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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE (THE BAR LECTURES SERIES)
Updated Edition
BY
WILLARD B. RIANO Bar Reviewer in Remedial Law, Commercial Law
and Civil Law
Author: Fundamentals of Civil Procedure; Evidence, (A
Restatement for the Bar);
Civil Procedure (A Restatement for the Bar); Evidence (The Bar
Lectures Series)
Dean, College of Law, San Sebastian College Recoletos-Manila
Member, Remedial Law and Commercial Law Committees,
U.P. Law Center Professor and Lecturer, Philippine Judicial
Academy,
Supreme Court of the Philippines
2011
-
Philippine Copyright, 2011
by
u^lT
WILLARD B. RIANO
ISBN 978-971-23-6158-6
No portion of this book may be copied or reproduced in books,
pamphlets, outlines or notes, whether printed, mimeographed,
typewritten, copied in different electronic devices or in any other
form, for distribution or sale, without the written permission of
the author except brief passages in books, articles, reviews, legal
papers, and judicial or other official proceedings with proper
citation.
Any copy of this book without the corresponding number and the
signature of the author on this page either proceeds from an
illegitimate source or is in possession of one who has no authority
to dispose of the same.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
BY THE AUTHOR
N? 1492
ISBN 978-971-23-6158-6
05-RL-00042
9
Printed by
05-RL-00042 9789712361586
-
DEDICATION
Nina... Daddy... Mommy...
Nonong... Neneng...
iii
-
PREFACE
After this work was submitted for publication on January 5,
2011, materials became available which contained court decisions
worthy to be recommended for further readings. Foremost of these
cases is that of Judith Yu v. Samson-Tatad (G.R. No. 170979,
February 9, 2011), which ended previous speculations as to the
applicability of the "fresh-period" rule to appeals in criminal
cases. Hence, the need for an updated edition.
This edition required the insertion of new case citations within
the main chapters as well as the discussion of more recent Court
rulings under the heading, Synopsis of Selected Cases. The cases
selected were those with facts not involved in those decisions
treated in the original edition. The criminal procedure aspects of
the Rules of Procedure in Environmental Cases were likewise
added.
In the process of enhancing the current material, some
paragraphs which could have possibly given rise to misunderstanding
were deleted. Mere matters of opinion were likewise taken out so as
not to detract from the instructional purpose of this material.
Also, certain portions which are matters of purely substantive law
were expunged and only those necessary to explain procedural
concepts were retained. Some paragraphs were likewise reworded for
greater clarity in the presentation of procedural principles. In
some instances, adjustments to editorial oversights in the original
edition were effected.
It is worth reiterating that this work is written primarily for
the bar reviewee and the law student who need to be adequately
equipped with the "core" knowledge required to hurdle the bar
examinations. It is based on an empirically anchored deep-seated
philosophy that passing the bar
V
-
examinations requires a quick recall of the law and the rules.
Hence, topics in this work have been treated with emphasis on the
very substance of the Rules of Court, a treatment traditionally
referred to by academicians as a 'codal' approach.
While the framework of this material is mainly codal- based, it
is supported by cases which mirror, not only the current position
of the Supreme Court on vital issues in the criminal litigation
process but also by significant foreign cases designed to aid the
reader to understand a particular rule from a parallel doctrinal
perspective. Cases have been judiciously selected to permit the
reader to appreciate how the Supreme Court grappled with and
settled a wide range of issues arising in the various stages of
criminal procedure.
The scope of this book reveals its having no pretensions of
being an exhaustive treatise on criminal procedure. Honest efforts
have been taken to strip it of materials which veer away from what
is fundamental and basic to allow a reasonably wide wiggle room for
the reader to focus on procedural principles and concepts which
have a fairly high probability of being utilized by the examiner in
the framing of bar questions.
As he goes through the various concepts of procedural law, the
student is reminded that the principles underlying criminal
procedure, like those of any other procedural rule, are construed
liberally to meet the demands of justice.
In our academic life we have always been beset by questions on
matters involving consistency in the application of the rules. We
have actually endeavored to show that there are no inconsistencies,
and in order to fully appreciate the wisdom of Court decisions, the
student must be aware that each case is decided in accordance with
the facts and the issues raised by the parties.
While our concern for the academic needs of our law students
supplied the motivation for us to start and complete this work, the
invaluable participation of Atty. Ernesto C. Salao and Atty. Maria
Theresa P. Cabayan in the publication of this work is sincerely
acknowledged for without their tremendous encouragement,
assistance, and editorial skills, this material would not have seen
the light of day.
vi
-
Lastly, the bar candidate and the law student is asked to
consider this work as a humble recognition of their perseverance
and their unwavering commitment to their future in the legal
profession.
WILLARD B. RIANO
Quezon City September
15, 2011
vii
-
CONTENTS
Chapter I PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATIONS
I. BASIC CONCEPTS
Concept of criminal procedure
........................................................................................
1 The adversarial or accusatorial system
...........................................................................
2 Liberal interpretation of the
rules....................................................................................
3 Due process; mandatory
..................................................................................................
3 A. Requisites for the Exercise of Criminal
Jurisdiction
....................................................................................................................
4 Requisites
...............................................................................................................................
4 Jurisdiction over the subject matter versus
jurisdiction over the person of the accused
............................................................. 4
Jurisdiction over the territory; venue in criminal
cases (Bar 1997)
...........................................................................................................
5 When a court has jurisdiction to try offenses not
committed within its territorial jurisdiction
............................................................. 6 B.
Criminal Jurisdiction Over the Subject Matter
................................................... 10
Jurisdiction over the subject matter
.................................................................................
10 How jurisdiction over the subject matter
is conferred
.................................................................................................................
11 How jurisdiction over the subject matter is
determined
.................................................................................................................
12 Statute applicable to a criminal action
.............................................................................
13 Use of the imposable
penalty............................................................................................
14 Principle of adherence of jurisdiction or
continuing jurisdiction
...............................................................................................
14 Dismissal on jurisdictional grounds; special
appearance
.................................................................................................................
