VOL.

116,SEPTEMBER23,1982
Peoplevs.Jumawan
No.L50905.September23,1982.
THEPEOPLEOFTHEPHILIPPINES,plaintiffappellee,vs.
FRANCISCOJUMAWANaliasKIKO,CESARIOJUMAWAN
aliasSARIO,MANUELJUMAWANaliasOWEL,and
PRESENTACIONJUMAWANMAGNAYEaliasESEN,
accusedappellants.
*

CriminalLaw;Evidence;Theguiltoftheappellantshadbeensufficiently
established;Thevictimandhiswife(oneofhereinappellants)fromwhom
victimhadbeenseparatedhadarendezvousthateveningofJune19,1976
whenhewaskilled.Twoeyewitnessessawtheevent.Thetestimonyof
Vicente Recepeda linked to that of Trinidad Alcantara and Policarpio
Trinidad shows that the four appellants conspired and cooperated in the
assassination of Rodolfo Magnaye. The victim and his wife had a
rendezvousintheeveningofJune19,1976,inordertodiscussthefateof
theirmarriage.Whileitisnotknowniftheyactuallyconversed,thepurpose
oftherendezvouswasinfactaccomplished;themarriagewasterminatedby
themurderofthehusband.ThereporttothepolicebyPresentacionthat
RodolfoMagnayehadattemptedtorobthestoreofSebastianaJumawanwas
a crude diversionary tactic to enable Cesario and Manuel to transfer the
cadavertoanotherplace.
Same; Same; Alibi of accused are not credible; They were positively
identifiedanditwasnotimpossibleforthemtobeatthesceneofthekilling.
These alibis cannot prevail for the following reasons: (a) Francisco,
CesarioandManuelwerepositivelyidentifiedtobeatthesceneofthecrime
byVicenteRecepedaandCesarioandManuelweresimilarlyidentifiedby
PolicarpioTrinidad;and(b)theplaceswheretheyclaimedtobewerenotfar
fromthesceneofthecrimesothatitwasnotimpossibleforthemtobe
there.SebastianaJumawanshousewhereFranciscowassupposedtobeis
withinwalkingdistancefromtheformersstore.BarrioSampaloc,where
Cesarioclaimedhewas,isonlyaboutthreekilometersfromthe
________________
*ENBANC.
740

740

SUPREMECOURTREPORTSAN
Peoplevs.Jumawan
poblacionofSariaya.BarrioPili,whereManuelsaidhesleptthatnight,is
aboutfivekilometersfromthesamepoblacion.
Same;CriminalProcedure;Wifeofvictimcannotbeconvictedofparricide
if charged only with murder. However, relationship must be considered
aggravating evenif not allegedintheinformation.Presentacion should
have beenaccusedof parricidebutas itis,since her relationship tothe
deceased is not alleged in the information, she, like the others, can be
convictedofmurderonlyqualifiedbyabuseofsuperiorstrength.Although
notallegedintheinformation,relationshipasanaggravatingcircumstance
shouldbeassignedagainsttheappellants.True,relationshipisinherentin
parricide,butPresentacionstandsconvictedofmurder.Andastotheothers,
therelationshipsoffatherinlawandbrotherinlawaggravatethecrime.

APPEALfromthejudgmentoftheCourtofFirstInstanceof
Quezon.
ThefactsarestatedintheopinionoftheCourt.
ABADSANTOS,J.:
OnthebasisofawrittenstatementmadebyVicenteRecepedaon
July18,1976,andanaffidavitexecutedbyTrinidadAlcantaraon
July19,1976,acomplaintformurderwasfiledintheMunicipal
CourtofSariaya,Quezon,onJuly19,1976,byStation
CommanderSisenandoP.Alcantara,Jr.againstFrancisco
Jumawan,CesarioJumawan,ManuelJumawanandPresentacion
JumawanforthedeathofRodolfoMagnaye.
TheaffidavitofTrinidadAlcantaraclearlystatesthatherson
RodolfoMagnayewasmarriedtoPresentacionJumawanalbeit
theyhadbeenlivingseparatelyfromeachother.(Duringthetrial
PresentacionadmittedhermarriagetoRodolfo.Seet.s.n.,pp.811
812.)TheStationCommandercanperhapsbeexcusedfornot
accusingPresentacionofparricidebutwhenthecasewaselevated
totheCourtofFirstInstanceofQuezonwhereitwasdocketedas
CriminalCaseNo.1408,theProvincialFiscalperpetuatedthe
mistakebyfilinganinformationformurderagainstalltheaccused.

