Rubrico vs Macapagal-Arroyo

8/12/2019 Rubrico vs Macapagal-Arroyo

1/23

Republic of the Philippines

SUPREME COURT

Manila

EN BANC

LOURDES D. RUBRICO, JEAN

RUBRICO APRUEBO, and MARY

JOY RUBRICO CARBONEL,

Petitioners,

- versus -

GLORIA MACAPAGAL-

ARROYO, GEN. HERMOGENES

ESPERON, P/DIR. GEN.

AVELINO RAZON, MAJ.

DARWIN SY a.k.a. DARWIN

REYES, JIMMY SANTANA,

RUBEN ALARO, CAPT.

ANGELO CUARESMA, a !"#$a%n

JONATHAN, P/SUPT. EDGAR B.

RO&UERO, ARSENIO C.

GOMEZ, and OICE O THE

OMBUDSMAN,

Responents!

G.R. N'. ()*)+(

Present"

PUNO, C.J.,

CARP#O,

CORONA,

CARP#O MORA$ES,

%E$ASCO, &R!,

NAC'URA,

$EONAR(O-(E CASTRO,

BR#ON,

PERA$TA,)

BERSAM#N,

(E$ CAST#$$O,

ABA(,

%#$$ARAMA, &R!,PERE*, an

MEN(O*A,JJ!

Pro+ulate"

ebruar. /0, 12/2

3-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3

D E C I S I O N

VELASCO, JR.,J.

#n this petition for revie4 uner Rule 56 of the Rules of Court in relation to

Section /78/9of the Rule on the :rit of A+paro 819;A+paro Rule


2/23

Rubrico, &ean Rubrico Apruebo, an Mar. &o. Rubrico Carbonel assail an see= to

set asie the (ecision8>9of the Court of Appeals ;CA< ate &ul. >/, 1220 in CA-

?!R! SP No! 2222>, a petition co++ence uner the A+paro Rule!

The petition for the 4rit of a+paro ate October 16, 122@ 4as oriinall.file before this Court! After issuin the esire 4rit an irectin the responents

to file a verifie 4ritten return, the Court referre the petition to the CA for

su++ar. hearin an appropriate action! The petition an its attach+ents

containe, in substance, the follo4in alleations"

/! On April >, 122@, ar+e +en belonin to the >2/ stAir #ntellience an

Securit. Suaron ;A#SS, for short< base in ernano Air Base in $ipa Cit.

abucte $oures (! Rubrico ;$oures2/stA#SS, ernano Air Base an MaG! S.Re.es

4ith aress at No! 27 A+stera+ E3t!, Merville Sub!, Paraaue Cit., but

nothin has happeneD an the threats an harass+ent incients have been
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reporte to the (as+arias +unicipal an Cavite provincial police stations, but

nothin eventful resulte fro+ their respective investiations!

T4o of the four 4itnesses to $oures abuction 4ent into hiin after

bein visite b. overn+ent aents in civilian clothesD an

6!Karapatanconucte an investiation on the incients! The

investiation 4oul inicate that +en belonin to the Ar+e orces of the

Philippines ;AP


4/23

of 4hat the. ha unerta=en or co++itte to unerta=e rearin the clai+e

isappearance of $ouresan the harass+ents +ae to bear on her an her

auhters"

/! G"n. E"#'nJ atteste that, pursuant to a irective of then Secretar.of National (efense ;SN(< ?ilberto C! Teooro, &r!, he orere the Co++anin

?eneral of the PA, 4ith infor+ation to all concerne units, to conuct an

investiation to establish the circu+stances behin the isappearance an the

reappearance of $oures insofar as the involve+ent of allee personnelunit isconcerne! The Provost Marshall ?eneral an the Office of the &ue Avocate

?eneral ;&A?O


5/23

CalabarFon, observin that neither $oures nor her relatives provie the police

4ith relevant infor+ationD

5! P/In. G'2"J allee that $oures, her =in an 4itnesses refuse to

cooperate 4ith the investiatin Cavite PNPD an

6! O3"#a44 D"0$5 O260d2an O#4and' Ca%2%#'- allee that cases

for violation of Articles 1@ an /15, or =inappin an arbitrar. etention,

respectivel., have been file 4ith, an are uner preli+inar. investiation b. theOMB aainst those believe to be involve in $oures =inappinD that upon

receipt of the petition for a 4rit of amparo, proper coorination 4as +ae 4ith

the Office of the (eput. O+bus+an for the Militar. an other $a4 Enforce+ent

Offices ;MO$EO< 4here the subGect cri+inal an a+inistrative co+plaints 4erefile!

