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28871

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G.R.No.28871September19,1928

THEPEOPLEOFTHEPHILIPPINEISLANDS,plaintiffappellee,
vs.
CLEMENTEBABIERA,JUSTOBABIERAandDOMINGABORES,defendantsappellants.

ZuluetaandCordovaandJesusTrinidadforappellants.
OfficeoftheSolicitorGeneralReyesforappellee.

VILLAREAL,J.:

ThisisanappealtakenbyClementeBabiera,JustoBabieraandDomingaBoresfromthejudgmentoftheCourtof
First Instance of Iloilo finding them guilty of the crime of murder, the first as principal, and the last two as
accomplices,sentencingtheformertolifeimprisonmentwiththeaccessoriesofarticle54ofthePenalCode,and
eachofthelattertofourteenyears,eightmonthsandonedaycadenatemporal,withtheaccessoriesofarticle54
and59ofthePenalCode,respectively,andallthreetoindemnifythefamilyofthedeceasedSeverinoHarointhe
sumofP1,000jointlyandseverally,andeachofthemtopayonethirdofthecostsoftheactioninthejusticeofthe
peacecourtandtheCourtofFirstInstance.

Thesixallegederrorsassignedbytheaccusedascommittedbythetrialcourtinitsjudgmentmaybeshifteddown
tothefollowingpropositions:

1. That the evidence adduced at the trial by the prosecution has not established the guilt of the defendants
appellantsbeyondareasonabledoubt.

2.TheExhibitIoftheprosecutionisnotanantemortemdeclarationandisthereforeinadmissibleasevidence.

3.Thattheoffendedparty'squarrelsomedispositioncanbeprovedinthetrialtodeterminewhobegantheattack.

Beforediscussingtheevidenceadducedbybothpartiesanddeterminingitsweightandprobatoryvalue,itiswellto
decidethequestionsraisedbytheappellantsontheadmissibilityofevidence.

The first question of this nature refers to the character of the document Exhibit I, which is a statement made by
SeverinoHaroinSaintPaul'sHospitalofIloiloonthemorningafterthecrimewascommitted.

Although said statement in itself is inadmissible as an antemortem declaration, inasmuch as there is nothing to
show that at the time he made it Severino Haro knew or firmly believed that he was at the point of death,
nevertheless, having ratified its contents a week later when he was near death as a result of his wounds, said
declaration is admissible as a part of that which he made antemortem "A statement made under circumstances
whichwouldnotrenderitadmissibleasadyingdeclarationbecomesadmissibleassuch,itisheld,ifapprovedor
repeatedbythedeclarantafterhehadabandonedallhopeofrecovery."(30CorpusJuris,257.)

Passingnowtoaconsiderationoftheevidence,theprosecutiontriedtoprovedthefollowingfacts:

JustoBabierawastheowneroftwoparcelsoflandsituatedinthemunicipalityofOton,ProvinceofIloilo,Philippine
Islands. On October 19, 1922 Justo Babiera executed a contract of sale with the right of repurchase in favor of
BasilioCopreroswherebyhesoldthetwoparcelsoflandtothelatterforthesumofP124withtheconditionthatif
thevendordidnotrepurchasethemonorbeforeAugust1,1923,thesalewouldbecomeabsoluteandirrevocable
(ExhibitF).Theperiodforrepurchasehavingexpired,BasilioCoprerostookpossessionofsaidtwoparcelsofland,
andonMarch24,1927,madeapplicationtotheregistrarofdeedsfortheProvinceofIloilofortheregistrationofthe
consolidation of his title to said parcels. On the 26th of the said month, Basilio Copreros leased said parcels to
SeverinoHaro,municipalpresidentofOton(ExhibitGandG1).Inviewofthis,onMarch31,1927,JustoBabiera
filedacomplaintagainstBasilioCoprerosinthejusticeofthepeacecourtofOtonfortherecoveryofthepossession
of said two parcels of land. The complaint having been dismissed on April 19, 1927 on the ground that it did not
allegefactssufficienttoconstituteacauseofaction,JustoBabieraappealedtotheCourtofFirstInstanceofIloilo
(Exhibit M). Later on, said Justo Babiera asked for the dismissal of the complaint for unlawful detainer and filed
anotheronefortherecoveryofproperty(ExhibitF).InasmuchasSeverinoHarowasalreadyinpossessionofthe
aforesaidtwoparcelsoflandaslessee,heborealltheexpensesinthecaseofunlawfuldetaineraswellasinthat
forrecoveryoftheproperty.

