liepubtrc tbelpl;f ot iippnuc (f-iingle BBot tbe{8}jilippi rnr*

#enstr
SITTi].IGAS AN IMPEACI]I,4 []I{T'COUR'J'

IN TFIE MATTER OF THE IMPEACI{MENT OF II.JiI\ATO C.

jUSrrcE oF conobrA AS CHIEF

THI] SUPI{.EME COUJT]' OF THE PH.I]-IP}'{i{ES.
Casei\o. 002.-?0-L i

' REIJRESEhiTATIVES I',ITEI, C. TUP.AS, JR. JOSEPH I1i:llLiO A. ABAYA, TORENZO R. 'i'At'{Ana UI, REYNALDO V. UMALI, ARLENE J. BAG-i\O (other complainants comprisinl,r ai least one third (1/3)of the total t\4c:nbers of tlie'I{orise of Represeniatives as a r ei r r d i c ai e cl th e C o l n ;ri .i i n t), in
Complsitrrttt.i,s, x-----"------

i._iVI L,tEniIORANF_! (Ort Article ]tr of the Verifj*d C*mpla i,:'iLi

jj.ance CLLief JusticeRenato C. Lk:rona ("CJ Corona"),1;;\,counsel,il contrr, with the I-{oncrablc Court's direcfivr: fol the parties to file iireir lt:spectii'r,: rir::rinor:arldurn on whether complai.nants' trlcsentation of evidence 'ro pro:,'e CJ Cc,, ^ra's supposed unlar'r'fuliy acquired weaiiir goes beyond the ch;iiqe corrtainecl jn ,,rllticle II of the "Verified" Complaint fol i.nrpcachment (the "Con-11.;laint"), lespccif ii1l.,, statesthat:

i.

'llhe

,rbiection CJ Coror,;' continutiLr;,; of

righi,s trnteedby Arti i.;J [I l , ai1.: r grla

ARTICLE

III

Bill of Rights SEC|ION 1. No persoir shall be deprivedof life. hl-.r:rrl, propciiri'.-,i-iror-rt or: due of lar.r.,, shali an)/ i)cr:rLrn denied the equal rt;:r.rteclir,,ii thc ia...;;. nor be ll.toccss of *** SEC]'ION 14' (1) No pctri.)rt shall be held to afls\r,er: a criminai i:,fr-cr;,:,vithout ior due processof larv. (2) in all cr:[:rinai ptosecuLLi()rlri, accused shall be 1r....esurnecl ll1e i1rno.-.,',. ultil the co11r*nry lrioved, and shali r;rrjor. is the right to be heii:,- :i hmrself anci l,(r,,:1,,e,i. be to infolned oi ihe ilafure afld r.:,iir:;.r &e accusationaEaii:ii liim ,i ' oi

2. Irl

tlis

casc. tl-reComplaint xpreis:rir,pi:ovides dr;: gr:ounds for

irnpeachunent, uiTr;

"{iiii0li-i{D S FOR IMPEA d -rMIli\,jl l-r RESPONDENT I"illjllthYED TFIE PUBTli.t T1itisr, col,ii,,JirrED CULPABLE VIOLATIO}.I OF THE CONSTITL]I'|OF{, I.I\ID GILIi.-i'';AND CORITUPTION IN TFIE JIO_T.&OWING MANNEB;
x{<*

ARTICLE Ii RESPONDENT CTiXN,IITTED CULPABI,]J \,'ICI.-ATIOhI J.-Ii.' THE CONSTIT'UTION AND/(iI{ 1IHTRAYED THE I.}trtiLIC TitUST $ilLllflJE

FAILrc

LIAIILITIIIS AND NEl'\\/iljtllH AS REQUIRED '.TNDl:i,i{ it', SEC^ ,,iitT. XI OF T'FIE1987 CONSTITLi'ii,OI'.t. (Ernphasis supplirc.i)

.i Ii,Lliru]:\Tlri{

ENT*{111.-\i$ETL

3. r\ rsadlng of drr: eiroveArticie of Impi:r.chncl[, as r::ii,cr'i:r1v wriften by comi:iainrtnl.s themselves, ir.nci accentuated br:,ii and capital lcii.,rsrn pages11in ',,'rr-.iui'tionthe L3 or the Complaint expicsjslvchargesCJ Corc,rr:r cr-rlpablrr of of Constituuon and/or beL:ri'ai of public trust u'lri:',i he failecl io .ijs,:loseto the pubLichis Siatementof 1\:ssi:rs, Liabilities and Ner-\i'orih iiiA]-li).

'.;ti,l,:,;rt Ariicle II on l\'.it,tt;,t

f'age 2 of 2l

4. Ciearlv,Artic.lc I. of the Grounds for-irlpeeellneflr,.l'.,r,-:.<.nr:t chargeCi Corona of failing to disr:lL.rse propeties in his -s,,.1-N.ii: does li,,i. c]ralg;e him of inaccutate disclosure oi'' pi.opertiesin his SAI ri. .ii rloes .r.l :J*lge him of

unclcrvaliiing discloslii 1lr:ciperties his SAI-l'..,, tire in NJ.ri.;r imp1,:'.:i';i; lu.icle II of iJ,, the GroLrfidsfot Impcrrr:irinent does not chal1..r (,.oronaoL ii. potren r-realth CJ and,l61gr:a.ft corml) l 1(ii. r and

5'

'Io

emphasiT,e)l:r-rticle the Grouriels IIof fol:Impe:rr:i:r.rer1t 1,1-13 (pp.

Cornplaint),does not tirrcuse Coronaof corrrrnittir;g CJ gr:rii r.irici, corruption,

or accumulation of utrlrtrv.i.ully acquited wc;iiih.r\s rnentionr.ui. complainants only chargeCJ Corona firr. iris supposedfailure to ,iisclose,o 1b,.:r r;iil-rliclds S7\LN, as requircdunder Sectiol 12, Aticle XI of tht: 1987 (_,onstiirl{i,,:.r" iraragaFir5.

This is reiterated par. 2..',r the Complaintwhi,;Lr in ai decj:Lles th:,r_:

22 Respondent r;iii':cl to disclose to the 1;i lriic li.s statei.,itilr. i)l: assets, liabiliues and net iv,;,ri,h as required bv the Cc,r.:; lti'ti'*.

6. Section L7, Ar1.i,.icX-i of the 1987 Consirtcrtioi-. ijrovir-Lrr:,r:

l-

sEC. 17 A Puul,lc OFFICER oR EiriirI-oyiil:; sl-r.4],,-i-upoN ASSUMPTION oF oFFICti ;llrrD AS oFTEN l'l-tnREAtrfER AS li,,y BE REQUIRED BY I-41P, SU]JI!{I'T A DECI-ARATICJI UNNJ:,R Oal'FJ Or I{IS ASSE'IS, LIABILITIES AND NrnT\X/ORTH.IN THE C,'rSE CIFTHE ):Ii):r|DENT, TFIE r/ICE-'PRESIDENT,'l'itli I\tEMBERS CABIj{I:,T, oF TItE Cor\fijl<l.rSS, THE SUPIillIvItr COURT, TI{}ri (IOI\'STITUTIONAL COI\:{MISSirl;NS,,,:lll {.}li'tIER } CON$TITtI"IIONAI OFFI(li:iS. AI.TD OFFICERS '.ii iE AIti,iIlD Iit.rti,,tr-tS OF $/i't'H GENI]RAL oR FLAG RANli,'1'1IE DECLA-RATION stIAL,I- i:IE Dlijrll {rsiiD To TFIE PUIJLICIN THE n[Ai.] i],JII]t PROVIDED FOR E\' J,AW.

