Republic of the Philippines
SUPREME COURT
Manila
THIRD DIVISION
G.R. No. 171671 June 18, 2012
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Petitioner,
vs.
ARISTEO E. ATIENZA, RODRIGO D. MANONGSONG, CRISPIN M. EGARQUE, and THE HON. SANDIGANBAYAN (THIRD DIVISION), Respondents.
D E C I S I O N
PERALTA, J.:
This is a petition for review on certiorari assailing the Resolution1 dated February 28, 2006 of the Sandiganbayan (Third Division) granting the Demurrer to Evidence filed by respondents Aristeo E. Atienza and Rodrigo D. Manongsong, which effectively dismissed Criminal Case No. 26678 for violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act No. 3019.
The factual and procedural antecedents are as follows:
In an Information2 filed on June 19, 2001, respondents Aristeo E. Atienza (Mayor Atienza), then Municipal Mayor of Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro, Engr. Rodrigo D. Manongsong (Engr. Manongsong), then Municipal Engineer of Puerto Galera and Crispin M. Egarque (Egarque), a police officer stationed in Puerto Galera, were charged before the Sandiganbayan violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act No. 3019 (RA 3019), or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act in Criminal Case No. 26678. The Information alleged:
That on or about 04 July 2000, or sometime prior or subsequent thereto, in the Municipality of Puerto Galera, Province of Oriental Mindoro, Philippines, and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the above-named accused, ARISTEO E. ATIENZA, Municipal Mayor of Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro, conspiring and confederating with co-accused RODRIGO MANONGSONG, Municipal Engineer, and CRISPIN EGARQUE, PNP Officer, while in the performance of their official functions, committing the offense in relation to their offices, and taking advantage of their official positions, acting with manifest partiality, evident bad faith, did then and there wilfully, unlawfully and criminally destroy, demolish, and dismantle the riprap/fence of the new HONDURA BEACH RESORT owned by complainant EDMUNDO A. EVORA located at Hondura, Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro, causing undue injury to complainant in the amount of ₱8,000.00
CONTRARY TO LAW.3
Duly arraigned, respondents entered their respective pleas of not guilty to the crime charged against them.4 After pre-trial,5 trial on the merits ensued.
To establish its case, the prosecution presented the testimonies of Mercedita Atienza (Mercedita), Alexander Singson (Alexander), Edmundo Evora (Edmundo), and Acting Barangay Chairman Concepcion Escanillas (Escanillas).
Mercedita testified that she was the caretaker of Hondura Beach Resort, a resort owned by Edmundo in Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro. She narrated that on July 3, 2000, Edmundo caused the construction of a fence made of coco lumber and G.I. sheets worth ₱5,000.00 on his resort. On July 4, 2000, she found out that the fence that was just recently built was destroyed. Upon the instruction of Edmundo, she reported the incident to the barangay authorities. On July 5, 2000, Edmundo again caused the construction of a second fence on the same property worth ₱3,000.00. However, on the day following, the fence was again destroyed. Mercedita stated that she was informed by some people who were there that a policeman and Engr. Manongsong were the ones who destroyed the fence.6
Mercedita further testified that Edmundo instructed her to report the matter to the police. When she inquired at the police station, Egarque admitted that he destroyed the fence upon the order of Mayor Atienza. When she asked Mayor Atienza about the incident, the latter informed her that the fence was not good for Puerto Galera since the place was a tourist destination and that the land was intended for the fishermen association. Mercedita added that Engr. Manongsong admitted that he destroyed the fence upon the order of the mayor for lack of municipal permit and that the land was intended for the fishermen. Mercedita also stated that she reported to acting Barangay Chairman Escanillas that it was Engr. Manongsong and Egarque who destroyed the fence upon the order of the mayor.7
Alexander testified that he and a certain Reynaldo Gumba constructed the fence twice on the subject property. On the morning of July 6, 2000, he saw the fence being destroyed by Engr. Manongsong and Egarque. He said that he informed Mercedita about the incident and he accompanied the latter to the police station and the offices of Mayor Atienza and Engr. Manongsong. They eventually reported the incident to acting Barangay Chairman Escanillas.8
Private complainant Edmundo corroborated the testimony of Mercedita and further stated that due to the incident, he requested the barangay chairman for a meeting. On July 24, 2000, acting Barangay Chairman Escanillas, the barangay secretary, Engr. Manongsong, Mercedita, Alexander, and a certain Aguado attended the meeting at the barangay hall. Edmundo stated that when Engr. Manongsong was asked why Edmundo was not notified of the destruction of the fence, Engr. Manongsong replied, "Sino ka para padalhan ng Abiso?" Edmundo said that they eventually failed to settle the case amicably.9
Acting Barangay Chairman Escanillas testified that Mercedita and Alexander went to her on July 4, 2000 and July 6, 2000 to report that the fence constructed on the property of Edmundo was destroyed by Engr. Manongsong and Egarque upon the order of Mayor Atienza. She added that upon the request of Mercedita, she wrote Engr. Manongsong for a meeting with Edmundo, but the parties failed to settle the dispute on the scheduled meeting.
