Case Digest of Enrile vs. Sandiganbayan

ENRILE vs. SANDIGANBAYAN (767 SCRA 282, August 18, 2015) CASE DOCTRINES: Primary objective of bail – bail  – The strength of the Prosecution's cse, !"eit  goo# $esure of the ccuse#'s %ro%ensit& for ight or for cusing hr$ to the %u"!ic, is su"si#ir& to the %ri$r& o"ectie of "i!, *hich is to ensure tht the ccuse# %%ers t tri!+

Bail is a right and a matter of discretion  – Right to "i! is or#e# in Sec+ 1-, Art ... of the 1/87 Constitution n# re%ete# in Sec+ 7, Ru!e 11 of the Ru!es of Cri$in! Proce#ure to *it 3o %erson chrge# *ith  c%it! oense, or n oense %unish"!e "& rec!usion %er%etu or !ife i$%rison$ent, sh!! "e #$itte# to "i! *hen ei#ence of gui!t is strong, regr#!ess of  the stge of the cri$in! %rosecution+4 FACTS:  n une 5, 201, Petitioner un Ponce nri!e *s chrge# *ith %!un#er in the Sn#ign Sn#ign"& "&n n on the "sis of his %ur%orte# %ur%orte# ino!e$e ino!e$ent nt in the Priorit& Priorit& ee!o%$e ee!o%$ent nt Assistnce 9un# (PA9) Sc$+ .niti!!&, nri!e in n $ni"us :otion re;ueste# to %ost "i!, *hich the Sn#ign"&n #enie#+ n u!& -, 201,  *rrnt for nri!e's rrest *s issue#, !e#ing to Petitioner's o!untr& surren#er+

Petitioner gin si! *hich *s her# "& the Sn#ign"&n+ Petitioner rgue# tht () Prosecution h# not &et est"!ishe# tht the ei#en ei#ence ce of his gui!t gui!t *s *s strong strong?? (") tht, tht, "ecus "ecuse e of his #n #nce# ce# ge n# o!unt o!untr r& & surren#er, surren#er, the %en!t& *ou!# on!& "e rec!usion te$%or!, thus !!o*ing for "i! n#? (c) he is not  ight ris< #ue to his ge n# %h&sic! con#ition+ Sn#ign"&n #enie# this in its ssi!e# reso!ution+ :otion for Reconsi#ertion *s !i
+

@hethe etherr or not not %r %rose osecuti cution on f fi!e# to to sho sho* th tht if e eer %et %etiti itione oner *ou *ou!!# "e conicte#, he *i!! "e %unish"!e "& rec!usion rec!usion %er%etu+

"+ @hether or not %rosecution %rosecution fi!e# to sho* tht %etitioner's gui!t is strong+ 2) @hether @hether or not %etiti %etitioner oner is "i! "i!"!e "!e "ecus "ecuse e he is not  ight ight ris<+ RULING 1: S+

Bail as a matter of right – due process and presumption of innocence. Artic!e ..., Sec+ 1 (2) of the 1/87 Constitution %roi#es tht in !! cri$in! %rosecutions, the ccuse# sh!! "e %res %resu$ u$e# e# inno innoce cent nt unti unti!! the the cont contr rr& r& is %ro %roe# e#++ This This righ rightt is sfe sfegu gur r#e #e# # "& the the cons consti titu tuti tion on! ! righ rightt to "e re!e e!ese se# # on "i! "i!++ The The %ur% %ur%os ose e of "i! "i! is to gur gurn nte tee e the the %%ernce of the ccuse# t tri! n# so the $ount of "i! shou!# "e high enough to ssure the %resence of the ccuse# *hen so re;uire#, "ut no higher thn *ht $& "e reson"!& c!cu!te# to fu!B!! this %ur%ose+ Bail Bail as a matter matter of dis discr creti etion. on. Right to "i! is or#e# in Sec+ 1-, Art ... of the 1/87 Constitution n# re%ete# in Sec+ 7, Ru!e 11 of the Ru!es of Cri$in! Proce#ure to *it C%it! oense of n oense %unish"!e "& rec!usion %er%etu or !ife i$%rison$ent, not "i!"!e+  3o %erson chrge# *ith  c%it! oense, or n oense %unish"!e "& rec!usion

