People vs. Saharan

7/26/2019 People vs. Saharan

1/14

Republic of the Philippines

Supreme Court

Manila

THIRD DIVISION

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, G.R. No. 188314Plaintiff-Appellee,

- versus

KHADDAF !AN!ALANI, GA"AL #.

#AHARAN $.%.$. T$p$&, ANGELO

TRINIDAD $.%.$. A'u K($)*), GAPPAL#ANNAH ASALI $.%.$. "$*+$ or

Ne-ro, !AINAL SALI $.%.$. A'u

So)$*m$, ROH"AT A#DRROHI"

$.%.$. !$/%*e or 0$%&, $+ ot(er !OHN

$+ !ANE DOES,

Present:

CARPIO MORALESChairperson,BRION

BERSAMIN!ILLARAMA "R# an$

SERENOJJ.

Accused,

GA"AL #. #AHARAN $.%.$. T$p$&,

ANGELO TRINIDAD $.%.$. A'u K($)*),$+ ROH"AT A#DRROHI" $.%.$.

A'u !$/%*e or 0$%&,

Pro%ul&ate$:

"anuar' () *)((

Accused-Appellants.

+ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - +

D E C I S I O N

SERENO,J.

Before the Court is an appeal fro% the ,ecision of the

Court of Appeals CA. $ate$ /) "une *))0 1hich affir%e$ the

,ecision of the Re&ional 2rial Court of Ma3ati Cit' inCri%inal Case Nos# )4-567 an$ )4-5666 $ate$ (0 October*))4# 2he latter ,ecision convicte$ the three accuse$-

appellants na%el' 8a%al B# Baharan a#3#a# 2apa' An&elo2rini$a$ a#3#a# Abu 9halil an$ Roh%at Ab$urrohi% a#3#a# Abu

"ac3ie or a3' of the co%ple+ cri%e of %ultiple %ur$er an$

%ultiple frustrate$ %ur$er an$ sentence$ the% to suffer thepenalt' of $eath b' lethal in;ection# 2he CA %o$ifie$ the

sentence to reclusion perpetuaas re


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bac3 of the bus# At the ti%e there 1ere onl' (4 passen&ersinsi$e the bus# ?e also notice$ that the e'es of one of the %en

1ere re$$ish# @hen he approache$ the person near the $river

an$ as3e$ hi% 1hether he 1as pa'in& for t1o passen&ers the

latter loo3e$ $u%b struc3 b' the


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entere$ a plea of -u*)t On the other han$ upon arrai&n%entfor themu)t*p)e 2rutr$te+ mur+erchar&e Cri%# Case No#

)4-566. accuse$ Asali ple$ -u*)t Accuse$ 2rini$a$ an$

Baharan ple$ ot -u*)t Roh%at ple$ot -u*)t&to both

char&es# ,urin& the pretrial hearin& the parties stipulate$ thefollo1in&:

(#. 2he ;uris$iction of this court overthe offenses char&e$#

*#. 2hat all three accuse$ na%el' aliasBaharan 2rini$a$ an$ Asali a$%itte$

3no1in& one another before >ebruar'(5 *))4#

/#. All the sa%e three accuse$ li3e1isea$%itte$ that a bo%b e+plo$e$ in the

RRC8 bus 1hile the bus 1as pl'in& theE,SA route frontin& the MR2 ter%inal

1hich is in front of the Ma3atiCo%%ercial Center#

5#. Accuse$ Asali a$%itte$ 3no1in&the other accuse$ alias Roh%at 1ho% he

clai%s tau&ht hi% ho1 to %a3ee+plosive $evices#

4#. 2he accuse$ 2rini$a$ also a$%itte$3no1in& Roh%at before the >ebruar' (5

bo%bin& inci$ent#

7#. 2he accuse$ Baharan 2rini$a$ an$Asali all a$%itte$ to causin& the bo%b

e+plosion insi$e the RRC8 bus 1hichleft four people $ea$ an$ %ore or less

fort' persons in;ure$#

6#. Both Baharan an$ 2rini$a$ a&ree$to stipulate that 1ithin the perio$ March*)-*5 each &ave separate intervie1s to

the ABS-CBN ne1s net1or3 a$%ittin&their participation in the co%%ission of

the sai$ cri%es sub;ect of these cases#

0#. Accuse$ 2rini$a$ an$ Baharan also

a$%itte$ to plea$in& &uilt' to thesecri%es because the' 1ere &uilt-stric3en

after seein& a %an carr'in& a chil$ in thefirst bus that the' ha$ entere$#=#. Accuse$ Asali li3e1ise a$%itte$

