EN BANC
[G.R. No. L-1229. February 28, 1947. ]
RAMON DOMINGO Y REYES, Petitioner, v. THE DIRECTOR OF PRISONS, Respondent.
Vicente Raul Almacen, for Petitioner.
Acting First Assistant Solicitor General Gianzo, and Solicitor Carreon, for Respondent.
SYLLABUS
1. HABEAS CORPUS; ERRORS OR DEFECTS OF PROCEDURE NOT REVIEWABLE BY; JUDGMENT OF CONVICTION WITHOUT PROPER PLEA OF GUILTY; CASE AT BAR. — The allegation, if true, that the judgment of conviction was rendered without a plea of guilty properly entered by the accused to the lesser offense of homicide, is merely a defect of procedure, not of jurisdiction, though it may have the effect of voiding the judgment. And this error of procedure cannot be reviewed in habeas corpus proceedings wherein the only issue is whether or not the petitioner is entitled to, release. And the petitioner is not entitled to release even if the judgment is set aside upon the ground aforementioned, for, in such event, the proper procedure would be to reopen the criminal case and order the trial court to proceed further as if no judgment has ever been entered therein, that is, it must arraign the accused for the lesser offense of homicide after the information is duly amended, then try the case if the accused pleads not guilty, and the latter in the meantime should remain in confinement if he is not on bail. But this correction of procedure can be done only in an appeal or in an action for certiorari wherein the trial court is made respondent and is amenable to orders of the Supreme Court.
2. CRIMINAL PROCEDURE; PLEA OF GUILTY; WHERE TO BE ENTERED. — Although the stenographer may take note of the plea of guilty entered by an accused, he is not bound to do so, that proceeding being a proper subject matter for the minutes to be entered by the clerk of court.
2. CRIMINAL PROCEDURE; PLEA OF GUILTY; WHERE TO BE ENTERED. — Although the stenographer may take note of the plea of guilty entered by an accused, he is not bound to do so, that proceeding being a proper subject matter for the minutes to be entered by the clerk of court.
D E C I S I O N
MORAN, C.J. :
This is a petition for habeas corpus filed by Ramon Domingo y Reyes against the Director of Prisons. It is alleged therein that the petitioner was charged with murder before the Court of First Instance of Manila, Branch I, presided over by Judge Rafael Dinglasan, and that on August 20, 19’16, he was arraigned and pleaded not guilty. However, on August 30, 1946, when the case was called for trial before the same court, counsel for the accused Atty. Celestino de Dios, made a statement to the effect that the accused would plead guilty to the crime not of murder but of homicide, to which the Fiscal answered that he had no evidence to prove murder and that he was therefore agreeable to a plea of guilty for homicide. The court without inquiring from the accused himself whether he was pleading guilty to a charge of homicide, sentenced him for such crime with the penalty of six (6) years and one (1) day of prision mayor to twelve (12) years and one (1) day of reclusion temporal, and to indemnify the offended party in the sum of P2,000, this sentence having been pronounced in open court. The accused failed to appeal and the period therefor has already expired, the judgment having been signed on August 31, 1946. The petition for habeas corpus dated December 10, 1946, was received in this Court on December 16, 1946.
The respondent, in his return, alleges that the petitioner is at present confined in the Iwahig Penal Colony of the Bureau of Prisons pursuant to a commitment order and judgment of the Court of First Instance of Manila dated August 31, 1946, issued in the exercise of its jurisdiction.
