Philippine Supreme Court Jurisprudence


Philippine Supreme Court Jurisprudence > Year 2017 > January 2017 Decisions > G.R. No. 193150, January 23, 2017 - LOIDA M. JAVIER, Petitioner, v. PEPITO GONZALES, Respondent.:




G.R. No. 193150, January 23, 2017 - LOIDA M. JAVIER, Petitioner, v. PEPITO GONZALES, Respondent.

PHILIPPINE SUPREME COURT DECISIONS

FIRST DIVISION

G.R. No. 193150, January 23, 2017

LOIDA M. JAVIER, Petitioner, v. PEPITO GONZALES, Respondent.

D E C I S I O N

SERENO, C.J.:

Two Decisions were promulgated by the trial court in this case: the first one for conviction, and the second for acquittal. We are called upon to resolve the procedural question of whether the promulgation in absentia of the earlier judgment of conviction was valid.

This Petition for Review on Certiorari under Rule 45 seeks a reversal of the Court of Appeals (CA) Decision1 and Resolution2 in CA-G.R. SP No. 97629. The CA affirmed the Decision3 of Branch 40 of the Regional Trial Court of Palayan City, Nueva Ecija (the RTC of Palayan City) in Criminal Case No. 1066-P, penned by Judge Corazon D. Soluren (Judge Soluren). Judge Soluren reversed a previous Decision4 penned by Judge Erlinda P. Buted (Judge Buted). In the earlier Decision, respondent was convicted of murder with frustrated murder and multiple attempted murder, and was meted the death penalty.

The Antecedents Facts

This case originated from a criminal case for murder with frustrated murder and multiple attempted murder lodged in Branch 96 of the Regional Trial Court of Baler, Aurora (the RTC of Baler). The Information charged respondent Pepito Gonzales as follows:

That on December 25, 1997 at around 11:30 o'clock in the evening in Barangay Diarabasin, Municipality of Dipaculao, Province of Aurora, Philippines and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the accused with intent to kill and with the use of treachery and evident premeditation, did then and there, willfully, unlawfully and feloniously throw a grenade inside the house of one Leonardo Hermenigildo while the latter and his companions Rulino Concepcion, who sustained mortal wounds which were the direct and immediate cause of his death thereafter; that as further consequence of said explosion, Leonardo Hermenigildo was also hit and sustained physical injuries fatal enough to cause his death without immediate and able medical attendance; that Julio Toledo, Ariel Cabasal and Jesus Macatiag were also hit and likewise sustained physical injuries, but the said accused did not perform all the acts of execution which should have produced the crime of multiple murder as a consequence, by reason of causes other than his own spontaneous desistance, that is, the injuries sustained by said Julio Toledo, Ariel Cabasal and Jesus Macatiag were not necessarily mortal.5

Gonzales filed a Motion for Bail6 with the RTC of Baler. Private complainant Carmen Macatiag (Macatiag)�sister of the deceased victim, Rufino Concepcion �filed her Opposition7 to Gonzales's Motion for Bail Gonzales then filed a Comment8 to which Macatiag filed her Reply.9 The RTC Baler issued an Order10 granting Gonzales bail.

Thereafter, Macatiag filed with this Court an Urgent Petition for Transfer of Venue.11 While her petition was pending, she filed a Motion for Reconsideration12 of the Order of the RTC of Baler granting bail to Gonzales, who filed his Opposition13 to her motion. The RTC of Baler denied14 the Motion for Reconsideration and upheld its Order granting bail. Macatiag also filed with the RTC of Baler a Manifestation and Motion to Suspend Proceedings15 pending the resolution of her previous petition for transfer of venue.

On 17 August 1999, the Court granted the transfer of venue and reassigned the case to the RTC of Palayan City, which was then presided by Judge Erlinda Buted.16 Trial on the merits ensued.

The RTC admitted the prosecution's Formal Offer of Evidence.17 Gonzales filed an Urgent Motion for Leave to File Demurrer to Evidence.18 To this motion he attached a Demurrer to Evidence,19 which the RTC denied.20 Following the denial, Gonzales presented his evidence and witnesses and filed his Formal Offer of Evidence.21

Thereafter, on 30 November 2005, the RTC issued an Order22 setting the promulgation of the case on 15 December 2005. The Return of Service23 indicated that the Order dated 30 November 2005 and the Notice of Promulgation dated 6 December 2005 were received on 7 and 12 December 2005 by the sister of private respondent, who refused to sign the Return.

On 15 December 2005, the scheduled date of promulgation, Gonzales failed to appear. His lawyer, Atty. Mario Benitez (Atty. Benitez), personally filed a "Withdrawal of Counsel"24 with his client's conformity.25 The promulgation was rescheduled to 22 December 2005.26 On the same date, a warrant of arrest27 was issued and the bond forfeited in view of the nonappearance of the accused, who was deemed to have jumped bail.

A Notice of Hearing/Subpoena and Notice of Promulgation of Judgment28 was issued on 15 December 2005 commanding the parties to appear before the Court on 22 December 2015. Notices were sent to Gonzales and Macatiag.29

On 22 December 2005, Gonzales still failed to appear without any justification. Judge Buted appointed a counsel de oficio in lieu of Atty. Benitez.30 The Branch Clerk of Court thereafter read the dispositive portion of Judge Buted's Decision in the presence of the public prosecutor, the counsel de oficio, and the heirs of Macatiag. Macatiag had been killed on 14 December 2005, just a day before the first promulgation date, and Gonzales was also an accused in her killing. Gonzales was convicted of the murder charges:

WHEREFORE, the Accused is found GUILTY beyond reasonable doubt of the complex crime of MURDER with FRUSTRATED MURDER and MULTIPLE ATTEMPTED MURDER and is hereby sentenced to a single indivisible penalty of DEATH.31

Thereafter, the Clerk of Court was directed to enter the judgment of conviction in the RTC's criminal docket pursuant to paragraph 4, Section 6, Rule 120 of the Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure.32 Since the death penalty was still in force at the time the judgment was promulgated, Judge Buted also ordered that the records of the case be immediately forwarded to the CA for automatic review.33

In less than a month after the judgment of conviction was rendered, or on 6 January 2006, private respondent Gonzales filed, through Atty. Benitez, an Omnibus Motion34 asking that the judgment promulgated on 22 December 2005 be reconsidered and set aside. Gonzales argued that he had not been properly notified of the promulgation of judgment; that he had not been represented by counsel; and that the RTC had proceeded with deliberate haste in convicting him.

The trial court, now presided by Judge Soluren, gave due course to the motion of Gonzales and granted it through an Order dated 18 April 2006. The Order set aside the judgment of conviction and reinstated his bail.35

On 20 November 2006, petitioner Javier, Macatiag's daughter, discovered that the RTC had rendered a Decision36 dated 31 October 2006 acquitting Gonzales of all charges.37 On 16 January 2007, she filed a Petition for Certiorari under Rule 65 before the CA, citing grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction on the part of Judge Soluren. The Office of the Solicitor General filed a Comment38 dated 12 October 2007 praying that the Petition be denied due course and dismissed for lack of merit. The OSG opined that Judge Soluren did not commit grave abuse of discretion in reversing the earlier Decision of Judge Buted.

