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TodayisSunday,December04,2016

RepublicofthePhilippines
SUPREMECOURT
Manila
ENBANC
G.R.No.L32624February12,1980
THEPEOPLEOFTHEPHILIPPINES,plaintiffappellee,
vs.
PACIANONIERRAaliasPacing,GAUDENCIANIERRA,FELICISIMODOBLENaliasSimoyandVICENTE
ROJAS,accusedappellantsGASPARMISA,accusedwhosedeathsentenceisunderautomaticreview.
JoseW.DioknoforappellantNierra.
SedfreyA.OrdoezforaccusedMisa.
AlbertoCacnioforappellantsDoblenandRojas.
SolicitorGeneralEstelitoP.Mendoza,AssistantSolicitorOctavioRRamirezandTrialAttorneyLolitaC.Dumlao
forappellee.

PERCURIAM:
FelicisimoDoblen,VicenteRojasandthespousesPaganoNierraandGaudenciaNierraappealedfromthe
decisiondatedMarch4,1970ofJudgePedroSamsonC.AnimasoftheCourtofFirstInstanceofSouth
Cotabato,GeneralSantosCityBranchII,convictingthemofmurder,sentencingeachofthemtodeathand
orderingthemtopaysolidarityanindemnityoftwelvethousandpesostotheheirsofthevictimJulianaNierra
(CriminalCaseNo.2081).
GasparMisa,whopleadedguiltytothemurdercharge,wasalsosentencedtodeathandorderedtopayasimilar
indemnity(DecisionofAugust25,1969,pp.368,Record).Hisdeathsentenceisunderautomaticreview.
Accordingtotheevidenceoftheprosecution,JulianaGadugdugNierra,52,andPaganoNierra,39,herbrother
inlaw,werecompetitorsinthebusinessesoflaunchtransportationandthesaleofsoftdrinksinBarrioTinago,
GeneralSantosCity.JulianasoldcocacolawhilePaganosoldpepsicola.Julianawastheowneroftwomotor
launches,ElsaIandII,whilePacianowastheowneroftwolaunches,SylvaniaIandII.Julianawasthewifeof
AnicetoNierra,Paciano'selderbrother.TomollifyPagano,bydiminishingthecompetitionbetweentheirlaunches,
AnicetosoldElsaII.Nonetheless,AnicetoandPacianowerenotonspeakingterms.
Inordertomonopolizethosebusinessesinthelocality,PacianoNierraconceivedtheIdeaofliquidatinghis
competitor,Juliana.Forthatpurpose,FelicisimoDoblen,acousininlawofPaciano,accompaniedtoPaciano's
houseintheafternoonofJuly4,1969GasparMisa,29,aconvictedmurdererwhoin1965hadescapedfromthe
DavaoPenalColony(Exh.E4andE5,pp.1011,FolderofExhibits).MisacametoBarrioTinagoinJune,1969.
Heresidedwithhiscousin,SilvestreMisa.(SeeParejavs.GomezandPeople,115Phil.820.)
UpstairsinthebedroomofPaciano'shouse,Misa,inthepresenceofGaudenciaGarridoNierra,thewifeof
Paciano,agreedtokillJulianainconsiderationofthreethousandpesos.Pacianopromisedthatinthemorning
afterthekillinghewouldpayMisafourhundredpesosnearthemunicipalhallofTupi,SouthCotabatowhichis
aboutfortykilometersawayfromGeneralSantosCity.ThebalancewouldbepaidinthesameplaceonAugust
12,1969.
ThatarrangementwasconfirmedbyGaudencia.WhenMisascheduledtheassassinationonJuly8,1969,
PaganosaidthatitwasuptoMisasincehewastheonewhowouldkillJuliana.
