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20 Basilonia vs. Villaruz
20 Basilonia vs. Villaruz
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* THIRD DIVISION.
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491
imprisonment, the trial court should cancel the bail bond and
issue a warrant of arrest, if the accused is not yet under
detention. If the convicted accused is already under detention by
virtue of the warrant of arrest issued, the trial court should
immediately issue the corresponding mittimus or commitment
order for the immediate
492
493
PERALTA, J.:
The lone issue for resolution in this petition for
certiorari under Rule 65 of the 1997 Revised Rules of Civil
Procedure (Rules) with prayer for the issuance of
preliminary injunction and/or temporary restraining order
is the applicability of Section 6, Rule 39 of the Rules in
criminal cases. Specifically, does a trial court have
jurisdiction to grant a motion for execution which was filed
almost twenty (20) years after the date of entry of
judgment? In his Orders dated December 3, 20091 and
January 4, 2010,2 respondent Judge Delano F. Villaruz of
the Regional Trial Court (RTC), Roxas City, Branch 16,
held in the affirmative.3 We sustain in part.
The Facts
On June 19, 1987, a Decision4 was promulgated against
petitioners in Criminal Case Nos. 1773, 1774 and 1775, the
dispositive portion of which states:
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1 Rollo, p. 73.
2 Id., at pp. 78-79.
3 The case was raffled to RTC Branch 16 after the presiding judges of
RTC Branches 18 and 15 voluntarily inhibited themselves (id., at pp. 71-
72).
4 Penned by Presiding Judge Jonas A. Abellar of Roxas City, RTC, Br.
18 (id., at pp. 23-49).
494
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495
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496
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497
As early as 1952, in Infante v. Provincial Warden of
Negros Occidental,18 the Court already opined that evasion
of service of sentence is an essential element of prescription
of penalties. Later, Tanega v. Masakayan, et al.19
expounded on the rule that the culprit should escape
during the term of imprisonment in order for prescription
of penalty imposed by final sentence to commence to run,
thus:
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A dig into legal history confirms the views just expressed. The
Penal Code of Spain of 1870 in its Article 134 — from whence
Articles 92 and 93 of the present Revised Penal Code originated
— reads:
499
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Following Tanega, Del Castillo v. Hon. Torrecampo21
held that one who has not been committed to prison cannot
be said to have escaped therefrom. We agree with the
position of the Solicitor General that “escape” in legal
parlance and for purposes of Articles 93 and 157 of the RPC
means unlawful departure of prisoner from the limits of his
custody.
Of more recent vintage is Our pronouncements in
Pangan v. Hon. Gatbalite,22 which cited Tanega and Del
Castillo, that the prescription of penalties found in Article
93 of the RPC applies only to those who are convicted by
final judgment and are serving sentence which consists in
deprivation of liberty, and that the period for prescription
of penalties begins only when the convict evades service of
sentence by escaping during the term of his sentence.
Applying existing jurisprudence in this case, the Court,
therefore, rules against petitioners. For the longest time,
they were never brought to prison or placed in confinement
despite being sentenced to imprisonment by final
judgment. Prescription of penalty of imprisonment does not
run in their favor. Needless to state, respondent trial court
did not commit grave abuse of discretion in assuming
jurisdiction over the motion for execution and in eventually
granting the same.
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501
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insolvent, said insane, imbecile, or minor shall respond with their own
property, excepting property exempt from execution, in accordance with
the civil law.
Second. In cases falling within subdivision 4 of Article 11, the persons
for whose benefit the harm has been prevented shall be civilly liable in
proportion to the benefit which they may have received.
The courts shall determine, in their sound discretion, the proportionate
amount for which each one shall be liable.
When the respective shares cannot be equitably determined, even
approximately, or when the liability also attaches to the Government, or
to the majority of the inhabitants of the town, and, in all events, whenever
the damage has been caused with the consent of the authorities or their
agents, indemnification shall be made in the manner prescribed by special
laws or regulations.
