PeopleVs.

Galit
March20,1985
FACTS:
Theaccusedwasarrestedforkillingthevictimoiltheoccasionofa
robbery.Hehadbeendetainedandinterrogatedalmostcontinuouslyforfivedays,tono
avail.Heconsistentlymaintainedhisinnocence.Therewasnoevidencetolinkhimtothe
crime.Obviously,somethingdrastichadtobedone.Aconfessionwasabsolutely
necessary.Sotheinvestigatingofficersbegantomaulhimandtotorturehimphysically.
Stilltheprisonerinsistedonhisinnocence.Hiswillhavetobebroken.Aconfessionmust
beobtained.Sotheycontinuedtomaltreatandbeathim.Theycoveredhisfacewitharag
andpushedhisfaceintotoiletbowlfullofhumanwaste.Theprisonercouldnottakeit
anymore.Hisbodycouldnolongerendurethepaininflictedonhimandtheindignities
hehadtosuffer.Headmittedwhattheinvestigatingofficerswantedhimtoadmitandhe
signedtheconfessiontheyprepared.Later,againsthiswill,heposedforpicturesas
directedbyhisinvestigators,purportingittobeareenactment
ISSUE:
Whetherornottheaccusedwasinformedofhisconstitutionalrightsto
remainsilentandtocounsel,andthatanystatementhemightmakecouldbeusedagainst
him.
HELD:
Theaccusedwasacquitted.Suchalongquestionfollowedby
monosyllabicanswerdoesnotsatisfytherequirementsofthelawthattheaccusedbe
informedofhisrightsundertheConstitutionandourlaws.Insteadthereshouldbe
severalshortandclearquestionsandeveryrightinsimplewords,inadialectorlanguage
knowntothepersonunderinvestigation.TheaccusedisfromSamarandnoshowingthat
heunderstandsTagalog.Moreover,atthetimeofhisarrest,accusedwasnotpermittedto
communicatewithhislawyers,arelative,orafriend.Infact,hissistersanotherrelatives
didnotknowthathebeenbroughttotheNBIfortheinvestigationanditwasonlytwo
weeksafterhehadexecutedthestatementthathisrelativeswereallowedtovisithim.His
statementdoesnotevencontainanywaiverofrighttocounselandyetduringthe
investigationonedidnotassisthim.Atthesupposedreenactment,againcounselofhis
choicedidnotassistaccused.Theseconstitutegrossviolationsofhisrights.

PeopleVs.Ordoo
June29,2000
FACTS:
InAugust5,1994adecomposingbodyof15yearsoldnameShirleyVictorewas
foundamongthebushesnearabridgeinBarangayPoblacion,Santol,LaUnionwho3
daysbeforereportedasmissing.Accordingtotheexaminationbyamedicolegalofficer
ofNBIthevictimwasrapedandstrangletodeath.PacitoOrdooandApolonioMedina
arethesuspectsandtheywerebroughttothepolicestationforquestioning.However,for
thelackofevidencelinkingthemtothecrimesotheywereallowedtogohome.On
August10,1994bothofthesuspectsreturnedtothepolicestationoneafteranotherand
acknowledgedthatindeedcommittedthecrime.Actingontheiradmission,thepolice
immediatelyconductedaninvestigationandputtheirconfessioninwriting.The
investigatorshowevercouldnotgetatoncegettheservicesofalawyertoassistthetwo
accusedbecausetherewerenopracticinglawyerinthemunicipalityofSantolbecauseit
isaremotetownoftheprovinceofLaUnion.Theinvestigationwasconductedwiththe
ParishPriest,theMunicipalMayor,theChiefofPoliceandofficersintheattendanceto
listentoandwitnessthegivingofthevoluntarystatementsofthetwosuspectswho
admittedtheirparticipationinthecrime.Alsotheywereinterviewbyradioreporterand
theyconfessedfreely.Butinthearraignmenttheaccusedpleadednotguilty.
ISSUE:
Whetherornottheirconfessionisinadmissibleinevidencemainlythelackof
counseltoassistthemduringcustodialinvestigation.
RULING:
Theinterviewofthereporterwasnotinthenatureofaninvestigationasresponse
oftheaccusedwasmadeinanswertoquestionsaskedbytheradioreporter,notbythe
policeoranyinvestigatingofficer.Hencetheaccusedconfesstotheradioannouncerthat
willtantamounttalkingtoaprivatecitizenalthoughtheirconfessionwasuncounselledall
ofitdoesnotviolatetheirconstitutionalrights.Theevidencewasadmissible.The
accusedwassentencedguiltyofthefelony.

