Title
Antiporda, Jr. vs. Garchitorena
Case
G.R. No. 133289
Decision Date
Dec 23, 1999
The Supreme Court affirmed the Sandiganbayan's jurisdiction over a kidnapping case, ruling that the accused cannot contest jurisdiction and that reinvestigation is unnecessary.
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Case Digest (G.R. No. 133289)

Facts:

  • Petitioners: Licerio A. Antiporda, Jr., Eliterio Rubiaco, Victor Gascon, and Caesar Talla.
  • Charged with kidnapping Elmer Ramos in an Information dated September 18, 1997.
  • Case filed with the First Division of the Sandiganbayan, composed of Hon. Francis E. Garchitorena, Edilberto E. Sandoval, and Catalino Castañeda, Jr.
  • Alleged crime occurred on September 1, 1995, in Sanchez Mira, Cagayan.
  • Accused allegedly kidnapped Ramos using firearms and a Maroon Tamaraw FX motor vehicle.
  • On November 10, 1997, the Sandiganbayan ordered the prosecution to amend the Information due to inadequacies.
  • Amended Information filed and admitted on November 24, 1997, specifying Antiporda's role as Municipal Mayor.
  • Accused filed an Urgent Omnibus Motion on November 16, 1997, for reinvestigation and deferral of arrest warrants, which was denied.
  • Subsequent motions to quash the Amended Information were also rejected.
  • Petitioners filed a petition for certiorari and prohibition with the Supreme Court regarding jurisdiction and the need for a new preliminary investigation.

Issue:

  • (Unlock)

Ruling:

  • The Supreme Court dismissed the petition, affirming that the Sandiganbayan had jurisdiction due to the amendment of the Information and t...(Unlock)

Ratio:

  • Jurisdiction is defined as a court's power to hear and decide a case, requiring jurisdiction over both the subject matter and the parties.
  • The Sandiganbayan's jurisdiction is established under P.D. No. 1606, granting it exclusive original jurisdiction over offenses by public officers related to their office.
  • The original Information lacked allegations of an office-related crime, but the amendment corrected this.
  • Petitioners were estopped from questioning jurisdiction as they had previ...continue reading

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