Professional Documents
Culture Documents
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bias, impelled by no other motive than to People v Rebucan
bring justice to their mother's senseless
death. Crime charged: DOUBLE MURDER
For the crime committed: ISSUE: WON the accused is liable for the crime of
murder
ART. 246. Parricide. — Any person
who shall kill his father, mother, or child, Ruling:
whether legitimate or illegitimate, or any of
his ascendants, or descendants, or his spouse, 1. RTC: Convicted of double murder
shall be guilty of parricide and shall be 2. CA: Modified, adjudged guilty beyond
punished by the penalty of reclusion reasonable doubt for two (2) counts of
perpetua to death. (Restored by Sec. 5, RA No. murder
7659.) 3. SC: Affirmed w/ modifications: GUILTY of
two (2) counts of murder
The prosecution is mandated to prove the following
essential elements: Facts:
Ruling: Held:
1. RTC: Guilty of murder and less serious The elements of murder that the prosecution
physical injuries must establish are (1) that a person was killed; (2)
2. CA: Affirmed the decision of the RTC that the accused killed him or her; (3) that the killing
3. SC: Affirmed w/ modification: guilty of was attended by any of the qualifying circumstances
murder and slight physical injuries mentioned in Article 248 of the Revised Penal Code
(RPC); and (4) that the killing is not parricide or
Facts: infanticide.
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People vs Laog Held:
Crime charged: MURDER and RAPE Article 266-B of the Revised Penal Code, as
amended, provides only a single penalty for the
ISSUE: WON the crime charged is correct composite acts of rape and the killing committed by
reason or on the occasion of the rape.
Ruling:
ART. 266-B. Penalties. – Rape under
1. RTC: Guilty of murder and rape paragraph 1 of the next preceding article shall
2. CA: Affirmed w/ modifications be punished by reclusion perpetua.
3. SC: Affirmed w/ modifications; guilty of Whenever the rape is committed with
Rape w/ homicide under Art. 266-B the use of a deadly weapon or by two or
more persons, the penalty shall be reclusion
Facts: perpetua to death.
When by reason or on the occasion of
AAA and her friend, Jennifer Patawaran-Rosal, the rape, the victim has become insane, the
were walking along the rice paddies on their way to penalty shall be reclusion perpetua to death.
apply for work at a canteen near the National When the rape is attempted and a
Highway in Sampaloc, San Rafael, Bulacan. Suddenly, homicide is committed by reason or on the
appellant, who was holding an ice pick and a lead occasion thereof, the penalty shall be
pipe, waylaid them and forcibly brought them to a reclusion perpetua to death.
grassy area at the back of a concrete wall. Without When by reason or on the occasion of
warning, appellant struck AAA in the head with the the rape, homicide is committed, the penalty
lead pipe causing her to feel dizzy and to fall down. shall be death. x x x x (Emphasis supplied.)
When Jennifer saw this, she cried out for help but
appellant also hit her on the head with the lead pipe, Considering that the prosecution in this case
knocking her down. Appellant stabbed Jennifer was able to prove both the rape of AAA and the
several times with the ice pick and thereafter covered killing of Jennifer both perpetrated by appellant, he is
her body with thick grass. Appellant then turned to liable for rape with homicide under the above
AAA. He hit her in the head several times more with provision. There is no doubt that appellant killed
the lead pipe and stabbed her on the face. While she Jennifer to prevent her from aiding AAA or calling for
was in such defenseless position, appellant pulled help once she is able to run away, and also to silence
down her jogging pants, removed her panty, and her completely so she may not witness the rape of
pulled up her blouse and bra. He then went on top of AAA, the original intent of appellant. His carnal desire
her, sucked her breasts and inserted his penis into having been satiated, appellant purposely covered
her vagina. After raping her, appellant also covered AAA’s body with grass, as he did earlier with
her with grass. At that point, she passed out. When Jennifer’s body, so that it may not be easily noticed
she regained consciousness, it was nighttime and or seen by passersby. Appellant indeed thought that
raining hard. She crawled until she reached her the savage blows he had inflicted on AAA were
uncle’s farm at daybreak. When she saw him, she enough to cause her death as with Jennifer. But AAA
waved at him for help. Her uncle, BBB, and a certain survived and appellant’s barbaric deeds were soon
Nano then brought her to Carpa Hospital in Baliuag, enough discovered.
Bulacan where she stayed for more than three
weeks. She later learned that Jennifer had died. The facts established showed that the
constitutive elements of rape with homicide were
Accused claimed that at the time of the consummated, and it is immaterial that the person
incident, he was at his house with his children and killed in this case is someone other than the woman
nephew cooking dinner.
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victim of the rape. An analogy may be drawn from People v Pareja
our rulings in cases of robbery with homicide, where
the component acts of homicide, physical injuries and Crime charged: RAPE
other offenses have been committed by reason or on
the occasion of robbery. ISSUE: WON the crime charged is correct
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conclusion that the appellant’s penis penetrated, penetrate, attempted rape is committed; otherwise,
however slightly, the victim’s female organ. the crime committed is merely acts of lasciviousness.
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People v Padigos b. When the offended party is
deprived of reason or is otherwise
Crime charged: RAPE and ACTS OF LASCIVIOUSNESS unconscious;
c. By means of fraudulent
ISSUE: WON the guilt was proven beyond reasonable machination or grave abuse of
doubt authority;
d. When the offended party is under
Ruling: twelve (12) years of age or is
demented, even though none of the
1. RTC: Guilty of rape (considering the circumstances mentioned above be
aggravating qualifying circumstance of present;
relationship to and minority of the victim) 2. By any person who, under any of
and acts of lasciviousness the circumstances mentioned in par. 1
2. CA: Affirmed w/ modifications hereof, shall commit an act of sexual assault
3. SC: Affirmed w/ modifications by inserting his penis into another person’s
mouth or anal orifice, or any instrument or
Facts: object, into the genital or anal orifice of
another person.
