G.R.No.

L28129October31,1969

ELIASVALCORZA,petitioner,
vs.
PEOPLEOFTHEPHILIPPINES,respondent.

RULING
Thepetitionerisacquitted.

ART.11.Justifyingcircumstances.Thefollowingdonotincuranycriminalliability
Paragraph5.Anypersonwhoactsinthefulfillmentofadutyorinthelawful
exerciseofarightoroffice.

Thefactsandcircumstancesconstrainustoholdthattheactthusperformedbypetitioner,
whichunfortunatelyresultedinthedeathoftheescapingdetainee,wascommittedinthe
performanceofhisofficialdutyandwasmoreorlessnecessarytopreventtheescaping
prisonerfromsuccessfullyeludingtheofficersofthelaw.Toholdhimguiltyofhomicide
mayhavetheeffectofdemoralizingpoliceofficersdischargingofficialfunctions
identicalorsimilartothoseintheperformanceofwhichpetitionerwasengagedatthe
timehefiredatthedeceasedPimentel,withtheresultthatthereafterWewouldhavehalf
heartedanddispiritedeffortsontheirparttocomplywithsuchofficialduty.Thisof
course,wouldbetothegreatdetrimentofpublicinterest.

FACTS:
Thedeceased,RobertoPimentelwasadetentionprisonerwhoescaped.Whileinsearch
fortheescapedprisoner,Sgt.Daitonsawapersonapproachingslowlyunderthebridge
andheorderedhimtohalt.Thelatterinsteadofdoingso,jumpeddownintothecreek
spannedbythebridge.RobertoPimentelemergedsuddenlyfromthebushesandlunged
attheappellantValcorza,hittinghimwithastoneandcausinghimtofalltotheground.
AppellantValcorzaregainedhiscomposureandimmediatelychasedthedeceased,asthe
deceaseddidnotheedhisordertostop,appellantfiredfourtimesintotheair,andafifth
shotatPimentelasthelatterwasinanactofagainjumpingdownintoanotherpartofthe
creek.ThemembersofthepatrolteamwentdownintothewatertolocatePimenteland
theysawhimfloating,withawoundonhisback.EliasValcorzasurrenderedhimselfand
hisfirearmtotheChiefofPolice

ISSUE:
WhetherornotpeaceofficerValcorzawasjustifiedinshootingthedeceased