People vs Coricor
G.R. No. L-48768 December 4, 1971 Facts:
Appellant was sentenced to recluson perpetua, to ndemn!" t#e #ers o! t#e deceased $edro $ edro Le%o n t#e sum o! $&, ''', and to pa" t#e costs, #a(n% been !ound b" t#e lower court %ult" o! murder commtted on )eptember 1*, 1941. +#e e(dence !or t#e prosecuton was presented on ctober &' and &1, 1941, and t#e e(dence !or t#e de!ense on ctober &1 and &&, 1941. ) wtnesses test!ed !or t#e prosecuton. Issue:
/ accused-appellant commtted t#e crme o! murder under Art &48 or deat# or p# "scal n0ures n!lcted under eceptonal crcumstances under Art. &47 o! t#e R$2 Held:
A care!ul we%#n% o! t#e e(dence bot# o! t#e prosecuton and t#e de!ense leads us to t#e concluson t#at appellant3s (erson as to t#e crcumstance u nder w#c# $edro Le%o was lled s t#e more credble. +#at appellant s#ould #a(e %one to t#e #ouse o! )e(erno Re%s to n(te $edro Le%o and #s w!e to come to appellant3s #ouse so as to ad(se 5sabel, because s#e #ad a paramour, one )aturnno aa"a, as test!ed to b" atalna Re%s, appears not to to tall" wt# t#e !act t#at, accordn% to t#e testmon" o! t#e accused, not contradcted b" t#e same atalna Re%s, #e went twce to #er to complan about t#e llct relatons between $edro Le%o and 5sabel, to t#e etent t#at appellant man!ested to atalna t#at ! #e s#ould surprse Le%o n !la%rant copulaton wt# 5sabel, #e wll ll t#em and would !or%et t#at Le%o s #s uncle. +#e court appled n t#e case at bar Art &47, t#e deat# or p#"scal n0ures n!lcted under eceptonal crcumstances. on0u%al !delt" commtted b" a marred woman and #er paramour s puns#ed, as adulter", b" artcle o! t#e Re(sed $enal ode wt# !rom 4 mont#s to 6 "ears o! mprsonment, and t#e one commtted co mmtted b" a #usband and #s mstress, as concubna%e, b" artcle 4, wt# mprsonment !rom 6 mont#s and 4 "ears and & mont#s !or t#e errn% #usband and bans#ment !or t#e mstress. nder artcle 4, not all cases o! con0u%al n!delt" commtted b" a #usband s puns#able. +#e %reat ma0ort" o! t#em are le!t unpuns#able. No !scal wll wll t#n o! prosecutn% t#e #usband w#o s#ould s#ou ld ndul%e n seual ntercourse wt# dscreet mstresses or wt# prosttutes. or suc# acts o! con0u%al n!delt", some puns#able wt# s#ort terms o! mprsonment, ot#ers wt# smple bans#ment, and stll ot#ers not puns#able at all, artcle &47, n e!!ect, con!ers to t#e o!!ended spouse t#e power to n!lct t#e supreme penalt" o! deat#. +#e bans#ment pro(ded !or t#e ller s ntended more !or #s protecton protecton t#an as a penalt". )uc# a twsted lo%c seems possble onl" n a paranoac mnd. 5t s #%# tme to rele%ate artcle &47 to w#ere t properl" belon%s, to t#e memor" o! t#e sns t#at #umant" promsed to #ersel! ne(er to commt a%an. +#e ma0ort" o! t#e ourt, #owe(er, opnes ot#erwse.
or all t#e !ore%on%, settn% asde t#e appea led decson, appellant s !ound %ult" o! t#e o!!ense o! #a(n% lled $edro Le%o as puns#ed b" artcle &47 o! t#e Re(sed $enal ode and, accordn%l", s sentenced to & "ears, 4 mont#s and 1 da " o! bans#ment, and to ndemn!" t#e #ers o! $edro Le%o n t#e sum o! $&, '''.
People vs Mallari
Facts:
#le osep# and L:a ;w!e< were watc#n% a basetball %ame at t#e baran%a" basetball court, Ru!no and #s brot#ers, w#o were t#en carr"n% bladed weapons, arr(ed and attempted to stab
or all t#e !ore%on%, settn% asde t#e appea led decson, appellant s !ound %ult" o! t#e o!!ense o! #a(n% lled $edro Le%o as puns#ed b" artcle &47 o! t#e Re(sed $enal ode and, accordn%l", s sentenced to & "ears, 4 mont#s and 1 da " o! bans#ment, and to ndemn!" t#e #ers o! $edro Le%o n t#e sum o! $&, '''.
People vs Mallari
Facts:
#le osep# and L:a ;w!e< were watc#n% a basetball %ame at t#e baran%a" basetball court, Ru!no and #s brot#ers, w#o were t#en carr"n% bladed weapons, arr(ed and attempted to stab
osep#= but osep# was able to run awa". #en #en t#e" were not able to catc# up wt# #m, Ru!no Ru !no boarded and dro(e t#e truc pared near t#e basetball court and contnued c#asn% osep# untl t#e truc ran o(er t#e latter, w#c# caused #s nstantaneous deat#. Apprecatn% t#e >ual!"n% crcumstance o! use o! motor (e#cle, t con(cted Ru!no o! murder.
Issue:
#et#er or not t#e use o! a motor (e#cle s a >ual!"n% crcumstance !or t#e crme o! murder2
Held:
+#e e(dence s#ows t#at Ru!no delberatel" delberatel" used #s truc n pursun% pursun% osep#. pon catc#n% up wt# #m, Ru!no #t #m wt# t#e truc, as a result o! w#c# osep# ded nstantl". nstantl". 5t s t#ere!ore clear t#at t#e truc was t#e means used b" Ru!no to perpetrate t#e lln% o! osep#. +#e case o! $eople (. ?u@o: cted b" Ru!no !nds no applcaton to t#e present case. 5n t#e sad case, t#e polce patrol 0eep was merel" used b" t#e accused t#eren n loon% !or t#e (ctm and n carr"n% t#e bod" o! t#e t#e (ctm to t#e place w#ere t was dumped. +#e accused t#eren s#ot t#e (ctm, w#c# caused t#e latters deat#. 5n t#e present case, t#e truc tsel! was used to ll t#e (ctm b" runnn% o(er #m. nder Artcle Artcle &48 o! t#e Re(sed $enal ode, a person w#o lls anot#er Bb" means o! a motor (e#cleC s %ult" o! murder. +#us, t#e use o! motor (e#cle >ual!es t#e lln% to murder. +#e +#e penalt" !or murder s recluson perpetua to deat#. 5n (ew o! t#e absence o! an a%%ra(atn% crcumstance and t#e presence o! one mt%atn% crcumstance, recluson perpetua, not deat#, s#ould be t#e penalt" to be mposed on Ru!no.
$$L E) F5)NFN+ 68 )RA *86
acts n or about )eptember &4, 199, n t#e ?uncpalt" o! )an uan, ?etro ?anla, $#lppnes, and wt#n t#e 0ursdcton o! t#s Fonorable ourt, t#e abo(e -named accused dd t#en and a nd t#ere wll!ull", wll!ull", unlaw!ull" and !elonousl", wt# ntent to ll and tan% ad(anta%e o! superor
stren%t#, attac, assault and use personal (olence upon t#e person o! one lsa lse )antos astllo b" t#en and t#ere stabbn% #er wt# a bladed weapon n d!!erent parts o! #er bod", t#ereb" n!lctn% upon #er mortal wounds w#c# were t#e drect and mmedate cause o! #er deat# and t#erea!ter outra%ed or sco!!ed #er corpse b" t#en and t#ere c#oppn% o!! #er #ead and d!!erent parts o! #er bod".
5ssue 1.< #et#er or not t#e >ual!"n% crcumstance o! abuse o ! stren%t# s present. &.< #et#er or not sco!!n% o! t#e (ctm3s bod" s to be ap precated n court to >ual!" t#e crme to murder.
Feld
1.< +#e answer s n t#e ne%at(e. Abuse o! superort" s present w#ene(er t#ere s ne>ualt" o! !orces between t#e (ctm and t#e a%%ressor, a% %ressor, assumn% assumn% a stuaton o! superort" o! stren%t# notorousl" ad(anta%eous !or t#e a%%ressor and selected or taen ad(anta%e o! b" #m n t#e commsson o! t#e crme. +#e !act t#at t#e (ctm was a wo man does not, b" tsel!, establs# t#at accused-appellant commtted t#e crme wt# abuse o! superor stren%t#. +#ere ou%#t to be enou%# proo! o! t#e relat(e stren%t# o! t#e t# e a%%ressor and t#e (ctm.
Abuse o! superor stren%t# must be s#own and clearl" establs#ed as t#e crme tsel!. 5n t#s case, nobod" wtnessed t#e actual lln%. Now#ere n Demetros testmon", testmon", and t s not ndcated n an" o! t#e peces o! p#"scal e(dence, t#at accused-appellant delberatel" too ad(anta%e o! #s superor stren%t# n o(erpowern% lsa. n t#e contrar", t#s ourt obser(ed !rom (ewn% t#e p#oto%rap# o! accused-appellant t#at #e #as a rat#er small !rame. Fence, t#e attendance o! t#e >ual!"n% crcumstance o! abuse o! superor stren%t# was not ade>uatel" pro(ed and cannot be apprecated a%anst accused-appellant.
&.< Hes, Hes, t#e ot#er crcumstance o! outra%n% and sco!!n% at t#e corpse o! t#e (ctm was correctl" apprecated b" t#e tral court. +#e mere dec aptaton o! t#e (ctms #ead consttutes outra%n% or sco!!n% at t#e corpse o! t#e (ctm, t#us >ual!"n% t#e lln% to murder. 5n t#s case, accusedappellant not onl" be#eaded lsa. Fe !urt#er cut up #er bod" le peces o! meat. +#en, #e strewed t#e dsmembered parts o! #er bod" n a deserted road n t#e countr"sde, coun tr"sde, lea(n% t#em to rot on t#e %round. +#e s%#t o! lsas se(ered bod" parts on t#e %round , ((dl" depcted n t#e
p#oto%rap#s o!!ered n e(dence, s bot# re(oltn% and #orr!"n%. At At t#e same tme, t#e (ewer cannot #elp but !eel utter pt" !or t#e sub-#uman manner o! dsposn% o! #er remans.
$$L E) N+5NN+ 9 )RA 1
acts 5t appears t#at appellant Donato ontnente and se(eral ot#er o#n Does were ntall" c#ar%ed wt# t#e crmes o! murder and !rustrated murder n two ;&< separate 5n!ormaton dated une &', 1989 n connecton wt# t#e s#ootn% ncdent on Aprl &1, 1989 at t#e corner o! +omas ?orato )treet and +mo% A(enue n Iue:on t" w#c# caused t#e deat# o! .). ol. ames N. Rowe w#le serousl" woundn% #s dr(er, oa>un Enu"a. A!ter t#e arrest o! anot#er suspect, uanto 5taas, on Au%ust &7, 1989 n Da(ao t", t#e prosecuton, wt# pror lea(e o! court, !led two ;&< separate amended n!ormaton !or murder and !rustrated murder to nclude uanto +. 5taas, amon% t#e ot#er accused.
5ssue #et#er or not t#e element o! treac#er" s present >ual!"n% t#e crme to murder.
