271. Republic v. Kho Digest

G.R. No. 170340 REPUBLIC V. KHO

June 29, 2007

FAC!" On Fe#$u%$& 12, 2001, C%$'()o %n* +( (#'(n- (/+%e', e$/& Non% %n* He**& o($% ('e*  #eo$e )+e RC o Bu)u%n C()& % e$((e* e)()(on o$ /o$$e/)(on o en)$(e (n )+e /((' $e-()$& o Bu)u%n Bu)u%n C()& )o ee/) /+%n-e (n )+e($ )+e($ $ee/)(e $ee/)(e #($)+ /e$)((/% /e$)((/%)e. )e. C%$'()o C%$'()o %'o %e* )+e /ou$) (n  #e+%' o +( (no$ /+('*$en, Ke(n %n* Ke''&, )o o$*e$ )+e /o$$e/)(on o oe en)$(e (n )+e($ #($)+ /e$)((/%)e. In )+e /%e o C%$'()o, +e $e5ue)e* $e5ue)e* )+e /o$$e/)(on (n +( #($)+ /e$)((/%)e /e$)((/%)e o )+e /()(6en+( o o +( o)+e$ )o F('((no8 (n)e%* o C+(nee,8 % e'' % )+e *e'e)(on o )+e o$* %$$(e*8 oo()e )+e  +$%e :%)e o %$$(%-e o %$en)8 #e/%ue +( %$en), Ju%n K+o %n* E(%n(% In/+o/o ;E(%n(%()+ $ee/) )o )+e #($)+ /e$)((/%)e o C%$'()o= /+('*$en, +e $%&e* )+%) )+e *%)e o +( %n* +( (e= %$$(%-e #e /o$$e/)e* $o A$(' 27, 19?9 )o J%nu%$& 21, 2000, )+e *%)e %e%$(n- (n )+e($ %$$(%-e /e$)((/%)e. +e Lo/%' C((' Re-()$%$ Re-()$%$ o Bu)u%n C()& % ('e%*e* ('e%*e* % $eon*en). On A$(' 23, 2001, C%$'()o e) %'. ('e* %n Aen*e* Pe)()(on (n +(/+ () % %**()(on%''& $%&e* )+%) )+%) C%$'() C%$'()o= o= e/on* e/on* n%e n%e o Jo+n8 Jo+n8 #e *e'e)e *e'e)e* * $o $o +( $e/o$* $e/o$* o #($)+@ #($)+@ %n* )+%) )+e n%e %n* /()(6en+( o C%$'()o= %)+e$ (n +( ;C%$'()o=< %$$(%-e /e$)((/%)e #e /o$$e/)e* $o Jo+n K+o8 )o Ju%n K+o8 %n* F('((no8 F('((no8 )o C+(nee,8 C+(nee,8 $ee/)(e'&. $ee/)(e'&. A $e5u($e*, )+e e)()(on e)()(on % u#'(+e* u#'(+e* o$ )+$ee /one/u)(e ee (n (n*%n%o :%('& P%)$o'CARAGA, % ne%e$ o -ene$%' /($/u'%)(on, %)e$ +(/+ () % e) o$ +e%$(n- on Au-u) 9, 9, 2001. In % 'e))e$ o June 1?, 2001 %**$ee* %**$ee* )o )+e )$(%' /ou$), )+e /()& /((' $e-()$%$ )%)e* +e$ o#e$%)(on %n* u--e)(on )o )+e $ooe* /o$$e/)(on (n )+e #($)+ $e/o$* o C%$'()o C%$'()o %n* +( (#'(n- (#'(n- #u) (n)e$oe* (n)e$oe* no o#e/)(on o#e/)(on )o )+e o)+e$ %en*en). %en*en). :u$(n:u$(n- )+e +e%$(n-, %**()(on%' /o$$e/)(on )o )+e #($)+ /e$)((/%)e o C%$'()o= /+('*$en % $e5ue)e* )o )+e ee/) )+%) )+e ($) n%e o )+e($ o)+e$ #e $e/)((e* $e/)((e* $o %$(#e'8 )o %$(e'.8 B& :e/((on o !e)e#e$ 4, 4, 2002, )+e )$(%' /ou$) *($e/)e* )+e 'o/%' /((' $e-()$%$ o Bu)u%n C()& )o /o$$e/) )+e en)$(e (n )+e $e/o$* o #($)+ o C%$'()o, % o''o" ;1< /+%n-e )+e /()(6en+( o +( o)+e$ $o C+(nee8 )o F('((no8@ ;2< *e'e)e Jo+n8 $o +( n%e@ %n* ;3< *e'e)e )+e o$* %$$(e*8 oo()e )+e *%)e o %$$(%-e o +( %$en). +e '%) /o$$e/)(on % o$*e$e* )o #e ee/)e* '(e(e (n )+e #($)+ /e$)((/%)e o $eon*en) (/+%e', e$/&  Non%, %n* He**& o($%. A**()(on%''&, A**()(on%''&, )+e )$(%' /ou$) o$*e$e* )+e /o$$e/)(on o )+e #($)+ /e$)((/%)e o o )+e (no$ /+('*$en o C%$'()o )o $e'e/) )+e *%)e o %$$(%-e o C%$'()o %n* %$(e' :o-o/ ;%$(e'< % J%nu%$& 21, 2000, 2000, (n)e%* o A$(' 27, 19?9, 19?9, %n* )+e n%e %$(#e'8 % %$(e'.8 %$(e'.8 >()+ $ee/) )o )+e )+e %$$(%-e /e$)((/%)e o C%$'()o %n* %$(e', )+e /o$$e/)(on o$*e$e* e$)%(ne* )o )+e %')e$%)(on o )+e n%e o C%$'() C%$'()o= o= %)+e$ %)+e$ $o $o Jo+n Jo+n K+o8 K+o8 )o Ju%n Ju%n K+o8 K+o8 %n* )+e '%))e$ '%))e$= = /()(6e /()(6en+ n+( ( $o $o F('( F('((no (no88 )o C+(nee.8 Pe)()(one$, Reu#'(/ o )+e P+('((ne, %e%'e* )+e RC :e/((on )o )+e CA, %u')(n- )+e )$(%' /ou$) (n -$%n)(n- )+e e)()(on o$ /o$$e/)(on o en)$(e (n )+e u#e/) *o/uen) *e()e )+e %('u$e o $eon*en $eon*en) ) )o ('e%* ('e%* )+e (no$= (no$= o)+e$, %$(e', % %n (n*(en%#' (n*(en%#'ee %$)& %n* )o oe$ u(/(en) u(/(en) e(*en/e e(*en/e )o %$$%n) %$$%n) )+e /o$$e/)(o /o$$e/)(on n ()+ $e-%$* $e-%$* )o )+e 5ue)(on 5ue)(one* e* %$$(e*8 )%)u o C%$'()o C%$'()o %n* +( (#'(n-= %$en), %$en), %n* )+e '%))e$= /()(6en+(. Pe)()(one$ %'o %u')e* )+e )$(%' )$(%' /ou$) o$ o$*e$(n- )+e /+%n-e o )+e n%e C%$'()o Jo+n K+o8 )o C%$'()o K+o8 o$ non/o'(%n/e ()+ u$(*(/)(on%' $e5u($een) o$ % /+%n-e o n%e un*e$ Ru'e 103 o )+e Ru'e Ru'e o Cou$). B& )+e %%('e* :e/((on :e/((on o O/)o#e$ 27, 200, )+e CA *en(e* e)()(one$= e)()(one$= %e%' %n* %n* %($e* )+e *e/((on o )+e )$(%' /ou$). /ou$). +e CA oun* )+%) Ru'e 10? o )+e Re(e* Ru'e o Cou$), +(/+ ou)'(ne )+e $oe$ $o/e*u$e o$ /%n/e''%)(on o$ /o$$e/)(on o en)$(e en)$(e (n )+e /((' $e-()$& $e-()$&,, % o#e$e* o#e$e* (n )+e /%e. Re-%$*(nRe-%$*(n- C%$'()o= C%$'()o= (no$ /+('*$en /+('*$en Ke(n %n* %n* Ke''& Ke''&,, )+e %e'' %e''%)e %)e /ou$) /ou$) +e'* +e'* )+%) )+%) )+e /o$$e/ /o$$e/)(o )(on n o )+e($ )+e($ o)+e o)+e$= $= ($) ($) n%e n%e $o $o %$(# %$(#e'8 e'8 )o %$(e'8 %$(e'8 % %*e %*e )o $e/)(& $e/)(& %n (nno/uou (nno/uou e$$o$. e$$o$. A o$ )+e /+%n-e /+%n-e (n )+e )+e *%)e o )+e %$$(%-e %$$(%-e o C%$'()o %n* %$(e', %'#e() )+e CA /on/e*e* )+%) () ( % u#)%n)(%' %')e$%)(on, () +e'* )+%) )+e *%)e ou'*

