PEOPLE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINE PHILIPPINES, S, plaintif-appellee plaintif-appellee v. v. RICARDO BODOSO Y BOLOR, BOLOR, accused-appellant. G.R. .R. Nos. os. 149 149382382-1 14938 49382, 2, 5-5-2 -5-200 003. 3. EN BANC ANC, BELLOSILLO, J BELLOSILLO, J.. LEAD LEAD TRIAL COURTS COURTS MUST TAKE TAKE HEED that in ci!inal cases inv"lvin inv"lvin# # capital capital "fenses the $aive $aive "% the i#ht t" pesen pesentt evidence evidence and &e head head sh"uld sh"uld n"t &e c"nside c"nsideed ed hapha'a hapha'adl() dl() pe%unct"il() li#htl( " tiviall() &ecause the i#ht is inheent in due p"cess) &ut !ust at all ti!es &e scutini'ed &( !eans "% a test test and and p"ce p"cedu due e t" ascet ascetain ain that that the the $aive $aive $as d"ne d"ne v"luntail() *n"$in#l( and intelli#entl( $ith su+cient a$aeness "% its elevant c,IRCu!stances and li*el( c"nseuences. FACTS enn( /"d"s" 0enn(1 2led a case "% uali2ed ape &( !eans "% %"ce and inti!idati"n a#ainst his %athe Ricad" /"d"s" 0Ricad"1. 0Ricad"1. A $aant "% aest $as issued &( the c"ut and Ricad" $as su&seuentl( detained. He $as su&3ected &( the sa!e c"ut t" peli!in peli!ina( a( investi# investi#ati" ati"n n $hee $hee he %ailed %ailed t" su&!it su&!it c"unte c"unte a+davit4 a+davit4e& e&utta uttall evidenc evidence e a#ainst a#ainst his dau#hte dau#hte5s 5s c"!plaint c"!plaint-a+davit. 6"secuti"n pesented t$" $itnesses 7 enn( and the d"ct" $h" issued the !edical ceti2cate8 a%te $hich) the de%ense c"unsel c"ss c"ss-e -e9a! 9a!ine ined d the the p"se p"secu cuti" ti"n n $itne $itnesse sses. s. enn( enn( did did n"t su&stantiate the alle#ati"n that she $as "nl( :; (.". $hen the ci!e $as supp"sedl( pepetated. The p"secuti"n p"secuti"n then su&!itted su&!itted d"cu!enta( d"cu!enta( evidence ) $hich $as ad!itted ad!itted &( the c"ut) and then ested ested its case. Up"n the the !ani%e !ani%esta stati" ti"n n "% the the c"unse c"unsell de ofcio ofcio)) ecep ecepti" ti"n n "% the the evidence %" the de%ense $as de%eed t" the ne9t !"nth. A%te A%te a !"nth) as &""*ed in the tial calenda) the de%ense $as su!!"ned t" pesent its evidence. La!enta&l() unli*e in the pevi"us settin#s "% the tial c"ut) the c"ns"lidated ec"ds "% the ci!inal ci!inal case d" n"t indicat indicate e $hethe $hethe accusedaccused-app appellan ellantt $as pesent pesent "n the scheduled tial date. Thee $ee als" n" tanscipt "% sten"#aphic n"tes n" !inutes "% the p"ceedin#s "n that date that $"uld have elucidated "n the c(ptic "de "% the tial 3ud#e "% even date tesel( statin# 7 “Upon the maniestation o counsel or the accused, Atty. Danilo Brotamonte, that the deense is not intending to present any evidence and now resting its case today, this case thereore is now submitted or decision.” RTC< Ricad" #uilt( "% = c"unts "% uali2ed ape a#ainst his :; (."."ld dau#hte8 He $as sentenced $ith capital punish!ent8 hence) the case $as su&!itted t" SC %" aut"!atic evie$.
