Philippine Supreme Court Jurisprudence


Philippine Supreme Court Jurisprudence > Year 1954 > May 1954 Decisions > G.R. No. L-6481 May 17, 1954 - JESUS GUIAO v. ALBINO L. FIGUEROA

094 Phil 1018:




PHILIPPINE SUPREME COURT DECISIONS

EN BANC

[G.R. No. L-6481. May 17, 1954.]

JESUS GUIAO, Petitioner-Appellee, v. ALBINO L. FIGUEROA, in his capacity as Provincial Fiscal of the Province of Pampanga, Respondent-Appellant.

Solicitor General Juan R. Liwag and Assistant Solicitor General Francisco Carreon for Appellant.

Macapagal, Punsalan & Yabut for Appellee.


SYLLABUS


1. CRIMINAL PROCEDURE; PERSONS THAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE INFORMATION; DUTY OF FISCALS. — The rules of Court make it a mandatory duty for the fiscal to file charges against whomsoever the evidence may show to be responsible for an offense.

2. ID.; ID.; DISCHARGE OF ONE OF SEVERAL DEFENDANTS, DISCRETIONARY UPON COURT. — When it becomes necessary to exclude from prosecution persons who appear responsible for a crime in order that they may be used as State witnesses, the exclusion is lodged in the sound discretion of the competent court, not in that of the prosecuting officer.

3. ID.; ID.; ID.; FISCALS CAN BE COMPELLED TO INCLUDE PERSONS RESPONSIBLE FOR OFFENSE IN THE INFORMATION. — Where the fiscal choose to ignore his legal duty to include in the information all persons who appear responsible for a crime, it became proper and necessary for the competent court to require him to comply therewith.

4. ID.; ACTIONS; WHO MAY BRING ACTION OF MANDAMUS. — Every person accused of a crime has a positive interest in the inclusion of all his co-conspirators because there are jointly and severally liable with them for the indemnities that may be imposed upon them for the offense they may have committed together.


D E C I S I O N


LABRADOR, J.:


This is an appeal from a judgment of the Court of First Instance of Pampanga in an action of mandamus, ordering the provincial fiscal to include Emiliano Manalo and Porfirio Dizon as accused in Criminal Case No. 1453 of said court.

The record discloses that in the trial of Criminal Case No. 1273, People of the Philippines v. Atilano Gopez, Et Al., for the crime of kidnapping with murder (against one Felix Lampa), the provincial fiscal introduced said Porfirio Dizon and Emiliano Manalo as witnesses for the State. Porfirio Dizon testified that in the morning of November 23, 1950, the accused Atilano Gopez, Melchor Esguerra, and Benjamin Tolentino went to his house in Dolores, Bacolor, Pampanga; that the three accused carried firearms; that he was asked by them to act as guard for a certain sugar plantation; that while he was on guard, a certain person passed by and Esguerra whistled at him, and the latter approached and talked with Esguerra; that Esguerra told to him that the person (who was Felix Lampa) was brought by them to the backyard of one Iscong Lacsamana; and that after that Dizon left the three in said place.

Emiliano Manalo testified that in the afternoon of November 23, 1950, while he was going home, he saw Benjamin Tolentino, Melchor Esguerra, and Felix Lampa near the house of Francisco Lacsamana; that he asked Tolentino why Felix Lampa was with them, and Tolentino answered that Jesus Guiao and Eulogio Serrano wanted to talk with him, that he went home and changed his working clothes, and after a while Eulogio Serrano, Jesus Guiao, Atilano Gopez, and Melchor Esguerra passed by his house, and Atilano Gopez called him, telling him that the captain wanted to see him; that the captain was Eulogio Serrano, who asked him to bring his gun along with him; that he went with them, and in the house of Iscong Lacsamana they saw Benjamin Tolentino and Felix Lampa; that Serrano charged Lampa with trying to convince Guiao to testify on the Maliwalu incident, and upon Guiao ratifying this charge, Serrano ordered Atilano Gopez to tie Felix Lampa, and Atilano Gopez, in turn, asked Manalo to do so; that Serrano, Gopez, Guiao, Tolentino, Esguerra, and Manalo brought Lampa to a place called alfareza, reaching it between eight and nine o’clock in the evening; that upon reaching the place, they were ordered to dig a hole, and the three of them did so, including Manalo; that thereafter Felix Lampa was brought to the hole, and Serrano ordered Gopez to shoot him, which he did, notwithstanding the protestation of innocence on the part of Lampa. (See Annexes A and B attached to Petition.) .

