Case Digest: Leviste vs CA GR No 189122 Leviste vs CA GR No 189122
March 17, 2010
Facts: Jose Antonio Leviste as charge! charge! ith the cri"e cri"e o# "$r!er "$r!er %$t as convicte! convicte! %& the R'C #or the (esser cri"e o# ho"ici!e) *e a++ea(e! the R'Cs !ecision to the CA then he -e(! an a++(ication #or a!"ission to %ai( +en!ing a++ea(, !$e to his a!vance! age an! hea(th con!ition, an! c(ai"ing the a%sence o# an& ris. or +ossi%i(it& o# /ight on his +art)
'he CA !enie! !enie! his a++(ication a++(ication on the gro$n! gro$n! that the !iscretion !iscretion to eten! %ai( !$ring the co$rse o# a++ea( sho$(! %e eercise! ith grave ca$tion an! on(& #or strong reasons) 'hat %ai( is not a sic. +ass #or an ai(ing or age! !etainee or a +risoner nee!ing "e!ica( care o$tsi!e the +rison #aci(it&)
n this "atter, Levisete $estione! the r$(ing o# the CA an! averre! that the CA co""itte! grave a%$se o# !iscretion in the !enia( o# his a++(ication #or %ai( consi!ering that none o# the con!itions 3$sti#&ing !enia( o# %ai( $n!er the 4ec) 5 6 R$(e 11 o# the R$(es o# Co$rt as +resent) 'hat hen the +ena(t& i"+ose! %& the tria( co$rt is "ore than si &ears %$t not "ore than 20 &ears an! the circ$"stances in the a%ove"entione! +rovision are a%sent, %ai( "$st %e grante! to an a++e((ant +en!ing a++ea()
;ss$e:
R$(ing: No, $n!er 4ec 5 o# R$(e 11 %ai( is !iscretionar&, $+on conviction %& the R'C o# an o=ense not +$nisha%(e %& !eath, rec($sion rec($sion +er+et$a, or (i#e i"+rison"ent) >n!er +ar) o# the sa"e r$(e i# the +ena(t& i"+ose is "ore than ? &ears the acc$se! sha(( %e !enie! %ai(, or his %ai( %e cance((e! $+on a shoing %& the +rosec$tion, ith notice to the acc$se!, o# the #o((oing or other circ$"stances: circ$"stances:
that he is a reci!ivist, $asireci!ivist, or ha%it$a( !e(in$ent, or has co""itte! the cri"e aggravate! %& the circ$"stance o# reiteration@ that he has +revio$s(& esca+e! #ro" (ega( con-ne"ent, eva!e! sentence, or vio(ate! the con!itions o# his %ai( itho$t a va(i! 3$sti-cation@ that he co""itte! the o=ense hi(e $n!er +ro%ation, +aro(e, or con!itiona( +ar!on@ that the circ$"stances o# his case in!icate the +ro%a%i(it& o# /ight i# re(ease! on %ai(@ or that there is $n!$e ris. that he "a& co""it another cri"e !$ring the +en!enc& o# the a++ea() 'hat %ai( is e+ress(& !ec(are! to %e !iscretionar& +en!ing a++ea( an! it cannot %e sai! that CA co""itte! grave a%$se o# !iscretion) A#ter conviction %& the tria( co$rt, the +res$"+tion o# innocence ter"inates an!, accor!ing(&, the constit$tiona( right to %ai( en!s, #ro" then on the grant o# %ai( is s$%3ect to 3$!icia( !iscretion)
