PEOPLE V. SUNGA,
GR 126029, March 27, 2003 FACTS: On July 12, 1994, the ut!late" #$"y $% J$celyn Tan &J$celyn', a !n$r an" a h!(h )ch$$l )tu"ent $% *ala+an nte(rate" -at!$nal Sch$$l, &*-S', +a) %$un" at a c$%%ee .lantat!$n !n Jacana, /aran(ay /anca$/anca$ !n *uert$ *r!nce)a C!ty, *ala+an Accu)e" !n the n%$rat!$n +ere Rey Sun(a, Ra!l an)an(, n$cenc!$ *a)cua, Jr, an" !t$ Octac a) .r!nc!.al), an" $c!l Cu! alias G!nalyn alias G!nalyn Cuy$) a) acc$.l!ce acc$.l!ce A..ellant) Sun(a an" an)an( +ere %$un" (u!lty #y the tr!al c$urt $% the cr!e $% ra.e +!th h$!c!"e an" )entence" each t$ )u%%er the .enalty $% "eath A..ellant *a)cua +a) %$un" (u!lty #y the tr!al c$urt $% the cr!e $% ra.e an" +a) )entence" t$ )u%%er the .enalty $% reclusion perpetua perpetua The c$n!ct!$n $% a..ellant) +a) #a)e" .r!ar!ly $n the te)t!$ny $% $c!l, an accu)e" +h$ turne" )tate +!tne)) ence, the aut$at!c re!e+ $% the ca)e The rule !n th!) 5ur!)"!ct!$n !) that the te)t!$ny $% a )el%c$n%e))e" acc$.l!ce $r c$c$n).!rat$r !.ut!n( the #lae t$ $r !.l!cat!n( h!) c$accu)e" cann$t, #y !t)el% an" +!th$ut c$rr$#$rat!$n, #e re(ar"e" a) .r$$% t$ a $ral certa!nty that the latter c$!tte" $r .art!c!.ate" !n the c$!))!$n $% the cr!e The te)t!$ny u)t #e )u#)tant!ally c$rr$#$rate" !n !t) ater!al .$!nt) #y un!.eacha#le te)t!$ny an" )tr$n( c!rcu)tance) an" u)t #e t$ )uch an etent that !t) tru)t+$rth!ne)) #ec$e) an!%e)t A..ellant Sun(a) t+$ etra5u"!c!al c$n%e))!$n), +h!ch )tr!ctly ).ea8!n( +ere a"!))!$n) %$r they re%erre" t$ )tateent) $% %act +h!ch "!" n$t "!rectly !n$le an ac8n$+le"(eent $% (u!lt $r $% the the cr! cr!!n !nal al !nte !ntent nt t$ c$ c$!t !t the the $%%e $%%en) n)ee +!th +!th +h!c +h!ch h he +a) +a) char char(e (e,c ,c$ul $ul" " hae hae lent lent c$rr$#$rat!e )u..$rt t$ $c!l) te)t!$ny, ha!n( l!8e+!)e (!en "eta!l) $% h$+ the cr!e t$$8 .lace SS: ;hether $r n$t Sun(a) a"!))!$n) !) a"!))!#le a) e!"ence, n$t $nly a(a!n)t h! #ut al)$ a(a!n)t h!) c$accu)e" a..ellant) <: A..ell A..ellant ant Sun(a) Sun(a) etra5 etra5u"! u"!c!a c!all a"!) a"!))!$ )!$n) n) are !na"! !na"!))! ))!#le #le !n e!"enc e!"encee an" cann$t cann$t (!e (!e c$rr$#$rat!e )u..$rt t$ $c!l) te)t!$ny #ecau)e he +a) "en!e" the r!(ht t$ c$un)el "ur!n( the eecut!$n $% the )a!" a"!))!$n) A .er)$n un"er !ne)t!(at!$n %$r the c$!))!$n $% an $%%en)e !) (uarantee" the %$ll$+!n( r!(ht) #y the C$n)t!tut!$n: &1' the r!(ht t$ rea!n )!lent= &2' the r!(ht t$ hae c$.etent an" !n"e.en"ent c$un)el $% h!) $+n ch$!ce, an" t$ #e .r$!"e" +!th $ne !% he cann$t a%%$r" the )er!ce) $% c$un)el= an" &3' the r!(ht t$ #e !n%$re" $% the)e r!(ht) The r!(ht t$ c$un)el +a) "en!e" Sun(a "ur!n( h!) eecut!$n $% h!#!t >A> ? a"!))!$n #e%$re the .$l!ce $n the (r$un" that the c$un)el +h$ a))!)te" h!, Atty A(u)t!n R$ca$ra, +a) the C!ty e(al O%%!cer $% *uert$ *r!nce)a