ISS!E >O, Ricad" $aived his i#ht t" pesent evidence and &e head. HELD ,O. DISPO RTC decisi"n $as set aside and the case $as e!anded t" it. RATIO The counsel de ofcio a#ued ofcio a#ued that the accusati"n $as 3ust tu!pe tu!ped d up &( enn enn(5s (5s &%) that that the thee e $as n" p""% p""% &e("n &e("nd d eas"na eas"na&le &le d"u&t) d"u&t) and that that thee thee $as n" evidenc evidence e supp"t supp"tin# in# enn(5s clai! that that she $as 3ust a !in" $hen $hen he %athe %athe aped he. he. H"$eve) the( did n"t see* elie% %"! the Ode that ine9plica&l( $aived thei client5s c"nstituti"nal i#ht t" pesent evidence and &e head. Alth"u#h such $as n"t uesti"ned &( the c"unsel) &ecause a li%e is at sta*e in this case) the issue a&"ut the $aive "% i#hts $as still c"nsideed &( SC in the inteest "% 3ustice. ntestate !state o the "ate #ito Borromeo v. Borromeo 7 SC p"inted "ut that this $as a civil case $hee SC set aside the $aive $aive "% hee heedit dita( a( i#ht i#hts s &ecau &ecause se it $as n"t clea cleal( l( and c"nvincin#l( sh"$n that the hei had the intenti"n t" $aive his i#ht " advanta#e v"luntail(. The ule "n $aive cann"t &e an( less in this ci!inal case $hee a li%e is at sta*e. It is elementary that the existence of waiver must be positively demonstrated since a waiver by implication cannot be presumed. The standard of waiver requires that it "not "not only must be voluntary, but must be knowing, intelligent, and done with sufficient awareness of the relevant cNIRCumstances and likely consequences." consequences." There must thus be persuasive evidence of an actual intention to relinquish the right. Mere silence of the holder of the right should not be easily easily constr construed ued as surren surrender der thereo thereof; f; the courts courts must must indulg indulgee every every reasonable reasonable presumption presumption against the existence existence and validity validity of such waiver. Necessarily where there is a reservation as to the nature of any manifestation or proposed action affecting the rights of the accused to be heard before he is condemned certainly the doubt must be resolved in his favor to be allowed to proffer evidence in his behalf.
The ci!inal ules ules "% p"cedue p"cedue stictl( stictl( p"vide the the step-&(step %"!ula %"!ula t" &e %"ll"$ed %"ll"$ed &( c"uts c"uts in cases punisha punisha&le &le &( death. This is t" ensue that the c"nstituti"nal "#$s%&"'(o) o* ())o+$)+$ ())o+$)+$ in %av" "% the accused is peseved and the State !a*es n" !ista*e in '() /(*$ ) /($#' e9cept /($#' e9cept that "% the #uilt(. Hence) an( deviati"n %"! the e#ula c"use "% tial sh"uld al$a al$a(s (s ta*e ta*e int" int" c"ns c"nsid ide eat ati" i"n n that that such such a dife difee ent nt " e9ta" e9ta"dina dina( ( app"ach app"ach has &een &een undeta undeta*en *en o/%)'#(/ ) ()'$//($)'/. ()'$//($)'/. ?" "the$ise) as in the instant case) denial "% %$ "#o+$ss can &e success%u success%ull( ll( inv"*ed inv"*ed since since n" valid $aive $aive "% i#hts has &een !ade.
SC said that the RTC is $"n# in n"t assuin# i% Ricad" eall( did $aive his i#hts and this $aive sh"uld @not @ not only must be voluntar voluntary y, but must be $nowing, $nowing, intelligen intelligent, t, and done with su%cient awareness o the relevant c&'(umstances and li$ely conse)uences.@ conse)uences .