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*
G.R. N . 88919. J l 25, 1990.

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, e i i ne , . HONORABLE

ENRIQUE B. INTING, PRESIDING JUDGE, REGIONAL TRIAL
COURT, BRANCH 38, DUMAGUETE CITY, AND OIC MAYOR
DOMINADOR S. REGALADO, JR., e nden .

C a La ; P a I a ;A ;D a
bab a a J . The de e mina i n f
bable ca e i a f nc i n f he J dge. I i n f he P incial Fi cal
P ec n f he Elec i n S e i a ce ain. Onl he J dge
and he J dge al ne make hi de e mina i n.
Sa ; Sa ; Sa ; T a a b a P
b . The elimina in i made b a P ec
d e n bind he J dge. I me el a i him make he de e mina i n f
bable ca e. The J dge d e n ha e f ll ha he P ec
e en him. B i elf, he P ec ce i ca i n f bable ca e i
ineffec al. I i he e , he af da i , he an c i f en g a hic
n e (if an ), and all he ing d c men behind he P ec
ce i ca i n hich a e ma e ial in a i ing he J dge make hi
de e mina i n.
Sa ; Sa ; Sa ; Sa ; D a bab a
a a a a b J ; T a a
P . J dge and P ec alike
h ld di ing i h he elimina in i hich de e mine bable ca e
f he i ance f a a an f a e f m he elimina in e iga i n
e hich a ce ain he he he ffende h ld be held f ial
elea ed. E en if he in i ie a e c nd c ed in he c e f ne and
he ame ceeding, he e h ld be n c nf i n ab he bjec i e . The
de e mina i n f bable ca e f he a an f a e i made b he
J dge. The elimina in e iga i n e he he n he e i
ea nable g nd belie e ha he acc ed i g il f he ffen e
cha ged and, he ef e, he he n he h ld be bjec ed he
e en e, ig and emba a men f ial_i he f nc i n f he P ec .
Sa ; Sa ;J R a T a C a a
a a . J dge f Regi nal

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T ial C (f me l C f Fi In ance) n l nge ha e a h i

c nd c elimina in e iga i n . Tha a h i , a ne ime e ed in
hem nde Sec i n 13, 14 and 16, R le 112 f he R le f C f 1964,
(See Sec. 4, R le 108, R le f C f 1940; Pe le . S l n, 47 Phil.
443, ci ed in M an, C mmen n he R le , 1980 ed., V l. 4, . 115-116)
a em ed f m hem b he 1985 R le n C iminal P ced e, effec i e
n Jan a 1, 1985, (P m lga ed n N embe 11, 1984) hich dele ed all
i i n g an ing ha e aid J dge .
Sa ; Sa ; Sa
; 1988 A 1985 R C a
P a a J R a T a C .
The 1988 Amendmen he 1985 R le n C iminal P ced e,
decla ed effec i e n Oc be 1, 1988, (The 1988 Amendmen ee
bli hed in he i e f B lle in T da f Oc be 29, 1988) did n e e
ha a h i J dge f Regi nal T ial C ; aid amendmen did n
in fac deal a all i h he f ce c ha ing a h i c nd c
elimina in e iga i n .
Sa ; Sa ; Sa ; RTC J a a a
a a a bab
a a a a a a . Thi i n
a , h e e , ha me he e al ng he line RTC J dge al l he e
make a elimina e amina i n f he e f de e mining he he
bable ca e e i j if he i ance f a a an f a e ( ea ch
a an ). S ch a e indeed, i i a m ch a d a i i a e ha
been and emain e ed in e e j dge b he i i n in he Bill f
Righ in he 1935, he 1973 and he e en (1987) C n i i n ec ing
he e le again n ea nable ea che and ei e , he eb lacing i
be nd he c m e ence f me e C le a e e ke. The
di inc i n m , he ef e, be made clea hile an RTC J dge ma n
l nge c nd c elimina in e iga i n a ce ain he he he e i
f cien g nd f he ling f a c iminal c m lain inf ma i n, he
e ain he a h i , hen ch a leading i led i h hi c ,
de e mine he he he e i bable ca e j if ing he i ance f a
a an f a e .
Sa ; Sa ; C a
a a
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J bab a a a a C .
In effec he 1987 C n i i n manda e he COMELEC n nl
in e iga e b al ec e ca e f i la i n f elec i n la . Thi
mean ha he COMELEC i em e ed c nd c e-