IntheeveningofJuly6,1969,Doblen,inbehalfofPaganoNierra,deliveredtoMisaatthebeachapackage
containingacaliber.38pistolwithfivebullets.Misacontactedhisfriend,VicenteRojas,andapprisedhimthathe
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(Misa)hadbeenhiredtokillJuliana.MisaaskedRojastoactaslookoutonthenightofJuly8,1969whenthe
killingwouldbeperpetrated.
Onthatnight,RojaspostedhimselfattheBernadettestorenearthecreekorcanalabouttwentysevensteps
fromthesceneofthecrime.GaudenciawasstationednearthehouseofManingDesinorioabouteighteensteps
fromthesceneofthecrime.PaganowasnearthehouseofJuanitoDesinorioabouttwentysevenstepsfromthe
sceneofthecrime.ThehousesofthetwoDesinorioswereseparatedfromthehouseofJulianaNierrabyan
alley.
Misasecludedhimselfnearawarehouseaboutfivestepsfromthesceneofthecrimeincloseproximitytothe
backofJuliana'shousewhere.ashehadpreviouslyobservedsomenightsbefore,sheusedtoanswerthecallof
nature.ThehousewasatthebackoftheEssoGasStationnearthebeachofSaranganiBayatBarrioTinago,
GeneralSantosCity.
Betweensevenandeighto'clockthatnight,theunwaryJulianawenttothebeachwhereshewasaccustomedto
voidandwhenshesquatted,Misaunexpectedlyappearedbehindher,heldherhair,thustiltingherface,and
whileinthatposture,heinsertedintohermouththemuzzleofthepistolandfiredit.PacianoandGaudencia,who
werenearthebeach,witnessedtheactualkilling.
ThepostmortemexaminationdisclosedthatJulianasustainedagunshotwoundinthetongue.Thebulletpassed
throughthebuccalcavitydowntothespinalcolumnwheretheslugwasextracted.
AnicetoNierra,onhearingthegunshotandtheensuingcommotion,wentdownfromthehouseandsawhis
prostratewifewithbloodoozingfromhermouthandnose.Herpantywaspulleddown,herdresswasraisedupto
herwaist,andhergenitalorganwasexposed.Atthehospital,thedoctorpronouncedherdead.
Afterfiringthegun,MisawalkedslowlyonthebeachinfrontofPacianoandGaudencia,passedbythealley
betweenthehousesofTonyDesinorioandFranciscoDesinorio,emergedatthebackoftheEssoGasStation
crossedthecreekorcanalonthewest,reachedtheLagaoroad,threwthegunintothedensetalahibgrassand
rodeonabus.HeproceededtotheSaintElizabethHospital.Then,hechangedhismindandreturnedtothe
beachnearthevictim'shouse.
TheNierraspousesleftthesceneofthecrimebypassingthroughthealleybetweenthehouseofthevictimand
theDesinoriohouses,whichalleyseparatedthebuildingoftheNorthernLinesandtheMatutumHotelfromthe
EssoGasStation,andemergedonA.MorrowBoulevardwhichintersectsSaguingStreetwherePacianoand
Gaudenciaresided.Theirresidencewasabouttwohundredmetersawayfromthesceneofthecrime.
Awitness,residingatMorrowBoulevard,whohappenedtobeattheVillaBusTerminalataroundeightthirtyin
theeveningofJuly8,1969,whenthekillingwasperpetrated,testifiedthatshesawPaganoNierrawearingan
underwearandstripedTshortrunningfromSaguingStreettoBarrioTinago.Aboutfiveminuteslater,shesaw
PaganotheboulevardandrunningtowardsSaguingStreet.Hewaswearinglongpants.Thewitnessmadea
statementtothepoliceaboutwhatshehadseen.
Earlyinthemorningofthenextday,MisatookabusboundforTupiandalightednearthemunicipalbuilding.
PacianoNierraarrivedinthatplaceandgavehimfourhundredpesos.MisareturnedtoGeneralSantosCity,
gavefiftypesostoRojas,andproceededtothevictim'shousewherehemingledwiththepersonsplayingcards
anddomino.Hekeptvigilthere,stayingthereforfournights.