Feld Hes, t#e s#ootn% o! ol. ames Rowe and #s dr(er, oa>un Enu"a, was attended b" treac#er". +#ere s treac#er" w#en t#e o!!ender commts an" o! t#e crmes a%anst person, emplo"n% means, met#ods or !orms n t#e eecuton t#ereo! w#c# tend drectl" and especall" to ensure ts eecuton, wt#out rs to #msel! arsn% !rom an" de!ense w#c# t#e o!!ended part" m%#t mae.J74K +#e e(dence clearl" s#ows t#at t#e mode o! eecuton was delberatel" adopted b" t#e perpetrators to ensure t#e commsson o! t#e crme wt#out t#e least dan%er unto t#emsel(es arsn% !rom t#e possble resstance o! t#er (ctms. Appellant 5taas and #s companons, w#o were all armed wt# power!ul !rearms, wated !or t#e car o! o l. Rowe w#c# was ben% dr(en b" oa>un Enu"a at t#e corner o! +mo% A(enue and +omas ?orato )treet n Iue:on t". t#out an" warnn%, appellant 5taas and #s companons suddenl" !red at t#e sad car upon reac#n% t#e sad place. Fence, t#e crme commtted !or t#e lln% o! ol. ames Rowe d urn% t#e sad ambus# s murder.
$$L E) AN+N5 * )RA 646
acts n t#at !ate!ul mornn% o! No(ember &, 1996, w#at s#ould #a(e been an amable %ame o! cards between two erstw#le !rends turned nto a deadl" con!rontaton resultn% n t#e !atal s#ootn% o! one b" t#e #and o! t#e ot#er. +#e (ctm, Arnul!o Arne +uadles, a !ormer pro!essonal basetball pla"er, succumbed nstantaneousl" to a sn%le %uns#ot wound r%#t between t#e e"es, n!lcted wt# deadl" precson b" t#e bullet o! a .9mm calber eretta pstol. on(cted o! murder b" t#e tral court as t#e ller s Alberto Ambet ). Antono, a one-tme c#arman o! t#e Games and Amusement oard ;GA<. 5t was durn% #s stnt as suc# t#at #e and +uadles became socall" ac>uanted. +#e" some#ow lost touc#, but later became reac>uanted w#en t#e" bot# started !re>uentn% t#e 5nternatonal usness lub ;5<, located alon% lson )treet n )an uan, ?etro ?anla, w#c# #ouses amentes suc# as a dnn% room, musc b ar and %ameroom. !ten, t#e two would meet wt# ot#er members and !rends to pla" cards n t#e %ameroom at t#e second !loor o! t#e club. +#er pre!erred %ames were poer or puso" dos, ordnar" poer or Russan poer. +#er bets alwa"s ran nto t#e tens o! t#ousands o! pesos.
5ssue #et#er or not +reac#er" s attendant n t#e case to con(ct t#e accused o! murder.
Feld No, ?ere suddenness o! attac s not enou%# to consttute treac#er" w#ere accused made no preparaton or emplo"ed no means, met#od and !orm o! eecuton tendn% drectl" and specall" to nsure t#e commsson o! a crme and to elmnate or dmns# rs !rom de!ense w#c# t#e (ctm ma" tae.
A sudden and unepected attac would not consttute ale(osa w#ere t#e a%%ressor dd not conscousl" adopt a mode o! attac ntended to perpetrate t#e #omcde wt#out rs to #msel!. +#e a%%ra(atn% crcumstance o! treac#er" s not present w#en decson to attac was arr(ed at on t#e spur o! t#e moment. +#ere would be no treac#er" w#en t#e (ctm was placed on %uard, suc# as w#en a #eated ar%ument preceded t#e attac, or w#en t#e (ctm was standn% !ace to !ace wt# #s assalants and t#e ntal assault could not #a(e been un!oreseen. (en ! t could be sad t#at t#e attac was sudden, t#ere would stll be no treac#er". 5n $eople (. #ua, we reterated our consstent (ew t#at #le t#e lln% tsel! appears to #a(e occurred on sudden mpulse, t was preceded b" acts o! appellant s#own% #ostlt" and a #eated temper t#at ndcated an mmnent attac and s#ould #a(e put t#e deceased on %uard.
+#us, treac#er" could not be apprecated w#ere t#e (ctm was !orewarned and could #a(e antcpated t#e a%%resson o! t#e accused. )nce t#e sudden s#ootn% o! +uadles was preceded b" a #eated (erbal altercaton between +uadles and appellant Antono, as admtted b" bot# prosecuton and de!ense, t#en t cannot be concluded t#at t#e s#ootn% was commtted wt# treac#er".
$$L E) +FANM &49 )RA *4
acts 5n 1991, uss la( Leno was tan% ?aureen Fultman to #er #ome at ampanlla )treet, Dasmarnas Ella%e, ?aat. Roland o#n #apman went wt# t#em. #en t#e" entered t#e (lla%e, ?aureen ased Leno to stop about a bloc awa" !rom #er #ouse, as s#e wanted to wal t#e rest o! t#e wa" !or s#e dd not want #er parents to now t#at s#e was %on% #ome t#at late. Leno o!!ered to wal wt# #er w#le #apman sta "ed n t#e car and lstened to t#e rado. #le Leno and ?aureen were waln%, a l%#t-colored ?tsubs# bo-t"pe Lancer car, dr(en b" accused laudo +ee#anee, r., came up !rom be#nd t#em and stopped on t#e mddle o! t#e road. Accused al%#ted !rom #s car, approac#ed t#em, and ased B#o are "ou2 ;)#ow me "our< 5.D.C #en Leno #anded #s 5.D., t#e accused %rabbed and poceted t#e 5.D., wt#out bot#ern% to loo at t. #apman saw t#e ncdent. Fe stepped down on t#e sdewal and ased accused B#" are "ou bot#ern% us2C Accused pus#ed #apman, du% nto #s s#rt, pulled out a %un and !red at #m. #apman !elt #s upper bod", sta%%ered !or a moment, and ased B #" dd "ou s#oot me2C #apman crumpled on t#e sdewal. Leno nelt besde #apman to assst #m but accused ordered #m to %et up and lea(e #apman alone. Accused t#en turned #s re on Leno. Fe ponted %un at #m and ased BDo "ou want a trouble2C Leno sad BnoC and too a step bacward.
+#e s#ootn% ntall" s#oced ?aureen. #en s#e came to #er senses, s#e became #"stercal and started screamn% !or #elp. )#e repeatedl" s#outed B#, m" God, #es %ot a %un. Fes %onna ll us. ll somebod" #elp us2C All t#e w#le, accused was pontn% #s %un to and !rom Leno to ?aureen, warnn% t#e latter to s#ut up. Accused ordered Leno to st down on t#e sdewal. Leno obe"ed and made no attempt to mo(e awa". Accused stood &- meters awa" !rom #m. ?aureen contnued to be # "stercal. )#e could not sta" stll. )#e stra"ed to t#e sde o! accuseds car. Accused tred but !aled to %rab #er. ?aureen crcled around accuseds car, tr"n% to put some dstance between t#em. +#e s#ort c#ase lasted !or a mnute or two. (entuall", accused cau%#t ?aureen and repeatedl" en0oned #er to s#ut up and st down besde Leno. ?aureen !nall" sat besde Leno on t#e sdewal. or a moment, t#e accused turned #s bac !rom t#e two. Fe !aced t#em a%an and s#ot Leno. Leno was #t on t#e upper 0aw, !ell bacwards on t#e sdewal, but dd not lose conscousness. Leno #eard anot#er s#ot and saw ?aureen !all besde #m. Fe l!ted #s #ead to see w#at was #appenn% and saw accused return to #s car and dr(e awa". Leno stru%%led to #s nees and s#outed !or #elp. Fe notced at least people w#o saw t#e ncdent.
As a result o! t#e ncdent, separate crmnal cases were !led a%anst accused laudo +ee#anee, r. 5ntall", #e was c#ar%ed wt# ?RDR !or t#e lln% o! RLAND
FA$?AN, and two ;&< R)+RA+D ?RDR !or t#e s#ootn% and woundn% o! ))5 L5N and ?ARN FL+?AN. #en Fultman subse>uentl" ded a!ter 97 da"s o! con!nement at t#e #osptal and durn% t#e course o! t#e tral, t#e 5n!ormaton !or rustrated ?urder was amended to ?RDR.
5ssue #et#er or not t#ere s e(dent premedtaton and treac#er" n t#e commsson o! t#e crme.
Feld No, t #as been consstentl" ruled t#at mere suddenness o! t#e attac on t#e (ctm would not, b" tsel!, consttute treac#er". oncededl", t#e s#ootn% o! #apman was carred out sw!tl" and le!t #m wt# no c#ance to de!end #msel!. (en t#en, t#ere s no e(dence on record to pro(e t#at appellant conscousl" and delberatel" adopted #s mode o! attac to nsure t#e accompls#ment o! #s crmnal des%n wt#out rs to #msel!. 5t appears to us t#at appellant acted on t#e spur o! t#e moment. +#er meetn% was b" c#ance. +#e" were stran%ers to eac# ot#er. +#e tme between t#e ntal encounter and t#e s#ootn% was s#ort and unbroen. +#e s#ootn% o! #apman was t#us t#e result o! a ras# and mpetuous mpulse on t#e part o! appellant rat#er t#an a delberate act o! wll. As to t#e woundn% o! uss Leno and t#e lln% o! ?aureen Fultman, we #old t#at treac#er" clearl" attended t#e commsson o! t#e crmes. +#e e(dence s#ows t#at a!ter s#ootn% #apman n cold blood, appellant ordered Leno to st on t#e pa(ement. ?aureen became #"stercal and wandered to t#e sde o! appellant3s car. #en appellant went a!ter #er, ?aureen mo(ed around #s car and tred to put some dstance between t#em. A!ter a mnute or two, appellant %ot to ?aureen and ordered #er to st besde Leno on t#e pa(ement. #le seated, unarmed and be%%n% !or merc", t#e two were %unned down b" appellant. learl", appellant purposel" placed #s two (ctms n a completel" de!enseless poston be!ore s#ootn% t#em. +#ere was an apprecable lapse o! tme between t#e lln% o! #apman and t#e s#ootn% o! Leno and Fultman a perod w#c# appellant used to prepare !or a mode o! attac w#c# ensured t#e eecuton o! t#e crme wt#out rs to #msel!. +reac#er" was t#us correctl" apprecated b" t#e tral court a%anst appellant nso!ar as t#e lln% o! Fultman and t#e woundn% o! Leno are concerned.
$$L E). ?ANR
&18 )RA 8*
acts n 11 Aprl 198*, t#e ?anero brot#ers Norberto r., dlberto and lpdo, alon% wt# Rodr%o spa, )e(erno Lnes, Rud" Lnes, !ren $le@a%o and Ro%er eda@o, were nsde t#e eater" o! one Re"naldo Docades. +#e" were con!errn% wt# t#ree ot#ers o! a plan to l>udate a number o! suspected communst s"mpat#:ers. Amon% t#er tar%ets are r. $eter, Domn%o Gome:, antl, red Gapate, Rene alas +aba%ac and Ellann%.O Or. $eterO s r. $eter Geremas, an 5talan prest suspected o! #a(n% lns wt# t#e communst mo(ement= OantlO s Ru!no Robles, a at#olc la" leader w#o s t#e complann% wtness n t#e Attempted ?urder= Domn%o Gome: s anot#er la" leader, w#le t#e ot#ers are smpl" Omessen%ersO. n t#e sa me occason, t#e consprators a%reed to dlberto ?anero3s proposal t#at s#ould t#e" !al to ll r. $eter Geremas, anot#er 5talan prest would be lled n #s stead. +#e" later on naled a placard near t#e carndera bearn% t#e names o! t#er ntended (ctms. Later, at 4'' pm, t#e ?anero brot#ers, to%et#er wt# spa and t#e !our ;4< appellants, all wt# assorted !rearms, proceeded to t#e #ouse o! OantlO, t#er !rst ntended (ctm, w#c# was also n t#e (cnt" o! Deocades3 carndera. A!ter a #eated con!rontaton, dlberto drew #s re(ol(er and !red at t#e !ore#ead o! antl w#o was able to parr" and was #t at t#e lower porton o! #s ear. antl tred to run but #e was a%an !red upon b" dlberto. +#ou%# antl was able to see re!u%e n t#e #ouse o! a certan Domn%o Gome:, Norberto r. ordered #s men to surround t#e #ouse so t#at antl would de o! #emorr#a%e. ?oments later, w#le Deocades was !eedn% #s swne, dlberto strewed #m wt# a burst o! %un!re !rom #s ?-14 Armalte. Deocades cowered n !ear as #e nelt wt# bot# #ands clenc#ed at t#e bac o! #s #ead. +#s a%an drew bosterous lau%#ter and rdcule !rom t#e dreaded desperados. At *'' o3cloc, r. +ulo a(al arr(ed at Mm.1&* on board #s motorc"cle. Fe entered t#e #ouse o! Gome:. #le nsde, Norberto, r., and #s coaccused $le@a%o towed t#e motorc"cle outsde to t#e center o! t#e #%#wa". Norberto, r., opened t#e %asolne tan, splled some !uel, lt a !re and burned t#e motorc"cle. As t#e (e#cle was abla:e, t#e !elons ra(ed and re0oced. pon seen% #s motorc"cle on !re, r. a(al accosted Norberto, r. ut t#e latter smpl" stepped bacwards and eecuted a t#umbs-down s%nal. At t#s pont, dlberto ased t#e prest OAno an% %usto mo, padre ;#at s t "ou want, at#er<2 Gusto mo, at#er, buon o an% ulo mo ;Do "ou want me, at#er, to brea "our #e ad<2O +#erea!ter, n a !las#, dlberto !red at t#e #ead o! t#e prest. As r. a(al dropped to t#e %round, #s #ands clasped a%anst #s c#est, Norberto, r., taunted dlberto ! t#at was t#e onl" wa" #e new to ll a prest. )l%#ted o(er t#e remar, dlberto 0umped o(er t#e prostrate bod" t#ree ;< tmes, ced t twce, and !red anew. +#e burst o! %un!re (rtuall" s#attered t#e #ead o! r. a(al, causn% #s bran to scatter on t#e road. As Norberto, r., !launted t#e bran to t#e terr!ed onlooers, #s brot#ers danced and san% O?ut"a Ma alelen%O to t#e del%#t o! t#er comrades-n-arms w#o now too %uarded postons to solate t#e (ctm !rom possble assstance. rom t#s 0ud%ment o! con(cton onl" accused )e(erno Lnes, Rud" Lnes, !ren $le@a%o and Ro%er eda@o appealed wt# respect to t#e cases !or ?urder and Attempted ?urder. +#e ?anero
brot#ers as well as Rodr%o spa dd not appeal= net#er dd Norberto ?anero, r., n t#e Arson case. onse>uentl", t#e decson as a%anst t#em alread" became !nal.
