Republic of the Philippines SUPREME COURT Manila EN BANC G.R. No.

138045 March 14, 2001

PEOPLE OF THE PH L PP NES, plaintiff-appellee, vs. MAR ETTA PATUNGAN ! PULGA, E"GAR ACEBUCHE ! CER# TO a$% ELMERTO PULGA ! ACEBUCHE, accused-appellants. GON&AGA'RE!ES, J.( At about 10:00 p.m. of May 22, 199 , Antonio Alta!e"os and his #i!lf!iend Antonia $lu%on &ith a fe& othe! f!iends &e!e havin# a d!in'in# sp!ee beside the chapel alon# (au!a )alde!on *t., Pu!o' 2, +a!an#ay ,ld +ala!a, -ue%on )ity. Antonio and Antonia noticed the van of thei! nei#hbo! Ale"and!o Patun#an pa!'ed in f!ont of the chapel and sa& t&o men seated inside, one is the accused $lme!to Pul#a at the d!ive!.s seat and the othe! is the accused $d#a! Acebuche.1 *ometime that evenin# $lme!to Pul#a d!ove the van a&ay f!om the chapel and to&a!ds a vacant lot nea! )ommon&ealth Avenue to allo& anothe! ca! to pa!' !i#ht in f!ont of the chapel. Afte! the d!in'in# sp!ee, at about /:00 to /:/0 a.m., the follo&in# mo!nin#, the love!s Antonio and Antonia &ent to the bas'etball cou!t to tal'. Moments late! they sa& Ale"and!o Patun#an and his &ife Ma!ietta come out of thei! house and &al' to&a!d the !oad. Ma!ietta ho&eve!, &ent bac' to thei! house &hile Ale"and!o p!oceeded &ithout he!.2 At about /: 0 p.m. of May 2 , 199 , the decomposin# body of Ale"and!o Patun#an &as found inside his van pa!'ed alon# 1on -ui2ote *t. *ampaloc, Manila. At 3:00 p.m. that day the cadave! &as autopsied at the 4P1-P5P Medico-(e#al *ection. 6he !epo!t states as follo&s: 76he body &as bloated and in the state of decomposition . 6he face &as da!' colo!ed, eyeballs, bul#in#, ton#ue half p!ot!udin# and thic' uppe! and lo&e! lips. +ullae fo!mation in the chest, abdomen and e2t!emities &ith #!eenish discolo!ation in the in#uinal !e#ions sp!eadin# to&a!ds the abdomen. 6he abdomen &as distended &ith #as. 76he follo&in# e2te!nal in"u!ies &e!e noted. 1. *tab &ound, &ith the point of ent!y at the left chee', 09 inches f!om heel, 8 cm. 9!om ante!io! midline, measu!in# 2 2 cm. And e2ited at the left sub-mandibula! !e#ion, 0 inches f!om heel, cm. 9!om ante!io! midline measu!in# 2 2 0.: cm. 2. (i#atu!e ma!' a!ound the nec' measu!in# 0.0 cm. /. 8 stab o! punctu!ed &ounds, oval in shape, in the base of the left late!al nec', sup!a and inf!a-clavicula! !e#ion, &ith the ave!a#e measu!ement of 0./ 2 0.0 cm. . 01 stab o! punctu!ed &ounds, evenly dist!ibuted in the enti!e abdomen, oval in shape and &ith the ave!a#e measu!ement of 0./ 2 0.0 cm. 7;56$R5A( 9;51;5<*: 1. (ace!ations of the sub-cutaneous tissues in the left chee' base of the left late!al nec', inf!a and sup!aclavicula! !e#ions. 6h!ee =/> stab o! punctu!ed &ounds in the uppe! lobe of the left lun# &ith massive bleedin# in the left tho!acic cavity. 2. ;n"u!ies to the live!, stomach, spleen, small and la!#e intestines, 'idneys, infe!io! vena cava and abdominal ao!ta, &ith massive bleedin# in the pe!itoneal cavity.

/. About 1 ? #lassful of pa!tially di#ested !ice &ith meaty mate!ials and &ithout alcoholic odo! &as !ecove!ed f!om the stomach.7 )A@*$ ,9 1$A6A: Multiple stab &ounds and li#atu!e st!an#ulation.7/ ,n Au#ust 1:, 199 an ;nfo!mation &as filed a#ainst Ma!ietta Patun#an fo! pa!!icide and a#ainst $lme!to Pul#a and $d#a! Acebuche fo! mu!de!, to &it: 76he unde!si#ned accuses MAR;$66A PA6@5<A5 B P@(<A of the c!ime of PARR;);1$ and $1<AR A)$+@)A$ B )$RC;6, and $(M$R6, P@(<A B A)$+@)A$ of the c!ime of M@R1$R, as committed as follo&s: 6hat on o! about the 22nd day of May, 199 in -ue%on )ity, Philippines, the said accused, Ma!ietta Patun#an B Pul#a bein# the le#al &ife of victim A($DA51R, PA6@5<A5 B RA5<$(, conspi!in# and confede!atin# to#ethe! &ith he! co-accused $1<AR A)$+@)A$ B )$RC;6, and $(M$R6, P@(<A B A)$+@)A$ and anothe! pe!son &hose t!ue name, identity and &he!eabouts have not as yet been asce!tained and helpin# one anothe!, &ith intent to 'ill, evident p!emeditation, t!eache!y and &ith the use of moto! vehicle, did, then and the!e &ilfully, unla&fully and feloniously attac', assault and use pe!sonal violence upon the pe!son of A($DA51R, PA6@5<A5 B RA5<$( by then and the!e st!an#lin# him &ith an elect!ic &i!e and stabbin# him &ith a bladed &eapon on the diffe!ent pa!ts of his body, the!eby causin# upon him multiple stab &ounds &hich &e!e the immediate and di!ect cause of his death the!eafte!, to the dama#e and p!e"udice of the hei!s of the victim. )ont!a!y to la&.7 ,n *eptembe! :, 199 the th!ee accused pleaded 7not #uilty7 to the offense cha!#ed.0 ;n addition to the testimonies of Antonio and Antonia, the p!osecution p!esented the e2t!a-"udicial confession of the accused $lme!to Pul#a, the testimonies of the police office!s &ho too' the statement, of the la&ye! f!om the ;nte#!ated +a! of the Philippines -ue%on )ity )hapte!, Atty. Ped!o Rudio, &ho alle#edly assisted the accused $lme!to Pul#a du!in# the custodial investi#ation and of the medico-le#al office! &ho conducted the autopsy. 6he e2t!a-"udicial confession: of accused $lme!to Pul#a dated Au#ust 11, 199 lin'ed Ma!ietta to the 'illin# of he! husband. ;t states as follo&s: 76. +a'it 'a na!ito sa loob n# ;nte#!ated +a! of the Philippines, at na#bibi#ay n# malaya at 'usan# loob na salaysayE *. A'o po ay 'usan# sumu'o sa m#a pulis hin##il sa nalalaman 'o sa pa#'amatay n# a'in# baya& na si A($DA51R, PA6@5<A5 at 'aya po a'o.y nandito ay upan# sabihin 'o an# a'in# nalalaman at 'atotohanan sa m#a pan#yaya!i. 6. *ino ba iton# si A($DA51R, PA6@5<A5 at 'ailan, saan ba siya namatay o pinatayE

