Facts:

• Petitioners J. Antonio M. Carpio and Grace Vinzons-Magana were detained at Camp Bagong Ibalon, Legaspi City.
• They challenged the validity of arrest warrants issued for incitement to rebellion under Article 138 of the Revised Penal Code, violation of Presidential Decree No. 885 (the amended Anti-Subversion Law), and Presidential Decree No. 33 on possession and distribution of subversive materials.
• The arrest warrants were allegedly signed on June 26, 1981, and issued on July 2 and 3, 1981.
• Petitioners claimed they were only shown a copy of a radiogram, not a signed copy of the order.
• They argued their detention was unjustified, especially since martial law had been lifted on January 17, 1981, and President Marcos had ordered that all arrests must undergo normal judicial processes.
• The Supreme Court issued a writ of habeas corpus on July 21, 1981, requiring a return by July 28, 1981, and set the case for hearing on July 30, 1981.
• The Solicitor General argued the detention was lawful based on a presidential commitment order.
• During the hearing, it was revealed that President Marcos had ordered the temporary release of the petitioners.
• Consequently, the petitioners were released from military custody, and the Supreme Court dismissed the petition as moot and academic.

Issue:

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Ruling:

• The Supreme Court did not make a definitive ruling on the validity of the arrest warrants.
• The Supreme Court dismissed the petition for habeas corpus as moot and a...(Unlock)

Ratio:

• The Supreme Court emphasized the importance of safeguarding constitutional rights, particularly the right to peaceable assembly, even after the lifting of martial law.
• The Court noted that people have a right to expect that exercising their constitutional rights would not lead to adverse consequences.
• The Court referenced Chief Justice Hughes...continue reading