Facts:

• The case "People vs. Lauas" was decided on November 14, 1933.
• Higino Lauas, a 19-year-old Igorot from Cadaclan, Bontoc, faced homicide charges.
• The incident occurred on June 28, 1932, when the mutilated body of Juanito Mangeyew, around 13 or 14 years old, was found near a creek in Itogon, Benguet.
• Local authorities, including a justice of the peace and Constabulary officers, began an investigation.
• Lauas was arrested within a month after allegedly confessing to the crime.
• He claimed he killed Mangeyew in retaliation for an injury to his cousin.
• Lauas later contended that his confession was coerced through physical mistreatment by Constabulary officers.
• The trial court convicted him of homicide, sentencing him to twelve years and a day of imprisonment along with a fine to the victim's heirs.
• The conviction was appealed, focusing on the voluntariness of the confession and the sufficiency of evidence.

Issue:

• (Unlock)

Ruling:

• The Supreme Court upheld Lauas's conviction for homicide, finding his confession admissible and voluntary despite claims of coercion.
• The court determined that the confession and Lauas's admission to Malota sufficiently established his guilt.
• Although the crime exhibited characteristics of murder, it was classified as homicide due to insufficient ...(Unlock)

Ratio:

• The court emphasized the importance of examining the circumstances under which a confession is obtained.
• A voluntary confession should be given significant weight in evaluating the case.
• The trial judge has the discretion to assess the cred...continue reading