Los Baños v. Pedro G.R. No. 173588 April 22, 2009 Brion, J. Ro"(& petitioners Ariel M. Los Baños on behal o !i"#or Are$alo, Mar"ial %l&'pia, Ro"(& Mer"ene an) Ra*l A)la+an e)ro respondents Joel R. e)ro
summary Joel e)ro +as "a*-h# ille-all& "arr&in- a rear' +i#ho*# a +ri##en per'i# ro'
/%ML/ a# a "he"(poin# a# Boa", Marin)**e a )a& beore #he Ma& 1, 2001 na#ional an) lo"al ele"#ions #here +as a -*n ban4. e)ro sa&s #ha# he has a per'i#6 per'i#6 ro' /%ML/. /%ML/. R/ R/ *ashe) *ashe) #he no an) as(e) as(e) #he pe#i#ioners pe#i#ioners #o re#*rn #he i#e's seie) ro' e)ro. Los Baños as(e) R/ #o reopen #he "ase. e)ro e)ro 'o$e) 'o$e) or #he re"on re"onsi) si)era era#io #ion n o #he R/:s or)er or)er pri'ar pri'aril& il& base) base) on ;e"#ion 8 o R*le 117, ar-*in- #ha# #he )is'issal ha) be"o'e per'anen#. ;/ n)s #he pe#i#ion 'eri#orio*s an) hol) #ha# #he "ase sho*l) be re'an)e) #o #he #rial "o*r# or arrai-n'en# an) #rial.
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facts of the case Ma& 13, 2001< hilippine Na#ional oli"e N4 "a*-h# e)ro ille-all& "arr&in- his rear' a# a "he"(poin# a# Boa", Marin)**e. he Boa" "he"(poin# #ea' +as "o'pose) o oli"e ;enior nspe"#or !i"#or !. Are$alo, ;%2 Marshal %l&'pia, ;%1 Ro"(& Mer"ene, an) %1 Ra*l A)la+an. he #ea' s#oppe) a sil$er=-ra& o&o#a >i=A"e +i#h pla#e n*'ber ?>=371 on #he na#ional hi-h+a&, "o'in- ro' #he Boa" #o+n proper. ?hen e)ro +ho +as sea#e) a# #he rear por#ion4 opene) #he +in)o+, Are$alo sa+ a -*n "arr& "ase besi)e hi'. e)ro "o*l) no# sho+ an& /%ML/ a*#hori#& #o "arr& a rear' +hen #he "he"(poin# #ea' as(e) or one, b*# he opene) #he "ase +hen as(e) #o )o so. he "he"(poin# #ea' sa+ #he ollo+in- +hen #he "ase +as opene)< 14 one Re$ol$er 357 Ma-n*' R*-er G100, serial n*'ber 173=5@83@, loa)e) +i#h si a''*ni#ions 24 one a''*ni#ion bo "on#ainin- 100 b*lle#s 34 #+o pie"es spee) loa)er +i#h si a''*ni#ions ea"h an) 4 one se# ear pro#e"#or. e)ro +as +i#h #hree o#her 'en. he "he"(poin# #ea' bro*-h# all o #he' #o #he Boa" poli"e s#a#ion or in$es#i-a#ion. = he Boa" ele"#ion oC"er le) a "ri'inal "o'plain# a-ains# e)ro or $iola#in- #he ele"#ion -*n ban, i.e., or "arr&in- a rear' o*#si)e o his resi)en"e or pla"e o b*siness +i#ho*# an& a*#hori#& ro' #he /o'ele". A#er an in*es#, #he Marin)**e pro$in"ial prose"*#or le) #he abo$e nor'a#ion a-ains# e)ro +i#h #he Marin)**e Re-ional rial /o*r# R/4 or $iola#ion o #he /o)e:s Ar#i"le DD, ;e"#ion 2@1 4, in rela#ion #o ;e"#ion 2@. = e)ro le) a Mo#ion or reli'inar& n$es#i-a#ion, +hi"h #he R/ -ran#e). he