Source: https://de.scribd.com/document/321471458/People-v-Carmen-CASE
Timestamp: 2019-04-18 19:24:30+00:00

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Randy. 7.Honey Fe heard the moaning coming from the tortured boy. buttocks first. . . 1996. . the eldest of whom.She even heard the banging sound everytime the boys head hit the bench. Eutiquia Carmen [caught] the blood dripping from the left side of the boys body. She also witnessed . she saw accused Reynario or Rey Nuez tie the boy on the bench with a green rope as big as her little finger. whose name . . Jesrel. All the time Rey Nuez held down the boys feet to the bench. . . accused Alexander Sibonga banged the boys head against the bench [to] which the boy was tied down. For about five times she heard it. she [later] came to know as one Randy Luntayao. was 13 years old at the time of the incident. According to Eddie. Later. On November 20. and Lesyl. Eddie and his wife Perlita and their three children (Randy. 1) went with accused-appellant Nuez to Cebu. Reynario Nuez.] she saw a boy. to wit: While there[. Eutiquia Carmen and accused Celedonia Fabie alias Isabel Fabie took turns in pounding the boys chest with their clenched fists. help for two times. the top portion of which was cut out. testified that he has five children. Each time the boy struggled to raise his head. Accused Alexander Sibonga was holding the waist of the body while accused Reynario Nuez held the hands of the boy at the back. According to this witness after forcing the boy to drink water. Eutiquia Carmen then slowly plunged the stainless knife on the left side of the boys body and with the use of a plastic gallon container. Delia Sibonga. Delia Sibonga. After that Eutiquia Carmen poured [water from] a plastic container (galon) . into the mouth of the boy. She heard the boy shouting Ma. 1997. Later on. . . on the body of the boy. Celedonia Fabie dropped her weight. . being immersed head first in a drum of water. Eutiquia Carmen ordered Delia or Deding Sibonga to get a knife from the kitchen. and Celedonia Fabie were pushing down the boys head into the water. Celedonia Fabie. Much later she saw Nonoy or Alexander Sibonga.summarized in the decision of the trial court. Eddie Luntayao. They arrived in Cebu at around 1 oclock in the afternoon of the same day and spent the night in Nuezs house in Tangke. . upon the suggestion of accusedappellant Reynario Nuez. . Accused Eutiquia Carmen. . . and Eutiquia Carmen carry the boy into the house. his son started talking to himself and laughing. father of the victim. Talisay. On January 26. Randy had a nervous breakdown which Eddie thought was due to Randy having to skip meals whenever he took the boy with him to the farm.
Pardo. while Eddie and his wife and two daughters were locked inside a room in the house. Eddie was shocked by what he saw. She warned. After 7 oclock that evening. while his tongue was sticking out of his mouth. At around 3 oclock in the afternoon of January 28. Eddie talked to accused-appellant Carmen regarding his sons condition. Eddie and his wife told her that they preferred to bring their sons body with them to Sikatuna. accused-appellants carried Randy into the prayer room and placed him on the altar. help!). took Randys body to Nunezs house in Tangke. The following day. which accused-appellant Carmen said she could exorcise. January 28. they went to the house of accusedappellant Carmen in Quiot. but the door was locked. the Luntayao family. Eddie tried to go out of the room to find out what was happening to his son. Nuez took care of securing the death certificate which Eddie signed. accompanied by accusedappellant Nuez. it was best to conduct the healing prayer without him. After about an hour. that as the spirit might transfer to Eddie. tabang! (Mother. Talisay to ensure that the body was buried. accused-appellant Carmen asked a member of her group to call the funeral parlor and bring a coffin as the child was already dead. It was clear to Eddie that his son was already dead. however. accused-appellant Carmen went to Tangke. 1997. at around 5 oclock in the afternoon. Eddie heard his son twice shout Ma. After a while. Thus. Accused-appellants then led Randy out of the house. He wanted to see his sons body. It was arranged that the body would be transferred to the house of accused-appellant Nuez. A few hours later. Isabela. the Luntayaos were transferred to the prayer room which was located near the main door of the house. that night. Randys face was bluish and contused. He was told that the boy was possessed by a bad spirit. but he was stopped from doing so by accusedappellant Eutiquia Carmen who told him not to go near his son because the latter would be resurrected at 7 oclock that evening. where all of the accused-appellants were present. Negros Occidental but they were told by accused-appellant Carmen that this was not possible as she and the other accused- . 1997.The following day. accused-appellant Nuez told Eddie to go with him to the Talisay Municipal Health Office to report Randys death and told him to keep quiet or they might not be able to get the necessary papers for his sons burial. Talisay.
