Case Digest (G.R. No. 130627)
Facts:
People of the Philippines v. Agueda T. Alba, et al., G.R. No. 130627 and Nos. 139477-78, May 31, 2001, Supreme Court First Division, Pardo, J., writing for the Court. A dispute over the ownership and possession of a 41-hectare fishpond in Dongon West, Numancia, Aklan culminated in the killing of Roberto Acevedo on July 25, 1990. Several persons were charged after eyewitness testimony and a necropsy linked gunshot injuries to Acevedo's instantaneous death.On the morning of the incident, sixteen-year-old worker Randy Ricaforte testified that armed men, including accused David Kingking, brought him to accused Agueda T. Alba and then to accused Saturnino Rembulat and Adriano Gortayo, who fired repeatedly toward the hut where Acevedo was staying. Ricaforte identified Gortayo as firing from Gate No. 1 and recounted that Gortayo used a rifle grenade at the fishpond tower where Acevedo sought refuge. Another prosecution witness, caretaker Julito Magcope, testified that accused Francisco Alovera and Ronnie Gonzaga fired at him when they saw him during the attack; he escaped by jumping into an irrigation canal.
On October 11, 1990, the First Assistant Provincial Prosecutor filed an information charging numerous persons, including Alba, Rembulat, Alovera, Gonzaga, Gortayo and others (plus five John Does), with murder and attempted murder. Several accused submitted to court jurisdiction and pleaded not guilty at arraignment on various dates in 1991. After trial, the Regional Trial Court, Aklan, Branch 5 (Criminal Case No. 3209) rendered judgment on June 18, 1997, finding Alba, Rembulat, Alovera, Gonzaga and Gortayo guilty beyond reasonable doubt of murder and attempted murder, sentencing each to reclusion perpetua and an indeterminate penalty for attempted murder, awarding P50,000 and P100,000 for civil indemnity and funeral expenses respectively, and acquitting David Kingking, Alicia Kingking and Danilo Tolis.
Accused-appellants filed a notice of appeal on June 24, 1997; the Supreme Court (First Division) resolved to accept the appeal on July 8, 1998. The appellants contest...(Pro-only)
Issues:
- Was the guilt of the accused-appellants established beyond reasonable doubt?
- Could the doctrine of conspiracy impute liability to those who did not personally fire the fatal shot?
- Were the imposed penalties (reclusion perpetua for murder; an indeterminate penalty for attempted murder) proper?
- Were the trial court’s awards for actual, moral and civil damages pro...(Pro-only)
Ruling:
- (Pro-only)
Ratio:
- (Pro-only)
Doctrine:
- (Pro-only)