EN BANC [G.R. No. 130654. July 28, 1999.] PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee, plaintiff-appellee,
vs.
EDUARDO
BASIN JAVIER , accused-appellant .
plai!iff"app#ll##. The Solicitor General for plai!iff"app#ll##. Public Attorney's Attorney's Office for Office for a$$u%#&"app#lla!. a$$u%#&"app#lla!. SYNOPSIS
A$$u%#&"app#lla! A$$u%#&"app#lla! 'a% $o(i$!#& )y !*# R#+ioal rial Cour! of A+oo, -a io, of !*# $ri/# of parri$i a& 'a% %#!#$#& !o %uff#r !*# %upr#/# p#al!y of a!*. App#lla! &uri+ !*# !rial a&/i!!#& i $our! !*a! *# ill#& *i% 'if# )#$au%# *# $oul& o! %l##p for al/o%! a /o!*. # $lai/#& !*a! '*# !*# illi+ !oo pla$#, *i% /i& 'a% !o!ally )la a& *# &i& o! o' '*a! *# 'a% &oi+. # al%o $lai/#& !*a! *# 'a% i%a# a! !*# !i/# of !*# i$i!. !*i% app#al, a$$u%#&"app#lla! a$$u%#&"app#lla! &i& o! u#%!io !*# $i%io of !*# !rial $our! i r##$!i+ *i% f#%# of i%ai!y. # ar+u#& !*a! *# %*oul& )# /#!#& a lo'#r p#al!y )#$au%# a! !*# !i/# of !*# i$i!, *# 'a% %uff#ri+ fro/ lo%% of %l##p for a prolo+#& p#rio& of !i/#, !i/#, '*i$* 'oul& *a(# $au%#& $au%#& *i/ !o $o//i! $o//i! !*# $ri/#. *# upr#/# Cour! &i& o! appr#$ia!# i app#lla!% fa(or !*# /i!i+a!i+ $ir$u/%!a$# of ill#%%. *# Cour! rul#& !*a! !*# fa$! !*a! app#lla! r#/#/)#r#& !*# (i!al $ir$u/%!a$#% $ir$u/%!a$#% %urrou&i+ !*# +*a%!ly i$i!, fro/ !*# !i/# of !*# illi+ up !o !*# !i/# *# 'a% )rou+*! !o !*# *o%pi!al, *o%pi!al, i! %*o'#& !*a! *# *# 'a% i full $o!rol $o!rol of *i% /#!al fa$ul!i#%. fa$ul!i#%. o'#(#r, !*# Cour! r#&u$#& !*# p#al!y of a!* i/po%#& )y !*# !rial $our! !o reclusion perpetua. perpetua. *# Cour! rul#& !*a! !*# $ri/# of parri$i, o! )#i+ a $api!al $ri/# per $ri/# per se a% se a% i! i% o! pui%*a)l# )y !*# /a&a!ory a!* p#al!y )u! )y !*# fl#7i)l# p#al!y of reclusion perpetua !o perpetua !o a!*, !'o i&i(i%i)l# p#al!i#%, !*# appli$a!io of !*# l#%%#r or +r#a!#r p#al!y p#&% o !*# pr#%#$# of /i!i+a!i+ a& a++ra(a!i+ $ir$u/%!a$#%. !*# pr#%#! $a%#, i !*# a)%#$# of ay a++ra(a!i+ or /i!i+a!i+ $ir$u/%!a$# i !*# $o//i%%io of !*# $ri/#, !*# i/po%i!io of !*# l#%%#r p#al!y of reclusion perpetua 'a% perpetua 'a% u%!ifi#&. SYLLABUS
1.CRNA- -A: GANG CRCANCE: --NE ;< E ;<
E NC=EN, ; A E A N <-- C;NR;;< ENA- . N#i!*#r $a '# appr#$ia!# !*# $ir$u/%!a$# of pa%%io a& o)fu%$a!io !o /i!i+a!# *i% $ri/ial lia)ili!y. orr !o )# #!i!l#& !o !*# /i!i+a!i+ $ir$u/%!a$# of pa%%io a& o)fu%$a!io, !*# follo'i+ #l#/#!% %*oul& o$$ur D1 !*#r# %*oul& )# a a$! )o!* ula'ful a& %uffi$i#! !o pro&u$# %u$* $o&i!io of /i&: a& D2 %ai& a$! '*i$* pro&u$#& !*# o)fu%$a!io 'a% o! far r#/o(#& fro/ !*# $o//i%%io of !*# $ri/# )y a $o%ira)l# l#+!* of !i/#, &uri+ '*i$* !