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FIRST DIVISION

G.R. No. 139381 April 20, 2001

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES an !ONGRESS"O#AN VIDA ESPINOSA, p$%i%ion$r&,'&.

GOVERNOR ANTONIO (HO an ARNEL )*IDATO, r$&pon$n%&.

(AP*NAN, +.

T-i& i& an app$al / a/ o p$%i%ion or r$'i$ on $r%iorari o %-$ D$i&ion o %-$ !or%o App$al&, a%$ #a/ 10, 1999, an o i%& R$&ol%ion o +l/ 14, 1999 in !A5GR5SP No.

68170 $n%i%l$ An%onio (-o an Arn$l )ia%o '$r&& Hon. La& P. $r&a:in a& +;$o %-$ RT! o )$;$ %o pro$$ i%- %-$ %rial o%-$ ri:inal a&$ n%il %-$ %$r:ina%ion %-$r$o, nl$&& an?or n%il o%-$r l$;al o&%al$&

o%-$r %-an -i& 'oln%ar/ in-ii%ion $@i&%& or :a/ in %-$ %r$ $@i&% an pr$'$n% r%-$r

pro$$in;&.1

T-$ a%& :a%$rial %o %-$ r$&ol%ion o %-i& a&p$% o %-$ a&$ ar$ $ll $&%ali&-$.

An inor:a%ion or #r$r a& il$ $or$ %-$ R$;ional Trial !or% o )$

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Trial on %-$ :$ri%& o %-$ a&$ $n&$. A%$r %-$ pro&$%ion r$&%$ i%& a&$ an -il$%-$ $$n&$ a& &%ill pr$&$n%in; $'i$n$, r$&pon$n%& (-o an )ia%o il$ a %-ir

applia%ion or ail. On No'$:$r 18, 1997, +;$ $r&a:in i&&$ an or$r r$'$r∈%-$ %o pr$'io& $nial& o ail applia%ion. Sai >;$ or$r$ %-$ i::$ia%$ r$l$a&$ o

(-o an )ia%o a%$r po&%in; ail in %-$ a:on% o P200,000.00 an PC0,000.00,r$&p$%i'$l/.

T-$ r$'$r&al a& >&%ii$ / %-$ %rial or% on %-$ ;ron %-a% %-$ pro&$%ion ol no%$&%ali&- an/ lina;$ $%$$n (-o an )ia%o, on %-$ on$ -an, an %-$ all$;$

;n:an, Ro&ario, on %-$ o%-$r, $@$p% / :$an& o %-$ $@%ra5>iial &%a%$:$n%& o

Ro&ario an Pilaon. T-$ or% rl$ %-a% %-$ $'i$n$ a;ain&% (-o an )ia%o i& no%&%ron;. A& %o (-o, %-$ %rial or% r$a&on$ %-a% -i& onn$%ion %o %-$ :r$r i& $n%ir$l/

$p$n$n% on %-$ 'alii%/ o %-$ $@%ra5>iial on$&&ion o Ro&ario an Pilaon.Ho$'$r, / r$a&on o %-$ rl$ o r$& in%$r alio& a%a, &ai $@%ra5>iial &%a%$:$n%& o

no% appl/ %o (-o. )ia%o& liaili%/, on %-$ o%-$r -an, -in;$ on :$r$ a&&oia%ion$a&$ o -i& $in; %-$ o/;ar an -a'in; $$n &$$n in %-$ o:pan/ o (-o.

T-$ %rial or% rl$ %-a% %-$ $@%ra5>iial &%a%$:$n% o Ro&ario, -il$ ino:p$%$n% a&

a;ain&% r$&pon$n%&, :a/ $ on&i$r$ a& orroora%in; $'i$n$ o on&pira/ i

r$p$a%$ in or% or i o%-$r o:p$%$n% proo o on&pira/ $@i&%& in$p$n$n% o %-$on$&&ion& or a:i&&ion&. Sin$ %-$ on$&&ion o Ro&ario a& no% r$p$a%$ in or%,% a& in a% r$pia%$ / -i:, an &in$ %-$ pro&$%ion ail$ %o rni&-

in$p$n$n% proo o %-$ on&pira/, %-$ %rial or% onl$ %-a% %-$ $'i$n$ o ;il%a;ain&% (-o an )ia%o a& o%-$r %-an &%ron;.C