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Fermin Bruces was Severino Haro's copartner on shares in said lands. About the month of May, 1927, Justo
Babieraaccompaniedbyhiscopartneronshares,RosendoPaycol,wenttowhereFerminBruceswasplowingand
askedthelatter:"Whotoldyoutoplowhere?"FerminBrucesreplied:"SeverinoHaro."ThenJustoBabieraasked
him:"IfthisSeverinotellsyoutokillyourself,willyoudoit?""Ofcoursenot,"answeredFerminBruces.Afterthis
interchange of words Justo Babiera told Fermin Bruces to stop plowing and to tell his master, Severino Haro, to
comeandplowhimself.FerminBrucesinformedSeverinoHarooftheincident,andinanswerthelatteronlytoldhim
nottomindit,buttogoonplowing.

On another occasion while Fermin Bruces was transplanting rice on the same lands, Clemente Babiera and
RosendoPaycolarrivedandtoldhimthatifhecontinuedworkingtheywouldpulloutsomeone'sintestines.Fermin
BrucesalsoinformedSeverinoHaroofthesethreats,whoasbefore,toldhimnottomindthem,buttogoonsowing.

OnJuly23,1927,JoseHaro,brotherofSeverinoHaro,visitedhislandinthebarrioofBita,whichwasunderthe
careofVictorianoRandoquile.Hewastoldbythelatterthathelackedpalayseeds.Atthattime,RosendoPaycol
was in his field, Jose Haro and Victoriano Randoquile approached him and asked him to give them some seeds.
RosendoPaycolansweredthathecouldnotdosobecauseheneededwhathehadforhisownfarms.Haroand
Randoquile then asked him: "Which fields do you mean?" "The fields over which Copreros and Babiera are in
litigation,"answeredRosendoPaycol.Surprisedatthisanswer,JoseHarotoldRosendoPaycolthatwhathesaid
could not be because the lot in dispute was leased to his brother Severino Haro. Rosendo Paycol replied that
attorneyBuenaventuraCordovahadtoldClementeBabieraandJustoBabierathatSeverinoHarowouldneverbe
abletoreaporenjoythefruitsoftheland,becauseiftheydidnotwinthesuitbyfairmeanstheywouldwinitbyfoul.

EversincehehadleasedsaidlandSeverinoHarovisiteditratheroften,especiallyduringthemonthsofJuneand
July,whichisthesowingseason,tryingalwaystoreturntotownearly.Togototheland,whichwasinthebarrio
calledBita,therewasbutabeatenpaththatpassedbythehouseofRosendoPaycol,copartneronsharesofJusto
Babiera,wherethelatterandhisfamilylived.

