Facts:

• Elicerio Tan alias Licerio Tan, Leon Tinamor, Luis Nakua, and Moro Sama-Sattari appealed a decision from the Court of First Instance of Zamboanga dated July 31, 1951.
• The appellants were convicted of robbery with homicide and sentenced to reclusion perpetua, along with a joint indemnity of P2,000 to the heirs of the victim, Rosendo Perez.
• The incident occurred on September 23, 1948, at the copra warehouse of Bunge Far East Agencies, Inc. in Isabela, City of Basilan.
• The intruders broke into the manager's office, destroyed a Yale lock, and stole a steel safe containing P27,306.80 and other items.
• The robbers accessed the warehouse through a small window, leaving behind a bolo and a buri hat belonging to Nakua.
• Rosendo Perez, a 68-year-old night watchman, was attacked and killed during the robbery.
• Police linked the robbery to a stolen truck owned by Juan Tan, leading to Elicerio Tan's arrest.
• The appellants provided affidavits during police investigations, implicating themselves and each other.
• The trial began on December 3, 1948, and the defense's witness, Gregorio Flores, claimed responsibility but was deemed unconvincing by the trial court.

Issue:

• (Unlock)

Ruling:

• The Supreme Court ruled that the affidavits were given voluntarily and not under duress.
• The Court upheld the trial court's admission of the affidavits as evidence against the co-accused.
• The dismissal of the case against the other defendants was found to be jus...(Unlock)

Ratio:

• The Supreme Court emphasized the voluntary nature of the affidavits, rejecting claims of coercion.
• The appellants did not provide sufficient evidence of maltreatment, indicating the affidavits were made without force.
• The trial court's discretion in admitting t...continue reading