T'e i%en&i&y o) &'e person w'o 'i& &'e *ic&i" wi&' a 'ollow bloc- is o) %e "ini"is i"por&ance+ #lisas &es&i"ony is corrobora&e% by &'e au&opsy repor& o) Br+ ien*eni%o >uDo+ o s'owin( o) any i"proper "o&i*e on &'e par& o) a wi&ness &o &es&i)y )alsely a(ains& &'e accuse% or &o )alsely i"plica&e &'e la&&er in &'e co""ission o) &'e cri"e+ T'e &rial cour& (a*e cre%ence an% )ull proba&i*e wei('& &o #lisas &es&i"ony+
T'ere is conspiracy w'en &wo or "ore persons a(ree &o co""i& a )elony an% %eci%e &o co""i& i&+ Conspiracy as a "o%e o) incurrin( cri"inal liabili&y "us& be pro*e% separa&ely )ro" an% wi&' &'e sa"e ?uan&u" o) proo) as &'e cri"e i&sel)+ Conspiracy nee% no& b e pro*en by %irec& e*i%ence+ A)&er all, secrecy an% conceal"en& are essen&ial )ea&ures o) a success)ul conspiracy+ <& "ay be in)erre% )ro" &'e con%uc& o) &'e accuse% be)ore, %urin( an% a)&er &'e co""ission o) &'e cri"e, s'owin( &'a& &'ey 'a% ac&e% wi&' a co""on purpose an% %esi(n+ Conspiracy "ay be i"plie% i) i& is pro*e% &'a& &wo or "ore persons a i"e% by &'eir ac&s &owar%s &'e acco"plis'"en& o) &'e sa"e unlaw)ul ob/ec&, eac' %oin( a par& so &'a& &'eir co"bine% ac&s, &'ou(' apparen&ly in%epen%en& o) eac' o&'er, were, in )ac&, connec&e% an% coopera&i*e, in%ica&in( a closeness o) personal associa&ion an% a concurrence o) sen&i"en&+ T'ere "ay be conspiracy e*en i) an o))en%er %oes no& -now &'e i%en&i&ies o) &'e o&'er o))en%ers, an% e*en &'ou(' 'e is no& aware o) all &'e %e&ails o) &'e plan o) opera&ion or was no& in on &'e sc'e"e )ro" &'e be(innin(+ .ne nee% onl y &o -nowin(ly con&ribu&e 'is e))or&s in )ur&'erance o) i&+ .ne w'o /oins a cri"inal conspiracy in e))ec& a%op&s as 'is own &'e cri"inal %esi(ns o) 'is co9conspira&ors+ <) conspiracy is es&ablis'e%, all &'e conspira&ors are liable as co9principals re(ar%less o) &'e "anner an% e &en& o) &'eir par&icipa&ion since in con&e"pla&ion o) law, &'e ac& o) one woul% be &'e ac& o) all+ #ac' o) &'e conspira&ors is &'e a(en& o) all &'e o&'ers+
T'e "ere presence o) an accuse% a& &'e si&us o) &'e cri"e will no& su))ice+ T'ere "us& be in&en&ional par&icipa&ion in &'e &ransac&ion wi&' a *iew &o &'e )ur&'erance o) &'e co""on %esi(n an% purpose+
#*en i) &wo or "ore o))en%ers %o no& conspire &o co""i& 'o"ici%e or "ur%er, &'ey "ay be 'el% cri"inally liable as principals by %irec& par&icipa&ion i) &'ey per)or" o*er& ac&s w'ic' "e%ia&ely or i""e%ia&ely cause or accelera&e &'e % ea&' o) &'e *ic&i"+ Ar&+ E+ Cri"inal liabili&y+ Cri"inal liabili&y s'all be incurre%:
o
1+ y any person co""i&&in( a )elony %eli&o al&'ou(' &'e wron()ul ac& %one be %i))eren& )ro" &'a& w'ic' 'e in&en%e%+
Ar&+ 1!+ Acco"plices+ Acco"plices are &'e persons w'o, no& bein( inclu%e% in Ar&icle 17, coopera&e in &'e eecu&ion o) &'e o))ense by pre*ious or si"ul&aneous ac&s+
o 1.
