Damaso Case

7/25/2019 Damaso Case

1/27

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

COURT OF APPEALS MANILA

CARLOS CELDRAN Y PAMINTUAN,

Petitioner,

- versus- CA-G.R. en No. !"#$

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES,

Res%on&ent.x------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------x

De'e()er "*, *$"+

Greetins. i

Pe/se t/0e noti'e t1/t on De'e()er "*, *$".+, / DECISION, 'o%2 j1ereto/tt/'1e&, 3/s ren&ere& in t1e /)ove-entite& '/se by t1e- T4ELFTH DI5ISION6, o7 t1e

Court o7 A%%e/s, M/ni/, t1e oriin/ o7 31i'1 is no3 on 7ie 3it1 t1is Court.

8ou /re 1ere)2 re9uire& to in7or( t1is Court 3it1in FI5E :;< &/2s 7ro( noti'e1ereo7 o7 t1e &/te 31en 2ou re'eive& t1is noti'e /n& t1e /tt/'1e& 'o%2 o7 t1e &e'ision.

Res%e't7u2 2ours,

TERESITA R. MARIGOMEN

Clerk of Court

Copy furnished:

Deos/ Men&o=/ B/-Ao & M/nue

re.3>r'

Counsel for

Petitioner

3'd Foor, Prin'e D/vi& Con&o(iniu(

?/ti%un/n A venue, Lo2o/

Hei1ts

""$@ ue=on Cit2

L/(/n L/(/n & Mones L/3 Fir(

re.3>.r'

Collaborating Counsel for

Petitioner

2/F Te(%us P/'e IICon&o(iniu(

M/0/t/run/n /n& M/t/ino Sts.,

Diirn/n, ""$+ ue=on Cit2

----tBBStTSC-BT.DIEDivision Clerk oj Court

Ro9ue & Butu2/n L/3 O77i'es - re. wire

Collaboraitng Counselfor Petitioner

"$+ Ante Cor%or/te Centre,

"*" 5/ero Street, S/'e&o 5i/e

"**# M/0/ti Cit2

O77i'e o7 t1e Soi'itor Gener/- re wire

Counselfor Repsondeni

134 A(orsoo St., Le/s%i 5i/e

"** M/0/ti Cit2

Hon. Presi&in u&e - re wire

Reion/ Tri/ Court

Br/n'1 *

"$$$ M/ni/

JRD-CA IDD-CA ARC!I"#-CA

T2%e 1ere

B266>


2/27

Imdby

T2%e 1ere


3/27

Re%u)i'6 o7 t1e P1ii%%ines

Court o7 A%%e/s

MANILA

T4ELFTH :"*t1< DI5ISIONCARLOS CELDRAN

PAMINTUAN,y C.A-G.R. CRNO. !"#$

Petitioner$Me()ers

- versus- DIMAAMPAO I%#%$C1/ir%erson,

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES,Respondent%

8BANEJ, E.A., &

MANAHAN C%%$ Jf.Pro(u/te&

t":EC 1 2 2014

&/te& "* Auust *$", /n&

:*< Or&er6 &/te& "" Nove()er *$",

31i'1 /77ir(e& t1e De'ision %ro(u/te& on *@ /nu/r2 *$" o7 t1e

Metro%oit/n Tri/ Court :MeTC< o7 M/ni/, Br/n'1 +.

T1e /ss/ie& De'ision /n& Or&er o7 t1e RTC /77ir(e& t1e

'onvi'tion o7%etitioner C/ros P. Ce&r/n :%etitioner, 7or )revit2


4/27

ICA. GR CR No. !"#$DECISION

2 of 23

Revise& Pen/ Co&e :RPC< ren&ere& )2 t1e MeTC, Br/n'1 + on *@

/nu/r2 *$", t1e &is%ositive %ortion o7 31i'1 re/&s, to 3it

4HEREFORE, Ku&(ent is 1ere)2 ren&ere& /77ir(in t1e

De'ision &/te& De'e()er "+, *$"* ren&ere& )2 t1e

Metro%oit/n Tri/ Court, Br/n'1 +, M/ni/ 7in&in /''use&

/%%e/nt CARLOS P. CELDRAN uit2 )e2on& re/son/)e &ou)t o7

t1e 'ri(e o7 O77en&in Reiious Feeins un&er Arti'e " o7 t1e

Revise& Pen/ Co&e /n& senten'in 1i( to /n in&eter(in/teprision

ter( o7 t3o :*< (ont1s /n& t3ent2 one :*"< &/2s o7 arresto +ayor$ /s(ini(u( to one :"< 2e/r, one :"< (ont1 /n& eeven :""< &/2s o7

prision &orre&&ional$ /s (/i(u( 3it1 'ost &e o77i'io.