Theinformationreads:
741

VOL.116,SEPTEMBER23,1982
Peoplevs.Jumawan
The undersigned ProvincialFiscalaccuses CESARIO JUMAWAN alias
Sario, MANUEL JUMAWAN alias Owel FRANCISCO JUMAWAN
aliasKikoandPRESENTACIONJUMAWANaliasESENofthecrime
ofmurder,definedandpunishedunderArticle248oftheRevisedPenal
Code,committedasfollows:
Thatonoraboutthe19thdayofJune1976,intheMunicipalityofSariaya,
Province of Quezon, Philippines, and within the jurisdiction of this
HonorableCourt,theabovenamedaccused,armedwithabolo(gulukan),
conspiring and confederating together and mutually helping one another,
with intent to kill and with evident premeditation and treachery, taking
advantageoftheirsuperiorstrength,didthenandtherewilfully,unlawfully
and feloniously attack, assault and stab with the said bolo one Rodolfo
MagnayealiasDigo,therebyinflictinguponthelatterastabwoundonthe
chest,whichdirectlycausedhisdeath.

Afteralongtrialand1,211pagesofstenographictranscript,the
trialcourtrenderedthefollowingjudgment:

Wherefore, the Court finds Cesario Jumawan, Presentacion Jumawan

Magnaye,Manuel Jumawan,andFranciscoJumawanguiltyasprincipals
beyondreasonabledoubtofthecrimeofMurderasdefinedandpunished
underArt.248oftheRevisedPenalCodeandherebysentenceseachof
themtosufferapenaltyoflifeimprisonmentandtoindemnifyjointlyand
severallytheparentsofthevictimintheamountofTwentyfourThousand
(P24,000.00)Pesos.

ThecaseisnowbeforethisCourtonappeal.
Thebriefoftheappellantsgivesthefollowing:

STATEMENTOFFACTS
TheAccused:
FranciscoJumawanisthefatherofhiscoaccused,namely,Cesario
Jumawan,ManuelJumawanandPresentacionJumawan.Presentacion
JumawanwasmarriedtoRodolfoMagnaye.
DeathofRodolfoMagnaye:
Asdescribedbythelowercourt,xxxwhenRodolfoMagnayedidnot

returnhomein(that)eveningof19June1976,hismother
742

742

SUPREMECOURTREPORTSAN
Peoplevs.Jumawan
(Trinidad Alcantara) went to the public market to look for him on the
followingday.Shemetfour(4)childrenwhotoldherthattheysawaman
nearthewater.Theyaccompaniedhertotheplaceandsherecognizedthe
deadmanashersonRodolfoMagnaye.Shethenproceededtothepolice
headquarterstoreportthematter,xx(page5,Judgment).
ForthedeathofRodolfoMagnaye,theaccusedstandchargedofthecrime
ofMURDER.

ThePeoplesbrief,ontheotherhand,merelyreproducesthetrial
courtsfindingsoffactsasfollows:

ItappearsfromtheevidenceadducedduringthetrialthatRodolfoMagnaye
was married on 26 January 1974 to Presentacion Jumawan, one of the
accusedintheaboveentitledcriminalcase.PresentacionJumawanMagnaye
left the conjugal home and stayed with her sister Sebastiana Jumawan.
Rodolfo Magnaye, on the other hand, went and stayed with his mother
TrinidadAlcantara.
ThemotherofMrs.PresentacionJumawanMagnayemadeseveralattempts
tosecurethesignatureofRodolfoMagnayeonadocumentagreeingtoa
separationfromhiswifesothatbothheandhiswifewillbefreetomarry
againbutRodolfoMagnayepersistedinrefusingtosignsaiddocument.
OnoneoccasionthemotherofMrs.PresentacionJumawanMagnayeeven
broughtRodolfoMagnayeandhismothertotheProvincialConstabulary
CommandtoaskfortheassistanceofSgt.Mortillatoassistherdaughterin
securingaseparationfrom RodolfoMagnayebuttheyweretoldbySgt.
Mortillathatitcannotbelegallydone.
Between5:00and6:00oclockintheafternoonof19June1976while
TrinidadAlcantarawasinherhouse,hersonRodolfoMagnayewasdressing
upandtoldherthathewasgoingtothepublicmarketbecausehiswife
askedhimtofetchher.Heaskedhismothertopreparefoodbecausetheyare
goingtotalkabouttheirlives.Helefthomeatabout6:00oclockinthe
evening.
Atabout9:30oclockintheeveningof19June1976oneMr.Vicente
Recepeda came from the Aglipayan fiesta in Sariaya, Quezon and after
eatingattheSarilingAtineatingplacehewenttotheformerBLTBstation

