G.R. No. 179267
June 25, 2013
NOTES: Pettoner = !s"and Privae Responden = #i$e %rilon = &!d'e
JESUS C. GARCIA, Pettoner, vs. THE HONORABLE RAY ALAN T. RILON, !"e#$%$n& Ju%&e, Re&$on'( T"$'( Cou")*B"'n+ -1, B'+o(o% C$), 'n% ROSALIE JAY!E*GARCIA, /o" e"#e(/ 'n% $n e'(/ o/ $no" +$(%"en, n'e( JO*ANN, JOSE!H EUAR, JESSE ANTHONE, '(( #u"n'e% GARCIA, Respondens. TO!IC: General Principles and Sae Policies !ONENTE: PERLAS-BERNABE, J. CASE LA4 OCTRINE : E(!al proecton si)pl* re(!ires +a all persons or +in's si)ilarl* si!aed s+o!ld "e reaed alie, "o+ as o ri'+s con$erred and responsi"ilites i)posed. ACTS !ETITIONER . &es!s &es!s Gar Garci cia a is +e +e +!s +!s"a "and nd o$ o$ Rosa Rosali lie e &a*p &a*pee-Ga Garc rcia ia and and +e +e $a $a+e +err o$ +e +eir ir )in )inor or c+i c+ild ldre ren. n. . A serie seriess o$ Te) Te)po pora rar* r* Pro Proect ecton on Ord Order erss /ere /ere iss!e iss!ed d a'ai a'ains ns &es!s &es!s Gar Garci cia, a, orde orderi rin' n' +i), +i), a)on a)on' ' o+er o+er +in's, o re)ove all +is personal "elon'in's in +e con0!'al d/ellin' and leave +e pre)ises, o sa* a/a* $ro) Rosalie and +eir c+ildren, o no +arass +e) in an* /a* and o provide 1nancial s!ppor. 2. e 1le 1led d oppo opposi sito tons ns o o +e +e rene rene/a /all o$ +e +e TPO TPO.. o/e o/eve verr, /+en /+en i i /as /as rene rene/e /ed d on Sepe Sepe)" )"er er 3, 3, 44 443, 3, +e no lon'er s!")i5ed +e re(!ired co))en o +e )oton $or rene/al o$ +e TPO ar'!in' +a i /o!ld "e an e6ercise in $!tli*. 7. e +en +en 1led 1led "e$ "e$ore ore +e 8A a pett petton on $or $or pro pro+i" +i"ito iton n /i+ /i+ a pra* pra*er er $or $or in0!nc in0!ncton ton and TRO c+alle c+allen'i n'in' n' +e +e const!tonali* o$ RA 93 $or "ein' violatve o$ +e e(!al proecton cla!se and d!e process cla!se, and +e validi* o$ +e )odi1ed TPO $or "ein' an !n/aned prod!c o$ an invalid la/. la/. . 8A dis dis)i )iss ssed ed +is +is pet petto ton n $or $or $ail $ail!r !re e o rai raise se +e +e cons const t!t !ton onal al iss iss!e !e in in +is +is plea pleadi din' n'ss "e$o "e$ore re +e +e RT RT8 and and +a +e c+allen'e o +e validi* o$ RA 93 via petton $or pro+i"iton const!ed a collaeral a5ac on said la/. 3. &es!s &es!s Gar Garci cia a +en +en 1le 1led d +is +is pet petto ton n "e$o "e$ore re +e +e S8, S8, ass assai aili lin' n' +e +e con const st! !to tona nali li* * o$ o$ RA 93 93 $or $or a. )ain' )ain' a 'ender-"ased 'ender-"ased classi1 classi1cato caton, n, providin' providin' re)edies re)edies onl* onl* o /o)en;c+ild /o)en;c+ildren ren and no o )en +!s violatn' +e e(!al proecton cla!se. e clai)s +e even +e tle o$ +e la/,
by criminalizi criminalizing ng run-of-th run-of-the-mil e-milll arguments, arguments, instead instead of encouragi encouraging ng mediaon mediaon and counseling counseling,, the law has done violence to the avowed policy of the State to "protect and strengthen the family as a basic autonomous social instuon."
