Republic of the Philippines SUPREME COURT Manila SECOND DIVISION G.R. No.

135457 September 29, 2000

PEOPLE OF T E P !L!PP!NES, plaintiff-appellee, vs. "OSE P#TR!#RC#, "R., $%&$' ()# *"#NGO,( C#RLOS N#RR#, $%&$' ()# "ESS!E( $+, TEN -10. "O N *OES, accused-appellant. DECISION /UEN#, J.: ccused-appellant !ose Pat"ia"ca, !"., #ith the aliases of $%a D&an'o,$ $Ca"los Na""a$ and $%a !essie,$ appeals the decision of the Re'ional ("ial Cou"t at So"so'on, So"so'on, )"anch *+, in C"i,inal Case No. +--. entitled $People of the Philippines ve"sus !ose Pat"ia"ca, !". alias /%a D&an'o,/ /Ca"los Na""a,/ /%a !essie,/ and +0 !ohn Does$ convictin' hi, of ,u"de" and sentencin' hi, to reclusion perpetua. On u'ust 01, 0223, an info",ation fo" ,u"de" #as filed a'ainst !ose Pat"ia"ca, !"., alias $%a D&an'o,$ $Ca"los Na""a$, $%a !essie,$ et al., cha"'in' the, of ,u"de" co,,itted as follo#s4 $(hat on o" about the .3th da5 of !une, 026- at about 03433 o/cloc7 in the evenin' in the Municipalit5 of Donsol, P"ovince of So"so'on, Philippines and #ithin the &u"isdiction of this 8ono"able Cou"t, the above-na,ed accused conspi"in', confede"atin' and ,utuall5 helpin' one anothe", a",ed #ith 'uns, fo"cibl5 too7 a#a5 9:REDO REV 9O f"o, his "esidence and b"ou'ht hi, to Sitio b"e, Mabini, Donsol, So"so'on, and did then and the"e #illfull5, unla#full5 and feloniousl5 #ith intent to 7ill, #ith t"eache"5 and evident p"e,editation, attac7, assault and shoot 9:REDO REV 9O the"eb5 inflictin' upon hi, ,o"tal #ounds, #hich di"ectl5 caused his death to the da,a'e and p"e&udice of his le'al hei"s. $CON(R R; (O 9 <.$ ccused-appellant !ose Pat"ia"ca, !". #as also cha"'ed #ith Mu"de" fo" the 7illin' of one Rud5 de )o"&a and a ce"tain El,e" Cada' unde" Info",ations doc7eted as C"i,inal Cases Nos. +11* and +1-+, "espectivel5. =pon a""ai'n,ent on Nove,be" +*, 022., accused-appellant, assisted b5 his counsel de parte, pleaded not 'uilt5 to the c"i,es cha"'ed. !oint t"ial of the th"ee cases #as conducted conside"in' the substantial identit5 of the facts and ci"cu,stances of the case. P"osecution #itness Nonito Malto testified that on !une .3, 026-, the accused, #ith ten >03? a",ed co,panions, "e@uested pe",ission to "est in his house, #hich #as '"anted. (he5 had #ith the, a pe"son #ho #as ho'tied. ccused Pat"ia"ca as7ed that the li'hts in Malto/s house be eAtin'uished and Malto co,plied. "ound +433 o/cloc7 in the ea"l5 ,o"nin' of !ul5 0, 026-, Malto #as a#a7ened b5 a 'unshot. <hen he loo7ed out, he sa# Pat"ia"ca holdin' a 'un and o"de"in' the pe"son #ho #as ho'tied to lie do#n. fte" seve"al ,inutes, Malto hea"d t#o 'unshots. 8e then hea"d the accused di"ect his co,panions to ca""5 a#a5 the dead ,an. Page 1 of 6