preli'inar& in$es#i-a#ion, ho+e$er, )i) no# 'a#erialie. ns#ea), e)ro le) +i#h #he R/ a Mo#ion #o E*ash, ar-*in- #ha# #he nor'a#ion F"on#ains a$er'en#s +hi"h, i #r*e, +o*l) "ons#i#*#e a le-al e"*se or *s#i"a#ion an)Hor #ha# #he a"#s "har-e) )o no# "ons#i#*#e an oIense.F e)ro a##a"he) #o his 'o#ion a /o'ele" /er#i"a#ion )a#e) ;ep#e'ber 2, 2001 #ha# he +as Fee'p#e)F ro' #he -*n ban. he pro$in"ial prose"*#or oppose) #he 'o#ion. = he R/ *ashe) #he nor'a#ion an) or)ere) #he poli"e an) #he prose"*#ors #o re#*rn #he seie) ar#i"les #o e)ro. = Los Baños 'o$e) #o reopen #he "ase, as e)ro:s /o'ele" /er#i"a#ion +as a Falsi"a#ion,F an) #he prose"*#ion +as F)epri$e) o )*e pro"essF +hen #he *)-e *ashe) #he inor'a#ion +i#ho*# a hearin-. = he R/ reopene) #he "ase or *r#her pro"ee)in-s, as e)ro )i) no# obe"# #o Los Baños: 'o#ion. e)ro 'o$e) or #he re"onsi)era#ion o #he R/:s or)er pri'aril& base) on ;e"#ion 8 o R*le 117, ar-*in- #ha# #he )is'issal ha) be"o'e per'anen#. >e li(e+ise "i#e) #he p*bli" prose"*#or:s la"( o epress appro$al o #he 'o#ion #o reopen #he "ase. = he p*bli" prose"*#or, ho+e$er, 'anies#e) his epress "onor'i#& +i#h #he 'o#ion #o reopen #he "ase. he #rial "o*r#, or i#s par#, ree"#e) #he posi#ion #ha# ;e"#ion 8, R*le 117 applies, an) eplaine) #ha# #his pro$ision reers #o si#*a#ions +here bo#h #he prose"*#ion an) #he a""*se) '*#*all& "onsen#e) #o #he )is'issal o #he "ase, or +here #he prose"*#ion or #he oIen)e) par#& aile) #o obe"# #o #he )is'issal o #he "ase, an) no# #o a si#*a#ion +here #he inor'a#ion +as *ashe) *pon 'o#ion o #he a""*se) an) o$er #he obe"#ion o #he prose"*#ion. he R/, #h*s, se# e)ro:s arrai-n'en# )a#e. = e)ro le) +i#h #he /A a pe#i#ion or "er#iorari an) prohibi#ion #o n*lli& #he R/:s 'an)a#e) reopenin- >e ar-*e) #ha# #he R/ "o''i##e) -ra$e ab*se o )is"re#ion a'o*n#in- #o la"( or e"ess o *ris)i"#ion in r*lin- #ha# #he )is'issal "on#e'pla#e) *n)er ;e"#ion 8, R*le 117. /A< N #he pe#i#ion or la"( o 'eri# base) on< Beore #he pe#i#ioner 'a& in$o(e #he #i'e=bar in ;e"#ion 8, he '*s# es#ablish #he ollo+in-< 1. #he prose"*#ion, +i#h #he epress "onor'i#& o #he a""*se) or #he a""*se) 'o$es or a pro$isional sin perjuicio 4 )is'issal o #he "ase or bo#h #he prose"*#ion an) #he a""*se) 'o$e or a pro$isional )is'issal o #he "ase 2. #he oIen)e) par#& is no#ie) o #he 'o#ion or a pro$isional )is'issal o #he "ase 3. #he "o*r# iss*es an or)er -ran#in- #he 'o#ion an) )is'issin- #he "ase pro$isionall& . #he p*bli" prose"*#or is ser$e), +i#h a "op& o #he or)er o pro$isional )is'issal o #he "ase.
