People vs Beronilla.doc

7/21/2019 People vs Beronilla.doc

1/8

EN BANC

[G.R. No. L-4445. February 28, 1955.]

THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES,plaintiff-appellee, vs.

MANUEL BERONILLA, FILIPINO VELASCO, POLICARPO

PACULDO, and JACINTO ADRIATICO, defendants-appellants.

Agripino A. Brillantes, Valera, Eufemio andBernardez for ae!!an"#.

Prospero C. Sanidad andClaro M. Recto for defendan", F$!$$no %e!a#&o.

Solicitor General uan R. !i"ag andSolicitors aime R. de los Angeles and

Martiniano P. Vi#o for ae!!ee.

SYLLABUS

1.CR'('NAL LA)* CR'(E+ C(('E /0N RER+ F

+/0ER'R FF'CER+* LAC F CR'('NAL 'NEN. )3ere "3e a&&u#eda&"ed uon order# of #uer$or off$&er# "3a" "3ey, a# $!$"ary #ubord$na"e#, &ou!d no"

ue#"$on, and obeyed $n 6ood fa$"3, 7$"3ou" be$n6 a7are of "3e$r $!!e6a!$"y, 7$"3ou"

any fau!" or ne6!$6en&e on "3e$r ar", "3e a&" $# no" a&&oan$ed by &r$$na! $n"en".

3e a$ $#, a&"u# non fa&$" reu, n$#$ en# #$" rea a &r$e $# no" &o$""ed $f"3e $nd of "3e er#on erfor$n6 "3e a&" &o!a$ned of be $nno&en". /. +. :#.

Ca"o!$&o, 18 03$!., 5;u!y 188?* < >anuary 19;1* 24 (ar&3 19;;* 21 Feb. 1921* 25 (ar&3

1929@.

2.'.* G/ER'LLA A(NE+ 0RCLA(A'N* /B+ A+

)EER CA+E FALL+ )''N 0RCLA(A'N +ALL BE RE+L%E

'N FA%R F ACC/+E. )3ere "3e e:$den&e on re&ord re6ard$n6 "3e da"e of

!$bera"$on of "3e area $# &on"rad$&"ory, "3e a&&u#ed #3ou!d no" be den$ed "3e$r &!a$ "o

"3e benef$"# of "3e Guerr$!!a Ane#"y 0ro&!aa"$on No. 8 42 ff. Ga., 2;


2/8

"rea#on, e#$ona6e, or a$d$n6 and abe""$n6 of "3e eney doe# no" oera"e "o e&!ude

"3e &a#e fro "3e benef$"# of "3e Guerr$!!a Ane#"y 0ro&!aa"$on.

D E C I S I O N

REYES,J.B.L.,

3$# $# an aea! by a&&u#ed (anue! Beron$!!a, 0o!$&aro 0a&u!do, F$!$$no

%e!a#&o, and >a&$n"o Adr$a"$&o fro "3e ud6en" of "3e Cour" of F$r#" 'n#"an&e of

Abra Cr$$na! Ca#e No. o:$"o Barrera# :o!un"ar$!y aeared and #er:ed a# &oun#e! for Bora!.

+6". E#"eban Cabano# ob#er:ed "3e ro&eed$n6# for #e:era! day# uon $n#"ru&"$on# of

eaduar"er#, 15"3 'nfan"ry. 3e "r$a! !a#"ed 19 day# u "o Ar$! 1;, 1945* "3e ury


3/8

found Bora! 6u$!"y on a!! &oun"# and $o#ed uon 3$ "3e dea"3 ena!"y E3$b$"# (

"o (-2@. 0ur#uan" "o $n#"ru&"$on# fro 3$# #uer$or#. (ayor Beron$!!a for7arded "3e

re&ord# of "3e &a#e "o "3e eaduar"er# of "3e 15"3 'nfan"ry for re:$e7. +a$d re&ord#

7ere re"urned by L". Co!. Arno!d "o Beron$!!a on Ar$! 18, 1945 7$"3 "3e fo!!o7$n6

