G.R. No. 125909 - People vs. Flora

On the evening of January 9, 1993, a birthday dance party was held in Sitio Silab, Barangay Longos, Kalayaan, Laguna.
Accused-appellants Hermogenes Flora (alias "Bodoy") and Edwin Flora (alias "Boboy") attended the party.
Emerita Roma (mother of Rosalie Roma), Ireneo Gallarte (neighbor), and Flor Espinas (aunt of Rosalie) were also present.
Around 1:30 a.m. on January 10, 1993, violence erupted; Hermogenes Flora fired two shots from a .38 caliber revolver.

Edwin Flora signaled Hermogenes by flicking a lighted cigarette and threatened eyewitness Rosalie Roma with a knife before fleeing with Hermogenes.

Accused-appellants pleaded not guilty and were tried jointly before the Regional Trial Court, Branch 26, Santa Cruz, Laguna.
The trial court convicted both appellants for double murder (Emerita Roma and Ireneo Gallarte) and attempted murder (Flor Espinas) and imposed appropriate penalties and indemnities.

Autopsy by medico-legal officer Dr. Ricardo R. Yambot, Jr. detailed fatal gunshot wounds on Emerita Roma and Ireneo Gallarte with causes of death attributed to hypovolemic shock due to massive blood loss.
Flor Espinas sustained gunshot wounds on right supra scapular and deltoid areas; medical certificate confirmed injuries that would have been fatal without timely medical treatment.

Rosalie Roma, eyewitness, who identified Hermogenes Flora as shooter and described the sequence of events.
Flor Espinas, injured victim who also identified appellants.
Felipe Roma (husband of Emerita Roma) and Matiniana Gallarte (widow of Ireneo Gallarte) testified on the victims’ ages, occupations, earnings, and burial expenses.

Edwin Flora and Hermogenes Flora claimed alibi that they were not at the crime scene, supported by testimony of Imelda Madera, Edwin’s common-law wife.
Alibi was that Hermogenes was asleep at his sister's house about one kilometer from the scene.

The trial court found appellants guilty beyond reasonable doubt based on positive identification and dismissed their alibi due to lack of corroboration and physical impossibility not proven.
Accordingly, both were sentenced to reclusion perpetua and ordered to pay indemnities and reparations respectively for each case.

Whether appellants’ defense of alibi was sufficiently proven to cast reasonable doubt on their presence and guilt at the crime scene.
Whether the prosecution witnesses were credible and their testimonies reliable and sufficient to establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Whether both appellants were criminally liable for the murder of Emerita Roma and the attempted murder of Flor Espinas in addition to the murder of Ireneo Gallarte.
Whether there was conspiracy between appellants for all the crimes charged or only on certain counts.