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[G.R. No. L-65228. February 18, 1985.

]
JOJO PASTOR BRAO, JR., !T"., #e$%$%o&er, '(. )ON. *!L!"+O B. BORJA, !T AL.,
re(#o&,e&$(.
Lu%( Ge&era-, Jr. .or #e$%$%o&er.
Solicitor General for respondents.
S/LLAB0S
1. CONSTITUTIONAL LAW; BILL OF RIGTS; RIGT TO BAIL! A "ATT#R OF RIGT
B#FOR# CON$ICTION. % Under t&e Constit'tion! (all persons! e)cept t&ose c&ar*ed +it& capital
offenses +&en e,idence of *'ilt is stron*! s&all! -efore con,iction! -e -aila-le -. s'fficient s'reties.(
/Article I$! Section 10.1 Generall.! t&erefore! -ail is a 2atter of ri*&t -efore con,iction! 'nless t&e
acc'sed is c&ar*ed +it& a capital offense and t&e e,idence of *'ilt is stron*.
3.R#"#4IAL LAW; CRI"INAL 5ROC#4UR#; CA5ITAL NATUR# OF AN OFF#NS#!
4#T#R"IN#4 B6 5#NALT6 5R#SCRIB#4 B6 LAW. % 5etitioner7s post're &ardl. finds s'pport
in t&e la+. Under Section 8 of R'le 119 of t&e R'les of Co'rt! a capital offense is (an offense +&ic&!
'nder t&e la+ e)istin* at t&e ti2e of its co22ission! and at t&e ti2e of t&e application to -e ad2itted to
-ail! 2a. -e p'nis&ed -. deat&.( It &is clear fro2 t&is pro,ision t&at t&e capital nat're of an offense is
deter2ined -. t&e penalt. prescri-ed -. la+! +it& reference to +&ic& it is relati,el. eas. to ascertain
+&et&er t&e e,idence of *'ilt a*ainst t&e acc'sed is stron*. "oreo,er! +&en t&e Constit'tion or t&e la+
spea:s of e,idence of *'ilt! it e,identl. to refers to a findin* of innocence or c'lpa-ilit.! re*ardless of
t&e 2odif.in* circ'2stances.
;.I4.; S5#CIAL CI$IL ACTION; C#RTIORARI; GRA$# ABUS# OF 4ISCR#TION; "ANIF#ST
W#R# <U4G# 4#NI#4 "OTION FOR BAIL OF ACCUS#4 TOUG CARG#4 WIT
CA5ITAL OFF#NS# WAS #STABLIS#4 TO B# A "INOR AT T# TI"# OF ITS
CO""ISSION; CAS# AT BAR. % W&ere it &as -een esta-lis&ed +it&o't o-=ection t&at t&e acc'sed
is onl. 1> .ears old! it follo+s t&at! if con,icted! &e +o'ld -e *i,en (t&e penalt. ne)t lo+er t&en t&at
prescri-ed -. la+!( +&ic& effecti,el. r'les o't t&e deat& penalt.. T&e Constit'tion +it&&olds t&e
*'arant. of -ail fro2 one +&o is acc'sed of a capital offense +&ere t&e e,idence of *'ilt is stron*. T&e
o-,io's reason is t&at one +&o faces a pro-a-le deat& sentence &as a partic'larl. stron* te2ptation to
flee. T&is reason does not &old +&ere t&e acc'sed &as -een esta-lis&ed +it&o't o-=ection to -e a 2inor
+&o -. la+ cannot -e sentenced to deat&. B't respondent ='d*e clai2s t&at petitioner &as not pro,ed
&is 2inorit.. T&is is inacc'rate. In &is 2otion for -ail! petitioner alle*ed t&at &e +as a 2inor of 1> and
t&is a,er2ent +as ne,er c&allen*ed -. t&e prosec'tion. S'-se?'entl.! in &is 2e2orand'2 in s'pport
of t&e 2otion for -ail! petitioner attac&ed a cop. of &is -irt& certificate. And finall.! after respondent
<'d*e &ad denied t&e 2otion for -ail! petitioner filed a 2otion for reconsideration! attac&in* t&ereto a
certified tr'e cop. of &is -irt& certificate. Respondent <'d*e &o+e,er ref'sed to ta:e co*ni@ance of
petitioner7s 'nc&allen*ed 2inorit. alle*edl. -eca'se t&e certificate of -irt& +as not offered in e,idence.