@ RTC sh"uld have &een !"e cauti"us &ecause this sh"uld sh"uld have alead( alead( &een an aut"!ati aut"!atic c p"ced p"cedue ue)) &ut !"e i!p"tan i!p"tantl( tl( Ricad" Ricad" did n"t pes"na pes"nall() ll() "n a pes"n-t pes"n-t"-pe "-pes"n s"n &asis) !ani%est t" the tial c"ut the $aive "% his "$n i#ht. Als") RTC sh"uld n"t have 3ust &ased the $aive "n the counsel de ofcio*s $"ds ofcio*s $"ds &ecause he !a( 3ust have &een diven &( sel%-inteest "% 2nishin# that cases he is handlin#. RTC !ust itsel% p"pel( inuie i% the $aive $as validl( d"ne. In +eople v. (ourt o Appeals and +eople and +eople v. lores SC said that even i% the accused $aived his i#ht t" pesent evidence) the c"ut sh"uld have still insued that the accused *n"$s i!p"tance "% $hat he is $aivin# and its c"nseuence. c"nseuence. SC als" said that thee ae s"!e pecedents $hee the accused $as c"ectl( denied the i#ht t" pesent de%ense evidence evidence a%te he had $aived his i#ht t" &e head. head. These These cases cases h"$eve h"$eve inv"lved inv"lved a valid) valid) verifed) verifed ) clear and convincing enunciati"n convincing enunciati"n "% an accused5s i#ht t" "fe c"nta( p""%) c,IRCu!stances that ae s"el( !issin# in the instant case. T" T" p"tect the i#ht t" due p"cess p"cess "% eve( accused in a capital "fense and t" av"id an( c"n%usi"n a&"ut the p"pe steps t" &e ta*en $hen a tial c"ut c"!es %ace t" %ace $ith an accused " his c"unsel $h" $ants t" $aive his client5s i#ht t" pesent evidence and &e head) SC o"'$, s "#$#$%(s('$ 'o '$ /((' o* s%+ 6($#, "#o+$%#$ () 'o 7 searching inquiry 7 s s "$ "$+($ () People People v. Aranzado Aranzado 6$) 6$) ) ++%s$ "/$s %(/' !. The trial court shall hear both the prosecution and the accused with their respective respective counsel on the desire or manifestati manifestation on of the accused to waive the right to present evidence and be heard. . The trial court shall ensure the attendance of the prosecution and especially the accused accused with with their their respec respectiv tivee counsel counsel in the hearing hearing which which must must be recorde recorded. d. The Their ir presen presence ce must must be duly duly entere entered d in the minutes minutes of the proceedings. #. $uring the hearing it shall be the tas% of the trial court to & a. as% the defense counsel a series of questions to determine whether he had conferred with and completely explained to the accused that he had the right right to present present evidence evidence and be heard heard as well well as its meanin meaning g and conseq consequen uences ces togeth together er with with the signif significan icance ce and outcome of the waiver of such right. If the lawyer for the accused has not done so the trial court shall give the latter enough time to fulfill this professional obligation.
b. inquire from the defense counsel with conformity of the accused whethe whetherr he wants wants to presen presentt eviden evidence ce or submi submitt a memoran memorandum dum elucidating on the contradictions and insufficiency of the prosecution evidence if any or in default thereof file a demurrer to evidence with prior leave of court if he so believes that the prosecution evidence is so wea% that it need not even be rebutted. If there is a desire to do so the trial court shall give the defense enough time for this purpose. c. elicit information about the personality profile of the accused such as his age socio'economic status and educational bac%ground which may serve as a trustworthy index of his capacity to give a free and informed waiver. d. all questions posed to the accused should be in a language %nown and understo understood od by the latter latter hence hence the record record must must state state the language used for this purpose as well as reflect the corresponding translation thereof in (nglish
SC als" said that in "de t" &e sa%e) l"$e c"uts !a( use the a&"ve p"cedue %" n"n-capital "fenses. eneal ule< I% thee is an invalid $aive &ut that %acts $ee $ee adeu adeuate atel( l( ep epese esent nted ed in the the ci!i ci!inal nal case case and and n" p"cedu p"cedual al un%ain un%ainess ess " ie#u ie#ulait lait( ( has pe3udi pe3udiced ced eithe eithe the p"secuti"n " the de%ense) the #uilt( vedict !a( nevetheless &e upheld $hee the 3ud#!ent is supp"ted &e("nd eas"na&le d"u&t &( the evidence "n ec"d since it $"uld &e a useless itual t" etun the case t" the tial c"ut %" %uthe p"ceedin#s. The #eneal ule is "&vi"usl( n"t applica&le in this case and thus e!anded t" the tial c"ut.
