PEOPLE v SIYOH house where they were selling the goods
Petitioners: People of the Phil
Respondents: Julaide Siyoh
Topic: Crimes against the law of nations: Qualified piracy (Art.
123)
Law:
Art. 123. Qualified piracy. — The penalty of reclusion temporal
to death shall be imposed upon those who commit any of the
crimes referred to in the preceding article, under any of the
following circumstances:
1. Whenever they have seized a vessel by
boarding or firing upon the same; 2.
Whenever the pirates have abandoned their
victims without means of saving themselves;
or 3. Whenever the crime is accompanied by
murder, homicide, physical injuries or rape.
FACTS
1. Julaide Siyoh and Omarkyam Kiram, together with
Namli Indanan and Andaw Jamahali were accused
of qualified piracy with triple murder and frustrated
murder
2. On July 10, 1979: Antonio de Guzman together with his
friends who were also travelling merchants likehim
(Danilo Hiolen. Rodolfo de Castro and Anastacio de
Guzman) were on their way to Pilas Island, Province of
Basilan, to sell goods they received from Alberto Aurea.
3. They left for Pilas Island at 2:00 p.m. of July 10, 1979 on
a pump boat. They took their dinner and slept thatnight
in the house of Omar-kayam Kiram at Pilas Island. Who
also helped them from selling their goods to different
Islands near Pilas.
4. Before the incident happened, Antonio, the lone survivor
saw that Kiram was talking with another two persons that
he can only recognize in their faces somewhere near the
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5. On July 14, 1979, When they were heading back to Pilas
Island from Baluk-Baluk Island through riding a pump
boat where Siyoh positioned himself at the front while
Kiram operated the engine.
6. On the way to Pilas Island, Antonio de Guzman saw
another pumpboat painted red and green about 200
meters away from their pumpboat Shortly after" Kiram
turned off the engine of their pumpboat. Thereafter two
shots were fired from the other pumpboat as it moved
towards them
7. There were two persons on the other pumpboat who
were armed with armantes. De Guzman recognized
them to be the same persons he saw Kiram conversing
with in a house at Baluk-Baluk Island.
8. When the boat came close to them, Kiram threw a rope
to the other pump boat which towed de Guzman's pump
boat towards Mataja Island.
9. On the way to Mataja Island, Antonio de Guzman and
his companions were divested of their money and their
goods by Kiram. Thereafter Kiram and his companions
ordered the group of de Guzman to undress.
10. Taking fancy on the pants of Antonio de Guzman, Kiram
put it on.
11. With everybody undressed, Kiram said 'It was good to
kill all of you'. After that remark, Siyoh hacked Danilo
Hiolen while Kiram hacked Rodolfo de Castro. Antonio
de Guzman jumped into the water. As he was swimming
away from the pumpboat, the two companions of Kiram
fired at him, injuring his back. But he was able to reach
a mangrove where he stayed till nightfall. When he left
the mangrove, he saw the dead bodies of Anastacio de
Guzman, Danilo Hiolen and Rodolfo de Castro. He was
picked up by a fishing boat and brought to the
Philippine Army station at Maluso where he received
first aid treatment. Later he was brought to the J.S. Alano
Memorial Hospital at Isabela, Basilan province.
 12. On July 15, 1979, while waiting for the dead bodies of Guzman
his companions at the wharf, de Guzman saw Siyoh and
Kiram. He pointed them out to the PC and the two were
arrested before they could run. When arrested, Kiram
was wearing the pants he took from de Guzman and de
Guzman had to ask Pat. Bayabas at the Provincial Jail to
get back his pants from Kiram

ISSUE:
WoN the respondent-appellants are guilty beyond reasonable
doubt of qualified piracy with triple murder? [YES]

CONTENTIONS OF APPELLANTS
1. Since it was contested by appellants that there guilt was not
proven beyond reasonable doubt since the prosecution did not
present evidence that the accused were also the one who killed
Anastacio de Guzman because his remains are never recovered.
2.The Credibility of the Witness—since only 1 witness was
presented
3. Appellants claim (Siyoh and Kiram) that they were not the
assailants but also the victim

RULING:
1. Number of persons killed on the occasion of piracy, not
material; Piracy, a special complex crime punishable by death—
but the number of persons killed on the occasion of piracy is not
material. PD 532 considers qualified piracy as a special
complex crime punishable by death. Therefore, the guilt of
respondent were proven beyond reasonable doubt.
2. There was no other evidence presented on why should the
lone survivor tell lies and fabricate story as to apprehend the
accused.
3. Appellants claim that they were not the assailants but also the
victim and that the two persons they have identified (Namli
Indanan and Andaw Jamahali) is baseless as view in the proven
conspiracy among the accused. The Conspiracy was established
through the testimony of the lone witness and survivor- De

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