G a e ab e of di c e ion e i onl he e an ac of a co o ib nal i pe fo med ih a

cap icio o him ical e e ci e of j dgmen eq i alen o lack of j i dic ion. (C . D

G a , 524 SCRA 513 [2007])

o0o

G.R. No. 164266. J l 23, 2008.*

NOVER BRYAN SALVADOR DE LEON, pe i ione , . PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES,

e ponden .

C a La ; E d c ; C c a a E d c ; R ; W d a d P a ; D c d c
c a a a c a d a c c a d d
d c a a a c c c a a d c c c ;C c a a
d c a d c c a ac ac c ac a b ab db
c . Di ec e idence of he c ime i no he onl ma i he ef om a ial co ma d a i concl ion
and finding of g il . The le of e idence allo a ial co o el on ci c m an ial e idence o ppo i
concl ion of g il . Ci c m an ial e idence i ha e idence hich p o e a fac o e ie of fac f om hich he
fac in i e ma be e abli hed b infe ence. A ime , e o o ci c m an ial e idence i impe a i e ince o
in i on di ec e imon o ld, in man ca e , e l in e ing felon f ee and den p ope p o ec ion o he
comm ni . Sec ion 4, R le 133 of he R le of Co , p o ide ha ci c m an ial e idence i fficien fo
con ic ion if he follo ing eq i i e a e complied i h: (1) The e i mo e han one ci c m ance; (2) The fac
f om hich he infe ence a e de i ed a e p o en; and (3) The combina ion of all he ci c m ance i ch a o
p od ce a con ic ion be ond ea onable do b .

_______________

* THIRD DIVISION.

462

462 SUPREME COURT REPORTS

ANNOTATED

Sa ad .P

Sa ;H cd ;M ;I ;W d a dP a ;I a c a a a ,b a a
d, ab db ac a acc d b da
a c , d d d a a c a
c a b d; M a d a b c d d a d a a c . In en
o kill a d l e abli hed b he i ne e hen he e ified ela i e o he peeping inciden . Al ho gh
he e a no e idence o allega ion of e al ad ance , ch inciden manife ed pe i ione e il mo i e. I i a
le in c iminal la ha mo i e, being a a e of mind, i e abli hed b he e imon of i ne e on he ac o
a emen of he acc ed befo e o immedia el af e he commi ion of he offen e, deed o o d ha ma
e p e i o f om hich hi mo i e o ea on fo commi ing i ma be infe ed. Mo i e and in en ma be
con ide ed one and he ame, in ome in ance , a in he p e en ca e.
C c a a E d c ;T c a c c a a d c a acc d ca b
d d c d c a c a c d c a c , ,
a a a ab c a d c c a acc d a c . The
DNA anal i made b he NBI e pe placed he pe i ione a he cene of he c ime. S ch e idence a
con ide ed, oge he i h he o he ci c m ance di c ed ea lie . The indi id al piece of e idence ma no be
fficien o poin o he acc ed a he a ho of he c ime. Ho e e , hen aken oge he , he a e mo e han
eno gh o e abli h be ond ea onable do b ha pe i ione commi ed he c ime of homicide. We o ld like o
empha i e a hi poin ha he pec lia i of ci c m an ial e idence i ha he g il of he acc ed canno be
ded ced f om c ini ing j one pa ic la piece of e idence. I i mo e like a p le hich, hen p oge he ,
e eal a ema kable pic e poin ing o a d he concl ion ha he acc ed i he a ho of he c ime.
 W ;I a a a a , d d ca c , acc b d
a a c / d . The p o ec ion e idence, e peciall
he e imonie of he i ne e ho happen o be he ic im ela i e , a no eakened b he fac of ch

463

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ela ion hip. The Co no e ha pe i ione him elf i a ela i e of he i ne e , a b b affini , being
he h band of he ic im i e . I i nna al fo a ela i e, ho i in e e ed in indica ing he c ime, o
acc e omebod el e o he han he eal c lp i . Fo he /him o do o i o le he g il go f ee. Whe e he e i
no hing o indica e ha i ne e e e ac a ed b imp ope mo i e on he i ne and, hei po i i e
decla a ion made nde olemn oa h de e e f ll fai h and c edence.

