Philippine Supreme Court Jurisprudence


Philippine Supreme Court Jurisprudence > Year 2017 > July 2017 Decisions > G.R. No. 206916, July 03, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. JOSEPH SAN JOSE Y GREGORIO AND JONATHAN SAN JOSE Y GREGORIO, Accused-Appellants.:




G.R. No. 206916, July 03, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. JOSEPH SAN JOSE Y GREGORIO AND JONATHAN SAN JOSE Y GREGORIO, Accused-Appellants.

PHILIPPINE SUPREME COURT DECISIONS

SECOND DIVISION

G.R. No. 206916, July 03, 2017

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. JOSEPH SAN JOSE Y GREGORIO AND JONATHAN SAN JOSE Y GREGORIO, Accused-Appellants.

D E C I S I O N

LEONEN, J.:

The prosecution has the burden to prove the accused's guilt beyond reasonable doubt. If it fails to discharge this burden, courts have the duty to render a judgment of acquittal.

This is an appeal from the Decision1 dated August 31, 2012 of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CR-H.C. No. 04821.

Joseph San Jose y Gregorio and Jonathan San Jose y Gregorio (the San Jose brothers) were charged with murder under Article 248 of the Revised Penal Code. The Information2 dated September 30, 2002 against them read:

That on or about the 2nd day of June 2002 at Rodriguez, Province of Rizal, Philippines and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the above-named accused, along with Jonathan San Jose y Gregorio, a minor, 17 years of age, in conspiracy with one another, armed with kitchen knives, with intent to kill, did then and there willfully, unlawfully and feloniously attack, assault and stab with said knives one CARLITO ESPINO y OREO, thereby inflicting upon the latter mortal wounds which caused his death, the said killing having been attended by the qualifying circumstances of treachery and abuse of superior strength which qualify it to murder.

CONTRARY TO LAW.3

In an Order4 dated May 27, 2003, the San Jose brothers were considered at large despite the warrants of arrest issued on October 30, 2002. The case against them was considered archived.5 Sometime in 2005, they were arrested.6 Jonathan San Jose y Gregorio (Jonathan) was arraigned on April 25, 2005 and Joseph San Jose y Gregorio (Joseph) was arraigned on August 24, 2005. Both pleaded not guilty.7 Trial on the merits ensued.

Jilito O. Espino (Jilito) testified that on June 2, 2002, around 6:30 p.m., there was a baptismal celebration held on a vacant lot8 beside their residence in Riverside, Manggahan, Rodriguez, Rizal. His brother Carlito Espino y Oreo (Carlito) and his friends were drinking when Jilito saw the San Jose brothers enter the house. The San Jose brothers then started punching Carlito, who tried to run to a nearby store. However, his assailants caught up with him.9

The prosecution presented Jilito's testimony that Jonathan embraced Carlito from behind and while punching him, stabbed him on the side of his body while Joseph stabbed Carlito in the front. Thereafter, the San Jose brothers ran away. Carlito's friends also ran away out of fear. Jilito ran after the San Jose brothers for about 100 meters but failed to catch up to them. When he returned to the vacant lot,10 he was told that Carlito had already been brought to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.11

Jilito likewise attested that this was not the first incident between Carlito and the San Jose brothers. He recalled that on New Year's Day, the San Jose brothers used a lead pipe to hit Carlito.12

The autopsy revealed that the victim sustained "one fatal injury at the abdomen, at the right hypochondriac and multiple abrasions at the lower extremities."13 The examination also showed that "the stab wound located at the right hypochondriac or in the abdomen caused an injury lacerating the pericardial sac, the right ventricle of the heart and the lower lobe of the right lung."14 Dr. Pierre Paul Carpio (Dr. Carpio), the Chief of Forensic Autopsy of the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory, further testified that it was possible for the assailant to have been at the victim's back.15 He stated that the stab wound at the right hypochondriac (tagiliran) was fatal and that there were no defense wounds on the victim.16

For their defense, Joseph testified that on June 2, 2002, he and his brother Jonathan were at home eating with a childhood friend, Leo Narito, when a commotion occurred outside the house. People were shouting and when he went outside, he saw a person running away. He asked that person what was going on and was told that someone had been stabbed. Joseph returned to his house and continued eating. Sometime in 2005, while he was at work at a hardware store, police officers arrested him for the killing of a certain Joselito. He denied the charges against him.17

Jonathan asserted that he was 16 years old in 2002, having been born on September 2, 1985. His testimony corroborated that of his brother Joseph. Sometime in 2005, he was about to go to work when some barangay tanods came to arrest him for the killing of Carlito.18

Jocelyn Espino (Jocelyn) also testified on the San Jose brothers' behalf, claiming that she was Jilito and Carlito's sister. She stated that at the time of the incident, Carlito was outside the house. Their neighbors later informed them of the commotion outside their house involving Carlito. She claimed that Jilito only learned of the incident when he went outside of their house. When cross-examined, Jocelyn failed to present evidence to show that she was Jilito and Carlito's sister.19

On May 12, 2010, Branch 76, Regional Trial Court of San Mateo, Rizal, rendered a Decision20 finding the San Jose brothers guilty as charged. The dispositive portion of the Decision read:

WHEREFORE, judgment is hereby rendered, finding both accused(s) Joseph San Jose y Gregorio and Jonathan San Jose y Gregorio GUILTY of the crime of Murder punishable under Article 248 of the Revised Penal Code as amended.

Accordingly, accused Joseph San Jose y Gregorio is hereby sentenced to suffer the penalty of Reclusion Perpetua and accused Jonathan San Jose y Gregorio, being entitled to the privilege[d] mitigating circumstance of minority under Article 68 of the Revised Penal Code and applying the Indeterminate Sentence Law is hereby sentenced to suffer the penalty of Ten (10) years and One (1) day of Prision Mayor as minimum to Seventeen (17) years, Four (4) months and One (1) day of Reclusion Temporal as maximum; and, both accused are ordered to indemnify the heirs of the victim in the amount of Php 50,000.00 as death indemnity and Php 50,000.00 as moral damages. No pronouncement as to costs.

Both accused(s) are to be credited for the time spent for their preventive detention in accordance with Art[icle] 29 of the Revised Penal Code as amended by R.A[.] 6127 and E.O. 214.

Accused(s) Joseph San Jose and Jonathan San Jose are hereby ordered committed to the National Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa City for service of sentence.

SO ORDERED.21

Joseph and Jonathan appealed to the Court of Appeals.22

In a Decision23 dated August 31, 2012, the Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court's Decision. The Court of Appeals relied heavily on Jilito's positive identification of the San Jose brothers as the perpetrators of the crime. It found that the inconsistencies and variances in Jilito's testimony referred only to minor details and proved that his testimony was not rehearsed.24

The Court of Appeals found the defense of non-flight from the barangay after the incident unmeritorious since non-flight is not indicative of a clear conscience. It also affirmed the finding of conspiracy since Jonathan's act of holding the victim from behind and stabbing him on the right side of his torso gave Joseph the opportunity to assault and to stab the victim from the front.25 However, it agreed with the Office of the Solicitor General's view that abuse of superior strength, and not treachery, qualified the crime as murder since there was gross inequality of forces between the assailants and the unarmed victim.26

The Court of Appeals also modified Jonathan's penalty to seventeen (17) years and four (4) months since the penalty imposable under the Indeterminate Sentence Law is prision mayor in any of its periods as minimum and reclusion temporal in its medium period as maximum.27 It added exemplary damages in the amount of P30,000.00 and temperate damages in the amount of P25,000.00 with interest of six percent (6%) per annum.28 The dispositive portion of the Decision read:

WHEREFORE, the appealed decision dated 12 May 2010 in Criminal Case No. 6453 is AFFIRMED with the following MODIFICATIONS:

(1)
The maximum period of appellant Jonathan San Jose's indeterminate sentence is fixed at (17) years and four (4) months; hence, he is sentenced to suffer an indeterminate penalty of imprisonment of 10 years and 1 day of pris[i]on mayor as minimum to 17 years and 4 months of reclusion temporal as maximum;
(2)
Exemplary damages of Php30,000.00, and temperate damages in the amount of Php25,000.00, are additionally AWARDED to the heirs of Carlito Espino; and
(3)
The total amount of damages awarded to the heirs of the victim shall earn interest at the legal rate of 6% per annum reckoned from the finality of this judgment until fully paid.

