PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES vs.

RAFAEL AVECILLA y MOBIDO

G.R. No. 117033

February 15, 2001

FACTS: On or about December 24, 1991, accused-appellant, with an unlicensed firearm,

shot Canqui inflicting upon the latter mortal gunshots and injuries which caused his death.
Appellant, then was charged with the crime of Qualified Illegal Possession of Firearm.On
June 21, 1994, the Regional Trial Court of Manila, Branch 38, rendered judgment convicting
accused-appellant of the crime of Qualified Illegal Possession of Firearm, sentencing him to
suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua, and ordering him to indemnify and pay damages to
the victim's heirs.2 Hence, this appeal filed by accused-appellant.
The records and the evidence show that the elements of the offense of qualified illegal
possession of firearms, defined in the second paragraph of Section 1, Presidential Decree
No. 1866, are present in this case. Specifically, there are:
1. there must be a firearm;
2. the gun was possessed by the accused;
3. the accused had no license from the government; and
4. homicide or murder was committed by the accused with the use of said firearm. 3
However, the law on illegal possession of firearms has been amended by Republic Act No.
8294, which took effect on July 6, 1994. The pertinent provision of the said law provides:
SECTION 1. Unlawful Manufacture, Sale, Acquisition, Disposition or Possession of
Firearms or Ammunition or Instruments Used or Intended to be Used in the
Manufacture of Firearms or Ammunition. The penalty of prision correccional in its
maximum period and a fine of not less than Fifteen thousand pesos (P15,000.00)
shall be imposed upon any person who shall unlawfully manufacture, deal in,
acquire, dispose, or possess any low powered firearm, such as rimfire handgun, .380
or .32 and other firearm of similar firepower, part of firearm, ammunition, or
machinery, tool or instrument used or intended to be used in the manufacture of any
firearm or ammunition: Provided, that no other crime was committed.
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If homicide or murder is committed with the use of an unlicensed firearm, such use of
an unlicensed firearm shall be considered as an aggravating circumstance.
If the violation of this Section is in furtherance of or incident to, or in connection with
the crime of rebellion or insurrection, sedition, or attempted coup d'etat, such
violation shall be absorbed as an element of the crime of rebellion, or insurrection,
sedition, or attempted coup d'etat.
ISSUES: Whether or not RA 8294, in view of its favorable effect to the accused, would
be given retroactive application.

RULING: Inasmuch as the amendatory law is favorable to accused-appellant in this case,

the same may be retroactively applied. This new law applies even to violations that occurred
prior to its effectivity as it may be given retroactive effect under Article 22 of the Revised
Penal Code.12
R.A. 8294 took effect on July 6, 1997. The crime involved in the case at bench was
committed on May 5, 1991. As a general rule, penal laws will generally have
prospective application except where the new law will be advantageous to the
accused. In this case R.A. 8294 will spare accused-appellant from a separate
conviction for the crime of illegal possession of firearm. Accordingly, said law should
be given retroactive application.13
Neither can accused-appellant be charged with simple illegal possession. As stated above,
the same may only done where no other crime is committed. 14
With more reason, accused-appellant cannot be convicted of homicide or murder with "the
use of the unlicensed firearm as aggravating," inasmuch as said felonies are not charged in
the information but merely mentioned as the result of the use of the unlicensed firearm.
Accused-appellant was not arraigned for homicide or murder. Hence, he cannot be convicted
of any of these crimes without violating his right to be informed of the nature and cause of
the accusation against him, not to mention his right to due process.
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