This document summarizes a Supreme Court of the Philippines case regarding the interpretation and application of Republic Act No. 9262, also known as the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004. The key details are:
1) The petitioner was charged with violating Section 5(a) of RA 9262 for allegedly inflicting physical harm on his former girlfriend. He argued that the act must be due to their past sexual/dating relationship.
2) The RTC denied the petitioner's motion to quash, finding it immaterial that the relationship had ended, as long as there was a past relationship.
3) The Supreme Court affirmed, finding that a narrow interpretation would undermine the goal of protecting
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Original Title
23. Dabalos vs. Regional Trial Court, Branch 59, Angeles City (Pampanga)
This document summarizes a Supreme Court of the Philippines case regarding the interpretation and application of Republic Act No. 9262, also known as the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004. The key details are:
1) The petitioner was charged with violating Section 5(a) of RA 9262 for allegedly inflicting physical harm on his former girlfriend. He argued that the act must be due to their past sexual/dating relationship.
2) The RTC denied the petitioner's motion to quash, finding it immaterial that the relationship had ended, as long as there was a past relationship.
3) The Supreme Court affirmed, finding that a narrow interpretation would undermine the goal of protecting
This document summarizes a Supreme Court of the Philippines case regarding the interpretation and application of Republic Act No. 9262, also known as the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004. The key details are:
1) The petitioner was charged with violating Section 5(a) of RA 9262 for allegedly inflicting physical harm on his former girlfriend. He argued that the act must be due to their past sexual/dating relationship.
2) The RTC denied the petitioner's motion to quash, finding it immaterial that the relationship had ended, as long as there was a past relationship.
3) The Supreme Court affirmed, finding that a narrow interpretation would undermine the goal of protecting
KARLO ANGELO DABALOS y SAN DIEGO, * SECOND DIVISION.
1 Pursuant to RA 9262, otherwise known as the “Anti-Violence
petitioner, vs. REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, BRANCH Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004,” and its implementing 59, ANGELES CITY (PAMPANGA), REPRESENTED rules, the real name of the victim, together with the names of her BY ITS PRESIDING JUDGE MA. ANGELICA T. immediate family members, is withheld, and fictitious initials instead are used to represent her, to protect her privacy. PARAS-QUIAMBAO; THE OFFICE OF THE CITY PROSECUTOR, ANGELES CITY (PAMPANGA); AND 65 ABC,1 respondents. VOL. 688, JANUARY 7, 2013 65 Criminal Law; Violence Against Women and Their Dabalos vs. Regional Trial Court, Branch 59, Angeles Children; Republic Act No. 9262; The law on violence against City (Pampanga) women and their children is broad in scope but specifies two had sexual or dating relationship or with whom he has limiting qualifications for any act or series of acts to be a common child; and 2) it results in or is likely to result in considered as a crime of violence against women through physical harm or suffering. physical harm, namely: 1) it is committed against a woman Same; Same; Same; In Ang v. Court of Appeals, 618 or her child and the woman is the offender’s wife, former wife, SCRA 592 (2010) the Court enumerated the elements of the or with whom he has or had sexual or dating relationship or crime of violence against women through harassment.— with whom he has a common child; and 2) it results in or is In Ang v. Court of Appeals, 618 SCRA 592 (2010), the Court likely to result in physical harm or suffering.—Sec. 3(a) of RA enumerated the elements of the crime of violence against 9262 reads: SEC. 3. Definition of Terms.—As used in this women through harassment, to wit: 1. The offender has or Act, (a) “Violence against women and their children” refers to had a sexual or dating relationship with the offended woman; any act or a series of acts committed by any person against a 2. The offender, by himself or through another, commits an woman who is his wife, former wife, or against a woman with act or series of acts of harassment against the woman; and 3. whom the person has or had a sexual or dating relationship, The harassment alarms or causes substantial emotional or or with whom he has a common child, or against her child psychological distress to her. whether legitimate or illegitimate, within or without the Same; Same; Same; While it is required that the offender family abode, which result in or is likely to result in physical, has or had a sexual or dating relationship with the offended sexual, psychological harm or suffering, or economic abuse woman, for RA 9262 to be applicable, it is not indispensable including threats of such acts, battery, assault, coercion, that the act of violence be a consequence of such harassment or arbitrary deprivation of liberty. x x x. The law relationship.