15 Raising the issue of jurisdiction for the first
time in the Supreme Court
.......................................................................................
16 C. Criminal Jurisdiction Over the Person of The
Accused (Bar 2008)
....................................................................................................
17
ix
-
D. Injunction To Restrain Criminal Prosecution (Bar 1999)
...................................................................................................................
19
E. Mandamus to Compel Prosecution (Bar 1999)
.............................................................. 20
II. CRIMINAL JURISDICTION OF COURTS
A. Criminal Jurisdiction of the Municipal Trial Court, Municipal
Circuit Trial Court, and Metropolitan Trial Court (MTC)
.......................................................................
21
B. Criminal Jurisdiction of Regional Trial Court (RTC)
.................................................................................................................
23
C. Criminal Jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan (P.D. 1606, R.A.
7975 and R.A. 8249)
......................................................................
24
Offenses subject to the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan (Bar
1997)
.......................................................................................
28
Officials and employees with a salary grade of "27" or higher
........................................................................................................
29
Officers falling below salary grade '27"
..................................................................
30 Salary grade alone does not determine
jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan
..........................................................................
33 A student regent of a state university is a
public officer
...............................................................................................................
34 Offenses committed in relation to the office
........................................................ 34 When
the actual specific allegations of the
intimacy between the offense and the official duties of the
accused need not appear in the information
.....................................................................................................
38
Anti-Money Laundering cases
.................................................................................
40 Forfeiture cases
..........................................................................................................
40 Summary procedure in criminal cases
...................................................................
40 Prohibited pleadings, motions and petitions in summary procedure
(Bar 2004); civil
and criminal case
.............................................................................................
42 III. SYNOPSIS OF THE CRIMINAL LITIGATION PROCESS
Initial contact with the criminal justice system
.........................................................................
43 Filing of the information or complaint and other
processes
....................................................................................................................
47 Implied institution of the civil action
..........................................................................................
48 Availment of provisional remedies
............................................................................................
49 Bail
..................................................................................................................................................
49 Arraignment; bill of particulars; suspension of
arraignment
...............................................................................................................
50 Quashal of complaint or
information.........................................................................................
51
XXV
-
Pre-trial
................................................................................................................................
51 Trial; demurrer
....................................................................................................................
52 Judgment
............................................................................................................................
53 Post-judgment remedies
.................................................................................................
53 Entry of judgment
.............................................................................................................
54
Chapter II PROSECUTION OF OFFENSES (RULE 110)
I. INSTITUTION OF CRIMINAL ACTIONS Purpose of a criminal action
..............................................................................................
55 How criminal actions are instituted (Bar 1999)
............................................................... 55
Institution of criminal actions in Manila
and other chartered cities
..................................................................................................
56 No direct filing in the Regional Trial Court and Metropolitan
Trial
Court of Manila and other chartered cities
....................................................................................................................
56
Effect of the institution of the criminal action on the
prescriptive period (Bar 1993)
...........................................................................................
57
Illustration of the above rules
............................................................................................
57 Rule on prescription for violations of special laws
and municipal ordinances
..................................................................................................
59 II. PROSECUTION OF THE CRIMINAL ACTION
Who must prosecute the criminal action; who controls the
prosecution (Bar 1990; 2000)
......................................................................
67
Appearance of a private prosecutor
.................................................................................
68 Effect of filing of an independent civil action on the right of
the offended party to intervene
in the prosecution of the offense
.................................................................................................
68
Consequences of the rule that a criminal action is prosecuted
under the direction and control
of the public prosecutor
.....................................................................................................
69 Prosecution of a criminal action in the Municipal
Trial Court or Municipal Circuit Trial Court
......................................................................
74 Prosecution for violation of special laws
....................................................
..................... 74
III. INTERVENTION OF THE OFFENDED PARTY IN THE PROSECUTION OF
THE CRIMINAL ACTION Intervention of the offended
party...................................................................................
75
When a private prosecutor may prosecute a case even in the
absence of the public prosecutor
.................................................................
76
xi
-
Extent of the authority given to the private prosecutor when
duly authorized to prosecute the action
.............................................................................................................................
77
IV. PROSECUTION OF "PRIVATE CRIMES" Prosecution of adultery and
concubinage
.......................................................................
77 Prosecution of seduction, abduction and acts
of lasciviousness
..................................................................................................................
78 Effect of R.A. 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against
Child Abuse, Exploitation and
Discrimination Act)
.............................................................................................................
78 Prosecution of Defamation
................................................................................................
79
V. THE COMPLAINT AND INFORMATION Meaning of'complaint'
.....................................................................................................
79 In whose name and against whom
filed........................................................................
80 Meaning of 'information' (Bar 1994,1995,1996)
.......................................................... 80
Distinctions between a complaint and an
information (Bar 1999)
...........................................................................................
81 Infirmity in signature in the information
........................................................................
81 Sufficiency of the complaint or information
..................................................................
81 Test for sufficiency of the complaint or information
.................................................... 82 Questioning
the insufficiency of the complaint
or information
.........................................................................................................
82 Objections as to form
........................................................................................................
83 Date of the commission of the offense
..........................................................................
83 Determination of the nature and character
of the crime
....................................................
........................................................ 84 How to
state the name of the accused
..........................................................................
84 How to state the name of the offended party who
is a natural person
...................................................................................................
85 How to state the name of the offended party which
is a juridical person
..................................................................................................
85 Rule if the name of the offended party is unknown
in offenses against property
..................................................................................
85 Designation of the offense
...............................................................................................
86 Effect of failure to designate the offense by the statute
or failure to mention the provision violated
...................................................... 87 Effect of
failure to specify the correct crime
..................................................................
88 Statement of the qualifying and aggravating
circumstances (Bar
2001).............................................................................
88 Cause of the accusation
....................................................................................................
92 How to state the date of the commission
of the offense
................................................................................................
96 Duplicity of the offense (Bar 2005)
.................................................................................
97
xii
-
VI. VENUE OF CRIMINAL ACTIONS Rule where offense is committed in
a train, aircraft
or vehicle
..................................................................................................................