Section 13 of Rule 102 reads:jgc:chanrobles.com.ph
"When the return evidence, and when only a plea. — If it appears that the prisoner is in custody under a warrant of commitment in pursuance of law, the return shall be considered prima facie evidence of the cause of restraint; but if he is restrained of his liberty by any alleged private authority, the return shall be considered only as a pea of the facts therein set forth, and the party claiming the custody must prove such facts."cralaw virtua1aw library
And section 4 of the same Rule provides in part:jgc:chanrobles.com.ph
"Wen writ not allowed or discharge authorized. — If it appears that the person alleged to be restrained of his liberty is in the custody of an officer under process issued by a court or judge, or by virtue of a judgment or order of a court of record, and that the court or judge had jurisdiction to issue the process, render the judgment, or make the order, the writ shall not be allowed; . . . ."cralaw virtua1aw library
These provisions are self-explanatory. The trial court had jurisdiction over the offense and of the person of the accused, and, therefore, it had jurisdiction to try the case and render judgment therein. The allegation, if true, that the judgment of conviction was rendered without a plea of guilty properly entered by the accused to the lesser offense of homicide, is merely a defect of procedure, not of jurisdiction, though it may have the effect of voiding the judgment. And this error of procedure cannot be reviewed in habeas corpus proceedings wherein the only issue is whether or not the petitioner is entitled to release. And the petitioner is not entitled to release even if we have power to set aside the judgment upon the ground aforementioned, for, in such event, the proper procedure would be to reopen the criminal case and order the trial court to proceed further as if no judgment has ever been entered therein, that is, it must arraign the accused for the lesser offense of homicide after the information is duly amended, then try the case if the accused pleads not guilty, and the latter in the meantime should remain in confinement if he is not on bail. But this correction of procedure can be done only in an appeal or in an action for certiorari wherein the trial court is made respondent and is amenable to our orders.
It appears, upon the other hand, that there are in this case enough grounds for disbelieving petitioner’s theory to the effect that he had not been duly arraigned for the lesser offense of homicide nor pleaded guilty thereto. The trial judge himself expressly states in his judgment that the accused "pleaded guilty to the crime of homicide," and the deputy clerk of court in her affidavit assures that she rearranged the accused for the lesser offense on August 30, 1946, and that the accused pleaded guilty. All this is corroborated by the circumstance that the accused failed to protest in time against the judgment of conviction either by filing a motion for reconsideration or interposing an appeal. His petition for habeas corpus was filed three months and a half after notice of his conviction and this passive attitude is an indication of conformity with the proceedings and that the petition is but an afterthought.
Petitioner offered his mother’s affidavit and that of Sinforoso Pilares to substantiate his theory that there had been no rearrangement nor plea of guilty. His mother does not know how to sign her name and it is doubtful whether she had enough understanding to distinguish in a court proceeding what .s an arraignment and a plea of guilty. Pilares’ affidavit seems to admit impliedly that there has been "rearrangement of Ramon Domingo y Reyes, in connection with the killing of Benito Espiritu alias Fidel" but that "Ramon Domingo y Reyes was not asked by the Judge to plead himself guilty to the crime of homicide nor did he utter any word during the proceedings."cralaw virtua1aw library
Another evidence presented by the accused is the silence of the transcript on his plea of guilty. That silence cannot, however, prevail over the positive assertion made to the contrary by the trial judge and the clerk of court. And, besides, the stenographer may take note of the plea of guilty entered by an accused, but he is not bound to do so, that proceeding being a proper subject matter for the minutes to be entered by the clerk of court.
For all the foregoing, petition is dismissed for lack of merits, without costs.
Feria, Bengzon, Briones, Padilla and Tuason, JJ., concur.
PABLO, M., disidente:chanrob1es virtual 1aw library
No estoy conforme con la decision de la mayoria. El acusado al ser informado de la querella en Agosto 20, 1946 por asesinato se declaro no culpable. Al reanudarse la vista en Agosto 30, hubo un acuerdo entre el fiscal y el defensor de que se enmendaria la querella; que se le acusaria del delito de homicidio en vez de asesinato y que el acusado se cleclararia culpable. El expediente demuestra que no se enmendo la querella por asesinato; no existe una querella enmendada por homicidio; no se le informo al acusado de la querella enmendada porque no existe tal cosa en el expediente, y el acusado no se declaro culpable. La mejor prueba de esta declaracion hubiera sido el acta del Escribano Delegado que asistio en la vista y no su affidavit que ha sido filmado, jurado y presentado despues ya de presentada la solicitud de habeas corpus ante este Tribunal. Ese affidavit es oficioso y su fin es evidente: subsanar el defecto sustancial de la actuacion. De todo lo dicho se vera que el acusado ha sido condenado sin el debido proceso de ley. "No se le hara responder de un acto punible a persona alguna sino mediante el debido proceso legal." (Titulo III, articulo 15, Constitucion de la Republica de Filipinas.)