1997. He also asked for the exhumation and autopsy of the remains of his son. his complaint was referred to the NBI office in Cebu City. bilateral. exhumed the victims body on February 20. Talisay. On February 3. left side. He testified that he met with Eddie Luntayao and supervised the exhumation and autopsy of the body of Randy Luntayao. Contusion. linear. left side. the victims father. diastatic. Fracture. head of NBI. Cajita testified that he also met with accusedappellant Carmen and after admitting that she and the other accused-appellants conducted a pray-over healing session on the victim on January 27. lamboidal . Cebu. Eddie sought assistance from the Bombo Radyo station in Bacolod City which referred him to the regional office of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in the city. 1997 at Tangke Catholic Cemetery in the Tangke. He conducted the autopsy on the same day and later submitted the following report (Exhs. 1997. 3rd rib. Cajita noticed a wooden bench in the kitchen of Carmens house. E and F): FINDINGS Body in advanced stage of decomposition wearing a white shirt and shorts wrapped in printed blanket (white and orange) placed in white wooden coffin and buried underground about 4 feet deep. After Eddie and his family had returned home to Negros Occidental. Cajita admitted he did not know the results of the examination. Talisay. cms. mid- left. 3. clavicular line. the NBI medico-legal officer who conducted the autopsy on Randy Luntayao. Dr.0 chest. with Carmens permission. took over the investigation of the case. Region VII (Cebu). which. occipital bone right side extending to the bases of middle cranial fossae right to left down to the occipital bone. anterior. Ronaldo B. and some NBI agents. Randy Luntayao was buried in Tangke. Mendez.appellants might be arrested. accusedappellant Carmen refused to give any further statement. Eddie filed a complaint for murder against accusedappellant Nuez and the other members of his group.0 x 4. testified that he. Modesto Cajita. he took with him to the NBI office for examination. That same afternoon. suture. Fracture. Fracture. As the incident took place in Cebu.
CAUSE OF DEATH: [The victim] could have died due to the internal effects of a traumatic head injury and/or traumatic chest injury. he became unruly prompting accused-appellant Carmen to decide not to continue with the treatment. she saw Eddie Luntayao talking with the latter regarding the treatment of his son. After water was poured on the boy. if present. Delia Sibonga. (b) Maria Lilina Jimenez. Then Carmen. accused-appellant Carmen told accused-appellants Delia Sibonga and Celedonia Fabie to help her (Carmen) lay the boy on a bench. .Internal organs in advanced stage of decomposition. alleged former patients of accusedappellant Carmen. Accused-appellant Delia Sibonga got hold of a nylon rope which was used to tie the child to the bench. She recounted that at around 2 oclock in the afternoon of January 27. the defense presented: (a) Ritsel Blase. whom she calls Mother Perpetuala. Dr. Ritsel Blase. and Fabie prayed over the child. while she was in the house of accusedappellant Carmen.  unrecognizable. Dr. He said that the latter injury could have been caused by the forcible contact of that part of the body with a blunt object such as a wooden bench. Accused-appellants did not testify. Mendez testified that the contusion on the victims chest was caused by contact with a hard blunt instrument. but the boys parents allegedly prevailed upon her to continue. but as the latter started hitting his head against the bench. Milagros Carloto. On cross-examination. Salvador Solima of the Cebu City Prosecutors Office. He added that the fracture on the rib was complete while that found on the base of the skull followed a serrated or uneven pattern. Eddie Luntayao allegedly told the group to tie the boy to the bench. testified that since 1987 she had been with the group of accusedappellant Carmen. (c) Dr. 21. the municipal health officer of Talisay. an alleged eyewitness to the incident. (d) Atty. Visitacion Seniega. Mendez admitted that he did not find any stab wound on the victims body but explained that this could be due to the fact that at the time the body was exhumed and examined. As the child resisted all the more. As the boy continued to resist. Cranial vault almost empty. and Josefina Abing. it was already in an advanced state of decomposition rendering such wound. Cebu and. The boy was later led to the kitchen and given a bath prior to treatment. Instead. 1997.
