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Rolando Posica, etal. Vs. Emilio M. Ignalaga

ROLANDO PONSICA, ROGELIO ARNAIZ, FR. NICO HOFSTEDE, BERNARDINO PATIGAS, ZACHEUS ROJO, GODOFREDO RETIRACTON, LORETO BERING, ROGELIO ARTAJO, JOVITO MARATAS, CARLOS ALLEONES, MILO PICCIO, ADOLFO MAGUATE, GONZALO CASTILLA, RONNIE DESUYO, FEDERICO AYO, ROLANDO BERNABE, MARIANO REYES, DANIEL GEMPESALA, WILFREDO SARATOBIAS, MILDRED SAGUIRE, CRESENCIO ENCARGUEZ, JOHN BUSTAMANTE, JOHN DOE and RICHARD DOE, petitioners, vs. HON. EMILIO M. IGNALAGA, Presiding Judge, Municipal Trial Court of Escalante, Negros Occidental, MAYOR BRAULIO LUMAYNO, CAPT. MODESTO SANSON, CAPT. RAFAEL JUGAN, respondents.

G.R. No. 72301 | 1987-07-31

D E C I S I O N


NARVASA, J.:

The chief issue raised by the petitioners in this case is whether or not Section 143 of the Local Government Code 1 granting power to the municipal mayor to conduct preliminary investigations and order the arrest of the accused, was repealed by the 1985 Rules on Criminal Procedure promulgated by this Court; and is, in addition, unconstitutional as vesting the power to conduct preliminary investigations in an official who cannot be deemed a "neutral and detached magistrate" within the contemplation of Section 3, Article IV of the 1973 Constitution. The issue is hereby resolved adversely to the petitioners,...