ENBANC

[G.R.No.130026.May31,2000]

PEOPLEOFTHEPHILIPPINES,plaintiffappellee,vs.ANTONIOMAGATy
LONDONIO,accusedappellant.
DECISION
PERCURIAM:batas
BeforethiscourtforautomaticreviewisthejointdecisionoftheRegionalTrialCourtofQuezon
City,Branch103,inCriminalCasesNos.Q9668119andQ9668120,findingaccused
appellantAntonioMagatyLondonioguiltyofrapinghisdaughter,AnnFideliL.Magat,ontwo
occasionsandsentencinghimtosuffertheextremepenaltyofdeathforeachcase,andtopay
thesumofP750,000.00ascompensatory,moralandexemplarydamages.
Thetwo(2)Informations,chargingaccusedappellantwithrapereads:

CRIMINALCASENO.Q9668119
"Theundersigned,uponsworncomplaintoftheoffendedparty,nineteenyearold
(19)ANNFIDELILIMPOCOMAGAT,accusesANTONIOMAGATyLONDONIO,
herfather,ofthecrimeofrapedefinedandpenalizedunderArticle335,Revised
Penalcode,asamendedbyRA7659,committedasfollows:
"Thatonoraboutthe14thdayofAugust1994,duringthe17thbirthdayofAnn
FideliL.MagatinKasunduan,QuezonCityandwithinthejurisdictionofthe
HonorableCourt,accusedANTONIOMAGATYLONDONIO,withlewddesigns,
andbymeansofthreatandviolence,didthenandthere,unlawfullyand
feloniously,lieandsucceededinhavingsexualintercoursewithAnnFideli
LimpocoMagat."[1]

CRIMINALCASENO.Q9668120
"Theundersigned,uponsworncomplaintoftheoffendedparty,nineteenyearold
(19)ANNFIDELILIMPOCOMAGAT,accusesANTONIOMAGATyLONDONIO,
herfather,ofthecrimeofrapedefinedandpenalizedunderArticle335,Revised
PenalCode,asamendedbyRA7659,committedasfollows:
Thatonoraboutthe1stdayofSeptember1996,inBarangayHolySpirit,Quezon
City,andwithinthejurisdictionofthisHonorableCourt,accusedANTONIO
MAGATYLONDONIO,withlewddesignsandbymeansofthreatandviolence,
didthenandthere,unlawfullyandfeloniously,lieandsucceededinhavingsexual
intercoursewithAnnFideliLimpocoMagat."[2]

