crim cases july 23

8/12/2019 Crim Cases JULY 23

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EN BANC

[G.R. No. 127755. April 14, 1999]

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES,plaintiff-appellee, vs. JOSELITO DELROSARIO PAS!"AL, accused-appellant.

D E ! I S I O N

#ELLOSILLO, J.$

ON AUTOMATIC REVIEW is the decision of the court a quo finding accused

Joselito del Rosario y ascual guilty as co!"rinci"al in the cri#e of Ro$$ery %ith&o#icide and sentencing hi# to death and to "ay the heirs of the 'icti# Virginia Bernas(()*)))+)) as actual da#ages and ,))*)))+)) as #oral and e-e#"lary da#ages+ i

Joselito del Rosario y ascual* Ernesto Mar.ue/ alias 0Jun*1 Virgilio 2antos alias0Boy 2antos1 and John 3oe alias 03odong1 %ere charged %ith s"ecial co#"le- cri#e ofRo$$ery %ith &o#icide for ha'ing ro$$ed Virginia Bernas* a 44!year old$usiness%o#an* of 5))*)))+)) in cash and 6e%elry and on the occasion thereof shotand 7illed her+ii

While accused Joselito del Rosario "leaded not guilty* iiiVirgilio 0Boy1 2antos andJohn 3oe alias 03odong1 re#ained at large+ Ernesto 0Jun1 Mar.ue/ %as 7illed in a

"olice encounter+ Only Joselito del Rosario %as tried+These facts %ere esta$lished $y the "rosecution fro# the eye%itness account of

tricycle dri'er aul Vincent Alon/o8 On ,9 May ,::4 $et%een 48)) and 489) in thee'ening* Alon/o sto""ed his tricycle $y the side of Nita;s 3rugstore* ,?@ #eters in front of hi# %as a tricycle dri'en $y accused Joselito delRosario+ At that "oint* Alon/o sa% t%o >5@ #en and a %o#an gra""ling for "ossessionof a $ag+ After ta7ing hold of the $ag one of the t%o #en ar#ed %ith a gun startedchasing a #an %ho %as trying to hel" the %o#an* %hile the other snatcher 7ic7ed the%o#an sending her to the ground+ 2oon after* the ar#ed #an returned and %hile the%o#an %as still on the ground he shot her on the head+ The $ag ta7en $y the #an %as

$rought to the tricycle of accused del Rosario %here so#eone inside recei'ed the $ag+The ar#ed #an then sat $ehind the dri'er %hile his co#"anion entered the sidecar+When the tricycle s"ed a%ay Alon/o ga'e chase and %as a$le to get the "late nu#$erof the tricycle+ &e also recogni/ed the dri'er* after %hich he %ent to the nearest "olicehead.uarters and re"orted the incident+ i'

Accused Joselito del Rosario ga'e his o%n 'ersion of the incident8 At around (89)in the afternoon he %as hired for ,5)+))'$y a certain 0Boy1 2antos*'ihis co!accused+


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Their original agree#ent %as that he %ould dri'e hi# to coc7"it at the Blas Ed%ardColiseu#+'ii&o%e'er* des"ite their earlier arrange#ent $oy 2antos directed hi# to"roceed to the #ar7et "lace to fetch 0Jun1 Mar.ue/ and 03odong1 Bisaya+ &e >delRosario@ acceded+'iiiMar.ue/ and Bisaya $oarded in front of the "ar7ing lot of MercedDrugstore at the "u$lic #ar7et+i-2u$se.uently* he %as as7ed to "roceed and sto" at

the corner of Burgos and 5@ Not considering his defense that he %as not "art of thecons"iracy a#ong co!accused Boy 2antos* Jun Mar.ue/ and 3odong Bisaya toco##it the cri#e of Ro$$ery %ith &o#icide >9@ Not considering the 'iolations on hisconstitutional rights as an accused and* >D@ Not considering that there %as no la%ful%arrantless arrest %ithin the #eaning of 2ec+ (* Rule ,,9* of the Rules of Court+-'

The con'iction of del Rosario #ust $e set aside+ &is clai# for e-e#"tion fro#cri#inal lia$ility under Art+ ,5* "ar+ (* Re'ised enal Code as he acted under theco#"ulsion of an irresisti$le force #ust $e sustained+ &e %as then unar#ed anduna$le to "rotect hi#self %hen he %as "re'ented at gun"oint $y his co!accused fro#lea'ing the cri#e scene during the "er"etration of the ro$$ery and 7illing* and %as onlyforced to hel" the# esca"e after the co##ission of the cri#e+ -'i

But the trial court ruled that his fear %as #erely s"eculati'e* fanciful and re#ote*hence* could not $e considered uncontrolla$le and that a gun "ointed at hi# did notconstitute irresisti$le force $ecause it fell short of the test re.uired $y la% and

6uris"rudence+-'ii

We disagree+ A "erson %ho acts under the co#"ulsion of an irresisti$le force* li7eone %ho acts under the i#"ulse of an uncontrolla$le fear of e.ual or greater in6ury* ise-e#"t fro# cri#inal lia$ility $ecause he does not act %ith freedo#+ Actus me invito


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factus non est meus actus+ An act done $y #e against #y %ill is not #y act+ The forceconte#"lated #ust $e so for#ida$le as to reduce the actor to a #ere instru#ent %hoacts not only %ithout %ill $ut against his %ill+ The duress* force* fear or inti#idation #ust$e "resent* i##inent and i#"ending* and of such nature as to induce a %ell!groundeda""rehension of death or serious $odily har# if the act $e done+ A threat of future in6ury

is not enough+ The co#"ulsion #ust $e of such a character as to lea'e no o""ortunityfor the accused for esca"e or self!defense in e.ual co#$at+ -'iii

As a rule* it is natural for "eo"le to $e sei/ed $y fear %hen threatened %ith%ea"ons* e'en those less "o%erful that a gun* such as 7ni'es and clu$s+ eo"le %illnor#ally* usually and "ro$a$ly do %hat an ar#ed #an as7s the# to do* nothing #ore*nothing less+ In the instant case* del Rosario %as threatened %ith a gun+ &e could nottherefore $e e-"ected to flee nor ris7 his life to hel" a stranger+ A "erson under thesa#e circu#stances %ould $e #ore concerned %ith his "ersonal %elfare and securityrather than the safety of a "erson %ho# he only sa% for the first ti#e that day+-i-

Corollary %ith defense of del Rosario* %e hold that the trial court erred %hen it said

that it %as 0Boy1 2antos %ho left the tricycle to chase the co#"anion of the 'icti# andthen shot the 'icti# on the head* instantly 7illing her+--A careful and #eticulous scrutinyof the transcri"ts and records of the case* "articularly the testi#onies of the %itness

Alon/o and del Rosario hi#self* re'eals that it %as 0Jun1 Mar.ue/ %ho ran after the'icti#;s hel"er and fired at the 'icti#+ Witness Alon/o testified on direct e-a#ination !

8 What %as that unusual incident that trans"ired in that "lace at that ti#eF

A8 I sa% t%o #en and a lady gra""ling for the "ossession of a $ag* sir - - - -

8 What ha""ened after the $ag of the lady %as gra$$ed $y the t%o #enF

A8 One hel"er of the lady %as chased by the other man* sir+

8 Who %as that #an %ho chased the hel"er of the ladyFA8 He was the one holding the gun, sir- - - -

8 What ha""ened %hen the $ag of the %o#an %as already ta7en $y the t%o #en %hogra""led the sa#e fro# herF

A8 The man who chased the helper of the lady returned to the scene while the other manwas then kicking the lady who in turn fell to the ground, sir.

8 What ha""ened to the lady %ho to the groundF

A8 The man who chased the helper of the lady returned and then shot the woman who wasthen lying on the ground, sir- - - -

8 What a$out the $ag* %hat ha""ened to the $agF

A8 The bag was taken to a motorcycle, sir+

8 Will you "lease state $efore the Court %hat you noticed fro# the tricycle %hich %as at adistance of a$out one and a half #eterF

A8 There was a passenger inside the tricycle, sir

8 What ha""ened to that %o#an that %as shot $y the #an %ho gra""led for the


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"ossession of the $agF

A8 2he %as no longer #o'ing and lying do%n* sir+

8 After the shooting by one of the two men of the %o#an %hat else ha""enedF

A8 They %ent a%ay* sir - - - -

8 Will you "lease tell the Court in %hat "ortion of the tricycle did these #en sit in thetricycleF

A8 The man who was holding the gun sat himself behind the driver while theother man entered the sidecar, sir+--i

On the continuation of his direct e-a#ination* after an ocular ins"ection on thecri#e scene conducted $y the trial court* %itness Alon/o categorically stated G

8 Will you "lease tell us %here in "articular did you see the accused %ho %as then holdingthe gun fired at the 'icti#F

A8 At the timeone man was kicking the victim it was then his other companionholding

the gun chased the helper of the deceased going towards !urgos Avenue, sir.

8 What ha""en >sic@ after%ardsF

A8 The #an %ith the gun returned and then %hile the 'icti# %as lying do%n in this s"ot the#an holding the gun shot the 'icti#* sir+--ii

On cross!e-a#ination* the sa#e %itness further clarified G

8 2o* you sa% the t%o other accused returned $ac7 to the tricycleF

A8 Hes* sir+

8 And one of their companion was already inside the tricycle"

- - - -Court8 There was somebody inside the tricycle where the handbag was given.

- - - -

A8 Hes* sir+

8 And the one who sat at the back of the tricycle driver was the person with thegun?

A8 Yes, sir+--iii

On the other hand* accused 3el Rosario declared during the direct e-a#ination that

G8 - - - - On the e'ening of May ,9* ,::4 you %ere the dri'er of the tricycle as testified to

$y Eduardo NalagonF

A8 Hes* sir+

8 No%* you also heard that there %as a shoot out near the Cathedral and the Nita;s3rugstore at


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- - - -

Court8 At that ti#e you %ere seated at the tricycle* %hich tricycle %as used $y the assailantsF

A8 Hes* sir+

8 Then %hat did you doF

A8 I tried to esca"e* sir* $ut I %as sto""ed $y the#+

8 When you said 0they1 to %ho# are you referringF

A8 Boy 2antos and Jun Mar.ue/* sir+

8 And at that ti#e %here %as Boy 2antosF

A8 e was inside the tricycle, sir.

8 And %hat a$out Jun Mar.ue/F

A8 e alighted from the tricycle and helped him grabbed !sic" the bag of the victim .

8 And %as the $ag gra$$ed and $y %ho#FA8 Hes* sir* $y 3odong Visaya %as a$le to gra$ the $ag+

8 And after that %hat ha""enedF

A8 Both of the# rode inside #y tricycle* sir+

Court8 3id you not see any shootingF

A8 There %as* sir+

8 Who %as shotF

A8 Jun #ar$ue% shot the woman, sir

8 When the $ag of the %o#an %as $eing gra$$ed you 7no% that %hat %as trans"iring %as%rong and illegalF

A8 Hes* sir+

8 But you did not try to lea'eF

A8 & tried to leave but 'oy (antos who was inside my tricycle prevented me.

8 3uring that ti#e $efore you lea'e >sic@ ho% #any firear#s did you seeF

A8 T%o firear#s* sir* one in the "ossession of Boy >JunF@ Mar.ue/ and one in the"ossession of Boy 2antos - - - -

8 And at the ti#e %hen the shooting too7 "lace %here %as Boy 2antosF

A8 He was still inside my tricycle, sir+

8 And during the shooting %hen Boy 2antos %as inside the tricycle and %hen you tried toesca"e that %as the ti#e %hen !oy #antos threatened you if you will escape somethingwill happen to your family"

A8 $es, sir.