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= %n #he o#her han), #he pe#i#ioner +as able #o pro$e #ha# #he 'o#ion #o reopen #he "ase +as le) a#er #he lapse o 'ore #han one &ear ro' #he #i'e #he p*bli" prose"*#or +as ser$e) #he no#i"e o )is'issal. hereore, #he s#a#e is barre) ro' reopenin- #he "ase. ?>RK%R, pe#i#ioner Joel e)ro:s 'o#ion or par#ial re"onsi)era#ion is hereb& GRAN, an) respon)en# Ariel Los Banos: 'o#ion or 'o)i"a#ion o *)-'en# is, a""or)in-l&, N.
issue = ?%N ;e"#ion 8, R*le 117 is appli"able #o #he "ase, as #he /A o*n). i# applies, #hen #he /A r*lin- eIe"#i$el& la&s #he 'a##er #o res#. i# )oes no#, #hen #he re$ise) R/ )e"ision reopenin#he "ase sho*l) pre$ail. N%, ;e" 8 R*le 177 is no# appli"able.
ratio = ?e n) #he pe#i#ion 'eri#orio*s an) hol) #ha# #he "ase sho*l) be re'an)e) #o #he #rial "o*r# or arrai-n'en# an) #rial. = An ea'ina#ion o #he +hole R*le #ells *s #ha# a )is'issal base) on a 'o#ion #o *ash an) a pro$isional )is'issal are ar )iIeren# ro' one ano#her as "on"ep#s, in #heir ea#*res, an) le-al "onse*en"es. ?hile #he pro$ision on pro$isional )is'issal is o*n) +i#hin R*le 117 en#i#le) Mo#ion #o E*ash4, i# )oes no# ollo+ #ha# a 'o#ion #o *ash res*l#s in a pro$isional )is'issal #o +hi"h ;e"#ion 8, R*le 117 applies. = o re"api#*la#e, *ashal an) pro$isional )is'issal are )iIeren# "on"ep#s +hose respe"#i$e r*les reer #o )iIeren# si#*a#ions #ha# sho*l) no# be "on*se) +i#h one ano#her. #he proble' rela#es #o an in#rinsi" or e#rinsi" )e"ien"& o #he "o'plain# or inor'a#ion, as sho+n on i#s a"e, #he re'e)& is a 'o#ion #o *ash *n)er #he #er's o ;e"#ion 3, R*le 117. All o#her reasons or see(in#he )is'issal o #he "o'plain# or inor'a#ion, beore arrai-n'en# an) *n)er #he "ir"*'s#an"es o*#line) in ;e"#ion 8, all *n)er pro$isional )is'issal. - Thus, we conclude that Section , !ule 11" does not apply to the reopenin# of the case that the !T$ ordered and which the $% reversed& the reversal of the $%'s order is le#ally proper. e)ro:s ME< = he -ro*n)s e)ro "i#e) in his 'o#ion #o *ash are #ha# #he nor'a#ion "on#ains a$er'en#s +hi"h, i #r*e, +o*l) "ons#i#*#e a le-al e"*se or *s#i"a#ion ;e"#ion 3h4, R*le 117, an) #ha# #he a"#s "har-e) )o no# "ons#i#*#e an oIense ;e"#ion 3a4, R*le 117. ?e n) ro' o*r ea'ina#ion o #he re"or)s #ha# #he nor'a#ion )*l& "har-e) a spe"i" oIense an) pro$i)es #he )e#ails on ho+ #he oIense +as "o''i##e). h*s, #he "i#e) ;e"#ion 3a4 -ro*n) has no 'eri#. %n #he