GR 1099; (March, 1903) (Digest)
G.R. No. 1099 : March 19, 1903
THE UNITED STATES, complainant-appellee, vs. MANUEL NAVARRO, ET AL., defendants-appellants.
FACTS:
The defendants, Manuel Navarro, Julio Alarcon, and Adriano Labrador, were convicted of the crime of robo (robbery) under Article 503 of the Penal Code by the Court of First Instance of Bataan. The prosecution’s case primarily relied on the testimonies of Narcisa Pangalinan (wife of Tomas Bautista) and her 10-year-old son, Francisco Bautista. They testified that one Sunday evening in July 1902, Navarro and Labrador entered their house in Orion, Bataan, maltreated and intimidated the couple, and forced Narcisa to open a trunk. Navarro then seized a tampipe (a small bag or container) containing 150 pesos in silver, the family’s savings from six years. Alarcon allegedly participated by staying outside the house during the robbery. The defendants also took Tomas Bautista with them when they left, but he returned later that night with a policeman. Tomas Bautista did not testify at the trial due to illness. The defense presented evidence showing that Navarro accompanied the victims when they reported the robbery to the barrio councilor that same night, and presented slight proof of an alibi for Labrador.
ISSUE:
Whether the conviction of the defendants for the crime of robbery is supported by the evidence.
RULING:
Yes, the conviction is affirmed with a modification. The Supreme Court found the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses credible and sufficient to establish the guilt of the defendants beyond reasonable doubt. The circumstance of Navarro accompanying the victims to report the crime did not create a reasonable doubt as to his guilt. The Court appreciated the aggravating circumstance of the crime being committed at night (Article 10, No. 15 of the Penal Code). Consequently, the penalty imposed by the trial court, which was already at the maximum grade, was allowed to stand. The judgment of conviction was confirmed with costs, and the case was remanded to the lower court for execution.