Source: http://lawlibrary.chanrobles.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=83842:58358&catid=1589&Itemid=566
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 08:20:43+00:00

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PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. VIRGILIO AMORA Y VISCARRA, Accused-Appellant.
On appeal is the August 28, 2009 Decision2 of the Court of Appeals (CA) in CA-G.R. CR-H.C. No. 03294, which affirmed with modification the February 21, 2008 Decision3 of the Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 84, Malolos City, Bulacan. The RTC convicted Virgilio Amora y Viscarra (appellant) of the crime of murder and sentenced him to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua and to pay the heirs of the victim Romeo Gibaga (Romeo) P50,000.00 as civil indemnity P35,000.00 for funeral expenses, and P16,770.69 for medical expenses.
That on or about the 12th day of September 2004, in San Jose Del Monte City, province of Bulacan, Philippines, and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the above-named accused, aimed with a deadly weapon and with intent to kill one Romeo Gibaga, with treachery and evident premeditation, did then and there willfully, unlawfully and feloniously attack, assault and stab with the said deadly weapon the said Romeo Gibaga, hitting him on the trunk, thereby inflicting upon him mortal wound[s] which directly caused his death.
Upon arraignment on January 18, 2006, appellant entered a plea of not guilty to the offense charged. Thereafter, pre-trial and trial on the merits followed.
The prosecution presented the testimonies of eyewitnesses Maricris Alidon (Maricris), Anselmo Benito (Anselmo), and Aurelio Amora (Aurelio). Linda Gibaga (Linda), the wife of the victim Romeo, and Dr. Felimon C. Porciuncula, Jr. (Dr. Porciuncula), the Medico-Legal officer who conducted the autopsy on the body of the victim, also testified for the prosecution. Their testimonies are summarized below.
On September 12, 2004 at around 5:45 p.m., Anselmo, Aurelio, and the victim Romeo were walking on their way to Sampol Market in San Jose Del Monte City. Maricris and her son were tailing them about four meters behind. As they were making their way to the market, they saw appellant in his store located on the right side of the street. Suddenly, appellant rushed towards them and stabbed Romeo twice - one on the chest and another on the abdomen. They were all caught by surprise due to the suddenness of the attack. Romeo fell to the ground while appellant quickly ran away from the scene. Aurelio chased appellant but failed to catch up with him. Maricris went to Romeo's house to inform his wife Linda about what had just happened.
Due to Romeo's injuries and eventual death, Linda spent P16,770.69 for hospital expenses, P35,000.00 for funeral expenses, and P50,000.00 as expenses for the wake.
The appellant was the lone witness presented by the defense. He declared on the witness stand that on September 12, 2004, at around 5:45 p.m., he was working as a construction worker in a site 8 to 9 kilometers away from his residence. On his way home, Nestor Basco, his neighbor, informed him about a stabbing incident that had just taken place near his home. Upon arriving at his house, his wife and his parents told him that the stabbing incident took place in front of their store and that the alleged assailant passed through their yard to the street at the back. The alleged assailant managed to escape, and the stabbing was wrongly imputed against appellant.
On December 9, 2004, appellant was arrested. He claimed that he does not know Romeo, whom he never met before the stabbing incident. The only reason he could think of why he is being falsely accused was that he turned down Anselmo's request for P200.00 to buy shabu. This happened when they were having a drinking spree with Aurelio the day before the stabbing incident. According to appellant, Anselmo got infuriated by his refusal and threw a bottle of gin at him.
WHEREFORE, the Decision dated February 21, 2008 of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 84, Malolos City is hereby AFFIRMED with modification in that the heirs of the victim are additionally awarded Php25,000.00 as temperate damages and P50,000.00 as moral damages.
Faulting the Decision of the CA, appellant now appeals to this Court advancing the same issues he raised before the CA.
THE TRIAL COURT GRAVELY ERRED IN CONVICTING THE ACCUSED-APPELLANT OF MURDER DESPITE THE PROSECUTION'S FAILURE TO PROVE HIS GUILT BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT.
