Rubrico v Arroyo

7/25/2019 Rubrico v Arroyo

1/23

Republic of the Philippines

SUPREME COURT

Manila

EN BANC

LOURDES D. RUBRICO, JEAN

RUBRICO APRUEBO, and MARY

JOY RUBRICO CARBONEL,

Petitioners,

- versus -

GLORIA MACAPAGAL-

ARROYO, GEN. HERMOGENES

ESPERON, P/DIR. GEN.AVELINO RAZON, MAJ.

DARWIN SY a.k.a. DARWIN

REYES, JIMMY SANTANA,

RUBEN ALARO, CAPT.

ANGELO CUARESMA, a !"#$a%n

JONATHAN, P/SUPT. EDGAR B.

G.R. N&. '()(*'

Present

PUNO, C.J.,

CARP!O,

CORONA,

CARP!O MORA"ES,

#E"ASCO, $R%,

NAC&URA,

"EONAR'O-'E CASTRO,

BR!ON,


2/23

RO+UERO, ARSENIO C.

GOMEZ, and OICE O THE

OMBUDSMAN,

Respon(ents%

PERA"TA,)

BERSAM!N,

'E" CAST!""O,

ABA',

#!""ARAMA, $R%,

PERE*, an(

MEN'O*A,JJ%

Pro+ulate(

ebruar. /0, 12/2

3-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3

D E C I S I O N

VELASCO, JR., J.

!n this petition for revie4 un(er Rule 56 of the Rules of Court in relation to

Section /7

8/9

of the Rule on the :rit of A+paro

819

;A+paro Rule


3/23

The petition for the 4rit of a+paro (ate( October 16, 122@ 4as oriinall.

file( before this Court% After issuin the (esire( 4rit an( (irectin the respon(ents

to file a verifie( 4ritten return, the Court referre( the petition to the CA for

su++ar. hearin an( appropriate action% The petition an( its attach+ents

containe(, in substance, the follo4in alleations

/% On April >, 122@, ar+e( +en belonin to the >2/stAir

!ntellience an( Securit. Sua(ron ;A!SS, for short< base( in ernan(o

Air Base in "ipa Cit. ab(ucte( "our(es '% Rubrico ;"our(es% A 4ee= after "our(es release, another (auhter, $ean R%

Apruebo ;$ean


4/23

5% "our(es has file( 4ith the Office of the O+bu(s+an a cri+inal

co+plaint for =i(nappin an( arbitrar. (etention an( a(+inistrative

co+plaint for ross abuse of authorit. an( rave +iscon(uct aainst

Capt% Anelo Cuares+a ;Cuares+a


5/23

;ans4erin respon(ents, collectivel.< file(, throuh the Office of the Solicitor

?eneral ;OS?


6/23

1% P/D%#. G"n. Ra&n- state( that an investiation he i++e(iatel.

or(ere( upon receivin a cop. of the petition is on-oin vis--vis

"our(es ab(uction, an( that a bac=roun( verification 4ith the PNP

Personnel Accountin an( !nfor+ation S.ste+ (isclose( that the na+es

Santana, Alfaro, Cuares+a an( one $onathan (o not appear in the police

personnel recor(s, althouh the PNP files carr. the na+e of 'ar4inRe.es F% Mua%

Per the initial investiation report of the 'as+arias +unicipal police

station, P'ir% ?en% RaDon (isclose(, "our(es 4as ab(ucte( b. si3 ar+e(

+en in the afternoon of April >, 122@ an( (rae( aboar( a To.ota Revo

4ith plate nu+ber GRR 510, 4hich plate 4as issue( for a Mitsubishi

van to AH Cottae !n(ustr. 4ith a((ress at 7 A+ster(a+ St%, Merville

Sub(%, Paraaue Cit.% The person resi(in in the apart+ent on that ivena((ress is one 'ariusEr4in See I 'arius Re.es allee(l. 4or=in, per

the latters house helper, in Ca+p Auinal(o%

P'ir% ?en% RaDon, ho4ever, be+oane( the fact that Mrs% Rubrico

never contacte( nor coor(inate( 4ith the local police or other

investiatin units of the PNP after her release, althouh she is in the

best position to establish the i(entit. of her ab(uctors an(or provi(e

positive (escription throuh co+posite s=etchin% Nonetheless, he+anifeste( that the PNP is rea(. to assist an( protect the petitioners an(

the =e. 4itnesses fro+ threats, harass+ents an( inti+i(ation fro+

4hatever source an(, at the sa+e ti+e, to assist the Court in the

i+ple+entation of its or(ers%8J9

>% P/S0$. R&10"#&state( con(uctin, upon receipt of "our(es

co+plaint, an investiation an( sub+ittin the correspon(in report to

the PNP CalabarDon, observin that neither "our(es nor her relativesprovi(e( the police 4ith relevant infor+ation

