GR 137585; (April, 2004) (Digest)
G.R. No. 137585; April 28, 2004
THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, appellee, vs. ANTONIO ROM y SARDEDO and JOEY CORSALES a.k.a. ANTONIO CORSANES, accused, JOEY CORSALES a.k.a. ANTONIO CORSANES, appellant.
FACTS
Accused Joey Corsales and Antonio Rom were charged with the Murder of Roy Tiozon. The prosecution’s eyewitness, Danilo Ancla, testified that on August 4, 1996, he was informed that Tiozon was fetched by Rom and Corsales for a drinking session at Corsales’s house. While on his way there, Ancla saw a commotion near Rom’s house, where Rom, armed with a bolo, and Corsales, armed with a Batangas knife, were hacking and stabbing Tiozon despite his pleas for mercy. After the attack, both accused fled towards Rom’s house. The medico-legal officer confirmed Tiozon sustained multiple fatal wounds from sharp-bladed instruments, consistent with an attack by more than one person.
The Regional Trial Court convicted both accused of Murder, sentencing them to reclusion perpetua and ordering them to pay damages. Only Corsales appealed, arguing the trial court erred in crediting Ancla’s testimony and in finding conspiracy and guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
ISSUE
Whether the RTC erred in finding appellant Joey Corsales guilty beyond reasonable doubt of Murder.
RULING
The Supreme Court affirmed the conviction with modifications to the damages. The Court found no merit in appellant’s arguments attacking the credibility of eyewitness Danilo Ancla. The alleged inconsistencies in Ancla’s testimony regarding the location of the incident were clarified; he was told the drinking session was at appellant’s house, but he actually witnessed the attack near Rom’s house, with the two houses being very close to each other. This did not constitute a material contradiction affecting Ancla’s core account of seeing both accused simultaneously attack the victim.
The Court upheld the finding of conspiracy. Conspiracy exists when two or more persons come to an agreement concerning the commission of a felony and decide to commit it. The simultaneous, concerted actions of Rom and Corsales in jointly assaulting the victim with deadly weapons demonstrated a community of criminal purpose. The nature, number, and location of the wounds, as described by the medico-legal officer, corroborated the eyewitness account of a concerted attack by two individuals. The trial court’s assessment of witness credibility is accorded great respect. Consequently, appellant’s guilt was proven beyond reasonable doubt. However, the Court modified the awarded damages, reducing the compensatory damages for loss of earning capacity to ₱75,900.00 and awarding temperate damages of ₱25,000.00 and exemplary damages of ₱25,000.00 to be paid by appellant.