The CA Ruling

In its assailed Decision, the CA dismissed the Petition for Certiorari. It ruled out grave abuse of discretion on the part of respondent Judge Soluren in granting private respondent's Omnibus Motion and rendering a new judgment of acquittal. It agreed with the theory of the OSG that the promulgation was void, because respondent Gonzales had not been validly notified of the rescheduled promulgation of judgment on 22 December 2005; that since Gonzales's lawyer, Atty. Benitez, had already withdrawn his representation on the first scheduled date of promulgation, respondent had no knowledge that the promulgation had been rescheduled to 22 December 2005; that since he was no longer Gonzales's lawyer, Atty. Benitez was relieved of the duty to inform his client of court notices and processes; that since respondent was not personally notified of the rescheduled promulgation, Judge Buted's promulgation in absentia was invalid.

The CA further adopted the OSG's stance that before resorting to a Rule 65 petition for certiorari to question respondent judge's act of acquitting private respondent, petitioner should have first filed a motion for reconsideration. It ruled that a motion for reconsideration is not only a plain and adequate remedy available under the law, but is an indispensible condition that must be satisfied before an aggrieved party can resort to a special civil action for certiorari. The appellate court held that since the remedy of filing a motion for reconsideration was available to petitioner, and none of the exceptions to the filing of that motion existed, the Petition must be dismissed.

The Issues

The main issue in this case is whether the CA erred in affirming the Decision of acquittal issued by Judge Soluren, who had ruled that there was no grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction on her part when she gave due course to the Omnibus Motion of private respondent questioning his prior conviction.

In order to resolve the main issue, the following issues have to be addressed:

  1. Whether there was a valid promulgation of judgment by Judge Buted in her prior Decision of conviction;chanrobleslaw

  2. Whether Judge Soluren's subsequent judgment of acquittal is valid;chanrobleslaw

  3. Whether a special civil action for certiorari under Rule 65 is the proper remedy to question a decision of acquittal

The Court's Ruling

The Petition is impressed with merit.

As a prologue to our ruling, We take cognizance of the unusual circumstances surrounding this case. Petitioner is the daughter of the original private complainant, Carmen Macatiag, who was in turn the sister of the first victim, Rufino Concepcion. When petitioner filed the instant Petition for Review with this Court, the OSG filed a Manifestation and Motion39 praying that the People of the Philippines be removed as a co-petitioner because the OSG was not joining petitioner in this Petition. The pertinent portion40 of the OSG's Manifestation and Motion reads:

[T]he records will show that the OSG already took on a position different from that of the petitioner Loida M. Javier when the case was elevated to the Court of Appeals. Specifically, the OSG in its Comment dated October 12, 2007 and Memorandum dated November 24, 2008 was of the position that Honorable Judge Soluren did not commit grave abuse of discretion when she ruled to acquit Pepito Gonzales. In this regard, the arguments raised by the OSG in the aforementioned pleadings were in fact, adopted by the Court of Appeals in its Decision dated May 22, 2010.

While the OSG ordinarily represents the People in proceedings before this Court, We have in the past allowed private parties to file certiorari petitions assailing rulings and orders of the RTC in criminal cases.41 As early as 1969, in Paredes v. Gopengco,42 the Court already held that offended parties in criminal cases have sufficient interest and personality as "persons aggrieved" to file a special civil action of prohibition and certiorari under Sections 1 and 2 of Rule 65. That ruling was in line with the underlying spirit of adopting a liberal construction of the Rules of Court in order to promote their object. Recently, We reiterated this ruling in Almero v. People.43 Similarly, in the case at bar, We find that the ends of substantial justice would be better served and the issues determined in a more just, speedy, and inexpensive manner, by entertaining the present Petition.

We now proceed to the merits of the case.

There are two divergent RTC Decisions: one for conviction, and another for acquittal. Our resolution of this Petition for Review hinges on the validity of the second RTC Decision.

After review of the case and the records, We rule that the Court of Appeals, in affirming Judge Soluren's Decision of acquittal, committed reversible error, which can be remedied by granting this Petition for Review on Certiorari.

Judge Buted's Decision convicting
respondent was validly promulgated.

Section 6, Rule 120 of the Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure allows a court to promulgate a judgment in absentia and gives the accused the opportunity to file an appeal within a period of fifteen (15) days from notice to the latter or the latter's counsel; otherwise, the decision becomes final.

Records show that respondent was properly informed of the promulgation scheduled on 15 December 2005. The RTC Order dated 30 November 200544 documents the presence of his counsel during the hearing. It is an established doctrine that notice to counsel is notice to client.45 In addition, the Return of Service states that the Order and Notice of Promulgation were personally delivered to respondent's address.

During the promulgation of judgment on 15 December 2005, when respondent did not appear despite notice, and without offering any justification for his absence, the trial court should have immediately promulgated its Decision.46 The promulgation of judgment in absentia is mandatory pursuant to the fourth paragraph of Section 6, Rule 120 of the Rules of Court:

SEC. 6. Promulgation of judgment.

xxxx

In case the accused fails to appear at the scheduled date of promulgation of judgment despite notice, the promulgation shall be made by recording the judgment in the criminal docket and serving him a copy thereof at his last known address or thru his counsel. (Emphasis supplied)

If the accused has been notified of the date of promulgation, but does not appear, the promulgation of judgment in absentia is warranted. This rule is intended to obviate a repetition of the situation in the past when the judicial process could be subverted by the accused by jumping bail to frustrate the promulgation of judgment.47 The only essential elements for its validity are as follows: (a) the judgment was recorded in the criminal docket; and (b) a copy thereof was served upon the accused or counsel.

In Almuete v. People,48 petitioner's counsel informed the trial court that the accused were either ill or not notified of the scheduled date of promulgation of judgment. The RTC, however, found their absence inexcusable and proceeded to promulgate its Decision as scheduled. The accused went up to the CA, which acquitted them of the charge. This Court reversed the CA and upheld the validity of the promulgation.

In Estrada v. People,49 this Court also affirmed the validity of the promulgation of judgment in absentia, given the presence of the essential elements.

Judge Buted's Order dated 22 December 200550 fulfilled the requirements set forth by the Rules and prevailing jurisprudence. Pertinent portions of the Order read:

The judgment of conviction which carries the death penalty was pronounced in the presence of the Public Prosecutor, the counsel de oficio of accused and the heirs of complainant Carmen Macatiag, the dispositive portion of which, the OIC Clerk of Court is directed to enter into the Criminal Docket.

x x x x

Let copy of the Decision furnished each the Public Prosecutor, the counsel de oficio of the accused, Atty. Bembol Castillo, and the accused at his last known address.