Ar:ucieJI is, tJrus,ljr.ir,cclto the supposeci tailur:c,:f Cl disclc",se SALN to $c lrul-,1ic. his

i{,i-La tO

:.,'1;yj;:/r17 il, t,;;; on Arliile II

Page3 o.f2l

l. Its is arguedlrt; [o*nlainants t]rat uricicrpai_lrgfaphr; tnd,2.4 of the ?..1 Conrplaint, they aiso aljrr;e thrt:

2.3' h is also repoted that so.;-i're ihe proper:lies of the of Respondent afe not iLrcludedin his declaration ,-,f Lris ii:ijetsr hairllir,r.,;.nnd net rvolth in violadon o1',.lrclaii-graft and com:pt pf..ciices i-rct.
.)A
L.J.

llcr:po:rcient is likewise Suiipc(t ted rt.ri acc i.r i il s.,:i

..

accntnulatediJl-gottcl r:v.e:rLth, acquiring assetsoi iligh r.::iuesanti Lri: accounts with hugc (Lrl')osits. has beenrepori.c.l that itespoilcirrii i r;lS, emoflg It other:s, 300-sq.rTr(ifc1-irpaL:tment posh NIcr..:L a in a \rforll l]iopcr,. .,. ' ' l - r r r r r e n f at the Fort in Tagr-riq I.Tas reported this,:'Ls iie is consit11..1,rr;r: . , . . , . . , i " ^ A i . he urxle:: Art. XI, sec-, i i' oi the constitution irr r.iis Stlfeineni ,,- i . - , , , , r 1 S a n d Liabrlities and Ner wo::rl (sArb|? Is this ulrluisi1,iorL sr-rsL:,1,i;:,, ciuly ,i:rc1 supl:orted by his iflc:t>r'rrc a public official?Sircc his r.ssumpri,,L,,, . 1,:soci.ate a:; and subsequently,(-.hi3f lusti.ce,has he conLi-;treC 5r{t his ei,,., r ' r,uibiic disc.losule? (Emphasrr srr1:p licd)
.j rr{ lJ.rIIA

, , F - . a r i*n o l ^*" -6 "^

B. It must be i:otrrteci out, however-. t,,l:Ltthcse par::ri1:llhs fall Lrndef

"Discussicln of the Gior-inclsfor Impeachmeil,." (Paqe 13, (.c,:nllaint) These paraqraph:; are therefor:csupposedto discussrind exiriain -- ijoi e:ipafld - the charge sr:ccinctly madejLr,r\rticle of the "Grourds {bi.lnperrri,.,.i:rrr,. II

9. [Jcsides, para.|,i',rj)ht,2.3 2.4 ate ineteh, J:asecl ,,Lepofts,, and r-)r-] and "susiticiorl", contaa{yto i.hejoint verifi.cation cl"the Complarn:rr,: that the ..dre allegarions therein (th. (,,onrplaint) are true r,:i: oul. ov/ri r<r,,;.'le:lge." The "reports" a"nd"suspicionl;" ar.ealso contraryto i-i.rr: retlrJrefirt,rrJ the Rdes of i.,L' Courr, r','jrichhave supplcio6, apptcation, that alicgations rr_,.: in ..i.,inp1aint naust be oit "ultimate facts." (Scc-. Ituie 3). 3,

10.

Being i-rreicvxiri_, hearsayand bascri on

2.3

and2-,.4 deemed ..r,r,itte:r. afe not

tri;,r;t l\ [.:.:;,;,,t,: onArtlc/s II Page 4 o.i2l

11.Considering i.i;al tlie allegations unc1i, par.:fr{r-aphsi r;irl 2.4 of the ir 2 Corirplaint are not in acr:or:c1:ince what thc: iau' 01 pleacliirl,rr:,:cprt're, with it is though sr-rch allegationslr:,ir,rc been made oi .irl lrot r:itten.
AS

12'The provisions of Rule 110 of the lt.Lle or.r CrjnLLr-:,:,1 jlrocedure are exp]dclt, utK:

Sec' 6. Sffinatttl, tf'ccnzp/aintor infomzatiorr. ,\ compiaint c,r .l-r..i:r-,,lr:z,tion -is sulficient if it states tlrc i;i'LL'e of the accusedl the crcsiErar-rcil of tjrc (.,^fjl,l:re gr;/en by dre statute; the acts t.,r t-,inissions cornplainecl oi :rsTons:rtuting ilie i,fiensc; the narne of the offenclecl 1.,ar1y;the approximate clrtte of ihc colrr-,,.,: rri: of. the offe*se; and the place * hele the offense was cotrrlr ri..eci, Wleen an offense i,i cr_,nr:eritted more than ctre by shall be lleltso[, a]l oj..ii:.:,..-. includecl in the cornl i[r irrt ol information.

statute i;Lti. in terms sufficient to clal:le.i peLsc)rr l,l conrmJn unclelstanding to lurou'..vhat offenseis being chil:'lr:cl as 1,1i.1n* r1,.,1 and agglavating circumsi^uce and for the coult to prc,;rrrurlce","lias.irs jrrcigmeni,

Sec. corrsrimtiflg be stirted in uscci in the

9' Cau.rcr;i illtc ttct'tttation. The acts ur. ornislions coi:ir,i;,,r.rri. * of as the offciise ai-ic1 the quali$ing ancl r.ir:tlnv:,;i;r* cilc.-:.,-., cr-h mllst ordinal)' .trcl concise language ^n,l l,i ncc,rssarily r'r il ,,.,ianguage

Ii'1t- is the constitirrlon:rl right of the accri,,,cd iri: infiiln,.,.rri to of the nature and ciruse of the acclts?ltion against hjm, it is lecess.lri.y Lhr, ii,ei:e should be feasonable certainty in thc ,sittcment of accusation

14.T'hus, infottiladon is bad if it is statcil [hat "lirere is ,; : ,]-itble an causeto suspect"th:rt accused has c-oniaittedthe crime, insteaCi-lratir,r .i.,* crnmitit.lAn informatic-'nwhich alleges lhat-a defendant is ".iccLrsecl" har,jrria of r:cnirnitteclan offense (rnerely stating ii'i_ but which does not Cirecri;, cha.ruc. ,.trzrt clefenclant

I h

I'e?, U, LYLc\7das. Lr.-tt. Nos.L-235-i2-76,29 1972 ciang C'; July

. r.,. Pl:i.':l:,6 Pi,.:l.;.

t\':'t;"

i s l ,_ t L

,uluri ont lrlic/eII Page 5 of21

conrmitted the offensc" is insufficient,2Furthc,:rr-lore. since rhr,: charge in

arl

informaion must be riraile-rx,'rth such definitenessarci CLt;iiilrl to enable the

accused i-o prepare for trirLl,it must follow thzit t.he cji.arge r1rr.;:,1 be stated not hyp o tlreucaJly or argumc r) f,.- v,ely. r'j

ilj.It lras been hciri jr.r the Karatongpahit,tt, C)tt::' that ilL,r ,:e.cjrai facts of
cOflbtitul'l:ri:' the acts ;-r,:tcs:tilrT for commi:;,,.g I ..Lirrr,..

ir'dispenr;able

tequi.::enrcn1,s a valicl i.lirr rnationalleging oiriense. for an r,1<.:

The noble object oi: t','ritten accusations cannor L,c ovcrtctlphali::r:ci.'i-his was explrLred jn U.J. u. i; ;. t;.:,.i 'r'o Tlrc object of this ri'r i(i.r.:rr :rccusad.ons ltr.ir-r;i; ir,rnish r-h.l i,. ,-r.rsecl with such a discretion ol: tlir: cirarge against him rs r.l,ill eirrble hjr-lL i,-'l:ralie his de{cnse and second, io rlvail himself of his conr-ic:icin ol:iccluittuil lo::l,lrrection against a further plosr'cL;{.ionfor the same cause l' i(l tl:iir-.l. infol.rrli:.r, coult of io thc fhcts alleged so i.lirLt- may decide whetlrel rhey lr,e sufficitir.. irr lrLv,'to rt suDPort a convictjon jL oLrc should be had. In o::iii:i: 'Jrat rlie reqiiilcrr,:iri inav be satisEed,rftcts mil[t bc .r/t;1r;1, conc/usions law.E,.rr,;:::)/ mt of crilll: is ma.jc u,t lf cerltain acts and intent thesenril.rt htt .retfoth in the conp/ailii ;i.,ii,lL rva:onab/e pa771;;,1,:l1if;t time, of p/at'e, nantes(plaintiff arril dcfr:ndant) and tirctlmJta;ir;.r.In shc,it, the eo'.r.1-,i.r:nt nust conlritt a specifc a//egilllt of ewrlt and circuns/./,'.t i/cr;/J.: /6 7'6111,;l):.:.,:.: 1,,;t IlLi rrirne fact chat;ge (Emphasis suIlr liecl) d. It is essential, therclorc, ihat the accused be irri'r',::rnecl thc irci:, :lret are cF imprited to him as "i i is pr:esumed to have no iirdeperllclrt lino.r-lc,,l,.re the of facts that constitute rlr..:o [{cnse."5

Thc sttingent requir,rlitl:r-rl t'lrat the charge be sr:'Lir,,lth ri,ii]r. such ir:u,.i:rl1erlv as rvil i:easonably indicar,',: ihe exact offense which iLc accLr:^i:cl r,lrrl.i'i i-o have is coinmitted in relatiori to ius officewas, sad to sri,. not sl:isfied. rYt: 1...:iie-,-e tbat thc. lllc-re allegation jrt ili,-: rLmended information il-i:rL tire cri:ilense \.ir,. !:r.,ln.iltted by t.he accused.pubbc c'lJicr;: in relation to his ofiri:,r is nci sLrfficieri. '-j-",,-, i Dh-::ase is rrlercly a conclusiori 1;s111,gs11law, not a fact.lril aveli,:1lt thlr_ ri, ,Llj show of tl:rc clcse intimacy lr,,,i,,ri'ilr:rr offense chalir,r.:i and ,he cii:r_;li.ri.,,; the I of the ircclrl:g1lrs official d.riir ,.

