G.R. No.

188602 February 4, 2010

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Appellee,
vs.
FORD GUTIERREZ y DI!!NO, Appellant.
D E C I S I O N
N!"HUR!, J.:
On appeal is the March 12, 2009 Decision
1
of the Court of Appeals CA! in CA"#.$. C$."%.C. No.
02&'0, (hich affir)e* (ith )o*ifications the Au+ust ,, 200& *ecision
2
of the $e+ional -rial Court
$-C! of Ma.ati Cit/, 0ranch &2, in Cri)inal Case Nos. 01"1&19, 01"1&20, an* 01"1&21"21, fin*in+
appellant 3or* #utierre4 / Di)aano appellant! +uilt/ 5e/on* reasona5le *ou5t of )ur*er, frustrate*
)ur*er an* three 1! counts of atte)pte* )ur*er.
On Au+ust 16, 2001, five 6! separate Infor)ations for )ur*er, frustrate* )ur*er an* three 1! counts
of atte)pte* )ur*er (ere file* a+ainst appellant. -he accusator/ portions of the Infor)ations rea*7
Cri)inal Case No. 01"1&19
3or7 Mur*er
-hat on or a5out the 1,th *a/ of Ma/, 2001, in the Cit/ of Ma.ati, 8hilippines, a place
(ithin the 9uris*iction of this %onora5le Court, the a5ove"na)e* accuse*, ar)e* (ith :a;
+un, 5/ )eans of treacher/ an* a5use of superior stren+th, (ith intent to .ill, *i* then an*
there (illfull/, unla(full/ an* feloniousl/ fire* his +un to(ar*s the person of <EO
SA<=ADO$ $E#IS, there5/ hittin+ hi) an* inflictin+ )ortal (oun*s (hich cause* his
*eath.
1
Cri)inal Case No. 01"1&20
3or7 3rustrate* Mur*er
-hat on or a5out the 1,th *a/ of Ma/, 2001, in the Cit/ of Ma.ati, 8hilippines, a place
(ithin the 9uris*iction of this %onora5le Court, the a5ove"na)e* accuse*, ar)e* (ith :a;
+un, 5/ )eans of treacher/ an* a5use of superior stren+th, (ith intent to .ill, *i* then an*
there (illfull/, unla(full/ an* feloniousl/ attac., assault an* shot one A<E>IS DA<I- /
0A<OS0A<OS hittin+ hi) on the ar), thus perfor)in+ all the acts of e?ecution (hich
(oul* have pro*uce* the cri)e of )ur*er as a conse@uence 5ut nevertheless *i* not
pro*uce it 5/ reason of a cause in*epen*ent of the (ill of the accuse*, that is *ue to the
ti)el/ an* a5le )e*ical atten*ance ren*ere* to the sai* A<E>IS DA<I- / 0A<OS0A<OS
(hich prevente* his *eath.
2
Cri)inal Case No. 01"1&21
3or7 Atte)pte* Mur*er
-hat on or a5out the 1,th *a/ of Ma/, 2001, in the Cit/ of Ma.ati, 8hilippines, a place
(ithin the 9uris*iction of this %onora5le Court, the a5ove"na)e* accuse*, ar)e* (ith a
+un, (ith treacher/, (ith intent to .ill, *i* then an* there (illfull/, unla(full/ an*
feloniousl/ fire* his +un to(ar*s one Aa/pee S. 0oneo, thus co))encin+ the co))ission
of the cri)e of Mur*er *irectl/ 5/ overt acts 5ut *i* not perfor) all the acts of e?ecution
(hich shoul* pro*uce the cri)e of Mur*er 5/ reason of cause or causes other than his o(n
spontaneous *esistance, that is *ue to the fact that he (as not a5le to hit the sai* Aa/pee S.
0oneo.
