FROM THE SUPREME COURT OF THE PHILIPPINES: Public opinion has no place in a criminal trial. We ruled that – it is a traditional conviction of civilized society everywhere that courts and juries, in the decision of issues of fact and law should be immune from every extraneous influence; that facts should be decided upon evidence produced in court; and that the determination of such facts should be uninfluenced by bias, prejudice or sympathies. G.R. No. 176389 - ANTONIO LEJANO, petitioner, -versus- PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, respondent. G.R. No. 176864 – PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, appellee, -versus- HUBERT JEFFREY P. WEBB, et al., appellants. The sub judice rule becomes effective when a case has already been filed in court and the trial is already ongoing. That is the letter of the law. However, the spirit of the law can be observed and ought to be observed even during a preliminary investigation. The sub judice rule is a guarantee to fair trial. If we, as individuals, want to be protected by such a legal guarantee, then we should not be instrumental in denying that same guarantee to others. Fair trial involves giving the benefit of the doubt to both of the accused (that he or she is not guilty) and the benefit of the doubt for the complainant (that he or she is telling the truth about the complaint).
Posted on: Mon, 17 Mar 2014 09:01:21 +0000
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