ADVERTISEMENT
SECOND DIVISION
[G.R. No. 200517. July 22, 2015.]
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee, vs. RANNIE MERCADO Y MALABANAN, defendant-appellant.
NOTICE
Sirs/Mesdames :
Please take notice that the Court, Second Division, issued a Resolution dated22 July 2015 which reads as follows:
"G.R. No. 200517 — People of the Philippines, plaintiff-appellee vs. Rannie Mercado y Malabanan, defendant-appellant.
After a careful review of the records of the case, the Court finds the appeal to be lacking in merit. We adopt the findings of facts of the trial court as affirmed by the Court of Appeals. Both the Regional Trial Court of Tanauan City, Batangas, and the Court of Appeals, correctly found appellant, Rannie Mercado y Malabanan, guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of murder in Crim. Case No. P-630 and accordingly sentenced him to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua. Moreover, appellant is not eligible for parole pursuant to Section 3 of Republic Act No. 9346, An Act Prohibiting the Imposition of Death Penalty in the Philippines. In addition, the awards of civil indemnity and moral damages must each be increased to P75,000.00, and exemplary damages to P30,000.00, in line with prevailing jurisprudence. Furthermore, all damages awarded shall earn interest at the rate of 6% per annum from date of finality of this Resolution until full payment.
WHEREFORE, we ADOPT the findings of facts of the trial court as affirmed by the Court of Appeals. The assailed March 8, 2011 Decision of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CR.-H.C. No. 04105 finding appellant Rannie Mercado y Malabanan guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of murder in Crim. Case No. P-630, and sentencing him to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua is AFFIRMED with MODIFICATIONS that appellant is without eligibility for parole; the awards of civil indemnity and moral damages are INCREASED to P75,000.00 each; and the award of exemplary damages is INCREASED to P30,000.00. All damages awarded shall earn interest at the rate of 6% per annum from date of finality of this Resolution until full payment.
Very truly yours,
(SGD.) MA. LOURDES C. PERFECTODivision Clerk of Court