Respondent was not left without remedy. The fifth paragraph of Section 6, Rule 120, states:

If the judgment is for conviction and the failure of the accused to appear was without justifiable cause, he shall lose the remedies available in these rules against the judgment and the court shall order his arrest. Within fifteen (15) days from promulgation of judgment, however, the accused may surrender and file a motion for leave of court to avail of these remedies. He shall state the reasons for his absence at the scheduled promulgation and if he proves that his absence was for a justifiable cause, he shall be allowed to avail of said remedies within fifteen (15) days from notice.

However, instead of surrendering and filing a motion for leave to explain his unjustified absence, respondent, through Atty. Benitez, filed an Omnibus Motion before the RTC praying that the promulgation be set aside.51 We cannot countenance this blatant circumvention of the Rules.

Judge Soluren's Decision acquitting
respondent is void and has no legal
effect.

Judge Soluren acted with grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction when she gave due course to respondent's Omnibus Motion. Aside from being the wrong remedy, the motion lacked merit.

The filing of a motion for reconsideration to question a decision of conviction can only be resorted to if the accused did not jump bail, but appeared in court to face the promulgation of judgment. Respondent did not appear during the scheduled promulgation and was deemed by the judge to have jumped bail. The fifth paragraph of Section 6, Rule 120, states that if the judgment is for conviction and the failure of the accused to appear was without justifiable cause, he shall lose the remedies available in the Rules against the judgment, and the court shall order his arrest.

The Court underscores the fact that following Gonzales's waiver of the remedies under the Rules, Judge Buted issued an Order dated 22 December 2005. According to the Order, the case records shall be immediately forwarded to the CA for its automatic review of convictions meting out the death penalty.52 This automatic review was pursuant to Supreme Court Administrative Circular 20-2005 (dated 15 April 2005) as implemented by OCA Circular No. 57-2005 (dated 12 May 2005).

Supreme Court Administrative Circular 20-2005 mandates as follows:

[A]ll Regional Trial Courts concerned, through the Presiding Judges and Clerks of Court, are hereby DIRECTED to henceforth DIRECTLY forward to the COURT OF APPEALS (Manila for Luzon cases, Cebu Station for Visayas cases, and Cagayan de Oro Station for Mindanao cases) the records of criminal cases whose decisions are subject to (a) automatic review because the penalty imposed is death or (b) ordinary appeals (by notices of appeal) because the penalty imposed is either reclusion perpetua or life imprisonment, notwithstanding a statement in the notice of appeal that the appeal is to the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, OCA Circular No. 57-2005 gives the following directive:

[A]ll Judges and Clerks of Court of the Regional Trial Courts are hereby reminded that failure to comply with the above-cited Administrative Circular shall warrant appropriate disciplinary action pursuant to Rule 140 of the Rules of Court, as amended by A.M. 01-8-10-SC, which took effect on 11 September 2001, as well as the pertinent rules and regulations of the Civil Service Commission.

This Administrative Circular took effect on 19 April 2005, strict compliance herewith is hereby enjoined.

In utter disregard of this Court's circulars, Judge Soluren capriciously, whimsically, and arbitrarily took cognizance of private respondent's Omnibus Motion, granted it, and rendered a totally opposite Decision of acquittal. What she should have done was dismiss the Omnibus Motion outright, since Judge Buted's Decision of conviction was already subject to automatic review by the CA. By acting on the wrong remedy, which led to the reversal of the conviction, Judge Soluren contravened the express orders of this Court. Her blatant abuse of authority was so grave and so severe that it deprived the court of its very power to dispense justice.

We take this opportunity to correct a capricious, patent, and abusive judgment by reversing and setting aside the Decision.

Judge Soluren retired compulsorily in 2012. Had she still been in the service, some members of this Court would have been minded to refer this matter to the Office of the Court Administrator for investigation into and evaluation of the question of whether the above acts call for the application of administrative sanctions.

Double jeopardy is not triggered
when the order of acquittal is void.

Grave abuse of discretion amounts to lack of jurisdiction, and lack of jurisdiction prevents double jeopardy from attaching.53

In People v. Hernandez,54 this Court explained that "an acquittal rendered in grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction does not really 'acquit' and therefore does not terminate the case as there can be no double jeopardy based on a void indictment."

Considering that Judge Soluren's order of acquittal was void from the very beginning, it necessarily follows that the CA ruling dismissing the Petition for Certiorari must likewise be reversed and set aside.

WHEREFORE, the foregoing Petition is GRANTED. The assailed Decision of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. SP No. 97629 dated 22 March 2010 and Resolution dated 30 July 2010 are REVERSED and SET ASIDE.

The Decision of Branch 40 of the Regional Trial Court of Palayan City, Nueva Ecija dated 31 October 2006 and Order dated 18 April 2006, rendered by public respondent Judge Corazon D. Soluren acquitting respondent Pepito Gonzales, are likewise REVERSED and SET ASIDE for having been issued with grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction. The Decision dated 22 December 2005 rendered by Judge Erlinda P. Buted is REINSTATED.

The Court of Appeals is hereby ordered to conduct the mandatory and automatic review of the Decision dated 22 December 2005 pursuant to Sections 3 and 10, Rule 122 of the Rules of Court. Let the entire records of Criminal Case No. 1066-P entitled People of the Philippines v. Pepito Gonzales be immediately TRANSMITTED to the Court of Appeals.

The bail granted to respondent Pepito Gonzales is CANCELLED. Let copies of this Decision be furnished the Director of the National Bureau of Investigation and the Director-General of the Philippine National Police. The National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police are hereby DIRECTED to cause the IMMEDIATE ARREST and DETENTION of respondent Pepito Gonzales.

SO ORDERED.

Leonardo-De Castro, Del Castillo, and Perlas-Bernabe, JJ., concur.

Caguioa, J., see concurring opinion.

Endnotes:


1 Dated 22 March 2010, rollo, p. 34-44; penned by Associate Justice Florito S. Macalino and concurred in by Associate Justices Rosmari D. Carandang and Ramon M. Bato, Jr.

2 Dated 30 July 2010; id. at 45.

3 Dated 31 October 2006, id. at 209-238.

4 Dated 22 December 2005; id. at 157-198.

5 Id. at 12.

6 Id. at 48.

7 Id. at 53.

8 Id. at 61.

9 Id. at 66.

10 Dated 8 December 1998; id. at 71.

11 On 25 February 1999; id. at 73.

12 Id. at 95

13 Id. at 102.

14 Id. at 107.

15 Id. at 105.

16 Id. at 111.

17 In an Order dated 5 October 2004; id. at 135

18 Id. at 136.

19 Id. at 138.

20 In an Order dated 17 May 2005; id. at 143.

21 Id. at 148-150. "Formal Offer of Documentary Exhibits for the Accused."

22 Id. at 151-152.

23 Id. at 318.

24 Id. at 153.

25 Id. at 154.

26 Id.

27 Id. at 155.

28 Id. at 319.

29 Id.

30 Id. at 156.

31 Id. at 197.

32 Rule 120, Sec. 6, par. 4 - In case the accused fails to appear at the scheduled date of promulgation of judgment despite notice, the promulgation shall be made by recording the judgment in the criminal docket and serving him a copy thereof at his last known address or through his counsel.