99 Rule where offense is committed on board a vessel
................................................... 99 Rule when
the offense is covered by Art. 2 of the
Revised Penal Code
................................................................................................
100 How to state the place of the commission
of the offense
...........................................................................................................
100 VII. AMENDMENT OR SUBSITUTION OF THE
COMPLAINT OR INFORMATION Amendment of the information or
complaint
before plea; no need for leave (Bar 2001; 2002)
.......................................................... 100 When
leave of court is required even if the amendment
is made before plea
..........................................................................................................
100 Rule as to amendment made after the plea
of the accused
....................................................................................................................
101 When an amendment is formal or substantial
(Bar 1997)
...........................................................................................................................
101 Substitution of complaint or information (Bar 2002)
............................................................. 104
Distinction between substitution and amendment
(Bar 1994)
...........................................................................................................................
104
Chapter III
PROSECUTION OF CIVIL ACTION (RULE 111)
Implied institution of the civil action with the criminal action
..............................................................................................................................
107
Purposes of the criminal and civil actions
.................................................................................
108 Judgment of conviction includes a judgment on the
civil liability
....................................................................................................................................
109 Who the real parties in interest are in the civil aspect
of the case
.....................................................................................................................................
109 Rule applicable
..............................................................................................................................
109 When a civil action may proceed independently; independent
civil actions and quasi-delicts
(Bar 2005)
......................................................................................................................................
109 Consequences of the independent character of actions
under Articles 32,33, 34 and 2176 of the Civil Code
...................................................................
Ill When there is no implied institution of the civil action
.......................................................... 112
Reservation of the civil action
.....................................................................................................
113 No reservation of the civil action in Batas
Pambansa Big. 22 (Bar 2001; 2002)
..........................................................................................
113
xiii
-
When the separate civil action is suspended
............................................................................
114 Consolidation of the civil action with the criminal action
........................................................ 115
Suspension of the period of prescription
.................................................
................................ 116 When no reservation is
required; when civil
action is not
suspended....................................................................................................
116 Counterclaim, cross-claim, third-party claim in a
criminal action
...................................................................................................................
117 Rules on filing fees
.........................................................................................................................
118 Effect of death of the accused on the civil action
......................................................................
118 Novation: extinguishment of criminal liability
..........................................................................
120 Effect of acquittal or the extinction of the penal
action on the civil action or civil liability
....................................................................
120 Effect of payment of the civil liability
..........................................................................................
124 Effect of judgment in the civil case absolving
the defendant
....................................................................................................................
124 Subsidiary liability of employer
....................................................................................................
125 Concept of a prejudicial question (Bar 1999)
..........................................................................
125 Reason for the principle
................................................................................................................
126 Requisites for a prejudicial question (Bar 1999)
................................................................
....... 126 Effect of the existence of a prejudicial question;
suspension of the criminal action
(Bar 1995; 1999;
2010)..............................................................................................
. 128 Suspension does not include
dismissal.................................................................................
129 Where to file the petition for suspension
..................................................................................
129 Case illustrations
............................................................................................................................
130
Chapter IV PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION Nature of preliminary
investigation; purpose
(Bar 1985; 1986; 1991; 1998; 2004)
................................................................................
143 Nature of the right to a preliminary investigation
....................................................................
145 Right to a preliminary investigation; waivable
..........................................................................
150 Preliminary investigation vs. preliminary examination
(preliminary inquiry)
.........................................................................................................
150 Probable cause in preliminary
investigation..............................................................................
150 Kinds of determination of probable cause
................................................................................
152 Cases requiring a preliminary investigation; when not
required (Bar 2004)
...........................................................................................................
154 Procedure for cases not requiring a preliminary
investigation
.......................................................................................................................
155 Direct filing with the prosecutor
..................................................................................................
155 Direct filing with the Municipal Trial Court
................................................................................
156
xiv
-
When preliminary investigation is not required even if the
offense is one which normally requires
a preliminary investigation
.........................................................................................................
157 Person arrested lawfully without a warrant may ask
for a preliminary investigation
...................................................................................................
158 Bail for a person lawfully arrested during the
preliminary
investigation............................................................................................................
159 Questioning the absence of a preliminary investigation
.....................................................................
160 Absence of preliminary investigation; effect on
jurisdiction of the court
...............................................................................................................
162 Absence of preliminary investigation; not a ground
for motion to quash
....................................................................................................................
162 Inquest
proceedings..................................................................................................................................
162 Possible options of the inquest prosecutor
...........................................................................................
163
The inquest must pertain to the offense for which the arrest was
made
...................................................................................................................
164
Who may conduct preliminary investigation and determine
existence of probable
cause.......................................................................................................
168
The procedure for preliminary investigation must be strictly
followed
......................................................................................................................
171
Initial steps in preliminary investigation; filing of the
complaint for preliminary investigation
...................................................................................
174
Dismissal of the complaint or issuance of a subpoena....
....................................................................
175 Filing of counter-affidavit by the respondent; no motion
to dismiss
......................................................................................................................................
176 Action to be taken if the respondent does not submit
his counter-affidavit
....................................................................................................................
176 Clarificatory hearing if necessary; no right of cross
examination
..........................................................
......................................................................
177 Determination by the investigating
officer............................................................................................
177 Discretion of prosecutor in filing of a criminal
complaint or information (Bar 1999)
........................................................................................
177 Resolution of investigating prosecutor; certification
of preliminary investigation
.......................................................................................................
178 Effect of the absence of the required certification
(Bar 1998)
......................................................................................................................................
179 Forwarding of the records of the case for action; need
for approval before filing or dismissal
......................................................................................
179 Rule when recommendation for dismissal is disapproved
................................................................
179 Motion for reconsideration
.....................................................................................................................
180
Appeals to the Secretary of Justice; filing a petition for
review
......................................................................................................................................
180
Rules of Court provisions when resolution is reversed or
modified by the Secretary of Justice
....................................................................................
183
XXV
-
Power of the Secretary of Justice to reverse resolutions of
prosecutors
..........................................................................................................