UponarraignmentonJanuary10,1997,accusedappellantpleadedguiltybutbargainedfora
lesserpenaltyforeachcase.Complainant'smother,OfeliaLimpocoMagat,andthepublic
prosecutor,RioEspirituagreedwiththepleabargain.Consequently,thetrialcourtissued,on
thatsameday,anOrder,thefalloofwhichreads:katarungan
"Onarraignment,accusedwiththeassistanceofhiscounselAtty.Diosdado
Savellanoandupontherequestoftheaccused,theinformationwasreadand
explainedtohimintagalog,adialectknowntohimandafterwhichaccused
enteredapleaof"GUILTY"tothecrimechargedagainsthim,andfurtherpleads
foralowerpenaltytowhichtheHon.PublicProsecutorinterposenoobjection.
ACCORDINGLY,thecourtherebyfindstheaccusedANTONIOLONDONIO
MAGAT,GUILTYbeyondreasonabledoubtofthecrimeofViolationofArticle
335,RPCinrelationtoRA7659andheisherebysentencedtosufferajailterm
often(10)yearsimprisonmentforeachcase."[3]
Afterthreemonths,thecaseswererevivedattheinstanceofthecomplainantontheground
thatthepenaltyimposedwas"toolight."[4]Asaconsequence,accusedappellantwasre
arraignedonbothInformationsonApril15,1997whereheenteredapleaofnotguilty.[5]
Thereafter,trialonthemeritsensuedwiththeprosecutionpresentingDr.IdaDaniel,medico
legalofficeroftheNationalBureauofInvestigationandcomplainant'smother.
OnJuly3,1997accusedappellantenteredanewapleaofguilty.[6]Thecourtreadtohimthe
InformationsinEnglishandTagalogandrepeatedlyaskedwhetherheunderstoodhischange
ofpleaandpropoundedquestionsastohisunderstandingoftheconsequencesofhisplea.[7]
Convincedofaccusedappellant'svoluntarinessofhispleaofguilty,thecourtrequiredthe
takingofcomplainant'stestimony.Theaccusedappellantdidnotpresentanyevidence.
OnJuly15,1997,thetrialcourtrenderedjudgment,thedecretalportionofwhichreads:HTML
"CONSEQUENTLY,thecourtrendersjudgmentfindingtheaccusedANTONIO
MAGATyLONDONIO,GUILTYofthecrimeofRapeinviolationofArticle335of
theRevisedPenalCode,asamended,beyondreasonabledoubtandaccordingly,
sentenceshimasfollows:
1.......InCrim.CaseNo.Q9668119,theaccusedAntonioMagatyLondoniois
sentencedtoDEATHbylethalinjectionand
2.......InCrim.CaseNo.Q9668120,theaccusedAntonioMagatyLondoniois
sentencedtoDEATHbylethalinjection.
Onthecivilaspect,theaccusedAntonioMagatyLondonioisherebyorderedto
payAnnFideliLimpocoMagatthesumofP50,000.00ascompensatory
damagesfurthersumofP200,000.00asmoraldamagesandanothersumof
P500,000.00asexemplaryandcorrectivedamages.
SOORDERED."[8]
Hence,thisautomaticreview.

Accusedappellantcontendsthatthetrialcourterredinrearraigningandproceedingintotrial
despitethefactthathewasalreadyconvictedperOrderofthetrialcourtdatedJanuary
10,1997basedonhispleaofguilt.Healsoarguesthatwhenthecourtrenderedjudgment
convictinghim,theprosecutiondidnotappealnormoveforreconsiderationortookstepstoset
asidetheorder.Consequently,theconvictionhavingattainedfinalitycannolongerbesetaside
ormodifiedeveniftheprosecutionlaterrealizesthatthepenaltyimposedwastoolight.
Accusedappellantlikewisepositthattherearraignmentandtrialonthesameinformation
violatedhisrightagainstdoublejeopardy.
TheJanuary10,1997orderofthetrialcourtconvictingtheaccusedappellantonhisownplea
ofguiltisvoidabinitioonthegroundthataccusedappellant'spleaisnotthepleabargaining
contemplatedandallowedbylawandtherulesofprocedure.Theonlyinstancewhereaplea
bargainingisallowedundertheRulesiswhenanaccusedpleadsguiltytoalesseroffense.
Thus,Section2,Rule116ofRevisedRulesofCourtprovides:
"Sec.2.Pleaofguiltytoalesseroffense.Theaccused,withtheconsentofthe
offendedpartyandthefiscal,maybeallowedbythetrialcourttopleadguiltytoa
lesseroffense,regardlessofwhetherornotitisnecessarilyincludedinthecrime
charged,oriscognizablebyacourtoflesserjurisdictionthanthetrialcourt.No
amendmentofthecomplaintorinformationisnecessary.CODES
"Aconvictionunderthispleashallbeequivalenttoaconvictionoftheoffense
chargedforpurposesofdoublejeopardy."
Here,thereductionofthepenaltyisonlyaconsequenceofthepleaofguilttoalesserpenalty.
Itmustbeemphasizedthataccusedappellantdidnotpleadtoalesseroffensebutpleaded
guiltytotherapechargesandonlybargainedforalesserpenalty.Inshort,asaptlyobserved
bytheSolicitorGeneral,hedidnotpleabargainbutmadeconditionsonthepenaltytobe
imposed.Thisiserroneousbecausebypleadingguiltytotheoffensecharged,accused
appellantshouldbesentencedtothepenaltytowhichhepleaded.
Itistheessenceofapleaofguiltythattheaccusedadmitsabsolutelyandunconditionallyhis
guiltandresponsibilityfortheoffenseimputedtohim.[9]Hence,anaccusedmaynotfoista
conditionalpleaofguiltyonthecourtbyadmittinghisguiltprovidedthatacertainpenaltywillbe
meteduntohim.[10]
Accusedappellant'spleaofguiltyisundoubtedlyaconditionalplea.Hence,thetrialcourt
shouldhavevacatedsuchapleaandenteredapleaofnotguiltyforaconditionalpleaofguilty,
oronesubjecttotheprovisothatacertainpenaltybeimposeduponhim,isequivalenttoaplea
ofnotguiltyandwould,therefore,requireafullblowntrialbeforejudgmentmayberendered.[11]
Ineffect,thejudgmentrenderedbythetrialcourtwhichwasbasedonavoidpleabargainingis
alsovoidabinitioandcannotbeconsideredtohaveattainedfinalityforthesimplereasonthat
avoidjudgmenthasnolegalityfromitsinception.[12]Thus,sincethejudgmentofconviction
renderedagainstaccusedappellantisvoid,doublejeopardywillnotlie.
Nonetheless,whateverproceduralinfirmityinthearraignmentoftheaccusedappellantwas
rectifiedwhenhewasrearraignedandenteredanewplea.Accusedappellantdidnotquestion
theproceduralerrorsinthefirstarraignmentandhavingfailedtodoso,heisdeemedtohave
abandonedhisrighttoquestionthesame[13]andwaivedtheerrorsinprocedure.[14]yacats