Co++entin on the return, petitioners pointe out that the return 4as no+ore than a eneral enial of aver+ents in the petition! The., thus, pleae to be

allo4e to present evience ex parteaainst the Presient, Santana, Alfaro, Capt!

Cuares+a, (ar4in S., an &onathan! An 4ith leave of court, the. also as=e to

serve notice of the petition throuh publication, o4in to their failure to secure the

current aress of the latter five an thus sub+it, as the CA reuire, proof of

service of the petition on the+!

The hearin starte on Nove+ber />, 122@! 8@9 #n that settin, petitioners

counsel pra.e for the issuance of a te+porar. protection orer ;TPO< aainst the

ans4erin responents on the basis of the alleations in the petition! At the hearin

of Nove+ber 12, 122@, the CA rante petitioners +otion that the petition an

4rit be serve b. the courts process server on (ar4in S.Re.es, Santana, Alfaro,

Capt! Cuares+a, an &onathan!

The leal s=ir+ishes that follo4e over the propriet. of e3cluin Presient

Arro.o fro+ the petition, petitioners +otions for service b. publication, an the

issuance of a TPO are not of ecisive pertinence in this recital! The botto+ line isthat, b. separate resolutions, the CA roppe the Presient as responent in the

caseD enie the +otion for a TPO for the courts 4ant of authorit. to issue it in the

tenor souht b. petitionersD an effectivel. enie the +otion for notice b.

publication o4in to petitioners failure to sub+it the affiavit reuire uner Sec!

/@, Rule /5 of the Rules of Court!809
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6/23

After ue proceeins, the CA renere, on &ul. >/, 1220, its partial

Gu+ent, subGect of this revie4, isposin of the petition but onl. insofar as the

ans4erin responents 4ere concerne! Thefalloof the CA ecision reas as

follo4s"

WHEREORE, pre+ises consiere, partial Gu+ent is hereb.renere DISMISSINGthe instant petition 4ith respect to responent ?en!

'er+oenes Esperon, P(ir! ?en! Avelino RaFon, Supt! Ear B! Rouero, PSr!

#nsp! Arsenio C! ?o+eF ;ret!< an the Office of the O+bus+an!

Nevertheless, in orer that petitioners co+plaint 4ill not en up as

another unsolve case, the heas of the Ar+e orces of the Philippinesan the

Philippine National Police are irecte to ensure that the investiations alrea.

co++ence are ilientl. pursue to brin the perpetrators to Gustice! The Chiefof Staff of the Ar+e orces of the Philippines an P(ir! ?en! Avelino RaFon

are irecte to reularl. upate petitioners an this Court on the status of theirinvestiation!

SO ORDERED!

#n this recourse, petitioners for+ulate the issue for resolution in the

follo4in 4ise"

:'ET'ER OR NOT the 8CA9 co++itte reversible error in is+issin8their9 Petition an roppin Presient ?loria Macapaal Arro.o as part.

responent!

Petitioners first ta=e issue on the Presients purporte lac= of i++unit.

fro+ suit urin her ter+ of office! The /70@ Constitution, so the. clai+, has

re+ove such i++unit. heretofore enGo.e b. the chief e3ecutive uner the /7>6an /7@> Constitutions!

Petitioners are +ista=en! The presiential i++unit. fro+ suit re+ains

preserve uner our s.ste+ of overn+ent, albeit not e3pressl. reserve in the

present constitution! Aressin a concern of his co-+e+bers in the /70


7/23

Constitutional Co++ission on the absence of an e3press provision on the +atter,

r! &oauin Bernas, S!&! observe that it 4as alrea. unerstoo in Gurispruence

that the Presient +a. not be sue urin his or her tenure!879 The Court

subseuentl. +ae it abunantl. clear inDaid . Ma!apagal"Arroyo, a case

li=e4ise resolve uner the u+brella of the /70@ Constitution, that inee thePresient enGo.s i++unit. urin her incu+benc., an 4h. this +ust be so"

Settle is the octrine that the Presient, urin his tenure of office or

actual incu+benc., +a. not be sue in an. civil or cri+inal case, an there is no

nee to provie for it in the Constitution or la4! #t 4ill erae the init. of the

hih office of the Presient, the 'ea of State, if he can be rae into courtlitiations 4hile servin as such! urther+ore, it is i+portant that he be free

fro+ an. for+ of harass+ent, hinrance or istraction to enable hi+ to full.

atten to the perfor+ance of his official uties an functions! Unli=e the

leislative an Guicial branch, onl. one constitutes the e3ecutive branch anan.thin 4hich i+pairs his usefulness in the ischare of the +an. reat an

i+portant uties i+pose upon hi+ b. the Constitution necessaril. i+pairs the

operation of the ?overn+ent!8/293 3 3

An lest it be overloo=e, the petition is si+pl. bereft of an. alleation as to

4hat specific presiential act or o+ission violate or threatene to violate

petitioners protecte rihts!