$n#"ru&"$on#

EAH/ARER+ =R ('L'AR '+R'C

15 'NFANR, /+AF'0

'n "3e F$e!d

$% April $&'(

(#6. No. ==uan Ba!a&eda 7a#d$#&3ar6ed fro "3e $nfora"$on #o "3a" 3e $63" be u"$!$ed a# #"a"e 7$"ne##, a!"3o

a&"ua!!y 3e 7a# no" &a!!ed "o "e#"$fy* 73$!e "3e &a#e a6a$n#" defendan"# An"on$o 0a!oe

"3e 6ra:e d$66er@ and ee"r$o Afo# a bo!oan@ 7a# d$#$##ed for !a&D of#uff$&$en" e:$den&e.

r$a! ro&eeded a6a$n#" "3e re#" of "3e defendan"#* and on >u!y 1;, 195;, "3e

Cour" be!o7 rendered ud6en", a&u$""$n6 "3e eber# of "3e ury and "3e 6ra:e

d$66er An"on$o 0a!oe on "3e 6round "3a" "3ey d$d no" ar"$&$a"e $n "3e D$!!$n6 of

Ar#en$o Bora!* a&u$""$n6 defendan"# >e#u# Labu6uen, Fe!$ A!:erne, +e:ero Afo#,

and Lauro 0arado uon $n#uff$&$en&y of e:$den&e "o e#"ab!$#3 "3e$r ar"$&$a"$on $n "3e


5/8

&r$e* bu" &on:$&"$n6 defendan"# (anue! Beron$!!a, 0o!$&aro 0a&u!do, F$!$$no

%e!a#&o, and >a&$n"o Adr$a"$&o a# &on#$ra"or and &o-r$n&$a!# of "3e &r$e of

urder, and #en"en&$n6 "3e "o #uffer $r$#onen" of fro 1< year#, 4 on"3# and 1

day of reclusion temporal to reclusion perpetua, "o $nden$fy "3e 3e$r# of Ar#en$o

Bora! o$n"!y and #e:era!!y $n "3e aoun" of 04,;;; 7$"3 #ub#$d$ary $r$#onen" $n

&a#e of $n#o!:en&y, and ea&3 "o ay one four"3 of "3e &o#"#. 'n &on:$&"$n6 #a$ddefendan"#, "3e Cour" a /uofound "3a" 73$!e "3e &r$e &o$""ed by "3e fe!! 7$"3$n

"3e ro:$#$on# of "3e Ane#"y 0ro&!aa"$on, "3ey 7ere no" en"$"!ed "o "3e benef$"#

"3ereof be&au#e "3e &r$e 7a# &o$""ed af"er "3e e$ra"$on of "3e "$e !$$" f$ed

by "3e ane#"y ro&!aa"$on* $.e., "3a" "3e de&ea#ed Ar#en$o Bora! 7a# ee&u"ed

af"er "3e !$bera"$on of La 0a, Abra.

'n :$e7 of "3e #en"en&e e"ed by "3e Cour" be!o7, "3e a&&u#ed Beron$!!a,

0a&u!do, %e!a#&o and Adr$a"$&o aea!ed "o "3$# Cour".

3e re&ord# are a!e "o #u#"a$n "3e &!a$ of "3e defen#e "3a" "3e arre#",ro#e&u"$on and "r$a! of "3e !a"e Ar#en$o Bora! 7ere done ur#uan" "o ere## order#

of "3e 15"3 'nfan"ry eaduar"er#. E3$b$"# 9 and 12-a@, $n#"ru&"$n6 a!! $!$"ary

ayor# under $"# ur$#d$&"$on "o 6a"3er e:$den&e a6a$n#" ue" off$&$a!# and "o ao$n"

ur$e# of a" !ea#" 12 bo!oen "o "ry "3e a&&u#ed and f$nd "3e 6u$!"y by "7o "3$rd#

:o"e. '" $# "o be no"ed "3a" Ar#en$o Bora! 7a# #e&$f$&a!!y naed $n "3e !$#" of &$:$!$an

off$&$a!# "o be ro#e&u"ed E3$b$" 12-b@.

