366 Phil. 893; 96 OG No. 44, 6982 (October 30, 2000)
PANGANIBAN, J.:
"That on or about 3:45 o'clock in the afternoon of February 20, 1994 at L. Taleon St., Municipality of Sta. Cruz, Province of Laguna and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the above-named accused, conspiring, confederating and mutually helping one another, with intent to kill xxx [--specifically,] accused Reynaldo Maldo [who] was conveniently armed with [an] unlicensed firearm/handgun and accused Rodrigo Maldo [who] was conveniently armed with a piece of wood (dos por dos) [--] did then and there willfully, unlawfully and feloniously attack, assault and sho[o]t one MICHAEL BACHO several times on his head and chest, thereby inflicting fatal gunshot wounds upon the said Michael Bacho which directly caused his instantaneous death, to the damage and prejudice of the surviving heirs of the said victim.At his arraignment, Appellant Rodrigo, duly assisted by Counsel de Parte Leonardo Ragaza,[3] pleaded not guilty. The other accused, Reynaldo Maldo, was and has remained at large.
"That the crime was aggravated with the qualifying circumstances of evident premeditation, treachery and with the use of superior strength."
"WHEREFORE, in the light of all the foregoing considerations, the Court finds the accused Rodrigo Maldo GUILTY beyond reasonable doubt of having committed the offense of MURDER defined and penalized under Article 248 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by Republic Act No. 7659. Accordingly, aforesaid accused is hereby sentenced to suffer the penalty of RECLUSION PERPETUA.In view of the penalty imposed, this appeal was filed directly with this Court.[5]
"Furthermore, said accused is hereby ordered to pay the heirs of Michael Bacho the sum of P50,000.00 as indemnity for his death; P25,000.00 as expenses for the funeral parlor in the interment and burial of Michael as reflected in Exhibit "L"; the sum of P11,079.45 as expenses in the interment of Michael in the Garden of Peace as reflected in Exhibit "M" and to pay the costs of the instant suit.
"So also, let a warrant of arrest be issued for the apprehension of the other accused Reynaldo Maldo with the directives to the police authorities to exert earnest efforts to serve at the soonest possible time said warrant in order that the accused may be brought before the bar of justice.
"Said warrant of arrest should be furnished the NBI, CISC, PNP-Local, Provincial and National Command and other [p]olice and [m]ilitary [o]fficers with authority to effect the arrest of the accused Reynaldo Maldo.
"The immediate kins of the deceased Michael Bacho are hereby advised to extend their earnest cooperation to the [p]olice [a]uthorities in locating the whereabouts of the accused Reynaldo Maldo so that his eventual arrest could be effected in order to face trial for the same offense for which his co-accused Rodrigo Maldo was charged, tried and convicted."[4]
"On February 20, 1994, around 3:45 p.m., Michael Bacho (victim) was running for his life along L. Taleon Street, Santa Cruz, Laguna. Chasing him were Rodrigo (appellant) and Reynaldo Maldo. Reynaldo ran ahead of his father, Rodrigo, and was armed with a handgun. Rodrigo, on the other hand, was carrying a piece of wood (dos por dos) and shouting "[P]atayin mo, patayin mo."The trial court, on the other hand, summarized the prosecution's evidence in the following manner:
"Bacho entered an alley (`iskinita') where he was cornered by the father and son team. There, Reynaldo shot Bacho twice: first, on the chest, and then on the head. After shooting, Reynaldo proclaimed before his father Rodrigo, `[W]ala na, patay na.' Bacho indeed died from the gunshot wounds."[7]
"That on or about 3:45 o'clock in the afternoon of February 20, 1994, at L. Taleon Street, Santa Cruz, Laguna, the victim Michael Bacho was chased by accused Reynaldo Maldo who was then armed with a firearm/handgun with his father and co-accused Rodrigo Maldo who was then armed with a piece of wood (dos por dos), and was behind and following Reynaldo. Michael was cornered (nasukol) at the `iskinita' at L. Taleon Street Reynaldo shot two (2) times Michael who was hit first on his chest, and thereafter, Reynaldo shot Michael who was hit on his head.