This brins us to the correctness of the assaile is+issal of the petition 4ithrespect to ?en! Esperon, P(ir! ?en! RaFon, PSupt! Rouero, P#nsp! ?o+eF, an

the OMB!

None of the four iniviual responents i++eiatel. referre to above has

been i+plicate as bein connecte to, let alone as bein behin, the allee

abuction an harass+ent of petitioner $oures! Their na+es 4ere not even

+entione in $oures#in$mpaang #alaysay8//9of April 122@! The sa+e oes for

the respective #in$mpaang #alaysayanorKaragdagang #in$mpaang #alaysayof

&ean8/19an Mar. &o.!8/>9

As e3plaine b. the CA, ?en! Esperon an P(ir! ?en! RaFon 4ere inclue

in the case on the theor. that the., as co++aners, 4ere responsible for the

unla4ful acts alleel. co++itte b. their suborinates aainst petitioners! To the

appellate court, Hthe privilee of the 4rit of amparo+ust be enie as aainst ?en!
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8/23

Esperon an P(ir! ?en! RaFon for the si+ple reason that petitioners have not

presente evience sho4in that those 4ho alleel. abucte an illeall.

etaine $oures an later threatene her an her fa+il. 4ere, in fact, +e+bers of

the +ilitar. or the police force!I The t4o enerals, the CAs holin broal.

hinte, 4oul have been accountable for the abuction an threats if the actual+alefactors 4ere +e+bers of the AP or PNP!

As rears the three other ans4erin responents, the. 4ere i+pleae

because the. alleel. ha not e3erte the reuire e3traorinar. ilience in

investiatin an satisfactoril. resolvin $oures isappearance or brinin to

Gustice the actual perpetrators of 4hat a+ounte to a cri+inal act, albeit there 4ere

alleations aainst P#nsp! ?o+eF of acts constitutin threats aainst Mar. &o.!

:hile in a ualifie sense tenable, the is+issal b. the CA of the case as

aainst ?en! Esperon an P(ir! ?en! RaFon is incorrect if vie4e aainst the

bac=rop of the state rationale unerpinnin the assaile ecision vis-K-vis the

t4o enerals, i!e!, co++an responsibilit.! The Court assu+es the latter stance

o4in to the fact that co++an responsibilit., as a concept efine, evelope,

an applie uner international la4, has little, if at all, bearin in a+paro

proceeins!

The evolution of the co++an responsibilit. octrine fins its conte3t in theevelop+ent of la4s of 4ar an ar+e co+bats! Accorin to r! Bernas,

Hco++an responsibilit.,I in its si+plest ter+s, +eans the Hresponsibilit. of

co++aners for cri+es co++itte b. suborinate +e+bers of the ar+e forces or

other persons subGect to their control in international 4ars or o+estic

conflict!I8/59#n this sense, co++an responsibilit. is properl. a for+ of cri+inal

co+plicit.! The 'aue Conventions of /72@ aopte the octrine of co++an

responsibilit.,8/69foreshao4in the present-a. precept of holin a superior

accountable for the atrocities co++itte b. his suborinates shoul he be re+iss inhis ut. of control over the+! As then for+ulate, co++an responsibilit. is H an

'2%%'n 2'd" '7 %nd%3%d0a4 !#%2%na4 4%a6%4%$5,I 4hereb. the superior is +ae

responsible for !#%2" !'22%$$"db. his suborinates for failin to prevent or

punish the perpetrators8/9;as oppose to cri+es he orere
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9/23

The octrine has recentl. been coifie in the Ro+e Statute8/@9of the

#nternational Cri+inal Court ;#CC< to 4hich thePhilippines is sinator.! Sec! 10 of

the Statute i+poses iniviual responsibilit. on +ilitar. co++aners for cri+es

co++itte b. forces uner their control! The countr. is, ho4ever, not .et for+all.

boun b. the ter+s an provisions e+boie in this treat.-statute, since the Senatehas .et to e3ten concurrence in its ratification!8/09

