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Teves vs. Sandiganbayan [SEPARATE OPINION, DISSENTING, TINGA, J.]

EDGAR Y. TEVES and TERESITA Z. TEVES, Petitioners, versus THE SANDIGANBAYAN, Respondent.

G.R. No. 154182 | 2004-12-17

DISSENTING OPINION

TINGA, J.:

It is imperative for this Court as guardian of the people’s fundamental liberties, to redeem persons inflicted with the classic Kafkaesque nightmare – conviction for a crime the indictment for which the accused has no knowledge of. I sense that the majority recognizes, albeit tacitly, the absurdity of the convictions challenged in this petition. Thus the proposed quantum downgrading of the penalty of accused Edgardo Teves (Teves) from imprisonment of at least nine years, imposed by the Sandiganbayan, to a mere fine. However, I submit that Teves should be extenuated not as a matter of grace, but as a...