Republic of the Philippines SUPREME COURT Manila
The petitione& establishe0 the &elationship of the co%plainant Cal0e&on to the &espon0ent =u01e thus9 The husban0 of Cal0e&on an0 the &espon0ent =u01e ha,e co%%on 1&eat 1&an0pa&ents *uan Gon8ale8 an0 Ra%ona Ro0&i1ue8. *uan an0 Ra%ona Gon8ale8 be1ot t;o chil0&en Pantaleona an0 Si%on. Pantaleona %a&&ie0 Luis Cal0e&on. The spouses Luis an0 Pantaleona be1ot a son ;ho% the/ also na%e0 Luis. The son Luis %a&&ie0 Rosa&io e&0a. Luis an0 Rosa&io Cal0e&on be1ot a son' *uanito' ;ho %a&&ie0 anothe& Rosa&io' the co%plainant in the c&i%inal action. On the othe& han0' Si%on Gon8ale8 %a&&ie0 Ge&oni%a Sa%son. The spouses Si%on an0 Ge&oni%a be1ot a son' Rica&0o' ;ho %a&&ie0 2isitacion Le1aspi. The couple' Rica&0o an0 2isitacion Gon8ale8' be1ot a son *ose' the &espon0ent =u01e.
EN BANC G.R. G.R. No. L-!"# L-!"#$ $
Septe% Septe%be& be& "$' #()# #()#
*OSE G. GEOT+NA' petitione&-appellant' ,s. TE ON. *OSE L. GONALE' in his capacit/ as Municipal *u01e of Su&i1ao' Su&i1ao 0el No&te' TE PRO2+NC+AL PRO2+NC+AL 3+SCAL 3+SCAL O3 SUR+GAO SUR+GAO 4EL NORTE' NORTE' an0 TE PEOPLE O3 TE P+L+PP+NES P+L+PP+NES &espon0ents-appellees.
4e Santos 5 4e lfino an0 En&i6ue 7. Tan0an Tan0an fo& petitione&-appellant.
3i&st Assistant P&o,incial 3iscal Ca&lo R. Lo8a0a fo& &espon0ents-appellees. CASTRO' *.9 On Au1ust "$' #(!: Rosa&io R. Cal0e&on file0 ;ith the %unicipal cou&t of Su&i1ao' Su&i1ao 0el No&te' p&esi0e0 b/ *u01e *ose L. Gon8ale8
' a c&i%inal co%plaint # fo& se&ious ph/sical in=u&ies th&ou1h th&ou1h &ec?less &ec?less i%p&u0ence i%p&u0ence a1ainst 4&. *ose G. Geotina petitione&> an0 Re%e0ios @ie&ulf. Afte& Afte& con0uctin1 con0uctin1 the &e6uisite &e6uisite p&eli%ina&/ p&eli%ina&/ ea%ination' the &espon0ent *u01e 0is%isse0 the c&i%inal action as to @ie&ulf. The&eafte&' he o&0e&e0 the a&&est of the petitione&' fiin1 the bon0 fo& his p&o,isional libe&t/ at P"$$.
On Octobe& )' #(!: the petitione& file0 a %otion to 0is6ualif/ the &espon0ent =u01e f&o% hea&in1 the c&i%inal case' alle1in1 as 1&oun0 the&efo& the &elationship of the latte& to the co%plainant Cal0e&on ;ithin the sith ci,il 0e1&ee b/ affinit/ a 0is6ualification eplicitl/ spelle0 out in section # of Rule #") of the Rules of Cou&t. Sai0 section pe&tinentl/ states9
SECT+ON #. 4is6ualification of =u01es. No =u01e o& =u0icial office& shall sit in an/ case ... in ;hich he is &elate0 to eithe& pa&t/ ;ithin the sith 0e1&ee of consan1uinit/ o& affinit/ ... co%pute0 acco&0in1 to the &ules of the ci,il la; ...