"AAA", six-years old, was sleeping inside their
house when her father, accused-appellant raped her. As cemented in jurisprudence, the elements
He undressed her and removed her panty, and also of rape under the said provision of law are: (1) the
took off his pants. He inserted his penis into her offender had carnal knowledge of the victim; and (2)
vagina and made push and pull movements. She felt such act was accomplished through force or
pain in her private organ. Her mother was not around intimidation; or when the victim is deprived of reason
as it was only her and her father who were home. or otherwise unconscious; or when the victim is
The next day, accused-appellant made her hold his under 12 years of age. Thus, sexual intercourse with a
penis. He, on the other hand, touched her genitals girl below 12 years old, which is the subject of this
and inserted his fingers into her vagina causing her to case, is considered as statutory rape in this
feel pain. She related the incidents to her mother jurisdiction.
who simply gave her father a fierce piercing stare but
did nothing. She also confided to her aunt, sister of According to the sixth paragraph of Article
her mother, who brought her to a doctor for medical 266-B, the death penalty shall be imposed if the
examination and to the police station to report the crime of rape is committed "when the victim is under
matter. eighteen (18) years of age and the offender is a
parent, ascendant, stepparent, guardian, relative by
Held: consanguinity or affinity within the third civil degree,
or the common-law spouse of the parent of the
Article 266-A of the Revised Penal Code which victim."
deals with the offense of rape provides:
After a careful review of the records of this
Art. 266-A. Rape, When and How case, we are persuaded that appellant is indeed guilty
Committed. – Rape is committed of qualified rape. In People v. Pruna, we formulated a
1. By a man who shall have carnal set of guidelines that will serve as a jurisprudential
knowledge of a woman under any of the benchmark in appreciating age either as an element
following circumstances: of the crime or as a qualifying circumstance in order
a. Through force, threat or to address the seemingly conflicting court decisions
intimidation; regarding the sufficiency of evidence of the victim’s
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age in rape cases. The Pruna guidelines are as 6. The trial court should always make a
follows: categorical finding as to the age of the victim.
(Citation omitted.)
1. The best evidence to prove the age of the In the case at bar, the prosecution may have
offended party is an original or certified true been unable to present AAA’s birth certificate or
copy of the certificate of live birth of such other authentic document such as a baptismal
party. certificate during trial, however, that failure to
2. In the absence of a certificate of live birth, present relevant evidence will not deter this Court
similar authentic documents such as from upholding that qualified rape was indeed
baptismal certificate and school records committed by appellant because he himself
which show the date of birth of the victim admitted, in his counter-affidavit which formed part
would suffice to prove age. of the evidence for the defense and the contents of
3. If the certificate of live birth or authentic which he later affirmed in his testimony in open
document is shown to have been lost or court, that AAA was below 7 years old around the
destroyed or otherwise unavailable, the time of the rape incident. In the Court’s view, this
testimony, if clear and credible, of the admission from appellant, taken with the testimony
victim’s mother or a member of the family of the victim, sufficiently proved the victim’s
either by affinity or consanguinity who is minority.
qualified to testify on matters respecting
pedigree such as the exact age or date of Acts of Lasciviousness
birth of the offended party pursuant to
Section 40, Rule 130 of the Rules on Evidence Anent the charge of acts of lasciviousness, Article 336
shall be sufficient under the following of the Revised Penal Code provides:
circumstances:
a. If the victim is alleged to be below 3 Art. 336. Acts of lasciviousness. – Any
years of age and what is sought to be person who shall commit any act of
proved is that she is less than 7 years lasciviousness upon other persons of
old; either sex, under any of the
b. If the victim is alleged to be below 7 circumstances mentioned in the
years of age and what is sought to be preceding article, shall be punished by
proved is that she is less than 12 years prision correccional.
old;
c. If the victim is alleged to be below Therefore, the crime of acts of lasciviousness is
12 years of age and what is sought to composed of the following elements:
be proved is that she is less than 18
years old. (1) That the offender commits any act of
4. In the absence of a certificate of live birth, lasciviousness or lewdness;
authentic document, or the testimony of the (2) That it is done under any of the following
victim’s mother or relatives concerning the circumstances:
victim’s age, the complainant’s testimony will a. By using force or intimidation; or
suffice provided that it is expressly and clearly b. When the offended party is
admitted by the accused. deprived of reason or otherwise
5. It is the prosecution that has the burden of unconscious; or
proving the age of the offended party. The c. When the offended party is under
failure of the accused to object to the 12 years of age; and
testimonial evidence regarding age shall not (3) That the offended party is another person
be taken against him. of either sex. (Citation omitted.)
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Utilizing the foregoing definition as a guide, it People v Villaflores
is beyond cavil that appellant’s act of making AAA
hold his penis and, subsequently, of touching her Crime charged: RAPE w/ HOMICIDE
vagina with his fingers can be both characterized as
constituting acts of lasciviousness. As previously ISSUE: WON RTC and the CA gravely erred in finding
discussed, the moral influence or ascendancy accused guilty beyond reasonable doubt of rape with
exercised by appellant over AAA takes the place of homicide
the element of force and intimidation.
Ruling:
Ruling:
Facts:
LEGEND:
AAA: victim
EEE: the aunt/guardian
FFF: friend
GGG: accused-appellant’s sister
"[F]or the charge of rape to prosper, the Paragraph 10, Article 266-B of the RPC, as
prosecution must prove that (1) the offender had amended, provides:
carnal knowledge of a woman, (2) through force or
intimidation, or when she was deprived of reason or ART. 266-B. Penalties. x x x
otherwise unconscious, or when she was under 12 The death penalty shall also be
years of age or was demented." From these imposed if the crime of rape is committed
requisites, it can thus be deduced that rape is with any of the following
committed the moment the offender has sexual aggravating/qualifying circumstances:
intercourse with a person suffering from mental xxxx
retardation. "[C]arnal knowledge of a woman who is 10. When the offender knew of the
a mental retardate is rape. A mental condition of mental disability, emotional disorder and/or
retardation deprives the complainant of that natural physical handicap of the offended party at the
instinct to resist a bestial assault on her chastity and time of the commission of the crime.
womanhood. For this reason, sexual intercourse with [Emphasis supplied]
one who is intellectually weak to the extent that she
is incapable of giving consent to the carnal act Thus, knowledge of the offender of the mental
already constitutes rape[,] without requiring proof disability of the victim during the commission of the
that the accused used force and intimidation in crime of rape qualifies and makes it punishable by
committing the act." Only the facts of sexual congress death. However, such knowledge by the rapist should
be alleged in the Information since "a crime can only
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be qualified by circumstances pleaded in the People v Cial
indictment."
