Republic of the Philippines

SUPREME COURT
Manila
FIRST DIVISION
G.R. No. !"#$" %anua&' !#( !)))
%EFFRE* +I,NG -.UEFENG/( petitione&(
0s.
PEOP+E OF T.E P.I+IPPINES( &espon1ent.
*N,RES2S,NTI,GO( %.3
Petitione& is an econo4ist 5o&6in7 5ith the ,sian
De0elop4ent 8an6 -,D8/. So4eti4e in 99:( fo& alle7e1l'
utte&in7 1efa4ato&' 5o&1s a7ainst fello5 ,D8 5o&6e& %o'ce
Cabal( he 5as cha&7e1 befo&e the Met&opolitan T&ial Cou&t
-MeTC/ of Man1alu'on7 Cit' 5ith t5o counts of 7&a0e o&al
1efa4ation 1oc6ete1 as C&i4inal Cases Nos. ";<) an1
";<. Petitione& 5as a&&este1 b' 0i&tue of a 5a&&ant issue1 b'
the MeTC. ,fte& fi=in7 petitione&>s bail at P!(:)).)) pe&
c&i4inal cha&7e( the MeTC &elease1 hi4 to the custo1' of the
Secu&it' Office& of ,D8. The ne=t 1a'( the MeTC ?u17e
&ecei0e1 an @office of p&otocol@ f&o4 the Depa&t4ent of Fo&ei7n
,ffai&s -DF,/ statin7 that petitione& is co0e&e1 b' i44unit'
f&o4 le7al p&ocess un1e& Section :" of the ,7&ee4ent
bet5een the ,D8 an1 the Philippine Go0e&n4ent &e7a&1in7
the .ea1Aua&te&s of the ,D8 -he&einafte& ,7&ee4ent/ in the
count&'. 8ase1 on the sai1 p&otocol co44unication that
petitione& is i44une f&o4 suit( the MeTC ?u17e 5ithout notice
to the p&osecution 1is4isse1 the t5o c&i4inal cases. The latte&
file1 a 4otion fo& &econsi1e&ation 5hich 5as oppose1 b' the
DF,. Bhen its 4otion 5as 1enie1( the p&osecution file1 a
petition fo& ce&tio&a&i an1 4an1a4us 5ith the Re7ional T&ial
Cou&t -RTC/ of Pasi7 Cit' 5hich set asi1e the MeTC &ulin7s
an1 o&1e&e1 the latte& cou&t to enfo&ce the 5a&&ant of a&&est it
ea&lie& issue1. ,fte& the 4otion fo& &econsi1e&ation 5as 1enie1(
petitione& ele0ate1 the case to this Cou&t 0ia a petition fo&
&e0ie5 a&7uin7 that he is co0e&e1 b' i44unit' un1e& the
,7&ee4ent an1 that no p&eli4ina&' in0esti7ation 5as hel1
befo&e the c&i4inal cases 5e&e file1 in cou&t.C5phi.nDt
The petition is not i4p&esse1 5ith 4e&it.
Fi&st( cou&ts cannot blin1l' a1he&e an1 ta6e on its face the
co44unication f&o4 the DF, that petitione& is co0e&e1 b' an'
i44unit'. The DF,>s 1ete&4ination that a ce&tain pe&son is
co0e&e1 b' i44unit' is onl' p&eli4ina&' 5hich has no bin1in7
effect in cou&ts. In &ecei0in7 e=2pa&te the DF,>s a10ice an1 in
4otu p&opio 1is4issin7 the t5o c&i4inal cases 5ithout notice
to the p&osecution( the latte&>s &i7ht to 1ue p&ocess 5as
0iolate1. It shoul1 be note1 that 1ue p&ocess is a &i7ht of the
accuse1 as 4uch as it is of the p&osecution. The nee1e1
inAui&' in 5hat capacit' petitione& 5as actin7 at the ti4e of the
alle7e1 utte&ances &eAui&es fo& its &esolution e0i1entia&' basis
that has 'et to be p&esente1 at the p&ope& ti4e. ,t an' &ate( it
has been &ule1 that the 4e&e in0ocation of the i44unit' clause
1oes not ipso facto &esult in the 1&oppin7 of the cha&7es.!
Secon1( un1e& Section :" of the ,7&ee4ent 5hich p&o0i1es3
Office&s an1 staff of the 8an6 inclu1in7 fo& the pu&pose of this
,&ticle e=pe&ts an1 consultants pe&fo&4in7 4issions fo& the
8an6 shall en?o' the follo5in7 p&i0ile7es an1 i44unities3
a./ i44unit' f&o4 le7al p&ocess 5ith &espect to acts pe&fo&4e1
b' the4 in thei& official capacit' e=cept 5hen the 8an6 5ai0es
the i44unit'.
the i44unit' 4entione1 the&ein is not absolute( but sub?ect to
the e=ception that the acts 5as 1one in @official capacit'.@ It is
the&efo&e necessa&' to 1ete&4ine if petitione&>s case falls 5ithin
the a4bit of Section :"-a/. Thus( the p&osecution shoul1 ha0e
been 7i0en the chance to &ebut the DF, p&otocol an1 it 4ust
be acco&1e1 the oppo&tunit' to p&esent its cont&o0e&tin7
e0i1ence( shoul1 it so 1esi&e.
Thi&1( slan1e&in7 a pe&son coul1 not possibl' be co0e&e1 b'
the i44unit' a7&ee4ent because ou& la5s 1o not allo5 the
co44ission of a c&i4e( such as 1efa4ation( in the na4e of
official 1ut'.; The i4putation of theft is ult&a 0i&es an1 cannot
be pa&t of official functions. It is 5ell2settle1 p&inciple of la5
that a public official 4a' be liable in his pe&sonal p&i0ate
capacit' fo& 5hate0e& 1a4a7e he 4a' ha0e cause1 b' his act
1one 5ith 4alice o& in ba1 faith o& be'on1 the scope of his
autho&it' o& ?u&is1iction.: It appea&s that e0en the
7o0e&n4ent>s chief le7al counsel( the Solicito& Gene&al( 1oes
not suppo&t the stan1 ta6en b' petitione& an1 that of the DF,.
Fou&th( un1e& the Vienna Con0ention on Diplo4atic Relations(
a 1iplo4atic a7ent( assu4in7 petitione& is such( en?o's
i44unit' f&o4 c&i4inal ?u&is1iction of the &ecei0in7 state e=cept
in the case of an action &elatin7 to an' p&ofessional o&
co44e&cial acti0it' e=e&cise1 b' the 1iplo4atic a7ent in the
&ecei0in7 state outsi1e his official functions." ,s al&ea1'
4entione1 abo0e( the co44ission of a c&i4e is not pa&t of
official 1ut'.
Finall'( on the contention that the&e 5as no p&eli4ina&'
in0esti7ation con1ucte1( suffice it to sa' that p&eli4ina&'
in0esti7ation is not a 4atte& of &i7ht in cases co7niEable b' the
MeTC such as the one at ba&.$ 8ein7 pu&el' a statuto&' &i7ht(
p&eli4ina&' in0esti7ation 4a' be in0o6e1 onl' 5hen
specificall' 7&ante1 b' la5.< The &ule on the c&i4inal
p&oce1u&e is clea& that no p&eli4ina&' in0esti7ation is &eAui&e1
in cases fallin7 5ithin the ?u&is1iction of the MeTC.# 8esi1es
the absence of p&eli4ina&' in0esti7ation 1oes not affect the
cou&t>s ?u&is1iction no& 1oes it i4pai& the 0ali1it' of the
info&4ation o& othe&5ise &en1e& it 1efecti0e.9
B.EREFORE( the petition is DENIED.
SO ORDERED.C5phi.nDt
Da0i1e( %&.( C.%.( Puno( Fapunan an1 Pa&1o( %%.( concu&.
Republic of the Philippines
SUPREME COURT
Manila
EN 8,NC
G.R. No. +2!;;; ,u7ust !)( 9!"
T.E PEOP+E OF T.E P.I+IPPINE IS+,NDS( plaintiff2
appellee(
0s.
,N,ST,SIO D,GM,N( ET ,+.( 1efen1ants2appellants.
Valentin %. ,lci1 fo& appellants.
,tto&ne'2Gene&al Villa2Real fo& appellee.
M,+CO+M( %.3
On the !n1 of Ma'( 9!:( Elias Ma7bual( en e4plo'ee of the
hacien1a @+a Espe&anEa(@ 5hile in the pe&fo&4ance of his
1uties( 5as t&eache&ous attac6e1 b' a c&o51 of pe&son(
p&obabl' about fo&t' in nu4be& an1 5as nea&l' 6ille1. The
4oti0e of the c&i4e 5as that the pe&sons 5ho ha&bo&e1 en4it'
a7ainst the Ma7bual ha1 p&e0iousl' been 1ispossesse1 of
po&tions of the lan1 b' ?u1icial o&1e&. The attac6 be7an b' the
c&o51 shoutin7 @,0ance@ an1 5ith Ma7bual atte4ptin7 to
escape. 8ut a stone th&o5n b' ,nastasio Da74an hit Ma7bual
in the b&east( an1 6noc6e1 hi4 1o5n. In this position( he 5as
attac6e1 b' +uis Pacunla 5ho 5oun1e1 hi4 5ith a lance.