Accusedappellantalsomaintainsthatassumingthattherewasproperbasisforsettingaside
theOrderofJanuary10,1997,thetrialcourterredinnotfindingthathemadeanimprovident
pleaofguilty.Hefaultsthetrialcourtinnotcomplyingwiththeprocedurelaiddowninthe
Section3,Rule116oftheRevisedRulesofCourt.[15]Heclaimsthattherecordofthecasefails
tosupportthetrialcourt'sassertionthatitconductedasearchinginquirytodeterminethatthe
accusedappellantvoluntarilyenteredhispleaofguiltywithfullunderstandingofthe
consequencesofhisplea.Heclaimsthatthereisnoevidencethatthetrialcourtconducted
searchinginquiryinaccordancewiththerules.
Underthepresentrule,iftheaccusedpleadsguiltytocapitaloffense,trialcourtsarenow
enjoined:(a)toconductsearchinginquiryintothevoluntarinessandfullcomprehensionofthe
consequencesofhisplea(b)torequiretheprosecutiontopresentevidencetoprovetheguilt
oftheaccusedandtheprecisedegreeofhisculpabilityand(c)toasktheaccusedifheso
desirestopresentevidenceinhisbehalfandallowhimtodosoifhedesires.[16]
ThisCourt,inalonglineofdecisionsimposedupontrialjudgestocomplywiththeprocedure
laiddownintherulesofarraignment,particularlytherulesgoverningapleaofguiltytoacapital
offenseinordertoprecludeanyroomforreasonabledoubtinthemindofeitherthetrialcourt
orofthisCourt,onreview,astothepossibilitythattheremighthavebeensome
misunderstandingonthepartoftheaccusedastothenatureofthechargestowhichhe
pleadedguiltyandtoascertainthecircumstancesattendanttothecommissionofthecrime
whichjustifyorrequiretheexerciseofagreaterorlesserdegreeofseverityintheimpositionof
theprescribedpenalties.[17]Apartfromthecircumstancesthatsuchproceduremayremoveany
doubtthattheaccusedfullyunderstoodtheconsequencesofhispleaisthefactthatthe
evidencetakenthereonisessentialtothefulfillmentbythisCourtofitsdutyofreviewof
automaticappealsfromdeathsentences.[18]
Wehavecarefullyreviewedtherecordofthiscaseandareconvincedthatthetrialjudgehas
faithfullydischargedhisboundendutyasministerofthelawtodeterminethevoluntarinessand
fullunderstandingofaccusedappellants'pleaofguilty.Theabsenceofthetranscriptof
stenographicnotesoftheproceedingsduringthearraignmentdonotmaketheprocedure
flawed.Theminutesoftheproceedings[19]indubitablyshowthatthejudgereadthe
InformationstotheaccusedappellantbothinEnglishandTagalog,askedhimquestionsasto
hisunderstandingoftheconsequencesofhisplea,hiseducationalattainmentandoccupation.
Accusedappellantcouldhaveknownoftheconsequenceofhispleahavingpleadedtwiceto
thechargesagainsthim.Infact,inthetwo(2)letterssenttothetrialcourtjudge,accused
appellantnotonlyadmittedhis"sins"butalsoaskedforforgivenessandprayedforachanceto
reform.[20]olanski
Moreover,theprosecutionhasalreadypresenteditsevidence.Thus,evenassumingthatthere
wasanimprovidentpleaofguilt,theevidenceonrecordcansustaintheconvictionofthe
accusedappellant.
Thetestimonyofthecomplainant,assummarizedbytheSolicitorGeneral,reveal:
"Complainant'sxxxparentsseparatedwhenshewasonlyseven(7)yearsold
andsheandheryoungerbrotherDavidwereleftwithherfather,accused
appellant,whileanotherbrother,Jonathan,andsister,Abigail,stayedwiththeir
mother(TSN,July15,1997,p.46May22,1997,pp.38414951).
"Onher9thbirthday,herfatherfirstrapedherandshewasbeatenwhenshe

