People vs. Carol dela Piedra

THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee, vs. CAROL M. DELA PIEDRA, accused-appellant.

G.R. No. 121777 | 2001-01-24

Due process in penal statutes, terms must not be vague
Due process requires that the terms of a penal statute must be sufficiently explicit to inform those who are subject to it what conduct on their part will render them liable to its penalties
Statute when considered vague
Void for vagueness doctrine
Selective enforcement of the statute (selective prosecution) could not be considered a violation of the equal protection clause, unless the element of intentional or purposeful discrimination is shown
Procedural due process

D E C I S I O N

KAPUNAN, J.:

Accused-appellant Carol M. dela Piedra questions her conviction for illegal recruitment in large scale and assails, as well, the constitutionality of the law defining and penalizing said crime.

The Court affirms the constitutionality of the law and the conviction of the accused, but reduces the penalty imposed upon her.

The accused was charged before the Regional Trial Court of Zamboanga City in an information alleging:

That on or about January 30, 1994, in the City of Zamboanga, Philippines, and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the above-named accused, without having previously obtained from the...