Ma7bual 4a1e anothe& atte4pt to flee onl' to fall a7ain an1 to
&ecei0e 5oun1s 4a1e b' bolos an1 clubs 5iel1e1 b' the
accuse1. Ma7bual escape1 1eath f&o4 his to&4ento&s b' the
use of fei7nin7 1eath.
On these facts( se0en pe&sons( +uis Pacunla( ,n1&es
Rebolli1o( Isabelo Rebolli1o( %uan Olanan( ,nastasio
Da74an( Valentin Tabla1illo( an1 +uciano Pacunla( 5e&e
cha&7e1 in the Cou&t of Fi&st Instance of Nue0a Eci?a 5ith the
c&i4e of f&ust&ate1 4u&1e&. ,fte& t&ial( each of the accuse1 5as
foun1 7uilt' b' the .ono&able E1ua&1o Gutie&&eE Da0i1( %u17e
of Fi&st Instance( of the c&i4e of f&ust&ate1 ho4ici1e an1 5as
sentence1 acco&1in7l'.
F&o4 the ?u174ent last 4entione1( all of the 1efen1ants ha0e
appeale1. In thei& behalf( t5o e&&o&s a&e assi7ne1 an1 a&7ue1(
na4el'( -/ that the t&ial ?u17e e&&e1 in fin1in7 that the accuse1
ha1 the intention to 6ill Elias Ma7bual( the offen1e1 pa&t'( an1
-!/ that the t&ial ?u17e li6e5ise e&&e1 in fin1in7 that the&e 5as
an a7&ee4ent to 6ill Elias Ma7bual an1 the&efo&e in sentencin7
all of the accuse1 to the sa4e penalt'( 5ithout ta6in7 into
account the pa&ticipation of each of one of the4 in the
co44ission of the c&i4e( if an'.
Neithe& of these points is 5ell ta6en. The t&ial ?u17e foun1
each of the accuse1 to ha0e been p&o0e1 7uilt' be'on1 a
&easonable 1oubt of a c&i4e inclu1e1 in the info&4ation. The&e
is a4ple p&oof to substantiate this fin1in7. The 4u&1e&ous
intent of the accuse1 an1 thei& ?oint pu&pose a&e li6e5ise
clea&l' 1e4onst&ate1.
The t&ial ?u17e( it 5ill be &ecalle1( foun1 the 1efen1ants 7uilt'
of the c&i4e of f&ust&ate1 ho4ici1e. The ,tto&ne'2Gene&al(
ho5e0e&( &eco44en1s that the c&i4e be classifie1 as
f&ust&ate1 4u&1e& in 0ie5 of the p&esence of the Aualif'in7
ci&cu4stance of t&eache&'( an1 that the penalt' then be place1
in the 4a=i4u4 of that p&o0i1e b' la5 because of the
p&esence of the a77&a0atin7 ci&cu4stance that p&ohibite1 a&4s
5e&e use b' the assailants. , 4a?o&it' of the cou&t a7&ee 5ith
the ,tto&ne'2Gene&al. Be belie0e the felon' shoul1 be
classifie1 as f&ust&ate1 &athe& than atte4pte1( un1e& the la5
an1 the local ?u&isp&u1ence.
The 4u&1e& shoul1 be &e7a&1e1 as f&ust&ate1 because the
offen1e&s pe&fo&4e1 all of the acts of e=ecution 5hich shoul1
p&ece1e the felon' as conseAuence but 5hich( ne0e&theless(
1i1 not p&o1uce it b' &eason of causes in1epen1ent of the 5ill
of the pe&pet&ato&sG in this instance( the pla'in7 possu4 b'
Ma7bual. -Penal Co1e( a&t. ;( pa&. !./ The&e 5as an intent
upon the pa&t of the assailants to ta6e the life of the pe&son
attac6e1( 5hich intent 4a' be 7athe&e1 f&o4 the
ci&cu4stances su&&oun1in7 the attac6G in this instance( the
natu&e of the 5oun1s( the c&' of the accuse1( @Va4os a
4ata&le(@ an1 thei& fin7e&in7 the nose of Ma7bual to see if
&espi&ation continue1. -U.S. 0s. Men1oEa H9#I( ;# Phil.( $9G
U.S. 0s. SancheE H9I( !) Phil.( :!<G U.S. 0s. Do4in7o an1
Dolo& H9I( # Phil.( !")G U.S. 0s. Ma&asi7an H9)#I( Phil.(
!<G U.S. 0s. Re'es H9)$I( $ Phil.( ;# U.S. 0s. Sabio H9);I( !
Phil.( :#"G U.S. 0s. Ta7uibao H9)I( Phil.( $./ Dea1l'
5eapons 5e&e use1( blo5s 5e&e 1i&ecte1 at the 0ital pa&ts of
the bo1'( the a77&esso&s state1 thei& pu&pose to 6ill an1
thou7ht the' ha1 6ille1. The sub?ecti0e phase of the c&i4e 5as
enti&el' passe1( an1 sub?ecti0el' spea6in7( the c&i4e 5as
co4plete. -U.S. 0s. E1ua0e H9<I( ;$ Phil.( !)9./ The
pa&ticula& pa&ts of the bo1' of the pe&son st&uc6 1u&in7 the
assault( the 1ea1l' cha&acte& of the 5eapons use1( the
0iolence of the attac6( an1 the acco4plish4ent of the c&i4e
5ith ale0osia in such 4anne& as to insu&e the safet' of the
assailants 5hile 1ep&i0in7 the 0icti4 of the oppo&tunit' to 4a6e
1efense( classifies the c&i4e a f&ust&ate1 4u&1e&. -U.S. 0s.
SancheE H9I( !) Phil.( :!<( citin7 1ecisions of the sup&e4e
cou&t of Spain of ,p&il <( #9"( Septe4be& !9( ##( an1
Dece4be& ;( #9)./ ,n1 finall'( that the 0icti4 1i1 not 1ie(
5as o5in7 to a chance o& acci1ent o& &eason in1epen1ent of
the c&i4inal act pe&fo&4e1. -U.S. ,7oncillo an1 ,14ana
H9$I( ;; Phil.( !:!./ -See also U.S. 0s. 8astas an1 De la
Se&na H9)"I( " Phil.( !"G U.S. 0s. Poblete H9)#I( ) Phil.(
"<#G U.S. 0s. Do4in7o an1 Dolo& H9I( # Phil.( !")G ,lbe&t(
The +a5 on C&i4es( pp. ;2;;G an1 ;) C.%.( :./
In the 1ecision in the case of Unite1 States 0s. +i4 San
- H9)I( < Phil.( !<;( !<$/( M&. %ustice Mo&elan1 spea6in7 fo&
a unani4ous cou&t( in pa&t( sai13
The cou&t foun1 the 1efen1ant 7uilt' of the c&i4e of atte4pte1
4u&1e&. Be a&e unable to a7&ee 5ith that fin1in7. Be &e7a&1
the c&i4e as f&ust&ate1 4u&1e&. The 1istinction bet5een
f&ust&ate1 4u&1e& an1 atte4pte1 4u&1e& is this3 In f&ust&ate1
4u&1e& the accuse1 pe&fo&4s all of the acts 5hich he belie0es
necessa&' to consu44ate the c&i4e. Death( fails to follo5 fo&
causes enti&el' apa&t f&o4 his 5ill. In atte4pte1 4u&1e& the
accuse1 be7ins the co44ission of the c&i4e b' o0e& acts( but
in0olunta&il' 1esists f&o4 pe&fo&4in7 the othe& acts necessa&'
to consu44ate the c&i4e( he bein7 p&e0ente1 f&o4 so 1oin7
b' so4e cause outsi1e of his o5n 5ill. In the case at ba& it
appea&s clea&l' that the 1efen1ant belie0e1 that he ha1
pe&fo&4e1 all of the acts necessa&' to consu44ate the c&i4e
of 4u&1e&( an1( the&efo&e( of his o5n 5ill( 1esiste1 f&o4 st&i6in7
fu&the& blo5s. .e belie0e1 that he ha1 6ille1 Fen7 Fin. Death
1i1 not &esult fo& &easons enti&el' apa&t f&o4 the 5ill of the
accuse1. This su&el' sta4ps the c&i4e as f&ust&ate1 4u&1e&. If(
afte& the fi&st blo5( so4e one ha1 &ushe1 to the assistance of
Fen7 Fin an1 b' his effo&ts ha1 p&e0ente1 the accuse1 f&o4
p&ocee1in7 fu&the& in the co44ission of the c&i4e( the
accuse1 not belie0in7 that he ha1 pe&fo&4e1 all of the acts
necessa&' to cause 1eath( he 5oul1 ha0e been 7uilt' of
atte4pte1 4u&1e&.