33Rollo, p. 156.

34 Id. at 199.

35 Id. at 204.

36 Id. at 209-238.

37 Id. at 238.

38 Id. 260-278.

39 Id. at 330-333.

40 Id. at 331.

41 See Narciso v. Sta. Romana-Cruz, 385 Phil. 208-224 (2000); People v. Calo, Jr., 264 Phil. 1007-1015 (1990).

42 140 Phil. 81-94 (1969).

43 G.R. No. 188191, 12 March 2014, 718 SCRA 698.

44 Rollo, pp. 151-152.

45Manaya v. Alabang Country Club, Inc., 552 Phil. 226 (2007).

46 See Chua v. Court of Appeals, 549 Phil. 494-504 (2007).

47 Id.

48 G.R. No. 179631, 12 March 2013, 693 SCRA 167.

49 505 Phil. 339 (2005).

50Rollo, p. 156.

51 Id. at 199.

52 Id. at 156.

53Villareal v. People, 680 Phil. 527 (2012) citing People v. Hernandez, 531 Phil. 289 (2006).

54 Supra note 53.



CONCURRING OPINION

CAGUIOA, J.:

I concur wholly with the ponencia as penned by Chief Justice Sereno. This opinion merely serves to further emphasize the exceptional circumstances which render the rule on double jeopardy particularly inapplicable to this case.

The rule on double jeopardy espouses that when a person is charged with an offense, and the case is terminated either by acquittal, conviction or any other manner without the consent of the accused, he cannot be charged again with the same or identical offense.1

For double jeopardy to attach, the following elements must concur: (i) the information against the accused must have been valid, sufficient in form and substance to sustain a conviction of the crime charged, (ii) the information must have been filed with, and judgment rendered by, a court of competent jurisdiction, (iii) the accused must have been arraigned and had pleaded, and (iv) the accused must have been convicted or acquitted, or the case must have been dismissed without his express consent.2

In order to satisfy the fourth element, it is necessary that the prior judgment of conviction, acquittal or dismissal be valid, and rendered by a court of competent jurisdiction.

In this case, it has been established that: (i) respondent was duly notified of the December 15, 2015 hearing scheduled for the promulgation of Judge Buted's decision, (ii) respondent was absent during said hearing despite due notice, (iii) notwithstanding his absence, respondent was represented by his counsel in said hearing, (iv) Judge Buted promulgated his decision convicting respondent in accordance with Section 6, Rule 120, which allows promulgation of judgment in absentia, (v) Judge Buted immediately ordered the transmission of the case records to the CA for automatic review as respondent's conviction involved the imposition of the death penalty, (vi) respondent's counsel thereafter filed an Omnibus Motion with the RTC praying that the conviction be set aside, and (vii) Judge Soluren, the new presiding judge of the RTC, subsequently granted the Omnibus Motion, set aside respondent's conviction, and issued an order acquitting respondent.

Proceeding from these facts, the ponencia holds that the order of acquittal issued by Judge Soluren is void and has no legal effect. The ponencia thus orders the reinstatement of respondent's conviction, finding the rule on double jeopardy inapplicable to this case.

I agree.

In the case of Villareal v. People,3 the Court convicted four (4) of the accused thereunder for the crime of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, despite their previous conviction for the lesser crime of slight physical injuries. The Court found that the extraordinary circumstances of the case precluded the application of the rule on double jeopardy:

The CA's application of the legal framework governing physical injuries � punished under Articles 262 to 266 for intentional felonies and Article 365 for culpable felonies � is therefore tantamount to a whimsical, capricious, and abusive exercise of judgment amounting to lack of jurisdiction. According to the Revised Penal Code, the mandatory and legally imposable penalty in case the victim dies should be based on the framework governing the destruction of the life of a person, punished under Articles 246 to 261 for intentional felonies and Article 365 for culpable felonies, and not under the aforementioned provisions. We emphasize that these two types of felonies are distinct from and legally inconsistent with each other, in that the accused cannot be held criminally liable for physical injuries when actual death occurs.

Attributing criminal liability solely to Villareal and Dizon � as if only their acts, in and of themselves, caused the death of Lenny Villa � is contrary to the CA's own findings. From proof that the death of the victim was the cumulative effect of the multiple injuries he suffered, the only logical conclusion is that criminal responsibility should redound to all those who have been proven to have directly participated in the infliction of physical injuries on Lenny. The accumulation of bruising on his body caused him to suffer cardiac arrest. Accordingly, we find that the CA committed grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction in finding Tecson, Ama, Almeda, and Bantug criminally liable for slight physical injuries. As an allowable exception to the rule on double jeopardy, we therefore give due course to the Petition in G.R. No. 154954.4 (Emphasis and underscoring supplied)

In this case, Judge Soluren issued the order of acquittal after a prior judgment of conviction had been validly promulgated. Moreover, she issued said order after the records of the case were transmitted to the appellate court for automatic review. Not only did Judge Soluren completely disregard a decision validly promulgated in accordance with the Rules of Court, she subverted the same by issuing an opposing judgment after the RTC had already lost jurisdiction over the case.

These exceptionally "unusual" circumstances show that the order of acquittal was void from the beginning, as indeed, this patently erroneous judgment was issued without any jurisdiction. Thus, the fourth element necessary for double jeopardy to attach was not satisfied.

Endnotes:


1Villareal v. People, 680 Phil. 527, 555 (2012).

2Wilfred N. Chiok v. People of the Philippines, G.R. Nos. 179814 & 180021, December 7, 2015, p. 11

3 Supra note 1.

4 Id. at 562.




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  • G.R. No. 187448, January 09, 2017 - REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, Petitioner, v. ALFREDO R. DE BORJA, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 188658, January 11, 2017 - HEIRS OF TEODORA LOYOLA, REPRESENTED HEREIN BY ZOSIMO L. MENDOZA, SR., Petitioners, v. COURT OF APPEALS AND ALICIA R. LOYOLA, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 206617, January 30, 2017 - PHILIPPINE NUMISMATIC AND ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY, Petitioner, v. GENESIS AQUINO, ANGELO BERNARDO, JR., EDUARDO M. CHUA, FERNANDO FRANCISCO, JR., FERMIN S. CARINO, PERCIVAL M. MANUEL, FERNANDO M. GAITE, JR., JOSE CHOA, TOMAS DE GUZMAN, JR., LI VI JU, CATALINO M. SILANGIL, RAMUNDO SANTOS, PETER SY, AND WILSON YULOQUE, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 206345, January 23, 2017 - NATIONAL HOME MORTGAGE FINANCE CORPORATION, Petitioner, v. FLORITA C. TAROBAL, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 198968, January 18, 2017 - STATUS MARITIME CORPORATION, AND ADMIBROS SHIPMANAGEMENT CO., LTD., Petitioners, v. RODRIGO C. DOCTOLERO, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 215807, January 25, 2017 - ROSARIO E. CAHAMBING, Petitioner, v. VICTOR ESPINOSA AND JUANA ANG, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 181596, January 30, 2017 - JENESTOR B. CALDITO AND MARIA FILOMENA T. CALDITO, Petitioners, v. ISAGANI V. OBADO AND GEREON V. OBADO, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 191636, January 16, 2017 - PRUDENTIAL BANK (NOW BANK OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS), Petitioner, v. RONALD RAPANOT AND HOUSING & LAND USE REGULATORY BOARD, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 192602, January 18, 2017 - SPOUSES MAY S. VILLALUZ AND JOHNNY VILLALUZ, JR., Petitioners, v. LAND BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE REGISTER OF DEEDS FOR DAVAO CITY, Respondents.