SO ORDERED.29

Jonathan and Joseph (accused-appellants) filed a Notice of Appeal30 manifesting their intention to appeal to this Court, which was given due course by the Court of Appeals.31 The Office of the Solicitor General manifested to this Court that it was no longer filing a supplemental brief and would be adopting the brief it filed before the Court of Appeals.32 Accused-appellants, on the other hand, submitted a Supplemental Brief.33

The Office of the Solicitor General argues that Jilito was consistent in his testimony on how accused-appellants killed his brother, Carlito. It maintains that he was able to positively identify accused-appellants since all of them were residents of the same barangay. The autopsy report likewise corroborates Jilito's testimony that Carlito was stabbed at the right side of his torso.34

The Office of the Solicitor General further argues that Jocelyn's testimony cannot overcome Jilito's testimony since Jocelyn did not categorically state that Jilito was not able to see the incident. Their late father's affidavit of desistance likewise cannot overturn the prosecution's "overwhelming evidence" against the accused-appellants.35

Accused-appellants, on the other hand, counter that there is no qualifying circumstance of abuse of superior strength since the presence of one (1) stab wound on the victim indicates that the victim was not really taken advantage of.36 They argue that Jilito's testimony on the presence of two (2) mortal wounds on the victim is directly contradicted by the autopsy report.37 They also point out that a substantial portion of Jilito's testimony is hearsay since Jocelyn testified that at the time of the incident, Jilito was inside their house.38

The sole issue to be resolved by this Court is whether accused-appellants are guilty beyond reasonable doubt for the murder of Carlito Espino.

It is a basic right of the accused under our Constitution to be presumed innocent until the contrary is proven.39 Thus, the quantum of evidence required to overcome this presumption is proof beyond reasonable doubt. Rule 133, Section 2 of the Rules of Court provides:

Section 2. Proof beyond reasonable doubt. � In a criminal case, the accused is entitled to an acquittal, unless his guilt is shown beyond reasonable doubt. Proof beyond reasonable doubt does not mean such a degree of proof as, excluding possibility of error, produces absolute certainty. Moral certainty only is required, or that degree of proof which produces conviction in an unprejudiced mind.

The burden of proving the accused's guilt rests with the prosecution. A guilty verdict relies on the strength of the prosecution's evidence, not on the weakness of the defense.40 If the prosecution's evidence produces even an iota of reasonable doubt, courts would have no choice but to rule for the accused's acquittal. In People v. Capili:41

Proof beyond reasonable doubt is needed to overcome the presumption of innocence . . . Accused-appellant's guilt must be proved beyond reasonable doubt . . . otherwise, the Court would be left without any other recourse but to rule for acquittal. Courts should be guided by the principle that it would be better to set free ten men who might be probably guilty of the crime charged than to convict one innocent man for a crime he did not commit.42

The determination of guilt requires courts to evaluate the evidence presented in relation to the elements of the crime charged.43 The finding of guilt is fundamentally a factual issue.44

Considering that this Court is not a trier of facts, factual findings of the trial court are usually accorded great respect "because of the opportunity enjoyed by the [trial court] to observe the demeanor of the witnesses on the stand and assess their testimony."45 Nevertheless, this Court is not precluded from reviewing these findings or even arriving at a different conclusion "if it is not convinced that [the findings] are conformable to the evidence of record and to its own impressions of the credibility of the witnesses."46 The factual findings of the trial court will not bind this Court if "significant facts and circumstances were overlooked and disregarded . . . which if properly considered affect the result of the case."47

This is also an appeal under Rule 122, Section 2(c) of the Rules of Court, where the entire records of the case are thrown open for review. In Ferrer v. People:48

It is a well-settled rule that an appeal in a criminal case throws the whole case wide open for review and that it becomes the duty of the Court to correct such errors as may be found in the judgment appealed from, whether they are assigned as errors or not.49 (Citation omitted)

In this case, the trial court and the Court of Appeals placed heavy reliance on the testimony of the prosecution's lone eyewitness, Jilito Espino, and his positive identification of the accused-appellants as the assailants who murdered his brother. Thus, the review of finding of guilt necessarily involves a re-evaluation of Jilito's testimony.

In order to secure a conviction for murder under Article 248 of the Revised Penal Code,50 the prosecution must prove "[first,] that a person was killed; [second,] that the accused killed that person; [third,] that the killing was committed with the attendant circumstances stated in Article 248; and [finally,] that the killing was neither parricide nor infanticide."51

Jilito testified before the trial court that he saw accused-appellant Jonathan holding the victim from behind and stabbing him on the side of his body. He also testified seeing accused-appellant Joseph stab his brother in the chest.52 The trial court found his testimony "to be credible and trustworthy and supported by the testimony of Dr. Carpio, an expert witness who conducted the autopsy."53

A review of Jilito's testimony, however, when placed against the other pieces of evidence, reveals numerous material inconsistencies that cannot be ignored.

First, it was unclear where the stabbing actually occurred. During the direct examination, Jilito testified:

Q:
When you saw your brother being stabbed, was it in front of that house or at the side of that house?
A:
In front of the house, sir.54

During the cross-examination, Jilito testified that the stabbing happened in front of a store:

Q:
According to you, you really saw what transpired or what was the incident all about, could you tell us if there was someone who was an arm's length away from your brother when the two (2) assailants stabbed your brother?
A:
There was, sir.


Q:
Is he a male or a female?
A:
A female, sir.


Q:
According to you, when the San Jose brothers attacked your brother all the people who were there got scared and ran away?
A:
Yes, sir.


Q:
And still there was this female who was near your brother?
A:
She did not go near my brother she just went outside the store.


Q:
I thought the stabbing happened in the place where the four (4[)] persons were drinking?
A:
Yes, sir.


Q:
You mean to say that before your brother was stabbed he had managed to run away from the said assailants?
A:
Yes, sir, he was able to run away.


Q:
So it is different from what you have told the Hon. Court awhile ago. Which is which, you saw what transpired at the "silong" or the other version that your brother managed to run away?
A:
When he was boxed he was able to run away up to the store and it was at the store where he [sic] the assailants were able to catch up with him and the brothers embraced him and stabbed him, sir.55

Jilito stated that he was able to witness the incident because he was located only "20 arms length" away from the scene of the crime.56 Jilito initially testified that he saw his brother stabbed in front of the vacant house. Later, he testified that his brother was able to run away from the vacant house to a store where he was stabbed. The Court of Appeals considered the change of location a "clarification" that the victim was able to run away during the commotion.57

Rather than clarifying the situation, Jilito's testimony raises even more questions that the trial court and the Court of Appeals ignored. A point of interest, for example, would have been how far the store was from where Jilito was located that he was still able to witness the stabbing. Another query would have been how the female could have gone outside the store during the incident without coming near the victim considering that the stabbing occurred at the store.

There were also material inconsistencies between Jilito's testimony and the autopsy report submitted by the prosecution. Jilito repeatedly stated to the trial court that his brother was stabbed twice:

COURT:


Q:
You stated that Jonathan San Jose embraced him and stabbed him, I am referring to the victim, what about the other one, what was his participation, Joseph San Jose?
A:
He stabbed my brother in front, your Honor.


Q:
On the chest?
A:
Yes, your Honor.


Q:
And Jonathan San Jose, where did he stab your brother?
A:
On his side, sir.


Q:
How many times did each one stab your brother?
A:
One (1) each, sir.

[Atty. Censon:]
Q:
According to you, Joseph San Jose embraced your brother, how did he embrace your brother?
A:
It was Jonathan who embraced my brother from behind and it was Joseph who went in front of my brother and stabbed him, sir.


Q:
Could you demonstrate how Jonathan embraced your brother, did he use both hands?

Pros. Gonzales:

Witness demonstrating that he had used the left arm to embrace the upper left shoulder of the victim and using the right hand with a weapon to stab the victim on the side.
Atty. Censon:
Q:
And the other San Jose stabbed your brother on the chest?
A:
Yes, sir.


Q:
And you saw it clearly?
A:
Yes, sir.58

However, Dr. Carpio, testified that the victim sustained "one fatal stab wound on the abdomen or at the right hypochondriac."59 Otherwise stated, Jilito testified that the victim was stabbed twice, but there was only one (1) stab wound found on the body.

The doubt created by Jilito's testimony is magnified by the testimony of Jocelyn, Jilito and the victim's sister. Jocelyn testified that at the time of the incident, Jilito was inside their house eating:

Q:
Where were you when your brother died, Madam Witness?
A:
I was inside our house, sir.


Q:
And who were with you at the said house on the said date?
A:
My elder brother, sir.


Q:
How about your parents, where were they at that time?
A:
They were there in our house eating, sir.


Q:
And why was Carlito Espino not with you at that time?
A:
He was outside the house, sir.


Q:
So how were you able to know the incident that caused the death of your brother Carlito Espino?
A:
From our neighbors because there was a commotion outside, sir.