SO )RD#R#D%,s

A#.#/ OF !# CA#

On " O'to)er *$"$, /n In7or(/tion 3/s 7ie& 3it1 t1e MeTC,

Br/n'1 +, M/ni/, '1/rin %etitioner 3it1 t1e 'ri(e o7 O77en&in t1e

Reiious Feeins un&er Arti'e " o7 t1e RPC 'o((itte& /s

7oo3s

T1/t on or /)out Se%te()er $, *$"$, in t1e Cit2 o7

M/ni/, P1ii%%ines, t1e s/i& /''use& &i& t1en /n& t1ere 3i7u2,

un/37u2, /n& 7eonious2 &isres%e't, &isre/r& /n& o77en&e& t1e

7eeins o7 v/rious reiious e/&ers in t1e %ersons o7 C/r&in/

G/u&en'io Ros/es, P/%/ Nun'io, A()/ss/&or &e 5i/ /n& ot1er

e/&ers o7 &i77erent C1risti/n &eno(in/tions, )2 t1en /n& t1ere

&is%/2in / %/'/r&>)o/r& )e/rin t1e 3or& ,DA.A), 31iee'u(eni'/ servi'e 3/s oin on insi&e t1e M/ni/ C/t1e&r/

C1ur'1, Intr/(uros, 31i'1 notorious2 o77en&e& t1e 7eeins o7 t1e

reiious e/&ers /n& t1e 7/it17u, re%resente& )2 Msr. Nestor Cer)o

8 Cer&/, Re'tor o7 t1e M/ni/ C/t1e&r/ C1ur'1, Intr/(uros,

t1is Citv.

Petitioner 3/s /rr/ine&, /n& 3it1 t1e /ssist/n'e o7 'ounse,

%e/&e& not uit2. Tri/ on t1e (erits )e/n 3it1 t1e %rose'ution

%resentin 7our :+< 3itnesses.

;Roo.%.*.

J


5/27

!Roo.%."*+.

1.A. CR CRNo. !"#$DECISION

of *

EVIDENCE FOR THE PROSECUTION

Cue& 7ro( t1e De'ision o7 t1e RTC, t1e %rose'ution6s

evi&en'e 3/s /n'1ore& on t1e testi(onies o7 Teresit/ A=urin,

M/r'ein/ C/'/ /n& Fr. Os'/r Aun&/2. T1e %rose'ution %ro7erre& t1e

7oo3in version o7 1o3 t1e in'i&ent su)Ke't (/tter o7 t1is '/se

tr/ns%ire&

,In &elebration of the se&ond anniversary of the .ay hey 0e )ne

Ca+paign (.0C1 and the laun&hing of !and 2ritten 0ible$ whi&h&oin&ided with the feast of aint Jero+e$ a throng of people &o+posed+ainly of &atholi& &hur&h dignitaries inter+i3ed with those of differentreligions and persuaiions (si&1 su&h as +e+bers of the +ilitary$ poli&e$+edia$ non-&atholi&s$ students$ representatives of various religiousorgani4ations$ et&% gathered around$ al+ost filling the .anila Cathedral$

Inira+uros$ .anila in the afternoon of epte+ber $, *$"$.

his event &o+prised of three :< inseparable parts% he first partwas the e&u+eni&al liturgi&al religious worship wherein the heads of thedifferent protestant +ainland &hur&hes and the &atholi& &hur&h were

present &elebrating the words of 5od% It was followed by the #u&haristi&&elebration - the holy +ass$ the integral part of the &elebration% he lastpart was the hand written unity bible% (/$.ay #, *$"*,pages 67-681

As part of the e&u+eni&al liturgi&al religious worship$ 0rother#dgar J% ria irona$ national president of the angguniang 9aiko n%gPilipinas$ was reading apassagero+ the0ible at around $$ o'&lo&k inthe afternoon% And it was thereabouts that the in&ident subje&t +atter ofthis &ase &o++en&ed%

eresita A4urin$ a devout &atholi&$ regular &hur&h goer$for+ertheology tea&herlfa&ilitator in retreats bibliodra+a all over Asia for +orethan "$years$ volunteer in uarious bibli&al a&tivities in the &ountry$ and anattendee in this event as a volunteer in the bible enthrone+ent part$re&alled that she was at the left side of the &athedral when shesawa&&used-appellant holding apla&ard &o+ingfro+ theside (left1 where shewas% 2earing an odd and ana&hronous outfit of bla&k suit with a hat$a&&used-appellant ;uietly sauntered toward the &enter of the aisle infront ofthe altar and suddenly brough%t out apla&ard$ appro3i+ately 1.4 of anillustration board$ e+bla4oned with the word ,DA.A),$ big enough to beread9lp to the end of theseats at the Cathedral% !e was showing it