:hile there are several penin bills on co++an responsibilit., 8/79there is

still no Philippine la4 that provies for cri+inal liabilit. uner that octrine!8129

#t +a. plausibl. be contene that co++an responsibilit., as leal basis to

hol +ilitar.police co++aners liable for e3tra-leal =illins, enforce

isappearances, or threats, +a. be +ae applicable to this Gurisiction on thetheor. that the co++an responsibilit. octrine no4 constitutes a principle of

international la4 or custo+ar. international la4 in accorance 4ith the

incorporation clause of the Constitution!81/9 Still, it 4oul be inappropriate to appl.

to these proceeins the octrine of co++an responsibilit., as the CA see+e to

have one, as a for+ of cri+inal co+plicit. throuh o+ission, for iniviual

responents cri+inal liabilit., if there be an., is be.on the reach of a+paro! #n

other 4ors, the Court oes not rule in such proceeins on an. issue of cri+inal

culpabilit., even if incientall. a cri+e or an infraction of an a+inistrative rule

+a. have been co++itte! As the Court stresse in #e!retary of %ational Defense. Manalo ;Manalo9Of the sa+e tenor, an b.

4a. of e3pounin on the nature an role of a+paro, is 4hat the Court sai

in&a'on . (agitis"

#t oes not eter+ine uilt nor pinpoint cri+inal culpabilit. for the

isappearance 8threats thereof or e3tra-Guicial =illins9D it

eter+inesresponsibility, or at least a!!o$ntability, for the enforce isappearance8threats thereof or e3tra-Guicial =illins9 for purposes of i+posin the appropriate

re+eies to aress the isappearance 8or e3tra-Guicial =illins9!
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10/23

3 3 3 3

As the la4 no4 stans, e3tra-Guicial =illins an enforce isappearancesin this Gurisiction are not cri+es penaliFe separatel. fro+ the co+ponent

cri+inal acts unerta=en to carr. out these =illins an enforce isappearances

an are no4 penaliFe uner the Revise Penal Coe an special la4s! Thesi+ple reason is that the $eislature has not spo=en on the +atterD the

eter+ination of 4hat acts are cri+inal 3 3 3 are +atters of substantive la4 that

onl. the $eislature has the po4er to enact!81593 3 3

#f co++an responsibilit. 4ere to be invo=e an applie to these

proceeins, it shoul, at +ost, be onl. to eter+ine the author 4ho, at the first

instance, is accountable for, an has the ut. to aress, the isappearance an

harass+ents co+plaine of, so as to enable the Court to evise re+eial +easures

that +a. be appropriate uner the pre+ises to protect rihts covere b. the 4rit

of a+paro! As inti+ate earlier, ho4ever, the eter+ination shoul not be pursue

to fi3 cri+inal liabilit. on responents preparator. to cri+inal prosecution, or as a

prelue to a+inistrative isciplinar. proceeins uner e3istin a+inistrative

issuances, if there be an.!

Petitioners, as the CA has eclare, have not auce substantial evience

pointin to overn+ent involve+ent in the isappearance of $oures! To a

concrete point, petitioners have not sho4n that the actual perpetrators of the

abuction an the harass+ents that follo4e for+all. or infor+all. for+e part ofeither the +ilitar. or the police chain of co++an! A preli+inar. police

investiation report, ho4ever, 4oul ten to sho4 a lin=, ho4ever haF., bet4een

the license plate ;RR 510< of the vehicle alleel. use in the abuction of

$oures an the aress of (ar4in Re.esS., 4ho 4as allee to be 4or=in in

Ca+p Auinalo!8169 Then, too, there 4ere affiavits an testi+onies on events

that transpire 4hich, if ta=en toether, loicall. point to +ilitar. involve+ent in

the allee isappearance of $oures, such as, but not li+ite to, her abuction in

broa a.liht, her bein forcibl. rae to a vehicle blinfole an then bein

brouht to a place 4here the souns of planes ta=in off an lanin coul be

hear! Mention +a. also be +ae of the fact that $oures 4as as=e about her

+e+bership in the Co++unist Part. an of bein release 4hen she aree to

beco+e an Hasset!I


11/23

Still an all, the ientities an lin=s to the AP or the PNP of the allee

abuctors, na+el. Cuares+a, Alfaro, Santana, &onathan, an S.Re.es, have .et to

be establishe!

