Criminal Law II Digests

Prof. Arreza Outline

Treason Digests
(c/o Anit. Cantos. Damasing. Dela Cruz. Hipolito. Regalado. Santos)

U.S. vs. Abad

G.R. No. L-976, October 22, 1902
Ponente: Ladd, J.

Facts:
• Maximo Abad was charged with violation of oath of allegiance when he denied to an officer of the United States Army
the existence of certain rifles at the time of his surrender in April 1901 when in fact, he was aware of the existence
and whereabouts of such rifles. Section 14 of Article 292 of the United States Philippine Commission states that: "Any
person who shall have taken any oath before any military officer under the Civil Government of the Philippine Islands,
whether such official so administering the oath was specially authorized by law so to do or not, in which oath the
affiant is substance engaged to recognize or accept the supreme authority of the United States of America in these
Islands or to maintain true faith and allegiance thereto or to obey the laws, legal orders, and decrees promulgated by
its duly constituted authorities and who shall, after the passage of this act, violate the terms and provisions of such
oath or any of such terms or provisions, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars or by
imprisonment not exceeding ten years, or both."
• Abad is a former insurgent officer and is entitled to the benefit of the proclamation of amnesty if the offense is one of
those to which the proclamation applies. The denying of the whereabouts of the rifles can be considered an act of
treason, as being an act of adhering to the enemies of the United States, giving them aid and comfort, the offense in
this particular case might, perhaps, be held to be covered by the amnesty as being, in substance, treason though
prosecuted under another name.
• Treason is defined in section 1 of Act No. 292 to consist in levying war against the United States or the Government of
the Philippine Islands, or adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort within the Philippine Islands or
elsewhere. Sedition is defined in section 5 of the same act as the rising publicly and tumultuously in order to obtain
by force or outside of legal methods certain enumerated objects of a political character.
Issue:
Whether or not the offense of violation of oaths of allegiance fall under the category of “treason and sedition.”
Held: Yes.
Ratio:
• The offense of violation of oaths of allegiance, being one of the political offenses defined in Act No. 292, is included in
the general words "treason and sedition," as used in the amnesty proclamation of July 4, 1902.
• The offenses listed in Act No. 292 include: treason, misprision of treason, insurrection, conspiracy to commit treason
or insurrection, sedition, conspiracy to commit sedition, seditious words and libels, the formation of secret political
societies, and violation of oaths of allegiance. When the framer of the proclamation used the words "treason and
sedition" to describe the purely political offenses covered by the amnesty, we think it was his intention, without
specially enumerating the political offenses defined in Act No. 292, to include them all under the terms “treason and
sedition.”
Ruling: The defendant is entitled to the benefits of the proclamation of amnesty, and upon filing in the court the prescribed
oath the cause will be returned to the court below with directions that he be discharged.

People v. Adriano
GR#477 – Jun 30, 1947
En Banc
Ponente: Tuason, J.
FACTS: Appeal from decision of the People’s Court sentencing Apolinario Adriano to life imprisonment and a fine of PhP
10,000 plus costs. Adriano was charged with treason for being a Makapili and for bearing arms and assisting the Japanese
Army in its operations in the Gapan-San Leonardo Area from Jan.-Apr. 1945. The People’s Court established that: Adriano
was a Makapili; he performed sentry duties in the Japanese garrison in Gapan, Nueva Ecija; he carried a rifle in drills led
by Japanese commanders; he surrendered to the Americans with rifle in hand.
ISSUE: W/N Adriano is guilty of treason
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HELD/RATIO: No. The Philippine law on treason follows the two-witness test derived from the Anglo-American law on
treason. This test requires the concurrence of two witnesses to an overt act of treason. In this case, each of the overt acts
imputed to Adriano failed the test. Although mere membership in the Makapili organization is a treasonous act in itself
(indicative of adherence and giving aid and comfort to the enemy), such membership is an overt act which should be
proven by at least two witnesses. In this case, no two witnesses saw Adriano doing the same single act as a Makapili.
Hilado, J. dissenting:
Membership being a continuous and indivisible act, it is not necessary that two witnesses have ascertained that Adriano
was a Makapili on the same day. The witnesses agree on the fact that Adriano is a Makapili, hence he should be convicted.

PEOPLE vs.CARMELITO VICTORIA

78 Phil 129,
G.R. No. L-369
March 13, 1947
Ponente: Perfecto, J.
FACTS:
Appellant was sentenced by the lower court to supreme penalty of death and fine of P20,000. His crime: Treason (in
violation of duty of allegiance, wilfully, unlawfully, feloniously and treasonably did knowingly adhere to their enemy, the
Empire of Japan and the Imperial Japanese Forces in the Philippines, with which the United States and the
Commonwealth of the Philippines were then at war, giving to said enemy aid and/or comfort) in the following events:
1. October 6, 1944: joined an armed enemy patrol composed of about 8 spies and a Japanese soldier, which went to
the house of Federico Unson in Lucena, accused Unson of hiding guerrillas. But then, when the enemy was about to
arrest Unson, guerrillas showed up and killed one of the spies. The Jap patrol left, but came back afternoon of the same
day, arrested Unson and two others (Perez and Godoy), tortured them, and set fire to the house of Unson. Perez and
Unson sustained numerous bayonet wounds - mutilated and were found rotting in the vicinity of the house. Unson was
tied to a tree, and disembowelled by several bayonet wounds, while Perez was mutilated and appeared ankle-less.
Godoy was never heard of. It appears he was taken to Lucena and was killed there.
o Version of Defense: Although admitting his presence in the raid, he did not come along with party that
conducted the afternoon raid in which the actual arrest of Unson, Perez and Godoy took place.
o Lower court’s decision: Guilty. Defense doesn’t have enough weight to prevail over that of the prosecuting
witnesses.
2. December 21, 1944: accompanied other Japanese spies to the house of Jose Unson, arrested said Jose Unson and
brought him to the Japanese garrison on the charge that he had a short wave radio; that he was furnishing radio
information to the guerrillas and at the same time supporting them; that said Unson was released on the same day, but
on the next day he was again arrested and brought to the Japanese garrison at Lucena, Tayabas; that said Jose Unson
never returned. The last that was seen of Jose Unson, was his skull as exhumed in a school yard in Lukban, several
months after the arrest.
o Defense: He admitted to have taken part in the raid but claims that he tried to save Unson.
o Lower court: Only the latter (act of saving?) was accepted by the lower court, in view of appellant's behaviour
as recalled by witnesses Mercedes Unson, Alejandro Unson, and Eugenio Ramon Unson. Guilty as well.
3. February 10, 1945: accompanied armed members of the Intelligence Unit of the Kempei Tai to the house of
Felixberto Romulo in San Pablo, Laguna, placed him under arrest as a guerrilla suspect, and turned him over to the
Japanese Military Police who on that occasion were concealing themselves near the house of Romulo; and that, since the
arrest of said Romulo, nothing was heard of him.
o Defense: Alibi - he was in Gagalañgin, Manila.
o Lower court: Guilty.
4. December 21, 1944 (5AM): accompanied two Japanese Military Police and two undercover operatives to the house
of Hermogenes Calauag in Lucena, Tayabas, and apprehended said Calauag, conducted a search of the house and
afterwards brought Calauag to the Japanese garrison where he was subjected to inhuman torture on the charge being
pro-American and adviser of the Hunters ROTC Guerrillas.
o Defense: He alleged that he was merely asked by the Japanese kempei to accompany them in the raid,
admitted that he was present throughout the investigation and torture of Caluag who, according to the accused himself,
was tied suspended in the air for fully twenty minutes.
o Lower court: Guilty. Considered the account of the defense as corroborative of the facts alleged in the
information and proved by the witnesses for the prosecution.

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5. March 9, 1944 (5AM): acting as an informer of the Japanese Kempei Tai, caused the Japanese Military police to
arrest and apprehend Antonio San Agustin, a guerrilla officer, who was thereupon brought to Fort Santiago and there
torture and unlawfully detained.
o Not proven.
6. June, 1944: accompanied by an armed group of undercover operatives to the house of Melecio Labalan, Sr., and
arrested and brought him to the Japanese garrison in Lucena, Tayabas, where he was tortured on the charge of being a
guerrilla.
o Defendant: Feigned ignorance of the arrest.
o Lower court: Guilty. Accused himself testified that he promised to see what he could do about Labalan and
accepted three chickens from the latter's wife which he gave to the interpreter at the kempei office.
7. February, 1945: that as a member of the Ganap, a pro-Japanese party, he joined the Makapili organization designed
to support the Imperial Japanese Forces in levying war against their enemies; that he took military training from the
Japanese and bore arms and joined the enemy forces as a Makapili soldier, taking orders from the Japanese; that he
participated in the raid and burning of the barrio of Bautista, San Pablo, Laguna, upon orders of the Japanese; that he
carried ammunitions and foodstuffs for the Japanese Army; that he performed sentry duty
o Not proven.
In all of these instances, appellant maintains that he is not a spy, and was only forced to be one. He also claims to be a
guerrilla and that he tried to help Filipino prisoners.
Aggravating circumstances (lower court): treachery, the aid of armed persons to insure or afford impunity, and
deliberately augmenting the crimes by causing other wrongs not necessary in the commission thereof.
ISSUES:
· Whether or not the accused is guilty of counts 1,2,3,4 and 6
o If guilty, whether or not his act of saving some Filipinos justify or mitigate his criminal responsibility
· Whether or not the penalty should be death, considering the aggravating circumstances
HELD:
· Guilty.
RATIO: Appellant’s 130-page brief failed completely to point out any specific error in the conclusions of fact of the lower
court,
o The fact that he helped some Filipinos does not relieve him from criminal responsibility for the acts
he had committed. The performance of righteous action, no matter how meritorious they may be is not a
justifying, exempting, or mitigating circumstance in the commission of wrongs.
· Sentence is reclusion perpetua.
RATIO: The voters are divided as to what the sentence should be. Majority is of the opinion that the sentence
should be death while the ponente is of the opinion that the circumstances in question are essential elements of the
treason appellant has committed. There being no unanimity of all the members of the Court in the imposition of the
death penalty, the People's Court's decision is modified, and appellant is sentenced to reclusion perpetua and to pay a
fine of P15,000 and costs.

People v Pedro Marcaida

79 Phil 283
Sept 18 1947
FACTS:
· Pedro Marcaida: charged with treason by the People’s Court
· Marcaida alleges that the court erred in saying that his citizenship was sufficiently proven.
· Defense claims that Marcaida testified in Tagalog that he is “taga-Lopez” (in Tayabas, Quezon) and that he was born
in Lopez, but there are no such details in the records.
ISSUE:
· Whether or not Marcaida can be convicted of treason.
HELD/RATIO:
· No. His citizenship is not sufficiently proven. The name Pedro Marcaida can be Filipino, Spanish of South American.
No evidence of citizenship of parents means there is no way to ascertain whether or not he is a Filipino citizen, as he
could be a descendant of Spanish subjects who chose to retain Spanish citizenship even after the signing of the Treaty of
Paris, or even by South Americans who refused to go through the naturalization process.

Laurel v Misa
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Anastacio Laurel vs. Eriberto Misa
77 Phil 856, G.R. No. L-409
January 30, 1947

DOCTRINE: Allegiance is either permanent or temporary. A Filipino citizen owes permanent allegiance to the
Philippines while a resident alien owes a temporary allegiance to our country. Treason cannot be committed in time of
peace. It is a war crime. While there is peace, there are no traitors. There must be a war in which the Philippines is
involved.

FACTS:
• This is a resolution of the decision of the SC denying the petition for the writ of habeas corpus filed by Laurel.
Anastacio Laurel was arrested by the US Army and was interned under a commitment order for collaborating with
the Japanese during the Japanese occupation. He was turned over to the Commonwealth Government and since then
has been under the custody of the respondent Director of Prisons. He filed an original action in the Supreme Court
invoking the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus.
• He maintains that his arrest was illegal and in violation of his constitutional rights and that the People’s Court Act
682 which suspends the application of the six-hour limitation on detention to political prisoners is unconstitutional.
The SC court in its decision, denied his petition and rejected the petitioner’s contention mainly because no vested
right was violated as the Act is not an ex-post facto law. Although the RPC was in effect during his arrest, he could
not have asked for release after 6 hours as Gen. Douglas McArthur revived the laws of Commonwealth but held the
active collaborationists in restraint “for the duration of the war”.
• Laurel, not discouraged, filed a motion and contends that he cannot be prosecuted for the crime of treason because
a) the sovereignty of the legitimate government in the Philippines, and consequently, the allegiance of Filipino
citizens was suspended; b) there was a change of sovereignty over the Islands upon the proclamation of the
Philippine Republic

ISSUES:
a) Whether the sovereignty of the legitimate government in the Philippines is suspended upon occupation
b) Whether the occupation by an enemy suspends the allegiance of Filipino citizens to the sovereignty
c) Whether the temporary allegiance by inhabitants of a territory to their occupants removes the permanent allegiance
of a citizen to his legitimate government
d) Whether political laws, such as crimes against national security, are suspended or inapplicable against the occupants
e) Whether political laws, such as crimes against national security, are suspended or inapplicable against the inhabitants
f) Whether the occupant may repeal or suspend the operation of the law of treason
g) Whether there was a change of sovereignty of the Islands upon proclamation of the Republic and therefore petitioner
can be released as treason was not committed against this sovereignty
h) Whether petitioner can be granted the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus

HELD/RATIO:
a) No. Sovereignty of the government or sovereign de jure is not transferred to the occupier but remains with the
legitimate government. It cannot be suspended because the existence of sovereignty cannot be suspended without
putting it out of existence or divesting the possessor thereof. What is suspended is the exercise of the rights of
sovereignty with the control and government of the territory occupied by the enemy which passes temporarily to the
occupant.

b) No. A citizen owes an absolute and permanent allegiance to his legitimate government and it cannot be transferred to
the occupant. Moreover, sovereignty itself is not suspended and subsists during enemy occupation so the allegiance to
the sovereign subsists and therefore there is no such thing as suspended allegiance.

c) No. The temporary allegiance of inhabitants to occupants is similar to temporary allegiance of a resident alien to the
territory wherein he resides. In the same way that the citizen of a sovereign or government can be convicted of treason
committed in a foreign country, the inhabitant of a territory occupied by military forces of an enemy may also commit
treason against his own legitimate government. Allegiance is not merely the obedience to laws in return for a man’s
protection in his place of residence because by obeying said laws, he is not bound to obey the laws of his own
government.

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d) Yes. With the suspension of the exercise of the rights of sovereignty by the legitimate government, the authority to
govern has passed into the hands of the occupant and political laws are suspended. They are inoperative or not
applicable to the government established by the occupant because they exclusively bear relation to the legitimate
government. Crimes against national security (of the legitimate government) such as treason as penalized by the RPC are
also deemed suspended against the occupant because they cannot be committed against it.

e) No. Treason is applicable to treason committed against the national security of the legitimate government because the
inhabitants of the occupied territory are still bound by their allegiance to the latter during enemy occupation.

f) No. This is not necessary to control the inhabitants and it is tantamount to practically transfer temporarily to the
occupant their allegiance to the sovereign. If an inhabitant is compelled illegally, he can lawfully resist or submit without
becoming a traitor.

g) No. There is no change of sovereignty so the crime of treason committed during the Japanese occupation was
committed against the same sovereign people and the same government.

h) No. He cannot be released.

Perfecto, concurring:
Treason is a war crime and cannot be committed during time of peace. Allegiance to the government was not suspended
during the enemy occupation. 4 kinds: Natural, Acquired, Legal, Local. The idea of suspended sovereignty of suspended
allegiance is incompatible with the Constitution which states that “Sovereignty resides in the people and all government
authority emanates from them.”

Hilado, concurring:
Allegiance to citizens of the country to the legitimate government and US was not suspended during the Japanese
occupation. Because of the Brian-Kellogg Pact in which Japan is an asignatory, the unjustifiable war is a crime committed
by Japan; hence it is an illegal war.

Dissent:
During the long period of Japanese occupation, all the political laws of the Philippines were suspended. Thus, treason
under the Revised Penal Code cannot be punishable where the laws of the land are momentarily halted. Regarding the
change of sovereignty, it is true that the Philippines wasn’t sovereign at the time of the Commonwealth since it was
under the United States. Hence, the acts of treason done cannot carry over to the new Republic where the Philippines is
now indeed sovereign.

US v. Dalmacio Lagnason
3 Phil. 495
G.R. No. 1582, March 28, 1904
Ponente: Justice Willard

Facts:
Defendant charged under Act292 with treason, sentenced to death. When Americans occupied Negros Occidental, there
were a band of men in arms against US government led by defendant. Their aim was to establish an independent
government. On October 29, 1902, defendant with band attacked pueblo Murcia, driven off by Constabulary. Defendant
captured. They carried no banners, but did carry two large wooden crosses which were captured, together with the
cannon.
Issue:
Whether or not defendant is guilty.
Held:
Yes. Acts of violence committed by an armed body of men with the purpose of overthrowing the Government was
levying war against the US, and therefore treason, regardless of number of men. No distinction made between foreign
enemy and rebel or insurgent so far as act of levying is concerned. Levying of war had a definite meaning. That the acts
committed by the defendant constituted a "levying of war" as that phrase was understood at the time the act of the
Commission was passed, can not be doubted. Neither can it be doubted that these same acts constituted a "rebellion or
insurrection" within the meaning of the third section of Act No. 292. The two sections can only be reconciled in the
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manner employed in the case against Greathouse (a case mentioned), and that decision should be followed. If rebellion
and insurrection are treason, a defendant can not be convicted under section 3 except on the testimony of two witnesses
to the same overt act or by confession in open court. If they are not treason he could be convicted upon the testimony
required in ordinary cases. The provisions as to two witnesses applied to prosecutions under the second section of the
act of 1862. It is not necessary, however, to decide that question in this case, as the overt act of the defendant was
proved by two witnesses; neither is it necessary to decide whether the omission in section 3 of the phrase "owing
allegiance to the United States," which is found in section 1 taken in connection with section 17 of the act, makes a
difference between the two sections in the case at bar the defendant was a native of Cebu and is therefore covered both
by section 1 and section 3. In a case, an accused has been acquitted because no overt act of treason was proved, and in
another there was acquittal because there were not two witnesses to the same overt act.

People Of The Philippines Vs. Gaudencio Roble

Tuason, J.; March 2, 1949
G.R. No. L-433
FACTS:
§ On March 20, 1944, in Dumagete, Cebu, Gaudencio Robles, as a member of the Philippines Constabulary lead 10 other
pro-Jap constabulary, all of them armed, to arrest Paulino Osorio for helping guerillas, whom they maltreated and
detained in the municipal jail of Dumagete.
§ On the same day, the same group arrested Melchor Campomanes and 7 other people and tortured them for supporting
and sympathizing with the guerillas. Robles then shot Campomanes, killing him.
§ Someday after, Robles again lead other constabulary officers to arrest Fortunato Linares and others in Dalaguete,
Cebu. Robles cut their ears and tortured them severely that Antolin Rodriguez died as a result.
§ Then on May 18, 1944, Robles again lead a group of constabulary officers to Mambaling and other areas in Cebu City to
arrest Eleuterio Padilla for being a guerilla. The group tortured and detained him before he was killed by Roble on May
26.
§ Roble was caught and charged with 3 counts of treason.
§ He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to death by the First Division of the People's Court sitting in Tacloban, Leyte.
Issues:
§ Whether or not the penalty of death was correct.
Held:
§ No. Decision was modified and sentence was reduced to reclusion perpetua
Ratio:
§ The trial court erred in stating that it was a complex crime of treason with murders. The torture and
murders he committed formed part of treason.
§ Treachery, evident premeditation and abuse of superior strength are circumstances inherent in treason and
are not aggravating.
§ Ignominy (torture) is an aggravating circumstance.
§ Plea of guilt is also taken into consideration.

People vs. Perez

83 Phil 314
G.R. No. L-856, April 18, 1949
Ponente: Tuason, J.
Susano Perez was convicted of treason by the 5th Division of the People's Court sitting in Cebu City and sentenced to
death by electrocution. Only five (1, 2, 4, 5, 6) out of seven counts of information were substantiated by the prosecution.

Facts:
• Count 1: Perez, with other Filipinos, recruited women girls and women against their will to satisfy the lust of Colonel
Mini. The victims included Felina Laput, Eriberta Ramo, Eduarda Daohog, Eutiquia Lamay, Feliciana Bonalos and
Flaviana Bonalos. Eriberta Ramo testified that on June 15, 1942, the accused came to her house to get her and told
her that she was wanted in the house of her aunt, but instead, she was brought to the house of the Puppet Governor
Agapito Hontanosas; that she escaped and returned to Baclayon her hometown; that the accused came again and
told her that Colonel Mini wanted her to be his Information Clerk; that she did not accept the job; that a week later
the accused came to Baclayon to get her, and succeeded in taking some other girls Puppet Governor Agapito
Hontanosas; that Governor Hontanosas told her that Colonel Mini wanted her to be his wife; that when she was
brought to Colonel Mini the latter had nothing on but a "G" string; that he, Colonel Mini threatened her with a sword
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 tied her to a bed and with force succeeded in having carnal knowledge with her; that on the following night, again
she was brought to Colonel Mini and again she was raped; that finally she was able to escape and stayed in hiding for
three weeks and only came out from the hiding when Colonel Mini left Tagbilaran.
• Count 2: Perez, in company with some Japanese and Filipinos, took Eriberta Ramo and her sister Cleopatra Ramo
from their home in Baclayon to attend a banquet and a dance organized in honor of Colonel Mini in order that Mini
might select those who would later be taken to satisfy his lust. By means of threat, force and intimidation, the above
mentioned two sisters were brought to the headquarters of the Japanese Commander at the Mission Hospital in
Tagbilaran.
• Count 4: On July 16, 1942, Eduarda S. Daohog and Eutiquia Lamay, were taken from their homes in Corella, Bohol, by
Perez and his companion named Vicente Bullecer, and delivered to the Japanese Officer, Dr. Takibayas to satisfy his
lust, but Perez and Bullecer raped the women first before bringing them to Takibayas. Perez raped Eduarda and
Bullecer raped Eutiquia Lamay. Eduarda S. Daohog testified that while on the way to Tagbilaran, Perez through force
and intimidation, raped her in an uninhabited house; that upon arriving in Tagbilaran, she was delivered to the
Japanese Officer named Takibayas who also raped her. Eutiquia Lamay testified that on July 16, 1942, the accused
and his companion, Bullecer, went to her house to take her and her sister; that her sister was then out of the house;
that the accused threatened her with a revolver if she refuses to go; that she was placed in a car where Eduarda
Daohog was; that while they were in the car, the accused carried Eduarda out of the car, and their companion
Bullecer took Eutiquia Lamay; that later, she and Eduarda were taken to the Governor's house; that the accused and
Bullecer brought the two girls to the Japanese headquarters; that Eduarda was raped by Takibayas and Eutiquia was
raped by another Japanese.
• Count 5: On or about June 4, 1942, Perez commandeered Feliciana Bonalos and her sister Flaviana and that they
were to be taken as witnesses before a Japanese Colonel in the investigation of a case against a certain Chinese (Insik
Eping), and upon arriving at Tagbilaran, Bohol, the accused brought the two girls to the residence of Colonel Mini
and by means of violence, threat and intimidation, Mini abused and had sexual intercourse with Flaviana Bonalos;
that Perez followed in having carnal knowledge with Flaviana; that two days later, Perez brought Feliciana Bonalos
to a secluded place in Tagbilaran, Bohol, and in the darkness, by means of threat and violence had carnal knowledge
with her against her will.
• Count 6: Perez, together with his Filipino companion, apprehended Natividad Barcinas, Nicanora Ralameda and
Teotima Barcinas, nurses of the provincial hospital, for not having attended a dance and reception organized in
honor of Colonel Mini and other Japanese high ranking officers which was held in Tagbilaran market on June 25,
1942; that on July 8, 1942, said nurses were forced to attend another banquet and dance in order that the Japanese
officers might make a selection which girls would suit best their fancy.
Issue: Whether or not the acts of Perez in luring women to satisfy the lust of Japanese officials constitute treason.
Held: No.
Ratio:
• As general rule, to be treasonous the extent of the aid and comfort given to the enemies must be to render
assistance to them as enemies and not merely as individuals and in addition, be directly in furtherance of the
enemies' hostile designs. His "commandeering" of women to satisfy the lust of Japanese officers or men or to
enliven the entertainment held in their honor was not treason even though the women and the entertainment
helped to make life more pleasant for the enemies and boost their spirit; he was not guilty any more than the
women themselves would have been if they voluntarily and willingly had surrendered their bodies or organized
the entertainment. Sexual and social relations with the Japanese did not directly and materially tend to improve
their war efforts or to weaken the power of the United State.
Ruling: Perez is guilty of four counts of rape and sentenced for each of them to an indeterminate penalty of from 10 year
of prision mayor to 17 year and 4 months of reclusion temporal.

People v. Alunan
People’s Court Criminal Case No. 3461 – Feb. 27, 1947 - 43 OG 1288
Ponente: Leopoldo Rovira
(NOTE: The decision was rendered in Spanish . Apparently the People’s Court was the post-war court set up to try
collaborators with the Japanese. Rafael Alunan served in the puppet Japanese government in the Philippines.)
FACTS: Rafael R. Alunan was charged with treason before the People’s Court for accepting and discharging official duties
in the Philippine Executive Commission (the puppet government). Among these functions were: accepting and serving in
the ff. positions: Minister of Agriculture and Commerce; Member of the Executive Council; Member of the Preparatory
Commission on Philippine Independence which drafted the 1943 Constitution; Minister of Agriculture and Natural
Resources; participating in a gratitude mission to Tokyo; voting in favor of declaration of war against the Allied Powers;
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conferring with the Japanese emperor; and helping draft and circulate a “Letter of Response” which promised cooperation
with the Japanese, among others. Alunan pleaded not guilty…
ISSUE: W/N Alunan is guilty of treason
HELD: No. Motion to dismiss granted.
RATIO:
Although the witnesses have been able to prove Alunan’s participation in the puppet government, his acts were duties of
a public position held under abnormal circumstances. Such acts cannot be considered as giving aid or comfort to the
enemy. Mere acceptance of public office and performance of the duties of such offices under the Japanese puppet
government do not constitute treason per se. Granting arguendo that Alunan’s acts did constitute giving aid or comfort to
the enemy, he cannot be punished because his adherence to the enemy cause was not proven.
Diaz, J. concurring: (I put this in KASI ETO LANG YUNG ENGLISH ^^)
3 elements of treason: 1) allegiance of the accused; 2) treasonable adherence to the enemy 3) commission by the accused
of an overt act giving OR at least tending aid and comfort to the enemy
The testimonies of the prosecution witnesses (Sychangco, Formoso, Silayan, and Javalera) do not establish intent on
Alunan’s part to adhere to the enemy. They only establish certain overt acts committed by Alunan. For treasonous intent
to be inferred from overt acts, there must be absolutely nothing in the proof of such overt acts which may negate the
element of adherence. The same records which showed that Alunan indeed served in the puppet government also showed
that Alunan was serving only out of necessity, and was more sympathetic to the Allied cause.
(POSTSCRIPT: Almost none of the other high-ranking officials of the Japanese puppet govt were convicted.)

People v Abad
THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES
vs.
FRANCISCO M. ABAD (alias PAQUITO)
G.R. No. L-430
July 30, 1947
PERFECTO, J.
FACTS:
Accused Francisco Abad was found guilty of the complex crime of treason with homicide and sentenced to death, to pay
a fine of P15,000, to indemnify the heirs of Osias Salvador in the amount of P2,000, and to pay costs.
1. December 24, 1943: as an informer and spy of the Japanese Army, join participate in a raid conducted by about fifteen
Japanese soldiers of the Military Police at the house of Magno Ibarra, apprehended the said Magno Ibarra, charging him
of possession of a revolver which had been previously surrendered by Magno Ibarra to the Japanese that Magno Ibarra
still had the revolver.

2. March 11, 1944, caused the arrest and incarceration for more than two months, of one Mr. Francisco, for having
remarked that the Americans would soon return many places in the Philippines had already been retaken.

3. September 28, 1944: forced, coerced, and compelled Osias Salvador and his two brothers to go to the Japanese
garrison where in accused’s presence, were tortured as guerrilla suspects, and although Epifanio and Liberto Salvador
managed later to escape from imprisonment, the said Osias Salvador was unable to do so and died.

4. November 12, 1844: handed over one Francisco Donato to the Japanese soldiers who slapped and kicked the said
Donato, for an incident in which the accused was entirely to blame in that the said accused annoyed Flora Esteban, wife
of Francisco Donato, by throwing sugar cane butts at her.

The lower court found the accused guilty on the first three counts.

ISSUES:

· Whether or not the accused is guilty of the first count. Defense maintains that only one witness testified to the
overt act alleged therein.
o HELD: Not guilty.
o RATIO: Two witnesses were called by the prosecution to prove the first count, Magno Ibarra and his wife, Isabel.
Appellant's going to the Ibarra house, in search of the revolver (testimony of Isabel), is a single overt act, distinct and
independent from appellant's overt act in requiring Magno Ibarra, when the latter went to the garrison, to produce his
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revolver (testimony of Magno). Although both overt acts are inter-related. it would be too much to strain the
imagination if they should be identified as a single act or even as different manifestations, phases, or stage of the same
overt act.

· Whether or not the arrest and incarceration of Francisco was caused by accused. Defense maintains that there
could be other spies who heard Francisco’s remarks.
o HELD: Guilty.
o RATIO: The fact that appellant caused the arrest of Francisco at the auditorium night dance, by pointing him as the
man sought for to the Japanese soldiers who accompanied him and his brother Mariano, in itself alone is sufficient to
find him guilty of adherence to the Japanese enemies and of giving them aid in the attainment of their was purposes.
· Whether or not the accused caused the arrest of Salvador brothers. Defense maintains that it was improbable for
Liberato Salvador to have seen the accused making signs to Japs to arrest the Salvador brothers.
o HELD: Guilty.
o RATIO: It is satisfactorily explained by Liberato that "because a man wanted to by the Japanese begins to observe
everything," he had to observe "because I knew they were making signs"

· In relation to the above, whether or not accused is responsible for the death of Osias Salvador.
o HELD: Not responsible.
o RATIO: It was the escape of Epifanio, and later the escape of Liberato, which must have enraged the Japanese to the
extent of killing Osias Salvador, who, were not so weak, had the same chance as his brothers to escape. If his brothers did
not escape, there is no ground to presume that Osias would have been killed by the Japanese if we take into
consideration that, after almost two and a half months of confinement, the Japanese allowed Fausto Francisco to be
released. There is absolutely no evidence that appellant was present or had anything to do with the killing of Osias
Salvador.

· Whether or not the court erred in admitting evidence of supposed treasonable acts not specifically alleged in the
information (referring to the gathering of info on the whereabouts of guerrilla army members and the shooting of
Domingo)
o HELD: Yes, the court erred. Not guilty.
o RATIO: The fact that accused is described therein as an informer is not enough, because the description is a
conclusion made by the author of the information based on the facts specifically alleged in the four counts. Also, the
lower court erred in finding the facts proven when the testimony of has not been corroborated by any other witness,
thus violating the two-witness rule in treason cases.

· Whether or not the trial court erred in finding accused as informer based on mere assertions of witnesses on
charges not alleged in the information
o HELD: Yes, the trial court erred. Not guilty.
o The pronouncement appears to be based on the testimonies of Publio Dumaual, Rafael Guillermo, and Agustin de la
Cruz, each one of whom testified about facts not alleged in any of the counts of the information, and their testimonies on
said facts appear not to be corroborated by another witness, as required by the two-witness rule.

· Whether or not the court erred in not appreciating 2 mitigating circumstances: the fact that the Abad family was
persecuted by guerrillas, the persecution ending in the killing of Lino Abad Pine and Antonio Abad, father and brother,
respectively, of the accused, and, appellant's age.
o HELD: First circumstance not appreciated. Age is appreciated.
o RATIO: The killing of the father and brother of accused is not considered to mitigate appellant's guilt as they are not
of a similar nature or analogous to those mentioned in article 13 of the Revised Penal Code.Appellant's age can be
considered. He was born on October 20, 1924, and when he committed the acts alleged in counts two and three, the
latter on September 28, 1944, he was not yet 20 years old. The circumstances of this case justify crediting appellant with
a mitigating circumstance of similar nature to that of number 2 of article 13 of the Revised Penal Code.

Decision of the lower court modified (1 mitigating). Sentenced to 14 years, 8 months, and 1 day of reclusion temporal
and to pay a fine of P5,000 and the costs.

People v Faustino Flores,

People v Leon Gutierrez, People v Felipe Reyes (1950)
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85 Phil 403
Jan 31 1950

Facts:
· Faustino Flores, Leon Gutierrez, Felipe Reyes: charged with several counts of treason (2,2 and 5, respectively). Case
concerns the second count, as they are acquitted of their other counts due to lack of proof.
· Dec 1 1944, Barrio Tipas, Taguig, Rizal: Accused lead Japanese troops into a “zonification” (rounding up the men
suspected of being guerillas into an area, having makapilis point guerillas out, and torture or abduct them), arrest 276
men in the process, search houses in the area for supplies to gicve to the Japanese troops, load the 267 men into trucks
which drove them to Pasig, from which they were never heard of again.
· People’s Court finds the three guilty of treason.

Issue:
· Whether or not the accused are guilty of the second account of treason.
· Whether or not the “Zoning” of Tipas constitutes one act of treason for the purposes of the rule that there should be
testimonies from at least two witnesses.

Held/Ratio:
· No. Witnesses’ testimonies for each of the accused fail to disclose that they refer to the same act, therefore these
are uncorroborated. This is a violation of the two-witness rule.
· No. Each of the acts of the accused must be supported by at least two witnesses, or each witness must testify to the
whole act, in order for the rule to be complied with.

People v. Filemon Escleto

84 Phil 121, G.R. No. L-1006
June 28, 1949
Tuason, J.

DOCTRINE: “No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the testimony of 2 witnesses at least to the same overt
act or on confession of the accused in open court.” The 2-witness rule is severely restrictive. Each of the witnesses must
testify to the whole overt act.

FACTS:
• This is an appeal from a judgement of the People’s Court.
• March 11 1944: Japanese patrol with 17 men and 1 officer were ambushed and liquidated by guerillas in Bibito,
Lopez, Tayabas (now Quezon)
• Residents of Bibito and neighboring barrios were arrested and others were ordered to report at the poblacion which
included Antonio Conducto, a guerilla and former USAFFE, his wife, parents and relatives
Witnesses:
• Sinforosa Mortero (Antonio’s mother): On March 18, 1944, at about 5PM, she and her family went to the poblacion
from barrio Danlagan. Still in Danlagan, in front of Filemon Escleto’s house, Escleto told them to stop and took down
their names. With her were her daughter-in-law, Patricia Araya, her son Antonio Conductor, and three
grandchildren. After writing their names, Escleto conducted them to the PC garrison in the poblacion where they
were questioned by some whose name she did not know. This man asked her if she heard gunshots and she said yes
but did not know where they were. The next day they were allowed to go home with many others, but Antonio
Conducto was not released. Since then she had not seen her son. On cross-examination she said that when Escleto
took down their names Antonio Conducto asked the accused if anything would happen to him and his family, and
Escleto answered, “Nothing will happen to you because I am to accompany you in going to town.”
• Patricia Araya (Antonio’s wife): Filemon Escleto stopped them and took down their names; that after taking their
names Escleto and the Philippine Constabulary soldier took them to the PC garrison; that her husband asked Escleto
what would happen to him and his family, and Escleto said “nothing” and assured Conducto that he and his family
would soon be allowed to go home; that Escleto presented them to a PC and she heard him tell the latter, “This is
Antonio Conducto who has firearm;” that afterward they were sent upstairs and she did not know what happened to
her husband.
• Filemon Escleto was charged in the People’s Court with 3 counts of treason for:

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 o going out with Japanese military in patrols in search of guerrillas and guerrilla hideouts, and of persons
aiding or in sympathy with the resistance movements in the Philippines; bearing arms against the American
men and guerrilla forces and mounting guard and performing guard duty for the Imperial Japanese Forces in
their garrison in Lopez, Tayabas (now Quezon)
o going out in patrols in search of guerillas
o treasonably arrested or caused arrest of Antonio Conducto as a guerilla and turned him over to the Japanese
authorities on Mar. 18, 1944 who has not been seen since then
• The People’s Court dismissed the first 2 counts because no true overt act was established and there was no 2
witnesses to corroborate. However, the 3rd count was deemed fully substantiated.

ISSUES:
1) Whether Filemon Escleto is guilty of treason
2) Whether Escleto’s making note of persons who went to the poblacion is evidence of an overt act of treason
3) Whether Patricia Araya’s testimony is availing as proof of an overt act of treason

HELD:
1) NO. He is acquitted of the crime of treason.
2) NO. The only point of agreement between the 2 witnesses’ testimonies is that the accused took down the names of
Conducto and of the witnesses and came along with them to the town. This does not show betrayal of Conducto because
he may be merely doing his duties as lieutenant of the barrio. Also, it is not necessary to write down Conducto’s name
because Escleto can merely report him secretly. That there were spies with masks during the registration and that
others were released further support the theory that Escleto was merely following orders in ordering them to write
their names.
3) NO. The only damaging evidence is Araya’s testimony that the accused told a Philippine Constabulary Soldier that the
deceased has a firearm. However, the testimony was not shown to have been made for a treasonable purpose nor did it
necessarily have that implication. In addition, this was not corroborated by another witness.
*People vs. Adriano : The authors of the two-witness provision in the American Constitution, from which the Philippine
treason law was taken, purposely made it “severely restrictive” and conviction for treason difficult.
*Wigmore: Each of the witnesses must testify to the whole overt act; or if it is separable, there must be two witnesses to
each part of the overt act.
*Learned Hand: It is necessary to produce two direct witnesses to the whole overt act. It may be possible to piece bits
together of the same overt act; but, if so, each bit must have the support of two oaths;.
*Cramer: The very minimum function that an overt act must perform in a treason prosecution is that it show sufficient
action by the accused, in its setting, to sustain a finding that the accused actually gave aid and comfort to the enemy.
Every action, movement, deed, and word of the defendant charged to constitute treason must be supported by the
testimony of two witnesses.

Conspiracy to commit Treason

US v. Francisco Bautista
6 Phil 581
G.R. No. L-2189, November 3, 1906
Ponente: Justice Carson
Facts:
Appellants convicted in CFI Manila of conspiracy to overthrow by force US government and PH government as defined in
Act292. Francisco Bautista was sentenced with Aniceto de Guzman and Tomas Puzon to imprisonment with fine and hard
labor. During latter 1903 a junta was organized and a conspiracy entered into by Filipino residents in HK for overthrowing
the government by force of arms and establishing in its stead a government known as Republica Universal Democratica
Filipina. Toward the end of 1903, Artemio Ricarte would come to Manila from Hong Kong and hold meetings to further
the conspiracy hatched in HK, like for the plan to enlist a revolution army and raising money for it. The conspirators took
to the field and offered armed resistance, only failing because of their failure to combat and of the failure of the people to
rise en masse in response to their propaganda. Bautista, a Manila resident, was an intimate friend of Ricarte, notified by
Ricarte of his coming to Manila, Bautista giving him money for the trip, present in meetings, “held the people in readiness.”
Puzon distributed the bonds and appointed certain officials for the revolutionary forces. Puzon said he only acted to not
vex his friend, that “joking tone,” that he did not know Ricarte was organizing a conspiracy.
Issue:
Whether or not appellants are guilty.
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Held:
No. Puzon himself signed a written statement at the time he was arrested saying he was part of the new revolution
presided over by Ricarte, that he was brigadier-general, chief of signal corps since they were childhood friends. Puzon
did not deny this statement. His confession was clear and in no way supports his pretense that he was excited as not to
know what he was saying when he made it. The accused voluntarily accepted the appointment and in doing so assumed
all obligations implied by such acceptance. “Mere possession of such an appointment, when it is not shown that the
possessor executed some external act by the virtue of the same, does not constitute sufficient proof of the guilt of the
defendant," applies only the case of Enrique Camonas, against whom the only evidence of record was ‘the fact that a so-
called appointment of sergeant was found at his house.’” It may be the case that conspirators may send appoints to an
unsuspecting person in the hope that such person would accept it, and the person is entirely innocent of all intention to
join. A genuine conspiracy must be shown to exist, and it must be proven that accused voluntarily accepted the
appointment. The two-witness rule cannot apply in proving conspiracy to commit treason, only in treason. Aniceto de
Guzman cannot be convicted on his acceptance of a number of bonds from conspirators. It does not mean he knew about
the conspiracy, receiving the wrapped bonds not knowing what they were, then destroying them thereafter.

United States Vs. Apolonio Caballeros

Mapa, J.; March 29, 1905
G.R. No. 1352
FACTS:
§ Roberto Baculi was in his banana plantation gathering bananas when he heard some shots fired. He tried to run, but
was seen by Damaso and Isidro, leaders of the band who fired the shots and striking him with the butts of their guns,
forced him to bury the victims: four American school teachers shot to death.
§ Apolonio Caballeros and Baculi was then arrested for the crime.
§ The two confessed their guilt and was sentenced to seven years of presidio mayor as accessories.
Issues:
§ Whether or not the penalty was correct.
Held:
§ No. Decision reversed and defendants acquitted.
Ratio:
§ Baculi is exempt from liability for he acted under the compulsion of an irresistible force since he was under
threat by the band.
§ As for Caballeros, ther was no proof of his participation in any way to the crime charged. Witnesses confirm
that he was not even in the place where the burial took place. Covarrubias, a witness, said that his confession
of guilt was made through a promise that “nothing will be done to them”. Under such circumstance, the
confession cannot be accepted as proof on trial, for it was not made freely and voluntarily.
§ Their failure to report the crime to the authorities is not a crime punishable by the RPC.

Espionage
Santos vs. Misa
G.R. No. L-319, March 28, 1946
76 Phil 415
Ponente: Bengzon=, J.
Facts:
• Santos is a Chinese citizen apprehended in February, 1945, by the Counter Intelligence Corps of the United States
Army, turned over last September, to the Commonwealth Government, and since then detained by the respondent as
a political prisoner. He was detained due to active collaboration with the Japanese.
• Santos claims that the detention is illegal because he has not been charged before, nor convicted by, the judge of a
competent court, and because he may not be confined under Act. No. 682 because he does not owe allegiance to the
US or the Commonwealth of the Philippines.
• The Solicitor-General declared that Santos may be charged for espionage, a crime against national security wherein
allegiance is immaterial, and may, therefore, be held in custody under Commonwealth Act No. 682
Issue: Whether or not Santos is covered by Commonwealth Act No. 682. (With regard to detention of political prisoners)
Held: Yes.
Ratio:
Section 19, Commonwealth Act No. 682:
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Upon delivery the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States in the Philippines of the persons
detained by him as political prisoners, to the Commonwealth Government, the Office of Special Prosecutors shall receive
all records, documents, exhibits and such other things as the Government of the United States may have turned over in
connection with and/or affecting said political prisoners, examine the aforesaid records, documents, exhibits, etc., and
take, as speedily as possible, such action as may be proper: Provided, however, . . .. And, provided, further, That, in the
interest of public security, the provisions of article one hundred twenty-five of the Revised Penal Code, as amended, shall
be deemed, as they are hereby suspended, insofar as the aforesaid political prisoners are concerned, until the filing of
the corresponding information with the People's Court, but the period of suspension shall not be than six (6) months
from the formal delivery of said political prisoners by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States
in the Philippines to the Commonwealth Government.

Santos may be prosecuted for espionage, a crime not conditioned by the citizenship of the offender and considered as an
offense against national security.

Ruling: Petition denied.

Piracy
People v. Lol-lo and Saraw
GR#17958 – Feb. 27, 1922
Ponente: Malcolm, J.
FACTS: Days after leaving Matuta, Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) on Jun. 30, 1920, two boats carrying 12 Dutch
nationals (1 person in one boat, 11 men, women and children in another) were boarded by 24 armed Moros (including
the accused Lol-lo and Saraw) at around 7:00 PM. The Moros took all the cargo from the Dutch. They also raped and
abducted the two women on board. The Moros poked holes in the boat and left the rest of the Dutch in it (they were later
rescued). The two women were able to escape once the Moros docked in the island of Maruro (also a Dutch possession).
Lol-lo and Saraw were arrested after returning to their home in South Ubian, Tawi-tawi. They were charged w/ Piracy
before the Sulu CFI and were found guilty, with punishment of life imprisonment; and to return the stolen 39 sacks of copra
plus 924 rupees in damages, plus costs.
ISSUES: 1) W/N the Sulu CFI has jurisdiction over the crime 2) W/N the defendants are guilty
HELD: 1) Yes 2) Yes
RATIO:
1) Piracy is a crime against all mankind. The jurisdiction of piracy has no territorial limits, pirates being hostes humani
generis (enemies of mankind). Piracy may be prosecuted in any court where the offender may be found or into which he
may be carried.
2) The provisions of the Spanish Penal Code on piracy (Arts. 153-154) remained in force after the American takeover, by
virtue of Pres. McKinley’s Instructions. Art. 154 specified that piracy with rape shall be punished by cadena perpetua to
death. Lol-lo, who was proven to have taken part in the rape of the two women, should therefore be put to death - the
crime being aggravated by cruelty, ignominy, and abuse of superior strength (rape of the women, abandonment of the
other victims, 24 armed men vs. 12 men, women & children) with the mitigating circumstance of lack of instruction.
DECISION: Judgment affirmed with respect to Saraw, modified with respect to Lol-lo.

People v Siyoh
G.R. No. L-57292
February 18, 1986
The People Of The Philippines
vs.
Julaide Siyoh, Omar-Kayam Kiram, Namli Indanan & Andaw Jamahali,
ABAD SANTOS, J.:

FACTS:
Siyoh, Kiram, Indanan and Jamahali were accused of qualified piracy with triple murder and frustrated murder. On July
14, 1979, accused fired their guns into the air and stopped the pumpboat wherein de Castro, Hiloen and 2 de Guzmans
were riding, boarded the said pumpboat and took, stole and carried away all their cash money, wrist watches, stereo
sets, merchandise and other personal belongings amounting to the total amount of P 18,342.00, Philippine Currency,
ordered them to jump into the water, whereupon, the said accused, fired their guns at them which caused the death of de
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Castro and one de Guzman while wounding the other de Guzman. It appears that Siyoh and Kiram were with the victims,
also selling their goods, before the incident happened.
Lower court decision: Sentenced to DEATH. However, considering the provision of Section 106 of the Code of Mindanao
and Sulu, the illiteracy or ignorance or extreme poverty of the accused who are members of the cultural minorities,
under a regime of so called compassionate society, a commutation to life imprisonment is recommended.
ISSUE:
Whether or not Siyoh and Kiram are guilty beyond reasonable doubt, considering the credibility of the witness
HELD:
Yes, they are guilty BRD.
RATIO:
Appellants contentions are unconvincing:
1. That if they were the culprits they could have easily robbed their victims at the Kiram house or on any of the occasions
when they were travelling together. Suffice it to say that robbing the victims at Kiram's house would make Kiram and his
family immediately suspect and robbing the victims before they had sold all their goods would be premature. However,
robbing and killing the victims while at sea and after they had sold all their goods was both timely and provided
safety from prying eyes.
2. That the accused immediately reported the incident to the PC. The record does not support this assertion.
3. That the affidavits of Dolores de Guzman, wife of the deceased Anastacio de Guzman, and Primitiva de Castro, wife of
the deceased Rodolfo de Castro, state that Antonio de Guzman informed them shortly after the incident that their
husbands were killed by the companions of Siyoh and Kiram. The thrust of the appellants' claim, therefore, is that Namli
Indanan and Andaw Jamahali were the killers and not the former. But this claim is baseless in the face of the proven
conspiracy among the accused.
4. That there is no evidence Anastacio de Guzman was killed together with Rodolfo de Castro and Danilo Hiolen because
his remains were never recovered. There is no reason to suppose that Anastacio de Guzman is still alive or that he died
in a manner different from his companions. The incident took place on July 14, 1979 and when the trial court decided
the case on June 8, 1981 Anastacio de Guzman was still missing. But the number of persons killed on the occasion of
piracy is not material. P.D. No. 532 considers qualified piracy, i.e. rape, murder or homicide is committed as a result or
on the occasion of piracy, as a special complex crime punishable by death regardless of the number of victims.
5. That the death certificates are vague as to the nature of the injuries sustained by the victims; were they hacked
wounds or gunshot wounds? The cause is consistent with the testimony of Antonio de Guzman that the victims were
hacked; that the appellants were armed with "barongs" while Indanan and Jamahali were armed with armalites.
Decision affirmed with the following modifications: (a) for lack of necessary votes the penalty imposed shall be reclusion
perpetua; and (b) each of the appellants shall pay in solidum to the heirs of each of the deceased indemnity in the amount
of P30,000.00. No special pronouncement as to costs.

People v Ang Kio Cho

95 Phil 475
Jul 29 1954
FACTS:
· Ang Kio Cho: charged with murder of Eduardo Diago and murder of Pedro Perlas
· Dec 30 1952: Ang Cho is a passenger in PAL flight PI-C-38 from Laoag to Aparri
o Ang Cho shoots purser Diago
o Ang Cho coerces pilot Perlas into changing course for Amoy, in China. When Perlas refuses, Ang Cho shoots him.
· Ang Cho pleads guilty to both cases.
o 12 years prision mayor to 20 years reclusion temporal, plus indemnification of Diago’s heirs for the first case
o Reclusion perpetua for the second case
· Attorney General contends that the lower court committed errors in each of the two cases:
o Aggravating circumstance of evident premeditation should be offset by plea of guilty; proper penalty should be
reclusion perpetua
o Crime charged should be the complex crime of grave coercion with murder; proper penalty should be death
· Supreme Court recognizes the error of the lower court in the first case, but rules that the claim on the second case is
baseless, as the coercion committed was not essential to the act of murder.
ISSUE:
· Whether or not the appeal made by the Attorney General concerning the first case has merit.
HELD/RATIO:

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· No. Placing upon the accused the risk of being given a higher penalty that what is imposed by the lower court, even
if the lower court erroneously gives the wrong penalty, counts as double jeopardy.
· "No error, however, flagrant, committed by the court against the state, can be reserved by it for decision by the
supreme court when the defendant has once been placed in jeopardy and discharged, even though the discharge was the
result of the error committed.”

Illegal Detention

Lino v Fugoso
CECILIO M. LINO
vs.
VALERIANO E. FUGOSO, LAMBERTO JAVALERA, and JOHN DOE, in their capacity as Mayor, Chief of Police and
Officer in charge of municipal jail, all of the City of Manila
G.R. No. L-1159 January 30, 1947
MORAN, C.J.:

Milo v Salanga
c/o A2015 Crim Digests
RAMON S. MILO, in his capacity as Assistant Provincial Fiscal of Pangasinan, and ARMANDO VALDEZ
vs.
ANGELITO C. SALANGA, in his capacity as Judge of the Court of First Instance of Pangasinan(Branch IV), and JUAN
TUVERA, SR
[G.R. No.L-37007. July 20, 1987.]
GANCAYCO, J

Doctrine:
Arbitrary detention is commited by a public officer who, without legal grounds, detains a person. The elements of this
crime are: 1) That the officer is a PUBLIC OFFICER or EMPLOYEE, 2) That he DETAINS a person, and 3) That detention is
without legal grounds

***Milo here is the the Assistant Provincial Fiscal of Pangasinan

Facts:
1.) 12 Oct. 1972 – Information for Arbitrary Detention filed against Juan Tuvera Sr., Tomas Mendoza and Rodolfo Mangsat
in CFI of Pangasinan stating:
a. 21 April 1973 – Juan Tuvera, Sr. (barrio captain) et al. MALTREATED Armando Valdez, hitting the latter w/
butts of guns and fist blows
b. Tuvera w/o legal grounds and w/ members of the police force of Mangsat, Pangasinan conspiring,
confedenrating and helping one another (JRB: I put this for good measure) LODGED and LOCKED Valdez
inside the municipal jail of Manaoag, Pangasinan for about 11 hours.
2.) 4 April 1973 – Tuvera filed motion to quash the Info bec. Acc. To him:
a. Facts do not constitute an offense (i.e., barrio captain =/= public official)
b. Proofs adduced at the investigation are not sufficient to support the filing of the information
c. TUVERA’s ARGUMENTS:
i. He didn’t have authority to make an arrest nor jail and detain Valdez (bec. Barrio capt. Only)
ii. He is neither a peace officer or policeman
iii. He was not a public official
iv. He had nothing to do with the detention of Valdez (cops did it)
v. He is not directly or indirectly connected in the admin. Of the Manaoag Police Force
vi. Barrio capts on 21 April 1972 were not yet “Persons in Authority” and it was only through PD 299
that they became such.
vii. Proper charge was ILLEGAL detention, and not ARBITRARY DETENTION
d. Asst. Provincial Fiscal Milo filed an opposition to the motion
3.) 25 April 1973 – Judge Salanga granted the motion to quash; found that Tuvera, Sr. was NOT a Public Officer who can
be charged with Arbitrary Detention (see QuickGuide for requisites of Arbit. Det.)

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ISSUES:
1.) Whether Tuvera, Sr. committed the crime of Arbitrary Detention against Armando Valdez (By god, YES!)

RULING: Petition for Certiorari granted. The questioned order (granting motion to quash) is set aside. CASE REMANDED
to appropriate trial court for further proceedings.

RATIO:
1.) Requisites of Arbitrary Detention are present
a. The Information charges Tuvera (barrio capt.) to having conspired with Corporal Mendoza and Pat. Magsat who are
members of the police force of Manaoag Pangasinan in detaining peti. Valdez for about 11 hrs. in municipal jail w/o
legal ground.
b. Requirement of a “Public Officer” contemplated in Arbitrary Detention:
i. Must have authority to detain or order the detention of persons accused of ac rime
ii. Public Officers = policemen, other agents of the law (judges, mayors)
c. Court has held barrio lieutenants (ie, barrio captains/brgy captains) as PERSONS in AUTHORITY
i. US v Braganza - Barrio Lieutenant and a Municip. Councilor arrested a priest in church; no crime committed
by the priest; the 2 were convicted of arbitrary detention
ii. US v Gellada – a Barrio Lieutenant w/ a Mr. Soliman, tied his houseboy Sixto and delivered him to a justice of
the peace, where he was detained during the whole night until 9 am the next day. Justice of the peace released
Sixto bec. He had not committed a crime. Barrio Lieutenant Gellada was convicted of arbitrary detention
d. RA No. 3590 (Revised Barrio Charter)
i. Powers and duties of a barrio captain include looking after maintenance of public order in the barrio and
assist municipal mayor and councilor in the performance of duties in such barrio, to look after gen. welfare,
enforce all laws and ordinances w/in barrio, organize/lead an emergency group when necessary to maintain
peace and order
e. Prof. Aruego’s Treatise on Barrio Gov’t Law and Administration (VERY IMPORTANT – This part SEALS the deal)
i. “Upon barrio capt. Depends in the main the maintenance of public order in the barrio…He is the peace officer
in the barrio considered under the law as a person in authority. As such HE MAY MAKE ARREST AND DETAIN
PERSONS W/IN LEGAL LIMITS.
ii. ERGO, one need not be a police officer to be chargeable w/ Arbitrary Detention
iii. Powers and Functions of Mayors SIMILAR to those of brgy capt.; only difference is in size of jurisdiction
iv. TUVERA STUPID ADMISSION:
1. W/ aid of his rural police, he as barrio capt. Could have led arrest of peti. Valdez

BONUS PART (Mainly Procedural)

On Motion to Quash:
1.) Tuvera asserted Motion to Quash was VALID as he only sought the aid and assistance of the Manaoag Police Force and
that he only accompanied Valdez to town for the latter’s personal safety
a. SC: “Save it for your defense in trial, Tuvera!”
i. These additional facts mentioned by Tuvera are contrary to the Information filed or do not appear on its
face, and so cannot be heard on hearing for a motion to quash.
NOTES FROM THE CASE ITSELF:
1.) There is no criminal delay in the delivery of the accused to the court, where the two days following his arrest were
holidays. (Medina vs. Orosco)

2.) A public officer or employee who DETAINS a person w/o LEGAL GROUNDS is guilty of ARBITRARY DETENTION.

HOWEVER, a person so detained WILL NOT BE RELEASED if afterwards he is detained under a valid information.

People v Bringas
Detention v Kidnapping for Ransom
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES
vs.
CHRISTOPHER BRINGAS y GARCIA, BRYAN BRINGAS y GARCIA, JOHN ROBERT NAVARRO y CRUZ, ERICKSON PAJARILLO

Criminal Law II. D2016 Digests. 16

Compiled by: HIPOLITO
y BASER (deceased), and EDEN SY CHUNG
[G.R. No. 189093. April 23, 2010.]
VELASCO, JR

US v Cabanag
Detention v Slavery
THE UNITED STATES
vs.
TOMAS CABANAG
[G.R. No.L-3241. March 16, 1907.]
TRACEY, J

US v Vallejo
THE UNITED STATES
vs.
SALVADOR VALLEJO, ET AL.,
[G.R. No. 4367. September 3, 1908.]
TRACEY, J

Crimes Against Public Order Digests

(c/o Anit. Bernardo. Calleja. Cantos. Damasing. Dela Cruz. Hipolito. Regalado. Santos)

Rebellion
People v Hernandez
THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES
vs.
AMADO V. HERNANDEZ, ET AL.,
99 Phil. 515.

Facts:

This refers to the petition for bail filed by defendant appellant Amado Hernandez on June 26, 1954, and renewed on
December 22, 1955. The prosecution maintains that Hernandez is charged with, and has been convicted of, rebellion
complexed with murders, arsons and robberies, for which the capital punishment, it is claimed, may be imposed,
although the lower court sentenced him merely to life imprisonment. On the other hand, the defense contends, among
other things, that rebellion can not be complexed with murder, arson, or robbery.

The amended Information contained the allegation that on or about March 15, 1945, and for some time before the said
date and continuously thereafter until the present time, in the City of Manila, Philippines, the said accused, conspiring,
confederating, and cooperating with each other, as well as with the 31 other defendants, being then officers and/or
members of, or otherwise associated with the Congress of Labor Organizations (CLO), formerly known as the Committee
on Labor Organization (CLO), did then and there willfully, unlawfully and feloniously help, support, promote, maintain,
cause, direct and/or command the 'Hukbong Mapagpalaya ng Bayan' (HMB) or the Hukbalahaps (“Huks”) to rise publicly
and take arms against the Republic of the Philippines, or otherwise participate in such armed public uprising, for the
purpose of removing the territory of the Philippines from the allegiance to the government and laws thereof, as in fact the
said Huks have risen publicly and taken arms to attain the said purpose by then and there making armed raids, sorties
and ambushes, attacks against police, constabulary and army detachments as well as innocent civilians, and as a necessary
means to commit the crime of rebellion, in connection therewith and in furtherance thereof, have then and there
committed acts of murder, pillage, looting, plunder, arson, and planned destruction of private and public property to create
and spread chaos, disorder, terror, and fear so as to facilitate the accomplishment of the aforesaid purpose.

Issue: Can Rebellion be made into a complex crime?

Held: No, it cannot.

Criminal Law II. D2016 Digests. 17

Compiled by: HIPOLITO
Wherefore, the aforementioned motion for bail of defendant-appellant Amado V. Hernandez is hereby granted and, upon
the filing of a bond, with sufficient sureties, in the sum of P30,000, and its approval by the court, let said defendant-
appellant be provisionally released. It is so ordered.

Ratio:

Article 48 of the Revised Penal Code provides that: "When a single act constitutes two or more grave or less grave
felonies, or when an offense is a necessary means for committing the other, the penalty for the most serious crime shall
be imposed, the same to be applied in its maximum period."

Pursuant to Article 135 of the Revised Penal Code "any person, merely participating or executing the commands of
others in a rebellion shall suffer the penalty of prision mayor in its minimum period."

The penalty is increased to prision mayor and a fine not to exceed P20,000 for "any person who promotes, maintains or
heads a rebellion or insurrection or who, while holding any public office or employment, takes part therein":
1. "engaging in war against the forces of the government",
2. "destroying property", or
3. "committing serious violence",
4. "exacting contributions or"
5. "diverting public funds from the lawful purpose for which they have been appropriated".

Whether performed singly or collectively, these five (5) classes of acts constitute only one offense, and no more, and are,
altogether, subject to only one penalty — prision mayor and a fine not to exceed P20,000.

One of the means by which rebellion may be committed, in the words of said Article 135, is by "engaging in war against
the forces of the government" and "committing serious violence" in the prosecution of said "war". These expressions
imply everything that war connotes, namely; resort to arms, requisition of property and services, collection of taxes and
contributions, restraint of liberty, damage to property, physical injuries and loss of life, and the hunger, illness and
unhappiness that war leaves in its wake — except that, very often, it is worse than war in the international sense, for it
involves internal struggle, a fight between brothers, with a bitterness and passion or ruthlessness seldom found in a
contest between strangers. Being within the purview of "engaging in war" and "committing serious violence", said resort
to arms, with the resulting impairment or destruction of life and property, constitutes not two or more offense, but only
one crime — that of rebellion plain and simple. Inasmuch as the acts specified in said Article 135 constitute, one single
crime, it follows
necessarily that said acts offer no occasion for the application of Article 48, which requires therefor the commission of,
at least, two crimes.

Political crimes are those directly aimed against the political order, as well as such common crimes as may be committed
to achieve a political purpose. The decisive factor is the intent or motive. If a crime usually regarded as common like
homicide, is perpetrated for the purpose of removing from the allegiance "to the Government the territory of the
Philippines Islands or any part thereof," then said offense becomes stripped of its "common" complexion, inasmuch as,
being part and parcel of the crime of rebellion, the former acquires the political character of the latter.

There is one other reason — and a fundamental one at that — why Article 48 of our Penal Code cannot be applied in the
case at bar: If murder were not complexed with rebellion, and the two crimes were punished separately (assuming that
this could be done), the following penalties would be imposable upon the movant, namely: (1) for the crime of rebellion,
a fine not exceeding P20,000 and prision mayor, in the corresponding period, depending upon the modifying
circumstances present, but never exceeding 12 years of prision mayor; and (2) for the crime of murder, reclusion
temporal in its maximum period to death, depending upon the modifying circumstances present. In other words, in
theabsence of aggravating circumstances, the extreme penalty could not be imposed upon him. However, under Article
48, said penalty would have to be meted out to him, even in the absence of a singlea ggravating circumstance. Thus, said
provision, if construed in conformity with the theory of the prosecution, would be unfavorable to the movant. Upon the
other hand, said Article 48 was enacted for the purpose of favoring the culprit, not of sentencing him to a penalty more
severe than that which would be proper if the several acts performed by him were punished separately.

People vs Geronimo
Criminal Law II. D2016 Digests. 18
Compiled by: HIPOLITO
100 Phil. 90
G.R. No. L-8936
October 23, 1956

Facts:

In an information filed on June 24, 1954 by the provincial Fiscal in the Court of First Instance of Camarines Sur,
Appellant Federico Geronimo, together with Mariano P. Balgos alias Bakal alias Tony, alias Tony Collante alias Taoic,
alias Mang Pacio, alias Bonny Abundio Romagosa alias David, Jesus Polita alias Rex, Jesus Lava alias Jessie alias NMT,
alias Balbas, alias Noli, alias Noli Metangere, alias NKVD, Juan Ocompo alias Cmdr. Bundalian, alias Tagle, Rosendo
Manuel alias Cmdr. Sendong, alias Ruiz, Ernesto Herrero alias Cmdr. Ed, alias Rene, alias Eddy, Santiago Rotas alias
Cmdr. Jessie, Fernando Principe alias Cmdr. Manding, Alfredo Saguni alias Godo, alias Terry, alias Terpy, Andres Diapera
alias Maclang, alias Berto, alias Teny, Lorenzo Saniel alias Wenny, Silvestre Sisno alias Tomo, alias Albert, Teodoro
Primavera alias Nestor, Lorenzo Roxas alias Argos, Vivencio Pineda alias Marquez, Pedro Anino alias Fernandez, Mauro
Llorera alias Justo, Richard Doe alias Cmdr. Danny and John Doe alias Cmdr. Berion, alias Mayo, alias Cmdr. Paulito and
many others, were charged with the complex crime of rebellion with murders, robberies, and kidnapping committed.

In Camarines Sur, the above-named accused being then ranking officers and/or members of, or otherwise affiliated with
the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the Hukbong Mapagpalaya Ng Bayan (HMB) or otherwise known as
the Hukbalahaps (HUKS) the latter being the armed force of said Communist Party of the Philippines (CCP) having come
to an agreement and decide to commit the crime of Rebellion, and therefore, conspiring together and confederating
among themselves with all of the thirty-one accused.

Issue:

Whether or not accused-appellants committed the crime of rebellion?

Held:

Accused Federico Geronimo first entered a plea of not guilty to the information. When the case was called for trial on
October 12, 1954, however, he asked the permission of the court to substitute his original plea with one of guilty, and
was allowed to change his plea. On the basis of the plea of guilty, the fiscal recommended that the penalty of life
imprisonment be imposed upon the accused, his voluntary plea of guilty being considered as a mitigating circumstance.
Geronimo’s counsel, on the other hand, argued that the penalty imposable upon the accused was only prision mayor, for
the reason that in his opinion, there is no such complex crime as rebellion with murders, robberies, and kidnapping,
because the crimes of murders robberies, and kidnapping being the natural consequences of the crime of rebellion, the
crime charged against the accused should be considered only as simple rebellion. On October 18, 1954, the trial court
rendered judgment finding the accused guilty of the complex crime of rebellion with murders, robberies, and
kidnappings; and giving him the benefit of the mitigating circumstance of voluntary plea of guilty, sentenced him to
suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua, to pay a fine of P10,000, to indemnify the heirs of the various persons killed, as
listed in the information, in the sum of P6,000 each, and to pay the proportionate costs of the proceedings. From this
judgment, accused Federico Geronimo appealed, raising the sole question of whether the crime committed by him is the
complex crime of rebellion with murders, robberies, and kidnappings, or simple rebellion.

However, the decision appealed from is modified and the accused convicted for the simple (non-complex) crime of
rebellion under article 135 of the Revised Penal Code, and also for the crime of murder; and considering the mitigating
effect of his plea of guilty, the accused-Appellant Federico Geronimo is hereby sentenced to suffer 8 years of prision
mayor and to pay a fine of P10,000, (without subsidiary imprisonment pursuant to article 38 of the Penal Code) for the
rebellion; and, as above explained, for the murder, applying the Indeterminate Sentence Law, to not less than 10 years
and 1 day of prision mayor and not more than 18 years of reclusion temporal; to indemnify the heirs of Policarpio Tibay
in the sum of P6,000; and to pay the costs.

PEOPLE vs. CRUZ

3 SCRA 217
Criminal Law II. D2016 Digests. 19
Compiled by: HIPOLITO
G.R. No. L-11870. October 16, 1961.
Concepcion, J.

FACTS:
- The said accused, being then ranking officers and/or members of, or otherwise affiliated with the Communist Party of
the Philippines and the 'Hukbong Mapagpalaya ng Bayan' (HUK), have all come together and agreed to commit the crime
of rebellion (i.e. rising publicly and taking up arms against the Government of the Republic of the Phiippines by making
armed raids, sorties, ambushes, and attacks against Phil Constabulary, Civilian Guards, Police, Army patrols, as well as
civilians). In furtherance thereof, they have committed the acts of murders, pillages lootings, plunders, arsons, and
planned destructions of private and public property to create disorder
- March 20, 1951; 830 AM: Benito Cruz, and other Huk members, entered the house of John Hardie, with violence and
intimidation, then took and carried away therefrom personal properties of material values consisting of a typewriter, a
radio, several pieces of jewelry, books, clothings and other articles belonging to the latter amounting to Five Thousand
Pesos (P5,000.00) After ransacking the place, the raiders tied the hands of John D. Hardie and his foreman Donald
Capuano and shot them to death, together with Mrs. Hardie. Late the month, a combat patrol led by Capt. Conrado M.
Cabagui of the 14th BCT, with the assistance of one Tomas Timbresa, as guide, located a Huk camp in the Sierra Madre
Mountains.
- March 21, 1951: Some 70 armed members of FC #32 of the "Hukbong Mapagpalaya Ng Bayan" led by Comdr. Robert,
fought the members of Co "D" of the 14th BCT, Armed Forces of the Philippines under Capt. Conrado Cabague.
- April 21, 1951: Accused Fermin Tolentino, as the Commanding Officer of FC 25 of the 'Hukbong Mapagpalaya Ng
Bayan', leading some 70 armed members of the said organization, attacked, fired at and engaged into a fight the officers
and men of a detachment of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
- November 15, 1952: Accused Domingo dela Torre and about 12 other armed men, all members of Huk, in support of
and/or in furtherance of the movement of the said organization to overthrow the established government of the Phil,
while soliciting food from civilians thereat, fought elements of the 7th BCT, Armed Forces of the Philippines and the
Civilian Commando Unit of Montalban, Rizal.
- April 5, 1951: Elements of the AFP had an encounter with 50 Huks under commander Silang at Sitio Malabayas,
Sampaloc, Tanay, Rizal, resulting in the death of one (1) Huk, two (2) EM and wounding of another enlisted man.
- December 11, 1951: Elements of the AFP had an encounter with about fourteen (14) armed Huks under Commander
Aladdin at Sitio Kaulanog, Tanay, Rizal, resulting in the wounding of one (1) enlisted man.
- April 28, 1949: An undetermined number of Huks jointly led by Commanders Viernes, Marzan, Lupo and Mulong,
treacherously ambushed, assaulted, attacked and fire upon the party of Mrs. Aurora A. Quezon and her PC escort, whom
they considered as their enemies, resulting in the death of Mrs. Aurora A. Quezon, Baby Quezon, Mayor Bernardo of
Quezon City, Maj. P. San Agustin, Lt. Lasam, Philip Buencamino III and several soldiers, and injuries to General Jalandoni
and Capt. Manalang.
- August 25, 1950: An undetermined number of armed Huks raided, assaulted and attacked Camp Makabulos and set fire
on the buildings and installations therein killing Maj. E. D. Orlino, Capt. E. D. Cruz, Lts. Manacias, N. C. Tan, Eusebio
Cabute, and several enlisted men, including Rosario Sotto, a Red Cross Nurse.
- August 26, 1950: About 100 armed Huks, with intent of gain and for the purpose of procuring supplies and other
materials for the support and maintenance of the HMB organization, forcibly brought the cashier of the Provincial
Treasury, Vicente Reventar, from his house to the Provincial Capitol and at the point of guns, forced him to open the
treasury, and from which took money amounting to Php 80,000.

ISSUE:
Whether or not the appellants committed the crime of rebellion.

HELD:

Yes. As stated in the brief for the Government, appellants herein are guilty of simple rebellion, inasmuch as the
information alleges, and the records show that the acts imputed to them were performed as a means to commit the
crime of rebellion and in furtherance thereof, although as Huk Commanders, appellants Benito Cruz and Fermin
Tolentino fall under the first paragraph of Article 135 of the Revised Penal Code, which prescribes the penalty of prision
mayor and a fine not exceeding P20,000, whereas appellant Paterno Cruz comes under the second paragraph of said
article, which prescribes the penalty of prision mayor in its minimum period. Accordingly, the penalty meted out to
appellants Benito Cruz and Fermin Tolentino should be reduced to ten (10) years of prision mayor, with the accessory

Criminal Law II. D2016 Digests. 20

Compiled by: HIPOLITO
penalties prescribed by law, and to pay each a fine of P10,000, and appellant Paterno Cruz should be sentenced to six (6)
years, eight (8) months and one (1) day of prision mayor, with the accessory penalties prescribed by law.

The decision appealed from is hereby affirmed in all other respects, with the proportionate part of the costs against said
appellants.

Carino v People
FRANCISCO R. CARIÑO
vs.
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES and THE HON. COURT OF APPEALS
April 30, 1963 En Banc Labrador, J.

DOCTRINE: In rebellion or insurrection, the RPC expressly declares that there must be a public uprising and the taking
up of arms. The act of giving aid and comfort is not criminal in rebellion unlike in treason.

FACTS:
- Accused was charged with rebellion for allegedly being in conspiracy with the other members of the Communist Party,
between the period from May 6, 1946 to September 12, 1950 for acts committed:
1) The ambush on May 6, 1946 of the 10th MPC Company in Barrio Sta. Monica, Aliaga, Nueva Ecija; resulting in the
death of 10 enlisted men; 2) The raid on August 6, 1946 of the Municipal Building of Majayjay, Laguna; 3) The ambush
on April 10, 1947 of 14 enlisted men in Barrio San Miguel na Munti, Talavera, Nueva Ecija, during which Lt. Pablo Cruz
and Pvt. Santiago Mercado were killed; 4) The raid on the poblacion of Laur, Nueva Ecija of May 9, 1947; 5) The ambush
on August 19, 1947 of a detachment of the 155th Company, in San Miguel, Bulacan, killing two officers thereof; 6) The
raid on Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija of June 1946; 7) The ambush on April 25, 1947 of Mrs. Aurora Aragon Quezon and
party at Barrio Salubsob, Bongabon, Nueva Ecija, resulting in the death of said Mrs. Quezon and other members of her
party; 8) The raid on Camp Macabulos, Tarlac, Tarlac, on August 25, 1950; 9) The raid on Sta. Cruz, Laguna, of August 26,
1950; 10) The raid on Arayat, Pampanga, of August 25, 1950; 11) The seizure of September 12, 1950 of an army scout
car in Barrio Mapalad, Arayat, Pampanga and the murder of two TPs on the said occasion; 12) The attack on the
headquarters of a PC detachment of March 28, 1950, at Montalban, Rizal; and 13) The raid on San Pablo, Laguna, of
March 29, 1950, resulting in the death of Major Alikbusan of the government armed forces.
- He admitted the truthfulness of the said events but denied any participation.
- Accused is a good friend and a former high school classmate of Dr. Lava, a well-known Communist leader. The latter
has treated the family of the accused successfully and free of charge and is the godfather of one of the children.
- 1946, nighttime: Lava arrived at their home and asked for shelter as he was being pursued by politicians upon
suspicion of his involvement in the killing of Mayor Roxas of Bulacan. He left early the morning after.
- May 1949: A note from the Lava arrived asking for some cigarettes, powdered milk and canned goods. The note was
brought by a boy of 12 or 15 years, named Totoy, and through him the accused sent the needed supplies. He was
instructed to sign "Turko" all notes to be sent by him to Lava and to address them to "Pinang" in order to conceal their
respective identities.
- 1949 - April 1952: This exchange of notes between them and the furnishing of supplies and foodstuffs by appellant to
Dr. Lava lasted until the accused was arrested and detained.
- He also allegedly provided assistance to the Communist party as a ranking employee of the National City Bank of New
York when he was approached by a prominent member of a special unit of the Communist Party, and delivered the
amount of $6,000 to the treasurer of the communists. He also assisted two top-level communists in opening current
accounts in the National City Bank of New York although their initial deposit was below P2,000, the minimum required
by the bank. (However it was not shown that the persons helped were known by appellant to be communist and the
funds intended to carry out the rebellion.)
- 1949: A spy, Florentino Diolata, heard him state that he was at the command of his comrades for any assistance for the
advancement and promotion of their common purpose at a banquet given by the Communists in honor of Amado V.
Hernandez

INFORMATION: Crime of rebellion with murders, arson, robberies and kidnappings, for having, as a high ranking
officer and/or member of the Communist Party of the Philippines and of the Hukbong Mapagpalaya Ng Bayan otherwise
known as the Hukbalahaps (Huks), agreed in conspiracy with 31 other who were charged with the same crime in other
criminal cases then pending in the Court of First Instance of Manila, for the purpose of overthrowing the Government
and disrupting its activities.
Criminal Law II. D2016 Digests. 21
Compiled by: HIPOLITO
CFI Manila: Guilty as accomplice in the crime of rebellion, and sentencing him to suffer two (2) years, four (4) months
and one (1) day of prision correccional and to pay a fine in the sum of P2,000 with subsidiary imprisonment in case of
insolvency.
CA: Affirmed CFI decision and convicted the accused of the crime of rebellion as the acts done by him constitute acts of
cooperation with the communists in their primordial purpose of overthrowing the government and such acts naturally
have contributed to some extent in the advancement and promotion of their purpose.

ISSUE:
Whether the acts committed by the petitioner were enough to render him guilty as an accomplice in the crime of
rebellion

HELD: No.
● There are two elements required in order that a person may be considered an accomplice to a criminal act,
namely; 1) that he take part in the execution of the crime by previous and simultaneous acts and; 2) that he
intend by said acts to commit or take part in the execution of the crime. The acts of the appellant do not prove
any criminal intent of helping the Huks in committing the crime of insurrection or rebellion. Good faith is
presumed, and there is no presumption of criminal intent or aiding the communists in their unlawful designs to
overthrow the Government.
● Even if he had intent, he is still not liable as his assistance was not efficacious enough to help in the success of
the crime so as to make him an accomplice. Appellant's acts did not constitute acts of cooperation in the
execution of the act of overthrowing the government. Appellant was not a member of the Hukbalahap
organization. He did not take up arms against the Government, nor did he openly take part in the commission of
the crime of rebellion or insurrection as defined in article 134 of the Revised Penal Code, without which said
crime would not have been committed. The only acts he was shown to have performed were the sending or
furnishing of cigarettes and food supplies to a Huk leader, the changing of dollars into pesos for a top-level
communists and the helping of Huks in opening accounts with the bank of which he was an official.
● Even if considered an indirect help or aid in the rebellion, they cannot constitute previous or simultaneous acts
or uprising or rebellion, for, unlike in the crime of treason, the acts giving comfort of moral did is not criminal in
the case of rebellion or insurrection, where the Revised Penal Code expressly declares that there must be a
public uprising and the taking up of arms.
DISPOSITION: The judgment appealed from is hereby REVERSED and the appellant ABSOLVED from the charge
contained in the information.

Buscayno v Military Commission

In the Matter of the Application for a writ of habeas corpus
Bernabe Buscayno, Jose Ma. Sison, Juliet Sison v. Mil. Comm. 1, 2, 6, 25
109 SCRA 273

Original Decision: Military Commission - Buscayno convicted of subversion, death by firing squad
SC Decision: No illegal detention. No bail. No double jeopardy.

Buscayno’s cases
-Buscayno and Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. charged before Mil. Comm. 2 with subversion
-staged NPA-sponsored demonstration in Manila
-Aquino gave Buscayno several .45 caliber pistols, two armored vests and walkie-talkies, and ammunition.
-Aquino provided shelter and medical treatment for members of the HMB and NPA

-Aquino, Buscayno, as conspirators, charged with murder before Mil. Comm. 2

-took Cecilio Sumat, barrio captain, and killed him

-Buscayno, with 91 others charged with rebellion before Mil. Comm. 1

-Feb 4, 1972. rose publicly and took up arms against the government in Navotas, Rizal by organizing the
Karagatan Fishing Corporation to procure firearms
-Aug, 1973 - Feb, 1974. rebellion in Manila, Baguio, La Union, Pangasinan, Bulacan by acquiring vessels, houses,
lots to distribute firearms

Criminal Law II. D2016 Digests. 22

Compiled by: HIPOLITO
-Buscayno arrested on Aug 26, 1976 in Pampanga
-At trial and arraignment, he waived his right to be present and to have counsel
-Pleaded not guilty
-Did not want to present evidence
-July 18, 1977 - Juan T. David entered his appearance as counsel for Buscayno and filed a petition for habeas
corpus and prohibition
-Commission found accused guilty and sentenced to death by firing squad
-May 4, 1981 - Commission reaffirmed original decision

Sison cases
-charged with rebellion before Special Mil Comm 1
-charged with subversion before Mil. Comm. 6
-alleged that accused became and have remained officers of CPP and NPA
-engaged in indoctrination, promotion of communist pattern of subversion

Rebellion case
-Sison and Buscayno assailed jurisdiction of the military tribunal to try civilians like them
-filed petition for habeas corpus, prohibition, mandamus. denied

Instant case
-prayed that the decision of Mil. Comm. 2 be declared void because he was denied his constitutional right to
present evidence and that he be released from detention; charges for rebellion and subversion be dismissed for being in
contravention of the rule on double jeopardy

Issue: W/N they are legally detained. No, not illegally detained and no justification for their release

Held:
Proclamation No. 2045 sanctions continued confinement: persons under detention for rebellion and subversion cannot
enjoy the privilege of the write of habeas corpus

On the issue of the Anti-Subversion Law

Contention of Juliet de Lima-Sison: criminal liability for subversion extinguished when PD 885 repealed RA 1700. SC: No.
-Anti-Subversion Law expressly provides: acts committed in violation of the former law shall be prosecuted and
punished in accordance with the provisions of the former act and nothing in the decree shall prevent prosecution of
cases pending for violation of RA 1700

On the issue of double jeopardy

For an accused to be in jeopardy, required:
1 valid complaint or information filed against him
2 that the charge is filed in a court of competent jurisdiction
3 after pleading to the charge, accused is convicted, acquitted, case dismissed or terminated

Petitioners were all charged with rebellion. Only Buscayno’s subversion case was decided but the decision is subject to
review. No case against petitioners has been terminated thus, the rule on double jeopardy cannot be invoked.

On the issue of rebellion being an element of subversion

Subversion does not necessarily include rebellion. Subversion is a crime against national security. Rebellion is a crime
against public order.

Petitioners were accused of rebellion for having undertaken a public uprising to overthrow the government. As for
having been accused of subversion, they were allegedly officers and ranking members of the Communist party. Overt
acts of resisting armed forces were incidental to the main charge of being leaders of subversive organizations.

Rebellion may be committed by noncommunists without collaborating with the agents of an alien power. On the other
hand subversion came into existence when the communists sought to dominate the world in order to establish a new
political order.
Criminal Law II. D2016 Digests. 23
Compiled by: HIPOLITO
Enrile v Salazar
In the Matter of Petition for Habeas Corpus, Juan Ponce Enrile v. RTC QC Judge Jaime Salazar
G.R. No. 92163, June 5, 1990
186 SCRA 216
Ponente: Justice Narvasa

Facts:
In the afternoon of 2/27/1990, Senate Minority Floor Leader JPE, and spouses Panlilio, was arrested by law enforcement
officers led by Director Alfredo Lim of the NBI on the strength of a warrant issued by respondent judge earlier that day,
for rebellion and multiple murder during the period of the failed coup attempt from 11/29 to 12/10/1990. JPE was taken
and held overnight at the NBI headquarters in Taft Avenue, without bail, none having been recommended in the
information and none fixed in the warrant. The following morning, he was brought to Camp Karingal in QC. That day, JPE,
through counsel, filed a petitione for habeas corpus, alleging he was deprived of his constitutional rights in being held to
answer for a criminal offense nonexistent in statute books and charged with a crime in an information for which no
complaint was initially filed or no preliminary investigation was conducted (thus no due process), granted. The Solicitor
General argued that petitioners’ case does not fall within the Hernandez ruling because the information in Hernandez
charged murders and other common crimes as a necessary means for the commission of rebellion, whereas the information
against Sen. Enrile et al. charged murder and frustrated murder committed on the occasion, but not in furtherance, of
rebellion. The court granted JPE and the Panlilio spouses provisional liberty on bail. Petitioners pray for the abandonment
of the Hernandez ruling, rule that rebellion cannot absorb more serious crimes and that Hernandez applies only to offenses
committed in furtherance, or as a necessary means, to commit rebellion, but not to acts committed in the course of a
rebellion which also constitute "common" crimes of grave or less grave character.

Issue:
Whether or not rebellion can be complexed with murder.

Held:
No. Hernandez stands. Murder is absorbed in rebellion. If murder were punished separately from rebellion, and the two
crimes were separately punished, then 2 penalties would be imposed, and so the extreme penalty could not be imposed,
which would be unfavorable. The purpose of RPC48 is to favor the culprit, not of sentencing him to a penalty more severe
than that which would be proper if the several acts performed by him were punished separately. If one act constitutes two
or more offenses, there can be no reason to inflict a punishment graver than that prescribed for each one of said offenses
put together. In directing that the penalty for the graver offense be, in such case, imposed in its maximum period, Article
48 could have had no other purpose than to prescribe a penalty lower than the aggregate of the penalties for each offense,
if imposed separately. When two or more crimes are the result of a single act, the offender is deemed less perverse than
when he commits said crimes thru separate and distinct acts. Instead of sentencing him for each crime independently from
the other, he must suffer the maximum of the penalty for the more serious one, on the assumption that it is less grave than
the sum total of the separate penalties for each offense. Hernandez remains binding doctrine operating to prohibit the
complexing of rebellion with any other offense committed on the occasion thereof, either as a means necessary to its
commission or as an unintended effect of an activity that constitutes rebellion. Also, since the information does not charge
an offense, and disregarding phrasing that rebellion be complexed, indictment is to be read as charging only simple
rebellion. Hence, entitled to bail, before final conviction, as a matter of right.

People V Lava
23 SCRA 72
Zaldivar J.; May 16, 1969

FACTS:
§ Jose Lava, Federico Bautista, Federico Maclang, Ramon Espiritu, Salome Cruz y Adriano, Rosario C. Viuda de Santos,
Angel Baking, Lamberto Magboo, Nicanor Razon, Sr., Esteban Gonzales y la Torre, Marcos Medina, Cesario Torres,
Rosenda Canlas Reyes, Arturo Baking y Calma, Simeon Gutierrez y Rodriguez, Julita Rodriguez y Gutierrez, Victorina
Rodriguez y Gutierrez, Marciano de Leon, Honofre D. Mangila, Cenon Bungay y Bagtas, Magno Pontillera Bueno, Nicanor
Capalad, Rosalina Quizon, Pedro Vicencio, Julia Mesina, Felipe Engreso, Elpidio Acuño Adime, Josefina Adelan y Abusejo,
Conrado Domingo, Aurora Garcia, and Naty Cruz were all arrested and charged with the complex crime of rebellion with
murders and arsons under an identical information that:
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- On May 6, 1946, these people intended to overthrow the seat of the Gov’t of the Philippine Republic in the City of
Manila.
- And the accused, being high officials of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), of which the Hukbong
Mapagpalaya ng Bayan (HMB) is its armed forces, decided to commit rebellion and did so by making armed raids, sorties
and ambushes, attacks against police, constabulary and army detachments and committing wanton acts of murder,
spoilage, looting, arson, planned destruction of private and public buildings, to create and spread terrorism.

§ Of the 31, five were acquitted, namely: Julia Mesina, Rosenda Canlas Reyes, Victorina Rodriguez y Gutierrez, Nicanor
Capalad and Aurora Garcia.
§ Of the 26 who were convicted, all appealed to this Court except defendant Esteban Gonzales la Torre. And later on,
Rosalina Quizon, Elpidio Acuño Adime, Josefina Adelan Abusejo, Conrado Domingo and Naty Cruz withdrew their appeal.
§ During the pendency of the appeal, defendants Julita Rodriguez y Gutierrez and Magno Pontillera Bueno died.
§ 18 defendants were left to the appeal, namely: Jose Lava, Federico Bautista, Federico Maclang, Ramon Espiritu, Salome
Cruz, Rosario Vda. de Santos, Angel Baking, Lamberto Magboo, Nicanor Razon, Marcos Medina, Cesareo Torres, Arturo
Baking, Simeon G. Rodriguez, Marciano de Leon, Honofre Mangila, Cenon Bungay, Pedro Vicencio, and Felipe Engreso.

Issues:
§ Whether or not the accused are guilty of rebellion.
§ Whether or not a person may be prosecuted and held guilty of the crime of rebellion complexed with murder, arson,
robbery and/or other common crimes.

Held:
§ Nicanor Razon, Sr. and Felipe Engreso were acquitted.
§ Jose Lava, Federico Bautista, Federico Maclang, Ramon Espiritu, Salome Cruz, Angel Baking, Cesario Torres, Simeon G.
Rodriguez, Honofre Mangila and Simeon Bungay are found guilty as principals in the commission of the crime of simple
rebellion.
§ Rosario C. Vda. de Santos, Lamberto Magboo and Arturo Baking, Marciano de Leon and Pedro T. Vicencio is found
guilty as a participant in the commission of the crime of simple rebellion.
§ Marcos Medina is found guilty of the crime of conspiracy to commit rebellion
§ NO!!
§ Petition PARTIALLY GRANTED. Decision is MODIFIED.

Ratio:
§ Nicanor Razon, Sr.: No sufficient evidence to show that he had performed any act, which would constitute a
cooperation in promoting the rebellion jointly undertaken by the CPP and the HMB. He is only a member of the CCP, as
secretary and treasurer.
§ Felipe Engreso: Was simply a houseboy of Federico Maclang. He did not know that he was dealing with communists
and was only following orders of his master.
§ Jose Lava, Federico Bautista, Federico Maclang, Ramon Espiritu, Salome Cruz, Angel Baking, Cesario Torres, Simeon G.
Rodriguez, Honofre Mangila and Simeon Bungay are ALL high ranking officers of either CPP and HMB. They all
performed their duties and role in fulfilling the goals of the organization and sought for rebellion against the Philippine
gov’t. They were all LEADERS of the rebellion.
§ Rosario C. Vda. de Santos: only a staff member of the National Courier (or Communication) Division of the CPP, and
that she checked and made reports on the arrival and dispatch of couriers. She was merely executing the orders or
commands of others who are superior to her in the organizational set-up of the CPP. And since all this she did while CPP
went underground and HMB was already doing armed operations, she is still liable as a participant.
§ Lamberto Magboo: He is only a courier from the headquarters of the National Courier Division of the CPP in Manila
and was actually working and cooperating with the armed operations to overthrow the government. So still liable as a
participant.
§ Arturo Baking: He is a confirmed communist, and was in full sympathy with the armed struggle being promoted by the
leaders of the CPP and the HMB in order to overthrow the existing government of the Philippines. BUT he was only the
assistant of appellant Cesario Torres, who was entrusted with the publication and distribution of the official organs of
the CPP and the HMB, as well as of the printing and distribution of the documents of these two organizations. Being an

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assistant of appellant Cesario Tores who is a principal in the commission of the crime of rebellion, and not proven to
have committed acts of rebellion himself, he is only a participant.
§ Marciano de Leon: He also took part in the conspiracy to overthrow the government by armed struggle and did his bit
by furnishing Federico Bautista with information and records regarding the HMB activities obtainable from the PC
Headquarters by virtue of his position in the Personnel Section of the Philippine Constabulary. BUT he is a mere
participant in the commission of rebellion since he only cooperated or helped in the prosecution of the armed rebellion.
§ Pedro T. Vicencio: It was not proven that he actually took part in the armed operations of the HMB. BUT, his having
delivered foodstuffs, medicines and other supplies which were intended for the HMB, and his having delivered packages
to Rosario Vda. de Santos who was in charge of the outpost where couriers go to deliver, or to get, letters or articles
intended for RECOS in the field, clearly indicate that this appellant was actively cooperating in the efforts of those
promoting the rebellion. Being 20 years of age and a college student, it can be expected that he knew that he was doing
something for the communists and the Huks.

IMPORTANT RE Rebellion
Rebellion cannot be complexed with other crimes.
§ The crime of rebellion is integrated by the coexistence of both the armed uprising for the purposes expressed in
Article 134 of the Revised Penal Code, and the overt acts of violence described in the first paragraph of Article 135. That
both purpose and overt acts are essential components of one crime, and that without either of them the crime of
rebellion legally does not exist.

US v Ravidas
DOCTRINE: No crime of misprision of rebellion” (US vs. Ravidas) *Misprision is only to treason

RAPE DIGESTS
c/o Hipolito
1. PEOPLE vs RICKY ALFREDO y NORMAN
G.R. No. 188560 December 15, 2010 VELASCO, JR., J.:

Facts:
• Accused-appellant was charged in two (2) separate Informations, the accusatory portions of which read:
o From April 28-29, 2001, at Cadian, Topdac, Municipality of Atok, Province of Benguet, Philippines, accused,
by means of force, intimidation and threats, have carnal knowledge with one [AAA], a thirty six (36) year
old woman, against her will and consent
o From April 28-29, 2001, at Cadian, Topdac, Municipality of Atok, Province of Benguet, Philippines, by means
of force, intimidation and threats, did commit an act of sexual assault by inserting a flashlight into the
vagina of one [AAA], a thirty six (36) year old woman, against her will and consent, to her damage and
prejudice.
• Pleaded not guilty to both charges.
Prosecution’s Version:
• Oral testimonies of the victim, AAA; her 10-year old son, BBB; Ernesto dela Cruz; Police Officer 3 James Ruadap; and
Dr. Alma Ged-ang.
• In March 2001, AAA, who was six months pregnant, went home to Butiyao, Benguet, along with her family, to harvest
the peppers planted in their garden.
• On April 27, 2001, AAA and her son, BBB, returned to their sayote plantation in Cadian, Topdac, Atok, Benguet to
harvest sayote.
• April 28, 2001, AAA had the harvested sayote transported to Baguio City. Later that night, she and her son stayed at
their rented shack and retired early to bed.
• In the middle of the night, AAA was awakened by a beam of light coming from the gaps in the walls of the shack directly
illuminating her face.
• She then inquired who the person was, but nobody answered. Instead, the light was switched off. After a few minutes,
the light was switched on again.
• Thereafter, a male voice shouted, "Rumwar kayo ditta no saan kayo nga rumwar paletpeten kayo iti bala!" ("You better
come out if you will not come out I will riddle you with bullets.")
• AAA remained seated. Then, the male voice uttered, "Lukatam daytoy no saan mo nga lukatan bilangan ka, maysa,
duwa…" ("You better get out or else I will count, one, two…")
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• AAA immediately woke BBB up. Just then, the male voice said, "Pabitaken kayo iti bala." ("I will explode the bullet.").
AAA cried out of fear.
• Anxious that the person outside would kill her and her son, AAA lit the gas lamp placed on top of the table, and opened
the door while her son stood beside it. As the door opened, she saw accused-appellant directly in front of her holding
a flashlight.
• AAA did not immediately recognize accused-appellant, as his hair was long and was covering his face.
• She invited him to come inside the shack, but the latter immediately held her hair and ordered her to walk uphill.
• Helpless and terrified, AAA obeyed him. All the while, accused-appellant was behind her.
• Upon reaching a sloping ground, accused-appellant ordered AAA to stop.
• Thereafter, accused-appellant placed the lit flashlight in his pocket and ordered AAA to remove her clothes.
• When she refused, accused-appellant boxed her left eye and removed her clothes. When she also attempted to stop
accused-appellant, the latter angrily slapped her face. Completely naked, AAA was again ordered to walk uphill.
• Upon reaching a grassy portion and a stump about one foot high, accused-appellant ordered AAA to stop and lie on
top of the stump, after accused-appellant boxed her thighs. Accused-appellant then bent down and spread open AAA’s
legs.
• After directing the beam of the flashlight on AAA’s naked body, accused-appellant removed his pants, lowered his brief
to his knees, went on top of her, and inserted his penis into her vagina.
• Accused-appellant threatened to box her if she moves. Accused-appellant also held AAA’s breast, as well as the other
parts of her body. He shifted the flashlight from one hand to another while he moved his buttocks up and down.
• AAA cried as she felt severe pain in her lower abdomen. Accused-appellant stood up and directed the beam of the
flashlight on her after he was satisfied.
• Ten minutes later, accused-appellant went on top of AAA again and inserted his penis into her vagina and moved his
buttocks up and down. After being satisfied, accused-appellant stood up and lit a cigarette.
• Afterwards, accused-appellant went on top of AAA again and tried to insert his penis in the latter’s vagina. His penis,
however, has already softened.
• Frustrated, accused-appellant knelt and inserted his fingers in her vagina. After removing his fingers, accused-
appellant held a twig about 10 inches long and the size of a small finger in diameter which he used to pierce her vagina.
Dissatisfied, accused-appellant removed the twig and inserted the flashlight in her vagina.
• After accused-appellant removed the flashlight from AAA’s vagina, he went on top of her again, pressing his elbows
on her upper breasts and boxing her shoulders and thighs. Subsequently, accused-appellant stood up and warned her
not to report the incident to the authorities. Immediately after, he left her at the scene.
• Since she was too weak to walk, AAA rested for about 15 minutes before she got up and went back to the shack where
she immediately woke her son up. Thereafter, they proceeded to the highway and boarded a jeep to Camp 30, Atok,
Benguet. She also went to Sayangan, Atok, Benguet the following day to report the incident to the police authorities.
• MEDICAL EXAMINATION: AAA had a subconjunctival hemorrhage on the right eye and multiple head injuries, which
may have been caused by force such as a blow, a punch, or a hard object hitting the eye. There was also tenderness on
the upper part of the back of AAA, as well as on her left infraclavicular area below the left clavicle, left flank area or at
the left side of the waist, and medial aspect on the inner part of the thigh. Moreover, there were also multiple linear
abrasions, or minor straight open wounds on the skin of her forearms and legs caused by sharp objects with rough
surface.
• INTERNAL EXAMINATION: Confluent abrasion on the left and medial aspects of her labia minora about five
centimeters long and a confluent circular abrasion caused by a blunt, rough object that has been forcibly introduced
into the genitalia.
Defense’ Version
• Witnesses accused-appellant himself; his mother, Remina; his sister, Margaret; Hover Cotdi; Jona Canuto; and Pina
Mendoza
• In the morning of April 28, 2001, accused-appellant was allegedly working in the sayote plantation near his house. At
noontime, he went home to eat his lunch. After having lunch, his mother told him to bring the pile of sayote she
harvested to the edge of the road.
• Accused-appellant went to the place where the pile of harvested sayote was placed. However, when he reached that
place, he claimed that he saw AAA gathering the sayote harvested by his mother and placing them in a sack.
• Upon seeing what AAA was doing, accused-appellant shouted at her, prompting AAA to run away with her son and
leave the sack of sayote. When they left, accused-appellant started placing the harvested sayote in the sack. He was
able to fill eight sacks.

