G.R. Nos. 118940-41 and G.R. No.

119407 July 7, 1997

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee,

DAVIDE, JR., J.:

In the evening of 10 March 1994, along the expressway at Barangay Ventinilla, Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan,
several persons on board a passenger jeepney driven by Teofilo Landingin attacked the latter and a
passenger, Virgilio Catugas, thereby inflicting upon them multiple stab wounds. Landingin was pulled out
from his seat and dumped on the shoulder of the road. One of the attackers took the wheel of the
jeepney and drove away. Catugas was thrown out to the middle of the road when the jeepney started to
move away. Landingin died as a consequence of the injuries he sustained. Catugas survived.

Held to account for the above acts were Gregorio Mejia, Edwin Benito, Pedro Paraan, Joseph Fabito,
Romulo Calimquim, one alias Dennis, Alex Mamaril, one alias Mondragon, and another unidentified
person. Mejia and Benito were taken into police custody a few hours after the incident; Paraan, the
following day; and Fabito, five days after. Calimquim was found dead three days after the incident in
question, while the others have remained at large. Three separate criminal complaints for
murder,1 frustrated murder,2 and violation of R.A. No. 6539 (Anti Carnapping Act of 1992, as
amended)3 were filed against them with the Municipal Trial Court of Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan.

Despite service on them of subpoenas requiring submission of counter- affidavits, accused Mejia, Benito,
Paraan, and Fabito and did not submit their counter-affidavits.

On 9 May 1994, Judge Lilia C. Espanol issued an order 4 declaring the accused "to have waived their right
to be heard in preliminary investigation"; finding a  prima facie case against the accused; recommending
that they be charged with and prosecuted for the crimes of murder, frustrated murder, and violation of
R.A. No. 6539, as amended; and ordering that the records of the cases be forwarded to the Office of the
Provincial Prosecutor for appropriate action.

After appropriate proceedings, the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor of Pangasinan filed with the
Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Dagupan City three separate informations for murder, frustrated murder,
and violation of the Anti-Carnapping Act of 1972, as amended, against the aforenamed persons. The
informations were docketed as Criminal Cases Nos. 94-00617-D, 94-00619-D, and 94-00620-D,
respectively. The first was later amended. The accusatory portions of the informations read as follows:

CRIMINAL CASE NO. 94-00617-D (as amended)

That on or about March 10, 1994 in the evening along the expressway at barangay Ventinilla,
Municipality of Sta. Barbara, province of Pangasinan, Philippines and within the jurisdiction of this
Honorable Court, the above-named accused, armed with knives with intent to kill, treachery, evident
premeditation and taking advantage of superior strength, conspiring, confederating and mutually
helping one another, did then and there wilfully, unlawfully and feloniously attack and stab TEOFILO
LANDINGIN inflicting upon him stab wounds which caused his instant death to the damage and
prejudice of his heirs.

Contrary to Art. 248 of the Revised Penal Code as amended by Republic Act No. 7659. 5

CRIMINAL CASE NO.  94-00619-D

That on or about March 10, 1994 in the evening along the expressway at barangay Ventinilla,
Municipality of Sta. Barbara, province of Pangasinan, Philippines and within the jurisdiction of this
Honorable Court, the above-named accused, armed with knives and with intent to kill, treachery,
evident premeditation, and taking advantage of superior strength, conspiring, confederating and
mutually helping one another, did then and there wilfully, unlawfully and feloniously attack and stab
VIRGILIO CATUGAS Y CASTAÑEDA inflicting upon him multiple stab wounds, the accused having then
performed all the acts of execution which would have produced the crime of Murder as a consequence
but which nevertheless, did not produce it by reason of causes independent of the will of the accused
and that is due to the timely and able medical assistance rendered to said Virgilio Catugas y Castañeda
which prevented his death to his damage and prejudice.

Contrary to Art. 248 in relation with Art. 6 of the Revised Penal Code. 6

CRIMINAL CASE NO.  94-00620-D

That on or about March 10, 1994 in the evening along the expressway at barangay Ventinilla,
Municipality of Sta. Barbara, province of Pangasinan, Philippines and within the jurisdiction of this
Honorable Court, the above-named accused armed with knives by means of violence against person by
stabbing to death TEOFILO LANDINGIN, owner-driver of a passenger jeep bearing Plate No. APP-432
with marking Lovely and thereafter with intent to gain, conspiring, confederating and mutually helping
one another did then and there wilfully, unlawfully and feloniously take and drive away said passenger
jeep bearing Plate No. APP-432 with marking Lovely owned and driven by Teofilo Landingin without the
latter's consent, to the damage and prejudice of his heirs.

Contrary to Republic Act 6539 as amended. 7

The first two were assigned to Branch 44 of the RTC of Dagupan City presided by Judge Crispin C. Laron
(hereafter, LARON court) and thereafter consolidated and jointly tried. The third was assigned to Branch
43 of the said court presided by Judge Silverio Q. Castillo (hereafter, CASTILLO court).

At their arraignments, Mejia, Benito, Paraan, and Fabito entered a plea of innocence in each case.