  • A.C. No. 7478, January 11, 2017 - EDUARDO R. ALICIAS, JR., Complainant, v. ATTYS. MYRNA V. MACATANGAY, KARIN LITZ P. ZERNA, ARIEL G. RONQUILLO, AND CESAR D. BUENAFLOR, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 210328, January 30, 2017 - GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM (GSIS), Petitioner, v. APOLINARIO C. PAUIG, Respondent.

  • A.C. No. 10533, January 31, 2017 - SILVESTRA MEDINA AND SANTOS MEDINA LORAYA, Complainant, v. ATTY. RUFINO LIZARDO, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 199977, January 25, 2017 - SCANMAR MARITIME SERVICES, INC., CROWN SHIPMANAGEMENT INC., AND VICTORIO Q. ESTA, Petitioners, v. WILFREDO T. DE LEON, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 184450, January 24, 2017 - JAIME N. SORIANO, MICHAEL VERNON M. GUERRERO, MARY ANN L. REYES, MARAH SHARYN M. DE CASTRO AND CRIS P. TENORIO, Petitioners, v. SECRETARY OF FINANCE AND THE COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondents.; G.R. No. 184508 - SENATOR MANUEL A. ROXAS, Petitioner, v. MARGARITO B. TEVES, IN HIS CAPACITY AS SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND LILIAN B. HEFTI, IN HER CAPACITY AS COMMISSIONER OF THE BUREAU OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondents.; G.R. No. 184538 - TRADE UNION CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES (TUCP), REPRESENTED BY ITS PRESIDENT, DEMOCRITO T. MENDOZA, Petitioner, v. MARGARITO B. TEVES, IN HIS CAPACITY AS SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND LILIAN B. HEFTI, IN HER CAPACITY AS COMMISSIONER OF THE BUREAU OF INTERNAL REVENUE Respondents.; G.R. No. 185234 - SENATOR FRANCIS JOSEPH G. ESCUDERO, TAX MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION OF THE PHILIPPINES, INC. AND ERNESTO G. EBRO, Petitioners, v. MARGARITO B. TEVES, IN HIS CAPACITY AS SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND SIXTO S. ESQUIVIAS IV, IN HIS CAPACITY AS COMMISSIONER OF THE BUREAU OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 186967, January 18, 2017 - DIVINA PALAO, Petitioner, v. FLORENTINO III INTERNATIONAL, INC., Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 168288, January 25, 2017 - REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, Petitioner, v. HAROLD TIO GO, Respondent.

  • A.M. No. MTJ-16-1887 [Formerly OCA IPI No. 15-2814-MTJ], January 09, 2017 - TRINIDAD GAMBOA-ROCES, Complainant, v. JUDGE RANHEL A. PEREZ, PRESIDING JUDGE, MUNICIPAL CIRCUIT TRIAL COURT, ENRIQUE MAGALONA-MANAPLA, NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Respondent.

  • A.M. No. P-11-2989 (Formerly OCA IPI No. 09-3249-P), January 10, 2017 - WYNA MARIE P. GARINGAN�FERRERAS, Complainant, v. EDUARDO T. UMBLAS, LEGAL RESEARCHER II, REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, BRANCH 33, BALLESTEROS, CAGAYAN, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 212375, January 25, 2017 - KABISIG REAL WEALTH DEV., INC. AND FERNANDO C. TIO, Petitioners, v. YOUNG CORPORATION BUILDERS, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 220617, January 30, 2017 - NESTLE PHILIPPINES, INC., Petitioner, v. BENNY A. PUEDAN, JR., JAYFER D. LIMBO, BRODNEY N. AVILA, ARTHUR C. AQUINO, RYAN A. MIRANDA, RONALD R. ALAVE, JOHNNY A. DIMAYA, MARLON B. DELOS REYES, ANGELITO R. CORDOVA, EDGAR S. BARRUGA, CAMILO B. CORDOVA, JR., JEFFRY B. LANGUISAN, EDISON U. VILLAPANDO, JHEIRNEY S. REMOLIN, MARY LUZ A. MACATALAD,* JENALYN M. GAMUROT, DENNIS G. BAWAG, RAQUEL A. ABELLERA, AND RICANDRO G. GUATNO, JR., Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 213224, January 16, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. ROQUE DAYADAY Y DAGOOC, Accused-Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 207838, January 25, 2017 - LEO T. MAULA, Petitioner, v. XIMEX DELIVERY EXPRESS, INC., Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 214303, January 30, 2017 - DELFIN C. GONZALEZ, JR., Petitioner, v. MAGDALENO M. PE�A, ALABANG COUNTRY CLUB, INC., AND MS. ARSENIA VERA, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 200009, January 23, 2017 - SPRING HOMES SUBDIVISION CO., INC., SPOUSES PEDRO L. LUMBRES AND REBECCA T. ROARING, Petitioners, v. SPOUSES PEDRO TABLADA, JR. AND ZENAIDA TABLADA, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 206627, January 18, 2017 - VAN CLIFFORD TORRES Y SALERA, Petitioner, v. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 206390, January 30, 2017 - JACK C. VALENCLA, Petitioner, v. CLASSIQUE VINYL PRODUCTS CORPORATION, JOHNNY CHANG (OWNER) AND/OR CANTINGAS MANPOWER SERVICES, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 218466, January 23, 2017 - MANNY RAMOS, ROBERTO SALONGA AND SERVILLANO NACIONAL, Petitioners, v. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondent.; G.R. No. 221425 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. MANNY RAMOS, ROBERTO SALONGA A.K.A. "JOHN," "KONYONG" SALONGA AND SERVILLANO NACIONAL @ "INONG" @ DIONISIO NACIONAL, Accused-Appellants.