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• Remembering that his mother told him that he would be able to fill 10 sacks all in all, accused-appellant went to the
shack of AAA after bringing the eight sacks near the road. He suspected that she and her son were the ones who took
the two missing sacks of sayote.
• When he arrived at the place where AAA and her son were staying, accused-appellant allegedly saw them packing
sayote, and he also supposedly saw a sack of sayote with the name of his father printed on it.
• For this reason, accused-appellant got mad and told AAA to go away and leave the place because what they were doing
was wrong. AAA replied by saying that she would wait for Hover Cotdi, the owner of the sayote plantation and the
shack, to ask for permission to leave.
• All this time, accused-appellant was allegedly speaking in an angry but non-threatening voice. Nonetheless, while he
was confronting AAA, her son ran into the shack and stayed there.
• Before leaving the place, accused-appellant told AAA that the sacks of sayote belonged to his family, although he
decided not to take them back anymore. He supposedly left after five o’clock in the afternoon and arrived at their
house at around seven o’clock in the evening.
• During this time, all his family members were watching television on Channel 3. Accused-appellant joined them in
watching a Tagalog movie. He then allegedly went to bed at 10 o’clock in the evening, while his parents continued to
watch television until 11 o’clock in the evening.
• The following morning, on April 29, 2001, accused-appellant woke up between six to seven o’clock in the morning.
After having breakfast, he helped his mother clean the sayote farm. At around eight o’clock in the morning, he saw
AAA by the road waiting for a ride with a baggage placed in a carton box. His mother then went down the road and
talked to AAA, leaving accused-appellant behind. He claimed to pity AAA upon seeing her but could not do anything.
RTC: Gave credence to the version of the prosecution and found appellant GUILTY OF TWO COUNTS OF RAPE; suffer the
penalty of reclusion perpetua including all the accessory penalties imposed by law for 1st count; suffer the indeterminate
penalty of imprisonment of three (3) years, two (2) months and one (1) day of prision correccional, as minimum, and eight
(8) years, two (2) months and one (1) day of prision mayor, as maximum for 2nd count.
• For each count of rape, he shall pay [AAA] the sum of Fifty Thousand Pesos (Php50,000.00) by way of civil
indemnity and the sum of Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) by way of moral damages.
• Pursuant to Administrative Circular No. 4-92-A of the Court Administrator, accused transferred to Bureau of
Corrections, Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila after the expiration of fifteen (15) days from date of promulgation
People v. Mateo: For cases in which the penalty imposed by the trial court is death, reclusion perpetua, or life imprisonment,
the case was transferred, for appropriate action and disposition, to the CA.
CA: Affirmed RTC; GUILTY of two counts of rape.
Issues:
(1) Whether material inconsistencies in claims of witnesses vs. his alibi warrant his acquittal (NO)
(2) Whether the court committed error in relying on the demeanor of prosecution witnesses when it did not have
opportunity to hear witnesses
(3) Whether conduct of accuse is unlikely to yield guilty verdict (NO)
(4) Whether award of damages is correct (NO)
HELD: Accused-appellant’s conviction SUSTAINED
1. a. Alibi is an inherently weak defense
• He contends that although denial and alibi are the weakest defenses in criminal cases, consideration should also be
given to the fact that denial becomes the most plausible line of defense considering the nature of the crime of rape
where normally only two persons are involved.
• It should be noted that for alibi to prosper, it is not enough for the accused to prove that he was in another place when
the crime was committed. He must likewise prove that it was physically impossible for him to be present at the crime
scene or its immediate vicinity at the time of its commission. A review of the records in the instant case would reveal
that accused-appellant failed to present convincing evidence that he did not leave his house, which is only about 150
meters away from the shack of AAA, in the evening of April 28, 2001. Significantly, it was also not physically impossible
for accused-appellant to be present on the mountain where he allegedly raped AAA at the time it was said to have
been committed.
• Alibi, as a defense, is inherently weak and crumbles in light of positive identification by truthful witnesses. It is
evidence negative in nature and self-serving and cannot attain more credibility than the testimonies of prosecution
witnesses who testify on clear and positive evidence. In addition, alibi becomes more unworthy of merit where it is
established mainly by the accused himself and his or her relatives, friends, and comrades-in-arms, and not by credible
persons.

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1.b. As between the statement made in an affidavit and that given in open court, the latter is superior
• Material inconsistencies in the testimonies and affidavits: (1) whether accused-appellant’s penis was erect or not; and
(2) whether AAA indeed recognized accused-appellant when they were already on the mountain or while they were
still in the shack.
• AAA testified in open court that accused-appellant tried to insert his penis into her vagina several times but was unable
to do so since his penis has already softened. On the other hand, AAA stated in her affidavit that "the suspect ordered
me to lay [sic] flatly on the ground and there he started to light and view my whole naked body while removing his
pant [sic] and tried to insert his pennis [sic] on [sic] my vagina but I wonder it does not erect [sic]."
• There is no inconsistency between AAA’s testimony and her affidavit. The only difference is that she failed to
state in her affidavit that before accused-appellant unsuccessfully tried to insert his penis into AAA’s vagina,
he had already succeeded twice in penetrating her private organ.
• There is likewise no incompatibility between AAA’s affidavit stating that she came to know of accused-appellant as
the culprit when they were on the mountain and his flashlight illuminated his face as he lay on top of her, and her
testimony that while they were still in the shack, AAA was "not then sure" but already suspected that her rapist was
accused-appellant "because of his hair." In other words, AAA was not yet sure whether accused-appellant was the
culprit while they were still in the shack, as she only became positively certain that it was him when the flashlight
illuminated his face while they were on the mountain.
• Nevertheless, discrepancies do not necessarily impair the credibility of a witness, for affidavits, being taken ex parte,
are almost always incomplete and often inaccurate for lack of searching inquiries by the investigating officer or due
to partial suggestions, and are, thus, generally considered to be inferior to the testimony given in open court.

2. The validity of conviction is not adversely affected by the fact that the judge who rendered judgment was not
the one who heard the witnesses
• The fact that the trial judge who rendered judgment was not the one who had the occasion to observe the demeanor
of the witnesses during trial, but merely relied on the records of the case, does not render the judgment erroneous,
especially where the evidence on record is sufficient to support its conclusion. As this Court held in People v.
Competente: The circumstance that the Judge who rendered the judgment was not the one who heard the
witnesses, does not detract from the validity of the verdict of conviction. Even a cursory perusal of the Decision
would show that it was based on the evidence presented during trial and that it was carefully studied, with testimonies
on direct and cross examination as well as questions from the Court carefully passed upon. Further, the transcripts of
stenographic notes taken during the trial were extant and complete. Hence, there was no impediment for the judge to
decide the case.

3. The guilt of accused-appellant has been established beyond reasonable doubt

• In reviewing the evidence in rape cases, the following considerations should be made: (1) an accusation for rape can
be made with facility, it is difficult to prove but more difficult for the person, though innocent, to disprove; (2) in view
of the intrinsic nature of the crime of rape where only two persons are usually involved, the testimony of the
complainant must be scrutinized with extreme caution; and (3) the evidence for the prosecution must stand or fall on
its own merits and cannot be allowed to draw strength from the weakness of the evidence for the defense.
• Nonetheless, it is also worth noting that rape is essentially committed in relative isolation or secrecy; thus, it is most
often only the victim who can testify with regard to the fact of forced coitus.
• In the instant case, accused-appellant is charged with two counts of rape¾one under paragraph 1(a) of Article 266-A
of the Revised Penal Code and the other under par. 2 of Art. 266-A.
• Elements of rape under par. 1(a) of Art. 266-A of the Code are the following: (1) that the offender is a man; (2) that
the offender had carnal knowledge of a woman; and (3) that such act is accomplished by using force or intimidation.
• On the other hand, the elements of rape under par. 2 of Art. 266-A of the Code are as follows: (1) that the offender
commits an act of sexual assault; (2) that the act of sexual assault is committed by inserting his penis into another
person’s mouth or anal orifice or by inserting any instrument or object into the genital or anal orifice of another
person; and that the act of sexual assault is accomplished by using force or intimidation, among others.
• When AAA was called to the witness stand, she gave a detailed narration of the incident that transpired in the evening
of April 28, 2001 and early morning of April 29, 2001. AAA categorically asserted that accused-appellant had carnal
knowledge of her and even sexually assaulted her against her will with the use of force, threat, or intimidation.
• Particularly, AAA testified that accused-appellant threatened to riddle her and her son with bullets if they do not open
the door of their shack. Accused-appellant thereafter forcibly pulled her hair and dragged her to the mountains. AAA

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 pleaded for her life. Nonetheless, accused-appellant boxed her every time she did not yield to his demands. He boxed
her thighs forcing AAA to sit, and he threatened to box her if she moves while he carried out his bestial desires.
• AAA testified further that after accused-appellant satisfied his lust, he sexually assaulted her. He inserted his fingers
into her vagina and then he tried to pierce the same with a twig. Subsequently, he inserted his flashlight into her
vagina. AAA was too weak to stop him. She had struggled to free herself from accused-appellant from the moment she
was dragged from the shack until they reached the mountains. However, accused-appellant still prevailed over her.
Notably, AAA was six months pregnant at that time. She was frightened and hopeless.
• Also, it should be noted that the findings in the medical examination of Dr. Ged-ang corroborated the testimony of
AAA. While a medical examination of the victim is not indispensable in the prosecution of a rape case, and no law
requires a medical examination for the successful prosecution of the case, the medical examination conducted and the
medical certificate issued are veritable corroborative pieces of evidence, which strongly bolster AAA’s testimony.
• Moreover, the police found the red t-shirt and blue shorts of AAA in the place where accused-appellant was said to
have removed her clothes. In addition, AAA’s son, BBB, testified as to how accused-appellant threatened them in the
evening of April 28, 2001, how he was able to identify accused-appellant as the perpetrator, and what his mother
looked like when she returned home in the early morning of April 29, 2001. According to BBB, his mother was naked
except for a dirty white jacket she was wearing. He also noticed that his mother had wounds and blood all over her
body. All these are consistent with the testimony of AAA.

4. Award of Damages must be modified. For rape under Art. 266-A, par. 1(d) of the Revised Penal Code, the CA was
correct in awarding PhP 50,000 as civil indemnity and PhP 50,000 as moral damages. However, for rape through
sexual assault under Art. 266-A, par. 2 of the Code, the award of damages should be PhP 30,000 as civil indemnity and
PhP 30,000 as moral damages.
• People v. Cristobal that "for sexually assaulting a pregnant married woman, the accused has shown moral corruption,
perversity, and wickedness. He has grievously wronged the institution of marriage. The imposition then of exemplary
damages by way of example to deter others from committing similar acts or for correction for the public good is
warranted."
• Notably, there were instances wherein exemplary damages were awarded despite the absence of an aggravating
circumstance.
• Prior to the effectivity of the Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure, courts award exemplary damages in criminal
cases when an aggravating circumstance, whether ordinary or qualifying, had been proven to have attended the
commission of the crime, even if the same was not alleged in the information in accordance with Article 2230.
However, with the promulgation of the Revised Rules, courts no longer consider the aggravating circumstances not
alleged and proven in the determination of the penalty and in the award of damages. Thus, even if an aggravating
circumstance has been proven, but was not alleged, courts will not award exemplary damages. x x x
• However, Article 2230 must not only be ground for granting exemplary damages because it simply takes into account
the attendance of aggravating circumstance and not the very reason why exemplary damages are awarded.
• Also known as "punitive" or "vindictive" damages, exemplary or corrective damages are intended to serve as a
deterrent to serious wrong doings, and as a vindication of undue sufferings and wanton invasion of the rights of an
injured or a punishment for those guilty of outrageous conduct.
• These terms are generally, but not always, used interchangeably. In common law, there is preference in the use of
exemplary damages when the award is to account for injury to feelings and for the sense of indignity and humiliation
suffered by a person as a result of an injury that has been maliciously and wantonly inflicted, the theory being that
there should be compensation for the hurt caused by the highly reprehensible conduct of the defendant — associated
with such circumstances as willfulness, wantonness, malice, gross negligence or recklessness, oppression, insult or
fraud or gross fraud — that intensifies the injury.
• The terms punitive or vindictive damages are often used to refer to those species of damages that may be awarded
against a person to punish him for his outrageous conduct. In either case, these damages are intended in good measure
to deter the wrongdoer and others like him from similar conduct in the future.
• Being corrective in nature, exemplary damages, therefore, can be awarded, not only in the presence of an aggravating
circumstance, but also where the circumstances of the case show the highly reprehensible or outrageous conduct of
the offender.
• In much the same way as Article 2230 prescribes an instance when exemplary damages may be awarded, Article 2229,
the main provision, lays down the very basis of the award. Court used as basis Article 2229, rather than Article 2230,
to justify the award of exemplary damages. The application of Article 2230 of the Civil Code strictissimi juris in

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 such cases, as in the present one, defeats the underlying public policy behind the award of exemplary damages
— to set a public example or correction for the public good."

DISPOSITIVE: WHEREFORE, the appeal is DENIED. The CA Decision dated September 30, 2008 in CA-G.R. CR-H.C. No.
02135 finding accused-appellant Ricky Alfredo guilty of rape is AFFIRMED with MODIFICATIONS. As thus modified,
accused-appellant in Criminal Case No. 01-CR-4213 is ordered to pay PhP 50,000 as civil indemnity, PhP 50,000 as moral
damages, and PhP 30,000 as exemplary damages. In Criminal Case No. 01-CR-4214, accused-appellant is likewise ordered
to pay PhP 30,000 as civil indemnity, PhP 30,000 as moral damages, and PhP 30,000 as exemplary damages.

2. People v Alejandro Rellota -> Rape vis a vis Acts of Lasciviousness

FACTS:
• AAA the complainant, native of Eastern Samar, was 12 years old when the incidents allegedly happened. Together
with her siblings, AAA lived with her aunt, DDD and the latter’s second husband, appellant in Antipolo City, Rizal from
September 1992 to January 1994. 2 cousins also live with them. DDD was working overseas then.
• According to AAA, appellant had been kissing her and touching her private parts since September 1993 and raped her
several times between Sept. 1993 and Jan. 1994.
• She narrated that appellant would usually rape her at night when the other members of the family were either out of
the house or asleep. AAA stated that she resisted the advances of appellant, but was not successful. Appellant,
according to her would usually place a bolo beside him whenever she would rape her. She added that appellant would
threaten AAA by telling her that he would kill her brother and sister and that he would stop sending her to school.
• December 20, 1993: after AAA took a bath at an artesian well near their house, she wrapped her body w/ towel before
going inside the house when she was followed by appellant and raped AAA twice in the latter’s bedroom. He tied her
hands with a rope before forcibly inserting his penis inside her vagina while AAA was kicking and scratching. Then,
he left so AAA slipped on her T-shirt and shorts but then accused returned and raped her again.
• The same incident happened on January 31, 1994 when AAA was inside their room. Appellant laid her down on the
sofa, kissed her and touched her private part, while AAA kicked him and scratched his arms. She was able to push him
and after which appellant ran out the door.
• AAA, told her older sister after in which the latter accompanied AAA to police station. Three separate complaints for
rape were filed against appellant.
Prosecution’s Arguments
• Testimony and medical exam that there is a healed laceration in the hymen of more than a month. Laceration in the
hymen could have been caused by forcible entry of a hard object. Penis may be blunt hard object.
Defense’ Version
• Impossible for him to have raped AAA in September 1993 because his wife only left for Jeddah on October 21, 1993.
• He points out that AAA herself testified that he only kissed her, touched her breast and private parts, but failed to
mention that he inserted his penis to her vagina.
• He also denied raping AAA on January 31, 1994 and December 20, 1993. He further claims that the filing of the
criminal charges were instigated by AAA's aunt for his refusal to lend her money.
OSG Comment
• appellant used his moral ascendancy over the victim in having carnal knowledge of her against her will.
• medical report bolsters the victim's claim that she was repeatedly raped by appellant and that the latter's defense of
denial is weak and deserves scant consideration
• HOWEVER, agrees with CA that Jan 31 rape was not sufficiently proven to have actually consummated and is merely
attempted rape
RTC: GUILTY of 3 counts of Rape as alleged and suffer Reclusion Perpetua for each count. Indemnity of P50, 000 for each
o Not death penalty because AAA was above 12 and although below 18, relationship with appellant not established
as marriage between AAA’s aunt and appellant not supported with evidence
• In accordance with People v Mateo: Case imposing reclusion perpetua so transferred to CA upon appeal
CA: ruled that appellant is guilty of 2 counts of consummated rape and 1 count of attempted rape
o June 31 incident when he was able to push him is ATTEMPTED
o Reclusion perpetua for first two counts and prision correccional for 3rd

ISSUE:
1. Whether accused should be acquitted as AAA’s testimony is inconsistent and full of falsehoods?
2. Whether or not the actions of appellant on January 31, 1994 constitute acts of lasciviousness and not attempted rape?

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HELD:
1. No. The claim of appellant that he could not have raped AAA because his wife was still in the country during the alleged
period when the rape was committed is so flimsy that it does not deserve even the slightest consideration from this Court.
o It has been oft said that lust is no respecter of time or place. Neither the crampness of the room, nor the presence
of other people therein, nor the high risk of being caught, has been held sufficient and effective obstacle to deter the
commission of rape. There have been too many instances when rape was committed under circumstances as
indiscreet and audacious as a room full of family members sleeping side by side. There is no rule that a woman can
only be raped in seclusion.
o As to the contention of appellant that the testimony of AAA was barren of any statement that the former's penis was
inserted in the latter's vagina is not quite accurate. AAA categorically stated during her testimony that she was
raped. In her testimony, she stated that “He forced me and inserted his penis inside my vagina” and “he repeated his
acts”.
o As to inconsistency that she was merely wearing a towel and then she stated that she wore a T-shirt and shorts, these
were not inconsistent as there was a lapse of time between the first and the second rape. Likewise, when AAA testified
that she put on her t-shirt and panty, she was referring to the first time of the rape where, after ravishing her, appellant
untied her hands and left only to return to rape her once more. There was enough time for AAA to dress up.
o Inconsistencies pointed out by appellant are minor ones which do not affect the credibility of AAA nor erase the fact
that the latter was raped. The inconsistencies are trivial and forgivable, since a victim of rape cannot possibly give an
exacting detail for each of the previous incidents, since these may just be but mere fragments of a prolonged and
continuing nightmare, a calvary she might even be struggling to forget. Moreover, a rape victim testifying in the
presence of strangers, face to face with her tormentor and being cross-examined by his hostile and intimidating lawyer
would be benumbed with tension and nervousness and this can affect the accuracy of her testimony. However,
considering her youth and her traumatic experience, ample margin of error and understanding should be accorded to
a young victim of a vicious crime like rape.
o In the disposition and review of rape cases, the Court is guided by these principles:
o first, the prosecution has to show the guilt of the accused by proof beyond reasonable doubt or that degree of
proof that, to an unprejudiced mind, produces conviction;
o second, the evidence for the prosecution must stand or fall on its own merits and cannot draw strength from
the weakness of the evidence of the defense;
o third, unless there are special reasons, the findings of trial courts, especially regarding the credibility of
witnesses, are entitled to great respect and will not be disturbed on appeal;
o fourth, an accusation of rape can be made with facility; it is difficult to prove but more difficult for the person
accused, though innocent, to disprove; and,
o fifth, in view of the intrinsic nature of the crime of rape where only two persons are usually involved, the
testimony of the complainant must be scrutinized with extreme caution.
2. Yes, crime is not attempted rape but acts of lasciviousness as defined in RPC as elements are absent.
• Attempted rape requires that:
o The offender commences the commission of the felony directly by overt acts;
o He does not perform all the acts of execution which should produce the felony;
o The offender’s act be not stopped by his own spontaneous desistance;
o The non-performance of all acts of execution was due to cause or accident other than his spontaneous
desistance
• Appellant’s act of removing the towel wrapped in the body of AAA, laying her on the sofa and kissing and touching her
private parts does not exactly demonstrate the intent of appellant to have carnal knowledge on AAA on that particular
date.
• Even so, the said acts should not be left unpunished as the elements of the crime of acts of lasciviousness as defined
in RPC in relation to RA 7610, AAA being a minor when the incident happened, are present:
o That the offender commits any act of lasciviousness or lewdness
o That is done (a) By using force and intimidation; (b) When the offended party is deprived of reason or
otherwise unconscious; (c) When the offended party is under 12 years of age
o That the offended party is another person of either sex.
o As defined in IRR of RA 7610: [T]he intentional touching, either directly or through clothing, of the genitalia,
anus, groin, breast, inner thigh, or buttocks, or the introduction of any object into the genitalia, anus or mouth,
of any person, whether of the same or opposite sex, with an intent to abuse, humiliate, harass, degrade, or

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 arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person, bestiality, masturbation, lascivious exhibition of the genitals
or pubic area of a person.
• The actions of appellant on January 31, 1994, by definition, lascivious or lewd, and based on AAA’s testimony, the
intimidation from appellant was in existence and apparent.
• Sec 5 of RA No7610 does not merely cover a situation of a child being abused for profit, but also one in which a child
engages in any lascivious conduct through coercion or intimidation. As case law has it, intimidation need not
necessarily be irresistible. It is sufficient that some compulsion equivalent to intimidation annuls or subdues the free
exercise of the will of the offended party
• Accused can still be guilty of acts of lasciviousness even if not charged because it is necessarily included in rape. Under
Section 4, Rule 120 of the Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure, when there is a variance between the offense charged
in the complaint or information, and the offense as charged is included in or necessarily includes the offense proved,
the accused shall be convicted of the offense proved which is included in the offense charged, or of the offense charged
which is included in the offense proved.
DISPOSITIVE: CA Decision finding accused GUILTY of the crime of two (2) counts rape is AFFIRMED with the
MODIFICATION that the same appellant is also GUILTY beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of acts of
lasciviousness as defined in the Revised Penal Code, in relation to Section 5, Article III of Republic Act No. 7610, and is
hereby sentenced to suffer an indeterminate penalty of imprisonment from eight (8) years and one (1) day of prision
mayor, as minimum to seventeen (17) years, four (4) months and (1) day of reclusion temporal, as maximum; (+reclusion
perpetua for first 2 counts) and per previous ruling of this Court, must also indemnify the victim in the amount of
P15,000.00 as moral damages and pay a fine in the same amount.

3. People v Juanito Apattad G.R. No. 193188 August 10, 2011

FACTS:
• Accused was charged in four (4) separate informations, the accusatory portions of which read:
o 2001 and 2002, in the evening, in the Municipality of Peñablanca, Province of Cagayan, JUANITO APATTAD,
father of the offended party, [AAA] a minor below 12 years of age, thus have moral ascendancy over the
complainant, with lewd design and by the use of force, have sexual intercourse with his own daughter, against
her will.
o That on or about June 10 and 11 2003, in the Municipality of Peñablanca, Province of Cagayan, and within the
jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the said accused, JUANITO APATTAD, father of the offended party,
[AAA], a minor below 12 years of age, thus have moral ascendancy over the complainant, with lewd design
and by the use of force, did, have sexual intercourse with his own daughter, the herein offended party, against
her will.
• June 1, 2004, the accused, with the assistance of his counsel, pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him
• Subsequently, on June 8, 2004, pre-trial conference was held and was terminated on the same day, with the parties
stipulating on the following:
(a) The identities of the accused and AAA;
(b) AAA is the daughter of the accused;
(c) AAA was a minor, being born on October 14, 1994, and was only ten (10) years old during the
commission of the crime;
(d) The existence of the Certificate of Live Birth of AAA; and
(e) The existence of the Medico Legal Report of AAA issued by Dr. Mila Lingan-Simangan, Health Officer
of Peñablanca, Cagayan.

Version of the Prosecution

• Offered the oral testimonies of AAA and Dr. Mila Lingan-Simangan
• 2001, while she was sleeping with her sisters, the accused pulled and positioned her just below the feet of her siblings,
and right then and there, succeeded in molesting her. AAA was just seven (7) years old then.
• June 10, 2003, the accused sexually abused AAA again. While she was sleeping beside her younger sister in their room,
accused carried her from the bed through the window and placed her on the floor. Afterwards, accused removed his
own shirt and used it to cover the mouth of AAA. Accused then removed his underwear and AAA’s underwear, and
inserted his penis inside AAA’s vagina, while telling her not to report the incident to her mother. When the accused
was finished in satisfying his lust, he put AAA’s clothes back on, carried her back to bed, and untied the shirt covering
AAA’s mouth.

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• The same incident happened on June 11, 2003, when accused carried AAA once again through the window, placed her
on the floor, covered her mouth, undressed her, and inserted his penis into her vagina. The accused also threatened
to kill her if she reports the incident to her mother.
• When AAA finally told her mother on June 13, 2003 that she was being abused by her own father, her mother whipped
her for not telling her about it immediately. Her reason for not telling immediately was because she was afraid that
her father would kill them. AAA also confirmed that her parents often quarrel and shout at each other. She even
admitted that she had seen her father slap her mother and that because of this, she sympathized and took pity on her.
When asked whether she would do anything that her mother would tell her to do, AAA answered in the affirmative.
However, on re-direct examination, AAA clarified that her mother did not teach her to claim that she was raped and
that she was only telling the truth.
• Thereafter, they went to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) office in Peñablanca, Cagayan,
where AAA was interviewed by a certain Ms. Abrena, a DSWD personnel. Afterwards, they proceeded to the police
station where AAA executed a sworn statement narrating what happened.
• Dr. Mila Lingan-Simangan (Dr. Simangan) also subsequently conducted a physical examination on AAA on June 16,
2003, she conducted a physical examination on AAA and discovered that the latter had a healed hymen laceration at
4 and 7 o’clock positions, and that her vagina admitted the tip of the fifth finger easily. She stated that the laceration
could have been caused by a blunt object. She also testified that after conducting the physical examination, she
interviewed AAA and the latter gave her the name of the person who raped her. However, Dr. Simangan admitted that
she can no longer remember the name that was mentioned by AAA .

Version of the Defense

• Presented as its witnesses the accused himself and Louie Calimag
• The accused denied the accusation of rape hurled against him and claimed that his wife was the one who
initiated the criminal complaint against him because she thinks that he has a mistress.
• Louie Calimag (Calimag), testified that from June 3, 2003 until July 8, 2003, he employed the services of the
accused to help him in the operation of the chainsaw. As part of their routine, he and the accused would saw
logs in the forest from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., go back to his house, and sleep there at night. Calimag further
testified that when the accused was arrested by the police in the forest on July 8, 2003, he was also with him.
Thus, when he found out that the accused was arrested for rape allegedly committed on June 10 and 11, 2003,
Calimag claimed that he did not believe this because the accused stayed in his house on those days.
• Calimag likewise added that after the accused was arrested, he saw AAA, who admitted to him that she was
not raped by the accused and that it was her mother who instructed her to give false information. AAA
allegedly told him that her parents had a fight due to her father’s illicit relationship with another woman.
• On cross-examination, Calimag admitted that the house of the accused was only three (3) kilometers away
from his house and that the accused’s house may be reached by jeepney in an hour and by foot in four (4)
hours.
RTC: Gave credence to the version of the prosecution and found accused GUILTY of three (3) counts of rape. PENALTY:
RECLUSION PERPETUA for each case and pay P150,000.00 Pesos as civil indemnity. Accused is ACQUITTED in Criminal
Case No. 10173 (2002 Rape) for lack of sufficient evidence.
CA: Affirmed RTC with MODIFICATION that the civil indemnity awarded should be P75,000.00 for each count of
rape. In addition, moral damages and exemplary damages in the amounts of P75,000.00 and Php25,000.00
respectively, for each count of rape are hereby awarded.

ISSUES: Whether accused should be convicted of statutory rape (YES)

HELD: Yes. CONVICTED.

Denial and alibi are inherently weak defenses

• Jurisprudential rules and precepts guide this Court in assessing the proffered defense.
o One, alibis and denials are generally disfavored by the courts for being weak.
o Two, they cannot prevail over the positive identification of the accused as the perpetrators of the
crime.
o Three, for alibi to prosper, the accused must prove not only that they were somewhere else when the
crime was committed, but also that it was physically impossible for them to be at the scene of the
crime at the time of its commission.

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 o Fourth, alibi assumes significance or strength only when it is amply corroborated by credible and
disinterested witnesses.
o Fifth, alibi is an issue of fact that hinges on the credibility of witnesses, and the assessment made by
the trial court — unless patently and clearly inconsistent — must be accepted
• In the present case, AAA positively identified accused-appellant in her testimony as the very perpetrator of
the crime of rape committed against her when she identified her “father” as the one who carried her.
• For alibi to prosper, it is not enough for the accused to prove that he was in another place when the crime was
committed as he must likewise prove that it was physically impossible for him to be present at the crime scene
or its immediate vicinity at the time of its commission. A distance of three (3) kilometers does not make it
physically impossible for accused-appellant to be at the scene of the crime at the time it was committed.
Calimag himself admitted during cross-examination that the house of accused-appellant may be reached by
jeepney in an hour. Significantly, even if accused-appellant indeed stayed in Calimag’s house on the dates that
he committed rape, it was still not physically impossible for accused-appellant to go home and commit the
said crime at the time it was said to have been committed.
• Also, alibi assumes significance or strength only when it is amply corroborated by credible and disinterested
witnesses. In this regard, it should be noted that alibi becomes unworthy of merit not only because accused-
appellant was positively identified by AAA but also in cases where it is established mainly by the accused
himself, his relatives, friends and comrades-in-arms and not by credible persons.
• Finally, as mentioned in Estoya, alibi is an issue of fact that hinges on the credibility of witnesses, and that the
assessment made by the trial court must be accepted unless it is patently and clearly inconsistent.
• When it comes to credibility, the trial court's assessment deserves great weight, and is even conclusive
and binding, if not tainted with arbitrariness or oversight of some fact or circumstance of weight and
influence. The reason is obvious. Having the full opportunity to observe directly the witnesses’
deportment and manner of testifying, the trial court is in a better position than the appellate court to
evaluate testimonial evidence properly

The guilt of accused-appellant has been established beyond reasonable doubt

• In reviewing the evidence in rape cases, the following considerations should be made:
o an accusation for rape can be made with facility, it is difficult to prove but more difficult for the person, though
innocent, to disprove;
o n view of the intrinsic nature of the crime of rape where only two persons are usually involved, the testimony
of the complainant must be scrutinized with extreme caution;
o evidence for the prosecution must stand or fall on its own merits and cannot be allowed to draw strength from
the weakness of the evidence for the defense.
o Nonetheless, it also bears stressing that rape is essentially committed in relative isolation or secrecy; thus, it
is most often only the victim who can testify with regard to the fact of forced coitus.
• Under Article 266-A of the Revised Penal Code, as amended, the crime of rape is committed by a man having carnal
knowledge of a woman under any of the following circumstances:
o through force, threat or intimidation;
o when the offended party is deprived of reason or otherwise unconscious;
o by means of fraudulent machination or grave abuse of authority; and
o when the offended party is under twelve (12) years of age or is demented, even though none of the
circumstances mentioned above be present
• People v. Orillosa: Incestuous rape of a minor, actual force or intimidation need not be employed where the
overpowering moral influence of the father would suffice. Thus, in order for the accused to be found guilty of the crime
of statutory rape in this jurisdiction, only two (2) elements must concur: (1) that the offender had carnal knowledge
of the victim; and (2) that the victim is below twelve (12) years old.
• AGE ESTABLISHED: AAA, was below twelve (12) years old when the crime was committed. A copy of AAA’s birth
certificate to prove her age was duly presented in evidence by the prosecution, indicating that she was indeed born
on October 14, 1994. Concomitantly, AAA was only seven (7) years old when the crime of rape was first committed
against her in 2001, and was only nine (9) years old when the accused once again succeeded in committing the same
crime in 2003.
• RELATIONSHIP ESTABLISHED: Also, it is undisputed that accused-appellant is the father of AAA, as stipulated by the
parties during the pre-trial conference and as also indicated in AAA’s birth certificate.

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• CARNAL KNOWLEDGE ESTABLISHED: When AAA was called to the witness stand, she gave a detailed narration of
how she was sexually molested by her father, which narration is difficult, if not improbable, for a 10-year-old girl to
concoct. As aptly observed by the CA, “[AAA] was able to describe in detail how her father carried her through the
window, laid her down the floor, tied her mouth, removed her clothes and inserted his penis inside her vagina. She
even described that she felt pain while her father was performing the carnal act against her
• Pertinently, “it is settled jurisprudence that the testimony of a child-victim is given full weight and credence,
considering that when a woman, specially a minor, says that she has been raped, she says in effect all that is necessary
to show that rape was committed. Youth and immaturity are generally badges of truth and sincerity.”
• Moreover, the fact that AAA’s testimony was able to withstand scrutiny during cross-examination bolsters her
credibility and makes her statements more credible. Further, it should be noted that the findings in the medical
examination of Dr. Simangan corroborate the testimony of AAA. In this regard, while a medical examination of the
victim is not indispensable in the prosecution of a rape case, and no law requires a medical examination for its
successful prosecution, the medical examination conducted and the medical certificate issued are veritable
corroborative evidence, which strongly bolster AAA’s testimony.
• In addition, this Court is not convinced that a child of a tender age would concoct a story as sordid as in the instant
case due to her mother’s alleged ill motive. In People v. Padilla, We held that accused-appellant’s imputation of ill
motive on the victim’s mother for being jealous of another woman is clearly unmeritorious, for no mother in her right
mind would possibly wish to stamp her child with the stigma that follows the crime of rape only because she is
consumed with hatred and revenge

Award of Damages. The CA decision as to the damages awarded must be modified. In rape cases, when the victim is under
18 years of age and the offender is a parent, ascendant, step-parent, guardian, relative by consanguinity or affinity within
the third civil degree, or the common-law-spouse of the parent of the victim, the imposable penalty is death. However,
with the enactment of Republic Act No. (RA) 9346 or An Act Prohibiting the Imposition of Death Penalty in the Philippines,
the imposition of death penalty is now prohibited. In lieu of the penalty of death, the penalty of reclusion perpetua shall be
imposed when the law violated makes use of the nomenclature of the penalties of the RPC.
• Nonetheless, the principal consideration for the award of damages is “the penalty provided by law or imposable for
the off se because of its heinousness, not the public penalty actually imposed on the offender.”
• When the circumstances surrounding the crime would justify the imposition of the penalty of death were it not for RA
9346, the award of civil indemnity for the crime of rape should be PhP 75,000, racionating that “[t]his is not only a
reaction to the apathetic societal perception of the penal law and the financial fluctuations over time, but also an
expression of the displeasure of the Court over the incidence of heinous crimes against chastity.”
• Likewise, the award of moral damages in the amount of PhP 75,000 is warranted without need of pleading or proving
them. In rape cases, it is recognized that the victim’s injury is concomitant with and necessarily results from the odious
crime of rape to warrant per se the award of moral damages.
• Further, the Court also awards exemplary damages in the amount of PhP 30,000, despite the lack of any aggravating
circumstances, to deter others from committing similar acts or for correction for the public good.

DISPOSITIVE: WHEREFORE, the appeal is DENIED. The CA Decision dated August 28, 2009 in CA-G.R. CR-H.C. No. 03173
finding accused-appellant Juanito Apattad guilty of rape is AFFIRMED with MODIFICATIONS. As thus modified, accused-
appellant is ordered to pay AAA for each count of rape, PhP 75,000 as civil indemnity, PhP 75,000 as moral damages, and
PhP 30,000 as exemplary damages.

4. People v Sixto Padua G.R. No. 192821 March 21, 2011

FACTS:
• June 20, 2001: the appellant was charged with rape before the QC RTC committed against his 6-year old niece AAA
sometime in April 1991. The appellant pleaded not guilty on arraignment. In the trial that followed, AAA testified on
the details of the crime.
• Sometime in April 1991, between 1:00 and 2:00 p.m., AAA, then six years old, was playing at the balcony of their house
in Barangay Payatas, Quezon City. BBB (AAA’s mother) was downstairs cleaning the house, while AAA’s sisters were
outside the house.
• The appellant (BBB’s brother) or the victims’ uncle was watching TV. The appellant called AAA and told her to lie
beside him. He then asked her to remove her shorts and underwear. He also removed his shorts, laid her down, and

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 inserted his penis inside her vagina. AAA felt pain but she did not cry out. Thereafter, the appellant told her not to
report the incident to her mother or to anyone else.
• AAA did not tell anyone about the incident since she did not know that what had been done to her was wrong. AAA
only realized that her sexual experience with her uncle was wrong when she was already 12 or 13 years old, or at
about the time she was in Grade VI. She did not disclose the incident to anyone then as she was afraid.
• It was not until after her graduation from elementary school that she finally disclosed the incident to CCC (AAA’s older
sister). CCC, in turn, also revealed that a similar incident had happened to her when she was at about the same age as
AAA when the latter’s experience happened.
• AAA and CCC never before told their father about their experience because they feared for his health, but subsequently,
the incident came to their father’s knowledge after CCC had a bitter confrontation with him. Thereafter, AAA and her
father went to the police station where she executed her sworn statement and underwent a medical examination that
confirmed that she was no longer a virgin
• DEFENSE: The appellant, interposing denial and alibi, claimed that he was in San Vicente, Bicol, sometime in April
1991
RTC: Guilty of rape (statutory). Qualified by minority (victim 6 years old when it happened) so penalty must be DEATH
but with the abolition of the death penalty under Republic Act No. 9346, the RTC sentenced the appellant to reclusion
perpetua. It also ordered the appellant to pay AAA P75,000.00 as civil indemnity, P50,000.00 as moral damages, and
P50,000.00 as exemplary damages
• It relied on AAA’s clear, direct and positive testimony, and rejected the appellant’s alibi for his failure to show that
it was physically impossible for him to have committed the rape.
• It noted that AAA’s delay in reporting the rape was not indicative of a fabricated charge, considering her young
age and her family ties with the appellant; AAA only came to know that the sexual incident was wrong when she
was in Grade VI, and she feared for her father’s health should the latter learn of the incident.

CA: Convicted the appellant of simple rape under Article 266-A(1) of the Revised Penal Code and sentenced him to
reclusion perpetua, but reduced to P50,000.00 the civil indemnity to AAA
• AAA’s minority cannot be appreciated as the prosecution failed to present the certificate of live birth or any other
authentic document to prove the age of AAA at the time of the commission of the offense.
• It noted further that the appellant did not expressly admit AAA’s age. Instead, the appellate court appreciated force
and intimidation, noting that the appellant’s relationship to AAA had been proven by his own admission. It stressed
that in incestuous rape, the moral ascendancy of the accused over the victim takes the place of force and intimidation.
ISSUE:
1. Whether statutory rape or simple rape because of lack of document to prove age (simple rape)
2. What is the applicable law? (RPC Art. 335 and not RPC 266-A)
HELD: CONVICTION AFFIRMED
1. CA properly convicted the appellant for simple rape whose penalty is reclusion perpetua.
• An appellant can justifiably be convicted of rape based solely on the credible testimony of the victim. Nothing in the
records indicates to us that the RTC and the CA overlooked or failed to appreciate facts that, if considered, would
change the outcome of the case.
• Agree with the CA that the appellant cannot be held liable for qualified, much less statutory, rape; the prosecution
failed to prove by independent evidence the age of AAA, much less the allegation that she was under the age of 12
when she was raped.
• The appellate court properly appreciated force and intimidation. In rape committed by a close kin, such as the
victim's father, stepfather, uncle, or the common-law spouse of her mother, it is not necessary that actual force or
intimidation be employed; moral influence or ascendancy takes the place of violence or intimidation
2. Art 335 of RPC on simple rape must be applied. The CA held that the appellant was guilty of simple rape under Article
266-A(1) of the Revised Penal Code. However, the crime was committed in 1991, i.e., prior to the passage of the law
imposing the death penalty for rape cases (Republic Act No. 7659: 1993) and prior to the new rape law (Republic
Act No. 8353 or the Anti-Rape Law of 1997: 1997). The law then in place – Article 335 of the Revised Penal Code –
should apply. Under this law, simple rape is punishable by reclusion perpetua. To conform with existing jurisprudence,
we reduce the amount of exemplary damages from P50,000.00 to P30,000.00.
DISPOSITIVE: WHEREFORE, the September 10, 2009 decision of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CR HC No. 03023 is
hereby AFFIRMED with MODIFICATION. Appellant Sixto Padua y Felomina is found guilty beyond reasonable doubt of
the crime of Simple Rape under Article 335 of the Revised Penal Code, and sentenced to suffer the penalty of reclusion

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perpetua. He is also ordered to pay AAA P50,000.00 as civil indemnity, P50,000.00 as moral damages, and P30,000.00 as
exemplary damages.

5. People v Manuel Pruna or Erman Pruna G.R. No. 138471 October 10, 2002

FACTS:
Nature: Automatic review of RTC Bataan decision
• Jan. 3, 1995: while 3-yr old Lizette Arabelle Gonzales was defecating at their neighbor’s backyard, a certain Manuel
“Boy” Pruna called him & placed her on his lap. Boy was then under the bridge, sniffing rugby & drinking alcohol
w/some friends. Boy later on brought her to a grassy area & raped her. Boy was later on arrested.
• Boy’s counsel filed a motion to put him under psychiatric/mental exam claiming that he couldn’t get a coherent answer
from the accused. But the Nat’l Center for Mental Health issued a certification that he was in fair condition.
Prosecution witnesses:
• Jacqueline Gonzales – Lizette’s mom who claims that she was fetching water from the artesian well when incident
happened. She claims she saw Lizette crying & the girl then narrated to her what happened & pulled her to Boy’s house
however accused was not home.
• Lizette testified that she knew the accused & that he inserted his penis into her vagina as she was laid down in a grassy
area. She likewise testified that she knew that it was sin to tell a lie.
• Dr. Emelita Quiroz – OG-Gyne who examined Lizette testified that girl’s vagina was positive for sperm cells w/c
signified that sexual intercourse took place.
• Teresita Magtanob, med tech, corroborated Quiroz’ findings re sperm cells
• SPO2 Romeo Bunsoy, PNP member on duty when Lizette reported incident. He conducted an ocular inspection of the
alleged place of incident & discovered that grasses were flattened. People in nearby areas likewise testified that they
saw Boy bring Lizette in that area.
Defense witnesses:
• Carlito Bondoc – testified that Boy was at home during the time the incident occurred because he & Carlito were having
coffee.
• Boy – denied having raped the girl. Alibi: he was in his house preparing coffee for Carlito.
RTC: convicted of qualified rape sentenced to death, thus automatic review.
Issues & Ratio:
1. WON Lizette is a competent & credible witness considering that she was only 3 when raped & 5 during trial (YES)
• Gen rule: when a witness takes a stand is to presume that he’s competent.
• Burden: upon party objecting to competency to establish ground of incompetency.
• Sec. 21, Rule 130, Rules on Evidence (ROE): kids whose mental maturity renders them incapable of perceiving the
facts respecting w/c they’re examined & relating them truthfully are disqualified to be witnesses. No precise minimum
age is fixed.
• Test of competency: Intelligence not age. As long as child can perceive & make known his perception to other & that
he’s capable of relating truthfully facts for w/c he’s examined. Consider child’s capacity : to receive correct impressions
during incident; to comprehend obligation of an oath; relate to those facts truthfully to the court at the time he’s
offered as a witness. Kid should understand the punishment w/c may result fr false swearing.
• Determined by sound discretion of the court & such is respected unless found erroneous. In this case, Boy failed to
discharge burden of proving Lizette’s mental immaturity. RTC held that kid had capacity of observation, recollection
& communication & that she could discern the consequence of telling a lie. Two years lapse since time of incident is
immaterial considering that it’s a most nat. reaction for victims of crim’l violence to have a lasting impression of how
crime was committed & identity of aggressor.
2. WON Jacqueline’s testimony is hearsay? (NO)
• Not covered by hearsay rule, Sec. 36, Rule 130, ROE w/c provides that a witness can testify only to those facts w/c he
knows of his personal knowledge except as otherwise provided by the ROC.
• Hearsay: evidence not founded upon personal knowledge of witness but rather on facts learned from a 3rd person not
sworn as a witness to those facts, w/c testimony is inadmissible. Excluded because there’s no chance for Court to
cross-examine alleged source of info & to test his credibility.
• Not applicable in this case considering that source of info (Lizette) was actually sworn in & cross-examined. Court had
the chance to observe her manner of testifying. Besides, Jacqueline’s testimony merely corroborated Lizette’s
testimony. Kid’s testimony is sufficient to convict Boy.

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3. WON Gloria Tolentino should still be presented as a witness? (NO)
• Tolentino listed as witness who saw accused carrying & bringing kid to grassy area at the back of her house.
• No need because she already moved out, besides, her testimony would only be corroborative of kid’s testimony.
4. WON prosecution’s evidence was sufficient to convict accused? (YES)
• Victim spontaneously identified accused as rapist.
• Kid’s immediate revelation to her mom of the crime.
• Kid led her mom to accused’s house right after the incident
• Prompt filing of complaint before the authorities
• Victim’s submission to medical examination
• Hyperemia in kid’s private part
• Presence of sperm cells in kid’s vaginal canal & urine.
• Alibi not accepted considering that his alleged location did not make it physically impossible for him to be at the crime
scene during the time crime was committed. Alibi cannot prevail over the positive identification of victim. Esp since
alibi was only corroborated by accused’s friend.
5. WON Lizette’s minority was properly established & imposition of death penalty is proper ? (YES)
• RPC Art. 335, par. 7, no. 4, amended by RA No. 7659: death penalty shall be imposed if crime of rape’s committed to a
kid below 7 yrs old. Minority must be proved w/equal certainty & clearance as crime itself. Failure to prove such
would bar conviction for qualified rape.
• Best proof of age would be the birth certificate. But Court has conflicting pronouncements as to WON such is a
condition sine qua non to prove one’s age to appreciate minority as an element of the crime or as a qualifying
circumstance. Some cases wherein no birth certificate was presented ruled that the victim’s age was not proven. (see
pp. 599-603 for list of cases cited) In some instances, mere pronouncement of age was considered as hearsay. On the
other hand SC held in some cases that age was sufficiently established despite failure of prosecution to present the
birth certificate.
Court now sets guidelines in appreciating age either as an element of crime or a qualifying circumstance:
1. Best evidence: original/certified true copy of the certificate of live birth of part.
2. Absence of such: similar authentic records such as baptismal cert & school records showing date of birth would be
sufficient.
3. If documents were lost, destroyed or unavailable, clear & credible testimony of victim’s mom or other family members
either by affinity/consanguinity qualified to testify re pedigree such as exact age/date of birth of victim pursuant to Sec.
40, Rule 130, ROE shall be sufficient under ff conditions:
a. victim’s alleged to be below 3 & seek to prove that she’s below 7.
b. victim’s alleged to be below 7 & seek to prove that she’s below18.
c. victim’s alleged to be below 12 & seek to prove that she’s below 18.
4. Absence of aforementioned, victim’s testimony will suffice as long as such is clearly & expressly admitted.
5. Prosecution has burden of proof of proving victim’s age. Accused’s failure to object to the testimonial evidence shall
not be taken against him.
6. Trial court should always make a categorical finding as to the victim’s age.
• In this case, RTC based its decision on medico-legal findings & fact that defense did not contest kid’s age & even
questioned her tender age. Former does not establish child’s age. It doesn’t even mention child’s age. Only testimonial
evidence presented to establish child’s age was Mom’s testimony. Victim’s testimony was conflicting for although she
claimed to be 5 yrs old at the time, she also testified that she was already 5 during the time she was raped. Note that
2 years have lapsed between the time of the incident & the hearing.
• In convicting accused of qualified rape & sentencing him to death, impt to establish that Lizette was indeed below 7
yrs old at the time of the commission of crime. However, due to uncertainty of her age, corroborative evidence
(pertinent documents) should be presented to appreciate the qualifying circumstance of rape. Lack of objection from
defense as to victim’s age does not discharge prosecution of its burden.
• Testimony of Lizette’s mom: sufficient to hold accused liable for statutory rape/rape of girl below 12. RPC Art. 335
amended by RA 7659 provides that such is punishable w/RP, thus sentence is lowered from death to RP. P50k
indemnity + P50k moral damages.
Held: Guilty beyond reasonable doubt. RTC modified.

6. People v Heracleo Abello -> edit pa

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FACTS:
• The victim in these cases is twenty-one (21) year old AAA. She contracted polio when she was seven (7) months old.
She was not able to study on account of her difficulty in walking. Hence, she could only read and write her name
including that of her friends
• On June 30, 1998 at around 4:00 o’clock (sic) in the early morning, AAA was sleeping in their house in Kalyeng
Impiyerno, Navotas, Metro Manila along with her sister-in-law and nephew. She was suddenly awakened when Abello
… mashed her breast.
• Come July 2, 1999 at around 3:00 a.m. Abello again mashed the breast of AAA practically under the same previous
situation while the latter was sleeping. In these two occasions AAA was able to recognize Abello because of the light
coming from outside which illuminated the house.
• Then on July 8, 1998, at around 2:00 a.m., Abello this time placed his soft penis inside the mouth of AAA. The latter got
awaken when Abello accidentally kneeled on her right hand. AAA exclaimed “Aray” forcing the accused to hurriedly
enter his room. He was nevertheless seen by AAA. The victim on the same date reported the incident to her sister-in-
law and mother.
• Amidst the accusation of raping and twice sexually abusing AAA, Abello interposed the defense of denial. In all of the
instances, Abello claimed that he merely stepped on the victim at the sala on his way to his room after retiring home..
3 INFORMATIONS:
• on or about the 8th day of July 1998, in Navotas, Metro Manila, and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the
above-named accused, being a step-father (sic) of victim AAA with lewd design and by means of force and intimidation,
did then and there willfully, unlawfully and feloniously putting his penis inside the mouth of said AAA, against her will
and without her consent.
• That on or about the 30th day of June 1998, in Navotas, Metro Manila, and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable
Court, the above-named accused, being a step-father (sic) of victim AAA, a (sic) years old, and Polio Striken (sic), with
lewd design by means of violence and intimidation, did then and there willfully, unlawfully and feloniously mashing
her breast, against her will and without her consent.
• That on or about the 2nd day of July 1998, in Navotas, Metro Manila, and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable
Court, the above-named accused, being a step-father (sic) of victim AAA, a (sic) 21 years old, and Polio Striken (sic),
with lewd design by means of violence and intimidation, did then and there willfully, unlawfully and feloniously
mashing her breast, against her will and without her consent.
RTC: 1. Guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of Violation of Paragraph 2, Article 226-A, Republic Act [No.]
8353 (Anti Rape Law) and hereby sentences him to suffer an indeterminate penalty of Seven (7) Years of prision mayor,
as minimum, to Thirteen (13) Years of reclusion temporal, as maximum
2. Guilty beyond reasonable doubt of two (2) counts of Violation of Section 5, Article III of Republic Act [No.] 7610
(Child Abuse Act) and hereby sentences him in each of the two cases to suffer an indeterminate penalty of Four (4) Years
of prision correctional (sic), as minimum, to Twelve (12) Years and One (1) Day of prision mayor, as maximum.
CA: affirmed Abello’s conviction on appeal but modified the penalties imposed.
1.In Criminal Case No. 19623-MN, appellant is hereby sentenced to suffer an indeterminate penalty of twelve (12)
years of prision mayor, as minimum, to twenty (20) years of reclusion temporal, as maximum; Appellant is further
ordered to pay complainant, AAA, moral damages in the amount of P50,000.00
2. In Criminal Case Nos. 19624-MN and 19625-MN, appellant is hereby sentenced to suffer the penalty of reclusion
perpetua in each of the two cases
Issue: Whether or not, the court a quo erred in not absolving the accused-appellant of the crime.
Held: We note that both the RTC and CA found AAAs testimony to be positive, direct, and categorical, while the RTC found
the defenses version too strained to be believed for being contrary to human experience. A material point we noted is that
Abello could not say why AAA would falsely accuse him. The substance and tenor of the testimony and the element of
motivation are critical points for us since a straightforward, categorical and candid narration by the victim deserves
credence if no ill motive can be shown driving her to falsely testify against the accused. Our consideration of Abello’s
defense of denial and his other arguments lead us to reject them for the following reasons:
First, the issue of his credibility is reduced to a choice between the offended party’s positive testimony and the denial of
the accused. Settled jurisprudence tells us that the mere denial of one’s involvement in a crime cannot take precedence
over the positive testimony of the offended party.
Second, we flatly reject Abello’s argument that his relationship with AAA insulates him from the crimes charged. Our
judicial experience tells us that in handling these types of cases, the relationship between the offender and the offended
party has never been an obstacle to the commission of the crime against chastity.
Third, we find the claim that AAA could have just dreamed of the incidents complained of, to be preposterous. In the
normal course, a woman will not expose herself to these risks unless she is certain of what happened and she seeks to
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obtain justice against the perpetrator. Based on these considerations and in the absence of clear indications of errors in
giving credence to AAAs testimony, we find no reason to disturb the factual findings of the RTC and the CA
Rape by sexual assault

• Both the RTC and the CA failed to notice the variance between the allegations in the Information for rape and that
proven at the trial on the mode of committing the offense. The Information alleges “force and intimidation” as the
mode of commission, while AAA testified during the trial that she was asleep at the time it happened and only awoke
to find Abello’s male organ inside her mouth.
• This variance is not fatal to Abello’s conviction for rape by sexual assault. In People v. Corpuz, we ruled that a variance
in the mode of commission of the offense is binding upon the accused if he fails to object to evidence showing that the
crime was committed in a different manner than what was alleged. In the present case, Abello did not object to the
presentation of evidence showing that the crime charged was committed in a different manner than what was stated
in the Information. Thus, the variance is not a bar to Abello’s conviction of the crime charged in the Information.
• R.A. No. 8353 which took effect on October 22, 1997 introduced into the Philippine legal system the concept of rape
by sexual assault. This amendment not only reclassified rape as a crime against persons, but also expanded the
definition of rape from the traditional concept of a sexual intercourse committed by a man against an unwilling
woman.
• The second paragraph of Article 266-A of the RPC, as amended defines rape by sexual assault as committed by any
person who, under any of the circumstance mentioned in paragraph 1 … shall commit an act of sexual assault by inserting
his penis into another person’s mouth or anal orifice, or any instrument or object, into the genital or anal orifice of another
person.
• The elements of rape by sexual assault are:
(1)That the offender commits an act of sexual assault;
(2)That the act of sexual assault is committed by any of the following means:
(a) By inserting his penis into another person’s mouth or anal orifice; or
(3) That the act of sexual assault is accomplished under any of the following circumstances:
(a) By using force or intimidation;
(b) When a woman is deprived of reason or otherwise unconscious;

Acts of lasciviousness

• Abello was convicted of two (2) counts of sexual abuse under Section 5 (b), Article III of R.A. No. 7610, which defines
and penalizes acts of lasciviousness committed against a child:
• The essential elements of this provision are:
1. The accused commits the act of sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct.
2. The said act is performed with a child exploited in prostitution or subjected to other sexual abuse.
3. The child whether male or female, is below 18 years of age.
• Paragraph (h), Section 2 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of R.A. 7610 (implementing rules) defines
lascivious conduct as a crime committed through the intentional touching, either directly or through the clothing of
the genitalia, anus, groin, breast, inner thigh or buttocks with the intent to abuse, humiliate, harass, degrade, or arouse
or gratify the sexual desire of any person, among others.
• FIRST ELEMENT: Records show that AAA duly established this element when she positively testified that Abello
fondled her breasts on two separate occasions while she slept.
• SECOND ELEMENT ABSENT: Not a child. The second element requires that the lascivious conduct be committed on a
child who is either exploited in prostitution or subjected to other sexual abuse. This second element requires evidence
proving that: (a) AAA was either exploited in prostitution or subjected to sexual abuse and (b) she is a child as defined
under R.A. No. 7610.
• In Olivarez v. Court of Appeals, we explained that the phrase, “other sexual abuse” in the above provision covers not
only a child who is abused for profit, but also one who engages in lascivious conduct through the coercion or
intimidation by an adult. In the latter case, there must be some form of compulsion equivalent to intimidation which
subdues the free exercise of the offended party’s will.
• In the present case, the prosecution failed to present any evidence showing that force or coercion attended Abello’s
sexual abuse on AAA; the evidence reveals that she was asleep at the time these crimes happened and only awoke
when she felt her breasts being fondled.

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• Hence, she could have not resisted Abello’s advances as she was unconscious at the time it happened. In the same
manner, there was also no evidence showing that Abello compelled her, or cowed her into silence to bear his sexual
assault, after being roused from sleep. Neither is there evidence that she had the time to manifest conscious lack of
consent or resistance to Abello’s assault.
• More importantly, AAA cannot be considered a child under Section 3(a) of R.A. No. 7610. The implementing rules
elaborated on this definition when it defined a “child” as one who is below 18 years of age or over said age who,
upon evaluation of a qualified physician, psychologist or psychiatrist, is found to be incapable of taking care
of herself fully because of a physical or mental disability or condition or of protecting herself from abuse.
• While the records show that the RTC, the CA and the investigating prosecutor who filed the corresponding
Informations, considered AAA’s polio as a physical disability that rendered her incapable of normal function, no
evidence was in fact presented showing the prosecution’s compliance with the implementing rules.
Specifically, the prosecution did not present any evidence, testimonial or documentary, of any medical evaluation or
medical finding from a qualified physician, psychologist or psychiatrist attesting that AAA’s physical condition
rendered her incapable of fully taking care of herself or of protecting herself against sexual abuse. Under the
circumstances, we cannot consider AAA a child under Section 3(a) of R.A. No. 7610.
• We cannot hold Abello liable under R.A. No. 7610. However, we still find him liable for acts of lasciviousness
under Article 336 of the RPC, as amended.
• In the present case, although the two Informations wrongly designated R.A. No. 7610 as the law violated; the
allegations therein sufficiently constitute acts punishable under Article 336 of the RPC whose elements are:
1. That the offender commits any act of lasciviousness;
2. That the offended party is another person of either sex; and
3. That it is done under any of the following circumstances:
a. By using force or intimidation; or
b. When the offended party is deprived of reason or otherwise unconscious; or
c. When the offended party is under 12 years of age or is demented
• The presence of the first and second elements of the offense has been earlier discussed, albeit in the consideration of
a charge under R.A. No. 7610. The prosecution established these elements through AAA’s testimony that her breasts
were fondled while she was asleep.
• While she did not actually see Abello fondling her (as the fondling was done while she was asleep and stopped when
she awakened), she related that she identified Abello because she saw him enter her mother’s room immediately after
she felt her breasts fondled and after he stepped with his knees on her hand
• AAA also testified that Abello was illuminated by a light coming from outside their house. Further, the perpetrator
could only be Abello as the only other occupants of the house at the time were her mother, her sister-in-law and her
young nephew who were all asleep. The third element was proven by her testimony that, on two occasions, Abello
mashed her breasts while she was sleeping.
• As we discussed above, the Informations alleged the element of violence and intimidation as the mode of committing
the sexual abuses, contrary to what the prosecution established during the trial that AAA was asleep on the two
occasions when the offenses were committed.

The Penalty
• The three Informations all alleged the stepfather-stepdaughter relationship between AAA and Abello.
Relationship as an alternative circumstance under Article 15 of the RPC, as amended, and is an aggravating
circumstance in crimes against chastity and in rape.
• This modifying circumstance, however, was not duly proven in the present case due to the prosecution’s failure to
present the marriage contract between Abello and AAA’s mother. If the fact of marriage came out in the evidence at
all, it was via an admission by Abello of his marriage to AAA’s mother.
• This admission, however, is inconclusive evidence to prove the marriage to AAA’s mother as the marriage contract
still remains the best evidence to prove the fact of marriage stricter requirement is only proper as relationship is an
aggravating circumstance that increases the imposable penalty, and hence must be proven by competent evidence.
• Rape by sexual assault is penalized by prision mayor which has a range of six (6) years and one (1) day to twelve
(12) years. Applying the Indeterminate Sentence Law, the minimum of the indeterminate penalty shall be within the
full range of the penalty that is one degree lower than prision mayor, in this case, prision correccional which has a range
of penalty from six (6) months and one (1) day to six (6) years. In the absence of any mitigating or aggravating
circumstance, the maximum of the indeterminate penalty shall be taken within the medium period of prision mayor,
or eight (8) years and one (1) day to ten (10) years

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• Hence, Abello may be sentenced to suffer an indeterminate penalty ranging from six (6) months and one (1) day
to six (6) years of prision correccional, as minimum, to eight (8) years and one (1) day to ten (10) years, as
maximum, for the crime of rape.
• The imposable penalty for acts of lasciviousness under Article 336 of the RPC, as amended, is prision correccional.
Under Scale No. 1 of Article 71 of this law, one degree lower from prision correccional is arresto mayor which has a
range of penalty from one (1) month and one (1) day to six (6) months. Applying the Indeterminate Sentence Law, the
minimum of the indeterminate penalty shall be taken from the full range of arresto mayor. Absent any mitigating or
aggravating circumstance in the case, the maximum of the indeterminate penalty shall be taken from the medium
period of prision correccional or two (2) years, four (4) months and one (1) day to four (4) years and two (2) months.
• Accordingly, Abello may be meted an indeterminate penalty ranging from one (1) month and one (1) day to six
(6) months of arresto mayor, as minimum, to two (2) years, four (4) months and one (1) day to four (4) years
and two (2) months of prision correccional, as maximum, for each count of acts of lasciviousness.

DISPOSITIVE: WHEREFORE, premises considered, the decision dated January 3, 2002 of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R.
CR No. 23746 is AFFIRMED with the following MODIFICATIONS in that:
(1) In Criminal Case No. 19623, we find appellant Heracleo Abello y Fortada GUILTY of rape by sexual assault defined
and penalized under Articles 266-A and 266-B of the Revised Penal Code, as amended. We sentence him to suffer an
indeterminate prison term of six (6) years of prision correccional, as minimum, to ten (10) years of prision mayor, as
maximum. He is ORDERED to pay AAA P30,000.00 as civil liability; P30,000.00 as moral damages and P25,000.00 as
exemplary damages;
(2) In Criminal Case Nos. 19624-MN and 19625-MN, we find appellant Heracleo Abello y Fortada GUILTY of 2 counts of
acts of lasciviousness, defined and penalized under Article 336 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended. For each
count, he is sentenced to an indeterminate prison term of six (6) months of arresto mayor, as minimum, to four (4) years
and two (2) months of prision correccional, as maximum. He is further ORDERED to pay AAA the amounts of P20,000.00
as civil indemnity; P30,000.00 as moral damages and P2,000.00 as exemplary damages, in each case.

7. People v Romulo Garcia

DOCTRINE: Accused contend that AAA was never sexually abused because the medico-legal findings showed that there
were no signs of swelling on her vagina when she was examined. However, the Court stated that the lack of lacerated
wounds does not negate sexual intercourse. A freshly broken hymen is not an essential element of rape. Even the fact that
the hymen of the victim is still intact does not rule out rape since research show that the hymen may not be torn despite
repeated coitus. In any case, for rape to be consummated, full penetration is not necessary. It suffices that there is proof
of the entrance of the male organ into the labia of the pudendum of the female organ.

FACTS:
• On March 27, 2000, an Information for rape was filed against appellant which reads as follows: 6 th day of January
2000, in the City of Mandaluyong, Philippines, have carnal knowledge of one [AAA], five (5) years of age and his
grandniece by affinity thus sexual abuse prejudicial to the child’s development
• On June 20, 2000, both parties stipulated during pre-trial that the victim AAA was a minor, being born on June 22,
1994
• In the afternoon of January 6, 2000, AAA, then five (5) years old, was playing with her friends on the street outside
their house in Sto. Rosario Street, Mandaluyong City.
• Appellant called AAA and brought her to his house, which was right next to AAA’s house. At the time, the house was
unoccupied. They went up to the second floor where appellant’s room is located. Inside his room, appellant began
removing AAA’s dress, shorts and panty. Appellant then removed his own clothes. He told AAA to lie on the bed, and
wasting no time, inserted his penis into her vagina. AAA felt pain, but she was unable to cry for help because appellant
warned her not to tell anyone. Thereafter, appellant told AAA to dress up and go home
• Around 6:00 p.m. of the same day, BBB, the grandmother of AAA, was preparing to take a bath when the latter arrived.
AAA asked her grandmother to give her a bath, but when BBB was about to wash AAA’s genital area, she refused. BBB
noticed that her granddaughter was trembling and covering her private part with her hands. BBB became suspicious
and asked her to explain what happened. AAA replied that it was painful because it was pierced by a stick. They went
upstairs and BBB told her granddaughter to lie down. BBB looked at AAA’s vagina and saw that it was swollen and
reddish. Hence, she suspected that AAA had been abuse
• The following day, January 7, 2000, BBB brought AAA to the house of her sister-in-law, CCC, in Makati City, to inform
her of AAA’s condition. AAA requested BBB to go out of the room because she was embarrassed. It was on this

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 occasion that AAA revealed to CCC that it was appellant, whom she calls “Lolo Boyet,” who abused her in the afternoon
of January 6, 2000. BBB explained that AAA is appellant’s grandniece because his wife, DDD, is her sister
• Consequently, BBB reported the incident to the PNP Mandaluyong City Police Station. The case was referred to PO1
Josefina L. Abenojar of the Women and Children’s Desk for investigation. PO1 Abenojar prepared the sworn
statements executed by BBB and AAA relative to the incident
• SPO4 Julieta SI Espiritu, Chief of the Women and Children’s Desk, corroborated the testimony of PO1 Abenojar. SPO4
Espiritu testified that she tried to familiarize AAA with the surroundings in the police station because she was hesitant
to talk at first. She also noticed that AAA looked serious about what she was saying and observed AAA to be a bit afraid
and ashamed. She attested that she issued a referral letter to the City Prosecutor’s Office
• Dr. Daniel testified that she conducted physical and medico-genital examination on AAA
o No evident signs of extragenital physical injury was noted on the body of the subject at the time of
examination.
o Hymen, intact and its orifice small (0.3 cm. in diameter) as to preclude complete penetration by an average-
sized adult Filipino male organ in full erection without producing genital injury.
o According to Dr. Daniel, the phrase “to preclude complete penetration by an average-sized adult Filipino male
organ” means that the hymen was not penetrated by an erect penis, but explained that in rape cases, a normal
finding will not disprove that there was no sexual intercourse or abuse
• DEFENSE: Alibi.
• Testifying for appellant, DDD, appellant’s common-law-wife, testified that on January 6, 2000, she woke up at 7:00
a.m. and cooked breakfast for her children and husband. Appellant was allegedly already downstairs, outside their
house, fixing the motor pump when she cooked breakfast. She testified that appellant fixed the water pump the whole
day, but admitted that she did not actually see her husband the whole time because every now and then her husband
would go outside to test the pump. She was not able to monitor the movements of appellant as he was sometimes out
of her sight.
• DDD admitted that the victim is her niece while the latter’s guardian, BBB, is her sister. She further said that she had
disagreements with BBB regarding the house where she resides, and that the house was given to her by BBB and their
other sister
• appellant, for his part, testified that on January 6, 2000, he was at the house of Marvin Tara in St. Ignacio Street,
Mandaluyong City, installing a water pump. He started at 8:00 a.m. and came back around 12:00 noon. From 1:00
p.m. to 6:00 p.m., he was at the said house with Mario Odtuhan, his helper; Cora Reyes; a nephew of Marvin, whose
name he does not know; and a certain Carding. He further testified that DDD is his live-in partner, and admitted that
he did not have a harmonious relationship with DDD’s father and sister, BBB
RTC: Morally convinced that the accused GUILTY of the crime of RAPE, as defined and penalized under the Revised
Penal Code, as amended by R.A. 7659, in relation to R.A. 7160.
• Finding the victim, [AAA], to have been under eighteen (18) years of age at the time of rape on January 6, 2000
and finding the offender to be a relative by affinity within the third civil degree, in addition to the fact that said
victim is below seven (7) years old, this Court imposes the supreme penalty of Death through Lethal
Injection, as provided for in Republic Act, 8177, amending section 24 of R.A. 7659, in the manner and
procedure therein provided.
• Indemnify the offended party the amount of Seventy Five Thousand (Php 75,000.00) Pesos, the crime of Rape
being effectively qualified by the circumstances under which the Death Penalty is authorized by the applicable
amendatory lawsIndemnify the victim in the amount of Fifty Thousand (Php 50,000.00) Pesos, by way of
moral damages.
• Automatic review to SC but referred to CA
CA: Reduced the penalty of death imposed by the trial court to reclusion perpetua in view of the abolition of the Death
Penalty by Republic Act No.

ISSUE: Whether the crime of rape has been sufficiently proven.

HELD: YES.
• He contends that the trial court hastily disregarded his defense of denial, which was sufficient to absolve him in light
of the evidence on record. He emphasizes that the medico-legal officer testified that there were no signs of swelling
on the victim’s vagina when she was examined. Appellant further claims that the victim was coached to make false
accusations against him, considering that he was not in good terms with the victim’s grandmother

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• To determine the innocence or guilt of the accused in rape cases, the courts are guided by three well-entrenched
principles: (1) an accusation of rape can be made with facility and while the accusation is difficult to prove, it is even
more difficult for the accused, though innocent, to disprove; (2) considering that in the nature of things, only two
persons are usually involved in the crime of rape, the testimony of the complainant should be scrutinized with great
caution; and (3) the evidence for the prosecution must stand or fall on its own merits and cannot be allowed to draw
strength from the weakness of the evidence for the defense
• In the present case, AAA categorically testified that appellant directly inserted his penis into her vagina, causing her
to feel pain. AAA’s testimony specified the acts committed by appellant when he violated her on January 6, 2000,
• Both the RTC and the Court of Appeals are in agreement that AAA was categorical, straightforward, spontaneous,
convincing, clear and candid in her testimony. A rape victim who testifies in a categorical, straightforward,
spontaneous and frank manner, and remains consistent, is a credible witness
• In resolving rape cases, primordial consideration is given to the credibility of the victim’s testimony. The settled rule
is that the trial court’s conclusions on the credibility of witnesses in rape cases are generally accorded great weight
and respect, and at times even finality, unless there appear in the record certain facts or circumstances of weight and
value which the lower court overlooked or misappreciated and which, if properly considered, would alter the result
of the case
• Having seen and heard the witnesses themselves and observed their behavior and manner of testifying, the trial court
stood in a much better position to decide the question of credibility
• Here, we note that no such facts or circumstances of weight and substance have been overlooked, misapprehended or
misinterpreted by the trial and appellate courts.
• Appellant’s claim that the criminal complaint was filed against him because he was not in good terms with AAA’s
grandmother deserves scant consideration. The Court finds it incredible for AAA and her grandmother to trump up
charges of rape against appellant for the simple reason that they did not have a harmonious relationship. Well-settled
is the rule that testimonies of young victims of rape deserve full credence and should not be so easily dismissed
as a mere fabrication.
• Moreover, it is highly improbable that BBB would allow her granddaughter to be exposed to the ridicule of a public
trial, if the charges were not true. We note that AAA has been in the custody of BBB since she was an infant, and who
treated her as if she were her own daughter. It was thus very unlikely that she would sacrifice her own
granddaughter, a child of tender years, and subject her to the rigors and humiliation of a public trial for rape,
if she were not motivated by an honest desire to have her daughter’s transgressor punished accordingly
• AAA was never sexually abused because the medico-legal findings showed that there were no signs of swelling on the
victim’s vagina when she was examined. Lack of lacerated wounds does not negate sexual intercourse. A freshly broken
hymen is not an essential element of rape. Even the fact that the hymen of the victim was still intact does not rule out
the possibility of rape. Research in medicine even points out that negative findings are of no significance, since the hymen
may not be torn despite repeated coitus
• any case, for rape to be consummated, full penetration is not necessary. Penile invasion necessarily entails contact
with the labia. It suffices that there is proof of the entrance of the male organ into the labia of the pudendum of the
female organ. Penetration of the penis by entry into the lips of the vagina, even without rupture or laceration of the hymen,
is enough to justify a conviction for rape
• As to the penalty, Article 266-B of the Revised Penal Code, as amended, provides:
o The death penalty shall also be imposed if the crime of rape is committed with any of the following
aggravating/qualifying circumstances:
o l) When the victim is under eighteen (18) years of age and the offender is a parent, ascendant, step-
parent, guardian, relative by consanguinity or affinity within the third civil degree, or the common-
law spouse of the parent of the victim;
xxx
5) When the victim is a child below seven (7) years old;
Xxx
• Under Article 266-B, paragraph 6, subsection 1, the death penalty shall be imposed if the crime of rape is
committed when the victim is under 18 years old and the offender is a “parent, ascendant, step-parent,
guardian, relative by consanguinity or affinity within the third degree, or the common law spouse of the parent
of the victim.”
• The circumstances that qualify a crime should be alleged and proved beyond reasonable doubt as the crime
itself, as these attendant circumstances alter the nature of the crime of rape and increase the penalty. They
are in the nature of qualifying circumstances. The age of the victim and her relationship with the offender

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 must, therefore, be both alleged in the information and proven during the trial; otherwise, the death
penalty cannot be imposed
• Here, the Information alleged that AAA is appellant’s grandniece by affinity. It should be pointed out, however,
that this relationship does not make the appellant a relative of the victim by consanguinity or affinity
within the third civil degree. Hence, the provision in Article 266-B, paragraph 6, subsection 1, is not
applicable in this case.
• Nevertheless, it is provided under Article 266-B, paragraph 6, subsection 5, that the death penalty shall also
be imposed if the crime of rape is committed when the victim is a child below seven (7) years old.
o Testimonies, birth certificate establish that the victim was only five (5) years old when the rape was
committed.
• Thus, appellant was, at that time, correctly sentenced to death by the trial court. In view of the enactment of
Rep. Act No. 9346 on June 24, 2006, repealing the Death Penalty Law, the Court of Appeals also correctly
modified the death penalty imposed upon appellant to reclusion perpetua, without eligibility for parole
DISPOSITIVE: WHEREFORE, the Decision dated July 26, 2006 of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CR-H.C. No. 02170 is
hereby AFFIRMED with MODIFICATION in that appellant is further ordered to indemnify the victim P75,000.00 as moral
damages and P30,000.00 as exemplary damages.

8. People v Ernesto Uyboco

DOCTRINE:
• If the victim is kidnapped and illegally detained for the purpose of extorting ransom, the duration of his detention is
immaterial.
• In lawful arrests, it becomes both the duty and the right of the apprehending officers to conduct a warrantless search
not only on the person of the suspect, but also in the permissible area within the latter’s reach. Otherwise stated, a
valid arrest allows the seizure of evidence or dangerous weapons either on the person of the one arrested or within
the area of his immediate control. The phrase “within the area of his immediate control” means the area from within
which he might gain possession of a weapon or destructible evidence. Therefore, it is only but expected and legally so
for the police to search his car as he was driving it when he was arrested.
• Personal knowledge of facts must be based on probable cause, which means an actual belief or reasonable grounds of
suspicion. The grounds of suspicion are reasonable when, in the absence of actual belief of the arresting officers, the
suspicion that the person to be arrested is probably guilty of committing the offense is based on actual facts, i.e.,
supported by circumstances sufficiently strong in themselves to create the probable cause of guilt of the person to be
arrested. A reasonable suspicion, therefore, must be founded on probable cause, coupled with good faith on the part
of the peace officers making the arrest. Section 5, Rule 113 of the 1985 Rules on Criminal Procedure does not require
the arresting officers to personally witness the commission of the offense with their own eyes.
• Requisites before a warrantless arrest can be effected under the second instance of lawful warrantless arrest (1) an
offense has just been committed; and (2) the person making the arrest has personal knowledge of facts indicating that
the person to be arrested has committed it.
• As a rule, the assessment of the credibility of witnesses and their testimonies is a matter best undertaken by the trial
court, which had a unique opportunity to observe the witnesses firsthand and to note their demeanor, conduct and
attitude.
• Court has invariably viewed the defense of frame-up with disfavor. Like the defense of alibi, it can be just as easily
concocted.
FACTS:
• On 20 December 1993, Nimfa and her wards, siblings Jeson Kevin and Jeson Kirby Dichaves were abducted and
brought to a house in Merville Subdivision, Parañaque. Nimfa was able to recognized one of the kidnappers as
appellant, because she had seen the latter in her employer’s office.
• The kidnappers called Jepson and demanded for ransom of P26 Million. In one of the calls of the kidnappers, Jepson
was able to recognize the voice of appellant because he had several business transactions.
• After numerous times of negotiation, the parties finally agreed to a ransom of P1.5 Million, some in cash and the
balance to be paid in kind, such as jewelry and a pistol. Appellant asked Jepson to bring the ransom alone at Pancake
House in Magallanes Commercial Center and ordered him to put the bag in the trunk, leave the trunk unlocked, and
walk away for ten (10) minutes without turning back.

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• P/Insp. Escandor and P/Supt. Chan were assigned to proceed to Magallanes Commercial Center and brought a camera
to take photo and video coverage of the supposed pay-off. He identified Macias together with appellant and the latter
as the one who took the ransom.
• Later, appellant checked on his trunk and the bag was already gone. Appellant then apprised him that his sons and
helper were already at the Shell Gasoline Station along South Luzon Expressway. He immediately went to the place
and found his sons and helper seated at the corner of the gas station. P/Supt. Cruz and his group was assigned at Fort
Bonifacio then heard on their radio that the suspect’s vehicle, a red Nissan Sentra was heading in their direction.
• A few minutes later, they saw the red car and tailed it until it reached Dasmariñas Village in Makati. When said car
slowed down, they blocked it and immediately approached the vehicle.
• They introduced themselves as police officers and accosted the suspect, who turned out to be appellant. Appellant
suddenly pulled a .38caliber revolver and a scuffle took place. They managed to subdue appellant and handcuffed him.
Appellant was requested to open the compartment and a gray bag was found inside. P/Supt. Cruz saw money, jewelry
and a gun inside the bag
ISSUES: Whether or not there was a valid arrest and search without warrant?
HELD:
• The arrest was validly executed pursuant to Section 5, paragraph (b) of Rule 113 of the Rules of Court, which provides:
“A peace officer or a private person may, without a warrant, arrest a person: x x x; (b) When an offense has in fact been
committed and he has personal knowledge of facts indicating that the person to be arrested has committed it; and, (c)
x x x.”
• A search incident to a lawful arrest is also valid under Section 13, Rule 126 of the Rules of Court which states: “ A
person lawfully arrested may be searched for dangerous weapons or anything which may have been used or constitute
proof in the commission of an offense without a search warrant.”
• The instance of lawful warrantless arrest covered by paragraph (b) cited above necessitates two stringent
requirements before a warrantless arrest can be effected: (1) an offense has just been committed; and (2) the person
making the arrest has personal knowledge of facts indicating that the person to be arrested has committed it.
• Records show that both requirements are present in the instant case. The police officers present in Magallanes
Commercial Center were able to witness the pay-off which effectively consummates the crime of kidnapping. Such
knowledge was then relayed to the other police officers stationed in Fort Bonifacio where appellant was expected to
pass by.
• Personal knowledge of facts must be based on probable cause, which means an actual belief or reasonable grounds of
suspicion. Section 5, Rule 113 does not require the arresting officers to personally witness the commission of the
offense with their own eyes. It is sufficient for the arresting team that they were monitoring the pay-off for a number
of hours long enough for them to be informed that it was indeed appellant, who was the kidnapper. This is equivalent
to personal knowledge based on probable cause.
• Likewise, the search conducted inside the car of appellant was legal because the latter consented to such. Even
assuming that appellant did not give his consent for the police to search the car, they can still validly do so by virtue
of a search incident to a lawful arrest under Section 13, Rule 126.
• In lawful arrests, it becomes both the duty and the right of the apprehending officers to conduct a warrantless search
not only on the person of the suspect, but also in the permissible area within the latter's reach. Therefore, it is only
but expected and legally so for the police to search his car as he was driving it when he was arrested
DISPOSITIVE: WHEREFORE, the decision appealed from are AFFIRMED

9. People v Dima Montanir

FACTS:
• Josie Herrera, Robert Uy, Alicia “a.k.a. Alice” Buenaflor, together with appellants Ronald Norva and Eduardo Chua, on
December 17, 1997, concocted a plan to kidnap Rafael Mendoza, and after several days of conducting surveillance on
their intended victim, on January 5, 1998, they decided to kidnap Rafael in Ali Mall, Cubao, Quezon City. However, the
intended kidnapping failed, because Rafael did not show up at the said place.
• On February 5, 1998, a second attempt was made, but they encountered an accident before they could even execute
their original plan.
• Around 5:30 a.m. of February 17, 1998, Alicia called up Rosalina Reyes, a partner of Rafael, to tell her that she wanted
to meet her and Rafael at Jollibee, BBB, Valenzuela City to settle the former's loan of P350,000.00. She requested
Rosalina to bring the land title which she was given as collateral for the said loan.
• Rosalina and Rafael arrived at Jollibee ahead of Alicia. Eventually, around 9:15 a.m. of the same date, Alicia showed
up outside the store aboard a car. She was with appellant Ronald Norva. Alicia motioned Rosalina and Rafael to

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 approach the car, which the two did as requested. While inside the vehicle, Alicia introduced appellant Ronald as her
cousin. Later on, Alicia informed Rosalina and Rafael that she would pay them at her place.
• When the car passed by the street where Alicia's house was located, Rosalina asked the former where they were going.
Alicia answered that they had to drop by the house of her financier who agreed to redeem her title and substitute as
her creditor. Trusting Alicia, Rosalina and Rafael did not protest. They finally reached a house in Ciudad Grande,
Valenzuela City.
• Thereafter, appellant Ronald alighted from the vehicle and talked to a man inside a store, later identified as Jonard
Mangelin. The gate of the house was then opened by appellant Dima. The car proceeded to the garage and Rosalina
and Rafael were asked to go inside the house. Rosalina followed Alicia, while Rafael trailed Rosalina as they entered
through a kitchen door. They passed by a man (Jessie Doe) who was washing his hands in the sink.
• While Rosalina was walking behind Alicia, she suddenly heard a dull moan coupled with the sound of stomping feet.
She looked back at the direction where the sounds came from and saw Rafael being forcibly dragged inside a room.
She decided to look for Rafael and on her way, she saw “Jessie Doe” place his hand on Rafael's mouth and poke a gun
at him. Rafael struggled to get free. Rosalina pleaded with “Jessie Doe” to have pity on Rafael because of his existing
heart ailment.
• Appellant Ronald rushed towards her, poked a gun at her mouth, tied her to a bed and warned her not to make any
noise. He told her that all they want is her money, upon which, Rosalina said that if they really wanted money, they
should untie Rafael, who then appeared to be on the verge of having a heart attack. Rosalina was untied and she
immediately rushed to Rafael and began pumping his chest. She asked Jonard, who had just entered the room, to help
her pump Rafael's chest while she applied CPR on the latter. Jonard did as told. While CPR was being administered,
appellant Dima started removing all of Rafael's personal belongings, which include his ring, wallet, watch and other
items inside his pocket, and passed them on to appellant Ronald.
• Afterwards, appellant Ronald instructed Jonard to take Rosalina to another room. While inside the room where she
was brought, Rosalina begged Jonard to help her escape. Jonard was moved by Rosalina's plea and agreed to help her.
During their conversation, Jonard told Rosalina that two women had tipped them off as the kidnap victims. When
asked who they were, Jonard refused to reveal their identities.
• Rosalina was transferred to the master's bedroom around 12:00 noon because certain female visitors arrived. After
the visitors left, Rosalina was returned to the room where she was previously taken. Rosalina asked Jonard about
Rafael's condition, to which he replied that Rafael would be brought to the hospital. A little later, at around 1 p.m.,
Jonard went to check on Rafael and confirmed that he was still alive.
• Around 2:00 p.m., Rosalina heard the sound of someone being pummelled. Feeling nervous, she asked Jonard the
whereabouts of Rafael and was told that he was brought to the hospital. But unknown to Rosalina, Rafael had just
died and his body was placed inside the trunk of a car.
• Around 6:30 p.m., Rosalina was informed that she will be brought to another safe house. She was taken to a car and
placed at the back seat, together with Jonard and three other men, later identified as Larry, Jack and Boy. The driver
of the car was appellant Ronald. Appellant Ronald instructed Jonard to cover Rosalina's head with a jacket which
Jonard did. As they were about to leave, the man seated beside Ronald started to talk. Rosalina recognized the voice
of Robert. She then lifted the jacket covering her head and was able to confirm that the one talking was Robert.
Rosalina cried, “Robert, Robert, why did you do this, we did not do anything to you” and Robert responded,
“Pasensiyahan na lang tayo.”
• By 10:00 p.m., they arrived at a certain house in Pandi, Bulacan where there was no electricity. Thus, they lit candles
for illumination. Rosalina found the house familiar and concluded that it was Alicia's. Rosalina was brought to a room
on the second floor and while inside the room, she was told by one of the men guarding her that one of the leaders
wanted to talk to her. Per the leader's instruction, the guard put out the candle light. The man then seated himself
beside Rosalina and warned her against escaping as they were a large and armed group. Rosalina recognized the voice
as that of Robert's. Before he left the room, Robert gave instructions to Jonard and the other men inside. Meanwhile,
the group started digging a pit at the back of the same house near the swimming pool.
• Around 3:00 a.m. of the following day (February 18), the group buried Rafael's body in the pit. Thereafter, Robert
instructed appellant Ronald to tell Jonard that the latter should kill Rosalina, which Jonard refused to do. Nonetheless,
Robert instructed Jonard and the others to guard Rosalina well, as he himself would deal with her upon his return.
• Rosalina heard the car leave around 5:00 a.m. of the same day. Sensing that Jonard was sympathetic to her, Rosalina
begged him again to help her escape for the sake of her children.
• When electricity was restored around 8 p.m., one of the men guarding Rosalina turned off the light inside the room.
The room was only illuminated by a light coming from the hallway. Rosalina saw a person wearing a wig and
sunglasses enter the room. Rosalina recognized him as Robert.

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• Trying to mimic a woman by modulating his voice, Robert told her that Rafael was in the hospital and that he could
still sign a check. He asked Rosalina the whereabouts of the other land titles and the identities of the other financiers
whom she knew. Rosalina replied in the negative. Robert angrily poked a gun at her and shouted, “That's impossible,”
and then left the room. He gave instructions to his members and left.
• At 9:00 p.m., Jonard went to Rosalina and told her about Robert's order to kill her, which caused the latter to panic
and cry. She then implored the help of Jonard for her escape. Afterwards, Jonard went to his companions Larry, Jack
and Boy and told them that he would help Rosalina escape. His companions immediately cocked their guns and an
argument ensued. Rosalina talked to them and begged them all to spare her life. One of Jonard's companions told
Rosalina that if they would allow her to escape, they too would get into trouble. Taking advantage of the situation,
Rosalina suggested that all of them should escape. They all agreed to escape in the early morning.
• Around 5:00 a.m., Rosalina, Jonard, Larry, Jack and Boy left the safe house. They walked through a rice field for about
30 minutes and then boarded a jeepney bound for Balagtas, Bulacan. From Balagtas, they took a bus going to Cubao
and arrived at 7:30 a.m. Rosalina pawned her pieces of jewelry for P1,500.00 and gave the P1,000.00 to Larry, Jack
and Boy. The three told Jonard to stay with Rosalina so that she would have a witness and, in case Rosalina would
further need their help, left their address with Jonard.
• When the three left, Rosalina immediately called Rafael's brother Tito, and related what happened to her and his
brother. When Tito asked Jonard which hospital Rafael was brought to, Jonard revealed to Rosalina that Rafael died
at the safe house in Ciudad Grande, Valenzuela City. Rosalina called her lawyer, Atty. Teresita Agbi and asked her to
meet them at Farmer's, Cubao. When Atty. Agbi arrived, she accompanied them to the Department of Interior and
Local Government (DILG) where an investigation was conducted.
• The following day, at 4:00 a.m., two groups from the DILG were formed to arrest Alicia, Josie, the appellants, and
Robert. Alicia and Josie were not at their homes, while appellants Ronald and Dima were arrested at the residence of
Robert. While at the DILG office, Rosalina positively identified appellants Ronald and Dima as her kidnappers.
Meanwhile, Jonard accompanied the police authorities to the safe house in Pandi, Bulacan and showed them where
the body of Rafael was buried. The remains of Rafael was later on exhumed.
• Two Informations were filed with the RTC of Valenzuela City (Branch 171:
o 17th day of February 1998 in Valenzuela, Metro Manila, conspiring together and mutually helping one another,
being then private person, did then and kidnap one ROSALINA REYES against her will and detained her,
thereby depriving her of her liberty for a period of two days.
o 17th day of February 1998 in Valenzuela, Metro Manila, accused, conspiring together and mutually helping one
another, being then a private person, did then and kidnap one RAFAEL MENDOZA against his will and detained
him, thereby depriving him of his liberty and on the occasion thereof, the death of the victim resulted
(Kidnapping resulting to homicide?)
• Upon arraignment, with the assistance of counsel, Jonard and appellants Ronald, Dima and Eduardo, pleaded “not
guilty” to the crime charged. Robert Uy, Alice Buenaflor and Jessie Doe remained at-large during the trial of the case.
Jonard was later on discharged as a state witness. Afterwards, the trial on the merits ensued.
RTC: DIMA MONTANIR, RONALD NORVA, and EDUARDO CHUA are hereby found GUILTY, crime of kidnapping (SPECIAL
COMPLEX CRIME OF KIDNAPPING WITH HOMICIDE) and in accordance with Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code.
- Penalty of DEATH on accused NORVA and MONTANIR. As regards accused CHUA, this Court hereby imposes the
penalty of reclusion perpetua.
- Further, accused Montanir, Norva and Chua are hereby held jointly and severally liable to pay the heirs of Mendoza
the amount of Php 71,000.00 in actual damages and Php 50,000.00 as moral damages.
- As for accused JOSIE HERRERA, the Court hereby ACQUITS her on reasonable doubt of the charge of kidnapping.
- MISSING: With regard to accused ALICE BUENAFLOR, ROBERT UY and one JESSIE DOE, let the cases against them
be ARCHIVED pending their apprehension. Meantime, let an alias warrant issue for their apprehension.

CA: On automatic review, Affirmed the conviction with modification on the penalty imposed, thus:
Penalty of death imposed on accused Montanir and Norva is hereby modified to reclusion perpetua to conform to and in
accordance with Republic Act No. 9346. Appellants Montanir, Norva and Chua are ordered to pay jointly and severally
the amount of P50,000.00 as civil indemnity to the heirs of the victims.

ISSUES:

DIMA MONTANIR: Not beyond reasonable doubt

EDUARDO CHUA: Not a conspirator

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RONALD NORVA: Beyond reasonable doubt

HELD:
• After the amendment of the Revised Penal Code on December 31, 1993 by Republic Act No. 7659, Article
267 of the Revised Penal Code, now provides:
• Kidnapping and serious illegal detention. - Any private individual who shall kidnap or detain another, or in any
other manner deprive him of his liberty, shall suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua to death:
o 1. If the kidnapping or detention shall have lasted more than three days.
o 2. If it shall have been committed simulating public authority.
o 3. If any serious physical injuries shall have been inflicted upon the person kidnapped or detained; or
if threats to kill him shall have been made
o 4. If the person kidnapped or detained shall be a minor, except when the accused is any of the parents,
female or a public officer;
The penalty shall be death where the kidnapping or detention was committed for the purpose of
extorting ransom from the victim or any other person, even if none of the circumstances above-mentioned
were present in the commission of the offense.
When the victim is killed or dies as a consequence of the detention or is raped, or is subjected to
torture or dehumanizing acts, the maximum penalty shall be imposed.
• This amendment introduced in our criminal statutes the concept of 'special complex crime' of kidnapping with
murder or homicide. It effectively eliminated the distinction drawn by the courts between those cases where
the killing of the kidnapped victim was purposely sought by the accused, and those where the killing of the
victim was not deliberately resorted to but was merely an afterthought.
• 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
RA No. 7659.
• A discussion on the nature of special complex crime is imperative. Where the law provides a single penalty
for two or more component offenses, the resulting crime is called a special complex crime.
• As earlier mentioned, R.A. No. 7659 amended Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code by adding thereto this
provision: "When the victim is killed or dies as a consequence of the detention, or is raped, or is subjected to
torture or dehumanizing acts, the maximum penalty shall be imposed; and that this provision gives rise to a
special complex crime.
• It appearing from the overwhelming evidence of the prosecution that there is a "direct relation, and intimate
connection” between the kidnapping, killing and raping of Marijoy, rape cannot be considered merely as an
aggravating circumstance but as a component offense forming part of the herein special complex crime
• "Where the person 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 Article 48, nor be treated as separate crimes, but shall be punished as a special complex crime under
the last paragraph of Article 267." The same principle applies here. The kidnapping and serious illegal
detention can no longer be complexed under Article 48, nor be treated as separate crime but shall be punished
as a special complex crime.
• At any rate, the technical designation of the crime is of no consequence in the imposition of the penalty
considering that kidnapping and serious illegal detention if complexed with either homicide or rape,
still, the maximum penalty of death shall be imposed.
• In this particular case, the Information specifically alleges that the appellants wilfully, unlawfully and
feloniously kidnapped Rafael Mendoza against his will and detained him, thereby depriving him of his liberty
and on the occasion thereof, the death of the victim resulted. The trial court, in its decision, particularly
in the dispositive portion, merely stated that the appellants were found guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the
crime of kidnapping, however, its mention of the phrase, in accordance with Article 267 of the Revised Penal
Code, as amended, this Court hereby imposes the penalty of DEATH on accused Norva and Montanir, clearly
refers to the crime committed as that of the special complex crime of Kidnapping with Homicide.

