Case Digest (G.R. No. 86883-85)
Facts:
People of the Philippines v. Norberto Manero, Jr., et al., G.R. Nos. 86883-85, January 29, 1993, First Division, Bellosillo, J., writing for the Court. The plaintiff-appellee is the People of the Philippines; the accused include Norberto Manero, Jr., Edilberto Manero, Elpidio Manero, Severino Lines, Rudy Lines, Efren Plenago, Roger Bedano, Rodrigo Espia, Arsenio Villamor, Jr., John Doe and Peter Doe; Severino Lines, Rudy Lines, Efren Plenago and Roger Bedano are the accused-appellants who appealed the convictions for Murder and Attempted Murder.On 11 April 1985 Fr. Tulio Favali, an Italian Catholic missionary, was brutally slain at Km. 125, La Esperanza, Tulunan, Cotabato. A massive manhunt followed and most suspects were arrested; two (Arsenio Villamor, Jr. and two unidentified men) eluded capture. Informations for Murder (Crim. Case No. 1881), Attempted Murder (Crim. Case No. 1884) and Arson (Crim. Case No. 1883) were consolidated in Branch 17, Regional Trial Court (RTC), Kidapawan, Cotabato.
After trial the RTC (Judge Benjamin M. Estanol) convicted eight accused of Murder with aggravating circumstances (superior strength and treachery) and imposed reclusion perpetua, convicted Norberto Manero, Jr. of Arson and convicted the same eight of Attempted Murder with indeterminate sentences; it awarded civil indemnity P12,000 to the Pontifical Institute of Foreign Mission (PIME), attorneys’ fees and moral damages of P100,000, among other penalties. Only appellants Severino Lines, Rudy Lines, Efren Plenago and Roger Bedano appealed from the convictions for Murder and Attempted Murder; the other accused did not appeal and those parts of the RTC decision became final.
The trial evidence showed that at about 10:00 a.m. on April 11 the Manero brothers, appellants and others met at Reynaldo Deocades’s eatery and discussed plans to liquidate alleged communist sympathizers; placards listing intended victims were posted; at 4:00 p.m. Edilberto Manero shot at Rufino Robles (Bantil) and the group surrounded the house of Domingo Gomez; at about 5:00 p.m. Fr. Favali arrived, his motorcycle was burned, and Edilberto shot and fatally shattered the priest’s head while the group mocked and prevented aid. Appellants defended by claiming alibi, that Fr. Peter Geremias was th...(Pro-only)
Issues:
- Was the defense of alibi and the appellants’ denial of participation properly rejected, such that the convictions for Murder and Attempted Murder as conspirators are supported by sufficient evidence?
- Were the civil and moral damage awards properly made—specifically, was the award of moral damages to PIME proper, should moral damages to heirs have been awarded, and were exemplary damages and the amount of ci...(Pro-only)
Ruling:
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Ratio:
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Doctrine:
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