G.R. No. 246356 - Republic vs. Heirs of Lacsina

On June 6, 2002 at around 9:00 PM in Barangay Caridad Ilaya, Atimonan, Quezon, appellant, armed with a .22 caliber pistol, allegedly stripped the sack walls of Norberto Divina’s nipa hut and, taking advantage of nighttime, shot Mary Grace Divina (13) and Claudine Divina (3½) with evident premeditation and treachery, causing their deaths.
The crime occurred inside the victims’ dwelling without provocation; medico-legal evidence confirmed fatal gunshot trajectories.

On the same night and place, appellant, together with Gilbert Estores and Roger San Miguel, allegedly conspired to shoot Norberto Divina, his wife Maricel, and daughters Elizabeth and Judy Ann. Although shots were fired from short firearms, none of the four were hit.
A reinvestigation, based on Danilo Fajarillo’s sworn statement, led to dismissal of charges against Estores and San Miguel; appellant alone was tried.

Prosecution witnesses: Norberto Divina identified appellant and two others under gas-lamp illumination; Dr. Lourdes Taguinod attested to cause of death. Appellant offered denial and alibi, placing himself five minutes away at a relative’s house.
The Regional Trial Court convicted appellant of Double Murder and Multiple Attempted Murder; the Court of Appeals affirmed on January 30, 2012. Appellant elevated the case to the Supreme Court, which set resolution of the appeal on April 5, 2016.

Whether the prosecution proved appellant’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt for the charged crimes.
Whether the trial court and Court of Appeals erred in crime classification and in failing to apply the aggravating circumstance of dwelling.
Whether the dismissal of charges against Estores and San Miguel precludes their reinvestigation without violating double jeopardy.