73.burgos, Jr. v. Spouses Eladio Sj. Naval, Et Al.

2017 Criminal Law
UST Golden Notes
BURGOS, JR. VS. SPOUSES ELADIO SJ-NAVAL, ET AL.
G.R. No. 219468 | June 8, 2016
DOCTRINE OF THE CASE:
It is the OSG which possesses the requisite authority to represent the People in an
appeal on the criminal aspect of a case. If there is a dismissal of a criminal case by the trial
court or if there is an acquittal of the accused, it is only the OSG that may bring an appeal
on the criminal aspect representing the People. The rationale therefor is rooted in the
principle that the party affected by the dismissal of the criminal action is the People and not
the petitioners who are mere complaining witnesses. For this reason, the People are
therefore deemed as the real parties in interest in the criminal case and, therefore, only the
OSG can represent them in criminal proceedings pending in the CA or in this Court.
PERLAS-BERNABE, J.
FACTS: BURGOS filed an Information against SPOUSES ELADIO AND ARLINA NAVAL AND
THEIR DAUGHTER, AMALIA NAVAL (SPS NAVAL ET AL.) of the crime of Estafa through
Falsification of Public Documents.
The RTC dismissed the case on the ground of prescription. Aggrieved, BURGOS moved for
reconsideration, which was denied. Thus, BURGOS elevated the matter to the CA via a
petition for certiorari, docketed as CA-G.R. SP No. 138203.
In a Resolution dated March 5, 2015, the CA dismissed the petition for failure of BURGOS to
join the People in his certiorari petition as required by the Administrative Code of 1987.
Unstirred, BURGOS moved for reconsideration, 26 which was likewise denied. The CA
observed that the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) has not consented to the filing of the
certiorari petition hence, this petition before the Court.
ISSUE:
Is the authorization of the OSG needed in filing a petition for certiorari in relation to the
criminal aspect of the case?
HELD:
It is necessary that the same be filed with the authorization of the OSG, which, by
law, is the proper
2017 Criminal Law
UST Golden Notes
representative of the People, the real party in interest in the criminal
proceedings.
In view of the corollary principle that every action must be prosecuted or defended in the
name of the real party in interest who stands to be benefited or injured by the judgment in
the suit, or by the party entitled to the avails of the suit, an appeal of the criminal case not
filed by the People as represented by the OSG is perforce dismissible. The private
complainant or the offended party may, however, file an appeal without the intervention of
the OSG but only insofar as the civil liability of the accused is concerned. He may also file a
special civil action for certiorari even without the intervention of the OSG, but only to the
end of preserving his interest in the civil aspect of the case.
In this case, records show that BURGOS's petition for certiorari in CA G.R. SP No. 138203
sought for the reinstatement of the Information and/or a ruling that the crime has not yet
prescribed. Accordingly, the same was not intended to merely preserve his interest in the
civil aspect of the case. Thus, as his certiorari petition was filed seeking for relief/s in relation
to the criminal aspect of the case, it is necessary that the same be filed with the
authorization of the OSG, which, by law, is the proper representative of the People, the real
party in interest in the criminal proceedings.
2017 Criminal Law
UST Golden Notes
SUMMARY FORMAT
Q: BURGOS filed Information against SPOUSES ELADIO AND ARLINA NAVAL AND THEIR
DAUGHTER, AMALIA NAVAL (SPS. NAVAL ET AL.) of the crime of Estafa through Falsification of
Public Documents. The RTC dismissed the case on the ground of prescription. Aggrieved,
BURGOS moved for reconsideration, which was denied. Thus, BURGOS elevated the matter
to the CA via a petition for certiorari, docketed as CA-G.R. SP No. 138203. In a Resolution
dated March 5, 2015, the CA dismissed the petition for failure of BURGOS to join the People
in his certiorari petition as required by the Administrative Code of 1987. Unstirred, BURGOS
moved for reconsideration, which was likewise denied. The CA observed that the Office of
the Solicitor General (OSG) has not consented to the filing of the certiorari petition hence,
this petition before the Court. Is the CA correct in denying BURGOS motion for
reconsideration on the ground that the OSG has not consented to the filing of the certiorari
petition?
A: Yes, In this case, records show that BURGOS petition for certiorari in CA G.R. SP No.
138203 sought for the reinstatement of the Information and/or a ruling that the crime has
not yet prescribed. Accordingly, the same was not intended to merely preserve his interest
in the civil aspect of the case. Thus, as his certiorari petition was filed seeking for relief/s in
relation to the criminal aspect of the case, it is necessary that the same be filed with the
authorization of the OSG, which, by law, is the proper representative of the People, the real
party in interest in the criminal proceedings. As the CA aptly noted, "[t]o this date, the [OSG]
as appellant's counsel of the [People] has not consented to the filing of the present suit."
There being no authorization given - as his request to the OSG filed on April 10, 2015 was
not shown to have been granted - the certiorari petition was rightfully dismissed.
It must, however, be clarified that the CA's dismissal of BURGOS certiorari petition is
without prejudice to his filing of the appropriate action to preserve his interest in the civil
aspect of the Estafa through Falsification of Public Documents case, provided that the
parameters of Rule 111 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure are complied with. (Burgos, Jr. v.
Spouses Eladio Sj. Naval, et al., G.R. No. 219468, June 8, 2016).

73.burgos, Jr. v. Spouses Eladio Sj. Naval, Et Al.

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

73.burgos, Jr. v. Spouses Eladio Sj. Naval, Et Al.

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

2017 Criminal Law

UST Golden Notes

BURGOS, JR. VS. SPOUSES ELADIO SJ-NAVAL, ET AL.

G.R. No. 219468 | June 8, 2016

DOCTRINE OF THE CASE:

You might also like