Section(3.!Procedure.!—!The!preliminary!investigation!shall!be!conducted!

in!the!following!manner:!

(a)!The!complaint!shall!state!the!address!of!the!respondent!and!shall!
be!accompanied!by!the!affidavits!of!the!complainant!and!his!witnesses,!
as!well!as!other!supporting!documents!to!establish!probable!cause.!
They!shall!be!in!such!number!of!copies!as!there!are!respondents,!plus!
two!(2)!copies!for!the!official!file.!The!affidavits!shall!be!subscribed!and!
sworn!to!before!any!prosecutor!or!government!official!authorized!to!
administer!oath,!or,!in!their!absence!or!unavailability,!before!a!notary!
public,!each!of!who!must!certify!that!he!personally!examined!the!
affiants!and!that!he!is!satisfied!that!they!voluntarily!executed!and!
understood!their!affidavits.!

(b)!Within!ten!(10)!days!after!the!filing!of!the!complaint,!the!
investigating!officer!shall!either!dismiss!it!if!he!finds!no!ground!to!
continue!with!the!investigation,!or!issue!a!subpoena!to!the!respondent!
attaching!to!it!a!copy!of!the!complaint!and!its!supporting!affidavits!and!
documents.!

The!respondent!shall!have!the!right!to!examine!the!evidence!submitted!
by!the!complainant!which!he!may!not!have!been!furnished!and!to!copy!
them!at!his!expense.!If!the!evidence!is!voluminous,!the!complainant!
may!be!required!to!specify!those!which!he!intends!to!present!against!
the!respondent,!and!these!shall!be!made!available!for!examination!or!
copying!by!the!respondent!at!his!expense.!

Objects!as!evidence!need!not!be!furnished!a!party!but!shall!be!made!
available!for!examination,!copying,!or!photographing!at!the!expense!of!
the!requesting!party.!

(c)!Within!ten!(10)!days!from!receipt!of!the!subpoena!with!the!
complaint!and!supporting!affidavits!and!documents,!the!respondent!
shall!submit!his!counterHaffidavit!and!that!of!his!witnesses!and!other!
supporting!documents!relied!upon!for!his!defense.!The!counterH
affidavits!shall!be!subscribed!and!sworn!to!and!certified!as!provided!in!
paragraph!(a)!of!this!section,!with!copies!thereof!furnished!by!him!to!
the!complainant.!The!respondent!shall!not!be!allowed!to!file!a!motion!
to!dismiss!in!lieu!of!a!counterHaffidavit.!
 (d)!If!the!respondent!cannot!be!subpoenaed,!or!if!subpoenaed,!does!
not!submit!counterHaffidavits!within!the!ten!(10)!day!period,!the!
investigating!officer!shall!resolve!the!complaint!based!on!the!evidence!
presented!by!the!complainant.!

(e)!The!investigating!officer!may!set!a!hearing!if!there!are!facts!and!
issues!to!be!clarified!from!a!party!or!a!witness.!The!parties!can!be!
present!at!the!hearing!but!without!the!right!to!examine!or!crossH
examine.!They!may,!however,!submit!to!the!investigating!officer!
questions!which!may!be!asked!to!the!party!or!witness!concerned.!

The!hearing!shall!be!held!within!ten!(10)!days!from!submission!of!the!
counterHaffidavits!and!other!documents!or!from!the!expiration!of!the!
period!for!their!submission.!It!shall!be!terminated!within!five!(5)!days.!

(f)!Within!ten!(10)!days!after!the!investigation,!the!investigating!officer!
shall!determine!whether!or!not!there!is!sufficient!ground!to!hold!the!
respondent!for!trial.!(3a)!

SECTION/3./ Procedure.//
1.!Estrada!v.!Office!of!the!Ombudsman,!G.R.!Nos.!212140H41,!January!
21,!2015.!
2.!Ocampo!v.!Abando,!Supra.!
3.!CalloHClaridad!v.!Esteban,!Id.!
4.!Artillero!v.!Casimero,!G.R.!No.!190569,!April!25,!2012.!
!
! Sections/32/&/33,/R.A./No./9344/(Juvenile/Justice/and/Welfare/Act/of/
2006)/
/ A.M./No./02H1H18HSC/(Revised/Rule/on/Children/in/Conflict/with/the/
Law)/
!
!

G.R.(Nos.(212140341(((((((((((((((January(21,(2015!

SENATOR(JINGGOY(EJERCITO(ESTRADA,!Petitioner,!!
vs.!
OFFICE(OF(THE(OMBUDSMAN,(FIELD(INVESTIGATION(OFFICE,(Office(
of(the(Ombudsman,(NATIONAL(BUREAU(OF(INVESTIGATION(and(
ATTY.(LEVITO(D.(BALIGOD,!Respondents.!
 D!E!C!I!S!I!O!N!

CARPIO,(J.:!

It!is!a!fundamental!principle!that!the!accused!in!a!preliminary!investigation!
has!no!right!to!crossHexamine!the!witnesses!which!the!complainant!may!
present.!Section!3,!Rule!112!of!the!Rules!of!Court!expressly!provides!that!
the!respondent!shall!only!have!the!right!to!submit!a!counterHaffidavit,!to!
examine!all!other!evidence!submitted!by!the!complainant!and,!where!the!
fiscal!sets!a!hearing!to!propound!clarificatory!questions!to!the!parties!or!
their!witnesses,!to!be!afforded!an!opportunity!to!be!present!but!without!the!
right!to!examine!or!crossexamine.!

H!Paderanga!v.!Drilon1!

This!case!is!a!Petition!for!Certiorari2!with!prayer!for!(1)!the!issuance!of!a!
temporary!restraining!order!and/or!Writ!of!Preliminary!Injunction!enjoining!
respondents!Office!of!the!Ombudsman!(Ombudsman),!Field!Investigation!
Office!(FIO)!of!the!Ombudsman,!National!Bureau!of!Investigation!(NBI),!and!
Atty.!Levito!D.!Baligod!(Atty.!Baligod)!(collectively,!respondents),!from!
conducting!further!proceedings!in!OMBHCCH13H03013!and!OMBHCHCH13H
0397!until!the!present!Petition!has!been!resolved!with!finality_!and!(2)!this!
Court’s!declaration!that!petitioner!Senator!Jinggoy!Ejercito!Estrada!(Sen.!
Estrada)was!denied!due!process!of!law,!and!that!the!Order!of!the!
Ombudsman!dated!27!March!2014!and!the!proceedings!in!OMBHCHCH13H
03013!and!OMBHCHCH13H0397!subsequent!to!and!affected!by!the!issuance!
of!the!challenged!27!March!2014!Order!are!void.!

OMBHCHCH13H0313,3!entitled!National!Bureau!of!Investigation!and!Atty.!
Levito!D.!Baligod!v.!Jose!"Jinggoy"!P.!Ejercito!Estrada,!et!al.,refers!to!the!
complaint!for!Plunder!as!defined!under!Republic!Act!(RA)!No.!7080,!while!
OMBHCHCH13H0397,4!entitled!Field!Investigation!Office,!Office!of!the!
Ombudsman!v.!Jose!"Jinggoy"!P.!EjercitoHEstrada,!et!al.,!refers!to!the!
complaint!for!Plunder!as!defined!underRA!No.!7080!and!for!violation!of!
Section!3(e)!of!RA!No.!3019!(AntiHGraft!and!Corrupt!Practices!Act).!

The!Facts!

On!25!November!2013,!the!Ombudsman!served!upon!Sen.!Estrada!a!copy!
of!the!complaint!in!OMBHCHCH13H0313,!filed!by!the!NBI!and!Atty.!Baligod,!
which!prayed,!among!others,!that!criminal!proceedings!for!Plunder!as!
defined!in!RA!No.!7080!be!conducted!against!Sen.!Estrada.!Sen.!Estrada!
filed!his!counterHaffidavit!inOMBHCHCH13H0313!on!9!January!2014.!

On!3!December!2013,!the!Ombudsman!served!upon!Sen.!Estrada!a!copy!of!
the!complaint!in!OMBHCHCH13H0397,!filed!by!the!FIO!of!the!Ombudsman,!
which!prayed,!among!others,!that!criminal!proceedings!for!Plunder,!as!
defined!in!RA!No.!7080,!and!for!violation!of!Section!3(e)!of!RA!No.!3019,!be!
conducted!against!Sen.!Estrada.!Sen.!Estrada!filed!his!counter!affidavit!in!
OMBHCHCH13H0397!on!16!January!2014.!

Eighteen!of!Sen.!Estrada’s!coHrespondents!in!the!two!complaints!filed!their!
counterHaffidavits!between!9!December!2013!and!14!March!2014.5!

On!20!March!2014,!Sen.!Estrada!filed!his!Request!to!be!Furnished!with!
Copies!of!CounterHAffidavits!of!the!Other!Respondents,!Affidavits!of!New!
Witnesses!and!Other!Filings!(Request)!in!OMBHCHCH13H0313.!In!his!
Request,!Sen.!Estrada!asked!for!copies!of!the!following!documents:!

(a)!Affidavit!of![coHrespondent]!Ruby!Tuason!(Tuason)_!

(b)!Affidavit!of![coHrespondent]!Dennis!L.!Cunanan!(Cunanan)_!

(c)!CounterHAffidavit!of![coHrespondent]!Gondelina!G.!Amata!(Amata)_!

(d)!CounterHAffidavit!of![coHrespondent]!Mario!L.!Relampagos!
(Relampagos)_!

(e)!Consolidated!Reply!of!complainant!NBI,!if!one!had!been!filed_!and!

(f)!Affidavits/CounterHAffidavits/Pleadings/Filings!filed!by!all!the!other!
respondents!and/or!additional!witnesses!for!the!Complainants.6!

Sen.!Estrada’s!request!was!made!"[p]ursuant!to!the!right!of!a!respondent!‘to!
examine!the!evidence!submitted!by!the!complainant!which!he!may!not!have!
been!furnished’!(Section!3[b],!Rule!112!of!the!Rules!of!Court)!and!to!‘have!
access!to!the!evidence!on!record’!(Section!4[c],!Rule!II!of!the!Rules!of!
Procedure!of!the!Office!of!the!Ombudsman)."7!

On!27!March!2014,!the!Ombudsman!issued!the!assailed!Order!in!OMBHCH
CH13H0313.!The!pertinent!portions!of!the!assailed!Order!read:!
This!Office!finds!however!finds![sic]!that!the!foregoing!provisions![pertaining!
to!Section!3[b],!Rule!112!of!the!Rules!of!Court!and!Section!4[c],!Rule!II!of!
the!Rules!of!Procedure!of!the!Office!of!the!Ombudsman]!do!not!entitle!
respondent![Sen.!Estrada]to!be!furnished!all!the!filings!of!the!respondents.!

Rule!112!(3)!(a)!&!(c)!of!the!Rules!of!Court!provides![sic]:!

(a)!The!complaintshall!state!the!address!of!the!respondent!and!shall!
be!accompanied!by!the!affidavits!of!the!complainant!and!his!witnesses,!
as!well!as!other!supporting!documents!to!establish!probable!cause!…!

x!x!x!!!!!!!!!!!x!x!x!!!!!!!!!!x!x!x!

(c)!Within!ten!(10)!days!from!receipt!of!the!subpoena!with!the!
complaint!and!supporting!affidavits!and!documents,!the!respondent!
shall!submit!his!counter!affidavit!and!that!of!his!witnesses!and!other!
supporting!documents!relied!upon!for!his!defense.!The!counter!
affidavits!shall!be!subscribed!and!sworn!to!and!certified!as!provided!in!
paragraph!(a)!of!this!section,!with!copies!thereof!furnished!by!him!to!
the!complainant.!

Further!to!quote!the!rule!in!furnishing!copies!of!affidavits!to!parties!under!
the!Rules!of!Procedure!of!the!Office!of!the!Ombudsman![Section!4!of!Rule!II!
of!Administrative!Order!No.!07!issued!on!April!10,!1990]:!

a)!If!the!complaint!is!not!under!oath!or!is!based!only!on!official!reports,!
the!investigating!officer!shall!require!the!complainant!or!supporting!
witnesses!to!execute!affidavits!to!substantiate!the!complaints.!

b)!After!such!affidavits!have!been!secured,!the!investigating!officer!
shall!issue!an!order,!attaching!thereto!a!copy!of!the!affidavits!and!other!
supporting!documents,!directing!the!respondents!to!submit,!within!ten!
(10)!days!from!receipt!thereof,!his!counterHaffidavits!and!controverting!
evidence!with!proof!of!service!thereof!on!the!complainant.!The!
complainant!may!file!reply!affidavits!within!ten!(10)!days!after!service!
of!the!counterHaffidavits.!

It!can!be!gleaned!from!these!aforecited!provisions!that!this!Office!is!required!
to!furnish![Sen.!Estrada]!a!copy!of!the!Complaint!and!its!supporting!
affidavits!and!documents_!and!this!Office!complied!with!this!requirement!
when!it!furnished![Sen.!Estrada]!with!the!foregoing!documents!attached!to!
the!Orders!to!File!CounterHAffidavit!dated!19!November!2013!and!25!
November!2013.!

It!is!to!be!noted!that!there!is!noprovision!under!this!Office’s!Rules!of!
Procedure!which!entitles!respondent!to!be!furnished!all!the!filings!by!the!
other!parties,!e.g.!the!respondents.!Ruby!Tuason,!Dennis!Cunanan,!
Gondelina!G.!Amata!and!Mario!L.!Relampagos!themselves!are!all!
respondents!in!these!cases.!Under!the!Rules!of!Court!as!well!as!the!Rules!
of!Procedure!of!the!Office!of!the!Ombudsman,!the!respondents!are!only!
required!to!furnish!their!counterHaffidavits!and!controverting!evidence!to!the!
complainant,!and!not!to!the!other!respondents.!

To!reiterate,!the!rights!of!respondent![Sen.]!Estrada!in!the!conduct!of!the!
preliminary!investigation!depend!on!the!rights!granted!to!him!by!law!and!
these!cannot!be!based!on!whatever!rights!he!believes![that]!he!is!entitled!to!
or!those!that!may!be!derived!from!the!phrase!"due!process!of!law."!Thus,!
this!Office!cannot!grant!his!motion!to!be!furnished!with!copies!of!all!the!
filings!by!the!other!parties.!Nevertheless,!he!should!be!furnished!a!copy!of!
the!Reply!of!complainant!NBI!as!he!is!entitled!thereto!under!the!rules_!
however,!as!of!this!date,!no!Reply!has!been!filed!by!complainant!NBI.!

WHEREFORE,!respondent![Sen.]!Estrada’s!Request!to!be!Furnished!with!
Copies!of!CounterHAffidavits!of!the!Other!Respondents,!Affidavits!of!New!
Witnesses!and!Other!Filingsis!DENIED.!He!is!nevertheless!entitled!to!be!
furnished!a!copy!of!the!Reply!if!complainant!opts!to!file!such!
pleading.8!(Emphases!in!the!original)!

On!28!March!2014,!the!Ombudsman!issued!in!OMBHCHCH13H0313!and!
OMBHCHCH13H0397!a!Joint!Resolution9!which!found!probable!cause!to!indict!
Sen.!Estrada!and!his!coHrespondents!with!one!count!of!plunder!and!11!
counts!of!violation!of!Section!3(e)!of!RA!No.!3019.!Sen.!Estrada!filed!a!
Motion!for!Reconsideration!(of!the!Joint!Resolution!dated!28!March!2014)!
dated!7!April!2014.!Sen.!Estrada!prayed!for!the!issuance!of!a!new!
resolution!dismissing!the!charges!against!him.!Without!filing!a!Motion!for!
Reconsideration!of!the!Ombudsman’s!27!March!2014!Order!denying!his!
Request,!Sen.!Estrada!filed!the!present!Petition!for!Certiorari!under!Rule!65!
and!sought!to!annul!and!set!aside!the!27!March!2014!Order.!

THE!ARGUMENTS!
Sen.!Estrada!raised!the!following!grounds!in!his!Petition:!

THE!OFFICE!OF!THE!OMBUDSMAN,!IN!ISSUING!THE!CHALLENGED!
ORDER!DATED!27!MARCH!2014,!ACTED!WITHOUT!OR!IN!EXCESS!OF!
ITS!JURISDICTION!OR!WITH!GRAVE!ABUSE!OF!DISCRETION!
AMOUNTING!TO!LACK!OR!EXCESS!OF!JURISDICTION!AND!VIOLATED!
SEN.!ESTRADA'S!CONSTITUTIONAL!RIGHT!TO!DUE!PROCESS!OF!
LAW.10!Sen.!Estrada!also!claimed!that!under!the!circumstances,!he!has!"no!
appeal!or!any!other!plain,!speedy,!and!adequate!remedy!in!the!ordinary!
course!of!law,!except!through!this!Petition."11!Sen.!Estrada!applied!for!the!
issuance!of!a!temporary!restraining!order!and/or!writ!of!preliminary!
injunction!to!restrain!public!respondents!from!conducting!further!
proceedings!in!OMBHCHCH13H0313!and!OMBHCHCH13H0397.!Finally,!Sen.!
Estrada!asked!for!a!judgment!declaring!that!(a)!he!has!been!denied!due!
process!of!law,!and!as!a!consequence!thereof,!(b)!the!Order!dated!27!
March!2014,!as!well!as!the!proceedings!in!OMBHCHCH13H0313!and!OMBHCH
CH13H0397!subsequent!to!and!affected!bythe!issuance!of!the!27!March!2014!
Order,!are!void.12!

On!the!same!date,!7!May!2014,!the!Ombudsman!issued!in!OMBCHCH13H
0313!and!OMBHCHCH13H0397!a!Joint!Order!furnishing!Sen.!Estrada!with!the!
counterHaffidavits!of!Tuason,!Cunanan,!Amata,!Relampagos,!Francisco!
Figura,!Gregoria!Buenaventura,!and!Alexis!Sevidal,!and!directing!him!to!
comment!thereon!within!a!nonHextendible!period!of!five!days!fromreceipt!of!
the!order.!

On!12!May!2014,!Sen.!Estrada!filed!before!the!Ombudsman!a!motion!to!
suspend!proceedings!in!OMBHCHCH13H0313!and!OMBHCHCH13H0397!
because!the!denial!of!his!Request!to!be!furnished!copies!of!counterH
affidavits!of!his!coHrespondents!deprived!him!of!his!right!to!procedural!due!
process,!and!he!has!filed!the!present!Petition!before!thisCourt.!The!
Ombudsman!denied!Sen.!Estrada’s!motion!to!suspend!in!an!Order!dated!15!
May!2014.!Sen.!Estrada!filed!a!motion!for!reconsideration!of!the!Order!
dated!15!May!2014!but!his!motion!was!denied!in!an!Order!dated!3!June!
2014.!

As!of!2!June!2014,the!date!of!filing!of!the!Ombudsman’s!Comment!to!the!
present!Petition,!Sen.!Estrada!had!not!filed!a!comment!on!the!counterH
affidavits!furnished!to!him.!On!4!June!2014,!the!Ombudsman!issued!a!Joint!
Order!in!OMBHCHCH13H0313!and!OMBHCHCH13H0397!denying,!among!other!
motions!filed!by!the!other!respondents,!Sen.!Estrada’s!motion!for!
reconsideration!dated!7!April!2014.!The!pertinent!portion!of!the!4!June!2014!
Joint!Order!stated:!

While!it!is!true!that!Senator!Estrada’s!request!for!copies!of!Tuason,!
Cunanan,!Amata,!Relampagos,!Figura,!Buenaventura!and!Sevidal’s!
affidavits!was!denied!by!Order!dated!27!March!2014!and!before!the!
promulgation!of!the!assailed!Joint!Resolution,!this!Office!thereafter!
reevaluated!the!request!and!granted!it!byOrder!dated!7!May!2014!granting!
his!request.!Copies!of!the!requested!counterHaffidavits!were!appended!to!
the!copy!of!the!Order!dated!7!May!2014!transmitted!to!Senator!Estrada!
through!counsel.!

This!Office,!in!fact,!held!in!abeyance!the!disposition!of!the!motions!for!
reconsideration!in!this!proceeding!in!light!of!its!grant!to!Senator!Estrada!a!
period!of!five!days!from!receipt!of!the!7!May!2014!Order!to!formally!respond!
to!the!aboveHnamed!coHrespondents’!claims.!

In!view!of!the!foregoing,!this!Office!fails!to!see!how!Senator!Estrada!was!
deprived!of!his!right!to!procedural!due!process.13!(Emphasis!supplied)!

On!2!June!2014,!the!Ombudsman,!the!FIO,!and!the!NBI!(collectively,!public!
respondents),!through!the!Officeof!the!Solicitor!General,!filed!their!Comment!
to!the!present!Petition.!The!public!respondents!argued!that:!

I.!PETITIONER![SEN.!ESTRADA]!WAS!NOTDENIED!DUE!PROCESS!
OF!LAW.!

II.!THE!PETITION!FOR!CERTIORARI!IS!PROCEDURALLY!INFIRM.!

A.!LITIS!PENDENTIA!EXISTS!IN!THIS!CASE.!

B.!PETITIONER!HAS!A!PLAIN,!SPEEDY!AND!ADEQUATE!
REMEDY!IN!THE!ORDINARY!COURSE!OF!LAW.!

III.!PETITIONER!IS!NOTENTITLED!TO!A!WRIT!OF!PRELIMINARY!
INJUNCTION!AND/OR!TEMPORARY!RESTRAINING!ORDER.14!

On!6!June!2014,!Atty.!Baligod!filed!his!Comment!to!the!present!Petition.!
Atty.!Baligod!stated!that!Sen.!Estrada’s!resort!to!a!Petition!for!Certiorari!
under!Rule!65!is!improper.!Sen.!Estrada!should!have!either!filed!a!motion!
for!reconsideration!of!the!27!March!2014!Order!or!incorporated!the!alleged!
irregularity!in!his!motion!for!reconsideration!of!the!28!March!2014!Joint!
Resolution.!There!was!also!no!violation!of!Sen.!Estrada’s!right!to!due!
process!because!there!is!no!rule!which!mandates!that!a!respondent!such!as!
Sen.!Estrada!be!furnished!with!copies!of!the!submissions!of!his!
corespondents.!

On!16!June!2014,!Sen.!Estrada!filed!his!Reply!to!the!public!respondents’!
Comment.!Sen.!Estrada!insisted!that!he!was!denied!due!process.!Although!
Sen.!Estrada!received!copies!of!the!counterHaffidavits!of!Cunanan,!Amata,!
Relampagos,!Buenaventura,!Figura,!Sevidal,!as!well!as!one!of!Tuason’s!
counterHaffidavits,!heclaimed!that!he!was!not!given!the!following!documents:!

a)!One!other!CounterHAffidavit!of!Ruby!Tuason!dated!21!February!
2014_!

b)!CounterHAffidavit!of!Sofia!D.!Cruz!dated!31!January!2014_!

c)!CounterHAffidavit!of!Evelyn!Sugcang!dated!11!February!2014_!

d)!Two!(2)!CounterHAffidavits!of!Alan!A.!Javellana!dated!06!February!
2014_!

e)!CounterHAffidavit!of!VictorRoman!Cojamco!Cacal!dated!11!
December!2013!(to!the!FIO!Complaint)_!

f)!CounterHAffidavit!of!VictorRoman!Cojamco!Cacal!dated!22!January!
2014!(to!the!NBI!Complaint)_!

g)!Two!(2)!counterHaffidavits!of!Ma.!Julie!A.!VillaralvoJohnson!both!
dated!14!March!2014_!

h)!CounterHaffidavit!of!Rhodora!Bulatad!Mendoza!dated!06!March!
2014_!

i)!CounterHaffidavit!of!Maria!Ninez!P.!Guañizo!dated!28!January!2014_!

j)!Two!(2)!counterHaffidavits!of!Marivic!V.!Jover!both!dated!09!
December!2013_!and!

k)!CounterHaffidavit!of!Francisco!B.!Figura!dated!08!January!2014.!
Sen.!Estrada!argues!that!the!Petition!isnot!rendered!moot!by!the!
 subsequent!issuance!of!the!7!May!2014!Joint!Order!because!there!is!a!
recurring!violation!of!his!right!to!due!process.!Sen.!Estrada!also!insists!
that!there!is!no!forum!shopping!as!the!present!Petition!arose!from!an!
incident!in!the!main!proceeding,!and!that!he!has!no!other!plain,!
speedy,!and!adequate!remedy!in!the!ordinary!course!of!law.!Finally,!
Sen.!Estrada!reiterates!his!application!for!the!issuance!of!a!temporary!
restraining!order!and/or!writ!of!preliminary!injunction!to!restrain!public!
respondents!from!conducting!further!proceedings!in!OMBHCHCH13H
0313!and!OMBHCHCH13H0397.!

This!Court’s!Ruling!

Considering!the!facts!narrated!above,!the!Ombudsman’s!denial!in!its!27!
March!2014!Order!of!Sen.!Estrada’s!Request!did!not!constitute!grave!abuse!
of!discretion.!Indeed,!the!denial!did!not!violate!Sen.!Estrada’s!constitutional!
right!to!due!process.!

First.!There!is!no!law!or!rule!which!requires!the!Ombudsman!to!furnish!a!
respondent!with!copies!of!the!counterHaffidavits!of!his!coHrespondents.!

We!reproduce!below!Sections!3!and!4,!Rule!112!of!the!Revised!Rules!of!
Criminal!Procedure,!as!well!as!Rule!II!of!Administrative!Order!No.!7,!Rules!
of!Procedure!of!the!Office!of!the!Ombudsman,!for!ready!reference.!

From!the!Revised!Rules!of!Criminal!Procedure,!Rule!112:!Preliminary!
Investigation!

Section!3.!Procedure.!—!The!preliminary!investigation!shall!be!conducted!in!
the!following!manner:!

(a)!The!complaint!shall!state!the!address!of!the!respondent!and!shall!
be!accompanied!by!the!affidavits!of!the!complainant!and!his!witnesses,!
as!well!as!other!supporting!documents!to!establish!probable!cause.!
They!shall!be!in!such!number!of!copies!as!there!are!respondents,!plus!
two!(2)!copies!for!the!official!file.!The!affidavits!shall!be!subscribed!and!
sworn!to!before!any!prosecutor!or!government!official!authorized!to!
administer!oath,!or,!in!their!absence!or!unavailability,!before!a!notary!
public,!each!of!who!must!certify!thathe!personally!examined!the!
affiants!and!that!he!is!satisfied!that!they!voluntarily!executed!and!
understood!their!affidavits.!
(b)!Within!ten!(10)!days!after!the!filing!of!the!complaint,!the!
investigating!officer!shall!either!dismiss!it!if!he!finds!no!ground!to!
continue!with!the!investigation,!or!issue!a!subpoena!to!the!respondent!
attaching!to!it!a!copy!of!the!complaint!and!its!supporting!affidavits!and!
documents.!The!respondent!shall!have!the!right!to!examine!the!
evidence!submitted!by!the!complainant!which!he!may!not!have!been!
furnished!and!to!copy!them!at!his!expense.!If!the!evidence!is!
voluminous,!the!complainant!may!be!required!to!specify!those!which!
he!intends!to!present!against!the!respondent,!and!these!shall!be!made!
available!for!examination!or!copying!by!the!respondent!at!his!expense.!

Objects!as!evidence!need!not!be!furnished!a!party!but!shall!be!made!
available!for!examination,!copying,!or!photographing!at!the!expense!of!
the!requesting!party.!

(c)!Within!ten!(10)!days!from!receipt!of!the!subpoena!with!the!
complaint!and!supporting!affidavits!and!documents,!the!respondent!
shall!submit!his!counterHaffidavit!and!that!of!his!witnesses!and!other!
supporting!documents!relied!upon!for!his!defense.!The!counterH
affidavits!shall!be!subscribed!and!sworn!to!and!certified!as!provided!in!
paragraph!(a)!of!this!section,!with!copies!thereof!furnished!by!him!to!
the!complainant.!The!respondent!shall!not!be!allowed!to!file!a!motion!
to!dismiss!in!lieu!of!a!counterHaffidavit.!

(d)!If!the!respondent!cannot!be!subpoenaed,!or!if!subpoenaed,!does!
not!submit!counterHaffidavits!within!the!ten!(10)!day!period,!the!
investigating!officer!shall!resolve!the!complaint!based!on!the!evidence!
presented!by!the!complainant.!

(e)!The!investigating!officer!may!set!a!hearing!if!there!are!facts!and!
issues!to!be!clarified!from!a!party!ora!witness.!The!parties!can!be!
present!at!the!hearing!but!without!the!right!to!examine!or!crossH
examine.!They!may,!however,!submit!to!the!investigating!officer!
questions!which!may!be!asked!to!the!party!or!witness!concerned.!

The!hearing!shall!be!held!within!ten!(10)!days!from!submission!of!the!
counterHaffidavits!and!other!documents!or!from!the!expiration!of!the!
period!for!their!submission.!It!shall!be!terminated!within!five!(5)!days.!
 (f)!Within!ten!(10)!days!after!the!investigation,!the!investigating!officer!
shall!determine!whether!or!not!there!is!sufficient!ground!to!hold!the!
respondent!for!trial.!Section!4.!Resolution!of!investigating!prosecutor!
and!its!review.—!If!the!investigating!prosecutor!finds!cause!to!hold!the!
respondent!for!trial,!he!shall!prepare!the!resolution!and!information.!He!
shall!certify!under!oath!in!the!information!that!he,!or!as!shown!by!the!
record,!an!authorized!officer,!has!personally!examined!the!complainant!
and!his!witnesses_!that!there!is!reasonable!ground!to!believe!that!a!
crime!has!been!committed!and!that!the!accused!is!probably!guilty!
thereof_!that!the!accused!was!informed!of!the!complaint!and!of!the!
evidence!submitted!against!him_!and!that!he!was!given!an!opportunity!
to!submit!controverting!evidence.!Otherwise,!he!shall!recommend!the!
dismissal!of!the!complaint.!

Within!five!(5)!days!from!his!resolution,!he!shall!forward!the!record!of!
the!case!to!the!provincial!or!city!prosecutor!or!chief!state!prosecutor,!or!
to!the!Ombudsman!orhis!deputy!in!cases!of!offenses!cognizable!by!the!
Sandiganbayan!in!the!exercise!of!its!original!jurisdiction.!They!shall!act!
on!the!resolution!within!ten!(10)!days!from!their!receipt!thereof!and!
shall!immediately!inform!the!parties!of!such!action.!

No!complaint!or!information!may!be!filed!or!dismissed!by!an!investigating!
prosecutor!without!the!prior!written!authority!or!approval!of!the!provincial!or!
city!prosecutor!or!chief!state!prosecutor!or!the!Ombudsman!or!his!deputy.!

Where!the!investigating!prosecutor!recommends!the!dismissal!of!the!
complaint!but!his!recommendation!is!disapproved!by!the!provincial!or!city!
prosecutor!or!chief!state!prosecutor!or!the!Ombudsman!or!his!deputy!on!the!
ground!that!a!probable!cause!exists,!the!latter!may,!by!himself,!file!the!
information!against!the!respondent,!or!direct!any!other!assistant!prosecutor!
or!state!prosecutor!to!do!so!without!conducting!another!preliminary!
investigation.!

If!upon!petition!by!a!proper!party!under!such!rules!as!the!Department!of!
Justice!may!prescribe!or!motu!proprio,!the!Secretary!of!Justice!reverses!or!
modifies!the!resolution!of!the!provincial!or!city!prosecutor!or!chief!state!
prosecutor,!he!shall!direct!the!prosecutor!concerned!either!to!file!the!
corresponding!information!without!conducting!another!preliminary!
investigation,!or!to!dismiss!or!move!for!dismissal!of!the!complaint!or!
information!with!notice!to!the!parties.!The!same!rule!shall!apply!in!
preliminary!investigations!conducted!by!the!officers!of!the!Office!of!the!
Ombudsman.!From!the!Rules!of!Procedure!of!the!Office!of!the!
Ombudsman,!Administrative!Order!No.!7,!Rule!II:!Procedure!in!Criminal!
Cases!

Section!1.!Grounds.!—!A!criminal!complaint!may!be!brought!for!an!offense!
in!violation!of!R.A.!3019,as!amended,!R.A.!1379,!as!amended,!R.A.!6713,!
Title!VII,!Chapter!II,!Section!2!of!the!Revised!Penal!Code,!and!for!such!
other!offenses!committed!by!public!officers!and!employees!in!relation!to!
office.!

Sec.!2.!Evaluation.!—!Upon!evaluating!the!complaint,!the!investigating!
officer!shall!recommend!whether!it!may!be:!

a)!dismissed!outright!for!want!of!palpable!merit_!

b)!referred!to!respondent!for!comment_!

c)!indorsed!to!the!proper!government!office!or!agency!which!has!
jurisdiction!over!the!case_!

d)!forwarded!to!the!appropriate!office!or!official!for!factHfinding!
investigation_!

e)!referred!for!administrative!adjudication_!or!

f)!subjected!to!a!preliminary!investigation.!

Sec.!3.!Preliminary!investigation_!who!may!conduct.—!Preliminary!
investigation!may!be!conducted!by!any!of!the!following:!

1)!Ombudsman!Investigators_!

2)!Special!Prosecuting!Officers_!

3)!Deputized!Prosecutors_!

4)!Investigating!Officials!authorized!by!law!to!conduct!preliminary!
investigations_!or!

5)!Lawyers!in!the!government!service,!so!designated!by!the!
Ombudsman.!
Sec.!4.!Procedure.!—!The!preliminary!investigation!of!cases!falling!under!
the!jurisdiction!of!the!Sandiganbayan!and!Regional!Trial!Courts!shall!be!
conducted!in!the!manner!prescribed!in!Section!3,!Rule!112!of!the!Rules!of!
Court,!subject!to!the!following!provisions:!

a)!If!the!complaint!is!not!under!oath!or!is!based!only!on!official!reports,!
the!investigating!officer!shall!require!the!complainant!or!supporting!
witnesses!to!execute!affidavits!to!substantiate!the!complaints.!

b)!After!such!affidavits!have!been!secured,!the!investigating!officer!
shall!issue!an!order,!attaching!thereto!a!copy!of!the!affidavits!and!other!
supporting!documents,!directing!the!respondent!to!submit,!within!ten!
(10)!days!from!receipt!thereof,!his!counterHaffidavits!and!controverting!
evidence!with!proof!of!service!thereof!on!thecomplainant.!The!
complainant!may!file!reply!affidavits!within!ten!(10)!days!after!service!
of!the!counterHaffidavits.!

c)!If!the!respondent!does!not!file!a!counterHaffidavit,!the!investigating!
officer!may!consider!the!comment!filed!by!him,!if!any,!as!his!answer!to!
the!complaint.!In!any!event,!the!respondent!shall!have!access!to!the!
evidence!on!record.!

d)!No!motion!to!dismiss!shall!be!allowed!except!for!lack!of!jurisdiction.!
Neither!may!a!motion!for!a!bill!of!particulars!be!entertained.!If!
respondent!desires!any!matter!in!the!complainant’s!affidavit!to!be!
clarified,!the!particularization!thereof!may!be!done!at!the!time!of!
clarificatory!questioning!in!the!manner!provided!in!paragraph!(f)!of!this!
section.!

e)!If!the!respondent!cannot!be!served!with!the!order!mentioned!in!
paragraph!6!hereof,!or!having!been!served,!does!not!comply!therewith,!
the!complaint!shall!be!deemed!submitted!for!resolution!on!the!basis!of!
the!evidence!on!record.!

f)!If,!after!the!filing!of!the!requisite!affidavits!and!their!supporting!
evidences,!there!are!facts!material!to!the!case!which!the!investigating!
officer!may!need!to!be!clarified!on,!he!may!conduct!a!clarificatory!
hearing!during!which!the!parties!shall!be!afforded!the!opportunity!to!be!
present!but!without!the!right!to!examine!or!crossHexamine!the!witness!
being!questioned.!Where!the!appearance!of!the!parties!or!witnesses!is!
 impracticable,!the!clarificatory!questioning!may!be!conducted!in!
writing,!whereby!the!questions!desired!to!be!asked!by!the!investigating!
officer!or!a!party!shall!be!reduced!into!writing!and!served!on!the!
witness!concerned!who!shall!be!required!to!answer!the!same!in!writing!
and!under!oath.!

g)!Upon!the!termination!of!the!preliminary!investigation,!the!
investigating!officer!shall!forward!the!records!of!the!case!together!with!
his!resolution!to!the!designated!authorities!for!their!appropriate!action!
thereon.!

No!information!may!be!filed!and!no!complaint!may!be!dismissed!without!the!
written!authority!or!approval!of!the!Ombudsman!in!cases!falling!within!the!
jurisdiction!of!the!Sandiganbayan,!or!of!the!proper!Deputy!Ombudsman!in!
all!other!cases.!

x!x!x!x!

Sec.!6.!Notice!to!parties.—!The!parties!shall!be!served!with!a!copy!of!the!
resolution!as!finally!approved!by!the!Ombudsman!or!by!the!proper!Deputy!
Ombudsman.!

Sec.!7.!Motion!for!reconsideration.—!a)!Only!one!(1)!motion!for!
reconsideration!or!reinvestigation!of!anapproved!order!or!resolution!shall!be!
allowed,!the!same!to!be!filed!within!fifteen!(15)!days!from!notice!thereof!with!
the!Office!of!the!Ombudsman,!or!the!proper!deputy!ombudsman!as!the!
case!may!be.!

x!x!x!x!

b)!The!filing!of!a!motion!for!reconsideration/reinvestigation!shall!not!bar!the!
filing!of!the!corresponding!Information!in!court!on!the!basis!of!the!finding!of!
probable!cause!in!the!resolution!subject!of!the!motion.!(Emphasis!supplied)!

Sen.!Estrada!claims!that!the!denial!of!his!Request!for!the!counter!affidavits!
of!his!coHrespondents!violates!his!constitutional!right!to!due!process.!Sen.!
Estrada,!however,!fails!to!specify!a!law!or!rule!which!states!that!it!is!a!
compulsory!requirement!of!due!process!in!a!preliminary!investigation!that!
the!Ombudsman!furnish!a!respondent!with!the!counterHaffidavits!of!his!coH
respondents.!Neither!Section!3(b),!Rule!112!of!the!Revised!Rules!of!
Criminal!Procedure!nor!Section!4(c),!Rule!II!of!the!Rules!of!Procedure!of!the!
Office!of!the!Ombudsman!supports!Sen.!Estrada’s!claim.!What!the!Rules!of!
Procedure!of!the!Office!of!the!Ombudsman!require!is!for!the!Ombudsman!to!
furnish!the!respondent!with!a!copy!of!the!complaint!and!the!supporting!
affidavits!and!documents!at!the!time!the!order!to!submit!the!counterHaffidavit!
is!issued!to!the!respondent.!This!is!clear!from!Section!4(b),!Rule!II!of!the!
Rules!of!Procedure!of!the!Office!of!the!Ombudsman!when!it!states,!"[a]fter!
such!affidavits![of!the!complainant!and!his!witnesses]!have!been!secured,!
the!investigating!officer!shall!issue!an!order,!attaching!thereto!a!copy!of!the!
affidavits!and!other!supporting!documents,!directing!the!respondent!to!
submit,!within!ten!(10)!days!from!receipt!thereof,!his!counterHaffidavits!x!x!
x."!At!this!point,!there!is!still!no!counterHaffidavit!submitted!by!any!
respondent.!Clearly,!what!Section!4(b)!refers!to!are!affidavits!of!the!
complainant!and!his!witnesses,!not!the!affidavits!of!the!coHrespondents.!
Obviously,!the!counterHaffidavits!of!the!coHrespondents!are!not!part!of!the!
supporting!affidavits!of!the!complainant.!No!grave!abuse!of!discretion!can!
thus!be!attributed!to!the!Ombudsman!for!the!issuance!of!the!27!March!2014!
Order!which!denied!Sen.!Estrada’s!Request.!