Heresumedhisoldjoboflookingforpassengersforthe,busesandthepumpboatofRojas.Hereceiveda
commissionofonepesoperpassenger.PolicemenarrestedhimandRojasasforquestioningbuttheywerelater
released.HeleftthecityandbroughthisfamilytoBarrioLuan,MaitumSouthCotabato.There,hewasarrested
again,thistimebyConstabularysoldiers.
OnAugust7,1969,MisawasinterrogatedbyPatrolmanA.B.VencerJr.ofthecitypolicedepartment.Hesigneda
confessionadmittingthekillingofJulianaNierraandimplicatingtheotheraccusedtherein.Thestatementwas
sworntobeforethefiscal.Twodayslater,hereenactedthekilling.Photographsweretakenofthereenactment.A
sketchofthesceneofthecrimewasprepared.
OnAugust11,1969,Misatestifiedatthepreliminaryinvestigation.Inhistestimony,headmittedagainthekilling
andconfirmedhisconfessionimplicatingPacianoNierra,hiswifeGaudencia,DoblenandRojas.Heexecuted
anotherconfessiononAugust12,1969whichwassworntobeforethecityjudge.
ThirtysevendaysafterthekillingoronAugust14,1969,Misa,Doblen,RojasandtheNierraspouses,asco
conspirators,werechargedwithmurderaggravatedbyreward,treachery,evidentpremeditation,nocturnity,
ignominyandabuseofsuperiorityand,astoMisa,recidivism,sincehehadbeensentencedtoreclusionperpetua
forthemurderofAntonioAbadTormisinCebuCity.
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Asalreadystated,Misapleadedguilty.Atthetrialofhiscoaccused,hisconfessionsandtestimonywereoffered
bytheprosecutionandwerethemainbasesofthejudgmentofconvictionandtheimpositionofthedeathpenalty.
Asseparatebriefswerefiledforthedefendants,theirindividualcaseswillbeseparatelyreviewed.
Misa'scase.HiscounseldeoficiocontendsthatMisamadeanimprovidentpleabecausethetrialcourt
allegedlyfailedtoexplainthoroughlytohimthegravityoftheoffenseandtheconsequencesofhispleaofguilty.
Thatcontentionisnotwelltaken.Misa,asanescapedprisoner,hadacquiredsomeexperienceincriminal
procedure.Notonlythat.Heexecutedtwoextrajudicialconfessions.HereenactedthecrimeasthetriggermanHe
testifiedatthepreliminaryinvestigation,and,afterhewassentencedtodeath,hewastheprosecutionstar
witnessduringthetrialofhiscoaccused.Histestimonyagainsthiscoaccused,delineatingtheirrolesinthe
commissionofthekilling,whichhehadperpetrated,fortifiedhispleaofguiltyandremovedanyscintillaofdoubt
astohisculpabilityandastohisunderstandingoftheconsequencesofhismeaculpa(SeePeoplevs.Duaban,
L31912,August24,1979).
Underthecircumstances,wecannotgrantcounseldeoficio'sprayerthatthejudgmentofconvictionbesetaside
andthatthecaseberemandedtothelowercourtfornewtrialToholdanewtrial.whereinMisahimselfwould
againbethestarprosecutionwitness,wouldbearepetitiousandpreposterousceremony.
ThecaseoftheNierraspouses.TheydeniedanycomplicityinthekillingofJulianaNierra.Theirversionisthat
intheeveningofJuly8,1969,atabouteighto'clockintheevening,PacianoNierrawasinsidearoomofhis
house.GaudenciaNierraswasinherroom,writingsomething.EduardoNierra,thecouple'sson,wasaloneinthe
salawhileEncarnacionSabihonahousemaid,wassomewhereinthehousepremises.
Pacianoheardsomebodycomingupthehouse.Whenhecameoutoftheroom,hemetNolascoDocalloswho
saidthatJulianaNierrawasshot.PacianoNierraaskedwhoshother.Docallosansweredthathedidnotknow.