Base on the separate s4orn state+ents of MaG! Paul Ciano819an TechnicalSereant &ohn N! Ro+ano,81@9officer-in-chare an a staff of the >2/stA#SS,

respectivel., none of the allee abuctors of $oures belone to the >2/stA#SS

base in San ernano Air Base! Neither 4ere the. +e+bers of an. unit of the

Philippine Air orce, per the certification 8109of Col! Raul (i+atactac, Air orce

AGutant! An as state in the challene CA ecision, a verification 4ith the

Personnel Accountin an #nfor+ation S.ste+ of the PNP .iele the infor+ation

that, e3cept for a certain (ar4in Re.es . Mua, the other allee abuctors, i!e!,

Cuares+a, Alfaro, Santana an &onathan, 4ere not +e+bers of the PNP!Petitioners, 4hen iven the opportunit. to ientif. Police Officer / (ar4in Re.es

. Mua, +ae no effort to confir+ if he 4as the sa+e MaG! (ar4in

Re.es a!=!a! (ar4in S. the. 4ere i+plicatin in $oures abuction!

Petitioners, to be sure, have not successfull. controverte ans4erin

responents ocu+entar. evience, auce to ebun= the for+ers alleations

irectl. lin=in $oures abuctors an tor+entors to the +ilitar. or the police

establish+ent! :e note, in fact, that $oures, 4hen uerie on cross-e3a+ination,

e3presse the belief that S.Re.es 4as an NB# aent!8179The Court is, of course,a4are of 4hat 4as referre to in&a'on8>29as the Hevientiar. ifficultiesI

presente b. the nature of, an encountere b. petitioners in, enforce

isappearance cases! But it is precisel. for this reason that the Court shoul ta=e

care too that no 4ron +essae is sent, lest one conclue that an. =in or eree of

evience, even the outlanish, 4oul suffice to secure a+paro re+eies an

protection!

Sec! /@, as co+ple+ente b. Sec! /0 of the A+paro Rule, e3pressl.prescribes the +ini+u+ evientiar. substantiation reuire+ent an nor+ to

support a cause of action uner the Rule, thus"

Sec! /@!)$rden of *roof and #tandard of Diligen!e &e+$ired!QThe

parties shall "$a64%8 $8"%# !4a%2b. 06$an$%a4 "3%d"n!"!
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12/23

3 3 3 3

Sec! /0!J$dgment.Q3 3 3 #f the alleations in the petition are provenb. 06$an$%a4 "3%d"n!", the court shall rant the privilee of the 4rit an such

reliefs as +a. be proper an appropriateD '$8"#9%", $8" #%3%4":" 8a44 6"

d"n%"d! ;E+phasis ae!/9it

is +ore than a scintilla of evience! #t +eans such a+ount of relevant evience

4hich a reasonable +in +iht accept as aeuate to support a conclusion, even if

other euall. reasonable +ins +iht opine other4ise! 8>19Per the CAs evaluation

of their evience, consistin of the testi+onies an affiavits of the three Rubrico

4o+en an five other iniviuals, petitioners have not satisfactoril. hurle theevientiar. bar reuire of an assine to the+ uner the A+paroRule. #n a ver.

real sense, the buren of evience never even shifte to ans4erin

responents! The Court fins no co+pellin reason to isturb the appellate courts

eter+ination of the ans4erin responents role in the allee enforce

isappearance of petitioner $oures an the threats to her fa+il.s securit.!

Not4ithstanin the foreoin finins, the Court notes that both ?en!

Esperon an P(ir! ?en! RaFon, per their separate affiavits, lost no ti+e, upon

their receipt of the orer to +a=e a return on the 4rit, in issuin irectives to the

concerne units in their respective co++ans for a thorouh probe of the case an

in proviin the investiators the necessar. support! As of this ate, ho4ever, the

investiations have .et to be conclue 4ith so+e efinite finins an

reco++enation!

As rears PSupt! Ro+ero an P#nsp! ?o+eF, the Court is +ore than

satisfie that the. have no irect or inirect han in the allee enforce

isappearance of $oures an the threats aainst her auhters! As police officers,thouh, theirs 4as the ut. to thorouhl. investiate the abuction of $oures, a

ut. that 4oul inclue loo=in into the cause, +anner, an li=e etails of the

isappearanceD ientif.in 4itnesses an obtainin state+ents fro+ the+D an

follo4in evientiar. leas, such as the To.ota Revo vehicle 4ith plate nu+ber

RR 510, an securin an preservin evience relate to the abuction an the


13/23

threats that +a. ai in the prosecution of the persons responsible! As 4e sai

inManalo,8>>9the riht to securit., as a uarantee of protection b. the overn+ent,

is breache b. the superficial an one-sieJJhence, ineffectiveJJinvestiation b.

