THIRD DIVISION

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES,

Plaintiff-appellee,

- versus -

TERESITA PUIG and ROMEO PORRAS,

Accused-Appellant.

G.R. No. 173654-765

Present:

YNARES-SANTIAGO, J.,

Chairperson,

CHICO-NAZARIO,

VELASCO, JR.,

DE CASTRO,* and

PERALTA, JJ.

Promulgated:

July 30, 2009

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R E S O L U T I O N

CHICO-NAZARIO, J.:

In a Decision dated 28 August 2008, the Court granted the petition for review on certiorari filed in this case. The dispositive portion of the Decision reads:

WHEREFORE, premises considered, the Petition for Review on Certiorari is hereby GRANTED. The Orders dated 30 January 2006 and 9 June 2006 of the RTC dismissing Criminal Cases No. 05-3054 to 05-3165 are REVERSED and SET ASIDE. Let the corresponding Warrants of Arrest issue against herein respondents TERESITA PUIG and ROMEO PORRAS. The RTC Judge of Branch 68, in Dumangas, Iloilo, is directed to proceed with the trial of Criminal Cases No. 05-3054 to 05-3165, inclusive, with reasonable dispatch. No pronouncement as to costs.[1]

However, on 2 September 2008, the Supreme Court En Banc, instead of ordering the arrest of respondents Teresita Puig and Romeo Porras for purposes of proceeding with the trial of Criminal Cases No. 05-3054 to 05-3165, issued a Warrant of Arrest addressed to the Director of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), commanding them to effectuate the immediate arrest of herein respondent Teresita Puig only and commit her to the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City.

In light of the 28 August 2008 Decision of this Court and considering that trial on the merits has yet to proceed, the Warrant of Arrest ordering the arrest and commitment of respondent Teresita Puig to the Correctional Institution is hereby recalled.

ACCORDINGLY, a new WARRANT of ARREST is hereby entered commanding the Director of the NBI and the PNP Chief to immediately ARREST, for the purpose of further proceedings (trial on the merits) in Criminal Cases No. 05-3054 to No. 05-3165, both respondents TERESITA PUIG and ROMEO PORRAS whose known address is Poblacion, Pototan, Iloilo, or anywhere in the Republic of the Philippines. FURTHER, the said officials are both DIRECTED to SUBMIT a report within ten (10) days from compliance herewith.

SO ORDERED.

MINITA V. CHICO-NAZARIO

Associate Justice

WE CONCUR:

CONSUELO YNARES-SANTIAGO

Associate Justice

Chairperson

PRESBITERO J. VELASCO, JR.

Associate Justice

TERESITA J. LEONARDO-DE CASTRO

Associate Justice

DIOSDADO M. PERALTA

Associate Justice

ATTESTATION

I attest that the conclusions in the above Resolution were reached in consultation before the case was assigned to the writer of the opinion of the Court’s Division.

CONSUELO YNARES-SANTIAGO

Associate Justice

Chairperson, Third Division

CERTIFICATION

Pursuant to Section 13, Article VIII of the Constitution, and the Division Chairperson’s Attestation, it is hereby certified that the conclusions in the above Resolution were reached in consultation before the case was assigned to the writer of the opinion of the Court’s Division.

REYNATO S. PUNO

Chief Justice

* Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo de Castro was designated as special member per raffle dated 16 June 2008 vice Associate Justice Antonio Eduardo B. Nachura, who was the solicitor general handling this case.