RI MBERTO
T. SAL VANERA, ,vs. PEOPLE pet i t i oner
OF
THE
PHI LI PPI NESandLUCI TAPARANE, r e s po nd en t s Fa ct s : I na nI n f o r ma t i o n1 n1d at e dNo v e m mb b er3 0,1 99 6,p et i t i o ne rRi mb er t o Sa l v a ne r a ,t o ge t h erwi t hF el i c i a noAb ut i n ,Ed ga r d oL un gc a ya ndDo Do mi mi n go T a mp mp el i x ,i sc h ar g edwi t ht h emu r d e ro fRu be nPa r a ne. T he p r o s e c ut i o n ,o nMa r c h4 ,1 9 97 ,mo v e df o rt h ed i s c h a r g eo f accused Fel i ci ano Abut i n and Domi mi ngo Tamp mpel i x,t o ser ve as st at e wi t n es s e s . | | | Howe ve r ,t het r i al c our tde ni esi t smo mot i o n. The pr osecut i on t hen appeal ed t ot he Cour t of Appeal s. I t c on t e nd edt h att h et r i a lc ou r tc ommi t t e dg r a v ea bu seo fd i s c r e t i o n wh eni t
d e ni e dt h e mo t i o nt od i s c h a r g ea c c u s edAb ut i na n dT a mp mp e l i xt ob es t a t e wi t nes s es .I tal l eg edt h att h et es t i moni e soft het woac c us edar eabs ol ut el y n ec e s s ar yt oe s t a bl i s ht h atp et i t i o ne rm ma a s t e r mi n de dt h e mu r d e ro fRu be n Pa r a n e.T he p r o s e c ut i o nl i k e wi s ec l a i me dt h a ti twa sp r e ma ma t u r ea n d bas el es sf ort het r i alc our tt ogr antpet i t i oner ' sappl i c at i onf orb ai lbec aus e t h ep r o s ec ut i o nh adn oty e tr e st e di t sca sei nt h eh ea r i n gf o rt h ed i s c ha r g e o ft h et woac c u s ed . | | | Th ep r o s e c ut i o nt h enap pe al e dt ot h eCo ur to fAp pe al s . He n c e,t h i sp e t i t i o nfi l e db yL u c i t a Pa r a ne t h es p o us eo fv i c t i m Ru be n Par ane. I SSUE: Whet herornotFel i ci ano Abut i n and Domi mi ngo Tamp mpel i xma maybe d i s c ha r g edass t a t ewi wi t n es s . RULI NG: G: I nt h ed i s c h a r g eo fa na c c u s edi no r d e rt h a th e ma yb e as t a t e wi t n es s ,t h ef o l l o wi n gc on di t i o nsmu mu s tb ep r e s en t ,n ame l y : ( 1 )T wo o rm mo o r ea c c u s ed a r ej o i n t l yc h a r g e d wi t ht h e comm mmi ssi onofanoffense; ( 2 )Th e mo t i o nf o rd i s c ha r g ei sfil e db yt h ep r o s ec ut i o n bef or ei tr es t si t scas e; ( 3 )Th ep r o s ec ut i o ni sr e q ui r e dt op r e s en te v i d en cea nd t he swor n st at eme mentofeach pr oposed st at e wi t n es satah ea r i n gi ns up po r to ft h ed i s c ha r g e; ( 4 )Th ea c c us e dg i v e shi sc on s en tt ob eas t a t ewi t n es s ; and ( 5 )Thet r i al c our t i ssat i s fiedt hat : a )T he r ei sa bs ol u t en ec es s i t yf o rt h et e st i mo ny of t he accus ed whose di sc har ge i s r e qu es t e d; b)Ther ei snoot herdi r ec te vi de nc ea vai l a bl ef or t h ep r o p erp r o s ec u t i o no ft h eo ff en s e c ommi t t e d,e x c ep tt h et e st i mo nyofs ai d accused;
c)The t est i mony of sai d acc used can be s ubs t ant i al l ycor r obor at edi ni t sma mat er i al poi nt s ; d)Sai daccuseddoesnotappeart obet hemost gui l t y ;and, e)Sai d acc used has not at any t i me been c o nv i c t e do fa nyoff en s ei n v ol v i n gmo r a l t ur pi t ude.4 Ac c or d i n gt op et i t i o ne r ,t h et e st i mo nyofa na cc us e ds ou gh tt ob e d i s c h ar g edt ob ec o meas me t a t ewi t n es smu s tb es u bs t a nt i a l l yc o r r o bo r a t e d, notby a coaccused l i kewi se soughtt o be di schar ged,butby ot her p r o s ec u t i o nwi t n es s e swh wh oa r eno tt h ea c c us e di nt h es a mec me r i mi n alc a s e. Pe t i t i