Case Digest (G.R. No. L-15939) Core Legal Reasoning Model
Core Legal Reasoning Model
Facts:
In Mark Ramsey Javier y Titular v. People of the Philippines (G.R. No. 245334, February 8, 2023), the petitioner, Mark Ramsey Javier y Titular, was charged by Information dated June 2, 2016 before Branch 276, Regional Trial Court (RTC), Muntinlupa City, with violating Section 261(p) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 881, as amended by Section 32 of Republic Act No. 7166, in relation to COMELEC Resolution No. 10015. It was alleged that on June 1, 2016 at around 5:50 a.m. in Muntinlupa City, petitioner was stopped for riding a motorcycle without a helmet, license, or plate number and was arrested after he allegedly tried to evade police officers conducting “Oplan Sita.” The police claimed to have recovered from the motorcycle compartment a folding knife measuring about eight inches, marked only with petitioner’s initials “MRTJ,” photographed it, and later turned it over to an evidence custodian. During trial, a COMELEC certification confirmed that petitioner had no written authority to carry Case Digest (G.R. No. L-15939) Expanded Legal Reasoning Model
Expanded Legal Reasoning Model
Facts:
- Antecedents
- Information filed (June 2, 2016): Petitioner charged under Section 261(p), BP 881 (Omnibus Election Code), as amended by Section 32, RA 7166, for possessing a folding knife during the election period without COMELEC authorization.
- Arrest (June 1, 2016): Police conducting “Oplan Sita” in Muntinlupa City stopped petitioner for riding a motorcycle without helmet, license, or plate. After a chase, he was handcuffed; a folding knife (approx. 8 inches) was allegedly recovered from the motorcycle compartment.
- Trial Proceedings
- Prosecution evidence:
- Police testimony regarding the traffic stop, arrest, marking of the knife “MRTJ,” confiscation, photographing, and turnover to evidence custodian.
- COMELEC Certification (July 5, 2016) confirming petitioner had no written permit to carry deadly weapons during the election period.
- Defense evidence:
- Petitioner’s account: He stopped when signaled, lost helmet and license, newly purchased motorcycle without plates; first saw the knife at the police station.
- Denial of intent to evade and of owning the knife at the scene.
- Lower Court Rulings
- RTC Decision (March 22, 2017): Found petitioner guilty beyond reasonable doubt; sentenced to 3–6 years imprisonment, disqualification, deprivation of suffrage; ordered forfeiture of knife.
- CA Decision (August 31, 2018) and Resolution (February 14, 2019): Affirmed RTC, ruling arrest lawful (no warrant needed), knife admissible, and petitioner not exempt from election-period ban on weapons.
Issues:
- Whether petitioner was proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt of violating Section 261(p), BP 881, for bearing a deadly weapon during the election period without COMELEC authorization.
Ruling:
- (Subscriber-Only)
Ratio:
- (Subscriber-Only)
Doctrine:
- (Subscriber-Only)