GR 125280; (March, 2000) (Digest)
G.R. No. 125280 ; March 31, 2000
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee, vs. WILSON SUITOS, accused-appellant.
FACTS
The prosecution established that on September 5, 1987, Jesus Ylarde was shot and killed in front of his store in Umingan, Pangasinan. His daughter, Jovy Ylarde, testified that she was conversing with her father when three armed men—Wilson Suitos, Alvaro Suitos, and Boy Villar—suddenly appeared from an adjacent ice cream parlor and fired at him in quick succession. She identified Wilson Suitos as the one who fired the first and fatal shot to her father’s forehead. Another daughter, Vivian, corroborated this account. The autopsy confirmed a fatal gunshot wound to the forehead. The defense, anchored on alibi, presented accused-appellant Wilson Suitos, who claimed he was at the house of his godfather, ex-Mayor Francisco Lopez, some distance away when the shooting occurred. He suggested a motive for the family to falsely accuse him, citing a prior 1985 incident where his relatives were killed by a member of the Ylarde family.
ISSUE
The core issue is whether the prosecution proved the guilt of accused-appellant Wilson Suitos for the crime of murder beyond reasonable doubt.
RULING
The Supreme Court affirmed the conviction. The positive identification by two eyewitnesses, who were the victim’s daughters and had no improper motive to testify falsely, prevailed over the defense of alibi. The Court found their testimonies clear, consistent, and credible. The defense’s claim of possible vindictiveness due to a past family conflict was insufficient to discredit their positive identification. Furthermore, the alibi failed because accused-appellant did not prove it was physically impossible for him to be at the crime scene; evidence showed the location he claimed to be at was merely a short distance away. His failure to surrender and his flight were also considered as indications of guilt alongside other evidence. The killing was properly qualified as murder due to the presence of treachery. The assailants suddenly appeared and fired upon the unsuspecting victim who was engaged in a conversation, ensuring the execution of the attack without risk to themselves. The Court modified the award of moral damages, increasing it to P50,000.00.