Source: https://www.scribd.com/document/353114072/People-v-Macabando-G-R-No-188708
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 08:12:17+00:00

Document:
doubt of destructive arson, and sentencing him to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua.
The defense, on the other hand, presented a different version of the events.
It is settled that in the absence of direct evidence. too. fourth. set fire to his house: first. the RTC found the appellant guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime charged.celebration. The CA held that the totality of the presented circumstantial evidence led to the conclusion that the appellant was guilty of the crime charged. stated that he and the appellant lived in the same house. the combination of circumstances must be interwoven in such a way as to leave no reasonable doubt as to the guilt of the accused. On appeal. to our mind. he admitted that he had no misunderstanding with them prior to the incident. it likewise contradicted his statement that he was asleep inside his house when the fire broke out.14 Lomantong Panandigan. the appellant carried a traveling bag during the fire. the investigation conducted by the fire marshals of the Bureau of Fire Protection revealed that the fire started in the appellant’s house. By carrying (and firing) a gun during the fire.15 Dimas Kasubidan. second. the appellant failed to impute any improper motive against the prosecution witnesses to falsely testify against him. 2001.16 The prosecution charged the appellant with the crime of destructive arson under Article 320 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC). to the exclusion of others. leads to no other conclusion than that the appellant set fire to his house. and threaten to kill them if they did. but modify the crime committed by the appellant and the penalty imposed on him.m. the appellant fired shots in the air. the CA affirmed the RTC judgment in toto. Important to note. Sufficiency of Prosecution Evidence We point out at the outset that no one saw the appellant set fire to his house in Barangay 35.17 The appellant pleaded not guilty to the charge on arraignment. the appellant. that he did not see the appellant carry a revolver or fire a shot on December 21. The trial and appellate courts thus resorted to circumstantial evidence since there was no direct evidence to prove the appellant’s culpability to the crime charged. THE COURT’S RULING We deny the appeal. Notably. belied his claim of innocence. the following circumstances constitute an unbroken chain that leads to an unavoidable conclusion that the appellant. of December 21. 2002. acted violently and broke bottles near his house at around 4:00 p. Limketkai Drive."19 In the present case. and finally. and several other people from putting out the fire in his house. We find it unnatural and highly unusual for the appellant to prevent his neighbors from putting out the fire in his house. It gave weight to the RTC’s factual findings since these findings were based on unrebutted testimonial and documentary evidence. before the RTC. Cagayan de Oro City. the appellant’s cousin. indeed. The Crime Committed . the appellant prevented Cornelio. Judith Quilantang saw a fire in the appellant’s room approximately two hours after the appellant returned to his house. and then threatened to burn his own house. (b) the facts from which the inferences are derived have been proven. is the fact that the appellant carried a traveling bag during the fire which. coupled with his preparedness to flee his burning house. stated. circumstantial evidence may be sufficient to sustain a conviction provided that: "(a) there is more than one circumstance. reason and natural order of things for a person to thwart and prevent any effort to put out the fire in his burning property. if he had nothing to do with the crime. the appellant showed his determination to repel any efforts to quell the fire. 2001. to the exclusion of all others. third. showed deliberate planning and preparedness on his part to flee the raging fire. while he was still in a fit of rage. as amended. is the one who has committed the crime. Thus. among others. sixth. fifth. The first impulse of an individual whose house is on fire is to save his loved ones and/or belongings. and sentenced him to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua. in fact. and that the fire was already big when he woke up.18 In its judgment dated August 26. the appellant’s indifferent attitude to his burning house and his hostility towards the people who tried to put out the fire. it is contrary to human nature. and (c) the combination of all the circumstances results in a moral certainty that the accused. to justify a conviction based on circumstantial evidence. while holding an iron lead pipe. Clearly. the appellant’s brother-in-law. and that the latter was asleep in his room at the ground floor before the fire broke out. The combination of these circumstances. Eric. and that it had been intentional. the appellant stated that he would get even. and then threatened to kill anyone who would try to put out the fire in his house.
