Munez v. People
G.R. No. 247777
August 28, 2019
FACTS:
The RTC
and CA convicted petitioners for the crime of violating Sec. 3 (b) of RA 3019.
That on or about the month of March 2002, and subsequent thereto, in Cugman,
Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines, and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable
Court, accused NARZAL R. MUNEZ, ROGELIO LALUCAN and ALFREDO QUILILAN, all are
low ranking public officers of the Provincial Environment and Natural
Resources, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Cagayan de Oro City,
while in the performance of their official functions and committing the offense
in relation to the office, propose and
inveigle DEMETRIO VELASCO to enter into a Contract for Seedling Production with
the Department of Environment and Natural Resources dated April 1, 2002 in consideration of the sum of
P,235,000 and in return, these accused demanded and received, in several
instances, part of the contract price, in the total amount of P,165,000.00 in
cash as share, percentage or benefit for themselves in connection with the said
contract with the government, wherein these accused, had the right to intervene
therein under the law in their official capacities as public officers, to the
damage and prejudice of the Government.
ISSUE:
Whether
or not the CA have jurisdiction to review the verdict of conviction for
violation of Sec. 3 (b) of RA 3019
HELD:
No. The
Court of Appeals does not have appellate jurisdiction over appeals from final
judgments, resolutions or orders of regional trial courts pertaining to
violations of RA 3019. The assailed rulings should, therefore, be vacated and
the case, remanded to the court of origin for referral to the proper forum --
the Sandinganbayan. Section 4 of Presidential Decree (PD) 160630 provides:
Jurisdiction. - The Sandiganbayan shall exercise exclusive original
jurisdiction in all cases involving: a. Violations of Republic Act No. 3019, as
amended, otherwise known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Republic
Act No. 1379, and Chapter II, Section 2, Title VII, Book II of the Revised
Penal Code, where one or more of the accused are officials occupying the
following positions in the government, whether in a pennanent, acting or
interim capacity, at the time of the commission of the offense: Provided, In
cases where none of the accused are occupying positions corresponding to Salary
Grade "27" or higher, as prescribe in the said Republic Act No. 6758,
or military and PNP officers mentioned above, exclusive original jurisdiction
thereof shall be vested in the proper regional trial court, metropolitan trial
court, municipal trial court, and municipal circuit trial court, as the case
may be, pursuant to their respective jurisdictions as provided in Batas
Pambansa Blg. 129, as amended. ~ The Sandiganbayan shall exercise exclusive
appellate jud.sdiction over final judgments, resolutions or orders of regional
trial courts whether in the exercise of their own original jurisdiction or of
their appellate jurisdiction as herein provided.