'n "ru"3, "3e ro#e&u"$on doe# no" #er$ou#!y d$#u"e "3a" "3e "r$a! and #en"en&$n6

of Bora! 7a# done $n a&&ordan&e 7$"3 $n#"ru&"$on# of #uer$or $!$"ary au"3or$"$e#,a!"3o $" o$n"# "o $rre6u!ar$"$e# "3a" 7ere due ore "o $6noran&e of !e6a! ro&e##e# "3an

er#ona! an$o#$"y a6a$n#" Bora!. 3e #"a"e, 3o7e:er, red$&a"e# $"# &a#e r$n&$a!!yon "3e e$#"en&e of "3e rad$o6ra E3$b$" fro Co!one! %o!&Dann, o:era!! area

&oander, "o L". Co!. Arno!d, #e&$f$&a!!y &a!!$n6 a""en"$on "o "3e $!!e6a!$"y of

Bora!I# &on:$&"$on and #en"en&e, and 73$&3 "3e ro#e&u"$on &!a$# 7a# Dno7n "o "3e

a&&u#ed Beron$!!a. +a$d e##a6e $# a# fo!!o7#

(e##a6e

%LC(AN ARNL CLN /NER+AN A

(/N'C'0AL''E+ F ABRA A%E RGAN'JE >/R ++E( 0

BEL'E%E A '+ B '+ 'LLEGAL AN CANN R 0ER+N+FR E+0'NAGE R CLLABRA'N NR (EE /

0/N'+(EN+ EREF 0 +0EC'F'C 'N+ANCE '+ BR/G /R AEN'N FR 0R0ER AN '((E'AE AC'N N NEAR+EN' BR>AL F LA 0AJ ) A+ BEEN R'E C(A

CN%'CE AN +ENENCE BE ANGE 0 RE0R AC'N

AEN B / N '+ (AER 0 (+G BEG'N+ CLN

EK. @


6/8

3e &ru&$a! ue#"$on "3u# be&oe# 73e"3er or no" "3$# e##a6e, or$6$na!!y #en"

"o Arno!dI# uar"er# $n +an E#"eban, '!o&o# +ur, 7a# re!ayed by "3e !a""er "o ae!!an"

Beron$!!a $n La 0a, Abra, on "3e orn$n6 of Ar$! 18, 1945, "o6e"3er 7$"3 "3e

a&Da6e of re&ord# of Bora!I# "r$a! "3a" 7a# ad$""ed!y re"urned "o and re&e$:ed by

Beron$!!a on "3a" da"e, af"er re:$e7 "3ereof by Arno!d E3$b$"# 8-8-a@. b:$ou#!y, $f

"3e %o!&Dann e##a6e 7a# Dno7n "o Beron$!!a, 3$# order$n6 "3e ee&u"$on of Bora!on "3e n$63" of Ar$! 18, 1945 &an no" be u#"$f$ed.

)e 3a:e &arefu!!y ea$ned "3e e:$den&e on "3$# $or"an" $##ue, and f$nd no

#a"$#fa&"ory roof "3a" Beron$!!a d$d a&"ua!!y re&e$:e "3e rad$o6ra E3$b$" or any&oy "3ereof. 3e a&&u#ed round!y den$ed $". 3e e##en6er, or runner, 0edro

(o!$na &ou!d no" #"a"e 73a" aer# 7ere en&!o#ed $n "3e a&Da6e 3e de!$:ered "o

Beron$!!a on "3e orn$n6 $n ue#"$on, nor &ou!d Fran&$#&o Bayuen or BayDen@, 73o

&!a$ed "o 3a:e been re#en" a" "3e de!$:ery of "3e e##a6e, #"a"e "3e &on"en"# "3ereof.

3e on!y 7$"ne## 73o a##er"ed "3a" Beron$!!a re&e$:ed and read "3e %o!&Dann

e##a6e, E3$b$" , 7a# Rafae! Ba!a&eda, a re!a"$:e of Bora!, 73o &!a$ed "o 3a:ebeen, a# Beron$!!aI# body6uard, re#en" a" "3e re&e$" of "3e e##a6e and "o 3a:e read

$" o:er Beron$!!aI# #3ou!der. 3$# "e#"$ony, 3o7e:er, &an no" be a&&orded &reden&e,

for "3e rea#on "3a" $n "3e aff$da:$" ee&u"ed by "3$# 7$"ne## before F$#&a! An"on$o of

Abra E3$b$" 4@, Ba!a&eda fa$!ed "o aDe any en"$on of "3e read$n6, or e:en "3e

re&e$", of "3e e##a6e. 'n "3e aff$da:$", 3e #"a"ed

H.'n your &aa&$"y a# o!$&ean, do you Dno7 of any unu#ua! o&&urren&e "3a"

"ran#$red $n La 0a, Abra. A.e#, #$r.