(pla&ard1 to thePapal /un&io$ Cardinal$ and the bishops sitied (si&1 infront of the &athedral and to the asse+bly% It o&&urred to her$ at the outset$that it waspart of the0rother irona's presentation but understandingdawned on her +o+ents later that it was not asshe initally thought itwas% Pro&eeding infront tofind out what was happening$ she noti&ed that

so+ebody was taking a&&used-appellant% Co++otion ensued when


6/27

1.A.GR CR No. !"#$DECISION

+of 23

a&&used-appellant started shouting while inside the &hur&h% Initiallynervous witnessing the rau&ous s&ene$shesoon be&a+e offended andindignant that it disrupted and showed disrespe&t to an otherwise

sole+n &elebration% he &onjured that the ,DA.A), (written in thepla&ard held by a&&used-appellant1 was Padre Da+aso$ a &hara&ter in

Jose Ri4al's novel depi&ted as not a very good e3a+ple of a &lergy whofathered a &hild% )utside the &onte3t of what happened (subje&t of this&ase1$ she &onsidered ,da+aso, as not a bad word% As an ordinary&atholi&$ she< albeit believing that attention +ust &alled on the wrongdoings of priests$ subs&ribes to the view that it should be done sin&erely$in private and definitely not in apla&efor publi& worship and during areligious a&tivity% As it happened$ shefound it (a&&used-appellant's a&t1offensive as it presu+ed that every &lergy present during the o&&asionhad done so+ething a+iss%

Corroborating the testi+ony of eresita


7/27

!eA.GR CRNo. !"#$DECISION

" of 23

whi&h% he did twi&e or thri&e% he last ti+e he did 501 he brught with hi+a pla&ard$ holding it behind hi+ and then he put it down% l=v>'lilethe liturgi&al$ religious worship was going on a&&used-appellantlooked at the right aisle of the &athedral and winked at so+ebody

positioned there% A&&used-appellant soon pi&ked up the pla&ard anda+bled to the &enter of the aisle and on&e there +ade a bow to the altar togenufle&t$ an a&t whi&h is &onsidered a veneration$ as a respe&t toany religious worship%instantly$ he raised the pla&ard$ with the word ,DA.A $I&onspi&uously written on it while he traipsed to the &enter of the aisle$in front of the altar% And soon$ hefa&ed Cardinal Rosales$ the bishops andthe Papal /un&io= who was the representative of the !oly *ather inthe Philippines% !is initial fas&ination$ engendered by his notion thatthiss&ene waspart of .r% irana's different style of presentation$ was

soon repla&ed with sho&k$ agitation and a feeling of being insulted as

awareness loo+ed upon hi+ that it was not as he initially de&iphered itwas% 9ooking at the bishops$ hesaw the+ pointing at hi+ being theorgani4er of the event$ instru&ting hi+ to do so+ething about thein&ident$ /s he and the other organi4ers turned pallid% A&&used-appellantthen started shouting ,0ishops$ stop involving yourself (si&1 inpoliti&s


8/27

"'.A. GR CR No. !"#$DECISION

!of 23

non &atholi&s were united by the word of 5od and +anifesting inone word of 5od$ he &onsidered a&&used-appellant's a&tions very insulting%1/7

A7ter t1e %rose'ution reste& its '/se, t1e %etitioner 7ie& /De(urrer to Evi&en'e on M/2 *$"*, 3it1 %rior e/ve o7 'ourt,

/ruin t1/t t1e %rose'ution 7/ie& to est/)is1 / t1e ee(ents o7 t1e

'ri(e '1/re& in t1e In7or(/tion. He /so r/ise& t1e 'onstitution/it2

o7 Arti'e " o7 t1e RPC. An O%%osition to t1e De(urrer to

Evi&en'e 3/s 7ie& )2 t1e %riv/te %rose'utor on "@ M/2 *$"*.

In its Or&er &/te& "" une *$"*, t1e MeTC &enie& t1e

%etitioner6s De(urrer to Evi&en'e 7or /'0 o7 (erit.

Conse9uent2, t1e %etitioner %resente& 7or 1is &e7ense t3o

3itnesses, n/(e2 Ms. Ri/ Rein/ S. Li(K/% /n& Att2. C1risti/n

Monso&.

#"ID#/C# *)R !# D#*#/#

T1e %ertinent %ortion o7 t1e RTC De'ision re/&s

Gist o7 Ms. Ri/ Rein/ S. Li(K/%6s :1erein/7ter '/e&

Ms. Li(K/%< testi(on2

!aving known a&&used-appellantfor about ten (10) years andworked untn hi+ in a nu+ber ofproje&ts$ she has &o+e to know hi+bolh as afriend and an artist$sharing with hi+ a lovefor history% !er

first +eeting with hi+ dates ba&k in 2003 when they worked togetherin a theater proje&t$ she was part of theprodu&tion and he was ana&tor%As their +eeting blosso+ed into friendship$ #o was their work

asso&iation e3tended% !e did oratori&al walking tours in the oldhistori&al distri&t of.anila of 'whi&hshe attended +any$ trans&ribed and&o++ented onso+e of the+% A+ong the +anyproje&ts they have donetogether$ whi&h were +ore on art and &ulture$ was an event that&o++e+orated the0attle of.anila% !er relationship 'with hi+ (as a&losefriend and work asso&iate1spanning agood nu+ber of years$ shehas &o+e to know hi+ as having a ba&kground onperfor+an&e art and

studied at a verygood arts&hool in the @nited tates%

#Roo. %%."*-";.

