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G.R. No. 168644 : February 16, 2010

BSB GROUP, INC., represented by its President, Mr. RICARDO BANGAYAN,Petitioner, vs. SALLY GO a..a. SALLY GO!BANGAYAN, Respondent.

 This is a Petition for Review uner Ru!e 4" of the Ru!es of #ourt assai!in$ the

%e&ision of the #ourt of '((ea!s in #')G.R. *P No. 8+6001&ra!aw ate '(ri! 20,

200", whi&h reverse an set asie the *e(teber 1-, 20042&ra!aw an Noveber

", 2004-&ra!aw rers issue by the Re$iona! Tria! #ourt of /ani!a, ran&h

-64&ra!aw in #riina! #ase No. 02)2021"8 for ua!ie theft. The sai orers, in

turn, res(e&tive!y enie the otion !e by herein res(onent *a!!y Go for the

su((ression of the testionia! an o&uentary evien&e re!ative to a *e&urity

an3 a&&ount, an enie re&onsieration.

 The basi& ante&eents are no !on$er is(ute.

Petitioner, the * Grou(, n&., is a u!y or$ani5e oesti& &or(oration (resie by

its herein re(resentative, Ri&aro an$ayan an$ayan7. Res(onent *a!!y Go,

a!ternative!y referre to as *a!!y *ia Go an *a!!y Go)an$ayan, is an$ayans wife,

who was e(!oye in the &o(any as a &ashier, an was en$a$e, aon$ others,

to re&eive an a&&ount for the (ayents ae by the various &ustoers of the

&o(any.

n 2002, an$ayan !e with the /ani!a Prose&utors 9&e a &o(!aint for estafa

anor ua!ie theft"&ra!aw a$ainst res(onent, a!!e$in$ that severa!

&he&3s6&ra!aw re(resentin$ the a$$re$ate aount of P1,"-4,1-"."0 issue by the

&o(anys &ustoers in (ayent of their ob!i$ation were, instea of bein$ turne

over to the &o(anys &o;ers, inorse by res(onent who e(osite the sae to

her (ersona! ban3in$ a&&ount aintaine at *e&urity an3 an Trust #o(any

*e&urity an37 in %ivisoria, /ani!a ran&h.+&ra!aw

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a&&use i then an there wi!!fu!!y, un!awfu!!y an fe!onious!y with intent ?to@ $ain

an without the 3now!e$e an &onsent of the owner thereof, ta3e, stea! an &arry

away &ash oney in the tota! aount of P1,"-4,1-"."0 be!on$in$ to * GR

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ith the enia! of its otion for re&onsieration,2-&ra!aw (etitioner is now before

the #ourt (!eain$ the sae issues as those raise before the !ower &ourts.

n this Petition24&ra!aw uner Ru!e 4", (etitioner averre in the ain that the #ourt

of '((ea!s ha serious!y erre in reversin$ the assai!e orers of the tria! &ourt, an

in e;e&t stri3in$ out /arasi$ans testiony ea!in$ with res(onents e(osit

a&&ount with *e&urity an3.2"&ra!aw t asserte that a(art fro the fa&t that the

sai evien&e ha a ire&t re!ation to the subCe&t atter of the &ase for ua!ie

theft an, hen&e, brin$s the &ase uner one of the e&e(tions to the &overa$e of

&onentia!ity uner R.'. 140".26&ra!aw Petitioner be!ieve that what &onstitute

the subCe&t atter in !iti$ation was to be eterine by the a!!e$ations in the

inforation an, in this res(e&t, it a!!ue to the assai!e Noveber ", 2004 rer

of the tria! &ourt, whi&h e&!are to be erroneous the !iitation of the (resent

inuiry ere!y to what was &ontaine in the inforation.2+&ra!aw

For her (art, res(onent &!aie that the oney re(resente by the *e&urity an3

a&&ount was neither re!evant nor ateria! to the &ase, be&ause nothin$ in the

&riina! inforation su$$este that the oney therein e(osite was the subCe&t

atter of the &ase. *he invite (arti&u!ar attention to that (ortion of the &riina!

nforation whi&h averre that she has sto!en an &arrie away &ash oney in the

tota! aount of P1,"-4,1-"."0. *he avan&e the notion that the ter J&ash

oneyJ state in the nforation was not synonyous with the &he&3s she was

(ur(orte to have sto!en fro (etitioner an e(osite in her (ersona! ban3in$

a&&ount. Thus, the &he&3s whi&h the (rose&ution ha /arasi$an ientify, as we!! asthe testiony itse!f of /arasi$an, shou! be su((resse by the tria! &ourt at !east for

vio!atin$ res(onents ri$ht to ue (ro&ess.28&ra!aw /ore in (oint, res(onent

o(ine that aittin$ the testiony of /arasi$an, as we!! as the evien&e

(ertainin$ to the *e&urity an3 a&&ount, wou! vio!ate the se&re&y ru!e uner R.'.

No. 140".2>&ra!aw

n its re(!y, (etitioner asserte the su9&ien&y of the a!!e$ations in the &riina!

nforation for ua!ie theft, as the sae has su9&ient!y a!!e$e the e!eents of

the o;ense &har$e. t (osits that throu$h /arasi$ans testiony, the #ourt wou!be ab!e to estab!ish that the &he&3s invo!ve, &o(ies of whi&h were atta&he to the

&o(!aint)a9avit !e with the (rose&utor, ha inee been re&eive by

res(onent as &ashier, but were, thereafter, e(osite by the !atter to her (ersona!

a&&ount with *e&urity an3. Petitioner he! that the &he&3s re(resente the &ash

oney sto!en by res(onent an, hen&e, the subCe&t atter in this &ase is not on!y

the &ash aount re(resente by the &he&3s su((ose!y sto!en by res(onent, but

a!so the &he&3s these!ves.-0&ra!aw

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e erive fro the &onKi&tin$ avo&a&ies of the (arties that the issue for reso!ution

is whether the testiony of /arasi$an an the a&&o(anyin$ o&uents are

irre!evant to the &ase, an whether they are a!so vio!ative of the abso!ute!y

&onentia! nature of ban3 e(osits an, hen&e, e&!ue by o(eration of R.'. No.140". The uestion of aissibi!ity of the evien&e thus &oes to the fore. 'n the

#ourt, after e!iberative estiation, ns the subCe&t evien&e to be inee

inaissib!e.

Prefatori!y, funaenta! is the (re&e(t in a!! &riina! (rose&utions, that the

&onstitutive a&ts of the o;ense ust be estab!ishe with unwaverin$ ea&titue an

ora! &ertainty be&ause this is the &riti&a! an on!y reuisite to a nin$ of $ui!t.

-1&ra!aw Theft is (resent when a (erson, with intent to $ain but without vio!en&e

a$ainst or intiiation of (ersons or for&e u(on thin$s, ta3es the (ersona! (ro(erty

of another without the !atters &onsent. t is ua!ie when, aon$ others, an as

a!!e$e in the instant &ase, it is &oitte with abuse of &onen&e.-2&ra!aw The

(rose&ution of this o;ense ne&essari!y fo&uses on the eisten&e of the fo!!owin$

e!eents: a7 there was ta3in$ of (ersona! (ro(erty be!on$in$ to anotherE b7 the

ta3in$ was one with intent to $ainE &7 the ta3in$ was one without the &onsent of

the ownerE 7 the ta3in$ was one without vio!en&e a$ainst or intiiation of

(ersons or for&e u(on thin$sE an e7 it was one with abuse of &onen&e.--&ra!aw

n turn, whether these e!eents &on&ur in a way that over&oes the (resu(tion of 

$ui!t!essness, is a uestion that ust (ass the test of re!evan&y an &o(eten&y in

a&&oran&e with *e&tion --4&ra!aw Ru!e 128 of the Ru!es of #ourt.

 Thus, whether these (ie&es of evien&e sou$ht to be su((resse in this &ase the

testiony of /arasi$an, as we!! as the &he&3s (ur(orte to have been sto!en an

e(osite in res(onents *e&urity an3 a&&ount are re!evant, is to be aresse by

&onsierin$ whether they have su&h ire&t re!ation to the fa&t in issue as to inu&e

be!ief in its eisten&e or non)eisten&eE or whether they re!ate &o!!atera!!y to a fa&t

fro whi&h, by (ro&ess of !o$i&, an inferen&e ay be ae as to the eisten&e or

non)eisten&e of the fa&t in issue.-"&ra!aw

 The fa&t in issue a((ears to be that res(onent has ta3en away &ash in the aount

of P1,"-4,1-"."0 fro the &o;ers of (etitioner. n su((ort of this a!!e$ation,

(etitioner see3s to estab!ish the eisten&e of the e!eenta! a&t of ta3in$ by

au&in$ evien&e that res(onent, at severa! ties between 1>88 an 1>8>,

e(osite soe of its &he&3s to her (ersona! a&&ount with *e&urity an3. Petitioner

aresses the in&on$ruen&e between the a!!e$ation of theft of &ash in the

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nforation, on the one han, an the evien&e that res(onent ha rst sto!en the

&he&3s an e(osite the sae in her ban3in$ a&&ount, on the other han, by

i(ressin$ u(on the #ourt that there obtains no i;eren&e between &ash an &he&3

for (ur(oses of (rose&utin$ res(onent for theft of &ash. Petitioner is ista3en.

n theft, the a&t of un!awfu! ta3in$ &onnotes e(rivation of (ersona! (ro(erty of one

by another with intent to $ain, an it is iateria! that the o;ener is ab!e or

unab!e to free!y is(ose of the (ro(erty sto!en be&ause the e(rivation re!ative to

the o;ene (arty has a!reay ensue fro su&h a&t of ee&ution.-6&ra!aw The

a!!e$ation of theft of oney, hen&e, ne&essitates that evien&e (resente ust

have a tenen&y to (rove that the o;ener has un!awfu!!y ta3en oney be!on$in$

to another. nterestin$!y, (etitioner has ta3en (ains in atte(tin$ to raw a

&onne&tion between the evien&e subCe&t of the instant review, an the a!!e$ation

of theft in the nforation by &!aiin$ that res(onent ha frauu!ent!y e(osite

the &he&3s in her own nae. ut this !ine of ar$uent wor3s ore (reCui&e thanfavor, be&ause it in e;e&t, see3s to estab!ish the &oission, not of theft, but

rather of soe other &rie (robab!y estafa.

/oreover, that there is no i;eren&e between &ash an &he&3 is true in other

instan&es. n estafa by &onversion, for instan&e, whether the thin$ &onverte is &ash

or &he&3, is iateria! in re!ation to the fora! a!!e$ation in an inforation for that

o;enseE a &he&3, after a!!, whi!e not re$are as !e$a! tener, is nora!!y a&&e(te

uner &oer&ia! usa$e as a substitute for &ash, an the &reit it re(resents in

state onetary va!ue is (ro(er!y &a(ab!e of a((ro(riation. 'n it is in this res(e&tthat what the o;ener oes with the &he&3 subseuent to the a&t of un!awfu!!y

ta3in$ it be&oes ateria! inasu&h as this o;ense is a &ontinuin$ one.-+&ra!aw n

other wors, in (ursuin$ a &ase for this o;ense, the (rose&ution ay estab!ish its

&ause by the (resentation of the &he&3s invo!ve. These &he&3s wou! then

&onstitute the best evien&e to estab!ish their &ontents an to (rove the e!eenta!

a&t of &onversion in su((ort of the (ro(osition that the o;ener has inee inorse

the sae in his own nae.-8&ra!aw

 Theft, however, is not of su&h &hara&ter. Thus, for our (ur(oses, as the nforationin this &ase a&&uses res(onent of havin$ sto!en &ash, (roof tenin$ to estab!ish

that res(onent has a&tua!i5e her &riina! intent by inorsin$ the &he&3s an

e(ositin$ the (ro&ees thereof in her (ersona! a&&ount, be&oes not on!y

irre!evant but a!so iateria! an, on that s&ore, inaissib!e in evien&e.

