Source: http://lawlibrary.chanrobles.com/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=40417:g-r-no-123853-august-25,-2000-people-of-the-phils-v-agustin-agpawan&amp;catid=1396&amp;Itemid=566
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 08:17:20+00:00

Document:
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. AGUSTIN AGPAWAN, Accused-Appellant.
On 23 February 1993 Christopher Batan, Mila Fana-ang and Fr. Eduardo Solang were taking a rest at a dried creek on their way to Betwagan, Sadanga, Mountain Province. The group of accused Agpawan passed by. After some thirty (30) minutes, Batan, Fanang and Solang proceeded on their way to Betwagan. There they met the group of accused Chumacog who ordered them to stop. Batan, Fana-ang and Solang obliged but after a short while they were greeted by a volley of gunfire which hit Batan on the left leg. The gunshots according to Fana-ang came from the other side of the creek about thirty (30) meters away where Agpawan was seen in a squatting position aiming his rifle at them.
Even before the incident Fana-ang was already acquainted with Agpawan. Upon being attacked, Fana-ang summoned enough courage and stood up. She somehow identified herself to Agpawan but the latter only waved his hand and then joined the group of Chumacog who approached the fallen Batan and shot him at close range on the chest. Agpawan, Chumacog and their companions then left towards the direction of Betwagan.
On the witness stand Agpawan did not deny shooting Batan. He claimed instead that he fired twice at the group of Batan to warn them of the impending attack by the group of Chumacog. He insisted that he never intended to kill or harm them nor did he conspire with the group of Chumacog to ambush them.
In arguing for his acquittal accused-appellant claims that no single evidence of conspiracy was presented against him before the lower court.
Conspiracy was established in the instant case by the concerted and synchronized actions of accused-appellant and his companions in carrying out the ambush. That they were prompted by a common criminal agenda was shown by the fact that even after Batan was shot and hit by accused-appellant, Chumacog also approached Batan and finished him off by shooting him on the chest. After making sure that their victim was already dead, Accused-appellant signaled to Chumacog and his companions and together they left the place and proceeded towards Betwagan.
Accused-appellant next claims that the court below erred in finding that treachery attended the commission of the crime.
We disagree. There is treachery when the offender commits any of the crimes against the person, employing means, methods or forms in the execution thereof which tend directly and specially to insure its execution, without risk to himself arising from the defense which the offended party might make. 6 In the instant case, Chumacog and his companions tried to waylay Batan, Pana-ang and Solang before the attack. They ordered them to stop supposedly to talk when in fact accused-appellant was already waiting in ambush for them. Batan, Fana-ang and Solang were unarmed and completely unaware of the danger that lurked ahead. They were so unsuspecting that when they stopped, they were surprised that instead of a talk they were met by a volley of shots instead, and accused-appellant had already positioned himself on the other side of the creek to have a good shot at their intended victims. Batan, Fana-ang and Solang were thus placed in a situation where they were utterly defenseless and at the complete mercy of their attackers. The method employed in the execution of the crime insured no risk to the assailants arising from the defense which their victims might put up. Plainly, this is treachery.
Finally, Accused-appellant argues that the trial court erred in finding him guilty of murder instead of a much lower offense.
WHEREFORE, the Decision of the Regional Trial Court-Br. 59, Baguio City, finding accused-appellant AGUSTIN AGPAWAN guilty of murder and sentencing him to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua and ordering him to indemnify the heirs of Christopher Batan the amount of P50,000.00 is AFFIRMED. Costs against Accused-Appellant.
1.	Decision penned by Judge Abraham B. Borreta, RTC-Br. 59, Baguio City; Rollo, p. 44.
2.	Art. 8, The Revised Penal Code.
3.	People v. Francisco, G.R. Nos. 118573-74, 31 May 2000, citing People v. Sanchez, G.R. No. 118423, 16 June 1999 and People v. Andales, G.R. No. 130637, 19 August 1999.
4.	Id., citing People v. Berroya, G.R. No. 122487, 12 December 1997, 283 SCRA 129-130.
5.	Decision, pp. 4-5; Rollo, pp. 40-41.
6.	Art. 15, par. (16), The Revised Penal Code.

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	Art. 8
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	Art. 15