Pp. vs. Moreno & Suela -Digest-crim Pro

G.R. No. 140033

January 25, 2002

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES vs. ROGELIO MORENO y REG FACTS: On or about the 8 th day of January 1999, in Makati City, Philippines, the accused, armed with a bladed weapon, unlawfully divested Marites Tacadena of one (1) gold ring, black bag containing one (1)ATM card, one (1) white Burger  Machine T-shirt, 30 copies of Burger Ma chine coupons, one (1) pocket book, a bible, toothbrush, toothpaste and cash money in the amount of P200.00, to the latter’s damage and prejudice and the on the occasion of the said robbery and by using force and intimidation, accused did then and there willfully, unlawfully and feloniously have carnal knowledge of  the complainant against her will and consent.

After evaluating the evidence offered by the parties, the trial court gave full faith and credit to the version of the  prosecution, convicted ROGELIO of robbery with rape and appreciated against him the aggravating circumstance of  nocturnity. It disregarded ROGELIO’s defenses of denial and alibi in view of his positive identification by MARITES as her assailant. The Trial Court finds accused Rogelio Moreno y Reg, guilty beyond reasonable doubt of having committed the special complex crime of robbery with rape, defined and penalized under Articles 293 and 294 of the Revised Penal Code as amended by Republic Act No. 7659. Applying Article 63 of the Revised Penal Code, considering the attendance of the aggravating circumstance of nocturnity and absent any mitigating circumstance, the Court imposes the penalty of  death upon said accused. Accused is ordered to pay the complainant P200,000.00 as and for moral damages plus P1,000.00 representing the value of the personal properties properties taken but not recovered. Hence, this automatic review. ISSUE: The accused assigns the following errors:

I. … IN FINDING THAT THE GUILT OF THE ACCUSED-APPELLANT FOR THE CRIME CHARGED HAS BEEN PROVEN BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT. II. … IN NOT DECLARING THAT THE ACCUSED-APPELLANT’S CONSTITUTIONAL CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT WAS VIOLATED WHEN HE WAS ARRESTED AND BROUGHT TO THE POLICE STATION FOR CUSTODIAL INVESTIGATION WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF AN INDEPENDENT AND COMPETENT COUNSEL OF HIS CHOICE. III. … IN APPRECIATING THE AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCE OF NOCTURNITY IN THE COMMISSION OF THE CRIME CHARGED. RULING: As to the first assigned error, ROGELIO banks on the alleged absence of resistance and struggle by MARITES as evidenced by the absence of injuries on her person. He likewise argues that it was improper to charge him with robbery with rape, since the taking of the victim’s property was a mere afterthought and an independent act from the alleged commission of the crime of rape.

Anent the second assigned error, ROGELIO alleges that when he was arrested, he was not informed of his right to remain silent, and when he was forced by the policemen to undress and admit the crime, he was not assisted by an independent and competent counsel. Finally, on the third assigned error, ROGELIO maintains that the trial court erred in appreciating against him the aggravating circumstance of nocturnity because the place where the rape took place was not covered with darkness, and there is no evidence that nighttime was deliberately sought after by him to carry out a criminal intent. The SC is convinced beyond any shadow of doubt that ROGELIO succeeded in having carnal knowledge of MARITES with the use of force and intimidation. In any event, force or intimidation itself is sufficient justification for a woman’s failure to offer resistance. It is well settled that physical resistance need not be established in rape when intimidation is exercised upon the victim and the latter submits herself against her will to the rapist’s advances because of fear for her life and personal safety. Thus, the law does not impose a burden on the rape victim to prove resistance. What needs only to be  proved by the prosecution is the use of force or intimidation by the accused in having sexual intercourse with the victim.

This court has frequently held that in rape cases, the conduct of a woman immediately following the alleged assault is of  utmost importance. In this case, MARITES immediately reported the incident to the police, accompanied them in looking for her assailant, and upon seeing him she immediately identified him as her rapist. Thereafter, she underwent police investigation and submitted to a physical examination of her private parts by a medico-legal officer. Her conduct negated fabrication or prevarication on her part. However, ROGELIO’s conviction of robbery with rape cannot be sustained. The special complex crime of robbery with rape defined in Article 293 in relation to paragraph 2 of Article 294 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended, employs the clause "when the robbery shall have been accompanied with rape." In other  words, to be liable for such crime, the offender must have the intent to take the personal property of another under  circumstances that makes the taking one of robbery and such intent must precede the rape. If the original plan was to commit rape, but the accused after committing the rape also committed robbery when the opportunity presented itself, the robbery should be viewed as a separate and distinct crime. Significantly, the constitutive element of violence or intimidation against persons in robbery was not present at the time of  the snatching of the shoulder bag of MARITES. The force or intimidation exerted by ROGELIO against the victim was for a reason foreign to the fact of the taking of the bag. It was for the purpose of accomplishing his lustful desire. Accused-appellant may thus be held liable for simple theft only, in addition to the crime of rape. It is doctrinally settled that alibi and denial are worthless and cannot prevail over positive identification that is categorical, consistent and without any showing of ill-motive on the part of the witness. However, the trial court erred in appreciating the aggravating circumstance of nocturnity or nighttime. For nocturnity to be properly appreciated, it must be shown that it facilitated the commission of the crime and that it was purposely sought for by the offender. By and of itself, nighttime is not an aggravating circumstance. In the instant case, no sufficient evidence was offered to prove that ROGELIO deliberately sought the cover of darkness to accomplish his criminal design. In fact, the victim testified that there were streetlights and lights from the ABC Commercial Complex. Moreover, the aggravating circumstance of nocturnity was not alleged in the information. Section 8 of Rule 110 of the Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure, which took effect on 1 December 2000, requires that the complaint or information must specify the qualifying and aggravating circumstances attending the commission of the crime charged. This provision being favorable to the accused may be given retroactive effect. The issue of failure by the arresting officers to inform ROGELIO of his constitutional rights and to afford him the benefit of counsel during the custodial investigation requires strong and convincing evidence because of the presumption that the law enforcers acted in the regular r egular performance of their official duties. Besides, even granting arguendo that the constitutional constitutional requirements were not observed, the same is of no significance because it does not appear that ROGELIO executed a statement or confession. Then, too, as correctly pointed out by the OSG, the conviction of ROGELIO was not on the basis of any extrajudicial confession but on the testimony of MARITES and other evidence. ACCORDINGLY, the 9 August 1999 Decision of the Regional Trial Court of Makati City, Branch 138, in Criminal Case  No. 99-026 is hereby AFFIRMED with MODIFICATIONS. As modified, accused-appellant ROGELIO MORENO y REG is hereby declared guilty beyond reasonable doubt of two separate crimes of rape and of theft and is hereby sentenced as follows:

1. For the crime of rape, to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua and pay complainant MARITES FELIX the amounts of P50,000 as civil indemnity and P50,000 as moral damages; and 2. For the crime of theft, to suffer the penalty of six (6) months of  arresto mayor and pay the victim the sum of  P200.

PP. OF THE PHILIPPINES VS. NERIO SUELA y HEMBRA, EDGAR SUELA y HEMBRA and EDGARDO BATOCAN G.R. No. 134288-89

January 15, 2002

FACTS: On or about the 26 th day of July 1995, in Quezon City, Philippines, the accused, conspiring, confederating with one another, and mutually helping one another, by means of force upon things, did then and there willfully and feloniously rob one Nilo Rosas by barging into the door of said house and once inside, took the following: a colored TV, 3 cameras, assorted jewelries, and cash money, all amounting to P657,000.00. On the occasion of the said robbery, the accused with intent to kill, attacked, assaulted, and employed personal violence upon Geronimo Gabilo by stabbing him, which were the direct and immediate cause of his untimely demise.

Sometime thereafter, Edgar Suela contacted Rosas’ executive secretary, telling her that if Rosas will agree, he will relay information as to the identity and whereabouts whereabouts of those responsible for Gabilo’s death. He was willing to exchange this written information information for P200,000.00. P200,000.00. An entrapment ensued ensued and this effected his arrest. While under detention, detention, the Suelas expressed their desire to give an extrajudicial confession. confession. Hence, they were brought to the IBP for the taking down of their confessions. The trial court held that the appellants had been assisted by competent and independent counsel during the execution of  their extrajudicial confessions. confessions. The letter of Nerio Suela addressed to Director Rosas asking him for forgiveness as well as the discovery of the stolen TV set and knife in the former’s house, further convinced his guilt. Finding the presence of  one aggravating circumstance (disguise) with no mitigating circumstance, the trial court sentenced them to death. Hence, this automatic review of the Decision. ISSUE: The following errors are alleged:

I. II. III. IV. V.

The trial court court erred in consider considering ing batocan’s batocan’s extraju extrajudici dicial al confession confession as admissib admissible le evidenc evidenc against against him; The trial court court erred in in admitting and appreciating the wristwatch wristwatch as evidence evidence against Batocan; The trial court erred in convicting convicting Batocan of robbery robbery with Homicide; Homicide; The court erred in considering considering the extrajudicial confessions confessions of the Suelas as admissible admissible against them; The court court erred in consid considering ering the the Suelas Suelas of robbery robbery with homicid homicide. e.

RULING:

With respect to Batocan, he did not finish first year high school. He was interviewed before he gave his confession for  around five minutes. After this initial interview with Atty. Atty. Rous, counsel just listened nonchalantly to the questions questions  propounded by the police and to the answers given by Batocan. Atty. Rous’ attention even seemed divided for while he was attending the custodial investigation, he was also looking over another paperwork on his desk. In view of these, the court is not convinced that Batocan’s extrajudicial confession was obtained without violating his constitutional constitutional rights. As to the Suelas, Atty. Sansano did not understand the exact nature of appellants’ rights to counsel and to remain silent during their custodial custodial investigations. investigations. He viewed a refusal to answer as an obstruction obstruction in the investigation. investigation. Moreover, when he interviewed appellants, he did not even bother to find out the gist of their proposed statements in order to apprise them of the nature and consequences of their extrajudicial confessions. confessions. Clearly and sadly, appellants were not accorded competent and independent counsel whom they could rely on to look after their interests. As to the admissibility of the wristwatch, it is of limited probative value as it was taken without a search warrant and not as an incident of a valid arrest. It is clearly a fruit of a poisonous tree and as such, could not be admitted and appreciated against the accused.

As to Nerio Suelas’ letter to Director Rosas, this was written while Nerio was no longer under custodial custodial investigation. In open court, he admitted having written it. The fact that he was not assisted by counsel when he wrote it will not make the letter inadmissible in evidence. Even excluding the wristwatch and the written extrajudicial confessions, there is still material evidence on record which  prove beyond reasonable doubt the commission of robbery with homicide. While under the new rules, an aggravating circumstance that is NOT alleged in the information CANNOT be appreciated in determining the criminal liability of the accused, the rules do not prevent its appreciation for the purpose of determining civil liability. The appeal is partially granted and modified. The RTC decision is affirmed but the penalty is reduced to reclusion  perpetua. The award of civil indemnities is also affirmed. Edgar Suela is acquitted acquitted for the separate separate crime of simple robbery.