To 'ol% a person liable as an acco"plice, &wo ele"en&s "us& concur: &'e co""uni&y o) cri"inal %esi(nG &'a& is, -nowin( &'e cri"inal %esi(n o) &'e principal by %irec& par&icipa&ion, 'e concurs wi&' &'e la&&er in 'is purposeG
2.
&'e per)or"ance o) pre*ious or si"ul&aneous ac&s &'a& are no& in%ispensable &o &'e co""ission o) &'e cri"e
Acco"plices co"e &o -now abou& &'e cri"inal resolu&ion o) &'e principal by %irec& par&icipa&ion a)&er &'e principal 'as reac'e% &'e %ecision &o co""i& &'e )elony an% onl y &'en %oes &'e acco"plice a(ree &o coopera&e in i&s eecu&ion+ Acco"plices %o no& %eci%e w'e&'er &'e cri"e s'oul% be co""i&&e%G &'ey "erely assen& &o &'e plan o) &'e principal by %irec& par&icipa&ion an% coopera&e in i&s acco"plis'"en&
owe*er, w'ere one coopera&es in &'e co""ission o) &'e cri"e by per)or"in( o*er& ac&s w'ic' by &'e"sel*es are ac&s o) eecu&ion, 'e is a principal by %irec& par&icipa&ion, an% no& "erely an acco"plice
.%ilon all by 'i"sel) ini&ially %eci%e% &o s&ab &'e *ic&i"+ owe*er, w'ile .%ilon was s&abbin( &'e *ic&i", &'e appellan& an% $onnie a(ree% &o /oin+ All &'e o*er& ac&s o) .%ilon, $onnie an% &'e Pilola be)ore, %urin(, an% a)&er &'e s&abbin( inci%en& in%ubi&ably s'ow &'a& &'ey conspire% &o -ill &'e *ic&i"+ Since &'e *ic&i" is no& ye& %ea%, &'e cri"e is no& ye& consu""a&e% so Pilola is a principal by %irec& par&icipa&ion+
Alibi is a wea-, i) no& &'e wea-es& o) %e)enses in a cri"inal prosecu&ion, because i& is easy &o concoc& bu& 'ar% &o %ispro*e+ To ser*e as basis )or ac?ui&&al, i& "us& be es&ablis'e% by clear an% con*incin( e*i%ence+ For i& &o prosper, &'e accuse% "us& pro*e no& only &'a& 'e was absen& )ro" &'e scene o) &'e cri"e a& &'e &i"e o) i&s co""ission, bu& also &'a& i& was p'ysically i"possible )or 'i" &o 'a*e been presen& &'en+
Pilola -new &'a& 'e was c'ar(e% )or &'e s&abbin( bu& ins&ea% o) surren%erin( &o &'e police au&'ori&ies, 'e e*a%e% arres& an% &'is )li('& is e*i%ence o) (uil&
T'ere is &reac'ery w'en &'e o))en%er co""i&s any o) &'e cri"es a(ains& persons, e"ployin( "eans, "e&'o%s or )or"s in &'e eecu&ion &'ereo) w'ic' &en% %irec&ly an% specially &o insure i&s eecu&ion, wi&'ou& ris- &o 'i"sel) arisin( )ro" &'e %e)ense w'ic' &'e o))en%e% par&y "i('& "a-e+ T'e essence o) &reac'ery is &'e swi)& an% unepec&e% a&&ac- on &'e unar"e% *ic&i" wi&'ou& &'e sli('&es& pro*oca&ion on 'is par& 9 a&&ac- on &'e unar"e% *ic&i" was su%%en+ T'e a((ra*a&in( circu"s&ance o) abuse o) superior s&ren(&' is absorbe% by &reac'ery
[G.R. No. 121828. June 27, 2003]
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, appellee, vs. EDMAR AGILOS, ODILON LAGLI!A " A!REGON #n$ RENE GA"OT PILOLA, accused , RENE GA"OT PILOLA, appellant . DE%ISION %ALLEJO, SR., J .&
