Facts:

• Pete C. Lagran filed a habeas corpus petition against a Supreme Court ruling.
• On April 18, 1994, he was convicted by the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City for three counts of violating Batas Pambansa (BP) Blg. 22 (bouncing checks).
• Lagran received a one-year imprisonment sentence for each count, along with a fine of P125,000.00, and a provision for subsidiary imprisonment if he was insolvent.
• His appeal to the Court of Appeals was dismissed on July 11, 1997, due to failure to file the appellant's brief.
• The decision became final and executory on August 6, 1997, with the entry of judgment on March 5, 1998.
• Lagran was committed to Quezon City Jail on February 24, 1999, and later transferred to New Bilibid Prison on April 3, 1999.
• On March 19, 2001, he filed a habeas corpus petition, claiming he had completed his sentence.
• He argued that under Article 70 of the Revised Penal Code, identical penalties from one court and one complaint should be served simultaneously.
• Lagran stated he had been incarcerated for two years and four days as of February 28, 2001.

Issue:

• (Unlock)

Ruling:

• The Supreme Court dismissed Pete C. Lagran's petition for habeas corpus.
• The Court determined that Lagran had not completed his sentence, as he began serving it on February 24, 1999.
• The nature...(Unlock)

Ratio:

• The ruling was based on the interpretation of Article 70 of the Revised Penal Code, which allows simultaneous service of penalties only if the nature of the penalties permits it.
• Lagran was sentenced ...continue reading