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ANNOTATION

DUE PROCESS

B
ALICIA GONZALEZ-DECANO*
___________________

I. Preliminar Statement, p. 558

II. D e Process De ned, p. 559
III. J rispr dence on D e Process, p. 560
IV. Ill strati e Cases, p. 560

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I. Preliminar Statement
O co n men clamo fo j ice a man of hem a e de i ed
of ch icele je el of democ ac . A e looked a o nd, e ee
a io hocking inciden of life ch a : ca ef ee innocen o ng
child en being locked in jail; b ande , oe e ,
demon a o , being icked and ganged ; o ng bo and gi l
in chool being kidna ed; omen oaming a o nd he ci ie of
Me o Manila, ei he fo he o e of looking fo odd job o
ande ing j o ie he ci ie of lea e, mone and in ; and
men and omen

_______________

* Re i ed J dge, P ofe o ial Lec e IV and Con l an (La and Poli ical
Science Cl e , UST G ad a e School) and Dean, College of La & La P ofe o ,
Pan Paci c Uni e i No h Phili ine (PUNP), U dane a Ci .

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lang i hing in jail, ho e ca e ha e ne e been e mina ed d e o

he nail ace of j ice, i ho d e oce .
I i on hi cena io ha hi a icle i ho gh of.
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Befo e going in o he doc ine o j i dence on d e oce ,

a de ni ion of e m i in o de .

II. D e Process De ned

D e oce i a la hich hea befo e i condemn ; hich

oceed on in i , and ende j dgmen onl af e ial
(Ra a . B adf d, 75 Phil. 50, ci ed b Sibal, Phili ine Legal
Enc clo edia, Cen al Book S l , Inc., Q.C., 1986, . 257)
D e oce of la doe no nece a il mean a j dicial
oceeding in he eg la co . The g a an ee of d e oce ,
ie ed in i oced al a ec , e i e no a ic la fo m of
oced e. I im lie d e no ice o he indi id al of he oceeding ,
an o o ni o defend him elf and he oblem of he o ie of
he de i a ion , nde he ci c m ance e en ed, m be
e ol ed in a manne con i en i h e en ial fai ne . I mean
e en iall a fai and im o ed and ea onable o o ni fo
he e a a ion of defen e. (A ,J. .M a C ,N .
2, 63 SCRA 546 [1975], ci ed b Sibal, a)
P oced e i me el mean o an end, and le of oced e
m be con ed libe all o a o affo d li igan a eed and
ine en i e mean of e ol ing hei con o e . On he o he hand,
he inci le of d e oce , in gene al mean im l ha befo e a
a ma be held bo nd b co oceeding , he m ha e been
im leaded he ein o no i ed he eof and h gi en an o o ni
o defend hi igh . (T e . Ca ag, 17 SCRA 808 [1966], ci ed
b Sibal, a)

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III. J rispr dence on D e Process

D e oce ma be oced al, o ma be a denial of he

con i ional oce e . P oced al, hen he eg la le of la
a e com lied i h. Con i ional d e oce , hen he elemen o
he ma e ial e i emen of he Con i ion a e com lied i h.
D e oce ma like i e be c iminal d e oce hich
e i e ha he acc ed m be oceeded again nde he
o de l oce e of la . The e i like i e kno n d e oce in
labo ca e .

IV. Ill strati e Cases

The follo ing ca e a e ill a i e of all he e kind of d e

oce :
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1. In he ca e of Ma e R a , e a . . Va e , G.R. No.
114944, Ma 29, 2002, 382 SCRA 396, he S eme Co held:

I a ea ha e i ione e e de i ed of d e oce hen he

S ecial P o ec o ein a ed he com lain again hem i ho hei
kno ledge. D e oce of la e i e ha e e li igan m be gi en an
o o ni o be hea d. He ha he igh o be e en and defend him elf in
e on a e e age of he oceeding .