6

Cri)inal Case No. 01"1&22
3or7 Atte)pte* Mur*er
-hat on or a5out the 1,th *a/ of Ma/, 2001, in the Cit/ of Ma.ati, 8hilippines, a place
(ithin the 9uris*iction of this %onora5le Court, the a5ove"na)e* accuse*, ar)e* (ith a
+un, (ith treacher/, (ith intent to .ill, *i* then an* there (illfull/, unla(full/ an*
feloniousl/ fire* his +un to(ar*s one $an*/ S. Marcelo, thus co))encin+ the co))ission
of the cri)e of Mur*er *irectl/ 5/ overt acts 5ut *i* not perfor) all the acts of e?ecution
(hich shoul* pro*uce the cri)e of Mur*er 5/ reason of cause or causes other than his o(n
spontaneous *esistance, that is *ue to the fact that he (as not a5le to hit the sai* $an*/ S.
Marcelo.
&
Cri)inal Case No. 01"1&21
3or7 Atte)pte* Mur*er
-hat on or a5out the 1,th *a/ of Ma/ 2001, in the Cit/ of Ma.ati, 8hilippines, a place
(ithin the 9uris*iction of this %onora5le Court, the a5ove"na)e* accuse*, ar)e* (ith a
+un, (ith treacher/, (ith intent to .ill, *i* then an* there (illfull/, unla(full/ an*
feloniousl/ fire* his +un to(ar*s one Aefferson S. #alle)it, thus co))encin+ the
co))ission of the cri)e of Mur*er *irectl/ 5/ overt acts 5ut *i* not perfor) all the acts of
e?ecution (hich shoul* pro*uce the cri)e of Mur*er 5/ reason of cause or causes other
than his o(n spontaneous *esistance, that is *ue to the fact that he (as not a5le to hit the
sai* Aefferson S. #alle)it.
,
Bhen arrai+ne*, appellant, (ith the assistance of counsel *e oficio, entere* a plea of not +uilt/ to the
char+es. -rial on the )erits then ensue*.
-he Office of the Solicitor #eneral OS#! su))e* up the prosecutionCs version as follo(s7
On Ma/ 1,, 2001 at nine oCcloc. in the evenin+, the *ecease* <eo Salva*or $e+is, private
co)plainants $an*/ Marcelo, Aefferson #alle)it, Aa/pee 0oneo an* Ale?is Dalit (ere tal.in+ to each
other in front of the house of the *ecease* at 2,, Narra St., Ce)5o, Ma.ati Cit/. -he/ notice* the
presence of appellant alon+ the street an* thou+ht that appellant (oul* 9ust pass 5/. %o(ever, (hen
appellant (as t(o 2! ar)s len+th a(a/ in front of the), appellant su**enl/ raise* his ar) an* shot the
*ecease* $e+is (ith a .26 cali5er pistol. After he (as hit on the chest, $e+is sai* DAra/E,D e)5race*
$an*/ Marcelo (ho (as seate* on his left, an* fell off his chair to the +roun* -SN, Aune 2, 2002, pp.
'"11, 1,"2&!.
Aefferson #alle)it, Aa/pee 0oneo an* Ale?is Dalit stoo* fro) their seats. Appellant fire* several shots
thereafter, one of (hich hit DalitCs ar). 0oneo an* #alle)it ran up the street (hile Dalit ran in the
opposite *irection an* hi* 5ehin* a car. In the )eanti)e, the *ecease* <eo Salva*or $e+is an* $an*/
Marcelo (ere still hu**le* to+ether at the spot (here the *ecease* fell. Appellant sta/e* at the sa)e
spot (here he fire* the first shot even after the three ran a(a/. I5i*., pp. 2&"11!.
Appellant then pursue* Dalit *o(n the street 5ut *i* not catch hi), pro)ptin+ appellant to sa/7
D8a+naa5utan .o .a/o, pa+papata/in .o .a/oED Dalit then sou+ht refu+e at 0<ISS Ma.ati an*
contacte* the police fro) there I5i*., pp. 11"12!.
-he police arrive* at the scene after t(ent/ 20! )inutes. Dalit (as 5rou+ht to the Ospital n+ Ma.ati
(here his (oun* (as *resse*. %e (as operate* on at the 8hilippine Orthope*ic %ospital I5i*., pp. 12"
21!. $e+is (as 5rou+ht to the Ospital n+ Ma.ati 5/ $an*/ Marcelo (here he *ie* that ni+ht -SN,
Aune 22, 2006, p. 12!.