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limina in e iga i n in ca e in l ing elec i n ffen e f he e

f hel ing he J dge de e mine bable ca e and f ling an inf ma i n
in c . Thi e i e cl i e i h COMELEC.
Sa ; Sa ; Sa P;T a F a a a
a . Hence, he P incial Fi cal, a ch,
a me n le in he ec i n f elec i n ffen e . If he Fi cal
P ec le an inf ma i n cha ging an elec i n ffen e ec e a
i la i n f elec i n la , i i beca e he ha been de i ed b he
COMELEC. He d e n d nde he le a h i f hi f ce.

PETITION e ie he de f he Regi nal T ial C f

D mag e e Ci , B . 38, In ing, J.

The fac a e a ed in he ini n f he C .

GUTIERREZ, JR., J.:

D e a elimina in e iga i n c nd c ed b a P incial Elec i n

S e i in l ing elec i n ffen e ha e be c ed h gh
he P incial Fi cal n P incial P ec , bef e he Regi nal
T ial C ma ake c gni ance f he in e iga i n and de e mine
he he n bable ca e e i ?
On Feb a 6, 1988, M . Edi ha Ba ba led a le e -c m lain
again OIC-Ma D minad Regalad f Tanja , Neg O ien al
i h he C mmi i n n Elec i n (COMELEC), f allegedl
an fe ing he , a e manen N ing A endan , G ade I, in he
f ce f he M nici al Ma a e em e ba anga and
ih b aining i e mi i n clea ance f m COMELEC a
e i ed b la .
Ac ing n he c m lain , COMELEC di ec ed A . Ge a d
Li ana , P incial Elec i n S e i f D mag e e Ci : (1)
c nd c he elimina in e iga i n f he ca e; (2) e a e and
le he nece a inf ma i n in c ; (3) handle he ec i n
if he e idence bmi ed h a a a ca e and (3) i e a
e l i n f ec i n di mi al a he ca e ma be. The
di ec i e c nd c he elimina in e iga i n a an

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COMELEC Re l i n N . 1752 da ed Jan a 14, 1986. The

e l i n, in n, i ba ed n he c n i i nal manda e ha he
COMELEC i cha ged

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i h he enf cemen and admini a i n f all la ela i e he

c nd c f elec i n f he e f en ing f ee, de l and
h ne elec i n (Sec. 2, A icle XII-C f he 1973 C n i- i n)
and n he Omnib Elec i n C de hich im lemen he
c n i i nal i i n. The Re l i n ide , am ng he :

F he , Regi nal Elec i n Di ec and P incial Elec i n

S e i a e he eb a h i ed c nd c elimina in e iga i n f
elec i n ffen e c mmi ed in hei e ec i e j i dic i n , le he
c e nding c m lain and/ inf ma i n in c hene e a an ed,
and ec e he ame an Sec i n 265 f he Omnib Elec i n
C de. (R ll , . 15)

Af e a elimina in e iga i n f Ba ba c m lain , A .

Li ana f nd a a a ca e. Hence, n Se embe 26, 1988,
he led i h he e nden ial c a c iminal ca e f i la i n
f ec i n 261, Pa . (h), Omnib Elec i n C de again he OIC-
Ma .
In an O de da ed Se embe 30, 1988, he e nden c
i ed a a an f a e again he acc ed OIC Ma . I al
ed he bail a e h and e (P5,000.00) a ec mmended b
he P incial Elec i n S e i .
H e e , in an de da ed Oc be 3, 1988 and bef e he
acc ed c ld be a e ed, he ial c e a ide i Se embe 30,
1988 de n he g nd ha A . Li ana i n a h i ed
de e mine bable ca e an Sec i n 2, A icle III f he
1987 C n i i n. The c a ed ha i ill gi e d e c e
he inf ma i n led in hi ca e a a a a
P a F a af e hich he ec i n f he ca e hall
be nde he e i i n and c n l f he la e . (a . 23, R ll ,
em ha i lied)
In an he de da ed N embe 22, 1988, he c ga e A .
Li ana f een (15) da f m ecei le an he inf ma i n
cha ging he ame ffen e i h he i en a al f he
P incial Fi cal.
A . Li ana failed c m l i h he de . Hence, in an de
da ed Decembe 8, 1988, he ial c a hed he inf ma i n. A
m i n f ec n ide a i n a denied.