183
Assailing the resolution of the Secretary of Justice; petition
for review under Rule 43 not allowed;
Petition for certiorari under Rule 65
....................................................................................
184 Appeal to the Office of the President
....................................................................................................
187 Appeals under Rule 43 and Rule 45
......................................................................................................
189
Records supporting the information or complaint filed in court
..................................................................................................................................
189
Action of the judge upon the filing of the complaint or
information
..............................................................................................................................
189
When warrant of arrest is not necessary
................................................................................
191' Withdrawal of the information already filed in court
(Bar 1990; 2003)
...........................................................................................................................
192 Some judicial pronouncements on preliminary
investigation
.................................................................................................................................
196
Chapter V
ARREST, SEARCH AND SEIZURE
I. ARREST (RULE 113)
Arrest; how arrest made
...................................................................................................
201 Requisites for the issuance of a warrant of arrest
........................................................ 202
Preliminary inquiry (examination) versus
preliminary investigation
......................................................................................
208 Method of arrest with a warrant; warrant need
not be in possession of the officer
.......................................................................
209 No unnecessary violence
.................................................................................................
210 Authority to summon assistance
....................................................................................
210 When person to be arrested is inside a building
........................................................... 210
When a warrantless arrest is lawful
(Bar 1988; 1989; 1996; 1997; 2000; 2004; 2010)
............................................... 211 Who may make
warrantless arrest; duty of officer;
citizen's
arrest..........................................................................................................
212 The basis of the in flagrante delicto exception;
requisites
.................................................................................................................
213 Existence of an overt act of a crime in the presence
of the person making the
arrest...........................................................................
214 The hot pursuit exception (Bar 1997; 2004)
.................................................................
220 Method of arrest without a warrant
.............................................................................
222 Time of making an arrest
.................................................................................................
223 Rights of a person arrested (R.A. 7438)
.........................................................................
223
xvi
-
Custodial investigation; expanded concept
..................................................................
224 Penalties under R.A. 7438
.................................................................................................
224 Effect of an illegal arrest on jurisdiction
of the court
..............................................................................................................
224 Effect of admission to bail on objections to an
illegal arrest
..............................................................................................................
225 Waiver of the illegality of the arrest; effect of
illegal arrest (Bar 2000; 2001)
................................................................................
225 Persons not subject to arrest
...........................................................................................
227
II. SEARCHES AND SEIZURES (RULE 126)
Nature of search warrant (Bar
1994)..............................................................................
228 The Constitutional provision
............................................................................................
229 Arrest distinguished from search and seizure
............................................................... 230
Definition of a search warrant under the Rules
............................................................ 231
Application for a search warrant; where to file
............................................................. 231
Search warrants involving heinous crimes
and others
................................................................................................................
231 Ex parte application for a search warrant
..................................................................
233 Property subject of a search warrant
.............................................................................
233 Requisites for the issuance of a search warrant
........................................................... 234
Probable cause in search warrants
.................................................................................
235 Probable cause to arrest and probable cause
to search
...................................................................................................................
238 How the examination shall be conducted by the judge... 239
Particular description of place or person
.......................................................................
241 Particular description of the items to be
seized; general warrants (Bar 2005)
.....................................................................
245 Ownership of property seized not
required..................................................................
251 Extent of the search
..........................................................................................................
252 Search of third persons not named in the warrant
...................................................... 253 Issuance
and form of the search warrant
......................................................................
253 Duration of the validity of a search warrant
.................................................................
254 Time of making the search
................................................................................................
254 Manner of making the search
.........................................................................................
254 Rule if the officer is refused admittance; "knock
and announce rule"
................................................................................................
255 Duties of the officer after the search and seizure;
delivery and inventory
...........................................................................................
256 Duty of the judge; return and other
proceedings.........................................................
256 Duty of the custodian of the log book
............................................................................
257 Objection to issuance or service of a warrant
............................................................... 257
Where to file a motion to quash a search warrant
or to suppress evidence
.........................................................................................
258
xvii
-
Who may assail the issuance of a search warrant
....................................................... 258
Petition for certiorari for unwarranted quashal
of a search warrant
.................................................................................................
259 Exceptions to the search warrant requirement
(Bar 1988; 1995; 1996; 1997;
2008)......................................................................
260 Search incident to a lawful arrest (Bar 2003)
............................................................... 262
Parameters of a search incident to a lawful arrest;
immediate possession and control rule
.............................................................. 263
Searches of moving vehicles
............................................................................................
270 Check points
.......................................................................................................................
271 Buy bust operations; warrant not needed (Bar 2003)
................................................. 273 Entrapment
and instigation
.............................................................................................
274 Applicable tests in a buy-bust operation;
adoption of the 'objective test'
.............................................................................
275 Effect of absence of prior surveillance before a
buy-bust operation
.................................................................................................
277 Effect of absence of record in police blotter
..................................................................
278 Plain view doctrine (Bar 2007; 2008)
..............................................................................
278 The 'inadvertence' requirement under the plain
view doctrine
...........................................................................................................
283 Other cases
.........................................................................................................................
284 Terry searches or stop and frisk; history of the
doctrine (Bar 1995; 2003)
......................................................................................
290 Summary of the Terry doctrine
.......................................................................................
293 Terry search vs. a search incident to a
lawful arrest
.............................................................................................................
296 Bond to ensure the return of the seized items
............................................................. 297
Consented
Searches..........................................................................................................
298 Effect of an illegal search and seizure; fruit
of the poisonous tree doctrine (Bar 2005)
.......................................................... 298
Civil damages; criminal liability
........................................................................................
300 Authority of the Executive Judge and Vice
Executive Judge re search warrants in Manila and Quezon City
......................................................................................................
300
Chapter VI BAIL (RULE 114)
Meaning, nature and purpose of bail (Bar
1998).......................................................................
302 Constitutional basis of the right to bail
.......................................................................................
304 Bail in the military .............................. .
..........................................................................................
306 Bail in extradition proceedings
..............................................................................................................