Pallor, conjuncti!ae and integu#ent, #ar'ed and generali7ed) ontused abrasions te#ple, right, ): & ): c#); #andibular region, right, ): & 8): c#); bac', suprascapular region, left, ): & <): c#); deltoid region, right, 1): & ): c#) .acerated wound, scalp, occipital region, <): c#) ncised wounds forehead, right side, 5)5 c#); ar#, left, upper third, posterior aspect, 1)5 c#) 3tab wounds 1) 4lliptical, 1)8 c#), oriented al#ost hori7ontally, edges are clean"cut, #edial e&tre#ity is sharp, lateral e&tre#ity is blunt; located at the anterior chest wall, le!el of rd intercostal space, right, 5): c#) fro# anterior #edian line; directed bac'ward, upward and #edially, non"penetrating, with an appro&i#ate depth of ): c#); ) 4lliptical, 1)5 c#), oriented al#ost hori7ontally, edges are clean"cut, one e&tre#ity is sharp and the other is blunt; located at the antero"lateral aspect of chest, le!el of rd intercostal space, left, ): c#) fro# anterior #edian line; directed bac'ward, downward and #edially, into the left thoracic ca!ity, penetrating the left !entricle of the heart with an appro&i#ate depth of 1:): c#); ) 4lliptical, ): c#), oriented al#ost hori7ontally, edges are clean"cut, one e&tre#ity is sharp and the other is blunt; located at the antero"lateral aspect of chest, le!el of
): c#) fro# anterior #edian line; directed bac'ward, upward and
#edially, into the left thoracic ca!ity and then penetrating the lower lobe of left lung with an appro&i#ately depth of 1:): c#); >) 4lliptical, <): c#), oriented al#ost hori7ontally, edges are clean"cut, one e&tre#ity is sharp and the other is blunt; located at the lu#bar region, left, 1<): c#) fro# anterior #edian line; directed bac'ward, upward and #edially, into the abdo#inal ca!ity and then penetrating ileu#; =) 4lliptical, 1)5 c#), oriented al#ost !ertically, edges are clean"cut, upper e&tre#ity is sharp, lower e&tre#ity is blunt; located at the chest, lateral, le!el of 9 th intercostal space, left; 1<): c#) fro# posterior #edian line; directed forward, upward and #edially, non"penetrating with an appro&i#ate depth of <): c#); 8) 4lliptical, ): c#), oriented al#ost !ertically, edges are clean"cut, upper e&tre#ity is blunt, lower e&tre#ity is sharp; located at the abdo#en, postero"lateral aspect, 15): c#) fro# posterior #edian line; directed forward, upward and laterally, into the abdo#inal ca!ity and then perforating the spleen and pancreas w ith an appro&i#ate depth of 1): c#); 9) 4lliptical, 5): c#), oriented al#ost !ertically, edges are clean"cut, upper e&tre#ity is blunt, lower e&tre#ity is sharp; located at the left ar#, upper third, anterior; directed bac'ward, downward and #edially, in!ol!ing s'in and underlying soft tissues with an appro&i#ate depth of >): c#); 1:) 4lliptical, ) c#), oriented al#ost !ertically, edges are clean"cut, upper e&tre#ity is sharp, lower e&tre#ity is blunt; located at the left forear#, upper third, anterior; directed bac'ward, upward and #edially and co##unicating with another wound, ar#, left, #edial aspect, ): c#); 11) 4lliptical, ): c#), oriented al#ost !ertically, edges are clean"cut, upper e&tre#ity blunt, lower e&tre#ity, sharp; located at the left ar#, lower third, posterior aspect, directed forward, downward and #edially, co##unicating with another wound, ar#, left, lower third, posterior aspect, 1)5 c#) He#othora&, left 9:: c)c) He#opericardiu# :: c)c) He#operitoneu# =5: c)c)