atSariaya,Quezon.Whilehewasinfrontofthepublicmarketonthewayto
theformerBLTBstationheheardthenoiseofpigsbeingbutcheredand
beinginthebusinessofbuyingpigs
743

VOL.116,SEPTEMBER23,1982
Peoplevs.Jumawan
andchickenhewenttothedirectionof[the]slaughterhousetoinquireabout
thepricesofpigsandchicken.
Beforereachingtheslaughterhouseheheardthenoise(sic)ofaperson
beingattackedbythree(3)personsandawomaninsideastorewhichwas
lighted.HesawaccusedFranciscoJumawanholdingthehandsofRodolfo
Magnaye whileaccused Manuel Jumawan was behindRodolfo Magnaye
withhisarmaroundtheneckofRodolfoMagnayewhileCesarioJumawan
wasinfrontofRodolfoMagnayewithhislefthandholdingthecollarof
RodolfoMagnayeandinhisrighthandhewasholdingasmallpointedbolo
withwhichhestabbedRodolfoMagnayebelowtherightnipple.
Atabout11:00oclockinthateveningacertainMr.PolicarpioTrinidad
whoalsocamefromtheAglipayanfiestainSariaya,Quezonwaswaiting
infrontofagasolinestationacrosstheoldstationoftheBLTBwaitingfora
ride home when he saw Cesario Jumawan and Manuel Jumawan with
Rodolfo Magnaye between them while they were crossing the national
highwaytowardsthesouthtoaroadoppositetheEmilWeldingShop.They
went on walking after crossing the highway. At that time the head of
RodolfoMagnayewasbowedinfrontwhilehistwo(2)armswereonthe
shoulder of Cesario and Manuel Jumawan. Rodolfo Magnaye was not
walking.
At about 11:45 oclock in the evening of 19 June 1976 Presentation
JumawanMagnaye reported to Patrolman Martial Baera and Patrolman
AlbuferathatthestoreofBastiana(Sebastiana)Jumawanwheresheworksis
threatenedtoberobbedbyRodolfoMagnaye. WhenaskedbyPatrolman
Baera, Presentation JumawanMagnaye denied being related to Rodolfo
Magnaye.Hewenttoinvestigatethereportedattempt,torobthestoreof
SebastianaJumawanandhesawoneofthepanelsusedtoclosethestore
wasdestroyedbutnothingappearstohavebeentakenfromthestore.
Presentacion JumawanMagnaye and her companions Tita Dafiez and
AnabelleJumawantoldPatrolmanBaerathattheywillfilechargesagainst
Rodolfo Magnaye. Patrolman Baera entered the report of Presentation

JumawanMagnayeinthepolicerecordbook.
WhenRodolfoMagnayedidnotreturnhomeinthateveningof19June
1976,hismother(TrinidadAlcantara)wenttothepublicmarkettolookfor
himonthefollowingday.Shemetfour(4)childrenwhotoldherthatthey
saw a man near the water. They accompanied her to the place and she
recognizedthedeadmanashersonRodolfoMagnaye.Shethenproceeded
tothepoliceheadquarterstoreportthematter.
744