5ssue #et#er or not t#e appellants can be eculpated !rom crmnal lablt" on t#e bass o! de!ense o! alb w#c# would establs# t#at t#ere s no consprac" to ll.
Feld +#e court dd not apprecate t#e de!ense o! alb o! t#e Lnes brot#er, w#o accordn% to t#em, were n a !arm some one lometer awa" !rom t#e crme scene. +#e court #eld t#a t P5t s aomatc t#at t#e accused nterposn% t#e de!ense o! alb must not onl" be at some ot#er place but t#at t must also be p#"scall" mpossble !or #m to be at t#e scene o! t#e crme at t#e tme o! ts commsson.‖ +#ere s no p#"scal mpossblt" w#ere t#e accused can be at t#e crme scene n a matter o! 1*-&' mnutes b" 0eep or trc"cle. ?ore mportant, t s well-settled t#at t#e de!ense o! alb cannot pre(al o(er t#e post(e dent!caton o! t#e aut#ors o! t#e crme b" t#e prosecuton wtnesses. 5n t#s case, t#ere were two e"ewtnesses w#o post(el" dent!ed t#e accused. ontrar" to t#e clam o! t#e Lnes brot#ers, t#ere s a communt" o! des%n to commt t#e crme. ased on t#e !ndn%s o! t#e lower court, t#e" are not merel" nnocent b"standers but n !act were (tal co%s n t#e murder o! r. u(al. +#e" per!ormed o(ert acts to ensure t#e success o! t#e commsson o! t#e crmes and t#e !urt#erance o! t#e ams o! t#e consprac". #le accused-appellants ma" not #a(e del(ered t#e !atal s#ots t#emsel(es, t#er collect(e acton s#owed a common ntent to commt t#e crmnal acts. +#ere s consprac" w#en two or more persons come to an a%reement to commt a crme and decde to commt t. 5t s not essental t#at all t#e accused commt to%et#er ea c# and e(er" act consttut(e o! t#e o!!ense. 5t s enou%# t#at an accused partcpates n an act or deed w#ere t#ere s sn%ulart" o! purpose, and unt" n ts eecuton s present. #le t ma" be true t#at r. a(al was not or%nall" t#e ntended (ctm, as t was r. $eter Geremas w#om t#e %roup tar%eted !or t#e ll, ne(ert#eless, r. a(al was deemed a %ood substtute n t#e murder as #e was an 5talan prest. +#e accused a%reed t#at n case t#e" !al to ll t#e ntended (ctms, t wll be su!!ce to ll anot#er prest as lon% as t#e person s also 5talan prest
$$L E. NLAGADA 89 )RA &&4
acts n anuar" &7, 1989 at around 9'' n t#e e(enn% Danlo Laurel le!t #s #ouse to%et#er wt# dwn )elda, a (stor !rom acolod t", to attend a publc dance at Ne%ros ccdental. A!ter two #ours, Danlo ased dwn to tae a s#ort brea !rom dancn% to attend to t#er personal necesstes outsde t#e dance #all. nce outsde, t#e" decded to #a(e a drn and bou%#t beer.
Not lon% a!ter, Danlo, #al!wa" on #s !rst bottle, le!t to loo !or a place to rele(e #msel!. Accordn% to dwn, #e was onl" about t#ree meters !rom Danlo w#o was rele(n% # msel! w#en a s#ort, dar bearded man waled past #m, approac#ed Danlo and stabbed #m at t#e sde. Danlo retalated b" strn% #s assalant wt# #al!- !lled bottle o! beer. Almost smultaneousl", a %roup o! men numbern% o! se(en ;7<, %an%ed up on Danlo and #t #m wt# assorted weapons. dwn, w#o was petr!ed, could o nl" watc# #elplessl" as Danlo was ben% mauled and o(erpowered b" #s assalants. Danlo !ell to t#e %round and ded be!ore #e could be %(en medcal attenton.
dwn )elda con!rmed t#e dentt" o! t#e suspect w#o was t#en n t#e custod" o! t#e polce. +#ereat, #e eecuted an a!!da(t and a!!rmed be!ore t#e polce aut#ortes, t#at t#e man under detenton, Anecto nla%ada, was t#e same man w#o stabbed #s !rend Danlo. +#e accused assals #s con(cton.
5ssue #et#er or not t#e tral court erred n !ndn% nla%ada %ult" o! murder nstead o! tumultuous a!!ra" under Art. &*1 o! t#e Re(sed $enal ode2
Feld asc s t#e rule t#at t#e de!ense o! alb s#ould be re0ected w#en t#e dentt" o! t#e accused #as been su!!centl" and post(el" establs#ed b" an e"ewtness because alb cannot pre(al o(er t#e post(e dent!caton.
A tumultuous a!!ra" taes place w#en a >uarrel occurs between se(eral persons w#o en%a%e n a con!used and tumultuous manner, n t#e course o! w#c# a person s lled or wounded and t#e
aut#or t#ereo! cannot be ascertaned. +#e >uarrel n t#e nstant case s between a dstnct %roup o! nd(duals, one o! w#om was su!!centl" dent!ed as t#e prncpal aut#or o! t#e lln%, as a%anst a common, partcular (ctm. 5t s not, as t#e de!ense su%%ests, a Btumultuous a!!ra"C wt#n t#e meann% o! Art. &*1 o! +#e Re(sed $enal ode, t#at s, a melee or !ree- !or- all, w#ere se(eral persons not comprsn% de!nte or dent!able %roups attac one anot#er n a con!used and dsor%an:ed manner, resultn% n t#e deat# or n0ur" o! one or some o! t#em. Eerl", t#e attac was >ual!ed b" treac#er". +#e deceased was rele(n% #msel!, !ull" unaware o! an" dan%er to #s person w#en suddenl" t#e accused waled past wtness dwn )elda, approac#ed t#e (ctm and stabbed #m at t#e sde. +#ere was #ardl" an " rs at all to accusedappellant= t#e attac was completel" wt#out warnn%, t#e (ctm was cau%#t b" surprse, and %(en no c#ance to put up an" de!ense. #ere!ore, t#e decson o! con(cton appealed !rom s a!!rmed.
$$L E) ?ARA?ARA 17 )RA &&&
acts +#e e(dence s#ows t#at a bene!t dance sponsored b" t#e alp lementar" )c#ool $+A o! w#c# accused- appellant s t#e presdent, was #e ld n t#e "ard o! accused- appellants #ouse n r%". alp, la(era ?asbate n t#e e(enn% o! No(ember 18, 1991. At about 1& mdn%#t, w#le Rcardo Donato was dancn% wt# certan Rowena Del Rosaro, one Dante Arce, a !rend o! t#e accused- appellant, approac#ed Rcardo Donato and boed #m on t#e c#est. r%#tened, Rowena ran awa" w#le Rcardo Donato scampered toward t#e !ence !or sa!et". ?%uelto Donato was about two meters awa" !rom w#ere Rcardo sta"ed at t#e !ence. Not !or lon%, accused- appellant too #s #and- %un tuced n #s wast and !red at t#e (ctm ?%uelto Donato, #ttn% t#e latter at t#e le!t breast. Rcardo Donato tred to #elp #s !allen brot#er ?%uelto but somebod" struc Rcardos #ead wt# an ron bar w#c# noced #m out !or about mnutes. #en Rcardo re%aned conscousness, #e #urred #ome and n!ormed #s parents o! w#at #appened.
+#er !at#er mmedatel" went to t#e crme scene and rus#ed ?%uelto to t#e $o Duran Fosptal w#ere t#e latter ded earl" n t#e mornn% o! t#e net da". e!ore ?%uelto epred, Re%arder Donato, t#e !at#er, ased w#o s#ot #m and ?%uelto repled t#at t was accused- appellant.
+#e autops" report re(ealed t#at asde !rom %uns#ot, t#e bod" o! ?%uelto bore lacerated wounds. +#at t#e wounds could #a(e n!lcted b" more t#an two persons.
+#e tral court ruled a%anst t#e accused- appellant and was #eld %ult" be"ond reasonable doubt o! murder.
5ssue #et#er or not ?aramara s#ould be #eld lable !or tumultuous a!!ra" nstead o! murder2
Feld +#ere s no mert n t#e accused- appellants poston t#at #e s#ould be #eld lable onl" !or deat# caused n a tumultuous a!!ra" under Artcle &*1 o! t#e Re(sed $enal ode. 5t was n suc# stuaton t#at accused came at t#e scene and 0oned t#e !ra" purportedl" to pac!" t#e prota%onsts
w#en ?%uelto attaced #m causn% !our ;4< stab wounds n d!!erent parts o! #s bod"- two on t#e stomac#, one on t#e le!t npple, and one on t#e le!t arm. +#en accused- appellant wt# #s #and- %un s#ot ?%uelto.
Assumn% t#at a rumble or a !ree- !or- all !%#t occurred at t#e bene!t dance, Artcle &*1 o! t#e Re(sed $enal ode cannot appl" because prosecuton wtness Rcardo and Re%arder Donato post(el" dent!ed accused- appellant as ?%ueltos ller.
#le accused- appellant #msel! su!!ered multple stab wounds w#c#, at !rst blus#, ma" lend (ert" to #s clam t#at a rumble ensued and t#at (ctm ?%uelto n!lcted upon #m t#ese wounds, t#e e(dence s ade>uate to consder t#em as a mt%atn% crcumstance because t#e de!enses (erson stands dscredted n l%#t o! t#e more credble (erson o! t#e prosecuton as to t#e crcumstances surroundn% ?%ueltos deat#.
#ere!ore, t#e ourt mod!es t#e 0ud%ment appealed !rom. +#e o urt !nds resencano ?aramara %ult" be"ond reasonable doubt o! #omcde.
)5)N E). $$L &*' )RA *8
acts
+enson and anmost" between or" lo"alsts and ?arcos lo"alsts broe nto (olence. n ul" &7, 198, t resulted n t#e murder o! )tep#en )alcedo, a nown Bor"sta.C
+#e prosecuton establs#ed t#at on ul" &7, 1986, a rall" was sc#eduled to be #eld at t#e Luneta b" t#e ?arcos lo"alst. +#e" appled a permt to #old a rall" but t was dened. Despte t#s setbac, t#ree t#ousand %at#ered at t#e R:al ?onument led b" l(er Lo:ano and en0amn Nue%a. No tcet could be produced. olonel Dula +orres %a(e t#em ten mnutes to dsperse. Att". Lo:ano turned towards #s %roup and sad B%ulp#n nn"o an% la#at n% m%a or" n!ltrators.C +#e polce pus#ed t#e crowds and used tear %a s to dsperse t#em.