'
Appellant for his part asserte* self"*efense. %e testifie* that7
At aroun* ' oCcloc. p.). of Ma/ 1,, 2001, he (ent to an iha("iha( restaurant (ith live 5an* in
#ua*alupe in or*er to rela?. After ta.in+ t(o 2! 5ottles of 5eer, he *eci*e* to +o ho)e, too. a 9eepne/
ri*e an* ali+hte* in front of a 5a.er/ o(ne* 5/ 0aran+a/ Captain <eo Ma+5anta/, one hun*re* t(ent/
120! )eters a(a/ fro) his house. Bhile passin+ 5/, he notice* a +roup of five /oun+sters (ho (ere at
the ri+ht si*e of the street. A)on+ the), he onl/ .ne( <olo/ Aa/pee! 0oneo, (ho) he use* to 5a5/sit
(hen the latter (as still /oun+.
Bhile (al.in+, one in the +roup curse* hi) an* shoute* Dtan+ ina )oED Since he (as the onl/
passer5/, he stoppe* an* loo.e* at the), 5ut t(o 2! fro) the +roup approache* hi). %e (as su**enl/
5o?e* 5/ $e+is A*o, (hile Dalit (as 9ust 5esi*e A*o. Bhen he fell on the +roun*, A*o continuousl/
5eat hi), then su**enl/, a +un fell fro) <eo $e+is. %e i))e*iatel/ +ot hol* of it, an* (hen <eo $e+is
(as suppose* to attac. hi) a+ain, he .ic.e* <eo (hich )a*e hi) :to fall; *o(n. Bhen he stoo* up
an* sa( $e+is stan*in+ up, he fire* a shot at hi). %e continuousl/ fire* the +un, (hich (as *irecte*
to(ar*s the +roun* so as to (arn the others.
-hereafter, he fle* the scene, an* thre( the +un on a vacant lot. Since he *i* not .no( (hat to *o, an*
confuse*, he too. a 9eepne/ +oin+ to 8ateros, 5ut since, he ha* no )one/, he ali+hte* so)e(here, an*
reste*. Bhen he finall/ re+aine* his senses, he (ent to Cu5ao an* 5orro(e* )one/ fro) one of their
retailers.
9
Not fin*in+ cre*ence in appellantFs clai) of self"*efense, the $-C convicte* hi) of )ur*er, frustrate*
)ur*er an* atte)pte* )ur*er on three 1! counts7
B%E$E3O$E, in vie( of the fore+oin+, fin*in+ the accuse* +uilt/ 5e/on* reasona5le *ou5t of the
)ur*er of <eo Salva*or $e+is, the frustrate* )ur*er co))itte* a+ainst Ale?is 0. Dalit, an* the three
counts of atte)pte* )ur*er co))itte* a+ainst Aa/pee S. 0oneo, $an*/ S. Marcelo G Aefferson S.
#alle)it, the court here5/ i)poses the follo(in+ penalties7
1. in cri)inal case no. 01"1&19 for )ur*er of <eo Salva*or E. $e+is, the court here5/ sentences
hi) to suffer the penalt/ of i)prison)ent reclusion perpetua, to pa/ the heirs of the victi) the
su) of 860,000.00 as civil in*e)nit/ an* the a)ount of 8hp 102,11,.26 as actual *a)a+esH
2. in cri)inal case no. 01"1&20 for the frustrate* )ur*er co))itte* a+ainst Ale?is 0. Dalit, the
:c;ourt here5/ sentences hi) to suffer the penalt/ of i)prison)ent of ' /ears an* 20 *a/s as
)ini)u) to 12 /ears, 10 )onths an* 20 *a/s as )a?i)u) an* to in*e)nif/ the su) of 8hp
22,69&.60, representin+ the victi)Cs e?penses for )e*ical services an* )e*icineH
1. in cri)inal case no. 01"1&21 for the atte)pte* )ur*er co))itte* a+ainst Aa/pee S. 0oneo,
the court here5/ sentences the accuse* to suffer the penalt/ of i)prison)ent of fro) -(o 2!