Appellant argues that the prosecution has failed to establish his guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Citing the testimony12 of prosecution witness Aurelio, appellant posits that the eyewitnesses could not have possibly identified the true assailant because it was already 5:45 p.m. and the place where the stabbing incident occurred was almost shrouded in darkness. Appellant also stresses that witness Aurelio, by his own statement, was drunk at the time of the incident, thereby impairing his perception and making his judgment in identifying the assailant unreliable. Because there is uncertainty as to the identity of the true malefactor, appellant asserts that he is entitled to an acquittal.
You said that you were walking together with Aurelio Amora and Romeo Gibaga|. W]hile you were walking, what happened if any?
Romeo Gibaga was suddenly stabbed, sir.
In relation to you, where was this Romeo Gibaga before he was stabbed?
He was at my left side, sir.
How about this Aurelio Amora, where was he?
Aurelio was at my right side, sir.
While this Aurelio Amora was on your right and this Romeo Gibaga on your left, you mentioned that somebody came and stabbed this Romeo Gibagaf. Where you able to see or notice where this assailant came from before he stabbed Romeo Gibaga?
He came from behind, sir.
Considering your position, are you in a position to tell us whether this Romeo Gibaga actually saw the assailant before he was stabbed?
Why was he not able to react before he was stabbed?
Because he was not aware, sir.
Mr. Witness[,] you mentioned that you were able to see this person who stabbed Romeo Gibaga[. I]f he is now present, can you identify him?
Kindly look around and point him out?
Witness pointed to a person x x x wearing a detainee's t-shirt who identified himself as Virgilio Amora.
And you mentioned that Romeo Gibaga was stabbed by this accused whom you [have just] identified[. W]ere you able to see the weapon that was used in stabbing Romeo Gibaga?
And while you were there going to Sampol Market, do you still recall x x x any unusual incident that transpired?
And what was this unusual incident, Madam witness?
The stabbing incident that happened to Romeo Gibaga, sir.
And were you able to see who stabbed him?
If he is present today, will you be able to identify him?
It is clear that the witnesses have properly identified the appellant as the perpetrator of the crime. As testified to by the witnesses and correctly ruled by the RTC and the CA, he was the person who attacked, stabbed and killed Romeo.
Appellant tried to impeach the testimonies of Anselmo and Aurelio claiming that their motive for falsely testifying against him was because of his refusal to give them money for shabu.
The Court finds that appellant's assertion is a mere speculation that deserves scant consideration. His explanation is neither supported by evidentiary proof nor buttressed by established facts. We have consistently ruled that positive identification by credible witnesses prevails over self-serving statements of the accused. Such statements cannot be given greater evidentiary weight over affirmative declarations of eyewitnesses.
Finally, appellant claims that at the time of the commission of the crime, he was working at a construction site 8 to 9 kilometers away from the scene of the crime. He argues that it was thus impossible for him to be the person who stabbed and killed Romeo.
Appellant's defenses of denial and alibi must likewise fail.
In this case, the appellant failed to satisfy these requirements. While a distance of 8 to 9 kilometers is quite far, appellant was not able to satisfactorily substantiate his claims regarding his whereabouts. Aside from his own testimony, appellant did not bother to present the testimony of other witnesses or any other proof to support his defense. Since he claimed that his parents and wife saw the stabbing incident and that the assailant allegedly even entered their yard, it is puzzling why he did not present them as witnesses to bolster his denial.
The Court finds no reason to disturb the factual findings of the RTC. The rule is well-settled that factual findings of the trial court regarding the credibility of witnesses are accorded great weight and utmost respect given that trial courts have firsthand observation of the witnesses' demeanor while testifying in court. We shall not supplant our own interpretation of the witnesses' testimonies for that of the trial judge since he is in the best position to determine the issue of credibility of witnesses. Moreover, in the absence of misapprehension of facts or grave abuse of discretion, and especially when the CA, as in this case, has affirmed the findings of the trial judge, the assessments and conclusions of the trial court shall not be overturned.