?rain and other !isceral organs, pale) 3to#ach"filled with rice and other food particles) @34 *F %4TH Multiple stab wounds)
T'e E($en)e o- *'e Ae#n* T'e appellan& %enie% s&abbin( &'e *ic&i" an% in&erpose% &'e %e)ense o) alibi+ e &es&i)ie% &'a& a& aroun% 11:00 p+"+ o) February 5, 1!!, 'e was in &'e 'ouse o) 'is cousin, Julian Ca%ion, a& 606 ue*e %e Pebrero S&ree&, >an%aluyon( Ci&y+ e su%%enly 'ear% a co""o&ion co"in( )ro" ou&si%e+ Julian rus'e% ou& o) &'e 'ouse &o )in% ou& w'a& was (oin( on+ T'e appellan& re"aine% insi%e &'e 'ouse because 'e was su))erin( )ro" ulcer an% was eperiencin( ecessi*e pain in 'is s&o"ac'+ T'e )ollowin( "ornin(, &'e appellan& learne% )ro" &'eir nei('bor, #lisa $olan, &'a& Joseli&o 'a% been s&abbe% &o %ea&'+ T'e appellan& %i% no& bo&'er &o as- w'o was responsible )or &'e s&abbin(+ HI
Julian alias uboy Ca%ion corrobora&e% &'e appellan&s &es&i"ony+ e &es&i)ie% &'a& &'e appellan& was in &'eir 'ouse on &'e ni('& o) February 5, 1!!, an% was su))erin( )ro" ulcer+ T'e appellan& s&aye% 'o"e on &'e ni('& o) &'e inci%en&+ H10I
/H4$4F*$4, this ourt finds $4+4 6-*T P.*. of >:> +ue!e de Febrero 3treet, Mandaluyong ity, 6@.T- beyond reasonable doubt of Murder punished under rticle <8 of the $e!ised Penal ode, and there being no #itigating nor aggra!ating circu#stances, he is hereby sentenced to reclusion perpetua) Pilola is hereby ordered to inde#nify the heirs of deceased (oselito apa alias (essie in the a#ount of FFT- TH*@3+% P43*3 AP5:,:::)::B as inde#nity for his death jointly and solidarily with *dilon .agliba who was earlier con!icted herein) /ith cost against the accused) 012
T'e appellan& a*ers &'a& #lisa is no& a cre%ible wi&ness an% 'er &es&i"ony is barren o) proba&i*e wei('&+ T'is is so because s'e con&ra%ic&e% 'ersel) w'en s'e &es&i)ie% on %irec& ea"ina&ion &'a& $onnie s&ruc- &'e 'ea% o) &'e *ic&i" wi&' a 'ollow bloc-+ owe*er, on cross9ea"ina&ion, s'e s&a&e% &'a& i& was #%"ar w'o s&ruc- &'e *ic&i"+ T'e inconsis&ency in #lisas &es&i"ony i"paire% 'er cre%ibili&y+ T'e con&en&ion o) &'e appellan& %oes no& 'ol% wa&er+ Firs&+ T'e i%en&i&y o) &'e person w'o 'i& &'e *ic&i" wi&' a 'ollow bloc- is o) de minimis i"por&ance+ T'e *ic&i" %ie% because o) "ul&iple woun%s+ T'e
appellan& is c'ar(e% wi&' "ur%er )or &'e -illin( o) &'e *ic&i" wi&' a -ni)e, in conspiracy wi&' &'e o&'er accuse%+ Secon%+ T'e percei*e% inconsis&ency in #lisas accoun& o) e*en&s is a "inor an% colla&eral %e&ail &'a& %oes no& a))ec& &'e subs&ance o) 'er &es&i"ony, as i& e*en ser*es &o s&ren(&'en ra&'er &'an %es&roy 'er cre%ibili&y+ H1EI
