Case Summary (G.R. No. 116514)
Charges and Allegations
The information filed against the accused on August 14, 1991, alleged that they, armed with knives, raped Josephine Pelayo, subsequently murdered her by stabbing her multiple times, and stole her belongings. The prosecution emphasized the aggravating circumstances of superior strength and the commission of the crime in an uninhabited place.
Testimonies Presented
Two key witnesses, Nestor Samban and Ireneo Cabuguason, provided testimonies regarding the incident. Samban testified that he saw Llonor and Maguad with the victim, while Cabuguason recounted seeing Llonor committing the act of rape, holding a knife to Pelayo's neck. The police officer, Patrolman Remegio Reloj, and Dr. Edwin Jayme provided crucial evidence, including the discovery of Pelayo's body and the forensic findings supporting the prosecution's case.
Evaluation of Witness Credibility
The trial court evaluated Samban's testimony and found significant inconsistencies, ultimately deeming it unreliable. In contrast, it found Cabuguason's account credible and corroborated by physical evidence, such as the knife used in the crime, matching the wounds found on the victim's body.
Court Decision and Rulings
The trial court acquitted Maguad but found Llonor guilty of rape with homicide, imposing a sentence of reclusion perpetua and damages amounting to P100,000. The court deemed the crime as a Special Complex crime of rape with homicide, emphasizing that proof of robbery was secondary to the intent to commit rape.
Appellate Review
In appealing the trial court's decision, Llonor contested the credibility of Cabuguason's testimony and argued that his alibi should suffice for acquittal. However, the appellate court discounted these claims, reaffirming Cabuguason's positive identification of Llonor as the perpetrator and the overall weight of the evidence against him.
Evidence and Standards of Conviction
The appellate court underscored that for an alibi to be credible, it must establish a physical impossibility for the accused to be present at the crime sce
...continue readingCase Syllabus (G.R. No. 116514)
Case Overview
- The case involves the complex crime of rape with homicide and robbery, charged against four accused: Romeo Maguad, Nelson Llonor, and two unidentified individuals referred to as Peter Doe and Johnny Doe.
- The crime occurred on July 30, 1991, in La Carlota City, Philippines, where the victim, Josephine Pelayo, was raped and subsequently killed.
- The prosecution filed the information on August 14, 1991, detailing the circumstances surrounding the crime and the involvement of the accused.
Facts of the Case
- On the day of the incident, Nestor Samban, a 13-year-old herdsman, witnessed the abduction of Josephine Pelayo by the three men, including Maguad and Llonor.
- Samban testified that he saw the accused holding Josephine and dragging her to a canal, where the assault occurred.
- Ireneo Cabuguason, another witness, corroborated the assault, stating he saw Llonor with a knife on top of Josephine and heard her scream for help.
- The victim's body was discovered the following day in a sugarcane field, showing signs of multiple stab wounds (14 in total), and a bloodstained knife was later found in Llonor’s possession.
Trial Proceedings
- The trial court evaluated the testimonies of both witnesses and the evidence presented.
- Samban’s testimony was deemed inconsistent and contradictory by the trial court, which found it hard to believe his account of