Case Summary (G.R. No. 116744-47)
Nature of the Charges
The accusations stem from four separate informations for murder filed against the appellants, which were processed by the Regional Trial Court, 11th Judicial Region, Branch 26 in Surallah, South Cotabato on September 30, 1987. The charges detail conspiring to commit murder against the Cocjin family, employing treachery, evident premeditation, and taking advantage of their superior strength as armed military personnel.
Events Leading to the Murders
Eyewitness testimony from Demetrio Paypon, Jr. served as the cornerstone of the prosecution's case. He described an incident on the aforementioned date where the Cocjin family was ambushed while standing near a fence. Paypon witnessed Toldo Panes signaling an attack, which prompted Manuel Panes, Noel Dela Cruz, and Wilson Velasco to engage in lethal actions against the Cocjins, armed with military-grade firearms.
Victim Testimonies and Autopsies
Post-mortem examinations were carried out by Dr. Vincent Dave Farhat, revealing that Juanillo Cocjin, Sr. sustained seven bullet wounds, indicating the severity of the assault. Other victims also bore multiple gunshot wounds, solidifying the notion of a calculated and ruthless approach to the attacks by the appellants.
Defense and Allegations
The defense claimed self-defense, asserting that the Cocjins had initiated the conflict by attacking with bolos. However, this assertion lacked corroborative evidence, such as the recovery of any weapons from the scene, and was directly contradicted by eyewitness accounts. The appellants claimed they were responding to an armed threat, yet the court found no substantiation to their defense and ruled it inconsistent with the testimonies and evidence presented.
Court's Assessment of Self-Defense and Conspiracy
The trial court identified that self-defense necessitates clear evidence of unlawful aggression, which was absent, as the Cocjins were unarmed and taken by surprise. Additionally, the ruling found that the appellants acted in consort, suggesting a deliberate agreement to execute the murders rather than a mere response to an attack. This calculated plan further solidified the court’s evaluation of treachery, as they employed superior arm
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Case Background
- This case involves an appeal stemming from four (4) informations for murder filed against Bernardo "Toldo" Panes and three army soldiers: Manuel Panes, Wilson Velasco, and Noel Dela Cruz.
- The information was filed on September 30, 1987, at the Regional Trial Court, 11th Judicial Region, Branch 26, Surallah, South Cotabato.
- The events leading to the case occurred on March 13, 1987, at approximately 3:00 PM in Purok Baras, Barangay Roxas, Municipality of Sto. Nino, South Cotabato.
The Incident
- The accused, along with Toldo Panes (who was at-large), allegedly conspired to kill four members of the Cocjin family: Juanillo Cocjin, Sr., Steve Cocjin, Conrado Cocjin, and Jimmy Cocjin.
- The prosecution's primary witness, Demetrio Paypon, Jr., testified to witnessing the events unfold while walking along a farm road.
- Paypon described how Toldo Panes signaled the soldiers, who then attacked the Cocjins, shooting them while they were unarmed and standing near Toldo Panes' fence.
Testimonies and Evidence
- Paypon identified the accused as the attackers and provided a detailed account of the shooting, including the actions of each accused.
- Dr. Vincent Dave Farhat conducted autopsies on