DocallosaskedPacianoforpermissiontousethelatter'smotorcycleingoingtothehospital.Pacianoinstructed
hissonEduardotorenderassistance.Pacianocouldnotgooutbecausetwoyearsbeforehehadundergonea
surgicaloperationinCebuCity.Gaudenciacouldnotleavethechildrenaloneinthehouse.Eduardophonedfrom
thefuneralparlorthatJulianawasalreadydead.
Ataboutfivethirtyinthemorningofthefollowingday,Gaudenciawenttothefuneralparlor.Shetalkedwith
Rodelio,thesonofJuliana.AnicetoNierra,herbrotherinlawandhusbandofthevictim,didnotanswerwhenshe
triedtotalkwithhim.
Pacianowokeupatsixo'clockthatmorning.HeandhiswifeandtheirMuslimfriendPanditaE.Saguiland
FernandoErro,theuncleofPaciano,boardedabusandwenttoTupiostensiblytobuybamboosfortheoutrigger
ofavinta,atripwhichtheNierraspouseshadpreviouslyagreeduponwithSaguil.TheyarrivedinTupiatpast
teno'clock.Theywerenotabletobuybamboos.TheyatelunchattheFernandezRestaurant.
ThegroupreturnedtoGeneralSantosCity,arrivingthereattwoo'clockintheafternoon.Theywenttothefuneral
parlor.TheywerenotabletotalkwithAnicetoNierra.Intheeveningofthatday,Gaudencialedtheprayersfor
thereposeofthesoulofJulianaandsheperformedthattaskonthesecond,thirdandfourthnights.Shedidnot
leadtheprayersonthesucceedingnightsbecauseshewasadvisedthatitwasbadforhertodoso.Theirchild
attendedthenovenaPacianocouldnotattendthenovenabecausehehadkidneytrouble.Theygaveone
hundredpesostoJuliana'sfamilyascontributiontothefuneralexpenses.
TheNierraspousesattendedthefuneral.Duringtheburial,AnicetolostconsciousnessandcollapsedPaciano
revivedhimbypressinghisabdomen.Afterthecoffinwasplacedinthetomb,Pacianoclosedtheniche.The
NierraspousesgavetoAnicetoanadditionaltwohundredpesos(Pars.56and915,pp.611,Appellants'Brief).
AppellantsNierracontendthatMisawasnotacrediblewitnessbecausehewasarecidivistandhistestimonyis
riddledwithinconsistencies.Thatcontentionisdevoidofmerit.
Misatestifiedagainsthisownpenalinterest.Thebasicpointinhisconfessionsandtestimonywasthathewas
hiredbytheNierraspouses,throughDoblentokillJulianaforthepriceofthreethousandpesos.Thatissufficient
fortheconvictionoftheNierraspousesastheinducersoftheassassinationofJuliana.Thediscrepanciesinhis
testimonyrefertominordetails.
AndthefactthattheNierraspousesdidnotcomplywiththeircontractualcommitmenttopayMisathebalanceof
twothousandsixhundredpesosmusthaveimpelledhimtounmaskthemandtorevealthetruthevenifsucha
revelationspeeledhisowndestruction.
Thecontentionthattherewasnoproofofconspiracyamongtheaccusedisbeliedbythefactsshowninthe
record.MisahadnopersonalmotiveforkillingJulianaNierra.Hewasinducedtodosobecauseofthemonetary
considerationpromisedbytheNierraspouses.Doblen(Simoy),marriedtoPaciano'scousin,introducedMisato
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theNierraspouses.BeforeJuliana'sassassination,GaudenciahadcontractedMisatokillNeneAmador,her
formerhousemaid,whowasallegedlyPaciano'smistress.Thatprojectedkillingdidnotmaterialize.