*# p#rp#!ra!or /i+*! r#$o(#r *i% /oral #uai/i!y. *# for#+oi+ #l#/#!% '#r# o! pro(#& !o )# pr#%#! i i%!a! $a%#. fa$!, &uri+ a$$u%#&"app#lla!% !#%!i/oy, *# #(# %!a!#& !*a! *# 'a% o! #alou% of *i% 'if#. A% $orr#$!ly o)%#r(#& )y !*# ;ffi$# of !*# oli$i!or G##ral F !*# $a%# of app#lla!, !*#r# i% la$ of proof of !*# $au%# '*i$* pro&u$#& !*# all#+#& pa%%io a& o)fu%$a!io. App#lla!, i *i% !#%!i/oy, &i& o! a$$ou! *o' *# ill#& *i% 'if# or &i& *# #7plai !*# $au%# '*y *# 'a% pro/p!#& !o ill *i% 'if#. ?#rily, !*#r# #7i%!% o u%!ifia)l# )a%i% for applyi+ !o *i/ !*i% /i!i+a!i+ $ir$u/%!a$# of pa%%io a& o)fu%$a!io a% !*# $au%# '*i$* pro&u$#& i! *a% o! )## #%!a)li%*#&.F All !ol&, !*# all#+a!io% propou& )y
a$$u%#&"app#lla! !*a! *i% %u%pi$io% r#+ar&i+ *i% 'if#, a++ra(a!#& )y *i% ill#%% /a i! po%%i)l# for *i/ !o ill *i% o' 'if#, i% )u! a /#r# af!#r!*ou+*! !o '*i!!l# &o' *i% $ri/ial lia)ili!y. A&&i!ioally, i! i% a %#!!l#& rul# !*a! fa$!ual fi&i+% of !*# !rial $our!% 'ill +##rally o! )# &i%!ur)#& )y !*# app#lla!# $our! )#$au%# i! i% i !*# )#%! po%i!io !o prop#rly #(alua!# !#%!i/oial #(i$# $o%iri+ !*a! i! o)%#r(#% !*# /#aor, $o&u$! a& a!!i!u of 'i!#%%#% &uri+ !*# !rial. !*# $a%# a! )ar, !*# !rial $our! 'a% a)l# !o o)%#r(# !*# )#*a(iour of a$$u%#&"app#lla! a& i! %!a!#& !*a! *i% r#$oll#$!io of !*# !ail% %urrou&i+ !*# illi+ i% %o i/p#$$a)l# !*a! oly a p#r%o i *i% ri+*! /i& $a /a# i!. 3.=.: ARRC=E: =EA ENA-> ;E= B> E RA- C;R RE=CE= ; REC-;N EREA: N; AGGRA?ANG ;R GANG CRCANCE AEN=E= E @--NG. *u%, !*# !rial $our! 'a% $orr#$! i $o(i$!i+ a$$u%#&"app#lla! of !*# $ri/# of parri$i ur Ar!i$l# 246 of !*# R#(i%#& #al Co Da% a/#& )y R#pu)li$ A$! No. 659, #$!io 5 '*i$* pro(i% !*a! FAy p#r%o '*o %*all ill *i% fa!*#r, /o!*#r or $*il&, '*#!*#r l#+i!i/a!# or ill#+i!i/a!#, or ay of *i% a%$#&a!%, or %$#&a!%, or *i% %pou%#, %*all )# +uil!y of parri$i a& %*all )# pui%*#& )y !*# p#al!y of reclusion perpetua to death.F *# $ri/# of parri$i, o! )#i+ a $api!al $ri/# per se a% i! i% o! pui%*a)l# )y /a&a!ory a!* p#al!y )u! )y !*# fl#7i)l# p#al!y of reclusion perpetua !o a!*, !'o i&i(i%i)l# p#al!i#%, !*# appli$a!io of !*# l#%%#r or !*# +r#a!#r p#al!y p#&% o !*# pr#%#$# of /i!i+a!i+ a& a++ra(a!i+ $ir$u/%!a$#%. !*i% $a%#, !*# ifor/a!io for parri$i a+ai%! a$$u%#&" app#lla! &i& o! all#+# ay a++ra(a!i+ $ir$u/%!a$#. Nor &i& !*# #(i$# %*o' !*a! !*# pro%#$u!io 'a% a)l# !o pro(# ay a++ra(a!i+ $ir$u/%!a$#. -i#'i%#, o /i!i+a!i+ $ir$u/%!a$# i% appr#$ia!#& )y !*i% Cour! i fa(or of !*# a$$u%#&"app#lla!. *u%, i !*# a)%#$# of ay a++ra(a!i+ or /i!i+a!i+ $ir$u/%!a$# for !*# a$$u%#&"app#lla!, !*# l#%%#r p#al!y of reclusion perpetua %*oul& )# i/po%#&.