744

SUPREMECOURTREPORTSA
Peoplevs.Jumawan
ThetwoPatrolmenBaeraandAlbuferawenttotheplaceandthey
sawthedeadmanwithoutashirtandwearingblackpantswith
whiteshoes.Theynoticedastabwoundonthelowerportionofthe
rightbreast.Thedeadmanwaslyingfaceup.
IntheafternoonofthesamedayPatrolmanLoretoGaleonwent
tothestoreofSebastianaJumawanlocatedatthepublicmarketof
Sariayatofollowuptheinvestigationofthereportedattempted
robbery case against Magnaye. He asked the storekeeper for
permissiontolookatthewoodpanelswhichareusedtoclosethe
store.Hefoundtracesofbloodinoneofthewoodenpanels.He
reportedwhathesawtoSgt.Labitiganwhenhereturnedtothe
policeheadquarters.
Thefollowingdayhewasorderedbythechiefofpolicetolook
againatthewoodenpanelwithtracesofbloodbuthesawthatthe
woodenpanelswerealreadyplaned(kinatam)andthetracesof
bloodcouldnolongerbeseen.
On23 June 1976,Patrolman Rodrigo Cedonio wasordered to
lookforTitaDaezinBarrioMamala,Sariaya,Quezonbecause
TitaDafiezwasallegedlyinthestoreatthetimeofthealleged
attemptedrobberyandatthetimeRodolfoMagnayewasallegedly
killed.
PatrolmanCedoniowasinformedbythemotherofTitaDaez
that she had not gone to her home at barrio Mamala. She
accompaniedPatrolmanCedoniointryingtolocateTitaDaez.

TheyfirstwenttothestoreofSebastianaJumawanwhichturned
outtobeclosedonthatday.TheythenwentatMuntingbayan,
Tayabas,QuezonwheretheywereabletofindTitaDaeztogether
with Francisco Jumawan, Bienvenido Jumawan and Rosita
Abratiga.
Mr.CesarioJumawan,oneoftheaccusedintheaboveentitled
criminalcaseandabrotherinlawofthevictim,setupthedefense
ofalibiwhenhetestifiedthatbetween3:00and4:00oclockinthe
afternoonof19June1976hewasatBarrioSampaloc,Sariaya,
Quezonwhichismoreorlessthree(3)kilometersawayfromthe
poblacionofSariaya,Quezon.HewenthometoBarrioPiliofthe
sametownearlyintheafternoonofthefollowingday.Hedidnot
goanywhereelsesince3:00to4:00oclockintheafternoonof19
June1976uptoanduntilhereturnedtoBarrioPili.
Mr. Manuel Jumawan, another accused in the above entitled
criminalcasewhoisalsoabrotherinlawofthevictim,likewise
setupthedefenseofalibiwhenhetestifiedthaton19June1976
hewasinhishouseatBarrioPili,Sariaya,Quezonwhichisabout
five (5) kilometers from the poblacion of Sariaya, Quezon. He
wenttobedat
745

VOL.116,SEPTEMBER23,1982
Peoplevs.Jumawan
about7:00oclockintheeveningof19June1976.Hewokeupat
about6:30oclockinthemorning.
Hefurtherclaimsthathesuffersfromanabnormalityoftheleft
arm which he cannot raise in a normal way and that he was
sufferingfromsaiddisabilitysincechildhoodwhenhefellfroma
cowcontinuouslyuptothepresent.
Saidaccusedpresentedamedicalcertificate,Exhibit7,issuedby
Dr. Concepcion dela Merced, a radiologist of the National
OrthopedicHospitalcertifyingtothefactthatManuelJumawanis
negative for fracture dislocation and that he suffers from a