The Highe T ib nal con in ed:

I did no gi e e i ione no ice of he ein e iga ion, hich

o ld ha e enabled hem o a ici a e in he oceeding . B hen i la e
fo nd obable ca e again e i ione , i ho ld ha e gi en hem
no ice and affo ded hem an o o ni o be hea d befo e o de ing hei
incl ion in C iminal Ca e No. 18956. The nding of obable ca e again
e i ione in oceeding hich he had nei he kno ledge of no
a ici a ion in ( c) iola ed hei igh o oced al d e oce . A he
e lea , he ho ld ha e been no i ed ha he com lain again hem
ha no e been nall di o ed of; o ha he gh a no e o e , o o

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eak. The ho ld ha e been a i ed of hei o ible im lica ion in he

c iminal ca e o enable hem o mee an ne acc a ion again hem
head-on, and o e a e fo hei defen e.

2. Pe e . Lac , G.R. No. 149453, Ma 28, 2002, 382

SCRA 365, o la e he doc ine of d e oce hen he Highe
T ib nal dec eed:

F ndamen al fai ne e i e ha bo h he o ec ion and he

acc ed ho ld be affo ded he o o ni o be hea d and o add ce
e idence on he e ence o ab ence of he edica e fac on hich he
a lica ion of he ne le de end . In he ligh of he lack of o he
con ic ing e idence in he a io e i emen o de e mine he
a licabili of Sec ion 8, R le 117, hi Co i no in a o i ion o le
he he o no he e ling of he ca e fo m l i le m de again
e onden Lac on ho ld be enjoined. The edica e fac in ol ed
di ed fac and a g able e ion of la . The ece ion of e idence on
he e a io i e canno be done in hi Co b befo e he ial co .

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3. Pe e . A ca de, G.R. No . 139225-28, Ma 29, 2002,

382 SCRA 621, el cida e he iola ion of d e oce .
Said he S eme Co :

The con i ional igh o be info med of he na e and ca e of

he acc a ion again him nde he Bill of Righ ca ie i h i he
co ela i e obliga ion o effec i el con e o he acc ed he info ma ion o
enable him o effec i el e a e fo hi defen e. A he bo om i he i e
of fai ial. While no e e abe a ion of he mind o e hibi ion of men al
de cienc on he a of he acc ed i f cien o j if en ion of he
oceeding , he ial co m be f ll a i ed ha he acc ed o ld
ha e a fai ial i h he a i ance he la ec e o gi e . Unde he
ci c m ance in he e ca e , he ial co g a el failed in hi ega d.

The Highe T ib nal dec eed f he :

E en if he eal of an acc ed la e fell ho of ha e i ed

of him, ha i , fo him o ha e a ked he co o end he a aignmen of
hi clien on he g o nd of he la e n o nd men al heal h, he g ea e
demand of d e oce o e helm ch

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inade a e eal. I i al o o h o main ain A . Va e a a en

lackadai ical a i de in he e ca e hich amo n ed o di ega d of he
ic demand of deli o hi oa h a a la e , d o hi clien , and
e on ibili a an of ce of he co . He kne f om he e beginning
ha A nel a ho i ali ed fo men al di o de . The la e ange
a ea ance a hi a aignmen a eno gh ea on fo a co n el o a k fo
he defe men of a aignmen and fo lea e of co o ha e A nel bjec ed
o chological e amina ion and chia ic e al a ion. Then, oo, he
ho ld ha e e en ed he doc o ho ea ed A nel in he UST ho i al fo
hi ec ing men al illne . I ef abl , A . Va e beha io in he
defen e of A nel, fell ho of he demanding d o e en e e defen e
ha he la e mi o he end ha no e on ma be de i ed of life o
libe b b d e oce of la . E en if A . Va e eal fo A nel
ca e fell ho of ha e i ed of him, ha i , fo him o ha e a ked he
co o end he a aignmen of A nel, on he g o nd of he la e
n o nd men al heal h, he g ea e demand of d e oce o e helm ch
inade a e eal.

4. Pe e . Be a , G.R. No . 133583-85, Feb a 20, 2002,

377 SCRA 391, ill a e he de ail of d e oce hen an
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acc ed lead g il o a ca i al offen e befo e he co . D e

oce dic a e ha he ling of he S eme Co in he abo e-
en i led ca e ho ld be follo ed o he la e . The S eme Co
held:

The ial m ob e e he follo ing le hen an acc ed

de i e o lead g il o a ca i al offen e: (1) he co m cond c a
ea ching in i in o he ol n a ine and f ll com en a ion of he
con e ence of he lea ; (2) he co m e i e he o ec ion o
e en e idence o o e he g il of he acc ed and he eci e deg ee of
hi c l abili ; and (3) The co m a k he acc ed if he de i e o
e en e idence in hi behalf and allo him o do o if he de i e .

