Case Digest (G.R. No. L-2472)
Facts:
The People of the Philippines v. Sabas David, G.R. No. L-2472, April 25, 1950, the Supreme Court En Banc, Moran, C.J., writing for the Court.The prosecution in the Court of First Instance of Quezon charged Sabas David (defendant-appellant) with three counts of the felony of treason; the trial court found him guilty on all counts and sentenced him to suffer reclusion perpetua with accessory penalties, to pay a fine of P5,000, and the costs. David appealed to the Supreme Court.
Prior to the outbreak of war in 1941, David had been barrio lieutenant of Kilait, Atimonan, Quezon, and a member of the Sakdal party (which later became the Ganap party during the Japanese occupation). After Japanese forces occupied Quezon province, David returned to Kilait and identified himself as a captain of the Makapili and Yoin pro-Japanese organizations; his office was labeled “Tanggapan ng Hukbong Makapili” and bore a desk sign “Yoin.” Witnesses established that he went armed with a bolo and a revolver.
The prosecution presented eyewitness testimony of several incidents showing David’s exercise of armed authority in aid of the occupiers. In early February 1943 David, accompanied by two men and armed, demanded Bernardino V. Deseo surrender his shotgun; Deseo had already surrendered it to the mayor and produced a receipt, whereupon David left. On January 31, 1945, Wenceslao L. Altea was summoned to the garrison and identified David as “captain of the Yoin and Makapilis”; David ordered Altea jailed and suspended by neck and hands for about four hours and released him only after Altea signed an affidavit pledging loyalty to the Japanese government. In February 1945 Bernardino V. Deseo and Gil Marquez observed Andres Parco confined and maltreated in David’s cell; afterwards Parco was taken out by soldiers with a bar and shovel and never seen again, while the tools were later returned by the soldiers. The testimony of Deseo, Altea, Marquez and Guillermo Cervantes formed the core of the prosecution case.
At trial the defense moved for dismissal for insuff...(Pro-only)
Issues:
- Was the evidence sufficient to establish the elements of the crime of treason and to sustain the conviction of Sabas Davi...(Pro-only)
Ruling:
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Ratio:
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Doctrine:
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