OnAugust21,1927,SeverinoHaro,asusual,wenttovisithislandinthebarrioofBita,accompaniedbyGregorio
Torrija,BenitoCarreonandPedroTauro.OnarrivingthereFerminBruces,hiscopartneronshares,toldhimthatthe
day before he had found Clemente Babiera's cow grazing on that land. It happened at that moment Clemente
BabieraandDomingaBoreswerepassingby.SeverinoHarotheninformedClementeBabieraofwhathiscowhad
doneontheformer'slandandtoldhimtotakebettercareofhiscowinfutureandnottoletitrunloose.Hethen
orderedFerminBrucestotaketheanimaltowheretheBabierafamilylived.SeverinoHarowasnotabletoreturnto
townuntilalmost7o'clockintheevening.Asitwasalreadydark,heandhiscompanionshadtomakeuseofatorch
made out of split bamboo to light them on their way. Severino Haro went ahead, followed by Pedro Tauro, who
carriedthetorch,some8brazasbehind,withGregorioTorrijaandBenitoCarreonfollowing.OnComingtoaplace
in the road near Rosendo Paycol's house, Clemente Babiera suddenly sprang from the cogon grass, went after
SeverinoHaroandstruckhimwithhisbolointheback.OnturninghisheadtoseewhohadattackedhimSeverino
Haroreceivedanotherboloblowintheforeheadneartherighteyebrow.Intryingtodefendhimselfwithhishandhe
waswoundedbetweentheindexfingerandthethumb.Hethentriedtograsphisassailantbutdidnotsucceedand
he fell to the ground. Then Justo Babiera appeared and placing himself upon Severino Haro's stomach, held the
latter'shands.Later,DomingaBoresappearedonthesceneandheldbothkneesofthewoundedman.WhenJusto
Babiera arrived, a voice was heard saying: "Hold him, papa," and at the same time, Severino Haro's voice was
heardsaying:"Help!help!"PedroTaurowishedtocomenearinordertohelpSeverinoHaro,butClementeBabiera
raised his bolo in the air and kept on brandishing it to warn everybody off. Pedro Tauro, in fear, stepped back,
dropping the torch he carried. Not far from there were also Buenaventura Gabalfin and Gregorio Paycol, who
threatenedtokillSeverinoHaro'scompanionsiftheyhelpedhim.Afterthetorchhadbeenextinguishedtheyheard
avoicewhichtheyrecognizedasSeverinoHaro'ssaying:"UncleJusto,havepatiencewithme,forIhavedoneno
wrong." Then they heard another voice, that of Dominga Bores, which said: "Here is the revolver let us return."
Beforetheassailantslefttwoorthreerevolvershotswereheard.WhenSeverinoHaro'scompanionssawthattheir
assailantshadalreadydeparted,theydrewneartowhereSeverinolaystretchedouttoseewhathadhappenedto
him.SeverinoHarotoldthemnottofearforhedidnotfeelasifheweregoingtodie,andcallinghiscopartneron
shares,FerminBruces,directedhimtobringacotandtakehimtotown.PedroTauroandGregorioTorrijadidas
SeverinoHarowished,andonarrivingatthebarrioofSantaMonica,theybychancecameuponatruckinwhich
weresomepolicemen.TheyplacethewoundedmaninthesametruckandtookhimtoSaintPaul'sHospitalinthe
CityofIloilo.WhenSeverinoHarowastakentothetownhedidnothavehisrevolverandthecartridgebelt,without
theholster,wasfoundbyGregorioTorrijanearwheretheincidenttookplace.

When Severino Haro was already in Saint Paul's Hospital he was examined by Dr. Mariano Arroy, who issued a
certificatestatingthathefoundthefollowingwounds:Threeontherightfrontalregionsoneontherightforehead
takinginthesoftpartsuptotheauditoryarchontherightpalmararchanotherontheleftarmadeeponereaching
down to the spinal column on the four slight wounds on the right thigh the ones on the forehead and the dorsal
regionbeingmortalofnecessity.Allthewoundswerecaused,inthedoctor'sopinion,byasharpedgedandpointed
weapon,andwhilethecombatantswereonthesameplane,exceptthewoundsonthemiddleofthecalfwhichmust
havebeencausedwhiletheassaultedpartywasonalowerplanethanhisassailant,andthewoundsontheright
thigh,whichmusthavebeeninflictedwhiletheassailantwasonahorizontalplane.

Onthesamemorning,August22,1927,andinthesamehospital,SeverinoHaromadeaswornstatementbefore
the deputy fiscal, Edmundo S. Piccio (Exhibit I), relating the occurrence and mentioning the persons who were
present.Thisswornstatementwasratifiedbyhimbeforethesamedeputyfiscalonthe27thofthesaidmonthand
yearwhenhehadgivenupallhopeofrecovery.

Inthisstatement,ExhibitI,SeverinoHaro,amongotherthings,saidthefollowing:

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"Withoutwarning,Ireceivedaslashontheleftshoulder.Onturningbackmyface,IsawClementeBabiera,andhe
thengavemeanotherslashontheforeheadjustabovetherighteyebrow.AtthatmomentIalsoreceivedacuton
therighthand,becauseonreceivingtheblowontheforeheadIdefendedmyselfwiththathand.Ithengraspedhim
becauseIcouldnolongersupportmyselfduetomytwowounds.ThenIfell.WhenIfell,ClementeBabiera'sfather
placedhimselfuponmystomach,whilehis(Clemente's)wifesatonmyfeet,whileJustoBabiera,Clemente'sfather,
graspedmytwohandsandsaidtome,"There,nowdrawyourrevolver"addressingme.Ishoutedtomycompanion
forhelp,forIfelt Iwoulddieandwhiletheyapproached,ClementeBabieraturneduponthem,andsaid:"Donot
approachforyouhavenothingtodowiththis.Whoevercomesneargetsaslashfromthisbolo."Ishammeddeath
and when they left me, and upon seeing that neither Clemente, nor his father, nor his wife remained, my three
companionscameuptomefromtheirhidingplaces.OneAunario,copartneronsharesofJoseAbada,wholived
nearthere,alsocameuptome,andlater,Fermin."

In his antemortem declaration made on the 27th of August, 1927 before the same deputy fiscal, Severino Haro,
amongotherthings,saidthefollowing:

"They repeatedly passed their fingers over my upper lip and at the same time see if I still breathed they felt and
opened my eyelids and then inserted a finger in my pupil, because they believed that if I was insensible, I was
alreadydead.Theykneltonmystomachandonekneltonmylowerlimbs,andmadeapasswithsomething,which
seemstomewasbambooorabolo,overtheanteriorsurfaceofmycalf,andDomingathentooktherevolverfrom
me. I got up because I was afraid Dominga would shoot me and when I attempted to escape Clemente Babiera
pursuedmeandgavemeanothercutontheleftsideofthewaist,andIthinktheblowstrucktheammunitionbelt,
andifithadnotbeenforthebeltitwouldhaveseveredmywaist."

Thedefensetriedtoprovethefollowingfacts:

OntheafternoonofAugust21,1927ClementeBabierawenttoaplacecalledCaboloan,passingbythehouseof
oneOper,locatedinthebarrioofBita,Oton,Iloilo.WhilehewasinOper'shouse,hisfatherJustoBabieraarrived,
andsomemomentslaterSeverinoHaroalsoarrived,andatoncesaidtohim:"Clemente,whydoyouleaveyour
cowloose?"Clementedeniedtheimputationandsaidthathiscowwastied.SeverinoHaroinsisted,andaddedthat
saidanimalhaddamagedhissugarcaneplantation,andtherefore,FerminBruces,hiscopartneronsharescaught
andtiedit,byhisorder,toamangotree.ClementeBabieraansweredthatheleftthecaseinhishandsandthathe
couldchargehimwhathewould,forthedamagesoccasionedbyhiscow.AsSeverinoHarochargedhimP2forthe
damage,Clementetoldhimthatatthemomenthehadnomoney,butthatonthefollowingdayhewouldgetmoney
fromthetownmarketandpayhim.SeverinoHaroacceptedthepromiseandleft.ClementeBabierainturnretiredto
hishouse,togetherwithDomingaBoresandhisfather,anduponreachingacoconutpalmtheymetFerminBruces,
copartner on shares with Severino Haro, who told them that he had already tied up the cow as per his master's
order.Atabout7o'clockintheeveningwhileClementeBabierawasinhishouseconversingwithhisfatherabout
thelandwhichtheyhadinCaboloan,whichwasattachedbytheGovernment,hesuddenlyheardacommotionhe
wenttotheporchofthehousetoseewhathadhappenedandsawanumberofpersonscomingonecarryingalight
and another leading his cow by rope. Clemente Babiera told his father what he saw and went out to meet said
persons, and saw Buenaventura Cabalfin leading his cow by the rope and Severino Haro followed by his
companions Pedro Tauro, Gregorio Torrija, Benito Carreon, Margarito Mediavilla and Fermin Bruces. Clemente
BabierathenaskedSeverinoHaro:"Whyareyoutakingmycowaway?Haven'tIpromisedtopayyoutomorrowthe
losscausedbytheanimal?Ifyouhavenoconfidenceinme,thenprepareareceiptshowingthattomorrowwithout
fail,Iwillpayyou."Inreply,SeverinoHaroonlysaidtoBuenaventuraCabalfin:"Geton,proceed."ClementeBabiera
took hold of the rope by which the cow was led, and said: "Buenaventura, stop!" Severino Haro then grasped
Clemente Babiera by the hand and pulled him to one side. Clemente Babiera disengaged himself from Severino
Haro'sgrasp,butMargaritoMediavillastruckhimwithaboloatthebaseofhislittlefinger.Feelinghimselfwounded,
ClementeBabieratriedtounsheathehisbolointendingtoreturntheblowtoMargaritoMediavillabutfailedtodoso,
because he heard someone say: "Shoot him!" Immediately thereafter he saw Severino Haro with revolver
unholstered,andwithoutanylossoftimehewentuptothelatterandatthatmomentshotswereheard.Clemente
Babierathenbegantoslashblindlyrightandleftwithoutconsideringwhathewasat,catchingSeverinoHarointhe
back,asaresultofwhichthelatterfelltothegroundonhisback.ClementeBabierathrewhimselfuponhim,held
himdownsohecouldnotgetup,andaskedhim:"Whereisyourrevolver?"SeverinoHaroansweredthathedidnot
haveit.ThenClementeBabieraraisedSeverinoHaro'shandsandfelthisback,butdidnotfindtherevolver.Justo
Babiera,Clemente'sfather,thenappeared,andwastoldbyhisson:"Papa,holdhim,whileIsearchforhisrevolver."
When Clemente Babiera saw Fermin Bruces he thought that the latter meant to attack him because he had one
hand behind, where he carried his bolo, so Severino turned on him, but his wife, Dominga Bores, restrained him
tellinghimnottoapproach.OneNarioalsowantedtoapproachinordertodefendSeverinoHarobutdarednotdo
soinviewofClementeBabiera'sthreats.AfterhavingmadefruitlesssearchforSeverinoHaro'srevolver,Clemente
Babiera,hisfather,andhiswifewentbacktotheirhouse.

