THIRD DIVISION

[G.R. Nos. 146646-49. March 11, 2005]

ROGELIO M. ESTEBAN, petitioner, vs. THE SANDIGANBAYAN

and THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES,respondent.
DECISION
SANDOVAL-GUTIERREZ, J.:

Before us is a petition for certiorari under Rule 65 of the 1997 Rules of Civil
Procedure, as amended, assailing the Resolution dated December 18, 2000 of
the Sandiganbayan (1st Division) and Order dated January 11, 2000 in Criminal
Cases Nos. 24703-04.
[1]

[2]

The instant petition stemmed from the sworn complaint of Ana May V.
Simbajon against Judge Rogelio M. Esteban, filed with the Office of the City
Prosecutor, Cabanatuan City on September 8, 1997, docketed as I.S. Nos. 9-978239.
[3]

In her complaint, Ana May alleged that she was a casual employee of the
City Government of Cabanatuan City. Sometime in February 1997, she was
detailed with the Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC), Branch 1, Cabanatuan
City, upon incessant request of Presiding Judge Reogelio Esteban, herein
petitioner.
After her detail with Branch 1, the item of bookbinder became vacant. Thus,
she applied for the position but petitioner did not take any action on her
application. On July 25, 1997, when she approached petitioner in his chambers
to follow up her application, he told her, Ano naman ang magiging kapalit ng
pagpirma ko rito? Mula ngayon, girlfriend na kita. Araw-araw papasok ka dito sa
opisina ko, at araw-araw, isang halik. (What can you offer me in exchange for my
signature? From now on, you are my girlfriend. You will enter this office everyday
and everyday, I get one kiss.) Ana May refused to accede to his proposal as she
considered him like her own father.
[4]

Petitioner nonetheless recommended her for appointment. Thereafter, he

suddenly kissed her on her left cheek. She was shocked and left the chambers,
swearing never to return or talk to petitioner.
On August 5, 1997, at around 9:30 in the morning, Virginia S. Medina, court
interpreter, informed Ana May that petitioner wanted to see her in his chambers
regarding the payroll. As a subordinate, she complied. Once inside, petitioner
asked her if she has been receiving her salary as a bookbinder. When she

answered in the affirmative, he said, Matagal na pala eh, bakit hindi ka

pumapasok dito sa kuwarto ko? Di ba sabi ko say iyo, girlfriend na kita? (So
youve been getting the salary for sometime already. Why didnt you report here in
my office? Didnt I tell you, youre my girlfriend.)
[5]

Again, Ana May protested to his proposal, saying he is like a father to her
and that he is a married man with two sons.
Petitioner suddenly rose from his seat, grabbed her and said, Hindi pwede
yan, mahal kita. (I cant allow that for I love you.) He embraced her, kissing her all
over her face and touching her right breast.
Ana May freed herself and dashed out of the chambers crying. She threw the
payroll on the table of her co-employee, Elizabeth Q. Manubay. The latter sensed
something was wrong and accompanied Ana May to the restroom. There she told
Elizabeth what happened.
On March 9 and July 1, 1998, two Informations for violation of R.A. 7877 (the
Anti-Sexual Harassment Law of 1995) were filed against petitioner with the
Sandiganbayan, docketed therein as Criminal Cases Nos. 24490 and 24702.
Also on July 1, 1998, two Informations for acts of lasciviousness were filed
with the same court, docketed as Criminal Cases. 24703-04.
On September 18, 1998, petitioner filed a motion to quash the Informations in
Criminal Cases Nos. 24703-04 for acts of lasciviousness on the ground that he
has been placed four (4) times in jeopardy for the same offense.
The Sandiganbayan denied the motion to quash but directed the prosecution
to determine if the offenses charged in Criminal Cases Nos. 24703-04 were
committed in relation to petitioners functions as a judge.
On September 3, 1999, the prosecution filed Amended Informations in
Criminal Cases Nos. 24703 and 24704 quoted as follows:
Criminal Case No. 24703:

That on or about the 5th day of August 1997 in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija,
Philippines and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the abovenamed accused, JUDGE ROGELIO M. ESTEBAN, a public officer, being then
the Presiding Judge of Branch 1 of the Municipal Trial Court in Cabanatuan
City, who after having been rejected by the private complainant, Ana May V.
Simbajon, of his sexual demands or solicitations to be his girlfriend and to enter
his room daily for a kiss as a condition for the signing of complainants
permanent appointment as a bookbinder in his Court, thus in relation to his
office or position as such, with lewd design and malicious desire, did then and

there willfully, unlawfully and feloniously planted a kiss on her left cheek
against her will and consent, to her damage and detriment.
CONTRARY TO LAW.

[6]

Criminal Case No. 24704

That on or about the 25th day of June 1997 in in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija,
Philippines and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the abovenamed accused, JUDGE ROGELIO M. ESTEBAN, a public officer, being then
the Presiding Judge of Branch 1 of the Municipal Trial Court in Cabanatuan
City, who after having been rejected by the private complainant, Ana May V.
Simbajon, of his sexual demands or solicitations to be his girlfriend and to enter
his room daily for a kiss as a condition for the signing of complainants
permanent appointment as a bookbinder in his Court, thus in relation to his
office or position as such, with lewd design and malicious desire, did then and
there willfully, unlawfully and feloniously planted a kiss on her left cheek
against her will and consent, to her damage and detriment.
CONTRARY TO LAW.

[7]

On September 29, 1999, petitioner filed a motion to quash the Amended

Informations on the ground that the Sandiganbayan has no jurisdiction over the
crimes charged considering that they were not committed in relation to his office
as a judge.
On November 22, 1999, before the Sandiganbayan could resolve the motion
to quash, the prosecution filed the following Re-Amended Information in Criminal
Case No. 24703:

That on or about the 5th day of August 1997 in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija,
Philippines and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the abovenamed accused, JUDGE ROGELIO M. ESTEBAN, a public officer, being then
the Presiding Judge of Branch 1 of the Municipal Trial Court in Cabanatuan
City, who after having been rejected by the private complainant, Ana May V.
Simbajon, of his sexual demands or solicitations to be his girlfriend and to enter
his room daily for a kiss as a condition for the signing of complainants
permanent appointment as a bookbinder in his Court, thus in relation to his
office or position as such, with lewd design and malicious desire, did then and
there willfully, unlawfully and feloniously grab private complainant, kiss her all
over her face and touch her right breast against her will and consent, to her
damage and detriment.

CONTRARY TO LAW.

[8]

which was admitted by the Sandiganbayan.

On December 18, 2000, the Sandiganbayan denied petitioners motion to
quash the Amended Informations, holding that the act of approving or indorsing
the permanent appointment of complaining witness was certainly a function of
the office of the accused so that his acts are, therefore, committed in relation to
his office.
[9]

Petitioner then moved for a reconsideration, but was denied by the

Sandiganbayan in its Order dated January 11, 2001.
Hence, the instant petition for certiorari.
The sole issue for our resolution is whether the Sandiganbayan has
jurisdiction over Criminal Cases Nos. 24703-04 for acts of lasciviousness filed
against petitioner.
Petitioner contends that the alleged acts of lasciviousness were not
committed in relation to his office as a judge; and the fact that he is a public
official is not an essential element of the crimes charged.
The Ombudsman, represented by the Office of the Special Prosecutor,
maintains that the allegations in the two (2) Amended Informations in Criminal
Cases Nos. 24703-04 indicate a close relationship between petitioners official
functions as a judge and the commission of acts of lasciviousness.
The petition is bereft of merit.
Section 4 of Presidential Decree No. 1606, as amended by Republic Act No.
8249, reads in part:
[10]

