Case Digest (G.R. No. 167333)
Facts:
Pedro Ladines v. People of the Philippines and Edwin De Ramon, G.R. No. 167333, January 11, 2016, First Division, Bersamin, J., writing for the Court. The petitioner is Pedro Ladines; respondents are the People of the Philippines and the heirs of Erwin de Ramon.On June 12, 1993, during a school alumni dance in Bulabog, Sorsogon, Erwin de Ramon was stabbed and later died. An information was filed on August 12, 1993 charging Ladines and Herman Licup with homicide. Prosecution witnesses Philip de Ramon and Mario Lasala testified that the petitioner suddenly stabbed Erwin below the navel with a machete; Licup also attacked but the victim evaded his blow; Erwin sustained two stab wounds and later died. The medico-legal report opined that the chest wound could have been caused by a sharp instrument and the abdominal wound by a bladed instrument. Ladines denied participation and offered alibi witnesses who said he remained at the dance with his family and went home with them afterwards.
The Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 53, Sorsogon City, found Ladines guilty of homicide and, applying the Indeterminate Sentence Law, sentenced him on February 10, 2003 to an indeterminate term: minimum ten years and one day of prision mayor to maximum 17 years and four months of reclusion temporal, and ordered P50,000 civil indemnity. Herman Licup was acquitted for insufficiency of evidence. The Court of Appeals (CA) affirmed the RTC decision on October 22, 2004.
Ladines petitioned the Supreme Court by a petition for review on certiorari under Rule 45, arguing (inter alia) that: (a) Licup’s res gestae declaration that he stabbed the victim created reasonable doubt; and (b) the evidence and sentence imposed merited...(Subscriber-Only)
Issues:
- In a petition for review under Rule 45, may the Supreme Court re-examine and overturn the trial and appellate courts’ factual findings?
- Did Herman Licup’s alleged res gestae declaration qualify as newly-discovered evidence that would create reasonable doubt and warrant remand or reversal?
- Did the lower courts err in fixing the maximum of the indeterminate sentence at the ceiling of the medium period without stating justification?
- Were the awards for civil liability (civil indemnity and other ...(Subscriber-Only)
Ruling:
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Ratio:
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Doctrine:
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