PETITION fo e ie on ce io a i of he deci ion and e ol ion of he Co of Appeal .

The fac a e a ed in he opinion of he Co .
J B. Va ada and Ma T. O c a-Va ada fo pe i ione .
T S c G a fo e ponden .

NACHURA, J.:

Thi i a Pe i ion fo Re ie on C a nde R le 45 of he R le of Co filed b pe i ione

No e B an Sal ado De Leon, a ailing he Co of Appeal (CA) Deci ion1 da ed Feb a 26,
2004 hich affi med he Regional T ial Co 2 (RTC) Deci ion3 da ed Oc obe 26, 2001. Like i e
a ailed i he appella e co Re ol ion4da ed J l 6, 2004 den ing pe i ione mo ion fo
econ ide a ion.
The fac of he ca e follo :
Spo e E ne o and Ma ga i a Z iga had h ee da gh e , namel : Ma ianne, Ma Ann and
he ic im A lene. Ma Ann a ma ied o he pe i ione he ein. The Z iga famil , incl ding Ma
Ann and he pe i ione e e li ing

_______________

1 Penned b A ocia e J ice Jo e L. Sabio, J ., i h A ocia e J ice Delilah Vidallon-Mag oli and Hakim S.
Abd l ahid, conc ing; R , pp. 48-56.
2 B anch 172, Valen ela Ci .
3 Penned b J dge Flo o P. Alejo; R , pp. 58-68.
4R , p. 57.

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464 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

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oge he a 550 Coloong I, Valen ela Ci . Thei e idence had h ee bed oom one fo he Z iga
po e ; he o he fo Ma ianne and A lene; and he la fo Ma Ann and he pe i ione .
On Sep embe 20, 1997, he Z iga po e , oge he i h Ma ianne, en o B lacan o a end
he ake of E ne o mo he ; hile Ma Ann i h he ne bo n child, and A lene, a ed a hei
Valen ela home. Pe i ione , a ha ime, a ked pe mi ion o a end a bi hda pa .5
A abo 9:00 in he e ening, pe i ione , accompanied b Ed a do Paloma e , e ned home o ge
ome ka aoke ape o be ed a he bi hda pa . The he eaf e en back o he pa and
a ed he e n il 12 midnigh befo e heading back home.
A 4:30 in he mo ning, he follo ing da , he Z iga po e and Ma ianne a i ed home. The
opened he main doo hich a hen locked. Af e p epa ing fo leep, Ma ianne p oceeded o he
 oom hich he a ha ing i h A lene. The e he a A lene, ho ffe ed ab o nd , al ead
dead. Af e eeing A lene bod , he Z iga po e hed o he oom of Ma Ann and he
pe i ione . While Ma Ann p oceeded o A lene oom, pe i ione a ed a he a a and c ied. He
a la e een emb acing Ma Ann and elling he ha he a innocen .6
A a o nd 5:00 in he mo ning, police in e iga o a i ed. The police fo nd no fo cible en in o
he ho e; no al able e e mi ing; and no blood ain in o he pa of he ho e e cep A lene
oom. The like i e di co e ed, on op of he ki chen able, pe i ione nde ea (b ief ), g a -
7
hi and ho pan . The f he fo nd hai and on A lene bed. The e piece of e idence
e e b o gh o he labo a o fo e amina ion.

