Proceso L. Maligalig vs. Sandiganbayan (Sixth Division), People of the Philippines, represented by the...

FIRST DIVISION

[ G.R. No. 236293, December 10, 2019 ]

PROCESO L. MALIGALIG, PETITIONER, VS. SANDIGANBAYAN (SIXTH DIVISION), PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, REPRESENTED BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR OF THE OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN, PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION ON GOOD GOVERNMENT AND BATAAN SHIPYARD AND ENGINEERING CORPORATION, INC., Respondents.

DECISION

PERALTA, C.J.:

This Petition for Certiorari under Rule 65 of the Rules of Court seeks to' set' aside' the' Sandiganbayan' Sixth' Division's (Sandiganbayan) Resolutions dated October 10, 20171'and November 17, 20172'in SB-CRM- 17-0736 and SB-CRM-17-0737, which respectively denied petitioner's Alternative Motion to Quash or To Suspend Proceedings and Motion for Reconsideration.

Petitioner was charged before the Sandiganbayan with violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act (R.A.) No. 3019 and Article 217, in relation to paragraph 4 of Article 48 of the Revised Penal Code, under two (2) Informations, which read as follows:

SB-CRM-17-0736

That on March 29, 2010, or sometime prior or subsequent thereto, in' the' City' of' Manila,' Metro' Manila,' Philippines,' and' within' the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the above-named accused PROCESO LAWAS MALIGALIG, a public officer, being then the President and a member of the Board of Directors of the Bataan Shipyard and Engineering Co., Inc. (BASECO), a government-owned or controlled corporation, in the discharge of his administrative .and/or official functions and taking advantage of his official position, did then and there, willfully, unlawfully and criminally, with evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence, execute a Release, Waiver and Quitclaim in favor of Northstar Transport Facilities, Inc. (Northstar) without authority from the BASECO Board of Directors, and receive from Northstar the amount of PhP3,554,000.00 as full settlement of its total arrearages of PhP4,819,198.13 to BASECO for the period May 2009 to February 2010 covered by the Contract of Lease dated September 15, 2006 between BASECO, as lessor, and Northstar, as lessee, over BASECO properties including the eastern portion of the land area' known' as' Engineer' Island' and' accretions' in' Port' Area, Manila totaling 17,896.10 square meters more or less, and not remit the amount of PhP3,554,000.00 to BASECO, causing undue injury to BASECO and the Government in the total amount of PhP4,819,198.13 that was due from Northstar, and giving Northstar unwarranted benefits and advantage.

CONTRARY TO LAW."

SB-CRM-17-0737

That on March 29, 2010, or sometime prior or subsequent thereto, in' the' City' of' Manila,' Metro' Manila,' Philippines,' and' within' the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the above-named accused PROCESO LAWAS MALIGALIG, a public officer, being then the President and a member of the Board of Directors of the Bataan Shipyard and Engineering Co., Inc. (BASECO), a government-owned or controlled corporation, and as such by reason of his office and duties is responsible and accountable for public funds entrusted to and received by him, committing the complex crime charged herein while in the performance of or in relation to office and taking advantage of his official position, did then and there, willfully, unlawfully' and' feloniously,' appropriate,' take' or' misappropriate' the amount of PhP3,554,000.00 under his charge and custody and which he received' from' Northstar' Transport' Facilities,' Inc.' (Northstar)' as' full settlement of its total arrearages of PhP4,819,198.13 to BASECO for the period May 2009 to February 2010 under the Contract of Lease dated September 15, 2006 between BASECO, as lessor, and Northstar, as lessee, over BASECO properties including the eastern portion of the land area known as Engineer Island and accretions in Port Area, Manila totaling 17,896.10 square meters more or less, by means of falsifying the Release, Waiver and Quitclaim dated March 29, 2010 that he executed in favor of Northstar by making an untruthful statement therein that he executed a Release, Waiver and Quitclaim to implement the Resolutions approved on March 24, 2010 by the BASECO Board of Directors in its special board meeting' when, in' truth' and' in fact, said' statement' is' absolutely false because the BASECO Board of Directors neither approved nor issued such Resolutions, and for which the accused has a legal obligation to disclose the truth about the absence of such Resolutions, to' the damage and prejudice of BASECO, the Government and the public interest in the aforestated amount.

