G.R. No. L-13767; July 30, 1960
THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee, vs. PAQUITO PRIAS and ESPERIDION FLORES, defendants-appellants.

FACTS

On March 10, 1957, Epifanio Aquiles discovered the dead body of Eleuterio Hortillosa inside his locked house in barrio Pangi, San Dionisio, Iloilo. The victim was found sitting on his bed, covered in blood, with multiple incised and stab wounds. The police investigation initially yielded no suspects. Constabulary Sergeant Abello Juaneza later took over the investigation. Based on a tip, he investigated Esperidion Flores. Bloodstains were found on Flores’s pants. Upon questioning, Flores initially gave false alibis about his whereabouts on the night of March 9, which were later disproven. Flores eventually led the investigators to Paquito Prias. Neighbors confirmed Flores and his wife had stayed at Prias’s house on the night of March 9 and left the next morning. Sergeant Juaneza testified that Flores had confessed to the crime with Prias before being brought to Prias’s house. A signed certification (Exhibit “D”) was obtained from Flores on March 28, 1957. Bloody footprints were found on a sawn-off portion of the house floor, and their measurements were compared to footprints taken from the appellants, with an explanation provided for slight discrepancies. A reenactment of the crime was conducted. A written statement from Flores (Exhibit “A”) was taken and thumbmarked by him on March 29, 1957, and later confirmed before the Justice of the Peace. Prias also provided a statement with his fingerprint, which he later refused to swear to. Both appellants denied the crime, presenting an alibi that they were together at Prias’s house the entire night of March 9, working, eating, and sleeping, supported only by their own testimonies and those of their wives. It was also established that the deceased kept savings of at least P50.00, which were missing.

ISSUE

Whether the defendants-appellants, Paquito Prias and Esperidion Flores, are guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of robbery with homicide.

RULING

The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the lower court, finding the defendants-appellants guilty of robbery with homicide. The Court found the confessions and admissions of the appellants to be voluntary and credible, having been made before their arrest and later confirmed before the Justice of the Peace. The alibi presented by the appellants was rejected as it was uncorroborated and came from interested parties. The Court accepted the prosecution’s explanation for the discrepancy in footprint sizes and found the evidence, including the bloodstains and the missing savings of the victim, sufficient to establish guilt. The crime was committed with the aggravating circumstance of nighttime. However, for lack of sufficient votes to impose the death penalty, the penalty of reclusion perpetua was imposed. The appellants were also ordered to pay, jointly and severally, the heirs of the deceased the sums of P5,000.00 and P53.00, with costs.