%er%etu or !ife i$%rison$ent, sh!! "e #$itte# to "i! *hen ei#ence of gui!t is strong, regr#!ess of the stge of the cri$in! %rosecution+  The gener! ru!e An& %erson, "efore coniction of n& cri$in! oense, sh!! "e "i!"!e+ Exception: Dn!ess he is chrge# *ith n oense %unish"!e *ith rec!usion %er%etu Eor !ife i$%rison$entF n# the ei#ence of his gui!t is strong+  Thus, #eni! of "i! shou!# on!& fo!!o* once it hs "een est"!ishe# tht the ei#ence of gui!t is strong+@here ei#ence of gui!t is not strong, "i! $& "e grnte# ccor#ing to the #iscretion of the court+  Thus, Sec+ 5 of Ru!e 11 !so %roi#es >i!, *hen #iscretionr&+  D%on coniction "& the Region! Tri! Court of n oense not %unish"!e "& #eth,rec!usion %er%etu, or !ife i$%rison$ent, #$ission to "i! is #iscretionr&+ The %%!iction for "i! $& "e B!e# n# cte# u%on "& the tri! court #es%ite the B!ing of  notice of %%e!, %roi#e# it hs not trns$itte# the origin! recor# to the %%e!!te court+ Go*eer, if the #ecision of the tri! court conicting the ccuse# chnge# the nture of the oense fro$ nonH"i!"!e to "i!"!e, the %%!iction for "i! cn on!& "e B!e# *ith n# reso!e# "& the %%e!!te court+ Shou!# the court grnt the %%!iction, the ccuse# $& "e !!o*e# to continue on %roision! !i"ert& #uring the %en#enc& of the %%e! un#er the s$e "i! su"ect to the consent of the "on#s$n+ .f the %en!t& i$%ose# "& the tri! court is i$%rison$ent e=cee#ing si= (6) &ers, the ccuse# sh!! "e #enie# "i!, or his "i! sh!! "e cnce!!e# u%on  sho*ing "& the %rosecution, *ith notice to the ccuse#, of the fo!!o*ing or other si$i!r circu$stnces () Tht he is  reci#iist, ;usiHreci#iist, or h"itu! #e!in;uent, or hs co$$itte# the cri$e ggrte# "& the circu$stnce of reitertion? (") Tht he hs %reious!& esc%e# fro$ !eg! conBne$ent, e#e# sentence, or io!te# the con#itions of his "i! *ithout !i# ustiBction? (c) Tht he co$$itte# the oense *hi!e un#er %ro"tion, %ro!e, or con#ition! %r#on? (#) Tht the circu$stnces of his cse in#icte the %ro""i!it& of ight if re!ese# on "i!? or (e) Tht there is un#ue ris< tht he $& co$$it nother cri$e #uring the %en#enc& of the %%e!+  The %%e!!te court $&, $otu %ro%rio or on $otion of n& %rt&, reie*s the reso!ution of  the Region! Tri! Court fter notice to the #erse %rt& in either cse+  Thus, #$ission to "i! in oenses %unishe# "& #eth, or !ife i$%rison$ent, or rec!usion %er%etu su"ect to u#ici! #iscretion+ .n Concerne# CitiIens s+ !$, the court he!# ESFuch #iscretion $& "e e=ercise# on!& fter the hering c!!e# to scertin the #egree of  gui!t of the ccuse# for the %ur%ose of *hether or not he shou!# "e grnte# %roision! !i"ert&+4 >i! hering *ith notice is in#is%ens"!e (Aguirre s+ >e!$onte)+ The hering shou!# %ri$ri!& #eter$ine *hether the ei#ence of gui!t ginst the ccuse# is strong+  The %roce#ure for #iscretionr& "i! is #escri"e# in Cortes s+ Ctr! 1+ .n !! cses, *hether "i! is  $tter of right or of #iscretion, notif& the %rosecutor of the hering of the %%!iction for "i! or re;uire hi$ to su"$it his reco$$en#tion (Section 18, Ru!e 11 of the Ru!es of Court s $en#e#)?