,7&eeable to the &eco44en1ation of the ,tto&ne'2Gene&al( the
?u174ent appeale1 f&o4 is 4o1ifie1 an1 each of the
1efen1ants an1 appellants is sentence1 to fou&teen 'ea&s(
ei7ht 4onths an1 one 1a' i4p&ison4ent ca1ena te4po&al(
5ith the accesso&' penalties p&o0i1e1 b' la5( an1 to pa' a
one2se0enth pa&t of the costs of each instance( an1 all of the
1efen1ants an1 appellants ?ointl' an1 se0e&all' a&e sentence1
to &ei4bu&se the offen1e1 pa&t' in the a4ount of P$" fo&
4e1ical se&0ices. So o&1e&e1.
,0anceJa( C.%.( %ohnson( Ost&an1( an1 %ohns( %%.( concu&.
Villa4o& an1 Villa2Real( %%.( too6 no pa&t.
Republic of the Philippines
SUPREME COURT
Manila
EN 8,NC
G.R. No. +2!$<#9 ,p&il !"( 9$9
T.E PEOP+E OF T.E P.I+IPPINES( plaintiff2appellee(
0s.
DICTO ,RP, an1 M,,+UM ,RP, 1efen1ants2appellants.
Office of the Solicito& Gene&al ,ntonio P. 8a&&e1o( ,ssistant
Solicito& Gene&al Felicisi4o R. Rosete an1 Solicito& ,ntonio M.
Ma&tineE fo& plaintiff2appellee.
,ntonio +. ,f&ica fo& 1efen1ants2appellants.
TEE.,NFEE( %.3
,uto4atic &e0ie5 b' this Cou&t of the 1eath penalt' i4pose1
b' the t&ial cou&t on the accuse1 fo& the c&i4e of Robbe&' 5ith
T&iple .o4ici1e.
In the info&4ation file1 befo&e the Cou&t of Fi&st Instance of
Da0ao( the accuse1( Dicto ,&pa an1 Maalu4 ,&pa( 5e&e
cha&7e1 5ith the c&i4e of Robbe&' 5ith T&iple .o4ici1e
-C&i4inal Case No. 9$9:/G alle7e1 to ha0e been co44itte1 as
follo5s3
That on o& about Feb&ua&' !)( 9$$( in the Cit' of Da0ao(
Philippines( an1 5ithin the ?u&is1iction of this .ono&able Cou&t(
the abo0e24entione1 accuse1( ha0in7 boa&1e1 a 4oto& banca
na4e1 @M,MI I@( o5ne1 b' Epi4aco Mola to7ethe& 5ith othe&
passen7e&s boun1 fo& Talicu1 Islan1( Da0ao( an1 once the
4oto& banca 5as in the 4i11le of the sea an1 5hen it
1e0elope1 en7ine t&ouble( the accuse1( conspi&in7 to7ethe&
an1 helpin7 one anothe&( 5ith intent to steal the 4oto& banca
an1 b' 4eans of inti4i1ation( the accuse1 Dicto ,&pa fi&in7 his
.!! cal. &e0ol0e& to sca&e the passen7e&s of the banca( an1
fi&e1 at one of the passen7e&s( hittin7 the sai1 passen7e& at
the &i7ht shoul1e&( 5ilfull'( unla5full' an1 feloniousl' too6 an1
ca&&ie1 a5a' the sai1 4oto& banca @M,MI I@ belon7in7 to the
sai1 Epi4aco Mola 0alue1 at P!()).))( to the 1a4a7e an1
p&e?u1ice of the abo0e2na4e1 o5ne& in the afo&e4entione1
a4ount of P!()).))( an1 as a &esult of the ?u4pin7 into the
sea of all the passen7e&s of the 4oto& banca( ,lfonso Ville7as(
8e&na&1o Ville7as an1 +ou&1es Ville7as( all passen7e&s of the
4oto& banca 5e&e 1&o5ne1 an1 1ie1.
On the sche1ule1 1ate of a&&ai7n4ent on Ma&ch <( 9$$( the
accuse1( th&ou7h thei& counsel 1e oficio( ,tt'. 8e&na&1ino
8olcan %&.( 4anifeste1 thei& 1esi&e to plea1 7uilt' onl' as to the
fact of @the 6illin7 of one of the pe&sons 4entione1 in the
info&4ation(@ 1en'in7 the 6illin7 of the t5o othe& pe&sons.
The fiscal( ho5e0e&( 4anifeste1 that the State coul1 not a7&ee
to the accuse1>s offe& to plea1 7uilt' to onl' one ho4ici1e(
since @the t5o othe& pe&sons 5e&e lost on the sa4e
occasion( ... because of the inci1ent. The' ?u4pe1 o0e&boa&1
afte& the fi&in7 at one of the 0icti4s( ...@ ! The t&ial ?u17e( .on.
Manases G. Re'es( acco&1in7l' 1i1 not accept the plea an1
&eset the a&&ai7n4ent fo& the ne=t 1a'( info&4in7 the accuse1
that as the p&osecution 5as not a7&eeable to thei& Aualifie1
plea( the' 5oul1 ha0e to ente& into t&ial.
Bhen the case 5as calle1 on the follo5in7 1a'( the
info&4ation 5as &ea1 to the accuse1 in the 1ialect the'
un1e&stoo1( an1 both accuse1 plea1e1 7uilt'( thei& counsel 1e
oficio in0o6in7( in thei& fa0o& t5o 4iti7atin7 ci&cu4stances of
plea of 7uilt' an1 lac6 of intent to co44it so 7&a0e a 5&on7.
The fiscal ob?ecte1 to the app&eciation of the latte&
ci&cu4stance( 1e4onst&atin7 that @the&e coul1 be no lac6 of
intent 5hen the' i44e1iatel' fi&e1 at one of the 0icti4s point
blan6 5ith a pistol( that is fatal.@ ;
The case 5as sub4itte1 an1 the t&ial cou&t &en1e&e1 the&eafte&
on Ma&ch ( 9$$( its 1ecision( c&e1itin7 the accuse1 5ith
the 4iti7atin7 ci&cu4stance of thei& 0olunta&' plea of 7uilt'( but
&e?ectin7 the clai4e1 4iti7atin7 ci&cu4stance of lac6 of intent
to co44it so 7&a0e a 5&on7( in 0ie5 of @the natu&e an1 7&a0it'
of the offense co44itte1.@ The t&ial cou&t fu&the& foun1 t5o
a77&a0atin7 ci&cu4stances a7ainst the accuse1( as follo5sG
, pe&usal of the info&4ation &e0eals the follo5in7( alle7ation in
the info&4ation3
...an1 once the 4oto& banca 5as in the 4i11le of the sea an1
5hen it 1e0elope1 en7ine t&ouble....
These alle7ations to the 4in1 of the Cou&t constitute t5o
a77&a0atin7 ci&cu4stances. The fi&st un1e&line1 po&tion
constitutes the a77&a0atin7 ci&cu4stance that the c&i4e 5as
co44itte1 in an uninhabite1 place. -People 0s. Rubia "! Phil.
<!/. ,n1 the secon1 constitutes the a77&a0atin7
ci&cu4stance that the c&i4e is co44itte1 on the occasion of
confla7&ation( ship5&ec6( ea&thAua6e( epi1e4ic o& othe&
cala4it' o& 4isfo&tune.
The Cou&t belie0es that the 1e0elop4ent of en7ine t&ouble in
the 4i11le of the sea is a 4isfo&tune 5hich ten1s to c&eate
confusion an1 app&ehensions of the passen7e&s an1( the&eb'(
to co44it a c&i4e such a ti4e the accuse1 4anifeste1 7&eate&
pe&0e&sit' an1 instea1 of &en1e&in7 help inc&ease1 thei&
affliction b' ta6in7 a10anta7e of the sai1 4isfo&tune.
,s it is( the&efo&e( the accuse1 in the co44ission of this c&i4e
has one 4iti7atin7 ci&cu4stance in thei& fa0o& an1 t5o
a77&a0atin7 ci&cu4stances a7ainst the4( an1 offsettin7 one
anothe& the&e is still &e4ainin7 one a77&a0atin7 ci&cu4stance
to the accuse1.:
ConseAuentl'( the t&ial cou&t sentence1 each of the accuse1 to
the penalt' of 1eath an1 o&1e& both of the4( ?ointl' an1
se0e&all'( to in1e4nif' the hei&s of the 1ecease1 ,lfonso
Ville7as( 8e&na&1o Ville7as an1 +ou&1es Ville7as in the
a4ount of P$())).)) fo& each of the4( 5ithout subsi1ia&'
i4p&ison4ent in case of insol0enc' b' &eason of the penalt'
i4pose1( an1 to in1e4nif' Epi4aco Mola in the su4 of
P!()).))( an1 to pa' the costs p&opo&tionatel'.