I
THE CASE IN THE LARON COURT

In Criminal Case No. 94-00617-D (Murder) and Criminal Case No. 94-00619-D (Frustrated Murder) in the
LARON court, the prosecution presented the following witnesses: Virgilio Catugas, policemen
Dominguillo Gulen and Bernardo Clemente, Dr. Cristito Garcia, Ma. Nora Landingin, and Dr. Roberto
Valenzuela. Virgilio Catugas was recalled as rebuttal witness. In their defense, accused Mejia, Benito,
Paraan, and Fabito took the witness stand. They also presented as additional witnesses Roberto Lambot,
Shirley Lomboy, Conrado Benito, policeman Bernardo Clemente, and Felicidad Fabito in their evidence in
chief and Julia Paraan as sur-rebuttal witness.
The evidence for the prosecution in these cases may be summarized as follows:

At around 7:00 p.m. of 10 March 1994, Virgilio Catugas was in front of the CSI Supermarket in Dagupan
City waiting for a transportation to take him to his home at Talibaew, Calasiao, Pangasinan. Later, a
passenger jeepney plying the Dagupan City — Calasiao route and driven by Teofilo Landingin arrived. He
boarded it and occupied that portion of the passengers' seat behind the driver's seat. There were
already some passengers inside the jeepney, but they disembarked before the jeepney reached the
boundary of Dagupan City and Calasiao, leaving behind Landingin, Catugas, and two other passengers. 8

When the jeepney reached the MacArthur Highway in San Miguel, Calasiao, nine persons flagged down
the jeepney and boarded it. One of them, whom Catugas identified to be accused Edwin Benito, sat
beside the driver; the rest took the passenger seats behind the driver's seat. Catugas fully recognized
Benito because there was light at the ceiling of the jeepney and at the "signboard" portion of the
jeepney and the latter sometimes turned his face toward the back where Catugas was seated. Catugas
had further observed Benito's face, ears, and eyes. 9 He also recognized accused Mejia, Fabito, and
Paraan.10

The nine passengers told Landingin that they were bound for Pangasinan Village Inn (PVI) in Bued,
Calasiao. But when they reached PVI, one of them said that his companions did not know where they
were going, and informed Landingin that he would take care of the fare upon reaching Nansangaan, Sta.
Barbara, Pangasinan. Upon reaching Nansangaan, one of the nine passengers asked Landingin to drive a
little farther. Later, Mejia asked Catugas whether he was Landingin's companion; Catugas answered in
the affirmative. Mejia then announced: "[T]his is a hold-up"; while Benito said: "[N]obody will be able to
be saved his life [sic]." Another companion of Mejia said: "Proceed." All of the nine drew their daggers
and stabbed Landingin and Catugas.11

Landingin died on that same evening. Dr. Cristito Garcia, who conducted an autopsy on Landingin's
cadaver, found three stab wounds — two of which were fatal. According to him, the cause of Landingin's
death was cardiorespiratory arrest resulting from hypovolemic shock due to internal hemorrhage. 12 Nora
Landingin, wife of Teofilo Landingin, spent P1,500 daily during the wake of her husband; P12,000 for his
burial; and P16,000 for the tomb. Nora felt sad because of his death. 13

On the other hand, Catugas, who was pushed out of the jeepney and landed on the road, was brought
by some people to the Villaflor Memorial Hospital. 14 Dr. Roberto Valenzuela performed on Catugas
exploratory laparatomy debridement and found three multi-lacerations in the right upper extremities
and several others on the left upper extremities which could have been caused by bladed
instruments.15 Catugas survived and was confined for seven days. He spent more than P50,000 for his
hospitalization and medical expenses. The hospital billed him in the amount of P44,667.25. 16

In the same evening of 10 March 1994, while Policeman Dominguillo Gulen of the Mabini Police Station,
Mabini, Pangasinan, was approaching his residence at the  poblacion in Sual, Pangasinan, on board a
police patrol car, he saw six men walking in front of his house. When he stopped the car, the men ran
away. He gave chase and caught two of them, namely, accused Mejia and Benito. Gulen thought that
they belonged to an "akyat-bahay  gang." When asked what they were doing, the two answered that
they were not doing anything and that they were not robbers. They told Gulen that they were from Sta.
Barbara. Benito even showed his driver's license and told Gulen that he did not commit any crime and
that he was willing to go to the police station. Gulen then brought the two and turned them over to the
police station in Sual, Pangasinan.17

Policeman Bernardo Clemente, who was the desk officer at 1:00 a.m. of 11 March 1994, entered in the
police blotter this turn-over and talked to the two. In the course of their conversation, Benito reported
that they rode on a jeepney, which was abandoned somewhere in Sual. Clemente decided to make a
follow-up of this report. With Benito as their guide, Clemente and three other policemen were able to
find the jeepney with the marking LOVELY in Sitio Nipa, Barangay Baguioen, Sual, Pangasinan. The
jeepney had bloodstains on the front and back seats. They brought it to the police station and had the
matter recorded in the police blotter. Clemente then instructed the radio operator to call the police
station of Sta. Barbara and inform it of the turn-over of Mejia and Benito. At 1:45 a.m. of 11 March
1994, the PNP elements of Sta. Barbara Police Station came and received the two, as well as the
passenger jeepney.18

Also on 11 March 1994, at 12:00 noon, some concerned citizens of Sual apprehended Joseph Fabito in
Sitio Looc, Poblacion Sual, as a murder suspect. He was turned over to the Sual Police Station. After
having been informed of this arrest, the Sta. Barbara Police Station took him into its custody. These facts
were entered in the Sual Police Station blotter. 19

The accused admitted to having flagged down and boarded Landingin's jeepney that fateful evening of
10 March 1994, but denied having committed the crimes. They claimed that it was Romulo Calimquim
and his companions who killed Landingin, stabbed Catugas, and drove away the jeepney. The following
is a summary of their version of the events.

Edwin Benito, a resident of Ventinilla West, Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan, was the driver of the Elf truck of
Lito Lomboy of Bued, Calasiao, Pangasinan, which was used in hauling sand and gravel. His co-accused
Mejia Paraan and Fabito were his helpers.