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e now aress the issue of whether the aission of /arasi$ans testiony on the

(arti&u!ars of res(onents a&&ount with *e&urity an3, as we!! as of the

&orres(onin$ evien&e of the &he&3s a!!e$e!y e(osite in sai a&&ount,

&onstitutes an una!!owab!e inuiry uner R.'. 140".

t is &on&ee that whi!e the funaenta! !aw has not bothere with the trivia!ity of

s(e&i&a!!y aressin$ (riva&y ri$hts re!ative to ban3in$ a&&ounts, there,

neverthe!ess, eists in our Curisi&tion a !e$itiate e(e&tation of (riva&y $overnin$

su&h a&&ounts. The sour&e of this ri$ht of e(e&tation is statutory, an it is foun in

R.'. No. 140",->&ra!aw otherwise 3nown as the an3 *e&re&y '&t of 1>"". 40&ra!aw

R.'. No. 140" has two a!!ie (ur(oses. t ho(es to is&oura$e (rivate hoarin$ an

at the sae tie en&oura$e the (eo(!e to e(osit their oney in ban3in$

institutions, so that it ay be uti!i5e by way of authori5e !oans an thereby assistin e&onoi& eve!o(ent.41&ra!aw win$ to this (ie&e of !e$is!ation, the

&onentia!ity of ban3 e(osits reains to be a basi& state (o!i&y in the

Phi!i((ines.42&ra!aw *e&tion 2 of the !aw institutiona!i5e this (o!i&y by

&hara&teri5in$ as abso!ute!y &onentia! in $enera! a!! e(osits of whatever nature

with ban3s an other nan&ia! institutions in the &ountry. t e&!ares:

*e&tion 2.'!! e(osits of whatever nature with ban3s or ban3in$ institutions in the

Phi!i((ines in&!uin$ investents in bons issue by the Governent of the

Phi!i((ines, its (o!iti&a! subivisions an its instruenta!ities, are hereby &onsiereas of an abso!ute!y &onentia! nature an ay not be eaine, inuire or !oo3e

into by any (erson, $overnent o9&ia!, bureau or o9&e, e&e(t u(on written

(erission of the e(ositor, or in &ases of i(ea&hent, or u(on orer of a

&o(etent &ourt in &ases of bribery or ere!i&tion of uty of (ub!i& o9&ia!s, or in

&ases where the oney e(osite or investe is the subCe&t atter of the !iti$ation.

*ubseuent statutory ena&tents4-&ra!aw have e(ane the !ist of e&e(tions to

this (o!i&y yet the se&re&y of ban3 e(osits sti!! !ies as the $enera! ru!e, fa!!in$ as it

oes within the !e$a!!y re&o$ni5e 5ones of (riva&y.44&ra!aw There is, in fa&t, u&hisfavor to &onstruin$ these (riary an su((!eenta! e&e(tions in a anner that

wou! authori5e unbri!e is&retion, whether $overnenta! or otherwise, in

uti!i5in$ these e&e(tions as authority for unwarrante inuiry into ban3 a&&ounts. t

is then (er&eivab!e that the (resent !e$a! orer is ob!i$e to &onserve the abso!ute!y

&onentia! nature of ban3 e(osits.4"&ra!aw

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 The easure of (rote&tion a;ore by the !aw has been e(!aine in #hina an3in$

#or(oration v. rte$a.46&ra!aw That &ase (rin&i(a!!y aresse the issue of whether

the (rohibition a$ainst an eaination of ban3 e(osits (re&!ues $arnishent in

satisfa&tion of a Cu$ent. Ru!in$ on that issue in the ne$ative, the #ourt foun

$uian&e in the re!evant (ortions of the !e$is!ative e!iberations on *enate i!! No.

-"1 an House i!! No. ->++, whi&h !ater be&ae the an3 *e&re&y '&t, an it he!that the abso!ute &onentia!ity ru!e in R.'. No. 140" a&tua!!y ais at (rote&tion

fro unwarrante inuiry or investi$ation if the (ur(ose of su&h inuiry or

investi$ation is ere!y to eterine the eisten&e an nature, as we!! as the

aount of the e(osit in any $iven ban3 a&&ount. Thus,

  The !ower &ourt i not orer an eaination of or inuiry into the e(osit

of D Forest %eve!o(ent #or(oration, as &onte(!ate in the !aw. t ere!y

reuire Tan Li Mion$ to infor the &ourt whether or not the efenant D Forest

%eve!o(ent #or(oration ha a e(osit in the #hina an3in$ #or(oration on!y for(ur(oses of the $arnishent issue by it, so that the ban3 wou! ho! the sae

inta&t an not a!!ow any withrawa! unti! further orer. t wi!! be note fro the

is&ussion of the &onferen&e &oittee re(ort on *enate i!! No. -"1 an House i!!

No. ->++whi&h !ater be&ae Re(ub!i& '&t No. 140", that it was not the intention of

the !awa3ers to (!a&e ban3s e(osits beyon the rea&h of ee&ution to satisfy a

na! Cu$entThus:

  /r. /ar&os: Now, for (ur(oses of the re&or, shou! !i3e the #hairan of

the #oittee on ays an /eans to &!arify this further. *u((ose an iniviua! hasa ta &ase. He is bein$ he! !iab!e by the ureau of nterna! Revenue ?R7@ or, say,

P1,000.00 worth of ta !iabi!ity, an be&ause of this the e(osit of this iniviua!

?has been@ atta&he by the ?R@ .

  /r. Raos: The atta&hent wi!! on!y a((!y after the &ourt has (ronoun&e

senten&e e&!arin$ the !iabi!ity of su&h (erson. ut where the (riary ai is to

eterine whether he has a ban3 e(osit in orer to brin$ about a (ro(er

assessent by the ?R@ , su&h inuiry is not a!!owe by this (ro(ose !aw.

  /r. /ar&os: ut uner our ru!es of (ro&eure an uner the #ivi! #oe, the

atta&hent or $arnishent of oney e(osite is a!!owe. Met us assue for

instan&e that there is a (re!iinary atta&hent whi&h is for $arnishent or for

ho!in$ !iab!e a!! oneys e(osite be!on$in$ to a &ertain iniviua!, but su&h

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atta&hent or $arnishent wi!! brin$ out into the o(en the va!ue of su&h e(osit. s

that (rohibite by... the !aw

  /r. Raos: t is on!y (rohibite to the etent that the inuiry... is ae on!y for

the (ur(ose of satisfyin$ a ta !iabi!ity a!reay e&!are for the (rote&tion of the

ri$ht in favor of the $overnentE but when the obCe&t is ere!y to inuire whether

he has a e(osit or not for (ur(oses of taation, then this is fu!!y &overe by the

!aw.

  /r. /ar&os: The !aw (rohibits a ere investi$ation into the eisten&e an the

aount of the e(osit.

  /r. Raos: nto the very nature of su&h e(osit. 4+&ra!aw

n ta3in$ e&!usion fro the &overa$e of the &onentia!ity ru!e, (etitioner in the

instant &ase (osits that the a&&ount aintaine by res(onent with *e&urity an3

&ontains the (ro&ees of the &he&3s that she has frauu!ent!y a((ro(riate to

herse!f an, thus, fa!!s uner one of the e&e(tions in *e&tion 2 of R.'. No. 140" that

the oney 3e(t in sai a&&ount is the subCe&t atter in !iti$ation. To hi$h!i$ht this

thesis, (etitioner avers, &itin$ /athay v. #onso!iate an3 an Trust #o.,48&ra!aw

that the subCe&t atter of the a&tion refers to the (hysi&a! fa&tsE the thin$s rea! or(ersona!E the oney, !ans, &hatte!s an the !i3e, in re!ation to whi&h the suit is

(rose&ute, whi&h in the instant &ase shou! refer to the oney e(osite in the

*e&urity an3 a&&ount.4>&ra!aw n the surfa&e, however, it sees that (etitioners

theory is va!i to a (oint, yet a ee(er treatent tens to show that it has ar$ue

uite o;)tan$entia!!y. This, be&ause, whi!e /athay i e(!ain what the subCe&t

atter of an a&tion is, it neverthe!ess i so on!y to eterine whether the &!ass

suit in that &ase was (ro(er!y brou$ht to the &ourt.

hat inee &onstitutes the subCe&t atter in !iti$ation in re!ation to *e&tion 2 of

R.'. No. 140" has been (ointe!y an a(!y aresse in

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the re&ors. n the &riina! nforation !e with the tria! &ourt, res(onent,

unua!ie!y an in (!ain !an$ua$e, is &har$e with ua!ie theft by abusin$

(etitioners trust an &onen&e an stea!in$ &ash in the aount of P1,"-4,1-"."0.

 The sai nforation a3es no fa&tua! a!!e$ation that in soe ateria! way invo!ves

the &he&3s subCe&t of the testionia! an o&uentary evien&e sou$ht to be

su((resse. Neither o the a!!e$ations in sai nforation a3e ention of thesu((ose ban3 a&&ount in whi&h the funs re(resente by the &he&3s have

a!!e$e!y been 3e(t.

n other wors, it &an har!y be inferre fro the ini&tent itse!f that the *e&urity

an3 a&&ount is the ostensib!e subCe&t of the (rose&utions inuiry. ithout

nee!ess!y e(anin$ the s&o(e of what is (!ain!y a!!e$e in the nforation, the

subCe&t atter of the a&tion in this &ase is the oney aountin$ to P1,"-4,1-"."0

a!!e$e to have been sto!en by res(onent, an not the oney euiva!ent of the

&he&3s whi&h are sou$ht to be aitte in evien&e. Thus, it is that, whi&h the(rose&ution is boun to (rove with its evien&e, an no other.

t &oes &!ear that the aission of testionia! an o&uentary evien&e re!ative

to res(onents *e&urity an3 a&&ount serves no other (ur(ose than to estab!ish

the eisten&e of su&h a&&ount, its nature an the aount 3e(t in it. t &onstitutes an

atte(t by the (rose&ution at an i(erissib!e inuiry into a ban3 e(osit a&&ount

the (riva&y an &onentia!ity of whi&h is (rote&te by !aw. n this s&ore a!one, the

obCe&tion (ose by res(onent in her otion to su((ress shou! have inee (ut an

en to the &ontroversy at the very rst instan&e it was raise before the tria! &ourt.

n su, we ho! that the testiony of /arasi$an on the (arti&u!ars of res(onents

su((ose ban3 a&&ount with *e&urity an3 an the o&uentary evien&e

re(resente by the &he&3s au&e in su((ort thereof, are not on!y in&o(etent for

bein$ e&!ue by o(eration of R.'. No. 140". They are !i3ewise irre!evant to the

&ase, inasu&h as they o not a((ear to have any !o$i&a! an reasonab!e

&onne&tion to the (rose&ution of res(onent for ua!ie theft. e n fu!! erit in

an a9r res(onents obCe&tion to the evien&e of the (rose&ution. The #ourt of

'((ea!s was, therefore, &orre&t in reversin$ the assai!e orers of the tria! &ourt.

