153. Navallo vs. Sandiganbayan.docx

Navallo vs. Sandiganbayan G.R. No. 97214, July 18, 1994

Facts: Ptition! "!nsto Navallo, as t# $ollcting and %isbu!sing &''ic! o' Nu(ancia National )ocational Sc#ool *as c#a!gd o' (alv!sation. + *a!!ant o' a!!st *as issud, but # *as not i((diatly 'ound. #n # *as 'inally a!!std, # -ostd bail bond. #n a!!aignd by t# Rgional !ial $ou!t, # -ladd not guilty.

/n #is d'ns, # contnd t#at # #av bn d-!ivd o' #is constitutional !ig#ts und! Sction 12, +!ticl ///, o' t# 1987 $onstitution. 0 clai(d t#at signd t# cas# count only bcaus # *as -!ssu!d by acas(o *#o assu!d #i( t#at acas(o *ould sttl v!yt#ing. # collctions in 197, !'lctd in t# Stat(nt o' +ccountability, *! not #is but t#os o' acas(o, #is su-!io!, *#o #ad unli3uidatd cas# advancs. 0 also ad(ittd #aving !civd t# d(and ltt! but # did not !-ly bcaus # *as al!ady in anila looing 'o! anot#! (-loy(nt. 0 *as in anila *#n t# cas *as 'ild against #i(. 0 did not 5!t any ''o!t to #av acas(o a--a! in t# -!li(ina!y invstigation, !lying instad on acas(o6s assu!anc t#at # *ould sttl t# (att!.

/ssu: #t#! o! not -tition! *as und! custodial invstigation *#n # signd t# c!ti'ication -!-a!d by Stat +uditing "5a(in!  Ruling: No, + -!son und! a no!(al audit 5a(ination is not und! custodial invstigation. +n audit 5a(in! #i(sl' can #a!dly b d(d to b t# la* n'o!c(nt o''ic!. #us # cannot invo suc# !ig#t 'o! # *as not und! custodial invstigation. Fu!t#!(o!, it cannot b said t#at # #as bn -!ssu!d to sign t# audito!s !-o!t, but (ay #av bn -!suadd only.