Third. In cases falling within subdivisions 5 and 6 of Article 12, the
persons using violence or causing the fears shall be primarily liable and
secondarily, or, if there be no such persons, those doing the act shall be
liable, saving always to the latter that part of their property exempt from
execution.
27 ARTICLE 102. Subsidiary Civil Liability of Innkeepers,
Tavernkeepers and Proprietors of Establishments.—In default of the
persons criminally liable, innkeepers, tavernkeepers, and any other
persons or corporations shall be civilly liable for crimes committed in their
establishments, in all cases where a violation of municipal ordinances or
some general or special police regulation shall have been committed by
them or their employees.
Innkeepers are also subsidiarily liable for the restitution of goods taken
by robbery or theft within their houses from guests lodging therein, or for
the payment of the value thereof, provided that such guests shall have
notified in advance the innkeeper himself, or the person representing him,
of the deposit of such goods within the inn; and shall furthermore have
followed the directions which such innkeeper or his representative may
have given them with respect to the care of and vigilance over such goods.
No liability shall attach in case of robbery with violence against or
intimidation of persons unless committed by the innkeeper’s employees.
28 ARTICLE 103. Subsidiary Civil Liability of Other Persons.—The
subsidiary liability established in the next preceding
503
Section 6, Rule 39 of the Rules must be read in
conjunction with Articles 1144(3) and 1152 of the Civil
Code, which provide:
Based on the foregoing, there are two (2) modes of
enforcing a final and executory judgment or order: through
motion or by independent action.
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504
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An action for revival of judgment is not intended to
reopen any issue affecting the merits of the case or the
propriety or correctness of the first judgment.30 The
purpose is not to reexamine and retry issues already
decided but to revive the judgment; its cause of action is
the judgment itself and not the merits of the original
action.31 However, being a mere right of action, the
judgment sought to be revived is subject to defenses and
counterclaims like matters of jurisdiction and those arising
after the finality of the first judgment or which may have
arisen subsequent to the date it became effective such as
prescription, payment, or counterclaims arising out of
transactions not connected with the former controversy.32
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29 Olongapo City v. Subic Water and Sewerage Co., Inc., G.R. No.
171626, August 6, 2014, 732 SCRA 132, 147. (Emphasis in the original)
30 Philippine Reconstruction Corporation, Inc. v. Aparente, 150-A Phil.
570, 575; 45 SCRA 217, 222 (1972).
31 Enriquez v. Court of Appeals, 423 Phil. 630, 637; 372 SCRA 372, 377
(2001) and Caiña v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 114393, December 15,
1994, 239 SCRA 252, 262.
32 Enriquez v. Court of Appeals, id., at p. 636; p. 376; Caiña v. Court of
Appeals, id.; and Philippine Reconstruction Corporation, Inc. v. Aparente,
supra.
505
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33 O v. Javier, 609 Phil. 434, 442-443; 591 SCRA 656, 662 (2009).
34 Supra note 29 at p. 148; Barrera v. Court of Appeals, 423 Phil. 559,
568-569; 372 SCRA 312, 318 (2001); and Ramos v. Garciano, 137 Phil.
814, 819; 27 SCRA 1190, 1194 (1969).
35 Ramos v. Garciano, id., at p. 819; p. 1195.
36 117 Phil. 39; 7 SCRA 42 (1963).
37 Id., at pp. 44-45; p. 46. See also Bañez, Jr. v. Concepcion, G.R. No.
159508, August 29, 2012, 679 SCRA 237, 254; Topacio v. Banco Filipino
Savings and Mortgage Bank, G.R. No. 157644, November 17, 2010, 635
SCRA 50, 57; Zamboanga Barter Traders
506
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Kilusang Bayan, Inc. v. Plagata, 588 Phil. 464, 488; 567 SCRA 163, 184
(2008); Yau v. Silverio, Sr., 567 Phil. 493, 502; 543 SCRA 520, 529 (2008);
Francisco Motors Corp. v. Court of Appeals, 535 Phil. 736, 751; 505 SCRA
8, 26 (2006); De La Rosa v. Fernandez, 254 Phil. 373, 378; 172 SCRA 371,
375 (1989); Provincial Gov’t of Sorsogon v. Vda. de Villaroya, 237 Phil.