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• The appellants, therefore, were correctly punished under the last paragraph of Article 267 as the evidence
presented during the trial, in its entirety, undoubtedly proves that the death of Rafael Mendoza, although of
natural causes, occurred on the occasion of the kidnapping.
• BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT: The trial court's assessment of the credibility of a witness is entitled to great
weight. It is conclusive and binding unless shown to be tainted with arbitrariness or unless, through oversight,
some fact or circumstance of weight and influence has not been considered
• Absent any showing that the trial judge overlooked, misunderstood, or misapplied some facts or
circumstances of weight which would affect the result of the case, or that the judge acted arbitrarily, his
assessment of the credibility of witnesses deserves high respect by appellate courts
Inconsistencies
• Appellants claim that Jonard, a witness for the prosecution, stated in his Sinumpaang Salaysay that he was the one
who whispered to appellant Ronald to transfer Rosalina to another room so that the latter would have no idea that
Rafael was in a critical condition, but during trial, Jonard testified that it was Ronald who instructed him to transfer
Rosalina to a different room.
• Appellants also point out that in the same sworn statement, Jonard averred that he resided in Taguig since October,
1987, which is contrary to what he testified in court that he resided in that same place since 1997. In addition,
appellants further argue that in her testimony, Rosalina declared that she was with four men seated at the back of the
car when she was brought to Pandi, Bulacan, however, Jonard, in his own testimony, stated that there were four of
them including Rosalina seated at the back of the car.
• A close reading of the above inconsistencies asserted by the appellants show that the same refer only to minor
details and collateral matters and do not affect the veracity and weight of the testimonies of the witnesses for
the prosecution. What really prevails is the consistency of the testimonies of the witnesses in relating the principal
occurrence and positive identification of the appellants. Slight contradictions in fact even serve to strengthen the
credibility of the witnesses and prove that their testimonies are not rehearsed. They are thus safeguards against
memorized perjury.
• Testimonies in court are given more weight than affidavits, thus: Affidavits are not entirely reliable evidence in court
due to their incompleteness and the inaccuracies that may have attended their formulationIn general, such affidavits
are not prepared by the affiants themselves but by another person (i.e., investigator) who may have used his own
language in writing the statement or misunderstood the affiant or omitted material facts in the hurry and impatience
that usually attend the preparation of such affidavits.
• An affidavit, “being taken ex-parte, is almost always incomplete and often inaccurate, sometimes from partial
suggestion, and sometimes from want of suggestion and inquiries, without the aid of which the witness may
be unable to recall the connected collateral circumstances necessary for the correction of the first suggestion
of his memory and for his accurate recollection of all that belongs to the subject
• affidavits have generally been considered inferior to testimony given in open court
• Incidentally, the CA was correct in stating that Jonard was able to explain and reconcile the minor
discrepancies in his testimony by saying that he whispered to appellant Ronald that Rafael was in a bad
condition and afterwards, it was appellant Ronald who instructed him to transfer Rosalina to another room,
thus: “A: The two are true, ma'am, because when I whispered to him that the old man was in a bad
condition he gave me instruction to transfer Mrs. Reyes to another room.”
• The same is true with his inconsistent statements regarding his time of residence in Taguig, thus: “The truth
is 1997”
• Prosecution was not able to establish his participation in the commission of the crime because he was merely
the house helper of the safe house in Ciudad Grande, Valenzuela, when the kidnappers and the victims
arrived. In the same vein, appellant Ronald asserts that there was no convincing evidence presented by the
prosecution that will point to his clear participation in the crime because he was just the driver of the
car that brought the victims to the place where the latter were kept. Appellant Eduardo also insists that he
was not a participant in the offense charged in the Information. Basically, the appellants deny any
participation in the kidnapping.

Conspiracy exists
• Conspiracy exists when two or more persons come to an agreement concerning the commission of a felony and decide
to commit it.

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• Verily, when conspiracy is established, the responsibility of the conspirators is collective, not individual, that render
all of them equally liable regardless of the extent of their respective participations, the act of one being deemed to be
the act of the other or the others, in the commission of the felony
• Each conspirator is responsible for everything done by his confederates which follows incidentally in the execution of
a common design as one of its probable and natural consequences even though it was not intended as part of the
original design. Responsibility of a conspirator is not confined to the accomplishment of a particular purpose of
conspiracy but extends to collateral acts and offenses incident to and growing out of the purpose intended
• Conspirators are held to have intended the consequences of their acts and by purposely engaging in conspiracy which
necessarily and directly produces a prohibited result, they are, in contemplation of law, chargeable with intending
that result
• Conspirators are necessarily liable for the acts of another conspirator unless such act differs radically and
substantively from that which they intended to commit
• As Judge Learned Hand put it in United States v. Andolscheck “when a conspirator embarks upon a criminal venture of
indefinite outline, he takes his chances as to its content and membership, so be it that they fall within the common
purposes as he understands them.”
• EVIDENCE: The trial court correctly found the denial of appellant Dima that he had knowledge of the kidnapping,
unbelievable. The appellant’s bare denial is a weak defense that becomes even weaker in the face of the prosecution
witnesses’ positive identification of him.
• As for accused Montanir, again, this Court finds the testimonies of prosecution witnesses more credible than his
testimony applying the same principle that evidence to be believed must not only proceed from a mouth of a credible
witness but must be credible in itself, such that the common experience and observation of mankind can show it as
probable under the circumstances.
• Certainly, this Court is not convinced by accused Montanir's claim that he was at Ciudad Grande because he was a
house boy of accused Chua after he admitted the circumstances under which he has to live there a few days before the
victims were brought there.
• To begin with, this Court does not buy accused Montanir's explanation that he transferred to Chua because he was
looking for a permanent job is hardly credible because he himself admitted that when he was brought by accused Uy
to the residence of accused Chua at Ciudad Grande, it was the understanding that it would be accused Uy who would
be paying his salary. Why would accused Uy pay the salary of accused Montanir if he was to work as a house boy of
accused Chua? Evidently, the only plausible reason why accused Uy would pay the salary of accused Montanir is
because he was actually working for the former and only posted in the house of accused Chua at Ciudad Grande to
play his part in the execution of the planned kidnapping. This conclusion is bolstered by accused Montanir's admission
that he never even spoke with accused Chua during all those times that he stayed at accused Chua's residence as in
fact, he took orders from accused Uy.
• Moreover, this Court finds it rather perplexing that accused Montanir would suddenly go back to the house of accused
Uy on 19 February 1998 on the shallow reason that he had no companion at Ciudad Grande when precisely he said he
was hired as a caretaker thereat while the regular boy was on vacation.
• The above conclusion was bolstered by the positive identification of the same appellant and his exact participation in
the execution of the crime, by the witnesses for the prosecution, thus: WITNESS JONARD: I saw Jess and Dems poking
a gun to (sic) Mr. Mendoza. WITNESS ROSALINA: While we were pumping Mr. Mendoza's chest, Dima Montanir
was busy removing the things of Mr. Mendoza. Who was there? Dima Montanir.
• In like manner, appellant Eduardo's denial that he participated in the offense charged does not outweigh the
testimonies of the witnesses positively identifying him as one of the culprits, thus: WITNESS JONARD Q When you
said they are my Boss, to whom, Mr. Witness, are you referring to? A Ronald Norva, Robert Uy, Eduardo
Chua, Alice Buenaflor and Josie Herrera.
• Q You also mentioned the name of Eduardo Chua as one of your bosses, why do you say so that he was one of
your bosses? A Because they were the ones planning how they could get Mr. Mendoza.
• Q Who were these people in the group, Mr. Witness? A Alice Buenaflor, Robert Uy, Ronald Norva, Eduardo
Chua and Josie Herrera.
• Q And who participated in the plan, Mr. Witness? A Eduardo Chua, Robert Uy, Ronald, Alice Buenaflor
and Josie Herrera.
• It must always be remembered that between positive and categorical testimony which has a ring of truth to it on the
one hand, and a bare denial on the other, the former generally prevails.
• It is also not disputed that the safe house in Ciudad Grande, Valenzuela, where the victims were brought was owned
by appellant Eduardo.

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• The trial court was also correct in dismissing the claim of appellant Eduardo that he merely lent his car to Robert and
allowed the latter to occupy his house because Robert had been so accommodating to him and had facilitated his loan,
thus: Regarding the criminal liability of accused Chua, while it is conceded that the said accused was nowhere
in the actual scene of the incident, this Court nonetheless finds the said accused guilty of kidnapping as one of the
conspirators to the commission of the felony who participated by furnishing the vehicle used in abducting the victims
and the house where they were held captive and where Mendoza died.
• It is also bewildering to this Court why immediately after receiving the money he borrowed, he would spend it in going
to Davao with his daughter on 18 February 1988, without any previous plan whatsoever and suspiciously, upon
invitation of accused Uy who had known by then that one of the victims, Mendoza, had died in the course of the
kidnapping.

DISPOSITIVE: WHEREFORE, the Decision dated April 22, 2008 of the Court Appeals, affirming with modification the
Decision dated October 28, 2004 of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Valenzuela City, Branch 171 is hereby AFFIRMED,
with further MODIFICATION that all the appellants herein are equally found GUILTY of the special complex crime of
Kidnapping with Homicide.

10. People v Joel Baluya

FACTS:
o In an Information dated September 4, 2003, appellant was indicted before RTC of Manila for the crime of kidnapping
and serious illegal detention, allegedly committed as follows:
o That on or about August 31, 2003, in the City of Manila, Philippines, the said accused, being then a private
individual, did then and there willfully, unlawfully and feloniously kidnap, take, detain and carry away one
GLODIL CASTILLON Y MAAMBONG, a minor, nine (9) years old, son of Gloria Castillon y Maambong, while the
latter was playing outside of their residence along Laon Laan St., Sampaloc, this City, by poking a knife on his back,
twisting his hands and forcibly bringing him to Novaliches, Quezon City, thus detaining and depriving him of his
liberty under restraint and against his will and consent.
o Around 10:30 a.m. of August 31, 2003, the victim, Glodil Castillon (Glodil), who at that time was nine (9) years old,
was playing in front of their house located along Laon Laan St., Sampaloc, Manila. While in the midst of play, he saw
herein appellant. Appellant then called Glodil's attention and summoned him to come forth.
o Immediately thereafter, appellant seized him by twisting his right arm, pointed a knife at him and told him that if
appellant's wife, Marissa, would not show up Glodil's mother would not see him anymore. Appellant and Glodil then
boarded a jeepney and went to Blumentritt. When they were in Blumentritt, appellant called up Glodil's mother, Gloria,
telling her to show him his wife so that she will also be able to see Glodil.
o Gloria then asked appellant to allow her to talk to her son as proof that Glodil was indeed with him. Appellant then
passed the telephone to Glodil, but the latter was only able to momentarily talk with his mother because appellant
immediately grabbed the telephone from him.
o Thereafter, Glodil's mother reported the incident to the police. Meanwhile, appellant and Glodil again boarded a
jeepney and went to Novaliches. It was Glodil's first time to reach Novaliches. Upon reaching Novaliches “Bayan,” they
headed straight to a barbershop where they fetched appellant's three minor children.
o They then proceeded to a church where appellant left his children and Glodil in the playground within the church
premises. Glodil played, ate and slept with appellant's children until the afternoon of the same day. During that period,
appellant returned from time to time to check on them and bring them food.
o At 3:30 p.m. of the same day, appellant again called up Gloria and, while shouting, asked if his wife was already there.
He then threatened Gloria by saying that “kapag hindi mo ipakita sa akin si Marissa, hindi mo na makikita ang anak
mo.” Subsequently, Gloria was able to talk to Marissa and convince her to meet with appellant at the Novaliches public
market.
o Unknown to appellant, the police already had a plan to arrest him, which they did when he showed up to meet with
his wife. In the meantime, around 4:00 p.m. of August 31, 2003, Glodil was able to seize an opportunity to escape while
appellant was away. He walked from the place where appellant left him in Novaliches until he reached their house and
it took him around four hours to do so. He was able to trace back their house by reading the signboard of the jeepneys
and following the route of those that pass by his place of residence.
DEFENSE:
o On the other hand, the defense interposed the defense of denial alleging that on August 31, 2003, appellant went to
the house of his common-law-wife's aunt, Gloria, at Laon Laan St. in Sampaloc, Manila for the purpose of asking the
latter if his wife, with whom he has been separated, has been there.
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o Gloria told him that his wife went to their house once but has not seen her since then. After an hour of talking with
Gloria, appellant bid her goodbye. It was then that Glodil approached him and asked if he could go with him to
Novaliches. Since Glodil already went with him to Novaliches several times in the past, appellant acceded to the child's
request on the condition that he ask his mother for permission, which the latter readily gave.
o Appellant and Glodil then proceeded to the former's house in Novaliches. After taking lunch, appellant took his
children and Glodil to the playground and left them there. When he returned around 4:30 p.m., Glodil was no longer
there. His children told him that Glodil's aunt, by the name of Rosaly, fetched him.
o Appellant then brought home his children. Around 6:00 p.m. of the same day, the police, together with Gloria and his
wife, arrived at his house wherein he was apprehended and brought to a police station in Novaliches. After having
been subjected to a medical examination, he was turned over to Police Station 4 in Balic-Balic, Manila, where he was
subsequently charged with kidnapping.
o Appellant alleges that his wife and her aunt came up with the scheme of accusing him with kidnapping so that his wife
would be able to take their children from him. Appellant also claims that Gloria is angry with “warays” and because he
is a “waray” she is also angry with him.

RTC: GUILTY of the crime of Kidnapping with Serious Illegal Detention and sentences him to suffer the penalty of reclusion
perpetua with all the accessory penalties provided by law and to pay the costs.
CA: AFFIRMED, subject to the modification that accused JOEL BALUYA y NOTARTE is ordered to pay to victim Glodil M.
Castillon the amounts of P30,000.00 as moral damages and of P15,000.00 as nominal damages.

ISSUES:
1. Whether tHE COURT A QUO GRAVELY ERRED IN FINDING THE ACCUSED GUILTY BEYOND REASONABLE
DOUBT OF THE CRIME CHARGED
2. THE COURT A QUO GRAVELY ERRED IN GIVING CREDENCE TO THE TESTIMONY OF THE PROSECUTION
WITNESSES THAT THE VICTIM WAS FORCIBLY TAKEN AND DEPRIVED OF HIS LIBERTY UNDER RESTRAINT AND
AGAINST HIS WILL AND CONSENT.
3. Whether COURT A QUO GRAVELY ERRED IN FAILING TO DETERMINE THE ALLEGATION OF MINORITY OF THE
VICTIM.

o Appellant argues that the prosecution failed to prove the presence of all the elements of the crime charged. In
particular, the defense contends that there is no evidence to show that the victim was deprived of his liberty.

HELD: AFFIRM CONVICTION

o The elements of kidnapping and serious illegal detention under Article 267of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) are:

1. the offender is a private individual;

2. he kidnaps or detains another or in any other manner deprives the latter of his liberty;
3. the act of detention or kidnapping is illegal; and
4. in the commission of the offense, any of the following circumstances are present: (a) the kidnapping or
detention lasts for more than 3 days; or (b) it is committed by simulating public authority; or (c) any serious
physical injuries are inflicted upon the person kidnapped or detained or threats to kill him are made; or (d)
the person kidnapped or detained is a minor, female, or a public officer.

FIRST: The presence of the first element is not in issue as there is no dispute that appellant is a private individual.
SECOND: As to the second element of the crime, the deprivation required by Article 267 of the RPC means not only the
imprisonment of a person, but also the deprivation of his liberty in whatever form and for whatever length of
time.
o It involves a situation where the victim cannot go out of the place of confinement or detention or is restricted or
impeded in his liberty to move. If the victim is a child, it also includes the intention of the accused to deprive the
parents of the custody of the child. In other words, the essence of kidnapping is the actual deprivation of the victim's
liberty, coupled with indubitable proof of the intent of the accused to effect such deprivation.
o In the present case, Glodil was in the control of appellant as he was kept in a place strange and unfamiliar to him.
Because of his tender age and the fact that he did not know the way back home, he was then and there deprived of his
liberty. The intention to deprive Glodil's parents of his custody is also indicated by appellant's actual taking of the
child without the permission or knowledge of his parents, of subsequently calling up the victim’s mother to inform
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 her that the child is in his custody and of threatening her that she will no longer see her son if she failed to show his
wife to him.
o Appellant's arguments that the victim is free to go home if he wanted to because he was not confined, detained or
deprived of his liberty and that there is no evidence to show that Glodil sustained any injury, cannot hold water.
o The CA is correct in holding that for kidnapping to exist, it is not necessary that the offender kept the victim in an
enclosure or treated him harshly. Where the victim in a kidnapping case is a minor, it becomes even more irrelevant
whether the offender forcibly restrained the victim.
o As discussed above, leaving a child in a place from which he did not know the way home, even if he had the freedom
to roam around the place of detention, would still amount to deprivation of liberty. For under such a situation, the
child’s freedom remains at the mercy and control of the abductor. It remains undisputed that it was his first time to
reach Novaliches and that he did not know his way home from the place where he was left. It just so happened that
the victim had the presence of mind that, when he saw an opportunity to escape, he ran away from the place where
appellant left him. Moreover, he is intelligent enough to read the signboards of the passenger jeepneys he saw and
follow the route of the ones going to his place of residence.
o Appellant alleges that Glodil was not forcibly taken, but instead voluntarily went with appellant to Novaliches. The
general rule is that the prosecution is burdened to prove lack of consent on the part of the victim. However,
where the victim is a minor, lack of consent is presumed. Aside from his self-serving testimony, appellant failed
to present competent evidence to overcome such presumption. Thus, the presumption stands that Glodil, being only
nine (9) years old on August 31, 2003, is incapable of giving consent and is incompetent to assent to his seizure and
illegal detention.
o The defense further argues that appellant had no intention to detain Glodil and that his purpose is to merely use him
as “a leverage against Glodil's mother, who refused to produce Marissa, his live-in partner.” The Court, however,
cannot fathom how appellant could have used Glodil as leverage or bargaining tool to force Marissa to meet with him
without depriving him of his liberty. In any case, appellant's motive is not relevant, because it is not an element of the
crime.
o THIRD ELEMENT: Act of detaining the victim was without lawful cause.
o FOURTH ELEMENT: Victim's minority was alleged by the prosecution in the information and was not disputed.
During his direct examination, the victim testified as to his minority claiming that, at the time that he was presented
at the witness stand, he was only 10 years old. This fact was affirmed by his mother who also testified as to his minority
at the time that he was abducted. As correctly contended by the OSG, appellant did not raise any issue as to the victim's
minority when the victim's and his mother's testimonies were offered.
o However, the trial court gave credence to the testimonies of Glodil and his mother finding them to be trustworthy and
believable. The age-old rule is that the task of assigning values to the testimonies of witnesses and weighing their
credibility is best left to the trial court which forms its first-hand impressions as witnesses testify before it.
o It is thus no surprise that findings and conclusions of trial courts on the credibility of witnesses enjoy, as a rule, a
badge of respect, for trial courts have the advantage of observing the demeanor of witnesses as they testify.
o Further, factual findings of the trial court as regards its assessment of the witnesses' credibility are entitled to great
weight and respect by this Court, particularly when the CA affirms the said findings, and will not be disturbed absent
any showing that the trial court overlooked certain facts and circumstances which could substantially affect the
outcome of the case.
o Also, against the categorical testimonies of the prosecution witnesses, appellant can only offer the defense of denial.
However, denial is a self-serving negative evidence, which cannot be given greater weight than that of the declaration
of a credible witness who testifies on affirmative matters.
o Like alibi, denial is an inherently weak defense, which cannot prevail over the positive and credible testimonies of the
prosecution witnesses. Denial cannot prevail over the positive testimonies of prosecution witnesses who, as in this
case, were not shown to have any ill motive to testify against petitioner.

DISPOSITVE: CA Decision AFFIRMED finding Baluya guilty beyond reasonable doubt of kidnapping and serious illegal
detention

11. People v Alberto Anticamara

FACTS:
• Lando, Al, Dick Tañedo (Dick), Roberto Tañedo (Bet), Marvin Lim (Marvin), Necitas Ordeñiza-Tañedo (Cita), and Fred
Doe are charged with the crimes of Murder and of Kidnapping/Serious Illegal Detention in two separate Informations,
which read:
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• For Murder: That on or about the early morning of May 7, 2002, in Sitio Rosalia, Brgy. San Bartolome, Municipality of
Rosales, Province of Pangasinan, accused, being then armed with a hand gun, conspiring, confederating and mutually
helping one another, with intent to kill, with treachery, evident premeditation and superior strength, did then and
there, willfully, unlawfully and feloniously take Sulpacio Abad, driver of the Estrellas, hog tied (sic) him, brought (sic)
to a secluded place, shoot and bury in a shallow grave, to the damage and prejudice of the heirs of the victim.
• For Kidnapping/Serious Illegal Detention: That on or about the 7th day of May 2002, more or less 3:00 o'clock in the
early morning, at the Estrella Compound, Brgy. Carmen East, Municipality of Rosales, Province of Pangasinan, and
within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the above-named accused, who are private persons, conspiring,
confederating and mutually helping one another, armed with firearms, did then and there willfully, unlawfully and
feloniously kidnap Sulpacio Abad and AAA both employees of the Estrellas, thereby depriving them of their liberty, all
against their will for a period of twenty-seven (27) days. That in the course of the kidnapping, Sulpacio Abad was
killed and buried in Brgy. Carmen, Rosales, Pangasinan and AAA was raped for several times by her abductors.
• When arraigned of the aforementioned crimes, Lando, Al and Cita all pleaded not guilty, while Dick, Bet, Marvin and
Fred Doe remained at-large. Thereafter, a joint trial ensued.
• About 3 o'clock in the early morning of May 7, 2002, househelper AAA and driver Abad Sulpacio were sleeping in their
employers' house located in Barangay Carmen East, Rosales, Pangasinan. Their employers, Conrado Estrella and his
wife, were out of the house at that time
• Momentarily, AAA was jolted from sleep when she heard voices saying, “We will kill her, kill her now” and another
voice saying, “Not yet!” Hiding under her blanket, AAA later heard someone saying, “We only need money, we only
need money.” Thereafter, she heard someone talking in Ilocano which she could not understand.
• Then she heard somebody say, “Cebuana yan, Cebuana yan, kararating lang galing Cebu.” AAA heard the persons
conversing which she estimated about four to five meters away
• Thereafter, AAA observed about six (6) persons enter the house, who she later identified as accused Dick Tañedo,
Marvin Lim, Bert Tañedo, a certain Fred and appellants Alberto Anticamara alias “Al Camara,” and Fernando
Fernandez alias “Lando Calaguas.” One of the intruders approached her and told her not to move
• Later, when AAA thought that the intruders were already gone, she attempted to run but to her surprise, someone
wearing a bonnet was watching her. Someone, whom she later recognized as Dick Tañedo, tapped her shoulder. AAA
asked Tañedo, “Why Kuya?” Tañedo replied, “Somebody will die.” After a brief commotion, appellant alias “Lando
Calaguas” asked the group saying, “What shall we do now?” They then decided to tie AAA. Later, AAA was untied and
led her outside the house. Outside, AAA saw Abad, who was also tied and blindfolded, seated inside a vehicle
• The group later brought AAA and Abad to the fishpond owned by their employers. AAA saw Cita Tañedo there. The
group brought Abad outside the vehicle and led him away
• Later, alias “Fred” returned telling the group, “Make the decision now, Abad has already four bullets in his body, and
the one left is for this girl.” When Cita Tañedo made a motion of cutting her neck, appellant alias “Lando Calaguas” and
“Fred” boarded the vehicle taking along with them AAA. They later proceeded towards San Miguel Tarlac, where Lando
Calaguas resided. They stayed in Lando's house where they kept AAA from May 7 to May 9, 2002
• On May 9, 2002, appellant Lando Calaguas told AAA that Fred and Bert Tañedo would kill her. Lando then brought
AAA to a hotel in Tarlac, telling AAA that he would leave her there as soon as Fred and Bert Tañedo leave the place.
However, once inside the hotel room, appellant Lando Calaguas sexually molested AAA. Lando told AAA to follow what
he wanted, threatening her that he would turn her over to Fred and Bert Tañedo. After Lando raped AAA, he brought
her back to his house. Later, Fred, Bert Tañedo and Lando Calaguas transferred AAA to Riles, Tarlac (
• AAA was brought to the residence of Fred's niece, a certain Minda, where Fred kept AAA as his wife. At nighttime, Fred
would repeatedly ravish AAA, threatening her that he would give her back to appellant Lando Calaguas who, AAA
knew, killed Abad Sulpacio. She was afraid Lando might also kill her
• On May 22, 2002, Fred brought AAA to Carnaga (should be Kananga), Leyte, together with his wife Marsha and their
children. AAA stayed in the house of Marsha's brother Sito, where she was made as a house helper
• On June 4, 2002, AAA escaped from the house of Sito. She proceeded to Isabel, Leyte and sought the help of her friend
Susana Ilagan. After hearing AAA's plight, Susana called AAA's brother in Cebu, who later fetched AAA in Isabel, Leyte
and brought her to Mandaue City. When they arrived in Mandaue City, they immediately reported the incident to the
police authorities.
• Dr. Bandonil prepared Autopsy Report
o x Remains placed in a sealed metal coffin, wrapped in two (2) layers of black, plastic garbage bags, and covered
in (sic) a red-stripped cotton blanker. A thick layer of lime embeds the whole torso.
o Remains in a far advanced state of decomposition, with the head completely devoid of soft tissue. A cloth is
wrapped around the eyesockets and tied to the back of the skull. The skull does not show any signs of dents,

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 chips nor fractures. The other recognizable body part is the chest area which retained a few soft tissues and
skin, but generally far advanced in decomposition. The whole gamut of internal organs have undergone
liquefaction necrosis and have been turned into grayish-black pultaceous masses. Worn on top of the
remaining chest is a sando shirt with observable holes at the left side, both front and back. A large hole is seen
at the area of the left nipple, with traces of burning at its edges and inward in direction. A tied cloth is also
observable at the remnants of the left wrist.
o At the upper chest, which is the most recognizable, remaining and intact part of the torso, a hole, 1.0 cm. x 2.0
cms., with signs of burning, edges inverted, is seen at the left anterior axillary line just below the left nipple.
Another hole is seen 1.5 cms. x 2.5 cms. in diameter, edged averted (sic) at the right chest, along the right
anterior axillary line, 5.0 cms. below the right nipple. A 3rd hole, almost unrecognizable is seen at the left groin
area.
o The other parts of the cadaver are too far advanced in decomposition to have remarkable findings
o CAUSE OF DEATH: GUNSHOT WOUNDS, TRUNK
• DEFENSE: Alibi as a defense. He claims that at the time of the incident on May 7, 2002, he was in Barangay Maligaya,
San Miguel, Tarlac, with his family. He denied ever going to the Estrella farm in Sitio Rosalia, Barangay San Bartolome,
Rosales, Pangasinan.
• Al claimed that he acted as a lookout and was tasked to report to his companions if any person or vehicle would
approach the house of the Estrellas. He said that he was forced to follow what was ordered of him and did not report
the matter to the police because he was threatened to be killed, including the members of his family who were in Cebu.
RTC:
o For Murder: Accused Nicetas “Cita” Tañedo is hereby acquitted of the crime charged for insufficiency of evidence;;
Accused Fernando Calaguas Fernandez (alyas Lando Calaguas) and Alberto Anticamara (alyas Al Camara) are hereby
found guilty beyond reasonable doubt, as principal, of the crime of Murder qualified by treachery, defined and
penalized under Article 248 of the Revised Penal Code. Considering the presence of aggravating circumstance
of pre-meditation, with no mitigating circumstance to offset the same, the penalty of DEATH is hereby imposed
upon the two (2) accused Fernando Calaguas Fernandez (Lando Calaguas) and Alberto Anticamara (Al Camara). They
are also ordered jointly and severally [to] pay the heirs of the victim Abad Sulpacio the following:
1) Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) as moral damages; 2) Seventy-Five Thousand Pesos (P75,000.00) as indemnity for
the death of the victim; 3) Fifty-Seven Thousand One Hundred Twenty-Two Pesos and Thirty Centavos (P57,122.30) as
actual damages; and 4) The cost of suit.
o For Kidnapping/Serious Illegal Detention: Accused Nicetas “Cita” Tañedo is hereby acquitted of the crime
charged for insufficiency of evidence; Accused Fernando Calaguas Fernandez (alyas Lando Calaguas) and Alberto
Anticamara (alyas Al Camara) are hereby found guilty beyond reasonable doubt, as principal, of the crime of
Kidnapping/Serious Illegal Detention of the victim AAA as charged, defined and penalized under Article 267 of
the Revised Penal Code, as amended by R.A. 7659. Considering that the victim AAA was raped during her detention,
the maximum penalty of DEATH is hereby imposed upon the two accused, Fernando Calaguas Fernandez (Lando
Calaguas) and Alberto Anticamara (Al Camara). The two accused are also ordered to pay, jointly and severally, the
victim AAA the amount of:
1) One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00) as moral damages; 2) Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) as
exemplary damages; and 3) Cost of suit.
CA: Affirmed RTC; however, in view of the abolition of the death penalty pursuant to Republic Act (R.A.) No. 9346,
which was approved on June 24, 2006, the appellants were sentenced to reclusion perpetua.

ISSUES:
For Lando
1. Whether CONSPIRACY EXISTED BETWEEN AND AMONG THE ALLEGED PERPETRATORS OF THE CRIME.
2. Whether accused should be convicted of homicide instead of murder
3. Whether the penalty of death should be imposed for THE CRIME OF KIDNAPPING/SERIOUS ILLEGAL DETENTION,
AGGRAVATED BY RAPE, IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT THE CRIME OF RAPE WAS NOT DULY PROVEN BEYOND
REASONABLE DOUBT.

For AI
1. Whether there was conspiracy
2. Whether death should be applied as he did not participate in aggravating RAPE

In Criminal Case No. 4498-R for Murder:

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Circumstantial Evidence

o The trial court found that although there was no direct eyewitness in the killing of Sulpacio in the early morning of
May 7, 2002 at Sitio Rosalia, Barangay San Bartolome, Rosales, Pangasinan, the prosecution adduced sufficient
circumstantial evidence to establish with moral certainty the identities and guilt of the perpetrators of the crime.
o Circumstantial evidence consists of proof of collateral facts and circumstances from which the existence of the main
fact may be inferred according to reason and common experience. Circumstantial evidence is sufficient to sustain
conviction if: (a) there is more than one circumstance; (b) the facts from which the inferences are derived are proven;
(c) the combination of all circumstances is such as to produce a conviction beyond reasonable doubt
o A judgment of conviction based on circumstantial evidence can be sustained when the circumstances proved form an
unbroken chain that results in a fair and reasonable conclusion pointing to the accused, to the exclusion of all others,
as the perpetrator.]
o Testimony of witnesses. In addition to these circumstances, the trial court further found that AAA heard Fred utter
“Usapan natin pare, kung sino ang masagasaan, sagasaan.” (Our agreement is that whoever comes our way should be
eliminated). Moreover, NBI Agent Gerald V. Geralde testified that on June 23, 2002, appellant Al admitted his
participation as lookout and naming his companions Dick, Lando, Fred, Marvin and Bet as the ones who took AAA and
Sulpacio from the house of the Estrellas and brought them to the fishpond.
o Al also pointed and led the authorities to a shallow grave in Sitio Rosalia, Barangay San Bartolome, Rosales,
Pangasinan, where the remains of Sulpacio were buried. The autopsy conducted on the body, prepared by the Medico
Legal Officer Dr. Bandonil, shows that several holes were found on various parts of the body of the victim and Dr.
Bandonil concluded that the cause of the victim's death was the gunshot wounds. The report also indicates that a piece
of cloth was found wrapped around the eye sockets and tied at the back of the skull, and another cloth was also found
tied at the remnants of the left wrist.
o In the case at bar, although no one directly saw the actual killing of Sulpacio, the prosecution was able to paint a clear
picture that the appellants took Sulpacio away from the house of the Estrellas, tied and blindfolded him, and brought
him to another place where he was repeatedly shot and buried.

Conspiracy EXISTS

o Prior to the commission of the crime, the group met at the landing field in Carmen, Pangasinan and discussed their
plan to rob the house of the Estrellas with the agreement that whoever comes their way will be eliminated
o Appellant Al served as a lookout by posting himself across the house of the Estrellas with the task of reporting any
movements outside. Fred then climbed the old unserviceable gate of the Estrella compound and then opened the small
door and the rest of the group entered the house of the Estrellas through that opening
o After almost an hour inside the house, they left on board a vehicle with AAA and Sulpacio. AAA and Sulpacio were
brought to Sitio Rosalia, Brgy. San Bartolome, Rosales, Pangasinan. In that place, Sulpacio was killed and AAA was
brought to another place and deprived of her liberty.
o These circumstances establish a community of criminal design between the malefactors in committing the
crime. Clearly, the group conspired to rob the house of the Estrellas and kill any person who comes their way. The
killing of Sulpacio was part of their conspiracy. Further, Dick's act of arming himself with a gun constitutes direct
evidence of a deliberate plan to kill should the need arise.
o Appellant Al attempts to evade criminal liability by alleging that he was only forced to participate in the
commission of the crime because he and his family were threatened to be killed. NO IRRESISTIBLE FORCE NOR
UNCONTROLLABLE FEAR OF EQUAL OR GREATER INJURY. To avail of this exempting circumstance, the evidence
must establish: (1) the existence of an uncontrollable fear; (2) that the fear must be real and imminent; and (3) the
fear of an injury is greater than, or at least equal to, that committed. For such defense to prosper, the duress, force,
fear or intimidation must be present, imminent and impending, and of such nature as to induce a well-grounded
apprehension of death or serious bodily harm if the act be done. A threat of future injury is not enough.
o There is nothing in the records to substantiate appellant Al's insistence that he was under duress from his co-accused
while participating in the crime that would suffice to exempt him from incurring criminal liability. The evidence shows
that Al was tasked to act as a lookout and directed to station himself across the house of the Estrellas. Al was there
from 7:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m of the following day, while the rest of the group was waiting in the landing field.
o Thus, while all alone, Al had every opportunity to escape since he was no longer subjected to a real, imminent
or reasonable fear. However, he opted to stay across the house of the Estrellas for almost six (6) hours and thereafter

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 returned to the landing field where the group was waiting for his report. Subsequently, the group proceeded to the
Estrellas’ house.
o When the group entered the house, Al stayed for almost one (1) hour outside to wait for his companions. Later, when
the group left the house aboard a vehicle, Al rode with them in going to Sitio Rosalia, Brgy. San Bartolome, Rosales,
Pangasinan, bringing with them Sulpacio and AAA
o Clearly, appellant Al had ample opportunity to escape if he wished to, but he never did. Neither did he request for
assistance from the authorities or any person passing by the house of the Estrellas during the period he was stationed
there.
o Clearly, Al did not make any effort to perform an overt act to dissociate or detach himself from the conspiracy to
commit the felony and prevent the commission thereof that would exempt himself from criminal

Alibi and Denial WEAK DEFENSES

LANDO.
o He claims that at the time of the incident he was in his house at Tarlac, together with his family. On the other hand, the
appellants were positively identified by AAA, as two (2) of the six (6) malefactors who forcibly took her and Sulpacio
from the Estrella house in the early morning of May 7, 2002. Both the trial court and the CA found the testimony of
AAA credible.
o As to the defense of alibi. Aside from the testimony of appellant Lando that he was in Tarlac at the time of the incident,
the defense was unable to show that it was physically impossible for Lando to be at the scene of the crime. Basic
is the rule that for alibi to prosper, the accused must prove that he was somewhere else when the crime was committed
and that it was physically impossible for him to have been at the scene of the crime.
o Physical impossibility refers to the distance between the place where the appellant was when the crime
transpired and the place where it was committed, as well as the facility of access between the two places.
Where there is the least chance for the accused to be present at the crime scene, the defense of alibi must fail. During
the trial of the case, Lando testified that the distance between his house in Brgy. Maligaya, San Miguel, Tarlac to the
town of Rosales, Pangasinan is only around forty (40) kilometers. Such distance can be traversed in less than 30
minutes using a private car and when the travel is continuous.
o Thus, it was not physically impossible for the appellant Lando to be at the locus criminis at the time of the incident. In
addition, positive identification destroys the defense of alibi and renders it impotent, especially where such
identification is credible and categorical

Qualifying and Aggravating Circumstances: Treachery, premeditation/// superior strength absorbed

TREACHERY EXISTS:
o There is treachery when the offender commits any of the crimes against persons, employing means, methods or forms
in the execution thereof which tend directly and specially to ensure its execution without risk to himself arising from
the defense that the offended party might make.Two conditions must concur for treachery to exist, namely, (a) the
employment of means of execution gave the person attacked no opportunity to defend himself or to retaliate; and (b)
the means or method of execution was deliberately and consciously adopted
o In the case at bar, it was proven that when AAA boarded the vehicle, she saw Sulpacio tied and blindfolded. Later,
when they reached the fishpond, Sulpacio, still tied and blindfolded, was led out of the vehicle by the group. When the
remains of Sulpacio was thereafter found by the authorities, the autopsy report indicated that a piece of cloth was
found wrapped around the eye sockets and tied at the back of the skull and another cloth was also found tied at the
left wrist of the victim. There is no question therefore, that the victim's body, when found, still had his hands tied and
blindfolded. This situation of the victim when found shows without doubt that he was killed while tied and
blindfolded; hence, the qualifying aggravating circumstance of treachery was present in the commission of the crime.
o Means used by the accused-appellants to insure the execution of the killing of the victims, so as to afford the victims
no opportunity to defend themselves, was the act of tying the hands of the victims.
o The aggravating circumstance of superior strength cannot be separately appreciated because it is absorbed
by treachery.
o EVIDENT PREMEDITATION EXISTS: The circumstance of evident premeditation requires proof showing: (1) the
time when the accused determined to commit the crime; (2) an act manifestly indicating that the accused has clung to
his determination; and (3) sufficient lapse of time between such determination and execution to allow him to reflect
upon the consequences of his act

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o The essence of premeditation is that the execution of the act was preceded by cool thought and reflection upon the
resolution to carry out the criminal intent during a space of time sufficient to arrive at a calm judgment
o From the time the group met at the landing field at around 6:30 p.m. of May 6, 2002, and discussed the possibility of
killing anyone who stands on their way, up to the time they took Sulpacio away from the Estrellas’ house and
eventually killed him thereafter at around past 3:00 a.m., more than eight hours had elapsed – sufficient for the
appellants to reflect on the consequences of their actions and desist from carrying out their evil scheme, if they wished
to. Instead, appellants evidently clung to their determination and went ahead with their nefarious plan.

In Criminal Case No. 4481-R for Kidnapping and Serious Illegal Detention.
o The Court finds appellant Lando guilty of the special complex crime of kidnapping and serious illegal detention
with rape, defined in and penalized under Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code.
o The elements of kidnapping and serious illegal detention under Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code are: (1) the
offender is a private individual; (2) he kidnaps or detains another or in any other manner deprives the latter of his
liberty; (3) the act of detention or kidnapping must be illegal; and (4) in the commission of the offense, any of the
following circumstances is present: (a) the kidnapping or detention lasts for more than 3 days; or (b) it is committed
by simulating public authority; or (c) any serious physical injuries are inflicted upon the person kidnapped or detained
or threats to kill him are made; or (d) the person kidnapped or detained is a minor, female, or a public officer.
o The crime of kidnapping was proven beyond reasonable doubt by the prosecution. Appellants Lando and Al, both
private individuals, forcibly took AAA, a female, away from the house of the Estrellas and held her captive against her
will.
o Thereafter, appellant Lando brought AAA to his house in San Miguel Tarlac, whereby she was deprived of her liberty
for almost one month. It is settled that the crime of serious illegal detention consists not only of placing a person
in an enclosure, but also in detaining him or depriving him in any manner of his liberty
o For there to be kidnapping, it is enough that the victim is restrained from going home
o Its essence is the actual deprivation of the victim's liberty, coupled with indubitable proof of the intent of the accused
to effect such deprivation.
o Although AAA was not confined in an enclosure, she was restrained and deprived of her liberty, because every time
appellant Lando and his wife went out of the house, they brought AAA with them. The foregoing only shows that AAA
was constantly guarded by appellant Lando and his family.
o The crime of rape was also established by the prosecution. Appellant Lando succeeded in having carnal
knowledge of AAA through the use of threat and intimidation. AAA testified that on May 9, 2002, appellant Lando
brought her to a hotel to hide her from Fred and Bert, who intended to kill her. Appellant Lando told her to follow his
orders, otherwise, he will give her to Fred and Bert. While in the hotel, appellant Lando raped her
o Clearly, for fear of being delivered to Fred and Bert and of losing her life, AAA had no choice but to give in to appellant
Lando's lustful assault. In rape cases, the credibility of the victim's testimony is almost always the single most
important factor. When the victim's testimony is credible, it may be the sole basis for the accused's conviction.This is
so because owing to the nature of the offense, in many cases, the only evidence that can be given regarding the matter
is the testimony of the offended party
o The last paragraph of Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code provides that if the victim is killed or dies as a
consequence of the detention, or is raped or subjected to torture or dehumanizing acts, the maximum penalty
shall be imposed. This provision gives rise to a special complex crime. Thus, We hold that appellant Lando is guilty
beyond reasonable doubt of the special complex crime of kidnapping and serious illegal detention with rape
o AI NOT LIABLE FOR RAPE. Although, Court ruled that once conspiracy is established between several accused in the
commission of the crime of robbery, they would all be equally culpable for the rape committed by anyone of them on
the occasion of the robbery, unless anyone of them proves that he endeavored to prevent the others from
committing rape
o Also, even if with conspiracy, it also as convincingly suggests that the agreement was to commit kidnapping only; and
there is no evidence that the other members were aware of Canturia's lustful intent and his consummation thereof so
that they could have attempted to prevent the same.
o There is no evidence to prove that appellant Al was aware of the subsequent events that transpired after the killing of
Sulpacio and the kidnapping of AAA. Appellant Al could not have prevented appellant Lando from raping AAA, because
at the time of rape, he was no longer associated with appellant Lando.
o AAA even testified that only Fred and appellant Lando brought her to Tarlac and she never saw appellant Al again
after May 7, 2002, the day she was held captive. She only saw appellant Al once more during the trial of the case Thus,
appellant Al cannot be held liable for the subsequent rape of AAA.

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The Penalties
o Murder case, the attendant circumstance of treachery qualified the killing to murder. The penalty for murder under
Article 248 of the Revised Penal Code is reclusion perpetua to death. Since the aggravating circumstance of evident
premeditation was alleged and proven, the imposable penalty upon the appellants is death, pursuant to Article 63,
paragraph 1, of the Revised Penal Code. In view, however, of the passage of R.A. No. 9346 prohibiting the imposition
of the death penalty, the penalty of death is reduced to reclusion perpetua, without eligibility for parole
o Kidnapping case, the penalty for the special complex crime of kidnapping and serious illegal detention with rape is
death. In view of R.A. No. 9346, the penalty of death is reduced to reclusion perpetua without eligibility for parole.
Accordingly, the imposable penalty for appellant Lando is reclusion perpetua.
o As to appellant Al, the prescribed penalty for serious illegal detention under Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code is
reclusion perpetua to death. There being no aggravating or mitigating circumstance in the commission of the
offense, the proper penalty to be imposed is reclusion perpetua, pursuant to Article 63 of the Revised Penal Code.

The Damages

MURDER:
Civil indemnity: Award of civil indemnity is mandatory and granted to the heirs of the victim without need of proof other
than the commission of the crime.Even if the penalty of death is not to be imposed because of the prohibition in R.A. 9346,
the civil indemnity of P75,000.00 is proper, because it is not dependent on the actual imposition of the death penalty but
on the fact that qualifying circumstances warranting the imposition of the death penalty attended the commission of the
offense.
Moral damages, the same are mandatory in cases of murder, without need of allegation and proof other than the death
of the victim. However, consistent with recent jurisprudence on heinous crimes where the imposable penalty is death but
reduced to reclusion perpetua pursuant to R.A. No. 9346, the award of moral damages should be increased from P50,000.00
to P75,000.00
Exemplary damages is in order, because of the presence of the aggravating circumstances of treachery and evident
premeditation in the commission of the crime. The Court awards the amount of P30,000.00, as exemplary damages, in
line with current jurisprudence on the matter
Actual damages is also warranted. Modesta Abad, the spouse of victim Sulpacio, incurred expenses in the amount of
P57,122.30, which was duly supported by receipts

KIDNAPPING:
Civil indemnity in line with prevailing jurisprudence that civil indemnification is mandatory upon the finding of rape.
Applying prevailing jurisprudence, AAA is entitled to P75,000.00 as civil indemnity.
Moral damages pursuant to Article 2219 of the Civil Code without the necessity of additional pleadings or proof other
than the fact of rape. Moral damages is granted in recognition of the victim's injury necessarily resulting from the odious
crime of rape. Such award is separate and distinct from the civil indemnity. However, the amount of P100,000.00 awarded
as moral damages is reduced to P75,000.00, in line with current jurisprudence
Exemplary damages to AAA in the amount of P50,000 is hereby reduced to P30,000.00 in accordance with recent
jurisprudence.
As to appellant Al. In the absence of conspiracy, the liability of the accused is individual and not collective. Since
appellant Al is liable only for the crime of serious illegal detention, he is jointly and severally liable only to pay the
amount of P50,000.00 as civil indemnity. For serious illegal detention, the award of civil indemnity is in the amount of
P50,000.00, in line with prevailing jurisprudence. Along that line, appellant Al's liability for moral damages is limited
only to the amount of P50,000.00. Pursuant to Article 2219 of the Civil Code, moral damages may be recovered in cases
of illegal detention. This is predicated on AAA's having suffered serious anxiety and fright when she was detained for
almost one (1) month

DISPOSITIVE: WHEREFORE, the Decision of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CR-H.C. No. 00556 is AFFIRMED with
MODIFICATIONS as follows:

(a) MURDER:, appellants Fernando Calaguas Fernandez alias “Lando” and Alberto Cabillo Anticamara alias “Al” are found
GUILTY beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of Murder and are sentenced to suffer the penalty of Reclusion Perpetua,
without eligibility of parole, and to pay, jointly and severally, the heirs of Sulpacio Abad the amounts of P75,000.00 as civil
indemnity, P75,000.00 as moral damages, P30,000.00 as exemplary damages, and P57,122.30 as actual damages.

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(b) LANDO: Special complex crime of kidnapping and serious illegal detention with rape and is sentenced to suffer the
penalty of Reclusion Perpetua, without eligibility of parole, and to pay the offended party AAA, the amounts of P75,000.00
as civil indemnity, P75,000.00 as moral damages and P30,000.00 as exemplary damages.
Al: Crime of kidnapping and serious illegal detention and is sentenced to suffer the penalty of Reclusion Perpetua. He is
also directed to pay, jointly and severally, with appellant Fernando Calaguas Fernandez alias “Lando,” the victim AAA the
amounts of P50,000.00 as civil indemnity and P50,000.00 as moral damages.

12. People v Felipe Mirandilla

FACTS:
o AAA narrated her 39-day ordeal in the hands of Mirandilla.
o It was 2 December 2000, eve of the fiesta in Barangay San Francisco, Legazpi City. At the plaza, AAA was dancing with
her elder sister, BBB
o AAA went out of the dancing hall to buy candies in a nearby store. While making her way back through the crowd, a
man grabbed her hand, his arm wrapped her shoulders, with a knife’s point thrust at her right side. She will come to
know the man’s name at the police station, after her escape, to be Felipe Mirandilla, Jr
o He told her not to move or ask for help. Another man joined and went beside her, while two others stayed at her back,
one of whom had a gun. They slipped through the unsuspecting crowd, walked farther as the deafening music faded
into soft sounds. After a four-hour walk through the grassy fields, they reached the Mayon International Hotel, where
they boarded a waiting tricycle.
o Upon passing the Albay Cathedral, the others alighted, leaving AAA alone with Mirandilla who after receiving a gun
from a companion, drove the tricycle farther away and into the darkness. Minutes later, they reached the Gallera de
Legazpi in Rawis
o Mirandilla dragged AAA out of the tricycle and pushed her inside a concrete house. At gunpoint he ordered her to
remove her pants. When she defied him, he slapped her and hit her arms with a gun, forced his hands inside her pants,
into her panty, and reaching her vagina, slipped his three fingers and rotated them inside. The pain weakened her. He
forcibly pulled her pants down and lifting her legs, pushed and pulled his penis inside. “Sayang ka,” she heard him
whisper at her as she succumbed to pain and exhaustion.
o When AAA woke up the following morning, she found herself alone. She cried for help, shouting until her throat dried.
But no one heard her. No rescue came.
o At around midnight, Mirandilla arrived together with his gang. Pointing a gun at AAA, he ordered her to open her
mouth; she sheepishly obeyed. He forced his penis inside her mouth, pulling through her hair with his left hand and
slapping her with his right. After satisfying his lust, he dragged her into the tricycle and drove to Bogtong, Legazpi. At
the road’s side, Mirandilla pushed her against a reclining tree, gagged her mouth with cloth, punched her arm, thigh,
and lap, and pulled up her over-sized shirt. Her underwear was gone. Then she felt Mirandilla’s penis inside her vagina.
A little while, a companion warned Mirandilla to move out. And they drove away
o They reached a nipa hut and AAA was thrown inside. Her mouth was again covered with cloth. Mirandilla, with a gun
aimed at her point blank, grabbed her shirt, forced her legs open, and again inserted his penis into her vagina
o The following evening, Mirandilla and his gang brought AAA to Guinobatan, where she suffered the same fate. They
repeatedly detained her at daytime, moved her back and forth from one place to another on the following nights, first
to Bonga, then back to Guinobatan, where she was locked up in a cell-type house and was raped repeatedly on the
grassy field right outside her cell, then to Camalig, where they caged her in a small house in the middle of a rice field.
She was allegedly raped 27 times]
o One afternoon, in Guinobatan, AAA succeeded in opening the door of her cell. Seeing that Mirandilla and his
companions were busy playing cards, she rushed outside and ran, crossed a river, got drenched, and continued
running. She rested for awhile, hiding behind a rock; she walked through the fields and stayed out of people’s sight for
two nights.
o Finally, she found a road and followed its path, leading her to the house of Evelyn Guevarra who brought her to the
police station. It was 11 January 2001. AAA was in foul smell, starving and sleepless. Evelyn Guevarra gave her a bath
and the police gave her food. When the police presented to her pictures of suspected criminals, she recognized the
man’s face – she was certain it was him. He was Felipe Mirandilla, Jr., the police told her
o The following morning, accompanied by the police, AAA submitted herself to Dr. Sarah Vasquez, Legazpi City’s Health
Officer for medical examination. The doctor discovered hymenal lacerations in different positions of her hymen,
indicative of sexual intercourse. Foul smelling pus also oozed from her vagina - AAA had contracted gonorrhoea]
o Mirandilla denied the charges against him. This is his version.

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o Mirandilla first met AAA on 3 October 2000. By stroke of fate, they bumped into each other at the Albay Park where
AAA, wearing a school uniform, approached him. They had a short chat. They were neighbors in Barangay San
Francisco until Mirandilla left his wife and daughter there for good
o Two days later, Mirandilla and AAA met again at the park. He started courting her and, after five days, as AAA
celebrated her 18th birthday, they became lovers. Mirandilla was then 33 years old.
o Immediately, Mirandilla and AAA had sex nightly in their friends’ houses and in cheap motels. On 24 October 2000,
after Mirandilla went to his mother’s house in Kilikao, they met again at the park, at their usual meeting place, in front
of the park’s comfort room, near Arlene Moret, a cigarette vendor who also served as the CR’s guard
o They decided to elope and live as a couple. They found an abandoned house in Rawis, at the back of Gallera de Legazpi.
Emilio Mendoza who owned the house, rented it to them for P1,500.00. They lived there from 28 October until 11
December 2000. From 12 December 2000 until 11 January 2001, Mirandilla and AAA stayed in Rogelio Marcellana’s
house, at the resettlement Site in Banquerohan, Legazpi City.
o Mirandilla and AAA’s nightly sexual intimacy continued, with abstentions only during AAA’s menstrual periods, the
last of which she had on 7 December 2000. In late December, however, Mirandilla, who just arrived home after visiting
his mother in Kilikao, saw AAA soaked in blood, moaning in excruciating stomach pain. AAA had abortion – an
inference he drew upon seeing the cover of pills lying beside AAA. Mirandilla claimed that AAA bled for days until she
left him in January 2001 after quarrelling for days
o Mirandilla, however, had a second version of this crucial event. He claimed that AAA missed her menstruation in
December 2001 and that he would not have known she had an abortion had she not confessed it to him.
Information: Mirandilla was charged before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Legazpi City, Branch 5, with kidnapping
with rape, four counts of rape, and rape through sexual assault.
RTC: Convicted Mirandilla of kidnapping, four counts of rape, and one count of rape through sexual assault with this
finding:
o This Court has arrived at the factual conclusion that Felipe Mirandilla, Jr., in the company of three others [conferrers],
kidnapped AAA in Barangay xxx, City of xxx, on or on about midnight of December 2, 2000 or early morning of
December 3, 2000, held her in detention for thirty-nine days in separate cells situated in the City of xxx; xxx; and xxx.
o Felipe Mirandilla, Jr., carnally abused her while holding a gun and/or a knife for twenty seven times, employing force
and intimidation.
o The twenty seven sexual intercourses were eventually perpetrated between the City of xxx and the towns of xxx and
xxx. At least once, Felipe Mirandilla, Jr., put his penis inside the mouth of AAA against her will while employing
intimidation, threats, and force.
CA: Affirmed with modification the RTC ruling, convicting Mirandilla. GUILTY of the special complex crime of
kidnapping with rape (instead of kidnapping as the RTC ruled), four counts of rape, and one count of rape by
sexual assault.
o It rejected Mirandilla’s defense that he and AAA were live-in partners and that their sexual encounters were
consensual.
o It noted that Mirandilla failed to adduce any evidence or any credible witness to sustain his defense.

HELD: Mirandilla guilty of the special complex crime of kidnapping and illegal detention with rape.
o Mirandilla admitted in open court to have had sexual intercourse with AAA, which happened almost nightly during
their cohabitation. He contended that they were live-in partners, entangled in a whirlwind romance, which intimacy
they expressed in countless passionate sex, which headed ironically to separation mainly because of AAA’s intentional
abortion of their first child to be – a betrayal in its gravest form which he found hard to forgive.
o In stark contrast to Mirandilla’s tale of a love affair, is AAA’s claim of her horrific ordeal and her flight to freedom after
39 days in captivity during which Mirandilla raped her 27 times.

Credibility of Prosecution Witness: Jurisprudence is consistent that for testimonial evidence to be believed, it must not only
come from a credible witness but must be credible in itself – tested by human experience, observation, common
knowledge and accepted conduct that has evolved through the years. Evidence to be believed, must not only proceed from
the mouth of a credible witness, but it must be credible in itself – such as the common experience and observation of
mankind can approve as probable under the circumstances. We have no test of the truth of human testimony, except its
conformity to our knowledge, observation, and experience.
1. First, the trial judge, who had the opportunity of observing AAA’s manner and demeanour on the witness stand, was
convinced of her credibility: “AAA appeared to be a simple and truthful woman, whose testimony was consistent, steady
and firm, free from any material and serious contradictions. No ill motive. When AAA testified in court, she was sobbing.

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While she was facing Felipe Mirandilla, Jr., to positively identify him in open court, she was crying. Felipe Mirandilla Jr.’s
response was to smile. AAA was a picture of a woman who was gravely harmed, craving for justice.
2. AAA’s testimony to be credible in itself. AAA’s ordeal was entered into the police blotter immediately after her escape
negating opportunity for concoction. While in Mirandilla’s company, none of her parents, brothers, sisters, relatives,
classmates, or anyone who knew her, visited, saw, or talked to her. None of them knew her whereabouts. AAA’s testimony
was corroborated by Dr. Sarah Vasquez, Legazpi City’s Health Officer, who discovered the presence not only of hymenal
lacerations but also gonorrhoea, a sexually transmitted disease.
3. CA Affirmed. We emphasize that a trial court’s assessment of a witness’ credibility, when affirmed by the CA, is even
conclusive and binding, if not tainted with arbitrariness or oversight of some fact or circumstance of weight or influence.
This is so because of the judicial experience that trial courts are in a better position to decide the question of credibility,
having heard the witnesses themselves and having observed firsthand their deportment and manner of testifying under
gruelling examination.
o In resolving issues pertaining to the credibility of the witnesses, this Court is guided by the following principles: (1)
the reviewing court will not disturb the findings of the lower courts, unless there is a showing that it overlooked or
misapplied some fact or circumstance of weight and substance that may affect the result of the case; (2) the findings
of the trial court on the credibility of witnesses are entitled to great respect and even finality, as it had the opportunity
to examine their demeanour when they testified on the witness stand; and (3) a witness who testifies in a clear,
positive and convincing manner is a credible witness.

Second Issue: “Sweetheart Theory” not Proven

o Accused’s bare invocation of sweetheart theory cannot alone, stand. To be credible, it must be corroborated by
documentary, testimonial, or other evidence. Usually, these are letters, notes, photos, mementos, or credible
testimonies of those who know the lovers.
o The sweetheart theory as a defense, however, necessarily admits carnal knowledge, the first element of rape.
Effectively, it leaves the prosecution the burden to prove only force or intimidation, the coupling element of
rape. Love, is not a license for lust.
o This admission makes the sweetheart theory more difficult to defend, for it is not only an affirmative defense that
needs convincing proof after the prosecution has successfully established a prima facie case, the burden of evidence
is shifted to the accused, who has to adduce evidence that the intercourse was consensual
o A prima facie case arises when the party having the burden of proof has produced evidence sufficient to support a
finding and adjudication for him of the issue in litigation
o Burden of evidence is “that logical necessity which rests on a party at any particular time during the trial to create a
prima facie case in his favour or to overthrow one when created against him.”
o Mirandilla with his version of facts as narrated above attempted to meet the prosecution’s prima facie case. To
corroborate it, he presented his mother, Alicia Mirandilla; his relatives, Rogelio Marcellana and Emilio Mendoza; and,
his friend Arlene Moret.
o Arlene Moret, the cigarette vendor who also served as the CR’s guard, testified that on 30 October 2000, AAA and
Mirandilla arrived together at the park. They approached her and chatted with her. On cross examination, she claimed
otherwise: Mirandilla arrived alone two hours earlier, chatting with her first, before AAA finally came. She also claimed
meeting the couple for the first time on 30 October 2000, only to contradict herself on cross examination with the
version that she met them previously, three times at least, in the previous month. On the other hand, Mirandilla
claimed first meeting AAA on 3 October 2000 at the park.
o The accused’s mother, Alicia Mirandilla, testified meeting her son only once, and living in Kilikao only after his
imprisonment. This contradicted Mirandilla’s claim that he visited his mother several times in Kilikao, from October
2000 until January 2001.
o Even Mirandilla contradicted himself. His claim that he saw AAA soaked in blood, agonizing in pain, with the
abortifacient pills’ cover lying nearby, cannot be reconciled with his other claim that he came to know AAA’s abortion
only through the latter’s admission.
o Taken individually and as a whole, the defense witnesses’ testimonies contradicted each other and flip-flopped on
materials facts, constraining this Court to infer that they concocted stories in a desperate attempt to exonerate the
accused.
o As a rule, self-contradictions and contradictory statement of witnesses should be reconciled, it being true that such is
possible since a witness is not expected to give error-free testimony considering the lapse of time and the treachery
of human memory

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o But, this principle, learned from lessons of human experience, applies only to minor or trivial matters – innocent lapses
that do not affect witness’ credibility. They do not apply to self-contradictions on material facts
o Where these contradictions cannot be reconciled, the Court has to reject the testimonies and apply the maxim, falsus
in uno, falsus in omnibus. Thus, to completely disregard all the testimony of a witness based on the maxim falsus in uno,
falsus in omnibus, testimony must have been false as to a material point, and the witness must have a conscious and
deliberate intention to falsify a material point. In other words, its requirements, which must concur, are the following:
(1) that the false testimony is as to one or more material points; and (2) that there should be a conscious and deliberate
intention to falsity.

Crimes and Punishment

o An appeal in criminal case opens the entire case for review on any question, including one not raised by the parties as
embodied in Section 11, Rule 124 of the Rules of Court:
o SEC 11. Scope of Judgment. – The Court of Appeals may reverse, affirm, or modify the judgment and increase or
reduce the penalty imposed by the trial court, remand the case to the Regional Trial Court for new trial or
retrial, or dismiss the case.
o The reason behind this rule is that when an accused appeals from the sentence of the trial court, he waives the
constitutional safeguard against double jeopardy and throws the whole case open to the review of the appellate court,
which is then called upon to render such judgment as law and justice dictate, whether favorable or unfavorable to the
appellant.
o To reiterate, the six informations charged Mirandilla with kidnapping and serious illegal detention with rape (Crim.
Case No. 9278), four counts of rape (Crim. Case Nos. 9274-75-76-77), and one count of rape through sexual assault
(Crim. Case No. 9279).
o The accusatory portion of the information in Criminal Case No. 9278 alleged that Mirandilla kidnapped AAA and
seriously and illegally detained her for more than three days during which time he had carnal knowledge of her,
against her will
o The Court agrees with the CA in finding Mirandilla guilty of the special complex crime of kidnapping with rape,
instead of simple kidnapping as the RTC ruled. It was the RTC, no less, which found that Mirandilla kidnapped AAA,
held her in detention for 39 days and carnally abused her while holding a gun and/or a knife
o Rape under Article 266-A of the Revised Penal Code states that:
o Art. 266-A. Rape, When and How Committed. – Rape is committed –
1. By a man who shall have carnal knowledge of a woman under any of the following circumstances:
a. Through force, threat or intimidation; xxx.
2. By any person who, under any of the circumstances mentioned in paragraph 1 hereof, shall commit an act of
sexual assault by inserting his penis into another person’s mouth or anal orifice, or any instrument or object, into
the genital or anal orifice of another person.
o AAA was able to prove each element of rape committed under Article 266-A, par. 1(a) of the Revised Penal Code,
that (1) Mirandilla had carnal knowledge of her; (2) through force, threat, or intimidation.
o She was also able to prove each element of rape by sexual assault under Article 266-A, par. 2 of the Revised Penal
Code: (1) Mirandilla inserted his penis into her mouth; (2) through force, threat, or intimidation.
o Likewise, kidnapping and serious illegal detention is provided for under Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code:
o Article 267. Kidnapping and serious illegal detention. – Any private individual who shall kidnap or detain another,
or in any manner deprive him of his liberty, shall suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua to death;
▪ If the kidnapping or detention shall have lasted more than three days. Xxx
o An imminent Spanish commentator explained: deprivation of liberty of a person, in any form or by any means or for
any time under which proves interrupted the free exercise of their activity.
o Emphatically, the last paragraph of Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by R.A. No. 7659 states that
when the victim is killed or dies as a consequence of the detention or is raped, or is subjected to torture or
dehumanizing acts, the maximum penalty shall be imposed. This provision gives rise to a special complex crime.
o Notably, however, no matter how many rapes had been committed in the special complex crime of kidnapping
with rape, the resultant crime is only one kidnapping with rape
o This is because these composite acts are regarded as a single indivisible offense as in fact R.A. No. 7659 punishes these
acts with only one single penalty. In a way, R.A. 7659 depreciated the seriousness of rape because no matter how
many times the victim was raped, like in the present case, there is only one crime committed – the special
complex crime of kidnapping with rape.

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o However, for the crime of kidnapping with rape, as in this case, the offender should not have taken the victim
with lewd designs, otherwise, it would be complex crime of forcible abduction with rape.
o The taking was by forcible abduction and the woman was raped several times, the crimes committed is one complex
crime of forcible abduction with rape, in as much as the forcible abduction was only necessary for the first rape; and
each of the other counts of rape constitutes distinct and separate count of rape
o Mirandilla’s act was kidnapping and serious illegal detention (not forcible abduction) and on the occasion thereof, he
raped AAA several times, We hold that Mirandilla is guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the special complex crime of
kidnapping and serious illegal detention with rape, warranting the penalty of death. However, in view of R.A. No.
9346 entitled, An Act Prohibiting the Imposition of Death Penalty in the Philippines, the penalty of death is hereby
reduced to reclusion perpetua, without eligibility for parole
o We, therefore, modify the CA Decision. We hold that the separate informations of rape cannot be considered as
separate and distinct crimes in view of the above discussion.
o As to the award of damages, upon the finding of the fact of rape, the award of civil damages ex delicto is mandatory.
Thus, we held that the civil liability ex delicto provided by the Revised Penal Code, that is, restitution, reparation, and
indemnification, all correspond to actual or compensatory damages in the Civil Code
o Court enunciated that if, in the crime of rape, the death penalty is imposed, the indemnity ex delicto for the victim
shall be in the increased amount of NOT less than P75,000.00. To reiterate the words of the Court: “this is not only
a reaction to the apathetic societal perception of the penal law and the financial fluctuation over time, but also an
expression of the displeasure of the Court over the incidence of heinous crimes
o Even if the penalty of death is not to be imposed because of R.A. No. 9346, the civil indemnity ex delicto of P75,000.00
still applies because this indemnity is not dependent on the actual imposition of death, but on the fact that
qualifying circumstances warranting the penalty of death attended the commission of the offense
o the fact remains that the penalty provided for by the law for a heinous offense is still death, and the offense is still
heinous
o AAA is entitled to moral damages pursuant to Art. 2219 of the Civil Code without the necessity of additional pleadings
or proof other than the fact of rape. Indeed, the conventional requirement of allegata et probata in civil procedure and
for essentially civil cases should be dispensed with in criminal prosecutions for rape with the civil aspect included
therein, since no appropriate pleadings are filed wherein such allegations can be made.
o AAA is also entitled to exemplary damages of P30,000.00, pursuant to the present jurisprudence.

DISPOSITIVE: WHEREFORE, the appeal is DENIED. The Decision of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CR-HC No. 00271 is
hereby AFFIRMED with MODIFICATION. Accused Felipe Mirandilla, Jr., is found guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the
special complex crime of kidnapping and serious illegal detention with rape under the last paragraph of Article
267 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended, by R.A. No. 7659, and is sentenced to suffer the penalty of reclusion
perpetua, without eligibility for parole, and to pay the offended party AAA, the amounts of P75,000.00 as civil indemnity
ex delicto, P75,000.00 as moral damages, and P30,000.00 as exemplary damages.

13. PEOPLE vs. CEILITO ORITA alias "Lito

FACTS:
• The accused, Ceilito Orita alias Lito, was charged with the crime of rape Borongan, Eastern Samar.
o March 20, 1983, at about 1:30 o'clock in the morning inside a boarding house at Victoria St., Poblacion,
Borongan, Eastern Samar, Philippines, above named accused with lewd designs and by the use of a Batangas
knife he conveniently provided himself for the purpose and with threats and intimidation, did, then and there
wilfully, unlawfully and feloniously lay with and succeeded in having sexual intercourse with Cristina S.
Abayan against her will and without her consent.
• Complainant Cristina S. Abayan was a 19-year old freshman student at the St. Joseph's College at Borongan, Eastern
Samar. Appellant was a Philippine Constabulary (PC) soldier.
• In the early morning of March 20, 1983, complainant arrived at her boarding house. Her classmates had just brought
her home from a party (p. 44, tsn, May 23, 1984). Shortly after her classmates had left, she knocked at the door of her
boarding house (p. 5, ibid). All of a sudden, somebody held her and poked a knife to her neck. She then recognized
appellant who was a frequent visitor of another boarder (pp. 8-9, ibid).
• She pleaded with him to release her, but he ordered her to go upstairs with him. Since the door which led to the first
floor was locked from the inside, appellant forced complainant to use the back door leading to the second floor (p. 77,
ibid). With his left arm wrapped around her neck and his right hand poking a "balisong" to her neck, appellant dragged
complainant up the stairs (p. 14, ibid). When they reached the second floor, he commanded her to look for a room.
With the Batangas knife still poked to her neck, they entered complainant's room.
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• Upon entering the room, appellant pushed complainant who hit her head on the wall. With one hand holding the knife,
appellant undressed himself. He then ordered complainant to take off her clothes. Scared, she took off her T-shirt.
Then he pulled off her bra, pants and panty (p. 20, ibid).
• He ordered her to lie down on the floor and then mounted her. He made her hold his penis and insert it in her vagina.
She followed his order as he continued to poke the knife to her. At said position, however, appellant could not fully
penetrate her. Only a portion of his penis entered her as she kept on moving (p. 23, ibid).
• Appellant then lay down on his back and commanded her to mount him. In this position, only a small part again of his
penis was inserted into her vagina. At this stage, appellant had both his hands flat on the floor. Complainant thought
of escaping (p. 20, ibid).
• She dashed out to the next room and locked herself in. Appellant pursued her and climbed the partition. When she
saw him inside the room, she ran to another room. Appellant again chased her. She fled to another room and jumped
out through a window (p. 27, ibid).
• Still naked, she darted to the municipal building, which was about eighteen meters in front of the boarding house, and
knocked on the door. When there was no answer, she ran around the building and knocked on the back door.
• When the policemen who were inside the building opened the door, they found complainant naked sitting on the stairs
crying. Pat. Donceras, the first policeman to see her, took off his jacket and wrapped it around her. When they
discovered what happened, Pat. Donceras and two other policemen rushed to the boarding house. They heard a sound
at the second floor and saw somebody running away. Due to darkness, they failed to apprehend appellant.
• Meanwhile, the policemen brought complainant to the Eastern Samar Provincial Hospital where she was physically
examined.
o Medical Certificate (Exhibit "A") which states:
▪ came in with loose clothing with no under-clothes; appears in state of shock, per unambulatory.
▪ Neck- — Circumscribed hematoma at Ant. neck.; Breast —linear abrasions below (L) breast.
▪ Back — Multiple pinpoint marks; Extremities — Abrasions at (R) and (L) knees.
▪ Vulva — No visible abrasions or marks at the perineal area or over the vulva, errythematous (sic) areas
noted surrounding vaginal orifice, tender, hymen intact; no laceration fresh and old noted; examining
finger can barely enter and with difficulty; vaginal canal tight; no discharges noted.
• Upon being arraigned, the accused entered the plea of not guilty to the offense charged.
• After the witnesses for the People testified and the exhibits were formally offered and admitted, the prosecution rested
its case.
• Thereafter, the defense opted not to present any exculpatory evidence and instead filed a Motion to Dismiss.
• RTC: Crime of Frustrated Rape (Art. 335, RPC), beyond reasonable doubt, with the aggravating circumstances of
dwelling and nightime (sic) with no mitigating circumstance to offset the same,
o PENALTY: ISL imprisonment of TEN (10) YEARS and ONE (1) DAY, PRISION MAYOR, as minimum to TWELVE
(12) YEARS PRISION MAYOR, maximum; to indemnify CRISTINA S. ABAYAN, the amount of Four Thousand
(P4,000.00) Pesos, without subsidiary imprisonment in case of insolvency, and to pay costs.
o no conclusive evidence of penetration of the genital organ of the victim and thus convicted the accused of
frustrated rape only.
• CA: GUILTY of rape, and consequently, sentenced to suffer imprisonment of reclusion perpetua and to indemnify the
victim in the amount of P30,000.00.
• Court of Appeals issued a resolution setting aside its December 29, 1988 decision and forwarded the case to this Court,
considering the provision of Section 9, paragraph 3 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129 in conjunction with Section 17,
paragraph 3, subparagraph 1 of the Judiciary Act of 1948.
• Accused assails the testimonies of the victim and Pat. Donceras because they "show remarkable and vital
inconsistencies and its incredibility amounting to fabrication and therefore casted doubt to its candor, truth and
validity
ISSUES:
• Whether or not the crime of frustrated rape was committed (NO, consummated)
HELD:
• A close scrutiny of the alleged inconsistencies revealed that they refer to trivial inconsistencies which are not
sufficient to blur or cast doubt on the witnesses' straightforward attestations
• Far from being badges of fabrication, the inconsistencies in their testimonies may in fact be justifiably considered
as manifestations of truthfulness on material points.

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 • These little deviations also confirm that the witnesses had not been rehearsed. The most candid witnesses may
make mistakes sometimes but such honest lapses do not necessarily impair their intrinsic credibility (People v.
Cabato)
• Rather than discredit the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses, discrepancies on minor details must be viewed
as adding credence and veracity to such spontaneous testimonies (Aportadera et al. v. Court of Appeals)
• As a matter of fact, complete uniformity in details would be a strong indication of untruthfulness and lack of
spontaneity (People v. Bazar, )
• However, one of the alleged inconsistencies deserves a little discussion which is, the testimony of the victim that
the accused asked her to hold and guide his penis in order to have carnal knowledge of her. According to the
accused, this is strange because "this is the only case where an aggressor's advances is being helped-out by the
victim in order that there will be a consummation of the act." (p. 34, Rollo).
• The allegation would have been meritorious had the testimony of the victim ended there. The victim testified
further that the accused was holding a Batangas knife during the aggression. This is a material part of the victim's
testimony which the accused conveniently deleted.
• We find no cogent reason to depart from the well-settled rule that the findings of fact of the trial court on the
credibility of witnesses should be accorded the highest respect because it has the advantage of observing the
demeanor of witnesses and can discern if a witness is telling the truth (People v. Samson)
• To the Court she was a picture of supplication hungry and thirsty for the immediate vindication of the affront to
her honor. It is inculcated into the mind of the Court that the accused had wronged her; had traversed illegally her
honor.
• When a woman testifies that she has been raped, she says in effect all that is necessary to show that rape was
committed provided her testimony is clear and free from contradiction and her sincerity and candor, free from
suspicion (People v Alfonso).
• The victim in this case did not only state that she was raped but she testified convincingly on how the rape was
committed. The victim's testimony from the time she knocked on the door of the municipal building up to the time
she was brought to the hospital was corroborated by Pat. Donceras.
• Interpreting the findings as indicated in the medical certificate, Dr. Reinerio Zamora (who was presented in view
of the unavailability of Dr. Abude) declared that the abrasions in the left and right knees, linear abrasions below
the left breast, multiple pinpoint marks, circumscribed hematoma at the anterior neck, erythematous area
surrounding the vaginal orifice and tender vulva, are conclusive proof of struggle against force and violence
exerted on the victim
• The trial court even inspected the boarding house and was fully satisfied that the narration of the scene of the
incident and the conditions therein is true (p. 54, Rollo):
• The staircase leading to the first floor is in such a condition safe enough to carry the weight of both accused and
offended party without the slightest difficulty, even in the manner as narrated. The partitions of every room were
of strong materials, securedly nailed, and would not give way even by hastily scaling the same.
• A little insight into human nature is of utmost value in judging rape complaints (People v. Torio, ). . . And the jump
executed by the offended party from that balcony (opening) to the ground which was correctly estimated to be
less than eight (8) meters, will perhaps occasion no injury to a frightened individual being pursued.
• Common experience will tell us that in occasion of conflagration especially occuring (sic) in high buildings, many
have been saved by jumping from some considerable heights without being injured. How much more for a
frightened barrio girl, like the offended party to whom honor appears to be more valuable than her life or limbs?
• Besides, the exposure of her private parts when she sought assistance from authorities, as corroborated, is enough
indication that something not ordinary happened to her unless she is mentally deranged. Sadly, nothing was
adduced to show that she was out of her mind.
• What particularly imprints the badge of truth on her story is her having been rendered entirely naked by appellant
and that even in her nudity, she had to run away from the latter and managed to gain sanctuary in a house owned
by spouses hardly known to her. All these acts she would not have done nor would these facts have occurred
unless she was sexually assaulted in the manner she narrated.
• As for the non-presentation of the medico-legal officer who actually examined the victim, the trial court stated
that it was by agreement of the parties that another physician testified inasmuch as the medico-legal officer was
no longer available. The accused did not bother to contradict this statement.
Whether or not the accused's conviction for frustrated rape is proper.
• The accused contends that there is no crime of frustrated rape
• Article 335 of the Revised Penal Code defines and enumerates the elements of the crime of rape:
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 o Art. 335. When and how rape is committed. — Rape is committed by having carnal knowledge of a woman
under any of the following circumstances:
1. By using force or intimidation;
2. When the woman is deprived of reason or otherwise unconscious and
3. When the woman is under twelve years of age, even though neither of the circumstances mentioned in the
two next preceding paragraphs shall be present.
• Carnal knowledge is defined as the act of a man in having sexual bodily connections with a woman (Black's Law
Dictionary. Fifth Edition, p. 193).
• On the other hand, Article 6 of the same Code provides:
Art. 6. Consummated, frustrated, and attempted felonies. — Consummated felonies as well as those which
are frustrated and attempted, are punishable.
A felony is consummated when all the elements necessary for its execution and accomplishment are
present; and it is frustrated when the offender performs all the acts of execution which would
produce the felony as a consequence but which, nevertheless, do not produce it by reason of causes
independent of the will of the perpetrator.
There is an attempt when the offender commences the commission of a felony directly by overt acts, and
does not perform all the acts of execution which should produce the felony by reason of some cause or
accident other than his own spontaneous desistance.
• Correlating these two provisions, there is no debate that the attempted and consummated stages apply to the crime
of rape.
• The requisites of a frustrated felony are: (1) that the offender has performed all the acts of execution which would
produce the felony and (2) that the felony is not produced due to causes independent of the perpetrator's will.
• In the leading case of United States v. Eduave, 36 Phil. 209, 212, Justice Moreland set a distinction between attempted
and frustrated felonies which is readily understood even by law students:
o The essential element which distinguishes attempted from frustrated felony is that, in the latter, there is no
intervention of a foreign or extraneous cause or agency between the beginning of the commission of the crime
and the moment when all of the acts have been performed which should result in the consummated crime;
while in the former there is such intervention and the offender does not arrive at the point of performing all
of the acts which should produce the crime. He is stopped short of that point by some cause apart from his
voluntary desistance.
• Clearly, in the crime of rape, from the moment the offender has carnal knowledge of his victim he actually attains
his purpose and, from that moment also all the essential elements of the offense have been accomplished. Nothing
more is left to be done by the offender, because he has performed the last act necessary to produce the crime. Thus, the
felony is consummated.
• For the consummation of rape, perfect penetration is not essential. Any penetration of the female organ by the male
organ is sufficient. Entry of the labia or lips of the female organ, without rupture of the hymen or laceration of the
vagina is sufficient to warrant conviction.
• Necessarily, rape is attempted if there is no penetration of the female organ because not all acts of execution was
performed. The offender merely commenced the commission of a felony directly by overt acts.
• Taking into account the nature, elements and manner of execution of the crime of rape and jurisprudence on the
matter, it is hardly conceivable how the frustrated stage in rape can ever be committed.
• People v. Eriña [1927] is STRAY DECISION where offender guilty of frustrated rape there being no conclusive evidence
of penetration of the genital organ of the offended party. It has not been reiterated in subsequent decisions.
• Likewise, We are aware of Article 335 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by Republic Act No. 2632 (dated
September 12, 1960) and Republic Act No. 4111 (dated March 29, 1965) which provides, in its penultimate paragraph,
for the penalty of death when the rape is attempted or frustrated and a homicide is committed by reason or on the
occasion thereof. We are of the opinion that this particular provision on frustrated rape is a dead provision. The Eriña
case, supra, might have prompted the law-making body to include the crime of frustrated rape in the amendments
introduced by said laws.
• In concluding that there is no conclusive evidence of penetration of the genital organ of the victim, the trial court relied
on the testimony of Dr. Zamora when he "categorically declared that the findings in the vulva does not give a concrete
disclosure of penetration. As a matter of fact, he tossed back to the offended party the answer as to whether or not
there actually was penetration."

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• The alleged variance between the testimony of the victim and the medical certificate does not exist. On the contrary,
it is stated in the medical certificate that the vulva was erythematous (which means marked by abnormal redness of
the skin due to capillary congestion, as in inflammation) and tender.
• It bears emphasis that Dr. Zamora did not rule out penetration of the genital organ of the victim. He merely testified
that there was uncertainty whether or not there was penetration. Anent this testimony, the victim positively testified
that there was penetration, even if only partially
• The fact is that in a prosecution for rape, the accused may be convicted even on the sole basis of the victim's testimony
if credible (
• Moreover, Dr. Zamora's testimony is merely corroborative and is not an indispensable element in the prosecution of
this case (People v. Alfonso, supra).
• Article 335, paragraph 3, of the Revised Penal Code provides that whenever the crime of rape is committed with the
use of a deadly weapon, the penalty shall be reclusion perpetua to death.
• The trial court appreciated the aggravating circumstances of dwelling and nighttime. Thus, the proper imposable
penalty is death.
• In view, however, of Article 111, Section 19(1) of the 1987 Constitution and Our ruling in People v. Millora, et al., G.R.
Nos. L-38968-70, February 9, 1989, that the cited Constitutional provision did not declare the abolition of the death
penalty but merely prohibits the imposition of the death penalty, the Court has since February 2, 1987 not imposed
the death penalty whenever it was called for under the Revised Penal Code but instead reduced the same to reclusion
perpetua
• Reclusion perpetua, being a single indivisible penalty under Article 335, paragraph 3, is imposed regardless of any
mitigating or aggravating circumstances (
DISPOSITIVE: Guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of CONSUMMATED rape and sentenced to reclusion perpetua
as well as to indemnify the victim in the amount of P30,000.00.

GRAVE COERCION
c/o HIPOLITO

Alejandro v Bernas
JOSEPH ANTHONY M. ALEJANDRO, FIRDAUSI I.Y. ABBAS, CARMINA A. ABBAS and MA. ELENA GO FRANCISCO
vs.
ATTY. JOSE A. BERNAS, ATTY. MARIE LOURDES SIA-BERNAS, FERNANDO AMOR, EDUARDO AGUILAR, JOHN DOE and
PETER DOE
[G.R. No. 179243. September 7, 2011.]
PERALTA, J p:

FACTS:
• Alejandro is the lessee-purchaser of condominium unit No. 2402 (the Unit), 4th Floor, Discovery Center Condominium
in Pasig City under the Contract of Lease with Option to Purchase with the lessor-seller Oakridge Properties, Inc.
(OPI).
• On October 15, 2000, Alejandro sub-leased the Unit to the other petitioners Firdausi I.Y. Abbas (Firdausi), Carmina
M. Alejandro-Abbas (Carmina) and Ma. Elena Go Francisco (Ma. Elena) to be used as a law office.
• However, a defect in the air-conditioning unit prompted petitioners to suspend payments until the problem is
fixed by the management.
• Instead of addressing the defect, OPI instituted an action for ejectment before the Metropolitan Trial Court (MeTC)
of Pasig City, against Alejandro for the latter's failure to pay rentals.
• Alejandro, for his part, interposed the defense of justified suspension of payments.
• In the meantime, the Discovery Center Condominium Corporation (DCCC) was organized to administer the Discovery
Center Condominium independent of OPI. Respondent Fernando Amor (Amor) was appointed as the Property
Manager of DCCC.
• During the pendency of the ejectment case, or on June 10, 2004, OPI, allegedly through respondent Atty. Marie Lourdes
Sia-Bernas (Sia-Bernas), ordered that the Unit be padlocked.
• In an Order 8 dated June 11, 2004, the MeTC directed OPI to remove the padlock of the Unit and discontinue the
inventory of the properties. The order was reiterated when the MeTC issued a Temporary Restraining Order in favor
of Alejandro.
• However, on August 11, 2004, at 8:00 in the evening, OPI, allegedly through respondent Atty. Jose Bernas, again
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 padlocked the Unit. The padlocking was allegedly executed by Amor, as property manager, and respondent Eduardo
Aguilar (Aguilar) as head of the security unit, together with security officers John Doe and Peter Doe.
• Respondents, likewise, cut off the electricity, water and telephone facilities on August 16, 2004.
• On August 17, 2004, the MeTC rendered a Decision in the ejectment case in favor of Alejandro and against OPI. The
court found Alejandro's suspension of payment justified.
• The decision was, however, reversed and set aside by the Regional Trial Court, whose decision was in turn affirmed
by the CA.
• On October 27, 2004, petitioners filed a criminal complaint for grave coercion against respondents Bernas, Sia-
Bernas, Amor, Aguilar, Peter Doe and John Doe with the Office of the City Prosecutor (OCP) of Pasig.
o Petitioners claimed that the padlocking of the Unit was illegal, felonious and unlawful which prevented
them from entering the premises.
o Petitioners also alleged that said padlocking and the cutting off of facilities had unduly prejudiced them
and thus constituted grave coercion.
• In their Counter-Affidavit, Bernas and Sia-Bernas averred that the elements of grave coercion were not alleged and
proven by petitioners. They also claimed that nowhere in petitioners' complaint was it alleged that respondents
employed violence which is an essential element of grave coercion.
o In addition to the above defenses, Amor and Aguilar maintained that petitioners did not allege that the former
actually prevented the latter to enter the Unit. They added that petitioners in fact gained access to the
Unit by forcibly destroying the padlock.
• On March 22, 2005, the OCP issued a Resolution, respondents Fernando Amor and Eduardo Aguilar are charged with
unjust vexation and the attached information be filed with the Metropolitan Trial Court of Pasig City. Bail is not
necessary unless required by the Court.
• The charges against respondents Jose Bernas and Marie Lourdes Sia-Bernas is dismissed for insufficiency of evidence.
o The OCP held that respondents could not be charged with grave coercion as no violence was employed by
the latter. In padlocking the leased premises and cutting off of facilities, respondents Amor and Aguilar were
found to be probably guilty of the crime of unjust vexation
• Appealed to the Secretary of the Department of Justice (DOJ), but the appeal was dismissed for their failure to comply
with Section 12, paragraph (b) of Department Circular No. 70.
o The DOJ Secretary, acting through Undersecretary Ernesto L. Pineda, explained that petitioners failed to
submit a legible true copy of the joint counter-affidavit of some of the respondents.
o Petitioners' motion for reconsideration was likewise denied in a Resolution 24 dated April 3, 2006.
• Notwithstanding the DOJ's conclusion that respondents cannot be charged with grave coercion, it ordered the filing
of information for unjust vexation against Amor, the Property Manager of DCCC and Aguilar as head of the security
division
• Elevated the matter to the CA that rendered the assailed Decision 25 on May 23, 2007.
o On whether or not there was probable cause for the crime of grave coercion, the CA answered in the negative.
o It held that the mere presence of the security guards was insufficient to cause intimidation.
• Petitioners claim that there is sufficient evidence on record to prove the fact of padlocking and cutting off of facilities
thereat.
o They insist that the allegations and evidence presented in the Joint Affidavit-Complaint are sufficient to
sustain a finding of probable cause for grave coercion irrespective of any defense that may be put up by
respondents.
o Although violence was not present during the commission of the acts complained of, there was sufficient
intimidation by the mere presence of the security guards.
• Respondents do not agree with petitioners that the mere presence of security guards constituted intimidation
amounting to grave coercion and insist that there is no legal impediment to cause the padlocking and repossession of
the Unit as a valid exercise of proprietary right under the contract of lease.

ISSUES:
WHETHER OR NOT GRAVE COERCION CAN BE COMMITTED THROUGH INTIMIDATION ALONE BY MERE PRESENCE
WITHOUT VIOLENCE? NO. BUT UNJUST VEXATION

HELD:
• For grave coercion to lie, the following elements must be present:
1. that a person is prevented by another from doing something not prohibited by law, or compelled to do something

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against his will, be it right or wrong;
2. that the prevention or compulsion is effected by violence, threats or intimidation; and
3. that the person who restrains the will and liberty of another has no right to do so, or in other words, that the
restraint is not made under authority of law or in the exercise of any lawful right.
• Admittedly, respondents padlocked the Unit and cut off the electricity, water and telephone facilities. Petitioners were
thus prevented from occupying the Unit and using it for the purpose for which it was intended, that is, to be used as a
law office.
• At the time of the padlocking and cutting off of facilities, there was already a case for the determination of the rights
and obligations of both Alejandro, as lessee and OPI as lessor, pending before the MeTC. There was in fact an order
for the respondents to remove the padlock. Thus, in performing the acts complained of, Amor and Aguilar had
no right to do so.
• NO VIOLENCE. The problem, however, lies on the second element. A perusal of petitioners' Joint Affidavit-Complaint
shows that petitioners merely alleged the fact of padlocking and cutting off of facilities to prevent the petitioners from
entering the Unit. For petitioners, the commission of these acts is sufficient to indict respondents of grave coercion. It
was never alleged that the acts were effected by violence, threat or intimidation. Petitioners belatedly alleged that they
were intimidated by the presence of security guards during the questioned incident.
• We find that the mere presence of the security guards is insufficient to cause intimidation to the petitioners.
• There is intimidation when one of the parties is compelled by a reasonable and well-grounded fear of an
imminent and grave evil upon his person or property, or upon the person or property of his spouse,
descendants or ascendants, to give his consent.
• Material violence is not indispensable for there to be intimidation. Intense fear produced in the mind of the victim
which restricts or hinders the exercise of the will is sufficient.
• In this case, petitioners claim that respondents padlocked the Unit and cut off the facilities in the presence of security
guardsIt was not alleged that the security guards committed anything to intimidate petitioners, nor was it alleged that
the guards were not customarily stationed there and that they produced fear on the part of petitioners.
• To determine the degree of the intimidation, the age, sex and condition of the person shall be borne in mind.
• Here, the petitioners, who were allegedly intimidated by the guards, are all lawyers who presumably know
their rights. The presence of the guards in fact was not found by petitioners to be significant because they failed to
mention it in their Joint Affidavit-Complaint. What they insist is that, the mere padlocking of the Unit prevented them
from using it for the purpose for which it was intended. This, according to the petitioners, is grave coercion on the part
of respondents
• In Sy, the respondents therein, together with several men, armed with hammers, ropes, axes, crowbars and other tools,
arrived at the complainants' residence and ordered them to vacate the building because they were going to demolish
it. Intimidated by respondents and their demolition team, complainants were prevented from peacefully occupying
their residence and were compelled to leave against their will. Thus, respondents succeeded in implementing the
demolition, while complainants watched helplessly as their building was torn down. The Court thus found that there
was prima facie showing that complainants were intimidated and that there was probable cause for the crime of grave
coercion.
• Barbasa v. Tuquero applies. In Barbasa, the lessor, together with the head of security and several armed guards,
disconnected the electricity in the stalls occupied by the complainants-lessees because of the latter's failure to pay the
back rentals. The Court held that there was no violence, force or the display of it as would produce intimidation
upon the lessees' employees when the cutting off of electricity was effected. On the contrary, the Court found that
it was done peacefully and that the guards were there not to intimidate them but to prevent any untoward or violent
event from occurring in the exercise of the lessor's right under the contract.
• In the crime of grave coercion, violence through material force or such a display of it as would produce
intimidation and, consequently, control over the will of the offended party is an essential ingredient.
• Probable cause demands more than suspicion; it requires less than evidence that would justify conviction.
• UNJUST VEXATION.
o The second paragraph of Article 287 of the Revised Penal Code which defines and provides for the penalty of
unjust vexation is broad enough to include any human conduct which, although not productive of some
physical or material harm, could unjustifiably annoy or vex an innocent person.
o Nevertheless, Amor and Aguilar may disprove petitioners' charges but such matters may only be determined
in a full-blown trial on the merits where the presence or absence of the elements of the crime may be
thoroughly passed upon
• The court's duty in an appropriate case is confined to the determination of whether the assailed executive or judicial

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 determination of probable cause was done without or in excess of jurisdiction or with grave abuse of discretion
amounting to want of jurisdiction.
• Probable cause for purposes of filing a criminal information is defined as such facts as are sufficient to engender a
well-founded belief that a crime has been committed and the respondent is probably guilty thereof, and should
be held for trial.
• [Probable cause] is such a state of facts in the mind of the prosecutor as would lead a person of ordinary caution and
prudence to believe or entertain an honest or strong suspicion that a thing is so. The term does not mean "actual or
positive cause"; nor does it import absolute certainty. It is merely based on opinion and reasonable belief.
• Thus, a finding of probable cause does not require an inquiry into whether there is sufficient evidence to procure a
conviction. It is enough that it is believed that the act or omission complained of constitutes the offense charged.
Precisely, there is a trial for the reception of evidence of the prosecution in support of the charge
HELD: Petition is DENIED for lack of merit.