resisted,thus,shefounditfutiletoresisteverytimeherfathertouchedherafter
that(TSN,supra,pp.2425).
"August14,1994,wascomplainant's17thbirthday.Thatevening,whilesleeping
togetherwithaccusedappellantandherbrotherintheirrentedhouseat
Kasunduan,QuezonCity,shewasawakenedbythekissesofherfather.Hethen
removedherclothesandafterremovinghisownclothes,wentontopofherand
insertedhispenisinsidehervaginaashehaddonetohermanytimesbeforethis
incident.Afterhehadfinished,hetoldhertowashhervaginawhichshedid
(TSN,supra,pp.1217).
"OnSeptember1,1996,complainantwhowasalready19yearsold,wasathome
withaccusedappellantandherbrotherafter'selling'whenherfatherorderedher
andherbrothertogotosleep.Herbrotherfellasleepbutcomplainantcouldnot
sleepandwasrestlessthatnight.Again,accusedappellantrapedheronthe
samebedwhereherbrotherwasalsosleeping.Shedidnotresisthimanymore
becausenothingwouldhappenanywayandhewouldjustbeatherifshedid
(TSN,supra,2125).haideem
"xxxcomplainantfurtherrevealedthatshewasnotonlysexuallyabusedbutalso
physicallyabusedbyaccusedappellantwhoevenbeatherwithawhipwhile
beingtiedandstruckherwithabagcontainingtincanscausingheadinjuries
necessitatingherhospitalization.Shealsoconfirmedthatherfatherstartedraping
heronher9thbirthdaywhichwasrepeatedseveraltimesafterthat.Shelikewise
revealedthatshefeltsomefluid('katas')comingoutofherfatherspenisevery
timeherapedherbutshedidnotbecomepregnantbecauseherfathermadeher
drinkthewaterfromboiledguavaleavesandamedicinesheidentifiedas
'Gextex'(shouldbeGestex)ifhermenstruationwasdelayed.Infact,whenher
menstrualperiodwasdelayedforthree(3)months,herfatherevenboxedher
stomachaftermakingherdrinkthewaterboiledfromguavaleavesandGextex
therebycausinghertobleedprofusely.Shewasnotabletoreportorrevealwhat
herfatherdidtoherbecauseshewaswarnedbyhimthathewouldkillher,her
brother,hermotherandherrelativesifevershewouldescapeandrevealthe
rape.Besides,shehadnowhereelsetogoandwasfurthermadetobelieveby
herfatherthattherewasnothingwrongwithwhathewasdoingtoherbecauseit
wasnotforbiddenbytheBible."
Themedicalexaminationconfirmedcomplainant'stestimony.Dr.IdaP.DanieloftheNBI
testifiedthatcomplainanthad"laxfourchette"and"distensiblehymen"whichmaybecausedby
sexualintercourseorpenetrationofahardbluntobjectsuchasapenis.Shealsoconcluded
thatthe"shallowrugosities"insidehervaginaleadtotheconclusionthattherewasmorethan
oneorevenmorethanten(10)timesofsexualintercourseorpenetrationofahardbluntobject
thatpassedthroughhervaginalcanal.Moreover,herhymenorificecanallowcomplete
penetrationofanaveragesizedFilipinoadultpenisinitserectstagewhichisfrom2.5to3.0
cms.indiameter.[21]hustisya
Surprisingly,accusedappellantdidnotpresentanyevidencetorebuttheprosecution's
evidencenortestifiedinhisbehalftodenytheinculpatorytestimonyofthecomplainant,giving
ustheimpressionthatheacknowledgesthechargesagainsthim.
Whilewehaveinacatenaofcasessetasideconvictionsbasedonpleasofguiltyincapital