*. *iya po ay a'in# baya&, asa&a po siya n# a'in# 'apatid na si MAR;$66A PA6@5<A5 y P@(<A at siya po ay pinatay n# i'a 1/ n# Mayo 199 , doon sa loob n# 1A;AA6*@ CA5 n# dala&an# tao. 6. *. 6. Anon# o!as ba ito na#anapE Aumi#it 'umulan# po sa alas /:/0 n# madalin# a!a& n# petsa 2/ n# Mayo 199 . Papaano mon# nalaman an# m#a ba#ay na itoE

*. Faya 'o po alam an# m#a ba#ay na ito ay sapa#'at 'asama po a'o dito sa pan#yaya!in# ito, pe!o ito po ay na#a&a 'o lan# dahilan sa inutusan a'o n# a'in# 'apatid na si MAR;$66A upan# patayin an# a'in# baya& dahilan sa siya ay may 'ala#uyo na si D@5$ A)$+@)A$ na

'aniyan# 'a'utsaba at an# na'asama 'o pa po dito ay an# amin# pinsan na si $1<AR A)$+@)A$ y )e!vito na siyan# suma'sa' 'ay A($DA51R, PA6@5<A5. 6. Maa!i mo ban# isalaysay sa a'in an# m#a buod n# pan#yaya!in# toE

*. A'o po ay 'inausap n# a'in# 'apatid na si MAR;$66A n# m#a bu&an n# 5obyemb!e 199/ at an# sabi sa a'in ay may!oon siyan# p!oblema sa buhay, at tinanon# 'o n#a siya 'un# ano, an# sa#ot niya sa a'in ay tun#'ol sa 'aniyan# 'ala#uyo na si D@5$ A)$+@)A$ at an# p!oblema niyan# tala#a ay 'un# papaano silan# ma#sasaman# dala&a eh may!oon# siyan# asa&a, =si A($DA51R, PA6@5<A5> at pilit niya a'on# 'inu'umbinsi na 'un# maa!i ay ili#pit 'o si baya& G A($H =A($DA51R,> aya& 'o pon# pumaya# dahil sa ta'ot po a'o, pe!o tu&in# ma#'i'ita 'amin# ma#'apatid ay la#i niya iton# idinadain# sa a'in at pala#i na lan# sinasabi na 'un# p&ede ay patayin 'o si A($DA51R, na a'in# baya&, at isan# a!a& n#a po n# bu&an n# Ab!il 199 ay 'inausap na muli a'o at sila na n#an# pon# dala&a na =MAR;$66A A6 D@5$ A)$+@)A$> doon sa may D,((;+$$ sa 9a!me!s Pla%a, )ubao, at pilit n# po a'on# sinasabihan na ili#pit si baya& dahilan sa bala'id ito sa 'anila. At minsan pa sinabi sa a'in ni MAR;$66A na 'un# p&ede ay ma#bayad na lan# 'ami n# hi!ed 'ille! pe!o &ala naman siyan# pe!a 'aya hindi ito natuloy, han##an# sabihin na lan# niya sa a'in na a'o na lan# an# #uma&a at isama 'o an# amin# pinsan na si $1<AR A)$+@)A$. At an# plano n#a po eh natuloy na, at 'ami n#a eh na#pasya na ya!iin si baya& n# i'a 10 n# Mayo 199 , pe!o ito po ay hindi natuloy dahilan sa may m#a tao doon sa amin# pina#bala'an# lu#a! 'aya ito po ay inulit namin sa utos na muli nina MAR;$66A at D@5$ 'aya n# sumapit an# i'a 22 n# Mayo 199 , doon 'ami pinapunta ni MAR;$66A sa 9lo&e! shop sa 9a!me!s Pla%a Ma!'et, at bini#yan pa n#a 'ami niya n# pe!a at an# susi n# 1A;AA6*@ CA5 pa!a pa#punta namin doon sa )alde!on 'un# saan sila na'ati!a ay madali 'amin# ma'a'apaso' doon sa loob n# sasa'yan. 1umatin# n#a po 'ami doon sa )alde!on at suma'ay 'ami ni $1<AR A)$+@)A$ doon sa loob at na#intay sa a'in# baya& sa pa#labas niya sa madalin# a!a&, pe!o haban# iniintay namin siya ay may dumaan# isan# pulan# 'otse at n# hindi na'adaan ay minabuti 'o na lan# na ila#ay sa Ai-&ay an# Can sa utos ni $1<AR A)$+@)A$. Maya-maya n#a po eh dumatin# na si A($DA51R, PA6@5<A5 'asama an# a'in# 'apatid na an# &eapon namin sa utos niya =MAR;$66A> na 'apa# dumatin# na sila ay uu&i siya 'unya!i sa 'anila at maii&an si baya&, at #anun na n#a an# nan#ya!i, nai&an si baya& doon sa labas han##an# sa ma#tun#o na siya sa loob n# Can at na#ulat pa n#a siya n# ma'ita 'amin# dala&a doon sa loob, pe!o na#tanon# pa siya 'un# sasama 'amin# dala&a sa 'anilan# ma#-asa&a, at an# sabi 'o naman ay oo, at #anun na n#a, n# na'aupo na si baya& sa manubela ay inatasan a'on# palihim ni $1<AR na sa'alin 'o si A($DA51R, n# dala 'on# 'able =$lect!ic &i!e> at #anun na n#a po an# #ina&a 'o, sina'al 'o si A($DA51R, at haban# sa'al 'o siya, na#papapala# ay sina'sa' siya ni $1<AR n# isan# beses sa ta#ili!an# lee#, at n# hindi mamatay-matay at pina#sasa'sa' na niya n# todo =madamin# beses> at nalu#mo' si baya& ay a#ad na hinila ni $1<AR sa bandan# li'u!an n# Can at a'o naman ay 'aniyan# inatasan na ma#maneho at dadalhin namin an# ban#'ay sa Maynila =*a 1A5<4AI1;MA*A(A5<> ayon sa utos nina MAR;$66A at D@5$ A)$+@)A$ na naayon sa plano nila, na papalabasin na ito.y hinoldap sa pamimili n# bula'la'. At #anun na n#a po, ini&an 'o an# sasa'yan sa may 1on -ui"ote *t, sa Maynila, =*ampaloc> at 'ami ni $1<AR A)$+@)A$ ay umu&i na at na#hi&alay lan# 'ami sa amin# bahay sa ;5) compound, tan#ay an# !elo ni A($DA51R,. 6. Failan 'a ba sumu'o sa m#a pulisE

