Mirandavs.

Tuliao
G.R.#158763,March31,2006
Facts:OnMar.1996,2burntcadaverswerediscoveredinRamon,Isabelawhichwere
lateridentifiedasthebodies
ofVicenteBauzonandElizerTuliao,sonoftheprivaterespondentVirgilioTuliowhois
nowunderthewitness
protectionprogram.
2informationsformurderwerefiledagainstthe5policeofficerincludingSPO2Maderal
inRTCof
SantiagoCity.ThevenuewaslatertransferredtoManila.RTCManilaconvictedallthe
accusedandsentenced
them2countsofreclusionperpetuaexceptSPO2Maderalwhowasyettobearraignedat
thattime,beingat
large.Uponautomaticreview,theSCacquittedthefouraccusedonthegroundof
reasonabledoubt.
InSept.1999,Maderalwasarrested.Heexecutedaswornconfessionandidentifiedthe
hereinpetitioner
Mirandaand4othersresponsibleforthedeathofthevictims.RespondentTuliaothen
filedacriminalcomplaint
formurderagainstthepetitioners.ActingPresidingJudgeTumalianissuedwarrantof
arrestagainstthepetitioners
andSPO2Maderal.
Petitionersfiledanurgentmotiontocompletepreliminaryinvestigation,toreinvestigate,
andtorecallor
quashthewarrantofarrest.Inthehearingoftheurgentmotion,JudgeTumaliannoted
theabsenceofpetitioners
andissuedaJointorderdenyingthesaidurgentmotiononthegroundthatsincethecourt
didnotacquire
jurisdictionovertheirpersons,themotioncannotbeproperlyheardbythecourt.The
petitionersappealedthe
resolutionofthePublicprosecutortotheDOJ.
ThenewPresidingJudgenamedJudgeAnghadtookoverthecaseandissuedaJoint
Orderreversingthe
JointOrderofJudgeTumalian.Healsoorderedthecancellationofthewarrantofarrest.
RespondentTuliafileda
petitionforcertiorari,mandamusandprohibitionwithaprayerforTROseekingtoenjoin
JudgeAnghadfrom
furtherproceedingofthecaseandseekingtonullifytheJointOrdersofthesaidJudge.
TheSCissuedaresolution
grantingtheprayer.Notwithstandingthesaidresolution,JudgeAnghadissuedaJoint
Orderdismissingthe
informationagainstthepetition.
RespondentTuliaofiledamotiontociteJudgeAnghadincontempt.TheSCreferredthe
saidmotionto
theCA.TheCArenderedtheassaileddecisiongrantingthepetitionandorderingthe
reinstatementofthecriminal
casesintheRTCofSantiagoCityaswellastheissuanceofwarrantofarrest.Hence,this
petition.
Issue:Whetherornotanaccusedcannotseekanyjudicialreliefifhedoesnotsubmithis
persontothejurisdiction
ofthecourt
Held:Petitionisdismissedandcostagainstthepetitioners.
Ithasbeenheldthatanaccusedcannotseekjudicialreliefishedoesnotsubmithis
persontothe

jurisdictionofthecourt.Jurisdictionovertheaccusedcanbeacquiredeitherthrough
compulsoryprocess,suchas
warrantofarrestorthroughhisvoluntaryappearance,suchaswhenhesurrendertothe
policeortothecourt.Itis
onlywhenthecourthasalreadyacquiredjurisdictionoverhispersonthatanaccusedmay
invoketheprocessesof
thecourt.Since,petitionerwerenotarrestedorotherwisedeprivedoftheirliberty,they
cannotseekjudicial
relief.
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SimilartoMirandavs.Tuliao