Back

Mayor Celia Layus vs Sandiganbayan and PEOPLE

MAYOR CELIA T. LAYUS, M.D., petitioner, vs. SANDIGANBAYAN, and THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, respondents.

G.R. No. 134272 | 1999-12-08

D E C I S I O N

DAVIDE, JR., C.J.:

This case is a special civil action for certiorari and prohibition filed under Rule 65 of the Rules of Court. Petitioner asks us to finally settle the issue of jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan in criminal cases against mayors of fifth class municipalities and nullify the assailed resolutions of the Sandiganbayan's Fifth Division.

Petitioner Celia T. Layus (hereafter LAYUS), the elected Mayor of the Municipality of Claveria, Province of Cagayan, was charged with estafa through falsification of public documents in an Information1 [Annex "E," Rollo, 32-33.] filed on 19 February 1997 before public...