Q:
Did you personally know what really transpired or who allegedly stabbed your brother Carlito Espino?
A:
No, sir.


Q:
Jolito [sic] Espino, according to you, was with you at that time, Madam Witness?
A:
Yes, sir.


Q:
So when did he learn of this incident or when did he know of the incident[,] Madam Witness?
A:
When he went outside of the house, sir.


Q:
When did he go outside your house [,] Madam Witness?
A:
When there was a commotion outside, sir.60

The prosecution tried to discredit her testimony by questioning her relationship with the victim and the eyewitness61 but the Office of the Solicitor General eventually conceded that she was indeed Carlito and Jilito's sister.62 The Court of Appeals, on the other hand, disregarded her testimony on the ground that she did not categorically state that Jilito was unable to see the incident:

Nowhere in her affidavit did Jocelyn categorically say that Jilito did not actually see the events that transpired. Her testimony revolved more on what she perceived and failed to see at the time Carlito was stabbed, rather than what Jilito perceived, because, naturally, only Jilito can testify on that.63 (Citations omitted)

On the contrary, Jocelyn categorically stated that Jilito was inside the house when they were informed by a neighbor that there was a commotion outside involving their brother. She stated that Jilito only learned about the incident when he went out of the house. Learning about an incident after it occurs is the same as not having witnessed it.

The trial court and the Court of Appeals likewise failed to note that the victim's sister was a witness for the defense and the victim's late father signed an affidavit of desistance64 in the accused-appellants' favor. It is consistent with the human experience for the victim's relatives to seek justice.65 An unusual detail, such as two (2) immediate family members of the victim testifying on behalf of the accused-appellants, forces this Court to take a second hard look at the prosecution's evidence.

The delayed arrests of the accused-appellants likewise cast doubt on their guilt. The crime occurred on June 2, 2002. Accused-appellant Jonathan was arrested on April 1, 200566 and accused-appellant Joseph was arrested on August 3, 2005,67 or about three (3) years after the crime was committed.

Accused-appellants remained residents of Barangay Manggahan, Rodriguez, Rizal from the occurrence of the crime in 2002 until their arrests in 2005:

PROS. GONZALES:
. . . .
Q: How long have you stayed at Riverside, Brgy. Manggahan, Rodriguez, Rizal?
A: Since 1994 to 2005, sir.68
Q: When were you arrested, Mr. Witness?
A: March 25, 2005, sir.
Q: Where were you when you were arrested?
A: I was in our place in Manggahan, sir.
Q: After June 2, 2002, or after the alleged incident, where did you go, if you have gone to another place else [sic]?
A: None, sir.
Q: You mean to say, you remained residing in your house located in Manggahan?
A: Yes, sir.69

In People v. Capili,70 this Court was inclined to question the credibility of the supposed eyewitness who only reported the crime a week after it occurred, leading to the accused's acquittal:

The Court finds significance in the accuracy of the time when witness Badua really reported the matter to the brother or father of the victim considering that said victim Alberto Capili was Badua's relative. It is but logical for a relative who was an eyewitness to a crime to promptly and audaciously take the necessary steps to bring the culprit into the hands of the law and seek justice for the poor victim. There is greater probability that Badua only reported the matter, if at all he actually did, to the victim's brother on October 11, 1994 because the latter only went to the authorities to report the matter on October 13, 1994. If we consider this unexplained delay in reporting a crime together with the supposed behavior of accused-appellant and the principal witnesses which we find rather unnatural, it would be rather risky and hazardous to pronounce accused-appellant guilty of the crime charged . . .

In fact, there is even some possibility that Badua's identification of accused-appellant as the perpetrator was a mere afterthought, there being no definite lead as to the identity of the author of the crime even after the lapse of several days following the finding of the cadaver of the victim by the riverbank on October 7, 1994. The foregoing considerations taken together cast reasonable doubt on the culpability of accused-appellant as killer of Alberto Capili. The evidence which stands on record does not eliminate the possibility of absence of foul-play, i.e., that there had been only an accidental death by drowning. Striking a rock after accidentally slipping could cause contusions similar to those found at the back of the victim's head and shoulders and result in the loss of consciousness leading to drowning. Only by proof beyond reasonable doubt, which requires moral certainty, may the presumption of innocence be overcome . . . Moral certainty has been defined as "a certainty that convinces and satisfies the reason and conscience of those who are to act upon it" . . . Absent the moral certainty that accused-appellant caused the death of the victim, acquittal perforce follows.71

This case may be factually different from Capili in that there were warrants of arrest as early as October 2002.72 However, this Court finds echoes of the same unnatural behaviors of the victim's relatives as in Capili. Here, the prosecution has an eyewitness account in the victim's brother Jilito. The victim's family remained in the same barangay.73 The accused-appellants did not live anywhere else but were arrested in the same barangay they had been residing. It is highly unusual for the victim's family to have taken three (3) years to have the alleged perpetrators arrested.

While delay per se may not impair a witness's credibility, doubt arises when the delay remains unexplained. The delay in this case becomes significant when pitted against Jilito's Kusang-loob na Salaysay, where he admits that he merely heard about the incident from other people:

16.T-
Nalaman mo ba kung bakit pinagtulungang suntukin nitong sina Joseph at Jonathan hanggang sa saksakin ang iyong kapatid na si Carlito?


S-
Ang sabi po ng ilang nakasaksi ay bigla na lamang po raw pumasok doon sa grupo ng nag-iinuman itong sina Joseph at Jonathan at biglang pinagsusuntok hanggang sa . . . pagtulungan saksakin ang aking kapatid na si Carlito.74 (Emphasis supplied)

As in Capili, the unexplained delay and the Kusang-loob na Salaysay lead this Court to the possibility that Jilito's supposedly positive identification of the accused-appellants as the perpetrators of the crime was a mere afterthought.

Here, both the victim's father and sister are convinced that accused-appellants are not guilty of the crime. The prosecution's lone eyewitness could not even give a clear and categorical narrative of the events. There were several unusual circumstances during the prosecution of the case that he has not adequately explained. The prosecution having failed to discharge its burden to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt, this Court is constrained to acquit accused-appellants.

WHEREFORE, the appeal is GRANTED. The Decision of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CR-H.C. No. 04821 is REVERSED and SET ASIDE. Accused-appellants Joseph San Jose y Gregorio and Jonathan San Jose y Gregorio are hereby ACQUITTED for failure of the prosecution to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt. They are ordered immediatelyRELEASED unless they are confined for any other lawful cause.

Let entry of judgment be issued immediately.

SO ORDERED.

Peralta,* (Acting Chairperson), Mendoza, and Martires, JJ., concur.
Carpio, J., on official leave.

Endnotes:


* Designated Acting Chairperson per S.O. No. 2445 dated June 16, 2017.

1Rollo, pp. 2-29. The Decision was penned by Associate Justice Rebecca De Guia-Salvador and concurred in by Associate Justices Apolinario D. Bruselas, Jr. and Samuel H. Gaerlan of the Third Division, Court of Appeals, Manila.

2 RTC records, pp. 1-2.

3 Id. at 1.

4 Id. at 14. The Order was penned by Judge Jose C. Reyes, Jr. of Branch 76, Regional Trial Court, San Mateo, Rizal.

5 Id.

6 Id. at 17 and 53.

7 CA rollo, p. 12, RTC Decision.

8 This is referred to as "vacant house" in CA rollo, p. 13.

9 Id. at 12-13, RTC Decision.

10 This is referred to as "vacant lot" in CA rollo, p. 12

11 Id.

12 Id. at 13.

13 Id.

14 Id.

15 Id.

16 Id. at 14, RTC Decision.

17 Id.

18 Id.

19 Id. at 15, RTC Decision.

20 Id. at 12-17. The Decision was penned by Judge Josephine Zarate Fernandez of Branch 76, Regional Trial Court, San Mateo, Rizal.

21 Id. at 16-17.

22 CA rollo, pp. 19-20.

23Rollo, pp. 2-29. The Decision was penned by Associate Justice Rebecca De Guia-Salvador (Chair) and concurred in by Associate Justices Apolinario D. Bruselas, Jr. and Samuel H. Gaerlan of the 3rd Division, Court of Appeals, Manila.

24 Id. at 14-19.

25 Id. at 21-22.

26 Id. at 22-23.

27 Id. at 25.

28 Id. at 24-27.

29 Id. at 27-28.

30 Id. at 30-33.

31 Id. at 34. The Resolution was penned by Associate Justice Rebecca De Guia-Salvador (Chair) and concurred in by Associate Justices Apolinario D. Bruselas, Jr. and Samuel H. Gaerlan of the Third Division, Court of Appeals, Manila.