The %otion fo& 0is6ualification' oppose0 b/ the &espon0ent p&o,incial fiscal' ;as 0enie0 b/ the &espon0ent =u01e upon the 1&oun0 that he bea&s no &elationship eithe& to the the plaintiff' the People of the Philippines' Philippines' o& to the 0efen0ant' 4&. *ose G. Geotina the onl/ pa&ties he consi0e&s as liti1ants in the c&i%inal case. The &espon0ent =u01e also consi0e&e0 the co%plainant Cal0e&on as a %e&e ;itness in the c&i%inal action' not a pa&t/ ;ithin the conte%plation of section # of Rule #"). T;ice' on No,e%be& !' #(!: an0 on Ma&ch #' #(!!' the petitione& %o,e0 fo& & econsi0e&ation of the o&0e& 0en/in1 his %otion fo& 0is6ualification' to no a,ail. So the petitione&' on Ap&il ' #(!!' file0 ;ith the Cou&t of 3i&st +nstance of Su&i1ao 0el No&te a petition fo& p&ohibition ;ith p&eli%ina&/ in=unction' see?in1 <#> the annul%ent of the o&0e&s 0en/in1 his %otion fo& 0is6ualification an0 %otions fo& &econsi0e&ation' an0 <> the issuance of an o&0e& 0i&ectin1 the &espon0ent =u01e to cease an0 0esist f&o% t&/in1 the c&i%inal action. On Ap&il #' #(!! the &espon0ent p&o,incial fiscal %o,e0 fo& the 0is%issal of the petition' alle1in1 as 1&oun0 the&efo& lac? of cause of action. On Ap&il #:' #(!! the Cou&t of 3i&st +nstance issue0 an o&0e& 0is%issin1 the petition' hol0in1 that ... the p&o,isions of Sec. ' Rule #") of the Ne; Rules of Cou&t' a&e clea& an0 specific to the effect that no appeal shall be ta?en of the 0ete&%ination of the *u01e affecte0 in fa,o& of his co%petenc/ until afte& the case has been 0eci0e0 b/ hi%. +t is' the&efo&e' clea& that up to this %o%ent the petitione& cannot an0 shoul0 not ha,e file0 this case in this Cou&t. e shoul0 a;ait the 0ecision of the %unicipal *u01e ;ho has &esol,e0 in fa,o& of his co%petenc/ to t&/ sai0 c&i%inal case. +t is onl/ in the e,ent that the %unicipal *u01e &en0e&s a 0ecision of con,iction ;hen the counsel shoul0 ta?e the necessa&/ steps to p&otect his client.
On Ma/ #)' #(!! the cou&t a 6uo &e=ecte0 the petitione&Ds petitione&Ds %otion %otion fo& &econsi0e&at &econsi0e&ation ion of Ma/ )' #(!!. ence' the p&esent appeal.
Resolution of the cent&al issue pose0 b/ the p&esent appeal &e6ui&es a 0ete&%ination of ;hethe& the petitione& %a/ a,ail of a special ci,il action fo& p&ohibition to &est&ain the &espon0ent =u01e' alle1e0l/ 0is6ualifie0 to sit in the case' f&o% hea&in1 the c&i%inal action' in0epen0entl/ of the &e%e0/ of appeal p&o,i0e0 f o& b/ section of Rule #") of the Rules of Cou&t. The petitione& specificall/ i%putes e&&o& to the cou&t a 6uo in the latte&Ds <#> t&eatin1 his petition fo& p&ohibition as an appeal f&o% the o&0e&s of the &espon0ent =u01e 0en/in1 his %otion f o& 0is6ualification an0 subse6uent %otions fo& &econsi0e&ation' an0 <> a ppl/in1 section of Rule #") as basis fo& 0is%issin1 his petition. petition. The petitione petitione&& a&1ues a&1ues that the lo;e& cou&t faile0 to &e1a&0 the special special ci,il action action fo&
p&ohibition as the p&ope& &e%e0/ in the case at ba&' consi0e&in1 that the & espon0ent =u01e' 0espite his 0is6ualification' insiste0 on hea&in1 the c&i%inal case. Such insistence' acco&0in1 to the petitione&' constitutes 1&a,e abuse of 0isc&etion a%ountin1 to lac? o& ecess of =u&is0iction. The petitione& a00s that appeal in this instance is not a spee0/ an0 a0e6uate &e%e0/ in the o&0ina&/ cou&se of la;.
