People Vs Abut - 137601 - April 24, 2003 - J

10/1/2016
PeoplevsAbut:137601:April24,2003:J.CallejoSr:EnBanc:Decision
ENBANC
[G.R.No.137601.April24,2003]
THEPEOPLEOFTHEPHILIPPINES,appellee, vs. WINCHESTER ABUT, RITCHIE

WASLOandGREGMARBALIGA,accused.
WINCHESTERABUTandGREGMARBALIGA,appellants.
DECISION
CALLEJO,SR.,J.:
Before the Court for automatic review is the decision[1] of the Regional Trial Court, Cagayan de
OroCity,Branch25,inCriminalCaseNo.971504,findingappellantsWinchesterAbutandGregmar
BaligaguiltybeyondreasonabledoubtofMurder.ThetrialcourtsentencedappellantWinchesterAbut
to death, and appellant Gregmar Baliga only to an indeterminate penalty because of the privilege
mitigatingcircumstanceofminority,thetrialcourtappreciatedinhisfavor.
TheCharge
On October 27, 1997, an Information was filed charging WinchesterAbut, Gregmar Baliga and
RitchieWaslowithmurderwhichreads:
OnSeptember20,1997,atabout2:00oclockearlydawn,attheNationalPark,Bubutan,Tubigan,Initao,
MisamisOriental,whichiswithinthejurisdictionoftheHonorableCourt,theabovenamedaccused,withintent
tokillandtakingadvantageofsuperiorstrength,conspiring,confederatingwithandmutuallyhelpingeach
other,did,thenandthere,willfully,unlawfully,andfeloniouslyattack,assault,box,hit,andwoundoneEdgar
Galarpewiththeuseoftheirfists,brokenbottles,andotherdeadlyweapons,thus,inflictingmultiplestab
woundsuponthepersonofthelatterwhichcausedhisdeathnotlongthereafter.
CONTRARYTOandinviolationofArticle248oftheRevisedPenalCode.[2]
WinchesterandGregmarwerearrested.Ritchieremainedatlarge.UponarraignmentonJanuary
5,1998,assistedbytheircounsel,WinchesterandGregmarpleadednotguilty.Trialthereafterensued
with the prosecution presenting Maricar Perez, Rosie Pabila, Al Cailing and Dr. Tammy Uy as
witnesses.WinchesterandGregmartestifiedintheirbehalf.
TheCasefortheProsecution
In the evening of September 19, 1997, Winchester, Ritchie and Gregmar were in the store of
RudyGalarpeatBubutan,Tubigan,Initao,MisamisOriental.[3]Thethreeorderedacaseofredhorse
beer and had a drinking spree. They sang with the accompaniment of a video karaoke.Also in the
store were Rudys employee, Maricar Perez, a widow, who was vending chicken barbecue and the
victim,EdgarGalarpe,MaricarsboyfriendRosiePabelaandherboyfriend,AlCailing.[4] Winchester
andAlwerecontemporariesintheInitaoNationalComprehensiveHighSchool.Rosiehadbeenthe
http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2003/apr2003/137601.htm
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girlfriend of Winchester before she became the girlfriend of Al. Maricar had been employed for one
monthinthestoreofRitchiesmotherbeforeshewasemployedbyRudy.
Ataround2:00a.m.thefollowingday,MaricarandEdgarandRosieandAlagreedtotakeastroll
attheNationalForestPark,whichwasaboutonehalfkilometerawayfromthestore.Uponreaching
the park, the two couples sat on the concrete benches facing each other, with a concrete table in
between them.[5] Al and Rosie sat on one of the cemented benches facing the national highway[6]
while Edgar and Maricar sat on the other bench.[7] Behind Al and Rosie was a pole on which a
flourescentlampwasinstalled.[8]Aboutfiftymetersawayfromthetablewasanotherflourescentlamp
installedneartheofficeoftheparkadministrator.Thecouplesplacedthetwobottlesofredhorsebeer
which they brought along with them on the table. After a few minutes, Winchester, Gregmar and
Ritchiearrived.
WinchestertoldMaricarthathewantedtogetacquaintedwithEdgar,andaskedherpermission.
Maricar agreed. Edgar introduced himself to Winchester, at the same time, extending his hand
towards Winchester for a handshake and said: I am Edgar. Winchester shook hands with Edgar.