All the exhibits offered by the prosecution were marked in evidence and were admitted on September 21, 2005, which consisted of, among others, machine copies of transfer certificates of title, affidavits, and barangay blotters.10
Meanwhile, on September 22, 2004, petitioner filed a Motion to Suspend Accused Pendente Lite,11 which was opposed by Mayor Atienza and Engr. Manongsong. On August 4, 2005, the Sandiganbayan granted the motion. Mayor Atienza then filed a Motion for Reconsideration,12 which petitioner opposed.
Thereafter, on October 11, 2005, Mayor Atienza and Engr. Manongsong filed a Motion for Leave of Court to File Motion to Acquit by Way of Demurrer to Evidence,13 which petitioner opposed. On December 6, 2005, the court a quo issued a Resolution14 which granted the motion. In the same resolution, the court a quo also held in abeyance the resolution of Mayor Atienza’s motion for reconsideration of the resolution granting his suspension from office.
On January 9, 2006, Mayor Atienza and Engr. Manongsong filed a Demurrer to Evidence (Motion to Acquit),15 which was anchored on the credibility of the witnesses for the prosecution. Respondents maintain that the evidence presented were not sufficient to hold them guilty of the offense charged. On January 19, 2006, petitioner filed its Comment/Opposition.16
On January 23, 2006, albeit belatedly, Egarque filed a Manifestation17 that he was adopting the Demurrer to Evidence filed by his co-accused.
On February 28, 2006, the Sandiganbayan (Third Division) issued the assailed Resolution which, among other things, granted the Demurrer to Evidence and dismissed the case. The decretal potion of which reads:
WHEREFORE, for lack of sufficient evidence to prove the guilt of all the accused beyond reasonable doubt, the Demurrer to Evidence is hereby GRANTED. This case is hereby ordered DISMISSED.
The bail bonds posted by all accused is hereby ordered CANCELLED and RETURNED to them, subject to the usual accounting rules and regulations.
The Hold Departure Order issued by this Court against all of the accused in this case are hereby LIFTED and SET ASIDE. Let the Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation be notified accordingly.
Consequently, the Motion for Reconsideration, dated August 31, 2005, filed by accused Atienza regarding his suspension from office pendent lite, is hereby rendered moot and academic.
SO ORDERED.18
In granting the Demurrer to Evidence, the Sandiganbayan ratiocinated that not all the elements of the crime charged were established by the prosecution, particularly the element of manifest partiality on the part of respondents. The Sandiganbayan held that the evidence adduced did not show that the respondents favored other persons who were similarly situated with the private complainant.
Hence, the petition assigning the following errors:
I.
WHETHER OR NOT THE COURT A QUO GRAVELY ERRED IN DENYING THE PEOPLE DUE PROCESS WHEN IT RESOLVED ISSUES NOT RAISED BY RESPONDENTS IN THEIR DEMURRER TO EVIDENCE, WITHOUT AFFORDING THE PROSECUTION AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD THEREON.
II.
