Case Summary (G.R. No. 137898)
Incident Overview
On September 2, 1963, four deceased bodies were discovered in a house on Palale Street, Quezon City, with visible trauma indicative of violent deaths. The victims included Dr. Vicente Obando, his wife, her mother, and the family maid, all showing severe head injuries caused by blunt force trauma.
Investigation Details
The initial police investigation was hindered by the lack of immediate evidence and the meticulous way that the perpetrators concealed their actions. The crime scene presented no apparent entry or exit points, and no fingerprints were recovered. However, the discovery of a sledgehammer on an adjacent lot and the successful rescue of Luzviminda Simon Obando led to the eventual identification and arrest of Gervacio and Mocorro, who confessed to participating in the crime.
Charges and Proceedings
Gervacio and Mocorro faced charges of robbery with quadruple homicide. Gervacio pleaded guilty while Mocorro entered a plea of not guilty. Anita Achuela was also implicated as an accessory after the fact. The trial court found Gervacio and Mocorro guilty and sentenced them both to death due to the severity of their crimes and the presence of aggravating circumstances.
Eyewitness Testimony
Luzviminda provided crucial testimony regarding the events leading up to and during the murders, detailing how Gervacio and Mocorro confined her and committed the violent acts against her family. Her account was supported by the confessions made by both defendants, which matched the child's testimony extensively.
Defendants' Testimonies and Motives
Simplicio Gervacio claimed that his actions were driven by mistreatment from his employers, stating he had not been paid regularly and had often been scolded or beaten. Atanacio Mocorro’s defense indicated that he acted under duress, asserting that he feared for his life due to Gervacio's possession of a gun. However, the court found these defenses unconvincing as there was no substantial evidence to support claims of immediate threat.
Verdict and Sentencing
The trial court identified multiple aggravating circumstances, including treachery, evident premeditation, abuse of confidence, and disregard for the victims' age and sex in determining the severity of the s
...continue readingCase Syllabus (G.R. No. 137898)
Case Overview
- This case is an automatic review of Criminal Case No. Q-5468 from the Court of First Instance of Rizal, Quezon City Branch.
- The case involves the brutal murder of four individuals in the Obando household, with the accused being Simplicio S. Gervacio and Atanacio Mocorro y Penaflor.
- The murders occurred on August 30, 1963, and the bodies were discovered on September 2, 1963.
Crime Description
- Four deceased individuals were found in an advanced state of decomposition within a closed house.
- Victims included Dr. Vicente K. Obando, his wife Esperanza, his mother-in-law Candida Umali, and a household maid, Maria Magpantay.
- The victims sustained multiple traumatic head injuries, confirmed as the cause of death during post-mortem examinations.
Investigation Details
- Initial police investigations yielded no immediate evidence, as the crime scene was meticulously cleaned and secured by the culprits.
- A significant lead emerged when the sole survivor, Luzviminda Simon Obando, was rescued, providing critical testimony about the events.
- Both accused, Gervacio and Mocorro, were apprehended following confessions and re-enactments of the crime.