—Notably, while it is required that the offender is broad in scope but specifies two limiting qualifications has or had a sexual or dating relationship with the offended for any act or series of acts to be considered as a crime of woman, for RA 9262 to be applicable, it is not indispensable violence against women through physical harm, namely: 1) that the act of violence be a consequence of such relationship. it is committed against a woman or her child and the woman Nowhere in the law can such limitation be inferred. Hence, is the offender’s wife, former wife, or with whom he has or applying the rule on statutory construction that when the _______________ law does not distinguish, neither should the courts, then, Remedial Law; Criminal Procedure; Information; clearly, the punishable acts refer to all acts of violence Amendment of Pleadings; Section 14 of Rule 110 of the Rules against women with whom the offender has or had a sexual of Court provides that an information may be amended, in or dating relationship. As correctly ruled by the RTC, it is form or in substance, without leave of court, at any time before immaterial whether the relationship had ceased for as long the accused enters his plea.—Sec. 14 of Rule 110 of the Rules as there is sufficient evidence showing the past or present of Court provides that an information may be amended, in existence of such relationship between the offender and the form or in substance, without leave of court, at any time victim when the physical harm was committed. before the accused enters his plea. In the present case, the Consequently, the Court cannot depart from the parallelism accused petitioner has not yet been arraigned, hence, the in Ang and give credence to petitioner’s assertion that the act RTC was correct in directing the amendment of the of violence should be due to the sexual or dating relationship. Information and in denying the motion to quash the same. Same; Same; Same; The legislative intent is to purposely impose a more severe sanction on the offenders whose violent SPECIAL CIVIL ACTION in the Supreme Court. act/s physically harm women with whom they have or had a Certiorari and Prohibition. sexual or dating relationship, and/or their children with the The facts are stated in the opinion of the Court. end in view of promoting the protection of women and Rivera, Perico, David & Rivera Law Office for children.—Neither can the Court construe the statute in petitioner. favor of petitioner using the rule of Princess Adrienne Cabrillas for respondent. 66 PERLAS-BERNABE, J.: 66 SUPREME COURT REPORTS The Court will not read into Republic Act (RA) No. ANNOTATED 9262 a provision that would render it toothless in the Dabalos vs. Regional Trial Court, Branch 59, Angeles pursuit of the declared policy of the State to protect City (Pampanga) women and children from violence and threats to their lenity because there is no ambiguity in RA 9262 that personal safety and security.67 would necessitate any construction. While the degree of VOL. 688, JANUARY 7, 2013 67 physical harm under RA 9262 and Article 266 of the Revised Penal Code are the same, there is sufficient justification for Dabalos vs. Regional Trial Court, Branch 59, Angeles City prescribing a higher penalty for the former. Clearly, the (Pampanga) legislative intent is to purposely impose a more severe Before the Court is a petition for certiorari and sanction on the offenders whose violent act/s physically harm prohibition assailing the Orders dated September 13, women with whom they have or had a sexual or dating 20102 and October 5, 20103 of the Regional Trial Court relationship, and/or their children with the end in view of (RTC) of Angeles City, Branch 59 in Criminal Case No. promoting the protection of women and children. 