T&is +as error -eca'se e,idence of petitioner7s 2inorit. +as alread. a part of t&e record of t&e case. It
+as properl. filed in s'pport of a 2otion. It +o'ld -e a needless for2alit. to offer it in e,idence.
Respondent <'d*e t&erefore acted +it& *ra,e a-'se of discretion in disre*ardin* it.
9.A4"INISTRATI$# LAW; "INISTR6 OF <USTIC#; FISCALS; 5R#LI"INAR6
IN$#STIGATION; R#IN$#STIGATION LI#S WITIN T# SOUN4 4ISCR#TION OF FISCAL;
R#"#46 FOR UN<USTIFI#4 R#FUSAL. % T'rnin* to t&e rein,esti*ation aspect of t&e petition! t&e
plea t&erefor 2'st -e addressed to t&e Cit. Fiscal of Na*a! +&o &as direction and control of t&e
cri2inal prosec'tion and +&o is t&e pri2ar. official called 'pon to e,al'ate t&e e,idence! ascertain t&e
e)istence of a pri2a facie case and deter2ine +&o s&o'ld -e cri2inall. indicted. In case! of 'n='stified
ref'sal -. t&e Cit. Fiscal to cond'ct a rein,esti*ation! t&e proper reco'rse is to appeal to t&e "inister
of <'stice +&o e)ercises control and s'per,ision o,er fiscals.
1 ! " + S + O N
5LANA! < pA
In t&e Re*ional Trial Co'rt of Na*a Cit.! petitioner <o=o 5astor Bra,o! <r.! is c&ar*ed +it&
2'rder for t&e :illin* of one Ra2on A-io* /Cri2inal Case No. 0;B1091.
4etained in t&e cit. =ail of Na*a after &is arrest! petitioner filed a 2otion for -ail -ased on t+o
reasonsA /a1 t&at t&e e,idence a*ainst &i2 is not stron* in ,ie+ of t&e retraction -. Ferdinand del
Rosario! one of t&e prosec'tion +itnesses! of &is pre,io's state2ent na2in* petitioner as t&e assailant;
and /-1 t&at &e is a 2inor of 1> .ears! entitled as s'c& to a pri,ile*ed 2iti*atin* circ'2stance 'nder
Article >0 of t&e Re,ised 5enal Code +&ic& +o'ld 2a:e t&e 2'rder c&ar*e a*ainst &i2 nonBcapital.
After a &earin* d'rin* +&ic& t&e retractin* +itness /del Rosario1 presented -. petitioner 2ade
anot&er t'rnBa-o't and declared a*ainst t&e latter! respondent <'d*e "elecio B. Bor=a denied t&e
2otion for -ail on t&e findin* t&at t&e e,idence of petitioner7s *'ilt is stron* and &is 2inorit. +as not
pro,ed. 5etitioner t&en filed a 2otion for reconsideration statin* t&at &is 2inorit. &ad -een pro,ed -.
&is -irt& certificate +&ic& +as attac&ed to t&e 2e2orand'2 in s'pport of &is 2otion for -ail! s&o+in*
t&at &e +as -orn on Fe-r'ar. 3>! 1C>D! t&at &is 2inorit. &ad ne,er -een c&allen*ed -. t&e fiscal! and
t&at t&e offense c&ar*ed! as re*ards petitioner! is not capital -eca'se e,en if con,icted! &e co'ld not -e
sentenced to deat& -eca'se of &is 2inorit.. A*ain! attac&ed to t&e 2otion for reconsideration +as a
d'l. certified cop. of petitioner7s -irt& certificate. T&e Fiscal opposed t&e 2otion on t&e *ro'nd t&at t&e
e,idence of *'ilt is stron*! -'t did not contest t&e 2inorit. of petitioner.