When Edgar asked for his name, Winchester curtly responded: Kingking ko, Bay. Edgar was
dumbfounded when Winchester yanked his hand and immediately boxed him. Edgar fell to the
ground. He tried to stand up but Winchester, Gregmar and Ritchie ganged up on him, kicked and
mauledhim.RitchiestruckthetwobottlesofredhorsebeeragainstthetableandhitEdgarwiththe
brokenbottles.WinchesterastraddledthevictimwhileRitchieandGregmarpositionedthemselveson
eachsideofthevictim.Thethreecontinuedtheirassaultonthevictimandstabbedhim.Maricarand
Rosie saw Edgar being stabbed by Winchester, Gregmar and Ritchie and tried in vain to stop the
assault.Edgarpleadedtohisattackerstostopassaultinghimtellingthemthathehadsustainedso
manystabwoundsalready.Frantic, Rosie shouted at Ritchie, Gregmar and Winchester: Whathave
we done to you? Why did you do that to us? Although mortally wounded, Edgar stood up and
staggeredtowardsthedirectionofthenationalhighwayonlytofalldownnearoneofthecemented
benchesintheparkabout10metersfromthetable.[9]WinchesterwantedtorunafterEdgarbutwas
prevaileduponbyRosienotto.GregmarandRitchieranafterEdgarbutreturnedtotheparkwhen
Edgar fell down. Afraid that he would be the next victim, Al fled from the park towards the national
highway with Ritchie and Gregmar in hot pursuit. Al was able to elude his pursuers. Ritchie and
Gregmar rejoined Winchester at the park. Gregmar, Ritchie and Winchester then left the park
together. Maricar tried to help Edgar up but he was too heavy for her. She then shouted for help.
When Al heard the shouts for help of Maricar, he returned to the park and together with the girls,
flagged down a truck. They then boarded Edgar in the truck and had him transported to the Initao
DistrictHospital.However,Edgarwasalreadydeadonarrivalatthehospital.
Dr. Tammy Uy, the MedicoLegal Officer of the National Bureau of Investigation conducted an
autopsyofthevictimsbody.Hispostmortemfindingsareasfollows:
Embalmed,fairlywellpreserved.Areasofpostmortemgreyishyellowishdiscolorationsarenoted.
ABRASIONS,roughlylinear:7X0.3cms.,leftsideofthechest,inferomedialaspect10X0.2cms.,leftlower
thoracicregionbetweenleftposteriorandmidaxillarylines.
ABRASIONS,confluent,2X1.5cms.,rightelbow4X0.7cms.,leftforearm,middlethird,posterioraspect5X6
cms.,rightkneeregion6X3cms.,leftkneeregion.
STABWOUNDS,nonpenetratingtwo(2)innumberellipticalinshapesmeasuring1.7cms.longand2.1
cms.longlocatedattheleftscapularregionofthebackandmiddlethirdofrightforearm,posterioraspect,
respectivelyedges,cleancutextremitiesaremodifiedbyembalmingbothdirectedforward,downward,
mediallyinvolvingonlytheskinandunderlyingsofttissuesandmuscleswithapproximatedepthsof2.2cms.
and2.5cms.,respectively.
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STABWOUNDS,nonpenetratingtwelve(12)innumbertriangularinshapeswithaveragesizesof
0.4X0.4X0.4cm.two(2)arelocatedatthechest,six(6)attheback,two(2)attheleftupperarm,one(1)atthe
dorsumofrighthand,andone(1)atthemiddlethirdofrightthigh,posterioraspectwithcontusededges
involvingonlytheskinandunderlyingsofttissuesandmuscleswithapproximatedepthsrangingbetween0.6
cm.and3.7cms.
STABWOUNDS,penetratingfour(4)innumbertriangularinshapeswithaveragesizesof0.4X0.4X0.4cm.
one(1)islocatedattheleftsideofthechest,medialaspect,andthree(3)attheleftlowerthoracicregionofthe
backwithcontusededgesinvolvingamongothers,theskinandunderlyingsofttissuesandmuscles,the
pericardiumandrightventricleoftheheart,thelowerlobeoftheleftlung,thelowerlobeoftheleftlungandthe
lowerlobeoftheleftlung,(sic)respectively,withapproximatedepthsof6.5cms,6cms,5.5cms,and7.5cms,
respectively.
HEMOPERICARDIUM,about30cc.embalmedblood.
HEMOTHORAX,left,about400cc.embalmedbloodleftlung,atelectatic.
Stomach,empty.Heartchambers,emptyofblood.Brainandothervisceralorgans,embalmedandfairlywell
preserved.
VVVVVVVVVVV
CAUSEOFDEATH:Hemorrhage,severe,secondarytomultiplestabwounds.[10]
TheDefensesandEvidenceoftheAccused
GregmarandWinchesterdeniedassaultingandstabbingEdgar.TheyclaimedthatitwasRitchie
alonewhostabbedandkilledthevictim.
Winchester testified that before he left Sitio Bubutan for Manila, he and Rosie had been
sweethearts.However,theybrokeupbeforeWinchesterleftforManila.Winchesterwasemployedfor
sevenmonthsinaprintingpressinManila.HehadtoreturnonSeptember14,1997toBubutanwhen
hisfatherdied.However,Winchesterwaspeevedwhenhisfatherwasburiedevenbeforehisarrival.
Inthemeantime,WinchesterandRosiereconciled.