offensesbecauseoftheimprovidenceoftheplea,wedidsoonlywhensuchpleaisthesole
basisofthejudgmentofthecondemnatoryjudgment.Thus,whenthetrialcourtinobedienceto
thisCourt'sinjunction,receivesevidencetodeterminepreciselywhetherornottheaccused
haserredinadmittingguilt,themannerinwhichthepleaofguiltyismadeloseslegal
significance,forthesimplereasonthattheconvictionispredicatednotonthepleabutonthe
evidenceprovingthecommissionbytheaccusedoftheoffensecharged.[22]Insuchcase,it
cannotbeclaimedthatdefendantwassentencedtodeathwithouthavingbeenpreviously
informedofthenatureofthechargesagainsthimandofthequalifyingandaggravating
circumstancesrecitedintheinformation,asheisfullyapprisednotonlyoftheallegationsinthe
informationbutoftheentireevidenceoftheprosecution.[23]
Additionally,accusedappellant'ssecondpleaofguiltyvalidatedhisfirstpleaofguilt.Itremoved
anyreasonabledoubtastohisguilt.[24]
Accusedappellantfurtherimpugnsthetrialcourt'simpositionofthedeathpenaltyinCriminal
CaseNo.Q9668120contendingthatthecomplainantwasalreadynineteen(19)yearsold
whentheallegedrapeoccurred.
RepublicActNo.7659whichamendedArticle335oftheRevisedPenalCodeprovides:
"Thedeathpenaltyshallalsobeimposedifthecrimeofrapeiscommittedwith
anyofthefollowingattendantcircumstances:
1.......whenthevictimisundereighteen(18)yearsofageandtheoffenderis
aparent,ascendant,stepparent,guardian,relativebyconsanguinityoraffinity
withinthethirdcivildegree,orthecommonlawspouseoftheparentofthe
victim."(Underscoringsupplied)
ComplainantwasbornonAugust14,1977.[25]OnSeptember1,1996,whentherapewas
committed(CriminalCaseNo.Q9668120),complainantwasalreadynineteen(19)yearsof
age.Therefore,thesamedoesnotfallunderthelastparagraphofArticle335oftheRevised
PenalCode,asamendedbyRANo.7659.Theproperpenaltyshouldbereclusionperpetua
pursuanttoArticle335oftheRevisedPenalCode.Jksm
However,theextremepenaltyofdeathshouldbeimposedinCriminalCaseNo.Q9668119,
complainantbeingonly17yearsofagewhenaccusedappellant,hisfather,rapedher.
Finally,accusedappellantlikewiseassailstheawardofP750,000.00damagesclaimingthat
thesameisexcessive.
Withregardtotheawardofcompensatorydamages,wehaveruledinPeoplevs.Victor,[26]
whichwaslaterreaffirmedinPeoplevs.Prades,[27]that"ifthecrimeofrapeiscommittedor
effectivelyqualifiedbyanyofthecircumstancesunderwhichthedeathpenaltyisauthorizedby
thepresentamendedlaw,theindemnityofthevictimshallbeintheincreasedamountofnot
lessthanP75,000.00."[28]Accordingly,inCriminalCaseNO.Q9668119,theawardof
compensatorydamagesshouldbeincreasedfromP50,000.00toP75,000.00.InCriminalCase
No.Q9668120however,whileappellantwassentencedtoreclusionperpetua,the
compensatorydamageshouldbethesame(P75,000.00).AsrightlyarguedbytheSolicitor
General,thetrauma,ignominy,painandshamesufferedbythecomplainantcannotbetreated
orregardedanylesser.

