Cabarles vs. Hon.

Judge Maceda and People

G.R. No. 161330 | Feb 20, 2007 | J. Quisumbing

FACTS
In an original action filed under Rule 65 of the 1997
Rules of Civil Procedure, petitioner Rene Cabarles
seeks to annul the Order issued by respondent Judge
Maceda which cancelled the scheduled promulgation of
judgment and reopened the case for reception of
evidence from two prosecution witnesses who were not
presented during trial.

June 18, 1999 Cabarles was charged with the murder
of Antonio Callosa (using a fan knife).

Cabarles pleaded not guilty. The trial court scheduled
the case for hearing on the following dates:
Nov 22, 2000 Pre-trial
April 18, May 4, 11, 18, 23, 2001 Presentation
of prosecutions evidence
June 20, 27, July 4, 18, Aug 1, 2001
Presentation of defense evidence

The prosecution had subpoenas issued to its witnesses:
Flocerfina Callosa the mother of the deceased
Imelda Pedrosa the alleged eyewitness
Carlos Callosa brother of the deceased
Dr. Romeo T. Salen Police Senior Inspector of
the Southern Police District (SPD) Crime
Laboratory

Through no fault of its own, the prosecution was unable
to present its evidence on the first four hearing dates.
Instead, trial on the merits began only on May 23, 2001
when the prosecution called Carlos Callosa to the
witness stand. The testimonies of Carlos and Parejos
were dispensed with, as it was agreed upon that they
would testify on matters in their sworn statements. In the
June 20, 2001 hearing, the prosecution said it would
offer its evidence and rest its case should the People fail
to present a witness at the next scheduled hearing.

When the case was called on June 27, 2001, the
prosecution failed to present a witness. Neither Pedrosa
nor Dr. Salen appeared during the said hearing. Records
show that four subpoenas were issued to Pedrosa.
Three subpoenas were issued to Dr. Salen which were
all returned with the notation "addressee moved." There
was no evidence, however, that subpoenas were issued
to these two witnesses requiring their attendance for the
June 27, 2001 hearing, which would explain why they
were absent. Judge Maceda gave the prosecution a last
chance.

With no witness for the August 1, 2001 hearing, the
prosecution rested its case and formally offered its
evidence.

Thereafter, Cabarles, with leave of court, filed a
demurrer to evidence but it was denied by Judge
Maceda.

Two witnesses were called for the defense, accused
Cabarles and Luisito Javier, a fisherman.

A day before the scheduled promulgation of judgment on
April 2, 2003, Judge Maceda motu proprio issued the
questioned order reopening the case. In it, he observed
that the prosecution may not have been given its day in
court resulting in a miscarriage of justice. He explained
that because there was a mix-up in the dates specified in
the subpoena and the hearing dates of when the case
was actually heard, the prosecution was unable to
present its evidence on the first four of the five hearing
dates assigned to it. According to Judge Maceda, since
the prosecution was not able to present its evidence on
the first four hearing dates and there was either no
return on the subpoenas subsequently issued or there
was no subpoena issued at all to Pedrosa and Dr. Salen,
the prosecution should have been given a last chance to
present the alleged eyewitness and the doctor.

Judge Maceda denied Cabarless motion for
reconsideration and set the case for hearing on May 8,
2003 to hear the testimonies of Pedrosa and Dr. Salen.
The prosecution still failed to present a witness.
Nonetheless, Judge Maceda, upon motion, again
decided to extend to the prosecution another chance,
giving the People June 19 and July 3, 2003 as additional
hearing dates.

Finally, on June 19, 2003, Pedrosa took the witness
stand and completed her direct examination. A few days
thereafter, Cabarles filed the present petition questioning
Judge Macedas order, alleging that it was issued with
grave abuse of discretion. Since trial in the lower court
continued, on July 3, 2003, the Public Attorneys Office
conducted its cross-examination of Pedrosa.

On August 9, 2004, Judge Maceda deferred the
promulgation of judgment and ordered the case archived
pending this Courts resolution of the case.

ISSUES
1) Did Judge Maceda act with grave abuse of
discretion in issuing motu proprio the April 1,
2003 Order reopening the case, before judgment
was rendered, to receive the testimonies of two
prosecution witnesses after both parties had
rested their case?
2) Did the said order violate Cabarless right to due
process and speedy disposition of his case?

HELD
1) YES.

The April 1, 2003 Order was issued under the Revised
Rules of Criminal Procedure. Section 24, Rule 119 and
existing jurisprudence stress the following requirements
for reopening a case: (1) the reopening must be before
the finality of a judgment of conviction; (2) the order is
issued by the judge on his own initiative or upon motion;
(3) the order is issued only after a hearing is conducted;
(4) the order intends to prevent a miscarriage of justice;
and (5) the presentation of additional and/or further
evidence should be terminated within thirty days from
the issuance of the order.

A motion to reopen may thus properly be presented only
after either or both parties had formally offered and
closed their evidence, but before judgment is rendered,
and even after promulgation but before finality of
judgment and the only controlling guideline governing a
motion to reopen is the paramount interest of justice.
This remedy of reopening a case was meant to prevent
a miscarriage of justice.

However, while Judge Maceda is allowed to reopen the
case before judgment is rendered, Section 24 requires
that a hearing must first be conducted. Judge Maceda
issued the April 1, 2003 Order without notice and
hearing and without giving the prosecution and accused
an opportunity to manifest their position on the matter.
This failure, to our mind, constitutes grave abuse of
discretion and goes against the due process clause of
the Constitution which requires notice and opportunity to
be heard. The issuance of the said order, without the
benefit of a hearing, is contrary to the express language
of Section 24, Rule 119.

Although the defense counsel had cross-examined
Pedrosa and had participated in the proceedings after
the case was reopened by Judge Maceda, the same
does not amount to a waiver of Cabarless objection to
the April 1, 2003 Order. To be effective, a waiver must
be certain and unequivocal.

2) YES.

Although the matter of reopening a case for reception of
further evidence is largely a matter of discretion on the
part of the trial court judge, this judicial action must not,
however, be done whimsically, capriciously and/or
unreasonably. In this particular case, the prosecution
was given ample opportunity to present all its witnesses
but it failed to do so. The failure of the prosecution to
take full advantage of the opportunities given does not
change the fact that it was accorded such opportunities.

Since Judge Maceda issued the questioned order
without complying with the third requirement of Section
24, that there be a hearing conducted before the order to
reopen is issued, then the assailed order must be
annulled and set aside for having been issued contrary
to law and consequently with grave abuse of discretion.

Re hierarchy and jurisdiction of courts
It is necessary to stress that a direct recourse to this
Court is highly improper for it violates the established
policy of strict observance of the hierarchy of courts.

Under the present circumstances however, we are
willing to take cognizance of this case as an exception to
the principle of hierarchy of courts. Cabarles invokes the
jurisdiction of this Court in the interest of speedy justice
since the information against him was filed way back in
June 1999, and almost eight years thereafter, no
judgment has yet been rendered. Any further delay in
the resolution of the instant petition will be prejudicial to
Cabarles. Also, the Court has full discretionary power to
take cognizance of the petition filed directly to it for
compelling reasons or if warranted by the nature of the
issues raised. Since Section 24 is a new provision, and
considering the irregularities in the issuance of the April
1, 2003 Order, it is necessary to resolve the issues
raised in this petition.