09-5210 which denied petitioner’s Motion for Judicial Determination of Probable Cause with Motion to Quash Dabalos vs. Regional Trial Court, Branch 59, Angeles City the Information. (Pampanga) The Facts In her affidavit, private respondent admitted that Petitioner was charged with violation of Section 5(a) her relationship with petitioner had ended prior to the of RA 9262 before the RTC of Angeles City, Branch 59, subject incident. She narrated that on July 13, 2009, in an Information which states: she sought payment of the money she had lent to That on or about the 13th day of July, 2009, in the City of petitioner but the latter could not pay. She then Angeles, Philippines, and within the jurisdiction of this inquired from petitioner if he was responsible for Honorable Court, the abovenamed accused, being then the spreading rumors about her which he admitted. boyfriend of the complainant, x x x did then and there Thereupon, private respondent slapped petitioner wilfully, unlawfully and feloniously use personal violence [on] the complainant, by pulling her hair, punching causing the latter to inflict on her the physical injuries complainant’s back, shoulder and left eye, thereby alleged in the Information. demeaning and degrading the complainant’s intrinsic worth The RTC Ruling and dignity as a human being, in violation of Section 5(a) of The RTC denied petitioner’s motion. It did not the Republic Act 9262.4 consider material the fact that the parties’ dating relationship had ceased prior to the incident, After examining the supporting evidence, the RTC ratiocinating that since the parties had admitted a prior found probable cause and consequently, issued a dating relationship, the infliction of slight physical warrant of arrest against petitioner on November 19, injuries constituted an act of violence against women 2009. The latter posted a cash bond for his provisional and their children as defined in Sec. 3(a) of RA 9262. liberty and on August 12, 2010, filed a Motion for Issues Judicial Determination of Probable Cause with Motion Hence, the instant petition raising the following to Quash the Information. Petitioner averred that at the issues: 1) whether the RTC has jurisdiction over the time of the alleged incident on July 13, 2009, he was no offense; 2) whether RA 9262 should be construed in a longer in a dating relationship with private respondent; manner that will favor the accused; and 3) whether the hence, RA 9262 was inapplicable. Information alleging a fact contrary to what has been _______________ 2 Rollo, pp. 33-36. Penned by Presiding Judge Ma. Angelica T. admitted should be quashed. Paras-Quiambao. The Court’s Ruling 3 Id., at pp. 29-32. The petition has no merit. 4 Id., at p. 37. Petitioner insists that the act which resulted in 68 physical injuries to private respondent is not covered by 68 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED RA 9262 because its proximate cause was not their dating relationship. Instead, he claims that the offense 1. The offender has or had a sexual or dating committed was only slight physical injuries under the relationship with the offended woman; Revised Penal Code which falls under the jurisdiction of 2. The offender, by himself or through another, commits the Municipal Trial Court.69 an act or series of acts of harassment against the woman; and 3. The harassment alarms or causes substantial VOL. 688, JANUARY 7, 2013 69 emotional or psychological distress to her.6 Dabalos vs. Regional Trial Court, Branch 59, Angeles City (Pampanga) _______________ 5 G.R. No. 182835, April 20, 2010, 618 SCRA 592. The Court is not persuaded. 6 Id., at p. 600. Sec. 3(a) of RA 9262 reads: SEC. 3. Definition of Terms.—As used in this Act, 70 (a) “Violence against women and their children” refers to 70 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED any act or a series of acts committed by any person against a Dabalos vs. Regional Trial Court, Branch 59, Angeles City woman who is his wife, former wife, or against a woman with (Pampanga) whom the person has or had a sexual or dating relationship, Notably, while it is required that the offender has or or with whom he has a common child, or against her child had a sexual or dating relationship with the offended whether legitimate or illegitimate, within or without the woman, for RA 9262 to be applicable, it is not family abode, which result in or is likely to result in physical, indispensable that the act of violence be a consequence sexual, psychological harm or suffering, or economic abuse including threats of such acts, battery, assault, coercion, of such relationship. Nowhere in the law can such harassment or arbitrary deprivation of liberty. x x x. limitation be inferred. Hence, applying the rule on statutory construction that when the law does not The law is broad in scope but specifies two limiting distinguish, neither should the courts, then, clearly, the qualifications for any act or series of acts to be punishable acts refer to all acts of violence against considered as a crime of violence against women women with whom the offender has or had a sexual or through physical harm, namely: 1) it is committed dating relationship. As correctly ruled by the RTC, it is against a woman or her child and the woman is the immaterial whether the relationship had ceased for as offender’s wife, former wife, or with whom