Fo& pu&poses of this &e0ie5( ,tt'. ,ntonio +. ,f&ica 5as
appointe1 counsel 1e oficio fo& the accuse1( upon the latte&>s
&eAuest fo& such counsel. Sai1 Counsel u&7es the &e0e&sal of
the 1eath sentence( an1 the Solicito&2Gene&al &eco44en1s
the affi&4ance the&eof. Counsel fo& the accuse1 in a 5ell2
p&epa&e1 b&ief( assi7ns the follo5in7 e&&o&s3 K
I. T.E +OBER COURT ERRED IN .O+DING T.,T T.E
CRIME COMMITTED IS RO88ER* BIT. TRIP+E
.OMICIDE.
II. T.E +OBER COURT ERRED IN .O+DING T.,T T.E
CRIME COMMITTED B,S ,TTENDED 8* T.E
,GGR,V,TING CIRCUMST,NCES OF UNIN.,8ITED
P+,CE ,ND ON T.E OCC,SION OF , MISFORTUNE.
III. T.E +OBER COURT ERRED IN NOT CONSIDERING
T.E MITIG,TING CIRCUMST,NCE OF +,CF OF INTENT
TO COMMIT SO GR,VE , BRONG ,S T.,T COMMITTED.
IV. T.E +OBER COURT ERRED IN IMPOSING UPON T.E
,CCUSED T.E SUPREME PEN,+T* OF DE,T..
The accuse1( lea0in7 0olunta&il' plea1e1 7uilt' to the
info&4ation( co4e un1e& the fi&4l' settle1 1oct&ine of bein7
1ee4e1 to ha0e a14itte1 all the 4ate&ial facts alle7e1 in the
info&4ation( inclu1in7 the a77&a0atin7 ci&cu4stances the&ein
alle7e1. "
The fi&st e&&o& assi7ne1 that @if the o&i7inal c&i4inal 1esi7n
1oes not clea&l' co4p&ehen1 ho4ici1e( -in 0ie5 of the
alle7ations in the info&4ation that the accuse1>s intent 5as to
steal the 4oto& banca an1 that accuse1 Dicto ,&pa fi&e1 his !!
cal. &e0ol0e& to sca&e the passen7e&s of the banca/( but
ho4ici1e follo5s the &obbe&' as an inci1ent of the latte&( the
c&i4inal acts shoul1 be 0ie5e1 as constituti0e of t5o offenses(
an1 not as a sin7le special offense -of &obbe&' 5ith ho4ici1e/@
$ is 5ithout 4e&it. ,&ticle !9:( pa&a7&aph of the Re0ise1
Penal Co1e 5hich 1efines the special( sin7le an1 in1i0isible
c&i4e of &obbe&' 5ith ho4ici1e 5ith the use of 0iolence
a7ainst( o& inti4i1ation of an' pe&son( i4poses one 1istinct
penalt' of &eclusion pe&petua to 1eath @5hen b' &eason o& on
occasion of the &obbe&'( the c&i4e of ho4ici1e shall ha0e been
co44itte1.@ In the case of People 0s. Man7ulabnan( et al.( <
this Cou&t pointe1 out that the @En7lish 0e&sion of the Co1e is a
poo& t&anslation of the p&e0ailin7 Spanish te=t of sale
pa&a7&aph( 5hich &ea1s as follo5s3la5phi.nDt
I. o Con la pena 1e &eclusion pe&petua a 4ue&te cuan1o con
4oti0o o> con occasion 1el &obo &esulta&e ho4ici1io.
Be see( the&efo&e( that in o&1e& to 1ete&4ine the e=istence of
the c&i4e of &obbe&' 5ith ho4ici1e it is enou7h that a ho4ici1e
5oul1 &esult b' &eason o& on the occasion of the &obbe&'
-Decision of the Sup&e4e Cou&t of Spain of No0e4be& !$(
#9!( an1 %anua&' <( #<#( Auote1 in ! .i1al7o>s Penal co1e(
p. !$< an1 !"92!$)( &especti0el'/. This .i7h T&ibunal spea6in7
of the accesso&' cha&acte& of the ci&cu4stances lea1in7 to the
ho4ici1e( has also hel1 that it is i44ate&ial that the 1eath
5oul1 supe&0ene b' 4e&e acci1ent -Decision of Septe4be& 9(
##$G Octobe& !!( 9)<G ,p&il ;)( 9) an1 %ul' :( 9</(
p&o0i1e1 that the ho4ici1e be p&o1uce1 b' &eason o& on
occasion of the &obbe&'( inas4uch as it is onl' the &esult
obtaine1( 5ithout &efe&ence o& 1istinction as to the
ci&cu4stances( causes( 4o1es o& pe&sons inte&0enin7 in
co44ission of the c&i4e( that has to be ta6en into
consi1e&ation -Decision of %anua&' !( ##9 K see Cuello
Calon>s Co1i7o Penal p. ")2")!/.
In that case( one of the t5o uni1entifie1 co2pa&ticipants of the
appellant Man7ulabnan cli4be1 up a table an1 fi&e1 at the
ceilin7( 5hich 5as conce1e1 to be @an unp&e4e1itate1 act that
su&7e1 on the spu& of the 4o4ent an1 possibl' 5ithout an'
i1ea that Vicente Pacson 5as hi1in7 the&ein@ that &esulte1 in
the 6illin7 of sai1 Vicente Pacson( but sai1 appellant ha0in7
been sho5n to ha0e pa&ticipate1 in the c&i4inal 1esi7n to
co44it the &obbe&' 5ith his co21efen1ants 5as hel1 7uilt' of
the c&i4e of &obbe&' 5ith ho4ici1e. .e&e( upon the accuse1
ca&&'in7 out thei& c&i4inal 1esi7n to steal the 4oto& banca( one
of the4( Dicto ,&pa( sta&te1 fi&in7 his &e0ol0e& to sca&e the
passen7e&s an1 fi&e1 1i&ectl' at one of the passen7e&s( hittin7
hi4 at the &i7ht shoul1e&( an1 as a &esult( the th&ee passen7e&s
?u4pe1 into the sea an1 4et thei& 1eath b' 1&o5nin7. E0en if
5e 5e&e to conce1e appellants> contention that thei& o&i7inal
c&i4inal 1esi7n 1i1 not clea&l' co4p&ehen1 ho4ici1e( an1 that
ho4ici1e follo5e1 the &obbe&' @as an inci1ent of the latte&@( still
the 1eaths clea&l' &esulte1 b' &eason of o& on the occasion of
the &obbe&' an1 the t&ial cou&t the&efo&e co&&ectl' foun1 the4
7uilt' of the c&i4e of &obbe&' 5ith t&iple ho4ici1e.
The &e4ainin7 e&&o&s assi7ne1 conce&n the t&ial cou&t>s
app&eciation an1 fin1in7 of t5o a77&a0atin7 ci&cu4stances as
a7ainst one 4iti7atin7 ci&cu4stance of a 0olunta&' plea of
7uilt' in the co44ission of the c&i4e an1 the 4an1ato&'
i4position( as a conseAuence( of the penalt' of 1eath.
Be hol1 that the t&ial cou&t co&&ectl' hel1 that the c&i4e
co44itte1 5as atten1e1 b' the a77&a0atin7 ci&cu4stance of
uninhabite1 place. The accuse1( in ha0in7 boa&1e1 at Da0ao
Cit' the 4oto& banca( to7ethe& 5ith othe& passen7e&s boun1
fo& Talicu1 Islan1( Da0ao( an1 ca&&'in7 out thei& c&i4inal
1esi7n of stealin7 the sai1 4oto& banca( once it 5as in the
4i11le of the sea an1 5hen it 1e0elope1 en7ine t&ouble( 5ith
one of the4 fi&in7 &e0ol0e& shots in o&1e& to fo&estall an'
&esistance( ce&tainl' cannot 1isclai4 that the' sou7ht the
isolation of the sea to attain thei& c&i4inal ob?ecti0e 5ithout
inte&fe&ence. ,s hel1 b' this Cou&t in People 0s. Rubia( # the
a77&a0atin7 ci&cu4stance of the c&i4e of ho4ici1e ha0in7
been co44itte1 in an uninhabite1 place 4ust be consi1e&e1(
5he&e the 1ee1 5as co44itte1 at sea( 5he&e it 5as 1ifficult fo&
the offen1e1 pa&t' to &ecei0e an' help( 5hile the assailants
coul1 easil' ha0e escape1 punish4ent( an1 the pu&el'
acci1ental ci&cu4stance that anothe& banca ca&&'in7 the
e'e5itnesses to the c&i4e 5as also at sea in the 0icinit' at the
ti4e 5ithout the assailants> 6no5le17e is no a&7u4ent a7ainst
the app&eciation of sai1 ci&cu4stance.