n People v. Bandula, th!) C$urt a"e !t )u%%!c!ently clear that the !n"e.en"ent c$un)el %$r the accu)e" !n cu)t$"!al !ne)t!(at!$n) cann$t #e a ).ec!al c$un)el, .u#l!c $r .r!ate .r$)ecut$r, c$un)el $% the .$l!ce, $r a un!c!.al att$rney +h$)e !ntere)t !) a"!tte"ly a"er)e t$ the accu)e" A le(al $%%!cer $% the c!ty, l!8e Atty R$ca$ra, .r$!"e) le(al a!" an" )u..$rt t$ the ay$r an" the c!ty !n carry!n( $ut the "el!ery $% #a)!c )er!ce) t$ the .e$.le, +h!ch !nclu"e) a!ntenance $% .eace an" $r"er an", a) )uch, h!) $%%!ce !) a8!n t$ that $% a .r$)ecut$r +h$ un@ue)t!$na#ly cann$t re.re)ent the accu)e" "ur!n( cu)t$"!al !ne)t!(at!$n "ue t$ c$n%l!ct $% !ntere)t That Sun(a ch$)e h! t$ #e h!) c$un)el, een !% true, "!" n$t ren"er h!) a"!))!$n a"!))!#le /e!n( $% a ery l$+ e"ucat!$nal atta!nent,Sun(a c$ul" n$t hae .$))!#ly 8n$+n the ra!%!cat!$n) $% h!) ch$!ce $% a c!ty le(al $%%!cer t$ #e h!) c$un)el The "uty $% la+ en%$rcer) t$ !n%$r h! $% h!) C$n)t!tut!$nal r!(ht) "ur!n( cu)t$"!al !nterr$(at!$n) t$ the!r %ull, .r$.er an" .rec!)e etent "$e) n$t a..ear t$ hae #een "!)char(e" Notatu dignum !) the %act that nothing in the records shows that Atty. Rocamora exerted efforts to safeguard Sunga's rights and interests, e).ec!ally that $% h!) r!(ht n$t t$ #e a +!tne)) a(a!n)t h!)el% n %act, (lar!n(ly, Atty. Rocamora was not even made to testify )$ he c$ul" hae relate" the etent $% le(al a))!)tance he eten"e" t$ Sun(a at the .$l!ce )tat!$n Fr$ the %$re($!n( te)t!$ny $% S*O2 Jan$ra), !t can #e (athere" that Atty R$ca$ra "!" n$t, !% at all, %ully a..r!)e Sun(a $% h!) r!(ht) an" $.t!$n) .r!$r t$ (!!n( h!) &Sun(a)' a"!))!$n !"ently, Atty R$ca$ra, +!th$ut $re, erely acte" t$ facilitate the ta8!n( $% the a"!))!$n %r$ Sun(a M$re$er, that Sun(a +a) %!r)t @ue)t!$ne" #y S*O4 *ant$llan$ an" *atr$lan /$l$) #e%$re he +a) !ne)t!(ate" #y S*O2 Jan$ra) "$e) n$t e)ca.e the attent!$n $% th!) C$urt Alth$u(h Sun(a %a!le" t$ .re)ent e!"ence a) t$ the altreatent he cla!e" t$ hae )u%%ere" !n the han") $% S*O4 *ant$llan$ an" *atr$lan /$l$), he "!" n$t hae any la+yer #y h!) )!"e at the time these two policemen started asking him uestions a!out "ocelyn's death At that .$!nt, Sun(a +a) alrea"y un"er cu)t$"!al !ne)t!(at!$n +!th$ut the a))!)tance $% c$un)el Cu)t$"!al !ne)t!(at!