DECISION
ROMERO, Acting
C.J p
B#for# u% o au!o/a!i$ r#(i#' i% !*# =#$i%io 1 &a!#& April 15, 199 of !*# R#+ioal rial Cour! of A+oo, -a io, Bra$* 32, 2 i Cri/ial Ca%# No. A"3155, $o(i$!i+ a$$u%#&"app#lla! E&uar&o Ja(i#r of !*# $ri/# of parri$i a& %#!#$i+ *i/ !o %uff#r !*# p#al!y of a!* a& !o i/ify !*# *#ir% of !*# (i$!i/ i !*# a/ou! of 50,000.00 a% /oral &a/a+#% a& 21,30.00 a% a$!ual #7p#%#%. *# for/a!io fil#& )#for# !*# !rial $our! '*i$* $*ar+#& a$$u%#&"app#lla! 'i!* !*# $ri/# of parri$i r#a&% a% follo'%
F*a! o or a)ou! !*# 15!* &ay of Ju# 1996, i !*# ui$ipali!y of a!o o/a%, ro(i$# of -a io, *ilippi#%, a& 'i!*i !*# uri%&i$!io of !*i% oora)l# Cour!, !*# a)o(#"a/#& a$$u%#& 'i!* !*# i!#! !o a& )#i+ !*# ar/#& 'i!* a )olo, &i& !*# a& !*#r# 'ilfully, ula'fully a& f#loiou%ly a!!a$, a%%aul! a& u%# of p#r%oal (iol#$#, )y *a$i+ 'i!* !*# %ai& '#apo o# <-;RENNA JA?ER > -ACEE, *i% l#+i!i/a!# %pou%#, a& a% a r#%ul! of '*i$* *i% %ai& 'if# %uff#r#& fa!al iuri#% '*i$* &ir#$!ly $au%#& *#r a!* i//#&ia!#ly !*#r#af!#r, !o !*# &a/a+# a& pr#u&i$# of !*# *#ir% of !*# (i$!i/. Co!rary !o la'.F 3
po arrai+/#!, !*# a$$u%#&"app#lla! pl#a& o! +uil!y a& !rial #%u#&. *# pro%#$u!io #(i$#, $o%i%!i+ of !*# !#%!i/oi#% of Co%ola$io Ja(i#r ai! a& Al/a Ja(i#r, &au+*!#r% of !*# (i$!i/ a& a$$u%#&"app#lla!, a& ;1 Ro!#lio a$*o ar# !ail#& a% follo'% A$$u%#&"app#lla! E&uar&o Ja(i#r a& !*# (i$!i/ our fa!*#r i% +oi+ !o ill /#. Af!#r %*# *#ar& *#r /o!*#r %$r#a/ for *#lp, Co%ola$io ru%*#& ou! of *#r *ou%# a& /#! *#r %i%!#r, Al/a '*o, '##pi+, !ol& *#r !*a! !*#ir par#!% '#r# uarr#lli+. Al/a, a! !*# !i/# of !*# i$i! 'a% li(i+ i *#r par#!% *ou%#. Co%ola$io a& Al/a !*# pro$##& !o !*#ir )ro!*#r au#l% *ou%#, '*i$* i% lo$a!#& a)ou! %#(#!y !o #i+*!y /#!#r% a'ay fro/ !*#ir par#!% *ou%#. *# !*r## !*# pro$##& !o !*#ir par#!% *ou%#. au#l, '*o #!#r#& fir%!, fou& !*# lif#l#%% )o&y of *i% /o!*#r a& *i% fa!*#r, a$$u%#&"app#lla!, 'ou& i !*# a)&o/#. au#l !*# orr#& Co%ola$io !o +#! a !ri$y$l# !o )ri+ !*#ir fa!*#r !o !*# *o%pi!al. A! !*i% poi!, au#l ifor/#& *#r %i%!#r% !*a! !*#ir /o!*#r 'a% a& a& !*a! !*#ir fa!*#r $of#%%#& !o *i/ !*a! *# ill#& *i% 'if# a& !*#r#af!#r all#+#&ly %!a))#& *i/%#lf.
