Rivera Vs People
Rivera Vs People
On May 3, 2004,
the Sandiganbayan rendered the assailed decision
JUAN G. RIVERA, Petitioner, finding petitioner guilty as charged, the dispositive
vs. portion of which states:
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondent.
WHEREFORE:
A. In Criminal Cases No. 26686 to 26697, the Court
DECISION finds the accused Juan G. Rivera GUILTY beyond
YNARES-SANTIAGO, J.: reasonable doubt for TWELVE (12) COUNTS of the
crime of Falsification by Public Officer defined under
Article 171 of the Revised Penal Code, and is hereby
This petition for review on certiorari under Rule 45 of sentenced to suffer the penalty of imprisonment of,
the Rules of Court assails the decision dated May 3, after applying the indeterminate sentence law, TWO
2004 of the Sandiganbayan,1 which convicted (2) YEARS, FOUR (4) MONTHS, and ONE (1) DAY of
petitioner of twelve counts of the crime of falsification prisión correccional as minimum, up to TEN (10) YEARS
by a public officer under Article 171 and one count of of prisión mayor, as maximum, for each count;
the crime of malversation of public funds under Article Fine of Two Thousand Pesos (P2,000.00) for each
217 (4), both of the Revised Penal Code and its count, or a total of TWENTY FOUR THOUSAND PESOS
resolution dated June 10, 2004,2 denying (P24,000.00) for all twelve counts; and
reconsideration thereof and disallowing him to present
evidence. All the accessory penalties provided for by law.
The antecedent facts are as follows: B. In Criminal Case No. 26698, the Court finds the
accused Juan G. Rivera GUILTY beyond reasonable
Petitioner Juan G. Rivera and Eric O. Garcia, municipal doubt of the crime of Malversation of Public Funds
mayor and disbursement officer, respectively, of defined under Article 217(4) of the Revised Penal Code,
Guinobatan, Albay, were charged before the and is hereby sentenced to suffer the penalty of
Sandiganbayan with twelve counts of falsification of imprisonment of, after applying
public documents and one count of malversation of
public funds involving the amount of P1,936,798.64 i) the indeterminate sentence law, TWELVE
given to the Municipality of Guinobatan as calamity (12) YEARS, FIVE (5) MONTHS, and ELEVEN
fund for the victims of the Mayon volcanic eruption. (11) DAYS of reclusion temporal as minimum,
Garcia died on August 25, 2001 and was accordingly up to TWENTY (20) YEARS of reclusion
dropped from the amended information. temporal as maximum,
Upon arraignment,3 petitioner entered a plea of not ii) the penalty of perpetual special
guilty to all thirteen cases. A pre-trial was conducted disqualification,
and thereafter trial ensued. On various dates, the iii) a fine of SEVEN HUNDRED NINETY FOUR
prosecution presented its witnesses and offered THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED FORTY FIVE PESOS
documentary exhibits. Then, it rested its case. (P794,445.00).
The defense was scheduled to present evidence on By way of restitution, the accused is likewise ordered
September 29, 2003; however, during the hearing, to indemnify the government in the same amount of
petitioner’s former counsel, Atty. Benjamin C. SEVEN HUNDRED NINETY FOUR THOUSAND FOUR
Belarmino, Jr., informed the court that they have not HUNDRED FORTY FIVE PESOS (P794,445.00); and
yet received the resolution on the prosecution’s Formal
Offer of Exhibits, further manifesting that upon receipt All the accessory penalties provided for by law.
of the resolution, they will ask for leave of court to file
SO ORDERED.6
demurrer to evidence.