PeopleVs.Lugod
February21,2001
FACTS:
Ataround12:30a.m.onSeptember15,1997HelenRamosthemotherofthe
victimNairubewasawakenbyherhusbandbecausehesensethatthereissomeonegoing
downtothestairsoftheirhouse.ShenoticedthatNairubewasnolongerinherplaceshe
wassleepingsosheassumedthatNairubeisjustansweringtothecallofnature.
Nairubesblanketwasalsonolongerattheplacewhereshesleepbutherslipperswere
stillthere.After3minuteswaitingHelenstoodupandbegancallingNairubebutthere
wasnoanswer.Thereafter,shewentdownstairsandshefoundoutthatthebackdoorof
theirhousewasopen.Shefoundapairofslippersonthetopofthewoodenbenchoutside
thebackdooranditdoesnotbelongtoanymemberofherfamily.Inthemorningof
September16,1997,shewenttothepolicestationtoreportthelossofherchildandalso
theslippersthatshefoundtoSP02QuirinoGallardo.Shethenwenthomewhilethe
policebegantheirsearchforNairube.Ataround12:30p.m.,AlmaDiazrequestedherto
gowiththesearching,Helenfoundapantyandsherecognizedasthatofherdaughter.
Afterseeingthepantyshecried.Shewasorderedtogohomewhileotherscontinuedthe
search.Thereafter,theycontinuedthesearchandfoundablackcollaredTshirtwith
buttonsinfronthangingonaguavatwig.LoretoVeloriainformedhimthatClemente
JohnLugodworethetwoitemswhenhewenttothehouseofVioletaCabuhat.
ISSUE:
WONtheConstitutionalrightsoftheaccusedhasbeenviolated.
RULING:
Yes,therightsoftheaccusedappellanthasbeenviolated.Theactofconfession
oftheaccusedthatherapedandkilledNairubewithouttheassistanceofthecounsel
cannotbeusedagainsthimbecauseitwilltantamountforviolationofhisrightsunder
BillofRights.ThisisabasictenetofourConstitution,whichcannotbedisregardedor
ignorednomatterhowbrutalthecrimeis.Ontheotherhandtheactofpointingoutof
theaccusedthelocationofthebodyofNairubewasalsoelicitedinviolationofthe
accusedrighttoremainsilent.Thesamewasanintegralpartoftheuncounselled
confessionandisconsideredafruitofthepoisonoustree.Theaccusedwasacquitted.

PeopleVs.Taboga
February6,2002
Facts:
EdralinTabogawaschargewithRobberyandHomicieinaninformationwhich
readsthatwithintenttogain,andwithviolenceagainstperson,enteredthehouseofone
FranciscaTubon,andonceinside,withtreacheryandofabuseofsuperiorstrength,
assault,attackedandstabbedTubon,therebyinflictinguponheramortalwoundwhich
necessarilycausedthedeathofthesaidTubonandtookawayseveralpersonalproperties
belongingtoTubon.HewaslikewiseindictedforArsonforsettingthevictimshouseon
fire.AfterfindingtheburnthouseandcharredbodyofTubonandsetherhouseonfire,
causingthewholehouse,includingthedeadbodyoftheoldwoman,tobeburned.
Tabogabroughttothepolicestationforfurtherinvestigation.Mr.Contaoi,aradio
announcerofDZNS,wenttothepolicestationtointerviewthesuspect.Again,Taboga
admittedkillingthedeceasedandsettingherandherhouseonfire.Uponarraignment
accusedenteredseparatepleasofNotGuiltytothecrimeschargedandinterposedan
alibi.Accusedalsoclaimedthathewasmaltreatedbythepolicemenforcehimtoadmit
thecrime.RegardinghisadmissiontoradioannouncerContaoi,henarratedthatthe
interviewwasheldinsidetheinvestigationroomofthepolicestationwherepolicemen
werepresentandthatthereporteractedasanagentfortheprosecution.Thus,hehadto
admitthecrimebecausehewasafraidofthepolicemen.TheRTCrenderedjudgment
findinghimguiltybeyondreasonabledoubtofbothcrimes.
Issue:
Whetherornotconfessionmadebytheaccusedtoaradioreport,aprivateperson,
canbeadmittedasevidenceagainsthim.
Held:
Yes,Thereisnothingintherecordtoshowthattheradioannouncercolludewith
thepoliceauthoritiestoelicitinculpatoryevidenceagainstaccuse.Neitheristhereany
thingontherecord,whichremotelysuggeststhatthepolicetotheextractinformation
fromhimonthedetailsofthecrimesinstructedtheradioannouncer.Indeed,thereporter
evenaskedpermissionfromtheofficerinchargetointerviewaccused.Norwasthe
informationobtainedunderduress.Infact,accusednotonlyconfessedtotheradio
reporterbuttoseveralothers.