CONTRARY' TO LAW."3

On May 26, 2017, petitioner filed before the Sandiganbayan an Alternative Motion to Quash or To Suspend Proceedings4' tmotion to quash or to suspend proceedings) on the ground that the Sandiganbayan has no jurisdiction' over' his' person' and' that' the' Office' of' Ombudsman' had' no authority to file the above-quoted' Informations' against' him.'' Petitioner, in the' alternative,' also' moved' for the' suspension' of' his' arraignment' on' the ground' of' a' prejudicial' question.' The' People,' through' the' Office' of' the Special' Prosecutor'' (OSP),' opposed'' petitioner's' motion' to' quash' or' to suspend proceedings,' insisting' on its authority to file the Informations' and on' the' jurisdiction'' of' the' Sandiganbayan'' to' hear' the' case' against' the petitioner.' The OSP argued that there was no prejudicial question involved, since the issue on the ownership of shares of BASECO will not affect any of the elements of the crimes charged in the Informations.

On October' 10, 2017, the Sandiganbayan' denied petitioner's Motion to Quash or to Suspend Proceedings.'' His motion for reconsideration having been denied in the Sandiganbayan's Resolution dated November' 17, 2017, petitioner interposes the present petition raising the following issues:

I

WHETHER OR NOT THE RESPONDENT' COURT ACTED WITHOUT JURISDICTION' IN ISSUING' THE RESOLUTION DATED' OCTOBER 10, 2017 INSOFAR' AS IT HELD THAT IT HAS JURISDICTION' OVER THE CASE AND THE PERSON OF THE ACCUSED.

II

WHETHER' OR NOT THE RESPONDENT' COURT COMMITTED GRAVE ABUSE OF DISCRETION AMOUNTING TO LACK OR IN EXCESS OF JURISDICTION IN DENYING PETITIONER'S ALTERNATIVE MOTION TO QUASH OR TO SUSPEND PROCEEDINGS DATED MAY' 12, 2017 AND' MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION DATED OCTOBER 17,2017 (SIC).5

Petitioner' contends' that' the' Bataan' Shipyard' and' Engineering' Co., Inc.' (BASECO)' is' not' a' government-owned'' or' controlled'' corporation.7!ᕼdMᗄ7 Invoking' the' ruling' in' BASECO' v.' PCGG,' et' al.,6'he' argued' that,' while BASECO was under sequestration' by the Presidential Commission' on Good Government' (PCGG),' there' was' no' divestment' of' title over' the' seized property since the PCGG has only powers of administration' and that it may not exercise acts of ownership over the property sequestered, frozen or provisionally' taken over. Petitioner alleged that he bought one (1) share of stock of the company in 2001 and, thus, he was entitled to be voted upon as member of the Board of Directors (BOD)' of BASECO.'' He theorizes that while the former President intimated her desire to the PCGG that he be made a member of the BOD, the same would not nevertheless' have materialized had he not acquired' a share of stock in the company.'' He was elected as member of the BOD and, eventually,' as President of BASECO every year until he was unceremoniously replaced in 2011.

Petitioner posits that since BASECO is a private corporation under the tutelage of PCGG' as conservator' and that he was elected to the BOD by reason of his being a stockholder of the company, he cannot be considered as a public official or employee within the definition of Section 2(b) of R.A. No. 3019,' otherwise' known' as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. Not being a public official or employee, he asserts that the Sandiganbayan has no jurisdiction over his person and that, consequently, the Office of the Ombudsman also has no jurisdiction to conduct preliminary investigation against' him.' Petitioner,' thus,' concludes' that' the' Sandiganbayan' gravely abused' its' discretion'' in' denying' his' Motion' to' Quash' or' To' Suspend Proceedings' dated' May' 12,' 2017' and' Motion' for' Reconsideration' dated October 17, 2017.

