FIRST DIVISION
[G.R. No. 224292. June 11, 2018.]
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee, vs. CHRISTIAN IMPERIAL y CANAVERAL, accused-appellant.
NOTICE
Sirs/Mesdames :
Please take notice that the Court, First Division, issued a Resolution datedJune 11, 2018which reads as follows:
"G.R. No. 224292 — People of the Philippines, plaintiff-appellee, v. Christian Imperial y Canaveral, accused-appellant.
After a thorough review of the records, the Court finds that the Court of Appeals (CA) in CA-G.R. CR-HC No. 06522 properly affirmed with modification the Decision of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Olongapo City, Branch 75 convicting accused-appellant Christian Imperial y Canaveral guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of murder in Criminal Case No. 326-10.
It is settled that save for compelling reasons, the factual findings of the trial court, when affirmed by the CA, are generally binding and conclusive upon the Court. Moreover, in the absence of arbitrariness or of any valid reason, the factual findings of the trial court should not be disturbed as credence is given on the fact that the trial court is in a better position to determine the credibility of the witnesses when they testify in court. In this case, there being no indication that the RTC and the CA overlooked relevant facts which if considered would alter the result of the case, the Court sustains their ruling finding appellant guilty beyond reasonable doubt of murder. 1 DaIAcC
The culpability of appellant was established by the following circumstances, which were properly appreciated by the lower courts:
One, pieces of circumstantial evidence led to no other conclusion than that appellant killed Arnold Saut Pasunting (Arnold), to wit: appellant had an altercation with Ariel, the son of Arnold immediately prior to the stabbing incident; appellant threatened Ariel with bodily harm; appellant remained inside their barracks when his co-workers, other than Arnold, proceeded to the SBMA 2 boardwalk; the police later found appellant running barefoot, looking confused and suspicious, and when they asked him to open his bag, they found therein blood-stained clothes; and, appellant confessed to the police that he stabbed someone.
Indeed, criminal conviction based on circumstantial evidence may arise if sufficient circumstances, when taken together, result in an unbroken chain which leads to the reasonable determination that the accused, and no other, committed the crime. 3 Clearly, the circumstantial evidence in this case, sufficiently justify the conclusion that it was appellant who was responsible for the death of Arnold.
Two, appellant's defense of denial was without merit as the same was negative, self-serving, and uncorroborated by any other evidence.
Three, treachery attended the killing of Arnold, thus qualifying the crime to murder. To note, the prosecution witnesses uniformly testified that the victim was already asleep when he was attacked. Arnold sustained 19 wounds, 15 of which were at his back; and the victim was facing down when the police found him bloodied and lifeless. All these prove that at the time of the attack, Arnold was unaware of the impending attack against his life and was in no position to defend himself. Also, for having stabbed Arnold while he was lying down on his back and was most likely asleep, appellant had deliberately adopted such means, method or forms to ensure the commission of the crime without any risk to himself arising from any defense or retaliation that the victim could have made. 4 SICDAa
At the same time, we hold the penalty imposed by the RTC, as affirmed by the CA, to be in order, except that the heirs of Arnold are also entitled to receive P75,000.00 as exemplary damages and P50,000.00 as temperate damages, pursuant to prevailing jurisprudence. All the monetary awards given to the heirs of the victim shall earn interest at the rate of 6% per annum reckoned from the finality of this Resolution until fully paid. 5
WHEREFORE, the Court ADOPTS the findings of the trial court as affirmed by the Court of Appeals. The assailed June 5, 2015 Decision of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CR HC No. 06522 is AFFIRMED with MODIFICATION in that exemplary damages and temperate damages in the respective amounts of P75,000.00 and P50,000.00 are also awarded to the heirs of the victim, Arnold Saut Pasunting. All damages awarded shall earn interest at the rate of 6% per annum reckoned from the finality of this Resolution until fully paid.
SO ORDERED." Leonardo-de Castro, J., designated as Acting Chairperson per Special Order No. 2559 dated May 11, 2018; Leonen, J., designated as Additional Member per November 29, 2017 raffle vice Jardeleza, J., who recused due to prior action as Solicitor General; Tijam, J., on official leave; Gesmundo, J., designated as Acting Member per Special Order No. 2560 dated May 11, 2018.
Very truly yours,
(SGD.) LIBRADA C. BUENAActing Division Clerk of Court
Footnotes
1.People v. Credo, 713 Phil. 438, 448-449 (2013).
2. Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.
3.Almojuela v. People, 734 Phil. 636, 646-647 (2014).
4. See People v. Tuardon, G.R. No. 225644, March 1, 2017.
5.People v. Jugueta, 783 Phil. 806, 848, 853, 856 (2016).