WHETHER OR NOT THE COURT A QUO GRAVELY ERRED IN DECIDING A QUESTION OF SUBSTANCE NOT IN ACCORD WITH LAW OR EXISTING JURISPRUDENCE WHEN IT CONSIDERED MATTERS OF DEFENSE.19
Petitioner contends that the prosecution was not afforded due process when the Sandiganbayan granted the Demurrer to Evidence based on the ground that the prosecution failed to establish bad faith on the part of the respondents. Petitioner argues that the Sandiganbayan should have resolved the Demurrer to Evidence based on the argument of the respondent questioning the credibility of petitioner’s witnesses and the admissibility of their testimonies in evidence, not upon an issue which petitioner was not given an opportunity to be heard, thus, effectively denying the prosecution due process of law.
Petitioner maintains that contrary to the conclusion of the court a quo there was evident bad faith on the part of the respondents. Petitioner insists that the act itself of demolishing a fence erected upon private property without giving notice of the intended demolition, and without giving the owner of the same the opportunity to be heard or to rectify matters, is evident bad faith.
Petitioner also contends that the element of manifest partiality was sufficiently established when the fence was destroyed on the rationale that they do not have a permit to erect the fence; the place was intended for the benefit of fishermen; and it was a tourist spot. Moreover, the demolition was allegedly done in the guise of official business when the fence was demolished on the basis of the above-stated purpose.
Finally, petitioner argues that the constitutional proscription on double jeopardy does not apply in the present case.
On their part, respondents argue that the Sandiganbayan was correct in granting the Demurrer to Evidence and dismissing the case. Respondents allege that the prosecution was not denied due process of law. Respondents maintain that the prosecution was given every opportunity to be heard. In fact, the assailed resolution was issued after the prosecution has rested its case. Moreover, respondents insist their right against double jeopardy must be upheld.
The petition is bereft of merit.
SEC. 3. Corrupt practices of public officers. — In addition to acts or omissions of public officers already penalized by existing law, the following shall constitute corrupt practices of any public officer and are hereby declared to be unlawful:
x x x x
(e) Causing any undue injury to any party, including the Government, or giving any private party any unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of his official, administrative or judicial functions through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence. This provision shall apply to officers and employees of offices or government corporations charged with the grant of licenses or permits or other concessions.
This crime has the following essential elements:
1. The accused must be a public officer discharging administrative, judicial or official functions;
2. He must have acted with manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence; and
3. His action caused any undue injury to any party, including the government, or gave any private party unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of his functions.20
In the case at bar, the Sandiganbayan granted the Demurrer to Evidence on the ground that the prosecution failed to establish the second element of violation of Section 3 (e) of RA 3019.
The second element provides the different modes by which the crime may be committed, that is, through "manifest partiality," "evident bad faith," or "gross inexcusable negligence."21 In Uriarte v. People,22 this Court explained that Section 3 (e) of RA 3019 may be committed either by dolo, as when the accused acted with evident bad faith or manifest partiality, or by culpa, as when the accused committed gross inexcusable negligence. There is "manifest partiality" when there is a clear, notorious, or plain inclination or predilection to favor one side or person rather than another. "Evident bad faith" connotes not only bad judgment but also palpably and patently fraudulent and dishonest purpose to do moral obliquity or conscious wrongdoing for some perverse motive or ill will. "Evident bad faith" contemplates a state of mind affirmatively operating with furtive design or with some motive of self-interest or ill will or for ulterior purposes. "Gross inexcusable negligence" refers to negligence characterized by the want of even the slightest care, acting or omitting to act in a situation where there is a duty to act, not inadvertently but wilfully and intentionally, with conscious indifference to consequences insofar as other persons may be affected.23
As aptly concluded by the Sandiganbayan in the assailed resolution, the second element of the crime as charged was not sufficiently established by the prosecution, to wit:
I.
The presence of the first element of this offense was not disputed. The prosecution established that accused-movants were public officers, being then the Mayor, Municipal Engineer, and member of the PNP, at the time alleged in the information.
II.