Theawardofcivilindemnity"isnotonlyareactiontotheapatheticsocietalperceptionofthe
penallawandthefinancialfluctuationsovertime,butalsoanexpressionofthedispleasureof
theCourtovertheincidenceofheinouscrimesagainstchastity."[29]Moreso,ifthecrimeis
committedbythefatheragainsthisownfleshandblood.
Withrespecttotheawardofmoraldamages,wehaveinPeoplevs.Prades[30]held:Chiefx
"xxxTheCourthasalsoresolvedthatincrimesofrape,suchasthatunder
consideration,moraldamagesmayadditionallybeawardedtothevictiminthe
criminalproceeding,insuchamountastheCourtdeemsjust,withouttheneedfor
pleadingorproofofthebasisthereofashasheretoforebeenthepractice.Indeed,
theconventionalrequirementofallegataetprobataincivilprocedureandfor
essentiallycivilcasesshouldbedispensedwithincriminalprosecutionforrape
withthecivilaspectincludedtherein,sincenoappropriatepleadingsarefiled
whereinsuchallegationscanbemade.
"Corollarily,thefactthatcomplainanthassufferedthetraumaofmental,physical
andpsychologicalsufferingswhichconstitutethebasesformoraldamagesare
tooobvioustostillrequiretherecitalthereofatthetrialbythevictim,sincethe
Courtitselfevenassumesandacknowledgessuchagonyonherpartasagauge
ofhercredibility.Whatexistsbynecessaryimplicationasbeingineludiblypresent
inthecaseneednotgothroughthesuperfluityofstillbeingprovedthrougha
testimonialcharade."
Nevertheless,wefindtheawardofP200,000.00moraldamagesexcessive.Anawardof
P50,000.00foreachcountofrapeistoourmindmorereasonable.However,wearedeleting
theawardofexemplaryorcorrectivedamages,intheabsenceofanylegalbasistherefor.
FourmembersoftheCourtmaintaintheirpositionthatRepublicActNo.7659,insofarasit
prescribesthedeathpenalty,isunconstitutionalneverthelesstheysubmittotherulingofthe
Court,bymajorityvote,thatthelawisconstitutionalandthedeathpenaltyshouldbeimposed
accordingly.
WHEREFORE,judgmentisherebyrenderedasfollows:
1.......InCriminalCaseNo.Q9668119,thedecisionoftheRegionalTrialCourt
convictingaccusedappellantAntonioMagatyLondonioofrapeandsentencing
himtotheSupremePenaltyofDEATHisherebyAFFIRMEDwiththemodification
thattheawardofcompensatorydamagesbeincreasedtoSeventyFive
ThousandPesos(75,000.00),moraldamagesisreducedtoFiftyThousandPesos
(P50,000.00)andexemplarydamagesdeleted.Esm
2.......InCriminalCaseNo.Q9668120,thedecisionoftheRegionalTrialCourt
convictingaccusedappellantofrapeandsentencinghimtotheSupreme
PenaltyofDEATHisherebyreducedtoRECLUSIONPERPETUA.Theawardof
compensatorydamagesisincreasedtoSeventyFiveThousandPesos
(P75,000.00),moraldamagesisreducedtoFiftyThousandPesos(P50,000.00)
andexemplarydamagesisdeleted.
InaccordancewithSection25oftheRA7659,amendingArticle83oftheRevisedPenalCode,
uponthefinalityofthisDecision,lettherecordsofthiscasebeforthwithforwardedtotheOffice