that in the %i$$le of March *))4 he&ave a television ne1s intervie1 in

1hich he a$%itte$ that he supplie$ thee+plosive $evices 1hich resulte$ in this

e+plosion insi$e the RRC8 bus an$

1hich resulte$ in the filin& of thesechar&es#

()#. >inall' accuse$ Baharan 2rini$a$

an$ Asali a$%itte$ that the' are

%e%bers of the Abu Sa''af# (

In the li&ht of the pretrial stipulations the trial courtas3e$ 1hether accuse$ Baharan an$ 2rini$a$ 1ere a%enable to

chan&in& their not &uilt' pleas to the char&e ofmu)t*p)e

2rutr$te+ mur+er,consi$erin& that the' ple$ &uilt' to the
http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2011/january2011/188314.htm#_ftn1http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2011/january2011/188314.htm#_ftn1


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heavier char&e ofmu)t*p)e mur+er creatin& an apparentinconsistenc' in their pleas# ,efense counsel conferre$ 1ith

accuse$ Baharan an$ 2rini$a$ an$ e+plaine$ to the% the

conse


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steno&raphic notes $urin& the (0 April *))4 re-arrai&n%entbefore the Ma3ati Re&ional 2rial Court is repro$uce$ belo1:

CODR2 : An'1a' I thin3 1hat 1e shoul$ have

to $o consi$erin& thestipulations that 1ere a&ree$upon $urin& the last hearin&

is to a$$ress this %atter ofpleas of not &uilt' entere$ for

the frustrate$ %ur$er char&es

b' the t1o accuse$ Mr#2rini$a$ an$ Mr# Baharan

because if 'ou 1ill recallthe' entere$ pleas of &uilt' to

the multiple murder chargesbut then earlier pleas of not&uilt' for thefrustrated

multiplemurderchargesre%ain Is

that not inconsistentconsi$erin& the stipulations

that 1ere entere$ into $urin&

the initial pretrial of thiscase If 'ou 1ill recall the'

a$%itte$ to have cause$ thebo%b e+plosion that le$ to

the $eath of at least four

people an$ in;ur' of aboutfort' other persons an$ so

un$er the circu%stances Att'Pea have 'ou $iscusse$ this

%atter 1ith 'our clients

A22F# PEA : 2hen 1e shoul$ be &iven enou&h

ti%e to tal3 1ith the%# I

havent conferre$ 1ith the%

about this 1ith re&ar$ tothe multiple murder case#

CODR2 : O3a'# So let us procee$ no1# Att'#

Pea can 'ou assist the t1o

accuse$ because if the' areintereste$ in 1ith$ra1in&

their pleas I 1ant to hear itfro% 'our lips#

A22F# PEA : Fes 'our ?onor#At this ;uncture Att'# Pea confers 1ith the t1o

accuse$ na%el' 2rini$a$ an$Baharan.

I have tal3e$ to the% 'our ?onor an$ I havee+plaine$ to the% the

conse


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A22F# PEA : Fes 'our ?onor# So the' areno1 since the' alrea$' plea$

&uilt to the %ur$er case then

the' are no1 chan&in& their

pleas 'our ?onor fro% not&uilt' to the one of &uilt#2he' are no1 rea$' 'our

?onor for re-arrai&n%ent#

IN2ERPRE2ER: Rea$ a&ain that portion ofthe infor%ation an$

translate$ it in >ilipino in aclearer 1a' an$ as3e$ both

accuse$ 1hat their pleas are.#Four ?onor both accuse$ are enterin& separatepleas of &uilt to the cri%e

char&e$#

CODR2 : All ri&ht# So after the infor%ation 1asre-rea$ to the accuse$ the'

have 1ith$ra1n their pleas of

not &uilt' an$ chan&e$ it tothe pleas of &uilt' to the

char&e offrustrated murder#2han3 'ou# Are there an'

%atters 'ou nee$ to a$$ress

at pretrial no1 If there arenone then I 1ill ter%inate

pretrial an$ acco%%o$ate4

As earl' as inPeople v. Apduhan, the Supre%e Courthas rule$ that all trial ;u$&es %ust refrain fro% acceptin& 1ith

alacrit' an accuse$Gs plea of &uilt' for 1hile ;ustice $e%an$s aspee$' a$%inistration ;u$&es are $ut' boun$ to be e+tra

solicitous in seein& to it that 1hen an accuse$ plea$s &uilt' he

un$erstan$s full' the %eanin& of his plea an$ the i%port of an

inevitable conviction#

7

2hus trial court ;u$&es are re


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Li3e1ise the re


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consiste$ of the testi%onies of the bus con$uctor El%erAn$ales an$ of the accuse$-turne$-state-1itness Asali#