Simple arson contemplates crimes with less significant social. and national security implications than . platform or tunnel. 1613. 7659. airship or airplane. shipyard. trains. Destructive Arson. government or commercial establishments by any person or group of persons.21 on the other hand. xxxx The penalty of reclusion perpetua to death shall also be imposed upon any person who shall burn: 1. or merely incidental to a definite purpose such as but not limited to hotels. public conveyances or stops or terminals. Any building. regardless of whether the offender had knowledge that there are persons in said building or edifice at the time it is set on fire and regardless also of whether the building is actually inhabited or not. or for the purpose of concealing bankruptcy or defrauding creditors or to collect from insurance. pastureland. entertainment or leisure. and 6. devoted to transportation or conveyance. 1âwphi1 4. ship or vessel. not included in Article 320 of the RPC. regardless of size. which are devoted to the service of public utilities. 2. motels. oil well or mine shaft. transient dwellings.) No. meetings and conferences. 5. grain field. commerce. but not limited to. Any building the burning of which is for the purpose of concealing or destroying evidence of another violation of law. cane mill or mill central. which reads: Article 320. aircraft. Any arsenal. Any train or locomotive.D. edifices. as amended. 3. 1613 contemplates the malicious burning of public and private structures. shipyard. Other Cases of Arson. Any building of public or private ownership. 2. Any industrial establishment. trade. farm. factory. vessels. 5. official governmental function or business. In an inhabited place. Any building used as offices of the government or any of its agencies. warehouse installation and any appurtenances thereto. workshop.The CA convicted the appellant of destructive arson under Article 320 of the RPC. private transaction. storehouse. storehouse or military powder or fireworks factory. archives or general museum of the Government. devoted to the public in general or where people usually gather or congregate for a definite purpose such as. or as a result of simultaneous burnings. airport. Any rice mill. [italics and emphasis ours] P. hotels. 3. buildings. currently governs simple arson. In sum. Any railway or bus station. factories and other military. No. The penalty of Reclusion Temporal to Reclusion Perpetua shall be imposed if the property burned is any of the following: 1. Any inhabited house or dwelling. .The penalty of reclusion perpetua to death shall be imposed upon any person who shall burn: 1.22 This law punishes simple arson with a lesser penalty because the acts that constitute it have a lesser degree of perversity and viciousness. orchard. wharf or warehouse. growing crop. any storehouse or factory of inflammable or explosive materials.D. political. ordinance. 2. sugar mill. or for public use. 4. Any plantation. "Article 320 contemplates the malicious burning of structures. both public and private. Section 3 of this law provides: Section 3."20 Presidential Decree (P. economic. One (1) or more buildings or edifices. committed on several or different occasions. bamboo grove or forest. as amended by Republic Act No. consequent to one single act of burning.
the penalty imposable should be an indeterminate penalty whose minimum term should be within the range of the penalty next lower in degree. as minimum. economic. SO ORDERED. we therefore impose on the appellant the indeterminate penalty of ten (10) years and one (1) day of prision mayor. but the conflagration spread to the neighboring houses. Moreover. 1613 are: (a) there is intentional burning. That the appellant’s act affected many families will not convert the crime to destructive arson. as maximum.D. These allegations were established during trial through the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses which the trial and appellate courts found credible and convincing. 2009 decision of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.23 The elements of simple arson under Section 3(2) of P. the imposable penalty for simple arson is reclusion temporal. In other words. thus: The nature of Destructive Arson is distinguished from Simple Arson by the degree of perversity or viciousness of the criminal offender. or sixteen (16) years and one (1) day to twenty (20) years. To seek recovery of actual damages. and that the fire had been intentional. 320 of The Revised Penal Code constituting Destructive Arson are characterized as heinous crimes "for being grievous. paragraph 2.destructive arson. and (b) what is intentionally burned is an inhabited house or dwelling. 1613. and whose maximum should be the medium period of reclusion temporal to reclusion perpetua. it is necessary to prove the actual amount of loss with a reasonable degree of certainty.25 WHEREFORE." On the other hand. BRION Associate Justice WE CONCUR: . as minimum. No. People24 is particularly instructive. 