Case Summary (G.R. No. 79811)
Charges and Proceedings
The amended information accused the defendants of conspiring to commit murder with evident premeditation and using night-time to facilitate the crime. All the accused, with the exception of Penales and Labuyo who were at large, pleaded not guilty during their arraignment. A motion by the defense aimed to include a newly identified participant, Patrolman Torrecampo, in the information, but this matter became moot as the trial proceeded without compliance from the Prosecuting Fiscal.
Trial Court Decision
On April 27, 1987, the trial court found Cantuba and Lalaguna guilty beyond reasonable doubt of murder and sentenced them to reclusion perpetua, ordering them to indemnify the victim's heirs with P100,000.00 and to pay the corresponding costs. Co-accused Versales, Gerbuela, and Espinosa were acquitted due to insufficient evidence, and the cases against deceased Ricardo Baco and the fugitives Penales and Labuyo were archived.
Factual Overview
The prosecution's case was based on eyewitness testimonies, which revealed that on the evening of the incident, Atty. Celera was ambushed by Cantuba, who fired a gun at him while Baco stabbed him. The assailants fled the scene, and a witness, Romulo Tama, identified Lalaguna as the rider of a motorcycle involved in the escape.
Appellants' Arguments
Both Cantuba and Lalaguna contested their convictions during the appeal. Cantuba argued that the evidence was inadequate to prove that he fired the fatal shot, while Lalaguna claimed he was improperly convicted based solely on his presence at the scene. They contended that their constitutional rights were violated, emphasizing the presumption of innocence until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
Court's Analysis: Pio Cantuba's Liability
The court rejected Cantuba's claim, determining that his culpability was established through credible witness accounts. Furthermore, the court held that even if Cantuba did not fire the weapon, he was liable as a co-conspirator; in conspiracy, each participant's acts are attributed to all involved. The court deemed Margie Rotor's testimony, positioning her closer to the victim, as more reliable than that of Torrecampo.
Court's Analysis: Pedrito Lalaguna's Involvement
Lalaguna's assertion that he was merely seen riding a motorbike away from the scene was rejected, as the testimonies of Rotor and Tama corroborated his active participation in the crime. Their a
...continue readingCase Syllabus (G.R. No. 79811)
Case Background
- Accused-appellants Pio Cantuba and Pedrito Lalaguna, along with several co-accused, were charged with the crime of Murder under Article 248 of the Revised Penal Code.
- The incident occurred on December 23, 1981, in Masbate, Philippines, involving the fatal shooting of Atty. Adolfo Celera.
- All accused, except for two who were at large, pleaded not guilty during their arraignment.
Procedural History
- The trial court's decision on April 27, 1987, found Cantuba and Lalaguna guilty beyond reasonable doubt of Murder, sentencing them to Reclusion Perpetua and ordering them to jointly indemnify the heirs of Atty. Celera in the amount of P100,000.00.
- Co-accused Gualberto Versales, Satur Gerbuela, and Mayor Moises R. Espinosa were acquitted due to insufficient evidence.
- The case against Ricardo Baco was dismissed due to his death, and the cases against two others who remained at large were archived.
Factual Background
- Patrolman Rodolfo Torrecampo, working as a bodyguard for Mayor Moises Espinosa, was involved in the events leading up to the murder.
- The accused planned to kill Atty. Celera, who had previously represented a complainant in a rape cas