Case Digest (G.R. No. 136745)
Facts:
People of the Philippines v. Restituto Rendaje, G.R. No. 136745, November 15, 2000, Supreme Court Third Division, Panganiban, J., writing for the Court. The appellant, Restituto Rendaje, was charged by Information dated September 27, 1994 with murder for the stabbing death of 15‑year‑old Lennie Rendon on or about August 6, 1994 in Barangay Tinocuan, Dingle, Iloilo. When arraigned on December 13, 1994 he pleaded not guilty. After trial the Regional Trial Court (RTC), Iloilo City, Branch 36, rendered a Decision dated April 6, 1998 convicting him of murder and sentencing him to reclusion perpetua, ordering payment of indemnity for actual and moral damages.The prosecution's evidence described appellant as attending a healing ritual in Barangay Tinocuan with a group; witnesses placed him in the vicinity early on the morning of August 6, 1994, wearing a towel on his head and later seen wet and hurriedly emerging from a sugarcane field. The victim's younger sister, Lodelyn, testified she saw a man who she identified as appellant following Lennie that morning. Eduardo Gorantes Jr. testified to seeing appellant near the sugarcane field and later wet; Honorato Avenir Jr. said appellant volunteered information about a girl's killing shortly after the body was discovered. The medico‑legal officer testified that the victim suffered multiple stab wounds (eight enumerated wounds) inflicted by a single‑bladed pointed instrument; photographs and the autopsy report were introduced.
Appellant's defense was that he arrived in Barangay Tinocuan only in the afternoon of August 6 to attend the ritual, slept, and returned to Barangay Alibunan the following morning; he also alleged he was beaten and coerced into a confession during his arrest. The trial court found the prosecution established guilt by circu...(Pro-only)
Issues:
- Was the conviction supported by sufficient circumstantial evidence beyond reasonable doubt?
- Did the facts establish treachery as a qualifying circumstance?
- Was the absence of proven motive fatal to the prosecution’s case?
- Did the trial court improperly prefer the weakness of the defense over the strength of the prosecution, specifically as to the claimed ...(Pro-only)
Ruling:
- (Pro-only)
Ratio:
- (Pro-only)
Doctrine:
- (Pro-only)