Republic of the Philippines

SUPREME COURT
Manila

FIRST DIVISION

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES,
Plaintiff-Appellee




- !e"sus -



ROEL RUEL SALLY,
Accuse#-Appellant$
G.R. No. 191254

P"esent%

CORONA C.J. Chai"pe"son
VE&ASCO 'R$
&EONARDO-DE CASTRO
DE& CASTI&&O an#
PERE( JJ$

P"o)ul*ate#%

Octobe" +, -.+.
/-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------/

D E C I S I O N
VELASCO, JR., J.:

0efo"e this Cou"t on appeal is the Decision #ate# Dece)be" +1 -..2
+
3+4 of the Cou"t of
Appeals 5CA6 in CA-7$R$ CR-8$C$ No$ .-29: ;hich uphel# the con!ictions of accuse#-
appellant Roel <Ruel= Sall> in C"i)inal Case Nos$ ?-29-1@:-. an# ?-29-1@:-+ #eci#e# b> the
Re*ional T"ial Cou"t 5RTC6 0"anch ,A in ?ueBon Cit> on 'une A -..A$

In C"i)inal Case No$ ?-29-1@:-. accuse#-appellant ;as cha"*e# ;ith Mu"#e" in an
Info")ation #ate# Ap"il ++ +229 ;hich "ea#s as follo;s%



That on o" about the ,.
th
#a> of 'anua"> +229 in ?ueBon Cit>
Philippines the abo!e-na)e# accuse# ;ith intent to Cill an# Dualifie# b> e!i#ent
p"e)e#itation an# t"eache"> #i# then an# the"e ;ilfull> unla;full> an#
feloniousl> attacC assault an# e)plo> pe"sonal !iolence upon the pe"son of one
EDEIN &UCAS F SIMON b> then an# the"e hittin* hi) ;ith an i"on pipe
5tubon* baCal6 the"eb> inflictin* upon hi) se"ious an# )o"tal inGu"ies ;hich
;e"e the #i"ect an# i))e#iate cause of his unti)el> #eath to the #a)a*e an#
p"eGu#ice of the 3hei"s4 of the sai# E#;in &ucas > Si)on$
-
3-4
+3+4 Penne# b> Associate 'ustice 'apa" 0$ Di)aa)pao an# concu""e# in b> Associate
'ustices 0ien!eni#o &$ Re>es an# Antonio &$ Villa)o"$
-3-4 Reco"#s p$ -$
In C"i)inal Case No$ ?-29-1@:-+ accuse#-appellant ;as also cha"*e# ;ith Mu"#e" in an
Info")ation #ate# Ap"il ++ +229 ;hich "ea#s as follo;s%

That on o" about the ,.
th
#a> of 'anua"> +229 in ?ueBon Cit>
Philippines the abo!e-na)e# accuse# ;ith intent to Cill an# Dualifie# b> e!i#ent
p"e)e#itation an# t"eache"> #i# then an# the"e ;ilfull> unla;full> an#
feloniousl> attacC assault an# e)plo> pe"sonal !iolence upon the pe"son of one
'OSE 0ERSERO F SIN7CO b> then an# the"e hittin* hi) on his hea# ;ith an
i"on pipe 5tubon* baCal6 the"eb> inflictin* upon hi) se"ious an# )o"tal inGu"ies
;hich ;e"e the #i"ect an# i))e#iate cause of his unti)el> #eath to the #a)a*e
an# p"eGu#ice of the hei"s of the sai# 'ose 0e"se"o > Sin*co$
,
3,4

Upon )otion of the p"osecution
9
394 these cases ;e"e consoli#ate# as the> ;e"e foun#e#
on the sa)e facts an# the p"osecution ;oul# be p"esentin* co))on e!i#ence in both cases$

Althou*h a ;a""ant of a""est fo" accuse#-appellant ha# been issue# on Ap"il +2 +229
consi#e"in* that he ha# not been app"ehen#e# the case ;as o"#e"e# a"chi!e# on Octobe" -A
+229$
1
314