After charging Rosendo Paycol with the care of the children, the three went to town and passed the night in
FlorencioMayordomo'shouse.OnthefollowingmorningDomingaBoreswenttoattorneyBuenaventuraCordova's
houseandinformedhimofwhathadhappened.BuenaventuraCordovathenwenttoFlorencioMayordomo'shouse
andtoldDomingaBorestoreturntotheplaceoftheincidentinordertolookfortherevolveranddeliverittothe
Constabulary if she found it. Then he accompanied Clemente Babiera to the office of Captain Gatuslao of the
ConstabularyatFortSanPedro,towhomtheydeliveredtheholsteroftherevolverandthethreeshellstheyhad
pickeduponthenightoftheincident.DomingaBoreshavingfoundtherevolverinafurrowneartheplaceofthe
crime took it to Iloilo and delivered it to Captain Gatuslao of the Constabulary between 9 and 10 o'clock in the
morning.

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Dr.JoseGonzalesRoxas,Constabularyphysician,treatedClementeBabiera'swoundandcertifiedthatthesame
was2centimeterslongandhalfacentimeterdeepandwassituatedatthebaseofthelittlefingeroftherighthand,
takinginthecellulartissueoftheskinandtheexteriorligamentofthewrist.

Inrebuttal,theprosecutiontriedtoprovethatatabouthalfpastfiveinthemorningofAugust22,1927,Dominga
BoreswasseeninthegroundflooroftheprovincialgovernmentbuildingofIloilo,carryingapackageunderherarm
andfromthereshewenttothepublicmarketofIloilo.

There is no question that Severino Haro had leased from Basilio Copreros two parcels of land the ownership of
whichhadpassedtohimduetoJustoBabiera'sfailuretorepurchasethemwithinthestipulatedperiod.Noristhere
any question that the latter tried to recover them, first, by an accionpubliciana (action for unlawful detainer), and
then by an action for the recovery of possession. There is likewise no question that Severino Haro paid the
expenses of the defendant Basilio Copreros for the reason that he was already in possession of said lands as
lessee.ThereisalsonoquestionthatClementeBabiera'scowdamagedtheplantingsofFerminBruce,forwhich
reasonthelettercaughtsaidcow,tiedit,andnotifiedhismasterofthematterwhenthelatterwenttovisitthelands
leasedbyhim.NeitheristhereanyquestionthattherewasanagreementbetweenClementeBabieraandSeverino
HarowherebythelatterorderedhiscopartneronsharesFerminBruces,totakethecownearClementeBabiera's
houseandtieitupthere.Inlikemannerthereisnoquestionthatatabout7o'clockintheeveningofAugust21,
1927, when Severino Haro and his companions were returning to the town of Oton, and upon their coming near
Rosendo Paycol's house, in which were Clemente Babiera, his father Justo Babiera, and his mistress Dominga
Bores, said Severino Haro had an encounter with Clemente Babiera in which Severino Haro received several
woundsinconsequenceofwhichhediedaweeklaterinSaintPaul'sHospitalofIloilo.

