GR 43514; (September, 1935) (Digest)
G.R. No. 43514 ; September 5, 1935
THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, plaintiff-appellee, vs. UTI MARIMPOONG, ET AL., defendants. MASIÑGER AMPAL, appellant.
FACTS
Early in the morning of November 17, 1934, in Mandulog, Lanao, Bakang Dianal was suddenly assaulted and killed by a group of armed Moros. Appellant Masiñger Ampal was one of three persons charged with murder. He was convicted by the trial court based on evidence that included his written confession (Exhibit B) and the testimonies of the victim’s wife and nephew, who identified him as one of the persons fleeing the scene. The confession detailed the planning of the crime and the manner of attack. Appellant contested the admission of his confession, arguing it was made while in confinement and without caution that it could be used against him.
ISSUE
Whether the trial court erred in admitting appellant’s written confession and in convicting him based on the evidence.
RULING
No. The conviction is affirmed. The Court held that the English rule requiring caution before taking a confession is not in force in the Philippines; a confession is admissible if voluntarily made. The evidence established that appellant’s confession was voluntary, as he expressed a desire to confess, thumb-printed the document before a justice of the peace, and subsequent acts (like begging pardon from the victim’s family) corroborated his guilt. The confession, along with eyewitness identification, proved his guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The crime constituted murder due to the presence of alevosia (ambush) and premeditation. While the extreme penalty was considered, the division was not unanimous for death, so the affirmed penalty was not specified as death in this summary.
AI Generated by Armztrong.