In -.., accuse#-appellant ;as finall> a""este#$ At his a""ai*n)ent on Feb"ua"> -,
-..9 he plea#e# not *uilt> to both cha"*es$
@
3@4

The p"osecution p"esente# Ro*e" &a"a as the sole ;itness to the Cillin* alon* ;ith
Renato &ucas the b"othe" of the #ecease# E#;in &ucas to testif> as to the inco)e of E#;in at
the ti)e of his #eath an# D"$ Valentin 0e"nales of the Me#ico &e*al Di!ision of the National
0u"eau of In!esti*ation 5N0I6 to inte"p"et the nec"ops> "epo"t pe"tainin* to the t;o !icti)s$

Ro*e" &a"a testifie# that on the ni*ht of 'anua"> -2 +229 he ;as in a #"inCin* session
that laste# until +%,. a$)$ the follo;in* )o"nin* ;ith accuse#-appellant !icti)s E#;in &ucas >
Si)on an# 'ose 0e"se"o > Sin*co a)on* othe"s insi#e the NiCon I"on Eo"Cs office locate#
alon* Co))on;ealth A!enue Dili)an ?ueBon Cit>$ Thei" #"inCin* co)panions left ea"lie"
lea!in* behin# &a"a accuse#-appellant an# the t;o !icti)s$ &a"a testifie# that he ;as fallin*
asleep insi#e the office ;hen he hea"# a noise co)in* f"o) the shop$ Ehen he in!esti*ate# the
)atte" he sa; accuse#-appellant hittin* the sleepin* 'ose 0e"se"o ;ith a piece of pipe$ &a"a
fu"the" state# that accuse#-appellant then "ushe# to;a"#s hi) an# atte)pte# to hit hi) but he
a!oi#e# the accuse# an# "an$
A
3A4 8e testifie# that he also sa; accuse#-appellant attacC the
sleepin* E#;in &ucas ;ith a pipe$ &a"a then ;ent to thei" e)plo>e"Hs house to "epo"t the
inci#ent$
:
3:4 Ehen he an# the e)plo>e" Vi"*ilio Re>es "eache# the shop the> onl> sa; the
bo#ies of the t;o !icti)s as accuse#-appellant ;as no lon*e" the"e$ 8e then "epo"te# the )atte"
to the police$
2
324

,3,4 I#$ at$:$
9394 I#$ at +$
1314 I#$ at -1$
@3@4 I#$ at 9-$
A3A4 I#$ at ++@$
:3:4 I#$ at$ 2-$
2324 I#$ at 2,$
Renato &ucas testifie# that his b"othe" E#;in &ucas ;o"Ce# at the NiCon I"on Eo"Cs
an# ha# a sala"> of PhP +9. a #a> at the ti)e of his #eath$
+.
3+.4

D"$ Valentin 0e"nales of the N0I inte"p"ete# the nec"ops> "epo"ts on 'ose 0e"se"o an#
E#;in &ucas$ The "epo"ts ha# been p"epa"e# b> D"$ 'uan (al#a"ia*a the atten#in* )e#ico-le*al
office" fo" those cases but ;ho ha# "esi*ne# ea"lie"$ D"$ 0e"nales testifie# that f"o) the "epo"t on
'ose 0e"se"o the !icti) #ie# of t"au)atic hea# inGu"ies on 'anua"> ,. +229 insi#e :::
Co))on;ealth A!e$ ?ueBon Cit> an# that the bo#> ;as foun# at A%+1 a$)$ 8e also testifie#
that base# on the "epo"t on E#;in &ucas the !icti) #ie# of t"au)atic hea# inGu"> on 'anua"> ,.
+229 an# that the bo#> ;as foun# at A%+1 a$)$
++
3++4