En la causa de Jose contra Comandante de la Es cuadra de los Estados Unidos en Filipinas (16 Jur. Fil 64), este Tribunal dijo:jgc:chanrobles.com.ph
"‘En el asunto de Twining v. New Jersey, 29 Supreme Court Reporter 14, 20, el Megistrado Moody dice acerca del "debido proceso de ley:"
"‘Pocas frases de la ley son tan dificiles de exacta comprension como esta. Sin duda las dificultades de determinar su alcance han sido aumentadas por la jurisprudencia americana donde se ha incor porado en las constituciones y aplicado a nuevos usos como limitacion a las facultades legislativas. Este Tribunal ha rehusado siempre dar una definicion comprensiva de esta frase, y ha preferido que su ver dadera significacion sea gradualmente determinada por el procedimiento de inclusion y exclusion, en el curso de la resolucion de casos, a medida que surgen. Hay ciertos principios generales bien reconocidos, sin embargo, que estrechan el campo de la discusion y pueden servir de ayuda para llegar a conclusiones exactas. Estos principios nacen de la proposicion universalmente aceptada por los tribunales americanos siguiendo la autoridad de Coke, de que las palabras ’de bido proceso de ley’ equivalen en su significacion a las palabras ’ley del territorio’ contenidas en aquel capitulo de la Carta Magna que dispone que ’ningun hombre libre sera detenido, preso o privado de su existencia; ni le perseguiremos, ni le molestaremos, sino en virtud da sentencia legal dictada por sus peers, o de la ley del territorio.’ (Den ex dem, Murray v. Hoboken Lar.d & Improv. Co., 18 Howw., 272; 15 Law. ed., 372; Davidson v. New Orleans, 96 U. S., 97, 24 Law. ed., 616; Jones v. Robbins, 8 Gray, 329; Cooley, Const. Lim., 7th ed., 500; McGhee, Due Process of Law, 16.)"
"‘En la causa de los Estados Unidos contra Ling Su Fan, 10 Jur. Fil., 104, 111, 112, se da el siguiente significado de la frase "debidido proceso de ley:"
"‘Debidido proceso de ley’ equivale a proceder con arreglo a la ley del pais. "Debido proceso de ley" no significa que la ley ha de acomodarse al deseo de todos los habitantes del pais, sino simplemente:jgc:chanrobles.com.ph
"‘Primero. Que haya una ley prescrita en harmonia con los poderes generales del roder legislativo del Estado;
" "’Segundo. Que esta ley sea razonable en sus efectos;
" "Tercero. Que se haga cumplir de conforrnidad con los metodos regulales de procedirniento prescritos al efecto; y
" "’Cuarto. Que sea del mismo modo aplicable a todos los ciudadanos del Estado o a todos los de una misma clase." "’
Un abogado no puede contestar a la querella en nombre del acusado. La contestacion de "culpable" debe hacerse por el acusado perscnalmente. (Regla 114, seccion 3.) Esta disposicion es mandatoria. Solamente cuando se trataba de una falta se permitia a un abogado contestar en lugar del acusado. (Orden General No. 58, seccion 16.) En el asunto de Estados Unidos contra Gimenez (34 Jur. Fil., 76), el acusado al ser informado de la querella por matrimonio ilegal, se declaro no culpable. Se celebro la vista. Despues de declarar tres testigos de cargo, se suspendio la vista hasta el dia siguiente. Al reanudarse, el defensor anuncio que despues de conferenciar con el acusado "este desea retirar su contestacion a la querella de ’no culpable’ sustituyendola por la de ’culpable.’"
"‘El Juzgado. Hagase constar que el abogado de la defensa pide que sea retirada la contestacion de ’no culpable’ dada por el acusado. tustituyendola por la de ’culpable." ’
"Inmediatamente el Juez dicto la siguiente sentencia:jgc:chanrobles.com.ph
"‘Habiendose confesado culpable Gregorio Gimenez del delito de matrimonio ilegal, previsto y penado en el articulo 471 del Codigo Penal, el Juzgado le condena a seis anos y un dia de prision mayor, con las accesorias del articulo 61 y al pago de las costas procesales." (34 Jur. Fil., 77.)