 The prosecution recalled Eddie Luntayao to the stand to . the latter was released and carried inside the house. After praying over the boy. helped carry the boy inside. Municipal Health Officer of Talisay. and Josefina Abing. who testified that accused-appellant Carmen had cured them of their illnesses by merely praying over them and without applying any form of physical violence on them.Carmen asked Nuez to place his hands under the boys head to cushion the impact of the blow everytime the child brought down his head. 39. His testimony was dispensed with. Mrs. Milagros Carloto. Blase said she no longer knew what happened inside the house as she stayed outside to finish the laundry. Carloto admitted that she never saw the body of the victim as she merely relied on what she had been told by Eddie Luntayao. She said that it was a midwife. She claimed that Randy was still alive when he was taken inside the house. as the prosecution stipulated on the matters Solima was going to testify with the qualification that Solimas recommendation was disapproved by City Prosecutor Primo Miro. She denied that accusedappellants Fabie and Delia Sibonga struck the victim on his chest with their fists. According to her. Visitacion Seniega. To stop the boy from struggling. 8) on the reinvestigation of the case in which he recommended the dismissal of the charge against accused-appellants. 1997 to ask for the issuance of a death certificate for his son Randy Luntayao who had allegedly suffered from cough and fever. Revina Laviosa. who had arrived. The last witness for the defense. After this. however. was also presented by the defense to testify on the death certificate she issued in which she indicated that Randy Luntayao died of pneumonia. who examined the victims body. Assistant City Prosecutor Salvador Solima. Cebu. accused-appellant Fabie held the boys legs. According to her. while accusedappellant Nuez held his shoulders. 20. neither did accused-appellant Carmen stab the boy.  On cross-examination. Dr. was presented to identify the resolution he had prepared (Exh. 39. The defense presented Maria Lilia Jimenez. Accused-appellant Alexander Sibonga. Blase testified that the parents of Randy Luntayao witnessed the pray-over of their son from beginning to end. Eddie Luntayao came to her office on January 28.
000. 1997. the dispositive portion of which states: WHEREFORE.rebut the testimonies of Ritsel Blase and Dr. Milagros Carloto. He took exception to Dr. are. in view of the foregoing facts and circumstances. Eddie admitted having talked with her when he and accused-appellant Nuez went to her office on January 28. however. Carlotos statement that he was alone when he went to her office because it was Nuez who insisted that he (Eddie) accompany him in order to secure the death certificate. When death occurs. the trial court stated: Killing a person with treachery is murder even if there is no intent to kill. with the accessory penalties of the law. 1998. and to pay the costs.00. it is presumed to be the .  In finding accusedappellants guilty of murder. He disputed Blases statement that his son was still alive when he was brought into the prayer room. to indemnify jointly and severally the heirs of the deceased Randy Luntayao in the sum of P50. The accused. Eddie denied having witnessed what accusedappellants did to his son. He said he saw that his sons head slumped while being carried by accused-appellants. the trial court rendered a decision.  As for the testimony of Dr. Carloto. credited in full during the whole period of their detention provided they will signify in writing that they will abide by all the rules and regulations of the penitentiary. However. he denied having told her that his son was suffering from fever and cough as he told her that Randy had a nervous breakdown. [the] accused are all found guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of Murder and are hereby [sentenced] to suffer the penalty of RECLUSION PERPETUA. he and his wife and two daughters were locked inside a room. He reiterated his earlier claim that after accused-appellants had taken Randy. On November 18.
] in inflicting physical injuries with treachery. 524. Cagoco. he is guilty of murder. RPC). These acts were intentional. Intent is presumed from the commission of an unlawful act. it is required only that there is treachery in the attack. 4. Under the guise of a ritual or treatment. pounded his chest with fists. . par. 1. In the case at bar. 530). In view of paragraph 1 of Art.. and this is true even if the offender has no intent to kill the person assaulted. the accused should not have intentionally immersed upside down the head of Randy Luntayao into a barrel of water. Hence. . The presumption of criminal intent may arise from the proof of the criminal act and it is for the accused to rebut this presumption. . all the herein accused should be held responsible for all the consequences even if the result be different from that which was intended (Art. 58 Phil... this appeal. . there is enough evidence that the accused confederated with one another in inflicting physical harm to the victim (an illegal act). even if there was no intent to kill[. 4. v. Hence. In murder qualified by treachery. It is pointed out that in P. the accused in that case was convicted of murder. It would appear that accused-appellants are .natural consequence of physical injuries inflicted. . First. Since the defendant did commit the crime with treachery. he intends the consequences of his felonious act. 58 Phil. . or plunged a kitchen knife to his side so that blood would come out for these acts would surely cause death to the victim. even if the ultimate result had not been intended. and the wrong done resulted in the death of their victim. they are liable for all the direct and natural consequences of their unlawful act. For having immersed the head of the victim into the barrel of water. Ordinarily. . Accused-appellants allege that the trial court erred in convicting them of murder. a person committing a felony is criminally liable although the consequences of his felonious acts are not intended by him. banged his head against the bench. whether foreseen or intended or not. because of the voluntary presence of the qualifying circumstance of treachery (P v. All the accused in the case at bar had contributed different acts in mercilessly inflicting injuries to the victim. when a person commits a felony with malice. One who commits an intentional felony is responsible for all the consequences which may naturally and logically result therefrom. Cagoco.