32 Id. at 37-39.

33 Id. at 44-52.

34 CA rollo, pp. 70-76.

35 Id. at. 77-78.

36Rollo, p. 47.

37 Id. at 47-48.

38 Id. at 49-50.

39 CONST, art. III, sec. 14(2).

40See People v. Macasinag, 255 Phil. 279 (1989) [Per J. Cruz, First Division].

41 388 Phil. 1026 (2000) [Per J. Melo, En Banc].

42 Id. at 1037, citing People vs. Reyes, 158 Phil. 342 (1974) [Per J. Fernando, Second Division] and People vs. Maliwanag, 157 Phil. 313 (1974) [Per J. Esguerra, First Division].

43 See Macayan v. People, 756 Phil. 202, 214 (2015) [Per J. Leonen, Second Division].

44 Id.

45People v. Macasinag, 255 Phil. 279, 281 (1989) [Per J. Cruz, First Division].

46 Id.

47People v. Ortiz, 334 Phil. 590, 601 (1997) [Per J. Francisco, Third Division].

48 518 Phil. 196 (2006) [Per J. Austria-Martinez, First Division].

49 Id. at 220 citing Aradillos v. Court of Appeals, 464 Phil. 650, 659 (2004) [Per J. Austria-Martinez, Second Division].

50 REV. PEN CODE, art. 248 provides:

Article 248. Murder. � Any person who, not falling within the provisions of article 246 shall kill another, shall be guilty of murder and shall be punished by reclusion temporal in its maximum period to death, if committed with any of the following attendant circumstances:

1. With treachery, taking advantage of superior strength, with the aid of armed men, or employing means to weaken the defense or of means or persons to insure or afford impunity.
2. In consideration of a price, reward or promise.
3. By means of inundation, fire, poison, explosion, shipwreck, stranding of a vessel, derailment or assault upon a street car or locomotive, fall of an airship, by means of motor vehicles, or with the use of any other means involving great waste and ruin.
4. On occasion of any of the calamities enumerated in the preceding paragraph, or of an earthquake, eruption of a volcano, destructive cyclone, epidemic, or any other public calamity.
5. With evident premeditation.
6. With cruelty, by deliberately and inhumanly augmenting the suffering of the victim, or outraging or scoffing at his person or corpse.

51See People v. Obosa, 429 Phil. 522, 537 (2002) [Per J. Sandoval-Gutierrez, En Banc].

52 CA rollo, p. 15.

53 Id.

54 TSN dated January 24, 2006, p. 7.

55 TSN dated January 24, 2006, pp. 14-15.

56 Rollo, p. 12.

57 Id. at 16. The "vacant house" is also referred to as "vacant lot" in CA rollo, p. 12.

58 TSN dated January 24, 2006, pp. 10-12.

59 RTC Decision, p. 2, CA rollo, p. 14.

60 TSN dated September 16, 2009, pp. 3-4.

61 TSN dated September 16, 2009, pp. 6-7.

62 CA rollo, p. 77.

63Rollo, p. 19.

64 RTC records, p. 251.

65See People v. Capili, 388 Phil. 1026, 1036 (2000) [Per J. Melo, En Banc]

66 RTC records, p. 17.

67 Id. at 53.

68 TSN dated February 12, 2009, pp. 11-12.

69 TSN dated May 11, 2009, pp. 5-6.

70 388 Phil. 1026, 1036-1037 (2000) [Per J. Melo, En Banc].

71 Id. citing People vs. Vergara, 82 Phil. 207 (1948) [Per J. Perfecto, En Banc]; People vs. Custodio, 150-C Phil. 84 (1972) [Per J. Antonio, En Banc]; and People vs. Lavarias, 132 Phil. 766 (1967) [Per J. Fernando, En Banc].

72 RTC records, pp. 10-11.

73 See TSN dated January 24, 2006, p. 2 and TSN dated September 16, 2009, p. 2.

74 RTC records, pp. 203-204.




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July-2017 Jurisprudence                 

  • G.R. No. 170341, July 05, 2017 - MANILA BULLETIN PUBLISHING CORPORATION AND RUTHER BATUIGAS, Petitioners, v. VICTOR A. DOMINGO AND THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 211170, July 03, 2017 - SPOUSES MAXIMO ESPINOZA AND WINIFREDA DE VERA, Petitioners, v. SPOUSES ANTONIO MAYANDOC AND ERLINDA CAYABYAB MAYANDOC, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 224395, July 03, 2017 - DISCIPLINARY BOARD, LAND TRANSPORTATION OFFICE; ATTY. TEOFILO E. GUADIZ, CHAIRMAN; ATTY. NOREEN BERNADETTE SAN LUIS-LUTEY; AND PUTIWAS MALAMBUT, MEMBERS; ATTY. MERCY JANE B. PARAS�-LEYNES, SPECIAL PROSECUTOR; AND ATTY. ROBERTO P. CABRERA III, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE LAND TRANSPORTATION OFFICE, Petitioners, v. MERCEDITA E. GUTIERREZ, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 213424, July 11, 2017 - LAND BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES, Petitioner, v. COMMISSION ON AUDIT (COA), JANET D. NACION, ANTONIO L. CASTILLO, LEAH S. DAGUIO, VIRGINIA G. DATUKON, ELSA H. RAMOS-MAPILI, CECILIA C. RACIMO, FLORENTINA N. SAGABAEN, IRENE P. SALVANERA, NIMFA VILLAROMAN-SANTOS, TERESITA D. TEVES, AND LILIAN F. VARELA, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 218384, July 03, 2017 - JOHN L. BORJA AND AUBREY L. BORJA/DONG JUAN, Petitioners, v. RANDY B. MI�OZA AND ALAINE S. BANDALAN, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 224515, July 03, 2017 - REMEDIOS V. GE�ORGA, Petitioner, v. HEIRS OF JULIAN MELITON, REPRESENTED BY ROBERTO MELITON AS ATTORNEY-IN-FACT, IRENE MELITON, HENRY MELITON, ROBERTO MELITON, HAIDE* MELITON, AND MARIA FE MELITON ESPINOSA, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 202308, July 05, 2017 - PHILIPPINE NATIONAL BANK, Petitioner, v. JUMELITO T. DALMACIO, Respondent.; G.R. No. 202357 - JUMELITO T. DALMACIO, Petitioner, v. PHILIPPINE NATIONAL BANK AND/OR MS. CYNTHIA JAVIER, Respondents.