306 Exception to the "no bail rule" in extradition proceedings
...................................................... 308
xviii
-
Purganan case re-examined
..........................................................................................................
309 Bail in deportation proceedings
....................................................................................................
310 Who furnishes the bail
...................................................................................................................
312 Obligation and right of the bondsman; arrest
without a warrant
.............................................................................................................
312 The applicant for bail must be in custody
....................................................................................
313 Bail to guarantee appearance of witnesses (Bar 1999)
............................................................. 315
Bail for those not yet charged
.......................................................................................................
315 Effects of failure to appear at the trial
.........................................................................................
316 Court cannot require arraignment before the
grant of bail
.........................................................................................................................
317 Forms of bail (Bar 1999)
.................................................................................................................
320 Guidelines in fixing the amount of bail (Bar 1999)
....................................................................
323 Duration of the bail
.........................................................................................................................
324 No release or transfer of person in custody; exceptions
...........................................................325 When
bail is not required
..............................................................................................................
325 When bail is not allowed
...............................................................................................................
327 When bail is a matter of right (Bar 1999; 2006; 2008)
............................................................... 328
Remedy when bail is denied
........................................................................................................
329 When bail is a matter of discretion
(Bar 1999; 2006; 2008)
......................................................................................................
329 Where application for bail is to be filed when bail is a matter
of discretion
and after conviction by the Regional Trial Court
...........................................................................................................
331
When application for bail after conviction by the RTC shall be
denied
...................................................................................................................
332
Bail pending appeal where penalty imposed exceeds six years
...............................................................................................................................
333
Hearing of application for bail in offenses punishable by death,
reclusion perpetua, or life imprisonment; burden of proof in bail
application
..................................................................................
334
Duties of the trial judge in a petition for bail in offenses
punishable by reclusion perpetua, life imprisonment
or death
...............................................................................................................................
337 Evidence in bail hearing are automatically reproduced
at the trial
............................................................................................................................
339 Capital offenses
...............................................................................................................................339
Effect of Republic Act No. 9346 on the graduation
of penalties
.........................................................................................................................
339 Where application or petition for bail may be
filed (Bar 2002)
...................................................................................................................
341 Increase or reduction of bail
.........................................................................................................
343 Bail for accused originally released without bail
........................................................................343
xix
-
Forfeiture of bail
............................................................................................................................
343 Cancellation of the bail; remedy
.................................................................................................
344 Application for or admission to bail not a bar to
objections on illegal arrest, lack of or irregular preliminary
investigation........................... 345
Chapter VII RIGHTS OF THE ACCUSED (RULE 115) Rights of the
accused at the trial
(Bar 1992; 1996; 1998; 2004)
...........................................................................................
347 Presumption of innocence (Bar 2005)
........................................................................................
348 Prima facie presumptions of guilt
................................................................................................
349 Proof beyond reasonable doubt
..................................................................................................
351 Prosecution must rest on its own merits
....................................................................................
354 Effect of failure to identify the perpetrator
................................................................................
355 Failure to comply with post-seizure procedures
set by law
............................................................................................................................
357 The equipoise rule
..........................................................................................................................
359 Right to be informed of the nature and cause of accusation....
360 Right to counsel of the accused and of persons arrested,
detained or under custodial investigation;
Republic Act No. 7438 (Bar 1990; 1991; 1998; 2002)
................................................... 368 Meaning of
custodial investigation; extended meaning
.......................................................... 369
Rights of persons under custodial investigation;
custodial investigation report
..........................................................................................
369 Right to choose a counsel is not plenary; right
may be
waived...................................................................................................................
372 Competent and independent counsel
.......................................................................................
373 Right to counsel in administrative cases
.....................................................................................
376 Extrajudicial confessions; rights of persons under
custodial investigation (Bar 2006)
...................................................................................
377 Right to speedy trial; speedy disposition of cases
(Bar 1996; 2002; 2007)
.....................................................................................................
381 When right to speedy disposition of cases is violated
.............................................................. 383
Purpose of time limits set by law or the rules;
principle of speedy trial is a relative term
......................................................................
388 Remedy for a violation of the right to speedy trial
....................................................................
390 Factors for granting continuance
.................................................................................................
391 Guidelines to determine violation of the right to speedy
trial
and speedy disposition of cases; balancing test
........................................................... 391
Approaches to speedy trial
...........................................................................................................
393
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The privilege against self-incrimination (Bar 1996; 1998; 2004;
2005)
...........................................................................................
396
The privilege applies only to natural persons
.............................................................................
399 The privilege protects a person from testimonial
compulsion or evidence of a communicative nature
.................................................. 400 Force
re-enactments
......................................................................................................................
405 Meaning of compulsion
.................................................................................................................
406 Writing exemplars or samples
......................................................................................................
406 Questions which the witness may refuse to answer
................................................................
410 Privilege extends to lawyers advising a witness
to invoke the privilege
......................................................................................................
411 Persons who are mere custodians of documents
cannot claim the privilege
................................................................................................
412 Proceedings in which the privilege may be asserted
................................................................
413 Distinctions between the claim of the privilege by an
accused and by a mere witness
......................................................................................
414 Waiver of the privilege
...................................................................................................................
416 The privilege will not apply when witness is given
immunity from prosecution
............................................................................................
416 Immunity statutes; examples
.......................................................................................................
418 The right to defend himself; right to be heard
...........................................................................
421 The right to testify as a witness
.....................................................................................................
422 The right to confront and cross-examine the witnesses
against him
.........................................................................................................................
423 Right to use testimony of a deceased witness
...........................................................................
425 Right to compulsory process
............................................................
........................................... 425 Right to appeal
................................................................................................................................
426
Chapter VIII ARRAIGNMENT AND PLEA (RULE 116) A. BASIC
CONCEPTS
Meaning and importance of arraignment (Bar 2007)
................................................. 428 Duty of the
court before arraignment
...........................................................................
429 Options of the accused before arraignment and plea
................................................. 429 Plea made
before a court with no jurisdiction
.............................................................. 432
Arraignment under an amended information;
substituted information
.........................................................................................
