Facts:

• The case involves the People of the Philippines as the plaintiff-appellee against accused-appellants Rodante Bautista and Marciano Manuyag, with Fausto Manansala, Jr. still at large.
• The incident occurred on December 6, 1982, in Barangay Sta. Cruz, Masantol, Pampanga.
• The Regional Trial Court of Pampanga, Branch LIV, found Bautista and Manuyag guilty of murder for conspiring with Manansala in the killing of Reynaldo Bautista.
• The trial court sentenced them to reclusion perpetua and ordered them to indemnify the victim's heirs a total of P108,907.00, which included:
  • P50,000.00 for death indemnity
  • P8,907.00 for actual damages
  • P50,000.00 for moral damages
• The prosecution established that Reynaldo Bautista died from severe hemorrhage due to multiple stab wounds inflicted by Manansala while Bautista and Manuyag restrained him.
• Roberto Bautista, the victim's brother, testified that he witnessed the assault and saw the accused holding Reynaldo while Manansala stabbed him.
• The defense claimed that only Manansala was responsible for the fatal wounds and presented witnesses to support their alibi.
• The trial court found the prosecution witnesses' testimonies credible and consistent, leading to the conviction of Bautista and Manuyag.

Issue:

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Ruling:

• The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the Regional Trial Court, finding no merit in the arguments raised by the accused-appellants.
• The court upheld the conviction of Rodante Bautista and Marciano Manuyag for murder.
• The penalties imposed by the trial...(Unlock)

Ratio:

• The Supreme Court reasoned that the trial court did not err in appreciating the credibility of the prosecution witnesses, particularly Roberto Bautista, despite his familial relationship to the victim.
• Familial ties do not automatically disqualify a witness's credibility, especially when corroborated by physical evidence, such as crime scene photog...continue reading