  • A.M. No. SB-17-24-P [Formerly A.M. No. 14-12-07-SB], July 11, 2017 - SECURITY AND SHERIFF DIVISION, SANDIGANBAYAN, Complainant, v. RONALD ALLAN GOLE R. CRUZ, SECURITY GUARD I, SECURITY AND SHERIFF DIVISION, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 220057, July 12, 2017 - RENE MICHAEL FRENCH, Petitioner, v. COURT OF APPEALS, EIGHTEENTH DIVISION, CEBU CITY AND MAGDALENA O'DELL, REPRESENTED BY HECTOR P. TEODOSIO AS HER ATTORNEY-IN-FACT, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 227894, July 05, 2017 - JOSE S. OCAMPO, Petitioner, v. RICARDO S. OCAMPO, SR., Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 212641, July 05, 2017 - ANGELICA A. FAJARDO, Petitioner, v. MARIO J. CORRAL, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 223513, July 05, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. ALEX AMAR Y MONTANO, Accused-Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 223862, July 10, 2017 - HON. MYLYN P. CAYABYAB, IN HER CAPACITY AS THE MUNICIPAL MAYOR OF LUBAO, PAMPANGA, AND ANGELITO L. DAVID, IN HIS CAPACITY AS THE BARANGAY CHAIRMAN OF PRADO SIONGCO, LUBAO, PAMPANGA, REPRESENTED BY THEIR ATTORNEY-IN-FACT, EMMANUEL SANTOS, Petitioners, v. JAIME C. DIMSON, REPRESENTED BY HIS ATTORNEYS-IN-FACT, CARMELA R. DIMSON AND IRENE R. DIMSON, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 216124, July 19, 2017 - RIZAL COMMERCIAL BANKING CORPORATION, Petitioner, v. FEDERICO A. SERRA, SPOUSES EDUARDO AND HENEDINA ANDUEZA, ATTY. LEOMAR R. LANUZA, MR. JOVITO C. SORIANO, ATTY. EDWIN L. RANA, ATTY. PARIS G. REAL, ATTY. PRUDENCIO B. DENSING, JR., HON. JUDGE MAXIMINO R. ABLES, AND ATTY. ERWIN S. OLIVA, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 188057, July 12, 2017 - HILLTOP MARKET FISH VENDORS' ASSOCIATION, INC., Petitioner, v. HON. BRAULIO YARANON, CITY MAYOR, BAGUIO CITY, HON. GALO WEYGAN, CITY COUNCILOR AND CHAIRMAN ANTI-VICE COORDINATING TASK FORCE, AND THE CITY GOVERNMENT OF BAGUIO, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 190590, July 12, 2017 - ROBERTO V. SAN JOSE AND DELFIN P. ANGCAO, Petitioners, v. JOSE MA. OZAMIZ, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 167952, July 05, 2017 - GONZALO PUYAT & SONS, INC., Petitioner, v. RUBEN ALCAIDE (DECEASED), SUBSTITUTED BY GLORIA ALCAIDE, REPRESENTATIVE OF THE FARMER� BENEFICIARIES, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 225051, July 19, 2017 - DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS (DFA), Petitioner, v. BCA INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION & AD HOC ARBITRAL TRIBUNAL, COMPOSED OF CHAIRMAN DANILO L. CONCEPCION AND MEMBERS, CUSTODIO O. PARLADE AND ANTONIO P. JAMON, JR., Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 220926, July 05, 2017 - LUIS JUAN L. VIRATA AND UEM-�MARA PHILIPPINES CORPORATION (NOW KNOWN AS CAVITEX INFRASTRUCTURE CORPORATION), Petitioners, v. ALEJANDRO NG WEE, WESTMONT INVESTMENT CORP., ANTHONY T. REYES, SIMEON CUA, VICENTE CUALOPING, HENRY CUALOPING, MARIZA SANTOS�TAN, AND MANUEL ESTRELLA, Respondents.; G.R. No. 221058 - WESTMONT INVESTMENT, CORPORATION, Petitioner, v. ALEJANDRO NG WEE, Respondent.; G.R. No. 221109 - MANUEL ESTRELLA, Petitioner, v. ALEJANDRO NG WEE, Respondent.; G.R. No. 221135 - SIMEON CUA, VICENTE CUALOPING, AND HENRY CUALOPING, Petitioners, v. ALEJANDRO NG WEE, Respondent.; G.R. No. 221218 - ANTHONY T. REYES, Petitioner, v. ALEJANDRO NG WEE, LUIS JUAN VIRATA, UEM-MARA PHILIPPINES CORP., WESTMONT INVESTMENT CORP., MARIZA SANTOS-TAN, SIMEON CUA, VICENTE CUALOPING, HENRY CUALOPING, AND MANUEL ESTRELLA, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 204544, July 03, 2017 - MARLON BACERRA Y TABONES, Petitioner, v. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 209555, July 31, 2017 - UNITED POLYRESINS, INC., ERNESTO UY SOON, JR., AND/OR JULITO UY SOON, Petitioners, v. MARCELINO PINUELA, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 217982, July 10, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. ROLLY DIZON Y TAGULAYLAY, Accused-Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 208000, July 26, 2017 - VIRGEL DAVE JAPOS, Petitioner, v. FIRST AGRARIAN REFORM MULTI-PURPOSE COOPERATIVE (FARMCOOP) AND-OR CRISLINO BAGARES, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 214340, July 19, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. GILDA ABELLANOSA, Accused-Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 215332, July 24, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. MARK GAMBA Y NISSORADA, Accused-Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 215029, July 05, 2017 - SUMMIT ONE CONDOMINIUM CORPORATION, Petitioner, v. POLLUTION ADJUDICATION BOARD AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT BUREAU - NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 204617, July 10, 2017 - ESPERANZA BERBOSO, Petitioner, v. VICTORIA CABRAL, Respondent.

  • A.C. No. 10553, July 05, 2017 - FILIPINAS O. CELEDONIO, Complainant, v. ATTY. JAIME F. ESTRABILLO, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 223678, July 05, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. ALFREDO GUNSAY Y TOLENTINO, Defendant-Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 223138, July 05, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. RICKY PRIMAVERA Y REMODO, Accused-Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 185647, July 26, 2017 - DY TEBAN TRADING, INC., Petitioner, v. PETER C. DY, JOHNNY C. DY AND RAMON C. DY, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 203902, July 19, 2017 - SPOUSES DIONISIO ESTRADA AND JOVITA R. ESTRADA, Petitioners, v. PHILIPPINE RABBIT BUS LINES, INC. AND EDUARDO R. SAYLAN, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 230481, July 26, 2017 - HOEGH FLEET SERVICES PHILS., INC., AND/OR HOEGH FLEET SERVICES AS, Petitioners, v. BERNARDO M. TURALLO, Respondent.; G.R. No. 230500 - BERNARDO M. TURALLO, Petitioner, v. HOEGH FLEET SERVICES PHILS., INC., AND/OR HOEGH FLEET SERVICES AS, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 218910, July 05, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. LUTHER SABADO, SATURNINO SABADO Y LOMBOY AND HOSPICIO HARUTA Y MARTINEZ, ACCUSED, LUTHER SABADO Y PANGANGAAN, Accused-Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 220889, July 05, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. MARLON BELMONTE Y SUMAGIT, MARVIN BELMONTE Y SUMAGIT, ENRILE GABAY Y DELA TORRE A.K.A "PUNO", AND NOEL BAAC Y BERGULA, Accused, -- MARLON BELMONTE Y SUMAGIT, Accused-Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 220700, July 10, 2017 - OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY OMBUDSMAN FOR LUZON, Petitioner, v. EUFROCINA CARLOS DIONISIO AND WINIFREDO SALCEDO MOLINA, Respondents.

  • A.M. No. 17-03-03-CA, July 11, 2017 - RE: LETTER OF RAFAEL DIMAANO REQUESTING INVESTIGATION OF THE ALLEGED ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES PURPORTEDLY PERPETRATED BY ASSOCIATE JUSTICE JANE AURORA C. LANTION OF THE COURT OF APPEALS, CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, AND A CERTAIN ATTY. DOROTHY S. CAJAYON OF ZAMBOANGA CITY; OCA IPI No. 17-258-CA-J, July 11, 2017 - RE: UNSWORN COMPLAINT OF ROSA ABDULHARAN AGAINST ASSOCIATE JUSTICE JANE AURORA C. LANTION OF THE COURT OF APPEALS, CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, AND A CERTAIN ATTY. DOROTHY S. CAJAYON OF ZAMBOANGA CITY

  • A.C. No. 8450, July 26, 2017 - SPOUSES FELIX AND FE NAVARRO, Complainants, v. ATTY. MARGARITO G. YGO�A, Respondent.

  • A.C. No. 11663, July 31, 2017 - NANETTE B. SISON, REPRESENTED BY DELIA B. SARABIA, Complainant, v. ATTY. SHERDALE M. VALDEZ, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 225054, July 17, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. AGAPITO DIMAALA Y ARELA, Accused-Appellant.

  • A.C. No. 6933, July 05, 2017 - GREGORIO V. CAPINPIN, JR., Complainant, v. ATTY. ESTANISLAO L. CESA, JR., Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 213922, July 05, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. ROMMEL DIPUTADO, Accused-Appellant.

  • A.M. No. P-06-2253 (Formerly A.M. No. 06-9-297-MTC), July 12, 2017 - THE OFFICE OF THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR, Complainant, v. ELIZABETH R. TENGCO, CLERK OF COURT II, MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURT, STA. CRUZ, LAGUNA, Respondent.; A.M. No. P-07-2360 (Formerly OCA IPI No. 06-2427-P), July 12, 2017 - JUDGE ELPIDIO R. CALIS, Complainant, v. ELIZABETH R. TENGCO, CLERK OF COURT II, MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURT, STA. CRUZ, LAGUNA, Respondent.; A.M. No. P-13-3157 (Formerly A.M. No. 12-4-30-MTC), July 12, 2017 - THE OFFICE OF THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR, Complainant, v. ELIZABETH R. TENGCO, FORMER CLERK OF COURT II, MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURT, STA. CRUZ, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 231671, July 25, 2017 - ALEXANDER A. PADILLA, RENE A.V. SAGUISAG, CHRISTIAN S. MONSOD, LORETTA ANN P. ROSALES, RENE B. GOROSPE, AND SENATOR LEILA M. DE LIMA, Petitioners, v. CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES, CONSISTING OF THE SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES, AS REPRESENTED BY SENATE PRESIDENT AQUILINO "KOKO" PIMENTEL III, AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS REPRESENTED BY HOUSE SPEAKER PANTALEON D. ALVAREZ, Respondents.; G.R. No. 231694 - FORMER SEN. WIGBERTO E. TA�ADA, BISHOP EMERITUS DEOGRACIAS S. I�IGUEZ, BISHOP BRODERICK PABILLO, BISHOP ANTONIO R. TOBIAS, MO. ADELAIDA YGRUBAY, SHAMAH BULANGIS AND CASSANDRA D. DELURIA, Petitioners, v. CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES, CONSISTING OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AQUILINO "KOKO" PIMENTEL III, PRESIDENT, SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES, AND PANTALEON D. ALVAREZ, SPEAKER, HOUSE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 201018, July 12, 2017 - UNITED COCONUT CHEMICALS, INC., Petitioner, v. VICTORIANO B. VALMORES, Respondent.