deformity of the proximal and left numerous probably from a

previousfracture.ThereisnoshowingthatManuelJumawanis
incapable of raising his left arm around the neck of Rodolfo
Magnayewhoseactualheightwasnotestablishedbytheevidence
norwasDr.ConcepciondelaMercedpresentedtotestifyonher
findings.
PresentationJumawanMagnayeclaimsthatintheeveningof19
June1976shewasinthestoreofSebastianaJumawantogether
withAnabelleJumawanandTitaDaezwhensheheardaperson
who wanted to enter the store. She shouted thieves
(magnanakaw).Inresponsetohershoutsseveralpeoplearrived
andchasedthepersonwhowantedtoenterthestore.Shethen
wenttothehouseofSebastianaJumawanwherehatsarebeing
madeandwhereherfatherFranciscoJumawanwasstayingthat
night.
Whileshewasinthehousewhereherfatherwasstaying,their
adjoiningneighbor,acertainMateoDiamanteinformedherthat
thepersonbeingchasedbyseveralmenwasRodolfoMagnaye,
She,however,didnottalkwithanyofthepersonwhochasedher
husbandnordoessheknowanyofthem.Shethenwentwithher
father,FranciscoJumawan,toreportthemattertothepolicewhom
theymetattheFilipinaRestaurant.
WhilePresentationJumawanMagnayegavethenameofRodolfo
Magnaye as the suspect in the attempted robbery, she did not
revealtotheinvestigatingpolicementhathewasherhusbandeven
ifshewasaskedwhytheyknewhisname,neitherdidsheinform
thepolicethatherhusbandwaschasedbyseveralpersonsnordid
shegivethedirectionwhereherhusbandsupposedlyran.
Thetwopolicemen,PatrolmenBaeraandAlbufera,actuallywent
tothestoreofSebastianaJumawanandafterlookingatthestore,
these two patrolmen told Presentation JumawanMagnaye that
becausenothinghappenedtheywillcontinuetheinvestigationon
thenextday.

746

746

SUPREMECOURTREPORTSA
Peoplevs.Jumawan

Noneofthosewhoallegedlychasedherhusbandthateveningwaseven
presentedasawitness.
Mr.FranciscoJumawan,whoisthefatherofhisthree(3)othercoaccused,
likewisesetupthedefenseofalibiwhenhetestifiedthatintheeveningof
19June1976atabout8:00oclockmoreorlesshewasaloneinthehouseof
Sebastiana Jumawan situated near the former garage of the BLTB in
Sariaya, Quezon and that he was awakened only when his daughter
Presentacionwokehimuptotellhimthatsomeonewastryingtoenterthe
storeofSebastianaJumawan.

Inabriefwhichismorenoteworthyforlegalrhetoricratherthana
criticalanalysisoftheevidence,theappellantsclaimthatthetrial
courtcommittedthefollowingerrors:
THE LOWER COURT ERRED IN NOT FOCUSING OBJECTIVELY
AND IMPARTIALLY THE EVIDENCE FOR THE PROSECUTION
EVEN AS IT FOCUSED SUBJECTIVELY AND UNFAIRLY ON
SUPPOSEDWEAKNESSOFTHEEVIDENCEFORTHEDEFENSE.
THECONSTITUTIONALGUARANTEETHATTHEACCUSEDARE
PRESUMED INNOCENT OF THE CRIME CHARGED AND ARE
ENTITLED TO A RIGHT TO A DAY IN COURT CANNOT BE
OVERTURNED BY THE DOCTRINE THAT APPELLATE COURTS
ARE NOT PRONE TO DISTURB THE FINDINGS OF THE TRIAL
COURTWITHRESPECTTOTHECREDIBILITYOFWITNESSES.
THELOWERCOURTERREDINNOTFINDINGANDTAKINGINTO
SERIOUSACCOUNTTHEFATALWEAKNESSESOFTHEEVIDENCE
FORTHEPROSECUTIONINTERMSOFIMPROBABILITIES,GROSS
INCONSISTENCIESANDIRRECONCILABLECONTRADICTIONS.
THELOWERCOURTERREDINGIVINGCREDITANDCREDENCE
TO THE TESTIMONIES OF THE STAR PROSECUTION WITNESS
CONSIDERING THE GLARING WEAKNESS THEREOF, EVEN AS
THE LOWER COURT CONVENIENTLY DENIED THE DEFENSE
REASONABLEOPPORTUNITYOFTHEPROSECUTIONWITNESSES.
THELOWERCOURTERREDINITSERRONEOUSAPPROACHTO
AND APPLICATION OF THE PRINCIPLES CONCERNING THE
DEFENSE OF ALIBI IN THE CASE AT BAR. SPECIALLY IN THE

LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT THERE WAS NO POSITIVE

IDENTIFICATIONOFACCUSEDAND
747

VOL.116,SEPTEMBER23,1982
Peoplevs.Jumawan
ALSOTHATTHEPROSECUTIONFAILEDTOEFFECTIVELYREBUT
THEDEFENSESOFALIBIWHICHWOULDHAVEBEENEASYTO
DOIFSUCHDEFENSESWEREREALLYCONCOCTIONS.