Although!Section!4(c),!Rule!II!of!the!Rules!of!Procedure!of!the!Office!of!the!
Ombudsman!provides!that!a!respondent!"shall!have!access!to!the!evidence!
on!record,"!this!provision!should!be!construed!in!relation!to!Section!4(a)!and!
(b)!of!the!same!Rule,!as!well!as!to!the!Rules!of!Criminal!Procedure.!First,!
Section!4(a)!states!that!"theinvestigating!officer!shall!require!the!
complainant!or!supporting!witnesses!to!execute!affidavits!to!substantiate!the!
complaint."!The!"supporting!witnesses"!are!the!witnesses!of!the!
complainant,!and!do!not!refer!to!the!coHrespondents.!

Second,!Section!4(b)!states!that!"the!investigating!officer!shall!issue!an!
order!attaching!thereto!a!copy!of!the!affidavits!and!all!other!supporting!
documents,!directing!the!respondent"!tosubmit!his!counterHaffidavit.!The!
affidavits!referred!to!in!Section!4(b)!are!the!affidavits!mentioned!in!Section!

4(a).!Clearly,!the!affidavits!to!be!furnished!to!the!respondent!are!the!
affidavits!of!the!complainant!and!his!supporting!witnesses.!The!provision!in!
the!immediately!succeeding!Section!4(c)!of!the!same!Rule!II!that!a!
respondent!shall!have!"access!to!the!evidence!on!record"!does!not!stand!
alone,!but!should!be!read!in!relation!to!the!provisions!of!Section!4(a!and!b)!
of!the!same!Rule!II!requiring!the!investigating!officer!to!furnish!the!
respondent!with!the!"affidavits!and!other!supporting!documents"!submitted!
by!"the!complainant!or!supporting!witnesses."!Thus,!a!respondent’s!"access!
to!evidence!on!record"!in!Section!4(c),!Rule!II!of!the!Ombudsman’s!Rules!of!
Procedure!refers!to!the!affidavits!and!supporting!documents!of!"the!
complainant!or!supporting!witnesses"!in!Section!4(a)!of!the!same!Rule!II.!

Third,!Section!3(b),!Rule!112!of!the!Revised!Rules!of!Criminal!Procedure!
provides!that!"[t]he!respondent!shall!have!the!right!to!examine!the!evidence!
submitted!by!the!complainant!which!he!may!not!have!been!furnished!and!to!
copy!them!at!his!expense."!A!respondent’s!right!to!examine!refers!only!to!
"the!evidence!submitted!by!the!complainant."!

Thus,!whether!under!Rule!112!of!the!Revised!Rules!of!Criminal!Procedure!
or!under!Rule!II!of!the!Ombudsman’s!Rules!of!Procedure,!there!is!no!
requirement!whatsoever!that!the!affidavits!executed!by!the!corespondents!
should!be!furnished!to!a!respondent.!Justice!Velasco’s!dissent!relies!on!the!
ruling!in!Office!of!the!Ombudsman!v.!Reyes!(Reyes!case),15!an!
administrative!case,!in!which!a!different!set!of!rules!of!procedure!and!
standards!apply.!Sen.!Estrada’s!Petition,!in!contrast,!involves!the!
preliminary!investigation!stage!in!a!criminal!case.!Rule!III!on!the!Procedure!
in!Administrative!Cases!of!the!Rules!of!Procedure!of!the!Office!of!the!
Ombudsman!applies!in!the!Reyes!case,!while!Rule!II!on!the!Procedure!in!
Criminal!Cases!of!the!Rules!of!Procedure!of!the!Office!of!the!Ombudsman!
applies!in!Sen.!Estrada’s!Petition.!In!both!cases,!the!Rules!of!Court!apply!in!
a!suppletory!character!or!by!analogy.16!

In!the!Reyescase,!the!complainant!Acero!executed!an!affidavit!against!
Reyes!and!Peñaloza,!who!were!both!employees!of!the!Land!Transportation!
Office.!Peñaloza!submitted!his!counterHaffidavit,!as!well!as!those!of!his!two!
witnesses.!Reyes!adopted!his!counterHaffidavit!in!another!case!before!the!
Ombudsman!as!it!involved!the!same!parties!and!the!same!incident.!None!of!
the!parties!appeared!during!the!preliminary!conference.!Peñaloza!waived!
his!right!to!a!formal!investigation!and!was!willing!to!submit!the!case!for!
resolution!based!on!the!evidence!on!record.!Peñaloza!also!submitted!a!
counterHaffidavit!of!his!third!witness.!The!Ombudsman!found!Reyes!guilty!of!
grave!misconduct!and!dismissed!him!from!the!service.!On!the!other!hand,!
Peñaloza!was!found!guilty!of!simple!misconduct!and!penalized!with!
suspension!from!office!without!pay!for!six!months.!This!Court!agreed!with!
the!Court!of!Appeals’!finding!that!Reyes’!right!to!due!process!was!indeed!
violated.!This!Court!remanded!the!records!of!the!case!to!the!Ombudsman,!
for!two!reasons:!(1)!Reyes!should!not!have!been!meted!the!penalty!of!
dismissal!from!the!service!when!the!evidence!was!not!substantial,!and!(2)!
there!was!disregard!of!Reyes’!right!to!due!process!because!he!was!not!
furnished!a!copy!of!the!counterHaffidavits!of!Peñaloza!and!of!Peñaloza’s!
three!witnesses.!In!the!Reyes!case,!failure!to!furnish!a!copy!of!the!counterH
affidavits!happened!in!the!administrative!proceedings!on!the!merits,!which!
resulted!in!Reyes’!dismissal!from!the!service.!In!Sen.!Estrada’s!Petition,!the!
denial!of!his!Request!happened!during!the!preliminary!investigation!where!
the!only!issue!is!the!existence!of!probable!cause!for!the!purpose!of!
determining!whether!an!information!should!be!filed,!and!does!not!prevent!
Sen.!Estrada!from!requesting!a!copy!of!the!counterHaffidavits!of!his!coH
respondents!during!the!preHtrial!or!even!during!the!trial.!

We!should!remember!to!consider!the!differences!in!adjudicating!cases,!
particularly!an!administrative!case!and!a!criminal!case:!

Any!lawyer!worth!his!salt!knows!that!quanta!of!proof!and!adjective!rules!
vary!depending!on!whether!the!cases!to!which!they!are!meant!to!apply!are!
criminal,!civil!or!administrative!in!character.!In!criminal!actions,!proof!beyond!
reasonable!doubt!is!required!for!conviction_in!civil!actions!and!proceedings,!
preponderance!of!evidence,!as!support!for!a!judgment_!and!in!administrative!
cases,!substantial!evidence,!as!basis!for!adjudication.!In!criminal!and!civil!
actions,!application!of!the!Rules!of!Court!is!called!for,!with!more!or!less!
strictness.!In!administrative!proceedings,!however,!the!technical!rules!of!
pleadingand!procedure,!and!of!evidence,!are!not!strictly!adhered!to_!they!
generally!apply!only!suppletorily_!indeed,!in!agrarian!disputes!application!of!
the!Rules!of!Court!is!actually!prohibited.17!

It!should!be!underscored!that!the!conduct!of!a!preliminary!investigation!is!
only!for!the!determination!of!probable!cause,!and!"probable!cause!merely!
implies!probability!of!guilt!and!should!be!determined!in!a!summary!manner.!
A!preliminary!investigation!is!not!a!part!of!the!trial!and!it!is!only!in!a!trial!
where!an!accused!can!demand!the!full!exercise!of!his!rights,!such!as!the!
right!to!confront!and!crossHexamine!his!accusers!to!establish!his!
innocence."18Thus,!the!rights!of!a!respondent!in!a!preliminary!investigation!
are!limited!to!those!granted!by!procedural!law.!

A!preliminary!investigation!is!defined!as!an!inquiry!or!proceeding!for!the!
purpose!of!determining!whether!there!is!sufficient!ground!to!engender!a!well!
founded!belief!that!a!crime!cognizable!by!the!Regional!Trial!Court!has!been!
committed!and!that!the!respondent!is!probably!guilty!thereof,!and!should!be!
held!for!trial.!The!quantum!of!evidence!now!required!in!preliminary!
investigation!is!such!evidence!sufficient!to!"engender!a!well!founded!belief"!
as!tothe!fact!of!the!commission!of!a!crime!and!the!respondent's!probable!
guilt!thereof.!A!preliminary!investigation!is!not!the!occasion!for!the!full!and!
exhaustive!display!of!the!parties’!evidence_!it!is!for!the!presentation!of!such!
evidence!only!as!may!engender!a!wellHgrounded!belief!that!an!offense!has!
been!committed!and!that!the!accused!is!probably!guilty!thereof.!We!are!in!
accord!with!the!state!prosecutor’s!findings!in!the!case!at!bar!that!there!
exists!prima!facie!evidence!of!petitioner’s!involvement!in!the!commission!of!
the!crime,!it!being!sufficiently!supported!by!the!evidence!presented!and!the!
facts!obtaining!therein.!

Likewise!devoid!of!cogency!is!petitioner’s!argument!that!the!testimonies!of!
Galarion!and!Hanopol!are!inadmissible!as!to!him!since!he!was!not!granted!
the!opportunity!of!crossHexamination.!

It!is!a!fundamental!principle!that!the!accused!in!a!preliminary!investigation!
has!no!right!to!crossHexamine!the!witnesses!which!the!complainant!may!
present.!Section!3,!Rule!112!of!the!Rules!of!Court!expressly!provides!that!
the!respondent!shall!only!have!the!right!to!submit!a!counterHaffidavit,!to!
examine!all!other!evidence!submitted!by!the!complainant!and,!where!the!
fiscal!sets!a!hearing!to!propound!clarificatory!questions!to!the!parties!or!
their!witnesses,!to!be!afforded!an!opportunity!to!be!present!but!without!the!
right!to!examine!or!crossHexamine.!Thus,!even!if!petitioner!was!not!given!
the!opportunity!to!crossHexamine!Galarion!and!Hanopol!atthe!time!they!
were!presented!to!testify!during!the!separate!trial!of!the!case!against!
Galarion!and!Roxas,!he!cannot!assert!any!legal!right!to!crossHexamine!them!
at!the!preliminary!investigation!precisely!because!such!right!was!never!
available!to!him.!The!admissibility!or!inadmissibility!of!said!testimonies!
should!be!ventilated!before!the!trial!court!during!the!trial!proper!and!not!in!
the!preliminary!investigation.!

Furthermore,!the!technical!rules!on!evidence!are!not!binding!on!the!fiscal!
who!has!jurisdiction!and!control!over!the!conduct!of!a!preliminary!
investigation.!If!by!its!very!nature!a!preliminary!investigation!could!be!
waived!by!the!accused,!we!find!no!compelling!justification!for!a!strict!
application!of!the!evidentiary!rules.!In!addition,!considering!that!under!
Section!8,!Rule!112!of!the!Rules!of!Court,!the!record!of!the!preliminary!
investigation!does!not!form!part!of!the!record!of!the!case!in!the!Regional!
Trial!Court,!then!the!testimonies!of!Galarion!and!Hanopol!may!not!be!
admitted!by!the!trial!court!if!not!presented!in!evidence!by!the!prosecuting!
fiscal.!And,!even!if!the!prosecution!does!present!such!testimonies,!petitioner!
can!always!object!thereto!and!the!trial!court!can!rule!on!the!admissibility!
thereof_!or!the!petitioner!can,!during!the!trial,!petition!said!court!to!compel!
the!presentation!of!Galarion!and!Hanopol!for!purposes!of!crossH
examination.19!(Emphasis!supplied)!

Furthermore,!in!citing!the!Reyes!case,!Justice!Velasco’s!dissent!overlooked!
a!vital!portion!of!the!Court!of!Appeals’!reasoning.!This!Court!quoted!from!
the!Court!of!Appeals’!decision:!"x!x!x![A]dmissions!made!by!Peñaloza!in!his!
sworn!statement!are!binding!only!on!him.!Res!inter!alios!act!a!alteri!nocere!
non!debet.!The!rights!of!a!party!cannot!be!prejudiced!by!an!act,!declaration!
or!omission!of!another."!In!OMBHCHCH13H0313!and!OMBHCHCH13H0397,!the!
admissions!of!Sen.!Estrada’s!coHrespondents!can!in!no!way!prejudice!Sen.!
Estrada.!Even!granting!Justice!Velasco’s!argument!that!the!28!March!2014!
Joint!Resolution!in!OMBHCHCH13H0313!and!OMBHCHCH13H039720mentioned!
the!testimonies!of!Sen.!Estrada’s!corespondents!like!Tuason!and!Cunanan,!
their!testimonies!were!merely!corroborative!of!the!testimonies!of!
complainants’!witnesses!Benhur!Luy,!Marina!Sula,!and!Merlina!Suñas!and!
were!not!mentioned!in!isolation!from!the!testimonies!of!complainants’!
witnesses.!

Moreover,!the!sufficiency!of!the!evidence!put!forward!by!the!Ombudsman!
against!Sen.!Estrada!to!establish!its!finding!of!probable!cause!in!the!28!
March!2014!Joint!Resolution!in!OMBHCHCH13H0313!and!OMBHCCH13H0397!
was!judicially!confirmed!by!the!Sandiganbayan,!when!it!examined!the!
evidence,!found!probable!cause,!and!issued!a!warrant!of!arrest!against!
Sen.!Estrada!on!23!June!2014.!

We!likewise!take!exception!to!Justice!Brion’s!assertion!that!"the!due!
process!standards!that!at!the!very!least!should!be!considered!in!the!conduct!
of!a!preliminary!investigation!are!those!that!this!Court!first!articulated!in!Ang!
Tibay!v.!Court!of!Industrial!Relations![Ang!Tibay]."21!Simply!put,!the!Ang!
Tibay!guidelines!for!administrative!cases!do!not!apply!to!preliminary!
investigations!in!criminal!cases.!An!application!of!the!Ang!Tibay!guidelines!
to!preliminary!investigations!will!have!absurd!and!disastrous!consequences.!
Ang!Tibay!enumerated!the!constitutional!requirements!of!due!process,!
which!Ang!Tibay!described!as!the!"fundamental!and!essential!requirements!
of!due!process!in!trials!and!investigations!of!an!administrative!
character."22These!requirements!are!"fundamental!and!essential"!because!
without!these,!there!isno!due!process!as!mandated!by!the!Constitution.!
These!"fundamental!and!essential!requirements"!cannot!be!taken!away!by!
legislation!because!theyare!part!of!constitutional!due!process.!These!
"fundamental!and!essential!requirements"!are:!

(1)!The!first!of!these!rights!is!the!right!to!a!hearing,!which!includes!the!
right!of!the!party!interested!or!affected!to!present!his!own!case!and!
submit!evidence!in!support!thereof.!x!x!x.!

(2)!Not!only!must!the!party!be!given!an!opportunity!to!present!his!case!
and!adduce!evidence!tending!to!establish!the!rights!which!he!asserts!
but!the!tribunal!must!consider!the!evidence!presented.!x!x!x.!

(3)!"While!the!duty!to!deliberatedoes!not!impose!the!obligation!to!
decide!right,!it!does!imply!a!necessity!which!cannot!be!disregarded,!
namely,!that!of!having!something!to!support!its!decision.!A!decision!
with!absolutely!nothing!to!support!it!is!a!nullity,!x!x!x."!

(4)!Not!only!must!there!be!some!evidence!to!support!a!finding!or!
conclusion,!but!the!evidence!must!be!"substantial."!"Substantial!
evidence!is!more!than!a!mere!scintilla.!It!means!such!relevant!
evidence!as!a!reasonable!mind!might!accept!as!adequate!to!support!a!
conclusion."!x!x!x.!

(5)!The!decision!must!be!rendered!on!the!evidence!presented!at!the!
hearing,!or!at!least!contained!in!the!record!and!disclosed!to!the!parties!
affected.!x!x!x.!

(6)!The!Court!of!Industrial!Relations!or!any!of!its!judges,!therefore,!
must!act!on!its!or!his!own!independent!consideration!of!the!law!and!
facts!of!the!controversy,!and!not!simply!accept!the!views!of!a!
subordinate!in!arriving!at!a!decision.!x!x!x.!

(7)!The!Court!of!Industrial!Relations!should,!in!all!controversial!
questions,!render!its!decision!in!sucha!manner!that!the!parties!to!the!
proceeding!can!know!the!various!issues!involved,!and!the!reasons!for!
 the!decisions!rendered.!The!performance!of!this!duty!is!inseparable!
from!the!authority!conferred!upon!it.23!

The!guidelines!set!forth!in!Ang!Tibay!are!further!clarified!in!GSIS!v.!
CA24!(GSIS):!"what!Ang!Tibay!failed!to!explicitly!state!was,!prescinding!from!
the!general!principles!governing!due!process,!the!requirement!of!an!
impartial!tribunalwhich,!needless!to!say,!dictates!that!one!called!upon!to!
resolve!a!dispute!may!not!sit!as!judge!and!jury!simultaneously,!neither!may!
he!review!his!decision!on!appeal."25!The!GSIS!clarification!affirms!the!non!
applicability!of!the!Ang!Tibay!guidelines!to!preliminary!investigations!in!
criminal!cases:!The!investigating!officer,!which!is!the!role!that!the!Office!of!
the!Ombudsman!plays!in!the!investigation!and!prosecution!of!government!
personnel,!will!never!be!the!impartial!tribunal!required!in!Ang!Tibay,!as!
amplified!in!GSIS.!The!purpose!of!the!Office!of!the!Ombudsman!in!
conducting!a!preliminary!investigation,!after!conducting!its!own!factfinding!
investigation,!is!to!determine!probable!cause!for!filing!an!information,!and!
not!to!make!a!final!adjudication!of!the!rights!and!obligations!of!the!parties!
under!the!law,!which!is!the!purpose!of!the!guidelines!in!Ang!Tibay.!The!
investigating!officer!investigates,!determines!probable!cause,!and!
prosecutes!the!criminal!case!after!filing!the!corresponding!information.!

The!purpose!in!determining!probable!cause!is!to!make!sure!that!the!courts!
are!not!clogged!with!weak!cases!that!will!only!be!dismissed,!as!well!as!to!
spare!a!person!from!the!travails!of!a!needless!prosecution.26!The!
Ombudsman!and!the!prosecution!service!under!the!control!and!supervision!
of!the!Secretary!of!the!Department!of!Justice!are!inherently!the!factHfinder,!
investigator,!hearing!officer,!judge!and!jury!of!the!respondent!in!preliminary!
investigations.!Obviously,!this!procedure!cannot!comply!with!Ang!Tibay,!as!
amplified!in!GSIS.!However,!there!is!nothing!unconstitutional!with!this!
procedure!because!this!is!merely!an!Executive!function,!a!part!of!the!law!
enforcement!process!leading!to!trial!in!court!where!the!requirements!
mandated!in!Ang!Tibay,!as!amplified!in!GSIS,!will!apply.!This!has!been!the!
procedure!under!the!1935,!1973!and!1987!Constitutions.!To!now!rule!that!
Ang!Tibay,!as!amplified!in!GSIS,!should!apply!to!preliminary!investigations!
will!mean!that!all!past!and!present!preliminary!investigations!are!in!gross!
violation!of!constitutional!due!process.!

Moreover,!a!person!under!preliminary!investigation,!as!Sen.!Estrada!is!in!
the!present!case!when!he!filed!his!Request,!is!not!yet!an!accused!person,!
and!hence!cannot!demand!the!full!exercise!of!the!rights!of!an!accused!
person:!

A!finding!of!probable!cause!needs!only!to!rest!on!evidence!showing!that!
more!likely!than!not!a!crime!has!been!committed!and!was!committed!by!the!
suspects.!Probable!cause!need!not!be!based!on!clear!and!convincing!
evidence!of!guilt,!neither!on!evidence!establishing!guilt!beyond!reasonable!
doubt!and!definitely,!not!on!evidence!establishing!absolute!certainty!of!guilt.!
As!well!put!in!Brinegar!v.!United!States,!while!probable!cause!demands!
more!than!"bare!suspicion,"!it!requires!"less!than!evidence!which!would!
justify!.!.!.!conviction."!A!finding!of!probable!cause!merely!binds!over!the!
suspect!to!stand!trial.!It!is!not!a!pronouncement!of!guilt.!

Considering!the!low!quantum!and!quality!of!evidence!needed!to!support!a!
finding!of!probable!cause,!wealso!hold!that!the!DOJ!Panel!did!not!gravely!
abuse!its!discretion!in!refusing!to!call!the!NBI!witnesses!for!clarificatory!
questions.!The!decision!to!call!witnesses!for!clarificatory!questions!is!
addressed!to!the!sound!discretion!of!the!investigator!and!the!investigator!
alone.!If!the!evidence!on!hand!already!yields!a!probable!cause,!the!
investigator!need!not!hold!a!clarificatory!hearing.!To!repeat,!probable!cause!
merely!implies!probability!of!guilt!and!should!be!determined!in!a!summary!
manner.!Preliminary!investigation!is!not!a!part!of!trial!and!it!is!only!in!a!trial!
where!an!accused!can!demand!the!full!exercise!of!his!rights,!such!as!the!
right!to!confront!and!crossHexamine!his!accusers!to!establish!his!innocence.!
In!the!case!at!bar,!the!DOJ!Panel!correctly!adjudged!that!enough!evidence!
had!been!adduced!to!establish!probable!cause!and!clarificatory!hearing!was!
unnecessary.27!

Justice!J.B.L.!Reyes,!writing!for!the!Court,!emphatically!declared!in!Lozada!
v.!Hernandez,28!that!the!"rights!conferred!upon!accused!persons!to!
participate!in!preliminary!investigations!concerning!themselves!depend!
upon!the!provisions!of!law!by!which!such!rights!are!specifically!secured,!
rather!than!upon!the!phrase!‘due!process!of!law’."!This!reiterates!Justice!
Jose!P.!Laurel’s!oftHquoted!pronouncement!in!Hashim!v.!Boncan29!that!"the!
right!to!a!preliminary!investigation!is!statutory,!not!constitutional."!In!short,!
the!rights!of!a!respondent!ina!preliminary!investigation!are!merely!statutory!
rights,!not!constitutional!due!process!rights.!An!investigation!to!determine!
probable!cause!for!the!filing!of!an!information!does!not!initiate!a!criminal!
action!so!as!to!trigger!into!operation!Section!14(2),!Article!III!of!the!
Constitution.30!It!is!the!filing!of!a!complaint!or!information!in!court!that!
initiates!a!criminal!action.31!

The!rights!to!due!process!in!administrative!cases!as!prescribed!in!Ang!
Tibay,as!amplified!in!GSIS,!are!granted!by!the!Constitution_!hence,!these!
rights!cannot!be!taken!away!by!merelegislation.!On!the!other!hand,!as!
repeatedly!reiterated!by!this!Court,!the!right!to!a!preliminary!investigation!is!
merely!a!statutory!right,32!not!part!of!the!"fundamental!and!essential!
requirements"!of!due!process!as!prescribed!in!Ang!Tibay!and!amplified!in!
GSIS.!Thus,!a!preliminary!investigation!can!be!taken!away!by!legislation.!
The!constitutional!right!of!an!accused!to!confront!the!witnesses!against!him!
does!not!apply!in!preliminary!investigations_!nor!will!the!absence!of!a!
preliminary!investigation!be!an!infringement!of!his!right!to!confront!the!
witnesses!against!him.33!A!preliminary!investigation!may!be!done!away!with!
entirely!without!infringing!the!constitutional!right!of!an!accused!under!the!
due!process!clause!to!a!fair!trial.34!

The!quantum!of!evidence!needed!in!Ang!Tibay,!as!amplified!in!GSIS,!is!
greater!than!the!evidenceneeded!in!a!preliminary!investigation!to!establish!
probable!cause,!or!to!establish!the!existence!of!a!prima!facie!case!that!
would!warrant!the!prosecution!of!a!case.!Ang!Tibay!refers!to!"substantial!
evidence,"!while!the!establishment!of!probable!cause!needs!"only!more!
than!‘bare!suspicion,’!or!‘less!than!evidence!which!would!justify!.!.!.!
conviction’."!In!the!United!States,!from!where!we!borrowed!the!concept!of!
probable!cause,35!the!prevailing!definition!of!probable!cause!is!this:!

In!dealing!with!probable!cause,!however,!as!the!very!name!implies,!we!deal!
with!probabilities.These!are!not!technical_!they!are!the!factual!and!practical!
considerations!of!everyday!life!on!which!reasonable!and!prudent!men,!not!
legal!technicians,!act.!The!standard!of!proof!is!accordingly!correlative!to!
what!must!be!proved.!

"The!substance!of!all!the!definitions"!of!probable!cause!"is!a!reasonable!
ground!for!belief!of!guilt."!McCarthy!v.!De!Armit,!99!Pa.!St.!63,!69,!quoted!
with!approval!in!the!Carroll!opinion.!267!U.!S.!at!161.!And!this!"means!less!
than!evidence!which!would!justify!condemnation"!or!conviction,!as!Marshall,!
C.!J.,!said!for!the!Court!more!than!a!century!ago!in!Locke!v.!United!States,!
7!Cranch!339,!348.!Since!Marshall’s!time,!at!any!rate,!it!has!come!to!mean!
more!than!bare!suspicion:!Probable!cause!exists!where!"the!facts!and!
circumstances!within!their![the!officers’]!knowledge!and!of!which!they!had!
reasonably!trustworthy!information![are]!sufficient!in!themselves!to!warrant!a!
man!of!reasonable!caution!in!the!belief!that"!an!offense!has!been!or!is!being!
committed.!Carroll!v.!United!States,!267!U.!S.!132,!162.!

These!longHprevailing!standards!seek!to!safeguard!citizens!from!rash!and!
unreasonable!interferences!with!privacy!and!from!unfounded!charges!of!
crime.!They!also!seek!to!give!fair!leeway!for!enforcing!the!law!in!the!
community’s!protection.!Because!many!situations!which!confront!officers!in!
the!course!of!executing!their!duties!are!more!or!less!ambiguous,!room!must!
be!allowed!for!some!mistakes!on!their!part.!But!the!mistakes!must!be!those!
of!reasonable!men,!acting!on!facts!leading!sensibly!to!their!conclusions!of!
probability.!The!rule!of!probable!cause!is!a!practical,!non!technical!
conception!affording!the!best!compromise!that!has!been!found!for!
accommodating!these!often!opposing!interests.!Requiring!more!would!
unduly!hamper!law!enforcement.!To!allow!less!would!be!to!leave!lawH
abiding!citizens!at!the!mercy!of!the!officers’!whim!or!caprice.36!

In!the!Philippines,!there!are!four!instances!in!the!Revised!Rules!of!Criminal!
Procedure!where!probable!cause!is!needed!to!be!established:!

(1)!In!Sections!1!and!3!of!Rule!112:!By!the!investigating!officer,!to!
determine!whether!there!is!sufficient!ground!to!engender!a!wellH
founded!belief!that!a!crime!has!been!committed!and!the!respondent!is!
probably!guilty!thereof,!and!should!be!held!for!trial.!A!preliminary!
investigation!is!required!before!the!filing!of!a!complaint!or!information!
for!an!offense!where!the!penalty!prescribed!by!law!is!at!least!four!
years,!two!months!and!one!day!without!regard!to!the!fine_!

(2)!In!Sections!6!and!9!of!Rule!112:!By!the!judge,!to!determine!
whether!a!warrant!of!arrest!or!a!commitment!order,!if!the!accused!has!
already!been!arrested,!shall!be!issued!and!that!there!is!a!necessity!of!
placing!the!respondent!under!immediate!custody!in!order!not!to!
frustrate!the!ends!of!justice_!

(3)!In!Section!5(b)!of!Rule!113:!By!a!peace!officer!or!a!private!person!
making!a!warrantless!arrest!when!an!offense!has!just!been!committed,!
and!he!has!probable!cause!to!believe!based!on!personal!knowledge!of!
facts!or!circumstances!that!the!person!to!be!arrested!has!committed!it_!
and!
 (4)!In!Section!4!of!Rule!126:!By!the!judge,!to!determine!whether!a!
search!warrant!shall!be!issued,!and!only!upon!probable!cause!in!
connection!with!one!specific!offense!to!be!determined!personally!by!
the!judge!after!examination!under!oath!or!affirmation!of!the!
complainant!and!the!witnesses!he!may!produce,!and!particularly!
describing!the!place!to!be!searched!and!the!things!to!be!seized!which!
may!be!anywhere!in!the!Philippines.!

In!all!these!instances,!the!evidence!necessary!to!establish!probable!cause!
is!based!only!on!the!likelihood,!or!probability,!of!guilt.!Justice!Brion,!in!the!
recent!case!of!Unilever!Philippines,!Inc.!v.!Tan37!(Unilever),!stated:!

The!determination!of!probable!cause!needs!only!to!rest!on!evidence!
showing!that!more!likely!than!not,!a!crime!has!been!committed!and!there!is!
enough!reason!to!believe!that!it!was!committed!by!the!accused.!It!need!not!
be!based!on!clear!and!convincing!evidence!of!guilt,!neither!on!evidence!
establishing!absolute!certainty!of!guilt.!What!is!merely!required!is!
"probability!of!guilt."!Its!determination,!too,!does!not!call!for!the!application!
of!rules!or!standards!of!proof!that!a!judgment!of!conviction!requires!after!
trial!on!the!merits.!Thus,!in!concluding!that!there!is!probable!cause,!it!
suffices!that!it!is!believed!that!the!act!or!omission!complained!of!constitutes!
the!very!offense!charged.!

It!is!also!important!to!stress!that!the!determination!of!probable!cause!does!
not!depend!on!the!validity!or!merits!of!a!party’s!accusation!or!defense!or!on!
the!admissibility!or!veracity!of!testimonies!presented.!As!previously!
discussed,!these!matters!are!better!ventilated!during!the!trial!proper!of!the!
case.!As!held!in!Metropolitan!Bank!&!Trust!Company!v.!Gonzales:!

Probable!cause!has!been!defined!as!the!existence!of!such!facts!and!
circumstances!as!would!excite!the!belief!in!a!reasonable!mind,!acting!on!the!
facts!within!the!knowledge!of!the!prosecutor,!that!the!person!charged!was!
guilty!of!the!crime!for!which!he!was!prosecuted.!x!x!x.!The!term!does!not!
mean!"actual!or!positive!cause"!nor!does!it!import!absolute!certainty.!It!is!
merely!based!on!opinion!and!reasonable!belief.!Thus,!a!finding!of!probable!
cause!does!not!require!an!inquiry!into!whether!there!is!sufficient!evidence!to!
procure!a!conviction.!It!is!enough!that!it!is!believed!that!the!act!or!omission!
complained!of!constitutes!the!offense!charged.!Precisely,!there!is!a!trial!for!
the!reception!of!evidence!of!the!prosecution!in!support!of!the!charge.!(Bold!
facing!and!italicization!supplied)!
Justice!Brion’s!pronouncement!in!Unilever!that!"the!determination!of!
probable!cause!does!not!depend!on!the!validity!or!merits!of!a!party’s!
accusation!or!defense!or!on!the!admissibility!or!veracity!of!testimonies!
presented"!correctly!recognizes!the!doctrine!in!the!United!States!that!the!
determination!of!probable!cause!can!rest!partially,!or!even!entirely,!on!
hearsay!evidence,!as!long!as!the!person!making!the!hearsay!statement!is!
credible.!In!United!States!v.!Ventresca,38!the!United!States!Supreme!Court!
held:!

While!a!warrant!may!issue!only!upon!a!finding!of!"probable!cause,"!this!
Court!has!long!held!that!"the!term!‘probable!cause’!.!.!.!means!less!than!
evidence!which!would!justify!condemnation,"!Locke!v.!United!States,!7!
Cranch!339,!11!U.S.!348,!and!that!a!finding!of!"probable!cause"!may!rest!
upon!evidence!which!is!not!legally!competent!in!a!criminal!trial.!Draper!v.!
United!States,!358!U.S.!307,!358!U.S.!311.!As!the!Court!stated!in!Brinegar!
v.!United!States,!338!U.S.!160,!173,!"There!is!a!large!difference!between!
the!two!things!tobe!proved!(guilt!and!probable!cause),!as!well!as!between!
the!tribunals!which!determine!them,!and!therefore!a!like!difference!in!the!
quanta!and!modes!of!proof!required!to!establish!them."!Thus,!hearsay!may!
be!the!basis!for!issuance!of!the!warrant!"so!long!as!there!.!.!.![is]!a!
substantial!basis!for!crediting!the!hearsay."!Jones!v.!United!States,!supra,!
at!362!U.S.!272.!And,!in!Aguilar,!we!recognized!that!"an!affidavit!may!be!
based!on!hearsay!information!and!need!not!reflect!the!direct!personal!
observations!of!the!affiant,"!so!long!as!the!magistrate!is!"informed!of!some!
of!the!underlying!circumstances"!supporting!the!affiant’s!conclusions!and!
his!belief!that!any!informant!involved!"whose!identity!need!not!be!disclosed!.!
.!."!was!"credible"!or!his!information!"reliable."!Aguilar!v.!Texas,!supra,!at!
378!U.S.!114.!(Emphasis!supplied)!

Thus,!probable!cause!can!be!established!with!hearsay!evidence,!as!long!as!
there!is!substantial!basis!for!crediting!the!hearsay.!Hearsay!evidence!is!
admissible!in!determining!probable!cause!in!a!preliminary!investigation!
because!such!investigation!is!merely!preliminary,!and!does!not!finally!
adjudicate!rights!and!obligations!of!parties.!However,!in!administrative!
cases,!where!rights!and!obligations!are!finally!adjudicated,!what!is!required!
is!"substantial!evidence"!which!cannot!rest!entirely!or!even!partially!on!
hearsay!evidence.!Substantial!basis!is!not!the!same!as!substantial!evidence!
because!substantial!evidence!excludes!hearsay!evidence!while!substantial!
basis!can!include!hearsay!evidence.!To!require!the!application!of!Ang!
Tibay,!as!amplified!in!GSIS,!in!preliminary!investigations!will!change!the!
quantum!of!evidence!required!in!determining!probable!cause!from!evidence!
of!likelihood!or!probability!of!guilt!to!substantial!evidence!of!guilt.!

It!is,!moreover,!necessary!to!distinguish!between!the!constitutionally!
guaranteed!rights!of!an!accused!and!the!right!to!a!preliminary!investigation.!
To!treat!them!the!same!will!lead!toabsurd!and!disastrous!consequences.!

All!pending!criminal!cases!in!all!courts!throughout!the!country!will!have!to!
be!remanded!to!the!preliminary!investigation!level!because!none!of!these!
will!satisfy!Ang!Tibay,!as!amplified!in!GSIS.!Preliminary!investigations!are!
conducted!by!prosecutors,!who!are!the!same!officials!who!will!determine!
probable!cause!and!prosecute!the!cases!in!court.!The!prosecutor!is!hardly!
the!impartial!tribunal!contemplated!in!Ang!Tibay,!as!amplified!in!GSIS.!A!
reinvestigation!by!an!investigating!officer!outside!of!the!prosecution!service!
will!be!necessary!if!Ang!Tibay,!as!amplified!in!GSIS,!were!to!be!applied.!
This!will!require!a!new!legislation.!In!the!meantime,!all!pending!criminal!
cases!in!all!courts!will!have!to!be!remanded!for!reinvestigation,!to!proceed!
only!when!a!new!law!is!in!place.!To!require!Ang!Tibay,!as!amplified!in!GSIS,!
to!apply!to!preliminary!investigation!will!necessarily!change!the!concept!of!
preliminary!investigation!as!we!know!it!now.!Applying!the!constitutional!due!
process!in!Ang!Tibay,!as!amplified!in!GSIS,!to!preliminary!investigation!will!
necessarily!require!the!application!of!the!rights!of!an!accused!in!Section!
14(2),!Article!III!of!the!1987!Constitution.!This!means!that!the!respondent!
can!demand!an!actual!hearing!and!the!right!to!crossHexamine!the!witnesses!
against!him,!rights!which!are!not!afforded!at!present!toa!respondent!in!a!
preliminary!investigation.!

The!application!of!Ang!Tibay,!as!amplified!in!GSIS,!is!not!limited!to!those!
with!pending!preliminary!investigations!but!even!to!those!convicted!by!final!
judgment!and!already!serving!their!sentences.!The!rule!is!wellHsettled!that!a!
judicial!decision!applies!retroactively!if!it!has!a!beneficial!effect!on!a!person!
convicted!by!final!judgment!even!if!he!is!already!serving!his!sentence,!
provided!that!he!is!not!a!habitual!criminal.39!This!Court!retains!its!control!
over!a!case!"until!the!full!satisfaction!of!the!final!judgment!conformably!with!
established!legal!processes."40!Applying!Ang!Tibay,!as!amplified!in!GSIS,!to!
preliminary!investigations!will!result!in!thousands!of!prisoners,!convicted!by!
final!judgment,!being!set!free!from!prison.!

Second.!Sen.!Estrada’s!present!Petition!for!Certiorari!is!premature.!
Justice!Velasco’s!dissent!prefers!thatSen.!Estrada!not!"be!subjected!to!the!
rigors!of!a!criminal!prosecution!incourt"!because!there!is!"a!pending!
question!regarding!the!Ombudsman’s!grave!abuse!of!its!discretion!
preceding!the!finding!of!a!probable!cause!to!indict!him."!Restated!bluntly,!
Justice!Velasco’s!dissent!would!like!this!Court!to!conclude!that!the!mere!
filing!of!the!present!Petition!for!Certiorari!questioning!the!Ombudsman’s!
denial!of!Sen.!Estrada’s!Request!should!have,!by!itself,!voided!all!
proceedings!related!to!the!present!case.!

Although!it!is!true!that,!in!its!27!March!2014!Order,!the!Ombudsman!denied!
Sen.!Estrada’s!Request,!the!Ombudsman!subsequently!reconsidered!its!
Order.!On!7!May!2014,!the!same!date!that!Sen.!Estrada!filed!the!present!
Petition,!the!Ombudsman!issued!a!Joint!Order!in!OMBHCHCH13H0313!and!
OMBHCHCH13H0397!that!furnishedSen.!Estrada!with!the!counterHaffidavits!of!
Ruby!Tuason,!Dennis!Cunanan,!Gondelina!Amata,!Mario!Relampagos,!
Francisco!Figura,!Gregoria!Buenaventura,!and!AlexisSevidal,!and!directed!
him!to!comment!within!a!nonHextendible!period!of!five!days!from!receipt!of!
said!Order.!Sen.!Estrada!did!not!file!any!comment,!as!noted!in!the!4!June!
2014!Joint!Order!of!the!Ombudsman.!

On!4!June!2014,!the!Ombudsman!issued!another!Joint!Order!and!denied!
Sen.!Estrada’s!Motion!for!Reconsideration!ofits!28!March!2014!Joint!
Resolution!which!found!probable!cause!toindict!Sen.!Estrada!and!his!
corespondents!with!one!count!of!plunder!and!11!counts!of!violation!of!
Section!3(e),!Republic!Act!No.!3019.!In!this!4!June!2014!Joint!Order,!the!
Ombudsman!stated!that!"[t]his!Office,!in!fact,!held!in!abeyance!the!
disposition!of!motions!for!reconsideration!in!this!proceeding!in!light!of!its!
grant!to!Senator!Estrada!a!period!of!five!days!from!receipt!of!the!7!May!
2014!Order!to!formally!respond!to!the!aboveHnamed!respondents’!claims."!