Peoplevs.Baloloy
381SCRA31
Facts:

AtBarangayInagasan,Aurora,ZamboangadelSur,ontheeveningofAugust3
1996,thebodyof11yearsoldGenelynCamachowasfoundatthewaterfallsatthesaid
barangay.AutopsyreportfoundtheGenelynwasrapedbeforeshewasdrowned.Theone
whocauseditsdiscoverywasaccusedappellantJuanitoBaloloyhimself,Whoclaimed
thathehadcaughtsightofitwhilehewascatchingfrogsinthenearbycreek.Whilein
thewakeofGenelyn,Juanitoconfessedtothebarangaycaptainthatheonlywantedto
frightenthegirlbutendeduprapingandthrowingherbodyintheravine.Whileinthe
custodyofauthorities,hewasaskedincriminatingquestionsbyJudgeDiconwho
justifiedhisactionssayingthatJuanitowasnotyetincustodialinvestigation.Basedon
hisallegedextrajudicialconfession,coupledwithcircumstantialevidence,thetrailcourt
violatedSection12(1)ofArticleIIIofthebarangaycaptainCenizaandJudgeDicon.
Accordingtohim,thetwofailedtoinformhimofhisConstitutionalrightsbeforethey
tookituponthemselvestoelicitfromhimtheincriminatoryinformation.Itisofno
momentthatCenizaandDiconarenotpoliceinvestigators,foraspublicofficialsitwas
incumbentuponthemtoobservetheexpressmandateoftheConstitution.Whilethese
rightsmaybewaiverexecutedinthepresenceofcounsel.Heconcludesthathis
extrajudicialconfessionisinadmissibleinevidence.
Issue:
WhetherornotJuanitosextrajudicialconfessionbeforethebarangaycaptainwas
amissible.
Ruling:
Yes,astohisconfessionwiththebarangaycaptainCeniza,ithasbeenheldthat
theconstitutionalprovisiononcustodialinvestigationdoesnotapplytoaspontaneous
statement,notelicitedthroughquestioningbytheauthoritiesbutgiveninanordinary
mannerwherebythesuspectorallyadmitshavingcommittedthecrime.Neithercanit
applytoadmissionsorconfessionsmadebyasuspectinthecommissionofacrime
beforeheisplacedunderinvestigation.WhattheConstitutionbarsisthecompulsory
disclosureofincriminatingfactsorconfessions.Intheinstantcase,Juanitovoluntarily
narratedtoCenizathatherapesGenelynandthereafterthrewherbodyintotheravine.
Thisnarrationwasspontaneousanswer,freelyandvoluntarilygiveninanordinaty
manner.Itwasgivenbeforehewasarrestedorplaceundercustodyforinvestigationin
connectionwiththecommissionoftheoffense.Moreover,Juanitodidnotofferany
evidenceofimproperorulteriormotiveonthepartyofCeniza,whichcouldhave
compelledhertestifyfalselyagainsthim.