*. ;'a 9 n# A#osto 199 dahilan po sa na'u'unsensiya a'o sa m#a pan#yaya!in# ito na 'a'a#a&an n# a'in# 'apatid at 'ala#uyo niya. 6. 5ais 'o lan# ipabatid sa iyo na sa iyo.y &alan# sino man# pumilit, tuma'ot, o nan#a'o n# ano man# ba#ay, upan# #a&in an# salaysay na ito, naiintindihan mo baE *. ,po, naiintindihan 'o po.73

6o establish the alle#ed motive in the 'illin# of Ale"and!o, the p!osecution also p!esented Adelaida Patun#an, the siste! of the deceased, &ho testified that he! siste!-in-la&, the accused Ma!ietta Patun#an, had an affai! &ith one of the helpe!s in the flo&e! shop, &ho is he! o&n cousin Dun Acebuche. 6hus, &itness stated that she sa& the t&o eatin# to#ethe! f!om the same plate and that she cau#ht them holdin# hands.

,ne time she sa& Dun 'iss Ma!ietta. Ae! b!othe! alle#edly found out about the affai! and dismissed Dun f!om &o!' but he fo!#ave Ma!ietta fo! the sa'e of thei! child!en.8 6he mothe! of the victim testified to establish the amount of fune!al e2penses incu!!ed at P80,000.00, &hich amount the defense admitted.9 9o! the defense, accused Ma!ietta Patun#an admitted in cou!t that she &as &ith he! husband at ea!ly da&n of May 2/, 199 and &e!e on thei! &ay to buy flo&e!s fo! thei! flo&e! shop but she &ent bac' to thei! house to #et a betama2 tape and that he! husband p!oceeded &ithout he!.10 ,n Au#ust 9, 199 she &as invited by the police fo! Juestionin# and that she &as in fact Juestioned about he! complicity in he! husband.s death at the police station &ithout the assistance of counsel.11 6he othe! accused $d#a! Acebuche denied pa!ticipation in the mu!de! of the victim and stated that sometime on Au#ust 8, 199 he &ent to his cousin Ma!ietta.s flo&e! shop in )ubao to loo' fo! a "ob &hen the police mistoo' him fo! Dun Acebuche and a!!ested him. Ae &as also sub"ected to custodial investi#ation &ithout the assistance of counsel.12 ;n cou!t, accused $lme!to Pul#a !epudiated his e2t!a-"udicial confession and stated that he &as coe!ced by the police to admit pa!ticipation in the mu!de! of Ale"and!o Patun#an and to implicate his siste! Ma!ietta as maste!mind and cousin $d#a! as co-conspi!ato!. Ae na!!ated that he &as a!!ested at a!ound 9 a.m., Au#ust 9, 199 and that he &as detained and to!tu!ed by elect!ocution by the police until the follo&in# day, Au#ust 10, 199 , &hen he a#!eed to si#n a p!epa!ed document. ,n Au#ust 11, 199 he &as b!ou#ht to the ;+P office &he!e he met Atty. Rudio &ho si#ned the p!epa!ed e2t!a-"udicial confession as counsel fo! the accused.1/ A motion to &ithd!a& the plea of 7not #uilty7 to the offense cha!#ed to a plea of 7#uilty7 to a lesse! offense i.e., homicide, &as filed by counsel fo! the accused. 6he t!ial cou!t denied the motion and t!eated it instead as a motion to !ecall the accused $lme!to Pul#a fo! fu!the! testimony.1 ,n !ecall, accused $lme!to Pul#a, admitted stabbin# the deceased th!ee times until he fell unconscious, afte! &hich he lost cont!ol of himself and stabbed the victim some mo!e. Ae found a !ope and pulled the victim by the nec' to the bac' of the van. Ae stated that he alone &as !esponsible fo! the death of his b!othe!-in-la&. 6he t!ial cou!t upheld the validity of the e2t!a-"udicial confession and !ende!ed "ud#ment convictin# the th!ee accused #uilty of the c!ime cha!#ed. 6he Ma!ch 1:, 1999 decision of the t!ial cou!t !eads as follo&s: 74A$R$9,R$, the )ou!t !ende!s "ud#ment findin# all accused #uilty beyond !easonable doubt as p!incipal of the c!ime as cha!#ed, that is PARR;);1$ fo! MAR;$66A PA6@5<A5 and M@R1$R fo! accused $(M$R6, P@(<A and $1<AR A)$+@)A$, defined and penali%ed in A!ticle 1 : and A!ticle 2 8, !espectively, of the Revised Penal )ode, as amended, &ith the attendant ci!cumstances of t!eache!y and evident p!emeditation alle#ed in the ;nfo!mation, sentencin# them the!efo! to death, and o!de!in# them to pay "ointly and seve!ally to the hei!s of Ale"and!o Patun#an the amount of 9ifty 6housand =P00,000.00> Pesos as indemnity fo! death, $i#hty 6housand =P80,000.00> Pesos as actual dama#es, and P00,000.00 as mo!al dama#es.710 6he case is befo!e us on automatic !evie&. )ounsel fo! the appellants assi#ns as e!!o! the t!ial cou!t.s app!eciation of the testimonies of the-p!osecution &itnesses and its findin# in favo! of the validity of the e2t!a-"udicial confession e2ecuted by $lme!to Pul#a. 6he Medico-le#al office! &ho conducted the autopsy on the victim at 3 00 p.m. of May 2 , 199 stated that conside!in# the advanced sta#e of decomposition of the cadave! the victim must have been dead fo! thi!tysi2 hou!s. +ased on such findin#s it is submitted by the appellants that &itnesses Antonio and Antonia could not have seen the deceased at /:/0 a.m. of May 2/, 199 . 6he medical findin#s as to the app!o2imate time of death and the in"u!ies sustained by the victim a!e in acco!d &ith the testimony of $lme!to Pul#a &ho admitted that he 'illed the victim at a!ound 10:00 p.m. of May 22, 199 and that he stabbed him th!ice &hile he &as seated at the d!ive!.s seat. ;n assailin# the validity of the e2t!a-"udicial confession, the appellants contend that the t!ial cou!t failed to app!eciate the unde!lyin# admissions in the testimonies of *P,/ Cillaco!te and Atty. Rudio that the accused Pul#a &as in fact denied the assistance of counsel du!in# custodial investi#ation. 6he appellants p!ay fo! the acJuittal of accused Ma!ietta Patun#an and $d#a! Acebuche and the conviction of accused $lme!to Pul#a fo! the lesse! offense of homicide. 6he *olicito!-<ene!al filed appellee.s b!ief p!ayin# fo! the affi!mance of the decision of the t!ial cou!t. ;t is maintained that the e2act time of death of the victim is immate!ial in vie& of the e2t!a-"udicial confession of

