Case Summary (G.R. No. L-6969)
Facts of the Case
On the evening of September 14, 1952, Aureliano Carag, the mayor of Solana, arrived at the house of Esteban Tambiao and his wife Teodora Quilang. Carag had an illicit relationship with their daughter, Dionisia Tambiao. After a brief stay, as Carag attempted to unsaddle his horse, he was shot at by assailants led by Tomas Ubina, leading to a gunfight that ended in the deaths of Carag, Esteban Tambiao, and Dionisia Tambiao.
Witness Testimonies
The prosecution's case included testimonies from multiple witnesses, including Ruben Francisco, a co-conspirator who detailed the planning of the murders, and Flora Quilang, who observed the attack. Their testimonies indicated a premeditated plan to kill Carag due to personal and political grievances against him. Additional witnesses corroborated the events, providing a detailed account of the conspiracy and execution of the murders.
Defense Claims
The defense relied on alibi claims, asserting that the defendants were engaged elsewhere during the commission of the crime. However, the testimonies provided by the defense were largely unsupported by credible evidence or witness corroboration, being questioned for their plausibility and reliability given the context of events.
Credibility of Witnesses
The court thoroughly assessed the credibility of witnesses, emphasizing that, despite some discrepancies, their accounts collectively indicated a coherent narrative pointing to the defendants' involvement in the crime. Notably, the credibility of Ruben Francisco was challenged due to his later testimony for the defense, but the court determined that the initial testimony was more credible and detailed.
Criminal Responsibility and Participation
Tomas Ubina, who conceived the plan, and his companions, were found to have acted with evident premeditation. The court concluded that while Tomas Ubina and his immediate co-conspirators acted as principals, others who joined later were classified as accomplices because their participation did not meet the threshold required for principal liability.
Circumstances of the Crime
The court established several aggravating circumstances: evident premeditation, treachery, and the abuse of superior strength, given the number of attackers and weapons used during the incident. It was determined that these factors contributed significantly to the severity of t
...continue readingCase Syllabus (G.R. No. L-6969)
Case Overview
- Defendants appeal from a judgment of the Court of First Instance of Cagayan.
- They were found guilty of the murders of Aureliano Carag, Esteban Tambiao, and Dionisia Tambiao.
- Each defendant was sentenced to reclusion perpetua for each murder, ordered to pay P6,000 to the heirs of each deceased, and to bear the costs.
Incident Background
- On the evening of September 14, 1952, Aureliano Carag, the Mayor of Solana, arrived at the home of Esteban Tambiao and Teodora Quilang, bringing a dead rooster.
- Carag engaged in illicit relations with their daughter, Dionisia Tambiao.
- After some time, while Carag was going to remove his horse's saddle, gunshots rang out, wounding him and leading to a call for help.
- Proceso Ledesma, a policeman, attempted to assist but was met with gunfire from the attackers, identified as Tomas Ubina and his accomplices.
- The next morning, police found the bodies of Carag, Dionisia, and Esteban, along with evidence of gunfire.
Evidence and Witness Testimonies
- The prosecution relied on multiple eyewitness accounts, including:
- Ruben Francisco: Testified about a plot to kill Carag devised by the defendants that day.
- Flora Quilang: Witnessed Carag's arrival and the subsequent shooting, identifying Tomas Ubina as a shooter.
- Cecilio Ubina: Observed the events from a nearby location and recognized Tomas Ubina's voice during the shooting.
- Teodora Quilang: Confirmed the call for help from Carag and identified Tomas Ubina’s voice.
- Proceso Ledesm