Tunay na kuwento II

How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver! —Proverbs 16:16

WE grant the petition.

ITO ang naging desisyon ng Supreme Court kaugnay sa petisyon ng inyong Lingkod na ibasura ang pagdinig sa “fabricated case” na murder na isinampa laban sa akin ng grupo ni dating Manila Fiscal Domingo Orda, Jr., sa Parañaque RTC, noong 2001.

Nakita ng High Court na walang basehan ang paghahabol ng respondentna si Orda sa CA, upang tayo ay isangkot sa krimen. Mga kasong likha ng pamomolitika at pera.

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SA 8-pahinang desisyon,  ipinaliwanag ng mga SC Justices ang kanilang pagsusuri sa ating kaso base sa dalawang isyu ikinakatwiran ni Orda sa CA.

Ayon sa mga SC Justices:

“On the first issue, the petition for certiorari filed by respondent (Orda)  under Rule 65 of the Rules of the Court is inappropriate. It bears stressing that the Order of the RTC, granting the motion of the prosecution to withdraw the Informations and ordering the case dismissed, is final because it disposed of the case and terminated the proceedings therein, leaving nothing to be done by the court. Thus, the proper remedy is appeal.

… even on the merits of the case, the CA erred in reversing the Orders of the RTC.”

WALA rin probable cause upang makasuhan sa krimen.

“The task of the Presiding Judge when an Information is filed with the court is first and foremost to determine the existence of probable cause for the arrest of the accused, Probable cause is such set of facts and circumstances that would lead a reasonably discreet and prudent man to believe that the offense charged in the Information or any offense included therein has been committed by the person sought to be arrested. In determining probable cause, the average man weighs the facts and circumstances without resorting to the calibrations of the rules of evidence of which he has no technical knowledge. He relies on common sense. A finding of probable cause needs only to rest on evidence showing that, more likely than not, a crime has been committed and that it was committed by the accused. Probable cause demands more than suspicion; it requires less than evidence that would justify conviction.

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NASURI rin ng SC na tama ang naging de-sisyon ng RTC na withdrawal of the Information at pagbasura sa kaso laban sa inyong Lingkod.

Ayon  pa sa SC:

“A closer scrutiny of the Order of the RTC reveals that the Presiding Judge allowed the withdrawal of the Information, consequently dismissed the case against petitioners, and lifted the warrant of the arrest on the following grounds;

1). The incredibility of the earlier statements of Gina, Ernesto and Dennis because of their subsequent recantation;

2). The improbability that Dennis and Ernesto saw and heard the conversation of the accused in view of the counter-evidence submitted by Ligaya, showing physical set-up of her residence or building, the kind of door she maintained thereat, and the inner private room she had;

3). The lack or insufficiency of evidence at the level or prosecution for purposes of determining probable cause and;

4). The incredibility of the testimonies of Sabino and Jonas because of the absence of corroborating evidence. “

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IDINAGDAG pa ng Mataas na Korte na walang naging pagkakamali ang RTC sa pagbasura sa kaso noong Setyembre 30, 2005.

Paliwanag ng High Tribunal:

“Given the foregoing, we find that the RTC did not err in finding that no probable cause existed to indict the petitioners for the crime of murder. Neither did it gravely abuse its discretion in making said conclusion. There was no hint of whimsicality, nor of gross and patent abuse of discretion as would amount to an evasion of a positive duty or a virtual refusal to perform a duty enjoined by law or to act at all in contemplation of law on the part of the Presiding Judge. On the contrary, he came to the conclusion that there was no probable cause for petitioners TO COMMIT MURDER, by applying basic precepts of criminal law to the facts, allegations and evidence on record. Said conclusion was thoroughly explained in detail in the lengthy Order dated September 30, 2005. We would like to stress that the purpose of the mandate of the judge o first determine probable cause is to insulate from the very start those falsely charged with crimes from the tribulations, expenses and anxiety of a public trial.”

(Para sa kabuuang desisyon, maaaring mag-log-on sa www. sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2010/may2010)

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BAGO ang mga desisyon na ito, sari-saring panggigipit ang ating naranasan sa mga taong nais tayong idiin sa isang kaso hindi natin nagawa. Pilit tayong “pinababaligtad” ng minsan may dumalaw sa atin mula sa pagkakapiit saParanaque City Jail na mga emisaryo ng isang dating Alkalde at Konsehal.

Samantalang ang tangi lamang nating “kasalanan” ay naging tapat tayo sa ating mga kaibigan sumuporta sa atin hanggang sa huling araw ng  pagkakakulong at hindi nang-iwan, gaya ng ating pinagpipitagang Mayor Alfredo Lim.

(May kasunod sa Huwebes)

Para sa anumang komento, mag-email sa [email protected]. o mag-text sa 09323214355. Lumalabas ang ating kolum tuwing Lunes, Martes at Huwebes.

Chairwoman Ligaya V. Santos