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PHILIPPINE SUPREME COURT DECISIONS

EN BANC

[G.R. No. L-13901. September 19, 1961. ]

THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. FRANCISCO BAYUBAY and VALENTIN GARINGAN, Defendants-Appellants.

Solicitor General for Plaintiff-Appellee.

Dimaya and Gallego, for Defendants-Appellants.


SYLLABUS


1. CRIMINAL LAW; PENALTY; ROBBERY WITH HOMICIDE AND MULTIPLE FRUSTRATED HOMICIDE; COMPLEX CRIME. — Where the complex crime of robbery with homicide and multiple frustrated homicides is charged, the offense proved should be punished as only one act regardless of the number of homicide or frustrated homicides committed in conjunction with the robbery, imposing in such case, the corresponding penalty in its maximum period.

2. ID.; ID.; AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCES OF NIGHT TIME AND ARMED MEN. — It appearing that the crime was committed at night time and by armed men, the trial court should have appreciated against appellants the aggravating circumstances of night time and armed men which were not offset by any mitigating circumstances.

3. ID.; ID.; ALIBI CANNOT OVERCOME STRONG POSITIVE EVIDENCE IDENTIFYING APPELLANTS AS THE CULPRITS. — While it must be admitted that appellants made a serious attempt to establish their alibi with the testimony of a considerable number of witnesses and with some documentary evidence, yet said evidence cannot overcome the strong positive evidence presented by the prosecution identifying them as the malefactors who committed the offense charged.

4. EVIDENCE; TESTIMONY OF CONVICT DESERVE SCANT CONSIDERATION. — As a convict has practically nothing to lose but plenty to gain by allowing himself to be an instrument of other criminals to enable the latter to save themselves, his testimony which can easily be fabricated without danger to contradiction is unworthy of belief and deserves scant consideration. (People v. Diwa, 89 Phil., 170; People v. Samaniego, 95 Phil., 218; 50 Off. Gaz., 2433)

5. NEW TRIAL; NEWLY DISCOVERED EVIDENCE; AFFIDAVIT OFFERED BUT REJECTED DURING TRIAL NOT NEWLY DISCOVERED EVIDENCE. — It appearing that the affidavit of M. H. attached to the motion for new trial was offered but rejected during the trial on the ground of immateriality, the same cannot be considered as containing newly discovered evidence.


D E C I S I O N


DIZON, J.:


Francisco Bayubay and Valentin Garingan were charged with the crime of robbery with homicide and multiple frustrated homicide in the Court of First Instance of Nueva Vizcaya. After trial upon a plea of not guilty, the lower court found them guilty as charged and sentenced each of them as follows:jgc:chanrobles.com.ph

". . . (1) a sufrir la pena de cadena perpetua por la muerte de la occisa Ester Diaz de la Cruz, a las accesorias de la ley, a indemnizar mancomunada y solidariamente a los herederos de la occisa Ester Diaz de la Cruz en la suma de SEIS MIL PESOS (P6,000.00). mas la summa de CUATROCIENTOS OCHENTA y DOS PESOS (P482.00), valor del dinero robado, sin prisión subsidiara en caso de insolvencia; (2) les condena, ademas, a cada uno de dichos acusados Francisco Bayubay y Valentin Garingan a surfrir la pena indeterminada de CUATRO (4) AÑOS, DOS (2) MESSES y UN (1) DIA de prisión correccional como minima, a DIEZ (10) AÑOS y UN (1) DIA de prisión mayor como maxima por el homicidio frustrado cometido en la persona de Esteban Magbitang, a las accesorias de la ley y a indemnizar mancomunada y solidariamente a Esteban Magbitang en la suma de DOS PESOS (P2.00), sin prisión subsidiara en caso de insolvencia; (3) a sufrir la pena indeterminada de CUATRO (4) AÑOS, DOS (2) MESSES y UN (1) DIA de prisión correccional como minima, a DIEZ (10) AÑOS, y UN (1) DIA de prisión mayor como maxima por el homicidio frustrado cometido en la persona de Carlito Ostares, a las accesorias de la ley y a indemnizar mancomunada y solidariamente a Carlito Ostares en la suma de UN PESO (P1.00), sin prisión subsidiara en caso de insolvencia; (4) a sufrir la pena indeterminada de cuatro (4) AÑOS, DOS (2) MESSES y UN (1) DIA de prisión correccional como minima, a DIEZ (10) AÑOS, y UN (1) DIA de prisión mayor como maxima por el homicidio frustrado cometido en la persona de Nemesio Eduardo, a las accesorias de la ley, y a indemnizar mancomunada y solidariamente a Nemesio Eduardo en la suma de DIEZ PESOS (P10) sin prisión subsidiara en caso de insolvencia, y a cada uno a pagar, ademas, la parte proporcional de las costas de juicio." (Dec. pp. 1520-1555, rec.)

