G.R. No. L-7207. March 04, 1954

This is an original petition for a writ of habeas corpus filed on
behalf of Pablo Santos y Tablante by his wife, Paulina Gavino de
Santos, alleging that the said Pablo Santos y Tablante is being
illegally detained in the New Bilibid Prisons, Muntinglupa, Rizal, by
virtue of an order of the Court of First Instance of Manila in Criminal
Cases Nos. 4750 and 4751 convicting him of the crime of theft without
trial and sentencing him to a long term of imprisonment.

On the day set for the hearing of the case, no one appeared to prove
the allegations of the petition. On the other hand, it appears from the
return filed by the Solicitor General on behalf of the respondent
Director of Prisons that petitioner is presently confined in prison by
virtue of two orders issued on May 8, 1944 by a judge of the Court of
First Instance of Manila, committing unto the respondent the person of
said Pablo Santos y Tablante, who had been sentenced by said court as
follows:

“Case No. 4750—For theft. To suffer 6 months and 1 day of prision correctional and, an additional penalty of 6 years and 1 day of prision mayor for habitual delinquency;

“Case No. 4751—For theft. To suffer 6 months and 1 day of prision correctional, and an additional penalty of 6 years and 1 day of prision mayor for habitual delinquency.”

It also appears from the prison record attached to the return that
this prisoner commenced service of his sentence on May 8, 1944; that he
escaped from prison on June 29, 1944 and was recaptured on April
14,1952; and that taking into account the period covered by his escape,
his sentence will not expire until 1964.

There being no proof that the prisoner was, as alleged in the
petition, convicted without trial, while, on the other hand, it appears
that he is in prison to serve the sentences imposed upon him by the
Court of First Instance of Manila in two criminal cases—sentences which
must be presumed to have been legally rendered in the absence of
evidence to the contrary—the claim that petitioner is being illegally
deprived of his liberty is without legal basis.

The petition for habeas corpus is, therefore, denied.

Paras, C. J., Pablo, Bengzon, Padilla, Montemayor, Jugo, Bautista Angelo, Labrador, Concepcion, and Diokno, JJ., concur.