$lme!to Pul#a &hich dovetails &ith the findin#s in the autopsy !epo!t. 4hat the appellee conside!s mate!ial is the timin# &hen Ma!ietta lu!ed he! husband into the van &he!e the t&o co-conspi!ato!s &e!e &aitin# to e2ecute thei! mu!de!ous scheme. Appellee maintains that $lme!to Pul#a.s belated !epudiation of his e2t!a"udicial confession, his failu!e to p!esent any evidence to suppo!t his claim of to!tu!e in the hands of his investi#ato!s and his appa!ent un&illin#ness to file any administ!ative cha!#e a#ainst them militates a#ainst his claim that his e2t!a-"udicial confession &as obtained th!ou#h violence. 6he appellee asse!ts that confessions a!e p!esumed valid unless p!oven to have been obtained th!ou#h violence, intimidation, th!eat o! !e&a!d and that in vie& of the appellants. failu!e to p!ove any of the afo!ementioned ci!cumstances that vitiate consent, the t!ial cou!t did not e!! in upholdin# the validity of Pul#a.s e2t!a-"udicial confession. )onside!in# the totality of the evidence, it appea!s that the p!incipal evidence p!esented by the p!osecution to establish the alle#ed conspi!acy amon# the appellants to commit mu!de! is the e2t!a-"udicial confession of accused $lme!to Pul#a. 6he !est of the evidence p!esented is at most ci!cumstantial to establish motive and the p!esence of the appellants at o! nea! the place of the commission of the c!ime. *ection 12 =1>, A!ticle ;;; of the )onstitution p!ovides: 7*$)6;,5 12=1> Any pe!son unde! investi#ation fo! the commission of an offense shall have the !i#ht to be info!med of his !i#ht to !emain silent and to have competent and independent counsel p!efe!ably his o&n choice. ;f the pe!son cannot affo!d the se!vices of counsel, he must be p!ovided &ith one. 6hese !i#hts cannot be &aived e2cept in &!itin# and in the p!esence of counsel. =1> 5o to!tu!e, fo!ce violence th!eat, intimidation o! any othe! means &hich vitiate the f!ee &ill shall be used a#ainst him. *ec!et detention places, solita!y, incommunicado, o! othe! simila! fo!ms of detention a!e p!ohibited. =2> Any confession o! admission obtained in violation of this o! section 13 he!eof shall be inadmissible in evidence a#ainst him.7 An e2t!a-"udicial confession to be admissible in evidence must be e2p!ess and volunta!ily e2ecuted in &!itin# &ith the assistance of an independent and competent counsel1: and a pe!son unde! custodial investi#ation must be continuously assisted by counsel f!om the ve!y sta!t the!eof.13 6he p!esence of counsel is intended to secu!e the volunta!iness of the e2t!a-"udicial confession.18 6he p!esence of a la&ye! alone, &ill not suffice to fulfill the !eJui!ement of the constitutional p!ovision. 6he assistance of counsel must be independent and competent that is, p!ovidin# full p!otection to the constitutional !i#hts of the accused.19 A la&ye! &ho simply #oes th!ou#h the motion of !ecitin# the !i#hts of the accused, o! acts as a &itness to a p!e-p!epa!ed document containin# the e2t!a-"udicial confession of the accused o! holds an inte!est cont!a!y to that of the accused does not Jualify as independent and competent counsel.20 6o establish the validity of Pul#a.s e2t!a-"udicial confession, the police investi#ato! P,/ Dovencio Cillaco!te testified that appellant Pul#a volunta!ily su!!ende!ed to the police and told them the &hole sto!y of ho& his youn#e! siste! appellant Ma!ietta Patun#an maste!minded the mu!de! of he! husband to be able to ma!!y he! love!, and ho& he and his cousin appellant $d#a! Acebuche accomplished Ma!ietta.s biddin#.21 Atty. Ped!o Rudio of the ;+P, -ue%on )ity )hapte!, &ho supposedly assisted Pul#a du!in# the ta'in# of the e2t!a"udicial confession, testified that Pul#a e2p!essed his consent to be assisted by said counsel and si#nified that his confession is volunta!y. Atty. Rudio stated that he even !aised Pul#a.s shi!t to chec' if he had been sub"ected to physical violence and found none.22 Ao&eve!, a close! e2amination of the t!ansc!ipt of steno#!aphic notes !e#a!din# Pul#a.s e2t!a-"udicial confession is !athe! distu!bin#. P,/ Cillaco!te testified as follo&s: 7-. And the pe!son of $lme! Pul#a &as ta'en in custody o! app!ehended because that is the te!m used, a!!ested. 6hat &as the te!m used by <acute on Au#ust 9, 199 , co!!ect si!E A. -. ;n ou! blotte!, si!, it &as Au#ust 10, Au#ust 10E