432
B. HOW ARRAIGNMENT AND PLEA ARE MADE Where arraignment is to be
made
..................................................................................
433 How arraignment is made
................................................................................................
433 When arraignment is to be
made....................................................................................
433
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Arraignment after submission of the case for decision
..............................................................................................................
434
Record of arraignment
......................................................................................................
436 Presence of the accused
...................................................................................................
436 Presence of the offended party
.......................................................................................
436 When a plea of'not guilty' shall be entered
(Bar 1992; 1993;
1996)...........................................................................................
436 Plea of guilty is a judicial confession; effect on
aggravating circumstances
...................................................................................
439 Exception to the admission of aggravating
circumstances
....................................................
................................................... 440 Plea of
guilty to a lesser offense; plea bargaining
(Bar 1995; 2002)
......................................................................................................
440 Requisites for a plea of guilty to a lesser offense
.......................................................... 441 Plea
of guilty to a lesser offense after arraignment;
plea bargaining during the trial proper
............................................................... 442
No need for amendment of
information/complaint...................................................
442 When plea of guilty to a lesser offense is
not mitigating
.........................................................................................................
443 Plea of guilty to a capital offense (Bar 1995)
..................................................................
443 Meaning of "searching inquiry"
......................................................................................
445 Plea of guilty to a non-capital offense
.............................................................................
448 Improvident plea of guilty
................................................................................................
448 Production or inspection of material evidence
.............................................................
449
Chapter IX MOTION TO QUASH (RULE 117) Time for filing the motion
to quash
...........................................................................................
451 Form and contents of the motion to quash
.............................................................................
451 Motion to quash is not a demurrer to evidence;
distinctions
....................................................................................................................................
451 Court shall consider only those grounds stated
in the motion
................................................................................................................................
453 Motion to quash; grounds for a motion to quash (Bar 1987; 1990;
1991; 1992; 1993; 1994; 1995;
1996; 1998; 1999; 2000; 2002; 2003; 2004; 2005; 2009; 2010)
...................................................................................................................................
453
Execution of an affidavit of desistance is not a ground for a
motion to quash
.................................................................................................................
454
Absence of probable cause not a ground to quash an information
.............................................................................................................................
455
Matters of defense are not grounds for a motion to
quash.........................................................................................................................................
455
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Absence of a preliminary investigation is not a ground to quash
an information
...................................................................................................
455
Test in appreciating a motion to
quash.................................................................................................
456 Effect of failure to assert any ground of a motion
to quash
........................................................................................................................................
457 Grounds not waived
................................................................................................................................
458 Denial of a motion to quash
...................................................................................................................
458 When court shall order the amendment of the
information or complaint
.................................................................................................
459 Order sustaining a motion to quash is not a bar
to another prosecution; exceptions (Bar 1994)
......................................................................
459 Double jeopardy
.......................................................................................................................................
460 Effects of double jeopardy; on criminal
and civil aspects
...........................................................................................................................
462 Double jeopardy; requisites
....................................................................................................................
465 Court must have competent jurisdiction
..............................................................................................
466
Curing an erroneous acquittal; grave abuse discretion of
amounting to lack jurisdiction
...................................................................................................
469
Preliminary investigation; double jeopardy not applicable
...............................................................................................................................
474
Res judicata and double jeopardy; res judicata in prison grey
(Bar 2010).;
...........................................................................................................
475
Administrative cases; double jeopardy not applicable
......................................................................
475 Valid complaint or information (Bar 2002; 2004)
...................................................................
477
Accused should have pleaded to the charge (should have been
arraigned) (Bar 2002; 2003)
....................................................................................
479
The accused has been convicted or acquitted, or the case against
him dismissed or terminated without
his express consent
.....................................................................................................................
482 Dismissal or termination must be without the express
consent of the accused
...............................................................................................................
485 Dismissals equivalent to acquittal even with the consent
of the accused; speedy trial; demurrer to evidence
............................................................... 487
Double jeopardy in quasi offenses
........................................................................................................
491
When double jeopardy shall not apply despite a prior conviction
(Bar 2005)
..................................................................................................................
495
Meaning of same offense; when not the same (Bar 1993; 1994)
...........................................................................................................................
496
Provisional dismissal; requisites (Bar 2003)
..........................................................................................
503 Time bar rule; when provisional dismissal becomes
permanent
....................................................................................................................................
506 Effect of People v. Lacson
.............................................................................................
.......................... 507 Withdrawal of information
distinguished from a
motion to dismiss
........................................................................................................................
510
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Chapter X PRE-TRIAL, TRIAL AND DEMURRER TO EVIDENCE (RULES
118-119)
A. PRE-TRIAL (RULE 118) (Bar 1986; 1989; 2004; 2008) Courts in
which pre-trial is mandatory
..........................................................................
511
Matters to be considered during the pre-trial; purposes
..................................................................................................................
511
When pre-trial shall be held
.............................................................................................
512 Non-appearance in the pre-trial conference;
consequences
..........................................................................................................
512 Duty of the Branch Clerk of Court
...................................................................................
513 Recording of the minutes
.................................................................................................
513 Duty of the judge before the pre-trial conference
....................................................... 513
Duty of the judge when plea bargaining is agreed upon;
prosecution and offended party agree to the plea
....................................................................................................
513
Duty of the judge when plea bargaining fails
................................................................
514 Asking questions during the pre-trial
.............................................................................
514 Pre-trial agreements; signing of admissions made
...................................................... 514
Pre-trial order
..................................................... .
............................................................. 515
Pre-trial in a civil case vs. pre-trial in a
criminal case
............................................................................................................
515 Effect of pre-trial
order......................................................................................................
516 Judicial dispute resolution (JDR); purposes
...................................................................
517
Stages in the judicial proceeding with JDR; confidentiality
..........................................................................................................
517
Cases subject to mediation for JDR
.................................................................................
518 Salient features of the suggested JDR process
.............................................................. 519
Court-annexed mediation guidelines
.............................................................................
521 Discovery procedures in criminal cases
..........................................................................