At around 3:00 p.m. of 10 March 1994, after they completed delivering sand and gravel, the accused
returned the truck and went to the house of Fabito's brother-in-law in San Miguel, Calasiao. After two
hours of waiting in vain for the brother-in-law, Paraan suggested that they go to the house of his future
brother-in-law in Bacayao Norte, Calasiao. After some snacks they proceeded to the town proper and
strolled for a while. Then, Benito thought that it was time to go home to Sta. Barbara and suggested that
they should. They proceeded to a waiting shed near the National High School to wait for a
transportation for Sta. Barbara. At the waiting shed, they saw Romulo Calimquim with three other
companions, who were also waiting for a transportation for Sta. Barbara. Calimquim then flagged down
an approaching passenger jeepney. He and his companions boarded it. So did Benito and his
companions. Calimquim sat beside the driver. The rest took the back seat. 20

According to Paraan, it was Alex Mamaril, the man with a "huge body," who sat beside the driver. 21

At the junction of the roads leading to the Municipal Hall of Sta. Barbara and that leading to the national
highway, the man who sat beside the driver (Calimquim, according to Benito; Mamaril, according to
Paraan) ordered the driver to proceed to the national highway; the driver did. But after reaching the
highway, in Ventinilla, Sta. Barbara, the former ordered the latter to stop, announced that "this is a hold
up," then stabbed the driver several times, pulled his body out of the jeepney, took over the wheel, and
drove the jeepney.22 In the meantime, at the back seat, one of the companions of Calimquim pointed a
knife at Benito; while the others told Benito's companions to lie on their belly. It was when Catugas
attempted to fight back that he was stabbed. 23 Catugas was then thrown out of the jeepney. 24

Benito and his companions were prevented by the group of Calimquim from alighting from the jeepney.
Upon reaching a mountain in Sual,
Pangasinan, 25 the man on the wheel ordered Benito, Mejia, Paraan, and Fabito to alight from the
jeepney. The group of Calimquim pointed knives 26 and a
gun 27 at them. Then suddenly there was a light coming from below. They ran away from the group of
Calimquim. 28

Benito and Mejia were together.29 Later, a policeman saw them. The two told the policeman that they
are not "troublesome persons." The policeman brought them to the Police Station of Sual. There, Benito
reported what had happened and accompanied the policemen to the place where the jeepney in
question was located.30 Afterwards, the two were detained at Sta. Barbara Police Station. While in
detention, they were informed that Calimquim was killed and his body was found in Alaminos. 31

Paraan lost his way. He returned to Sta. Barbara only on 14 March 1994 and went to the house of
Roland, his brother-in-law, in Bacayao Norte, to ask him to request a barangay councilman to
accompany him to the police station. It was the barangay captain who accompanied him the following
day to the police station. There, the police authorities told him that he was among the assailants of
Landingin and that he was the one who stabbed Catugas in the night of 10 March 1994 and one of the
suspects in the carnapping of the jeepney of Landingin. 32 Paraan was forthwith placed inside the jail.

Fabito stayed for awhile in the mountain. At 2:00 a.m. of 11 March 1994, he was by the seashore. He
stayed there until 6:00 a.m. and inquired from someone the location of the police station. He went to
that station which happened to be Sual Police Station. There, he narrated to the policemen what had
happened. When a policeman asked him whether he was the killer, he answered in the negative. At
around 1:00 p.m., he was brought to the Sta. Barbara Municipal Jail, where he was detained for three
months. Then, he was committed to the Provincial Jail. 33

Sometime after Catugas was discharged from the hospital and was already driving a tricycle, the parents
of the accused met with him and informed him that the accused told them that they (the accused) did
not commit any wrong. Catugas answered that he had suffered several wounds and spent much for his
hospitalization and that since the accused were the ones apprehended, he would just tell a lie so he
could recover the amounts he spent. Catugas then asked P20,000 from each of the accused, or a total of
P80,000, and repeated this demand five to six times. 34

The defense, through the testimony of Policemen Bernardo Clemente, also proved that Romulo
Calimquim died due to a gunshot wound on 13 March 1994 in Barangay Paitan West, Sual, Pangasinan,
as evidenced by Entry No. 4338 of Page 260 of the Police Blotter. 35

On rebuttal, Catugas insisted that it was accused Edwin Benito who stabbed Landingin and that accused
Mejia, Paraan, and Fabito were the ones who stabbed him. He further declared that it was the parents
of the accused who offered to pay him, but he refused because such an offer could not "be accepted by
[his] conscience."36

The defense then presented Julia Paraan as surrebuttal witness. She denounced as untrue the testimony
on rebuttal of Catugas that the parents of accused were the ones who offered to pay him money. Julia
declared that they visited Catugas to ask him whether it was true that their children committed the
crime. On their first visit, Catugas told them that he could not yet answer that question; but when they
returned, Catugas told them that they had to pay the aggregate sum of P80,000, or P20,000 per family
of the accused.37

The trial court gave full credit to the version of the prosecution and relied heavily on the identification of
the accused by Catugas, the absence of ulterior motive on the part of the latter, and the offer of the
parents of the accused to compromise the cases.

In its decision dated 17 November 1994,38 the LARON court convicted accused Mejia, Benito, Paraan,
and Fabito of the crime of murder and of frustrated murder, with treachery as the qualifying
circumstance and nighttime and band as aggravating circumstances. Accordingly, it sentenced the first
three accused to suffer the penalty of death for the crime of murder; and ten years and one day
of  prision mayor to seventeen years, four months, and one day of reclusion temporal for the crime of
frustrated murder. It credited Paraan with the privileged mitigating circumstance of minority, he being
only seventeen years old at the time of the commission of the crimes charged; and sentenced him
to reclusion perpetua for murder, and six years of  prision correccional to ten years an one day of  prision
mayor  for frustrated murder. The Court also ordered the four accused to pay the heirs of Teofilo
Landingin the amounts of P50,000 as death indemnity; P16,000 for the cost of the tomb; and P12,000
for funeral expenses; and to pay Catugas the amount of P44,687.25 for hospital expenses, plus costs.

II
THE CASE IN THE CASTILLO COURT

In Criminal Case No. 94-00620-D (violation of the Anti-Carnapping Act) in the CASTILLO Court, the
prosecution presented as its witnesses Virgilio Catugas and Nora Landingin. The former was recalled as
rebuttal witness. The accused Mejia, Benito, Paraan, and Fabito took the witness stand and presented as
additional witnesses Conrado Benito and Felicidad Fabito. Their testimonies were substantially the same
as those they made in the murder and frustrated murder cases in the LARON court.

