Case Digest (G.R. No. 144656) Core Legal Reasoning Model
Core Legal Reasoning Model
Facts:
On July 10, 1999, in Barangay Ligtong I, Rosario, Cavite, Gerrico Vallejo y Samartino @ Puke (accused-appellant), then residing with his sister Aimee Vallejo, was last seen with nine-year-old Daisy Diolola y Ditalo, whom he had tutored. Later that day, Daisy disappeared. Her mother, Ma. Nida Diolola, and neighbors Jessiemin Mataverde and Charito Paras-Yepes described Daisy playing outside and leaving with Vallejo, who appeared wet and agitated around 4:30 PM. The child’s body was found the next morning, tied to a tree root by the river, showing manual strangulation and genital lacerations. Photographs were taken and bloodstained clothes—basketball shorts and shirt bearing “Samartino” and number “13”—were seized from Vallejo’s home with his consent. Dr. Antonio Vertido’s autopsy confirmed asphyxia by manual strangulation and rape; DNA from vaginal swabs matched Vallejo. During police custody, Mayor Renato Abutan and Atty. Lupo Leyva informed Vallejo of his rights, after which Val Case Digest (G.R. No. 144656) Expanded Legal Reasoning Model
Expanded Legal Reasoning Model
Facts:
- Crime and Charge
- On July 10, 1999, Daisy Diolola y Ditalo, a nine-year-old girl, left her home in Barangay Ligtong I, Rosario, Cavite, to study with Aimee Vallejo, sister of accused-appellant Gerrico Vallejo y Samartino.
- Daisy and accused walked together to retrieve a book, then returned to accused’s residence; later she was last seen walking with him toward the seashore ‘acompuerta.’
- Discovery and Investigation
- Evening search by Ma. Nida Diolola (victim’s mother), neighbors Jessiemin Mataverde and Charito Paras-Yepes, and barangay officials proved unavailing; at 10:00 AM July 11, 1999, Daisy’s body was found tied to a tree root by the river.
- Accused was detained by barangay officers and Rosario police; recovery of his bloodstained basketball shirt and shorts; medico-legal officer conducted physical exam of accused and autopsy of victim.
- Forensic and DNA Evidence
- Autopsy by Dr. Antonio S. Vertido: multiple contusions, abrasions, hymenal lacerations, fracture of tracheal rings; cause of death—manual strangulation; genital findings consistent with rape.
- NBI tests: accused’s garments and victim’s clothes positive for human blood type A; accused’s blood type O; vaginal swabs contained both victim’s and accused’s DNA profiles.
- Confessions and Trial
- Oral admissions to Mayor Renato Abutan and NBI Biologist Byron Buan acknowledging he strangled the child and raped her; assisted by Atty. Lupo Leyva who read constitutional rights.
- Two handwritten extrajudicial confessions executed July 11–13, 1999, in presence of counsel and prosecutor; defense offered alibi through accused and sister Aimee Vallejo.
- RTC Decision
- On July 31, 2000, RTC Branch 88, Cavite City, convicted accused-appellant of rape with homicide, sentenced him to death, and awarded P100,000 civil indemnity and P50,000 moral damages to victim’s heirs.
- Accused appealed, alleging insufficient circumstantial evidence, hearsay oral confessions, and coerced extrajudicial admission.
Issues:
- Whether the circumstantial evidence presented by the prosecution was insufficient or weak to sustain a conviction for rape with homicide.
- Whether oral confessions made to nonjudicial officers without counsel were hearsay and thus inadmissible.
- Whether the written extrajudicial confessions were obtained through force and intimidation, vitiating voluntariness and rendering them inadmissible.
Ruling:
- (Subscriber-Only)
Ratio:
- (Subscriber-Only)
Doctrine:
- (Subscriber-Only)