At about 4'' pm, a small %roup o! lo"alsts con(er%ed at t#e #nese Garden. Anne errer was t#ere and t#e" n!ormed #er o! t#e dspersal and errer an%rl" ordered t#em B%ulp#n nn"o an% m%a or" #eclersQC A !ew mnutes later, s#e was arrested b" t#e polce. )omebod" t#en s#outed Balan%an %umant ta"o n%a"onQC a commoton ensued and Renato anculo, c%arette (endor, saw t#e lo"alsts attacn% t#e persons n "ellow. +#e man n "ellow t- s#rt was )alcedo and #s pursuers appeared to be ?arcos lo"alsts. +#a" cau%#t )alcedo and boed and ced and mauled #m. Fe was #t on (arous parts o! #s bod". )umlan% tred to pac!" t#e maulers so #e could etrcate )alcedo !rom t#em but t#e maulers pursued )alcedo. )umlan% was able to tow )alcedo but llosos emer%ed !rom be#nd )umlan% as anot#er man boed )alcedo on t#e #ead. De Los )antas, +an boed )alcedo w#le $acadar. +ama"o boed )alcedo on t#e le!t 0aw, )son repeatedl" boed #m.
)alcedo mana%ed to %et awa" but accused +an, $acadar pursued #m, mauln% )umlan% n t#e process. )alcedo plead!ed !or #s l!e. +#e mauln% resumed at t#e R:al monument and contnued alon% Roas oule(ard untl )alcedo collapJsed and lost conscousness. )umlan% wt# a #elp o! tra!!c en!orcer brou%#t )alcedo to ?edcal enter ?anla but was re!used admsson. )o t#e" too #m to $GF w#ere #e ded upon arr(al.
+#e tral court rendered decson !ndn% Romeo ) son, Nlo $acadar, oel +an, Rc#ard De Los )antos and oselto +ama"o %ult" as prncpals n t#e crme o! murder >ual!ed b" treac#er". errer was con(cted as an accomplce.
+#e ourt o! Appeals mod!ed t#e decson o! t#e tral court b" ac>uttn% errer but ncreasn% t#e penalt" o! t#e rest o! t#e accused ecept !or +ama"o. +#e court con(cts +ama"o o! #omcde.
5ssue #et#er or not t#e ourt o! Appeals erred n !ndn% t#at t#e crme commtted s murder and not deat# caused n a tumultuous a!!ra"2
Feld or Artcle &*1 o! t#e Re(sed $enal ode to appl"= t must be establs#ed t#at ;1< t#ere be se(eral persons= ;&< t#at t#e" dd not compose %roups or%an:ed !or t#e common purpose o! assaultn% and attacn% eac# ot#er recprocall"= ;< t#ese se(eral persons >uarreled and assaulted one anot#er n a con!used and tumultuous manner=;4< someone was lled n t#e course o! t#e a!!ra"= ;*< t cannot be ascertaned w#o actuall" lled t#e deceased= and ;6< t#at t#e person or persons w#o n!lcted serous p#"scal n0ures or w#o used (olence be can be dent!ed.
A tumultuous a!!ra" taes place w#en a >uarrel occurs between se(eral persons and t#e" en%a%e n a con!used and tumultuous a!!ra", n t#e course o! w#c# some person s lled or wounded and t#e aut#or t#ereo! cannot be ascertaned.
+#e >uarrel n t#e nstant case, ! t can be called a >uarrel, was between one dstnct %roup and one nd(dual. on!uson ma" #a(e occurred because o! t#e polce dspersal o! t#e rall"sts, but t#s con!uson subsded e(entuall" a!ter t#e lo"alsts !led to ?ara rosa )treet. 5t was onl" a w#le later a!ter sad dspersal t#at one dstnct %roup dent!ed as lo"alsts pced on one de!enseless nd(dual and attaced #m repeatedl", tan% turns n n!lctn% punc#es, cs and blows on #m. +#ere was no con!uson and tumultuous >uarrel or a!!ra", nor was t#ere a recprocal a%%resson at t#s sta%e o! t#e ncdent.
As t#e lower courts !ound, t#e (ctms assalants were numerous b" as muc# as !!t" n number and were armed wt# stones wt# w#c# t#e" #t t#e (ctm. +#e" too ad(anta%e o! t#er superor stren%t# and ecess(e !orce and !rustrated an" attempt b" )alcedo to escape and !ree #msel!.
)alcedo pleaded !or merc" but t#e" %nored #s pleas untl #e !nall" lost unco nscousness. +#e delberate and prolon%ed use o! superor stren%t# on a de!enseless (ctm >ual!es t#e lln% o! murder.
#ere!ore, t#e decson appealed !rom s a!!rmed and mod!ed.
DAD E. $$L 9& )RA 46
acts
n ?a" &*, 199&, n order to ntercept cattle rustlers !rom aran%a" La%undn%, )ultan Mudarat, t#e speran:a, )ultan Mudarat $olce )taton !ormed t#ree teams, w#c# composed o! pettoner )$4 Geromno Dado and AG members rancsco raso, Al!redo alnas, and Ru!o Al%a. Al!redo alnas and Ru!o Al%a were bot# armed wt# ?14 armalte r!les, w#le pettoner was armed wt# a calber .4* pstol and accused rancsco raso was carr"n% an ?16 armalte r!le. +#e team saw somebod" approac#n% w#o was #al!-naed. #en #e was about * meters awa" !rom t#e team, alnas told raso to wat, but be!ore alnas could beam #s !las# l%#t, raso !red #s ?16 armalte r!le at t#e approac#n% man. +#erea!ter, pettoner !red a sn%le s#ot !rom #s .4* calber pstol. $ettoner admtted t#at w#en #e #eard t#e rapd %un burst, #e dd not turn to !ace t#e source t#ereo! and nstead !red #s .4* calber pstol n !ront o! #m purposel" to demoral:e t#er enem".
+#e (ctm turned out to be )l(estre Outso"O alnas, t#e nep#ew o! Al!redo alnas and not t#e cattle rustler t#e team were ordered to ntercept. Accused raso embraced Al!redo alnas and told #m t#at t was not ntentonall" done and t was merel" an accdent. )l(estre alnas ded as a result o! t#e %uns#ot wounds #e sustaned.
Dr. R#odora +. Antenor, w#o conducted t#e post-mortem eamnaton on t#e cada(er o! )l(estre alnas test!ed t#at t#e !atal wound t#at caused t#e deat# o! t#e (ctm was t#e one n!lcted on t#e md-nner t#%#. +#e bullet perced t#rou%# and n0ured t#e or%ans n t#e pel(c re%on w#ere s#e !ound t#ree rre%ularl" s#aped metallc !ra%ments. )#e added t#at t#e poston o! t#e (ctm at t#at tme o! t#e s#ootn% was #%#er t#an t#e assalant consdern% t#at t#e tra0ector" o! t#e bullets was upwards.
pon eamnaton b" N5 allstcan lmer Nelson D. $edad, t#e t#ree metallc !ra%ments reco(ered !rom t#e !atal wound o! t#e (ctm turned out to be !ra%ments o! a *.*6 mm 0aceted bullet. Fowe(er, on cross-eamnaton, #e declared t#at #e s not sure w#et#er t#e & ot#er metallc !ra%ments reco(ered !rom t#e !atal wound o! t#e (ctm are ndeed parts o! a copper 0acet o! a calber *.*6 mm. 0aceted bullet.
+#e tral court con(cted pettoner and accused raso o! t#e crme o! #omcde w#c# was a!!rmed b" t#e ourt o! Appeals. Accused raso !led a $etton !or Re(ew but was dened b" A= on t#e ot#er #and pettoner, !led t#s petton.
5ssue #et#er or not t#e tral court and t#e ourt o! Appeals erred n !ndn% t#e pettoner %ult" o! #omcde.
Feld +#e ourt sustans t#e !ndn% o! t#e tral court t#at pettoner !red #s .4* calber pstol towards t#e (ctm. Fowe(er, t appears t#at t#ere s no e(dence to pro(e t#at pettoner #ad ntent to ll t#e (ctm. +#e prosecuton wtnesses dd not see w#et#er pettoner amed to ll t#e (ctm. 5ntent to ll cannot be automatcall" drawn !rom t#e mere !act t#at t#e use o! !rearms s dan%erous to l!e. 5ntent to ll must be establs#ed wt# t#e same de%ree o! certant" as s re>ured o! t#e ot#er elements o! t#e crme. +#e n!erence o! ntent to ll s#ould not be drawn n t#e absence o! crcumstances su!!cent to pro(e suc# ntent be"ond reasonable doubt.
Absent an ntent to ll n !rn% t#e %un towards t#e (ctm, pettoner s#ould be #eld lable !or t#e crme o! lle%al dsc#ar%e o! !rearm under Artcle &*4 o! t#e Re(sed $enal ode. +#e elements o! t#s crme are ;1< t#at t#e o!!ender dsc#ar%es a !rearm a%anst or at anot#er p erson= and ;&< t#at t#e o!!ender #as no ntenton to ll t#at person. +#e Decson o! t#e ourt o! Appeals n a!!rmn% t#e con(cton o! pettoner !or t#e crme o! #omcde s set asde and pettoner s ac>utted o! t#e crme c#ar%ed on t#e %round o! reasonable doubt.
Fowe(er, pettoner Geronmo Dado s %ult" o! t#e crme o! lle%al dsc#ar%e o! !rearm.
$$L E. )ALRAN5A 89 )RA &&4
acts lomeno )alu!rana b" bon% and stran%ln% ?AR5ANA AH-)ALRAN5A, #s law!ull" wedded w!e and w#o was at t#e tme 8 mont#s on t#e !aml" wa", caused upon #er n0ures resultn% n #er nstantaneous deat# and t#e d eat# o! t#e c#ld w#o was stll n ts maternal womb. +#us lomeno was c#ar%ed wt# t#e comple crme o! parrcde wt# ntentonal aborton commtted. +#e lower court !ound lomeno %ult" as c#ar%ed and was sentenced to su!!er t#e penalt" o! deat#. Fence, t#e automatc re(ew o! t#e case b" t#e )upreme ourt. lomeno alle%es t#at t#e tral court erred n !ndn% #m %ult" o! t#e comple crme o! parrcde wt# ntentonal aborton, as t#ere s no e(dence to s#ow t#at #e #ad t#e ntenton to cause an aborton.
5ssue #et#er or not t#e con(cton o! t#e accused !or t#e comple crme o! parrcde wt# ntentonal aborton s proper2
Feld No. lomeno )alu!rana s#ould not be #eld %ult" o! t#e comple crme o! parrcde wt# ntentonal aborton but o! t#e comple crme o! parrcde wt# unntentonal aborton. +#e elements o! nntentonal Aborton are as !ollows 1. +#at t#ere s a pre%nant woman. &. +#at (olence s used upon suc# pre%nant woman wt#out ntendn% an aborton. . +#at t#e (olence s ntentonall" eerted. 4. +#at as a result o! t#e (olence t#e !etus des, et#er n t#e womb or a!ter #a(n% been epelled t#ere!rom. 5t #as been clearl" establs#ed ;a< t#at ?arcana Abu"o was se(en ;7< to e%#t ;8< mont#s pre%nant w#en s#e was lled= ;b< t#at (olence was (oluntarl" eerted upon #er b" #er #usband lomeno= and ;c< t#at, as a result o! sad (olence, ?arcana Abu"o ded to%et#er wt# t#e !etus n #er womb. +#e aborton was caused b" t#e same (olence t#at caused t#e deat# o! t#e w!e, ?arcana Abu"o, suc# (olence ben% (oluntarl" eerted b" lomeno upon #er. Fowe(er, t#e ntent to cause t#e aborton #as not been su!!centl" establs#ed. ?ere bon% on t#e stomac#, taen to%et#er wt# t#e mmedate stran%ln% o! t#e (ctm n a !%#t, s not su!!cent proo! to
s#ow ntent to cause an aborton. 5n !act, lomeno must #a(e merel" ntended to ll #s w!e but not necessarl" to cause an aborton.
$$L E. GNE) 61 $F5L. 8&
acts )oledad R(era tred to tae bac b" !orce !rom Geno(es a "oe o! a plow s#e clams s#e owned. Geno(es #owe(er, repeatedl" struc )oledad wt# #s !st causn% #er to !all to t#e %round se(eral tmes. Durn% w#c# tme, )oledad was #ea(" wt# c#ld. )oledad b" suc# !all su!!ered pans n t#e abdomen. Accordn% to testmon" deceased was n %ood #ealt# t#e da" be!ore. rom t#e tme o! t#e ncdent t#ere was #emorr#a%e and pan, w#c# were s"mptoms o! premature del(er". )oledad remaned n sad condton !or da"s untl t culmnated n t#e pan!ul and d!!cult premature del(er" o! one o! t#e twn bab es t#at s#e wa" carr"n%, but t#e ot#er bab" could not be del(ered. )oledad and bot# babes ded. Geno(es was t#en c#ar%ed and con(cted b" 5 ccdental Ne%ros o! t#e comple crme o! #omcde wt# aborton.