Prosecution witness Virgilio Catugas added that after Landingin was stabbed, he was thrown out of the
jeepney to the shoulder of the road and that one of the culprits took the wheel of the jeepney, started
off its engine, and drove off.39 He further declared that while he was confined at the hospital, the
policemen of Sta. Barbara investigated him, showed him pictures of the suspects, supplied the suspect's
names,40 and took his statement.41 After he was discharged therefrom, he was able to talk with the
father of accused Benito. He told the father of his hospitalization expenses and asked P80,000, as a
settlement of the case, to be paid by the parents of the accused on an agreed date; but before that date
came, he had already testified against the accused. 42

Prosecution witness Nora Landingin, widow of Teofilo Landingin, further testified that her husband
owned the passenger jeepney in question, as evidenced by Certificate of Registration No.
19253856,43 and Official Receipt No. MVRR 91354948. 44 The jeepney was worth P140,000.45

The CASTILLO court gave full faith to the testimony of Virgilio Catugas. It debunked the version of the
defense on account of the following "inculpating evidence," which, according to it, bolstered its finding
that the accused were the authors of the crime charged:
1. Accused Gregorio Mejia, Edwin Benito, Joseph Fabito and Pedro Paraan speak of innocence and fear
for their lives during the ruthless incident, unfortunately they never sustained any bodily injury on their
bodies.

If the intention of Mok Calimquim and company is to hurt anybody, they could not have concentrated
on the persons of Teofilo Landingin and Virgilio Catugas only but they should have also inflicted stabbing
thrusts against their persons (accused).

2. They (accused) posited that for fear of their lives they did not do anything except to passively stay at
the back seat of the jeepney motionless from the place of stabbing incident in Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan
up to the mountains in Sual, Pangasinan.

Again, if one of the motives of Mok and company is to carnapp [sic] the passenger jeepney of Teofilo
Landingin then the logical conclusion that can be had in the instant situation is for the group of Mok to
liquidate the driver and all passengers for that matter, including the four (4) accused to eliminate the
presence of eyewitnesses.

Unfortunately, the four (4) accused joined the group of Mok in going to Sual, Pangasinan without
offering any slight resistance in the premises.

The natural conclusion that can be derived thereat is that, Mok and company belonged to the group of
the four (4) accused who were responsible in perpetrating the offense charged.

3. Assuming en gratia argumenti that Mok and company are the real offenders, why is it that during the
long span of travel from Sta. Barbara to Sual, they never made any attempt to jump off the passenger
jeepney; neither did they show positive signs to invite the attention of PNP members stationed along
the long route starting in Dagupan City, Binmaley, Lingayen, Bugallon, Labrador, Pangasinan.

4. Accused Gregorio Mejia and Edwin Benito steadfastly claim innocence of the crime charged. In fact,
they averred that upon reaching Sual, Pangasinan, they reported to the responding peace officers what
happened to them and that their reports was recorded in the Police Blotter of Sual Station.

The assertion of accused Benito and Mejia is tainted with absolute falsity and is debunked by the entry
in the Police Blotter of Sual Police Station (Exh. G); the subject certification negates accused's statement
of innocence. The subject entry which is contained in the Book of Events of Sual Police Station belies any
complaint/report made by accused Edwin Benito/Gregorio Mejia that they were kidnapped or deprived
of their liberty with the use of guns and bladed weapons. Upon the other hand, the Certification
squarely bespeaks of the incarceration/detention of said accused (Mejia and Benito) at Sual Police
Station for they were suspected of having carnapped the passenger jeepney involved in the above case.

5. With respect to accused Joseph Fabito and Pedro Paraan, they likewise vehemently denied the
accusation lodged against them. Unfortunately, their conclusion of innocence crumbled when they
joined the group from the crime scene starting in Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan up to their destination in
Sual, Pangasinan. In fact when they reached Sual, Pangasinan they scampered and run away to different
directions to avoid apprehension.

Instead of proceeding to the Sual Police Station or making any report to the nearest authority i.e.
Barangay Captain of the place they decided to escape which they did with impunity. The records in the
Police Blotter of Sual is negatived (sic) of any entry about the whereabouts of accused Paraan and
Fabito.46

The court then convicted accused Gregorio Mejia, Edwin Benito, Pedro Paraan, and Joseph Fabito guilty
of the violation of the Anti-Carnapping Act of 1972, as amended. It sentenced the first three accused to
death; and Paraan, to reclusion perpetua on account of the privileged mitigating circumstance of
minority. It also ordered them to pay the costs.

III
THE APPEALS AND ASSIGNMENT OF ERRORS

Although review in cases where the death penalty is imposed by the trial court is automatic pursuant to
Section 22 of R.A. No. 7659,47 the convicted accused filed with this Court their notices of appeal from the
decision of the LARON court and of the CASTILLO court on 18 November 1994 and 22 February 1995,
respectively.

Criminal Cases Nos. 94-00617-D and 94-00619-D were docketed in this Court as G.R. Nos. 118940-41,
and Criminal Case No. 94-00620-D was docketed as G.R. No. 119407.

On 2 February 1996, after they filed separate Appellant's Briefs in G.R. Nos. 118940-41 and in G.R. No.
119407, the appellants filed a motion for the consolidation of these cases, which we granted on 27
February 1996.

In their Appellant's Brief in G.R. Nos. 118940-41, the appellants impute upon the trial court the following
errors: (a) in giving full faith and credence to the unsubstantiated testimony of prosecution witness
Virgilio Catugas relative to the incident in question; (b) in holding them as the persons who stabbed the
jeepney driver and Virgilio Catugas in the evening of 10 March 1994 despite the fact that clear and
convincing evidence were proffered to point at the real culprits, Romulo Calimquim and his companions;
(c) in rendering a verdict of conviction notwithstanding the failure of the prosecution to prove their guilt
beyond reasonable doubt; and (d) in convicting them of the crimes charged instead of the crimes
homicide and frustrated homicide — on the assumption that they are guilty.