H.)$!! you #"a"e 73a" $# "3a" e:en" A.n Ar$! 1


7/8

"3e ear!y e:en$n6 of Ar$! 18, 73$!e BayDen "e#"$f$ed "3a" "3e a6reeen" 7a# ade

abou" "en oI&!o&D $n "3e orn$n6, #3or"!y af"er "3e a&&u#ed 3ad den$ed Bora!I# e"$"$on

"o be a!!o7ed "o 3ear a##.

/on "3e o"3er 3and, Beron$!!aI# &ondu&" be!$e# 3$# re&e$" of "3e %o!&Dann

e##a6e. ad 3e ee&u"ed Bora! $n :$o!a"$on of #uer$or order#, 3e 7ou!d no" 3a:e

dared "o reor" $" "o Arno!dI# 3eaduar"er# on "3e :ery #ae day, Ar$! 18"3, 1945, a#

3e d$d E3$b$" 2;@, 3a!f an 3our af"er "3e ee&u"$on. And 73a" $# e:en ore

$or"an", $f Bora! 7a# ee&u"ed &on"rary "o $n#"ru&"$on#, 3o7 &ou!d L". Co!one!

Arno!d on Ar$! 22, 1945, 7r$"e $n re!y E3$b$"# 21, 21-a@ ' &an on!y &o!$en"you for your $ar"$a! bu" $ndeenden" 7ay of 3and!$n6 "3e 73o!e &a#e $n#"ead of

bera"$n6 Beron$!!a and order$n6 3$# &our" ar"$a! for d$#obed$en&e

ur &on&!u#$on $# "3a" L". Co!. Arno!d, for #oe rea#on "3a" &an no" no7 be

a#&er"a$ned, fa$!ed "o "ran#$" "3e %o!&Dann e##a6e "o Beron$!!a. And "3$# be$n6

#o, "3e &3ar6e of &r$$na! &on#$ra&y "o do a7ay 7$"3 Bora! u#" be ree&"ed,

be&au#e "3e a&&u#ed 3ad no need "o &on#$re a6a$n#" a an 73o 7a#, "o "3e$rDno7!ed6e, du!y #en"en&ed "o dea"3.

3e #"a"e &!a$# "3a" "3e ae!!an"# 3e!d 6rud6e# a6a$n#" "3e !a"e Bora!. E:en

#o, $" 3a# been a!ready de&$ded "3a" "3e &on&urren&e of er#ona! 3a"red and

&o!!abora"$on 7$"3 "3e eney a# o"$:e# for a !$u$da"$on doe# no" oera"e "o e&!ude

"3e &a#e fro "3e benef$"# of "3e Ane#"y &!a$ed by ae!!an"#, #$n&e "3en $" ay

no" be 3e!d "3a" "3e an#!au63"er #"eed fro ure!y er#ona! o"$:e# 0eo!e :#.

Barr$ou$n"o,MG. R. No#. L-2;11 and 22?une =;, 1951@. A&"ua!!y, "3e &ondu&" of

"3e ae!!an"# doe# no" d$#o#e "3a" "3e#e ae!!an"# 7ere $e!!ed by a!$&e do!o@.

3e arre#" and "r$a! of Bora! 7ere ade uon ere## order# of "3e 3$63er &oand*

"3e ae!!an"# a!!o7ed Bora! "o be defended by &oun#e!, one of "3e a""orney >o:$"oBarrera#@ &3o#en by Bora!I# #$#"er* "3e "r$a! !a#"ed n$ne"een 19@ day#* $" 7a#

#u#ended 73en doub"# aro#e abou" $"# !e6a!$"y, and $" 7a# no" re#ued un"$!

