People v. v. Sequino, G.R. No. 117397, 13 November 1996. J. DAVIDE JR., J.
FACTS: Godine !i"#dre! $ %er"$in $mo&n" o' mone( $" )ede**in R&r$* R&r$* +$n. +$n. Ser$-n Ser$-n $nd +ronio +ronio*$ *$ $%%om $%%om$ni $nied ed #im in /oin/ /oin/ #ome0 "#e 3 o' "#em !ere ridin/ $ mo"or%(%*e. A "#e( !ere ne$rin/ "#e #$%iend$, $%%&ed, $rmed !i"# /&n b*o%ed "#eir $"# $nd ordered "#em "o "o, !i"# "#e in"en" o' robbin/ "#e mone( "#$" Godine !i"#dre!. 2o!ever, "#e vi%"im did no" "o $nd "#ere$'"er #e$rd $ /&n#o" #i""in/ +ronio*$ in "#e #$nd. In "#e %ene o' "#e %rime, S45 'o&nd $ ie%e o' $er !i"# "#e n$me o' Neni"o )e*vid$ !ri""en on i". T#&, $'"er -ndin/ "#e $%%&ed, &n$ $ed )e*vid$ "o /o !i"# #im "o "#e b$r$n/$( %$"$in #o&e. 2o!ever, "#e b$r$n/$( %$"$in !$ no" $" #ome o "#e o*i%e o8i%er "oo )e*vid$ "o "#e o*i%e "$"ion !#ere $n inve"i/$"ion !$ %ond&%"ed b( &n$ $nd #i 'e**o! o*i%emen. 2e !$ $**o!ed "o /o #ome b&" on*( $'"er $ %rimin$* %#$r/e !$ -*ed $/$in" #im b( "#e o*i%e. D&rin/ "#e inve"i/$"ion, )e*vid$ !$ no" $i"ed b( $ %o&ne*. &n$ inve"i/$"ion !$ $*o no" red&%ed in"o !ri"in/. T#e de'ene in"eroed $*ibi $nd deni$*. T#e "ri$* %o&r" ided !i"# "#e roe%&"ion eviden%e $nd 'o&nd "#e $%%&ed /&i*"( o' robber( !i"# #omi%ide. ISSES: 1.; <$ <$ "#ere $n inv$*id $rre" o' "#e $%%&ed )e*vid$= 5.; Are "#e $dmiion m$de d&rin/ "#e inve"i/$"ion v$*id= RING: 1. >ES >ES. Re/$ Re/$rd rd*e *e o' &n$ &n$ %*$i %*$im m "o "# "#e e %on" %on"r$ r$r( r(,, $%%& $%%&e ed d Neni"o )e*vid$ !$ $rre"ed. An $rre" i "#e "$in/ o' $ eron in"o %&"od( in order "#$" #e m$( be bo&nd "o $n!er 'or "#e %ommiion o' $n o8ene $nd i" i m$de b( $n $%"&$* re"r$in" o' "#e eron "o be $rre"ed or b( #i &bmiion "o "#e %&"od( o' "#e eron eron m$in/ m$in/ "#e $rre". $rre". )e*vid$ )e*vid$ vo*&n"$ri vo*&n"$ri*( *( /oin/ !i"# !i"# &n$ &on "#e *$""er ?invi"$"ion@ !$ $ &bmiion "o &n$ %&"od(, $nd &n$ be*ieved "#$" )e*vid$ !$ $ &e%" in "#e robb robber er( ( %#$r %#$r/e /ed d #ere #erein in,, #en% #en%e, e, )e*v )e*vid id$ $ !$ !$ bein bein/ / #e*d #e*d "o $n! $n!er er 'or "# "#e e %omm %ommi ii ion on o' "# "#e e $id $id o8en o8ene e.. &n$ &n$ #$d #$d no
eron$* no!de/e o' '$%" indi%$"in/ )e*vid$ /&i*"(0 $" be", #e #$d $n &nre$on$b*e &i%ion. T#&, )e*vid$ $rre" !$ i**e/$*. 5. N4. A'"er #i &n*$!'&* $rre", )e*vid$ &nder!en" %&"odi$* inve"i/$"ion. T#e %&"odi$* inve"i/$"ion be/$n !#en "#e o*i%e inoin"ed )e*vid$ $ one o' "#e $&"#or o' "#e %rime or #$d 'o%&ed on #im $ $ &e%" "#ereo'. Ar"i%*e 3, Se%"ion 15 1; o' "#e 19B7 Con"i"&"ion /&$r$n"ee "#e $%%&ed ri/#" "o rem$in i*en" $nd "o %o&ne*, $nd #i ri/#" "o be in'ormed o' "#ee ri/#". T#ere !$ no #o!in/ "#$" )e*vid$ !$ ever in'ormed o' "#ee ri/#" $nd &n$ $dmi""ed "#$" )e*vid$ !$ no" $i"ed b( $ %o&ne* d&rin/ "#e inve"i/$"ion. Indi&"$b*(, "#e o*i%e o8i%er vio*$"ed "#e %on"i"&"ion$* ri/#" o' )e*vid$0 "#e( $*o dire/$rded "#e r&*e re/$rdin/ "#e inve"i/$"or d&"ie rior "o $nd d&rin/ %&"odi$* inve"i/$"ion *$id do!n in )or$*e v Enri*e.