A& a r$&l% o %-$ or$r ;ran%in; ail, %-$ pro&$%ion on No'$:$r 24, 1997, orall/

:o'$ or in-ii%ion o +;$ $r&a:in ro: %-$ a&$. T-i& a& r$i%$ra%$ in a ri%%$n:o%ion, a%$ D$$:$r 1, 19974 i%in; a& r$a&on& or %-$ in-ii%ion %-$ >;$& ia&

an par%iali%/ an pr$>;:$n% o %-$ a&$ in a'or o %-$ aBi%%al o %-$ a&$. I% i&or%-/ %o no%$ %-a% %-$ pri'a%$ pro&$%or& :o%ion or in-ii%ion a& -ara%$ri;$, -il$ no%in; %-a% %-$ :o%ion or in-ii%ion i&

a&$ on li:&/ an i:a;inar/ in&ina%ion&, r$&ol'$ %o i&Bali/ -i:&$l in or$r %oi&p$l an/ &&piion ao% -i& o>$%i'i%/.8 T-$ >;$ $n% on %o p% in%o r$or

o&$r'a%ion& >&%i/in; %-$ or$r %o ;ran% ail an -i& o%-$r a%a%ion& &o %-a% an/ %r$

inBir/ ill -a'$ %-$ $n$i% o -i& on $@plana%ion $or$ i% i& %oo la%$9

T-$ !or% o App$al&, in %-$ B$&%ion$ $i&ion,10 rl$ %-a% %-$ 'oln%ar/ in-ii%ion /+;$ $r&a:in a& no% in %-$ $@$ri&$ o &on i&r$%ion an %-a% %-$r$ a& no >&%

an 'ali r$a&on& or in-ii%ion $a&$ %-$ :$r$ &&piion o ia& an par%iali%/ i& no%&ii$n%. T-$ r$&pon$n% or%, li$i&$, i%$ %-$ olloin; r$a&on& or r$'$r∈ %-$

%rial >;$& or$r o in-ii%ion

1. #o%ion or In-ii%ion a:$ la%$ in %-$ a/, a%$r %-$ pro&$%ion -a ini&-$pr$&$n%in; i%& $'i$n$ in -i$=

2. I% i& %-$ &$on %i:$ %-a% +;$ in %-$ a&$ a& &o;-% %o $ in-ii%$, %-$ ir&% $in;

+;$ V$la&o=

3. Alloin; or:5&-oppin; or a :or$ ri$nl/ >;$ :a/ &$% a :i&-i$'o& pr$$$n%=

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6. T-$ an;$r o a n$ >;$ $iin; i%-o% $n$i% o o&$r'in; i%n$&&$&, -$arin;

%$&%i:oni$&, an no%in; %-$ir $:$anor.

T-$ !or% o App$al& ;ran%$ %-$ p$%i%ion, %-&

"HEREFORE, in %-$ li;-% o all %-$ or$;oin;, %-$ P$%i%ion i& -$r$/ GRANTED an %-$ri% o $r%iorari i&&$ a& a;ain&% %-$ a&&ail$ Or$r&. T-$ B$&%ion$ Or$r& a%$ 08+anar/ 1998 an 19 #a/ 1998, ar$ -$r$/ ANN*LLED an SET ASIDE or -a'in; $$n

r$n$r$ in $@$&& o >ri&i%ion. T-$ E@$%i'$ +;$ o %-$ R$;ional Trial !or% in

)$;$ or Hi& Honor %o on%in$ i%- %-$ pro$$in;& %-$r$o.

T-$ r$&pon$n% >;$ i& r%-$r ORDERED %o pro$$ i%- %-$ %rial o %-$ &ai !ri:inal!a&$ n%il %-$ %$r:ina%ion %-$r$o, nl$&& an?or n%il o%-$r l$;al o&%al$& o%-$r %-an

-i& 'oln%ar/ in-ii%ion $@i&%& or :a/ in %-$ %r$ $@i&% %o pr$'$n% r%-$rpro$$in;&.11

A :o%ion or r$on&i$ra%ion a& $ni$ / r$&pon$n% or%. H$n$, %-i& p$%i%ion,

rai∈ %-$ olloin; i&&$&

I. THE HONORALE !O*RT OF APPEALS ERRED IN HOLDING THAT THE TRIAL +*DGEDID NOT EER!ISE SO*ND DIS!RETION "HEN HE INHIITED HI#SELF FRO# F*RTHER

SITTING IN !RI#INAL !ASE NO. )59C5417C.

II. THE HONORALE !O*RT OF APPEALS ERRED IN FINDING THAT THE INHIITION"AS NOT FOR +*ST OR VALID !A*SE.12

T-$ p$%i%ion -a& no :$ri%.