Barbasa v Tuquero
ROBERTO BARBASA
vs.
HON. ARTEMIO G. TUQUERO, DOJ Sec, GRACE GUARIN, NESTOR SANGALANG
[G.R. No. 163898. December 23, 2008.]
FACTS:
• Petitioner avers that he is the president of Push-Thru Marketing, Inc., which leases commercial stalls CS-PL 05, 19 and
30 in Tutuban Center, owned by Tutuban Properties,
• On June 30, 1999, Angelina Hipolito, merchandising officer of Push-Thru Marketing, received a notice of
disconnection of utilities from private respondent Grace Guarin, the Credit and Collection Manager of TPI, for failure
of Push-Thru Marketing to settle its outstanding obligations for Common Usage and Service Area (CUSA) charges,
utilities, electricity and rentals.
• Petitioner settled the charges for CUSA, utilities and electricity, which payment was accepted by private respondent
Guarin, but petitioner failed to pay the back rentals.
• July 1, 1999, private respondents Guarin, Nestor Sangalang, engineering manager of TPI, and Victor Callueng, TPI head
of security, together with several armed guards, disconnected the electricity in the stalls occupied by Push-Thru
Marketing.
• Aggrieved, petitioner filed a criminal complaint for Grave Coercion against TPI and its officers, David Go, Robert
Castanares, Buddy Mariano, Art Brondial, and herein private respondents before the Office of the City Prosecutor of
Manila.
• The complaint dated July 13, 1999 alleged that TPI and its officers cut off the electricity in petitioner's stalls "in a
violent and intimidating manner" and by unnecessarily employing "several armed guards to intimidate and
frighten" petitioner and his employees and agents.
• Defense: that the July 1, 1999 cutting off of electrical supply was done peacefully;
o that it was an act performed in the lawful performance of their assigned duties, and in accordance with
the covenants set forth in the written agreements previously executed between petitioner and TPI;
o that petitioner was not present when the alleged acts were committed;
o petitioner had outstanding accumulated unpaid rentals, CUSA billings, electrical and water bills, unpaid
interest and penalty charges (from June 1998 to May 1999) in the amount of P267,513.39 for all his rented
stalls, as reflected in three Interest-Penalty Reports 8 duly sent to him.
o Petitioner was likewise given demand letter-notices in writing at least three times wherein it was stated
that if he did not settle his arrears in full, electricity would be cut. 9 Of the total amount due from him,
petitioner paid only P127,272.18 after receipt of the third notice.
o Accordingly, private respondents proceeded with the power cut-off, but only after sending a "Notice of
Disconnection of Utilities" to petitioner's stalls informing him of the impending act.
o Private respondents also pointed out that aside from the above arrears, petitioner has outstanding
accountabilities with respect to "Priority Premium Fees" in the amount of P5,907,013.10.
o They likewise stressed that their Agreement with petitioner contains the following stipulations:
▪ PRIORITY PREMIUM : P 2,367,750.00
▪ RENT PER MONTH : P 378.00 per sq. m
▪ Plus P 37.80 10% VAT)
▪ OTHER FEES AND EXPENSES CHARGEABLE TO THE LESSEE:
▪ (CUSA) CHARGES: Minimum rate of P190.00/sq. m./mo.
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 ▪ ELECTRIC CONSUMPTION : metered + reasonable service
▪ In cases where payments made by the LESSEE for any given month is not sufficient to cover all
outstanding obligations for said period, the order of priority in the application of the payments made
is as follows:
• Penalties, Interests, Insurance, CUSA Charges, Rent, Priority Premium
▪ PENALTY CLAUSE: It is also expressly agreed that in case the LESSEE fails to pay at any time the
LESSOR is hereby granted the option to cut off power and other utility services to the LESSEE until
full payment of said charges, expenses, penalty and interest is made,
• Petitioner filed his Reply Affidavit:
o Go, Castanares, Mariano, Brondial, Guarin and Sangalang, while not personally present at the scene at the time,
were to be held liable as the authors of the criminal design since they were the ones who ordered the
cutting off of petitioner's electricity.
o Petitioner admitted that none of the armed personnel drew his gun, much more aimed or fired it, but
insisted that he was unduly prevented from using electricity to the detriment of his business and his person.
o He claimed that the officers of TPI were unable to show the amount and extent of his unpaid bills; that as
to the electric bills, the same were paid;
o Ongoing negotiation with respect to the matter of rentals and for reformation of the lease agreements.
• Prosecutor: Dismissed the complaint against David Go, Roberto Castanares, Buddy Mariano and Art Brondial but
found probable cause against private respondents Grace Guarin, Nestor Sangalang and Victor Callueng.
• On January 13, 2000, an Information for grave coercion was filed in court, but proceedings therein were deferred
when the private respondents filed an appeal to the Secretary of Justice.
• On August 23, 2000, the Secretary of Justice reversed the City Prosecutor's Resolution, as follows: Move for the
dismissal
• Petitioner assailed the Resolution of the Secretary of Justice before the Court of Appeals through a petition for
certiorari, which was, however, dismissed by the appellate court for lack of merit. The appellate court likewise denied
his motion for reconsideration.
ISSUES: Whether private respondents' act of disconnecting the supply of electricity to petitioner's stalls and the manner
by which it was carried out constitute grave coercion? (NO)

HELD: NO.
o The crime of grave coercion has three elements: (a) that a person is prevented by another from doing something not
prohibited by law, or compelled to do something against his or her will, be it right or wrong; (b) that the prevention or
compulsion is effected by violence, either by material force or such a display of it as would produce intimidation and,
consequently, control over the will of the offended party; and (c) that the person who restrains the will and liberty of
another has no right to do so; in other words, that the restraint is not made under authority of law or in the exercise
of any lawful right.
o The records show that there was no violence, force or the display of it as would produce intimidation upon
petitioner's employees when the cutting off of petitioner's electricity was effected.
o On the contrary, it was done peacefully and after written notice to petitioner was sent.
o The guards were there to prevent any untoward or violent event from occurring in the exercise of TPI's rights
under the lease agreements. If the respondents desired a violent result, they would have gone there
unannounced or cut petitioner's electricity through less desirable and conspicuous means
o There could be no grave coercion in the private respondents' act of exercising in behalf of TPI a right afforded
to TPI under the solemn and unequivocal covenants of a contract to which petitioner had agreed and which he did
execute and sign.
o Penalty clause in the Contracts of Lease entered into by the parties that TPI is given the option to cut off power
and other utility services in petitioner's stalls in case petitioner fails to pay at any time
o Contracts constitute the law between the parties. They must be read together and interpreted in a manner
that reconciles and gives life to all of them. The intent of the parties, as shown by the clear language used,
prevails over post facto explanations that find no support from the words employed by the parties or from
their contemporary and subsequent acts showing their understanding of such contracts.
o We could not see how the Office of the City Prosecutor of Manila, through Prosecutor Venus D. Marzan, could have
made a finding of probable cause to file a criminal case for grave coercion against private respondents, in light of the
evidence then and now prevailing, which will show that there was a mutual agreement, in a contract of lease, that
provided for the cutting off of electricity as an acceptable penalty for failure to abide faithfully with what has been
covenanted.
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o Although the propriety of its exercise may be the subject of controversy, mere resort to it may not so readily expose
the lessor TPI to a charge of grave coercion. Considering that petitioner owed TPI the total amount of more than P5
million, which was undisputed, we find that the resort to the penalty clause under the lease agreements was justified.
o A penal clause is "an accessory obligation which the parties attach to a principal obligation for the purpose of
insuring the performance thereof by imposing on the debtor a special prestation (generally consisting in the payment
of a sum of money) in case the obligation is not fulfilled or is irregularly or inadequately fulfilled."
o Quite common in lease contracts, this clause functions to strengthen the coercive force of the obligation and to
provide, in effect, for what could be the liquidated damages resulting from a breach. There is nothing immoral or illegal
in such indemnity/penalty clause, absent any showing that it was forced upon or fraudulently foisted on the obligor.
DISPOSITIVE: DENIED.

Sy v Secretary of Justice
ALFREDO SY for himself and as Attorney-in-Fact of GONZALO SY, VERONICA SY, ROSARIO SY, MANUEL SY and JOSE SEE
vs.
HON. SECRETARY OF JUSTICE, LEON MARIA MAGSAYSAY and ENG'R. EMMANUEL LALIN
[G.R. No. 166315. December 14, 2006.]
FACTS:
• 1985, Dolores F. Posadas, through respondent, Leon Maria F. Magsaysay, as her attorney-in-fact, filed an ejectment case
against them to recover a parcel of land in Paco, Manila consisting of approximately 8,295 sq.m.
• Several structures stand on the land including their post-war built building which has served as their family residence
with a small sari-sari store. The trial court thereafter ruled in favor of Dolores F. Posadas.
• On appeal, the Regional Trial Court affirmed the trial court's decision. On appeal to the Court of Appeals, the latter
court set aside the decision of the Regional Trial Court and dismissed the complaint.
• However, during the pendency of the appeal in the Court of Appeals, respondent Leon Maria F. Magsaysay obtained
from the office of the Building Official of Manila a Notice of Condemnation dated February 8, 1996.
• In response, the [petitioners] caused the assessment of the structural soundness of their residence. Consequently, on
February 20, 1996, a Certificate of Structural Inspection was issued by a licensed engineer, certifying to the general
integrity of the structure which merely needed minor repairs.
• In October, 1997, the [petitioners] received a letter from the Office of the Building Official informing them that
respondent Leon Maria F. Magsaysay had requested for the condemnation of certain structures, including the structure
owned by [petitioners]. The [petitioners] were directed to submit their Answer/Comment and supporting papers.
• A scheduled ocular inspection of the property was deferred at the instance of [petitioners'] counsel. Subsequently, an
order of demolition dated February 3, 1998 was issued by Manila Building Official Hermogenes B. Garcia, on the
basis of a Resolution dated February 3, 1998 issued by a committee created to act on the letter dated October 13, 1997
of respondent Leon Maria Guerrero.
• The [petitioners] filed a Motion for Reconsideration of the order with the Secretary of the Department of Public Works
and Highways (DPWH). The complainants also obtained a TRO enjoining the enforcement of the order of demolition.
• In the morning of August 28, 1998, respondent Emmanuel T. Lalin, together with several men with hammers,
ropes, axes and crowbars, arrived at the complainants' residence and over their protests, demolished the
building which served as their family residence and sari-sari store.
• The [petitioners] contend that the respondents' act of demolishing their building without any legal authority to do so
is an act of grave coercion, punishable under Article 286 of the Revised Penal Code.
• On the other hand, respondent Leon Ma. Magsaysay, in his counter affidavit, avers that he is one of the co-owners of
the land located at the corner of Pedro Gil and A. Isip Sts., Paco, Manila as evidenced by TCT Nos. 216323 and 216327.
He further avers that the demolition of the [petitioners'] structure was based on the lawful order of the City Building
Official of Manila and affirmed by the DPWH.
• Respondent Civil Engineer Emmanuel T. La[l]in, for his part, also avers that the demolition was undertaken pursuant
to a duly-issued demolition order and that he was only hired by respondent Leon Maria Magsaysay to implement
the same.
• The City Prosecutor of Manila dismissed the complaint for grave coercion for lack of merit.
• Hence, petitioners appealed to the Secretary of Justice but same was denied, finding that the demolition was carried
out pursuant to a duly issued demolition order.
• Petitioners filed a petition for certiorari before the Court of Appeals which denied the petition for lack of merit.
• Petitioners alleged that there is sufficient evidence to support a finding of probable cause for the filing of an
information for grave coercion against respondents and that the Secretary of Justice gravely abused his discretion in

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 holding otherwise.
• Respondents argued that the determination of probable cause during preliminary investigation is an executive
function, the correctness of which is a matter that the courts may not be compelled to pass upon. At any rate, they
claim that the Secretary of Justice did not abuse his discretion in finding that the complaint for grave coercion is
without merit.

ISSUES: Whether there is probable cause for the filing of an information against respondents Magsaysay and Lalin for the
offense of grave coercion? YES.

HELD:
• The elements of grave coercion under Article 286 of the Revised Penal Code are as follows: 1) that a person is
prevented by another from doing something not prohibited by law, or compelled to do something against his will, be
it right or wrong; 2) that the prevention or compulsion is effected by violence, threats or intimidation; and 3) that the
person who restrains the will and liberty of another has no right to do so, or in other words, that the restraint is not
made under authority of law or in the exercise of any lawful right.
• It is undisputed that on August 28, 1998, respondents, together with several men armed with hammers, ropes, axes,
crowbars and other tools arrived at the petitioners' residence and ordered them to vacate the building because they
were going to demolish it.
• Petitioners tried to stop respondents from proceeding with the demolition but their pleas went unheeded.
Intimidated by respondents and their demolition team, petitioners were prevented from peacefully occupying their
residence and were compelled to leave against their will.
• Thus, respondents succeeded in implementing the demolition while petitioners watched helplessly as their
building was torn down.
• From the facts alleged in the complaint, as well as the evidence presented in support thereof, there is prima facie
showing that respondents did not act under authority of law or in the exercise of any lawful right.
• Respondent Magsaysay claimed that the demolition was carried out by the Office of the Building Official, which is
tasked to implement the National Building Code.
• We note, however, that respondent Lalin admitted in his Counter-Affidavit that he was hired by Magsaysay to
implement the Demolition Order. The building officials made manifestations before the trial court in Civil Case
No. 98-87513 that they were not aware of the demolition and that respondent Lalin is not connected with their
office. They also denied conspiring with respondent Magsaysay in effecting the demolition.
• Likewise, the Office of the Building Official issued an Order 13 dated August 28, 1998 directing respondent Magsaysay
to desist from proceeding with the demolition. On the same date, it also issued a Notice advising respondent
Lalin to stop the demolition for failing to comply with the 5-day prior notice requirement and considering that
the demolition was being effected within the 15-day reglementary period for appeal.
• In another Order dated September 10, 1998, the Office of the Building Official declared that the demolition was hastily
done and in contravention of the terms and conditions of the Demolition Order.
• Indeed, while respondents claim to have acted under authority of law in compelling petitioners to vacate the
subject property and effecting the demolition, the documentary evidence show otherwise.
• From the records, it is clear that a prima facie case for grave coercion exists and that there is sufficient ground to
sustain a finding of probable cause which needs only to rest on evidence showing that, more likely than not, a crime
has been committed and that it was committed by the accused.
• Nevertheless, respondents may disprove petitioners' charges but such matters may only be determined in a full-blown
trial on the merits where the presence or absence of the elements of the crime may be thoroughly passed upon.
• Probable cause, for purposes of filing a criminal information, has been defined as such facts as are sufficient to
engender a well-founded belief that a crime has been committed and that respondent is probably guilty thereof. It is
such a state of facts in the mind of the prosecutor as would lead a person of ordinary caution and prudence to believe
or entertain an honest or strong suspicion that a thing is so. The term does not mean "actual or positive cause;" nor
does it import absolute certainty. It is merely based on opinion and reasonable belief. Thus, a finding of probable cause
does not require an inquiry into whether there is sufficient evidence to procure a conviction. It is enough that it is
believed that the act or omission complained of constitutes the offense charged. Precisely, there is a trial for the
reception of evidence of the prosecution in support of the charge.
• While it is this Court's general policy not to interfere in the conduct of preliminary investigations, leaving the
investigating officers sufficient discretion to determine probable cause, courts are nevertheless empowered to
substitute their judgment for that of the Secretary of Justice when the same was rendered without or in excess of

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 authority.

DISPOSITIVE: Petition is GRANTED.

ESTAFA DIGESTS
c/o HIPOLITO

1. PEOPLE vs. TOMAS MANANSALA ET AL., defendants.

GALICANO ALON and RICARDO CABRALES, appellants.
VICKERS, J p: [G.R. No. 38948. November 18, 1933.]

FACTS:
• The appellants Galicano Alon (alias Grego), and Ricardo Cabrales (alias Maning), together with Tomas Manansala,
Generoso Jacinto, and Isidro Mendoza, were prosecuted in the Court of First Instance of Manila for the crime of estafa.
• A week prior to February 19, 1932, 'Grego' (Alon) and 'Maning' (Cabrales) in company with another person whom they
called 'Pepe' offered to sell Attorney Perfecto Abordo 17,000 tins of opium at P1.50 each telling him that he could sell
them for P10 a tin.
• For profit, Abordo agreed to buy the merchandise, and the accused agreed to sell it to him in lots of 1,000 tins at P600
lot. Delivery of 1,000 tins would take place at 5.30 p. m., at the corner of Taft Avenue Extension and Vito Cruz.
• February 19, 1932: Abordo went to the place indicated with the money, and there waited for them. Alon arrived alone in
an automobile and invited Abordo to go with him to the place where the 1,000 tins of opium were kept.
• Trusting Alon, who always called Abordo 'brother' because he claimed to be a Mason like Mr. Abordo, the latter went with
him in his automobile to the rotunda of Rizal Avenue Extension. Chauffeur Jose Jonsay was at the wheel.
• It was already twilight when they arrived at the rotunda, and there they met Maning (Cabrales), who, in company with
others, was waiting for Abordo in another automobile. The accused Cabrales alighted and shortly thereafter appeared
Pepe who was ordered by Cabrales to get the tins of opium.
• Pepe got from a lot nearby, the can, the top of which was opened by Cabrales in order to show Abordo the 6 tins of
opium contained in a wooden box which Abordo saw when the top of said can was opened.
• Finding that said tins really contained opium, Abordo believed that the rest of the contents of the can also consisted of
tins of opium. He handed the P600 to Maning, who, after receiving the money, immediately went to the automobile where
his companions were waiting.
• At the same time Abordo returned to his car with the accused Alon and the person named Pepe, carrying the can.
• While proceeding towards Taft Avenue Extension, Abordo noticed that the accused Cabrales was following in his
automobile, and that when they were nearing the corner of Taft Avenue Extension and Vito Cruz the car in which Cabrales
was riding attempted to block Abordo's way, while Alon told Abordo that those in the other automobile were constabulary
men and it would be better to get rid of the can.
• Cabrales, whom Abordo was able to recognize very well, and the companions of the former whom Abordo was not able
to identify because it was already dark, approached his car saying that they were constabulary agents and told Abordo
that he was under arrest.
• Knowing that they were not constabulary agents and that their purpose was to get possession of the can, Abordo drew
his revolver and ordered his chauffeur to proceed.
• Cabrales and his companions again followed him in their car and for the second time tried to head off Abordo somewhere
before the intersection of F. B. Harrison and Vito Cruz streets, but Abordo proceeded until he arrived at his house. There
he opened the can and inside he found the wooden box, but the rest of the contents of the can was sand. He bore a hole
in one of the tins and found that it only contained molasses.
• Defense (Testimony of accused and Miguel Rosales-> convicted 12x for estafa):
o Abordo engaged Cabrales, through the intervention of Rosales, to prepare 1,000 tins of molasses resembling
tins of opium, and that on the afternoon agreed upon for the payment, Abordo refused to deliver the money
because purchaser of said tins had not arrived, and invited the accused to his house in Pasay in order to make
the payment
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 o Before arriving in Pasay, Cabrales stopped Abordo's automobile and required the latter to hand over the money,
at the same time placing at the side of Abordo's automobile a sack which he said contained the 1,000 tins of
molasses asked for by Abordo.
• Information: In the municipalities of Pasay and Caloocan, Province of Rizal, within two and a half miles from the city limits,
the said accused conspiring together defraud Perfecto Abordo:
o by means of false and fraudulent representations to Abordo that they had for sale six hundred (600) tins of
opium, a prohibited drug, and that they would deliver the same to him upon paying them P600 in advance
o and by means of other similar deceit, induced the said Perfecto Abordo to give and deliver to them, as in fact he
gave and delivered to them, the said sum of P600,
o in consideration of which the accused gave him a gasoline can which they represented to contain the 600 tins
of opium, when in truth, as the said accused well knew, the said can contained only six small tin cans containing
a black substance which was not opium,
o Tomas Manansala and Galicano Alon have each once been convicted of the crime of estafa
o Habitual Delinquents: Ricardo Cabrales (1x convicted for robbery, theft 1x, 3x for estafa, last sentence: Feb. 4,
1927) and Isidro Mendoza (1x estafa and 1x robbery, last sentence: October 30, 1922)
• Information was dismissed as to Tomas Manansala, Generoso Jacinto, and Isidro Mendoza for lack of evidence
• RTC: Galicano Alon and Ricardo Cabrales guilty of estafa, in accordance with the provisions of article 354. No. 2, of the
Penal Code, as amended by Act No. 3244
o PENALTY: four months and one day of arresto mayor, with the accessory penalties + indemnify P600
ISSUES: Whether or not estafa was committed even though there was illegal consideration? Yes.
HELD:
• Estafa as defined in article 315, paragraph 1 (a) of the Revised Penal Code, which provides that any person who shall
defraud another through unfaithfulness or abuse of confidence by altering the substance, quantity, or quality of
anything of value which the offender shall deliver by virtue of an obligation to do so, even though such obligation be based
on an immoral or illegal consideration.
• PENALTY: The amount of the fraud being P600, the penalty applicable is arresto mayor in its maximum period to
prision correccional in its minimum period.
• ALON: Recidivist as he had already been convicted of estafa -> PENALTY: maximum period (one year, eight months,
and one day of prision correccional)
• CABRALES: Habitual delinquent, but his prior convictions cannot be taken into consideration also as an aggravating
circumstance for the purpose of increasing the principal penalty. PENALTY: medium (one year and one day of prision
correccional + additional penalty of eleven years, six months, and twenty-one days of prision mayor bec. Habitual
delinquent)
• SolGen mistaken that medium degree of prision mayor in its minimum and medium periods based upon the idea that only
the prior convictions of this appellant for estafa are to be taken into account.
• All prior convictions of any of the crimes of theft, robbery, estafa, or falsification should be taken into account when a
person is convicted of any one of these crimes and of being a habitual delinquent. To hold otherwise, a person might be
twice convicted of each of these four crimes, and still not be a habitual delinquent.

2. 2. UNITED STATES vs. JOSE ABAD

CARSON, J p: [G.R. No. 7520. November 23, 1912.]

FACTS:
• Information: Charged with the crime of estafa:
o December 10, 1910, in Cavite
o Accused entered the bicycle renting establishment, named 'Ligaya," located in Plaza Soledad in Cavite,
pretended that his name was Jose de los Santos and that he lived at No. 111 Calle Paseo, and rented from
the proprietor of said establishment, named Leoncio Pangilinan, an Iver Johnson bicycle, No. 169787, with
the private marks No. 10 and the initials L. P.,
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 o Agreeing to the sum of 50 centavos an hour, and to return it after one hour; but having taken away said
bicycle he did not return it at the time agreed or pay the rental thereof,
o Against the will of its owner take possession of it for himself and for the sake of gain, keeping it in his
possession until January 29, 1911, when the said bicycle was found in the possession of the said accused in
the town of Imus, Province of Cavite, P. I."
• During trial, evidence put forth that tricycle was valued at P75 or 375 pesetas
• TC: Guilty of Estafa as charged and defined and penalized in section 5 of article 535 of the Penal Code, read together
with section 1 of article 534. Convicted the defendant of the misappropriation or conversion of property of the value of
more than 250 and less than 6,000 pesetas.
• Defense:
o Since the information fails expressly to allege that the bicycle in question had a specific definite value,
and to set forth just what that value was, a judgment of conviction upon this information should not be
sustained.
o Erred in convicting the defendant of the misappropriation or conversion of property of the value of more than
250 and less than 6,000 pesetas. (No value alleged)
ISSUES:
1. Whether Abad should be convicted of estafa even though the specific value of the object was not alleged in the
information? (YES)
2. Whether the TC erred in convicting the defendant of the misappropriation or conversion of property of the value of more
than 250 and less than 6,000 pesetas? (YES)

HELD:
1. Yes. Mere omission of an allegation of the specific value of the bicycle mentioned in the information did not render it
fatally defective, because the facts alleged in the complaint, when proven, establish beyond any reasonable doubt that the
bicycle had some value.
o It is true that a conviction of the crime of estafa cannot be sustained in the absence of proof that the subject matter of
the fraud perpetrated by the accused had some value, and while in good practice a complaint or information charging
the commission of the crime of estafa should specifically allege the monetary value of the subject matter of the fraud
where that is possible. However, specific value is not necessary, it is necessary that the facts allege that it has
some value.
o Estafa: Bicycle was personal property of some value is sufficient to sustain a conviction under the provisions of
subsection 1 of article 534, which prescribes the penalty to be imposed where the value of the subject matter of
the fraud is not shown to be in excess of 250 pesetas
o Bicycle in question had some value (agreed to rent it for 50 cents/hr)
o It was the personal property of the complaining witness (in use in Pangilinan’s bicycle renting establishment)
o Bicycle had been converted or misappropriated by the defendant
o U.S. vs. De la Cruz: Defendant was convicted of the crime of robbery of a watch, the specific value of which was not set
out expressly in the complaint.
o "Since the crime of robbery is complete when all the other requisites set out in the definition of the code concur,
if the property taken has even the smallest value, we think we would be justified in holding that the watch taken
had sufficient value to sustain a conviction of robbery, unless it affirmatively appeared that it was absolutely
worthless, for without testimony to the contrary a watch, which the owner valued enough to carry, may fairly
be presumed to have some value, however insignificant that value may be."
2. Yes. Trial court erred in convicting the defendant of the misappropriation or conversion of property of the value of more
than 250 and less than 6,000 pesetas.
o Information does not charge that the value of the property taken was more than 250 and less than 6,000 pesetas
although its allegations amount to a charge that a bicycle of some value was taken. No case can a conviction be
sustained for a higher offense than that charged in the information, nor for a different offense, unless it is necessarily
included in the offense charged. It is manifest therefore that the conviction in this case for the higher offense must be
reversed.
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o It is true that the witnesses testified that the bicycle in question was worth some P75 (or 375 pesetas), and that, if this
testimony could be taken into consideration for the purpose of classifying the estafa committed by the defendant with
those penalized under the provisions of subsection 2 of article 534, the judgment of conviction should not be disturbed.
o However, the testimony cannot cure its not being alleged in the information because:
o It is in direct conflict with the general rule convictions were not sustained for higher offenses than those charged
in the information, which has its foundation in the constitutional right of the accused to be advised at the outset
of the proceedings as to the precise nature of the charge against him;
o Timely objection was made to the introduction of the evidence as to the specific value of the bicycle, and under
elementary rules of evidence, the testimony in this connection should have been excluded, at least in so far as
it was offered for the purpose of establishing a higher or a different offense from that charged in the complaint.
Dispositive: TC Reversed. Still GUILTY OF ESTAFA but that defined and penalized in section 5 of article 535 of the Penal
Code, read together with section 1 of article 534, and there being no evidence as to the existence of aggravating or
extenuating circumstances, we sentence him to the prescribed penalty in its medium degree, that is to say, to two months
and one day of arresto mayor

3. UNITED STATES, vs. NIEVES DE VERA Y GAYTE

VILLAMOR, J.: G.R. No. L-16961 September 19, 1921

Facts:
• February 20, 1920: three Igorots named Jose II, Balatan, and Pepe were on the Escolta, of this city, trying to dispose of
a bar of gold when an Ilocano invited them to go to his house, stating that there was a woman there who would buy the
precious metal.
• They accompanied the Ilocano to the house indicated by him where they met a woman, the accused herein, who
apparently, was desirous of buying the gold and requested them to hand it to her so that she might take it to a silversmith
and have it examined, stating that she would return within a short time to report the result.
• The Igorot Pepe, who was the owner of the bar of gold, handed it to her, together with P200 in bank notes which he
requested to her to have changed into silver coins as they were more desirable in the Mountain Province.
• The woman then left the house at about 12 o'clock on that day, asking the Igorots to wait there. But the woman did not
return. They waited in vain for hours for her and at nightfall they agreed that one of them should remain on watch while
the other two went to the Meisic police station to report the matter.
• The police acted promptly and effectively. The policeman Jose Gonzales, assigned to take charge of the case, soon
identified the woman who had taken away the bar of gold, by the description which the Igorots had given him, and at a
few minutes after 11 o'clock he already was in a house on Calle Barcelona, examining the accused as to the whereabouts
of the bar of gold and the bank notes of the Igorots.
• As the woman gave evasive answers, it became necessary to ask for assistance from the office of the police, and shortly
thereafter, two other policemen, Mr. Abbot and one Ronas, arrived, who took the woman to the house at No. 541 Calle
Regidor, followed by Gonzales and the three Igorots. There the bar of gold divided into three pieces was found wrapped
in a handkerchief and placed inside the water tank of a water-closet. The accused requested one Mamerta de la Rosa to
let her have P150 which she in turn handed to the policeman.
• A certificate issued by the Bureau of Science show that the bar of gold delivered to the accused weighed 559.7 grammes
and was worth P587.68 at the rate of P1.05 per gramme; whereas, the three bars found by the police weighed only 416
grammes, and were therefore, 143.7 grammes short. Of the P200 bank notes delivered to the accused, she returned
only P150.
• Information:
o Nieves de Vera and John Doe (the latter name is fictitious, his true name being unknown) of the crime of theft
committed as follows:
o February 20, 1920, in the city of Manila, the said accused conspiring and through craft, take and carry away, with
intent of gain and without the consent of the owner, a gold bar weighing 559.7 grams and worth P587.68, and
P200 in bank notes of different denominations, to the damage and prejudice of Pepe (Igorot), owner of the bar
and money aforementioned, in the total sum of P787.68, Philippine currency, equivalent to 3,938.4 pesetas.
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• TC: Guilty of the crime of theft punished in article 518, paragraph 2, of the Penal Code, without any circumstance
modifying the liability, and sentenced her to eight months and twenty-one days of prison correccional, to indemnify the
offended party in the sum of P201,20, to suffer subsidiary imprisonment in case of insolvency, and to pay costs.
• Defense:
o Evidence does not establish the essential elements of theft, the crime charged in the information, but those
of the crime of estafa.
o She cannot be convicted for this crime for the reason that the information upon which she was arraigned was for
the crime of theft, the essential elements of which are different from those of estafa, he recommends the
remanding of the case to the court of origin for proper proceeding in accordance with law.
o Goods appropriated were not taken by the accused without the consent of the owner who had delivered
them to her voluntarily, and this element being lacking, it cannot be the crime of theft.
o When the things were received and then appropriated or converted to one's own use without the consent of the
owner, the crime committed is not that of theft
ISSUE: Whether the crime committed by the accused falls under theft or estafa? (Theft)
HELD:
o Essential elements of the crime of theft:
o Taking of personal property
o Property belongs to another
o Taking away be done with intent of gain
o Taking away be done without consent of the owner
o Taking away be accomplished without violence or intimidation against persons or force upon things.
o Viada: Getting possession, laying hold of the thing, so that if the things were not taken away, but received and then
appropriated or converted without the consent of the owner, it may be any other crime, that of estafa for instance,
but in no way that of theft, which consists in the taking away of the thing, that is, in removing it from the place where it
is kept by the legal owner, without the latter's consent, of the legitimate owner.
o GEN RULE: Purchase and sale perfect upon agreement on goods to be sold and price and title transfers to
purchaser
o EXCEPTION: If goods sold are the kind which are usually tried, measured, or weighed.
▪ As the goods are not sold in bulk, but by the weight or measurement, the sale is not perfected, since
the risk or deterioration of the goods is not shifted to the buyer until it is measured or weighed;
o In leaving the risk of the goods sold to the vendor until said operation is completed, applying the maxim res perit
domino, it was evidently the intention of the legislator that until then the transfer of the ownership was not effected:
it is true that there exists a promise which binds the vendor, and which, if broken, would give the purchaser the
right to demand delivery of the goods upon payment of its price, after the same had been measured or weighed,
or to claim indemnity for damages;
o But it also true that until the goods sold are delivered, no definite change of ownership takes place, and
the sale is not so to speak finally perfected;
o Where after the sale, but prior to the measuring or weighing, the purchaser takes away fraudulently, that is,
with intent of gain, a part of the goods covered by the contract, this, is evidently , theft, with all its essential
elements, as it cannot be reasonably argued that the purchaser has taken what is his own.
o Groizard: Buyer guilty of theft if converts the whole or part of the thing sold before ownership passes to her or before
delivery
o There is necessity of investigating in whom the ownership is vested to determine whether or not the crime of
theft has been committed.
o The contract of purchase and sale is perfected as between the vendor and the vendee and is binding on both of
them, when they come to an agreement as to the thing and the price. But the ownership passes from the
vendor to the vendee only when the thing is delivered.
o If before this takes place the purchaser converts the whole or a part of the thing sold, he must be dealt with as
guilty of theft, notwithstanding his undeniable right to demand and obtain the carrying out of the contract.

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 o On the other hand, if the owner of a thing in the lawful possession of another, take it away with or without
employing violence, intimidation or force, will commit neither robbery nor theft, although he may, and must be
criminally responsible for another kind of offense "Rei nostrae furtum facere non possumus."
o Viada Question answered by SC:
o Is the shepherd, who takes away and converts to his own use several head of the cattle under his care, guilty of
the crime of estafa, or of theft? THEFT
o Takes away personal property of another without the owner's consent as accused, with intent of gain, took away
two bucks and a female goat, against the will of his master, the owner of the said cattle, which were under his
care as shepherd
o SC ANSWER: There was voluntarily delivery of the sheep but there was no consent from the owner when he
took away some of the cattle and converted them to his own use? Crime committed THEFT notwithstanding the
fact that the thing was misappropriated had been delivered voluntarily by the owner to the supposed he, who
disposes of it without the owner's consent.
o Delivery of the cattle to the shepherd does not have the effect of transferring the judicial possession of, or
title to, the cattle thus delivered, just as the delivery of the rice does not have such effect, the possession of,
and title to, the thing to be presumed to remain in the vendor, until the sale is completely consummated.
o LARCENCY: American crime which has the same characteristics as those of theft
o The intention of the owner to part with his property is the gist and essence of the offense of theft (larceny),
and the vital point on which the crime hinges and is to be determined. Generally a felonious taking is necessary
and a taking which is done with the consent or acquiescence of the owner of the property is not felonious.
o But if the owner parts with the possession for a particular purpose, and the person who receives the possession
avowedly for that purpose has the fraudulent intention to make use of it as the means of converting it to his
own use, and does so convert it, this is larceny.
▪ Fraud supplies the place of the trespass in the taking, or, as otherwise stated, the subsequent
felonious conversion of the property by the alleged thief will relate back and make the taking and
conversion larceny.
▪ Act goes farther than the consent, and may be fairly said to be against it. If money is given to a person
to be applied to a particular purpose, it is larceny for the receiver to appropriate it to his own use which
was not the purpose contemplated by the owner. This is so for the reason that the delivery of money to
another for the sole purpose of getting it changed is a parting with the custody only and not the
amount does not relieve him from liability for the larceny of the entire amount given him.
o Where the parties are engaged in a cash sale the whole transaction is incomplete until the payment is completed;
and the possession of the goods remains in the seller and that of the money in the buyer, until they are
simultaneously exchanged.
o If, in such case, the buyer gets control of the goods and makes off with them without paying for them, he
is guilty of larceny. And conversely if the seller gets the money and refuses to give up the goods, it is larceny.
o Theft proven in the cause to have been committed by the appellant by appropriating the gold bar delivered to her for
examination, and by converting to her own use, without the consent of the owner, the bank notes which had been handed
her to be exchanged for silver coins
Dispositive: TC Decision AFFIRMED. THEFT not Estafa

4. PEOPLE vs. MIGUEL G. CONCEPCION

In other case: People v TEODORO ANGELES, ABELARDO CRISOLOGO, RICARDO PAREDES
STREET, J.: G.R. No. L-19192 February 28, 1923

Facts:
• Estafa by means of falsification of mercantile documents -> Information included 3 other persons, Teodorico Angeles,
Abelardo Crisologo, and Ricardo Paredes, who were named as codefendants with this accused; but a severance was
had, and the trial of the present appellant occurred at a different time than that of his co-accused, so considered here is
Miguel Concepcion’s alone

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• Teodorico Angeles was manager of a Aparri branch of PNB, in Cagayan. At the same time Miguel Concepcion is a
resident and representative of Cagayan in the Philippine Assembly and was manager of a limited partnership engaged in
the business of buying and selling tobacco in the Cagayan Valley, known as "Puno y Concepcion."
o The mercantile operations of this firm were for a time carried on upon an extensive scale, and Miguel Concepcion
was naturally therefore frequently brought into contact with Teodorico Angeles as manager of Aparri branch of
the PNB.
o Moreover, it appears that Miguel Concepcion is a son of Venancio Concepcion at that time president of PNB
Manila; and by reason of both his social and business relations Miguel Concepcion evidently acquired an undue
influence over Teodorico Angeles, with the result that the latter in a great measure surrendered his discretion
as manager of the bank to the will of the former.
• October, 1919: Miguel Concepcion had need of funds, which could only be had from PNB and as he apparently had no
bankable security available, recourse was had to the expedient of getting the money upon loans from the bank upon
fictitious warehouse receipts (quedans), with the knowledge and connivance of Teodorico Angeles.
• Testimony by Abelardo Crisologo and Ricardo Paredes of how loans were obtained (Paredes is Crisologo’s father-in-law)
o Charged in the information as joint principals in the offense of estafa by means of falsification of mercantile
documents but who, as we believe, were rather victims of the artifices of their coaccused than designing
participants in crime.
o Abelardo Crisologo had long been an intimate friend of Miguel G. Concepcion; and, as Crisologo lived in
Tuguegarao, it had been the custom of Concepcion on visits to that place in the past to stay in Crisologo's
hospitable home. Paredes was the father-in-law of Crisologo and at the same time an employee of the firm of
"Puno y Concepcion," though prior to September, 1919, he had been employed by the branch of the Philippine
National Bank in Aparri as an inspector.
• October 1919: Teodorico Angeles and Miguel G. Concepcion were in Tuguegarao, and they were invited to dine at the
house of Crisologo, Paredes being also present.
• After the meals was over, and the appropriate time had arrived for the exchange of confidences, the subject of the tobacco
trade was broached, and Miguel G. Concepcion, directing himself to Angeles, said: "Manager, I have three thousand
quintals of tobacco in the pueblos of Enrile, Peñablanca, and Baggao, and I should like to pledge them to the bank but
I should not like for my name to appear on the documents. I mean that I should not like to make the pledge myself."
• To this Teodorico Angeles replied: "Whose name then would you like to have appear?"
• Thereupon Concepcion indicated Crisologo as a person who would perhaps be obliging enough to figure as borrower
in the loan. To this Crisologo at first hesitated to give his assent, but the matter was managed with such diplomatic skill
by the two principal interlocutors that Crisologo yielded, not before Concepcion, however, had pointed out that in making
the pledge Crisologo would not have to appear as owner of the tobacco but merely as depositary.
• Explanation given to Crisologo by Concepcion for the necessity of the intervention of someone else than himself was, in
effect, that Concepcion wanted to use the money for the purchase of tobacco in competition with the firm of "Puno
y Concepcion," of which Concepcion was manager, and he thought it would look ugly for his name to appear in
connection with the loan.
• Bank lends sum of P55,000 secured by warehouse receipts for 3,000 quintals of tobacco
• Three principals met again the next day in the house where Concepcion was then staying in Tuguegarao; and it was
determined that a loan of P35,000 should forthwith be made on the purported security of a quedan to be signed
by Crisologo for 2,000 quintals of tobacco, leaving a loan of P20,000 to be effected later upon the security of another
quedan for the remaining thousand quintals of tobacco.
• Angeles assured Crisologo that he had personally inspected the warehouse where that part of the tobacco supposed
to be then in Tuguegarao was deposited and found it to be there as Concepcion had claimed.
• Upon this Crisologo indicated his readiness to proceed, and the necessary documents were accordingly prepared.
o Four promissory notes, amounting altogether to the sum of P35,000, signed by Abelardo Crisologo, payable to
the Philippine National Bank and purporting to be secured by the deposit of a quedan for 2,000 quintals of
tobacco.
o Warehouse receipt for said tobacco, in the usual commercial form, signed by Crisologo and purporting to show
that 2,000 quintals of tobacco had been deposited in his bodegas. This quedan was reduced to typewritten from
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 by Concepcion himself just before the documents was signed by Crisologo, its contents being dictated by
Teodorico Angeles.
• October 24, 1919: In Aparri, Angeles discounted the four notes and place the proceeds nominally to the credit of an
individual account then opened in the name of Abelardo Crisologo. Of the account thus placed to the credit of
Crisologo, the sum of P30,000 was forthwith remitted to Concepcion in Tuguegarao by telegraph through the provincial
treasurer and was by the latter paid to Concepcion in due course. The amount of P5,000 remaining to Crisologo's credit
was used either to pay the charges incidental to the making of the loan or to defray interest upon the loan.
• Three or four weeks later the remaining portion of the sum of P55,000, originally agreed upon as the total amount of
the loan, was advanced by the bank upon two promissory notes of P10,000 each, signed by Crisologo, and
purporting to be secured by a quedan for the other thousand quintals of tobacco, supposedly in Baggao, likewise signed
by Crisologo.
• About this time the firm of "Puno y Concepcion," for which Paredes was acting as buyer, had need of money, and of this
fact Paredes had duly informed Concepcion. The latter therefore instructed Angeles to pay Paredes the proceeds of the
second loan; and accordingly when Angeles discounted the two notes of Abelardo Crisologo for P20,000, on November
19, 1919, he delivered to Paredes the sum of P500 in currency and a draft for P18,000, making P18,500 in all, which was
charged to Crisologo's account.
• After the first notes executed by Crisologo had been in the bank for some time, Paredes, acting for Crisologo and others
concerned, made a payment of interest due or to become due upon said notes, using upon this occasion about P1,600,
believed to have been derived from the resources of Concepcion
• Paredes acting as attorney in fact to his son-in-law, Abelardo Crisologo, went through the form of executing in favor of
the bank a pledge of the same non-existing tobacco that had been included in original quedans signed by Crisologo
• The remainder of the proceeds of the notes was consumed in the payment of charges incidental to the loan and in the
payment of interest. From this it will be seen, and it is an undeniable fact, that although Crisologo signed the notes and
quedans, as above stated, he in no wise profited by the transaction and never so much as saw the gleam of a
single copper proceeding from the loan.
• At the time the quedans referred to were signed and delivered to the bank neither Crisologo nor Concepcion possessed
the tobacco which was purported to be on deposits with Abelardo Crisologo; and, although the evidence on this point is
purely circumstantial, it is certain that Angeles knew that the tobacco was non-existent as he assured Crisologo that
Concepcion had the tobacco and that the signing of the documents by Crisologo was a matter of pure form.
• The notes have not been paid by Abelardo Crisologo; the tobacco has been found to be non-existent, as Angeles and
Concepcion all along knew; Concepcion denies all responsibility for the transaction, as if he were a total stranger thereto;
and since December 23, 1921, Angeles occupies the grave of a suicide.
• After all the notes had long been overdue, and the bank desired to get its credits consolidated. Paredes, also acting
under a power of attorney from Crisologo, went through the form of consolidating the original notes and quedans into
one note and one quedan.
• CFI: Miguel G. Concepcion, GUILTY of the offense of estafa by means of falsification of mercantile documents
o PENALTY: Five years, four months and twenty days, prision correccional, with the accessories prescribed by
law; to pay a fine of P1,500; to indemnify the branch of the Philippine National Bank in Aparri in the sum of
P55,000, with subsidiary imprisonment (not to exceed one year) in case of insolvency; and to pay the one-fourth
part of the costs of prosecution.
• CFI: Ricardo Paredes and Alberto Crisologo, guilty of the offense of falsification of a commercial document
o PENALTY: six years and one day, presidio mayor, with the accessories provided by law, to pay a fine of P250,
and jointly and severally to indemnify the Aparri branch of the Philippine National Bank in the amount of P55,000,
and each to pay one-fourth part of the costs
ISSUES:
1. Whether Concepcion is guilty of estafa? (YES)
2. Whether Ricardo Paredes and Alberto Crisologo are guilty of falsification of commercial document? (NO)

HELD:
1. Concepcion, guilty of the complex offense of estafa by means of the falsification of mercantile documents.
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o The estafa here involved consists in the fact that Teodorico Angeles, as manager of the Aparri branch of the Philippine
National Bank, and as such having charge of the funds of said institution, converted, misappropriated, and misapplied the
sum of about P55,000 of the bank's money, upon security that was known to him to be wholly fictitious, for the benefits of
the appellant Concepcion and to the prejudice of the bank
o Induced the falsification of two warehouse receipts as a necessary requisite to accomplish estafa the was a necessary
prerequisite; and is also the mechanical author of at least the first receipt, having himself reduced the document to proper
from upon his own typewriting machine at the dictation of Teodorico Angeles.
o This appellant is therefore subject to punishment under article 301 of the Penal Code, as amended, in relation with article
89 of the same Code. The trial judge was therefore not in error in sentencing him to imprisonment for a period within the
limits of maximum degree of prision correccional; but a precise estimate of the penalty to be imposed shows that the
period fixed by his Honor falls short of the true legal requirement by one day.
o Information charges an estafa founded upon deceit by means of false representation (estafa subsection 1) but it is
actually, estafa under subsection 5 or fraudulent misapplication of the funds of the bank by its manager as Angeles, the
manager of the bank, who let the money out, knew that the tobacco was non-existent, the estafa committed cannot be
considered to have been of the precise form alleged.
2. Miguel G. Concepcion and Teodorico Angeles are principals of this crime, while Ricardo Paredes and Abelardo Crisologo
were rather victims of the articles of the two than designing participants in crime
o PAREDES:
o No complicity on part of Ricardo Paredes in the original estafa and falsification. His intervention in behalf of
Crisologo, in doing certain acts as attorney in fact of the latter, is explainable by the fact that Crisologo was his
son-in-law and lived in Tuguegarao, while the acts which Paredes did in behalf of Crisologo were done at the
bank in Aparri upon occasions when Crisologo was at home in Tuguegarao and was not or could not
conveniently be present.
o What he did later by executing a pledge done at the instance of the bank can assume the fact that he knew that
the tobacco referred to in the pledge and quedans was non-existing, but no estafa was then committed and
the only offense charged in the present information has reference to the original estafa and falsification
committed when the money was obtained.
o CRISOLOGO: No criminal intent and no misrepresentation to anyone
o He signed the promissory notes and the quedans for the tobacco which supposedly justified the loan. In signing
these notes Crisologo was, civilly speaking, substantially in the position of an accommodation maker; and he
of course made himself personally liable to the bank upon those notes for the benefit of Conception.
o The act of affixing his signature to the quedans was done in a spirit of blind complaisance explainable only in
the light of his friendly personal relations with Conception and his deference to the joint wishes of Conception
and the bank’s manager.
o It must be remembered also that this act was done in response to the representation of Teodorico Angeles that
Conception had the tobacco and that the signing of the quedans by Crisologo was all a matter of mere
formality. Crisologo therefore misrepresented nothing to anyone; and we are of the opinion that criminal
responsibility cannot be predicated of his acts, for want of the essential element of criminal intent. He
was a mere tool in the hands of others and is sufficiently punished by the ruin that must follow from making
himself civilly liable for so large a sum of money.
Dispositive as to Miguel Concepcion: AFFIRMED with MODIFICATION by adding one day to the penalty within the
maximum of the maximum degree of prision correcional
Dispositive as to Paredes and Crisologo: ACQUITTED.

5. ELVIRA LATEO, FRANCISCO ELCA, and BARTOLOME BALDEMOR vs. PEOPLE

NACHURA, J p: [G.R. No. 161651. June 8, 2011.]

Facts:
Prosecution's version

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• 1994: Lateo and Elca proposed that Lucero finance the titling of the 122 hectares of land located in Muntinlupa allegedly
owned by Elca as the sole heir of Gregorio Elca. Title to the property had not been transferred to Elca's name because
of a certain discrepancy between the Deed of Sale and TCT No. 77730. Elca offered to assign to Lucero 70 hectares of
said land. She was then introduced to Baldemor, Orlando Lalota and Nolasco de Guzman.
• Lucero released to petitioners about P4.7 million in staggered amounts.
• Elca told Lucero that certain portions of the property will first be put in the name of Lateo and would later be assigned to
her. Lucero was given a Deed of Sale dated March 27, 1987. Elca likewise executed an irrevocable Special Power of
Attorney in favor of Lucero.
• Later, she was presented certified true copies of three (3) titles, issued by the Register of Deeds of Makati City in the
name of Lateo covering approximately twenty-seven (27) hectares of Plan A-7 of the Muntinlupa Estate, situated in Barrio
Magdaong, Poblacion, Muntinlupa.
• December 1994: Lucero verified with the Registry of Deeds of Makati, she discovered that the aforesaid titles of the
property were actually registered in the names of Marc Oliver R. Singson, Mary Jeanne S. Go and Feliza C. Torrigoza.
• Lucero confronted petitioners and demanded from them return of the money. She was told that they did not have any
money to return. They instead offered a five (5) hectare property identified as Lot 10140 of Plan Sgs 04213-000441
located at Bacoor, Cavite allegedly owned by Elca. Elca, however, demanded an additional P2 million for the transfer of
title. Through a letter, he said that the current valuation of the property is P450.00 per square meter and hence, the
property will be more than sufficient to cover obligates
• As it turned out, Elca did not own 14 hectares in Bacoor, Cavite. He merely had an inchoate right over the Bacoor property,
derived from his Application to Purchase Friar Lands, which covered only 7 hectares. Elca's application was later amended
to cover only 4 hectares, in view of the protest by Alfredo Salenga (Salenga).
• Lucero verified this with the Land Management Bureau (LMB), she discovered that Elca only had a pending application
for the sales patent over a four 4-hectare area of the subject land. These misrepresentations prompted her to file a
complaint with the Task Force Kamagong, PACC, Manila.
• April 26, 1995: the task force conducted an entrapment at Furosato Restaurant. Petitioners were apprehended in
possession of marked 100-peso bills amounting to P100,000.00, supposedly in exchange for the Deed of Assignment
prepared by Lucero for their transaction.

Petitioners' version
• 1994: Lucero, Lateo, Oscar Lalota met with Elca in Muntinlupa to discuss the proposal of Lucero to finance the titling of
Elca's land.
• June 28, 1994: in a meeting called by Lucero, she laid down the terms and conditions regarding her plans to finance the
titling of Elca's land.
o 22 out of the 122 hectares of the land would be given to the old tenants of the property, the 30 hectares would
be titled in the name of Elca as his retained share and the other 70 hectares would be her profit as financier of
the transaction.
o Lucero would also pay P10.00 for every square meter of the 70 hectares or a total amount of P7 million. All the
expenses for the titling and management of the land would be deducted from P7 million. The remaining balance
would then be given to petitioners
• Lucero assigned Oscar Lalota to work for the titling of the land and to prepare all documents necessary thereto. Baldemor
would act as overseer of the transaction as Lucero's attorney-in-fact. Lateo would serve as secretary and assistant of
Lucero. Elca would guard the property to keep off squatters. He and his wife were instructed to sign all documents
prepared by Oscar Lalota.
• December 1994: Lucero told Elca that upon verification from the Registry of Deeds of Makati City, she found out that all
the documents submitted by Oscar Lalota pertaining to their transaction were falsified. Oscar Lalota disappeared after
getting the money.
• In order to recover her losses from the anomalous transaction, Lucero offered to purchase Elca's property in Cavite. Elca
agreed to sell 2 hectares of his property at a price of P100.00 per square meter. Elca informed Lucero that the land was
not yet titled although the documents had already been completed. Lucero agreed to pay in advance the amount of
P200,000.00 for the immediate titling of the land.
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• December 21, 1994: Lucero gave no advance payment. Elca was made to return in January 1995. On that date still
Lucero made no payment.
• April 25, 1995: Lucero promised to give the P200,000.00 advance payment at Furosato Restaurant on Roxas Boulevard,
Pasay City. Having failed to contact his lawyer, on April 26, 1995, Elca went alone to Furosato Restaurant. Because of
the absence of Lateo, Lucero postponed their meeting to April 27, 1995.
• Elca arrived at Furosato Restaurant on April 27, 1995, Lucero and her lawyer Atty. Velasquez, Lateo and Baldemor and
Atty. Ambrosio were already there.
• Atty. Velasquez, upon the order of Lucero, produced a document entitled "Contract to Sell" outlining their agreement over
the 2 hectares of land in Bacoor, Cavite. Atty. Ambrosio examined the contract to find out if it contains the terms and
conditions agreed upon. Attys. Velasquez and Ambrosio made their own handwritten corrections in the contract including
the change of the title from "Contract to Sell" to "Deed of Assignment," after which, both of them signed the document.
Elca and Lucero signed the document as parties while Lateo and Baldemor signed as witnesses.
• After the signing of the Deed of Assignment, Lucero brought out the P200,000.00 as the promised payment for the land.
While Baldemor was counting the money, Atty. Velasquez and Lucero went to the comfort room. Thereafter, several
agents of the PACC approached them. They were arrested and brought to the NBI Headquarters
• Information: On April 28, 1995, Lateo, Elca, and Baldemor, along with Orlando Lalota and Nolasco de Guzman, were
charged with estafa:
o April 27, 1995: Pasay City ,accused ELVIRA LATEO y ELEAZAR, conspiring and confederating with
FRANCISCO ELCA y ARCAS, BARTOLOME BALDEMOR y MADRIGAL, ORLANDO LALOTA and NOLASCO
DE GUZMAN, and mutually helping one another, by means of deceit, that is, by falsely representing
themselves to be the true and [lawful] owner of a piece of land located in the province of Cavite, and
possessing power, influence, qualification, property, credit, agency, business, or imaginary transactions and by
means of other similar deceits, did then and there, induce ELEONOR LUCERO to part with her money in the
amount of TWO MILLION (P2,000,000.00) PESOS,, as indeed she parted only with the amount of Two
Hundred Thousand (P200,000.00) PESO, which said accused actually received in marked Philippine
Currency, to the damage and prejudice of said ELEONOR LUCERO
• May 31, 1995: Petitioners pleaded not guilty. Accused Lalota and De Guzman remained at large.
RTC: Francisco Elca, Elvira Lateo and Bartolome Baldemor guilty ATTEMPTED ESTAFA and is hereby sentenced to
imprisonment of Ten (10) years and One (1) Day to Twelve (12) Years.
• Transaction over the Cavite property was a continuation of and is somehow related to their first transaction. The same
was offered to Lucero in lieu of the Muntinlupa property. The second transaction which covers the Bacoor property
was again an attempt to defraud Lucero when Francisco Elca again represented himself as the owner of the said
property when he merely has an application to purchase Friar Lands hence accused has no right and/or authority to
deliver or transfer the ownership over said parcel of land to [Lucero].
• Celino vs. CA: "Estafa under Art. 315 (2) (a) of the Revised Penal Code is committed by means of using fictitious
name or falsely pretending to possess power, influence, qualifications, property, credit, agency, business or imaginary
transaction or by means of other similar deceits.
• Villaflor vs. CA: SC held that what is material is the fact that appellant was guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation
when knowing that the car was then owned by the Northern Motors, Inc., still he told the private complainant that the
car was actually owned by him for purposes of and at the time he obtained the loan from the latter.
• ATTEMPTED NOT CONSUMMATED: The attempt to defraud the complainant did not materialize due to the timely
intervention of the Task Force Kamagong operatives.
o Art. 6, par. 3 of the Revised Penal Code provides that "there is an attempt when the offender convinces the
commission of a felony directly by overt acts and does not perform all the acts of execution which should
produce the felony by reason of some cause or accident other than his own spontaneous desistance."
o The entrapment thus prevented the consummation of the transaction over the Cavite property
o Koh Tieck Heng vs. People: "Although one of the essential elements of Estafa is damage or prejudice to
the offended party, in the absence of proof thereof, the offender would be guilty of attempted estafa."
o Since only the intent to cause damage and not the damage itself has been shown respondent court
correctly convicted appellant of attempted estafa.
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 • INTENTION TO DEFRAUD SHOWN. The culpability of the accused is strengthened by the transfer of his rights over
the same subject land in Cavite in favor of Leticia Ramirez thus clearly influencing his intention to defraud herein
complainant as the same shows his lack of intent to transfer his rights and/or ownership to complainant.
• The representations made by Francisco Elca that he owns the property in Bacoor, Cavite, his having offered the same
again to the complainant in lieu of the aborted deal in the Muntinlupa property their constant follow-up of complainant's
decision over the matter convincing the complainant to accept the offer and their persona[l] presence at the place of
entrapment and their receipt of the P100,000.00 marked money which they even counted one after the other, thus
making all of them positive of the presence of fluorescent powder.
CA: AFFIRMED with MODIFICATION as to the penalty imposed. Elvira E. Lateo, Francisco A. Elca and Bartolome M.
Baldemor are hereby sentenced to suffer an indeterminate penalty of six (6) months of arresto mayor as minimum, to four (4)
years and two (2) months of prision correccional, as maximum.

Petitioners’ Arguments:
• Transaction involving the Bacoor property do not show that it was an attempt to defraud Eleonor Lucero
• Petitioners deny that they deceived Lucero. They claim that Lucero was aware that the Bacoor property is not yet titled in
the name of Elca; and that they went to Furosato restaurant upon Lucero's invitation and on Lucero's representation that
she would hand to them the P200,000.00 needed to facilitate the issuance of title in Elca's name.
• Assail the penalty imposed by the CA for being erroneous. OSG asks for modification of penalty to six (6) months of
arresto mayor.

ISSUE:
1. Whether there was attempted estafa not consummated? YES. ATTEMPTED ESTAFA (not consummated because as yet
no damage to Lucero)
2. What penalty to impose?

HELD:
• Elements of estafa Art. 315 (2) (a): 2.By means of any of the following false pretenses or fraudulent acts executed prior
to or simultaneously with the commission of the fraud: (a) By using fictitious name, or falsely pretending to possess
power, influence, qualifications, property, credit, agency, business or imaginary transactions; or by means of other similar
deceits.
o That there must be a false pretense, fraudulent act or fraudulent means.
o That such false pretense, fraudulent act or fraudulent means must be made or executed prior to or simultaneously
with the commission of the fraud.
o That the offended party must have relied on the false pretense, fraudulent act, or fraudulent means, that is, he
was induced to part with his money or property because of the false pretense, fraudulent act, or fraudulent means.
o That as a result thereof, the offended party suffered damage
• Transaction involving the Bacoor property was a continuation of the transaction involving parcels of land in Muntinlupa,
Metro Manila. When Lucero discovered that Elca's certificates of title over the Muntinlupa property were fake, Elca offered,
as substitute, the 5-hectare portion of his purported 14-hectare lot in Bacoor, Cavite, but asked for an additional
P2,000,000.00, through a letter.
• Elca was in no position to transfer ownership of the 5-hectare Bacoor property at the time petitioners offered it to Lucero
because his right was merely inchoate and was still under protest.
• Alcantara v. CA: FRAUD AND DECEIT
o Fraud in its general sense is deemed to comprise anything calculated to deceive, including all acts, omissions,
and concealment involving a breach of legal or equitable duty, trust, or confidence justly reposed, resulting in
damage to another, or by which an undue and unconscientious advantage is taken of another. It is a generic term
embracing all multifarious means which human ingenuity can device, and which are resorted to by one individual
to secure an advantage over another by false suggestions or by suppression of truth and includes all surprise,
trick, cunning, dissembling and any unfair way by which another is cheated.
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 o Deceit is the false representation of a matter of fact whether by words or conduct, by false or misleading
allegations, or by concealment of that which should have been disclosed which deceives or is intended to deceive
another so that he shall act upon it to his legal injury.
• ATTEMPTED NOT CONSUMMATED: Since only the intent to cause damage and not the damage itself had been
shown, the RTC and the CA correctly convicted petitioners of attempted estafa

PENALTY
o The penalty for estafa depends on the amount defrauded.
o IF CONSUMMATED: Lucero would have been defrauded in the amount of P100,000.00. Hence, the applicable penalty
under Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) would have been prision correccional in its maximum period to
prision mayor in its minimum period, with an additional one (1) year for every P10,000.00 in excess of the first
P22,000.00; provided, that the total penalty should not exceed twenty years.
o BEC. ATTEMPTED: Two degrees lower than that of consummated pursuant to Article 51. Accordingly, the imposable
penalty would be arresto mayor in its medium period to arresto mayor in its maximum period, or an imprisonment
term ranging from two (2) months and one (1) day to six (6) months. And because the amount involved exceeded
P22,000.00, one (1) year imprisonment for every P10,000.00 should be added, bringing the total to seven (7) years.
IDESTH
o However, we agree with the OSG that it would be inequitable to impose the additional incremental penalty of 7 years to
the maximum period of penalty, considering that petitioners were charged and convicted merely of attempted and not
consummated estafa.
DISPOSITIVE: Petition is DENIED. CA Decision AFFIRMED. Petitioners Elvira Lateo, Francisco Elca, and Bartolome
Baldemor are found guilty beyond reasonable doubt of attempted estafa, and are hereby sentenced to suffer the penalty of
four (4) months of arresto mayor.

6. PEOPLE vs. LOURDES LO, GRACE CALIMON AND AIDA COMILA

LEONARDO-DE CASTRO, J p: [G.R. No. 175229. January 29, 2009.]

Facts:
Prosecution: (3 private complainants + Corazon Cristobal an employee of POEA and PO2 Edward Catalan)
o 1998: Lo persuaded private complainants to apply for a job in Italy through the services of accused-appellants.
o Lo introduced them to Calimon who represented herself as a sub-agent of Axil International Services and
Consultancy (AISC), a legitimate recruitment agency. Calimon showed a job order of factory workers purportedly issued
by an Italian firm. Devanadera called up AISC to verify Calimon's representation. The person who answered the phone
readily confirmed accused-appellant Calimon's claim.
o When accused Calimon asked P10,000.00 from each of the private complainants to cover expenses for medical
examination and processing fees for travel documents, both Devanadera and Agramon readily parted with their money,
as evidenced by receipts duly signed by Calimon.
o They likewise gave their respective passports, birth certificates, NBI clearances, resumes and other documents. 19
Thereafter, Calimon brought them to St. Martin's Clinic for medical examination.
o October 24, 1998: Upon the urging of Lo, private complainant Magnaye paid P20,000.00 to Calimon for the latter's
recruitment services.
o January 15, 1999: private complainants were subjected to another medical examination at St. Camillus Clinic, Pasig
City, because according to Calimon the medical examinations at St. Martin's Clinic were not honored by the Italian
Embassy. On the same date, Magnaye gave an additional amount of P15,000.00 to Calimon. While Devanadera and
Agramon gave her an additional amount of P7,500.00 each.
o At one time, in the course of following up the status of her overseas employment application, Calimon introduced
complainant Devanadera to accused-appellant Comila who showed her file and informed her of the need to secure a visa
with the Italian Embassy. Calimon then asked for more money to secure the visa, but Devanadera refused to pay.

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o Private complainant Agramon's follow ups with Calimon were just met by repeated assurance that she will be deployed
immediately once her papers are completely processed. The other complainants received similar treatment.
o January 1999: Calimon gave private complainants their supposed individual employment contracts as factory workers
in Italy. However, the contracts did not indicate an employer.
o The three proceeded to the POEA to verify the status of their contract where they discovered that while AISC was a
licensed recruitment agency, Lo and accused-appellants Calimon and Comila were not among its registered
employees.
o April 27, 1999: three separate complaint-affidavits were filed with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration
(POEA) charging Lourdes Lo, Grace Calimon and Aida Comila with illegal recruitment and estafa. The complaints
were initiated by Fe Magnaye, Lucila Agramon, and Daisy Devanadera.
o May 6, 1999: POEA, referred the matter to the DOJ and submitted evidence before it.
o After several months, accused-appellants were apprehended for their involvement in other cases of illegal recruitment
and estafa. Private complainants Magnaye, Agramon and Devanadera were summoned to a preliminary investigation at
the DOJ.
o October 8, 1999: the DOJ issued a Resolution recommending the filing of the corresponding Information against Lo and
the accused-appellants.
o December 28, 1999: an Information was filed with the RTC, charging Lo and accused-appellants with illegal recruitment
in large scale defined and penalized under Sections 6 and 7, respectively, of Republic Act No. 8042.
o Criminal Case No. 00-179745: September 1998 in Manila, feloniously recruit the herein complainants, FE
MAGNAYE, LUCILA AGRAMON and DAISY DEVANADERA to Italy as factory workers for the consideration
thereof, they were required to pay placement fees of the total amount of (P110,000.00) for the consideration
thereof, without accused having secured the necessary license and authority from the Department of Labor and
Employment to recruit and deploy workers to Italy.
o Three separate Informations for estafa arising from the same acts penalized under paragraph 2 (a), Article 315 of
the Revised Penal Code were also filed against the three:
o Criminal Case No. 00-180519: October 1998, in Manila, conspiring and confederating with each other feloniously
recruit and promise employment to FE MAGNAYE in Italy as factory worker for a total consideration of
P55,000.00 as placement and processing fees, knowing that they have no capacity whatsoever and with no
intention to fulfill their promise, but merely as a pretext, scheme or excuse to get or exact money from the said
complainant as they in fact collected and received the amount of P55,000.00 from said FE MAGNAYE to her
damage, loss and prejudice for the aforesaid amount.
o Criminal Case No. 00-180520: September 1998, in Manila, accused, conspiring and confederating with each
other, did then feloniously recruit and promise employment to LUCILA C. AGRAMON in Italy as factory worker
for a total consideration of P27,500.00 (or in decision P17, 500) as placement and processing fees, knowing
that they have no capacity whatsoever and with no intention to fulfill their promise, but merely as a pretext,
scheme or excuse to get or exact money from the said complainant as they in fact collected and received the
amount of P27,500.00 from said LUCILA C. AGRAMON to her damage, loss and prejudice for the aforesaid
amount
o Criminal Case No. 00-180521: September 1998, in Manila, accused, conspiring and confederating with each
other, did then feloniously recruit and promise employment to DAISY DEVANADERA alias 'Renata P. Luciano'
in Italy as factory worker for a total consideration of P27,500.00 (or in decision P17, 500) as placement and
processing fees, knowing that they have no capacity whatsoever and with no intention to fulfill their promise,
but merely as a pretext, scheme or excuse to get or exact money from the said complainant as they in fact
collected and received the amount of P27,500.00 from said DAISY DEVANADERA alias 'Renata P. Luciano' to
her damage, loss and prejudice for the aforesaid amount.
o Upon arraignment, herein accused-appellants pleaded "not guilty" to the crimes charged. Lo, has remained at large.
Defense: (presented accused-appellants as witnesses)
o Calimon denied the accusations against her. She claimed that she was also an applicant for overseas job placement
and that she never promised any work abroad to private complainants. She averred that it was Lo who recruited her and

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 private complainants. She likewise denied having received any money from private complainants. She maintained that it
was Comila who received the money from her amounting to P16,000.00 as payment for her placement fee.
o Comila denied having known or seen Lo. However, she maintained that it was accused Lo who recruited and received
money from private complainants. She averred she could not have recruited private complainants because she gave
birth in Baguio in October 1998.
RTC: Convicted Calimon of Illegal recruitment in large scale + 3 counts of estafa; Convicted Comila of Simple illegal
recruitment + 1 count of estafa
o Criminal Case No. 00-179745 (Illegal Recruitment):
o GRACE CALIMON guilty of illegal recruitment in large scale and sentencing said accused to life
imprisonment and to pay a fine of P800,000.00;
o AIDA COMILA guilty of simple illegal recruitment and sentencing said accused to imprisonment from eight (8)
to ten (10) years, and to pay a fine of P300,000.00. With costs against the two accused in proportionate shares
o Criminal Cases Nos. 00-180519 and 00-180521 (estafa: victim Magnaye & Devanadera):
o GRACE CALIMON guilty of two counts of estafa defined under paragraph 2 (a) of Article 315 of the Revised
Penal Code
o PENALTY for estafa committed on Magnaye: Indeterminate penalty of four (4) years and two (2) months of prision
correccional, as minimum, to nine (9) years of prision mayor as maximum;
o PENALTY for estafa committed on Luciano: Indeterminate penalty of four (4) years and two (2) months of prision
correccional, as minimum, to six (6) years, eight (8) months and twenty (20) days of prision mayor, as maximum;
and to pay the costs for each case
o Criminal Case No. 00-180520 (estafa: victim Agramon)
o GRACE CALIMON and AIDA COMILA guilty of estafa defined under paragraph 2 (a) Article 315 of the Revised
Penal Code
o PENALTY: Indeterminate penalty of 6 months of arresto mayor, as minimum, to 2 years, 11 months and 10 days
of prision correccional, as maximum, and to pay the costs in equal shares.
o Service of the accused + Detention imprisonment credited
o PAYMENT:
o Criminal Cases Nos. 00-179745, 00-180519 and 00-180521, accused Grace Calimon is ordered to pay to
complainants Fe Magnaye and Daisy Devanadera the sums of P35,000.00 and P17,500.00, respectively, as
reparations for the damages she caused them.
o Criminal Cases Nos. 00-179745 and 00-180520, accused Grace Calimon and accused Aida Comila are ordered,
jointly and severally, to pay offended party Lucila C. Agramon the sum of P10,000.00, as reparation for the
damages she caused her.
CA: Affirmed the Decision of the RTC but with modifications.
o ILLEGAL RECRUITMENT:
o Modify penalty for large scale recruitment from P800,000 to fine of P1M when the offender is a non-licensee or
non-holder of authority to recruit and deploy workers abroad, as in the instant case (Sec. 7, Republic Act No.
8042).
o Comila was likewise correctly convicted by the RTC of the crime of simple Illegal Recruitment. The sentence
pronounced by the RTC was proper.
o ESTAFA: Comila was proven to be conspirator in estafa against Devanadera but acquitted so liable civilly
o Criminal Case No. 00-180519, Grace Calimon was properly found guilty of Estafa through false pretenses.
Since the amount defrauded from Fe Magnaye was P35,000.00, the penalty imposed by the RTC was proper.
o In Criminal Case No. 00-180520, since the amount defrauded from Lucila Agramon is [P17,500.00], the correct
penalty that should be imposed upon Calimon and Comila, in the absence of any modifying circumstances, should
be the indeterminate 4 years and 2 months of prision correccional, as minimum, to 6 years, 8 months and 20
days of prision mayor, as maximum instead of 6 years to 11 years +++.
o In Criminal Case No. 00-180521, the amount involved is P17,500.00. There being no modifying circumstances,
the penalty imposed by the trial court on Calimon is correct.
▪ However, it has been duly proven that Comila was a conspirator to the crime subject of this case. In
view of her acquittal by the RTC, this matter can no longer be questioned in this appeal on the ground of
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 double jeopardy. However, Comila should be made solidarily liable with Calimon to indemnify P17,500.00
to Daisy Devanadera, since Comila's acquittal on the ground of reasonable doubt did not declare whether
the facts from which the civil liability might arise did not exist (Last paragraph, Section 2, Rule 120, Rules
of Court).

Petitioner’s Arguments:
o Only Lo recruited private complainants and promised to deploy them abroad.
o They deny having collected placement fees, but ironically admitted that the amount collected was for medical
examination, visa and passport fees.
o Not guilty of estafa through false pretenses because they did not commit any act of deceit as it was only accused Lo
who promised to deploy private complainants to Italy for a fee.

ISSUE: Whether they are guilty of estafa and illegal recruitment despite Lo being the only one who promised them for a
fee? (YES)

HELD:
ESTAFA: The elements of deceit and damage for this form of estafa are indisputably present, hence their conviction for
estafa was proper.
o Accused-appellants' acts of deliberately misrepresenting themselves to private complainants as having the necessary
authority or license to recruit applicants for overseas employment, and collecting money from them allegedly for
processing fees and travel documents, but failing to deploy them and to return the money they had collected despite
several demands clearly amount to estafa.
o Guilty of estafa under Article 315 (2) (a) of the Revised Penal Code: 2. By means of any of the following false
pretenses or fraudulent acts executed prior to or simultaneously with the commission of the fraud: (a) By using
fictitious name, or falsely pretending to possess power, influence, qualifications, property, credit, agency, business or
imaginary transactions; or by means of other similar deceits.
o There are three ways of committing estafa:
o (1) by using a fictitious name; (2) by falsely pretending to possess power, influence, qualifications, property,
credit, agency, business or imaginary transactions; and (3) by means of other similar deceits.
o Under this class of estafa, the element of deceit is indispensable. In the present case, the deceit consists of accused-
appellants' false statement or fraudulent representation which was made prior to, or at least simultaneously
with, the delivery of the money by the complainants. To convict for this type of crime, it is essential that the false
statement or fraudulent representation constitutes the very cause or the only motive which induces the
complainant to part with the thing of value.
o Accused-appellants led private complainants to believe that they possessed the power, means and legal qualifications
to provide the latter with work in Italy, when in fact they did not. Private complainants parted with their hard-earned
money and suffered damage by reason of accused-appellants' deceitful and illegal acts.

ILLEGAL RECRUITMENT
o Calimon committed the crime of illegal recruitment in large scale because by her conduct, Calimon successfully gave
private complainants the impression that she had the ability to send workers abroad although she did not in fact have
the authority to do so. She was also able to induce private complainants to tender payment for fees. Since there were
three (3) workers involved in the transaction, she committed the crime of illegal recruitment in large scale.
o Comila committed the crime of simple illegal recruitment because there is clear and convincing evidence that she
conspired with Calimon. However, conspiracy was not alleged in the Information. Hence, Comila can only be
convicted for simple illegal recruitment, not for illegal recruitment in large scale in conspiracy with Calimon.
o The pertinent provisions of Republic Act No. 8042 state:
o SEC. 6. Definition. — For purposes of this Act, illegal recruitment shall mean any act of canvassing,
enlisting, contracting, transporting, utilizing, hiring, or procuring workers and includes referring, contract
services, promising or advertising for employment abroad, whether for profit or not, when undertaken by a non-
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 licensee or non-holder of authority contemplated under Article 13(f) of Presidential Decree No. 442, as
amended, otherwise known as the Labor Code of the Philippines: Provided, that any such non-licensee or non-
holder who, in any manner, offers or promises for a fee employment abroad to two or more persons shall be
deemed so engaged.
o Illegal recruitment is deemed committed by a syndicate if carried out by a group of three (3) or more persons
conspiring or confederating with one another. It is deemed committed in large scale if committed against three (3) or
more persons individually or as a group.
o Sec. 7. Penalties. —
o (a) Any person found guilty of illegal recruitment shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment of not less than six
(6) years and one (1) day but not more than twelve (12) years and a fine of not less than Two hundred
thousand pesos (P200,000.00) nor more than Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00).
o (b) The penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of not less than Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00)
nor more than One million pesos (P1,000,000.00) shall be imposed if illegal recruitment constitutes
economic sabotage as defined herein. Provided, however, That the maximum penalty shall be imposed if the
person illegally recruited is less than eighteen (18) years of age or committed by a non-licensee or non-
holder of authority.
o In a litany of cases, we held that to constitute illegal recruitment in large scale three (3) elements must concur:
o (a) the offender has no valid license or authority required by law to enable him to lawfully engage in recruitment
and placement of workers;
o (b) the offender undertakes any of the activities within the meaning of "recruitment and placement" under Art.
13, par. (b), of the Labor Code, or any of the prohibited practices enumerated under Art. 34 of the same Code
(now Sec. 6, RA 8042); and,
o (c) the offender committed the same against three (3) or more persons, individually or as a group.
o Corollarily, Article 13, paragraph (b) of the Labor Code enumerates the acts which constitute recruitment and
placement: (b) 'Recruitment and placement' refer to any act of canvassing, enlisting, contracting, transporting,
utilizing, hiring, or procuring workers, and includes referrals, contract services, promising or advertising for employment,
locally or abroad, whether for profit or not: Provided, That any person or entity which, in any manner, offers or promises
for a fee employment to two or more persons shall be deemed engaged in recruitment and placement.
o ELEMENTS PROVEN: Here, we are convinced that the three elements of Recruitment in Large Scale were sufficiently
proved beyond reasonable doubt for Calimon while 3rd element not proven for Comila so Simple Illegal Recruitment
only.
o First, accused-appellants, undoubtedly, did not have any license to recruit persons for overseas work. This is
substantiated by the POEA, Licensing Branch which issued a Certification to this effect and the testimony of an
employee of the POEA, Corazon Cristobal.
o Second, accused-appellants engaged in illegal recruitment activities, offering overseas employment for a fee.
Magnaye and Agramon also corroborated the testimony of Devanadera. Their narration undoubtedly
established that accused-appellants promised them employment in Italy as factory workers and they (accused-
appellants) asked money from them (private complainants) to allegedly process their papers and visas. Private
complainants were deceived as they relied on accused-appellants' misrepresentation and scheme that caused
them to entrust their money to them in exchange of what they later discovered was a vain hope of obtaining
employment abroad
o Third, accused-appellant Calimon committed illegal recruitment activities involving at least three persons, i.e.,
the three private complainants herein. On the part of Comila, this third element was not proved and thus, she
was properly convicted of simple illegal recruitment only.
DISPOSITIVE: Petition is DENIED. CA Decision AFFIRMED.

7. PEOPLE vs. VIRGINIA BABY P. MONTANER

LEONARDO-DE CASTRO, J p: [G.R. No. 184053. August 31, 2011.]

Facts:

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o May 17, 1996, 1:00 PM: Montaner, in exchange for cash, issued to private complainant Reynaldo Solis in his house at
Caliraya Street, Holiday Homes, San Pedro, Laguna, ten (10) Prudential Bank checks, specifically, check nos. 0002284,
0002285, 0002286, 0002287, 0002288, 0002289, 0002290, 0002291, 0002292, and 0002293 all postdated June 17,
1996, each in the amount of P5,000.00 all in the total amount of P50,000.00. They were all signed by her.
o Accused represented to complainant Solis that the checks were fully funded.
o October 4, 1996: When private complainant deposited the checks for encashment at Premier Bank, San Pedro, Laguna.
However, they were dishonored for the reason "account closed".
o Ruel Allan Pajarito, Branch Cashier O-I-C of Prudential Bank testified that they placed the mark "account closed"
on the ten (10) checks issued in the account of accused Montaner considering that at the time the same were
presented to them, the account of accused Montaner was already closed.
o Witness Pajarito further testified that as per their records, the account of accused Montaner, account no. 00099-
000050-4 was closed on July 11, 1996. The checks were returned on for the reason account closed.
o October 13, 1996: Private complainant verbally and thereafter, thru demand letter formally demanded that accused settle
her accounts. It was received by her husband.
o Despite receipt of the demand letter, accused Montaner failed to pay the value of the ten (10) checks, thus private
complainant Reynaldo Solis filed the instant complaint for estafa.
o Information 3 dated April 21, 1998:
o May 17, 1996: in San Pedro, Laguna, Montaner did then and there feloniously defraud one Reynaldo Solis in
the following manner: said accused by means of false pretenses and fraudulent acts that her checks are fully
funded draw, make and issue in favor of one Reynaldo Solis the following TEN Prudential Bank Checks Nos.:
0002284, 0002285, 0002286, 0002287, 0002288, 0002289, 0002290, 0002291, 0002292, and 0002293 each
for P5,000.00 with total value of P50,000 and all aforesaid checks are postdated June 17, 1996 in exchange for
cash knowing fully well that she has no funds in the drawee bank and when the said checks were presented for
payment the same were dishonored by the drawee bank on reason of "ACCOUNT CLOSED" and despite demand
accused failed and refused to pay the value thereof to the damage and prejudice of Reynaldo Solis in the
aforementioned total amount of P50,000.00.
o Appellant pleaded "not guilty" to the charge leveled against her during her arraignment on June 10, 1998.
o Accused, thru counsel initially manifested that she is intending to file a demurrer to evidence. However, her right to file
the same was considered waived in view of her failure to file the demurrer despite due notice.
RTC: Convicted for Estafa as defined and penalized under paragraph 2 (d), Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code.
o PENALTY: Indeterminate penalty of imprisonment from twelve (12) years of prision mayor as minimum to twenty-
two (22) years of reclusion perpetua as maximum and to indemnify complainant Reynaldo Solis in the amount of
P50,000.00.
CA: AFFIRMED TC’s Decision in toto.
Petitioner’s Defense:
o To exculpate herself from criminal liability, accused Virginia Baby P. Montaner denied the allegations that she issued ten
(10) checks in private complainant's favor claiming that the ten (10) checks were borrowed from her by one Marlyn Galope
because the latter needed money.
o She gave the ten checks to Galope, signed the same albeit the space for the date, amount and payee were left blank so
that the checks cannot be used for any negotiation. She further told Galope that the checks were not funded.
o When she learned that a case was filed against her for estafa, she confronted Marlyn Galope and the latter told her that
money will not be given to her if she will not issue the said checks. She has no knowledge of the notice of dishonor sent
to her by private complainant and claimed that her husband, who supposedly received the notice of dishonor left for
abroad in July 1996 and returned only after a year, that is, in 1997.
o Thus, there is purportedly no certainty beyond reasonable doubt that she issued the checks purposely to defraud
Reynaldo Solis into lending her money. She further claims that no transaction had ever transpired between her and Solis.
Admitting that she may have been imprudent, she nonetheless insists that her simple imprudence does not translate to
criminal liability.

ISSUE: Whether Montaner is guilty of estafa

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HELD:
o Paragraph 2 (d), Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code provides: 2. By means of any of the following false pretenses
or fraudulent acts executed prior to or simultaneously with the commission of the fraud: (d) By postdating a check, or
issuing a check in payment of an obligation when the offender had no funds in the bank, or his funds deposited therein
were not sufficient to cover the amount of the check. The failure of the drawer of the check to deposit the amount
necessary to cover his check within three (3) days from receipt of notice from the bank and/or the payee or holder that
said check has been dishonored for lack or insufficiency of funds shall be prima facie evidence of deceit constituting
false pretense or fraudulent act.
o The elements of estafa under paragraph 2 (d), Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code are:
o (1) the postdating or issuance of a check in payment of an obligation contracted at the time the check was issued;
o (2) lack of sufficiency of funds to cover the check; and
o (3) damage to the payee.
o In the case at bar, the prosecution sufficiently established appellant's guilt beyond reasonable doubt for estafa under
paragraph 2 (d), Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code. According to Solis's clear and categorical testimony, appellant
issued to him the 10 postdated Prudential Bank checks, each in the amount of P5,000.00 or a total of P50,000.00, in his
house in exchange for their cash equivalent.
o Direct Examination: Representation about them? To deposit those checks on their due date, ma'am.
o It was evident that Solis would not have given P50,000.00 cash to appellant had it not been for her issuance of the 10
Prudential Bank checks. These postdated checks were undoubtedly issued by appellant to induce Solis to part with his
cash. However, when Solis attempted to encash them, they were all dishonored by the bank because the account was
already closed.
o Solis wrote appellant a demand letter but she did not comply with the demand nor did she deposit the amount necessary
to cover the checks within three days from receipt of notice. This gave rise to a prima facie evidence of deceit,
which is an element of the crime of estafa, constituting false pretense or fraudulent act as stated in the second sentence
of paragraph 2 (d), Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code.
o Claims to have entrusted Garope is incredulous and defies ordinary common sense and human experience. Moreover, it
is elementary that denial, if unsubstantiated by clear and convincing evidence, is negative and self-serving evidence
which has far less evidentiary value than the testimony of credible witnesses who testify on affirmative matters. As aptly
noted by the trial court, appellant's failure to produce Galope as a witness to corroborate her story is fatal to her cause.
DISPOSITIVE: CA Decision AFFIRMED.

8. PEOPLE vs. ELIZABETH CARDENAS

CARPIO MORALES, J.: G.R. No. 178064 February 10, 2009

Facts:
• Nenit Musni who does business under the name Bombom Jewelries, buys pieces of jewelry from pawnshops for resale.
• In 1991, in the course of her business operation, she was introduced to Cardenas to whom she had since been selling
gold. Their usual practice was to weigh the gold and agree on the price, after which appellant would issue checks covering
the value thereof.
• Nenit and appellant’s transactions were regular until...
• October 15, 1994 when appellant issued 2 checks - Check No. 001247A for P401,000 and Check No. 001248A for the
same amount covering payment of gold, which checks were dishonored. Nenit informed appellant of the dishonor, but
she denied owing anything to her.
o accused received jewelries from the complaining witness at Laoag City;
o accused has a checking account with the PCIB, Vigan
o due to such receipt of jewelries, the accused delivered to the complainant PCIB Vigan Branch Check No.
001247A covering the amount of P401,000.00 dated November 15, 1994 and Check No. 001248A in the amount
of P401,000.00 dated December 15, 1994
o (2) checks aforestated were presented for payment but dishonored.

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• November 2, 1994: Cardenas again issued three checks drawn against PCIB Vigan Branch representing payment of
gold: Check No. 001231A for P318,000, Check No. 001232A for P779,000, and Check No. 001233A for P1,093,000.
Again the checks were dishonored.
o accused received jewelries from the complaining witness at Laoag City;
o due to the receipt of the jewelries, the accused delivered three (3) postdated checks to the complainant PCIB
Vigan Branch Check No. 001231A dated February 20, 1995 in the amount of P318,000.00; Check No. 001232A
dated December 25, 1994 in the amount of P779,000.00 and Check No. 001233A in the amount of P1,093,000.00
dated January 15, 1995;
o 3 checks aforementioned were presented for payment but dishonored because the signatures differ from the
signature on file.
• November 15, 1994: Cardenas issued two postdated checks drawn against PCIB Vigan Branch representing payment
of gold purchased from Nenit: Check No. 001226A for P250,000 and Check No. 01227A for P668,000. Still again the
checks were dishonored.
o accused received jewelries from the complaining witness at Laoag City;
o due to such receipt of jewelries, the accused delivered two (2) postdated checks, PCIB Vigan Check No. 001226A
dated December 30, 1994 covering the amount of P250,000.00 and Check No. 001227A dated December 15,
1994 in the amount of P668,000.00;
o checks were presented for payment with the drawee bank on their respective due dates;
o checks were dishonored by the drawee bank on the ground that the signature of the drawer differs from the
signature on file (and insufficient funds/closed account).
• December 15, 1994: appellant issued to Nenit two postdated checks, both drawn against PCIB Vigan Branch: Check
No. 001222A for P400,000, and Check No. 001260A for P458,000 representing payment of gold. Like the previous
checks, these two were dishonored.
o accused received jewelries from the complaining witness at Laoag City;
o out of the receipt of the jewelries by the accused from the complaining witness, the accused delivered two (2)
postdated checks, PCIB Vigan Branch Check No. 001222A dated March 31, 1995 in the amount of P400,000.0
and Check No. 001260A dated March 15, 1995 in the amount of P458,000.00;
o Check No. 001222A when presented for payment was dishonored because the signature on file is different from
the signature on the check; (and insufficient funds/closed account)
o Check No. 001260A in the amount of P458,000.00 was delivered to the complainant with the signature of
the accused, the same being signed by her on the same date of the delivery of the jewelries.
• Nenit demanded the settlement of the dishonored checks, but appellant maintained not having any obligations to her.
• On complaint of Nenit, four Informations each charging with estafa were filed before the RTC of Laoag City:
o Criminal Case No. 8740-13 alleged: October 15, 1994, in Laoag, accused with deceit and intent to defraud,
feloniously issue the following checks in favor of Nenette Musni, against the drawee PCIB, Vigan therein a
signature different from her specimen signature on file with the drawee bank and representing that the
checks will be paid when presented for payment, simultaneous to and as payment for jewelries purchased by the
accused from Nenette Musni, which checks were subsequently dishonored by the drawee bank when
presented for payment due to signature different on file and for having been drawn against insufficient funds,
and despite notice to the accused of the dishonor of her checks and demands made upon her by Nenette Musni
for the cash replacement of the checks, the accused had refused and failed to do so, to the damage and
prejudice of Nenete Musni:
▪ Check No. 001247A = P401,000.00, Postdated: November 15, 1994
▪ Check No. 001248A = P401,000.00, Postdated: December 15, 1994
o Criminal Case No. 8741-13 alleged: November 15, 1994, in Laoag, accused with deceit and intent to defraud,
feloniously issue the following checks in favor of Nenette Musni, against the drawee PCIB, Vigan therein a
signature different from her specimen signature on file with the drawee bank and representing that the
checks will be paid when presented for payment, simultaneous to and as payment for jewelries purchased by the
accused from Nenette Musni, which checks were subsequently dishonored by the drawee bank when
presented for payment due to signature different on file and for having been drawn against insufficient funds,
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 and despite notice to the accused of the dishonor of her checks and demands made upon her by Nenette Musni
for the cash replacement of the checks, the accused had refused and failed to do so, to the damage and
prejudice of Nenete Musni:
▪ Check No. 001226A = P250,000.00, Postdated: December 30, 1994
▪ Check No. 001227A = P668,000.00, Postdated: December 15, 1994
o Criminal Case No. 8742-13 alleged: November 2, 1994, in Laoag, accused with deceit and intent to defraud,
feloniously issue the following checks in favor of Nenette Musni, against the drawee PCIB, Vigan therein a
signature different from her specimen signature on file with the drawee bank and representing that the
checks will be paid when presented for payment, simultaneous to and as payment for jewelries purchased by the
accused from Nenette Musni, which checks were subsequently dishonored by the drawee bank when
presented for payment due to signature different on file and for having been drawn against a closed account
for Check No. 001231A and against insufficient funds for Check Nos. 001232A and 001233A, and despite
notice to the accused of the dishonor of her checks and demands made upon her by Nenette Musni for the cash
replacement of the checks, the accused had refused to do so, to the damage and prejudice of Nenette Musni:
▪ Check No. 001231A = P 318,000.00, Postdated: February 20, 1995
▪ Check No. 001232A = P 779,000.00, Postdated: December 25, 1994
▪ Check No. 001233A = P1,093,000.00, Postdated: January 15, 1995
o Criminal Case No. 8743-13 alleged: December 15, 1994, in Laoag, with deceit and intent to defraud, did
feloniously issue the following checks in favor of Nenette Musni, against the drawee PCIB Vigan, affixing therein
a signature different from her specimen signature on file with the drawee bank for Check No. 001222A and
representing that the checks will be paid when presented for payment, simultaneous to and as payment for
jewelries purchased by the accused from Nenette Musni, which checks were subsequently dishonored by the
drawee bank when presented for payment due to signature different on file for Check 001222A and for having
been drawn against a closed account for both checks, and despite notice to the accused of the dishonor of
her checks and demands made upon her by Nenette Musni for the cash replacement of the checks, the accused
had refused to do so, to the damage and prejudice of Nenette Musni :
▪ Check No. 001222A = P400,000.00, Postdated: March 31, 1995
▪ Check No. 001260A = P458,000.00, Postdated: March 15, 1995 (not different specimen signature or due
to insufficient funds but on closed account)

Defense of Cardenas:
• Appellant claimed that, except for Check No. 1260A, (one of the two checks subject of the fourth case) all the checks
subject of the cases were unsigned as they were issued as a "secondary collateral."
• Whenever Nenit entrusted to her jewelry for resale, she was required to and did sign receipts and did issue the unsigned
checks; that failing to resell the jewelry, she would return them and ask Nenit to return to her the receipts she signed and
the unsigned checks, but Nenit would merely claim that she would tear them;
• With respect to Check No. 1260A, for P458,000, she having sold the jewelry covered thereby, she affixed her signature
thereon, but she did not cause the check to be honored because she and Nenit agreed to offset the against the amount
which Nenit and her son owed her for jewelry they had borrowed from her.
• Appellant thus claimed that the signatures attributed to her on all the checks, except Check No. 1260A for P458,000,
were forged, in support of which she presented National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Senior Documents Examiner
Adela Cruz-Demantillo (Adela) who examined the signatures on the questioned checks and concluded that the signature
on Check No. 1260A and those on other checks were not made by one and the same person.

RTC: Convicted appellant of the four counts of estafa, disposing as follows:

• PENALTY: Each of the charges the indeterminate penalty of imprisonment ranging from TWELVE YEARS of prision
mayor as maximum to THIRTY YEARS of reclusion perpetua and to pay the private complainant the sum of
P4,768,000.00 representing her total obligation and with legal interest thereon to be reckoned from the finality of this
judgment, with costs against her.
CA: Acquitted appellant in the first and second cases but affirmed 3 rd and 4th
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 • For 1st and 2nd, the checks subject thereof having been dishonored because the signatures thereon differed from
the specimen signatures of appellant on file at the drawee bank.
• Insufficiency of evidence. It may be recalled that criminal and penal statutes are strictly construed against the State,
that is, they cannot be enlarged by intendment, implication, or by any equitable considerations. In other words, the
language cannot be enlarged beyond the ordinary meaning of its terms in order to carry out into effect the general
purpose for which the statute was enacted. The reason for dishonor goes into the element of the felony and may not
justly be ignored. When the law speaks of "insufficiency of funds" as the reason for dishonor, it means just that and
nothing else.
• For 3rd and 4th, Affirmed because insufficient funds

ISSUES:
1. Whether Cardenas is guilty of the 3rd and 4th charges because of insufficiency of funds or by reason that checks were
dishonored due to “account closed” despite evidence of forged signature? NO

2. Whether Cardenas is guilty of estafa for Check 001264A despite lack of fraud as the issuance of the check was not the
means to attain the jewelry? NO.

HELD:

1. Checks subject thereof were dishonored due to "payment stopped" or "account closed. However, only photocopies of the
checks bearing "payment stopped" or "account closed" stamped thereon form part of the records and while they were not
objected to, the photocopies of the checks still may not be appreciated as they were not formally offered in evidence.
• Relevant stipulations of the prosecution and defense during pre-trial were that the checks, except Check No. 001260A
which is one of the two checks subject of the fourth case, were dishonored because the signatures therein were
different from appellant’s signature on file.
• Forged handwriting. The prosecution contends, however, that appellant intentionally altered her own signature on the
checks. In light, however, of the findings of the handwriting expert and, indeed, from the naked eye, a comparison of
the questioned signatures with the standard signature of appellant the possibility that appellant’s signature on the
checks in question was forged is not ruled out.

2. NO ESTAFA. Misrepresentation of checks not used as means to obtain the jewelry

• OFFSET. Check No. 001260A was dishonored for insufficiency of funds and the defense of offsetting cannot be credited.
Her evidence of receipts do not indicate that the items mentioned there were to offset the jewelry or for a Rosita earring
valued of P100,000.00 which was part of the alleged offsetting. Moreover, if there was an offsetting, the accused has not
fully explained why the value of the jewelry that complainant and Carlito Musni received from her were more than the
value of the check which is P458,000.
• Under Article 315, par. 2(d) of the RPC- Any person who shall defraud another by any of the means herein below . 2. By
means of any of the following false pretenses or fraudulent acts executed prior to or simultaneously with the commission
of the fraud: (d) By postdating a check, or issuing a check in payment of an obligation when the offender had no funds in
the bank, or his funds deposited therein were not sufficient to cover the amount of the check. The failure of the drawer of
the check to deposit the amount necessary to cover his check within three (3) days from receipt of notice from the bank
and/or the payee or holder that said check has been dishonored for lack or insufficiency of funds shall be prima facie
evidence of deceit constituting false pretense or fraudulent act.
• The issuance of a check should be the means to obtain money or property from the payee. It would have been
unnecessary for the accused to assure the payee that the checks would be sufficiently funded on maturity to convince
her to give her the jewelry.
• During her transactions since 1991 with Nenit, appellant usually issued postdated checks after jewelry was turned over
to her and that in fact some of the postdated checks previously issued were dishonored but were not made subject
of criminal complaints.

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• Appellant did not thus have to assure Nenit when she issued on November 15, 1994 Check No. 001260A postdated
December 30, 1994 that it would be funded on maturity to convince her to part off with the jewelry. In other words, the
issuance of the check was not the means to obtain the jewelry. Appellant did not thus employ fraud. Ergo she did not
commit estafa.
• However, appellant’s civil liability under Check No. 001260A for P458,000 stands in the absence of evidence that she
had, as she claimed, already settled the same.

DISPOSITIVE: Elizabeth Cardenas, is ACQUITTED in Criminal Case No. 8742-13. Appellant is likewise ACQUITTED in
Criminal Case No. 8743-13. She is, however, declared civilly liable to the private complainant, Nenette a.k.a. Nenit Musni,
insofar as the case involves Check No. 001260A, and is ORDERED to pay her its face value of P458,000.00.

9. PEOPLE vs. ERLINDA ABORDO and VINA CABANLONG

CARPIO, J p: [G.R. No. 179934. May 21, 2009.]