'Id.,p.125, citingState Ne/sott,79 u. .\,linr.3BB,32NW650. tl-acsan lixeut/lt)t 'it))9. u. Senrtary a/.,C,).i3,.l.lo. et i28096,20Janual, o .,,:S, 3 Phil. 223,226(1904). Seealsc," t\itulil;ls Jobson, SCR*A. z() l)ecembri i )-,'i,, u. Og Peo.a. Laltado, 'I'ircr ,rines--:\ Con:.,-ri,: 9B SCn-i\730,citecl Bernas, in r'.:Lri', \Iol. 1,,1,987 Constitution the PirLtr; of ecl., 386. p. sFranciscc', t'i; T'heRevised Rulesof Cour.'1, CriminalPtocedurc, 77, ci',cd in -B;,,irr. u. CFI Batanga4 1...

11s SCRA (1982), 739

li.i ; i:;

,,.:;i/t!r/i Arliile II on Page 6 of 2l

1(r.'Ihe test is rvlict1reithe act is describe,:i ilirelligibjc iL:irns-"vithsuch in particuiar:it,v to appil::i: ihe accused,\fi/ith rear-onabii: certa:ili . ,:f the pafllculal:lt,v as accused, the offense offense
charged' -lr'heraison d'ehv <:1. ruleis to enable ti:Leaccr.rsed sL:-l;.:ri;ly,prepare the to his

defense.6 JusticeLaurel'swords, "the administ:r"tionc,f justicr., . iot a marrer In ,,, of guessrvorJi."T riarnc i,r lirc garneis tail pla-rr, The .:ot forLlplal. \\':,, ,t_annot allow a lega1 skilrnish where, frc.,r,r rhe statt, OneOf the one 21r'm to his back.t' tr.ed e:t.l.r::ihe atenawith 1.;'91"grlrusts t,r

,'reporicil,'' .,accused,,, 17.'llhe use of pa::iii;r,rlrir.wofds Jike..suspcc..locl,', r,i-lcl without.t)loie, coriveys iri.) Spr,:cific allegation oi cr.,'el,llrucessAl:;i.,r,-.ir-nstance and fact to consdfirte gaft rirrti corruption or accurrirlalior of ili \\realth. In iL..,iri:.ir other rvorcls, the met:t: si-rspicion that the r:cspo|r-ient c(:,li-.;i-lIiluiated i11$ottcil u'caith, acquiriir.l' es$ets of high vah-lc,; zrrx1i,reepini: i.r,nk accounts with huge deposits is iri:;rrJ.ficient.The Suprenlit{.loirL.t .rtrli:r.i iras ri:ri *_

At bes! tLrc i-rere testimonies of Di Do:r-,lli1l;rlrl ilccezised Conrnrissioner Bautistrt, i.r the eyes of the C,.rrl:t. ytL:1dnotfi;i!t l.r,,riniere uncouoborated specLililrjonsor suspicions insci':ir as t.lrc PCGI; ?r ,,i1r.iarpt to estrLUsh "prima :::.;j:"'crrsc dre against SIPALA\. I-rtLt ilct carr:r,i :.'; {orrnd a by rnere surmise or conjecture. Suspicion cairirot giii: probrii\.: ilrce to tesljnony vhjch in itsctf is insuificient to estabtr;;Lr to jr-rstr$, iriir,:.1,-rce a or arr of parti.cular fact, for "liic sca of suspicion has :io shor:,r,ancl il,c L-iirrt ihat cmbrLl<s upon it is t-,rl. ..i:r-rr-rdder oi.omp"rr." -\;i,l it ir, iiot tlir. il:i,... uf afiy coruts of justice tr; l;igld themselves up in ffrattcl of rir,jl-ri i.r,rrnetl conjecfutes and poss.ii;ilities, courts are not pcrrnittc:i to reni-ti:ri.ciclicts or judgments upon llLrc:sses surmises.e (Em;,h,,sissr-rpohed) or

u. G,R. 27 J/. citngA,liranfu IIon.Sandignr,'tt'rir. No. 154098, ii:ir,2001. 'Infraat 46 ciiurgGa (1!i.li, nor.e dy Occo (',,.;'.Dcla Costa andReyq |Ll. 4+1,'149 63,'

Blnfraatnote46citrlgRepub/icu.S,;tri,ii,i,rtnit,tryan,G.R,Nos.1094:i.t-rl3,2r,i)ecenil,,cr i,l!)4'Repabltc ,l3S (1996);Emphasis su1;i:iied. u.Sancligartlsa1an,255 SCIi.r\

c r ^|it L./i::;, ;,t (!i/lii ott Arl; :le II

Page 7 o,"f 2l

18'Pars. 2.3 and'.,'.,.r', legaliyinsufficiciii e!'c'r undei Ll,, Jtuies arc of civil Procedu:.c.

1 !1k i s a .
on ultinraie facts. direcdy form the wroi-igFri acts or o mi ssl o rs

in procedural lari' 'iiat " areimportar:' ,ird

right and ,-1,111r, 01. defendant.'u'fhe rel-l:l

iror-rld based be ."vhicheither make up the

tn nrin.inol

deteiminr.te,constifutivc i:icts, upon the existeri,eof v,,irich,i,lt,, '.:r..tire cause of

acion l'csts.tt The uldl;rrie facts which
J Lre i.i) br: i,r-i tL -a ^ L r.i . r u

*ie issuable,

const-ituive, or traversible lhcts essentiai to the :.t:ttemcnt of ti.rr,i,r.Llseof acrion: the facts wlich the evir.irlrce on the triai urill 1r:,,i,g, t1.i.L(i lir,.rr-,i,jclence nol. r,viric6 wili lre Lr.lt.pr.lired to provtr riic ciristence those lirr.l,.i,12 of

20.The notion o{'uiiintate and evidentiar.r' iiLcts...,.; esseli.:ial i:,,,iredients a of complainr- r,veil is definerl irr irhrlippinelaw.Jurisl_.r,rcleni_eicr ij\;,.ri;, on o,:i.I1_gctten weaith Levr:zrls easilydisccrnjb1eCistinctionsbetrv,-:tn r-rltjnateanii :,,"rrlentiary iacts as u'llc{ej:slood the elloritzrble in pleadings of r,hc Iiulcs of C,,r-r,i.Cn certain grourrds reilardirrg alleg,:lii.ons pieadings, thc, Su1rrcrneC,lir:.r jn Tantuito a. in l3.epit/ic oj'i lL Phi lippi ne./t ria r iftcd, uiq,: u e

A complai't is clcii'ed as A concise sl,a,,cmcilr c,f thc L.irt, r:,.lc facts conr;Liuting the piairri.LL'fsc.;Luse causes of actlon.la Liric al_i cil,rc:':: - l o n . J i . - . or , alloi.ved by the Rules of Col,i:t,ls tlee complaint sL:Ljj contirir in a i:rr::r-r: ,il:.cal and logrcal fortn a plain, coni:is,: and ditect statemeltr r.,f the ,;ri,itnatc r.,r_,.,i,l rvliich the plaintiff telies {'c,r iiis clain, omitting the 'i-:Lten'e.,. of lTrci. I , : r l , . n i i a n r

'' PhiljFpirrc LrL-.r Dictronary. (t2. u, "Id. ciungRenti/tru Yulo,723PI..ir" 11^ t, '"Ja/ita u..,Vlagtcli.r, No. 70612{),i3 June 1994. G.R. 13G. No, 891'l'l.2 D ecember!r!r1.citations 11. 1 transposed. toRules of Couri, 1{u-1e Sec.3. 6, "ff.. Rrrl. 5. Scc.2.
tt:t litit it:i t;.,,,':ii on,zlrti& II