Rl$ 137, o %-$ R$'i&$ Rl$& o !or% pro'i$&

SE!TION 1. Di&Baliia%ion o >;$&. No >;$ or >iial oi$r &-all &i% in an/ a&$in -i- -$, or -i& i$ or -il, i& p$niaril/ in%$r$&%$ a& -$ir, l$;a%$$, r$i%or or

o%-$ri&$, or in -i- -$ i& r$la%$ %o $i%-$r par%/ i%-in %-$ &i@%- $;r$$ oon&an;ini%/ or aini%/ or %o on&$l i%-in %-$ or%- $;r$$, o:p%$ aorin; %o

%-$ rl$& o %-$ i'il la, or in -i- -$ -a& $$n $@$%or, a:ini&%ra%or, ;arian,%r&%$$ or on&$l, or in -i- -$ -a& pr$&i$ in an/ in$rior or% -$n %-$ rlin; or

$i&ion i& %-$ &>$% o r$'i$, i%-o% %-$ ri%%$n on&$n% o all par%i$& in in%$r$&%,

&i;n$ / %-$: an $n%$r$ pon %-$ r$or.

A >;$ :a/, in %-$ $@$ri&$ o -i& &on i&r$%ion, i&Bali/ -i:&$l ro: &i%%in; in aa&$, or >&% or 'ali r$a&on& o%-$r %-an %-o&$ :$n%ion$ ao'$.

T-$ rl$& on%$:pla%$ %o in& o in-ii%ion o:pl&or/ an 'oln%ar/. In %-$ ir&%

para;rap-, o:pl&or/ i&Baliia%ion onl&i'$l/ pr$&:$& %-a% a >;$ anno%a%i'$l/ or i:par%iall/ &i% on a a&$. In %-$ a&$ o %-$ &$on para;rap-, -i-

$:oi$& 'oln%ar/ in-ii%ion, %-$ Rl$& l$a'$ %o %-$ >;$& i&r$%ion -$%-$r -$&-ol $&i&% ro: &i%%in; in a a&$ or o%-$r >&% an 'ali r$a&on& i%- onl/ -i&

on&i$n$ %o ;i$ -i:

A >;$ :a/ no% $ l$;all/ pro-ii%$ ro: &i%%in; in a li%i;a%ion. % -$n &;;$&%ion i&:a$ o r$or %-a% -$ :i;-% $ in$ %o a% in a'or o on$ par%/ or i%- ia& or

pr$>i$ a;ain&% a li%i;an% ari∈ o% o ir:&%an$& r$a&onal/ apal$ o ini%in;

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&- a &%a%$ o :in, -$ &-ol on% a ar$l &$l5$@a:ina%ion. H$ &-ol $@$ri&$-i& i&r$%ion in a a/ %-a% %-$ p$opl$& ai%- in %-$ or%& o >&%i$ i& no% i:pair$. A

&al%ar/ nor: i& %-a% -$ r$l$% on %-$ proaili%/ %-a% lo∈ par%/ :i;-% nr%r$ a% %-$a o -i& :in %-$ %-o;-% %-a% %-$ >;$ -a n:$ri%orio&l/ %il%$ %-$ &al$& o

>&%i$ a;ain&% -i:. T-a% pa&&ion on %-$ par% o a >;$ :a/ $ ;$n$ra%$ $a&$ o&$rio& -ar;$& o :i&on% a;ain&% -i: / a &i%or or -i& on&$l, i& no% al%o;$%-$r

r$:o%$. H$ i& a :an, &>$% %o %-$ rail%i$& o o%-$r :$n. H$ &-ol, %-$r$or$, $@$ri&$;r$a% ar$ an a%ion $or$ :ain; p -i& :in %o a% or i%-ra ro: a &i% -$r$%-a% par%/ or on&$l i& in'ol'$. H$ ol in ;oo ;ra$ in-ii% -i:&$l -$r$ %-a% a&$

ol $ -$ar / ano%-$r >;$ an -$r$ no appr$ial$ pr$>i$ ol $

oa&ion$ %o o%-$r& in'ol'$ %-$r$in. On %-$ r$&l% o -i& $i&ion %o &i% or no% %o &i%:a/ $p$n %o a ;r$a% $@%$n% %-$ all5i:por%an% oni$n$ in %-$ i:par%iali%/ o %-$

>iiar/. I a%$r r$l$%ion -$ &-ol r$&ol'$ %o 'oln%aril/ $&i&% ro: &i%%in; in a a&$-$r$ -i& :o%i'$& or airn$&& :i;-% $ &$rio&l/ i:p;n$, -i& a%ion i& %o $

in%$rpr$%$ a& ;i'in; :$anin; an &&%an$ %o %-$ &$on para;rap- o S$%ion 1, Rl$137. H$ &$r'$& %-$ a&$ o la -o or$&%all& %-$ :i&arria;$ o >&%i$.13

T-$ &$on para;rap- o S$%ion 1, Rl$ 137 o$& no% ;i'$ %-$ >;$ %-$ n$%%$r$

i&r$%ion %o $i$ -$%-$r or no% -$ ill $&i&% ro: -$arin; a a&$. T-$ in-ii%ion

:&% $ or >&% an 'ali a&$&. T-$ :$r$ i:p%a%ion o ia& or par%iali%/ i& no%$no;- ;ron& or a >;$ %o in-ii%, $&p$iall/ -$n %-$ &a:$ i& i%-o% an/ a&i&.