"Of the nine (9) prosecution witnesses who testified in the case at bar, it appears that prosecution witnesses Virginia Cordova and Ronnie Toquero were actual eyewitnesses to the shooting incident.
"Virginia Cordova testified that on the aforesaid date and time, she was then in her store just opposite her house when she saw Michael Bacho running towards the `iskinita' of L. Taleon Street, five (5) meters, more or less, away from her. Michael was followed by Reynaldo armed with [a] handgun, and Reynaldo was followed by his father Rodrigo Maldo who was then carrying a two by two piece of wood, and Virginia saw Reynaldo sho[o]t Michael on the chest who fell down with his back on the surface and after five (5) seconds, the second shot was fired by Reynaldo and Michael was hit on his head.
"Herein witness even alleged that she heard Rodrigo shouting the words `[P]atayin mo, patayin mo' which was addressed to his son Reynaldo. After the shooting incident, Reynaldo told his father `wala na, patay na.'"x x x x x x x x x
"The second prosecution witness who also appears to have actually witnessed the shooting incident on February 20, 1994, at about 3:45 o'clock in the afternoon at L. Taleon Street, Santa Cruz, Laguna was Ronnie Toquero. According to him, he was in their house near the house of Elvira Pambuan, when he heard a sound not so loud like a gunshot. He peeped and saw the accused Reynaldo Maldo sho[o]t the victim Michael Bacho two (2) times. Actually, there were three (3) shots which were fired, one (1) shot which missed (nagmintis) and the two (2) shots [which] were fired directly on the person of Michael. The distance of Reynaldo to Michael when the former shot the latter was one and one-half (1½) meters. He heard Rodrigo Maldo shouting `sige, patayin mo, patayin mo.' Although he did not actually see Rodrigo utter those words, he was familiar with the voice of Rodrigo at the billiard hall. But this witness admitted that in the sworn statement which he gave, he did not state the words uttered by Rodrigo because he was confused (taranta na).
"Prosecution witness Evelyn Calugtong, the owner of the house adjacent to the billiard hall owned by the accused Rodrigo Maldo, testified that on February 20, 1994, at about or between 3:00 to 4:00 o'clock in the afternoon, she was at home when she heard a commotion coming from the east. When she looked out, she saw Rodrigo who uttered the words `sige, patayin mo na' xxx to his son Reynaldo Maldo and Rodrigo was then carrying a `pamalo'. After twenty (20) minutes, Rodrigo came back to the `bilyaran' and face[d] the barangay saying `[N]gayon ninyo ako kalabanin', `[H]indi na bale akong makulong napatay naman'. She admitted that she was approached by Arsenia Bacho, mother of the victim, who requested her to testify in this case. She did not execute an affidavit in the case at bench and xxx almost one and one-half (1 ½) years xxx had elapsed from the time the shooting incident happened [up to the time] when she testified in court. She further alleged that she knew the character of the accused Rodrigo and that Rodrigo could also help someday. She admitted that she never saw anybody ahead of Reynaldo and she didn't know who was the enemy of Rodrigo when she saw Rodrigo [go] out of the billiard hall and follow his son Reynaldo. She didn't see Michael during the commotion and never saw xxx Michael [at any time] during February 20, 1994, nor [did she see] Tommy Idian during the commotion inside the billiard hall.