o nerj us t i fi est hi st he or yont h eg en er alpr i n ci pl eso fj us t i c ea nds ou nd l o gi c .Hec ont e ndst ha ti ti sano t or i ousf ac ti nh umannat ur et h atac ul p r i t , c on f e ss i n gac r i me ,i sl i k e l yt op utt h eb l a me meo no t h er s ,i fb yd oi n gs o,h e wi l lb ef r e ed f r om an yc r i mi nalr es pons i b i l i t y .Th us ,i nt he i ns t a ntc as e, p et i t i o ne rs up po se st h atb o t hAb ut i na ndT amp el i xwi l ln at u r a l l ys ei z et h e o pp or t u ni t yt ob ea bs o l v e do fa nyl i a bi l i t ybypu t t i n gt h eb l a me meo no neo f t h ei rc o a cc us ed .P et i t i o ne ra r g u est h atp r o s ec ut i o nwi t n es s esPa r a n ea nd Sa l a z a r ,wh oa r en o ta c c u s e d ,d on o th a v ep e r s o n a lk n o wl e d ge o ft h e c i r c u ms ms t a nc e ss u r r o un di n gt h ea l l e ge dc o ns p i r a c y .T hu s ,t h eyc o ul dn ot t es t i f yt oc or r obor at et hes t at eme nto fAbut i na ndT ampe l i xt hatp et i t i oneri s t hema mas t er mi ndort hepr i nc i p al b yi nd uc t i on .TEcCHD Wea gr e ewi t ht h eCo ur to fA pp ea l si nd i s mi mi s s i n gt h i sr e as o ni n ga s s p ec i o us .T or e qu i r et h et wowi t n es s e sPa r a nea ndSa l a z art oc o r r o bo r a t e t h et e s t i mo nyofAb ut i na ndT a mp mp el i xont h ee x a cts a mep me oi n t si st or e nd er n ug at o r yt h eo t h err e qu i s i t et h at" t h er emu s tb en oo t h erd i r e cte v i d en c e a v ai l a bl ef o rt h ep r o pe rp r o s ec ut i o no ft h eo ffe ns ec ommi t t e d,e x c ep tt h e t es t i mon y oft hes t a t ewi t n es s . "5 T hec o r r o bo r a t i v ee v i d en c er e qu i r e db y t h eRu l e sd o esn o th a v et oc o n s i s to ft h ev e r ys a me mee v i d e nc ea swi l lb e t e s t i fi e do nb yt h ep r o po s e ds t a t e wi t n es s e s .W We eh a v er u l e dt h at" a c on sp i r a cyi smo mo r er e a di l ypr o v edb yt h ea ct sofaf e l l o wc r i mi n alt h anb y a nyo t h erme t h od .I fi ti ssh ownt h att h es t a t e me me nt soft h ec on sp i r a t o ra r e cor r obor at ed by ot her evi dence, t hen we have convi nci ng pr oof of v er a ci t y .Ev e ni ft h ec o nfi r ma t o r yt e s t i mo nyon l yap pl i e st os omep ar t i c ul a r s ,
we c a np r o p er l yi n f e rt h att h e wi t n e s sh a st o l dt h et r u t hi no t h e r . "6I ti se no u gh t h a tt h e t e s t i mo n y o fa c o c o n s pi r a t o ri s r e s p e c t s c o r r o bo r a t e db ys o meo me t h erwi t n es sore v i d en c e.I nt h ec a s ea tb a r ,wea r e s at i s fi edf r o m ar e ad i n go ft h er e co r d st h att h et e s t i mo ni e so fAb ut i na nd T amp el i xar ec or r o bo r a t e do ni mp or t a ntp oi n t sbyea cho t h er ' st e s t i mo ni e s a nd t h ec i r c u ms ms t a nc e sd i s c l o s ed t h r o ug ht h et e s t i mo ni e so ft h eo t h er p r o s ec u t i o n wi t n es s e s ,a nd " t os u c he x t e ntt h att h ei rt r u s t wo r t h i n es s b e c ome sma n i f e s t . "7 Aspa r to ft h ec on sp i r a cy ,Ab ut i na ndT amp el i xc ant e s t i f yont h e c r i mi nalpl a noft hec ons pi r at or s .Wh er eac r i mei sco nt r i v edi ns ec r e t ,t he d i s c h ar g eo fo neo ft h ec o ns p i r a t o r si se s s en t i a lb e c au s eo nl yt h eyh av e knowl edge of t he cr i me.8The ot her pr osecut i on wi t nesses ar e not e y e w wi i t n es s e st ot h ec r i me ,a s ,i nf a c t ,t h er ei sn on e.Noo nee x c e ptt h e c o n s pi r a t o r sk n e w a n d wi t n e s s ed t h e mu r d er .T h et e s t i mo ni e so ft h e a c c u s eda n dp r o p os e ds t a t ewi t n e s s esAb u t i na ndT a mp mp e l i xc a nd i r e c t l y l i nkpe t i t i one rt ot hec ommi s s i onoft hec r i me.
PLACI DO
L.
MAPA,
JR. ,
and
J.