the +ilitar. or the police of reporte cases uner their Gurisiction! As foun b.

the CA, the local police stations concerne, incluin PSupt! Rouero an P#nsp!?o+eF, i conuct a preli+inar. fact-finin on petitioners co+plaint! The.

coul not, ho4ever, +a=e an. hea4a., o4in to 4hat 4as perceive to be the

refusal of $oures, her fa+il., an her 4itnesses to cooperate! Petitioners

counsel, Att.! Re3 &!M!A! ernaneF, provie a plausible e3planation for his

clients an their 4itnesses attitue, H;T8"5< d' n'$ $#0$ $8" :'3"#n2"n$

a:"n!%" $' #'$"!$ $8"2!I8>59 The ifficult. arisin fro+ a situation 4here the

part. 4hose co+plicit. in e3tra-Guicial =illin or enforce isappearance, as the

case +a. be, is allee to be the sa+e part. 4ho investiates it is unerstanable,thouh!

The see+in reluctance on the part of the Rubricos or their 4itnesses to

cooperate ouht not to pose a hinrance to the police in pursuin, on its o4n

initiative, the investiation in uestion to its natural en! To repeat 4hat the Court

sai inManalo, the riht to securit. of persons is a uarantee of the protection of

ones riht b. the overn+ent! An this protection inclues conuctin effective

investiations of e3tra-leal =illins, enforce isappearances, or threats of the

sa+e =in! The nature an i+portance of an investiation are capture inthe elas+$e' &odrig$e' case,8>69in 4hich the #nter-A+erican Court of 'u+an

Rihts pronounce"

8The ut. to investiate9 +ust be unerta=en in a serious +anner an not

as a +ere for+alit. preoraine to be ineffective! An investiation +ust have an

obGective an be assu+e b. the State as its o4n leal ut.,n'$ a $" $ak"n 65

#%3a$" %n$"#"$ $8a$ d""nd 0'n $8" %n%$%a$%3" '7 $8" 3%!$%2 or his fa+il. or

upon offer of proof, 4ithout an effective search for the truth b. the overn+ent!

;E+phasis ae!,859on the other han, provies that 4hen the cri+inal suit is

file subseuent to a petition for a+paro, the petition shall be !'n'4%da$"d 4ith

the cri+inal action 4here the A+paro Rule shall nonetheless overn the

isposition of the relief uner the Rule! Uner the ter+s of sai Sec! 11, the present

petition ouht to have been is+isse at the outset! But as thins stan, the outriht

is+issal of the petition b. force of that section is no loner technicall. feasible in

liht of the interpla. of the follo4in factual +i3" ;/< the Court has, pursuant to

Sec!

85@9

of the Rule, alrea. issue ex partethe 4rit of a+paroD ;1< the CA, after asu++ar. hearin, has is+isse the petition, but not on the basis of Sec! 11D an

;>< the co+plaint in OMB-P-C-O@-221-E na+e as responents onl. those

believe to be the actual abuctors of $oures, 4hile the instant petition

i+pleae, in aition, those tas=e to investiate the =inappin an etention

incients an their superiors at the top! Let, the acts anor o+issions subGect of

the cri+inal co+plaint an the a+paro petition are so lin=e as to call for the

consoliation of both proceeins to obviate the +ischief inherent in a

+ultiplicit.-of-suits situation!

?iven the above perspective an to full. appl. the beneficial nature of the

4rit of a+paro as an ine3pensive an effective tool to protect certain rihts

violate or threatene to be violate, the Court hereb. aGusts to a eree the literal

application of Secs! 11 an 1> of the A+paro Rule to fittinl. aress the situation

obtainin uner the pre+ises!8509To4ars this en, t4o thins are at once

inicate" ;/< the consoliation of the probe an fact-finin aspects of the instant

petition 4ith the investiation of the cri+inal co+plaint before the OMBD an ;1?@ 2'n$8fro+

receipt of this (ecisionD an 4ithin thirt. ;>2< a.s after co+pletion of the

investiations, the Chief of Staff of the AP an the (irector-?eneral of the PNP

shall sub+it a full report of the results of the investiations to the Court, the CA,the OMB, an petitioners!

This case is accorinl. referre bac= to the CA for the purpose of

+onitorin the investiations an the actions of the AP an the PNP!