5% P/In. G&2"allee( that "our(es, her =in an( 4itnesses

refuse( to cooperate 4ith the investiatin Cavite PNP an(
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7/23

6% O3"#a44 D"0$5 O260d2an O#4and& Ca%2%#&- allee(

that cases for violation of Articles 1J@ an( /15, or =i(nappin an(

arbitrar. (etention, respectivel., have been file( 4ith, an( are un(er

preli+inar. investiation b. the OMB aainst those believe( to beinvolve( in "our(es =i(nappin that upon receipt of the petition for a

4rit of amparo, proper coor(ination 4as +a(e 4ith the Office of the

'eput. O+bu(s+an for the Militar. an( other "a4 Enforce+ent Offices

;MO"EO< 4here the subect cri+inal an( a(+inistrative co+plaints

4ere file(%

Co++entin on the return, petitioners pointe( out that the return 4as no +ore than

a eneral (enial of aver+ents in the petition% The., thus, plea(e( to be allo4e( to

present evi(ence ex parteaainst the Presi(ent, Santana, Alfaro, Capt% Cuares+a,

'ar4in S., an( $onathan% An( 4ith leave of court, the. also as=e( to serve notice

of the petition throuh publication, o4in to their failure to secure the current

a((ress of the latter five an( thus sub+it, as the CA reuire(, proof of service of

the petition on the+%

The hearin starte( on Nove+ber />, 122@%8@9!n that settin, petitioners counsel

pra.e( for the issuance of a te+porar. protection or(er ;TPO< aainst the

ans4erin respon(ents on the basis of the alleations in the petition% At the hearin

of Nove+ber 12, 122@, the CA rante( petitioners +otion that the petition an( 4rit

be serve( b. the courts process server on 'ar4in S.Re.es, Santana, Alfaro, Capt%

Cuares+a, an( $onathan%

The leal s=ir+ishes that follo4e( over the propriet. of e3clu(in Presi(ent

Arro.o fro+ the petition, petitioners +otions for service b. publication, an( the

issuance of a TPO are not of (ecisive pertinence in this recital% The botto+ line is

that, b. separate resolutions, the CA (roppe( the Presi(ent as respon(ent in the

case (enie( the +otion for a TPO for the courts 4ant of authorit. to issue it in the

tenor souht b. petitioners an( effectivel. (enie( the +otion for notice b.


8/23

publication o4in to petitioners failure to sub+it the affi(avit reuire( un(er Sec%

/@, Rule /5 of the Rules of Court%809

After (ue procee(ins, the CA ren(ere(, on $ul. >/, 1220, its partial u(+ent,subect of this revie4, (isposin of the petition but onl. insofar as the ans4erin

respon(ents 4ere concerne(% Thefalloof the CA (ecision rea(s as follo4s

WHEREORE, pre+ises consi(ere(, partial u(+ent is hereb.

ren(ere( DISMISSING the instant petition 4ith respect to respon(ent

?en% &er+oenes Esperon, P'ir% ?en% Avelino RaDon, Supt% E(ar B%

Rouero, PSr% !nsp% Arsenio C% ?o+eD ;ret%< an( the Office of the

O+bu(s+an%

Nevertheless, in or(er that petitioners co+plaint 4ill not en( up as

another unsolve( case, the hea(s of the Ar+e( orces of

the Philippines an( the Philippine National Police are (irecte( to ensure

that the investiations alrea(. co++ence( are (ilientl. pursue( to

brin the perpetrators to ustice% The Chief of Staff of the Ar+e( orces

of the Philippines an( P'ir% ?en% Avelino RaDon are (irecte( to

reularl. up(ate petitioners an( this Court on the status of theirinvestiation%

SO ORDERED%

!n this recourse, petitioners for+ulate the issue for resolution in the follo4in 4ise


9/23

:&ET&ER OR NOT the 8CA9 co++itte( reversible error in (is+issin

8their9 Petition an( (roppin Presi(ent ?loria Macapaal Arro.o as part.

respon(ent%

Petitioners first ta=e issue on the Presi(ents purporte( lac= of i++unit. fro+ suit

(urin her ter+ of office% The /70@ Constitution, so the. clai+, has re+ove( such

i++unit. heretofore eno.e( b. the chief e3ecutive un(er the /7>6 an( /7@>

Constitutions%

Petitioners are +ista=en% The presi(ential i++unit. fro+ suit re+ains preserve(

un(er our s.ste+ of overn+ent, albeit not e3pressl. reserve( in the present

constitution% A((ressin a concern of his co-+e+bers in the /70J Constitutional

Co++ission on the absence of an e3press provision on the +atter, r% $oauin

Bernas, S%$% observe( that it 4as alrea(. un(erstoo( in urispru(ence that the

Presi(ent +a. not be sue( (urin his or her tenure%879The Court subseuentl. +a(e

it abun(antl. clear inDaid . Ma!apagal"Arroyo, a case li=e4ise resolve( un(er

the u+brella of the /70@ Constitution, that in(ee( the Presi(ent eno.s i++unit.