Pctge8 c-f2l

16'The test is wltctJlel tire act is descrjbe,r'in i:i'rteiligriri., ir:ilns with such particuiar:itlras to apprisl ihe accused, udth reil.,-cinablc certariii, i;f the offense charged. 1'he rcisond'eh"e the nile is to enable tiLe accuserlto sLlirbl1,prepare o1. his defeilse.6 InJustice Laulcri'srvotds, "the adminisi,r-iltion justii-:r: liit a matter t,,f i:r of guesswor-1c."7 The n^me c,i tl:i'- game is fair plarr, r:ot Lcr,L1 play \)i... c-annot allow a legal skirrnish where, frc.,i,t rhc statt, one of the protago.ilsts e1.fi.r.r:, i6e arena with one arm tred to his back.t'

17.'llhe use of pa::iiL;r-rltrwords like "suspci.rcd,', ,{lepolic,,l,'':ii.icl,.accused,,, witlout fiior^e)conveys ir,; .;1tccifi.c allegation of c:-,.e:_,1ltL-ccssal:;.(_-,i\_-iltstance and

fact to consdnrtegraft;rutl corluption or acclrfn,rrlaior-i ili of lre2lth. In r,.-,li,.ii other rvorctrs,the mei:c sr-rs1:icionthat the lespotrcient ((t,ri-.i-:,rnlulated i1gottitn u'calth, acquirirr.i: assets of high valr-rcsanci i,;eepiiiii i-.,r::kaccounts with huge deposits is irir;rrj.l,icient.The Supremri_,or,rL:r rtrllri :rii _ .iras

At bes! thc i-ra.retestimonies of .Dr:. Do:r-,rnai ;rir,-l ,lr:ceased Comrnissionel Bautisrl-:r, the eyes of the Co,r.rr, viL-ic-i il noth,-l!1 i-nr. niere uncglgborated specr-ileionsor suspicionsinsoi:r: as tirc pcc;G :i.ilrnpt to establj.sh the "prima iacii:" ceseagainstSIPALAY. !]at a f;rct canrrpl iir fi:und by lnere surmise clr conjecture. Suspicion cai.r;,ot gii' i: probrilr,.e lorce to testirnony rvhich in iiscjF is rnsufficient to estabj-isli gs jLrstr$,an irfe,rrirce of a ,r1 particular fact, for "ilLc scir of suspicion has 1,., shol.,:,ancl ijrc i-iruli that embrr::hs upon it is r-jtirc,ut -rudderor compass."A.l,-1it iri iiot ttrrr:l:.:ii:ir of afly courts of justice tti 1;ic14 themselves up in mrtlri of rirlil i,r metl colliectures and por;sll;ilities, courts are not p;rmittcJ to rerrrilr .;'crclicts or judgments upon tlr,tcsses sutmises.e(Enrr,l,r,sis or srrtulied)

6,Id. ctnng,\[irairiu u.I]on.Sand'ignit,'iii..,,,.'ir. 154098,27';,-.:,,,200i;. G.R.No. 'Iu|rgatnoi.e c.iiing 46 Go Ouo dr (,:,.;;.De la Costa 63 lti,',. andRgte4 L)irL4,i:r '149(.',',i , -.,13, iiecenilrc:,I!,!)1r "_Infmat t.e citing REwb u.Si;rii;ir, tti;ryan,G.R. Nos. i 0943i: no 46 lic )e 2t\ 'Repilblic u.Sanrligattlta1an,255 ,f3S(1996); SCII.,\, Emphasis su1;r:iied.
,idirni on Arltirie II

Page 7 o-f2l

11 ' oI jixltl|lty.

Ifacts.t6trts office, i"jiirpc]seor functiorr is tc i;ribrlri rhe defl:i:ilrirLi xba4y arrcl definitely of tlic r:lulirnsmade against hiirr so thrt he gpir,r ii11rlr;::Irarei to meet the issues irl rllc tdal. The 66mFiaintsirould ilfonn tLr: c,,_.,.,riririi:t of all rLrematedal facts;ott wl:ich the plaintiff relies tci :rllppolr his dc.:rlrrrr: ri sleould sttrretlle theory of rt .:rtrscof actionwhich forms 1.he base.- tl:e 1,,:,lrritiT's of ciaim

2 1 ,'fi me a n d a g a i i r.t)re upr em eCour thr ,i S helcithatchali:lc:i ir aseclonr ner e

suslriciorlt)nd speculatiriii cl.irnot be given cr(:t"lrr.ce,l11 ii ,,,rriiLl be absurd if r,i;rd mer:u stilijricion and spr:,;Lrlliionviould be Ltc,t,,r(1 iL vaLir-lir.'rristo oust an ni, incurnbelt ChiefJusticc oL tLrcSupreme Court.

22.1n Repultlic u. \'rttrlnrtnbaJarc,le Fligh Corin had tlic i.rr::.ision to rrile the

uporrgenej:al accusations fr:llo'uvs: rs

''in Phrases lihe tlagrant breach of put-lJr.-trlrst rind oi, ri.,r,. iia|U.C1arv* oblii',aiions as public oi{cei.s with grave and scariii:ilous ill;r,:,;e i:i.1,:,,., :^ii 1to'tzef of ll ancl in btazen viohiii,n , -].:-.^,.+ of the constitution ai:ii iil-,\,-s,""unji-r:;l i:, :. "enrb^Ll<ed upol1 . sj sfcmadc plan to acciimularc ill-gcrt,:ir r"realth," "auogaLed unto him,sr.rlit powers of goverrunei.,i.," are cssv airil e:i:1. ' , ' , r o q A . al1 thci'hzLve potential trrL:cll:r. cpotability and they evrrf^r,: passiorr vritli i.ii,.::trt fl.ait, not to mention tlat il ivts populist to flaunt thcl:c statelricnrs iir r-lie I' , i i el 9 B O s . Bui. they are iust th.er, r,-cc",rsationsby generalizlrtion.

23"'To be sure, C.t'LripJainants lack of an;' they fiiec1the Verified Crrrnpln"intof the ultimat:'fzLcts c()ncer-rjr.rr:'Lrg'gestions of grafl and corflrption ancl :r.i:nrnulation of ili-gottclt .vealr.iiis ev-i,'.-,i,i..

C,onsidering1|:rr t.i-rc 2,1. allegationsunclel Daralrriaphs .i.:i

Conrlriair:it ir.renot jn accrr,irrllurce what the i;it' ori lrleaclr:i,l with 'oIrl., Rul,:B,St.lil, [. lrN{artin,.\otcs c\ Conulents, L'r1,:r,.,f Court,Vol.1, 1986t:ti., p.2'l!),dtit'g'i)
10

d 2.4 of the
':r--irp it ic ac

s.,Sec. 63F) , p.

'rDe s ,i9,i 2009. G.R. Jest t:.Gr,tcrrart, No. 1l':i , 4 September leRepublit . t. SanLiillnbEtan,G.k.Ntr. f.ioi54, 17 Decembet20,.)
'",ii,lltflton Aritk i,.,:;,; II

Page 9 o.f2l

thorrghtrr-rch ailegatiorl irii\ri.r been made cr: rvdtle,r, f ,]r,:,, .",rJ:eno not 'foof thzrl cotrld be offereci, t,ti,ich less accepted c,:r utili:,r1ilorL r,i;i,,, i:.sue of nondisclosureof SALIJ, on tlLr:lrasisof insuffi.cientuillesauur:.s.

25.T'he allegatior.,s paragraphs2.3 dn- 2.1 .rf the i-,i;ri_.nlajnt not in do

conlain uitimate facts. ',J'ctsciy put, there is no aiicgatir-,ir pa:mti.,ri,ihs a:nd,2.4 in 2,3 thaL corrld be consicletori ,rs uliimate facts whir:lr rreeci Lr: be i)i,(-.,.r 1:1, irr! evirlence duri;rg tlre trial' Hencc], irLll-ocluction evidencc drat \lou-1c1 of rti.ii,:j,rt;t prove the to speculatic;ns and conjectL:rcscontained in par:al.rapirs 2.3 arci l.,i must not be allor.zed.