Theforegoingassignmentoferrorscanbereducedtothesimple
propositionwhethertheevidenceagainsttheaccused,independent
oftheiralibis,hasovercomethepresumptionofinnocenceintheir
favorandcreatedamoralcertaintyastotheirguilt.
Except for Vicente Recepeda and Policarpio Trinidad, the
appellantsdonotquestionthecredibilityofthewitnessesforthe
prosecution. Hence, the testimony of these witnesses deserves
scrutiny.
Vicente Recepeda was 67 years old, jobless and a resident of
LucenaCitywhenhefirsttestifiedonApril29,1977.Hetestified
thatonJune19,1976,hewenttoSariaya,Quezon,toattendthe
Aglipayan fiesta; he arrived there at about 5:00 oclock and
thereafter did the following: listened to the music and singing,
wenttotheAglipayanchurchandtheperya,ateatarestaurant,
andwalkedtothepublicmarketwheretherewasaformerBLTB
station.WhilehewaswaitingforatriptoLucena,heheardthe
shriekofpigsbeingkilledsohewalkedtowardthebutchersforthe
purposeofaskingthepriceofpigssincehewasthenengagedin
the business of buying and selling pigs, In fact, at one time
RodolfoMagnaye,thedeceased,tiedthefeetofapigwhichhehad
bought.Hewasnotabletotalktothebutchersbecauseanunusual
eventintervenedwhichinhisownwordswas:
Atabout9:30oclockintheeveningofJune19,1976,do
Q yourememberwherewereyou?
.

A Yessir.
.
Q Wherewereyouonthatparticulardateandhour?
.
A IwasinthepublicmarketofSariaya,Quezon,sir.
.
Q WhileyouwereinthemarketofSariaya,Quezon,onthat
. particulardateandhour,doyourememberiftherewasany
unusualincidentthatyouwitnessed?
A Therewas,sir.
.
748

748

SUPREMECOURTREPORTSA
Peoplevs.Jumawan

Q.

Whatwasthatunusualincidentthathappenedonthatparticularplacean

A.

Isawapersonbeingattackedbythreepersons,sir.

Q.

Whatelsedidyouseethereonthatparticularoccasion,asidefromaper

A.

Therewasawomanwhoorderedthethreepersonstostabandkillthepe

Q.

WhereinparticularinthepublicmarketofSariaya,Quezondidyousee

A.

InsidethestorewithinthepublicmarketofSariaya,Quezon,sir.

Q.

Didyourecognize,ordidyoucometoknowthesethreepersonswhomy
marketofSariaya,Quezonatabout9:30oclockintheeveningofJune1

A.

Irecognizetheirfaces,sir.

Q.

Didyoucometoknowtheirnameslateron?

A.

Yessir.

Q.

Whatisthenameofthewomanwhomyousaidwasthereonthatparticu

A.

PresentacionJumawan,sir.

Q.

IfyouwillseethatPresentacionJumawanagain,willyoubeabletoiden

A.

Yes,sir.

Q.

Willyoupleaselookaroundthecourtroomandpointto

PresentacionJumawanifsheishere.

A.

Sheisheresir.

Q.

PleasepointherouttothisHonorableCourt.

A.

Thatonesir.

ATTY.ALCALA:

Maywerespectfullyaskifyourhonorpleasethatthepersonpointedtob
COURT:

Askthepersontoidentifyherself.

INTERPRETER:

749

VOL.116,SEPTEMBER23,1982
Peoplevs.Jumawan

Whatisyournam

A.

PresentacionJum

INTERPRETER

Thepersonpoin
asPresentacionJ

ATTY.ALCAL

Andwhatisthe
attackedbythet
store?

750

A.

RodolfoMagnay

Q.

Andwhatarethe
Magnaye,willy

A.

Yes,sir,oneisF
oneisCesarioJu

Q.

ThatFranciscoJ
attackingRodolf
abletorecognize

A.

Yes,sir.

Q.

IfthisFrancisco
pointhimoutbe

A.

Yes,sir.

Q.

Pleasedoso.

A.

Thatonesir.

ATTY.ALCAL

Yourhonorplea
witnessidentify

COURT:

Asktheidentity

INTERPRETER

Whatisyournam

A.

