G.R. No. L-32144-45 July 30, 1982
THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee, vs. NAÑO MILFLORES y LAKSA, defendant-appellant.

FACTS

On November 27, 1967, an old man delivered a paper bag containing vegetables to Florencia Tactay Javier at her residence on Garrido Street, Sta. Ana, Manila. When Florencia emptied the bag inside the house, a concealed bomb exploded, instantly killing Felicidad Mique and inflicting serious injuries on seven other occupants. Police investigations led to the arrest of Naño Milflores y Laksa, a fortune teller from Baguio. The prosecution established that Milflores was hired by Victoria Remolar Javier, the second wife of Florencia’s husband Antonio, to ensure Antonio’s return. Milflores, after receiving payment, obtained Florencia’s address and orchestrated the bombing.
Milflores was charged with Murder for Felicidad Mique’s death and Multiple Frustrated Murder for the injured victims. After a joint trial, the Court of First Instance of Manila convicted him. For Murder, he was sentenced to reclusion perpetua and ordered to pay indemnity. For the multiple attempted killings, he was sentenced to an indeterminate penalty. Milflores appealed, contesting the sufficiency of evidence and raising the defense of alibi.

ISSUE

The core issue is whether the prosecution proved Milflores’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt for the complex crime arising from the bomb explosion.

RULING

The Supreme Court affirmed the conviction but modified the classification of the crime. The Court held that the proven facts constitute the complex crime of Murder with Multiple Frustrated Murder, as the single act of delivering the bomb resulted in one death and multiple serious injuries. The qualifying circumstance of the use of an explosive was present. The Court found the aggravating circumstances of evident premeditation, craft, and dwelling duly established.
The Court rejected Milflores’s alibi, which was uncorroborated and weak, as it was overwhelmingly contradicted by the positive identification and credible testimonies of prosecution witnesses, including his client Victoria Javier, who detailed his motive and involvement. The defense of alibi cannot prevail against clear and positive evidence placing the accused at the scene of the crime. While the proper penalty for the complex crime with aggravating circumstances would be death, the Court, noting that Milflores was over seventy years old, affirmed the imposition of reclusion perpetua in accordance with Article 47 of the Revised Penal Code. The indemnity awarded to the heirs of Felicidad Mique was sustained.