Malicious Mischief

G. R.No .L6 6 4 1

J ul y2 8 ,1 9 5 5

FRANCI SCO QUI ZON,   pe t i t i one r , vs . THE HEHO HON. J USTI CEOF OFTHEPEACEOF OFBACOLOR,PAMPANGA, ETAL. ,   r e s po nde nt s .

Ar t i c l e3 27oft heRe vi s e dP ena lCodei sa sf o l l o ws ws : ART.327.Whoar el i a b l ef o rma ma l i c i o usmi s c h i e f . —Anyper s on whos hal ldel i ber at el ycauset ot he pr o pe r t yo fa n ot he ra n yda m ma a g eno tf a l l i ngwi t hi nt het e r mso ft hene x tpr e c e d i ngc h a pt e rs ha l l  begui l t yofma l i c i ousmi s c hi e f . I thasal waysbeenr egar dedoft hees s enceoft hi sf el onyt hatt heoffenders houl d havenotonl yt he ge ne r a li nt e nt i ont oc ar r youtt hef e l oni ousa c t( af e a t ur ec o mm mmont oa l lwi l l f ulc r i me s )butt ha thes houl d s p e c i ficde s i r et oi nfli c ti nj ur yt a c tunde rt hei mpul s eo fa  oa no t h er . Thene c e s s i t yo ft hes pe c i a lma l i c ef ort hec r i meofma l i c i ousmi mi s c hi e fi sc o nt a i ne di nt her e q ui r e me me nto f Ar t .327ofourRevi s edPenalCodet hatt heoffender" s hal l   d e l i b e r a t e l yc a u s et ot hepr o pe r t yo fa n ot he r a nyda ma ma geno tf a l l i ngwi t hi nt het e r ms mso ft hene x tp r e c e di ngc h apt e r " ,i . e . ,no tp uni s h ab l ea sar s o n.I t i ci ousmi mi sc hi efc annotbecomm mmi t t edt hr oughnegl i genc e, f ol l owst ha t , i nt heve r yna t ur eoft hi ngs ,mal   c u l p a( i c e( s i nc e ne gl i g e nc e )a ndmal orde l i be r a t e ne s s )a r ee s s e nt i a l l yi nc ompa t i bl e .

G. R.No .1 8 5 8 3 3

Oc t o be r1 2 , 2 0 1 1

ROBERT

TAGUI NOD,   Pe t i t i one r ,

vs . PEOPLEOFTHE HEPHI LI PPI NES,   Res pondent . Thee l e m me e nt so ft hec r i meo fma ma l i c i o usmi mi s c hi e funde rAr t i c l e3 2 7oft heRe v i s e dP e na lCo dea r e : ( 1 )Tha tt heoffe nde rd e l i b e r a t e l yc a u s e dda m ma a g et ot hepr o pe r t yo fa n ot he r ; ( 2 )Tha ts uc hac tdoe sn otc o ns t i t ut ea r s o noro t h erc r i me si nv ol vi ngde s t r uc t i on; ( 3)Thatt heactofdama magi nganot her ' sproper t ybecomm mmi t t edmer el yf ort hesakeofdama magi ng 20 i t .

G. R.No.782 14Dec ember5, 198 8 YOLANDA CABALLES,pe AN REFORM,HON.HEHERSON t i t i one r ,vs .DEPARTMENTOFAGRARI T. ALVAREZandBI ENVENI DO ABAJ ON, r e s p o n d e n t s .

