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Sixto Bayas And Matuday vs Sandiganbayan, PEOPLE & Office Of The Sp Prosecutor

SIXTO M. BAYAS and ERNESTO T. MATUDAY, petitioners, vs. THE SANDIGANBAYAN (FIRST DIVISION), THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES and THE OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR, respondents.

G.R. Nos. 143689-91 | 2002-11-12

D E C I S I O N

PANGANIBAN, J.:

May pretrial stipulations duly signed by the accused and their counsel be unilaterally withdrawn before the commencement of the trial? To this main issue, the answer is "No." Stipulations freely and voluntarily made are valid and binding and will not be set aside unless for good cause. The Rules of Court mandate parties in a criminal case to stipulate facts. Once they have validly and voluntarily signed the stipulations, the accused and their counsel may not set these aside on the mere pretext that they may be placed at a disadvantage during the trial.

Statement of the Case

Before us is a Petition for...