LORENZO
VERGARA , et s .SAND DI I GANBAYAN, p i t i oner s,v r e s p o n den t Thede ni aloft her i ghtt obef r e ef r o mf ur t herpr o sec ut i o nofac oop er at i v e wi t n es swh wh oh a sb e en g r a n t e di mmu ni t yi st h ec o r ei s s u ep o s edi nt h i s pe t i t i on.Onbal anc ear ei mpor t antr i ght si nc onfl i c t :t her i ghtofani ndi v i dual whoh assu r r end er edhi sc ons t i t ut i o nalpr er og at i v et obes i l entt ot heSt at e t obee x emp tf r om f u r t h erp r o sec ut i o n;t h er i ghtoft heSt at et op r o sec ut eal l p e r s o n swh oa p pe a r st oh a v ec o mm mmi t t e d ac r i me a n di t sp r e r o ga t i v et o r e v ok et h ei mmu ni t yi th asgr a nt e dt oa na c c us e df o rb r e ac ho fa gr e eme nt ; a nd t h ee x t e nto ft h ej u r i s d i c t i o no ft h e Sa nd i g an ba y a na sa ni mp ar t i a l t r i b u na lt or e v i e wt h eg r a nto fi mmu ni t ye x t e n de db yt h e PCGG t oa n accused. | | | Facts: Pe t i t i o ne r s Pl a c i d oL .M Ma a pa a nd L or e nz o Ve r g ar a ,t o ge t h erwi t h Gr egor i o Ma. Ar anet a I I I , Fer nando Bal at bat , Ramo mon Avi ado, Jr . ,
Do mi mi n ad orL o pe z ,J r . ,Fe r n an doMa r a ma ma g,J r . ,a ndJ o s eCr i s a nt o ,J r . ,we r e c ha r g e d wi t hv i o l a t i o no ft h eA eAn t i Gr a f ta nd Co r r u ptPr a c t i c e s Ac t( R. A. 3019) | | |. Ex c ep tf o rp et i t i o ne rAr a ne t a ,a l lt h ea cc us edi nCr i mi n alCa seNo . 1 1 96 0we r ear r a i g n ed . | | | I nt h ei n t e r i m,t h el a t e Pr e s i d en tF er d i n an d E.Ma r c o sa nd Mr s . I mel da R.Mar cos wer e char ged i n New Yor k wi t h vi ol at i ons oft he Ra c k et e erI n fl ue nc e da ndCo r r u ptOr g an i z a t i o nAc t( RI CO)b yt r a ns p or t i n g t ot h e Un i t e d St a t e sa n dc o n c ea l i n gt h ei n v e s t me nto fmo n ey t h r o ug h c r o ni e san do ffs ho r eo r g a ni z a t i o ns Af t er t he i nt er vi ew, t he PCGG gr ant ed t hem i mmuni t yf r om pr os ec ut i on s ubj ec tt oc ondi t i o nt h att he y wi l lt es t i f yaswi t nes s ag ai ns t MARCOSES. . Bu tde sp i t et h ei rav ai l a bi l i t y and wi l l i ngn es st ot es t i f y ,t he US p r o s ec u t o r sde c i d edn ott oc a l lt h em t ot h ewi t n es ss t a nd .Th en ,ma paa nd v e r g ar afil e daJ oi n tMo t i o nt oDi s mi mi s s .Th ePCGG d i dno to bj e c t .Ho we v er , t h eSa nd i g an ba y a nd en i e dt h er emo mo t i o na ndc on t e ndt h at“ T] h eg r a nt i n go f ' I mmuni t y 'f r om c r i mi nal l i abi l i t yand/ orp r o sec ut i oni samat t ers ubj ec tt ot he c ou r t ' sj u di c i o us d et e r mi n at i o na nd a pp r o v a l ,a f t e ra pp l y i n gt h et e sto f c omp l i a nc ean dt h es t a nd ar dofr e as on ab l e ne sswi t ht h er i g i dr e q ui r e me me nt s f o rs u c hg r a ntu nd erSe c t i o n5o fEx e c ut i v eOr Or d erNo .1 4A” I SSUE: wh e t h er t h e r e s p on d en tc o u r th as j u r i s d i c t i o n t or e v i e w t h e i mmu ni t yg r a nt e db yPCGG i nf a v oro ft h ep et i t i o ne r s . Wh et h ero rn o tr e s po nd en tc o ur tc a nr e v er s et h eg r a nto fi mmu ni t y ma debyt h ePCGG b ys up pl a nt i n gt h el a t t e r ' sj u dg me me nt . Wh et h ero rn otg r a nt i n go fs u c hi mmu ni t yi ss u bj e c tt oc o ur t ’ s a pp r o v al u nd ers e c .5 Wh et h ero rn otf a i l u r eo nt h ep ar to fp et i t i o ne r sPl a ci d o Ma pa ,J r . a ndJ e s usVe r g ar at ot e s t i f yi nf a v oro ft h eg ov e r n me me nta nda ga i n s to t h er def endant s on mat t er s r ef er r ed t o i n t hei ei mmedi at el y pr ecedi ng par agr aphnul l i fiest hei mmuni t ygr ant edt obot hdef endant s. RULI NG: G:
1 .Wes us t a i nt hej ur i s di c t i onoft her e sp onde ntc our t .T ob e sure,we have grappl ed wi t ht hi s once sl i pper yi ssue i nt he case ofRepubl i cvs.Sandi ganbayan: Th ep owe r so ft h e PCGG a r en otu n l i mi t e d.I t sj u r i s d i c t i o no v e r c as es i n v ol v i n gi l l g ot t e n we al t h mu stb e wi t h i nt h ep ar a me me t e r sst a t e d i nExec ut i ve Or der No. 14. Ne c es s a r i l y ,t h e j u r i s d i c t i o n o f t h e Sa nd i g an ba y a nwh i c hi st a s k edt oh an dl et h ei l l g ot t e nwe al t hc a s esmu mu s t i n cl u det h ej u r i s di c t i o nt ode t e r mi n ewh et h ero rn ott h ePCGG e x c ee de di t s p owe rt og r a nti mmu ni t yp ur s u an tt ot h ep r o v i s i o nso fEx e c u t i v eOr Or d e rNo . 14. " I ts h o u l da l s ob en o t e dt h att h er e s p on de n tc o ur th a sa l r e ad y a cq ui r e dj u r i s di c t i o nt ot r yan dd ec i d e Ca seNo .1 19 60wh er ep et i t i o ne r s s t andac c us edofv i ol at i n gR gRA301 9. 2. Wear enotpr epar edt oconcedet hecor r ect nessoft hi spr oposi t i on. Ne i t h ert h et e x tn ort h et e x t u r eofE. O.No .14,a sa me me nd ed ,l e nd sc o l o rt o t h es u gg es t e di n t e r p r e t a t i o n.Se ct i o n5ofE. O.No .1 4,a same nd ed ,v e st s n os uc hr o l ei nr e sp on de ntc ou r t .I ni n st a nc es ,wh er et h ei n t e nti st oe nd ow c o ur t so fj u st i c ewi t ht h ep owe rt or e v i e wa ndr e v er s et a ct i c almo v esoft h e p r o s ec ut i o n,t h el a wc on f e r st h ep owe ri ncl e ara ndce r t a i nl a ng ua ge .Th us , unders rsect i on 9 ofRul e 119,t ,t h ep r o s ec ut i o ni nt h ee x er c i s eo fi t s d i s c r e t i o n ma yt a c t i c a l l yd ec i d et od i s c h ar g ea na c c us e dt ob e as t a t e wi t nes sbu ti t sde ci s i oni sma ma des ubj e ctt ot heapp r o v alo ft h ec ou r tt r y i n g t h ec a s e.I th ast ofil eap r o pe rmo t i o na ndt h emo t i o nma ybede ni e db yt h e c our t i ft hepr os ec ut i onf a i l st opr ov et hati thass at i s fiedt h er equi r ement sof t her u l eondi s c har geofawi t ne ss .Th er ul ei sc r a f t edast ol ea v enoi o t aof d ou bto nt h ep owe roft h ec o ur tt oi n t e r f e r e wi t ht h ed i s c r e t i o no ft h e p r o s ec ut i o no nt h ema t t e r . I nt h ec a s ea tb en c h,E. O.1 4,asame nde d,i sel oqu en t l ysi l en twi t h r e g ar dt ot h er a ng ea nd d e pt ho ft h ep owe ro ft h er e s p on d en tc o u r tt o r e v i e w t h ee x e r c i s eo fd i s c r e t i o nb yt h e PCGG g r a nt i n gas e c t i o n5 i mmu ni t y . 3 . Weo bs e r v et h ati nc on t r a stt oo uro t h erl a wso ni mmu ni t y,se ct i on 5ofE. O.No.14, asame mended,conf er sont hePCGG t hepowert ogr ant i mmuni t yal oneandoni t sownaut hor i t y.Theexer ci seoft hepoweri s