Being interrelated, the appellants discussed jointly these assigned errors. They submit that:

(1) The uncorroborated testimony of Catugas on the identification of the appellants leaves much to be
desired. He should not be believed, for he could not even remember who among the appellants were
wearing short pants, hat, and shoes at that time. If policeman Gulen could not even identify in court
appellant Mejia whom he apprehended in the evening of 10 March 1994 and brought to the Sual Police
Station, it was with more reason that Catugas could not have identified the assailants since it was
nighttime. The possibility that Catugas got confused, if not mentally and physically drained, as a result of
the shocking incident is not far-fetched. There is then a very strong and compelling reason to believe
that Catugas mistook the appellants as the real hold-uppers.

(2) Catugas told Conrado Benito and Felicidad Fabito that their children did not commit any wrong, but
Catugas "vacillated and testified falsely against accused-appellants when they were not able to produce
the amount of P20,000.00 each as earlier demanded from them." Catuga's denial of their testimony is
self-serving and cannot overcome the positive testimony of Conrado and Felicidad.
(3) The actuations of appellants specifically that of Edwin Benito augurs well with their claim of
innocence," when they were apprehended. Benito readily showed his driver's license, answered
questions propounded by policeman Clemente, and without hesitation he helped or guided the
policemen in locating the jeepney at the place where it was abandoned. He did not try to hide or
conceal anything when he was confronted about the incident. Moreover, when Benito and Mejia were
picked up by a policeman on that fateful night, they were not "tainted with blood."

(4) On the assumption that they are guilty they could only be liable for homicide and frustrated
homicide, since treachery was not established.

In their Appellants' Brief in G.R. No. 119407, they make the following assignment of errors: (a) the facts
charged in the information do not constitute violation of the crime of Anti-Carnapping Act of 1972, as
amended; (b) The court a quo erred in convicting them of the crime charged on the basis of surmises
and conjecture; and (c) the court a quo erred in convicting them by relying fully on the evidence of the
prosecution and completely disregarding the evidence of the defense.

As to the first, the appellants argue that intent to gain, which is an essential ingredient of the crime
of carnapping, was not proved. They claim that from the evidence adduced "it is very clear that the
incident was only a hold-up and that the jeepney was taken to Sual as escape vehicle."

In support of the second and third assigned errors, which they discussed jointly, the appellants submit
that:

(1) The trial court's conclusion on their culpability was based on mere surmises and conjectures and
contradicted by the evidence on the record. The fact that the group of Calimqium did not hurt any of the
four appellants and that the latter offered no resistance does not prove appellant's membership in
Calimquim's group. That they did not even jump off the passenger jeepney or show positive signs to
invite the attention of the PNP stationed along the route from Dagupan City to Sual, it was because of
fear since Calimquim's group pointed knives at each of them and ordered them to lie down in stooping
position. The absence of conspiracy was shown by the fact that in Sual, after they were released as
hostages, they ran in separate directions and did not join the group of Calimquim.

(2) The entry in the Sual Police Station police blotter that Benito and Mejia were suspected of having
carnapped the passenger jeepney does not bind them, for it was made by a police officer and was
contrary to what they had reported.

(3) There is no basis for the conclusion that Paraan and Fabito had escaped.

(4) The trial court should not have relied on the testimony of Catugas whose identification of the
appellants was based only on the pictures and on the information of the policemen. It was impossible
for Catugas to narrate in detail the participation of each accused, considering that the light in the
jeepney was dim and his principal attention was concentrated on defending himself.

(5) Appellant's reporting of the incident disproved their membership in the group of Calimquim. If they
were members, their natural course would have been to hide from the authorities. Their voluntary
submission to the police immediately after the incident should have been given credence as part of
the res gestae.
In the Consolidated Appellee's Brief, the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) urges us to affirm in
toto the challenged decisions for failure of the appellants to show that the trial court committed error in
finding the prosecution evidence clear, sufficient, and convincing to convict. Catugas, who made an
eyewitness account, had the opportunity to observe the appellants during the commission of the crime
and had no ill-motive to implicate the appellants falsely. As to the charge that he perjured because the
appellants were not able to produce the amount of P80,000 which he allegedly demanded from them,
the same should not be believed. The truth is, it was the parents of the appellants who approached
Catugas and offered him P80,000 in order that he would not testify against the appellants. Catugas did
not accept the offer, as it was against his principles to tell a lie.

The OSG also maintains that treachery was duly proved and, hence, the trial court was correct in
convicting the appellants of murder for the death of Teofilo Landingin and frustrated murder for
stabbing Virgilio Catugas. Their conviction for violation of the Anti-Carnapping Act is also proper, since
their main purpose was to get the jeepney and they killed Landingin in order that they could get it. They
presented to evidence to prove that they ran away with the jeepney for any lawful purpose.

In their Consolidated Reply Brief, the appellants try to show that the identification made by prosecution
witness Catugas cannot be denominated as clear, positive, and convincing; for, while it may be true that
he "could have taken glimpse or glance at the faces of all the accused-appellants, this fact alone is not
adequate and fell short of the required test of 'positive identification'." They strongly suggest that
Catugas had ill-motive to testify falsely against them in that he was not paid the P80,000 he demanded.

IV
THE CRIMES COMMITTED AND THE
ISSUE OF CULPABILITY OF APPELLANTS

Before we go any further, remarks on some procedural matters are in order. The crimes charged in the
informations filed before the LARON court and CASTILLO court are irretrievably linked with or related to
one another. They arose out of the same incident, are founded on the same factual milieu, and would be
proved by testimonies of the same witnesses. The three cases then should have been consolidated and
jointly tried in one branch of the RTC of Dagupan City. What were jointly tried were only the cases for
murder and frustrated murder. Section 14 of Rule 119 of the Rules of Court provides:

Sec. 14. Consolidation of trials of related offenses. Charges for offenses founded on the same facts or
forming part of a series of offenses of similar character may be tried jointly at the court's discretion.