ofthePresidentforthepossibleexerciseofexecutiveclemencyorpardoningpower.
SOORDERED.
Bellosillo,Melo,Puno,Vitug,Kapunan,Mendoza,Purisima,Pardo,Buena,andGonzaga
Reyes,JJ.,concur.
Davide,Jr.,C.J.,onofficialbusiness.
Panganiban,Quisumbing,YnaresSantiago,andDeLeon,Jr.,JJ.,onleave.

[1] Record,p.1.
[2] Id,p.10.
[3] Record,p.25.
[4]

OrderofMarch6,1997,Record,p.28

"InviewofthefactthatAnnFidelidoesnotwishtoapprovethepleabargaining,letthesecasesberesettoApril15,25,and
May6,1997allat(sic)8:30oclockinthemorningforarraignmentandpretrial.
"Theprivatecomplainantisinstructedtogetacounselofherown.
"LetasubpoenabeissuedtoFiscalPhilipAguinaldoandtobringwithhimalltherecordspertinentinthesecases."
[5] Record,p.37.
[6] Id.,pp.5253.
[7] Id,p.53.
[8] Rollo,pp.7275.
[9] Peoplevs.DeLuna,174SCRA204(1989)
[10] USvs.Estabillo,9Phil.668(1907)Peoplevs.Sabilul,93Phil.567(1937)citedinPeoplevs.Albert,251SCRA136,
156(1995)
[11] Peoplevs.Sabilul,Id.
[12] Peoplevs.Estomaca,256SCRA421(1996)
[13] Zacariasvs.Cruz,30SCRA729Peoplevs.Cerna,21SCRA569.
[14] USvs.Sobrevias,35Phil.32.
[15] Sec.3.Pleaofguiltytocapitaloffensereceptionofevidence.Whentheaccusedpleadsguiltytoacapitaloffense,the
courtshallconductasearchinginquiryintothevoluntarinessandfullcomprehensionoftheconsequencesofhispleaand
requiretheprosecutiontoprovehisguiltandtheprecisedegreeofculpability.Theaccusedmayalsopresentevidenceinhis
behalf.
[16] Peoplevs.Camay,152SCRA401Peoplevs.Verano,Jr.,163SCRA614.
[17] Peoplevs.Basa,51SCRA317Peoplevs.Albert,251SCRA136(1995)Peoplevs.Estomaca,256SCRA421,428
429(1996)
[18] Peoplevs.Villacores,97SCRA567.
[19] Record,p.53.
[20] Exhibit"2",Record,pp.47,50.
[21] TSN,May22,1997,pp.1526.
[22] Peoplevs.Nismal,114SCRA487(1982)citedinPeoplevs.Petalcorin,180SCRA693(1989)
[23] Peoplevs.Corpuz,102SCRA674.
[24] Peoplevs.Matilla,105SCRA777778.
[25] Exh."C",p.60,Record.
[26] 292SCRA186(1998)

[27] 293SCRA411(1998)
[28] SeealsoPeoplevs.Mahinay,302SCRA486.
[29] Peoplevs.Victor,supra.
[30] Supra.