G.R. No. L-10445; August 29, 1958
THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee, vs. VICTORIANO ALFILER, ET AL., defendants-appellants.

FACTS

Victoriano Alfiler, Martin Alfiler, and Camilo Alfiler (brothers) were convicted of murder for the death of Police Sergeant Agustin de la Cruz. The incident stemmed from a dispute over the purchase of palay. On November 3, 1953, the brothers bought palay from Ponciano Espiritu, who later complained to Sgt. de la Cruz that he was cheated on the weight. The sergeant investigated at the brothers’ house, where he was insulted. The next day, a re-weighing at the Ben Seng Rice Mill confirmed a shortage, which the brothers paid. Sgt. de la Cruz reproached them, leading to a confrontation where he slapped Camilo after Camilo stood up aggressively. The parties were pacified by another sergeant and shook hands.
Later, as Sgt. de la Cruz passed by the Alfiler brothers’ common yard on his bicycle, he was invited in. There, Victoriano embraced him from behind to immobilize him, Martin struck his face with a piece of bamboo, and Camilo stabbed him in the shoulder with a dagger. The sergeant broke free and fled across the street, pursued by the brothers. Camilo, after a failed dagger thrust, was given a pistol (snatched from the victim by Victoriano) and fired four shots at the fleeing sergeant in another yard. Sgt. de la Cruz, mortally wounded, gave an ante mortem declaration naming the three brothers as his aggressors. He died days later from peritonitis due to gunshot wounds.
At trial, Camilo claimed self-defense, alleging the sergeant attacked him first near his home. Victoriano and Martin set up alibis, claiming they were elsewhere during the killing. The trial court found their testimonies not credible.

ISSUE

Whether the trial court erred in convicting the appellants of murder based on the evidence presented.

RULING

No, the conviction is affirmed. The Supreme Court upheld the trial court’s findings, giving weight to its assessment of witness credibility. The court found the prosecution’s version of events—a coordinated attack by the three brothers—credible and consistent with the physical evidence (e.g., empty shells found at the final shooting location, not in the Alfilers’ compound). The defenses of self-defense and alibi were rejected as unconvincing and contradicted by the evidence.
Although no direct evidence of conspiracy existed, the court ruled that conspiracy could be inferred from the appellants’ concerted actions: luring the victim into their compound, the simultaneous attack by Victoriano (immobilizing), Martin (beating), and Camilo (stabbing), and their joint pursuit leading to the final shooting. These acts demonstrated a common purpose to kill. The decision of the trial court sentencing each appellant to reclusion perpetua, with indemnity and costs, was affirmed.