Be hol1( ho5e0e&( a7ainst the t&ial cou&t>s fin1in7 of a secon1
a77&a0atin7 ci&cu4stance in that the c&i4e 5as co44itte1 @on
the occasion of a confla7&ation( ship5&ec6( ea&thAua6e(
epi1e4ic( o& othe& cala4it' o& 4isfo&tune.@ 9 In so hol1in7( the
t&ial Cou&t &easone13
The Cou&t belie0es that the 1e0elop4ent of en7ine t&ouble in
the 4i11le of the sea is a 4isfo&tune 5hich ten1s to c&eate
confusions an1 app&ehensions of the passen7e&s an1(
the&eb'( to co44it a c&i4e at such a ti4e the accuse1
4anifeste1 7&eate& pe&0e&sit' an1 instea1 of &en1e&in7 help
inc&ease1 thei& affliction b' ta6in7 a10anta7e of the sai1
4isfo&tune. -Decision( p. ;/.
The 1e0elop4ent of en7ine t&ouble at sea is a 4isfo&tune( but
it 1oes not co4e 5ithin the conte=t of the ph&ase @othe&
cala4it' o& 4isfo&tune@ as use1 in ,&ticle :( pa&a7&aph < of
the Re0ise1 Penal Co1e( 5hich &efe& to othe& con1itions of
1ist&ess si4ila& to those p&ece1in7l' enu4e&ate1 the&ein(
na4el'( @confi7u&ation( ship5&ec6( ea&thAua6e( epi1e4ic@(
such as the chaotic con1itions &esultin7 f&o4 5a& o& the
libe&ation of the Philippines 1u&in7 the last Bo&l1 Ba&. The
&eason fo& the p&o0ision of this a77&a0atin7 ci&cu4stance @is
foun1 in the 1ebase1 fo&4 of c&i4inalit' 4et in one 5ho( in the
4i1st of a 7&eat cala4it'( instea1 of len1in7 ai1 to the afflicte1
a11s to thei& suffe&in7 b' ta6in7 a10anta7e of thei& 4isfo&tune
to 1espoil the4.@ ) Clea&l'( no such con1ition of 7&eat
cala4it' o& 4isfo&tune e=iste1 5hen the 4oto& banca
1e0elope1 en7ine t&ouble.
It shoul1 be a11e1 that the&e is nothin7 in the &eco&1 5hate0e&
to in1icate that the en7ine t&ouble 1e0elope1 5as a se&ious
one such as to c&eate confusion an1 app&ehension on the pa&t
of the passen7e&s as pe&cei0e1 b' the t&ial cou&t( an1 that the
sa4e 5as not easil' &epai&e1G if at all( the in1ications a&e to
the cont&a&'( fo& as alle7e1 in the info&4ation( the accuse1
succee1e1 in stealin7 the 4oto& banca at sea.
Be hol1 also a7ainst the accuse1>s clai4 of a secon1
4iti7atin7 ci&cu4stance of lac6 of intent to co44it so 7&a0e a
5&on7. The t&ial cou&t co&&ectl' hel1 that this ci&cu4stance
coul1 not p&ope&l' be app&eciate1 in fa0o& of the accuse1
@0ie5e1 f&o4 the natu&e an1 7&a0it' of the offense co44itte1.@
,s p&e0iousl' pointe1 out b' this Cou&t in the case of People
0s. 8o'les( the t&ue natu&e of this ci&cu4stance @a11&esses
itself to the intention of the offen1e& at the pa&ticula& 4o4ent
5hen he e=ecutes o& co44its the c&i4inal actG not to his
intention 1u&in7 the plannin7 sta7e. The&efo&e( 5hen( as in the
case un1e& &e0ie5 the o&i7inal plan 5as onl' to &ob( but 5hich
plan( on account of the &esistance offe&e1 b' the 0icti4( 5as
co4poun1e1 into the 4o&e se&ious c&i4e of &obbe&' 5ith
ho4ici1e( the plea of lac6 of intention to co44it so 7&a0e a
5&on7 cannot be &i7htl' 7&ante1.@ In the p&esent case( the
accuse1 e4ba&6e1 on thei& 4ost &ep&ehensible c&i4inal 1esi7n
of pi&atin7 a 4oto& banca at sea( fi&in7 a 0olle' of shots at the
passen7e&s not5ithstan1in7 the lac6 of in1ications of an'
&esistance( thus fo&cin7 the4 to ?u4p o0e&boa&1 in a 1espe&ate
act of self2p&ese&0ation onl' to be s5allo5e1 b' the sea. The
accuse1 cannot no5 1isclai4 thei& lac6 of c&i4inal intent an1
&esponsibilit' fo& the 1i&ect( lo7ical an1 fea&so4e
conseAuences of thei& unla5ful acts.
,s thus establishe1( the&efo&e( the c&i4e co44itte1 5as
Robbe&' 5ith T&iple .o4ici1e( atten1e1 b' the a77&a0atin7
ci&cu4stance of the sa4e ha0in7 been co44itte1 in an
uninhabite1 place 5hich is offset b' the accuse1>s 0olunta&'
plea of 7uilt'( an1 the p&ope& i4posable penalt' is the lesse&
penalt' of &eclusion pe&petua. -,&ticle !9:( pa&a7&aph in
&elation to ,&ticle ;( Re0ise1 Penal Co1e./ The co4pensato&'
1a4a7es a5a&1e1 to the hei&s of the 0icti4s shoul1 p&ope&l'
be inc&ease1 to P!())).)). -People 0s. Panto?a( G.R. +2
#<9;( Oct. ( 9$#./
It 4a' be note1 that e0en if the accuse1 5e&e to be 7&ante1
the a11itional clai4e1 4iti7atin7 ci&cu4stance of lac6 of intent(
the sai1 i4posable penalt' 5oul1 still be the sa4e. ! The
Auestion of the fact of 1eath of the t5o othe& passen7e&s(
since the accuse1 1en' 6no5le17e of the fact of thei& 1eath(
as thei& counsel in the lo5e& cou&t clai4e1 that the&e 5as no
sho5in7 of such fact( ; althou7h both counsels in this Cou&t
as 5ell as in the lo5e& cou&t 1o not 1ispute the @?u1icial
a14ission b' the accuse1 appellants of the fact of 6illin7
-1eath/ of one of the pe&sons na4e1 in the info&4ation@ :
5oul1 not affect the natu&e of the sin7le an1 in1i0isible c&i4e
of Robbe&' 5ith .o4ici1e co44itte1 b' the accuse1 no& the
p&ope& i4posable penalt' as he&ein establishe1( since all the
ho4ici1es pe&pet&ate1 b' &eason o& occasion of the &obbe&'
a&e 4e&7e1 in the co4posite( inte7&ate1 5hole that constitutes
the c&i4e of &obbe&' 5ith ho4ici1e. "
Ne0e&theless( 5e feel const&aine1 to a11 that in &e0ie5in7 the
&eco&1s of the case( 5e 5e&e st&uc6 5ith the paucit' of facts
an1 e0i1ence atten1in7 the co44ission of the c&i4e othe&
than those state1 in the info&4ation an1 othe& ci&cu4stances
that 5oul1 ai1 the Cou&t in its o&1aine1 tas6 of passin7 en
consulta upon the le7alit' an1 p&op&iet' of the 1eath penalt'
i4pose1 b' the t&ial cou&t( e.7. the a7e an1 e1ucation o& lac6
the&eof of the accuse1( an1 5hethe& the&e 5e&e othe&
passen7e&s 5ho su&0i0e1( asi1e f&o4 the th&ee pe&sons
na4e1 in the info&4ation as ha0in7 1&o5ne1( as 5ell as 5hat
the c&e5 1i1( if an'thin7( 1u&in7 the co44ission of the c&i4e.
Be&e it not fo& the conclusion he&e &eache1 of i4posin7 the
lesse& penalt' of &eclusion pe&petua( b' 0i&tue of ou&
1isallo5ance of the a11itional a77&a0atin7 ci&cu4stance of
cala4it' o& 4isfo&tune foun1 b' the t&ial cou&t( 5e 4i7ht ha0e
been const&aine1 to &e4an1 the case fo& ne5 t&ial to the cou&t
a Auo in o&1e& to satisf' ou&sel0es as to the 1e7&ee of
culpabilit' of the accuse1 in &elation to the 1eath penalt'
i4pose1( especiall' since the info&4ation 1i1 not e=p&essl'
1esi7nate as such the a77&a0atin7 ci&cu4stances foun1 b' the
t&ial cou&t an1 the&e 5as no 1iscussion no& spellin7 out the&eof
5hate0e& in the ei7ht2pa7e t&ansc&ipt of the enti&e p&ocee1in7s.
