GR 219116; (August, 2020) (Digest)

G.R. No. 219116, August 26, 2020
People of the Philippines, Plaintiff-Appellee, vs. Raymark Daguman y Asierto, alias “Mark,” Accused-Appellant.

FACTS

An Information charged Raymark Daguman y Asierto (Daguman) with the special complex crime of robbery with homicide. The prosecution alleged that on August 16, 2010, Daguman, conspiring with Denise Sigua and two others, robbed a Starbucks cafe in Las Piñas City. Armed with a knife and an unlicensed firearm, they declared a hold-up, tied and blindfolded the assistant store manager Alexander Angeles and security guard Gharry Oquindo, and took cash amounting to Php46,415.00. During their escape, a shootout with police officers ensued, resulting in the death of Denise Sigua. Daguman was apprehended, and a knife and the stolen money in a laptop bag were recovered from him. The defense presented a different version, claiming Daguman was an innocent bystander invited by Sigua for a treat, forced at gunpoint to enter the cafe during the robbery, and was wrongfully arrested.

ISSUE

Whether the Court of Appeals erred in affirming the Regional Trial Court’s Decision finding Daguman guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of robbery with homicide.

RULING

The Supreme Court denied the appeal and affirmed the conviction. The Court held that all elements of robbery with homicide were proven: (1) the taking of personal property (cash) belonging to another (Starbucks); (2) the taking was with intent to gain; (3) the taking was effected with violence or intimidation against persons (Angeles and Oquindo were threatened with a knife and gun, tied, and blindfolded); and (4) on the occasion of the robbery, a homicide occurred (the death of co-conspirator Denise Sigua during the shootout with police). The positive identification of Daguman by prosecution witnesses Angeles and Oquindo was credible and prevailed over his denial and defense of frame-up. His presence at the crime scene and possession of the stolen money and knife were unexplained. The killing of Sigua, a co-conspirator, by police officers during the pursuit was a direct consequence of the robbery, making Daguman equally liable for the special complex crime. The Court modified the damages awarded, increasing civil indemnity, moral damages, and exemplary damages to Php100,000.00 each, and imposing interest on all damages awarded.