On the othe& han0' the &espon0ents &est thei& case solel/ on the p&o,isions of section of Rule #"). The/ conten0 that appeal afte& final =u01%ent in the c&i%inal action is the p&ope& &e%e0/ a,ailable to the petitione&. +t thus behoo,es us to in6ui&e into the co,e&a1e an0 inten0%ent of sections # an0 of Rule #") of the Rules of Cou&t. Section # &ea0s9 SECT+ON #. 4is6ualification of =u01es. No =u01e o& =u0icial office& shall sit in an/ case in ;hich he' o& his ;ife o& chil0' is pecunia&il/ inte&este0 as hei&' le1atee' c&e0ito& o& othe&;ise' o& in ;hich he is &elate0 to eithe& pa&t/ ;ithin the sith 0e1&ee of consan1uinit/ o& affinit/ o& to counsel ;ithin the fou&th 0e1&ee' co%pute0 acco&0in1 to the &ules of the ci,il la;' o& in ;hich he has been eecuto&' a0%inist&ato&' 1ua&0ian' t&ustee o& counsel' o& in ;hich he has p&esi0e0 in an/ infe&io& cou&t ;hen his &ulin1 o& 0ecision is the sub=ect of &e,ie;' ;ithout the ;&itten consent of all pa&ties in inte&est' si1ne0 b/ the% an0 ente&e0 upon the &eco&0.
A =u01e %a/' in the ee&cise of his soun0 0isc&etion' 0is6ualif/ hi%self f&o% sittin1 in a case' fo& =ust o& ,ali0 &easons othe& than those %entione0 abo,e.
Section p&o,i0es9 SEC. . Ob=ection that =u01e 0is6ualifie0' ho; %a0e an0 effect. +f it be clai%e0 that an official is 0is6ualifie0 f&o% sittin1 as abo,e p&o,i0e0' the pa&t/ ob=ectin1 to his co%petenc/ %a/' in ;&itin1' file ;ith the official his ob=ection' statin1 the 1&oun0s the&efo&' an0 the official shall the&eupon p&ocee0 ;ith the t&ial o& ;ith0&a; the&ef&o%' in acco&0ance ;ith his 0ete&%ination of the 6uestion of his 0is6ualification. is 0ecision shall be fo&th;ith %a0e in ;&itin1 an0 file0 ;ith the othe& pape&s in the case' but no appeal o& sta/' shall be allo;e0 f&o%' o& b/ &eason of' his 0ecision in fa,o& of his o;n co%petenc/' until afte& final =u01%ent in the case. The inten0%ent of section # is incontestabl/ that a =u01e' sittin1 in a case' %ust at all ti%es be ;holl/ f&ee' 0isinte&este0' i%pa&tial an0 in0epen0ent. Ele%enta&/ 0ue p&ocess &e6ui&es a hea&in1 befo&e an i%pa&tial an0 0isinte&este0 t&ibunal. A =u01e has both the 0ut/ of &en0e&in1 a =ust 0ecision an0 the 0ut/ of 0oin1 it in a %anne& co%pletel/ f&ee f&o% suspicion as to its fai&ness an0 as to his inte1&it/. To effect this inten0%ent full/' section # enu%e&ates the 1&oun0s fo& the 0is6ualification of a =u01e. The fi&st pa&a1&aph of section + &efe&s eclusi,el/ to le1al 1&oun0s fo& challen1in1 a =u01eDs co%petenc/. The secon0 pa&a1&aph the&eof autho&i8es a =u01e to inhibit hi%self ,olunta&il/' in the absence of an/ challen1e f&o% eithe& pa&t/' on 1oo0' soun0 o& ethical 1&oun0s' " o& fo& =ust an0 ,ali0 &easons' othe& than