We!underscore!Sen.!Estrada’s!procedural!omission.!Sen.!Estrada!did!not!
file!any!pleading,!much!less!a!motion!for!reconsideration,!to!the!27!March!
2014!Order!inOMBHCHCH13H0313.!Sen.!Estrada!immediately!proceeded!to!
file!this!Petition!for!Certiorari!before!this!Court.!Sen.!Estrada’s!resort!to!a!
petitionfor!certiorari!before!this!Court!stands!in!stark!contrast!to!his!filing!of!
his!7!April!2014!Motion!for!Reconsideration!of!the!28!March!2014!Joint!
Resolution!finding!probable!cause.!The!present!Petition!for!Certiorari!is!
premature.!
A!motion!for!reconsideration!allows!the!public!respondent!an!opportunity!to!
correct!its!factual!and!legal!errors.!Sen.!Estrada,!however,!failed!to!present!
a!compelling!reason!that!the!present!Petition!falls!under!the!exceptions41!to!
the!general!rule!that!the!filing!of!a!motion!for!reconsideration!is!required!
prior!to!the!filing!of!a!petition!for!certiorari.!This!Court!has!reiterated!in!
numerous!decisions!that!a!motion!for!reconsideration!is!mandatory!before!
the!filing!of!a!petition!for!certiorari.42!

Justice!Velasco’s!dissent!faults!the!majority!for!their!refusal!to!apply!the!
Reyes!case!to!the!present!Petition.!Justice!Velasco’s!dissent!insists!that!
"this!Court!cannot!neglect!to!emphasize!that,!despite!the!variance!in!the!
quanta!of!evidence!required,!a!uniform!observance!of!the!singular!concept!
of!due!process!is!indispensable!in!all!proceedings."!

As!we!try!to!follow!Justice!Velasco’s!insistence,!we!direct!Justice!Velasco!
and!those!who!join!him!in!his!dissent!to!this!Court’s!ruling!in!Ruivivar!v.!
Office!of!the!Ombudsman!(Ruivivar),43!wherein!we!stated!that!"[t]he!law!can!
no!longer!help!one!who!had!been!given!ample!opportunity!to!be!heard!but!
who!did!not!take!full!advantage!of!the!proffered!chance."!

The!Ruivivar!case,!like!the!Reyes44!case,!was!also!an!administrative!case!
before!the!Ombudsman.!The!Ombudsman!found!petitioner!Rachel!Beatriz!
Ruivivar!administratively!liable!for!discourtesy!in!the!course!of!her!official!
functions!and!imposed!on!her!the!penalty!of!reprimand.!Petitioner!filed!a!
motion!for!reconsideration!of!the!decision!on!the!ground!that!she!was!not!
furnished!copies!of!the!affidavits!of!the!private!respondent’s!witnesses.!The!
Ombudsman!subsequently!ordered!that!petitioner!be!furnished!with!copies!
of!the!counterHaffidavits!of!private!respondent’s!witnesses,!and!that!
petitioner!should!"file,!within!ten!(10)!days!from!receipt!of!this!Order,!such!
pleading!which!she!may!deem!fit!under!the!circumstances."!Petitioner!
received!copies!of!the!affidavits,!and!simply!filed!a!manifestation!where!she!
maintained!that!her!receipt!of!the!affidavits!did!not!alter!the!deprivation!of!
her!right!to!due!process!or!cure!the!irregularity!in!the!Ombudsman’s!
decision!to!penalize!her.!

In!Ruivivar,!petitioner!received!the!affidavits!of!the!private!respondent’s!
witnesses!afterthe!Ombudsman!rendered!a!decision!against!her.!We!
disposed!of!petitioner’s!deprivation!of!due!process!claim!in!this!manner:!
The!CA!Decision!dismissed!the!petition!for!certiorari!on!the!ground!that!the!
petitioner!failed!to!exhaust!all!the!administrative!remedies!available!to!her!
before!the!Ombudsman.!This!ruling!is!legallycorrect!as!exhaustion!of!
administrative!remedies!is!a!requisite!for!the!filing!of!a!petition!for!certiorari.!
Other!than!this!legal!significance,!however,!the!ruling!necessarily!carries!the!
direct!and!immediate!implication!that!the!petitioner!has!been!granted!the!
opportunity!to!be!heard!and!has!refused!to!avail!of!this!opportunity_!hence,!
she!cannot!claim!denial!of!due!process.!In!the!words!of!the!CA!ruling!itself:!
"Petitioner!was!given!the!opportunity!by!public!respondent!to!rebut!the!
affidavits!submitted!by!private!respondent.!.!.!and!had!a!speedy!and!
adequate!administrative!remedy!but!she!failed!to!avail!thereof!for!reasons!
only!known!to!her."!

For!a!fuller!appreciation!of!our!above!conclusion,!we!clarify!that!although!
they!are!separate!and!distinct!concepts,!exhaustion!of!administrative!
remedies!and!due!process!embody!linked!and!related!principles.!The!
"exhaustion"!principle!applies!when!the!ruling!court!or!tribunal!is!not!given!
the!opportunity!toreHexamine!its!findings!and!conclusions!because!of!an!
available!opportunity!that!a!party!seeking!recourse!against!the!court!or!the!
tribunal’s!ruling!omitted!to!take.!Under!the!concept!of!"due!process,"!on!the!
other!hand,!a!violation!occurs!when!a!court!or!tribunal!rules!against!a!party!
without!giving!him!orher!the!opportunity!to!be!heard.!Thus,!the!exhaustion!
principle!is!based!on!the!perspective!of!the!ruling!court!or!tribunal,!while!due!
process!is!considered!from!the!point!of!view!of!the!litigating!party!against!
whom!a!ruling!was!made.!The!commonality!they!share!is!in!the!
same"opportunity"!that!underlies!both.!In!the!context!of!the!present!case,!
the!available!opportunity!to!consider!and!appreciate!the!petitioner’s!counterH
statement!offacts!was!denied!the!Ombudsman_!hence,!the!petitioner!is!
barred!from!seeking!recourse!at!the!CA!because!the!ground!she!would!
invoke!was!not!considered!at!all!at!the!Ombudsman!level.!At!the!same!time,!
the!petitioner!–!who!had!the!same!opportunity!to!rebut!the!belatedlyH
furnished!affidavits!of!the!private!respondent’s!witnesses!–!was!not!denied!
and!cannot!now!claim!denial!of!due!process!because!she!did!not!take!
advantage!of!the!opportunity!opened!to!her!at!the!Ombudsman!level.!

The!records!show!that!the!petitioner!duly!filed!a!motion!for!reconsideration!
on!due!process!grounds!(i.e.,!for!the!private!respondent’s!failure!to!furnish!
her!copies!of!the!affidavits!of!witnesses)!and!on!questions!relating!to!the!
appreciation!of!the!evidence!on!record.!The!Ombudsman!acted!on!this!
motion!by!issuing!its!Order!of!January!17,!2003!belatedly!furnishing!her!with!
copies!of!the!private!respondent’s!witnesses,!together!with!the!"directive!to!
file,!within!ten!(10)!days!from!receipt!of!this!Order,!such!pleading!which!she!
may!deem!fit!under!the!circumstances."!

Given!this!opportunity!to!act!on!the!belatedlyHfurnished!affidavits,!the!
petitioner!simply!chose!to!file!a!"Manifestation"!where!she!took!the!position!
that!"The!order!of!the!Ombudsman!dated!17!January!2003!supplying!her!
with!the!affidavits!of!the!complainant!does!not!cure!the!04!November!2002!
order,"!and!on!this!basis!prayed!that!the!Ombudsman’s!decision!"be!
reconsidered!and!the!complaint!dismissed!for!lack!of!merit."!

For!her!part,!the!private!respondent!filed!a!Comment/Opposition!to!Motion!
for!Reconsideration!dated!27!January!2003!and!prayed!for!the!denial!of!the!
petitioner’s!motion.!

In!the!February!12,!2003!Order,!the!Ombudsman!denied!the!petitioner’s!
motion!for!reconsideration!after!finding!no!basis!to!alter!or!modify!its!ruling.!
Significantly,!the!Ombudsman!fully!discussed!in!this!Order!the!due!process!
significance!of!the!petitioner’s!failure!to!adequately!respond!to!the!belatedlyH
furnished!affidavits.!The!Ombudsman!said:!

"Undoubtedly,!the!respondent!herein!has!been!furnished!by!this!Office!with!
copies!of!the!affidavits,!which!she!claims!she!has!not!received.!
Furthermore,!the!respondent!has!been!given!the!opportunity!to!present!her!
side!relative!thereto,!however,!she!chose!not!to!submit!countervailing!
evidence!orargument.!The!respondent,!therefore!(sic),!cannot!claim!denial!
of!due!process!for!purposes!of!assailing!the!Decision!issued!in!the!present!
case.!On!this!score,!the!Supreme!Court!held!in!the!case!of!People!v.!Acot,!
232!SCRA!406,!that!"a!party!cannot!feign!denial!of!due!process!where!he!
had!the!opportunity!to!present!his!side".!This!becomes!all!the!more!
important!since,!as!correctly!pointed!out!by!the!complainant,!the!decision!
issued!in!the!present!case!is!deemed!final!and!unappealable!pursuant!to!
Section!27!of!Republic!Act!6770,!and!Section!7,!Rule!III!of!Administrative!
Order!No.!07.!Despite!the!clear!provisions!of!the!law!and!the!rules,!the!
respondent!herein!was!given!the!opportunity!not!normally!accorded,!to!
present!her!side,!but!she!opted!not!to!do!so!which!is!evidently!fatal!to!her!
cause."![emphasis!supplied].!
Under!these!circumstances,!we!cannot!help!but!recognize!that!the!
petitioner’s!cause!is!a!lost!one,!not!only!for!her!failure!to!exhaust!her!
available!administrative!remedy,!but!also!on!due!process!grounds.!The!law!
can!no!longer!help!one!who!had!been!given!ample!opportunity!to!be!heard!
but!who!did!not!take!full!advantage!of!the!proffered!chance.45!

Ruivivar!applies!with!even!greater!force!to!the!present!Petition!because!
here!the!affidavits!of!Sen.!Estrada’s!coHrespondents!were!furnished!to!him!
beforethe!Ombudsman!rendered!her!4!June!2014!Joint!Order.!In!Ruivivar,!
the!affidavits!were!furnished!after!the!Ombudsman!issued!a!decision.!

Justice!Velasco’s!dissent!cites!the!cases!of!Tatad!v.!
Sandiganbayan46!(Tatad)!and!Duterte!v.!Sandiganbayan47(Duterte)!in!an!
attempt!to!prop!up!its!stand.!A!careful!reading!of!these!cases,!however,!
would!show!that!they!do!not!stand!on!all!fours!with!the!present!case.!In!
Tatad,!this!Court!ruled!that!"the!inordinate!delay!in!terminating!the!
preliminary!investigation!and!filing!the!information![by!the!Tanodbayan]!in!
the!present!case!is!violative!of!the!constitutionally!guaranteed!right!of!the!
petitioner!to!due!process!and!to!a!speedy!disposition!of!the!cases!against!
him."48!The!Tanod!bayan!took!almost!three!years!to!terminate!the!
preliminary!investigation,!despite!Presidential!Decree!No.!911’s!prescription!
of!a!tenHday!period!for!the!prosecutor!to!resolve!a!case!under!preliminary!
investigation.!We!ruled!similarly!in!Duterte,!where!the!petitioners!were!
merely!asked!to!comment!and!were!not!asked!to!file!counterHaffidavits!as!
isthe!proper!procedure!in!a!preliminary!investigation.!Moreover,!in!Duterte,!
the!Ombudsman!took!four!years!to!terminate!its!preliminary!investigation.!

As!we!follow!the!reasoning!in!Justice!Velasco’s!dissent,!it!becomes!more!
apparent!that!Sen.!Estrada’s!present!Petition!for!Certiorari!is!premature!for!
lack!of!filing!of!a!motion!for!reconsideration!before!the!Ombudsman.!When!
the!Ombudsman!gave!Sen.!Estrada!copies!of!the!counterHaffidavits!and!
even!waited!for!the!lapse!of!the!given!period!for!the!filing!of!his!comment,!
Sen.!Estrada!failed!to!avail!of!the!opportunity!to!be!heard!due!to!his!own!
fault.!Thus,!Sen.!Estrada’s!failure!cannot!in!any!way!be!construed!as!
violation!of!due!process!by!the!Ombudsman,!much!less!of!grave!abuse!of!
discretion.!Sen.!Estrada!has!not!filed!any!comment,!and!still!chooses!not!to.!

Third.!Sen.!Estrada’s!present!Petition!for!Certiorari!constitutes!forum!
shopping!and!should!be!summarily!dismissed.!
In!his!verification!and!certification!of!nonHforum!shopping!in!the!present!
petition!filed!on!7!May!2014,!Sen.!Estrada!stated:!

3.1!I,!however,!disclose!that!I!have!filed!a!Motion!for!Reconsideration!dated!
07!April!2014!in!OMBHCHCH13H0313!and!OMBHCCH13H0397,!raising!as!sole!
issuethe!finding!of!probable!cause!in!the!Joint!Resolution!dated!28!March!
2014.!

Such!Motion!for!Reconsideration!has!yet!to!be!resolved!by!the!Office!of!the!
Ombudsman.49!(Emphasis!supplied)!

Sen.!Estrada’s!Motion!for!Reconsideration!of!the!28!March!2014!Joint!
Resolution!prayed!that!the!Ombudsman!reconsider!and!issue!a!new!
resolution!dismissing!the!charges!against!him.!However,!in!this!Motion!for!
Reconsideration,!Sen.!Estrada!assailed!the!Ombudsman’s!27!March!2014!
Joint!Order!denying!his!Request,!and!that!such!denial!is!a!violation!of!his!
right!to!due!process.!

8.!It!is!respectfully!submitted!that!the!Ombudsman!violated!the!foregoing!
rule![Rule!112,!Section!4!of!the!Rules!of!Court]!and!principles.!A!reading!of!
the!Joint!Resolution!will!reveal!that!various!pieces!of!evidence!which!
Senator!Estrada!was!not!furnished!with!–!hence,!depriving!him!of!the!
opportunity!to!controvert!the!same!–!were!heavily!considered!by!the!
Ombudsman!in!finding!probable!cause!to!charge!him!with!Plunder!and!with!
violations!of!Section!3(e)!of!R.A.!No.!3019.!

x!x!x!x!

11.!Notably,!under!dated!20!March!2014,!Senator!Estrada!filed!a!"Request!
to!be!Furnished!with!Copies!of!CounterHAffidavits!of!the!Other!Respondents,!
Affidavits!of!New!Witnesses!and!Other!Filings,"!pursuant!to!the!right!of!a!
respondent!"to!examine!the!evidence!submitted!by!the!complainant!which!
he!may!not!have!been!furnished"!(Section!3[b],!Rule!112!of!the!Rules!of!
Court),!and!to!"have!access!to!the!evidence!on!record"!(Section!4[c],!Rule!II!
of!the!Rules!of!Procedure!of!the!Office!of!the!Ombudsman).!

However,!notwithstanding!the!gravity!of!the!offenses!leveled!against!
Senator!Estrada!and!the!law’s!vigilance!in!protecting!the!rights!of!an!
accused,!the!Special!Panel!of!Investigators,!in!an!Order!dated!27!March!
2014,!unceremoniously!denied!the!request!on!the!ground!that!"there!is!no!
provision!under!this!Office’s!Rules!of!Procedure!which!entitles!respondent!
to!be!furnished!all!the!filings!by!the!other!parties!x!x!x!x."!(Order!dated!27!
March!2013,!p.!3)!

As!such,!Senator!Estrada!was!not!properly!apprised!of!the!evidence!offered!
against!him,!which!were!eventually!made!the!bases!of!the!Ombudsman’s!
finding!of!probable!cause.50!

The!Ombudsman!denied!Sen.!Estrada’s!Motion!for!Reconsideration!in!its!4!
June!2014!Joint!Order.!Clearly,!Sen.!Estrada!expressly!raised!in!his!Motion!
for!Reconsideration!with!the!Ombudsman!the!violation!of!his!right!to!due!
process,!the!same!issue!he!is!raising!in!this!petition.!In!the!verification!and!
certification!of!nonHforum!shopping!attached!to!his!petition!docketed!as!G.R.!
Nos.!212761H62!filed!on!23!June!2014,!Sen.!Estrada!disclosed!the!
pendency!of!the!present!petition,!as!well!as!those!before!the!
Sandiganbayan!for!the!determination!of!the!existence!of!probable!cause.!In!
his!petition!in!G.R.!Nos.!212761H62,!Sen.!Estrada!again!mentioned!the!
Ombudsman’s!27!March!2014!Joint!Order!denying!his!Request.!

17.!Sen.!Estrada!was!shocked!not!only!at!the!Office!of!the!Ombudsman’s!
finding!of!probable!cause,!which!he!maintains!is!without!legal!or!factual!
basis,!but!also!thatsuch!finding!of!probable!cause!was!premised!on!
evidence!not!disclosed!tohim,!including!those!subject!of!his!Request!to!be!
Furnished!with!Copiesof!CounterHAffidavits!of!the!Other!Respondents,!
Affidavits!of!New!Witnesses!and!Other!Filings!dated!20!March!2014.!

In!particular,!the!Office!of!the!Ombudsman!used!as!basis!for!the!Joint!
Resolution!the!following!documents!–!

i.!Alexis!G.!Sevidal’s!CounterHAffidavits!dated!15!January!and!24!
February!2014_!

ii.!Dennis!L.!Cunanan’s!CounterHAffidavits!both!dated!20!February!
2014_!

iii.!Francisco!B.!Figura’s!CounterHAffidavit!dated!08!January!2014_!

iv.!Ruby!Tuason’s!CounterHAffidavits!both!dated!21!February!2014_!

v.!Gregoria!G.!Buenaventura’s!CounterHAffidavit!dated!06!March!2014_!
and!
 vi.!Philippine!Daily!Inquirer!Online!Edition!news!article!entitled!"Benhur!
Luy!upstages!Napoles!in!Senate!Hearing"!by!Norman!Bordadora!and!
TJ!Borgonio,!published!on!06!March!2014,!none!of!which!were!ever!
furnished!Sen.!Estrada!prior!to!the!issuance!of!the!challenged!Joint!
Resolution,!despite!written!request.!

x!x!x!x!

II!

THE!OFFICE!OF!THE!OMBUDSMAN,!IN!ISSUING!THE!CHALLENGED!
JOINT!RESOLUTION!DATED!28!MARCH!2014!AND!CHALLENGED!
JOINT!ORDER!DATED!04!JUNE!2014,!NOT!ONLY!ACTED!WITHOUT!OR!
IN!EXCESS!OF!ITS!JURISDICTION!OR!WITH!GRAVE!ABUSE!OF!
DISCRETION!AMOUNTING!TO!LACK!OR!EXCESS!OF!JURISDICTION,!
BUT!ALSO!VIOLATED!SEN.!ESTRADA’S!CONSTITUTIONAL!RIGHT!TO!
DUE!PROCESS!OF!LAW!AND!TO!EQUAL!PROTECTION!OF!THE!LAWS.!

x!x!x!x!

2.17!x!x!x!x!

Notably,!in!its!Joint!Order!dated!07!May!2014,!the!Office!of!the!Ombudsman!
even!arbitrarily!limited!the!filing!of!Sen.!Estrada’s!comment!to!the!
voluminous!documents!comprisingthe!documents!it!furnished!Sen.!Estrada!
to!a!"nonHextendible"!period!offive!(5)!days,!making!it!virtually!impossible!for!
Sen.!Estrada!to!adequately!study!the!charges!leveled!against!him!and!
intelligently!respond!to!them.!The!Joint!Order!also!failed!to!disclose!the!
existence!of!other!counterHaffidavits!and!failed!to!furnish!Sen.!Estrada!
copies!of!such!counterHaffidavits.51!

Sen.!Estrada!has!not!been!candid!with!this!Court.!His!claim!that!the!finding!
of!probable!cause!was!the!"sole!issue"!he!raised!before!the!Ombudsman!in!
his!Motion!for!Reconsideration!dated!7!April!2014!is!obviously!false.!

Moreover,!even!though!Sen.!Estrada!acknowledged!his!receipt!of!the!
Ombudsman’s!4!June!2014!Joint!Order!which!denied!his!motion!for!
reconsideration!of!the!28!March!2014!Joint!Resolution,!Sen.!Estrada!did!not!
mention!that!the!4!June!2014!Joint!Order!stated!that!the!Ombudsman!"held!
in!abeyance!the!disposition!of!the!motions!for!reconsideration!in!this!
proceeding!in!light!of!its!grant!to![Sen.!Estrada]!a!period!of!five!days!from!
receipt!of!the!7!May!2014![Joint]!Order!to!formally!respond!to!the!
abovenamed!coHrespondent’s!claims."!

Sen.!Estrada!claims!that!his!rights!were!violated!but!he!flouts!the!rules!
himself.!

The!rule!against!forum!shopping!is!not!limited!tothe!fulfillment!of!the!
requisites!of!litis!pendentia.52!To!determine!whether!a!party!violated!the!rule!
against!forum!shopping,!the!most!important!factor!to!ask!is!whether!the!
elements!of!litis!pendentia!are!present,!or!whether!a!final!judgment!in!one!
case!will!amount!to!res!judicatain!another.53Undergirding!the!principle!of!litis!
pendentia!is!the!theory!that!a!party!isnot!allowed!to!vex!another!more!than!
once!regarding!the!same!subject!matter!and!for!the!same!cause!of!action.!
This!theory!is!founded!on!the!public!policy!that!the!same!matter!should!not!
be!the!subject!of!controversy!in!court!more!than!once!in!order!that!possible!
conflicting!judgments!may!be!avoided,!for!the!sake!of!the!stability!in!the!
rights!and!status!of!persons.54!

x!x!x![D]espite!the!fact!that!what!the!petitioners!filed!wasa!petition!for!
certiorari,!a!recourse!that!–!in!the!usual!course!and!because!of!its!nature!
and!purpose!–!is!not!covered!by!the!rule!on!forum!shopping.!The!exception!
from!the!forum!shopping!rule,!however,!is!true!only!where!a!petition!for!
certiorari!is!properly!or!regularly!invoked!in!the!usual!course_!the!exception!
does!not!apply!when!the!relief!sought,!through!a!petition!for!certiorari,!is!still!
pending!with!or!has!as!yet!to!be!decided!by!the!respondent!court,!tribunal!or!
body!exercising!judicial!or!quasiHjudicial!body,!e.g.,!a!motion!for!
reconsideration!of!the!order!assailed!via!a!petition!for!certiorari!under!Rule!
65,!as!in!the!present!case.!This!conclusion!is!supported!and!strengthened!
by!Section!1,!Rule!65!of!the!Revised!Rules!of!Court!which!provides!that!the!
availability!of!a!remedy!in!the!ordinary!course!of!law!precludes!the!filing!of!a!
petition!for!certiorari_!under!this!rule,!the!petition’s!dismissal!is!the!
necessary!consequence!if!recourse!to!Rule!65!is!prematurely!taken.!

To!be!sure,!the!simultaneous!remedies!the!petitioners!sought!could!result!in!
possible!conflicting!rulings,!or!at!the!very!least,!to!complicated!situations,!
between!the!RTC!and!the!Court!of!Appeals.!An!extreme!possible!result!is!
for!the!appellate!court!to!confirm!that!the!RTC!decision!is!meritorious,!yet!
the!RTC!may!at!the!same!time!reconsider!its!ruling!and!recall!its!order!of!
dismissal.!In!this!eventuality,!the!result!is!the!affirmation!of!the!decision!that!
the!court!a!quo!has!backtracked!on.!Other!permutations!depending!on!the!
rulings!of!the!two!courts!and!the!timing!of!these!rulings!are!possible.!In!
every!case,!our!justice!system!suffers!as!this!kind!of!sharp!practice!opens!
the!system!to!the!possibility!of!manipulation_!to!uncertainties!when!conflict!
of!rulings!arise_!and!at!least!to!vexation!for!complications!other!than!conflict!
of!rulings.!Thus,!it!matters!not!that!ultimately!the!Court!of!Appeals!may!
completely!agree!with!the!RTC_!what!the!rule!on!forum!shopping!addresses!
are!the!possibility!and!the!actuality!of!its!harmful!effects!on!our!judicial!
system.55!

Sen.!Estrada!resorted!to!simultaneous!remedies!by!filing!this!Petition!
alleging!violation!of!due!process!by!the!Ombudsman!even!as!his!Motion!for!
Reconsideration!raising!the!very!same!issue!remained!pending!with!the!
Ombudsman.!This!is!plain!and!simple!forum!shopping,!warranting!outright!
dismissal!of!this!Petition.!

SUMMARY!

The!Ombudsman,!in!furnishing!Sen.!Estrada!a!copy!of!the!complaint!and!its!
supporting!affidavits!and!documents,!fully!complied!with!Sections!3!and!4!of!
Rule!112!of!the!Revised!Rules!of!Criminal!Procedure,!and!Section!4,!Rule!II!
of!the!Rules!of!Procedure!of!the!Office!of!the!Ombudsman,!Administrative!
Order!No.!7.!Both!the!Revised!Rules!of!Criminal!Procedure!and!the!Rules!of!
Procedure!of!the!Office!of!the!Ombudsman!require!the!investigating!officer!
to!furnish!the!respondent!with!copies!of!the!affidavits!of!the!complainant!and!
affidavits!of!his!supporting!witnesses.!Neither!of!these!Rules!require!the!
investigating!officer!to!furnish!the!respondent!with!copies!of!the!affidavits!of!
his!coHrespondents.!The!right!of!the!respondent!is!only!"to!examine!the!
evidence!submitted!by!the!complainant,"!as!expressly!stated!in!Section!
3(b),!Rule!112!of!the!Revised!Rules!of!Criminal!Procedure.!This!Court!has!
unequivocally!ruled!in!Paderanga!that!"Section!3,!Rule!112!of!the!Revised!
Rules!of!Criminal!Procedure!expressly!provides!that!the!respondent!shall!
only!have!the!right!to!submit!a!counterHaffidavit,!to!examine!all!other!
evidence!submitted!by!the!complainant!and,!where!the!fiscal!sets!a!hearing!
to!propound!clarificatory!questions!to!the!parties!or!their!witnesses,!to!be!
afforded!an!opportunity!to!be!present!but!without!the!right!to!examine!or!
crossHexamine."!Moreover,!Section!4!(a,!b!and!c)!of!Rule!II!of!the!
Ombudsman’s!Rule!of!Procedure,!read!together,!only!require!the!
investigating!officer!to!furnish!the!respondent!with!copies!of!the!affidavits!of!
the!complainant!and!his!supporting!witnesses.1âwphi1!There!is!no!law!or!
rule!requiring!the!investigating!officer!to!furnish!the!respondent!with!copies!
of!the!affidavits!of!his!coHrespondents.!

In!the!7!May!2014!Joint!Order,!the!Ombudsman!went!beyond!legal!duty!and!
even!furnished!Sen.!Estrada!with!copies!of!the!counterHaffidavits!of!his!coH
respondents!whom!he!specifically!named,!as!well!as!the!counteraffidavits!of!
some!of!other!coHrespondents.!In!the!4!June!2014!Joint!Order,!the!
Ombudsman!even!held!in!abeyancethe!disposition!of!the!motions!for!
reconsideration!because!the!Ombudsman!granted!Sen.!Estrada!five!days!
from!receipt!of!the!7!May!2014!Joint!Order!to!formally!respond!to!the!claims!
made!by!his!coHrespondents.!The!Ombudsman!faithfully!complied!with!the!
existing!Rules!on!preliminary!investigation!and!even!accommodated!Sen.!
Estrada!beyond!what!the!Rules!required.!Thus,!the!Ombudsman!could!not!
be!faulted!with!grave!abuse!of!discretion.!Since!this!is!a!Petition!for!
Certiorari!under!Rule!65,!the!Petition!fails!in!the!absence!of!grave!abuse!of!
discretion!on!the!part!of!the!Ombudsman.!

The!constitutional!due!process!requirements!mandated!in!Ang!Tibay,!as!
amplified!in!GSIS,!are!not!applicable!to!preliminary!investigations!which!are!
creations!of!statutory!law!giving!rise!to!mere!statutory!rights.!A!law!can!
abolish!preliminary!investigations!without!running!afoul!with!the!
constitutional!requirements!of!dueprocess!as!prescribed!in!Ang!Tibay,!as!
amplified!in!GSIS.!The!present!procedures!for!preliminary!investigations!do!
not!comply,!and!were!never!intended!to!comply,!with!Ang!Tibay,!as!
amplified!in!GSIS.!Preliminary!investigations!do!not!adjudicate!with!finality!
rights!and!obligations!of!parties,!while!administrative!investigations!
governed!by!Ang!Tibay,!as!amplified!in!GSIS,!so!adjudicate.!Ang!Tibay,as!
amplified!in!GSIS,!requires!substantial!evidencefor!a!decision!against!the!
respondent!in!the!administrative!case.In!preliminary!investigations,!only!
likelihood!or!probability!of!guiltis!required.!To!apply!Ang!Tibay,as!amplified!
in!GSIS,to!preliminary!investigations!will!change!the!quantum!of!evidence!
required!to!establish!probable!cause.!The!respondent!in!an!administrative!
case!governed!by!Ang!Tibay,as!amplified!in!GSIS,has!the!right!to!an!actual!
hearing!and!to!crossHexamine!the!witnesses!against!him.!In!preliminary!
investigations,!the!respondent!has!no!such!rights.!

Also,!in!an!administrative!case!governed!by!Ang!Tibay,!as!amplified!in!
GSIS,!the!hearing!officer!must!be!impartial!and!cannot!be!the!factHfinder,!
investigator,!and!hearing!officer!atthe!same!time.!In!preliminary!
investigations,!the!same!public!officer!may!be!the!investigator!and!hearing!
officer!at!the!same!time,!or!the!factHfinder,!investigator!and!hearing!officer!
may!be!under!the!control!and!supervisionof!the!same!public!officer,!like!the!
Ombudsman!or!Secretary!of!Justice.!This!explains!why!Ang!Tibay,!as!
amplified!in!GSIS,!does!not!apply!to!preliminary!investigations.!To!now!
declare!that!the!guidelines!in!Ang!Tibay,!as!amplified!in!GSIS,!are!
fundamental!and!essential!requirements!in!preliminary!investigations!will!
render!all!past!and!present!preliminary!investigations!invalid!for!violation!of!
constitutional!due!process.!This!will!mean!remanding!for!reinvestigation!all!
criminal!cases!now!pending!in!all!courts!throughout!the!country.!No!
preliminary!investigation!can!proceeduntil!a!new!law!designates!a!public!
officer,!outside!of!the!prosecution!service,!to!determine!probable!cause.!
Moreover,!those!serving!sentences!by!final!judgment!would!have!to!be!
released!from!prison!because!their!conviction!violated!constitutional!due!
process.!Sen.!Estrada!did!not!file!a!Motion!for!Reconsideration!of!the!27!
March!2014!Order!in!OMBHCHCH13H0313!denying!his!Request,!which!is!the!
subject!of!the!present!Petition.!He!should!have!filed!a!Motion!for!R!
econsideration,!in!the!same!manner!that!he!filed!a!Motion!for!
Reconsideration!of!the!15!May!2014!Order!denying!his!motion!to!suspend!
proceedings.!The!unquestioned!rule!in!this!jurisdiction!is!that!certiorari!will!
lie!only!if!there!is!no!appeal!or!any!other!plain,!speedy!and!adequate!
remedy!in!the!ordinary!course!of!law!against!the!acts!of!the!public!
respondent.56!The!plain,!speedy!and!adequate!remedy!expressly!provided!
by!law!is!a!Motion!for!Reconsideration!of!the!27!March!2014!Order!of!the!
Ombudsman.!Sen.!Estrada's!failure!to!file!a!Motion!for!Reconsideration!
renders!this!Petition!premature.!

Sen.!Estrada!also!raised!in!this!Petition!the!same!issue!he!raised!in!his!
Motion!for!Reconsideration!of!the!28!March!2014!Joint!Resolution!of!the!
Ombudsman!finding!probable!cause.!While!his!Motion!for!Reconsideration!
of!the!28!March!2014!Joint!Resolution!was!pending,!Sen.!Estrada!did!not!
wait!for!the!resolution!of!the!Ombudsman!and!instead!proceeded!to!file!the!
present!Petition!for!Certiorari.!The!Ombudsman!issued!a!Joint!Order!on!4!
June!2014!and!specifically!addressed!the!issue!that!Sen.!Estrada!is!raising!
in!this!Petition.!Thus,!Sen.!Estrada's!present!Petition!for!Certiorari!is!not!
only!premature,!it!also!constitutes!forum!shopping.!WHEREFORE,!we!
DISMISS!the!Petition!for!Certiorari!in!G.R.!Nos.!212140H41.!

SO!ORDERED.!
ANTONIO(T.(CARPIO!
Associate!Justice!

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G.R.(No.(176830(((((((((((((((February(11,(2014!

SATURNINO(C.(OCAMPO,!Petitioner,!!
vs.!
HON.(EPHREM(S.(ABANDO,(in(his(capacity(as(Presiding(Judge(of(the(
Regional(Trial(Court(of(Hilongos,(Leyte,(Branch(18,(CESAR(M.(MERIN,(
in.(his(capacity(as(Approving(Prosecutor(and(Officer3in3Charge,(
ROSULO(U.(VIVERO,(in(his(capacity(as(Investigating(Prosecutor,(
RAUL(M.(GONZALEZ,(in(his(capacity(as(Secretary(of(the(Department(of(
Justice,!Respondents.!

x!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!x!

G.R.(No.(185587!

RANDALL(B.(ECHANIS,!Petitioner,!!
vs.!
HON.(THELMA(BUNYl3MEDINA,(in(her(capacity(as(Presiding(Judge(of(
the(Regional(Trial(Court(of(Manila,(Branch(32,(HON.(EPHREM(S.(
ABANDO,(in(his(capacity(as(Presiding(Judge(of(the(Regional(Trial(
Court(of(Hilongos,(Leyte,(Branch(18,(CESAR(M.(MERIN,(in(his(capacity(
as(Approving(Prosecutor(and(Officer3in3Charge,(ROSULO(U.(VIVERO,(
in(his(capacity(as(Investigating(Prosecutor,(RAUL(M.(GONZALEZ,(in(
his(capacity(as(Secretary(of(the(Department(of(Justice,!Respondents.!

x!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!x!

G.R.(No.(185636!

RAFAEL(G.(BAYLOSIS,!Petitioner,!!
vs.!
HON.(THELMA(BUNYI3MEDINA,(in(her(capacity(as(Presiding(Judge(of(
the(Regional(Trial(Court(of(Manila,(Branch(32,(HON.(EPHREM(S.(
ABANDO,(in(his(capacity(as(Presiding(Judge(of(the(Regional(Trial(
Court(of(Hilongos,(Leyte,(Branch(18,(CESAR(M.(MERIN,(in(his(capacity(
as(Approving(Prosecutor(and(Officer3in3Charge,(ROSULO(U.(VIVERO,(
in(his(capacity(as(Investigating(Prosecutor,(RAUL(M.(GONZALEZ,(in(
his(capacity(as(Secretary(of(the(Department(of(Justice,!Respondents.!

x!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!H!x!

G.R.(No.(190005!

VICENTE(P.(LADLAD,!Petitioner,!!
vs.!
HON.(THELMA(BUNYI3MEDINA,(in(her(capacity(as(Presiding(Judge(of(
the(Regional(Trial(Court(of(Manila,(Branch(32,(and(the(PEOPLE(OF(THE(
PHILIPPINES,!Respondents.!

D!E!C!I!S!I!O!N!

SERENO,(CJ.:!

On!26!August!2006,!a!mass!grave!was!discovered!by!elements!of!the!43rd!
Infantry!Brigade!of!the!Philippine!Army!at!Sitio!Sapang!Daco,!Barangay!
Kaulisihan,!Inopacan,!Leyte.1!The!mass!grave!contained!skeletal!remains!of!
individuals!believed!to!be!victims!of!"Operation!Venereal!Disease"!
(Operation!VD)!launched!by!members!of!the!Communist!Party!of!the!
Philippines/New!People’s!Army/National!Democratic!Front!of!the!Philippines!
(CPP/NPA/NDFP)!to!purge!their!ranks!of!suspected!military!informers.!
While!the!doctrine!of!hierarchy!of!courts!normally!precludes!a!direct!
invocation!of!this!Court’s!jurisdiction,!we!take!cognizance!of!these!petitions!
considering!that!petitioners!have!chosen!to!take!recourse!directly!before!us!
and!that!the!cases!are!of!significant!national!interest.!

Petitioners!have!raised!several!issues,!but!most!are!too!insubstantial!to!
require!consideration.!Accordingly,!in!the!exercise!of!sound!judicial!
discretion!and!economy,!this!Court!will!pass!primarily!upon!the!following:!

1.!Whether!petitioners!were!denied!due!process!during!preliminary!
investigation!and!in!the!issuance!of!the!warrants!of!arrest.!

2.!Whether!the!murder!charges!against!petitioners!should!be!
dismissed!under!the!political!offense!doctrine.!

ANTECEDENT!FACTS!

These!are!petitions!for!certiorari!and!prohibition2!seeking!the!annulment!of!
the!orders!and!resolutions!of!public!respondents!with!regard!to!the!
indictment!and!issuance!of!warrants!of!arrest!against!petitioners!for!the!
crime!of!multiple!murder.!

Police!Chief!Inspector!George!L.!Almaden!(P!C/Insp.!Almaden)!of!the!
Philippine!National!Police!(PNP)!Regional!Office!8!and!Staff!Judge!
Advocate!Captain!Allan!Tiu!(Army!Captain!Tiu)!of!the!8th!Infantry!Division!of!
the!Philippine!Army!sent!12!undated!letters!to!the!Provincial!Prosecutor!of!
Leyte!through!Assistant!Provincial!Prosecutor!Rosulo!U.!Vivero!(Prosecutor!
Vivero).3!The!letters!requested!appropriate!legal!action!on!12!complaintH
affidavits!attached!therewith!accusing!71!named!members!of!the!
Communist!Party!of!the!Philippines/New!People’s!Army/National!
Democratic!Front!of!the!Philippines!(CPP/NPA/NDFP)!of!murder,!including!
petitioners!herein!along!with!several!other!unnamed!members.!

The!letters!narrated!that!on!26!August!2006,!elements!of!the!43rd!Infantry!
Brigade!of!the!Philippine!Army!discovered!a!mass!grave!site!of!the!
CPP/NPA/NDFP!at!Sitio!Sapang!Daco,!Barangay!Kaulisihan,!Inopacan,!
Leyte.4Recovered!from!the!grave!site!were!67!severely!deteriorated!skeletal!
remains!believed!to!be!victims!of!Operation!VD.5!

The!PNP!Scene!of!the!Crime!Operation!(SOCO)!Team!based!in!Regional!
Office!8!was!immediately!dispatched!to!the!mass!grave!site!to!conduct!
crime!investigation,!and!to!collect,!preserve!and!analyze!the!skeletal!
remains.6!Also,!from!11H17!September!2006,!an!investigation!team!
composed!of!intelligence!officers,!and!medicoHlegal!and!DNA!experts,!
conducted!forensic!crime!analysis!and!collected!from!alleged!relatives!of!the!
victims!DNA!samples!for!matching.7!

The!Initial!Specialist!Report8!dated!18!September!2006!issued!by!the!PNP!
Crime!Laboratory!in!Camp!Crame,!Quezon!City,!was!inconclusive!with!
regard!to!the!identities!of!the!skeletal!remains!and!even!the!length!of!time!
that!they!had!been!buried.!The!report!recommended!the!conduct!of!further!
tests!to!confirm!the!identities!of!the!remains!and!the!time!window!of!death.9!

