G.R. No. L-5838 February 9, 1953
THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee, vs. AQUILINO VILLANUEVA, defendant-appellant.

FACTS

The defendant-appellant, Aquilino Villanueva, a Filipino, was accused of treason on three counts. After the abolition of the People’s Court, the case was tried in the Court of First Instance of Nueva Ecija, which found him guilty and sentenced him to 16 years and 1 day of reclusion temporal. The defendant appealed to the Court of Appeals. The Court of Appeals, finding no mitigating or aggravating circumstances, held that the penalty of reclusion perpetua should be imposed and certified the case to the Supreme Court as required by law.
The prosecution evidence established that around midnight on December 24, 1944, the appellant accompanied eight or nine Japanese soldiers to the location where Pablo Parungao, Eugenio Maliwat, and Jose Maliwat were performing guard duty as members of the neighborhood association in Talavera, Nueva Ecija. The Japanese soldiers arrested Jose Maliwat and later returned to arrest Pablo Parungao. Both were taken to the Japanese garrison in Talavera and detained for forty-eight hours until released upon the request of Mayor Jose B. David. Two other individuals, Manuel Corpus and Francisco Payoyo, were also detained there at the time. This was testified to by Pablo Parungao and Eugenio Maliwat.
In late December 1944, the appellant organized a unit of the “Makapili” organization, appointing himself as chief with the rank of captain. This unit patrolled the town to search for guerrillas and individuals suspected of aiding the underground movement against the Japanese. Some members wore uniforms similar to Japanese soldiers and armbands with Japanese characters, which the Japanese commander identified as symbols of Makapili membership. Those wearing the armbands were entitled to respect and protection from local authorities, and people were obliged to bow to them. The appellant was wearing such an armband during the arrest of the Filipino guards, as testified by the Mayor and other prosecution witnesses.
The appellant testified in his defense, claiming he was the head of “Ganap,” a religious organization in Talavera, and that he moved to Cabanatuan from June 12, 1942, to January 6, 1945, to escape the Japanese, working there as a tinsmith. He denied participating in any arrests. The trial court did not credit his testimony or his alibi.

ISSUE

Whether the trial court erred in finding the appellant guilty of treason.

RULING

The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the trial court. It found no reason to disturb the trial court’s assessment of the evidence, which gave no credence to the appellant’s denial and alibi. The Court noted that the prosecution did not establish the appellant’s direct or indirect participation in any killing or disappearance. Consequently, the judgment was affirmed, with costs against the appellant.