THIRD DIVISION

[G.R. No. 249168. April 26, 2021.]

AILEEN CYNTHIA M. AMURAO, petitioner, vs. PEOPLE OF THE

PHILIPPINES AND SANDIGANBAYAN SIXTH DIVISION ,
respondents.

DECISION

J.Y. LOPEZ, J :
p

The Verified Petition 1 for Certiorari, Prohibition, and Mandamus (with

prayer for the issuance of a temporary restraining order or writ of
preliminary injunction) filed by petitioner Aileen Cynthia M. Amurao seeks
the nullification and setting aside of the Resolution 2 dated September 5,
2019 issued by the respondent Sandiganbayan Sixth Division, ordering the
suspension pendente lite of petitioner in Criminal Case No. SB-17-CRM-1385.
The case stemmed from an Affidavit executed by Doris Suelo, Sheryl
Lynn Lebante, and Engilbert Alvarez, the private complainants in Criminal
Case No. SB-17-CRM-1385, wherein they alleged that petitioner and her co-
accused, as tourism officers of the City Government of Puerto Princesa,
Palawan, solicited money and other gifts from private individuals and entities
for the purpose of tourism activities. The money and gifts solicited then went
to the personal and individual accounts of the petitioner and her co-accused.
3

In an Information 4 dated March 5, 2015, petitioner and several others

were charged before the Sandiganbayan with violation of Section 7 (d) of
Republic Act No. (R.A.) 6713, 5 otherwise known as the Code of Conduct and
Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. The Information states:
That on or about the period between February 2014 and April
2014 or sometime prior or subsequent thereto, in Puerto Princesa
City, Palawan, Philippines, and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable
Court, the above-named accused public officers, Aileen Cynthia M.
Amurao, being the City Tourism Officer and Head of the City Tourism
Department, Joyce C. Enriquez, Tourism Operations Assistant, Michie
H. Meneses, Tourism Operations Officer I, and Michael Angelo M.
Meneses and Lucero Aquino, Jr., contractual Tourism Operations
Assistant, all of the City Tourism Department, City Government of
Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, while in the performance of their
functions, taking advantage of their positions, committing the offense
in relation to their office, and conspiring and confederating with each
other, did then and there, willfully, unlawfully and criminally solicit or
accept, directly or indirectly, any gift, gratuity, favor, entertainment,
loan, or anything of monetary value from tourism-oriented and
private entities or individuals by sending them solicitation letters for
sponsorship of the City Government of Puerto Princesa's tourism
 activities and related projects, supervised by the accused.
CONTRARY TO LAW. 6
During the pendency of the proceedings, the Sandiganbayan issued a
Resolution 7 dated July 23, 2019 pursuant to Section 4, Rule VIII of the 2018
Revised Internal Rules of the Sandiganbayan. The Order directed petitioner
to show cause why she should not be suspended pendente lite in accordance
with Section 13 of R.A. 3019. 8
In her Compliance and Manifestation, 9 petitioner claimed that she
should not be suspended because Section 13 of R.A. 3019 only applies to
those charged with violation under the same law and the provisions under
the Revised Penal Code ( RPC) on bribery, and not to violations of R.A. 6713
of which she was charged.
On September 5, 2019, the Sandiganbayan issued the assailed
Resolution, 10 the dispositive portion of which reads:
WHEREFORE, premises considered, accused AILEEN
CYNTHIA MAGGAY AMURAO is ordered SUSPENDED pendente
lite, for a period of ninety (90) days, as Head of the Office of the City
Tourism of Puerto Princesa City, or any other public position she may
now or hereafter be holding.
Accused Aileen Cynthia Maggay Amurao is ordered to CEASE
AND DESIST from further performing and/or exercising the
functions, duties, and privileges of her position upon the
implementation of this Order of Preventive Suspension. The
suspension of the accused shall be automatically lifted upon the
expiration of the 90-day period from the implementation of this
resolution. 11
The Sandiganbayan ruled that the offense charged against petitioner is
covered by the rule on preventive suspension under Section 13 of R.A. 3019.
It noted that the imposition of preventive suspension is applicable not only
to those charged with violation of R.A. 3019 and Title 7, Book II of the RPC,
but also to those charged with any offense involving fraud upon the
government and any offense involving public funds or property. 12 Finding
that the latter two instances applies to petitioner's case, the Sandiganbayan
held that fraud upon the government was committed when the money
received from solicitations was deposited in petitioner's personal bank
account and allegedly used for the latter's personal consumption; and that
such amounts of money solicited from the private individuals and entities
are public funds as they were intended for the tourism activities of the City
Government of Puerto Princesa. 13
Petitioner did not move for the reconsideration of the assailed
Resolution. Instead, she filed the instant petition, imputing grave abuse of
discretion on the part of the Sandiganbayan.
The contentions raised by petitioner boil down to the lone issue of
whether the Sandiganbayan, Sixth Division committed grave abuse of
discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction when it issued the
assailed Resolution ordering her suspension pendente lite.
 Petitioner maintains that violation of Section 7 (d) of R.A. 6713 is not
among those offenses covered by the preventive suspension rule under
Section 13 of R.A. 3019 as there is yet to be a categorical pronouncement
on such inclusion. She asserts that the letters which became the basis of her
indictment refer to the term "sponsorship" and not solicitation. 14 Petitioner
likewise argues that she did not commit fraud and that deceit was not
proven in relation to the offense charged against her. She claims that
evidence for the defense in Criminal Case No. SB-17-CRM-1385 would show
that the cash, gift checks, and other form of awards went directly to the
participants and winners of contests, pageants, and other activities.
Petitioner also contends that the money that came from tourism
stakeholders was not in the nature of public funds because it was still in the
possession of the one in charge or assigned to collect and keep the same for
distribution during an awards night.
In its Comment, 15 the People of the Philippines, represented by the
Office of the Ombudsman, through the Office of the Special Prosecutor
(OSP), argues that Section 7 (d) of R.A. 6713 is included among the offenses
covered by Section 13 of R.A. No. 3019. It maintains that the assailed
Resolution was issued on the basis of compliance with Section 13, R.A. 3019,
as amended, reiterating that the fraudulent act of petitioner was established
through evidence before the Sandiganbayan when money (and gifts) was
solicited from private individuals and deposited in petitioner's (and her co-
accused's) personal accounts. The OSP likewise echoes the ruling of the
Sandiganbayan that the sums of money subject of the criminal case, having
been collected for the purpose of tourism activities, are public funds.
The Ruling of the Court
We first discuss the procedural issue of petitioner's failure to file a
motion for reconsideration prior to resorting to the present petition for
certiorari, prohibition, and mandamus.
In her Verified Petition, petitioner submits that she did not file a motion
for reconsideration because the preventive suspension contemplated in
Section 13 of R.A. 3019 is mandatory and ministerial on the part of the
Sandiganbayan. She, likewise, posits that the instant petition falls under the
exceptions to the necessity of filing a motion for reconsideration. 16
It has long been settled that a motion for reconsideration is a condition
sine qua non for the filing of a petition for certiorari. 17 The objective of this
mandate is to allow the lower court, or tribunal, the opportunity to correct
any actual or perceived error imputed to it. 18
I n Siok Ping Tan v. Subic Bay Distribution, Inc. , 19 however, the Court
reiterated that the foregoing rule admits of exceptions:
x x x The rule is, however, circumscribed by well-defined
exceptions, such as (a) where the order is a patent nullity, as where
the court a quo had no jurisdiction; (b) where the questions raised in
the certiorari proceeding have been duly raised and passed upon by
the lower court, or are the same as those raised and passed upon in
the lower court; (c) where there is an urgent necessity for the
 resolution of the question and any further delay would prejudice the
interests of the Government or of the petitioner or the subject matter
of the action is perishable; (d) where, under the circumstances, a
motion for reconsideration would be useless; (e) where petitioner was
deprived of due process and there is extreme urgency for relief; (f)
where, in a criminal case, relief from an order of arrest is urgent and
the granting of such relief by the trial court is improbable; (g) where
the proceedings in the lower court are a nullity for lack of due
process; (h) where the proceedings were ex parte, or in which the
petitioner had no opportunity to object; and (i) where the issue raised
is one purely of law or where public interest is involved. 20
While the petitioner cites exceptions (c), (d), (e), and (i) in her petition,
21 she plainly did so without explaining how such circumstances apply to her