"Armando Villasin, the other prosecution witness, was not also an eyewitness to the shooting incident. But according to him, on February 20, 1994, at about 3:00 o'clock in the afternoon, he was at the house of Viena Ramirez and was a mere `kibitzer' in mahjong when he heard a shot coming from the eastern portion. He went out of the house of Viena and he met and saw Rodrigo Maldo and Reynaldo Maldo. Rodrigo was holding a "dos por dos" while following his son Reynaldo who was holding a .38 caliber gun. The two (2) accused were coming out [of] the `iskinita' leading to Pedro Guevarra street. When he went directly to the place where the victim was, he found out that the victim was lying on a canal and he was injured on his head and his chest. He alleged that when he met Reynaldo and Rodrigo, he heard Virginia Cordova shouting `[P]atay na, patay na si Michael Bacho'. However, he admitted that those statements were not included in his affidavit because he was already confused. But according to him, he did not actually see the person who fired shots against Michael."x x x x x x x x x
"Edenly Tan Bacho, complaining witness and widow of the victim Michael Bacho, was offered and mainly testified on the civil aspects of the case. Asidefrom the indemnity for the death of Michael Bacho, the other items of damages sufficiently proven by the widow [were] in the sum of xxx twenty five thousand pesos (P25,000.00) which could be predicated and considered reasonable, the value of cost of the items specified in Exhibits `L' and `L-1', as well as the amount of P11,079.45 as reflected in Exhibits `M' and `M-1'."[8]
"On February 20, 1994, at or about 3:45 p.m., the appellant was sleeping inside his house at L. Pantaleon Street, Sta. Cruz Laguna, on the ground floor of which was a billiard hall which his family owned and operated. At or about the same time, appellant's wife, ELNORA MALDO, and their grandchildren, among them RAQUEL MALDO, were likewise watching the television program `Ipaglaban Mo.' It was while the abovenamed persons were engaged in the said mundane pursuits when, for reasons still unknown, a fight ensued in the billiard hall between Accused-Appellee REYNALDO MALDO on the one hand as well as MICHAEL BACHO and one TOMMY IDIAN on the other.
"RAQUEL MALDO's unrefuted testimony is to the effect that she saw MICHAEL BACHO hit his father, Accused-Appellee REYNALDO MALDO, with a lead pipe for around six times even as TOMMY IDIAN started throwing billiard balls and hitting the billiard table with a baseball bat. Escaping MICHAEL BACHO's attack, REYNALDO MALDO crawled towards the door for the purpose of asking for help. He was however pursued by the former who continued hitting him.
"The rumpus attracted the attention of appellant's daughter, RHODORA CASTILLO who lived about ten meters away from her father. Rushing out of her house towards the general direction of the billiard hall, she likewise saw MICHAEL BACHO hitting her brother with the lead pipe and TOMMY IDIAN causing further damage not only to the billiard table but also the light fixture/s in the hall. Alongside RAQUEL MALDO, her niece, RHODORA CASTILLO saw the fact, among others, that MICHAEL BACHO and REYNALDO MALDO grappled on the floor for about five minutes; that from his waist, MICHAEL BACHO drew a gun which REYNALDO MALDO tried to wrestle from him; and, that when the latter was able to gain possession of the firearm, the former ran towards the general direction of Dolor Subdivision, with REYNALDO MALDO in pursuit.
"In the meantime, the commotion downstairs as well as the proddings of his wife to seek some help roused appellant from his sleep. Going downstairs and outraged by the sight of TOMMY IDIAN still causing damage to the billiard hall, appellant confronted the former and shouted, `(B)akit ka nanggugulo, ano ang dahilan?" Because TOMMY IDIAN started pelting him with billiard balls, appellant was constrained to flee towards his house where he directed his wife and daughter to call for police assistance."[10]
"xxx conspiracy can be inferred when prosecution witnesses saw accused Rodrigo and Reynaldo when the latter shot to death Michael and heard Rodrigo shouting `Patayin mo, patayin mo' which he addressed to his son Reynaldo. The fact that Rodrigo did not flee with his son Reynaldo after the killing incident does not negate the existence of conspiracy."[12]
"I. The court a quo erred in giving credence to the testimony of prosecution witness Virginia Cordova whose bias against appellant and his family was apparent;In the main, appellant questions (1) the credibility of the prosecution witnesses, (2) the presence of conspiracy and (3) the appreciation of treachery as a qualifying circumstance.
"II. Even with the supposed corroboration by the testimony of Ronnie Tocquero, the court a quo erred in finding that the testimony of Virginia Cordova supported a finding of conspiracy to kill Michael Bacho;
"III. The court a quo erred in not finding that, even if accorded precipitate credulity, the prosecution evidence indicate[d] lack of criminal liability on the part of herein appellant for the death of Michael Bacho;
"IV. The court a quo erred in finding that the crime charged was attended by the qualifying circumstance of treachery;
"V. The court a quo erred in holding appellant criminally and civilly liable for the death of Michael Bacho, beyond reasonable doubt."[13]
From the foregoing, it is clear that Michael was chased by appellant who was holding a dos por dos and cajoling his son Reynaldo, "[P]atayin mo, patayin mo."[24] After his son shot and killed Michael, appellant shouted, "[N]gayon niyo ako kalabanin"[25]; and "[H]indi bale na akong makulong, napatay naman."[26] His conduct clearly indicated that he had a common criminal design with his son. As we ruled in People v. Hubilla Jr.,[27] "[w]hile he did not fire a single shot, his conduct indicated complete cooperation with Hubilla. His armed presence unquestionably gave encouragement and a sense of security to Hubilla. Hence, his liability is that of a co-conspirator, for where conspiracy is established, the act of one is the act of all."
