Case Digest (G.R. No. 123172)
Facts:
- Felix de Guia y Quirino is the accused-appellant; the People of the Philippines is the plaintiff-appellee.
- The incident occurred on October 9, 1992, in Quezon City, Philippines.
- Victim Luzon Madarang y Padilla was fatally stabbed multiple times.
- The Regional Trial Court of Quezon City, Branch 92, convicted de Guia of murder on August 14, 1995, qualifying it by abuse of superior strength.
- De Guia was sentenced to reclusion perpetua and ordered to pay P50,000.00 for indemnity, P19,573.00 for funeral expenses, and P30,000.00 for moral damages.
- The prosecution's case relied on six witnesses, including eyewitness Greta Amihan Erese, who saw de Guia and Ricardo Pagadura stab the victim while he was asleep.
- The victim was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital due to multiple stab wounds.
- De Guia was arrested shortly after the crime, found with bloodstains on his clothing and a bloodied knife.
- The defense presented an alibi, claiming de Guia was asleep at home during the incident, supported by three witnesses.
Issue:
- (Unlock)
Ruling:
- The Supreme Court affirmed the trial court's decision, finding de Guia guilty of murder.
- The ruling was modified to change the qualifying circumstance from abuse of superior strength to treachery.
- The court upheld the awards for ...(Unlock)
Ratio:
- The Supreme Court highlighted that the trial court is best positioned to assess the credibility of witnesses based on their demeanor and testimony.
- The court found no compelling reason to overturn the trial court's findings, noting Erese's clear and consistent account of the stabbing.
- The defense's alibi was deemed weak, failing to prove de Guia's absence from the crime scene.
- The cour...continue reading
Case Digest (G.R. No. 123172)
Facts:
The case involves Felix de Guia y Quirino as the accused-appellant and the People of the Philippines as the plaintiff-appellee. The incident occurred on October 9, 1992, in Quezon City, Philippines, where the victim, Luzon Madarang y Padilla, was fatally stabbed multiple times. The Regional Trial Court of Quezon City, Branch 92, rendered a decision on August 14, 1995, convicting de Guia of murder, qualified by abuse of superior strength, and sentenced him to reclusion perpetua. The court also ordered him to pay the heirs of the victim P50,000.00 as indemnity for death, P19,573.00 for funeral expenses, and P30,000.00 as moral damages.
The prosecution's case was built on the testimony of six witnesses, including an eyewitness, Greta Amihan Erese, who observed the stabbing incident. Erese testified that she saw de Guia and another individual, Ricardo Pagadura, simultaneously stab Madarang while he was asleep on a bench. The victim was later pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital due to multiple stab wounds. The police, responding to reports of the incident, arrested de Guia shortly after the crime, finding him in a nearby safehouse with bloodstains on his clothing and a bloodied knife in his possession.
In contrast, the defense presented de Guia's alibi, claiming he was at home asleep during the incident. Three witnesses, including de Guia himself, testified to this effect, asserting that he had no knowledge of the victim or the stabbing. T...