An$ales positivel' i$entifie$ accuse$ Baharan an$ 2rini$a$ as

the t1o %en 1ho ha$ acte$ suspiciousl' 1hile insi$e the busH

1ho ha$ insiste$ on &ettin& off the bus in violation of a Ma3atior$inanceH an$ 1ho ha$ sca%pere$ a1a' fro% the bus%o%ents before the bo%b e+plo$e$# On the other han$ Asali

testifie$ that he ha$ &iven accuse$ Baharan an$ 2rini$a$ the2N2 use$ in the bo%bin& inci$ent in Ma3ati Cit'# 2he &uilt of

the accuse$ Baharan an$ 2rini$a$ 1as sufficientl' establishe$

b' these corroboratin& testi%onies couple$ 1ith theirrespective ;u$icial a$%issions pretrial stipulations. an$

e+tra;u$icial confessions e+clusive television intervie1s asthe' both stipulate$ $urin& pretrial. that the' 1ere in$ee$ the

perpetrators of the !alentines ,a' bo%bin(4Accor$in&l'

the Court uphol$s the fin$in&s of &uilt %a$e b' the trial courtas affir%e$ b' the Court of Appeals#

Anent accuse$ Roh%at the evi$ence for the

prosecution consiste$ of the testi%on' of accuse$-turne$-state-1itness Asali# Belo1 is a repro$uction of the transcript of

steno&raphic notes on the state prosecutors $irect e+a%ination

of state-1itness Asali $urin& the *7 Ma' *))4 trial:

: Fou state$ that a3' traine$ 'ou an$2rini$a$# Dn$er 1hat

circu%stances $i$ he train

'ou Mr# @itness toasse%ble those e+plosives

'ou an$ 2rini$a$

A : Abu a3' Abu Solai%an 9ha$aff'"an;alani the three of the%

that An&elo 2rini$a$ an$%'self be the one to be

traine$ to %a3e an e+plosive

sir#

: Mr# 1itness ho1 lon& that trainin& or ho1lon& $i$ it ta3e that trainin&

A : If I a% not %ista3en 1e 1ere thou&ht to

%a3e bo%b about one %onth

an$ t1o 1ee3s#

: No1 spea3in& of that %ission Mr# 1itness

1hile 'ou 1ere still in

trainin& at Mr# Cararao isthere an' %ission that 'ou

un$ertoo3 if an' 1ithrespect to that %ission

A : Our first %ission 1as to plant a bo%b in the

%alls LR2 an$ other parts ofMetro Manila sir#(7

2he 1itness then testifie$ that he 3ept ei&ht 3ilos of

2N2 for accuse$ Baharan an$ 2rini$a$#

: No1 &oin& bac3 to the bo%b# Mr# 1itness

$i$ 'ou 3no1 1hat happene$to the * 3ilos of bo%b that

2rini$a$ an$ 2apa' too3 fro%
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'ou so%eti%e in Nove%ber*))5

A : 2hat 1as the e+plosive that he plante$ in the

8-liner 1hich $i$ note+plo$e#

: ?o1 $i$ 'ou 3no1 Mr# 1itness

A : ?e 1as the one 1ho tol$ %e Mr# An&elo

2rini$a$ sir#

: @hat happene$ ne+t Mr# 1itness 1hen the

bo%b $i$ not e+plo$e as tol$

to 'ou b' 2rini$a$

A : On ,ece%ber *= An&elo 2rini$a$ &ot *%ore 3ilos of 2N2 bo%bs#

: ,i$ 2rini$a$ tell 'ou 1h' he nee$e$ another

a%ount of e+plosive on that$ate ,ece%ber *= *))5

@ill 'ou 3in$l' tell us thereason 1h'

