Case Digest (G.R. No. 135693)
Facts:
- The case involves the People of the Philippines as the plaintiff-appellee against accused-appellants Cornelio Gelin and Manuel Gelin.
- The incident occurred on February 10, 1991, at approximately 6:00 PM in Bo. Borong, Brgy. No. 4 Poblacion Can-avid, Eastern Samar.
- The accused-appellants, members of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU), were charged with the murder of Dionisio Gelin, father of witness Joel Gelin.
- Joel was threatened by his cousins, Cornelio and Manuel, with a bolo and a firearm, forcing him to take them to his father's house.
- Upon arrival, Cornelio shot Dionisio, and Manuel subsequently stabbed him, leading to Dionisio's immediate death.
- Witness Ida Balagbis corroborated the account, stating she saw Cornelio shoot Dionisio while Manuel threatened Joel.
- A post-mortem examination confirmed multiple gunshot wounds and stab injuries as the cause of death.
- The accused-appellants denied the charges, claiming they were at the army camp during the incident, supported by fellow soldiers' testimonies.
- The Regional Trial Court of Dolores, Eastern Samar, Branch 4, found them guilty of murder, sentencing each to reclusion perpetua and ordering them to pay P50,000.00 in death indemnity to the victim's heirs.
Issue:
- (Unlock)
Ruling:
- The Supreme Court affirmed the Regional Trial Court's decision, finding the accused-appellants guilty beyond reasonable doubt of murder.
- The court upheld the sentence of reclusion perpetua and the order for the accused to pay P50,000.00 in death indemnity.
- The ruling was m...(Unlock)
Ratio:
- The Supreme Court found the trial court's findings credible and supported by substantial evidence.
- Testimonies from Joel Gelin and Ida Balagbis were deemed reliable, despite minor inconsistencies, as they clearly identified the accused-appellants' involvement.
- The defense of alibi was rejected due to insufficient proof of physical impossibility for the accused to be at the crime scene.
- The court noted that the distance from the army camp to the crime scene was short eno...continue reading
Case Digest (G.R. No. 135693)
Facts:
The case involves the People of the Philippines as the plaintiff-appellee against accused-appellants Cornelio Gelin and Manuel Gelin. The incident occurred on February 10, 1991, at approximately 6:00 PM in Bo. Borong, Brgy. No. 4 Poblacion Can-avid, Eastern Samar. The accused-appellants, who were members of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU), were charged with the murder of Dionisio Gelin, the father of Joel Gelin, who was a witness to the crime. The prosecution's narrative states that Joel encountered his cousins, Cornelio and Manuel, who threatened him with a bolo and a firearm, compelling him to take them to his father's house. Upon arrival, Cornelio shot Dionisio, and Manuel subsequently stabbed him, resulting in Dionisio's immediate death. Witness Ida Balagbis corroborated this account, stating she saw Cornelio shoot Dionisio while Manuel threatened Joel. A post-mortem examination revealed multiple gunshot wounds and stab injuries, confirming the cause of death. The accused-appellants denied the charges, claiming they were at the army camp during the time of the incident, supported by testimonies from fellow soldiers. However, the Regional Trial Court of Dolores, Eastern Samar, Branch 4, found them guilty of murder, sentencing each to reclusion perpetua and ordering them to pay P50,000.00 in death indemnity to the victim's heirs.