T'ir%+ #lisa 'as been consis&en& in 'er &es&i"ony &'a& &'e appellan& was one o) &'e "en w'o s&abbe% &'e *ic&i", &'e o&'ers bein( $onnie an% .%ilon+ #lisas &es&i"ony is corrobora&e% by &'e au&opsy repor& o) Br+ ien*eni%o >uo an% 'is &es&i"ony &'a& &'e *ic&i" sus&aine% ele*en s&ab woun%s+ T'e %oc&or &es&i)ie% &'a& &'ere were &wo or "ore assailan&s: Coul% you &ell &'e cour& w'a& ins&ru"en& coul% 'a*e been use% by &'e perpe&ra&or in in)lic&in( &'ose &wo incise woun%sK A T'ose incise woun%s were cause% by a s'arp ins&ru"en& li-e a -ni)e or any si"ilar ins&ru"en&+ ow you also )oun% ou& )ro" &'e bo%y o) &'e *ic&i" ele*en s&ab woun%sK A =es, sir+ ow, &ell &'e cour& in w'ic' par& o) &'e bo%y o) &'e *ic&i" w'ere &'ese ele*en s&ab woun%s HareI loca&e%K A S'all < (o one by one, all &'e ele*en s&ab woun%sK All &'e ele*en s&ab woun%sK A .ne s&ab woun% was loca&e% a& &'e )ron& por&ion o) &'e c'es&, ri('& si%e+ Ano&'er s&ab woun% was loca&e% also on &'e c'es& le)& si%e, ano&'er s&ab woun% was loca&e% a& &'e an&ero la&eral aspec&, i&s &'e )ron& o) &'e c'es& al"os& &o &'e si%e+ An% also ano&'er one, also a& &'e c'es&, ano&'er s&ab woun% was a& &'e le)& si%e o) &'e c'es& an% ano&'er one was a& &'e lu"bar re(ion o) &'e ab%o"en le)& si%e or w'ere &'e le)& -i%ney is loca&e%, lu"bar area+ Ano&'er one a& &'e si%e o) &'e c'es&, le)& si%e o) &'e c'es&+ Ano&'er s&ab woun% in &'e ab%o"en, ano&'er s&ab woun% a& &'e le)& ar"+ Ano&'er one a& &'e le)& )orear" an% &'e las& one in &'e au&opsy repor& is loca&e% a& &'e le)& ar"+ T'ese are all &'e ele*en s&ab woun%s sus&aine% by &'e *ic&i"+ A T'e ins&ru"en& use% was a s'arp poin&e% e%(e or a sin(le bla%e% ins&ru"en& li-e a -ni)e, -i&c'en -ni)e, balison( or any si"ilar ins&ru"en&+
Consi%erin( &'e nu"ber o) s&ab woun%s, %oc&or, will you &ell us w'e&'er &'ere were se*eral assailan&sK A ore &'an one+H15I
T'e p'ysical e*i%ence is a "u&e bu& elo?uen& "ani)es&a&ion o) &'e *eraci&y o) #lisas &es&i"ony+ H16I
Four&'+ #*en &'e appellan& 'i"sel) %eclare% on &'e wi&ness s&an% &'a& 'e coul% no& &'in- o) any reason w'y #lisa poin&e% &o 'i" as one o) &'e assailan&s+
Fi)&'+ T'e &rial cour& (a*e cre%ence an% )ull proba&i*e wei('& &o #lisas &es&i"ony+ Case law 'as i& &'a& &'e &rial cour&s calibra&ion o) &'e &es&i"onial e*i%ence o) &'e par&ies, i&s assess"en& o) &'e cre%ibili&y o) wi&nesses an% &'e proba&i*e wei('& &'ereo) is (i*en 'i(' respec&, i) no& conclusi*e e))ec&, by &'e appella&e cour&+ T'e appellan& ar(ues &'a& &'e prosecu&ion )aile% &o pro*e &'a& 'e conspire% wi&' $onnie an% .%ilon in s&abbin( &'e *ic&i" &o %ea&'+ e con&en%s &'a& )or one &o be a conspira&or, 'is par&icipa&ion in &'e cri"inal resolu&ion o) ano&'er "us& ei&'er prece%e or be concurren& wi&' &'e cri"inal ac&s+ e asser&s &'a& e*en i) i& were &rue &'a& 'e was presen& a& &'e situs criminis an% &'a& 'e s&abbe% &'e *ic&i", i& was .%ilon w'o 'a% alrea%y %eci%e%, an% in )ac& )a&ally s&abbe% &'e *ic&i"+ e coul% no& 'a*e conspire% wi&' .%ilon as &'e inci%en& was only a c'ance encoun&er be&ween &'e *ic&i", &'e appellan& an% 'is co9 accuse%+