It was noted that the accused had no intention to cause an evil but rather to remedy the victims ailment. de Golez. Compared to intentional felonies. resulted in the latters death. such as homicide or murder. thereby causing injuries to the victim. who was not a licensed physician. accused-appellants. none of whom is a medical practitioner. the strange procedure resulted in the death of the boy. known as the Missionaries of Our Lady of Fatima. physical condition. As already stated. as amended. time. Vda. or occupation. proceeded to subject the boy to a treatment calculated to drive the bad spirit from the boys body. Unfortunately. the accused. but without malice. They are. in an attempt to cure the victim of ulcers in her feet. degree of intelligence. The Court held the accused liable for reckless imprudence resulting in physical injuries. accused-appellants had no criminal intent to kill the boy. states that reckless imprudence consists in voluntarily. who had treated the victim despite the fact that she did not possess the necessary technical knowledge . therefore. doing or failing to do an act from which material damage results by reason of inexcusable lack of precaution on the part of the person performing such act. With the permission of the victims parents. guilty of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and not of murder.  In another case. In United States v. and other circumstances regarding persons. because of their lack of medical skill in treating the victim of his alleged ailment. the Court ruled that the proper charge to file against a non-medical practitioner. Thus. accused-appellant Carmen. wrapped a piece of clothing which had been soaked in petroleum around the victims feet and then lighted the clothing. Divino. People v. which is engaged in faith healing.members of a cult and that the bizarre ritual performed over the victim was consented to by the victims parents. and place. together with the other accused-appellants. belong to a religious group. Their liability arises from their reckless imprudence because they ought that to know their actions would not bring about the cure. The elements of reckless imprudence are apparent in the acts done by accusedappellants which. 365 of the Revised Penal Code. what takes the place of the element of malice or intention to commit a wrong or evil is the failure of the offender to take precautions due to lack of skill taking into account his employment. Art.
Indeed. such an evaluation of the case cannot be allowed. As for the other points raised by accused-appellants to detract the credibility of Honey Fes . With regard to Dr. Consequently. She was only a few meters away from the kitchen where accusedappellants conducted their pray-over healing session not to mention that she had a good vantage point as the kitchen had no roof nor walls but only a pantry. and manner of execution to ensure the safety of the accused from the defensive or retaliatory attacks coming from the victim. as Dr.The facts of the case indubitably show the absence of intent to kill on the part of the accusedappellants. On the other hand. Mendez who. Her testimony was corroborated by the autopsy findings of Dr. it was no longer possible to determine whether there was a stab wound. the trial courts findings can be sustained only if the circumstances of the case are ignored and the Court limits itself to the time when accused-appellants undertook their unauthorized treatment of the victim.or skill to do so and caused the latters death. The trial courts reliance on the rule that criminal intent is presumed from the commission of an unlawful act is untenable because such presumption only holds in the absence of proof to the contrary. he himself had explained that such could be due to the fact that at the time the autopsy was conducted. it was very likely that the soft tissues had so decomposed that. Obviously. there is no treachery or the deliberate employment of means. noted fractures on the third left rib and on the base of the victims skull. The Court is more than convinced of Honey Fes credibility. Considering the length of time which had elapsed and the fact that the cadaver had not been embalmed.  Viewed in this light. Randy Luntayaos cadaver was exhumed 24 days after it had been buried. Her testimony is clear. the acts which the trial court saw as manifestations of treachery in fact relate to efforts by accused-appellants to restrain Randy Luntayao so that they can effect the cure on him. there is no merit in accused-appellants contention that the testimony of prosecution eyewitness Honey Fe Abella is not credible. the cadaver was already in an advanced state of decomposition. Mendez said. methods. was homicide through reckless imprudence. straightforward. treachery cannot be appreciated for in the absence of intent to kill. consistent with Honey Fes testimony. Mendezs failure to find any stab wound in the victims body. and is far from having been coached or contrived.