In his #efense accuse#-appellant clai)e# that on 'anua"> ,. +229 at about +%,. a$)$ he
ha# been ;o"Cin* at the 0alinta;aC Ma"Cet in ?ueBon Cit> as a )anual haule" a Gob he ha# fo"
nine >ea"s$
+-
3+-4 8e testifie# that his ;o"C laste# f"o) @%.. p$)$ to @%.. a$)$
+,
3+,4 an# that he
#i# not ;o"C fo" NiCon I"on Eo"Cs$
+9
3+94 8e fu"the" testifie# that he #i# not Cno; E#;in &ucas
o" 'ose 0e"se"o no" #i# he Cno; an>one ;ho ;o"Ce# fo" NiCon I"on Eo"Cs$ 8e #enie# Cillin*
&ucas an# 0e"se"o an# that he ha# no Cno;le#*e of the )atte"s testifie# to b> Ro*e" &a"a$
+1
3+14

Afte" consi#e"in* the e!i#ence fo" both si#es the t"ial cou"t "en#e"e# its Decision on 'une
A -..A fin#in* accuse#-appellant *uilt> in C"i)inal Case Nos$ ?-29-1@:-.--+ the #ispositi!e
po"tion of the #ecision "ea#in* as follo;s%


E8EREFORE Gu#*)ent is he"b> "en#e"e# sentencin* ROE& <RUE&=
SA&&F to suffe" the penalt> of Reclusion Perpetua in C"i)$ Case No$ ?-29-
1@:-. an# to pa> the hei"s of E#;in &ucas > Si)on the su) of PA1...$.. as
in#e)nit>I

In C"i)$ Case No$ ?-29-1@:-+ liCe;ise ROE& <RUE&= SA&&F is
liCe;ise sentence# to suffe" the penalt> of Reclusion Perpetua an# to pa> the
hei"s of 'ose 0e"se"o > Sin*co the su) of PA1...$.. as in#e)nit>$
+@
3+@4



T! C"#! $!%o&! '! CA

In his appeal accuse#-appellant clai)e# that the RTC e""e# in fin#in* hi) *uilt> of the
c"i)es cha"*e# o" assu)in* that he ;as in#ee# *uilt> of the c"i)es cha"*e# the RTC shoul#
ha!e con!icte# hi) of ho)ici#e instea# of )u"#e"$

8e clai)e# that &a"aHs testi)on> ;as inconsistent an# cont"a#icte# his Sinumpaang
Salaysay ;hich ha# been e/ecute# at the police station$ 8e fu"the" clai)e# that the p"osecution
+.3+.4 I#$ at +,2-+9.$
++3++4 I#$ at +A:-+:+$
+-3+-4 I#$ at$ -+.--++$
+,3+,4 I#$ at -+-$
+93+94 I#$ at -+2$
+13+14 I#$ at -+2----$
+@3+@4 Rollo p$ 1+$
ha# faile# to p"o!e the e/istence of t"eache"> ;hen it faile# to p"esent as e!i#ence the i"on pipe
;hich ;as use# in the Cillin*s$

The CA foun# the testi)on> of Ro*e" &a"a to be c"e#ible an# con!incin* an# thus
uphel# the RTC #ecision$ The CA foun# the nee# fo" )o#ifications ho;e!e" ;hen it ca)e to
the a;a"# fo" #a)a*es b> "e#ucin* the a;a"# of ci!il in#e)nit> to PhP 1.... an# a;a"#in*
)o"al an# e/e)pla"> #a)a*es$ The #ispositi!e po"tion of the CA #ecision thus "ea#s as
follo;s%

E8EREFORE the Decision #ate# A 'une -..A of the Re*ional T"ial
Cou"t of ?ueBon Cit> 0"anch :A in C"i)inal Case Nos$ ?-29-1@:-. an# ?-29-
1@:-+ is he"eb> AFFIR(ED ;ith the follo;in* (ODIFICATIONS such that
in both cases%

+$ The a;a"# of PA1...$.. as ci!il in#e)nit> is REDUCED TO
P1....$..
-$ Appellant Roel <Ruel= Sall> is ORDERED to pa> the hei"s of E#;in
&ucas an# 'ose 0e"se"o the a)ounts of P1....$.. P-1...$.. an#
P-1...$.. as )o"al e/e)pla"> an# actual #a)a*es "especti!el>

