G.R. No.
158763
(March 31, 2006)
JOSE C. MIRANDA, ALBERTO P. DALMACIO, and ROMEO B. OCON, Petitioners,
vs.
VIRGILIO M. TULIAO, Respondent
FACTS
On 8 March 1996, the burnt cadavers of Vicente Buazon and Elizer Tuliao (son of
respondent, Virgilio Tuliao) was discovered at Ramon Isabela, two informations for murder was
filed at the Regional Trial Court of Santiago City, Isabela against SPO1 Wilfredo Leano, SPO1
Ferdinand Marzan, SPO1 Ruben B. Agustin, SPO2 Alexander Micu, SPO2 Rodel Maderal and
SPO4 Emilio Ramirez due to it. The venue was later transferred to RTC Manila. On 22 April
1999, RTC of Manila convicted the accused and sentenced them two counts of reclusion
perpetua, except SPO2 Maderal who was yet to be arraigned at that time, being at large. The case
was appealed at the Supreme Court and the accused were acquitted on the ground of reasonable
doubt.
After the issuance of warrant of arrest to SPO2 Maderal he confessed that petitioners Jose
Miranda et, al., were the ones responsible for the said murder, respondent Virgilio Tuliao then
filed a complaint against the petitioners. Upon the issuance of warrant of arrest petitioners filed
an Urgent Motion to Complete Preliminary Investigation, to Reinvestigate and to Recall and/or
Quash the Warrants of Arrest. During the hearing of the said motion, Judge Tumaliaun noticed
the absence of the petitioners, he then issued a joint order denying the motion on the ground that
since, the court did not acquire jurisdiction over their persons, the motion cannot be properly
heard by the court.
Judge Tumaliuan was then replaced by Judge Anghad and the latter reversed the order of
the previous judge thereby dismissing the case against the petitioners. Upon appeal of the
respondent to the Court of Appeals, the said court reinstated the order of Judge Tumaliuan and
ordered the criminal cases of murder against petitioners to be reinstated.
ISSUE
Whether or not the court has lawfully acquired jurisdiction over the person of the
accused.
HELD
Yes, in criminal cases, jurisdiction over the person of the accused is deemed waived (you
submit yourself to the jurisdiction of the court) by the accused when he files any pleading
seeking san affirmative relief, except in cases when he invokes the special jurisdiction over his
person. Therefore, in narrow cases involving special appearances, an accused can invoke the
processes of the court even though there is neither jurisdiction over the person nor custody of the
law. However, if a person invoking the special jurisdiction of the court applies for bail, he must
first submit himself to the custody of the law. In cases not involving the so-called special
appearance, the general rule applies, i.e., the accused is deemed to have submitted himself to the
jurisdiction of the court upon seeking affirmative relief. Notwithstanding this, there is no
requirement for him to be in the custody of the law.
Therefore, upon issuance of the warrant of arrest to Petitioners Jose Miranda et al., and
upon petitioners filing of Motion to Complete Preliminary Investigation, to Reinvestigate and to
Recall and/or Quash the Warrants of Arrest, the court has already acquired jurisdiction upon
them as accused.
DATE SIGNIFICANT EVENT REMARKS/
DECISION/RULING
8 March 1996 Two burnt cadavers were discovered in
Purok Nibulan, Ramon, Isabela, which
were later identified as the dead bodies of
Vicente Bauzon and Elizer Tuliao, son of
private respondent Virgilio Tuliao who is
now under the witness protection
program.
Two informations for murder were filed
against SPO1 Wilfredo Leaño, SPO1
Ferdinand Marzan, SPO1 Ruben B.
Agustin, SPO2 Alexander Micu, SPO2
Rodel Maderal, and SPO4 Emilio
Ramirez in the Regional Trial Court
(RTC) of Santiago City.