_______________

5 Id., a p. 59.
6 Id.
7 Id., a p. 60.

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On Sep embe 21, 1997, D . Noel Mina (D . Mina ), a medico-legal of he Na ional B ea of

In e iga ion (NBI) cond c ed an a op of he decea ed.8 He fo nd ha A lene ffe ed 21 ab
o nd p od ced b a poin ed in men , one ide of hich a ha p like a ba o a ki chen
knife. He f he decla ed he po ibili ha A lene ggled i h he a ailan befo e he died.9
The NBI Fo en ic Biologi al o e amined pe i ione b ief , - hi and ho pan , and fo nd
ha he b ief and hi e e po i i e of pe O h man blood, A lene blood pe.10 The NBI
Fo en ic Chemi , b eq en l , cond c ed DNA Anal i on he follo ing pecimen :
1. One (1) di hi e Hanfo d b ief[ ];
2. One (1) ligh g a - hi i h DKNY p in inf on ;
3. Se e al and of hai allegedl eco e ed in he bed oom of [ he] ic im;
4. B ccal ab aken f om he follo ing:
a. ERNESTO ZU IGA ( ic im fa he )
b. MARGARITA ZU IGA ( ic im mo he )
c. NOVER BRYAN SALVADOR ( pec )11

The e amina ion of pecimen no. 1 ielded a nega i e e l fo he p e ence of h man DNA; hile
pecimen no . 2, 3, and 4 a-c, ielded po i i e e l .12

Pe i ione a h cha ged i h Homicide in an Info ma ion da ed Ap il 8, 1998, he acc ao

po ion of hich ead :

_______________

8 D . Mina finding e e embodied in an A op Repo and Ce ifica e of Po -Mo em E amina ion; folde of e hibi ,
pp. 10-13.
9 R , p. 62.
10 Id.
11 E hibi DDD, folde of e hibi , p. 49.
12 Id.

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466 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

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 Tha on o abo he 20 h da
j i dic ion of hi Hono able Co
in en o kill, did hen and he e
hi ing on he diffe en pa of he
CONTRARY TO LAW. 13
of Sep embe , 1997, in Valen ela, Me o Manila, Philippine and i hin he
, he abo e-named acc ed, i ho an j ifiable ca e and i h delibe a e
illf ll , nla f ll and felonio l a a l and ab one ARLENE ZU IGA,
bod , hich led o he dea h of aid A lene Z iga.

The afo emen ioned fac e e e abli hed d ing he p o ec ion p e en a ion of e idence. I
a f he e ified o b he i ne e ha pe i ione o ned a knife o he i e kno n a ba ,
hich he all b o gh e e ime he en o . Ill mo i e a ho n b pe i ione p e io ac of
peeping h o gh he ba h oom and A lene oom on o occa ion hile he a aking a ba h and
hile he a in ide he oom i h Ma ianne.
Fo hi pa , all ha he pe i ione co ld offe a ba e denial of he acc a ion again him.
On Oc obe 26, 2001, he RTC ende ed a Deci ion finding he pe i ione g il of homicide. The
di po i i e po ion of hich ead :
WHEREFORE, j dgmen i he eb ende ed finding acc ed NOVER BRYAN SALVADOR DE LEON
g il be ond ea onable do b and a p incipal of he c ime of homicide a defined and penali ed nde A icle
249 of he Re i ed Penal Code, i ho an a ending mi iga ing o agg a a ing ci c m ance, and, appl ing he
Inde e mina e Sen ence La , he eb en ence him o an inde e mina e penal of EIGHT (8) YEARS, EIGHT
(8) MONTHS and ONE (1) DAY of a , a minim m, o FOURTEEN (14) YEARS, EIGHT (8)
MONTHS and ONE (1) DAY of c a , a ma im m. The acc ed i f he en ence ( c) o
indemnif Spo e E ne o and Ma ga i a Z iga he amo n of P50,000.00 fo he dea h of A lene Z iga and
ano he amo n of P50,000.00 a mo al damage , bo h i ho b idia imp i onmen in ca e of in ol enc .
The acc ed i f he en enced o pa he co of i .