However,!in!a!Special!Report10!dated!2!October!2006,!the!Case!Secretariat!
of!the!Regional!and!National!InterHAgency!Legal!Action!Group!(IALAG)!
came!up!with!the!names!of!ten!(10)!possible!victims!after!comparison!and!
examination!based!on!testimonies!of!relatives!and!witnesses.11!

The!12!complaintHaffidavits!were!from!relatives!of!the!alleged!victims!of!
Operation!VD.!All!of!them!swore!that!their!relatives!had!been!abducted!or!
last!seen!with!members!of!the!CPP/NPA/NDFP!and!were!never!seen!again.!

They!also!expressed!belief!that!their!relatives’!remains!were!among!those!
discovered!at!the!mass!grave!site.!

Also!attached!to!the!letters!were!the!affidavits!of!Zacarias!
Piedad,12!Leonardo!C.!Tanaid,!Floro!M.!Tanaid,!Numeriano!Beringuel,!
Glecerio!Roluna!and!Veronica!P.!Tabara.!They!narrated!that!they!were!
former!members!of!the!CPP/NPA/NDFP.13!According!to!them,!Operation!VD!
was!ordered!in!1985!by!the!CPP/NPA/NDFP!Central!
Committee.14!Allegedly,!petitioners!Saturnino!C.!Ocampo!
(Ocampo),15!Randall!B.!Echanis!(Echanis),16!Rafael!G.!Baylosis!
(Baylosis),17!and!Vicente!P.!Ladlad!(Ladlad)18!were!then!members!of!the!
Central!Committee.!

According!to!these!former!members,!four!subHgroups!were!formed!to!
implement!Operation!VD,!namely,!(1)!the!Intel!Group!responsible!for!
gathering!information!on!suspected!military!spies!and!civilians!who!would!
not!support!the!movement_!(2)!the!Arresting!Group!charged!with!their!
arrests_!(3)!the!Investigation!Group!which!would!subject!those!arrested!to!
questioning_!and!(4)!the!Execution!Group!or!the!"cleaners"!of!those!
confirmed!to!be!military!spies!and!civilians!who!would!not!support!the!
movement.19!

From!1985!to!1992,!at!least!100!people!had!been!abducted,!hogHtied,!
tortured!and!executed!by!members!of!the!CPP/NPA/NDF20!pursuant!to!
Operation!VD.21!

On!the!basis!of!the!12!letters!and!their!attachments,!Prosecutor!Vivero!
issued!a!subpoena!requiring,!among!others,!petitioners!to!submit!their!
counterHaffidavits!and!those!of!their!witnesses.22!Petitioner!Ocampo!
submitted!his!counterHaffidavit.23!Petitioners!Echanis24!and!Baylosis25!did!
not!file!counterHaffidavits!because!they!were!allegedly!not!served!the!copy!
of!the!complaint!and!the!attached!documents!or!evidence.!Counsel!of!
petitioner!Ladlad!made!a!formal!entry!of!appearance!on!8!December!2006!
during!the!preliminary!investigation.26!However,!petitioner!Ladlad!did!not!file!
a!counterHaffidavit!because!he!was!allegedly!not!served!a!subpoena.27!

In!a!Resolution28!dated!16!February!2007,!Prosecutor!Vivero!recommended!
the!filing!of!an!Information!for!15!counts!of!multiple!murder!against!54!
named!members!of!the!CPP/NPA/NDFP,!including!petitioners!herein,!for!
the!death!of!the!following:!1)!Juanita!Aviola,!2)!Concepcion!Aragon,!3)!
Gregorio!Eras,!4)!Teodoro!Recones,!Jr.,!5)!Restituto!Ejoc,!6)!Rolando!
Vasquez,!7)!Junior!Milyapis,!8)!Crispin!Dalmacio,!9)!Zacarias!Casil,!10)!
Pablo!Daniel,!11)!Romeo!Tayabas,!12)!Domingo!Napoles,!13)!Ciriaco!
Daniel,!14)!Crispin!Prado,!and!15)!Ereberto!Prado.29!

Prosecutor!Vivero!also!recommended!that!Zacarias!Piedad,!Leonardo!
Tanaid,!Numeriano!Beringuel!and!Glecerio!Roluna!be!dropped!as!
respondents!and!utilized!as!state!witnesses,!as!their!testimonies!were!vital!
to!the!success!of!the!prosecution.30!The!Resolution!was!silent!with!regard!to!
Veronica!Tabara.!

The!Information!was!filed!before!the!Regional!Trial!Court!(RTC)!Hilongos,!
Leyte,!Branch!18!(RTC!Hilongos,!Leyte)!presided!by!Judge!Ephrem!S.!
Abando!(Judge!Abando)!on!28!February!2007,!and!docketed!as!Criminal!
Case!No.!HH1581.31!Petitioner!Ocampo!filed!an!Ex!Parte!Motion!to!Set!Case!
for!Clarificatory!Hearing!dated!5!March!2007!prior!to!receiving!a!copy!of!the!
Resolution!recommending!the!filing!of!the!Information.32!
On!6!March!2007,!Judge!Abando!issued!an!Order!finding!probable!cause!
"in!the!commission!by!all!mentioned!accused!of!the!crime!charged."33!He!
ordered!the!issuance!of!warrants!of!arrest!against!them!with!no!
recommended!bail!for!their!temporary!liberty.34!

On!16!March!2007,!petitioner!Ocampo!filed!before!us!this!special!civil!action!
for!certiorari!and!prohibition!under!Rule!65!of!the!Rules!of!Court!and!
docketed!as!G.R.!No.!176830!seeking!the!annulment!of!the!6!March!2007!
Order!of!Judge!Abando!and!the!16!February!2007!Resolution!of!Prosecutor!
Vivero.35!The!petition!prayed!for!the!unconditional!release!of!petitioner!
Ocampo!from!PNP!custody,!as!well!as!the!issuance!of!a!temporary!
restraining!order/!writ!of!preliminary!injunction!to!restrain!the!conduct!of!
further!proceedings!during!the!pendency!of!the!petition.36!

Petitioner!Ocampo!argued!that!a!case!for!rebellion!against!him!and!44!
others!(including!petitioners!Echanis!and!Baylosis37!and!Ladlad38)!docketed!
as!Criminal!Case!No.!06H944!was!then!pending!before!the!RTC!Makati,!
Branch!150!(RTC!Makati).39!Putting!forward!the!political!offense!doctrine,!
petitioner!Ocampo!argues!that!common!crimes,!such!as!murder!in!this!
case,!are!already!absorbed!by!the!crime!of!rebellion!when!committed!as!a!
necessary!means,!in!connection!with!and!in!furtherance!of!rebellion.40!

We!required41!the!Office!of!the!Solicitor!General!(OSG)!to!comment!on!the!
petition!and!the!prayer!for!the!issuance!of!a!temporary!restraining!order/!writ!
of!preliminary!injunction,!and!set42!the!case!for!oral!arguments!on!30!March!
2007.!The!OSG!filed!its!Comment!on!27!March!2007.43!

The!following!were!the!legal!issues!discussed!by!the!parties!during!the!oral!
arguments:!

1.!Whether!the!present!petition!for!certiorari!and!prohibition!is!the!
proper!remedy!of!petitioner!Ocampo_!

2.!Assuming!it!is!the!proper!remedy,!whether!he!was!denied!due!
process!during!preliminary!investigation!and!in!the!issuance!of!the!
warrant!of!arrest_!

3.!Whether!the!murder!charges!against!him!are!already!included!in!the!
rebellion!charge!against!him!in!the!RTC.44!
Afterwards,!the!parties!were!ordered!to!submit!their!memoranda!within!10!
days.45!On!3!April!2007,!the!Court!ordered!the!provisional!release!of!
petitioner!Ocampo!under!a!₱100,000!cash!bond.46!!
Acting!on!the!observation!of!the!Court!during!the!oral!arguments!that!the!
single!Information!filed!before!the!RTC!Hilongos,!Leyte!was!defective!for!
charging!15!counts!of!murder,!the!prosecution!filed!a!Motion!to!Admit!
Amended!Information!and!New!Informations!on!11!April!2007.47!In!an!Order!
dated!27!July!2007,!Judge!Abando!held!in!abeyance!the!resolution!thereof!
and!effectively!suspended!the!proceedings!during!the!pendency!of!G.R.!No.!
176830!before!this!Court.48!

While!the!proceedings!were!suspended,!petitioner!Echanis!was!arrested!on!
28!January!2008!by!virtue!of!the!warrant!of!arrest!issued!by!Judge!Abando!
on!6!March!2007.49!On!1!February!2008,!petitioners!Echanis!and!Baylosis!
filed!a!Motion!for!Judicial!Reinvestigation/!Determination!of!Probable!Cause!
with!Prayer!to!Dismiss!the!Case!Outright!and!Alternative!Prayer!to!Recall/!
Suspend!Service!of!Warrant.50!

On!30!April!2008,!Judge!Abando!issued!an!Order!denying!the!
motion.51!Petitioners!Echanis!and!Baylosis!filed!a!Motion!for!
Reconsideration52!dated!30!May!2008,!but!before!being!able!to!rule!
thereon,!Judge!Abando!issued!an!Order!dated!12!June!2008!transmitting!
the!records!of!Criminal!Case!No.!HH1581!to!the!Office!of!the!Clerk!of!Court,!
RTC!Manila.53!The!Order!was!issued!in!compliance!with!the!Resolution!
dated!23!April!2008!of!this!Court!granting!the!request!of!then!Secretary!of!
Justice!Raul!Gonzales!to!transfer!the!venue!of!the!case.!

The!case!was!reHraffled!to!RTC!Manila,!Branch!32!(RTC!Manila)!presided!
by!Judge!Thelma!BunyiHMedina!(Judge!Medina)!and!reHdocketed!as!
Criminal!Case!No.!08H262163.54!Petitioner!Echanis!was!transferred!to!the!
PNP!Custodial!Center!in!Camp!Crame,!Quezon!City.!On!12!August!2008,!
petitioners!Echanis!and!Baylosis!filed!their!Supplemental!Arguments!to!
Motion!for!Reconsideration.55!

In!an!Order56!dated!27!October!2008,!Judge!Medina!suspended!the!
proceedings!of!the!case!pending!the!resolution!of!G.R.!No.!176830!by!this!
Court.!

On!18!December!2008,!petitioner!Ladlad!filed!with!the!RTC!Manila!a!Motion!
to!Quash!and/or!Dismiss.57!
On!23!December!2008,!petitioner!Echanis!filed!before!us!a!special!civil!
action!for!certiorari!and!prohibition!under!Rule!65!of!the!Rules!of!Court!
seeking!the!annulment!of!the!30!April!2008!Order!of!Judge!Abando!and!the!
27!October!2008!Order!of!Judge!Medina.58!The!petition,!docketed!as!G.R.!
No.!185587,!prayed!for!the!unconditional!and!immediate!release!of!
petitioner!Echanis,!as!well!as!the!issuance!of!a!temporary!restraining!
order/writ!of!preliminary!injunction!to!restrain!his!further!incarceration.59!

On!5!January!2009,!petitioner!Baylosis!filed!before!us!a!special!civil!action!
for!certiorari!and!prohibition!under!Rule!65!of!the!Rules!of!Court!also!
seeking!the!annulment!of!the!30!April!2008!Order!of!Judge!Abando!and!the!
27!October!2008!Order!of!Judge!Medina.60!The!petition,!docketed!as!G.R.!
No.!185636,!prayed!for!the!issuance!of!a!temporary!restraining!order/!writ!of!
preliminary!injunction!to!restrain!the!implementation!of!the!warrant!of!arrest!
against!petitioner!Baylosis.61!

The!Court!consolidated!G.R.!Nos.!185587!and!185636!on!12!January!
2009.62!

On!3!March!2009,!the!Court!ordered!the!further!consolidation!of!these!two!
cases!with!G.R.!No.!176830.63!We!required64!the!OSG!to!comment!on!the!
prayer!for!petitioner!Echanis’s!immediate!release,!to!which!the!OSG!did!not!
interpose!any!objection!on!these!conditions:!that!the!temporary!release!shall!
only!be!for!the!purpose!of!his!attendance!and!participation!in!the!formal!
peace!negotiations!between!the!Government!of!the!Republic!of!the!
Philippines!(GRP)!and!the!CPP/NPA/NDFP,!set!to!begin!in!August!2009_!
and!that!his!temporary!release!shall!not!exceed!six!(6)!months.65!The!latter!
condition!was!later!modified,!such!that!his!temporary!liberty!shall!continue!
for!the!duration!of!his!actual!participation!in!the!peace!negotiations.66!

On!11!August!2009,!the!Court!ordered!the!provisional!release!of!petitioner!
Echanis!under!a!₱100,000!cash!bond,!for!the!purpose!of!his!participation!in!
the!formal!peace!negotiations.67!

Meanwhile,!the!Department!of!Justice!(DOJ)!filed!its!Opposition68!to!
petitioner!Ladlad’s!motion!to!quash!before!the!RTC!Manila.!The!trial!court!
conducted!a!hearing!on!the!motion!on!13!February!2009.69!
On!6!May!2009,!Judge!Medina!issued!an!Order70!denying!the!motion!to!
quash.!The!motion!for!reconsideration!filed!by!petitioner!Ladlad!was!also!
denied!on!27!August!2009.71!

On!9!November!2009,!petitioner!Ladlad!filed!before!us!a!special!civil!action!
for!certiorari!under!Rule!65!of!the!Rules!of!Court!seeking!the!annulment!of!
the!6!May!2009!and!27!August!2009!Orders!of!Judge!Medina.72!The!petition!
was!docketed!as!G.R.!No.!190005.!

On!11!January!2010,!we!ordered!the!consolidation!of!G.R.!No.!190005!with!
G.R.!Nos.!176830,!185587!and!185636.73!We!also!required!the!OSG!to!file!
its!comment!thereon.!The!OSG!submitted!its!Comment74!on!7!May!2010.!

On!27!July!2010,!we!likewise!required!the!OSG!to!file!its!Comment!in!G.R.!
Nos.!185636!and!185587.75!These!Comments!were!filed!by!the!OSG!on!13!
December!201076!and!on!21!January!2011,77!respectively.!Petitioners!
Echanis!and!Baylosis!filed!their!Consolidated!Reply78!on!7!June!2011.!

On!2!May!2011,!petitioner!Ladlad!filed!an!Urgent!Motion!to!Fix!Bail.79!On!21!
July!2011,!petitioner!Baylosis!filed!A!Motion!to!Allow!Petitioner!to!Post!
Bail.80!The!OSG!interposed!no!objection!to!the!grant!of!a!₱100,000!cash!
bail!to!them!considering!that!they!were!consultants!of!the!NDFP!negotiating!
team,!which!was!then!holding!negotiations!with!the!GRP!peace!panel!for!
the!signing!of!a!peace!accord.81!

On!17!January!2012,!we!granted!the!motions!of!petitioners!Ladlad!and!
Baylosis!and!fixed!their!bail!in!the!amount!of!₱100,000,!subject!to!the!
condition!that!their!temporary!release!shall!be!limited!to!the!period!of!their!
actual!participation!in!the!peace!negotiations.82!

Petitioner!Ladlad!filed!his!Reply83!to!the!OSG!Comment!on!18!January!
2013.!

OUR!RULING!

Petitioners/were/accorded/due/
process/during/preliminary/
investigation/and/in/the/issuance/of/
the/warrants/of/arrest.!

A.!Preliminary!Investigation!
A!preliminary!investigation!is!"not!a!casual!affair."84!It!is!conducted!to!protect!
the!innocent!from!the!embarrassment,!expense!and!anxiety!of!a!public!
trial.85!While!the!right!to!have!a!preliminary!investigation!before!trial!is!
statutory!rather!than!constitutional,!it!is!a!substantive!right!and!a!component!
of!due!process!in!the!administration!of!criminal!justice.86!

In!the!context!of!a!preliminary!investigation,!the!right!to!due!process!of!law!
entails!the!opportunity!to!be!heard.87!It!serves!to!accord!an!opportunity!for!
the!presentation!of!the!respondent’s!side!with!regard!to!the!accusation.!
Afterwards,!the!investigating!officer!shall!decide!whether!the!allegations!and!
defenses!lead!to!a!reasonable!belief!that!a!crime!has!been!committed,!and!
that!it!was!the!respondent!who!committed!it.!Otherwise,!the!investigating!
officer!is!bound!to!dismiss!the!complaint.!

"The!essence!of!due!process!is!reasonable!opportunity!to!be!heard!and!
submit!evidence!in!support!of!one's!defense."88!What!is!proscribed!is!lack!of!
opportunity!to!be!heard.89!Thus,!one!who!has!been!afforded!a!chance!to!
present!one’s!own!side!of!the!story!cannot!claim!denial!of!due!process.90!

Petitioners!Echanis!and!Baylosis!allege!that!they!did!not!receive!a!copy!of!
the!complaint!and!the!attached!documents!or!evidence.91!Petitioner!Ladlad!
claims!that!he!was!not!served!a!subpoena!due!to!the!false!address!
indicated!in!the!12!undated!letters!of!P!C/Insp.!Almaden!and!Army!Captain!
Tiu!to!Prosecutor!Vivero.92!Furthermore,!even!though!his!counsels!filed!their!
formal!entry!of!appearance!before!the!Office!of!the!Prosecutor,!petitioner!
Ladlad!was!still!not!sent!a!subpoena!through!his!counsels’!
addresses.93!Thus,!they!were!deprived!of!the!right!to!file!counterHaffidavits.!

Petitioner!Ocampo!claims!that!Prosecutor!Vivero,!in!collusion!with!P!C/Insp.!
Almaden!and!Army!Captain!Tiu,!surreptitiously!inserted!the!Supplemental!
Affidavit!of!Zacarias!Piedad!in!the!records!of!the!case!without!furnishing!
petitioner!Ocampo!a!copy.94!The!original!affidavit!of!Zacarias!Piedad!dated!
14!September!2006!stated!that!a!meeting!presided!by!petitioner!Ocampo!
was!held!in!1984,!when!the!launching!of!Operation!VD!was!agreed!
upon.95Petitioner!Ocampo!refuted!this!claim!in!his!CounterHaffidavit!dated!22!
December!2006!stating!that!he!was!in!military!custody!from!October!1976!
until!his!escape!in!May!1985.96!Thereafter,!the!Supplemental!Affidavit!of!
Zacarias!Piedad!dated!12!January!2007!admitted!that!he!made!a!mistake!in!
his!original!affidavit,!and!that!the!meeting!actually!took!place!in!June!
1985.97!Petitioner!Ocampo!argues!that!he!was!denied!the!opportunity!to!
reply!to!the!Supplemental!Affidavit!by!not!being!furnished!a!copy!thereof.!

Petitioner!Ocampo!also!claims!that!he!was!denied!the!right!to!file!a!motion!
for!reconsideration!or!to!appeal!the!Resolution!of!Prosecutor!Vivero,!
because!the!latter!deliberately!delayed!the!service!of!the!Resolution!by!19!
days,!effectively!denying!petitioner!Ocampo!his!right!to!due!process.98!

As!to!the!claim!of!petitioners!Echanis!and!Baylosis,!we!quote!the!pertinent!
portion!of!Prosecutor!Vivero’s!Resolution,!which!states:!

In!connection!with!the!foregoing!and!pursuant!to!the!Revised!Rules!of!
Criminal!Procedure[,]!the!respondents!were!issued!and!served!with!
Subpoena!at!their!last!known!address!for!them!to!submit!their!counterH
affidavits!and!that!of!their!witnesses.!

Majority!of!the!respondents!did!not!submit!their!counterHaffidavits!because!
they!could!no!longer!be!found!in!their!last!known!address,!per!return!of!the!
subpoenas.!On!the!other!hand,!Saturnino!Ocampo!@!Satur,!Fides!Lim,!
Maureen!Palejaro!and!Ruben!Manatad!submitted!their!CounterHAffidavits.!
However,!Vicente!Ladlad!and!Jasmin!Jerusalem!failed!to!submit!the!
required!Counter!Affidavits!in!spite!entry!of!appearance!by!their!respective!
counsels.99!

Section!3(d),!Rule!112!of!the!Rules!of!Court,!allows!Prosecutor!Vivero!to!
resolve!the!complaint!based!on!the!evidence!before!him!if!a!respondent!
could!not!be!subpoenaed.!As!long!as!efforts!to!reach!a!respondent!were!
made,!and!he!was!given!an!opportunity!to!present!countervailing!evidence,!
the!preliminary!investigation!remains!valid.100The!rule!was!put!in!place!in!
order!to!foil!underhanded!attempts!of!a!respondent!to!delay!the!prosecution!
of!offenses.101!

In!this!case,!the!Resolution!stated!that!efforts!were!undertaken!to!serve!
subpoenas!on!the!named!respondents!at!their!last!known!addresses.!This!is!
sufficient!for!due!process.!It!was!only!because!a!majority!of!them!could!no!
longer!be!found!at!their!last!known!addresses!that!they!were!not!served!
copies!of!the!complaint!and!the!attached!documents!or!evidence.!

Petitioner!Ladlad!claims!that!his!subpoena!was!sent!to!the!nonexistent!
address!"53!Sct.!Rallos!St.,!QC,"102!which!had!never!been!his!address!at!
any!time.103!In!connection!with!this!claim,!we!take!note!of!the!fact!that!the!
subpoena!to!Fides!Lim,!petitioner!Ladlad’s!wife,104!was!sent!to!the!same!
address,!and!that!she!was!among!those!mentioned!in!the!Resolution!as!
having!timely!submitted!their!counterHaffidavits.!

Despite!supposedly!never!receiving!a!subpoena,!petitioner!Ladlad’s!counsel!
filed!a!formal!entry!of!appearance!on!8!December!2006.105!Prosecutor!
Vivero!had!a!reason!to!believe!that!petitioner!Ladlad!had!received!the!
subpoena!and!accordingly!instructed!his!counsel!to!prepare!his!defense.!

Petitioner!Ladlad,!through!his!counsel,!had!every!opportunity!to!secure!
copies!of!the!complaint!after!his!counsel’s!formal!entry!of!appearance!and,!
thereafter,!to!participate!fully!in!the!preliminary!investigation.!Instead,!he!
refused!to!participate.!

We!have!previously!cautioned!that!"litigants!represented!by!counsel!should!
not!expect!that!all!they!need!to!do!is!sit!back,!relax!and!await!the!outcome!
of!their!case."106!Having!opted!to!remain!passive!during!the!preliminary!
investigation,!petitioner!Ladlad!and!his!counsel!cannot!now!claim!a!denial!of!
due!process,!since!their!failure!to!file!a!counterHaffidavit!was!of!their!own!
doing.!

Neither!do!we!find!any!merit!in!petitioner!Ocampo’s!allegation!of!collusion!to!
surreptitiously!insert!the!Supplemental!Affidavit!of!Zacarias!Piedad!in!the!
records.!There!was!nothing!surreptitious!about!the!Supplemental!Affidavit!
since!it!clearly!alludes!to!an!earlier!affidavit!and!admits!the!mistake!
committed!regarding!the!date!of!the!alleged!meeting.!The!date!of!the!
execution!of!the!Supplemental!Affidavit!was!also!clearly!stated.!Thus,!it!was!
clear!that!it!was!executed!after!petitioner!Ocampo!had!submitted!his!
counterHaffidavit.!Should!the!case!go!to!trial,!that!will!provide!petitioner!
Ocampo!with!the!opportunity!to!question!the!execution!of!Zacarias!Piedad’s!
Supplemental!Affidavit.!

Neither!can!we!uphold!petitioner!Ocampo’s!contention!that!he!was!denied!
the!right!to!be!heard.!For!him!to!claim!that!he!was!denied!due!process!by!
not!being!furnished!a!copy!of!the!Supplemental!Affidavit!of!Zacarias!Piedad!
would!imply!that!the!entire!case!of!the!prosecution!rested!on!the!
Supplemental!Affidavit.!The!OSG!has!asserted!that!the!indictment!of!
petitioner!Ocampo!was!based!on!the!collective!affidavits!of!several!other!
witnesses107!attesting!to!the!allegation!that!he!was!a!member!of!the!
CPP/NPA/NDFP!Central!Committee,!which!had!ordered!the!launch!of!
Operation!VD.!

As!to!his!claim!that!he!was!denied!the!right!to!file!a!motion!for!
reconsideration!or!to!appeal!the!Resolution!of!Prosecutor!Vivero!due!to!the!
19Hday!delay!in!the!service!of!the!Resolution,!it!must!be!pointed!out!that!the!
period!for!filing!a!motion!for!reconsideration!or!an!appeal!to!the!Secretary!of!
Justice!is!reckoned!from!the!date!of!receipt!of!the!resolution!of!the!
prosecutor,!not!from!the!date!of!the!resolution.!This!is!clear!from!Section!3!
of!the!2000!National!Prosecution!Service!Rule!on!Appeal:!

Sec.!3.!Period!to!appeal.!–!The!appeal!shall!be!taken!within!fifteen!(15)!
days!from!receipt!of!the!resolution,!or!of!the!denial!of!the!motion!for!
reconsideration/!reinvestigation!if!one!has!been!filed!within!fifteen!(15)!days!
from!receipt!of!the!assailed!resolution.!Only!one!motion!for!reconsideration!
shall!be!allowed.!(Emphasis!supplied)!

Thus,!when!petitioner!Ocampo!received!the!Resolution!of!Prosecutor!Vivero!
on!12!March!2007,108!the!former!had!until!27!March!2007!within!which!to!file!
either!a!motion!for!reconsideration!before!the!latter!or!an!appeal!before!the!
Secretary!of!Justice.!Instead,!petitioner!Ocampo!chose!to!file!the!instant!
petition!for!certiorari!directly!before!this!Court!on!16!March!2007.!

B.!Issuance!of!the!Warrants!of!Arrest!

Article!III,!Section!2!of!the!Constitution!provides!that!"no!search!warrant!or!
warrant!of!arrest!shall!issue!except!upon!probable!cause!to!be!determined!
personally!by!the!judge!after!examination!under!oath!or!affirmation!of!the!
complainant!and!the!witnesses!he!may!produce."!

Petitioner!Ocampo!alleges!that!Judge!Abando!did!not!comply!with!the!
requirements!of!the!Constitution!in!finding!the!existence!of!probable!cause!
for!the!issuance!of!warrants!of!arrest!against!petitioners.109!

Probable!cause!for!the!issuance!of!a!warrant!of!arrest!has!been!defined!as!
"such!facts!and!circumstances!which!would!lead!a!reasonably!discreet!and!
prudent!man!to!believe!that!an!offense!has!been!committed!by!the!person!
sought!to!be!arrested."110!Although!the!Constitution!provides!that!probable!
cause!shall!be!determined!by!the!judge!after!an!examination!under!oath!or!
an!affirmation!of!the!complainant!and!the!witnesses,!we!have!ruled!that!a!
hearing!is!not!necessary!for!the!determination!thereof.111!In!fact,!the!judge’s!
personal!examination!of!the!complainant!and!the!witnesses!is!not!
mandatory!and!indispensable!for!determining!the!aptness!of!issuing!a!
warrant!of!arrest.112!

It!is!enough!that!the!judge!personally!evaluates!the!prosecutor’s!report!and!
supporting!documents!showing!the!existence!of!probable!cause!for!the!
indictment!and,!on!the!basis!thereof,!issue!a!warrant!of!arrest_!or!if,!on!the!
basis!of!his!evaluation,!he!finds!no!probable!cause,!to!disregard!the!
prosecutor's!resolution!and!require!the!submission!of!additional!affidavits!of!
witnesses!to!aid!him!in!determining!its!existence.113!

Petitioners!Echanis!and!Baylosis!claim!that,!had!Judge!Abando!
painstakingly!examined!the!records!submitted!by!Prosecutor!Vivero,!the!
judge!would!have!inevitably!dismissed!the!charge!against!
them.114!Additionally,!petitioner!Ocampo!alleges!that!Judge!Abando!did!not!
point!out!facts!and!evidence!in!the!record!that!were!used!as!bases!for!his!
finding!of!probable!cause!to!issue!a!warrant!of!arrest.115!

The!determination!of!probable!cause!for!the!issuance!of!warrants!of!arrest!
against!petitioners!is!addressed!to!the!sound!discretion!of!Judge!Abando!as!
the!trial!judge.116!Further!elucidating!on!the!wide!latitude!given!to!trial!judges!
in!the!issuance!of!warrants!of!arrest,!this!Court!stated!in!Sarigumba!v.!
Sandiganbayan117!as!follows:!

x!x!x.!The!trial!court's!exercise!of!its!judicial!discretion!should!not,!as!a!
general!rule,!be!interfered!with!in!the!absence!of!grave!abuse!of!discretion.!
Indeed,!certiorari!will!not!lie!to!cure!errors!in!the!trial!court's!appreciation!of!
the!evidence!of!the!parties,!the!conclusion!of!facts!it!reached!based!on!the!
said!findings,!as!well!as!the!conclusions!of!law.!x!x!x.!

Whether!or!not!there!is!probable!cause!for!the!issuance!of!warrants!for!the!
arrest!of!the!accused!is!a!question!of!fact!based!on!the!allegations!in!the!
Informations,!the!Resolution!of!the!Investigating!Prosecutor,!including!other!
documents!and/or!evidence!appended!to!the!Information.!

Here,!the!allegations!of!petitioners!point!to!factual!matters!indicated!in!the!
affidavits!of!the!complainants!and!witnesses!as!bases!for!the!contention!that!
there!was!no!probable!cause!for!petitioners’!indictment!for!multiple!murder!
or!for!the!issuance!of!warrants!for!their!arrest.!As!stated!above,!the!trial!
judge’s!appreciation!of!the!evidence!and!conclusion!of!facts!based!thereon!
are!not!interfered!with!in!the!absence!of!grave!abuse!of!discretion.!Again,!
"he!sufficiently!complies!with!the!requirement!of!personal!determination!if!he!
reviews!the![I]nformation!and!the!documents!attached!thereto,!and!on!the!
basis!thereof!forms!a!belief!that!the!accused!is!probably!guilty!of!the!crime!
with!which!he!is!being!charged."118!

Judge!Abando’s!review!of!the!Information!and!the!supporting!documents!is!
shown!by!the!following!portion!of!the!judge’s!6!March!2007!Order:!

On!the!evaluation!of!the!Resolution!and!its!Information!as!submitted!and!
filed!by!the!Provincial!Prosecution!of!Leyte!Province!supported!by!the!
following!documents:!Affidavits!of!Complainants,!Sworn!Statements!of!
Witnesses!and!other!pertinent!documents!issued!by!the!Regional!Crime!
Laboratory!Office,!PNP,!Region!VIII!and!Camp!Crame,!Quezon!City,!
pictures!of!the!grave!site!and!skeletal!remains,!this!court!has!the!findings!
[sic]!of!probable!cause!in!the!commission!by!all!mentioned!accused!of!the!
crime!charged.119!

At!bottom,!issues!involving!the!finding!of!probable!cause!for!an!indictment!
and!issuance!of!a!warrant!of!arrest,!as!petitioners!are!doubtless!aware,!are!
primarily!questions!of!fact!that!are!normally!not!within!the!purview!of!a!
petition!for!certiorari,120!such!as!the!petitions!filed!in!the!instant!consolidated!
cases.!

The/political/offense/doctrine/is/not/a/
ground/to/dismiss/the/charge/against/
petitioners/prior/to/a/determination/
by/the/trial/court/that/the/murders/
were/committed/in/furtherance/of/
rebellion.!

Under!the!political!offense!doctrine,!"common!crimes,!perpetrated!in!
furtherance!of!a!political!offense,!are!divested!of!their!character!as!
"common"!offenses!and!assume!the!political!complexion!of!the!main!crime!
of!which!they!are!mere!ingredients,!and,!consequently,!cannot!be!punished!
separately!from!the!principal!offense,!or!complexed!with!the!same,!to!justify!
the!imposition!of!a!graver!penalty."121!
Any!ordinary!act!assumes!a!different!nature!by!being!absorbed!in!the!crime!
of!rebellion.122!Thus,!when!a!killing!is!committed!in!furtherance!of!rebellion,!
the!killing!is!not!homicide!or!murder.!Rather,!the!killing!assumes!the!political!
complexion!of!rebellion!as!its!mere!ingredient!and!must!be!prosecuted!and!
punished!as!rebellion!alone.!

However,!this!is!not!to!say!that!public!prosecutors!are!obliged!to!
consistently!charge!respondents!with!simple!rebellion!instead!of!common!
crimes.!No!one!disputes!the!wellHentrenched!principle!in!criminal!procedure!
that!the!institution!of!criminal!charges,!including!whom!and!what!to!charge,!
is!addressed!to!the!sound!discretion!of!the!public!prosecutor.123!

But!when!the!political!offense!doctrine!is!asserted!as!a!defense!in!the!trial!
court,!it!becomes!crucial!for!the!court!to!determine!whether!the!act!of!killing!
was!done!in!furtherance!of!a!political!end,!and!for!the!political!motive!of!the!
act!to!be!conclusively!demonstrated.124!

Petitioners!aver!that!the!records!show!that!the!alleged!murders!were!
committed!in!furtherance!of!the!CPP/NPA/NDFP!rebellion,!and!that!the!
political!motivation!behind!the!alleged!murders!can!be!clearly!seen!from!the!
charge!against!the!alleged!top!leaders!of!the!CPP/NPA/NDFP!as!coH
conspirators.!

We!had!already!ruled!that!the!burden!of!demonstrating!political!motivation!
must!be!discharged!by!the!defense,!since!motive!is!a!state!of!mind!which!
only!the!accused!knows.125!The!proof!showing!political!motivation!is!
adduced!during!trial!where!the!accused!is!assured!an!opportunity!to!present!
evidence!supporting!his!defense.!It!is!not!for!this!Court!to!determine!this!
factual!matter!in!the!instant!petitions.!

As!held!in!the!case!of!Office!of!the!Provincial!Prosecutor!of!Zamboanga!Del!
Norte!v.!CA,126!if!during!trial,!petitioners!are!able!to!show!that!the!alleged!
murders!were!indeed!committed!in!furtherance!of!rebellion,!Section!14,!Rule!
110!of!the!Rules!of!Court!provides!the!remedy,!to!wit:!

SECTION!14.!Amendment!or!substitution.!—!A!complaint!or!information!
may!be!amended,!in!form!or!in!substance,!without!leave!of!court,!at!any!
time!before!the!accused!enters!his!plea.!After!the!plea!and!during!the!trial,!a!
formal!amendment!may!only!be!made!with!leave!of!court!and!when!it!can!
be!done!without!causing!prejudice!to!the!rights!of!the!accused.!
However,!any!amendment!before!plea,!which!downgrades!the!nature!of!the!
offense!charged!in!or!excludes!any!accused!from!the!complaint!or!
information,!can!be!made!only!upon!motion!by!the!prosecutor,!with!notice!to!
the!offended!party!and!with!leave!of!court.!The!court!shall!state!its!reasons!
in!resolving!the!motion!and!copies!of!its!order!shall!be!furnished!all!parties,!
especially!the!offended!party.!(n)!

If!it!appears!at!any!time!before!judgment!that!a!mistake!has!been!made!in!
charging!the!proper!offense,!the!court!shall!dismiss!the!original!complaint!or!
information!upon!the!filing!of!a!new!one!charging!the!proper!offense!in!
accordance!with!Section!19,!Rule!119,!provided!the!accused!shall!not!be!
placed!in!double!jeopardy.!The!court!may!require!the!witnesses!to!give!bail!
for!their!appearance!at!the!trial.!(Emphasis!supplied)!

Thus,!if!it!is!shown!that!the!proper!charge!against!petitioners!should!have!
been!simple!rebellion,!the!trial!court!shall!dismiss!the!murder!charges!upon!
the!filing!of!the!Information!for!simple!rebellion,!as!long!as!petitioners!would!
not!be!placed!in!double!jeopardy.!

Section!7,!Rule!117!of!the!Rules!of!Court,!states:!

SEC.!7.!Former!conviction!or!acquittal_!double!jeopardy.!—!When!an!
accused!has!been!convicted!or!acquitted,!or!the!case!against!him!dismissed!
or!otherwise!terminated!without!his!express!consent!by!a!court!of!competent!
jurisdiction,!upon!a!valid!complaint!or!information!or!other!formal!charge!
sufficient!in!form!and!substance!to!sustain!a!conviction!and!after!the!
accused!had!pleaded!to!the!charge,!the!conviction!or!acquittal!of!the!
accused!or!the!dismissal!of!the!case!shall!be!a!bar!to!another!prosecution!
for!the!offense!charged,!or!for!any!attempt!to!commit!the!same!or!frustration!
thereof,!or!for!any!offense!which!necessarily!includes!or!is!necessarily!
included!in!the!offense!charged!in!the!former!complaint!or!information.!

Based!on!the!above!provision,!double!jeopardy!only!applies!when:!(1)!a!first!
jeopardy!attached_!(2)!it!has!been!validly!terminated_!and!(3)!a!second!
jeopardy!is!for!the!same!offense!as!in!the!first.127!

A!first!jeopardy!attaches!only!after!the!accused!has!been!acquitted!or!
convicted,!or!the!case!has!been!dismissed!or!otherwise!terminated!without!
his!express!consent,!by!a!competent!court!in!a!valid!indictment!for!which!the!
accused!has!entered!a!valid!plea!during!arraignment.128!
To!recall,!on!12!May!2006,!an!Information!for!the!crime!of!rebellion,!as!
defined!and!penalized!under!Article!134!in!relation!to!Article!135!of!the!
Revised!Penal!Code,!docketed!as!Criminal!Case!No.!06H944!was!filed!
before!the!RTC!Makati!against!petitioners!and!several!others.129!

However,!petitioners!were!never!arraigned!in!Criminal!Case!No.!06H
944.1awp++i1!Even!before!the!indictment!for!rebellion!was!filed!before!the!
RTC!Makati,!petitioners!Ocampo,!Echanis!and!Ladlad!had!already!filed!a!
petition!before!this!Court!to!seek!the!nullification!of!the!Orders!of!the!DOJ!
denying!their!motion!for!the!inhibition!of!the!members!of!the!prosecution!
panel!due!to!lack!of!impartiality!and!independence.130!When!the!indictment!
was!filed,!petitioners!Ocampo,!Echanis!and!Ladlad!filed!supplemental!
petitions!to!enjoin!the!prosecution!of!Criminal!Case!No.!06H944.131We!
eventually!ordered!the!dismissal!of!the!rebellion!case.!It!is!clear!then!that!a!
first!jeopardy!never!had!a!chance!to!attach.!

Petitioner!Ocampo!shall!remain!on!provisional!liberty!under!the!₱100,000!
cash!bond!posted!before!the!Office!of!the!Clerk!of!Court.!He!shall!remain!on!
provisional!liberty!until!the!termination!of!the!proceedings!before!the!RTC!
Manila.1âwphi1!

The!OSG!has!given!its!conformity!to!the!provisional!liberty!of!petitioners!
Echanis,!Baylosis!and!Ladlad!in!view!of!the!ongoing!peace!negotiations.!
Their!provisional!release!from!detention!under!the!cash!bond!of!₱100,000!
each!shall!continue!under!the!condition!that!their!temporary!release!shall!be!
limited!to!the!period!of!their!actual!participation!as!CPPHNDF!consultants!in!
the!peace!negotiations!with!the!government!or!until!the!termination!of!the!
proceedings!before!the!RTC!Manila,!whichever!is!sooner.!It!shall!be!the!
duty!of!the!government!to!inform!this!Court!the!moment!that!peace!
negotiations!are!concluded.!

