FLEURDELIZ B. ORGANO, petitioner, vs. SANDIGANBAYAN an !"e #AIL $ARDEN OF %ANILA, respondents.
&ANGANIBAN, J.: Under Republic Act (RA) No. 8249, the Sandiganbaan has !urisdiction over accused public o""icials onl #hen the occup positions corresponding to Salar $rade 2% or higher. &hus, RA %'8', inso"ar as it provided that all prosecutions "or plunder "ell #ithin the Sandiganbaan(s !urisdiction, #as i)pliedl repealed. The Case *e"ore us is a +etition "or Habeas Corpus under Rule ,'2 o" the Rules o" -ourt, praing that this -ourt direct the !ail #arden o" .anila to produce the bod o" petitioner(s )other, /ilia *. 0rgano, and to set her at libert #ithout dela. 1arlier, the accused had been detained, pursuant to a 2arrant o" Arrest issued b the Sandiganbaan 1 in connection #ith an 3n"or)ation ' "or plunder dated August ,4, ,99% and doc4eted as -ri)inal -ase No. 24,''. +etitioner )aintains that the 2arrant #as invalid, because that court had no !urisdiction over her )other. The Facts &he "acts o" the case, as su))ari5ed b the 0""ice o" the Solicitor $eneral, are as "ollo#s6 3n an 3n"or)ation "iled be"ore the Sandiganbaan on August ,7, ,99%, 8o)inga S. .analili, &eopisto A. Sapitula, 9ose 8+. .arcelo, /ilia *. 0rgano, $il R. 1rencio, Renaldo S. 1nri:ue5 and /uis S. Se, 9r. #ere charged #ith the violation o" RA No. %'8' (+lunder) co))itted as "ollo#s6 &hat on or about '7 Nove)ber ,99;, or so)eti)e prior or subse:uent thereto, in <ue5on -it, +hilippines and #ithin the !urisdiction o" this =onorable -ourt, accused 8o)inga S. .analili, &eo"isto A. Sapitula, 9oel 8+. .arcelo, /ilia *. 0rgano, being then public o""icers and ta4ing advantage o" their o""icial positions as e)ploees o" the *ureau o" 3nternal Revenue, Region %, <ue5on -it, and $il R. 1rencio, Renaldo S. 1nri:ue5 and /uis S. Se, 9r., con()*r*n+, con,ab-.a!*n+ an con,eera!*n+ /*!" one ano!"er, did then and there #il"ull, unla#"ull and cri)inall a)ass and ac:uire "unds belonging to the National $overn)ent b opening an unauthori5ed ban4 account #ith the /andban4 o" the +hilippines, 2est &riangle *ranch, 8ili)an, <ue5on -it, "or and in behal" o" the *ureau o" 3nternal Revenue and deposit therein )one belonging to the govern)ent o" the +hilippines, consisting o" revenue ta> pa)ents then #ithdra# there"ro) the su) o" +esos6 0ne =undred Ninet &hree .illion ?ive =undred Si>t ?ive &housand Sevent Nine @ ;4A,'' (+,9B,7;7,'%9.;4) +hilippine -urrenc, bet#een Nove)ber, ,99; to ?ebruar, ,99%, #ithout proper authorit, through chec4s )ade paable to the)selves andAor the sole proprietorship "ir)s o" the aboveCna)ed private persons, thereb succeeding in m*(a))ro)r*a!*n+, con0er!*n+, m*(-(*n+ an1or ma.0er(*n+ (a* )-b.*c ,-n( !an!amo-n! !o a ra* on !"e )-b.*c !rea(-r2, !o !"e*r o/n )er(ona. +a*n(, a0an!a+e( an bene,*!(, !o !"e ama+e an )re3-*ce o, !"e +o0ernmen! *n !"e a,ore(!a!e amo-n!. -0N&RARD &0 /A2. &he 3n"or)ation, doc4eted as -ri)inal -ase No. 24,'', #as ra""led to the ?irst 8ivision o" the Sandiganbaan. 0n August 2', ,99%, /ilia *. 0rgano "iled a .otion to <uash 3n"or)ation "or lac4 o" !urisdiction and to de"er the issuance o" a #arrant o" arrest. &herea"ter, #ith the creation o" EtheF 4th and 7th 8ivisions o" the Sandiganbaan, the case #as unloaded to the respondent court, 4th 8ivision. 0n Septe)ber 29, ,99%, respondent court issued a #arrant o" arrest against the accused in -ri)inal -ase No. 24,''. 