OnSeptember19,1997,lateintheevening,Winchester,GregmarandRitchiewereinthestore
ofRudyGalarpeatBubutan,Tubigan,Initao,MisamisOriental.Theysangwiththeaccompanimentof
avideokaraoke.WiththemwereMaricarPerez,thegirlfriendofRitchieandRosiePabilanwhowere
listeningtothesingingandthekaraoke.Atabout2:00a.m.thefollowingday,RosieandMaricarleft
thestoretellingRitchiethattheyweregoingtotheparkintheforestandforhimandWinchesterto
follow them. The two women left the store first, followed by Ritchie and Winchester and Gregmar.
When they reached the park, Winchester, Ritchie and Gregmar saw that the two women were with
EdgarGalarpeandAlCailingseatedonthebenchesmadeofcement.WinchesterthenaskedMaricar
ifhe,Winchester,couldgetacquaintedwithEdgar,andMaricaragreed.Winchesterthenextendedhis
hand towards Edgar and introduced himself, thus: Kiking ako, parts (I am Kiking, parts). However,
Edgar abruptly pulled the hand of Winchester and boxed Winchester on the neck. Winchester and
Edgarthenfoughteachother.RitchieandAllikewisefoughtwitheachother.Maricarintervenedand
pacified Ritchie and Al. Edgar and Winchester continued boxing each other. Winchester fell down
when Edgar hit him. When he saw his friend Winchester down on the ground, Ritchie struck the
bottlesofredhorsebeeragainstthetableandhitEdgarwiththebrokenbottles.Edgarfledfromthe
parktowardsthenationalhighway.Ritchie,armedwithaknife,ranafterEdgar.Alalsofledfromthe
park. On the other hand, Winchester and Gregmar remained in the park with Maricar and Rosie.
Ritchie later rejoined Winchester and Gregmar in the park. They then left the park together. On
September22,1997,WinchesterwasarrestedbypolicemenforthedeathofEdgar.
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WinchesteradducedevidencethatonSeptember23,1997,hewasexaminedandtreatedbyDr.
JaimaRoa,theMunicipalHealthOfficer,forthefollowinginjuries:
1.Oldcontussionrightmiddlearmlateralportionabout1inchinasemicircular.[11]
GregmartestifiedthathewasbornonJanuary15,1980.Tobuttresshistestimony,headducedin
evidencehisCertificateofLiveBirth[12]andhisElementarySchoolPermanentRecord[13]showingthat
hewasbornonJanuary15,1980.HealsotestifiedthatonhiswaytotheparkwithWinchesterand
Ritchie,hetarriedbecausehehadtodefecate.Afterhehaddefecated,heheardawomanshouting
for help from the direction of the park. He rushed to the park and saw Edgar mauling Winchester.
Winchester fell to the ground. Edgar then knelt on the back of Winchester and mauled him anew.
RitchiestabbedEdgarseveraltimesandfledfromthepark.
TheVerdictoftheTrialCourt
OnOctober9,1998,thetrialcourtrendereditsJudgment[14]withthefollowingdispositiveportion:
INTHELIGHTOFTHEFOREGOINGCONSIDERATIONS,thisCourtherebyfindsbothaccused,
WINCHESTERABUTandGREGMARBALIGA,GUILTYBEYONDREASONABLEDOUBTofthecrime
ofMURDER,inconspiracywitheachotherasprincipalsbydirectparticipation.
ConsideringthatthecrimewascommittedbybothaccusedWinchesterAbutandGregmarBaligawhenthe
penaltyforMurderwasamendedbyR.A.7659,effectiveJanuary1,1994,thesaidpenaltiesfoundinsaidlawis
applicableandherebysentencestheaccused,WINCHESTERABUTtoDEATHBYLETHALINJECTION.
AccusedGregmarBaliga,whoisstillbelow18yearswhenthecrimewascommitted,issentencedtoan
indeterminatepenaltyofTen(10)yearsofPrisionMayorasminimumtoSeventeen(17)yearsandfour(4)
monthsofReclusionTemporalasthemaximumterm.
Thetwoaccused,WINCHESTERABUTandGREGMARBALIGAareorderedtopaySeventyFiveThousand
Pesos(P75,000.00)tothehereinoffendedpartyasindemnityandanotherSeventyFiveThousandPesos
(P75,000.00)asmoraldamages,andtopaythecosts.
SOORDERED.[15]
WinchesterandGregmar,nowappellants,assailthedecisionofthetrialcourtcontendingthat:
I
THECOURTAQUOGRAVELYERREDINFINDINGTHATTHEGUILTOFACCUSEDAPPELLANTS
FORTHECRIMECHARGEDWEREPROVENBEYONDREASONABLEDOUBT.
II
GRANTINGTHATHEREINACCUSEDAPPELLANTSAREGUILTYINKILLINGTHEVICTIM,THE
COURTAQUOGRAVELYERREDINCONVICTINGTHEMOFTHECRIMECHARGEDINSTEADOF
THELESSEROFFENSEOFHOMICIDE.