The purpose or object of consolidation is to avoid multiplicity of suits, guard against oppression or
abuse, prevent delay, clear congested dockets, simplify the work of the trial court, and save unnecessary
cost or expense; in short, the attainment of justice with the least expense and vexation to the parties
litigants.48 In Raymundo v. Elipe,49 we held that although consolidation of several cases involving the
same parties and the same subject matter is one addressed to the sound discretion of the trial court,
joint hearing becomes a matter of duty if two or more cases are tried before the same judge, or
even filed with the different branches of the same court, provided one of such cases has not been
partially tried.

We are unable to understand why neither the LARON court or the CASTILLO court nor any of the parties
caused, or moved for, a consolidation of the case for violation of the Anti-Carnapping Act (which has the
higher docket number) with the cases for murder and frustrated murder in the LARON court (which have
lower docket numbers). It was only after the filing of their separate Appellant's Brief in G.R. Nos.
118940-41 and in G.R. No. 119407 that the appellants moved to consolidate the latter with the former.

This failure to consolidate the three cases at the trial court level could contribute some difficulty in the
appreciation of the evidence. The principal witnesses of the parties testified in all the three cases. Yet,
the assessment of their testimony and credibility in the LARON court must not be influenced by their
testimonies in the case before the CASTILLO court, and vice versa. In the LARON court, prosecution
witness Catugas was unclear in some details of the incident, but clear in the CASTILLO court. Upon the
other hand, there were details he disclosed in one of the courts which were not given in the other court.
The same observation may be had on the testimonies of the appellants before both courts. As one reads
the transcripts of the testimonies of these witnesses in both cases, it would be quite difficult to avoid
forming impressions in light of the totality of their testimonies in both courts. Our minds and mental
processes must be kept away from the pitfalls of such impressions, for the rules on evidence and the
constitutional presumption of innocence in favor of the appellants dictate that we resolve the appeals in
the cases before the LARON court and the case before the CASTILLO court solely on the basis of the
evidence presented before such courts, respectively.

The next preliminary matter to be resolved is whether the crimes of murder in Criminal Case No. 94-
00617-D and frustrated murder in Criminal Case No. 94-00619-D are absorbed in the violation of the
Anti-Carnapping Act in Criminal Case No. 94-00620-D.

R.A. No. 7659 which took effect on 31 December 1993 50 is applicable to these cases because the crimes
were committed on 10 March 1994. Section 14 of the Anti-Carnapping Act was amended by Section 20
of R.A. No. 7659 and now imposes the penalty of reclusion perpetua to death when the owner, driver, or
occupant of the carnapped motor vehicle is killed or raped in the course of the commission of the
carnapping or on the occasion thereof. This Section, as amended, reads in full as follows:

Sec. 14. Penalty for Carnapping. — Any person who is found guilty of carnapping, as this term is defined
in Section Two of this Act, shall, irrespective of the value of motor vehicle taken, be punished by
imprisonment for not less than fourteen years and eight months and not more than seventeen years
and four months, when the carnapping is committed without violence or intimidation of persons, or
force upon things; and by imprisonment for not less than seventeen years and four months and not
more than thirty years, when the carnapping is committed by means of violence against or intimidation
of any person, or force upon things; and the penalty of reclusion perpetua to death shall be imposed
when the owner, driver or occupant of the carnapped motor vehicle is killed or raped in the course of the
commission of the carnapping or on the occasion thereof  . (Emphasis supplied).

In the original Section 14 of R.A. No. 6539, the last clause read as follows:

and the penalty of life imprisonment to death shall be imposed when the owner, driver or occupant of
the carnapped vehicle is killed in the commission of the carnapping. (emphasis supplied).

Three amendments have thus been made, viz: (1) the change of the penalty of life imprisonment
to reclusion perpetua, (2) the inclusion of rape, and (3) the change of the phrase "in the commission of
the carnapping" to "in the course of the commission of the carnapping or on the occasion thereof." The
latter makes clear the intention of the law to make the offense a special complex crime, by way of
analogy vis-a-vis paragraphs 1 to 4 of Article 294 of the Revised Penal Code on robbery with violence
against or intimidation of persons. As such, the killing (or the rape) merely qualifies the crime of
carnapping which for lack of specific nomenclature may be known as qualified carnapping or carnapping
in an aggravated form. In short, considering the phraseology of the amended Section 14, 51 the
carnapping and the killing (or the rape) may be considered as a single or indivisible crime or a special
complex crime which, however, is not covered by Article 48 of the Revised Penal Code.

Since Section 14 of R.A. No. 6539 uses the words "IS KILLED," no distinction must be made between
homicide and murder. Whether it is one or the other which is committed "in the course of carnapping or
on the occasion thereof" makes no difference insofar as the penalty is concerned.

It follows then that the killing of the driver, Teofilo Landingin — whether it be homicide or murder —
cannot be treated as a separate offense, but should only be considered to qualify the crime of
carnapping.

Nonetheless, although there could only be one single offense of qualified carnapping or carnapping in an
aggravated form, the prosecution had still to prove the essential requisites of the homicide or murder of
Landingin and that of carnapping. This should have been another reason for the consolidation of the
carnapping case in the CASTILLO court with the cases before the LARON court.

But do the words "IS KILLED" in the last clause of Section 14 of R.A. No. 6539, as amended, include the
crime of frustrated murder or homicide? Put a little differently, does murder or homicide in its frustrated
stage also qualify carnapping if it is committed "in the course of the commission of the carnapping or on
the occasion thereof"? The answer must be in the negative in light of the use in said Section 14 of the
words "IS KILLED". The unmistakable import thereof is that it refers only to the consummated felony of
either murder or homicide.

