Case Summary (G.R. No. L-2371)
Charges and Initial Proceedings
The appellants were charged with sedition, quintuple murder, and two counts of frustrated double murder. The case was tried in the Court of First Instance of Leyte, presided over by Judge Edmundo S. Piccio. The amended information resulted in convictions for quintuple murder with the defendants acquitted of sedition. The trial determined their culpability based on evidence presented by witnesses including the chief of police, police officers, and civilians.
Incident Overview
The pivotal incident occurred on December 15, 1946, when Zacarias Ladera, the chief of police, along with a group of policemen, attempted to apprehend lawless individuals, specifically targeting a group reportedly threatening his informant, Vicente Salazar. The defendants ambushed Ladera's party using firearms, leading to the deaths of several people including police officers and civilians. This ambush was highlighted as premeditated, borne out of vengeance for Salazar's earlier police report.
Defense Claims
In their defense, the appellants acknowledged their presence at the crime scene but denied participation in the ambush. Vicente Mendoza argued he was there at the request of his sister to find Alberto Alcober, while Celes Beltran contended he was in a different location at the time of the shootings. However, the trial court dismissed these defenses, establishing that the appellants were integral members of the armed band led by Alcober, which had engaged in prior unlawful activities.
Ruling and Sentencing
The trial court, upon reviewing the evidence, sentenced each appellant to life imprisonment for five counts of murder, along with a collective indemnity to the heirs of the deceased victims amounting to P6,000 each. Additionally, for the two counts of frustrated murder, each was subjected to an indeterminate penalty ranging from 10 years and 1 day to 17 years and 4 months. The court noted that,
...continue readingCase Syllabus (G.R. No. L-2371)
Case Overview
- The case is recorded under G.R. No. L-2371 and was decided on May 5, 1950.
- The plaintiffs were the People of the Philippines, while the defendants were Vicente Mendoza, Celes Beltran, Peping Beltran, Sabas Borer, and Marcos Capatoy.
- The defendants were charged with sedition, multiple murder, and frustrated double murder in the Court of First Instance of Leyte.
Background of the Case
- An amended information was filed by the provincial fiscal, leading to a trial presided over by Judge Edmundo S. Piccio.
- The trial concluded with the conviction of the defendants for quintuple murder, while they were acquitted of the sedition charge.
- Each defendant was sentenced to life imprisonment and ordered to pay P2,000 to the heirs of each victim, in addition to costs.
Incident Details
- On December 15, 1946, Chief of Police Zacarias Ladera, along with eight policemen, attempted to apprehend a group of troublemakers, including the appellants.
- The group was accused of threatening Vicente Salazar, who reported their criminal activities to the police.
- Upon reaching Km. 33 at the barrio of Lucay, the police truck was ambushed by members of the group, armed with firearms