$n !) the )ta(e >+here the .$l!ce !ne)t!(at!$n !) n$ l$n(er a (eneral !n@u!ry !nt$ an un)$le" cr!e #ut has !egun to focus on a particular suspect taken into custody !y the police who carry out a process of interrogation that lends itself to elicit incriminating statements &tal!c) !n the $r!(!nal= .ha)!) )u..l!e"' n"er )uch c!rcu)tance), th!) C$urt cann$t #ut enterta!n )er!$u) !)(!!n() a) t$ the a"!))!$n Sun(a )u#)e@uently (ae t$ S*O2 Jan$ra) !8e h!#!t >A,> Sun(a) )ec$n" etra5u"!c!al a"!))!$nh!#!t >> !) !na"!))!#le, "ue t$ the a#)ence $% c$un)el t$ a))!)t h! +hen he eecute" !t $n Au(u)t 3, 1994 #e%$re the -/ $% *uert$ *r!nce)a C!ty Alth$u(h Sun(a "eclare" !n $.en c$urt that he a"e )uch a"!))!$nin connection with his desire to apply as state witness +h!ch a"!))!$n he later re.u"!ate", th!) "$e) n$t a8e h!#!t >> a"!))!#le Sun(a +a) at the t!e )t!ll un"er "etent!$n at the -/ $%%!ce an" ha" #een lan(u!)h!n( !n 5a!l )!nce h!) arre)t !n !"July 1994 !) "e)!re t$ re(a!n h!) %ree"$ !) n$t "!%%!cult t$ un"er)tan", he ha!n( l$)t !t $nce "ue t$ h!) c$n!ct!$n %$r an$ther cr!e !) a"!))!$n +h!ch +a) "$ne +!th$ut the #ene%!t $% c$un)el c$n)!)te" $% an)+er) t$ @ue)t!$n)
.r$.$un"e" #y the !ne)t!(at!n( a(ent $% the -/ an" n$t $% a un!lateral "eclarat!$n $% h!) .art!c!.at!$n !n the cr!e T$ th!) C$urt, the)e c$n"!t!$n) are c$n)t!tut!e $% an at$).here .era"!n( that $% a cu)t$"!al !ne)t!(at!$n an" nece))!tat!n( the a))!)tance $% a competent an" independent c$un)el of Sunga's choice a) a atter $% r!(ht #ut +h!ch he ha" n$ne Any !n%$rat!$n $r a"!))!$n (!en #y a .er)$n +h!le !n cu)t$"y +h!ch ay a..ear harle)) $r !nn$cu$u) at the t!e +!th$ut the c$.etent a))!)tance $% an !n"e.en"ent c$un)el u)t #e )truc8 "$+n a) !na"!))!#le en !% the c$n%e))!$n c$nta!n) a (ra!n $% truth $r een !% !t ha" #een $luntar!ly (!en, !% !t +a) a"e +!th$ut the a))!)tance $% c$un)el, !t !) !na"!))!#le The +a!er #y Sun(a $% h!) r!(ht t$ c$un)el a) c$nta!ne" !n h!) )+$rn )tateenth!#!t >> +a) n$t a al!" +a!er %$r, $n !t) %ace, !t +a) eecute" n$t !n the .re)ence $% c$un)el, c$ntrary t$ the e.re)) re@u!reent $% the C$n)t!tut!$n Sun(a ha!n( ha" n$ c$un)el +hen he a"e h!) a"!))!$n #e%$re the -/ an" h!) +a!er $% the r!(ht t$ hae $ne #e!n( !nal!", h!) )tateenth!#!t >> !) !na"!))!#le The te)t!$ny $% Sun(a "ur!n( the .rel!!nary !ne)t!(at!$n #e%$re the Mun!c!.al Tr!al C$urt +here#y he e.re))ly ac8n$+le"(e" ha!n( eecute" h!#!t >A> an" a%%!re" the c$ntent) there$% "!" n$t ren"er h!) etra5u"!c!al a"!))!