_______________

13 Reco d , p. 1.

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SO ORDERED. 14

The RTC con ide ed he follo ing ci c m an ial e idence fficien o e abli h pe i ione g il :
(1) The pe pe a o did no e an fo ce o de o an po ion of he ho e o ge in ide he ho e. Thi
implie ha he pe pe a o i an occ pan of he ho e. The acc ed a , d ing he ime ma e ial o hi ca e,
e iding i h hi in-la . The allega ion of he acc ed ha he main doo of he ho e a open hen he
e ned o ge he ape i diffic l o belie e. I i n hinkable ha he emaining occ pan of he ho e,
namel , A lene and Ma Ann, ho a e bo h female, o ld no ake he nece a p eca ion fo hei o n
p o ec ion ch a locking he doo of he ho e. I i a diffic l o ppo e ha he pe pe a o of he c ime
o ld go o he ho e he e hi in ended ic im a leeping i ho being e ha he co ld gain en o he
ho e o ha e he nece a in men o open he doo .
(2) The e e e no pe onal belonging mi ing in he ho e. Thi ho ha he pe on ho en e ed he
oom of he ic im had no in en ion o eal. Thi fac can be e be app ecia ed if e con ide he e idence ha
he acc ed a ca gh man ime peeping a A lene d ing he life ime; and ha [blood ain ] e e fo nd no
in he ho pan of he acc ed b in hi Hanfo d b ief and T- hi .
(3) The ab ence of [blood ain ] o po in an o he pa of he ho e e cep he oom of he ic im. Thi
indica e ha he a ailan m ha e cleaned he ace of blood in ide he ho e. The facili and ime o clean
he a ea i mo e a ailable o an a ailan ho a an occ pan of he ho e o a membe of he ho ehold.
(4) P io o and p o he da e of he commi ion of he c ime on Sep embe 20 o 21, 1997[,] he acc ed a
een b hi pa en -in-la E ne o and Ma ga i a Z iga and he i e -in-la Ma ianne and hi f iend Dond
Hiponia in man occa ion o ha e in [hi ] po e ion a bali ong o bein e ( c) n e e. A bali ong o bein e
( c) n e e i he agalong name fo a knife i h folding blade. The e i no ea on fo he Co o do b he
e imonie of aid i ne e . Being clo e ela i e and f iend of he acc ed[,] he

_______________

14 R , p. 68.
 46

468 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

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ha e no mo i e o fab ica e a o again he acc ed o o implica e him o he commi ion of he c ime

cha ged. The claim of he acc ed ha hi fa he -in-la E ne o Z iga i ing o implica e him [fo ] he
killing of A lene beca e hi fa he -in-la di app o ed hi ma ing Ma Ann, and ha he accompanied hi
mo he -in-la o he ho e of he mi e of hi fa he -in-la i no ppo ed b he fac of he ca e. The
acc ed a allo ed o a in he ho e of he Z iga , an indica ion ha he a accep able o he famil . The
alleged mi e of E ne o a no ho n o e i , no he ppo ed add e e ealed b he acc ed. The
di appea ance of aid bladed eapon and he denial b he acc ed ha he e e o ned he ame a e in ig ing
beca e, acco ding o e pe e imon , he ab o nd ained b he ic im e e p od ced b a poin ed
in men one ide of hich i ha p like a bali ong o bein e ( c) n e e.
(5) The p e ence of h man blood i h pe O in he - hi and b ief of he acc ed, he finding ha he
blood pe of he ic im belong o g o pd ( c) O, and he ci c m ance ha he acc ed had ffe ed no
c a che o o nd f om hich o come blood o ain hi T- hi and b ief a e e ealing and co ld onl lead o
he concl ion ha he ic im a he o ce of he blood fo nd in he T- hi and b ief of he acc ed.
(6) The concl ion a i ed a b Mag ipoc ha he DNA P ofile of he [blood ain] in he ligh g a - hi
and he DNA P ofile on he hai and co ld come f om he acc ed and he ic im.
(7) The n al beha io of he acc ed af e he di co e of he dead bod of A lene be a ed he acc ed.
E ne o and Ma ga i a Z iga e ified ha oon af e he di co e of he dea h of A lene[,] he immedia el
en o he oom of he acc ed and hi ife Ma Ann; ha i ook Ma ga i a a ha d ime o a aken he
acc ed; and ha pon being a akened, he acc ed did no ge ( c) in ide he oom he e A lene a and
in ead a ed and c ied in he ala elling hi ife ha he a innocen e en if nobod e a ha ime a
poin ing o him a he pec . The ac a ion of he acc ed hen a ha of a pe pe a o of he c ime i h
o bled con cience. 15