III
GRANTINGFURTHERTHATHEREINACCUSEDAPPELLANTSAREGUILTYOFTHECRIME
CHARGED,THECOURTAQUOGRAVELYERREDINIMPOSINGTHESUPREMEPENALTYOF
DEATHUPONACCUSEDAPPELLANTWINCHESTERABUT.[16]
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Onthefirstassignmentoferrors,theappellantsassertthatRitchiealoneassaultedandkilledthe
victim.TheprosecutionfailedtoprovethattheappellantsconspiredwithRitchietoassaultandkillthe
victim.Theydidnotintendtoassaultandkillthevictim.TheyandRitchieproceededtotheparkfrom
the store of Rudy Galarpe merely to get acquainted with the victim and Al and not to assault or kill
him.The appellants could not have conspired with Ritchie to assault and kill the victim because (a)
appellantWinchesterwasshakinghandswiththevictimwhenRitchiebroketwobottlesofredhorse
beerpromptingthevictimtoviolentlypullthehandoftheappellant(b)Rosiewasabletopullaway
appellant Winchester from Edgar (c) it was Ritchie alone who pursued the victim as the latter
staggered from the park towards the national highway (d) appellant Gregmar was still defecating
whilethevictimwasbeingmauled,assaultedandstabbedbyRitchie(e)evenasMaricar,Rosieand
Al were carrying the victim to the truck, Rosie and Maricar were talking with the appellants and
Ritchie,hence,thewomenwereawarethattheassaultandkillingofthevictimweretheresultofan
uncontrolled outburst of emotions. Maricar, Rosie and Al could not have identified and pinpointed
whoamongtheappellantsandRitchieassaultedandstabbedEdgarconsideringthatthemoonwas
dimlylitandthattheflourescentlampinstalledneartheofficeoftheparkadministratorwasaboutfifty
metersawayfromthesituscriminis.
TheCourtisnotpersuadedbythecontentionsoftheappellants.
By challenging their identification by the witnesses of the prosecution, as the assailants of the
victim, the appellants thereby attacked the credibility of said witnesses and the probative weight of
theirtestimonies.Butthelegalaphorismisthatwhentheissueofcredibilityofwitnessesisinvolved,
thefindingsoffactsofthetrialcourt,itscalibrationofthetestimoniesofwitnessesanditsassessment
oftheprobativeweightthereof,aswellasitsconclusionsanchoredonsaidfindingsareaccordedby
theappellatecourthighrespectifnotconclusiveeffectpreciselybecauseoftheuniqueadvantageof
thetrialcourtinobservingandmonitoringatcloserangethedemeanor,deportmentandconductof
the witnesses as they testify unless the trial court has overlooked, misconstrued or misinterpreted
cogentfactsofsubstancewhichifconsideredmightaffecttheresultofthecase.[17]
In this case, there is no showing that the trial court overlooked, misunderstood, misapplied or
misconstruedanyfactsofsubstancethatwouldhavemateriallyaffectedtheoutcomeofthecase.The
trialcourtfoundthecollectivetestimoniesofthewitnessesoftheprosecutionstraightforward,positive
andcredible,incontrasttothetestimoniesoftheappellants.The trial courtcorrectly concludedthat
the appellants conspired with Ritchie in assaulting and stabbing the victim to death and that all of
themarecriminallyliableforthedeathofthevictim.The appellants cannot thus argue that Maricar,
RosieandAlcouldnothaveseentheappellantsstabandkillthevictim.
Aconspiracyexistwhentwoormorepersonscometoanagreementconcerningthecommission
ofafelonyanddecidetocommitit.Toestablishconspiracy,directevidenceisnotrequired.Itisnot
evenessentialthattherebeproofoftheagreementtocommitthefelony.Proofofconcertedactionof
theaccusedbefore,duringandafterthecrimewhichdemonstratestheirunityofdesignandobjective
issufficient.ThisCourthadconsistentlyruledthatconspiracymaybeinferredwhenbytheiracts,two
or more persons proceed towards the accomplishment of the same felonious objective, with each
doing his act, so that their acts though seemingly independent were in fact connected, showing a
closeness of former association and concurrence of sentiment. To hold one as a coprincipal by
reasonofconspiracyitmustbeshownthatheperformedanovertactinpursuanceoforfurtherance
oftheconspiracy,althoughtheactsperformedmighthavebeendistinctandseparate.Thisovertact
may consist of active participation in the actual commission of the crime itself, or it may consist of
moralassistancetohiscoconspiratorsbybeingpresentatthetimeofthecommissionofthecrime,or
by exerting a moral ascendance over the other coconspirators by moving them to execute or
implementthecriminalplan.Onceconspiracyisestablished,alltheconspiratorsareanswerableas
coprincipalsregardlessoftheirdegreeofparticipation,forinthecontemplationofthelaw,theactof
one becomes the act of all.[18] It matters not who among the accused inflicted the fatal blow to the
victim.[19]
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Inthiscase,theevidenceonrecordindubitablyshowsthatafterintroducinghimselftothevictim,
appellantWinchesterpulledthehandofthevictimandboxedhim.Ritchiebroke twobottles ofbeer
and hit the victim with the broken bottles. The appellants and Ritchie ganged up and assaulted the
victim. Not content, they stabbed the victim repeatedly. Maricar narrated how the appellants and
Ritchiebytheircollectiveactskilledthevictim,thus:
QAndafterEdgarGalarpesaidhisnametoWinchesterAbut,whatdidWinchesterAbutsay?