those %entione0 in the fi&st pa&a1&aph. The sa%e secon0 pa&a1&aph lea,es the %atte& of 0is6ualification to the soun0 0isc&etion of the =u01e. Section p&esc&ibes the p&oce0u&e to be follo;e0 b/ a liti1ant see?in1 the 0is6ualification of a =u01e base0 on an/ of the 1&oun0s enu%e&ate0 in section #. Section pu&po&ts to p&otect the =u01e ;ho falls ;ithin the co%pass of an/ of the p&ohibito&/ p&o,isions of section # f&o% an/ %isun0e&stan0in1 as to his =u0icial actuations. Thus' the section &e6ui&es the ob=ection to be state0 in ;&itin1' ;ith the 1&oun0 the&efo& state0 the&ein. The sa%e section then &e6ui&es the =u01e to %a?e a 0ete&%ination of his co%petenc/' an0 to p&ocee0 ;ith the t&ial of the case o& to ;ith0&a; the&ef&o%' in acco&0ance ;ith such 0ete&%ination. +f a pa&t/ ob=ects to the 6ualification of a =u01e base0 on the 1&oun0 of &elationship to a pa&t/ to the case ;ithin the p&ohibite0 0e1&ee an0 the challen1e0 =u01e 0enies such &elationship an0 &ules in fa,o& of his o;n co%petenc/' then the =u01e has no &ecou&se but to p&ocee0 ;ith the case. +n such an e,ent' section allo;s no appeal f&o% o& sta/ of the 0ete&%ination of the =u01e in fa,o& of his co%petenc/ until afte& final =u01%ent in the %ain case. This &ule allo;in1 a challen1e0 =u01e to continue to t&/ a case as ;ell applies in those instances ;hen a pa&t/ ob=ects to the =u01eDs co%petenc/ on ci&cu%stances not constituti,e of le1al 1&oun0s fo& 0is6ualification. The &ationale fo& the &ule is that a =u01e is 0ut/ boun0 not to sit in the t&ial of a 1i,en case if le1all/ 0is6ualifie0' an0 to p&ocee0 ;ith the t&ial an0 0ecision of the case if not le1all/ 0is6ualifie0. e cannot shi&? the &esponsibilit/ ;ithout the &is? of bein1 calle0 upon to account fo& his 0e&eliction. : The &e%e0/ of the a11&ie,e0 pa&t/' in the fi&st case' consists of a challen1e a1ainst the 0ete&%ination %a0e b/ the =u01e of his co%petenc/ in the appeal f&o% the p&incipal case. +n the latte& case' ;he&e a =u01e' not le1all/ 0is6ualifie0 un0e& the fi&st pa&a1&aph of section #' 0oes not inhibit hi%self' the a11&ie,e0 pa&t/ still has a &i1ht to &elief. +f it appea&s that the a11&ie,e0 pa&t/ ;as the ,icti% of an unfai& an0 pa&tial t&ial because of the =u01eDs bias o& p&e=u0ice' this Cou&t ;ill not hesitate to o&0e& a ne; t&ial' if necessa&/' in the inte&est of =ustice. ! The p&ohibito&/ p&o,ision e%bo0ie0 in section a1ainst an appeal f&o% o& sta/ of the p&ocee0in1s un0oubte0l/ applies in all ci,il cases. 