In view of the testimonies given by the said Porfirio Dizon and Emiliano Manalo in said Criminal Case No. 1273, the lower court ordered a reinvestigation of the case and suspended its trial, with a view to including as accused all person who might be guilty of the crime. After the reinvestigation an amended information was filed, and two new accused were included, namely, Jesus Guiao and Eulogio Serrano. But Porfirio Dizon and Emiliano Manalo were not included. In view of the failure of the provincial fiscal to include these two persons, a motion for contempt was filed against the fiscal, but this motion was dismissed on the ground that if the fiscal committed an error of judgment, or even abuse of discretion, the recourse against him was not an action for contempt but one for mandamus. Due to this order of the court, the action for mandamus was filed by Jesus Guiao to compel the fiscal to include Porfirio Dizon and Emiliano Manalo as accused in his information, in Criminal Case No. 1453.

In his answer to the petition for mandamus, the provincial fiscal admits the substance of the testimonies of Porfirio Dizon and Emiliano Manalo as above indicated. He alleged that after the reinvestigation ordered by the court had been conducted, he included Eulogio Serrano and Jesus Guiao in the amended information, but "did not include Porfirio Dizon and Emiliano Manalo as co-accused in the said Criminal Case No. 1453 because they are indispensable witnesses for the prosecution aside from the fact that they are the least guilty." No trial was held and the Court of First Instance decided the petition for mandamus on the pleadings.

It will be noted that the transcript of the testimonies of Porfirio Dizon and Emiliano Manalo in Criminal Case No. 1273 is attached to the petition for mandamus as Annexes A and B. On the basis of the pleadings the lower court held that in accordance with section 1 of Rule 106 of the Rules of Court, it is the duty of the fiscal to include all the persons who are responsible for the crime, and that if any or some of them are the least guilty, the determination of this fact rests in the sound discretion of the trial court and not upon the fiscal, citing the case of Monroe v. Sanchez, G. R. No. L-2286 promulgated June 17, 1948. It, therefore, granted the petition.

The question now before this Court is whether a fiscal may be compelled by mandamus to include in an information persons who appear to be responsible for the crime charged therein, but whom the fiscal believes to be indispensable witnesses for the State. The provision of Section 1 of Rule 106 of the Rules of Court expressly states that criminal actions shall be brought "against all persons who appear to be responsible therefor." The original provisions contained in General Orders No. 58 provided that all prosecutions shall be "against the persons charged with the offenses." The change in the law was introduced in Act No. 2709, two of whose provisions were as follows:chanrob1es virtual 1aw library

SECTION 1. Every prosecution for a crime shall be in the name of the United States against all persons who appear to be responsible therefore, except in the cases determined in section two of this Act.

SEC. 2. When two or more person are charged with the commission of a certain crime, the competent court at any time before they have entered upon their defense, may direct any of them to be discharged, that he may be a witness for the Government when in the judgment of the Court:chanrob1es virtual 1aw library

(a) There is absolute necessity for the testimony of the accused whose discharge is requested;

(b) There is no other direct evidence available for the proper prosecution of the crime committed, except the testimony of the accused;

(c) The testimony of said accused can be substantially corroborated in its material points;

(d) Said accused does not appear to be the most guilty;

(e) Said accused has not at any time been convicted of the crime of perjury or false testimony or of any other crime involving moral turpitude.

