Case Digest (G.R. No. 165412)
Facts:
- George Miller, a British national and inmate at the Maximum Security Compound of New Bilibid Prison, filed a petition against Secretary Hernando B. Perez and Giovan Bernardino.
- In late 1998, Miller, as Acting Secretary General of the Inmates' Crusade Against Drugs (ICAD), wrote confidential letters to NBP Superintendent Col. Gregorio Agalo-os, alleging drug trading activities involving Bernardino and inmate Rodolfo Bernardo.
- On January 6, 1999, Miller was attacked, resulting in a head injury.
- An investigation revealed that Bernardino and Bernardo confronted Miller about his letters and threatened him.
- Inmates Constantino Quirante and Roberto Ceballos admitted to attacking Miller, claiming they were hired by Bernardino and Bernardo.
- The City Prosecutor initially charged Quirante with attempted murder but dismissed the case against Bernardino and Bernardo due to insufficient evidence.
- New affidavits later implicated Bernardino and Bernardo as masterminds of the attack.
- On March 21, 2002, Secretary Perez excluded Bernardino from the attempted murder information, citing insufficient evidence.
- Miller contested this decision, leading to a petition for certiorari before the Court of Appeals, which upheld the Secretary's ruling.
- Miller subsequently elevated the case to the Supreme Court, arguing grave abuse of discretion by the Secretary.
Issue:
- (Unlock)
Ruling:
- The Supreme Court granted the petition for review on certiorari, reversing the decisions of the Court of Appeals and the Secretary of Justice.
- The Court directed the Secretary of Justice to reinstate or re-file the amen...(Unlock)
Ratio:
- The Supreme Court found that Secretary Hernando B. Perez gravely abused his discretion by ignoring new affidavits that provided substantial evidence against Bernardino.
- The Court stated that probable cause is established by facts leading a reasonable mind to believe in the accused's guilt.
- The Secretary's dismissal of the new affidavits as afterthoughts was unfounded, as they corroborated earlier witness statements.
- The initial dismi...continue reading
Case Digest (G.R. No. 165412)
Facts:
The case involves George Miller, a British national and inmate at the Maximum Security Compound of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City, who filed a petition against Secretary Hernando B. Perez, in his capacity as Secretary of the Department of Justice, and Giovan Bernardino. The events leading to the case began in November and December 1998 when Miller, serving as Acting Secretary General of the Inmates' Crusade Against Drugs (ICAD), wrote two confidential letters to then NBP Superintendent Col. Gregorio Agalo-os. These letters detailed alleged irregularities and drug trading activities involving Bernardino and another inmate, Rodolfo Bernardo, and recommended their transfer to the Maximum Security Compound.
On January 6, 1999, while heading to the volleyball court, Miller was attacked from behind, suffering a lacerated wound to his head. Following the incident, an investigation was initiated, revealing that Bernardino and Bernardo had confronted Miller about his letters, threatening him. Witnesses, including inmates Constantino Quirante and Roberto Ceballos, admitted their involvement in the attack, stating they were hired by Bernardino and Bernardo to kill Miller.
The case was initially filed with the Office of the City Prosecutor, which found sufficient evidence to charge Quirante with attempted murder but dismissed the case against Bernardino and Bernardo due to lack of evidence linking them to the assault. However, further investigations led to new affidavits from Quirante, Ceballos, and another inmate, Rodrigo Toledo, which implicated Bernardino and Bernardo as masterminds behind the a...