WHEREFORE,!the!instant!consolidated!petitions!are!DISMISSED.!The!RTC!
of!Manila,!Branch!32,!is!hereby!ORDERED!to!proceed!with!dispatch!with!
the!hearing!of!Criminal!Case!No.!08H262163.!Petitioner!Saturnino!C.!
Ocampo!shall!remain!on!temporary!liberty!under!the!same!bail!granted!by!
this!Court!until!the!termination!of!the!proceedings!before!the!RTC!Manila.!
Petitioners!Randall!B.!Echanis,!Rafael!G.!Baylosis!and!Vicente!P.!Ladlad!
shall!remain!on!temporary!liberty!under!the!same!bail!granted!by!this!Court!
until!their!actual!participation!as!CPPHNDF!consultants!in!the!peace!
negotiations!with!the!government!are!concluded!or!terminated,!or!until!the!
termination!of!the!proceedings!before!the!RTC!Manila,!whichever!is!sooner.!

SO!ORDERED.!

MARIA(LOURDES(P.(A.(SERENO!
Chief!Justice!

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G.R.(No.(191567(((((((((((((((March(20,(2013!

MARIE(CALLO3CLARIDAD,(Petitioner,!!
vs.!
PHILIP(RONALD(P.(ESTEBAN(and(TEODORA(ALYN(
ESTEBAN,(Respondents.!

D!E!C!I!S!I!O!N!

BERSAMIN,(J.:!

The!determination!of!probable!cause!to!file!a!criminal!complaint!or!
information!in!court!is!exclusively!within!the!competence!of!the!Executive!
Department,!through!the!Secretary!of!Justice.!The!courts!cannot!interfere!in!
such!determination,!except!upon!a!clear!showing!that!the!Secretary!of!
Justice!committed!grave!abuse!of!discretion!amounting!to!lack!or!excess!of!
jurisdiction.!
 The(Case!

Under!review!is!the!decision!promulgated!on!November!20,!2009,1!whereby!
the!Court!of!Appeals!(CA)!upheld!the!resolution!dated!April!16,!2009!issued!
by!the!Secretary!of!Justice!dismissing!for!lack!of!probable!cause!the!
complaint!for!murder!filed!against!the!respondents.2!

Antecedents!

The!petitioner!is!the!mother!of!the!late!Cheasare!Armani!"Chase"!Callo!
Claridad,!whose!lifeless!but!bloodied!body!was!discovered!in!the!evening!of!
February!27,!2007!between!vehicles!parked!at!the!carport!of!a!residential!
house!located!at!No.10!Cedar!Place,!Ferndale!Homes,!Quezon!City.!
Allegedly,!Chase!had!been!last!seen!alive!with!respondent!Philip!Ronald!P.!
Esteban!(Philip)!less!than!an!hour!before!the!discovery!of!his!lifeless!body.!

Based!on!the!petition,!the!following!are!the!background!facts.!

Around!5:30!p.m.!of!February!27,!2007,!Chase!returned!home!from!visiting!
his!girlfriend,!Ramonna!Liza!"Monnel"!Hernandez.!Around!7:00!p.m.,!
Chase’s!sister!Ariane!was!sitting!at!the!porch!of!their!house!when!she!
noticed!a!white!Honda!Civic!car!parked!along!the!street.!Recognizing!the!
driver!to!be!Philip,!Ariane!waved!her!hand!at!him.!Philip!appeared!
nonchalant!and!did!not!acknowledge!her!gesture.!Ariane!decided!to!stay!
behind!and!leave!with!their!house!helpers,!Marivic!Guray!and!Michelle!
Corpus,!only!after!Chase!had!left!on!board!the!white!Honda!Civic!car.!

In!the!meanwhile,!Chase!exchanged!text!messages!with!his!girlfriend!
Monnel!starting!at!7:09!p.m.!and!culminating!at!7:31!p.m.!Among!the!
messages!was:!Ppnta!n!kunin!gulong…yam!iniisip!k!prn!n!d!tyo!magksma.!
sbrang!lungkot!k!ngun!(On!the!way!to!get!the!tires…!I!still!think!about!us!not!
being!together!I’m!very!sad!right!now)!

Security!Guard!(SG)!Rodolph!Delos!Reyes!and!SG!Henry!Solis,!who!were!
stationed!at!the!main!gate!of!Ferndale!Homes,!logged!the!arrival!at!7:26!
p.m.!on!February!27,!2007!of!Philip!on!board!a!white!Honda!Civic!bearing!
plate!CRD!999!with!a!male!companion!in!the!passenger!seat.!It!was!
determined!later!on!that!the!white!Honda!Civic!bearing!plate!CRD!999!was!
owned!by!one!Richard!Joshua!Ulit,!who!had!entrusted!the!car!to!Philip!who!
had!claimed!to!have!found!a!buyer!of!the!car.!Ulit,!Pamela!Ann!Que,!and!
car!shop!owner!Edbert!Ylo!later!attested!that!Philip!and!Chase!were!friends,!
and!that!they!were!unaware!of!any!rift!between!the!two!prior!to!the!incident.!

Marivic!Rodriguez,!a!house!helper!of!Shellane!Yukoko,!the!resident!of!No.!9!
Cedar!Place,!Ferndale!Homes,!was!with!her!coHemployee!nanny!Jennylyn!
Buri!and!the!latter’s!ward,!Joei!Yukoko,!when!they!heard!somebody!crying!
coming!from!the!crime!scene:!Help!!Help!!This!was!at!about!7:30!p.m.!Even!
so,!neither!of!them!bothered!to!check!who!had!been!crying!for!help.!It!was!
noted,!however,!that!No.!10!Cedar!Place,!which!was!owned!by!one!Mrs.!
Howard,!was!uninhabited!at!the!time.!Based!on!the!initial!investigation!
report!of!the!Megaforce!Security!and!Allied!Services,!Inc.,3!the!Estebans!
were!illegally!parking!their!cars!at!Mrs.!Howard’s!carport.!The!initial!
investigation!report!stated!that!the!SGs!would!regularly!remind!the!Estebans!
to!use!their!own!parking!garage,!which!reminders!had!resulted!in!heated!
discussions!and!altercations.!The!SGs!kept!records!of!all!the!illegal!parking!
incidents,!and!maintained!that!only!the!Estebans!used!the!carport!of!No.!10!
Cedar!Place.!

Around!7:45!p.m.,!respondent!Teodora!Alyn!Esteban!(Teodora)!arrived!at!
Ferndale!Homes!on!board!a!vehicle!bearing!plate!XPN!733,!as!recorded!in!
the!subdivision!SG’s!logbook.!At!that!time,!three!cars!were!parked!at!the!
carport!of!No.!10!Cedar!place,!to!wit:!a!Honda!CRV!with!plate!ZAE!135!
parked!parallel!to!the!Honda!Civic!with!plate!CRD!999,!and!another!Honda!
Civic!with!plate!JTG!333,!the!car!frequently!used!by!Philip,!then!parked!
diagonally!behind!the!two!cars.!Some!witnesses!alleged!that!prior!to!the!
discovery!of!the!Chase’s!body,!they!had!noticed!a!male!and!female!inside!
the!car!bearing!plate!JTG!333!engaged!in!a!discussion.!

At!around!7:50!p.m.,!SG!Abelardo!Sarmiento!Jr.,!while!patrolling!around!the!
village,!noticed!that!the!side!of!the!Honda!Civic!with!plate!JTG!333!had!red!
streaks,!which!prompted!him!to!move!towards!the!parked!cars.!He!
inspected!the!then!empty!vehicle!and!noticed!that!its!radio!was!still!turned!
on.!He!checked!the!cars!and!discovered!that!the!rear!and!side!of!the!Honda!
Civic!with!plate!CRD!999!were!smeared!with!blood.!He!saw!on!the!
passenger!seat!a!cellular!phone!covered!with!blood.!It!was!then!that!he!
found!the!bloodied!and!lifeless!body!of!Chase!lying!between!the!parallel!
cars.!The!body!was!naked!from!the!waist!up,!with!a!crumpled!bloodied!shirt!
on!the!chest,!and!with!only!the!socks!on.!SG!Sarmiento!called!for!backHup.!
SG!Rene!Fabe!immediately!barricaded!the!crime!scene.!
Around!7:55!p.m.,!SG!Solis!received!a!phone!call!from!an!unidentified!
person!who!reported!that!a!"kid"!had!met!an!accident!at!Cedar!Place.!SG!
Solis!later!identified!and!confirmed!the!caller!to!be!"Mr.!Esteban!Larry"!when!
the!latter!entered!the!village!gate!and!inquired!whether!the!"kid"!who!had!
met!an!accident!had!been!attended!to.!Moreover,!when!SG!Fabe!and!SG!
Sarmiento!were!securing!the!scene!of!the!crime,!they!overheard!from!the!
radio!that!somebody!had!reported!about!a!"kid"!who!had!been!involved!in!
an!accident!at!Cedar!Place.!SG!Fabe!thereafter!searched!the!village!
premises!but!did!not!find!any!such!accident.!When!SG!Fabe!got!back,!there!
were!already!several!onlookers!at!the!crime!scene.!

The!SceneHofHtheHCrime!Operations!(SOCO)!team!arrived.!Its!members!
prepared!a!sketch!and!took!photographs!of!the!crime!scene.!They!
recovered!and!processed!the!cadaver!of!Chase,!a!bloodstained!tHshirt,!
blood!smears,!green!nylon!cord,!fingerprints,!wristwatch,!and!a!bloodied!
Nokia!N90!mobile!phone.!

According!to!the!National!Bureau!of!Investigation!(NBI)!MedicoHLegal!
Report!No!NH07H163!signed!by!Dr.!Valentin!Bernales,!Acting!MedicoHLegal!
Division!Chief,!and!Dr.!Cesar!B.!Bisquera,!MedicoHLegal!Officer,!the!victim!
sustained!two!stab!wounds,!to!wit:!one!on!the!left!side!of!the!lower!chest!
wall!with!a!depth!of!9!cm.,!which!fractured!the!4th!rib!and!pierced!the!heart,!
and!the!other!on!the!middle!third!of!the!forearm.!The!findings!corroborated!
the!findings!contained!in!MedicoHLegal!Report!No.!131H07!of!Police!Chief!
Insp.!Filemon!C.!Porciuncula!Jr.!

Resolution(of(the(
Office(of(the(City(Prosecutor!

The!Office!of!the!City!Prosecutor!(OCP)!of!Quezon!City!dismissed!the!
complaint!in!its!resolution!dated!December!18,!2007.4!

The!OCP!observed!that!there!was!lack!of!evidence,!motive,!and!
circumstantial!evidence!sufficient!to!charge!Philip!with!homicide,!much!less!
murder_!that!the!circumstantial!evidence!could!not!link!Philip!to!the!crime_!
that!several!possibilities!would!discount!Philip’s!presence!at!the!time!of!the!
crime,!including!the!possibility!that!there!were!more!than!one!suspect!in!the!
fatal!stabbing!of!Chase_!that!Philip!was!not!shown!to!have!any!motive!to!kill!
Chase_!that!their!common!friends!attested!that!the!two!had!no!illHfeelings!
towards!each!other_!that!no!sufficient!evidence!existed!to!charge!Teodora!
with!the!crime,!whether!as!principal,!accomplice,!or!accessory_!and!that!the!
allegation!that!Teodora!could!have!been!the!female!person!engaged!in!a!
discussion!with!a!male!person!inside!the!car!with!plate!JTG!333!was!
unreliable!being!mere!hearsay.!

The!petitioner!moved!for!the!reconsideration!of!the!dismissal,!but!the!OCP!
denied!the!motion!on!December!15,!2008.5!

Resolution(by(the(Secretary(of(Justice!

On!petition!for!review,6!the!Secretary!of!Justice!affirmed!the!dismissal!of!the!
complaint!on!April!16,!2009.7!

The!Secretary!of!Justice!stated!that!the!confluence!of!lack!of!an!eyewitness,!
lack!of!motive,!insufficient!circumstantial!evidence,!and!the!doubt!as!to!the!
proper!identification!of!Philip!by!the!witnesses!resulted!in!the!lack!of!
probable!cause!to!charge!Philip!and!Teodora!with!the!crime!alleged.!

The!Secretary!of!Justice!held!that!the!only!circumstantial!evidence!
connecting!Philip!to!the!crime!was!the!allegation!that!at!between!7:00!to!
7:30!o’clock!of!the!evening!in!question,!Chase!had!boarded!the!white!
Honda!Civic!car!driven!by!Philip_!that!the!witnesses’!positive!identification!of!
Philip!as!the!driver!of!the!car!was!doubtful,!however,!considering!that!Philip!
did!not!alight!from!the!car,!the!windows!of!which!were!tinted_!and!that!the!
rest!of!the!circumstances!were!pure!suspicions,!and!did!not!indicate!that!
Philip!had!been!with!Chase!at!the!time!of!the!commission!of!the!crime.!

After!her!motion!for!reconsideration!was!denied!by!the!Secretary!of!Justice!
on!May!21,!2009,8!the!petitioner!elevated!the!matter!to!the!CA!by!petition!for!
review!under!Rule!43,!Rules!of!Court.!

Ruling(of(the(CA!

In!her!petition!for!review!in!the!CA,!the!petitioner!assigned!to!the!Secretary!
of!Justice!the!following!errors,!to!wit:!

I.!THE!HONORABLE!SECRETARY!OF!JUSTICE!MANIFESTLY!
ERRED!IN!DENYING!THE!PETITION!FOR!REVIEW!AND!MOTION!
FOR!RECONSIDERATION!THEREOF!FILED!BY!PETITIONER!
CONSIDERING!THAT!PROBABLE!CAUSE!EXISTS!AGAINST!
 RESPONDENTS!FOR!THE!CRIME!OF!MURDER!UNDER!ARTICLE!
248!OF!THE!REVISED!PENAL!CODE.!

II.!THE!HONORABLE!SECRETARY!OF!JUSTICE!ERRED!IN!NOT!
FINDING!THE!NUMEROUS!PIECES!OF!CIRCUMSTANTIAL!
EVIDENCE!PRESENTED!AGAINST!RESPONDENTS!TO!HOLD!
THEM!LIABLE!FOR!THE!CRIME!OF!MURDER!AS!EXTANT!IN!THE!
RECORDS!OF!THE!CASE.!

III.!THE!HONORABLE!SECRETARY!OF!JUSTICE!ERRED!IN!NOT!
FINDING!THAT!ALL!THE!ELEMENTS!OF!THE!CRIME!OF!MURDER!
ARE!PRESENT!IN!THE!INSTANT!CASE.9!

On!November!20,!2009,!the!CA!promulgated!its!assailed!
decision,10!dismissing!the!petition!for!review.!

The!petitioner!filed!a!motion!for!reconsideration,!but!the!CA!denied!the!
motion!for!its!lack!of!merit.!

Hence,!this!appeal!by!petition!for!review!on!certiorari.!

The!petitioner!prays!that!Philip!and!Teodora!be!charged!with!murder!on!the!
strength!of!the!several!pieces!of!circumstantial!evidence_!that!the!qualifying!
aggravating!circumstances!of!evident!premeditation!and!treachery!be!
appreciated!in!the!slaying!of!her!son,!given!the!time,!manner,!and!weapon!
used!in!the!commission!of!the!crime!and!the!location!and!degree!of!the!
wounds!inflicted!on!the!victim.!

Issue!

Whether!the!CA!committed!a!reversible!error!in!upholding!the!decision!of!
the!Secretary!of!Justice!finding!that!there!was!no!probable!cause!to!charge!
Philip!and!Teodora!with!murder!for!the!killing!of!Chase.!

Ruling!

We!deny!the!petition!for!review,!and!sustain!the!decision!of!the!CA.!

We!note,!to!start!with,!that!the!petitioner!assailed!the!resolution!of!the!
Secretary!of!Justice!by!filing!in!the!CA!a!petition!for!review!under!Rule!43,!
Rules!of!Court.!That!was!a!grave!mistake!that!immediately!called!for!the!
outright!dismissal!of!the!petition.!The!filing!of!a!petition!for!review!under!
Rule!43!to!review!the!Secretary!of!Justice’s!resolution!on!the!determination!
of!probable!cause!was!an!improper!remedy.11!Indeed,!the!CA!had!no!
appellate!jurisdiction!visHàHvis!the!Secretary!of!Justice.!

A!petition!for!review!under!Rule!43!is!a!mode!of!appeal!to!be!taken!only!to!
review!the!decisions,!resolutions!or!awards!by!the!quasiHjudicial!officers,!
agencies!or!bodies,!particularly!those!specified!in!Section!1!of!Rule!43.12!In!
the!matter!before!us,!however,!the!Secretary!of!Justice!was!not!an!officer!
performing!a!quasiHjudicial!function.!In!reviewing!the!findings!of!the!OCP!of!
Quezon!City!on!the!matter!of!probable!cause,!the!Secretary!of!Justice!
performed!an!essentially!executive!function!to!determine!whether!the!crime!
alleged!against!the!respondents!was!committed,!and!whether!there!was!
probable!cause!to!believe!that!the!respondents!were!guilty!thereof.13!

On!the!other!hand,!the!courts!could!intervene!in!the!Secretary!of!Justice’s!
determination!of!probable!cause!only!through!a!special!civil!action!for!
certiorari.!That!happens!when!the!Secretary!of!Justice!acts!in!a!limited!
sense!like!a!quasiHjudicial!officer!of!the!executive!department!exercising!
powers!akin!to!those!of!a!court!of!law.14!But!the!requirement!for!such!
intervention!was!still!for!the!petitioner!to!demonstrate!clearly!that!the!
Secretary!of!Justice!committed!grave!abuse!of!discretion!amounting!to!lack!
or!excess!of!jurisdiction.!Unless!such!a!clear!demonstration!is!made,!the!
intervention!is!disallowed!in!deference!to!the!doctrine!of!separation!of!
powers.!As!the!Court!has!postulated!in!Metropolitan!Bank!&!Trust!Co.!
(Metrobank)!v.!Tobias!III:!15!

Under!the!doctrine!of!separation!of!powers,!the!courts!have!no!right!to!
directly!decide!matters!over!which!full!discretionary!authority!has!been!
delegated!to!the!Executive!Branch!of!the!Government,!or!to!substitute!their!
own!judgments!for!that!of!the!Executive!Branch,!represented!in!this!case!by!
the!Department!of!Justice.!The!settled!policy!is!that!the!courts!will!not!
interfere!with!the!executive!determination!of!probable!cause!for!the!purpose!
of!filing!an!information,!in!the!absence!of!grave!abuse!of!discretion.!That!
abuse!of!discretion!must!be!so!patent!and!gross!as!to!amount!to!an!evasion!
of!a!positive!duty!or!a!virtual!refusal!to!perform!a!duty!enjoined!by!law!or!to!
act!at!all!in!contemplation!of!law,!such!as!where!the!power!is!exercised!in!
an!arbitrary!and!despotic!manner!by!reason!of!passion!or!hostility.!x!x!x!
Secondly,!even!an!examination!of!the!CA’s!decision!indicates!that!the!CA!
correctly!concluded!that!the!Secretary!of!Justice!did!not!abuse!his!discretion!
in!passing!upon!and!affirming!the!finding!of!probable!cause!by!the!OCP.!

A!preliminary!investigation,!according!to!Section!1,!Rule!112!of!the!Rules!of!
Court,!is!"an!inquiry!or!proceeding!to!determine!whether!there!is!sufficient!
ground!to!engender!a!wellHfounded!belief!that!a!crime!has!been!committed!
and!the!respondent!is!probably!guilty!thereof,!and!should!be!held!for!trial."!
The!investigation!is!advisedly!called!preliminary,!because!it!is!yet!to!be!
followed!by!the!trial!proper!in!a!court!of!law.!The!occasion!is!not!for!the!full!
and!exhaustive!display!of!the!parties’!evidence!but!for!the!presentation!only!
of!such!evidence!as!may!engender!a!wellHfounded!belief!that!an!offense!has!
been!committed!and!that!the!accused!is!probably!guilty!of!the!offense.16!The!
role!and!object!of!preliminary!investigation!were!"to!secure!the!innocent!
against!hasty,!malicious,!and!oppressive!prosecutions,!and!to!protect!him!
from!open!and!public!accusation!of!crime,!from!the!trouble,!expenses!and!
anxiety!of!a!public!trial,!and!also!to!protect!the!State!from!useless!and!
expensive!prosecutions."17!

In!Arula!vs.!Espino,18!the!Court!rendered!the!three!purposes!of!a!preliminary!
investigation,!to!wit:!(1)!to!inquire!concerning!the!commission!of!a!crime!and!
the!connection!of!the!accused!with!it,!in!order!that!he!may!be!informed!of!
the!nature!and!character!of!the!crime!charged!against!him,!and,!if!there!is!
probable!cause!for!believing!him!guilty,!that!the!State!may!take!the!
necessary!steps!to!bring!him!to!trial_!(2)!to!preserve!the!evidence!and!keep!
the!witnesses!within!the!control!of!the!State_!and!(3)!to!determine!the!
amount!of!bail,!if!the!offense!is!bailable.!The!officer!conducting!the!
examination!investigates!or!inquires!into!facts!concerning!the!commission!of!
a!crime!with!the!end!in!view!of!determining!whether!an!information!may!be!
prepared!against!the!accused.!

The!determination!of!the!existence!of!probable!cause!lies!within!the!
discretion!of!the!public!prosecutor!after!conducting!a!preliminary!
investigation!upon!the!complaint!of!an!offended!party.19!Probable!cause!for!
purposes!of!filing!a!criminal!information!is!defined!as!such!facts!as!are!
sufficient!to!engender!a!wellHfounded!belief!that!a!crime!has!been!
committed!and!that!the!respondent!is!probably!guilty!thereof.!A!finding!of!
probable!cause!needs!only!to!rest!on!evidence!showing!that!more!likely!
than!not!a!crime!has!been!committed,!and!that!it!was!committed!by!the!
accused.!Probable!cause,!although!it!requires!less!than!evidence!justifying!
a!conviction,!demands!more!than!bare!suspicion.20!

A!public!prosecutor!alone!determines!the!sufficiency!of!evidence!that!
establishes!the!probable!cause!justifying!the!filing!of!a!criminal!information!
against!the!respondent!because!the!determination!of!existence!of!a!
probable!cause!is!the!function!of!the!public!prosecutor.21!Generally,!the!
public!prosecutor!is!afforded!a!wide!latitude!of!discretion!in!the!conduct!of!a!
preliminary!investigation.!Consequently,!it!is!a!sound!judicial!policy!to!refrain!
from!interfering!in!the!conduct!of!preliminary!investigations,!and!to!just!leave!
to!the!Department!of!Justice!the!ample!latitude!of!discretion!in!the!
determination!of!what!constitutes!sufficient!evidence!to!establish!probable!
cause!for!the!prosecution!of!supposed!offenders.!Consistent!with!this!policy,!
courts!do!not!reverse!the!Secretary!of!Justice’s!findings!and!conclusions!on!
the!matter!of!probable!cause!except!in!clear!cases!of!grave!abuse!of!
discretion.22!By!way!of!exception,!however,!judicial!review!is!permitted!
where!the!respondent!in!the!preliminary!investigation!clearly!establishes!
that!the!public!prosecutor!committed!grave!abuse!of!discretion,!that!is,!when!
the!public!prosecutor!has!exercised!his!discretion!in!an!arbitrary,!capricious,!
whimsical!or!despotic!manner!by!reason!of!passion!or!personal!hostility,!
patent!and!gross!enough!as!to!amount!to!an!evasion!of!a!positive!duty!or!
virtual!refusal!to!perform!a!duty!enjoined!by!law.23!Moreover,!the!trial!court!
may!ultimately!resolve!the!existence!or!nonHexistence!of!probable!cause!by!
examining!the!records!of!the!preliminary!investigation!when!necessary!for!
the!orderly!administration!of!justice.24Although!policy!considerations!call!for!
the!widest!latitude!of!deference!to!the!public!prosecutor’s!findings,!the!
courts!should!never!shirk!from!exercising!their!power,!when!the!
circumstances!warrant,!to!determine!whether!the!public!prosecutor’s!
findings!are!supported!by!the!facts,!and!by!the!law.25!

Under!the!circumstances!presented,!we!conclude!to!be!correct!the!CA’s!
determination!that!no!prima!facie!evidence!existed!that!sufficiently!indicated!
the!respondents’!involvement!in!the!commission!of!the!crime.!It!is!clear!that!
there!was!no!eyewitness!of!the!actual!killing!of!Chase_!or!that!there!was!no!
evidence!showing!how!Chase!had!been!killed,!how!many!persons!had!killed!
him,!and!who!had!been!the!perpetrator!or!perpetrators!of!his!killing.!There!
was!also!nothing!that!directly!incriminated!the!respondents!in!the!
commission!of!either!homicide!or!murder.!
Admittedly,!the!petitioner!relies!solely!on!circumstantial!evidence,!which!she!
insists!to!be!enough!to!warrant!the!indictment!of!respondents!for!murder.!

We!disagree.!

For!circumstantial!evidence!to!be!sufficient!to!support!a!conviction,!all!the!
circumstances!must!be!consistent!with!one!another!and!must!constitute!an!
unbroken!chain!leading!to!one!fair!and!reasonable!conclusion!that!a!crime!
has!been!committed!and!that!the!respondents!are!probably!guilty!thereof.!
The!pieces!of!evidence!must!be!consistent!with!the!hypothesis!that!the!
respondents!were!probably!guilty!of!the!crime!and!at!the!same!time!
inconsistent!with!the!hypothesis!that!they!were!innocent,!and!with!every!
rational!hypothesis!except!that!of!guilt.26!Circumstantial!evidence!is!
sufficient,!therefore,!if:!(a)!there!is!more!than!one!circumstance,!(b)!the!facts!
from!which!the!inferences!are!derived!have!been!proven,!and!(c)!the!
combination!of!all!the!circumstances!is!such!as!to!produce!a!conviction!
beyond!reasonable!doubt.27!

The!records!show!that!the!circumstantial!evidence!linking!Philip!to!the!killing!
of!Chase!derived!from!the!bare!recollections!of!Ariane!(sister!of!Chase),!and!
of!Guray!and!Corpus!(respectively,!the!househelp!and!nanny!in!the!
household!of!a!resident!of!the!subdivision)!about!seeing!Chase!board!the!
white!Honda!Civic!at!around!7:00!p.m.!of!February!27,!2007,!and!about!
Philip!being!the!driver!of!the!Honda!Civic.!But!there!was!nothing!else!after!
that,!because!the!circumstances!revealed!by!the!other!witnesses!could!not!
even!be!regarded!as!circumstantial!evidence!against!Philip.!To!be!sure,!
some!of!the!affidavits!were!unsworn.28!The!statements!subscribed!and!
sworn!to!before!the!officers!of!the!Philippine!National!Police!(PNP)!having!
the!authority!to!administer!oaths!upon!matters!connected!with!the!
performance!of!their!official!duties!undeniably!lacked!the!requisite!
certifications!to!the!effect!that!such!administering!officers!had!personally!
examined!the!affiants,!and!that!such!administering!officers!were!satisfied!
that!the!affiants!had!voluntarily!executed!and!understood!their!affidavits.29!

The!lack!of!the!requisite!certifications!from!the!affidavits!of!most!of!the!other!
witnesses!was!in!violation!of!Section!3,!Rule!112!of!the!Rules!of!Court,!
which!pertinently!provides!thusly:!

Section!3.!Procedure.!—!The!preliminary!investigation!shall!be!conducted!in!
the!following!manner:!
(a)!The!complaint!shall!state!the!address!of!the!respondent!and!shall!be!
accompanied!by!the!affidavits!of!the!complainant!and!his!witnesses,!as!well!
as!other!supporting!documents!to!establish!probable!cause.!They!shall!be!in!
such!number!of!copies!as!there!are!respondents,!plus!two!(2)!copies!for!the!
official!file.!The!affidavits!shall!be!subscribed!and!sworn!to!before!any!
prosecutor!or!government!official!authorized!to!administer!oath,!or,!in!their!
absence!or!unavailability,!before!a!notary!public,!each!of!who!must!certify!
that!he!personally!examined!the!affiants!and!that!he!is!satisfied!that!they!
voluntarily!executed!and!understood!their!affidavits.!

x!x!x!x!

The!CA!explained!that!the!requirement!for!the!certifications!under!the!
aforecited!rule!was!designed!to!avoid!selfHserving!and!unreliable!evidence!
from!being!considered!for!purposes!of!the!preliminary!investigation,!the!
present!rules!for!which!do!not!require!a!confrontation!between!the!parties!
and!their!witnesses_!hence,!the!certifications!were!mandatory,!to!wit:!

In!Oporto,!Jr.!vs.!Monserate,!it!was!held!that!the!requirement!set!forth!under!
Section!3,!Rule!112!of!the!Revised!Rules!of!Criminal!Procedure!is!
mandatory.!This!is!so!because!the!rules!on!preliminary!investigation!does!
not!require!a!confrontation!between!the!parties.!Preliminary!investigation!is!
ordinarily!conducted!through!submission!of!affidavits!and!supporting!
documents,!through!submission!of!affidavits!and!supporting!documents,!
through!the!exchange!of!pleadings.!Thus,!it!can!be!inferred!that!the!
rationale!for!requiring!the!affidavits!of!witnesses!to!be!sworn!to!before!a!
competent!officer!so!as!to!ensure!that!the!affidavits!supporting!the!factual!
allegations!in!the!Complaint!have!been!sworn!before!a!competent!officer!
and!that!the!affiant!has!signed!the!same!in!the!former’s!presence!declaring!
on!oath!the!truth!of!the!statement!made!considering!that!this!becomes!part!
of!the!bases!in!finding!probable!guilt!against!the!respondent.!WellHsettled!is!
the!rule!that!persons,!such!as!an!employee,!whose!unsworn!declarations!in!
behalf!of!a!party,!or!the!employee’s!employer!in!this!case,!are!not!
admissible!in!favor!of!the!latter.!Further,!it!has!been!held!that!unsworn!
statements!or!declarations!are!selfHserving!and!selfHserving!declarations!are!
not!admissible!in!evidence!as!proof!of!the!facts!asserted,!whether!they!
arose!by!implication!from!acts!and!conduct!or!were!made!orally!or!reduced!
in!writing.!The!vital!objection!to!the!admission!to!this!kind!of!evidence!is!its!
hearsay!character.!
In!the!case!at!bar,!a!perusal!of!the!statements/affidavits!accompanying!the!
complaint!shows!that!out!of!the!total!of!16!statements/affidavits!
corresponding!to!the!respective!witnesses,!only!nine!(9)!thereof!were!sworn!
to!before!a!competent!officer.!These!were!the!affidavits!of!the!following:!(1)!
SG!Sarmiento_!(2)!SG!Solis_!(3)!SG!Fabe_!(4)!SG!Marivic!Rodriguez_!(5)!
Jennylyn!Buri_!(6)!Richard!Joshua!Sulit_!(7)!Marites!Navarro_!(8)!PamelaH
Ann!Que_!and!(9)!Edbert!Ylo,!which!were!sworn!to!or!subscribed!before!a!
competent!officer.!

Thus,!it!is!imperative!that!the!circumstantial!evidence!that!the!victim!was!
last!seen!in!the!company!of!respondent!Philip!must!be!established!by!
competent!evidence!required!by!the!rules!in!preliminary!investigation.!Here,!
it!was!allegedly!Chase’s!sister,!Ariane,!and!their!two!household!helpers,!
Marivic!Guray!and!Michelle!Corpus,!who!saw!respondent!Philip!pick!up!
Chase!at!around!7:00!o’clock!in!the!evening!of!February!27,!2007.!Yet,!such!
fact!from!which!the!inference!is!derived!was!not!duly!proven.!The!
statements!of!Marivic!and!Michelle!both!executed!on!February!28,!2007!
were!not!sworn!to!before!the!proper!officer.!Neither!was!the!affidavit!dated!
July!3,!2009!of!Ariane!Claridad!duly!notarized!nor!is!there!any!explanation!
why!the!same!was!belatedly!executed.!

It!cannot!thus!be!used!to!prove!the!circumstance!that!it!was!respondent!
Philip!who!drove!the!white!car!parked!in!front!of!their!house!at!around!7:00!
o’clock!in!the!evening!of!February!27,!2007!and!that!the!factual!allegation!
that!the!car!used!bore!the!Plate!no.!CRDH999.!Further,!since!their!affidavits!
were!not!in!the!nature!of!a!public!document,!it!is!incumbent!upon!the!
complainant!to!prove!its!due!execution!and!authenticity!before!the!same!is!
admitted!in!evidence.!It!is!a!wellHsettled!rule!that!private!documents!must!be!
proved!as!to!their!due!execution!and!authenticity!before!they!may!be!
received!in!evidence.!

Likewise,!the!circumstance!that!the!victim!sent!a!text!message!to!his!
girlfriend!Monet!that!he!was!on!his!way!to!get!the!tires!at!around!7:09!
o’clock!in!the!evening!of!February!27,!2007!is!likewise!inadmissible!in!
evidence!because!Monet’s!affidavit!was!not!sworn!to!before!a!competent!
officer.!There!was!also!no!evidence!of!the!alleged!text!message!pursuant!to!
the!law!on!admissibility!of!electronic!evidence.!Besides,!it!cannot!be!inferred!
therefrom!who!the!victim!was!with!at!that!time!and!where!he!was!going!to!
get!the!tires.!
Neither!can!the!handwritten!unsworn!statement!dated!February!28,!2007!of!
SG!Rodolph!delos!Reyes!and!handwritten!sworn!statement!dated!March!8,!
2008!of!SG!Henry!Solis!be!of!any!help!in!claiming!that!the!victim!was!in!the!
company!of!respondent!Philip!when!the!latter!entered!the!village!at!around!
7:26!o’clock!in!the!evening!of!February!27,!2007.!Suffice!it!to!state!that!their!
statements!only!identified!respondent!Philip!driving!the!white!Honda!Civic!
bearing!Plate!No.!CRDH999.!However,!both!were!unsure!if!they!saw!
respondent!Philip!with!a!passenger!because!it!was!already!dark!and!the!car!
was!tinted.30!

Also,!the!CA!cited!in!its!decision!the!further!consequences!of!not!complying!
with!the!aforequoted!rule,!to!wit:!

It!also!follows!that!the!succeeding!pieces!of!circumstantial!evidence!relied!
upon!by!complainant!are!not!admissible!for!either!being!incompetent!or!
hearsay!evidence,!to!wit:!

(a)!that!at!around!7:45!p.m.,!respondent!Teodora!Alyn!Esteban,!on!
board!a!vehicle!bearing!plate!no.!XPNH733!entered!Ferndale!Homes!is!
inadmissible!because!it!is!not!supported!by!any!sworn!affidavit!of!a!
witness!

(b)!that!at!around!the!same!time,!two!unidentified!persons,!a!male!and!
female!were!heard!talking!inside!Honda!Civic!bearing!plate!no.!JTGH
333!allegedly!belonging!to!respondent!Philip,!which!was!one!of!the!
vehicles!parked!at!the!carport!of!#10!Cedar!Place,!inside!Ferndale!
Homes!is!inadmissible!because!it!is!not!supported!by!any!sworn!
affidavit!of!a!witness_!

(c)!that!the!Esteban!family!was!temporarily!using!the!carport!of!#10!
Cedar!Place!as!a!carpark!for!their!vehicles!at!that!time!is!inadmissible!
because!it!is!not!supported!by!any!sworn!affidavit!of!a!witness_!

(d)!that!when!the!guards!went!to!the!house!of!the!Esteban!family,!the!
same!was!unusually!dark!and!dim!is!inadmissible!because!it!is!not!
supported!by!any!sworn!affidavit!of!a!witness_!

(e)!that!while!the!crime!scene!was!being!processed,!Mr.!Esteban!
sought!assistance!from!the!police!and!requested!that!they!escort!his!
son,!respondent!Philip!Esteban,!to!St.!Luke’s!Medical!Center,!as!the!
 latter!also!allegedly!suffered!injuries!is!inadmissible!because!it!is!not!
supported!by!any!sworn!affidavit!of!a!witness_!

(f)!that!during!the!investigation,!Philip,!Mrs.!Teodora!Alyn!Esteban!and!
their!family!refused!to!talk!and!cooperate!with!the!authorities!and!that!
they!neither!disclosed!the!extent!of!Philip’s!alleged!injuries!nor!
disclosed!as!to!how!or!why!he!sustained!them!is!inadmissible!because!
it!is!not!supported!by!any!sworn!affidavit!of!a!witness_!and!

(g)!Mrs.!Edith!Flores,!speaking!for!respondents’!family,!reportedly!
communicated!with!the!family!of!the!deceased!on!numerous!occasions!
and!offered!to!pay!for!the!funeral!expenses!is!inadmissible!because!it!
is!not!supported!by!any!sworn!affidavit!of!a!witness.!

This!now!leaves!this!Court!with!the!remaining!pieces!of!circumstantial!
evidence!supported!by!the!sworn!statement!dated!March!6,!2007!of!Marivic!
Rodriguez,!handwritten!sworn!statement!dated!March!8,!2007!of!SG!
Abelardo!Sarmiento,!Jr.!and!handwritten!sworn!statement!dated!March!8,!
2007!of!SG!Rene!Fabe!as!follows:!

(a)!at!around!7:30!p.m.,!Marivic!Guray!and!Jennylyn!Buri!heard!a!
commotion!(loud!cries!saying!"Help!!Help!)!at!No.!10,!Cedar!Place!
inside!Ferndale!Homes_!

(b)!at!around!7:50!p.m.,!the!body!of!the!deceased!was!discovered!lying!
in!a!pool!of!blood!in!the!carport!of!#10!Cedar!Place_!

(c)!there!was!blood!inside!and!outside!the!white!Honda!Civic!bearing!
plate!no.!CRDH999_!

(d)!that!at!around!7:55!p.m.,!respondent!Philip!Esteban’s!father,!Lauro!
Esteban,!who!was!then!outside!the!village,!called!the!security!guard!at!
the!entrance!gate!of!the!village!to!report!the!incident!through!his!
mobile!phone_!

(e)!that!at!around!9:09!p.m.,!Mr.!Esteban!entered!the!village!and!
admitted!that!he!was!the!one!who!called!for!assistance!regarding!an!
incident!that!transpired!at!Cedar!Place_!and!
 (f)!as!per!Autopsy!Report,!the!cause!of!Chase’s!death!was!a!stab!
wound!in!the!chest!and!that!the!said!wound!was!9!centimeters!deep,!
or!around!3.6!inches!and!cut!the!descending!aorta!of!his!heart.!

The!above!pieces!of!circumstantial!evidence,!though!duly!supported!by!
sworn!statements!of!witnesses,!when!taken!as!a!whole,!do!not,!however,!
lead!to!a!finding!of!probable!cause!that!respondents!committed!the!crime!
charged.!

The!factual!allegations!of!the!complaint!merely!show!that!at!around!7:30!
o’clock!in!the!evening!of!February!27,!2007,!Marivic!Rodriguez!heard!a!
male!voice,!coming!from!the!front!of!their!employer’s!house,!shouting!"Help!!
Help!"_!that!at!around!7:50!p.m.,!the!body!of!the!deceased!was!discovered!
lying!in!a!pool!of!blood!in!the!carport!of!#10!Cedar!Place_!that!there!was!
blood!inside!and!outside!the!white!Honda!Civic!bearing!plate!no.!CRDH999_!
and,!that!as!per!Autopsy!Report,!the!cause!of!Chase’s!death!was!a!stab!
wound!in!the!chest!and!that!the!said!wound!was!9!centimeters!deep,!or!
around!3.6!inches!and!cut!the!descending!aorta!of!his!heart.!However,!all!of!
these!do!not!prove!the!presence!of!respondents!at!the!scene!of!the!crime!
nor!their!participation!therein.!