A$$u%#&"app#lla! 'a% )rou+*! !o !*# *o%pi!al )y Co%ola$io% *u%)a&, <#ra&o, a& *#r %o, J#ff#r%o, '*il# au#l '#! ou! !o +#! *#lp. 7
;1 Ro!#lio a$*o, a%%i+#& a% % i(#%!i+a!or a! !*# !o. o/a% oli$# !a!io i -a io, !#%!ifi#& i !*# i(#%!i+a!io *# $o&u$!#& 'i!* ;4 au#l Hara!# a& ;1 A+a!o -aroIa r#+ar&i+ !*# i$i! of Ju# 15, 1996. # %!a!#& !*a! *# r#$#i(#& a $all for a%%i%!a$# fro/ !*# )ara+ay $ap!ai of u+o&, !o. o/a% )#$au%# a$$u%#&"app#lla! all#+#&ly ill#& *i% 'if#. *# poli$# au!*ori!i#% !*# pro$##& !o a$$u%#&"app#lla!% *ou%# i Br+y. u+o&, !o. o/a%, '*#r# !*#y %a'
!*i% app#al, a$$u%#&"app#lla! all#+#& !*a! !*# !rial $our! #rr#& i i/po%i+ !*# a!* p#al!y, $o%iri+ !*# pr#%#$# of !'o /i!i+a!i+ $ir$u/%!a$#% of ill#%% of !*# off#r a& pa%%io a& o)fu%$a!io. 12 *il# a$$u%#&"app#lla! &o#% o! u#%!io !*# $i%io of !*# !rial $our! i r##$!i+ *i% f#%# of i%ai!y, *# ar+u#% !*a! *# %*oul& )# /#!#& a lo'#r p#al!y )#$au%# a! !*# !i/# of !*# i$i!, *# 'a% %uff#ri+ fro/ lo%% of %l##p for a prolo+#& p#rio& of !i/#, '*i$* 'oul& *a(# $au%#& *i/ !o $o//i! !*# $ri/#. # fur!*#r $o!#&% !*a! *i% %u%pi$io !*a! *i% 'if# 'a% *a(i+ a illi$i! r#la!io%*ip 'i!* ao!*#r /a, a++ra(a!#& )y *i% ill#%%, +oa& *i/ !o $o//i! !*# $ri/#. *# ;ffi$# of !*# oli$i!or G##ral, o !*# o!*#r *a&, ar+u#% !*a! a$$u%#&"app#lla! $ao! $lai/ !*# /i!i+a!i+ $ir$u/%!a$# of ill#%% i !*# a)%#$# of a /#&i$al fi&i+ !o
%uppor! *i% $lai/. A$$u%#&"app#lla! $ao! li#'i%# )# #!i!l#& !o !*# /i!i+a!i+ $ir$u/%!a$# of pa%%io a& o)fu%$a!io i !*# a)%#$# of %uffi$i#! #(i$#. # fi& !*# app#al )#r#f! of /#ri!. A$$u%#&"app#lla!, &uri+ !rial, a&/i!!#& illi+ *i% 'if#, )u! i!#rpo%#& a% f#%# !*# #7#/p!i+ $ir$u/%!a$# of i%ai!y. o'#(#r, !*# !rial $our! r##$!#& !*i% f#%# of i%ai!y for failur# of !*# f#%# !o pro(# !*a! a$$u%#&"app#lla! 'a% i#& i%a# a! !*# !i/# of !*# i$i!. *# f#%# #(#r pr#%#!#& ay /#&i$al r#$or& of !*# a$$u%#&" app#lla!, or 'a% a p%y$*ia!ri%! #(#r pr#%#!#& !o (ali&a!# !*# f#%# of i%ai!y. Eually i/por!a!, !*# f#%#, &uri+ !rial, #(#r all#+#& !*# a)o(#"$lai/#& /i!i+a!i+ $ir$u/%!a$#% of ill#%% a& pa%%io a& o)fu%$a!io, !*u% '#a#i+ !*# $a%# of a$$u%#&"app#lla!. !*i% app#al, a$$u%#&"app#lla! all#+#& !*a! prior !o !*# i$i!, *# *a& )## %uff#ri+ fro/ i%o/ia for arou& a /o!*, !*u% l#a&i+ *i/ !o $o//i! a a$! )#yo& *i% $o!rol, !*# illi+ of *i% 'if#,