SO ORDERED$
+A
3+A4


8ence ;e ha!e this appeal$

T! R)*+,- o% '+# Co)&'
The appeal is ;ithout )e"it$
A##"essin* the e""o"s "aise# b> accuse#-appellant in his appeal befo"e the CA ;e fin# no
"eason to "e!e"se the RTC$
Accuse#-appellant clai)s that the testi)on> of the sole ;itness Ro*e" &a"a in open cou"t
on Feb"ua"> , -..1 is inconsistent ;ith the latte"Hs s;o"n state)ent e/ecute# on 'anua"> ,.
+229$
The inconsistenc> accuse#-appellant sees is )o"e appa"ent than "eal$
In his s;o"n state)ent on 'anua"> ,. +229 Ro*e" &a"a "elate# the e!ents as follo;s%

T: Maaari bang isalaysay mo sa akin ang buong pangyayari?
S: Nang ala 1:! ng ma"aling ara# ika ! ng $nero 1%%& nagkakainuman
po kami nila R'($R) J'S$) R*$+ at iba pang kasama,an namin sa
traba,o sa loob ng N-.' -R'N /'R.S kung saan kami ay
nagtratraba,o) nang marami nang na0iinum itong si R*$+ kinukulit po si
Mang J'S$ at $D/-N kaya sina#ay siya ng "ala#a na kung lasing na
siya 1R*$+2 ay matulog na) pagkatapos po nagkaroon ng pagtatalo sa
pagitan ni R*$+ at ng "ala#a kumu,a po ng patalim itong si R*$+ pero
naa#at ito ng iba pa naming kasama,an. Pagkatapos po nang natutulog
na si Mang J'S$ at si $D/-N nakarinig ako ng gulo sa labas ng aming
+A3+A4 I#$ at +,$
barracks at nakita ko na pinalo ni R*$+ si Mang J'S$ ng tubong bakal
at nang ako3y lalabas na sa barracks ako naman ang pinalo mabuti na
lang at aking nailagan at ang ,inarap nito ay si $D/-N ,abang siya3y
natutulog.
T: 4no ang gina#a mo nang makita mo ang pangyayari?
S: Tumakbo po ako sa labas ng bakuran "a,il baka ako ay patayin "in.
T: Saan ba natutulog si Mang J'S$ at si $D/-N?
S: Si Mang J'S$ po ay nasa labas at si $D/-N ay sa barracks na aming
pinaka0opisina.
T: Saan pinalo si Mang J'S$ at si $D/-N?
S: Sa ulo at batok.
+:
3+:4

This accuse#-appellant clai)s is at !a"iance ;ith the ;itnessH testi)on> on Feb"ua"> ,
-..1 "elate# as follo;s%

COURT
? Fou onl> p"esu)e that the accuse# attacCe# Man* 'ose outsi#e because of
the noise that >ou hea"#$ The"efo"e >ou #i# not e/actl> see the accuse#
attacCin* Man* 'ose usin* an i"on pipe$
A It is liCe this Fou" 8ono"$ Ehen I hea"# the noise I peepe# an# the"e I
sa; outsi#e the accuse# hittin* Man* 'ose an# ;hen I ca)e out the
accuse# also attacCe# )e but I ;as able to a!oi# it$ Afte" that he ;ent
insi#e the office an# attacCe# E#;in$

/ / / /

ATTF MATEO%
? M"$ Eitness #i# I *et >ou "i*ht that >ou a"e )aintainin* that >ou sa; the
accuse# attacCin* Man* 'ose #espite the fact that >ou ;e"e sleepin*J
A I ;as sleepin* but I ;as a;aCene# b> the noise an# ;hen I opene# the
#oo" to see ;hat is the noise about I sa; the accuse# attacCin* Man*
'ose$
? Fou )a#e )ention that the accuse# also attacCe# >ou but >ou ;e"e able to
e!a#e his attacC an# then >ou sca)pe"e# a;a> because of the fea" fo" >ou"
life$ Is that co""ectJ