no ts ha r e dwi t ha nyo t h e ra ut hor i t y .Nori si t se x er c i s es ubj e ctt ot he eb a s i c approvalordi sapprovalofanot heragencyofgovernme ment .Th r e as onf o rv e st i n gt h ep owe re x c l u si v e l yont h ePCGG l i e si nt h ep r i n ci p l e s o fs e pa r a t i o no fp owe r .T h ed ec i s i o nt og r a nti mmu ni t yf r o mp r o s ec u t i o n f o r ms a c on st i t u en tpa r to ft h ep r o s ec ut i o np r o c es s .I ti se ss en t i a l l ya t a c t i c a ld ec i s i o nt of o r e go p r o s ec u t i o no fa p er s o nf o rg ov e r n me me ntt o a chi e veahi ghe ro bj ec t i v e. weh ol dt h ati nr e v i e wi n gt h eg r a n to fas e c t i o n5i mmu ni t yma ma deb y t h ePCGG t ot h ep et i t i o ne r s ,t h ep owe ro ft h er er espondent scourtcango no f urt hert hant opassupon i t p s r ocedur alr egul ar i t y . Ther espondent c ou r ts ho ul do nl yas c er t a i n :( a )wh et h ert h ep er s onc l a i mi n gi mmu ni t yha s p r o v i d ed i n f o r ma t i o no rt e st i mo nyi na nyi n v es t i g at i o nc on du ct e db yt h e PCGG i nt h ed i s c h a r g eo fi t sf u nc t i o ns ;( b )wh e t h e ri nt he bona fide h ei nf or mat i o no rt es t i mon ygi v enwoul des t a bl i s h j udgmentoft hePCGG,t t h eu n l a wf u lma n ne ri nwh i c ht h er e s p on d en t ,d e f e n da nto ra c c u s e dh a s a c qu i r e do rac c u m mu u l a t e dt h ep r o pe r t yo rpr o pe r t i e si nq ue s t i o n;a n d( c ) wh e t h eri u c hi n f o r ma t i o no r nt he bona fide j udgme mentoft he PCGG,s t es t i monyi snec es sar yt oas cer t ai norp r o v et hegui l to rc i v i ll i abi l i t yoft he r e sp on de nt ,d ef e nd an to ra c c us ed .Re sp on de ntc ou r tc an no ts ub s t i t u t ei t s j udgment t ot he di s c r et i on of t he PCGG wi t hout i nv ol v i ng i t s el fi n pr os ec ut i onandwi t ho utc eas i n gt obeac ou r tc at er i ngu nt i l t edj us t i c e. 4 . Co nt r a r yt ot h er u l i n go ft h er e s po nd en tc o ur t ,t h ef a i l u r eo f p et i t i o ne r st ot e s t i f yi nt h eRI CO c a s esa ga i n s tt h eMa r c o s esi nNe wY or k c ann otn ul l i f yt h ei ri mmu ni t y .Th eyha v es at i s fi edt h er e qu i r e me me nt sbo t ho f t h el a wa ndt h ep ar t i e s 'i mp l e me me nt i n ga gr e eme nt s .Un de rs e c t i o n5o fE. O. No .14, a sa me me nd ed ,t h ei rd ut ywa st og i v ei n f o r ma t i o nt ot h ep r o s ec ut i o n, and t heydi d.Undert hei rMemo mor andum ofAgr eeme ment ,t heypr omi mi sed t o ma k et h e ms ms e l v e sav a i l a b l ea swi t n e s s esi nt h es a i dRI CO c a s e s ,a n dt h e y di d. Si n ce pe t i t i o ne r s 'f a i l ur et ot e s t i f y wa sn ot of t he i r own choosi ng norwasi tdue t oany f aul toft hei rown wn,j ust i ceandequi t y f or bi dt ha tt he ybepe na l i z e db yt h ewi t h dr a wa wa lo ft he i ri mmun i t y. Weal s or u l et h att h er ewa sno t h i n gi r r e gu l a rwh enPCGG g r a nt e da s ec t i o n5i mmuni t yt op et i t i o ner swhi l et h eywe r eal r eadyun der goi ngt r i ali n Cr i mi n alCa s e No .1 1 96 0 .S ec t i o n 5o fE. O.14,asame mended,doesnot p r o hi b i tt h e PCGG f r o mg r a nt i n gi mmu ni t yt op er s o nsal r e ad yc h ar g edi n
c our ta ndun der g oi ngt r i al .Asl ongast hepr i v i l eg eo fi mmuni t ys ogi v enwi wi l l i nt h ej ud gmen to ft hePCGG a ss i s ti ti nat t a i ni ngi t sgr e at ero bj ec t i v es ,t he PCGG i swe l l wi t h i nl e ga lg r o u nd st oe x er c i s et h i spo we ra ta nys t a geoft h e p r o c ee di n gs .T hi ss ec t i o n5i mmu ni t yf r e esa ndr e l e as eso nef r o ml i a bi l i t y , a nda si ti n ur e st ot h eb en efi to fa na cc us ed ,i tc anb ei n v ok e da ta tanyt i me a f t e ri t sa cqui s i t i ona ndbe f or ehi sfina lc on vi c t i on.