AppellantsNierracontendthatMisa'stestimonyastotheallegedconspiracyisinadmissibleinviewoftherule
that"theactordeclarationofaconspiratorrelatingtotheconspiracyandduringitsexistence,maybegivenin
evidenceagainstthecoconspiratoraftertheconspiracyisshownbyevidenceotherthansuchactordeclaration"
(Sec.27,Rule130,RulesofCourt).
ItisarguedthatbeforeMisa'stestimonycouldbeadmittedasevidenceagainstappellantsNierra,thealleged
conspiracymustfirstbeprovenbyevidenceotherthansuchtestimonyandthatthereisnosuchindependent
evidence.Thisargumentiswrong.Itisnotsupportedbyaction27ofRule130
Section27"appliesonlytoextrajudicialactsordeclarationsbutnottotestimonygivenonthestandatthetrial
wherethedefendanthastheopportunitytocrossexaminethedeclarant"(Peoplevs.Serrano,105Phil.531,
541).
AppellantsNierracontendthatthetrialcourterredinfindingthatthemotiveforthekillingwastostiflebusiness
competition.ThisargumentisrefutedbythetestimoniesofAnicetoNierraandhissonRodeliowhichshowthat
PacianoNierrawasantagonistictohissisterinlaw,Juliana,themanageror"brains"ofAniceto'stransportation
andcocacoladistributionbusinesses.
In1967,PacianoattemptedtodestroyAniceto'slaunch,ElsaII,whileitwasunderconstruction.Anicetohadto
sellthatlaunchbecauseofPaciano'sthreatthatsomebodywouldbehurtifitsoperationwascontinued.Pagano
toldRodeliothatthelatter'smother,Juliana,whowaspockmarkedwasbadanddominatedherhusbandAniceto.
Ontwooccasions,Pacianoevenchallengedhisbrothertoafight.
Anothercontentionoftheappellantsisthatthetrialcourtconvictedthemonthebasisofthehearsaytestimonies
ofGuillermoSanchezandJoseSamoya.Thisargumentismisleading.Thejudgmentofconvictionwasanchored
principallyontheconfessionsandtestimonyofMisa,thetoolusedbytheNierraspousesinencompassing
Juliana'sdeath.Misa'sevidencecannotberegardedashearsay.
ThetestimoniesofSanchezandSamoyamerelyprovedthatMisa,RojasandDoblenwereimplicatedinthekilling
ofJulianaNierra.ItwastheaffidavitofSanchez,linkingMisatothekilling,thatgavethepoliceabreakthroughin
thesolutionofthecase.AftertheconnectionofMisawiththecrimewasestablished,thepolicearrestedhimand
obtainedhisconfessionswhichimplicatedappellantsNierraastheinvestigators.
TheNierrasintheirfifthassignmentoferrorcontendthatthetrialcourterredinadmittingasevidencetheaffidavit
ofappellantVicenteRojas(Exh.J)whichwasobtainedthroughanallegedpromiseofimmunity.Therecordisnot
clearastothatpromiseofimmunity.Rojas'statementwastakenonAugust1,1969.OnAugust12,hetestifiedat
thepreinvestigation.Therecordofhistestimonybeforethefiscalwassignedbyhim.Hewasassistedbycounsel
atthatpreinvestigation.(Exh.Ketseq.)Nopromiseofimmunitywasshowntohavebeenmadebythefiscalto
Rojas.
Inanyevent,hisaffidavitisaminorpieceofevidenceandiscumulativeincharacter.Asalreadystated,the
crucialanddecisiveevidenceconsistsofMisa'stestimonyandconfessions.
AppellantsNierracomplainthatlawyerCornelioFalguiactedactedthepreliminaryinvestigationascounselof
appellantDoblen,havingbeenallegedlyhiredbytheoffendedparty,AnicetoNierra,andthenatthetrial,heacted
ascounseldeoficioofMisawhopleadedguilty.HealsoappearedforDoblen(6and19tsn).