We!likewise!agree!with!the!DOJ!Secretary!that!there!was!no!motive!on!the!
part!of!the!respondents!to!kill!the!victim.!This!was!supported!by!the!sworn!
statement!dated!March!1,!2007!of!Richard!Joshua!Ulit_!the!sworn!statement!
dated!March!10,!2007!of!PamelaHAnn!Que_!and,!the!sworn!statement!dated!
March!10,!2007!of!Egbert!Ylo,!who!all!knew!the!victim!and!respondent!Philip!
and!claimed!that!the!two!were!good!friends!and!that!they!were!not!aware!of!
any!misunderstanding!that!occurred!between!the!concerned!parties.!
Jurisprudence!is!replete!that!motive!becomes!of!vital!importance!when!there!
is!doubt!as!to!the!identity!of!the!perpetrator.1âwphi1!

In!Preferred!Home!Specialties,!Inc.,!et!al.!vs.!Court!of!Appeals,!et!al.,!the!
Supreme!Court!held!that!while!probable!cause!should!be!determined!in!a!
summary!manner,!there!is!a!need!to!examine!the!evidence!with!care!to!
prevent!material!damage!to!a!potential!accused’s!constitutional!right!to!
liberty,!the!guarantees!of!freedom!and!fair!play,!and!to!protect!the!State!
from!the!burden!of!unnecessary!expenses!in!prosecuting!alleged!offenses!
and!holding!trials!arising!from!false,!fraudulent!or!groundless!charges.31!
It!is!clear!from!the!foregoing!disquisitions!of!the!CA!that!the!Secretary!of!
Justice!reasonably!reached!the!conclusion!that!the!dismissal!by!the!OCP!of!
Quezon!City!of!the!complaint!for!murder!had!been!based!on!the!lack!of!
competent!evidence!to!support!a!finding!of!probable!cause!against!the!
respondents.!Accordingly,!such!finding!of!probable!cause!by!the!Executive!
Department,!through!the!Secretary!of!Justice,!could!not!be!undone!by!the!
CA,!in!the!absence!of!a!clear!showing!that!the!Secretary!of!Justice!had!
gravely!abused!his!discretion.!Grave!abuse!of!discretion!means!that!the!
abuse!of!discretion!must!be!so!patent!and!gross!as!to!amount!to!an!evasion!
of!a!positive!duty!or!a!virtual!refusal!to!perform!a!duty!enjoined!by!law!or!to!
act!at!all!in!contemplation!of!law,!such!as!where!the!power!is!exercised!in!
an!arbitrary!and!despotic!manner!by!reason!of!passion!or!hostility.32!That!
showing!was!not!made!herein.!

WHEREFORE,!the!Court!DENIES!the!petition!for!review!on!certiorari,!and!
AFFIRMS!the!decision!of!the!Court!of!Appeals!promulgated!on!November!
20,!2009.!

The!petitioner!shall!pay!the!costs!of!suit.!

SO!ORDERED.!

LUCAS(P.(BERSAMIN!
Associate!Justice!

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G.R.(No.(190569(((((((((((((((April(25,(2012!
P/INSP.(ARIEL(S.(ARTILLERO,(Petitioner,!!
vs.!
ORLANDO(C.(CASIMIRO,(Overall(Deputy(Ombudsman,(Office(of(the(
Deputy(OmbudsmanZ(BERNABE(D.(DUSABAN,(Provincial(Prosecutor,(
Office(of(the(Provincial(Prosecutor(of(IloiloZ(EDITO(AGUILLON,(Brgy.(
Capt.,(Brgy.(Lanjagan,(Ajuy,(Iloilo,(Respondents.!

D!E!C!I!S!I!O!N!

SERENO,(J.:!

This!case!pertains!to!the!criminal!charge!filed!by!Private!Inspector!Ariel!S.!
Artillero!(petitioner)!against!Barangay!Captain!Edito!Aguillon!(Aguillon)!for!
violation!of!Presidential!Decree!No.!(P.D.)!18661!as!amended!by!Republic!
Act!No.!(R.A.)!8249.!

Petitioner!is!the!Chief!of!Police!of!the!Municipal!Station!of!the!Philippine!
National!Police!(PNP)!in!Ajuy,!Iloilo.2According!to!him,!on!6!August!2008,!at!
about!6:45!in!the!evening,!the!municipal!station!received!information!that!
successive!gun!fires!had!been!heard!in!Barangay!Lanjagan,!Ajuy!Iloilo.!
Thus,!petitioner,!together!with!Police!Inspector!Idel!Hermoso!(Hermoso),!
and!Senior!Police!Officer!(SPO1)!Arial!Lanaque!(Lanaque),!immediately!
went!to!the!area!to!investigate.3!

Upon!arriving,!they!saw!Paquito!Panisales,!Jr.!(Paquito)4!standing!beside!
the!road,!wearing!a!black!sweat!shirt!with!a!"Barangay!Tanod"!print.5!They!
asked!Paquito!if!he!had!heard!the!alleged!gunshots,!but!he!answered!in!the!
negative.!

Petitioner,!Hermoso,!and!Lanaque!decided!to!investigate!further,!but!before!
they!could!proceed,!they!saw!that!Paquito!had!"turned!his!back!from!us!that!
seems!like!bragging!his!firearm!to!us!flagrantly!displayed/tucked!in!his!waist!
whom!we!observed!to!be!under!the!influence!of!intoxicating!odor."6!Then,!
they!frisked!him!to!"verify!the!firearm!and!its!supporting!
documents."7!Paquito!then!presented!his!Firearm!License!Card!and!a!
Permit!to!Carry!Firearm!Outside!Residence!(PTCFOR).!

Thereafter,!they!spotted!two!persons!walking!towards!them,!wobbling!and!
visibly!drunk.!They!further!noticed!that!one!of!them,!Aguillon,!was!openly!
carrying!a!rifle,!and!that!its!barrel!touched!the!concrete!road!at!
times.8!Petitioner!and!Hermoso!disarmed!Aguillon.!The!rifle!was!a!Caliber!
5.56!M16!rifle!with!Serial!Number!101365!and!with!20!live!ammunitions!in!
its!magazine.!

According!to!petitioner!and!Hermoso,!although!Aguillon!was!able!to!present!
his!Firearm!License!Card,!he!was!not!able!to!present!a!PTCFOR.!

Petitioner!arrested!Paquito,!Aguillon!and!his!companion!Aldan!Padilla,!and!
brought!them!to!the!Ajuy!Municipal!Police!Station.9!

Paquito!was!released!on!the!same!night,!because!he!was!deemed!to!have!
been!able!to!comply!with!the!requirements!to!possess!and!carry!
firearm.10!Thereafter,!Aguillon!was!detained!at!the!police!station,!but!was!
released!from!custody!the!next!day,!7!August!2008,!after!he!posted!a!cash!
bond!in!the!amount!of!₱!80,000.!The!present!Petition!does!not!state!under!
what!circumstances!or!when!Padilla!was!released.!

On!12!August!2008,!petitioner!and!Hermoso!executed!a!Joint!
Affidavit11!alleging!the!foregoing!facts!in!support!of!the!filing!of!a!case!for!
illegal!possession!of!firearm!against!Aguillon.!Petitioner!also!endorsed!the!
filing!of!a!Complaint!against!Aguillon!through!a!letter12!sent!to!the!Provincial!
Prosecutor!on!12!August!2008.!

For!his!part,!Aguillon!executed!an!Affidavit!swearing!that!petitioner!had!
unlawfully!arrested!and!detained!him!for!illegal!possession!of!firearm,!even!
though!the!former!had!every!right!to!carry!the!rifle!as!evidenced!by!the!
license!he!had!surrendered!to!petitioner.!Aguillon!further!claims!that!he!was!
duly!authorized!by!law!to!carry!his!firearm!within!his!barangay.!13!

According!to!petitioner,!he!never!received!a!copy!of!the!CounterHAffidavit!
Aguillon!had!filed!and!was!thus!unable!to!give!the!necessary!reply.14!

In!a!Resolution15!dated!10!September!2008,!the!Office!of!the!Provincial!
Prosecutor!of!Iloilo!City!recommended!the!dismissal!of!the!case!for!
insufficiency!of!evidence.!Assistant!Provincial!Prosecutor!Rodrigo!P.!
Camacho!(Asst.!Prosecutor)!found!that!there!was!no!sufficient!ground!to!
engender!a!wellHfounded!belief!that!Aguillon!was!probably!guilty!of!the!
offense!charged.!The!Asst.!Prosecutor!also!recommended!that!the!rifle,!
which!was!then!under!the!custody!of!the!PNP!Crime!Laboratory,!be!
returned!to!Aguillon.!Petitioner!claims!that!he!never!received!a!copy!of!this!
Resolution.!

Thereafter,!Provincial!Prosecutor!Bernabe!D.!Dusaban!(Provincial!
Prosectuor!Dusaban)!forwarded!to!the!Office!of!the!Deputy!Ombudsman!the!
10!September!2008!Resolution!recommending!the!approval!thereof.16!

In!a!Resolution17!dated!17!February!2009,!the!Office!of!the!Ombudsman,!
through!Overall!Deputy!Ombudsman!Orlando!C.!Casimiro!(Deputy!
Ombudsman!Casimiro),!approved!the!recommendation!of!Provincial!
Prosectuor!Dusaban!to!dismiss!the!case.!It!ruled!that!the!evidence!on!
record!proved!that!Aguillon!did!not!commit!the!crime!of!illegal!possession!of!
firearm!since!he!has!a!license!for!his!rifle.!Petitioner!claims!that!he!never!
received!a!copy!of!this!Resolution!either.18!

On!13!April!2009,!Provincial!Prosectuor!Dusaban!received!a!letter!from!
petitioner!requesting!a!copy!of!the!following!documents:!

1.!Copy!of!the!Referral!letter!and!the!resolution!if!there!is!any!which!
was!the!subject!of!the!said!referral!to!the!Office!of!the!Ombudsman,!
Iloilo!City_!and!

2.!Copy!of!the!counter!affidavit!of!respondent,!Edito!Aguillon!and/or!his!
witnesses!considering!that!I!was!not!furnished!a!copy!of!the!pleadings!
filed!by!said!respondent.19!

On!22!June!2009,!petitioner!filed!a!Motion!for!Reconsideration!(MR)20!of!the!
17!February!2009!Resolution,!but!it!was!denied!through!an!Order!dated!23!
July!2009.21!Thus,!on!8!December!2009,!he!filed!the!present!Petition!for!
Certiorari22!via!Rule!65!of!the!Rules!of!Court.!

According!to!petitioner,!he!was!denied!his!right!to!due!process!when!he!was!
not!given!a!copy!of!Aguillon’s!CounterHaffidavit,!the!Asst.!Prosecutor’s!10!
September!2008!Resolution,!and!the!17!February!2009!Resolution!of!the!
Office!of!the!Ombudsman.!Petitioner!also!argues!that!public!respondents’!
act!of!dismissing!the!criminal!Complaint!against!Aguillon,!based!solely!on!
insufficiency!of!evidence,!was!contrary!to!the!provisions!of!P.D.!1866!and!its!
Implementing!Rules!and!Regulations!(IRR).23!He!thus!claims!that!the!
assailed!Resolutions!were!issued!"contrary!to!law,!and/or!jurisprudence!and!
with!grave!abuse!of!discretion!amounting!to!lack!or!excess!of!jurisdiction."24!
The!present!Petition!contains!the!following!prayer:!

WHEREFORE,!premises!considered!petitioner!most!respectfully!prays:!

1.!That!this!Petition!for!Certiorari!be!given!due!course_!

2.!That!a!Decision!be!rendered!granting!the!petition!by!issuing!the!
following:!

a.!Writ!of!Certiorari!nullifying!and!setting!aside!the!Order!dated!
July!23,!2009!and!dated!February!17,!2009!both!of!the!Office!of!
the!Ombudsman!in!OMB!VH08H0406HJ!and!the!Resolution!dated!
September!10,!2008!of!the!Office!of!the!Provincial!Prosecutor!of!
Iloilo!in!I.S.!No.!2008H1281!(Annexes!A,!C!and!D,!respectively)_!

b.!To!reverse!and!set!aside!said!Orders!and!Resolution!(Annexes!
A,!C!and!D,!respectively)!finding!PROBABLE!CAUSE!of!the!crime!
of!Violation!of!Presidential!Decree!No.!1866!as!amended!by!R.A.!
8294!and!other!applicable!laws!and!to!direct!the!immediate!filing!
of!the!information!in!Court!against!private!respondent!EDITO!
AGUILLON.!

Such!other!relief!just!and!equitable!are!likewise!prayed!for.25!(Emphasis!in!
the!original.)!

In!his!Comment,26!Aguillon!submits!that!the!present!Petition!should!not!be!
given!due!course!based!on!the!following!grounds:!

a.!The!Deputy!Ombudsman!found!that!there!was!no!sufficient!
evidence!to!warrant!the!prosecution!for!violation!of!P.D.!No.!1866!as!
amended_!

b.!The!present!Petition!is!"frivolous!and!manifestly!prosecuted!for!
delay_"27!

c.!The!allegations!raised!are!too!unsubstantial!to!merit!consideration,!
because!"Petitioner!failed!to!specifically!allege!the!manner!in!which!the!
alleged!Grave!Abuse!was!committed!by!Respondent!Deputy!
Ombudsman_"28and!
 d.!The!Deputy!Ombudsman’s!findings!are!supported!by!substantial!
evidence.!

Petitioner!claims!that!Provincial!Prosecutor!Dusaban!should!have!given!him!
a!copy!of!Aguillon’s!CounterHaffidavit.!In!support!of!this!claim,!petitioner!
cites!Section!3(c),!Rule!112!of!the!Revised!Rules!on!Criminal!Procedure,!
which!reads:!

(c)!Within!ten!(10)!days!from!receipt!of!the!subpoena!with!the!complaint!and!
supporting!affidavits!and!documents,!the!respondent!shall!submit!his!
counterHaffidavit!and!that!of!his!witnesses!and!other!supporting!documents!
relied!upon!for!his!defense.!The!counterHaffidavits!shall!be!subscribed!and!
sworn!to!and!certified!as!provided!in!paragraph!(a)!of!this!section,!with!
copies!thereof!furnished!by!him!to!the!complainant.!The!respondent!shall!
not!be!allowed!to!file!a!motion!to!dismiss!in!lieu!of!a!counterHaffidavit.!

Petitioner!faults!the!Asst.!Prosecutor!and!the!Office!of!the!Ombudsman!for!
supposedly!committing!grave!abuse!of!discretion!when!they!failed!to!send!
him!a!copy!of!the!10!September!2008!and!17!February!2009!Resolutions.!

A!perusal!of!the!records!reveal!that!in!both!the!10!September!2008!and!17!
February!2009!Resolutions,!the!PNP!Crime!Laboratory!and!petitioner!were!
included!in!the!list!of!those!who!were!furnished!copies!of!the!foregoing!
Resolutions.29!Even!though!his!name!was!listed!in!the!"copy!furnished"!
section,!petitioner!never!signed!to!signify!receipt!thereof.!Thus,!none!of!
herein!respondents!raise!this!fact!as!a!defense.!In!fact,!they!do!not!even!
deny!the!allegation!of!petitioner!that!he!never!received!a!copy!of!these!
documents.!

Aguillon!does!not!deny!that!he!never!sent!a!copy!of!his!counterHaffidavit!to!
petitioner.!For!his!part,!Provincial!Prosecutor!Dusaban!explained!in!his!
Comment,30!that!he!was!not!able!to!give!petitioner!a!copy!of!Aguillon’s!
CounterHaffidavit!and!the!10!September!2008!Resolution,!because!"when!
petitioner!was!asking!for!them,!the!record!of!the!case,!including!the!subject!
Resolution,!was!sent!to!the!Office!of!the!Ombudsman!for!the!required!
approval."31!

As!further!proof!that!petitioner!was!not!sent!a!copy!of!the!10!September!
2008!Resolution,!it!can!be!seen!from!the!document!itself!that!one!Atty.!
Jehiel!Cosa!signed!in!a!"care!of"!capacity!to!signify!his!receipt!thereof!on!
behalf!of!petitioner,!only!on!23!June!2009!or!after!the!latter’s!12!April!2009!
letterHrequest!to!Provincial!Prosecutor!Dusaban.!

Nevertheless,!the!provincial!prosecutor!is!of!the!opinion!that!petitioner!was!
never!deprived!of!his!due!process!rights,!to!wit:!

8.!Even!granting!that!private!respondent!Edito!Aguillion!failed!to!furnish!the!
petitioner!with!a!copy!of!his!counterHaffidavit!as!required!of!him!by!the!
Rules,!petitioner!was!never!deprived!of!anything.!As!aptly!said!by!the!Office!
of!the!Overall!Deputy!Ombudsman!in!its!Order!dated!23!July!2009,!
"Complainant!added!that!he!was!never!furnished!copies!of!the!CounterH
Affidavit!of!respondent!nor!of!the!Resolution!of!the!Office!of!the!Provincial!
Posecutor,!Iloilo!City."!

"Anent!the!claim!of!the!complainant!that!he!was!not!furnished!with!a!copy!of!
the!Resolution!dated!10!September!2008!of!the!Office!of!the!Provincial!
Prosecutor,!Iloilo!City,!said!Resolution!did!not!attain!finality!until!approved!
by!the!Office!of!the!Ombudsman.!Nevertheless,!complainant!was!not!
deprived!of!due!process,!he!can!still!avail!to!file!a!Motion!for!
Reconsideration,!which!he!did,!to!refute!respondent’s!defense."32!

We!agree.!

Petitioner!insists!that!Section!3(c),!Rule!112!of!the!Revised!Rules!on!
Criminal!Procedure,!was!created!"in!order!not!to!deprive!party!litigants!of!
their!basic!constitutional!right!to!be!informed!of!the!nature!and!cause!of!
accusation!against!them."33!

Deputy!Ombudsman!Casimiro!contradicts!the!claim!of!petitioner!and!argues!
that!the!latter!was!not!deprived!of!due!process,!just!because!he!was!not!
able!to!file!his!Reply!to!the!CounterHaffidavit.!The!constitutional!right!to!due!
process!according!to!the!Deputy!Ombudsman,!is!guaranteed!to!the!
accused,!and!not!to!the!complainant.34!

Article!III,!Section!14!of!the!1987!Constitution,!mandates!that!no!person!
shall!be!held!liable!for!a!criminal!offense!without!due!process!of!law.!It!
further!provides!that!in!all!criminal!prosecutions,!the!accused!shall!be!
informed!of!the!nature!and!cause!of!the!accusation!against!him.35!This!is!a!
right!that!cannot!be!invoked!by!petitioner,!because!he!is!not!the!accused!in!
this!case.!
The!law!is!vigilant!in!protecting!the!rights!of!an!accused.!Yet,!
notwithstanding!the!primacy!put!on!the!rights!of!an!accused!in!a!criminal!
case,!even!they!cannot!claim!unbridled!rights!in!Preliminary!Investigations.!
In!Lozada!v.!Hernandez,36!we!explained!the!nature!of!a!Preliminary!
Investigation!in!relation!to!the!rights!of!an!accused,!to!wit:!

It!has!been!said!time!and!again!that!a!preliminary!investigation!is!not!
properly!a!trial!or!any!part!thereof!but!is!merely!preparatory!thereto,!its!only!
purpose!being!to!determine!whether!a!crime!has!been!committed!and!
whether!there!is!probable!cause!to!believe!the!accused!guilty!thereof.!(U.S.!
vs.!Yu!Tuico,!34!Phil.!209_!People!vs.!Badilla,!48!Phil.!716).!The!right!to!
such!investigation!is!not!a!fundamental!right!guaranteed!by!the!constitution.!
At!most,!it!is!statutory.!(II!Moran,!Rules!of!Court,!1952!ed.,!p.!673).!And!
rights!conferred!upon!accused!persons!to!participate!in!preliminary!
investigations!concerning!themselves!depend!upon!the!provisions!of!law!by!
which!such!rights!are!specifically!secured,!rather!than!upon!the!phrase!"due!
process!of!law".!(U.S.!vs.!Grant!and!Kennedy,!18!Phil.,!122).37!

It!is!therefore!clear!that!because!a!preliminary!investigation!is!not!a!proper!
trial,!the!rights!of!parties!therein!depend!on!the!rights!granted!to!them!by!
law!and!these!cannot!be!based!on!whatever!rights!they!believe!they!are!
entitled!to!or!those!that!may!be!derived!from!the!phrase!"due!process!of!
law."!

A!complainant!in!a!preliminary!investigation!does!not!have!a!vested!right!to!
file!a!Reply—this!right!should!be!granted!to!him!by!law.!There!is!no!
provision!in!Rule!112!of!the!Rules!of!Court!that!gives!the!Complainant!or!
requires!the!prosecutor!to!observe!the!right!to!file!a!Reply!to!the!accused’s!
counterHaffidavit.!To!illustrate!the!nonHmandatory!nature!of!filing!a!Reply!in!
preliminary!investigations,!Section!3!(d)!of!Rule!112!gives!the!prosecutor,!in!
certain!instances,!the!right!to!resolve!the!Complaint!even!without!a!counterH
affidavit,!viz:!

(d)!If!the!respondent!cannot!be!subpoenaed,!of!if!subpoenaed,!does!not!
submit!counterHaffidavits!within!the!ten!(10)!day!period,!the!investigating!
officer!shall!resolve!the!complaint!based!on!the!evidence!presented!by!the!
complainant.!

Provincial!Prosecutor!Dusaban!correctly!claims!that!it!is!discretionary!on!his!
part!to!require!or!allow!the!filing!or!submission!of!replyHaffidavits.38!
Furthermore,!we!agree!with!Provincial!Prosecutor!Dusaban!that!there!was!
no!need!to!send!a!copy!of!the!10!September!2008!Resolution!to!petitioner,!
since!it!did!not!attain!finality!until!it!was!approved!by!the!Office!of!the!
Ombudsman.!It!must!be!noted!that!the!rules!do!not!state!that!petitioner,!as!
complainant,!was!entitled!to!a!copy!of!this!recommendation.!The!only!
obligation!of!the!prosecutor,!as!detailed!in!Section!4!of!Rule!112,!was!to!
forward!the!record!of!the!case!to!the!proper!officer!within!five!days!from!the!
issuance!of!his!Resolution,!to!wit:!

SEC.!4.!Resolution!of!investigating!prosecutor!and!its!review.—If!the!
investigating!prosecutor!finds!cause!to!hold!the!respondent!for!trial,!he!shall!
prepare!the!resolution!and!information.!He!shall!certify!under!oath!in!the!
information!that!he,!or!as!shown!by!the!record,!an!authorized!officer,!has!
personally!examined!the!complainant!and!his!witnesses_!that!there!is!
reasonable!ground!to!believe!that!a!crime!has!been!committed!and!that!the!
accused!is!probably!guilty!thereof_!that!the!accused!was!informed!of!the!
complaint!and!of!the!evidence!submitted!against!him_!and!that!he!was!given!
an!opportunity!to!submit!controverting!evidence.!Otherwise,!he!shall!
recommend!the!dismissal!of!the!complaint.!

Within!five!(5)!days!from!his!resolution,!he!shall!forward!the!record!of!the!
case!to!the!provincial!or!city!prosecutor!or!chief!state!prosecutor,!or!to!the!
Ombudsman!or!his!deputy!in!cases!of!offenses!cognizable!by!the!
Sandiganbayan!in!the!exercise!of!its!original!jurisdiction.!They!shall!act!on!
the!resolution!within!ten!(10)!days!from!their!receipt!thereof!and!shall!
immediately!inform!the!parties!of!such!action.!

No!complaint!or!information!may!be!filed!or!dismissed!by!an!investigating!
prosecutor!without!the!prior!written!authority!or!approval!of!the!provincial!or!
city!prosecutor!or!chief!state!prosecutor!or!the!Ombudsman!or!his!deputy.!

Even!though!petitioner!was!indeed!entitled!to!receive!a!copy!of!the!CounterH
affidavit!filed!by!Aguillon,!whatever!procedural!defects!this!case!suffered!
from!in!its!initial!stages!were!cured!when!the!former!filed!an!MR.!In!fact,!all!
of!the!supposed!defenses!of!petitioner!in!this!case!have!already!been!raised!
in!his!MR!and!adequately!considered!and!acted!on!by!the!Office!of!the!
Ombudsman.!

The!essence!of!due!process!is!simply!an!opportunity!to!be!heard.!"What!the!
law!prohibits!is!not!the!absence!of!previous!notice!but!the!absolute!absence!
thereof!and!lack!of!opportunity!to!be!heard."39!We!have!said!that!where!a!
party!has!been!given!a!chance!to!be!heard!with!respect!to!the!latter’s!
motion!for!reconsideration!there!is!sufficient!compliance!with!the!
requirements!of!due!process.40!

At!this!point,!this!Court!finds!it!important!to!stress!that!even!though!the!filing!
of!the!MR!cured!whatever!procedural!defect!may!have!been!present!in!this!
case,!this!does!not!change!the!fact!that!Provincial!Prosecutor!Dusaban!had!
the!duty!to!send!petitioner!a!copy!of!Aguillon’s!CounterHaffidavit.!Section!
3(c),!Rule!112!of!the!Revised!Rules!on!Criminal!Procedure,!grants!a!
complainant!this!right,!and!the!Provincial!Prosecutor!has!the!duty!to!observe!
the!fundamental!and!essential!requirements!of!due!process!in!the!cases!
presented!before!it.!That!the!requirements!of!due!process!are!deemed!
complied!with!in!the!present!case!because!of!the!filing!of!an!MR!by!
Complainant!was!simply!a!fortunate!turn!of!events!for!the!Office!of!the!
Provincial!Prosecutor.!

It!is!submitted!by!petitioner!that!in!dismissing!Aguillon’s!Complaint,!public!
respondents!committed!grave!abuse!of!discretion!by!failing!to!consider!
Memorandum!Circular!No.!2000H016,!which!was!supposedly!the!IRR!issued!
by!the!PNP!for!P.D.!1866.41!

Petitioner!fails!to!persuade!this!Court.!

The!original!IRR42!of!P.D.!1866!was!issued!by!then!Lieutenant!General!of!
the!Armed!Forces!of!the!Philippines!(AFP)!Fidel!V.!Ramos!on!28!October!
1983.!The!IRR!provides!that,!except!when!specifically!authorized!by!the!
Chief!of!Constabulary,!lawful!holders!of!firearms!are!prohibited!from!
carrying!them!outside!their!residences,!to!wit:!

SECTION!3.!Authority!of!Private!Individuals!to!Carry!Firearms!Outside!of!
Residence.!—!

a.!As!a!rule,!persons!who!are!lawful!holders!of!firearms!(regular!
license,!special!permit,!certificate!of!registration!or!M/R)!are!prohibited!
from!carrying!their!firearms!outside!of!residence.!

b.!However,!the!Chief!of!Constabulary!may,!in!meritorious!cases!as!
determined!by!him!and!under!such!conditions!as!he!may!impose,!
authorize!such!person!or!persons!to!carry!firearm!outside!of!residence.!
 c.!Except!as!otherwise!provided!in!Secs.!4!and!5!hereof,!the!carrying!
of!firearm!outside!of!residence!or!official!station!in!pursuance!of!an!
official!mission!or!duty!shall!have!the!prior!approval!of!the!Chief!of!
Constabulary.!

By!virtue!of!R.A.!6975,43!the!PNP!absorbed!the!Philippine!Constabulary.!
Consequently,!the!PNP!Chief!succeeded!the!Chief!of!the!Constabulary!and,!
therefore,!assumed!the!latter’s!licensing!authority.44!

On!31!January!2003,!PNP!Chief!Hermogenes!Ebdane!issued!Guidelines!in!
the!Implementation!of!the!Ban!on!the!Carrying!of!Firearms!Outside!of!
Residence!(Guidelines).!In!these!Guidelines,!the!PNP!Chief!revoked!all!
PTCFOR!previously!issued,!thereby!prohibiting!holders!of!licensed!firearms!
from!carrying!these!outside!their!residences,!to!wit:!

4.!Specific!Instructions!on!the!Ban!on!the!Carrying!of!Firearms:!

a.!All!PTCFOR!are!hereby!revoked.!Authorized!holders!of!licensed!
firearms!covered!with!valid!PTCFOR!may!reHapply!for!a!new!PTCFOR!
in!accordance!with!the!conditions!hereinafter!prescribed.!

b.!All!holders!of!licensed!or!government!firearms!are!hereby!prohibited!
from!carrying!their!firearms!outside!their!residence!except!those!
covered!with!mission/letter!orders!and!duty!detail!orders!issued!by!
competent!authority!pursuant!to!Section!5,!IRR,!PD!1866,!provided,!
that!the!said!exception!shall!pertain!only!to!organic!and!regular!
employees.!

Section!4!of!the!IRR!lists!the!following!persons!as!those!authorized!to!carry!
their!dutyHissued!firearms!outside!their!residences,!even!without!a!PTCFOR,!
whenever!they!are!on!duty:!

SECTION!4.!Authority!of!Personnel!of!Certain!Civilian!Government!Entities!
and!Guards!of!Private!Security!Agencies,!Company!Guard!Forces!and!
Government!Guard!Forces!to!Carry!Firearms.!—!The!personnel!of!the!
following!civilian!agencies!commanding!guards!of!private!security!agencies,!
company!guard!forces!and!government!guard!forces!are!authorized!to!carry!
their!duty!issued!firearms!whenever!they!are!on!duty!detail!subject!to!the!
specific!guidelines!provided!in!Sec.!6!hereof:!

a.!Guards!of!the!National!Bureau!of!Prisons,!Provincial!and!City!Jails_!
 b.!Members!of!the!Bureau!of!Customs!Police,!Philippine!Ports!
Authority!Security!Force,!and!Export!Processing!Zones!Authority!
Police!Force_!and!x!

c.!Guards!of!private!security!agencies,!company!guard!forces,!and!
government!guard!forces.!

Section!5!of!the!guidelines,!on!the!other!hand,!enumerates!persons!who!
have!the!authority!to!carry!firearms!outside!their!residences,!viz:!

5.!The!following!persons!may!be!authorized!to!carry!firearms!outside!of!
residence.!

a.!All!persons!whose!application!for!a!new!PTCFOR!has!been!
approved,!provided,!that!the!persons!and!security!of!those!so!
authorized!are!under!actual!threat,!or!by!the!nature!of!their!position,!
occupation!and!profession!are!under!imminent!danger.!

b.!All!organic!and!regular!employees!with!Mission/Letter!Orders!
granted!by!their!respective!agencies!so!authorized!pursuant!to!Section!
5,!IRR,!PD!1866,!provided,!that!such!Mission/Letter!Orders!is!valid!
only!for!the!duration!of!the!official!mission!which!in!no!case!shall!be!
more!than!ten!(10)!days.!

c.!All!guards!covered!with!Duty!Detail!Orders!granted!by!their!
respective!security!agencies!so!authorized!pursuant!to!Section!4,!IRR,!
PD!1866,!provided,!that!such!DDO!shall!in!no!case!exceed!24Hhour!
duration.!

d.!Members!of!duly!recognized!Gun!Clubs!issued!Permit!to!Transport!
(PTT)!by!the!PNP!for!purposes!of!practice!and!competition,!provided,!
that!such!firearms!while!in!transit!must!not!be!loaded!with!ammunition!
and!secured!in!an!appropriate!box!or!case!detached!from!the!person.!

e.!Authorized!members!of!the!Diplomatic!Corps.!

It!is!true!therefore,!that,!as!petitioner!claims,!a!barangay!captain!is!not!one!
of!those!authorized!to!carry!firearms!outside!their!residences!unless!armed!
with!the!appropriate!PTCFOR!under!the!Guidelines.45!
However,!we!find!merit!in!respondents’!contention!that!the!authority!of!
Aguillon!to!carry!his!firearm!outside!his!residence!was!not!based!on!the!IRR!
or!the!guidelines!of!P.D.!1866!but,!rather,!was!rooted!in!the!authority!given!
to!him!by!Local!Government!Code!(LGC).!

In!People!v.!Monton,46!the!house!of!Mariano!Monton—the!Barrio!Captain!of!
Bacao,!General!Trias,!Cavite—was!raided,!and!an!automatic!carbine!with!
one!long!magazine!containing!several!rounds!of!ammunition!was!found!
hidden!under!a!pillow!covered!with!a!mat.!He!was!charged!with!the!crime!of!
illegal!possession!of!firearm,!but!this!Court!acquitted!him!on!the!basis!of!
Section!88(3)!of!Batas!Pambansa!Bilang!337(B.P.!337),!the!LGC!of!1983,!
which!reads:!

In!the!performance!of!his!peace!and!order!functions,!the!punong!barangay!
shall!be!entitled!to!possess!and!carry!the!necessary!firearms!within!his!
territorial!jurisdiction!subject!to!existing!rules!and!regulations!on!the!
possession!and!carrying!of!firearms.!

Republic!Act!No.!7160,!the!LGC!of!1991,!repealed!B.P.!337.!It!retained!the!
foregoing!provision!as!reflected!in!its!Section!389!(b),!viz:!

CHAPTER!3!H!THE/PUNONG/BARANGAY!

SEC.!389./Chief/Executive:/Powers,/Duties,/and/Functions.!

x!x!x!!!!!!!!!!!x!x!x!!!!!!!!!!x!x!x!

(b)!In!the!performance!of!his!peace!and!order!functions,!the!punong!
barangay!shall!be!entitled!to!possess!and!carry!the!necessary!firearm!within!
his!territorial!jurisdiction,!subject!to!appropriate!rules!and!regulations.!

Provincial!Prosecutor!Dusaban’s!standpoint!on!this!matter!is!correct.!All!the!
guidelines!and!rules!cited!in!the!instant!Petition!"refers!to!civilian!agents,!
private!security!guards,!company!guard!forces!and!government!guard!
forces."!These!rules!and!guidelines!should!not!be!applied!to!Aguillon,!as!he!
is!neither!an!agent!nor!a!guard.!As!barangay!captain,!he!is!the!head!of!a!
local!government!unit_!as!such,!his!powers!and!responsibilities!are!properly!
outlined!in!the!LGC.!This!law!specifically!gives!him,!by!virtue!of!his!position,!
the!authority!to!carry!the!necessary!firearm!within!his!territorial!jurisdiction.!
Petitioner!does!not!deny!that!when!he!found!Aguillon!"openly!carrying!a!
rifle,"!the!latter!was!within!his!territorial!jurisdiction!as!the!captain!of!the!
barangay.!

In!the!absence!of!a!clear!showing!of!arbitrariness,!this!Court!will!give!
credence!to!the!finding!and!determination!of!probable!cause!by!prosecutors!
in!a!preliminary!investigation.47!

This!Court!has!consistently!adopted!a!policy!of!nonHinterference!in!the!
exercise!of!the!Ombudsman's!investigatory!powers.48!It!is!incumbent!upon!
petitioner!to!prove!that!such!discretion!was!gravely!abused!in!order!to!
warrant!this!Court’s!reversal!of!the!Ombudsman’s!findings.49!This,!petitioner!
has!failed!to!do.!

The!Court!hereby!rules!that!respondent!Deputy!Ombudsman!Casimiro!did!
not!commit!grave!abuse!of!discretion!in!finding!that!there!was!no!probable!
cause!to!hold!respondent!Aguillon!for!trial.!

The!Dissent!contends!that!probable!cause!was!already!established!by!facts!
of!this!case,!which!show!that!Aguillon!was!found!carrying!a!licensed!firearm!
outside!his!residence!without!a!PTCFOR.!Thus,!Deputy!Ombudsman!
Casimiro!committed!grave!abuse!of!discretion!in!dismissing!the!criminal!
Complaint.!However,!even!though!Aguillon!did!not!possess!a!PTCFOR,!he!
had!the!"legal!authority"!to!carry!his!firearm!outside!his!residence,!as!
required!by!P.D.!1866!as!amended!by!R.A.!8294.!This!authority!was!
granted!to!him!by!Section!389!(b)!of!the!LGC!of!1991,!which!specifically!
carved!out!an!exception!to!P.D.!1866.!

Following!the!suggestion!of!the!Dissent,!prosecutors!have!the!authority!to!
disregard!existing!exemptions,!as!long!as!the!requirements!of!the!general!
rule!apply.!This!should!not!be!the!case.!Although!the!Dissent!correctly!
declared!that!the!prosecutor!cannot!peremptorily!apply!a!statutory!exception!
without!weighing!it!against!the!facts!and!evidence!before!him,!we!find!that!
the!facts!of!the!case!prove!that!there!is!no!probable!cause!to!charge!
Aguillon!with!the!crime!of!illegal!possession!of!firearm.!

In!interpreting!Section!389!(b)!of!the!LGC!of!1991,!the!Dissent!found!that!
the!factual!circumstances!of!the!present!case!show!that!the!conditions!set!
forth!in!the!law!have!not!been!met.!Thus,!the!exemption!should!not!apply.!
Contrary!to!the!allegation!of!the!dissent,!there!is!no!question!as!to!the!fact!
that!Aguillon!was!within!his!territorial!jurisdiction!when!he!was!found!in!
possession!of!his!rifle.!

The!authority!of!punong!barangays!to!possess!the!necessary!firearm!within!
their!territorial!jurisdiction!is!necessary!to!enforce!their!duty!to!maintain!
peace!and!order!within!the!barangays.!Owing!to!the!similar!functions,!that!
is,!to!keep!peace!and!order,!this!Court!deems!that,!like!police!officers,!
punong!barangays!have!a!duty!as!a!peace!officer!that!must!be!discharged!
24!hours!a!day.!As!a!peace!officer,!a!barangay!captain!may!be!called!by!his!
constituents,!at!any!time,!to!assist!in!maintaining!the!peace!and!security!of!
his!barangay.50!As!long!as!Aguillon!is!within!his!barangay,!he!cannot!be!
separated!from!his!duty!as!a!punong!barangay—to!maintain!peace!and!
order.!

As!to!the!last!phrase!in!Section!389!(b)!of!the!LGC!of!1991,!stating!that!the!
exception!it!carved!out!is!subject!to!"appropriate!rules!and!regulations,"!
suffice!it!to!say!that!although!P.D.!1866!was!not!repealed,!it!was!modified!
by!the!LGC!by!specifically!adding!to!the!exceptions!found!in!the!former.!
Even!the!IRR!of!P.D.!1866!was!modified!by!Section!389!(b)!of!the!LGC!as!
the!latter!provision!already!existed!when!Congress!enacted!the!LGC.!Thus,!
Section!389!(b)!of!the!LGC!of!1991!added!to!the!list!found!in!Section!3!of!
the!IRR!of!P.D.!1866,!which!enumerated!the!persons!given!the!authority!to!
carry!firearms!outside!of!residence!without!an!issued!permit.!The!phrase!
"subject!to!appropriate!rules!and!regulations"!found!in!the!LGC!refers!to!
those!found!in!the!IRR!of!the!LGC!itself!or!a!later!IRR!of!P.D.!1866!and!not!
those!that!it!has!already!amended.!

Indeed,!petitioner’s!mere!allegation!does!not!establish!the!fact!that!Aguillon!
was!drunk!at!the!time!of!his!arrest.1âwphi1!This!Court,!however,!is!alarmed!
at!the!idea!that!government!officials,!who!are!not!only!particularly!charged!
with!the!responsibility!to!maintain!peace!and!order!within!their!barangays!
but!are!also!given!the!authority!to!carry!any!form!of!firearm!necessary!to!
perform!their!duty,!could!be!the!very!same!person!who!would!put!their!
barangays!in!danger!by!carelessly!carrying!highHpowered!firearms!
especially!when!they!are!not!in!full!control!of!their!senses.!

