SESINANDO MERIDA, Petitioner, versus PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondent.G.R. No. 158182 | 2008-06-12D E C I S I O N CARPIO, J.:The CaseThis is a p!i!io" #o$ $%i&'1( o# !h D)isio"'2( *a!* 28 J+" 2002 a"* !h Rso,+!io" *a!* 1- .a/2000 o# !h Co+$! o# Appa,s. Th 28 J+" 2002 D)isio" a1$2* !h )o"%i)!io" o# p!i!io"$ Ssi"a"*o.$i*a 3p!i!io"$4 #o$ %io,a!io" o# S)!io" 68,'0( P$si*"!ia, D)$ No. 505 3PD 5054,'-( as a2"** 6/E7)+!i% O$*$ No. 255. Th Rso,+!io" *a!* 1- .a/ 2000 *"i* a*2issio" o# p!i!io"$8s 2o!io" #o$$)o"si*$a!io".'5(The FatsP!i!io"$ &as)ha$9*i"!hR9io"a, T$ia, Co+$! o# Ro26,o", Ro26,o", :$a")h813!$ia, )o+$!4 &i!h%io,a!io" o# S)!io" 68 o# PD 505, as a2"**, #o$ ;)+!'!i"9(, 9a!h$'i"9(, )o,,)!'i"9( a"* $2o%'i"9(; a,o" "a$$a !$i"si* a p$i%a!,a"* i" .a/o*,Ipi,,.a9*i&a"9,Ro26,o" 3.a/o* P$op$!/4 o%$ &hi)hp$i%a! )o2p,ai"a"! Os)a$ .. Ta"sio"9)o 3Ta"sio"9)o4 ),ai2s o&"$ship.'6(Th p$os)+!io" %i*") sho&* !ha! o" 20 D)26$ 1AETAER 7 7 7 TAE TRIAG COFRT ERRED IN TAJING COGNIKANCE O= TAE CASE =IGED :H PRI?ATE-CO.PGAINANT :ECAFSE IT >AS NOT TAE IN?ESTIGATING O==ICER AS RELFIRED :H SECTION 80 O= P.D.505 AS A.ENDED >AO .FST :E TAE ONE TO INSTITFTE TAE =IGING O= TAE SA.E.'16(I" i!s Co22"! !o !h p!i!io", !h O1) o# !h So,i)i!o$ G"$a, 3OSG4 )o+"!$* !ha! 314 !h !$ia, )o+$!a)C+i$*E+$is*i)!io"o%$ !h)as%"!ho+9hTa"sio"9)o, a"*"o! aDENR#o$s! o1)$, D,*!h)o2p,ai"! a9ai"s! p!i!io"$ a"* 324 p!i!io"$ is ,ia6, #o$ %io,a!io" o# S)!io" 68 o# PD 505, as a2"**.The IssuesTh p!i!io" $aiss !h #o,,o&i"9 iss+s:'15(14 >h!h$ !h !$ia, )o+$! a)C+i$* E+$is*i)!io" o%$ C$i2i"a, Cas No. 2205 %" !ho+9h i! &as 6as* o" a)o2p,ai"! D,* 6/ Ta"sio"9)o a"* "o! 6/ a DENR #o$s! o1)$M a"*24 >h!h$ p!i!io"$ is ,ia6, #o$ %io,a!io" o# S)!io" 68 o# PD 505, as a2"**. The Ru!in" o# the CourtTh p!i!io" has "o 2$i!.The Tria! Court A$uired %urisdition OverCri&ina! Case No. ''()>s+s!ai"!hOSG8s),ai2!ha! !h!$ia, )o+$! a)C+i$* E+$is*i)!io" o%$C$i2i"a, CasNo.2205. ThR%is* R+,s o# C$i2i"a, P$o)*+$ 3R%is* R+,s4 ,is! !h )ass &hi)h 2+s! 6 i"i!ia!* 6/ a )o2p,ai"!D,* 6/ sp)iD* i"*i%i*+a,s,'18( "o"-)o2p,ia") o# &hi)h o+s!s !h !$ia, )o+$! o# E+$is*i)!io" #$o2 !$/i"9s+)h )ass.'1i!ho+! 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A"), !his)ashi"9so"!hC+s!io"o# &h!h$p!i!io"$;)+!777!i26$;i"!h.a/o*P$op$!/ &i!ho+! a DENR p$2i!.'2 a"s&$ i" !h a1$2a!i% a"* !h+s a1$2 !h ,o&$ )o+$!s8 $+,i"9s.O"!hC+s!io"o# &h!h$p!i!io"$)+!a"a$$a!$i"!h.a/o*P$op$!/&i!ho+!aDENRp$2i!,p!i!io"$ a*op!* )o"Pi)!i"9 posi!io"s. :#o$ his !$ia,, p!i!io"$ )o"sis!"!,/ $p$s"!* !o !ha+!ho$i!is !ha! h )+! a "a$$a !$ i" !h .a/o* P$op$!/ a"* !ha! h *i* so o",/ &i!h Ca,i78s p$2issio".Ao&%$, &h" h !s!iD*, p!i!io"$ *"i* )+!!i"9 !h !$ i" C+s!io". > s+s!ai" !h ,o&$ )o+$!s8$+,i"9s !ha! p!i!io"$8s 7!$aE+*i)ia, a*2issio"s 6i"* hi2.'00( P!i!io"$ *os "o! 7p,ai" &h/ Ro/o a"*A$"a"*@, p+6,i) o1)ia,s &ho !s!iD* +"*$ oa!h i" !hi$ o1)ia, )apa)i!is, &o+,* ,i o" !h s!a"* !oi2p,i)a! p!i!io"$ i" a s$io+s )$i2i"a, oN"s, "o! !o 2"!io" !ha! !h a)!s o# !hs p+6,i) o1)$s "Eo/!h p$s+2p!io" o# $9+,a$i!/. =+$!h$, p!i!io"$ *os "o! *"/ p$s"!i"9 Ca,i78s a+!ho$i@a!io" !o Ro/oa"* A$"a"*@ as his 6asis #o$ )+!!i"9 !h "a$$a !$ i" !h .a/o* P$op$!/. P!i!io"$ has "o +s o# Ca,i78sa+!ho$i@a!io" i#, as h ),ai2* *+$i"9 !h !$ia,, h *i* "o! )+! a"/ !$ i" !h .a/o* P$op$!/.> #+$!h$ ho,* !ha! !h ,o" "a$$ !$ p!i!io"$ )+! #$o2 !h .a/o* P$op$!/ )o"s!i!+!s ;!i26$; +"*$S)!io"68o# PD505, as a2"**. PD505*os "o! *D";!i26$,; o",/;#o$s! p$o*+)!; 3&hi)h)i$)+i!o+s,/ i"),+*s ;!i26$.;4'01( Dos !h "a$$a !$ i" C+s!io" )o"s!i!+! ;!i26$; +"*$ S)!io" 68QTh),oss!!hisCo+$! )a2 !o *D"i"9 !h!$2 ;!i26$;i"S)!io"68&as!op$o%i*!ha!;!i26$,;i"),+*s;,+26$;o$;p$o)ss*,o9.;'02(I"o!h$E+$is*i)!io"s, !i26$is!$2i"*6/)o2p,ia")&i!hsp)iD* *i2"sio"s'00( o$ )$!ai" ;s!a"* a9; o$ ;$o!a!io" a9.;'0-( I" .+s!a"9 G+26$, I"). %. Co+$! o#Appa,s,'05( !his Co+$! &as #a)* &i!h a si2i,a$ !asB o# ha%i"9 !o *D" a !$2 i" S)!io" 68 o# PD 505 -;,+26$; - !o *!$2i" &h!h$ possssio" o# ,+26$ is p+"isha6, +"*$ !ha! p$o%isio". 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A"/ p$so" &ho sha,, )+!, 9a!h$, )o,,)! o$ $2o% !i26$ o$ o!h$ #o$s! p$o*+)!s #$o2 a"/ #o$s! ,a"*, o$ !i26$ #$o2 a,i"a6, a"* *isposa6, p+6,i) ,a"*s, o$ #$o2 p$i%a! ,a"*s, &i!ho+! a"/ a+!ho$i!/ +"*$ a ,i)"s 16a9$2"!, ,as, ,i)"s o$ p$2i!, sha,, 6 9+i,!/ o# C+a,iD* !h#! as *D"* a"* p+"ish* +"*$ A$!i),s 00< a"* 010 o# !h R%is* P"a, Co* . . .;. >h" a" a))+s* i"%oBs i" a 2o!io" !o C+ash !h 9$o+"* !ha! !h #a)!s )ha$9* *o "o! )o"s!i!+! a" oN"s 3R+, 115, S). 2'a( R+,s o# Co+$!4, !h s+1)i")/ o# !h I"#o$2a!io" hi"9s o" !h C+s!io" o# &h!h$ !h #a)!s a,,9*, i# h/po!h!i)a,,/ a*2i!!*, 2! !h ss"!ia, ,2"!s o# !h oN"s *D"* i"!h ,a& 3Pop, %. S9o%ia, 100 Phi,. 1162 '1i"*o, .oiss So6$pRa, Da"i, Sa,a2o, Pa6,o G+i"a&a", A"!o"io A6,,$a, a"* =o$s!$ Pa+, Api,is $)i%* i"#o$2a!io" !ha! pi" !$s &$ 6i"9 )+! a! Ta)h$s8 Ca2p &i!ho+! p$op$ a+!ho$i!/. Th/ p$o)** !o !h si! &h$ !h/ #o+"* E$"s!o AC+i"o 3p!i!io"$4, a #o$s! $a"9$ #$o2 CENRO, a"* C+!"9 s+p$%isi"9 !h )+!!i"9 o# !h !$s. Th/ a,so #o+"* sa&/$s :"*i)!o Sa"!ia9o 3Sa"!ia9o4 a"* .iB .asi"9 3.asi"94 o" !h si!, !o9!h$ &i!h C,2"! Sa,i"as 3Sa,i"as4 a"* A"*$& Na)a!a6 3Na)a!a64, &ho &$ a,so s+p$%isi"9 !h )+!!i"9 o# !h !$s. Th #o$s! $a"9$s #o+"* 20!$ s!+2ps, o+! o# &hi)h o",/ 12 &$ )o%$* 6/ !h p$2i!. Th %o,+2 o# !h !$s )+! &i!h p$2i! &as10.58 )+6i) 2!$s &hi, !h %o,+2 o# !h !$s )+! &i!ho+! p$2i! &as 16.55 )+6i) 2!$s. Th 2a$B! %a,+ o# !h !$s )+! &i!ho+! p$2i! &as P182,--5.20, a"* !h #o$s! )ha$9s &$ P11,800.25. A" I"#o$2a!io" #o$ %io,a!io" o# S)!io" 68 o# P$si*"!ia, D)$ No. 505'5( 3PD 5054 &as D,* a9ai"s! 25p!i!io"$, C+!"9, Na)a!a6, .asi"9, a"* Sa"!ia9o, as #o,,o&s: Tha! o" o$ a6o+! !h 20$* *a/ o# J+,/, 1 *o "o! a9$. Ess"!ia,, P$ohi6i!io" is a $2*/ !o p$%"! i"#$io$ )o+$!s, )o$po$a!io"s, 6oa$*s o$ p$so"s #$o2 +s+$pi"9 o$ 7$)isi"9 a E+$is*i)!io" o$ po&$ &i!h &hi)h !h/ ha% "o! 6" %s!* 6/ ,a& 05 As & ha% h,* i" .aD")o T$a*i"9 Co$po$a!io" %s. Op,, ! a,, 06 i" a )$!io$a$i o$ p$ohi6i!io" )as, o",/ iss+s aN)!i"9 !h E+$is*i)!io" o# !h !$i6+"a,, 6oa$* a"* o1)s i"%o,%* 2a/ 6 $so,%* o" !h 6asis o# +"*isp+!* #a)!s. Th iss+ o# &h!h$ o$ "o! p!i!io"$ is a" a,!$ 9o o# .i,a9$os .a!+9+i"aO.GE, is o" o# #a)!, a"* &hi)h sho+,* ha% 6" !h$sh* o+! i" !h a*2i"is!$a!i% p$o)*i"9s, a"* "o! i" !h p$ohi6i!io" p$o)*i"9s i"!h !$ia, )o+$!, &h$ i! is p$)is,/ !h #ai,+$ o# !h $spo"*"! .i"is!$ o# Na!+$a, Rso+$)s !o p$o)* as 2a"*a!* 6/ ,a& i" !h 7)+!io" o# i!s o$*$ &hi)h is +"*$ s)$+!i"/. Ass+2i"9, a$9+"*o, !ha! p$ohi6i!io" is !h p$op$ $2*/ #o$ *!$2i"i"9 !h p$op$i!/ o# pi$)i"9 !h spa$a! p$so"a,i!/ o# p!i!io"$ &i!h i!s s!o)Bho,*$s, !h %i*") p$s"!* a! sai* !$ia, *os "o! &a$$a"! s+)h a)!io". I! is s!!,* !ha! a )o$po$a!io" is ),o!h* &i!h p$so"a,i!/ spa$a! a"* *is!i")! #$o2 !ha! o# !h p$so"s )o2posi"9 i!. I! 2a/ "o! 9"$a,,/ 6 h,* ,ia6, #o$ !ha! o# !h p$so"s )o2posi"9 i!. I! 2a/ "o! 6 h,* ,ia6, #o$ !h p$so"a, i"*6!*"ss o# i!s s!o)Bho,*$s o$ !hos o# !h "!i!is )o"")!* &i!h i!. Co"%$s,/, a s!o)Bho,*$ )a""o! 6 2a* !o a"s&$ #o$ a"/ o# i!s D"a")ia, o6,i9a!io"s %" i# h sho+,* 6 i!s p$si*"!. 05 :+! &h" !h E+$i*i)a, p$so"a,i!/ o# !h )o$po$a!io" is +s* !o *#a! p+6,i) )o"%"i"), E+s!i#/ &$o"9, p$o!)! #$a+* o$ *#"* )$i2, !h )o$po$a!io" sha,, 6 )o"si*$* as a 2$ asso)ia!io" o# p$so"s 3Jopp,, I"). %s. Ha!)o, 55 Phi, -oo* P$o*+)!s, I")., &hi)h &as "%$ a pa$!/ !o !h assai,* p$o)*i"9 $s+,!i"9 i" !h iss+a") o# s+)h O$*$ a"*, &i!ho+! aNo$*i"9 !h sa2 a" oppo$!+"i!/ !o 6 ha$* 6#o$ i! &as a*E+*9* ,ia6,. 364 Th p!i!io"$ is a )o$po$a! "!i!/ spa$a! a"* *is!i")! #$o2 .i,a9$os .a!+9+i"aO.a!+9+i"a Go99i"9 E"!$p$iss, !h$ 6i"9 "o ),a$ 6asis #o$ )o"si*$i"9 i! as a 2$ )o"*+i! o$ a,!$ 9o o# .a!+9+i"aO.GE, a"* !h$#o$, )a""o! 6 2a* ,ia6, #o$ !h o6,i9a!io"s o# !h sa2 #o$ ")$oa)h2"! o%$ !h !i26$ )o")ssio" o# p$i%a! $spo"*"! DA?ENCOR. IN ?IE> O= TAE =OREGOING, !h P!i!io" is h$6/ GRANTED, a"* !h D)isio" *a!* =6$+a$/ 25, 1