@

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Roo, %."*;. T1e Or&er o7 t1e MeTe &/te& "" A%r"*$"*.

"$Roo, %%.";;-"!".

""Roo, %%."!*-"!+.


9/27

ICA.GR CR No. !"#$DECISION

$ of 23

Distin&tly$ she re+e+bered that in the afternoon of epte+ber 3%&B6B$ she was at @nit *+/orth e;uia Apart+ent$ an artist's pla&ewhere they usually hangout% 2ith a deadline to beat$ she was on her

&o+puter$ writing while a&&used was getting dressed up and readyforso+ething% !e then entreated her to a&&o+pany and drive hi+ to the.anila Cathedral where$ she was +ade aware$ there will be an Anti R!de+onstration to be attended by people oppposed to the Reprodu&tive

!ealth (R!1 bill%

*re;uently walking the streets of .anila where he sees +any&hildren and youngpregnant +others who obviously &annot take &are oftheir &hildren a&&used-appellant is a keen advo&ate of the bill%

Initially unbidding to heed his re;uest be&ause it was then

raining$ she ulti+ately yielded$ willing to take a restfro+ writing% heand a&&used-appellant$ wearing his usual attire of dark pants$ white

shirt and bla&ksuit and hat$ then pro&eeded to the .anila Cathedral%

Afterparking their vehi&le$ they entered the &hur&h using the rightside entran&e% It was awashed with all sorts of people% herewere +e+bers of the poli&e$ "IP's$ nuns$ &hoir +e+bers$ et&% In view

perhaps of herfailure to glan&e at thefront seats$ the attendan&eof &hur&h dignitaries es&apedher noti&e%

A little bit &ons&ious be&ause Carlos was wearing bla&k$ she$ on&einside the &hur&h$ tried tofigure out whether a +ass was being heldat that ti+e but sooner she reali4ed that the answer to her +ental ;uerywas in the negative%

2hile they (she and a&&used-appellant1 were standing near thepillar$ looking around$ a&&used-appellant then told her he wanted toraise the pie&e of &ardboard with the word ,Da+aso, written on it%hough having no l&nowledge why he has it$ she was aware what theword +eant% Da+aso is a &hara&ter in the novel /oli .e angerewritten by Jose Ri4al%

'Are you sure?, was her response to hi+$ who then gave hera &a+era for her to take pi&tures intended to be posted in fa&ebook% As

she &onsidered it a bad angle (in takingpi&tures1 fro+ where she was$she s&urried out of the &hur&h to the ba&k door and +ade a re-entrythrough the +ain entran&e% here and then$ she saw a&&used$ ;uietand &al+$ already at the +iddle aisle near and fa&ing the altar andholding thepla&ard% he ad+ired hi+for his valor in doingso%

As a&&used-appellant was standing there afew +inutes$ no big

rea&tion was eli&itedfro+ the people$ there was no +u+ble$ people werejust sitted (si&1% he even re+e+bered hi+ &hanging his position fro+one side to the other as he held the pla&ard$ nay +aking a ;uarterturn$


10/27

I.A.GR CRNo. !"#$DECISION

@ of *

pro+pting her to think$ at that jun&ture$ that he '2ase3hibiting thefunny side of hi+% o her$ not a tra&e of s&andal &an be seen fro+ his+ove+ents%

As a &ouple of poli&e+en &a+e and es&orted hi+ out of the&athedral$ dis&ern+ent &a+e to her that he was in trouble$ #o shee3ited the &hur&h and beheld aso+ewhat &haoti& s&ene where a&&used wasbeingsurrounded by several +e+bers of the poli&e and other +en in

plain &lothes% A +ana&le waspla&ed in his hands% hough in answerto her ;uery$ the poli&e offi&er told her that a&&used-appellant '2ouldnot be apprehended$ he was nevertheless brought to the nearest poli&e

pre&int%

Su((/r2 o7 Att2. C1risti/n Monso&6s :1erein/7ter '/e&

Att2. Monso& 7or )revit2< testi(on2

A vi&e-&hair+an of the 0ishop 0usiness+an Conferen&e forhu+an develop+ent$ he was invited by the 0ible o&iety to attendthesubje&t event%

5ra&ing the o&&asion$ he siited (si&1 hi+self at the thirdrow fronting the first and se&ond pews where the bishops were

positioned%

!e &onfir+ed that a&&used-appellant$ dressed in an outfit thatrese+bles the one worn by JoseRi4al$ silently walked to the +iddle ofthe aisle and rea&hing thefront of the altar$ he raised the pla&ard withthe'word ,Da+aso, written on it% !e and the bishops were looking at hi+%

!e was sure that the bishops got the i+port of what he (a&&usedappellant1 had done%

