Case Digest (G.R. No. 264958)
Facts:
People of the Philippines v. Jonnel Delos Reyes y Tungol, G.R. No. 264958, August 14, 2023, Supreme Court Second Division, Lazaro‑Javier, J., writing for the Court. The appeal challenges the Court of Appeals Decision dated May 26, 2021 in CA‑G.R. CR‑HC No. 13182, which affirmed the conviction of accused‑appellant Jonnel Delos Reyes y Tungol for serious illegal detention.Delos Reyes was charged under Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code, in relation to Republic Act No. 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination), for an incident alleged to have occurred from October 23 to October 25, 2014 in Bataan involving a minor identified in the record as AAA264958, then 15 years old. The case was raffled to the Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 94, Bataan, where Delos Reyes pleaded not guilty and trial ensued.
At trial the prosecution presented the testimony of AAA264958 (the private complainant), Ciara Sumera, Miriam Sanchez, and Police Officer III Darwin Ortega; the defense presented Delos Reyes as its sole witness. AAA264958 testified that he accompanied Delos Reyes to collect money as part of an initiation to join the Triskellion Fraternity; when the subject failed to appear, Delos Reyes allegedly tied the complainant’s hands, blindfolded and gagged him, and pushed him into an open pit about twenty feet deep. AAA264958 said he remained in the pit and only extricated himself two days later (October 25, 2014), after which he sought help and reported the incident to barangay and police authorities.
Delos Reyes’ account differed: he testified that AAA264958 visited his home on October 24, 2014 and asked him to go meet friends; they allegedly swam and he left the area around 4:30 p.m.; he further claimed that on October 25 police arrested and brought him to the station without explaining the reason. The prosecution offered the complainant’s Certificate of Live Birth to establish minority.
The RTC, by Decision dated May 22, 2019, found Delos Reyes guilty beyond reasonable doubt of serious illegal detention and sentenced him to reclusion perpetua. On appeal, the Court of Appeals affirmed the convic...(Pro-only)
Issues:
- Did the Court of Appeals err in affirming the RTC’s conviction of Delos Reyes for serious illegal detention under Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code?
- Were the penalty and the monetary awards (civil indemnity, moral damages, exemplary damages, and interest)...(Pro-only)
Ruling:
- (Pro-only)
Ratio:
- (Pro-only)
Doctrine:
- (Pro-only)