In this case, the appellant's sudden attack on Romeo amply demonstrates that treachery was employed in the commission of the crime. The eyewitnesses were all consistent in declaring that the appellant in such a swift motion stabbed Romeo such that the latter had no opportunity to defend himself or to fight back.20 The deliberate swiftness of the attack significantly diminished the risk to himself that may be caused by the retaliation of the victim.
It is of no consequence that appellant was in front of Romeo when he thrust the knife to his torso. Records show that appellant initially came from behind and then attacked Romeo from the front. In any event, "[e]ven a frontal attack could be treacherous when unexpected and on an unarmed victim who would be in no position to repel the attack or avoid it,"21 as in this case.
Undoubtedly, the RTC and CA correctly held that the crime committed was murder under Article 248 of the RPC by reason of the qualifying circumstance of treachery.
With regard to the award of civil indemnity ex delicto, the same must be increased from P50,000.00 to P75,000.00 in line with prevailing jurisprudence.23 Civil indemnity is mandatory and is granted without need of evidence other than the commission of the crime.24 We uphold the CA in awarding moral damages to the heirs of Romeo in the amount of P50,000.00. "As borne out by human nature and experience, a violent death invariably and necessarily brings about emotional pain and anguish on the part of the victim's family."25 We likewise award exemplary damages in the amount of P30,000.00 since the qualifying circumstance of treachery was proven by the prosecution. When a crime is committed with an aggravating circumstance, whether qualifying or generic, an award of exemplary damages is justified under Article 2230 of the New Civil Code.26 The CA however erred in awarding temperate damages in lieu of actual damages in the amount of P25,000.00. Records show that the RTC already awarded the heirs of the victim actual damages consisting of P16,770.69 as medical expenses and P35,000.00 as funeral expenses. These expenses were fully supported by receipts.
Lastly, all damages awarded shall be subject to 6% per annum interest from the finality of this Resolution until fully paid, also in line with prevailing jurisprudence.
(5) the appellant is ORDERED to pay the heirs of Romeo Gibaga interest at the legal rate of 6% per annum on all the amounts of damages awarded, commencing from the date of finality of this Resolution until fully paid.
* Per Special Order No. 1881 dated November 25, 2014.
1People v. Alfon, 447 Phil. 138, 148.
2 CA rollo, pp. 110-123; penned by Associate Justice Portia Aliflo-Hormachuelos and concurred in by Associate Justices Fernanda Lampas Peralta and Ramon R. Garcia.
6 TSN, April 17, 2006, pp. 5-7.
7 See Medico Legal Report No. M-535-04, records, p. 136.
9 Id at p. 187.
10 CA rollo, p. 122. " Id. at 29.
14 TSN, January 15, 2007, pp. 4-7.
16People v. Mosquerra, 414 Phil. 740, 749 (2001).
17People v. Trayco, 612 Phil. 1140, 1161 (2009).
18People v. Ramos, G.R. No. 190340, July 24, 2013, 702 SCRA 204, 218.
19People v. Dela Cruz, G.R. No. 188353, February 16, 2010, 612 SCRA 738, 747.
20 TSN, February 27,2006, p: 7; TSN, January 15, 2007, p. 4; TSN, February 26,2007, pp. 5-6.
21People v. Alfon, supra note 1.
22People v. Bacatan, G.R. No. 203315, September 18, 2013, 706 SCRA 170, 186.
23People v. Sanchez, G.R. No. 188610, June 29, 2010, 622 SCRA 548, 569.
24People v. Asis, G.R. No. 177573, July 7, 2010, 624 SCRA 509, 530.
26 CIVIL CODE, Art. 2230. In criminal offenses, exemplary damages as a part of the civil liability may be imposed when the crime was committed with one or more aggravating circumstances. Such damages are separate and distinct from fines and shall be paid to the offended party. Records, pp. 133-134.

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