0n 0ctober ,, ,99%, 0rgano "iled an Urgent .otion to Recall and Aor <uash 2arrant o" Arrest +ending Resolution on the 3ssue o" /ac4 o" 9urisdiction and 0ther 3ncidents. &he )otion #as opposed b the prosecution. 3n a Resolution dated Nove)ber 2', ,99%, respondent court denied 0rgano(s )otion. 0n 8ece)ber 9, ,99%, 0rgano "iled #ith the respondent court a .otion "or Reconsideration o" the Nove)ber 2', ,99% Resolution. 0n April 28, ,998, respondent court denied 0rgano(s .otion "or Reconsideration ruling as "ollo#s6 &he .otion "or Reconsideration dated 8ece)ber 9, ,99% "iled b accused /ilia 0rgano, through counsel, is hereb denied, there being no valid and co)pelling reason to set aside our Resolution dated Nove)ber 28, ,99% dening her .otion to <uash 3n"or)ation "or /ac4 o" 9urisdiction. *esides, accused )ovant is still a "ugitive "ro) !ustice and continues to evade arrest so that !urisdiction over her person has not et been ac:uired b this -ourt. =ence, )ovant 0rgano has no right to "ile #ith this -ourt her said .otion to <uash #hich #as denied, and subse:uentl her sub!ect .otion "or Reconsideration. .ovant 0rgano should "irst surrender and place her person under the !urisdiction o" this -ourt be"ore she )a "ile an "urther pleading #ith this -ourt. 2ith the denial o" her .otion "or Reconsideration, 0rgano "iled be"ore the Supre)e -ourt a petition "or certiorari and prohibition under Rule ;7 o" the Rules o" -ourt against herein respondents +eople o" the +hilippines and the 4th 8ivision o" the Sandiganbaan. +etitioner alleges in the )ain that respondent court has no !urisdiction over a case o" plunder i" the o""icials or e)ploees "all belo# salar grade 2% and that respondent court gravel abused its discretion a)ounting to lac4 o" !urisdiction in "ailing to act on her )otion to <uash be"ore issuing a #arrant o" arrest. . . . . 2ith the #arrant o" arrest issued b the respondent court, 0rgano #as arrested and detained b the National *ureau o" 3nvestigation in its detention cell. &herea"ter, she #as trans"erred to the .anila -it 9ail. 3 The Issue +etitioner sub)its this sole issue "or the consideration o" the -ourt6 Doe( !"e Re()onen! 4o-r!, !"e 5onorab.e San*+anba2an, "a0e 3-r*(*c!*on o0er a ca(e o, ).-ner /"en none o, !"e acc-(e occ-)2 Sa.ar2 Grae 6'76 or "*+"er a( )ro0*e -ner Re)-b.*c Ac! No. 6789 . . . 4 The Court's Ruling &he +etition is )eritorious. Sole Issue6 Jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan +etitioner contends that the Sandiganbaan has no !urisdiction to hear -ri)inal -ase No. 24,'' and to issue a #arrant o" arrest therein. &rue, Section B o" Republic Act %'8', the la# penali5ing plunder, states that GEuFntil other#ise provided b la#, all prosecutions under this Act shall be #ithin the original !urisdiction o" the Sandiganbaan.G 2hen the cri)e charged #as allegedl co))itted, ho#ever, alread in e""ect #ere RA %9%7 8 and RA 8249, 6 #hich con"ined the Sandiganbaan(s !urisdiction to public o""icials #ith Salar $rade 2% or higher. Since not one o" the accused occupies such position, the Sandiganbaan has no !urisdiction over -ri)inal -ase No. 24,''. 2e agree. &he Sandiganbaan(s !urisdiction over petitioner(s )other and the other accused in -ri)inal -ase No. 24,'' has been resolved b the Supre)e -ourt in Lilia B. rgano !. Sandiganbayan. 7 3n that case, #e ruled that 6!"e San*+anba2an "a( no 3-r*(*c!*on o0er !"e cr*me o, ).-ner -n.e(( comm*!!e b2 )-b.*c o,,*c*a.( an em).o2ee( occ-)2*n+ !"e )o(*!*on( /*!" Sa.ar2 Grae 6'76 or "*+"er, -ner !"e 4om)en(a!*on an &o(*!*on 4.a((*,*ca!*on Ac! o, 1999 :Re)-b.*c Ac! No. 6789; *n re.a!