' na! note. n any $iven Curisi&tion where the ri$ht of (riva&y etens its s&o(e to

in&!ue an iniviua!s nan&ia! (riva&y ri$hts an (ersona! nan&ia! atters, there

is an intereiate or hei$htene s&rutiny $iven by &ourts an !e$is!ators to !aws

infrin$in$ su&h ri$hts."2&ra!aw *hou! there be oubts in u(ho!in$ the abso!ute!y

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&onentia! nature of ban3 e(osits a$ainst a9rin$ the authority to inuire into

su&h a&&ounts, then su&h oubts ust be reso!ve in favor of the forer. This

attitue (ersists un!ess &on$ress !ifts its n$er to reverse the $enera! state (o!i&y

res(e&tin$ the abso!ute!y &onentia! nature of ban3 e(osits."-&ra!aw

HARAFRA, the (etition is %ANA%. The %e&ision of the #ourt of '((ea!s in #')G.R.

*P No. 8+600 ate '(ri! 20, 200", reversin$ the *e(teber 1-, 2004 an

Noveber ", 2004 rers of the Re$iona! Tria! #ourt of /ani!a, ran&h -6 in

#riina! #ase No. 02)2021"8, is 'FFR/A%.

* R%ARA%.

G.R. NOS. "#$%&'! ( )OS*P+ IC-OR G. *)*RCI-O, petitioner, verssSANDIGANBAYAN /SP*CIAL DIISION0 AND P*OPL* O1 -+* P+ILIPPIN*S,respondents.

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%**ANTNG PNN

*'N%I'M)G

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 =ose(h Ii&tor G. ACer&ito (etitioner herein7 is the ho!er of two 27 ban3 a&&ounts

with the

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ho(e an (ray, Bour Honors, that wi!! be $iven tie to retain the servi&es of a!awyer to he!( e (rote&t y ri$hts an those of every ban3in$ e(ositor. ut the

one have in in is out of the &ountry ri$ht now.

/ay , therefore, as3 your Honors, that in the eantie, the issuan&e of the

sub(oena be he! in abeyan&e for at !east ten 107 ays to enab!e e to ta3e

a((ro(riate !e$a! ste(s in &onne&tion with the (rose&utions reuest for the issuan&e

of sub(oena &on&ernin$ y a&&ounts.Q ?>@ A(hasis su((!ie7

 To (etitioners sur(rise, res(onent *ani$anbayan avise hi to !e a

otion to uashQ not !ater than 12:00 noon of =anuary 28, 200-, or the fo!!owin$

ay. t awne u(on (etitioner that res(onent &ourt ha a!reay issue asub(oena u&es te&ua testi&anu.Q

> in the aount ofP10,8+",+4>.4-E

&7 >> in the aount of

P42,+16,""4.22E

7 >> in the aount of

P"4,161,4>6."2E

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". Trust '$reeent ate =anuary 1>>>E

 

 Trustee: =ose(h Ii&tor G. ACer&ito

Noinee: >+" ate =anuary 18, 2000 in the aount of P+0,000,000.00E

2. /# S 0->>+6 ate =anuary 18, 2000 in the aount of P2,000,000.00E

-. /# S 0->>++ ate =anuary 18, 2000 in the aount of P2,000,000.00E an

4. /#S 0->>+8 ate =anuary 18, 2000 in the aount of P1,000,000.00E

Petitioner a!so &ae to 3now that res(onent &ourt ha $rante both reuests?12@

an issue the &orres(onin$ sub(oenae u&es te&ua testi&anu ate

 =anuary 21?1-@ an 24,?14@ 200-.

eiate!y, or on =anuary 2>, 200-, (etitioner !e a otion to uash the two 27

sub(oenae.?1"@

/eanwhi!e, on =anuary -1, 200-, the *(e&ia! Prose&ution Pane! !e another reuestfor the issuan&e of a sub(oena u&es te&ua testi&anu (ertainin$ to the

sae o&uents.?16@ n the sae ay, res(onent *ani$anbayan $rante the

reuest an issue the &orres(onin$ sub(oena. '$ain, (etitioner !e a otion to

uash.?1+@

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  n both otions to uash, (etitioner bewai!e the etree!y)etai!eQ

inforation &ontaine in the *(e&ia! Prose&ution Pane!s reuests, a!!e$in$ that a

(rior i!!e$a! is&!osure of his ban3 a&&ounts too3 (!a&e.

%urin$ the e&han$e of (!eain$s, (etitioner !earne that there was inee a (rior

is&!osure of his ban3 a&&ounts. n fa&t, as ear!y as February 8, 2001, the 9&e ofthe busan ha issue a sub(oena u&es te&u aresse to the

Presient or #hief Ae&utive 9&er of

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 The 9&e of the busan, in another sub(oena u&es te&u?22@ ate /ar&h

+, 2001, ire&te the (rou&tion of /ana$ers#ashiers #he&3s in the fo!!owin$

aounts:

a. P10,8+",+4>.4- ate Noveber 8, 1>>>

b. P 2,000,000.00 ate =anuary 18, 2000

&. P 2,000,000.00 ate =anuary 18, 2000

. P 1,000,000.00 ate =anuary 18, 2000

e. P+0,000,000.00 ate =anuary 18, 2000?2-@

 The P%# &o(!ie with the sai sub(oena.

n the basis of the fore$oin$ o&uents re!ease by the P%# to the 9&e of the

busan, the *(e&ia! Prose&ution Pane! !e with res(onent *ani$anbayan its

own reuests for the issuan&e of sub(oenae u&es te&ua testi&anu.

n February +, 200-, res(onent *ani$anbayan enie (etitioners otion to

uash sub(oenae u&es te&ua testi&anu ate =anuary 21 an 24, 200-.

?24@ Thus:

't the thresho!, we state that we are not in a&&or with the stan of the

(rose&ution that a trust a&&ount is not in&!ue in the ter e(osit of whatever

nature.Q ' ban3 e(ositQ is ene as a &ontra&tua! re!ationshi( ensuin$ fro the

e!ivery, by one 3nown as the e(ositor of oney, funs or even thin$s into the

(ossession of the ban3, whi&h re&eives the sae u(on the a$reeent to (ay,

re(ay or return, u(on the orer or ean of the e(ositor, the oney, funs, or

euiva!ent aount. This a$reeent on the (art of the ban3 is usua!!y a ta&it one

an i(!ie, an it ay in&!ue an i(!ie (roise to (ay interest u(on the e(osit,

e(enin$ u(on the nature of the e(osit an the a&&ount into whi&h it is (!a&e10 ' =ur 2 an3s --+, &ite in (a$e 121, a!!entines Maw %i&tionary, Thir

Aition7. The #ourt is in&!ine to ao(t the broaer or e(ane enition of

the wor e(ositQ in R.'. 140" as to en&o(ass trust a&&ounts &onsistent!y with

the state (o!i&y e&!are in *e&tion 1 thereof whi&h is to $ive en&oura$eent to

the (eo(!e to e(osit their oney in ban3in$ institution an to is&oura$e (rivate

hoarin$ so that the sae ay be (ro(er!y uti!i5e by ban3s in authori5e !oans to

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assist in the e&onoi& eve!o(ent of the &ountry.Q n fa&t, the !aw itse!f averts to

e(osit of whatever nature.Q

 

 The an3 *e&re&y Maws whi&h (rohibit the is&!osure of or inuiry into e(osits with

any ban3in$ institution (rovies for e&e(tions as fo!!ows:

-. *#R' 107, &ases of une(!aine wea!th are

sii!ar to &ases of bribery or ere!i&tion of uty an no reason is seen why these

two &!asses of &ases &annot be e&e(te fro the ru!e a3in$ ban3 e(osits

&onentia!. The (o!i&y as to one &annot be i;erent as to the other. This (o!i&y

e(resses the notion that a (ub!i& o9&e is a (ub!i& trust an any (erson who enters

u(on its is&har$e oes so with the fu!! 3now!e$e that his !ife, so far as re!evant tohis uty, is o(en to (ub!i& s&rutiny.Q

Further, ovants &!ai that the sub(oena ust be uashe in view of the a((arent

&ons(ira&y between the (rose&ution (ane!, o9&ia!s of A(ort an nustry an3,

an /s. 'urora a!o5 of the Phi!i((ine %e(osit nsuran&e #or(oration as revea!e

by the fa&t that the (rose&ution (ane! 3nows the o&uents whi&h are su((ose!y

very interna! to the ban3 an its &!ients, eserves s&ant &onsieration. 'sie fro it

bein$ not re&o$ni5e as one of the $rouns to uash the sub(oena, the ere fa&t

that the reuest for sub(oena s(e&ie the o&uents whi&h are to be brou$ht to&ourt, &annot, by itse!f (rove that there was &ons(ira&y on the (art of the

(rose&ution, the o9&ia!s of A(ort an nustry an3 as we!! as of the o9&ia!s of the

P%# to vio!ate the ban3 se&re&y !aw. 's &!arie by the (rose&ution, the

o&uents !iste in the reuest were obtaine in February, 2001, (ursuant to the

(ower &onferre on the busan uner *e&tion 1" 87 of R.'. 6++0, !on$ before

the *u(ree #ourt (rou!$ate the /arue5 v. %esierto &ase. #ons(i&uous!y, sin&e

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the investi$ation was &onu&te in February, 2001, these &ases are a!reay

(enin$, hen&e, the /arue5 ru!in$ wi!! not !i3ewise a((!y. esies, as a!reay

is&usse, we e&!are that this &ase fa!!s uner the e&e(tion of the afore&ite !aw,

hen&e, the (reise on whi&h this ar$uent (ro&ees, oes not any ore eist.

The a!!e$ation that ovants &onstitutiona! ri$ht to ue (ro&ess was vio!ate

by the fai!ure of the (rose&ution to $ive noti&e to hi an a&&use Astraa is evoi

of erit. n the &ase of 'orio v. ersain 2+- *#R' 21+7, the *u(ree #ourt

ru!e that:

V#ontrary to (etitioners a!!e$ations, there was nothin$ irre$u!ar in the issuan&e of

the sub(oenas u&es te&u. Reuests by a (arty for the issuan&e of sub(oenas o

not reuire noti&e to other (arties to the a&tion. No vio!ation of ue (ro&ess resu!ts

by su&h !a&3 of noti&e sin&e the other (arties wou! have a(!e o((ortunity to

eaine the witnesses an o&uents sub(oenae on&e they are (resente in

&ourt.Q

n February 12, 200-, res(onent *ani$anbayan !i3ewise enie (etitioners

otion to uash sub(oena u&es te&ua testi&anu ate =anuary -1, 200-.

Petitioner !e a otion for re&onsieration but was enie in the Reso!ution ate

/ar&h 11, 200-.

Hen&e, the (resent (etition for &ertiorari an&hore on the fo!!owin$ ar$uents:

17 hether the inuiry by sub(oenae into the ban3 a&&ounts of (etitioner fa!!s

uner the e&e(tions (rovie for by R.'. No. 140"E an

27 hether (etitioner shou! have been notie by res(onent &ourt, by

furnishin$ hi &o(ies of the sub(oenae, that his ban3 a&&ounts are subCe&t of the

!iti$ation therein.