Crime charged: RAPE (attended by the qualifying
Appellant’s knowledge of the mental circumstances of minority, the victim being less than
disability of "AAA" at the time of the commission of 18 years old, and relationship, the accused being the
the crime of rape was properly alleged in the common-law husband of complainant’s mother)
Amended Information. "Knowledge of the offender of
the mental disability of the victim at the time of the ISSUE: WON the crime charged is correct
commission of the crime of rape qualifies the crime
and makes it punishable by death x x x." "When rape Ruling:
is committed by an assailant who has knowledge of
the victim’s mental retardation, the penalty is 1. RTC: Guilty of qualified rape
increased to death." "Mental retardation is a chronic 2. CA: Affirmed w/ modifications
condition present from birth or early childhood and 3. SC: Modified, guilty of simple rape
characterized by impaired intellectual functioning
measured by standardized tests." Intellectual or Facts:
mental disability "is a term synonymous with and is
now preferred over the older term, mental Appellant, common-law-husband of AAA’s
retardation." mother, called "AAA" and told her to go to the
bedroom inside their house. Once inside, he took off
Thus, appellant’s knowledge of "AAA’s" "AAA’s" shorts and panty and spread her legs. He
mental disability at the time of the commission of the pulled his pants down to his thighs and inserted his
crime qualifies the crime of rape. Appellant is penis into the little girl’s vagina. "AAA" felt intense
therefore guilty of the crime of qualified rape. pain but she did not try to struggle because he had a
bolo on his waist. After satiating his lust, he
threatened to kill "AAA" and her family if she
reported the incident to anyone. At that time,
"AAA’s" maternal grandmother was in the house but
was unaware that "AAA" was being ravished. Unable
to endure the torment, "AAA" confided her ordeal to
her mother but did not believe her. "AAA" ran away
from home and went to her maternal uncle’s house.
She disclosed her harrowing experience to her uncle.
Her uncle appeared to be angered by appellant’s
wrong doing. But nonetheless, her uncle allowed
appellant to bring her home when appellant fetched
her. For fear that she might be raped again, "AAA"
ran away and went to the house of her aunt. Her aunt
helped her file the complaint against her stepfather.
Held:
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People v Candellada appellant became violently angry. He mauled AAA
and hit her head with a piece of wood, which
Crime charged: ATTEMPTED RAPE and 8 COUNTS OF rendered her unconscious. Gemina, who saw what
RAPE happened, asked help from the Barangay Captain.
The Barangay Captain and civilian volunteers arrested
ISSUE: the accused-appellant.
AAA was the second of three daughters of ART. 266-A. Rape; When and How
accused-appellant and his deceased first wife. She Committed. – Rape is committed –
lived with accused-appellant and the latter’s second 1) By a man who shall have carnal
wife, while her two sisters lived with accused- knowledge of a woman under any of the
appellant’s mother. While they were still living in following circumstances:
Davao, accused-appellant impregnated her. When a) Through force, threat or
she was already five months pregnant, accused- intimidation;
appellant brought her with him to Lanao del Norte. b) When the offended party is
deprived of reason or is otherwise
Accused-appellant approached Gemina, who unconscious;
he came to know during a previous visit to Lanao del c) By means of fraudulent
Norte in 1993, and asked permission if he could stay machination or grave abuse of
at Gemina’s old house with his wife, introducing AAA authority;
to Gemina as his wife. Gemina immediately noticed d) When the offended party is under
that AAA was pregnant and also commented that twelve (12) years of age or is
AAA was so young she could already be accused- demented, even though none of the
appellant’s daughter, but accused-appellant only circumstances mentioned above be
laughed. Gemina and her husband allowed accused- present.
appellant and AAA to stay at their old house. xxxx
ART. 266-B. Penalties. – x x x.
While they were staying at Gemina’s old xxxx
house, accused-appellant had intercourse with AAA The death penalty shall also be
many times, but AAA could only remember eight imposed if the crime of rape is
specific dates. AAA further testified that she committed with any of the following
consistently resisted accused-appellant’s bestial acts aggravating/qualifying circumstances:
but he threatened to stab her with a knife. On 1) When the victim is under
December 28, 2004, accused-appellant again made eighteen (18) years of age and the
amorous advances on AAA; she refused so accused-
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offender is a parent, ascendant, behavior and manner of testifying, the trial court
stepparent, guardian, relative by stood in a much better position to decide the
consanguinity or affinity within the question of credibility. Findings of the trial court on
third civil degree, or the common-law such matters are binding and conclusive on the
spouse of the parent of the victim. appellate court, unless some facts or circumstances
of weight and substance have been overlooked,
For a conviction of qualified rape, the misapprehended or misinterpreted. No such facts or
prosecution must allege and prove the ordinary circumstances exist in the present case.
elements of (1) sexual congress, (2) with a woman,
(3) by force and without consent; and in order to It is noteworthy to mention that even if
warrant the imposition of the death penalty, the accused-appellant did not use a knife or made threats
additional elements that (4) the victim is under to AAA, accused-appellant would still be guilty of
eighteen years of age at the time of the rape, and (5) raping AAA, for in rape committed by a close kin,
the offender is a parent (whether legitimate, such as the victim's father, stepfather, uncle, or the
illegitimate or adopted) of the victim. common-law spouse of her mother, it is not
necessary that actual force or intimidation be
The fourth and fifth elements, minority and employed; moral influence or ascendancy takes the
relationship, were admitted by accused-appellant place of violence or intimidation.
during the pre-trial conference.
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The Court has ruled that a child is deemed People v Dulay
subject to other sexual abuse when the child is the
victim of lascivious conduct under the coercion or Crime Charged: RAPE (a co-principal by indispensable
influence of any adult. In lascivious conduct under cooperation)
the coercion or influence of any adult, there must be
some form of compulsion equivalent to intimidation ISSUE: WON the court gravely erred in finding the
which subdues the free exercise of the offended accused-appellant guilty of rape as co-principal by
party’s free will. In this case, Garingarao coerced AAA indispensable cooperation
into submitting to his lascivious acts by pretending
that he was examining her. Ruling:
Garingarao insists that, assuming that the 1. RTC: Guilty of rape as a co-principal by
testimonies of the prosecution witnesses were true, indispensable cooperation
he should not be convicted of violation of RA 7610 2. CA: Affirmed w/ modifications
because the incident happened only once. 3. SC: Modified, guilty of violating Section 5
Garingarao alleges that the single incident would not (a), Article III R.A. 7610, as amended
suffice to hold him liable under RA 7610. His
argument has no legal basis. The Court has already Facts:
ruled that it is inconsequential that sexual abuse
under RA 7610 occurred only once. Section 3(b) of RA AAA’s sister introduced her to appellant as
7610 provides that the abuse may be habitual or not. someone nice. They went to a wake together, and
Hence, the fact that the offense occurred only once is then they went to the “kubuhan” to look for some
enough to hold Garingarao liable for acts of fish. At the “kubuhan”, AAA was pulled by the
lasciviousness under RA 7610. appellant in a room where “Speed” was. She saw
appellant received money from “Speed” and left
them. She was threatened and tied by “Speed” and
raped her. She saw appellant peeping in the room
and asked for help but the latter did nothing.