A : ?e tol$ %e that Abu Solai%an instructe$ %e

to &et the 2N2 so that hecoul$ $etonate a bo%b

: @ere there an' other person besi$es AbuSolai%an 1ho calle$ 'ou up

1ith respect to the ta3in& of

the e+plosives fro% 'ou

A : 2here is sir Abu a3' sir calle$ up also#

: @hat $i$ Abu a3' tell 'ou 1hen he calle$'ou up

A : ?e tol$ %e that this is 'our first %ission#

: Please enli&hten the ?onorable Court# @hatis that %ission 'ou are

referrin& to

A : 2hat is the first %ission 1here 1e can sho1

our an&er to1ar$s theChristians#

: 2he secon$ ti%e that he &ot a bo%b fro%

'ou Mr# 1itness $o 'ou3no1 if the bo%b e+plo$e

A : I $i$ not 3no1 1hat happene$ to the ne+t *

3ilos ta3en b' An&elo

2rini$a$ fro% %e until after I1as cau&ht because I 1as

tol$ b' the police%an thatintervie1e$ %e after I 1as

arreste$ that the * 3ilos 1ere


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plante$ in a bus 1hich also$i$ not e+plo$e#

: So besi$es these t1o inci$ents 1ere therean' other inci$ents that

An&elo 2rini$a$ an$ 2apa'&et an e+plosive for 'ou Mr#

1itness

A : If I a% not %ista3en sir on >ebruar' (/*))4 at 7:/) p#%#

: @ho &ot fro% 'ou the e+plosive Mr#1itness

A : Its An&elo 2rini$a$ an$ 2apa' sir#

: ?o1 %an' e+plosives $i$ the' &et fro%

'ou Mr# 1itness at thatti%e

A : 2he' &ot * 3ilos 2N2 bo%b sir#

: ,i$ the' tell 'ou Mr# 1itness 1here arethe' &oin& to use that

e+plosive

A : No sir#

: ,o 'ou 3no1 Mr# 1itness 1hat happene$to the thir$ batch of

e+plosives 1hich 1ere ta3en

fro% 'ou b' 2rini$a$ an$

2apa'

A : 2hat is the bo%b that e+plo$e$ in Ma3atisir#

: @h' $i$ 'ou 3no1 Mr# 1itness

A : Because I 1as calle$ in the evenin& of>ebruar' (5 b' Abu

Solai%an# ?e tol$ %e not to

leave the house because thee+plosive that 1ere ta3en b'

2apa' an$ An&elo 2rini$a$e+plo$e$#

: @as there an' other call $urin& that ti%e

Mr# @itness

A : I 1as tol$ b' An&elo 2rini$a$ not to leave

the house because the

e+plosive that he too3e+plo$e$ alrea$' sir#

: ?o1 sure 1ere 'ou Mr# 1itness at that

ti%e that in$ee$ the bo%be+plo$e$ at Ma3ati besi$e


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the call of Abu Solai%an an$2rini$a$

A : It 1as tol$ b' Abu Solai%an that the

bo%bin& in Ma3ati shoul$coinci$e 1ith the bo%bin& in8eneral Santos#

A : ?e tol$ it to %e sir I cannot re%e%ber the

$ate an'%ore but I 3no1 it1as so%eti%e in >ebruar'

*))4#

: An' other call Mr# 1itness fro% Abu

Solai%an an$ 2rini$a$ afterthe bo%bin& e+plo$e$ in

Ma3ati an' other call

A : 2here is sir 2he call ca%e fro% Abu a3'#

: @hat $i$ Abu a3' tell 'ou Mr# 1itness

A : ?e ;ust &reete$ us con&ratulations because1e have a successful %ission#

A : ?e tol$ %e that sa 1a3as na& success $in

'un& tinuro 3o sa'o#

: B' the 1a' Mr# 1itness I 1oul$ ;ust li3e toclarif' this# Fou state$ that

Abu a3' calle$ 'ou up the

follo1in& $a' that 1as

>ebruar' (4 an$con&ratulatin& 'ou for thesuccess of the %ission# M'


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Manila so that the' coul$ sho1 their an&er to1ar$s theChristians#(0It can also be seen that Roh%at to&ether 1ith

"an;alani an$ Abu Solai%an ha$ carefull' planne$ the

!alentines ,a' bo%bin& inci$ent %onths before it happene$#

Roh%at ha$ traine$ Asali an$ 2rini$a$ to %a3e bo%bs an$e+plosives# @hile in trainin& Asali an$ others 1ere tol$ thattheir %ission 1as to plant bo%bs in %alls the LR2 an$ other

parts of Metro Manila# Accor$in& to Asali Roh%at calle$ hi%on *= ,ece%ber *))5 to confir% that 2rini$a$ 1oul$ &et t1o

3ilos of 2N2 fro% Asali as the' 1ere about to co%%ence their

first %ission#(=2he' %a$e t1o separate atte%pts to bo%b abus in Metro Manila but to no avail# 2he $a' before the