  • GR. No. 194190, January 25, 2017 - REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, REPRESENTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS (DPWH), Petitioner, v. SPOUSES FRANCISCO R. LLAMAS, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 215009, January 23, 2017 - REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, Petitioner, v. CARMEN SANTORIO GALENO, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 212774, January 23, 2017 - WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY-PHILIPPINES, Petitioner, v. GUILLERMO T. MAGLAYA, SR., Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 192159, January 25, 2017 - COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS CORPORATION, Petitioner, v. MARK SENSING AUSTRALIA PTY. LTD., MARK SENSING PHILIPPINES, INC. AND OFELIA B. CAJIGAL, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 219829, January 18, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. MONIR JAAFAR Y TAMBUYONG, Accused-Appellants.

  • G.R. No. 193397, January 25, 2017 - ESTRELLA MEJIA-ESPINOZA AND NORMA MEJIA DELLOSA, Petitioners, v. NENA A. CARI�O, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 178842, January 30, 2017 - RENE H. IMPERIAL AND NIDSLAND RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, Petitioners, v. HON. EDGAR L. ARMES, PRESIDING JUDGE OF BRANCH 4, REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, 5TH JUDICIAL REGION, LEGAZPI CITY AND ALFONSO B. CRUZ, JR., Respondents.; G.R. No. 195509 - ALFONSO B. CRUZ, Petitioner, v. RENE IMPERIAL AND NIDSLAND RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 219509, January 18, 2017 - ILOILO JAR CORPORATION, Petitioner, v. COMGLASCO CORPORATION/AGUILA GLASS, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 215331, January 23, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. LUDIGARIO BELEN Y MARASIGAN, Accused-Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 175949, January 30, 2017 - UNITED ALLOY PHILIPPINES CORPORATION, SPOUSES DAVID C. CHUA AND LUTEN CHUA, Petitioners, v. UNITED COCONUT PLANTERS BANK, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 220506, January 18, 2017 - C.I.C.M. MISSION SEMINARIES (MARYHURST, MARYHEIGHTS, MARYSHORE AND MARYHILL) SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY, INC., FR. ROMEO NIMEZ, CICM, Petitioners, v. MARIA VERONICA C. PEREZ, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 219345, January 30, 2017 - SECURITY BANK CORPORATION, Petitioner, v. GREAT WALL COMMERCIAL PRESS COMPANY, INC., ALFREDO BURIEL ATIENZA, FREDINO CHENG ATIENZA AND SPS. FREDERICK CHENG ATIENZA AND MONICA CU ATIENZA, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 211175, January 18, 2017 - ATTY. REYES G. GEROMO, FLORENCIO BUENTIPO, JR., ERNALDO YAMBOT AND LYDIA BUSTAMANTE, Petitioners, v. LA PAZ HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 189714, January 25, 2017 - TPG CORPORATION (FORMERLY THE PROFESSIONAL GROUP PLANS, INC.), Petitioner, v. ESPERANZA B. PINAS, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 193150, January 23, 2017 - LOIDA M. JAVIER, Petitioner, v. PEPITO GONZALES, Respondent.

  • A.C. No. 5582, January 24, 2017 - ARTHUR O. MONARES, Complainant, v. ATTY. LEVI P. MU�OZ, Respondent.; A.C. No. 5604, January 24, 2017 - ALBAY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC., Complainant, v. ATTY. LEVI P. MU�OZ, Respondent.; A.C. No. 5652, January 24, 2017 - BENJILIEH M. CONSTANTE,1, Complainant, v. ATTY. LEVI P. MU�OZ, Respondent.

  • A.C. No. 11545 (Formerly CBD case No. 12-3439), January 24, 2017 - SUSAN LOBERES-PINTAL, Complainant, v. ATTY. RAMONCITO B. BAYLOSIS, Respondent.

  • G.R. Nos. 205045 & 205723, January 25, 2017 - COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Petitioner, v. SAN MIGUEL CORPORATION, Respondent.

  • A.M. No. P-16-3615 (Formerly A.M. No. 15-8-249-RTC), January 24, 2017 - MARITA TOLENTINO AND FELY SAN ANDRES, Complainants, v. SHERIFF IV GLENN A. UMALI, REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, BRANCH 10, MALOLOS CITY, BULACAN, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 207971, January 23, 2017 - ASIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT, Petitioner, v. ASIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT FACULTY ASSOCIATION, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 212376, January 31, 2017 - MADAG BUISAN, ET AL., NAMELY: HADJI MUSA MANALAG, HADJI SUKOR MAMADRA, H. SALAM TUMAGANTANG, SUGRA SUKOR BUISAN, MONAURA TUMAGANTAING, NOJA TUMAGANTANG, SULTAN BUISAN, PAULO TUMAGANTANG,DAKUNDAY MANALAG, KINGI BUISAN, BUGOY PANANGBUAN, TUMBA TUMAGANTANG, MAMALO ELI, MALIGA ATOGAN, PAGUIAL SALDINA, EBRAHIM TAGURAK, HADJI ESMAEL KASAN, OTAP GANDAWALI, TWAN IT SALAM, EDEL SABAL, GUIMA H. SALAM, KATUNTONG H. SALAM, THONY IBAD, BANGKALING BANTAS, ALON KIKI, DAMDAEN TUMAGANTANG, MAMASALIDO KIKI, ROSTAN TUMAGANTANG, MONTASER DAMDAMEN, MODSOL TANDIAN, RAHMAN SUKOR, SUKARNO H. SUKOR, KUNGAS PAYAG, JIMIE BUISAN, MADAODAO KEDTUNGEN, TUTIN MANALAG, DATU ALI MANALAG, TUGAYA MANALAG, SAGANDINGAN MANALAG, SAUIATRA MANALAG, KAUTIN MANALAG, PANTAS DALANDAS,ULAD BANTAS, PALANO BUISAN, PANIANG BUISAN, INDASIA BUISAN, MAKAKWA BUISAN, SULTAN BUISAN, MANTIKAN BUISAN, ABULKARIM TUMAGANTANG, SAKMAG MANALAG, DEMALANES BUISAN, MANALAG PAKAMAMA, MALAMBONG PANDIAN, ABDULKARIM TUMAGANTANG, GUIANDAL OPAO, KUSIN PUWI, H. SULAIMAN UNAK, PABLO ALQUESAR, SAGIBA GABAO, TABUAN LUAY, POTENCIANO NAVARRO, KUSIN PENEL, MALAMON TALIB, MALIGA BIDA, MOKAMAD KUDALIS, CEDULA PAGABANGAN, SALILAGUIA LENANDANG, ENGKEL ALILAYA, MANGATOG SUDANG, MANAGKING MANGATONG, SEVERINO FERNANDEZ, JOSEAS GOTOKANO, MALYOD LAWADI, MANSALGAN UDAY, SANDATO DALANDAS, BANTAS DALANDAS, MAMANTAL DALANDAS, MAKALIPUAS MAKALILAY, BINGKONG BUISAN, FARIDA SUMAGKA, NUNET YUSOP, KADIGIA SABAL, NANANGGA TAYA, MAMA BANGKALING, CORRY DAMO, BUKA LATIP, MADAODAO KADTUNGAN, KOMINIE ADAM, BANGKALING BANTAS, RONIE EDZAKAL, KEDOPAO BUTO, SARIP EDZEMBAGA, TUTEN MANALAG, ABAS LATIP, MAKALIPUAS MAKALILAY, DAGENDENGAN ZUMBAGA, PAGUIAL LUBALANG, JIMMY BUISAN, KADIL SUKOR, JAKIRI LOZANO, MANUEL MAKATIMBEL, AISA BANSUAN, TATO BUISAN, HARON ABO, MAMAAN LAMADA, THING GUIAMILON, TATO SUMAGKA, NORALYN KAHAR, MOKAGI ANTAS, KINGI BUISAN, ZAINUDEN PANAYAMAN, PIAGA MANALAG, SAGIATRA MANALAG, SAILA LATIP, PINKI KADTUNGAN, ALI KADTUNGAN, NANDING TAYA, INDAY BUISAN, KINTOL KADTUNGAN, MALAWINIE EDZAKAL, MINGUTIN AMAL, BUGLI MANALAG, MANGAPANG SADINA, KURANUNGAN SADINA, SANGUTIN LUBALANG, DAUD H. LATIP, REY PALAMAN, MONTANER KID, BAKATED KADTUNGAN, GUIAMATULA DIMAGIL, ALON H. LATIP, SULTAN BUISAN, HADJI MUSA MANALAG, MANTO BANTAS, ABAS L. LATIP RODIEL KID, DATU BUTO ALI, ODIN TIAGO, ABDUL ANTA, EMBIT BUKA, LAGA KID, ULAMA DALUS, SUWAILA DAMDAMIN, TALILISAN PALEMBA, LANTOKA PATOG, MAKATEGKA BANGKONG, BEMBI KUDO, MOGAWAN GINANTE, PATANG BALODTO, EUSEBIO QUIJANO, FAISAN TAYA, LAGA KAHAR, ESMAEL KID, TAYA PALAMAN, NORJANA BUISAN, TONTONGAN MANALAG, SAMIER MANGULI, SINUMAGAD BANSUAN, BHING HARON, NENENG BUISAN, DIDO KID, ZALDI AGIONG, ROWENA MANALAG, NASSER MAMALANGKAP, TANOSI ZUMBAGA, GUIDAT DANDALANAN, FATIMA KID, KIMAMA KATIMPO, ALON GUIANDAL, MAMALUBA AKOD, AIN SUKOR AND NORIA DALANDAS, ALL REPRESENTED BY BAI ANNIE C. MONTAWAL, Petitioners, v. COMMISSION ON AUDIT AND DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 193156, January 18, 2017 - IVQ LANDHOLDINGS, INC., Petitioner, v. REUBEN BARBOSA, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 212818, January 25, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. GREGORIO QUITA ALIAS "GREG", Accused-Appellant.

