Case Digest (G.R. No. 117376)
Facts:
- The case In re De Guzman v. Vinarao, G.R. No. 117376, was decided on December 8, 1994.
- Petitioners included Oscar de Guzman y Enriquez, Chairman Sedfrey A. Ordoñez, Director Emmanuel C. Neri, and the Commission on Human Rights.
- They filed a petition for habeas corpus against Director Vicente Vinarao of the Bureau of Corrections.
- Oscar de Guzman was convicted for violating the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972 for the unlawful sale of two sticks of marijuana.
- The Regional Trial Court sentenced him to life imprisonment and a fine of P20,000, a decision upheld by the Supreme Court in G.R. No. 76742.
- Republic Act No. 7659, effective December 31, 1993, amended penalties for drug offenses, reducing penalties for less than 250 grams of marijuana to a range of prision correccional (six months and one day to six years).
- De Guzman had served over ten years since July 1984, prompting petitioners to argue that his continued detention violated his human rights.
Issue:
- (Unlock)
Ruling:
- The Supreme Court granted the habeas corpus petition, ordering Oscar de Guzman's immediate release.
- The Court found that de Guzman was entitled to the reduced penalty under the amended law.
- The Director of the New Bilibid Prisons was directed to execute the writ of habea...(Unlock)
Ratio:
- The ruling was based on the interpretation of Republic Act No. 7659, which reduced penalties for drug offenses involving less than 250 grams of marijuana.
- De Guzman's conviction inv...continue reading
Case Digest (G.R. No. 117376)
Facts:
This case involves an original petition for habeas corpus filed directly before the Supreme Court of the Philippines on December 8, 1994, by petitioners Oscar de Guzman, represented by Chairman Sedfrey A. Ordonez, Director Emmanuel C. Neri, and the Commission on Human Rights. The respondent in this case is Director Vicente Vinarao of the Bureau of Corrections. Oscar de Guzman y Enriquez was previously tried and convicted by the Regional Trial Court of San Jose City, Branch 39, in G.R. No. 76742, for violating the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972, specifically for the unlawful sale of two sticks of marijuana. The trial court sentenced de Guzman to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of P20,000, a decision that was affirmed by the Supreme Court in a prior ruling. However, subsequent amendments to the law, particularly Republic Act No. 7659, which took effect on December 31, 1993, altered the penalties for drug offenses, particularly reducing the penalties for cases involving less than 250 grams of marijuana. De Guzman had been serving his sentence since July 1984, amounting to over ten years of imprisonment. The petitioners argued that his continued detention violated his basic human rights, and they sought his immediate release. They also recommended that other prisoners...