Case Digest (G.R. No. 140897)
Facts:
People of the Philippines v. Efipania Dela Cruz Go (At Large) and Riz Jarlos y Mateo, G.R. No. 140897, February 19, 2003, the Supreme Court En Banc, Quisumbing, J., writing for the Court.The accused-appellant Riz Jarlos y Mateo and co-accused Efipania Dela Cruz Go were charged in an Information dated March 20, 1998 with the murder of Ronald Beda Pillejera allegedly committed on November 20, 1997 in Marikina City. Go remained at large; Jarlos was arraigned on May 19, 1998, pleaded not guilty, and proceeded to trial. Trial was before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Marikina City, Branch 272, in Criminal Case No. 98-2397-MK.
At trial the prosecution presented eyewitness Arman Gunio, who testified that at about 8:45 P.M. he saw a maroon Mitsubishi Space Wagon cut in front of a white Mitsubishi Lancer; after a brief exchange of shouts the driver of the maroon vehicle alighted, stood beside the white car and fired several shots at its driver, who slumped and was shot again while slightly exposed outside the vehicle. Gunio identified the maroon driver as Jarlos and the white-car driver as Pillejera. Forensic evidence included the autopsy report by Dr. Anthony Llamas detailing multiple gunshot wounds to the head, trunk and extremities, some showing close-range tattooing, and a ballistic comparison by Police Inspector Maritess Bugnay matching cartridge cases, fragments and test bullets to a 9-mm pistol retrieved from Jarlos. Firearms records showed Jarlos was a registered holder of that pistol.
Jarlos testified claiming self-defense: that his van was bumped, that he was fired upon first by a hand and gun from the white car, that he returned to his vehicle, retrieved his gun and exchanged fire, and that he and Pillejera had prior confrontations. The RTC convicted Jarlos of murder qualified by treachery and evident premeditation and sentenced him to death by lethal injection, ordered indemnity and damages, and archived the case against Go. The RTC rejected self-defe...(Subscriber-Only)
Issues:
- Was the killing qualified by treachery and aggravated by evident premeditation?
- Did the trial court err in imposing the penalty of death on the appe...(Subscriber-Only)
Ruling:
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Ratio:
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Doctrine:
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