3o& in the sai0 cases' the pa&t/ a11&ie,e0' in his appeal to the p&ope& cou&t f&o% the final =u01%ent &en0e&e0 in the %ain case' %a/ &aise the 6uestion of the co&&ectness of the 0ete&%ination b/ the =u01e of his co%petenc/ to sit in the case. +n c&i%inal cases' the sa%e &ule applies ;he&e the accuse0 see?s the 0is6ualification of the =u01e. +n this case' the accuse0' in the e,ent of his con,iction' has the oppo&tunit/ to 6uestion the =u01eDs &ulin1 on his co%petenc/ in his appeal f&o% the 0ecision on the %e&its. +n the e,ent of his ac6uittal' the accuse0 has no cause fo& co%plaint a1ainst the =u01eDs &ulin1 of non-0is6ualification. ) Fhe&e' ho;e,e&' the p&osecution o& the offen0e0 pa&t/ see?s the =u01eDs 0is6ualification' the &est&iction fin0s no application. 3o& ;he&e the =u01e 0eci0es in fa,o& of his o;n co%petenc/' p&ocee0s to t&/ the case' an0 &en0e&s a ,e&0ict of ac6uittal' the p&osecution o& offen0e0 pa&t/ has neithe& the &i1ht to appeal no& an/ plain' spee0/ an0 a0e6uate &e%e0/ in the o&0ina&/ cou&se of la; to ha,e the &ulin1 of the =u01e on the %otion see?in1 his 0is6ualification &e,ie;e0 on appeal' ... since no appeal f&o% the =u01%ent of ac6uittal coul0 possibl/ be ta?en b/ the p&osecution b/ ,i&tue of the 0ouble =eopa&0/ p&o,ision of the Constitution. ence' &eso&t to the et&ao&0ina&/ &e%e0ies o& special ci,il actions of p&ohibition an0 ce&tio&a&i constitutes the onl/ %eans a,ailable to the p&osecution o& the offen0e0 pa&t/ fo& the &e,ie; b/ a supe&io& cou&t of the =u01eDs 0enial of the %otion see?in1 his 0is6ualification on eistin1 an0 ,ali0 le1al 1&oun0s. Re,e&tin1 no; to the case at ba&' one ci&cu%stance stan0s out an0 co%%an0s ou& attention9 that the le1al 1&oun0 fo& the &espon0ent =u01eDs 0is6ualification is in0ubitable. The &espon0ent =u01e %a?es no 0enial ;hatsoe,e& of his &elationship ;ithin sith 0e1&ee of affinit/ to the co%plainant Cal0e&on. On &eco&0 &e%ains the petitione&Ds unconteste0 clai% of a0%ission on the pa&t of the &espon0ent =u01e of his &elationship to the co%plainant Cal0e&on ;ithin the p&ohibite0 0e1&ee. +nstea0 of 0isputin1 the petitione&Ds
a,e&%ent of his &elationship to the co%plainant Cal0e&on' the &espon0ent =u01e' in his o&0e& 0ate0 Octobe& ' #(!:' 0en/in1 the petitione&Ds %otion to 0is6ualif/' e,a0e0 the ,ital 6uestion an0 instea0 &ule0 on the inapplicabilit/ of section # on the 1&oun0 that he bea&s no &elationship to eithe& the People of the Philippines' the plaintiff' o& 4&. *ose G. Geotina' the accuse0 the onl/ pa&ties he consi0e&s as liti1ants in the c&i%inal action. On &eco&0' the&efo&e' the &espon0ent =u01eDs &elationship to the co%plainant Cal0e&on ;ithin the p&ohibite0 0e1&ee is' ;e &epeat' in0ubitable.