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Hence, hi e i i n.

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The e nden ial c j i e i and n he g nd ha he

COMELEC h gh i P incial Elec i n S e i lack
j i dic i n de e mine he e i ence f bable ca e in an
elec i n ffen e hich i eek ec e in c beca e:

While nde Sec i n 265 f he Omnib Elec i n C de a ed n

Decembe 3, 1985 d l a h i ed legal f ce f he C mmi i n n
Elec i n ha e he e cl i e e c nd c elimina in e iga i n f
all elec i n ffen e and ec e he ame, i i d b f l he he aid
a h i nde he a ice f he 1973 C n i i n, ill b i nde he
1987 C n i i n hich ha dele ed in i Sec i n 2, A icle III, he h a e
and ch he e n ible f ce a ma be a h i ed b la in he
e i alen ec i n and a icle f he 1973 C n i i n. (R ll , . 24)

The e i i n i im e ed i h me i .
We em ha i e im an fea e f he c n i i nal manda e
ha n ea ch a an a an f a e hall i e e ce
n bable ca e be de e mined e nall b he j dge .
(A icle III, Sec i n 2, C n i i n)
Fi , he de e mina i n f bable ca e i a f nc i n f he
J dge. I i n f he P incial Fi cal P ec n f he
Elec i n S e i a ce ain. O J a J
a a a .
Sec nd, he elimina in i made b a P ec d e n
bind he J dge. I me el a i him make he de e mina i n f
bable ca e. The J dge d e n ha e f ll ha he
P ec e en him. B i elf, he P ec ce i ca i n f
bable ca e i ineffec al. I i he e , he af da i , he
an c i f en g a hic n e (if an ), and all he ing
d c men behind he P ec ce i ca i n hich a e ma e ial
in a i ing he J dge make de e mina i n.
And hi d, J dge and P ec alike h ld di ing i h he
elimina in i hich de e mine bable ca e f he
i ance f a a an f a e f m he elimina in e iga i n
e hich a ce ain he he he ffende h ld be held f ial
elea ed. E en if he in i ie a e c nd c ed in he c e f
ne and he ame ceeding, he e h ld be n c nf i n ab he
bjec i e . The de e mina i n

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f bable ca e f he a an f a e i made b he J dge. The

elimina in e iga i n e he he n he e i ea nable
g nd belie e ha he acc ed i g il f he ffen e cha ged
and, he ef e, he he n he h ld be bjec ed he e en e,
ig and emba a men f ial i he f nc i n f he P ec .
The C made hi clea in he ca e f Ca . V a (171
SCRA 39 [1989]):

J dge f Regi nal T ial C (f me l C f Fi In ance) n

l nge ha e a h i c nd c elimina in e iga i n . Tha a h i ,
a ne ime e ed in hem nde Sec i n 13, 14 and 16, R le 112 f he
R le f C f 1964, (See Sec. 4, R le 108, R le f C f 1940;
Pe le . S l n, 47 Phil. 443, ci ed in M an, C mmen n he R le , 1980
ed., V l. 4, . 115-116) a em ed f m hem b he 1985 R le n
C iminal P ced e, effec i e n Jan a 1, 1985, (P m lga ed n
N embe 11, 1984) hich dele ed all i i n g an ing ha e
aid J dge . We had cca i n in hi in Sal a . C f A eal ,
143 SCRA 228, and e a ell ce ain he ba ic ii n ,
namel : (1) ha he c nd c f a elimina in e iga i n i n a j dicial
f nc i n (b ) a f he ec i n j b, a f nc i n f he e ec i e,
(2) ha he e e he e a e en gh cal ec c nd c
elimina in e iga i n , c a e c n eled lea e hi j b hich i
e en iall e ec i e hem, and he fac ha a ce ain e i g an ed
d e n nece a il mean ha i h ld be indi c imina el e e ci ed.
The 1988 Amendmen he 1985 R le n C iminal P ced e,
decla ed effec i e n Oc be 1, 1988, (The 1988 Amendmen ee
bli hed in he i e f B lle in T da f Oc be 29, 1988) did n e e
ha a h i J dge f Regi nal T ial C ; aid amendmen did n
in fac deal a all i h he f ce c ha ing a h i c nd c
elimina in e iga i n .
Thi i n a , h e e , ha me he e al ng he line RTC J dge
al l he e make a a a a
bab a a a
a a a ( ea ch a an ). S ch a e indeed, i i a m ch a
d a i i a e ha been and emain e ed in e e j dge b he
i i n in he Bill f Righ in he 1935, he 1973 and he e en (1987)
C n i i n ec ing he e le again n ea nable ea che and
ei e , he eb lacing i be nd he c m e ence f me e C le
a e e ke. The di inc i n m , he ef e, be made clea hile an
RTC J dge ma n l nge c nd c elimina in e iga i n a ce ain
he he he e