Thel a ndho l di ngs u bj e c toft hec ont r o ve r s y , whi c hc o ns i s t so fo nl ys i x t y( 6 0 )s qua r eme t e r s( 2 0me t e r sx3 me t e r s )wa sa c q ui r e db yt hes pous e sAr t ur oa ndYo l a ndaCa ba l l e s ,t hel a t t e rb e i ngt hepe t i t i o ne rh e r e i n,  byvi r t ueofaDe e d ofAbs ol ut eSal edat e dJ ul y2 4,19 78e x e c ut e d byAndr e aAl i c abaMi l l e ne sThi s l a ndho l di ngi spa r to fLo tNo .3 1 0 9 C,whi c hha sat o t a la r e ao fa b out5 0 0s q ua r eme t e r s ,s i t ua t e da t LawaanTal i s ay ,Cebu.Ther emai nderofLotNo.3109Cwass ubsec ons equent l ys ol dt ot hes ai ds pous es  byMa c ar i oAl i c abaandt heot he rme mbe r soft heMi l l e ne sf ami l y ,t husc ons ol i dat i ngowne r s hi pove rt he e nt i r e( 5 00 s q ua r eme t e r )pr o pe r t yi nf a v oroft hepe t i t i one r . I n 1975,bef oret he s al ei nf avoroft he Cabal l ess pous es ,pr i vat er es pondentBi enveni do Abaj on c o ns t r uc t e dhi sh ous eo napo r t i o no ft hes a i dl a ndho l di ng ,pa y i ngamo nt hl yr e nt a lo fP 2 . 0 0t ot heo wne r , Andr e aMi l l e ne s . Thel a ndo wne rl i k e wi s ea l l o we dAb a j o nt opl a nto napo r t i o no ft hel a nd,a gr e e i ngt ha t t hepr oducet her eofwoul dbes har edbybot honafit f yfif t ybasi s .Fr om 19751977,Abaj onpl ant edcor n andbananasont hel andhol di ng.I n1978,hest oppedpl ant i ngcor nbutcont i nuedt opl antbananasand c a mo t e .Dur i ngt hos ef oury e a r s ,hepa i dt heP2 . 0 0r e nt a lf o rt hel o to c c u pi e db yhi sh ous e , a ndde l i v e r e d 50% oft heproducet oAndr eaMi l l enes. S ome t i mei nMa r c h1 9 7 9,a f t e rt hepr o pe r t ywa ss o l d,t hen e wo wne r s , Ar t ur oa ndY ol a ndaCa ba l l e s ,t o l d Ab a j o nt ha tt hepo ul t r yt he yi nt e nde dt obui l dwo ul db ec l o s et ohi sh ous ea n dpur s u a de dhi mt ot r a ns f e r hi sdwel l i ngt ot heopposi t eorsout her n port i on oft hel andhol di ng.Abaj on offer ed t opayt henew owner sr ent alont hel andocc upi edbyhi shous e,buthi sofferwasnotacc ept ed.Lat er ,t henew owners a s k e dAb a j o nt ov a c a t et hepr e mi s e s ,s a y i ngt ha tt he yne e de dt hepr o pe r t y .ButAb a j o nr e f us e dt ol e a v e . Thepa r t i e sha dac o nf r o nt a t i o nb e f o r et heBa r a ng a yCa pt a i no fLa wa a ni nT a l i s a y ,Ce b ub utf a i l e dt o r eac hanagree ment .Al lt heeffort sexe r t edbyt hel andowner st oous tAbaj onf r om t hel andhol di ngwer e i nv ai na st hel a t t e rs i mpl yr e f us e dt obudg e. OnApr i l1 ,1 9 8 2 ,t hel a ndo wne r ,Yo l a ndaCa b al l e s ,e x e c u t e da nAffida v i ts t a t i ngt ha ti mme di a t e l ya f t e r s her epri mandedAbaj onf orharves t i ngbananasandj ackf r ui tf r om t hepr oper t ywi t houtherknowl edge, t hel a t t e r ,wi t hma l i c i o usa ndi l li nt e nt ,c utdo wnt heba na napl a nt so nt hepr ope r t ywo r t ha bo utP5 0 . 0 0 . Acr i mi nalcas ef ormal i ci ousmi sc hi efwasfil edagai ns tAbaj onandwhi chwasdocket edasCr i mi nalCas e No .4 0 0 3.Ob vi o us l y ,a l lt hepl a nt i ngo nt hepr o pe r t y ,i nc l udi ngt ha to ft heba na napl a nt s , ha db e endo ne  byAba j on.OnSe pt e mbe r3 0,1 982,uponmot i onoft hede f e ns ei nope nc our tpur s uantt oPD 1038,t he t r i alc our tor der ed t he r ef er r aloft he c as et ot he Regi onalOffic eNo.VI Ioft he t hen MAR f ora pr e l i mi na r yde t e r mi na t i o no ft her e l a t i ons h i pbe t we e nt hepa r t i e s .Asar e s ul t ,t heRe gi ona lDi r e c t oro f