A few +inutes thereafter$ a&&used-appellant$ insilen&e$ went withpoli&e offi&er who took hi+ to the side of the &athedral% hereat$ a&&usedappellant said in a loud voi&e IIDon't +eddle withpoliti&s% ,

his in&ident unfolded not during the &elebration of the holy +ass$and nothing happened that disturbed thepro&eedings%

A &atholi& hi+self he did not &onsider a&&used-appellant's a&tionsoffensive% he word ,Da+aso, ins&ribed on the pla&ard brought out bya&&used-appellant during the subje&t in&ident$ has so+ething to dowithJoseRi4al sin&e Padre Da+aso was the &entralfigure in his writings%,6A

On *@ /nu/r2 *$", t1e MeTC ren&ere& its De'ision, 7in&in/''use& CARLOS CELDRAN 8 PAMINTUAN IIGuit2 )e2on&

re/son/)e &ou)t 7or t1e 'ri(e o7 Offending the Religious Feelings


11/27

"*Roio,%%."!-"@.

"Su%r/, note +.


12/27

eA. ' C o. 3*1$0

!DECISION+ of 23

un&er Arti'e " o7 t1e Revise& Pen/ Co&e /n& senten'e& 1i(

/''or&in2.

Petitioner t1en 7ie& on "" Fe)ru/r2 *$" / Noti'e o7 A%%e/.T1e RTC /ve &ue 'ourse to t1e /%%e/ /n& on "* Auust *$", it

ren&ere& / De'ision, t1e &is%ositive %ortion o7 31i'1 re/&s

4HEREFORE, Ku&(ent is 1ere)2 ren&ere& /77ir(in

t1e De'ision &/te& De'e()er "+, *$"* ren&ere& )2 t1e

Metro%oit/n Tri/ Court, Br/n'1 +, M/ni/ 7in&in /''use&

/%%e/nt CARLOS P. CELDRAN uit2 )e2on& re/son/)e

&ou)t o7 t1e 'ri(e o7 O77en&in Reiious Feeins un&er Arti'e

" o7 t1e Revise& Pen/ Co&e /n& senten'in 1i( to /nin&eter(in/te prision ter( o7 t3o :*< (ont1s /n& t3ent2 one :*"1er (out1.

A%%2in t1ereon t1e '/se o7 Philippines Journalist$ In&% et al vs%

*ran&is hoenen',$ t1e tri/ 'ourt 7oun& t1/t notorious2 o77en&in t1ereiious 7eeins (/2 'o(e in t1e 7or( o7 insutin 3or&s 31i'1 /re

inten&e& to ri&i'ue t1e &o(/, %r/'ti'e or ritu/ o7 / reiion. It/&&e& 7urt1er t1/t / %erson o7 or&in/r2 un&erst/n&in 'ou& re/&i2

)e /3/re u%on %erus/ o7 Arti'e " o7 t1e RPC t1/t 1e>s1e is notsu%%ose& to &o /'ts notorious2 o77ensive to t1e 7eeins o7 t1e

7/it17u su'1 /s utterin un%rote'te& s%ee'1 31ie insi&e / %/'e

43

RoUo.%.!$.

++ RoUo.%.!". '(n >"-st"n -s. Hi. I& /t +;@.+;

Roo.%.!*.

+! I)i&.

47Roo,%.".

4,

'.. o. 1433$2. %ee?ber *$$; )#-t no a s,ee'h is,&"te'te'* The &iht ?ff&ee s,ee'h is n"t abs"-te/t. a imes and un&er aU 'i&'@nstan'es. The&e a&e 'e&tain @eAdefined and na&&"@y imited '*asses ?fs,ee'h. the ,&event-ni @d ,-nishment "; @hi'h has neer been th"-/t to &aise any !"ns(:if:1(i"na

,&"bem. T1ese in'*-de the *e@d and o)s'ene. the ,&"fane ihe >be*"-s.and the !ns-**i&tor Tth*in uor&sA 'h"se @hi'h by ihei& ve&y urrer/n'e ir>i'r iIy-&y or tend to in'ite 4 immedia1.e b&ea'h )f the ,e"'e.

)


21/27

eA. GR CRNo. !"#$

!DECISION"@ of *

&evote& to reiious 3ors1i% or &urin t1e 'ee)r/tion o7 /n2

reiious 'ere(on2.

4e 1o& t1/t t1e /ru(ent o7 t1e %etitioner t1/t Arti'e " o7t1e RPC vio/tes 1is ri1t to 7ree&o( o7 e%ression '/nnot )e

sust/ine&.

Free&o( o7 s%ee'1 is vio/te& 31en s%ee'1 is restri'te& or

%unis1e& even i7 t1e s%ee'1 &oes not %resent / 'e/r /n& %resent

&/ner o7 / su)st/ntive evi 31i'1 t1e St/te 1/s t1e ri1t to %revent.

T1e Su%re(e Court 1/s o7ten stresse& t1/t 7ree&o( o7 s%ee'1 is not

/)soute, /n& (ust )e )//n'e& 3it1 t1e re9uire(ents o7 e9u/2i(%ort/nt %u)i' interests.