no) %e/) )+e (no$= ('(%)(on $o 'e-()(%)e8 )o (''e-()(%)e8 /on(*e$(n- )+%) %) )+e )(e o )+e($ $ee/)(e #($)+ (n 1991 %n* 1993, )+e($ %)+e$ C%$'()o= ($) %$$(%-e % )('' u#()(n- % () +%* #een %nnu''e* on'& (n 1999. I!!UE" >DN %n %*e$%$(%' $o/ee*(n- ( ne/e%$& (n/e )+e /+%n-e ou-+) #& $eon*en) e$e u#)%n)(%' (n n%)u$e (n +(/+ (n*(en%#'e %$)(e, u/+ % %$(e' %n* $eon*en)= %$en), +ou'* +%e #een no)((e* o$ ('e%*e* >DN )+e u$(*(/)(on%' $e5u($een) )o /+%n-e C%$'()o= n%e un*e$ !e/)(on 2 o Ru'e 103 o )+e Ru'e o Cou$) e$e no) %)((e* HEL:" An %*e$%$(%' $o/ee*(n- ( no) ne/e%$&. >+en %'' )+e $o/e*u$%' $e5u($een) un*e$ Ru'e 10? %$e )+u o''oe*, )+e %$o$(%)e %*e$%$& $o/ee*(n- ne/e%$& )o ee/) u#)%n)(%' /o$$e/)(on )o )+e en)$(e o )+e /((' $e-()e$ ( %)((e*. >+%) ( e%n) #& %$o$(%)e %*e$%$&  $o/ee*(n-8 B'%/= L% :(/)(on%$& *e(ne %*e$%$& $o/ee*(n-8 % o''o" One having opposing parties; contested, as distinguished from an ex parte application, one of which the party seeking relief has given legal warning to the other party, and afforded the latter an opportunity to contest it.

+e o#(ou ee/) o Reu#'(/ A/) No. 904? en%/)e* (n %$/+ 2001 ( )o %e o(#'e )+e %*(n()$%)(e /o$$e/)(on o /'e$(/%' o$ )&o-$%+(/%' e$$o$ o$ /+%n-e o ($) n%e o$ n(/n%e (n en)$(e (n )+e /((' $e-()e$, 'e%(n- )o Ru'e 10? )+e /o$$e/)(on o u#)%n)(%' /+%n-e (n )+e /((' $e-()$& (n %$o$(%)e %*e$%$(%' $o/ee*(n-. Ou)(*e )+e %#() o u#)%n)(%' /o$$e/)(on, o /ou$e, ( )+e /o$$e/)(on o )+e n%e o C%$'()o= (e $o %$(#e'8 )o %$(e'.8 +e ()%e ( /'e%$'& /'e$(/%' o$ )&o-$%+(/%', +(/+ ( no) on'& ((#'e )o )+e e&e, #u) ( %'o o#(ou )o )+e un*e$)%n*(n- /on(*e$(n- )+%) )+e n%e $e'e/)e* (n )+e %$$(%-e /e$)((/%)e o C%$'()o %n* +( (e ( %$(e'.8 +e /o$$e/)(on o )+e o)+e$= /()(6en+( $o C+(nee )o F('((no % %e%$(n- (n C%$'()o=  #($)+ $e/o$* % $oe$. O no)e ( )+e %/) )+%) *u$(n- )+e /$o e%(n%)(on #& )+e /()& $oe/u)o$ o E(%n(%, +e *(* no) *ee () )o 5ue)(on +e$ /()(6en+(. !u/+ %('u$e )o ooe )+e /o$$e/)(on $%&e* o$, +(/+ /e$)%(n'& % no) $eon*en)= %u'), *oe no) (n %n& %& /+%n-e )+e %*e$%$(%' n%)u$e o )+e  $o/ee*(n-. A'o (-n((/%n) )o no)e ( )+%) )+e #($)+ /e$)((/%)e o C%$'()o= (#'(n- un(o$'& )%)e* )+e /()(6en+( o E(%n(% % F('((no.8 o *(%''o )+e /o$$e/)(on (n C%$'()o= #($)+ $e/o$* o +( o)+e$= /()(6en+( ou'* e$e)u%)e %n (n/on()en/& (n )+e n%)%' /($/u)%n/e o )+e (#'(n- +o %$e un5ue)(on%#'& #o$n o )+e %e o)+e$ %n* %)+e$. >()+ $ee/) )o )+e *%)e o %$$(%-e o C%$'()o %n* %$(e', )+e($ /e$)((/%)e o %$$(%-e +o )+%) (n*ee* )+e& e$e %$$(e* on J%nu%$& 21, 2000, no) on A$(' 27, 19?9. G(en )+e e(*en/e $een)e*  #& $eon*en), )+e CA o#e$e* )+%) )+e (no$ e$e (''e-()(%)e %) #($)+, +en/e, )+e /o$$e/)(on ou'*  #$(n- %#ou) no /+%n-e %) %'' (n )+e n%)u$e o )+e($ ('(%)(on. >()+ $ee/) )o