We hold that they can. The Court of Appeals modified the judgment and held one of the accused liable for estafa through falsification by negligence. the fact that the judge who wrote the decision did not hear the testimonies of the witnesses does not make him less competent to render a decision. An offense charged necessarily includes the offense proved when some of the essential elements or ingredients of the former. Finally. it was contended that the appeals court erred in holding the . and the offense as charged is included in or necessarily includes the offense proved. In Samson v. the accused were charged with. considering that the information charges them with murder. since his ruling is based on the records of the case and the transcript of stenographic notes of the testimonies of the witnesses. 5. On appeal. the decision was rendered by Judge Galicano Arriesgado who took over the case after the prosecution and the defense had rested their cases. However. Judgment in case of variance between allegation and proof. and convicted of. as alleged in the complaint or information. The presentation of the knife in evidence is not indispensable. The question now is whether accused-appellants can be held liable for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide. And an offense charged is necessarily included in the offense proved. Accused-appellants contend that the failure of the prosecution to present the testimony of Frances Claire Rivera as well as the knife used in stabbing Randy Luntayao puts in doubt the prosecutions evidence. when the essential ingredients of the former constitute or form part of those constituting the latter. or of the offense charged which is included in the offense proved.testimony. Court of Appeals. Dacudao. 4. SEC. the accused shall be convicted of the offense proved which is included in the offense charged. Second. When there is variance between the offense charged in the complaint or information and that proved. the same appear to be only minor and trivial at best. Rule 120 of the Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure provides in pertinent parts: SEC. estafa through falsification of public document. constitute the latter. We do not think so. When an offense includes or is included in another. accused-appellants make much of the fact that although the case was tried under Judge Renato C.
Coming now to the imposable penalty. G. In People v. having alleged that the falsification has been willful. the accusedappellants should suffer the penalty of four (4) months of arresto mayor. reckless imprudence resulting in homicide is punishable by arresto mayor in its maximum period to prision correccional in its medium period. it may however be said that a conviction for the former can be had under an information exclusively charging the commission of a willful offense. This is the situation that obtains in the present case. In overruling this contention. upon the theory that the greater includes the lesser offense. as minimum.  Third. under Art. .R. The fact that the information does not allege that the falsification was committed with imprudence is of no moment for here this deficiency appears supplied by the evidence submitted by appellant himself and the result has proven beneficial to him. This is a case covered by the rule when there is a variance between the allegation and proof. . . appellant did not act with criminal intent but merely failed to take proper and adequate means to assure himself of the identity of the real claimants as an ordinary prudent man would do. L-6641. but a distinct crime in itself. Justice of the Peace of Bacolor. to four (4) years and two (2) months of prision correccional. it would be incongruous to allege at the same time that it was committed with imprudence for a charge of criminal intent is incompatible with the concept of negligence. In this case. taking into account the pertinent provisions of Indeterminate Sentence Law. Certainly. as we held in Quizon v. the Court of Appeals found that in effecting the falsification which made possible the cashing of the checks in question. as maximum. designated as a quasi offense in our Penal Code.accused liable for estafa through negligence because the information charged him with having wilfully committed estafa. July 28. murder by the trial court. 365. the information alleges acts which charge willful falsification but which turned out to be not willful but negligent. Appellant was charged with willful falsification but from the evidence submitted by the parties. In other words. Fernando. the accused was charged with. the Court held: While a criminal negligent act is not a simple modality of a willful crime. . and convicted of. No. 1955. On appeal. this Court modified the judgment and held the accused liable for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide after finding that he did not act with criminal intent.
Buena. accused-appellants are ORDERED jointly and severally to pay the heirs of Randy Luntayao indemnity in the amount of P50. as minimum. Cebu City. is AFFIRMED with the MODIFICATION that accusedappellants are hereby declared guilty of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and are each sentenced to suffer an indeterminate prison term of four (4) months of arresto mayor.000. moral damages in the amount of P50. accused-appellants should pay the heirs of Randy Luntayao an indemnity in the amount of P50.00 and moral damages also in the amount of P50. Jr.. SO ORDERED.00. In addition. the decision of the Regional Trial Court.. J. Quisumbing.000.00.  WHEREFORE. . concur (Chairman). and exemplary damages in the amount of P30. and De JJ.000..00 in view of accused-appellants gross negligence in attempting to cure the victim without a license to practice medicine and to give an example or correction for the public good.000.000. Leon. to four (4) years and two (2) months of prision correccional. as maximum.00.000. on leave.00. Branch 14. Bellosillo. they should pay exemplary damages in the amount of P30.As to their civil liability. In addition.
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