Arti'e " o7 t1e RPC is 'e/r 31en 2t %en/i=es /'ts

notorious2 o77ensive to t1e 7/it17u insi&e / %/'e &evote& 7or

reiious 3ors1i%. Un&er t1e RPC, it '/n )e e/ne& 7ro( Tite T3o -

Cri(es A/inst t1e Fun&/(ent/ L/3s o7 t1e St/te /n& Se'tion Four

- Cri(es A/inst Reiious v5ors1i% t1ereo7, t1/t Arti'e " 1/s t1e

%ur%ose o7 u/r/nteein t1e 7ree eer'ise o7 one6s reiion in'u&in

t1e %reserv/tion o7 t1e s/n'tit2 /n& soe(nit2 o7 t1ese %/'es.

Un&ou)te&2, t1e %u)i' interest serve& )2 Arti'e " o7 t1e RPC, is

t1e (/inten/n'e o7 %e/'e /n& or&er i.n s/i& reiious %/'e or

reiious 'ere(onies.

A '/re7u %erus/ o7 t1e 7/'ts o7 t1e '/se 3ou& reve/ t1/t t1e

/'t o7 t1e %etitioner in oin to t1e 7ront o7 t1e /t/r, &urin

e'u(eni'/ servi'e, /n& r/isin / %/'/r& 3it1 t1e 3or& 6DAMASO6

in7i'ts inKur2 or ten&s to in'ite /n i((e&i/te )re/'1 o7 t1e %e/'e in

t1/t %/'e o7 3ors1i%. T1ere7ore, t1e /'t o7 %etitioner insi&e t1e

'/t1e&r/ is 31/t Arti'e " o7 t1e RPC see0s to %en/i=e.

As enun'i/te& )2 t1e Su%re(e Court in one '/se, ,3 3 3 It hasbeen well observed that su&h utteran&es are no essential part of anye3position of ideas$ and are of su&h slight so&ial value as a step to truththat any benefit that +ay be derived fro+ the+ is &learly outweighed

by the49

Roo.%.".;$

Badiva& #& C"n


22/27


" of * I

so&ial interest in order and +orality%76, T1us, t1e %u)i' interest serve&)2 Arti'e " o7 t1e RPC t/0es %re'e&en'e over t1e %etitioner6s ri1t

to 7ree s%ee'1 insi&e / %/'e &evote& 7or 3ors1i%.

e&ond$ Arti'e " &oes not en'ro/'1 u%on t1e e9u/ %rote'tion'/use o7 t1e 'onstitution.

T1e %etitioner 'onten&s t1/t Arti'e " o7 t1e RPC vio/tes

Se'tion I, Arti'e III o7 t1e Constitution, 31i'1 st/tes t1/t

,e&tion ". No person shall be deprived of life$ liberty$ orproperty without due pro&ess of law$ nor shall any person be deniedthe e;ual prote&tion of the laws% ,

For %etitioner, Arti'e " o7 t1e RPC is / %en/ st/tute t1/t

s%e'i7i'/2 %rote'ts t1e 7eeins /n& t1e )eie7s o7 reiious %ersons,

7or it un&u2 7/vors one '/ss or rou% :t1e reiious %eo%e or t1ose

31o (/int/in )eie7s )/se& on 7/it1< over /not1er :t1e irreiious, t1e

/t1eist, t1e %//n, /n& 1o&ers o7 )eie7s 31i'1 /re not reiious


23/27


20 of 23 I

Pri(/ri2, it s1ou& )e )orne in (in& t1/t reiious 7ree&o(,

/t1ou1 not uni(ite&, is / 7un&/(ent/ %erson/ ri1t /n& i)ert2,

/n& 1/s / %re7erre& %osition in t1e 1ier/r'12 o7 v/ues. It 1/s )een

s/i& t1/t t1e reiious '/uses o7 t1e Constituti.on /re / &esine& to

%rote't t1e )ro/&est %ossi)e i)ert2 o7 'ons'ien'e, to /o3 e/'1 (/n

to )eieve /s 1is 'ons'ien'e &ire'ts, to %ro7ess 1is )eie7s. /n& to ive

/s 1e )eieves 1e ou1t to ive, 'onsistent 3it1 t1e i)ert2 o7 ot1ers

/n& 3it1 t1e 'o((on oo&."$

T1e '/se o7 People vs% Cayat5 su((/ri=e& t1e Kuris%ru&en'e one9u/ %rote'tion, t1us

/I It is an established prin&iple of &onstitutional law that theguaranty of the e;ual prote&tion of the laws is not violated by alegislation based on reasonable &lassifi&ation% And the &lassifi&ation$ tobe reasonable$ (1) +ust rest onsubstantial distin&tionsF (2) +ust be%ger+ane to the purpose of the lawF :< +ust not be li+ited toe3isting &onditions onlyF and :+< +ust apply e;ually to all +e+bers ofthesa+e &lass%rr

Petitioner /ss/is t1e 'onstitution/it2 o7 Arti'e " o7 t1e RPC

7or )ein vio/tive o7 t1e 7irst /n& se'on& re9uire(ents st/te& /)ove.It /vers t1/t it (/0es / &istin'tion )et3een )eievers /n& non

)eievers /n& uses t1e s/(e /s t1e )/sis to %unis1 s%ee'1 or 'on&u't

&ee(e& o77ensive to t1e )eievers6 7eeins.