A.

Bes, si!.

-. And it &as on Au#ust 10 that you p!opounded Juestions to $lme! Pul#a &hen he &as !efe!!ed to you by <acute, co!!ect, si!E A. Bes, si!.

-. And do you 'no& that once a suspect is a!!ested o! su!!ende!ed fo! that matte!, assumin# that he su!!ende!ed, that custodial investi#ation &ill sta!t immediatelyE A. -. A. -. Bes, si!. 1o you 'no& that a pe!son &ho is unde!#oin# custodial investi#ation is entitled to counselE Bes, si!. 1id you p!ovide him &ith a counsel &hen you tal'ed to himE

A. No, sir. First of all, when I conducted the investigation on August 10, he denied to us because he pointed to us . . . =emphasis supplied>. ),@R6: An# tinatanon# 'un# may abo#adoE 4;65$**: 5o, si!, 4ithout any counsel. A66B. PRA1,: -: himE A. 1o you 'no& that a pe!son unde! custodial investi#ation is entitled to counsel to assist

yes, si!.

-. 4hy did you not p!ovide o! &hy did you not ma'e it su!e that this $lme! Pul#a &as assisted by counsel &hen you &e!e conductin# the custodial investi#ation on Au#ust 10, 199 E PR,*$)@6,R +A@6;*6A: ,b"ection, you! Aono! please, the!e is no sho&in# that the police investi#ato!, ou! &itness, mentioned o! investi#ated accused $lme!to Pul#a on Au#ust 10. 6he Juestionin# and inte!vie&in# &as done in the office of the ;+P on Au#ust 11 &hen he e2ecuted an e2t!a"udicial confession. ),@R6: Bou ans&e!. A. Because when I questioned El er !ulga, he denied to us, sir. =emphasis supplied>.

),@R6:

-. A. -.

+ut did you #ive him a la&ye!E 5o, si!. Ao& come that the!e &as a la&ye! assistin# $lme!to Pul#aE Ao& comeE

A. (ate! in the mo!nin# &hen he tell us that he has al!eady the evidence and then he is tellin# us the t!uth and then late! ; b!ou#ht him to ;+P to #et a counsel the!e. -. A. -. A. -. A. 4ho !eJuested you to b!in# him to ;+PE 6he bloc' commande! includin# Pul#a, you! Aono!. *o, the ;+P p!ovided the accused a counselE Bes, you! Aono!. 1id he ob"ect to the nomination #iven by ;+PE 5o, si!.

),@R6: <o ahead. A66B. PRA1,: -. *o, in sho!t, M!. 4itness, f!om Au#ust 10 up to 2:00 o.cloc' in the afte!noon o! Au#ust 11, 199 , accused $lme!to Pul#a &as not assisted by counsel mo!e specifically of his o&n choice, co!!ect, si!E A. Bes, si!.

-. 1o you 'no& that once a pe!son is unde! custodial investi#ation, he is immediately entitled to a counsel especially of his o&n choiceE A. Bes, si!.