FranciscoJumaw

INTERPRETER

Thepersonpoin
FranciscoJumaw

750

SUPREMECOURTREPORTSA
Peoplevs.Jumawan

Q.

AndthatpersonwhomyousaidthenameasManuelJumawanwillyou

A.

Yes,sir.

Q.

PleaselookaroundthecourtroomandpointouttothisHonorableCourt

A.

Yes,sir,thatone.

ATTY.ALCALA:

MayweaskYourHonorthatthepersonpointedtobythewitnessbema

COURT:

Askthepersonpointedtobythewitnesstoidentifyhimself.

INTERPRETER:

Whatisyourname?

A.

ManuelJumawan.

INTERPRETER:

ThepersonpointedtobythewitnessYourHonoridentifiedhimselfasM

Q.

AndthatpersonwhomyoumentionedisnamedCesarioJumawan,will
again?

A.

Yes,sir.

Q.

PleaselookaroundthecourtroomandpointtothisHonorableCourtthe

A.

Thatonesir.

ATTY.ALCALA:

Maywerequestyourhonorthatthepersonpointedtobythewitnesside

COURT:

Askthepersonpointedtobythewitnesstoidentifyhimself.

INTERPRETER:

Whatisyourname?

A.

CesarioJumawan.

751

VOL.116,SEPTEMBER23,1982
Peoplevs.Jumawan

INTERPRETER

Thepersonpoin
Jumawan,Your

Q.

Onthatoccasion
yousawhim?

A.

Hewasstanding

Q.

Whowasholdin

A.

FranciscoJumaw

Q.

HowaboutMan

A.

ManuelJumawa
aroundtheneck

Q.

HowaboutCesa
occasion?

A.

Hewasinfronto
collarofRodolfo

Q.

HowaboutPrese
particularoccasi

A.

Shewasstanding
andkillRodolfo

Q.

Whathappened

A.

RodolfoMagnay

Q.

WhostabbedRo

A.

CesarioJumawa

Q.

Atthattimethat
thatparticularoc
Jumawandoing

A.

FranciscoJumaw
withhisarmsaro

Q.

Whathappened
CesarioJumawa

A.

Hewashitbyth

Q.

WherewasRodo
onthatoccasion

752

752

SUPREMECOURTREPORTSA
Peoplevs.Jumawan

A.

Undertherightnipple,sir.Belowtherightnipple.

Q.

WhatdidRodolfoMagnayedoonthat,particularoccasionafterhewas

A.

Hesaid,whydidyoustabme.

Q.

Whatdidyoudoafterthat?

A.

Ileft,sir.

Q.

Whileyouwerewalkingawaydidyouhearanything?

A.

Yes,sir.

Q.

Whatdidyouhear?

A.

Avoiceofawomanshouting,thief,thief.

Q.

Whatdidyoudowhenyouheardtheshoutofawoman?

A.

Ihurriedlywalkedaway,sir.

Q.

DidyoufinallycametoknowwhathappenedtoRodolfoMagnayeasar

A.

Yes,sir.

Q.

Whathappenedtohim?

A.
Hedied,sir.(t.s.n.,pp.494509.)
PolicarpioTrinidadwas28yearsoldandalaboreratthetimehe
firsttestifiedonJune27,1977.HetestifiedthatheknewManuel
Jumawan,CesarioJumawanandRodolfoMagnaye;thatonJune
19,1976,atabout11:00p.m.,hewasinSariaya,Quezon,nearthe
oldstationoftheBLTB;andonthatoccasionhesawtheaforesaid
personsthus:
WillyoupleasedescribebeforethisHonorableCourttheir
Q positionwhenyousawthem?
.
A Theirhandswereontheshouldersofeachother.
.
Q Andwhowasinthemiddle?
.
A RodolfoMagnaye,sir.
.
Q WillyoupleasetellthisHonorableCourttheappearanceof
. RodolfoMagnayewhenyousawhimbeinginthemiddleof
CesarioJumawanandManuelJumawanonthatoccasion?
A Hisheadfallsandhistwohandswereontheshoulderof
. CesarioJumawanandManuelJumawan
Q Didyouseewherethesepersonsweregoingonthat
. particularoccasionwhenyousaidyousawthem?

753

VOL.116,SEPTEMBER23,1982
Peoplevs.Jumawan

ATTY.CUART

ObjectionYour
aregoingoutof

COURT:

Witnessmayans

A.

