Case Summary (G.R. No. L-15478)
Incident and Criminal Charges
On the day of the incident, Tenorio stabbed Bello with a 10-inch bolo, resulting in a fatal chest wound. Following the event, the chief of police, Leopoldo Pascua, filed a complaint for murder. Tenorio waived his right to a preliminary investigation and was arraigned in the Court of First Instance, where he indicated his willingness to plead guilty, seeking consideration for voluntary surrender as a mitigating factor.
Judicial Proceedings and Evidence
The court scheduled a hearing to determine the validity of the voluntary surrender claim. However, evidence presented during the hearing suggested that Tenorio was not entitled to this mitigating circumstance, as he did not surrender voluntarily but was instead cornered by police when he threw away the weapon and raised his hands, indicating submission.
Court Rulings on Mitigating and Aggravating Circumstances
The court ultimately found Tenorio guilty of murder, noting the qualifying circumstance of evident premeditation, along with aggravating factors such as treachery and contempt or insult to public authorities. Although the defendant's guilty plea served to offset one aggravating circumstance, the presence of multiple aggravating factors led the court to impose the maximum penalty.
Sentencing and Verdict
The court sentenced Tenorio to death, along with the accessory penalties of law, reserving the right to file a civil action. The prosecution posited that the act was particularly heinous given the setting of a public peace rally where numerous authorities were present, thereby justifyi
...continue readingCase Syllabus (G.R. No. L-15478)
Case Overview
- The case is a review of a death penalty judgment imposed upon Mariano Tenorio alias Magin for the crime of murder.
- The incident occurred on April 5, 1959, during a peace rally in the plaza of Caoayan, Ilocos Sur, where Tenorio fatally stabbed attorney Maximino Bello.
- The case was initiated by a complaint filed by Leopoldo Pascua, the chief of police.
Procedural History
- The initial complaint was filed in the Justice of the Peace Court, leading to the defendant waiving his right to a preliminary investigation.
- The case was forwarded to the Court of First Instance, where an information was filed by Provincial Fiscal Juvenal K. Guerrero, charging Tenorio with murder.
- The arraignment was postponed to allow the defendant to confer with a court-appointed attorney, Loreto Roldan.
Plea and Defense
- During the arraignment, Tenorio expressed a willingness to plead guilty but sought consideration for the mitigating circumstance of voluntary surrender.
- The court conducted a hearing to evaluate the claim of voluntary surrender.
Court's Findings on Voluntary Surrender
- The