C%$'()o= o)+e$, () #e%$ no)(n- )+%) +e *e/'%$e* %) )+e ()ne )%n* )+%) +e % no) %$$(e* )o Ju%n K+o +o *(e* (n 199. A-%(n, )+%) )e)(on& % no) /+%''en-e* #& )+e /()& $oe/u)o$. +e *o/uen)%$& e(*en/e uo$)(n- )+e *e'e)(on $o C%$'()o= %n* +( (#'(n-= #($)+ /e$)((/%)e o )+e en)$& %$$(e*8 oo()e )+e *%)e o %$$(%-e o )+e($ %$en), o$eoe$, /on()e* o % /e$)((/%)(on (ue* on Noe#e$ 24, 1973  #& !). Joe+ ;Bu)u%n C()&< P%$(+ $(e) Eu-ene %n Vu-+) )%)(n- )+%) Ju%n K+o %n* E(%n(% +%* #een '((n- )o-e)+e$ % /oon '% /ou'e (n/e 193 #u) +%e nee$ /on)$%/)e* %$$(%-e 'e-%''&. A /e$)((/%)(on $o )+e o(/e o )+e /()& $e-()$%$, +(/+ % %en*e* )o $eon*en)= Aen*e* Pe)()(on, '(e(e )%)e* )+%) () +% no $e/o$* o %$$(%-e #e)een Ju%n K+o %n* E(%n(%. Un*e$ )+e /($/u)%n/e, )+e *e'e)(on o )+e o$* %$$(e*8 oo()e )+e *%)e o %$$(%-e o %$en)8 ( %$$%n)e*. >()+ $ee/) )o )+e /o$$e/)(on (n C%$'()o= #($)+ /e$)((/%)e o +( n%e $o C%$'()o Jo+n8 )o C%$'()o,8 )+e %e % $oe$'& -$%n)e* un*e$ Ru'e 10? o )+e Ru'e o Cou$). A /o$$e/)'& o(n)e* ou)

 #& )+e CA, )+e /%n/e''%)(on o$ /o$$e/)(on o en)$(e (no'(n- /+%n-e o n%e %'' un*e$ 'e))e$ o8 o )+e  $o((on o !e/)(on 2 o Ru'e 10?. Hen/e, +('e )+e u$(*(/)(on%' $e5u($een) o Ru'e 103 ;+(/+ -oe$n e)()(on o$ /+%n-e o n%e< e$e no) /o'(e* ()+, o#e$%n/e o )+e $o((on o Ru'e 10? u(/e )o ee/) )+e /o$$e/)(on ou-+) o$. o$e (o$)%n)'&, C%$'()o= o(/(%' )$%n/$() o $e/o$* $o )+e U$(ou Co''e-e (n Bu)u%n C()&, /e$)((/%)e o e'(-(#('()& $o )+e C((' !e$(/e Co((on, %n* o)e$ $e-()$%)(on $e/o$* %)(%/)o$('& +o )+%) +e +% #een non #& +( ($) n%e on'&. No $eu*(/e ( )+u '(e'& )o %$(e $o )+e *$o(n- o )+e e/on* n%e. In B%$/o . CA, )+( Cou$) +e'* )+%) )+e u#'(/%)(on o )+e o$*e$ o +e%$(n- un*e$ !e/)(on 4 o Ru'e 10? /u$e* )+e %('u$e )o ('e%* %n (n*(en%#'e %$)&. +e u$oe $e/(e'& o !e/)(on 4, Ru'e 10? ( )o #(n* )+e +o'e o$'* )o )+e u#e5uen) u*-en) on )+e e)()(on. +u, () #e/oe unne/e%$& )o $u'e on +e)+e$ %$(e' o$ $eon*en)= %$en) +ou'* +%e #een ('e%*e* % %$)(e )o )+e  $o/ee*(n-. I) %& no) #e %( )o en)(on, +oee$, )+%) *u$(n- )+e +e%$(n- on J%nu%$& 31, 2002, )+e /()& $oe/u)o$ +o % %/)(n- % $e$een)%)(e o )+e O!G *(* no) $%(e %n& o#e/)(on )o )+e non (n/'u(on o %$(e' %n* C%$'()o= %$en) % %$)(e )o )+e $o/ee*(n-. P%$en)+e)(/%''&, () ee +(-+'& ($o#%#'e )+%) %$(e' % un%%$e o )+e $o/ee*(n- )o /o$$e/) )+e en)$(e (n +e$ /+('*$en= #($)+ /e$)((/%)e, ee/(%''& (n/e )+e no)(/e, o$*e$ %n* *e/((on o )+e )$(%' /ou$) e$e %'' en) )o )+e $e(*en/e +e +%$e* ()+ C%$'()o %n* )+e /+('*$en.