THIRD DIVISION
[G.R. No. 193835. January 20, 2014.]
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, petitioner, vs. RENE BOY MARANAN Y MARANAN, ROLAND MARANAN Y MARANAN AND CHRISTIAN MARANAN Y MENDOZA, respondents.
NOTICE
Sirs/Mesdames :
Please take notice that the Court, Third Division, issued a Resolution dated January 20, 2014, which reads as follows:
"G.R. No. 193835 (People of the Philippines v. Rene Boy Maranan y Maranan, Roland Maranan y Maranan and Christian Maranan y Mendoza). — The Public Prosecutor charged Rene Boy Maranan (Rene Boy), Roland Maranan (Roland), and Christian Maranan (Christian) with murder in Criminal Case C-04-7708 before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro.
To establish the case against them, the Public Prosecutor presented (a) Leonilo Espiritu (Leonilo), an eyewitness and the victim's cousin; (b) SPO3 Kimye Kong (SPO3 Kong), the investigating officer; and (c) Dr. Rosse Villaruel (Dr. Villaruel), the medico-legal officer. The prosecutor also presented the victim's mother, Anastacia Lopez (Anastacia) to prove civil damages. HCDaAS
Leonilo testified that on July 3, 2004 he was waiting for a friend at the shores of Sabang, Puerto Galera, near the Big Apple Dive Resort when he saw four men, namely, the accused Rene Boy, Roland, Christian, and a fourth unidentified man chasing Philip John Lopez (Philip). 1 Leonilo did not at first recognize Philip since he was facing away from him. As the men caught up with Philip, Rene Boy, and Christian gripped him by his hands while Roland and their fourth companion stabbed him. 2
As Leonilo approached to come to the aid of Philip, the latter fell to the ground on his face. Roland then turned on Leonilo stabbing him near the left ear. Bloodied and wounded, Leonilo fled. He stopped running, however, and returned to the place of the incident when he saw the assailants leave. Leonilo sought help even as he turned over the victim's body and recognized Philip for the first time. 3 Leonilo lost consciousness when help arrived. He woke up being treated at the hospital.
SPO3 Kong testified that he responded to the reported incident in Sabang, Puerto Galera. He learned during investigation that Philip was the victim of "kursunada" (desired object) because of an incident in a disco bar earlier that night. 4 For his part, Dr. Villaruel testified that Philip suffered three stab wounds: one on his right wrist, one on the peak of his stomach, and one on his back, injuring his lungs and heart. 5 Philip's mother, Anastacia, testified on the expenses incurred as a result of his son's death and on the emotional pain she suffered. 6ADHCSE
Accused Rene Boy, Roland, and Christian denied the charge. They claim that earlier in the day, they were with Melolyn Calunsag, Janine Manila, May Magsino, and two kids to attend a wedding at Sinandigan, Puerto Galera. 7 The three accused and their lady companions left the wedding party at around 11:00 p.m. and decided to proceed to Centrum Disco in Sabang. At midnight, they were on their way home when a group of 10 men stopped and mauled them. Christian succeeded in fleeing with their lady companions. 8 Roland escaped after some beating. 9 Rene Boy lost consciousness from several fist blows. When he woke up, Melolyn was there and they went home together. 10
After trial, the RTC found the three accused guilty of the charge of murder and imposed on them the penalty of reclusion perpetua. It also ordered them to pay Anastacia P91,191.50 as actual damages; P100,000.00 as civil indemnity, P75,000.00 as moral and exemplary damages, and P200,000.00 as attorney's fees. The RTC held that the defense crumbled at the strength of the prosecution's evidence, specifically Leonilo's positive identification of the accused and narration of what transpired.
The Court of Appeals (CA) affirmed 11 the RTC Decision but modified the award of civil damages. The CA reduced the civil indemnity from P100,000.00 to P75,000.00 and the attorney's fees from P200,000.00 to P20,000.00. It ordered them, however, to pay an additional P30,000.00 as exemplary damages on top of the P75,000.00 moral damages. 12
The accused questions the credibility of Leonilo. They claim that he was a biased witness since he was the victim's cousin. But there is no question that Leonilo was there when the accused attacked Philip. Indeed, Roland stabbed him on the face and had to be treated in the hospital for it. It is not likely that he would drag in innocent persons into the case when he saw who the assailants were. The Court finds no reason to overrule the findings of the RTC that tried the case and heard the testimonies of the witnesses from both sides. Nor does the court find error in the CA's findings based on its review of the entire record of the proceedings below. HDTSIE
Lastly, the defense of alibi cannot stand because the accused themselves admitted that they were at the shores of Sabang, Puerto Galera, when the incident took place.
WHEREFORE, the Court DISMISSES the appeal and AFFIRMS the Decision of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CA-HC 03763 dated June 10, 2010.
SO ORDERED."
Very truly yours,
(SGD.) LUCITA ABJELINA SORIANODivision Clerk of Court
Footnotes
1. TSN, November 5, 2004, pp. 8-9.
2. Id. at 17-19.
3. Id. at 24.
4. TSN, April 21, 2006, p. 7.
5. TSN, August 9, 2005, p. 15.
6. TSN, September 13, 2005, pp. 9-14.
7. TSN, April 24, 2007, pp. 6-7; October 26, 2006, p. 7; July 19, 2007, pp. 7-8.
8. TSN, July 19, 2007, pp. 10-11, 16, 20-21.
9. TSN, April 24, 2007, pp. 13-15.
10. TSN, October 26, 2006, pp. 25-27.
11. Docketed as CA-G.R. CR-HC 03763.
12. Decision dated June 10, 2010, rollo, pp. 2-17.