While!this!Court!does!not!condone!the!acts!of!Aguillon,!it!cannot!order!the!
prosecutor!to!file!a!case!against!him!since!there!is!no!law!that!penalizes!a!
local!chief!executive!for!imbibing!liquor!while!carrying!his!firearm.!Neither!is!
there!any!law!that!restricts!the!kind!of!firearms!that!punong!barangays!may!
carry!in!the!performance!of!their!peace!and!order!functions.!Unfortunately,!it!
also!appears!that!the!term!"peace!and!order!function"!has!not!been!
adequately!defined!by!law!or!appropriate!regulations.!

WHEREFORE,!we!DISMISS!the!Petition.!We!AFFIRM!the!Resolution!of!the!
Office!of!the!Provincial!Prosecutor!dated!10!September!2008,!as!well!as!the!
Resolution!and!the!Order!of!the!Office!of!the!Ombudsman!dated!17!
February!2009!and!23!July!2009,!respectively.!

Let!a!copy!of!this!Decision!be!served!on!the!President!of!the!Senate!and!the!
Speaker!of!the!House!of!Representatives!for!whatever!appropriate!action!
they!may!deem!warranted!by!the!statements!in!this!Decision!regarding!the!
adequacy!of!laws!governing!the!carrying!of!firearms!by!local!chief!
executives.!

No!costs.!

SO!ORDERED.!

MARIA(LOURDES(P.(A.(SERENO!
Associate!Justice!

WE!CONCUR:!

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RA!9344!

CHAPTER(3!
PROSECUTION!
SEC.(32.(Duty)of)the)Prosecutor's)Office.!H!There!shall!be!a!specially!
trained!prosecutor!to!conduct!inquest,!preliminary!investigation!and!
prosecution!of!cases!involving!a!child!in!conflict!with!the!law.!If!there!is!an!
allegation!of!torture!or!illHtreatment!of!a!child!in!conflict!with!the!law!during!
arrest!or!detention,!it!shall!be!the!duty!of!the!prosecutor!to!investigate!the!
same.!

SEC.(33.(Preliminary)Investigation)and)Filing)of)Information.!H!The!
prosecutor!shall!conduct!a!preliminary!investigation!in!the!following!
instances:!(a)!when!the!child!in!conflict!with!the!law!does!not!qualify!for!
diversion:!(b)!when!the!child,!his/her!parents!or!guardian!does!not!agree!to!
diversion!as!specified!in!Sections!27!and!28_!and!(c)!when!considering!the!
assessment!and!recommendation!of!the!social!worker,!the!prosecutor!
determines!that!diversion!is!not!appropriate!for!the!child!in!conflict!with!the!
law.!

Upon!serving!the!subpoena!and!the!affidavit!of!complaint,!the!prosecutor!
shall!notify!the!Public!Attorney's!Office!of!such!service,!as!well!as!the!
personal!information,!and!place!of!detention!of!the!child!in!conflict!with!the!
law.!

Upon!determination!of!probable!cause!by!the!prosecutor,!the!information!
against!the!child!shall!be!filed!before!the!Family!Court!within!fortyHfive!(45)!
days!from!the!start!of!the!preliminary!investigation.!

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A.M.(No.(02313183SC(((((((((((((November(24,(2009!

RULE(ON(JUVENILES(IN(CONFLICT(WITH(THE(LAW!
 R(E(S(O(L(U(T(I(O(N!

Acting!on!the!recommendation!of!the!Chairperson!and!Members!of!the!
Subcommitee!on!Rules!Procedure!for!Family!Courts!submitting!for!this!
Court's!consideration!and!approval!the!proposed!revised!Rule!on!Children!
in!Conflict!with!the!Law,!the!Court!Resolved!to!APPROVE!the!same.!

This!Resolution!shall!take!effect!on!December!1,!2009!following!its!
publication!in!two(2)!newspapers!general!circulation!not!later!than!
November!27,!2009.!

November!24,!2009.!

REYNATO(S.(PUNO!
Chief!Justice!

ANTONIO(T.(CARPIO! RENATO(C.(CORONA!
Associate!Justice! Associate!Justice!

CONCHITA(CARPIO(
MINITA(V.(CHICO3NAZARIO!
MORALES!
Associate!Justice!
Associate!Justice!

PRESBITERO(J.(VELASCO,( ANTONIO(EDUARDO(B.(
JR.! NACHURA!
Associate!Justice! Associate!Justice!

TERESITA(J.(LEONARDO3DE(
ARTURO(D.(BRION!
CASTRO!
Associate!Justice!
Associate!Justice!

DIOSDADO(M.(PERALTA! LUCAS(P.(BERSAMIN!
Associate!Justice! Associate!Justice!

MARIANO(C.(DEL(CASTILLO! ROBERTO(A.(ABAD!
Associate!Justice! Associate!Justice!
 MARTIN(S.(VILLARAMA,(JR.!
Associate!Justice!

REVISED(RULE(ON(CHILDREN(IN(CONFLICT(WITH(THE(LAW!

Section(1.!Applicability/of/the/Rule.!H!This!Rule!shall!apply!to!all!criminal!
cases!involving!children!in!conflict!with!law.!

A!child!in!conflict!with!the!law!is!a!person!who!at!the!time!of!the!commission!
of!the!offense!is!below!eighteen!(18)!years!old!but!not!less!than!fifteen!(15)!
years!and!one!(1)!day!old.!

This!Rule!shall!not!apply!to!a!person!who!at!the!time!of!the!initial!contact!as!
defined!in!Sec.!4!(q)!of!this!Rule!shall!have!reached!the!age!of!eighteen!
(18)!in!which!case,!the!regular!rules!on!criminal!procedure!shall!apply!
without!prejudice!to!the!rights!granted!under!Secs.!53,54,55!and!56!of!this!
Rule.!

Section(2.!Objective.!H!The!objective!of!this!Rule!is!to!ensure!that!the!justice!
system!treats!every!child!in!conflict!with!the!law!in!a!manner!that!recognizes!
and!upholds!human!dignity!and!worth,!and!instills!in!the!child!respect!for!the!
fundamental!rights!ad!freedom!of!others.!The!Rule!considers!the!
developmental!age!of!the!child!and!the!desirability!of!the!child's!
reintegration!in!the!assumption!of!a!constructive!role!in!society!in!
accordance!with!the!principles!of!balanced!and!restorative!justice.!

To!attain!this!objective,!the!Rule!seeks:!

(a)!To!provide!childHappropriate!proceedings,!including!programs!and!
services!for!crime!prevention,!diversion,!rehabilitation,!reHintegration!
and!aftercare!to!ensure!the!normal!growth!and!development!of!the!
child!in!conflict!with!the!law_!

(b)!To!provide!procedural!rules!dealing!with!children!in!conflict!with!the!
law!that!take!into!account!their!distinct!circumstances,!assure!all!
parties!of!a!fair!hearing!with!each!party's!constitutional!and!statutory!
rights!recognized!and!respected,!and!ensure!that!appropriate!
disposition!measures!are!implemented!by!law!enforcers!social!services!
and!the!courts_!
 (c)!To!divert!from!the!formal!justice!system!children!in!conflict!with!the!
law!who!can!be!cared!for!or!placed!under!community!continuum!
alternative!programs!of!treatment,!training!and!rehabilitation!in!
conformity!with!the!principles!of!balanced!and!restorative!justice_!

(d)!To!deal!with!the!child!in!a!family!environment!whenever!possible,!
and!to!separate!the!child!from!the!parents!only!when!necessary!for!the!
child's!welfare!or!in!the!interest!of!public!safety.!

(e)!To!remove!from!children!in!conflict!with!the!law!the!stigma!of!
criminality!and!criminal!behavior_!

(f)!to!promote,!facilitate!and!implement!in!administrative!and!judicial!
proceedings!respect!for!the!view!of!the!child_!

(g)!To!provide!for!the!care,!protection!and!wholesome!moral,!mental,!
and!physical!development!of!children!in!conflict!with!the!law_!and!

(h)!To!promote!and!protect!the!rights!and!interest!of!children!as!zones!
of!peace!in!situations!of!armed!conflict,!but!who!are!alleged!to!be!in!
conflict!with!the!law.!(a)!

Section(3.!Interpretation.!H!This!Rule!shall!be!interpreted!liberally!to!
promote!the!best!interest!of!the!child!in!conformity!with!Philippine!laws,!the!
United!Nations'!Convention!on!the!Rights!of!the!Child!and!relevant!
international!treaties!and!protocols.!

Section(4.!Definitions.!H!As!used!in!this!Rule,!

(a)!Age/of/criminal/responsibility!is!the!age!when!a!child,!fifteen!(15)!
years!and!one!(1)!day!old!or!above!but!below!eighteen!(18)!years!of!
age,!commits!an!offense!with!discernment.!

(b)!Bail!refers!to!the!security!given!for!the!release!of!the!child!in!
custody!of!the!law,!furnished!by!the!child,!the!child's!parent,!guardian,!
or!a!bondsman,!to!guarantee!the!child's!appearance!before!the!court.!
Bail!may!be!posted!in!a!form!such!as!corporate!security,!property!bond!
or!cash!deposit.!

(c)!Balanced/and/Restorative/Justice!is!a!principle!in!juvenile!justice!
that!requires!a!process!of!resolving!conflicts!with!the!participation!of!
the!victim,!the!child!in!conflict!with!the!law,!and!the!community.!It!seeks!
to!obtain!reparation!for!the!victim_!reconciliation!to!the!victim,!the!child!
in!conflict!with!the!law,!and!the!community,!and!the!reassurance!that!
the!child!in!conflict!with!the!law!can!be!reintegrated!into!society.!It!also!
enhances!public!safety!by!involving!the!victim,!the!child!in!conflict!with!
the!law,!and!the!community!in!prevention!strategies.!(a)!

(d)!Best/interest/of/the/child!refers!to!the!totality!of!congenial!to!the!
survival,!protection!and!feelings!of!security!of!the!child!and!most!
encouraging!to!the!child's!physical,!psychological!and!emotional!
development.!It!also!means!the!least!detrimental!available!alternative!
for!safeguarding!the!growth!and!development.!

(e)!Case/study/report!is!a!written!report!on!the!social!case!inquiry!
conducted!by!the!social!worker!of!the!local!government!unit!or!the!
Department!of!Social!Welfare!and!Development!or!by!the!social!worker!
designated!by!the!court!on!the!social,!cultural,!economic!and!legal!
status!or!condition!of!the!child!in!conflict!in!the!law.!It!shall!include,!
among!other!matters,!the!child's!development!age_!educational!
attainment_!family!and!social!relationships_!the!quality!of!the!child's!
peer!group_!the!strengths!and!weaknesses!of!the!family_!parental!
control_!the!child's!attitude!towards!the!offense!_!the!harm!or!damage!
done!to!others!resulting!from!the!offenses,!if!any_!and!the!attitude!of!
the!parents!towards!the!child's!responsibility!for!the!offense.!The!social!
worker!shall!also!include!an!initial!determination!of!the!child's!
discernment!in!the!commission!of!the!offense.!(a)!

(f)!Community/continuum!refers!to!the!aftercare!of!a!child!in!conflict!
with!the!law!and!is!a!provides!continuous!guidance!and!support!to!the!
child!in!conflict!with!the!law!upon!release!from!rehabilitation!and!
subsequent!reintegration!into!society.!Community!continuum!for!the!
child!includes!timely!release,!suitable!residence,!food,!clothing,!
available!employment!and!sufficient!means!to!facilitate!successful!
reintegration!in!local!government!unit!and!other!appropriate!
agencies.!(n)!

(g)!Corporal/punishment!is!any!kind!of!physical!punishment!inflicted!on!
the!body!as!distinguished!from!pecuniary!punishment!or!fine.!
(h)!Court!refers!to!a!designated!family!court!or!in!places!where!there!
are!no!designated!family!courts,!any!regional!trial!court!hearing!family!
and!youth!cases.!(a)!

(i)!Deprivation/of/Liberty!refers!to!any!form!of!detention!or!
imprisonment,!or!to!the!placement!of!a!child!in!conflict!with!the!law!in!a!
public!or!private!custodial!setting,!from!which!the!child!in!conflict!with!
the!law!is!not!permitted!to!leave!at!will!except!by!order!of!any!judicial!
or!administrative!authority.!(a)!

(j)!Discernment!means!the!capacity!of!the!child!at!the!time!of!the!
commission!of!the!offense!to!understand!the!differences!between!right!
and!wrong!and!the!consequences!of!the!wrongful!act.!

(k)!Disposition/conference!is!a!meeting!held!by!the!court!with!the!social!
worker!who!prepared!the!case!study!report,!together!with!the!child!in!
conflict!with!the!law!and!the!parents!or!guardian!ad!litem,!and!the!
child's!counsel!for!the!purpose!of!determining!the!disposition!measures!
appropriate!to!the!personal!and!special!circumstances!of!the!child.!

(l)!Diversion!refers!to!an!alternative!childHappropriate!process!of!
determining!the!responsibility!and!treatment!of!a!child!in!conflict!with!
the!law!on!the!basis!of!the!child's!social,!cultural,!economic!
psychological!or!educational!background!without!resorting!to!formal!
court!adjudication.!

(m)!Diversion/programs!refer!to!programs!the!child!in!conflict!the!law!is!
required!to!undergo!in!lieu!of!formal!court!proceedings.!

(n)!Expedited/Transfer/of/a/Child!is!a!process!where!a!child!who!
commits!an!offense!is!immediately!brought!by!the!apprehending!officer!
or!private!individual!to!a!social!worker!for!preliminary!determination!of!
discernment.!(n)!

(o)!Guardian/Ad/Litem!is!a!person!appointed!by!the!court!to!protect!the!
best!interest!of!the!child.!(a)!

(p)!In/conflict/with/the/law!means!take!into!custody,!detained,!or!
charged!with!the!commission!of!an!act!defined!and!punished!as!a!
crime!or!offense!under!the!law,!including!violations!of!traffic!laws,!rules!
and!regulations,!and!ordinances!of!local!government!units.!(a)!
(q)!Initial/contact!refers!to!apprehension!or!taking!into!custody!of!a!
child!in!conflict!with!the!law!by!law!enforcement!officers!or!private!
citizens.!It!includes!the!time!the!child!alleged!to!be!in!conflict!with!the!
law!receives!a!subpoena!under!Section!3!(b)!of!Rule!112!of!the!
Revised!Rules!of!Criminal!Procedure!or!summons!under!Section!
6!(a)!or!Section!9(b)!of!the!same!Rule!in!cases!that!do!not!require!
preliminary!investigation,!or!where!there!is!no!necessity!to!place!the!
child!alleged!to!be!in!conflict!with!the!law!under!immediate!custody.!(n)!

(r)!Intake/report!is!the!initial!written!report!containing!the!personal!and!
other!circumstances!of!the!child!in!conflict!with!the!law!prepared!by!the!
social!worker!assigned!to!assist!the!child!entering!the!justice!system.!

(s)!Intervention/programs!refer!to!a!series!of!individualized!treatment!
activities!or!programs!designed!to!address!issues!that!caused!the!child!
to!commit!an!offense!.!These!may!include!counseling,!skills,!training,!
education,!and!other!activities!that!are!aimed!to!improve!and!enhance!
the!child's!psychological,!emotional!and!psychosocial!well!being.!(n)!

(t)!Law/Enforcement/Officer!refers!to!the!person!in!authority!or!an!
agent!as!defined!in!Article!152!of!the!Revised!Penal!Code,!including!
a!barangay/tanod.!(n)!

(u)!NonHSerious/Offense!refers!to!an!offense!where!the!imposable!
penalty!for!the!crime!committed!is!not!more!than!six!(6)!years!
imprisonment.!(n)!

(v)!Probation!is!an!alternative!disposition,!ordered!by!the!court,!under!
which!a!child!in!conflict!with!the!law!is!released!after!conviction!and!
sentence!and!permitted!to!remain!at!home!or!with!an!appropriate!
custodian,!subject!to!certain!terms!and!conditions!imposed!by!the!
court.!

(w)!Recognizance!is!an!undertaking!in!lieu!of!a!bond,!assumed!by!a!
mother!or!father,!or!appropriate!guardian!or!custodian,!or!in!their!
absence,!the!nearest!relative,!or!any!responsible!member!of!the!
community!to!assume!custody!of!a!child!in!conflict!with!the!law!and!be!
responsible!for!the!appearance!of!the!child!in!court!whenever!required!
during!the!pendency!of!the!case.!(a)!
(x)!Segregation!refers!to!the!procedure!where,!upon!initial!contact!with!
a!child!alleged!to!have!committed!an!offense,!the!law!enforcer!places!
the!child!in!a!separate!and!different!area!from!adult!detention!
prisoners,!and!ensures!that!female!children!are!separated!from!male!
children.!(n)!

(y)!Serious/offense!refers!to!an!offense!where!the!imposable!penalty!
for!the!offense!committed!exceeds!six!(6)!years!imprisonment.!(a)!

(z)!Status/offenses!refers!to!offenses!that!discriminate!only!against!a!
child,!such!as!curfew!violations,!truancy,!parental!disobedience!and!
the!like.!(n)!

(aa)!Suspended/sentence!is!the!holding!in!abeyance!of!the!service!of!
the!sentence!imposed!by!the!court!upon!a!finding!of!guilt!of!the!child!in!
conflict!with!the!law,!whereby!the!child!undergoes!rehabilitation!within!
a!fixed!period!under!such!terms!and!conditions!as!may!be!ordered!by!
the!court.!(n)!

(bb)!Victimless/Crimes!refer!to!offenses!where!there!are!no!private!
offended!parties.!(n)!

(cc)!Youth/detention/home!refers!to!a!24Hhour!childHcaring!institution!
managed!by!accredited!local!government!units!and!licensed!and/or!
accredited!nonHgovernment!organizations!providing!shortHterm!
residential!care!for!children!in!conflict!with!the!law!and!where!the!child!
may!be!physically!restricted!by!order!of!any!judicial,!administrative!or!
other!public!authority,!and!from!which!the!child!is!not!permitted!to!
leave!at!will,!pending!court!disposition!of!the!charge!or!transfer!to!other!
agencies!or!jurisdiction.!(a)!

(dd)!Youth/rehabilitation/center!refers!to!a!24Hhour!residential!care!
facility!managed!by!the!Department!of!Social!Welfare!and!
Development,!local!government!units,!licensed!and/or!accredited!nonH
government!organizations!monitored!by!the!Department!of!Social!
Welfare!and!Development.!The!Center!provides!care,!treatment!and!
rehabilitation!services!for!children!in!conflict!with!the!law!under!a!
structured!therapeutic!environment!through!the!guidance!of!a!trained!
staff,!where!the!physical!mobility!of!the!children!may!be!restricted!
pending!court!disposition!of!their!cases.!(a)!
Section(5.!Determination/of/Age.!H!The!child!in!conflict!with!the!law!shall!
enjoy!the!presumption!of!minority!and!shall!enjoy!all!the!rights!of!a!child!in!
conflict!with!the!law!until!proven!to!be!eighteen!years!old!or!older!at!the!time!
of!the!commission!of!the!offense.!The!age!of!the!child!shall!be!determined!
according!to!the!following!rules:!

(1)!The!best!evidence!to!prove!the!age!of!a!child!is!an!original!or!
certified!true!copy!of!the!certificate!of!live!birth_!

(2)!In!the!absence!of!a!certificate!of!live!birth,!similar!authentic!
documents!such!as!baptismal!certificates!and!school!records!or!any!
pertinent!document!that!shows!the!date!of!birth!of!the!child_!

(3)!In!the!absence!of!the!documents!under!paragraphs!1!and!2!of!this!
section!due!to!loss,!destruction!or!unavailability,!the!testimony!of!the!
child,!the!testimony!of!a!member!of!the!family!related!to!the!child!by!
affinity!or!consanguinity!who!is!qualified!to!testify!on!matters!respecting!
pedigree!such!as!the!exact!age!or!date!of!birth!of!the!child!pursuant!to!
Sec.40,!Rule!130!of!the!Rules!on!Evidence,!the!testimonies!of!the!
other!persons,!the!physical!appearance!of!the!child!and!other!relevant!
evidence,!shall!suffice.!

Section(6.!Burden/of/Proof/of/Age.!H!Any!person!alleging!the!age!of!the!
child!in!conflict!with!the!law!has!the!burden!of!proving!the!age!of!such!child.!

If!the!age!of!the!child!is!contested!prior!to!the!filing!of!the!information!in!
court,!a!case!for!determination!of!age!under!summary!proceeding!may!be!
filed!before!a!court!which!shall!render!its!decision!within!24!hours!from!
receipt!of!the!appropriate!pleadings!of!all!the!parties.!(n)!

In!all!cases!involving!a!child,!the!court!shall!make!a!categorical!finding!as!to!
the!age!of!the!child.!

Section(7.!Exemption/from/Criminal/Liability.!H!A!child!fifteen!years!of!age!or!
under!at!the!time!of!the!commission!of!the!offense!shall!be!exempt!from!
criminal!liability.!However,!the!child!shall!be!subjected!to!an!intervention!
program!as!provided!for!in!Republic!Act!No.!9344!when!consented!to!by!the!
child!and!the!parents.!(a)!

Exemption!from!criminal!liability!does!not!include!exemption!from!civil!
liability!which!shall!be!enforced!in!accordance!with!the!provisions!of!Article!
221!of!the!Family!Code!in!relation!to!Article!101!of!the!Revised!Penal!Code!
and!Rule!111!of!the!Revised!Rules!of!Criminal!Procedure.!If!the!act!or!
omission!of!the!child!involves!a!quasiHdelict,!Article!2180!of!the!Civil!Code!
shall!apply.!

Section(8.!Procedure/for/Handling/Children/Exempted/from/Criminal/
Liability.!H!If!it!is!determined!at!the!initial!contact!that!the!child!is!15!years!of!
age!or!below,!the!procedure!provided!in!Section!20,!Republic!Act!No.!9344!
shall!be!observed!as!follows:!

(a)!The!authority!who!had!the!initial!contact!with!the!child!shall!
immediately!release!the!child!to!the!custody!of!the!mother!or!father,!or!
the!appropriate!guardian!or!custodian,!or!in!their!absence,!the!nearest!
relative.!

(b)!The!authority!shall!immediately!notify!the!local!social!welfare!and!
development!officer!of!the!taking!of!the!child!into!custody.!

(c)!The!local!social!welfare!and!development!officer!shall,!with!the!
consent!of!the!child!and!the!person!having!custody!over!the!child,!
determine!the!appropriate!intervention!programs!for!the!child.!

(d)!If!the!child's!parents,!guardians!or!nearest!relatives!cannot!be!
located,!or!if!they!refuse!to!take!custody,!the!child!may!be!released!to!
any!of!the!following:!a!duly!registered!nongovernmental!or!religious!
organization_!a!barangay!official!or!a!member!of!the!Barangay!Council!
for!the!Protection!of!Children_!a!local!social!welfare!and!development!
officer_!or,!when!and!where!appropriate,!the!Department!of!Social!
Welfare!and!Development.!

(e)!If!the!child!has!been!found!by!the!local!social!welfare!and!
development!office!to!be!abandoned,!neglected!or!abused!by!the!
parents,!or!if!the!parents!and!the!child!do!not!consent!to!or!do!not!
comply!with!the!prevention!program,!the!Department!of!Social!Welfare!
and!Development!or!the!Local!Social!Welfare!and!Development!Office!
shall!file!before!the!court!a!petition!for!involuntary!commitment!
pursuant!to!Presidential!Decree!No.!603,!otherwise!known!as!"The/
Child/and/Youth/Welfare/Code."!(a)!
Section(9.!Procedure/for/Children/Not/Exempted/from/Criminal/Liability.!H!A!
child!fifteen!(15)!years!and!one!(1)!day!old!or!above!but!below!eighteen!(18)!
years!of!age!at!the!time!of!the!commission!of!the!offense!shall,!at!the!sound!
discretion!of!the!court!and!subject!to!its!supervision,!be!released!on!
recognizance!to!the!care!of!the!willing!and!responsible!mother!or!father,!or!
appropriate!guardian!or!custodian,!or,!in!their!absence,!the!nearest!relative.!
However,!if!the!prosecution!determines!that!the!child!acted!with!
discernment,!the!child!shall!be!proceeded!against!in!accordance!with!Secs.!
25!to!29!or,!in!case!of!diversion,!Secs.!31!to!38!of!this!Rule.!

Section(10.!Determination/of/Discernment.!H!Discernment!is!preliminarily!
determined!by!a!social!worker!and!finally!by!the!court!in!the!case!of!a!child!
charged!with!a!nonHserious!offense.!In!all!other!cases,!discernment!is!
determined!by!the!court.!

The!determination!of!discernment!shall!take!into!account!the!ability!of!a!
child!to!understand!the!moral!and!psychological!components!of!criminal!
responsibility!and!the!consequences!of!the!wrongful!act_!and!whether!a!
child!can!be!held!responsible!for!essentially!antisocial!behavior.!

Section(11.!Duties/of/a/Person/in/Authority/Taking/a/Child/into/Custody.!H!
Any!person!taking!into!custody!a!child!in!conflict!with!the!law!shall:!

(a)!Assign!an!alias!to!the!child_!

(b)!Ensure!that!the!blotter!details!containing!the!true!name!of!the!child,!
if!any,!are!modified,!to!reflect!the!alias!by!which!the!child!shall!be!
known!throughout!the!proceedings_!

(c)!Explain!to!the!child!in!simple!language!and!in!a!dialect!that!can!be!
understood!the!reason!for!placing!the!child!under!custody,!and!the!
offense!allegedly!committed_!

(d)!Advise!the!child!of!his/her!constitutional!rights!in!a!language!or!
dialect!understandable!to!the!child_!

(e)!Present!proper!identification!to!the!child_!

(f)!Refrain!from!using!vulgar!or!profane!words!and!from!sexually!
harassing!or!abusing,!or!making!sexual!advances!on!the!child_!
(g)!Avoid!displaying!or!using!any!firearm,!weapon,!handcuffs!or!other!
instrument!of!force!or!restraint,!unless!absolutely!necessary!and!only!
after!all!methods!of!control!have!been!exhausted!and!have!failed_!

(h)!Avoid!violence!or!unnecessary!force!and!refrain!from!subjecting!the!
child!to!greater!restraint!than!is!necessary!for!apprehension!and!
custody_!

(i)!Ensure!that!a!body!search!of!the!child!is!done!only!by!a!law!
enforcement!officer!of!the!same!gender!as!that!of!the!child_!

(j)!Ensure!expedited!transfer!of!the!child!by!immediately,!or!not!later!
than!eight!(8)!hours!after!apprehension,!turning!over!custody!of!the!
child!to!the!local!social!welfare!and!development!office!or!other!
accredited!nonHgovernment!organizations_!

(k)!Notify!the!child's!parents,!guardians!or!custodians!or!in!their!
absence,!the!child's!nearest!relative!and!the!Public!Attorney's!Office!of!
the!child's!apprehension_!

(l)!Ensure!that!the!child!is!not!locked!up!in!a!jail!or!detention!cell!during!
the!investigation_!

(m)!Bring!the!child!immediately!to!an!available!government!medical!or!
health!officer!for!a!thorough!physical!and!mental!examination_!

(n)!Ensure!that!should!detention!of!the!child!in!conflict!with!the!law!be!
necessary,!the!segregation!of!the!child!be!secured!in!quarters!
separate!from!that!of!the!opposite!sex!and!adult!offenders,!except!
where!a!child!is!taken!into!custody!for!reasons!related!to!armed!
conflict,!either!as!combatant,!courier,!guide!or!spy,!and!families!are!
accommodated!as!family!units!in!which!case,!the!child!shall!not!be!
separated!from!the!family_!

(o)!Record!all!the!procedures!undertaken!in!the!initial!investigation!
including!the!following:!whether!handcuffs!or!other!instruments!of!
restraint!were!used,!and!if!so,!the!reason!for!such!use_!that!the!parents!
or!guardian!of!the!child,!the!Department!of!Social!Welfare!and!
Development,!and!the!Public!Attorney's!Office!were!informed!of!the!
taking!into!custody!of!the!child!and!the!details!thereof_!the!measures!
that!were!undertaken!to!determine!the!age!of!child,!and!the!precise!
 details!of!the!physical!and!medical!examination!or!in!case!of!failure!to!
submit!a!child!to!such!examination,!the!reason!therefore_!and!

(p)!Ensure!that!all!statements!signed!by!the!child!during!the!
investigation!are!witnessed!and!signed!by!the!child's!parents!or!
guardian,!social!worker!or!legal!counsel!in!attendance.!(n)!

Section(12.!Rights/of/a/Child/Under/Custody.!H!At!the!custodial!
investigation,!a!child!who!has!been!taken!into!custody!shall!have!the!
following!rights:!

(a)!At!the!police!station,!to!be!immediately!assisted!by!a!lawyer!and!a!
social!worker!who!shall!make!sure!that!the!child!is!effectively!informed!
of!his/her!rights,!as!far!as!the!child's!maturity!and!discernment!allow_!

(b)!To!demand!that!the!questioning!or!interrogation!take!place!in!
conditions!that!respect!the!rights!of!the!child!and!are!complaint!with!
childHsensitive!procedural!rules_!

(c)!To!have!the!child's!family!located!and!notified!with!dispatch_!

(d)!To!be!informed,!together!with!the!parents,!guardians!or!custodians!
or!nearest!relatives,!by!the!social!welfare!and!development!officer!of!
the!local!government!unit!or!of!the!Department!of!Social!Welfare!and!
Development!of!the!consequences!of!the!offense!alleged!to!have!been!
committed!with!a!view!towards!counseling!and!rehabilitation,!diversion!
from!criminal!justice!system!and!reparation!if!appropriate_!

(e)!To!have!the!results!of!the!child's!medical!and!dental!examination!
kept!confidential!unless!otherwise!ordered!by!the!court.!Whenever!
medical!treatment!for!any!physical!or!mental!defect!is!necessary,!to!
demand!that!steps!must!be!immediately!taken!by!the!medical!officer!to!
provide!the!child!with!the!necessary!and!proper!treatment_!

(f)!To!have!the!right!of!privacy!respected!and!protected!at!all!times,!
including!the!utilization!of!all!measures!necessary!to!promote!this!right,!
including!the!exclusion!of!the!media_!and!

(g)!While!under!investigation,!not!to!be!fingerprinted!or!photographed!
in!a!humiliating!and!degrading!manner.!
Section(13.!Taking/Custody/of/a/Child/Without/a/Warrant.!H!The!law!
enforcement!officer!or!a!private!person!taking!into!custody!a!child!in!conflict!
with!the!law!without!a!warrant!shall!observe!the!provisions!in!Sections!5,!8!
and!9!of!Rule!113!of!the!Revised!Rules!of!Criminal!Procedure!and!shall!
forthwith!deliver!the!child!to!the!nearest!police!station.!The!child!shall!be!
proceeded!against!in!accordance!with!Section!7!of!Rule!112!of!the!Rules!of!
Criminal!Procedure.!

Section(14.!Conduct/of/Initial/Investigation/by/the/Police.!H!The!police!officer!
conducting!the!initial!investigation!of!a!child!conflict!with!the!law!shall!do!so!
in!the!presence!of!either!or!both!of!the!parents,!guardian!or!custodian,!or!in!
their!absence,!the!nearest!relative!of!the!child,!the!child's!counsel!of!choice,!
or!a!lawyer!from!the!Public!Attorney's!Office,!and!the!local!social!welfare!
officer.!A!representative!of!a!nonHgovernment!organization,!religious!group,!
or!member!of!the!Barangay!Council!for!the!Protection!of!Children!shall!be!
allowed!to!be!present!at!the!investigation!in!the!absence!of!the!parents,!
guardian,!relative,!or!social!welfare!officer.!(a)!

Section(15.!Guidelines/for/Fingerprinting/and/Photographing/of/the/Child.!H!
The!following!guidelines!shall!be!observed!when!fingerprinting!or!
photographing!the!child:!

(a)!The!child's!fingerprint!and!photograph!files!shall!be!kept!separate!
from!those!of!adults!and!shall!be!kept!confidential.!They!may!be!
inspected!by!law!enforcement!officers!only!when!necessary!for!the!
effective!discharge!of!their!duties!and!upon!prior!authority!of!the!court_!
and!

(b)!The!fingerprint!and!photograph!shall!be!removed!from!the!files!and!
destroyed:!(1)!if!the!case!against!the!child!is!not!filed,!or!is!dismissed_!
or!(2)!when!the!child!reaches!twentyHone!(21)!years!of!age!and!there!is!
no!record!that!the!child!committed!an!offense!after!reaching!eighteen!
(18)!years!of!age.!

Section(16.!Intake/Report/by/the/Social/Welfare/Officer.!H!Upon!the!taking!
into!custody!of!a!child!in!conflict!with!the!law,!the!social!welfare!officer!
assigned!to!the!child!shall!immediately!undertake!a!preliminary!background!
investigation!of!the!child!and,!should!a!case!be!filed!in!court,!submit!to!the!
court!the!corresponding!intake!report!prior!to!the!arraignment.!
Section(17.!Filing/of/Criminal/Action.!H!A!criminal!action!may!be!instituted!
against!a!child!in!conflict!with!the!law!by!filing!a!complaint!with!the!
prosecutor.!

All!criminal!actions!commenced!by!complaint!or!information!shall!be!
prosecuted!under!the!direction!and!control!of!the!public!prosecutor!assigned!
to!the!court.!

Petitions!for!confinement!of!a!child!drug!dependent!shall!be!filed!under!
Section!21!of!the!Rule!on!Children!Charged!under!Republic!Act!No.!
9165.!(n)!

Section(18.!Prosecution/of/Civil/Action.!H!When!a!criminal!action!is!instituted!
against!a!child!in!conflict!with!the!law,!the!action!for!recovery!of!civil!liability!
arising!from!the!offense!charged!shall!be!governed!by!Rule!111!of!the!
Revised!Rules!of!Criminal!Procedure.!

Section(19.!Preliminary/Investigation.!H!As!far!as!consistent!with!this!Rule,!
the!preliminary!investigation!of!a!child!conflict!with!the!law!shall!be!governed!
by!Section!3!of!Rule!112!of!the!Revised!Rules!of!Criminal!Procedure.!A!
specially!trained!prosecutor!shall!be!assigned!to!conduct!the!inquest,!
preliminary!investigation!and!prosecution!of!the!case!involving!a!child!in!
conflict!with!the!law.!The!child,!on!the!other!hand,!shall!be!assisted!by!a!
private!lawyer!or!if!none,!a!lawyer!from!the!Public!Attorney's!Office.!If!there!
is!an!allegation!or!evidence!of!torture!or!illHtreatment!of!a!child!in!conflict!
with!the!law!during!custody!or!detention,!it!shall!be!the!duty!of!the!
prosecutor!to!investigate!the!same.!(n)!

Section(20.!Conduct/of/Preliminary/Investigation.!H!Preliminary!investigation!
shall!be!conducted!in!the!following!instances:!(a)!when!the!child!in!conflict!
with!the!law!does!not!qualify!for!diversion_!(b)!when!the!child,!the!parents!or!
guardian!do!not!agree!to!diversion!as!provided!in!Sections!27!and!28!of!
Republic!Act!No.!9344_!or!(c)!when,!after!considering!the!assessment!and!
recommendation!of!the!social!worker,!the!prosecutor!determines!that!
diversion!is!not!appropriate!for!the!child!in!conflict!with!the!law.!(n)!

At!the!preliminary!investigation,!should!there!arise!a!need!for!clarificatory!
questions!to!be!propounded!on!the!child,!the!Rule!on!Examination!of!a!Child!
Witness!shall!apply.!
Section(21.!Filing/of/Information.!H!If!the!investigating!prosecutor!finds!
probable!cause!to!hold!the!child!in!conflict!with!the!law!for!trial,!there!being!
discernment,!the!corresponding!Resolution!and!Information!shall!be!
prepared!for!the!approval!by!the!provincial!or!city!prosecutor,!a!s!the!case!
may!be.!The!child!and!the!mother!or!father,!or!appropriate!guardian!or!
custodian,!or!in!the!absence!thereof,!the!nearest!relative,!and!the!child's!
private!counsel!or!lawyer!from!the!Public!Attorney's!Office!shall!be!furnished!
forthwith!a!copy!of!the!approved!resolution!and!the!Information.!

The!Information!shall!be!filed!with!the!court!within!fortyHfive!(45)!days!from!
the!start!of!the!preliminary!investigation.!(n)!

No!Information!shall!be!filed!against!a!child!for!the!commission!of!the!
following:!

(a)!status!offences_!

(b)!vagrancy!and!prostitution!under!Section!202!of!the!Revised!Penal!
Code_!

(c)!mendicancy!under!Presidential!Decree!No.!1563_!and!

(d)!sniffing!of!rugby!under!Presidential!Decree!No.!1619.!

Children!taken!into!custody!for!the!foregoing!shall,!with!their!consent!and!
that!of!their!parents,!guardian!or!custodian,!instead!undergo!appropriate!
counseling!and!treatment!program.!(n)!

Section(22.!Duties/of/the/Clerk/of/Court/Upon/Receipt/of/information.!H!The!
Clerk!of!Court,!upon!receipt!of!the!Information,!shall:!

(1)!Maintain!a!separate!case!docket!or!logbook!for!cases!involving!
children!in!conflict!with!the!law.!Whenever!possible,!the!Clerk!of!Court!
shall!use!color!coding!or!other!method!to!easily!distinguish!the!records!
of!children!in!conflict!with!the!law!from!the!other!case!records_!

(2)!Determine!whether!the!offense!charged!qualifies!for!diversion,!that!
is!it!punishable!by!imprisonment!of!not!more!than!twelve!(12)!years,!
regardless!of!fine,!or!fine!alone!regardless!of!the!amount_!
 (3)!If!the!crime!charged!is!punishable!by!such!imprisonment,!
immediately!assign!a!temporary!case!number!in!accordance!with!Sec.!
23!of!this!Rule!and!raffle!off!the!case!to!a!court!so!that!its!Diversion!
Committee!can!immediately!undertake!the!appropriate!action!under!
Section!33!of!this!Rule_!and!

(4)!If!the!crime!charged!does!not!quality!for!diversion!because!it!is!
punishable!by!imprisonment!of!more!than!twelve!(12)!years,!the!case!
shall!be!assigned!a!regular!criminal!case!docket!number!raffled!off!to!a!
court!for!formal!proceedings.!(n)!

Section(23.!Docketing/of/the/Case!H!a!case!that!qualifies!for!diversion!under!
paragraph!3!of!the!preceding!Section!shall!not!be!docketed!as!a!regular!
criminal!case!but!instead!shall!be!assigned!a!temporary!case!number!as!
follows:!CICLH(no.)!___H!(year)!___!HD!(which!means!diversion),!before!the!
same!is!raffled!off!to!the!appropriate!court.!

Section(24.!Venue!H!Subject!to!the!provisions!of!Section!15,!Rule!110!of!the!
Revised!Rules!of!Criminal!Procedure,!any!criminal!or!civil!action!involving!a!
child!in!conflict!with!the!law!shall!be!instituted!and!tried!in!the!appropriate!
court!nearest!the!place!where!the!offense!was!committed!or!where!any!of!
its!essential!elements!occurred.!