o#her han), +e )o no# see on #he a"e or ro' #he a$er'en#s o #he nor'a#ion an& le-al e"*se or *s#i"a#ion. he "i#e) basis, in a"#, or e)ro:s 'o#ion #o *ash +as a /o'ele" /er#i"a#ion )a#e) ;ep#e'ber 2, 2001, iss*e) b& ire"#or Jose . Balb*ena, ;r. o #he La+ epar#'en#, /o''i##ee on Kirear's an) ;e"*ri#& ersonnel o #he /o'ele", -ran#in- hi' an ee'p#ion ro' #he ban an) a per'i# #o "arr& rear's )*rin- #he ele"#ion perio)4 #ha# e)ro a##a"he) #o his 'o#ion #o *ash. his /%ML/ /er#i"a#ion is a 'a##er ali*n)e #ha# is no# an appropria#e 'o#ion #o raise in, an) "anno# s*ppor#, a 'o#ion #o *ash -ro*n)e) on le-al e"*se or *s#i"a#ion o*n) on #he a"e o #he nor'a#ion. ;i-ni"an#l&, no hearin- +as e$er "alle) #o allo+ #he prose"*#ion #o "on#es# #he -en*ineness o #he /%ML/ "er#i"a#ion. = h*s, #he R/ -rossl& erre) in i#s ini#ial r*lin- #ha# a *ashal o #he nor'a#ion +as in or)er. e)ro, on #he o#her han), also 'isappre"ia#e) #he #r*e na#*re, *n"#ion, an) *#ili#& o a 'o#ion #o *ash. As a "onse*en"e, a $ali) nor'a#ion s#ill s#an)s, on #he basis o +hi"h e)ro sho*l) no+ be arrai-ne) an) s#an) #rial. = %ne nal obser$a#ion< #he nor'a#ion +as no# ren)ere) )ee"#i$e b& #he a"# #ha# e)ro +as "har-e) o $iola#in- ;e"#ion 2@14 o #he /o)e, ins#ea) o ;e"#ion 32 o R.A. No. 71@@, +hi"h a'en)e) ;e"#ion 2@14 #hese #+o se"#ions ai' #o penalie a'on- o#hers, #he "arr&in- o rear's or o#her )ea)l& +eapons4 in p*bli" pla"es )*rin- #he ele"#ion perio) +i#ho*# #he a*#hori#& o #he /o'ele". he es#ablishe) r*le is #ha# #he "hara"#er o #he "ri'e is no# )e#er'ine) b& #he "ap#ion or prea'ble o #he inor'a#ion or ro' #he spe"i"a#ion o #he pro$ision o la+ alle-e) #o ha$e been $iola#e) #he "ri'e "o''i##e) is )e#er'ine) b& #he re"i#al o #he *l#i'a#e a"#s an) "ir"*'s#an"es in #he "o'plain# or inor'a#ion K*r#her, in Abenes $. /o*r# o Appeals, +e spe"i"all& re"o-nie) #ha# #he a'en)'en# *n)er ;e"#ion 32 o R.A. No. (
71@@ )oes no# aIe"# #he prose"*#ion o #he a""*se) +ho +as "har-e) *n)er ;e"#ion 2@14 o #he /o)e. = ?>RK%R, +e hereb& GRAN #he pe#i#ion an) a""or)in-l& )e"lare #he assaile) ;ep#e'ber 19, 2005 )e"ision an) #he J*l& @, 200@ resol*#ion o #he /o*r# o Appeals in /A=G.R. ; No. 80223 respe"#i$el& M%K an) R!R;. he "ase is re'an)e) #o #he Re-ional rial /o*r# o Boa", Marin)**e or #he arrai-n'en# an) #rial o respon)en# Joel R. e)ro, a#er ree"#in- in #he nor'a#ion #he a'en)'en# in#ro)*"e) on ;e"#ion 2@14 o #he /o)e b& ;e"#ion 32 o Rep*bli" A"# No. 71@@.