_______________

15 Id., a pp. 66-67.

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On appeal, he CA affi med pe i ione con ic ion.16Hence, he p e en pe i ion fo e ie

on c a ancho ed on he follo ing g o nd :

I
THE HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS COMMITTED GRAVE REVERSIBLE ERROR WHEN IT
RULED THAT THE MOST CONVINCING EVIDENCE OF THE PROSECUTION IS THE RESULT
OF THE DNA ANALYSIS CONDUCTED BY THE NBI FORENSIC CHEMIST.
II.
THE HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS COMMITTED A GRAVE REVERSIBLE ERROR WHEN
IT RULED THAT BY MEANS OF CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE, IT WAS PROVEN AND
ESTABLISHED BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT THAT ACCUSED-APPELLANT WAS THE ONE
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATH OF ARLENE ZU IGA.
III.
THE HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS GRIEVOUSLY ERRED IN AFFIRMING THE
DECISION OF THE TRIAL COURT FINDING ACCUSED GUILTY BEYOND REASONABLE
DOUBT OF THE CRIME OF HOMICIDE.17

The pe i ion lack me i .

Di ec e idence of he c ime i no he onl ma i he ef om a ial co ma d a i concl ion
and finding of g il . The le of e idence allo a ial co o el on ci c m an ial e idence o
ppo i concl ion of g il . Ci c m an ial e idence i ha e idence hich p o e a fac o
_______________

16 The di po i i e po ion of hich ead :

WHEREFORE, fo egoing p emi e con ide ed, he appeal i he eb DENIED fo ha ing no me i in fac and in la .
The deci ion of he ial co i he eb AFFIRMED. Co again acc ed-appellan .
SO ORDERED. (Id., a p. 55.)
17 R , p. 156.

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470 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

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e ie of fac f om hich he fac in i e ma be e abli hed b infe ence. A ime , e o o

ci c m an ial e idence i impe a i e ince o in i on di ec e imon o ld, in man ca e , e l
in e ing felon f ee and den p ope p o ec ion o he comm ni .18
Sec ion 4, R le 133 of he R le of Co , p o ide ha ci c m an ial e idence i fficien fo
con ic ion if he follo ing eq i i e a e complied i h:
(1) The e i mo e han one ci c m ance;
(2) The fac f om hich he infe ence a e de i ed a e p o en; and
(3) The combina ion of all he ci c m ance i ch a o p od ce a con ic ion be ond ea onable do b .19

All he ci c m ance m be con i en i h one ano he , con i en i h he h po he i ha he

acc ed i g il , and a he ame ime incon i en i h he h po he i ha he i innocen . Th ,
con ic ion ba ed on ci c m an ial e idence can be pheld, p o ided ha he ci c m ance p o en
con i e an nb oken chain hich lead o one fai and ea onable concl ion ha poin o he
20
acc ed, o he e cl ion of all o he , a he g il pe on.
In he p e en ca e, bo h he ial and appella e co con ide ed he e piece of e idence in
finding pe i ione g il : 1) he non-emplo men of fo ce in en e ing he cene of he c ime; 2) no
mi ing pe onal belonging ; 3) he ab ence of blood ain in o he pa of he ho e e cep A lene
oom;

_______________

18 P . Pad a, G.R. No. 169075, Feb a 23, 2007, 516 SCRA 590, 600-601.
19 P . Pad a, d., a p. 601; Ma a .P , G.R. No. 163217, Ap il 18, 2006, 487 SCRA 273, 312; P .
Ya a , G.R. No. 150224, Ma 19, 2004, 428 SCRA 504, 517-518; P . Da a , 465 Phil 747, 767; 421 SCRA 45, 61
(2004); P .E a, 452 Phil. 517, 532; 404 SCRA 421, 432 (2003).
20 P . Pad a, a no e 18.