26' What

is bl.ate.rrr-Lv obvious is that

'.-ornui:unant-* i.ii.;ri the instant

Complaiilt based on ma.trc.i.s nrhich were merely ":i.epor.ted" alcl ":j,.-., ilcct-eci.,, This, on its owil) already exposcs the defect in the (-iirnpil.rlant's vc:rriicadon, u,hich shor'rldbe based ofi per.s1-)i:ri1 lurowledge or autlir::r*ic rr:cr:rds. !,,;,t.,, itnandate in procedutal iar.v that a "pleading required to be vei:ifieci .,;lri;:tr contains ^ ver:ificatiori based on 'initrt:Lilltion and beJie{' rrr Lr1-roLr "kno..'l,iL:ii,,,:, i;-Lformetion and lrciicl,,' ltroduces no l. . l.l r,ffect.20

2T.Complainantsclir-j not base their char.lli,s rireir pi:isr:.l:iliinowledge, on much less on aut.hentic rjr,cunrents, the time tlri:),fr.lt,rl at the.ii i:i::rjeci Complaint. This no-v explains their cjc"cj;erate belatecl,ise oi tlfs iii,r.l:,ab1e Court,s and subpoenapower to gatir,.:r. cr.i,fencefor the vcr'' f;rsr fimeio l-).,i.)rre rheir case. lJnfortunz[el1r, and to Cj (]orona's extreme pr-crrudice, these i,,'i-,:eeclirgs1:.ave

?rln r I(ules o j Lou:1, l(ule /, 5ecilor.

ri i

il,m onArtiLk II i'age I0 o,f2l

become an ilJegal "fisJrnr,- expedition." adr:norutjon the Suprcrnc Court tn Salonga of u.

rllc.*'ed.
wt,'i:Ii r, 1,cziliing:

The

"It is thercftrlc, irnperative upon the fiscll or the jirdge ai; i.lrr c;-se ralay bc, to telieve the tccrisecl fiorn the pain of *oing through zr ir.irl o,rce it is asccrtained that thc i:r"iclcuce insufficient to su,rtlrin lr 1;iirna f;icic i.illie Or: tllat is no probable cause cxisr,sro {brrn a sufficient bcilcl as to tiie guih oi i li: irccused. A)riroLrghthete is 11o..(:L(r'J::l formula or fixed rule : :' iirc .1.:r'cnni.r'r:. ;,i irrollable ..: , car-rse since the same trirsl be decidedin the light cil'tiie coiii.'',,tions ol;i:ri'r.,:rq given in sitrrationsand its eris'Lcr'icc denends to a large degrei' r:;rcn thc: incling.r, c'.:-.:i,,rri, *tire judge conducfing thc c.rlirilraion, such a fiodi"g sL:o,-:ld noi clstegalcr tire i-:rc:s befote Feriunde4 129 scRA prosecution in the trial fot this would createcl to uphold. vitalizing and not should continue to
tlre judge nor t1-rn co1-r1.ir.c)i Lhe clear dictates of re:i:,rns (Sc:: Lz Cl:ct:;;t,' i :;..t.;le, lo IA u. 'lhe judge or fiscal, therc,li.,re,srrould. ,'or i.r,r) l.ith.the 39 t). r;ri

holrc that some ctedible evid.:iice mir,,irt later i.ui: ,,p cluring btr in {1:rgrant violation of a b,i:;ic rigiit whic,.r ii'i, i:i; i-rttb afe Jt bcars repeating that the judit;iary lii'rs up r.,,,ls t r i s s i o n b y cit:.ir;rating constitutional riqi;is. So ;i has l;r:..:r l.i:itl:c, It b,-::;rr.2?.(ilmphasis supplied)

28.,Despitedre urrrlcnjablefact that CJ Cu,.,)1ra \\.-.:ls not

rricriy jnfor-rned

i n t l ' r eG r : o u n c l s o r I r l 1 , , i l r . , l l i : n etn ta t h e i s i i i r , ; lt ; r : i r , i c l l i r i , r t r :ror: unlarvfulltr f h t a c c l i l i f e d\ v o a l t h , C o m p J r r i i i i i i i l i , r i r t o i s tr e s e f l te \ , i ( l c n c i . h e L o l r ls p i, of Cj Corona accumuiatir.rr ili-;lotten wealth.

,r the suspicion

29. i-lr:det the rulc'., ,,rr ,.rrjdenr-e t1-to is r.ltc, factntit;,:rp$;1i17!.i17.yx It sought to be

establisirccl. the fact.i,r j,,;sl',c.23Factarn or probans, the oiirer lri-,, c.rrr

i:; a subsidiary
ri n readinq of

or coilne(:l.cd fact tendinrl ro

Arlicle IJ, i.tis clearthat tirc orily fact in issueis Cl Colo-ir:i'Salii:;,.er-i r',on-Cisclosure

to sald, aiic,3;cd non-disc.lorii;io{:CJ Corona'sSAl ,ii. troihirrgtrrr-,r, e

'r 255 (1996). scL\ 43s

,' J:rLnphasis suppi,, "Id. ^t 45"t-45?; )i
* 'o Id, , i,,;,::hnion A'title II ii.[.::,'ti: Page II ttf 21 ' li p . 5 J J , b L x c l ( - . , a w u l c E o n t J , . : ' / - t.

30.In theseproci:t:i,1irig5s, however,the pr:c: to plesent dre transfer tnd condominjum certii:
salc. tar cleclalatjons, ilcr)llrc tax ferurrrs, amoiii.

'riited, or intends ::,:ils of absoiute

.'"qecllv show CJ

Cotona's urrrlarvfully acclrrircd rveaith,rvhich he allegedir coglil r:rr',, haye affclcled

based on iis compensii.l,ion as a Justice, afld rt-\,enflil Sup;,emeCourt.

a Cirit:i .JLrstice the of

l i 'l

'l h e

p ro se cttl i ri rti L r r herseeksto oi:r cr thc tesi- ir i:,' r r ,,r :- the t s IR l : of r

Coriimissi.oner:, .,,.here(, j r.-,,,ror,ra's Registra.rr; L)eeds,Ciry Assc:;r.-.ors ,;lt alleged ,"r'ei1 the officers of rlre real prope:l' rjr-rrelopers propertiesate located,ir,s as from which hc acquired said ii::,;perties,to bolster its clrr-im i.i:atCJ i-,oj"r. acquirediIll::L gottcn rvtlalth.This is irnl;e.r:missible. The eud-:nce iii the'irlr.r:,:i:utionon this issr-re completely irrclc\/rl1l{- immaterial. are and

32.l:viden.ce is r:elr,:r',iri..when relates dircr-iiy to , fact i:l it beLiefin its existence or 1rr)ir.-cliistence.25 Section ,i- lLr,rlt: 128 oi. r
ql'trr:q'

rc as to induce l..l.ir-Le Court s of

--, Section4..Rel,',,Ltic,r, collateral rnatters. ilr.ideitce muJi. jri,-,i,e SgCha relzrtion to the fac{. lrr issue as to induce belicf in ir.s exisleni:r: 1Jrnonexistcn.ce.Evidencc (-iircoilateralmatters shal-i .;i,lienit irlr be,llic,wed, c.{i:i:i:,i jmplol;:,i. tencls any reasonabli:: in iir:eree establish plrl-.abilirvcu to 'i,:il, of ihe tlre fact irr issue.

33.The test of rc:ii:'i'lricyt the logical rel:irj,tn oi'ilr.e er:iiiei, i:iLi,fact to the is fact in issue, i.t., whcrlu:r, t-he former tends i.{) esi:iblish j itnnr'ol-rrlrilirof the 1a11.. v r'.
urLry vr Ll

,riobabilitr- or

(:i,Ji,No. L-4229,29 N'Lr' i95?_. ".Falatuttl't.y I lltn StE Chinglr, ir,,l, 1.,, 't, \"'utrit', No. 15U:Jll'i, May2A04. 197; Pr:i,, G.R. i9 'u i' i'..r, cio, nrediai Larv Com.n r.,.lir Y o1. p. 579 (20C c 2, Regala Rcr
;ti:irt on Ariicle II

Ptge 12 cf 2l

3tl'.ILete, the prcricittation of the transfel :ind coirdoffriiiili,rr certificates of

ti tl r, !.\,\."'..r vr 4uDvrut_u tr,il.s1 Lit]r uLr(",',dcr:,:Js absoluterr,lLe, !r of rax LrUIZfaUOilS, 1jli.:Ome declarations,
,:lX Iell,lj-1'lt:i alllong .

odrers, OlLfefS,

anci drc lr:l,tiimonies thcrrr,:r,n i.i1,theRegisterof 1).:r:cls;, i,ityAlrti.:1,:.,i,.1s andthe BIR Conrmissronel: are ktele';:Lnt. While this evideflc.rr1r12\isupposl,ci,i piove that Corona acquired proper.iics, and that he may not have the f;nrnciai
CI vJ

cap^cLt)lto

aqu-iretJrem,there is nc.,,:1ii,ect,'logicai rea:ro:rable and connec.il,,,rbetr,veen these evicleni:i'r:y facts to CJ Cor:ona'sallegednon discios'ure his Srri ,.i to t6e pr-rblic. ol. The".e er,.iclentiary facts tjo not tend, ^ ony rea,sonablt: degrrr:. ,rr establislrthe

prol;abrLrtlr improbabiiir't'of CJ Cotona'sallegr,,Li or nolr-,iisclosrLrr,r.: SAI-1{ to !.,1his the 1rr-r1:Jic:.