8 After the shooting %ho first $oarded the tricycle* Boy >JunF@ Mar.ue/ or 3odong VisayaF


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A8 3odong Visaya* sir+

8 And i##ediately thereafter Jun #ar$ue% boarded your tricycle sitting at your back"

A8 $es, sir+--i'

On cross!e-a#ination* accused further stated G

8 After sho""ing in that "lace for one #inute %hat else ha""enedF

A8 I sa% 3odong Bisaya gra$$ing the $ag of the %o#an* sir+

8 &o% a$out your t%o co#"anions* %hat are >sic@ they doing %hile 3odong Bisaya %asgra$$ing the $ag of the %o#anF

A8 Jun Mar.ue/ %as hel"ing 3odong Bisaya* sir+

8 What ha""ened after Jun Mar.ue/ hel"ed 3odong BisayaF

A8 I heard a gunshot and I sa% the %o#an lying do%n - - - -

8 Hou could ha'e ran a%ay to see7 the hel" of the "olice or any "ri'ate "ersonsF

A8 I %as not a$le to as7 for hel" $ecause !oy #antos pointed his gun to me, sir+

8 %as the gun being carried by !oy #antos, is the one that is used in shooting the oldwoman"

A8 &o, sir .

8 %here was !oy #antos when Dodong !isaya and 'un Marque( were grappling for thepossession of the handbagF

A8 He was then inside the tricycle, sir --'

8 Mr. %itness, you testified that the reason why you )ust cannot leave the area where theincident occurred is because a gun was pointed to you by !oy #antos and he was telling

you that you should not do anything against their will, they will kill you and your familywill be killed also, is that correct"

A8 $es, sir+

8 &ow, is it not a fact that at the time you stop *sic+ your tricycle which was loaded by yourother three coaccused in this case, all of them alighted and that !oy #antos ran after ahelper of the victim going towards the public market along !urgos #treet"

A8 He did not alight from the tricycle, sir.

Court8Are you quite sure of that"

A8 $es, sir.--'i

3el Rosario #aintains that 0Boy1 2antos ne'er left the tricycle and that the latter"ointed his gun at hi# and threatened to shoot if he tried to esca"e+ &e also assertedthat it %as 0Jun1 Mar.ue/ %ho shot the 'icti# and sat $ehind hi# in the tricycle+

ro# the narration of %itness Alon/o* these e'ents stood out8 that after the $ag ofthe 'icti# %as gra$$ed* her #ale hel"er %as chased $y a #an holding a gun that thegun%ielder returned and shot the 'icti# and then sat $ehind the dri'er of the tricycleand* the $ag %as gi'en to a "erson %ho %as inside the tricycle+ Ta7ing the testi#ony of


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%itness Alon/o in 6u-ta"osition %ith the testi#ony of del Rosario* it can $e deduced that0Jun1 Mar.ue/ %as the "erson %itness Alon/o %as referring to %hen he #entioned thata hel"er of the lady %as chased 0by the other man-and that this 0other man-could not$e 0Boy1 2antos %ho stayed inside the tricycle and to %ho# the $ag %as handed o'er+This conclusion gi'es credence to the clai# of del Rosario that 0Boy1 2antos ne'er left

the tricycle* and to his allegation that 0Boy1 2antos stayed inside the tricycle "recisely tothreaten hi# %ith 'iolence and "re'ent hi# fro# fleeing that there could ha'e $een noother "lausi$le reason for 0Boy1 2antos to stay in the tricycle if the accused %as indeeda cons"irator that 0Boy1 2antos could ha'e 6ust left the tricycle and hel"ed in theco##ission of the cri#e* "articularly %hen he sa% the 'icti# gra""ling %ith 03odong1Bisaya and resisting the atte#"ts to gra$ her $ag and* that 0Boy1 2antos o"ted tore#ain inside the tricycle to fulfill his "reordained role of threatening del Rosario andinsuring that he %ould not esca"e and lea'e the# $ehind+ --'ii

E'en if the tricycle of del Rosario %as only "ar7ed one #eter and a half >,?@ in frontof the tricycle of %itness Alon/o* the latter still could not ha'e totally seen and %as not"ri'y to e'ents that %ere trans"iring inside the 'ehicle* i+e+* the "ointing of the gun $y

0Boy1 2antos at del Rosario si#ultaneously %ith the ro$$ing and shooting of the 'icti#+ro# the e-hi$its su$#itted $y the "rosecution "anel the $ac7 of the sidecar of delRosario tricycle %as not trans"arent+--'iii

There is no dou$t that the fear entertained $y del Rosario $ecause of the gundirectly "ointed at hi# %as real and i##inent+ 2uch fear rendered hi# i##o$ile andsu$6ect to the %ill of Boy 2antos* #a7ing hi# for the #o#ent of auto#aton %ithout a %illof his o%n+ In other %ords* in effect* he could not $e any #ore than a #ere instru#entacting in'oluntarily an against his %ill+ &e is therefore e-e#"t fro# cri#inal lia$ilitysince $y reason of fear of $odily har# he %as co#"elled against his %ill to trans"ort hisco!accused a%ay fro# the cri#e scene+

On the issue of cons"iracy* the trial court anchored del Rosario;s con'iction on his"artici"ation in the orchestrated acts of 0Boy1 2antos* 0Jun1 Mar.ue/ and 03odong1Bisaya+ According to the trial court* del Rosario facilitated the esca"e of the other#alefactors fro# the cri#e scene and cons"iracy $et%een accused and his "assengers%as e'ident $ecause 0%hile the gra""ling of the $ag* the chasing of the hel"er of the'icti# and the shooting that led to the death of Virginia Bernas %ere ha""ening*accused Joselito del Rosario %as riding on his tricycle and the engine of the #otor %asrunning1--i-that the 0accused did not deny that the tricycle dri'en $y hi# and under hiscontrol %as hired and used $y his co!accused in the co##ission of the cri#e neitherdid he deny his failure to re"ort to the authorities the incident of ro$$ery* 7illing andfleeing a%ay fro# the scene of the cri#e+1---

We disagree %ith the trial court+ A cons"iracy in the statutory language e-ists %hent%o or #ore "ersons co#e to an agree#ent concerning the co##ission of a felony anddecide to co##it it+ The o$6ecti'e of the cons"irators is to "erfor# an act or o#ission"unisha$le $y la%+ That #ust $e their intent+ There is need for 0concurrence of %ills1 or0unity of action and "ur"ose1 or for 0co##on and 6oint "ur"ose and design+1 Its#anifestation could $e sho%n $y 0united and concerted action+1 ---i

Ad#ittedly* direct "roof is not essential to esta$lish cons"iracy+ 2ince $y its nature


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cons"iracy is "lanned in ut#ost secrecy* it can rarely $e "ro'ed $y direct e'idence+Conse.uently* the "resence of the concurrence of #inds %hich is in'ol'ed in cons"iracy#ay $e inferred fro# "roof of facts and circu#stances %hich* ta7en together* a""arentlyindicate that they are #erely "arts of so#e co#"lete %hole+ If it is "ro'ed that t%o or#ore "ersons ai#ed $y their acts to%ards the acco#"lish#ent of the sa#e unla%ful

o$6ect* each doing a "art so that their co#$ined acts* though a""arently inde"endent*%ere in fact connected and coo"erati'e* indicating a closeness of "ersonal associationand a concurrence of senti#ent* a cons"iracy #ay $e inferred though no actual #eetinga#ong the# to concert #eans is "ro'ed+ That %ould $e ter#ed an i#"liedcons"iracy+---iiNe'ertheless* #ere 7no%ledge* ac.uiescence or a""ro'al of the act*%ithout the coo"eration or agree#ent to coo"erate* is not enough to constitute one a"arty to a cons"iracy* $ut that there #ust $e intentional "artici"ation in the transaction%ith a 'ie% to the furtherance of the co##on design and "ur"ose+ Cons"iracy #ust $eesta$lished* not $y con6ectures* $ut $y "ositi'e and conclusi'e e'idence+ In fact* thesa#e degree of "roof necessary to esta$lish the cri#e is re.uired to su""ort a finding ofthe "resence of a cri#inal cons"iracy* %hich is* "roof $eyond reasona$le dou$t+---iii

In the instant case* %hile del Rosario ad#its that he %as at the locus criminis as he%as the dri'er of the geta%ay 'ehicle* he nonetheless re$uts the i#"utation of guiltagainst hi# $y asserting that he had no in7ling of the #ale'olent design of his co!accused to ro$ and 7ill since he %as not gi'en any $riefing thereof+ &e %as #erelyhired $y Boy 2antos to dri'e to an agreed destination and he %as "re'ented at gun"ointfro# lea'ing the scene of the cri#e since he %as ordered to hel" the# esca"e+

In this case* the trial court stated that there is no e'idence that the accused ca#eto an agree#ent concerning the co##ission of the felony and decided to co##it thesa#e+---i' Therefore* in order to con'ict the accused* the "resence of an impliedcons"iracy is re.uired to $e "ro'ed $eyond reasona$le dou$t+ &o%e'er* the fact that

del Rosario %as %ith the other accused %hen the cri#e %as co##itted is insufficient"roof to sho% ca$al+ Mere co#"anionshi" does not esta$lish cons"iracy+---'The onlyincri#inating e'idence against del Rosario is that he %as at the scene of the cri#e $uthe has a#"ly e-"lained the reason for his "resence and the sa#e has not $eensuccessfully refuted $y the "rosecution+ As stated earlier* he feared for his safety andsecurity $ecause of the threat #ade $y his co!accused that he %ould* $e 7illed shouldhe shout for hel"+ No co#"licity can $e deduced %here there is a$solutely no sho%ingthat the accused directly "artici"ated in the o'ert act of ro$$ing and shooting althoughhe %as %ith the "ersons %ho ro$$ed and 7illed the 'icti#+ ---'i

That del Rosario did not disclose %hat he 7ne% a$out the incident to the authorities*to his e#"loyer or to the $arangay ca"tain does not affect his credi$ility+ The natural

hesitance of #ost "eo"le to get in'ol'ed in a cri#inal case is of 6udicial notice+ ---'iiIt #ust$e recalled that del Rosario %as #erely a tricycle dri'er %ith a fa#ily to loo7 after+


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right to $e infor#ed of these rights as enshrined and guaranteed in the Bill of Rights+ ---'iii

As testified to $y 2)D


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the sa#e transgressed the safeguards "ro'ided $y la% and the Bill of Rights+

3el Rosario also a'ers that his arrest %as unla%ful since there %as no %arranttherefor+ 2ection (* Rule ,,9 of the Rules of Court "ro'ides8-liii

2ec+ (+ Arrest without warrant0 when lawful. A "eace officer or a "ri'ate "erson #ay*

%ithout a %arrant* arrest a "erson8 >a@ When* in his "resence* the "erson to $e arrested hasco##itted* is actually co##itting* or is atte#"ting to co##it an offense >$@ When an offensehas in fact $een co##itted and he has "ersonal 7no%ledge of facts indicating that the "erson to$e arrested has co##itted it and* >c@ When the "erson to $e arrested is a "risoner %ho hasesca"ed fro# "enal esta$lish#ent or "lace %here he is ser'ing final 6udg#ent or te#"orarilyconfined %hile his case is "ending* or has esca"ed %hile $eing transferred fro# oneconfine#ent to another+