T-$r$ i& no a&i& or %-$ i:p%a%ion o ia& an par%iali%/ on r$&pon$n% >;$. In ali%an/ o a&$& $i$ / %-i& !or%, i% a& -$l %-a% -il$ ia& an pr$>i$, -a'$

$$n r$o;niri&pr$n$ $%$$n on&$l an %-$ >;$ i& no% a prop$r ;ron ori&Baliia%ion.14 Opinion& ra:$ in %-$ or&$ o >iial pro$$in;&, al%-o;-

$rron$o&, a& lon; a& %-$/ ar$ a&$ on %-$ $'i$n$ pr$&$n%$ an on% o&$r'$/ %-$ >;$, o no% pro'$ ia& or pr$>i$. R$p$a%$ rlin;& a;ain&% a li%i;an% no

:a%%$r -o $rron$o& ar$ no% a&$& or i&Baliia%ion.17 In a%, %-$ par%i$& ol-a'$ app$al$ %-$ or$r ;ran%in; ail i %-$/ o%$ %-$ l$;ali%/ %-$r$o. S- app$al

on&%i%%$& a$Ba%$ r$:$/ in la.

/ %-$ i&&an$ o %-$ or$r ;ran%in; ail, %-$ >;$ anno% $ &ai %o -a'$ ro&&$ %-$lin$ %-a% i'i$& n$%rali%/ an i:par%iali%/. H$ -a& no% %-& ar %il%$ %-$ &al$& o

>&%i$ in a'or o on$ par%/. T-a% %-$ >;$ in %-i& a&$ -a pr$'io&l/ rl$ in a'or o%-$ o:plainin; par%/ onl/ pro'$& %-a% &ai >;$ i& no% ia&$.

#or$o'$r, in %-$ $@$ri&$ o &ai i&r$%ion %-$ >;$ :&% al&o %a$ in%o on&i$ra%ion

-$%-$r %-$ a&$ ol $ -$ar / ano%-$r >;$ an no appr$ial$ pr$>i$ ol

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$ oa&ion$ %o o%-$r& in'ol'$ %-$r$in. A% %-i& &%a;$ o %rial, %-$ pro&$%ion -a&alr$a/ r$&%$ i%& a&$. Ha'in; -$ar %-$ %$&%i:oni$& o %-$ i%n$&&$& or %-$

pro&$%ion, -i& rol$ in &$$in; %-$ a&$ %o i%& >&% an air onl&ion anno% $n$r&or$. A& %-i& !or% -a& o%$n pronon$, %-$ $%$r:ina%ion o %-$ r$iili%/ o

i%n$&&$& i& a %a& lo;$ i%- %-$ %rial >;$ -o -a %-$ oppor%ni%/ %o o&$r'$ %-$$:$anor o %-$ i%n$&&$& on %-$ &%an. To r$pla$ +;$ $r&a:in a% %-i& &%a;$ o

%rial, -$r$ no 'ali ;ron& $@i&%, ol &r$l/ $ pr$>iial %o %-$ a&$.

"$ &$$ no r$a&on or +;$ $r&a:in %o i&Bali/ -i:&$l ro: %-$ a&$ &i:pl/ $a&$

o a&$l$&& a&a%ion& ro: %-$ pro&$%ion o ia& an i:par%iali%/. H$n$, i% i& a

:a%%$r o oiial %/ or -i: %o pro$$ i%- %-$ %rial an $i&ion o %-$ a&$. H$anno% &-ir %-$ r$&pon&iili%/ i%-o% %-$ ri& o $in; all$ pon %o aon% or -i&

$r$li%ion.18 To allo +;$ $r&a:in %o r$&$ -i:&$l ro: %-i& a&$ ill a:on% %o aonona%ion o %-$ a%a%ion& o %-$ pro&$%ion an &$% a :i&-i$'o& pr$$$n% an

op$n %-$ loo;a%$& %o or:5&-oppin; or a ri$nl/ >;$.

"HEREFORE, %-$ p$%i%ion$r i& DENIED. R$&pon$n% >;$ i& or$r$ %o pro$$ i%- %-$lon; $la/$ pro$$in;& i%- i&pa%-.

SO ORDERED.

Da'i$, +r., ! .+ ., Pno, Paro an nar$&5San%ia;o, ++., onr.