!alentines ,a' bo%bin& 2rini$a$ &ot another t1o 3ilos of2N2 fro% Asali# On !alentines ,a' the Abu Sa''af 8roup

announce$ that the' ha$ a &ift for the for%er Presi$ent 8loria

Macapa&al-Arro'o# On their thir$ tr' their plan finall'succee$e$# Ri&ht after the bo%b e+plo$e$ the Abu Sa''af

8roup $eclare$ that there 1oul$ be %ore bo%bin&s in thefuture# Asali then receive$ a call fro% Roh%at praisin& the

for%er: Sa wakas nag success din yung tinuro ko sayo#*)

In the li&ht of the fore&oin& evi$ence the Court

uphol$s the fin$in& of &uilt a&ainst Roh%at# Article (6 of theRevise$ Penal Co$e rea$s:

Art# (6#Principals# 2he follo1in& are consi$ere$

principals:

(# 2hose 1ho ta3e a $irect part in the e+ecution of

the act*# 2hose 1ho $irectl' force or in$uce others to

co%%it it

/# 2hose 1ho cooperate in the co%%ission of theoffense b' another act 1ithout 1hich it 1oul$ not

have been acco%plishe$

Accuse$ Roh%at is cri%inall' responsible un$er thesecon$ para&raph or the provision on principal b' in$uce%ent#2he instructions an$ trainin& he ha$ &iven Asali on ho1 to

%a3e bo%bs couple$ 1ith their careful plannin& an$ persistentatte%pts to bo%b $ifferent areas in Metro Manila an$ Roh%ats

confir%ation that 2rini$a$ 1oul$ be &ettin& 2N2 fro% Asali as

part of their %ission prove the fin$in& that Roh%ats co-in$uce%ent 1as the $eter%inin& cause of the co%%ission of

the cri%e#*(Such co%%an$ or a$vice 1as of such naturethat 1ithout it the cri%e 1oul$ not have %aterialie$#**

>urther the in$uce%ent 1as so influential in pro$ucin&the cri%inal act that 1ithout it the act 1oul$ not have been

perfor%e$#*/InPeople v. Sanche!, et al# the Court rule$ thatnot1ithstan$in& the fact that Ma'or Sanche 1as not at the

cri%e scene evi$ence prove$ that he 1as the %aster%in$ ofthe cri%inal act or the principal b' in$uce%ent# 2hus because

Ma'or Sanche 1as a co-principal an$ co-conspirator an$

because the act of one conspirator is the act of all the %a'or1as ren$ere$ liable for all the resultin& cri%es# *52he sa%e

fin$in& %ust be applie$ to the case at bar#

2he Court also affir%s the fin$in& of the e+istence of

conspirac' involvin& accuse$ Baharan 2rini$a$ an$ Roh%at#Conspirac' 1as clearl' establishe$ fro% the collective acts of

the accuse$-appellants before $urin& an$ after the co%%issionof the cri%e# As correctl' $eclare$ b' the trial court in its

O%nibus ,ecision:
http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2011/january2011/188314.htm#_ftn18http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2011/january2011/188314.htm#_ftn18http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2011/january2011/188314.htm#_ftn19http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2011/january2011/188314.htm#_ftn20http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2011/january2011/188314.htm#_ftn21http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2011/january2011/188314.htm#_ftn21http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2011/january2011/188314.htm#_ftn22http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2011/january2011/188314.htm#_ftn22http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2011/january2011/188314.htm#_ftn23http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2011/january2011/188314.htm#_ftn24http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2011/january2011/188314.htm#_ftn24http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2011/january2011/188314.htm#_ftn18http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2011/january2011/188314.htm#_ftn19http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2011/january2011/188314.htm#_ftn20http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2011/january2011/188314.htm#_ftn21http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2011/january2011/188314.htm#_ftn22http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2011/january2011/188314.htm#_ftn23http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2011/january2011/188314.htm#_ftn24