MAR Re g i o na lVI I ,i s s ue dac e r t i fic a t i o n1da t e dJ a nua r y2 4,198 3 ,s t a t i ngt ha ts a i dCr i mi na lCa s eNo . 4 0 0 3wa sn otpr o pe rf o rh e a r i ngo nt heb as e so ft hef o l l o wi ngfindi ng s : Thather ei nacc us edi sabonafidet enantoft hel andownedbyt hecompl ai ni ngwi t nes s , whi chi sdevot edt obananas; Tha tt hi nc a s ei sfil e dpa t e nt l yt oha r a s sa n d/o re j e c tt het e na ntf r o m hi sf a r mho l di ng , whi c ha c ti sp r o hi b i t e db yl a w;a nd Tha tt hi sa r os eo utofori sc o nne c t e dwi t ha gr a r i a nr e l a t i ons . F r o mt hes a i dc e r t i fic a t i o n,t hepe t i t i o ne ra ppe a l e dt ot het he nMAR,no wt her e s po nde ntDAR.Ac t i ngon s a i da ppe a l ,t her e s po nde ntDAR,t hr o ug hi t st he nMi ni s t e rCo nr a doEs t r e l l a ,r e v e r s e dt hepr e v i o us 2 c e r t i fic a t i oni ni t sOr de r  ofF e br ua r y3,1 9 86 ,de c l a r i ngCr i mi na lCa s eNo.4 0 0 3a spr o pe rf ort r i a la s" t he l a ndi n vo l v e di sar e s i de nt i a ll o tc ons i s t i ngo fo nl y6 0s qua r eme t e r swhe r e o nt heho us eo ft hea c c us e di s c o ns t r uc t e da ndwi t hi nt hei ndus t r i a lz o neoft het o wna se v i nc e df r o mt heCe r t i fic a t i o ni s s ue db yt he Zoni ngAdmi ni s t r a t o rofT al i s a y ,Ce bu. " Uponmot i onf orr ec ons i der at i onfil edbyAbaj on,t her es pondentDAR,t hroughi t snew Mi ni s t er ,her ei n r es pondentHeher s on Al var ez,i s s uedanOr der sdat edNovember15,1986,s et t i ngas i det hepr evi ous 3 Or der da t e dF e br ua r y3 ,1 9 8 6 ,a n dc e r t i f y i ngs a i dc r i mi na lc a s ea sno tpr o pe rf o rt r i a l ,findi ngt he e x i s t e nc eofat e na nc yr e l a t i o ns h i pb e t we e nt hepa r t i e s ,a ndt ha tt hec a s ewa sde s i g ne dt oha r a s st he a c c us e di nt ova c at i nghi st i l l a ge . I nt hesummar yi nvest i gat i onconduct edbyt heDAR,t hef ormerl andowner ,Andr eaMi