/ears, 3our 2! )onths an* One 1! *a/ of prision correccional, as )ini)u), to Ei+ht '! /ears
an* One 1! *a/ of prision )a/or, as )a?i)u)H
2. in cri)inal case no. 01"1&22 for the atte)pte* )ur*er co))itte* a+ainst $an*/ S. Marcelo,
the court here5/ sentences the accuse* to suffer the penalt/ of i)prison)ent of fro) -(o 2!
/ears, 3our 2! )onths an* One 1! *a/ of prision correccional, as )ini)u), to Ei+ht '! /ears
an* One 1! *a/ of prision )a/or, as )a?i)u)H
6. in cri)inal case no. 01"1&21 for the atte)pte* )ur*er co))itte* a+ainst Aefferson S.
#alle)it, the court here5/ sentences the accuse* to suffer the penalt/ of i)prison)ent of fro)
-(o 2! /ears, 3our 2! )onths an* One 1! *a/ of prision correccional, as )ini)u), to Ei+ht
'! /ears an* One 1! *a/ of prision )a/or, as )a?i)u).
SO O$DE$ED.
10

Appellant file* an appeal 5efore the CA, assi+nin+ in his 5rief this lone error alle+e*l/ co))itte* 5/
the trial court7
-%E -$IA< COI$- #$A=E<J E$$ED IN CON=IC-IN# -%E ACCISED"
A88E<<AN- O3 -%E C$IMES C%A$#ED, B%EN %IS #II<- %AS NO- 0EEN
8$O=EN 0EJOND $EASONA0<E DOI0-, 0J #I=IN# BEI#%- AND C$EDENCE
-O -%E CON-$ADIC-O$J -ES-IMONIES O3 -%E 8$OSECI-ION
EJEBI-NESSES.
11
-he OS#, on 5ehalf of the 8eople, also file* its 5rief
12
(ith a reco))en*ation for the )o*ifications of
the felon/ an* of the a(ar* for *a)a+es. It asserte* that the trial court correctl/ +ave cre*ence to the
testi)onies of the prosecution (itnesses an* re9ecte* appellantCs clai) of self"*efense. -he OS#
insiste* that appellantCs +uilt for )ur*er in Cri)inal Case No. 01"1&19 an* atte)pte* )ur*er on three
1! counts in Cri)inal Case Nos. 01"1&21"21 (as proven 5e/on* reasona5le *ou5t. %o(ever, in
Cri)inal Case No. 01"1&20, appellant shoul* 5e hel* lia5le onl/ for atte)pte* )ur*er an* not for
frustrate* )ur*er, since the (oun* inflicte* on Ale?is 0. Dalit (as not life"threatenin+. -he OS#,
therefore, pra/e* that appellantCs conviction for frustrate* )ur*er 5e re*uce* to atte)pte* )ur*er (ith
the correspon*in+ re*uction of penalt/. 3inall/, it pra/e* for )o*ification of the actual *a)a+es
a(ar*e*, an* for the +rant of )oral an* e?e)plar/ *a)a+es to the heirs of <eo Salva*or E. $e+is.
On March 12, 2009, the CA ren*ere* the assaile* Decision, affir)in+, 5ut (ith )o*ifications, the $-C
*ecision, vi4.7
B%E$E3O$E, pre)ises consi*ere*, the , Au+ust 200& *ecision of the $e+ional -rial Court of Ma.ati
Cit/ 0ranch &2! in Cri)inal Case No. 01"1&19 for )ur*er is A33I$MED (ith MODI3ICA-ION as to
the a(ar* of *a)a+es. -he a(ar* of actual *a)a+es in favor of the heirs of <eo Salva*or E. $e+is is
re*uce* to 822,11,.26. Moral *a)a+es of 860,000.00, te)perate *a)a+es of 810,000.00, an*
e?e)plar/ *a)a+es of 810,000.00 are a**itionall/ a(ar*e* to the heirs of <eo Salva*or E. $e+is.