Thereafter, she was threatened by “Speed” not
divulge the incident or else he’ll come after her. AAA
went to San Pedro, Laguna and told her sister what
happened, and then her sister told their mother and
filed a case against “Speed” and appellant.
Held:
(a) Those who engage in or promote, Paragraph (a) essentially punishes acts pertaining to
facilitate or induce child prostitution which or connected with child prostitution. It contemplates
include, but are not limited to, the following: sexual abuse of a child exploited in prostitution. In
other words, under paragraph (a), the child is abused
primarily for profit.
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Undoubtedly, the above-quoted falls under Section 5 Bongalon v People
(a) of R.A. 7610, the appellant acting as a procurer of
a child and inducing the latter into prostitution. It Crime charged: CHILD ABUSE (act in violation of
must be remembered that the character of the crime Section 10(a) of Republic Act No. 7610)
is not determined by the caption or preamble of the
ISSUE: WON accused should be guilty of the crime
information nor from the specification of the
charged
provision of law alleged to have been violated, they
may be conclusions of law, but by the recital of the Ruling:
ultimate facts and circumstances in the complaint or
information. The sufficiency of an information is not 1. RTC: Guilty of violation of RA 7610
negated by an incomplete or defective designation of 2. CA: Affirmed w/ modifications
the crime in the caption or other parts of the 3. SC: Decision of CA set aside, guilty of
information but by the narration of facts and slight physical injuries
circumstances which adequately depicts a crime and
Facts:
sufficiently apprises the accused of the nature and
cause of the accusation against him. Prosecution
Defense
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Mary Ann Rose testified that her father did (4) Failure to immediately give
not hit or slap but only confronted Jayson, asking why medical treatment to an injured child
Jayson had called her daughters "Kimi" and why he resulting in serious impairment of his
had burned Cherrlyn’s hair. Mary Ann Rose denied growth and development or in his
throwing stones at Jayson and calling him a "sissy." permanent incapacity or death.
She insisted that it was instead Jayson who had xxxx
pelted her with stones during the procession.
Although we affirm the factual findings of fact by the
Held: RTC and the CA to the effect that the petitioner
struck Jayson at the back with his hand and slapped
The law under which the petitioner was Jayson on the face, we disagree with their holding
charged, tried and found guilty of violating is Section that his acts constituted child abuse within the
10 (a), Article VI of Republic Act No. 7610, which purview of the above-quoted provisions. The records
relevantly states: did not establish beyond reasonable doubt that his
laying of hands on Jayson had been intended to
Section 10. Other Acts of Neglect, Abuse, debase the "intrinsic worth and dignity" of Jayson as
Cruelty or Exploitation and other Conditions a human being, or that he had thereby intended to
Prejudicial to the Child’s Development. – humiliate or embarrass Jayson. The records showed
(a) Any person who shall commit any the laying of hands on Jayson to have been done at
other acts of child abuse, cruelty or the spur of the moment and in anger, indicative of his
exploitation or be responsible for other being then overwhelmed by his fatherly concern for
conditions prejudicial to the child’s the personal safety of his own minor daughters who
development including those covered by had just suffered harm at the hands of Jayson and
Article 59 of Presidential Decree No. 603, as Roldan. With the loss of his self-control, he lacked
amended, but not covered by the Revised that specific intent to debase, degrade or demean the
Penal Code, as amended, shall suffer the intrinsic worth and dignity of a child as a human
penalty of prision mayor in its minimum being that was so essential in the crime of child
period. abuse.
xxxx
Considering that Jayson’s physical injury required five
Child abuse, the crime charged, is defined by Section to seven days of medical attention, the petitioner
3 (b) of Republic Act No. 7610, as follows: was liable for slight physical injuries under Article 266
(1) of the Revised Penal Code, to wit:
Section 3. Definition of terms. –
xxxx Article 266. Slight physical injuries and
(b) "Child Abuse" refers to the maltreatment. — The crime of slight physical injuries
maltreatment, whether habitual or not, of the shall be punished:
child which includes any of the following: 1. By arresto menor when the
(1) Psychological and physical abuse, offender has inflicted physical injuries
neglect, cruelty, sexual abuse and which shall incapacitate the offended
emotional maltreatment; party for labor from one to nine days,
(2) Any act by deeds or words which or shall require medical attendance
debases, degrades or demeans the during the same period.
intrinsic worth and dignity of a child xxxx
as a human being;
(3) Unreasonable deprivation of his The penalty for slight physical injuries is arresto
basic needs for survival, such as food menor, which ranges from one day to 30 days of
and shelter; or imprisonment. In imposing the correct penalty,
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however, we have to consider the mitigating People v Mamantak
circumstance of passion or obfuscation under Article
13 (6) of the Revised Penal Code, because the Crime charged: KIDNAPPING FOR RANSOM
petitioner lost his reason and self-control, thereby
ISSUE: WON the accused is liable of kidnapping for
diminishing the exercise of his will power. Passion or
ransom
obfuscation may lawfully arise from causes existing
only in the honest belief of the accused. It is relevant Ruling:
to mention, too, that in passion or obfuscation, the
offender suffers a diminution of intelligence and 1. RTC: Guilty of kidnapping for ransom
intent. With his having acted under the belief that 2. CA: Affirmed w/ modifications
Jayson and Roldan had thrown stones at his two 3. SC: Affirmed w/ modifications
minor daughters, and that Jayson had burned
Facts:
Cherrlyn’s hair, the petitioner was entitled to the
mitigating circumstance of passion. Arresto menor is Teresa went with Christopher and her elder
prescribed in its minimum period (i.e., one day to 10 sister Zenaida to a McDonald’s outlet in the KP Tower
days) in the absence of any aggravating circumstance in Juan Luna St., Binondo, Manila. Teresa and
that offset the mitigating circumstance of passion. Christopher looked for a vacant table while Zenaida
Accordingly, with the Indeterminate Sentence Law proceeded to order their food. Shortly after Teresa
being inapplicable due to the penalty imposed not took her seat, Christopher followed Zenaida to the
exceeding one year, the petitioner shall suffer a counter. Barely had Christopher gone from his
straight penalty of 10 days of arresto menor. mother’s sight when she realized that he had
disappeared. She and her sister frantically looked for
him inside and outside the premises of the fastfood
outlet, to no avail. As their continued search for the
child was futile, they reported him missing to the
nearest police detachment.
