GR L 5510; (April, 1956) (Digest)
G.R. No. L-5510; April 28, 1956
THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee, vs. RAFAEL ARANUA, ET AL., defendants. RAFAEL ARANUA, defendant-appellant.
FACTS
Rafael Aranua, Magno Aniana, and Vicente Cuajao were charged with robbery with homicide and double physical injuries in the Court of First Instance of Misamis Occidental. The information alleged that on July 5, 1951, in Jimenez, Misamis Occidental, the accused conspired to rob the house of Uldarico Tabil. Aranua and Aniana entered the house at night, while Cuajao stood guard. Inside, they shot and killed 11-year-old Priscila Tabil, and wounded Uldarico Tabil and Divina Ayeta. They then took a suitcase containing P500 and a .22 caliber rifle. Before arraignment, Cuajao was discharged to be a state witness but turned hostile, leading to his re-inclusion. Aniana and Cuajao later pleaded guilty and were sentenced. Aranua pleaded not guilty, was tried, found guilty, and sentenced to reclusion perpetua, with indemnities. Aranua appealed, arguing insufficient identification, lack of conspiracy proof, contradictory testimonies, and error in his conviction for the complex crime.
ISSUE
The primary issue is whether the appellant, Rafael Aranua, was sufficiently identified and proven to have participated in the commission of the crime of robbery with homicide and double physical injuries.
RULING
The Supreme Court affirmed the conviction of Rafael Aranua with modifications. The Court held that Aranua’s participation was proven beyond reasonable doubt through the positive and convincing testimonies of prosecution witnesses, including co-accused Magno Aniana and victim Porfiria de Tabil, who identified Aranua as one of the robbers. The Court found the aggravating circumstances of nighttime and dwelling present but could not impose the death penalty due to insufficient votes. The Court modified the indemnities: increasing the indemnity to the heirs of Priscila Tabil to P6,000; affirming the P500 indemnity to Uldarico Tabil; and sentencing Aranua to pay P250 to Divina Ayeta. The decision of the lower court was affirmed in all other respects.