People v. Lopez, et. al.

G.R. No. 177302

April 16, 2009
Ponente: Carpio-Morales, J.
FACTS:
According to the prosecution:On April 25, 1996, appellant Rogelio Regalado
stabbed Edencito Chu (Chu) after interposing a challenge for Chu to come out so that
they measure his courage. Chu was able to run away but Regalado chased him and hit
him with two pieces of firewood which he picked along the way. Appellant Jaime Lopez
came out from a nearby house armed with a hunting knife and joined the chase. They
were soon joined by appellant Romeo Aragon who came from the back of the tailoring
shop where the stabbing first took place. The three were able to catch up with Chu.
Aragon boxed Chu until the latter fell and then kicked him. Lopez then stabbed Chu
several times as Regalado looked on. They only left when Chu was no longer moving.
Chu died before reaching the hospital.
Regalado, in his defense, denied taking part in the stabbing and claimed that Chu
choked him, causing him to run away from Chu after extricating himself from him.
Appellant Lopez interposed defense of relative and self-defense claiming that he
intercepted Chu as he was chasing, Regalado, Lopez father-in-law but Chu boxed him so
he stabbed him several times and thereafter surrendered to the police. Appellant Aragon
invoked an alibi that he was at the wharf, which is 40 meters away from the scene of
stabbing at the time of the incident.
The RTC found the three appellants to have killed Chu, qualified by treachery
which absorbed "abuse of superior strength". The Court of Appeals affirmed the trial
courts decision.
Hence, this appeal.
ISSUE:
Whether or not defense of a relative should be appreciated on Lopezs part.
HELD:
The SC ruled that the defense of a relative cannot be appreciated on Lopezs
part because of the absence of unlawful aggression which is an essential element of
defense of a relative under par. 2 of Art. 11 in the RPC. Chus threatening words of,
Are you going to defend your father-in-law? was not considered by the SC as
something that amounts to unlawful aggression. Another element, reasonable necessity
of the means employed to prevent or repel it was also found lacking by the SC in the
instant case. Nowhere in the records is it shown that when Chu allegedly chased

Regalado, the former was wielding a weapon. Thus, the intention of Lopez to get a knife
for his protection and that of his father-in-law was unwarranted.