G.R. No. L-2432; July 31, 1951
THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee, vs. FILOMENO DALIGDIG, ET AL., defendants-appellants.

FACTS

Nicasio Layaoen, a farmer from Ilocos Norte, had successfully established homesteads in Tanglangan, Apayao, with the help of tenants. In January 1945, he, his common-law wife Trinidad Ventura, and their two young daughters were killed. Eleven persons, including tenants and a school teacher, were charged with quadruple murder. The trial court found all eleven defendants guilty, treating the four killings as a single complex crime under Article 48 of the Revised Penal Code, and imposed the death penalty. The penalty was reduced to reclusion perpetua for two defendants, Mauro de Ocampo and Blacio Daligdig, who were found to be minors at the time of the crime. The case is on appeal and automatic review.

ISSUE

The principal issue is the credibility of witnesses and the determination of the guilt of the eleven accused for the murder of Nicasio Layaoen and his family.

RULING

The Supreme Court, in substantial agreement with the trial court, found the defendants guilty, though in varying degrees. The Court detailed the events: a meeting was called by Filomeno Daligdig, Roberto Solmayor, and Jose de Ocampo where the killing of Nicasio was decided. The defendants raided Layaoen’s house, shooting him with an arrow. The following day, five defendants tied up the remaining household members and, while marching them, encountered and beheaded Trinidad Ventura. Nicasio, found at Solmayor’s house, was ultimately killed by the group. The two young daughters were also killed. The Court affirmed the convictions, with the penalty of death for those not entitled to mitigating circumstances and reclusion perpetua for the minors. A dissenting opinion questioned the prosecution’s narrative, suggesting an alternative motive involving an elopement and the possible guilt of other individuals not charged.