It #ust $e recalled that del Rosario %as arrested $y 2OD 3e =eon during the"olice raid at the "lace of Jun Mar.ue/ at Brgy+ 3icar#a on ,D May ,::4+ In /eoplevs #ucro-li'%e held that %hen a "olice officer sees the offense* although at a distance*or hears the distur$ances created there$y* and "roceeds at once to the scene thereof*he #ay effect an arrest %ithout a %arrant on the $asis of 2ec+ (* "ar+ >a@* Rule ,,9*since the offense is dee#ed co##itted in his "resence or %ithin his 'ie%+ In essence*2ec+ (* "ar+ >a@* Rule ,,9* re.uires that the accused $e caught in flagrante delicto orcaught i##ediately after the consu##ation of the act+ The arrest of del Rosario iso$'iously outside the "ur'ie% of the afore.uoted rule since he %as arrested on the dayfollo%ing the co##ission of the ro$$ery %ith ho#icide+

On the other hand* 2ec+ (* "ar+ >$@* Rule ,,9* necessitates t%o >5@ stringentre.uire#ents $efore a %arrantless arrest can $e effected8 >,@ an offense has )ust $eenco##itted and >5@ the "erson #a7ing the arrest has personal knowledge of factsindicating that the "erson to $e arrested had co##itted it+ &ence* there #ust $e a large#easure of immediacy $et%een the ti#e the offense %as co##itted and the ti#e of the

arrest* and if there %as an a""recia$le la"se of ti#e $et%een the arrest and theco##ission of the cri#e* a %arrant of arrest #ust $e secured+ Aside fro# the sense ofi##ediacy* it is also #andatory that the "erson #a7ing the arrest #ust ha'e personalknowledge of certain facts indicating that the "erson to $e ta7en into custody hasco##itted the cri#e+-l'Again* the arrest of del Rosario does not co#"ly %ith thesere.uire#ents since* as earlier e-"lained* the arrest ca#e a day after the consu##ationof the cri#e and not i##ediately thereafter+ As such* the cri#e had not $een 6ustco##itted at the ti#e the accused %as arrested+ =i7e%ise* the arresting officers hadno "ersonal 7no%ledge of facts indicating that the "erson to $e arrested had co##ittedthe offense since they %ere not "resent and %ere not actual eye%itnesses to the cri#e*and they $eca#e a%are of his identity as the dri'er of the geta%ay tricycle only during

the custodial in'estigation+&o%e'er the cons"icuous illegality of del Rosarios arrest cannot affect the

6urisdiction of the court a quo $ecause e'en in instances not allo%ed $y la%* a%arrantless arrest is not a 6urisdictional defect and any o$6ection thereto is %ai'ed %henthe "erson arrested su$#its to arraign#ent %ithout any o$6ection* as in this case+ -l'i

A transgression of the la% has occurred+ Unfortunately* an innocent "erson lost herlife and "ro"erty in the "rocess+ 2o#eone therefore #ust $e held accounta$le* $ut it


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%ill not $e accused Joselito del Rosario %e #ust ac.uit hi#+ =i7e 'icti# VirginiaBernas* he too %as a ha"less 'icti# %ho %as forci$ly used $y other "ersons %ithnefarious designs to "er"etrate a dastardly act+ 3el Rosarios defense of irresisti$leforce has $een su$stantiated $y clear and con'incing e'idence+ On the other hand*cons"iracy $et%een hi# and his co!accused %as not "ro'ed $eyond a %hi#"er of a

dou$t $y the "rosecution* thus clearing del Rosario of any co#"licity in the cri#echarged+

%HEREFORE* the decision of the Regional Trial Court of Ca$anatuan Citycon'icting accused JO2E=ITO 3E= RO2ARIO H A2CUA= of Ro$$ery %ith &o#icideand sentencing hi# to death* is REVER2E3 and 2ET A2I3E* and the accused is

ACUITTE3 of the cri#e charged+ &is i##ediate RE=EA2E fro# confine#ent isordered unless held for so#e other la%ful cause+ In this regard* the 3irector of risonsis directed to re"ort to the Court his co#"liance here%ith %ithin fi'e >(@ days fro#recei"t hereof+

SO ORDERED.

Davide, 'r., 1.'., 2omero, Melo, /uno, 3itug, 4apunan, Mendo(a, /anganiban,5uisumbing, /urisima, /ardo, !uena, 6on(aga2eyes, and $nares#antiago, ''.concur.

T&IR3 3IVI2ION

[G.R. No. 12&'21. ()r*+ , 2''']

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES,plaintiff-appellee,vs. RENE SIAO,accused-appellant.

D E ! I S I O N

GONAGA/RE0ES, J.$

Accused!a""ellant Rene 2iao together %ith Reylan


12/67

7no%ledge %ith the undersigned* Estrella Ray#undo* a #inor* ,D yearsold* against the latter;s %ill+,

Accused!a""ellant Rene 2iao and Reylan


13/67

A""ellant lighted the candle and dro""ed the #elting candle on her chest>"+ K* T2N* 2e"te#$er 5)* ,::D@+ Estrella chose a $ottle of s"rite $ecauseshe %as afraid of the "istol+ 2he %as #ade to lie do%n on her $ac7 on the$ed %ith her head hanging o'er one end+ Whereu"on* a""ellant "oureds"rite into her nostrils as she %as #ade to s"read her ar#s+ While

a""ellant dro""ed the $ottle of s"rite into her nostrils* he "ointed the gunat her face+ Estrella felt di//y and her eyesight $eca#e $lurred >"+ 4* T2N*2e"te#$er 5)* ,::D@+ 2he tried to fold her ar#s to co'er her $reasts $uta""ellant ordered "+ ,)!,(* T2N* 2e"te#$er,4* ,::D@+

A""ellant then tied her feet and hands %ith an electric cord or %ire as she%as #ade to lie face do%n on the $ed+ After that* a""ellant untied herhands and feet $ut tied her $ac7 %ith the sa#e %ire >"+ ,K* T2N*2e"te#$er ,4* ,::D@+

As a""ellant "ointed his "istol at her* he ordered Estrella to re#o'e her"ants and T!shirt* she sat on the $ed and did as she %as told and %henshe %as na7ed* a""ellant co##anded her to ta7e the initiati'e >i7a% ang#auna sa lala7i+@ 2he did not understand %hat a""ellant #eant+ At this"oint* a""ellant "o7ed the gun at her te#"le >""+ ,:!5)* T2N* 2e"te#$er,4* ,::D@+

A""ellant then co##anded


14/67

"ull #o'e#ents* a""ellant held the legs of Estrella to 7ee" the# a"art >""+5,!5D* T2N* 2e"te#$er 5)* ,::D@+

After ""+ 5K!5:*T2N* 2e"te#$er 5)* ,::D@+

After the side $y side "osition* they %ere #ade to assu#e the dog "osition>"atu%ad@+ A""ellant co##anded her to do it $ut she refused $ecauseshe %as already tired+ A""ellant "ointed the "istol at her* so she o$eyed

his order+


15/67

In the #orning of May 5K* ,::K* a co##otion in the household of Jose2iao a%a7ened Teresita aares* a sister of accused!a""ellant+ Ms+aares learned that accused Reylan


16/67

a$out her daily $usiness+ The grandchildren of Jose 2iao %ere running inand out of the house+

At a$out 98)) "+#+* Ms+ aares left their residence to see7 the assistanceof the $arangay %ith res"ect to the lost nec7lace of her daughter+ >Until

this ti#e* "ri'ate co#"lainant %ould not ad#it to stealing the nec7lace@+Within an hour* Ms+ aares returned to the co#"ound acco#"anied $yBarangay Tanod Arturo Ja$ines+ ri'ate co#"lainant %as inside the#ale;s .uarters %hen the t%o arri'ed+ Accused had earlier re"orted for%or7 at the retail store o%ned $y Jose 2iao+ When Barangay TanodJa$ine/ introduced hi#self* "ri'ate co#"lainant i##ediately $egged forhis forgi'eness and "ro#ised not to do it again+ Barangay Tanod Ja$ine/instructed the "ri'ate co#"lainant to address her "leas to her 'icti#s andnot to hi#+ Before the $arangay tanod* "ri'ate co#"lainant ad#itted tostealing the nec7lace+

3issatisfied %ith the "iece!#eal confession of the "ri'ate co#"lainant* Ms+aares decided to $ring her to the $arangay hall %here she could re"ortthe theft+ On the %ay to the $arangay hall* "ri'ate co#"lainant confessedto selling the nec7lace and $egged for forgi'eness+ At the last #inute Ms+aares relented and decided to gi'e the "ri'ate co#"lainant a secondchance+

U"on their return to the 2iao co#"ound* "ri'ate co#"lainant and JoyRay#undo sought "er#ission fro# Ms+ Baricuatro to 6ust return to theirho#e in =eyte+ Ms+ Beatri/ ga'e her consent and e'en handed the##oney for $oat fare+ At a$out 48)) "+#+* $oth house#aids left the 2iao

residence* $ringing %ith the# all their "ersonal $elongings+ An hour later*so#e "eo"le ca#e to the house of Jose 2iao loo7ing for "ri'ateco#"lainant and her cousin+

At this ti#e* accused!a""ellant Rene 2iao re#ained una%are of thede'elo"#ents that unra'eled in the residence of Jose 2iao+ In the #orningof May 5D* ,::D*4accused!a""ellant #ade his usual rounds collecting theo$ligations of his father;s creditors+ At noonti#e* accused!a""ellant %entdirectly to the retail store of his father %here he had lunch %ith his %ife


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5@of the Re'ised enal Code+L

Insisting on his innocence* accused!a""ellant assigns to the trial court the follo%ingalleged errors8

T&E TRIA= COURT ERRE3 IN IN3IN< ACCU2E3!AE==ANT 2IAO


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The Court has carefully re'ie%ed the records of this case and has found accused!a""ellant;s contentions to $e %ithout #erit+ Against the 'icti#;s story* accused!a""ellanturges us to acce"t his o%n 'ersion+ But %e cannot do so* for %e agree %ith the trialcourt;s o$ser'ation that a ,D!year old girl fro# the "ro'ince* naP'e and innocent to the%ays of the %orld* is inca"a$le of concocting serious charges against her e#"loyer and

fa$ricating a story of a$errant se-ual $eha'ior as can only $e told $y one %ho has $eensu$6ected to it+

irst* accused!a""ellant;s assertion that the failure of the "rosecution to "resent the gunused $y hi# to force and inti#idate Ester Ray#undo and Reylan


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Hou can fra#e your .uestion $y 6ust adding a fe% %ords if he didanything+

WITNE22

A8 We did the se-ual act >7ayatan@+

I2CA= BUENVIAJE

8 Was he successful in "enetrating youF

A8 Hes+

8 And all the ti#e Rene 2iao %as holding $oth of your legsF

ATTH+ 2ENININ,)@ #inutes* #ore or less+

8 No%* %hile Reylan %as doing the "ush!and!"ull for a$out ,)

#inutes* %hat %as Rene 2iao doing all the ti#eF

A8 Rene 2iao 7e"t on loo7ing and said* Why did it ta7e long to"enetrateF

8 No%* %hat %as the "osition of $oth of the hands of Rene 2iaoF

COURT INTERRETER

Witness de#onstrating that Rene 2iao held her $oth legs in orderto s"read it a"art+