The &espon0ent =u01eDs obse&,ation &e1a&0in1 the inapplicabilit/ of section # of Rule #") on the 1&oun0 that he bea&s no &elationship to eithe& the People of the Philippines' the plaintiff' o& the petitione& Geotina the accuse0' co%pletel/ i1no&es the inte&est of the co%plainant Cal0e&on in the c&i%inal p&osecution. A c&i%e constitutes a public offense a1ainst the StateH fo& this &eason' section # of Rule ##$ of the Rules of Cou&t 0i&ects the co%%ence%ent of all c&i%inal actions in the na%e of the People of the Philippines. But a c&i%e also constitutes an offense a1ainst the a11&ie,e0 o& offen0e0 pa&t/H fo& this &eason' section #: of Rule ##$ allo;s the inte&,ention of the offen0e0 pa&t/ in the p&osecution of the offense' to the eceptions p&o,i0e0 the&ein. The &i1ht of the offen0e0 pa&t/ to eac t ci,il liabilit/ a&isin1 f &o% the offense fin0s ep&ess &eco1nition in ou& la;s an0 =u&isp&u0ence. Mo&eo,e&' the &espon0ent =u01eDs inte&p&etation of the ph&ase eithe& pa&t/ as use0 in section # of Rule #") li%itin1 the &efe&ence solel/ to eithe& the plaintiff o& the 0efen0ant in a c&i%inal action 0efies ele%enta&/ lo1ic an0 co%%on sense. No section of the Rules of Cou&t' no a&ticle of the Re,ise0 Penal Co0e an0 the Ci,il Co0e of the Philippines' eclu0es the a11&ie,e0 pe&son as a pa&t/ to a c&i%inal action. On the othe& han0' se,e&al sections ( of the Rules of Cou&t an0 t;o p&o,isions #$ of the Re,ise0 Penal Co0e an0 the Ci,il Co0e of the Philippines &eco1ni8e the offen0e0 pa&t/ as a pa&t/ to the c&i%inal action.. The &eco&0 of the case at ba& also &e,eals that the &espon0ent =u01e' 0espite his &elationship to the co%plainant Cal0e&on ;ithin the p&ohibite0 0e1&ee an0 the p&otestations of the petitione&' a0a%antl/ &efuse0 to inhibit hi%self f&o% p&ocee0in1 ;ith the c&i%inal action an0 insiste0 on sittin1 in =u01%ent. +n this connection' ;e obse&,e that section # of Rule #") allo;s a =u01e' althou1h 0is6ualifie0 on the 1&oun0s enu%e&ate0 the&ein to sit in a case' but onl/ upon the ;&itten consent of all the pa&ties in inte&est' si1ne0 b/ the% an0 ente&e0 upon the &eco&0. This eception' ;e belie,e' applies ;ithout &e1a&0 to the in0ubitabilit/ of the le1al 1&oun0 fo& the 0is6ualification of a =u01e. ence' althou1h the p&osc&ibe0 &elationship eists' if the pa&ties' ;ith ?no;le01e of the 1&oun0 fo& the 0is6ualification' ;ai,e thei& ob=ection to the co%petenc/ of the =u01e b/ autho&i8in1 hi% in ;&itin1 to p&ocee0 ;ith the case' then the =u01e' a&%e0 ;ith such ;&itten consent' is f&ee to t&/ the liti1ation befo&e hi%. The &efusal of the &espon0ent =u01e to 0is6ualif/ hi%self an0 his insistence to hea& the c&i%inal case in the face of the ep&ess p&ohibition containe0 in section # of Rule #")' to ou& %in0' constitute 1&a,e abuse of 0isc&etion a%ountin1 to lac? o& ecess of =u&is0iction. St&ict co%pliance ;ith the ist&in1ent &ule on 0is6ualification on account of &elationship bet;een the =u01e an0 one of the pa&ties se&,es not onl/ to p&otect the &i1hts of the pa&ties an0 assu&e an i%pa&tial a0%inist&ation of =ustice but also to p&e,ent e&osion of the peopleDs confi0ence in the =u0icia&/.
the c&i%inal case 0espite the ob=ection pe&sistentl/ inte&pose0 b/ the petitione& to his co%petenc/' an0 the all-i%po&tant p&inciple of %aintenance of the confi0ence of the people in the i%pa&tialit/ of the a0%inist&ation of =ustice' ;e belie,e that the &eso&t b/ the petitione& to the special ci,il action of p&ohibition to &est&ain the &espon0ent =u01e f&o% p&ocee0in1 ;ith the c&i%inal action is app&op&iate. Fe hol0 that the p&ohibito&/ p&o,ision a1ainst an appeal f&o% o& a sta/ of the p&ocee0in1s containe0 in section of Rule #") 0oes not ope&ate to ba& an accuse0 pe&son' in p&ope& cases' f&o% a,ailin1 of the special ci,il action of p&ohibition befo&e supe&io& cou&ts fo& 0ete&%ination' ahea0 of the =u01%ent on the %e&its' of ;hethe& the challen1e0 =u01e co%%itte0 1&a,e abuse of 0isc&etion a%ountin1 to lac? o& ecess of =u&is0iction in &efusin1 to 0is6ualif/ hi%self.