"any &i"es &'e *ic&i" was s&abbe% by &'e appellan&+ e asser&s &'a& 'e is "erely an acco"plice an% no& a principal by %irec& par&icipa&ion+ 8e are no& persua%e% by &'e ru"ina&ions o) &'e appellan&+ T'ere is conspiracy w'en &wo or "ore persons a(ree &o co""i& a )elony an% %eci%e &o co""i& i&+ Conspiracy as a "o%e o) incurrin( cri"inal liabili&y "us& be pro*e% separa&ely )ro" an% wi&' &'e sa"e ?uan&u" o) proo) as &'e cri"e i&sel)+ Conspiracy nee% no& be pro*en by %irec& e*i%ence+ A)&er all, secrecy an% conceal"en& are essen&ial )ea&ures o) a success)ul conspiracy+ <& "ay be in)erre% )ro" &'e con%uc& o) &'e accuse% be)ore, %urin( an% a)&er &'e co""ission o) &'e cri"e, s'owin( &'a& &'ey 'a% ac&e% wi&' a co""on purpose an% %esi(n+ Conspiracy "ay be i"plie% i) i& is pro*e% &'a& &wo or "ore persons ai"e% by &'eir ac&s &owar%s &'e acco"plis'"en& o) &'e sa"e unlaw)ul ob/ec&, eac' %oin( a par& so &'a& &'eir co"bine% ac&s, &'ou(' apparen&ly in%epen%en& o) eac' o&'er, were, in )ac&, connec&e% an% coopera&i*e, in%ica&in( a closeness o) personal associa&ion an% a concurrence o) sen&i"en&+ There may be conspiracy even if an offender does not know the identities of the other offenders , and even though he is not aware of all the details of the plan of operation or was not in on the scheme from the beginning + One need only to knowingly contribute his efforts in furtherance of it + .ne w'o /oins a cri"inal conspiracy in e))ec& a%op&s as 'is own &'e cri"inal %esi(ns o) 'is co9conspira&ors+ <) conspiracy is es&ablis'e%, all &'e conspira&ors are liable as co9principals re(ar%less o) &'e "anner an% e&en& o) &'eir par&icipa&ion since in con&e"pla&ion o) law, &'e ac& o) one woul% be &'e ac& o) all+ #ac' o) &'e conspira&ors is &'e a(en& o) all &'e o&'ers+ H1!I
H1I
H20I
H21I
H22I
H23I
H2EI
H25I
To 'ol% an accuse% (uil&y as a co9principal by reason o) conspiracy, 'e "us& be s'own &o 'a*e per)or"e% an o*er& ac& in pursuance or )ur&'erance o) &'e conspiracy+ T'e "ere presence o) an accuse% a& &'e situs o) &'e cri"e will no& su))iceG "ere -nowle%(e, ac?uiescence or appro*al o) &'e ac& wi&'ou& coopera&ion or a(ree"en& &o coopera&e on &'e par& o) &'e accuse% is no& enou(' &o "a-e 'i" a par&y &o a conspiracy+ T'ere "us& be in&en&ional par&icipa&ion in &'e &ransac&ion wi&' a *iew &o &'e )ur&'erance o) &'e co""on %esi(n an% purpose+ Conspiracy &o eis& %oes no& re?uire an a(ree"en& )or an appreciable perio% prior &o &'e occurrence+ Fro" &'e le(al s&an%poin&, conspiracy eis&s i), a& &'e &i"e o) &'e co""ission o) &'e o))ense, &'e accuse% 'a% &'e same purpose an% were united in i&s eecu&ion+ As a rule, &'e concurrence o) wills, w'ic' is &'e essence o) conspiracy, "ay be %e%uce% H26I