  • A.C. No. 11668, July 17, 2017 - JOY T. SAMONTE, Complainant, v. ATTY. VIVENCIO V. JUMAMIL, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 227757, July 25, 2017 - REPRESENTATIVE TEDDY BRAWNER BAGUILAT, JR., REPRESENTATIVE EDCEL C. LAGMAN, REPRESENTATIVE RAUL A. DAZA, REPRESENTATIVE EDGAR R. ERICE, REPRESENTATIVE EMMANUEL A. BILLONES, REPRESENTATIVE TOMASITO S. VILLARIN, AND REPRESENTATIVE GARY C. ALEJANO, Petitioners, v. SPEAKER PANTALEON D. ALVAREZ, MAJORITY LEADER RODOLFO C. FARI�AS, AND REPRESENTATIVE DANILO E. SUAREZ, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 220458, July 26, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. ROSARIO BALADJAY, Accused-Appellant.

  • A.C. No. 5161, July 11, 2017 - RE: IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION FOR REINSTATEMENT OF ROLANDO S. TORRES AS A MEMBER OF THE PHILIPPINE BAR. -- ROLANDO S. TORRES, Petitioner.

  • G.R. No. 207193, July 24, 2017 - ROBLE BARBOSA AND RAMDY BARBOSA, Petitioners, v. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 215200, July 26, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. NOMERTO NAPOLES Y BAJAS, Accused-Appellant.

  • A.C. No. 1346, July 25, 2017 - PACES INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION, Petitioner, v. ATTY. EDGARDO M. SALANDANAN, Respondent.

  • A.M. No. MTJ-15-1854 [Formerly A.M. No. 14-4-50-MCTC], July 11, 2017 - OFFICE OF THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR, Complainant, v. PRESIDING JUDGE BILL D. BUYUCAN AND CLERK OF COURT GERARD N. LINDAWAN, BOTH AT MUNICIPAL CIRCUIT TRIAL COURT, BAGABAG-DIADI, NUEVA VIZCAYA, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 212616, July 10, 2017 - DISTRIBUTION & CONTROL PRODUCTS, INC./VINCENT M. TIAMSIC, Petitioners, v. JEFFREY E. SANTOS, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 220759, July 24, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. ARMANDO MENDOZA Y POTOLIN A.K.A. "JOJO," Accused-Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 219649, July 26, 2017 - AL DELA CRUZ, Petitioner, v. CAPT. RENATO OCTAVIANO AND WILMA OCTAVIANO, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 212098, July 26, 2017 - JULIO C. ESPERE, Petitioner, v. NFD INTERNATIONAL MANNING AGENTS, INC./TARGET SHIP MANAGEMENT PTE LTD./CYNTHIA SANCHEZ, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 181474, July 26, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. ROMALDO LUMAYAG Y DELA CRUZ, DIONY OPINIANO Y VERANO, AND JERRY1 DELA CRUZ Y DIAZ, ACCUSED, DIONY OPINIANO Y VERANO, Accused-Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 228412, July 26, 2017 - ALASKA MILK CORPORATION AND THE ESTATE OF WILFRED UYTENGSU, Petitioners, v. ERNESTO L. PONCE, Respondent.; G.R. No. 228439, 26 July 2017 - ERNESTO L. PONCE, Petitioner, v. ALASKA MILK CORPORATION, ROYAL FRIESLAND CAMPINA (RFC), AS SUCCESSORS-IN-INTEREST AND SOLIDARY DEBTORS WITH THE ESTATE OF WILFRED UYTENGSU, ALASKA MILK WORKERS UNION AND FREDDIE BAUTISTA, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 206916, July 03, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. JOSEPH SAN JOSE Y GREGORIO AND JONATHAN SAN JOSE Y GREGORIO, Accused-Appellants.

  • G.R. No. 191458, July 03, 2017 - CHINATRUST (PHILS.) COMMERCIAL BANK, Petitioner, v. PHILIP TURNER, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 228296, July 26, 2017 - GRIEG PHILIPPINES, INC., GRIEG SHIPPING GROUP AS, AND/OR MANUEL F. ORTIZ, Petitioners, v. MICHAEL JOHN M. GONZALES, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 198196, July 17, 2017 - SPOUSES LORETO AND MILAGROS SIBAY AND SPOUSES RUEL AND OLGA ELAS, Petitioners, v. SPOUSES BIENVENIDO AND JUANITA BERMUDEZ, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 197526, July 26, 2017 - CE LUZON GEOTHERMAL POWER COMPANY, INC., Petitioner, v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent.; G.R. No. 199676-77, July 26, 2017 - REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, REPRESENTED BY THE BUREAU OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Petitioner, v. CE LUZON GEOTHERMAL POWER COMPANY, INC., Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 221424, July 19, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. ROBELYN CABANADA Y ROSAURO, Accused-Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 219885, July 17, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Appellee, v. AUGUSTO F. GALLANOSA, JR., Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 173120 & 173141, July 26, 2017 - SPOUSES YU HWA PING AND MARY GAW, Petitioners, v. AYALA LAND, INC., Respondent.; G.R. No. 173141, July 26, 2017 - HEIRS OF SPOUSES ANDRES DIAZ AND JOSEFA MIA, Petitioners, v. AYALA LAND, INC., Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 183408, July 12, 2017 - COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Petitioner, v. LANCASTER PHILIPPINES, INC., Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 217345, July 12, 2017 - WILMER O. DE ANDRES, Petitioner, v. DIAMOND H MARINE SERVICES & SHIPPING AGENCY, INC., WU CHUN HUA AND RUBEN J. TURINGAN, Respondents.

  • G.R.. No. 214529, July 12, 2017 - JERRYSUS L. TILAR, Petitioner, v. REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 214300, July 26, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Petitioner, v. MANUEL ESCOBAR, Respondent.

  • A.C. No. 11482, July 17, 2017 - JOCELYN IGNACIO, Complainant, v. ATTY. DANIEL T. ALVIAR, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 213192, July 12, 2017 - TERESA R. IGNACIO, Petitioner, v. RAMON REYES, FLORENCIO REYES, JR., ROSARIO R. DU AND CARMELITA R. PASTOR, Respondents.

  • A.M. No. MTJ-16-1883 (Formerly OCA IPI No. 12-2497-MTJ), July 11, 2017 - EMMA G. ALFELOR, Complainant, v. HON. AUGUSTUS C. DIAZ, PRESIDING JUDGE, METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURT, BRANCH 37, QUEZON CITY, Respondent.

  • A.C. No. 10580, July 12, 2017 - SPOUSES GERALDY AND LILIBETH VICTORY, Complainants, v. ATTY. MARIAN JO S. MERCADO, Respondent.

  • A.C. No. 9919, July 19, 2017 - DR. EDUARDO R. ALICIAS, JR. COMPLAINANT, VS. ATTY. VIVENCIO S. BACLIG, Respondent.