-he , Au+ust 200& *ecision of the $e+ional -rial Court of Ma.ati Cit/ 0ranch &2! in Cri)inal Case
No. 01"1&20 for frustrate* )ur*er is MODI3IED. Accuse*"appellant 3or* D. #utierre4 is foun*
#II<-J of co))ittin+ the cri)e of A--EM8-ED MI$DE$ an* sentence* to suffer the
in*eter)inate i)prison)ent of t(o 2! /ears, four 2! )onths an* one 1! *a/ of prision correccional,
as )ini)u), to ei+ht '! /ears an* one 1! *a/ of prision )a/or, as )a?i)u). -he a(ar* of actual
*a)a+es in favor of the victi) Ale?is 0. Dalit is A33I$MED.
-he , Au+ust 200& *ecision of the $e+ional -rial Court of Ma.ati Cit/ 0ranch &2! in Cri)inal Case
Nos. 01"1&21, 01"1&22 an* 01"1&21 for atte)pte* )ur*er is A33I$MED.
SO O$DE$ED.
11

Appellant is no( 5efore this Court, su5)ittin+ for resolution the sa)e )atters ar+ue* 5efore the CA.
-hrou+h his Manifestation in <ieu of Supple)ental 0rief,
12
appellant states that he (ill not file a
Supple)ental 0rief an*, in lieu thereof, he (ill a*opt the AppellantCs 0rief he file* 5efore the appellate
court. -he OS#, li.e(ise, )anifests that it is no lon+er filin+ a supple)ental 5rief.
16
Appellant assails the trial court an* the CA for +ivin+ cre*ence to the prosecutionCs evi*ence. %e
a*)its havin+ .ille* $e+is an* (oun*in+ Dalit, 5ut insists that he *i* so in self"*efense.
Self"*efense is an affir)ative alle+ation an* offers e?culpation fro) lia5ilit/ for cri)es onl/ if
satisfactoril/ prove*. It re@uires a! unla(ful a++ression on the part of the victi)H 5! reasona5le
necessit/ of the )eans e)plo/e* 5/ the accuse* to repel itH an* c! lac. of sufficient provocation on his
part.
1&

In 8eople of the 8hilippines v. 0ienveni*o Mara, (e e?plaine*7
One (ho a*)its .illin+ or fatall/ in9urin+ another in the na)e of self"*efense 5ears the 5ur*en of
provin+7 1! unla(ful a++ression on the part of the victi)H 2! reasona5le necessit/ of the )eans
e)plo/e* to prevent or repel itH an* 1! lac. of sufficient provocation on the part of the person clai)in+
self"*efense. 0/ invo.in+ self"*efense, the 5ur*en is place* on the accuse* to prove its ele)ents
clearl/ an* convincin+l/. Bhile all three ele)ents )ust concur, self"*efense relies first an* fore)ost on
proof of unla(ful a++ression on the part of the victi). If no unla(ful a++ression is prove*, no self"
*efense )a/ 5e successfull/ plea*e*.
1,
In this case, appellant utterl/ faile* to *ischar+e the 5ur*en of provin+ unla(ful a++ression. %is version
of the events (as uncorro5orate*, an* his testi)on/ (as foun* to 5e less cre*i5le 5/ the trial court. On
the other han*, the survivin+ victi)s (ere unani)ous that appellant su**enl/ fire* at the), (ithout
an/ provocation on their part. -he cre*i5ilit/ of the prosecution (itnesses ha* 5een (ei+he* 5/ the
trial court, an* it foun* their testi)onies to 5e )ore convincin+. As a rule, the appellate court +ives full
(ei+ht an* respect to the *eter)ination 5/ the trial court of the cre*i5ilit/ of (itnesses, since the trial
9u*+e has the 5est opportunit/ to o5serve their *e)eanor.
1'
Bhile this rule a*)its of e?ceptions, none
of such e?ceptions o5tains in this case.
In $a4on v. 8eople,
19
(e hel*7
Self"*efense cannot 5e 9ustifia5l/ appreciate* (hen uncorro5orate* 5/ in*epen*ent an* co)petent
evi*ence or (hen it is e?tre)el/ *ou5tful 5/ itself. In*ee*, in invo.in+ self"*efense, the 5ur*en of
evi*ence is shifte* an* the accuse* clai)in+ self"*efense )ust rel/ on the stren+th of his o(n evi*ence
an* not on the (ea.ness of the prosecution.