PROSECUTOR%
Al"ea#> ans;e"e#$

ATTF MATEO%
? So because >ou "an a;a> >ou ;oul# not Cno; ;hen the accuse# tu"ne# to
E#;in an# attacCe# E#;in$
A Ehen I ;ent out of the office because I ;as a;aCene# b> the noise I sa;
the accuse# attacCin* Man* 'ose an# he hit )e in fact onl> I ;as able to
a!oi# it$ So I "an a;a> but ;hen I looCe# bacC I sa; the accuse# hittin*
E#;in ;ith an i"on pipe$ 5Eitness #e)onst"atin* hol#in* an i"on pipe
hittin* E#;in6$

COURT
+:3+:4 Reco"#s p$ +:$
? Ehe"e ;as E#;in at the ti)e that the accuse# ;as attacCin* Man* 'ose
he ;as insi#e the office sleepin*J
A Fes Fou" 8ono"$
? 0> the ti)e >ou ;e"e al"ea#> outsi#e the office >ou ;e"e able to lea!e the
a"ea because of >ou" fea" fo" >ou" lifeJ
A Fes Fou" 8ono"$ 8e )i*ht Cill )e also$
? An# because of >ou" feelin* of fea" fo" >ou" life >ou" instinct ;as to
i))e#iatel> lea!e the place an# #i# not )in# an>thin* )o"e ;hat is
happenin*J
A Fes Fou" 8ono"$

ATTF$ MATEO%
? An# because of that >ou ;oul# not be in a position to see that an# it ;oul#
be i)possible fo" >ou to see the accuse# attacCin* E#;inJ
A The t"uth is ;hen I "an a;a> I looCe# bacC an# I sa; Roel *oin* insi#e
the office ;he"e E#;in ;as sleepin*$
+2
3+24


The"e is no "eal inconsistenc> bet;een the s;o"n state)ent an# the testi)on> of Ro*e"
&a"a$ Ehile accuse#-appellant ;oul# ha!e it appea" that &a"a ;oul# ha!e been unable to
;itness the Cillin* of E#;in &ucas he latches onto the po"tion of the s;o"n state)ent "elatin*
the fact of &a"aHs "unnin* outsi#e afte" the Cillin* of 'ose 0e"se"o$ That fact #i# not p"eclu#e
&a"a f"o) ;itnessin* the Cillin* of E#;in &ucas an# his testi)on> in open cou"t actuall>
cla"ifies the )atte" that he sa; accuse#-appellant Cill E#;in &ucas because &a"a tu"ne# an#
looCe# bacC afte" he ha# put so)e #istance bet;een hi)self an# accuse#-appellant$

Accuse#-appellant cannot point to alle*e# #iffe"ences bet;een the s;o"n state)ent an#
the testi)on> of Ro*e" &a"a to e/culpate hi)$ As hel# in People 5. Dabon%


The )ost honest ;itnesses )a> )aCe )istaCes so)eti)es but such
innocent lapses #o not necessa"il> i)pai" thei" c"e#ibilit>$ The testi)on> of a
;itness )ust be consi#e"e# an# calib"ate# in its enti"et> an# not b> t"uncate#
po"tions the"eof o" isolate# passa*es the"ein$ It is a )atte" of Gu#icial e/pe"ience
that an affi#a!it bein* e6 parte is al)ost al;a>s inco)plete an# often inaccu"ate
so)eti)es f"o) pa"tial su**estions so)eti)es fo" ;ant of su**estions an#
inDui"ies ;ithout the ai# of ;hich the ;itness )a> be unable to "ecall the
connecte# collate"al ci"cu)stances necessa"> fo" the co""ection of the fi"st
su**estions of his )e)o"> an# fo" his accu"ate "ecollection of all that belon*s to
the subGect$ Affi#a!its taCen e6 parte a"e *ene"all> consi#e"e# to be infe"io" to the
testi)on> *i!en in open cou"t$ The"efo"e #isc"epancies bet;een state)ents of
the affiant in his affi#a!it an# those )a#e b> hi) on the ;itness stan# #o not
necessa"il> #isc"e#it hi)$
-.
3-.4