Apelado el asunto, este Tribunal declaro que la sentencia era nula basada en la declaracion de culpable hecha por otra persona que no era el mismo acusado.
En delito tan grave como el de homicidio, no debe privarsele al acusado de su derecho esencial de contestar por si mismo a la querella. Se hace mas evidente la importancia de esta disposicion si se tiene en cuenta que muchos de los acusados no hablan el lenguaje oficial que se usa en la vista.
En el asunto de Villegas contra Roldan y Almario (76 Phil., 349), porque no se dio oportunidad a la demandada en la eausa GiVil No. 7802 del Juzgado de Primera Instancia de Laguna a presental su contestacion a la dennanda y ser oida en juicio, este Tribunal declaro nula abinitio la decision dictada y que el Juez recurrido no abuso de su discrecion, ni obro sin jurisdiccion al revocar dicha decision aunque habia transcurrido con exceso el plazo de apelacion. No podia ella ser privacla de sus bienes por una sentencia dictada sin debido proceso legal.
En el asunto de Monfort contra Aguinaldo (p. 67, Ante), este Tribunal revoco la segunda decision dictada por el Tribunal de Apelacion porque no se le dio oportunidad al demandante de presentar su contestacion a la mocion de reconsideracion. Si en causas civiles se declara nula la sentencia dictada contra una parte que ha sido privada de su derecho de ser oida o tener "a day in court" con mayor raz,in en una causa criminal no se debe dictar ninguna sentencia condenatoria contra un individuo que no ha dado personalmente la contestacion de culpabilidad. Y en este caso particular, el acusado no ha sido informado debidamente de la presunta querella enmendada a menos que tal querella haya sido "oral", no escrita. Aun en los Juzgados de Paz — que no son tribunales de archivo — no se perlnite la practica de presentar querella "no escrita" contra un acusado. Toda la actuacion desde la componenda entre el fiscal y el defensor de que se presentaria una querella enmendada — que nunca se presento — hasta la encarcelacion del acusado para cumplir una sentencia nula y de ningun valor, es anticonstitucional.
Si el acusado no apelo apesar de haber transcurrido dos meses y medio no puede atribuirse la culpa mas que a su abogado y si el abogado no formulo la apelacion correspondiente sera porque temia que, revisado el expidiente tal como esta hoy, la sentencia se hubiera revocado por nula y de ningun valor.
El recurrente, por tanto, no esta legalmente detenido. Sin debido proceso legal esta privado de su libertad. Debe ordenarse su inmediata liberacion.
PERFECTO, J., dissenting:chanrob1es virtual 1aw library
On July 31, 1946, petitioner was charged with the crime of murder, allegedly committed on July 6, 1946.
On August 20, 1946, the accused was arraigned. His attorney made the statement that he advised the prosecution of the fact that provocation came from the victim, and that the information ought to be amended. The information without the amendment was read, and the accused entered a plea of not guilty.
The following is the transcript of the stenographic notes taken during the hearing on August 30, 1946:
The respondent, in his return, alleges that the petitioner is at present confined in the Iwahig Penal Colony of the Bureau of Prisons pursuant to a commitment order and judgment of the Court of First Instance of Manila dated August 31, 1946, issued in the exercise of its jurisdiction.