5ssue #et#er or not t#e con(cton o! t#e comple crme o! #omcde wt# aborton s proper2
Feld No, t#e aborton n t#s case s unntentonal aborton denounced b" artcle &*7 o! t#e Re(sed $enal ode. 5t s %enerall" nown t#at a !all s lable to cause premature del(er", and t#e e(dence s#ows a complete se>uel o! e(ents !rom t#e assault to )oledads deat#. Geno(es must be #eld responsble !or t#e natural conse>uences o! #s act.
AG5RR E) )R+ARH )+5 G.R. N. 17'7&
A+) n une 11,&''& pettoner Glora A%urre nsttuted a crmnal co mplant !or t#e (olaton o! Re(sed $enal ode partcularl" Artcles 17& and &6&, bot# n relaton to Republc Act No.761' a%anst respondents $edro A%urre, londr:, Dr. A%atep, Dr. $ascual and se(eral o#n/ane Doe alle%n% t#at o#n/ane Doe upon t#e apparent nstructons o! respondents ?c#elna A%urrelondr: and $edro A%urre actuall" scouted, prospected, !acltated solcted and/or procured t#e medcal ser(ces o! respondents Dr. $ascual and Dr. A%atep on t#e ntended mutlaton (a blateral (asectom" o! Laureano A%urre. londr: dened t#at t#e prospected, scouted, !acltated, solcted and/or procured an" !alse statement mutlated or abused #s co mmon law brot#er, Laureano A%urre. )#e !urt#er contends t#at #s common law brot#er went t#rou%# a (asectom" procedure but t#at does not amount to mutlaton. Dr. A%atep contends t#at t#e complanant #as no le%al personalt" to !le a case snce s#e s onl" a common law sster o! Larr" w#o #as a le%al %uardan n t#e person o! $edro A%urre. Fe !urt#er contends t#at Easectom" does not n an" wa" e>uate to castraton and w#at s touc#ed n (asectom" s not consdered an or%an n t#e contet o! law and medcne.+#e Assstant t" $rosecutor #eld t#at t#e !acts alle%ed dd not amount to mutlaton, t#e (asectom" operaton dd not depr(ed Larr" o! #s reproduc t(e or%an. Glora A%urre t#en appealed to t#e )ecretar" o! t#e D but #e! )tate $rosecutor dsmssed t#e petton statn% t#at t#e )ecretar" o! ustce ma" motu propo dsmss outr%#t t#e petton ! t#ere s no s#own% o! an" re(ersble error n t#e >uestoned resoluton.
5)) #et#er or not t#e respondents are lable !or t#e crme o! mutlaton
Feld No, t#e court #eld t#at Artcle &6& o! t#e Re(sed $enal ode pro(des t#at Art. &6&. ?utlaton. B+#e penalt" o! recluson temporal to recluson perpetua s#all be mposed upon an" person w#o s#all ntentonall" mutlate anot#er b" depr(n% #m, et#er totall" or partall", o! some essental or%an !or reproducton.C An" ot#er ntentonal mutlaton s#all be puns#ed b " prson ma"or n ts medum and mamum perods. A stra%#t!orward scrutn" o! t#e abo(e pro(son s#ows t#at t#e elements o! mutlaton under t#e !rst para%rap# o! Art. &6& o! t#e Re(sed $enal ode to be 1< t#at t#ere be a castraton, t#at s, mutlaton o! or%ans necessar" !or %eneraton= and &< t#at t#e mutlaton s caused purposel" and
delberatel", t#at s, to depr(e t#e o!!ended part" o! some essental or%an !or reproducton. Accordn% to t#e publc prosecutor, t#e !acts alle%ed dd not amount to t#e crme o! mutlaton as de!ned and penal:ed abo(e, .e., t#e (asectom" operaton dd not n an" wa" depr(ed ;sc< Larr" o! #s reproduct(e or%an, w#c# s stll (er" muc# part o ! #s p#"scal sel!.
L5 E. $$L AND A 4&7 )RA &17
acts $ettoner L was c#ar%ed be!ore t#e R+ o! ?aat wt# t#e crme o! #omcde !or t#e deat# o! #rstop#er Aru%a". +#e prosecuton alle%ed t#at Aru%a" was watc#n% tele(son at #ome wt# #s ssters rst" and ab" ane, #s %rl!rend dela amara and ab" anes bo"!rend, +an. +#e" suddenl" #eard a nose outsde. $eern% t#rou%# t#e wndow, t#e" saw L and a certan duardo )an%alan% tan% a bat# completel" naed. +#e two were !acn% t#e #ouse o! t#e Aru%a"s. nra%ed, t#e deceased s#outed somet#n% to L and )an%alan%. +#en pettoner L s#outed bac. An ncensed Aru%a" went out t#e #ouse w#ere #e was met b " pettoner carr"n% a baseball bat. L struc Aru%a" on t#e #ead wt# t#e bat, causn% Aru%a" to !all. L ran bac to #s #ouse. +#e wtnesses +an and dela amara asssted Aru%a" and were tr"n% to dra% #m bac to #s #ouse w#en L re-emer%ed, t#s tme wt# a n!e. L t#en stabbed Aru%a" once. 5mmedatel" t#erea!ter, t#e" were able to see )an%alan% stab Aru%a" at least once. $ettoner L denes lln% Aru%a". Fe contends t#at #e # t !rst wt# a baseball bat #rstop#er Aru%a" #ttn% t#e latter not on t#e #ead but at t#e r%#t arm w#c# s near t#e s#oulder. +#e deceased w#o s armed wt# a bolo, retalated b" #acn% L on t#e #ead, causn% #m to lose #s #old on t#e baseball bat and !ell sem-unconscous or unconscous. 5n suc# a condton, t s #%#l" mprobable t#at #e was capable o! n!lctn% t#e !atal stab wounds on Aru%a".
A!ter tral, #e was !ound %ult" and sentenced to t#e penalt" o! e%#t ;8< "ears and one ;1< da" o! $rson ?a"or to !ourteen ;14< "ears, e%#t ;8< mont#s and one ;1< da" o! Recluson +emporal. Fs con(cton was a!!rmed b" t#e ourt o! Appeals. A%%re(ed, L !led a petton !or re(ew, seen% t#e re(ersal o! #s con(cton !or t#e c rme o! #omcde.
5ssue #et#er or not pettoner s#ould be con(cted !or t#e crme o! sl%#t p#"scal n0ur" nstead o! #omcde2
Feld +#e )upreme ourt ruled n t#e a!!rmat(e. 5t ruled t#at t#e onl" n0ur" attrbutable to L s t#e contuson on t#e (ctms r%#t arm t#at resulted !rom L strn% Aru%a" wt# a baseball bat. 5n (ew o! t#e (ctms super(enn% deat# !rom n0ures w#c# cannot be attrbuted to L be"ond reasonable doubt, t#e e!!ects o! t#e contuson caused b" L are not mortal or at least le entrel"
n t#e realm o! speculaton. #en t#ere s no e(dence o! actual ncapact" o! t#e o!!ended part" !or labor or o! t#e re>ured medcal attendance, t#e o!!ense s onl" sl%#t p#"scal n0ures. #at transpred durn% t#e dawn #ours o! was an artless, spontaneous street !%#t de(od o! an" met#odcal plan !or consummaton. 5t arose not because o! an" lon%-standn% %rud%e or an apprecable (ndcaton o! #onor, but because t#e actors were too >uc to o!!ense and mper(ous to reason. Het, #owe(er senseless t#s let#al mbro%lo s, a 0udcous eamnaton o! t#e crcumstances must be made to a(od leaps nto #"perbole. are!ul scrutn" o! t#e e(denc e re(eals t#at t#e crmnal culpablt" o! L n t#e deat# o! Aru%a" was not establs#ed be"ond reasonable doubt. n!ortunatel", t#e person w#o s responsble !or t#e deat# apparentl" remans at lar%e.
$$L E. GA 41 )RA *4
acts At around &'' a.m. o! Au%ust 1', 1998, 5%naco and #s w!e were awaened b" t#e loud ban%n% o! corru%ated G5 s#eet comn% !rom t#e barracs o! #s co-constructon worer w#c# was about meters awa". 5%naco and #s w!e proceeded n #aste to n(est%ate but t#e" were surprsed and dsarra"ed to see #s co-worer, #eren appellant, naed on top o! t#er dau%#ter, 5rene, w#o was also naed.
5rene test!ed t#at at around 1''' p.m. o! Au%ust 9, 1999, t#e appellant summoned #er to #s barracs. +#nn% #e #ad t#e usual errand !or #er s#e approac#ed #m. Fowe(er, appellant suddenl" pulled #er and lad #er on a wooden bed ;papa%<. +#e appellant t#en too o!! #er pants and pant", as well as #s clot#es. Fe nserted #s pens nto #er (a%na. 5t was onl" at around &'' a.m. t#at s#e was able to !nall" c t#e %al(an:ed ron s#eet t#at enclosed t#e appellants barracs. Appellant dd not den" t#at #e #ad se(eral ntercourse wt# 5rene but nterposed Bsweet#eart stor"C.
5ssue #et#er or not !orce and ntmdaton are attendant n t#s case2
Feld Net#er was ntmdaton emplo"ed a%anst #er. (en ! s#e was pulled down to t#e bed, s#e was not t#reatened wt# bodl" or p#"scal #arm b" a n!e, bolo or an" ob0ect or nstrument t#at t#e appellant could #a(e emplo"ed so as Bto create a real appre#enson o! dan%erous conse>uences or serous bodl" #armC. 5renes o(erall deportment durn% #er ordeal de!es compre#enson and t#e reasonable standard o! #uman conduct w#en !aced wt# a smlar stuaton. 5t s unnatural !or an ntended rape (ctm, as n t#e case at bar, not to mae e(en a !eeble attempt to !ree #ersel! despte a m"rad o! opportuntes to do so. +#s constraned us to entertan a reasonable doubt on t#e %ult o! t#e appellant.
$$L E) AG)AAH 4' )RA 4*'
acts on or about ul" 1*, 1997, at aran%a" ?aloat, muncpalt" o! $o:orrubo, pro(nce o! $an%asnan, and wt#n t#e 0ursdcton o! t#s Fonorable ou rt, t#e abo(e-named accused, armed wt# a bolo wt# ntent to #a(e seual ntercourse wt# #s own dau%#ter, osep#ne errer A%saoa", b" means o! !orce and ntmdaton, dd t#en and t#ere wll!ull", unlaw!ull" and !elonousl" #a(e seual ntercourse wt# )$F5N AG)AAH, a 17 "ears old mnor and accuseds own dau%#ter, a%anst #er wll and wt#out #er consent, to t#e dama%e and pre0udce o! sad osep#ne . A%saoa". urt#ermore, t#e (ctm was a%an raped b" t#e accused & da"s a!ter usn% a bolo to scare and t#reaten t#e sad (ctm.
5ssue #et#er or not t#e accused s %ult" o! rape >ual!ed b" relatons#p and mnort".
Feld Hes.+#e %ra(amen o! t#e o!!ense o! rape s seual ntercourse wt# a woman a%anst #er wll or wt#out #er consent.* onse>uentl", !or t#e c#ar%e o! rape to prosper, t#e prosecuton must pro(e t#at ;1< t#e o!!ender #ad carnal nowled%e o! a woman and ;&< #e accompls#ed suc# act t#rou%# !orce or ntmdaton, or w#en s#e s d epr(ed o! reason or ot#erwse unconscous, or w#en s#e s under 1& "ears o! a%e or s demented.