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the ransom money yet. They then agreed to conduct Held:
the pay off at Pitang’s Carinderia in Kapatagan, Lanao
del Norte. Teresa sought the help of the Presidential Kidnapping is defined and punished under
Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF). Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by
Republic Act (RA) 7659:
While Teresa and PO3 Palafox were waiting at
Pitang’s Carinderia, two women came. They were ART. 267. Kidnapping and serious illegal
Raga Sarapida Mamantak and Likad Sarapida Taurak. detention. – Any private individual who shall
Mamantak approached Teresa and PO3 Palafox and kidnap or detain another, or in any other
asked who they were waiting for. Teresa replied that manner deprive him of his liberty, shall suffer
they were waiting for a certain Rocma Bato, the the penalty of reclusion perpetua to death.
name written at the back of the picture she received
in Jalal Restaurant in Manila. She showed the photo 1. If the kidnapping or detention shall
to Mamantak who stated that she knew Bato. have lasted more than three days.
Mamantak then told Teresa that she would ask a 2. If it shall have been committed
cousin of Bato if the latter was already in Kapatagan. simulating public authority.
Mamantak turned to Taurak, supposedly the cousin 3. If any serious physical injuries shall
of Bato. Taurak came near Teresa and PO3 Palafox have been inflicted upon the person
and informed them that she had Christopher. Taurak kidnapped or detained; or if threats to
asked Teresa and PO3 Palafox to come with her but kill him shall have been made.
they refused. Taurak reluctantly agreed to leave 4. If the person kidnapped or detained
Mamantak with them while she fetched Christopher. shall be a minor, except when the
accused is any of the parents, female
Several hours later, in the afternoon of the or a public officer.
same day, Taurak returned and told Teresa that
Christopher was in a nearby ice plant. She asked The penalty shall be death where the kidnapping or
Teresa to go with her but the latter insisted on their detention was committed for the purpose of
agreement that the boy be handed over at the extorting ransom from the victim or any other
carinderia. Taurak relented, left and came back after person, even if none of the circumstances above-
several minutes with Christopher. mentioned were present in the commission of the
offense.
Upon seeing her son, Teresa cried and
embraced him. However, the child was unmoved. He When the victim is killed or dies as a consequence of
no longer recognized nor understood her for he could the detention or is raped, or is subjected to torture or
only speak in the muslim dialect. When asked who he dehumanizing acts, the maximum penalty shall be
was, the boy gave a muslim name with "Taurak" as imposed.
surname.
The crime has the following elements:
Mamantak and Taurak interrupted Teresa and
demanded the ransom money. She answered that (1) the offender is a private individual; not
her niece had it and pointed to PO3 Palafox. either of the parents of the victim7 or a public
Thereafter, Mamantak and PO3 Palafox boarded a officer who has a duty under the law to
jeepney which was parked outside, under Taurak’s detain a person;
watchful eyes. Inside the jeepney, PO3 Palafox (2) he kidnaps or detains another, or in any
handed the ransom money to Mamantak. At this manner deprives the latter of his liberty;
juncture, PO3 Palafox gave the pre-agreed signal and (3) the act of detention or kidnapping must
the PAOCTF team then closed in and arrested be illegal and
Mamantak and Taurak.
27 | P a g e
(4) in the commission of the offense, any of actually spent for the care and subsistence of
the following circumstances is present: (a) the Christopher for almost two years. It therefore treated
kidnapping or detention lasts for more than the amount not as ransom but as a reimbursement of
three days; (b) it is committed by simulating expenses incurred for taking care of the child.
public authority; (c) any serious physical (Kidnappers in Mindanao today call it reimbursement
injuries are inflicted upon the person for "board-and-lodging.")
kidnapped or detained or threats to kill him
are made or (d) the person kidnapped or Ransom means money, price or consideration paid or
detained is a minor, female or a public demanded for the redemption of a captured person
official. that will release him from captivity. No specific form
of ransom is required to consummate the felony of
If the victim is a minor, the duration of his detention kidnapping for ransom as long as the ransom is
is immaterial. Likewise, if the victim is kidnapped and intended as a bargaining chip in exchange for the
illegally detained for the purpose of extorting victim’s freedom. The amount of and purpose for the
ransom, the duration of his detention becomes ransom is immaterial.
inconsequential. The crime is qualified and becomes
punishable by death even if none of the In this case, the payment of P30,000 was demanded
circumstances mentioned in paragraphs 1 to 4 of as a condition for the release of Christopher to his
Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code is present.9 mother. Thus, the Court of Appeals correctly
considered it as a demand for ransom.
The essence of the crime of kidnapping is the actual
deprivation of the victim’s liberty coupled with the
intent of the accused to effect it. It includes not only
the imprisonment of a person but also the
deprivation of his liberty in whatever form and for
whatever length of time. And liberty is not limited to
mere physical restraint but embraces one’s right to
enjoy his God-given faculties subject only to such
restraints necessary for the common welfare.
28 | P a g e
People v Muit, et. al. Held:
Crime charged: KIDNAPPING FOR RANSOM WITH The elements of the crime of kidnapping and
HOMICIDE AND CARNAPPING serious illegal detention are the following: (a) the
accused is a private individual; (b) the accused
ISSUE: WON the accused-appellants were correctly kidnaps or detains another, or in any manner
convicted by the RTC deprives the latter of his liberty; (c) the act of
detention or kidnapping is illegal; and (d) in the
Ruling: commission of the offense, any of the four
circumstances mentioned in Article 267 is present.
1. RTC: Guilty of carnapping and kidnapping The essence of the crime of kidnapping is the actual
for ransom, which resulted in the death of deprivation of the victim’s liberty, coupled with
the victim indubitable proof of intent of the accused to effect
2. CA: Affirmed the same. The totality of the prosecution’s evidence
3. SC: Affirmed w/ modifications in this case established the commission of kidnapping
for ransom with homicide.
Facts:
On the other hand, Republic Act No. 6539, or
Accused appellants kidnapped the victim and the Anti-Carnapping Act, as amended, defines
boarded the victim’s Pajero. They then started "carnapping" as the taking, with intent to gain, of a
the Pajero and drove away, passing through the Pag- motor vehicle belonging to another without the
asa Road gate. Two more persons who were waiting latter’s consent, or by means of violence against or
at the Pag-asa road boarded the Pajero. Lipa City intimidation of persons, or by using force upon
Deputy Chief of Police, Supt. Arcadio Mission things. The crime was committed in this case when
received a radio message from the Tanauan Police the victim’s Pajero was forcibly taken away from him
Station that a kidnapping was ongoing and the contemporaneously with his kidnapping at the
kidnappers on board a Pajero with plate number construction site.
UDL-746 were heading towards Lipa City. Supt.