Be the&efo&e &eite&ate the &ule of p&actice &eco44en1e1 since
the ea&l' cases of U.S. 0s. Talbanos $ an1 U.S. 0s. Rota. <
set out in Rule # section " of the Rules of Cou&t( # an1
the&eafte& su77este1 a nu4be& of cases( lastl'( in the case of
People 0s. 8ulala6e( 9 5he&e this Cou&t sai13
It is of cou&se t&ue that the ta6in7 of such e0i1ence is a 4atte&
left to the 1isc&etion of the t&ial cou&t. Ne0e&theless( inas4uch
as ?u174ents of con0iction i4posin7 the e=t&e4e penalt' of
1eath a&e sub?ect to &e0ie5 b' the Sup&e4e Cou&t as la5 an1
?ustice shall 1ictate( 5hethe& the 1efen1ant appeals o& not(
5hich auto4atic &e0ie5 neithe& the Cou&t no& the accuse1
coul1 5ai0e o& e0a1e it 5oul1 see4 that the p&ope& an1
p&u1ent cou&se to follo5 5he&e the accuse1 ente&s a plea of
>7uilt'> to capital offenses speciall' 5he&e he is an i7no&ant
pe&son 5ith little o& no e1ucation( is to ta6e testi4on' not onl'
to satisf' the t&ial ?u17e hi4self but to ai1 the Sup&e4e Cou&t
in 1ete&4inin7 5hethe& the accuse1 &eall' an1 t&ul'
un1e&stoo1 an1 co4p&ehen1e1 the 4eanin7( full si7nificance
an1 conseAuences of his plea.
B.EREFORE( the 1ecision un1e& &e0ie5 is 4o1ifie13 the
accuse1 a&e i4pose1 the penalt' of &eclusion pe&petua an1
o&1e&e1( ?ointl' an1 se0e&all'( to in1e4nif' the hei&s of the
1ecease1 ,lfonso Ville7as( 8e&na&1o Ville7as an1 +ou&1es
Ville7as in the a4ount of P!())).)) fo& each of the4( an1
Epi4aco Mola in the su4 of P!()).))( an1 p&opo&tionatel' to
pa' the costs.
Concepcion( C.%.( Re'es( %.8.+.( DiEon( Ma6alintal( Lal1i0a&(
SancheE( Fe&nan1o an1 8a&&e1o( %%.( concu&.
Cast&o an1 Capist&ano( %%.( too6 no pa&t.
Republic of the Philippines
SUPREME COURT
Manila
EN 8,NC

G.R. No. +2;)! ,u7ust "( 9<;
T.E PEOP+E OF T.E P.I+IPPINES( plaintiff2appellee(
0s.
,RTURO C,R,ND,NG( M,RIO 8UISER( MONT,NO
C,R,,N an1 DIOMEDES ESTRE++,( 1efen1ants2appellants.
Office of the Solicito& Gene&al Feli= M. ,ntonio( ,ctin7
,ssistant Solicito&( Gene&al Rica&1o +. P&ono0e( %&. an1
Solicito& To4as M. Dili7 fo& plaintiff2appellee.
Pasto& 8. Ti4o7 fo& 1efen1ant2appellant ,&tu&o Ca&an1an7.
Ma7no T. 8uese& fo& 1efen1ants2appellants Ma&io 8uise&( et
al.

FERN,NDO( %.3
The appeal in this case f&o4 a ?u174ent of con0iction b' the
fou& accuse1( ,&tu&o Ca&an1an7 an1 Dio4e1es Est&ella fo& the
c&i4e of &obbe&' 5ith &ape( 5ith the othe& t5o 1efen1ants
Montano Ca&aan an1 Ma&io 8uise& bein7 hel1 liable onl' fo&
&obbe&'( &aises no si7nificant le7al Auestion. The &eliance fo&
the &e0e&sal sou7ht is 4a1e to &est on the plea that the t&ial
?u17e coul1 ha0e app&eciate1 the e0i1ence 1iffe&entl'. It is
the&efo&e p&e4ise1 on the c&e1ibilit' acco&1e1 the 5itnesses
fo& the p&osecution( p&i4a&il' the offen1e1 pa&ties the4sel0es.
It beco4es appa&ent then 5h' the bu&1en assu4e1 b'
appellants is fa& f&o4 eas'( consi1e&in7 fu&the&4o&e that fo&
e=culpation( the' 5oul1 &el' on the 1efense of alibi. Be cannot
&e0e&se.
F&o4 the testi4on' of the p&osecution 5itnesses( &elie1 upon
b' the lo5e& cou&t( the offense in Auestion occu&&e1 in the
ea&l' e0enin7 of No0e4be& !#( 9$#( 5hile the spouses
Gutie&&eE an1 Soco&&o Fa4ilia& an1 thei& chil1&en 5e&e ta6in7
thei& suppe&( thei& house bein7 locate1 at 8a&&io Sta. Ve&onica(
San Pablo Cit'. ,t that ti4e( the&e 5as the su11en
appea&ance of a 4an( 5ith his face pa&tl' co0e&e1 5ith a
han16e&chief an1 a&4e1 5ith a 7un. ! .e o&1e&e1 the pe&sons
insi1e the house not to 4a6e an' noise an1 to 7o to the salaG
then he put out the li7ht of the Cole4an la4p insi1e the house.
Bhile the Gutie&&eEes 5e&e bein7 ta6en to the sala( anothe&
pe&son( 5ith his face li6e5ise pa&tl' co0e&e1 5ith a piece of
cloth f&o4 the nose 1o5n( a&&i0e1. The fi&st thin7 he 1i1 5as to
as6 Eu7enio Gutie&&eE fo& his 7un. ; , ne7ati0e &esponse so
en&a7e1 hi4 that he 6ic6e1 the latte& on the face( as6e1 hi4 to
6neel( an1 sai1 @*ou& 7un o& 'ou& life.@ : The p&esence of a
li7ht in the &oo4 of the house cause1 one of the4 to blin1fol1
the 4e4be&s of the househol1. " Then the house 5as
&ansac6e1 an1 cash a4ountin7 to P;).))( a &a1io 0alue1 at
P!#).))( an1 a 5atch 0alue1 at P<).)) ta6en. $ The t5o
in1i0i1uals thus pe&pet&atin7 such acts 5e&e &eco7niEe1 b'
Gutie&&eE as the accuse1 ,&tu&o Ca&an1an7 an1 Dio4e1es
Est&ella. Mo&eo0e& he hea&1 tal6 co4in7 f&o4 belo5 the house(
as6in7 the4 to hu&&' up so the' coul1 lea0e. < .e 1i1 i1entif'
the sou&ce as the othe& t5o accuse1 Montano Ca&aan an1
Ma&io 8uise&( both of 5ho4 5e&e 6no5n to hi4 fo& se0e&al
'ea&s( as the' 5e&e hi&e1 to pic6 coconuts in the plantation
5hich he 5as supe&0isin7 at the ti4e. # Not satisfie1 5ith 5hat
the' ha1 1one( one of the accuse1( ,&tu&o Ca&an1an7(
app&oache1 the 5ife of Gutie&&eE( Soco&&o Fa4ilia&( then
p&a'in7( an1 pulle1 he& to the 6itchen. 9 It 5as the&e 5he&e he&
panties 5e&e i44e1iatel' &ippe1 off an1 she 5as as6e1( at the
point of a 7un( to lie 1o5n. ) Soco&&o plea1e1 to Ca&an1an7
to 1esist f&o4 5hat he inten1e1 to 1o as she ha1 ?ust 7i0en
bi&th( all to no
a0ail. ,fte& he 5as th&ou7h 5ith the se=ual act( the accuse1
Dio4e1es Est&ella app&oache1 he&( an1( at 7un point( 5as
also able to ha0e ca&nal 6no5le17e of he&. ! Du&in7 such
assault b' Est&ella( he& blin1fol1 1i1 not conceal thin7s as she
6ept 4o0in7 he& hea1G thus she sa5 the othe& accuse1(
Montano Ca&aan( seate1 nea& the stai&s. ; .e 5as also about
to 1o the sa4e thin7 as his co4panions( but Soco&&o as6e1
hi4 to ha0e pit' on he& info&4in7 hi4 as she 1i1 the othe& t5o
that she ha1 ?ust 7i0en bi&th( an1 Ca&aan 0olunta&il' 1esiste1.
: The&eafte&( the pa&t' left the house( befo&e lea0in7( the'
th&eatene1 the occupants 5ith 1eath( shoul1 the' &epo&t the
inci1ent to the autho&ities. " Gutie&&eE 5as able to follo5
the4 su&&eptitiousl'( an1 upon &eachin7 the &oa1( he sa5 that
the fou& accuse1( the th&ee afo&e4entione1 an1 also Ma&io
8uise&( 7oin7 to the house of Otilio Diones. Then an1 the&e( he
&epo&te1 the happenin7 to the ba&&io captain( Isabelo
Gue0a&&a. .e 4a1e su&e that the i1entities the culp&its 5e&e
&e0eale1. $
The 0e&sion fo& the 1efense &e?ecte1 b' the lo5e& cou&t 5as
set fo&th in the b&ief fo& appellant Ca&an1an7 in these 5o&1s3
@That on No0e4be& !#( 9$#( an1 a 'ea& p&io& the&eto( he has
been li0in7 in the house of spouses Otilio Diones an1 %acinta
Saba in ba&&io Santa Ve&onica( San Pablo Cit'G that on
4o&nin7 of No0e4be& !#( 9$9( appellant ,&tu&o Ca&an1an7
5ent to the &icefiel1 he 5as fa&4in7 fo& spouses Otilio Diones
an1 %acinta Saba( an1 &etu&ne1 ho4e fo& lunch at 3)) ,.M.