Sought for comment to the present petition, the OSP contend that the Sandiganbayan' has jurisdiction' over the case and person' of petitioner.'' It argued that the jurisdiction of a court in criminal cases is determined by the allegations in the complaint or information. Once it is shown that it has jurisdiction,' the' court' may' validly' take' cognizance' of' the' case' and' the court's jurisdiction to try a criminal case is determined at the time of the institution of the action, not at the time of the commission' of the offense. The' OSP' insists'' that' the' two' (2)' Informations'' against' the' petitioner sufficiently state the elements of the crime charged. It points out petitioner's own admission in his Counter-Affidavit dated June 30, 2014 that he was appointed as member of the BOD of BASECO, and later as its President by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

It stressed that Section 4 of P.D. No. 1606, as amended by R.A. No. 10660, enumerates the officials and offenses or felonies cognizable by the Sandiganbayan.'' The crimes charged against the petitioner, who is a public officer as defined by Section 2 ofP.D. No. 1602, are expressly stated in the Section 4(a) and (b), hence, within the original jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan.'' Pursuant to R.A. No. 6770, or The Ombudsman Law, it is the Office of the Ombudsman that has the authority to file the cases against the petitioner with the Sandiganbayan.

The OSP insists' hat' BASECO is a government-owned or controlled corporation'' (GOCC),' as' classified' by' the' Governance'' Commission' for GOCCs under the category GOCC 's Supervised by the PCGG.' It argues that the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan is not undermined by the fact that BASECO is under sequestration by the PCGG, but instead reinforces the proposition that BASECO' is a government entity utilizing public funds.'' It alleged' that' the' issue' of' BASECO's ownership' has' long' been' settled' as pointed out by the Sandiganbayan' in its assailed Resolution' dated October 10, 2017.'' Citing' Section' 7, Rule' Ill of the' Revised' Rules' of Criminal Procedure,' it' asseverates' that' there' was' no' prejudicial' question' involved which would justify the suspension of the criminal' proceedings' against the petitioner.'' The OSP contends that by filing a motion to quash, petitioner hypothetically admits the facts alleged in the Informations and that the Sandiganbayan' did not gravely abused its discretion in denying petitioner's motion to quash.' It additionally alleged that the denial of a motion to quash is not correctible by certiorari.

In'' their'' separate'' Comments,'' the'' PCGG'' and'' BASECO'' alleged essentially the same arguments in asserting that petitioner is a public officer. It was asserted in their respective Comments that BASECO's income, as a sequestered' corporation, are remitted to the PCGG and then turned-over' to the Bureau of Treasury.' The members of the board of directors of BASECO were elected' by virtue' of "Desire' Letters"' issued' by the' President' of the Republic of the Philippines and that petitioner sat as President and Director of BASECO by virtue of the appointing power of the President.' As such, he handled' the' affairs' of' BASECO' in' representation' and' protection' of' the interests of the government.'' Thus, petitioner is a public officer exercising functions for public benefit, namely, management of sequestered corporation and earning income for the government.

The Petition is not impressed with merit.

In law, nothing is as elementary as the concept of jurisdiction, for the same is the foundation upon which the courts exercise their power of adjudication, and without which, no rights or obligation could emanate from any' decision'' or' resolution.7'' Jurisdiction'' is' defined'' as' the' power' and authority of a court to hear, try and decide a case.8''' The jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan' is' provided' in' P.D.' No.' 1606,' as' amended' by' R.A.' No. 10660, which, insofar as relevant in this case, reads as follows:

"Sec.' 4.''Jurisdiction.'The' Sandiganbayan' shall' exercise' original jurisdiction in all cases involving:

a. Violations' of Republic Act No. 3019, as amended, otherwise known' as' the' Anti-Graft' and' Corrupt' Practices' Act, Republic Act' No.'' 1379,' and' Chapter' II,' Section' 2,' Title' VII' of' the Revised Penal Code, where one or more of the principal accused are' officials' occupying' the' following' positions' in' the government,' whether in a permanent, acting or interim capacity, at the time of the commission of the offense:

(1)'' Officials'' of'' the'' executive'' branch'' occupying'' the positions' of regional' director' and higher,' otherwise classified as grade 27 and higher, of the Compensation' and Position' Classification' Act' of' 1989' (Republic' Act' No. 6758), specifically including:

xxxx

(g) Presidents, directors or trustees, or managers of government-owned'' or'' controlled''' corporations, state universities or educational institutions or foundations;

, b.' Other' offenses' or' felonies' whether' simple' or' complexed with'' other'' crimes'' committed'' by' the' public'' officials'' and employees'' mentioned'' in' subsection'' (a)' of' this' section' in relation to their office."