*on !o !"e*r o,,*ce.6 <"e 4o-r! e=).a*ne !"a! 6!"e cr*me o, 6).-ner6 e,*ne *n Re)-b.*c Ac! No. 7>9>, a( amene b2 Re)-b.*c Ac! No. 7689, /a( )ro0*(*ona..2 ).ace /*!"*n !"e 3-r*(*c!*on o, !"e San*+anba2an 6-n!*. o!"er/*(e )ro0*e b2 .a/.6 Re)-b.*c Ac! No. 9'49, enac!e on Febr-ar2 8, 1997, *( !"e ()ec*a. .a/ !"a! )ro0*e ,or !"e 3-r*(*c!*on o, !"e San*+anba2an 6otherwise6 !"an !"a! )re(cr*be *n Re)-b.*c Ac! No. 7>9>.6 :Em)"a(*( (-)).*e; &he 0""ice o" the Solicitor $eneral argues, ho#ever, that the San*+anba2an "a( 3-r*(*c!*on o0er ca(e( o, ).-ner, re+ar.e(( o, !"e )-b.*c o,,*c*a.?( (a.ar2 +rae. Ar+-*n+ !"a! a ()ec*a. .a/ /*.. )re0a*. o0er a (!a!-!e or .a/ o, +enera. a)).*ca!*on, *! ma*n!a*n( !"a! RA 9'49 )ro0*e( ,or !"e +enera. 3-r*(*c!*on o, !"e San*+anba2an, /"*.e RA 7>9> *( a ()ec*a. .a/ /"*c" ea.( /*!" !"e cr*me o, ).-ner. ?urther)ore, it avers that a Gclose perusal o" RA 9'49 /o-. ("o/ !"a! !"e .e+*(.a!-re * no! *n!en !o re)ea. or a.!er !"e )ro0*(*on( o, RA 7>9> a( re+ar( !"e 3-r*(*c!*on o, !"e San*+anba2an *n ca(e( o, ).-ner. 3n "act, Section 4 (a) sho#s the instances #herein the !urisdiction o" the Sandiganbaan is li)ited to those #here the accused public o""icial occupies a Salar $rade o" G2%G or above onl involves G"iolations of R# $%&'G, as a)ended, other#ise 4no#n as the AntiC$ra"t and -orrupt +ractices Act, Republic #ct (o. &$)', and Chapter &&* Section +* Title "II* Boo, II of the Re!ised -enal Code. Subsection (a) does not .ention cases in!ol!ing !iolations of R# )%/%. Necessaril, the !urisdiction o" the Sandiganbaan in cases relating to plunder is not sub!ect to the li)itations under Section 4 o" RA 8249. =ad the legislature intended to )odi" the !urisdiction o" the Sandiganbaan in cases involving plunder, it #ould not have le"t out Gcases involving violations o" RA %'8'G "ro) the enu)eration in Subsection (a) Section 4, RA 8249.G 9 <"e ar+-men! *( *ncorrec!. Section 4 o" RA 8249 is reproduced in "ull as "ollo#s6 Sec. 4. Jurisdiction. H &he Sandiganbaan shall e>ercise original !urisdiction in all cases involving6 a. Iiolations o" Republic Act No. B',9, as a)ended, other#ise 4no#n as the AntiC$ra"t and -orrupt +ractices Act, Republic Act No. ,B%9, and -hapter 33, Section 2, &itle I33 o" the Revised +enal -ode, #here one or )ore o" the principal accused are o""icials occuping the "ollo#ing positions in the govern)ent, #hether in a per)anent, acting or interi) capacit, at the ti)e o" the co))ission o" the o""ense6 (,) 0""icials o" the e>ecutive branch occuping the positions o" regional director and higher, other#ise classi"ied as grade G2%G and higher, o" the -o)pensation and +osition -lassi"ication Act o" ,989 (Republic Act No. ;%78), speci"icall including6 (a) +rovincial governors, viceCgovernors, )e)bers o" the sangguniang panlala#igan and provincial treasurers, assessors, engineers, and other provincial depart)ent headsJ (b) -it )aors, vice )aors, )e)bers o" the sangguniang panlungsod, cit treasurers, assessors, engineers, and other cit depart)ent heads. (c) 0""icials o" the diplo)atic service occuping the position o" consul and higherJ (d) +hilippine ar) and air "orce colonels, naval captains, and all o""icers o" higher ran4J (e) +N+ chie" superintendent and +N+ o""icers o" higher ran4J (") -it and provincial prosecutors and their assistants, and o""icials and prosecutors in the 0""ice o" the 0)buds)an and Special +rosecutorJ (g) +residents, directors or trustees, or )anagers o" govern)entCo#ned or controlled corporations, state