524
B. TRIAL (RULE 119) When trial shall commence
......................................................................................................
526 Summary of periods
..................................................................................................................
527 Time to prepare for trial
............................................................................................................
527 Effect of not bringing the accused to trial within
the prescribed period
.......................................................................................................
528 Delays to be excluded from computing the period for
commencement of the trial; some examples
.................................................................................................................
528
When delay or suspension of trial is justified by reason of the
absence of a witness
...........................................................................
529
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Continuous trial
..................................................................................................................
530 Trial period
..........................................................................................................................
530 Postponement or continuance
.......................................................................................
531 Factors to be considered for granting
continuances or postponements
.........................................................................
531 Prohibited grounds for a continuance
............................................................................
531 Conditional examination of witnesses even
before trial
................................................................................................................
531 How to secure appearance of a material witness
(Bar 1994; 1999)
......................................................................................................
532 Discharge of accused to be a state witness;
requisites (Bar 1988; 1990; 1994;
2006)...............................................................
533 Evidence adduced during the discharge
hearing
......................................................................................................................
534 Effect of discharge of an accused to be a
state witness;
acquittal...........................................................................................
534 Mistake in charging the proper offense
.........................................................................
534 Order of trial
.......................................................................................................................
535 Modification of the order of trial; reverse trial
(Bar 2007)
.................................................................................................................
535 Reopening of the
proceedings.........................................................................................
535 Trial in absentia (Bar 1998)
...............................................................................................
536 Instances when the presence of the accused
is required
.................................................................................................................
537 Some rules on witness' credibility
...................................................................................
538 Comments and questions of the judge during
the trial
......................................................................................................................
538 Corpus delicti in criminal cases; murder
or homicide
..............................................................................................................
539 Lack of formal offer of evidence during the trial
........................................................... 540
C. DEMURRER TO EVIDENCE (RULE 119) Demurrer to evidence (Bar
1991; 1994; 1996; 2001;
2003; 2004; 2007; 2009)
...................................................................................................
540 Demurrer to evidence with leave of court
(Bar 2003)
...........................................................................................................................
541 Demurrer to evidence without leave of court
........................................................................
542 Not every motion to dismiss is a demurrer
to evidence
.........................................................................................................................
543 Granting of demurrer is an acquittal
........................................................................................
544 Demurrer to evidence in a civil case vs. demurrer
to evidence in a criminal case (Bar
2007).......................................................................
545
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Chapter XI JUDGMENT, REMEDIES AFTER JUDGMENT OF CONVICTION
AND PROVISIONAL REMEDIES
I. JUDGMENT (RULE 120) Meaning of judgment
......................................................................................................
546 Requisites of a judgment
.................................................................................................
546 Contents of a judgment of conviction; contents
of judgment of acquittal
........................................................................................
548 Rule when there are two or more offenses in a single
information or
complaint (duplicitous complaint or information)
....................................................................................
549
Judgment rendered by judge who did not hear the case
.....................................................................................................................
550
Variance doctrine; variance between the allegation and proof
(Bar 1993; 2004)
...................................................................................
550
When an offense includes or is included in
another.................................................... 551
Variance in the mode of the commission of the offense... 551
Promulgation of judgment (Bar 1997)
...........................................................................
552 How accused is to be notified of the promulgation
..................................................... 552 Rule if
the accused fails to appear in the
promulgation of judgment
....................................................................................
553 Modification of judgment (Bar 1989)
............................................................................
554 When judgment becomes final
......................................................................................
554 Entry of judgment
............................................................................................
. ............... 554
II. NEW TRIAL OR RECONSIDERATION (RULE 121) Filing a motion for
new trial or a motion for
reconsideration
.......................................................................................................
554 Grounds for a new trial
....................................................................................................
555 Requisites for newly discovered evidence
....................................................................
555 Grounds for reconsideration of the judgment
............................................................. 556
Form of the motions; notice
............................................................................................
556 Notice of the motion
........................................................................................................
556 When hearing of the motion is required
.......................................................................
557 Effects of granting a new trial or reconsideration
........................................................ 557 The
Neypes rule
............................................................................................................
557
III. APPEALS (RULES 122,124,125) (Bar 1991; 1992; 1993; 1998)
Appeal not a natural right
..........................................................................................................
558 Who may appeal
.........................................................................................................................
559 Subject matter for review on appeal
.......................................................................................
560
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Change of theory on appeal
............................................................................................
561 Factual findings; credibility of witnesses
.........................................................................
561 Where to appeal
................................................................................................................
563 How to appeal
....................................................................................................................
564 When appeal is to be taken
..............................................................................................
565 Service of notice of appeal
................................................................................................
566 Transmission of the papers to appellate court
(RTC).................................................... 566
Withdrawal of appeal
.......................................................................................................
566 Appeal not mooted by accused's release on parole
..................................................... 567 Effect of
appeal by any of several accused (Bar 1998)
................................................. 567 Appeal from
the civil aspect
.............................................................................................
568 Period to apply for probation
...........................................................................................
568 Stay of execution
...............................................................................................................
569 Power of the Court of Appeals to receive evidence
..................................................... 569 Dismissal
of appeal by the Court of Appeals
.................................................................
569 Ground for reversal of judgment or its modification
.................................................... 570 Review of
decisions of the Court of
Appeals..................................................................
570 Applicability of the rules on appeal in the
Court of Appeals to the Supreme Court
.............................................................. 570
Rule if the opinion of the Supreme Court
en banc is equally divided
..................................................................................
570 When preliminary attachment is available
....................................................................
572
IV. PROVISIONAL REMEDIES IN CRIMINAL CASES
Availability of provisional remedies
................................................................................
571
Synopsis of Selected Cases
............................................................................................................
574
Criminal Procedure Aspect of the Rules of Procedure in
Environmental Cases
....................................................................................................
600
Case Index
.......................................................................................................................................