Anent the second element, did the act of destroying the subject fences on July 4, 2000 and on July 6, 2000 allegedly by accused Manongsong and Egarque, without giving any notice to the private complainant, amount to manifest partiality and/or evident bad faith as indicated in the information?
Manifest partiality and evident bad faith are modes that are separate and distinct from each other so that the existence of any of these two modes would be sufficient to satisfy the second element. x x x
x x x x
Manifest partiality was not present in this case. The evidence adduced did not show that accused-movants favored other persons who were similarly situated with the private complainant.
Eyewitness Alexander Singson categorically pointed accused Manongsong and Egarque as the persons who destroyed/removed the second fence. Private complainant lamented that he was not even given notice of their intent to destroy the fence. However, the same could not be considered evident bad faith as the prosecution evidence failed to show that the destruction was for a dishonest purpose, ill will or self interest. In fact, the following testimonial evidence presented by the prosecution itself showed that:
1. Mercedita Atienza revealed that when she confronted Manongsong why he destroyed the subject fences, the latter replied that "You don’t have permit and the land is for the fishermen";
2. Alexander Singson corroborated that Manongsong told them that "they destroyed the fence because it is a tourist spot and it is also a port for the fishermen"; and
3. Mercedita Atienza also testified that when she asked accused Atienza about the incident, the latter told her "Masama and pinabakod mo. Alam mo namang tourist spot ang Puerto Galera at para sa fishermen’s association yan."
III.
Considering that the second element was not present, the Court deemed it proper not to discuss the third element.24
Moreover, contrary to petitioner’s contention, the prosecution was not denied due process.1âwphi1 It is to be noted that the prosecution participated in all the proceedings before the court a quo and has filed numerous pleadings and oppositions to the motions filed by respondent. In fact, the prosecution has already rested its case and submitted its evidence when the demurrer was filed. Where the opportunity to be heard, either through verbal arguments or pleadings, is accorded, and the party can present its side or defend its interests in due course, there is no denial of procedural due process.25 What is repugnant to due process is the denial of the opportunity to be heard,26 which is not present here.
Clearly, double jeopardy has set in. The elements of double jeopardy are (1) the complaint or information was sufficient in form and substance to sustain a conviction; (2) the court had jurisdiction; (3) the accused had been arraigned and had pleaded; and (4) the accused was convicted or acquitted, or the case was dismissed without his express consent.27
The above elements are all attendant in the present case: (1) the Information filed before the Sandiganbayan in Criminal Case No. 26678 against respondents were sufficient in form and substance to sustain a conviction; (2) the Sandiganbayan had jurisdiction over Criminal Case No. 26678; (3) respondents were arraigned and entered their respective pleas of not guilty; and (4) the Sandiganbayan dismissed Criminal Case No. 26678 on a Demurrer to Evidence on the ground that not all the elements of the offense as charge exist in the case at bar, which amounts to an acquittal from which no appeal can be had.
In People v. Sandiganbayan,28 this Court elucidated the general rule that the grant of a demurrer to evidence operates as an acquittal and is, thus, final and unappealable, to wit:
The demurrer to evidence in criminal cases, such as the one at bar, is "filed after the prosecution had rested its case," and when the same is granted, it calls "for an appreciation of the evidence adduced by the prosecution and its sufficiency to warrant conviction beyond reasonable doubt, resulting in a dismissal of the case on the merits, tantamount to an acquittal of the accused." Such dismissal of a criminal case by the grant of demurrer to evidence may not be appealed, for to do so would be to place the accused in double jeopardy. The verdict being one of acquittal, the case ends there.29
Verily, in criminal cases, the grant of demurrer30 is tantamount to an acquittal and the dismissal order may not be appealed because this would place the accused in double jeopardy. Although the dismissal order is not subject to appeal, it is still reviewable but only through certiorari under Rule 65 of the Rules of Court. For the writ to issue, the trial court must be shown to have acted with grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction such as where the prosecution was denied the opportunity to present its case or where the trial was a sham, thus, rendering the assailed judgment void. The burden is on the petitioner to clearly demonstrate that the trial court blatantly abused its authority to a point so grave as to deprive it of its very power to dispense justice.31 In the present case, no such circumstances exist to warrant a departure from the general rule and reverse the findings of the Sandiganbayan.1âwphi1
WHEREFORE, premises considered, the petition is DENIED. The Resolution dated February 28, 2006 of the Sandiganbayan, in Criminal Case No. 26678, is AFFIRMED.