N#i!*#r $a '# appr#$ia!# !*# $ir$u/%!a$# of pa%%io a& o)fu%$a!io !o /i!i+a!# *i% $ri/ial lia)ili!y. orr !o )# #!i!l#& !o !*# /i!i+a!i+ $ir$u/%!a$# of pa%%io a& o)fu%$a!io, !*# follo'i+ #l#/#!% %*oul& $o$ur D1 !*#r# %*oul& )# a a$! )o!* ula'ful a& %uffi$i#! !o pro&u$# %u$* $o&i!io of /i&: a& D2 %ai& a$! '*i$* pro&u$#& !*# o)fu%$a!io 'a% o! far r#/o(#& fro/ !*# $o//i%%io of !*# $ri/# )y a $o%ira)l# l#+!* of !i/#, &uri+ '*i$* !*# p#rp#!ra!or /i+*! r#$o(#r *i% /oral #uai/i!y. 15 *# for#+oi+ #l#/#!% '#r# o! pro(#& !o )# pr#%#! i i%!a! $a%#. fa$!, &uri+ a$$u%#&"app#lla!% !#%!i/oy, *# #(# %!a!#& !*a! *# 'a% o! #alou% of *i% 'if#. A% $orr#$!ly o)%#r(#& )y !*# ;ffi$# of !*# oli$i!or G##ral F !*# $a%# of app#lla!, !*#r# i% la$ of proof of !*# $au%# '*i$* pro&u$#& !*# all#+#& pa%%io a& o)fu%$a!io. App#lla!, i *i% !#%!i/oy, &i& o! a$$ou! *o' *# ill#& *i% 'if# or &i& *# #7plai !*# $au%# '*y *# 'a% pro/p!#& !o ill *i% 'if#. ?#rily, !*#r# #7i%!% o u%!ifia)l# )a%i% for applyi+ !o *i/ !*i% /i!i+a!i+ $ir$u/%!a$# of pa%%io a& o)fu%$a!io a% !*# $au%# '*i$* pro&u$#& i! *a% o! )## #%!a)li%*#&.F 16
All !ol&, !*# all#+a!io% propou& )y a$$u%#&"app#lla! !*a! *i% %u%pi$io% r#+ar&i+ *i% 'if#, a++ra(a!#& )y *i% ill#%% /a i! po%%i)l# for *i/ !o ill *i% o' 'if#, i% )u! a /#r# af!#r!*ou+*! !o '*i!!l# &o' *i% $ri/ial lia)ili!y. A&&i!ioally, i! i% a %#!!l#& rul# !*a! fa$!ual fi&i+% of !*# !rial $our!% 'ill +##rally o! )# &i%!ur)#& )y !*# app#lla!# $our! )#$au%# i! i% i !*# )#%! po%i!io !o prop#rly #(alua!# !#%!i/oial #(i$# $o%iri+ !*a! i! o)%#r(#% !*# /#aor, $o&u$! a& a!!i!u of 'i!#%%#% &uri+ !*# !rial. !*# $a%# a! )ar, !*# !rial $our! 'a% a)l# !o o)%#r(# !*# )#*a(iour of a$$u%#&"app#lla! a& i! %!a!#& !*a! *i% r#$oll#$!io of !*# !ail% %urrou&i+ !*# illi+ i% %o i/p#$$a)l# !*a! oly a p#r%o i *i% ri+*! /i& $a /a# i!. *u%, !*# !rial $our! 'a% $orr#$! i $o(i$!i+ a$$u%#&"app#lla! of !*# $ri/# of parri$i ur Ar!i$l# 246 of !*# R#(i%#& #al Co Da% a/#& )y R#pu)li$ A$! No. 659, #$!io 5 '*i$* pro(i% !*a! FAy p#r%o '*o %*all ill *i% fa!*#r, /o!*#r or $*il&, '*#!*#r l#+i!i/a!# or ill#+i!i/a!#, or ay of *i% a%$#&a!%, or %$#&a !%, or *i% %pou%#, %*all )# +uil!y of parri$i a& %*all )# pui%*#& )y !*# p#al!y of reclusion perpetua to death.F