In the afte&noon( he also 5o&6e1 in the &icefiel1. On his 5a'
ho4e he 5ent to a HplaceI an1 7athe&e1 fo11e& fo& his
ca&abao( &etu&nin7 ho4e at about :3;) P.M. ,fte& he ha1 fe1
the ca&abao( he &este1 in a ba4boo be1 un1e& the house until
he 5as calle1 b' his ,te -%acinta Saba/ as suppe& then 5as
&ea1'. ,t about $3)) P.M.( his th&ee co2accuse1 Dio4e1es
Est&ella( Ma&io 8uise& an1 Montano Ca&aan a&&i0e1. .e
acco4panie1 Montano Ca&aan to the house of Miss Oli0a
Diones( 5ho4 Ca&aan 5as cou&tin7. The' sta'e1 in the house
of Oli0a Diones fo& about an hou& an1 a half( afte& 5hich( the'
&etu&ne1 to the house of spouses Otilio Diones an1 %acinta
Saba. The th&ee co2accuse1 of appellant ,&tu&o Ca&an1an7
left at about )3;) P.M.( an1 appellant &eti&e1 to be1.
The&eafte&( police4en NaEa&io Pe&eE a&&i0e1 an1 inAui&e1 fo&
appellant Ca&an1an7G that he 5as a&ouse1 f&o4 his sleep an1
tol1 that the' 5ill b&in7 hi4 to ba&&io captain 5ho 5ante1 to tal6
to hi4G that afte& pat&ol4an ha1 a b&ief con0e&sation 5ith the
ba&&io captain( he 5as tol1 that he 5ill be utiliEe1 as 7ui1e to
locate his th&ee co2accuse1. .o5e0e&( he 5as ta6en to the
police hea1Aua&te&s of San Pablo Cit'( an1 1etaine1.@ < ,s
note1( the ?u174ent 5as one of con0iction( the appeale1
1ecision bein7 notable fo& the &athe& 1etaile1 anal'sis of the
e0i1ence. ,fte& a stu1' of the t&ansc&ipt of testi4on' as 5ell as
the b&iefs fo& both the p&osecution an1 the 1efense( the state
bein7 &ep&esente1 b' the then Solicito& Gene&al( no5
,ssociate %ustice Feli= ,ntonio( ai1e1 b' the then ,ssistant
Solicito& Gene&al( no5 %u17e Rica&1o +. P&ono0e( %&.( 5ho
too6 pains to p&esent Auite a fai& an1 ob?ecti0e account of this
unfo&tunate occu&&ence( 5e ha0e &eache1 the conclusion( as
note1 at the outset( that a &e0e&sal is not 5a&&ante1.
. ,ll fou& appellants( in the t5o b&iefs sub4itte1( one fo&
Ca&an1an7 b' ,tto&ne' Sal0a1o& 8. Ti4o7( an1 the othe& fo&
Est&ella( Ca&aan an1 8uise& b' ,tto&ne' Ma7no T. 8uese&( 1i1
1i&ect thei& line of fi&e on 5hat the' consi1e&e1 to be a failu&e
of the lo5e& cou&t to app&eciate co&&ectl' 5hat 1i1 &eall'
t&anspi&e. Bhile the effo&t to 1isc&e1it the testi4on' of the
offen1e1 pa&ties( the couple Eu7enio Gutie&&eE an1 Soco&&o
Fa4ilia&( e0ince1 thei& conce&n to assu&e that the &i7hts of thei&
clients be full' p&otecte1( it cannot be sai1 to possess a
pe&suasi0e &in7. It is not eas' to &aise 1oubt as to the 7uilt of
the accuse1 fo& the offenses fo& 5hich the' 5e&e in1icte1 an1
foun1 7uilt'. The lo5e& cou&t ce&tainl' has not lai1 itself open
to an' accusation of bein7 &e4iss in anal'Ein7 the e0i1ence on
the pa&t of both the state an1 the accuse1. Much less can it be
alle7e1 that the&e 5as lac6in7 then that 4easu&e of i4pa&tialit'
&eAui&e1 b' la5 of occupants of the bench in thei& app&aisal of
testi4on' that coul1 lea1 to the loss of libe&t'( in the case of
heinous offenses( e0en of the &i7ht of the p&isone& at the 1oc6
to life itself.
Mo&eo0e&( a &ecent 1ecision 5oul1 in1icate the 1ifficult' thus
face1 b' appellants in see6in7 to o0e&tu&n thei& con0iction on
this 7&oun1 alone. Thus in People 0. ,n7cap( # it 5as sai13
@The&e is nee1 to st&ess ane5 that this Cou&t has lon7 been
co44itte1 to the p&inciple that the 1ete&4ination b' a t&ial
?u17e 5ho coul1 5ei7h an1 app&aise the testi4on' as to the
facts 1ul' p&o0e1 is entitle1 to the hi7hest &espect( unless it
coul1 be sho5n that he i7no&e1 o& 1is&e7a&1e1 ci&cu4stances
of 5ei7ht o& influence sufficient to call fo& a 1iffe&ent fin1in7. So
it 5as announce1 b' %ustice Mo&elan1 in 9" in the fi&st case
of conseAuence enunciatin7 such a 1oct&ine. ,s he pointe1
out( in the e0ent of a conflict in the testi4on' of the 5itnesses(
@the peculia& p&o0ince of the t&ial cou&t is to &esol0e the
Auestion of c&e1ibilit'( an1( unless the&e is so4ethin7 in the
&eco&1 i4peachin7 b' fai& inte&p&etation the &esolution of the
t&ial cou&t in &elation to that Auestion( this cou&t 5ill assu4e
that he acte1 fai&l'( ?ustl'( an1 le7all' in the e=e&cise of that
function.@ So it has been since then. In a case &epo&te1 in the
latest 0olu4e of the Philippine Repo&ts( %ustice Pa&e1es(
spea6in7 fo& this Cou&t succinctl' state1 @that 5ith &espect to
the c&e1ibilit' of 5itnesses( the t&ial cou&t>s fin1in7s an1
conclusions( co44an1 7&eat &espect an1 5ei7ht.@ Its 4o&e
usual fo&4ulation 5as also set fo&th b' %ustice Malcol4 in
these 5o&1s3 @,fte& e0e&'thin7 is sai1 an1 1one( 5e co4e
bac6( as 5e in0a&iabl' 1o in cases of this natu&e( to a
&eco7nition of the &ule that the Sup&e4e Cou&t 5ill not inte&fe&e
5ith the ?u174ent of the t&ial cou&t in passin7 on the c&e1ibilit'
of the opposin7 5itnesses( unless the&e appea&s in the &eco&1
so4e ci&cu4stances of 5ei7ht an1 influence( 5hich has been
o0e&loo6e1 o& the si7nificance of 5hich has been
4isinte&p&ete1.@ 9
No& is thei& case fo& a &e0e&sal bolste&e1 b' thei& plea of alibi.
This is not to lose si7ht of the fact that the p&esence else5he&e
of the accuse1 5oul1 p&eclu1e thei& pa&ticipation in a c&i4e.
Such a fact( if the&e be such( has to be sho5n thou7h b'
e0i1ence that co44an1s assent. Unfo&tunatel' fo& appellants
in this case( the' 5e&e unable to 1o so. The cate7o&ical natu&e
of the i1entification 4a1e b' the offen1e1 spouses place1 a
bu&1en on the4 too 1ifficult to o0e&co4e b' the alle7ation that
the' coul1 not ha0e been the pe&pet&ato&s of the foul 1ee1. In
this connection( an e=ce&pt f&o4 People 0. Tapitan !) is
&ele0ant. Thus3 @In a 9)# opinion b' %ustice To&&es( the fi&st
ti4e the 1efense of alibi 5as pai1 consi1e&able attention( this
Cou&t co&&ectl' &ule1 that such a plea coul1 not p&e0ail a7ainst
the positi0e testi4on' of fi0e 5itnesses to the effect that the
accuse1 fa& f&o4 bein7 a5a' f&o4 the place 5he&e the offense
too6 place 5as in1ee1 p&esent. So it is in the case befo&e us.
Such a 1efense is futile an1 una0ailin7. To the sa4e effect is
the follo5in73 @The appellants> 5ea6 1efense of alibi is not
sufficient to o0e&co4e the positi0e i1entification 4a1e of the4
as the pe&pet&ato&s of the c&i4e b' the 5itnesses( a7ainst
5ho4 the' coul1 not i4pute sufficient &eason fo& pointin7 to
the4.@ ,s 5e ha1 occasion to &e4a&6 in one of ou& opinion(
th&ou7h %ustice Capist&ano3 >,libi is one of the 5ea6est
1efenses( an1 is easil' fab&icate1. Be ha0e e=a4ine1 the
testi4onies in suppo&t of this 1efense of alibi( an1 ha0e foun1
the sa4e un5o&th' of c&e1ence.> @ !