Petitioner aintains that the inuiry into his ban3 a&&ounts oes not fa!! uner the

e&e(tions (rovie by Re(ub!i& '&t No. 140" *e&re&y of an3 %e(osits '&t7, i.e.,

u(on orer of a &o(etent &ourt in &ases of bribery or ere!i&tion of uty of (ub!i&

o9&ia!s, or in &ases where the oney e(osite or investe is the subCe&t atter of

!iti$ation.Q He stresses that (!uner is neither bribery nor ere!i&tion of uty

an that

his ban3 a&&ounts are not the subCe&t atterQ?2"@ of the (!uner &ase. n this

re$ar, he &ontens that the ru!in$s of this #ourt in Phi!i((ine Nationa! an3 v.

Gan&ay&o?26@ an an&o Fi!i(ino *avin$s an /ort$a$e an3 v. Purisia?2+@ are not

a((!i&ab!e to the instant &ase. Fina!!y, he insists that the etree!y)etai!eQ

inforation in the *(e&ia! Prose&ution Pane!s reuests for sub(oenae u&es

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te&ua testi&anu shows (rior i!!e$a! is&!osure of his ban3 a&&ounts, in

vio!ation of his &onstitutiona! ri$ht to ue (ro&ess an (riva&y.

n the other han, res(onent Peo(!e &ontens that (etitioners ban3 e(osits

are a&tua!!y (ro&ees of a trust a&&ount,Q hen&e, subCe&t of inuiry uner R.'.

No. 140".

n the (etition i(resse with erit.

 The &ase at bar brin$s to fore R.'. No. 140" or the *e&re&y of an3 %e(osits '&t. '

$!i(se at its history (rovies an aeuate ba&3ro( for our ensuin$ is&ussion.

n *e(teber >, 1>"", the Phi!i((ine Me$is!ature ena&te R.'. No. 140". ts

rationa!e is to is&oura$e (rivate hoarin$ an en&oura$e (eo(!e to e(osit oney

in ban3s to be uti!i5e in authori5e !oans. t ha((ene that after or! ar ,

&a(ita! an &reit fa&i!ities for a$ri&u!tura! an inustria! eve!o(ent in the &ountry

were !a&3in$. Rehabi!itation of the ban3in$ syste be&ae a aCor $overnent

thrust. However, (rivate hoarin$ of oney was ra(ant be&ause (eo(!e feare$overnent inuiry into their ban3 e(osits an bon investents for ta &o!!e&tion

(ur(oses. Thus, even if the ebers of #on$ress at that tie re&o$ni5e the

(ossib!e an$er of R.'. No. 140", su&h as (roviin$ a &!iate &onu&ive to ta

evasion, sti!!, they (asse the !aw with the be!ief that the benets a&&ruin$ to the

e&onoy with the inKu of e(osits an bon investents wou! &ounterba!an&e

ieasurab!y the !osses of the Governent fro su&h ta evasion.?28@ *e&tion 2,

the &ore of R.'. No. 140", then reas:

*e&. 2. '!! e(osits of whatever nature with ban3s or ban3in$ institutions in the

Phi!i((ines in&!uin$ investents in bons issue by the Governent of the

Phi!i((ines, its (o!iti&a! subivisions an its instruenta!ities, are hereby &onsiere

as of an abso!ute!y &onentia! nature an ay not be eaine, inuire or !oo3e

into by any (erson, $overnent o9&ia!, bureau or o9&e e&e(t u(on written

(erission of the e(ositor, or in &ases of i(ea&hent, or u(on orer of a

&o(etent &ourt in &ases of bribery or ere!i&tion of uty of (ub!i& o9&ia!s, or in

&ases where the oney e(osite or investe is the subCe&t atter of the !iti$ation.

n 1>81, Forer Presient Ferinan A. /ar&os issue Presientia! %e&ree P.%.7 No.

1+>2 to (rovie for aitiona! e&e(tions to the abso!ute!y &onentia! natureQ of

ban3 e(osits. These aitiona! e&e(tions are: 17 when the eaination is ae

in the &ourse of a s(e&ia! or $enera! eaination of a ban3E or 27 when theeaination is ae by an ine(enent auitor hire by the ban3 to &onu&t its

re$u!ar auit. *e&tion 2 of R.'. No. 140", as aene, thus reas:

*A#.2 '!! e(osits of whatever nature with ban3s or ban3in$ institutions in the

Phi!i((ines in&!uin$ investents in bons issue by the Governent of the

Phi!i((ines, its (o!iti&a! subivisions an its instruenta!ities, are hereby

&onsiere as of an abso!ute!y &onentia! nature an ay not be eaine,

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inuire or !oo3e into by any (erson, $overnent o9&ia!, bureau or o9&e, e&e(t,

when the eaination is ae in the &ourse of a s(e&ia! or $enera! eaination of

a ban3 an is s(e&i&a!!y authori5e by the /onetary oar after bein$ satise

that there is reasonab!e $roun to be!ieve that a ban3 frau or serious irre$u!arity

has been or is bein$ &oitte an that it is ne&essary to !oo3 into the e(osit to

estab!ish su&h frau or irre$u!arity, or when the eaination is ae by anine(enent auitor hire by the ban3 to &onu&t its re$u!ar auit (rovie that the

eaination is for auit (ur(oses on!y an the resu!ts thereof sha!! be for the

e&!usive use of the ban3, or u(on written (erission of the e(ositor, or in &ase of

i(ea&hent, or u(on orer of a &o(etent &ourt in &ases of bribery or ere!i&tion

of uty of (ub!i& o9&ia!s, or in &ases where the oney e(osite or investe is the

subCe&t atter of !iti$ation. A(hasis su((!ie7

 The fore$oin$ aenent was (reise on the rea!i5ation that the o! (rovision

averse!y !iite the eainin$ authority of the #entra! an3. '!!e$e!y, su&h

!iitation was &ontrary to the e;e&tive su(ervision of ban3s an enan$ere the

safety of e(osits.

However, in 1>>2, P.%. No. 1+>2 was e(ress!y re(ea!e by Re(ub!i& '&t R.'.7 No.

+6"-, otherwise 3nown as the New #entra! an3 '&t.?2>@ 'sie fro en&oura$in$

oesti& savin$s, R.'. No. +6"- sou$ht to u(ho! the ri$ht of &iti5ens to (riva&y.

'!so, the then ebers of #on$ress were of the &onsensus that re!ae

is&!osure ru!es are not &onu&ive to hea!thy &o(etition aon$ ban3s an

other nan&ia! institutions.?-0@

 Thus, we $o ba&3 to the ori$ina! (rovision of *e&tion 2 of R.'. No. 140" a!!owin$

e(osits to be eaine, inuire or !oo3e intoQ uner the fo!!owin$

e&e(tions: 17 u(on written (erission of the e(ositorE 27 in &ases ofi(ea&hentE -7 u(on orer of a &o(etent &ourt in &ases of bribery or

ere!i&tion of uty of (ub!i& o9&ia!sE or 47 in &ases where the oney e(osite

or investe is the subCe&t atter of the !iti$ation.?-1@ sha!! now reso!ve both

issues nuiry Fa!!s

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ith re$ar to the &!ai that is&!osure wou! be &ontrary to the (o!i&y a3in$

ban3 e(osits &onentia!, it is enou$h to (oint out that whi!e se&tion 2 of Re(ub!i&

'&t 140" e&!ares ban3 e(osits to be abso!ute!y &onentia!,Q it neverthe!ess

a!!ows su&h is&!osure in the fo!!owin$ instan&es: 17

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47 y obtainin$, re&eivin$ or a&&e(tin$ ire&t!y, or inire&t!y any shares of

sto&3, euity or any other for of interest or (arti&i(ation in&!uin$ the (roise of

future e(!oyent in any business enter(rise or unerta3in$E

"7 y estab!ishin$ a$ri&u!tura!, inustria! or &oer&ia! ono(o!ies or other

&obinations anor i(!eentation of e&rees an orers intene to benet(arti&u!ar (erson or s(e&ia! interestsE or

67 y ta3in$ unue avanta$e of o9&ia! (osition, authority, re!ationshi(,

&onne&tion, or inKuen&e to unCust!y enri&h hise!f or these!ves at the e(ense an

to the aa$e an (reCui&e of the Fi!i(ino (eo(!e an the Re(ub!i& of the

Phi!i((ines.

' reain$ of the (rovisions of the Revise Pena! #oe &on&ernin$ bribery?-"@ an

ere!i&tion of uty,?-6@ as we!! as &orru(t (ra&ti&es uner R.'. -01>, reai!y

shows the stri3in$ reseb!an&e between the an the (rei&ate &ries of

(!uner. Para$ra(h 2 a&tua!!y &onstitutes inire&t bribery whi!e (ara$ra(hs 4 an "

&onstitute &orru(t (ra&ti&es uner R.'. No. -01>.?-+@ Mo$i&a!!y, if the &riina! a&ts

that a3e u( the &rie of (!uner are &ate$ori5e as e&e(tions to the

&onentia!ity ru!e, with ore reason that the ore serious &rie of (!uner shou!

be &onsiere as fa!!in$ within the sae e&e(tion. '!! invo!ve ishonesty an !a&3

of inte$rity in (ub!i& servi&e. There is no reason why (!uner shou! be treate

i;erent!y.

Petitioner now avers that this #ourts ru!in$s in Phi!i((ine Nationa! an3 an an&o

Fi!i(ino o not a((!y to the (resent &ase be&ause the sub(oenae u&es te&ua

testi&anu in sai &ases were issue (rior to the aenent of *e&tion 8, R.'.

No. -01>. He stresses that uner the o! (rovision, the (ro(erties that ay be&onsiere, when a (ub!i& o9&ia!s a&uisition of (ro(erties throu$h !e$itiate

eans &annot be satisfa&tory shown, are on!y those of his s(ouse an unarrie

&hi!ren.Q?-8@ However, uner the new (rovision, the (hrase s(ouse an

unarrie &hi!renQ was &han$e to s(ouse an e(enents.Q?->@ Thus, he

&ontens that whi!e he is a sonQ of the a&&use in the (!uner &ase, he is

not his e(enent.Q?40@

Petitioners ar$uent !a&3s erit.

 The aenent of *e&tion 8 &ou! not have the e;e&t of !iitin$ the $overnents

inuiry on!y to the (ro(erties of the s(ouse an e(enentsQ of a (ub!i& o9&ia!. This is in !i$ht of this #ourts broa (ronoun&eent in an&o Fi!i(ino that the inuiry

etens to any other (ersons,Q an that restri&tin$ the inuiry on!y to (ro(erty

he! by or in the nae of the $overnent o9&ia! or e(!oyee, or his s(ouse an

unarrie &hi!renQ is unwarranteQ an an absurity that we &annot as&ribe to

our !awa3ers.Q Thus:

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 The inuiry into !e$a!!y a&uire (ro(erty U or (ro(erty NT !e$itiate!y a&uireQ

U etens to &ases where su&h (ro(erty is &on&ea!e by bein$ he! by or re&ore in

the nae of other (ersons. This (ro(osition is ae &!ear by R.'. No. -01>?41@

whi&h uite &ate$ori&a!!y states that the ter, !e$itiate!y a&uire (ro(erty of

a (ub!i& o9&e or e(!oyee sha!! not in&!ue (ro(erty un!awfu!!y a&uire

by the res(onent, but its ownershi( is &on&ea!e by its bein$ re&ore in thenae of, or he! by, res(onents s(ouse, as&enants, es&enants, re!atives or

any other (ersons.