l l enes,t es t i fied t ha tBi e n ve ni doAb aj ondut i f ul l yga v ehe r5 0 %s h ar eo ft hepr oduc eo ft hel a ndunde rhi sc ul t i v at i o n.The gr a nds o no fAndr e aMi l l e ne s ,Ro ge rMi l l e ne s ,c o r r o bo r a t e dt het e s t i mo nyo ft hef o r me r ,s t a t i ngt ha th e r e c e i v e ds a i ds h ar ef r o m Ab aj on.Ro ge rMi l l e ne sf ur t he rt e s t i fie dt ha tt hepr e s e n to wne r sr e c e i v e di nhi s pre s enc eabunchofbananasf r om t heac c use dr epr es ent i ng½ or50% oft het wobunchesofbananas 4 g at he r e da f t e rCa ba l l e sha da c qui r e dt hepr o pe r t y . Fr om t hes ef act ualfindi ngs,t heDARconcl udedt hatAbaj onwasat enantofAndr eaMi l l enes, t hef ormer 5 owner ,whohadt es t i fiedt hats hesharedt hepr oduceoft hel andwi t hAbaj onast r uert here of .  Thus , i n vo ki ngSe c . 1 0ofRA3 8 4 4,a sa me nde d,whi c hpr o v i de st ha t" [ T] hea gr i c ul t ur a ll e a s e hol dr e l a t i onunde r t hi sCo des h al lno tb ee x t i ng ui s h e db yme r ee x pi r a t i o no ft het e r mo rpe r i o di nal e a s e ho l dc o nt r a c tno r  byt hes al e ,al i e na t i onort r a ns f e roft hel e ga lpos s e s s i onoft hel andhol di ng" ;and t hat" ( I ) nc as et he a gr i c ul t ur a ll e s s o rs e l l s ,a l i e na t e sort r a ns f e r st hel e ga lpos s e s s i onoft hel a ndhol di ng,t hepur c ha s e ror t r a ns f e r e et he r e o fs h al lbes ubr o ga t e dt ot her i ght sa nds ubs t i t ut e dt ot heobl i ga t i onsoft heagr i c ul t ur a l l e s s o r , "t heMARr ul e dt ha t' t hene wo wne r sa r el e g a l l yb oundt or e s pe c tt het e na nc y ,no t wi t hs t a ndi ng t he i rc l a i mt ha tt hepo r t i o nt i l l e db yAb aj onwa ss ma l l ,c o ns i s t i ngme r e l yo ft hr e e( 3 )me t e r swi deand 6 t we nt y( 2 0 )me t e r sl ong,orat o t a lofs i x t y( 6 0)s q ua r eme t e r s . " He nc e ,t hi spe t i t i onf orc e r t i or a r ia l l e gi ngt ha t :