Section 13 of Rule 102 reads:jgc:chanrobles.com.ph
"When the return evidence, and when only a plea. — If it appears that the prisoner is in custody under a warrant of commitment in pursuance of law, the return shall be considered prima facie evidence of the cause of restraint; but if he is restrained of his liberty by any alleged private authority, the return shall be considered only as a pea of the facts therein set forth, and the party claiming the custody must prove such facts."cralaw virtua1aw library
And section 4 of the same Rule provides in part:jgc:chanrobles.com.ph
"Wen writ not allowed or discharge authorized. — If it appears that the person alleged to be restrained of his liberty is in the custody of an officer under process issued by a court or judge, or by virtue of a judgment or order of a court of record, and that the court or judge had jurisdiction to issue the process, render the judgment, or make the order, the writ shall not be allowed; . . . ."cralaw virtua1aw library
These provisions are self-explanatory. The trial court had jurisdiction over the offense and of the person of the accused, and, therefore, it had jurisdiction to try the case and render judgment therein. The allegation, if true, that the judgment of conviction was rendered without a plea of guilty properly entered by the accused to the lesser offense of homicide, is merely a defect of procedure, not of jurisdiction, though it may have the effect of voiding the judgment. And this error of procedure cannot be reviewed in habeas corpus proceedings wherein the only issue is whether or not the petitioner is entitled to release. And the petitioner is not entitled to release even if we have power to set aside the judgment upon the ground aforementioned, for, in such event, the proper procedure would be to reopen the criminal case and order the trial court to proceed further as if no judgment has ever been entered therein, that is, it must arraign the accused for the lesser offense of homicide after the information is duly amended, then try the case if the accused pleads not guilty, and the latter in the meantime should remain in confinement if he is not on bail. But this correction of procedure can be done only in an appeal or in an action for certiorari wherein the trial court is made respondent and is amenable to our orders.
It appears, upon the other hand, that there are in this case enough grounds for disbelieving petitioner’s theory to the effect that he had not been duly arraigned for the lesser offense of homicide nor pleaded guilty thereto. The trial judge himself expressly states in his judgment that the accused "pleaded guilty to the crime of homicide," and the deputy clerk of court in her affidavit assures that she rearranged the accused for the lesser offense on August 30, 1946, and that the accused pleaded guilty. All this is corroborated by the circumstance that the accused failed to protest in time against the judgment of conviction either by filing a motion for reconsideration or interposing an appeal. His petition for habeas corpus was filed three months and a half after notice of his conviction and this passive attitude is an indication of conformity with the proceedings and that the petition is but an afterthought.
Petitioner offered his mother’s affidavit and that of Sinforoso Pilares to substantiate his theory that there had been no rearrangement nor plea of guilty. His mother does not know how to sign her name and it is doubtful whether she had enough understanding to distinguish in a court proceeding what .s an arraignment and a plea of guilty. Pilares’ affidavit seems to admit impliedly that there has been "rearrangement of Ramon Domingo y Reyes, in connection with the killing of Benito Espiritu alias Fidel" but that "Ramon Domingo y Reyes was not asked by the Judge to plead himself guilty to the crime of homicide nor did he utter any word during the proceedings."cralaw virtua1aw library
Another evidence presented by the accused is the silence of the transcript on his plea of guilty. That silence cannot, however, prevail over the positive assertion made to the contrary by the trial judge and the clerk of court. And, besides, the stenographer may take note of the plea of guilty entered by an accused, but he is not bound to do so, that proceeding being a proper subject matter for the minutes to be entered by the clerk of court.
For all the foregoing, petition is dismissed for lack of merits, without costs.
Feria, Bengzon, Briones, Padilla and Tuason, JJ., concur.
Separate Opinions
PABLO, M., disidente:chanrob1es virtual 1aw library
No estoy conforme con la decision de la mayoria. El acusado al ser informado de la querella en Agosto 20, 1946 por asesinato se declaro no culpable. Al reanudarse la vista en Agosto 30, hubo un acuerdo entre el fiscal y el defensor de que se enmendaria la querella; que se le acusaria del delito de homicidio en vez de asesinato y que el acusado se cleclararia culpable. El expediente demuestra que no se enmendo la querella por asesinato; no existe una querella enmendada por homicidio; no se le informo al acusado de la querella enmendada porque no existe tal cosa en el expediente, y el acusado no se declaro culpable. La mejor prueba de esta declaracion hubiera sido el acta del Escribano Delegado que asistio en la vista y no su affidavit que ha sido filmado, jurado y presentado despues ya de presentada la solicitud de habeas corpus ante este Tribunal. Ese affidavit es oficioso y su fin es evidente: subsanar el defecto sustancial de la actuacion. De todo lo dicho se vera que el acusado ha sido condenado sin el debido proceso de ley. "No se le hara responder de un acto punible a persona alguna sino mediante el debido proceso legal." (Titulo III, articulo 15, Constitucion de la Republica de Filipinas.)