2+ @here "i! is  $tter of #iscretion, con#uct  hering of the %%!iction for "i! regr#!ess of *hether or not the %rosecution refuses to %resent ei#ence to sho* tht the gui!t of the ccuse# is strong for the %ur%ose of en"!ing the court to e=ercise its soun# #iscretion? (Section 7 n# 8, su%r) -+ eci#e *hether the gui!t of the ccuse# is strong "se# on the su$$r& of  ei#ence of the %rosecution? + .f the gui!t of the ccuse# is not strong, #ischrge the ccuse# u%on the %%ro! of the "i!"on# (Section 1/, su%r) ther*ise %etition shou!# "e #enie#+ RULING 2:  S+ Petitioner's poor health justies his admission to bail.  The Su%re$e Court too< note of the Phi!i%%ine's res%onsi"i!it& to the interntion! co$$unit& rising fro$ its co$$it$ent to the Dniers! ec!rtion of Gu$n Rights+ @e therefore he the res%onsi"i!it& of %rotecting n# %ro$oting the right of eer& %erson to !i"ert& n# #ue %rocess n# for #etinees to i! of such re$e#ies *hich sfegur# their fun#$ent! right to !i"ert&+ Juoting fro$ Koern$ent of Gong Long SAR s+ !!i, the SC e$%hsiIe#

= = = u%ho!# the fun#$ent! hu$n rights s *e!! s !ue the *orth n# #ignit& of eer& %erson+ This co$$it$ent is enshrine# in Section .., Artic!e .. of our Constitution *hich %roi#es The Stte !ues the #ignit& of eer& hu$n %erson n# gurntees fu!! res%ect for hu$n rights+4 The Phi!i%%ines, therefore, hs the res%onsi"i!it& of %rotecting n# %ro$oting the right of eer& %erson to !i"ert& n# #ue %rocess, ensuring tht those #etine# or rreste# cn %rtici%te in the %rocee#ings "efore  court, to en"!e it to #eci#e *ithout #e!& on the !eg!it& of the #etention n# or#er their re!ese if ustiBe#+ .n other *or#s, the Phi!i%%ine uthorities re un#er o"!igtion to $i!+.t cte# *hi$sic!!& n# c%ricious!& n# *s so %tent n# gross s to $ount to n esion of  %ositie #ut& Eto !!o* %etitioner to %ost "i!F+ DISSENTING OPINION OF JUSTICE LEONEN

 ustice Meonen criticiIe# the #ecision for hing  er& *e< !eg! "sis – the grnt of "i! oer $ere hu$nitrin groun#s+ Ge !so c!i$s tht the court hs no uthorit& to use hu$nitrin groun#s+ Meonen rgues tht EPetitioner'sF re!ese for $e#ic! or hu$nitrin resons *s not the "sis for his %r&er in his :otion to 9i= >i! "efore the Sn#ign"&n,4 nor *ere these groun#s rise# in the %etition in the Su%re$e Court+ >i! for hu$nitrin consi#ertions is neither %resent!& %roi#e# in our Ru!es of Court nor foun# in n& sttute or %roision of the Constitution+4 Meonen theoriIe# tht the Su%re$e Court on!& grnte# "i! s  s%eci! cco$o#tion for the %etitioner n# he goes on to criticiIe the #ecision to *it EThis #ecisionF *i!! usher in n er of tru!& se!ectie ustice not "se# on their !eg! %roisions, "ut one tht is un%re#ict"!e, %rti! n# so!e!& groun#e# on the %resence or "sence of hu$n co$%ssion+ = = =+ @orse, it %uts %ressure on !! tri! courts n# the Sn#ign"&n tht *i!! %re#ict"!& "e #e!uge# *ith $otions to B= "i! on the "sis of hu$nitrin consi#ertions+ The !o*er courts *i!! he to #eci#e, *ithout gui#nce, *hether "i! shou!# "e grnte# "ecuse of 

