On March 22,
1996, court received a 1st indorsement informing the
Court that the accused-appellants were released on
Facts: conditional pardon on January 25, 1996.
From the judgment of the RTC of Negros Oriental, in
Criminal Case No. 397-B, finding them and co-accused On May 20, 1996 the court directed Superintendent
Palacios guilty beyond reasonable doubt of murder, and Venacio Tesoro to submit the certified true copies of the
sentencing each of them to suffer the penalty of reclusion Conditional Pardon and the release/discharge order.
perpetua and pay, severally, Php 200,000.00 and Php Tesoso submitted the copies both signed by the President
25,000/00 as actual damages and for the funeral expenses, on January 19, 1996 and certificates of discharge from
and costs, accused Casido and Alcorin appealed to the prison showing they were released on January 25, 1996.
Supreme Court by filing a supplemental notice of appeal on Pardons were granted by virtue of the authority conferred
December 8, 1993. Appeal was accepted on December 7, upon the President by the Constitution and upon the
1994. recommendation of the Preside
Issues:
Whether or not conditional pardons can be extended to the
accused-appellants during the pendency of their instant
appeal.
Ruling:
No. In an earlier decision, People v Hinlo, the Court
declared the practice of processing applications for pardon
or parole despite pending appeals to be in clear violation
of law. In People v Salle, the court declared grant of
pardon, whether full or conditional, to an accused during
the pendency of his appeal from his conviction by the trial
court shall be prohibited. Agencies/instrumentalities must
require proof that he has not appealed from his conviction
or that he has withdrawn appeal. And that the ruling fully
bind pardons extended after January 31, 1995 during the
pendency of the grantees appeal.
Dispositive:
The accused-appellants urgent motion to withdraw appeal
is denied. Bureau of Corrections is directed to effect the re-
arrest of the accused-appellants Casido and Alcorin, who
shall be re-confined at the New Bilibid Prisons in
Muntinlupa within 60 days from notice thereof.
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G.R. No. 116512. July 30, 1996] withdraw the appeal and the counsel offered no objection
thereto.
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee, vs.
LEOPOLDO BACANG @ POLDO, Gerry Brako, and Arnold, In a 1st Indorsement, dated 10 June 1996 but received on
FRANCISCO PALACIOS, @ Minggoy & Joe, TATA DOE, 14 June 1996, Superintendent Venancio J. Tesoro
WILLIAM CASIDO @ Mario, and FRANKLIN ALCORIN y submitted certified true copies of the conditional pardons
ALFARO @ Arman, and REO DOE, accused. separately granted to accused-appellants William Casido
WILLIAM CASIDO and FRANKLIN ALCORIN, accused- and Franklin Alcorin[9] both signed by the President on 19
appellants. January 1996 and of their certificates of discharge from
RESOLUTION prison[10] showing that the said accused-appellants were
released from confinement on 25 January 1996 in view of
DAVIDE, JR., J.: the grant of conditional pardon. These certificates stated
that the pardons were granted:
From the judgment of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of
Negros Oriental, Branch 45 (Bais City), in Criminal Case [b]y virtue of the authority conferred upon me by the
No. 397-B promulgated on 1 December 1993, finding them Constitution and upon the recommendation of the
and co-accused Francisco Palacios guilty beyond Presidential Committee for the Grant of Bail, Release and
reasonable doubt of murder and sentencing each of them Pardon
to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua and to pay,
severally, P200,000.00 and P25,000.00 as actual damages It is then clear that the conditional pardons separately
and for funeral expenses, respectively, and costs,[1] extended to the accused-appellants were issued during the
accused WILLIAM CASIDO and FRANKLIN ALCORIN pendency of their instant appeal.
appealed to this court by filing a supplemental notice of
appeal on 8 December 1993.[2] In the resolution of 31 January 1995 in People vs.
Hinlo,[11] this Court categorically declared the practice of
This Court accepted the appeal on 7 December 1994.[3] processing applications for pardon or parole despite
pending appeals to be in clear violation of law.
On 30 June 1995, counsel for accused-appellants filed the
Appellants [sic] Brief.[4] Earlier, in our resolution of 21 March 1991 in People vs.
Sepada,[12] this Court signified in no uncertain terms the
On 28 September 1995, the Office of the Solicitor General necessity of a final judgment before parole or pardon could
filed the Brief for the Appellee[5] and asked for the be extended.
affirmance in toto of the appealed decision.
Having observed that the pronouncements in the
On 11 January 1996, this Court received an undated aforementioned cases remained unheeded, either through
Urgent motion to Withdraw Appeal[6] from accused- deliberate disregard or erroneous applications of the
appellants William Casido and Franklin Alcorin which, obiter dictum in Monsanto vs. Factoran[13] or the ruling in
however, did not state any reason therefor. At the lower People vs. Crisola,[14] this Court, in its resolution of 4
portion thereof is a 1st Indorsement, dated 5 January December 1995 in People vs. Salle,[15] explicitly declared:
1996, of Venancio J. Tesoro, Superintendent IV of the
Bureau of Corrections, referring the motion to this Court We now declare that the conviction by final judgment
with a claim that the legal effect [thereof] has been limitation under Section 19, Article VII of the present
adequately explained to the accused-appellant/s and that Constitution prohibits the grant of pardon, whether full or
the same is/are filed on his/their own free will. conditional, to an accused during the pendency of his
appeal from his conviction by the trial court. Any
On 28 February 1996, this Court required counsel for the application therefor, if one is made, should not be acted
accused-appellants to comment on the urgent motion to upon or the process toward its grant should not be begun
withdraw the appeal. unless the appeal is withdrawn. Accordingly, the agencies
or instrumentalities of the Government concerned must
On 22 March 1996, this Court received a 1st Indorsement, require proof from the accused that he has not appealed
dated 18 March 1996,[7] from Superintendent Venancio J. from his conviction or that he has withdrawn his appeal.
Tesoro informing this Court that accused-appellants Such proof may be in the form of a certification issued by
William Casido and Franklin Alcorin were released on the trial court or the appellate court, as the case may be.
Conditional Pardon on January 25, 1996. The acceptance of the pardon shall not operate as an
abandonment or waiver of the appeal, and the release of
On 20 May 1996, this Court directed Superintendent an accused by virtue of a pardon, commutation of
Venancio J. Tesoro to submit to this Court certified true sentence, or parole before the withdrawal of an appeal
copies of the Conditional Pardon and the release or shall render those responsible therefor administratively
discharge order. liable. Accordingly, those in custody of the accused must
not solely rely on the pardon as a basis for the release of
On 29 April 1996, counsel for the accused-appellants filed the accused from confinement.
the required comment[8] on the urgent motion to
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xxx
SO ORDERED.
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