SO ORDERED.
DIOSDADO M. PERALTA*
Associate Justice
WE CONCUR:
LUCAS P. BERSAMIN**
Associate Justice
ROBERTO A. ABAD
Associate Justice |
MARTIN S. VILLARAMA, JR.***
Associate Justice |
ESTELA M. PERLAS-BERNABE
Associate Justice
A T T E S T A T I O N
I attest that the conclusions in the above Decision had been reached in consultation before the case was assigned to the writer of the opinion of the Court’s Division.
DIOSDADO M. PERALTA
Associate Justice
Acting Chairperson, Third Division
C E R T I F I C A T I O N
I certify that the conclusions in the above Decision had been reached in consultation before the case was assigned to the writer of the opinion of the Court’s Division.
ANTONIO T. CARPIO
Senior Associate Justice
(Per Section 12, R.A. 296, The Judiciary Act of 1948, as amended)
Footnotes
* Per Special Order No. 1228 dated June 6, 2012.
** Designated Acting Member in lieu of Associate Justice Jose Catral Mendoza, Jr. per Special Order No. 1241 dated June 14, 2012.
*** Designated Acting Member in lieu of Associate Justice Presbitero J. Velasco, Jr., per Special Order No. 1229 dated June 6, 2012.
1 Penned by Associate Justice Norberto Y. Geraldez, with Associate Justices Godofredo L. Legaspi and Efren N. De la Cruz, concurring; rollo, pp. 56-62.
2 Records, Vol. I, pp. 1-2.
3 Id.
4 Id. at 290-292.
5 Id. at 385-390.
6 Rollo, p. 57.
7 Id. at 58.
8 Id.
9 Id.
10 Records, Vol. II, p. 218.
11 Records, Vol. I, pp. 424-429.
12 Records, Vol. II, pp. 201-213.
13 Id. at 231-247.
14 Id. at 268.
15 Id. at 272-285.
16 Id. at 292-310.
17 Id. at 311-312.
18 Rollo, p. 62.
19 Id. at 37-38.
20 Uriarte v. People, G.R. No. 169251, December 20, 2006, 511 SCRA 471, 486, citing Santos v. People, G.R. No. 161877, March 23, 2006, 485 SCRA 185, 194, Cabrera v. Sandiganbayan, G.R. Nos. 162314-17, October 25, 2004, 441 SCRA 377, 386, and Jacinto v. Sandiganbayan, G.R. No. 84571, October 2, 1989, 178 SCRA 254, 259.
21 Gallego v. Sandiganbayan, 201 Phil. 379, 383 (1982).
22 Supra note 20.
23 Albert v. Sandiganbayan, G.R. No. 164015, February 26, 2009, 580 SCRA 279, 290.
24 Rollo, pp. 60-61. (Emphasis theirs.)
25 Trans Middle East (Phils.) Equities, Inc. v. Sandiganbayan, G.R. No. 129434, August 18, 2006, 499 SCRA 308, 317-318.
26 Gaoiran v. Alcala, G.R. No. 150178, November 26, 2004, 444 SCRA 428, 444.
27 People v. Tan, G.R. No. 167526, July 26, 2010, 625 SCRA 388, 395-396.
28 G.R. Nos. 137707-11, December 17, 2004, 447 SCRA 291.
29 Id. at 307-308. (Emphasis theirs.)
30 Section 23, Rule 119 of the Rules of Court provides:
Section 23. Demurrer to evidence. After the prosecution rests its case, the court may dismiss the action on the ground of insufficiency of evidence (1) on its own initiative after giving the prosecution the opportunity to be heard or (2) upon demurrer to evidence filed by the accused with or without leave of court. x x x
31 People v. Sandiganbayan (Third Division), G.R. No. 174504, March 21, 2011, 645 SCRA 726, 731-732.
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