35.l:utthermore, tne in.troduction of thes;:: eviiience is c,iriectionabie for

I - o ' i - ' " urrLri,rl-clrin. usll.r5i * , , - ' ^ * ^ * i ^ I

Evideflr:e is tnaterial when it is ciirecter.lto pr{-r.,,r.: iact in issue as :i

determincd by the rules oi substantive law and pi,:adhg,r,tt lvl:iirl-,ll:l; of eviclence is cleter:n:ined by whetlicl the fact it tends to itr-ove is in isr,,-t.:r not. As to r.rr

wh.eihela fact is in issuc oL not is in turn deter.n,inecl1,,i,the sLir',-.r,.:intive tlre |2qr, pieachngs, dre pre-trial oi.l,:r and by the admissior,sor corifessi.,.,r'rs jlle.28 ..,:..1

36.The exclusion oi cvidenceorr grouncl:: of lcii:vancir ,,:,;ril materiaLiqris r.va.::i'lintc:r.l'necause r.,,ir,lence Sllclt tends to tni:tlr:acl,i-'i)nFLll,r.,.:.it:liLl-,i surprise apaLi.\i waste the time ci' ihc couJt.2e or

37.4s mentionecl. ri:e soie fact 1n issue iindeL ",rrricb .l.Tr,,, Corona's CJ supposedfailure to discl,.,sc SAIN to the p'-iblic. 'llhat lrjs !i I \')iana. acquired

p. "1d., s}i. "Id. teseeProuove,.J1,.

Erridence Ar":i.r,,lr,6. in p,
iritrm onAriicle II Pnge l3 o.f2l

proDeries, the values o[';,..]{6i1 \x,/ere allegedly rjis;rropclionaii ,r', 1i; salary, nut ts t/te.iitctin issue this i-rsc. These have no iei:rtiotr CJ Coicr:i,':r alleged nonin disclcsur:eof his Sr\Li'i {.1rthe public. Thesi: evideirtiary r,,ci: rLre,therefore, inadmissj fot being jrn iirrreriai. ble

tr 3B.A"Iore irnportanl-i,;'. Corona was not r;ropei1i, info:,irri.,r.l the charges oI agailst hirll in vier,vof llrc apparent conflict bet'ii,.:tefl charrici siri"eci Ar:ticle t1ir in II arid Complainants' sltt:crr,lative a-Llegations unrlr.::: par:,uapir.s2.-i :Lnd2.4.of the cornplainl 'ro allow Cor.irplaiuants presentc\,-ldrencre to on the clearianguage Ariicle .1Iwill vioiate C] Co,rona',; of process ailclto be proi;t'r'1.-iulormed the char of opinion of JusticeAntoLrl,; P. Barredo.tn Peo.ii. issue,to rut.: r.iorcorrered by ,ral right to due 'l he concurling rnirlies to this

.; iialne In slrm, ; ,,,,ir, have the pdnr:, , r,csi 1r,,iisilli, irtiilrnr.ations with,j'.;r1 1:;119, as to avoid r:irjit{o\;{) zs i(r il:,.definite so i.rj,rnalure of the offensc cirarged therein. The1, sirorrld ;tirvays I ..:l;. iii inind the irnperative rri'cil lor such definiten.:s:i, corisideriri-, , ii..- tegal corrlllicatioris tha{. ,:riri '"itise otherwise. 'Jlir' I an llcc'rrsedi),r.iir(,,,i c:in be coLii'i:ted only of ^ l!:lricr offense than that acti;,,11i1.1, corrrmittc,ll,,,- 1,,:ri.only bec,iurscof ambigr,rir,roi cl-ror in the ftamlrg i riic .;r[or-rrr,,r,r,,,,i o roal rs dissc"rvice the intr'-,.',s ol' justice and pubJic or:ijcr.r\riri triai iiL,,J-.,.'.;s to ought llot to consttue anJ. ii.'fbr.nation on the basis cf the ,:rridenct: L;i-:r onlv in the light of its orryn .f:ictn;,tlallegations, especitJil.l rvlicn suclr ircr:,,irr,rction wor:ld preiudice {.lrr accused. If constructii;n has to bc ii:i.r.r iiptecl in I.)ecause of any an:bigirity in the informatioir, it is irr-iperalii't irilrier the unequivocal mancirrri: of the Bill of Rights tc r,'iopcrl;, inforrn ili,:: nccused about such Reed ttt the :ir{aigrunent and no'L eiter."l,:rtds, ccli.lii.il.i'rrot ifi 'l.i;..' the clecision. Such j,; l,lso the demand of fai::1,.,';s ancl ]risdce. iiccused mus;t riot be made i.u star.id trial and be conr.ir:ted foi an ofirirs,., r,f vrhich he rl'as not duly iir{.oi:lccl beforehand. No k.rs thalr the Corlsiiiuiicn is dellnite that the exi,ict r-i:rture of the offensl inust br: mar-lc ir.r.Li.r.;,n and unclerstood by the rtccused at the araignnrt:rrr.. T'iiis conslirLrril.nnl nrle calmot be changed bv the trial judges on thc .rr,(cusctirat thri' r,ir..: ;rcting o$ the basi.s of tirc {'ects subsequently g;rr.irered i-ry thr,rr iloin the e v i d e n c e . J u d g e s , ] j l i c i c f e r r : e s i n s p o t t s c o n t e s l i . , : . r : r i r n o i c iirl a,nr . e : l e s ;e L ; ,gu l pla1'h'c begun, mucfi l,.;ss the end of the ga1ne. ai irrdeer-1,',Ve irai-c r,rL:rady held thrL convictingan aJ.:. i-l i.,fan offensegravei'r; ,, th,i charq'1,'- . .'cnirl of y,.,1:t;,11i:e!i.11/st", due i--,rocess (Peo. J)titllili:i,i, G.3.. No. L-9483,J:rir. -)0, u ;.,. "l:al-),Pi,a. ttPec. u.Pitrd,ille, G.R. No. L-452.(:(t,6,r'.igust 1979.
',,itituit on Ariic/e II

Pa54e cf 21 14

1 SCRA 205) and coi.r.scciuently, court orust the jurisciiction,if it docs so. supplied) @,rnphasis

39.No lessthan Alricle III of the Consui.ridorr urandares iirn due process be accordedto any persor-iand an elementther.ccfis r,ire riglir ir-,i:e infolmr.:dof the chargesagainsthim^2,;:;;.,:

.i t . S e c t i o n1 . b J c ;l ) r i r l o r is h a l lb e d e p r i v e do f l r i ' , , j,i l : e r i , , , r p t : o t , , l r r ,,, . . : i . : o ud u e u p [ o r . : s 5o f l a r v ,n o r s l i l , i i; i i r . i / ) e r s o b e d e n i e dt h e e c i i r : r ] r o i r : ; j 6 n t i l , , l , , . 5 ; n r r Seciion 14. (i) ltio pclson shallbe heid to e1is1,,",el ,, criminirI i,lifiri:;cll'itirout fo-r: dr-rc process of larv. (2) in all cli:Lrjttti plosecutions, the accuseclsilall be l,resurnr:ii j:::,lctlit until tire-contfa-ty prove.l, ll,cl sii:rllenjoy the dght to l:.' l,cat-d hjrnseii r,i,i r.,--,..1isei, is l,.l to be infotmed of the nirture atcl cause of the accusiirion ag:r.rir hin . . . st

Pursuantto the due procesiiclai-lse the Consrt;L.rL'ion, Cor:lrr', tL:rs rigiit to of Li] tire be hrlly informed of tlic narrre of the chargcs agailst hjnL s,i that he may adequatelv prepare fcr hrs defense.3lTherefil,:, L-ornpirirr,rL,.,cond.nuous

introductiorr of evidencc on matters outside the clt::rr woi:,iiirr, of Article II undoubtedlrr ioiates CJ C.orora's right to due pro.ess.