  • A.M. No. P-16-3550 (Formerly A.M. IPI No. 14-4252-P), January 31, 2017 - JUDGE GUILLERMO P. AGLORO, Complainant, v. COURT INTERPRETER LESLIE BURGOS, OFFICER-IN-CHARGE/CLERK III ANNALIZA P. SANTIAGO, COURT STENOGRAPHER MARISSA M. GARCIA, AND CLERK III JULIETA FAJARDO, ALL OF REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, BRANCH 83, MALOLOS CITY, BULACAN, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 202781, January 10, 2017 - CRISANTO M. AALA, ROBERT N. BALAT, DATU BELARDO M. BUNGAD, CESAR B. CUNTAPAY, LAURA S. DOMINGO, GLORIA M. GAZMEN-TAN, AND JOCELYN P. SALUDARES-CADAYONA, Petitioners, v. HON. REY T. UY, IN HIS CAPACITY AS THE CITY MAYOR OF TAGUM CITY, DAVAO DEL NORTE, MR. ALFREDO H. SILAWAN, IN HIS CAPACITY AS CITY ASSESSOR OF TAGUM CITY, HON. DE CARLO L. UY, HON. ALLAN L. RELLON, HON. MARIA LINA F. BAURA, HON. NICANDRO T. SUAYBAGUIO, JR., HON. ROBERT L. SO, HON. JOEDEL T. CAASI, HON. OSCAR M. BERMUDEZ, HON. ALAN D. ZULUETA, HON. GETERITO T. GEMENTIZA, HON. TRISTAN ROYCE R. AALA, HON. FRANCISCO C. REMITAR, IN THEIR CAPACITY AS CITY COUNCILORS OF TAGUM CITY, DAVAO DEL NORTE, HON. ALFREDO R. PAGDILAO, IN HIS CAPACITY AS ABC REPRESENTATIVE, AND HON. MARIE CAMILLE C. MANANSALA, IN HER CAPACITY AS SKF REPRESENTATIVE, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 190431, January 31, 2017 - BAYAN MUNA PARTY-LIST REPRESENTATIVE SATUR C. OCAMPO, GABRIELA WOMEN'S PARTY-LIST REPRESENTATIVE LIZA L. MAZA, BAYAN MUNA PARTY-LIST REPRESENTATIVE TEODORO A. CASI�O, ANAKPAWIS PARTY-LIST REPRESENTATIVE JOEL B. MAGLUNSOD, PAGKAKAISA NG MGA SAMAHAN NG TSUPER AT OPERATOR NATIONWIDE (PISTON), REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY GENERAL GEORGE F. SAN MATEO, Petitioners; AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION OF THE PHILIPPINES, GLICERIO M. MANZANO, JR., RAUL M. CONSUNJI, AND LYN C. BRONTE, Petitioners-In-Intervention, v. LEANDRO R. MENDOZA SECRETARY OF DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS; ARTURO C. LOMIBAO, CHIEF OF THE LAND TRANSPORTATION OFFICE, AND STRADCOM CORPORATION, Respondents.; FEDERATION OF JEEPNEY OPERATORS AND DRIVERS ASSOCIATION OF THE PHILIPPINES (FEJODAP) REPRESENTED BY ZENAIDA "MARANAN" DE CASTRO, ALLIANCE OF TRANSPORT OPERATORS AND DRIVERS ASSOCIATIONS OF THE PHILIPPINES (ALTODAP) REPRESENTED BY MELENCIO "BOY" VARGAS, LAND TRANSPORTATION ORGANIZATION OF THE PHILIPPINES (LTOP) REPRESENTED BY ORLANDO MARQUEZ, NTU�TRANSPORTER REPRESENTED BY ALEJO SAYASA, PASANG-MASDA NATIONWIDE, INC., REPRESENTED BY ROBERTO "OBET" MARTIN, ALLIANCE OF CONCERNED TRANSPORT ORGANIZATIONS (ACTO) REPRESENTED BY EFREN DE LUNA, Oppositors-Intervenors.