In &is order of Septe2-er 31! 1C0;! respondent <'d*e denied t&e 2otion for reconsideration.
Failin* in &is -id for -ail! petitioner t&en filed a 2otion +it& t&e lo+er co'rt pra.in* t&at &e -e
placed in t&e care and c'stod. of t&e "inistr. of Social Ser,ices and 4e,elop2ent /"SS41 p'rs'ant to
1C1 of 5residential 4ecree No. >E; /C&ild and 6o't& Welfare Code1 +&ic& pro,idesA
(Care of 6o't&f'l Offender eld for #)a2ination or Trial. % A .o't&f'l offender &eld for
p&.sical and 2ental e)a2ination or trial or pendin* appeal! if 'na-le to f'rnis& -ail! s&all fro2 ti2e to
ti2e /sic1 of &is arrest -e co22itted to t&e care of t&e 4epart2ent of Social Welfare or t&e local
re&a-ilitation center or a detention &o2e in t&e pro,ince or cit. +&ic& s&all -e responsi-le for &is
appearance in co'rt +&ene,er re?'iredA 5ro,ided! T&at in t&e a-sence of an. s'c& center or a*enc.
+it&in a reasona-le distance fro2 t&e ,en'e of t&e trial! t&e pro,incial! cit. and 2'nicipal =ail s&all
pro,ide ?'arters for .o't&f'l offenders separate fro2 ot&er detainees. T&e co'rt 2a.! in its discretion
'pon reco22endation of t&e 4epart2ent of Social Welfare or ot&er a*enc. or a*encies a't&ori@ed -.
t&e Co'rt! release a .o't&f'l offender on reco*ni@ance! to t&e c'stod. of &is parents or ot&er s'ita-le
person +&o s&all -e responsi-le for &is appearance +&ene,er re?'ired.(
On Septe2-er 33! 1C0;! respondent ='d*e denied t&e 2otion for lac: of 2erit. #)plainin* t&e
denial later! &e said t&at t&e ?'oted Article 1C1 is not applica-le since it co'ld -e in,o:ed onl. +&ere
t&e 2inor is c&ar*ed +it& a -aila-le offense! as co'ld -e *leaned fro2 t&e p&rase (if 'na-le to f'rnis&
-ail.(
On Septe2-er 33! 1C0;! t&e NBI Re*ional Office at Na*a Cit. s'-2itted its report! cop. of
+&ic& +as sent to t&e Cit. Fiscal of Na*a. It fo'nd t&at it +as t&e prosec'tion +itness! Ferdinand del
Rosario! and not t&e petitioner! +&o :illed t&e deceased Ra2on A-io*. W&en t&e 2'rder case +as ne)t
called for &earin* on Octo-er 1C! 1C0;! t&e defense 'nilaterall. 2o,ed orall. t&at t&e trial of petitioner
-e reset in order to *i,e t&e Cit. Fiscal 2ore ti2e to st'd. t&e NBI report! -'t t&e 2otion +as denied as
dilator.. A*ain! on No,e2-er 3! 1C0;! petitioner 'nilaterall. filed +it& t&e trial co'rt a for2al "otion
for Rein,esti*ation pra.in* (t&at t&e proceedin*s -e s'spended and t&at t&e Cit. Fiscal of Na*a -e
ordered to rein,esti*ate t&is case.( It does not appear +&at action! if an.! t&e co'rt &as ta:en on t&is
2otion. Neit&er does it appear t&at t&e Cit. Fiscal of Na*a &as ta:en an. 2o,e to rein,esti*ate t&e
case.