En la causa de Jose contra Comandante de la Es cuadra de los Estados Unidos en Filipinas (16 Jur. Fil 64), este Tribunal dijo:jgc:chanrobles.com.ph
"‘En el asunto de Twining v. New Jersey, 29 Supreme Court Reporter 14, 20, el Megistrado Moody dice acerca del "debido proceso de ley:"
"‘Pocas frases de la ley son tan dificiles de exacta comprension como esta. Sin duda las dificultades de determinar su alcance han sido aumentadas por la jurisprudencia americana donde se ha incor porado en las constituciones y aplicado a nuevos usos como limitacion a las facultades legislativas. Este Tribunal ha rehusado siempre dar una definicion comprensiva de esta frase, y ha preferido que su ver dadera significacion sea gradualmente determinada por el procedimiento de inclusion y exclusion, en el curso de la resolucion de casos, a medida que surgen. Hay ciertos principios generales bien reconocidos, sin embargo, que estrechan el campo de la discusion y pueden servir de ayuda para llegar a conclusiones exactas. Estos principios nacen de la proposicion universalmente aceptada por los tribunales americanos siguiendo la autoridad de Coke, de que las palabras ’de bido proceso de ley’ equivalen en su significacion a las palabras ’ley del territorio’ contenidas en aquel capitulo de la Carta Magna que dispone que ’ningun hombre libre sera detenido, preso o privado de su existencia; ni le perseguiremos, ni le molestaremos, sino en virtud da sentencia legal dictada por sus peers, o de la ley del territorio.’ (Den ex dem, Murray v. Hoboken Lar.d & Improv. Co., 18 Howw., 272; 15 Law. ed., 372; Davidson v. New Orleans, 96 U. S., 97, 24 Law. ed., 616; Jones v. Robbins, 8 Gray, 329; Cooley, Const. Lim., 7th ed., 500; McGhee, Due Process of Law, 16.)"
"‘En la causa de los Estados Unidos contra Ling Su Fan, 10 Jur. Fil., 104, 111, 112, se da el siguiente significado de la frase "debidido proceso de ley:"
"‘Debidido proceso de ley’ equivale a proceder con arreglo a la ley del pais. "Debido proceso de ley" no significa que la ley ha de acomodarse al deseo de todos los habitantes del pais, sino simplemente:jgc:chanrobles.com.ph
"‘Primero. Que haya una ley prescrita en harmonia con los poderes generales del roder legislativo del Estado;
" "’Segundo. Que esta ley sea razonable en sus efectos;
" "Tercero. Que se haga cumplir de conforrnidad con los metodos regulales de procedirniento prescritos al efecto; y
" "’Cuarto. Que sea del mismo modo aplicable a todos los ciudadanos del Estado o a todos los de una misma clase." "’
Un abogado no puede contestar a la querella en nombre del acusado. La contestacion de "culpable" debe hacerse por el acusado perscnalmente. (Regla 114, seccion 3.) Esta disposicion es mandatoria. Solamente cuando se trataba de una falta se permitia a un abogado contestar en lugar del acusado. (Orden General No. 58, seccion 16.) En el asunto de Estados Unidos contra Gimenez (34 Jur. Fil., 76), el acusado al ser informado de la querella por matrimonio ilegal, se declaro no culpable. Se celebro la vista. Despues de declarar tres testigos de cargo, se suspendio la vista hasta el dia siguiente. Al reanudarse, el defensor anuncio que despues de conferenciar con el acusado "este desea retirar su contestacion a la querella de ’no culpable’ sustituyendola por la de ’culpable.’"
"‘El Juzgado. Hagase constar que el abogado de la defensa pide que sea retirada la contestacion de ’no culpable’ dada por el acusado. tustituyendola por la de ’culpable." ’
"Inmediatamente el Juez dicto la siguiente sentencia:jgc:chanrobles.com.ph
"‘Habiendose confesado culpable Gregorio Gimenez del delito de matrimonio ilegal, previsto y penado en el articulo 471 del Codigo Penal, el Juzgado le condena a seis anos y un dia de prision mayor, con las accesorias del articulo 61 y al pago de las costas procesales." (34 Jur. Fil., 77.)