#*en i) &wo or "ore o))en%ers %o no& conspire &o co""i& 'o"ici%e or "ur%er, &'ey "ay be 'el% cri"inally liable as principals by %irec& par&icipa&ion i) &'ey per)or" o*er& ac&s w'ic' "e%ia&ely or i""e%ia&ely cause or accelera&e &'e %ea&' o) &'e *ic&i", applyin( Ar&icle E, para(rap' 1 o) &'e $e*ise% Penal Co%e: rt) <) Criminal liability. ri#inal liability shall be incurred 1) ?y any person co##itting a felony AdelitoB although the wrongful act done be different fro# that which he intended)
rt) 18) Accomplices. cco#plices are the persons who, not being included in rticle 1=, cooperate in the e&ecution of the offense by pre!ious or si#ultaneous acts)
To 'ol% a person liable as an acco"plice, &wo ele"en&s "us& concur: a &'e co""uni&y o) cri"inal %esi(nG &'a& is, -nowin( &'e cri"inal %esi(n o) &'e principal by %irec& par&icipa&ion, 'e concurs wi&' &'e la&&er in 'is purposeG b &'e per)or"ance o) pre*ious or si"ul&aneous ac&s &'a& are no& in%ispensable &o &'e co""ission o) &'e cri"e+ Acco"plices co"e &o -now abou& &'e cri"inal resolu&ion o) &'e principal by %irec& par&icipa&ion a)&er &'e principal 'as reac'e% &'e %ecision &o co""i& &'e )elony an% only &'en %oes &'e acco"plice a(ree &o coopera&e in i&s eecu&ion+ Acco"plices %o no& %eci%e w'e&'er &'e cri"e s'oul% be co""i&&e%G &'ey "erely assen& &o &'e plan o) &'e principal by %irec& par&icipa&ion an% coopera&e in i&s acco"plis'"en&+ owe*er, w'ere one coopera&es in &'e co""ission o) &'e cri"e by per)or"in( o*er& ac&s w'ic' by &'e"sel*es are ac&s o) eecu&ion, 'e is a principal by %irec& par&icipa&ion, an% no& "erely an acco"plice+ H31I
H32I
H33I
T'e &rial cour& correc&ly o*errule% &'e appellan&s %e)ense o) alibi+ Alibi is a wea-, i) no& &'e wea-es& o) %e)enses in a cri"inal prosecu&ion, because i& is easy &o concoc& bu& 'ar% &o %ispro*e+ To ser*e as basis )or ac?ui&&al, i& "us& be es&ablis'e% by clear an% con*incin( e*i%ence+ For i& &o prosper, &'e accuse% "us& pro*e no& only &'a& 'e was absen& )ro" &'e scene o) &'e cri"e a& &'e &i"e o) i&s co""ission, bu& also &'a& i& was p'ysically i"possible )or 'i" &o 'a*e been presen& &'en+ oreo*er, #lisa posi&i*ely i%en&i)ie% &'e appellan& H35I
H36I
as one o) &'e "en w'o repea&e%ly s&abbe% &'e *ic&i"+ T'e appellan&s %e)ense o) alibi canno& pre*ail o*er &'e posi&i*e an% s&rai('&)orwar% i%en&i)ica&ion o) &'e appellan& as one o) &'e *ic&i"s assailan&s+ T'e appellan& 'i"sel) a%"i&&e% &'a& 'is cousins 'ouse, &'e place w'ere 'e was alle(e%ly res&in( w'en &'e *ic&i" was s&abbe%, was "erely &en &o )i)&een "e&ers away )ro" &'e scene o) &'e s&abbin(+
T'e appellan&s %e)enses "us& cru"ble in &'e )ace o) e*i%ence &'a& 'e )le% )ro" &'e situs criminis an% la&er le)& 'is 'ouse+ T'e recor%s s'ow &'a& %espi&e bein( in)or"e% &'a& 'e was sou('& a)&er by &'e au&'ori&ies as a suspec& )or &'e -illin( o) &'e *ic&i", &'e appellan& su%%enly an% inscru&ably %isappeare% )ro" 'is resi%ence a& ue*e %e Pebrero+ As early as >ay 5, 1!!, a subpoena )or &'e appellan& was re&urne% unser*e% because 'e was ou& o) &own+ T'e appellan&s own wi&ness, Julian Ca%ion, &es&i)ie% &'a& &'e appellan& 'a% le)& an% was no lon(er seen a& ue*e %e Pebrero a)&er &'e inci%en&, &'us: H3!I