609
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CHAPTER I
PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATIONS
I. BASIC CONCEPTS
Concept of criminal procedure
1. Criminal procedure treats of the series of processes by which
the criminal laws are enforced and by which the State prosecutes
persons who violate the penal laws. In the clear language of the
Court, criminal procedure "regulates the steps by which one who
committed a crime is to be punished" (People v. Lacson, 400 SCRA
267).
While criminal laws define crimes and prescribe punishment for
such crimes, criminal procedure lays down the processes by which an
offender is made to answer for the violation of the criminal
laws.
2. Criminal procedure is "a generic term to describe the network
of laws and rules which governs the procedural administration of
justice" (Black's Law Dictionary, Fifth Edition, 1979). The
procedure starts with the initial contact of the alleged lawbreaker
with the justice machinery including the investigation of the crime
and concludes either with a judgment exonerating the accused or the
final imposition of a penalty against him.
3. The enforcement of the criminal laws of the state inevitably
leads to governmental intrusions into an individual's zones of
privacy and how these intrusions can be reconciled with
constitutional and statutory tenets protecting individual rights is
an inescapable theme tackled in criminal procedure. Thus, in the
prosecution for the violation of the penal laws,
l
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2 CRIMINAL PROCEDURE: THE BAR LECTURES SERIES UPDATED
EDITION
criminal procedure has the imposing task of balancing clashing
societal interests primarily between those of the government and
those of the individual. Hence, a common thread among innumerable
treatises on the subject is the tendency to describe criminal
procedure in relation to its ultimate goal of harmonizing the
governmental functions of maintaining and promoting law and order
law while at the same time protecting the constitutional rights of
its citizens.
The adversarial or accusatorial system
1. The system of procedure in our jurisdiction is accusatorial
or adversarial. It contemplates two contending parties before the
court which hears them impartially and renders judgment only after
trial (Queto v. Catolico, 31 SCRA 52).
The system has a two-sided structure consisting of the
prosecution and the defense where each side tries to convince the
court that its position is the correct version of the truth. In
this system, the accusation starts with a formal indictment called
in our jurisdiction as a complaint or an information, the
allegations of which must be proven by the government beyond
reasonable doubt. The government and the accused present their
evidence before the court which shall decide either on acquittal or
conviction of the accused. In its decision-making process, that
court shall consider no evidence which has not been formally
offered. The court in this system therefore, has a passive role and
relies largely on the evidence presented by both sides to the
action in order to reach a verdict.
2. The adversarial system should be distinguished from the
inquisitorial system where the court plays a very active role and
is not limited to the evidence presented before it. The court may
utilize evidence gathered outside the court and a judge or a group
of judges under this system actively participates in the gathering
of facts and evidence instead of mere passively receiving
information or evidence from the parties. The judge steers the
course of the proceedings by directing and supervising the
gathering of the evidence and the questioning of the witnesses to
the case. The counsels in the
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CHAPTER I PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATIONS
3
inquisitorial system have a less active role than in the
adversarial system.
Liberal interpretation of the rules
1. The rules on criminal procedure, being parts of the Rules of
Court, shall be "liberally construed in order to promote their
objective of securing a just, speedy and inexpensive disposition of
every action and proceeding" (Sec. 6, Rule 1, Rules of Court).
2. In a case, petitioner's former counsel erroneously appealed
her conviction to the Court of Appeals instead of to the
Sandiganbayan. Petitioner pleaded that Section 2 of Rule 50 of the
Rules of Court which mandated the dismissal of cases erroneously
appealed to the Court of Appeals be relaxed and the Court 6f
Appeals be directed to forward the records of the case to the
Sandiganbayan. The Supreme Court, in granting petitioner's prayer
held that since the appeal involved a criminal case and the
possibility of a person being deprived of liberty due to a
procedural lapse is great, a relaxation of the Rules was warranted.
The rules of procedure must be viewed as tools to facilitate the
attainment of justice, such that any rigid and strict application
thereof which results in technicalities tending to frustrate
substantial justice must always be avoided (Cenita M. Cariaga v.
People of the Philippines, G.R. No. 180010, July 30, 2010).
Due process; mandatory
Due process in criminal proceedings is mandatory and
indispensable and cannot be met without the proverbial "law which
hears before it condemns and proceeds upon inquiry and renders
judgment only after trial." (Quotation from Albert vs. University
Publishing House, G.R. No. L-19118, January 30,1965)
Monte v. Savellano, Jr., 287 SCRA 245, enumerates the
requirements of due process in a criminal proceeding, to wit:
(a) that the court or tribunal trying the case is properly
clothed with judicial power to hear and determine the matter before
it;
-
4 CRIMINAL PROCEDURE: THE BAR LECTURES SERIES UPDATED
EDITION
(b) that jurisdiction is lawfully acquired by it over the person
of the accused;
(c) that the accused is given opportunity to be heard; and
(d) that judgment is rendered only upon lawful hearing.
A. Requisites For The Exercise of Criminal Jurisdiction
Requisites
A reading of jurisprudence and treatises on the matter discloses
the following basic requisites before a court can acquire
jurisdiction over criminal cases (Cruz v. Court of Appeals, 388
SCRA 72):
(a) Jurisdiction over the subject matter; (b) Jurisdiction over
the territory; and (c) Jurisdiction over the person of the
accused.
Jurisdiction over the subject matter versus jurisdiction over
the person of the accused
1. Jurisdiction over the subject matter refers to the authority
of the court to hear and determine a particular criminal case. One
case, Antiporda, Jr. v. Garchitorena, 321 SCRA 551, mandates that
the offense is one which the court is by law authorized to take
cognizance of.
2. Jurisdiction over the person of the accused refers to the
authority of the court, not over the subject matter of the criminal
litigation, but over the person charged. This kind of jurisdiction
requires that "the person charged with the offense must have been
brought in to its forum for trial, forcibly by warrant of arrest or
upon his voluntary submission to the court" (Antiporda v.
Garchitorena, 321 SCRA 551; Cruz v. Court of Appeals, 388 SCRA 72;
Cojuangco v. Sandiganbayan, 300 SCRA 367).
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CHAPTER I PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATIONS
5
Jurisdiction over the territory; venue in criminal