!. The &e4ainin7 e&&o& assi7ne1 in the b&ief fo& appellants
Est&ella( Ca&aan an1 8uise& 5oul1 fin1 fault 5ith the fin1in7 of
the lo5e& cou&t( alle7e1l' 1is&e7a&1in7 the testi4on' of D&.
,&&acleto Polillo 5ho( on No0e4be& !9( 9$# at !3)) ,.M.(
e=a4ine1 4e1icall' the offen1e1 pa&t'( Soco&&o Fa4ilia&. !!
Such an alle7e1 e&&o&( on its face( is 4islea1in7 because this
1octo&( in ans5e& to a Auestion b' the cou&t( &ea1il' a14itte1
that befo&e con1uctin7 such e=a4ination( the patient
@co4plaine1 that she feels so4ethin7 on he& p&i0ate pa&t
because she 5as &ape1 b' so4ebo1'.@ !; Bhen as6e1
5hethe& the fin1in7s in his 4e1ical ce&tificate late& issue1
co4patible 5ith such co4plaint on the pa&t of the patient( this
is ho5 he &eplie13 @Bell( *ou& .ono&( the fin1in7s he&e( onl'
one fin1in7 he&e 4a' tall' 5ith he& co4plaint.@ !: To be 4o&e
specific( he &efe&&e1 to the @e&'the4atous( ab&asion of the labia
4eno&a.@ !" The&e 5as( thou7h( his state4ent that @in a t&ue
case of &ape( the p&esence of spe&4atoEoa shoul1 be
positi0e.@ !$ This &athe& cate7o&ical affi&4ation he Aualifie1 b'
spea6in7 of thei& bein7 foun1 in the 7enital o&7an of the
5o4an in Auestion fo& at least t5ent'2fou& hou&s( unless the
offen1e1 pa&t' 5oul1 5ash it. The b&ief fo& the th&ee appellants
5oul1 i4p&ess on this Cou&t that 1oubt 1oes e=ist as to &ape
actuall' ha0in7 co44itte1. This is too fli4s' an a&7u4ent to
be ta6en se&iousl' . Mo&e than se0en hou&s at least ha1
elapse1 b' that ti4e f&o4 the se=ual assault suffe&e1 b' the
0icti4. The&e is nothin7 i4p&obable then in he& cleanin7 that
pa&t of he& bo1'. Mo&eo0e&( f&o4 the le7al stan1point( the
autho&itati0e p&onounce4ent f&o4 People 0. Selfaison( !< the
opinion bein7 &en1e&e1 b' %ustice Gutie&&eE Da0i1( is to the
effect that such a 1efense lac6s 4e&it. Thus3 >Citin7 D&.
,nEu&es> @+ectu&es on +e7al Me1icine@ 5hich states that an
e=a4ination 5ithin ; 1a's afte& inte&cou&se 5oul1 &e0eal the
p&esence of spe&4atoEoa( the appellants un1e&sco&e the fact
that ph'sical e=a4inations to 5hich the co4plainants 5e&e
sub?ecte1 to 5e&e ne7ati0e as to the p&esence of
spe&4atoEoa. The absence of such spe&4atoEoa( ho5e0e&(
1oes not necessa&il' 4ean that the co4plainants ha1 not in
fact been &ape1. The 0e&' autho&it' cite1 states that such
absence 1oes not necessa&il' 4ean that the 7i&l sub?ect of the
e=a4ination has not ha1 an' se=ual inte&cou&se. It nee1 ha&1l'
be sai1 he&e that in the c&i4e of &ape( the sli7htest penet&ation
is enou7h. In the case of the co4plainants( 5e a7&ee 5ith the
t&ial cou&t that the &ecent lace&ation in the h'4en an1 the
contusions on the 5alls of the labia 4eno&a( of thei& 7enitals
to7ethe& 5ith the e0i1ence a11uce1 1u&in7 the t&ial K
sufficientl' sho5s that the copulati0e act ha1 been pe&fo&4e1
b' 4eans of fo&ce an1 0iolence. ... In fact( it is not e0en
necessa&' that the&e be a 4e1ical e=a4ination of the 0icti4 in
cases of &ape. Bhethe& o& not the cha&7e 5ill p&ospe& 1epen1s
upon the e0i1ence offe&e1 an1 so lon7 as such e0i1ence
con0inces the cou&t( a con0iction fo& &ape is p&ope&. ,t an'
&ate( it is not i4p&obable that the co4plainants 5ashe1 o&
flushe1 the4sel0es not onl' fo& the sa6e of cleanliness but
4o&e pa&ticula&l' in o&1e& to a0oi1 possible conception. It is(
in1ee1( 1ifficult to belie0e that the co4plainants( 5ho a&e 0e&'
'oun7 an1 un4a&&ie1( 5oul1 tell a sto&' of 1eflo&ation( allo5
the e=a4ination of thei& p&i0ate pa&ts( an1 the&eafte& pe&4it
the4sel0es to be the sub?ect of a public t&ial( if the' 5e&e not
4oti0ate1 b' an honest 1esi&e to ha0e the culp&its
app&ehen1e1 an1 punishe1.@ !# The last po&tion of the abo0e
e=ce&pt is 4e&el' a &eite&ation of 5hat 5as set fo&th in People
0. Canast&e !9 a 9:# 1ecision( to the effect that this Cou&t is
co44itte1 to the p&inciple in acco&1 5ith the t&a1itional
ps'cholo7' of ou& people inhibitin7 a 5o4an f&o4 e=posin7
he&self to the obloAu' that 5oul1 follo5 an a14ission that she
ha1 been thus 0icti4iEe1 if the t&uth 5e&e othe&5ise( unless
the&e be p&oof of a 4oti0e 5ei7ht' enou7h to 4a6e he& bea&
5ith eAuani4it' the pillo&' to 5hich she 5oul1 be thus
sub?ecte1. Bhat 7i0es fo&ce to such an obse&0ation is that
he&e( the husban1( 5ho hi4self 4ust ce&tainl' bea& the b&unt
of sha4e at this unfo&tunate inci1ent( 1i1 li6e5ise testif' to the
0iolation of his 5ife. ;)
B.EREFORE( the 1ecision of the Ci&cuit C&i4inal Cou&t of the
VIIIth %u1icial Dist&ict of ,u7ust !$( 9$9 fin1in7 the accuse1
,&tu&o +oEa1a Ca&an1an7 an1 Dio4e1es Est&ella ' ,&ce7a
@7uilt' be'on1 &easonable 1oubt as P&incipals in the c&i4e of
Robbe&' 5ith Rape an1 consi1e&in7 the a77&a0atin7
ci&cu4stances of ni7htti4e( 15ellin7 of the offen1e1 pa&t'(
abuse of supe&io& st&en7th an1 i7no4in'( 5ithout an'
4iti7atin7 ci&cu4stance to consi1e&( Hsentencin7I each of the4
to suffe& the penalt' of &eclusion pe&petua( to ?ointl' a
se0e&all'( 5ith thei& othe& co2accuse1( in1e4nif' the
co4plainin7 spouses in the su4 of HFou& hun1&e1 ei7ht'
-P:#).))/ pesosI( &ep&esentin7 the 0alue of the a&ticles ta6en(
?ointl' an1 se0e&all' in1e4nif' the co4plainin7 spouses in the
su4 of HFi0e thousan1 -P"())).))/ pesosI b' 5a' of
1a4a7es ...@ an1 the accuse1 Montano Ca&aan ' Pa4polina
an1 Ma&io 8uise& @7uilt' be'on1 &easonable 1oubt as
p&incipals in the c&i4e of Robbe&'( 1efine1 an1 penaliEe1
un1e& ,&ticle !9: pa&a7&aph "( as a4en1e1 b' Section $(
Republic ,ct No. #( an1 consi1e&in7 the a77&a0atin7
ci&cu4stances of ni7htti4e( 15ellin7 of the offen1e1 pa&t' an1
abuse of supe&io& st&en7th( 5ithout an' 4iti7atin7
ci&cu4stance to be consi1e&e1 in thei& fa0o&( Hsentencin7I the4
to suffe& an in1ete&4inate penalt' &an7in7 f&o4 Hfou& -:/ 'ea&s(
t5o -!/ 4onths an1 one -/ 1a'I of p&ision co&&eccional as
4ini4u4 to Hten -)/ 'ea&sI of p&ision 4a'o& as 4a=i4u4( to
?ointl' an1 se0e&all' in1e4nif' the offen1e1 pa&t' in the su4 of
HFou& hun1&e1 ei7ht' -P:#).))/ pesosI@ ; is affi&4e1. Costs
a7ainst appellants.
Ma6asia& an1 Es7ue&&a( %%.( concu&.