Facts:

• Defendants Leandro Diaz, Pioson, and Leongsong were charged with being brigands.
• The provincial fiscal filed a complaint against them, alleging that Diaz accepted the office of vice-president, Pioson accepted the office of captain, and Leongsong accepted the office of lieutenant in a revolutionary organization.
• The appointments were made by the brigands, and the defendants were accused of assisting them without the knowledge of the authorities and against the provisions of Act No. 518.

Issue:

• (Unlock)

Ruling:

• The court ruled in favor of the defendants and acquitted them of the charges.
• The court held that Act No. 518 is not retroactive, and therefore, one who accepts an office in a revolutionary organization prior to its passage does not become guilty of brigandage under the said act.
• The court found that there was no evidence to show that the defen...(Unlock)

Ratio:

• The court based its decision on the fact that Act No. 518 was not retroactive.
• Since the defendants accepted their offices in the revolutionary organization prior to the passage of the act, they could not be found guilty of brigandage under its provisions.
• The court also noted that there was no evidence to prove that the defendants were engaged in acts prohibited and punished by Act ...continue reading