On May 17, 2004, petitioner moved for reconsideration
Thereupon, the court directed Atty. Belarmino to file a
of the decision and further moved that he be allowed
demurrer to evidence even without leave of court but
to present evidence.7 The same, however, was denied
the latter manifested that he would still discuss the
in a resolution dated June 10, 2004, the dispositive
matter with his collaborating counsel.
portion of which reads:
However, in the order issued by the Sandiganbayan on
WHEREFORE, premises considered, this Court is
September 29, 2003, it was stated that petitioner,
constrained to DENY the omnibus motion for
through counsel, manifested that he would be filing a
reconsideration.
demurrer to evidence without leave of court within ten
(10) days.4 SO ORDERED.8
On October 20, 2003, petitioner filed his Demurrer to Hence, this petition for review on certiorari.9
Evidence5 without leave of court to which the
prosecution filed its Opposition on October 27, 2003. The sole issue for resolution is whether or not the
assailed decision and resolution of the Sandiganbayan
Pursuant to Section 23, Rule 119 of The Revised Rules should be set aside to allow petitioner to present
of Criminal Procedure, the Sandiganbayan considered evidence despite the demurrer to evidence filed.
the right of petitioner to present evidence waived and
deemed the case submitted for judgment on the basis Petitioner prays that in the interest of justice he be
allowed to present evidence in view of the severity of Same appearance for the accused, your Honor.
the penalty imposed on him which is imprisonment of
CHAIRMAN:
about 140 years. He asserts that he was unaware of
the consequences of the action taken by his former Ready? It’s your turn now to present evidence
counsel when he manifested that they were opting to (referring to defense counsel).
file a demurrer to evidence. He also claims that the
Sandiganbayan made no searching inquiry to COUNSEL:
determine whether he fully understood the legal Your Honor please, last week, we received a
ramifications of filing a demurrer to evidence without telegram from this Court, wherein we were
leave of court. He submits that by its filing, he was notified that the prosecution’s Formal Offer of
totally unaware and did not comprehend that he was in Exhibits has been resolved. But we have not
effect waiving his constitutional right to present received the final Resolution, your Honor.
evidence and be heard.
CHAIRMAN:
The petition is meritorious.
Will that be a justification for asking for a
We recognize the importance of procedural rules in postponement? Don’t you think of preparing
insuring the effective enforcement of substantive for today’s hearing?
rights through the orderly and speedy administration
of justice.10 However, the rules of procedure ought not COUNSEL:
to be applied in a very rigid technical sense, as they I don’t intend, your Honor, to request for
are used only to help secure, not override substantial postponement, however, we have thought that
justice. If a technical and rigid enforcement of the rules upon receipt of said Resolution, we will be
is made, their aim would be defeated.11 That the Court
asking for leave of court to file demurrer to
has the power to set aside its own rules in the higher evidence.
interests of justice is well-entrenched in our
jurisprudence.12 CHAIRMAN:
The adjudication of cases involving the transcendental You file your demurrer to evidence, just file it
matter of life and liberty of a person, requires our without leave of court.
utmost consideration.13 The Constitution ordains that
COUNSEL:
due process must be observed in cases involving a
possible deprivation of life, liberty, or property.14 I will have to discuss this matter yet with my
collaborating counsel, your Honor.
In the case at bar, the extreme penalty of more than a
double-life sentence was imposed. No less than his CHAIRMAN:
liberty is at stake here.15 Consequently, this case
deserves to be deliberated upon, moreso because after You do that, since you are the lead counsel.
the initial assessment by the Sandiganbayan, Where is the accused?
petitioner’s only and last resort is with this Court.
COUNSEL:
A demurrer to evidence is defined as "an objection by
one of the parties in an action, to the effect that the He is in court, your Honor.
evidence which his adversary produced is insufficient CHAIRMAN:
in point of law, whether true or not, to make out a case
or sustain the issue".16 The party demurring challenges Okay, just tell us if you are not ready, but do
the sufficiency of the whole evidence to sustain a not say you are still going to confer with the
verdict.17 In passing upon the sufficiency of the accused.
evidence raised in a demurrer, the court is merely
If you will tell us you are not ready yet, so that
required to ascertain whether there is competent or
you will have time to intelligently prepare for it,
sufficient proof to sustain the indictment or to support
by all means, we will agree to that.
a verdict of guilt.18
COUNSEL:
The transcript of stenographic notes taken during the
hearing held on September 29, 2003 is reproduced Thank you, your Honor.
herein, to wit:
CHAIRMAN:
CHAIRMAN:
ORDER.
Call the cases.
When these cases were called for hearing this morning,
INTERPRETER: counsel for the accused manifested that he will be
filing a demurrer to evidence even without leave of
Criminal Cases Nos. 26686-97 and 26698
court.
entitled, People versus Juan Rivera, for trial.
