MANILA, Philippines – Naglabas ng malinaw na panuntunan at criteria ang Korte Suprema sa pagdedeklarang ang akusadong tao ay isang pugante.
Sa kalatas nitong Sabado, Nobyembre 29, tinukoy ng SC ang isang pugante bilang isang akusadong indibidwal na tumakas hindi lamang para iwasan ang parusa kundi para takasan ang paglilitis sa kanya.
“The essential element is the intent to evade prosecution or punishment… More specifically, a person who leaves the Philippines knowing that an Information has been filed in court and that a warrant of arrest has been issued shows a clear intent to evade arrest and prosecution, making that person a fugitive from justice and possibly disentitled to any judicial relief,” saad sa desisyon.
Iginiit ng SC na dapat ay alam ng akusado na inihain na ang warrant o impormasyon laban sa kanya.
Kasunod nito, inilatag din ng Korte ang mga panuntunan na dapat makita. Ito ay ang mga sumusunod:
The court shall issue a warrant of arrest to be executed within 10 calendar days of receipt;
If the accused is not arrested because they are outside Philippine jurisdiction, the court may assess and declare them a fugitive from justice;
If declared a fugitive, the accused will lose their standing in court, will no longer be able to participate in proceedings, or seek judicial relief;
A warrant not personally served on the accused shall be considered outstanding;
Cases will be paused if the accused remains at large for six months but may be reopened once the warrant is executed or if the accused is detained under a different warrant.
“A person who has not submitted to the court’s jurisdiction has no right to invoke its processes. Jurisdiction is necessary to ensure that the court’s judgment can be enforced. This requirement is not met when an accused is a fugitive or is outside the territorial jurisdiction of the Philippine courts,” paliwanag ng SC.
Sinabi rin na ang akusado ay maaaring magpasa sa hurisdiksyon ng korte kahit walang physical custody kung sila ay aktibong makikilahok at hihingi ng affirmative relief.
“The rules require an accused to be physically present only in specific instances… Jurisdiction over the person of the accused is not acquired simply by the filing of pleadings or participation through counsel. Custody over the person of the accused, whether through arrest or voluntary surrender, must first be obtained before the case may proceed,” ayon sa SC.
“Those who refuse to surrender and submit to the court’s jurisdiction should not be entitled to seek relief under the fugitive disentitlement doctrine… It is time to apply this rule to those who commit or are suspected of committing crimes and then flee outside Philippine jurisdiction,” dagdag pa nito. RNT/JGC