The S eme Co con in ed o e lain he meaning of

Sea ching In i and ho i i done:

Sea ching In i ho ld be cond c ed a follo : (1) a ce ain

f om he acc ed him elf (a) ho he a b o gh in o he c od of he
la ; (b) he he he had he a i ance of a com e en

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co n el d ing he c odial and elimina in e iga ion ; and (c) nde

ha condi ion he a de ained and in e oga ed d ing he in e iga ion .
The e he co hall do in o de o le o he o ibili ha he acc ed
ha been coe ced o laced nde a a e of d e ei he b ac al h ea o
h ical ha m coming f om male olen o a enging a e ; (2) a k he
defen e co n el a e ie of e ion a o he he he had confe ed i h,
and com le el e lained o he acc ed he meaning and con e ence of a
lea of g il ; (3) elici info ma ion abo he e onali o le of he
acc ed, ch a hi age, ocio-economic a , and ed ca ional
backg o nd, hich ma e e a a o h inde of hi ca aci o gi e
a f ee and info med lea of g il ; (4) info m he acc ed of he e ac leng h
of im i onmen o na e of he enal nde he la and he ce ain ha
he ill e e ch en ence. No inf e en l indeed an acc ed lead
g il in he ho e of a lenien ea men o on bad ad ice o beca e of
bad omi e of he a ho i ie o a ie of a ligh e enal ho ld he
admi g il o e e emo e. I i he d of he j dge o ee o i ha he
acc ed doe no labo nde he e mi aken im e ion ; (5) e i e he
acc ed o f ll na a e he inciden ha a ned he cha ge again him o
make him eenac he manne in hich he e e a ed he c ime, o ca e
him o l mi ing de ail of igni cance.

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5. Pe e . M e , G.R. No. 130709, Ma ch 6, 2002, 378

SCRA 340, di c e con i ional d e oce .
The Highe T ib nal a ic la ed:

Con i ional d e oce demand ha he acc ed in a c iminal

ca e ho ld be info med of he na e and ca e of he acc a ion again
him. The a ionale behind hi con i ional g a an ee a e: , o f ni h
he acc ed i h he de c i ion of he cha ge again him a ell enable o
make hi defen e; ec d, o a ail him elf of hi con ic ion o ac i al fo
he o ec ion again a f he o ec ion fo he ame ca e; and d, o
info m he co of he fac alleged, o ha i ma decide he he he a e
f cien in la o o a con ic ion, if one ho ld be had.

The S eme Co led f he :

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In f l llmen of he afo e aid con i ional g a an ee, R le 116,

Sec ion 1(a) of he R le of Co manda e ha an acc ed be a aigned in
o en co and a ked o en e a lea of g il o no g il of he c ime
cha ged. The o e of a aignmen i o a i e he acc ed of he
o ible lo of f eedom, e en of hi life, de ending on he na e of he
c ime im ed o him, o a he e lea o info m him of h he
o ec ing a m of he a e i mobili ed again him. Con e en l , hen
acc ed-a elan en e ed a nega i e lea d ing hi a aignmen , he ame
a no binding on he co a an indica ion of hi innocence. Ra he , i i a
gene al denial of he cha ge im gned again him and an e e ci e of hi
igh o be hea d of hi lea.

6. Pe e . D a a a , G.R. No . 131837-38, A il 2, 2002,

380 SCRA 37, eak of d e oce a follo ed in he aking of
e aj dicial confe o and he in oking of he M a da doc ine.
Said he S eme Co :

Whe e i i ho n ha e aj dicial confe ion e e gi en i h

all he afeg a d e i ed nde he M a da Doc ine, he admi ible in
e idence. The o n a emen of he h ee acc ed ho ha he ee
o e l a i ed of hei igh o emain ilen and igh o co n el, in
acco dance i h he con i ional g a an ee. A 8:00 in he mo ning of he
ne da , he h ee acc ed oceeded o he of ce of A . Re el Pac ibo ,
Cle k of Co of he Regional T ial Co of Caga an de O o Ci . All of
he h ee acc ed, ill accom anied b A . Uba - ba , b c ibed and
o e o hei e ec i e i en confe ion . Befo e admini e ing he
oa h , A . Pac ibo eminded he h ee acc ed of he con i ional igh