Theonlyquestiontodetermineinthepresentappealiswhether,astheprosecutioncontends,SeverinoHarowas
suddenlyandtreacherouslyattackedbyClementeBabiera,aidedbyhisfatherandhismistressDomingaBoresor,
asthedefensecontends,SeverinoHaronotwithstandingtheagreementbetweenhimselfandClementeBabieraby
whichthelatterwastoindemnifyhimforthedamagescausedbyhiscow,wantedtotaketheanimaltotownthatin
trying to prevent it, Clemente Babiera was grasped by the hand by Severino Haro and pulled to one side that in
disengaginghimselfClementeBabierareceivedabolocutfromMargaritoMediavillathatwoundedthelittlefingerof
his right hand and that Severino Haro then unsheathed his revolver and fired several shots, in view of which
ClementeBabierastruckrightandleftwithhisbolo,thuscausingtheformer'swounds.

In order to decide the question thus raised, it is necessary to take into account all the circumstances, previous,
coetaneousandsubsequentlytotheincidentinquestion,andtodeterminewhohad,orcouldhavehad,motivesto
assaulttheother.

WehaveseenthatJustoBabierasoldtwoparcelsoflandtoBasilioCopreroswiththerightofrepurchase,andthat,
having failed to repurchase them within the period stipulated, the title thereto was consolidated, in the purchaser,
who leased them to Severino Haro, the latter taking possession of them. Justo Babiera restored to every lawful
meanstoregainpossessionofsaidparcelsofland,firstbyanaccionpubliciana,whichfailed,andthenbyanaction
fortherecoveryofpossession.SeverinoHaropaidtheexpensesofBasilioCoprerosinordertocarryonthesuits.
SuchinterestedinterventiononSeverinoHaro'spartwithoutdoubtmusthavevexedJustoBabiera,forinthemonth
of May 1927, he went with his copartner on shares, Rosendo Paycol, to where Fermin Bruces, Severino Haro's
copartner,wasplowing,andaskedhimwhohadorderedhimthere,andwhenFerminBrucesansweredthatitwas
SeverinoHaro,JustoaskedhimwhetherhewouldcommitsuicideiftoldtodosobysaidSeverinoHaro,andthen
toldhimtotellhismastertogoandplowhimself.Lateron,ClementeBabiera,JustoBabiera'sson,accompaniedby
hiscopartnerRosendoPaycol,seeingthatFerminBruceswentonworkingtheland,toldhimthatifhecontinued
plowing, Clemente would pull out someone's intestines. If all these threats are true, as we believe they are, then
JustoBabieraandClementeBabieramusthaveborneSeverinoHarodeepresentment,doubtlessbelievingthatit
wasduetohimthattheycouldnotrecovertheirtwoparcelsofland,andthiswassufficientandadequatetomove
them,uponthefailureoflawfulmeans,toresorttoviolence.

Ithasbeencontendedbythedefensethatthedefendantappellant,ClementeBabiera,onlyactedindefenseofhis
life and property, having been obliged to resort to arms on seeing his life endangered, contending that the
provocation consisted in that after Severino Haro had agreed to an indemnity of P2 for the damage caused, the
latterwantedtotakeClementeBabiera'scowtothetown,andthattheattackconsistedinthatMargaritoMediavilla
gavehimaboloblowonthelittlefingeroftherighthand,andthatSeverinoHarothreatenedhimwithhisrevolver
andfiredseveralshotsathim.

Examined in the light of the ordinary conduct of men, Severino Haro's alleged attitude, in having tried to take
ClementeBabiera'scowafterhavingagreedtoacceptP2forthedamages,andhavingorderedthattheanimalbe
returnedtoitsowner,ishighlyillogical,andnotascintillaofevidencehasbeenpresentedtoexplainthischangeof
determination,asunexpectedasitisunreasonable.