Facts:
o February 3, 1994 to March 3, 1994: Abordo recruited Jesus Rayray for possible employment abroad and collected a total
of P14,000 as placement fee. Abordo assured Rayray that he could soon leave for abroad. Rayray was unable to leave
as promised and only saw Abordo again when she was already in jail.
o September 1994: Abordo and Cabanlong went to the house of Esmenia Cariño in Lipay, Villasis, Pangasinan, to
persuade her to work as a domestic helper in Hong Kong. Cariño and Cabanlong used to be neighbors in San Blas,
Villasis, Pangasinan. Upon being convinced by the accused, Cariño gave a total of P15,000 as placement fee. Despite
this payment, Cariño was unable to leave for abroad.
o December 1994: Abordo and Cabanlong went to the house of Segundina Fernandez in Caramitan, Villasis, Pangasinan.
Cabanlong and Segundina are first cousins. Cabanlong introduced Abordo as a recruiter. The accused told Segundina
that they could secure employment for her son, Jaime, in Hong Kong upon payment of the placement fee. Segundina
and Jaime agreed to the proposition. Segundina gave the accused cash and other valuables amounting to P45,000.
Abordo gave a plane ticket to Jaime, which turned out to be fake; hence, Jaime was unable to leave for abroad.
o December 1994: the accused went to the house of Exequiel Mendoza in San Blas, Villasis, Pangasinan to convince him
to work in Hong Kong as a security guard. Mendoza agreed to be recruited and to pay P45,000 as placement fee. Abordo
assured him that as soon as he could pay the placement fee, he could work abroad. Mendoza gave Abordo cash and
pieces of jewelry amounting to P39,000. Despite several promises from Abordo, Mendoza was unable to leave for Hong
Kong. Thus, he demanded from the accused the return of his money and pieces of jewelry, but to no avail.
o Adonis Peralta, Dagupan District Officer of DOLE, issued certifications dated 29 September 1993 and 3 August 1993
stating that the accused were not included in the POEA list of those licensed to recruit in Pangasinan.
o The Informations against the accused read as follows: (Abordo: Estafa –4, Illegal Recruitment - 4 ; Cabanlong: Estafa –
3, Illegal Recruitment - 3)
o Criminal Case No. V-0654 (Estafa): February 3, 1994 to March 3, 1994, at Villasis, Pangasinan, Abordo by means
of deceit, deliberately misrepresenting herself to be capable of causing the employment of laborers
abroad, knowing fully well that she is not duly or legally authorized to recruit laborers for employment abroad, did
then and there willfully, unlawfully and feloniously demand and receive from Jesus Rayray y Bascos the sum of
P14,000.00, with the undertaking of working for his employment abroad and thereafter, despite repeated
demands, the said accused who failed to cause complainant's employment abroad, failed and refused to return
the said amount of P14,000.00, thereby appropriating and converting the same for her own use and benefit to
the damage and prejudice of said Jesus Rayray y Bascos in the said amount.
o Criminal Case No. V-0655 (Illegal Recruitment): February 3, 1994 to March 3, 1994 at Villasis, Pangasinan,
Abordo, feloniously recruit Jesus Rayray y Bascos for employment abroad, without first securing the requisite
license or authority from the Department of Labor and Employment.
o Criminal Case No. V-0767 (Estafa): December, 1994 at San Blas, Villasis, accused Abordo and Cabanlong,
conspiring, by means of deceit, deliberately misrepresenting themselves to be capable of causing the
employment of laborers abroad, knowing fully well that they are not duly or legally authorized to recruit laborers

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 for employment abroad, did then and there feloniously demand and receive from Jaime Fernandez the sum of
P45,000.00, Philippine currency with the undertaking of working for his employment abroad and thereafter,
despite repeated demands, the said accused who failed to cause complainant's employment abroad, failed and
refused to return the said amount
o Criminal Case No. V-0768 (Illegal Recruitment): December, 1994 at San Blas, Villasis, accused Abordo and
Cabanlong conspiring, one another, did then feloniously recruit Jaime Fernandez y Simon for employment
abroad, without first securing the requisite license or authority from the Department of Labor and Employment.
o Criminal Case No. V-0769 (Estafa): December, 1994 at San Blas, Villasis, accused Abordo and Cabanlong
conspiring, by means of deceit, deliberately misrepresenting themselves to be capable of causing the
employment of laborers abroad, knowing fully well that they are not duly or legally authorized to recruit laborers
for employment abroad, did then and feloniously demand and receive from Exequiel Mendoza the sum of
P45,000.00, with the undertaking of working for his employment abroad and, thereafter, despite repeated
demands, the said accused who failed to cause complainant's employment abroad, failed and refused to return
the said amount of P45,000.00, thereby appropriating and converting the same for their own use and benefit to
o Criminal Case No. V-0770 (Illegal Recruitment): December, 1994 at San Blas, Villasis accused Abordo and
Cabanlong conspiring, feloniously recruit Exequiel Mendoza y Olivar for employment abroad, without first
securing the requisite license or authority from the Department of Labor and Employment.
o Criminal Case No. V-0771 (Illegal Recruitment): September, 1994 at San Blas, Villasis, accused Abordo and
Cabanlong conspiring and feloniously recruit Esmenia Cariño for employment abroad, without first securing the
requisite license or authority from the Department of Labor and Employment.
o Criminal Case No. V-0772 (Estafa): September, 1994 at San Blas, Villasis, accused Abordo and Cabanlong
conspiring, by means of deceit, deliberately misrepresenting themselves to be capable of causing the
employment of laborers abroad, knowing fully well that they are not duly or legally authorized to recruit laborers
for employment abroad, did then and there feloniously demand and receive from Esmenia Cariño the sum of
P15,000.00, with the undertaking of working for her employment abroad and, thereafter, despite repeated
demands, the said accused who failed to cause complainant's employment abroad, failed and refused to return
the said amount of P15,000.00,
RTC:
• Abordo and Cabanlong GUILTY of Illegal Recruitment in large scale in Crim. Case Nos. V-0655, V-0768, V-0770 and V-
0771, defined and penalized under Art. 38, par. (a) in relation to Art. 39, par. (a) of the Labor Code of the Philippines, as
amended by P.D. 2018
o Penalty of life imprisonment and to pay, jointly and severally, fine of 100,000.00
• Abordo GUILTY of Estafa in Crim. Case No. V-0654, as provided under Art. 315, par. 2(a),
o Penalty indeterminate penalty of SIX MONTHS and ONE DAY of prision correccional in its minimum and medium
periods, as the minimum, to FOUR YEARS, TWO MONTHS and ONE DAY of prision correccional in its maximum
period to prision mayor in its minimum period, as the maximum, and to reimburse Jesus Rayray the amount of
P14,000.00
• Abordo and Cabanlong are found guilty beyond reasonable doubt of three (3) counts of estafa
o Crim. Case No. V-0767: 6 MONTHS and 1 DAY of prision correccional in it minimum and medium periods, as
the minimum to 10 YEARS of prision mayor, medium, as the maximum and to reimburse Jaime Fernandez the
amount of P45,000.00;
o Crim. Case No. V-0769: 6 MONTHS and 1 DAY of prision correccional in its minimum and medium periods, as
the minimum, to 9 YEARS of prision mayor, medium, as the maximum and to reimburse Exequiel Mendoza the
amount of P39,000.00
o Crim. Case No. V-0772: 6 MONTHS and 1 DAY of prision correccional in its minimum and medium periods, as
the minimum to 4 YEARS, 2 MONTHS and 1 DAY of prision correccional in its maximum period to prision mayor
in its minimum period, as the maximum, and to reimburse Esmenia Carino the amount of P15,000.00
CA: Guilty with modification for penalties and crime Simple Illegal Recruitment per count and not Illegal Recruitment
in a Large Scale

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• ILLEGAL RECRUITMENT: The act of the accused of recruiting complainants for employment abroad without the
necessary license from the POEA constitutes the offense of illegal recruitment.
• ESTAFA: The Court of Appeals stated that the very same evidence proving the accused's commission of the offense of
illegal recruitment also established that the accused connived in defrauding complainants by misrepresenting that they
had the power, influence, agency and business to obtain overseas employment for complainants upon payment of
placement fees. Complainants suffered damages to the extent of the various sums of money they delivered to accused.
• The Court of Appeals modified the penalties imposed on the accused as each information involved only one
complainant. The accused cannot be convicted for illegal recruitment in large scale based on several informations each
filed by only one complainant. The trial court erred in considering the three complainants in the two criminal cases when
it convicted the accused of illegal recruitment in large scale. Since the accused were prosecuted under several
informations for different complainants, the penalty imposed should be for each information. To convict the accused of
illegal recruitment in large scale, there must be one information that must include all the complainants. Otherwise, the
accused should be held liable only for simple illegal recruitment.
• As to Rayray:
o Abordo GUILTY beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of Simple Illegal Recruitment and is sentenced to suffer
a prison term of 6 years and 1 day as minimum, to 12 years as maximum, and to pay a fine of P200,000.
o Abordo guilty of Estafa , as provided for under Art. 315, par. 2(a), and is hereby sentenced to suffer the
indeterminate penalty of 6 MONTHS and 1 DAY of prision correccional in its minimum and medium periods, as
minimum, to 4 YEARS, 2 MONTHS and 1 DAY of prision correccional in its maximum period to prision mayor in
its minimum period, as maximum, and to reimburse Jesus Rayray in the amount of P14,000
• As to Others:
o Abordo and Cabanlong are found Guilty of three (3) counts of Simple Illegal Recruitment, and are sentenced to
suffer a prison term of 6 years and 1 day as minimum, to 12 years as maximum, and to pay a fine of P200,000
on each count.
o Abordo and Cabanlong are found guilty of three (3) counts of estafa and are hereby sentenced to suffer the
indeterminate penalty of:
▪ 6 MONTHS AND 1 DAY of prision correccional in its minimum and medium periods, as the minimum, to
10 YEARS of prision mayor, medium, as the maximum and to reimburse Jaime Fernandez in the
amount of P45,000
▪ b) 6 MONTHS AND 1 DAY of prision correccional in its minimum and medium periods, as the minimum,
to 9 YEARS of prision mayor, medium, as the maximum and to reimburse Exequiel Mendoza in the
amount of P39,000.
▪ 6 MONTHS AND 1 DAY of prision correccional in its minimum and medium periods, as the minimum to
4 YEARS, 2 MONTHS and 1 DAY of prision correccional in its maximum period to prision mayor in its
minimum period, as maximum, and to reimburse Esmenia Cariño in the amount of P15,000
Defense:
• Could not be held liable for estafa under Article 315, 2 (a) of the Revised Penal Code since the element of deceit was
not established. They alleged that they received the placement fees on behalf of the travel agency. They argued that it
was unclear whether the false statements or fraudulent representations were made prior to or simultaneously
with the delivery of the money by the complainants.

Issue: Whether the accused are guilty of simple illegal recruitment and estafa under Article 315, 2 (a) of the Revised Penal
Code.

HELD: YES, modify penalty on estafa cases

ESTAFA
• The Court also affirms the conviction of Abordo for estafa committed against Rayray and the conviction of Abordo and
Cabanlong for estafa committed against Jaime, Mendoza, and Cariño. Conviction under the Labor Code for illegal
recruitment does not preclude punishment under the Revised Penal Code for the felony of estafa.

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• Estafa under Article 315, 2 (a) of the Revised Penal Code, which states: 2. By means of any of the following false
pretenses or fraudulent acts executed prior to or simultaneously with the commission of the fraud: (a) By using
fictitious name or falsely pretending to possess power, influence, qualifications, property, credit, agency, business or
imaginary transactions, or by means of other similar deceits.
• The prosecution established that in falsely pretending to possess power to deploy persons for overseas employment, the
accused deceived the complainants into believing that they would provide them overseas work. Their assurances made
complainants pay the placement fees required in exchange for the promised jobs. The elements of deceit and damage
for this form of estafa are indisputably present; hence, the conviction for estafa in Criminal Case Nos. V-0654 (against
Abordo), V-0767, V-0769, and V-0772 (against Abordo and Cabanlong) should be affirmed.
ILLEGAL RECRUITMENT
• The elements of illegal recruitment are:
o (1) the offender has no valid license or authority required by law to lawfully engage in the recruitment and
placement of workers; and
o (2) he undertakes any activity within the meaning of "recruitment and placement" defined under Article 13 (b) of
the Labor Code.
• Recruitment and placement is "any act of canvassing, enlisting, contracting, transporting, utilizing, hiring or procuring
workers; and includes referrals, contact services, promising or advertising for employment, locally or abroad, whether for
profit or not: Provided, that any person or entity which, in any manner, offers or promises for a fee employment to two or
more persons shall be deemed engaged in recruitment and placement".
• The prosecution sufficiently established Abordo's guilt beyond reasonable doubt for the offense of simple illegal
recruitment in Criminal Case No. V-0655. Without the necessary license, Abordo unlawfully recruited Rayray for
deployment abroad. In exchange for this promised overseas job, Rayray paid Abordo P14,000.
• Conniving with Cabanlong, Abordo also illegally recruited Jaime, Mendoza, and Cariño who paid the accused P45,000,
P39,000 and P15,000, respectively, as placement fees. Despite their payments of the placement fees, all the
complainants were unable to depart the country for work abroad.
• SIMPLE ILLEGAL RECRUITMENT NOT LARGE SCALE. Since the accused were prosecuted under several informations
for different complainants, the penalty imposed should be for each information charged. To convict the accused for
illegal recruitment in large scale, there must be one information that must include all the complainants.

PENALTIES
• Under Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code, estafa is punished by "the penalty of prision correccional in its maximum
period (4 years, 2 months and 1 day to 6 years) to prision mayor in its minimum period (6 years and 1 day to 8 years), if
the amount of the fraud is over 12,000 but does not exceed 22,000 pesos, and if such amount exceeds the latter
sum, the penalty . . . shall be imposed in its maximum period, adding one year for each additional 10,000 pesos;
but the total penalty which may be imposed shall not exceed twenty years. .
• The penalty prescribed for estafa is composed of only two, not three, periods. In such a case, Article 65 of the Revised
Penal Code requires the division into three equal portions of time included in the penalty prescribed, and forming one
period of each of the three portions. Therefore, the maximum, medium, and minimum periods of the penalty prescribed
are:
o Minimum — 4 years, 2 months, 1 day to 5 years, 5 months, 10 days
o Medium — 5 years, 5 months, 11 days to 6 years, 8 months, 20 days
o Maximum — 6 years, 8 months, 21 days to 8 years 25
• If the amount defrauded does not exceed P22,000 and there is no aggravating or mitigating circumstance, the
penalty prescribed shall be imposed in its medium period, or 5 years, 5 months and 11 days of prision correccional to 6
years, 8 months and 20 days of prision mayor.
• Under the Indeterminate Sentence Law, the maximum term of the prison sentence shall be that which, in view of the
attending circumstances, could be properly imposed. On the other hand, the minimum term shall be within the range of
the penalty next lower in degree to that prescribed by the RPC for the crime.
o The penalty next lower to that prescribed by Article 315 is prision correccional in its minimum period (6
months, 1 day to 2 years and 4 months) to prision correccional in its medium period (2 years, 4 months
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 and 1 day to 4 years and 2 months). From this, the minimum term of the indeterminate sentence shall be
taken.
• Criminal Case No. V-0654 (for estafa involving P14,000), Abordo is sentenced to an indeterminate penalty of 6 months
and 1 day of prision correccional, as minimum, to 5 years, 5 months and 11 days of prision correccional, as maximum.
Abordo should also refund to Rayray the amount of P14,000 with legal interest from the filing of the information until this
amount is fully paid.
• In Criminal Case No. V-0767 (for estafa involving P45,000), Abordo and Cabanlong are sentenced to an indeterminate
penalty of 6 months and 1 day of prision correccional, as minimum, to 10 years of prision mayor, as maximum. The
accused should also refund to Jaime the amount of P45,000 with legal interest from the filing of the information until this
amount is fully paid
• In Criminal Case No. V-0769 (for estafa involving P39,000), Abordo and Cabanlong are sentenced to an indeterminate
penalty of 6 months and 1 day of prision correccional, as minimum, to 9 years of prision mayor, as maximum. The
accused should also refund to Mendoza the amount of P39,000 with legal interest from the filing of the information until
this amount is fully paid.
• In Criminal Case No. V-0772 (for estafa involving P15,000), Abordo and Cabanlong are sentenced to an indeterminate
penalty of 6 months and 1 day of prision correccional, as minimum, to 5 years, 5 months and 11 days of prision
correccional, as maximum. The accused should also refund to Cariño the amount of P15,000 with legal interest from the
filing of the information until this amount is fully paid.
• The penalties in this case consisting in deprivation of liberty cannot be served simultaneously by reason of the nature of
such penalties. Hence, since the accused are sentenced to two or more terms of imprisonment, the terms should be
served successively.

DISPOSITIVE: AFFRIMED with MODIFICATIONS:

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10. PEOPLE v CHAGUE GANASI -> 318

FACTS:
• Ganasi is owner of 2 parcels of land in La Trinidad Benguet
o Parcel 1 (1,468 sqm): NE, provincial road, SW, public land, NW, subdivision plan -> greater value than the other
due to its even terrain and location
o Parcel 2 (1,472 sqm): Bounded on NE by property, on E, La trinidad road, on SE and SW, public land -> has
uneven and hilly terrain
• September 1956: Ganasi incurred a P3,500 debt from complainant Dacanay and so he pointed to Parcel 1 to the
complainant, offering it as security or mortgage. He showed them the land, together with the lawyers for an ocular
inspection.
• Finding the land suitable for his business of a carpentry shop, Dacanay delivered the money as a loan and the accused
executed a Deed of Mortgage.
• Unable to pay on due date, the accused sold the same property to the complainant to settle his obligation.
• When Dacanay went to the Register of Deeds to have his ownership over Parcel 1 registered, he was informed that what
he was sold was not Parcel 1 but Parcel 2.
• It turned out that the accused had switched lots in the execution of the Deeds of Mortgage and sale; what the accused
had mortgaged and sold was not the land represented by him to the complainant as the security for the loan but another
lot which was worthless for the use intended by the Dacanay.
• He immediately went to Ganasi to confront him about it but Ganasi refused to do anything about it so Dacanay decided
to bring the case to court.

Defense
• Borrowed for Hawaii fare
• No misrepresentation in the legal sense because the complainant was in a position to detect the misrepresentation,
assuming that there was misrepresentation.
o 2 lawyers
• The accused contends that there is no law that covers his case, while the Solicitor General maintains that the accused is
guilty of estafa, under paragraph 1 (a) , Article 315, RPC.

ISSUE: Whether there was estafa?

HELD: Not under 315 but under 318.

o There was no alteration of substance, quantity or quality in the sense intended by paragraph 1 (a), Article 315, of the
Code, in the execution of the mortgage and later of the sale by the accused. Since the facts are not covered by any of
the provisions of Article 315, 316, 317 and the offense committed must perforce come within the meaning and intendment
of the blanket provisions of paragraph 1 (a), Article 318 of the Code.
o Under 315, the obligation to deliver already exists and the offender on making delivery has altered the substance, quantity
or quality of the thing delivered. Here Ganasi deceitfully pointed to Dacanay one parcel of land, offering it as security on
the strength of which deceit Dacanay parted with his money. The deceit practiced by Ganasi preceded the alienation by
Dacanay of his money. It is therefore clear that there was no alteration of substance, quantity or quality in the sense
intended by 315 in Ganasi’s execution of the mortgage and later of the sale.
o Dacanay cannot be technically qualified to notice the discrepancies adverted to by the appellant as this would require
some knowledge in surveying. Moreover, the discrepancies are of such a nature that the average person would usually
fail to notice them. Two lawyers were with him only when he went to see the lot offered by the appellant and not when the
deed of mortgage and deed of sale were executed and when Dacanay went to the Register of Deeds to register the sale.

DISPOSITIVE: Guilty under 318; penalty is 3 months arresto mayor and pay fine of P3577.70

ARSON
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c/o HIPOLITO

1. PEOPLE vs. JESSIE VILLEGAS MURCIA

PEREZ, J.: G.R. No. 182460 March 9, 2010

FACTS:
• Eulogio Quilates is the owner of a two-storey house in Paringao, Bauang, La Union.
• Among the occupants of his house were his sister Felicidad Quilates; another sister Alicia Manlupig; and nephew
Herminio Manlupig.
• Appellant, who is the adopted son of Felicidad, occupied one room in the house.
• At around 3:30 p.m. of 24 March 2004, appellant was having a drinking spree with his cousin Herminio and brothers-
in-law Joey Viduya and Ricky Viduya in front of their house.
• Appellant and Herminio were arguing over the matter of caring for Felicidad while the latter was confined in the
hospital. Ricky tried to mediate between the two. Appellant was then seen going inside the house to get a bolo.
• When he emerged from the house ten (10) minutes later, he ran after Herminio but the latter managed to escape
unscathed. Appellant again went back to the house.
• Meanwhile, after pacifying appellant and Herminio, Ricky resumed drinking. A few minutes later, he saw smoke
coming from the room of appellant.
• As Ricky was about to enter the house, he met appellant at the door. Appellant apparently tried to stab Ricky but was
unsuccessful. Ricky witnessed appellant stab Felicidad and Alicia.
• Herminio, who had since come back to the drinking table, also saw the smoke. He peeped through the small window
of the house and witnessed appellant burning some clothes and boxes in the sala. Herminio immediately went
inside the house to save his personal belongings. Upon emerging from the house, Herminio saw his mother, Alicia,
bloodied.
• Alicia testifies that she was sitting on a chair near the toilet when she saw smoke coming out of appellant’s
room. Before she could react, appellant came charging at her and stabbed her. She sustained wounds on her upper
thigh, arms, below her breast and on her ear. Alicia was still able to ask for help, and her daughter-in-law brought her
to the hospital.
• Eulogio heard a commotion while he was cooking in the second floor of the house. When Eulogio went down, he
already saw smoke coming from the room of appellant. He then saw Felicidad near the comfort room located outside
the house and was bleeding from her mouth. As he was about to help Felicidad, he met appellant who was then holding
a knife. Eulogio immediately ran away.
• Upon seeing Herminio, appellant immediately attacked him with a knife. However, Herminio and Ricky were able to
pin appellant down. Before they could retaliate, the barangay captain arrived at the scene. As a result, eight (8)
houses were razed.
• Inspector Ferdinand Formacion responded to the fire incident and saw four (4) houses were already burned. After
putting out the fire, he and the arson investigator conducted an ocular investigation and invited witnesses to the police
station to submit their sworn statements.
• SPO2 Rodolfo Lomboy, chief investigator of Philippine National Police Bauang Police Station, was told by witnesses
that appellant intentionally set the boxes on fire inside the house.
• Information dated 6 April 2004: crime of arson
o 24th day of March, 2004, in Bauang, La Union, accused, motivated by some evil motive, feloniously set fire
and burn a residential house knowing the same to be inhabited by one FELICIDAD M. QUILATES burning
and killing said FELICIDAD M. QUILATES as well as burning and damaging 9 other neighboring houses in
the process, to the damage of said house-owners in the amount of P3M as well as to the damage of her
heirs
o The charge is qualified by the resulting death of Felicidad M. Quilates.
• Also charged in another Information for frustrated homicide
o 24th day of March, 2004, in Bauang, La Union, Philippines, accused, with intent to kill, feloniously attack,
assault and stab with a knife one, Alicia Q. Manlupig inflicting upon the latter stab wounds, thus
performing all the acts of execution which would produce the crime of homicide as a consequence, but
nevertheless did not produce it be reason of causes independent of the will; that is, by the timely medical
attendance rendered to said Alicia Q. Manlupig which prevented her death, all to the damage and
prejudice of said offended party.
• Upon arraignment, appellant pleaded not guilty to both charges. Trial on the merits ensued.
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• Eulogio estimated the value of his house at P250,000.00, while another sister of Felicidad, Pacita Quilates, presented
a receipt covering the burial expenses for Felicidad, amounting to P10,000.00.
• An autopsy was performed on Felicidad, and it was disclosed that she died from “cardio-respiratory arrest secondary
to third degree burns involving 90% of body surface to include underlying tissues and organs.”

DEFENSE:
• He stated that while he was having a drinking spree, he saw Felicidad go inside the house to get a glass of water. He
followed her and gave her water.
• He noticed Felicidad light a gas lamp. He then went back to his friends and resumed drinking. He got into a heated
argument with Herminio. The latter struck him in the head.
• He immediately went inside the house to get a weapon. He was able to get a bolo, went back outside and hit
Herminio. The latter ran away and appellant chased him.
• Appellant met Alicia and confronted her about the actuations of Herminio. But Alicia cursed him. Appellant thereafter
hit her with the knife. Appellant then fell on the ground and lost consciousness because, apparently, he was struck by
something in the back.
• Appellant denied setting the house on fire.
• Appellant maintains his innocence of the charge of arson. He questions the credibility of some witnesses and
specifically imputes ill-motive on the part of Herminio in testifying against him, especially after their fight.
• Appellant submits that the testimonies of witnesses, which failed to turn into a coherent whole, did not prove the
identity of the perpetrator.

RTC: Guilty of arson (Destructive under RPC) and frustrated homicide

• Arson: as charged and defined under Art. 320 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by R.A. No. 7659, and he is
hereby sentenced to suffer the extreme penalty of death; to indemnify the heirs of the victim Felicidad Quilates,
the amount of Php50,000.00 as moral damages; Php50,000.00 as death indemnity; Php10,000.00 as actual
damages and another Php10,000.00 as temperate damages. Further, the accused is ordered to indemnify Eulogio
Quilates the amount of P250,000.00, representing the value of the burned house. (AUTOMATIC REVIEW)
• Frustrated homicide: PENALTY 4 YEARS of prision correccional as minimum, to 10 YEARS of prision
mayor as maximum; to pay the victim Alicia Q. Manlupig the amount of Php10,000.00 as temperate
damages
• Credited with his preventive imprisonment provided for by RPC 29
• Corpus delicti in arson, as well as the identity of the perpetrator, were established beyond reasonable
doubt by the prosecution. While no evidence to directly link appellant to the crime, TC relied on
circumstantial evidence.
CA: Affirmed the trial court but reduced the penalty from death to reclusion perpetua.
• Appellant admitted to the crime of frustrated homicide, hence the review is limited to the crime of arson.

ISSUES:
1. Whether the crime of arson can be proven beyond reasonable doubt based on circumstantial evidence? (YES)
2. Whether he is guilty of Destructive Arson or Simple Arson? (Simple Arson)
3. Whether penalty was proper? (Modified)

HELD:
1. YES. In the prosecution for arson, proof of the crime charged is complete where the evidence establishes:
o (1) the corpus delicti, that is, a fire because of criminal agency; and
o (2) the identity of the defendant as the one responsible for the crime.
o In arson, the corpus delicti rule is satisfied by proof of the bare fact of the fire and of it having
been intentionally caused. Even the uncorroborated testimony of a single eyewitness, if credible, is enough
to prove the corpus delicti and to warrant conviction.
• The photographs, evidencing the charred remains of the houses, established the occurrence of the fire.
• In this case, however, there is no direct evidence to establish the culpability of appellant. At any rate, direct evidence
is not the sole means of establishing guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Established facts that form a chain of
circumstances can lead the mind intuitively or impel a conscious process of reasoning towards a conviction. Indeed,

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 rules on evidence and principles in jurisprudence have long recognized that the accused may be convicted through
circumstantial evidence.
• Section 4 of Rule 133 of the Rules of Court provides: Circumstantial evidence, when sufficient.─ Circumstantial
evidence is sufficient for conviction if:
(a) There is more than one circumstance;
(b) The facts from which the inferences are derived are proven; and
(c) The combination of all the circumstances is such as to produce a conviction beyond reasonable
doubt.
• In order to justify a conviction upon circumstantial evidence, the combination of circumstances must be such
as to leave no reasonable doubt in the mind as to the criminal responsibility of the accused. While nobody
directly saw appellant burn the house, these circumstances would yield to a logical conclusion that the fire
that gutted eight (8) houses was authored by appellant.
o First, accused-appellant Murcia returned inside E. Quilates’ house after chasing H. Manlupig with
a bolo and after being pacified by R. Viduya and J. Viduya;
o Second, during the resumption of their drinking session, R. Viduya and H. Manlupig saw a thick smoke
emanating from E. Quilates’ house particularly the window of accused-appellant Murcia’s room in the
ground floor;
o Third, H. Manlupig peeped through the said window and saw accused-appellant Murcia throwing
cartons of clothes into the fire. Meanwhile, E. Quilates, who was then cooking at the second floor, went
downstairs and saw the fire coming from the room occupied by accused-appellant Murcia in the
ground floor;
o Fourth, R. Viduya saw accused-appellant Murcia stabbing F. Quilates and A. Manlupig, among other
persons. E. Quilates saw his sister F. Quilates with blood oozing from her mouth. Accused-
appellant Murcia met him at the ground brandishing a knife at him which prevented him from helping
the wounded F. Quilates and forced him to run away for safety. E. Quilates’ other sister, A. Manlupig,
was also seen wounded and lying unconscious in the canal; and
o Fifth, the houses of E. Quilates and his neighbors were razed by fire and the commission of the crime
of arson resulted in the demise of F. Quilates whose remains were burned beyond recognition.
• Indeed, appellant was last seen inside the house before the fire started. Eulogio and Ricky saw smoke
emanating from the room of appellant. Herminio testified that he saw appellant burning clothes in his
room. Appellant then went on a stabbing rampage while the house was on fire.
• On credibility of witnesses, TC is in the best position to assess the credibility of witnesses since it has observed
firsthand their demeanor, conduct and attitude under grilling examination. Absent any showing of a fact or
circumstance of weight and influence which would appear to have been overlooked and, if considered, could
affect the outcome of the case, the factual findings and assessment on the credibility of a witness made by the
trial court remain binding on an appellate tribunal.
• Herminio’s testimony, having withstood cross-examination, there is no presumption of false testimony
despite imputation of ill motive and his testimony has passed the scrutiny of the lower courts and was held to
be credible.

2. SIMPLE ARSON because according to a close examination of the records, as well as description of the crime as stated in
the information, the crime committed is in fact simple arson because the burned properties are residential houses.
• There are actually two categories of arson, namely: Destructive Arson under Article 320 of the Revised
Penal Code and Simple Arson under Presidential Decree No. 1316.
• Said classification is based on the kind, character and location of the property burned, regardless of the
value of the damage caused.
• Article 320 contemplates the malicious burning of structures, both public and private, hotels, buildings,
edifices, trains, vessels, aircraft, factories and other military, government or commercial establishments
by any person or group of persons.
• Presidential Decree No. 1316 covers houses, dwellings, government buildings, farms, mills, plantations,
railways, bus stations, airports, wharves and other industrial establishments.

3. PENALTY:
• Penalty for simple arson resulting to death, under Section 5 of PD 1613, is reclusion perpetua to death so correctly
imposed the penalty of reclusion perpetua with repeal of death penalty

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• MODIFY award of damages:
o Heirs of Felicidad: Temperate damages from P10,000.00 to P 25,000.00, and delete the amount of actual
damages, in line with the ruling in People v. Villanueva because when actual damages proven by receipts
during the trial amount to less than P25,000.00, the award of temperate damages for P25,000.00 is justified
in lieu of actual damages of a lesser amount.
o Eulogio: Actual damages awarded to amounting to P250,000.00, as indemnification for the burned house, not
awarded as amount representing the value of the burned house was merely given by Eulogio as an estimate. It
was not substantiated by any document or receipt. For one to be entitled to actual damages, it is necessary to
prove the actual amount of loss with a reasonable degree of certainty, premised upon competent proof and
the best evidence obtainable by the injured party.
▪ Award temperate damages in accordance with Art. 2224 of the Civil Code, providing that temperate
damages may be recovered when the court finds that some pecuniary loss has been suffered but
its amount cannot, from the nature of the case, be proven with certainty. It is thus reasonable to
expect that the value of the house burned down amounted to at least P200,000.00.

DISPOSITIVE: AFFIRMED with MODIFICATIONS:

• PENALTY: crime of arson and sentencing him to reclusion perpetua
• INDEMNITY: Heirs of Felicidad Quilates, P50,000.00 as moral damages; P50,000.00 as death indemnity;
and P25,000.00 as temperate damages.
• The award of P10,000.00 as actual damages in favor of the heirs of Felicidad Quilates is deleted.
• Pay Eulogio Quilates the amount of P200,000.00 as temperate damages.
• Award of P250,000.00 as actual damages in favor of Eulogio Quilates is deleted.

2. PEOPLE vs. FERDINAND T. BALUNTONG

CARPIO MORALES, J.: G.R. No. 182061 March 15, 2010

FACTS:
• At around 10:30 p.m. of July 31, 1998, while then 12-year old Jovelyn Santos was sleeping in the house of her
grandmother Celerina Solangon at Barangay Dangay, Roxas, Oriental Mindoro, she was awakened by heat emanating
from the walls of the house. She thus roused her cousin Dorecyll and together they went out of the house.
• Jovelyn saw appellant putting dry hay (dayami) around the house near the terrace where the fire started, but appellant
ran away when he saw her and Dorecyll.
• Appellant’s neighbor, Felicitas Sarzona, also saw appellant near Celerina’s house after it caught fire, following which,
appellant fled on seeing Jovelyn and Dorecyll stepping out of the house, as other neighbors repaired to the scene to
help contain the flames.
• Felicitas also saw Celerina, who was at a neighbor’s house before the fire started, enter the burning house and
resurface with her grandsons Alvin and Joshua.
• Celerina and Alvin sustained third degree burns which led to their death. Joshua sustained second degree
burns.
• Information of Double Murder with Frustrated Murder:
o July 31, 1998, at about 10:30 PM at Bgy Danggay, Roxas, Oriental Mindoro, accused, with malice aforethought
and with deliberate intent to kill, set on fire, the house of Celerina Solangon, causing the complete
destruction of the said house and the death of Celerina Solangon and Alvin Savarez, and inflicting serious
physical injuries on Josua Savarez, thereby performing all the acts of execution which would produce the
crime of murder as a consequence but which, nevertheless do not produce it by reason of causes independent
of the will of the perpetrator.

DEFENSE:
• Denying the charge, invoked alibi, claiming that he, on his mother Rosalinda’s request, went to Caloocan City on July
15, 1998 (16 days before the incident) and stayed there until February 1999. Rosalinda corroborated appellant’s alibi.

RTC: GUILTY of complex crime of Double Murder with Frustrated Murder punishable under Article 248 of the
Revised Penal Code as amended by Republic Act 7659 in relation to Article 48 of the Revised Penal Code
o PENALTY: DEATH
o Pay the heirs of Celerina Suba Solangon the sum of P50,000.00 as compensatory damages

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 o Pay and the heirs of Alvin Savariz, 50,000.00 as compensatory damages, P16,500.00 as actual
damages; and P50,000.00 as moral damages.
CA: AFFIRMED but MODIFIED penalty from death to reclusion perpetua bec. of RA 9346 and
additionally awarding exemplary damages to the heirs of the victims (Celerina and Alvin), and temperate
damages to Joshua representing his “hospitalization and recuperation.”

ISSUES:
1. Whether the identity of the malefactor was sufficiently established to find him guilty? (YES)
2. Whether the crime is Double Murder with Frustated Murder? (NO, simple arson)
3. Whether he can be convicted of Simple Arson despite different crime charged in Information? (YES)
3. Whether penalty is correct? (Yes with modification on damages)

HELD:
1. YES. Prosecution witnesses Felicitas’ and Jovelyn’s positive identification of their neighbor-herein appellant
as the person they saw during the burning of the house, given, among other things, the illumination generated by the
fire.
• Appellant’s contention that Felicitas’ claim was to be doubted that she saw appellant fleeing away from the burning
house, it being then 10:30 p.m. and, therefore, dark is without merit. Also, that she failed to ask him to stop putting
dried hay around the house if indeed her claim were true is unmerited.
• FIRE was already up so cannot be dark.
• TESTIMONY OF FELICITAS:
o Portion of the house which was on fire when you saw Balentong for the first time was at the rear portion going
up, sir.
o Balentong was just infront of the house, sir.
o He was about two (2) meters away from the burning portion of the house (not front portion)
• TESTIMONY OF JOVELYN:
o The fire was already considerable size when she saw the back of this Ferdinand Balontong
o The surrounding was illuminated by that fire, very visible.

2. SIMPLE ARSON.
• People v. Malngan: In cases where both burning and death occur, in order to determine what crime/crimes was/were
perpetrated – whether arson, murder or arson and homicide/murder, it is de rigueur to ascertain the main objective
of the malefactor
o (a) if the main objective is the burning of the building or edifice, but death results by reason or on the
occasion of arson, the crime is simply arson, and the resulting homicide is absorbed;
o (b) if, on the other hand, the main objective is to kill a particular person who may be in a building or edifice,
when fire is resorted to as the means to accomplish such goal the crime committed is murder only
o (c) if the objective is, likewise, to kill a particular person, and in fact the offender has already done so, but
fire is resorted to as a means to cover up the killing, then there are two separate and distinct crimes committed
– homicide/murder and arson.
• Presidential Decree (P.D.) No. 1613, “Amending the Law on Arson,” reads: Section 3. Other Cases of Arson. ─ The
penalty of Reclusion Temporal to Reclusion Perpetua shall be imposed if the property burned is any of the
following: 2. Any inhabited house or dwelling;
• No showing that appellant’s main objective was to kill Celerina and her housemates and that the fire was resorted to
as the means to accomplish the goal.
• Felicitas’ affidavit stated that what she knew is that Celerina wanted appellant, who was renting a house near
Celerina’s, to move out. How Felicitas acquired such “knowledge” was not probed into, however, despite the fact that
she was cross-examined thereon.
• Absent any concrete basis then to hold that the house was set on fire to kill the occupants, appellant cannot be held
liable for double murder with frustrated murder. This is especially true with respect to the death of Celerina, for even
assuming arguendo that appellant wanted to kill her to get even with her in light of her alleged desire to drive him out
of the neighboring house, Celerina was outside the house at the time it was set on fire. She merely entered the burning
house to save her grandsons.

3. YES. Even if Information charged appellant with “Double Murder with Frustrated Murder,” appellant may be convicted
of Arson. For the only difference between a charge for Murder under Article 248 (3) of the Revised Penal Code and one
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for Arson under the Revised Penal Code, as amended by Section 3 (2) of P.D. No. 1613, lies in the intent in pursuing the
act.
• As reflected above, as it was not shown that the main motive was to kill the occupants of the house, the crime
would only be arson, the homicide being a mere consequence thereof, hence, absorbed by arson.
• When there is variance between the offense charged in the complaint or information and that proved, and the
offense charged is included or necessarily includes the offense proved, conviction shall be for the offense
proved which is included in the offense charged, or the offense charged which is included in the offense proved.
4. PENALTY: Penalty reclusion perpetua.
• DAMAGES: No compensatory damages to heirs of Celerina because entitlement thereto was not proven.
• Compensatory damages and actual damages for heirs of Alvin are the same. Since the trial court awarded the duly
proven actual damages of P16,500.00 representing burial expenses, the award of compensatory damages
of P50,000.00 does not lie.
• Alvin was hospitalized for five days, hence, an award of P8,500.00 as temperate damages for the purpose would
be reasonable. As for the award to Alvin of moral damages, the records do not yield any basis therefor
• No exemplary damages “to the heirs of the victims,” absent proof of the presence of any aggravating circumstances
• When death occurs due to a crime, the grant of civil indemnity requires no proof other than the death of the victim.
The heirs of Celerina are thus entitled to an award of P50,000.00 as civil indemnity ex delicto[ And so are Alvin’s.
• The appellate court’s award of temperate damages of P25,000.00 to Joshua is in order.

DISPOSITIVE: CA Decision REVERSED and SET ASIDE

• CRIME: Simple Arson under Sec. 3(2) of P.D. No. 1613
• PENALTY: Reclusion perpetua with no eligibility for parole.
• INDEMNITY: Pay P50,000.00 to the heirs of Celerina Solangon, and the same amount to the heirs of Alvin Savariz,
representing civil indemnity
• Pay P16,500.00 to the heirs of Alvin as actual damages for burial expenses, and P8,500.00 as temperate damages
for hospitalization expenses.
• Pay P25,000.00 as temperate damages to the heirs of Celerina.
• Pay P25,000.00 as temperate damages to Joshua Savariz.

3. People v Go Foo Suy

4. PEOPLE vs. CARLITO DE LEON, BIEN DE LEON, CORNELIO “AKA” NELIO CABILDO and FILOTEO DE LEON
YNARES-SANTIAGO, J.: G.R. No. 180762 March 4, 2009

FACTS:
• At around 8:30 in the evening of April 5, 1986, Aquilina Mercado Rint and her sister Leonisa Mercado, together with
their nephew Narciso Mercado Jr., were inside a hut owned by their father Rafael Mercado located on a tumana in
Polillo, San Josef, Peñaranda, Nueva Ecija.
• The loud and insistent barking of their dog prompted Aquilina to peep through the window and saw five men
approaching the premises whom she recognized as Gaudencio Legaspi and herein appellants. Aquilina and Leonisa
hurriedly went out of the hut and hid behind a pile of wood nearby while Junior was dispatched to call for help.
• From their hiding place, they saw appellants surround the hut and set to fire the cogon roofing.
• While the hut was burning, Leonisa grabbed a flashlight from her sister and focused the same at the group in order to
see them more clearly. Upon seeing a light focused on them, Gaudencio ordered the others to leave and the men
immediately fled the premises.
• By the time Junior arrived with his uncles, the hut was already razed to the ground.
• On April 6, 1986, Police Officer Lucio Mercado conducted an investigation at the scene of the crime and saw a big wood
still on fire. A certain Julio took pictures of the remains of the hut.
• Aquilina and Leonisa valued the hut at P3,000.00 and claimed that a pair of earrings, some beddings, rice, P1,500.00
in cash and plenty of wood were also lost in the fire. They also testified that prior to the incident, appellants had been
to the premises, destroyed the plants, the fence and a hut which was first built therein.

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• Appellants likewise physically attacked their father and issued threats that if he would not give up his claim on the
land, something untoward would happen to him; and that their father Rafael filed several cases for Malicious Mischief,
Forcible Entry and Serious Physical Injuries against appellants.
• June 14, 1989, an Information was filed charging Gaudencio Legaspi, Carlito de Leon, Bien de Leon, Cornelio Cabildo
and Filoteo de Leon with the crime of arson.
o April 5, 1986, in Peñaranda, Nueva Ecija, above-named accused, conspiring and confederating together and
mutually aiding and helping one another, did then and there, feloniously burn or set on fire the house of one
RAFAEL MERCADO, an inhabited house or dwelling, to the damage and prejudice of said Rafael Mercado in
an amount that may be awarded to him under the Civil Code of the Philippines.
• Gaudencio Legaspi died on February 5, 1987 prior to his arraignment.
• Appellants Bien de Leon, Carlito de Leon, Filoteo de Leon and Nelio Cabildo were subsequently arraigned and they all
pleaded not guilty to the charge.

DEFENSE:
• Appellants denied the charge against them.
• Carlito alleged that on the day of the alleged incident, he was working in Cavite where he had been staying for a year
with his family; that his uncle Gaudencio was originally in possession of the tumana contrary to Rafael’s claims; that
his uncle used to plant vegetables and make charcoal therein until 1975 when he took over upon the latter’s request;
and that when Gaudencio passed away in 1987, he applied for a patent over the tumana with the Bureau of Lands.
• Carlito also alleged that there was actually no structure on the premises because Rafael’s attempt to build a hut was
foiled by his helper, herein appellant Nelio. On cross-examination however, he admitted that on March 12, 1986,
he destroyed the first hut constructed by Rafael on the subject tumana when the prosecution confronted him with
evidence which showed that he was found guilty of Malicious Mischief in Criminal Case No. 1985 filed against him
by Rafael before the Municipal Trial Court of Peñaranda.
• Nelio testified that on the day of the incident, the appellants were in their respective homes and could not have gone
to the tumana to commit the crime as charged; that the burnt parts depicted in the pictures presented by the
prosecution were actually parts of tree trunks turned to charcoal; and that the cogon and bamboo shown in the
pictures were materials brought by Rafael into the landholding during the latter’s unsuccessful attempt to build a hut
on the tumana.
• Bien also vehemently denied the charges against him and attributed the same to complainants’ desire to grab
the tumana which rightfully belongs to his mother. He testified that since 1982, he has been living in Rizal, Nueva
Ecija which is about 35 kilometers away from Peñaranda.
• For his part, Filoteo corroborated the claims made by his co-appellants
RTC: GUILTY for the crime of arson, and they are hereby sentenced to an indeterminate prison term of 10 years
and 1 day of prision mayor, as minimum, to 14 years and one (1) day of reclusion temporal, as maximum, and to
pay jointly and severally the heirs of Rafael Mercado the sum of P3,000.00 representing the value of the burned
hut.
CA: Affirmed with modification the RTC Decision as to penalty of reclusion perpetua and to pay the heirs of the
private complainant P2,000.00 as temperate damages and P20,000.00 as exemplary damages.
• Special aggravating circumstance of being committed by a syndicate
ISSUES: Whether the CA is correct in ruling that penalty is reclusion perpertua by virtue of aggravating circumstance of
crime being committed by a syndicate
HELD: (YES)
• Section 3 of Presidential Decree No. 1613 amending the law on arson provides: Sec. 3. Other Cases of Arson. – The
penalty of reclusion temporal to reclusion perpetua shall be imposed if the property burned is any of the following:
2. Any inhabited house or dwelling;
• Section 4 of the same law provides that if the crime of arson was committed by a syndicate, i.e., if it is planned or
carried out by a group of three or more persons, the penalty shall be imposed in its maximum period.
• Under the following provision, the elements of arson are:
o (a) there is intentional burning; and,
o (b) what is intentionally burned is an inhabited house or dwelling.
• The appellate court correctly found that the prosecution was able to prove beyond reasonable doubt the presence of
the two essential elements of the offense.
• Although intent may be an ingredient of the crime of arson, it may be inferred from the acts of the accused. There
is a presumption that one intends the natural consequences of his act; and when it is shown that one has deliberately

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 set fire to a building, the prosecution is not bound to produce further evidence of his wrongful intent. If there is an
eyewitness to the crime of arson, he can give in detail the acts of the accused. When this is done the only substantial
issue is the credibility of the witness.
• Testimonies of witnesses Aquilina and Leonisa worthy of credence: The inconsistencies and contradictions presented
in the case at bench do not detract from the fact that Rafael’s house was intentionally burned by accused-appellants
who were positively identified by witnesses Aquilina and Leonisa.
• TESTIMONY OF AQUILINA
o Aquilina was in the tumana, outside the house when they burned the house because when the
accused were arriving or entering the premises of the house of my father or the tumana, our dog
barked and we peeped thru the window. They saw that 5 men and she recognized them. After
that, they went outside of the house and hid behind the piles of wood which is more or less seven
meters far. They hid because they were their adversary.
o When she went out of the house, she was only with Leonisa because she already instructed
nephew to go to our house when we noticed them coming and I instructed him to fetch my
brothers.
o When she was already behind the piles of wood, the accused surrounded our house and they
lighted it up with match. Gaudencio Legaspi, first lighted a match for purposes of burning the
house. And the others also lighted their matches after Gaudencio Legaspi lighted his match. The
cogon roofing of the hut was first lighted as it was the portion that could be easily burned.
• Positive identification, where categorical and consistent, without any showing of ill-motive on the part of the
eyewitness testifying on the matter, prevails over alibi and denial which, if not substantiated by clear and
convincing proof, are negative and self-serving evidence undeserving of weight in law. The appellants had
not shown that it was physically impossible for them to be present at the time and place of the crime.
• Proof of the corpus delicti is indispensable in the prosecution of arson, as in all kinds of criminal
offenses. Corpus delicti means the substance of the crime; it is the fact that a crime has actually been
committed.
• In arson, the corpus delicti is generally satisfied by proof of the bare occurrence of the fire, e.g., the charred
remains of a house burned down and of its having been intentionally caused. Even the uncorroborated
testimony of a single eyewitness, if credible, may be enough to prove the corpus delicti and to warrant
conviction. The corpus delicti has been satisfactorily proven in the instant case.
• The appellate court correctly imposed the penalty in its maximum period, i.e., reclusion perpetua considering
the presence of the special aggravating circumstance. The crime was committed by a syndicate since it was
carried out by a group of three or more persons.
• On the matter of damages, the appellate court likewise correctly awarded temperate damages in the amount
of P2,000.00. In view of the presence of the special aggravating circumstance, exemplary damages in the
amount of P20,000.00 is likewise appropriate.

DISPOSITIVE: Appeal DENIED. CA DECISION AFFIRMED: crime of arson, PENALTY: reclusion perpetua and pay the heirs
of private complainant Rafael Mercado P2,000.00 as temperate damages and P20,000.00 as exemplary damages

MALICIOUS MISCHIEF
c/o HIPOLITO

1. ROBERT TAGUINOD vs. PEOPLE

PERALTA, J.: G.R. No. 185833 October 12, 2011

FACTS:
• May 26, 2002 at the parking area of the Rockwell Powerplant Mall.
• Pedro Ang (private complainant) was driving his Honda CRV (CRV) from the 3 rd basement parking, while Robert
Taguinod was driving his Suzuki Vitara from the 2nd basement parking.
• When they were about to queue at the corner to pay the parking fees, the respective vehicles were edging each
other. The CRV was ahead of the queue, but the Vitara tried to overtake, which resulted the touching of their side view
mirrors. The side view mirror of the Vitara was pushed backward and naturally, the side view mirror of the CRV was
pushed forward.

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• This prompted the private complainant's wife and daughter, namely, Susan and Mary Ann, respectively, to alight from
the CRV and confront the petitioner. Petitioner appeared to be hostile, hence, the private complainant instructed his
wife and daughter to go back to the CRV.
• While they were returning to the car, petitioner accelerated the Vitara and moved backward as if to hit them. The
CRV, having been overtaken by the Vitara, took another lane.
• Private complainant was able to pay the parking fee at the booth ahead of petitioner. When the CRV was at the upward
ramp leading to the exit, the Vitara bumped the CRV's rear portion and pushed the CRV until it hit the stainless steel
railing located at the exit portion of the ramp.
• As a result of the collision, the CRV sustained damage at the back bumper spare tires and the front bumper, the
repair of which amounted to P57,464.66. The insurance company shouldered the said amount, but the private
complainant paid P18,191.66 as his participation. On the other hand, the Vitara sustained damage on the right side of
its bumper.
• Information was filed in the MeTC of Makati City for the crime of Malicious Mischief as defined in and penalized
under RPC 327
o May 26, 2002, in the City of Makati, accused, with deliberate intent to cause damage, and motivated by hate
and revenge and other evil motives, did then and there willfully, unlawfully and feloniously bump the rear
portion of a Honda CRV car bearing Plate No. APS-222 driven by Pedro N. Ang, thus, causing damage
thereon in the amount of P200.00.
• Petitioner pleaded Not Guilty during the arraignment on March 10, 2003.
• Consequently, the trial on the merits ensued. The prosecution presented the testimony of private complainant. The
defense, on the other hand, presented the testimonies of Mary Susan Lim Taguinod, the wife of petitioner, Jojet N. San
Miguel, Jason H. Lazo and Engr. Jules Ronquillo.
MeTC: Guilty of Malicious Mischief penalized under RPC 329 and sentencing accused to FOUR (4) MONTHS imprisonment.
• Pay Pedro Ang the amount of P18,191.66, representing complainant's participation in the insurance liability on
the Honda CRV, the amount of P50,000.00 as moral damages, and the amount of P25,000.00 as attorney's fees;
and to pay the costs.
RTC: AFFIRMED MeTC in all respects.
CA: Partly granted the petition in its Decision MODIFIED:
• Penalty of 30 days imprisonment; the award of moral damages is reduced to P20,000.00; and the award of
attorney's fee is reduced to P10,000.00.
DEFENSE:
• It was private complainant's CRV which moved backward and deliberately hit the Vitara
• Lone testimony of the witness for the prosecution was self-serving.
• MeTC was wrong in not finding the testimony of his own witness, Mary Susan Lim Taguinod, to be
credible enough
ISSUE: Is petitioner guilty of malicious mischief? YES.
HELD: Partly granted -> omitted attorney’s fees
• Witnesses credible as established by trial court. It is apparent in this present case that both the RTC and the CA
accorded respect to the findings of the MeTC; hence, this Court finds no reason to oppose the other two courts in the
absence of any clear and valid circumstance that would merit a review of the MeTC's assessment as to the credibility
of the witnesses and their testimonies.
• Defense witness Mary Susan Lim Taguinod is wanting in credibility. Her recollection of the past events is hazy as
shown by her testimony on cross-examination. While she stated in her affidavit that the Honda CRV's “left side view
mirror hit our right side view mirror, causing our side view mirror to fold” she testified on cross-examination that the
right side view mirror of the Vitara did not fold and there was only a slight dent or scratch. She initially testified that
she does not recall having submitted her written version of the incident but ultimately admitted having executed an
affidavit.
• Also, while the Affidavit stated that Mary Susan Lim Taguinod personally appeared before the Notary Public, on cross-
examination, she admitted that she did not, and what she only did was to sign the Affidavit in Quezon City and give it
to her husband. Thus, her inaccurate recollection of the past incident, as shown by her testimony on cross-
examination, is in direct contrast with her Affidavit which appears to be precise in its narration of the incident and its
details. Such Affidavit, therefore, deserves scant consideration as it was apparently prepared and narrated by
another.
• The elements of the crime of malicious mischief under Article 327 of the Revised Penal Code are: (1) That the offender
deliberately caused damage to the property of another;

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 (2) That such act does not constitute arson or other crimes involving destruction;
(3) That the act of damaging another's property be committed merely for the sake of damaging it
• The incident involving the collision of the two side view mirrors is proof enough to establish the existence of
the element of “hate, revenge and other evil motive.” Here, the accused entertained hate, revenge and other
evil motive because to his mind, he was wronged by the complainant when the CRV overtook his Vitara while
proceeding toward the booth to pay their parking fee, as a consequence of which, their side view mirrors
collided.
• On the same occasion, the hood of his Vitara was also pounded, and he was badmouthed by the complainant's wife
and daughter when they alighted from the CRV to confront him for the collision of the side view mirrors. These
circumstances motivated the accused to push upward the ramp complainant's CRV until it reached the steel railing of
the exit ramp. The pushing of the CRV by the Vitara is corroborated by the Incident Report dated May 26,
2002 prepared by SO Robert Cambre, Shift-In-Charge of the Power Plant Mall, as well as the Police Report
• First, the hitting of the back portion of the CRV by the petitioner was clearly deliberate as indicated by the
evidence on record. The version of the private complainant that the petitioner chased him and that the Vitara
pushed the CRV until it reached the stairway railing was more believable than the petitioner's version that it was
private complainant's CRV which moved backward and deliberately hit the Vitara considering the steepness or angle
of the elevation of the P2 exit ramp. It would be too risky and dangerous for the private complainant and his family
to move the CRV backward when it would be hard for him to see his direction as well as to control his speed in view
of the gravitational pull.
• Second, the act of damaging the rear bumper of the CRV does not constitute arson or other crimes involving
destruction.
• Lastly, when the Vitara bumped the CRV, the petitioner was just giving vent to his anger and hate as a result of
a heated encounter between him and the private complainant.
• Moral damages to be awarded. Moral damages include physical suffering, mental anguish, fright, serious anxiety,
besmirched reputation, wounded feelings, moral shock, social humiliation, and similar injury. Though incapable of
pecuniary computation, moral damages may be recovered if they are the proximate result of the defendant's
wrongful act or omission.
o An award for moral damages requires the confluence of the following conditions:
▪ first, there must be an injury, whether physical, mental or psychological, clearly sustained by the
claimant;
▪ second, there must be culpable act or omission factually established;
▪ third, the wrongful act or omission of the defendant is the proximate cause of the injury sustained
by the claimant; and
▪ fourth, the award of damages is predicated on any of the cases stated in Article 2219 or Article 2220
of the Civil Code.
o It is true that the private complainant is entitled to the award of moral damages under Article 2220 of the
New Civil Code because the injury contemplated by the law which merits the said award was clearly
established.
o Private complainant testified that he felt bad and lost sleep. The said testimony is substantial to prove the
moral injury suffered by the private complainant for it is only him who can personally approximate the
emotional suffering he experienced. For the court to arrive upon a judicious approximation of emotional
or moral injury, competent and substantial proof of the suffering experienced must be laid before it.
o The same also applies with private complainant's claim that his wife felt dizzy after the incident and had to
be taken to the hospital
• No award of attorney's fees as the same was not established. There must always be a factual basis for the award
of attorney’s fees.
DISPOSITIVE: Petition DENIED. CA Decision AFFIRMED with the MODIFICATION that the attorney’s fees
are OMITTED.

Crimes Against Chastity Digests

RPC 333-346
c/o Aguinaldo, Hipolito, Magat, Mambuay, Paras, Smith, Ugalino

01 People v Collado
THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, plaintiff-appellee,
Criminal Law II. D2016 Digests. 114
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vs.
MARCELINO COLLADO (alias NINOY), defendant-appellant.
September 14, 1934
Diaz, J

FACTS:
● Accused Marcelino Collado, between 3 and 4 in the afternoon of July 31, 1933 went to the house of Paula Bautista,
who only had 3-yr old asleep child with her on the house (situated in the eastern part of the town of Bacnotan of the
Province of La Union), on the pretext of asking for a glass of water, stealthily approached her and, without giving her
an opportunity to defend herself, embraced and kissed her and caught hold of her breasts.
● When she recovered from the shock, in spite of the fact that the accused threatened to kill her with a dagger, she
defended herself and bit him on the right side of the chest thereby forcing him to release her instantly.
● She cried for help and, picking up a bolo nearby, tried to strike him (SO BRAVE!!). However, the accused, who is
stronger and more agile than she, succeeded in holding her by the arms and they were found in this position by her
cousin Crispulo Ariola who was the first to come to her aid.
● Surprised, he did not go down the stairs but jumped from the house to the ground, fleeing from the scene of the
crime with the utmost speed.
● witnesses for prosec: her cousin Ariola and Luis Cariaso, who also came to her aid
● witness for the defense: Paulino Palaroan and Laureano Nebrija
● RTC: acts of lasciviousness: two months and one day of arresto mayor to two years, four months and one day of
prision correccional
● defense:
○ he knew her cousin Ariola and his witness Palaroan were just 6 meters away and conversing; and that his
witness Nebrija was inside the house -> would have been foolish of him to commit such
○ his version was that Bautista reproached him because she had heard, that he had been spreading false
reports that she was his mistress or that the two were maintaining illicit relations

ISSUE: WoN accused is guilty of crime of acts of lasciviousness defined in article 336 (YES!)
HELD: GUILTY, RTC modified: six months of arresto mayor to four years, two months and one day of prision correccional
RATIO:
● on his defense: His knowledge that Ariola & Palaroan were near does not make it improbable for him to have
committed the crime cause she was alone in the house (her husband has gone to Manila about a month ago to work
as an agent) & accused showed her a dagger and threatened to kill her if she did not accede to his desires. He must
have believed that she would neither offer any resistance nor give a cry of alarm. Moreover he might have thought
that said two witnesses would not continue conversing at the same place after he had left them.
● SC doesn’t believe Nebrija’s testimony that he was inside house because aside from his testimony and that of the
appellant, nothing in the record to prove the contrary
○ Ariola and Palaroan did not testify that they had seen said witness come out of house even if they were only
6 meters away
● Cariaso testified that when they went up into the house they found only Bautista and her small child, not mentioning
the appellant
● Palaroan admitted that after he had arrived at his boarding house which is about 25 meters from Bautista's house
and also after Ariola had gone up into the latter house, he saw the appellant walking rapidly. This shows that the
appellant actually came out of said house with the utmost speed and that Palaroan left Ariola when the appellant
went to the offended party's house to ask for a glass of water.
● on the alleged reproaching, his version of the story: what really happened, according to the evidence, is that the
appellant upon seeing that the offended party, whom he had courted before her marriage, although in vain because
she paid no attention to him, was alone, he was led into temptation, thus again proving the old adage that
"opportunity makes the thief".
● no doubt but that the offended party cried for help notwithstanding the witness Palaroan's testimony that he heard
no such cry -> because Palaroan himself testified that he heard Agaton Ariola (whose house was 25 meters away)
tell his son Crispulo to go and find out what was happening at the offended party's house
● US v Campo: “although a complaint or information contains no allegation that generic aggravating circumstances of
any kind were present in the commission of the crime, said circumstances may be proven at the trial and, if proven,
must be taken into consideration in imposing the corresponding penalty”

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 ○ aggravating circ of dwelling had been proven at the trial, although it was not alleged in the information;
should have been taken into consideration by the trial court!

02 People vs Buenafe
May 30, 1956
THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee,
vs.
FRANCISCO BUENAFE Y CALUPAS, defendant-appellant.
Paras, J.

FACTS:
Victim’s Version:
● While Dominga Reyes (the offended party) was walking near the corner of Algeciras and Espana streets, she saw
the accused alight from a taxicab.
● He then approached, grabbed and lifted her into the vehicle.
● Inside, the accused embraced and kissed her and touched her private parts.
● While she was struggling against the accused to free herself, she succeeded in opening the door of the taxi and at the
same time she leaped out and fell in a canal.
● The accused went after her but she managed to escape until she reached the house of Sims at No. 1103 Washington
Street.

Version of the accused:

● From the evidence presented by the accused, it appears that he and Dominga Reyes were sweethearts as shown by
the letters sent by her to him marked Exhibits 2 to 13.
● Said letters show that she often asked for, and received money from the accused for her needs at school and for her
personal use; that they used to go out together to dances and movie houses, and that they used to meet in the
Science Building of the Far Eastern University.
● In a letter of the offended party to the accused dated December 2, 1953 she asked him to be at their usual meeting
place in the Science Building of the Far Eastern University the following Monday, or December 7, 1953.
● In that letter, she stated that she needed some money for Christmas and for her personal expenses.
● The accused met her at the Science Building and in the course of their conversation, Dominga told him that she
needed P50.
● The accused stated that he did not have money at that time but he would try to secure the needed amount and
promised to give the money to her in the afternoon of that day, as such, they agreed to meet on Algeciras Street after
lunch time.
● Accordingly, he arrived there in a taxicab and soon thereafter, the offended party appeared and boarded the vehicle.
● While they were passing along España Street, the offended party asked him for the money and he answered that he
had only P10 at that time.
● The accused embraced and kissed her and took liberties with her person, and evidently because of her
disappointment in not getting the amount she needed, she struggled against him and jumped from the vehicle. She
ran away followed by the accused until she reached said house of Sims where she asked for help.
Francisco Buenafe y Calupas (defendant-appellant) was charged with forcible abduction in the CFI of Manila.
TC: Convicted him only of acts of lasciviousness and sentenced him to 6 months and 1 day of prision correccional

ISSUE: Whether or not the accused is guilty of committing acts of lasciviousness (NO)

HELD: The appealed decision is reversed and the appellant is ACQUITTED.

RATIO:
● Under Article 336 of the Revised Penal Code any act of lasciviousness committed upon a person of either sex, is
punished by prision correccional if any of the circumstances mentioned in Article 335 is present, among which is the
use of force and intimidation.
● In the case at bar, although the trial court concluded that the appellant embraced and kissed, and took liberties with
the person of, the offended party against her strong resistance, it did not expressly find that said appellant was
prompted by lust or lewd designs.

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● Considering that the incident took place in a taxicab while passing along a public thoroughfare and at about noon
time, it is difficult to believe that the appellant could have desired more than the ordinary outbursts of one in love.
● Even as regards the resistance put up by the offended party, the trial court observed that she struggled against
appellant because of her disappointment in not receiving the P50 promised by him— implying that she resisted not
because she did not welcome appellant's caresses but because she expected him first to comply with his
commitment.
● To sustain the charge of abusos deshonestos, something more must appear than that, with or without her consent,
an ardent lover kissed and embraced for a moment a young woman of whom he was enamored, (U. S. vs. Gomez, 30
Phil., 22).

03 Tibong vs. People (Sept. 15, 2010)

JAREN TIBONG y CULLA-AG, petitioner,
vs.
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, respondent.
Carpio-Morales, J.

FACTS:
• 18-year old AAA, a college student at the Benguet State University, was at the house owned by Tibong’s parents at
Betag, La Trinidad, Benguet where she was boarding
• She occupied a room at the 3-bedroom basement
• One of the rooms was occupied by Tibong and his wife; 3rd room was unoccupied
• Tibong and AAA are first cousins (AAA’s father and Tibong’s mother are siblings)
• Before the incident, Tibong’s wife left the house after a misunderstanding with him
• Before midnight of Apr. 17, 2006, Tibong arrived and repaired to the sofa at the basement’s living room
• AAA thereafter fell asleep but was awakened at about midnight as she felt someone was undressing her
• She saw Tibong wearing only briefs and crouching over her, on top of her bed, and pulling down her pajamas and
panties
• She asked Tibong why he was doing that
• He replied that they will have sexual intercourse and keep it a secret
• She asked if he was not sickened about it; he replied that she need not be bothered about their being cousins
• She resisted and pulled up her pajamas and panties but Tibong pulled them down to her knees and mashed her
breasts
• He soon told her that they should watch a “bold” movie and apply what they watched
• She struggled to free herself but he forced her to lie down
• She tried to shout for help; he covered her mouth
• He thereafter went towards the CD player which was in fron of the door of her room to insert/play a CD
• Finding the opportunity to escape, she grabbed her cell phone and bag and ran out of the house after he failed to
restrain her
• She headed towards the highway, took a taxi and proceeded to her elder brother’s house (BBB) in Bahong, La
Trinidad
• Tibong claims that from the afternoon of Apr. 17 up to 1 am of the next day, he was drinking liquor with his friend
Benny Malao in 3 places---first at Tibong’s father’s house, then at Maryland, and finally at Malao’s boarding house, all
in La Trinidad
• On returning home drunk, he immediately went to sleep in the living room
Information:
• Attempted rape
• With lewd designs...try and attempt to rape AAA... while sleeping and unconscious
• Did not perform all the acts by reason that the offended party was awakened, defended herself and escaped
• Not because of spontaneous desistance
RTC of La Trinidad:
• Guilty of attempted rape
• Indeterminate penalty of 3 years and 4 months of prision correccional medium, as minimum, to 8 years and 6
months of prision mayor medium, as maximum
• Ordered to pay AAA P25K as moral damages + costs
CA: affirmed his conviction
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Tibong’s arguments:
- Tibong, citing Perez vs. CA, contends that there was no attempted rape as he did not commence to insert his penis
into her vagina
- He says that he merely told AAA that they will have sexual intercourse
- That this is not equivalent to carnal knowledge or even an attempt
- He contends that this could just be acts of lasciviousness

ISSUE: Whether the crime committed is attempted rape OR only acts of lasciviousness (ATTEMPTED RAPE)
RATIO:
• Art. 6, RPC: attempt: when the offender commences commission of felony directly by overt acts but does not
perform all the acts of execution which should produce the felony by reason of some cause or accident other than his
own spontaneous desistance
• While rape and acts of lasciviousness have the same nature, they are fundamentally different
• For in rape, there is the intent to lie with a woman, whereas in acts of lasciviousness, this element is absent.
• Defense’s cross examination of AAA:
o She said that he tried to force his penis into her vagina but she covered her vagina
o That his briefs were already lowered down to the middle of his upper leg
o Petitioner’s acts, as narrated by AAA, far from being mere obscene or lewd, indisputably show that he
intended to have, and was bent on consummating, carnal knowledge of AAA.

DISPOSITIVE PORTION: WHEREFORE, the petition is DENIED. The assailed Court of Appeals Decision of October 12,
2009 in CA-G.R. CR No. 31644 is AFFIRMED. Costs against petitioner.

04 People v Bon
January 28, 2003.
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES
vs.
NEMESIO BON

FACTS:
● Maricris Bonode: 6 years of age and living with her family at 128 Bearbrand Alley, Pangako St., Bagong Barrio,
Caloocan City.
● Bon (uncle): Also staying in their house and is the eldest brother of Violeta Bonode, the victim's mother
● Aug 19, 1997, 3PM: victim was playing on the upper level of their house while Violeta was downstairs washing their
clothes. After Violeta finished her laundry, she went upstairs and saw Bon lying on top of the victim. They were fully
clothed when she saw them. He had his pants on while Maricris was wearing "sando and shorts". Upon seeing
Violeta, accused-appellant immediately stood up and ran downstairs. Maricris also ran downstairs crying. Violeta
asked her daughter about the incident but the latter refused to answer and just cried.
● Following morning: Violeta learned from her youngest daughter that Bon sexually abused Maricris. When
confronted, the victim told her that Bon poked (sinundot) her private part.
● Violeta feared Bon so she chose not to confront him about the incident. Instead, she transferred to Atimonan, Quezon
with her family.
● Jan 1998: Violeta learned that he was in jail for acts of lasciviousness committed on the daughter of her sister-in-law.
Emboldened by his arrest, Violeta revealed to her husband that Bon molested their daughter. Thus, a complaint for
rape was filed against him.
● Jan 21, 1998, Dr. Tomas D. Suguitan, Medico-Legal Officer of the PNP Crime Lab
○ an elastic, fleshy-type hymen with deep healed laceration at 5 o'clock position.
○ Subject is in non-virgin state physically. There are no external signs of application of any form of violence.
● Defense: Bon denied the accusation against him and claimed that Violeta filed the rape case against him because she
was influenced by her sister-in-law who filed a case for acts of lasciviousness against him. He narrated that he lived
with the family of Maricris and that she and her 2 other sisters were close to him. At 2pm on Aug 19, 1997, when he
went upstairs to sleep, the victim and her sisters followed and lay beside him. Later, the 3 children went downstairs.
Maricris came back and lay on top of him with her face pressed to his chest. He heard a noise from the stairs, so he
got up and lay Maricris on her back. It turned out that the noise came from Violeta, who looked angrily at him.

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 Violeta must have thought that he abused her daughter because she saw him in the act of laying the victim on her
back.
● TC: guilty of rape on a child below 7 years of age; penalty of death (by lethal injection), pursuant to Art 335 of the
RPC as amended by RA No. 7659. P50,000.00 as moral damages and P75,000.00 as civil indemnity
● In view of the imposition of the death penalty, the case is now before us on automatic review, pursuant to Art 47 of
the RPC, as amended.

ISSUE: W/N he is guilty of rape? (No, only acts of lasciviousness)

HELD: RTC MODIFIED; Accused-appellant Nemesio Bon is found guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of acts of
lasciviousness, as defined and penalized under Art 336 of the RPC, in relation to Article III, Section 5 (b), of RA No. 7610,
and is sentenced to suffer the indeterminate penalty of 8 years and 1 day of prision mayor, as min to fifteen 15 years, 6
months and 20 days of reclusion temporal as max; P30,000.00 as moral damages.

RATIO:
● Under Article 335 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by Republic Act No. 7659, the law in force at the time of
the commission of the offense on August 19, 1997, rape is committed by having carnal knowledge of a woman
under any of the following circumstances: (1) By using force or intimidation; (2) When the woman is deprived of
reason or otherwise unconscious; and (3) When the woman is under twelve years of age or demented.
● Carnal knowledge is defined as the act of a man having sexual intercourse or sexual bodily connections with a
woman.
● People v. Campuhan: touching of the external genitalia by the penis capable of consummating the sexual act should
be understood as inherently part of the entry of the penis into the labia of the female organ and not mere touching
alone of the mons pubis or the pudendum.
● The general rule is that factual findings by the trial court deserve a high degree of respect and will not be disturbed
on appeal in the absence of any clear showing that it overlooked, misunderstood or misapplied some facts or
circumstances of weight and substance which could alter the result of the case.
● However, a careful review of the evidence on record of the case compels us to take exception to the aforesaid rule.
The prosecution has failed to discharge its onus of proving, beyond reasonable doubt the guilt of accused-
appellant for the crime of rape. Specifically, the evidence adduced by the prosecution does not conclusively
establish the element of carnal knowledge. As testified to by the victim, accused-appellant removed her
underwear, inserted his finger into and licked her vagina. It is therefore clear from the foregoing testimony that
accused-appellant did not have sexual intercourse or sexual bodily connections with the victim. Absent
direct proof of carnal knowledge, accused-appellant cannot be convicted of rape.
● It appears that in the "Sinumpaang Salaysay" of the victim, she never claimed that accused-appellant's penis grazed
or touched her private parts. According to her, he committed the following acts: "Sinundot-sundot ang pekpek ko,
dinilaan ang pekpek ko."
● The presence of a deep healed laceration on the hymen of the victim does not conclusively prove carnal
knowledge. As testified to by Dr. Suguitan, the laceration could have been caused by introduction of any of the
following objects into the victim's vagina: (1) finger; (2) erect penis; or (3) any other blunt instrument that can be
inserted in the vagina. Standing alone, a physician's finding that the hymen of the alleged victim was lacerated does
not prove rape. It is only when this is corroborated by other evidence proving carnal knowledge that rape may be
deemed to have been established.
● Likewise, the testimony of Violeta failed to establish the element of carnal knowledge. Violeta saw that
accused-appellant was lying on top of the victim; and that accused-appellant and the victim were fully clothed. Note
that she never witnessed any sexual act.
● Verily, from the testimony of Violeta, it is easy to speculate that the victim was raped. But in criminal cases,
speculation and probabilities cannot take the place of proof required to establish the guilt of the accused beyond
reasonable doubt. Suspicion, no matter how strong, must not sway judgment.
● Under the present law on rape, Article 266-A of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by R.A. No. 8353 (or the "The
Anti-Rape Law of 1997" which took effect on October 22, 1997), and interpreted in People v. Soriano, 23 insertion of
one's finger into the genital of another constitutes "rape through sexual assault." This law, however, finds no
application in the case at bar, considering that the governing law at the time of the commission of the crime
on August 19, 1997 was Article 335 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by R.A. No. 7659, where insertion
of one's finger into the genitals of another does not amount to rape.
● Nevertheless, accused-appellant is not completely without liability.
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● Dulla v. Court of Appeals, et al.: although the information charged the crime of rape, accused-appellant can be
convicted of acts of lasciviousness because it is included in rape. Rule 120, Sec. 4 of the Rules of Court states:
○ Judgment in case of variance between allegation and proof. — When there is variance between the offense
charged in the complaint or information, and that proved, and the offense as charged is included in or
necessarily includes the offense proved, the accused shall be convicted of the offense proved which is
included in the offense charged, or of the offense charged which is included in that which is proved.
● The elements of the crime of acts lasciviousness are: (1) that the offender commits any act of lasciviousness or
lewdness; (2) that it is done: (a) by using force and intimidation or (b) when the offended party is deprived of reason
or otherwise unconscious, or (c) when the offended party is under 12 years of age; and (3) that the offended party is
another person of either sex.
● Section 32, Article XIII, of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 7610 or the Child Abuse Law defines
lascivious conduct, as follows:
○ "[T]he intentional touching, either directly or through clothing, of the genitalia, anus, groin, breast, inner
thigh, or buttocks, or the introduction of any object into the genitalia, anus or mouth, of any person, whether
of the same or opposite sex, with an intent to abuse, humiliate, harass, degrade, or arouse or gratify the
sexual desire of any person, bestiality, masturbation, lascivious exhibition of the genitals or pubic area of a
person."
● In the case at bar, all the elements of the offense were established, making accused-appellant liable for the
crime of acts of lasciviousness, as defined and penalized under Article 366 of the Revised Penal Code in
relation to R.A. No. 7610 or the Child Abuse Law. As evidenced by her birth certificate, the victim was 6 years
of age at the time of the commission of the offense on August 19, 1997, having been born on November 3,
1991. Accused-appellant's acts of removing the victim's underwear, inserting his finger into and licking her
vagina, and lying on top of her, constitute lascivious conduct intended to arouse or gratify his sexual desire.
Indeed, the victim's testimony that accused-appellant performed the said lecherous acts should be given full
faith and credence. In cases of acts of lasciviousness, the lone testimony of the offended party, if credible, is
sufficient to establish the guilt of the accused. Such is the testimony of victims who are young, immature, and
have no motive to falsely testify against the accused, as in the instant case.
● Article III, Section 5, of Republic Act No. 7610, provides:
○ Child Prostitution and other Sexual Abuse. — Children, whether male or female, who for money or profit, or
any other consideration or due to the coercion or influence of any adult, syndicate or group, indulge in
sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct are deemed to be children exploited in prostitution and other
sexual abuse.
● The penalty of reclusion temporal in its medium period to reclusion perpetua shall be imposed upon the following:
○ (b) Those who commit the act of sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct with a child exploited in
prostitution or subjected to other sexual abuse; Provided, That when the victim is under twelve (12) years of
age, the perpetrators shall be prosecuted under Article 335, paragraphs 3, for rape and Article 336 of Act No.
3815, as amended, the Revised Penal Code, for rape or lascivious conduct, as the case may be: Provided, That
the penalty for lascivious conduct when the victim is under twelve (12) years of age shall be reclusion
temporal in its medium period; . . . .
● Considering that the victim in the instant case was only 6 years old at the time the crime was committed, accused-
appellant should be meted the penalty of reclusion temporal in its medium period.
● In line with current jurisprudence, accused-appellant is liable to pay the victim the amount of P30,000.00 as moral
damages.

05 People v Alejandro Rellota -> Rape vis a vis Acts of Lasciviousness

FACTS:
• AAA the complainant, native of Eastern Samar, was 12 years old when the incidents allegedly happened. Together
with her siblings, AAA lived with her aunt, DDD and the latter’s second husband, appellant in Antipolo City, Rizal from
September 1992 to January 1994. 2 cousins also live with them. DDD was working overseas then.
• According to AAA, appellant had been kissing her and touching her private parts since September 1993 and raped her
several times between Sept. 1993 and Jan. 1994.
• She narrated that appellant would usually rape her at night when the other members of the family were either out of
the house or asleep. AAA stated that she resisted the advances of appellant, but was not successful. Appellant,
according to her would usually place a bolo beside him whenever she would rape her. She added that appellant would
threaten AAA by telling her that he would kill her brother and sister and that he would stop sending her to school.
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• December 20, 1993: after AAA took a bath at an artesian well near their house, she wrapped her body w/ towel before
going inside the house when she was followed by appellant and raped AAA twice in the latter’s bedroom. He tied her
hands with a rope before forcibly inserting his penis inside her vagina while AAA was kicking and scratching. Then,
he left so AAA slipped on her T-shirt and shorts but then accused returned and raped her again. (1 HOUR: 12:00-1:00
-> PENIS inside for 1 minute)
• The same incident happened on January 31, 1994 when AAA was inside their room. Appellant laid her down on the
sofa, kissed her and touched her private part, while AAA kicked him and scratched his arms. She was able to push him
and after which appellant ran out the door.
• AAA, told her older sister after in which the latter accompanied AAA to police station. Three separate complaints for
rape were filed against appellant.
Prosecution’s Arguments
• Testimony and medical exam that there is a healed laceration in the hymen of more than a month. Laceration in the
hymen could have been caused by forcible entry of a hard object. Penis may be blunt hard object.
Defense’ Version
• Impossible for him to have raped AAA in September 1993 because his wife only left for Jeddah on October 21, 1993.
• He points out that AAA herself testified that he only kissed her, touched her breast and private parts, but failed to
mention that he inserted his penis to her vagina.
• He also denied raping AAA on January 31, 1994 and December 20, 1993. He further claims that the filing of the
criminal charges were instigated by AAA's aunt for his refusal to lend her money.
OSG Comment
• appellant used his moral ascendancy over the victim in having carnal knowledge of her against her will.
• medical report bolsters the victim's claim that she was repeatedly raped by appellant and that the latter's defense of
denial is weak and deserves scant consideration
• HOWEVER, agrees with CA that Jan 31 rape was not sufficiently proven to have actually consummated and is merely
attempted rape
RTC: GUILTY of 3 counts of Rape as alleged and suffer Reclusion Perpetua for each count. Indemnity of P50, 000 for each
o Not death penalty because AAA was above 12 and although below 18, relationship with appellant not established
as marriage between AAA’s aunt and appellant not supported with evidence
• In accordance with People v Mateo: Case imposing reclusion perpetua so transferred to CA upon appeal
CA: ruled that appellant is guilty of 2 counts of consummated rape and 1 count of attempted rape
o June 31 incident when he was able to push him is ATTEMPTED
o Reclusion perpetua for first two counts and prision correccional for 3rd

ISSUE:
1. Whether accused should be acquitted as AAA’s testimony is inconsistent and full of falsehoods?
2. Whether or not the actions of appellant on January 31, 1994 constitute acts of lasciviousness and not attempted rape?

HELD:
1. No. The claim of appellant that he could not have raped AAA because his wife was still in the country during the alleged
period when the rape was committed is so flimsy that it does not deserve even the slightest consideration from this Court.
o It has been oft said that lust is no respecter of time or place. Neither the crampness of the room, nor the presence
of other people therein, nor the high risk of being caught, has been held sufficient and effective obstacle to deter the
commission of rape. There have been too many instances when rape was committed under circumstances as
indiscreet and audacious as a room full of family members sleeping side by side. There is no rule that a woman can
only be raped in seclusion.
o As to the contention of appellant that the testimony of AAA was barren of any statement that the former's penis was
inserted in the latter's vagina is not quite accurate. AAA categorically stated during her testimony that she was
raped. In her testimony, she stated that “He forced me and inserted his penis inside my vagina” and “he repeated his
acts”.
o As to inconsistency that she was merely wearing a towel and then she stated that she wore a T-shirt and shorts, these
were not inconsistent as there was a lapse of time between the first and the second rape. Likewise, when AAA testified
that she put on her t-shirt and panty, she was referring to the first time of the rape where, after ravishing her, appellant
untied her hands and left only to return to rape her once more. There was enough time for AAA to dress up.
o Inconsistencies pointed out by appellant are minor ones which do not affect the credibility of AAA nor erase the fact
that the latter was raped. The inconsistencies are trivial and forgivable, since a victim of rape cannot possibly give an

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 exacting detail for each of the previous incidents, since these may just be but mere fragments of a prolonged and
continuing nightmare, a calvary she might even be struggling to forget. Moreover, a rape victim testifying in the
presence of strangers, face to face with her tormentor and being cross-examined by his hostile and intimidating lawyer
would be benumbed with tension and nervousness and this can affect the accuracy of her testimony. However,
considering her youth and her traumatic experience, ample margin of error and understanding should be accorded to
a young victim of a vicious crime like rape.
o In the disposition and review of rape cases, the Court is guided by these principles:
o first, the prosecution has to show the guilt of the accused by proof beyond reasonable doubt or that degree of
proof that, to an unprejudiced mind, produces conviction;
o second, the evidence for the prosecution must stand or fall on its own merits and cannot draw strength from
the weakness of the evidence of the defense;
o third, unless there are special reasons, the findings of trial courts, especially regarding the credibility of
witnesses, are entitled to great respect and will not be disturbed on appeal;
o fourth, an accusation of rape can be made with facility; it is difficult to prove but more difficult for the person
accused, though innocent, to disprove; and,
o fifth, in view of the intrinsic nature of the crime of rape where only two persons are usually involved, the
testimony of the complainant must be scrutinized with extreme caution.
2. Yes, crime is not attempted rape but acts of lasciviousness as defined in RPC as elements are absent.
• Attempted rape requires that:
o The offender commences the commission of the felony directly by overt acts;
o He does not perform all the acts of execution which should produce the felony;
o The offender’s act be not stopped by his own spontaneous desistance;
o The non-performance of all acts of execution was due to cause or accident other than his spontaneous
desistance
• Appellant’s act of removing the towel wrapped in the body of AAA, laying her on the sofa and kissing and touching her
private parts does not exactly demonstrate the intent of appellant to have carnal knowledge on AAA on that particular
date.
• Even so, the said acts should not be left unpunished as the elements of the crime of acts of lasciviousness as defined
in RPC in relation to RA 7610, AAA being a minor when the incident happened, are present:
o That the offender commits any act of lasciviousness or lewdness
o That is done (a) By using force and intimidation; (b) When the offended party is deprived of reason or
otherwise unconscious; (c) When the offended party is under 12 years of age
o That the offended party is another person of either sex.
o As defined in IRR of RA 7610: [T]he intentional touching, either directly or through clothing, of the genitalia,
anus, groin, breast, inner thigh, or buttocks, or the introduction of any object into the genitalia, anus or mouth,
of any person, whether of the same or opposite sex, with an intent to abuse, humiliate, harass, degrade, or
arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person, bestiality, masturbation, lascivious exhibition of the genitals
or pubic area of a person.
• The actions of appellant on January 31, 1994, by definition, lascivious or lewd, and based on AAA’s testimony, the
intimidation from appellant was in existence and apparent.
• Sec 5 of RA No7610 does not merely cover a situation of a child being abused for profit, but also one in which a child
engages in any lascivious conduct through coercion or intimidation. As case law has it, intimidation need not
necessarily be irresistible. It is sufficient that some compulsion equivalent to intimidation annuls or subdues the free
exercise of the will of the offended party
• Accused can still be guilty of acts of lasciviousness even if not charged because it is necessarily included in rape. Under
Section 4, Rule 120 of the Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure, when there is a variance between the offense charged
in the complaint or information, and the offense as charged is included in or necessarily includes the offense proved,
the accused shall be convicted of the offense proved which is included in the offense charged, or of the offense charged
which is included in the offense proved.
DISPOSITIVE: CA Decision finding accused GUILTY of the crime of two (2) counts rape is AFFIRMED with the
MODIFICATION that the same appellant is also GUILTY beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of acts of
lasciviousness as defined in the Revised Penal Code, in relation to Section 5, Article III of Republic Act No. 7610, and is
hereby sentenced to suffer an indeterminate penalty of imprisonment from eight (8) years and one (1) day of prision
mayor, as minimum to seventeen (17) years, four (4) months and (1) day of reclusion temporal, as maximum; (+reclusion
perpetua for first 2 counts) and per previous ruling of this Court, must also indemnify the victim in the amount of
P15,000.00 as moral damages and pay a fine in the same amount.
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06 US v De Vivar
THE UNITED STATES, plaintiff-appellee,
vs.
BRAULIO DE VIVAR, defendant-appellant.
February 11, 1915
Araullo, J.

FACTS:
● Teodora Bondoc, unmarried woman 22 years 8 months and 17 days of age on date of the commission of the crime,
daughter of railroad station agent in Magalang, Province of Pampanga, living at said station with her father and was
being courted by Benigno Indiongco (living in Manila), an employee of the same railroad company
● defendant Braulio de Vivar, company's train conductor on the line between Manila and Magalang, served as an
intermediary between the lovers
● early morning of December 30, 1911: Bondoc left her house and accompanied by defendant who was waiting for her
outside went to a spot near a growth of sugar cane, short distance from the station in the said pueblo, in the belief
that her lover, Indiongco, was awaiting her there for the purpose of joining her and eloping with her, an elopement
which defendant made her believe had been planned the night before.
● when defendant and young woman arrived, she inquired about her lover since she didn’t see him, defendant replied
that before delivering her to him she should be for defendant
● she attempted to return home, but defendant caught her by the hand, gave her a slap and dragged her into the
midst of the sugar cane, threatening her with a dagger he had in his hand, he overcame her resistance and
succeeded in lying with her (NOTE - RAPE, shy pa ang ponente LOL)
● defendant kept Teodora Bondoc among the sugar cane until nighttime, when he took her, also by force, in a cart
through the fields to the house of a relative of his in the vicinity of a wood in the municipality of Capas, Province
of Tarlac. There he remained with her alone for three days and, taking advantage of her helplessness and by
intimidating her, lay with her several times during that period, until, as a result of the search and inquiries made
by her father and brother, she was found in the said house and freed from defendant's control.
● CFI Pampanga: guilty of abduction, fourteen years eight months and one day of reclusion temporal, with the
accessory penalties provided by law, indemnify Teodora Bondoc in the sum of P500

ISSUE: WoN accused guilty of abduction given woman’s of legal age (YES)
HELD: CFI affirmed but wont suffer subsidiary imprisonment in case of insolvency bec of indemnity of P500 he was
sentenced
RATIO:
● Article 445 of the Penal Code punishes by reclusion temporal the abduction of a woman against her will and
with lewd designs; elements:
(1) The person kidnapped must be a woman. It is immaterial whether she be a widow, a married woman, or a
virgin, for all three classes are comprised within the generic term of "woman"
(2) The crime must be committed against her will
(3) It must be committed with unchaste designs — that is, with the intention of lying with the woman
● It is unquestionable that Teodora Bondoc, who had freely gone to the place where she believed she would find
her fiancee, lost her liberty from the moment defendant opposed her returning home, and that,
consequently, it was against her will that she was taken by defendant into the sugar cane ->this was the
commencement of the abduction of the young woman, committed by defendant with violence and against her
will. When he got her into the cane field, he abused her by means of force and intimidation.
● If defendant had then left her free, the crime committed by him might perhaps have been classified as rape,
because then the deprivation of her liberty would have been but brief and only for the purpose of his lying with
her. But, considering that defendant retained her among the sugar cane until night, continued to retain her in
Capas for three days longer in his company and against her will, and that he also enjoyed her carnally there; and
considering the deprivation of liberty of the aggrieved party during all of that time, in connection with the
unchaste designs which defendant entertained toward her and which were the motive of his abducting her
against her will, the acts committed by this defendant, and which were proved at the trial, constitute the crime of
abduction

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 ● Abduction: kidnapping of a woman by removing her from her home, or from whatever place she may be, to take
her to some other, for the purpose of her abductor's marrying her or corrupting her.
○ Defendant deceived Teodora Bondoc by telling her that her fiancee, Indiongco, was awaiting her outside
of her house
○ Briefly, he stole Teodora Bondoc in the one place and took her to the other and kept her in his power for
three days for the purpose of corrupting her. It matters not whether the kidnapping of the young woman
was effected after she had voluntarily left her house, deceived, as she was, by the defendant, or whether
it took place in the house itself; nor does it matter whether the offended party was or was not then of
legal age, because the acts performed by defendant with respect to her involved offenses against liberty,
honor and public order. These are offenses which the law punishes in the crime of abduction with
force, and those same acts contain the elements that go to make such crime, and not that of
abduction with consent to which article 446 of the Penal Code refers.
● could have been abduction with consent if:
○ (provided she was of the age specified by law for the existence of such a crime) fiancee had been in that
place and, taking advantage of the presence of his sweetheart, Teodora Bondoc, had taken her away with
him for unchaste purposes, thus removing her from her father's control -> in that case the defendant
would have been a coprincipal or accomplice in the said crime
○ however, there is no evidence that Indiongco intended this; it was all defendant’s doing

07 US vs Ramirez
March 8, 1919
THE UNITED STATES, plaintiff-appellee,
vs.
RUFINO RAMIREZ,. VICTORIANO CORPUS and PLACIDO DE OCAMPO, defendants-appellants.

FACTS:
● Rufino Ramirez was, prior to October 13, 1916, an unsuccessful lover of a young lady named Regina
Tolentino.
● In view of his disappointment, Ramirez sought the aid of Victoriano Corpus and Placido de Ocampo for the
purpose of abducting the girl.
● October 13, 1916: The three defendants hired an automobile, it then being nightfall, and proceeded toward the
district of Santa Mesa, Manila, stopping at the Rotonda.
● Regina Tolentino, accompanied by a male companion, Francisco Malabunga, and a female companion,
Marcelina Tolentino, while walking in Calle Santa Mesa, was suddenly grasped by Placido de Ocampo.
Marcelina Tolentino and Regina Tolentino, amidst screams, struggled against Placido de Ocampo but without
success.
● Regina was forcibly taken to the automobile where Rufino Ramirez waited for her.
● Victoriano Corpus, during this occurrence held Francisco Malabunga.
● To prevent Regina Tolentino from screaming any further, De Ocampo and Ramirez placed a handkerchief over
her mouth. While in the automobile, Regina fainted.
● The senseless girl was then taken by the accused in the automobile to a place near the cemetery of Balic-balic.
● Upon reaching this place, the chauffeur because of his suspicions deliberately ran the automobile into the
mud, telling the accused that the automobile could not go any further.
● The two defendants thereupon, together with Rufino Ramirez, left the car and took Regina to the rice paddies.
● The girl who had just come to her senses renewed her screaming. The neighboring people responded promptly
to the outcries for help, and the accused, upon seeing that many people were coming to the aid of the girl, fled.
Information: Rufino Ramirez, Victoriano Corpus, and Placido de Ocampo were charged in the Court of First Instance of
the city of Manila with the crime of abduction with force.
● The trial proceeded as to the defendants Corpus and De Ocampo, the other accused Ramirez not yet having been
arrested.
TC: Found the two defendants guilty as principals of the crime of frustrated abduction, with the aggravating
circumstance of nocturnity
● Appellant's assignments of error divide into three main issues: (1) The refusal of the trial court to continue the
case; (2) the presence of the essential elements that go to constitute the crime of abduction with force; and (3)
the degree of the offense.
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ISSUES:
1 Whether or not the trial court erred in not continuing the case (NO)
2 Whether or not the essential elements of the crime of abduction with force were present (YES)
3 Whether or not the crime was consummated (YES)

HELD: GUILTY OF ABDUCTION WITH FORCE. There being present in the commission of the crime one aggravating
circumstance not compensated by any mitigating circumstance, the penalty provided by article 445 must be imposed in
the maximum degree. Judgment is reversed and each defendant and appellant is sentenced to seventeen years, four
months, and one day of reclusion temporal, together with the corresponding accessory penalties, and to pay one third of
the costs in the first instance and one half of the costs in this instance.

RATIO:

1. CONTINUANCES.
● The attorney for the appellants contends that the court erred in refusing to grant a further continuance with a view
to giving the defense an opportunity to look for their material witness, who in the case at bar was also one of the
accused.
● It is claimed by counsel that "It is the right of every accused to be able to present as a witness any person whom he
believes to be necessary for his defense," and that to deprive him of said right would be tantamount to denying him
one of the means allowed by law for his defense.
● Between the day when the information was presented and the day of the trial about sixteen months had elapsed,
during which time the defendants had obtained seven continuances.
● This was the situation when the case was called, and counsel for the defense asked for further time to find the co-
accused Ramirez.
● Applications for continuances are addressed to the sound discretion of the court. Where the court conceives it to
be necessary for the more perfect attainment of justice, it has the power upon the motion of either party to continue
the case. But a party charged with a crime has no natural or inalienable right to a continuance.
● Other jurisdictions have held that three things are necessary to put off a trial on account of the absence of a
witness:
1 First, that the witness is really material and appears to the court to be so;
2 Second, that the party who applies has been guilty of no neglect;
3 And third, that the witness can be had at the time to which the trial has been deferred, and incidentally, that no
similar evidence could be obtained.
● There must be, in order to sustain the motion, facts from which the court can infer that there is a reasonable
prospect that the attendance of the witness, or his testimony, can be procured at a future day.
● Rufino Ramirez, the coaccused, is admitted to be a fugitive from justice. Counsel, after seven continuances had
been granted in the lower court, nowhere purposes to have said witness before the court at a specified time. At
the trial the attorney upon being asked by the court to state whether or not he could make certain the
attendance of the witness replied as follows: "I cannot bind myself to find him for the reason that we do not
know his whereabouts."
● If continuances could be procured on the ground of the absence of one of the material witnesses without stating
that the witness can be brought before the court at a reasonable time in the future, the delays in the
administration of justice would soon become intolerable.
● Whilst great liberality should be extended to persons charged with crime in preparing their defense and
particularly in procuring the attendance of witnesses, the rule must not be relaxed so as to defeat the ends of
justice.

2. ABDUCTION OF ARTICLE 445 OF THE PENAL CODE ANALYZED. ― Article 445 of the Penal Code reads:
"The abduction of a woman against her will and with lewd designs shall be punished by reclusion temporal.

"The same penalty shall be imposed in every case if the female abducted be under twelve years of age."

● Both the civil and the common law authorities agree in the conclusion that the crime of abduction is one
"sumamente grave y odioso" (highly serious and detestable.)

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 ● The penal law regarding abduction, says the supreme court of Spain, was intended to punish the offense against
public morality and the insult to the family of the abducted girl.
● The three elements in the crime punished by article 445 of the Penal Code are:
● (1) That the person abducted be a woman; (2) that the abduction must have been against the will of the woman;
and (3) that the abduction must have been for lewd or unchaste designs.
● That the first two elements are here present is incontestable. The "taking," as contemplated by the Code, is
demonstrated by the force used in snatching the offended girl from a street in the city of Manila and carrying her
to the rice paddies some distance away.
● Stress is laid by counsel for appellants on the absence of the third essential element, namely, lewd or unchaste
designs.
● In a criminal action for abduction, in order to demonstrate the presence of the lewd designs, actual illicit
criminal relations with the person abducted need not be shown. The intent to seduce the girl is sufficient
● The presence of the lewd designs is here revealed by the actions of the accused. Among other indications of this
intent can be mentioned the taking of the girl at night by the use of force and threats to overcome her resistance;
the act of embracing her while in the automobile; the proposition to go to a house in Balic-balic; the beating
of the chauffeur who did not want to start the engine of the automobile, and the fact that Rufino Ramirez had
been making love to the girl prior to the abduction

3. DEGREE OF THE OFFENSE.

● Sexual intercourse not being necessary in order to commit abduction wherein lewd designs is an essential
element, the crime is a consummated one, for the reason that the evil which the law contemplated in providing
for the offense has been effected.
● Although Rufino Ramirez appears as the moving spirit in the commission of the crime, nevertheless the present
appellants Placido de Ocampo and Victoriano Corpus are guilty as principals in that they took a direct part in the
commission of the crime.
● In the commission of the crime there was present the aggravating circumstance of nocturnity. It is clear that
the appellants selected the night time for their detestable act, knowing that they could not accomplish it as easily
or at all in the day time.
● The trial court gave the appellants the benefit of the provisions of article 11 of the Penal Code as amended by Act
No. 2142. This court holds that the benefits of article 11 of the Penal Code as amended should not be extended to
persons who commit crimes against chastity.