Theycrosstheh

Q.

Inwhatparticula

A.

Theywenttothe

Q.

Didyouseeont
waswalking?

A.

Hewasnotwalk

Q.

Whentheywent
goanyfurther?

A.

Theyproceeded

Q.

Wheredidyoug

A.

Iwentdirectlyto

(t.s.n.,pp.6286
The testimony of Vicente Recepeda linked to that of Trinidad
AlcantaraandPolicarpioTrinidadshowsthatthefourappellants
conspired and cooperated in the assassination of Rodolfo
Magnaye.
ThevictimandhiswifehadarendezvousintheeveningofJune
19,1976,inordertodiscussthefateoftheirmarriage.Whiteitis
not known if they actually conversed, the purpose of the

rendezvouswasinfactaccomplished;themarriagewasterminated
bythemurderofthehusband.
ThereporttothepolicebyPresentacionthatRodolfoMagnayehad
attempted to rob the store of Sebastiana Jumawan was a crude
diversionarytactictoenableCesarioandManueltotransferthe
cadavertoanotherplace.
ThealibisofFrancisco,CesarioandManuelaarefornaught.
FranciscoclaimedthatintheeveningofJune19,1976,hewasin
thehouseofSebastianaJumawan,notinherstore.Cesariosaid
thatwhilehisresidencewasBarrioPili,Sariaya,
754

754

SUPREMECOURTREPORTSA
Peoplevs.Jumawan
on the night of June 19, 1976, he and his wife were in Barrio
Sampaloc,Sariaya,visitinghisbrotherBenignoJumawanandthey
didnotreturntoPiliuntilthenextday.Manuelsaidthatonthe
nightofJune19,1976,hewasinhishouseatBarrioPili.
These alibis cannot prevail for the following reasons: (a)
Francisco,CesarioandManuelwerepositivelyidentifiedtobeat
the scene of the crime by Vicente Recepeda and Cesario and
ManuelweresimilarlyidentifiedbyPolicarpioTrinidad;and(b)
theplaceswheretheyclaimedtobewerenotfarfromthesceneof
the crime so that it was not impossible for them to be there.
SebastianaJumawanshousewhereFranciscowassupposedtobe
is within walking distance from the formers store. Barrio
Sampaloc, where Cesario claimed he was, is only about three
kilometers from the poblacion of Sariaya. Barrio Pili, where
Manuelsaidhesleptthatnight,isaboutfivekilometersfromthe
samepoblacion.
Presentationshouldhavebeenaccusedofparricidebutasitis,
since her relationship to the deceased is not alleged in the
information,she,liketheothers,canbeconvictedofmurderonly
qualifiedbyabuseofsuperiorstrength.

Although not alleged in the information, relationship as an

aggravating circumstance should be assigned against the
appellants. True, relationship is inherent in parricide, but
Presentationstandsconvictedofmurder.Andastotheothers,the
relationships of fatherinlaw and brotherinlaw aggravate the
crime.(Aquino,PenalCode,Vol.I.p.406[1976].)
Thepenaltyformurderwithanaggravatingcircumstanceisdeath.
However,forlackofnecessaryvotes,thepenaltyisreducedto
reclusionperpetua.
WHEREFORE, the jugment of the court a quo is hereby
affirmedintoto.Nocosts.
SOORDERED.
Fernando, C.J., Teehankee, Barredo, Makasiar, Aquino,
Concepcion,Jr.,Guerrero,DeCastro,MelencioHerrera,Plana,
Escolin,Vasquez,RelovaandGutierrez,Jr.,JJ.,concur.
755

VOL.116,SEPTEMBER28,1982
Ernestovs.CourtofAppeals
Judgmentaffirmedintoto.
Notes.Alibicannotprevailagainstpositiveidentificationby
witness.(Peoplevs.Lucero,96SCRA694.)
The accused cannot be convicted on evidence which,
independentlyforhisalibiisweak.(Peoplevs.Dilao,100SCRA
358.)
Ordinarily, where the defense of alibi supported by the
testimonyoftheparamouroftheaccused,thebalanceshouldtiltin
favoroftheprosecution.(Peoplevs.Alindog,98SCRA258.)
o0o