Mission immediately ordered the police posted near The kidnapping for ransom with homicide and
the Lipa City bus stop to put up a barricade. In the the carnapping were established by the direct
meantime, two teams were organized to intercept testimony of Ferraer, Seraspe and Chavez. Ferraer
the Pajero. They proceeded to the barricade. testified on how the group approached and
convinced him to let them use his house to keep the
Right after Supt. Mission and the teams victim they planned to kidnap. They planned the
arrived at the barricade, the Pajero was spotted. crime in Ferraer’s house and waited for the call from
When policemen flagged down the Pajero, the driver Romeo to inform them when the victim would be at
stopped the vehicle. While two policemen the construction site. The group received a call from
approached the Pajero, the driver and front Romeo on 2 December 1997 informing them that the
passenger opened their car doors and started firing at victim was already at the construction site, and so
the policemen. At this point, all the policemen they went there to carry out their plan. At the
present at the scene fired back. The cross-fire lasted construction site, as testified to by Seraspe and
for around four minutes. All the occupants of Chavez, Muit and the other members of the group
the Pajero, except the driver and the front passenger pointed their guns at the victim and his companion
who managed to escape, died. SPO1 Rolando Cariaga and ordered them to lie prostrate on the ground.
apprehended one of the escapees who turned out to After getting the keys to the Pajero from Seraspe,
be Muit, the driver of the Pajero, at Barangay San they forced the victim to board the vehicle with Muit
Carlos, Batangas, about 200 meters from the place of driving it. They immediately reported the kidnapping
the shootout.
29 | P a g e
of the victim to the police and the kidnappers were Madsali, et. al. v People
intercepted by the group led by Supt. Mission. Supt.
Mission testified that the kidnappers refused to Crime charged: ABDUCTION WITH RAPE and SERIOUS
surrender and engaged the police in a shoot out in ILLEGAL DETENTION
which the victim was among the casualties. Muit was
one of the two persons who survived the shoot out, ISSUE: WON the crime charged is correct
but was apprehended by the police. Pancho, Jr.
returned to the house of Ferraer alone when the Ruling:
group did not arrive at their meeting place. Ferraer,
Pancho, Jr., and Pancho, Sr. learned from the news 1. RTC: Guilty of abduction with rape and
that the group engaged the police in a shoot out and serious illegal detention
most of them were killed, and that Muit was arrested 2. CA: Affirmed
by the police. 3. SC: Affirmed w/ modifications (guilty of
special complex crime of kidnapping and
serious illegal detention with rape under
Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code, as
amended by Republic Act No. 7659 and
kidnapping and serious illegal detention
under Article 267 of the Revised Penal
Code, as amended by Republic Act No.
7659)
Facts:
31 | P a g e
The crime of rape was also proven beyond separate complaints. As earlier mentioned, R.A. No.
reasonable doubt in this case. Sajiron succeeded in 7659 amended Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code
having carnal knowledge of AAA through the use of by adding thereto this provision: "When the victim is
force and intimidation. For fear of losing her life, AAA killed or dies as a consequence of the detention, or is
had no choice but to give in to Sajiron's beastly and raped, or is subjected to torture or dehumanizing
lustful assault. acts, the maximum penalty shall be imposed; and
that this provision gives rise to a special complex
The last paragraph of Art. 267 of the Revised crime. (Italics in the original)
Penal Code provides that if the victim is killed or dies
as a consequence of the detention, or is raped or Criminal Case No. 12309
subjected to torture or dehumanizing acts, the
maximum penalty shall be imposed. In People v. We also find Sajiron guilty beyond reasonable
Larrañaga, the Court explained that this provision doubt of the crime of serious illegal detention.
gives rise to a special complex crime:
All the elements of the crime of serious illegal
This amendment introduced in our detention are present in the instant case: AAA, a
criminal statutes, the concept of 'special female and a minor, testified that on July 2, 1994,
complex crime' of kidnapping with murder or after she was raped in the forest, she was brought to
homicide. It effectively eliminated the and detained at the house of Egap and forced to
distinction drawn by the courts between cohabit with Sajiron. From the very start of her
those cases where the killing of the detention on July 2, 1994, Egap directed Sajiron to
kidnapped victim was purposely sought by guard her, and shoot her if she attempted to escape.
the accused, and those where the killing of She did not dare to escape because the accused
the victim was not deliberately resorted to threatened to kill her and her family if she attempted
but was merely an afterthought. to flee.
Consequently, the rule now is: Where the
person kidnapped is killed in the course of the
detention, regardless of whether the killing
was purposely sought or was merely an
afterthought, the kidnapping and murder or
homicide can no longer be complexed under
Art. 48, nor be treated as separate crimes, but
shall be punished as a special complex crime
under the last paragraph of Art. 267, as
amended by R.A. No. 7659."
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People v Mirandilla, Jr. Mirandilla dragged AAA out of the tricycle and
pushed her inside a concrete house. At gunpoint he
Crime charged: KIDNAPPING WITH RAPE (CRIM. CASE ordered her to remove her pants. When she defied
NO. 9278), FOUR COUNTS OF RAPE (CRIM. CASE NOS. him, he slapped her and hit her arms with a gun,
9274 TO 9277), and RAPE THROUGH SEXUAL forced his hands inside her pants, into her panty, and
ASSAULT (CRIM. CASE NO. 9279) reaching her vagina, slipped his three fingers and
rotated them inside. The pain weakened her. He
ISSUE: WON the crime charged is correct forcibly pulled her pants down and lifting her legs,
pushed and pulled his penis inside. "Sayang ka," she
Ruling: heard him whisper at her, as she succumbed to pain
and exhaustion.
1. RTC: Guilty of the crime charged
2. CA: Affirmed w/ modifications (guilty of When AAA woke up the following morning,
the special complex crime of kidnapping she found herself alone. She cried for help, shouting
with rape (instead of kidnapping as the until her throat dried. But no one heard her. No
RTC ruled), four counts of rape, and one rescue came.
count of rape by sexual assault)
3. SC: Affirmed w/ modifications (guilty of At around midnight, Mirandilla arrived
special complex crime of kidnapping and together with his gang. Pointing a gun at AAA, he
serious illegal detention with rape under ordered her to open her mouth; she sheepishly
the last paragraph of Article 267 of the obeyed. He forced his penis inside her mouth, pulling
Revised Penal Code) through her hair with his left hand and slapping her
with his right. After satisfying his lust, he dragged her
Facts: into the tricycle and drove to Bogtong, Legazpi. At the
road’s side, Mirandilla pushed her against a reclining
It was eve of the feast in Brgy. San Francisco, tree, gagged her mouth with cloth, punched her arm,
Legazpi City. At the plaza, AAA was dancing with her thigh, and lap, and pulled up her over-sized shirt. Her
elder sister, BBB. AAA went out of the dancing hall to underwear was gone. Then she felt Mirandilla’s penis
buy candies in a nearby store. While making her way inside her vagina. A little while, a companion warned
back through the crowd, a man grabbed her hand, his Mirandilla to move out. And they drove away.
arm wrapped her shoulders, with a knife’s point
thrust at her right side. She will come to know the They reached a nipa hut and AAA was thrown
man’s name at the police station, after her escape, to inside. Her mouth was again covered with cloth.
be Felipe Mirandilla, Jr. Mirandilla, with a gun aimed at her point blank,
grabbed her shirt, forced her legs open, and again
He told her not to move or ask for help. inserted his penis into her vagina.