40.In Peo.u. Menciri;,'2the SupremeCourr i:;.,p1ai.cil dre ir,;

Certainly it r_i.lqiit to have been !].v",art: tirat r.;l i ; il l- this corrstit-utional righr sigrri{ies is that an ailcrrsecl s1lriulci l.;i: 1,, r,.'ei. the necessary data as to ir.iry he is beingproceeclcd agairirt.. Ile siro.r .r i;rlt be left in the unenviabk: state of speculating r.vh.,'ric is r:rade i.l;c ,,-,, :::r:t,cf a prosecution. As .'.rs j: :iprlypointed out in r,,:. )iinc ,,onso':i-;' ,rcccir of Delegate Lawel: "It is dle right of a persoll ac,.rlrscci cdrne ro .iirll:incl the of na'i-ureand cause of tiLc :rccusation against hirn, .f.il shoniri lino\.,, r-,.,r: lr:r."i c:Luse and of rvhat crime he i.r f sing charged.The ?eririon of tfghts :ieLii r.r.ccci fie

u. Ci,R. I 2001. "Peo. rirrVillu, No. 7246'J\) l:'ti:.-uaqr n\r-rs, 1.,-?3572-76,29li;I ?",, " G.R, Jul1t
i;tt.itxii on Arii;ls II

Page 15 o.f2l

forirrer practice in J:r)tgllnC of imprisoning [rcr.:man i,y thc ii,.,..;,q'5 special colnlxand, without iriil' cir:trge." The act of col;i iict im;xted. t;l 111,;,11 be nrist described with sL'.fiicirrit particutarity so that he ."r,ouirlbe iir ii iir;sitii;n to defe;:d himself pli-'1:r:ri3'.If it were not scr ,.heu tlt*re is ..!ir i:.ii):.iientof unl'airness. Due i]1.occssis in fact denied jriin. '-i'i-iparrii:Ii'i.rr,,r': justice I:lnhnes, speakinil tiir iiii: American Supren:,,t i.,ouri, a carti:r;{'r:rrilipnine irr (llil.lirt'Paraiso v, { ririlrltl Statesrthis constituii';rra1 u.i,isiutiii' ',,rri:r.iied by 1r; tt jiiurtding that ll;ti'i'rr iri) rloubt in the mirrri r;l ilny l)r:rsor1 i:li,iirnentary o1 irri:tiligence as to r',lnii ilte charge is and i|rr:s xror-requili,: rlrrL:ihzic wiil ev:chide every misiillLritj)lctation capable of t,.r:.:uttitigto iurtllir .cE:fired. wir;h a desire to pen,err.(jl,rnphasissupplied)

41-Tire Hh Cor-rr:L l-aure/ u.Abrogaf3 r,l,,o empirasizrrci tn ii.r,:, constitutional necessig' fol an accusec.i be r,vellinformed of LhL ro

cI'elv act
| -^r1r]rr-f

,icb is Lhe :iccusation

1 ,r . ] e . i r r e n f

'totv, on 'i.'he ,--,-.. iuie ';-, l.l.-::n!.rtute ic, ,rrrt-icted of .r-:,i,:,J the in

*{.* We irave tevic',',-r:ci 'he Amended Informriiicr ar.rcl[r:rd tha:,. ?is].rleiliicr-led by rhe pelidoner, iL d r s rlui contain matenal al-, :Llions in;lrgilt. ,l r.:iiorrer of il:cft of personal l-.r-.luci'iJ'under Alticle 308 oi tlee lic.;-ised .i-r.,r:,,rr (Jc.,cie. It, thr"rs,beh.ooved tfre r.li;ii ccr-itt to quash the Amenrlc.j Infcmatior:. '1-'l Or-der of r., the tLial cotut denf iitg ihe motion of the peiitii,rner tr, quasir r-i,.r:,l,rnended Inf'r:nretion is a parr 'r rrlliLl-.(Ernphasis suppLr,.

42.iltantfest injusdcc \rill result if the alicged !,r:aft alr,;i :r{)rrLrptionand

un.la'vftrllrr tcquired weeilLi tiljller Section 8 of li,,r\, r,\r,r. 301g i;r i.:ladon to R.A. l\o. I379, rvill be consiclt)t:{,:Ll ilccessarilyincludeci ii'Ltlie rrc;n-disi,li.)'i-rc: SA|N. of

43. Some members o I t.hisHonorable Coirr harre

Conrplainxnts' posidon bc upheld,a dangerou:;

7 - , " G , l t . N r , . 1 5 5 0 7 6 , 2F e b r u a { , r , ;
'11,.1',;;7 A.t-:ltk ll 6y.

-t'oge of 2l I6

L.Eti. 306 (1,932); A'Lrrr;,.,.n.i. Devjne,237 L1.5,tt.t2,35 i:.Cr 7iu-', j .il,d.1153 5,) (1915).And it can L'i,'.i:ri11'be denied that the r:n::irng,i--:,rssing, uiic,r:r,ir,a-nd.f or prll-'lishingof F.H.'\. For-rn 2004C requires J1:1-,,,f i fact orj:c; 1-i.ran of that teqrri::ed to prove d, -' rrr:Liring, passing, utterxl:-. lrndf .>::oublisL:i11 ,{ {r.I-I.A. Foun 2004G. Tlr.e il,i;-.t ob'vious additional fact rs Lo ea,-:h doculnr.::rirs rhe fact dr't. drey are differc-lt clocr-rments. Nor is it of ri'i=ir cor.rsc.luence nr,,: rll of the docr,rnrentsrefertecl i',r in each count ate pair cf a s:ngle L::'i:r:,,-:ion.The docunrents were e,{(jcri'ieri different dates.$ltircr,irer c.,,.ntjlu.rr,.r5 on r:,..ulsaclion r, resr-rlts the cornrri,lssron, but a surgle offcL,:e or si:ltarate li:i iri.t,l:sis not in of dcpeirdent on the ni-ri,rircrof unlawfi:l motives tir lire mui,-1 dic :1.:i-,;,,cc,l, is of but de.elminedby whedr,,r s:rrrLate and distinct prr;t. l,:Lecl r..i. ,re lrttrtc - , ,lrrbieby larv. lrave been comirrricd. Caballerov. Hudsper,.L'l, 1L4\-.2d545, -":l r'1Orh Cir-. 19/10)-The 6ling oi r::rcir fal.sedocument r.voul.i consrir-r,rie ct:!,, . lncl each a shouJdbe ailegecl a sei:aiateand distinct corulr ,:i'the iLrcrrictrner,:. il But appeJlee r'iildrci arguesthat even assunirg eiich cotirrr-;s,;rrpiicitous, -lno such is harmless eLicit:. casesafe telied upon t-o suDlort this ,-.-.,r R:iro r.'. United States,3L7 Ji'.f,31;p9 (5th Cfu. 1963),an.l ',-ritcc.ir.ut"u \'. (-,ri)iji:Llan,Z_85 -c F.2d 378 (sth Cfu. 1960).lieither caselends an\r,.r'eder. io appe11r,,',; ircsition. -l-hat The Leno case acturLli,-heid that the indicflnen:'r.'a"s cluplicjrorrr nci fact alonr:distjnguishes jit:no caseftorn the onc r;orv r-illiler iirrr corrrri,r,.:rition, but lltrtl. is not the onli' iliri"inil-rishing factor. The i.irsi::ict corrrt iii il',-, ii.-;-iocnS, h { l r r , 1 , r ,i' t s i n s u u c { i r i r cj u r y ,l i m i t e dt h c u . r . ,,,' r i r : r l .i r a s i i : , : ;c. Ihis .,r. lit rriirLl-ion tepcllicri scvctal times. No such ii.rlr,rngi;r."ilucir-'r'r r,, !.ivr"-n was it] die j.Listant case. 1r.i,clju ihe Goo&nan case. i,.i:l,r coLlr! reverst,l ,, ir-rclgrr. ent dismissing all eight c{-)Lrn'L:r an indictment. T,i rjre ailrrlladon c,,:r il,r;tlici.tous of cottllt-,this coutt said rhe'L i-heerror would be hr.irriess il. ,jre Unire,i -:-:rie vu-ere s r e y l r u e d o e l e c tt r p r ' : l r : c i tc h a r g e i t w o u l d p i : , ) . : ' r :1 1 , , . L h L ' : r , t . . : , .:i. L s ' , f f a s t d. e oo'. l'equil'ed to rnrlrc' sr-Lch electi.onin Ct,, trstzri:I case. I. i,,Lir.:e tha.t an '.iicr-eto appcllant's counsei f::jli':ll. request such an eJ.e...,rrr, rppelh'.:.1r-iri,, tc-, bul disrnisstl:e indictm'.:nl--one of the grounds fol::uch mc,iirn b,-,,r! ...1cornts one and fwo were dr-rpliciious-and the motion r,",r:denier,i. The faiiure l.i cor:ect the duplicitous iiiltu{e cf the irliijcijnent in solne mannerrtr7as(-,r'oi.This becomes clelr.ivhen ]ou trlr lo',ie,;errnine 'i-hc u'hat tire juy founil. jury cannot find a d.:fend;lnr gui]i.7 2!j r..i .J&e of the of{enses chatgcriinthe duplicitous coulri r'.ridrror uuilty irs'.ii iJlleother charge in the samc ti()ur:1-; afld a general velcir:t of g;Lrilty rir)r:s,.;lr l'erreal whettrrer the jury fo-;ruil the defendant guiib,' cii one cr:'me alid r.r--.i g'uril',yof tirc othets, or guiitv uf trli of them. More spti;ific:r1i-,', is irr:r;,r,;sibieto it determine whetirer: Liic jury found appella;rl gnilry ,if rn..ri;il:,;) iiassifig, uttetirrg, and/or pui;iishiirg Form 2094C, or cloirrg so as to F,:lr::r.r -l-004G, ot both. @mphasissuplr.i: eQ