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Asalis clear an$ cate&orical testi%on'1hich re%ains unrebutte$ on its %a;or points

couple$ 1ith the ;u$icial a$%issions freel' an$

voluntaril' &iven b' the t1o other accuse$ are

sufficient to prove the e+istence of a conspirac'hatche$ bet1een an$ a%on& the four accuse$all %e%bers of the terrorist &roup Abu Sa''af

to 1rea3 chaos an$ %a'he% in the %etropolisb' in$iscri%inatel' 3illin& an$ in;urin& civilian

victi%s b' utiliin& bo%bs an$ other si%ilar

$estructive e+plosive $evices#

@hile sai$ conspirac' involvin& the four%alefactors has not been e+pressl' a$%itte$ b'

accuse$ Baharan An&elo 2rini$a$ an$ Roh%at

%ore specificall' 1ith respect to the lattersparticipation in the co%%ission of the cri%es

nonetheless it has been establishe$ b' virtue ofthe afore%entione$ evi$ence 1hich establishe$

the e+istence of the conspirac' itself an$ thein$ispensable participation of accuse$ Roh%at

in seein& to it that the conspirators cri%inal

$esi&n 1oul$ be realie$#

It is 1ell-establishe$ that conspirac'%a' be inferre$ fro% the acts of the accuse$

1hich clearl' %anifests a concurrence of 1ills

a co%%on intent or $esi&n to co%%it a cri%ePeople v. %enantud /4* SCRA 455.# ?ence

1here acts of the accuse$ collectivel' an$in$ivi$uall' $e%onstrate the e+istence of a

co%%on $esi&n to1ar$s the acco%plish%ent ofthe sa%e unla1ful purpose conspirac' is

evi$ent an$ all the perpetrators 1ill be hel$liable as principals People v. &llado /4/ SCRA

75/.#*4

InPeople v. eronimo the Court pronounce$ that it1oul$ be ;ustifie$ in conclu$in& that the $efen$ants therein1ere en&a&e$ in a conspirac' 1hen the $efen$ants b' their acts

ai%e$ at the sa%e ob;ect one perfor%in& one part an$ theother perfor%in& another part so as to co%plete it 1ith a vie1

to the attain%ent of the sa%e ob;ectH an$ their acts thou&h

apparentl' in$epen$ent 1ere in fact concerte$ an$cooperative in$icatin& closeness of personal association

concerte$ action an$ concurrence of senti%ents#*7

Accuse$ conten$ that the testi%on' of Asali is

ina$%issible pursuant to Sec# /) Rule (/) of the Rules ofCourt# It is true that un$er the rule state%ents %a$e b' a

conspirator a&ainst a co-conspirator are a$%issible onl' 1hen%a$e $urin& the e+istence of the conspirac'# ?o1ever as the

Court rule$ inPeople v. 'untag if the $eclarant repeats thestate%ent in court his e+tra;u$icial confession beco%es a

;u$icial a$%ission %a3in& the testi%on' a$%issible as to both

conspirators#*62hus inPeople v. Pali(on the Court hel$ thefollo1in&:

@e %ust %a3e a $istinction bet1een

e+tra;u$icial an$ ;u$icial confessions# An

e+tra;u$icial confession %a' be &iven inevi$ence a&ainst the confessant but not a&ainst

his co-accuse$ as the' are $eprive$ of theopportunit' to cross-e+a%ine hi%# A ;u$icial

confession is a$%issible a&ainst the $eclarantsco-accuse$ since the latter are affor$e$
http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2011/january2011/188314.htm#_ftn25http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2011/january2011/188314.htm#_ftn26http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2011/january2011/188314.htm#_ftn27http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2011/january2011/188314.htm#_ftn27http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2011/january2011/188314.htm#_ftn25http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2011/january2011/188314.htm#_ftn26http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2011/january2011/188314.htm#_ftn27


14/14

opportunit' to cross-e+a%ine thefor%er# Se/t*o 37, Ru)e 137 o2 t(e Ru)e o2Court $pp)*e o)& to etr$6u+*/*$) $/t or

$+m**o $+ ot to tet*mo& $t tr*$)

9(ere t(e p$rt& $+5ere)& $22e/te+ ($ t(e

opportu*t& to /ro:e$m*e t(e +e/)$r$t#Mercenes a$%ission i%plicatin& his co-accuse$

1as &iven on the 1itness stan$# It is a$%issiblein evi$ence a&ainst appellant Pali;on# Moreover

1here several accuse$ are trie$ to&ether for the

sa%e offense the testi%on' of a co-accuse$i%plicatin& his co-accuse$ is co%petent

evi$ence a&ainst the latter#*0

;HEREFORE the Petition is DENIED# 2he ,ecision of the

Re&ional 2rial Court of Ma3ati as affir%e$ 1ith %o$ification

b' the Court of Appeals is hereb' AFFIR"ED#

SO ORDERED.

"ARIA LORDES P. A. SERENO

Associate "ustice
http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2011/january2011/188314.htm#_ftn28http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2011/january2011/188314.htm#_ftn28http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2011/january2011/188314.htm#_ftn28

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