case. Nevertheless, the Court finds that the second exception is more
relevant in this case as the question raised by petitioner in her Verified
Petition has been duly raised before and was already passed upon by the
Sandiganbayan.
Excusing the petitioner's procedural misstep notwithstanding, the
petition fails.
There is grave abuse of discretion when there has been an evasion of a
positive duty or a virtual refusal to perform a duty prescribed by law or to
act in accordance with law, such as when a judgment was rendered not on
the basis of law and evidence, but on caprice, whim, and despotism. 22
Here, the Court finds that no grave abuse of discretion may be
attributed to the Sandiganbayan in the assailed Resolution, the same having
been issued on cogent legal grounds.
The suspension pendente lite ordered in the assailed Resolution finds
basis in Section 13 of R.A. 3019, to wit:
Section 13. Â Suspension and loss of benefits. — Any
incumbent public officer against whom any criminal prosecution
under a valid information under this Act or under Title Seven
Book II of the Revised Penal Code or for any offense involving
fraud upon government or public funds or property whether as
a simple or as complex offense and in whatever stage of execution
and mode of participation, is pending in court shall be suspended
from office. Should he be convicted by final judgement, he shall lose
all retirement or gratuity benefits under any law, but if he is
acquitted, he shall be entitled to reinstatement and to the salaries
and benefits which he failed to receive during suspension, unless in
the meantime administrative proceedings have been filed against
him.
In the event that such convicted officer, who may have been
separated from the service has already received such benefits he
shall be liable to restitute the same to the government. (Emphasis
and underscoring added)
Verily, and contrary to petitioner's contention, the rule on preventive
suspension is not limited to cases where there has been a violation of R.A.
3019 or Title 7, Book II of the RPC. The same Rule applies for any offense
involving fraud upon government or public funds or property.
The relevant question now is whether the offense charged against
petitioner is considered as fraud upon the government or public funds or
property.
I n Bustillo v. Sandiganbayan, 23 this Court has settled that the term
"fraud," as used in Section 13 of R.A. 3019, is understood in its generic
sense, that is, referring to "an instance or an act of trickery or deceit
especially when involving misrepresentation." 24
The Information 25 filed against petitioner charged her and her co-
accused with violation of Section 7 (d) of R.A. 6713 by soliciting money and
gifts from private individuals and entities for supposed tourism activities and
projects of the City Government of Puerto Princesa, Palawan while in the
performance of their functions and taking advantage of their positions as
tourism officers. It is clear from the foregoing that the act of petitioner (and
her co-accused) involves fraud upon public funds as such money and gifts
solicited were collected for the purpose of funding the tourism activities of
the City Government of Puerto Princesa, Palawan.
It is noteworthy that petitioner did not assail the validity of such
Information. In fact, in her Manifestation and Compliance before the
Sandiganbayan, petitioner begged exception to the suspension pendente lite
that she admitted should be imposed on her under a "valid information." 26
In Bolastig v. Sandiganbayan (Third Division), 27 the Court underscored
the mandatory nature of preventive suspension when a public officer is
charged with a valid information involving violation of R.A. 3019, Title 7,
Book II of the RPC, or offenses involving fraud upon government, public
funds, or property:
x x x [S]ec. 13 of Republic Act No. 3019 makes it mandatory for the
Sandiganbayan to suspend any public officer against whom a valid
information charging violation of that law, Book II, Title 7 of the
Revised Penal Code, or any offense involving fraud upon government
or public funds or property is filed. The court trying a case has neither
discretion nor duty to determine whether preventive suspension is
required to prevent the accused from using his office to intimidate
witnesses or frustrate his prosecution or continue committing
malfeasance in office. The presumption is that unless the accused is
suspended he may frustrate his prosecution or commit further acts of
malfeasance or do both, in the same way that upon a finding that
there is probable cause to believe that a crime has been committed
and that the accused is probably guilty thereof, the law requires the
judge to issue a warrant for the arrest of the accused. The law does
not require the court to determine whether the accused is likely to
escape or evade the jurisdiction of the court. 28 (citations omitted)
Since the petitioner is charged with an offense that clearly falls under
Section 13 of R.A. 3019, her suspension pendente lite is justified. The
Sandiganbayan has no other option but to order the suspension of the
petitioner when it is convinced that the information charges her with acts of
fraud involving government funds. 29
 WHEREFORE, premises considered, the instant petition is
DISMISSED. The Resolution dated September 5, 2019 issued by the
Sandiganbayan, Sixth Division in Criminal Case No. SB-17-CRM-1385 is
hereby AFFIRMED.
SO ORDERED.
Leonen, Hernando, Inting and Delos Santos, JJ., concur.
Â
Footnotes

