Title
Balunueco vs. Court of Appeals
Case
G.R. No. 126968
Decision Date
Apr 9, 2003
Ricardo Balunueco convicted of homicide for killing Senando Iguico; charge for Amelia's injuries reduced to slight physical injuries due to lack of intent to kill.
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Case Digest (G.R. No. 126968)

Facts:

Incident Overview:
On 2 May 1982, at around 6:00 PM, Amelia Iguico witnessed her brother-in-law, Servando Iguico, being chased by Ricardo Balunueco, his father Juanito, brothers Reynaldo and Ramon, and Armando Flores. Servando sought refuge in Amelia's house. Amelia's husband, Senando Iguico, unaware of the commotion, went outside and was chased by Reynaldo. Senando fled but was cornered near a canal, where Ricardo struck him with an ax and later a bolo, causing fatal injuries. Amelia attempted to shield her husband but was also injured.

Medical Findings:
Dr. Maximo Reyes conducted an autopsy on Senando Iguico, revealing two stab wounds and nine hack wounds, with the cause of death being acute hemorrhage due to multiple stab and hack wounds.

Defense Version:
Ricardo Balunueco claimed he was fetching water when he heard his brother Reynaldo being attacked by Senando. He rushed to the scene and saw Senando hacking Reynaldo. Ricardo intervened, but Senando turned his aggression towards him. Ricardo denied being the aggressor and claimed he acted in defense of his relatives.

Trial Court Decision:
The trial court convicted Ricardo of homicide for Senando's death and frustrated homicide for Amelia's injuries, rejecting Ricardo's defense as self-serving and inconsistent.

Court of Appeals Decision:
The Court of Appeals affirmed the conviction for homicide but modified the charge for Amelia's injuries to attempted homicide, finding no intent to kill her.

Issue:

  1. Whether Ricardo Balunueco acted in defense of his relatives, justifying his actions under Article 11, paragraph (2) of the Revised Penal Code.
  2. Whether the testimony of Amelia Iguico, the lone prosecution witness, was credible and sufficient to convict Ricardo.
  3. Whether the injuries sustained by Ricardo and his brothers disprove the prosecution's claim that Senando was the aggressor.
  4. Whether the Court of Appeals erred in convicting Ricardo of attempted homicide for Amelia's injuries instead of frustrated homicide.

Ruling:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

Ratio:

  • (Subscriber-Only)


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