280, 288; 153 SCRA 291, 299 (1987); Republic v. Court of Appeals, 221
Phil. 685, 693; 137 SCRA 220,
227-228 (1985); and Ramos v. Garciano, supra note 34 at pp. 819-820; p.
1195.
38 Lumakin v. Davao Medical Center, G.R. No. 190808, February 17,
2014 (2nd Div. Resolution); California Bus Lines, Inc. v. Court of Appeals,
584 Phil. 385; 562 SCRA 403 (2008); Yau v. Silverio, Sr., id.; Francisco
Motors Corp. v. Court of Appeals, id.; Salientes v. IAC, 316 Phil. 197; 246
SCRA 150 (1995); Villaruel v. Court of Appeals, 254 Phil. 305; 172 SCRA
305 (1989); and Republic v. Court of Appeals, id.
39 National Waterworks and Sewerage Authority v. National Labor
Relations Commission, 327 Phil. 653; 258 SCRA 48 (1996); and Torralba v.
De Los Angeles, 185 Phil. 40; 96 SCRA 69 (1980).
40 Rubio v. Alabata, G.R. No. 203947, February 26, 2014, 717 SCRA
554.
41 Zamboanga Barter Traders Kilusang Bayan, Inc. v. Plagata, supra
note 37.
507
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42 Olongapo City v. Subic Water and Sewerage Co., Inc., supra note 29
at pp. 148-149; Zamboanga Barter Traders Kilusang Bayan, Inc. v.
Plagata, id., at p. 488; p. 185; Yau v. Silverio, Sr., supra note 37 at p. 503;
p. 529; and Francisco Motors Corp. v. Court of Appeals, supra note 37 at p.
753; p. 25.
43 See Villeza v. German Management and Services, Inc., 641 Phil.
544; 627 SCRA 425 (2010) and Macias v. Lim, 474 Phil. 765; 431 SCRA 20
(2004).
44 Supra note 33 at pp. 443-444; pp. 663-664.
508
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order should state that an appeal had been filed, but the
same had been withdrawn/dismissed/decided with finality.
If aside from the penalty of imprisonment the penalty of
fine is likewise imposed, the trial court should issue at once
an order requiring the payment of fine within a reasonable
period of time and, in case of nonpayment and subsidiary
imprisonment is imposed, he should likewise serve the
subsidiary imprisonment. If, however, the penalty is only
fine and the judgment has become final and executory, an
order should be issued by the trial court at once for the
payment of the fine. And in case of nonpayment, the bail
bond previously issued for his provisional liberty should be
cancelled and a warrant of arrest should be issued to serve
the subsidiary imprisonment, if there is any.
In cases where the accused is a detention prisoner, i.e.,
those convicted of capital offenses or convicted of
noncapital offenses where bail is denied, or refused to post
bail, a mittimus or commitment order should be
immediately issued after the promulgation of judgment by
the trial court as long as the penalty imposed requires the
service of sentence in the National Penitentiary. The filing
of a motion for reconsideration, motion for new trial, or
notice of appeal should not stop the lower court from
performing its ministerial duty in issuing the commitment
order, unless a special order has been issued by the Court
in specific cases — to the effect that the convicted accused
shall remain under detention in the provincial jail or city
jail while the motion is being heard or resolved.
Insofar as the civil liability arising from the offense is
concerned, a motion for execution should be filed in
accordance with Section 6, Rule 39 of the Rules and
existing jurisprudence.
WHEREFORE, the foregoing considered, the instant
petition for certiorari is PARTIALLY GRANTED. The
Orders dated December 3, 2009 and January 25, 2010 of
Presiding Judge Delano F. Villaruz, Regional Trial Court,
Roxas City,
510
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