-. And &hy did you not ma'e it su!e that f!om Au#ust 10 up to Au#ust 11 up to 2:00 o.cloc' in the afte!noon conside!in# that this $lme! Pul#a &as al!eady unde! custodial investi#ation he &as not p!ovided &ith counselE A. +ecause, as ; said, &hen he su!!ende!ed, he lied to us. Ae said he &ill confess but he even pointed one alle#ed suspect.72/ )ont!a!y to P,/ Cillaco!te.s asse!tion that Pul#a &as ta'en into custody on Au#ust 10, 199 , the police office! &ho actually too' all th!ee appellants into custody, *P,2 ,!lando <acute, testified that the appellants &e!e all 7invited7 to the police station on Au#ust 9, 199 and that they &e!e all sub"ected to custodial investi#ation &ithout counsel.2 6his means that the appellants, and appellant Pul#a, in pa!ticula!, &e!e in police custody and sub"ected to custodial investi#ation fo! t&o and a half days &ithout the assistance of counsel befo!e he decided to confess. Cillaco!te himself admitted that Pul#a at fi!st did not &ant to confess and pointed to anothe! suspect as the pe!pet!ato! of the c!ime. 6his statement ne#ates the police.s claim of volunta!y su!!ende! and places in se!ious doubt the volunta!iness of Pul#a.s e2t!a-"udicial confession.

Pul#a testified that he &as a!!ested on Au#ust 9, 199 . Ae na!!ated in cou!t that du!in# custodial investi#ation he &as blindfolded &ith hands tied behind him and &as elect!ocuted by the police investi#ato!s &hile he &as eithe! sittin# on a steel ba! o! had a piece of &et cloth placed on his feet, to compel him to admit commission of the c!ime cha!#ed. Ae simply c!ied and could not do anythin# else but to accede to his to!mento!s demand. Ae stated that he si#ned a p!e-p!epa!ed document at the p!ecinct befo!e he &as ta'en to the ;+P office nea! the *ulo Restau!ant in -ue%on )ity on Au#ust 11, 199 .20 Ae e2plained that he na!!ated his o!deal only fo! the fi!st time in cou!t because he could not complain to the ;+P la&ye!, the fiscal no! to the medical office! out of fea! of his police investi#ato!s and &hen he &as ta'en to a medical office! fo! e2amination, the police esco!t ans&e!ed the Juestions fo! him. 5one of his !elatives visited him in "ail and he only sa& his la&ye! in cou!t.2: @ntil he &as b!ou#ht to cou!t he had no one to confide to and he &as at the me!cy of the police investi#ato!s &hile he &as detained at the -ue%on )ity Dail.23 As a detention p!isone! he &as al&ays esco!ted by the police &hen he &as befo!e the ;+P la&ye!, the fiscal and the medical office! and Pul#a did not find the oppo!tunity to complain to the autho!ities. 6o ou! mind, appellant Pul#a.s fea! of his police esco!ts is &ell founded and his delay in !evealin# &hat he unde!&ent du!in# custodial investi#ation does not cast doubt on its ve!acity, as the p!osecution su##ests. 4e also note f!om the above testimonies that it &as only afte! appellant Pul#a ve!bally confessed at the police p!ecinct, &ithout the assistance of counsel, &hen he &as b!ou#ht to the ;+P office alle#edly fo! the actual t!ansc!iption of his confession in &!itin# in the p!esence of a la&ye!. ;t &ould appea! to us that &hateve! statement Pul#a alle#edly #ave to the police fo! t!ansc!iption in the p!esence of counsel is the p!oduct of t&o and a half days of coe!cive and uncounselled custodial investi#ation. 4e a!e inclined to believe that &hen he &as b!ou#ht to the ;+P office his body and his &ill &e!e in no position to !aise any ob"ection much less to complain to the ;+P la&ye! about &hat he has #one th!ou#h. 6he situation &as not at all alleviated by the counsel &ho &as supposed to assist Pul#a at the ta'in# of the e2t!a-"udicial confession. *aid la&ye! admitted that he &as &o!'in# on an appeal in anothe! case t&o to th!ee mete!s a&ay f!om the police investi#ato! &ho &as then ta'in# Pul#a.s statement. Ae stated that he &as 7not totally concent!ated on the appealed case because he could still hea! the investi#ation bein# conducted then.728 Cillaco!te testified that &hile he &as ta'in# Pul#a.s statement the ;+P la&ye! &as &o!'in# on somethin# else usin# t&o othe! tables fou! mete!s apa!t.29 6he me!e p!esence of a la&ye! is not sufficient compliance &ith the constitutional !eJui!ement of assistance of counsel. Assistance of counsel must be effective, vi#ilant and independent./0 A counsel &ho could "ust hea! the investi#ation #oin# on &hile &o!'in# on anothe! case ha!dly satisfies the minimum !eJui!ements of effective assistance of counsel. 5ot only &as Pul#a sub"ected to custodial investi#ation &ithout counsel, he &as li'e&ise denied effective assistance of counsel du!in# the actual ta'in# of his e2t!a-"udicial confession. 9o! the !easons above stated, 4e find that the e2t!a-"udicial confession of appellant $lme!to Pul#a is inadmissible in evidence fo! havin# been obtained &ithout effective assistance of counsel. 6he othe! pieces of evidence p!esented by the p!osecution fail to establish the cha!#e of conspi!acy amon# the appellants to mu!de! the deceased. 6he p!osecution !elied heavily on Pul#a.s e2t!a-"udicial confession but the !est of the evidence p!esented fail to satisfy the !eJui!ed Juantum of p!oof to establish conspi!acy. 6he p!osecution evidence simply establishes the p!esence of Pul#a and Acebuche nea! o! at the place &he!e the victim &as last seen alive. ;t is obse!ved that Antonio and Antonia alle#edly sa& Pul#a and Acebuche inside the van at a!ound 10:00 p.m. and that the victim &as last seen &ith Ma!ietta at a!ound /:/0 a.m. the follo&in# mo!nin#. 6he!e is no p!oof that Pul#a and Acebuche &e!e still inside the van at /:/0 a.m. and the only ci!cumstance that mi#ht indicate that Ma!ietta may have lu!ed he! husband to #o inside the van to enable Pul#a and Acebuche to 'ill him that mo!nin# &as he! alle#ed motive to #et !id of he! husband to ma!!y he! love!. ;t is on !eco!d that Ma!ietta and he! husband !un a flo&e! shop and it is not uncommon, much less suspicious, fo! them to buy flo&e!s befo!e da&n./1 6he estimated time of death of the victim is nothin# but such, an estimate. 1ue to the advanced sta#e of decomposition of the body of the victim &hen it &as autopsied at a!ound 3:00 p.m. of May 2 , 199 , the medico-le#al office! &ho conducted the autopsy testified that the victim must have been dead fo! about thi!ty-si2 hou!s./2 ;n an appa!ent attempt to sho& Ma!ietta.s implied admission of #uilt, the p!osecution p!esented one of the police office!s &ho 7invited7 the appellants fo! Juestionin# &ho testified that appellant Ma!ietta t!ied to commit suicide afte! the investi#ation, i.e., that Ma!ietta stabbed he!self &ith a +atan#as 'nife in the bath!oom at the police p!ecinct &hen she found out that he! b!othe! $lme!to pointed to he! as the maste!mind of the mu!de! of he! husband.// Ao&eve!, no medical !eco!d &as p!esented to substantiate this testimony and &e note that the police office! did not testify that he sa& Ma!ietta stab he!self. Ma!ietta denied that she t!ied to commit suicide and testified that she &o'e up in the hospital./ 4hethe! o! not she stabbed he!self is not p!oven by the p!osecution and can by no means be conside!ed as an implied admission of