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i f cien g nd f he ling f a c iminal c m lain inf ma i n, he

e ain he a h i , hen ch a leading i led i h hi c ,
de e mine he he he e i bable ca e j if ing he i ance f a
a an f a e . I migh be added ha hi di inc i n acc d , a he han
c n ic , i h he a a Sa a beca e b h la and le, in e ic ing
j dge he a h i de a e , ec gni e ha f nc i n be j dicial
in na e.

We ei e a e ha elimina in e iga i n h ld be di ing i hed

a he he i i an in e iga i n f he de e mina i n f a
f cien g nd f he ling f he inf ma i n i i an
in e iga i n f he de e mina i n f a bable ca e f he
i ance f a a an f a e . The kind f elimina
in e iga i n i e ec i e in na e. I i a f he ec i n
j b. The ec nd kind f elimina in e iga i n hich i m e
e l called elimina e amina i n i j dicial in na e and i
l dged i h he j dge. I i in hi c n e ha e add e he i e
ai ed in he in an e i i n a gi e meaning he
c n i i nal e e ed in he COMELEC ega ding elec i n
ffen e .
A icle IX C Sec i n 2 f he C n i i n ide :

Sec. 2. The C mmi i n n Elec i n hall e e ci e he f ll ing e

and f nc i n :

(1) Enf ce and admini e all la and eg la i n ela i e he

c nd c f an elec i n, lebi ci e, ini ia i e, efe end m, and ecall.

(6) File, n a e i ed c m lain , ni n ini ia i e, e i i n in

c f incl i n e cl i n f e, a a ,
a a , a a a ,
a a , , a
a a . (Em ha i lied)

In effec he 1987 C n i i n manda e he COMELEC n nl

in e iga e b al ec e ca e f i la i n f elec i n la .
Thi mean ha he COMELEC i em e ed c nd c
elimina in e iga i n in ca e in l ing elec i n ffen e f
he e f hel ing he J dge de e mine bable ca e and f
ling an inf ma i n in c . Thi e i e cl i e i h
COMELEC.

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The g an he COMELEC f he e , am ng he , enf ce and

admini e all la ela i e he c nd c f elec i n and he c nc mi an
a h i in e iga e and ec e elec i n ffen e i n ih
c m elling ea n. The e iden c n i i nal in endmen in be ing hi
e he COMELEC i in e he f ee, de l and h ne c nd c f
elec i n , fail e f hich ld e l in he f a i n f he e ill f
he e le and make a me e idle ce em n f he ac ed igh and d f
e e ali ed ci i en e. T di e he COMELEC f he a h i
in e iga e and ec e ffen e c mmi ed b blic f cial in ela i n
hei f ce ld h e i l im ai i effec i ene in achie ing hi
clea c n i i nal manda e.
F m a ca ef l c in f he c n i i nal i i n elied nb
he Sandiganba an, We e cei ed nei he e lici n im lici g an i and
i ec ing a m, he Tan dba an, f he a h i in e iga e,
ec e and hea elec i n ffen e c mmi ed b blic f ce in ela i n
hei f ce a c n adi ing i hed f m he clea and ca eg ical be al
f aid a h i and j i dic i n n he COMELEC and he c f
in ance nde Sec i n 182 and 184, e ec i el , f he Elec i n C de f
1978.
An e amina i n f he i i n f he C n i i n and he Elec i n
C de f 1978 e eal he clea in en i n lace in he COMELEC
e cl i e j i dic i n in e iga e and ec e elec i n ffen e
c mmi ed b an e n, he he i a e indi id al blic f ce
em l ee, and in he la e in ance, i e ec i e f he he he ffen e i
c mmi ed in ela i n hi f cial d ie n . In he d , i i he
na e f he ffen e and n he e nali f he ffende ha ma e . A
l ng a he ffen e i an elec i n ffen e j i dic i n e he ame e
e cl i el i h he COMELEC, in ie f i all-emb acing e e
he c nd c f elec i n . (C . Tan dba an, 149 SCRA 281 [1987])