1. Rollo , pp. 3-9.

2. Penned by Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Karl B. Miranda, with Associate

Justices Sarah Jane T. Fernandez and Kevin Narce B. Vivero concurring; id. at
14-19.

3. Id. at 17.

4. Id. at 20-22.

5. Section 7. Prohibited Acts and Transactions. — In addition to acts and omissions

of public officials and employees now prescribed in the Constitution and
existing laws, the following shall constitute prohibited acts and transactions
of any public official and employee and are hereby declared to be unlawful:

xxx xxx xxx

(d) Solicitation or acceptance of gifts. — Public officials and employees shall

not solicit or accept, directly or indirectly, any gift, gratuity, favor,
entertainment, loan or anything of monetary value from any person in the
course of their official duties or in connection with any operation being
regulated by, or any transaction which may be affected by the functions of
their office.

xxx xxx xxx

6. Rollo , p. 21.

7. Id. at 10.

8. Otherwise known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

9. Rollo , pp. 11-13.

10. Id. at 14-19.

11. Id. at 18.

12. Id. at 15-16.

13. Id. at 16-17.

14. Id. at 7.

15. Id. at 68-78.

16. Id. at 6.

17. Almario-Templonuevo v. Office of the Ombudsman, 811 Phil 686, 695 (2017),
citing Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Court of Tax Appeals, 695 Phil.
55, 61 (2012); Medado v. Heirs of Consing, 681 Phil. 536, 548 (2012), citing
Pineda v. Court of Appeals, 649 Phil. 562, 571 (2010).

18. Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Court of Tax Appeals, supra, 17.

19. 653 Phil. 124 (2010).

20. Id. at 136-137.

21. Rollo , p. 6.

22. Galvante v. Hon. Casimiro, 575 Phil. 324, 335 (2008).

23. 521 Phil. 43 (2006).

24. Id. at 51.

25. Supra note 4.

26. Rollo , p. 46.

27. 305 Phil. 110 (1994).

28. Id. at 115.

29. See Flores v. Hon. Layosa, 479 Phil. 1020, 1039 (2004).