A*ainst t&is fact'al -ac:drop! petitioner &as filed t&e instant petition for certiorari and
2anda2's! +it& t+o s'pple2entar. petitions! see:in* t&e release of petitioner on -ail or &is transfer to
t&e c'stod. of t&e "SS4 pendin* trial p'rs'ant to Article 1C1 of 54 No. >E;. In ,ie+ of t&e aforesaid
NBI report! t&e petition also see:s t&e iss'ance of a +rit of 2anda2's co22andin* respondent <'d*e
to re2and t&e case to t&e Cit. Fiscal of Na*a for rein,esti*ation.
T&e first ?'estion to -e resol,ed is +&et&er petitioner is entitled to -ail as a 2atter of ri*&t.
Under t&e Constit'tion! (all persons! e)cept t&ose c&ar*ed +it& capital offenses +&en e,idence
of *'ilt is stron*! s&all! -efore con,iction! -e -aila-le -. s'fficient s'reties.( /Article I$! Section 10.1
Generall.! t&erefore! -ail is a 2atter of ri*&t -efore con,iction! 'nless t&e acc'sed is c&ar*ed +it& a
capital offense and t&e e,idence of *'ilt is stron*.
T&e c&ar*e a*ainst petitioner is 2'rder ?'alified -. treac&er. and attended -. t+o a**ra,atin*
circ'2stancesA e,ident pre2editation and noct'rnit.. 5'nis&a-le -. recl'sion te2poral in its 2a)i2'2
period to deat&! t&e cri2e is t&erefore a capital offense.
T&e petitioner &o+e,er s'-2its t&at e,en ass'2in* t&at t&e e,idence of *'ilt a*ainst &i2 is
stron*! t&e c&ar*e of 2'rder! as to &i2 +&o is onl. 1> .ears old! cannot -e capital -eca'se t&e deat&
penalt. cannot -e i2posed on acco'nt of &is 2inorit. +&ic& entitles &i2 to a penalt. red'ction of one
de*ree. In effect! 'nder petitioner7s s'-2ission! t&e test to deter2ine +&et&er t&e offense c&ar*ed is
capital! is t&e penalt. to -e act'all. i2posed on &i2 in ,ie+ of t&e attendant circ'2stances.
5etitioner7s post're &ardl. finds s'pport in t&e la+. Under Section 8 of R'le 119 of t&e R'les of
Co'rt! a capital offense is (an offense +&ic&! 'nder t&e la+ e)istin* at t&e ti2e of its co22ission! and
at t&e ti2e of t&e application to -e ad2itted to -ail! 2a. -e p'nis&ed -. deat&.( It is clear fro2 t&is
pro,ision t&at t&e capital nat're of an offense is deter2ined -. t&e penalt. prescri-ed -. la+! +it&
reference to +&ic& it is relati,el. eas. to ascertain +&et&er t&e e,idence of *'ilt a*ainst t&e acc'sed is
stron*. "oreo,er! +&en t&e Constit'tion or t&e la+ spea:s of e,idence of *'ilt! it e,identl. refers to a
findin* of innocence or c'lpa-ilit.! re*ardless of t&e 2odif.in* circ'2stances.
To allo+ -ail on t&e -asis of t&e penalt. to -e act'all. i2posed +o'ld re?'ire a consideration
not onl. of t&e e,idence of t&e co22ission of t&e cri2e -'t also e,idence of t&e a**ra,atin* and
2iti*atin* circ'2stances. T&ere +o'ld t&en -e a need for a co2plete trial! after +&ic& t&e ='d*e +o'ld
-e ='st a-o't read. to render a decision in t&e case. As percepti,el. o-ser,ed -. t&e Solicitor General!
s'c& proced're +o'ld defeat t&e p'rpose of -ail! +&ic& is to entitle t&e acc'sed to pro,isional li-ert.
pendin* trial.
Ne,ert&eless! +&ere it &as -een esta-lis&ed +it&o't o-=ection t&at t&e acc'sed is onl. 1> .ears
old! it follo+s t&at! if con,icted! &e +o'ld -e *i,en (t&e penalt. ne)t lo+er t&an t&at prescri-ed -.
la+!( +&ic& effecti,el. r'les o't t&e deat& penalt..