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4) pe i ione o ne hip of a ba , he ame eapon ed in abbing he ic im; 5) he p e ence

of pe O h man blood on pe i ione T- hi and b ief ; 6) he po i i e e l of he DNA anal i
ing he blood ain fo nd in pe i ione hi and b ief ; and 7) pe i ione n al beha io af e
he di co e of he ic im lifele bod .21
In hi appeal befo e he CA and like i e in hi p e en pe i ion, pe i ione q e ion he
fficienc of each and e e ci c m ance en me a ed abo e. He pecificall poin o he
22
incon i en finding of he NBI Fo en ic Chemi and ho e of he NBI Fo en ic Biologi . A o he
ci c m ance ha he e a no fo cible en o he ho e, he in i ha he main doo a no
23
locked; and he, in fac , fa l A lene fo no locking he doo o he bed oom. Pe i ione add ha
he connec ion be een he alleged peeping inciden and in en o kill a o emo e; and h
in fficien o con ic him.24 He al o pe ade hi Co o gi e c edence o hi e imon ha he
o ned a a a (do ble-bladed knife) and no a ba ( ingle-bladed) hich h nega e hi
a ho hip of he c ime, ince i o ld be con a o he medico-legal finding ha he eapon
ed a an in men one ide of hich a ha p.25 Pe i ione f he a e ha he ab ence of
c a che , o nd and b i e on hi bod e e mo e con i en i h hi innocence a he han hi
g il , if e follo he co concl ion ha A lene had a chance o ggle i h him p io o hi
26
dea h. La l , pe i ione claim ha if e e e o belie e he p o ec ion e ion, i o ld be ha d
o imagine ha Ma Ann (pe i ione ife), ho a hen in he o he oom, a no a akened.27

_______________

21 R , p. 194.
22 Id., a pp. 156-159.
23 Id., a pp. 159-160.
24 Id., a pp. 161-162.
25 Id., a pp. 163-165.
26 Id., a pp. 165-167.
27 Id., a pp. 171-172.

472

472 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

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P io o he fa ef l nigh hen A lene lifele bod a di co e ed, e e al i ne e a

pe i ione in po e ion of a ba . The NBI a op epo , in n, a ed ha he o nd
ained b A lene e e inflic ed i h he e of a eapon onl one ide of hich a ha p ( ch a
a ba ). Af e he di co e of he c ime, he ba a no he e o be fo nd. Hence, he ial
co a co ec in i concl ion ha he ba p e io l een in pe i ione po e ion a he
e eapon ed in abbing he ic im. While pe i ione admi ed o ning a diffe en kind of
eapon, he failed o p od ce i in co . A ch, i emained a elf- e ing allega ion ha canno be
con ide ed o e one a e him f om liabili .
A o pe i ione hi and b ief , a co ec l held b he ial co (and a affi med b he
appella e co ), he e e fo nd o be ained i h pe O blood ( he ic im blood pe). In ead of
q e ioning he ab ence of p oof ha he a no of he ame blood pe a he ic im, pe i ione
ho ld ha e p e en ed e idence ha he indeed ha pe O blood. The fac emain ha pe i ione
offe ed no e plana ion h hi hi and b ief con ained blood ain . I i , he efo e, co ec o
concl de ha he e e ained i h he ic im blood.
Mo eo e , he ab ence of c a che and b i e on pe i ione bod pa doe no nega e he ial
co concl ion ha he ic im had he chance o ggle i h he pe i ione . Thi i o beca e, a
he ime he pe i ione a acked he ic im be een 1:00 and 4:00 in he mo ning, he a mo likel
a leep and a onl a akened b he pe i ione ; he a , he efo e, no in a po i ion o offe ong
e i ance. Thi e plain h ch ggle p od ced no b i e and c a che .
The p e ence of pe i ione ife in ide he ho e a ha ime doe no like i e nega e he
commi ion of he c ime. Con ide ing ha hi ife a a n ing mo he ho defi-
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ni el had leeple nigh , he co ld no be e pec ed o be con cio of e e hing ha happened