RES!ONENT . &es!s &es!s Garc Garcia ia +ad +ad alle alle'ed 'edl* l* in>i in>ice ced d acs acs o$ o$ viole violence nce a'ain a'ains s +is +is /i$ /i$e e Rosa Rosali lie e &a*pe &a*pe-Ga -Garci rcia a and and +is +is da!'+ da!'+er er,, &o&oann. . e /as /as conro conrolli llin' n' , $or"a $or"ade de Rosa Rosalie lie o pra* pra* and deli"e deli"era rael el* * isol isola aed ed +er +er $ro $ro) ) +er +er $rien $riends. ds. #+en #+en s+e s+e oo oo !p !p la/, la/, +e riviali?ed +er a)"itons and ased +er o 0!s sa* a +o)e. 2. &es! &es!ss Garc Garcia ia ad) ad)i5 i5ed ed +av +avin in' ' an a@a a@air ir /i /i+ + a "an "an )an )ana' a'er er 'o 'od) d)o o+e +err o one one o$ o$ +ei +eirr ids ids and and "oas "oase ed d a"o! +eir se6!al relatons o +e +o!se+old +elp. 7. is is in1d in1del eli i* * /as /as +e +e s!"0e s!"0ec c o$ +e +eir ir n!) n!)er ero! o!ss ar'! ar'!)e )en ns, s, so) so)e e res! res!lt ltn' n' in p+* p+*si sica call +ar) +ar) o o Rosa Rosali lieC eC one one
(!arrel o$ +eirs, &es!s 'ra""ed Rosalie on "o+ ar)s and s+oo +er, leavin' "r!ises and +e)ao)a. . &es!s Garcia also "ea !p +eir da!'+er, &o-ann, /+o sa/ +is e6 )essa'es o said "an )ana'er and /+o old Rosalie a"o! i. 3. All +ese drove responden Rosalie Garcia o despair ca!sin' +er o a5e)p s!icide on %ece)"er D, 44 "* slin' +er /ris. Fnsead o$ ain' +er o +e +ospial, &es!s Garcia le +e +o!se and never visied +er in all +e D da*s s+e /as con1ned in +e +ospial. D. e even old +is )o+er-in-la/ +a Rosalie Garcia s+o!ld 0!s accep +is e6ra)arial a@air since +e is no co+a"itn' /i+ +is para)o!r and +as no sired a c+ild /i+ +er. H. Rosalie Garcia /as deer)ined o separae $ro) &es!s Garcia "! s+e /as a$raid +e /o!ld ae a/a* +eir c+ildren and deprive +er o$ 1nancial s!ppor. e /arned +er +a i$ s+e p!rs!ed le'al "a5le, s+e /o!ld no 'e a sin'le cenavo $ro) +i). 9. Aer s+e con$roned +i) o$ +is a@air, +e $or"ade +er o +old oIce in +e $a)il* "!sinesses o$ /+ic+ +e* are "o+ soc+olders, deprivin' +er o$ access o $!ll in$or)aton a"o! +eir "!sinesses. a. Noe +a Rosalie 'es onl* P4J)on+ as salar* $ro) one corporaton onl* /+ile &es!s receives P34J)on+ $ro) said corporaton and also en0o*s !nli)ied cas+ advances and o+er "ene1s $ro) +e corporatons. 4. Rosalie 1led a petton "e$ore +e RT8 $or +e iss!ance o$ a Te)porar* Proecton Order a'ains &es!s Garcia p!rs!an o RA 93. RT8 $o!nd reasona"le 'ro!nd o "elieve +ere /as i))inen dan'er o$ violence a'ains responden and +er c+ildren and iss!ed a series o$ Te)porar* Proecton Orders TPO a'ains &es!s Garcia. ISSUE4HEL #+e+er A#8 is !nconst!tonal $or violatn' +e e(!al proecton cla!seK No. RATIO: R.A. 9262 %oe# no) $o(')e )e &u'"'n) o/ eu'( 8"o)e+on o/ )e (':#. E(!al proecton si)pl* re(!ires +a all persons or +in's si)ilarl* si!aed s+o!ld "e reaed alie, "o+ as o ri'+s con$erred and responsi"ilites i)posed. T+e o-repeaed dis(!isiton in +e earl* case o$ icoriano