08 People vs. Crisostomo (Feb. 17, 1923) NOT ABDUCTION BUT ILLEGAL DETENTION
THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, a plaintiff-appellee,
vs.
PEDRO CRISOSTOMO, ET AL., defendants-appellants.
ROMUALDEZ, J.

FACTS:
• After 8 or 9 am of Dec. 26, 1920, in Bacoor, Cavite: While Macaria Gabriel (30 years old), Macaria, and her aunt
Candida Acuña were walking in the direction of their houses from that of Gregoria Acuña (to whom Macaria had paid
the sum of P30) the accused met them on the way
• Pedro Crisostomo, Lorenzo Alcoba, and Casimiro Garde dragged Macaria along and took her against her will to a rice
field
• Macaria was not able to prevent it by her cries and strife and insults
• The other defendants, Segundo Espiritu, Primitivo Alcoba, and Bartolome Caguiat, caught hold of Candida (her aunt)
thus preventing her from helping Macaria
• Gregoria, attracted by the cries of Candida, went to the place and attacked with a club those holding Macaria until
they released her
• As soon as Candida was released by her aggressors, she went to Macaria’s house and reported the incident to
Macaria’s brother, Constantino
• Constantino ran after the abductors of his sister overtaking them when they had just released her, which they did
upon seeing him
• Prosecution contends that Macaria was abducted by Crisostomo against her will
• Defense asserts that there was an agreement between her and Crisostomo and that both of them, by mutual accord,
had escaped from the parental house of said Macaria when her brother Constantino overtook them
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Information:
• "defendants conspiring and confederating together, did intentionally, unlawfully, and criminally and with unchaste
designs and through force kidnap Macaria Gabriel on a road leading to Salinas, Bacoor, Cavite, taking her therefrom
to a rice field in said municipality against her will"
CFI of Cavite:
• Pedro Crisostomo, Lorenzo Alcoba, and Casimiro Garde guilty as principals (14 years, 8 mos, and 1 day of reclusion
temporal)
• Segundo Espiritu, Primitivo Alcoba, and Bartolome Caguiat as accomplices (8 years and 1 day of prision mayor
• All of the consummated crime of abduction through violence
• Each to pay 1/6 of the costs
• Crisostomo is further sentenced to pay to Macaria the sum of P500 as an endowment.

ISSUE:
1) W/N the accused are guilty of ABDUCTION (No)
2) W/N the accused are guilty of ILLEGAL DETENTION (YES)
3) W/N the accused are guilty of ATTEMPTED COERCION (No)

HELD:
1) ABDUCTION
• Earmarks of veracity prevail in the testimony of the prosecution witnesses (as found and given credence by the trial
judge)
• In addition, the manner of the eloping alleged by the defense is improbable in the case of a woman like Macaria
who, by reason of her 30 years' age, must be presumed more reflexive and cautions in carrying out a
preconceived plan than a young woman
• If it were true that it was Macaria's object to escape, she would not have done so in the daytime, nor would she have
gone in company with Candida, nor would she have, so childishly and in the presence of several persons, taken
advantage of the circumstances of her companion entering the house of Gregoria to speak with the latter for some
minutes.
• It does not appear that Macaria was under the vigilance of her relatives and, in view of her age, she would have
naturally enjoyed a certain degree of liberty such as to go, as she did, to the barrio of Salinas, Bacoor, from her
residence in Palicot, Imus; with which liberty she could have planned and carried into effect with full success her
escape from the parental house.
• Crisostomo also admitted to a Constabulary officer that they deemed it better to abduct Macaria as she firmly
answered in the negative to his previous proposal
• On another occasion, he requested Macaria’s another brother Epifaniol to intervene in his favour
• The record as whole does not leave room for doubt that the defendants took away Macaria Gabriel against
her will
• But in order that this fact may constitute abduction, it is necessary that the other element thereof should
have been proven, to wit, that if unchaste designs.
• Crisostomo testified that his intention in eloping with Macaria was to get married with her in Bacoor
• While it was not proven that Macaria consented to such an elopement, the violent taking away is not incompatible
with such intention to marry her
• Does this intention to marry constitute unchaste designs? – SC: NO.
• In this case: both Macaria and Crisostomo had the required age for consenting to marriage, and it does not
appear that either of them had any impediment to contracting it
• As a general proposition the intention to marry may sometime constitute unchaste designs not by itself but by the
concurring circumstances which may vitiate such an intention (e.g in the case of abduction of a minor where the
male knows that she cannot legally consent to the marriage and yet he elopes with her; in this case, seduction is
presumed, which may very well be covered by the intention to get married)
• Viada: By abduction is meant the taking away of a woman from her house or the place where she may be for the
purpose of carrying her to another place with intent to marry or to corrupt her (libidinis causa)
o he specifies an essential element constituting abduction with violence:
§ that it be committed with unchaste designs, that is to say, with intent to abuse her
§ Without this element: illegal detention only

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• Therefore, even considering that in kidnapping Macaria, Crisostomo had the intention to marry her, such
designs cannot beconsidered as unchaste
• On Macaria’s testimony that the accused, while dragging her, kissed her many times against her will
o She says: They dragged me along and at a certain distance I got seasick became unconscious etc.
§ Those acts that she thought were kisses under those circumstances in which she was seasick and
unconscious cannot be considered proven
§ Could be mere accidental collisions of heads or faces in those moments in which, according to her,
Crisostomo had caught hold of her by the waist and the back and her head was hanging
§ much less can such kissing be held proven over the categorial denial of Pedro Crisostomo of having
kissed her
§ it does not appear that outside the supposed kissing, they accused had committed any slight unchaste
act with her, considering that she was with them for a while, even during the time Candida went to her house to
report the matter to Macaria’s brother
• It was not necessary to show that such unchaste designs were carried into effect, but it was required to establish
the existence itself of the unchaste intention; but no act or circumstance tending to show such a fact was
proven in the record

2) ILLEGAL DETENTION
• The accused deprived Macaria of her liberty even without placing her in an inclosure
• llegal detentions consists not only in imprisoning a person but also in detaining her or depriving her in any
manner of her liberty.
o ART. 481. Any private individual who shall lock up or detain another, or in any manner deprive him of his
liberty, shall suffer the penalty of prision mayor.
• Neither is it an argument against this finding in the present case that the information by which this
prosecution was initiated is for another crime, for it is alleged therein that the "defendants conspiring and
confederating together, did intentionally, unlawfully, and criminally and with unchaste designs" (the latter were
not proven) and "through force kidnap Macaria Gabriel...
• As may be seen, it is alleged in this information that the defendants, in the manner aforesaid deprived Macaria of
her liberty

3) ATTEMPTED COERCION (in so far as the defendants attempted through force to compel Macaria to marry
Crisostomo)
• It is not proven that they did in fact attempt to compel Macaria to contract marriage.
• It can be supposed that they merely tried to take Macaria away from the environment of the family, in the hope that
she might be persuaded without force or violence whatsoever to marry Crisostomo
• The mere fact of taking away Macaria might as well have been for the purpose of injuring or affronting her, or of
compelling her through force to marry Crisostomo

On the accused’s participation:

• Crisostomo: principal
• Lorenzo Alcoba and Casimiro Garde, who held Macaria and dragged her along to a rice field, assisted by Pedro
Crisostomo, are likewise principals for having taken direct part in the commission of the crime
• Segundo Espiritu, Primitivo Alcoba, and Bartolome Caguiat, who did not lay hands on Macaria, but did hold her
companion Candida, evidently for the purpose of preventing Candida from helping Macaria: accomplices for having
cooperated in the performance of the crime by simultaneous acts

On conspiracy:
• It is true that no witness testified to having seen or heard the accused conspire or confederate
• But in view of their simultaneous acts — three seizing Macaria Gabriel and the other three getting hold of her
companion: joint act and tends to the same end: that of illegally depriving Macaria of her liberty
• It cannot be conceived that there was no agreement between the defendants
• Said act constitutes in itself evident and sufficient proof of the conspiracy and confederacy

DISPOSITIVE:
• The judgment appealed from is reversed
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• appellants found guilty of illegal detention
• principals: eight years and one day of prision mayor
• accomplices: two years, four months and one day of prision correccional
• each to pay proportionate part of the costs
• the endowment that the lower court awarded to Macaria is deleted because they were found guilty of illegal
detention and not abduction

09 People v Garcia
February 28, 2002
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES
vs
JEFFREY GARCIA y CARAGAY and THREE JOHN DOES, accused.
JEFFREY GARCIA y CARAGAY, accused-appellant.

FACTS:
● Cleopatra Changlapon: 19 y.o., sophomore student of B.S. Physical Therapy at the Baguio Central University.
● July 14, 1998, she left school at 6:30 p.m. to go home to Km. 3, La Trinidad, Benguet. As she was crossing Bonifacio
St, Baguio City, she saw a white van approaching so she stopped to let it pass. Suddenly, the van stopped in front of
her. The rear door slid open and Cleopatra was pulled by the arms into the van. She struggled as the door closed and
the van sped away. Something was sprayed on her face which made her eyes sting and feel dizzy. She shouted, then
felt a fist blow on her stomach and fell unconscious.
● When Cleopatra came to (her senses), she was inside a room totally undressed lying flat on her back on a bed with
four men in the room. One of them, who had Bombay features, was also totally naked while the other 3 were in briefs
smoking cigarettes.
● (1st rape) The Bombay-looking man lay on top of her. She tried to push him away but he held her left arm. Another
man with long hair, whom she later identified as accused-appellant Jeffrey Garcia, burned her right chin with a
lighted cigarette. Cleopatra fought back but Garcia held her right arm. While Garcia was seated on her right side and
holding her, the Bombay-looking man proceeded to have sexual intercourse with her. She tried to kick him and close
her legs, but 2 men held her feet, boxed her thighs and burned her legs with cigarettes.
● (2nd rape) After the Bombay-looking man finished, Garcia took his turn and went on top of her. One of the men sat
on her right leg and pinned it down, while another held her left leg. Cleopatra tried to punch Garcia with her right
hand, but the Bombay-looking man held her right arm. Garcia then had sexual intercourse with her while holding
her left arm.
● (3rd rape) The third man, whom Cleopatra noted had pimples on his face, went on top of her. The Bombay-looking
man was still holding her right arm, while the man on top of her held her left arm. She tried to close her legs but
someone hit her right thigh, which forced her to keep her legs apart. The third man with pimples succeeded in
having carnal knowledge of her.
● (4th rape) The fourth man was next in raping Cleopatra. By that time, she was feeling helpless and was too tired to
struggle. As the fourth man was having sexual intercourse with her, she saw the Bombay-looking man burning her
panties with a lighted cigarette. She closed her eyes and heard the men laughing. After the fourth man finished
raping her, he got up.
● She felt dizzy and her private parts were aching. She opened her eyes and tried to move, but Garcia hit her on the
abdomen.One of the men again sprayed something on Cleopatra's face which made her vision blurred. She heard
somebody say that it was 1:30. After that, she blacked out.
● When she regained consciousness, she was lying by the roadside somewhere bet Tam-awan and Longlong. It was
still dark. She already had her clothes on. She felt pain all over her body and was unable to move. A taxi passed by
and picked her up. Although she was afraid to ride the taxi, she boarded it just to get home. The taxi brought her to
her house.
● Her aunt, Rufina Angog, saw Cleopatra alight the taxi crying. She also noticed that Cleopatra's clothes were inverted
and she smelled bad. She woke up Cleopatra's brothers and cousins. They asked her what happened. Cleopatra just
kept crying and was unable to talk. After some time, when she was able to regain her composure, she told them that
she had been raped by four men.
● The following day, July 15, 1998, Cleopatra was brought to the Baguio City Police Station. After giving her statement
to the police, she was brought to the Crime Laboratory of the Baguio City Police, where she was examined by Dr.
Vladimir Villaseñor.
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● Garcia was arrested at 4:30 p.m. of July 17, 1998 in connection with another rape charge against him by a certain
Gilda Mangyo.
● The cartographic sketches were published in the Sun-Star newspaper. Police Officers Bulalit and Diaz saw the
sketches and noticed that one of the suspects bore a striking resemblance to accused-appellant, who was in their
custody. On Jul 26, 1998, Cleopatra was summoned to the police station to identify accused-appellant. Cleopatra
recognized accused-appellant among those watching the basketball game from the upper floor of the police building.
When she saw accused-appellant face to face, she started to tremble and cry. Then she tried to attack him but she
was restrained by the police officers. On the same day, Cleopatra gave a supplemental statement to the police,
confirming her identification of accused-appellant as one of her rapists.
● Defense: He spent the whole day of July 14, 1998 at the boarding house where his brother-in-law lived, located at
No. 36 Torres Bugallon Street, Aurora Hills, Baguio City. His brother-in-law asked him to go there to take care of his
nephew. That evening, while he was in the said house watching television, some of his friends came over to visit him.
They brought a bottle of gin and began to have a drinking session. Garcia did not join them because his stomach was
upset. Garcia's brother-in-law arrived a little before midnight, after which his guests left. When asked about the
charges of rape against him, he denied the same.
● Other witnesses(Catherine Faith Madella and Joy Tabinas) testified visiting Garcia
● TC: guilty beyond reasonable doubt of one count of forcible abduction with rape and three counts of rape;
P146,125.75 as actual damages; P50,000 moral damages

ISSUE/S:
• W/N TC GRAVELY ERRED IN FINDING GARCIA GUILTY BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT FOR THE COMPLEX CRIME
OF FORCIBLE ABDUCTION WITH RAPE AND FOR THREE (3) COUNTS OF RAPE ALLEGEDLY COMMITTED IN
CONSPIRACY WITH THREE (3) OTHERS? (NO)
• W/N TC GRAVELY ERRED IN NOT GIVING SCANT CONSIDERATION TO THE THEORY OF THE DEFENSE THAT
ACCUSED-APPELLANT JEFFREY GARCIA Y CARAGAY IS ONLY A LOOK-ALIKE OF THE REAL CULPRIT? (NO)
• W/N TC GRAVELY ERRED IN FINDING THAT CLEOPATRA CHANGLAPON HAD POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED JEFFREY
GARCIA Y CARAGAY AS ONE OF THOSE WHO ABDUCTED AND RAPED HER? (NO)

HELD: RTC AFFIRMED with MODIFICATIONS. As modified, accused-appellant is sentenced to suffer the penalty of Death
for the complex crime of Forcible Abduction with Rape and Reclusion Perpetua for each of the three counts of rape;
P146,125.75 as actual damages, P75,000.00 as civil indemnity and P50,000.00 as moral damages.

RATIO:
● Based on our own review of the records of this case, we find that complainant was neither influenced nor
induced by the police to point to accused-appellant as one of her molesters. On the contrary, the transcripts
convincingly show that complainant was left to freely study the faces of the thirty or more inmates on the basketball
court below to see whether she recognized any of them. There was no suggestion from the police to point to the new
detainee, who had just been arrested on another rape charge.
● Owing to the gravity of the crime and penalty involved, we have meticulously studied the testimony of complainant
Cleopatra Changlapon and find it to be clear, straightforward and categorical. The details of her narration are
consistent on all material points. Her actions throughout her ordeal correspond to normal human behavior. We take
particular note of her natural and spontaneous reaction of crying and attacking her molester when brought before
her face to face. The records also eloquently exhibit that she repeatedly cried throughout her testimony. All of these
actuations bear the ring of truth and deserve full faith and credit.
● More importantly, complainant's narration of the events is well substantiated by the physical evidence. The
second degree burns found on her face, chest and thighs prove that she was indeed burned with lighted cigarettes
whenever she attempted to fight her assailants. The medico-legal officer confirmed that they were consistent with
cigarette burns. Furthermore, the contusions found on her body were said to be caused by a blunt instrument like a
closed fist. This confirms her testimony that she was repeatedly hit to stop her from struggling. The medico-legal
officer placed the time of infliction of the external physical injuries on complainant within the last twenty-four
hours. The findings on her genitals — namely the gaping labia majora, the congested and abraded labia minora, and
the lacerations — all suggest the entry of a foreign object, such as a fully erect male organ. Finally, the presence of
spermatozoa further confirms that complainant recently had sexual intercourse.
● In the face of complainant's positive and categorical declarations that accused-appellant was one of her rapists,
accused-appellant's alibi must fail.

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● It is a well-settled rule that positive identification of the accused, where categorical and consistent and without any
showing of ill motive on the part of the eyewitness testifying on the matter, prevails over alibi and denial which if
not substantiated by clear and convincing evidence are negative and self-serving evidence undeserving of weight in
law.
● Furthermore, in order that the defense of alibi may prosper, accused-appellant must establish not only that he was
somewhere else when the crime was committed but also that it was physically impossible for him to have been at
the scene of the crime at the time it was committed. In the case at bar, the place of commission of the rapes —
somewhere between Tam-awan and Longlong — and the boarding house where accused-appellant alleged he was in
the evening of July 14, 1998, are both situated within Baguio City. The distance between Tam-awan and Aurora Hills,
especially at dawn, can be traversed in just a matter of minutes.
● Indeed, as pointed out by the trial court, accused-appellant's witnesses failed to account for his whereabouts after
12:00 midnight. At the time of the rape, complainant distinctly heard one of her molesters state the time as 1:30.
Since it was still dark when complainant was dropped off on the side of the road, it can safely be assumed that the
crimes were committed at dawn.
● The trial court, therefore, did not err in convicting accused-appellant of the complex crime of forcible
abduction with rape. The two elements of forcible abduction, as defined in Article 342 of the Revised Penal Code,
are: (1) the taking of a woman against her will and (2) with lewd designs. The crime of forcible abduction with rape
is a complex crime that occurs when there is carnal knowledge with the abducted woman under the following
circumstances: (1) by using force or intimidation; (2) when the woman is deprived of reason or otherwise
unconscious; and (3) when the woman is under twelve years of age or is demented.
● In the case at bar, the information sufficiently alleged the elements of forcible abduction, i.e., the taking of
complainant against her will and with lewd design. It was likewise alleged that accused-appellant and his
three co-accused conspired, confederated and mutually aided one another in having carnal knowledge of
complainant by means of force and intimidation and against her will.
● Aside from alleging the necessary elements of the crimes, the prosecution convincingly established that the
carnal knowledge was committed through force and intimidation. Moreover, the prosecution sufficiently
proved beyond reasonable doubt that accused-appellant succeeded in forcibly abducting the complainant
with lewd designs, established by the actual rape.
● Hence, accused-appellant is guilty of the complex crime of forcible abduction with rape. He should also be
held liable for the other three counts of rape committed by his three co-accused, considering the clear conspiracy
among them shown by their obvious concerted efforts to perpetrate, one after the other, the crime. As borne by the
records, all the four accused helped one another in consummating the rape of complainant. While one of them
mounted her, the other three held her arms and legs. They also burned her face and extremities with lighted
cigarettes to stop her from warding off her aggressor. Each of them, therefore, is responsible not only for the rape
committed personally by him but for the rape committed by the others as well.
● However, as correctly held by the trial court, there can only be one complex crime of forcible abduction with
rape. The crime of forcible abduction was only necessary for the first rape. Thus, the subsequent acts of rape
can no longer be considered as separate complex crimes of forcible abduction with rape. They should be
detached from and considered independently of the forcible abduction. Therefore, accused-appellant should
be convicted of one complex crime of forcible abduction with rape and three separate acts of rape.
● The penalty for complex crimes is the penalty for the most serious crime which shall be imposed in its maximum
period. Rape is the more serious of the two crimes and, when committed by more than two persons, is punishable
with reclusion perpetua to death under Article 266-B of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by Republic Act No.
8353. Thus, accused-appellant should be sentenced to the maximum penalty of death for forcible abduction with
rape.
● As regards the other three acts of rape, accused-appellant can only be sentenced to reclusion perpetua. The trial
court appreciated the aggravating circumstances of nighttime, superior strength and motor vehicle. However, these
were not alleged in the information. Under the amended provisions of Rule 110, Sections 8 and 9 of the Revised
Rules on Criminal Procedure, which took effect on December 1, 2000, aggravating as well as qualifying
circumstances must be alleged in the information, otherwise, they cannot be considered against the accused even if
proven at the trial. Being favorable to accused-appellant, this rule should be applied retroactively in this case. Hence,
there being no aggravating circumstance that may be appreciated, and with no mitigating circumstance, the lesser of
the two indivisible penalties shall be applied, pursuant to Article 63, paragraph (2) of the RPC
● Anent the matter of damages, the trial correctly awarded the amount of P50,000.00 as moral damages. This was
justified by complainant's emotional and physical suffering, as narrated in her testimony. Notably, the prosecution

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 successfully proved that complainant lost her virginity during the rape. As she narrated, virginity is a highly
regarded virtue among the people of Kalinga.
● However, the trial court failed to award civil indemnity to the complainant. We have ruled that if rape is committed
or qualified by any of the circumstances which authorize the imposition of the death penalty, the civil indemnity
shall be not less than P75,000.00. For the other three counts of simple rape, where the proper penalty is reclusion
perpetua, accused-appellant is liable for civil indemnity in the amount of P50,000.00 for each count.
● We also find that the actual damages awarded by the trial court was well substantiated. Complainant presented the
required receipts for her medications, transportation and other expenses. 50 Complainant testified that as a member
of the Kalinga tribe, she had to undergo the korong and songa rituals, wherein they had to butcher several chickens,
pigs, and carabaos, thereby incurring total expenses of P90,000.00. These rituals were intended for complainant's
safety and to call on the tribe's spirits so that no more violence or misfortune may befall her. The grand total of all
these actual expenses, including those for medicines and transportation, as duly proved by the receipts and
computations presented in evidence, is P146,125.75, the amount awarded by the trial court.

10. People v Toledo (1949)

Accused: Santos Toledo, Benito Guevara, Anacleto Vecido, Pedro Cahinhin, Martin Montoya, Augusto Garcia and Pedro
Garcia.
FACTS:
● September 22, 1945
○ Magdalena Ronzairo, 21 years old, and Gloria Jimenez, took a passenger bus in Manila in the direction of
Cavite to sell canned food
○ Magdalena and Gloria alighted, Toledo Santos following them.
○ Gloria walked away to wash her feet.
○ Magdalena, while waiting, was dragged by Benito Guevarra who suddenly grabbed her right wrist and
pushed towards Santos Toledo (who had a) revolver in hand.
○ Santos (?) took her to a house but the owner opposed their evil designs
○ He dragged her to an unpopulated place where there were seven men.
○ Benito Guevara took her inside and got to lie with her, with the help of his fellow who held her by the feet
and forearms
○ After Benito, Anacleto Vecido, Pedro Cahinhin, Santos Toledo, Pedro Garcia and Augusto Garcia had
intercourse with her. (not Montoya)
○ Toledo Santos carried Magdalena, already weakened, to a house and gave her dinner. After recovering,
Magdalena and Santos and Toledo walked down the street to find the bus and met Gloria and two policemen
who went in search of Magdalena
○ police arrested Santos Toledo.
● External Examination:
"(a) Contusions mark of the upper external part of the left arm.
"(b) Bruises mark on upper external part of the left leg.
"(c) Bruises mark on frontal and middle part of the right leg.
● "Internal Examination:
"(a) Fresh blood oozes out when vaginal opening was being examined.
"(b) Presence of pain during exploratory tactation of the vagina.
"(c) Hymen not intact.
"(d) Rupture of the pudendum.
"(e) There was sexual penetration."
● Evidence: a jacket, a skirt, underpants, and a nightgown, torn and stained with blood
● ACCUSED:
● Benito Guevara died in prison
● Anacleto Cahinhin Vecido and Pedro have not been apprehended yet
● Martin Montoya was acquitted on reasonable doubt
● Santos Toledo was convicted on charges of rape with violence and rape to 30 years in prison perpetual,
and Augusto Garcia and Pedro Garcia, per violation, to an indeterminate term of 12 years imprisonment
as a minimum sentence, and 20 years of reclusion temporal, as maximum punishment, with the accessories
and costs.
Toledo and Garcia brothers appeal
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ISSUE: WON accused are guilty of rape (yes)
● DEFENSE:
○ Toledo: was at home and at night went to wait for a bus to go to Tagaytay City. military police arrested him
because he carried a revolver, then a member of the Second Battalion of guerrillas Moreno. it is not true that
he had raped Magdalena
○ Pedro Garcia: afternoon, in the mill grinding rice. He went to the den. Guevara asked if he wanted to have
relationship with the woman and he said no because he had to pay five dollars, and returned to the mill.
Magdalena Ronzairo Probably “believed that I was one of those who had sexual intercourse with her.
because she saw me down. "
○ Garcia Augusto: after reaping rice in the afternoon of that day he retired to his home, went to the den to ask
for water, and saw Four men and a woman lying; saw a man and woman in sexual intercourse, Guevara
Benito came and informed him that if he wanted to have sexual intercourse with women. could do so by
paying five dollars,
● However, It's hard to believe that Magdalena, a stranger in the place, dared to testify falsely against the accused.
● the rape of a woman by an organized group of men is a rare case. For its rarity, raises public outrage.
● With the combined force of 6 men and one with a revolver against a weak woman, resistance is not possible.
● There is no penalty prescribed specifically for multiple violations, but the sense of justice requires that a sentence be
imposed for each violation.
● It is clear that Benedict (benito?) is author of rape pro direct?, assisted by the other defendants, and each of these, of
those who helped, of course, is as coauthor of rape
● Each of them except Anacleto Cahinhin Vecido and Pedro, who have not yet been arrested, should receive, for the
six pro violations each, six convictions for rape.
● We therefore condemn each of the appellants to suffer six convictions of rape, and a sentence is 10 years and
one day of prision mayor, as minimum, to 17 years, four months and one day of reclusion temporal, as
maximum, with accessory; ero in meeting these six sentences, according to Article 71 of the Revised Penal Code, as
amended by Law No. 217 Commonwealth ccada one must not suffer more than 40 years. It confirms the judgment, in
terms of compensation. Appellants pay their fair share in the costs.
● Rape absorbs forcible abduction if the main objective was to rape the victim.

PERFECTO, J. (bengzon, montemayor), dissenting:

It appears, however, that the alleged six rapes were committed on the same occasion, against the same victim,
Magdalena Ronzairo, in the same place, although perpetrated by the six appellants by having, one after another, one
successive sexual intercourse each with the victim. We vote to sentence appellants for only one crime of rape, and the
penalties should not be more than an indeterminate one of ten (10) years and one (1) day of reclusion mayor to
seventeen (17) years, four (4) months and one (1) day of reclusion temporal

11. THE UNITED STATES, plaintiff-appellee

vs. FRANCISCO REYES, defendant-appellant. (1911)

FACTS:
● At dusk on the evening of June 26, 1910:
○ Lorenza Cornejo, a girl of about 15 years of age, unmarried, left her house to return some flags which she
had borrowed
○ while returning home she was approached by Francisco Reyes, who for some time past had been courting
her, making her promises of marriage, and who had arranged with her to accompany him to this city for the
purpose of getting married.
○ Reyes insisted on Lorenza's going away with him, and accordingly advised her to go alone to the street-car
station, saying that he would follow her, so that no one might see them traveling together;
○ They took a car for this city and went to the house of Jose Torno, situated on Calle Cervantes, and there they
remained and lived together conjugally. They had carnal intercourse about ten times. whenever the
abducted girl demanded of her abductor that he fulfill his promise of marriage, he would reply that his
mother was looking for some influential person who might speak to Lorenza's mother; and that the girl
afterwards learned from her own mother that the defendant was married
○ After more than fifteen days, they were found by the girl's mother, Cirila Escobar, and a policeman. Reyes
was wearing a Chinese camisa, and the girl a chemisette tucked under her skirt.
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● charged Francisco Reyes with the crime of consented abduction
● CFI: guilty- two years eleven months and ten days of prision correccional, to pay an indemnity of P3,000 to the
offended party, Lorenza Cornejo, and, in case of insolvency, to the corresponding subsidiary imprisonment, in
conformity with article 50, rule 1, of the Penal Code, to pay the costs, and to suffer the other penalties specified in the
said judgment.
ISSUE: WON guilty of consented abduction- yes
RATIO:
● Art 446 (old) penal code: abduction was committed against the person of a maiden of over 12 and under 23 years of
age, with her consent and with unchaste designs.
● SC of Spain: purpose of the law is to prescribe punishment for the disgrace to her family and the alarm
caused therein by the disappearance of one who is by her age and sex, susceptible to cajolery and deceit.
● Witnesses: Telesforo Pestañas and Miguela de Guzman saw them going along the street together toward the street-
car station
● Other witnesses: The policeman, Eugenio Wenceslao,and the owners of the house, Jose Torno and Aurelia Ligdao
● it is unquestionable that the defendant, with unchaste designs, through cajolery and false promises of marriage
made deceitfully and in bad faith, succeeded in seducing the young girl who left her mother's house, by
prearrangement with the defendant and at his bidding, inasmuch as he awaited her on the road and they came
together to this city and hid themselves and lodged at the house of Jose Torno
● The crime of abduction, with unchaste designs and the consent of the abducted, was consummated, because the girl
left her mother's house, gave herself up to her abductor, had carnal intercourse no less than 10 times, and lived
with him conjugally
● Although she was not forcibly taken, it is sufficient that the girl should have left, as she did, removing herself from
her mother's custody and yielding to the cajolery, inducement, and promises of her abductor, who took her away
with unchaste designs.
● DEFENSE: The defendant denied the charge and pleaded not guilty,
● The averment by Marcelino de la Virgen can not be held to have been proven, which was to the effect that the
mother of the abducted girl charged him to tell the defendant that he should give her P2,000, else he would be
prosecuted. This statement is unsupported by proof and was denied by the mother

Dispositive:
judgment is hereby affirmed; provided, however, that the defendant, Francisco Reyes. shall be sentenced to the penalty
of one year eight months and twenty-one days of prision correccional, to the accessories of article 61, to pay an
indemnity of P1,000 to the offended party, Lorenza Cornejo, and, in case of insolvency, to the corresponding subsidiary
imprisonment, which shall not exceed one-third of the principal penalty, to support the offspring, should there be any,
and to pay the costs.

12. People vs. Amante

THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, plaintiff-appellee,
vs.
ELIGIO AMANTE, PEDRO AMANTE, VICENTE SANCHEZ and FRANCISCO SANCHEZ, defendants-appellants.
VILLA-REAL, J p:
December 6, 1926

SUMMARY: Appellants induced and helped the offended party to leave her home to elope to Ligao, Albay in order to
marry Pedro Amante, one of the accused; however she was persuaded to go to San Juan and they ended up at Josefa Sto.
Domingo’s house. She was persuaded to go to the coconut grove and on the way, she was forcibly violated (raped) 4
times: (1) Eligio Amante away from the house into the road to the coconut grove -> alone (2) Francisco Sanchez raped
her as he held her by the hands and threatened her with a knife with Eligio pinning her to the coconut tree and held her
by the feet, (3) Vicente Sanchez, threw her to the ground covered her mouth with a handkerchief and violated her, while
Pedro Amante held her feet and looked on, (4) Pedro Amante, took hold of her hands, and succeeded in violating her.

TOPIC: CONSENTED ABDUCTION (WITH RAPE)

FACTS:
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• Accused Eligio Amante and Pedro Amante were carpenters in the house of Mariquita Motos in Baoa, Camarines Sur,
who is the mother of Jose Sanchez, uncle of the accused Vicente Sanchez. Accused Francisco Sanchez is also Vicente
Sanchez's uncle. All of them were residents of the municipality of Ligao, but during the course of construction of the
house they lived in Mariquita Motos' house.
• Patrocinio Botardo, the offended party, is a young girl 15 years of age and a pupil in the fourth grade of the public
school of Baao, lived alone with her mother, Martiana Botardo, in said municipality.
• Early July (PM):, While Patrocinio Botardo was going to the market with her mother, she met Vicente Sanchez and
Pedro Amante, and Vicente Sanchez introduced Pedro Amante to the girl.
• Pedro Amante began to visit Patrocinio Botardo at her house. After two or three visits, Pedro Amante, who had also
attended the public school of this town, began to make love (probably only woo-> must be virgin for crime to be
committed) to the girl and proposed marriage to her.
• Patrocinio Botardo told Pedro Amante that she could not accept his proposal unless he first asked her mother and
because she was still going to school.
• July 8, 1925 (PM): Pedro Amante and Vicente Sanchez called upon Patrocinio Botardo at her home. Vicente Sanchez
tried to persuade her to marry Pedro Amante, saying that he was a good man; but she insisted in her refusal, because
Pedro Amante had not as yet spoken to her mother.
• July 22, 1925: Vicente Sanchez and Pedro Amante called on her again and spoke to her mother. They afterwards spoke
to the girl alone and tried to persuade her to accept the proposal of marriage. That night the mother and daughter did
not sleep in their house but in the house of the former's cousin in order to keep her company. During their absence,
Vicente Sanchez entered Patrocinio Botardo's house and took her clothes from her trunk. (See intent to abduct
with taking of clothes)
• The following day, before sunrise, Martiniana Botardo left for Iriga to sell fish. Patrocinio Botardo had asked her
mother's permission to go to her aunt Simeona's house to iron some clothes. At 7 AM (July 23): Patrocinio Botardo left
her house and went to the market, and from there she went to her aunt Simeona's house. Before arriving at her aunt's
house she met the accused Vicente Sanchez and Eligio Amante, who persuaded her to follow them by train from the
station at Baao to Ligao, Albay, in order to marry Pedro Amante.
• As she was already predisposed to marry Pedro Amante, she agreed and they went to the railroad station at Baao.
Upon arriving there, Vicente Sanchez and Eligio Amante said to her: "We should first go to the chapel, lest your mother
might find you here," referring to the San Juan's Chapel. Patriconio at first hesitated, but Vicente Sanchez said to her: "Let
us take the train at San Juan, because my fiancee Pascuala is there."
• Upon arriving at San Juan, where they said they would take the truck, Vicente Sanchez and Eligio Amante took her to
the house of one Josefa Sto.. Domingo and upon arriving there, Vicente Sanchez said. "We had better go along the road
for Pascuala and Pedro Amante ought to be there."
• They immediately went downstairs and followed a long path, bordered by tall weeds, in the direction of a coconut
grove. Upon arriving at a certain place, Vicente Sanchez said to them: "Let us go back because Pascuala and Pedro are
not there."
• They did so, and upon arriving at Josefa's house, Vicente Sanchez had them saying: "I am going to town for a moment,
you wait here with Eligio Amante." Just as Vicente Sanchez had left to buy something to eat, Francisco Sanchez
arrived. Eligio Amante then said: "Let us go to the coconut grove because Vicente, Pedro and Pascuala ought to be there
now." Francisco Sanchez agreed but Patrocinio Botardo refused to go with them so Eligio Amante said to her: "As you
will not come with us, I will tie you with 'panela' (rope)."
• Patrocinio Botardo then remarked: "Am I a carabao that you need to tie me?;" and Eligio Amante replied: "Certainly, if
you do not want to come with us I will tie you with this rope. When a young woman elopes she has an earnest desire to
carry it to a finish."
• Francisco Sanchez and Eligio Amante told her afterward that somebody had told them that Vicente was waiting for
them on the road. Whereupon she consented to go, and they left the house.
• Upon seeing that they were going to a forest where there was no road, Josefa Sto. Domingo said to them: "That is not
the way to the road." Patrocinio Botardo repeated the same remark, but Eligio Amante insisted, saying: "This is the way
to the road."
• When they were a good distance from the house, Vicente Sanchez left them saying: "You go ahead, I will meet you on
the road." While Eligio Amante and Patrocinio Botardo were alone, the former insisted upon taking the latter to an
Indian almond tree (talisay).
• Patrocinio Botardo wanted to take the way that led to the road, but Eligio Amante took hold of her hands and wanted
to take her to a bamboo grove. She refused to go with him and said: "What shall we do there?" and Eligio Amante
replied: "Why won't you go with me?, why won't you obey me? Obey me because it will only take a few minutes."

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• As she resisted, he took hold of her hands and feet, threw her on the ground, and tried to violate her. She stood up, but
he again took hold of her hands and feet and threw her on the ground; and as she was down, he held and mounted her.
The girl succeeded in getting up again, but she could not stand and dropped down. Eligio Amante then lay down beside
her, but she stood up for the third time. For the fourth time, he threw her on the ground and held her hands.
• Patrocinio Botardo tried to shout, but could not do so, because Eligio Amante covered her mouth with a handkerchief.
Having completely overpowered her, he raised her dress and succeeded in violating her. It was then about 8 o'clock in
the morning. After having sexually abused her, Eligio Amante invited her to stand up and leave the place with him.
• They had not gone very far when Francisco Sanchez appeared, and addressing Eligio Amante, said "Eligio, first go and
buy tuba, for I want a drink of tuba very much." When Eligio Amante had left, Patrocinio Botardo said to Francisco
Sanchez: "Your companion wanted to violate me;" and Francisco said: "Why did you not shout," and she replied that
she could not because Eligio Amante covered her mouth with a handkerchief.
• A little later, Eligio Amante returned and said "There is no tuba, I was unable to buy it." He then turned and walked
toward a coconut grove. Francisco Sanchez, who remained alone with the girl, wanted to take his turn and violate her,
but as she resisted, he said to Eligio Amante: "She refuses."
• Whereupon Eligio Amante pinned her to an inclined coconut tree and held her by the feet, while Francisco
Sanchez held her by the hands and threatened her with a knife. At the same time, Eligio Amante raised her dress,
and Francisco Sanchez, after slapping her face, caught her around the neck. Francisco Sanchez with the aid of Eligio
Amante succeeded in violating the girl.
• After the violation by Francisco Sanchez, Pedro Amante and Vicente Sanchez appeared. Upon seeing them, the girl
wanted to flee, but Vicente Sanchez said to her: "Now that we are here, will you go?" and she replied: Naturally,
because Francisco Sanchez and his companion wanted to violate me."
• Exhausted and weakened she sat on the trunk of a guava tree, when Pedro Amante and Vicente Sanchez approached
her, the latter saying: Please me also, now that Francisco and Eligio have already abused you." "I do not want to," she
replied Vicente Sanchez then Sanchez then said: "Why not?, I have helped you so that your mother might not overtake
you!"
• As the girl used to consent to their lewd desires, Vicente Sanchez and Pedro Amante took hold of her hands, and she
said: "Why do you hold me, you are like dogs." The girl had not as yet recovered her strength, and it was an easy matter
for Vicente Sanchez and Pedro Amante to throw her ground, which they covered-with their shirts.
• She wanted to shout, but Vicente Sanchez covered her mouth with a handkerchief and violated her, while Pedro
Amante held her feet and looked on. Pedro Amante then took his turn, notwithstanding her protest and remarks,
telling him that the actions of his companions were more than those of animals. Pedro Amante took hold of her hands,
and succeeded in violating her.
• After the consummation of the carnal act, Pedro Amante helped the girl to stand up and to walk until they arrived near
Josefa Sto. Domingo's house, where he left her. Vicente Sanchez then said: "You wait here, I will see if Pedro is in
Josefa Sto. Domingo's house," promising to return for her.
• As she thought that it was probably about 11 o'clock and Vicente Sanchez has not yet arrived, she went alone to Josefa
Sto. Domingo's house and inquired for Vicente Sanchez. The former replied that he had already gone. After a short while
Vicente Sanchez and Pedro Amante arrived. She asked the former: "Why did you leave me?, you promised to return for
me." He then replied: "I merely went to get you dress and Eligio Amante's shirt." Pedro Amante gave her shirts and told
her that he would go to the house where Vicente Sanchez stayed and get her clothes.
• When Vicente Sanchez and Pedro Amante had left, Patrocinio Botardo asked Josefa Sto. Domingo to let her lie down for
a short time because she felt very weak. Josefa Sto. Domingo asked her: "Why are you so weak?" and she replied:
"Because those four men violated me."
• Josefa Sto. Domingo gave her a mat and a blanket upon which she lay down, while the former prepared the food.
Patrocinio Botardo fell asleep and Josefa Sto. Domingo awakened her to eat. While she was eating, Pedro Amante
arrived with her clothes, and told her that she should go on ahead to the municipality of Oas, Albay, and wait for
him there.
• She asked Pedro Amante: "Why won’t you go with me, after taking me away from home, you want to leave alone?"
After eating, Pedro Amante said to her: "You dress because I have to take an auto," and he gave her P0.75 to pay her fare
from Baao to Oas, telling her that he could not go with her because he already found work, but that he would go to Ligao
the following Saturday to get her and marry her.
• After having waited together on the road for some time at about 2 o'clock in the afternoon a truck for Oas came along
and she took it. Upon arriving at Oas, the girl went to her aunt Florencia Angelo's house where she stopped to wait for
Pedro Amante. She remained in Oas for about three weeks, but Pedro Amante did not appear, and she did not
want to return to Baao because she was ashamed of what had happened to her.

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• After three weeks her mother, Martiniana Botardo, came to get her, but she did not want to go with her mother saying
that she was ashamed because Pedro and Eligio Amante, and Vicente and Francisco Sanchez had violated her. Martiniana
Botardo then returned to Baao to tell Juan Botardo, her brother, what had happened, who went back to Oas with her to
get the girl.
• When all of them had returned to Baao, Juan Botardo filed a complaint against Pedro Amante, Eligio Amante, Vicente
Sanchez, Francisco Sanchez and Norberto Iballa, husband of Josefa Sto. Domingo.

EVIDENCE:
• Josefa Sto. Domingo saw that the blanket which she had used was stained with blood, which could not be removed by
the first washing.
• Medical examination on August 12, 1926: Hymen ruptured and a large amount of a mucous like secretion in the vaginal
canal due to a slight inflammation of the vagina, which might have been caused by a sexual intercourse.

DEFENSE:
• Vicente Sanchez claims that on July 21,1925 he went to Naga, a distance of 30 kilometers from Baao, to order a silk
shirt from his old sewing woman Esperanza Margallo, living in his aunt Pilar Sanchez' house until the following day,
when he returned to Baao, arriving there at 3 o'clock in the afternoon.
• The accused Francisco Sanchez attempted to prove that on July 15, 1925, at the request of his sister Pilar, he went to
Naga to supervise the repairs on her house and did not return to Baao until the 4th of the following August.
• The accused Pedro and Eligio Amante tried to prove that during the day in question, they were working on the
construction of Mariquita Motos' house in Baao, and that they had not left the place.
• Josefa Sto. Domingo’s testimony that she did not see any of the accused in her house, and that Patrocinio had been in
her house accompanied by two unknown men different from the accused. She testified in the preliminary investigation
because of threat by Juan Botardo, who told her that if she did not testify as he wanted her to, her husband would not be
excluded from the complaint and would not be released. DENIED by Juan Botardo

CFI of Camarines Sur: Eligio Amante, Francisco Sanchez, Pedro Amante and Vicente Sanchez GUILTY of the complex
crime of abduction with consent, with rape (or consented abduction with rape)
• PENALTY: Brothers Amante and F. Sanchez sentenced to 17 years, 4 months and 1 day reclusion temporal,
Vicente Sanchez, on account of being under 18 years of age to 12 years prision mayor, Indemnify the offended
party Patrocinio Botardo in the sum of P500, and each to pay one-fourth of the costs of the action.

ISSUES:
1. Whether the accused are guilty of the crime of consented abduction with rape in view of contradictory testimony of
witnesses? (YES)

2. Whether the relations, which, according to the prosecution existed between the offended party Patrocinio Botardo
and Pedro Amante, were against the will of the former and were brought by the use of force? (Not specifically answered
but still YES)

HELD:
1. Yes. Testimony CREDIBLE. Far from destroying the probative force of said testimony they strengthen the same, as
seen that neither could there have been a conspiracy nor a preconceived plan as to what they were to testify to.
Considering the varied points of view of persons and their perceptive ability, it is but natural that they should differ in
the narration of their observations. It is psychologically impossible that they should agree in all details. Hence, when
the testimony of two witnesses agrees even in its minute details, it ceases to be an accurate statement of the
subjective truth.

MAIDEN CREDIBILITY: The offended party is a young girl fifteen years of against whom there cannot be the least doubt
as to her chastity and honor.
• Like all maidens of her race, the loss of her virginity made her so ashamed that at first she did not want to return to her
town where two of those who had outraged her lived. A girl who has hardly begun to know the ways of the world, and
who has such a high and delicate regard for purity, is not capable of fabricating such a bestial and shameful act of
which she was a victim; her own sentiment of purity would rebel against such an idea, inasmuch as she would be
exposed to the scorn and disrespect of honest people.

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• This is shown by the fact that she was ashamed to tell even those who had violated her that she had been
violated, and in accusing those who first had sexual intercourse with her, she only said to those who succeeded them
that they wanted to violate her.

2. YES. The contention of the defense that Patrocinio’s confidence in Amante’s promise after she was violated disproves
her testimony of the outrage she suffered is without merit. If the position in which she found herself and the loss of what
all reputable women consider as their most precious possession are taken into consideration, it is not strange that in
order to save herself from dishonor she should still continue believing him, as a drowning man who clings to the
smallest floating object to save himself from drowning.

DISPOSITIVE: Affirmed CFI Ruling

Elements of Consented Abduction:
• That offended party must be a virgin
• That she must be OVER 12 and UNDER 18 years of age
• That the TAKING AWAY of the offended party must be WITH HER CONSENT, after solicitation or cajolery from the
offender
• That the taking away of the offended party must be with lewd designs

13. Samilin vs. CFI

APOLINARIO SAMILIN, petitioner,
vs.
THE COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE OF PANGASINAN, respondent.
BUTTE, J p:
October 15, 1932

TOPIC: PROSECUTION OF CRIMES OF ADULTERY, CONCUBINAGE, SEDUCTION, ABDUCTION, RAPE AND ACTS OF
LASCIVIOUSNESS

NATURE: Original petition praying that a writ of prohibition issue to the respondent court commanding it to desist and
refrain from further proceedings in criminal case No. 12004 entitled the People vs. Apolinario Samilin, in which the
defendant (petitioner here) is on trial for the crime of rape.

FACTS:
• April 16, 1931: Criminal case (Rape committed to girl of 12 yrs. old) was commenced on, by a complaint signed and
filed by the chief of police of the municipality of San Manuel, Pangasinan, before the justice of the peace, in conformity
with the provisions of Act No. 1773
• After a finding of probable cause, the case was sent to the CFI Pangasinan
• June 11, 1931: the provincial fiscal signed and filed an information against the accused for the said crime of rape, again
pursuant to Act No. 1773
• June 29, 1931: the petitioner was duly arraigned, and he pleaded not guilty
• November 17, 1931: the trial began with the testimony of the alleged offended party. The trial was continued and set
for hearing on January 13, 1932.
• January 1, 1932: Revised Penal Code (Act No. 3815) took effect.
• January 13, 1932: Trial resumed; the accused through his counsel moved that the court dismiss the case for lack of
jurisdiction, invoking article 22 in connection with articles 344, paragraph 2, 336 and 367 of the Revised Penal Code.
• February 9, 1932: Court denied said motion and the subsequent motion for reconsideration.
• LAWS:
o RPC 22: "Retroactive effect of penal laws. — Penal Laws shall have a retroactive effect insofar as they favor
the persons guilty of a felony, who is not a habitual criminal, as this term is defined in Rule 5 of Article 62 of
this Code, although at the time of the publication of such laws a final sentence has been pronounced and the
convict is serving the same.”
o RPC 344, paragraph 2: The offenses of seduction, abduction, rape or acts of lasciviousness, shall not be
prosecuted except upon a complaint filed by the offended party or her parents, grandparents, or
guardian, nor, in any case, if the offender has been expressly pardoned by the above named persons, as the case
may be.
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 o Section 1 of Act No. 1773, which took effect October 11, 1907, provides: "Hereafter the crimes of adultery,
estupro (rape of minor), abduction, rape, calumny (slander), and libel, as defined by the Penal Code of the
Philippine Islands, shall be deemed to be public crimes and shall be prosecuted in the same manner as are all
other crimes defined by said Penal Code or by the Acts of the Philippine Commission.
o Act No. 1773 was expressly repealed by article 367 of the Revised Penal Code, saving, however, the cases
covered by article 366 which reads as follows: "Application of laws enacted prior to this Code. — Without
prejudice to the provisions contained in Article 22 of this Code, felonies and misdemeanors, committed prior
to the date of effectiveness of this Code shall be punished in accordance with the Code or Acts in force at the
time of their commission.

PETITIONER:
o Complaint was not signed or filed by the aggrieved party (in this case a girl of 12 years), or her parents, grand-
parents or guardian, the court is now without jurisdiction to proceed with prosecution.
o Since January 1, 1932, the RPC 344, paragraph 2, prosecution for rape requires that the complaint shall be made by the
offended party or her parents, grand- parents or guardian as the case may be.
o This is a jurisdictional requirement and the requirement favors the petitioner; and under RPC 22, said requirement
must be given a retroactive effect and relate back to the complaint filed in this case.

ISSUES:
1. Whether the requirement of article 344, paragraph 2, that the complaint must be made by the aggrieved party or her
relatives favor persons charged with the crimes there mentioned? In other words, should it be given retroactive effect?
(NO)
a. Whether by virtue of the enactment of RPC, the offense is now a private offense out of what was under the
previous code a public offense? (NO)
2. Whether the requirement is jurisdictional in the sense that prosecutions in such cases, begun before January 1, 1932,
and pending thereafter, must be dismissed if the complaints were not signed and filed by the offended party or her
relatives as aforesaid? (NO)

HELD:
1. NO. Article 344, paragraph 2 cannot have retroactive effect as it was not made favorable to the accused. Article 22
makes the penal laws retroactive "favor the persons guilty of felony". Their appellants’ major premise, that article 344,
paragraph 2, is favorable to persons charged with the crimes there indicated fails. There can be no reasonable doubt that
CFI Pangasinan in this case should proceed to final judgment in accordance with article 366 of the Revised Penal Code
UNLESS article 22 stands in the way.
• Article 22 is not to be applied in this case (as provision not enacted to favor the accused); Article 366 applies
insofar as it applies the law at the time of the commission of the offense.
• PURPOSE OF ARTICLE 344: Moreover, it is patent that the provision requiring that the proceedings must be
initiated upon complaint filed by the offended party or her relatives, was enacted out of consideration for the
offended party and her family who might prefer to suffer the outrage in silence rather than go through
with the scandal of a public trial.
• It would be an insult to the Legislature to hold that article 344, paragraph 2 was enacted with the intention of
favoring seducers and rapists.
• Citing People of the Philippine Islands vs. Dionisio Candido, Article 344, paragraph 2:
o In this case, it was argued that the court had no jurisdiction upon the absence of a signature in the
complaint of the offended party as required by Article 344, paragraph 2. Defendant charged with the
crime of abduction with consent upon an information signed and filed by the provincial fiscal was
convicted and sentenced, and an appeal was filed in the SC. The motion for reconsideration was denied
and the judgment of conviction affirmed by the First Division.
• COMPARE WITH: Clemente Laceste vs. the Director of Prisons, Article 344, paragraph 3:
o Criminal liability of the offender which is extinguished upon marriage with offended party benefits co-
principals, accomplices and accessories after the fact of the abovementioned crimes." It is not to be
overlooked that article 344 provides that marriage "shall extinguish the criminal action or remit the
penalty already imposed upon him." It is obvious that the provision for the remission of all penalty upon
marriage is favorable both to the principal and the accessory.
1a. No, this is a mere verbal distinction, for it is the government in both cases that conducts the prosecution and
punishes the offender. Nor is it clear that a complaint is any less likely to be filed or any less likely to be vigorously
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prosecuted in the one case than in the other. It is not apparent that it can make any real difference to the accused
whether he is tried on a complaint filed by the offended party or on one filed by the fiscal.
● Indeed, it is conceivable that the offended party might insist upon the filing and trial of a complaint which an
experienced and impartial fiscal would be unwilling to file for technical reasons or for lack of sufficient evidence
that would lead to conviction. A private individual might file a complaint out of malice or other improper motive,
which would not ordinarily be imputable to the government or its officials.

2. NOT DOCTRINAL but People vs. Tolentino held that "it does not appear from the Revised Penal Code that it was the
intention of the law to divest Courts of First Instance of jurisdiction over crimes already acquired; the contrary is clearly
implied."
• Penal laws that relate to mere matters of form or procedure are colorless when examined to ascertain whether or
not they favor the accused. They are all designed to secure to the defendant a speedy and impartial trial in accordance
with law, without advantage either to the prosecution or to the defense.
• Viewed in this light, changes in procedure introduced by the Revised Penal Code are not to be given retroactive
effect in the sense that all proceedings prior to January 1, 1932, which conform to the law in force at the time, must be
overturned and new proceedings begun. Article 366 was enacted to avoid the havoc which would have resulted if said
changes had been made retroactive.

DISPOSITIVE: The petition for writ of prohibition is denied with costs against the petitioner.

SIMULATION OF BIRTHS, SUBSTITUTION OF ONE CHILD FOR ANOTHER AND CONCEALMENT OR ABANDONMENT
OF LEGITIMATE CHILD
c/o Hipolito

Art. 347. Simulation of births, substitution of one child for another and concealment or abandonment of a legitimate child.
— The simulation of births and the substitution of one child for another shall be punished by prision mayor and a fine of
not exceeding 1,000 pesos.

The same penalties shall be imposed upon any person who shall conceal or abandon any legitimate child with intent to
cause such child to lose its civil status.

Any physician or surgeon or public officer who, in violation of the duties of his profession or office, shall cooperate in the
execution of any of the crimes mentioned in the two next preceding paragraphs, shall suffer the penalties therein
prescribed and also the penalty of temporary special disqualification.

COMPARE WITH: Art. 276. Abandoning a minor. — The penalty of arresto mayor and a fine not exceeding 500 pesos shall
be imposed upon any one who shall abandon a child under seven years of age, the custody of which is incumbent upon
him.

When the death of the minor shall result from such abandonment, the culprit shall be punished by prision correccional in
its medium and maximum periods; but if the life of the minor shall have been in danger only, the penalty shall be prision
correccional in its minimum and medium periods.

The provisions contained in the two preceding paragraphs shall not prevent the imposition of the penalty provided for
the act committed, when the same shall constitute a more serious offense.

2. UNITED STATES vs. SATURNINO CAPILLO and PETRONA PADUGA

CARSON, J.: March 25, 1915 G.R. No. L-9279

FACTS:
• Information: Saturnino Capillo and Petrona Paduga charged with Crime of exposing a legitimate child to lose his
civil status
• August 12, 1913: in Manila, Saturnino Capillo and Petrona Paduga, conspiring and confederating together and
helping one another, did feloniously expose a child, 1 month old, the legitimate son of the accused Saturnino
Capillo and his wife Vicenta Umanbang to lose his civil status
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 • Saturnino Capillo, with intent to cause his legitimate child to lose his civil status and in cooperation with the
defendant Petrona Paduga, took the said without the permission of his mother Vicenta Umanbang or the
authority of the courts of this city and agreed with one Chua Pue Tee to deliver to him the said child and never to
claim it again
• Asking the said Chua Pue Tee at the same time to lend them the sum of P150 to defray the expenses incurred
by the defendant Saturnino Capillo during the last sickness and death of his wife Vicente Umanbang
• Received from said Chua Pue Tee the sum of P106 of which P50 corresponded to the defendant Saturnino
Capillo and P56 to defendant Petrona Paduga.
• That the living of said child under such circumstances in the possession of said Chua Pue Tee and His wife Sio
Suat King exposes said child to lose his civil status, to wit, that of the legitimate son of the said defendant
Saturnino Capillo and his wife Vicenta Umanbang to that of an unknown and nameless child or at the most to
that of the child of one Chua Pue Tee and his wife.
• Aggravating circumstance of price should be taken into consideration.
• August 21, 1913: Defendants pleaded not guilty
• September 1, 1913: the defendant’s counsel filed a motion, in the nature of a demurrer and argument
• That the case be DISMISSED, basing his contention upon the fact that the information fails to show facts of
sufficient weight to constitute a cause of action, that is, that the facts stated do not constitute a crime.
o Article 468 of the Penal Code in force, paragraph 2 of which is mentioned by the prosecuting attorney,
does not define as a crime the acts attributed to defendants. Nor is it inferred from the historical
precedents that the facts which gave rise to this case constitute a crime.
o The hypothesis of the legislator as to meaning of said paragraph 2 is the fact of concealing or exposing a
legitimate child with intent to cause such a child to lose his civil status, when this act is done by the
person to whom the child is entrusted for its nursing or for some other lawful purpose.
o This crime is rather applicable to Spain only, where nursing children are usually given to wet nurses,
living out in the country, who are not able to move their residence to the city where the child’s parents
live.
o In the Philippines the children are usually nursed by their own mother, and, if they are given to a wet
nurse, the latter goes to live at the house of the child’s parents.
CFI Manila: Considered it a demurrer to the information and plea of not guilty considered withdrawn; Granted Motion
and Dismissed the case
• Complaint did not state facts sufficient to constitute the crime charged.
• United States APPEALED

ISSUES:
1. Whether Article 468 of Penal Code penalizes abandonment of a child with the intent to lose its civil status and not
merely an exposure or danger to the loss of civil status or simple abandonment? (YES)
2. Whether the CFI properly dismissed the case for lack of cause of action? (YES)

HELD: (YES)
2. The contentions of the parties on this appeal turn upon the meaning which should be given to the word
“expusiere” as found in the original Spanish version.
o The verb “exponer” is given various meaning in “El Diccionario de la LenguaCastellanapor la Real Academia
Española,” 12th edition. Among others “arriesgar, aventurar, ponerunacosa en contingencia de perderse” (to
risk, to adventure, to put a thing in danger of being lost); and also “dejar a un niñoreciennacido a la puerta de
unaiglesia o casa o en otroparajepublico, por no tener con quecriarlosus padres o porque no se sepaquienes
son” (to leave a recently born baby at the door of a church, or a house or other public place, the parents not
having means to support it, or the paents being unknown).
o Having in mind the qualifying phrase which provides that the offense is committed when the child is
exposed “con animo de hacerleperdersuestado civil” (with intent to expose it to lose its civil status), the
word must be held to have been used by the authors of the code in the sense of to “abandon,” in some such
manner as is indicated in the last of the above cited meaning given the word in the “Diccionario”; that being
the clear, definite and well understood signification of the word when used by the Spanish authors of the
code with relation to infants or children, as it manifestly is in this article.
o The contention of the prosecution is that the true meaning of the language of the statute is that the
prescribed penalties are to be imposed upon “one who conceals, or exposes or subjects to danger of loss of
civil status, a legitimate child, with intent to cause it to lose its civil status.”
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 o But without the addition of the qualifying phrase “with intent to cause it (the infant) to lose its civil status,”
the transitive verbs “ocultare” and “expusiere” convey no thought of loss of civil status, and in construing the
verb “exponer” to mean “to expose or subject to danger of loss of civil status,” the prosecution gives to it a
meaning which is not found in any dictionary.
o It is worthy of observation, furthermore, that the transitive verb “expusiere” (shall expose) is joined in
grammatical construction with the verb “ocultare” (shall conceal) and, like it, has for its sole object the word
“child” (hijo), and sound principles of grammatical construction forbid the attempt to import into one of
these verbs a meaning from the common qualifying phrase which it is manifestly impossible to give to the
other.
• The practice of abandoning new-born infants and very young children at the door of hospitals, churches and other
religious institutions was formerly so well known in Spain that, as will be seen from the definition above cited from
the dictionary of the “Real Academia,” it gave rise to the use of the verb “exponer” (to expose) in a peculiar and
special sense with reference to this practice, when the grammatical object of the verb is an infant or small child. We
are well satisfied that it is in this sense that the word is used in the article of the code under consideration, and that
in this connection it may and should be construed in both Spanish and English by its substantial equivalent to
“abandon.”
“Expusiere” (shall expose) = ABANDONMENT
• Groizard: “the exposition which is caused by abandoning a new-born child in place where it cannot be easily
assisted, intending that it should perish and save the honor of the mother, is a crime against life. The exposition of a
child and the abandonment thereof in a place where it may not be in danger may be a crime against the safety of
persons. Only that which has for its purpose the deprivation of the new-born child’s civil status is what constitutes
the present crime.
o It is necessary that the acts committed by the guilty party plainly show his intent.
o The fact that one abandons, in the midst of a lonely forest, an unfortunate child that needs all kinds of
assistance during the first moments of coming into the world cannot be admitted as intent to destroy its civil
status, but as an attempt against its life.
o On the contrary, he who places at the door of a charitable person, a new-born child which is in condition to
stand the first in clemencies of the weather, is supposed to do it in order that it may be taken up and
protected, and therefore the legal presumption must be that he does not act with any other purpose than to
cause the loss of any trace as to the filiation of the child.”
• Viada: “Child must be understood a fully developed and living being, as the child born not capable of living has no
status, nor can he transmit any rights whatever. It is, therefore, an essential condition of this crime, that crime, that
the child who has been exposed or concealed shall have been born alive, and therefore, the clandestine burial of a
child who was born dead is not included within the provisions of the last paragraph of this article, although it may be
included within the provisions of article 349 of this Code.
o Exposition or concealment must be of a legitimate child and done with the intention of making him lose his
civil status, that is, his inherent rights as a legitimate child
o Were he illegitimate, or, were the intentions of the one who concealed or exposed the child different, the
act may constitute a crime against liberty and security, but certainly not an attempt against the civil status
of the child.”
2. Case properly dismissed. It is manifest from the information itself, and from the argument of counsel on the demurrer,
that the real object sought to be attained by the prosecution is to penalize, under the provisions of article 468 of the
code, the conduct of the father in turning over his new-born child to the Chinaman and his wife, with a promise not to
reclaim it, taking from the Chinaman for so doing money by way of loan or otherwise. But it is very clear that it was not
the intention of the authors of the coded to penalize such conduct by the provisions of the article relied upon by the
prosecution.
• It is urged that the transaction set forth in the information was in truth and effect a heartless sale of his own flesh
and blood by the accused for one hundred and odd pesos, and that he should not be permitted to go unpunished.
• It is not necessary for us to consider and decide, at this time, under what circumstances, if any, a father, left with a
motherless child, may turn it over to others with or without an agreement to reclaim it, or whether, in the event that
he does turn the child over to others, be would ever be permitted to receive money or other consideration from
those who adopt the child.
• Our ruling at this time is merely that the offense defined and penalized in article 468 of the Penal Code is not the
unlawful sale of a child by its father, and that such conduct cannot properly be penalized under its provisions.
• If the accused has been guilty of conduct constituting an offense of this kind, in violation of the laws of the Philippine
Islands, he should be charged with and tried for the offense actually committed, so that the penalty to be imposed
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 upon conviction may be adjudged by the courts in accord with the provisions of the statute defining and penalizing
the crime of which he is found guilty.
DISPOSITIVE: CFI AFFIRMED, CASE DISMISSED

BIGAMY
c/o Hipolito
RPC 349: The penalty of prision mayor shall be imposed upon any person who shall contract a second or subsequent
marriage before the former marriage has been legally dissolved, or before the absent spouse has been declared
presumptively dead by means of a judgment rendered in the proper proceedings.

2. CENON R. TEVES vs. PEOPLE and DANILO R. BONGALON

PEREZ, J.: August 24, 2011 G.R. No. 188775

FACTS:
• November 26, 1992: Cenon Teves and Thelma Jaime-Teves married at the MTC of Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila.
• After the marriage, Thelma left to work abroad. She would only come home to the Philippines for vacations.
• While on a vacation in 2002, she was informed that her husband had contracted marriage with a certain Edita
Calderon.
• To verify the information, she went to the National Statistics Office and secured a copy of the Certificate of
Marriage indicating that her husband and Edita contracted marriage on 10 December 2001 at the Divine Trust
Consulting Services, Malhacan, Meycauayan, Bulacan.
• February 13, 2006: Danilo Bongalon, uncle of Thelma, filed before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor of Malolos
City, Bulacan a complaint accusing petitioner of committing bigamy.
• May 4, 2006: Before the filing of information for the criminal case of bigamy, the RTC Caloocan rendered a
decision dated declaring the marriage of petitioner and Thelma null and void on the ground that Thelma is
physically incapacitated to comply with her essential marital obligations pursuant to Article 36 of the Family
Code (PSYCHOLOGICAL INCAPACITY).
• June 8, 2006: Teves was charged with bigamy under RPC 349 in an Information:
o December 10, 2001 up to the present: Meycauayan, Bulacan, Cenon R. Teves being previously united in lawful
marriage on November 26, 1992 with Thelma B. Jaime and without the said marriage having legally dissolved,
unlawfully contract a second marriage with one Edita T. Calderon, who knowing of the criminal design
of accused Cenon R. Teves to marry her and in concurrence thereof, unlawfully cooperate in the execution
of the offense by marrying Cenon R. Teves, knowing fully well of the existence of the marriage of the latter
with Thelma B. Jaime.
• June 27, 2006: Decision became final by virtue of a Certification of Finality
• RTC: TEVES GUILTY; Penalty: ISL 4 years, 2 months and 1 day of prision correccional, as minimum, to 6 years and 1
day of prision mayor, as maximum.
• Teves appealed the decision before the Court of Appeals contending that:
o His criminal action or liability had already been extinguished (marriage declared VOID)
o Defective Information filed by the prosecution
• CA: AFFIRMED RTC
• MOR filed but was DENIED.
Petitioner’s Arguments:
o Since his previous marriage was declared null and void, “there is in effect no marriage at all, and thus, there is no
bigamy to speak of.”
o Differentiates a previous valid or voidable marriage from a marriage null and void ab initio, and posits that the
former requires a judicial dissolution before one can validly contract a second marriage but a void marriage, for
the same purpose, need not be judicially determined.
o Ruling of the Court in Mercado v. Tan is inapplicable in his case because in the Mercado case the prosecution for
bigamy was initiated before the declaration of nullity of marriage was filed. In petitioner’s case, the first marriage
had already been legally dissolved at the time the bigamy case was filed in court.

ISSUE:

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Whether husband cannot be guilty of the crime of bigamy if the marriage was declared null and void before the filing of
the bigamy case in court? (NO, still GUILTY)

HELD: GUILTY of Bigamy; His contention that he cannot be charged with bigamy in view of the declaration of nullity of
his first marriage is bereft of merit.
• Elements of BIGAMY:
1. That the offender has been legally married;
2. That the marriage has not been legally dissolved or, in case his or her spouse is absent, the absent
spouse could not yet be presumed dead according to the Civil Code;
3. That he contracts a second or subsequent marriage; and
4. That the second or subsequent marriage has all the essential requisites for validity.
• 2nd MARRIAGE:
o Element 1: Petitioner was legally married to Thelma on 26 November 1992 at the Metropolitan
Trial Court of Muntinlupa City. He contracted a second or subsequent marriage with Edita on 10
December 2001 in Meycauayan, Bulacan.
o Element 2&3: At the time of his second marriage with Edita, his marriage with Thelma was legally
subsisting. It is noted that the finality of the decision declaring the nullity of his first marriage
with Thelma was only on 27 June 2006 or about five (5) years after his second marriage to Edita.
o Element 4: Finally, the second or subsequent marriage of petitioner with Edita has all the
essential requisites for validity. Petitioner has in fact not disputed the validity of such
subsequent marriage.
• Family Code: A declaration of the absolute nullity of a marriage is now explicitly required either as a cause
of action or a ground for defense. Where the absolute nullity of a previous marriage is sought to be
invoked for purposes of contracting a second marriage, the sole basis acceptable in law for said
projected marriage to be free from legal infirmity is a final judgment declaring the previous marriage
void.
• The Family Law Revision Committee and the Civil Code Revision Committee took the position that
parties to a marriage should not be allowed to assume that their marriage is void even if such be
the fact but must first secure a judicial declaration of the nullity of their marriage before they can be
allowed to marry again.
• PURPOSE OF REQUIREMENT FOR JUDICIAL DECLARATION: It is also for the protection of the spouse
who, believing that his or her marriage is illegal and void, marries again. With the judicial declaration of
the nullity of his or her marriage, the person who marries again cannot be charged with bigamy.
• A judicial declaration of nullity is required before a valid subsequent marriage can be contracted;
or else, what transpires is a bigamous marriage, reprehensible and immoral.
• If petitioner’s contention would be allowed, a person who commits bigamy can simply evade prosecution
by immediately filing a petition for the declaration of nullity of his earlier marriage and hope that a
favorable decision is rendered therein before anyone institutes a complaint against him.
• We note that in petitioner’s case the complaint was filed before the first marriage was declared a
nullity. It was only the filing of the Information that was overtaken by the declaration of nullity of his
first marriage. Following petitioner’s argument, even assuming that a complaint has been instituted, such
as in this case, the offender can still escape liability provided that a decision nullifying his earlier marriage
precedes the filing of the Information in court.
• Such cannot be allowed. To do so would make the crime of bigamy dependent upon the ability or inability
of the Office of the Public Prosecutor to immediately act on complaints and eventually file Informations
in court. Plainly, petitioner’s strained reading of the law is against its simple letter.
• Settled is the rule that criminal culpability attaches to the offender upon the commission of the
offense, and from that instant, liability appends to him until extinguished as provided by law, and
that the time of filing of the criminal complaint (or Information, in proper cases) is material only
for determining prescription.
• The crime of bigamy was committed by petitioner on 10 December 2001 when he contracted a second
marriage with Edita. The finality on 27 June 2006 of the judicial declaration of the nullity of his previous
marriage to Thelma cannot be made to retroact to the date of the bigamous marriage.

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DISPOSITIVE: WHEREFORE, the instant petition for review is DENIED and the assailed Decision dated 21 January 2009
of the Court of Appeals is AFFIRMED in toto.

3. ATILANO O. NOLLORA, JR. vs. PEOPLE

CARPIO, J.: G.R. No. 191425 September 7, 2011

FACTS:
• April 6, 1999: First marriage between Atilano O. Nollora, Jr. and Jesusa Pinat Nollora solemnized on
at [IE]MELIF Church, Sapang Palay, San Jose del Monte. Rev. Jonathan De Mesa, Minister of the IEMELIF
Church officiated the ceremony.
• December 8, 2001: Atilano O. Nollora, Jr. contracted the second marriage with Rowena Gerldino at Max’s Restaurant,
Quezon Avenue, Quezon City, Metro Manila. Rev. Honorato D. Santos officiated the ceremony.
• P. Geraldino on in Quezon City (admitted in a counter-affidavit by both parties, Certificate of Marriage)
• August 24, 2004: Information against Atilano O. Nollora, Jr. and Rowena P. Geraldino for the crime of Bigamy.:
o December 8, 2001: ATILANO O. NOLLORA, JR., being then legally married to one JESUSA PINAT NOLLORA,
and as said marriage has not been legally dissolved and still subsisting, did then and there unlawfully
contract a subsequent or second marriage with his co-accused ROWENA P. GERALDINO, who knowingly
consented and agreed to be married to her co-accused ATILANO O. NOLLORA, JR. knowing him to be a
married man, to the damage and prejudice of the said offended party JESUSA PINAT NOLLORA.”
• Nollora assisted by counsel, refused to enter his plea. Hence, a plea of not guilty was entered by the Court for him.
Accused Geraldino, on the other hand, entered a plea of not guilty when arraigned

Prosecution:
• Jesusa Pinat Nollora testified that she and accused Atilano O. Nollora, Jr. met in Saudi Arabia while she was working
there as a Staff Midwife in King Abdulah Naval Base Hospital
• While working in said hospital, she heard rumors that her husband has another wife and because of anxiety and
emotional stress, she left Saudi Arabia and returned to the Philippines (
• Upon arrival in the Philippines, the private complainant learned that indeed, Atilano O. Nollora, Jr. contracted a
second marriage with co-accused Rowena P. Geraldino on December 8, 2001 when she secured a certification as to
the civil status of Atilano O. Nollora, Jr. from the National Statistics Office (NSO) sometime in November 2003.
• Upon learning this information, the private complainant confronted Rowena P. Geraldino on Novermber 2003 with a
friend (Ruth Santos) at Rowena’s workplace in CBW, FTI, Taguig and asked her if she knew of the first marriage
between complainant and Atilano O. Nollora, Jr. to which Rowena P. Geraldino allegedly affirmed and despite this
knowledge, she allegedly still married Atilano O. Nollora, Jr. because she loves him so much and because they were
neighbors and childhood friends.
• Private complainant also knew that Rowena P. Geraldino knew of her marriage with Atilano O. Nollora, Jr., because
when she (private complainant) was brought by Atilano O. Nollora, Jr. at the latter’s residence in Taguig, Metro
Manila and introduced her to Atilano O. Nollora, Jr.’s parents, Rowena P. Geraldino was there in the house together
with a friend and she heard everything that they were talking about.
• Because of this case, private complainant was not able to return to Saudi Arabia to work as a Staff Midwife thereby
losing income opportunity in the amount of P34,000.00 a month, more or less.
• When asked about the moral damages she suffered, she declared that what happened to her was a tragedy and she
had entertained [thoughts] of committing suicide. She added that because of what happened to her, her mother died
and she almost got raped when Atilano O. Nollora, Jr. left her alone in their residence in Saudi Arabia.
• However, she declared that money is not enough to assuage her sufferings. Instead, she just asked for the return of
her money in the amount of P50,000

Defense:
Atilano’s testimony
• “Accused Atilano O. Nollora, Jr. admitted having contracted two (2) marriages, the first with private
complainant Jesusa Pinat and the second with Rowena P. Geraldino. He, however, claimed that he was a Muslim
convert way back on January 10, 1992, even before he contracted the first marriage with the private complainant. As
a Muslim convert, he is allegedly entitled to marry four (4) wives as allowed under the Muslim or Islam belief

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• PROOF OF MUSLIM FAITH:
o Certificate of Conversion dated August 2, 2004 issued by one Hadji Abdul Kajar Madueño and approved by
one Khad Ibrahim A. Alyamin wherein it is stated that Atilano O. Nollora, Jr. allegedly converted as a Muslim
since January 19, 1992 (
o Pledge of Conversion dated January 10, 1992 issued by the same Hadji Abdul Kajar Madueño and approved
by one Khad Ibrahim A. Alyamin
• He claimed that the private complaint knew that he was a Muslim convert prior to their marriage because he told
this fact when he was courting her in Saudi Arabia and the reason why said private complainant filed the instant
case was due to hatred having learned of his second marriage with Rowena P. Geraldino.
• He further testified that Rowena P. Geraldino was not aware of his first marriage with the private complainant and
he did not tell her this fact because Rowena P. Geraldino is a Catholic and he does not want to lose her if she learns
of his first marriage.
• He explained that in his Marriage Contract with Jesusa Pinat, it is indicated that he was a ‘Catholic Pentecostal’
but that he was not aware why it was placed as such on said contract. In his Marriage Contract with Rowena
P. Geraldino, the religion ‘Catholic’ was also indicated because he was keeping as a secret his being a Muslim
since the society does not approve of marrying a Muslim. He also indicated that he was ‘single’ despite his first
marriage to keep said first marriage a secret

Madueno’s Testimony
• Defense witness Hadji Abdul Qasar Madueño testified that he is the founder and president
of Balik Islam Tableegh Foundation of the Philippines and as such president, he has the power and authority to
convert any applicant to the Muslim religion.
• He declared that a Muslim convert could marry more than one according to the Holy Koran. However, before
marrying his second, third and fourth wives, it is required that the consent of the first Muslim wife be secured.
Thus, if the first wife is not a Muslim, there is no necessity to secure her consent
• If a Muslim convert gets married not in accordance with the Muslim faith, the same is contrary to the teachings of
the Muslim faith. A Muslim also can marry up to four times but he should be able to treat them equally. He
claimed that he was not aware of the first marriage but was aware of the second. Since the second marriage with
Rowena P.Geraldino was not in accordance with the Muslim faith, he advised Atilano O. Nollora, Jr. to re-marry
Rowena P. Geraldino in accordance with Muslim marriage celebration, otherwise, he will not be considered as a true
Muslim

Geraldino’s testimony
• Accused Rowena P. Geraldino alleged that she was only a victim in this incident of bigamous marriage. She claimed
that she does not know the private complainant Jesusa Pinat Nollora and only came to know her when this case was
filed.
• She insists that she is the one lawfully married to Atilano O. Nollora, Jr., having been married to the latter since
December 8, 2001. Upon learning that Atilano O.Nollora, Jr. contracted a first marriage with the private complainant,
she confronted the former who admitted the said marriage.
• Prior to their marriage, she asked Atilano O. Nollora, Jr. if he was single and the latter responded that he was single.
She also knew that her husband was a Catholic prior to their marriage but after she learned of the first marriage of
her husband, she learned that he is a Muslim convert.
• She also claimed that after learning that her husband was a Muslim convert, she and Atilano O. Nollora Jr., also got
married in accordance with the Muslim rites.
• She also belied the allegations of the private complainant about their confrontation and alleged that she came only to
know private complainant at the filing of the case.

RTC: Nollora guilty of bigamy under RPC 349. Rowena Geraldino (Geraldino) was acquitted for the prosecution’s
failure to prove her guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Penalty: prison term of two (2) years, four (4) months and one (1)
day of prision correccional, as minimum of his indeterminate sentence, to eight (8) years and one (1) day
of prision mayor, as maximum, plus accessory penalties provided by law.
o Accused Atilano Nollora, Jr., in marrying his second wife, co-accused Rowena P. Geraldino, and did not comply
with the above-mentioned provision of the law. In fact, he did not even declare that he was a Muslim convert in
both marriages, indicating his criminal intent. In his converting to the Muslim faith, said accused entertained
the mistaken belief that he can just marry anybody again after marrying the private complainant.

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 o What is clear, therefore, is that a Muslim is not given an unbridled right to just marry anybody the second, third
or fourth time. There are requirements that the Shari’a law imposes, that is, he should have notified
the Shari’a Court where his family resides so that copy of said notice should be furnished to the first wife. The
argument that notice to the first wife is not required since she is not a Muslim is of no moment. This obligation
to notify the said court rests upon accused Atilano
Nollora, Jr. It is not for him to interpret the Shari’a law. It is the Shari’a Court that has this authority.
o In an apparent attempt to escape criminal liability, the accused recelebrated their marriage in accordance with
the Muslim rites. However, this can no longer cure the criminal liability that has already been violated.
o NO LIABILITY FOR GERALDINO: No sufficient evidence that would pin accused Rowena P. Geraldino down. The
evidence presented by the prosecution against her is the allegation that she knew of the first marriage between
private complainant and Atilano Nollora, Jr., is insufficient, being open to several interpretations.
o Private complainant alleged that when she was brought by Atilano Nollora, Jr., to the latter’s house in Taguig,
Metro Manila, Rowena P. Geraldino was there standing near the door and heard their conversation. From this
incident, private complainant concluded that said Rowena P. Geraldino was aware that she and Atilano Nollora,
Jr., were married.
o This conclusion is obviously misplaced since it could not be reasonably presumed that Rowena
P. Geraldino understands what was going on between her and Atilano Nollora, Jr. It is axiomatic that
“(E)very circumstance favoring accused’s innocence must be taken into account, proof against him must survive
the test of reason and the strongest suspicion must not be permitted to sway judgment”
CA: DISMISSED appeal and affirmed TC
o The appellate court rejected Nollora’s defense that his second marriage to Geraldino was in lawful exercise of his
Islamic religion and was allowed by the Qur’an.
o The appellate court denied Nollora’s invocation of his religious beliefs and practices to the prejudice of the non-
Muslim women who married him pursuant to Philippine civil laws. Nollora’s two marriages were not conducted
in accordance with the Code of Muslim Personal Laws, hence the Family Code of the Philippines should apply.
o Nollora’s claim of religious freedom will not immobilize the State and render it impotent in protecting the
general welfare.
o Denied MOR

Issue: Whether Nollora is guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of bigamy.
Held: YES.
• Only two exceptions to prosecution for bigamy: Article 41 of the Family Code, or Executive Order No. 209, and
Article 180 of the Code of Muslim Personal Laws of the Philippines, or Presidential Decree No. 1083.
o Art. 41. Absent for four consecutive years and the spouse present has a well-founded belief that the absent
spouse was already dead. Disappearance where there is danger of death for two years shall be sufficient.
o Art. 180. Law applicable. — The provisions of the Revised Penal Code relative to the crime of bigamy
shall not apply to a person married in accordance with the provisions of this Code or, before its
effectivity, under Muslim law.
• Petitioner invokes his faith as a defense for the crime. For the defense of his Muslim faith to apply, the marriage must
be solemnized in accordance with Muslim law or Code.
• Nollora cannot deny that both marriage ceremonies were not conducted in accordance with the Code of Muslim
Personal Laws, or Presidential Decree No. 1083. The applicable Articles in the Code of Muslim Personal Laws read:
o Art. 14. Nature. - Marriage is not only a civil contract but a civil institution. Its nature, consequences and
incidents are governed by this Code and the Shari’a and not subject to stipulation, except that the marriage
settlements to a certain extent fix the property relations of the spouses.
o Art. 15. Essential Requisites. - No marriage contract shall be perfected unless the following essential
requisites are complied with:
(a) Legal capacity of the contracting parties;
(b) Mutual consent of the parties freely given;
(c) Offer (ijab) and acceptance (qabul) duly witnessed by at least two competent persons after the proper
guardian in marriage (wali) has given his consent; and
(d) Stipulation of the customary dower (mahr) duly witnessed by two competent persons.
o Art. 16. Capacity to contract marriage. - (1) Any Muslim male at least fifteen years of age and any Muslim
female of the age of puberty or upwards and not suffering from any impediment under the provisions of this
Code may contract marriage. A female is presumed to have attained puberty upon reaching the age of fifteen.

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 o Art. 17. Marriage Ceremony. - No particular form of marriage ceremony is required but the ijab and
the qabul in marriage shall be declared publicly in the presence of the person solemnizing the marriage and
the two competent witnesses. The declaration shall be set forth in an instrument in triplicate, signed or
marked by the contracting parties and said witnesses, and attested by the person solemnizing the marriage.
One copy shall be given to the contracting parties and another sent to the Circuit Registrar by the
solemnizing officer who shall keep the third.
o Art. 18. Authority to solemnize marriage. - Marriage maybe solemnized:
(a) By the proper wali by the woman to be wedded;
(b) Upon the authority of the proper wali, by any person who is competent under Muslim law to solemnize
marriage; or
(c) By the judge of the Shari’a District Court or Shari’a Circuit Court or any person designated by the judge,
should the proper wali refuse without justifiable reason, to authorize the solemnization.
o Art. 19. Place of solemnization. - Marriage shall be solemnized publicly in any mosque, office of
the Shari’a judge, office of the Circuit Registrar, residence of the bride or her wali, or at any other suitable
place agreed upon by the parties.
o Art. 20. Specification of dower. - The amount or value of dower may be fixed by the contracting parties
(mahr-musamma) before, during or after the celebration of marriage. If the amount or the value thereof has
not been so fixed, a proper dower (mahr-mithl) shall, upon petition of the wife, be determined by the court
according to the social standing of the parties.
o Article 27 of the Code of Muslim Personal Laws of the Philippines, which provides the qualifications for
allowing Muslim men to have more than one wife: “[N]o Muslim male can have more than one wife unless he
can deal with them in equal companionship and just treatment as enjoined by Islamic Law and only in
exceptional cases.”
o The principle in Islam is that monogamy is the general rule and polygamy is allowed only to meet
urgent needs. Only with the permission of the court can a Muslim be permitted to have a second wife
subject to certain requirements. This is because having plurality of wives is merely tolerated, not
encouraged, under certain circumstances
o Arbitration is necessary. Any Muslim husband desiring to contract subsequent marriages, before so doing,
shall notify the Shari’a Circuit Court of the place where his family resides. The clerk of court shall serve
a copy thereof to the wife or wives. Should any of them object; an Agama Arbitration Council shall be
constituted. If said council fails to secure the wife’s consent to the proposed marriage, the Court shall,
subject to Article 27, decide whether on not to sustain her objection (Art. 162, Muslim Personal Laws of the
Philippines).
• In this case, since the marriage is between a Muslim and a non-Muslim and it was not celebrated in accordance with
Muslim law and the following law applies:
o Article 13(2) of the Code of Muslim Personal Laws states that “[i]n case of a marriage between a Muslim
and a non-Muslim, solemnized not in accordance with Muslim law or this Code, the [Family Code of
the Philippines, or Executive Order No. 209, in lieu of the Civil Code of the Philippines] shall apply.
• Thus, the Family Code applies to the Muslim spouse and the requirements for validity must be followed; the
exception to the application of the RPC stated in Art. 180 of Muslim Code does not apply.
• Elements of Bigamy:
1. That the offender has been legally married.
2. That the marriage has not been legally dissolved or, in case his or her spouse is absent, the absent spouse could not yet
be presumed dead according to the Civil Code.
3. That he contracts a second or subsequent marriage.
4. That the second or subsequent marriage has all the essential requisites for validity
• The circumstances in the present case satisfy all the elements of bigamy.
(1) Nollora is legally married to Pinat;
o EVIDENCE OF FIRST MARRIAGE:
o Marriage certificate
(2) Nollora and Pinat’s marriage has not been legally dissolved prior to the date of the second marriage;
(3) Nollora admitted the existence of his second marriage to Geraldino and
o EVIDENCE OF 2nd MARRIAGE:
o Marriage certificate
o A certification dated 4 November 2003 from the Office of the Civil Registrar General reads: We certify
that ATILANO JR O. NOLLORA who is alleged to have been born on February 22, 1968 from ATILANO M.
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 NOLLORA SR and FLAVIANA OCLARIT, appears in our National Indices of Marriage for Groom for the
years 1973 to 2002.
(4) Nollora and Geraldino’s marriage has all the essential requisites for validity except for the lack of capacity
of Nollora due to his prior marriage
o Nollora asserted in his marriage certificate with Geraldino that his civil status is “single.” Moreover, both
of Nollora’s marriage contracts do not state that he is a Muslim. Although the truth or falsehood of the declaration of
one’s religion in the marriage certificate is not an essential requirement for marriage, such omissions are sufficient
proofs of Nollora’s liability for bigamy.
o Nollora’s false declaration about his civil status is thus further compounded by the omissions in both marriage
certificates: he being single and being Catholic Pentecostal because he wanted to keep it a secret since society doesn’t
approve a Catholic to marry another religion and his being single was because he wanted to keep his first
marriage secret. He was also not able to secure permission from his first wife because she was very mad at him.
o Even though 2nd bigamous marriage would be considered void, there is a recognition written into the law itself that
such a marriage, although void ab initio, may still produce legal consequences. Among these legal consequences
is incurring criminal liability for bigamy. To hold otherwise would render the State’s penal laws on bigamy
completely nugatory, and allow individuals to deliberately ensure that each marital contract be flawed in some manner,
and to thus escape the consequences of contracting multiple marriages, while beguiling throngs of hapless women with
the promise of futurity and commitment.

DISPOSITIVE: Petition DENIED. the petition. CA Decision AFFIRMED.

• GUILTY OF BIGAMY; Penalty of imprisonment with a term of two years, four months and one day
of prision correccional as minimum to eight years and one day of prision mayor as maximum of his indeterminate
sentence, as well as the accessory penalties provided by law.

4. VERONICO TENEBRO vs. COURT OF APPEALS

YNARES-SANTIAGO, J.: G.R. No. 150758 February 18, 2004

DOCTRINE: Bigamy is still committed though marriage is ab initio null and void (if marriage is contracted before the
judicial declaration of its nullity). Subsequent judicial declaration of nullity of marriage on the ground of psychological
incapacity does not retroact to the date of the celebration of the marriage insofar as the Philippines’ penal laws are
concerned. As such, an individual who contracts a second or subsequent marriage during the subsistence of a valid
marriage is criminally liable for bigamy, notwithstanding the subsequent declaration that the second marriage is void ab
initio on the ground of psychological incapacity.

FACTS:
• April 10, 1990: Veronico Tenebro, contracted marriage with private complainant Leticia Ancajas wed by Judge
Alfredo B. Perez, Jr. of the City Trial Court of Lapu-lapu City.
• Tenebro and Ancajas lived together continuously and without interruption until the latter part of 1991, when
Tenebro informed Ancajas that he had been previously married to a certain Hilda Villareyes on November 10,
1986, solemnized at Manila City Hall before Rev. Julieto Torres, a Minister of the Gospel.
• Tenebro showed Ancajas a photocopy of a marriage contract between him and Villareyes.
• Invoking this previous marriage, Tenebro thereafter left the conjugal dwelling which he shared with Ancajas, stating
that he was going to cohabit with Villareyes
• January 25, 1993: Tenebro contracted yet another marriage, this one with a certain Nilda Villegas, before Judge
German Lee, Jr. of the RTC Cebu
• When Ancajas learned of this third marriage, she verified from Villareyes whether the latter was indeed married to
petitioner. In a handwritten letter, Villareyes confirmed that petitioner, Veronico Tenebro, was indeed her husband.
• Ancajas thereafter filed a complaint for bigamy against petitioner.
• September 1995: Information
o April 10, 1990, in Lapu-lapu, Philippines, accused, having been previously united in lawful marriage with
Hilda Villareyes, and without the said marriage having been legally dissolved, did then and there willfully,
unlawfully and feloniously contract a second marriage with LETICIA ANCAJAS, which second or subsequent
marriage of the accused has all the essential requisites for validity were it not for the subsisting first
marriage.
• When arraigned, petitioner entered a plea of "not guilty".

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• November 20, 1995: Judicial declaration of nullity of 2nd marriage by virtue of psychological incapacity as penned
by Judge Epifanio C. Llano of the Regional Trial Court of Argao, Cebu, Branch 26

DEFENSE:
• During the trial, petitioner admitted having cohabited with Villareyes from 1984-1988, with whom he sired two
children. However, he denied that he and Villareyes were validly married to each other, claiming that no marriage
ceremony took place to solemnize their union.
• He alleged that he signed a marriage contract merely to enable her to get the allotment from his office in
connection with his work as a seaman.
• He further testified that he requested his brother to verify from the Civil Register in Manila whether there was any
marriage at all between him and Villareyes, but there was no record of said marriage
• November 10, 1997: the Regional Trial Court of Lapu-lapu City, Branch 54, GUILTY of bigamy
o PENALTY: 4 years and 2 months of prision correccional, as minimum, to 8 years and 1 day of prision mayor,
as maximum.
• CA: Affirmed the decision of the trial court. Petitioner’s motion for reconsideration was denied for lack of merit.

Defense:
▪ He (1) denies the existence of his first marriage to Villareyes, and
▪ He (2) argues that the declaration of the nullity of the second marriage on the ground of psychological incapacity,
which is an alleged indicator that his marriage to Ancajas lacks the essential requisites for validity, retroacts to the
date on which the second marriage was celebrated.
▪ Hence, petitioner argues that all four of the elements of the crime of bigamy are absent, and prays for his acquittal.

ISSUES:
1. Whether the accused is guilty of bigamy despite the non-existence, as alleged, of the first marriage? (Guilty,
inexistence not proven)
2. Whether the accused is guilty of bigamy despite the declaration of nullity of 2 nd marriage on the ground of
psychological incapacity? (YES)

HELD: GUILTY of Bigamy

• Under Article 349 of the Revised Penal Code, the elements of the crime of Bigamy are:
(1) that the offender has been legally married;
(2) that the first marriage has not been legally dissolved or, in case his or her spouse is absent, the absent spouse
could not yet be presumed dead according to the Civil Code;
(3) that he contracts a second or subsequent marriage; and
(4) that the second or subsequent marriage has all the essential requisites for validity
1. EVIDENCE OF FIRST MARRIAGE:
(1) a copy of a marriage contract between Tenebro and Villareyes, dated November 10, 1986
(2) a handwritten letter from Villareyes to Ancajas dated July 12, 1994, informing Ancajas that Villareyes and
Tenebro were legally married
• To assail the veracity of the marriage contract, petitioner presented:
o (1) a certification issued by the National Statistics Office dated October 7, 1995
o (2) a certification issued by the City Civil Registry of Manila, dated February 3, 1997.
o Both these documents attest that the respective issuing offices have no record of a marriage celebrated
between Veronico B. Tenebro and Hilda B. Villareyes on November 10, 1986.
• Neither document attests as a positive fact that there was no marriage celebrated between Veronico B. Tenebro and
Hilda B. Villareyes on November 10, 1986. Rather, the documents merely attest that the respective issuing offices
have no record of such a marriage. They cannot adequately assail the marriage contract, which in itself would
already have been sufficient to establish the existence of a marriage between Tenebro and Villareyes.
• All three (marriage contract and certification) of these documents fall in the category of public documents, and the
Rules of Court provisions relevant to public documents are applicable to all. Pertinent to the marriage contract,
Section 7 of Rule 130 of the Rules of Court reads as follows: Sec. 7. Evidence admissible when original document is a
public record. – When the original of a document is in the custody of a public officer or is recorded in a public office,
its contents may be proved by a certified copy issued by the public officer in custody thereof

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• Certified copy of the marriage contract, issued by a public officer in custody, was admissible as the best evidence of
its contents. It should be accorded the full faith and credence given to public documents. Also, both certification
documents, therefore, are dated after the accused’s marriage to his second wife, private respondent in this case.
• The mere fact that no record of a marriage exists does not invalidate the marriage, provided all requisites
for its validity are present.
o Villareyes’ letter, Ancajas’ testimony that petitioner informed her of the existence of the valid first marriage,
and petitioner’s own conduct, which would all tend to indicate that the first marriage had all the requisites
for validity
2. There is no merit to petitioner’s argument that this subsequent judicial declaration retroacts to the date of the
celebration of the marriage to Ancajas. As such, he argues that, since his marriage to Ancajas was subsequently declared
void ab initio on the ground of psychological incapacity, invoking Article 36 of the Family Code, the crime of bigamy was
not committed.
• What petitioner fails to realize is that a declaration of the nullity of the second marriage on the ground of
psychological incapacity is of absolutely no moment insofar as the State’s penal laws are concerned.
o As a second or subsequent marriage contracted during the subsistence of petitioner’s valid marriage to
Villareyes, petitioner’s marriage to Ancajas would be null and void ab initio completely regardless of
petitioner’s psychological capacity or incapacity.
o Since a marriage contracted during the subsistence of a valid marriage is automatically void, the nullity of this
second marriage is not per se an argument for the avoidance of criminal liability for bigamy.
o A plain reading of the law, Art 349, would indicate that the provision penalizes the mere act of contracting a
second or a subsequent marriage during the subsistence of a valid marriage.
▪ Thus, as soon as the second marriage to Ancajas was celebrated on April 10, 1990, during the
subsistence of the valid first marriage, the crime of bigamy had already been consummated. To our
mind, there is no cogent reason for distinguishing between a subsequent marriage that is null and void
purely because it is a second or subsequent marriage, and a subsequent marriage that is null and void on
the ground of psychological incapacity, at least insofar as criminal liability for bigamy is concerned.
o PURPOSE: The State’s penal laws protecting the institution of marriage are in recognition of the
sacrosanct character of this special contract between spouses, and punish an individual’s deliberate
disregard of the permanent character of the special bond between spouses, which petitioner has
undoubtedly done.
o Moreover, the declaration of the nullity of the second marriage on the ground of psychological incapacity is
not an indicator that petitioner’s marriage to Ancajas lacks the essential requisites for validity.
▪ The requisites for the validity of a marriage are classified by the Family Code into essential (legal
capacity of the contracting parties and their consent freely given in the presence of the solemnizing
officer) and formal (authority of the solemnizing officer, marriage license, and marriage ceremony
wherein the parties personally declare their agreement to marry before the solemnizing officer in the
presence of at least two witnesses).
▪ Under Article 5 of the Family Code, any male or female of the age of eighteen years or upwards not
under any of the impediments mentioned in Articles 3725 and 3826 may contract marriage.27
▪ In this case, all the essential and formal requisites for the validity of marriage were satisfied by
petitioner and Ancajas. Both were over eighteen years of age, and they voluntarily contracted the second
marriage with the required license before Judge Alfredo B. Perez, Jr. of the City Trial Court of Lapu-lapu
City, in the presence of at least two witnesses.
o Although the judicial declaration of the nullity of a marriage on the ground of psychological incapacity retroacts
to the date of the celebration of the marriage insofar as the vinculum between the spouses is concerned, it is
significant to note that said marriage is not without legal effects.
▪ Among these effects is that children conceived or born before the judgment of absolute nullity of the
marriage shall be considered legitimate.
▪ There is therefore a recognition written into the law itself that such a marriage, although void ab initio,
may still produce legal consequences. Among these legal consequences is incurring criminal liability for
bigamy.
▪ To hold otherwise would render the State’s penal laws on bigamy completely nugatory, and allow
individuals to deliberately ensure that each marital contract be flawed in some manner, and to thus
escape the consequences of contracting multiple marriages, while beguiling throngs of hapless women
with the promise of futurity and commitment.