Nonito Malto, late" on, lea"ned that the dead ,an #as lf"edo "evalo #hen Pat"ia"ca #ent bac7 to his place, to'ethe" #ith the ,ilita"5, on Ma"ch +2, 0223. (he s7eletal "e,ains of lf"edo "evalo #e"e "ecove"ed in the p"ope"t5 of a Rubuan' (olosa and #e"e identified b5 Elisa "evalo, the ,othe" of the victi,. (he second #itness fo" the p"osecution #as Elisa "evalo. She 7ne# Pat"ia"ca, alias $%a D&an'o$, as he told he" on Ma"ch 03, 026- not to let he" son &oin the ,ilita"5. She, ho#eve", "eplied that the5 #e"e onl5 see7in' e,plo5,ent. 8e" son lf"edo #as he" co,panion in attendin' to thei" fa", and he #as a ,e,be" of the Civilian 8o,e Defense :o"ce >C8D:? in thei" localit5. fte" she #as info",ed b5 he" tenant le'"ia Mo"atelio lcanta"a that he" son #as abducted b5 the Ne# People/s ",5 >NP ? led b5 Pat"ia"ca, she "epo"ted the ,atte" to the ,ilita"5 and loo7ed fo" hi,. She #as info",ed b5 the "esidents of the place #he"e the NP passed, that the5 sa# he" son ho'tied, that he" son even as7ed fo" d"in7in' #ate", and co,plained that he #as bein' ,alt"eated b5 the NP . fte" th"ee da5s of sea"chin', a ce"tain <alte" Ricafo"t, an NP ,e,be" and a "elative of he"s, notified he" that he" son lf"edo #as 7illed b5 !ose Pat"ia"ca, !". In the ,unicipal buildin', Nonito Malto li7e#ise info",ed he" of he" son/s death in the hands of %a D&an'o. Conse@uentl5, a Death Ce"tificate #as issued b5 the 9ocal Civil Re'ist"a". <hen the s7eletal "e,ains of a ,an #e"e "ecove"ed, she #as able to identif5 the, as belon'in' to he" son b5 "eason of the b"iefs found in the bu"ial site. 8e" son, lf"edo "evalo, used to p"int his na,e on the #aistband of his b"iefs so that it #ould not 'et lost. (he defense p"esented accused !ose Pat"ia"ca, !". and :"ancisco De"la #ho ad,itted that accused is a ,e,be" of the NP ope"atin' in Donsol, So"so'on, but denied eve" abductin' the victi,s in the th"ee c"i,inal cases filed a'ainst hi,. On !anua"5 +3, 0226, a decision #as "ende"ed convictin' the accused and i,posin' the follo#in' penalt54 $<8ERE:ORE, p"e,ises conside"ed, the Cou"t finds accused !ose Pat"ia"ca, !". alias %a D&an'o, alias Ca"los Na""a 'uilt5 be5ond "easonable doubt of the c"i,e of Mu"de" fo" the death of lf"edo "evalo and he"eb5 sentences hi, to suffe" an i,p"ison,ent of "eclusion pe"petua #ith all the accesso"5 p"ovided b5 la# and to pa5 the a,ount of P*3,333.33 as civil inde,nit5 to the hei"s of the victi, lf"edo "evalo, #ithout subsidia"5 i,p"ison,ent in case of insolvenc5 and as "e'a"ds C"i,. Case No. +11* and C"i,. Case No. +1-+, fo" failu"e of the p"osecution to p"ove the 'uilt of the accused be5ond "easonable doubt, said !ose Pat"ia"ca alias Ca"los Na""a, %a D&an'o, is he"eb5 ac@uitted. $In the se"vice of his sentence, the accused shall be 'iven full c"edit of his pe"iod of detention. $<ith cost de-oficio. $SO ORDERED.$0 8ence, this appeal #he"e accused-appellant assi'ns the follo#in' lone e""o" alle'edl5 co,,itted b5 the t"ial cou"t4 (8E (RI 9 CO=R( ERRED IN :INDINB CC=SED- PPE99 N( B=I9(; O: (8E CRIME O: M=RDER, N O::ENSE COMMI((ED IN P=RS= NCE OR IN :=R(8ER NCE O: RE)E99ION.