In' this' case,' the' two' (2)' Informations' filed' against' the' petitioner before the Sandiganbayan' showed' that he was' charged' with Violation' of Section 3(e) of R.A. No. 3019, and Malversation of Public Funds through Falsification of Public Document.' The Information for violation of the anti' graft' law' asserts' that' petitioner,'"in' the' discharge' of' his' administrative and/or official' functions' and taking advantage' of his official position, did then and there, willfully, unlawfully and criminally, with evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence" performed the acts constitutive of the offense charged.'' On'' the'' other'' hand,'' the'' charge'' for'' the'' complex'' crime'' of Malversation of Public Funds through Falsification of Public Document was allegedly' committed' by the' petitioner "while' in the performance' of or in relation to his office and taking advantage of his official position."'' Both Informations' also alleged that petitioner is a public officer "being' then the President and a member of the Board of Directors of the Bataan Shipyard and Engineering Co., Inc. (BASECO), a government-owned or -controlled corporation. "'' Thus,' on' the' basis' of' the' allegations' in' the' accusatory Informations alone, there is sufficient basis for the Sandiganbayan to take cognizance of the two (2) cases against the petitioner.'' The jurisdiction of a court over a criminal case is determined by the allegations in the complaint or information.' And once if it shown, the court may validly take cognizance of the case.9

Petitioner's defense that he was not a public officer at the time of the alleged' commission' of the offense does not hold water.'' It is well-settled that,' "jurisdiction'' is' not' affected' by the' pleas' or' the' theories' set' up' by defendant or respondent' in an answer, a motion to dismiss, or a motion to quash.' Otherwise,' jurisdiction' would' become' dependent' almost' entirely upon the whims of defendant or respondent."'10'Besides, his admission in his Counter-Affidavit filed before the Office of the Ombudsman that he was appointed as member of the Board of Directors, and eventually as President of' BASECO'' by'' former'' President'' Gloria'' Macapagal-Arroyo,' militates against his claim that he was not a public officer.' A public officer is defined in the Revised' Penal Code as "any' person who, by direct provision' of the law, popular election, or appointment by competent authority, shall take part in the performance' of public functions in the Government' of the Philippine Islands,' or' shall' perform' in' said' Government,' or' in' any' of' its' branches, public duties as an employee, agent or subordinate official, of any rank or class."11'''' The' concept' of' a' public' officer' was' expounded' further' in' the Serana' case,12'where it was held that, "An' investment' in an individual of some portion of the sovereign functions of the governmeni,' to be exercised by' him' for' the' benefit' of' the' public' makes' one' a' public' officer."''' As President of a sequestered company like BASECO, petitioner is expected to perform functions that would benefit the public in general.

Thus, the Sandiganbayan' did not commit grave abuse of discretion in denying petitioner's Motion to Quash and Motion for Reconsideration.'' It definitely has jurisdiction over the case and over the person of the petitioner since offenses for violation of R.A. No. 3019 and the complex crime of Malversation of Public Funds through Falsification of Public Document and petitioner's'' position,' as' alleged' in' the' two' (2)' Informations,' are' clearly among those offenses' and felonies and public officers' enumerated' in P.D. No. 1606, as amended by R.A. No. 10660.

WHEREFORE, premises' considered,' the Petition' for'Certiorari' is DENIED for utter lack of merit.' Costs against the petitioner.

SO ORDERED.

Peralta, C.J., (Chairperson), Caguioa, Reyes, J., Lazaro-Javier,'and'Lopez, JJ., concur

Footnotes

1'Penned' by Associate' Justice' Karl B. Miranda,' with Associate' Justices' Sarah' Jane T. Fernandez and Michael Frederick L. Musngi concurring;'rollo,'pp. 35-41.

2''Id.'at 42-44.

3'Id.'at 36-38.

4'Id.'at 47-58.

5'Id.'at 12.

6'234 Phil. 180 (1987).

7'Glynna Foronda-Crystal v. Aniana Lawas Son,'G.R. No. 221815, November 29,2017

8'Id.

9'Navaja v. Hon. De Castro,' et al.,'761 Phil. 142, 151 (2015), citing'Foz, Jr. etal. v. People,'618 Phil. 120, 130 (2009). '' '.

10'Serana v. Sandiganbayan, et al.,'566 Phil. 224, 251 (2008).

11''Zoleta v. The Honorable Sandiganbayan (Fourth Division), et al.,'765 Phil. 39, 53 (2015).

12'Supra'note 6, at 249-250.