$n !nt$ a 5u"!c!al $ne +h!ch c$ul" #e u)e" a(a!n)t h! an" h!) c$a..ellant) -e!ther c$ul" h!) $ther )tateent) !n )uch .r$cee"!n( a"!tt!n( h!) .art!c!.at!$n !n the cr!e #e ut!l!e" t$ e)ta#l!)h h!) an" the $ther a..ellant) (u!lt F$r !n that .rel!!nary !ne)t!(at!$n, Sun(a a(a!n +a) e%%ect!ely "en!e" $% h!) e))ent!al r!(ht t$ c$un)el Atty R$ca$ra +a) a..$!nte" Sun(a) c$un)elde officio #ut 5u)t l!8e the a))!)tance he eten"e" "ur!n( the eecut!$n $% h!#!t >A,> Atty R$ca$ra utterly "!" n$th!n( !n "e%en)e $% Sun(a) cau)e ;h!le Sun(a +a) #e!n( a)8e" #y the 5u"(e a #arra(e $% @ue)t!$n) call!n( %$r an)+er) +h!ch c$ul" an" "!" !ncr!!nate h!, Atty R$ca$ra "!" n$t $%%er the )l!(hte)t $#5ect!$n t$ )h!el" h!) cl!ent %r$ the "an!n( nature there$% The r!(ht t$ c$un)el a..l!e) !n certa!n .retr!al .r$cee"!n() that can #e "eee" >cr!t!cal )ta(e)> !n the cr!!nal .r$ce)) The .rel!!nary !ne)t!(at!$n can #e n$ "!%%erent %r$ the !ncu)t$"y !nterr$(at!$n) #y the .$l!ce, %$r a )u).ect +h$ ta8e) .art !n a .rel!!nary !ne)t!(at!$n +!ll #e )u#5ecte" t$ n$ le)) than the State) .r$ce))e), $%tent!e) !nt!!"at!n( an" relentle)), $% .ur)u!n( th$)e +h$ !(ht #e l!a#le %$r cr!!nal .r$)ecut!$n n the ca)e at #ar, Sun(a +a) thru)t !nt$ the .rel!!nary !ne)t!(at!$n an" +h!le he "!" hae a c$un)el, %$r the latter) lac8 $% !(!lance an" c$!tent t$ Sun(a) r!(ht), he +a) !rtually "en!e" h!) r!(ht t$ c$un)el The right to counsel involves more than #ust the presence of a lawyer !n the c$urtr$$ $r the ere .r$.$un"!n( $% )tan"ar" @ue)t!$n) an" $#5ect!$n)= rather !t ean) an efficient an" decisive legal assistance an" n$t a )!.le .er%unct$ry re.re)entat!$nA) !n People v. A!ano+here the c$n%e))!$n #y the there!n accu)e" !n the .rel!!nary !ne)t!(at!$n +a) eclu"e" a) !na"!))!#le "ue t$ the a#)ence $% her c$un)el, th!) C$urt +!ll n$t a"!t Sun(a) Th!) a8e) !t unnec e))ary t$ "!)cu)) an" e.ha)!e the c$n%l!ct $n ater!al .$!nt) $% Sun(a) an" $c!l) acc$unt) $% the !nc!"ent
n l!(ht $% the +ea8 e!"ence %$r the .r$)ecut!$n, the "e%en)e $% al!#! a) +ell a) $% "en!al #y a..ellant) !) acc$r"e" cre"ence, %$r !t !) .rec!)ely +hen the .r$)ecut!$n) ca)e !) +ea8 that the "e%en)e $% al!#! a))ue) !.$rtance an" #ec$e) cruc!al !n ne(at!n( cr!!nal l!a#!l!ty t #ear) n$t!n( that the al!#! .r$%%ere" #y a..ellant), e).ec!ally that #y an)an(, ha" #een c$rr$#$rate" ;RFOR, %$r %a!lure $% the .r$)ecut!$n t$ .r$e #e y$n" rea)$na#le "$u#t the (u!lt $% a..ellant) Rey Sun(a, Ra!l an)an( an" n$cenc!$ *a)cua !n Cr!!nal Ca)e -$ 119B4 the "ec!)!$n there!n !) here#y ST AS< an" RRS< an" )a!" a..ellant) are here#y ACDTT< $% the cr!e char(e"