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ccused-appellant applied fo" a,nest5 unde" P"ocla,ation No. -+C a,endin' P"ocla,ation No. .C-, dated Ma"ch +*, 022C, entitled $B"antin' ,nest5 to Rebels, Insu"'ents, and ll Othe" Pe"sons <ho 8ave o" Ma5 8ave Co,,itted C"i,es 'ainst Public O"de", Othe" C"i,es Co,,itted in :u"the"ance of Political Ends, and Violations of the "ticle of <a", and C"eatin' a National ,nest5 Co,,ission.$ 8is application #as favo"abl5 '"anted b5 the National ,nest5 )oa"d. ttached to appellant/s b"ief is the Notice of Resolution of the National ,nest5 Co,,ission >N C? dated Nove,be" 0-, 0222 #hich states4 $Duoted belo# is a "esolution of the National ,nest5 Co,,ission dated ++ Octobe" 0226.+ /RESO9=(ION NO. D-22-616. "efe"s to pplication No. 3+0+* of MR. !OSE N RR P (RI RC filed #ith the 9ocal ,nest5 )oa"d of 9e'aEpi Cit5 on 06 :eb"ua"5 022-. / pplicant ad,itted &oinin' the NP in 02--. 8e se"ved unde" the Sandatahan' ;unit Pa,p"opa'anda and pa"ticipated in the follo#in' a",ed activities4 /a? Encounte" #ith the Philippine ",5 fo"ces at )a"an'a5 8i"a#on, Donsol, So"so'on on 0C :eb"ua"5 0261F /b? Encounte" #ith ele,ents of the Philippine Constabula"5 at )a"an'a5 Bodon, Donsol, So"so'on on 0* :eb"ua"5 0261F /c? Encounte" #ith the Philippine ",5 fo"ces at )a"an'a5 )an#an', Bu"an', Donsol, So"so'on in 026-F /d? 9i@uidation of E9MER C D B an alle'ed ,ilita"5 info",e" at )a"an'a5 )o"oan, Donsol, So"so'on, on +0 Ma"ch 026-, in #hich a case of Mu"de" in C"i,inal Case No. +1-+ #as filed a'ainst hi, befo"e the Re'ional ("ial Cou"t, )"anch *+, So"so'on, So"so'onF /e? 9i@uidation of a ce"tain R=D; DE)OR! , a thief and nuisance of the co,,unit5, at Donsol, So"so'on, on 32 Ma"ch 026C, in #hich a case of Mu"de" in C"i,inal Case No. +11* #as filed a'ainst hi, befo"e the Re'ional ("ial Cou"t, )"anch *+, So"so'on, So"so'onF /f? 9i@uidation of a ce"tain 9E! NDRINO MI9I( N(E fo" his ,isconducts at San ntonio, Donsol, So"so'on, on 0+ :eb"ua"5 0261, in #hich a case of Mu"de" in C"i,inal Case No. +11C #as filed a'ainst hi, befo"e the Re'ional ("ial Cou"t, )"anch *+, So"so'on, So"so'onF /'? 9i@uidation of a ce"tain 9:REDO REV 9O, a fo",e" ,e,be" of the C8D: at Sitio be >sic?, Mabini, Donsol, So"so'on, on .3 !une 026-, in #hich a case of Mu"de" in C"i,inal Case No. +--. #as filed a'ainst hi, befo"e the Re'ional ("ial Cou"t, )"anch *+, So"so'on, So"so'onF /h? 9i@uidation of one DOMINBO DOND=I99O, a ba"an'a5 captain, at )a"an'a5 (inano'an, Donsol, So"so'on, on +3 Septe,be" 0261 in #hich a >sic? C"i,inal Case No. +11. #as filed a'ainst hi,. / fte" a ca"eful ve"ification and evaluation on >sic? the clai,s of the applicant, the 9ocal ,nest5 )oa"d concluded that his activities #e"e done in the pu"suit of his political beliefs. It thus "eco,,ended on +3 Ma5 0226 the '"ant of his application fo" a,nest5. /(he Co,,ission, in its delibe"ation on the application on ++ Octobe" 0222, "esolved to app"ove the "eco,,endation of the 9ocal ,nest5 )oa"d. Page 3 of 6