(urin her incu+benc., an( 4h. this +ust be so

Settle( is the (octrine that the Presi(ent, (urin his tenure of office or

actual incu+benc., +a. not be sue( in an. civil or cri+inal case, an(

there is no nee( to provi(e for it in the Constitution or la4% !t 4ill

(era(e the (init. of the hih office of the Presi(ent, the &ea( of State,

if he can be (rae( into court litiations 4hile servin as such%

urther+ore, it is i+portant that he be free( fro+ an. for+ of

harass+ent, hin(rance or (istraction to enable hi+ to full. atten( to the

perfor+ance of his official (uties an( functions% Unli=e the leislative

an( u(icial branch, onl. one constitutes the e3ecutive branch an(

an.thin 4hich i+pairs his usefulness in the (ischare of the +an. reat

an( i+portant (uties i+pose( upon hi+ b. the Constitution necessaril.

i+pairs the operation of the ?overn+ent%8/293 3 3
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10/23

An( lest it be overloo=e(, the petition is si+pl. bereft of an. alleation as to 4hat

specific presi(ential act or o+ission violate( or threatene( to violate petitionersprotecte( rihts%

This brins us to the correctness of the assaile( (is+issal of the petition 4ith

respect to ?en% Esperon, P'ir% ?en% RaDon, PSupt% Rouero, P!nsp% ?o+eD, an(

the OMB%

None of the four in(ivi(ual respon(ents i++e(iatel. referre( to above has been

i+plicate( as bein connecte( to, let alone as bein behin(, the allee( ab(uction

an( harass+ent of petitioner "our(es% Their na+es 4ere not even +entione(

in "our(es #in$mpaang #alaysay8//9of April 122@% The sa+e oes for the

respective #in$mpaang #alaysayan(orKaragdagang #in$mpaang #alaysayof

$ean8/19an( Mar. $o.%8/>9

As e3plaine( b. the CA, ?en% Esperon an( P'ir% ?en% RaDon 4ere inclu(e(

in the case on the theor. that the., as co++an(ers, 4ere responsible for the

unla4ful acts allee(l. co++itte( b. their subor(inates aainst petitioners% To the

appellate court, the privilee of the 4rit of amparo+ust be (enie( as aainst ?en%

Esperon an( P'ir% ?en% RaDon for the si+ple reason that petitioners have not

presente( evi(ence sho4in that those 4ho allee(l. ab(ucte( an( illeall.

(etaine( "our(es an( later threatene( her an( her fa+il. 4ere, in fact, +e+bers of

the +ilitar. or the police force% The t4o enerals, the CAs hol(in broa(l. hinte(,

4oul( have been accountable for the ab(uction an( threats if the actual +alefactors

4ere +e+bers of the AP or PNP%

As rear(s the three other ans4erin respon(ents, the. 4ere i+plea(e(

because the. allee(l. ha( not e3erte( the reuire( e3traor(inar. (ilience in

investiatin an( satisfactoril. resolvin "our(es (isappearance or brinin to
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11/23

ustice the actual perpetrators of 4hat a+ounte( to a cri+inal act, albeit there 4ere

alleations aainst P!nsp% ?o+eD of acts constitutin threats aainst Mar. $o.%

:hile in a ualifie( sense tenable, the (is+issal b. the CA of the case as aainst?en% Esperon an( P'ir% ?en% RaDon is incorrect if vie4e( aainst the bac=(rop of

the state( rationale un(erpinnin the assaile( (ecision vis--vis the t4o

enerals, i%e%, co++an( responsibilit.% The Court assu+es the latter stance o4in

to the fact that co++an( responsibilit., as a concept (efine(, (evelope(, an(

applie( un(er international la4, has little, if at all, bearin in a+paro procee(ins%