  • A.C. No. 7824, July 19, 2017 - ELIEZER F. CASTRO AND BETHULIA C. CASAFRANCISCO, Complainants, v. ATTY. JOHN BIGAY, JR. AND ATTY. JUAN SIAPNO, JR., Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 196412, July 19, 2017 - LAND BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES, Petitioner, v. MIGUEL OMENGAN, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 174670, July 26, 2017 - PHILCONTRUST RESOURCES INC. (FORMERLY KNOWN AS INTER-ASIA LAND CORPORATION), Petitioner, v. CARLOS SANTIAGO, LITO PALANGANAN, OLIMPIA ERCE, TAGUMPAY REYES, DOMINGO LUNA, RICARDO DIGO, FRANCIS DIGO, VIRGILIO DIGO, CORAZON DIGO, WILBERT SORTEJAS, ADRIEL SANTIAGO, CARLOS SANTIAGO JR., SEGUNDO BALDONANSA, RODRIGO DIGO, PAULINO MENDOZA, SOFRONIO OLEGARIO, BERNARD MENDOZA, JUN DELPINADO, EDILBERTO CABEL, ERINITO MAGSAEL, HONORIO BOURBON, MAURICIO SENARES, RICARTE DE GUZMAN, MANUEL DE CASTRO, CENON MOSO, JESUS EBDANI, DOMINGO HOLGADO, LETICIA PELLE, REY SELLATORES, EFREN CABRERA, RONNIE DIGO, RENATO OLIMPIAD, RICARDO LAGARDE, ERIC DIGO, ISAGANI SENARES, CANCIANO PAYAD, MELITONA PALANGANAN, VIRGILIO PERENA, EDGARDO PAYAD, WINNIE CABANSAG, WINNIE AVINANTE, AND VALENTINA SANTIAGO, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 227695, July 31, 2017 - GENPACT SERVICES, INC., AND DANILO SEBASTIAN REYES, Petitioners, v. MARIA KATRINA SANTOS�FALCESO, JANICE ANN* M. MENDOZA, AND JEFFREY S. MARIANO, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 227038, July 31, 2017 - JEFFREY MIGUEL Y REMEGIO, Petitioner, v. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 202342, July 19, 2017 - AMA LAND, INC., Petitioner, v. WACK WACK RESIDENTS' ASSOCIATION, INC., Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 208735, July 19, 2017 - BDO UNIBANK, INC. (FORMERLY EQUITABLE PCI BANK), Petitioner, v. NESTOR N. NERBES AND ARMENIA F. SURAVILLA, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 215874, July 05, 2017 - ARLO ALUMINUM, INC., Petitioner, v. VICENTE M. PI�ON, JR., IN BEHALF OF VIC EDWARD PI�ON, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 218250, July 10, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. GIO COSGAFA Y CLAMOCHA, JIMMY SARCEDA Y AGANG, AND ALLAN VIVO Y APLACADOR, Accused-Appellants.

  • G.R. No. 210129, July 05, 2017 - S/SGT. CORNELIO PAMAN, Petitioner, v. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 224974, July 03, 2017 - MARVIN CRUZ AND FRANCISCO CRUZ, IN HIS CAPACITY AS BONDSMAN, Petitioners, v. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 212814, July 12, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. ERNIE CARILLO Y PABELLO ALIAS "NANNY," RONALD ESPIQUE Y LEGASPI ALIAS "BORLOK," RAFAEL SUSADA Y GALURA ALIAS "RAFFY," Accused; ERNIE P. CARILLO AND RONALD L. ESPIQUE, Accused-Appellants.

  • G.R. No. 207684, July 17, 2017 - PHILTRANCO SERVICE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND/OR JOSE PEPITO ALVAREZ, ARSENIO YAP AND CENTURION SOLANO, Petitioners, v. FRANKLIN CUAL, NOEL PORMENTO, RAMIL TIMOG, WILFREDO PALADO, ROBERTO VILLARAZA, JOSE NERIO ARTISTA, CESAR SANCHEZ, RENERIO MATOCI�OS, VALENTINO SISCAR, LARRY ACASIO, GERARDO NONATO, JOSE SAFRED, JUAN LUNA, GREGORIO MEDINA, NESTOR ZAGADA, FRANCISCO MIRANDA, LEON MANUEL VILLAFLOR, RODOLFO NOLASCO, REYNALDO PORTES, GERARDO CALINYAO, LUTARDO DAYOLA, VICENTE BALDOS, ROGELIO MEJARES, RENIE SILOS AND SERVANDO PETATE, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 208013, July 03, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. EDGAR ALLAN CORPUZ Y FLORES, Accused-Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 208441, July 17, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. ZENAIDA FABRO OR ZENAIDA MANALASTAS Y VI�EGAS, Accused-Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 221443, July 17, 2017 - THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. DOMINADOR LADRA, Accused-Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 219501, July 26, 2017 - POLICE DIRECTOR GENERAL ALAN LA MADRID PURISIMA, Petitioner, v. HON. CONCHITA CARPIO MORALES, IN HER OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS THE OMBUDSMAN OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 232413 [Formerly UDK 15419], July 25, 2017 - IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION FOR ISSUANCE OF WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS WITH PETITION FOR RELIEF - INTEGRATED BAR OF THE PHILIPPINES PANGASINAN LEGAL AID AND JAY-AR R. SENIN, Petitioners, v. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, PROVINCIAL PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, BUREAU OF JAIL MANAGEMENT AND PENOLOGY, AND PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 223610, July 24, 2017 - CONCHITA S. UY, CHRISTINE UY DY, SYLVIA UY SY, JANE UY TAN, JAMES LYNDON S. UY, IRENE S. UY,* ERICSON S. UY, JOHANNA S. UY, AND JEDNATHAN S. UY, Petitioners, v. CRISPULO DEL CASTILLO, SUBSTITUTED BY HIS HEIRS PAULITA MANATAD-DEL CASTILLO, CESAR DEL CASTILLO, AVITO DEL CASTILLO, NILA C. DUE�AS, NIDA C. LATOSA, LORNA C. BERNARDO, GIL DEL CASTILLO, LIZA C. GUNGOB, ALMA DEL CASTILLO, AND GEMMA DEL CASTILLO, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 210615, July 26, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. ABENIR BRUSOLA Y BARAGWA, Accused-Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 218205, July 05, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. MARCIAL D. PULGO, Accused-Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 196888, July 19, 2017 - AURELIA NARCISE, GLORIA A. DELA CRUZ, MARITESS O. GARCIA, PHILIP FALCON, ENRICO M. VITUG, LYNETTE C. PONTRERAS, BONIFACIO BARRAMEDA, RAMON S. MORADA, MANUEL G. VIOLA, ZENAIDA LANUZA, CIRILO G. SALTO, TEODORO DEL ROSARIO, NANCY G. INSIGNE, MELANIE G. VIANA, ROMEO TICSAY, AMY J. FRANCISCO, MARIE J. FRANCISCO, ZENAIDA LANUZA, MIGUELITO B. MARTINEZ, APOLONIO SANTOS, MARIVIC TAN, JANE CLOR DILEMA, VALENTINO DILEMA, JOSE L. PANGAN, ANTONIA M. MANGELEN, IMELDA MANALASTAS, TEODORICO N. ANDRADE, AIDA L. CRUZ, MANUEL YAMBOT, JAIME SERDENA, ARIEL PALACIOS, EVE BOLNEO, LIBETINE MODESTO, MA. AILEEN VERDE, BENNY ILAGAN, MICHELLE ROMANA, DANILO VILLANUEVA, LEO NALUGON, ROSSANA MARASIGAN, NELIE BINAY AND ISABELITA MENDOZA, Petitioners, v. VALBUECO, INC., Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 217973, July 19, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. FEDERICO GEROLA Y AMAR ALIAS "FIDEL", Accused-Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 211947, July 03, 2017 - HEIRS OF CAYETANO CASCAYAN, REPRESENTED BY LA PAZ MARTINEZ, Petitioners, v. SPOUSES OLIVER AND EVELYN GUMALLAOI, AND THE MUNICIPAL ENGINEER OF BANGUI, ILOCOS NORTE, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 220383, July 05, 2017 - SONEDCO WORKERS FREE LABOR UNION (SWOFLU) / RENATO YUDE, MARIANITO REGINO, MANUEL YUMAGUE, FRANCISCO DACUDAG, RUDY ABABAO, DOMINIC SORNITO, SERGIO CAJUYONG, ROMULO LABONETE, GENEROSO GRANADA, EMILIO AGUS, ARNOLD CAYAO, BEN GENEVE, VICTOR MAQUE, RICARDO GOMEZ, RODOLFO GAWAN, JIMMY SULLIVAN, FEDERICO SUMUGAT, JR., ROMULO AVENTURA, JR., JURRY MAGALLANES, HERNAN EPISTOLA, JR., ROBERTO BELARTE, EDMON MONTALVO, TEODORO MAGUAD, DOMINGO TABABA, MAXIMO SALE, CYRUS DIONILLO, LEONARDO JUNSAY, JR., DANILO SAMILLION, MARIANITO BOCATEJA, JUANITO GEBUSION, RICARDO MAYO, RAUL ALIMON, ARNEL ARNAIZ, REBENCY BASOY, JIMMY VICTORIO BERNALDE, RICARDO BOCOL, JR., JOB CALAMBA, WOLFRANDO CALAMBA, RODOLFO CASISID, JR., EDGARDO DELA PENA, ALLAN DIONILLO, EDMUNDO EBIDO, JOSE ELEPTICO, JR., MARCELINO FLORES, HERNANDO FUENTEBILLA, SAUL HITALIA, JOSELITO JAGODILLA, NONITO JAYME, ADJIE JUANILLO, JEROLD JUDILLA, EDILBERTO NACIONAL, SANDY NAVALES, FELIPE NICOLASORA, JOSE PAMALO-AN, ISMAEL PEREZ, JR., ERNESTO RANDO, JR., PHILIP REPULLO, VICENTE RUIZ, JR., JOHN SUMUGAT, CARLO SUSANA, ROMEO TALAPIERO, JR., FERNANDO TRIENTA, FINDY VILLACRUZ, JOEL VILLANUEVA, AND JERRY MONTELIBANO, Petitioners, v. UNIVERSAL ROBINA CORPORATION, SUGAR DIVISION-SOUTHERN NEGROS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (SONEDCO), Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 224102, July 26, 2017 - RYAN MARIANO Y GARCIA, Petitioner, v. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondent.