WithrespecttotheallegationthatMargaritoMediavillaandSeverinoHarobegantheattack,inasmuchasithasnot
beenprovedthattheyweretheinstigators,itcannotbeconceivedthattheycommittedsaidunlawfulaggression,for
hewhohasnoreasontoprovoke,hasnoreasontoattackunlawfully.

ThedefensealsoattemptedtoprovethatSeverinoHarowasofaquarrelsomedisposition,provoking,irascible,and
fondofstartingquarrelsinthemunicipalityofOton,butthetrialjudgewouldnotpermitit.

Whileitistruethatwhenthedefenseoftheaccusedisthatheactedinselfdefense,hemayprovethedeceasedto
havebeenofaquarrelsome,provokingandirascibledisposition,theproofmustbeofhisgeneralreputationinthe
communityandnotofisolatedandspecificacts(UnderhillCriminalEvidence,par.325,p.570),suchastheaccused
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ClementeBabieratriedtoprove,andhencethelowercourtdidnoterrinnotadmittingsuchproof.Butevenifithad
beenprovedbycompetentevidencethatthedeceasedwasofsuchadisposition,nevertheless,itwouldnothave
been sufficient to overthrow the conclusive proof that it was the said accused who treacherously attacked the
deceased.

Another circumstance which shows the falsity of the theory of the defense is that of having made Buenaventura
CabalfintakepartasthepersonwhomSeverinoHaroemployedtoleadClementeBabiera'scow.IfSeverinoHaro's
copartner,FerminBruces,whomhehadtoldtoreturnsaidcowtoClementeBabierawaswithhismasteronthat
night, together with other companions, what need was there of said Severino Haro's employing the services of
anotherpersonandonenotbelongingtohisgroup?Theplanofthedefensenecessitatedaprovocationandtothat
end they conceived the idea of the breach of the supposed agreement on the return of the animal through the
paymentofanindemnityofP2,makinguseasaninstrumentofoneonwhomthedefensecoulddependtoserveas
witness,andtherewasnoonebettersuitedforsuchapurposethanBuenaventuraCabalfinwhoaccordingtothe
witnessesfortheprosecution,wasattheplaceofthecrimewithGregorioPaycolthreateningthedeceased'sfriends
iftheyofferedtohelphim.

TorebuttheevidenceoftheprosecutionthatDomingaBoreswastheonewhobyorderofClementeBabieratook
SeverinoHaro'srevolverfromhimonthenightinquestion,thedefensetriedtoprovethatonthefollowingmorning
attorneyBuenaventuraCordova,arelativeoftheBabieras,toldDomingaBorestoreturntotheplaceoftheincident
and look for said weapon, and that she found it in a furrow near the place and took it to the office of the
Constabulary in Iloilo between 9 and 10 o'clock in the morning. But the rebuttal evidence of the prosecution
disprovedthiscontentionandshowedthatDomingaBoresdidnothavetolookfortherevolverinthefield,sinceat
halfpastfiveinthemorningshewasalreadyintheprovincialbuildingofIloilocarryingapackageunderherarm.

WithregardtothesmallwoundatthebaseofthelittlefingeroftherighthandwhichClementeBabierashowedto
theConstabularyphysicianashavingbeencausedbyMargaritoMediavilla,weareconvincedthatthelatterwasnot
in the company of Severino Haro on the night in question and could not have inflicted such a wound. Bearing in
mindtheplanofthedefense,itmaysafelybesaidthatinordertocastanappearanceofrealityontheconcocted
pleaofanunlawfulattackandselfdefense,ClementeBabierainflictedonhimselftheslightwoundsince,ifinorder
toescapemilitaryservicethereweremenwhomutilatedthemselves,whowouldnotwoundhimselfslightlyinorder
toescapealifepenalty?

Thefactsrelatedabovehavebeenprovenbeyondareasonabledoubtandconstitutethecrimeofmurderdefinedin
article403ofthePenalCode,therebeingpresentatthecommissionofthecrime,thequalifyingcircumstanceof
treachery,consistingintheaccusedClementeBabierahavingattackedSeverinoHarosuddenlywhilethelatterhad
his back turned, inflicting various wounds on his body as a result of which he died a week later, said Clemente
Babierabeingcriminallyliableasprincipalbydirectparticipation.