SEC. 4. Jurisdiction. The Sandiganbayan shall exercise exclusive original

jurisdiction in all cases involving:
xxx

b. Other offenses or felonies whether simple or complexed with other crime

committed by the public officials and employees mentioned in subsection a of
this section in relation to their office.
In People v. Montejo, we ruled that an offense is said to have been
committed in relation to the office if the offense is intimately connected
with the office of the offender and perpetrated while he was in the performance
of his official functions. This intimate relation between the offense charged and
the discharge of official duties must be alleged in the Information. This is in
accordance with the rule that the factor that characterizes the charge is the
actual recital of the facts in the complaint or information. Hence, where the
[11]

[12]

[13]

information is wanting in specific factual averments to show the intimate

relationship/connection between the offense charged and the discharge of official
functions, the Sandiganbayan has no jurisdiction over the case.
[14]

Under Supreme Court Circular No. 7 dated April 27, 1987, petitioner, as
presiding judge of MTCC, Branch 1, Cabanatuan City, is vested with the power to
recommend the appointment of Ana May Simbajon as bookbinder. As alleged in
the Amended Informations in Criminal Cases Nos. 24703-04, she was
constrained to approach petitioner on June 25, 1997 as she needed his
recommendation. But he imposed a condition before extending such
recommendation - she should be his girlfriend and must report daily to his office
for a kiss. There can be no doubt, therefore, that petitioner used his official
position in committing the acts complained of. While it is true, as petitioner
argues, that public office is not an element of the crime of acts of lasciviousness,
defined and penalized under Article 336 of the Revised Penal Code, nonetheless,
he could not have committed the crimes charged were it not for the fact that as
the Presiding Judge of the MTCC, Branch I, Cabanatuan City, he has the
authority to recommend the appointment of Ana May as bookbinder. In other
words, the crimes allegedly committed are intimately connected with his office.
[15]

The jurisdiction of a court is determined by the allegations in the complaint or

information. The Amended Informations in Criminal Cases Nos. 24703-04
contain allegations showing that the acts of lasciviousness were committed by
petitioner in relation to his official function.
[16]

Accordingly, we rule that the Sandiganbayan did not gravely abuse its
discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction in admitting the Amended
Informations for acts of lasciviousness in Criminal Cases Nos. 24703-04.
WHEREFORE, the petition is DISMISSED. The assailed Resolution and
Order of the Sandiganbayan dated December 18, 2000 and January 11, 2001, in
Criminal Cases Nos. 24703-04 are AFFIRMED. Costs against the petitioner.
SO ORDERED.
Panganiban, (Chairman), Corona, and Garcia, JJ., concur.
Carpio-Morales, J., on leave.

[1]

Rollo, pp. 24-28. Per then Presiding Justice Francis E. Garchitorena (deceased), and concurred
in by Associate Justice Catalino R. Castaeda (retired) and Associate Justice Gregory S.
Ong.

[2]

Id. at 29-30.

[3]

Id. at 32-34.

[4]

Id. at 32.

[5]

Id. at 33.

[6]

Id. at 48-49.

[7]

Id. at 51-52.

[8]

Id. at 26.

[9]

Id. at 27.

[10]

The statute is entitled An Act Further Defining The Jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan,
Amending For the Purpose, Presidential Decree No. 1605, As Amended, Providing Funds
Therefore, And For Other Purposes.

[11]

108 Phil. 613 (1960).

[12]

People v. Magallanes, G.R. Nos. 118013-14, October 11, 1995, 249 SCRA 212; Republic v.
Asuncion, G.R. No. 108208, March 11, 1994, 231 SCRA 211

[13]

People v. Mendoza, G.R. No. 67610, July 31, 1989, 175 SCRA 743; People v. Cosare, 95 Phil.
657 (1954).

[14]

Lacson v. Executive Secretary, G.R. No. 128095, January 20, 1999, 301 SCRA 298.

[15]

The Circular is entitled Appointments to Vacant Positions In The Judiciary.

[16]

People v. Magallanes, supra; Republic v. Asuncion, supra.