  • G.R. Nos. 193969-193970, July 05, 2017 - KA KUEN CHUA, DOING BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME AND STYLE KA KUEN CHUA ARCHITECTURAL, Petitioner, v. COLORITE MARKETING CORPORATION, Respondent.; G.R. Nos. 194027-194028 - COLORITE MARKETING CORPORATION, Petitioner, v. KA KUEN CHUA, DOING BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME AND STYLE KA KUEN CHUA ARCHITECTURAL, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 197032, July 26, 2017 - SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, Petitioner, v. PRICE RICHARDSON CORPORATION, CONSUELO VELARDE-ALBERT, AND GORDON RESNICK, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 205614, July 26, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. JAIME SEGUNDO Y IGLESIAS, Accused-Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 181953, July 25, 2017 - LAND BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES, Petitioner, v. RURAL BANK OF HERMOSA (BATAAN), INC., Respondent.

  • A.M. No. MTJ-16-1886 (Formerly OCA IPI No. 16-2869-MTJ), July 25, 2017 - ANONYMOUS COMPLAINT, Complainant, v. PRESIDING JUDGE EXEQUIL L. DAGALA, MUNICIPAL CIRCUIT TRIAL COURT, DAPA-SOCORRO, DAPA, SURIGAO DEL NORTE, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 217453, July 19, 2017 - DENMARK S. VALMORES, Petitioner, v. DR. CRISTINA ACHACOSO, IN HER CAPACITY AS DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, AND DR. GIOVANNI CABILDO, FACULTY OF THE MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 220835, July 26, 2017 - COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Petitioner, v. SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE, INC., Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 207765, July 26, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. JULITO DIVINAGRACIA, SR., Accused-Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 199825, July 26, 2017 - BRO. BERNARD OCA, BRO. DENNIS MAGBANUA, CIRILA N. MOJICA, ALEJANDRO N. MOJICA, JOSEFINA PASCUAL, SILVESTRE PASCUAL AND ST. FRANCIS SCHOOL OF GENERAL TRIAS, CAVITE, INC., Petitioners, v. LAURITA CUSTODIO, Respondent.

  • A.C. No. 11494, July 24, 2017 - HEIRS OF JUAN DE DIOS E. CARLOS, NAMELY, JENNIFER N. CARLOS, JOCELYN N. CARLOS, JACQUELINE CARLOS�-DOMINGUEZ, JO-ANN CARLOS-�TABUTON, JIMMY N. CARLOS, LORNA A. CARLOS, JERUSHA ANN A. CARLOS AND JAN JOSHUA A. CARLOS, Complainants, v. ATTY. JAIME S. LINSANGAN, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 191657, July 31, 2017 - NATIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY, Petitioner, v. DOMINADOR LAURITO, HERMINIA Z. LAURITO, NIEVES A. LAURITO, NECITAS LAURITO VDA. DE DE LEON, ZENAIDA D. LAURITO, CORNELIA LAURITO VDA. DE MANGA, AGRIPINA T. LAURITO, VITALIANA P. LAURITO, REPRESENTED BY: DOMINADOR LAURITO, Respondents.; HEIRS OF RUFINA MANARIN, NAMELY: CONSUELO M. LOYOLA-�BARUGA, ROSY M. LOYOLA-�GONZALES, BIENVENIDO L. RIVERA, REYNALDO L. RIVERA, ISABELITA A. LOYOLA, LIWAYWAY A. LOYOLA, LOLITA A. LOYOLA, LEANDRO A. LOYOLA, PERLITO L. LOYOLA, GAVINA L. LOYOLA, ZORAIDA L. PURIFICACION, PERLITA L. DIZON, LUCENA R. LOYOLA, ANITA L. REYES, VISITACION L. ZAMORA, CRISTINA L. CARDONA, NOEL P. LOYOLA, ROMEO P. LOYOLA, JR., FERDINAND P. LOYOLA, EDGARDO A. LOYOLA, DIONISA L. BUENA, SALUD L. MAPALAD, CORAZON L. SAMBILLO, VIDAL A. LOYOLA, AND MILAGROS A. LOYOLA, REPRESENTED BY THEIR ATTORNEY-IN-FACT ZOSIMO A. LOYOLA, Petitioner-Intervenors.

  • G.R. No. 222699, July 24, 2017 - MAUNLAD TRANS INC., CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES AND/OR AMADO CASTRO, Petitioners, v. GABRIEL ISIDRO, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 230664, July 24, 2017 - EDWARD M. COSUE, Petitioner, v. FERRITZ INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, MELISSA TANYA F. GERMINO AND ANTONIO A. FERNANDO, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 209452, July 26, 2017 - GOTESCO PROPERTIES, INC., Petitioner, v. SOLIDBANK CORPORATION (NOW METROPOLITAN BANK AND TRUST COMPANY), Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 228628, July 25, 2017 - REP. REYNALDO V. UMALI, IN HIS CAPACITY AS CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES COMMITTEE ON JUSTICE AND EX OFFICIO MEMBER OF THE JBC, Petitioner, v. THE JUDICIAL AND BAR COUNCIL, CHAIRED BY THE HON. MARIA LOURDES P.A. SERENO, CHIEF JUSTICE AND EX OFFICIO CHAIRPERSON, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 206890, July 31, 2017 - EVIC HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT INC., FREE BULKERS S.A. AND/OR MA. VICTORIA C. NICOLAS, Petitioners, v. ROGELIO O. PANAHON, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 204530, July 26, 2017 - REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, REPRESENTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS, Petitioner, v. POTENCIANO A. LARRAZABAL, SR., VICTORIA LARRAZABAL LOCSIN AND BETTY LARRAZABAL MACATUAL, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 231658, July 04, 2017 - REPRESENTATIVES EDCEL C. LAGMAN, TOMASITO S. VILLARIN, GARY C. ALEJA�O, EMMANUEL A. BILLONES, AND TEDDY BRAWNER BAGUILAT, JR., Petitioners, v. HON. SALVADOR C. MEDIALDEA, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY; HON. DELFIN N. LORENZANA, SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENSE AND MARTIAL LAW ADMINISTRATOR; AND GEN. EDUARDO A�O, CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES AND MARTIAL LAW IMPLEMENTOR, Respondents.; G.R. No. 231771 - EUFEMIA CAMPOS CULLAMAT, VIRGILIO T. LINCUNA, ATELIANA U. HIJOS, ROLAND A. COBRADO, CARL ANTHONY D. OLALO, ROY JIM BALANGHIG, RENATO REYES, JR., CRISTINA E. PALABAY, AMARYLLIS H. ENRIQUEZ, ACT TEACHERS' REPRESENTATIVE ANTONIO L. TINIO, GABRIELA WOMEN'S PARTY REPRESENTATIVE ARLENE D. BROSAS, KABATAAN PARTY-LIST REPRESENTATIVE SARAH JANE I. ELAGO, MAE PANER, GABRIELA KRISTA DALENA, ANNA ISABELLE ESTEIN, MARK VINCENT D. LIM, VENCER MARI CRISOSTOMO, JOVITA MONTES, Petitioners, v. PRESIDENT RODRIGO DUTERTE, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY SALVADOR MEDIALDEA, DEFENSE SECRETARY DELFIN LORENZANA, ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES CHIEF OF STAFF LT. GENERAL EDUARDO A�O, PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE DIRECTOR-GENERAL RONALD DELA ROSA, Respondents.; G.R. No. 231774 - NORKAYA S. MOHAMAD, SITTIE NUR DYHANNA S. MOHAMAD, NORAISAH S. SANI, ZAHRIA P. MUTI-MAPANDI, Petitioners, v. EXECUTIVE SECRETARY SALVADOR C. MEDIALDEA, DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENSE (DND) SECRETARY DELFIN N. LORENZANA, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT (DILG) SECRETARY (OFFICER-IN�-CHARGE) CATALINO S. CUY, ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES (AFP) CHIEF OF STAFF GEN. EDUARDO M. A�O, PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE (PNP) CHIEF DIRECTOR GENERAL RONALD M. DELA ROSA, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER HERMOGENES C. ESPERON, JR., Respondents.