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nde he M a da Doc ine and e i ed ha hei a emen ee

ol n a il gi en. A . Pac ibo al o an la ed he con en of each
confe ion in he Vi a an dialec , o en e ha each acc ed nde ood
he ame befo e igning i . No ill-mo i e a im ed on he e o la e
o e if fal el again he acc ed. Thei a ici a ion in he e ca e
me el in ol ed he e fo mance of hei legal d ie a of ce of he
co . Mo e im o an l , he confe ion a e e le e i h de ail hich
co ld onl be lied b he acc ed, e ec ing on anei and cohe ence
hich chologicall can no be a ocia ed i h a mood o

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hich iolence and o e ha e been a lied. The e fac o a e clea indicia

ha he confe ion e e ol n a il gi en.

7. Pe e . O b a, G.R. No. 136591, J l 11, 2002, 384

SCRA 393, eak of d e oce . In mo e eci c e m , he
S eme Co e o nded:

The acc ed can no com lain ha he a denied d e oce

hen he ial co con ic ed him of a ing he com lainan , a men al
e a da e, nde an info ma ion ha did no allege he men al a e, he e he
had no ice ha he o ec ion o ld o e ha he com lainan had a
men al age of a child belo en (10) and a gi en all he o o ni o
mee he e idence of he o ec ion on he i e. He co ld no a he a
aken b i e and a no able o defend him elf. Indeed, he ha ne e
aken hi o e.

8. P eA e , I c. . NLRC (4 D ), G.R. No.

115785, A g 4, 2000, 337 SCRA 286, e lain Con i ional
d e oce in hi i e:

The e ence of d e oce i im l an o o ni o be hea d,

o a a lied o admini a i e oceeding , an o o ni o e lain one
ide i h e ec o he oced al a ec of i a e e onden
di mi al, he a gi en am le o o ni o e en hi ide and o defend
him elf again he cha ge again him. He had e e o o ni o be
hea d. The fac ha e onden Diaman e a no able o conf on
Pineda did no mean ha he a de i ed of hi igh o d e oce .

9. R a de . Sa d ga ba a , G.R. No . 143618-41, Ma
30, 2002, 385 SCRA 436 deal i h C iminal d e oce .

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The S eme Co o la ed:

C iminal d e oce e i e ha he acc ed m be oceeded

again nde he o de l oce e of la . In all c iminal ca e , he j dge
ho ld follo he e -b - e oced e e i ed b he R le . The ea on
fo hi i o a e ha he a e make no mi ake in aking he life o
libe e ce ha of he g il .

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10. Ge e .Q , A.M. No. MTJ-02-1441, J l 31, 2002,

386 SCRA 520, di c e igh o Bail and P elimina
In e iga ion. The S eme Co dec eed:

Re onden J dge, o ibl h o gh igno ance, di ega ded he

oced e fo elimina in e iga ion a o ided in R le 112, Sec ion 3
of he Re i ed R le of C iminal P oced e and he eb de i ed
com lainan of hei igh o d e oce .

The S eme Co f he men ioned:

The igh o elimina in e iga ion i a b an i e igh , a

denial of hich con i e a de i a ion of he acc ed igh o d e
oce , and ch denial i agg a a ed he e he acc ed i de ained
i ho bail fo hi o i ional libe . I i im o an ha ho e cha ged
i h he d of cond c ing elimina in e iga ion do o c lo l in
acco dance i h he oced e o ided in he Re i ed R le of C iminal
P oced e.

11. G e e f e U ed S a e f A e ca . P ga a ,
G.R. No. 148571, Oc obe 14, 2002, 389 SCRA 623, e lain
among o he , he meaning of d e oce . The S eme Co
a ic la ed:

The de en ion of a o en ial e adi ee io o he concl ion of

he e adi ion oceeding doe no amo n o a iola ion of hi igh o d e
oce hile he e ence of d e oce i he o o ni o be hea d, i
doe no al a call fo a io o o ni o be hea d con a o hi
in en ion, hi de en ion io o he concl ion of he e adi ion oceeding
doe no amo n o a iola ion of hi igh o d e oce . We i e a e he
familia doc ine ha he e ence of d e oce i he o o ni o be
hea d b , a he ame ime, oin o ha he doc ine doe no call fo a
io o o ni o be hea d. Whe e he ci c m ance ch a ho e

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e en in an e adi ion ca e call fo i , a b e en o o ni o be

hea d i eno gh. In he e en ca e, e onden ill be gi en f ll
o o ni o be hea d b e en l , hen he e adi ion co hea he
Pe i ion fo E adi ion. Hence, he e i no iola ion of hi igh o d e
oce and f ndamen al fai ne .