+#e sole mportant ssue n a rape case s t#e credblt" o! t#e (ctms testmon", n (ew o! ts nature n w#c# onl" two persons are normall" n(ol(ed. Fence, n ad0udcatn% suc# ssue, 0ursprudence #as establs#ed t#e !ollown% %udelnes ;1< t#e (ctms testmon" must be scrutn:ed wt# etreme cauton snce an accusaton o! rape can be made wt# !aclt", but d!!cult !or t#e accused to dspro(e t= and ;&< w#en #er testmon" meets t#e test o! credblt", t#e accused ma" be con(cted solel" on t#e bass t#ereo!.
5n t#e case at bar, we !nd osep#nes account o! #er ordeal n t#e #ands o! appellant !ort#r%#t and credble.
FRR, t#e appealed Decson dated No(ember &8, 1997 o! t#e Re%onal +ral ourt, ranc# 46, rdaneta $an%asnan, n rmnal ases Nos. -9& and -9, !ndn% ap pellant )anta%o A%saoa", r. %ult" o! t#e crmes o! >ual!ed rape and sentencn% #m to su!!er t#e penalt" o! DA+F n eac# case, s #ereb" A5R?D wt# ?D55A+5N n t#e sense t#at #e s ordered to pa" t#e amount o! $7*,'''.'' as c(l ndemnt" and $7*,'''.'' as moral dama%es n eac# case. Addtonall", appellant s ordered to pa" $&*,'''.'' as eemplar" dama%es n rmnal ase No. -9&.
$$L E) AL)) 69 )RA 179
acts +#e accused-appellant, Romeo G. alos0os s a !ull-!led%ed member o! on%ress w#o s now con!ned at t#e natonal pententar" w#le #s con(cton !or statutor" rape on two counts and acts o! lasc(ousness on s counts s pendn% appea l. +#e accused-appellant !led t#s moton asn% t#at #e be allowed to !ull" dsc#ar%e t#e dutes o! a on%ressman, ncludn% attendance at le%slat(e sessons and commttee meetn%s despte #s #a(n% been con(cted n t#e !rst nstance o! a non-balable o!!ense. 5ssue #et#er or not ben% a on%ressman s a substantal d!!erentaton w#c# remo(es t#e accusedappellant as a prsoner !rom t#e same class as all persons (aldl" con!ned under law b" reason o! t#e Bmandate o! t#e so(ere%n wllC.
Feld N. #le t#e onsttuton %uarantees B nor s#all an" person be dened t#e e>ual protecton o! laws.C t#s smpl" means t#at all persons smlarl" stuated s#all be treated ale bot# n r%#ts en0o"ed and responsbltes mposed. +#e dutes mposed b" t#e Bmandate o! t#e peopleC are mult!arous. +#e ourt cannot (aldate bad%es o! ne>ualt". +#e necesstes mposed b" publc wel!are ma" 0ust!" eercse o! %o(ernment aut#ort" to re%ulate e(en ! t#ereb" certan %roups ma" plausbl" assert t#at t#er nterests are dsre%arded. Fere, electon to t#e poston o! on%ressman s not a reasonable class!caton n crmnal law en!orcement. +#e !unctons and dutes o! t#e o!!ce are not substantal dstnctons w#c# l!t #m !rom t#e class o! prsoners nterrupted n t#er !reedom and restrcted n lbert" o! mo(ement. Law!ul arrest and con!nement are %ermane to t#e purposes o! t#e law and appl" to all t#ose belon%n% to t#e same class. Fence, t#e per!ormance o! le%tmate and e(en essental dutes b" publc o!!cers #as ne(er been an ecuse to !ree a person (aldl" n prson. lecton s t#e epresson o! t#e so(ere%n power o! t#e people. Fowe(er, nspte o! ts mportance, t#e pr(le%es and r%#ts arsn% !rom #a(n% been elected ma" be enlar%ed or restrcted b" law. +#e mmunt" !rom arrest or detenton o! )enators and members o ! t#e Fouse o! Representat(es arses !rom a pro(son o! t#e onsttuton. +#e pr(le%e #as alwa"s been % ranted n a restrct(e sense. +#e pro(son %rantn% an eempton as a specal pr(le%e cannot be etended be"ond t#e ordnar" meann% o! ts terms. 5t ma" not be etended b" ntendment, mplcaton or e>utable consderatons.
+#e accused-appellant #as not %(en an" reason w#" #e s#ould be eempted !rom t#e operaton o! )ec. 11, Art. E5 o! t#e onsttuton. +#e members o! on%ress cannot compel absent members to attend sessons ! t#e reason !or t#e absence s a le%tmate one. +#e con!nement o! a on%ressman c#ar%ed wt# a crme puns#able b" mprsonment o! more t#an s "ears s not merel" aut#or:ed b" law, t #as consttutonal !oundatons. +o allow accused-appellant to attend con%ressonal sessons and commttee meetn%s !or * da"s or more n a wee wll (rtuall" mae #m a !ree man wt# all t#e pr(le%es appurtenant to #s poston. )uc# an aberrant stuaton not onl" ele(ates accused-appellants status to t#at o! a specal class, t also would be a mocer" o! t#e purposes o! t#e correcton s"stem.
$$L E) A?$FAN &9 )RA &7'
acts n Aprl &*, 1996 4 pm ?a. ora:on $. $amntuan, mot#er o! 4-"ear old r"st#el $amntuan, went to t#e %round !loor o! t#er #ouse to prepare ?lo c#ocolate drns !or #er & c#ldren. +#ere s#e met $rmo ampu#an, #elper o! onrado $lata r., brot#er o! ora:on, w#o was t#en bus" !lln% small plastc ba%s wt# water to be !ro:en nto ce n t#e !ree:er located at t#e second !loor. +#en s#e #eard r"st#el cr", OA"o3o, a"o3oQO so s#e went upstars and saw $rmo ampu#an nsde #er c#ldren3s room neeln% be!ore r"st#el w#ose pa0amas or O0o%%n% pantsO and pant" were alread" remo(ed, w#le #s s#ort pants were down to #s nees and #s #ands #oldn% #s pens wt# #s r%#t #and. Forr!ed, s#e cursed O $ - t - n% na mo, ana o "anQO and boed #m se(eral tmes. Fe e(aded #er blows and pulled up #s pants. Fe pus#ed ora:on asde w#o s#e tred to bloc #s pat#. ora:on t#en ran out and s#outed !or #elp t#us promptn% Ecente, #er brot#er, a cousn and an uncle w#o were l(n% wt#n t#er compound, to c#ase t#e ampu#an w#o was appre#ended. +#e" called t#e baran%a" o!!cals w#o detaned. $#"scal eamnaton "elded ne%at(e results as r"st#el s #"men was ntact.
5ssue #et#er or not t#e accused commtted a consummated statutor" rape
Feld +#e records re(ewed !aled to s#ow t#e proo! w#et#er $rmos pens was able to penetrate #r"stels (a%na. alure to pro(e suc# penetraton, e(en t#e sl%#test one, cannot be consdered consummated rape, #owe(er, onl" attempted rape, ! not acts o! lasc(ousness. Also, t#ere were no p#"scal s%ns o! n0ures on t#e wtness bod" to conclude a medcal perspect(e t#at a penetraton #as taen place. 5n rape cases, t s mportant t#at a (ald testmon" and medcal cert!cate complements eac# ot#er, !or rel"n% alone on testmonal e(dence ma" create unwarranted or msc#e(ous results. 5t s necessar" to care!ull" establs# a proo! t#at t#e p ens, n realt", entered t#e labal t#res#old o! t#e !emale or%an to accuratel" conclude t#at t#e rape was consummated. FRR, t#e decson o! t#e court on con(ctn% ampu#an %ult" o! statutor" rape s mod!ed. Fence, con(cted o! attempted nstead.
$$L E) FAGARAH &*7 )RA *81
acts +#e )upreme ourt rendered a decson n t#e nstant case a!!rmn% t#e con(cton o! t#e accused-appellant !or t#e crme o! rapn% #s ten-"ear old dau%#ter. +#e crme #a(n% been commtted sometme n Aprl, 1994, durn% w#c# tme Republc Act ;R.A.< No. 76*9, commonl" nown as t#e Deat# $enalt" Law, was alread" n e!!ect, accused-appellant was ne(tabl" meted out t#e supreme penalt" o! deat#.
+#e accused-appellant tmel" !led a ?oton !or Reconsderaton w#c# !ocused on t#e snster mot(e o! t#e (ctm3s %randmot#er t#at precptated t#e !ln% o! t#e alle%ed !alse accusaton o! rape a%anst t#e accused. +#s was dsmssed. n Au%ust 6, 1996, accused-appellant dsc#ar%ed t#e de!ense counsel, Att". ulan R. Etu%, and retaned t#e ser(ces o! t#e Ant-Deat# $enalt" +as orce o! t#e ree Le%al Assstance Group o! t#e $#lppnes.
A supplemental ?oton !or Reconsderaton prepared b" t#e LAG on be#al! o! accusedappellant. 5n sum, t#e )upplemental ?oton !or Reconsderaton rases t#ree ;< man ssues ;1< med !actual and le%al matters relatn% to t#e tral proceedn%s and !ndn%s= ;&< alle%ed ncompetence o! accused-appellant3s !ormer counsel= and ;< purel" le%al >u eston o! t#e consttutonalt" o! R.A. No. 76*9.
5ssues 1.< #et#er or not t#e accused s %ult" o! rape >ual!ed b" relatons#p and mnort". &.< #et#er or not t#e crme s puns#able b" deat# penalt".
Feld 1.< Hes. 5n t#e case at bar, all t#at t#e accused-appellant o!!ered as de!enses manl" conssted o! denal and alb w#c# cannot outwe%# t#e post(e dent!caton and con(ncn% testmones %(en b" t#e prosecuton. Fence, t#e a!!da(t o! desstance, w#c# t#e (ctm #ersel! ntended to
dsre%ard as earler dscussed, must #a(e no bearn% o n t#e crmnal prosecuton a%anst t#e accused-appellant, partcularl" on t#e tral court3s 0ursdcton o(er t#e case.
&.< Hes, under R.A. No. 76*9, t#e mandator" penalt" o! deat# s mposed, amon% ot#ers, ! t#e crme o! rape s commtted wt# an" o! t#e !ollown% attendant crcumstances
1. w#en t#e (ctm s under e%#teen ;18< "ears o! a%e and t#e o!!ender s a parent, ascendant, step-parent, %uardan, relat(e b" consan%unt" or a!!nt" wt#n t#e t#rd c(l de%ree, or t#e common-law spouse o! t#e parent or t#e (ctm.
&. w#en t#e (ctm s under t#e custod" o! t#e polce or mltar" aut#ortes.
. w#en t#e rape s commtted n !ull (ew o! t#e #usband, parent, an" o! t#e c#ldren or ot#er relat(es wt#n t#e t#rd de%ree o! consan%unt".
4.
w#en t#e (ctm s a rel%ous or a c#ld below se(en ;7< "ears old
*. w#en t#e o!!ender nows t#at #e s a!!lcted wt# Ac>ured 5mmune De!cenc" )"ndrome ;A5D)< dsease.
6. w#en commtted b" an" member o! t#e Armed orces o! t#e $#lppnes or t#e $#lppne Natonal $olce or an" law en!orcement a%enc".
7. w#en b" reason or on t#e occason o! t#e rape, t#e (ctm #as su!!ered permanent p#"scal mutlaton.O ;)ec. 11 <
$$L E) +AN G.R.N. 177*66
acts n 17 )eptember 1997, appellants were c#ar%ed wt# t#e crme o! dnappn% !or ransom n an 5n!ormaton t#e accusator" porton o! w#c# reads +#at on or about )eptember 8, 1997 n t#e e(enn% o! aran%a" ?amatd, abu "ao, La%una and wt#n t#e 0ursdcton o! t#s Fonorable ourt, t#e abo(e named accused consprn%, con!ederatn%, mutuall" #elpn% one anot#er and %roupn% t#emsel(es to%et#er, dd t#en and t#ere, b" !orce and ntmdaton, and use o! #%# powered !rearms, wll!ull", unlaw!ull", !elonousl" tae, carr" awa", and depr(e Ru: )ae:-o " Lm o! #s lbert" a%anst #s wll !or purposes o! etortn% mone" as n !act a demand !or mone" was made as a condton !or #s release but be!ore an" ransom can be pad, t#e (ctm was rescued a!ter e%#t ;8< da"s n capt(t". ased on t#e (ctms account, t#e ordeal #e #ad %one t#rou%# can be d(ded nto t#ree dstnct se%ments, namel" ;1< t#e !orcble tan%, ;&< t#e asportaton, and ;< t#e protracted detenton. +#e !rst se%ment was t#e ?amatd ;n abu"ao, La%una< epsode w#ere #e was #eld b" armed men at %unpont and !orcbl" boarded n a car. +#e second se%ment co(ered t#e entre !orced 0ourne" o! t#e (ctm !rom ?amatd to t#e detenton #ouse n +a"ta", R:al. And t#e t#rd se%ment was t#e +a"ta" epsode. 5t co(ered t#e !ull len%t# o! t#e (ctms n(oluntar" con!nement spannn% e%#t ;8< da"s untl #s strrn% rescue. +#ere s no d oubt t#at t#e (ctm was depr(ed o! #s lbert" t#rou%#out all t#e epsodes.
n arra%nment, appellants entered t#er plea o! not %ult". +ral ensued.
