SuyanvPeople

Topic:ProbationLaw,commissionofanothercrime

Facts:
Suyanviolatedtheviolationofhisprobationandthus,RTCorderedhisprobationberevoked.

Suyanwasconvictedofpossessionoruseofregulateddrugs(RA6425).Hewassentencedto
imprisonmentof6yearsofprisioncorreccional.After3monthsofservice,RTCordereda
ProbationOrdercovering6years.Hewasarrestedtwomoretimesduringhisprobationfor
violatingRA6425.

ChiefProbationOfficerAtty.NavarromotionedthatSuyansprobationberevoked.Atty.Navarro
allegedthatpetitionerhasbeenapprehendedtwicefordrugpossessionwhileonprobation.The
formerfurtherallegedthatpetitionerwasconsideredarecidivist,whosecommissionofother
offenseswhileonprobationwasaseriousviolationofthetermsthereof.Atty.Navarroalso
pointedoutthatpetitionerwasnolongerinapositiontocomplywiththeconditionsofthelatters
probation,inviewofhisincarceration.RTCgrantedthisanddirectingSuyantoservethe
sentencedimposedonhim.

Petitionerarguedthathewasdenieddueprocessashewasnotfurnishedwithacopyofthe
motion,andduringthehearing,hewasnotrepresentedbyhiscounselofrecord.Thiswas
deniedbytheRTC.ThecasewaselevatedtotheCA,inwhichtheappellatecourtdecidedthat
theRTCcontinuetheproceedingstoaffordthepetitionerhisrighttodueprocess.

AViolationReportwasfiledbytheProbationOffice,recommendingtherevocationofprobation.
Thereportindicatedthatthepetitionermanifestednegativeattitudebynotattending
rehabilitationactivitiesandcontinuedusageofillegaldrugs.Withmoreevidence,RTCdecided
torevoketheprobation.Petitionerarguesagainthathisrighttodueprocesswasnotaffordedto
him.

Issue:W/NtheRTCwascorrectinrevokingSuyansprobation
Held:Yes
Hewasaffordeddueprocess.Hesquanderedhisownopportunitybymerely
questioningtheabsenceofthereportwhenhisprobationwasfirstrevoked,insteadof
rebuttingtheallegationsmentionedtherein.
Hecommittedanotheroffenseduringhisprobation,whichisadirectviolationofhis
probationorder.
Sec.11oftheProbationLaw:Aprobationordershalltakeeffectuponits
issuance,atwhichtimethecourtshallinformtheoffenderoftheconsequences
thereofandexplainthatuponhisfailuretocomplywithanyoftheconditions
prescribedinthesaidorderorhiscommissionofanotheroffense,heshallserve
thepenaltyimposedfortheoffenseunderwhichhewasplacedonprobation.

Asprobationisamerediscretionarygrant,petitionerwasboundtoobservefull
obediencetothetermsandconditionspertainingtotheprobationorderorrunthe
riskofrevocationofthisprivilege.Regrettably,petitionerwastedtheopportunity
grantedhimbytheRTCtoremainoutsideprisonbars,andmustnowsufferthe
consequencesofhisviolation.TheCourtsdiscretiontograntprobationistobe
exercisedprimarilyforthebenefitoforganizedsocietyandonlyincidentallyfor
thebenefitoftheaccused.Havingthepowertograntprobation,itfollowsthatthe
trialcourtalsohasthepowertoorderitsrevocationinapropercaseandunder
appropriatecircumstances.