Tagastason v. People

Summary

This Supreme Court case involved petitioners challenging warrants of arrest issued by a Regional Trial Court judge in connection with murder and frustrated murder charges. Petitioners argued they were denied due process when the City Prosecutor filed criminal informations before their extended deadline to submit counter-affidavits expired, and that the trial judge should have held the warrants in abeyance pending their DOJ appeal. The Court of Appeals denied their certiorari petition. The Supreme Court affirmed, distinguishing between executive and judicial determination of probable cause, ruling that a judge's authority to issue arrest warrants is exclusive and cannot be deferred pending DOJ review. The Court found no due process violation, noting that lawyers cannot assume extension motions will be granted and that proper procedures were not followed to defer trial court proceedings. The petition was denied for lack of merit.