5ssue #et#er or not t#e crmnal lablt" o! t#e appellants n eac# and e(er" epsode establs#ed be"ond reasonable doubt to be %ult" !or dnappn% or lle%al detenton.
Feld e a%ree wt# t#e )G t#at t#e partcpaton o! t#e appellants n t#e !orcble tan% and 0ourne" o! t#e (ctm was not clearl" establs#ed. +#ere were no e"ewtnesses w#o test!ed on t#e abducton. #le t#e (ctm test!ed on t#e t#ree epsodes, #e !aled to see and dent!" an" o! #s captors untl #e was rescued as #e was blnd!olded most o! t#e tme durn% #s capt(t". Fe dd not see t#e !ace o! t#e persons w#o abducted #m n ?amatd and t#ose w#o !ormed t#e entoura%e w#c# brou%#t #m to +a"ta". +o conclude t#at t#ose w#o were captured durn% t#e
rescue operaton were also partcpants n t#e !orcble tan% a nd asportaton s to lower t#e le(el o! e(dence re>ured !or con(cton. +#e t#rd epsode, #owe(er, s d!!erent. +#e crmnal partcpaton o! t#e appellants t#eren was pro(en be"ond reasonable doubt. +#e )G correctl" recommended t#at t#e" s#ould be #eld lable t#ere!or. +#e uneplaned presence o! appellants n t#e #ouse w#ere t#e (ctm was #eld capt(e leads to no ot#er concluson t#an t#at t#e" partcpated n #s lle%al detenton. Not a sn%le appellant could con(ncn%l" eplan #s presence at t#e crme scene.
$$L E. RDR5G G.R. N. 17'&&
acts n 1' )eptember 1996, l(er aparas, t#en 1 "ears o! a%e, was watn% !or a rde to sc#ool w#en !our men !orcbl" se:ed and boarded #m nto a car w#eren #e was blnd!olded and taen to a%uo. +#e net da", lea:ar aparas rece(ed a call !rom t#e dnappers asn% !or $#p 1' ?llon ransom n ec#an%e !or t#e release o! #s son, l(er. 5n t#e meantme, t#e dnappers went to ontas Resort n $an%asnan. A!ter t#ree da"s o! ne%otaton, t#e dnappers a%reed to lower t#e ransom mone" to $#p 1.7 ?llon. +#rou%# l(ers uncle, t#e dnapper were able to rece(e t#e mone". +#en, t#e" brou%#t l(er to a $etron Gas )taton n ?e"caua"an F%#wa", %a(e #m mone" and told #m #s uncle nsde a canteen n t#e %as staton would !etc# #m. A!ter t#e dnappn% ncdent, an n(est%aton was conducted b" t#e 5ntell%ence )ecton o! t#e $#lppne Natonal $olce ;$N$< n ?alolos, ulacan, t#rou%# )$& pa!rodto Alln% and )$& Antono #un%tu"co. 5t appears t#at one o! t#e suspects was a member o! an N$A rebel returnee %roup #eaded b" Armando Rodr%o, r. pon t#e lln% o! ert Lwana%, #s %rl!rend, dela ru:, w#o was a suspected member o! t#e %roup, was n(ted !or >uestonn%. n t#at occason, s#e admtted #er partcpaton n t#e dnappn% o! l(er aparas and mplcated appellants.
5ssue #et#er or not elements consttutn% t#e crme o! dnappn% are present to con(ct appellants o! t#e sad crme.
Feld Hes. nder Art. &67 o! t#e Re(sed $enal ode, t#e crme o! Mdnappn% s commtted wt# t#e concurrence o! t#e !ollown% elements, namel" ;1< t#at t#e o!!ender s a pr(ate nd(dual= ;&<
t#at #e dnaps or detans anot#er, or n an" manner depr(es t#e latter o! #s lbert"= and ;< t#at t#e act o! detenton or dnappn% must be lle%al= and ;4< t#at n t#e commsson o! t#e o!!ense, an" o! t#e !ollown% crcumstances are present ;a< t#at t#e dnappn% or detenton lasts !or more t#an !(e da"s= or ;b< t#at t s commtted smulatn% publc aut#ort"= or ;c< t#at an" serous p#"scal n0ures are n!lcted upon t#e person dnapped or detaned or t#reats to ll #m are made= or ;d< t#at t#e person dnapped or detaned s a mnor, !emale or publc o!!cer. 5t s e(dent !rom t#e testmones o! t#e wtnesses t#at t#e essental elements o! dnappn% were present. rst, appellants are pr(ate nd(duals. )econd, l(er was abducted b" !our armed men. +#rd, #e was detaned n a #ouse n $an%asnan a%anst #s wll. ourt#, t#e detenton lasted !or se(en da"s. !t#, l(er aparas was a mnor at t#e tme o! t#e dnappn% ncdent.
?AD)AL5, + AL. E. $$L G.R. N. 179*7'
A+) A!ter a con!rontaton between t#e (ctm and #er aunt 5non Dama w#le !etc#n% water, t#e appellant ;?aron< and #s !at#er ;)a0ron< appeared suddenl" n t#e (ctms #ouse wt# a %un and told t#e (ctm to come wt# t#em. #en s#e re!used, )a0ron and ?aron ted #er #ands be#nd #er bac, co(ered #er mout# wt# a pece o! clot#, and brou%#t #er to t#e !orest. +#ere, )a0ron #ad carnal nowled%e wt# t#e (ctm a%anst #er wll w#le ?aron stood %uard and watc#ed t#em. +#e" le!t t#e !orest and brou%#t t#e (ctm to t#e #ouse o! %ap, w#ere s#e was detaned n a room. )a0ron nstructed %ap to %uard t#e (ctm and to s#oot #er ! s#e would attempt to escape. A da" a!ter, t#e (ctms mot#er came to %et #er= un!ortunatel" %ap re!used and t#reatened to ll #er dau%#ter ! s#e would report t#e matter to t#e aut#ortes. ut o! !ear o! losn% #er dau%#ter, s#e went #ome and dd not report t#e ncdent to t#e polce aut#ortes. %ap ased t#e (ctm ! s#e wanted to marr" )a0ron, but s#e re!used. )#e was t#en !orced to s%n an unnown document, w#c# s#e was not able to read. Nne da"s a!ter s#e and )a0oron were marred b" 5mam ?usl ?u#ammad. A!ter t#e marra%e, s#e and )a0ron l(ed n t#e #ouse o! %ap. #le detaned, s#e dd not tr" to escape because #er #ouse was (er" !ar !rom t#e place w#ere s#e was #eld capt(e, and #er captors t#reatened to ll #er and #er !aml" ! s#e would attempt to escape. ?ont#s a!ter t#e marra%e, )a0ron and %ap were arrested b" t#e polce.
5))
#et#er or not t#e crme commtted was dnappn% and serous lle%al detenton.
FLD Hes. urt#er perusal o! t#e alle%atons n t#e n!ormaton appears t#at t#e crme c#ar%ed was actuall" t#e specal comple crme o! dnappn% and serous lle%al detenton and rape, de!ned and penal:ed under Artcle &67 o! t#e Re(sed $enal ode. +#e crme o! serous lle%al detenton conssts not onl" o! placn% a person n an enclosure, but also o! detann% #m or depr(n% #m n an" manner o! #s lbert". or t#ere to be dnappn%, t s enou%# t#at t#e (ctm s restraned !rom %on% #ome. 5ts essence s t#e actual depr(aton o! t#e (ctms lbert", coupled wt# ndubtable proo! o! t#e ntent o! t#e accused to e!!ect suc# depr(aton. 5n t#s case, alt#ou%# t#e (ctm was not actuall" con!ned n an enclosed place, s#e was clearl" restraned and depr(ed o! #er lbert", because s#e was ted up and #er mout# stu!!ed wt# a pece o! clot#, t#us, man% t (er" eas" to p#"scall" dra% #er to t#e !orest awa" !rom #er #ome.
$eople (. )lon%an G.R. No. 1718&
A+) or automatc re(ew s t#e decson o! t#e R+ o! Iue:on t", ranc# 1', con(ctn% appellants Abdla )lon%an, ?acapa%al )lon%an, Amad Awal, Roll" Lamalan, )acara Alon, umbra# ?anap and Ramon $asawlan o! t#e crme o! Mdnappn% !or Ransom wt# )erous 5lle%al Detenton and sentencn% t#em to su!!er deat# penalt". Appellants, consprn%, con!ederatn% and mutuall" adn% one anot#er, dd t#en and t#ere, wll!ull", unlaw!ull" and !elonousl" dnap Aleander )aldana, Amerca Re0uso, r., r(n +orms and Ector nco !or t#e purpose o! demandn% ransom n t#e amount o! $#p 1& ?llon, detann% and depr(n% Aleander )aldana o! #s personal lbert".
5)) #et#er or not t#e %ult o! t#e appellants #as been pro(en be"ond reasonable doubt t#at dnappn% was commtted !or t#e purpose o! e tortn% ransom.
FLD
Hes. +#e essence o! t#e crme o! dnappn% and serous lle%al detenton as de!ned and penal:ed n Artcle &67 o! t#e Re(sed $enal ode s t#e actual depr(aton o! t#e (ctms lbert" coupled wt# proo! be"ond reasonable doubt o! an ntent o! t#e accused to e!!ect t#e same. 5t s t#us essental t#at t#e !ollown% be establs#ed b" t#e prosecuton ;1< t#at t#e o!!ender s a pr(ate nd(dual= ;&< #e dnaps or detans anot#er, or n an" ot#er manner depr(es t#e latter o! #s lbert"= ;< t#e act o! detenton or dnappn% must be lle%al= and ;4< n t#e commsson o! t#e o!!ense, an" o! t#e !our crcumstances enumerated n Artcle &67 be present. ut ! t#e dnappn% was done !or t#e purpose o! etortn% ransom, t#e !ourt# element s no lon%er necessar". +#e prosecuton #as establs#ed be"ond reasonable doubt t#at t#e dnappn% was commtted B!or t#e purpose o! etortn% ransomC !rom Aleander, as to warrant t#e mandator" mposton o! t#e deat# penalt". 5t s not necessar" t#at t#ere be actual pa"ment o! ransom because w#at t#e law re>ures s merel" t#e estence o! t#e purpose o! demandn% ransom. $$L E. )R5AGA 81 )RA 1*9
A+) n ebruar" &&, 199*, an n!ormaton was !led wt# t#e R+ c#ar%n% Ruben )ura%a, Rosta Dela ru: and oel 5sdera wt# dnappn% !or ransom and serous lle%al detenton commtted as !ollows +#at on anuar" &&, 199*, accused Ruben )ura%a, Rosta Dela ru:, consprn% to%et#er, dnapped and too awa" Ncole Ramos, a two-"ear old !emale c#ld, wt#out t#e consent o! #er parents, !or t#e purpose o! etortn% ransom !rom t#e latter, and t#erea!ter, detaned #er and depr(ed #er o! #er !reedom and lbert" up to and untl 4' n t#e a!ternoon o! t#e !ollown% da". oel 5sdera, #a(n% learned o! t#e dnappn% and wt#out #a(n% partcpated t#eren as prncpal or accomplce, too part b" assstn% t#e prncpal accused to pro!t b" t#e e!!ects o! t#e crme b" accompan"n% and dr(n% !or accused Ruben )ura%a to t#e place w#ere t#e pa"-o!!s was made and rece(n% t#e ransom mone" n t#e amount o! $#p 1'',''.