Peoplevs.Bohol
July28,2008
Facts;
OnMarch7,2003theRegionalTrialCourtofManila,Branch35,convicted
appellantRicardoBoholofViolatingsections11(3)and(5),ArticleII,respectivelyof
RepublicActNo.9165alsoknownastheComprehensiveDangerousDrugsActof200.
Duringtheentrapmentoperation,PO2FerdinandEstrada,whoactedasposeur
buyer,wasguidedbytheirconfidentialinformanttothehouseofBoholwherethe
transactionforthesaleofshabuwastotakeplace.Afterthetransactionwas
consummated,PO2EstradasignaledhiscompanionsandarrestedBohol.Afterfrisking
him,PO2Gutierrezrecoveredfromhimthebuybustmoneyandthreeplasticsachets
containingsimilarwhitcrystallinegranulessuspectedtobeshabu.
Boholcontendsthattheprosecutionfailedtoestablishhisguiltbeyondreasonabledoubt.
Hefaultsthetrialforgivingfullfaithandcredencetothetestimoniesoftheprosecution
witnesses.Heassertsthattheonlyreasonwhyhewasarrestedwasbecausehewasthe
overseerofaVideoCarrera,Thepoliceofficerfiledtheillegaldrugtradeand
possessionagainsthimbecausetheyfailedtofindanyevidencetohavehimtriedfor
overseeingaVideoCarreraplace.Lastly,helamentsthefailureoftheprosecutionto
presenttheconfidentialinformantasawitnessduringtrial,therebypreventinghimfrom
confrontingsaidwitnessdirectly.
Issue:
doubt.

Whetherornottheprosecutionwasabletopestablishedguiltbeyondreasonable

Ruling:
TheSupremeCourtdiscernsnoimpropermotiveonthepartofthepoliceofficers
thatwouldimpelthemtofabricateastoryandfalselyimplicateBoholinsuchserious
offense.Intheabsenceofanyevidenceofthepolicemensimpropermotive,their
testimonyisworthyoffullfaithandcredit.Also,courtsgenerallygivefullfaithand
credittoofficersofthelaw,fortheyarepresumedtohaveperformedtheirdutiesina
regularmanner.According,inentrapmentcases,credenceisgiventothenarrationofan
incidentbyprosecutionwitnesseswhoareofficersofthelawandpresumedtohave
performedtheirdutiesinaregularmannerintheabsenceofclearandconvincing
evidencetothecontrary.
Asruledbytheappellatecourt,Boholcannotinsistonthepresentationofthe
informant.Duringtrail,theinformantspresenceisnotarequisiteintheprosecutionof
drugcases.Theappellatecourtheldthatthepoliceauthoritiesrarely,ifever,removethe
cloakofconfidentialitywithwhichtheysurroundtheirposeurbuyersandinformers
sincetheirusefulnesswillbeoverthemomenttheyarepresentedincourt.Further,what
ismaterialtoprosecutionfortheillegalsaleofdangerousdrugsistheproofthatthe
transactionorsaleactuallytookplace,coupledwiththepresentationincourtofthe
corpusdelicti.Bothrequirementsweresufficientlyproveninthiscase.Thepolice
officerswereabletotestifypositivelyandcategoricallythatthetransactionorsale

actuallytookplace.Theprosecutionwhenpresentedinthecourtlikewisepositively
identifiedthesubjectshabu.Hence,weagreethattheprosecutionbeyondreasonable
doubthasestablishedBoholsguilt.

Peoplevs.Chua
April4,2001
Facts:

OnOctober3,1995,theRegionalTrialCourtofManilaBranchVsentenced
accusedAliceChua,guiltybeyondreasonabledoubtofillegalrecruitmentcommittedin
largescale.
OnOctober5,1993,AssistantCityProsecutorLeocadioH.Ramos,Jr.ofManila
filedwiththeRegionalTrialCourt,ManilainformationagainstaccusedAliciaA.Chua
readingasfollows:
ThatinoraboutandduringtheperiodcomprisedbetweenOctober29,1992and
January9,1993,inclusive,intheCityofManila,Philippines,thesaidaccused,
representingherselftohavethecapacitytothecontract,enlistandtransportFilipino
workersforemploymentabroad,didthenandtherewillfully,unlawfully,forafee,
recruitandpromiseemployment/jobplacementabroadtothefollowingpersons,namely:
DOMINGOF.TERCENIO,MARTINB.BERMEJO,EVANGELINEF.GAVINA.
DANTEF.BALUIS,EDUARDOV.ESTILLER,EDGARB.ABONAL,VIOLETAF.
REGALADO,GLORIAJ.RICAFRENTEandLONITOF.BALUIS,withoutfirst
havingsecuredtherequiredlicenseorauthorityfromtheDepartmentofLabor.
Onthesamedate,thesameprosecutorfiledwiththeRegionalTrialCourt,
Manila,andnineotherinformationagainsttheaccusedforEstafa.Whentrialensued,the
caseswereconsolidatedandtriedjointly.Chuarequiredeachcomplainttopaya
placement