/<8ERE:ORE, the application fo" a,nest5 of MR. !OSE N RR P (RI RC unde" P"ocla,ation No. -+C is he"eb5 BR N(ED fo" "ebellion constituted b5 the acts detailed above, p"ovided the5 #e"e co,,itted on o" befo"e the date he #as captu"ed on ++ !une 0266. 9et a Ce"tificate of ,nest5 be issued in his favo" as soon as this Resolution beco,es final. It shall beco,e final afte" the lapse of fifteen >0*? calenda" da5s f"o, "eceipt of this Notice, unless a Motion fo" Reconside"ation is filed #ith the Co,,ission b5 an5 pa"t5 #ithin said pe"iod./$. On Ma"ch 2, +333, 8on. lf"edo :. (adia", Chai",an of the National ,nest5 Co,,ission, #"ote the follo#in' lette" to the P"ovincial P"osecuto" of So"so'on, So"so'on4 $Notice of ,nest5 B"ant to !ose N. Pat"ia"ca$ $Pu"suant to N C ction No. 2*-.*6-C, #e a"e t"ans,ittin' he"e#ith the attached cop5 of RESO9=(ION NO. D-22-616. '"antin' a,nest5 to !OSE N. P (RI RC . (he '"antee #as accused of the follo#in' cases4 $0. Mu"de" in C"i,inal Case No. +1-+ filed befo"e the Re'ional ("ial Cou"t, )"anch *+, So"so'on, So"so'on. $+. Mu"de" in C"i,inal Case No. +11* filed befo"e the Re'ional ("ial Cou"t, )"anch *+, So"so'on, So"so'on. $.. Mu"de" in C"i,inal Case No. +11C filed befo"e the Re'ional ("ial Cou"t, )"anch *+, So"so'on, So"so'on. $C. Mu"de" in C"i,inal Case No. +--. filed befo"e the Re'ional ("ial Cou"t, )"anch *+, So"so'on, So"so'on. $*. Mu"de" in C"i,inal Case No. +11. filed befo"e the Re'ional ("ial Cou"t, )"anch *+, So"so'on, So"so'on. $8e is cu""entl5 detained at the P"ovincial !ail, So"so'on, So"so'on. $(he pu"pose of this t"ans,ittal is to p"ovide 5ou, as the chief p"osecuto" of the p"ovince, the oppo"tunit5 to ta7e #hateve" action 5ou ,a5 dee, app"op"iate f"o, "eceipt of this note. (his '"ant of a,nest5 shall beco,e final afte" the lapse of fifteen >0*? calenda" da5s f"o, "eceipt of this Notice, unless a Motion fo" Reconside"ation is filed #ith the Co,,ission b5 an5 pa"t5 #ithin said pe"iod. $(han7 5ou fo" 5ou" continued suppo"t fo" the Peace P"ocess.$C (he Office of the Solicito" Bene"al, in its lette" dated !une +., +333 to the National ,nest5 Co,,ission, "e@uested info",ation as to #hethe" o" not a ,otion fo" "econside"ation #as filed b5 an5 pa"t5, and the action, if the"e #as an5, ta7en b5 the N C.* In his "epl5 dated !une +6, +333, N C Chai",an (adia" #"ote, a,on' othe" thin's, that the"e has been no ,otion fo" "econside"ation filed b5 an5 pa"t5.1 ccused-appellant !ose N. Pat"ia"ca, !". #as '"anted a,nest5 unde" P"ocla,ation No. -+C dated Ma5 0-, 0221. It a,ended P"ocla,ation No. .C- dated Ma"ch +*, 022C. Section 0 of P"ocla,ation No. -+C "eads thus4

