UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS – LEGAZPI

College of Law
Legazpi City

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES vs. CECILIA LAGMAN y PIRING (GR NO. 197807)
ARGUMENTS: PROSECUTION

CHARMAINE GRACE H. CABRIA

ARGUMENTS: PROSECUTION

Two accounts of offenses were committed by the accused – the murder of Santiago, and
the less serious physical injuries sustained by Sicor. These offenses were corroborated by the
witnesses (a) Maniego – common law spouse of Santiago, (b) Sicor – the mother of Maniego, (c)
PO3 Alateit and (d) PO3 Samson.

A.

 It is but a fact that a life was taken in the person of Santiago and this fact is witnessed by
Maniego. The victim was caught off guard, as he was lighting a cigarette, when the
accused, without warning, stabbed him four times successively – one at the chest, two at
the back and one at the neck. These acts committed by the accused took away the chance
of the victim to evade the knife thrusts and to defend himself from the attack. This is a
clear and apparent treachery. As defined in the RPC Article 14 paragraph 16, treachery is
the direct employment of means, methods and forms in the execution of the crime against
persons which tend directly and specially to insure its execution, without risk to the
offender arising from the defense with the offended party might make.

 PO3 Alateit also testified that on the day of the incident, he was riding his motorcycle
and a report was given him as regards the stabbing incident. As he was headed towards
the incident, he saw the accused and upon arrest, a sharp object fell from her waist. The
police officer’s testimony also corroborated the testimony of Maniego which leads to
Lagman as the perpetrator.

 PO3 Samson was assigned at the Western Police Crime Laboratory Division on the date
of the incident. He, thus, presented the sharp object used in stabbing the victim.

B.

 Sicor corroborated Maniego’s testimony as she saw the accused punching Maniego
several times and then she was grabbed and stabbed in her buttocks. She sustained
injuries but nevertheless, survived the attack and thus pointing at the accused as the
culprit.

 Sicor and Maniego were inside the sidecar of a motorcycle when they were attacked. It
can be clearly seen that the accused is in rage upon attacking them and has a plan of
harming the victims since she has a sharp object with her.

 There can be seen a motive behind the acts of the accused since they have a close
relationship and have known each other for almost ten years. As testified by PO3 Alateit,
the accused looked like a lesbian. Maniego confirmed that the accused got angry when
 the former chose Santiago and eloped with him. The accused might have lost her temper
and might have been burning with anger so she decided to attack the victims.

 The alibi by the defense cannot be trusted since it does not corroborate with her physical
presence as testified by PO3 Alateit. She has a weapon and she was there on the incident
and not at the hospital. The weapon seized was the same object used to kill Santiago and
stab Sicor.