Section(25.!Released/of/Children/on/Recognizance/to/the/Parents,/
Guardian,/Custodian/or/Nearest/Relative.!H!The!release!of!a!child!from!a!
custody!during!the!pendency!of!the!case!involving!a!nonHserious!offense!as!
defined!in!Sec.!4!(u)!of!this!rule!may!be!ordered!by!the!court!only!after!a!
hearing!for!that!purpose,!and!upon!favorable!recommendation!of!the!social!
worker!assigned!to!the!child,!with!the!conformity!of!the!public!prosecutor!
and!the!private!complainant.!The!child!shall!be!released!to!the!custody!of!a!
willing!and!responsible!mother!or!father,!or!appropriate!guardian!or!
custodian!or!in!their!absence,!the!nearest!relative,!who!shall!be!responsible!
for!the!child's!good!behavior!and!appearance!in!court!whenever!required.!

No!child!shall!be!ordered!detained!in!jail!pending!trial!or!hearing!of!the!
child's!case,!subject!to!the!provisions!of!this!Rule.!(n)!

Section(26.!Commitment/and/transfer/to/a/youth/Rehabilitation/Center.!H!A!
child!charged!with!nonHserious!offense!as!defined!in!Section!4!(u)!of!this!
Rule,!unless!released!on!bail!or!recognizance,!may!be!transferred!to!a!
youth!detention!home!rehabilitation!center!or!other!appropriate!facility!such!
as!the!Department!of!Social!Welfare!and!Development!which!shall!ensure!
the!appearance!of!the!child!in!court.!

In!the!absence!of!a!youth!detention!home!established!by!the!local!
government!pursuant!to!Section!8!of!the!Family!Courts!Acts,!in!the!city!or!
municipality!where!the!child!resides!or,!a!local!rehabilitation!center!
recognized!by!the!government!in!the!province,!city!or!municipality!within!the!
jurisdiction!of!the!court,!or!the!Department!of!Social!Welfare!and!
Development!or!other!appropriate!local!rehabilitation!center,!the!youth!shall!
be!placed!under!the!care!of!a!provincial,!city!or!municipality!jail!which!shall!
ensure!the!appearance!of!the!child!in!court!when!so!required.!(a)!

Section(27.!Bail/as/a/Matter/of/right.!H!All!children!in!conflict!with!the!law!
shall!be!admitted!to!bail!as!a!matter!of!right!before!final!conviction!of!an!
offense!not!punishable!by!reclusion!perpetua!life!imprisonment.!

Section(28.!When/Bail/Not/a/Matter/of/Right.!H!No!child!charged!with!an!
offense!punishable!by!reclusion/perpetua!or!life!imprisonment!shall!be!
admitted!to!bail!when!evidence!of!guilt!is!strong.!In!this!case,!the!court!shall!
commit!the!to!a!youth!detention!home!or!youth!rehabilitation!center,!or!in!
the!absence!thereof,!to!the!care!of!a!provincial,!city!or!municipal!jail!as!
provided!for!in!Section!27!of!this!Rule,!which!shall!be!responsible!for!the!
appearance!of!the!child!in!court!whenever!required.!

Section(29.!Care/of/Child/in/Youth/Detention/Homes/or/Rehabilitation/
Centers.!H!The!child!in!conflict!with!the!law!who!has!been!transferred!to!a!
youth!rehabilitation!center!or!youth!detention!home!shall!be!provided!with!a!
healthy!environment.!If!the!child!is!placed!under!the!care!of!the!provincial,!
city!or!municipal!jail,!the!child!shall!be!provided!with!adequate!quarters!
separate!from!adults!and!prisoners!of!the!opposite!sex!depending!on!the!
age,!sex,!sexual!lifestyle,!and!such!other!circumstances!and!needs!of!the!
child.!

Section(30.!Case/Study/Report.!H!After!the!institution!of!the!criminal!action,!
the!social!worker!assigned!to!the!child!shall!immediately!undertake!a!social!
case!inquiry!of!the!child!and!the!child's!family,!the!child's!environment!and!
such!other!matters!relevant!to!aid!the!court!in!the!proper!disposition!of!the!
case.!The!report!shall!be!submitted!to!the!court!preferably!before!
arraignment.!If!not!available!at!that!time,!the!Report!must!be!submitted!to!
the!court!as!soon!as!possible.!

Section(31.!Diversion/Committee!H!In!each!court,!there!shall!be!organized!a!
Diversion!Committee!composed!of!its!Branch!Clerk!of!Court!as!chairperson_!
the!prosecutor,!a!lawyer!of!the!Public!Attorney's!Office!assigned!to!the!
court,!and!the!social!worker!assigned!by!the!court!to!the!child,!as!members.!

Section(32.!Proceedings/Before/Arraignment!H!The!Diversion!Committee!
shall!determine!if!the!child!can!be!diverted!and!referred!to!alternative!
measures!or!services.!Subject!to!pertinent!provisions!of!this!Rule!and!
pending!determination!of!diversion!by!the!Committee,!the!court!shall!release!
the!child!on!recognizance!to!the!parents,!guardian!or!custodian,!or!nearest!
relative_!or!if!this!is!not!advisable,!commit!the!child!to!an!appropriate!youth!
detention!home!or!youth!rehabilitation!center!which!shall!be!responsible!for!
the!presence!of!the!child!during!the!diversion!proceedings.!

If!the!Diversion!Committee!determines!that!diversion!is!not!proper,!or!when!
the!child!or!the!private!complainant!object!to!the!diversion,!or!when!there!is!
failure!if!the!diversion!program!if!undertaken!by!the!child,!it!shall!submit!a!
report!to!the!court!recommending!that!the!case!be!subjected!to!formal!
criminal!proceedings.!The!court!in!turn!shall!direct!the!transmittal!of!the!
records!of!the!case!to!the!Office!of!the!Clerk!of!Court!for!the!assignment!of!
a!regular!criminal!docket!number!to!the!case!as!follows:!CICL!Crim.!Case!
No.___H___(!year).!The!Office!of!the!Clerk!of!Court!shall!thereafter!return!
the!case!to!the!court!for!arraignment!and!formal!proceedings.!

Section(33.!Proceeding/Before/the/Diversion/Committee.!H!Upon!receipt!by!
the!Committee!of!a!case!for!diversion!from!the!Office!of!the!Clerk!of!Court,!
the!chairperson!shall!call!for!a!conference!with!notice!to!the!child,!the!
mother!or!father,!or!appropriate!guardian!or!custodian,!or!in!their!absence,!
the!nearest!relative,!the!child's!counsel,!and!the!private!complainant!and!
counsel!to!determine!if!the!child!can!be!diverted!to!the!community!
continuum!instead!of!formal!court!proceedings.!

In!determining!whether!diversion!is!appropriate!for!the!child,!the!Committee!
shall!consider!the!following!factors:!

(a)!The!past!records,!if!any,!involving!the!child!in!conflict!with!the!law_!
 (b)!The!likelihood!that!the!child!will!be!an!obvious!threat!to!
himself/herself!and!the!community_!

(c)!Whether!the!child!has!feeling!of!remorse!for!the!offense!committed_!

(d)!If!the!child!or!the!parent!are!indifferent!or!hostile_!and!whether!this!
will!increase!the!possibility!of!delinquent!behavior_!and!

(f)!If!communityHbased!programs!for!the!rehabilitation!and!reintegration!
of!the!child!are!available.!

If!the!Committee!finds!that!diversion!is!appropriate,!it!shall!design!a!
diversion!program!in!accordance!with!Section!34!of!this!Rule!for!the!
consideration!and!approval!of!the!court.!

Should!the!Committee!determine!that!diversion!is!not!appropriate,!it!shall!
make!the!corresponding!report!and!recommendation!in!accordance!with!
Section!31!of!this!Rule.!

The!Committee!cannot!recommend!diversion!in!case!the!child!or!the!private!
complainant!objects.!

Section(34.!Diversion/programs.!HThe!Committee!shall!design!a!diversion!
program!talking!into!consideration!the!individual!characteristics!and!peculiar!
circumstances!of!the!child!in!conflict!with!the!law.!The!program!shall!be!for!a!
specific!and!definite!period!and!may!include!any!or!a!combination!of!the!
following:!

(a)!Written!or!oral!reprimand!or!citation_!

(b)!Written!or!oral!apology_!

(c)!Payment!of!the!damage!caused_!

(e)!Payment!of!the!cost!of!the!proceedings_!

(f)!Return!of!the!property_!

(g)!Guidance!and!supervision!orders_!

(h)!Counseling!for!the!child!and!his!family_!
 (i)!Training,!seminar!and!lectures!on!(i)!anger!management!skills_!(ii)!
problemHsolving!and/or!conflict!resolution!skills_!(iii)!values!formation_!
and!(iv)!other!skills!that!will!aid!the!child!to!properly!deal!with!situations!
that!can!lead!to!a!repetition!of!the!offense_!

(j)!Participation!in!available!communityHbased!programs_!

(k)!WorkHdetail!program!in!the!community_!or!

(l)!Institutional!care!and!custody.!

The!Committee!shall!also!include!in!the!program!a!plan!that!will!secure!
satisfaction!of!the!civil!liability!of!the!child!in!accordance!with!Sec.!2180!of!
the!Civil!Code.!Inability!to!satisfy!the!civil!the!liability!shall!not!by!itself!be!a!
ground!to!discontinue!the!diversion!program!of!a!child.!On!the!other!hand,!
consent!to!diversion!by!the!child!or!payment!of!civil!indemnity!shall!not!in!
any!way!be!construed!as!admission!of!guilt!and!used!as!evidence!against!
the!child!in!the!event!that!the!case!is!later!on!returned!to!the!court!for!
arraignment!and!conduct!of!formal!proceedings.!

The!court!shall!act!on!the!recommendation!within!five!(5)!days!from!the!
termination!of!the!hearing.!

Section(36.!Undertaking.!H!In!all!cases!where!a!child!in!conflict!with!the!law!
is!granted!diversion!by!the!court,!the!child,!together!with!the!mother!or!
father,!or!appropriate!guardian!or!custodian,!or!in!their!absence,!the!nearest!
relative,!and!the!child's!counsel!shall!sign!an!undertaking!to!comply!with!
their!respective!duties!and!obligation!under!the!terms!and!conditions!of!the!
express!agreement!by!complainant!assisted!by!counsel!to!the!diversion!of!
the!child,!shall!be!approved!by!and!enforced!under!the!supervision!and!
control!of!the!court.!It!shall!contain!the!following!minimum!principal!terms!
and!conditions:!

(a)!The!child!shall!appear!before!the!social!worker!assigned!to!the!
child!by!the!Court!that!approved!the!diversion!program!at!least!once!a!
month!for!evaluation!of!its!effectiveness.!

(b)!The!child!shall!faithfully!comply!with!the!term!and!conditions!of!the!
program.!Should!the!child!fail!to!do!so,!the!Committee!shall!report!such!
failure!to!the!court!which!shall!set!a!showH!cause!hearing!with!notice!to!
the!child!and!private!complainant.!The!court!shall!thereafter!determine!
 whether!to!allow!the!child!to!continue!with!the!diversion!program,!or!to!
end!the!same!and!direct!that!the!case!now!undergo!a!formal!
proceeding.!

Should!the!child!be!permitted!by!the!court!to!reside!in!a!place!under!the!
jurisdiction!of!another!court,!control!and!supervision!over!such!child!shall!be!
transferred!to!the!appropriate!court!of!that!place.!The!diversion!records!of!
the!case!such!as!the!minutes!of!the!diversion!proceedings,!copy!of!the!
undertaking,!the!intake!and!case!study!reports!and!all!other!pertinent!
documents!shall!be!transmitted!to!the!court!to!which!jurisdiction!over!the!
diverted!child!has!been!transferred.!

Section(37.!Report/of/Social/Worker.!H!The!court!social!worker!shall!
conduct!regular!monthly!visit!to!the!child!undergoing!diversion!proceedings!
and!shall!submit!the!corresponding!reports!about!the!status!of!the!diverted!
child!to!the!committee.!At!any!time!before!or!at!the!end!diversion!period,!the!
committee!shall!file!with!trhe!court!of!the!report!recommending!termination!
or!extension!of!diveertion,!as!the!case!may!be.!The!report!and!
recommendation!shall!be!heard!by!the!court!within!fifteen!(15)!dyas!form!
receipt,!with!notice!to!the!members!of!the!Committee,!the!child,!the!mother!
or!father,!or!the!appropriate!guardian!or!custodian,!or!in!the!absensce!
thereof,!the!nearest!relative,!the!child's!councel,!and!the!complainant!and!
counsel.!

The!court!shall!thereafter!determine!whether!the!diversion!program!has!
been!full!and!satisfactorily!complied!with!

Section(38.!Closure/Order.!H!On!the!basis!of!the!report!and!
recommendation!of!the!Committee,!the!court!may:!

(a)!Issue!a!closure!order!terminating!the!case!if!it!is!convinced!that!the!
child!has!complied!satisfactorily!with!the!diversion!program_!or!

(b)!Extend!the!period!of!diversion!if!it!is!convinced!that!the!child!may!
still!be!rehabilitated_!or!

(c)!Order!the!case!to!undergo!formal!court!proceedings!if!it!finds!that!
the!child!has!not!complied!with!the!diversion!program,!is!incorrigible,!or!
that!the!program!is!not!serving!its!purpose.!
In!case!of!the!judiciallyHapproved!transfer!of!residence!of!the!child!in!conflict!
with!the!law,!the!court!to!which!supervision!of!the!diversion!program!was!
transferred!shall!make!the!proper!finding.!IF!it!finds!that!diversion!has!been!
successful.!It!shall!order!the!closure!of!the!case.!However,!if!it!determines!
that!diversion!has!failed!it!shall!return!the!case!to!the!original!court!for!
formal!criminal!proceedings.!

Section(39.!Rights/of/the/Child/in/Conflict/with/the/Law.!H!In!all!criminal!
proceedings,!the!child!in!conflict!with!the!law!shall!have!the!following!rights!
which!shall!be!respected!and!protected!by!the!court:!

(a)!To!be!presumed!innocent!until!guilt!is!proved!beyond!reasonable!
doubt_!

(b)!To!be!informed!promptly!and!directly!of!the!nature!and!cause!of!the!
charge!and!if!appropriate,!through!the!child's!mother,!father,!legal!
guardian,!or!appropriate!custodian_!

(c)!To!be!present!at!every!stage!of!the!proceedings,!from!arraignment!
to!promulgation!of!judgement.!The!child!may,!however,!waive!
presence!at!the!rial!pursuant!to!the!stipulations!set!forth!in!the!bail!
bond,!unless!presence!at!the!trial!is!specifically!ordered!by!the!court!
for!purposes!of!identification.!The!absence!of!the!child!without!
justifiable!cause!at!the!trial!of!which!there!was!due!notice!shall!be!
considered!a!waiver!of!the!right!of!the!child!to!be!present.!Escape!by!
the!child!under!custody!shall!be!deemed!a!waiver!of!the!right!to!be!
present!in!all!subsequent!hearings!until!custody!over!such!child!is!
gained_!

(d)!To!have!legal!and!other!appropriate!assistance!in!the!preparation!
and!presentation!of!the!child's!defense_!in!case!of!a!child!arrested!for!
reasons!related!to!armed!conflict,!to!have!immediate!free!legal!
assistance_!

(e)!If!detained,!to!be!released!(I)!on!recognizance!to!the!willing!and!
responsible!mother!or!father!or!appropriate!guardian!or!custodian,!or!in!
the!absence!thereof,!the!nearest!relative_!(ii)!on!bail_!or!(iii)!by!
commitment!to!a!youth!detention!home!or!youth!rehabilitation!
center,!1avvphi1!
(f)!Not!to!be!detained!in!a!jail!or!transferred!to!an!adult!facility!pending!
trial!or!hearing!of!the!case,!unless!detention!is!used!as!a!last!resort!
which!must!be!done!for!the!shortest!time!possible,!and!only!upon!order!
by!the!court_!

(g)!In!the!case!the!child!has!been!arrested!for!reasons!related!to!
armed!conflict,!either!as!combatant,!courier,!guide!or!spy:!

(i)!To!be!segregated!and!have!separate!detention!quarters!from!
adults!except!where!families!ate!accommodated!as!family!un!its_!

(ii)!To!immediate!free!legal!assistance!in!the!absence!of!private!
counsel_!

(iii)!To!immediate!notice!of!such!arrest!to!the!parents,!guardians!
or!custodians!or!nearest!relatives!of!the!child_!and_!

(iv)!To!be!released!on!recognizance!within!twentyHfour!(24)!hours!
to!the!custody!of!the!Department!of!Social!Welfare!and!
Development!or!any!responsible!member!of!the!community!as!
determined!by!the!court.!

(h)!To!testify!as!a!witness!in!his/her!own!behalf_!and!subject!to!crossH
examination!only!on!matters!covered!by!direct!examination.!The!child!
shall!not!be!compelled!to!be!a!witness!against!himself/herself!and!the!
child's!silence!shall!not!in!any!manner!prejudice!him/her_!

(i)!To!confront!and!crossHexamine!the!witnesses!against!him/her_!

(j)!To!have!compulsory!process!issued!to!secure!the!attendance!of!
witnesses!and!production!of!other!evidence!in!the!child's!behalf!

(k)!To!have!speedy!and!imparial!trial,!with!legal!or!other!appropriate!
assistance!and!preferable!in!the!presence!of!the!child's!parents!or!
legal!guardian!or!custodian,!unless!such!presence!is!considred!not!to!
be!in!the!best!interest!of!the!child!taking!into!account!the!latter's!age!or!
other!peculiar!circumstances_!

(l)!To!be!accorded!all!the!rights!un!der!the!Rule!on!Examination!of!a!
Child!Witness_!
 (m)!To!have!the!child's!privacy!fully!protected!in!all!stages!of!the!
proceedings_!and!

(n)!To!appeal!in!all!cases!allowed!and!in!the!manner!prescribed!by!
law.!

Section(40.!Rights/if/Victims/of/Offences/Committed/by/Children/in/Conflict/
with/the/Law.!H!In!any!case!involving!a!child!in!conflict!with!the!law,!the!
victim!has!the!following!rights:!

(1)!To!be!reasonably!protected!from!the!child!in!conflict!with!the!law_!

(2)!To!timely!notice!of!any!public!proceedings,!or!any!parole!
proceedings!involving!the!crime!or!of!any!release!or!escape!of!the!
child!in!conflict!with!the!law_!

(3)!Not!to!be!excluded!from!any!public!proceeding,!unless!the!court,!
after!receiving!any!clear!and!convincing!evidence,!determines!that!the!
testimony!by!the!victim!would!be!materially!altered!if!the!victim!heard!
other!testimony!in!that!proceeding.!

(4)!To!be!reasonably!heard!at!any!administrative!or!public!proceeding!
involving!diversion,!release,!plea,!suspension!of!sentence!and!
determination!of!disposition!measures,!or!any!parole!proceeding_!

(5)!To!confer!with!the!prosecutor!in!the!case_!

(6)!To!avail!of!legal!assistance!from!the!Public!Attorney's!Office,!
Integrated!Bar!of!the!Philippines.!any!other!legal!aid!office!or!any!law!
practitioner.1avvphi1!

(7)!To!be!informed!of!the!availability!of!compensation!from!the!
Department!of!Justice!Board!of!Claims!in!accordance!with!the!
provisions!of!Rep!Act.!No.7309.!

(8)!To!be!entitled!to!support!services!from!the!Department!of!Social!
Welfare!and!Development!and!local!government!units_!

(9)!To!be!entitled!to!all!legal!remedies!and!support!as!provided!for!
under!the!Family!Code_!
 (10)!To!be!informed!of!the!rights!and!the!services!available!to!victims!
of!offenses!including!the!right!to!apply!for!a!protection!order_!

(11)!To!full!and!timely!restitution!as!provided!in!law_!

(12)!To!proceedings!that!are!free!from!unreasonable!delay_!and!

(13)!To!be!treated!with!fairness!and!with!respect!for!the!victim's!dignity!
and!privacy.!

Section(41.!Responsibilities/of/the/Court.!H!For!the!protection!of!the!rights!of!
the!child!in!the!conflict!with!the!law,!the!court!shall!have!the!following!
responsibilities:!

(1)!To!monitor!the!status!of!a!child!whose!case!is!pending!in!its!court!
placed!in!a!youth!detention!center!or!other!institution!during!the!
pendency!of!the!child's!case_!

(2)!To!receive!and!investigate!complaints!concerning!violations!of!the!
rights!of!the!child!whose!case!is!pending!on!its!court_!

(3)!To!require!all!professionals!working!for!the!welfare!of!the!child,!
such!as!barangay!captains,!teachers,!social!workers,!medical!
professionals,!and!law!enforcers,!to!render!regular!monthly!reports!to!
the!court.!

(4)!To!order!access!to!adequate!services!for!rehabilitation,!counseling!
and!other!forms!of!reintegration!for!the!child_!

(5)!To!ensure!that!the!child!who!is!capable!of!forming!his!or!her!own!
views!has!the!right!to!express!those!views!freely!in!all!matters!affecting!
the!child,!and!that!such!views!be!accorded!due!weight!in!accordance!
with!the!developmental!age!and!maturity!of!the!child_!

(6)!To!ensure!that!the!child,!either!directly!or!through!a!representative!,!
is!provided!the!opportunity!to!be!heard!in!all!proceedings!affecting!
such!child_!

(7)!To!ensure!communication!at!all!times!between!the!judge!and!the!
child_!
(8)!To!ensure!that!the!child!sits!with!close!family!members!of!the!
child's!choice!during!the!court!proceedings_!

(9)!To!ensure!that!the!child!can!communicate!freely!with!counsel!at!all!
times_!

(10)!To!ensure!that!the!child!is!informed!in!ageHappropriate!language!
of!all!stages!of!the!judicial!proceeding!affecting!such!child_!

(11)!To!ensure!that!a!child!placed!in!a!Youth!Detention!Home!or!Youth!
Rehabilitation!Center!or!in!any!child!facility!be!given!appropriate!
medical!examination!in!order!to!determine!and!put!on!record!any!
evidence!of!illHtreatment_!to!identify!any!physical!or!mental!condition!
requiring!medical!attention_!and!thereafter!make!sure!that!child!is!
provided!by!adequate!treatment!and!medical!attention_!

(12)!To!insure!that!a!child!is!informed!as!soon!as!possible!of!the!death,!
serious!illness!or!injury!of!any!immediate!family!member!and!be!
allowed!to!visit!the!ill!family!member!or!attend!the!funeral,!when!
appropriate!and!advisable_!

(13)!To!ensure!if!a!child!dies!during!the!pendency!of!the!case!or!within!
six!(6)!months!of!release,!an!independent!inquiry!is!conducted!on!the!
circumstances!of!the!death!and!a!report!thereof,!including!the!child's!
death!certificate,!be!made!available!to!the!child's!mother!or!father!,!
guardian,!custodian!or!nearest!relative_!

(14)!When!appropriate!and!advisable,!to!allow!the!child!temporarily!
leave!the!detention!home!or!rehabilitation!center!by!means!of!an!"outH
onHpass"!order!to!attend!special!family!occasions!such!as!Christmas!
and!New!Year!celebrations.!The!"outHonHpass"!order!shall!contain!
reasonable!restrictions!to!ensure!safety,!security!and!timely!return!to!
detention!as!may!be!determined!by!the!court_!

(15)!To!allow!at!all!times,!and!from!the!moment!of!initial!contact,!any!
member!of!the!family!or!the!guardian!of!the!child!to!visit!the!child,!
unless!prejudicial!to!the!latter's!best!interest_!

(16)!To!allow!the!appointment!of!a!Guardian!Ad!Litem!if!available!and!
advisable,!to!enable!the!child!to!raise!concerns!and!complaints!without!
fear!or!retribution_!and!
 (17)!To!undertake!all!other!appropriate!measures!to!ensure!the!
promotion!of!the!best!interest!of!the!child!and!the!child's!eventual!
reintegration!in!society.!

Section(42.!Determination/of/the/Bests/Interests/of/the/Child.!H!The!
following!factors!may!be!considered!in!determining!the!best!interests!of!a!
child!in!conflict!with!the!law:!the!child's!age!and!sex,!the!child's!mental!and!
physical!health,!the!mental!and!physical!health!of!the!parents,!their!lifestyle!
and!other!social!factors_!the!emotional!ties!between!the!parents!and!the!
child,!the!ability!of!the!parents!to!provide!the!child!with!food,!shelter,!clothing!
and!medical!care_!the!established!living!pattern!for!the!child!concerning!
school,!home,!community!and!religious!institution,!quality!of!schooling,!the!
existence!of!other!relatives!who!may!be!in!a!better!position!to!be!with!the!
child!and!the!child's!relationship!with!these!relatives_!the!child's!background,!
maturity!and!level!of!understanding,!sexual!lifestyle!and!any!other!
characteristics!and!needs!of!the!child!that!the!court!may!deem!relevant.!

Section(43.!Arraignment/and/Plea.!H!The!provisions!of!Rules!116!and!117!
of!the!Revised!Rules!of!Criminal!Procedure!shall!apply!to!the!arraignment!of!
the!child!in!the!conflict!with!the!law.!The!arraignment!shall!be!scheduled!
within!three!(3)!days!from!the!date!of!receipt!of!the!complaint!or!information!
by!the!court,!unless!a!shorter!period!is!provided!for!by!law.!

In!case!the!child!is!not!assisted!by!a!private!counsel,!the!court!shall!
immediately!appoint!its!Public!Attorney!as!the!child's!counsel!de/oficio.!

Arraignment!shall!be!held!in!chambers!and!conducted!by!the!judge!by!
furnishing!the!child!and!counsel!a!copy!of!the!complaint!or!information,!
reading!the!same!in!a!language!or!dialect!known!to!and!understand!by!the!
child,!explaining!the!nature!and!consequences!of!a!plea!of!guilty!or!not!
guilty!and!asking!the!child's!plea.!

Section(44.!PreHtrial.!H!The!provisions!of!Rule!118!of!the!Revised!Rules!of!
Criminal!Procedure!shall!govern!the!preHtrial!of!the!child!in!conflict!with!the!
law.!Agreements!or!admissions!made!during!the!preHtrial!conference!shall!
be!in!writing!and!signed!by!the!child,!the!mother,!the!father!or!duly!
appointed!guardian,!and!counsel_!otherwise,!the!agreements!or!admissions!
shall!not!be!admissible!against!the!child.!
Whenever!possible!and!practicable,!the!court!shall!explore!all!possibilities!of!
settlement!of!the!case,!except!its!criminal!aspects.!Plea!bargaining!shall!be!
resorted!to!only!as!a!last!measure!when!it!shall!serve!the!best!interest!of!the!
child!and!the!demands!of!truth!and!restorative!justice.!

Section(45.!Trial.!H!All!hearings!shall!be!conducted!in!am!manner!
conductive!to!the!best!interest!of!the!child!and!in!an!environment!that!will!
allow!the!child!to!participate!fully!and!freely!in!accordance!with!the!Rule!on!
Examination!of!a!Child!Witness.!

Section(46.!Guiding/Principles/in/Judging/the/Child.!H!Subject!to!the!
provisions!of!the!Revised!Penal!Code,!as!amended,!and!other!special!laws,!
the!judgment!against!a!child!in!conflict!with!the!law!shall!be!guided!by!the!
following!principles:!

(1)!The!judgment!shall!be!in!proportion!to!the!gravity!of!the!offense,!
and!shall!consider!the!circumstances!and!the!best!interest!of!the!child,!
the!rights!of!the!victim,!and!the!needs!of!society!in!line!with!the!
demands!of!balanced!and!restorative!justice.!

(2)!Restrictions!on!the!personal!liberty!of!the!child!shall!be!limited!to!
the!minimum.!Where!discretion!is!given!by!the!law!to!the!judge!
whether!the!penalty!to!be!imposed!is!fine!or!imprisonment,!the!
imposition!of!fine!should!be!proffered!as!the!more!appropriate!penalty.!

(3)!No!corporal!punishment!shall!be!imposed.!

(4)!In!case!of!the!presence!of!any!exculpatory!evidence!or!doubt!in!the!
prosecution's!evidence,!the!doubt!shall!be!resolved!In!favor!of!the!
child.!

Section(47.!Promulgation/of/Sentence.!H!If.!After!the!trial,!the!court!should!
find!the!child!in!conflict!with!the!law!guilty!beyond!reasonable!doubt!of!the!
offense!charged,!it!shall!impose!the!proper!penalty,!including!any!civil!
liability!which!the!child!may!have!incurred,!and!promulgate!the!sentence!in!
accordance!with!Section!6,!Rule!120!of!the!Revised!Rules!if!Criminal!
Procedure.!

Section(48.!Automatic/Suspension/of/Sentence/and/Disposition/Orders.!H!If!
the!child!is!found!guilty!of!the!offense!charged,!the!court,!instead!of!
executing!the!judgments!of!conviction,!shall!palce!the!child!in!conflict!with!
the!law!under!suspended!sentence,!without!need!of!application.!Suspension!
of!sentence!can!be!availed!of!even!if!the!child!is!already!eighteen!years!(18)!
of!age!or!more!but!not!above!twentyHone!(21)!years!old,!at!the!time!of!the!
pronouncement!of!guilt,!without!prejudice!to!the!child's!availing!of!other!
benefits!such!as!probation,!if!qualified,!or!adjustment!of!penalty,!in!interest!
of!justice.!

The!benefits!of!the!suspended!sentence!shall!not!apply!to!a!child!in!conflict!
with!the!law!who!has!once!enjoyed!suspension!of!sentence,!but!shall!
nonetheless!apply!to!one!who!is!convicted!of!an!offense!punishable!by!
reclusion!perpetua!or!life!imprisonment!pursuant!to!the!provisions!of!Rep.!
Act!No.!9346!prohibiting!the!imposition!of!the!death!penalty!and!in!lieu!
thereof,!reclusion!perpetua,!and!after!application!of!the!privileged!mitigating!
circumstance!of!minority.!

If!the!child!in!conflict!with!the!law!reaches!eighteen!(18)!years!of!age!while!
under!suspended!sentence,!the!court!shall!determine!whether!to!discharge!
the!child!in!accordance!with!the!provisions!of!Republic!Act!9344,!or!to!
extend!the!suspended!sentence!for!a!maximum!period!of!up!to!the!time!the!
child!reaches!twentyHone!(21)!years!of!age,!or!to!order!service!of!sentence.!

Section(49.!Disposition/Conference.!HIn!case!of!suspended!sentence,!the!
court!shall!set!the!case!for!disposition!conference!within!fifteen!(15)!days!
from!the!promulgation!of!sentence!with!notice!to!the!social!worker!of!the!
court,!the!child!and!the!parents!or!guardian!ad!litem!of!the!child!and!the!
child's!counsel!,!the!victim!and!counsel.!At!the!conference,!the!court!shall!
proceed!to!determine!and!issue!any!or!a!combination!of!the!following!
disposition!measures!best!suited!to!the!rehabilitation!and!welfare!of!the!
child:!

(1)!Care,!guidance,!and!supervision!of!orders_!

(2)!Community!service!orders_!

(3)!Drug!and!alcohol!treatment!

(4)!Participation!in!group!counseling!and!similar!activities_!and!

(5)!Commitment!to!the!Youth!Rehabilitation!Center!of!the!Department!
of!Social!Welfare!and!Development!or!other!centers!for!children!in!
 conflict!with!the!law!authorized!by!the!Secretary!of!the!Department!of!
Social!Welfare!and!Development.!

Section(50.!Compliance/with/the/Disposition/Measures.!H!The!social!worker!
assigned!to!the!child!shall!monitor!the!compliance!by!the!child!in!conflict!
with!the!law!with!the!disposition!measures!and!shall!submit!regularly!to!the!
court!a!status!and!progress!report!on!the!matter.!The!court!may!set!a!
conference!for!the!evaluation!of!such!report!in!the!presence,!if!practicable,!
of!the!child,!the!parents!or!guardian,!counsel!and!other!persons!whose!
presence!may!be!deemed!necessary.!

Section(51.!Discharge/of/Child/Subject/of/Disposition/Measure.!H!Upon!the!
recommendation!of!the!social!worker!assigned!to!the!child,!the!court!shall,!
after!due!notice!to!all!parties!and!hearing,!dismiss!the!case!against!the!child!
who!has!been!issued!disposition!measures,!even!before!reaching!
eighteen(18)!years!of!age,!and!order!a!final!discharge!if!it!finds!that!the!child!
has!been!rehabilitated!and!has!shown!the!capability!to!be!a!useful!member!
of!the!community.!

If!the!court!finds!that!the!child!(a)!is!incorrigible_!or!(b)!has!not!shown!the!
capability!of!becoming!a!useful!member!of!society_!or!(c)!has!willfully!failed!
to!comply!with!the!conditions!of!the!disposition!or!rehabilitation!program_!(d)!
or!the!child's!continued!stay!in!the!training!institution!is!not!in!the!child's!best!
interest,!the!child!shall!be!brought!before!the!court!for!execution!of!the!
judgment.!

The!final!release!of!the!child!shall!not!extinguish!the!civil!liability.!The!
parents!and!other!persons!exercising!parental!authority!over!the!child!shall!
be!civilly!liable!for!the!injuries!and!damages!caused!by!the!acts!or!
omissions!of!the!child!living!in!their!company!and!under!the!parental!
authority!subject!to!the!appropriate!defenses!provided!by!law.!

Section(52.!Probation/as/an/Alternative/to/Imprisonment.!H!The!court!may,!
after!it!shall!have!convicted!and!sentenced!a!child!in!conflict!with!the!law!
and!upon!application!at!any!time,!place!the!child!on!probation!if!qualified,!in!
lieu!of!service!of!sentence!taking!into!account!the!best!interest!of!the!child.!

Section(53.!Credit/in/Service/of/Sentence.!H!The!child!in!conflict!with!the!law!
who!has!undergone!preventive!imprisonment!shall!be!credited!in!the!service!
of!the!sentence!consisting!of!deprivation!of!liberty,!with!the!full!time!during!
which!the!child!has!undergone!preventive!imprisonment,!if!the!child!agrees!
voluntarily!in!writing!to!abide!by!the!same!or!similar!disciplinary!rules!
imposed!upon!convicted!prisoners,!except!in!any!of!the!following!cases:!

(1)!When!the!child!is!a!recidivist!or!has!been!convicted!twice!or!more!
times!of!any!crime_!or!

(2)!When!upon!being!summoned!for!execution!of!sentence,!the!child!
failed!to!surrender!voluntarily.!

A!child!who!does!not!agree!to!the!same!disciplinary!rules!imposed!upon!
convicted!prisoners!shall!be!credited!in!the!service!of!the!sentence!with!
fourHfifths!of!the!time!during!which!the!child!has!undergone!preventive!
imprisonment.!

Whenever!the!child!has!undergone!preventive!imprisonment!for!a!period!
equal!to!or!more!than!the!possible!maximum!imprisonment!of!the!offense!
charged!to!which!the!child!may!be!sentenced!and!the!case!is!not!yet!
terminated,!the!child!shall!be!released!immediately!without!prejudice!to!the!
continuation!of!any!onHgoing!intervention!program,!and!the!trial!thereof!or!
the!proceeding!on!appeal,!if!the!same!is!under!review.!In!case!the!
maximum!penalty!to!which!the!child!may!be!sentenced!is!destierro,!the!child!
shall!be!released!after!thirty!(30)!days!of!preventive!imprisonment.!

Any!form!of!physical!restraint!imposed!on!the!child!in!conflict!with!the!law,!
including!community!service!and!commitment!to!a!rehabilitation!center,!shall!
be!considered!preventive!imprisonment.!

Section(54.!Confidentiality/of/Proceedings/and/Record.!H!All!proceedings!
and!records!involving!children!in!conflict!with!the!law!from!initial!contact!until!
final!disposition!of!the!case!by!the!court!shall!be!considered!privileged!and!
confidential.!The!public!may!be!excluded!from!the!proceedings!and!
pursuant!to!the!provisions!of!Section!31!of!the!Rule!on!Examination!of!a!
Child!Witness,!the!records!shall!not!be!disclosed!directly!or!indirectly!to!
anyone!by!any!of!the!parties!or!the!participants!in!the!proceeding!for!any!
purpose!whatsoever,!except!to!determine!if!the!child!may!have!the!sentence!
suspended!under!Section!38!of!this!Rule!or!if!the!child!may!be!granted!
probation!under!the!Probation!Law,!or!to!enforce!the!civil!liability!imposed!in!
the!criminal!action.!
The!court!shall!employ!other!measures!to!protect!confidentiality!of!
proceedings!including!nonHdisclosure!of!records!to!the!media,!the!
maintenance!of!a!separate!police!blotter!for!cases!involving!children!in!
conflict!with!the!law!and!the!adoption!of!a!system!of!coding!to!conceal!
material!information,!which!lead!to!the!child's!identity.!The!records!of!
children!in!conflict!with!the!law!shall!not!be!used!in!subsequent!proceedings!
or!cases!involving!the!same!offender!as!an!adult.!

Section(55.!NonHliability/for/Perjury/or/Concealment/or/Misrepresentation.!H!
Any!person!who!has!been!in!conflict!with!the!law!as!a!child!shall!not!be!held!
guilty!of!perjury!or!of!concealment!or!misrepresentation!by!reason!of!failure!
to!acknowledge!the!case!or!recite!any!fact!related!thereto!in!response!to!
any!inquiry.!

Section(56.!Sealing/of/Records.!H!The!court,!motu!proprio!or!on!application!
of!a!person!who!has!been!adjudge!a!child!in!conflict!with!the!law,!or!if!still!a!
minor,!on!motion!of!the!parents!or!legal!guardian,!shall,!upon!notice!to!the!
prosecution!and!after!hearing,!order!the!sealing!of!the!records!of!the!case!if!
it!finds!that!two!(2)!years!have!elapsed!since!the!final!discharged!of!the!
child!after!suspension!of!sentence!or!probation,!or!from!the!date!of!the!
closure!order!and!the!child!has!no!pending!case!of!an!offense!or!a!crime!
involving!moral!turpitude.!

Upon!entry!of!the!order,!the!case!shall!be!treated!as!if!it!never!occurred.!All!
index!references!shall!be!deleted!and!in!case!of!inquiry,!the!court,!
prosecution,!law!enforcement!officers!and!all!other!offices!and!agencies!that!
dealt!with!the!case!shall!reply!that!no!record!exist!with!respect!to!the!child!
concerned.!Copies!of!the!order!shall!be!sent!to!these!officials!and!agencies!
named!in!the!order.!Inspection!of!the!sealed!records!thereafter!may!be!
permitted!only!by!order!of!the!court!upon!petition!of!the!child!who!is!the!
subject!of!the!records!or!of!other!proper!parties.!

This!procedure!shall!be!without!prejudice!to!the!rule!on!destruction!of!video!
or!audio!tapes!under!Section!31!of!the!Rule!on!the!Examination!of!Child!
Witness.!

Section(57.!Prohibition/of/Labeling.!H!In!the!conduct!of!proceedings!from!
initial!contact!with!the!child!in!conflict!with!the!law!to!the!final!disposition!of!
the!case,!there!shall!be!no!branding!or!labeling!of!the!child!as!a!young!
criminal,!juvenile!delinquent,!prostitute,!vagrant,!or!attaching!to!the!child!in!
any!manner!any!derogatory!description!or!name.!Likewise,!no!
discriminatory!statements,!conduct!and!practices!shall!be!allowed,!
particularly!with!respect!to!the!child's!social!or!economic!status,!physical!or!
mental!disability!or!ethnic!origin.!

Section(58.!Contempt/Powers.!H!A!person!who!directly!or!indirectly!
disobeys!any!order!of!the!court!or!obstruct!or!interferes!with!its!proceedings!
or!the!enforcement!of!its!orders!issued!under!this!Rule!shall!be!liable!for!
contempt!of!court.!

Section(59.!Effectivity.!H!This!Rule!as!revised!shall!take!effect!on!December!
1,!2009!after!its!publication!in!two!(2)!newspapers!of!general!circulation!not!
later!than!November!27,!2009.!

!
!