20
-he trial court an* the CA cannot, therefore, 5e faulte* for re9ectin+ appellantCs plea of self"*efense.
-his Court also a+rees (ith the trial court in appreciatin+ treacher/ as a @ualif/in+ circu)stance. -he
essence of treacher/ is the su**en an* une?pecte* attac. 5/ the a++ressor on unsuspectin+ victi)s,
*eprivin+ the latter of an/ real chance to *efen* the)selves, there5/ ensurin+ its co))ission (ithout
ris. to the a++ressor, an* (ithout the sli+htest provocation on the part of the victi)s.
21

-he pieces of evi*ence +leane* 5/ the trial court, the facts, are enou+h to sho( that treacher/ (as
e)plo/e* 5/ appellant. -he attac. (as su**en, as testifie* to 5/ the (itnesses, an* une?pecte*.
8rovocation on the part of the victi)s (as not proven, an* appellantCs testi)on/ that the victi)s (ere
a5out to attac. hi) cannot 5e +iven cre*ence. -he victi)s ha* no in.lin+ that an attac. (as
forthco)in+ an* ha* no opportunit/ to )ount a *efense. -hus, treacher/ (as correctl/ appreciate* as a
circu)stance to @ualif/ the cri)e to )ur*er.
In*er Article 22'
22
of the $evise* 8enal Co*e $8C!, as a)en*e*, the penalt/ i)pose* for the cri)e
of )ur*er is reclusion perpetua to *eath. -here 5ein+ no a++ravatin+ or )iti+atin+ circu)stance, the
penalt/ i)pose* on appellant is reclusion perpetua, pursuant to Article &1, para+raph 2
21
of the $8C.
-he prison ter) i)pose* 5/ the trial court in Cri)inal Case No. 01"1&19 is correct.
Be also affir) the CA rulin+ that appellant is +uilt/ of atte)pte* )ur*er, not of frustrate* )ur*er, in
Cri)inal Case No. 01"1&20 for the in9ur/ sustaine* 5/ Dalit. No convincin+ proof (as offere* to sho(
that the (oun* inflicte* on Dalit (as fatal an* (oul* have cause* his *eath ha* )e*ical help not 5een
provi*e*. It is (ell settle* that (here the (oun*s inflicte* on the victi) are not sufficient to cause his
*eath, the cri)e is onl/ atte)pte* )ur*er, as the accuse* ha* not perfor)e* all the acts of e?ecution
that (oul* have 5rou+ht a5out the victi)Fs *eath.
22

-he CA correctl/ assesse* the penalt/ to 5e i)pose* on appellant for atte)pte* )ur*er in Cri)inal
Case Nos. 01"1&20 to 01"1&21. -he penalt/ for atte)pte* )ur*er is t(o *e+rees lo(er than that
prescri5e* for the consu))ate* felon/ un*er Article 61 of the $8C. Accor*in+l/, the i)posa5le
penalt/ is prision mayor. A5sent an/ )iti+atin+ or a++ravatin+ circu)stance, the penalt/ shall 5e
i)pose* in its )e*iu) perio*. Appl/in+ the In*eter)inate Sentence <a(, the )ini)u) penalt/ to 5e
i)pose* shoul* 5e (ithin the ran+e of prision correccional, an* the )a?i)u) penalt/ to 5e i)pose*
shoul* 5e (ithin the ran+e of prision mayor in its )e*iu) perio*. %ence, for the cri)e of atte)pte*
)ur*er, appellant (as ri+htl/ sentence* 5/ the CA to suffer the penalt/ of i)prison)ent of t(o 2!
/ears, four 2! )onths an* one 1! *a/ of prision correccional, as )ini)u), to ei+ht '! /ears an* one
1! *a/ of prision mayor, as )a?i)u).
An* no(, the a(ar* of *a)a+es. Bhen *eath occurs *ue to a cri)e, the follo(in+ )a/ 5e recovere*7
1! civil in*e)nit/ e? *elicto for the *eath of the victi)H 2! actual or co)pensator/ *a)a+esH 1!
)oral *a)a+esH 2! e?e)plar/ *a)a+esH 6! attorne/Fs fees an* e?penses of liti+ationH an* &! interest,
in proper cases.
