Case Digest (G.R. No. 233088)
Facts:
People of the Philippines v. Rogelio Mendoza y Samson, et al., G.R. No. 233088, January 16, 2023, Supreme Court First Division, Hernando, J., writing for the Court. The prosecution (the People of the Philippines) charged multiple respondents — including Rogelio Mendoza, Hector Cornista, Alvin Labra, Brian Ho, Ricardo Banaay, Joel Dionaldo, Isidro Inosanto, Freeman Bagares, Ricardo Abalos, Romeo Rayga, Antonio Batucan, and others (some later remained at large) — with Kidnapping for Ransom in an Information dated March 6, 2006 under Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code as amended by Republic Act No. 7659.The Information alleged that on or about June 28, 2005 the accused, conspiring together and using force and firearms, abducted Carrie Choa in Imus, Cavite, demanded a ransom of PHP 20,000,000, and that Carrie’s sister, Gliceree L. Continting, paid PHP 515,700.00 as ransom. All accused except Gary Batan, Pedro Sorima, Elorde Bitanghol, and Andy Quintana were arrested and arraigned; all pleaded not guilty. On May 2, 2007 the trial court granted the prosecution’s motion to discharge Rogelio Mendoza as an accused and accept him as a state witness.
At trial Mendoza testified that he was a cook for a group called the “Waray-Waray Kidnap for Ransom” and described meetings and the detention of Carrie in a nipa hut for four days in Angono; he said he guarded and fed her and that others discussed ransom demands. Carrie gave a detailed account of being accosted at her orchid farm, blindfolded and driven to Angono, detained for four days, and identified several of the accused as her abductors and guards. Gliceree testified she negotiated through PACER and paid PHP 515,700.00 to Batan. Other prosecution witnesses (including Lourdes and Jomari Descalota) corroborated the abduction and identified some of the accused.
The defense offered alibis: several accused testified they were in different provinces or working during the incident; some denied knowing Carrie or the co-accused. The RTC, Branch 21, Imus, Cavite, rendered a Decision dated April 16, 2010 finding the named accused guilty as principals of Kidnapping for Ransom, sentencing them to reclusion perpetua (in lieu of death under Republic Act No. 9346), and ordering joint and several awards (including actual damages of PHP 515,700.00 and awards of moral and exemplary damages). The RTC ordered the cases against the four at-large accused archived pending arrest.
The Court of Appeals, in a Decision dated October 30, 2015 in CA‑G.R. CR‑H.C. No. 04581, affirmed with modification: it increased moral damages to PHP 100,000.00, imposed civil indemnity ...(Subscriber-Only)
Issues:
- Did the Court of Appeals err in affirming the conviction of the accused-appellants for Kidnapping for Ransom...(Subscriber-Only)
Ruling:
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Ratio:
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Doctrine:
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