G.R. No.

136916 December 14, 1999

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plunder "ell #ithin the Sandiganbaan(s !urisdiction, #as i)pliedl repealed.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.