I2CA= BUENVIAJE

I %ould li7e to add so#e co##ents to the inter"retation+ Accordingto the %itness* %hile Reylan


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8 No%* after that ,) #inutes %herein not finished@

I2CA= BUENVIAJE

2e-ual act+

ATTH+ 2ENININK@ years old+

(+ %hen the offender 7no%s that he is afflicted %ith Ac.uired I##une3eficiency 2yndro#e >AI32@ disease+

4+ %hen co##itted $y any #e#$er of the Ar#ed orces of thehili""ines or the hili""ine National olice or any la% enforce#entagency+

K+ %hen $y reason or on the occasion of the ra"e* the 'icti# hassuffered "er#anent "hysical #utilation+

Accused!a""ellant %as held guilty of ra"e %ith the use of a deadly %ea"on* %hich is"unisha$le $y reclusion perpetuato death+59But the trial court o'erloo7ed and did notta7e into account the aggra'ating circu#stance of igno#iny and sentenced accused!a""ellant to the single indi'isi$le "enalty of reclusion perpetua+ It has $een held that%here the accused in co##itting the ra"e used not only the #issionary "osition* i.e.#ale su"erior* fe#ale inferior $ut also the dog "osition as dogs do* i.e+ entry fro#

23R


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$ehind* as %as "ro'en li7e the cri#e itself in the instant case* the aggra'atingcircu#stance of igno#iny attended the co##ission thereof+5D

&o%e'er* the use of a %ea"on ser'es to increase the "enalty+5(2ince the use of adeadly %ea"on increases the "enalty as o""osed to a generic aggra'ating

circu#stance %hich only affects the "eriod of the "enalty* said fact should $e alleged inthe infor#ation* $ecause of the accused;s right to $e infor#ed of the nature and causeof the accusation against hi#+54Considering that the co#"laint >%hich %as latercon'erted into the Infor#ation@ failed to allege the use of a deadly %ea"on* s"ecifically*that herein accused!a""ellant %as ar#ed %ith a gun* the "enalty to $e rec7oned %ith indeter#ining the "enalty for ra"e %ould $e reclusion perpetua* the "enalty "rescri$ed forsi#"le ra"e under Article 99(* as a#ended $y R+A+ No+ K4(:+ 2i#"le ra"e is "unisha$le$y the single indi'isi$le "enalty of reclusion perpetua, %hich #ust $e a""lied regardlessof any #itigating or aggra'ating circu#stance %hich #ay ha'e attended the co##issionof the deed+5K&ence* the "enalty of reclusion perpetua i#"osed $y the trial court iscorrect+

As a final #atter* the trial court erred in ordering accused!a""ellant Rene 2iao to "aythe co#"lainant only the ci'il lia$ility arising fro# the offense in the a#ount of()*)))+))+ In addition* it should ha'e ordered accused!a""ellant to "ay the offended"arty #oral da#ages* %hich is auto#atically granted in ra"e cases %ithout need of any"roof+5LCurrently* the a#ount of #oral da#ages for ra"e is fi-ed at ()*)))+))+ 5:Moreo'er* the "resence of one aggra'ating circu#stance 6ustifies the a%ard ofe-e#"lary da#ages "ursuant to Article 559) of the Ci'il Code of the hili""ines9)Wefind the a#ount of 5)*)))+)) as e-e#"lary da#ages reasona$le on account of thefact that the aggra'ating circu#stance of igno#iny attended the co##ission of thecri#e of ra"e+

%HEREFORE* the decision of the Regional Trial Court* Branch ,9* Ce$u City* is here$yAIRME3 %ith the MO3IICATION that accused!a""ellant Rene 2iao is ordered to"ay ()*)))+)) to Ester Ray#undo $y %ay of #oral da#ages* and 5)*)))+)) $y %ayof e-e#"lary da#ages in addition to the a#ount of ()*)))+)) %hich the trial courtordered hi# to "ay as inde#nity+

SO ORDERED.

/urisima, ''., concur.

249eople vs."a!lan, 130 "CRA 1/ 71/48.29eople vs.Barcelona, 1/1 "CRA 100 71//08- 9eople vs.Bacli, 24 "CRA 71//8- 9eople vs.9atriarca, #.R.

&o. 1324, &o;emer 24, 1///.29eople vs.=lao, #.R. &o. 12/2/, "ept. 2/, 1//- 9eople v.Ramos, #.R. &o. 12/43/, "ept. 2, 1//- 9eople vs.

#arcia, 21 "CRA 43 71//8.2R


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i3ecision "enned $y Judge eliciano V+ Buena'entura* RTC!Br+ 5K* Ca$anatuan City+

ii2ollo* "+ 5D+

iii7d., "+ 5(+

i;T2N* : July ,::4* ""+ 9!: ,, July ,::4* ""+ 5K!5L* 9,!95+

;7d.* D 2e"te#$er ,::4* "+ ,(+

;i7d., "+ ,)+

;ii7d.,"+ ,(+

;iii7d., ,5 2e"te#$er ,::4* "+ 4+

i62ee Note D* "+ ,4+

62ee Note K* "+ L+

6iT2N* 5L August ,::4* ""+ 9!K+

6ii7d., ,9 2e"te#$er ,::4* "+ 5,+

6iii2ee Note ,)* "+ K+

6i;2ee Note K* "+ ,4+

6;A""ellant;s Brief* ""+ (4!(K+

6;i7d., "+ L5+

6;ii2ee Note ,* "+ K(+

6;iiieo"le v. =orena* "+ KD@ - - - they rode in the tricycle of the accused and %ent near NITA;2 3RU< 2TOREat Juan =una 2treet* Ca$anatuan City %hile there* JUN MARUE and 3O3ON< BI2AHA %aylaid VIR


44/67

666iiieo"le 's+ urugganan*


45/67

etitioner Vic7y C+ Ty >0Ty1@ filed the instant /etition for 2eviewunder Rule D(* see7ing toset aside the Decisionof the Court of A""eals Eighth 3i'ision in CA!B++ 55@* other%ise 7no%n as theBouncing Chec7s =a%+

This case ste##ed fro# the filing of se'en >K@ 7nformationsfor 'iolation of B++ 55 againstTy $efore the RTC of Manila+ The 7nformations%ere doc7eted as Cri#inal Cases No+ :9!,9)D(: to No+ :9!,9)D4(+ The accusatory "ortion of the 7nformationin Cri#inal Case No+:9!,9)D4( reads as follo%s8

That on or a$out May 9)* ,::9* in the City of Manila* hili""ines* the said accused didthen and there %illfully* unla%fully and feloniously #a7e or dra% and issue to Manila 3octors;&os"ital to a""ly on account or for 'alue to Editha =+ Vecino Chec7 No+ Metro$an7 DLKK,5dated May 9)* ,::9 "aya$le to Manila 3octors &os"ital in the a#ount of 9)*)))+))* saidaccused %ell 7no%ing that at the ti#e of issue she did not ha'e sufficient funds in or credit%ith the dra%ee $an7 for "ay#ent of such chec7 in full u"on its "resent#ent* %hich chec7%hen "resented for "ay#ent %ithin ninety >:)@ days fro# the date hereof* %as su$se.uentlydishonored $y the dra%ee $an7 for 0Account Closed1 and des"ite recei"t of notice of suchdishonor* said accused failed to "ay said Manila 3octors &os"ital the a#ount of the chec7 orto #a7e arrange#ent for full "ay#ent of the sa#e %ithin fi'e >(@ $an7ing days after recei'ingsaid notice+

Contrary to la%+

The other 7nformationsare si#ilarly %orded e-ce"t for the nu#$er of the chec7s anddates of issue+ The data are hereunder ite#i/ed as follo%s8

Cri#inal Case No+ Chec7 No+ ostdated A#ount :9!,9)D(: DLKK,) 9) March ,::9 9)*)))+)) :9!,9)D4) DLKK,,9) A"ril ,::9 9)*)))+))

:9!,9)D4, DLKK): ), March ,::9 9)*)))+)) :9!,9)D45 DLKK)K 9) 3ece#$er ,::5 9)*)))+)) :9!,9)D49 DLKK)4 9) No'e#$er ,::5 9)*)))+)) :9!,9)D4D DLKK)L 9) January ,::9 9)*)))+)) :9!,9)D4( DLKK,5 9) May ,::9 9)*)))+))

The cases %ere consolidated and 6ointly tried+ At her arraign#ent* Ty "leaded not guilty+

The e'idence for the "rosecution sho%s that Ty;s #other Chua =ao 2o Un %as confinedat the Manila 3octors; &os"ital >hos"ital@ fro# 9) Octo$er ,::) until D June ,::5+ Being the"atient;s daughter* Ty signed the 0Ac7no%ledg#ent of Res"onsi$ility for ay#ent1 in theContract of Ad#ission dated 9) Octo$er ,::)+ As of D June ,::5* the 2tate#ent of Account

sho%s the total lia$ility of the #other in the a#ount of 4(K*,L5+D)+ Ty;s sister* Judy Chua*%as also confined at the hos"ital fro# ,9 May ,::, until 5 May ,::5* incurring hos"ital $illsin the a#ount of D,L*D,)+((+ The total hos"ital $ills of the t%o "atients a#ounted to,*)K(*(:5+:(+ On ( June ,::5* Ty e-ecuted a "ro#issory note %herein she assu#ed"ay#ent of the o$ligation in install#ents+ To assure "ay#ent of the o$ligation* she dre%se'eral "ostdated chec7s against Metro$an7 "aya$le to the hos"ital+ The se'en >K@ chec7s*each co'ering the a#ount of 9)*)))+))* %ere all de"osited on their due dates+ But they%ere all dishonored $y the dra%ee $an7 and returned un"aid to the hos"ital due toinsufficiency of funds* %ith the 0Account Closed1 ad'ice+ 2oon thereafter* the co#"lainant


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hos"ital sent de#and letters to Ty $y registered #ail+ As the de#and letters %ere notheeded* co#"lainant filed the se'en >K@ 7nformations su$6ect of the instant case+

or her defense* Ty clai#ed that she issued the chec7s $ecause of 0an uncontrolla$lefear of a greater in6ury+1 2he a'erred that she %as forced to issue the chec7s to o$tainrelease for her #other %ho# the hos"ital inhu#anely and harshly treated and %ould not

discharge unless the hos"ital $ills are "aid+ 2he alleged that her #other %as de"ri'ed ofroo# facilities* such as the air!condition unit* refrigerator and tele'ision set* and su$6ect toincon'eniences such as the cutting off of the tele"hone line* late deli'ery of her #other;s foodand refusal to change the latter;s go%n and $edsheets+ 2he also $e%ailed the hos"ital;ssus"ending #edical treat#ent of her #other+ The 0de$asing treat#ent*1 she "ointed out* soaffected her #other;s #ental* "sychological and "hysical health that the latter conte#"latedsuicide if she %ould not $e discharged fro# the hos"ital+ earing the %orst for her #other*and to co#"ly %ith the de#ands of the hos"ital* Ty %as co#"elled to sign a "ro#issory note*o"en an account %ith Metro$an7 and issue the chec7s to effect her #other;s i##ediatedischarge+

K@ chec7s in"ay#ent of a 'alid o$ligation* %hich turned unfounded on their res"ecti'e dates of #aturity* isfound guilty of se'en >K@ counts of 'iolations of Batas a#$ansa Blg+ 55* and is here$ysentenced to suffer the "enalty of i#"rison#ent of 2I MONT&2 "er count or a total of forty!t%o >D5@ #onths+

