Case Summary (A.M. No. P-16-3471)
Incident Details
The incident occurred on August 29, 1992, when Nestor Decasa allegedly assaulted Teodoro Luzano with a sharp-edged weapon. The Information filed against Decasa stated that he acted with intent to kill when he inflicted the injuries leading to Luzano's death. The death was determined to be caused by hypovolemic shock secondary to hemorrhage due to multiple wounds.
Criminal Proceedings
Decasa was arraigned on December 22, 1992, entering a plea of "Not Guilty." During the trial, many prosecution witnesses testified against him, while only Decasa’s testimony was heard after the case was re-raffled to another Regional Trial Court (RTC) branch.
Prosecution's Case
The prosecution presented several witnesses, including Rogelio Boco, who claimed to have witnessed Decasa attacking Luzano. Other testimonies corroborated the assertion that Decasa had previously threatened Luzano over disputes related to the source of water for their ricefields. The testimony from Dr. Maria Nenita Tumanda, who conducted the autopsy, indicated that the cause of death was consistent with the alleged attack by Decasa.
Verdict of the RTC
On August 21, 1998, the RTC found Decasa guilty beyond reasonable doubt of homicide. The court emphasized the credibility of Rogelio Boco as an eyewitness and dismissed the testimonies from Decasa’s defense as lacking sufficient weight. The RTC sentenced Decasa to an indeterminate penalty and ordered him to pay indemnity to the heirs of Luzano.
Appeal to the Court of Appeals
Dissatisfied with the RTC’s decision, Decasa filed an appeal, leading to a ruling by the Court of Appeals on April 26, 2005, which affirmed the RTC's judgment but modified the penalty. The appellate court upheld the conviction based on the testimonies of the witnesses and concluded that Decasa was guilty of the charges.
Grounds for Petition
Decasa subsequently filed a petition arguing that the appellate court erred by not declaring that the prosecution failed to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt and alleging inconsistencies in witness testimonies. He contested the reliability of Rogelio Boco's account as well as the weight given to other testimonies supporting the prosecution.
Supreme Court's Analysis
The Supreme Court assessed Decasa’s arguments critically. It determined that inconsistencies in witness testimonies were not substantial enoug
...continue readingCase Syllabus (A.M. No. P-16-3471)
Introduction
- Case Reference: G.R. No. 172184
- Date of Decision: July 10, 2007
- Division: Third Division
- Petitioner: Nestor B. Decasa
- Respondents: The Honorable Court of Appeals and The People of the Philippines
- Nature of Petition: Petition for Certiorari under Rule 65 of the Revised Rules of Court.
Background of the Case
- Indictment Date: July 31, 1995
- Charge: Homicide under Article 249 of the Revised Penal Code.
- Incident Date: August 29, 1992, in Bilar, Bohol.
- Victim: Teodoro Luzano.
Factual Antecedents
- Incident Details:
- Petitioner and victim quarreled over water for their ricefields.
- Eyewitness Rogelio Boco observed the petitioner attack Teodoro, inflicting fatal injuries.
- Post-Mortem Examination:
- Conducted by Dr. Maria Nenita Tumanda, revealing multiple wounds leading to hypovolemic shock and cardiopulmonary arrest as the cause of death.
Proceedings in the Regional Trial Court (RTC)
- Arraignment: Petitioner pleaded “Not Guilty” on December 22, 1992.
- Witness Testimonies:
- Prosecution witnesses included Rogelio Boco, Dr. Tumanda, and family members of the victim, establishing the sequence of events leading to Teodoro's death.
- Defense witnesses provided alibi, asserting petitioner was at home during the incident.
- RTC Conclusion:
- On August 21, 1998, the RTC found petitioner guilty of homicide, emphasizing the prosecution's strong evidence and eyewitness credibility.
Decision of the Court of Appeals
- Appeal Date: Petitioner appealed to the Court of Appeals.
- Decision Date: April 26, 2005.
- Modification: The Court of Appeals modified the sentence to six years and one day of Prision Mayor as minimum, and fourtee