Hence, he P incial Fi cal, a ch, a me n le in he

ec i n f elec i n ffen e . If he Fi cal P ec le an
inf ma i n cha ging an elec i n ffen e ec e a i la i n f
elec i n la , i i beca e he ha been de i ed b he COMELEC.
He d e n d nde he le a h i f hi f ce. (Pe le .
Ba illa, e al., G.R. N . 83938-40, N embe 6, 1989). In he
in an ca e, he e i n a e men allega i n ha he e nden
J dge i b inging in he P incial Fi cal a a de f COMELEC.
He an he Fi cal a e he COMELEC elimina
in e iga i n.

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I i be n ed ha n Feb a 27, 1987 ( hen he 1987

C n i i n a al ead in effec ) he P e iden i ed E ec i e
O de N . 134 hich a he ENABLING ACT FOR ELECTIONS
FOR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ON MAY 11, 1987 AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES. Sec i n 11 he e f ide :

P ec i n. The C mmi i n hall, h gh i d l a h i ed legal

f ce , ha e e cl i e e c nd c elimina in e iga i n f all
elec i n ffen e ni hable a ided f in he eceding ec i n, and
ec e he ame: P ided, Tha in he e en ha he C mmi i n fail
ac n an c m lain i hin (2) m n h f m ling, he c m lainan
ma le he c m lain i h he Of ce f he Fi cal i h he De a men
f J ice f e in e iga i n and ec i n, if a an ed.
The C mmi i n ma a ail f he a i ance f he ec ing a m
f he g e nmen .

I i nl af e a elimina e amina i n c nd c ed b he
COMELEC h gh i f cial i de ie ha ec i n 2, A icle
III f he 1987 C n i i n c me in. Thi i , beca e, hen he
a lica i n f a a an f a e i made and he inf ma i n i
led i h he c , he j dge ill hen de e mine he he n a
bable ca e e i f he i ance f a a an f a e .
Bea ing he e inci le in mind, i i a a an ha he
e nden ial c mi c n ed he c n i i nal ii n
hen i a hed he inf ma i n led b he P incial Elec i n
S e i . A indica ed ab e ha he e nden ial c
h ld ha e d ne a enf ce i Se embe 30, 1988 de ,
i:

P an Ci c la N . 12 f he Chief J ice f he S eme C

da ed J ne 30, 1987 and c n ide ing ha af e a e nal e amina i n f he
e idence bmi ed b he in e iga ing P incial Elec i n S e i III
Neg O ien al (De igna ed Legal Of ce ), he e i ea nable g nd f
hi C el n he ce i ca i n f aid P incial Elec i n S e i
III in he inf ma i n ha a bable ca e e i , le a a an i e f he
a e f he acc ed ing he bail a FIVE THOUSAND (P5,000.00)
PESOS a ec mmended b he P incial Elec i n S e i III.

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La . Ga a

The de ge he a al f he P incial Fi cal i n nl

e b n a an ed.
WHEREFORE, he in an e i i n i GRANTED. The
e i ned O de da ed Oc be 3, 1988, N embe 22, 1988 and
Decembe 8, 1988 a e REVERSED and SET ASIDE. The
e nden ial c O de da ed Se embe 30, 1988 i
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REINSTATED. The e nden c i de ed ceed hea ing

he ca e i h delibe a e eed n il i e mina i n.
SO ORDERED.

F a (C.J.), Na a a, M -H a, C , Pa a ,
F a , Ga a , Pa a, B , Sa , C , G -
A , M a a and R a a , JJ., c nc .

P a .O a a .

No e. Unde he 1987 C n i i n, he Ma d e n ha e
an m e e c nd c elimina in e iga i n n i e
a an f a e . (P a . I a a a, 152 SCRA 647.)

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

.cen al.c m. h/ f eade / e i n/0000016e414137ba03e737ed003600fb002c009e/ /? =Fal e 10/10