AWinchester Abut did not answer when Edgar Galarpe said How about you, Partner? What is your
name?
QAndwhathappenedafterthat?
AThenRichie(sic)WaslogotthetwoRedHorsebottlewhichwerestillcold.
QAndwhathappenedtothesebottles?
AThetwoRedHorsebottleswerebroken.
QThen,whathappened?
ATheyimmediatelyattackedEdgar.
QWhoarethesewhoattackedEdgarGalarpe?
AWinchesterAbut,RichieWasloandGregmarBalega.
QHowdidtheysuddenlyattackEdgarGalarpe?HowaboutWinchesterAbut?
AWinchesterAbutboxedEdgarGalarpe.
QWherewashehit?
AIwasnotabletonoticewhereEdgarGalarpewashitbecausetherewasalreadyarumble.Hewas
gangedupbythethree.
QHowaboutAlCailing?Wherewasheduringtherumble?
AAlCailingwasnearus.
QWhataboutWaslo?WhatspecificallydidhedowhenyousaidhegangeduponEdgarGalarpe?On
thepartofWaslo,whatspecificallydidhedobywayofattackingEdgarGalarpe?
ARichieWaslokeptonboxingEdgarGalarpe.
QDoyourecallwherewasEdgarGalarpehitbyRichieWaslo?
AIcannotrecall.
QWhathappenedtoEdgarGalarpewhenhewasboxedbyRichieWaslo?
AWhenEdgarGalarpewascontinuouslyboxed,hefelldown.
QHowaboutGregmarBalega?WhatspecificallydidhedobywayofattackingEdgarGalarpe?
A Still the same. Gregmar Balega kept on boxing Edgar Galarpe. The three of them took turns in
attackingEdgarGalarpe.
QHowaboutthebottleinwhichthegroupbrought?
AThebottlethatwasbrokenwasleftinthetable.
QYoumentionedafterawhilethatEdgarGalarpefelldown.WhatdidaccuseddowhenEdgarGalarpe
felldown?
AThatwasthetimewhenWinchesterAbutrodeontopofEdgarGalarpe,whileGregmarBalegawas
ononeside,whileRichieWaslowasontheotherside.
Q Now, what was Winchester Abut doing to Edgar Galarpe when he was riding on top of Edgar
Galarpe?
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AThey kept on stabbing, but I did not see what was the instrument used by them in stabbing Edgar
Galarpebecausethemoonlightwasnotquitebright.
QHowwasEdgarGalarpepositionedwhilelyingontheground?
AAt first Edgar Galarpe was lying on his back, but after awhile, he was able to lie on his face to the
groundbecausehestruggledsothathecanstandup.
QWasheabletostandup?
AAfterawhile,whenRichieWasloleft,hewasabletostandupbecausewhenIpulledup,Winchester
Abut,EdgarGalarpeshoutedenoughbecauseIhavemanystabwoundsalready.
QHowaboutRosiePabela?Whatwasshedoingallthewhile?
ARosiePabelapulledoutWinchesterAbutandkeptonshouting,Whathavewedonetoyou?,andwhy
didyoudothistous?[20]
Al Cailing corroborated the testimony of Maricar when he testified on direct and cross
examinations,thus:
QAndwhowasthisonewhointroducedhimself?
AWinchesterAbutintroducedhimself.
QHowdidhedothat?
AWhentheyarrivedtheymetMaricarPerezandMaricarsaid,youarehereKing,introduceyourselfand
sohesaid,KingKingko,Bay,meaning,IamKingKing,Bay.
QWhenhesaidKingKingkoBay,towhomdidhesaythosewords?
AWinchesterAbutaddressedthosewordstoEdgarGalarpe.
QAndwhatwastheanswerofEdgarGalarpe?
AEdgarGalarpeanswered,IamEdgar,Bay.
QAfterthat,whathappenednext?
AWhenKingKingreleasedthehandofEdgarGalarpe,heimmediatelyboxedEdgarGalarpeandso
EdgarGalarpestoodup,buthewasgangedup.
QWhogangedupEdgarGalarpe?
AWinchesterAbut,GregmarBaligaandRitchieWalsogangedupEdgarGalarpe.
QWhentheygangedupEdgarGalarpe,whathappenedtoEdgarGalarpe?
COURT:
Slowly.Beforethat,askhow?
QHowdidtheygangupEdgarGalarpe?
AThethreeaccusedhelpedoneanotherinstabbingEdgarGalarpe.
COURT:
Whatdidtheyuse?
A I cannot exactly determine what were the instruments used by them in stabbing Edgar Galarpe
becausetherewereinsufficientilluminationoflight.