2O OR3ERE3+

Ty inter"osed an a""eal fro# the Decisionof the trial court+ Before the Court of A""eals*Ty reiterated her defense that she issued the chec7s 0under the i#"ulse of an uncontrolla$lefear of a greater in6ury or in a'oidance of a greater e'il or in6ury+1 2he also argued that thetrial court erred in finding her guilty %hen e'idence sho%ed there %as a$sence of 'alua$leconsideration for the issuance of the chec7s and the "ayee had 7no%ledge of theinsufficiency of funds in the account+ 2he "rotested that the trial court should not ha'ea""lied the la% #echanically* %ithout due regard to the "rinci"les of 6ustice and e.uity+

In its Decisiondated 9, July 5)),* the a""ellate court affir#ed the 6udg#ent of the trialcourt %ith #odification+ It set aside the "enalty of i#"rison#ent and instead sentenced Ty 0to"ay a fine of si-ty thousand "esos >4)*)))+))@ e.ui'alent to dou$le the a#ount of thechec7* in each case+1

In its assailed Decision* the Court of A""eals re6ected Ty;s defenses of in'oluntariness inthe issuance of the chec7s and the hos"ital;s 7no%ledge of her chec7ing account;s lac7 offunds+ It held that B++ 55 #a7es the #ere act of issuing a %orthless chec7 "unisha$le as as"ecial offense* it $eing a malum prohibitum+ What the la% "unishes is the issuance of a$ouncing chec7 and not the "ur"ose for %hich it %as issued nor the ter#s and conditionsrelating to its issuance+

Neither %as the Court of A""eals con'inced that there %as no 'alua$le consideration for


47/67

the issuance of the chec7s as they %ere issued in "ay#ent of the hos"ital $ills of Ty;s #other+

In sentencing Ty to "ay a fine instead of a "rison ter#* the a""ellate court a""lied thecase of 3aca v. 1ourt of Appeals%herein this Court declared that in deter#ining the "enaltyi#"osed for 'iolation of B++ 55* the "hiloso"hy underlying the Indeter#inate 2entence =a%should $e o$ser'ed* i.e.* redee#ing 'alua$le hu#an #aterial and "re'enting unnecessary

de"ri'ation of "ersonal li$erty and econo#ic usefulness* %ith due regard to the "rotection ofthe social order+

etitioner no% co#es to this Court $asically alleging the sa#e issues raised $efore theCourt of A""eals+ More s"ecifically* she ascri$ed errors to the a""ellate court $ased on thefollo%ing grounds8

A+ T&ERE I2 C=EAR AN3 CONVINCIN< EVI3ENCE T&AT ETITIONER WA2 ORCE3TO OR COME==E3 IN T&E OENIN< O T&E ACCOUNT AN3 T&E I22UANCE OT&E 2UBJECT C&ECS2+

B+ T&E C&ECS2 WERE I22UE3 UN3ER T&E IMU=2E O AN 8&19&T29::A!:;


48/67

clai#s that the issuance of the chec7s %as under the i#"ulse of an uncontrolla$le fear of agreater in6ury or in a'oidance of a greater e'il or in6ury+ 2he %ould also ha'e the Court$elie'e that there %as no 'alua$le consideration in the issuance of the chec7s+

&o%e'er* e-ce"t for the defense;s clai# of uncontrolla$le fear of a greater in6ury ora'oidance of a greater e'il or in6ury* all the grounds raised in'ol'e factual issues %hich are

$est deter#ined $y the trial court+ And* as "re'iously inti#ated* the trial court had in factdiscarded the theory of the defense and rendered 6udg#ent accordingly+

Moreo'er* these argu#ents are a #ere rehash of argu#ents unsuccessfully raised $eforethe trial court and the Court of A""eals+ They li7e%ise "ut to issue factual .uestions already"assed u"on t%ice $elo%* rather than .uestions of la% a""ro"riate for re'ie% under a Rule D("etition+

The only .uestion of la% raised%hether the defense of uncontrolla$le fear is tena$le to%arrant her e-e#"tion fro# cri#inal lia$ilityhas to $e resol'ed in the negati'e+ or thise-e#"ting circu#stance to $e in'o7ed successfully* the follo%ing re.uisites #ust concur8 >,@e-istence of an uncontrolla$le fear >5@ the fear #ust $e real and i##inent and >9@ the fear of

an in6ury is greater than or at least e.ual to that co##itted+It #ust a""ear that the threat that caused the uncontrolla$le fear is of such gra'ity and

i##inence that the ordinary #an %ould ha'e succu#$ed to it+ It should $e $ased on a real*i##inent or reasona$le fear for one;s life or li#$+ A #ere threat of a future in6ury is notenough+ It should not $e s"eculati'e* fanciful* or re#ote+ A "erson in'o7ing uncontrolla$lefear #ust sho% therefore that the co#"ulsion %as such that it reduced hi# to a #ereinstru#ent acting not only %ithout %ill $ut against his %ill as %ell+ It #ust $e of such characteras to lea'e no o""ortunity to the accused for esca"e+

In this case* far fro# it* the fear* if any* har$ored $y Ty %as not real and i##inent+ Tyclai#s that she %as co#"elled to issue the chec7sa condition the hos"ital allegedly

de#anded of her $efore her #other could $e dischargedfor fear that her #other;s health#ight deteriorate further due to the inhu#ane treat#ent of the hos"ital or %orse* her #other#ight co##it suicide+ This is s"eculati'e fear it is not the uncontrolla$le fear conte#"lated$y la%+

To $egin %ith* there %as no sho%ing that the #other;s illness %as so life!threatening suchthat her continued stay in the hos"ital suffering all its alleged unethical treat#ent %ouldinduce a %ell!grounded a""rehension of her death+ 2econdly* it is not the la%;s intent to saythat any fear e-e#"ts one fro# cri#inal lia$ility #uch less "etitioner;s fli#sy fear that her#other #ight co##it suicide+ In other %ords* the fear she in'o7es %as not i#"ending orinsu"era$le as to de"ri'e her of all 'olition and to #a7e her a #ere instru#ent %ithout %ill*

#o'ed e-clusi'ely $y the hos"ital;s threats or de#ands+Ty has also failed to con'ince the Court that she %as left %ith no choice $ut to co##it a

cri#e+ 2he did not ta7e ad'antage of the #any o""ortunities a'aila$le to her to a'oidco##itting one+ By her 'ery o%n %ords* she ad#itted that the collateral or security thehos"ital re.uired "rior to the discharge of her #other #ay $e in the for# of "ostdated chec7sor 6e%elry+ And if indeed she %as coerced to o"en an account %ith the $an7 and issue thechec7s* she had all the o""ortunity to lea'e the scene to a'oid in'ol'e#ent+

Moreo'er* "etitioner had sufficient 7no%ledge that the issuance of chec7s %ithout funds


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#ay result in a 'iolation of B++ 55+ 2he e'en testified that her counsel ad'ised her not too"en a current account nor issue "ostdated chec7s 0$ecause the #o#ent I %ill not ha'efunds it %ill $e a $ig "ro$le#+1 Besides* a"art fro# "etitioner;s $are assertion* the record is$ereft of any e'idence to corro$orate and $olster her clai# that she %as co#"elled orcoerced to coo"erate %ith and gi'e in to the hos"ital;s de#ands+

Ty li7e%ise suggests in the "refatory state#ent of her /etition and Memorandumthat the6ustifying circu#stance of state of necessity under "ar+ D* Art+ ,, of the Re'ised enal Code#ay find a""lication in this case+

We do not agree+ The la% "rescri$es the "resence of three re.uisites to e-e#"t the actorfro# lia$ility under this "aragra"h8 >,@ that the e'il sought to $e a'oided actually e-ists >5@that the in6ury feared $e greater than the one done to a'oid it >9@ that there $e no other"ractical and less har#ful #eans of "re'enting it+

In the instant case* the e'il sought to $e a'oided is #erely e-"ected or antici"ated+ If thee'il sought to $e a'oided is #erely e-"ected or antici"ated or #ay ha""en in the future* thisdefense is not a""lica$le+ Ty could ha'e ta7en ad'antage of an a'aila$le o"tion to a'oid

co##itting a cri#e+ By her o%n ad#ission* she had the choice to gi'e 6e%elry or other for#sof security instead of "ostdated chec7s to secure her o$ligation+

Moreo'er* for the defense of state of necessity to $e a'ailing* the greater in6ury fearedshould not ha'e $een $rought a$out $y the negligence or i#"rudence* #ore so* the %illfulinaction of the actor+ In this case* the issuance of the $ounced chec7s %as $rought a$out $yTy;s o%n failure to "ay her #other;s hos"ital $ills+

The Court also thin7s it rather odd that Ty has chosen the e-e#"ting circu#stance ofuncontrolla$le fear and the 6ustifying circu#stance of state of necessity to a$sol'e her oflia$ility+ It %ould not ha'e $een half as $i/arre had Ty $een a$le to "ro'e that the issuance ofthe $ounced chec7s %as done %ithout her full 'olition+ Under the circu#stances* ho%e'er* it

is .uite clear that neither uncontrolla$le fear nor a'oidance of a greater e'il or in6ury "ro#"tedthe issuance of the $ounced chec7s+

arenthetically* the findings of fact in the Decision of the trial court in the Ci'il Case forda#ages filed $y Ty;s #other against the hos"ital is %holly irrele'ant for "ur"oses ofdis"osing the case at $ench+ While the findings therein #ay esta$lish a clai# for da#ages%hich* %e #ay add* need only $e su""orted $y a "re"onderance of e'idence* it does notnecessarily engender reasona$le dou$t as to free Ty fro# lia$ility+

As to the issue of consideration* it is "resu#ed* u"on issuance of the chec7s* in thea$sence of e'idence to the contrary* that the sa#e %as issued for 'alua$le consideration+2ection 5D of the Negotia$le Instru#ents =a% creates a "resu#"tion that e'ery "arty to aninstru#ent ac.uired the sa#e for a consideration or for 'alue+ In alleging other%ise* Ty hasthe onus to "ro'e that the chec7s %ere issued %ithout consideration+ 2he #ust "resentcon'incing e'idence to o'erthro% the "resu#"tion+

A scrutiny of the records re'eals that "etitioner failed to discharge her $urden of "roof+0Valua$le consideration #ay in general ter#s* $e said to consist either in so#e right* interest*"rofit* or $enefit accruing to the "arty %ho #a7es the contract* or so#e for$earance*detri#ent* loss or so#e res"onsi$ility* to act* or la$or* or ser'ice gi'en* suffered or underta7en$y the other aide+ 2i#"ly defined* 'alua$le consideration #eans an o$ligation to gi'e* to do*or not to do in fa'or of the "arty %ho #a7es the contract* such as the #a7er or indorser+1


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In this case* Ty;s #other and sister a'ailed of the ser'ices and the facilities of thehos"ital+ or the care gi'en to her 7in* Ty had a legiti#ate o$ligation to "ay the hos"ital $y'irtue of her relationshi" %ith the# and $y force of her signature on her #other;s Contract of

Ad#ission ac7no%ledging res"onsi$ility for "ay#ent* and on the "ro#issory note shee-ecuted in fa'or of the hos"ital+