I .Res pondent sDAR and Hon.Heher s onT.Al var ezcommi t t ed" gr aveabus eofpowerand di s c r et i on a mount i ngt ol a c kofj ur i s di c t i on"i nhol di ngt ha tpr i va t er e s ponde ntAba j oni sa na gr i c ul t ur a lt e na nte ve n i fhei sc ul t i va t i ngonl ya60 s q ua r eme t e r( 3x2 0me t e r s )por t i onofac omme r c i a ll o to ft hepe t i t i one r . I I .Publ i cr e s po nde nt sgr a v e l ye r r e di nhol di ngt ha tCr i mi na lCa s eNo .4 0 0 3i sno tpr ope rf o rt r i a la nd he a r i ngbyt h ec our t .7 Wehol dt hatt hepri vat ere s pondentc annotavai loft hebenefit saffor dedbyRA 3844,asamended.To i nv es thi m wi t ht hes t a t uso fat e na nti sp r e pos t e r o us . S e c t i on2ofs a i dl a w pr o vi de s : I ti st hepol i c yoft heSt a t e : ( 1 )T oe s t a bl i s hc oo pe r a t i v e c u l t i v a t o r s hi pa mo ngt ho s ewhol i v ea ndwo r kont hel a nda s t i l l e r s ,o wne r c ul t i va t o r s hi pa ndt hee c onomi cf a mi l y s i z ef a r ma st heba s i sofPhi l i ppi ne a gr i c ul t ur ea nd,a sac o ns e q ue nc e ,di v e r tl a ndl o r dc a pi t a li na gr i c ul t ur et oi ndus t r i a l deve l opment ; xxxxxxxxx RA 3844,asamended,definesanec onomi cf ami l ys i zef ar m as" anar eaoff ar ml andt hatper mi t se ffici ent us eo fl a b ora ndc a p i t a lr e s o ur c e so ft hef a r mf a mi l yandwi l lpr o duc ea ni nc o mes u ffic i e ntt opr o vi dea mo de s ts t a nda r do fl i vi ngt ome e taf a r mf a mi l y' sne e dsf o rf oo d,c l o t hi ng,s h e l t e r ,a nde duc a t i o nwi t h po s s i b l ea l l o wa nc ef o rpa y me nto fy e a r l yi ns t a l l me nt sont hel a nd,a ndr e a s o na b l er e s e r v e st oa bs o r b 8 y e a r l yfluc t ua t i o nsi ni nc o me . " Thepr i v a t er e s po nde nto nl yo c c u pi e dami ni s c ul epo r t i o n( 6 0s q ua r eme t e r s )o ft he5 0 0s q ua r eme t e rl o t . S i x t ys qua r eme t e r so fl a ndpl a nt e dt oba na na s , c a mo t e ,a ndc o r nc a nno tb ya nys t r e t c hoft hei ma gi na t i o n  bec ons i de r e dasane c onomi cf ami l ys i zef a r m.Sur e l y ,pl a nt i ngc amot e ,bananas ,andc or nonas i xt ys q ua r eme t e rpi e c eo fl a ndc a nno tpr o duc ea ni nc o mes uffic i e ntt opr o vi deamo de s ts t a nda r do fl i vi ngt o me e tt hef a r mf a mi l y ' sb a s i cn e e ds .Thepr i v a t er e s po nde nthi ms e l fa dmi t t e dt ha thedi dno tde pe ndo n 9 t hepr o duc t so ft hel a ndb e c a us ei twa st o os ma l l ,a ndt ha thet o oko nc a r pe nt r yj o bso nt hes i de .  Thus , t heor de rs o ughtt ober e v i e we di spa t e nt l yc o nt r a r yt ot hede c l a r e dpo l i c yoft hel a ws t a t e da bo ve . TheDAR f ound t hatt hepri vat er es pondents har edt heproduc eoft hel and wi t ht hef or merowner , Andr e aMi l l e ne s .Thi sl e do rmi s l e d,t hepub l i cr e s po nde nt st oc o nc l udet ha tat e na nc yr e l a t i o ns h i p e x i s t e dbe t we e nt hepe t i t i o ne ra n dt hepr i v at er e s ponde ntbe c a us e ,t hepub l i cr e s po nde nt sc o nt i nue ,b y o pe r a t i o no fS e c .1 0o fR. A.3 8 4 4 ,a sa me nde d,t hepe t i t i o ne rn e wo wne ri ss u br o ga t e dt ot her i g ht sa nd s ubs t i t ut e dt ot heobl i ga t i onso ft hes uppos e da gr i c ul t ur a ll e s s o r( t hef or me ro wne r ) . Wedi s agr ee. Thee s s e nt i a lr e qui s i t e sofat e na nc yr e l a t i ons hi pa r e :

