Case Summary (G.R. No. L-32104)
Factual Background
The case stems from a tragic incident involving Narciso Villaver, who was charged with the parricide of his daughter, Francisca. On the morning of September 24, 1965, Francisca, along with her father and others, went to the beach. After lunch, Villaver took Francisca to a mangrove swamp, where she later reported to a friend, Genara Sordillo, that her father attempted to sexually abuse her. Later that evening, Villaver forced Francisca to ingest "Endrin", a known pesticide, leading to her death shortly after being taken to the hospital, despite emergency efforts.
Appellant's Defense
Narciso Villaver denied all charges against him. He claimed that he found his daughter drinking "Endrin" on her own and that he attempted to stop her. He also stated that after she drank the poison, she jumped out of a window and ran away, which he alleged prevented him from providing immediate assistance. Villaver maintained that he did not commit any act of aggression against his daughter.
Testimonies Supporting the Prosecution
The prosecution presented several testimonies, notably from Remedios Villaver and Genara Sordillo, both of whom provided accounts of the evening's events. Remedios testified that she witnessed her father force Francisca to drink "Endrin" while asserting that he was mad at her for her relationship with a man. Genara relayed that she heard Remedios shouting for help and later found them crying, which corroborated the claim that Francisca was poisoned by her father.
Credibility of Witnesses
The Court noted the reliability of Remedios's testimony given her presence during the incident and the trauma that it inflicted on her. While the defense attempted to undermine her credibility by highlighting minor inconsistencies, the Court found her core narrative convincing and credible. Furthermore, Genara's testimony reinforced the accusations against Villaver and diminished the credibility of his claims.
Appellant's Admission
Police Corporal Ildefonso Bermudo testified that upon apprehension, Villaver admitted to poisoning his daughter. He indicated that Villaver acknowledged his actions with no apparent concern for the consequences, pointing out the very bottle of "Endrin" used in the act.
Legal Findings
Despite the gravity of the crime, the Court found that the presence of evident premeditation and immoral motive, as asserted by the prosecution, was not sufficiently es
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Case Overview
- This case involves an automatic review of the decision made by the Court of First Instance of Davao in Criminal Case No. 9411.
- The defendant, Narciso Villaver, was found guilty beyond reasonable doubt of parricide and sentenced to death due to "evident premeditation" and "deliberate intent" to kill his legitimate daughter, Francisca Villaver.
- The ruling was based on the aggravating circumstance of an immoral and highly contemptible motive, without any mitigating circumstances to offset it.
Background Facts
- Narciso Villaver had eight children with his wife, one of whom was Francisca Villaver, the victim.
- On September 24, 1965, Francisca was seen with a group including her father at the beach. Later, she confided to Genara Sordillo, a companion, that her father had attempted to abuse her.
- That night, Narciso forcibly made Francisca ingest Endrin, a poisonous substance, by grabbing her hair, opening her mouth, and pouring the poison into it.
- Francisca was rushed to the hospital but died shortly after from chemical poisoning.
Defendant's Claims
- Narciso Villaver denied the charges against him, claiming that Francisca had consumed the poison voluntari