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Inmates of the New Bilibid Prison et.al. vs. Secretary De Lima [CONCURRING OPINION, LEONEN, J.]

INMATES OF THE NEW BILIBID PRISON, MUNTINLUPA CITY, NAMELY: VENANCIO A. ROXAS, SATURNINO V. PARAS, EDGARDO G. MANUEL, HERMINILDO V. CRUZ, ALLAN F. TEJADA, ROBERTO C. MARQUEZ, JULITO P. MONDEJAR, ARMANDO M. CABUANG, JONATHAN O. CRISANTO, EDGAR ECHENIQUE, JANMARK SARACHO, JOSENEL ALVARAN, AND CRISENCIO NERI, JR., PETITIONERS, VS. SECRETARY LEILA M. DE LIMA, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE; AND SECRETARY MANUEL A. ROXAS II, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, RESPONDENTS. ATTY. RENE A.V. SAGUISAG, SR., PETITIONER-INTERVENOR, WILLIAM M. MONTINOLA, FORTUNATO P. VISTO, AND ARESENIO C. CABANILLA, PETITIONERS-INTERVENORS, [G.R. No. 214637] REYNALDO D. EDAGO, PETER R. TORIDA, JIMMY E. ACLAO, WILFREDO V. OMERES, PASCUA B. GALLADAN, VICTOR M. MACOY, JR., EDWIN C. TRABUNCON, WILFREDO A. PATERNO, FEDERICO ELLIOT, AND ROMEO R. MACOLBAS, PETITIONERS, VS. SECRETARY LEILA M. DE LIMA, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE; SECRETARY MANUEL A. ROXAS II, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT; ACTING DIRECTOR FRANKLIN JESUS B. BUCAYU, BUREAU OF CORRECTIONS; AND JAIL CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT DIONY DACANAY MAMARIL, BUREAU OF JAIL MANAGEMENT AND PENOLOGY, RESPONDENTS.

G.R. No. 212719 | 2019-06-25

CONCURRING OPINION

LEONEN, J.:

I concur with the finding that Rule I, Section 4 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 10592 is invalid. I add that it is, as separately raised in the Petitions, void ab initio as it violates the due process and equal protection clauses of the Constitution. As such, applying the prospectivity rule amounts to a cruel and unusual punishment for those currently serving their penalties before the law took effect insofar as they are treated differently from others.

Indeed, Section 4 is not only invalid based on Article 22[1] of the Revised Penal Code alone, but the Constitution...