 To sustain the (etitioners theory, an restri&t the inuiry on!y to (ro(erty he! by or

in the nae of the $overnent o9&ia! or e(!oyee, or his s(ouse an unarrie

&hi!ren is unwarrante in the !i$ht of the (rovisions of the statutes in uestion, an

wou! a3e avai!ab!e to (ersons in $overnent who i!!e$a!!y a&uire (ro(erty an

easy an foo!)(roof eans of evain$ investi$ation an (rose&utionE a!! they wou!

have to o wou! be to si(!y (!a&e the (ro(erty in the (ossession or nae of

(ersons other than their s(ouse an unarrie &hi!ren. This is an absurity that we

wi!! not as&ribe to the !awa3ers.

,?42@ e&!ues the fo!!owin$ (ro(erties fro the enition of

other !e$itiate!y a&uire (ro(erty:Q

1. Pro(erty un!awfu!!y a&uire by the res(onent, but its ownershi( is &on&ea!e

by its bein$ re&ore in the nae of, or he! by, the res(onents s(ouse,

as&enants, es&enants, re!atives or any other (erson.

-. Pro(erty un!awfu!!y a&uire by the res(onent, but transferre by hi to

another (erson or (ersons on or after the e;e&tivity of this '&t.Q

 How &an the $overnent estab!ish the neus between a (ub!i& o9&ia! an his

(ro(erty in the nae of other (ersons if this #ourt wi!! !iit the inuiry on!y to his

s(ouse an e(enentsQ nee, there is truth in res(onent Peo(!es stateent

that the etension of inuiry into (ro(erty he! by, or in the nae of another

(ersons other than the (ub!i& o9&ia!, is sustaine by a re&o$ni5e !e$is!ative an

(ub!i& (o!i&y ahere to by the &ourts.Q

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'&&orin$!y, the fa&t that (etitioner is not an a&&use in the (!uner &ase oes not

insu!ate his ban3 a&&ounts fro inuiry. *u&h inuiry is Custie by the fa&t that the

*(e&ia! Prose&ution Pane! is estab!ishin$ a neus between his ban3 a&&ounts an

their a!!e$e owner, Forer Presient Astraa, an a&&use in the (!uner &ase.

Furtherore, as (ointe out by res(onent *ani$anbayan, there is nothin$ in the

e&e(tion u(on orer or a &o(etent &ourt in &ases of bribery or ere!i&tion of utyof (ub!i& o9&ia!sQ whi&h wou! su$$est that in orer for the e&e(tion to a((!y,

the owner of the e(osit or of the a&&ount ust be an a&&use in the &ase where

the inforation re!ative to the a&&ount is sou$ht to be au&e.Q

Petitioner a!so &ontens that the oney e(osite in his ban3 a&&ounts &annot be

&onsiere the subCe&t atterQ of the (!uner &ase.

a not (ersuae.

 The subCe&t atter of !iti$ationQ as use in R.'. No. 140" is e(oune in

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san&tione the eaination of the ban3 a&&ounts where (art of the oney was

subseuent!y &ause to be e(osite:

 V *e&tion 2 of ?Re(ub!i& '&t No. 140"@ a!!ows the is&!osure of ban3 e(osits

in &ases where the oney e(osite is the subCe&t atter of the !iti$ation.

nasu&h as #ivi! #ase No. 268>> is aie at re&overin$ the aount &onverte bythe =aviers for their own benet, ne&essari!y, an inuiry into the whereabouts of the

i!!e$a!!y a&uire aount etens to whatever is &on&ea!e by bein$ he! or

re&ore in the nae of (ersons other than the one res(onsib!e for the i!!e$a!

a&uisition.

#!ear!y, /e!!on an3 invo!ve a &ase where the oney e(osite was the subCe&t

atter of the !iti$ation sin&e the oney so e(osite was the very thin$ in is(ute.Q

 There is no enyin$ that the subCe&t atter of a (!uner &ase is the i!!)$otten

wea!th a&&uu!ate, aasse or a&uire by a (ub!i& o9&er either by hise!f or in

&onnivan&e with ebers of his fai!y, re!atives by a9nity or &onsan$uinity,

business asso&iates, suborinates or other (ersons,

the a$$re$ate or tota! va!ue of whi&h is at !east P"0,000,000.00.?44@ *in&e the

oney e(osite in (etitioners ban3 a&&ounts is bein$ (roven to be a (ortion of

forer Presient Astraas i!!)$otten wea!th, it fo!!ows that it is the thin$ or atter

with res(e&t to whi&h the &rie of (!uner has arisen.Q ithout the i!!)$otten

wea!th, there &an be no (!uner. #orres(onin$!y, R.'. No. +080 (ena!i5in$ (!uner

anates that &ourts sha!! e&!are any an a!! i!!)$otten wea!th forfeite in favor of

the *tate.?4"@ Governent re&overy of the i!!)$otten wea!th bein$ a &onseuen&e of 

(!uner, ne&essari!y an inuiry into the whereabouts of the i!!)$otten wea!th etens

to (ro(erties bein$ he! or re&ore in the nae of (ersons other than the oneres(onsib!e for the &rie of (!uner.

Atree!y)%etai!eQ nforation &ontaine

 in the *(e&ia! Prose&ution Pane!s Reuests for

 *ub(oena %u&es Te&u' Testi&anu ) Iio!ative of 

 Petitioners Ri$ht to %ue Pro&ess an Priva&y

Petitioner a!so asserts that the etree!y)etai!eQ inforation in the *(e&ia!

Prose&ution Pane!s reuests shows (rior i!!e$a! is&!osure of his ban3 a&&ounts.

a$ree.

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n Griswor! v. #onne&ti&ut,?46@ the ,?4>@ 'rti&!es 2>0)2>2,?"0@ an 'rti&!es 280)281?"1@ of the Revise Pena! #oe

treat as &ries a7 reve!ation of se&rets by an attorney)at)!aw or so!i&itor, b7

is&overy an reve!ation of inustria! se&rets, an &7 tres(ass to we!!in$,

res(e&tive!y.

'sie fro the fore$oin$, invasion of (riva&y is &onsiere an o;ense in s(e&ia!

!aws su&h as the 'nti)ireta((in$ Maw,?"2@ the nte!!e&tua! Pro(erty #oe of the

Phi!i((ines?"-@ an, of &ourse, R.'. No. 140", the *e&re&y of an3 %e(osits '&t.

 The yria of !aws enuerate on!y show that there are &ertain areas in a (ersons!ife whi&h even if a&&essib!e to the (ub!i&, ay be &onstitutiona!!y an !e$a!!y

(rote&te as (rivate.Q

Now, in eva!uatin$ a &!ai for vio!ation of the ri$ht to (riva&y, a &ourt ust

eterine whether a (erson has ehibite a reasonab!e e(e&tation of (riva&y an,

if so, whether that e(e&tation has been vio!ate by unreasonab!e $overnent

intrusion.?"4@ '((!yin$ these to the &ase at bar, the i(ortant inuiries are:

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rst, i (etitioner ehibit a reasonab!e e(e&tation of (riva&y over his ban3

a&&ountsE an se&on, i the $overnent vio!ate su&h e(e&tation

 The answers to both are in the a9rative.

t &annot be $ainsai that the &ustoer of a ban3 e(e&ts that the o&uents

whi&h he transits to the ban3 in the &ourse of his business o(erations, wi!! reain

(rivate, an that su&h an e(e&tation is reasonab!e.?""@ Finan&ia! transa&tions &an

revea! u&h about a (ersons a;airs, a&tivities, be!iefs, habits an asso&iations.

nee, the tota!ity of ban3 re&ors (rovies a virtua! &urrent bio$ra(hy.?"6@

#he&3s, for instan&e, in a sense, ene a (erson. y eainin$ the, the a$ents

$et to 3now his o&tors, !awyers, &reitors, (o!iti&a! a!!ies, so&ia! &onne&tions,

re!i$ious a9!iations, eu&ationa! interests, the (a(ers an a$a5ines he reas, an

so on a innitu.?"+@ n other wors, ones ban3 a&&ount irrors not on!y his

nan&es, but a!so his ebts, his way of !ife, his fai!y an his &ivi& &oitent.

*u&h rea!ity (!a&es a &ustoers ban3 a&&ount within the e(e&tations of (riva&yQ

&ate$ory. n the Phi!i((ines, the e(e&tation is hei$htene by the ena&tent of R.'.No. 140" whi&h anates that a!! e(osits of whatever nature are &onsiere as of

an abso!ute!y &onentia! natureQ an ay not be eaine, inuire or !oo3e

into by any (ersonQ e&e(t uner the instan&es therein.

'itte!y, a ban3 &ustoer 3nowin$!y an vo!untari!y ivu!$es his nan&ia! a;airs

with the ban3, but su&h is iateria!. The fa&t that one has is&!ose (rivate

(a(ers to the ban3 within the &ontet of &onentia! &ustoer)ban3 re!ationshi(,

oes not ean that one has waive a!! ri$ht to the (riva&y of the (a(ers. Mi3e the

user of the (ay (hone in Lat5 v. @ #onseuent!y, the

&ustoers reasonab!e e(e&tation is that, absent &ustoary !e$a! (ro&ess, the

atter he revea!s to the ban3 wi!! be uti!i5e by the ban3 on!y for interna! ban3in$

(ur(oses.?60@

n the instant &ase, whi!e aitte!y, res(onent *ani$anbayans inuiry into

(etitioners ban3 a&&ounts fa!!s uner the two e&e(tions entione in R.'. No.

140",?61@ however, this #ourt observes that the anner of inuiry vio!ates

(etitioners ri$hts to ue (ro&ess an (riva&y. 't this Cun&ture, it is worthy to note

that (etitioners ban3 a&&ounts were inuire into twi&e, rst was throu$h

sub(oenae u&es te&u issue by the 9&e of the busan an se&on was

throu$h sub(oenae u&es te&ua testi&anu issue by res(onent

*ani$anbayan.

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Petitioner (ersistent!y bewai!e before res(onent *ani$anbayan the (rior

is&!osure of his ban3 a&&ounts (ursuant to the sub(oenae issue by the 9&e of

the busan absent any (enin$ &ase in &ourt an (ersona! noti&e to hi. He

sou$ht the uasha! of res(onent *ani$anbayans sub(oenae u&es te&ua

testi&anu on the $roun that the *(e&ia! Prose&ution Pane!s reuests for the

issuan&e of the sai sub(oenae were base on inforation i!!e$a!!y a&uire by the9&e of the busan.

a swaye with the erit of (etitioners $rievan&e.

n /arue5 v. %esierto,?62@ busan 'niano '. %esierto orere (etitioner

Moures /arue5, a ran&h /ana$er of

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  n

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$overnent intrusion &ou! infrin$e !e$itiate e(e&tation of (riva&y. 'n o((osite

&ourse is unwarrante.

n

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ban3 (ersonne! an the a&&ount ho!er ust be notie to be (resent urin$ the

ins(e&tion, an su&h ins(e&tion ay &over on!y the a&&ount ientie in the

(enin$ &ase.Q *u&h noti&e is not too u&h to as3 for, after a!!, an a&&ountho!er

bears the ris3 not on!y of !osin$ his (riva&y but, a!so, his (ro(erty.?+1@ f &ourse,

not to ention the (ro&eura! i(asse that is en&ountere by su&h a&&ountho!er

who &annot &ontest the (ro(riety of the issuan&e of a sub(oena.

n this &ase, (etitioner was &o(!ete!y unaware of the issuan&e of sub(oenae u&es

te&u, hen&e, he never ha the o((ortunity to &ha!!en$e the. 's a atter of fa&t,

a!ost two years ha (asse before he !earne of su&h issuan&e an the resu!tin$

is&!osure. nee, the u$!y truth here is that neither the 9&e of the busan

nor the P%# notie (etitioner of the i(enin$ an a&tua! is&!osure of his ban3

a&&ounts. *u&h absen&e of noti&e is a fata! &onstitutiona! efe&t that inheres in a

(ro&ess that oits (rovision for noti&e to the ban3 &ustoer of an invasion of his

(rote&te ri$ht.?+2@

Now, !et us ta3e a $!i(se at the (ro&eein$s before res(onent *ani$anbayan.