T1e %etitioner6s /ssertions /'0 su)st/n'e. T1ere is / re/son/)e

&istin'tion )et3een t1ose 31o 1/ve / reiion /n& t1ose 31o &o not.

In /&&ition, Arti'e " is er(/ne to t1e %ur%ose o7 t1e /3 31i'1 is

to see0 t1e %rote'tion o7 t1e ri1t o7 t1e reiious to t1e 7ree eer'iseo7 t1eir reiion.

It is 3e sette& in t1is Kuris&i'tion t1/t t1e e9u/ %rote'tion

'/use re9uires e9u/it2 /(on e9u/s /s &eter(ine& /''or&in to /

v/i& '/ssi7i'/tion. B2 '/ssi7i'/tion is (e/nt t1e rou%in o7 %ersons

or t1ins si(i/r to e/'1 ot1er in 'ert/in %/rti'u/rs /n& &i77erent

7ro( / ot1ers in t1ese s/(e %/rti'u/rs.

56&nest" '. 'onD!e#. et a* -s. !ent&a A4u&arera %e arta& *ab"& Uni"n '.. o. L-3,1$,& tober 3& 1+,".

;# I)i&.

;@!@ P1i. 12&1, (1+3+).

5G Phii,,ine J-des Ess"'iati"n vs. P&ad" **# SCR #$.


24/27

CA. ' CNo. !"#$

DECISION*" of *

hird$ Arti'e " &oes not in7rine t1e non-est/)is1(ent

'/use o7 t1e 'onstitution.

T1e %etitioner 'onten&s t1/t Arti'e " o7 t1e RPC vio/tes

Se'tion ;, Arti'e III o7 t1e Constitution or t1e Non-Est/)is1(ent

C/use, 31i'1 st/tes t1/t

,e&tion ;./o law shall be +ade respe&ting an establ-ish+entof religion$ orprohibiting thefree e3er&ise thereof hefree e3er&iseand enjoy+ent of religious profession and worship$ withoutdis&ri+ination or preferen&e$ shall forever be allowed%No religioustest shall be re;uiredfor the e3er&ise of &ivil or politi&al rights%,

For %etitioner, t1e Non-Est/)is1(ent C/use %ro1i)its t1e st/te

7ro( %ro(otin / reiion over ot1er reiions or non-reiious

rou%s by s1ie&in t1e( 7ro( 'riti'is(. It /vers t1/t 3it1 Arti'e

", t1e st/te 'e/ses to )e neutr/, /n& 'o(es to t1e /i& o7 reiion )2

%unis1in eiti(/te s%ee'1 7or o77en&in t1e (ere 67eeins6 o7 t1e67/it17u6 .!$

In /%%2in t1e so-'/e& Le(on Test, t1e %etitioner /rue&t1/t :/< Arti'e " 1/s no se'u/r eis/tive %ur%ose, t1e su)Ke't o7

t1e /3 )ein soe2 t1e %rote'tion o7 t1e 67eeins6 o7 t1e )eievers6

:)< Arti'e " 1/s t1e %rin'i%/ e77e't o7 %ro(otin reiion /s it

s1ie&s t1e /tter 7ro( /n2 /n& / t2%es o7 'riti'is( /n& :'< t1e /3

're/tes /n UIU".eCess/r2ent/ne(ent 3it1 reiion, t1e st/te )ein

Ku&e, Kur2 /n& ee'utioner o7 in&ivi&u/s t1/t t1e reiious (/2

'onsi&er uit2 o7 o77en&in t1eir 7eeins.7

In t1e RTC De'ision, it 3/s 1e& t1/t t1e %ur%oses o7 Arti'e

" o7 t1e RPC, /)eit )ene7i'i/ /n& /&v/n'in t1e interests o7 t1ose

%r/'ti'in reiion, is se'u/r in n/ture, /n& t1us, it is not vio/tive o7

non-est/)is1(ent '/use o7 t1e 'onstitution.

60Roo.%.!+$.

*1Roo. %.!+$-!+". Citin t1e '/se o7 Le(on us% ?urt=(/n. +$ U.S. !$* :"#"< 31i'1 7or(u/te& t1ree'rtten/ to test t1e 'onstitution/it2 o7 / /3 &e/in 3it1 reiion un&er t1e Non-Est/)is1(ent C/use. toFt: First, t1e st/tute (ust 1/ve / se'u/r eis/tive %ur%ose se'on&, its %nn't%/ or %ri(/r2 eTe't?#t )e one tt neit1er /&v/n'es nor In!btt# reiion 7n/2, te st/tute (ust not 7oster 6/n e'essive

ent/ne(ent Ft reiion.662

Roo.%%.!+"-!+*.63

Roo.%.*@.


