G.R. No. 111206-08 - People vs. Teehankee, Jr.

Bail set at ₱20,000 for each frustrated murder count; none for Chapman homicide.
Defense objected to evidence on other counts during bail hearing.
Parties agreed to combine trial on merits with bail petition after August 14, 1991 arraignment.
Accused pleaded not guilty to all three charges.

After a party and visits to pubs, Leino drove Chapman and Hultman home in Dasmariñas Village past 3 a.m.
On Mahogany Street corner, Teehankee’s Mitsubishi Lancer blocked them. He demanded IDs.
He shot Chapman first in the chest, then, after ordering Leino and Hultman to sit defenseless on the sidewalk, shot Leino in the jaw and Hultman in the head.
Teehankee fled in his silver-gray Lancer bearing plate PDW 566.

Three subdivision security personnel—Domingo Florece, Vicente Mangubat, Agripino Cadenas—saw the shootings under Meralco streetlights.
Florece noted “medyo puti” (somewhat white) Lancer, plate “566.”
Mangubat and Cadenas gave plate PDW 566; described the car as silver-gray.
All three witnessed Teehankee’s gunmanship and aided in transporting victims to Makati Medical Center.

Makati Police Patrolman Baldado and SPO3 Fernandez began inquiry, traced plate to two Lancers: one sold by Montano, one registered to Teehankee.
NBI Special Operations Group under Chief Salvador Ranin took over.
On-the-spot interviews with Florece, Cadenas, Mangubat; neighborhood inquiry confirmed plate and location.
Montano’s car exonerated; Teehankee’s car seized under search warrant; keys obtained from his mother.

Cadenas identified Teehankee from ten-photo array at NBI on July 16, 1991.
Live line-ups conducted: at NBI office (Cadenas), at Makati Police Station (Mangubat), at Forbes Park under U.S. embassy protection (Leino).
All three witnesses positively identified Teehankee as the gunman.
Initial reluctance by Cadenas due to fear was assuaged by NBI protection assurances.

Dr. Pedro Solis: Leino’s bullet wound fractured maxillary bone, lacerated tongue, caused brain contusions and hemorrhage; resulted in speech difficulty.
Dr. Leovigildo Isabela: Hultman’s head wound caused brain tissue extrusion, multiple surgeries, eventual death on October 17, 1991.

Teehankee testified he was in Pasig on July 13, 1991; maids would corroborate.
Admitted car ownership but claimed it was non-running since February 1991 accident.
Son testified he drove car in February 1991, then parked it in Makati.
Paraffin test on Teehankee’s hands (July 17) was negative, performed over 72 hours post-incident.
Raised theory implicating Anders Hultman, adoptive father of Maureen, based on overheard words “Daddy.”

Defense presented seven reporters and clippings from Manila Times, Inquirer, Malaya, People’s Journal, Manila Bulletin.
Clippings suggested conflicting car color, other suspects, jealous-father theory, police disagreement.
Counsel alleged witness torture at NBI and biased congressional pressure.

RTC Branch 145 convicted Teehankee:
• Case No. 91-4605 (Chapman): Murder with treachery; Reclusion Perpetua; ₱50,000 indemnity; ₱500,000 damages.
• Case No. 91-4606 (Hultman): Murder with treachery; Reclusion Perpetua; ₱50,000 indemnity; ₱2,350,461.83 actual; ₱13,000,000 earning capacity; ₱1,000,000 moral/exemplary.
• Case No. 91-4607 (Leino): Frustrated murder with treachery; eight to ten years prision mayor; ₱30,000 indemnity; ₱118,369.84 actual; US$55,600 equivalent actual; US$40,000 loss earnings; ₱1,000,000 moral.
Attorney’s fees ₱3,000,000 total; costs taxed; bail denied.

Alleged unreliable out-of-court identifications.
Failure to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Prejudicial media coverage deprived fair trial.
Treachery not established.
Excessive damages and loss of earning capacity awards.
Excessive attorney’s fees award.
Trial court erred by submitting merits and bail petition together, denying further defense evidence.

Applied 5-factor totality-of-circumstances test (viewing opportunity, attention, description accuracy, certainty, time lapse).
Upheld identifications as fair, non-suggestive, necessary for witness safety.
Rejected claims of photograph exposure, sketch suppression, insufficient viewing time.
Noted paraffin test unreliability and possible hand-washing effects.

Three Informations filed on July 13, 1991 in Makati RTC Branch 145 against Claudio Teehankee, Jr.:
• Murder of Roland John Chapman (Crim. Case No. 91-4605)
• Frustrated Murder of Jussi Olavi Leino (Crim. Case No. 91-4607)
• Frustrated Murder of Maureen Hultman, later amended to Murder upon her death (Crim. Case No. 91-4606)
Bail set at ₱20,000 each for frustrated murder counts; none for murder count
Accused’s petition for bail heard August 9, 1991; arraignment August 14, 1991
Prosecution presented evidence on all three cases simultaneously, defense raised no objection
Trial court convicted on December 22, 1992; sentenced to:
• Reclusion perpetua for two murders
• Indeterminate prision mayor for frustrated murder
• Civil indemnities, moral/exemplary damages, attorney’s fees, costs
Motion for new trial denied; appeal filed raising seven assignments of error

July 12–13, 1991: Leino, Chapman, Hultman at a party and pubs in Makati; thereafter Leino drove Hultman home in Dasmariñas Village
At Mahogany & Caballero corner, a light-colored Mitsubishi Lancer (plate control “566”) blocked their path
Driver (accused) demanded IDs, grabbed Leino’s wallet, shot Chapman when he intervened
Ordered Leino to sit; chased and caught Hultman as she fled, forced both to sit side by side
Accused then shot Leino in the head and Hultman in the forehead before fleeing in his Lancer
Chapman died on the spot; Leino survived with severe craniofacial injuries; Hultman died October 17, 1991 after prolonged hospitalization

Eyewitnesses at scene:
• Leino (surviving victim) – identified accused in multiple lineups and photo arrays
• Security guards Florece & Cadenas, and driver Mangubat – saw vehicle, gunman, plate “PDW 566”
NBI and Makati Police investigation:
• Traced Lancer with plate “PDW 566” to Teehankee residence; ruled out other “566” Lancer owners
• Obtained search warrant; seized accused’s silver-gray 1983 Lancer, plate PDW 566
• Multiple out-of-court identifications under NBI/SOG and Makati Police supervision
Medical testimony on injuries:
• Dr. Solis – Leino’s gunshot wound, bone fractures, contusions, speech difficulties
• Dr. Isabela – Hultman’s brain surgeries (three operations), fatal trajectory through vital brain areas

Photo lineup at NBI parking: Cadenas and Mangubat each selected accused’s photograph
Seven-man physical lineup at NBI office and at Forbes Park: both Cadenas and Leino positively identified accused
Leino’s hospital interview: despite trauma to tongue, wrote request to remove sunglasses, then identified accused

Accused denied presence at scene; claimed he was home in Pasig from 1 a.m. to 8–9 a.m.