Facts:

• The case "Mateo, Jr. v. Villaluz" involves petitioners Manuel Mateo, Jr., Roberto Martinez alias Ruben Martinez, Enrique Concepcion, and Esmeraldo Cruz.
• They were being tried by Judge Onofre Villaluz for robbery in band with homicide.
• The incident occurred on June 4, 1971, at the American Express Bank in Sangley Point, Cavite, resulting in the death of an American serviceman.
• Four criminal cases were filed against the petitioners, docketed as Criminal Cases Nos. CCC-VII-843 to 846, Cavite.
• Judge Villaluz was assigned to these cases and ordered the preliminary investigation.
• Mateo, Jr. and Cruz were arraigned on June 24, 1971.
• Martinez filed a motion to dismiss due to insufficient evidence and unconstitutional pre-trial identification.
• The prosecution opposed the motion, and the judge deferred ruling on it until after the prosecution presented evidence against another suspect, Rolando Reyes.
• Reyes had made an extrajudicial statement implicating the petitioners, which he later repudiated, claiming it was made under threat by a government agent.
• The petitioners filed a motion for the disqualification of Judge Villaluz, arguing his involvement in the extrajudicial statement compromised his impartiality.
• Judge Villaluz denied the motion, leading to the petition for prohibition before the Supreme Court.

Issue:

• (Unlock)

Ruling:

• The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the petitioners.
• The Court granted the petition for prohibition and issued a permanent restraining order against Judge Villaluz.
• The Court found that the judge's failure to disqualify him...(Unlock)

Ratio:

• The Court emphasized the fundamental requirement of due process, which necessitates an impartial and disinterested tribunal.
• Judge Villaluz's involvement in the extrajudicial statement of Rolando Reyes, which was later repudiated, created a situation where his objectivity could be ...continue reading