From the above decision, Bayubay and Garingan interposed the present appeal.

The prosecution evidence has established the following facts:chanrob1es virtual 1aw library

Between 6:00 and 6:30 p.m. on September 24, 1952 Mrs. Ester Diaz-De la Cruz left Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, bound for Santiago, Isabela, to look for lumber to be transported to Manila, using a Chevrolet truck bearing plate No. T-644 and an International truck with plate No. T-538. She was on board the Chevrolet truck driven by Carlito Ostares, while her mechanic, Nemesio Eduardo, rode on the International driven by Esteban Magbitang. As the Chevrolet truck was approaching the intersection of the road leading to the town of Bagabag and that going to the province of Isabela, its driver saw Bayubay, Garingan and a third man by the name of Alfredo de la Cruz, now deceased, at the aforesaid intersection. When the International truck passed the same place, the men halted it and got on board. Upon reaching sitio Rosario, within the town of Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya, the trio ordered the driver of the International to run faster and overtake the Chevrolet truck, which driver Esteban did. Having overtaken the Chevrolet truck, the International truck abruptly blocked its way and both vehicles came to a stop. Two of the men alighted from the International truck and went to the Chevrolet truck. One of them asked Carlito Ostares whether he had a driver’s license, while the other pulled Carlito and Mrs. De la Cruz out of the truck, warning the former to keep his front lights on.

Mrs. De la Cruz, Magbitang, Ostares and Eduardo were then lined up in front of the Chevrolet truck with their hands up and their backs turned toward the vehicle, and appellants and their companion, with guns pointed at their victims, demanded money from them. Magbitang gave his wallet containing P2.00, while Ostares surrendered his containing P1.00. Mrs. De la Cruz handed her bag which also contained money. After inflicting bodily injuries upon their victims, the holduppers ordered Mrs. De la Cruz, Eduardo and Magbitang to ride in the International truck with the now deceased Alfredo de la Cruz who had his gun pointed at them. Bayubay and Garingan rode in the Chevrolet truck driven by Ostares. The trucks were stopped upon approaching barrio Balete, within the municipality of Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya, where the holduppers commanded their victims to transfer to the Chevrolet truck, abandoning the International truck by the side of the road. The Chevrolet truck, with appellant Garingan at the wheel, proceeded towards the direction of Bagabag. Upon reaching sitio Tapaya, within said municipality, the truck stopped and the trio ordered their victims to alight. After searching them further for valuables, appellant Bayubay and Alfredo de la Cruz brought Magbitang and Eduardo to a small hill beside the road, while Mrs. De la Cruz and Ostares were left behind guarded by appellant Garingan. After reaching a place about 50 meters away from the road, Bayubay and Alfredo de la Cruz started beating up and stabbing Magbitang and Eduardo in several parts of their bodies, rendering them unconscious. Believing them to be dead, the two men returned to the place where Mrs. De la Cruz and Ostares were left guarded by Garingan. When Eduardo regained consciousness he heard Magbitang calling for him. At about four o’clock the next morning they managed to make their way on foot back to the road where they boarded a freight truck and reported the incident to the authorities. As they were walking, they heard gunshots.

In the meantime, Bayubay and Alfredo de la Cruz attempted to take Mrs. De la Cruz and Ostares with them to the hills, but as Mrs. De la Cruz was lame and could not climb, she was left guarded by Garingan, while they took Ostares with them. Upon reaching, the hill, Ostares was stabbed in the chest and forehead by Bayubay and De la Cruz. Ostares fought back and was able to get away from his assailants and reached barrio Villanueva where he received aid from the authorities and then was taken to the Bayombong Hospital where he met Magbitang and Eduardo.

The body of Mrs. De la Cruz was recovered in barrio Tapaya the following morning. A post mortem examination disclosed that her death was due to shock and profuse hemorrhage caused by the following injuries:jgc:chanrobles.com.ph

"1. One gunshot wound thru and thru on the right face 2 cms. below the right eye and 1-1/2 cms. from the right nose, the size of which is similar to that of a caliber 45. This is the point of entrance. The direction of this wound is horizontal the exit is behind and below the right ear.

"2. One gunshot wound thru and thru, the point of entrance of which is on the left canthus of the mouth with a size similar to that of a caliber 30. The direction is oblique, that is, from left to right and behind. The exit is behind and below the right ear.

"Both these gunshots fractured the lower mandible completely on their way behind the right ear.

"3. Contused wound on the right face 2 inches by 1/4 inch wide with an oblique direction, that is, from the bridge of the right nose to the right canthus of the mouth.

"4. Contused wound on the right eyebrow 1 inch long by 1/4 inch wide with a vertical direction.

"5. Contused wound on the left forehead 1" long by 1/4" wide with a direction from left to right, that is, from the forehead to the inner canthus of the left eye." (Exh. A, p. 1, rec. of exhs.)