 The (ro&eein$s before res(onent *ani$anbayan a!so !eave u&h to be esire.

Neither res(onent *ani$anbayan nor the *(e&ia! Prose&ution Pane! nor P%#

furnishe (etitioner &o(ies of the sub(oenae u&es te&ua testi&anu or of

the reuests for their issuan&e. t bears reiteratin$ that it was on!y throu$h the

eia that (etitioner !earne about su&h reuests. %enite!y, soethin$ is

inherent!y wron$ in a (ub!i& (ro&eein$ that a!!ows a ho!er of ban3 a&&ount,

subCe&t of !iti$ation, to be &o(!ete!y uninfore. '!so not to be over!oo3e is the

res(onent *ani$anbayans ora! ire&tive to (etitioner to !e his otion to uash

not !ater than 12:00 noon of =anuary 28, 200-. This notwithstanin$ the fa&t that it

was on!y the ay before, or on =anuary 2+, 200-, that (etitioner !earne about thereuests an that he was yet to (ro&ure the servi&es of a &ounse!. Avery &ivi!i5e

state aheres to the (rin&i(!e that when a (ersons !ife an !iberty are Ceo(ari5e

by $overnent a&tion, it behooves a eo&rati& $overnent to see to it that this

 Ceo(ary is fair, reasonab!e an a&&orin$ to tie)honore traition. The i(ortan&e

of this (rin&i(!e is e!ouent!y uners&ore by one observer who sai: The ua!ity of 

a &ivi!i5ation is !ar$e!y eterine by the fairness of its &riina! tria!s.Q?+-@

 

Res(onent *ani$anbayan &annot Custify its oission by re!yin$ on 'orio v.

ersain,?+4@ whi&h he! that: Reuests by a (arty for the issuan&e of sub(oenas

o not reuire noti&e to other (arties to the a&tion. No vio!ation of ue (ro&ess

resu!ts by su&h !a&3 of noti&e sin&e the other (arties wou! have a(!e o((ortunity

to eaine the witnesses an o&uents sub(oenae on&e they are (resente in

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&ourt.Q *u9&e it to say that (etitioner was not a (arty to the (!uner &ase, hen&e,

he &ou! not have the o((ortunity to eaine the witnesses an the o&uents

sub(oenae.

 

 True, ban3 a&&ounts at ties harbor &riina! (!ans. ut this is not a reason to

e&!are an o(en season for inuiry. #ustoers have a &onstitutiona!!y Custiab!e

e(e&tation of (riva&y in the o&uentary etai!s of the nan&ia! transa&tions

reKe&te in their ban3 a&&ounts. That wa!! of (riva&y, however, is not i(re$nab!e.

ur #onstitution, as we!! as our !aws, (rovies (ro&eures whereby the

&onentia!ity of ones nan&ia! a;airs ay be is&!ose. n other wors, a&&ess to

ban3 re&ors is &ontro!!e by aeuate !e$a! (ro&ess. Here, the sub(oenae issue

by res(onent *ani$anbayan, tainte as they are by the vi&es that aYi&t the(ro&eein$s before the 9&e of the busan, &annot be &onsiere to have

been issue (ursuant to su&h aeuate !e$a! (ro&ess. Petitioner, therefore, has

reason to fee! a$$rieve.

*e&tion 4, Ru!e 21 of the 1>>+ Ru!es of #ivi! Pro&eure, as aene, (rovies that

the &ourt ay uash a sub(oenae u&es te&u u(on otion if it is unreasonab!e

an o((ressive.Q?+"@ Here, the three -7 sub(oenae u&es te&ua testi&anu

issue by res(onent *ani$anbayan are unreasonab!e an o((ressiveQ for the

reasons ear!ier entione. thus n res(onent *ani$anbayan to have

&oitte $rave abuse of is&retion in issuin$ the.

ne !ast wor. The vio!ation of (etitioners ri$ht to (riva&y &ou! have been

obviate ha res(onent &ourt &o(!ie with its uty to be wat&hfu! for the

&onstitutiona! ri$hts of the &iti5ens an a$ainst any stea!thy en&roa&hents

thereon. The otto shou! a!ways be obsta (rin&i(iis.?+6@

N IA F THA FRAGNG, vote to GR'NT the Petition. The assai!e Reso!utions

ate February +, February 12 an /ar&h 11, 200- issue by res(onent

*ani$anbayan in #riina! #ase No. 26""8, Peo(!e of the Phi!i((ines v. Forer

Presient =ose(h ACer&ito Astraa, et a!.Q bein$ tainte with $rave abuse of

is&retion, shou! be *AT '*%A. The sub(oenae u&es te&ua testi&anu

ate =anuary 21, 24 an -1, 200-, shou! be Z

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LOURD*S -. MAR2U*3, in 4er 5apa5ity as Bran54 Mana6er, Union Ban o7t4e P4i8ippines, petitioners, vs. +ON. ANIANO A. D*SI*R-O, /in 4is 5apa5ityas OMBUDSMAN, *va8ation and Pre8i9inary Investi6ation Brea, O:5eo7 t4e O9bds9an, ANG*L C. MAYOR!ALGO, )R., MARY ANN CORPU3!

MANALAC and )OS* -. D* )*SUS, )R., in t4eir 5apa5ities as C4air9an andMe9bers o7 t4e Pane8, respe5tive8y, respondents.

% A # * N

P'R%, =.:

n the (etition at bar, (etitioner see3s to))

a. 'nnu! an set asie, for havin$ been issue without or in e&ess of Curisi&tion or

with $rave abuse of is&retion aountin$ to !a&3 of Curisi&tion, res(onents orer

ate *e(teber +, 1>>8 in /)0)>+)0411, n Re: /otion to #ite Moures T.

/arue5 for inire&t &onte(t, re&eive by &ounse! of *e(teber >, 1>>8, an their

orer ate &tober 14, 1>>8, enyin$ /arue5s otion for re&onsieration ate

*e(teber 10, 1>>8, re&eive by &ounse! on &tober 20, 1>>8.

b. Prohibit res(onents fro i(!eentin$ their orer ate &tober 14, 1>>8, in

(ro&eein$ with the hearin$ of the otion to &ite /arue5 for inire&t &onte(t,throu$h the issuan&e by this #ourt of a te(orary restrainin$ orer anor

(re!iinary inCun&tion.?1@

 The ante&eent fa&ts are as fo!!ows:

*oetie in /ay 1>>8, (etitioner /arue5 re&eive an rer fro the busan

'niano '. %esierto ate '(ri! 2>, 1>>8, to (rou&e severa! ban3 o&uents for

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(ur(oses of ins(e&tion in &aera re!ative to various a&&ounts aintaine at 8+ Phi!i((ine #onstitution, Re(ub!i& '&t No. 6++0, otherwise 3nown as the

busan '&t of 1>8> an uner eistin$ Curis(ruen&e on the atter. t ust be

note that R. '. 6++0 es(e&ia!!y *e&tion 1" thereof (rovies, aon$ others, the

fo!!owin$ (owers, fun&tions an uties of the busan, to wit:

87 'inister oaths, issue sub(oena an sub(oena u&es te&u an ta3e

testiony in any investi$ation or inuiry, in&!uin$ the (ower to eaine an have

a&&ess to ban3 a&&ounts an re&orsE

>7 Punish for &onte(t in a&&oran&e with the Ru!es of #ourt an uner the sae

(ro&eure an with the sae (ena!ties (rovie therein.

#!ear!y, the s(e&i& (rovision of R.'. 6++0, a !ater !e$is!ation, oies the !aw on

the *e&re&y of an3 %e(osits R.'. 140"7 an (!a&es the o9&e of the busan

in the sae footin$ as the &ourts of !aw in this re$ar.Q?2@

 The basis of the busan in orerin$ an in &aera ins(e&tion of the a&&ounts is

a trai! of ana$ers &he&3s (ur&hase by one Geor$e Trivinio, a res(onent in /)

0)>+)0411, (enin$ with the o9&e of the busan.

t wou! a((ear that /r. Geor$e Trivinio, (ur&hase fty one "17 /ana$ers #he&3s

/#s7 for a tota! aount of P2+2.1 /i!!ion at Traers Roya! an3,

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However, on =une 4, 1>>8, (etitioner wrote the busan e(!ainin$ to hi that

the a&&ounts in uestion &annot reai!y be ientie an as3e for tie to res(on

to the orer. The reason forware by (etitioner was that es(ite i!i$ent e;orts

an fro the a&&ount nubers (resente, we &an not ientify these a&&ounts sin&e

the &he&3s are issue in &ash or bearer. e surise that these a&&ounts have !on$

been orant, hen&e are not &overe by the new a&&ount nuber $enerate by the

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Petitioner (raye for a te(orary restrainin$ orer TR7 be&ause the busan

an other (ersons a&tin$ uner his authority were &ontinuous!y harassin$ her to

(rou&e the ban3 o&uents re!ative to the a&&ounts in uestion. /oreover, on =une

16, 1>>8, the busan issue another orer statin$ that un!ess (etitioner

a((eare before the FF with the o&uents reueste, (etitioner ana$er wou!

be &har$e with inire&t &onte(t an obstru&tion of Custi&e.

n the eantie,?>@ on =u!y 14, 1>>8, the !ower &ourt enie (etitioners (rayer for

a te(orary restrainin$ orer an state thus:

'fter hearin$ the ar$uents of the (arties, the &ourt ns the a((!i&ation for a

 Te(orary Restrainin$ rer to be without erit.

*in&e the a((!i&ation (rays for the restraint of the res(onent, in the eer&ise of

his &onte(t (owers uner *e&tion 1" >7 in re!ation to (ara$ra(h 87 of R.'. 6++0,

3nown as The busan '&t of 1>8>Q, there is no $reat or irre(arab!e inCury

fro whi&h (etitioners ay su;er, if res(onent is not so restraine. Res(onent

shou! he e&ie to eer&ise his &onte(t (owers wou! sti!! have to a((!y with the

&ourt. 'nyone who, without !awfu! e&use refuses to (rou&e

o&uents for ins(e&tion, when thereunto !awfu!!y reuire sha!! be subCe&t to

is&i(!ine as in &ase of &onte(t of #ourt an u(on a((!i&ation of the iniviua! or

boy eer&isin$ the (ower in uestion sha!! be ea!t with by the =u$e of the First

nstan&e now RT#7 havin$ Curisi&tion of the &ase in a anner (rovie by !aw

se&tion "80 of the Revise 'inistrative #oe7. . *in&e (etitioner fai!e to show (ria fa&ie evien&e that the

subCe&t atter of the investi$ation is outsie the Curisi&tion of the 9&e of the

busan, no writ of inCun&tion ay be issue by this #ourt to e!ay this

investi$ation (ursuant to *e&tion 14 of the busan '&t of 1>8>.Q?10@

n =u!y 20, 1>>8, (etitioner !e a otion for re&onsieration base on the fo!!owin$

$rouns:

a. Petitioners a((!i&ation for Te(orary Restrainin$ rer is not on!y to restrain the

busan fro eer&isin$ his &onte(t (owers, but to sto( hi fro

i(!eentin$ his rers ate '(ri! 2>,1>>8 an =une 16,1>>8E an

b. The subCe&t atter of the investi$ation bein$ &onu&te by the busan at

(etitioners (reises is outsie his Curisi&tion.?11@

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n =u!y 2-, 1>>8, the busan !e a otion to isiss the (etition for

e&!aratory re!ief?12@ on the $roun that the Re$iona! Tria! #ourt has no Curisi&tion

to hear a (etition for re!ief fro the nin$s an orers of the busan, &itin$ R.