SubGect to the foreoin +oifications, the Court AIRMSthe partial

Gu+ent ate &ul. >/, 1220 of the CA!

SO ORDERED.

PRESBITERO J.

VELASCO, JR.

Associate &ustice


20/23

:E CONCUR"

REYNATO S. PUNO

Chief &ustice

ANTONIO T. CARPIO RENATO C. CORONA

Associate &ustice Associate &ustice

CONCHITA CARPIO MORALES ANTONIO EDUARDO

B. NACHURA


TERESITA J. LEONARDO-DE CASTRO ARTURO D. BRION


DIOSDADO M. PERALTA LUCAS P. BERSAMIN


MARIANO C. DEL CASTILLO ROBERTO A. ABAD



21/23

MARTIN S. VILLARAMA, JR. JOSE PORTUGAL PEREZ


JOSE CATRAL MENDOZA

Associate &ustice

C E R T I I C A T I O N

Pursuant to Section />, Article %### of the Constitution, it is hereb. certifie

that the conclusions in the above (ecision ha been reache in consultation before

the case 4as assine to the 4riter of the opinion of the Court!

REYNATO S. PUNO

Chief &ustice

)No part!

8/9SEC! /7!Appeal! J An. part. +a. appeal fro+ the final Gu+ent or orer to the Supre+e Court uner

Rule 56! The appeal +a. raise uestions of fact or la4 or both! 3 3 3 819A!M! No! 2@-7-/1-SC!

8>9Penne b. Associate &ustice Earo P! CruF ;no4 retire< an concurre in b. Associate &ustices

ernana $a+pas-Peralta an Nor+anie PiFarro!859Sec! 6! Contents of the *etition!JJThe petition 3 3 3 shall allee the follo4in" 3 3 3 < The investiation

conucte, if an., specif.in the na+es an personal circu+stances an aresses of the investiatin authorit. or

iniviuals, as 4ell as the +anner an conuct of the investiation, toether 4ith an. reportD e< The actions anrecourses ta=en b. the petitioner to eter+ine the fate or 4hereabouts of the arieve part. an the ientit. of the

person responsible for the threat, act or o+ission!869&ollo, pp! /7-/70!89#! at 110-1>>!8@9#! at 50!809Sec! /@!eae of Co$rt! J An. application to the court uner this Rule for leave to effect service in an.

+anner 4hich leave of court is necessar. shall be +ae b. +otion in 4ritin, supporte b. an affiavit of the

plaintiff or so+e person on his behalf, settin forth the rouns for the application!
http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2010/february2010/183871.htm#_ftnref4http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2010/february2010/183871.htm#_ftnref5http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2010/february2010/183871.htm#_ftnref6http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2010/february2010/183871.htm#_ftnref7http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2010/february2010/183871.htm#_ftnref8http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2010/february2010/183871.htm#_ftnref9http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2010/february2010/183871.htm#_ftnref1http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2010/february2010/183871.htm#_ftnref4http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2010/february2010/183871.htm#_ftnref5http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2010/february2010/183871.htm#_ftnref6http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2010/february2010/183871.htm#_ftnref7http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2010/february2010/183871.htm#_ftnref8http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2010/february2010/183871.htm#_ftnref9


22/23

879Bernas, T'E CONST#TUT#ON O T'E REPUB$#C O T'E P'#$#PP#NES @>0 ;/777@7, Nove+ber /5, /700, /@ SCRA >7>!8/29?!R! No! /@/>7, Ma. >, 122, 507 SCRA /2, 115-116!

8//9&ollo, pp! 615-61@!

8/19#! at 610-6>2, 6>/-6>1! 8/>9#! at >//->/>!

8/59

&!?! Bernas, S!&!, Command &esponsibility,ebruar. 6, 122@http"sc!Guiciar.!ov!phpublicationssu++itSu++it12PapersBernas12-12Co++an

12Responsibilit.!pfV!8/69Euenia $evine, Co++an Responsibilit., The Mens Rea Reuire+ent, Global *oli!y -or$m,ebruar.

1226 444!lobalpolic.!or!V! As state inK$roda . Jalandoni, 0> Phil! /@/ ;/757

RESPONS#B#$#TL! S! Bill 1/67" AN ACT A(OPT#N? T'E (OCTR#NE O HSUPER#OR RESPONS#B#$#TLI TO A$$

ACT#ONS #N%O$%#N? M#$#TARL PERSONNE$, MEMBERS O T'E 8PNP9 AN( OT'ER C#%#$#ANS

#N%O$%E( #N $A: ENORCEMENT!