25/27

Q-

I.A.GR CRNo. !"#$DECISIO I

** of *

4e u%1o& t1e 7in&in o7 t1e RTC in t1is '/se.

Non-est/)is1(ent o7 reiion is vio/te& 31en t1e St/te s1o3s%re7eren'e 7or one reiion over ot1ers or %re7ers reiion to no

reiion.

Arti'e " o7 t1e RPC is / 'ri(e //inst t1e 7ree eer'ise o7

reiion '/use (/n&/te& )2 our Constitution. In&is%ut/)2, t1e

%ur%ose o7 t1is %en/ st/tute is to i(%ose %unitive (e/sures to t1ose

31o 3ou& ri&i'ue /n& s1o3 &is&/in to t1e 7eeins /n& senti(ents

o7 t1e 7/it17us 31ie insi&e / %/'e &evote& to reiious 3ors1i% or in'ee)r/tion o7 / reiious 'ere(on2.

T1us, t1e RTC 3/s 'orre't 31en it 7oun& t1/t in 'on7or(it2

3it1 one6s ri1t to 7ree eer'ise o7 reiion, t1e 7/it17us (/2, 3it1in

t1e i(its set )2 /3s, ri1t7u2 %r/'ti'e /n& o)serve t1eir )eie7s,

uni(%e&e& )2 un7/ir inter7eren'e 7ro( ot1er %eo%e. It ,oes

3it1out s/2in t1/t t1ose %eo%e o)servin / 'ert/in 7or( o7 reiion

or se't /re e9u/2 entite& to t1e st/te6s %rote'tion /s /n2 o7 its'iti=ens.

Aru/)2, 3e &o not /ree 3it1 %etitioner6s 'ontention t1/t

Arti'e " o7 t1e RPC s1ie& reiion 7ro( 'riti'is(. Arti'e " o7 t1e

RPC &oes not %en/i=e 'riti'is(s or /n2 7or( o7 s%ee'1. It i(%oses /

%en/ s/n'tion on /n2one 31o %er7or(s /'ts notorious2 o77ensive to

t1e 7eeins o7 t1e 7/it17u &one insi&e / %/'e &evote& to reiious

3ors1i% or &urin t1e 'ee)r/tion o7 /n2 reiious 'ere(on2. T1e%etitioner '/nnot ive /n2 /&&ition/ (e/nin to t1e 'e/r /n& %/in

/nu/e o7 t1e /3.

A''or&in2, t1e %en/t2 7or vio/tion o7 Arti'e " o7 t1e

Revise& Pen/ Co&e %eruses

,he penalty of arresto +ayor in its +a3i+u+ period to prision&orre&&ional in its +ini+u+ period shall be i+posed upon anyone

who$ in a pla&e devoted to religious worship or during the &elebrationof any

!+ Se'tion ;. Arti'e I. "@# Constitution.

65Roo.%.*#.


26/27

eA. GR CRNo. !"#$DECISION

* of *

---------------------------------------

religious &ere+onyshallperfor+ a&ts notoriously offensive tothe feelings of thefaithful% /I

T1ere7ore, 4e 7in& t1/t t1e RTC %ro%er2 i(%ose& t1e %en/t2

o7 /n in&eter(in/te %rision ter( o7 t3o :*< (ont1s /n& t3ent2 one:*"< &/2s o7 arresto +ayor$ /s (ini(u( to one :"< 2e/r, one :"< (ont1

/n& eeven :""< &/2s o7 prision &orre&&ional$ /s (/i(u( 3it1 'ost &eo7i'io.

4HEREFORE, %re(ises 'onsi&ere&, t1e inst/nt /%%e/ is

DENIED. A''or&in2, t1e "* Auust *$" De'ision /n& t1e Or&er

&/te& "" Nove()er *$" o7 t1e Reion/ Tri/ Court o7 M/ni/,

Br/n'1 * /re 1ere)2 AFFIRMED2n toto%

SO ORDERED.

('n TGINA SIGNED

CARMELITA SALANDANAN MANAHAN

Asso&iate Justi&e

2# C)/C@R:

6nG"NAL SIGN APARB. DIMAAMPAOAsso&iate Justi&e

:


27/27

CERTIFICATION

Pursu/nt to Arti'e 5III, Se'tion " o7 t1e Constitution, it is

1ere)2 'erti7ie& t1/t t1e 'on'usions in t1e /)ove &e'ision 3ere

re/'1e& 2n 'onsut/tion)e7ore t1e '/se 3/s /ssine& to t1e 3riter o7

t1e o%inion o7 t1e Court.

t6HB6rBAtSIGNEO6APAR B. DIMAAMPAO

Asso&iate Justi&eChairperson$ welfth Division

Damaso Case

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