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$Section 0. Grant of Amnesty. - ,nest5 is he"eb5 '"anted to all pe"sons #ho shall appl5 the"efo" and #ho have o" ,a5 have co,,itted c"i,es, on or before June 1, 1995, in pu"suit of thei" political beliefs, #hethe" punishable unde" the Revised Penal Code o" special la#s, includin' but not li,ited to the follo#in'4 "ebellion o" insu""ectionF coup d/etatF conspi"ac5 and p"oposal to co,,it "ebellion, insu""ection, o" coup d/etatF dislo5alt5 of public office"s o" e,plo5eesF incitin' to "ebellion o" insu""ectionF seditionF conspi"ac5 to co,,it seditionF incitin' to seditionF ille'al asse,bl5F ille'al associationF di"ect assaultF indi"ect assaultF "esistance and disobedience to a pe"son in autho"it5 o" a'ents of such pe"sonF tu,ults and othe" distu"bances of public o"de"F unla#ful use of ,eans of publication and unla#ful utte"ancesF ala",s and scandalsF ille'al possession of fi"ea",s, a,,unitions, and eAplosives, co,,itted in fu"the"ance of, incident to, o" in connection #ith the c"i,es of "ebellion and insu""ectionF and violations of "ticles *2 >dese"tion?, 1+ >absence #ithout leave?, 1- >,utin5 o" sedition?, 16 >failu"e to supp"ess ,utin5 o" sedition?, 2C >va"ious c"i,es?, 21 >conduct unbeco,in' an office" and 'entle,an?, and 2- >'ene"al a"ticle? of the "ticles of <a"F P"ovided, (hat the a,nest5 shall not cove" c"i,es a'ainst chastit5 and othe" c"i,es fo" pe"sonal ends.$1wphi1 ,nest5 co,,onl5 denotes a 'ene"al pa"don to "ebels fo" thei" t"eason o" othe" hi'h political offenses, o" the fo"'iveness #hich one sove"ei'n '"ants to the sub&ects of anothe", #ho have offended, b5 so,e b"each, the la# of nations.- ,nest5 loo7s bac7#a"d, and abolishes and puts into oblivion, the offense itselfF it so ove"loo7s and oblite"ates the offense #ith #hich he is cha"'ed, that the pe"son "eleased b5 a,nest5 stands befo"e the la# p"ecisel5 as thou'h he had co,,itted no offense.6 Pa"a'"aph . of "ticle 62 of the Revised Penal Code p"ovides that c"i,inal liabilit5 is totall5 eAtin'uished b5 a,nest5, #hich co,pletel5 eAtin'uishes the penalt5 and all its effects. In the case of People vs. Casido,2 the diffe"ence bet#een pa"don and a,nest5 is 'iven4 $Pa"don is '"anted b5 the Chief EAecutive and as such it is a p"ivate act #hich ,ust be pleaded and p"oved b5 the pe"son pa"doned, because the cou"ts ta7e no notice the"eofF #hile a,nest5 b5 P"ocla,ation of the Chief EAecutive #ith the concu""ence of Con'"ess, is a public act of #hich the cou"ts should ta7e &udicial notice. Pa"don is '"anted to one afte" convictionF #hile amnesty is granted to classes of persons or communities who may be guilty of political offenses, generally before or after the institution of the criminal prosecution and sometimes after conviction. Pa"don loo7s fo"#a"d and "elieves the offende" f"o, the conse@uences of an offense of #hich he has been convicted, that is, it abolishes o" fo"'ives the punish,ent, and fo" that "eason it does /not #o"7 the "esto"ation of the "i'hts to hold public office, o" the "i'ht of suff"a'e, unless such "i'hts be eAp"essl5 "esto"ed b5 the te",s of the pa"don,/ and it /in no case eAe,pts the culp"it f"o, the pa5,ent of the civil inde,nit5 i,posed upon hi, b5 the sentence/ > "ticle .1, Revised Penal Code?. <hile a,nest5 loo7s bac7#a"d and abolishes and puts into oblivion the offense itself, it so ove"loo7s and oblite"ates the offense #ith #hich he is cha"'ed that the pe"son "eleased b5 a,nest5 stands befo"e the la# p"ecisel5 as thou'h he had co,,itted no offense.$ (his Cou"t ta7es &udicial notice of the '"ant of a,nest5 upon accused-appellant !ose N. Pat"ia"ca, !". Once '"anted, it is bindin' and effective. It se"ves to put an end to the appeal.03 0 EREFORE, IN VIE< O: (8E :OREBOINB, the decision of the Re'ional ("ial Cou"t at So"so'on, So"so'on, )"anch *+ in C"i,inal Case No. +--. is REVERSED and SE( SIDE. ccused-appellant !ose N. Pat"ia"ca, !". is he"eb5 CD=I((ED of the c"i,e of ,u"de". Pu"suant to Resolution No. D-22-616.,00 C"i,inal Case Nos. +11. and +11C, #hich a"e both filed in the Re'ional ("ial Cou"t, )"anch *., So"so'on, So"so'on,0+ a"e o"de"ed DISMISSED. (he "elease of !ose N. Pat"ia"ca #ho is p"esentl5 detained at the P"ovincial !ail of So"so'on is li7e#ise ORDERED unless he is bein' detained fo" so,e othe" le'al cause. Page 5 of 6

(he Di"ecto" of P"isons is o"de"ed to "epo"t #ithin ten >03? da5s his co,pliance #ith this decision. SO ORDERED. )ellosillo, >Chai",an?, MendoEa, Duisu,bin', and De 9eon, !"., !!., concu".

Footnotes
1 2

Rollo, p. 56. Per Notice of Correction of the NAC dated March 1, 2000 the date reflected in the Notice of Resolution of Nove !er 1", 1### $as corrected to %cto!er 22, 1###. & Rollo, pp. 5'(5#. ) Ibid., p. 6&. 5 Ibid., pp. 6#("0. 6 Ibid., p. '#. " 202 *CRA ')), '6" +1##1,. ' -arrio.uinto, et al. vs. /ernande0, et al., '2 Phil. 6)2 +1#)#,. # 26# *CRA &60 +1##",. 10 People vs. Crisola, 12' *CRA 1 +1#'),. 11 1n the decision rendered !2 the trial court on 3anuar2 20, 1##', accused(appellant had alread2 !een ac.uitted in Cri inal Case Nos. 2665 and 26"2 for failure of the prosecution to prove accused4s guilt !e2ond reasona!le dou!t. 12 *ee letter of 3udge 5onesto A. 6illa or of the Regional 7rial Court at *orsogon, *orsogon, -ranch 52 dated Ma2 &1, 1###8 Rollo, p. 2'.

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