*# $ri/# of parri$i, o! )#i+ a $api!al $ri/# per se a% i! i% o! pui%*a)l# )y /a&a!ory a!* p#al!y )u! )y !*# fl#7i)l# p#al!y of reclusion perpetua !o a!*, !'o i&i(i%i)l# p#al!i#%, !*# appli$a!io of !*# l#%%#r or !*# +r#a!#r p#al!y p#&% o !*# pr#%#$# of /i!i+a!i+ a& a++ra(a!i+ $ir$u/%!a$#%. 17
!*i% $a%#, !*# ifor/a!io for parri$i a+ai%! a$$u%#&"app#lla! &i& o! all#+# ay a++ra(a!i+ $ir$u/%!a$#. Nor &i& !*# #(i$# %*o' !*a! !*# pro%#$u!io 'a% a)l# !o pro(# ay a++ra(a!i+ $ir$u/%!a$#. 18 -i#'i%#, o /i!i+a!i+ $ir$u/%!a$# i% appr#$ia!#& )y !*i% Cour! i fa(or of !*# a$$u%#&"app#lla!. *u%, i !*# a)%#$# of ay a++ra(a!i+ or /i!i+a!i+ $ir$u/%!a$# for !*# a$$u%#&"app#lla!, !*# l#%%#r p#al!y of reclusion perpetua %*oul& )# i/po%#&. A% r#+ar&% !*# /o#!ary lia)ili!y, !*# Cour! !a#% !*# a/ou! of 50,000.00 i/po%#& )y !*# !rial $our! a% o# of $i(il i/i!y i%!#a& of a% /oral &a/a+#%. ERE<;RE, !*# $i%io of !*# R#+ioal rial Cour! of A+oo, -a io, Bra$* 32, i Cri/ial Ca%# No. A"3155 i% *#r#)y A<<RE= 'i!* !*# ;=<CA;N !*a! a$$u%#&"app#lla! E&uar&o Ja(i#r y Ba%i %*oul& %uff#r !*# p#al!y of reclusion perpetua. ; ;R=ERE=. Bellosillo !elo Puno "itug #apunan !endo$a Panganiban %uisu&bing Purisi&a Pardo Buena Gon$aga-eyes a& (nares-Santiago JJ. $o$ur. )a*ide Jr ., C . J ., i% o l#a(#. Footnotes
1. ollo, pp. 15"31. 2.Ju&+# -#o . Rapa!alo, pr#%i&i+. 3. ollo, p. 6. 4.R#$or&%, p. 3. 5.N, <#)ruary 12, 199, pp. 5"6.
6. +bid , pp. 6"9. . +d ., p. 9. 8.N, <#)ruary 19, 199, pp. 2". 9.R#$or&%, p. 5. 10.N, ar$* 11, 199, pp. 3"5.
11. ollo, pp. 15"31. 12. +bid , p. 56. 13. +d ., pp. 64"65 DApp#lla!% Bri#f. 14.ara+rap* 9, Ar!i$l# 12 of !*# R#(i%#& #al Co. 15. People of the Philippines *. uben Ta,bobo, 224 CRA 134 D1993. 16. ollo, p. 105. 1. People of the Philippines *. Bena&in eyes, 292 CRA 663, DJuly 20, 1998. 18. +bid .