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 o The act of the accused in contracting marriage a third time displays a deliberate disregard for the sanctity of
marriage, and the State does not look kindly on such activities. Marriage is a special contract, the key
characteristic of which is its permanence. When an individual manifests a deliberate pattern of flouting the
foundation of the State’s basic social institution, the State’s criminal laws on bigamy step in.
DISPOSITIVE: Petition DENIED. CA AFFIRMED. GUILTY of Bigamy; 4 years and 2 months of prision correccional, as
minimum, to 8 years and 1 day of prision mayor, as maximum

VITUG, J., SEPARATE OPINION

• Since psychological incapacity, upon the other hand, does not relate to an infirmity in the elements, either
essential or formal, in contacting a valid marriage, the declaration of nullity subsequent to the bigamous
marriage due to that ground, without more, would be inconsequential in a criminal charge for bigamy.
• The judicial declaration of nullity of a bigamous marriage on the ground of psychological incapacity merely nullifies
the effects of the marriage but it does not negate the fact of perfection of the bigamous marriage. Its subsequent
declaration of nullity dissolves the relationship of the spouses but, being alien to the requisite conditions for the
perfection of the marriage, the judgment of the court is no defense on the part of the offender who had entered into
it.

*Would the absolute nullity of either first or second marriage prior to its judicial declaration as being void, constitute a
valid defense in a criminal action for bigamy?
* Yes. Except for a void marriage on account of psychological incapacity —void marriages are inexistent from the very
beginning, and no judicial decree is required to establish their nullity
* The complete nullity of a previously contracted marriage being void ab initio and legally inexistent can outrightly be a
defense in an indictment for bigamy
* Strong reservation on the ruling that bigamy is still committed though marriage is ab initio null and void (if marriage is
contracted before the judicial declaration of its nullity)
* Canon law-> reconcile grounds for nullity of marriage
* Reasons why except those due to psychological incapacity:
a) Breaches neither the essential nor the formal requisites of marriage
b) Other grounds are capable of relatively easy demonstration, psychological incapacity however, being a mental state
may not be so readily evident
c) It remains valid and binding until declared judicially as void

CARPIO, J., DISSENTING OPINION

a) Under Article 349 of the Revised Penal Code, the essential elements of the crime of bigamy are: 1. The offender is
legally married; 2. The marriage is not legally dissolved; 3. The offender contracts a second or subsequent marriage; 4.
The second or subsequent marriage is valid except for the existence of the first marriage.
b) If the second marriage is void ab initio on grounds other than the existence of the first marriage, then legally there
exists no second marriage.
c) Second marriage must be valid were it not for the existence of the first marriage
d) To hold that the validity of the second marriage is immaterial, as the majority opinion so holds, would interpret
Article 349 too liberally in favor of the State and too strictly against the accused. (must rule in favor of accused)

CALLEJO, Sr. J., DISSENTING OPINION

Vote to grant pro hac vice the petition. GROIZARD: Since second marriage is null and void ab initio, such marriage in in
contemplation of criminal law never existed and for that reason, one of the essential elements of bigamy has
disappeared.

5. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES vs. RICARDO NEPOMUCENO, JR.

ESGUERRA, J.: G.R. No. L-40624 June 27, 1975

FACTS:
• March 20, 1969: Nepomuceno married Dolores Desiderio on, in Balagtas, Bulacan,
• August 16, 1969: Five months later, he again married Norma Jimenez in Norzagaray, Bulacan.
• Information dated December 8, 1969 reads as follows:

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 o August 16, 1969, in Norzagaray, Bulacan, accused Ricardo Nepomuceno, Jr., being then previously united in
lawful marriage with one Dolores Desiderio, and without the said marriage having been legally dissolved,
did then and there wilfully, unlawfully and feloniously contract a second marriage with one Norma
Jimenez.
• Upon arraignment on February 4, 1970, accused pleaded not guilty and trial proceeded accordingly. After the
prosecution had presented one witness, the accused, on August 11, 1970, withdrew his plea of not guilty and
changed it into one of guilty. The case however proceeded for the reception of evidence on the civil aspect.
• December 9, 1970: Motion to quash was filed on the ground that the information is defective as it charged only the
accused for bigamy without including the second wife and such failure, according to accused, conferred no
jurisdiction on the lower court to try and decide the case.
• Said motion was denied on February 22, 1971. On April 28, 1971, private prosecutor orally withdrew the claim for
damages, which the lower court granted.
• RTC: GUILTY of Bigamy; PENALTY: ISL 6 Months and l Day of Prision Correccional as minimum, to 6 Years and 4
Months of Prision Mayor, as maximum, with costs.
• On appeal to the Court of Appeals, accused cited as a single error the lower court's failure to quash the
information for lack of jurisdiction. While awaiting completion of the records the private prosecutor filed a
motion to forward the case to the Supreme Court on the ground that the appeal involves a pure question of law.
Two other motions of the same nature were subsequently filed.
• CA: In its resolution of May 11, 1973, the Fifth Division of the Court of Appeals resolved to give due course to the
appeal, to consider it submitted for decision, the same to be raffled immediately and to refer the motions to certify
the case to the Supreme Court to the Division to which the case may be raffled.
• The case was eventually assigned to the Court of Appeals Special Division of Five Justices which promulgated the
resolution of April 14, 1975, by a four to one vote ruled that only a question of law is involved in the appeal, and
decision on the case is not dependent on factual findings to be made so as to bring the case within the competence of
the appellate court. SO submitted to SC for Decision.
o The dissenting opinion holds that there is no question of law involved as what is to be decided is the
question of whether or not the information filed was defective for not including the second wife as an
accused and, hence, the Court of Appeals could have decided it on the merits by affirming the decision of the
lower court.
ISSUES:
o Whether the lower court erred in not quashing the information because it was defective for not including the second
wife (not because of lack of jurisdiction) (NO)
o Whether he is guilty of BIGAMY? (YES)

HELD:
o RPC 349: The penalty of prision mayor shall be imposed upon any person who shall contract a second or
subsequent marriage before the former marriage has been legally dissolved, or before the absent spouse has been
declared presumptively dead by means of a judgment rendered in the proceedings.
o The crime of bigamy is committed when a person contracts a second or subsequent marriage before the former
marriage has been legally dissolved, or before the absent spouse has been judicially declared as presumptively dead.
Accused undeniably contracted two marriages in the short span of five months, which he categorically admitted
when he pleaded guilty.
o Appellant's contention that the crime of bigamy entails the joint liability of two persons who marry each other,
while the previous marriage of one or the other is valid and subsisting is completely devoid of merit.
o Even a cursory scrutiny of RPC 349 will disclose that the crime of bigamy can be committed by one person who
contracts a subsequent marriage while, the former marriage is valid and subsisting.
o Bigamy is not similar to the crimes of adultery and concubinage, wherein the law specifically requires that the
culprits, if both are alive, should be prosecuted or included in the information.
o In the crime of bigamy, both the first and second spouses may be the offended parties depending on the
circumstances, as when the second spouse married the accused without being aware of his previous marriage.
Only if the second spouse had knowledge of the previous undissolved marriage of the accused could she be
included in the information as a co-accused.
o Bigamy is a public offense and a crime against status, while adultery and concubinage are private offenses and
are crimes against chastity. In adultery and concubinage, pardon by the offended party will bar the prosecution of
the case, which is not so in bigamy. It is, therefore, clear that bigamy is not similar to adultery or concubinage.

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o No reason to include Norma Jimenez in the information as there was no showing in the recitation of facts in the
information to the effect that Norma Jimenez, the second wife, had knowledge of the first marriage,and despite said
knowledge she contracted the second marriage with the accused; nor is there any showing that Norma Jimenez had
had a previous marriage of her of her own.
o Whether or not the second spouse, Norma Jimenez, should be included in the information is a question of fact that
was determined by the fiscal who conducted the preliminary investigation in this case. That the fiscal did not include
Norma Jimenez in the information simply shows absence of evidence that could make her liable for the crime.
o Her non-inclusion in the information as a co-accused of appellant Nepomuceno in the crime of bigamy is not
a defect in the information filed against Nepomuceno alone since her inclusion or not in said information
depended upon available evidence against her.

DISPOSITIVE: TC Decision AFFIRMED, CA REVERSED. GUILTY OF BIGAMY

PREMATURE MARRIAGES
c/o Hipolito

6. UNITED STATES vs. PASCUAL DULAY -> SEDUCTION

TORRES, J.: GR. No. L-40267 March 7, 1908

FACTS:
• May 1904: Pascual Dulay, of about 23 years of age, began courting Gregoria Pimentel a girl of 16, residing in the
pueblo of Aringay, San Fernando, La Union.
• Their relations became every day more intimate, on account of the promises of marriage made by the accused Dulay,
and the girl was seduced.
• The defendant accomplished his desire for the first time on a certain night in the latter part of December, 1905. The
act was repeated on various occasions from that time until the 28th of April 1906.
• April 29, 1906: Accused, besides the promise previously given to the injured girl, informed her parents of his
intention to marry her, and following the advice of the parents the marriage was postponed until the time when the
accused was to complete his studies.
• However, in the month of June following, in view of the fact that his fiancee was pregnant, the defendant disregarded
his promise of marriage, and denied being the author of the girl’s pregnancy.
• The latter positively asserted that she never had sexual intercourse with any other man, and that during his
courtship he sent to her several letters, cards, photographs of himself, handkerchiefs, and a ring, all of which were
exhibited at the trial and recognized by him.
• He confessed that he had maintained friendly relations with her, but denied that he had ever had any sexual
intercourse with her, or that he was the father of the child born on the 20th of October, 1906, which was produced
at the trial.
• Among the letters exhibited, written in the dialect of the province, one appears at folio 44 of the record, the English
translation of which taken from the Spanish translation is as follows:
o GOYANG: I can not stand my heart’s grief because if I could help it I would not part from you; but, what can I
do? I must leave for important reasons; however, although I am going away, some one will make
arrangements for my return in the month of June; may Heaven grant this. Oh! my Gregoria, I feel uneasy; I
don’t know what to do; you do as I have told you to do; do it because I think it is more advisable that you
should tell the old man (grandfather) the sin we have committed in the eyes of God, for if somebody else
does it, or, if you wait until he notices the consequences thereof, it will be worse for you. Do it, do not fail to
comply with what I am asking of you so that the old man may not become too angry.
Do go and hear mass tomorrow, and I will wait for you because I have a very important thing to ask you to
do; hear mass without fail so that you may know what you ought to do; I will do the same so that our
intentions may not have bad results
Your brother [among Ilocanos, this word is used when the parties are very intimate, or when they are
lovers], PASCUAL.
Defense:
• The defendant alleges that from the latter part of December, 1905, to the 25 th of April, 1906, he had not returned to
his pueblo where the injured girl resided

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• As her confinement only took place on the 20th of October of 1906 and the first carnal intercourse, according to her
own statement, took place upon one of the last days of December, 1905, it thereby appears that the pregnancy of the
injured party lasted about two hundred and ninety-eight days at least; that is, more than nine months.

ISSUES:
1. Whether he is guilty of seduction? (YES)
2. Whether the child is not his and is not responsible for his welfare as he was born more than 9 months old after alleged
intercourse? (NO, it’s his child)

HELD:
1. The above facts are duly proven in this case, and constitute the crime of estupro (seduction), defined and punished by
article 443 paragraph 3 of the Penal Code
• By reason of the intimate relations between the accused and the injured party, the latter was seduced by his
repeated promises of marriage, and she permitted him to lie with her on various occasions from the latter part of
December, 1905, to the last days of April, 1906;
• Without any just reason the accused has refused to comply with the promise of marriage made to Gregoria Pimentel
after being pregnant and it is therefore clear that he acted deceitfully when making the promise solely with the
unlawful purpose of inducing her to yield to his desire, and upon pretext of her pregnancy he wrote to her parents
stating that he declined to carry out his promise of marriage.
• A promise of marriage given to a woman over 12 and under 23 years of age, with the evil intent of committing an
unlawful act and voluntarily abandoned without just cause, constitutes the deceit referred to in article 458 of
the Code of Spain, equivalent to article 443 of that of the Philippines, according to the doctrine established by
the supreme court of Spain, among other decisions in that of October 7, 1864.
• The culpability of the accused as the only author of the crime cannot be denied, inasmuch as he acknowledged that
he had maintained intimate relations with the aforenamed Gregoria Pimentel from May 1904 to the same month
in 1906.
• No evidence is offered that would even indicate that the girl had maintained any such relations with any man other
than the accused, and in view of her affirmation that Pascual Dulay was the only man who did lie with her on the
several occasions.
• It is unquestionable that the accused is responsible for the crime and that he has incurred the penalty that the law
imposes, because he managed to have intercourse with the injured girl on several occasions by means of deceit and
committed the seduction under promise of marriage.
• The translation of the letter without date, hereinbefore inserted, shows that the accused addressed it to the injured
girl while he was still in the pueblo of Aringay, and before coming to this city; that he wrote the same after he had
had sexual intercourse with the girl, and at a time when he was aware that she had conceived and was pregnant; it
was for this reason that he compelled her to inform her father of the offense that they had committed.

2. Data that child is more than 9 months old and therefore is not his child does not hold merit as it is not shown that the
accused is not the author of the pregnancy of the girl, who states positively that from December, 1905, to April, 1906,
the accused repeatedly had sexual intercourse with her.

PREMATURE MARRIAGES:
• REASON FOR FIXING 301 (10 months) DAYS: If the ordinary average duration of the pregnancy of women is nine
months and some days, a tardy birth is not an impossibility or an unusual to have a delayed or retarded conception,
one of the inexplicable mysteries of nature, since the opinions of physicians upon the matter are conflicting; for this
reason the Penal Code, by article 476, imposes punishment upon a widow who marries before three hundred and
one days have elapsed from the death of her husband, a prohibition which is in accordance with other legal
provisions
• PURPOSE: It is intended to prevent confusion in connection with filiation and paternity, inasmuch as the widow
might have conceived and become pregnant by her late husband. So that the law when fixing the said three hundred
and one days, admits the possibility that a woman may be in pregnancy for more than nine months, and that
the birth of a child taking place nine months after it was conceived is not an impossibility.

DISPOSITIVE: AFFIRMED Decision. Penalty of four months of arresto mayor, to recognize and maintain the offspring, to
indemnify the injured party, Gregoria Pimentel, in the sum of P1,000 and, in case of insolvency, to suffer subsidiary
imprisonment which shall not exceed one-third of the principal penalty, and to pay the costs, should be affirmed with
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the costs against the appellant; provided, however, that the amount to be paid to the injured party for the subsistence of
her child until the same shall reach his majority, shall be P15 monthly.

PERFORMANCE OF ILLEGAL CEREMONY

c/o Hipolito
7. UNITED STATES vs. DOMINGO SAN JUAN
MORELAND, J.: G.R. No. L-8502 October 10, 1913

FACTS:
• Information was originally filed against the spouses, the two witnesses to the marriage, and the minister performing
the ceremony.
• At the request of the prosecuting attorney the case was dismissed with respect to the defendant Antonio de la Llana,
one of the witnesses to the marriage, in order that he might be used as a witness for the Government, under the
provisions of section 34 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
• With respect to the defendants, Florencio San Miguel and Eulogia Dizon, the spouses, and Teofilo San Miguel, the
other witness to the marriage, the case was also dismissed, under paragraph 2 of article 475 of the Penal Code, for
the reason that Esteban Dizon, the father of Eulogia Dizon, the bride, having, subsequent to the ceremony, given his
consent to the marriage.
• The only defendant remaining, therefore, is Domingo San Juan, the minister who performed the ceremony.
CFI: GUILTY of performing a marriage ceremony where one of the contracting parties was under the age of consent;
PENALTY: Four years of suspension for practicing his profession as a minister of the National Evangelical Church of the
Philippines, to pay a fine of 1,500 pesetas and one-fifth of the costs.

ISSUES:
Whether the defendant minister not guilty if there was no intent, in other words, whether the person solemnizing the
marriage may plead similar good faith in defense to an action brought against him under article 479.? (YES)

HELD:
o It is not necessary to hold in this action that no crime mentioned in the Code can exist without intent. It suffices for
the present to decide, as we do decide, that one cannot be convicted under article 475 when by reason of a
mistake of fact there does not exist the intention to commit the crime.
• Citing United States vs. Marcosa Peñalosa and Enrique Rodriguez, decided January 27, 1902 (1 Phil. Rep., 109),
o Neither of the spouses can be convicted for a violation of article 475 if he acted in good faith and without the
knowledge that the other was under the age of consent.
o “A minor who marries without parental consent in the false belief that she if of age is not criminally
responsible,” and that, “it is not criminal negligence for a husband to rely upon his wife’s statement of
her age nor for the wife to rely upon that of her father.”
o In that case, the facts relative to the guilt of the husband, who was charged with a violation of article 475 of
the Penal Code in that he had married a woman who at the time of the ceremony was under the age of
consent, are stated by the court as follows:
o As for the husband, it has been proved that two days before the marriage was celebrated he received a
letter from the woman in which she said that she was 21 years of age.
o This letter the defendant showed to the clergyman who married them. The woman when the marriage
ceremony was performed took an oath before the clerygman, in the presence of her husband, that she
was 21 years of age.
o The defendant testifies that he had no suspicion that the woman was a minor. This statement has not
been contradicted and we consider that it suffices to demonstrate that the defendant acted under a
mistake of fact, and in conformity with the principle laid down in this opinion he has not been guilty
of a violation of article 475 in connection with article 13, No. 3, nor in any other manner
o Defendant was therefore properly acquitted of the crime charged in the complaint.
o If in US v Penalosa, spouses were acquitted if in good faith, the person solemnizing may also plead good faith
as a defense.
o These presents itself to us no reason why the rule applicable to the persons married should not be alike
applicable to the person performing the ceremony which makes them man and wife.
o It is very easy to deceive an officiating clergyman as to the ages of the persons who present themselves
for marriage – much easier than it is to deceive either of the spouses in relation to the same matter.
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 o Persons who are sufficiently acquainted with each other to desire marriage are naturally presumed to
know the age of each other. If a man desiring to marry a woman may be excused from criminal
prosecution upon the ground that he has been deceived and mistaken as to her age, it would seem that
the clergyman, who knows neither of the parties and who must of necessity depend upon an
independent investigation in order to determine the ages of the parties, would be in far better position
to invoke the protection of the principle than would the husband.
• LAWS:
• There is no penalty in the General Orders attached to the solemnization of a marriage between person under age.
o General Orders, No. 68, section 7 (as amended by Act No. 1451), reads as follows: SEC. VII. The person
solemnizing a marriage must make and sign a certificate showing:
3. The real and full names of the parties and their places of residence.
4. Their ages.
5. The consent of the father, mother, or guardian, or of one having the charge of such person, if any such be given, if the
male be under the age of twenty years or the female be under the age of eighteen years.
For the purpose of ascertaining these facts, the person solemnizing the marriage is authorized to examine
parties and witnesses on oath and receive affidavits, and he must state such facts in his certificate.
The marriage shall not be performed in case of nonage, unless the consent hereinbefore required shall be
personality given by the parent or guardian or person having charge of the infant, or certified in writing
over his or her signature, attested by two or more subscribing witnesses and proved by the oath of one of
them.
o It was the intention of the makers of that law to permit the officiating clergyman or other person
solemnizing the marriage to determine the fact of age or nonage upon the testimony of witnesses. To that
end he is given the authority to examine on oath the persons who present themselves for marriage and any
witnesses which they may produce or which he may desire to call relative to age.
o Having the right to determine a question upon the testimony of witnesses, it would seem strange indeed that
he could be prosecuted criminally for a wrong determination of that question. The mere fact that two
persons might differ as to the conclusion which ought to be reached upon a given state of facts or upon the
testimony of certain witnesses is not sufficient to justify the conclusion that the one whose conclusion is
wrong is guilty of a crime, while he whose judgment is right is innocent.
o Both have exercised the same qualities, the same functions, and the same good faith. That the one may be
wrong and the other right furnishes no reason for classifying the one as a criminal and the other as an
innocent person.
• The prosecution must be sustained, therefore, if at all, under the Penal Code in connection with said General Orders.
o ART. 479. Any ecclesiastical or civil authority who shall perform or authorize the ceremony in any marriage
prohibited by law, or barred by an impediment not capable of dispensation, shall suffer the penalties of
suspension in its medium and maximum degrees and a fine of not less than 625 and not more than 6,250,
pesetas.
If the impediment shall be subject to dispensation, the penalty shall be destierro in its maximum degree and a
fine of not less than 325 and not more than 3,250, pesetas.

o ART. 475. Any minor who shall marry without the consent of his or her parents, or other person standing in
loco parenties, shall suffer the penalty of prision correccional in its minimum and medium degrees.
o The offender shall be pardoned as soon as the parents or the persons referred to in the next preceding
paragraph shall approve the marriage.
o Article 1 of the Code does not contain the words “with malice” that are to be found in the Code of 1822; nevertheless
Pacheco, the eminent commentator, has said that those words are included in the word “voluntary” and he states
positively that crime cannot exist without intent.
o Other commentators, without being in entire conformity with Pacheco, nevertheless are agreed up to a certain point.
o Groizard says: “Such is the general rule; so it is ordinarily.”
o Viada says that “in the majority of cases, in the absence of intent there has been no crime; but that there
can exist in some case the latter without the former.”
o Silvela says: “In effect it suffices to remember the first article, which states that where there is no intent
there is no crime, . . . in order to asset without fear of mistake that in our Code the substance of a crime
does not exists if there is not a deed, an act which falls within the sphere of ethics, if there is not a moral
wrong

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o The theory that the absence of the word “with malice” in the prevailing Code has this effect is supported by the
provisions of article 568 which says: “He who by reckless negligence commits an act which would constitute a grave
crime if malice were present shall be punished,” etc.

o Registering as legitimate those illegitimate

o The supreme court in several successive sentences has the same doctrine: “It is indispensable that this
(action) in order to constitute a crime should carry with it all the malice which the violation and
intention to cause the evil which may be the object of the said crime suppose.”
o In a cause for falsity the facts involved were that the defendant had married “before the municipal judge
of the pueblo of Rubete without other ceremony than the simple manifestation and expression of his
wishes and those of the woman Leonor with whom he married before said municipal judge
o Relying upon that, on account of his ignorance and lack of instruction, on the 27 th of June, 1882, and the
5th of April, 1884, in the municipal court of the pueblo of Polopos he registered as legitimate children his
sons, Jose and Emilio, the offspring of the illicit union of the defendant and Leonor Gonzales.”
o For the crime of falsity committed by reckless negligence the Criminal Audiencia of Albuñol condemned
the said defendant to the penalty of four months and one day of arresto mayor. The Supreme Court
annulled said sentence “considering that whatever might be the civil effects of the registration of his
three sons entered by the accused in the Civil and Parochial Registers, it cannot partake of the
nature of a crime for lack of the necessary element of volition or intent to offend, essential to
every punishable act or omission; neither did he act with negligence.”

o Falsification of trademarks
o In a cause prosecuted against the Chinese Sy-Tioco and against Don Guillermo Partier, in the court of
Quiapo, for falsification of trade-marks, the Criminal Chamber of the Audiencia of Manila condemned the
Chinaman to two years and some months of presidio correccional, and Partier to one year and some
months of similar imprisonment. A writ of error was sued out in the name of Partier.
o The Supreme Court annulled this sentence, “considering that the moral element of the crime, or, in
other words, existence or nonexistence of intent and malice in the commission of an act
designated and punished by the law as criminal is essentially a question of fact for exclusive judgment
and determination of the trial court.”
o “Considering that the act charged against the accused, Guillermo Partier, of having printed in his
lithographic establishment the trade-mark of the cigarette packages of the Insular factory by
virtue of a supposed order of the owner of said factory, to whose injury the Chinaman Abelardo Zacarias
Sy-Tioco ordered him to do the said fraudulent printing, cannot be considered (from the facts declared
proved in the final sentence of acquittal of the Court of First Instance, accepted in its entirety and
without any addition by the Appellate Court) as constituting intentional participation or cooperation in
deed of falsification and defraudation committed by the former, since it does not appear in any part of
the sentence that Partier was in connivance with Sy-Tioco nor that he had any reason to suspect the true
character of him who, styling himself the representative of Señor Santa Marina, the owner of the La
Insular factory, gave him the order to print the trade-mark of this factory on the packages, which were to
be used to hold cigarettes.”
o Citing United States vs. De los Reyes it was held that “a woman who marries a second time under a bona fide belief
that her former spouse is dead is not guilty of bigamy,” the court saying:

o NOT SUFFICIENTLY PROVEN THAT THERE IS NO GOOD FAITH:

o One of the witnesses for the prosecution intimating that the accused was informed by one of the
contracting parties that the girl was under eighteen, and that he, instead of refusing thereupon to go
forward with the marriage, suggested to her that she declare herself to be eighteen or over and that he
would obtain witnesses to substantiate her declaration.
o Evidence or testimony are not sufficient. The documents were proof of the parties’ attestation. They
were duly signed and sworn to by those parties and witnesses. Although the oath is not in the form
prescribed by General Orders, No. 68, nevertheless it contains all of the requisites essential to a valid
declaration under that Act.

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o It appearing clear to us that, even though it be admitted that the marriage complained of was illegal and that the
subsequent consent of the parent did not relive the defendant of liability for the part he had taken therein, the
accused acted in good faith without criminal intent, and that he made the investigation required by law in a
reasonably satisfactory manner, the conviction cannot stand.

DISPOSITIVE: The judgment is reversed and the accused acquitted of the crime charged.

LIBEL
c/o Hipolito
8. DIONISIO LOPEZ y ABERASTURI vs. PEOPLE and SALVADOR G. ESCALANTE, JR
DEL CASTILLO, J.: G.R. No. 172203 February 14, 2011

DOCTRINE: A libel is defined as "a public and malicious imputation of a crime or of a vice or defect, real or imaginary or
any act, omission, condition, status or circumstance tending to cause the dishonor, discredit or contempt of a natural or
juridicial person or to blacken the memory of one who is dead." "For an imputation to be libelous, the following
requisites must concur: a) it must be defamatory; b) it must be malicious; c) it must be given publicity and d) the victim
must be identifiable." Absent one of these elements precludes the commission of the crime of libel.

FACTS:
Prosecution:
• During the pre-trial, the parties stipulated, among others, on the identity of the accused, that the private complainant
is the incumbent City Mayor of Cadiz City and is popularly known by the nickname "Bading" and that the petitioner
calls the private complainant "Bading."
• Early part of November 2002, while exercising his official duties as Mayor of Cadiz City, private respondent saw
billboards with the printed phrase "CADIZ FOREVER" with a blank space before the word "NEVER" directly
under said phrase.
o Those billboards were posted on the corner of Gustilo and Villena streets, in front of Cadiz Hotel and beside
the old Coca-Cola warehouse in Cadiz City. He became intrigued and wondered on what the message
conveyed since it was incomplete.
o Some days later, on November 15, 2002, private respondent received a phone call relating that the blank
space preceding the word "NEVER" was filled up with the added words "BADING AND SAGAY."
o The next day, he saw the billboards with the phrase "CADIZ FOREVER BADING AND SAGAY NEVER" printed
in full. Reacting and feeling that he was being maligned and dishonored with the printed phrase and of being
a "tuta" of Sagay, private respondent, after consultation with the City Legal Officer, caused the filing of a
complaint for libel against petitioner. He claimed that the incident resulted in mental anguish and sleepless
nights for him and his family. He thus prayed for damages.
• Jude Martin Jaropillo is a licensing officer of the Permit and License Division of Cadiz City. While on a licensing
campaign, he was able to read the message on the billboards. He wondered what fault the person alluded therein has
done as the message is so negative. He felt that the message is an insult to the mayor since it creates a negative
impression, as if he was being rejected by the people of Cadiz City. He claimed that he was giving his testimony
voluntarily and he was not being rewarded, coerced or forced by anybody.
• Nenita Bermeo, a retired government employee of Cadiz City, was at Delilah’s Coffee Shop in the morning of
November 19, 2002 when she heard the petitioner shouting "Bading, Bading, Never, Never." She and the tricycle
drivers drinking coffee were told by petitioner "You watch out I will add larger billboards."
o When she went around Cadiz City, she saw larger billboards with the phrase "CADIZ FOREVER BADING AND
SAGAY NEVER," thus confirming what petitioner had said. With the message, she felt as if the people were
trying to disown the private respondent. According to her, petitioner has an ax to grind against the mayor.
Like Jude, she was not also forced or rewarded in giving her testimony.
• Bernardita Villaceran also found the message unpleasant because Mayor Escalante is an honorable and dignified
resident of Cadiz City. According to her, the message is an insult not only to the person of the mayor but also to the
people of Cadiz City.
Defense
• Petitioner admitted having placed all the billboards because he is aware of all the things happening around Cadiz
City. He mentioned "BADING" because he was not in conformity with the many things the mayor had done in Cadiz
City. He insisted that he has no intention whatsoever of referring to "Bading" as the "Tuta" of Sagay.

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• He contended that it was private respondent who referred to Bading as "Tuta" of Sagay. He further maintained that
his personal belief and expression was that he will never love Bading and Sagay. He concluded that the message in
the billboards is just a wake-up call for Cadiz City.
Information
• On April 3, 2003, petitioner was indicted for libel in an Information dated March 31, 2003:
o November 2002 in the City of Cadiz, accused did then and there, willfully, unlawfully and feloniously
o With intent to impeach the integrity, reputation and putting to public ridicule and dishonor the offended
party MAYOR SALVADOR G. ESCALANTE, JR., City Mayor of Cadiz City and with malice and intent to injure
and expose the said offended party to public hatred, contempt and ridicule put up billboards/signboards at
the fence of Cadiz Hotel, Villena Street, Cadiz City and at Gustilo Boulevard, Cadiz City, which
billboards/signboards read as follows "CADIZ FOREVER" "__________ NEVER"
o thereby deliberately titillating the curiosity of and drawing extraordinary attention from the residents of
Cadiz City and passers-by over what would be placed before the word "NEVER".
o Later on November 15, 2002, accused affixed the nickname of the herein private complainant "BADING" and
the name of the City of "SAGAY" before the word "NEVER" thus making the billboard appear as follows
"CADIZ FOREVER" "BADING AND SAGAY NEVER"
o For which the words in the signboards/billboards were obviously calculated to induce the readers/passers-
by to suppose and understand that something fishy was going on, therefore maliciously impeaching the
honesty, virtue and reputation of Mayor Salvador G. Escalante, Jr.,
o And hence were highly libelous, offensive and defamatory to the good name, character and reputation of the
offended party and his office and that the said billboards/signboards were read by thousands if not
hundreds of thousands of persons, which caused damage and prejudice to the offended party by way of
moral damages in the amount of: P5,000,000.00 – as moral damages.
• Upon arraignment on May 8, 2003, petitioner, as accused, entered a plea of "not guilty."
RTC: Guilty of LIBEL defined and penalized under Article 353 in relation to Article 355 of the Revised Penal Code and
there being no mitigating or aggravating circumstances attendant
• Penalty of imprisonment of FOUR MONTHS AND TWENTY DAYS of Arresto Mayor maximum as the minimum to
TWO YEARS, ELEVEN MONTHS AND TEN DAYS of Prision Correccional Medium as the maximum and a FINE
of P5,000.00 with subsidiary imprisonment in case of insolvency.
• The accused is further ordered to pay the private complainant the sum of P5,000,000.00 by way of moral
damages.
• The cash bond posted by the accused is hereby ordered cancelled and returned to the accused, however the
penalty of Fine adjudged against the accused is hereby ordered deducted from the cash bond posted by the
accused pursuant to Section 22 of Rule 114 of the Rules of Court and the remaining balance ordered returned to
the accused.
• The accused is hereby ordered immediately committed to the BJMP, Cadiz City for the service of his sentence.
CA: Affirming with modification the Decision of the RTC. GUILTY but reduced damages; Amount of moral damages to
P500,000.00.
• Petitioner then filed his Motion for Reconsideration, which the appellate court denied in its Resolution dated April 7,
2006.

Petitioner’s Claims:
• Petitioner takes exception to the CA’s ruling that the controversial phrase "CADIZ FOREVER, BADING AND SAGAY
NEVER" tends to induce suspicion on private respondent’s character, integrity and reputation as mayor of Cadiz City.
• He avers that there is nothing in said printed matter tending to defame and induce suspicion on the character,
integrity and reputation of private respondent.

ISSUES:
1) Whether only question of law can be reviewed? (NO)
2) Whether the printed phrase "CADIZ FOREVER, BADING AND SAGAY NEVER" is libelous as it shows the injurious
nature of the imputations made against the private respondent and tends to induce suspicion on his character, integrity
and reputation as Mayor of Cadiz City?
3) Whether the controversial words used constituted privileged communication? (NO)
2a. Whether they comprise fair commentary on matters of public matter which are therefore privileged?
2b. Whether the presumption of malice has not been overthrown?
4) Whether he is liable for the moral damages of P500,000?
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HELD: Reverse the CA ruling.
1. YES. The factual findings of the lower courts are final and conclusive and are not reviewable by this Court, unless the
case falls under any of the following recognized exceptions: 4. When the judgment is based on a misapprehension of
facts;
• Following the general rule, we are precluded from making further evaluation of the factual antecedents of the case.
However, we cannot lose sight of the fact that both lower courts have greatly misapprehended the facts in arriving at
their unanimous conclusion

2. NO. Phrase does not tend to induce suspicion on private respondent’s character, integrity and reputation as mayor of
Cadiz City. There are no derogatory imputations of a crime, vice or defect or any act, omission, condition, status or
circumstance tending, directly or indirectly, to cause his dishonor. Neither does the phrase in its entirety, employ any
unpleasant language or somewhat harsh and uncalled for that would reflect on private respondent’s integrity.
• Obviously, the controversial word "NEVER" used by petitioner was plain and simple. In its ordinary sense, the word
did not cast aspersion upon private respondent’s integrity and reputation much less convey the idea that he
was guilty of any offense. Simply worded as it was with nary a notion of corruption and dishonesty in government
service, it is our considered view to appropriately consider it as mere epithet or personal reaction on private
respondent’s performance of official duty and not purposely designed to malign and besmirch his
reputation and dignity more so to deprive him of public confidence.
• A libel is defined as "a public and malicious imputation of a crime or of a vice or defect, real or imaginary or any act,
omission, condition, status or circumstance tending to cause the dishonor, discredit or contempt of a natural or
juridicial person or to blacken the memory of one who is dead."
• "For an imputation to be libelous, the following requisites must concur:
a) it must be defamatory;
b) it must be malicious;
c) it must be given publicity and d) the victim must be identifiable."
* Absent one of these elements precludes the commission of the crime of libel.
• Although all the elements must concur, the defamatory nature of the subject printed phrase must be proved
first because this is so vital in a prosecution for libel. Were the words imputed not defamatory in character,
a libel charge will not prosper. Malice is necessarily rendered immaterial.
• An allegation is considered defamatory if it ascribes to a person the commission of a crime, the possession of a vice
or defect, real or imaginary or any act, omission, condition, status or circumstance which tends to dishonor or
discredit or put him in contempt or which tends to blacken the memory of one who is dead.
• To determine "whether a statement is defamatory, the words used are to be construed in their entirety and
should be taken in their plain, natural and ordinary meaning as they would naturally be understood by persons
reading them, unless it appears that they were used and understood in another sense."
• Moreover, "[a] charge is sufficient if the words are calculated to induce the hearers to suppose and understand
that the person or persons against whom they were uttered were guilty of certain offenses or are sufficient to
impeach the honesty, virtue or reputation or to hold the person or persons up to public ridicule."
• OSG: "there is nothing in the phrase "CADIZ FOREVER" and "BADING AND SAGAY NEVER" which ascribe to private
respondent any crime, vice or defect, or any act, omission, condition, status or circumstance which will either
dishonor, discredit, or put him into contempt."
• WITNESS NOT TRUSTWORTHY: Trustworthiness of these witnesses is doubtful considering the moral ascendancy
exercised over them by the private respondent such that it is quite easy for them to draw such negative impression.
o As observed by the OSG, at the time the billboards were erected and during the incumbency of private
respondent as mayor of Cadiz City, these witnesses were either employed in the Cadiz City Hall or active in
the project of the city government.
o Bernardita was a member of the Clean and Green Program of Cadiz City; Jude was employed as a licensing
officer under the Permit and License Division of the Cadiz City Hall and Nenita held the position of Utility
Worker II of the General Services Office of Cadiz City.
o These witnesses, according to the OSG, would naturally testify in his favor. They could have verbicide the
meaning of the word "NEVER."
• According to the private respondent, the message in the billboards would like to convey to the people of Cadiz that
he is a tuta of Sagay City.

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 o During the proceedings in the trial court, private respondent testified that the subject billboards maligned
his character and portrayed him as a puppet of Sagay City
o I know the intention because to answer your question, it will not only require those "BADING AND SAGAY
NEVER" billboards, it was after which additional billboards were put up. That strengthen, that I am being a
"Tuta of Sagay. I am being maligned because of those billboards that states and I repeat: "Ang Tubig san
Cadiz, ginkuha sang Sagay", "Welcome to Brgy. Cadiz" and there is a small word under it, Zone 2, very small,
very very small, you cannot see it at a glance.
o That is the meaning of the signboard[s]. The message that the signboards would like to convey to the people
of Cadiz, that the Mayor of Cadiz City is a "Tuta" or Puppet of Sagay City.
• There is nothing in the subject billboards which state, either directly or indirectly, that he is, in his words, a "tuta" or
"puppet" of Sagay City. Except for private respondent, not a single prosecution witness testified that the billboards
portray Mayor Bading Escalante, Jr. as a "tuta or "puppet" of Sagay.
• He refers to the circumstances mentioned in another billboard that is not the subject matter in the present charge.
The aforesaid facts dismally failed to support the allegations in the instant information. Be that as it may, private
respondent nevertheless did not specify any actionable wrong or particular act or omission on petitioner’s part that
could have defamed him or caused his alleged injury.
• Private respondent was not pleased with the controversial printed matter; however, that is grossly insufficient to
make it actionable by itself. "Personal hurt or embarrassment or offense, even if real, is not automatically
equivalent to defamation," "words which are merely insulting are not actionable as libel or slander per se, and
mere words of general abuse however opprobrious, ill-natured, or vexatious, whether written or spoken, do not
constitute bases for an action for defamation in the absence of an allegation for special damages. The fact that the
language is offensive to the plaintiff does not make it actionable by itself.
3. Granting that the controversial phrase is considered defamatory, still, no liability attaches on petitioner. The
reasons elicited by the prosecution in erecting said billboards mainly relate to the discharge of private respondent’s
official duties as City Mayor of Cadiz City.
• Pursuant to Article 361 of the Revised Penal Code, if the defamatory statement is made against a public official with
respect to the discharge of his official duties and functions and the truth of the allegations is shown, the
accused will be entitled to an acquittal even though he does not prove that the imputation was published with
good motives and for justifiable ends.
• US v Bustos: the policy of a public official may be attacked, rightly or wrongly with every argument which
ability can find or ingenuity invent. The public officer "may suffer under a hostile and an unjust accusation; the
wound can be assuaged by the balm of a clear conscience. A public official must not be too thin-skinned with
reference to comments upon his official acts."
• "In criminal prosecutions, fundamental is the requirement that the elemental acts constituting the offense be
established with moral certainty as this is the critical and only requisite to a finding of guilt."
• In this case, contrary to the conclusion of the trial court as affirmed by the appellate court, the prosecution failed to
prove that the controversial phrase "CADIZ FOREVER, BADING AND SAGAY NEVER" imputes derogatory remarks on
private respondent’s character, reputation and integrity. In this light, any discussion on the issue of malice is
rendered moot.

DISPOSITIVE: Petition is GRANTED. CA Decision REVERSED and SET ASIDE and the petitioner is ACQUITTED of the
crime charged.

Special Laws Digest

c/o Emergency D2016 Digest

Art. 365 – Imprudence and negligence

Buerano v. Court of Appeals, 200 Phil. 486 (1982)

EPITACIO BUERANO, petitioner,
vs.
COURT OF APPEALS and PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, respondents.
July 19, 1982
Relova, J

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FACTS:
● Sept 20, 1957: Epitacio Buerano was the driver of LTB bus which collided with the Mabuhay Bakery delivery panel
driven by Hipolito Vismonte and owned by Chu Yu in Tanay, Rizal
● Dec 3, 1957: Chief of Police of Tanay, filed case with Municipal Judge, Slight and Serious Physical Injuries
through Reckless Imprudence, alleging:
○ “causing by such negligence, carelessness and imprudence that the said bus, driven and operated to collide
with the delivery truck of Mabuhay Bakery owned by Mr. Chu Yu, result of which the right front side of the
said truck was greatly damaged and the driver, Hipolito Vismonte, including the two (2) helpers, namely,
Bonifacio Virtudazo and Sy Tian alias Martin, suffered physical injuries on the different parts of the body
which required medical attention as follows:
■ Hipolito Vismonte— 5 days
■ Bonifacio Virtudazo—10 days
■ Sy Tian alias Martin—1 month
● Feb 6, 1958: petitioner found guilty of slight and less serious physical injuries through reckless imprudence
and sentenced "to suffer imprisonment from 1 month and 1 day to 2 months and to pay the cost of the suit
○ petitioner appealed to CFI which later affirmed and sentenced petitioner to suffer four months of Arresto
Mayor and to pay the costs
● In the meantime, Assistant Provincial Fiscal of Rizal filed case in CFI charging herein petitioner with Damage to
property through reckless imprudence. He filed a Motion to Quash on the ground of double jeopardy in that
because he has been previously convicted of the offense charged.
○ Opposition was filed by the Provincial Fiscal contending that the crime for which petitioner was convicted
was for less serious physical injuries through reckless imprudence, whereas the second case was for
damages to property through reckless imprudence which are distinct offenses.
○ CFI denied motion to quash and, after trial, found petitioner guilty of the crime of damage to property
through reckless imprudence.
○ petitioner appealed to CA which affirmed CFI and sentenced herein petitioner "to pay a fine of P4,387.00
which is double the amount of damages suffered by the delivery truck with subsidiary imprisonment in case
of insolvency; to indemnify the offended party, the owner of the delivery truck in the amount of P2,193.50,
representing the amount of damages suffered by the said delivery truck, and to pay the costs"
● CA held no double jeopardy because:
1 Neither in the JP Court nor in the CFI on appeal was the appellant convicted or acquitted of the offense of
Damage to Property Thru Reckless Imprudence
2 JP Court which found him guilty of Slight and Less Serious Physical injuries was not a court of competent
jurisdiction to try the offense of Damage to Property Thru Reckless Imprudence (bec of imposable
penalty)
3 Appellant could not have validly pleaded before the JP Court to the said offense of Damage to Property
Thru Reckless Imprudence
4 offense of Damage to Property Thru Reckless Imprudence was alleged in the Information (in the second
case) does not include and is not necessarily included in the first charge of Slight and Less Serious
Physical Injuries Thru Reckless Imprudence
5 Appellant was never tried at all in the JP Court of Tanay in forcrime of Damage to Property Thru
Reckless Imprudence

ISSUE: WoN CA erred in not sustaining petitioner’s plea of double jeopardy (YES)
HELD: petitioner ACQUITTED; CA judgment set aside
RATIO:
● CA based its decision on SC ruling on pre-war case of People vs. Estipona decided on November 14, 1940, which
is no longer controlling
● People v Buan (March 29, 1968), SC thru Justice J. B. L. Reyes, held that —
○ once convicted or acquitted of a specific act of reckless imprudence, accused may not be
prosecuted again for same act
○ essence of quasi offense of criminal negligence under RPC 365 lies in the execution of an imprudent or
negligent act that, if intentionally done, would be punishable as a felony. The law penalizes thus the
negligent or careless act, not the result thereof. The gravity of the consequence is only taken into
account to determine the penalty, it does not qualify the substance of the offense. And, as the careless
act is single, whether the injurious result should affect one person or several persons, the offense
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Compiled by: HIPOLITO
 (criminal negligence) remains one and the same, and can not be split into different crimes and
prosecutions.
○ Then SolGen, now Justice Felix V. Makasiar, stressed that "if double jeopardy exists where the reckless
act resulted into homicide and physical injuries, then the same consequence must perforce follow where
the same reckless act caused merely damage to property—not death—and physical injuries. Verily, the
value of a human life lost as a result of a vehicular collision cannot be equated with any amount of
damages caused to a motors vehicle arising from the same mishap."

People v. City Court of Manila, 206 Phil. 555 (1983)

Apr 27, 1983
THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, petitioner,
vs.
THE CITY COURT OF MANILA, BRANCH XI and FRANCISCO GAPAY y MALLARES, respondents.
RELOVA, J:

FACTS:
● Oct 17, 1971: the incident leading to the charge happened; the accused/priv resp Gapay was the truck driver; the
victim was Diolito de la Cruz
● Oct 18, 1971: an information for serious physical injuries thru reckless imprudence was filed against the accused
● However, on the same day (Oct 18), the victim died
● Oct 20, 1972: accused was arraigned; pleaded guilty; sentenced to 1 month and 1 day of arresto mayor and
commenced serving his sentence
● Oct 24, 1972: another information for homicide thru reckless imprudence was filed against accused
● Defense moved to dismiss
City Court of Manila (Nov 17, 1972):
● Dismissed the homicide thru reckless imprudence case on the ground of double jeopardy
● While there is a ruling in Melo vs. People which states: where after the first prosecution, a new fact supervenes
for which the defendant is responsible, which changes the character of the offense and, together with the facts
existing at a time, constitutes a new and distinct offense, the accused cannot be said to be in second jeopardy if
indicted for the second offense.
● City Court held that the doctrine of Melo vs. People does not apply in the case at bar because of SC’s ruling in People
vs. Buan
○ People vs. Buan: Article 365 of the Penal Code punishes the negligent state of mind and not the resulting
injury
● It concluded that once prosecuted for and convicted of negligence, the accused cannot again be prosecuted for the
same negligence although for a different resulting injury

ISSUE: W/N double jeopardy lies (YES)

RATIO:
● Well-settled is the rule that one who has been charged with an offense cannot be charged again with the same or
identical offense though the latter be lesser or greater than the former.
● However, as held in the case of Melo vs. People, the rule of Identity does not apply when the second offense was
not in existence at the time of the first prosecution, for the reason that in such case there is no possibility for
the accused, during the first prosecution, to be convicted for an offense that was then inexistent.
● Stated differently, where after the first prosecution a new fact supervenes for which the defendant is
responsible, which changes the character of the offense and, together with the facts existing at the time,
constitutes a new and distinct offense, the accused cannot be said to be in second jeopardy if indicted for the
new offense
● In this case: the victim died on the day the information was filed
● The accused was arraigned 2 days after
● Thus, when the information for homicide thru reckless imprudence was filed on October 24, 1972, the
accused was already in jeopardy
● The OSG said on October 21, 1972, the City Fiscal filed an Urgent Motion asking that the "hearing and arraignment of
this case be held in abeyance for there is information that the victim, Diolito dela Cruz died, and the information
would have to be amended."
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Compiled by: HIPOLITO
 ○ SC: Be that as it may, the fact remains that the victim died 1 day after the accident and the arrest of the
accused. And that on October 20, 1972, the accused was arraigned, pleaded guilty and sentenced
accordingly. Thus, jeopardy had attached and no new fact supervened after the arraignment and
conviction of the accused.

HELD: City Court of Manila’s dismissal is affirmed.

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Ivler v. San Pedro, G.R. No. 172716, Nov. 17, 2010
JASON IVLER y AGUILAR, petitioner,
vs. HON. MARIA ROWENA MODESTO-SAN PEDRO, Judge of the MTC, Branch 71, Pasig City, and EVANGELINE PONCE,
respondents.

FACTS:
● Following a vehicular collision in August 2004, petitioner Jason Ivler (petitioner) was charged before the
Metropolitan Trial Court of Pasig City, Branch 71 (MeTC), with two separate offenses: (1) Reckless Imprudence
Resulting in Slight Physical Injuries (Criminal Case No. 82367) –case 1-for injuries sustained by respondent
Evangeline L. Ponce (respondent Ponce); and (2) Reckless Imprudence Resulting in Homicide and Damage to
Property (Criminal Case No. 82366) –case 2- for the death of respondent Ponce's husband Nestor C. Ponce and
damage to the spouses Ponce's vehicle. Petitioner posted bail for his temporary release in both cases.
● petitioner pleaded guilty to the charge in Case1 and was meted out the penalty of public censure
● petitioner moved to quash the Information in Case 2 for placing him in jeopardy of second punishment for the same
offense of reckless imprudence –MTC denied, finding no identity of offenses in the 2 cases
● After unsuccessfully seeking reconsideration, petitioner elevated the matter to the RTC, in a petition for certiorari
(S.C.A. No. 2803). Meanwhile, petitioner sought from the MeTC the suspension of proceedings in Case 2
including the arraignment on 17 May 2005, invoking S.C.A. No. 2803 as a prejudicial question
● Without acting on petitioner's motion, the MeTC proceeded with the arraignment and, because of petitioner's
absence, cancelled his bail and ordered his arrest. Seven days later, the MeTC issued a resolution denying
petitioner's motion to suspend proceedings and postponing his arraignment until after his arrest
● Relying on the arrest order against petitioner, respondent Ponce sought in the RTC the dismissal of S.C.A. No. 2803
for petitioner's loss of standing to maintain the suit. Petitioner contested the motion.
● RTC: affirmed MeTC. dismissed S.C.A. No. 2803 due to petitioner's forfeiture of standing to maintain S.C.A. No.
2803 arising from the MeTC's order to arrest petitioner for his non-appearance at the arraignment in Case 2
● Hence this petition.
● Petitioner denies absconding and explains that his petition in S.C.A. No. 2803 constrained him to forego participation
in the proceedings in Case 2

ISSUES:
1. WON petitioner forfeited his standing to seek relief in S.C.A. 2803 when the MeTC ordered his arrest following his
non-appearance at the arraignment in Case 2 (no)
2. if in the negative, WON petitioner's constitutional right under the Double Jeopardy Clause bars further proceedings in
Case 2 (yes)

RATIO:

On non-appearance
● Petitioners non appearance at the arraignment in case 1 did not divest him of standing to maintain petition
in the SCA 2803
● Dismissals of appeals grounded on the appellant's escape from custody or violation of the terms of his bail bond are
governed by the second paragraph of Section 8, Rule 124, 8 in relation to Section 1, Rule 125, of the Revised Rules
on Criminal Procedure authorizing this Court or the Court of Appeals to "also, upon motion of the appellee or motu
proprio, dismiss the appeal if the appellant escapes from prison or confinement, jumps bail or flees to a
foreign country during the pendency of the appeal." The "appeal" contemplated in Section 8 of Rule 124 is a
suit to review judgments of convictions.
● The RTC's dismissal of petitioner's special civil action for certiorari to review a pre-arraignment ancillary
question on the applicability of the Due Process Clause to bar proceedings in Case2 finds no basis under procedural
rules and jurisprudence.
● The mischief in the RTC's treatment of petitioner's non-appearance at his arraignment in Criminal Case No. 82366 as
proof of his loss of standing becomes more evident when one considers the Rules of Court's treatment of a defendant
who absents himself from post-arraignment hearings. Under Section 21, Rule 114 11 of the Revised Rules of
Criminal Procedure, the defendant's absence merely renders his bondsman potentially liable on its bond
● Further, the RTC's observation that petitioner provided "no explanation why he failed to attend the scheduled
proceeding" at the MeTC is belied by the records. Days before the arraignment, petitioner sought the suspension of
the MeTC's proceedings.
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On double jeopardy
● The accused's negative constitutional right not to be "twice put in jeopardy of punishment for the same offense"
protects him from, among others, post-conviction prosecution for the same offense, with the prior verdict
rendered by a court of competent jurisdiction upon a valid information.
● It is not disputed that petitioner's conviction in Case 1 was rendered by a court of competent jurisdiction upon a
valid charge. Thus, the case turns on the question whether Cases 1 and 2 involve the "same offense."
● Petitioner adopts the affirmative view, submitting that the two cases concern the same offense of reckless
imprudence. The MeTC ruled otherwise, finding that Reckless Imprudence Resulting in Slight Physical Injuries is an
entirely separate offense from Reckless Imprudence Resulting in Homicide and Damage to Property "as the [latter]
requires proof of an additional fact which the other does not."
● We find for petitioner. Reckless Imprudence is a single crime, its consequences on persons and property are
material only to determine the penalty
● The two charges against petitioner, arising from the same facts, were prosecuted under the same provision of the
RPC, Art 365, defining and penalizing quasi-offenses

Reckless Imprudence is not a mere mode of committing a crime

● The proposition that "reckless imprudence" is not a crime in itself but simply a way of committing it and merely
determines a lower degree of criminal liability is too broad to deserve unqualified assent. There are crimes
that by their structure cannot be committed through imprudence: murder, treason, robbery, malicious
mischief, etc. In truth, criminal negligence in our Revised Penal Code is treated as a mere quasi offense, and dealt
with separately from willful offenses. It is not a mere question of classification or terminology. In intentional
crimes, the act itself is punished; in negligence or imprudence, what is principally penalized is the mental
attitude or condition behind the act, the dangerous recklessness, lack of care or foresight, the imprudencia
punible
● Were it a mode, it would be absorbed in the mitigating circumstance of lack of intent to commit so grave a wrong
● It can be seen that the actual penalty for criminal negligence bears no relation to the individual willful crime, but is
set in relation to a whole class, or series, of crimes
Prior conviction/ acquittal bars subsequent prosecution for the same quasi-offense
● The doctrine that reckless imprudence under Article 365 is a single quasi-offense by itself and not merely a means to
commit other crimes such that conviction or acquittal of such quasi-offense bars subsequent prosecution for the
same quasi-offense, regardless of its various resulting acts
● JBL Reyes: in barring a subsequent prosecution for "serious physical injuries and damage to property thru reckless
imprudence" because of the accused's prior acquittal of "slight physical injuries thru reckless imprudence," with
both charges grounded on the same act, the Court explained:
○ The law penalizes thus the negligent or careless act, not the result thereof.
○ as the careless act is single, whether the injurious result should affect one person or several persons, the
offense (criminal negligence) remains one and the same, and can not be split into different crimes and
prosecutions

● One of the tests of double jeopardy is whether or not the second offense charged necessarily includes or is
necessarily included in the offense charged in the former complaint or information (Rule 113, Sec. 9). Another
test is whether the evidence which proves one would prove the other that is to say whether the facts alleged
in the first charge if proven, would have been sufficient to support the second charge and vice versa; or
whether one crime is an ingredient of the other (People v Diaz)

Article 48 Does not Apply to Acts Penalized Under Article 365 of the Revised Penal Code
● Article 48 works to combine in a single prosecution multiple intentional crimes falling under Titles 1-13, Book II of
the Revised Penal Code, when proper; Article 365 governs the prosecution of imprudent acts and their
consequences. Article 365 is a substantive rule penalizing not an act defined as a felony but "the mental attitude . .
. behind the act, the dangerous recklessness, lack of care or foresight . . ., a single mental attitude regardless
of the resulting consequences.
● Hence, we hold that prosecutions under Article 365 should proceed from a single charge regardless of the
number or severity of the consequences. In imposing penalties, the judge will do no more than apply the penalties
under Article 365 for each consequence alleged and proven. In short, there shall be no splitting of charges under
Article 365, and only one information shall be filed in the same first level court.
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DISPOSITIVE: WHEREFORE, we GRANT the petition. We REVERSE the Orders of the Regional Trial Court of Pasig City.
We DISMISS the Information in Case 2 against petitioner Jason Ivler y Aguilar on the ground of double jeopardy.

P.D. No. 1866, as amended

B.P. Blg. 22 (Bouncing Checks Law)

Azarcon v. People, 622 SCRA 341

LOURDES AZARCON
vs.
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES and MARCOSA GONZALES
CARPIO MORALES, J.: G.R. No. 185906 June 29, 2010

FACTS:
· Since 1990, Lourdes Azarcon, a businesswoman, had been borrowing money from Marcosa Gonzales, the latter
being engaged in an informal money-lending business. Between Aug to Dec 1992, Azarcon issues several Premiere Bank
checks payable to Marcosa, for amounts borrowed. However, checks were, upon maturity, dishonored bec. “Account
Closed”
· Dec 1 1993: Marcosa, through counsel, writes letter, demands the P749,000 due her bec. checks were dishonored
· Dec 17 1993: Azarcon replies, asks for "reconciliation of her accountability since [she] has also some receipt
payments covering the checks she has issued" and says that she is willing to settle her account
· Feb 15 1994: Manuel Azarcon, Lourdes’ husband, pays Marcosa P200,000 representing “initial payment” with
undertaking to settle balance within 1 year via monthly installments
· 2 ½ years pass without obligation being paid, prompting Marcosa to file complaint for violation of BP 22 against
Azarcon, involving 120 dishonored checks amounting to P746,250
· Azarcon’s defense: obligation to pay was novated when husband assumed liability
· TC: Azarcon guilty of 824 violations of BP 22, subtracted amounts which prosecution either failed to offer in
evidence or Marcosa failed to dispute
· CA appeals: no prior demand from Marcosa to settle checks after their being dishonored, TC did not appreciate
novation
· CA affirms TC
· Azarcon files petition before SC
ISSUE/HELD:
· W/N Azarcon is guilty of violation of BP 22 (YES)

RATIO:
· Elements for BP 22 violation all present: (1) The accused makes, draws or issues any check to apply to
account or for value; (2) The accused knows at the time of the issuance that he or she does not have sufficient
funds in, or credit with, the drawee bank for the payment of the check in full upon its presentment; and (3) The
check is subsequently dishonored by the drawee bank for insufficiency of funds or credit or it would have been
dishonored for the same reason had not the drawer, without any valid reason, ordered the bank to stop
payment.
· re: prior demand: Marcosa’s Dec 1 1993 letter satisfies “notice of dishonor” requirement to bring up the
presumption that there was knowledge of insufficient funds
· re: novation defense: no express agreement to a novation, plus initial installment payments were either paid
by Azarcon herself, or received "the account of Mrs. Lourdes Azarcon"

RULING: Petition denied

R.A. No. 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act)

Cadiao-Palacios v. People, 582 SCRA 713

LINDA CADIAO-PALACIOS, Petitioner,
Vs.
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondent
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March 31, 2009
NACHURA, J.

Facts:

Petitioner Cadiao-Palacios was the mayor of the Municipality of Culasi, Province of Antique from July 1998 to June 2001.
During her administration, there were infrastructure projects that were initiated during the incumbency of her
predecessor, then Mayor Aida Alpas, which remained partially unpaid. These included the Janlagasi Diversion Dam, San
Luis Diversion Dam, Caridad-Bagacay Road, and San Juan-Tumao Road, which were contracted by L.S. Gamotin
Construction with a total project cost of P2 million. For the said projects, the municipality owed the contractor P791,047.

Relative to the aforesaid projects, petitioner, together with Victor S. Venturanza, then the Municipal Security
Officer, was indicted in an Information which accused them of demanding money from Grace Superficial of L.S. Gamotin
Construction for in connection with the aforesaid contracts concerning the infrastructure projects, wherein, as public
officers in their official capacities, they had to intervene under the law. The Information accused them of receiving
P15,000.00 in cash and P162,400 in LBP Check No. 3395274.

Both accused voluntarily surrendered and, upon motion, posted a reduced bail bond of P15,000 each. They pleaded “Not
Guilty” upon arraignment.

During trial, the prosecution presented its sole witness—the private complainant herself, Grace M. Superficial
(Superficial). Her testimony may be summarized as follows:

For and on behalf of L.S. Gamotin, she (Superficial) took charge of the collection of the unpaid billings of the municipality.
Prior to the full payment of the municipality’s obligation, petitioner demanded money from her, under threat that the
final payment would not be released, unless she complied. Acceding to petitioner’s demand, she gave the former’s
husband P15,000. Sometime in January 1999, petitioner demanded from Superficial the full payment of her total
“kickback,” which should be 10% of the project cost. The two then agreed that Superficial would deliver a check in lieu
of cash.

On January 25, 1999, petitioner gave to Neil Superficial, then an incumbent councilor and the husband of private
complainant, 3 checks representing the final payment for the construction projects.

On January 26, 1999, Venturanza picked up the check promised by Superficial as payment for the 10% “kickback.” In
accordance with petitioner’s instruction, the check was made payable to Venturanza in the amount of P162,400. The
check was encashed by Venturanza at the Land Bank of the Philippines, San Jose, Antique Branch, which is about 90km -
100km away from Culasi; and the amount was received by Venturanza. It was Venturanza also who deposited the 3
checks, representing the full payment of the project.

The prosecution offered the following documentary evidence:

1. Minutes of the Meeting of Pre-Qualification, [Bid] and Award Committee (PBAC) held at the Municipality of Antique;
2. Land Bank Check No. 3395274P dated January 26, 1999 in the amount of P162,400;
3. Complainant’s Consolidated Sur-Reply; and
4. Deposit Slip of the 3 LBP Checks representing full payment of the project.

The defense, on the other hand, presented the following witnesses: 1) petitioner herself, 2) Venturanza, 3) Engr. Armand
Cadigal, 4) petitioner’s husband Emmanuel Palacios, 5) petitioner’s Executive Assistant Eugene de Los Reyes, and 6)
Atty. Rex Suiza Castillon. Their testimonies may be summarized as follows:

Petitioner denied Superficial’s allegations. She insisted that she only dealt with the owner of L.S. Gamotin, Engr.
Leobardo S. Gamotin, relative to the infrastructure projects; thus, she could have made the demand directly from him
and not from Superficial. It was Engr. Gamotin himself who claimed payment through a demand letter addressed to
petitioner.

She only met Superficial when the latter received the checks representing the final payment. She further testified that
she never entrusted any highly sensitive matter to Venturanza, since her trusted employee was her chief of staff. She
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also averred that she was not the only person responsible for the release of the checks, since the vouchers also required
the signatures of the municipal treasurer, the municipal budget officer, and the municipal accountant. As far as
Venturanza was concerned, she denied knowledge of such transaction. Lastly, she claimed that the filing of the case
against her was politically motivated.

Emmanuel Palacios likewise denied having received P15,000.00 from Superficial. He claimed that he was financially
stable. He also claimed that the institution of the criminal case was ill-motivated as Neil Superficial, in fact, initiated a
complaint against him for frustrated murder

Venturanza admitted that he indeed received the check from Superficial, but denied that it was “grease money.” He
claimed that the P162,400 was received by him in the form of a loan. He explained that he borrowed from Superficial
P150,000 to finance his trip to Australia so that he could attend the wedding of his nephew; and asked for an additional
amount for his expenses in processing his visa. Venturanza, however, failed to leave for Australia. Of the total amount of
his loan, he allegedly spent P15,000 in processing his visa. Venturanza stated that he was able to repay the entire
amount immediately because he obtained a loan from the Rural Bank of Aklan, Pandan Branch, to pay the amount he
used in applying for his visa. He further testified that he was persuaded by the Superficials to campaign against
petitioner.

The Sandiganbayan convicted both accused of violating Section 3 (b) of Republic Act No. 3019, otherwise known as The
Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. The Sandiganbayan concluded that the following circumstances established the
guilt of both petitioner and Venturanza:
1) That the municipality had outstanding obligations with L.S. Gamotin for the construction of
several public works that were completed in 1998;
2) That petitioner was the person authorized to effect the payment of said obligations which, in
fact, she did;
3) That Venturanza was a trusted employee of petitioner as he was in charge of the security of the
municipal buildings and personnel as well as the adjoining offices;
4) That Venturanza received the 3 LBP checks representing the full payment to L.S. Gamotin and
the LBP check bearing the amount of P162,400;
5) That Venturanza went to San Jose, Antique on January 26, 1999 to deposit the 3 checks and
encashed the P162,400 check;
6) That Venturanza did not receive the above amount by virtue of a loan agreement with Superficial
because there was no evidence to prove it;
7) That Venturanza used the vehicle of the municipality to encash the check in San Jose, Antique;
and
8) That the amount of P15,000.00 initially given to Emmanuel Palacios and the P162,400 appearing
on the check corresponded to the 10% of the total project cost after deducting the 10% VAT and
P10,000.00 Engineering Supervision Fee.

Aggrieved, petitioner and Venturanza separately appealed their conviction. The latter petition was denied by the SC. The
former, on the other hand, went before the SC again in herein petition, mainly challenging the legal and factual bases of
the Sandiganbayan decision.

Issue: WoN Linda Cadiao-Palacios was guilty of violating Section 3 (b) of Republic Act No. 3019, otherwise known as The
Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act

Held: Yes, she was guilty.

WHEREFORE, premises considered, the petition is hereby DENIED for lack of merit. The Decision of the Sandiganbayan
dated January 28, 2005 in Criminal Case No. 27434 is AFFIRMED.

Ratio:

Section 3 (b) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act provides:

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 SEC. 3. Corrupt practices of public officers. – In addition to acts or omissions of public officers already penalized by
existing law, the following shall constitute corrupt practices of any public officer and are hereby declared to be unlawful:

xxxx

(b) Directly or indirectly requesting or receiving any gift, present, share, percentage, or benefit, for himself or for
any other person, in connection with any contract or transaction between the Government and any other party, wherein
the public officer in his official capacity has to intervene under the law.

To be convicted of violation of Section 3(b) of R.A. No. 3019, the prosecution has the burden of proving the following
elements:
1) the offender is a public officer;
2) Who requested or received a gift, a present, a share, a percentage, or benefit;
3) On behalf of the offender or any other person;
4) In connection with a contract or transaction with the government;
5) In which the public officer, in an official capacity under the law, has the right to
intervene.

At the time material to the case, petitioner was the mayor of the Municipality of Culasi, Antique. As mayor, her signature
was necessary to effect payment to contractors (for government projects). Since the case involved the collection by L.S.
Gamotin of the municipality’s outstanding obligation to the former, the right of petitioner to intervene in her official
capacity is undisputed. Therefore, elements 1, 4 and 5 of the offense are present.

Petitioner’s refutation of her conviction focuses on the evidence appreciated by the Sandiganbayan establishing that she
demanded and received “grease money” in connection with the transaction/contract.

Section 3(b) penalizes three distinct acts – 1) demanding or requesting; 2) receiving; or 3) demanding, requesting and
receiving – any gift, present, share, percentage, or benefit for oneself or for any other person, in connection with any
contract or transaction between the government and any other party, wherein a public officer in an official capacity has
to intervene under the law.

The Sandiganbayan found Superficial and her testimony worthy of credence, that petitioner demanded “grease money”
as a condition for the release of the final payment to L.S. Gamotin. Aside from the demand made by petitioner, the
Sandiganbayan likewise concluded that, indeed, she received the “grease money” through Venturanza. Therefore,
petitioner was convicted both for demanding and receiving “grease money.”

Well-settled is the rule that factual findings of the Sandiganbayan are conclusive upon the SC save in the following cases:
1) the conclusion is a finding grounded entirely on speculation, surmise and conjecture; 2) the inference made is
manifestly an error or founded on a mistake; 3) there is grave abuse of discretion; 4) the judgment is based on
misapprehension of facts; 5) the findings of fact are premised on a want of evidence and are contradicted by evidence on
record; and 6) said findings of fact are conclusions without citation of specific evidence on which they are based. The
instant case does not fall under any of the foregoing exceptions.

Petitioner contends that it was improbable for her to have demanded the “grease money” from Superficial, when she
could have talked directly to the contractor himself. She insists that Superficial was never a party to the transaction and
that Engr. Gamotin was the one who personally facilitated the full payment of the municipality’s unpaid obligation.

As held in Preclaro v. Sandiganbayan, it is irrelevant from whom petitioner demanded her percentage share of the
project cost. That petitioner made such a demand is all that is required by Section 3(b) of R.A. No. 3019, and this element
has been sufficiently established by the testimony of Superficial.

Petitioner admitted that it was Superficial (or her husband) who received the 3 checks representing full payment of the
municipality’s obligation. Moreover, although the checks were issued to L.S. Gamotin, the deposit slip showed that they
were deposited by Venturanza to the account of Superficial. Thus, contrary to petitioner’s contention, the evidence

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Compiled by: HIPOLITO
clearly shows that Superficial was not a stranger to the transaction between the municipality and L.S. Gamotin, for she,
in fact, played an important role in the receipt of the final payment of the government’s obligation.

It was not, therefore, impossible for petitioner to have demanded the “grease money” from Superficial. This was
bolstered by the fact that the P162,400.00 check in the name of Venturanza was encashed by him on the same day that
he deposited the 3 checks. The only plausible explanation is that the amount given to Venturanza was “grease money”
taken from the proceeds of the checks issued by the municipality.

In holding that petitioner and Venturanza conspired in committing the offense, the SC agreed with the
Sandiganbayan that the circumstances enumerated above point to the culpability of the accused. There was no direct
evidence showing that petitioner demanded and received the money, but the testimony of Superficial, corroborated by
the documentary evidence and the admissions of the witnesses for the defense, sufficiently establishes that Venturanza
received the money upon orders of petitioner.

Go vs. Fifth Division, Sandiganbayan, 585 SCRA 404

April 13, 2007
HENRY T. GO,
vs.
THE FIFTH DIVISION, SANDIGANBAYAN and THE OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR, OFFICE OF THE
OMBUDSMAN,
CALLEJO, SR., J.:

FACTS:
● Government awarded in favor of PIATCO the project for the development of the NAIA IPT III under a build-operate-
and-transfer (BOT) scheme pursuant RA. 695 as amended by RA 7718 (BOT Law).
● May 5, 2003 SC rendered the Decision in Agan, Jr. v. Phil. Int’l Air Terminals Co., Inc. (PIATCO), declaring as null and
void the 1997 Concession Agreement (Agreement), the Amended and Restated Concession Agreement (ARCA), and
the Supplemental Contracts entered into bet the Gov’t, through DOTC and the Manila Int’l Airport Authority (MIAA),
and PIATCO (collectively known as the PIATCO contracts)
● The Court ruled that Paircargo Consortium, PIATCO’s predecessor-in-interest, was not a qualified bidder as it failed
to meet the financial capability requirement under the BOT Law. Moreover, the PIATCO contracts were declared null
and void for being contrary to public policy considering that the Agreement contains material and substantial
amendments, which amendments had the effect of converting it into an entirely different agreement from the
contract bidded upon. The provisions under Secti 4.04(b) and (c) in relation to Sec 1.06 of the Agreement and Sec
4.04(c) in relation to Sec 1.06 of the ARCA, which constitute a direct gov’t guarantee expressly prohibited by, among
others, the BOT Law and its Implementing Rules and Regulations are also null and void. The Supplements, being
accessory contracts to the ARCA, are likewise null and void.
● Subsequently, an affidavit-complaint, later amended, was filed with the Office of the Ombudsman by Ma. Cecilia L.
Pesayco, Corporate Secretary of Asia’s Emerging Dragon Corporation (AEDC), charging several persons in
connection with the NAIA IPT III project. The AEDC was the original proponent thereof which, however, lost to
PIATCO when it failed to match the latter’s bid price.
● After conducting a preliminary investigation, the Office of the Ombudsman filed with the Sandiganbayan the Info
dated Jan 13, 2005 charging Vicente C. Rivera, then DOTC Sec, and petr Go, Chairman and Pres of PIATCO, with
violation of Section 3(g) of RA 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act).
● June 20, 2005: Go filed his Comment with Motion to Quash.
● Go: Adopting the view advanced by Rivera, Go harped on the alleged "missing documents," including Pesayco’s
amended affidavit-complaint and those others that were mentioned in the resolution of the Office of the Deputy
Ombudsman finding probable cause against Rivera and petitioner Go, but which were not allegedly in the records.
Go maintained that, there was no supporting evidence for the finding of the existence of probable cause. Go further
alleged that he could not be charged under Sect 3(g) of RA 3019 because he is not a public officer and neither is he
capacitated to enter into a contract or transaction on behalf of the government. At least one of the important
elements of the crime under Section 3(g) of RA 3019 is not allegedly present in his case.
● Sandiganbayan: issued Resolution denying Rivera’s Motion for Judicial Determination (Re-Determination) of
Probable Cause and Motion to Dismiss and petitioner Go’s Motion to Quash.

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ISSUES:
1) W/N Sandiganbayan committed grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction in not ruling that
Section 3(g) does not embrace a private person within its proviso (No)
2) W/N Sandiganbayan committed grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction in not ruling that
there is no probable cause to hold petitioner for trial (No)

RATIO:
● Section 3(g) of RA 3019
SEC. 3. Corrupt practices of public officers. – In addition to acts or omissions of public officers already penalized by
existing law, the following shall constitute corrupt practices of any public officer and are hereby declared to be unlawful:
(g) Entering, on behalf of the Government, into any contract or transaction manifestly and grossly disadvantageous to
the same, whether or not the public officer profited or will profit thereby.
● elements of this offense
(1) that the accused is a public officer;
(2) that he entered into a contract or transaction on behalf of the government; and
(3) that such contract or transaction is grossly and manifestly disadvantageous to the government.
● Go’s simplistic syllogism, i.e., he is not a public officer ergo he cannot be charged with violation of Section 3(g) of
RA 3019, goes against the letter and spirit of the avowed policy of RA 3019 as embodied in Sec 1 thereof:
SEC. 1. Statement of policy. - It is the policy of the Philippine Government, in line with the principle that a public office is
a public trust, to repress certain acts of public officers and private persons alike which constitute graft or corrupt
practices or which may lead thereto.
● As early as in 1970, through the erudite Justice J.B.L. Reyes in Luciano v. Estrella, the Court had ascertained the
scope of Section 3(g) of RA 3019 as applying to both public officers and private persons:
x x x [T]he act treated thereunder [referring to Section 3(g) of RA 3019] partakes the nature of malum prohibitum; it is
the commission of that act as defined by law, not the character or effect thereof, that determines whether or not the
provision has been violated. And this construction would be in consonance with the announced purpose for which
Republic Act 3019 was enacted, which is the repression of certain acts of public officers and private persons constituting
graft or corrupt practices act or which may lead thereto.
● Like in the present case, the Information in the said case charged both public officers and private persons with
violation of Section 3(g) of RA 3019.
● Section 9 of RA 3019 buttresses the conclusion that the anti-graft law’s application extends to both public
officers and private persons. The said provision, quoted earlier, provides in part that:
SEC. 9. (a) Any public officer or private person committing any of the unlawful acts or omissions enumerated in Sections
3, 4, 5 and 6 of this Act shall be punished with imprisonment for not less than six years and one month nor more than
fifteen years, perpetual disqualification from public office, and confiscation or forfeiture in favor of the Government of
any prohibited interest and unexplained wealth manifestly out of proportion to his salary and other lawful income.
● The fact that one of the elements of Section 3(g) of RA 3019 is "that the accused is a public officer" does not
necessarily preclude its application to private persons who, like petitioner Go, are being charged with conspiring
with public officers in the commission of the offense thereunder.
● The precept that could be drawn from Luciano, Singian and Domingo, and which is applicable to the
present case, is that private persons, when acting in conspiracy with public officers, may be indicted and,
if found guilty, held liable for the pertinent offenses under Sec3 of RA 3019, including (g) and (h) thereof.
This is in consonance with the avowed policy of the anti-graft law to repress certain acts of public
officers and private persons alike constituting graft or corrupt practices act or which may lead thereto.
(Ito yung impt, kebs na yung iba :)))
● Anent the allegation of conspiracy, it is posited by the dissenting opinion that the Information is infirm as far as
petitioner Go is concerned because it failed to mention with specificity his participation in the planning and
preparation of the alleged conspiracy.
● It is well established that the presence or absence of the elements of the crime (as well as the absence (or
presence) of any conspiracy among the accused) is evidentiary in nature and is a matter of defense that may be
passed upon after a full-blown trial on the merits.
● Following these truisms, the specific acts of Go in the alleged conspiracy with Rivera in violating Section 3(g) of
RA 3019 as well as the details on how petitioner Go had taken part in the planning and preparation of the
alleged conspiracy need not be set forth in the Information as these are evidentiary matters and, as such, are to
be shown and proved during the trial on the merits. Indeed, it bears stressing that "[t]o establish conspiracy,
direct proof of an agreement concerning the commission of a felony and the decision to commit it is not
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 necessary. It may be inferred from the acts of the accused before, during or after the commission of the crime
which, when taken together, would be enough to reveal a community of criminal design, as the proof of
conspiracy is frequently made by evidence of a chain of circumstances.”
● In this connection, for purposes of the Information, it is sufficient that the requirements of Section 8, Rule 110 of
the Rules of Court are complied with:
SEC. 8. Designation of the offense. – The complaint or information shall state the designation of the offense given by the
statute, aver the acts or omissions constituting the offense, and specify its qualifying and aggravating circumstances. If
there is no designation of the offense, reference shall be made to the section or subsection of the statute punishing it.
● An accused, like petitioner Go, may file a motion to quash the Information under Section 3(a) of Rule 117 on the
grounds that the facts charged do not constitute an offense. In such a case, the fundamental test in determining
the sufficiency of the material averments of an Information is whether or not the facts alleged therein, which are
hypothetically admitted, would establish the essential elements of the crime defined by law. Evidence aliunde or
matters extrinsic of the Information are not to be considered.
● As correctly outlined by the Office of the Ombudsman, the facts alleged in the Information, if admitted
hypothetically, establish all the elements of Section 3(g) of RA 3019 vis-à-vis petitioner Go:
1. in conspiracy with accused HENRY T. GO, Chairman and President of Philippine International Air Terminals, Co,
2. in conspiracy with accused HENRY T. GO
3. "xxx which ARCA substantially amended the draft Concession Agreement covering the construction of the NAIA IPT III
under Republic Act 6957, as amended by Republic Act 7718 (BOT Law) providing that the government shall assume the
liabilities of PIATCO in the event of the latter’s default specifically Article IV, Section 4.04 (c) in relation to Article I,
Section 1.06 of the ARCA which terms are more beneficial to PIATCO and in violation of the BOT Law and manifestly
grossly disadvantageous to the government of the Republic of the Philippines."
● Finally, in the assailed Resolution dated March 24, 200806, the Sandiganbayan ratiocinated thus: The rule is that
the determination of probable cause during the preliminary investigation is a function that belongs to the public
prosecutor, the Office of the Ombudsman in this case. Such official is vested with authority to determine whether
or not a criminal case must be filed in court and the concomitant function of determining as well the persons to
be prosecuted. Also, it must not be lost sight of that the correctness of the exercise of such function is a matter
that the trial court itself does not and may not be compelled to pass upon, consistent with the policy of non-
interference by the courts in the determination by the Ombudsman of the existence of probable cause.
● Accordingly, upon the foregoing premises, we believe and so hold that any and all questions relating to the
finding of probable cause by the Office of the Ombudsman should be addressed to the said office itself, then to
the Court of Appeals and, ultimately, to the Supreme Court.
● On the matter of the judicial determination of probable cause, we stand by our finding that the same exists in
this case, the said finding we arrived at upon a personal determination thereof which we did for the purpose of
and before the issuance of the warrant of arrest. While it may indeed be true that the documents mentioned by
accused-movant as being absent in the records are missing, we nevertheless had for our perusal other
documents assiduously listed down by accused Rivera in his motion, including the information, which we found
to constitute sufficient basis for our determination of the existence of probable cause. It must be emphasized
that such determination is separate and distinct from that made by the Office of the Ombudsman and which we
did independently therefrom.
● The determination of probable cause during a preliminary investigation is a function of the government
prosecutor, which in this case is the Ombudsman. As a rule, courts do not interfere in the Ombudsman’s exercise
of discretion in determining probable cause, unless there are compelling reasons. Mindful of this salutary rule,
the Sandiganbayan nonetheless made its own determination on the basis of the records that were before it. It
concluded that there was sufficient evidence in the records for the finding of the existence of probable cause
against petitioner Go.
● Grave abuse of discretion implies a capricious and whimsical exercise of judgment tantamount to lack or excess
of jurisdiction. Clearly, in the light of the foregoing disquisition, grave abuse of discretion cannot be imputed on
the Sandiganbayan when it held that there exists probable cause against petitioner Go.

HELD:
petition DISMISSED for lack of merit. Sandiganbayan AFFIRMED in toto.

Go v Fifth Division (Resolution)

HENRY T. GO,
vs.
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THE FIFTH DIVISION, SANDIGANBAYAN and THE OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR, OFFICE OF THE
OMBUDSMAN,
YNARES-SANTIAGO, J.:
April 16, 2009

FACTS:
● In its Motion for Reconsideration, respondent Office of the Special Prosecutor argues, citing Meneses v. People,
Balmadrid v. Sandiganbayan Domingo v. Sandiganbayan, and Singian v. Sandiganbayan, that private persons
when conspiring with public officers may be held liable for violation of Section 3(g) of Republic Act (R.A.) No.
3019.
● In the instant case, the Information charges Vicente C. Rivera, Jr., then Secretary of the Department of
Transportation and Communications, with committing the offense under Section 3(g) of R.A. No. 3019 "in
conspiracy with accused HENRY T. GO, Chairman and President of Philippine International Air Terminals, Co.,
Inc. (PIATCO) x x x."

ISSUE: W/N the case against Go should be dismissed? (Yes)

RATIO
● We maintain that to be indicted of the offense under Section 3(g) of R.A. No. 3019, the following elements must
be present: (1) that the accused is a public officer; (2) that he entered into a contract or transaction on behalf of
the government; and (3) that such contract or transaction is grossly and manifestly disadvantageous to the
government. However, if there is an allegation of conspiracy, a private person may be held liable together with
the public officer, in consonance with the avowed policy of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act which is "to
repress certain acts of public officers and private persons alike which may constitute graft or corrupt practices
or which may lead thereto.
● "Pursuant to our ruling in Estrada v. Sandiganbayan, said allegation of conspiracy is sufficient, thus: The
requirements on sufficiency of allegations are different when conspiracy is not charged as a crime in itself but
only as the mode of committing the crime as in the case at bar. There is less necessity of reciting its
particularities in the Information because conspiracy is not the gravamen of the offense charged
● [I]t is enough to allege conspiracy as a mode in the commission of an offense in either of the following manner:
(1) by use of the word "conspire," or its derivatives or synonyms, such as confederate, connive, collude, etc; or
(2) by allegation of basic facts constituting the conspiracy in a manner that a person of common understanding
would know what is intended, and with such precision as would enable the accused to competently enter a plea
to a subsequent indictment based on the same facts.
● Thus, the allegation in the Information that accused Rivera "in conspiracy with accused HENRY T. GO"
committed the alleged acts in violation of Section 3(g) of R.A. No. 3019, is sufficient in form and
substance. Consequently, petitioner Go was validly charged with violation of Section 3(g) when he allegedly
conspired with accused Rivera.
● in the Decision of the Sandiganbayan dated March 18, 2008, Vicente C. Rivera, Jr. was acquitted and the case
against him dismissed.
● cash bond returned ; Hold Departure lifted and set aside. No pronouncement as to civil liability as the facts from
which the same might arise were not proven in the case at bar.
● From the said Decision, the Office of the Special Prosecutor filed a Petition for Certiorari before this Court which
was dismissed the petition on December 3, 2008
● The Court resolves to DISMISS the petition for certiorari of the Decision and Resolution dated 18 March 2008
and 16 September 2008, respectively, of the Sandiganbayan in Criminal Case No. 28092 for failure of the
petitioner to sufficiently show that any grave abuse of discretion was committed by the Sandiganbayan in
rendering the challenged decision and resolution which, on the contrary, appear to be in accord with the facts
and the applicable law and jurisprudence.
● December 3, 2008 Resolution became final and executory and was recorded in the Book of Entries of Judgments
on February 13, 2009.
● Based on the foregoing, it follows as a matter of course that the instant case against herein petitioner
Henry T. Go should likewise be dismissed. The acquittal of Rivera means that there was no public officer
who allegedly violated Section 3(g) of R.A. No. 3019. There being no public officer, it follows that a
private individual such as herein petitioner Go could not be said to have conspired with such public

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 officer. The basis for a finding of conspiracy against petitioner and Rivera has been removed;
consequently, the case against Henry T. Go should likewise be dismissed.
HELD:
Motion for Reconsideration is DENIED subject to the qualification discussed in the body of the decision. Prayer to Refer
Case to the Supreme Court En Banc is likewise DENIED. Comment/Opposition filed by petitioner Go to the said Motion
for Reconsideration (of the Resolution dated September 3, 2007) With Prayer to Refer Case to the Supreme Court En
Banc as well as the Manifestation and Motion are NOTED. Sandiganbayan DIRECTED to DISMISS Criminal Case No.
against petitioner Henry T. Go.

M.A. Jimenez Enterprises, Inc. vs. Ombudsman, 650 SCRA 381

M.A. JIMENEZ ENTERPRISES, INC., represented by CESAR CALIMLIM and LAILA BALOIS,
vs.
THE HONORABLE OMBUDSMAN, JESUS P. CAMMAYO, ARTURO SANTOS, MANUEL FACTORA, TEODORO BARROZO,
MANUEL ROY, RONALD MANALILI and JOHN ULASSUS
G.R. No. 155307 June 6, 2011
VILLARAMA

Violation of Section 3(e) of RA 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act

Sec. 3. Corrupt practices of public officers - In addition to acts or omissions of public officers already penalized by
existing law, the ff. shall constitute corrupt practices of any public officer and are hereby declared to be unlawful:

e. Causing any undue injury to any party, including the Government, or giving any private party any unwarranted benefits,
advantage or preference in the discharge of his official administrative or judicial functions through manifest partiality,
evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence. This provision shall apply to all officers and employees of offices or
government corporations charged with the grant of licenses or permits or other concessions.

Facts:
January 20, 1999 - DPWH enters into a contract for the proposed construction of the Baguio General Hospital
and Medical Center (BGHMC) Building (Phase I) with Royson and Co., Inc. (Royson), approved by DPWH Sec. Vigilar.
Construction ensues.

An excavation 60 meters deep was made on the area under the area of Proj. Dir. Engr. Arturo Santos. Petitioner,
thinking that its property, which was adjacent to the site, was under threat of erosion, sent three letters to Royson
asking that it hasten the construction of a retaining wall.

Construction of a provisional slope protection measure was started. But due to heavy rains (typhoon Feria), a
collapse of a portion of the slope protection resulted in a landslide. It was alleged by petitioners that the landslide caused
cracks in the house owned by it and prejudiced the structural integrity of the house. This led to petitioner’s complaining
against the project before the Office of the Regional Director of the DPWH Cordillera Administrative Region (DPWH-
CAR) and the Office of the City Mayor (lol seriously, dami mong angal) which directed the Office of the City Engineer of
Baguio City to conduct an investigation.

Findings:
1 Construction being implemented by Royson is not covered by a building and excavation permit
2 That the personnel of Royson alleged that no death resulted in the accident.
3 That portion of the Jimenez’ garage allegedly encroached inside the propert of BGH
4 That the retaining wall is located approx. 7.5m to the nearest building line of complainant. This building is a 2-
storey structure.
5 That cracks on their driveway approx. 5.65m away from the edge of the complainant’s building measuring
approx. 6.00m is observed. The garage floor level is approx. 4.5m above the partially completed 2nd level
retaining wall.

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Royson subsequently builds reinforced concrete slope protection, a grouted riprap, and a retaining wall for the
compound. But the retaining wall of the BGHMC Project collapse. So close.

Petitioner files an Affidavit-Complaint against the respondents before the Office of the Ombudsman, asserting
that its property was damaged. Claims that the damage to its property was due to respondents’ gross negligence,
incompetence and/or malicious conduct because they failed to construct a perimeter fence in the excavations made for
the expansion of the BGHMC despite the fact that petitioner had written Royson about the possibility of an erosion.
Petitioner charges the respondents of causing undue injury to it in the discharge of their official and administrative
functions through manifest partiality, evident bad faith and inexcusable negligence in the construction of the expansion
project of the BGHMC and its retaining wall.

Respondents’ side of it:

Barrozo, former City Engineer of Baguio: claimed that the project in question was not a public-work project of the City
Goverment of Baguio but a project of the national govt over which the Baguio City Engineer has no control and
supervision. When the City Engineer’s Office found out that the proj was w/o the nec. permits, it immediately required
the manager of Royson and BGHMC to obtain them.

Cammayo, Asst. Sec. of DPWH: he did all he could do to prevent damage to petitioner’s property. In the original plans for
the project, there was no provision for the construction of any reinforced slope protection or retaining wall, thus there
was no obligation to construct such permanent protection measures. He initiated the construction of such measures.
When the rains came, DPWH immediately took action to prevent further erosion. They also discovered a previously
undetected pre-war tunnel which collapsed due to heavy rains. Asserts force majeure.

Ombudsman decision
Dismissed complaint after finding no probable cause to hold the respondents liable for violation of RA 3019. No evidence
of manifest partiality, evident bad faith and gross inexcusable negligence on the part of the respondents in the
construction of the BGHMC Bldg. It noted that the damage was not w/in petitioner’s property but on a portion BGHMC
property which petitioner encroached.

Petitioner contends that Ombudsman acted w/o jurisdiction or with grave abuse of discretion in issuing the assailed
resolution and order.

Thus, SC.

Issue: W/N Ombudsman acted with grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction in dismissing
the complaint. (no)

Petitioner insists that the collapse of the retaining wall was due to the respondents’ gross inexcusable negligence on
their respective duties because they failed to ensure that the nec. bldg. and excavation permits have been secured before
the excavation commenced. Dapat walang force majeure. No evidence that collapse was due to rains. Alleges that the
effort to construct a retaining wall was done only after two landslides.

Respondents allege that petitioners failed to establish that any of its assertions.

Held: SC dismisses petition.

Determination of probable cause against those in public office during a preliminary investigation is a function that
belongs to the Ombudsman.

For there to be a finding of grave abuse of discretion, it must be shown that the discretionary power was exercised in an
arbitrary or despotic manner by reason of passion or personal hostility, and the abuse of discretion must be so patent
and gross as to amount to an evasion of a positive duty or to a virtual refusal to perform the duty enjoined or to act in
contemplation of law.

After examination of the records, the Court concludes that the Ombudsman did not act with grave abuse of discretion.

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Respondents are charged with a violation of Sec. 3(e) of RA 3019.
Elements:
1 accused must be a public officer discharging administrative, judicial or official functions
2 the accused must have acted with manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence
3 the action of the accused caused undue injury to any party, including the government, or gave any private party
unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of the functions of the accused

As noted by the Ombudsman, petitioner failed to point out specific evidence and concrete proof that respondents
demonstrated manifest partiality (mp) or evident bad faith (ebf) in the construction of the BGHMC and its retaining wall,
nor gross inexcusable negligence (gin).
MP - when there is a clear, notorious, or plain inclination or predilection to favor one side or person rather than
another
EBF - connotes a manifest deliberate intent on the part of the accused to do wrong or cause damage; bad
judgment and palpably and fraudulent and dishonest purpose to do moral obliquity or conscious wrongdoing for some
perverse motive or ill will.
GIN - essential to prove that the breach of duty borders on malice and is characterized by flagrant, palpable and
willful indifference to consequences insofar as other person may be affected

Petitioner has not shown that respondents were impelled by such motives in the performance of their
official duties and functions.

Findings of the Ombudsman show that that the collapse was not mainly attributable to respondent’s acts but due
to a confluence of several factors, such as the rains, the discovery of the tunnel, typhoon Feria, the site was on a slope.
Thus was beyond respondents’ control.

As to negligence, Cammayo employed additional slope protection, DPWH installed polyurethane sheets for slope
protection, soils nails were installed, a structural design specialist was immediately hired to prepare plans for a new
reinforced concrete retaining wall. These acts negate the imputation of gross inexcusable negligence.

Petitioner failed to substantiate its claim that it suffered damages when its property lost lateral support by
reason of the collapsed retaining wall. In Santos v People, the Court equated the concept of “undue injury,” in the context
of Sec. 3(e) of RA 3019, with the civil law concept of “actual damage,” therefore must be specified, quantified and proven
to the point of moral certainty. Bawal speculative. Must depend on proof and on the best evidence obtainable regarding
specific facts which could afford some basis for measuring actual damage. Here, Memorandum of the Office of the City
Engineer of Baguio City stated that main structure of complainant was outside the critical slip circle. Not refuted. Absent
controverting evidence, Ombudsman will not be faulted for relying on the said memo.

DISPOSITIVE: WHEREFORE, the present petition for certiorari and mandamus is DENIED for lack of merit. The
Resolution dated February 5, 2002 and Order dated June 27, 2002 of the Ombudsman in OMB Case No. 0-01-0400 are
AFFIRMED.

Sison v. People, 614 SCRA 670 (2010)

ROLANDO E. SISON
vs.
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES
March 9, 2010 CORONA
G.R. Nos. 170339, 170398-403

Facts:
Petitioner was municipal mayor of Calintaan, MindoroOcc, from 1992-95, with Rigoberto de Jesus was municipal
treasurer. 1994, state auditor had a post-audit investigation, revealing that during P’s incumbency, no public bidding
done for a Toyota Land Cruiser, 119bags cement, an electric generator set, constructions materials, 2tires, and a
computer with accessories. There were irregularities supporting their acquisitions. 1998, P and RJ (at large) indicted in
7separate informations for violation of RA3019(3e). Trial ensued. State auditor lone prosecution witness. For defense, P
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called to stand, admitted no public hearing conducted insofar as the purchases he was accused of were concerned. When
asked how purchases were made, said through personal canvass. When asked why that, said no bidding could be done
because all dealers were in Manila, so useless to invite them since nobody would bid anyway. 2005, guilty, each
Information with 6-10years. Appealed, saying not proven beyond reasonable doubt.

Issue:
Whether or not P was guilty.