WHEREFORE, as prayed for, the defense is hereby
PROSECUTOR:
granted a period of ten (10) days within which to file
Respectfully appearing for the People, your the said demurrer, furnishing the prosecution a copy
Honor. thereof, who asked for the same period to file its
comment/opposition thereto. Thereafter, this incident
COUNSEL:
shall be deemed submitted for resolution of this Court. 2. The trial court shall ensure the attendance
of the prosecution and especially the accused
SO ORDERED. (Emphasis supplied) with their respective counsel in the hearing
It appears from the aforequoted TSN of the hearing on which must be recorded. Their presence must
September 29, 2003, that counsel for accused, Atty. be duly entered in the minutes of the
Belarmino, asked for leave of court to file a demurrer proceedings.
to evidence but was curtly ordered to file the same 3. During the hearing, it shall be the task of the
even without leave of court. When Atty. Belarmino trial court to –
inquired about the resolution on the prosecution’s
Formal Offer of Exhibits, the Sandiganbayan thought a. ask the defense counsel a series of
that it was only an excuse to request for question to determine whether he had
postponement, and that he was not prepared for the conferred with and completely
hearing. explained to the accused that he had
the right to present evidence and be
The order dated September 29, 2003,19 inaccurately heard as well as its meaning and
stated that Atty. Belarmino manifested that he will be consequences, together with the
filing a demurrer to evidence even without leave of significance and outcome of the waiver
court when the records show no such manifestation of such right. If the lawyer for the
was made. On the contrary, the records show that Atty. accused has not done so, the trial court
Belarmino asked for leave of court to file a demurrer to shall give the latter enough time to
evidence and for time to discuss the same with his co- fulfill this professional obligation.
counsel but was instead ordered by the court to file the
same without leave of court within ten days. b. inquire from the defense counsel
with conformity of the accused whether
In addition, we note that Atty. Belarmino did not cite he wants to present evidence or submit
any ground when he moved for leave of court to file a memorandum elucidating on the
demurrer to evidence; neither did the Sandiganbayan contradictions and insufficiency of the
make any inquiry thereon before issuing the prosecution evidence, if any, or in
September 29, 2003 order, directing the petitioner to default theory, file a demurrer to
file a demurrer to evidence even without leave of evidence with prior leave of court, if he
court. This is contrary to the provisions of Section 23, so believes that the prosecution
Rule 119 of the Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure evidence is so weak that it need not
which specifically instructs that "the motion for leave even be rebutted. If there is a desire to
of court to file demurrer to evidence shall specifically do so, the trial court shall give the
state its grounds." defense enough time to this purpose.
Also, the records show that petitioner was not c. elicit information about the
consulted nor did his counsel confer with him and ask personality profile of the accused, such
whether he understood the significance of filing a as his age, socio-economic status, and
demurrer to evidence. In fact, Atty. Belarmino was not educational background, which may
given the opportunity to discuss with petitioner the serve as a trustworthy index of his
consequences of filing a demurrer to evidence without capacity to give a free and informed
leave of court. waiver.
In People v. Bodoso,20 the accused was charged with d. all questions posed to the accused
raping his fourteen-year old daughter. After the should be in a language known and
prosecution rested its case, the counsel de oficio of understood by the latter, hence, the
accused manifested that the defense was not intending record must state the language used
to present any evidence and was resting its case. for this purpose as well as reflect the
There was no clear showing that accused agreed to the corresponding translation thereof in
waiver and intended to relinquish his right to be heard English.