universities or educational institutions or "oundationsJ (2) .e)bers o" -ongress and o""icials thereo" classi"ied as $rade G2%G and up under the -o)pensation and +osition -lassi"ication Act o" ,989J (B) .e)bers o" the !udiciar #ithout pre!udice to the provisions o" the -onstitutionJ (4) -hair)en and )e)bers o" -onstitutional -o))issions, #ithout pre!udice to the provisions o" the -onstitutionJ and a All other national and local o""icials classi"ied as $rade G2%G and higher under the -o)pensation and +osition -lassi"ication Act o" ,989. b. 0ther o""enses or "elonies #hether si)ple or co)ple>ed #ith other cri)es co))itted b the public o""icials and e)ploees )entioned in subsection (a) o" this section in relation to their o""ice. c. -ivil and cri)inal cases "iled pursuant to and in connection #ith 1>ecutive 0rder Nos. ,, 2, ,4 and ,4CA. 3n cases #here none o" the principal accused are occuping positions corresponding to salar grade G2%G or higher, as prescribed in the said Republic Act No. ;%78, or )ilitar and +N+ o""icers )entioned above, e>clusive !urisdiction thereo" shall be vested in the proper regional trial court, )etropolitan trial court, )unicipal trial court, and )unicipal circuit trial court, as the case )a be, pursuant to their respective !urisdictions as provided in *atas +a)bansa *lg. ,29. 3t is true that a violation o" RA %'8' penali5ing plunder is not )entioned in Section 4 (a) o" RA 8249. =o#ever, the cri)e "alls s:uarel under Section 4 (b), #hich #e again :uote belo#6 b. 0ther o""enses or "elonies #hether si)ple or co)ple>ed #ith other cri)es co))itted b the public o""icials and e)ploees )entioned in subsection (a) o" this section in relation to their o""ice. +lunder is clearl a cri)e co))itted b public o""icials in relation to their o""ice. =ence, there is no doubt that this cri)e is covered b Section 4 (b). 4.ear.2, RA 7>9> /a( *m).*e.2 re)ea.e b2 RA 9'49, (-c" !"a! )ro(ec-!*on( ,or ).-ner are co+n*@ab.e b2 !"e San*+anba2an on.2 /"en !"e acc-(e *( a )-b.*c o,,*c*a. /*!" Sa.ar2 Grae '7 or "*+"er. 1>plaining the e""ect o" RA 8249, the -ourt in -eople !. 0agallanes 9 has categoricall ruled that the Sandiganbaan has !urisdiction over public o""icials onl i" their positions "all under Salar $rade 2% or higher. As a conse:uence o" these a)end)ents, the Sandiganbaan partl lost its e>clusive original !urisdiction in cases involving violations o" R.A. No. B',9, as a)endedJ R.A. No. ,B%9, and -hapter 33, Section 2, &itle I33 o" the Revised +enal -ode. 3t retains onl cases #here the accused are those enu)erated in subsection a, Section 4 above and, generall, national and local o""icials classi"ied as $rade G2%G and higher under the -o)pensation and +osition -lassi"ication Act o" ,989 (R.A. No. ;%78). .oreover, its !urisdiction over other o""enses or "elonies co))itted b public o""icials and e)ploees in relation to their o""ice is no longer deter)ined b the prescribed penalt, !i1., that #hich is higher than prision correccional or i)prison)ent "or si> ears or a "ine o" +;,'''.''J it is enough that the are co))itted b those public o""icials and e)ploees enu)erated in subsection a, Section 4 above. =o#ever, it retains its e>clusive original !urisdiction over civil and cri)inal cases "iled pursuant to or in connection #ith 1.0. Nos. ,, 2, ,4, and ,4CA. .oreover, the -ourt in Rodrigo !. Sandiganbayan 1> has e>plained that the *n!en! o, 4on+re(( *n RA 9'49 /a( !o maAe Sa.ar2 Grae '7 !"e emarca!*on .*ne e!erm*n*n+ !"e 3-r*(*c!