o ide he oom.
Mo e impo an l , in en o kill a d l e abli hed b he i ne e hen he e ified ela i e
o he peeping inciden . Al ho gh he e a no e idence o allega ion of e al ad ance , ch
inciden manife ed pe i ione e il mo i e. I i a le in c iminal la ha mo i e, being a a e of
mind, i e abli hed b he e imon of i ne e on he ac o a emen of he acc ed befo e o
immedia el af e he commi ion of he offen e, deed o o d ha ma e p e i o f om hich
hi mo i e o ea on fo commi ing i ma be infe ed.28 Mo i e and in en ma be con ide ed one
and he ame, in ome in ance , a in he p e en ca e.
La l , he DNA anal i made b he NBI e pe placed he pe i ione a he cene of he c ime.
S ch e idence a con ide ed, oge he i h he o he ci c m ance di c ed ea lie . The
indi id al piece of e idence ma no be fficien o poin o he acc ed a he a ho of he c ime.
Ho e e , hen aken oge he , he a e mo e han eno gh o e abli h be ond ea onable do b ha
pe i ione commi ed he c ime of homicide. We o ld like o empha i e a hi poin ha he
pec lia i of ci c m an ial e idence i ha he g il of he acc ed canno be ded ced f om
c ini ing j one pa ic la piece of e idence. I i mo e like a p le hich, hen p oge he ,
e eal a ema kable pic e poin ing o a d he concl ion ha he acc ed i he a ho of he
c ime.29
The p o ec ion e idence, e peciall he e imonie of he i ne e ho happen o be he
ic im ela i e , a no eakened b he fac of ch ela ion hip. The Co no e ha pe i ione
him elf i a ela i e of he i ne e , a b b affini , being he h band of he ic im i e . I i
nna al fo a ela i e, ho i in e e ed in indica ing he c ime, o

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28 P . Ya a , a no e 19, a p. 521.
29 P .E a, a no e 19, a p. 532; p. 433.

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474 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

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acc e omebod el e o he han he eal c lp i . Fo he /him o do o i o le he g il go

f ee.30 Whe e he e i no hing o indica e ha i ne e e e ac a ed b imp ope mo i e on he
i ne and, hei po i i e decla a ion made nde olemn oa h de e e f ll fai h and c edence.31
We al o ei e a e he ell- e led le ha hi Co acco d g ea eigh and a high deg ee of
e pec o fac al finding of he ial co , e peciall hen affi med b he CA, a in he p e en
ca e. He e, he RTC a neq i ocall pheld b he CA, hich a clo hed i h he po e o e ie
he he he ial co concl ion e e in acco d i h he fac and he ele an la .32 The
c edibili gi en b he ial co o p o ec ion i ne e i an impo an a pec of e idence hich
appella e co can el on, beca e of he ial co niq e oppo ni o ob e e he i ne e ,
pa ic la l hei demeano , cond c , and a i de, d ing he di ec and c o -e amina ion b
co n el .33
In ie of he fo egoing, pe i ione a co ec l con ic ed of homicide p ni hable b c
a . Appl ing he Inde e mina e Sen ence La , he minim m of he inde e mina e penal ,
ab en an modif ing ci c m ance , hall be aken f om he f ll ange of a and he
34
ma im m of hich hall be aken f om he medi m pe iod of c a . Specificall , he
inde e mina e penal ha ho ld be impo ed i i hin he ange of 6 ea and 1 da o 12 ea
of a , a minim m; o 14 ea , 8 mon h and 1 da o 17 ea and 4 mon h of c
a , a ma im m. Hence, a modifica ion of he penal impo ed b

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30 Ma a .P , a no e 19, a p. 302.
31 Ma a .P , d.; ee P . Ya a , a no e 19, a p. 513; P .E a, a no e 19, a p. 532.
32 Ma a .P , a no e 19, a p. 297.
33 P . Ma a , G.R. No. 170470, Sep embe 26, 2006, 503 SCRA 294, 320-321; ee al o Ma a .P , d.
34 P .L , 446 Phil. 592, 614; 398 SCRA 448, 465 (2003).