he has or had long as there is sufficient evidence showing the past or sexual or dating relationship or with whom he has a present existence of such relationship between the common child; and 2) it results in or is likely to result offender and the victim when the physical harm was in physical harm or suffering. committed. Consequently, the Court cannot depart from In Ang v. Court of Appeals,5 the Court enumerated the parallelism in Ang and give credence to petitioner’s the elements of the crime of violence against women assertion that the act of violence should be due to the through harassment, to wit: sexual or dating relationship. Neither can the Court construe the statute in favor dating relationship between the petitioner and the of petitioner using the rule of lenity7 because there is no private respondent; the act of violence committed by the ambiguity in RA 9262 that would necessitate any petitioner; and the resulting physical harm to private construction. While the degree of physical harm under respondent, the offense is covered by RA 9262 which RA 9262 and Article 2668 falls under the jurisdiction of the RTC in accordance _______________ with Sec. 7 of the said law which reads: 7 “Intimately intertwined with the in dubio pro reo principle is the SEC. 7. Venue.—The Regional Trial Court designated rule of lenity. It is the doctrine that ‘a court, in construing an ambiguous criminal statute that sets out multiple or inconsistent as a Family Court shall have original and exclusive punishments, should resolve the ambiguity in favor of the more lenient jurisdiction over cases of violence against women and their punishment.’ ” Separate Opinion of CJ Corona in People v. children under this law. In the absence of such court in the Temporada, G.R. No. 173473, December 17, 2008, 574 SCRA 258, place where the offense was committed, the case shall be filed citing Black’s Law Dictionary, Eighth Edition, p. 1359 (2004). in the Regional Trial Court where the crime or any of its 8 ART. 266. Slight physical injuries and maltreatment.—The elements was committed at the option of the complainant. crime of slight physical injuries shall be punished: 1. By arresto menor when the offender has inflicted physical Finally, the Court finds the Order9 of the RTC, giving injuries which shall incapacitate the offended party for labor from one to nine days, or shall require medical attendance the prosecutor a period of two (2) days to amend the during the same period; Information to reflect the cessation of the dating 2. By arresto menor or a fine not exceeding 200 pesos and relationship between the petitioner and the offended censure when the offender has caused physical injuries which party, to be in accord with Sec. 4 of Rule 117 of the Rules 71 of Court, to wit: VOL. 688, JANUARY 7, 2013 71 SEC. 4. Amendment of complaint or information.—If Dabalos vs. Regional Trial Court, Branch 59, Angeles City the motion to quash is based on an alleged defect of the complaint or infor- (Pampanga) _______________ of the Revised Penal Code are the same, there is do not prevent the offended party from engaging in his habitual sufficient justification for prescribing a higher penalty work nor require medical attendance; 3. By arresto menor in its minimum period or a fine not exceeding 50 for the former. Clearly, the legislative intent is to pesos when the offender shall ill-treat another by deed without causing purposely impose a more severe sanction on the any injury. offenders whose violent act/s physically harm women 9 Rollo, p. 32. with whom they have or had a sexual or dating 72 relationship, and/or their children with the end in view of promoting the protection of women and children. 72 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED Accordingly, the Information having sufficiently Dabalos vs. Regional Trial Court, Branch 59, Angeles City alleged the necessary elements of the crime, such as: a (Pampanga) mation which can be cured by amendment, the court shall order that an amendment be made.
Furthermore, Sec. 14 of Rule 110 of the Rules of
Court provides that an information may be amended, in form or in substance, without leave of court, at any time before the accused enters his plea. In the present case, the accused petitioner has not yet been arraigned, hence, the RTC was correct in directing the amendment of the Information and in denying the motion to quash the same. WHEREFORE, the petition is DISMISSED. The Orders dated September 13, 2010 and October 5, 2010 of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Angeles City, Branch 59 in Criminal Case No. 09-5210 are AFFIRMED. The Temporary Restraining Order issued by the Court is LIFTED and the RTC is directed to continue with the proceedings in Criminal Case No. 09- 5210. SO ORDERED.