*on o, !"e San*+anba2an an o!"er co-r!(. <"e a))aren! *n!enmen! o, !"e(e amenmen!( *( !o ea(e !"e ocAe!( o, !"e San*+anba2an an !o a..o/ !"e An!*BGra,! 4o-r! !o ,oc-( *!( e,,or!( on !"e !r*a. o, !"o(e occ-)2*n+ "*+"er )o(*!*on( *n +o0ernmen!, !"e )ro0erb*a. 6b*+ ,*(".6 Section 4, as a)ended, "reed the Sandiganbaan "ro) the tas4 o" tring cases involving lo#erCra4ing govern)ent o""icials, i)posing such dut upon the regular courts instead. &he present structure is also intended to bene"it these o""icials o" lo#er ran4, especiall those residing outside .etro .anila, charged #ith cri)es related to their o""ice, #ho can illCa""ord the e>penses o" a trial in .etro .anila. As the 1>planator Note o" =ouse *ill No. 9827 states6 0ne is given the i)pression that onl lo#l govern)ent #or4ers or the soCcalled Gs)all "rG are e>pedientl tried and convicted b the Sandiganbaan. &he reason "or this is that at present, the Sandiganbaan has the e>clusive and original !urisdiction over gra"t cases co))itted b all o""icials and e)ploees o" the govern)ent, irrespective o" ran4 and position, "ro) the lo#estC paid !anitor to the highlCplaced govern)ent o""icial. &his !urisdiction o" the Sandiganbaan )ust be )odi"ied in such a #a that onl those occuping high positions in the govern)ent and the )ilitar (the big "ishes) )a "all under its e>clusive and original !urisdiction. 3n this #a, the Sandiganbaan can devote its ti)e to big ti)e cases involving the Gbig "ishesG in the govern)ent. &he regular courts #ill be vested #ith the !urisdiction o" cases involving lessCran4ing o""icials (those occuping positions corresponding to salar grade t#entCseven (2%) and belo# and +N+ )e)bers #ith a ran4 lo#er than Senior Superintendent. &his setCup #ill prove )ore convenient to people in the provinces. &he #ill no longer have to travel to .anila to "ile their co)plaint or to de"end the)selves. &he can alread "ile their co)plaint or their de"ense be"ore the Regional &rial -ourt or the .unicipal &rial -ourt in their respective localities, as the case )a be. &o distinguish the Gbig "ishG "ro) the Gs)all "r,G -ongress dee)ed the 2%th $rade as the de)arcation bet#een those #ho should co)e under the !urisdiction o" the Sandiganbaan and those #ithin the regular courts. 2pilogue 8esperate people so)eti)es resort to desperate )ethods. 3n the present case, desperation )a have i)pelled this original action because petitioner #as "rantic to "ree her )other "ro) detention. 2hile #e understand her plight, #e )ust call attention to the "oll o" her act. 3nas)uch as a +etition "or Certiorari ($R No. ,BB7B7) raising the sa)e issue had alread been sub)itted b her )other be"ore the -ourt at the ti)e, the present +etition "or Habeas Corpus should not have been "iled at all. A )otion in $R No. ,BB7B7 as4ing "or .rs. 0rgano(s release #ould have acco)plished the sa)e result even )ore e>peditiousl and #ould have avoided the double ve>ation on this -ourt(s ti)e and attention. 2hile the ele)ents o" "oru) shopping )a not be present because the herein petitioner #as not a part in $R No. ,BB7B7, still #e )ust e>press our displeasure at the atte)pt to ve> this -ourt t#ice "or the sa)e relie". =ence, though granted relie", petitioner is assessed costs. 2=1R1?0R1, the +etition is $RAN&18 and the .anila !ail #arden is 0R81R18 to i))ediatel release /ilia *. 0rgano "ro) custod, unless a valid in"or)ation has been "iled in the proper court and a #arrant "or her arrest properl issued. -osts against petitioner. S0 0R81R18.