The evolution of the co++an( responsibilit. (octrine fin(s its conte3t in the

(evelop+ent of la4s of 4ar an( ar+e( co+bats% Accor(in to r% Bernas,

co++an( responsibilit., in its si+plest ter+s, +eans the responsibilit. of

co++an(ers for cri+es co++itte( b. subor(inate +e+bers of the ar+e( forces or

other persons subect to their control in international 4ars or (o+estic conflict%8/59!n this sense, co++an( responsibilit. is properl. a for+ of cri+inal co+plicit.%

The &aue Conventions of /72@ a(opte( the (octrine of co++an( responsibilit.,8/69foresha(o4in the present-(a. precept of hol(in a superior accountable for the

atrocities co++itte( b. his subor(inates shoul( he be re+iss in his (ut. of control

over the+% As then for+ulate(, co++an( responsibilit. is an &2%%&n 2&d" &7

%nd%3%d0a4 !#%2%na4 4%a6%4%$5, 4hereb. the superior is +a(e responsible for!#%2"!&22%$$"db. his subor(inates for failin to prevent or punish the

perpetrators8/J9;as oppose( to cri+es he or(ere(


12/23

!t +a. plausibl. be conten(e( that co++an( responsibilit., as leal basis to

hol( +ilitar.police co++an(ers liable for e3tra-leal =illins, enforce(

(isappearances, or threats, +a. be +a(e applicable to this uris(iction on the

theor. that the co++an( responsibilit. (octrine no4 constitutes a principle of

international la4 or custo+ar. international la4 in accor(ance 4ith the

incorporation clause of the Constitution%81/9Still, it 4oul( be inappropriate to appl.

to these procee(ins the (octrine of co++an( responsibilit., as the CA see+e( to

have (one, as a for+ of cri+inal co+plicit. throuh o+ission, for in(ivi(ual

respon(ents cri+inal liabilit., if there be an., is be.on( the reach of a+paro% !n

other 4or(s, the Court (oes not rule in such procee(ins on an. issue of cri+inal

culpabilit., even if inci(entall. a cri+e or an infraction of an a(+inistrative rule

+a. have been co++itte(% As the Court stresse( in #e!retary of %ational Defense

. Manalo ;Manalo9Of the sa+e tenor, an( b. 4a.

of e3poun(in on the nature an( role of a+paro, is 4hat the Court sai( in&a'on .

(agitis

!t (oes not (eter+ine uilt nor pinpoint cri+inal culpabilit. for

the (isappearance 8threats thereof or e3tra-u(icial =illins9 it(eter+ines responsibility, or at least a!!o$ntability, for the enforce(

(isappearance 8threats thereof or e3tra-u(icial =illins9 for purposes of

i+posin the appropriate re+e(ies to a((ress the (isappearance 8or

e3tra-u(icial =illins9%

3 3 3 3

As the la4 no4 stan(s, e3tra-u(icial =illins an( enforce(

(isappearances in this uris(iction are not cri+es penaliDe( separatel.

fro+ the co+ponent cri+inal acts un(erta=en to carr. out these =illins

an( enforce( (isappearances an( are no4 penaliDe( un(er the Revise(

Penal Co(e an( special la4s% The si+ple reason is that the "eislature
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13/23

has not spo=en on the +atter the (eter+ination of 4hat acts are cri+inal

3 3 3 are +atters of substantive la4 that onl. the "eislature has the

po4er to enact%81593 3 3

!f co++an( responsibilit. 4ere to be invo=e( an( applie( to these

procee(ins, it shoul(, at +ost, be onl. to (eter+ine the author 4ho, at the first

instance, is accountable for, an( has the (ut. to a((ress, the (isappearance an(

harass+ents co+plaine( of, so as to enable the Court to (evise re+e(ial +easures

that +a. be appropriate un(er the pre+ises to protect rihts covere( b. the 4rit

of a+paro% As inti+ate( earlier, ho4ever, the (eter+ination shoul( not be pursue(

to fi3 cri+inal liabilit. on respon(ents preparator. to cri+inal prosecution, or as a

prelu(e to a(+inistrative (isciplinar. procee(ins un(er e3istin a(+inistrative

issuances, if there be an.%

Petitioners, as the CA has (eclare(, have not a((uce( substantial evi(ence

pointin to overn+ent involve+ent in the (isappearance of "our(es% To a

concrete point, petitioners have not sho4n that the actual perpetrators of the

ab(uction an( the harass+ents that follo4e( for+all. or infor+all. for+e( part of

either the +ilitar. or the police chain of co++an(% A preli+inar. police

investiation report, ho4ever, 4oul( ten( to sho4 a lin=, ho4ever haD., bet4een

the license plate ;GRR 510< of the vehicle allee(l. use( in the ab(uction of"our(es an( the a((ress of 'ar4in Re.esS., 4ho 4as allee( to be 4or=in in

