G.R. No. 19982 - El Debate, Inc. vs. Topacio

Floro Rodil (accused-appellant) was charged with the murder of Lt. Guillermo Masana of the Philippine Constabulary.
The crime was alleged to have occurred on April 24, 1971, in Indang, Cavite, involving stabbing with a double-bladed dagger.

Around 1:00 PM, Lt. Masana and companions were having lunch inside a restaurant in Indang when they noticed Rodil outside.
Lt. Masana, in civilian clothes and accompanied by PC soldier Virgilio Fidel, approached Rodil and asked about a gun carried by Rodil.
Rodil attempted to draw his gun, which was seized by Virgilio Fidel and handed to Lt. Masana.
Lt. Masana asked Rodil to come inside the restaurant and they sat at a table about 1.5 meters from the companions’ table.
Lt. Masana wrote a receipt for the gun, asking Rodil to countersign, which Rodil refused.
When Lt. Masana was about to stand, Rodil pulled a double-bladed dagger and stabbed Lt. Masana several times in the chest and abdomen.
The companions and the Chief of Police, Primo Panaligan, intervened; the Chief of Police disarmed Rodil and took him to the municipal building.
Lt. Masana was brought to the V. Luna Hospital where he died several hours later from the stab wounds.

Dr. Felicisimo del Rosario conducted an autopsy.
Findings included multiple stab wounds to the chest and abdomen causing perforations of stomach, gastric vessels, liver, diaphragm, and lung.
Cause of death was cardio-respiratory arrest due to severe shock and intrathoracic hemorrhage from the wounds.

Rodil and his wife went to the restaurant; Rodil was approached by Lt. Masana who questioned his identity and Anti-Smuggling Unit membership.
Lt. Masana accused Rodil’s ID card of being fake and tried to confiscate it, provoking the accused.
A physical altercation ensued where Lt. Masana allegedly hit Rodil twice on the head with the butt of his gun.
Rodil claimed he stabbed Masana in self-defense after parrying the third blow.
Rodil went toward the municipal building intending to surrender but was stopped by the Chief of Police.
He was treated for his head injuries and detained for two days before transfer to PC headquarters.
Self-defense was first claimed only after more than two months during preliminary investigation.

The Circuit Criminal Court of Pasig, Rizal found Rodil guilty beyond reasonable doubt of murder.
Sentence: death penalty, indemnity of P12,000 to heirs, moral damages of P10,000, exemplary damages of P10,000, and costs.

Whether the accused successfully proved the claim of self-defense.
Whether the crime charged was murder or homicide, or murder/homicide complexed with assault upon an agent of authority.
Whether the aggravating circumstances of treachery (alevosia), contempt or insult against public authority, and disregard of rank are present and applicable.
Whether the accused had knowledge that the victim was an agent of a person in authority at the time of the stabbing, and the legal effect of such knowledge or lack thereof.