3eaduar"er# "3en $n Lan6an6$!an6, Abra@ au"3or$ed $"# re#u"$on and #en" an

ob#er:er E#"eban Cabano#, of "3e +-5@ "o "3e ro&eed$n6#, and 73o#e #u66e#"$on# on

ro&edure 7ere fo!!o7ed* and 73en "3e :erd$&" of 6u$!"y 7a# rendered and dea"3

#en"en&e $o#ed, "3e re&ord# 7ere #en" "o Arno!dI# 3eaduar"er# for re:$e7, and

Bora! 7a# no" un$#3ed un"$! "3e re&ord# 7ere re"urned e$63" day# !a"er 7$"3 "3e

#"a"een" of Arno!d "3a" 73a"e:er d$#o#$"$on you aDe of "3e &a#e $# 3ereby

aro:ed E3$b$" 8@, 73$&3 on $"# fa&e 7a# an a##en" "o "3e :erd$&" and "3e #en"en&e.

3e !o7er Cour", af"er f$nd$n6 "3a" "3e !a"e Ar#en$o Bora! 3ad rea!!y &o$""ed

"rea#onab!e a&"#, &au#$n6 #o!d$er# and &$:$!$an# "o be "or"ured, and 3$dden Aer$&an

off$&er# "o be &a"ured by "3e >aane#e@ ere##!y de&!ared "3a" "3e Cour" $#

&on:$n&ed "3a" $" 7a# no" for o!$"$&a! or er#ona! rea#on "3a" "3e a&&u#ed de&$ded "o

D$!! Ar#en$o Bora! e&$#$on, . 9* Re&ord, .


8/8

"3e$r ar", 7e &an no" #ay "3a" &r$$na! $n"en" 3a# been e#"ab!$#3ed /. +. :#. Ca"o!$&o,

18 03$!., 5;u!y 188?* < >anuary 19;1* 24 (ar&3 19;;* 21 Feb. 1921* 25 (ar&3 [email protected] non

facit reum nisi mens sit rea.

o &on#"$"u"e a &r$e, "3e a&" u#", e&e" $n &er"a$n &r$e# ade #u&3 by

#"a"u"e, be a&&oan$ed by a &r$$na! $n"en", or by #u&3 ne6!$6en&e or $nd$fferen&e "o

du"y or "o &on#euen&e#, a#, $n !a7, $# eu$:a!en" "o &r$$na! $n"en". 3e a$ $#,

actus non facit reum, nisi mens rea-a$# no" &o$""ed $f "3e $nd of "3e er#on

erfor$n6 "3e a&" &o!a$ned of be $nno&en". /. +. :#. Ca"o!$&o, 18 03$!., 5;u!y 1, 1945, a&&ord$n6 "o $"# re&ord#* and "3$# f$nd$n6 7a#

a&&e"ed by >ud6e Le"ar6o 73en 3e d$#$##ed "3e &a#e a6a$n#" #a$d a&&u#ed on (ar&3

15, 1949. n "3e o"3er 3and, >ud6e# Bo&ar and $!ar$o, 73o #ub#euen"!y "ooD

&o6n$an&e of "3e &a#e, re!$ed on ear"en" rder No. 25, of "3e ear"en" of "3e

'n"er$or, da"ed Au6u#" 12, 1948, #e""$n6 "3e !$bera"$on of "3e 0ro:$n&e of Abra on Ar$!4, 1945, f$f"een day# before Bora! 7a# #!a$n. 3e "7o da"e# are no" #"r$&"!y

&on"rad$&"ory* bu" e:en $f "3ey are, 7e be!$e:e "3e#e ae!!an"# #3ou!d be 6$:en "3e

benef$" of "3e 0re#$den"$a! d$re&"$:e "o "3e Ane#"y Co$##$on# Ad. rder No.

11, of &"ober 2, 194?@ "3a" any rea#onab!e doub" a# "o 73e"3er a 6$:en &a#e fa!!#

7$"3$n "3e ane#"y@ ro&!aa"$on #3a!! be re#o!:ed $n fa:or of "3e a&&u#ed 42 ff.

Ga., 2=?;@, a# 7a# done $n 0eo!e :#. Gao, 84 03$!., 1;

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People vs Beronilla.doc