Another man joined and went beside her, while two
others stayed at her back, one of whom had a gun. The following evening, Mirandilla and his
They slipped through the unsuspecting crowd, gang brought AAA to Guinobatan, where she suffered
walked farther as the deafening music faded into soft the same fate. They repeatedly detained her at
sounds. After a four-hour walk through the grassy daytime, moved her back and forth from one place to
fields, they reached the Mayon International Hotel, another on the following nights, first to Bonga, then
where they boarded a waiting tricycle. Upon passing back to Guinobatan, where she was locked up in a
the Albay Cathedral, the others alighted, leaving AAA cell-type house and was raped repeatedly on the
alone with Mirandilla who after receiving a gun from grassy field right outside her cell, then to Camalig,
a companion, drove the tricycle farther away and into where they caged her in a small house in the middle
the darkness. Minutes later, they reached the Gallera of a rice field. She was allegedly raped 27 times.
de Legazpi in Rawis.
33 | P a g e
One afternoon, in Guinobatan, AAA act of sexual assault by inserting his
succeeded in opening the door of her cell. Seeing that penis into another person’s mouth or
Mirandilla and his companions were busy playing anal orifice, or any instrument or
cards, she rushed outside and ran, crossed a river, got object, into the genital or anal orifice
drenched, and continued running. She rested for of another person.
awhile, hiding behind a rock; she walked through the
fields and stayed out of people’s sight for two nights. AAA was able to prove each element of rape
Finally, she found a road and followed its path, committed under Article 266-A, par. 1(a) of the
leading her to the house of Evelyn Guevarra who Revised Penal Code, that (1) Mirandilla had carnal
brought her to the police station. It was 11 January knowledge of her; (2) through force, threat, or
2001. AAA was in foul smell, starving and sleepless. intimidation. She was also able to prove each
Evelyn Guevarra gave her a bath and the police gave element of rape by sexual assault under Article 266-
her food. When the police presented to her pictures A, par. 2 of the Revised Penal Code: (1) Mirandilla
of suspected criminals, she recognized the man’s face inserted his penis into her mouth; (2) through force,
– she was certain it was him. He was Felipe threat, or intimidation.
Mirandilla, Jr., the police told her.
Likewise, kidnapping and serious illegal detention is
The following morning, accompanied by the provided for under Article 267 of the Revised Penal
police, AAA submitted herself to Dr. Sarah Vasquez, Code:
Legazpi City’s Health Officer for medical examination.
The doctor discovered hymenal lacerations in Article 267. Kidnapping and serious illegal
different positions of her hymen, indicative of sexual detention. – Any private individual who shall
intercourse. Foul smelling pus also oozed from her kidnap or detain another, or in any manner
vagina - AAA had contracted gonorrhoea. deprive him of his liberty, shall suffer the
penalty of reclusion perpetua to death;
Held: 1. If the kidnapping or detention shall have
lasted more than three days. xxx
The Court agrees with the CA in finding
Mirandilla guilty of the special complex crime of Emphatically, the last paragraph of Article 267
kidnapping with rape, instead of simple kidnapping as of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by R.A. No.
the RTC ruled. It was the RTC, no less, which found 7659, states that when the victim is killed or dies as a
that Mirandilla kidnapped AAA, held her in detention consequence of the detention or is raped, or is
for 39 days and carnally abused her while holding a subjected to torture or dehumanizing acts, the
gun and/or a knife. maximum penalty shall be imposed. This provision
gives rise to a special complex crime. As the Court
Rape under Article 266-A of the Revised Penal Code explained in People v. Larrañaga, this arises where
states that: the law provides a single penalty for two or more
component offenses.
Art. 266-A. Rape, When and How Committed.
– Rape is committed – Notably, however, no matter how many rapes
1. By a man who shall have carnal had been committed in the special complex crime of
knowledge of a woman under any of the kidnapping with rape, the resultant crime is only one
following circumstances: kidnapping with rape. This is because these
a. Through force, threat or composite acts are regarded as a single indivisible
intimidation; xxx. offense as in fact R.A. No. 7659 punishes these acts
2. By any person who, under any of with only one single penalty. In a way, R.A. 7659
the circumstances mentioned in depreciated the seriousness of rape because no
paragraph 1 hereof, shall commit an matter how many times the victim was raped, like in
34 | P a g e
the present case, there is only one crime committed People v Suyu
– the special complex crime of kidnapping with rape.
Crime charged: ROBBERY w/ RAPE
However, for the crime of kidnapping with
ISSUE: WON court erred in finding the
rape, as in this case, the offender should not have
accusedappellants guilty beyond reasonable doubt of
taken the victim with lewd designs, otherwise, it
the crime charged
would be complex crime of forcible abduction with
rape. In People v. Garcia, we explained that if the Ruling:
taking was by forcible abduction and the woman was
raped several times, the crimes committed is one 1. RTC: Guilty of robbery w/ rape
complex crime of forcible abduction with rape, in as 2. CA: Affirmed w/ modifications
much as the forcible abduction was only necessary 3. SC: Affirmed w/ modifications
for the first rape; and each of the other counts of
Facts:
rape constitutes distinct and separate count of rape.
Clarissa Angeles was with her boyfriend,
It having been established that Mirandilla’s
William Ferrer. They were eating snacks inside a pick-
act was kidnapping and serious illegal detention (not
up truck parked in a vacant lot. Suddenly, a man, who
forcible abduction) and on the occasion thereof, he
turned out to be Rommel Macarubbo, appeared in
raped AAA several times, We hold that Mirandilla is
front of the truck, pointed a gun at them and said:
guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the special
"This is a holdup. If you will start the engine of the
complex crime of kidnapping and serious illegal
car, I will shoot you." Thereafter, another man, who
detention with rape, warranting the penalty of death.
turned out to be Willy Suyu, lifted the lock on
However, in view of R.A. No. 9346 entitled, An Act
William's side and entered the pick-up. Willy Suyu
Prohibiting the Imposition of Death Penalty in the
then took Ferrer's wallet which contained around
Philippines, the penalty of death is hereby reduced to
P150.00. A third man, who turned out to be Francis
reclusion perpetua, without eligibility for parole.