Held:
Yes. Appeal dismissed. Local Government Code explicitly provides rule that acquisitions of supplies by LGUs shall be
through competitive bidding. Exception, among others, is personal canvass of responsible merchants. Since such was
used, LGC provides limitations when it is used as acquisition method: supplies may be procured after personal canvass
of at least 3responsible local suppliers by a committee of 3, composed of local general services officer or municipal
treasurer, local accountant, and head of office/department for whose use the supplies are being procured. The award
shall be decided by Committee on Awards. Purchases shall not exceed P20K (for fourth class municipalities, which
Calintaan is, and below) in any 1month for each LGU. LGU364 also mandates that in every municipality there be a
Committee on Awards to decide the winnings bids and questions on procurement, composed of local chief executive as
chairman, local treasurer, local accountant, local budget officer, local general services officer, and head of
office/department for which supplies are being procured. In case head would sit in dual capacity, a member of the
city/municipal council would elect from its members a person to sit in.

Law uses “shall.” Regarding car, personal canvass effected solely by P, without participation from accountant or RJ. No
showing that award was decided by committee. Only an abstract of canvass supported the award, signed by P and RJ,
without required signatures by accountant and budget officer. P disregarded dual capacity protocol because in all
purchases made, signed in a dual capacity as chairman and member (head of office/department). Strictly prohibited.
Prohibition meant to check and prevent conflict of interest. Same flaws for cement, generator, construction materials,
2tires, computer. Also spent more than P20K.

RA3019(3e) enumerates corrupt practices: “giving any private party any unwarranted benefits, advantage, preference
through manifest partiality.” To be guilty, elements must concur:

(1) the offender is a public officer;

(2) the act was done in the discharge of the public officer’s official, administrative or judicial functions;

(3) the act was done through manifest partiality, evident bad faith, or gross inexcusable negligence; and

(4) the public officer caused any undue injury to any party, including the Government, or gave any unwarranted
benefits, advantage or preference.

3rd element may be committed in 3ways, and proof of any is enough to convict under RA3019(3e)

Explaining what “partiality,” “bad faith” and “gross negligence” mean, we held:

“Partiality” is synonymous with “bias” which “excites a disposition to see and report matters as they are wished for
rather than as they are.” “Bad faith does not simply connote bad judgment or negligence; it imputes a dishonest purpose
or some moral obliquity and conscious doing of a wrong; a breach of sworn duty through some motive or intent or ill
will; it partakes of the nature of fraud.” “Gross negligence has been so defined as negligence characterized by the want of
even slight care, acting or omitting to act in a situation where there is a duty to act, not inadvertently but wilfully and
intentionally with a conscious indifference to consequences in so far as other persons may be affected. It is the omission
of that care which even inattentive and thoughtless men never fail to take on their own property.”

P grossly negligent in all purchases. Admission that canvass sheets sent out by RJ to suppliers already contained his
signatures because he pre-signed the forms proves utter disregard for actions. Admitted knowing LGC on personal
canvass, but did not follow saying he merely followed practice of his predecessors. Mindless disregard for law in a
tradition of illegality. He should have been first to follow the law. 4th element present, for while no undue injury proved,
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P gave unwarranted benefit or preference to private suppliers, no damage necessary. “Unwarranted” means lacking
adequate or official support; unjustified; unauthorized or without justification or adequate reason. “Advantage” means a
more favorable or improved position or condition; benefit, profit or gain of any kind; benefit from some course of action.
“Preference” signifies priority or higher evaluation or desirability; choice or estimation above another.

To be convicted of 2nd mode, sufficient that accused gave unjustified favor or benefit to another, in exercise of functions.
P did just that, repeatedly failing to follow requirements. Private suppliers personally chosen by P. P sentenced to 6-
10years for each count.

Respicio v. People, 650 SCRA 573

Zafiro Respicio
vs.
People
G.R. Nos. 17870, 178754, June 6, 2011
Ponente: Justice Carpio Morales

Facts:
Petitioner appeals from 2006 CA conviction for RA3019(3e) and RPC171 violations. P was Bureau of Immigration and
Deportation Commissioner, when 11Indian nationals, 3 facing drug trafficking charges, left country in 1994 on the basis
of a BID Self-Deportation Order, saying that since BID has not received prior written request to hold their departure from
any government agency nor from private person, and no indication that they were subject of written complaints, Indians
cleared for self-deportation. Issuance resulted in information against them (P, Associate Commissioner Bayani Subido, Jr.,
Associate Commissioner Manuel Roxas) for RPC171 violation. Also charged under RA3019(3e). Indians were arrested and
detained by NBI for making methaqualone, subjected to preliminary investigation. NBI wrote P requesting they be
furnished Indians’ files. Deportation was requested by Indians’ counsel, saying prosecution would only be costly for
government, indorsed and recommended by NBI. However, public prosecutor filed charges against Indians. BID received
requests for self-deportation days before the deportation indorsement was received by prosecutor.

At trial before Sandiganbayan, Subido said that day when they signed the order, it was P’s birthday, had lunch. Order was
presented to him with P’s signature, and recalling DOJ Secretary assuring them no pending charges against Indians, he
signed. Roxas said he went to P’s office and saw DOJ Secretary, then presented with Order, saying no pending case nor
Hold Departure Orders against Indians, so signed. P said same thing, no pending cases, and prosecutor never
communicated with him, P allegedly unaware that Indians were undergoing preliminary investigation. P’s staff said when
instructed to conduct record check, no criminal records found, but they knew Indians were being apprehended for drugs.
2006, Roxas and Subido exonerated, but P found guilty, 6-12years, that P had ample information about the case, but
granting however that no pending cases were against the Indians, the order should have mentioned that fact, instead of
saying there were no written requests for their departure to be held. Also, the statement that Indians were not subject to
any written complaints was false because P knew they were under preliminary investigation.

Issue:
Whether or not P is guilty.

Held:
Yes. Section 3 (e) of RA 3019, violation for which petitioner was charged, provides:

SEC. 3. Corrupt practices of public officers. — In addition to acts or omissions of public officers already penalized by
existing law, the following shall constitute corrupt practices of any public officer and are hereby declared to be unlawful:
xxx xxx xxx
(e) Causing any undue injury to any party, including the Government, or giving any private party any unwarranted
benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of his official, administrative or judicial functions through manifest
partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence. This provision shall apply to officers and employees of offices
or government corporations charged with the grant of licenses or permits or other concessions.

Elements are:

a) the accused is a public officer discharging administrative, judicial or official functions;

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b) one must have acted with manifest partiality, evident bad faith or inexcusable negligence;
c) the action caused undue injury to any party including the Government, or has given any party unwarranted benefit,
advantage or preference in the discharge of his functions.

RPC171(4) elements are:

a) Public officer;
b) Takes advantage of his official position;
c) Knows that what he imputes is false;
d) Falsity involves a material fact;
e) There is a legal obligation for him to narrate the truth;
f) Such untruthful statements are not contained in an affidavit or a statement required by law to be sworn in.

2offenses share 2common elements: public officer, and act related to public position. RESPECTING THE CHARGE OF
VIOLATING 3 (E) OF RA 3019, the elements which must be indubitably proved are whether petitioner acted with manifest
partiality or evident bad faith, and whether such action caused undue injury to any party including the Government, or
gave any party unwarranted benefit, advantage or preference in the discharge of his functions. Both elements are present
in this case. Manifest partiality and evident bad faith evident from P’s stance that he was never aware of a case filed in
court. Even if true, P was informed by the Undersecretary through the Indorsement. At witness stand, P admitted knowing
they were under preliminary investigation. The deporation benefitted those who would have stood trial.

RESPECTING THE CHARGE FOR FALSIFICATION, P untruthfully stated that there is no indication from the records that
the Indians are the subject of any written complaints before any government agency nor before any private person. For
that statement is belied by documentary evidence — the July 5, 1994 letter of NBI to petitioner, the July 28, 1994
Indorsement of Undersecretary to petitioner (of NBI recommendation for the deportation of the Indians) and P's own
August 4, 1994 4th Indorsement to prosecutor. P cannot hide behind his subordinates, since he failed to disclose to staff
doing check the information that Indians were undergoing preliminary investigation. Since the BID is an attached agency
of the DOJ, P could have easily requested information on the outcome of the preliminary investigation, of which he was
informed about, or if a case had already been filed in court against the Indians.

Whether the Prosecutor moved to obtain a hold departure order is beside the point, what is material being that there was
a pending preliminary investigation against the Indians, contrary to the statement in the Order that "there is no indication
from the records that the [Indians] are the subject of any written complaint . . .," which pending preliminary investigation
called for the provisional dismissal of the deportation case.

Alvarez v. People, 653 SCRA 52

EFREN L. ALVAREZ, petitioner,
vs.
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, respondent.
VILLARAMA, JR., J p:
G.R. No. 192591 June 29, 2011

Nature: Petition for review on certiorari seeking to reverse and set aside the Decision 1 and Resolution of the
Sandiganbayan's Fourth Division finding the petitioner guilty beyond reasonable doubt of violation of Section 3 (e) of
Republic Act (R.A.) No. 3019, otherwise known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

FACTS:
● Petitioner Efren L. Alvarez, at the time of the subject transaction, was the Mayor of the Municipality (now Science
City) of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija.
● July 1995: The Sangguniang Bayan (SB) of Muñoz under Resolution No. 136, S-95 invited Mr. Jess Garcia, President
of the Australian-Professional, Inc. (API) in connection with the municipal government's plan to construct a four-
storey shopping mall ("Wag-wag Shopping Mall").
● Subsequently, it approved the adoption of the project under the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) arrangement in the
amount of P240 million, to be constructed on a 4,000-square-meter property of the municipal government which is
located at the back of the Municipal Hall.
● API submitted its proposal on November 7, 1995.
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● February 9, 1996: An Invitation for proposals to be submitted within thirty (30) days, was published in Pinoy tabloid.
● April 12, 1996: The Pre-qualification, Bids and Awards Committee (PBAC) recommended the approval of the
proposal submitted by the lone bidder, API.
● April 15, 1996: The SB passed a resolution authorizing petitioner to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
with API for the project.
● September 12, 1996: Petitioner signed the MOA with API, represented by its President Jesus V. Garcia, for the
construction of the Wag-Wag Shopping Mall under the BOT scheme whereby API undertook to finish the construction
within 730 calendar days. 4 SHIcDT
● February 14, 1997: The groundbreaking ceremony was held at the site once occupied by government structures
which included the old Motor Pool, the old Health Center and a semi-concrete one-storey building that housed the
Department of Agriculture, BIR Assessor, old Post Office, Commission on Elections and Department of Social Welfare
and Development. These structures were demolished at the instance of petitioner to give way to the construction
project.
● Thereafter, API proceeded with excavation on the area (3-meter deep) and a billboard was put up informing the public
about the project and its contractor. However, no mall was constructed as API stopped work within just a few
months.
● August 10, 2006: Petitioner was charged before the Sandiganbayan for violation of Section 3 (e) of R.A. No. 3019
(SB-06-CRM-0389) for allegedly giving API unwarranted benefits, advantage and preference by awarding the latter
the contract for the construction of Wag-Wag, notwithstanding the fact that API was and is not a duly-licensed
construction company
● September 22, 2006: Petitioner was arraigned, pleading not guilty to the charge.
● At the trial, petitioner testified that during his term as Mayor of Muñoz, the municipal government planned to borrow
money from GSIS to finance the proposed Wag-Wag Shopping Mall project.
● He learned about API when then Vice-Mayor Romeo Ruiz and other SB members showed him a copy of
publication/advertisement in the Manila Bulletin and Business Bulletin showing that API was then building similar
BOT projects for construction of shopping malls in Lemery, Batangas (P150 million) and in Calamba, Laguna (P300
million).
● A resolution was subsequently passed by the SB inviting API for detailed information on their mall projects.
● The SB approved the construction of Wag-Wag Shopping Mall under BOT scheme, which was favorably endorsed by
the Municipal Development Council.
● November 8, 1995: The municipal government received the "unsolicited proposal" of API for the construction of
Wag-Wag Shopping Mall. For three weeks, an Invitation to Bid was published in the Pinoy tabloid. But it was the lone
bidder, API, whose proposal was eventually recommended by the PBAC and approved by the SB.
● According to petitioner, not a single centavo was spent by the municipal government for the Wag-Wag Shopping Mall
project. It was an unsolicited proposal under the BOT law.
● API was required to submit pre-qualification statements containing their accomplished projects.
● Eventually the SB passed a resolution authorizing him to enter into the MOA with API.
● The municipal government issued the notice of award to API on September 16, 1996 in which it required the
contractor to post notices prior to the start of the project and to submit other requirements such as performance bond.
● However, API did not comply as its counsel, Atty. Lydia Y. Marciano said these are not required under the BOT law
(R.A. No. 7718) since there will be no government undertaking, equity or subsidy in the project.
● February 1, 1997: After securing an environmental clearance certificate from DENR, the groundbreaking ceremony
was held on February 1, 1997. API, as promised, paid P500,000.00 as disturbance or relocation fee considering that
the municipal government has caused the demolition of old buildings at the site.
● A certification of such payment was issued by City Treasurer Luzviminda P. de Leon and City Accountant June Franklyn
A. Fernandez on February 5, 2007.
● The materials were then utilized for the construction of the new motor pool and new City Library.
● Thereafter, API began excavating an area of 30 x 30 meters (1,000 sq. ms.), about 3 meters deep. However, only the
sales office was constructed.
● The project was not completed and API gave as excuse the 1997 financial crisis. They wrote a letter to Mr. Garcia
reminding him of the 730-days completion period but then he was nowhere to be found and did not answer the letter.
● Hence, the SB authorized him to file a case against API, and later also granted him authority to enter into a compromise
agreement in Civil Case No. 161-SD 98.
● Their compromise agreement was approved but they could not find a copy anymore because the Regional Trial Court
at Balok, Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija where the settlement was done, was burned down.

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● On cross-examination, petitioner claimed that had the municipal government then borrowed funds from the GSIS, they
envisioned annual return of P5 million from a P40 million loan for a modest mall (but for an area of 4,000 square
meters, the loan would have to be P80 million). For a period of 8 years, the municipality would have an income of P40
million and the GSIS can be paid.
● As to the contractor's financial capability, it presented a credit line of P150 million to P250 million for Australian-
Professionals Realty, Inc. (APRI). Petitioner clarified that API and APRI were one and the same entity having the same
board of directors, but when asked if he verified this from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), he answered
in the negative.
● Petitioner asserted that it was the Vice-Mayor who is accountable for this project as he headed the working panel.
● As to whether API was a licensed contractor, he admitted that he did not verify this before awarding the BOT contract
involving an infrastructure project.
● He insisted that the Wag-Wag Shopping Mall Project, being an unsolicited proposal under BOT law, is exempt from the
pre-qualification requirement although they still conducted it.
● However, petitioner admitted that he is not familiar with the BOT law. He also admitted that the Invitation published
stated a shorter period of submission of proposal (30 days instead of 60 days provided under the BOT law) and that
he just signed the said notice without consulting their legal counsel.
● Sandiganbayan: CONVICTED petitioner after finding that:
(1) petitioner railroaded the project;
(2) there was no competitive bidding;
(3) the contractor was totally unqualified to undertake the project; and
(4) the provisions of the BOT law and relevant rules and regulations were disregarded and not followed.
● The municipal government suffered damage and prejudice with the resulting loss of several of its buildings and
offices, and having deployed its resources including equipment, personnel and financial outlay for fuel and repairs
in the demolition of the said structures. (P4.8 M)
● As to the allegation of conspiracy, the Sandiganbayan held that such was adequately shown by the evidence, noting
that this is one case where the Ombudsman should have included the entire Municipal Council in the information
for the latter had conspired if not abetted all the actions of the petitioner in his dealings with API to the damage
and prejudice of the municipality.

ISSUES:
1. Whether or not the Honorable Sandiganbayan failed to observe the requirement of proof beyond reasonable doubt
in convicting the Accused-Petitioner
2. Whether or not the Honorable Sandiganbayan failed to appreciate the legal intent of the BOT project
3. Whether or not the Honorable Sandiganbayan utterly failed to appreciate that the BOT was a lawful project of the
Sangguniang Bayan and not the project of the Mayor Accused-Petitioner herein; and
4. Whether or not the Honorable Sandiganbayan utterly failed to appreciate that there was no damage on the then
Municipality of Muñoz as contemplated by law, to warrant the conviction of the Accused-Petitioner.

HELD: Petition is DISMISSED.

RATIO:
Petitioner was charged with violation of Section 3 (e) of R.A. No. 3019. To be convicted under the said provision, the
following elements must be established:
1. The accused must be a public officer discharging administrative, judicial or official functions;
2. He must have acted with manifest partiality, evident bad faith or inexcusable negligence; and
3. That his action caused any undue injury to any party, including the government, or giving any private party
unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of his functions.

Petitioner: He cannot be held liable under Section 3 (e) of R.A. No. 3019 since the Municipality of Muñoz did not disburse
any money and the buildings demolished on the site of construction have been found to be a nuisance and declared
structurally unsafe, as per notice issued by the Municipal Building Official. He points out that in fact, a demolition permit
has been issued upon his application in behalf of the municipal government. API also paid P500,000.00
demolition/relocation fee.

SC: NO.

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● The use of the disjunctive word "or" connotes that either act of (a) "causing any undue injury to any party, including
the Government"; and (b) "giving any private party any unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference," qualifies as
a violation of Section 3 (e) of R.A. No. 3019.
● The use of the disjunctive "or" connotes that the two modes need not be present at the same time. In other words, the
presence of one would suffice for conviction.
● Fonacier v. Sandiganbayan: Proof of the extent or quantum of damage is not essential. It is sufficient that the injury
suffered or benefits received can be perceived to be substantial enough and not merely negligible.
● Under the second mode of the crime defined in Section 3 (e) of R.A. No. 3019 therefore, damage is not required. In
order to be found guilty under the second mode, it suffices that the accused has given unjustified favor or benefit to
another, in the exercise of his official, administrative or judicial functions.
● The third element of Section 3 (e) of R.A. No. 3019 may be committed in three ways, i.e., through manifest partiality,
evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence.
● Proof of any of these three in connection with the prohibited acts mentioned in Section 3 (e) of R.A. No. 3019 is enough
to convict.
● Damage or injury caused by petitioner's acts though alleged in the information, thus need not be proven for as long as
the act of giving any private party unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference either through manifest partiality,
evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence was satisfactorily established.
● R.A. No. 6957 as amended by R.A. No. 7718, requires that a BOT project be awarded to the bidder who has satisfied
the minimum requirements, and met the technical, financial, organizational and legal standards provided in the BOT
Law.
● SEC. 5. Public Bidding of Projects. — . . .
● In the case of a build-operate-and-transfer arrangement, the contract shall be awarded to the bidder who, having
satisfied the minimum financial, technical, organizational and legal standards required by this Act, has submitted the
lowest bid and most favorable terms for the project, based on the present value of its proposed tolls, fees, rentals and
charges over a fixed term for the facility to be constructed, rehabilitated, operated and maintained according to the
prescribed minimum design and performance standards, plans and specifications. . . .
● Foremost of these minimum legal standards is the license accreditation of a contractor required under R.A. No.
4566 otherwise known as the Contractors' License Law.
● In fact, a contractor must show that he is licensed by the board before his bid will be considered.
● General Rule: The prospective contractor for government infrastructure projects must have been duly licensed as
such pursuant to R.A. No. 4566.
● API not being a licensed contractor as per the Certification issued by Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board
(PCAB) board secretary Aaron C. Tablazon, is thus not qualified to participate in the bidding and much less be awarded
the BOT project for the construction of Wag-Wag Shopping Mall.
● Petitioner claimed that there was compliance with the law saying that API was not a contractor but a mere project
proponent, for which a license is not a requisite to undertake BOT projects. But the Sandiganbayan correctly rejected
this theory as the clear terms of the MOA itself confirm that API itself undertook to construct the Wag-Wag Shopping
Mall.
● Section 2 of R.A. No. 6957 as amended by R.A. No. 7718, defined the terms "Contractor" and "Project Proponent" as
follows:
● (k) Project Proponent — The private sector entity which shall have contractual responsibility for the project
and which shall have an adequate financial base to implement said project consisting of equity and firm commitments
from reputable financial institutions to provide, upon award, sufficient credit lines to cover the total estimated cost of
the project.
● (l) Contractor — Any entity accredited under Philippine laws which may or may not be the project
proponent and which shall undertake the actual construction and/or supply of equipment for the project.
● Aside from the clear language of the MOA, the attendant circumstances unmistakably showed that API is both the
project proponent and contractor of the BOT project, as it was the one who submitted the proposal and bid to the SB,
through its President executed the MOA with petitioner, deployed manpower and equipment for the clearing of the
site, conducted groundbreaking, performed excavation and initial construction works, and took responsibility for the
stoppage and non-completion of the project when it entered into a compromise with the Municipality of Muñoz. It is
to be noted that even as project proponent, API failed to meet the minimum financial standard considering that it has
no adequate financial base to implement the Wag-Wag Shopping Mall project. API's paid-up capital was only P2.5
million, while its stand-by credit line issued by Brilliant Star Capital Lending Co., Inc. was only for the amount of P150
million, way below the P240 million total project cost.

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● While API's proposal passed through the pre-qualification stage, it failed to submit, except for the SEC registration
certificate, a complete set of documents required for a BOT project, in accordance with the BOT Law Implementing
Rules and Regulations (IRR).

Petitioner: Assails the Sandiganbayan for allegedly failing to appreciate the legal intent of the BOT Law which allows
contracts on a negotiated basis for unsolicited proposals like the Wag-Wag Shopping Mall project. It asserts that the
procedure and requirements for bidding have been complied with when the Municipality of Muñoz caused the publication
of the invitation to submit comparative bids for the BOT project was published in Pinoy, a newspaper of general circulation
for three consecutive weeks. Since no comparative bid/proposal was received within sixty (60) days, the BOT project was
rightfully awarded to API, the original proponent.

SC: NO.
● Unsolicited proposals refer to project proposals submitted by the private sector to undertake infrastructure or
development projects which may be entered into by a government agency or local government unit. Section 4-a of R.A.
No. 6957 as amended by R.A. No. 7718 governs unsolicited proposals.
● It was the SB which invited the API to provide information on the construction of a shopping mall project under the
BOT scheme. It cannot be said thus that the development project originated from the proponent/contractor.
Nonetheless, even if the proposal is deemed unsolicited, still the requirements of the law have not been complied with.
● As correctly pointed out by the Sandiganbayan, API's proposal showed that it lacked the requirements as it did not
include a company profile and the basic contractual terms and conditions on the obligations of the
proponent/contractor and the government.
● Had such company profile been required of API, the municipal government could have been apprised of the fact that
said contractor/proponent had been in existence for only three months at that time and had not yet completed a
project, although APRI, which actually undertook the Calamba and Lemery shopping centers also under BOT scheme,
is allegedly the same entity as API which have the same set of incorporators and directors.

R.A. No. 7610 (The Child Abuse Law)

People v. Abello, 582 SCRA 378
THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee,
vs.
HERACLEO ABELLO Y FORTADA, Accused-Appellant
March 25, 2009
Brion, J

FACTS:
● AAA is a 21 year old girl who contracted polio when she was 7 months old. She could only read and write her name
including that of her friends because she was not able to study on account of her difficulty in walking.
● (1st) June 30, 1998, 4 AM: AAA was sleeping in their house in Kalyeng Impiyerno, Navotas, Metro Manila along with
her sister-in-law and nephew. She was suddenly awakened when Abello mashed her breast.
● (2nd) July 2, 1999, 3 AM: Abello again mashed the breast of AAA practically under the same previous situation
while the latter was sleeping.
● In these two occasions AAA was able to recognize Abello because of the light coming from outside which illuminated
the house.
● (3rd) July 8, 1998, 2 AM: Abello this time placed his soft penis inside the mouth of AAA. She was asleep but she
awakened when Abello accidentally kneeled on her right hand. AAA exclaimed "Aray" forcing the accused to
hurriedly enter the room he shares with AAA’s mother. He was nevertheless seen by AAA. According to her
testimony, when she awakened, his organ was in her mouth. Her mouth was open and the penis was inside for one
second. When asked if the penis was soft or hard, she mentioned that she got hold of it to push it out of her mouth.
● The victim on the same date reported the incident to her sister-in-law and mother.
● July 8, 1998: 3 Informations
○ Criminal Case No. 19623-MN: (RAPE BY SEXUAL ASSAULT– RA 8353)
■ July 8, 1998, in Navotas, Metro Manila, accused, being a step-father (sic) of victim AAA, with lewd
design and by means of force and intimidation, feloniously putting his penis inside the mouth of
said AAA, against her will and without her consent.
○ Criminal Case No. 19624-MN : (SEXUAL ABUSE – RA 7610)
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 ■ June 30, 1998, in Navotas, Metro Manila, accused, being a step-father (sic) of victim AAA, 21 years
old, and Polio Striken (sic), with lewd design by means of violence and intimidation, feloniously
mashing her breast, against her will and without her consent.
○ Criminal Case No. 19625-MN (SEXUAL ABUSE – RA 7610)
■ July 2, 1998, in Navotas, Metro Manila,accused, being a step-father (sic) of victim AAA, 21 years old,
and Polio Striken (sic), with lewd design by means of violence and intimidation, feloniously
mashing her breast, against her will and without her consent.
● Pleaded not guilty. The prosecution relied on testimony of the victim, AAA, who identified Abello as the perpetrator
of the rape and sexual abuses against her.
● DEFENSE: Amidst the accusation of raping and twice sexually abusing AAA, his defense is confined to his denial of
the accusations. In all of the instances, Abello claimed that he merely stepped on the victim at the sala on his way to
his room after retiring home.
RTC: GUILTY under the three Informations: Rape, 2 counts of Sexual Abuse
● Criminal Case No. 19623-MN: GUILTY of Paragraph 2, Article 226-A, Republic Act 8353 (RAPE BY SEXUAL
ASSAULT)
○ ISL PENALTY: 7 Years of prision mayor, as minimum, to 13 Years of reclusion temporal, as maximum
● Criminal Case Nos. 19624-MN and 19625-MN: GUILTY of two (2) counts of Section 5, Article III of Republic Act
7610 (SEXUAL ABUSE/ACTS OF LASCIVIOUSNESS COMMITTED TO A CHILD)
○ ISL PENALTY: 4 Years of prision correcional as minimum, to 12 Years and 1 Day of prision mayor, as
maximum.
CA: AFFIRMED Conviction but Modified Penalties
● PENALTY FOR THE RAPE (increased): 12 years of prision mayor, as minimum, to 20 years of reclusion temporal, as
maximum; ordered to pay moral damages in the amount of P50,000.00
● PENALTY FOR 2 COUNTS OF SEXUAL ABUSE (increased and heavier penalty than rape): reclusion perpetua in each
of the two cases

ISSUES:
1. Whether the victim’s testimony should be given credence in light of the ff:
a. AAA was not alone during these alleged incidents (YES)
b. defendant is AAA’s stepfather who has a healthy sexual relationship with her mother (YES)
c. AAA admitted that she was asleep when these incidents happened making it likely that she could have just
dreamed of them? (YES)
2. Whether he is guilty of rape by sexual assault under RA 8353 even if the mode of committing the offense proven
during trial was different from that alleged in the information? (YES)
3. Whether he is guilty of sexual abuse/acts of lasciviousness committed to a child under Sec. 5, Article III of RA 7610
when the victim is not a child and there was no force or compulsion? (NO, but still guilty under RPC 336 for acts of
lasciviousness)
4. Whether he can be held guilty under RPC 336 even if the Informations wrongly designated R.A. No. 7610 as the law
violated? (YES, proven during trial)
5. Whether the aggravating circumstance of relationship (stepfather) should be appreciated? (NO)

HELD: AFFIRMED WITH MODIFICATION; Rape by sexual assault and 2 counts of Acts of lasciviousness under RPC 336
and not RA 7610
1. AAA’s testimony credible. Surrounding circumstances as shown by the evidence, and common human experience are
relied upon when there is difficulty in ascertaining as to who between the 2 parties present at the time of commission of
the crime should be given credence.
● Abello could not say why AAA would falsely accuse him. The substance and tenor of the testimony and the
element of motivation are critical points for us since a straightforward, categorical and candid narration by the
victim deserves credence if no ill motive can be shown driving her to falsely testify against the accused.
a. Mere denial of one’s involvement in a crime cannot take precedence over the positive testimony of the offended party.
AAA categorically and unmistakably identified Abello as her rapist and sexual abuser; the identification was positive
because the scene was illuminated by a light coming from outside the parties’ house at the time of the incidents so she
also saw him retreating to her mother’s room.
● He had the opportunity and the means to commit these crimes in terms of his location and close proximity to
AAA who, together with her companions, were then sleeping. Abello admitted that in the wee hours of the

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 mornings of June 30, July 2, and July 8, 1998, he passed by the sala of their house where AAA and her
companions were sleeping.
b. His relationship with AAA does not insulate him from the crimes charged. The relationship between the offender and
the offended party has never been an obstacle to the commission of the crime against chastity. Studies show that 98.8%
of the victims are women; an estimated 26.7% of these cases involve sexual abuse, while 33% involve incest committed
against children. In these cases, the male spouse, the father of the victim, or close male relatives, have been identified as
frequent abusers.

c. Allegation that AAA could have just dreamed of the incidents complained is preposterous. It is highly unlikely that a
woman in her right mind would expose and declare herself a victim of rape and sexual abuse, when she would thereby
open herself to the humiliating experience of a public trial and to the possible social stigma of being a victim of rape and
sexual abuse.
● She filed the criminal charges because she did not know what to do and thus reported the incidents to her
mother and sister-in-law who thereafter sought police assistance. AAA lived a sheltered life cared for by her
relatives because of her polio. It is highly unusual for her to have the worldly sophistication to invent or
fabricate the charges she made, particularly one made against her stepfather.
● A charge against one’s stepfather, too, is unusual in our socio-cultural context because of the respect we give our
elders, and is only understandable if there is a deeply felt cause for complaint.

2. Yes, guilty of Rape by sexual assault.

● ALL ELEMENTS PRESENT. The elements of rape by sexual assault are:
(1)That the offender commits an act of sexual assault;
(2)That the act of sexual assault is committed by any of the following means:
(a) By inserting his penis into another person’s mouth or anal orifice; or
(b) By inserting any instrument or object into the genital or anal orifice of another person
(3) That the act of sexual assault is accomplished under any of the following circumstances:
(a) By using force or intimidation;
(b) When a woman is deprived of reason or otherwise unconscious;
(c) By means of fraudulent machination or grave abuse of authority
(d) When the woman is under 12 y/o or demented
● 1st element: Testimony identified Abello as perpetrator
● 2nd element: Insertion of Abello’s male organ into her mouth
● 3rd element: Roused from sleep with Abello’s male organ inserted in her mouth (unconscious probably not violence)
○ The Information alleges "force and intimidation" as the mode of commission, while AAA testified during the
trial that she was asleep at the time it happened and only awoke to find Abello’s male organ inside her
mouth.
○ People v. Corpuz: A variance in the mode of commission of the offense is binding upon the accused if he fails
to object to evidence showing that the crime was committed in a different manner than what was alleged.
○ Abello did not object to the presentation of evidence showing that the crime charged was committed in a
different manner than what was stated in the Information. The variance is not a bar to Abello’s conviction of
the crime charged in the Information.
● R.A. No. 8353 which took effect on October 22, 1997 introduced into the Philippine legal system the concept of rape
by sexual assault. This amendment not only reclassified rape as a crime against persons, but also expanded the
definition of rape from the traditional concept of a sexual intercourse committed by a man against an
unwilling woman.

3. NOT Acts of lasciviousness committed against a child or sexual abuse under RA 7610 but acts of lasciviousness under
RPC 336. (1) NOT A CHILD (21 years old) AND CAN TAKE CARE OF SELF, (2) NO FORCE OR COMPULSION (merely
awakened)
● Section 5 (b), Article III of R.A. No. 7610, which defines and penalizes acts of lasciviousness committed against a
child: Section 5. Child Prostitution and Other Sexual Abuse. - Children, whether male or female, who for money,
profit, or any other consideration or due to the coercion or influence of any adult, syndicate or group, indulge in
sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct, are deemed to be children exploited in prostitution and other sexual abuse;
(b) Those who commit the act of sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct with a child exploited in prostitution or
subject to other sexual abuse; xxx
● The essential elements of this provision are:
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Compiled by: HIPOLITO
 1. The accused commits the act of sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct.
2. The said act is performed with a child exploited in prostitution or subjected to other sexual abuse.
3. The child whether male or female, is below 18 years of age.
● 1st element, PRESENT: Records show that AAA duly established this element when she positively testified that
Abello fondled her breasts on two separate occasions while she slept.
○ From IRR: Lascivious conduct as a crime committed through the intentional touching, either directly or
through the clothing of the genitalia, anus, groin, breast, inner thigh or buttocks with the intent to abuse,
humiliate, harass, degrade, or arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person, among others.
● 2nd element, ABSENT: This second element requires evidence proving that: (a) AAA was either exploited in
prostitution or subjected to sexual abuse and (b) she is a child as defined under R.A. No. 7610.
○ Olivarez v. Court of Appeals: "Other sexual abuse" in the above provision covers not only a child who is
abused for profit, but also one who engages in lascivious conduct through the coercion or intimidation
by an adult. In the latter case, there must be some form of compulsion equivalent to intimidation which
subdues the free exercise of the offended party’s will.
○ No evidence showing that:
§ force or coercion attended Abello’s sexual abuse as she was asleep and could have not resisted Abello’s
advances as she was unconscious at the time it happened.
§ Abello compelled her, or cowed her into silence to bear his sexual assault, after being roused from sleep.
§ she had the time to manifest conscious lack of consent or resistance to Abello’s assault.
● 3 element, ABSENT: (a) "Children" refers to person below eighteen (18) years of age or those over but are unable
rd

to fully take care of themselves or protect themselves from abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation or
discrimination because of a physical or mental disability or condition (upon evaluation of a qualified physician,
psychologist or psychiatrist).
○ Although it was considered that AAA’s polio as a physical disability rendered her incapable of normal
function, no evidence, testimonial or documentary, of any medical evaluation or medical finding from a
qualified physician, psychologist or psychiatrist was presented.
○ No evidence showing that AAA’s physical disability prevented her from resisting Abello’s attacks; the
evidence only reveals that Abello took advantage of the opportunity presented to him (i.e., that AAA and her
companions who were then asleep) to commit the sexual abuses.
○ It can also be reasonably deduced from these circumstances that Abello sought to commit the sexual abuses
with impunity - without AAA’s knowledge and without any interference on her part.

4. YES. GUILTY under RPC 336 for Acts of Lasciviousness.

● Olivarez v. CA: Character of the crime is not determined by the caption or preamble of the information or from the
specification of the provision of law alleged to have been violated; the crime committed is determined by the
recital of the ultimate facts and circumstances in the complaint or information.
● Although the two Informations wrongly designated R.A. No. 7610 as the law violated; the allegations therein
sufficiently constitute acts punishable under Article 336 of the RPC.
● Elements for acts of lasciviousness:
1. That the offender commits any act of lasciviousness;
2. That the offended party is another person of either sex; and
3. That it is done under any of the following circumstances:
a. By using force or intimidation; or
b. When the offended party is deprived of reason or otherwise unconscious; or
c. When the offended party is under 12 years of age or is demented.
● 1 element: AAA’s testimony that her breasts were fondled while she was asleep.
st

● 2nd element: While she did not actually see Abello fondling her (as the fondling was done while she was asleep and
stopped when she awakened), she related that she identified Abello because she saw him enter her mother’s room
and he was illuminated by a light coming from outside their house. The perpetrator could only be Abello as the only
other occupants of the house at the time were her mother, her sister-in-law and her young nephew who were all
asleep.
● 3rd element: Testimony that, on two occasions, Abello mashed her breasts while she was sleeping

5. NO. Relationship was not duly proven for failure to present the marriage contract between Abello and AAA’s mother.
Abello’s admission of his marriage is inconclusive evidence to prove the marriage to AAA’s mother, as the marriage
contract still remains the best evidence to prove the fact of marriage.
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DISPOSITIVE: GUILTY OF RAPE BY SEXUAL ASSAULT AND TWO COUNTS OF ACTS OF LASCIVIOUSNESS UNDER RPC
336

Penalty + Civil Liability

● RAPE BY SEXUAL ASSAULT:
○ ISL: 6 years of prision correccional, as minimum, to 10 years of prision mayor, as maximum
○ CIVIL INDEMNITY: P30,000 as civil indemnity. Civil indemnity is separate and distinct from the award of
moral damages which is automatically granted in rape cases.
○ MORAL DAMAGES: P30,000 as moral damages. Moral damages are additionally awarded without need of
further pleading or proof; it is presumed that the victim necessarily suffered injury due to the odiousness of
the crime.
○ EXEMPLARY DAMAGES: P25,000
● 2 COUNTS OF ACTS OF LASCIVIOUSNESS:
○ ISL: 6 months of arresto mayor, as minimum, to 4 years and 2 months of prision correccional, as maximum
for each count
○ CIVIL INDEMNITY: P20,000 as civil indemnity
○ MORAL DAMAGES: P30,000 as moral damages for each count
○ EXEMPLARY DAMAGES: P2,000 for each count of acts of lasciviousness.
■ Article 2230 of the Civil Code allows an award of exemplary damages when the crime is committed
with one or more aggravating circumstances.
■ Although not alleged in the Informations, the aggravating circumstance of dwelling was
nonetheless proven during the trial and Article 266-B of the RPC, as amended, recognizes
knowledge by the offender of the mental disability, emotional disorder and/or physical
handicap of the offended party at the time of the commission of the crime, as a qualifying
circumstance.
■ People v. Catubig : Presence of an aggravating circumstance, whether ordinary or qualifying, entitles
the offended party to an award of exemplary damages.

Sanchez v. People, 588 SCRA 747

LEONILO SANCHEZ alias NILO, appellant,
vs.
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES and COURT OF APPEALS, appellees.
June 5, 2009
Nachura, J.

NATURE: This is a Petition for Review on Certiorari seeking the reversal of the Court of Appeals (CA) Decision which
affirmed the Decision of the RTC convicting appellant Leonilo Sanchez alias Nilo of the crime of Other Acts of Child Abuse
punishable under Republic Act (R.A.) No. 7610 in relation to Presidential Decree (P.D.) No. 603

Version of the Prosecution

● Private complainant VVV (16 years old) was born on March 24, 1984 in Mentalongon, Dalaguete, Cebu to FFF and
MMM.
● September 24, 1997: VVV's father, FFF, started leasing a portion of the fishpond owned by Escolastico Ronquillo,
located at Lajog, Clarin, Bohol. FFF and his family occupied the house beside the fishpond which was left by the
former tenant.
● September 2, 2000 (7AM): While VVV was cutting grass in their yard, appellant arrived looking for FFF who was
then at another fishpond owned by Nilda Parilla located in Boacao, Clarin, Bohol.
● VVV knew appellant because he is the husband of Bienvenida Ronquillo, one of the heirs of Escolastico.
● She noticed that appellant had a sanggot (sickle) tucked in his waist.
● Appellant then went to VVV's house and inquired from VVV's younger brother, BBB, the whereabouts of FFF. BBB did
not answer but his mother, MMM, told appellant that FFF was not around.
● Right then and there, appellant told them to leave the place and started destroying the house with the use of his sickle.
Appellant destroyed the roof, the wall and the windows of the house.
● MMM got angry and told appellant that he could not just drive them away since the contract for the use of the fishpond
was not yet terminated.
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● VVV was then sent by MMM to fetch a barangay tanod.
● Barangay tanod Nicolas Patayon refused to oblige because he did not want to interfere in the problem concerning
the fishpond.
● On her way back to their house, VVV saw appellant coming from his shop with a gallon of gasoline, headed to their
house.
● Upon reaching their house, VVV saw her brother, BBB, get a piece of wood from the back of their house to defend
themselves and their house from appellant.
● However, appellant approached BBB, grabbed the piece of wood from the latter and started beating him with it.
● VVV approached appellant and pushed him. Irked by what she did, appellant turned to her and struck her with the
piece of wood 3 times, twice on the left thigh and once below her right buttocks. As a result, the wood broke into
several pieces.
● VVV picked up some of the broken pieces and threw them back at appellant. MMM restrained BBB, telling him not to
fight back. After which, appellant left, bringing with him the gallon of gasoline.
● 10 AM: FFF arrived. He then brought his daughter to the Clarin Health Center for treatment. Dr. Vicente Manalo (Dr.
Manalo) attended to VVV and issued her a medical certificate.
● FFF and VVV the went to the Clarin Police Station where they had the incident blottered. Thereafter, FFF requested
Eliezer Inferido to take pictures of the injuries sustained by VVV.

Version of the Defense

● Appellant and his wife, Bienvenida, developed and operated the fishpond from 1982 to 1987. Sometime in 1997:
FFF occupied the fishpond and the nipa hut beside the same, by virtue of a (MOA) entered into by FFF with the Heirs
of Escolastico, as represented by Segundino Ronquillo.
● After the MOA expired in 1998, appellant and his wife decided to discontinue the lease because they did not
understand the management and accounting of FFF.
● They made several demands on him to return possession of the fishpond but FFF refused, asking for a written
termination of the contract from all the heirs of Escolastico.
● To solve the problem, appellant and Bienvenida engaged the services of FFF as caretaker of the fishpond, providing
him with fingerlings, fertilizers and all necessary expenses.
● FFF still failed to make an accounting. Thus, on September 2, 2000, at around 7AM after pasturing his cattle, appellant
dropped by the house of FFF to ask him to make a detailed accounting because he and his wife were not satisfied with
the harvest in August of 2000.
● MMM, however, retorted, saying that they would no longer make any accounting, as Benny Ronquillo, brother of
appellant's wife, would finance the next cropping.
● Displeased with MMM's statement, appellant got angry and demanded that they leave the fishpond. FFF's family
resented this demand and a commotion ensued.
● BBB got a piece of wood and struck appellant but the latter was able to parry the blow. Appellant got hold of the piece
of wood which actually broke.
● Intending not to hurt anybody, appellant threw the same behind him. Suddenly from behind, VVV appeared, got hold
of the said piece of wood and hit appellant once at the back of his shoulder.
● Appellant claimed that he was surprised that a criminal case was filed by VVV against him for allegedly beating her.
Appellant denied that he beat VVV, saying that the instant case was fabricated and was being used as a means to extort
money from him.
● Ronald Lauren (witness): Testified that he saw BBB strike appellant with a piece of wood but appellant was able to
parry the blow; that appellant threw away the piece of wood; that when appellant threw the piece of wood, there was
no one there at the time; and that appellant left the place immediately.

● RTC: Found that at the arraignment, appellant, through former counsel Atty. Cabahug admitted that he hit VVV,
although unintentionally. Thus, appellant had the burden of proving that, at the time VVV was hit, appellant was
performing a lawful act. The RTC ruled that the evidence did not favor appellant because his demand for FFF's family
to vacate the fishpond, coupled with threats and punctuated with actual use of force, exceeded the limits allowed by
law. The RTC also held that the injuries sustained by VVV were distinguishable, indicating that the blow was forceful,
and that the force used was strong.
○ GUILTY of violating paragraph (a), Section 10 of Republic Act No. 7610; ISL: 6 years prision correccional
to 7 yrs and 4 months of prision mayor.,

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● CA: The record of the proceedings taken during appellant's arraignment before the RTC belied appellant's contention
that his defense was one of absolute denial. The CA pointed to a manifestation of appellant's counsel, Atty. Cabahug,
in open court that appellant was putting up an affirmative defense because the act of hitting VVV was unintentional.
● Furthermore, the defense of absolute denial interposed by appellant cannot prevail over the positive and categorical
statements of VVV and her witnesses, giving full credence to the factual findings of the RTC.
● Information not defective since the allegations were explicit.
○ RTC decision UPHELD with modification as to the penalty.

ISSUES:

W/N the information filed was defective (NO)

W/N the CA erred in sustaining the conviction of the accused of the crime charged (Violation of Section 10a of RA 7610
notwithstanding that the act complained of is covered by the RPC as slight physical injury (NO)
W/N the CA erred in sustaining the conviction of the accused despite the failure of the state to prove his guilt beyond
reasonable doubt (NO)

HELD: The Petition is DENIED. The CA Decision dated February 20, 2007 is AFFIRMED with MODIFICATION that
appellant Leonilo Sanchez issentenced to four (4) years, nine (9) months and eleven (11) days of prision correccional, as
minimum, to six (6) years, eight (8) months and one (1) day of prision mayor, as maximum.

RATIO:
Appellant’s Contentions:
● conviction is not supported by proof beyond reasonable doubt
● RTC erred when it shifted the burden of proof to him
● RTC and CA erred in ruling that appellant interposed an affirmative defense when, all throughout his testimony before
the RTC, he denied having inflicted any injury on VVV
● VVV and her family had ill motive to implicate him because of the pressure he exerted against them to give up the
fishpon
● VVV, in her testimony, made material inconsistencies as to who got the piece of wood at the back of their house
● he had no motive or intention of harming anyone, otherwise, he would have done so earlier that day
● if BBB was also beaten, he should have submitted himself for medical treatment and examination
● the Information charging appellant was substantially and jurisdictionally defective as the acts complained of were
covered by the provisions of the Revised Penal Code.
● The case is not one for child abuse, since VVV was neither punished in a cruel and unusual manner nor deliberately
subjected to excessive indignities or humiliation.
● the charge was obviously made as one for child abuse, instead of slight physical injuries, in order to subject him to a
much heavier penalty.

OSG:
● the Petition is fatally defective because it raises purely factual issues
● the Transcript of Stenographic Notes (TSN) taken during appellant's arraignment on November 6, 2001 clearly shows
that appellant, through Atty. Cabahug, raised an affirmative defense,
● VVV’s testionies were direct, positive and categorical, corroborated by MMM and supported by the med examination
conducted by Dr. Manalo
● appellant failed to present any reason or ground to set aside the decisions of the RTC and the CA there is no ambiguity
in the Information as the allegations are clear and explicit to constitute the essential elements of the offense of child
abuse:
○ (a) minority of the victim;
○ (b) acts complained of are prejudicial to the development of the child-victim; and
○ (c) the said acts are covered by the pertinent provisions of R.A. No. 7610 and P.D. No. 603.
● However, the CA erred in modifying the indeterminate sentence imposed by the RTC. The offense of Other Acts of
Child Abuse as defined and punished under Section 10 (a) of R.A. No. 7610, a special law, carries the penalty of prision
mayor in its minimum period which is a penalty defined in the Revised Penal Code.
● RTC correctly applied the first part of Section 1 of the Indeterminate Sentence Law, sentencing appellant to an
indeterminate sentence of 6 years of prision correccional to 7 years and 4 months of prision mayor

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SC:

On the crime charged

Under Subsection (b), Section 3 of R.A. No. 7610, child abuse refers to the maltreatment of a child, whether habitual or
not, which includes any of the following:
(1) Psychological and physical abuse, neglect, cruelty, sexual abuse and emotional maltreatment;
(2) Any act by deeds or words which debases, degrades or demeans the intrinsic worth and dignity of a child as a
human being;
(3) Unreasonable deprivation of his basic needs for survival, such as food and shelter; or
(4) Failure to immediately give medical treatment to an injured child resulting in serious impairment of his growth
and development or in his permanent incapacity or death.
In this case, the applicable laws are Article 59 of P.D. No. 603 and Section 10 (a) of R.A. No. 7610.

SEC. 10. Other Acts of Neglect, Abuse, Cruelty or Exploitation and Other Conditions Prejudicial to the Child's
Development. —
(a) Any person who shall commit any other acts of child abuse, cruelty or exploitation or be responsible for other
conditions prejudicial to the child's development including those covered by Article 59 of Presidential Decree No. 603, as
amended, but not covered by the Revised Penal Code, as amended, shall suffer the penalty of prision mayor in its minimum
period.

● Araneta v. People: The provision punishes not only those enumerated under Article 59 of Presidential Decree No.
603, but also four distinct acts, i.e., (a) child abuse, (b) child cruelty, (c) child exploitation and (d) being
responsible for conditions prejudicial to the child's development. The Rules and Regulations of the questioned
statute distinctly and separately defined child abuse, cruelty and exploitation just to show that these three acts are
different from one another and from the act prejudicial to the child's development. An accused can be prosecuted and
be convicted under Section 10(a), Article VI of Republic Act No. 7610 if he commits any of the four acts therein. The
prosecution need not prove that the acts of child abuse, child cruelty and child exploitation have resulted in the
prejudice of the child because an act prejudicial to the development of the child is different from the former acts.
● It is a rule in statutory construction that the word "or" is a disjunctive term signifying dissociation and independence
of one thing from other things enumerated.
● Hence, the use of "or" in Section 10(a) of Republic Act No. 7610 before the phrase "be responsible for other conditions
prejudicial to the child's development" supposes that there are four punishable acts therein. F
● The fourth penalized act cannot be interpreted, as petitioner suggests, as a qualifying condition for the three other
acts, because an analysis of the entire context of the questioned provision does not warrant such construal.

On w/n slight physical injuries or child abuse

● Appellant: Slight physical injuries and not child abuse

● SC: NO! When the incident happened, VVV was a child entitled to the protection extended by R.A. No. 7610, as
mandated by the Constitution. As defined in the law, child abuse includes physical abuse of the child, whether the
same is habitual or not.

On the Information filed

● Information filed against appellant is NOT defective.

● Resty Jumaquio v. Hon. Joselito C. Villarosa: What controls is not the title of the information or the designation of
the offense but the actual facts recited therein.
● The averments in the Information clearly make out the offense of child abuse under Section 10 (a) of R.A. No. 7610.
The following were alleged: (1) the minority of VVV; (2) the acts constituting physical abuse, committed by
appellant against VVV; and (3) said acts are clearly punishable under R.A. No. 7610 in relation to P.D. No. 603.

On appellant’s guilt

● Appellant could only proffer the defense of denial.

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● The RTC found VVV and MMM to be credible witnesses, whose testimonies deserve full credence. Factual findings of
the trial court, its calibration of the testimonies of the witnesses, and its conclusions anchored on such findings, are
accorded respect, if not conclusive effect, especially when affirmed by the CA.

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 R.A. No. 9165 (The Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002)

Chain of custody rule

As a mode of authenticating evidence, the chain of custody rule requires the presentation of the seized prohibited drugs
as an exhibit be preceded by evidence sufficient to support a finding that the matter in question is what the proponent
claims it to be. This would ideally cover the testimony about every link in the chain, from seizure of the prohibited drug
up to the time it is offered in evidence, in such a way that everyone who touched the exhibit would describe how and
from whom it was received, to include, as much as possible, a description of the condition in which it was delivered to
the next in the chain. (Cacao v People)

People v. Lorena, 639 SCRA 139

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, appellee,
vs.
JAY LORENA y LABAG, appellant.
VILLARAMA, JR., J p:
G.R. No. 184954. January 10, 2011

TOPIC: Violation of Sec. 5, Art. II of RA 9165, Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002

INFORMATION: Information alleges that accused did then and there, willfully, unlawfully, criminally and knowingly sell
Methamphetamine Hydrochloride (shabu), a dangerous drug, contained in a plastic sachet, to a poseur-buyer, without
authority of law, and one P500 peso bill was confiscated from the accused to the damage and prejudice of the People of
the Philippines.

Prosecution presents seven witnesses.

Facts:
Civilian informant Iris Mae Cleofe came to Pasacao Police Station to report appellant’s alleged drug trafficking
activities. Task Force Ubash, a unit charged with monitoring drug trafficking in the area, acted on this information and
was directed to go with Iris and conduct surveillance upon appellant.

After their surveillance yielded positive results, Task Force Ubash coordinated with the Philippine Drug
Enforcement Agency (PDEA) for the conduct of the buy-bust operation which will take place that same night at the ouse
of one Edgar Saar. Solero, Commander of Ubash, briefed the team on what do do. They were instructed to synchronize
their watches because at exactly 7:30pm they will enter the place immediately after Iris says, “Uya na and bayad ko.
(Here is my payment.)” as a signal that the transaction has been perfected.

At around 7pm, the team arrives and hides behind plants (yeah. awesome), which offered a good view of the
well-lit porch of Saar’s house. Iris arrives. She enters the house. She proceeds with the transaction and handed over a
marked P500 bill to appellant. She utters the signal, “O, uya na an bayad ko kaiyan ha, baad kun wara-waraon mo iyan,
uya na an bayad ko ha. (This is my payment, you might misplace it.),” her deliberately loud for the team to hear.
Appellant hands over a plastic sachet containing a white crystalline substance. At this point, he was arrested and
handcuffed. Ubash brings him to the police station where he was detained. The sachet was personally submitted by Bearis
to the Provincial Crime Lab, where it was tested by Nobleza.

Test showed that the substance was Shabu. It was then submitted to the PNP Regional Crime Lab office for
confirmatory testing by Clemen, a forensic chemist. Again, positive for Shabu.

Defense version:
Appellant was in Pasacao for a job, and while there he stayed with his friend Saar. Around 7pm that day, he saw
Iris enter the yard and go into Saar’s house. Then she comes out so appellant asks her who she was looking for. She was
looking for a Bongbong Ditsuso. Appellant tells her to wait inside then cooks rice, then returns to the living room to talk
to Iris. Several men then barge in and Iris gives him something which turns out to be crumpled money. He was then
handcuffed after getting punched and hit with a caliber .45 in the nape. He was boarded on a jeep and brought to the
police station.

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RTC Judgment:
Appellant guilty beyond reasonable doubt of violating Sec. 5, Art. II of RA 9165 and sentencing him to life imprisonment.
CA affirms with Modification (added a fine of P500,000)

Issue:
W/N the procedure in the seizure and custody of illegal drugs was strictly complied with. (No)

Ratio:
Elements to be proven by the prosecution for illegal sale of a prohibited drug under Sec. 5 of RA 9165
1 identity of the buyer and the seller, the object, and the consideration
2 the delivery of the thing sold and payment therefor

These require evidence that the sale transaction transpired, coupled with the presentation in court of the corpus
delicti, i.e., the body or substance of the crime that establishes that a crime has actually been committed. There is also a
need to comply strictly with procedure in the illegal drug’s procedure in its seizure and custody.

Sec. 21 par. 1, Art. II of RA 9165:

The apprehending team having initial custody and control of the drugs shall, immediately after seizure and
confiscation, physically inventory and photograph the same in the presence of the accused or the person/s from whom
such items were confiscated and/or seized, or his/her representative or counsel, a representative from the media and
the DOJ, and any elected public official who shall be required to sign the copies of the inventory and be given a copy
thereof.

Evident from the record however, is the fact that the members of the buy-bust team did not comply with the
procedure laid down in Sec. 21. Looking at Solero’s testimony, there is no showing that the procedure was complied with,
as well as his admitting that he had not seen the inventory of the confiscated drugs allegedly prepared by the police
officers and that he only read a little of RA 9165.

Nonetheless, People v Pringas teaches that non-compliance by the buy-bust team with Sec. 21 is not necessarily
fatal. What is of utmost importance is the preservation of the integrity and the evidentiary value of the seized
items, as the same would be utilized in the determination of the guilt or innocence of the accused. The Court recognizes
that strict compliance may not always be possible given the circumstances, that the police operate under varied
conditions and cannot at all times attend to the niceties of the procedure in the handling of confiscated evidence.

Sec 21, Art II of RA9165 IRR:

Saving clause: Provided, further, that non-compliance with these requirements under justifiable grounds, as long
as the integrity and evidentiary value of the seized items are properly preserved by the apprehending officer/team, shall
not render void and invalid such seizures of and custody over said items.

For the clause to apply, it is important that the prosecution should explain the reasons behind the procedural
lapses and that the integrity and evidentiary value of the evidence seized had been preserved. It must be shown that the
illegal drug presented in court is the very same specimen seized from the accused. This function is performed by the chain
of custody requirement.

Sec. 1(b) of Dangerous Drugs Board Regulation No. 1, Series of 2002

“Chain of Custody” means the duly recorded authorized movements and custody of seized drugs or controlled chemicals
or plant sources of dangerous drugs or lab equipment of each stage, from the time of seizure/confiscation to receipt in
the forensic lab to safekeeping to presentation in court for destruction. Such record of movements and custody of seized
item shall include the identity and signature of the person who held temporary custody of the seized item, the date and time
when such transfer of custody were made in the course of safekeeping and use in court as evidence, and the final disposition.

In this case, there was no compliance with the inventory and photographing of the drug and marked money.
Every link must be accounted for.

Ito ung flow:

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Iris ---> Espiritu ---> Solero ---> “Ops nawala” there was vagueness and patent inconsistencies in the testimonies of the
prosecution witnesses.

Sabi ni Solero:
Solero ---> some desk officer whose name he can’t remember, which he promised to find out but never did. Also,
from the office ---> provincial crime lab, but can’t remember who brought it there

Sabi ni Bearis:
Solero ---> Bearis ---> provincial crime lab
He identified in court that it was the same specimen he brought since it had the marking “MES,” the initials of
Solero. No evidence however showing that Solero made said marking in the presence of Bearis. It is thus unclear
whether after Solero, the next person who came into possession of the specimen was the desk officer or Bearis.

Sabi ni Nobleza:
Bearis ---> Nobleza (initial test) ---> SPO3 Basagre
Sabi ni Clemen (the chemist):
Insp Lopez ---> Clemen
Here we see that the prosecution failed to present evidence to show how the specimen was transferred from
Basagre to Lopez.

The obvious gaps in the chain of custody created a reasonable doubt as to whether the specimen seized from
appellant was the same specimen brought to the crime labs and eventually offered in court as evidence. No proof of
corpus delicti. Therefore the presumption of regularity in the performance of official duty cannot be used. The
presumption obtains only where nothing in the records is suggestive of the fact that the law enforcers involved deviated
from the standard conduct of official duty as provided for in the law.

DISPOSITIVE: WHEREFORE, we hereby REVERSE and SET ASIDE the November 22, 2007 Decision of the Court of
Appeals in CA-G.R. CR HC. No. 01620. Appellant JAY LORENA y LABAG is ACQUITTED of the crime charged and ordered
immediately RELEASED from detention, unless he is confined for any other lawful cause/s.

The Director of the Bureau of Corrections is DIRECTED to IMPLEMENT this Decision with deliberate dispatch and to
report to this Court the action taken hereon within five (5) days from receipt hereof.

People v. Gatlabayan, 653 SCRA 803

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE,
VS.
JAIME GATLABAYAN Y BATARA, ACCUSED-APPELLANT.
July 13, 2011/ Mendoza, J

FACTS:
● Acting on a tip from a police asset, a police team from the Rodriguez, Rizal police station conducted a buy-bust
operation on the night of September 10, 2002. The target was accused Jaime Gatlabayan (alias Pungay). Arriving at
the target area (Carlton Village, Brgy. Manggahan, Rodriguez, Rizal), the civilian asset pointed appellant to the buy-
bust team. Appellant was then standing under a sampaloc tree. Gatlabayan approached one of the policemen (PO1
Antonio) and asked if he wanted “to score” (buy) shabu. PO1 Antonio said yes, and handed over a marked 100-peso
bill to Gatlabayan, who gave the policeman a sachet containing a white powder alleged to be shabu. PO1 Antonio
then signalled to his colleagues by waving his hand; and Gatlabayan was arrested on the spot.
● In his defense, Gatlabayan claimed that he was the victim of a frame-up. He was in a perya at around 20:00 of
September 10, 2002 when policemen suddenly arrested him without explaining his offense.
● RTC decision (May 10, 2005) - found Gatlabayan guilty and sentenced him to LIFE IMPRISONMENT and to pay the
fine of FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND(P500,000.00) PESOS
● CA decision (July 29, 2008) - affirmed RTC decision, found the testimonies of the policemen PO1 Antonio and PO1
Jiro, III to be credible. It further held that all elements of the crime of illegal sale of dangerous drugs - as well as the
identity of the accused - were proven; and that the presumption of regularity of official duties was not overturned.
Gatlabayan appeals this decision to the SC.
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ISSUE: W/N Gatlabayan is guilty “despite the prosecution’s failure to prove the chain of custody of the alleged seized
illegal drugs, in violation of Secs. 21 and 86 of R.A. NO. 9165.)

HELD: NO

RATIO:
● According to the Court, the core issue in this case was “whether or not sufficient evidence exists to support the
conviction of the accused for violation of Section 5, Article II of R.A. No. 9165.”. In resolving this issue, the Court
opted to review the factual findings of the lower court on the basis of a misapprehension of facts.
● In establishing guilt for the offense of sale of dangerous drugs, the following elements must concur: (1) the
transaction or sale took place; (2) the corpus delicti or the illicit drug was presented as evidence; and (3) the buyer
and seller were identified. All three elements must be duly proven.
● Chain of custody - “means the duly recorded authorized movements and custody of seized drugs or controlled
chemicals or plant sources of dangerous drugs or laboratory equipment of each stage, from the time of
seizure/confiscation to receipt in the forensic laboratory to safekeeping to presentation in court for destruction.
Such record of movements and custody of seized item shall include the identity and signature of the person who
held temporary custody of the seized item, the date and time when such transfer of custody were made in the course
of safekeeping and use in court as evidence, and the final disposition.” (RA 9165 IRR, sec. 1(b)).
● On the corpus delicti - the very substance which was the subject of the buy-bust transaction must be the same
substance which was offered as evidence to the court.
● Malillin v. People - “As a method of authenticating evidence, the chain of custody rule requires that the admission of
an exhibit be preceded by evidence sufficient to support a finding that the matter in question is what the proponent
claims it to be. It would include testimony about every link in the chain, from the moment the item was picked up to
the time it is offered into evidence, in such a way that every person who touched the exhibit would describe how and
from whom it was received, where it was and what happened to it while in the witness' possession, the condition in
which it was received and the condition in which it was delivered to the next link in the chain. These witnesses
would then describe the precautions taken to ensure that there had been no change in the condition of the item and
no opportunity for someone not in the chain to have possession of the same.”
● What “links” in the chain of custody need to be proven, People v. Kamad - “First, the seizure and marking, if
practicable, of the illegal drug recovered from the accused by the apprehending officer; second, the turnover of the
illegal drug seized by the apprehending officer to the investigating officer; third, the turnover by the investigating
officer of the illegal drug to the forensic chemist for laboratory examination; and fourth, the turnover and
submission of the marked illegal drug seized by the forensic chemist to the court.”
● “The testimony of PO1 Antonio clearly lacked specifics on how the confiscated shabu was handled immediately after
the arrest of the accused.” His testimony fails to show who exactly were the persons who were able to handle the
corpus delicti.
● “The prosecution evidence also failed to identify the person who marked the sachet, how the same was done, and
who witnessed the marking. In People v. Martinez, the Court ruled that the "marking" of the seized items - to truly
ensure that they are the same items that enter the chain and are eventually the ones offered in evidence - should be
done (1) in the presence of the apprehended violator, and (2) immediately upon confiscation - in order to protect
innocent persons from dubious and concocted searches, and the apprehending officers as well from harassment
suits based on planting of evidence and on allegations of robbery or theft.” The affidavits of policemen Jiro III and
Antonio fail to specify the person who marked the corpus delicti, and whether it was marked in the presence of
Gatlabayan.
● The prosecution also failed to establish the identity of the police investigator to whom the buy-bust team turned
over the seized item. Although the Request for Laboratory Examination was signed by a certain Santiago for and in
behalf of Police Senior Inspector Anastacio Benzon, it was not shown that he was the same official who received the
subject shabu from the buy-bust team or from the police investigator.
● “A perusal of the Request for Laboratory Examination and the Chemistry Report No. D-1784-02E [26] reveals that
the marking on the plastic sachet containing the subject shabu was changed to "EXHIBIT 1 JBG." The prosecution,
however, failed to disclose the name and identity of the police officer who changed the marking of the specimen.
Further, the prosecution evidence is wanting as to the identity of the person who submitted the specimen to the PNP
Crime Laboratory; as to whether the forensic chemist whose name appeared in the chemistry report was the one
who received the subject shabu when it was forwarded to the crime laboratory; and as to who exercised custody and
possession of the specimen after the chemical examination and before it was offered in court. Neither was there any
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 evidence adduced to show how the seized shabu was handled, stored and safeguarded pending its offer as evidence
in court.”
● “It bears stressing that although the parties stipulated on the results of the laboratory examination (through an RTC
order), no stipulation was made with respect to the ultimate source of the drug submitted for examination.”
● Exacting standards for handling of corpus delicti in drug cases - “While a perfect chain of custody is almost
always impossible to achieve, an unbroken chain becomes indispensable and essential in the prosecution of drug
cases owing to susceptibility of the seized drug to alteration, tampering, contamination and even substitution and
exchange. Hence, each and every link in the custody must be established beginning from the seizure of the shabu
from the accused during the entrapment operation until its submission by the forensic chemist to the RTC.”
● Moreover, it must be pointed out that the subject 0.03 gram of shabu was never presented as evidence and marked
as an exhibit during the pre-trial or even in the course of the trial proper (but the plastic sachet which contained the
shabu was presented). “The defense was clearly sleeping on its feet when it did not pose any objection to the
prosecution's offer of [the sachet] evidence.” The corpus delicti in this case “is not legally extant”.
● “[T]he flagrant procedural lapses the police officers committed in handling the allegedly confiscated shabu in
violation of the chain of custody requirement effectively negate the presumption of regularity in the performance of
duties. Any taint of irregularity affects the whole performance and should make the presumption unavailable. It
must be emphasized that the presumption of regularity in the performance of official duty cannot by itself overcome
the presumption of innocence nor constitute proof of guilt beyond reasonable doubt.”
DISPOSITION: Decision reversed. Appellant Gatlabayan is ACQUITTED and ordered immediately released...

People v. Alcuizar, 647 SCRA 431

People of the Philippines, Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
Alberto Bacus Alcuizar, Defendant-Appellant
April 6, 2011
Perez, J.

Facts:

Alcuizar was charged with violating Sections 5 (Illegal Sale), 6 (Maintaining a drug den), 11 (Illegal possession),
and 12 (Illegal possession of dangerous drug paraphernalia) of R.A. No. 9165 in Criminal Cases Nos. CBU-66343 - CBU-
66346. He was tried on 2 separate criminal proceedings. The instant appeal involved the joint trial of Criminal Cases Nos.
CBU-66345 and CBU-66346 before RTC Branch 17 of Cebu City. The Information relating to the criminal case appealed
from pertains to illegal possession of shabu in violation of Section 11 of R.A. No. 9165.

Upon arraignment, appellant pleaded not guilty.

During the pre-trial conference, the defense admitted the genuineness, authenticity, and truthfulness of the Forensic
Chemistry Report. Both parties then agreed to dispense with the forensic chemist’s testimony.

The lone prosecution witness, SP01 Meliton Agadier, testified:

SP01 Agadier, P03 Rolando Gantuangco, SPO1 Roland Navales, who were all assigned at the Municipality of Carcar Police
Station in Cebu City, secured a search warrant from the court to search the house of appellant on the suspicion that the
latter is selling and in possession of shabu. On 15 June 2003, they conducted a buy-bust operation in Sitio Awayan, with
the subject being the appellant:

SPO1 Agadier was standing in a store across the house of appellant. He witnessed the poseur buyer hand the marked
money to appellant in exchange for 1 deck of shabu. SPO1 Agadier then pursued appellant, who ran to his parents' house,
where he was eventually caught. After the arrest, SPO1 Agadier and his team went back to the house of appellant to
conduct a search. The items recovered inside appellant's house were:
· 1 big heat-sealed transparent plastic pack with white crystalline substance, believed to be shabu
· 2 packs containing 13 decks each of suspected shabu
· 3 disposable lighters
· 1 tooter
· 1 tin foil with traces of shabu residue
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· 1 improvised lamp

SPO1 Agadier related that appellant, appellant's sister-in-law, 1 barangay captain, 1 barangay tanod, and several
photographers were present during the implementation of the search warrant. The barangay captain, barangay tanod,
and 2 photographers were asked to sign the receipt of the seized items.

The seized items were initially in the custody of SPO1 Navales. Upon reaching the police station, SPO1 Navales turned
them over to SPO1 Agadier for marking. SPO1 Agadier prepared the request for laboratory examination before turning
them over back to SPO1 Navales, who then delivered the items and the request to the PNP Crime Laboratory. A Forensic
Chemistry Report was issued, confirming that the specimen submitted was positive for shabu.

RTC Branch 15 of Cebu City acquitted appellant of the charge of illegal sale of shabu and maintaining a drug den
in violation of Sections 5 and 6 of Republic Act No. 9165 in Criminal Cases Nos. CBU-66343 and CBU-66344.

RTC Branch 17 of Cebu City acquitted appellant in Criminal Case No. CBU-66346 for illegal possession of drug
paraphernalia, but found him guilty in Criminal Case No. CBU-66345 for illegal possession of shabu. On appeal, the CA
affirmed appellant's conviction.

Issue: WoN the prosecution was able to establish beyond reasonable doubt the guilt of appellant for illegal possession of
shabu

Held: No, they were not.

WHEREFORE, the 4 December 2008 Decision of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CR-HC No. 00716 affirming the conviction
of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 17, Cebu City in Criminal Case No. CBU-66345 for illegal possession of shabu under
Section 11 of Republic Act No. 9165, is hereby REVERSED and SET ASIDE. Appellant ALBERTO BACUS ALCUIZAR is
declared ACQUITTED and ordered immediately RELEASED from detention, unless he is confined for any other lawful
cause.
The Director of the Bureau of Corrections is DIRECTED to IMPLEMENT this Decision and to report to this Court the action
taken hereon within five (5) days from receipt.

Ratio:

The dangerous drug itself (the shabu) constitutes the very corpus delicti of the offense, and in sustaining a conviction
under R.A. No. 9165, the identity and integrity of the corpus delicti must definitely be shown to have been preserved.
Evidence must definitely show that the illegal drug presented in court is the same illegal drug actually recovered from the
accused-appellant. Otherwise, the prosecution for possession under R.A. No. 9165 fails.

The chain of custody rule requires that the marking of the seized items should be done in the presence of the apprehended
violator and immediately upon confiscation to ensure that they are the same items that enter the chain and are eventually
the ones offered in evidence. In Lopez v. People, citing Catuiran v. People, the Court held that:

“It would include testimony about every link in the chain, from the moment the item was picked up to the time it is offered
into evidence, in such a way that every person who touched the exhibit would describe how and from whom it was
received, where it was and what happened to it while in the witness' possession, the condition in which it was received
and the condition in which it was delivered to the next link in the chain. These witnesses would then describe the
precautions taken to ensure that there had been no change in the condition of the item and no opportunity for someone
not in the chain to have possession of the same….”

Appellant cites the failure of the police officer to mark the evidence immediately after purportedly taking it from him, thus
rendering the chain of custody dubious.

SPO1 Agadier admitted that he only marked the seized items at the police station. While the rule allows marking of
evidence to be done in the nearest police station, this applies to warrantless searches and seizures. In this case, the police
officers were able to secure a search warrant prior to their operation. SPO1 Agadier did not offer an explanation or a
justification on why he did not immediately mark the plastic packs of shabu seized inside appellant's house. They were
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given sufficient time and opportunity to prepare for its implementation. Thus, failure to comply with the marking of
evidence immediately after confiscation constitutes a 1st gap in the chain of custody.

Appellant also points out the failure of the police officers to give or leave a copy of the inventory receipt upon the accused
or any of his family members pursuant to Section 21 of R.A. No. 9165.

Section 21 of R.A. No. 9165 provides:

“Section 21. Custody and Disposition of Confiscated, Seized, and/or Surrendered Dangerous Drugs,
Plant Sources of Dangerous Drugs, Controlled Precursors and Essential Chemicals,
Instruments/Paraphernalia and/or Laboratory Equipment. — The PDEA shall take charge and have
custody of all dangerous drugs, plant sources of dangerous drugs, controlled precursors and essential
chemicals, as well as instruments/paraphernalia and/or laboratory equipment so confiscated, seized
and/or surrendered, for proper disposition in the following manner:

1. The apprehending team having initial custody and control of the drugs shall, immediately
after seizure and confiscation, physically inventory and photograph the same in the presence of
the accused or the person/s from whom such items were confiscated and/or seized, or his/her
representative or counsel, a representative from the media and the Department of Justice (DOJ),
and any elected public official who shall be required to sign the copies of the inventory and be
given a copy thereof.”

Under Section 21 (a), Article II of the IRR of R.A. No. 9165, non-compliance with the prescribed procedures does not
necessarily result in the conclusion that the identity of the seized drugs has been compromised so that an acquittal should
follow, as long as the prosecution can demonstrate that the integrity and evidentiary value of the evidence seized have
been preserved.

SPO1 Agadier narrated that a certain photographer took pictures of the items seized from the house of appellant. However,
the photographs do not appear on the records, nor were they offered by the prosecution as evidence. Thus, the
requirement of taking a photograph was not clearly proven. While the inventory receipt was prepared and appeared on
records, the police officers failed to provide appellant a copy. Appellant construed this omission as fatal.

This omission alone is not necessarily fatal to the cause of the prosecution. However, the Court stated that the barangay
tanod's testimony pertaining to the inventory receipt created a doubt that affected the integrity of the corpus delicti in
general: He and the barangay captain arrived later than the police officers. When they reached appellant's house, the
alleged confiscated shabu were already on top of a table. He was merely asked to sign the inventory receipt, which he did
without hesitation.

The barangay tanod did not witness how the police officers conducted their search and how they were able to discover
the packets of shabu inside appellant's house. Aside from the barangay tanod, no other signatories in the receipt were
presented by the prosecution to authenticate the document.

The 1st gap in the chain of custody was compounded by the vague recollection of SPO1 Agadier regarding the transfer of
custody of the shabu. The 2nd gap in the chain of custody was evident in SPO1 Agadier's statements: It was not indicated
who had initial control and custody of the plastic packs of shabu upon their confiscation. SPO1 Agadier merely claimed
that he turned them over to SPO1 Navales without specifying whether the latter received it while they were still inside the
appellant's house or at the police station. It is also not clear who was in possession of the plastic packs of shabu while in
transit. SPO1 Navales also did not testify to confirm the statement of SPO1 Agadier.

The failure of the police officers to mark the dangerous drugs immediately after their seizure and the vague recollection
of SPO1 Agadier concerning the custody of the drugs from the residence of appellant up to the time it was submitted to
the crime laboratory constitute a huge and significant gap in the chain of custody, which substantially affects the identity
of the corpus delicti.
To successfully prosecute a case of illegal possession of dangerous drugs, the following elements must be established: (1)
the accused is in possession of an item or object which is identified to be a prohibited drug; (2) such possession is not
authorized by law; and (3) the accused freely and consciously possessed the said drug.
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The Court entertained serious doubts as to whether the prohibited drugs were indeed found in appellant's house,
considering that there were no other witnesses presented to prove it. By the same doubt, the Court had to acquit the
appellant.

People v. Unisa, 658 SCRA 305

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee,
vs.
RICKY UNISA y ISLAN, accused-appellant.
PEREZ, J:
September 28, 2011

FACTS:
Prosecution:
● On the basis of a series of reports received by DAPCO-DEU, Muntinlupa City, from concerned citizens concerning the
illegal drug trade of alias Ricky in Quezon Street, Purok 7, Poblacion, Muntinlupa City, the police operatives of the
aforesaid office conducted a surveillance and monitoring operation on 23 June 2003
● The surveillance and monitoring operation confirmed that alias Ricky was, indeed, engaged in the sale of illegal
drugs which usually took place late at night until dawn.
● June 24, 2003: at around 8:00 p.m., P/Insp. Arsenio Silungan, Chief of DAPCO-DEU formed a buy-bust team to
conduct a buy-bust operation against alias Ricky.
● The team was composed of various police operatives
○ PO1 Forastero: poseur-buyer
○ PO1 Medina: arresting officer
○ Senior Police Officer 1 (SPO1) Zosimo Goce: team leader
○ SPO1 Joel Vega
○ SPO3 Hector Macalla
○ SPO3 Madriaga
○ PO1 Ronald Natuel
○ PO1 Reynold Aguirre
○ PO1 Gunayon
○ PO1 Respicio
○ PO1 Tan
○ PO1 Joseph Tedd Leonor
○ two civilian agents, namely
○ Dalton Ibañez
○ Charlie Isla
● The buy-bust team, thereafter, prepared the buy-bust money consisting of two P100 bills (Serial Nos. JX 392195
and DY 711514)
● PO1 Aguirre signed the buy-bust money at the bottom thereof
● also photocopied and recorded in the police blotter (police record)
● A Pre-Operation Report/Coordination Sheet was similarly prepared and transmitted to the Philippine Drug
Enforcement Agency (PDEA) via facsimile
● After all the necessary documentary requirements had been completed, the buy-bust team proceeded to the target
area (Quezon Street, Purok 7, Poblacion, Muntinlupa City) on board two vehicles(Toyota Revo and Anfra Van)
● PO1 Forastero, PO1 Medina, SPO1 Goce, SPO3 Macalla, SPO3 Madriaga and the two civilian agents boarded the
Toyota Revo while the rest of the buy-bust team boarded the Anfra Van
● Upon reaching the area of operation at around 9:30 p.m., the team strategically parked the two vehicles 50 meters
away from each other
● While inside the Revo, PO1 Forastero and PO1 Medina saw their confidential informant some 40 meters away
waiting for them. They nevertheless stayed inside the Revo as they were still waiting for a text message coming
from another asset who would confirm alias Ricky's presence at the target area.
● After an hour, the aforesaid asset texted SPO3 Macalla saying that alias Ricky was already at the target area.
● PO1 Forastero and PO1 Medina then alighted from the vehicle. Upon seeing them, the confidential informant
promptly approached and accompanied them to alias Ricky's place.
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● At this juncture, the other members of the buy-bust team also alighted from their vehicles and followed PO1
Forastero, PO1 Medina and the confidential informant at a distance to provide perimeter security
● After a 15-minute walk traversing a place along the train railways, PO1 Forastero, PO1 Medina and the confidential
informant reached the exact place of alias Ricky in Quezon Street, Purok 7, Poblacion, Muntinlupa City.
● The rest of the buy-bust team then acted as perimeter guards.
● At a distance of about seven meters, the confidential informant saw a person wearing a white sando and black pants
sitting by a lighted house with an open door whom he recognized and identified as alias Ricky.
● The confidential informant then pinpointed alias Ricky to PO1 Forastero and PO1 Medina. The confidential
informant immediately approached alias Ricky and introduced him to PO1 Forastero and PO1 Medina as his
relatives.
● After gaining the trust and confidence of alias Ricky, PO1 Forastero told the former that he would like to
"score" P200.00 worth of shabu and he simultaneously handed to him the two P100.00-peso bills marked
money amounting to P200.00.
● Alias Ricky received the marked money and, in turn, got and opened a black coin purse with white stripes from
his left hand and took out a small heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing the suspected shabu and
handed it to PO1 Forastero, which the latter accepted.
● At once, PO1 Forastero held alias Ricky's right hand and introduced himself as police officer. PO1 Medina
then assisted PO1 Forastero in arresting alias Ricky by holding the latter's left hand.
● The other members of the buy-bust team, who were within the vicinity, arrived.
● PO1 Medina recovered from the left hand of alias Ricky the coin purse containing 20 more small heat-sealed
transparent plastic sachets with white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu and a small pair of
folding scissors.
● The two marked P100.00-peso bills were recovered from alias Ricky's pocket by PO1 Forastero. He compared
it with the photocopies with him and they matched
● Alias Ricky was informed of his constitutional rights
● He was brought to the team’s office; they came to know his full name;
● Items seized were immediately marked as follows:
○ “RU” (Ricky’s initials): the subject of the sale (1 small heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing
suspected shabu)
○ “RU-1” to “RU-20” (inclusive): the 20 more small heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets with white
crystalline substance
○ “RU-21”: black coin purse with white stripes
○ “RU-22”: small pair of folding scissors
● An inventory thereof was also made
● Afterwards, a Request for Laboratory Examination of the seized items and a Request for Drug Test of appellant both
dated 24 June 2003 were made
● PO1 Forastero, PO1 Medina and PO1 Gunayon then forwarded the seized items to the Philippine National Police
(PNP), Crime Laboratory, PNP Southern Police District, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, for laboratory examination
● Drug test: positive
● Items: positive for the presence of methylamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu
Defense:
● Presented the testimony of appellant and his common-law wife, Janice Deles
● He denied the accusations and offered a different version as follows:
● Appellant, a tricycle driver, claimed that on 24 June 2003, at around 8:00 p.m., while he was inside their house fixing
a broken flashlight, PO1 Forastero and PO1 Medina suddenly barged in and arrested him for the alleged illegal sale
of shabu
● He denied the same but the police officers insisted that their office received several calls regarding his illegal drug
activities.
● He was then immediately handcuffed by Ibañez, one of the civilian agents and was brought out of his house where
they met SPO3 Macalla to whom Ibañez purportedly handed the P4,200.00 which the latter recovered from
appellant while they were still inside the house
● He vehemently denied that such money was earned by him from selling shabu. He explained that the said money
was a loan from a certain Corazon Arciaga to be used by his common-law wife as capital for selling fruits.
● He was then made to board the Revo and brought to the office of DAPCO-DEU where Janice followed him.
● In the office, SPO1 Vega allegedly forced him to acknowledge possession of the pieces of evidence allegedly retrieved
from him. He refused. He was then put in jail
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● He nonetheless admitted that it was only at the time of his arrest that he met the arresting police officers; no bad
blood between them
● Also, despite his allegation that Ibañez took his money and gave it to SPO3 Macalla, he did not file robbery charges
against them
● Janice corroborated his testimony
● She maintained that Ricky was not in possession and was not engaged in the illegal sale of shabu
● Janice said that at the time and place in question, while she was dressing up their child after giving him medicine,
Ibañez, together with PO1 Forastero and PO1 Medina, hastily barged into their house
● Without any arrest warrant or search warrant, Ibañez instantly handcuffed and frisked appellant. Ibañez similarly
took appellant's money, which the latter borrowed from a certain Corazon Arciaga, and handed it to SPO3 Macalla.
● She forcefully resisted appellant's arrest and likewise tried to retrieve the money but to no avail.
● The police officers successfully brought Ricky out of their house and boarded him inside a vehicle.
● She continuously pleaded not to take appellant but her pleas remained unheeded.
● She then followed appellant up to the office of DAPCO-DEU

2 separate informations
1 Violation of Sec. 5, Art. II of RA 9165 (Sale, Trading, Administration, Dispensation, Delivery, Distribution and
Transportation of Dangerous Drugs and/or Controlled Precursors and Essential Chemicals)
2 Violation of Sec. 11, Art. II of RA 9165 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs)

● Pleaded not guilty to both charges

● Joint trial
RTC of Muntinlupa
● Guilty of under both informations (found that all elements were satisfactorily proven)
● illegal sale of 0.02 gram of shabu (life imprisonment + fine of P500K)
● illegal possession of 0.43 gram of shabu (indeterminate penalty of 12 y and 1 d to 15 y + fine of P300K)
● + costs
CA
● Affirmed his conviction
● All essential elements duly proven
● Denial collapses in the face of positive identification
● Presumption of regularity in the performance of their official duties
● Defense failed to prove ill-motive on the part of prosecution witnesses
● Inconsistencies and/or discrepancies pointed to by appellant were too trivial and inconsequential to warrant the
reversal; did not negate the fact that a buy-bust operation was conducted and as a result of which appellant was
caught in flagrante delicto selling and possessing shabu
Unisa’s arguments:
● He contends that the trial court gravely erred in convicting him of the offenses charged
● He posits that it was quite unusual and improbable for a police officer, like PO1 Medina, to correctly remember the
six-digit serial numbers of the marked money used in the buy-bust operation, which was conducted about a year
earlier than his testimony, but could not remember if he placed any marking thereon
● Also quite odd for PO1 Medina not to recall the date of his last successful buy-bust operation despite his vivid
recollection of the serial numbers of the marked money
● While PO1 Forastero maintained that he and PO1 Medina were both introduced to appellant as relatives of the
confidential informant, PO1 Medina claimed otherwise.
● Appellant also avers that the standard operating procedure that was supposed to be observed by the buy-
bust team was tainted with irregularities, which created doubts on the authenticity of the buy-bust
operation. Though it was P/Insp. Silungan who conducted the briefing on the manner of the buy-bust operation, it
was PO1 Natuel who signed the Pre-Operation Report/Coordination Sheet that was transmitted to PDEA for and on
behalf of P/Insp. Silungan. Moreover, the police officers who prepared the marked money merely photocopied
and entered the same in their blotter, instead of lacing it with ultra-violet powder despite the fact that a
prior surveillance and confirmation operations have been conducted before the actual buy-bust operation.
● Finally, he asserts that the police officers likewise failed to observe the requirements laid down in Section
21 39 of Republic Act No. 9165, particularly the photographing of the seized drugs in his presence or his
representative or counsel, a representative from the media, a representative from the Department of Justice
(DOJ) and any elected public official.
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ISSUE: W/N appellant is guilty of violation of Sections 5 and 11, Article II of Republic Act No. 9165 (YES)
● We rely on the trial court's assessment of the credibility of witnesses, absent any showing that certain facts of
weight and substance bearing on the elements of the crime have been overlooked, misapprehended, or misapplied.
● For a successful prosecution of the offense of illegal sale of dangerous drugs, like shabu, the following elements
must first be established: (1) the identity of the buyer and the seller, the object and consideration of the sale; and (2)
the delivery of the thing sold and the payment therefor.
○ What is material is proof that the transaction or sale actually took place, coupled with the presentation in
court of evidence of corpus delicti.
○ Clearly, the commission of the offense of illegal sale of dangerous drugs, like shabu, merely requires
the consummation of the selling transaction, which happens the moment the buyer receives the drug
from the seller. As long as the police officer went through the operation as a buyer, whose offer was
accepted by appellant, followed by the delivery of the dangerous drugs to the former, the crime is already
consummated.
○ Prosecution has amply proven all the elements of the drugs sale beyond moral certainty.
○ The testimony of PO1 Forastero explicitly described how the sale transaction of shabu between him and
appellant occurred (i.e. the narration of facts by the prosecution) The exchange of the buy-bust money and
the small heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet with white crystalline substance later confirmed as shabu
already consummated the sale
○ PO1 Forastero positively identified appellant to be the same person who sold to him one small heat-sealed
transparent plastic sachet of shabu for P200.00. When the small heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet of
shabu was presented in court, he also identified it to be the same object sold to him by appellant because of
the markings "RU" representing appellant's initials, which PO1 Forastero himself has written thereon. He
also identified in court the recovered buy-bust money with the signature of PO1 Aguirre at the bottom; their
serial numbers matched the photocopy thereof
● As to illegal possession of shabu it must be shown that (elements): (1) the accused is in possession of an item or
object which is identified to be a prohibited drug; (2) such possession is not authorized by law; and (3) the accused
freely and consciously possessed the said drug. These are all present in this case.
○ Incident to appellant's lawful arrest resulting from the buy-bust operation, 20 more sachets of shabu were
recovered in his possession by PO1 Medina
○ In court, both PO1 Medina and PO1 Forastero identified them to be the same objects recovered from
appellant while he was being frisked during his arrest for illegally selling shabu. PO1 Medina similarly
affirmed that the markings "RU-1" to "RU-20" written thereon was done by him.
○ Record is bereft of any evidence to show that appellant has the legal authority to possess the 20 more
sachets
○ Possession of dangerous drugs constitutes prima facie evidence of knowledge or animus possidendi,
which is sufficient to convict an accused in the absence of a satisfactory explanation of such
possession.
○ Appellant miserably failed to discharge his burden to overcome the prima facie evidence.
Credibility of Prosecution Witnesses
● PO1 Medina's failure to recall if he placed any marking on the buy-bust money, as well as the date of his last
successful buy-bust operation, was neither fatal nor material for the prosecution of either illegal sale or possession
of shabu as those facts had no bearing or had nothing to do with the elements of the offenses charged. PO1
Medina was not the one who marked the buy-bust money but PO1 Aguirre nor was he the poseur-buyer who
handled the buy-bust money but PO1 Forastero. Thus, PO1 Medina's failure to recall if he ever put any marking on
the buy-bust money should not be taken against him.
● Even granting arguendo that the buy-bust money has not been marked, jurisprudence is clear that failure to
mark the boodle money is not fatal to the cause of the prosecution. Neither law nor jurisprudence requires
the presentation of any of the money used in a buy-bust operation much less is it required that the boodle
money be marked. (only the elements are important to prove the crime/s)
● Further, the discrepancy and contradiction in the testimonies are too trivial, inconsequential and irrelevant to the
elements of the offenses charged; strengthen rather than diminish the prosecution's case
On appellant's assertions that the standard operating procedure supposed to be observed by the buy-bust team was
tainted with irregularities
● There are no provisions either in Republic Act No. 9165 or its Implementing Rules and Regulations requiring that
(1) the Pre-Operation Report/Coordination Sheet that should be transmitted to PDEA must only be signed by the
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 person who conducted the briefing; and (2) the buy-bust money to be used in the actual buy-bust operation must be
dusted with ultra-violet powder
● The Pre-Operation Report/Coordination Sheet and the use of dusted money are not indispensable to prove the
illegal sale of shabu. These two are not part of the elements of the aforesaid offense.
● coordination with the PDEA is not an indispensable requirement before police authorities may carry out a buy-bust
operation. While it is true that Section 86 [citation omitted] of Republic Act No. 9165 requires the National Bureau of
Investigation, PNP and the Bureau of Customs to maintain "close coordination with the PDEA on all drug related
matters," the provision does not make PDEA's participation a condition sine qua non for every buy-bust
operation. After all, a buy-bust is just a form of an in flagrante arrest sanctioned by Section 5, Rule 113 of the Rules
of Court; not invalidated by mere non-coordination with the PDEA.
● although the buy-bust money were not laced with ultra-violet powder, still, the prosecution was able to
positively identify that the two P100.00-peso bills recovered from appellant right after his arrest were the
buy-bust money as the same were photocopied and entered in the police blotter before the actual buy-bust
operation
On the argument of appellant that the police officers failed to observe the requirements of Section 21, Article II
of Republic Act No. 9165 (because the seized drugs were not photographed in his presence or his representative
or counsel, a representative from the media, a representative from the DOJ and any elected public official)
● Section 21.
○ (1) The apprehending team having initial custody and control of the drugs shall, immediately after
seizure and confiscation, physically inventory and photograph the same in the presence of the accused or
the person/s from whom such items were confiscated and/or seized, or his/her representative or counsel, a
representative from the media and the Department of Justice (DOJ), and any elected public official who shall
be required to sign the copies of the inventory and be given a copy thereof
● Section 21 (a), Article II of the IRR
○ (a) The apprehending team having initial custody and control of the drugs shall, immediately after
seizure and confiscation, physically inventory and photograph the same in the presence of the accused or
the person/s from whom such items were confiscated and/or seized, or his/her representative or counsel, a
representative from the media and the Department of Justice (DOJ), and any elected public official who shall
be required to sign the copies of the inventory and be given a copy thereof: Provided, further, that non-
compliance with these requirements under justifiable grounds, as long as the integrity and the
evidentiary value of the seized items are properly preserved by the apprehending officer/team, shall
not render void and invalid such seizures of and custody over said items.
● Non-compliance thereto is not fatal and will not render appellant's arrest illegal or the items
seized/confiscated from him inadmissible. As can be observed, the implementing rules offer some flexibility
when a proviso added that "non-compliance with these requirements under justifiable grounds, as long as the
integrity and the evidentiary value of the seized items are properly preserved by the apprehending officer/team,
shall not render void and invalid such seizures of and custody over said items." Thus, what is of utmost
importance is the preservation of the integrity and the evidentiary value of the seized items, as the same
would be utilized in the determination of the guilt or innocence of the accused.
● The function of the chain of custody requirement, therefore, is to ensure that the integrity and evidentiary
value of the seized items are preserved, so much so that unnecessary doubts as to the identity of the
evidence are removed. To be admissible, the prosecution must show by records or testimony, the continuous
whereabouts of the exhibit at least between the time it came into possession of the police officers and until it was
tested in the laboratory to determine its composition up to the time it was offered in evidence.
● In the present case, the chain of custody of the seized drugs does not appear to have been broken.

HELD: CA affirmed.

People v. Castro, 652 SCRA 393

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee
vs.
ARNOLD CASTRO y YANGA, accused-appellant.
VELASCO, JR.,
G.R. No. 194836. June 15, 2011

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FACTS:
· Feb 26 2004: 2 members of the Galas Police Station, P/Insp Armenta and PO2 Zamora receive a report from an
informant that a certain alias “Idol” was selling drugs in Brgy. San Isidro, QC. Report is brought before Col. Robert Razon
· Razon forms a buy-bust team; Armenta designated as poseur-buyer, given a P100 bill which he marked with his
initials JA; Armenta also prepares report to Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)
· Armenta and informant meet with “Idol” (who turns out to be Arnold Castro) in Brgy. San Isidro: Castro asked
P/Insp. Armenta how much, to which the latter responded "piso", which meant Php100.00. 18 P/Insp. Armenta then
handed the one hundred peso buy-bust money to Castro. 19 The latter, in turn, gave him a transparent plastic sachet
containing white crystalline substance that he pulled out from his pocket. Afterwards, P/Insp. Armenta scratched his
head to signal to his team members that the transaction was already consummated. 21 Accordingly, the buy-bust team
immediately closed in and arrested Castro. PO2 Zamora informed Castro of his violation, frisked him and recovered from
his pocket 2 more transparent plastic sachets of white crystalline substance, as well as the marked money. P/Insp.
Armenta took custody of the transparent plastic sachet that Castro sold to him, while PO2 Zamora kept the marked
money and the two (2) other plastic sachets which he recovered.
· 3 sachets are confirmed positive for Methylamphetamine Hydrochloride (AKA SHABU)
· Defense: Castro was resting in front of his house, when a police car parked in front of him and 4 police came out,
forced him to board the car, brought him to the police station, and showed him the sachet. When he denied owning it,
one of the officers told him that he would be released if he had money
· RTC: Castro guilty of drug-pushing and possession of dangerous drugs (RA 9165 Art II Sec 5 and 11), sentenced to
life imprisonment + fine (for drug-pushing), and 12 years 1 day minimum to 13 years maximum + fine (for possession)
· CA affirms RTC

ISSUE/HELD:
· W/N Castro is guilty of the offenses charged (YES)

RATIO:
· Re: chain of custody (passing of the drugs) not proved conclusively: Admittedly, testimony about a perfect chain is
not always the standard as it is almost always impossible to obtain an unbroken chain. Nonetheless, what is of utmost
importance is the preservation of the integrity and the evidentiary value of the seized items… Concomitantly, it
is Castro who bears the burden to make some showing that the evidence was tampered or meddled with to
overcome a presumption of regularity in the handling of exhibits by public officers, as well as a presumption
that said public officers properly discharged their duties.
· In the prosecution for the crime of illegal sale of prohibited drugs under Section 5, Article II of RA 9165, the
following elements must concur: (1) the identities of the buyer and seller, object, and consideration; and (2) the
delivery of the thing sold and the payment thereof. Significantly, what is material to the prosecution for illegal sale of
dangerous drugs is the proof that the transaction or sale actually occurred, coupled with the presentation in court of the
substance seized as evidence.
· As the poseur-buyer, P/Insp. Armenta positively identified Castro during trial as the seller of the illegal
drugs. He also testified that, using the marked money, he paid for the object of the crime, i.e., the shabu that was
handed to him by Castro. Notably, the testimony of P/Insp. Armenta was substantially corroborated by PO2
Zamora.

RULING: Appeal denied

R.A. No. 9262 (The Violence Against Women and Their Children Act)"

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