A))i#ional no#es< J*s# in "ase ;ir as(s abo*# #his4 = he "ase )iIeren#ia#e) E*ashal $. ro$isional is'issal a. Mo#ion #o E*ash A 'o#ion #o *ash is #he 'o)e b& +hi"h an a""*se) assails, beore en#erin- his plea, #he $ali)i#& o #he "ri'inal "o'plain# or #he "ri'inal inor'a#ion le) a-ains# hi' or ins*C"ien"& on i#s a"e in poin# o la+, or or )ee"# apparen# on #he a"e o #he nor'a#ion. he 'o#ion, as a r*le, h&po#he#i"all& a)'i#s #he #r*#h o #he a"#s spelle) o*# in #he "o'plain# or inor'a#ion. he r*les -o$ernin- a 'o#ion #o *ash are o*n) *n)er R*le 117 o #he Re$ise) R*les o /o*r#. ;e"#ion 3 o #his R*le en*'era#es #he -ro*n)s or #he *ashal o a "o'plain# or inor'a#ion, as ollo+s< a4 ha# #he a"#s "har-e) )o no# "ons#i#*#e an oIense b4 ha# #he "o*r# #r&in- #he "ase has no *ris)i"#ion o$er #he oIense "har-e) "4 ha# #he "o*r# #r&in- #he "ase has no *ris)i"#ion o$er #he person o #he a""*se) )4 ha# #he oC"er +ho le) #he inor'a#ion ha) no a*#hori#& #o )o so e4 ha# i# )oes no# "onor' s*bs#an#iall& #o #he pres"ribe) or' 4 ha# 'ore #han one oIense is "har-e) e"ep# +hen a sin-le p*nish'en# or $ario*s oIenses is pres"ribe) b& la+ -4 ha# #he "ri'inal a"#ion or liabili#& has been e#in-*ishe) h4 ha# i# "on#ains a$er'en#s +hi"h, i #r*e, +o*l) "ons#i#*#e a le-al e"*se or *s#i"a#ion an) i4 ha# #he a""*se) has been pre$io*sl& "on$i"#e) or a"*i##e) o #he oIense "har-e), or #he "ase a-ains# hi' +as )is'isse) or o#her+ise #er'ina#e) +i#ho*# his epress "onsen#. b. ro$isional is'issal %n #he o#her han), ;e"#ion 8, R*le 117 #ha# is a# #he "en#er o #he )isp*#e s#a#es #ha#< ;/.8. Provisional dismissal. O A "ase shall no# be pro$isionall& )is'isse) e"ep# +i#h #he epress "onsen# o #he a""*se) an) +i#h no#i"e #o #he oIen)e) par#&. he pro$isional )is'issal o oIenses p*nishable b& i'prison'en# no# e"ee)in- si @4 &ears or a ne o an& a'o*n#, or bo#h, shall be"o'e per'anen# one 14 &ear a#er iss*an"e o #he or)er +i#ho*# #he "ase ha$in- been re$i$e). ?i#h respe"# #o oIenses p*nishable b& i'prison'en# o 'ore #han si @4 &ears, #heir pro$isional )is'issal shall be"o'e per'anen# #+o 24 &ears a#er iss*an"e o #he or)er +i#ho*# #he "ase ha$in- been re$i$e). A "ase is pro$isionall& )is'isse) i #he ollo+in- re*ire'en#s "on"*r< 14 #he prose"*#ion +i#h #he epress "onor'i#& o #he a""*se), or #he a""*se), 'o$es or a pro$isional )is'issal sin per*i"io4 o his "ase or bo#h #he prose"*#ion an) #he a""*se) 'o$e or i#s pro$isional )is'issal 24 #he oIen)e) par#& is no#ie) o #he 'o#ion or a pro$isional )is'issal o #he "ase 34 #he "o*r# iss*es an or)er -ran#in- #he 'o#ion an) )is'issin- #he "ase pro$isionall& an) 4 #he p*bli" prose"*#or is ser$e) +i#h a "op& o #he or)er o pro$isional )is'issal o #he "ase.
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