Facts:

• Victorias Milling Co., Inc. (VMC) filed a petition against Luis J. Padilla, Emmanuel S. Duterte, Carlos Tupas, Jr., and Rolando C. Rodriguez.
• The Chief of Police of Victorias, Negros Occidental, accused the respondents of falsifying Refined Sugar Invoice/Delivery Orders (RSDOs) to damage VMC.
• The Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) Judge Ricardo S. Real, Sr. initially dismissed the complaint but allowed for its amendment or the filing of another information.
• Subsequently, 64 informations for falsification were filed against the respondents, alleging they conspired to use "sugarless" RSDOs to secure significant loans from various banks.
• The MTCC Judge issued warrants of arrest only against the signatories of the falsified documents and denied the prosecution's motion to issue warrants for all respondents based on conspiracy.
• A motion for reconsideration was denied, leading to the arraignment of some respondents on specific informations.
• VMC then filed a petition for certiorari and mandamus with the Regional Trial Court (RTC), which was denied.
• The Court of Appeals upheld the RTC's decision, prompting VMC to petition the Supreme Court.

Issue:

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Ruling:

• The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Victorias Milling Co., Inc., granting the petition.
• The Court ordered the MTCC Judge to determine whether there is probable cause against the respondents as conspirators in the crime of falsification of private do...(Unlock)

Ratio:

• The Supreme Court found that the petition for certiorari was filed within the reglementary period, as it was filed within 60 days from the date of the respondents' arraignment, which was the event being challenged.
• The Court determined that VMC had substantially complied with the requirement to attach the necessary documents to the petition.
• Regarding VMC's legal personality, the Court held that as the offended party, VMC had sufficient interest and standing to file the petition.
• Th...continue reading