Ca+p Auinal(o%8169Then, too, there 4ere affi(avits an( testi+onies on events that

transpire( 4hich, if ta=en toether, loicall. point to +ilitar. involve+ent in the

allee( (isappearance of "our(es, such as, but not li+ite( to, her ab(uction in

broa( (a.liht, her bein forcibl. (rae( to a vehicle blin(fol(e( an( then bein

brouht to a place 4here the soun(s of planes ta=in off an( lan(in coul( be

hear(% Mention +a. also be +a(e of the fact that "our(es 4as as=e( about her

+e+bership in the Co++unist Part. an( of bein release( 4hen she aree( to

beco+e an asset%

Still an( all, the i(entities an( lin=s to the AP or the PNP of the allee(

ab(uctors, na+el. Cuares+a, Alfaro, Santana, $onathan, an( S.Re.es, have .et to

be establishe(%


14/23

Base( on the separate s4orn state+ents of Ma% Paul Ciano81J9an( Technical

Sereant $ohn N% Ro+ano,81@9officer-in-chare an( a staff of the >2/stA!SS,

respectivel., none of the allee( ab(uctors of "our(es belone( to the >2/stA!SS

base( in San ernan(o Air Base% Neither 4ere the. +e+bers of an. unit of the

Philippine Air orce, per the certification 8109of Col% Raul 'i+atactac, Air orce

A(utant% An( as state( in the challene( CA (ecision, a verification 4ith the

Personnel Accountin an( !nfor+ation S.ste+ of the PNP .iel(e( the infor+ation

that, e3cept for a certain 'ar4in Re.es . Mua, the other allee( ab(uctors, i%e%,

Cuares+a, Alfaro, Santana an( $onathan, 4ere not +e+bers of the PNP%

Petitioners, 4hen iven the opportunit. to i(entif. Police Officer / 'ar4in Re.es

. Mua, +a(e no effort to confir+ if he 4as the sa+e Ma% 'ar4in

Re.es a%=%a%'ar4in S. the. 4ere i+plicatin in "our(es ab(uction%

Petitioners, to be sure, have not successfull. controverte( ans4erin

respon(ents (ocu+entar. evi(ence, a((uce( to (ebun= the for+ers alleations

(irectl. lin=in"our(es ab(uctors an( tor+entors to the +ilitar. or the police

establish+ent% :e note, in fact, that "our(es, 4hen uerie( on cross-e3a+ination,

e3presse( the belief that S.Re.es 4as an NB! aent%8179The Court is, of course,

a4are of 4hat 4as referre( to in&a'on8>29as the evi(entiar. (ifficulties presente(

b. the nature of, an( encountere( b. petitioners in, enforce( (isappearance cases%

But it is precisel. for this reason that the Court shoul( ta=e care too that no 4ron+essae is sent, lest one conclu(e that an. =in( or (eree of evi(ence, even the

outlan(ish, 4oul( suffice to secure a+paro re+e(ies an( protection%

Sec% /@, as co+ple+ente( b. Sec% /0 of the A+paro Rule, e3pressl.

prescribes the +ini+u+ evi(entiar. substantiation reuire+ent an( nor+ to

support a cause of action un(er the Rule, thus

Sec% /@%)$rden of *roof and #tandard of Diligen!e &e+$ired%The

parties shall "$a64%8 $8"%# !4a%2b. 06$an$%a4 "3%d"n!"%
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15/23

3 3 3 3

Sec% /0%J$dgment.3 3 3 !f the alleations in the petition are

proven b. 06$an$%a4 "3%d"n!", the court shall rant the privilee of the4rit an( such reliefs as +a. be proper an( appropriate &$8"#9%", $8"

#%3%4":" 8a44 6" d"n%"d% ;E+phasis a((e(%/9it

is +ore than a scintilla of evi(ence% !t +eans such a+ount of relevant evi(ence4hich a reasonable +in( +iht accept as a(euate to support a conclusion, even if

other euall. reasonable +in(s +iht opine other4ise%8>19Per the CAs evaluation

of their evi(ence, consistin of the testi+onies an( affi(avits of the three Rubrico

4o+en an( five other in(ivi(uals, petitioners have not satisfactoril. hur(le( the

evi(entiar. bar reuire( of an( assine( to the+ un(er the A+paroRule. !n a ver.