The pertinent provision of section 1 of Rule 106 is taken from section 1, while section 9 of the Rule 115 from section 2.

A perusal of Act 2709 discloses the legislative intent to require that all persons who appear to be responsible for an offense should be included in the information. The use of the word "shall" and of the phrase "except in the cases determined" shows that section 1 is mandatory, not directory merely. The mandatory nature of the section is demanded by a sound public policy, which would deprive prosecuting officers of the use of their discretion, in order that they may not shield or favor friends, proteges, or favorites. The law makes it a legal duty for them to file the charges against whomsoever the evidence may show to be responsible for an offense. This does not mean, however, that prosecuting officers have no discretion at all; their discretion lies in determining whether the evidence submitted is sufficient to justify a reasonable belief that a person has committed an offense. What the rule demands is that all persons who appear responsible shall be charged in the information, which implies that those against whom no sufficient evidence of guilt exists are not required to be included.

The other aim of Act 2709 is a complement of the mandatory provision: to regulate the manner in which any of the accused may be excluded in order that he may be utilized as a State witness, and to rest the manner of the enforcement of the regulations in the sound discretion of the courts. (U. S. v. Abanzado, 37 Phil., 658.)

In short, Act 2709 has laid down four principles, namely (1) that all persons who appear responsible for an offense must be included in the information charging that offense; (2) that even if it is necessary to utilize any of the above persons as State witness, he shall nevertheless be included as accused; (3) that fiscals have no discretion in excluding from prosecution persons who appear responsible for a crime, but that if it becomes necessary to do so, the procedure provided in the law must be followed; and (4) that the exclusion of accused from prosecution, in order that they may be used as State witnesses, is lodged in the sound discretion of the competent court, not in that of the prosecuting officer.

In the case at bar, there is no question that Porfirio Dizon and Emiliano Manalo participated either as principals or accomplices in the kidnapping and murder of Felix Lampa, and that the only reason why the fiscal excluded them from the amended information is because he thought it more convenient, or perhaps more expeditious, to do so. When the fiscal chose to ignore his legal duty to include the said Porfirio Dizon and Emiliano Manalo as accused in the criminal case, and to follow the procedure outlined in the rules by which said persons may be discharged in order that they may be utilized as witnesses for the prosecution, it became proper and necessary for the competent court to require him to comply therewith.

One minor point needs to be considered, and that is the point raised in the brief of the Solicitor General that the petitioner- appellee Jesus Guiao has no right to institute the action of mandamus, because he has no clear right to the performance of the alleged legal duty by the provincial fiscal. We find no merit in this contention. Every person accused of a crime has a positive interest in the inclusion of all his co-conspirators; a right to demand that all of them be accorded equal treatment and be made to suffer the penalties imposed by law. Without deciding the question as to whether or not any private citizen may demand compliance by the fiscal with the provisions of section 1 of Rule 106, requiring him to file the information "against all persons who appear to be responsible for an offense," we hold that the other accused have an interest in the inclusion of their two other companions in the commission of the crime, because these are jointly and severally liable with them for indemnities that may be imposed upon them for the offense they may have committed together.

The judgment appealed from is hereby affirmed, without costs.

Paras, C.J., Pablo, Bengzon, Montemayor, Reyes, Jugo and Bautista Angelo, JJ., concur.




Back to Home | Back to Main




















chanrobles.com





ChanRobles On-Line Bar Review

ChanRobles Internet Bar Review : www.chanroblesbar.com

ChanRobles MCLE On-line

ChanRobles Lawnet Inc. - ChanRobles MCLE On-line : www.chanroblesmcleonline.com






May-1954 Jurisprudence                 

  • G.R. No. L-6669 May 3, 1954 - PEDRO DAQUIS v. MAXIMO BUSTOS

    094 Phil 913

  • G.R. No. L-6736 May 4, 1954 - ISABEL GABRIEL, ET AL. v. DEMETRIO B. ENCARNACION, ET AL.