475

VOL. 559, JULY 23, 2008 475

 Sa ad .P

he ial co i in o de . In ead of 8 ea , 8 mon h and 1 da , he e m of he

inde e mina e penal hall be 8 ea and 1 da of a ;35 hile he a e m hall
be ha impo ed b he ial co .
An appeal in a c iminal p oceeding h o he hole ca e open fo e ie . I hen become he
d of hi Co o co ec an e o in he appealed j dgmen , he he o no incl ded in he
a ignmen of e o .36
We affi m he a a d of P50,000.00 b a of indemni d c o he Z iga po e . When
dea h occ a a e l of a c ime, he hei of he decea ed a e en i led o ch amo n a indemni
fo dea h i ho need of an e idence o p oof of damage .37 The co like i e co ec l
a a ded P50,000.00 a mo al damage beca e of hei men al ang i h and mo al ffe ing ca ed
b A lene dea h.
The ial and appella e co did no a a d ac al damage , ob io l beca e he ic im hei
failed o p e en p oof of he e pen e he inc ed. Ho e e , i ha been epea edl held b hi
Co ha he e he amo n of ac al damage canno be de e mined beca e of he ab ence of
eceip o p o e he ame, empe a e damage ma be fi ed a P25,000.00.38
WHEREFORE, p emi e con ide ed, he pe i ion i he eb DENIED. The Deci ion of he Co of
Appeal da ed Feb a 26, 2004 in CA-G.R. CR No. 26048 i AFFIRMED i h MODIFICATIONS.
Pe i ione No e B an Sal ado De

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35 See R a .P , G.R. No. 154502, Ap il 27, 2007, 522 SCRA 391, 409; T b a . P , 479 Phil. 1009, 1020; 436
SCRA 327, 335 (2004).
36 Ma a .P , a no e 19, a pp. 314-315; Cab a . P , G.R. No. 129875, Sep embe 30, 2005, 471 SCRA
241, 264.
37 Cab a . P , d.; N aE a a .P , G.R. No. 163351, J ne 21, 2005, 460 SCRA 547, 555-556.
38 P .S a , J ., 467 Phil. 643, 655; 423 SCRA 206, 214 (2004); P . Da a , a no e 19, a p. 770.

476

476 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

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Leon i he eb en enced o ffe he inde e mina e penal of eigh (8) ea and one (1) da
of a ,a , o fo een (14) ea , eigh (8) mon h and one (1) da of c
a, a a . In addi ion o ci il indemni and mo al damage , pe i ione i o de ed o
pa po e E ne o and Ma ga i a Z iga he m of P25,000.00 a empe a e damage .
SO ORDERED.

Q b ,** Y a -Sa a (C a ), A a-Ma and R , JJ., conc .

P d d, d a d d ca .

No es. The q e ion a o ho be een he acc ed and he ic im a he nla f l agg e o i

a q e ion of fac add e ed o he ial co fo de e mina ion ba ed on he e idence on eco d. The
loca ion and n mbe of o nd ained b he ic im indica e he acc ed delibe a e in en o kill
and belie he plea of elf-defen e. (Ga c a . P , 425 SCRA 221 [2004])
Re o o ci c m an ial e idence i , in he na e of hing , a nece i a c ime a e all
commi ed clande inel and nde condi ion he e concealmen i highl p obable. (P .
B , 428 SCRA 388 [2004])
I i no onl b di ec e idence ha an acc ed ma be con ic ed of he c ime fo hich he i
cha ged. (P .T , J ., 433 SCRA 139 [2004])

o0o
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** In lie of A ocia e J ice Mini a V. Chico-Na a io pe Special O de No. 508 da ed J ne 25, 2008.