JustoBabieraandDomingaBoresarealsoliablebutasaccomplices,because,whiletheydidnottakeadirectpart
intheinflictionofthewoundsthatcausedSeverinoHaro'sdeath,orcooperatedbyactswithoutwhichtheycouldnot
havebeeninflicted,orinducedClementeBabieratoinflictthem,yettheytookpartinthecommissionofthecrimeby
simultaneousactsconsistingintheformerhavingmountedSeverinoHaro'sbodyandhelddownhishands,while
thelattersatonhiskneeswhilehelaystretchedoutonthegroundinordertoallowClementeBabieratosearchthe
body for his revolver, Justo Babiera and Dominga Bores cannot be held as accomplices of the crime of murder,
inasmuchasitdoesnotappeartohavebeenproventhattheyknewthemannerinwhichClementeBabierawas
goingtoassaultSeverinoHaro,inaccordancewiththeprovisionofarticle79ofthePenalCode,totheeffectthat
the circumstances which consist in the material execution of the act, or in the means employed to accomplish it,
shallservetoaggravateormitigatetheliabilityofthosepersonsonlywhohadknowledgeofthematthetimeofthe
actortheircooperationtherein.Althoughintheinstantcasethetreacheryisnotconsideredagenericaggravating,
butaqualifyingcircumstance,nevertheless,itdoesnotfailtoproduceaspecialaggravation.

Tograduatethepenalty,wearenottoconsideranymodifyingcircumstanceofthecriminalliability,forwhileitistrue
that Clemente Babiera took advantage of the darkness of nighttime, this circumstance is included in treachery,
inasmuchas,consideringthefactthatSeverinoHarowasfollowedbyseveralcompanions,theaccusedwouldnot
havebeenabletoconcealhimselfinthecogongrassnorattackthedeceasedfrombehindwithoutbeingseenin
timeandpreventedfromexecutinghiscriminalpurposehadnotbeenforthedarknessofthenight.

The penalty provided by law for the crime of murder namely, that of cadena temporal in its maximum degree to
deathmustthereforebeimposeduponClementeBabierainitsmediumdegree,thatis,lifeimprisonment.

Thepenaltyprovidedforinarticle404ofthePenalCodeforthecrimeofhomicideisreclusiontemporalinitsfull
extent,andtheonenextlowerisprisionmayorinitsfullextent,whichisthepenaltythatmustbeimposedonJusto
Babiera and Dominga Bores as accomplices in the crime of homicide (art. 67, Penal Code). In graduating the
penalty, the aggravating circumstances of nocturnity must be taken into consideration, without any extenuating
circumstancestooffsetit,andthereforesaidpenaltyofprisionmayormustbeimposedinitsmaximumdegree,that
is,tenyearsand1day.

Astherearethreepersonscivillyliable,oneasprincipalinthecrimeofmurderandtwoasaccomplicesinthatof
homicide,wemustfixtheshare,forwhicheachmustanswer,oftheP1,000fixedbythetrialcourt,inaccordance
withtheprovisionofarticle124ofthePenalCode,thatis,P600forClementeBabieraandP400forJustoBabiera
and Dominga Bores, each of the latter being liable solidarily between themselves for their share, and subsidiarily
liablefortheshareoftheformerandtheformerfortheshareofthelatter,accordingtotheprovisionofarticle125of
thesameCode.

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4/15/2017 G.R. No. 28871
Byvirtuewhereof,theappealedjudgmentisherebymodified,anditisheldthatJustoBabieraandDomingaBores
areguiltyofthecrimeofhomicideasaccomplicesandeachsentencedtotenyearsand1dayprisionmayor,andto
pay the sum of P400 jointly and severally, and Clemente Babiera to pay the sum of P600, the former to be
subsidiarilyliableforthelatter'sshare,andthelatterfortheformer'sshare,paymenttobemadetotheheirsofthe
deceased Severino Haro, the appealed judgment being affirmed in all other respects with the proportional costs
againsteach.Soordered.

Avancena,C.J.,Johnson,Street,Malcolm,Villamor,OstrandandRomualdez,JJ.,concur.

TheLawphilProjectArellanoLawFoundation

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