Anent Ty;s clai# that the o$ligation to "ay the hos"ital $ills %as not her "ersonalo$ligation $ecause she %as not the "atient* and therefore there %as no consideration for thechec7s* the case of !ridges v. 3ann, et al+ tells us that 0it is no defense to an action on a"ro#issory note for the #a7er to say that there %as no consideration %hich %as $eneficial tohi# "ersonally it is sufficient if the consideration %as a $enefit conferred u"on a third "erson*or a detri#ent suffered $y the "ro#isee* at the instance of the "ro#issor+ It is enough if theo$ligee foregoes so#e right or "ri'ilege or suffers so#e detri#ent and the release ande-tinguish#ent of the original o$ligation of


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attention and do not %arrant a strict and #echanical a""lication of the la%+

etitioner;s reliance on the case is #is"laced+ The #aterial o"erati'e facts thereino$taining are different fro# those esta$lished in the instant "etition+ In the ,::5 case* the$ounced chec7s %ere issued to co'er a 0%arranty de"osit1 in a lease contract* %here thelessor!su""lier %as also the financier of the de"osit+ It %as a modus operandi%here$y the

su""lier %as a$le to sell or lease the goods %hile "ri'ately financing those in des"erate needso they #ay $e acco##odated+ The #a7er of the chec7 thus $eca#e an un%illing 'icti# of alease agree#ent under the guise of a lease!"urchase agree#ent+ The #a7er did not $enefitat all fro# the de"osit* since the chec7s %ere used as collateral for an acco##odation andnot to co'er the recei"t of an actual account or credit for 'alue+

In the case at $ar* the chec7s %ere issued to co'er the recei"t of an actual 0account or for'alue+1 2u$stantial e'idence* as found $y the trial court and Court of A""eals* has esta$lishedthat the chec7s %ere issued in "ay#ent of the hos"ital $ills of Ty;s #other+

inally* %e agree %ith the Court of A""eals in deleting the "enalty of i#"rison#ent*a$sent any "roof that "etitioner %as not a first!ti#e offender nor that she acted in $ad faith+

Ad#inistrati'e Circular ,5!5)))* ado"ting the rulings in 3aca v. 1ourt of Appealsand :im v./eople,authori/es the non!i#"osition of the "enalty of i#"rison#ent in B++ 55 cases su$6ectto certain conditions+ &o%e'er* the Court resol'es to #odify the "enalty in 'ie% of

Ad#inistrati'e Circular ,9!5)), %hich clarified Ad#inistrati'e ,5!5)))+ It is stated therein8

The clear tenor and intention of Ad#inistrati'e Circular No+ ,5!5))) is not to re#o'ei#"rison#ent as an alternati'e "enalty* $ut to lay do%n a rule of "reference in the a""licationof the "enalties "ro'ided for in B++ Blg+ 55+

Thus* Ad#inistrati'e Circular ,5!5))) esta$lishes a rule of "reference in the a""licationof the "enal "ro'isions of B++ Blg+ 55 such that %here the circu#stances of $oth the offenseand the offender clearly indicate good faith or a clear #ista7e of fact %ithout taint ofnegligence* the i#"osition of a fine alone should $e considered as the #ore a""ro"riate

"enalty+ Needless to say* the deter#ination of %hether circu#stances %arrant the i#"ositionof a fine alone rests solely u"on the Judge+ 2hould the 6udge decide that i#"rison#ent is the#ore a""ro"riate "enalty* Ad#inistrati'e Circular No+ ,5!5))) ought not $e dee#ed ahindrance+

It is therefore understood that8 >,@ Ad#inistrati'e Circular ,5!5))) does not re#o'ei#"rison#ent as an alternati'e "enalty for 'iolations of B++ 55 >5@ the 6udges concerned #ay*in the e-ercise of sound discretion* and ta7ing into consideration the "eculiar circu#stancesof each case* deter#ine %hether the i#"osition of a fine alone %ould $est ser'e the interestsof 6ustice* or %hether for$earing to i#"ose i#"rison#ent %ould de"reciate the seriousness ofthe offense* %or7 'iolence on the social order* or other%ise $e contrary to the i#"erati'es of

6ustice >9@ should only a fine $e i#"osed and the accused una$le to "ay the fine* there is no

legal o$stacle to the a""lication of the Re'ised enal Code "ro'isions on su$sidiaryi#"rison#ent+

%HEREFORE* the instant /etitionis 3ENIE3 and the assailed Decisionof the Court ofA""eals* dated 9, July 5)),* finding "etitioner Vic7y C+ Ty


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Manila 3octors; &os"ital* the a#ount of T%o &undred Ten Thousand esos >5,)*)))+))@re"resenting the total a#ount of the dishonored chec7s+ Costs against the "etitioner+

SO ORDERED.

/uno, *1hairman+, AustriaMartine(, and1alle)o, #r., ''., concur.1hico&a(ario, '., on lea'e.

#.R. &o. >223, $edina ;. Oro%co, 1 "CRA 11

Replic of the 9hilippines

SUPREME COURT

$anila

223

ARTHUR MEDINA Y YUMUL,petitioner,

;s.

MARCELO F. OROZCO, JR., Acting City W!"#n $% C&$$cn City,

respondent.

Federico Magdangal for petitioner.

Francisco A. Garcia for respondent.

SANCHEZ, J.:

On application for haeas corps. The facts are5


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At aot 12500 p.m. on &o;emer , 1/, petitioner Arthr $edina ! ?ml was

arrested and thereafter incarcerated in the Caloocan Cit! @ail, allegedl! as one of

those responsile for the death of one $arcelo "angalang ! )iwa which occrred

on Octoer 31, 1/ in said cit!. At aot /500 ocloc in the morning of the sameda!, &o;emer , 1/, the case against $edina and two others for "angalangs

mrder was referred to a fiscal, who forthwith condcted a preliminar!

in;estigation in petitioners presence. At aot 3540 p.m. on &o;emer 10, 1/,

an information for mrder was filed against petitioner Arthr $edina ! ?ml,

and Antonio Oli;ar ! (lores and Ale6ander


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deter s from declaring that Arthr $edina was aritraril! detained. (or, he was

roght to cort on the ;er! first office da! following arrest.EE2FF

2. &or cold discharge from cstod!, ! now, e @stified e;en on the assmptionthat detention was originall! aritrar!.

9etitioner at present is @ailed ecase of the corts order of commitment of

&o;emer 10, 1/ pon a mrder indictment. &o ail was pro;ided for him,

ecase he is charged with a capital offense. "ch detention remains naffected !

the alleged pre;ios aritrar! detention. Becase, detention nder a ;alid

information is one thing, aritrar! detention anterior thereto another. The! are

separate concepts. "impl! ecase at the inception detention was wrong is no

reason for letting petitioner go scotfree after the serios charge of mrder has

een clamped pon him and his detention ordered ! the cort. The first is illegal-

t the second is not.EE3FFThs, the petition for haeas corps came too late. EE4FF

3. As na;ailing is petitioners claim that no preliminar! in;estigation was

condcted ! the fiscal efore the criminal charge against him was registered in

cort. Other than that a;erment in the petition herein, petitioner has nothing

whatsoe;er to show for it. Gpon the other hand, the assertion that sch

in;estigation was made on the ;er! da! of petitioners arrest and in his presence, is

confirmed ! the fact that on &o;emer 12, 1/ he mo;ed the office of the cit!

fiscal for a reinvestigation of his case. And that rein;estigation was held on

)ecemer 1, 1/. Thereafter, the case against him proceeded to trial. Add to all

of these the legal presmption of reglarit! in the performance of official dties, EEFF

and the estion of lac of preliminar! in;estigation is well nailed down.

4. Besides, the proper form efore which asence of preliminar! in;estigation

shold e ;entilated is the Cort of (irst =nstance, not this Cort. Reason is not

wanting for this ;iew. Asence of preliminar! in;estigation does not go to the

@risdiction of the cort t merel! to the reglarit! of the proceedings. =t cold
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e;en e wai;ed. =ndeed, it is freentl! wai;ed. EEFFThese are matters to e inired

into ! the trial cort, not an appellate cort.

. The cr! of depri;ation of a speed! trial merits t scant consideration. Thearraignment of petitioner set for )ecemer 1, 1/ was postponed to )ecemer

20, 1/, thence to (erar! 2, 1/, to $arch 14, 1/, all on petition of

consel for the accsed, inclding petitioner. Then, on April 14, 1/, petitioners

consel mo;ed to reset the date of hearing on the merits. And again, the hearing

schedled on 'l! 2, 1/ was transferred to "eptemer , 1/ on motion of

defendant Ale6ander


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)irector of 9risons, 9hil. //3, //.

EE4FF$atsra, et al. ;s. )irector of 9risons, 9hil. 100, 101102.

EEFF"ection 7m8, Rle 131, Rles of Cort.

EEFF

9eople ;s. Oli;eria, 9hil. 42, 42/430- Bstos ;s. >cero, etc., 1 9hil. 40,44.

EEFF&a;arro, in his treatise on the >aw of Criminal 9rocedre, 1/0 ed., p. 310,

sa!s5 The right to speed! trial ma! e wai;ed ! Hnot o@ecting to postponements

or other dela!s of the trial.HFootnote5 H#nae ;s. )irector of 9risons, spra.

9eople ;s. 'aa@a, 3 O.#. &o. 3, 32, 3334 71/8, where postponements

were de to agreements of oth parties- $anaat ;s. 9ro;incial Iarden, #. R. &o.

>43, &o;emer 2, 1/3, postponement reested ! the defense.H HThewai;er is e;en clearer when the accsed himself or his consel ass for the

postponements. The accsed is entitled to remedial action onl! when the dela!s

are de to the prosection.HFootnote5 H"d., distingishing this case from those of

Conde. "ee 9eople ;s. Conde, E#.R. &o. >3, $a! 2, 1/ F- *elase% ;s.

)irector of 9risons, 9hil. /3, /71/48, the dela! eing de to the

destrction of records and the failre of the petitioner to mo;e for reconstittion of

the records- $anaat ;s. 9ro;incial Iarden,s#pra, defendant escaped and asedfor postponements- Reotoc ;s. Benite%, 1 9hil. 40, 413414 71/418.H

EN BANC

[G.R. No. 14>51>. April 15, 2''4]

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, appellee, vs. NAR!ISO SALDA?A @AL)rB, EL(ER ESG"ERRA @A L)rB, FERNANDO (ORALES, )8
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ART"RO (ALIT, accused,

FERNANDO (ORALES )8 ART"RO (ALIT, appellants.

D E ! I S I O N

*+ &A#$

On auto#atic re'ie% is the decision dated e$ruary 5* ,::: of the Regional Trial Court of2an ernando* a#"anga* Branch DK* in Cri#inal Case No+ L9K,* finding a""ellantsernando Morales and Arturo Malit* and their co!accused Narciso 2aldaa and El#erEsguerra guilty of the cri#e of 7idna""ing for ranso# and i#"osing on the# the "enalty ofdeath+

The cri#e %as allegedly co##itted as follo%s8

That on or a$out the : thday of No'e#$er* ,::D* in the #unici"ality of Bacolor* "ro'inceof a#"anga* hili""ines* and %ithin the 6urisdiction of this &onora$le Court* the a$o'e!na#ed accused* cons"iring and confederating together and #utually hel"ing one another* did

then and there %ilfully* unla%fully and feloniously* a$duct and 7idna" Jefferson C+ Tan*Joanna C+ Tan* Jessie Anthony C+ Tan* Malou Oca#"o and Cesar uiro/* %hile the latter%ere on $oard a =!9)) 'an %ith late No+ CSW!KL( at 2an Vicente* Bacolor* a#"anga* forthe "ur"ose of e-torting ranso# #oney fro# the "arents of the said 'icti#s %ith threat to 7illthe said 'icti#s if their "arents failed to deli'er the ranso# #oney* that said 'icti#s %ere$rought and detained in Bataan until the father of 'icti#s* eliciano Tan* "aid and deli'ered tothe aforesaid accused the a#ount of :5*)))+))* hili""ine Currency+

All contrary to la%+

U"on arraign#ent* all four accused "leaded not guilty to the offense charged+ OnOcto$er :* ,::(* three >9@ of the accused* na#ely* Narciso 2aldaa* El#er Esguerra and

a""ellant ernando Morales* esca"ed fro# the ro'incial Jail of a#"anga+ &o%e'er*a""ellant Morales a""eared a #onth later and %as arrested+ Narciso 2aldaa and El#erEsguerra re#ained at large+ As to $oth* the trial "roceeded in absentia.

