Case Digest (G.R. No. 85951)
Facts:
People of the Philippines v. Alvaro Suitos, @ "Barang," Wilson Suitos, Vic Suitos, Rey Villar, At Large, G.R. No. 85951, March 24, 1993, Supreme Court Second Division, Nocon, J., writing for the Court.On September 21, 1987, Second Assistant Provincial Fiscal Conrado V. Peregrino filed an information charging Wilson Suitos, Vic Suitos, Boy Villar and Alvaro Suitos @ "Barang Suitos" with murder with the use of unlicensed firearms, alleging that on the evening of September 5, 1987 in Umingan, Pangasinan the accused, conspiring together with Sgt. Claro Suitos @ "Rey Suitos," shot and killed Jesus Ylarde with qualifying circumstances of treachery and evident premeditation (and a reference to Presidential Decree No. 1866 for unlicensed firearms).
At arraignment Alvaro Suitos pleaded not guilty. Trial proceeded in the Regional Trial Court, First Judicial Region, Branch 38, Lingayen, Pangasinan (Criminal Case No. T-846-38). The prosecution presented eyewitness testimony principally from two teenage daughters of the victim, Jovy (18) and Vivian Ylarde (15), who testified that three men—identified as Wilson Suitos, Barang (Alvaro) Suitos and Boy Villar—approached and shot their father in quick succession; other witnesses corroborated hearing three shots. The defense presented an alibi, with the accused testifying he was at home in Barangay Nangcalabasaan with family at the time and offering two witnesses to corroborate. One prosecution witness (Patrolman Bautista) described the daughters as initially panicked at the scene. Another local witness, Juan Ortiz, testified he did not see Alvaro among those running from the scene.
On August 12, 1988 the trial court found Alvaro Suitos guilty beyond reasonable doubt of murder qualified by treachery, sentenced him to reclusion perpetua, ordered payment of indemnity and damages (actual P20,000; support P200,000; moral P30,000), and assessed costs. The other accused remained at large. Alvaro appealed from the tri...(Pro-only)
Issues:
- Did the trial court err in refusing to credit the defense of alibi raised by appellant Alvaro Suitos?
- Was the evidence insufficient to sustain appellant's conviction for murder, or did the elements of murder and its qualifying circumstance (treachery and/or evident pr...(Pro-only)
Ruling:
- (Pro-only)
Ratio:
- (Pro-only)
Doctrine:
- (Pro-only)