G.R. No. L‑3119
December 20, 1906
FACTS
– The United States (plaintiff‑appellee) instituted criminal actions against Estanislao Cagaoaan, Tiburcio Cagaoaan, and five co‑accused for “robbery en cuadrilla.”
– The trial court found the accused guilty under Articles 504 and 505 of the Penal Code, in conjunction with paragraph 5 of Article 503, with aggravating circumstances that the robbery was committed at nighttime and in the dwelling of the victims.
– Sentences imposed: Estanislao and Tiburcio Cagaoaan ten (10) years’ imprisonment; the five co‑defendants eight (8) years’ imprisonment.
ISSUE
Whether the conviction and the sentences imposed were proper, and what the correct principal penalty should be for robbery en cuadrilla committed with the stated aggravating circumstances.
RULING
– The Supreme Court affirmed the conviction, holding the evidence proved guilt beyond reasonable doubt and finding no procedural error.
– It clarified that robbery en cuadrilla warrants the maximum degree of presidio correccional to presidio mayor in its medium degree; with the aggravating circumstances, the penalty must be imposed in its maximum degree.
– Consequently, the proper principal penalty is presidio mayor ranging from 8 years 11 months 11 days to 10 years for all appellants.
– The Court modified the trial court’s judgment, substituting the original imprisonment terms with ten (10) years of presidio mayor for each appellant.
– Judgment affirmed, costs apportioned among appellants, and the case remanded to the lower court for execution after ten days.
Concurrence: Chief Justice Arellano and Justices Torres, Mapa, Willard, and Tracey concurred.