real sense, the bur(en of evi(ence never even shifte( to ans4erin

respon(ents% The Court fin(s no co+pellin reason to (isturb the appellate courts

(eter+ination of the ans4erin respon(ents role in the allee( enforce(

(isappearance of petitioner "our(es an( the threats to her fa+il.s securit.%

Not4ithstan(in the foreoin fin(ins, the Court notes that both ?en%

Esperon an( P'ir% ?en% RaDon, per their separate affi(avits, lost no ti+e, upon

their receipt of the or(er to +a=e a return on the 4rit, in issuin (irectives to the

concerne( units in their respective co++an(s for a thorouh probe of the case an(

in provi(in the investiators the necessar. support% As of this (ate, ho4ever, the

investiations have .et to be conclu(e( 4ith so+e (efinite fin(ins an(

reco++en(ation%

As rear(s PSupt% Ro+ero an( P!nsp% ?o+eD, the Court is +ore than

satisfie( that the. have no (irect or in(irect han( in the allee( enforce(

(isappearance of "our(esan( the threats aainst her (auhters% As police officers,


16/23

thouh, theirs 4as the (ut. to thorouhl. investiate the ab(uction of "our(es, a

(ut. that 4oul( inclu(e loo=in into the cause, +anner, an( li=e (etails of the

(isappearance i(entif.in 4itnesses an( obtainin state+ents fro+ the+ an(

follo4in evi(entiar. lea(s, such as the To.ota Revo vehicle 4ith plate nu+ber

GRR 510, an( securin an( preservin evi(ence relate( to the ab(uction an( the

threats that +a. ai( in the prosecution of the persons responsible% As 4e sai(

inManalo,8>>9the riht to securit., as a uarantee of protection b. the overn+ent,

is breache( b. the superficial an( one-si(e(hence, ineffectiveinvestiation b. the

+ilitar. or the police of reporte( cases un(er their uris(iction% As foun( b. the

CA, the local police stations concerne(, inclu(in PSupt% Rouero an( P!nsp%

?o+eD, (i( con(uct a preli+inar. fact-fin(in on petitioners co+plaint% The.

coul( not, ho4ever, +a=e an. hea(4a., o4in to 4hat 4as perceive( to be the

refusal of "our(es, her fa+il., an( her 4itnesses to cooperate% Petitioners counsel,

Att.% Re3 $%M%A% ernan(eD, provi(e( a plausible e3planation for his clients an(

their 4itnesses attitu(e, ;T8"5< d& n&$ $#0$ $8" :&3"#n2"n$ a:"n!%" $& #&$"!$$8"2%8>59The (ifficult. arisin fro+ a situation 4here the part. 4hose co+plicit.

in e3tra-u(icial =illin or enforce( (isappearance, as the case +a. be, is allee( to

be the sa+e part. 4ho investiates it is un(erstan(able, thouh%

The see+in reluctance on the part of the Rubricos or their 4itnesses to

cooperate ouht not to pose a hin(rance to the police in pursuin, on its o4n

initiative, the investiation in uestion to its natural en(% To repeat 4hat the Court

sai( inManalo, the riht to securit. of persons is a uarantee of the protection ofones riht b. the overn+ent% An( this protection inclu(es con(uctin effective

investiations of e3tra-leal =illins, enforce( (isappearances, or threats of the

sa+e =in(% The nature an( i+portance of an investiation are capture( in

the elas+$e' &odrig$e' case,8>69in 4hich the !nter-A+erican Court of &u+an

Rihts pronounce(

8The (ut. to investiate9 +ust be un(erta=en in a serious +anner

an( not as a +ere for+alit. preor(aine( to be ineffective% An

investiation +ust have an obective an( be assu+e( b. the State as its

o4n leal (ut.,n&$ a $" $ak"n 65 #%3a$" %n$"#"$ $8a$ d""nd

0&n $8" %n%$%a$%3" &7 $8" 3%!$%2or his fa+il. or upon offer of proof,

4ithout an effective search for the truth b. the overn+ent% ;E+phasis

a((e(%


17/23

This brins us to Mar. $o.s chare of havin been harasse( b. respon(ent

P!nsp% ?o+eD% :ith the vie4 4e ta=e of this inci(ent, there is nothin concrete tosupport the chare, save for Mar. $o.s bare alleations of harass+ent% :e cite 4ith

approval the follo4in self-e3planator. e3cerpt fro+ the appeale( CA (ecision

!n fact, (urin her cross-e3a+ination, 4hen as=e( 4hat specific

act or threat PSr% ?o+eD ;ret< co++itte( aainst her or her +other an(

sister, Mar. $o. replie( None8>J9

Si+ilarl., there appears to be no basis for petitioners alleations about the OMB

failin to act on their co+plaint aainst those 4ho allee(l. ab(ucte( an( illeall.

