G.R. No. L-7207 March 4, 1954
PABLO SANTOS Y TABLANTE, petitioner, vs. DIRECTOR OF PRISONS, respondent.

FACTS

Pablo Santos y Tablante filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus through his wife, alleging he was illegally detained at the New Bilibid Prisons. The petition claimed he was convicted of theft without trial and sentenced to a long imprisonment by the Court of First Instance of Manila in Criminal Cases Nos. 4750 and 4751. During the hearing, no one appeared to prove these allegations. The Solicitor General, on behalf of the respondent Director of Prisons, filed a return showing Santos was confined by virtue of two court orders dated May 8, 1944. The sentences imposed were: in Case No. 4750 for theft, 6 months and 1 day of prision correccional plus an additional 6 years and 1 day of prision mayor for habitual delinquency; in Case No. 4751 for theft, the same penalties. His prison record indicated he began serving his sentence on May 8, 1944, escaped on June 29, 1944, was recaptured on April 14, 1952, and his sentence, accounting for the escape period, would expire in 1964.

ISSUE

Whether Pablo Santos y Tablante is being illegally deprived of his liberty, warranting the grant of a writ of habeas corpus.

RULING

The petition for habeas corpus is denied. The Court found no proof to support the allegation that Santos was convicted without trial. Conversely, it was established that he was serving sentences legally imposed by the Court of First Instance of Manila. In the absence of evidence to the contrary, these sentences are presumed to have been legally rendered. Therefore, the claim of illegal detention was without legal basis.