1. The pa r t i e s a r e t he l andowne r and t he t e nant ; 2. The s ubj e c t i s a gr i c ul t ur a l l and; 3. The r e i s c ons e nt ; 4. The pur pos e i s agr i c ul t ur al pr oduc t i on; 5. The r e i s pe r s onal c ul t i vat i on; and 6 .The r ei ss h ar i ngofha r v es t s . Al lt he s er e qui s i t e smus tc o nc uri no r de rt oc r e a t eat e na nc yr e l a t i o ns h i pbe t we e nt hepa r t i e s . Theabs e n c e o fo nedo e sno tma k ea no c c u pa nto fapa r c e lo fl a nd,o rac u l t i v a t o rt he r e o f ,o rapl a nt e rt he r e o n,ade  j ur et e na nt .Thi si ss ob e c a us eunl e s sape r s o nha se s t a b l i s h e d hi ss t a t usa sad ej ur et e na nt ,hei sno t ent i t l edt osec ur i t yoft enur enori shecover edbyt heLand Ref orm Pr ogr am oft heGovernmentunder 1 0 e x i s t i ngt e na nc yl a ws . The r e f or e ,t hef a c to fs ha r i nga l onei snots uffic i e ntt oe s t a bl i s hat e na nc yr e l a t i ons hi p.Ce r t a i nl y ,i ti snot unus ualf oral andownert oac ce pts omeoft heproduc eofhi sl and f r om s omeonewhopl ant sc er t ai n c r o pst he r e o n.Thi si sa t y pi c a la nd l a uda bl  p er o v i nc i a not r a i tofs ha r i ng o  p ra t i k i m,anat i vewayof e x pr e s s i nggr a t i t udef orf a v orr e c e i v e d.Thi s ,ho we v e r ,do esno ta ut oma t i c a l l yma ket het i l l e r s h ar e ra t e na ntt he r e ofs p ec i a l l ywhe nt hea r e at i l l e di so nl y6 0 ,o re ve n5 0 0,s q ua r eme t e r sa ndl oc a t e di na nur ba n a r e aa nd i n.t hehe a r to fa ni ndus t r i a lo rc o mme r c i a lz o nea tt ha t .T e na nc ys t a t usa r i s e sonl yi fa n occupantofapar ce lofl and hasbeengi ven i t sposs es s i on f ort hepr i mar y pur poseofagri cul t ur al pr o duc t i on.Thec i r c ums t a nc e so ft hi sc a s ei ndi c a t et ha tt hepr i v at er e s po nde nt ' ss t a t usi smo r eofa car et akerwhowasal l owedbyt heowneroutofbenevol enceorc ompass i ont ol i vei nt hepr emi s esandt o ha v eag ar de nofs o mes o r ta ti t ss o ut hwe s t e r ns i der a t he rt ha nat e na nto ft hes a i dpor t i on. Agr i c u l t ur a lpr o duc t i o na st hepr i ma r ypur po s eb e i nga bs e nti nt hea r r a ng e me nt ,i ti sc l e a rt ha tt he pr i v a t er e s po nde ntwa sn e ve rat e na nto ft hef o r me ro wne r ,Andr e aMi l l e ne s .Co ns e que nt l y , S e c . 1 0ofRA o f3 8 4 4 ,a sa me nde d,doe sno ta ppl y .S i mpl ys t a t e d,t hepr i v at er e s po nde nti sno tat e na nto ft hehe r e i n pe t i t i one r . Ane ntt hes e c o nd a s s i g nme nto fe r r o r ,t hepe t i t i o ne ra r g ue st ha ts i nc eAb a j o n,i sno ta na gr i c u l t ur a l t e na nt ,t hec r i mi na lc a s ef orma l i c i ousmi s c h i e ffil e da ga i ns thi ms h oul dbede c l a r e da spr o pe rf ort r i a ls o t ha tpr o c e e di ng si nt hel o we rc o ur tc a nr e s ume . No t wi t hs t a ndi ngo urr ul i ngt ha tt hepr i v at er e s po nde nti sno tat e na ntoft hepe t i t i o ne r ,weho l dt ha tt he r e ma ndoft hec a s et ot hel o we rc our tf o rt her e s umpt i onoft hec r i mi na lpr oc e e di ngsi sno ti nt hei nt e r e s t o fj us t i c e .Re ma ndt ot heMuni c i pa lCo ur tofT al i s a y ,Ce bu,wo ul dno ts e r v et hee ndso fj us t i c ea ta l l ,no r i si tne c e s s a r y ,be c a us et hi sHi ghT r i buna li si napos i t i ont or e s ol v ewi t hfina l i t yt hedi s put ebe f or ei t . Thi sCour t ,i nt hepubl i ci nt e r e s t ,a ndt o wa r dst hee xpe di t i ousa dmi ni s t r a t i onofj us t i c e ,ha sde c i de dt oa c t 1 1 o nt heme r i t sa nddi s p os eo ft hec a s ewi t hfina l i t y . Thec r i mi na lc a s ef o rma l i c i o usmi s c hi e ffil e db yt hepe t i t i o ne ra ga i ns tt hepr i v a t er e s po nde ntf o r a l l e g e dl yc ut t i ngdo wnb ana nat r e e swo r t hame a s l yP5 0 . 0 0wi l lt a k eupmuc hoft het i mea nda t t e nt i o no f t hemuni c i pa lc o ur tt ot hepr e j udi c eofo t he rmo r epr e s s i ngc a s e spe ndi ngt he r e i n.F ur t he r mo r e ,t he