TheallegeddoubleroleofFalguicannotberegardedashavingundulyprejudicedappellantsNierrawho,as
alreadynoted,wereconvictedonthebasisofMisa'sconfessionsandtestimony.Theappellantshavenot
successfullyoverthrownorrebuttedMisa'sevidence.
ItwasDoblenwhoactedasadoubleagent.HewasatoolofPacianoNierraandatthesametimeheposedasa
friendonAnicetoNierrabypretendingthathehadnohandintheassassinationofAniceto'swife.
WeareconvincedthattheguiltofappellantsNierrawasprovenbeyondreasonabledoubt.Onthenightofthe
shooting,PacianoNierraandGaudenciaNierradidnotgotothefuneralparlortoviewtheremainsofJuliana.
AfterPacianoandGaudenciawerechargedwithmurder,therewasaconfrontationbetweenthesaidspouses
andAnicetoNierrainthehouseoftheirbrother,Alonso,inthepresenceoftheirotherbrother,Gerundio.The
followingdialoguetookplacebetweenPacianoandAniceto:
Paciano:Noy,whydidyoususpectustobethekillersofyourwife?
Aniceto:WillyoustilldenywhenGasparMisapointedtoyouthatyouwerestandingby
thepostandPaciano(Gaudencia)wasalsostandinginaanotherpostwhenhe(Misa)
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killedmywife.FromnowonIhavenobrotherbythenameofPacing.
Pacianodidnotcommentonhisbrother'saccusation.
Moreover,MisawrotethefollowingnotetoPacianowhentheywereconfinedinthecityjail(translation):
MycompanionPacing(Paciano):
IamdirectlytellingyouandyoucouldbesurethatIwilldomybestthatyouwillbefree.Beforethe
trialof(in)court,IwouldlikethatyougivemethesumofP600evenifyougivethecashadvanceof
P500beforeSunday.OKandyougivethesamethruthehole.
Yourcompanion,
(Sgd.)GasparMisa
BelievemethatIwillfreeyouandburnthisimmediately.(Exit1)
TheabovenoteclearlyprovesthatMisaandPacianowerecoconspirators.TheNierraswerecoprincipalsby
inducement.Byactingaslookoutsduringtheperpetrationofthekilling,theybecamecoprincipalsbycooperation
aswell.
AppealofDoblenandRojas.Doblen'salibiwasthatonthenightofthekilling,hewasstrandedatMargos,
Glan,SouthCotabato.HereturnedtoGeneralSantosCityatteno'clockinthemorningofthefollowingday.He
deniedthatheaccompaniedMisatothehouseofPacianoNierraonJuly4,1969andthathedeliveredtoMisa
thepackagecontainingthemurderweapon.
Rojas'alibiwasthatonthenightofthekillinghesleptinhispumpboatatLion'sBeach,GeneralSantosCity.
However,thatcouldnothaveprecludedhimfromhavingactedaslookoutonthatsamebeach.
Theseappellants,liketheNierraspouses,contendthatMisa'sconfessionsandtestimonyhavenoprobative
valuebecausetherewasnootherevidenceprovingtheallegedconspiracy.Asalreadystated,thatruledoesnot
applytotestimonygivenonthewitnessstandwherethedefendantshavetheopportunitytocrossexaminethe
declarant(Peoplevs.Dacanay,92Phil.872).
ItiscontendedthatDoblenwasnotacoconspiratorbecausehewasnotpresentwhenMisaandtheNierra
spousesdiscussedtheliquidationofJulianaNierraandthatwhenDoblendeliveredthepackagetoMisa,he
(Doblen)didnotknowthatitcontainedthemurderweapon.AstoRojas,itiscontendedthathewasnotpresent
atthesaidconferencebetweenMisaandtheNierraspouses.
Thesecontentionsarenotwelltaken.TheactivitiesofDoblenandRojasindubitablyshowthattheyhad
communityofdesignwiththeNierraspousesandMisaintheassassinationofJulianaNierra.