If attempted or frustrated murder or homicide is committed "in the course of the commission of the
carnapping or on the occasion thereof," then it must be deemed to fall under the clause (of Section 14)
"when the carnapping is committed by means of violence against or intimidation of any person."

We shall now take up the issue of the culpability of the appellants.

The evidence adduced by the prosecution has established beyond reasonable doubt the carnapping of
Teofilo Landingin's passenger jeepney, which is a motor vehicle under the definition in Section 2 of R.A.
No. 6539.52 The passenger jeepney was taken, with intent of gain, from Landingin by means of violence
against him which caused his death and against a passenger, Virgilio Catugas, who suffered physical
injuries.

But, has the prosecution established with moral certainty the guilt of the appellants? The LARON and
the CASTILLO courts held that it did.

Enshrined in the Bill of Rights is the right of the accused to be presumed innocent until the contrary is
proved.53 To overcome the presumption, nothing but proof beyond reasonable doubt must be
established by the prosecution.54 Save in certain circumstances as where, for instance, the accused
admits the commission of the acts alleged to constitute a crime but interposes justifying circumstances,
the burden is never shifted to the accused or diminished by the weakness of his defense. Indeed, unless
the prosecution successfully discharges that burden, the accused need not even offer evidence in his
behalf.55

In our jurisdiction accusation is not synonymous with guilt. The freedom of the accused is forfeit only if
the requisite quantum of proof necessary for conviction be in existence. This, of course, requires the
most careful scrutiny of the evidence for the State, both oral and documentary, independent of
whatever defense is offered by the accused. Every circumstance favoring the accused's innocence must
be duly taken into account. The proof against the accused must survive the test of reason. Strongest
suspicion must not be permitted to sway judgment. The conscience must be satisfied that on the
accused could be laid the responsibility for the offense charged. 56 If the prosecution fails to discharge
the burden, then it is not only the accused's right to be freed; it is, even more, the court's constitutional
duty to acquit him.57

After a painstaking review of the records and the transcripts of the stenographic notes of the
testimonies of the witnesses in the cases before the LARON court and the CASTILLO court, we are not
convinced with moral certainty that the appellants committed the crimes charged. Reasonable doubt
burdens our conscience; our minds cannot rest easy on a verdict of conviction.

The prosecution had nine suspects in these cases: the four appellants and the five others, namely,
Romulo Calimquim, Alex Mamaril, a certain Dennis, a certain Mondragon, and another described as John
Doe. All nine were forthwith charged with the crimes of murder, frustrated murder, and carnapping in
Criminal Cases Nos. 3310,58 3313,59 3311,60 respectively, of the Municipal Trial Court of Sta. Barbara,
Pangasinan, and then in the informations in Criminal Cases Nos. 94-00617-D, 61 and 94-00619-D62 of the
LARON court and Criminal Case No. 94-00620-D 63 of the CASTILLO court, respectively.

The theory of the appellants is that they were not members of the group of Romulo Calimquim. The
prosecution has no proof to prove otherwise; but the LARON and the CASTILLO courts, through
inferences from certain facts, concluded that the appellants were. The conclusion is rather tenuous.
While the rigorous cross-examination of the appellants in all these cases has established close
relationship among the appellants by reason of their residence and work, (Benito, as sand-and-gravel
truck driver and Mejia, Fabito, and Paraan as his keepers), it miserably failed to establish any
relationship between them and the five others headed by Calimquim. What then looms large in our
minds is that the appellants and the five others happened to be passengers of Landingin's jeepney by
accident, not by design. If the appellants were with the five others until Sual, Pangasinan, it was because
they were intimidated and made to lie down on their belies inside the jeepney.

Another circumstance further proves that the appellants did not belong to the group of Calimquim.
Upon arrival in the mountains of Sual, they fled from the Calimquim group when the first opportunity to
do so came. We find to be absolutely without basis the statement of the CASTILLO court that the
appellants abandoned Landingin's jeepney in Sitio Nipa, Baquioen, Sual, Pangasinan, "upon seeing the
arrival of concerned citizens and members of the Sual Police Station; the responding peace officers
effected the recovery of the subject jeepney sans the accused/culprits." No prosecution witness so
testified. In the CASTILLO court, no policeman was presented as witness for the prosecution. The
evidence presented by both the prosecution and the defense reveal that after appellants Benito and
Mejia were picked up by Policeman Gulen on the latter's suspicion that they were members of an akyat-
bahay gang, they voluntarily informed the police authorities of the Sual Police Station of what
happened. It was this information that brought the policemen to where the subject jeepney was
located. Benito even accompanied the policemen. This resulted in the recovery of the jeepney by the
policemen. Appellant Paraan also presented himself later to the Police Station of Sta. Barbara. Appellant
Fabito, although apprehended by concerned citizens of the place to where he had fled, voluntarily
reported what he knew to the police authorities of Sual and Sta. Barbara.

Unfortunately, the CASTILLO court relied heavily on the entries in the police blotters of the police
stations of Sual and Sta. Barbara. The silence of the entries on what the appellants had declared in court
is not conclusive evidence that they did not report the incident to the police authorities. They had no
participation in the preparation of the entries. Entries in the police blotters should not be given undue
significance or probative value, for they are normally incomplete and inaccurate sometimes from either
partial suggestion of for want of suggestion or inquiries. 64 The entries in question are sadly wanting in
material particulars. At the very most, they only recorded the impression that the appellants were
"suspects."

As to the alleged participation of the appellants in the commission of the crimes, the prosecution had to
rely solely on the testimony of Virgilio Catugas. The totality of his testimony in the cases before the
LARON court leaves much to be desired. The prosecutor who conducted the direct examination was
unable to propound sensible questions to elicit clear answers bound to reconstruct faithfully the events
surrounding the commission of the alleged crimes. This deficiency thus tempted the trial judge to ask
more questions. Despite the latter's participation, the testimony of Catugas fails to convince us that the
appellants indeed participated in the commission of the crimes. On cross-examination in the LARON
court, Catugas categorically admitted that he did not know the names of the appellants and that he
could recognize only three of the nine accused. Thus:

ATTY. TAMINAYA:

Q Now, in paragraph 8 of your statement, you said and you mentioned the names of the person and I
will now read:

Q How about the true names of the suspect, do you know them?

