G.R. No. 43154. November 07, 1935
THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, PLAINTIFF AND APPELLANT, VS. CO HIOK (ALIAS FELIX BENITEZ), DEFENDANT AND APPELLEE.
RECTO, J.:
The jurisdiction of a court in criminal cases is determined by the allegations of the complaint and not by the result of the evidence presented at the trial (U. S. vs. Mallari and Cueson, 24 Phil., 366), from which it follows that the justice of the peace court of Pagsanjan had original jurisdiction to try the case upon the allegations of the complaint, original and amended, filed therein, notwithstanding a finding in the decision of the aforesaid court that the injuries of the offended party took forty-one days to heal. The penalty of two months and one day of arresto mayor imposed by the justice of the peace court of Pagsanjan upon the accused is within its jurisdiction (section 2, Act No. 2131; section 108, General Orders, No. 58).
In criminal cases appealed from a justice of the peace court to a Court of First Instance, a new information is unnecessary to transfer jurisdiction to the latter court, inasmuch as the case is prosecuted upon the complaint filed in the justice of the peace court (Crisostomo vs. Director of Prisons, 41 Phil, 368) ; wherefore, the new information filed by the fiscal in this case in the Court of First Instance of Laguna is superfluous.
The Court of First Instance of Laguna erred in reckoning with the new information filed by the fiscal to take cognizance of this case, especially in view of the allegations thereof changing the nature of the crime charged in the justice of the peace court of Pagsanjan, in violation of the law (Andres vs. Wolfe, 5 Phil., 60). The Court of First Instance of Laguna erred, therefore, in holding that it had no jurisdiction to try the case on the appeal taken by the accused from the adverse judgment of the justice of the peace court of Pagsanjan. It should have heard this case in second instance upon the complaint filed in the justice of peace court of Pagsanjan.
Wherefore, we are of the opinion and so hold that the order appealed from must be reversed with instructions to the Court of First Instance of Laguna to try and decide this case by virtue of its appellate jurisdiction upon the complaint filed in the justice of the peace court of Pagsanjan, without costs in this instance.
Avanceña, C.J., Abad Santos, Hull, and Vickers, JJ., concur.
Order reversed and case remanded with instructions.