#nce# ge, h&%ertension, %neu$oni, or #re#e# #iseses+ The& *i!! he to #eci#e *hether this is %%!ic"!e on!& to Sentors n# for$er Presi#ents chrge# *ith %!un#er n# not to those ccuse# of #rug trNci!+ .n Cortes s+ Ctr! the Su%re$e Court he!# .t is in#ee# sur%rising, not to s&, !r$ing, tht the Court shou!# "e "esiege# *ith  nu$"er of #$inistrtie cses B!e# ginst erring u#ges ino!ing "i!+ After !!, there is no #erth of uris%ru#ence on the "sic %rinci%!es ino!ing "i!+ As  $tter of fct, the Court itse!f, through its Phi!i%%ine u#ici! Ac#e$&, hs "een inc!u#ing !ectures on the su"ect in the regu!r se$inrs con#ucte# for u#ges+ >e tht s it $&, *e reiterte the fo!!o*ing #uties of the tri! u#ge in cse n %%!iction for "i! is B!e# 1+ .n !! cses, *hether "i! is  $tter of right or of #iscretion, notif& the %rosecutor of the hering of the %%!iction for "i! or re;uire hi$ to su"$it his reco$$en#tion (Section 18, Ru!e 11 of the Ru!es of Court s $en#e#)? 2+ @here "i! is  $tter of #iscretion, con#uct  hering of the %%!iction for "i! regr#!ess of *hether or not the %rosecution refuses to %resent ei#ence to sho* tht the gui!t of the ccuse# is strong for the %ur%ose of en"!ing the court to e=ercise its soun# #iscretion? (Section 7 n# 8, su%r) -+ eci#e *hether the gui!t of the ccuse# is strong "se# on the su$$r& of  ei#ence of the %rosecution? + .f the gui!t of the ccuse# is not strong, #ischrge the ccuse# u%on the %%ro! of the "i!"on# (Section 1/, su%r) ther*ise %etition shou!# "e #enie#+ @ith such succinct "ut c!er ru!es no* incor%orte# in the Ru!es of Court, tri! u#ges re enoine# to stu#& the$ s *e!! n# "e gui#e# ccor#ing!&+ A#$itte#!&, u#ges cnnot "e he!# to ccount for n erroneous #ecision ren#ere# in goo# fith, "ut this #efense is $uch too fre;uent!& cite# een if not %%!ic"!e+ A nu$"er of cses on "i! hing !re#& "een #eci#e#, this Court ustiB"!& e=%ect u#ges to #ischrge their #uties ssi#uous!&+ 9or u#ge is c!!e# u%on to e=hi"it $ore thn ust  cursor& c;uintnce *ith sttutes n# %roce#ur! ru!es? it is i$%ertie tht he "e conersnt *ith "sic !eg! %rinci%!es+ 9ith in the #$inistrtion of ustice cn on!& "e engen#ere# if !itignts re conince# tht the $e$"ers of the >ench cnnot ust!& "e chrge *ith  #eBcienc& in their grs% of !eg! %rinci%!es+ Petitioner in this cse, insiste# tht the Sn#ign"&n grnt his "i! *ithout n& hering for the %ur%ose of #eter$ining *hether the ei#ence of gui!t is strong+ At the :otion to 9i= >i!, the %rosecution h# no o%%ortunit& to %resent n& ei#ence "ecuse of the %re$turit& of  Petitioner's :otion Eto 9i= >i!F+ Thus, the #issent sserts tht the Sn#ign"&n *s correct in #en&ing the :otion "se# on %re$turit&+ :e#ic! or hu$nitrin groun#s in%%ro%rite Petitioner #i# not s< for "i! to "e grnte# "se# on hu$nitrin resons t the Sn#ign"&n+ 3either %etitioner nor the %rosecution *ere "!e to #ee!o% their rgu$ents s to this %oint to est"!ish !eg! n# fctu! "sis for this
3o*here in the ru!es of %roce#ure #o *e !!o* the grnt of "i! "se# on u#ici! notice of  #octor's certiBction+ .n #oing so, *e eectie!& sus%en# our ru!es on ei#ence "& #oing *& *ith crossHe=$intion n# uthentiction of r+ KonI!es' Bn#ings on %etitioner's he!th in  hering *hose $in %ur%ose is to #eter$ine *hether no