So, 'ow lon( %i% you s&ay a& 606 ue*e %e Pebrero a)&er February 5, 1!!K A .ne wee- only, sir, an% &'en &'ree wee-s a)&er, < re&urne% &o ue*e %e Pebrero+ T'e w'ole wee- a)&er February 5, 1!!, was $ene Pilola s&ill li*in( a& 606 ue*e %e PebreroK A < %i% no& see 'i" any"ore, sir+ An% &'en &'ree wee-s &'erea)&er, you wen& bac- &o ue*e %e Pebrero+
T'e recor%s s'ow &'a& &'e appellan& -new &'a& 'e was c'ar(e% )or &'e s&abbin( o) &'e *ic&i"+ owe*er, ins&ea% o) surren%erin( &o &'e police au&'ori&ies, 'e a%roi&ly e*a%e% arres&+ T'e appellan&s )li('& is e*i%ence o) (uil& an%, )ro" &'e )ac&ual circu"s&ances ob&ainin( in &'e case a& bar, no reason
can be %e%uce% )ro" i& o&'er &'an &'a& 'e was %ri*en by a s&ron( sense o) (uil& an% a%"ission &'a& 'e 'a% no &enable %e)ense+ HE0I
T'e %(+e %o++(**e$ *'e Ae#n* #n$ *'e Poe Pen#* T'ee-o T'e &rial cour& correc&ly con*ic&e% &'e appellan& o) "ur%er ?uali)ie% by &reac'ery+ Abuse o) superior s&ren(&' li-ewise a&&en%e% &'e co""ission o) &'e cri"e+ T'ere is &reac'ery w'en &'e o))en%er co""i&s any o) &'e cri"es a(ains& persons, e"ployin( "eans, "e&'o%s or )or"s in &'e eecu&ion &'ereo) w'ic' &en% %irec&ly an% specially &o insure i&s eecu&ion, wi&'ou& ris- &o 'i"sel) arisin( )ro" &'e %e)ense w'ic' &'e o))en%e% par&y "i('& "a-e+ T'e essence o) &reac'ery is &'e swi)& an% unepec&e% a&&ac- on &'e unar"e% *ic&i" wi&'ou& &'e sli('&es& pro*oca&ion on 'is par&+
;n?ues&ionably, &'e na&ure an% loca&ion o) &'e woun%s s'owe% &'a& &'e -illin( was eecu&e% in a &reac'erous "anner, pre*en&in( any "eans o) %e)ense on &'e par& o) &'e *ic&i"+ As &es&i)ie% &o by Br+ ien*eni%o >uo, &'e *ic&i" was s&abbe%, no& /us& once, bu& ele*en &i"es "os&ly on &'e c'es& an% &'e ab%o"inal area+ Si o) &'e s&ab woun%s were )a&al, causin( %a"a(e &o &'e *ic&i"s *i&al in&ernal or(ans+ HE2I
T'e a((ra*a&in( circu"s&ance o) abuse o) superior s&ren(&' is absorbe% by &reac'ery+ T'ere is no "i&i(a&in( circu"s&ance &'a& a&&en%e% &'e co""ission o) &'e )elony+ T'e penal&y )or "ur%er un%er Ar&icle 2E! o) &'e $e*ise% Penal Co%e is reclusion perpetua &o %ea&'+ Since no a((ra*a&in( an% "i&i(a&in( circu"s&ances a&&en%e% &'e co""ission o) &'e cri"e, &'e proper penal&y is reclusion perpetua, con)or"ably &o Ar&icle 63 o) &'e $e*ise% Penal Co%e+ HE3I
%(( L(#((*(e/ o- *'e Ae#n*
T'e &rial cour& correc&ly %irec&e% &'e appellan& &o pay &o &'e 'eirs o) &'e *ic&i" Joseli&a Capa &'e a"oun& o) P50,000 as ci*il in%e"ni&y ex delicto, in accor% wi&' curren& /urispru%ence+ T'e sai% 'eirs are li-ewise en&i&le% &o "oral %a"a(es in &'e a"oun& o) P50,000, also con)or"ably &o curren& /urispru%ence+
HE5I
HE6I
4HEREFORE, &'e Becision, %a&e% >ay 3, 15, o) ranc' 16E o) &'e $e(ional Trial Cour& o) Pasi( Ci&y in Cri"inal Case o+ 73615, )in%in( appellan& $ene 4ayo& Pilola 4;#B 8.B