(etaine("our(es% Contrar. to petitioners contention, the OMB has ta=en the

necessar. appropriate action on sai( co+plaint% As culle( fro+ the affi(avit 8>@9of

the 'eput. Overall O+bu(s+an an( the oint affi(avits8>09of the (esinate(

investiators, all (ate( Nove+ber @, 122@, the OMB ha(, on the basis of sai(

co+plaint, co++ence( cri+inal8>79an( a(+inistrative8529procee(ins, (oc=ete( asOMB-P-C-2@-2J21-E an( OMB-P-A 2@-6J@-E, respectivel., aainst Cuares+a,

Alfaro, Santana, $onathan, an( S.Re.es% The reuisite or(ers for the sub+ission

of counter-affi(avits an( verifie( position papers ha( been sent out%

The privilee of the 4rit of a+paro, to reiterate, is a re+e(. available to

victi+s of e3tra-u(icial =illins an( enforce( (isappearances or threats of si+ilar

nature, rear(less of 4hether the perpetrator of the unla4ful act or o+ission is a

public official or e+plo.ee or a private in(ivi(ual%

At this uncture, it bears to state that petitioners have not provi(e( the CA 4ith the

correct a((resses of respon(ents Cuares+a, Alfaro, Santana, $onathan, an(

S.Re.es% The +aile( envelopes containin the petition for a 4rit of a+paro

in(ivi(uall. a((resse( to each of the+ have all been returne( unopene(% An(

petitioners +otion interpose( before the appellate court for notice or
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18/23

service via publication has not been acco+panie( b. supportin affi(avits as

reuire( b. the Rules of Court% Accor(inl., the appeale( CA partial

u(+ent(isposin of the un(erl.in petition for a 4rit of a+paro 4ithout ;/9Accor(inl., the re+e(. ouht to be resorte( to an(

rante( u(iciousl., lest the i(eal souht b. the A+paro Rule be (ilute( an(

un(er+ine( b. the in(iscri+inate filin of a+paro petitions for purposes less thanthe (esire to securea+paro reliefs an( protection an(or on the basis of

unsubstantiate( alleations%

!n their petition for a 4rit of a+paro, petitioners as=e(, as their +ain pra.er,

that the Court or(er the i+plea(e( respon(ents to i++e(iatel. (esist fro+ (oin

an. acts that 4oul( threaten or see+ to threaten the securit. of the Petitioners an(

to (esist fro+ approachin Petitioners, 3 3 3 their resi(ences an( offices 4here

the. are 4or=in un(er pain of conte+pt of 8this9 Court% Petitioners, ho4ever,faile( to a((uce the threshol( substantive evi(ence to establish the pre(icate facts

to support their cause of action, i%e%, the a(verte( harass+ents an( threats to their

life, libert., or securit., aainst respon(in respon(ents, as responsible for the

(isappearance an( harass+ents co+plaine( of% This is not to sa., ho4ever, that

petitioners alleation on the fact of the ab(uction inci(ent or harass+ent is

necessaril. contrive(% The realit. on the roun(, ho4ever, is that the +ilitar. or
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19/23

police connection has not been a(euatel. prove( either b. i(entif.in the

+alefactors as co+ponents of the AP or PNP or in case i(entification is not

possible, b. sho4in that the. acte( 4ith the (irect or in(irect acuiescence of the

overn+ent% or this reason, the Court is unable to ascribe the authorship of an(

responsibilit. for the allee( enforce( (isappearance of "our(es an( the

harass+ent an( threats on her (auhters to in(ivi(ual respon(ents% To this e3tent,

the (is+issal of the case aainst the+ is correct an( +ust, accor(inl., be

sustaine(%

Prescin(in fro+ the above consi(erations, the Court (istinctl. notes that

the appeale( (ecision veritabl. e3ten(e( the privilee of the 4rit of a+paro to

petitioners 4hen it rante( 4hat to us are a+paro reliefs% Consi(er the appellate

court (ecree(, an( rihtl. so, that the police an( the +ilitar. ta=e specific +easuresfor the protection of petitioners riht or threatene( riht to libert. or securit.% The

protection ca+e in the for+ of (irectives specificall. to ?en% Esperon an( P'ir%

?en% RaDon, reuirin each of the+ ;/< to ensure that the investiations alrea(.

co++ence( b. the AP an( PNP units, respectivel., un(er the+ on the co+plaints

of "our(es an( her (auhters are bein pursue( 4ith urenc. to brin to ustice the

perpetrators of the acts co+plaine( of an( ;1< to sub+it to the CA, cop. furnishe(

the petitioners, a reular report on the proress an( status of the investiations% The