#uilt of appellant Ma!ietta. 4e may add that even if she did attempt to commit suicide a female suspect unde! custodial investi#ation in a police-dominated atmosphe!e and &ithout the assistance of counsel, Ma!ietta cannot be e2pected to act !ationally. 6he evidence as it stands, &ithout the e2t!a-"udicial confession of appellant Pul#a, is not sufficient to suppo!t conviction fo! pa!!icide a#ainst appellant Ma!ietta no! fo! mu!de! a#ainst appellant Acebuche. 9o! this !eason &e a!e const!ained to acJuit them of the c!imes cha!#ed. ,nly the "udicial admission of $lme!to Pul#a !emains on !eco!d fo! conside!ation of the cou!t. Ae testified as follo&s: -. 4hen you said you a#!eed to leave at 10:00 o.cloc' in the evenin# on May 22, 199 , &hat did you actually do &ith you! b!othe!-in-la& thenE A. ; &as the one d!ivin# the ca! in #oin# to 1an#&a and &hile the ca! &as !unnin# he told me, 7+a'it 'a na'i'ialam pa# sinasa'tan 'o an# asa&a 'o. 5a'i'isali 'a.7 -. A. Aside f!om you b!othe!-in-la&, &ho &as &ith you then in that van you &e!e d!ivin#E 4e &e!e only t&o.

-. 4hat happened afte! you! b!othe!-in-la& told you that statement, 7+a'it 'a na'i'ialam pa# sinasa'tan 'o an# asa&a 'o. 5a'i'isali 'a.7 A. -. 5au&i po yan sa pa#tatalo dahil aya& siyan# pumaya# sa a'in# pali&ana#. Afte! that pa#tatalo o! ve!bal tussle, &hat happened ne2tE

A. 4hen &e a!!ived at 1an#&a, ; tu!ned ove! the 'ey to him and ; told him that, 7;'a& na lan# an# umu&i.7 And afte! that, my b!othe!-in-la& #ot a sc!e&d!ive! and stabbed me and ; &as able to #!apple. -. Afte! that, &hen you &e!e able to #!apple that sc!e&d!ive! f!om you! b!othe!-in-la&, &hat did you doE A. -. ; stabbed him, si!. Ao& many times, M!. 4itnessE

A. 6h!ee times. Afte! ; stabbed him th!ee times, ; !emembe! &hat he &as doin# to my siste! and 7na&ala a'o sa a'in# sa!ili.7 -. A!e you tellin# the cou!t, M!. 4itness that you !ecall havin# stabbed you! b!othe!-in-la& th!ee times and the !est you do not 'no& anymo!eE A. ; cannot !emembe!, si! ho& many times ; stabbed him.7/0

,5 )R,**-$HAM;5A6;,5, Pul#a testified: -. Ao& many times did you stab Ale"and!o Patun#anE

A. 6h!ee times, ; stabbed him and then afte! he fell unconscious, ; &as not able to cont!ol myself. -. And so afte! stabbin# him th!ee times you left the placeE

A. -. A. -. A. -. A.

5o, ma.am. ; lost cont!ol and 7binanatan 'o siya n# binanatan.7 And you 'ept stabbin# himE Bes, ma.am. And then you left the place, the p!emisesE And ; sa& a !ope that ; put a!ound his nec' and pulled him bac'. *o &hich occu!!ed fi!st, the stabbin# o! the st!an#ulationE 6he stabbin#, ma.am.7/:

Pul#a.s admission that he stabbed the victim th!ice coincides &ith the autopsy !epo!t that the victim sustained th!ee stab &ounds. Pul#a.s statement that he &as seated at the d!ive!.s seat &hile the victim sat at the passen#e!.s seat &hich means that Pul#a &as at the left side of the victim also coincides &ith the medical findin# &hich states that the stab &ounds, e2cept those on the victim.s abdomen, &e!e all on the left side of the body of the victim. 6he p!osecution t!ied to establish the impossibility of Pul#a pullin# the victim by himself to the bac' of the van but no competent evidence &as p!esented to p!ove the theo!y. 6he autopsy !epo!t !eveals that the victim &as :/ inches tall/3 and Pul#a testified that he stands 0 feet inches tall./8 6he alle#ed impossibility &as not p!oven by the p!osecution &ith mo!al ce!tainty. At any !ate, &e hold that the!e is no othe! evidence on !eco!d to sho& that Pul#a &as not alone in the commission of the c!ime. Pul#a.s admission can be sustained but he cannot be convicted fo! mu!de! in the absence of p!oof of any of the Jualifyin# ci!cumstances alle#ed in the info!mation, i.e., t!eache!y and evident p!emeditation. 6he numbe! of stab &ounds sustained by the victim, fifty-one in the abdomen and th!ee in the uppe! pa!t of his body, by itself is not a##!avatin# unless it &as sho&n, and it &as not he!ein sho&n, to have been intentionally inflicted to add suffe!in# to the victim./9 ,n the cont!a!y, Pul#a testified that he countlessly stabbed the victim afte! he fell unconscious. Acco!din#ly, Pul#a is he!eby convicted of homicide and to suffe! the penalty of !eclusion tempo!al. 0 ;n the absence of any miti#atin# o! a##!avatin# ci!cumstance, the said penalty is to be imposed in its medium pe!iod 1 of 1 yea!s, 8 months and 1 day to 13 yea!s and months. 6his cou!t is not blind to the suffe!in# of the victim.s family a!isin# f!om his untimely death, but &e a!e bound to uphold the constitutional !i#hts of the accused. (et this be a ste!n lesson to the police autho!ities and to the p!osecution to pe!fo!m thei! s&o!n tas's &ith utmost !e#a!d to the mandates of the )onstitution. )!iminals cannot be app!ehended, p!osecuted and punished unde! the la& by !eso!tin# to non-le#al means. 4A$R$9,R$, appellants Ma!ietta Patun#an and $d#a! Acebuche a!e acJuitted of the c!imes cha!#ed a#ainst them and the "ud#ment of conviction !ende!ed by the t!ial cou!t is he!eby !eve!sed and set aside. 6he "ud#ment of conviction fo! mu!de! a#ainst appellant $lme!to Pul#a is he!eby li'e&ise set aside and a ne& one ente!ed convictin# him of the c!ime of homicide, and imposin# the indete!minate penalty of 10 yea!s of p!ision mayo! in its medium pe!iod, as minimum to 13 yea!s and months of !eclusion tempo!al in its medium pe!iod, as ma2imum. 6his )ou!t affi!ms the pecunia!y a&a!ds #iven by the t!ial cou!t and o!de!s the appellant Pul#a to pay the hei!s of the victim the sum of P00,000.00 as indemnity fo! death, P80,000.00 fo! actual dama#es and P00,000.00 fo! mo!al dama#es. *, ,R1$R$1. "avide, #r., $ .# ., Bellosillo, %elo, !uno, &itug, 'apunan, %endo(a, !anganiban, )uisu bing, !ardo, Buena, *nares+,antiago, "e -eon, #r. and ,andoval+.utierre(, ## ., concu!.

Foo)$o)*+

$lu%on, tsn., pp. 22-2:, ,ctobe! 10, 199 K Alta!e"os, tsn., pp. 0-10, ,ctobe! 11, 199 . $lu%on, ibid., pp. /1-/ K Alta!e"os, ibid., pp. 1/-1 . $2hibit 7$7, p. 3, 9olde! of $2hibitsK 1!. (a#one!a, tsn., pp. /-:, ,ctobe! 10, 199 . Rollo, p. 0/.

Rollo, p. 2/-2 . 9olde! of $2hibits, p. , ma!'ed as 7$2h. 17. 9olde! of $2hibits, pp. /- . 6sn., 5ovembe! 1 , 199 , pp. 1/-13. 6sn., *eptembe! 2:, 199 , p. /. 6sn., ,ctobe! 3, 199:, p. 28. Ibid., pp. / -/8. 6sn., ,ctobe! 1/, 1993, p. 10. 6sn., Duly 13, 1990, pp. 10-13K Ma!ch 18, 199:, pp. 3-10. 6sn., 5ovembe! , 1993, p. 0. Rollo, p. 0/. People vs. )alvo, D!., 2:9 *)RA :3:. People vs. 1ela )!u%, 239 *)RA 2 0. People vs. Andal, 239 *)RA 3 . People vs. Danua!io, 2:3 *)RA :08.

10

11

12

1/

10

1:

13

18

19

People vs. +inami!a, 233 *)RA 2/2K People vs. 1ela )!u%, supra.,K People vs. $spanola, 231, *)RA :89.
20 21

6sn., ,ctobe! /, 199 , pp. 0-:. 6sn *eptembe! 23, 199 , pp. 3-12. 6sn., ,ctobe! /, 199 , pp. 22-23. 6sn., *eptembe! 2:, 199 , pp. 0-9. 6sn., Ma!ch 18, 199:, pp. 9-10K ,ctobe! 3, 199:, p. 8. 6sn, Au#ust 1, 1990, pp. -1/.

22

2/

20

2:

23

Appellant Pul#a &as late! t!ansfe!!ed to MMR) in +icutan, p. 81, ,R. 6sn., *eptembe! 23, 199 , pp. 8, 9. 6sn, ,ctobe! /, 199 , pp. 9-00. People vs. *aha#un, Dune 19, 1993. 6sn., ,ctobe! 13, 199 , pp. 3-8K 5ovembe! 1 , 199 , p. 3K ,ctobe! 3, 199:, pp. 2:. 6sn., ,ctobe!. 10, 199 , p. 11. 6sn., *eptembe! 2:, 199 , pp. 0-3. 6sn., ,ctobe! 3, 199: pp. /9- 0. 6sn., 1ecembe! 10, 1993, pp. 9-11. 6sn., Danua!y 12, 1998, pp. 0-:. 9olde! of $2hibits, p. 3. 6sn., Danua!y 12, 1998, p. :. Reyes, Revised Penal )ode, +oo' 1, pp. 0:- 03, 1998 ed. A!t. 2 8, RP). A!t. : , =1>, RP).

28

29

/0

/1

/2

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