3inall/' ;e %ust set a&i1ht ce&tain inaccu&ate concepts a&ticulate0 b/ the petitione& &e1a&0in1 the ,iabilit/ an0 natu&e of a 0is6ualifie0 =u01eDs 0ecision. The petitione& clai%s that the 0is6ualification of a =u01e &en0e&s hi% ;ithout =u&is0iction an0' conse6uentl/' his =u01%ent in the action befo&e hi% is a nullit/. To ou& %in0' the 0is6ualification of a =u01e 0oes not necessa&il/ &en0e& his =u01%ent null an0 ,oi0. Neithe& section # no& section of Rule #") so states. The 0is6ualification of the pe&son calle0 upon to p&esi0e o,e& a specific case 0oes not 0i,est his cou&t of =u&is0iction o,e& the sub=ect-%atte& of o& the pe&sons of the pa&ties to the sai0 case. At %ost' the 0is6ualification st&i?es onl/ at the autho&it/ of the challen1e0 =u01e to p&esi0e o,e& the t&ial of the specific case an0 the&ein to ee&cise the =u&is0iction of the cou&t. +%po&tant is the 0istinction bet;een the =u&is0iction of the cou&t an0 the autho&it/ of the =u01e calle0 upon to ee&cise such =u&is0iction. A =u01e %a/ be 0is6ualifie0 to t& /' sit in o& act in a specific case' but his 0is6ualification 0oes not 0est&o/ the =u&is0iction of the cou&t ;hich he p&esi0es. Thus' if subse6uentl/ the =u01%ent of a 0is6ualifie0 =u01e shoul0 be set asi0e as null an0 ,oi0 b/ a hi1he& cou&t' the nullit/ ste%s not f&o% the cou&tDs lac? of =u&is0iction but f&o% the absence of autho&it/ on the pa&t of the 0is6ualifie0 =u01e to t&/ the 1i,en case. Fe the&efo&e hol0 that the &espon0ent =u01e is ;ithout autho&it/ to p&esi0e o,e& the c&i%inal case in 6uestion. Section #' in co%%an0in1 hi% to ;ith0&a; f&o% the case he&ein in,ol,e0' necessa&il/ 0i,ests hi% of all autho&it/ to actin an/ =u0icial capacit/ in connection the&e;ith. Fe fu&the& hol0 that ;he&e the 0is6ualif/in1 fact is in0ubitable an0 the pa&ties to the case %a?e no ;ai,e& of such 0is6ualification' as in the case at ba&' sec. # fo&th;ith co%pletel/ st&ips the =u01e of autho&it/ to p&ocee0. All his acts in the p&e%ises a&e ;ithout autho&it/ of la;. ACCOR4+NGL7' =u01%ent is he&eb/ &en0e&e0 settin1 asi0e <#> the o&0e& of the Cou&t of 3i&st +nstance of Su&i1ao 0el No&te 0is%issin1 the petition fo& p&ohibition' an0 <> the o&0e&s of the &espon0ent =u01e 0en/in1 the %otion fo& his 0is6ualification an0 subse6uent %otions fo& &econsi0e&ation. The &espon0ent =u01e is he&eb/ o&0e&e0 to &ef&ain pe&%anentl/ f&o% ta?in1 fu&the& action in c&i%inal case :$. No p&onounce%ent as to costs.
Let a cop/ of this 0ecision be fo&;a&0e0 to the ono&able' the Sec&eta&/ of *ustice.
Consi0e&in1' the&efo&e' the in0ubitabilit/ of the &elationship bet;een the &espon0ent =u01e an0 the co%plainant Cal0e&on ;ithin the p&osc&ibe0 0e1&ee' the &efusal of the sai0 &espon0ent to ;ith0&a; f&o% Concepcion' C.*.' Re/es' *.B.L.' 4i8on' Ma?alintal' al0i,a&' Teehan?ee' 2illa%o& an0 Ma?asia&' **.'