    094 Phil 917

  • G.R. No. L-6220 May 7, 1954 - MARTINA QUIZANA v. GAUDENCIO REDUGERIO, ET AL.

    094 Phil 922

  • G.R. No. L-5773 May 10, 1954 - CASIMIRO, ET AL. v. FABIAN SOBERANO

    094 Phil 927

  • G.R. No. L-6538 May 10, 1954 - PABLO BURGUETE v. JOVENCIO Q. MAYOR, ET AL.

    094 Phil 930

  • G.R. No. L-5694 May 12, 1954 - PAMBUJAN SUR UNITED MINE WORKERS v. SAMAR MINING CO., INC.

    094 Phil 932

  • G.R. No. L-6666 May 12, 1954 - GORGONIO PANDES v. JOSE TEODORO SR., ET AL.

    094 Phil 942

  • G.R. No. L-6765 May 12, 1954 - FULGENCIO VEGA, ET AL. v. MUN. BOARD OF THE CITY OF ILOILO, ET AL.

    094 Phil 949

  • G.R. No. L-4918 May 14, 1954 - REPUBLIC OF THE PHIL. v. JOSE LEON GONZALEZ, ET AL.

    094 Phil 956

  • G.R. No. L-5689 May 14, 1954 - JUAN DE G. RODRIGUEZ, ET AL. v. AURELIO MONTINOLA, ET AL.

    094 Phil 964

  • G.R. No. L-5900 May 14, 1954 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. PAULINO FRANCISCO

    094 Phil 975

  • G.R. No. L-5942 May 14, 1954 - R.F.C. v. HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS, ET AL.

    094 Phil 984

  • G.R. No. L-6313 May 14, 1954 - ROYAL SHIRT FACTORY, INC. v. CO

    094 Phil 994

  • G.R. No. L-6444 May 14, 1954 - MUN. OF CALOOCAN v. MANOTOK REALTY, INC. ET AL.

    094 Phil 1003

  • G.R. No. L-6572 May 14, 1954 - MAX CHAMORRO & CO. v. PHIL. READY-MIX CONCRETE CO., INC., ET AL.

    094 Phil 1005

  • G.R. No. L-6792 May 14, 1954 - FAUSTO D. LAQUIAN v. FILOMENA SOCCO, ET AL.

    094 Phil 1010

  • G.R. No. L-6921 May 14, 1954 - EUGENIO CATILO v. GAVINO S. ABAYA

    094 Phil 1014

  • G.R. No. L-6481 May 17, 1954 - JESUS GUIAO v. ALBINO L. FIGUEROA

    094 Phil 1018

  • G.R. No. L-7045 May 18, 1954 - BENIGNO C. GUTIERREZ v. LAUREANO JOSE RUIZ, ET AL.

    094 Phil 1024

  • G.R. No. L-5378 May 24, 1954 - CO TIONG SA v. DIRECTOR OF PATENTS

    095 Phil 1

  • G.R. No. L-6408 May 24, 1954 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. EPIFANIO CARULASDULASAN, ET AL.

    095 Phil 8

  • G.R. No. L-6522 May 24, 1954 - LUIS B. UVERO, ET AL. v. COURT OF APPEALS, ET AL.

    095 Phil 11

  • G.R. No. L-6807 May 24, 1954 - JESUS SACRED HEART COLLEGE v. COLLECTOR OF INTERNAL REVENUE

    095 Phil 16

  • G.R. No. L-6870 May 24, 1954 - ELENA AMEDO v. RIO Y OLABARRIETA, INC.

    095 Phil 33

  • G.R. No. L-6988 May 24, 1954 - U.S.T. HOSPITAL EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION v. STO. TOMAS UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

    095 Phil 40

  • G.R. No. L-4817 May 26, 1954 - SILVESTRE M. PUNSALAN v. MUNICIPAL BOARD OF THE CITY OF MANILA, ET AL.

