### Facts:
Casiano Marfori was originally accused of injurias graves (aggravated slander) for speaking detrimentally about the virtue and good name of the complainant in the presence of several witnesses. The case commenced in the court of a justice of the peace, where a preliminary investigation was conducted. The justice of the peace discharged Marfori, surmising that no crime of injurias graves had been committed. This decision was based on the belief that the incident constituted merely a misdemeanor as defined in book 3 of the Penal Code.
Upon the complainant’s insistence, the case was then escalated to the Court of First Instance by the provincial fiscal without any further preliminary procedures, leading to Marfori’s trial. During arraignment, Marfori’s counsel objected to the jurisdiction of the Court of First Instance, arguing that Marfori’s trial was invalid without a committing magistrate’s order for trial as mandated by a thorough preliminary trial. The trial judge, however, overruled these objections, determining that the proceedings before the justice of the peace implied a reasonable probability of Marfori’s guilt. Marfori stood mute when asked to plead, and a plea of not guilty was entered on his behalf. Marfori was convicted, leading to the appeal examined by the Supreme Court.
### Issues:
1. Whether the absence of a preliminary trial, as legally required, deprives the Court of First Instance of the jurisdiction or grounds to proceed with the trial.
2. The validity of using the justice of the peace’s proceedings as a basis for trial in the Court of First Instance, especially when the initial complaint was dismissed.
### Court’s Decision:
The Supreme Court sided with Marfori, noting the pivotal role of a preliminary investigation in ensuring that a person charged with a crime is rightly subjected to the inconvenience and expense of a formal trial only when there’s reasonable probability of guilt. The Court underscored that Marfori was brought to trial without having been formally committed or remanded for trial by an investigating magistrate, which constituted prejudicial error. The trial court’s action was a violation of due process as it essentially deprived Marfori of a substantial right without lawful procedure. Consequently, the Supreme Court reversed Marfori’s conviction and remanded the case for proper proceedings, underlining that a discharged accused could be rearrested and subjected to a new preliminary investigation if deemed necessary by the prosecuting authorities.
### Doctrine:
This case reiterates the doctrine that the right to a preliminary investigation is substantial and cannot be waived unless expressly done by the accused. The denial of this right, especially over the accused’s objection, constitutes prejudicial error that offends the principle of due process.
### Class Notes:
– **Preliminary Investigation Importance**: It serves to determine the reasonable probability of guilt before formally charging someone to trial, thus protecting individuals from unwarranted trials and the state from unnecessary expenses.
– **Right to Preliminary Investigation**: Except in Manila, all accused persons are entitled to a preliminary investigation. In Manila, an investigation by the prosecuting attorney can substitute.
– **Due Process**: Prosecuting an accused without a formal commitment for trial violates due process rights.
– **Legal Procedure for Rearrest and New Trial**: If unsatisfied with the dismissal at the preliminary investigation stage, the prosecuting authority must initiate a new complaint and secure an order for a second preliminary investigation or trial.
– **Subsidiary Destierro upon Failure to Pay Fine**: Besides reversing Marfori’s conviction, the Supreme Court’s decision prevents subsidiary penalties without due process.
### Historical Background:
This case highlights the procedural intricacies and the essentiality of preliminary investigations in the Philippine judicial system at the time. It underscores the judiciary’s stance on protecting individuals’ rights against unwarranted prosecution and the system’s checks on prosecutorial discretion, reflecting broader principles of justice and due process prevalent in the early 20th century Philippines.
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