8129The atte+pt of the /70 Constitutional Co++ission to incorporate sai octrine in the Bill of Rihts

that 4oul have oblie the State to co+pensate victi+s of abuses co++itte aainst the riht to life b. overn+ent

forces 4as shot o4n, on the roun that the proposal 4oul violate a funa+ental principle of cri+inal liabilit.

uner the Penal Coe upholin the tenet n$ll$m !rimen, n$lla poena sine lege;there is no cri+e 4hen there is no

la4 punishin it-65!81/9The incorporation clause ;Art! ##, Sec! 1< of the Constitution states that the Philippines aopts the

enerall. accepte principles of international la4 as part of the la4 of the lan!8119?!R! No! /0272, October @, 1220, 60 SCRA /!81>9#!D citin the eliberations of the Co++ittee on the Revision of the Rules of Court, ate Auust /2,

15, an >/, 122@ an Septe+ber 12, 1220!8159?!R! No! /01570, (ece+ber >, 1227!8169Supra note !

819&ollo, pp! 12-12@! 81@9#! at 127-1/2!

8109#! at 120!

8179TSN, ebruar. //, 1220, p! >2!

8>29Supra note 15!

8>/9&ep$bli! . Meral!o, ?!R! No! /5/>/5, Nove+ber /6, 1221, >7/ SCRA @22!

8>19)a$tista . #$la, A!M! No! P-25-/712, Auust /@, 122@, 6>2 SCRA 52D*ort$g$e' . G#1# -amily

)ank 2Comsaings )ank3, ?!R! No! /76@2, March 1, 122@, 6/@ SCRA >27!

8>>9

Supra note 11! 8>59&ollo, p! 65!

8>69#A Court, '!R! %elasueF RoriueF Case, &u+ent of &ul. 17, /700, Series C No! 5D citein #e!retary of %ational Defense . Manalo, supra!

8>9TSN, March >, 1220, p! /@!

8>@9&ollo, pp! 11>-116!

8>09#! at 11-11@!

8>79or arbitrar. etention an =inappin!

8529or rave abuse of authorit. an rave +isconuct!
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23/23

85/9SEC! 12!Ar!hiing and &eial of Cases! J The 8a+paro9 court shall not is+iss the petition, but shall

archive it, if upon its eter+ination it cannot procee for a vali cause such as the failure of the petitioner or

4itnesses to appear ue to threats on their lives!

A perioic revie4 of the archive cases shall be +ae b. the amparo court that shall, mot$ proprioor upon

+otion b. an. part., orer their revival 4hen rea. for further proceeins! The petition shall be is+isse 4ithpreGuice, upon failure to prosecute the case after the lapse of t4o ;1< .ears fro+ notice to the petitioner of the orer

archivin the case! 8519#e!retary of %ational Defense . Manalo, supra!

85>9Annotation to the 4rit of Amparo, p! 1 http"sc!Guiciar.!ov!phAnnotationWa+paro!pfV!8559So+eti+e in April 122@!8569Sec! 11! 0ffe!t of -iling of aCriminal A!tion! J :hen a cri+inal action has been co++ence, no

separate petition 8for a 4rit of a+paro9 shall be file! The reliefs uner the 4rit shall be available b. +otion in the

cri+inal case!The proceure uner this Rule shall overn the isposition of the reliefs available uner the 4rit of a+paro!859SEC! 1>! Consolidation! J :hen a cri+inal action is file subseuent to the filin for the 4rit, the latter

shall be consoliate 4ith the cri+inal action! 3 3 3

After consoliation, the proceure uner this Rule shall continue to appl. to the isposition of the reliefs in

the petition!

85@9SEC! !1ss$an!e of the 4rit! J Upon the filin of the petition, the court, Gustice or Gue shall

i++eiatel. orer the issuance of the 4rit if on its face it ouht to issue!8509As hel in&a'on . (agitis, supra note 15, Hthe uniue situations that call for the issuance of the 4rit 8of

a+paro9 as 4ell as the consierations an +easures necessar. to aress the situations, +a. not at all be the sa+e asthe stanar +easures an proceures in orinar. court actions an proceeins!I

8579Sec! /@!)$rden of *roof and #tandard of Diligen!e &e+$ired.JJ 3 3 3 The responent 4ho is a public

official or e+plo.ee +ust prove that e3traorinar. ilience as reuire b. applicable la4s, rules an reulations

4as observe in the perfor+ance of ut.! 3 3 3
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