T&e Constit'tion +it&&olds t&e *'arant. of -ail fro2 one +&o is acc'sed of a capital offense
+&ere t&e e,idence of *'ilt is stron*. T&e o-,io's reason is t&at one +&o faces a pro-a-le deat&
sentence &as a partic'larl. stron* te2ptation to flee. T&is reason does not &old +&ere t&e acc'sed &as
-een esta-lis&ed +it&o't o-=ection to -e a 2inor +&o -. la+ cannot -e sentenced to deat&.
B't respondent ='d*e clai2s t&at petitioner &as not pro,ed &is 2inorit.. T&is is inacc'rate. In
&is 2otion for -ail! petitioner alle*ed t&at &e +as a 2inor of 1> and t&is a,er2ent +as ne,er c&allen*ed
-. t&e prosec'tion. S'-se?'entl.! in &is 2e2orand'2 in s'pport of t&e 2otion for -ail! petitioner
attac&ed a cop. of &is -irt& certificate. And finall.! after respondent <'d*e &ad denied t&e 2otion for
-ail! petitioner filed a 2otion for reconsideration! attac&in* t&ereto a certified tr'e cop. of &is -irt&
certificate. Respondents <'d*e &o+e,er ref'sed to ta:e co*ni@ance of petitioner7s 'nc&allen*ed
2inorit. alle*edl. -eca'se t&e certificate of -irt& +as not offered in e,idence. T&is +as error -eca'se
e,idence of petitioner7s 2inorit. +as alread. a part of t&e record of t&e case. It +as properl. filed in
s'pport of a 2otion. It +o'ld -e a needless for2alit. to offer it in e,idence. Respondent <'d*e
t&erefore acted +it& *ra,e a-'se of discretion in disre*ardin* it.
(#,idence on 2otion. % W&en a 2otion is -ased on facts not appearin* of record t&e co'rt 2a.
&ear t&e 2atter on affida,its or depositions presented -. t&e respecti,e parties. -'t t&e co'rt 2a. direct
t&at t&e 2atter -e &eard +&oll. or partl. on oral testi2on. or depositions.( /R'les of Co'rt! R'le 1;;!
Section D.1
It res'lts t&at petitioner is entitled to -ail as a 2atter of ri*&t! +&ic& 2a:es it 'nnecessar. to
decide +&et&er &e! -ein* a 2inor! is entitled to -e placed pendin* trial in t&e care and c'stod. of t&e
"SS4 p'rs'ant to Article 1C1 of 5.4. No. >E;.
T'rnin* to t&e rein,esti*ation aspect of t&e petition! t&e plea t&erefor 2'st -e addressed to t&e
Cit. Fiscal of Na*a! +&o &as direction and control of t&e cri2inal prosec'tion and +&o is t&e pri2ar.
official called 'pon to e,al'ate t&e e,idence! ascertain t&e e)istence of a pri2a facie case and
deter2ine +&o s&o'ld -e cri2inall. indicted. In case of 'n='stified ref'sal -. t&e Cit. Fiscal to
cond'ct a rein,esti*ation! t&e proper reco'rse is to appeal to t&e "inister of <'stice +&o e)ercises
control and s'per,ision o,er fiscals.
W#R#FOR#! t&e orders of respondent <'d*e den.in* -ail to petitioner are set aside. In t&e
interest of dispatc&! -ail for petitioner is fi)ed at 518!EEE.EE and &is release is ordered 'pon t&e postin*
t&ereof and its appro,al -. t&e trial ='d*e! 'nless petitioner is &eld for so2e ot&er ca'se. T&e petition
for 2anda2's to co2pel rein,esti*ation of t&e case is denied. T&is decision is i22ediatel. e)ec'tor..
SO OR4#R#4.
Tee&an:ee /C&air2an1! G'tierre@! <r.! 4e la F'ente and Ala2pa.! <<.! conc'r.
"elencioBerrera! <.! conc'rs in t&e res'lt.

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