'. No. 6++0, *e&tions 14 an 2+. n 'u$ust +, 1>>8, the busan !e an

o((osition to (etitioners otion for re&onsieration ate =u!y 20, 1>>8.?1-@

n 'u$ust 1>, 1>>8, the !ower &ourt enie (etitioners otion for re&onsieration,

?14@ an a!so the busans otion to isiss.?1"@

n 'u$ust 21, 1>>8, (etitioner re&eive a &o(y of the otion to &ite her for

&onte(t, !e with the 9&e of the busan by '$a(ito . Rosa!es, %ire&tor,

Fa&t Finin$ an nte!!i$en&e ureau FF7.?16@

n 'u$ust -1, 1>>8, (etitioner !e with the busan an o((osition to the

otion to &ite her in &onte(t on the $roun that the !in$ thereof was (reature

ue to the (etition (enin$ in the !ower &ourt.?1+@ Petitioner !i3ewise reiterate that

she ha no intention to isobey the orers of the busan. However, she

wante to be &!arie as to how she wou! &o(!y with the orers without her

brea3in$ any !aw, (arti&u!ar!y R. '. No. 140".?18@

Res(onent busan (ane! set the in&ient for hearin$ on *e(teber +, 1>>8.

?1>@ 'fter hearin$, the (ane! issue an orer ate *e(teber +, 1>>8, orerin$

(etitioner an &ounse! to a((ear for a &ontinuation of the hearin$ of the &onte(t

&har$es a$ainst her.?20@

n *e(teber 10, 1>>8, (etitioner !e with the busan a otion for

re&onsieration of the above orer.?21@ Her otion was (reise on the fa&t that

there was a (enin$ &ase with the Re$iona! Tria! #ourt, /a3ati #ity,?22@ whi&h wou!

eterine whether obeyin$ the orers of the busan to (rou&e ban3

o&uents wou! not vio!ate any !aw.

 The FF o((ose the otion,?2-@ an on &tober 14, 1>>8, the busan

enie the otion by orer the is(ositive (ortion of whi&h reas:

herefore, res(onent Moures T. /arue5s otion for re&onsieration is hereby

%ANA%, for !a&3 of erit. Met the hearin$ of the otion of the Fa&t Finin$

nte!!i$en&e ureau FF7 to &ite her for inire&t &onte(t be intransferrab!y set to

2> &tober 1>>8 at 2:00 o&!o&3 (.. at whi&h ate an tie she shou! a((ear

(ersona!!y to subit her aitiona! evien&e. Fai!ure to o so sha!! be eee a

waiver thereof.Q?24@

Hen&e, the (resent (etition.?2"@

 The issue is whether (etitioner ay be &ite for inire&t &onte(t for her fai!ure to

(rou&e the o&uents reueste by the busan. 'n whether the orer of

the busan to have an in &aera ins(e&tion of the uestione a&&ount is

a!!owe as an e&e(tion to the !aw on se&re&y of ban3 e(osits R. '. No. 140"7.

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'n eaination of the se&re&y of ban3 e(osits !aw R. '. No. 140"7 wou! revea!

the fo!!owin$ e&e(tions:

1. here the e(ositor &onsents in writin$E

2. (ea&hent &aseE

-. y &ourt orer in bribery or ere!i&tion of uty &ases a$ainst (ub!i& o9&ia!sE

4. %e(osit is subCe&t of !iti$ationE

". *e&. 8, R. '. No. -01>, in &ases of une(!aine wea!th as he! in the &ase of PN

vs. Gan&ay&o?26@

 The orer of the busan to (rou&e for in &aera ins(e&tion the subCe&t

a&&ounts with the , *e&. - e7 an $7 re!ative to the =oint Ienture'$reeent between the Pub!i& Astates 'uthority an '/'R.

e ru!e that before an in &aera ins(e&tion ay be a!!owe, there ust be a

(enin$ &ase before a &ourt of &o(etent Curisi&tion. Further, the a&&ount ust be

&!ear!y ientie, the ins(e&tion !iite to the subCe&t atter of the (enin$ &ase

before the &ourt of &o(etent Curisi&tion. The ban3 (ersonne! an the a&&ount

ho!er ust be notie to be (resent urin$ the ins(e&tion, an su&h ins(e&tion

ay &over on!y the a&&ount ientie in the (enin$ &ase.

n

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67 n &ases where the oney e(osite or investe is the subCe&t atter of the

!iti$ationQ?2+@

n the &ase at bar, there is yet no (enin$ !iti$ation before any &ourt of &o(etent

authority. hat is eistin$ is an investi$ation by the o9&e of the busan. n

short, what the 9&e of the busan wou! wish to o is to sh for aitiona!evien&e to fora!!y &har$e 'ao Ma$aeo, et. a!., with the *ani$anbayan.

#!ear!y, there was no (enin$ &ase in &ourt whi&h wou! warrant the o(enin$ of the

ban3 a&&ount for ins(e&tion.

Oones of (riva&y are re&o$ni5e an (rote&te in our !aws. The #ivi! #oe (rovies

that J?e@very (erson sha!! res(e&t the i$nity, (ersona!ity, (riva&y an (ea&e of

in of his nei$hbors an other (ersonsJ an (unishes as a&tionab!e torts severa!

a&ts for e!in$ an (ryin$ into the (riva&y of another. t a!so ho!s a (ub!i&

o9&er or e(!oyee or any (rivate iniviua! !iab!e for aa$es for any vio!ation of

the ri$hts an !iberties of another (erson, an re&o$ni5es the (riva&y of !etters an

other (rivate &ouni&ations. The Revise Pena! #oe a3es a &rie of thevio!ation of se&rets by an o9&er, the reve!ation of trae an inustria! se&rets, an

tres(ass to we!!in$. nvasion of (riva&y is an o;ense in s(e&ia! !aws !i3e the 'nti)

ireta((in$ Maw, the *e&re&y of an3 %e(osits '&t, an the nte!!e&tua! Pro(erty

#oe.?28@

N IA HARAF, we GR'NT the (etition. e orer the busan to &ease an

esist fro reuirin$ >8, an sii!ar orers. No

&osts.

* R%ARA%.

CARM*N LL. IN-*NGAN, ROSARIO LL. N*RI, and RI-A P. BRA;N*R,petitioners, vs. COUR- O1 APP*ALS, D*PAR-M*N- O1 )US-IC*, A3I3RA)

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%A MAN, =R., =.:

efore us is a (etition for review on &ertiorari, see3in$ the reversa! of the%e&ision?1@ ate =u!y 8, 1>>6 of the forer Fifteenth %ivision?2@ of the #ourt of

'((ea!s in #')G.R. *P No. -+"++ as we!! as its Reso!ution?-@ ate '(ri! 16, 1>>+

enyin$ (etitioners otion for re&onsieration. The a((e!!ate &ourt, in its %e&ision,

sustaine a reso!ution of the %e(artent of =usti&e orerin$ the withrawa! of

inforations for vio!ation of Re(ub!i& '&t No. 140" a$ainst (rivate res(onents.

 The fa&ts are:

n *e(teber 21, 1>>-, #itiban3 !e a &o(!aint for vio!ation of se&tion -1,?4@ in

re!ation to se&tion 144?"@ of the #or(oration #oe a$ainst two 27 of its o9&ers,

%ante M. *antos an /ari!ou Genuino. 'tta&he to the &o(!aint was an a9avit?6@

ee&ute by (rivate res(onent Ii& Mi, a vi&e)(resient of #itiban3. Pertinent

(ortions of his a9avit are uote hereuner:

2.1 *oetie this year, the hi$her ana$eent of #itiban3, N.'. assi$ne e to

assist in the investi$ation of &ertain anoa!oushi$h!y irre$u!ar a&tivities of the

 Treasurer of the G!oba! #onsuer Grou( of the ban3, nae!y, %ante M. *antos anthe 'sst. Ii&e Presient in the o9&e of /r. %ante M. *antos, nae!y /s. /ari!ou a!so

&a!!e /a!ou7 Genuino. /s. /ari!ou Genuino a(art fro bein$ an 'ssistant Ii&e

Presient in the o9&e of /r. %ante M. *antos a!so (erfore the uties of an

'&&ount 9&er. 'n '&&ount 9&er in the o9&e of /r. %ante M. *antos (ersona!!y

attens to &!ients of the ban3 in the e;ort to (ersuae &!ients to (!a&e an 3ee(

their onies in the (rou&ts of #itiban3, N'., su&h as (eso an o!!ar e(osits,

ort$a$e ba&3e se&urities an oney (!a&eents, aon$ others.

4.1 The investi$ation in whi&h was as3e to (arti&i(ate was unerta3en be&ause

the ban3 ha foun re&orsevien&e showin$ that /r. %ante M. *antos an /s.

/a!ou Genuino, &ontrary to their is&!osures an the aforeentione ban3 (o!i&y,

a((eare to have been a&tive!y en$a$e in business eneavors that were in &onKi&t

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with the business of the ban3. t was foun that with the use of two 27 &o(anies in

whi&h they have (ersona! nan&ia! interest, nae!y Torran&e %eve!o(ent

#or(oration an G!oba! Pa&i& #or(oration, they ana$e or &ause eistin$ ban3

&!ientse(ositors to ivert their oney fro #itiban3, N.'., su&h as those (!a&e in

(eso an o!!ar e(osits an oney (!a&eents, to (rou&ts o;ere by other

&o(anies that were &oanin$ hi$her rate of yie!s. This was one by rsttransferrin$ ban3 &!ients onies to Torran&e an G!oba! whi&h in turn (!a&e the

onies of the ban3 &!ients in se&urities, shares of sto&3 an other &erti&ates of

thir (arties. t a!so a((eare that out of these transa&tions, /r. %ante M. *antos

an /s. /ari!ou Genuino erive substantia! nan&ia! $ains.

".1 n the &ourse of the investi$ation, was ab!e to eterine that the ban3

&!ients whi&h /r. *antos an /s. Genuino he!(e&ause to ivert their

e(ositsoney (!a&eents with #itiban3, N'. to Torran&e an G!oba! their fai!y

&or(orations7 for subseuent investent in se&urities, shares of sto&3s an ebt(a(ers in other &o(anies were as fo!!ows:

b7 #aren nten$an

7 Rosario Neri

i7 Rita rawner

'!! the above (ersons(arties have !on$ stanin$ a&&ounts with #itiban3, N.'. in

savin$so!!ar e(osits anor in trust a&&ounts anor oney (!a&eents.