Apelado el asunto, este Tribunal declaro que la sentencia era nula basada en la declaracion de culpable hecha por otra persona que no era el mismo acusado.
En delito tan grave como el de homicidio, no debe privarsele al acusado de su derecho esencial de contestar por si mismo a la querella. Se hace mas evidente la importancia de esta disposicion si se tiene en cuenta que muchos de los acusados no hablan el lenguaje oficial que se usa en la vista.
En el asunto de Villegas contra Roldan y Almario (76 Phil., 349), porque no se dio oportunidad a la demandada en la eausa GiVil No. 7802 del Juzgado de Primera Instancia de Laguna a presental su contestacion a la dennanda y ser oida en juicio, este Tribunal declaro nula abinitio la decision dictada y que el Juez recurrido no abuso de su discrecion, ni obro sin jurisdiccion al revocar dicha decision aunque habia transcurrido con exceso el plazo de apelacion. No podia ella ser privacla de sus bienes por una sentencia dictada sin debido proceso legal.
En el asunto de Monfort contra Aguinaldo (p. 67, Ante), este Tribunal revoco la segunda decision dictada por el Tribunal de Apelacion porque no se le dio oportunidad al demandante de presentar su contestacion a la mocion de reconsideracion. Si en causas civiles se declara nula la sentencia dictada contra una parte que ha sido privada de su derecho de ser oida o tener "a day in court" con mayor raz,in en una causa criminal no se debe dictar ninguna sentencia condenatoria contra un individuo que no ha dado personalmente la contestacion de culpabilidad. Y en este caso particular, el acusado no ha sido informado debidamente de la presunta querella enmendada a menos que tal querella haya sido "oral", no escrita. Aun en los Juzgados de Paz — que no son tribunales de archivo — no se perlnite la practica de presentar querella "no escrita" contra un acusado. Toda la actuacion desde la componenda entre el fiscal y el defensor de que se presentaria una querella enmendada — que nunca se presento — hasta la encarcelacion del acusado para cumplir una sentencia nula y de ningun valor, es anticonstitucional.
Si el acusado no apelo apesar de haber transcurrido dos meses y medio no puede atribuirse la culpa mas que a su abogado y si el abogado no formulo la apelacion correspondiente sera porque temia que, revisado el expidiente tal como esta hoy, la sentencia se hubiera revocado por nula y de ningun valor.
El recurrente, por tanto, no esta legalmente detenido. Sin debido proceso legal esta privado de su libertad. Debe ordenarse su inmediata liberacion.
PERFECTO, J., dissenting:chanrob1es virtual 1aw library
On July 31, 1946, petitioner was charged with the crime of murder, allegedly committed on July 6, 1946.
On August 20, 1946, the accused was arraigned. His attorney made the statement that he advised the prosecution of the fact that provocation came from the victim, and that the information ought to be amended. The information without the amendment was read, and the accused entered a plea of not guilty.
The following is the transcript of the stenographic notes taken during the hearing on August 30, 1946:
"RESUMPTION OF THE PROCEEDINGS ON AUGUST 30, 1946,
IN THE MORNING
Appearances:jgc:chanrobles.com.ph
"Assistant City Fiscal Guillermo Dacumos, for the prosecution;
and,
"Attorney Celestino de Dios, for the defense.
"Sr. De Dios:jgc:chanrobles.com.ph
"El Agosto 26 yo he presentado una carta al Fiscal diciendo que la acusacion tenia entremanos . . . diciendo que con las pruebas no es de asesinato sino homicidio, y considerando la declaracion espontanea de culpabilidad y la falta de instruccion del acusado y sumision a las autoridades con estas circunstancias el acuaado se declara culpable del delito de homicidio.
Fiscal:jgc:chanrobles.com.ph
"I read over this case and I have no evidence to sustain the murder charge and we are willing to agree to the plea of guilty of the accused, that is homicide.
Court:jgc:chanrobles.com.ph
"With the mitigating circumstance of plea of guilty and voluntary surrender . . .
