GR 91745; (March, 1992) (Digest)
G.R. No. 91745 March 4, 1992
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, vs. JULIO MANLIGUEZ, SHIRLEY IGNACIO y AGATIA and LUCIA GUIRAL, Accused-Appellant.
FACTS
Accused-appellant Julio Manliguez, along with co-accused Shirley Ignacio and Lucia Guiral, was charged with kidnapping Diana Grace Ali, a 7-year-old minor, on April 16, 1988, in Davao City. The information alleged they took the child from her room and detained her until April 22, 1988. All accused pleaded not guilty. During the investigation, the three accused were subjected to severe torture by police officers to extract confessions. Lucia Guiral, after being tortured, falsely implicated Julio Manliguez. Manliguez himself was tortured, including having a cellophane bag placed over his head and being beaten. Shirley Ignacio was also tortured and attempted suicide. The child, Diana Grace Ali, was later found on June 12, 1988, having been taken in by the Solon family after she was found roaming the streets on April 16, 1988. The trial court convicted Manliguez but acquitted Ignacio and Guiral, finding their extra-judicial confessions were obtained through “third-degree” methods. Manliguez appealed after a motion for new trial was granted but his conviction was maintained.
ISSUE
Whether the prosecution was able to establish beyond reasonable doubt that Julio Manliguez kidnapped Diana Grace Ali.
RULING
The Supreme Court reversed the trial court’s decision and acquitted Julio Manliguez. The prosecution’s evidence was insufficient to prove kidnapping beyond reasonable doubt. The testimony of the child victim was discredited as she admitted being coached by her mother to point to Manliguez. The testimony of Lori Jean Ali, who only saw Manliguez near their house, was an isolated circumstance that did not overcome the presumption of innocence. The defense witnesses, the Solon family, testified that they found the child wandering the streets, and she never mentioned being kidnapped during her two-month stay with them. The Court found no evidence of motive, such as a ransom demand. The kidnapping theory was rejected, and the Court concluded the child, who was intellectually deficient, had simply wandered away and gotten lost. The Court also condemned the police torture inflicted on the accused and recommended an investigation by the Commission on Human Rights and the Philippine National Police.