QWhiletheyweregangingupEdgarGalarpe,whathappenedtoEdgarGalarpe?
A(Whathappenedto)EdgarGalarpefelldown.
QAndwhenEdgarGalarpefelldown,whatdidWichester(sic)Abutdo?
AWichester(sic)AbutwasbroughtbyRosiePabilatowardstheseashore.[21]
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QSo,immediatelythereafter,WinchesterAbutintroducedhimselftoyou?
AYes,Mam.
QAndhesuddenlyboxedEdgarGalarpe?
AImmediatelyafterreleasingthehandsofEdgarGalarpebecausetheywereshakinghands.
QWithoutanyreason,heimmediatelyboxedEdgarGalarpe?
AYes,Mam.
QHowaboutRitchieWaslo,whatwashedoingthen?
AThen,thethreeaccusedhelpedoneanotherinmaulingEdgarGalarpe.
QIsitnotafact,Mr.Cailing,thatthisWinchesterAbutfelldownbeforethere(there)wasacommotion
amongthisgroupandthegroupofWinchesterAbut.
AWinchesterAbutdidnotfalldown.
QBut,youareascertain(sic),Mr.Cailing,thatwhentherewasacommotion,youlefttheplaceinstead
ofhelpingEdgarGalarpe?
A Edgar Galarpe and attempted to run away and Edgar Galarpe was chased by the two accused,
Wichester(sic)AbutandGregmarBaligaandIwaschasedbyRitchieWaslo.
QSo,itisnottruethatthethreeaccusedgangedupEdgarGalarpe?TherewasfirstachasingofEdgar
Galarpe by the two accused, Winchester Abut and Gregmar Baliga and against you by Ritchie
Waslo?
AAt first, Edgar Galarpe was ganged upby the three accused and when Edgar Galarpe and myself
attempted to run away, I was chased by Ritchie Waslo while Edgar Galarpe was chased by
Winchester Abut and Gregmar Baliga, but Edgar Galarpe did not run because he was already
wounded.
QBut,youdidnotseewhostabbedEdgarGalarpe?
AIsawthatEdgarGalarpewasstabbedbythethreeaccused.
QDespitethefact,thethreeaccusedgangedupEdgarGalarpe,youdidnotdoanything?
AIattemptedtohelpEdgarGalarpe,butIwasalsoafraidandso,Iranaway.
QYouaretellingnowthecourtthatonlythegirlsorthefemaleswhohelpedEdgarGalarpewhenthere
wasacommotion?
AItdidnottakelongandIcamebackbecauseMaricarPerezwasshoutingformetocomeback.[22]
RosiePabilalikewisetestifiedthattheappellantsandRitchiestabbedthevictimseveraltimes.[23]
AsshownintheautopsyreportofDr.TammyUy,thevictimsustainedeighteenstabwoundson
thechest,arms,thighsandattheback,aswellasabrasions.[24]Thefindingofthetrialcourtthatthe
appellantsstabbedthevictimisbuttressedbythetestimonyofthedoctorthattheassailantsusedtwo
kindsofweapons,asingleordoublebladedinstrumentorobjectandasharppointedinstrumentwith
threesides(trescantos):
QThenextentryarestabwounds.Wherearetheselocated?
A These two stab wounds are located at the left scapular region of the back or left shoulder blade
region,andtheotherislocatedattheposterioraspectoftheforearm.
QWhatcouldhavecausedthesetwostabwounds?
AConsideringthatthesestabwoundsareeliptical(sic)inshapetheycouldhavebeencausedbyany
sharpbladedobjectorinstrument.
QSuchasaknife?
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AYes.
QHowdeeparethesestabwounds?
AWell,thesizeare1.7cmlongand2.1cmlongandtheyhaveanapproximatedepthof2.2cmand2.5
cm,respectively.
QDoyouconsiderthosestabwoundsasfatal?
ANo.
QCouldyouestimatehowdeepisthatwithyourfinger?
A2.5cmisroughwhichisequivalentofoneinc.2.2cmisalmostoneinch.
QCouldyoutellifthesizeorsharppointedinstrumentusedwassingleordoublebladed?
AIcouldnottellthat.Itcouldbesingleordoublebladed.
QThenextentryistwelvestabwounds.Couldyoupoint?
A These twelve nonpenetrating stab wounds are described in my report. As to shape, they are
triangularinshape.
QWhatcouldhavecausedthesestabwounds?
AThesecouldhavebeencausedbyasharppointedinstrumentwiththreesides.
QSuchasafile?
AAfile(limbasortrescantos).
QThesestabwoundsarefatal?
AConsideringthatallofthemarenonpenetrating,iftheyaretakenindividuallytheyarenonfatal.Asto
location,twoarelocatedatthechestsixatthebacktwoattheleftupperarmoneatthebackof
therighthandandoneinthemiddlethirdoftherightthighposterioraspect,backoftherightthing.
QWouldyousaythatthewoundfoundonthedorsalportionofthehandcouldbecalledasadefensive
wound?
AYes,itispossible.