The "rosecution "resented four %itnesses* na#ely* Jefferson Tan* eliciano Tan* 2eniorolice Officer Antonio 3i/on* Assistant ro'incial rosecutor Ro#an Ra/on* and Atty+ EligioMallari+

JEER2ON TAN* one of the 'icti#s* testified that the 7idna""ing ha""ened onNo'e#$er :* ,::D* around 489) a+#+ &e %as then on his %ay to 3on Bosco Acade#y inBacolor* a#"anga* on $oard their fa#ily =!9)) 'an %ith "late no+ CSW!KL(+ With hi# %erehis $rother* Jessie Anthony* his sister* Joanna* his cousin* Malou Oca#"o* and their dri'er*

Cesar uiro/+ Jefferson narrated that along the high%ay in 2an Vicente* Bacolor* a#"anga*the 'ehicle slo%ed do%n to steer clear of a da#aged "ortion of the road+ 2uddenly a #anlater identified as a""ellant Arturo Malit"o7ed a gun at their dri'er+ 2i#ultaneously* threeother #en entered the 'an+ These three %ere later identified as a""ellant ernando Morales*El#er Esguerra* and Narciso 2aldaa+

While a""ellant Arturo Malit trained his gun at the dri'er* El#er Esguerra too7 the dri'er;sseat+ The other t%o #alefactors $lindfolded the fi'e 'icti#s+ The 'ehicle then s"ed off andlater sto""ed for fuel at a gasoline station+ At that "oint* one Ro#eo Bautista 6oined the grou"+

After one hour and thirty #inutes of dri'ing* they arri'ed at their destination+ The $lindfolds of


58/67

the 'icti#s %ere re#o'ed* and Narciso 2aldaa ushered the# into a s#all house located in ahilly area+

2ensing that their 7idna""ers %ould tal7 to his father* Jefferson Tan decided to %rite anote to his father+ Ro#eo Bautista and Narciso 2aldaa then left to see his father+ An hourlater* three of their 7idna""ersa""ellant Arturo Malit* a""ellant ernando Morales* and

El#er Esguerraushered the fi'e of the# $ac7 into the 'ehicle+ They "roceeded to a $eachlittered %ith $ig roc7s+ 2u$se.uently* t%o %o#en ca#e and fed the# lunch+

At K89) "+#+* 2aldaa and Bautista arri'ed at the $each and too7 the 'icti#s to a s#allhouse in Orani* Bataan* %here they s"ent the night+ They left Orani around D8)) a+#+ thefollo%ing day and "roceeded to an uninha$ited "lace full of trees and grass+

Jefferson further testified that he re.uested Bautista to allo% hi# to s"ea7 %ith his fatherand so later that #orning* Bautista and 2aldaa escorted hi# to Balanga* Bataan* to a =3Toffice+ &e told his father that their a$ductors "lanned to send hi# ho#e to get the 5 #illionranso#+ &is father then negotiated %ith Ro#eo Bautista %ho agreed to reduce the ranso# to ,+( #illion+ 2u$se.uently* Bautista and 2aldaa too7 Jefferson to


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=ater* their dri'er* Cesar uiro/* arri'ed and relayed ne% instructions fro# the 7idna""ersthat the #eeting %as no longer going to $e at Clelu/ $ut at the $ridge of 2ta+ Cru/* =u$ao+

According to eliciano* they "roceeded to 2ta+ Cru/ as instructed* arri'ing thirty #inutes early+&e as7ed Cesar to loo7 for the 7idna""ers+ A fe% #inutes later* Cesar returned to tell hi# to"roceed to


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a""ellant Morales later ca#e to 7no% as Arturo Malit* no% his co!a""ellant+ They %aitedso#e #ore until t%o >5@ #ore "ersons arri'ed+ A""ellant Morales identified these t%o asNarciso 2aldaa and Ro#eo Bautista+ 2hortly after%ards* they all too7 a 6ee"ney to 2anVicente* Bacolor* a#"anga+ When they got there* 2aldaa ordered the dri'er to sto"+Esguerra then told a""ellants Morales and Malit to alight and %ait at the corner of the streetfor the contractor+

A fe% #inutes later* Narciso 2aldaa flagged an =!9)) 'an and "o7ed a gun at its dri'er+&e and a""ellant Malit got scared so they tried to %al7 a%ay $ut they didn;t get 'ery far$ecause El#er Esguerra* Ro#eo Bautista* and Narciso 2aldaa* after ta7ing o'er said'ehicle* chased the#+ Bautista threatened to shoot the# $oth if they didn;t $oard the 'ehicle*so they did+

On the %ay to Mari'eles* Bataan* according to Morales* they "leaded to $e released$ecause they did not %ant any in'ol'e#ent %ith the cri#e+ &o%e'er* Narciso 2aldaa andhis co#"anions res"onded %ith #ore threats+

They stayed in Mari'eles for an hour and a half $efore "roceeding to Orani* Bataan*

%here they s"ent the night in a house $elonging to 2aldaa;s $rother+ According to a""ellantMorales* $oth he and a""ellant Malit %ere allo%ed to slee" in the sa#e roo# as the childrenand the dri'er+ &e added that he and Malit coo7ed food for and attended to the needs of thechildren+ The ne-t #orning* they left for =u$ao* a#"anga+ In the afternoon of No'e#$er ,)*,::D* he and Malit alighted at =u$ao $ecause Narciso 2aldaa and Ro#eo Bautista toldthe# to go ho#e+

A""ellant Morales stated that "rior to No'e#$er L* ,::D* he did not 7no% his co!accusedArturo Malit* Narciso 2aldaa* and Ro#eo Bautista+ Neither did he 7no% eliciano Tan or anyof his children $efore the incident+ &e testified to 7no%ing El#er Esguerra since the latter ishis $rother!in!la%+

On cross!e-a#ination* a""ellant Morales declared that on No'e#$er 55* ,::D* hesurrendered to the "olice after his "arents ca#e to infor# hi# that the "olice %ere loo7ing forhi#+ =ater* he learned that Ro#eo Bautista %as 7illed in an encounter %ith ACC agents+

A""ellant ARTURO MA=IT testified also for the defense+ &e inter"osed the defense ofuncontrolla$le fear of an e.ual or greater in6ury+ &e testified that on No'e#$er L* ,::D*Ro#eo Bautista %ent to his house and in'ited hi# to %or7 in a construction 6o$ the ne-t dayin lorida$lanca* a#"anga+ &a'ing 7no%n Ro#eo Bautista for al#ost a #onth since theyhad occasion to %or7 together on a construction 6o$ at his sister;s house in 2ta+ Cru/* =u$ao*a#"anga* he acce"ted the offer+ At (8)) a+#+ the ne-t day* $oth of the# %ent to 5)@ #eters* they %ere noticed $y 2aldaa*Esguerra and Bautista+ The three chased the# $y using the 'an+ Bautista then forced $othof the# into the 'an at gun"oint+

According to a""ellant Malit* %hen he sa% that the children %ere scared* he tal7ed to


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the# and as7ed the# to "ray+ &e did not try to sto" or tell his co#"anions not to "ursue theirnefarious "lan $ecause he could not o'erco#e his fear $rought $y the threats earlier #ade onhi# $y Esguerra* 2aldaa* and Bautista+

A""ellant Malit further testified that they %ere trans"orted to Mari'eles* Bataan* %herethey had lunch in a s#all house+ =ater* they %ere ta7en to Orani* Bataan* to a house o%ned

$y 2aldaa;s in!la%s arri'ing there early in the e'ening of that sa#e day+ &e tried to esca"e*$ut he sa% 2aldaa and Bautista "osted at the door+ &e did not tal7 to any of the three %hoa$ducted the# $ecause he %as #ad at the#+ &e also did nothing to tell 2aldaa;s in!la%sthat he %as not a %illing "artici"ant in the 7idna""ing+ But %hen he heard 2aldaa sayso#ething a$out 7illing the dri'er and one of the children* he interceded and "leaded %ithBautista not to "roceed %ith the 7illing+

A""ellant Malit also testified that in the afternoon of the follo%ing day* 2aldaa andBautista $rought hi# and a""ellant Morales $ac7 to =u$ao* a#"anga* %here they %ereallo%ed to alight at 2ta+ Cru/ and go ho#e+ Then* 2aldaa threatened to 7ill hi# if here"orted the incident to the "olice+ 2ince then* he had seen neither a""ellant Morales norRo#eo Bautista+

A""ellant Malit asserted that he %as not %ith the grou" that %ent $ac7 to =u$ao torecei'e the ranso# #oney fro# Mr+ Tan+ &e denied that he 7ne% Jefferson or his father*eliciano Tan* $efore No'e#$er :* ,::D+ &e clai#ed that the only reason he and Morales%ere i#"licated in the 7idna""ing %as $ecause Bautista $rought hi# along+ &e also denied"o7ing a gun at Cesar uiro/* insisting that it %as 2aldaa %ho did+

On cross!e-a#ination* a""ellant Malit reiterated that "rior to No'e#$er :* ,::D he didnot 7no% El#er Esguerra* ernando Morales* or Narciso 2aldaa+

On e$ruary 5* ,:::* the trial court rendered its decision* dis"osing as follo%s8

W&EREORE* and in the light of all the foregoing discussions* the Court renders

6udg#ent finding the accused Narciso 2aldaa* El#er Esguerra* Arturo Malit and ernandoMorales guilty $eyond reasona$le dou$t of the cri#e charged and i#"oses u"on theaforena#ed accused the "enalty of 3EAT&+ The said accused are li7e%ise ordered toinde#nify the co#"lainant the a#ount of :5*)))+))* %hich re"resents the ranso# #oneythe latter "arted %ith+ No other ci'il inde#nification #ay $e #ade as no other e'idence onthis as"ect %as adduced+

2O OR3ERE3+

On e$ruary ,K* ,:::* a""ellant Malit filed a #otion for reconsideration and ne% trial+A""ellant Malit contended that the trial court;s decision did not clearly and distinctly state thefacts and the la% u"on %hich it is $ased* and that the trial court o'erloo7ed facts andcircu#stances %hich if considered %ould alter the result+ In his su""le#ental #otion for ne%trial* a""ellant Malit further sought to introduce Cesar uiro/;s testi#ony+

On July 5)* ,:::* the trial court denied the #otion+ The trial court ruled that a""ellantMalit;s #otion %as si#"ly as7ing the trial court to gi'e a second loo7 on the e'idence it has"assed u"on and clearly contained in its decision+ It further found that the grounds in'o7eddo not 6ustify a ne% trial as it did not re.uire the "resentation of ne%ly disco'ered e'idence+

