!trued. ny e;ception %u!t clearly fall $ithin the !ituation! $hen !ecuring a

$arrant $ould be ab!urd or i! %anife!tly unnece!!ary a! pro&ided by the Rule. 3ecannot liberally con!true the rule on arre!t! $ithout $arrant or e;tend it! application

beyond the ca!e! !pecically pro&ided by la$. o do !o $ould infringe upon per!onal

liberty and !et bac6 a ba!ic right !o often &iolated and !o de!er&ing of full

protection.

he 2olicitor General i! of the per!ua!ion that the arre!t %ay !till be con!idered

la$ful under 2ection 5*b+ u!ing the te!t of rea!onablene!!. >e !ub%it! that. the

infor%ation gi&en by Ce!ar Ja!a%lo6 $a! !uHcient to induce a rea!onable ground

that a cri%e ha! been co%%itted and that the accu!ed i! probably guilty thereof.

In arre!t! $ithout a $arrant under 2ection 5*b+, ho$e&er, it i! not enough that there

i! rea!onable ground to belie&e that the per!on to be arre!ted ha! co%%itted a

cri%e. cri%e %u!t in fact or actuall$ha&e been co%%itted r!t. hat a cri%e ha!

actually been co%%itted i! an e!!ential precondition. It i! not enough to !u!pect

that a cri%e %ay ha&e been co%%itted. he fact of the co%%i!!ion of the oDen!e

%u!t be undi!puted. he te!t of rea!onable ground applie! only to the identity of the

perpetrator.

In thi! ca!e, the accu!ed $a! arre!ted on the !ole ba!i! of

laurel vs misa to burgos vs chief of staff crim law 2

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