5)) #et#er or not Ruben )ura%a s %ult" o! dnappn% !or ransom.
FLD Hes. +#e essence o! dnappn% s t#e actual depr(aton o! t#e (ctms lbert", coupled wt# ndubtable proo! o! t#e accuseds ntent to e!!ect t#e same. And ! t#e person detaned s a c#ld, t#e >ueston t#at needs to be addressed s w#et#er t#ere s e(dence to s#ow t#at n tan% t#e c#ld, t#ere was depr(aton o! t#e c#lds lbert" and t#at t was t#e ntenton o! t#e accused to depr(e t#e mot#er o! t#e c#lds custod". ndoubtedl", t#e elements o! dnappn% !or ransom #a(e been su!!centl" establs#ed b" t#e prosecuton consdern% t#e !ollown% crcumstances 1< appellant, a pr(ate nd(dual, too t#e "oun% Ncole wt#out personall" seen% permsson !rom #er !at#er= &< appellant too t#e %rl and brou%#t #er to a s#ant" w#ere Rostas sster l(ed, wt#out n!ormn% #er parents o! t#er w#ereabouts= &< #e detaned t#e c#ld and depr(ed #er o! #er lbert" b" !aln% to return #er to #er parents o(ern%#t and t#e !ollown% da"= and 4< #e demanded a ransom o! $#p 1'',''' t#rou%# telep#one calls and %a(e nstructons w#ere and #ow t s#ould be del(ered.
$$L E. LLAGN &8* )RA 1&4
A+) Appellant ud" Re"es, to%et#er wt# two ot#ers, was c#ar%ed n an 5n!ormaton wt# t#e !ollown% t#at sad accused, armed wt# !rearm, conn(n% and con!ederatn% to%et#er and mutuall" #elpn% wt# one anot#er, wt# delberate ntend, dd t#en and t#ere dnap and detan one en(endo ?ercado, and w#le under detenton, wt# ntent to ll, wt# treac#er" and e(dent premedtaton, dd t#en and t#ere suddenl" and unepectedl" s#ot sad en(endo ?ercado wt# sad !rearm, #ttn% #m on t#e (tal part o! #s bod", t#ereb" n!lctn% upon #m p#"scal n0ures as a conse>uence o! w#c# #e ded a !ew da"s later. Alt#ou%# appellant, was c#ar%ed wt# dnappn% wt# murder, t#e tral court con(cted #m onl" o! murder de!ned and penal:ed under Artcle &48 o! t#e Re(sed $enal ode. +#e tral court dd not, #owe(er, !nd #m lable !or serous lle%al detenton under Art. &67 o! t#e Re(sed $enal ode because t#e (ctm was detaned onl" !or one da".
5)) #et#er or t#e tral court s erred n not !ndn% accused lable !or lle%al detenton.
FLD Hes. +#e totalt" o! t#e e(dence presented b" t#e prosecuton su!!centl" pro(es be"ond reasonable doubt t#at appellant s %ult" o! t#e crme o! sl%#t lle%al detenton under Artcle &68 o! t#e Re(sed $enal ode. +#e e(dence presented b" t#e prosecuton, w#c# was sustaned b" t#e tral court, clearl" establs#ed t#at appellant #ad n !act detaned t#e (ctm wt#out aut#ort" to do so. an:on test!ed t#at #e wtnessed t#e (ctm #an%n% b" t#e arms n appellants room. an:ons testmon" s%n!cantl" 0bes wt# t#e p#"scal e(dence s#own% t#at t#e (ctm
sustaned multple abrasons n bot# arms. urt#ermore, Dr. en:a narrated t#at se(eral emplo"ees called #er up n t#e mornn% o! ebruar" *, 1987 asn% !or permsson to %o #ome because t#ere was a man #an%n% at t#e bac n one o! t#e buldn%s o! G 5nternatonal.Dr. en:as testmon" was unrebutted. All t#ese neludbl" pro(e be"ond reasonable doubt t#at t#e (ctm was depr(ed o! #s lbert" b" appellant.
5t must be emp#as:ed t#at appellant was c#ar%ed wt# t#e specal comple crme o! dnappn% wt# murder, not o! two ndependent c#ar%es o! dnappn% and murder. 5n a comple crme, alt#ou%# two or more crmes are actuall" commtted, t#e" consttute onl" one crme n t#e e"es o! t#e law as well as n t#e conscence o! t#e o!!ender. Fence, n decdn% t#s appeal, t#e ourt s not con!ned to t#e con(cton !or murder= rat#er, t#e scope o! ts re(ew encompasses t#e o!!ense c#ar%ed n t#e n!ormaton, w#c# t#e prosecuton sou%#t to pro(e. 5t s a well-settled doctrne t#at an appeal t#rows t#e w#ole case wde open !or re(ew and empowers ;e(en obl%ates< t#e appellate court to correct suc# errors as ma" be !ound n t#e appealed 0ud%ment e(en ! t#e" #a(e not been ass%ned. #en an accused appeals, #e stands !or a new tral o! t#e w#ole case. )nce t#e n!ormaton c#ar%ed t#e comple crme o! dnappn% wt# murder, t#e acts consttutn% sl%#t lle%al detenton were necessarl" ncluded n t#e n!ormaton, and ma" t#us be (aldl" taen nto account n t#e resoluton o! t#e present appeal. ?an!estl", appellant was !arl" apprsed o! t#e nature o! t#e crme o! sl%#t lle%al detenton and %ranted a !ar opportunt" to de!end #msel!. At t#s 0uncture, we deem t s%n!cant to reterate t#at t#e tral court merel" made a !ndn% t#at appellant could not be con(cted o! serous lle%al detenton !or t#e sole reason t#at t#e (ctms detenton dd not eceed !(e da"s. +#e court a quo, #owe(er, !ound t#at appellant lle%all" detaned t#e (ctm !or at least one da", w#c# act b" tsel! consttutes sl%#t lle%al detenton. esdes, t#e tral court apprecated t#e act consttutn% sl%#t lle%al detenton as a >ual!"n% crcumstance, i.e., emplo"n% means to weaen t#e de!ense. #le we !nd no proo! be"ond reasonable doubt to sustan a con(cton !or murder, t#e records ndsputabl" pro(e culpablt" !or sl%#t lle%al detenton
$$L E. DADL) &78 )RA 7'8
A+) Appellant Narto alas Narn% Dadles was c#ar%ed n two separate n!ormatons, to wt +#at on or about &4t# o! ?a" 1989, n t#e ?uncpalt" o! nalba%an, $ro(nce o! Ne%ros ccdental, $#lppnes, and wt#n t#e 0ursdcton o! t#s Fonorable ourt, t#e !rst abo(e-named accused, n compan" o! #s !(e ot#er co-accused, w#ose true names are stll unnown and #eren des%nated onl" as Ma ?orto, Ma ll", Ma Dndo, Ma ?e and Ma uanto, w#o are stll at lar%e, aremed wt# assorted !rearms o! unnown calbers, consprn%, con!ederatn% and mutuall" #elpn% one anot#er, b" means o! !orce, (olence and ntmdaton, dd t#en and t#ere, wll!ull", unlaw!ull" and !elonousl" tae, dnap, detan, and eep Alpo +e#dor and Donso +e#dor and brn% t#em somew#ere n t#e #nterlands o! sad muncpalt", under restrant and
a%anst t#er wll, wt#out proper aut#ort" t#ereo!, t#ereb" depr(n% sad (ctms o! t#er c(l lbertes snce t#en up to t#e present. +#e tral court rendered a decson con(ctn% t#e appellant o! two counts o! dnappn% and serous lle%al detenton.
5)) #et#er or not tral court erred n con(ctn% appellant wt# dnappn% and serous lle%al detenton.
FLD Hes. ased !rom t#e e(dence presented durn% t#e tral, t#e appellant s %ult" be"ond reasonable doubt o! dnappn% t#e (ctms. Fowe(er, snce none o! t#e crcumstances mentoned n Artcle &67 o! t#e Re(sed $enal ode ;dnappn% wt# serous lle%al detenton< was pro(ed and onl" t#e !act o! dnappn% was establs#ed, we !nd t#at t#e crme commtted s slight illegal detention under Article 268 of the Revised Penal Code.
$$L E. RLNA &1 )RA 448
acts %#t person, ncludn% accused Roluna were c#ar%ed wt# dnappn% wt# murder. tnesses clamed t#at t#e" saw (ctm Anatalo ?orona stopped b" accused and se(eral ot#ers. +#e (ctm was alle%ed to #a(e been t#reatened wt# !rearms and #and bound be#nd #s bac. +#e accused clamed t#at #e was tan% care o! an ll relat(e at t#e tme o! t#e dnappn%. +#e R+ !ound Roluna %ult" be"ond reasonable doubt o! t#e comple crme o! Mdnappn% wt# murder. +#e accused rased t#at t#e bod" o! t#e (ctm #as not sur!aced and t#at t#e uneplaned dsappearance cannot be blamed on #m as t#ere s all possblt" t#at t#e (ctm ma" stll be al(e.
5ssue
#et#er or not t#e deat# o! t#e (ctm s su!!centl" pro(ed and t#e accused be #eld lable !or t.
Feld +#e Rules o! ourt pro(des t#at t#e deat# s#all be presumed ! a person w#o #as been n dan%er o! deat# under ot#er crcumstances and #s estence #as not been nown !or !our "ears. Fowe(er, t#e )upreme ourt decded t#at t#ere were nsu!!cent crcumstances to #old t#e accused responsble !or t#e deat# o! t#e (ctm. +#e testmon" o! t#e wtnesses statn% t#at t#e (ctms #ands were bound b" a companon o! t#e accused s not enou%# to pro(e t#at t#e accused lled #m. B+#e con(cton o! accused-appellant !or t#e serous crme o! dnappn% wt# murder cannot be allowed to rest on t#e (a%ue and nebulous !acts establs#ed b" t#e prosecuton. As dscussed earler, t#e e(dence presented b" t#e prosecuton surroundn% t#e e(ents o! t#at !ate!ul da" are %rossl" nsu!!cent to establs# t#e alle%ed lablt" o! accused-
appellant !or t#e deat# o! ?oronaC. +#e ) t#us decded t#at B)nce none o! t#e crcumstances mentoned n Artcle &67 o! t#e Re(sed $enal ode ;dnappn% wt# serous lle%al detenton< was pro(ed and onl" t#e !act o! dnappn% o! Anatalo ?orona was establs#ed, we !nd t#at t#e crme commtted s sl%#t lle%al detenton under Artcle &68 o! t#e Re(sed $enal ode.C
$$L E) $A)+RANA 87 )RA 4&
acts rma $oste0o, a domestc #elper n anada, s t#e mot#er o! enn", Doroteo, Aresola and 9-"ear old ll" Garpen, r. #er son b" a common-law relatons#p. )#e was ntroduced to accusedappellant Rub-Rose w#o o!!ered to wor on t#e processn% o! ll"s tra(el documents to anada.
Rub-Rose ased !or $ 18,''.'' as processn% !ee.
Later on, accused-appellant
n!ormed rma t#at ll" was su!!ern% !rom bronc#ts. rma sent $ *,61'.'', $ ,'''.'' to be %(en to Doroteo and t#e remann% balance s#ould pa" !or ll"s medcal treatment. +#en on ?arc# 16, 1997, accused-appellant !etc#ed ll" and Aresola !rom t#er #ome n aloocan and brou%#t t#em n +ondo. Aresola went #ome and ll" was le!t n +ondo. Accused-appellant was asn% rma !or sums o! mone" w#c# rma re!used to transmt.
?arc# &7, 1997, accused-appellant n!ormed Doroteo t#at ll" was mssn% and t#at #e was last seen pla"n% nsde #er apartment. rma returned to t#e $#lppnes to loo !or #er son. rma !ound out t#at ll" was ne(er treated !or an" llness. Accused-appellant (e#ementl" dened t#e c#ar%es a%anst #er but t#e tral court !ound #er %ult" be"ond reasonable doubt o! t#e crme o! dnappn% and !alure to return a mnor under Artcle &7' o! t#e Re(sed $enal ode.
5ssue #et#er or not t#e tral court erred n con(ctn% t#e accused t#e crme o! dnappn% and !alure to return a mnor under Artcle &7' o! t#e Re(sed $enal ode.
Decson
