Source: http://lawlibrary.chanrobles.com/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=40351:g-r-no-117216-august-9,-2000-people-of-the-phil-v-jocelyn-acbangin&amp;catid=1396&amp;Itemid=566
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 02:18:13+00:00

Document:
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. JOCELYN ACBANGIN y RADAM, Accused-Appellant.
On the same day at eleven o’clock in the evening, Jocelyn arrived at Danilo’s house without Sweet. When asked where the child was, Jocelyn denied knowing of the child’s whereabouts.
"That on or about the 23rd day of April 1991 at around 7:00 o’clock in the evening, at Barangay San Nicolas, Municipality of Bacoor, Province of Cavite, Philippines and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the above-named accused, conspiring, confederating and mutually helping and aiding one another, the above-named accused Jocelyn Acbangin, being then the auntie of Sweet Grace Acbangin, and being then private individuals, did, then and there, willfully, unlawfully and feloniously, take, kidnap and deprive said Sweet Grace Acbangin of her liberty and failed to return her to the custody of her parents, thereby causing her damage and prejudice.
Thus, she should suffer the prison term of Reclusion Perpetua.
"This Court finds the above penalty to be too harsh to be imposed against 23-year old and third year high school student-accused Jocelyn Acbangin. The evidence on record had not clearly indicated that Danilo Acbangin and minor-victim Sweet Grace Acbangin during the latter’s two-day stay in the house of Juanita Niu has been emotionally or physically injured. The degree of malicious intent of accused Jocelyn does not warrant the excessive penalty of Reclusion Perpetua.
"In connection with Article 5 of the Revised Penal Code, this Court recommends to His Excellency, the President of the Philippines, thru the Secretary of Justice, that executive clemency be extended to accused Jocelyn Acbangin as a means of mitigating the undue harshness of the penalty herein imposed.
"Also send a copy of this Decision to the Provincial Warden of Trece Martires City for his information and guidance.
We agree with the trial court that a strict application of Art. 267 of the Revised Penal Code would be too harsh, taking into consideration the minimal injury caused by the offense. We agree that the accused be recommended to the Chief Executive for the possible exercise of his pardoning power.
WHEREFORE, we AFFIRM in toto the decision of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 19, Bacoor, Cavite, dated June 22, 1994, finding accused-appellant JOCELYN RADAM ACBANGIN guilty beyond reasonable doubt of kidnapping and serious illegal detention defined and penalized under Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code, and sentencing her to reclusion perpetua, with all the accessory penalties of the law and to pay the costs.
1.	In Criminal Case No. B-91-453, dated June 22, 1994, Judge Edelwina C. Pastoral, presiding.
3.	TSN, July 13, 1992, pp. 3-6.
4.	Accused-appellant’s house is three houses away from Danilo Acbangin’s house. Danilo Acbangin’s residence was at 238 San Nicolas, Bacoor, Cavite (TSN, August 24, 1992, p. 3).
5.	TSN, July 13, 1992, p. 7.
6.	TSN, July 22, 1992, pp. 2-6.
9.	TSN, July 13, 1992, pp. 6-11.
10.	TSN, August 24, 1992, p. 11.
11.	Narra St., Tondo, Manila.
12.	Jocelyn was employed as Niu’s housemaid from April 1982 to June 1986, and from 1988 to November 12, 1990 (TSN, September 21,1993, pp. 4-5).
13.	TSN, July 6, 1992, pp. 2-6.
14.	TSN, August 24, 1992, p 13.
17.	TSN, September 21, 1993, pp. 5-7.
18.	Filed by PAT-PNP Investigator Carlito P. Gener.
19.	Rollo, p. 2; Regional Trial Court Record, p. 2.
20.	The information was filed by 1st Asst. Provincial Prosecutor Diego C. Agustin. The information was approved by Provincial Prosecutor Herminio P. Gervacio.
21.	Regional Trial Court Record, p. 22.
22.	Regional Trial Court Record, p. 23.
23.	TSN, October 4, 1993, pp. 1-36.
25.	RTC Decision, Rollo, pp. 173- 182.
28.	People v. Fajardo, G. R. Nos. 105954-55, September 28, 1999.
29.	People v. Borromeo, G. R. No. 130843, January 27, 2000.
30.	People v. Pavillare, G. R. No. 129970, April 5, 2000.
31.	People v. Galas, G. R. No. 114007, September 24, 1996; People v. Nang, G. R. No. 107799, April 15, 1998.
32.	People v. Garchitorena, G. R. No. 131357, April 12, 2000.
34.	Unable to post bail, she was confined initially at the Bacoor, Cavite Police Station, per Order of Commitment, RTC Record, p. 7; in June 1991, she was transferred to the Provincial Jail, Trece Martires City, Cavite (RTC Record, p. 16), until January 17, 1995, when she was committed to the Correctional Institution for Women, per letter of the Officer-In-Charge to the Clerk of Court, Third Division, Supreme Court, Rollo, p. 28.

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