Before this Court for auto#atic re'ie% of the death sentence i#"osed on each of the#*a""ellants Arturo Malit and ernando Morales filed se"arate $riefs+


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A""ellant Malit su$#its the follo%ing assign#ent of errors8

I+ T&E &ONORAB=E COURT A UO ABU2E3 IT2 OWER AN3 3I2CRETION W&EN ITTOTA==H 3I2RE


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e'idence+ The testi#onies of Jefferson Tan and his father* eliciano Tan* li7e%ise do not"ro'e cons"iracy+ These t%o "rosecution %itnesses did not 7no% that he and a""ellant Malit%ere su$6ected to uncontrolla$le fear $y 2aldaa* Esguerra and Bautista+

A""ellants; "leas are %ithout sufficient #erit+ We find no reason to re'erse the trialcourt;s 6udg#ent of con'iction+ A thorough re'ie% of the e'idence "resented in this case

leads to no other conclusion than that the cri#e of 7idna""ing for ranso# as defined and"enali/ed in Article 54K of the Re'ised enal Code has $een co##itted $eyond reasona$ledou$t against the 'icti#s Jefferson C+ Tan* Jessie C+ Tan* Joanna C+ Tan* Malou Oca#"o*and Cesar uiro/+

To $egin %ith* %e are not "ersuaded to o'erturn the s%orn state#ent of accused Narciso2aldaa* %ho ad#itted his "artici"ation in the 7idna""ing of the 'icti#s+ E-tra6udicialconfessions are "resu#ed to $e 'oluntary* and* in the a$sence of conclusi'e e'idencesho%ing that the declarant;s consent in e-ecuting the sa#e has $een 'itiated* the confession%ill $e sustained+ The fact that it %as the in'estigating officer* 2OD Antonio 3i/on* %hore.uested Atty+ Eligio Mallari to assist 2aldaa does not cast dou$t on Atty+ Mallari;si#"artiality during the custodial in'estigation+ 2ince there %as no a'aila$le la%yer fro# the

u$lic Attorney;s Office and 2aldaa had e-"ressed his ina$ility to "rocure the ser'ices of ala%yer* it %as incu#$ent u"on the go'ern#ent* "articularly the in'estigating officer* to "ro'ide2aldaa %ith a la%yer+ Moreo'er* a""ellants do not cite $ias or inco#"etence on the "art of

Atty+ Mallari to assist as counsel for the accused 2aldaa+ In fact* it clearly a""ears that Atty+Mallari duly "erfor#ed his duty to ad'ise 2aldaa on his constitutional rights to silence and tocounsel+ But 2aldaa insisted on #a7ing the e-tra6udicial confession in the "resence of hissister!in!la%* 'oluntarily+ &is con'iction is in order+

As for accused El#er Esguerra* %e find that the testi#onies of "rosecution %itnessesJefferson Tan and eliciano Tan on his cri#inal "artici"ation in the 7idna""ing %ere fullycorro$orated $y the testi#onies of a""ellants Malit and Morales+ There is no dou$t* in our#ind* as to his cul"a$ility for the cri#e charged+

As to herein a""ellants Morales and Malit* %e find here a fit occasion to reiterate ourruling in the case of /eople v. Del 2osario+ Under Article ,5 of the Re'ised enal Code* a"erson is e-e#"t fro# cri#inal lia$ility if he acts under the co#"ulsion of an irresisti$le force*or under the i#"ulse of an uncontrolla$le fear of e.ual or greater in6ury* $ecause such "ersondoes not act %ith freedo#+ In Del 2osario* ho%e'er* %e held that for such defense to "ros"erthe duress* force* fear or inti#idation #ust $epresent, imminent and impending* and of suchnature as to induce a %ell!grounded a""rehension of death or serious $odily har# if the act$e done+ A threat of future in6ury is not enough+

In this case* the e'idence on record sho%s that at the ti#e the ranso# #oney %as to $edeli'ered* a""ellants Arturo Malit and ernando Morales* unacco#"anied $y any of the otheraccused* entered the 'an %herein eliciano Tan %as+ At that ti#e Narciso 2aldaa* El#erEsguerra and Ro#eo Bautista %ere %aiting for $oth a""ellants fro# a distance of a$out one>,@ 7ilo#eter+ By not a'ailing of this chance to esca"e* a""ellants; allegation of fear or duress$eco#es untena$le+ We ha'e held that in order that the circu#stance of uncontrolla$le fear#ay a""ly* it is necessary that the co#"ulsion $e of such a character as to lea'e noo""ortunity to esca"e or self!defense in e.ual co#$at+ Moreo'er* the reason for their entry tothe 'an* %here the father of the 'icti#s %as* could $e ta7en as their %ay of 7ee"ing elicianoTan under further sur'eillance at a #ost critical ti#e+


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A""ellant Morales; contention that their fa#ilies %ere si#ilarly threatened finds no su""ortin the e'idence+ The records are $ereft of any sho%ing that such threats to a""ellants;fa#ilies %ere #ade at all+ We ha'e held in /eople v. !or)athat duress as a 'alid defenseshould not $e s"eculati'e or re#ote+ E'en granting arguendo that 2aldaa* Bautista* andEsguerra threatened to har# a""ellants; fa#ilies to coerce a""ellants to recei'e the ranso##oney at


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straightfor%ard and consistent e'en on cross!e-a#ination+ In contrast* a""ellants;testi#onies are conflicting+ Thus* on one hand* a""ellant Malit testified that their allegedca"tors* their o%n co!accused* had released hi# and a""ellant Morales in =u$ao* a#"anga+On the other hand* a""ellant Morales declared in his $rief that $oth of the# %ere "resent inthe 'an %ith eliciano Tan to recei'e the ranso#+ Considering the #anner $y %hich theoffense %as e-ecuted and the ranso# collected* %e entertain no dou$t that a""ellants %ere

%illing "artici"ants in the 7idna""ing of lorencio Tan;s children+Cons"iracy e-ists %hen t%o or #ore "ersons co#e to an agree#ent concerning the

co##ission of a felony and decide to co##it it+ Where all the accused acted in concert at theti#e of the co##ission of the offense* and it is sho%n $y such acts that they had the sa#e"ur"ose or co##on design and %ere united in its e-ecution* cons"iracy is sufficientlyesta$lished+ It #ust $e sho%n that all "artici"ants "erfor#ed s"ecific acts %ith such closenessand coordination as to indicate a co##on "ur"ose or design to co##it the felony+

In the "resent case* the e'idence sho%s that all the accused %aited near a da#aged"ortion of the high%ay in 2an Vicente* Bacolor* a#"anga+ 2aid s"ot %as chosendeli$erately $ecause the 'an in %hich they e-"ected the 'icti#s to $e %ould logically slo%

do%n to a'oid the da#aged "art of the road+ A""ellant Arturo Malit "o7ed a gun at the dri'erto sto" the 'ehicle and ena$le a""ellant ernando Morales and their co!accused* El#erEsguerra and Narciso 2aldaa* to $oard the 'ehicle+ While a""ellant Malit had his gun stilltrained on the dri'er* Esguerra too7 o'er the %heel %hile the others including a""ellanternando Morales $lindfolded the occu"ants of the 'an+

When Ro#eo Bautista and Narciso 2aldaa acco#"anied Jefferson Tan to Balanga*Bataan* to arrange for the deli'ery of the ranso#* a""ellants Arturo Malit and ernandoMorales %ith their co!accused El#er Esguerra* guarded the 'icti#s+ A""ellants attended tothe needs of the 'icti#s+ At the $ridge in 2ta+ Cru/* =u$ao* a""ellants ga'e eliciano Tanadditional instructions to "roceed to


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court to decide+ 2ection (* Rule ,,) of the Rules of Court e-"ressly 'ests in the "rosecutorthe direction and control o'er the "rosecution of a case+ The deter#ination of %hich e'idenceto "resent rests u"on hi#+ As the "rosecution had other %itnesses %ho could sufficiently"ro'e the 7idna""ing for ranso#* it could dis"ense %ith the e'idence to $e "ro'ided $y Cesaruiro/+

A""ellant Malit;s insistence that the trial court erroneously denied hi# his right to ne% trialto "resent the testi#ony of Cesar uiro/ is li7e%ise %ithout #erit+ A #otion for ne% trial$ased on ne%ly disco'ered e'idence #ay only $e granted if the follo%ing concur8 >a@ thee'idence is disco'ered after trial >$@ such e'idence could not ha'e $een disco'ered and"roduced at the trial e'en %ith the e-ercise of reasona$le diligence and >c@ the e'idence is#aterial* not #erely cu#ulati'e* corro$orati'e* or i#"eaching and of such %eight that* ifad#itted* could "ro$a$ly change the 6udg#ent+

In this case* the records sho% that e'en $efore the trial* the 0 #inumpaang #alaysay1 ofCesar uiro/ dated No'e#$er ,L* ,::D %as already a'aila$le to a""ellant Malit+ In fact*during the in.uest in'estigation* a""ellant Malit o"ted for a "reli#inary in'estigation+ As earlyas that stage* Cesar uiro/ as %ell as his salaysay %as already a'aila$le and $y reasona$le

diligence could ha'e $een o$tained* disco'ered* and "roduced at the trial+ The records are$ereft of any sho%ing that a""ellant Malit e-erted efforts to secure the attendance of Cesaruiro/ for the "ur"ose of using hi# as defense %itness+

or this Court to allo% a #otion for ne% trial on grounds other than those "ro'ided in2ection 5* Rule ,5, of the Rules of Court* the #o'ant #ust cite "eculiar circu#stanceso$taining in the case sufficient to %arrant a ne% trial* if only to gi'e the accused ano""ortunity to esta$lish his innocence of the cri#e charged+ A""ellant Malit* ho%e'er* doesnot cite any e-ce"tional circu#stance+ In any case* %e scrutini/ed the contents of uiro/;saffida'it* $ut no%here does it categorically declare that a""ellant Malit did not "artici"ate inthe co##ission of the cri#e+ Under the circu#stances* the trial court "ro"erly denied his#otion for ne% trial+

The ele#ents of the cri#e of 7idna""ing and serious illegal detention are the follo%ing8>a@ the accused is a "ri'ate indi'idual >$@ the accused 7idna"s or detains another* or in any#anner de"ri'es the latter of his li$erty >c@ the act of detention or 7idna""ing is illegal and>d@ in the co##ission of the offense* any of the four circu#stances #entioned in Article 54K ofthe Re'ised enal Code are "resent+ The i#"osition of the death "enalty is #andatory if the7idna""ing %as co##itted for the "ur"ose of e-torting ranso#+ In the instant case*a""ellants cannot esca"e the "enalty of death* inas#uch as it %as sufficiently alleged andindu$ita$ly "ro'en that the 7idna""ing had $een co##itted for the "ur"ose of e-tortingranso#+

Three >9@ #e#$ers of this Court* although #aintaining their adherence to the se"arateo"inion e-"ressed in /eople v. ;chegaray,


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#alefactors %ho "rey on children and other defenseless 'icti#s+

%HEREFORE* the 3ecision dated e$ruary 5* ,:::* of the Regional Trial Court of 2anernando* a#"anga* Branch DK* in Cri#inal Case No+ L9K,* finding accused NARCI2O2A=3AA and E=MER E2

crim cases july 23

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