QHowabouttheotherwoundsattheforearmwhichyoumentionedinEntryNo.3?
ATheoneattheposterioraspectoftheleftforearmishighlyindicativeofadefensivewound.
QThelastentryisalsostabwounds,fourinnumberandpenetrating.Wherearetheselocated?
AThesearelocatedonthefollowing:Oneisfoundontheleftsideofthechestmedialaspectornearthe
centerofthebodytheotherthreearelocatedattheleftlowerthoracicregionoftheback,moreor
lessbelowtheleftshoulderbladeregion(witnessdemonstrating).
QWhatkindofweaponwasusedintheinflictionofthesefourstabwounds?
AWell,thesecouldhavebeencausedbyasharppointedobjectorinstrumentwiththreesidesorthree
cornerortreskantos.
QAllthefourstabwounds?
AYes.
QCouldyoudeterminewhichofthepenetratingstabwoundwascausedfirst?
AI cannot determine that, sir.I can only say that all these stab wounds sustained by the victim were
inflictedonthefactwhilehewasstillalive.
QCouldyouhazardaneducatedguessofwhatpositionwasthevictimatthetimehewasstabbedwith
thesepenetratingwounds?
AWell, with respect to the left side of the chest, most probably they were, more or less, facing each
otherwhilethethreeatthebackisthatmostprobablytheassailantwas,moreorless,atthebackof
thevictim.
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QWouldyousaythatthevictimwaslyingatthattimewhenthewoundswereinflictedonhim?
AThatispossible.
QWhichofthesestabwoundswasfatal?
AEachofthemcouldbefatalbecausetheoneatthechestinvolvedtheheart,whilethethreeatthe
backinvolvedthelungs.
QAreyoutryingtosaythattheonefoundontheleftchestcausedinjuryoftheheart?
AYes.[25]
Although Ritchie alone pursued the victim as he staggered from the situs criminis, however, by
thenthevictimhadalreadybeenassaultedandrepeatedlystabbedbytheappellantsandRitchie.The
appellants cannot thus argue that Ritchie alone is criminally liable for the death of the victim. As
against the collective positive testimonies of the witnesses of the prosecution coupled with the
physical evidence on record pointing to the appellants and Ritchie as the perpetrators of the crime,
the bare denial of the appellants which are merely negative selfserving evidence cannot prevail.[26]
Besides,thereisnoevidenceonrecordthatthethreewitnessesoftheprosecutionhadanyillmotives
totestifyagainsttheappellantsandascribetothemthecommissionofaheinouscrimeforwhichthe
appellantscouldbemetedreclusionperpetuaoreventhedeathpenalty.Itwouldruncountertothe
natural order of events and of human nature and contrary to the presumption of good faith for the
prosecutionwitnessestofalselytestifyagainsttheappellantsif,indeed,theyareinnocent.[27]
Insum,theappellantsarecriminallyliableforthedeathofthevictim.
TheCrimeCommittedbytheAppellants
On the second and third assignment of errors, the appellants aver that they are guilty only of
homicide as defined in Article 249 of the Revised Penal Code, and not of murder. Even if it is
assumed that the appellants are guilty of murder, the proper penalty for the crime is reclusion
perpetua and not the death penalty. Although the crime is qualified by abuse of superior strength,
however,treacherywasnotallegedintheinformationandhence,treacheryshouldnotbeconsidered
asanaggravatingcircumstanceinthecommissionofthecrime.
The trial court correctly convicted the appellants of murder with the qualifying circumstance of
abuse of superior strength. However, the trial court erred in appreciating treachery against the
appellants. There is treachery when the offender commits any of the crimes against persons
employing means, methods or forms in the execution thereof which tend directly and specially to
insure its execution without risk to himself arising from the defense which the offended party might
make.Inorderthattreacherymaybeappreciatedasaqualifyingcircumstance,itmustbeshownthat:
a.)themalefactoremployedmeans,methodormannerofexecutionaffordingthepersonattackedno
opportunitytodefendhimselfortoretaliateandb.)themeans,methodormannerofexecutionwas
deliberately or consciously adopted by the offender. The second is the subjective element of
treachery.[28]Treacherymustbeprovedbyclearandconvincingevidenceasconclusivelyasthekilling
itself.Intheabsenceofanyconvincingproofthattheaccusedconsciouslyanddeliberatelyadopted
themeansbywhichtheycommittedthecrimeinordertoensureitsexecution,theCourtmustresolve
the doubt in favor of the accused.[29] In this case, the prosecution failed to prove that the mode or
manner of execution was deliberately or consciously adopted by the appellants when they stabbed
thevictim.Appellant Winchester first boxed the victim. The appellants and Ritchie then mauled and
kickedthevictim.Thereisnoevidencethatattheoutset,theyhaddecidedtostabandkillthevictim.