Cainglet, took Clarissa's jewelry valued at around P2,
500.00 and cash amounting to P10.00. Thereafter,
Willy Suyu clubbed William and dragged him out of
the truck. Fortunately, William was able to escape
and immediately went to the police station to report
the incident. Meanwhile, Willy Suyu lifted the lock of
the pick-up truck at Clarissa's side. Macarubbo then
opened the door. The two and Cainglet dragged the
girl to a hilly place, not far away. Macarubbo and
Willy Suyu held her by the arms, while Cainglet poked
a fan knife at her. There, they ravished her.
Held:
35 | P a g e
violence against or intimidation of any person People v Cabbab
shall suffer:
1. The penalty of reclusion perpetua Crime charged: DOUBLE MURDER AND ATTEMPTED
to death, when by reason or on MURDER WITH ROBBERY
occasion of the robbery, the crime of
homicide shall have been committed, ISSUE: WON the crime charged is correct
or when the robbery shall have been
accompanied by rape or intentional Ruling:
mutilation or arson.
1. RTC: Guilty of double murder with
robbery or better put, robbery with
To be convicted of robbery with rape, the following double homicide and attempted murder
elements must concur: as defined in Art. 248 of the Revised Penal
Code in relation to Art. 294 of the same
(1) the taking of personal property is committed
Code or robbery with double homicide
with violence or intimidation against
defined and penalized under Art. 248 in
persons;
relation to Art. 6
(2) the property taken belongs to another;
2. CA: Affirmed w/ modifications (Guilty of
(3) the taking is characterized by intent to gain
the special complex crime of Robbery
or animus lucrandi;
with Homicide and separate crime of
(4) the robbery is accompanied by rape
attempted murder)
3. SC: Affirmed w/ modifications (Guilty of
The intent to rob must precede the rape. In
robbery with homicide and acquitted of
robbery with rape, the intention of the felony is to
the separate crime of attempted murder
rob and the felony is accompanied by rape. The rape
against the person of PO William Belmes)
must be contemporaneous with the commission of
the robbery. We note that aside from raping the
Facts:
victim, appellant Rodolfo Suyu inserted his finger in
her sexual organ. Appellant Suyu, thus, committed
Father and son Vidal Agbulos and Winner
sexual assault as defined and penalized in Article 266-
Agbulos, together with Eddie Quindasan, Felipe Abad
A, paragraph 2 of Republic Act No. 8353. Also, aside
and Police Officer (PO) William Belmes, went to
from Rodolfo Suyu, Cainglet raped the victim.
Barangay Kimmalasag, San Isidro, Abra to attend a
Nevertheless, there is only one single and indivisible
"fiesta" celebration. Upon arrival in the area, they
felony of robbery with rape and any crimes
found out that the fiesta celebration was already
committed on the occasion or by reason of the
over, thus, they decided to go home in Villaviciosa,
robbery are merged and integrated into a single and
Abra. The group took their lunch at Sitio Turod,
indivisible felony of robbery with rape.
located in the same area of Barangay Kimmalasag,
thereafter while on their way home, they were met
by accused-appellant Juan Cabbab, Jr. and Segundino
Calpito and invited them to play "pepito," a local
version of the game of "russian poker."
36 | P a g e
PO William Belmes told Winner Agbulos and Eddie homicide shall have been committed,
Quindasan that they should be going home after or when the robbery shall have been
three (3) more deals. About 3:30 p.m., Winner accompanied by rape or intentional
Agbulos’s group wrapped-up the game and were set mutilation or arson.
for home together with his group. Winner Agbulos
won the game. While on their way home from Sitio To warrant conviction for the crime of Robbery with
Turod, PO William Belmes, who was behind Winner Homicide, the prosecution is burdened to prove the
Agbulos and Eddie Quindasan saw accused-appellant, confluence of the following elements:
accused Segundino Calpito and a companion running
up a hill. Suddenly, he heard gunshots and saw (1) the taking of personal property is
Winner Agbulos and Eddie Quindasan, who were committed with violence or intimidation
then walking ahead of the group, hit by the gunfire. against persons;
(2) the property taken belongs to another;
By instant, PO William Belmes dove into a (3) the taking is characterized by intent to
canal to save himself from the continuous gunfire of gain or animo lucrandi; and
accused-appellant. PO William Belmes ran towards (4) by reason of the robbery or on the
Vidal Agbulos and Felipe Abad, who were walking occasion thereof, homicide is committed.
behind the group, and informed the two that Winner
In Robbery with Homicide, so long as the
Agbulos and Eddie Quindasan were ambushed by
intention of the felon is to rob, the killing may occur
accused-appellant and Segundino Calpito. The three
before, during or after the robbery. It is immaterial
(3) proceeded to the crime scene where they saw the
that death would supervene by mere accident, or
dead body of Winner Agbulos together with Eddie
that the victim of homicide is other than the victim of
Quindasan whom they mistook for dead. The three
robbery, or that two or more persons are killed. Once
sought help from the police authorities of Pilar, Abra
a homicide is committed by reason or on the
and returned to the scene of the crime where they
occasion of the robbery, the felony committed is the
found Eddie Quindasan who was still alive and who
special complex crime of Robbery with Homicide.
narrated that it was Juan Cabbab, Jr. and Segundino
Calpito who ambused them and took the money,
Here, the prosecution adduced proof beyond
estimated at P12,000.00, of Winner Agbulos which he
reasonable doubt that appellant, having lost to
won in the card game. Eddie Quindasan was brought
Winner Agbulos in the game of poker, intended to
to the Abra Provincial Hospital but died the following
divest Agbulos of his winnings amounting
day.
to P20,000.00. In pursuit of his plan to rob Agbulos of
his winnings, appellant shot and killed him as well as
Held:
his companion, Eddie Quindasan.
The crime committed by appellant was
The Court feels, however, that the two courts
correctly characterized by the appellate court as
below erred in convicting appellant of the separate
Robbery with Homicide under Article 294, paragraph
crime of attempted murder for the shooting of PO
1 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) which reads:
William Belmes. Attempted homicide or attempted
murder committed during or on the occasion of the
Art. 294. Robbery with violence against or
robbery, as in this case, is absorbed in the crime of
intimidation of persons — Penalties.— Any
Robbery with Homicide which is a special complex
person guilty of robbery with the use of
crime that remains fundamentally the same
violence against any person shall suffer:
regardless of the number of homicides or injuries
1. The penalty of reclusion perpetua
committed in connection with the robbery.
to death, when by reason or on
occasion of the robbery, the crime of
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