THE UNITED STATES Vs WILLIAM FOWLER ET. AL.
G.R. No.: L-4969 December 31, 1902
Facts:
August 12, 1901, the defendants were accused of the theft of 16 champagne bottles worth 20 dollars while on board the vessel “Lawton”. The counsel for defendants alleged to the Court of First Instance that they were without jurisdiction over the crime charged. Since it happened in the high seas and not in the city of Manila or in the territory in which the jurisdiction of the court extends, they asked that the case be dismissed.
However, the prosecuting attorney contended that the court has original jurisdiction in all criminal cases in which the penalty exceeds six month's imprisonment, or a fine of over $100; that, in accordance with the orders of the Military Governor and the Civil Commission admiralty jurisdiction over all crimes committed on board vessel flying the flag of the United States has been vested in the Court of First Instance of the city of Manila. Among other laws and orders he cited the order of August 14, 1898, and Acts Nos. 76 and 186 of the United States Civil Commission.
Issue:
Whether or Not the Court of First Instance has jurisdiction over crimes committed on the high seas on board of transport not registered in the Philippines
Ruling:
No. The Philippine court has no jurisdiction over the crime of theft committed on high seas on board a vessel not registered or licensed in the Philippines. The transport “Lawton” not being a vessel of this class, our court is without jurisdiction to take a cognizance of a crime committed on board the same. If any doubt could arise concerning the true meaning of the law applicable to the case, Act No. 400 effectively dissipates such doubt. This law, which is an addition to Act No. 136, by which the courts of justice of the Philippine Islands were organized, reads as follows: "Of all crimes and offenses committed on the high seas or beyond the jurisdiction of any country, or within any of the navigable waters of the Philippine Archipelago, on board a ship or water craft of any kind registered or licensed in the Philippine Islands in accordance with the laws thereof." The purpose of this law was to define the jurisdiction of the courts of First Instance in criminal cases for crimes committed on board vessels registered or licensed in the Philippine Islands.
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