v. Eli?alde Rope #orers Mnion is insr!ctve: The eual protecon of the laws clause of the !onstuon allows classicaon. !lassicaon in law, as in the other departments of #nowledge or pracce, is the grouping of things in speculaon or pracce because they agree with one another in certain parculars. $ law is not invalid because of simple ineuality. The very idea of classicaon is that of ineuality, so that it goes without saying that the mere fact of ineuality in no manner determines the ma%er of constuonality. $ll that is reuired of a valid classicaon is that it be reasonable, which means that the classicaon should be based on substanal disncons which ma#e for real di&erences' that it must be germane to the purpose of the law' that it must not be limited to e(isng condions only' and that it must apply eually to each member of the class. This !ourt has held that the standard is sased if the classicaon or disncon is based on a reasonable foundaon or raonal basis and is not palpably arbitrary.
eas!red a'ains +e $ore'oin' 0!rispr!dental *ardstc, /e 1nd +a R.A. 93 is "ased on a valid classi1caton as s+all +ereinaer "e disc!ssed and, as s!c+, did no violae +e e(!al proecton cla!se "* $avorin' /o)en over )en as vict)s o$ violence and a"!se o /+o) +e Sae e6ends is proecton.
1. R.A. 9262 "e#)# on #u#)'n'( %$#n+on#. A. Mne(!al po/er relatons+ip "e/een )en and /o)en T+e !ne(!al po/er relatons+ip "e/een /o)en and )enC +e $ac +a /o)en are )ore liel* +an )en o "e vict)s o$ violenceC and +e /idespread 'ender "ias and pre0!dice a'ains /o)en all )ae $or real di@erences 0!st$*in' +e classi1caton !nder +e la/.
A"). II, Se+on 1- o/ )e 19;7 Con#)uon 'n%')e# )e S)')e )o "e+o&n$
Accordin' o +e P+ilippine 8o))ission on #o)en, violence a'ains /o)en A# is dee)ed o "e closel* lined /i+ +e !ne(!al po/er relatons+ip "e/een /o)en and )en o+er/ise no/n as <'ender-"ased violence<. Socieal nor)s and raditons dicae people o +in )en are +e leaders, p!rs!ers, providers, and ae on do)inan roles in socie* /+ile /o)en are n!r!rers, )ens co)panions and s!pporers, and ae on s!"ordinae roles in socie*. T+is percepton leads o )en 'ainin' )ore po/er over /o)en. #i+ po/er co)es +e need o conrol o reain +a po/er. And A# is a $or) o$ )ens e6pression o$ conrollin' /o)en o reain po/er. B. #o)en are +e ic +e)selves. Once +e co)plainan "rin's +e case o +e prosec!or, +e la5er is +esian o 1le +e co)plain $or $ear +a i )i'+ laer "e /i+dra/n. T+is lac o$ response or rel!cance o "e involved "* +e police and prosec!ton rein$orces +e escalatn', rec!rrin' and oen serio!s na!re o$ do)estc violence.< T+e enac)en o$ R.A. 93 ai)s o address +e discri)inaton "ro!'+ a"o! "* "iases and pre0!dices a'ains /o)en. As e)p+asi?ed "* +e 8E%A# 8o))i5ee on +e Eli)inaton o$ %iscri)inaton a'ains #o)en, addressin' or correctn' discri)inaton +ro!'+ speci1c )eas!res $oc!sed on /o)en does no discri)inae a'ains )en.