Accuse#-appellant )a#e an effo"t to sho; that ;itness Ro*e" &a"a ;as )oti!ate# to
testif> in fa!o" of the p"osecution as he ha# been asCe# to b> the "elati!es of the !icti) E#;in
&ucas$ This en#ea!o" of accuse#-appellant #ese"!es sho"t sh"ift$ Ehethe" o" not the !icti)Hs
"elati!es contacte# Ro*e" &a"a o" asCe# hi) to testif> in the p"esent case is i))ate"ial as &a"a
;as )e"el> "eite"atin* ;hat he ha# state# in his s;o"n state)ent e/ecute# on the #a> of the
+23+24 I#$ at ++1-++A$
-.3-.4 7$R$ No$ +.-..9 Dece)be" +@ +22- -+@ SCRA @1@ @@9$
Cillin*s$ Fo" pe"sonal )oti!e on the pa"t of a ;itness to testif> a*ainst the accuse# to be
app"eciate# as sho;in* bias its p"esence shoul# be suppo"te# b> satisfacto"> p"oof$
-+
3-+4
Accuse#-appellant has faile# to sho; that &a"a ;as i)pelle# b> i)p"ope" )oti!e to testif> thus
&a"aHs testi)on> is entitle# to full faith an# c"e#it$

In his #efense accuse#-appellant "aises the #efense of alibi$ This #efense )ust fail in the
li*ht of the c"e#ible testi)on> of Ro*e" &a"a$ Alibi is the ;eaCest #efense not onl> because it is
inhe"entl> ;eaC an# un"eliable but also because it is eas> to fab"icate$ It is *ene"all> "eGecte#
;hen the accuse# is positi!el> i#entifie# b> a ;itness$
--
3--4 Accuse#-appellant states that he
;as else;he"e at the ti)e the Cillin*s occu""e# na)el> at his alle*e# ;o"C as a haule" at the
0alinta;aC Ma"Cet in ?ueBon Cit>$ 8o;e!e" he faile# to p"o#uce an> co""obo"atin* ;itness to
his alle*e# p"esence the"e o" e!en faile# to sho; that he ;as in#ee# e)plo>e# as such$ The
RTC thus co""ectl> #is"e*a"#e# the #efense of alibi$ It is ;ell-settle# that alibi cannot be
sustaine# ;he"e it is not onl> ;ithout c"e#ible co""obo"ation but also #oes not on its face
#e)onst"ate the ph>sical i)possibilit> of the p"esence of the accuse# at the place of the c"i)e o"
in its i))e#iate !icinit> at the ti)e of its co))ission$
-,
3-,4

The RTC foun# the testi)on> of Ro*e" &a"a )o"e c"e#ible than that of accuse#-
appellant$ It is ho"nbooC #oct"ine that the fin#in*s of the t"ial cou"t on the c"e#ibilit> of
;itnesses an# thei" testi)onies a"e entitle# to the hi*hest "espect$ 8a!in* seen an# hea"# the
;itnesses an# obse"!e# thei" beha!io" an# )anne" of testif>in* the t"ial cou"t is #ee)e# to ha!e
been in a bette" position to ;ei*h the e!i#ence$
-9
3-94 Accuse#-appellant has faile# to sho; that
the t"ial cou"t )isapp"eciate# an> of the facts befo"e itI thus the"e is no nee# to #e!iate f"o) the
establishe# #oct"ine$
Accuse#-appellant also Duestions the fin#in* that t"eache"> atten#e# the Cillin*s
Dualif>in* the c"i)e to )u"#e" instea# of ho)ici#e$ To suppo"t this a"*u)ent he points out the
failu"e of the p"osecution to p"o!e that an i"on pipe ;as use# in Cillin* 'ose 0e"se"o an# E#;in
&ucas$ It ;as pointe# out that the ;eapon ;as not "et"ie!e# o" p"esente# in e!i#ence no" ;as
the )e#ico-le*al office" ce"tain if an i"on pipe ;oul# cause the inGu"ies suffe"e# b> the !icti)s$