The case was transferred to RTC Manila
22 April 1999 RTC of Manila convicted
all of the accused and
sentenced them to two
counts of reclusion
perpetua except SPO2
Maderal who was yet to
be arraigned at that time,
being at large
September SPO2 Maderal was arrested
1999
27 April 2001
SPO2 Maderal executed a sworn
confession and identified petitioners
Jose C. Miranda, PO3 Romeo B. Ocon,
and SPO3 Alberto P. Dalmacio, a
certain Boyet dela Cruz and Amado
Doe, as the persons responsible for the
deaths of Vicente Bauzon and Elizer
Tuliao
25 June 2001 Respondent Tuliao filed a criminal
complaint for murder against
petitioners, Boyet dela Cruz, and
Amado Doe, and submit ted the sworn
confession of SPO2 Maderal
Acting Presiding Judge Wilfredo
Tumaliuan issued warrants of arrest
against petitioners and SPO2 Maderal
29 June 2001 Petitioners filed an urgent motion to
complete preliminary investigation, to
reinvestigate, and to recall and/or quash
the warrants of arrest
6 July 2001 In the hearing of the urgent motion,
Judge Tumaliuan noted the absence of
petitioners and issued a Joint Order
denying said urgent motion on the
ground that, since the court did not
acquire jurisdiction over their persons,
the motion cannot be properly heard by
the court. In the meantime, petitioners
appealed the resolution of State
Prosecutor Leo T. Reyes to the
Department of Justice.
17 August The new Presiding Judge Anastacio D.
2001 Anghad took over the case and issued a
Joint Order reversing the Joint Order of
Judge Tumaliuan. Consequently, he
ordered the cancellation of the warrant of
arrest issued against petitioner Miranda
21 September Judge Anghad likewise issued an order
2001 to petition cancelling the warrant of
arrest against petitioners Ocon and
Dalmacio
The Supreme
9 October Court acquitted
2001 the accused
SPO1 Wilfredo
Leaño, SPO1
Ferdinand
Marzan, SPO1
Ruben B.
Agustin, SPO2
Alexander Micu,
SPO2 Rodel
Maderal, and
SPO4 Emilio
Ramirez on the
ground of
reasonable doubt.
(This was the
first case)
16 October Judge Anghad denied the Motion for
2001 Reconsideration from Respondent Tuliao
22 October Judge Anghad denied the prayed Motion
2001 for Inihibition from Respondent Tuliao
25 October Respondent Tuliao filed a petition for
2001 certiorari, mandamus and prohibition in
SC, with prayer for a Temporary
Restraining Order, seeking to enjoin
Judge Anghad from further proceeding
with the case, and seeking to nullify the
Orders and Joint Orders of Judge
Anghad dated 17 August 2001, 21
September 2001, 16 October 2001, and
22 October 2001.
12 November SC issued a Resolution resolving to grant
2001 the prayer for a temporary restraining
order against Judge Anghad from further
proceeding with the criminal cases
14 November Judge Anghad dismissed the two
2001 Informations for murder against
petitioners.
19 November SC took note of respondent’s cash bond
2001 evidenced by O.R. No. 15924532 dated
15 November 2001, and issued the
temporary restraining order while
referring the petition to the Court of
Appeals for adjudication on the merits.
Respondent Tuliao filed with this Court a
Motion to Cite Public Respondent in
Contempt, alleging that Judge Anghad
"deliberately and willfully committed
contempt of court when he issued on 15
November 2001 the Order dated 14
November 2001 dismissing the
informations for murder
21 November SC referred said motion to the Court of
2001, Appeals in view of the previous referral
to it of respondent’s petition for certiorari,
prohibition and mandamus
18 December The Court of Appeals rendered the
2002 assailed decision granting the petition and
ordering the reinstatement of the criminal
cases in the RTC of Santiago City, as well
as the issuance of warrants of arrest
against petitioners and SPO2 Madera
12 June 2003 SC issued a resolution denying the
Motion for Reconsideration from
Petitioners Miranda et.al.,.
