Case Digest (G.R. No. 232361)
Facts:
- Francisco Damayo y Jaime was indicted for Kidnapping for Ransom under Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code.
- On August 7, 2008, in Muntinlupa City, Damayo abducted eleven-year-old Jerome Rosario y Sampaga from Sucat Elementary School.
- Jerome's parents, Edna and Jerry Rosario, reported his disappearance after learning from a classmate that an unknown man had taken him.
- The next day, Edna received a ransom call from Damayo, demanding PHP 150,000 for Jerome's release.
- The police planned an operation, and on August 9, 2008, they arrested Damayo at the Dau terminal in Mabalacat, Pampanga.
- Jerome was rescued from Damayo's house in San Fernando, Pampanga.
- Damayo pleaded not guilty, claiming he was following Edna's instructions to fetch Jerome and meet her at the Pasay bus terminal.
- He asserted that he and Edna were lovers and that she had asked him to take Jerome to Pampanga.
- The RTC of Muntinlupa City found Damayo guilty beyond reasonable doubt of kidnapping and serious illegal detention.
- He was sentenced to reclusion perpetua without parole and ordered to pay civil indemnity and moral damages.
- The CA affirmed the conviction with modifications, increasing the amounts of moral damages and civil indemnity and awarding exemplary damages.
Issue:
- (Unlock)
Ruling:
- The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the CA, finding Francisco Damayo y Jaime guilty beyond reasonable doubt of kidnapping for ransom.
- The Court upheld the penalty of reclusion perpetua without eligibility for parole ...(Unlock)
Ratio:
- The Supreme Court found no cogent reason to deviate from the factual findings of the RTC and the CA, which gave more weight and credence to the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses.
- Jerome's testimony was consistent, straightforward, and credible, detailing the events of the kidnapping and positively identifying Damayo as his abductor.
- The elements of kidnapping under Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code were sufficiently proven: Damayo, a private individual, took Jerome from his school, detained him in Pampanga, and demanded ransom from his parents.
- The Court dismissed Damayo's defense of denial and his claim of an illicit relationship with Edna, finding no corroborative evidence.
- The alleged inconsistenc...continue reading
Case Digest (G.R. No. 232361)
Facts:
The case involves Francisco Damayo y Jaime (Damayo), who was indicted for Kidnapping for Ransom under Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code. On August 7, 2008, in Muntinlupa City, Damayo abducted eleven-year-old Jerome Rosario y Sampaga (Jerome) from Sucat Elementary School. Jerome's parents, Edna and Jerry Rosario, reported his disappearance to the barangay after learning from a classmate that an unknown man had taken him. The next day, Edna received a ransom call from Damayo, demanding PHP 150,000 for Jerome's release. The police planned an operation, and on August 9, 2008, they arrested Damayo at the Dau terminal in Mabalacat, Pampanga, and rescued Jerome from Damayo's house in San Fernando, Pampanga.
Damayo pleaded not guilty, claiming he was following Edna's instructions to fetch Jerome and meet her at the Pasay bus terminal, as they were planning to transfer Jerome to a school in Pampanga. He asserted that he and Edna were lovers and that Edna had asked him to take Jerome to Pampanga. The Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Muntinlupa City found Damayo guilty beyond reasonable doubt of kidnapping and serious illegal detention, sentencing him to reclusion perpetua without parole and ordering him to pay civil indemnity and moral damages. The Court of Appeals (CA) affirmed the conviction with modifications, increasing the amounts of moral damages and civil i...