(irectives obviousl. o to ?en% Esperon in his capacit. as hea( of the AP an(, in

a sense, chief uarantor of or(er an( securit. in the countr.% On the other han(,

P'ir% ?en% RaDon is calle( upon to perfor+ a (ut. pertainin to the PNP, a cri+e-preventin, investiator., an( arrestin institution%

As the CA, ho4ever, for+ulate( its (irectives, no (efinitive ti+e fra+e 4as

set in its (ecision for the co+pletion of the investiation an( the reportorial

reuire+ents% !t also faile( to consi(er ?en% Esperon an( P'ir% ?en% RaDons

i++inent co+pulsor. retire+ent fro+ the +ilitar. an( police services,

respectivel.% Accor(inl., the CA (irectives, as hereinafter re(efine( an( a+plifie(

to full. enforce the a+paro re+e(ies, are hereb. iven to, an( shall be (irectl.

enforceable aainst, 4hoever sits as the co++an(in eneral of the AP an( the

PNP%


20/23

At this stae, t4o postulates an( their i+plications nee( hihlihtin for a

proper (isposition of this case%

-irst, a cri+inal co+plaint for =i(nappin an(, alternativel., for arbitrar.(etention roote( in the sa+e acts an( inci(ents lea(in to the filin of the subect

a+paro petition has been institute( 4ith the OMB, (oc=ete( as OMB-P-C-O@-

2J21-E% The usual initial steps to (eter+ine the e3istence of aprima fa!iecase

aainst the five ;6< i+plea(e( in(ivi(uals suspecte( to be actuall. involve( in the

(etention of "our(es have been set in +otion% !t +ust be pointe( out, thouh, that

the filin8559of the OMB co+plaint ca+e before the effectivit. of the A+paro Rule

on October 15, 122@%

#e!ond, Sec% 118569of the A+paro Rule proscribes the filin of an a+paro

petition shoul( a cri+inal action have, in the +ean4hile, been co++ence(% The

succee(in Sec% 1>,85J9on the other han(, provi(es that 4hen the cri+inal suit is

file( subseuent to a petition for a+paro, the petition shall be !&n&4%da$"d 4ith

the cri+inal action 4here the A+paro Rule shall nonetheless overn the

(isposition of the relief un(er the Rule% Un(er the ter+s of sai( Sec% 11, the present

petition ouht to have been (is+isse( at the outset% But as thins stan(, the outriht

(is+issal of the petition b. force of that section is no loner technicall. feasible in

liht of the interpla. of the follo4in factual +i3 ;/< the Court has, pursuant toSec% J85@9of the Rule, alrea(. issue( ex partethe 4rit of a+paro ;1< the CA, after a

su++ar. hearin, has (is+isse( the petition, but not on the basis of Sec% 11 an(

;>< the co+plaint in OMB-P-C-O@-2J21-E na+e( as respon(ents onl. those

believe( to be the actual ab(uctors of "our(es, 4hile the instant petition

i+plea(e(, in a((ition, those tas=e( to investiate the =i(nappin an( (etention

inci(ents an( their superiors at the top% Fet, the acts an(or o+issions subect of the

cri+inal co+plaint an( the a+paro petition are so lin=e( as to call for the

consoli(ation of both procee(ins to obviate the +ischief inherent in a

+ultiplicit.-of-suits situation%

?iven the above perspective an( to full. appl. the beneficial nature of the

4rit of a+paro as an ine3pensive an( effective tool to protect certain rihts

violate( or threatene( to be violate(, the Court hereb. a(usts to a (eree the literal

application of Secs% 11 an( 1> of the A+paro Rule to fittinl. a((ress the situation
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obtainin un(er the pre+ises%8509To4ar(s this en(, t4o thins are at once

in(icate( ;/< the consoli(ation of the probe an( fact-fin(in aspects of the instant

petition 4ith the investiation of the cri+inal co+plaint before the OMB an( ;1?@ 2&n$8fro+ receipt of

this 'ecision an( 4ithin thirt. ;>2< (a.s after co+pletion of the investiations, theChief of Staff of the AP an( the 'irector-?eneral of the PNP shall sub+it a full

report of the results of the investiations to the Court, the CA, the OMB, an(

petitioners%

This case is accor(inl. referre( bac= to the CA for the purpose of +onitorin the

investiations an( the actions of the AP an( the PNP%

Subect to the foreoin +o(ifications, the Court AIRMSthe partial

u(+ent (ate( $ul. >/, 1220 of the CA%


23/23

SO ORDERED.

Documents

Rubrico v Arroyo