1613. or six (6) years and one (1) day to twelve (12) years. the certification from the City Social Welfare and Development Department likewise indicated that the burned houses were used as dwellings. The appellant likewise testified that his burnt two-story house was used as a residence. The acts committed under Art. and through the report of the Bureau of Fire Protection which stated that damaged houses were residential. to sixteen (16) years and one (1) day of reclusion temporal. CR HC No. Taking these rules into account. No. we sustain the lower courts' findings that the records do not adequately reflect any concrete basis for the award of actual damages to the offended parties. As regards the award of damages.R. civilized and ordered society. of P. acts committed under PD 1613 constituting Simple Arson are crimes with a lesser degree of perversity and viciousness that the law punishes with a lesser penalty. 00208-MIN is AFFIRMED with the following MODIFICATIONS: (1) appellant Alamada Macabando is found guilty beyond reasonable doubt of simple arson under Section 3(2) of Presidential Decree No. ARTURO D. which is prision mayor. The established evidence only showed that the appellant intended to burn his own house. as maximum. which has a range of twelve (12) years and one (1) day. The Information alleged that the appellant set fire to his own house. premised upon competent proof and on the best evidence obtainable. political and national security implications than Destructive Arson. since the appellant’s act does not appear to be heinous or represents a greater degree of perversity and viciousness when compared to those acts punished under Article 320 of the RPC. Applying the Indeterminate Sentence Law. by reason of their inherent or manifest wickedness. In this regard. and (2) he is sentenced to suffer the indeterminate penalty often (10) years and one (1) day of prision mayor. The Proper Penalty Under Section 3. odious and hateful offenses and which. to reclusion perpetua. atrocity and perversity are repugnant and outrageous to the common standards and norms of decency and morality in a just. viciousness. the assailed February 24. and that the fire spread to other inhabited houses. taking into account the absence of any aggravating or mitigating circumstances that attended the commission of the crime. our ruling in Buebos v. to sixteen (16) years and one (1) day of reclusion temporal. Both these elements have been proven in the present case. Simple Arson contemplates crimes with less significant social.D.
Lantion. PERLAS-BERNABE Associate Justice ATTESTATION I attest that the conclusions in the above Decision had been reached in consultation before the case was assigned to the writer of the opinion of the Court's Division. penned by Judge Noli T. 2002. 9 TSN. 10 Records. June 3. A. 7 TSN. pp. and concurred in by Associate Justice Edgardo A. pp. 2002. 8 TSN. 3 TSN. pp. 2002. January 28. 7-8. SERENO Chief Justice Footnotes 1 Rollo. pp. CARPIO Associate Justice Chairperson. 12 TSN. 5-11. January 28. April 12. 2002. Article VIII of the Constitution. March 4. January 28. Camello and Associate Justice Jane Aurora C. 8. I certify that the conclusions in the above Decision had been reached in consultation before the case was assigned to the writer of the opinion of the Com1's Division. at 7-8. and the Division Chairperson's Attestation. 6. 2002. 8-9. . 9. 2002. ANTONIO T. DEL CASTILLO JOSE PORTUGAL PEREZ Associate Justice Associate Justice ESTELA M. pp. 453-460. March 4. 4 TSN. 11 TSN. 8-10. Catli. 3-4. pp. pp. CARPIO Associate Justice Chairperson MARIANO C. 13 Id.19-20. 5 TSN. 2002. p. 99-101. MARIA LOURDES P. p. 2002. February 4. 2002. pp. pp. Lloren. February 4. ANTONIO T. 6 TSN. p. 2 Records. 5-16: penned by Associate Justice Edgardo T. Second Division CERTIFICATION Pursuant to Section 13.
at 12. 21 A Decree Amending the Law on Arson. citing People v. 550 SCRA 210. 19 See Buebos v. 2010. p. 77. at 228. No. 752. 20 People v. 397 SCRA 382. G. 17 Records. The Lawphil Project . Casitas. 534 Phil. G. People.R. February 14. Murcia. 25 We also point out that there is a discrepancy between the affidavit-complaint of Barangay Chairman Ligtas and the certification issued by the City Social Welfare and Development Department with regard to the names and number of fire victims. p. March 9. 2002. 24 Supra note 19.Arellano Law Foundation . 14 Id.R. 8. at 9-11. G.R. 16 Id. March 28. 443 (2006). 15 TSN. 223. May 2. 18 Id. 2003. and the estimated cost of the damage to their respective properties. 614 SCRA 741. 163938. 22 People v. 137404. 23 People v. at 27-28. 404. 2008. 455 Phil. 4. 182460. 93 (2003). No. Malngan. No. Soriano.

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