    095 Phil 46

  • G.R. No. L-5682 May 26, 1954 - ANASTACIO N. ABAD v. CANDIDA CARGANILLO VDA. DE YANCE

    095 Phil 51

  • G.R. No. L-5807 May 26, 1954 - BASILIA CABRERA, ET AL. v. FLORENCIA BELEN, ET AL.

    095 Phil 54

  • G.R. No. L-5906 May 26, 1954 - ANGAT-MANILA TRANSPORTATION CO., INC. v. VICTORIA VDA. DE TENGCO

    095 Phil 58

  • G.R. No. L-5953 May 26, 1954 - EX-MERALCO EMPLOYEES TRANSPORTATION CO., INC. v. REPUBLIC OF THE PHIL.

    095 Phil 61

  • G.R. No. L-6246 May 26, 1954 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. FELIX RIPAS

    095 Phil 63

  • G.R. No. L-6260 May 26, 1954 - HERMOGENES TARUC v. BACHRACH MOTOR CO.

    095 Phil 73

  • G.R. No. L-6306 May 26, 1954 - FORTUNATO HALILI v. MARIA LLORET, ET AL.

    095 Phil 78

  • G.R. No. L-6353 May 26, 1954 - DANIEL CABANGANGAN v. ROBERTO CONCEPCION, ET AL.

    095 Phil 87

  • G.R. No. L-6463 May 26, 1954 - RIZAL SURETY & INSURANCE CO. v. MARCIANO DE LA PAZ

    095 Phil 90

  • G.R. Nos. L-6675-81 May 26, 1954 - BIENVENIDO E. DOLLENTE v. EL PUEBLO DE FILIPINAS

    095 Phil 97

  • G.R. No. L-7024 May 26, 1954 - ROMAN TOLSA v. ALEJANDRO J. PANLILIO, ET AL.

    095 Phil 104

  • G.R. No. L-4935 May 28, 1954 - J.M. TUASON & CO., INC. v. QUIRINO BOLAÑOS

    095 Phil 106

  • G.R. No. L-6462 May 28, 1954 - BELEN JOVE LAGRIMAS v. TITO LAGRIMAS

    095 Phil 113

  • G.R. No. L-6967 May 28, 1954 - JOSE PONCE DE LEON v. FIDEL IBAÑEZ, ET AL.

    095 Phil 119

  • G.R. No. L-7042 May 28, 1954 - CLOTILDE MEJIA VDA. DE ALFAFARA v. PLACIDO MAPA, ET AL.

    095 Phil 125

  • G.R. No. L-3663 May 31, 1954 - EL PUEBLO DE FILIPINAS v. MARIA VELASCO RODRIGUEZ, ET AL.

    095 Phil 135

  • G.R. No. L-4510 May 31, 1954 - MARC DONNELLY & ASSOCIATES, INC. v. MANUEL AGREGADO, ET AL.

    095 Phil 142

  • G.R. No. L-4633 May 31, 1954 - GREGORIO ARANETA, INC. v. PHILIPPINE NATIONAL BANK

    095 Phil 160

  • G.R. No. L-5824 May 31, 1954 - PAZ PAREJA v. JULIO PAREJA

    095 Phil 167

  • G.R. No. L-5837 May 31, 1954 - CRISTOBAL BONNEVIE, ET AL. v. JAIME HERNANDEZ

    095 Phil 175

  • G.R. No. L-6018 May 31, 1954 - EMILIANO MORABE v. WILLIAM BROWN

    095 Phil 181

  • G.R. No. L-6122 May 31, 1954 - AURELIA DE LARA, ET AL. v. JACINTO AYROSO

    095 Phil 185

  • G.R. No. L-6461 May 31, 1954 - PILAR ARAULLO MACOY v. CARMEN VASQUEZ TRINIDAD, ET AL.

    095 Phil 192

  • G.R. Nos. L-7403 & L-7426 May 31, 1954 - COLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS v. GAVINO S. ABAYA, ET AL.

    095 Phil 205