  • G.R. No. 207156, January 16, 2017 - TURKS SHAWARMA COMPANY/GEM ZE�AROSA, Petitioners, v. FELICIANO Z. PAJARON AND LARRY A. CARBONILLA, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 184317, January 25, 2017 - METROPOLITAN BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, Petitioner, v. LIBERTY CORRUGATED BOXES MANUFACTURING CORPORATION, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 207786, January 30, 2017 - SPOUSES MARCELIAN TAPAYAN AND ALICE TAPAYAN, Petitioners, v. PONCEDA M. MARTINEZ, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 206038, January 25, 2017 - MARY E. LIM, REPRESENTED BY HER ATTORNEY-IN-FACT, REYNALDO V. LIM, Petitioner, v. MOLDEX LAND, INC., 1322 ROXAS BOULEVARD CONDOMINIUM CORPORATION, AND JEFFREY JAMINOLA, EDGARDO MACALINTAL, JOJI MILANES, AND CLOTHILDA ANNE ROMAN, IN THEIR CAPACITY AS PURPORTED MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF 1322 GOLDEN EMPIRE CORPORATION, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 196347, January 23, 2017 - SUSAN A. YAP, Petitioner, v. ELIZABETH LAGTAPON, Respondent.

  • A.M. No. RTJ-14-2401 (Formerly OCA IPI No. 12-3841-RTJ), January 25, 2017 - OFFICE OF THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR, Complainant, v. EXECUTIVE JUDGE ILLUMINADA P. CABATO, REGIONAL TRIAL COURT [RTC], BAGUIO CITY; CLERK OF COURT IV ARMANDO G. YDIA, PROCESS SERVER I SONNY S. CARAGAY, CLERK OF COURT III OFELIA T. MONDIGUING, SHERIFF III JOSE E. ORPILLA, AND CLERK III VILMA C. WAYANG, ALL OF THE OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT, MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURT IN CITIES [MTCC], BAGUIO CITY; JUDGE ROBERTO R. MABALOT, CLERK OF COURT III LOURDES G. CAOILI, AND UTILITY WORKER I ANTINO M. WAKIT, ALL OF BRANCH I, MTCC, BAGUIO CITY; JUDGE JENNIFER P. HUMINDING, COURT STENOGRAPHER II PERLA B. DELACRUZ, COURT STENOGRAPHER II GRACE F. DESIERTO, COURT STENOGRAPHER II CAROLYN B. DUMAG, COURT STENOGRAPHER II MARY ROSE VIRGINIA O. MATIC, AND CLERK IV LOURDES D. WANGWANG, ALL OF BRANCH 2, MTCC, BAGUIO CITY; CLERK OF COURT REMEDIOS BALDERAS-REYES, SHERIFF IV RUBEN L. ATIJERA, CASH CLERK II MERLIN ANITA N. CALICA, PROCESS SERVER EDWIN V. FANGONIL, SHERIFF IV ROMEO R. FLORENDO, LIBRARIAN II NAMNAMA L. LOPEZ, CLERK III JEFFREY G. MENDOZA, CLERK II ROLANDO G. MONTES, COURT STENOGRAPHER III VENUS D. SAGUID, AND UTILITY WORKER I FRANCISCO D. SIAPNO, ALL OF THE OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT, RTC, BAGUIO CITY; CLERK OF COURT GAIL M. BACBAC-DEL ISEN, COURT STENOGRAPHER III RESTITUTO A. CORPUZ, COURT STENOGRAPHER MARLENE A. DOMAOANG, AND LEGAL RESEARCHER II FLORENCE F. SALANGO, ALL OF BRANCH 3, RTC, BAGUIO CITY; JUDGE MIA JOY C. OALLARES-CAWED, LEGAL RESEARCHER II ELIZABETH G. AUCENA, CLERK OF COURT V RUTH B. BAWAYAN, COURT STENOGRAPHER III JOY P. CHILEM-AGUILBA, COURT STENOGRAPHER III LEONILA P. FERNANDEZ, PROCESS SERVER MARIA ESPERANZA N. JACOB, COURT CLERK III REYNALDO R. RAMOS, COURT INTERPRETER III MELITA C. SALINAS, AND COURT CLERK III WILMA M. TAMANG, ALL OF BRANCH 4, RTC, BAGUIO CITY; JUDGE ANTONIO M. ESTEVES, UTILITY WORKER JONATHAN R. GERONIMO, COURT STENOGRAPHER III PRECY T. GOZE, CLERK OF COURT V ALEJANDRO EPIFANIO D. GUERRERO, AND COURT STENOGRAPHER III VIRGINIA M. RAMIREZ, ALL OF BRANCH 5, RTC, BAGUIO CITY; CLERK OF COURT MYLENE MAY ADUBE-CABUAG, PROCESS SERVER ROBERTO G. CORO�A, JR., COURT STENOGRAPHER III VICTORIA J. DERASMO, CLERK OF COURT III BOBBY D. GALANO, UTILITY WORKER MANOLO V. MARIANO III, AND CLERK III ROWENA C. PASAG, ALL OF BRANCH 6, RTC, BAGUIO CITY; JUDGE MONA LISA TIONGSON-TABORA, PROCESS SERVER ROMEO E. BARBACHANO, COURT STENOGRAPHER EDNA P. CASTILLO, COURT STENOGRAPHER III DOLORES M. ESERIO, COURT INTERPRETER III GEORGE HENRY A. MANIPON, COURT STENOGRAPHER III ANITA MENDOZA, CLERK III DOMINADOR B. REMIENDO, AND CLERK III DOLORES G. ROMERO, ALL OF BRANCH 7, RTC, BAGUIO CITY; UTILITY WORKER GILBERT L. EVANGELISTA, PROCESS SERVER EDUARDO B. RODRIGO, COURT STENOGRAPHER III ELIZABETH M. LOCKEY, COURT STENOGRAPHER III ANALIZA G. MADRONIO, CLERK III EVANGELINE N. GONZALES, COURT STENOGRAPHER III MARILOU M. TADAO, COURT STENOGRAPHER III AGNES P. MACA-EY, SHERIFF IV MARANI S. BACOLOD, CLERK III EDGARDO R. ORATE, AND LEGAL RESEARCHER JESSICA D. GUANSING, ALL OF BRANCH 59, RTC, BAGUIO CITY; CLERK OF COURT ROGER NAFIANOG, COURT STENOGRAPHER III RUTH C. LAGAN, COURT STENOGRAPHER III ELEANOR V. NI�ALGA, CLERK III ANGELINA M. SANTIAGO, UTILITY WORKER LEO P. VALDEZ, AND CLERK III SAMUEL P. VIDAD, ALL OF BRANCH 60, RTC, BAGUIO CITY; JUDGE ANTONIO C. REYES, COURT INTERPRETER III ELEANOR I. BUCAYCAY, LEGAL RESEARCHER II JOAN G. CASTILLO, CLERK OF COURT V JERICO G. GAY�YA, CLERK III CONCEPCION SOLIVEN VDA. PULMANO, AND SHERIFF IV ALBERT G. TOLENTINO, ALL OF BRANCH 61, RTC, BAGUIO CITY, Respondents.