as manifested by his counsel. We held thus, to wit:
In passing, trial courts may also abide by the foregoing
Henceforth, to protect the constitutional right to due procedure even when the waiver of the right to be
process of every accused in a capital offense and to present and be heard is made in criminal cases
avoid any confusion about the proper steps to be taken involving non-capital offenses. After all, in whatever
when a trial court comes face to face with an accused action or forum the accused is situated, the waiver that
or his counsel who wants to waive his client’s right to he makes if it is to be binding and effective must still
present evidence and be heard, it shall be the be exhibited in the case records to have been validly
unequivocal duty of the trial court to observe, as a undertaken, that is, it was done voluntarily, knowingly
prerequisite to the validity of such waiver, a procedure and intelligently with sufficient awareness of the
akin to a "searching inquiry" as specified in People v. relevant circumstances and likely consequences. As a
Aranzado when an accused pleads guilty, particularly – matter of good court practice, the trial court would
1. The trial court shall hear both the have to rely upon the most convenient, if not primary,
prosecution and the accused with their evidence of the validity of the waiver which would
respective counsel on the desire or amount to the same thing as showing its adherence to
manifestation of the accused to waive the right the step-by-step process outlined above.21 (Emphasis
to present evidence and be heard. supplied)
Similarly, in People v. Flores,22 counsel for accused is likely to be welcomed more generously.24 The Rules
manifested that Flores was waiving his right to present on procedure are merely tools designed to facilitate
evidence and requested for time to file a demurrer to the attainment of justice. When they are rigid and
evidence. The records were bereft of any indications strict in application, resulting in technicalities that tend
that accused voluntarily waived his right to present to frustrate rather than promote justice, the Court is
evidence and with full comprehension. In that case, we empowered to suspend the rules.25
ruled thus:
In the interest of substantial justice, we are therefore
The lower court, in view of the severity of the constrained to remand the case to the Sandiganbayan
imposable penalty, ought to have inquired into the for further proceedings.
voluntariness and full knowledge of the consequences
WHEREFORE, the petition is GRANTED. The decision
of accused-appellants’ waiver. Though the Rules
dated May 3, 2004 and the resolution dated June 10,
require no such inquiry to be undertaken by the court
2004 of the Sandiganbayan are hereby SET ASIDE. Let
for the validity of such waiver or any judgment made
the records of Criminal Case Nos. 26686-98 be
as result of the waiver, prudence, however, requires
REMANDED to the Sandiganbayan for further
the Court to ascertain the same to avoid any grave
proceedings.
miscarriage of justice. Although accused-appellants’
waiver amazed the lower court, nevertheless, the SO ORDERED.
record is devoid of any facts which would indicate that
the lower court took steps to assure itself of accused- CONSUELO YNARES-SANTIAGO
appellants’ voluntariness and full knowledge of the Associate Justice
consequences of their waiver.
Besides, counsels’ waiver should have put the court on
guard. Any lawyer worth his salt ought to know that
the filing of a demurrer to evidence with leave of court
as was done below, has the beneficial effect of
reserving the movant’s right to present evidence if the
demurrer is denied by the court. Thus, a counsel who
files a demurrer with leave of court, but at the same
time expressly waives his right to present evidence
should put a judge on guard that said counsel may not
entirely comprehend the consequences of the waiver.
The trial court should have exercised prudence by
warning counsel about the prejudicial effects of their
waiver, that with such a waiver, the case would be
deemed submitted for decision, and their leave to file
motion for demurrer to evidence will have no effect.23
Finally, the evidence on record of the instant case do
not clearly show where and to whom the allegedly
malversed money were given after it was encashed.
What is clear is that the calamity fund was released to
Almeda O. Lim, the Municipal Treasurer of Guinobatan,
Albay to which Official Receipt No. 8749242H was
issued. Thereafter, checks bearing her signature and
that of Rivera’s were personally encashed by her while
she was allegedly accompanied by Garcia. Witnesses
who owned the forged receipts testified that they
handed the blank receipts to Garcia and not to
petitioner. Then, after receipt of the cash, the
disbursement vouchers and other forms required to
liquidate the amount were allegedly prepared by
Almeda O. Lim and thereafter, transmitted to Rivera for
approval, and finally to the provincial Government. It
has not been satisfactorily established whether
petitioner has appropriated, taken or misappropriated,
or has consented to the taking by another person, of
such funds.
Due to the precipitate filing by the defense of the
demurrer to evidence, the Sandiganbayan determined
petitioner’s guilt based only on the prosecution’s
evidence. To our mind, the presentation of evidence by
the defense would resolve any doubt as to petitioner’s
complicity and avoid possible miscarriage of justice.
Clearly, when "transcendental matters" like life, liberty
or State security are involved, suspension of the rules