pr i v a t er e s po nde ntwi l lh a v et oi nc u runne c e s s a r ye x pe ns e st o fina nc ehi sl e g a lb a t t l ea g a i ns tt he pe t i t i o ne ri fp r o c e e d i ng si nt hec o ur tb e l o w we r et or e s ume .Co ur tl i t i g a nt sha v ede c r i e dt hel o nga nd unne c e s s a r yde l a yi nt her e s o l ut i onoft he i rc a s e sa ndt hec ons e q ue ntc o s t sofs u c hl i t i g at i o ns .Thepo or , pa r t i c ul a r l y ,a r evi c t i msoft hi sunj us tj udi c i a lda wdl e ,I mpo ve r i s h e dt ha tt he ya r et he ymus tde a lwi t h unj us tl e g alpr oc r a s t i na t i onwhi c ht he yc a no nl yi nt e r p r e ta sha r a s s me ntori nt i mi da t i onb r o ughta bo utb y t he i rp ov e r t y ,de pr i v at i o n,a ndde s p ai r .I tmus tb et hemi s s i o no ft heCo ur tt or e mo vet hemi s p e r c e p t i ons a ggr i e v e dpe opl eha v eoft hena t ur eoft hedi s pe ns a t i o no fj us t i c e .I fj us t i c ec a nbeme t e do utno w,wh y wa i tf o ri tt odr o pg e nt l yf r o m he a v e n?Thus ,c o ns i de r i ngt ha tt hi sc a s ei n vo l v e same r eb a ga t e l l et he Cour tfindsi tproperand compel l i ngt odec i dei ther eand now,i ns t eadoff ur t herdef er r i ng i t sfinal t e r mi na t i on. Asf o undb yt heDAR,t hec a s ef o rma l i c i o usmi s c hi e fs t e mme df r o mt hepe t i t i o ne r ' sa ffida v i ts t a t i ngt ha t a f t e rs her e p r i ma nde dpr i v a t er e s po nde ntAb a j o nf o rha r v e s t i ngb a na na sa ndj a c k f r ui tf r o mt hepr o pe r t y wi t ho uthe rk no wl e dg e, t hel a t t e r , wi t hi l li nt e nt ,c utt heba na nat r e e so nt hepr ope r t ywo r t ha boutP5 0 . 0 0 . Thi swa sc o r r o bo r a t e db yac e r t a i nAni t aDua ba n,af r i e ndo ft hepe t i t i o ne r ,whol i k e wi s ee x e c u t e da n 12 a ffida vi tt ot hee ffe c tt ha ts h es a wt hepr i v at er e s ponde nti ndi s c r i mi na t e l yc ut t i ngt heba na nat r e e s . TheRevi s edPenalCode,asamended,pr ovi dest hat" any per s on whos hal ldel i ber at el ycauset ot he pr o pe r t yofa no t he ra n yda ma geno tf a l l i ngwi t hi nt het e r mso ft hene x tpr e c e di ngc h apt e rs ha l lbegui l t y 1 3 ofma l i c i ousmi s c h i e f . " Thee l e me nt soft hec r i meo fma l i c i o usmi s c hi e fa r e : 1. The offender del i be r at el y c aus e d damage t o t he pr oper t y of anot her ; 2.The damage c aus ed di d not c ons t i t ut e ar s on or c r i mes i nvol vi ng des t r uct i on; 3. Thedamagewasca us edmal i ci ous l ybyt heoffender . Thepr i v at er e s po nde ntc a nno tb ehe l dc r i mi na l l yl i a bl ef o rma l i c i ousmi s c hi e fi nc ut t i ngt heba na nat r e e s  be c aus e ,asanaut hor i ze doc c upantorpos s e s s oroft hel and,anda spl ant e roft hebananat r e e s ,heowns s a i dc r opsi nc l udi ngt hef r ui t st he r e o fThepr i va t er e s ponde nt ' spos s e s s i onoft hel a ndi sno ti l l e ga lori n  badf ai t hbe c aus ehewass nowe dbyt hepr e vi ousowne r st oe nt e randoc c upyt hepr e mi s e s .I not he r words,t hepr i vat ere s pondentwor kedt hel andi ndi s put ewi t ht heconsentoft hepr evi ousandpr es ent o wne r s . Co ns e q ue nt l y ,wha t e v e rt hepr i v a t er e s po nde ntpl a nt e da ndc u l t i v a t e do nt ha tpi e c eo fp r o pe r t y  be l onge dt ohi m andnott ot hel andowne r .Thus ,ane s s e nt i ale l e me ntoft hec r i meofmal i c i ousmi s c hi e f , whi ch i s" damage del i ber at el y caused t ot he pr oper t y ofanot her , "i s absentbecaus et he pr i vat e r es pondentmer el ycutdownhi sownpl ant i ngs .