2. Te +('##$=+'on $# &e"'ne )o )e 8u"8o#e o/ )e (':. T+e distncton "e/een )en and /o)en is 'er)ane o +e p!rpose o$ R.A. 93, /+ic+ is o address violence co))i5ed a'ains /o)en and c+ildren.
3. Te +('##$=+'on $# no) ($$)e% )o e>$#n& +on%$on# on(, 'n% '88( eu'(( )o '(( ee"#. oreover, +e applicaton o$ R.A. 93 is no li)ied o +e e6istn' conditons /+en i /as pro)!l'aed, "! o $!!re conditons as /ell, $or as lon' as +e sa$e* and sec!ri* o$ /o)en and +eir c+ildren are +reaened "* violence and a"!se. R.A. 93 applies e(!all* o all /o)en and c+ildren /+o s!@er violence and a"!se. T+e acs descri"ed +ere are also $o!nd in +e M.N. %eclaraton on +e Eli)inaton o$ iolence A'ains #o)en. ence, +e ar'!)en advanced "* pettoner +a +e de1niton o$ /+a const!es a"!se re)oves +e di@erence "e/een violen acton and si)ple )arial t@s is en!o!s.
T+ere is no+in' in +e de1niton o$ A#8 +a is va'!e and a)"i'!o!s +a /ill con$!se pettoner in +is de$ense. T+e acs en!)eraed a"ove are easil* !ndersood and provide ade(!ae conras "e/een +e innocen and +e pro+i"ied acs. T+e* are /orded /i+ s!Icien de1nieness +a persons o$ ordinar* inelli'ence can !ndersand /+a cond!c is pro+i"ied, and need no '!ess a is )eanin' nor di@er in is applicaton. T+ere is lie/ise no )eri o +e conenton +a R.A. 93 sin'les o! +e +!s"and or $a+er as +e c!lpri. As de1ned a"ove, A#8 )a* lie/ise "e co))i5ed
No un%ue %e(e&'on o/ ?u%$+$'( 8o:e" )o '"'n&' o@+$'(#. T+e Baran'a* Proecton Order iss!ed "* +e P!non' Baran'a* or, in +is !navaila"ili*, "* an* availa"le Baran'a* a'a/ad, )erel* orders +e perperaor o desis $ro) a ca!sin' p+*sical +ar) o +e /o)an or +er c+ildC and +reaenin' o ca!se +e /o)an or +er c+ild p+*sical +ar). S!c+ $!ncton o$ +e P!non' Baran'a* is, +!s, p!rel* e6ec!tve in na!re, in p!rs!ance o$ +is d!* !nder +e Local Govern)en 8ode o Qen$orce all la/s and ordinances, and o Q)ainain p!"lic order in +e "aran'a* Re )ediaton: Mnder Secton 2c o$ A.. No. 47-4--S8, +e co!r s+all no re$er +e case or an* iss!e +ereo$ o a )ediaor. T+e reason "e+ind +is provision is /ell-e6plained "* +e 8o))enar* on Secton 2 o$ +e odel 8ode on %o)estc and a)il* iolence as $ollo/s: T+is secton pro+i"is a co!r $ro) orderin' or re$errin' partes o )ediaton in a proceedin' $or an order $or proecton. ediaton is a process "* /+ic+ partes in e(!ivalen "ar'ainin' positons vol!naril* reac+ consens!al a'ree)en a"o! +e iss!e a +and. iolence, +o/ever, is no a s!"0ec $or co)pro)ise. A process /+ic+ involves partes )ediatn' +e iss!e o$ violence i)plies +a +e vict) is so)e+o/ a $a!l. Fn additon, )ediaton o$ iss!es in a proceedin' $or an order o$ proecton is pro"le)atc "eca!se +e pettoner is $re(!enl* !na"le o partcipae e(!all* /i+ +e person a'ains /+o) +e proecton order +as "ee n so!'+. ISSENTING4CONCURRING O!INIONS:
