Republic of the Philippines

SUPREME COURT
Manila


EN BANC


LOURDES D. RUBRICO, JEAN
RUBRICO APRUEBO, and MARY
JOY RUBRICO CARBONEL,
Petitioners,


- versus -


GLORIA MACAPAGAL-
ARROYO, GEN. HERMOGENES
ESPERON, P/DIR. GEN.
AVELINO RAZON, MAJ.
DARWIN SY a.k.a. DARWIN
REYES, JIMMY SANTANA,
RUBEN ALARO, CAPT.
ANGELO CUARESMA, a !"#$a%n
JONATHAN, P/SUPT. EDGAR B.
RO&UERO, ARSENIO C.
GOMEZ, and OICE O THE
OMBUDSMAN,
Responents!

G.R. N'. ()*)+(

Present"

PUNO, C.J.,
CARP#O,
CORONA,
CARP#O MORA$ES,
%E$ASCO, &R!,
NAC'URA,
$EONAR(O-(E CASTRO,
BR#ON,
PERA$TA,
)
BERSAM#N,
(E$ CAST#$$O,
ABA(,
%#$$ARAMA, &R!,
PERE*, an
MEN(O*A, JJ!

Pro+ul,ate"

-ebruar. /0, 12/2
3-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3

D E C I S I O N

VELASCO, JR., J.,


#n this petition for revie4 uner Rule 56 of the Rules of Court in relation to
Section /7
8/9
of the Rule on the :rit of A+paro
819
;A+paro Rule<, $oures (!
Rubrico, &ean Rubrico Apruebo, an Mar. &o. Rubrico Carbonel assail an see= to
set asie the (ecision
8>9
of the Court of Appeals ;CA< ate &ul. >/, 1220 in CA-
?!R! SP No! 2222>, a petition co++ence uner the A+paro Rule!

The petition for the 4rit of a+paro ate October 16, 122@ 4as ori,inall.
file before this Court! After issuin, the esire 4rit an irectin, the responents
to file a verifie 4ritten return, the Court referre the petition to the CA for
su++ar. hearin, an appropriate action! The petition an its attach+ents
containe, in substance, the follo4in, alle,ations"

/! On April >, 122@, ar+e +en belon,in, to the >2/
st
Air #ntelli,ence an
Securit. SAuaron ;A#SS, for short< base in -ernano Air Base in $ipa Cit.
abucte $oures (! Rubrico ;$oures<, then attenin, a $enten pabasa in
Ba,on, Ba.an, (as+ariBas, Cavite, an brou,ht to, an etaine at, the air base
4ithout char,es! -ollo4in, a 4ee= of relentless interro,ation - conucte
alternatel. b. hooe iniviuals - an 4hat a+ounts to verbal abuse an +ental
harass+ent, $oures, chair of the Ugnayan ng Maralita para sa Gawa Adhikan,
4as release at (as+ariBas, Cavite, her ho+eto4n, but onl. after bein, +ae to
si,n a state+ent that she 4oul be a +ilitar. asset!

After $ouresC release, the harass+ent, co+in, in the for+ of bein, taile
on at least t4o occasions at ifferent places, i.e!, (as+ariBas, Cavite an Baclaran
in Pasa. Cit., b. +otorc.cle-riin, +en in bonnets, continueD

1! (urin, the ti+e $oures 4as +issin,, PESr! #nsp! Arsenio ?o+eF
;PE#nsp! ?o+eF<, then sub-station co++aner of Ba,on, Ba.an, (as+ariBas,
Cavite, =ept senin, te3t +essa,es to $ouresC au,hter, Mar. &o. R! Carbonel
;Mar. &o.<, brin,in, her to beaches an as=in, her Auestions
about Karapatan, an alliance of hu+an ri,hts or,aniFations! 'e, ho4ever, faile
to +a=e an investi,ation even after $ouresC isappearance ha been +ae
=no4n to hi+D

>! A 4ee= after $ouresC release, another au,hter, &ean R! Apruebo
;&ean<, 4as constraine to leave their house because of the presence of +en
4atchin, the+D

5! $oures has file 4ith the Office of the O+bus+an a cri+inal
co+plaint for =inappin, an arbitrar. etention an a+inistrative co+plaint for
,ross abuse of authorit. an ,rave +isconuct a,ainst Capt! An,elo Cuares+a
;Cuares+a<, Ruben Alfaro ;Alfaro<, &i++. Santana ;Santana< an a certain
&onathan, cEo 'eaAuarters >2/
st
A#SS, -ernano Air Base an MaG! S.ERe.es
4ith aress at No! 27 A+stera+ E3t!, Merville Sub!, ParaBaAue Cit., but
nothin, has happeneD an the threats an harass+ent incients have been
reporte to the (as+ariBas +unicipal an Cavite provincial police stations, but
nothin, eventful resulte fro+ their respective investi,ations!

T4o of the four 4itnesses to $ouresC abuction 4ent into hiin, after
bein, visite b. ,overn+ent a,ents in civilian clothesD an

6! Karapatan conucte an investi,ation on the incients! The
investi,ation 4oul inicate that +en belon,in, to the Ar+e -orces of the
Philippines ;A-P<, na+el. Capt! Cuares+a of the Philippine Air -orce ;PA-<,
Alfaro, Santana, &onathan an MaG! (ar4in S.ERe.es, le the abuction of
$ouresD that un=no4n to the abuctors, $oures 4as able to pilfer a H+ission
orerI 4hich 4as aresse to CA Ruben Alfaro an si,ne b. Capt! Cuares+a
of the PA-!


The petition pra.e that a 4rit of a+paro issue, orerin, the iniviual
responents to esist fro+ perfor+in, an. threatenin, act a,ainst the securit. of
the petitioners an for the Office of the O+bus+an ;OMB< to i++eiatel. file an
infor+ation for =inappin, Aualifie 4ith the a,,ravatin, circu+stance of ,ener
of the offene part.! #t also pra.e for a+a,es an for responents to prouce
ocu+ents sub+itte to an. of the+ on the case of $oures!

Before the CA, responents Presient ?loria Macapa,al-Arro.o, ?en!
'er+o,enes Esperon, then Ar+e -orces of the Philippines ;A-P< Chief of Staff,
Police (irector-?eneral ;PE(ir! ?en!< Avelino RaFon, then Philippine National
Police ;PNP< Chief, Police Superintenent ;PESupt!< RoAuero of the Cavite Police
Provincial Office, Police #nspector ;PE#nsp!< ?o+eF, no4 retire, an the OMB
;ans4erin, responents, collectivel.< file, throu,h the Office of the Solicitor
?eneral ;OS?<, a Goint return on the 4ritspecificall. en.in, the +aterial
inculpator. aver+ents a,ainst the+! The OS? also enie the alle,ations a,ainst
the follo4in, i+pleae persons, na+el." Cuares+a, Alfaro, Santana, &onathan,
an S.ERe.es, for lac= of =no4le,e or infor+ation sufficient to for+ a belief as to
the alle,ationsC truth! An b. 4a. of ,eneral affir+ative efenses, ans4erin,
responents interpose the follo4in, efenses" ;/< the Presient +a. not be sue
urin, her incu+benc.D an ;1< the petition is inco+plete, as it fails to inicate the
+atters reAuire b. Sec! 6;< an ;e< of the A+paro Rule!
859

Attache to the return 4ere the affiavits of the follo4in,, a+on, other
public officials, containin, their respective affir+ative efenses anEor state+ents
of 4hat the. ha unerta=en or co++itte to unerta=e re,arin, the clai+e
isappearance of $ouresan the harass+ents +ae to bear on her an her
au,hters"

/! G"n. E-."#'n J atteste that, pursuant to a irective of then Secretar.
of National (efense ;SN(< ?ilberto C! Teooro, &r!, he orere the Co++anin,
?eneral of the PA-, 4ith infor+ation to all concerne units, to conuct an
investi,ation to establish the circu+stances behin the isappearance an the
reappearance of $oures insofar as the involve+ent of alle,e personnelEunit is
concerne! The Provost Marshall ?eneral an the Office of the &u,e Avocate
?eneral ;&A?O<, A-P, also unertoo= a parallel action!

?en! Esperon +anifeste his resolve to provie the CA 4ith +aterial
results of the investi,ationD to continue 4ith the probe on the alle,e abuction of
$oures an to brin, those responsible, incluin, +ilitar. personnel, to the bar of
Gustice 4hen 4arrante b. the finin,s an the co+petent evience that +a. be
,athere in the investi,ation process b. those +anate to loo= into the +atterD
869

1! P/D%#. G"n. Ra/'n - state that an investi,ation he i++eiatel.
orere upon receivin, a cop. of the petition is on-,oin, vis-K-vis $ouresC
abuction, an that a bac=,roun verification 4ith the PNP Personnel Accountin,
an #nfor+ation S.ste+ isclose that the na+es Santana, Alfaro, Cuares+a an
one &onathan o not appear in the police personnel recors, althou,h the PNP files
carr. the na+e of (ar4in Re.es L! Mu,a!

Per the initial investi,ation report of the (as+ariBas +unicipal police
station, PE(ir! ?en! RaFon isclose, $oures 4as abucte b. si3 ar+e +en in
the afternoon of April >, 122@ an ra,,e aboar a To.ota Revo 4ith plate
nu+ber MRR 510, 4hich plate 4as issue for a Mitsubishi van to AN Cotta,e
#nustr. 4ith aress at 7 A+stera+ St!, Merville Sub!, ParaBaAue Cit.! The
person resiin, in the apart+ent on that ,iven aress is one (ariusEEr4in See O
(arius Re.es alle,el. 4or=in,, per the latterCs house helper,
in Ca+p A,uinalo!

PE(ir! ?en! RaFon, ho4ever, be+oane the fact that Mrs! Rubrico never
contacte nor coorinate 4ith the local police or other investi,atin, units of the
PNP after her release, althou,h she is in the best position to establish the ientit.
of her abuctors anEor provie positive escription throu,h co+posite s=etchin,!
Nonetheless, he +anifeste that the PNP is rea. to assist an protect the
petitioners an the =e. 4itnesses fro+ threats, harass+ents an inti+iation fro+
4hatever source an, at the sa+e ti+e, to assist the Court in the i+ple+entation
of its orers!
8P9

>! P/S0.$. R'10"#' J state conuctin,, upon receipt of $ouresC
co+plaint, an investi,ation an sub+ittin, the corresponin, report to the PNP
CalabarFon, observin, that neither $oures nor her relatives provie the police
4ith relevant infor+ationD

5! P/In-.. G'2"/ J alle,e that $oures, her =in an 4itnesses refuse to
cooperate 4ith the investi,atin, Cavite PNPD an

6! O3"#a44 D".0$5 O260d-2an O#4and' Ca-%2%#' - alle,e that cases
for violation of Articles 1P@ an /15, or =inappin, an arbitrar. etention,
respectivel., have been file 4ith, an are uner preli+inar. investi,ation b. the
OMB a,ainst those believe to be involve in $ouresC =inappin,D that upon
receipt of the petition for a 4rit of amparo, proper coorination 4as +ae 4ith
the Office of the (eput. O+bus+an for the Militar. an other $a4 Enforce+ent
Offices ;MO$EO< 4here the subGect cri+inal an a+inistrative co+plaints 4ere
file!


Co++entin, on the return, petitioners pointe out that the return 4as no
+ore than a ,eneral enial of aver+ents in the petition! The., thus, pleae to be
allo4e to present evience ex parte a,ainst the Presient, Santana, Alfaro, Capt!
Cuares+a, (ar4in S., an &onathan! An 4ith leave of court, the. also as=e to
serve notice of the petition throu,h publication, o4in, to their failure to secure the
current aress of the latter five an thus sub+it, as the CA reAuire, proof of
service of the petition on the+!

The hearin, starte on Nove+ber />, 122@!
8@9
#n that settin,, petitionersC
counsel pra.e for the issuance of a te+porar. protection orer ;TPO< a,ainst the
ans4erin, responents on the basis of the alle,ations in the petition! At the hearin,
of Nove+ber 12, 122@, the CA ,rante petitionersC +otion that the petition an
4rit be serve b. the courtCs process server on (ar4in S.ERe.es, Santana, Alfaro,
Capt! Cuares+a, an &onathan!

The le,al s=ir+ishes that follo4e over the propriet. of e3cluin, Presient
Arro.o fro+ the petition, petitionersC +otions for service b. publication, an the
issuance of a TPO are not of ecisive pertinence in this recital! The botto+ line is
that, b. separate resolutions, the CA roppe the Presient as responent in the
caseD enie the +otion for a TPO for the courtCs 4ant of authorit. to issue it in the
tenor sou,ht b. petitionersD an effectivel. enie the +otion for notice b.
publication o4in, to petitionersC failure to sub+it the affiavit reAuire uner Sec!
/@, Rule /5 of the Rules of Court!
809

After ue proceein,s, the CA renere, on &ul. >/, 1220, its partial
Gu,+ent, subGect of this revie4, isposin, of the petition but onl. insofar as the
ans4erin, responents 4ere concerne! The fallo of the CA ecision reas as
follo4s"


WHEREORE, pre+ises consiere, partial Gu,+ent is hereb.
renere DISMISSING the instant petition 4ith respect to responent ?en!
'er+o,enes Esperon, PE(ir! ?en! Avelino RaFon, Supt! E,ar B! RoAuero, PESr!
#nsp! Arsenio C! ?o+eF ;ret!< an the Office of the O+bus+an!

Nevertheless, in orer that petitionersC co+plaint 4ill not en up as
another unsolve case, the heas of the Ar+e -orces of the Philippinesan the
Philippine National Police are irecte to ensure that the investi,ations alrea.
co++ence are ili,entl. pursue to brin, the perpetrators to Gustice! The Chief
of Staff of the Ar+e -orces of the Philippines an PE(ir! ?en! Avelino RaFon
are irecte to re,ularl. upate petitioners an this Court on the status of their
investi,ation!

SO ORDERED!


#n this recourse, petitioners for+ulate the issue for resolution in the
follo4in, 4ise"


:'ET'ER OR NOT the 8CA9 co++itte reversible error in is+issin,
8their9 Petition an roppin, Presient ?loria Macapa,al Arro.o as part.
responent!



Petitioners first ta=e issue on the PresientCs purporte lac= of i++unit.
fro+ suit urin, her ter+ of office! The /70@ Constitution, so the. clai+, has
re+ove such i++unit. heretofore enGo.e b. the chief e3ecutive uner the /7>6
an /7@> Constitutions!

Petitioners are +ista=en! The presiential i++unit. fro+ suit re+ains
preserve uner our s.ste+ of ,overn+ent, albeit not e3pressl. reserve in the
present constitution! Aressin, a concern of his co-+e+bers in the /70P
Constitutional Co++ission on the absence of an e3press provision on the +atter,
-r! &oaAuin Bernas, S!&! observe that it 4as alrea. unerstoo in Gurispruence
that the Presient +a. not be sue urin, his or her tenure!
879
The Court
subseAuentl. +ae it abunantl. clear in Daid . Ma!apagal"Arroyo, a case
li=e4ise resolve uner the u+brella of the /70@ Constitution, that inee the
Presient enGo.s i++unit. urin, her incu+benc., an 4h. this +ust be so"

Settle is the octrine that the Presient, urin, his tenure of office or
actual incu+benc., +a. not be sue in an. civil or cri+inal case, an there is no
nee to provie for it in the Constitution or la4! #t 4ill e,rae the i,nit. of the
hi,h office of the Presient, the 'ea of State, if he can be ra,,e into court
liti,ations 4hile servin, as such! -urther+ore, it is i+portant that he be free
fro+ an. for+ of harass+ent, hinrance or istraction to enable hi+ to full.
atten to the perfor+ance of his official uties an functions! Unli=e the
le,islative an Guicial branch, onl. one constitutes the e3ecutive branch an
an.thin, 4hich i+pairs his usefulness in the ischar,e of the +an. ,reat an
i+portant uties i+pose upon hi+ b. the Constitution necessaril. i+pairs the
operation of the ?overn+ent!
8/29
3 3 3


An lest it be overloo=e, the petition is si+pl. bereft of an. alle,ation as to
4hat specific presiential act or o+ission violate or threatene to violate
petitionersC protecte ri,hts!

This brin,s us to the correctness of the assaile is+issal of the petition 4ith
respect to ?en! Esperon, PE(ir! ?en! RaFon, PESupt! RoAuero, PE#nsp! ?o+eF, an
the OMB!

None of the four iniviual responents i++eiatel. referre to above has
been i+plicate as bein, connecte to, let alone as bein, behin, the alle,e
abuction an harass+ent of petitioner $oures! Their na+es 4ere not even
+entione in $ouresC#in$mpaang #alaysay
8//9
of April 122@! The sa+e ,oes for
the respective #in$mpaang #alaysay anEor Karagdagang #in$mpaang #alaysay of
&ean
8/19
an Mar. &o.!
8/>9

As e3plaine b. the CA, ?en! Esperon an PE(ir! ?en! RaFon 4ere inclue
in the case on the theor. that the., as co++aners, 4ere responsible for the
unla4ful acts alle,el. co++itte b. their suborinates a,ainst petitioners! To the
appellate court, Hthe privile,e of the 4rit of amparo +ust be enie as a,ainst ?en!
Esperon an PE(ir! ?en! RaFon for the si+ple reason that petitioners have not
presente evience sho4in, that those 4ho alle,el. abucte an ille,all.
etaine $oures an later threatene her an her fa+il. 4ere, in fact, +e+bers of
the +ilitar. or the police force!I The t4o ,enerals, the CACs holin, broal.
hinte, 4oul have been accountable for the abuction an threats if the actual
+alefactors 4ere +e+bers of the A-P or PNP!

As re,ars the three other ans4erin, responents, the. 4ere i+pleae
because the. alle,el. ha not e3erte the reAuire e3traorinar. ili,ence in
investi,atin, an satisfactoril. resolvin, $ouresC isappearance or brin,in, to
Gustice the actual perpetrators of 4hat a+ounte to a cri+inal act, albeit there 4ere
alle,ations a,ainst PE#nsp! ?o+eF of acts constitutin, threats a,ainst Mar. &o.!

:hile in a Aualifie sense tenable, the is+issal b. the CA of the case as
a,ainst ?en! Esperon an PE(ir! ?en! RaFon is incorrect if vie4e a,ainst the
bac=rop of the state rationale unerpinnin, the assaile ecision vis-K-vis the
t4o ,enerals, i!e!, co++an responsibilit.! The Court assu+es the latter stance
o4in, to the fact that co++an responsibilit., as a concept efine, evelope,
an applie uner international la4, has little, if at all, bearin, in a+paro
proceein,s!

The evolution of the co++an responsibilit. octrine fins its conte3t in the
evelop+ent of la4s of 4ar an ar+e co+bats! Accorin, to -r! Bernas,
Hco++an responsibilit.,I in its si+plest ter+s, +eans the Hresponsibilit. of
co++aners for cri+es co++itte b. suborinate +e+bers of the ar+e forces or
other persons subGect to their control in international 4ars or o+estic
conflict!I
8/59
#n this sense, co++an responsibilit. is properl. a for+ of cri+inal
co+plicit.! The 'a,ue Conventions of /72@ aopte the octrine of co++an
responsibilit.,
8/69
foreshao4in, the present-a. precept of holin, a superior
accountable for the atrocities co++itte b. his suborinates shoul he be re+iss in
his ut. of control over the+! As then for+ulate, co++an responsibilit. is Han
'2%--%'n 2'd" '7 %nd%3%d0a4 !#%2%na4 4%a6%4%$5,I 4hereb. the superior is +ae
responsible for !#%2"- !'22%$$"d b. his suborinates for failin, to prevent or
punish the perpetrators
8/P9
;as oppose to cri+es he orere<!

The octrine has recentl. been coifie in the Ro+e Statute
8/@9
of the
#nternational Cri+inal Court ;#CC< to 4hich thePhilippines is si,nator.! Sec! 10 of
the Statute i+poses iniviual responsibilit. on +ilitar. co++aners for cri+es
co++itte b. forces uner their control! The countr. is, ho4ever, not .et for+all.
boun b. the ter+s an provisions e+boie in this treat.-statute, since the Senate
has .et to e3ten concurrence in its ratification!
8/09

:hile there are several penin, bills on co++an responsibilit.,
8/79
there is
still no Philippine la4 that provies for cri+inal liabilit. uner that octrine!
8129

#t +a. plausibl. be contene that co++an responsibilit., as le,al basis to
hol +ilitar.Epolice co++aners liable for e3tra-le,al =illin,s, enforce
isappearances, or threats, +a. be +ae applicable to this Gurisiction on the
theor. that the co++an responsibilit. octrine no4 constitutes a principle of
international la4 or custo+ar. international la4 in accorance 4ith the
incorporation clause of the Constitution!
81/9
Still, it 4oul be inappropriate to appl.
to these proceein,s the octrine of co++an responsibilit., as the CA see+e to
have one, as a for+ of cri+inal co+plicit. throu,h o+ission, for iniviual
responentsC cri+inal liabilit., if there be an., is be.on the reach of a+paro! #n
other 4ors, the Court oes not rule in such proceein,s on an. issue of cri+inal
culpabilit., even if incientall. a cri+e or an infraction of an a+inistrative rule
+a. have been co++itte! As the Court stresse in #e!retary of %ational Defense
. Manalo ;Manalo<,
8119
the 4rit of a+paro 4as conceive to provie e3peitious
an effective proceural relief a,ainst violations or threats of violation of the basic
ri,hts to life, libert., an securit. of personsD the corresponin, a+paro suit,
ho4ever, His not an action to eter+ine cri+inal ,uilt reAuirin, proof be.on
reasonable oubt 3 3 3 or a+inistrative liabilit. reAuirin, substantial evience
that 4ill reAuire full an e3haustive proceein,s!I
81>9
Of the sa+e tenor, an b.
4a. of e3pounin, on the nature an role of a+paro, is 4hat the Court sai
in &a'on . (agitis"

#t oes not eter+ine ,uilt nor pinpoint cri+inal culpabilit. for the
isappearance 8threats thereof or e3tra-Guicial =illin,s9D it
eter+inesresponsibility, or at least a!!o$ntability, for the enforce isappearance
8threats thereof or e3tra-Guicial =illin,s9 for purposes of i+posin, the appropriate
re+eies to aress the isappearance 8or e3tra-Guicial =illin,s9!

3 3 3 3

As the la4 no4 stans, e3tra-Guicial =illin,s an enforce isappearances
in this Gurisiction are not cri+es penaliFe separatel. fro+ the co+ponent
cri+inal acts unerta=en to carr. out these =illin,s an enforce isappearances
an are no4 penaliFe uner the Revise Penal Coe an special la4s! The
si+ple reason is that the $e,islature has not spo=en on the +atterD the
eter+ination of 4hat acts are cri+inal 3 3 3 are +atters of substantive la4 that
onl. the $e,islature has the po4er to enact!
8159
3 3 3

#f co++an responsibilit. 4ere to be invo=e an applie to these
proceein,s, it shoul, at +ost, be onl. to eter+ine the author 4ho, at the first
instance, is accountable for, an has the ut. to aress, the isappearance an
harass+ents co+plaine of, so as to enable the Court to evise re+eial +easures
that +a. be appropriate uner the pre+ises to protect ri,hts covere b. the 4rit
of a+paro! As inti+ate earlier, ho4ever, the eter+ination shoul not be pursue
to fi3 cri+inal liabilit. on responents preparator. to cri+inal prosecution, or as a
prelue to a+inistrative isciplinar. proceein,s uner e3istin, a+inistrative
issuances, if there be an.!

Petitioners, as the CA has eclare, have not auce substantial evience
pointin, to ,overn+ent involve+ent in the isappearance of $oures! To a
concrete point, petitioners have not sho4n that the actual perpetrators of the
abuction an the harass+ents that follo4e for+all. or infor+all. for+e part of
either the +ilitar. or the police chain of co++an! A preli+inar. police
investi,ation report, ho4ever, 4oul ten to sho4 a lin=, ho4ever haF., bet4een
the license plate ;MRR 510< of the vehicle alle,el. use in the abuction of
$oures an the aress of (ar4in Re.esES., 4ho 4as alle,e to be 4or=in, in
Ca+p A,uinalo!
8169
Then, too, there 4ere affiavits an testi+onies on events
that transpire 4hich, if ta=en to,ether, lo,icall. point to +ilitar. involve+ent in
the alle,e isappearance of $oures, such as, but not li+ite to, her abuction in
broa a.li,ht, her bein, forcibl. ra,,e to a vehicle blinfole an then bein,
brou,ht to a place 4here the souns of planes ta=in, off an lanin, coul be
hear! Mention +a. also be +ae of the fact that $oures 4as as=e about her
+e+bership in the Co++unist Part. an of bein, release 4hen she a,ree to
beco+e an Hasset!I

Still an all, the ientities an lin=s to the A-P or the PNP of the alle,e
abuctors, na+el. Cuares+a, Alfaro, Santana, &onathan, an S.ERe.es, have .et to
be establishe!

Base on the separate s4orn state+ents of MaG! Paul Ciano
81P9
an Technical
Ser,eant &ohn N! Ro+ano,
81@9
officer-in-char,e an a staff of the >2/
st
A#SS,
respectivel., none of the alle,e abuctors of $oures belon,e to the >2/
st
A#SS
base in San -ernano Air Base! Neither 4ere the. +e+bers of an. unit of the
Philippine Air -orce, per the certification
8109
of Col! Raul (i+atactac, Air -orce
AGutant! An as state in the challen,e CA ecision, a verification 4ith the
Personnel Accountin, an #nfor+ation S.ste+ of the PNP .iele the infor+ation
that, e3cept for a certain (ar4in Re.es . Mu,a, the other alle,e abuctors, i!e!,
Cuares+a, Alfaro, Santana an &onathan, 4ere not +e+bers of the PNP!
Petitioners, 4hen ,iven the opportunit. to ientif. Police Officer / (ar4in Re.es
. Mu,a, +ae no effort to confir+ if he 4as the sa+e MaG! (ar4in
Re.es a!=!a! (ar4in S. the. 4ere i+plicatin, in $ouresC abuction!

Petitioners, to be sure, have not successfull. controverte ans4erin,
responentsC ocu+entar. evience, auce to ebun= the for+erCs alle,ations
irectl. lin=in, $ouresC abuctors an tor+entors to the +ilitar. or the police
establish+ent! :e note, in fact, that $oures, 4hen Auerie on cross-e3a+ination,
e3presse the belief that S.ERe.es 4as an NB# a,ent!
8179
The Court is, of course,
a4are of 4hat 4as referre to in &a'on
8>29
as the Hevientiar. ifficultiesI
presente b. the nature of, an encountere b. petitioners in, enforce
isappearance cases! But it is precisel. for this reason that the Court shoul ta=e
care too that no 4ron, +essa,e is sent, lest one conclue that an. =in or e,ree of
evience, even the outlanish, 4oul suffice to secure a+paro re+eies an
protection!

Sec! /@, as co+ple+ente b. Sec! /0 of the A+paro Rule, e3pressl.
prescribes the +ini+u+ evientiar. substantiation reAuire+ent an nor+ to
support a cause of action uner the Rule, thus"

Sec! /@! )$rden of *roof and #tandard of Diligen!e &e+$ired!QThe
parties shall "-$a64%-8 $8"%# !4a%2- b. -06-$an$%a4 "3%d"n!"!

3 3 3 3

Sec! /0! J$dgment.Q3 3 3 #f the alle,ations in the petition are proven
b. -06-$an$%a4 "3%d"n!", the court shall ,rant the privile,e of the 4rit an such
reliefs as +a. be proper an appropriateD '$8"#9%-", $8" .#%3%4":" -8a44 6"
d"n%"d! ;E+phasis ae!<


Substantial evience is +ore than a +ere i+putation of 4ron,oin, or
violation that 4oul 4arrant a finin, of liabilit. a,ainst the person char,eD
8>/9
it
is +ore than a scintilla of evience! #t +eans such a+ount of relevant evience
4hich a reasonable +in +i,ht accept as aeAuate to support a conclusion, even if
other eAuall. reasonable +ins +i,ht opine other4ise!
8>19
Per the CACs evaluation
of their evience, consistin, of the testi+onies an affiavits of the three Rubrico
4o+en an five other iniviuals, petitioners have not satisfactoril. hurle the
evientiar. bar reAuire of an assi,ne to the+ uner the A+paro Rule. #n a ver.
real sense, the buren of evience never even shifte to ans4erin,
responents! The Court fins no co+pellin, reason to isturb the appellate courtCs
eter+ination of the ans4erin, responentsC role in the alle,e enforce
isappearance of petitioner $oures an the threats to her fa+il.Cs securit.!

Not4ithstanin, the fore,oin, finin,s, the Court notes that both ?en!
Esperon an PE(ir! ?en! RaFon, per their separate affiavits, lost no ti+e, upon
their receipt of the orer to +a=e a return on the 4rit, in issuin, irectives to the
concerne units in their respective co++ans for a thorou,h probe of the case an
in proviin, the investi,ators the necessar. support! As of this ate, ho4ever, the
investi,ations have .et to be conclue 4ith so+e efinite finin,s an
reco++enation!

As re,ars PESupt! Ro+ero an PE#nsp! ?o+eF, the Court is +ore than
satisfie that the. have no irect or inirect han in the alle,e enforce
isappearance of $oures an the threats a,ainst her au,hters! As police officers,
thou,h, theirs 4as the ut. to thorou,hl. investi,ate the abuction of $oures, a
ut. that 4oul inclue loo=in, into the cause, +anner, an li=e etails of the
isappearanceD ientif.in, 4itnesses an obtainin, state+ents fro+ the+D an
follo4in, evientiar. leas, such as the To.ota Revo vehicle 4ith plate nu+ber
MRR 510, an securin, an preservin, evience relate to the abuction an the
threats that +a. ai in the prosecution of the personEs responsible! As 4e sai
in Manalo,
8>>9
the ri,ht to securit., as a ,uarantee of protection b. the ,overn+ent,
is breache b. the superficial an one-sieJJhence, ineffectiveJJinvesti,ation b.
the +ilitar. or the police of reporte cases uner their Gurisiction! As foun b.
the CA, the local police stations concerne, incluin, PESupt! RoAuero an PE#nsp!
?o+eF, i conuct a preli+inar. fact-finin, on petitionersC co+plaint! The.
coul not, ho4ever, +a=e an. hea4a., o4in, to 4hat 4as perceive to be the
refusal of $oures, her fa+il., an her 4itnesses to cooperate! PetitionersC
counsel, Att.! Re3 &!M!A! -ernaneF, provie a plausible e3planation for his
clients an their 4itnessesC attitue, H;T8"5< d' n'$ $#0-$ $8" :'3"#n2"n$
a:"n!%"- $' .#'$"!$ $8"2!I
8>59
The ifficult. arisin, fro+ a situation 4here the
part. 4hose co+plicit. in e3tra-Guicial =illin, or enforce isappearance, as the
case +a. be, is alle,e to be the sa+e part. 4ho investi,ates it is unerstanable,
thou,h!

The see+in, reluctance on the part of the Rubricos or their 4itnesses to
cooperate ou,ht not to pose a hinrance to the police in pursuin,, on its o4n
initiative, the investi,ation in Auestion to its natural en! To repeat 4hat the Court
sai in Manalo, the ri,ht to securit. of persons is a ,uarantee of the protection of
oneCs ri,ht b. the ,overn+ent! An this protection inclues conuctin, effective
investi,ations of e3tra-le,al =illin,s, enforce isappearances, or threats of the
sa+e =in! The nature an i+portance of an investi,ation are capture in
the ,elas+$e' &odrig$e' case,
8>69
in 4hich the #nter-A+erican Court of 'u+an
Ri,hts pronounce"

8The ut. to investi,ate9 +ust be unerta=en in a serious +anner an not
as a +ere for+alit. preoraine to be ineffective! An investi,ation +ust have an
obGective an be assu+e b. the State as its o4n le,al ut., n'$ a -$". $ak"n 65
.#%3a$" %n$"#"-$- $8a$ d"."nd- 0.'n $8" %n%$%a$%3" '7 $8" 3%!$%2 or his fa+il. or
upon offer of proof, 4ithout an effective search for the truth b. the ,overn+ent!
;E+phasis ae!<


This brin,s us to Mar. &o.Cs char,e of havin, been harasse b. responent
PE#nsp! ?o+eF! :ith the vie4 4e ta=e of this incient, there is nothin, concrete to
support the char,e, save for Mar. &o.Cs bare alle,ations of harass+ent! :e cite
4ith approval the follo4in, self-e3planator. e3cerpt fro+ the appeale CA
ecision"


#n fact, urin, her cross-e3a+ination, 4hen as=e 4hat specific act or
threat PESr! ?o+eF ;ret< co++itte a,ainst her or her +other an sister, Mar. &o.
replie HNone RI
8>P9

Si+ilarl., there appears to be no basis for petitionersC alle,ations about the
OMB failin, to act on their co+plaint a,ainst those 4ho alle,el. abucte an
ille,all. etaine $oures! Contrar. to petitionersC contention, the OMB has ta=en
the necessar. appropriate action on sai co+plaint! As culle fro+ the
affiavit
8>@9
of the (eput. Overall O+bus+an an the Goint affiavits
8>09
of the
esi,nate investi,ators, all ate Nove+ber @, 122@, the OMB ha, on the basis
of sai co+plaint, co++ence cri+inal
8>79
an a+inistrative
8529
proceein,s,
oc=ete as OMB-P-C-2@-2P21-E an OMB-P-A 2@-6P@-E, respectivel., a,ainst
Cuares+a, Alfaro, Santana, &onathan, an S.ERe.es! The reAuisite orers for the
sub+ission of counter-affiavits an verifie position papers ha been sent out!

The privile,e of the 4rit of a+paro, to reiterate, is a re+e. available to
victi+s of e3tra-Guicial =illin,s an enforce isappearances or threats of si+ilar
nature, re,arless of 4hether the perpetrator of the unla4ful act or o+ission is a
public official or e+plo.ee or a private iniviual!

At this Guncture, it bears to state that petitioners have not provie the CA
4ith the correct aresses of responents Cuares+a, Alfaro, Santana, &onathan,
an S.ERe.es! The +aile envelopes containin, the petition for a 4rit of a+paro
iniviuall. aresse to each of the+ have all been returne unopene! An
petitionersC +otion interpose before the appellate court for notice or
service via publication has not been acco+panie b. supportin, affiavits as
reAuire b. the Rules of Court! Accorin,l., the appeale CA partial Gu,+entJJ
isposin, of the unerl.in, petition for a 4rit of a+paro 4ithout ;/<
pronounce+ent as to the accountabilit., or lac= of it, of the four non-ans4erin,
responents or ;1< outri,ht is+issal of the sa+e petition as to the+JJhe4s to the
prescription of Sec! 12 of the A+paro Rule on archivin, an revivin, cases!
85/9
Parentheticall., petitioners have also not furnishe this Court 4ith sufficient
ata as to 4here the afore-na+e responents +a. be serve a cop. of their
petition for revie4!

Apart fro+ the fore,oin, consierations, the petition i not alle,e ulti+ate
facts as 4oul lin= the OMB in an. +anner to the violation or threat of violation of
the petitionersC ri,hts to life, libert., or personal securit.!

The privile,e of the 4rit of a+paro is envisione basicall. to protect an
,uarantee the ri,hts to life, libert., an securit. of persons, free fro+ fears an
threats that vitiate the Aualit. of this life!
8519
#t is an e3traorinar. 4rit
conceptualiFe an aopte in li,ht of an in response to the prevalence of e3tra-
le,al =illin,s an enforce isappearances!
85>9
Accorin,l., the re+e. ou,ht to be
resorte to an ,rante Guiciousl., lest the ieal sou,ht b. the A+paro Rule be
ilute an uner+ine b. the iniscri+inate filin, of a+paro petitions for
purposes less than the esire to secure a+paro reliefs an protection anEor on the
basis of unsubstantiate alle,ations!

#n their petition for a 4rit of a+paro, petitioners as=e, as their +ain pra.er,
that the Court orer the i+pleae responents Hto i++eiatel. esist fro+ oin,
an. acts that 4oul threaten or see+ to threaten the securit. of the Petitioners an
to esist fro+ approachin, Petitioners, 3 3 3 their resiences an offices 4here
the. are 4or=in, uner pain of conte+pt of 8this9 Court!I Petitioners, ho4ever,
faile to auce the threshol substantive evience to establish the preicate facts
to support their cause of action, i!e!, the averte harass+ents an threats to their
life, libert., or securit., a,ainst responin, responents, as responsible for the
isappearance an harass+ents co+plaine of! This is not to sa., ho4ever, that
petitionersC alle,ation on the fact of the abuction incient or harass+ent is
necessaril. contrive! The realit. on the ,roun, ho4ever, is that the +ilitar. or
police connection has not been aeAuatel. prove either b. ientif.in, the
+alefactors as co+ponents of the A-P or PNPD or in case ientification is not
possible, b. sho4in, that the. acte 4ith the irect or inirect acAuiescence of the
,overn+ent! -or this reason, the Court is unable to ascribe the authorship of an
responsibilit. for the alle,e enforce isappearance of $oures an the
harass+ent an threats on her au,hters to iniviual responents! To this e3tent,
the is+issal of the case a,ainst the+ is correct an +ust, accorin,l., be
sustaine!

Prescinin, fro+ the above consierations, the Court istinctl. notes that
the appeale ecision veritabl. e3tene the privile,e of the 4rit of a+paro to
petitioners 4hen it ,rante 4hat to us are a+paro reliefs! Consier" the appellate
court ecree, an ri,htl. so, that the police an the +ilitar. ta=e specific +easures
for the protection of petitionersC ri,ht or threatene ri,ht to libert. or securit.! The
protection ca+e in the for+ of irectives specificall. to ?en! Esperon an PE(ir!
?en! RaFon, reAuirin, each of the+ ;/< to ensure that the investi,ations alrea.
co++ence b. the A-P an PNP units, respectivel., uner the+ on the co+plaints
of $oures an her au,hters are bein, pursue 4ith ur,enc. to brin, to Gustice the
perpetrators of the acts co+plaine ofD an ;1< to sub+it to the CA, cop. furnishe
the petitioners, a re,ular report on the pro,ress an status of the
investi,ations! The irectives obviousl. ,o to ?en! Esperon in his capacit. as hea
of the A-P an, in a sense, chief ,uarantor of orer an securit. in the countr.! On
the other han, PE(ir! ?en! RaFon is calle upon to perfor+ a ut. pertainin, to
the PNP, a cri+e-preventin,, investi,ator., an arrestin, institution!

As the CA, ho4ever, for+ulate its irectives, no efinitive ti+e fra+e 4as
set in its ecision for the co+pletion of the investi,ation an the reportorial
reAuire+ents! #t also faile to consier ?en! Esperon an PE(ir! ?en! RaFonCs
i++inent co+pulsor. retire+ent fro+ the +ilitar. an police services,
respectivel.! Accorin,l., the CA irectives, as hereinafter reefine an
a+plifie to full. enforce the a+paro re+eies, are hereb. ,iven to, an shall be
irectl. enforceable a,ainst, 4hoever sits as the co++anin, ,eneral of the A-P
an the PNP!

At this sta,e, t4o postulates an their i+plications nee hi,hli,htin, for a
proper isposition of this case!

-irst, a cri+inal co+plaint for =inappin, an, alternativel., for arbitrar.
etention roote in the sa+e acts an incients leain, to the filin, of the subGect
a+paro petition has been institute 4ith the OMB, oc=ete as OMB-P-C-O@-
2P21-E! The usual initial steps to eter+ine the e3istence of a prima fa!ie case
a,ainst the five ;6< i+pleae iniviuals suspecte to be actuall. involve in the
etention of $oures have been set in +otion! #t +ust be pointe out, thou,h, that
the filin,
8559
of the OMB co+plaint ca+e before the effectivit. of the A+paro Rule
on October 15, 122@!

#e!ond, Sec! 11
8569
of the A+paro Rule proscribes the filin, of an a+paro
petition shoul a cri+inal action have, in the +ean4hile, been co++ence! The
succeein, Sec! 1>,
85P9
on the other han, provies that 4hen the cri+inal suit is
file subseAuent to a petition for a+paro, the petition shall be !'n-'4%da$"d 4ith
the cri+inal action 4here the A+paro Rule shall nonetheless ,overn the
isposition of the relief uner the Rule! Uner the ter+s of sai Sec! 11, the present
petition ou,ht to have been is+isse at the outset! But as thin,s stan, the outri,ht
is+issal of the petition b. force of that section is no lon,er technicall. feasible in
li,ht of the interpla. of the follo4in, factual +i3" ;/< the Court has, pursuant to
Sec! P
85@9
of the Rule, alrea. issue ex parte the 4rit of a+paroD ;1< the CA, after a
su++ar. hearin,, has is+isse the petition, but not on the basis of Sec! 11D an
;>< the co+plaint in OMB-P-C-O@-2P21-E na+e as responents onl. those
believe to be the actual abuctors of $oures, 4hile the instant petition
i+pleae, in aition, those tas=e to investi,ate the =inappin, an etention
incients an their superiors at the top! Let, the acts anEor o+issions subGect of
the cri+inal co+plaint an the a+paro petition are so lin=e as to call for the
consoliation of both proceein,s to obviate the +ischief inherent in a
+ultiplicit.-of-suits situation!

?iven the above perspective an to full. appl. the beneficial nature of the
4rit of a+paro as an ine3pensive an effective tool to protect certain ri,hts
violate or threatene to be violate, the Court hereb. aGusts to a e,ree the literal
application of Secs! 11 an 1> of the A+paro Rule to fittin,l. aress the situation
obtainin, uner the pre+ises!
8509
To4ars this en, t4o thin,s are at once
inicate" ;/< the consoliation of the probe an fact-finin, aspects of the instant
petition 4ith the investi,ation of the cri+inal co+plaint before the OMBD an ;1<
the incorporation in the sa+e cri+inal co+plaint of the alle,ations in this petition
bearin, on the threats to the ri,ht to securit.! :ithal, the OMB shoul be furnishe
copies of the investi,ation reports to ai that bo. in its o4n investi,ation an
eventual resolution of OMB-P-C-O@-2P21-E! Then, too, the OMB shall be ,iven
eas. access to all pertinent ocu+ents an evience, if an., auce before the
CA! Necessaril., $oures, as co+plainant in OMB-P-C-O@-2P21-E, shoul be
allo4e, if so +ine, to a+en her basic cri+inal co+plaint if the consoliation
of cases is to be full. effective!


WHEREORE, the Court PARTIALLY GRANTS this petition for revie4
an +a=es a ecision"

;/< Affir+in, the roppin, of Presient ?loria Macapa,al-Arro.o fro+ the
petition for a 4rit of a+paroD

;1< Affir+in, the is+issal of the a+paro case as a,ainst ?en! 'er+o,enes
Esperon, an PE(ir! ?en! Avelino RaFon, insofar as it tene, uner the co++an
responsibilit. principle, to attach accountabilit. an responsibilit. to the+, as then
A-P Chief of Staff an then PNP Chief, for the alle,e enforce isappearance of
$oures an the ensuin, harass+ents alle,el. co++itte a,ainst petitioners! The
is+issal of the petition 4ith respect to the OMB is also affir+e for failure of the
petition to alle,e ulti+ate facts as to +a=e out a case a,ainst that bo. for the
enforce isappearance of $oures an the threats an harass+ent that follo4eD
an

;>< (irectin, the incu+bent Chief of Staff, A-P, or his successor, an the
incu+bent (irector-?eneral of the PNP, or his successor, to ensure that the
investi,ations alrea. co++ence b. their respective units on the alle,e
abuction of $oures Rubrico an the alle,e harass+ents an threats she an her
au,hters 4ere +ae to enure are pursue 4ith e3traorinar. ili,ence as
reAuire b. Sec! /@
8579
of the A+paro Rule! The. shall orer their suborinate
officials, in particular, to o the follo4in,"

;a< (eter+ine base on recors, past an present, the ientities an
locations of responents MaG! (ar4in S., a!=!a! (ar4in Re.es, &i++.
Santana, Ruben Alfaro, Capt! An,elo Cuares+a, an one &onathanD an
sub+it certifications of this eter+ination to the OMB 4ith cop. furnishe
to petitioners, the CA, an this CourtD

;b< Pursue 4ith e3traorinar. ili,ence the evientiar. leas relatin,
to MaG! (ar4in S. an the To.ota Revo vehicle 4ith Plate No! MRR 510D
an

;c< Prepare, 4ith the assistance of petitioners anEor 4itnesses,
carto,raphic s=etches of responents MaG! S.ERe.es, &i++. Santana, Ruben
Alfaro, Capt! An,elo Cuares+a, an a certain &onathan to ai in positivel.
ientif.in, an locatin, the+!

The investi,ations shall be co+plete not later than -%= >?@ 2'n$8- fro+
receipt of this (ecisionD an 4ithin thirt. ;>2< a.s after co+pletion of the
investi,ations, the Chief of Staff of the A-P an the (irector-?eneral of the PNP
shall sub+it a full report of the results of the investi,ations to the Court, the CA,
the OMB, an petitioners!

This case is accorin,l. referre bac= to the CA for the purpose of
+onitorin, the investi,ations an the actions of the A-P an the PNP!

SubGect to the fore,oin, +oifications, the Court AIRMS the partial
Gu,+ent ate &ul. >/, 1220 of the CA!

SO ORDERED.


PRESBITERO J.
VELASCO, JR.
Associate &ustice










:E CONCUR"


REYNATO S. PUNO
Chief &ustice




ANTONIO T. CARPIO RENATO C. CORONA
Associate &ustice Associate &ustice




CONCHITA CARPIO MORALES ANTONIO EDUARDO
B. NACHURA
Associate &ustice Associate &ustice




TERESITA J. LEONARDO-DE CASTRO ARTURO D. BRION
Associate &ustice Associate &ustice




DIOSDADO M. PERALTA LUCAS P. BERSAMIN
Associate &ustice Associate &ustice




MARIANO C. DEL CASTILLO ROBERTO A. ABAD
Associate &ustice Associate &ustice




MARTIN S. VILLARAMA, JR. JOSE PORTUGAL PEREZ
Associate &ustice Associate &ustice




JOSE CATRAL MENDOZA
Associate &ustice





C E R T I I C A T I O N


Pursuant to Section />, Article %### of the Constitution, it is hereb. certifie
that the conclusions in the above (ecision ha been reache in consultation before
the case 4as assi,ne to the 4riter of the opinion of the Court!



REYNATO S. PUNO
Chief &ustice


)
No part!

8/9
SEC! /7! Appeal! J An. part. +a. appeal fro+ the final Gu,+ent or orer to the Supre+e Court uner
Rule 56! The appeal +a. raise Auestions of fact or la4 or both! 3 3 3

819
A!M! No! 2@-7-/1-SC!
8>9
Penne b. Associate &ustice E,aro P! CruF ;no4 retire< an concurre in b. Associate &ustices
-ernana $a+pas-Peralta an Nor+anie PiFarro!
859
Sec! 6! Contents of the *etition!JJThe petition 3 3 3 shall alle,e the follo4in," 3 3 3 < The investi,ation
conucte, if an., specif.in, the na+es an personal circu+stances an aresses of the investi,atin, authorit. or
iniviuals, as 4ell as the +anner an conuct of the investi,ation, to,ether 4ith an. reportD e< The actions an
recourses ta=en b. the petitioner to eter+ine the fate or 4hereabouts of the a,,rieve part. an the ientit. of the
person responsible for the threat, act or o+ission!
869
&ollo, pp! /7P-/70!
8P9
#! at 110-1>>!
8@9
#! at 50!
809
Sec! /@! .eae of Co$rt! J An. application to the court uner this Rule for leave to effect service in an.
+anner 4hich leave of court is necessar. shall be +ae b. +otion in 4ritin,, supporte b. an affiavit of the
plaintiff or so+e person on his behalf, settin, forth the ,rouns for the application!
879
Bernas, T'E CONST#TUT#ON O- T'E REPUB$#C O- T'E P'#$#PP#NES @>0 ;/77P<D citin, #olien
. Makasiar, Nos! $-01606, $-0101@ S $-0>7@7, Nove+ber /5, /700, /P@ SCRA >7>!
8/29
?!R! No! /@/>7P, Ma. >, 122P, 507 SCRA /P2, 115-116!

8//9
&ollo, pp! 615-61@!

8/19
#! at 610-6>2, 6>/-6>1!

8/>9
#! at >//->/>!

8/59
&!?! Bernas, S!&!, Command &esponsibility, -ebruar. 6, 122@
Thttp"EEsc!Guiciar.!,ov!phEpublicationsEsu++itESu++itU12PapersEBernasU12-U12Co++an
U12Responsibilit.!pfV!
8/69
Eu,enia $evine, Co++an Responsibilit., The Mens Rea ReAuire+ent, Global *oli!y -or$m, -ebruar.
1226 T444!,lobalpolic.!or,!V! As state in K$roda . Jalandoni, 0> Phil! /@/ ;/757<, the Philippines is not a
si,nator. to the 'a,ue Conventions!

8/P9
#avor Ran,elov an &ovan Nicic, HCo++an Responsibilit." The Conte+porar. $a4,I
Thttp"EE444!hlc-rc!or,EuploasEeitorECo++anU12Responsibilit.!pfV ;visite Septe+ber 7, 1227<!
8/@9
Aopte b. /12 +e+bers of the UN on &ul. /@, /770 an entere into force on &ul. /, 1221
Thttp"EE444!un!or,ENe4sEfactsEiccfact!ht+V ;visite Nove+ber 1P, 1227<!
8/09
*imentel . /ffi!e of the 0xe!$tie #e!retary, ?!R! No! /60200, &ul. P, 1226, 5P1 SCRA P11!

8/79
S! Bill /722" (E-#N#N? T'E $#AB#$#TL O- 'EA(S O- (EPARTMENTS CONCERNE( -OR
?ROSS %#O$AT#ONS O- 'UMAN R#?'TS COMM#TTE( BL MEMBERS O- T'E 8PNP9 OR OT'ER $A:
EN-ORCEMENT A?ENC#ES!
S! Bill /51@" PUN#S'#N? ?O%ERNMENT O--#C#A$S OR SUPER#ORS -OR CR#MES OR
O--ENSES COMM#TTE( BL T'E#R SUBOR(#NATES UN(ER T'E PR#NC#P$E O- COMMAN(
RESPONS#B#$#TL!
S! Bill 1/67" AN ACT A(OPT#N? T'E (OCTR#NE O- HSUPER#OR RESPONS#B#$#TLI TO A$$
ACT#ONS #N%O$%#N? M#$#TARL PERSONNE$, MEMBERS O- T'E 8PNP9 AN( OT'ER C#%#$#ANS
#N%O$%E( #N $A: EN-ORCEMENT!

8129
The atte+pt of the /70P Constitutional Co++ission to incorporate sai octrine in the Bill of Ri,hts
that 4oul have obli,e the State to co+pensate victi+s of abuses co++itte a,ainst the ri,ht to life b. ,overn+ent
forces 4as shot o4n, on the ,roun that the proposal 4oul violate a funa+ental principle of cri+inal liabilit.
uner the Penal Coe upholin, the tenet n$ll$m !rimen, n$lla poena sine lege ;there is no cri+e 4hen there is no
la4 punishin, it<! # Recor of the /70P Constitutional Co++ission, pp! @6>-65!
81/9
The incorporation clause ;Art! ##, Sec! 1< of the Constitution states that the Philippines aopts the
,enerall. accepte principles of international la4 as part of the la4 of the lan!
8119
?!R! No! /0272P, October @, 1220, 6P0 SCRA /!
81>9
#!D citin, the eliberations of the Co++ittee on the Revision of the Rules of Court, ate Au,ust /2,
15, an >/, 122@ an Septe+ber 12, 1220!
8159
?!R! No! /01570, (ece+ber >, 1227!
8169
Supra note P!

81P9
&ollo, pp! 12P-12@!

81@9
#! at 127-1/2!

8109
#! at 120!

8179
TSN, -ebruar. //, 1220, p! >2!

8>29
Supra note 15!

8>/9
&ep$bli! . Meral!o, ?!R! No! /5/>/5, Nove+ber /6, 1221, >7/ SCRA @22!

8>19
)a$tista . #$la, A!M! No! P-25-/712, Au,ust /@, 122@, 6>2 SCRA 52PD *ort$g$e' . G#1# -amily
)ank 2Comsaings )ank3, ?!R! No! /P76@2, March 1, 122@, 6/@ SCRA >27!

8>>9
Supra note 11!

8>59
&ollo, p! 65!
8>69
#EA Court, '!R! %elasAueF Rori,ueF Case, &u,+ent of &ul. 17, /700, Series C No! 5D cite
in #e!retary of %ational Defense . Manalo, supra!

8>P9
TSN, March >, 1220, p! /@!

8>@9
&ollo, pp! 11>-116!

8>09
#! at 11P-11@!

8>79
-or arbitrar. etention an =inappin,!

8529
-or ,rave abuse of authorit. an ,rave +isconuct!
85/9
SEC! 12! Ar!hiing and &eial of Cases! J The 8a+paro9 court shall not is+iss the petition, but shall
archive it, if upon its eter+ination it cannot procee for a vali cause such as the failure of the petitioner or
4itnesses to appear ue to threats on their lives!
A perioic revie4 of the archive cases shall be +ae b. the amparo court that shall, mot$ proprio or upon
+otion b. an. part., orer their revival 4hen rea. for further proceein,s! The petition shall be is+isse 4ith
preGuice, upon failure to prosecute the case after the lapse of t4o ;1< .ears fro+ notice to the petitioner of the orer
archivin, the case!

8519
#e!retary of %ational Defense . Manalo, supra!

85>9
Annotation to the 4rit of Amparo, p! 1 Thttp"EEsc!Guiciar.!,ov!phEAnnotationWa+paro!pfV!
8559
So+eti+e in April 122@!
8569
Sec! 11! 0ffe!t of -iling of a Criminal A!tion! J :hen a cri+inal action has been co++ence, no
separate petition 8for a 4rit of a+paro9 shall be file! The reliefs uner the 4rit shall be available b. +otion in the
cri+inal case!
The proceure uner this Rule shall ,overn the isposition of the reliefs available uner the 4rit of a+paro!
85P9
SEC! 1>! Consolidation! J :hen a cri+inal action is file subseAuent to the filin, for the 4rit, the latter
shall be consoliate 4ith the cri+inal action! 3 3 3
After consoliation, the proceure uner this Rule shall continue to appl. to the isposition of the reliefs in
the petition!

85@9
SEC! P! 1ss$an!e of the 4rit! J Upon the filin, of the petition, the court, Gustice or Gu,e shall
i++eiatel. orer the issuance of the 4rit if on its face it ou,ht to issue!
8509
As hel in &a'on . (agitis, supra note 15, Hthe uniAue situations that call for the issuance of the 4rit 8of
a+paro9 as 4ell as the consierations an +easures necessar. to aress the situations, +a. not at all be the sa+e as
the stanar +easures an proceures in orinar. court actions an proceein,s!I

8579
Sec! /@! )$rden of *roof and #tandard of Diligen!e &e+$ired.JJ 3 3 3 The responent 4ho is a public
official or e+plo.ee +ust prove that e3traorinar. ili,ence as reAuire b. applicable la4s, rules an re,ulations
4as observe in the perfor+ance of ut.! 3 3 3