An examination of the injuries sustained by Magbitang, Eduardo and Ostares revealed that said wounds could have been fatal had it not been for adequate and timely medical assistance.

Appellants’ defense was an alibi and in this instance claim that the appealed decision should be reversed because their guilt has not been established beyond reasonable doubt.

Appellant Bayubay claims that he was on guard duty at Post No. 1 in Camp Sinafal, Solano, Nueva Vizcaya, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., on September 24, 1952, and from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on September 25, 1952; that during the time he was not on guard duty on said dates, he remained in the camp guardhouse.

Appellant Garingan’s contention, on the other hand, is that on the fatal night in question he and the deceased De la Cruz were in Camp Oliveros, Plaridel, Bulacan, under detention because on the night of September 20, 1952, they were apprehended for disorderly conduct and confined in stockade in Bayombong; that early in the morning of September 22 they were brought to Camp Oliveros, Plaridel, Bulacan, where they were investigated concerning their disorderly behavior on the night of September 20, 1952, and were ordered confined in stockade in said camp; that he was in fact detained there at between 7:00 and 8:00 o’clock in the evening of September 24, 1952.

It must be admitted that appellants made a quite serious attempt to establish their alibi with the testimony of a considerable number of witnesses and with some documentary evidence, but after a thorough review of the record, we agree with the trial court that such evidence cannot overcome the strong positive evidence presented by the prosecution identifying them as two of the three malefactors who committed the offense charged in the evening of September 24, 1952.

All the witnesses who testified to prove the alibi belonged to the same outfit to which appellants were attached. Because of this and the circumstance that the documentary evidence presented to corroborate their testimony appeared suspicious, due to unexplained erasures and alterations appearing thereon, the lower court refused to believe their testimonies. At the risk of making this decision unnecessarily long, we deem it proper to reproduce here the reasons — which we make ours — adduced by the lower court in support of its stand on this matter:jgc:chanrobles.com.ph

"Los testigos que declararon a favor del acusado Valentin Garingan para probar la defensa de coartada son los sargentos Mariano Grospe y Clemente Guzman, los capitanes Celerino Venadas y Benjamin M. Bayhon, el comandante Felizardo Tanabe, el cabo Dominador Fontanosa, el comandante Patricio C. Buyson, el capitan Ricardo C. Gamboa, el capitan Santiago C. Eco, el primer teniente Marcelino R. de la Rea, el sargento Angel Caliuatan, y el primer teniente Alberto C. Maniago.

"El que fué primer teniente y ahora capitan Ricardo C. Gamboa y el sargento Clemente Guzman declararon que desde las 9:00 a.m. del dia 20 de Septiembre al dia 21 de Septiembre de 1952, prestaron servicio como oficial del dia y sargento de guardia, respectivamente, de la 1.a compaña de la constabularia filipina en Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, y en la noche del dia 20 de Septiembre de 1952, el capitan Benjamin M. Bayhón (que también declaró como testigo de la defensa) trajó a los soldados Alfredo de la Cruz y Valentin Garingan (el aqui acusado) y los metió en la empalizada militar, habiendo el sargento de guardia, Clemente Guzman, hecho una constancia de ese hecho en el libro de guardia (Exhibit 10) en la pagina Exhibit 10-b con la firma de dicho sargento Clemente Guzman y del entonces 1. er teniente y ahora capitan Ricardo C. Gamboa. Sin embargo, el Juzgado ha observado ciertos borrones en las anotaciones debajo de la columna "resumen de presos" que no fueron explicados satisfactoriamente, y ademas teniendo en cuenta el hecho de que dichos testigos de la defensa como el Capitan Benjamin M. Bayhón era el S-2 y S-3, del batallón provisional del ejército filipino, del primer area militar, del que formaba parte de la 1.a compañia de la P. C. en Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, a que pertenecia el entonces 1. er teniente y ahora capitan Ricardo C. Gamboa y el sargento Clemente Guzman y del que formaba parte también la compañia B, del vigésimo batallón de combate del campamento Sinafal, Solano, Nueva Vizcaya, a que pertenecian el acusado Valentin Garingan y el finado Alfredo de la Cruz, el Juzgado abriga serias dudas acerca de la veracidad de dichos testigos asi como de la certeza y genuinidad de las anotaciones en la pagina marcada Exhibit 10-b del libro de guardia (Exhibit 10) en lo que se refiere al acusado Garingan y al finado de la Cruz, sobre to do, porque dicho Exhibit 10 estuvo siempre bajo el control de la misma organización militar a que estaban adscritos tanto el acusado Valentin Garingan como sus testigos ya mencionados.

"El sargento Macario Gorospe, el que fué capitan y ahora comandante Celerino Venadas y el cabo Dominador Fontanosa, los dos primeros pertenecientes a la 1.a compañia de la PC en Bayombong y el
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