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12. Ma e e S gC . .C f A ea , G.R. No.

144134, No embe 11, 2003, 415 SCRA 573, eak among o he
of d e oce . The S eme Co e o nded:

The e ence of d e oce i im l an o o ni o be hea d,

o , a a lied o admini a i e oceeding , an o o ni o e lain one
ide o an o o ni o eek a econ ide a ion of he ac ion o ling
com lained of. The e i emen of he d e oce in labo ca e befo e a
Labo A bi e i a i ed hen he a ie a e gi en he o o ni o
bmi hei o i ion a e o hich he a e o ed o a ach all he
o ing doc men o doc men a e idence ha o ld o e hei
e ec i e claim , in he e en he Labo A bi e de e mine ha no fo mal
hea ing o ld be cond c ed o ha ch hea ing a no nece a . No all
ca e e i e a ial e hea ing. In an e en , a fo nd b he NLRC,
e i ione a gi en am le o o ni o e en i ide in e e al hea ing
cond c ed befo e he Labo A bi e and in he o i ion a e and o he
o ing doc men ha i had bmi ed, We nd ha ch o o ni
mo e han a i e he e i emen of d e oce in labo ca e .

13. A ed Ba gC a .C f A ea , G.R. No.

144412, No embe 18, 2003, 416 SCRA 65, di c e among
o he , d e oce in labo ca e .
Said he S eme Co :

The e ence of d e oce i im l an o o ni o be hea d.

On he e i emen of hea ing, hi co ha held ha he e ence of d e
oce i im l an o o ni o be hea d. An ac al hea ing i no
nece a . The e change of e e al le e , in hich Galanida ife, a
la e i h he Ci P o ec o Of ce, a i ed him, ga e Galanida an
o o ni o e ond o he cha ge again him.

14. Re b c . Sa d ga ba a , G.R. No. 152454, No embe

18, 2003, 416 SCRA 133, eak of he o a ec of d e oce .
The S eme Co e o nded:

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D e oce of la ha o a ec : b an i e and oced al

d e oce . In o de ha a a ic la ac ma no be im-

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gned a iola i e of d e oce cla e, he e m be com liance ih

bo h b an i e and he oced al e i emen he eof.

In he e en con e , b an i e d e oce efe o he

in in ic alidi of a la ha in e fe e i h he igh of a e on o
hi o e . On he o he hand, oced al d e oce mean
com liance i h he oced e o e , e en e iod , e c ibed b
he a e in confo mi i h he anda d of fai la and i ho
a bi a ine on he a of ho e ho a e called on o admini e
i.
In ofa a b an i e d e oce i conce ned, he e i no
ho ing ha R.A. 1379 i nfai , n ea onable, o nj . In o he
o d , e onden Ma co e a e no being de i ed of hei o e
h o gh fo fei e fo a bi a ea on on o im g o nd .
A ca ef l d of he P o i ion of R.A. 1379 eadil di clo e
ha he fo fei e oceeding in he Sandiganba an did no iola e
he b an i e igh of e onden Ma co e . The e oce e a e
ci il in na e, no c iminal a con ended b he Ma co e .
The S eme Co con in ed:

D e oce , a con i ional ece , doe no he efo e al a

and in all i a ion e i e a ial e oceeding. The e ence of d e
oce i fo nd in he ea onable o o ni o be hea d and bmi one
e idence in o of hi defen e. Wha he la ohibi i no me el he
ab ence of a o i ion no ice b he ab ence he eof and he lack of
o o ni o be hea d. Thi o o ni a made com le el a ailable o
e onden ho a ici a ed in all age of he li iga ion.

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C 2019 Ce a B S , I c. A e e ed.

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15/11/2019 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED VOLUME 627

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