Title
People vs. Tabiana
Case
G.R. No. L-11847
Decision Date
Feb 1, 1918
A respected official and a justice of the peace resisted arrest over a trivial trespass charge, leading to charges of resistance and disobedience under the Penal Code. Both were convicted, with reduced penalties.

Case Digest (G.R. No. L-11847)
Expanded Legal Reasoning Model

Facts:

  • Parties and Positions
    • Gelasio Tabiana
      • Municipal councilor of Leon, Iloilo; twice municipal president; candidate for reelection.
    • Julian Canillas
      • Justice of the peace of Leon; brother-in-law and housemate of Tabiana.
  • Origin of Warrant and Initial Service
    • Complaint for cattle trespass filed by neighbor before Canillas; warrant issued for Tabiana and herdsman.
    • Policemen Emiliano Callado and Baltazar Cabilitasan served warrant about 4 p.m.:
      • Tabiana agreed to report later at the municipal building with herdsman.
      • At 6 p.m., acting on chief of police’s orders, policemen compelled Tabiana to accompany them.
      • En route, Tabiana broke away into the market; after showing the warrant, he pocketed it and led police to an empty municipal building; angered, he returned home with friends.
  • Renewed Arrest Attempt and Altercation
    • Chief of police dispatched Callado, Cabilitasan, and Leon Cajilig to recover the warrant and arrest Tabiana.
    • In Tabiana’s tienda under his residence:
      • Tabiana denied having the warrant; friend shouted threat of a “beating.”
      • Tabiana struck Callado in the chest; Callado seized Tabiana’s wrist; bystanders intervened to rescue him.
      • Canillas arrived excited, struck Callado on the back, and ordered the policemen away.
      • Policemen withdrew amid threats of further resistance.

Issues:

  • Did Tabiana and Canillas commit the offense of assault upon agents of public authority under article 249, second paragraph, in connection with aggravating facts in article 250(2), Penal Code?
  • If not, should their conduct be qualified as resistance and serious disobedience under article 252, Penal Code?

Ruling:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

Ratio:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

Doctrine:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

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