It was only at the late stage of the assault that the appellants and Ritchie stabbed the victim. The
Court believes that after ganging up on and mauling the victim, the appellants, at the spurofthe
moment, decided to stab the victim. Thus, the subjective element of treachery was not present.[30]
However,theappellantsandRitchieabusedtheirsuperiorstrength.Theyboxedandkickedthevictim
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withoutletup.Theymauledandkickedthevictimevenashewasalreadysprawledontheground.
The victim was outnumbered. As against the combined strength of the appellants and Ritchie, the
victim was helpless. There was indubitably inequality of strength between the victim and the
appellantsandRitchie.[31]
TheProperPenalties
Under Article 248 of the Revised Penal Code, the penalty for murder is reclusion perpetua to
death. There being no modifying circumstances in the commission of the crime other than the
qualifyingcircumstanceofabuseofsuperiorstrength,appellantWinchesterAbutshouldbesentenced
toreclusionperpetuaconformablywithArticle63oftheRevisedPenalCode.
The penalty imposed by the trial court on appellant Gregmar Baliga which is from ten years of
prisionmayorasminimumto17yearsand4monthsofreclusiontemporal, as maximum is correct.
TheappellantwasseventeenandeightmonthsoldwhenthecrimewascommittedandunderArticle
68oftheRevisedPenalCode,thepenaltyforthecrimeshouldbereducedbyonedegree.
CivilLiabilitiesoftheAppellants
The trial court awarded to the heirs of the victim Edgar Galarpe P75,000 as civil indemnity and
P75,000 as moral damages. The decision of the trial court must be modified. Conformably with the
current jurisprudence, the appellants are obliged to pay in solidum the heirs of the victim, Edgar
Galarpe,theamountofP50,000ascivilindemnity.[32]However,theyarenotliableformoraldamages
becausetheprosecutionfailedtopresenttheheirsofthevictimtoprovesaiddamages.[33]
INLIGHTOFALLTHEFOREGOING,thedecisionoftheRegionalTrialCourtofCagayandeOro
City, Branch 25, in Criminal Case No. 971504 is AFFIRMED with MODIFICATIONS. Appellants
Winchester Abut and Gregmar Baliga are found guilty beyond reasonable doubt of murder under
Article248oftheRevisedPenalCodequalifiedbyabuseofsuperiorstrength.Therebeingnoother
modifyingcircumstancesinthecommissionofthecrime,appellantWinchesterAbutissentencedto
suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua. Appellant Gregmar Baliga is sentenced to suffer an
indeterminate penalty of from ten (10) years of prisionmayor in its medium period, as minimum, to
seventeen(17)yearsandfour(4)monthsofreclusiontemporal in its medium period, as maximum.
Said appellants are hereby ordered to pay in solidum the heirs of the victim, Edgar Galarpe, the
amountofP50,000ascivilindemnity.Theawardformoraldamagesisdeleted.
Costsdeoficio.
SOORDERED.
Davide, C.J., Jr., Bellosillo, Puno, Vitug, Panganiban, YnaresSantiago, SandovalGutierrez,
Carpio,AustriaMartinez,Corona,CarpioMorales,andAzcuna,JJ.,concur.
Quisumbing,J.,onofficialleave.
[1]PennedbyJudgeNoliT.Catli.
[2]Records,p.2.
[3]TSN,April1,1988Records,p.177.
[4]TSN,January12,1998,pp.34.
[5]ExhibitB.
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[6]ExhibitsB1andB3.
[7]ExhibitsB2andB4.
[8]ExhibitB5.
[9]ExhibitC1.
[10]Records,p.13.
[11]ExhibitI.
[12]Exhibit2.
[13]Exhibit2A.
[14]Rollo,p.22.
[15]Id.,at2930.
[16]Rollo,pp.6263.
[17]Peoplevs.Aquino,329SCRA247(2000)Peoplevs.Ratunil,334SCRA721(2000).
[18]Peoplevs.Ponce,341SCRA352(2000).
[19]Peoplevs.Canoy,328SCRA385(2000)Peoplevs.Good,331SCRA612(2000)Peoplevs.Pama,216SCRA385
(1992)Peoplevs.Liquiran,228SCRA62(1993)Peoplevs.Sequio,264SCRA9(1996).
[20]TSN,Perez,January12,1998,pp.710.
[21]TSN,Cailing,January20,1998,pp.78.
[22]TSN,Cailing,February2,1998,pp.45,supra.
[23]TSN,January14,1998,pp.1112.
[24]ExhibitA.
[25]TSN,Uy,January9,1998,pp.710,supra.(Underscoringsupplied)
[26]Peoplevs.Orio,330SCRA576(2000).
[27]Peoplevs.Macaliag,337SCRA502(2000).
[28]Peoplevs.Arellano,334SCRA775(2000).
[29]Peoplevs.Orio,supra.
[30]Peoplevs.Arellano,supra.
[31]Peoplevs.SanAndres,326SCRA223(2000).
[32]Peoplevs.Quimson,366SCRA581(2001).
[33]Id.
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THEPEOPLEOFTHEPHILIPPINES,appellee, vs. WINCHESTER ABUT, RITCHIE

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