26

-he CA a(ar*e* 822,11,.26 as actual *a)a+es an* 810,000.00 as te)perate *a)a+es to the heirs of
$e+is. In 8eople v. =illanueva
2&
an* 8eople v. A5ra4al*o,
2,
(e rule* that te)perate an* actual
*a)a+es are )utuall/ e?clusive in that 5oth )a/ not 5e a(ar*e* at the sa)e ti)e. %ence, no te)perate
*a)a+es )a/ 5e a(ar*e* if actual *a)a+es have alrea*/ 5een +rante*. -he a(ar* of 810,000.00 as
te)perate *a)a+es )ust, therefore, 5e *elete*.
-he +rant of 860,000.00 as civil in*e)nit/ an* 860,000.00 as )oral *a)a+es is proper, an* thus, (e
sustain the sa)e. In )ur*er, the +rant of civil in*e)nit/, (hich has 5een fi?e* 5/ 9urispru*ence at
860,000.00, re@uires no proof other than the fact of *eath as a result of the cri)e an* proof of the
accuse*Fs responsi5ilit/ therefor.
2'
Moral *a)a+es, on the other han*, are a(ar*e* in vie( of the
violent *eath of the victi). -here is no nee* for an/ alle+ation or proof of the e)otional sufferin+s of
the heirs.
29
1avvphi1
<i.e(ise, the a(ar* of e?e)plar/ *a)a+es is (arrante* (hen the co))ission of the offense is
atten*e* 5/ an a++ravatin+ circu)stance, (hether or*inar/ or @ualif/in+,
10
as in this case.
Accor*in+l/, (e sustain the CACs a(ar* of e?e)plar/ *a)a+es to the heirs of $e+is, 5ut (e increase
the a(ar* to 810,000.00.
Si)ilarl/, (e affir) the a(ar* of 822,69&.60 as actual *a)a+es to Dalit, (ho is, li.e(ise, entitle* to
)oral *a)a+es, (hich this Court fi?es in the a)ount of 820,000.00. Or*inar/ hu)an e?perience an*
co))on sense *ictate that the (oun*s inflicte* on the survivin+ victi)s (oul* naturall/ cause ph/sical
sufferin+, fri+ht, serious an?iet/, )oral shoc., an* si)ilar in9uries. 3inall/, the a(ar* in the a)ount of
820,000.00, as e?e)plar/ *a)a+es to Dalit, is also in or*er consi*erin+ that the cri)e (as atten*e* 5/
the @ualif/in+ circu)stance of treacher/.
11
B%E$E3O$E, the appeal is DISMISSED. -he assaile* Decision of the Court of Appeals in CA"#.$.
C$."%.C. No. 02&'0 is A33I$MED (ith MODI3ICA-IONS. Appellant 3or* #utierre4 / Di)aano is
foun* #II<-J 5e/on* reasona5le *ou5t of MI$DE$ Cri)inal Case No. 01"1&19! an* is here5/
sentence* to suffer the penalt/ of reclusion perpetua. Appellant is also or*ere* to pa/ the heirs of <eo
Salva*or E. $e+is the a)ounts of 822,11,.26 as actual *a)a+es, 860,000.00 as civil in*e)nit/,
860,000.00 as )oral *a)a+es, an* 810,000.00 as e?e)plar/ *a)a+es.
3or* #utierre4 / Di)aano is also foun* +uilt/ 5e/on* reasona5le *ou5t of four 2! counts of
A--EM8-ED MI$DE$ Cri)inal Case Nos. 01"1&20 to 01"1&21! an* is here5/ sentence* to suffer
the penalt/ of t(o 2! /ears, four 2! )onths an* one 1! *a/ of prision correccional, as )ini)u), to
ei+ht '! /ears an* one 1! *a/ of prision mayor, as )a?i)u), on each count, (ith all the accessor/
penalties i)pose* 5/ la(. Appellant is further or*ere* to pa/ Ale?is 0. Dalit the a)ounts of
822,69&.60 as actual *a)a+es, 820,000.00 as )oral *a)a+es, an* 820,000.00 as e?e)plar/ *a)a+es.
SO O$DE$ED.