Accuse#-appellant )isses the point enti"el>$

Ehethe" o" not an i"on pipe ;as use# to Cill 'ose 0e"se"o an# E#;in &ucas is i""ele!ant$
It ;as the testi)on> of Ro*e" &a"a that accuse#-appellant Cille# 'ose 0e"se"o an# E#;in &ucas
b> hittin* the) ;ith an i"on pipe ;hile the> ;e"e sleepin*$ It is be>on# a"*u)ent that the
unconscious !icti)s ;oul# ha!e been unable to #efen# the)sel!es f"o) the attacC of the
accuse# "e*a"#less of the ;eapon use#$ A"ticle +9 pa"a*"aph +@5-6 of the Re!ise# Penal Co#e
p"o!i#es <The"e is t"eache"> ;hen the offen#e" co))its an> of the c"i)es a*ainst the pe"son
e)plo>in* )eans )etho#s o" fo")s in the e/ecution the"eof ;hich ten# #i"ectl> an# speciall> to
insu"e its e/ecution ;ithout "isC to hi)self a"isin* f"o) the #efense ;hich the offen#e# pa"t>
)i*ht )aCe$= This p"ecisel> co!e"s the situation that accuse#-appellant tooC a#!anta*e of ;hen
he attacCe# the !icti)s ;hile the> ;e"e sleepin*$ The essence of t"eache"> is the su##en an#
une/pecte# attacC b> the a**"esso" on unsuspectin* !icti)s the"eb> ensu"in* its co))ission
;ithout "isC to the a**"esso" an# ;ithout the sli*htest p"o!ocation on the pa"t of the !icti)s$
-1
3-14
-+3-+4 7i"ar 5. People 7$R$ No$ +AA,@+ Feb"ua"> + -.+. @++ SCRA -+@ --@$
--3--4 Sumbillo 5. People 7$R$ No$ +@A9@9 'anua"> -+ -.+. @+. SCRA 9AA 9:9$
-,3-,4 People 5. Sobusa 7$R$ No$ +:+.1, 'anua"> -+ -.+. @+. SCRA 1,: 11:$
-93-94 People 5. '8emiano 7$R$ No$ +:A+11 Feb"ua"> + -.+. @++ SCRA -1. -1@$
-13-14 People 5. (utierre9) 7$R$ No$ +::@.- Feb"ua"> -9 -.+. @++ SCRA @,, @99$

The RTC ;as co""ect in app"eciatin* the ci"cu)stance of t"eache"> acco)pan>in* the
act ;hich Dualifies the Cillin* to )u"#e" un#e" the fi"st pa"a*"aph of A"t$ -9: of the Re!ise#
Penal Co#e not ho)ici#e$

Anent the #a)a*es a;a"#e# in C"i)inal Case Nos$ ?-29-1@:-. an# ?-29-1@:-+ b> the
t"ial cou"t as a#Guste# b> the CA the> shoul# be )o#ifie#$

In C"i)inal Case No$ ?-29-1@:-. the CA onl> a;a"#e# the "e#uce# ci!il in#e)nit> of
PhP 1.... to the hei"s of E#;in &ucas > Si)on ;ithout han#in* out )o"al an# e/e)pla">
#a)a*es$ Of cou"se in )u"#e" the *"ant of ci!il in#e)nit> ;hich has been fi/e# b>
Gu"isp"u#ence at PhP 1.... "eDui"es no p"oof othe" than the fact of #eath as a "esult of the c"i)e
an# p"oof of the accuse#Hs "esponsibilit> fo" it$
-@
3-@4 On the othe" han# )o"al #a)a*es of PhP
1.... a"e a;a"#e# in !ie; of the !iolent #eath of the !icti) ;hich #oes not necessitate an>
alle*ation o" p"oof of the e)otional suffe"in*s of the hei"s$ &iCe;ise in line ;ith p"e!ailin*
Gu"isp"u#ence the hei"s of E#;in &ucas > Si)on a"e also entitle# to an a;a"# of PhP ,.... as
e/e)pla"> #a)a*es because the co))ission of the c"i)e of )u"#e" ;as atten#e# b> an
a**"a!atin* ci"cu)stance ;hethe" o"#ina"> o" Dualif>in* as in this case$
-A
3-A4 A"t$ --,. of the
Ci!il Co#e p"o!i#es%