45 CJ Corona was r,rct

of the apltar;eltt conflict berrveen the chatges stateri

speculairreallegationsunr[e]rparagfaphs2.3 anc ?..4

{::\;'idence matters coveti.l by iii',:' nol Corlplainants present to on

iangr-iage of

(-J Coiisdtutional Arucie II of ihe Grouncl; ior Impeachment\Iiill';lolate- Cci,,i:;r:.-,

iititrit on Ariicle Il

i'a.ge of 2I l8

right to due process ancl to be properly infonnec.lof tir,, chargcs:r ,.riirsthim. The concurring opmion of JLrsticeAntonio P. Barl,:do ut.Peo. y. [.),,:rdi//a'5 squrrely applies drisissue, rtir: to to

In sum, llrc.rsis have the pfirwri.r, resiiDilsibilii.,l r.; fiame jttii rrrnations witli ririr: (lrue, so as to avoid {.ri)rrt{o\,cli;v 1,r r:.t: ciefinite as ttit{.tlte of the o{ftttlrl crltrtrgedthetein. Thev lriroukl lriw-a,ysi iir l:..:tir: rnind thc imperative rr{rr)i1 ibr such definiter.r.:ss, c':,nsidcriir- i,l(: legal cornplications that c;ln arise otherwise, T'b:Lran :ic.cuseci iJer':(,rrcair be coru'ictcdonly of i lii{ci offense than that r t.::Ny c,.:lrnillc i , r,r'r, on-iv bccause of ambiguii.i' {)l: effor in t}re fr'ami:r..1 the jnfor:,tr:lil.or', a lank oi .,; dissct."'ice the .intcrcstsof justice and public {)lcler.,.i.lcLtrial juii.:.-:s ought to not to coflstrue at.,- iriformation on the basis of the cviderrc'.:|,:,, only in thc iight of its ov'tr j'.rctual allegations, especially rvir::,r sucll ito:ili.ruction woiild prejudice tiir: accused. If construcliijn ha:, to bc ji:.liilged irr because of any aurbiguiry in the informatiori, it is ilrrperadvr rinrler the unequivocal mandtt.lu of the Bill of Rights to i-rrope:1v inforrn ii:r: rrccusd abc.lritsuch need lt iiie arraignment and llct aftellr'atds, cc'i'ri'iirri,"'not,in 'l-'i,,,-the decisiOn. Sucb is aiso ihe demand of f:rl-rr,-'ss an;l ;ustice. accused mtrst not be made rc; stand trial and be conr-il.ted fi:;r:rn o{1cnl;cof rv}iich he u'as not duly inLorn:ed befotehand. No icss tiran th.e ilot*i.itutioa is dciirrite that the t:qtict nature of the offense rnust bc mal-i,: iiitii;-so'11 11t4 understood by the rccrised at the auaigr:.incnt. Tiris cons;ur,ii,i,,rnal rule canuot be changed l-r-y the trial judges on thc e;<cusc that ilic.., lie acting on the basis of ll:c facts subsequently llrriirereci by tli,,:rii ircrn dre evjdcnce.Judges, Iilrc rc[.-lces sportscontes{s, in :]j?i}-rr, cl:anq,. ' : rlesafl-er , ll play has begun, mucli irss at the end of tLe garrc In{ieeil, We hai.e .,liea.ci1'held that convicting an'.rcc",ised an offense gravel: llrrrr t1r;, charge,-l ,r deninl of of i l: due process(Peo. B,,ii't;'rtlag, No. L:9483, T,r,,. 'J960,Pt;t. i')':,i,,titt://ador, u. G.R. ;',. 30, 1 SC11A 205) ancl consequently, &e coutt inlrst be ,ieemed ri, :'..:cr-..ed i.ts ju-r,sdrction, it docs :,o. (J:mphasissupplied) if

PRAYER
\{'IIEI?E.FORE, Ch:r lr.istce Rcnato C. C',:,rrnx :.-::pecrjri: (^) imn: . r,iteil pre\ \ r:.
'1r'trri ''"J' | that thiq

Honorabie ImpeachnrrcrL Court

,ilrd

prohibit

( Conrplaiirr'rltts and tlre ii i'')ii{:rciliion from pfeseilii; ri:;evLril:nce )rr

'l:'r ls. 2.3 and 2.4

of rlrcir: \/crifi.ed C crrrl l 'l ri i tr1, suspectecl 1:;ot- i.,.r :i c.8., iii wciilli tnci gr a,ftand
r-nr11 rntlrl1-r f.tt

being :rr.clcvant,improper :;r:il r :.;ladvr

CJ Corona's

toG.R. l,-45266, August19'i9 No. 6

,r,.,rncltrn Arlic/e II on i\,.i.i't,,'

Page19 of 2l

constifiltionai rights;ancl i'b) ej{punge from the i, -.orcl rly anr-'i ,rf the evidence :rli presenteciby Complainiur i.:; penaining to Pars. 2,..ttnd ?,.4,

Otirer ieliefs,just or ctpitable under the circ,.,iir.stances, iii-e.i-jse are prayedfor.

l'{alratifor Pasay I .January Cit1,, 11 201,2, Itesp ectfullySubmi,.tcc1 by

Cour,.scifor: Chief JusticeRenlio C. Corona
\

$*,,,*u i,VAS Ci.-

iRET.;

11,, ta.A'L1 . i\,Iakaii ? 0.1, . l { a n i l : r Jan\.rAn",, 3814MCLIi-c;,empi

'-f!.,11rr-0''t.*t,x-Lca)

et

.!tn

t Qc<:

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IBP Nc;.U69503 issued ?,i:12,1,ianila Jan3. RoIl No. - 21"37 3 h4CLE, E-.;i:r npt-,.cn III-00090: :rirni ))6,2Ct:{) No.

Ell i,lrlliDO DE LOS Ar'JGtrtr-IiS PTit i\o. 3'174367, r\fai<:Li Jan2,2l',2"

JosEtvt. Bdf f;r

PT'li No. 2643183; /0a/1 1; i\,ziakatl 1. Ciry l,l.U{ 02570August 20,2i,)J"L IBP p,,ir'etin-rc'1 j-06: i{oUof Attorneys},, i ICl,E,Exemption No. 1 0001'7(i

PTRNci "li7 5829;2January \,Ial*iu 20'\.'), Cirr IBP No. E70166; ZJarwary 2AL'),. \,{ak',ri Ciq' l'loJl 38552,13 i993 Mai, No, 2(:':;t iirylj:Lnce III-O01 , 11 i"iay No. 62i)) NICLECr,,
tiit i':r',t,;.',t' tli,im on Artic/e I I

Page20 of 2J

ilENNI I"J,l'T-O PTR irirr 2666920;5 2,(t January i 1, NrrliatiCi;-,' IBP }..i':r. 839371;3January l,ivf:rli,:iti 201 Citi, Iioli No. 40950, Airii 199il 12 MCLE [.,c,miriiance III-0009I': No. 71,25.!pri12i";'ir

Copies fir.trrished: F{ouse of ltepresentalilr rr; ( Batitsan loLnplex B a l l r a t tI l i l l s , u e z o n( l i i l Q

h{iltrsi. pti)5i-.{Lif ii.::,i" .

F{[.*trfiVHffi
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Senators of the Republic: of the Philippines GSiS Br-rrlding Nlac:ipagalFlighway Pasa,v Ci.tv

,.i";iilirt on Ar,:icie I]

21 J?o.ge cf 2l