"Q Where were you specifically in the afernoon of February 20, 1994 in relation to your store? A In this place, in fact, I was sitting on the top of this table (witness demonstrating her position while she was [I]n this place on February 20, 1994). x x x x x x x x xQ It was while you were seated on top of your table when you saw the victim Michael Bacho coming?
A Yes, sir. Q Where was he coming from? A He came from that entrance from a billiard hall, sir. Q Now did you know that Michael Bacho was coming? A Because I saw Michael Bacho coming towards this direction being followed by Reynaldo who was armed with a gun and Reynaldo Maldo was being followed by Rodrigo Maldo[, his] father, who was armed with a piece of wood, dos por dos.
xxx xxx xxxATTY. TOLENTINO: Q Was Michael uttering anything when you first saw him coming? A He did not utter anything when I saw him coming, sir. In fact, he was running gasping for breath while being followed by Reynaldo Maldo who was armed with a black gun, sir. xxx xxx xxxQ So Reynaldo Maldo was immediately behind Michael Bacho? A Yes, sir. Q That being the case, how were you able to see Reynaldo Maldo? A Michael Bacho was being chased by Reynaldo Maldo and said Michael Bacho was gasping for breath. Q Considering that according to you xxx Reynaldo Maldo was immediately behind Michael Bacho, how were you able to notice that he was armed with a gun? A I saw that Michael Bacho was being chased by Reynaldo Maldo and I saw that Reynaldo Maldo was carrying a gun and in fact, I was sitting on this table when they passed by this place, sir.
Q So your attention was focused on Michael Bacho and Reynaldo Maldo, is that correct? A Yes, sir. Q How did you [come] to know that Rodrigo Maldo was following Reynaldo Maldo. A I also saw that Rodrigo Maldo was carrying dos por dos, sir. xxx xxx xxx Q And at the time that you [were] hiding yourself behind the guava tree, where was Michael Bacho? A He was already here (witness referring to the distance between the guava tree [and] the palmera tree that could be seen in the place which [was] about a distance of exactly 223 meters (as actually measured).Q So Madam Witness, Michael Bacho stopped upon reaching the dead end of this alley, is that correct? xxx xxx xxxA Yes, sir.
ATTY. TOLENTINO: Q And Michael had his back toward you? A Yes, sir, Michael Bacho's back was towards me and then he faced xxx me. Q And where was Reynaldo Maldo in relation to the position of Michael Bacho who was at the front of a gate? A Reynaldo Maldo was standing here while Michael Bacho was here (witness referring to a distance which [was] immediately behind). Q And are you telling us that Reynaldo Maldo also stopped when he was immediately behind Michael Bacho? A Yes, sir. Q And it was at that juncture that Reynaldo Maldo fired his gun? A Yes, sir. Q Which hand of Reynaldo Maldo was holding the gun? A His right hand, sir. Q Will you demonstrate before this Honorable Court how he fired his first shot? A Reynaldo Maldo was then standing holding his gun uttering this statement: "Sige, ngayon ka lumaban" and he fired his gun. Q The first time he was shot, what happened to Michael? A He then fell down with his back on the surface (nakatihaya). Q And according to you he fired another shot, Reynaldo Maldo? A Yes, sir. Q More or less how many seconds had elapsed before he fired the second shot? A Five (5) second more or less, sir. Q At the time the first two shots were fired allegedly by Reynaldo Maldo, Rodrigo Maldo was not yet in this place? A Rodrigo Maldo was here carrying a piece of dos por dos uttering "Patayin mo, pataying mo". Q Where was Rodrigo Maldo at the time he allegedly uttered those remarks? A He was here (witness referring to a place beyond the guava tree)."