In c"i)inal offenses e/e)pla"> #a)a*es as a pa"t of the ci!il liabilit> )a>
be i)pose# ;hen the c"i)e ;as co))itte# ;ith one o" )o"e a**"a!atin*
ci"cu)stances$

Eith "espect to the #ispositions in C"i)inal Case No$ ?-29-1@:-+ the a;a"# of PhP
-1... as )o"al #a)a*es shall be "aise# to PhP 1.... an# the a)ount of PhP ,.... shall be
a;a"#e# as e/e)pla"> #a)a*es in lieu of the p"e!ious CA a;a"# of PhP -1... in acco"#ance
;ith cu""ent Gu"isp"u#ence$
-:
3-:4

&iCe;ise the PhP -1... in #a)a*es a;a"#e# b> the CA ;as )islabele# in the
#ispositi!e po"tion as <actual #a)a*es= ;he"eas these ;e"e p"ope"l> calle# <te)pe"ate
#a)a*es= in the bo#> of the CA #ecision$ A"t$ ---9 of the Ci!il Co#e p"o!i#es <Te)pe"ate o"
)o#e"ate #a)a*es ;hich a"e )o"e than no)inal but less than co)pensato"> #a)a*es )a> be
"eco!e"e# ;hen the cou"t fin#s that so)e pecunia"> loss has been suffe"e# but its a)ount can
not f"o) the natu"e of the case be p"o!e# ;ith ce"taint>$= This a)ount of PhP -1... ;as
a;a"#e# b> the CA to the !icti)Hs fa)ilies in lieu of actual #a)a*es as the fa)ilies faile# to
p"esent p"oof of bu"ial as ;ell as )e#ical e/penses$

Accuse#-appellant has been p"o!e# to be *uilt> be>on# "easonable #oubt of the c"i)es
cha"*e# an# )ust ans;e" fo" all the effects of his con!iction$

.HEREFORE the Cou"t AFFIR(S ;ith )o#ification the Decision #ate# Dece)be"
+1 -..2 of the CA in CA-7$R$ CR-8$C$ No$ .-29:$ As )o#ifie# the CA Decision shall no;
"ea#%

-@3-@4 I#$ at @9@-@9A$
-A3-A4 I#$ at @9A$
-:3-:4 People 5. Dalisay 7$R$ No$+::+.@ No!e)be" -1 -..2 @.1 SCRA :.A :+@
:-+$
E8EREFORE Gu#*)ent is he"eb> "en#e"e# sentencin* ROE& <RUE&=
SA&&F to suffe" the penalt> of Reclusion Perpetua in C"i)$ Case No$ ?-29-1@:-.
an# to pa> the hei"s of E#;in &ucas > Si)on the su) of PhP 1.... as ci!il
in#e)nit> PhP 1.... as )o"al #a)a*es an# PhP ,.... as e/e)pla"> #a)a*esI

In C"i)$ Case No$ ?-29-1@:-+ liCe;ise ROE& <RUE&= SA&&F is
liCe;ise sentence# to suffe" the penalt> of Reclusion Perpetua an# to pa> the hei"s
of 'ose 0e"se"o > Sin*co the su) of PhP 1.... as ci!il in#e)nit> PhP 1.... as
)o"al #a)a*es PhP ,.... as e/e)pla"> #a)a*es an# PhP -1... as te)pe"ate
#a)a*es$

SO ORDERED.