LikeappellantsNierra,Rojas'counseldeoficiocontendsthatthetrialcourterredinadmittingtheaffidavitofRojas
(Exh.J)becauseitwasobtainedunderanallegedpromiseofimmunity.
ItshouldbenotedthatRojas'affidavitdoesnotcontainanythingconnectinghimtothemurder.Inthataffidavit,he
deniedthathehadanyparticipationinthecommissionofthecrimeandthatheconspiredwithMisa.So,the
admissioninevidenceofthataffidavitdidnotprejudicehimatall.
Thekillingwascorrectlycharacterizedbythetrialcourtasmurderqualifiedbytreacheryandaggravatedby
premeditationandpriceorreward.AstotheNierras,relationshipisanadditionalaggravatingcircumstance.
Treacheryabsorbednocturnityandabuseofsuperiority.ThemannerinwhichMisaliquidatedJulianaNierra
addedshame,disgraceorobloquytothematerialinjurycausedbythecrime.Hence,ignominyisaggravating
(U.S.vs.Abaigar2Phil.417).
InMisa'scase,recidivismasanaggravatingcircumstanceoffsethispleaofguilty.Thatdidnotprecludethe
impositionofthedeathpenaltyuponhim.
Consideringtheaggravatingcircumstances,thedeathpenaltyimposedontheNierraspousesisinaccordance
withlaw.However,forlackoftherequisitetenvotes,thedeathpenaltyimposedonGaudenciaNierrashouldbe
commutedtoreclusionperpetua.
Doblen'srolewasthatofhavingintroducedMisatotheNierraspousesanddeliveringthemurderweaponto
Misa.Hewasnotpresentatthesceneofthecrime.Ontheotherhand,Rojasactedaslookoutandreceivedfifty
pesosforhiswork.
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AfteraconscientiousreflectiononthecomplicityofDoblenandRojas,wehavereachedtheconclusionthatthey
shouldbeheldguiltyasaccomplices.Itistrue,strictlyspeaking,thatascoconspiratorstheyshouldbepunished
ascoprincipals.However,sincetheirparticipationwasnotabsolutelyindispensabletotheconsummationofthe
murder,therulethatthecourtshouldfavorthemilderformofliabilitymaybeappliedtothem(Peoplevs.Tamayo,
44Phil.38andothercases).
Insomeexceptionalsituations,havingcommunityofdesignwiththeprincipaldoesnotpreventamalefactorfrom
beingregardedasanaccompliceifhisroleintheperpetrationofthehomicideormurderwas,relativelyspeaking,
ofaminorcharacter(SeePeoplevs.Ubia,97Phil.515U.S.vs.Doming1st,37Phil.446Peoplevs.Daligdig,
89Phil.598Peoplevs.Largo,99Phil.1061).
WHEREFORE,(1)thelowercourt'sjudgmentisaffirmedwithrespecttoGasparMisaandPacianoNierra.
(2)ThedeathsentenceimposedonGaudenciaNierraiscommunitedtoreclusionperpetua.Thecivilliability
imposeduponherbythetrialcourtisaffirmed.
(3)AppellantsFelicisimoDoblenandVicenteRojasareconvictedasaccomplices.Theyareeachsentencedtoan
indeterminatepenaltyoftenyearsofprisionmayormediumasminimumtoseventeenyearsofreclusiontemporal
mediumasmaximumandtopaysolidarilywiththeprincipalsanindemnityofsixthousandpesos(astheirquota)
totheheirsofJulianaNierra.Theyareeachsubsidiarilyliabletotheextentofsixthousandpesosforthe
principals'civilliability.Costsagainsttheaccused.
Fernando,C.J.,Teehankee,Barredo,Makasiar,Antonio,Aquino,Concepcion,Jr.,Fernandez,Guerrero,De
CastroandMelencioHerrera,JJ.,concur.
AbadSantos,J.,tooknopart.
TheLawphilProjectArellanoLawFoundation

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