Lucien Tran Van Nghia v. Liwag (Block B)

LUCIEN TRAN VAN NGHIA V.
LIWAG
175 SCRA 318 / G.R. No. 78596
FERNAN, C.J.: July 13, 1989
FACTS
 Van Nghia is a French national with temporary address in Sta. Ana, Manila originally admitted
here November 1, 1981 as a temporary visitor, but became an immigrant on November 16, 1984
based on his representation that he is financially capable and will invest in the Philippines.
However he has engaged only in French tutoring and practice of acupressure.
 On May 28, 1987, CID Commissioner Ramon J. Liwag received a sworn complaint from a certain
Van Ngia’s landlord Dionisio G. Cabrera, Jr., accusing petitioner of being an undesirable alien for
"committing acts inimical to public safety and progress."
 Acting thereon, Liwag issued on June 1, 1987 a mission order to a team of seven (7) CID agents
for them "to locate and bring subject to Intelligence Division for proper disposition" and "submit
report."
 On June 2, 1987, the CID agents went to petitioner's residence him to the CID headquarters for
verification of his status but petitioner locked themselves inside their bedroom and refused to
talk to the agents. - The immigration agents then sought the assistance of members of the
Western Police District. With police help, he was subdued and immediately taken to the CID
Intelligence Office.
 A warrant of arrest was issued by respondent Commissioner on June 2, 1987 but there is
nothing in the records to convince this Court that said warrant was served on petitioner prior to
his apprehension. Said warrant was based on the following acts and circumstances:
o he made no investments but engaged in tutoring in French and practice of acupressure
o he wilfully refused to recognize the authority of immigration agents who were sent to
invite him to CID for verification of his status and physically resisted being taken in by
the agents resulting in physical injuries to himself and the agents;
o he has thereby made himself an undesirable alien subject to deportation.
 Because of injuries he sustained he was transferred from his detention cell at the immigration
office to the PGH for treatment
 On June 10, 1987, petitioner's counsel filed the instant petition for habeas corpus to avert the
"threatened removal" of petitioner from PGH and to question the validity of his detention by
respondent Commissioner
ISSUES
1. WON arrest and detention of petitioner by the Immigration Commissioner preparatory to
deportation proceedings was valid
2. WON Writ may be properly granted
Held:
1. NO.
- The particular circumstances obtaining in the case at bar have seriously placed on doubt the legality
and propriety of petitioner's apprehension by respondent Commissioner. Herein petitioner was
"invited" by a combined team of CID agents and police officers at his apartment unit on the strength of a
mission order issued by the Commissioner on Immigration based on a sworn complaint of a single
individual. The essential requisite of probable cause was conspicuously absent.
- For unlike in the Harvey case where the warrantless capture of two suspected alien pedophiles was
based on probable cause ascertained only after close surveillance for a three-month period during which
their activities were monitored.
- Precedent of Harvey vs. Defensor-Santiago does not apply
- The requirement of probable cause to be determined by a Judge, does not extend to deportation
proceedings.' (Morano vs. Vivo, supra, citing Tiu Chun Hai vs. Commissioner, infra). There need be no
'truncated' recourse to both judicial and administrative warrants in a single deportation proceeding.
- What is essential is that there should be a specific charge against the alien intended to be arrested and
deported, that a fair hearing be conducted (Section 37 [c] with the assistance of counsel, if desired, and
that the charge be substantiated by competent evidence.
2. NO.
- The general rule in a number of cases is that the release, whether permanent or temporary, of a
detained person renders the petition for habeas corpus moot and academic, unless there are restraints
attached to his release which precludes freedom of action, in which case the Court can still inquire into
the nature of his involuntary restraint under the Villavicencio vs. Lukban rule.
- Where a person continues to be unlawfully denied one or more of his constitutional freedoms, where
there is present a denial of due process, where the restraints are not merely involuntary but appear to
be unnecessary, and where a deprivation of freedom originally valid has, in the light of subsequent
developments, become arbitrary, the person concerned or those applying in his behalf may still avail
themselves of the privilege of the writ.
- Certain events have supervened to render his petition moot and academic or to otherwise cure
whatever defect there was at the inception of his arrest.
- Firstly, petitioner is no longer under confinement and released upon the posting and approval of a
personal bailbond on June 19,1987 in the amount of P20,000.00 during the pendency of the
administrative proceedings by the CID or until further orders of the Court.
- Petitioner Lucien Tran Van Nghia is not similarly restrained, as in the case of Enrile v Moncupa where
rights to travel and freedom of expression were restricted. The only condition in his bailbond is that
ordinarily found in any other analogous undertaking, which is "to appear and answer the complaint x x
x; will at all times hold himself ... amenable to the orders and processes of the Court; and after
conviction, he will surrender himself ... in execution of such judgment ... ."
- Secondly, records show that formal deportation proceedings have been initiated against petitioner
before the Board of Special Inquiry of the CID. The restraint (if any) against petitioner's person has
therefore become legal. The writ of habeas corpus has served its purpose.
Disposition: The petition is DISMISSED.

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LUCIEN TRAN VAN NGHIA V.

Disposition: The petition is DISMISSED.

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