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's evien&e, Mi annee ban3 re&ors (ur(ortin$ to estab!ish the e&e(tion

(ra&ti&e by *antos an Genuino. *oe of the o&uents (ertaine to the o!!ar

e(osits of (etitioners #aren M!. nten$an, Rosario M!. Neri, an Rita P. rawner, as

fo!!ows:

a7 'nne ')6Q?+@ ) an '((!i&ation for /oney TransferQ in the aount of >6.-0,

ee&ute by rawner in favor of #itiban3 W *' No. 24-6++>6, to be ebite fro

her '&&ount No. 22"4-2-6E an

&7 'nne ')>Q?>@ ) an '((!i&ation for /oney TransferQ in the aount of

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 The transfer of the #itiban3 &!ients e(osits was one throu$h the a&&o(!ishent

of either an '((!i&ation For /ana$ers #he&3s or a Ter nvestent '((!i&ation in

favor of G!oba! or Torran&e that was (re(are!e by Genuino herse!f.

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&o(anies ha ae !ess the s(reas ae by G!oba!, Torran&e, *antos an

Genuino.

 The &o(!aints whi&h were o&3ete as .*. Nos. >-)>>6>, >-)100"8 an >4)121"

were subseuent!y aene to in&!ue a &har$e of estafa uner 'rti&!e -1",

(ara$ra(h 1b7?11@ of the Revise Pena! #oe.

's an in&ient to the fore$oin$, (etitioners !e res(e&tive otions for the e&!usion

an (hysi&a! withrawa! of their ban3 re&ors that were atta&he to Mis a9avit.

n ue tie, Mi an Reyes !e their res(e&tive &ounter)a9avits.?12@ n se(arate

/eorana ate /ar&h 8, 1>>4 an /ar&h 1", 1>>4 2n 'ssistant Provin&ia!Prose&utor Herino T. >6, the #ourt of '((ea!s renere Cu$ent isissin$ the (etition in

#')G.R. *P No. -+"++ an e&!are therein, as fo!!ows:

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#!ear!y, the is&!osure of (etitioners e(osits was ne&essary to estab!ish the

a!!e$ation that *antos an Genuino ha vio!ate *e&tion -1 of the #or(oration #oe

in a&uirin$ any interest averse to the &or(oration in res(e&t of any atter whi&h

has been re(ose in hi in &onen&e.Q To substantiate the a!!e$e s&hee of

*antos an Genuino, (rivate res(onents ha to (resent the re&ors of the onies

whi&h were ani(u!ate by the two o9&ers whi&h in&!ue the ban3 re&ors ofherein (etitioners.

'!thou$h (etitioners were not the (arties invo!ve in *. No. >-)846>, their a&&ounts

were re!evant to the &o(!ete (rose&ution of the &ase a$ainst *antos an Genuino

an the res(onent %= (ro(er!y ru!e that the is&!osure of the sae fa!!s uner

the !ast e&e(tion of R.'. No. 140". That ru!in$ is &onsistent with the (rin&i(!e !ai

own in the &ase of /e!!on an3, N.'. vs. /a$sino 1>0 *#R' 6--7 where the

*u(ree #ourt a!!owe the testionies on the ban3 e(osits of soeone not a

(arty to the &ase as it foun that sai ban3 e(osits were ateria! or re!evant to thea!!e$ations in the &o(!aint. *i$ni&ant!y, therefore, as !on$ as the ban3 e(osits

are ateria! to the &ase, a!thou$h not ne&essari!y the ire&t subCe&t atter thereof,

a is&!osure of the sae is (ro(er an fa!!s within the s&o(e of the e&e(tions

(rovie for by R.'. No. 140".

/oreover, the !an$ua$e of the !aw itse!f is &!ear an &annot be subCe&t to i;erentinter(retations. ' reain$ of the (rovision itse!f wou! reai!y revea! that the

e&e(tion or in &ases where the oney e(osite or investe is the subCe&t atter

of the !iti$ationQ is not ua!ie by the (hrase u(on orer of &o(etent #ourtQ

whi&h refers on!y to &ases of bribery or ere!i&tion of uty of (ub!i& o9&ia!s.

Petitioners otion for re&onsieration was sii!ar!y enie in a Reso!ution ate

'(ri! 16, 1>>+. '((ea! was ae in ue tie to this #ourt.

 The instant (etition was a&tua!!y enie by the forer Thir %ivision of this #ourt in

a Reso!ution?18@ ate =u!y 16, 1>>+, on the $roun that (etitioners ha fai!e to

show that a reversib!e error ha been &oitte. n otion, however, the (etition

was reinstate?1>@ an eventua!!y $iven ue &ourse.?20@

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n assai!in$ the a((e!!ate &ourts nin$s, (etitioners assert that the is&!osure of

their ban3 re&ors was unwarrante an i!!e$a! for the fo!!owin$ reasons:

.

N M'T'NT IM'TN F R.'. N. 140", PRI'TA RA*PN%ANT* MMAG'MMB /'%A

%*#M*

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 THARAFRA, PATTNAR* 'RA ANTTMA% T PR*A#-)846>.

'(art fro the reversa! of the e&ision an reso!ution of the a((e!!ate &ourt as we!!

as the reso!utions of the %e(artent of =usti&e, (etitioners (ray that the !atter

a$en&y be ire&te to issue a reso!ution orerin$ the Provin&ia! Prose&utor of Ri5a!

to !e the &orres(onin$ inforations for vio!ation of Re(ub!i& '&t No. 140" a$ainst

(rivate res(onents.

 The (etition is not eritorious.

'&tua!!y, this &ase shou! have been stuie ore &arefu!!y by a!! &on&erne. The

nest !e$a! ins in the &ountry ) fro the (arties res(e&tive &ounse!, the

Provin&ia! Prose&utor, the %e(artent of =usti&e, the *o!i&itor Genera!, an the #ourt

of '((ea!s ) a!! a((ear to have over!oo3e a sin$!e fa&t whi&h i&tates the out&oe

of the entire &ontroversy. ' &ir&us(e&t review of the re&or shows us the reason.

 The a&&ounts in uestion are

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the e(ositor. n&ienta!!y, the a&ts of (rivate res(onents &o(!aine of ha((ene

before the ena&tent on *e(teber 2>, 2001 of R.'. No. >160 otherwise 3nown as

the 'nti)/oney Maunerin$ '&t of 2001.

' &ase for vio!ation of Re(ub!i& '&t No. 6426 shou! have been the (ro(er &ase

brou$ht a$ainst (rivate res(onents. Private res(onents Mi an Reyes aitte

that they ha is&!ose etai!s of (etitioners o!!ar e(osits without the !atters

written (erission. t oes not atter if that su&h is&!osure was ne&essary to

estab!ish #itiban3s &ase a$ainst %ante M. *antos an /ari!ou Genuino. Mis a&t of

is&!osin$ etai!s of (etitioners ban3 re&ors re$arin$ their forei$n &urren&y

e(osits, with the authority of Reyes, wou! a((ear to be!on$ to that s(e&ies of

&riina! a&ts (unishab!e by s(e&ia! !aws, &a!!e a!u (rohibitu. n this re$ar, it

has been he! that:

hi!e it is true that, as a ru!e an on (rin&i(!es of abstra&t Custi&e, en are not an

shou! not be he! &riina!!y res(onsib!e for a&ts &oitte by the without $ui!ty

3now!e$e an &riina! or at !east evi! intent , the &ourts have a!ways

re&o$ni5e the (ower of the !e$is!ature, on $rouns of (ub!i& (o!i&y an &o(e!!e

by ne&essity, the $reat aster of thin$s,Q to forbi in a !iite &!ass of &ases the

oin$ of &ertain a&ts, an to a3e their &oission &riina! without re$ar to the

intent of the oer. n su&h &ases no Cui&ia! authority has the (ower to reuire,

in the enfor&eent of the !aw, su&h 3now!e$e or otive to be shown. 's was sai

in the &ase of *tate vs. /&rayer :

Vt is a ista3en notion that (ositive, wi!!fu! intent, as istin$uishe fro a ere

intent, to vio!ate the &riina! !aw, is an essentia! in$reient in every &riina!

o;ense, an that where there is the absen&e of su&h intent there is no o;enseE this

is es(e&ia!!y so as to statutory o;enses. hen the statute (!ain!y forbis an a&t to

be one, an it is one by soe (erson, the !aw i(!ies &on&!usive!y the $ui!ty

intent, a!thou$h the o;ener was honest!y ista3en as to the eanin$ of the !aw he

vio!ates. hen the !an$ua$e is (!ain an (ositive, an the o;ense is not ae to

e(en u(on the (ositive, wi!!fu! intent an (ur(ose, nothin$ is !eft to

inter(retation.?22@

rinari!y, the isissa! of the instant (etition wou! have been without (reCui&e to

the !in$ of the (ro(er &har$es a$ainst (rivate res(onents. The atter wou! have

ene here were it not for the intervention of tie, s(e&i&a!!y the !a(se thereof. *o

as not to unu!y (ro!on$ the sett!eent of the &ase, we are &onstraine to ru!e on a

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ateria! issue even thou$h it was not raise by the (arties. e refer to the issue of

(res&ri(tion.

Re(ub!i& '&t No. 6426 bein$ a s(e&ia! !aw, the (rovisions of '&t No. --26,?2-@ as

aene by '&t No. -+6-, are a((!i&ab!e:

*A#TN 1. Iio!ations (ena!i5e by s(e&ia! a&ts sha!!, un!ess otherwise (rovie in

su&h a&ts, (res&ribe in a&&oran&e with the fo!!owin$ ru!es: a7 after a year for

o;en&es (unishe on!y by a ne or by i(risonent for not ore than one onth,

or both: b7 after four years for those (unishe by i(risonent for ore than one

onth, but !ess than two yearsE &7 after ei$ht years for those (unishe by

i(risonent for two years or ore, but !ess than si yearsE an 7 after twe!ve

years for any other o;en&e (unishe by i(risonent for si years or ore, e&e(t

the &rie of treason, whi&h sha!! (res&ribe after twenty years: Provie, however, That a!! o;en&es a$ainst any !aw or (art of !aw ainistere by the ureau of

nterna! Revenue sha!! (res&ribe after ve years. Iio!ations (ena!i5e by uni&i(a!

orinan&es sha!! (res&ribe after two onths.

Iio!ations of the re$u!ations or &onitions of &erti&ates of (ub!i& &onvenien&e

issue by the Pub!i& *ervi&e #oission sha!! (res&ribe after two onths.

*A#. 2. Pres&ri(tion sha!! be$in to run fro the ay of the &oission of the

vio!ation of the !aw, an if the sae be not 3nown at the tie, fro the is&overythereof an the institution of Cui&ia! (ro&eein$s for its investi$ation an

(unishent.

 The (res&ri(tion sha!! be interru(te when (ro&eein$s are institute a$ainst the

$ui!ty (erson, an sha!! be$in to run a$ain if the (ro&eein$s are isisse for

reasons not &onstitutin$ Ceo(ary.

' vio!ation of Re(ub!i& '&t No. 6426 sha!! subCe&t the o;ener to i(risonent of

not !ess than one year nor ore than ve years, or by a ne of not !ess than ve

thousan (esos nor ore than twenty)ve thousan (esos, or both.?24@ '((!yin$

'&t No. --26, the o;ense (res&ribes in ei$ht years.?2"@ Per avai!ab!e re&ors,(rivate res(onents ay no !on$er be ha!e before the &ourts for vio!ation of

Re(ub!i& '&t No. 6426. Private res(onent Ii& Mi ae the is&!osure in

*e(teber of 1>>- in his a9avit subitte be