Title
People vs. De la Cruz
Case
G.R. No. 109619-23
Decision Date
Jun 26, 1998
Laudemar de la Cruz convicted for murder and attempted murder after a 1990 shooting; self-defense claim rejected due to lack of evidence, treachery upheld, nighttime ruled non-aggravating.
A

Case Digest (G.R. No. 109619-23)

Facts:

On November 29, 1990, in Dagupan City, Accused-Appellant Laudemar de la Cruz y Verdadero shot Cesar Macasieb, who later died, and wounded Absalon B. Villabroza, Nivelly Aliven, Bernardo Domingo, and Ricardo Fernandez. The Regional Trial Court of Dagupan City, Branch 44 consolidated several criminal cases and convicted him of murder, frustrated murder, and three counts of attempted murder, while acquitting him of illegal possession of firearms.

On appeal, the defense invoked a claimed shoot-out/self-defense, contested the qualifying circumstance of treachery and the aggravating circumstance of nighttime, and asserted insufficiency of the prosecution evidence, while the trial court’s disposition for the frustrated murder charge for Fernandez became a focal point for correction.

Issues:

  • Whether self-defense was established.
  • Whether treachery and the aggravating circumstance of nighttime were properly appreciated.
  • Whether the assault on Ricardo Fernandez amounted to frustrated murder or only attempted murder.

Ruling:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

Ratio:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

Doctrine:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

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