A In fact I do not know, however, based on the police investigation of Sta. Barbara PNP, they were,
Gregorio Mejia, Edwin Benito, Joseph Fabito, Pedro Paraan, Mok Calimquim, alyas Dennis, Alex Mamaril,
Dennis Abrigo alyas Mondragon and one unidentified person.

can you tell this Court why these persons were written in your statement?

A Because of the police investigation.

Q So, were it not of the police and the pictures, you were not able to identify the accused, is that
correct?

A I can recognize the others, sir.

Q How many of the nine (9) can you recognize?

A Three (3) of them, sir.

COURT:

Q What you do mean when you said that that you can recognize three (3) of them?
A I can remember those persons who sat near me.

Q Who of the four (4) accused who sitted [sic] near you?

A The one wearing red T-shirt, the second to the last of the four accused.

Q So, how were you able to identify these [sic] persons who is [sic] wearing in [sic] red T-shirt?

A I saw his face, sir.

Q How were you able to recognize the last person (referring to Edwin Benito)?

A He was besides [sic] the driver, Sir.65

Further indicating the uncertainty of his identification, he made the following admissions on cross-
examination:

Q Now, you said you recognized the persons who sat besides [sic] the driver, is it not?

A Yes, sir.

Q Please point to him?

A He was wearing a dark color.

Q Was it a T-shirt or a polo shirt?

A I cannot tell, sir.

Q How about the person sitting in front of you whom you pointed to this person wearing in red T-shirt?

A I can no longer remember, sir.

Q How about the person next to the one with red t-shirt, do you remember his shirt?

A I don't know, sir.

Q How about Gregorio Mejia, do you remember his clothes?

A I cannot remember, sir.

Q You can't remember also whether one of these accused was wearing a hat at that time?

A I cannot remember, sir.

In the case before the CASTILLO court, he declared that he was stabbed by the nine persons. Thus:

COURT:

Q Who were involved in stabbing?

A All of them, sir.

Q Who was the assailant and who was stabbed?

A The 9 persons, sir.

A Me and the driver, sir.

PROS. MARATA:

Q How many times were you stabbed by the nine persons, four of whom were inside the courtroom?

A From the scar left of my body, there are 22 stabbed wounds, sir. 66

Yet, no further questions were asked for him to convincingly show that the appellants inflicted any of
the stab wounds on his body. Further compounding the uncertainty and unreliability of Catuga's
testimony, he candidly admitted on cross-examination that only one person stabbed him. Thus:

ATTY. TAMINAYA:

Q How many times were you stabbed by them?

A Twice, sir.

Q And you cannot recognize the person who stabbed your?

A I can identify him, sir.

Q How many persons stabbed you then?

A Only one (1) person, sir.67

Upon further questioning by the court, Catugas declared that six of the nine stabbed him:

COURT:

Q How many stab wounds did you sustain?

A More than twenty (20) stab wounds, sir.

Q A while ago you mentioned there were two (2) initial stab blows with respect to the other stab blow
who delivered this stab blow?

A His companions and also Gregorio Mejia, sir.

COURT:

Proceed.

ATTY. TAMINAYA:

Q When you said his companions and Gregorio Mejia are you referring to the five (5) other persons as
the companions of Gregorio Mejia who participated in stabbing you?

A I think it is about six (6) of them who stabbed me, sir. 68

He could not remember anymore the person who inflicted the last stab wound, and then declined to
point to anyone of the herein four appellants as the person who did it. Thus:
COURT:

Q When they stopped stabbing you they did not stab you anymore?

A They still stabbed me on my right upper arm, sir. (Witness showing his scar near the shoulder.)

Q You said you were stabbed on your right shoulder, who stabbed you among these nine (9) persons?

A I could not remember anymore, sir.

Q When you said you cannot remember, you cannot tell this Court whether it was one among the four
(4) accused in this case who stabbed you on your right upper arm?

A I could not point the person responsible in stabbing my shoulder because that is the last stab wound,
sir.69

It would thus be sheer speculation and conjecture to conclude from Catuga's testimony in the CASTILLO
court that the appellants had inflicted any of the stab wounds on Catugas.

Moreover, on question by the trial judge in the CASTILLO court, Catugas categorically admitted that
none of the appellants participated in the stabbing of Landingin. Thus:

COURT:

x x x           x x x          x x x

Q These two persons who participated in stabbing Teofilo Landingin, can you inform the Court if the four
(4) accused now or these two persons are among the four (4) accused now?

A They are not here, sir.70

Finally, Catugas was not entirely free from any ulterior motive in implicating the appellants. He admitted
that he demanded P80,000 from the parents of the appellants, but before they could give the money on
the agreed date, he testified against the appellants in the LARON court. The following exchanges
between him and counsel for the defense before the CASTILLO court are revealing:

ATTY. TAMINAYA:

Q After you were released from the hospital, were you able to talk with the father of Edwin Benito?

A Yes, sir.

Q And you told them about your expenses in the hospital, is that correct?

A Yes, sir.

Q And you demanded from them to pay P40,000.00 is that correct?

A I was asking P80,000.00, sir.

COURT:

Q Why were you asking the amount of P80,000.00 then?

A Because he pleaded to me, sir.

A Yes, sir.

COURT:

Proceed.

ATTY. TIMANAYA:

Q And the parents of Edwin Benito cannot pay that P80,000.00 because they are poor?

A They will not pay that amount on that date, we have agreed of another date for them to pay, sir.

COURT:

Q Did the parents of Edwin Benito made a counter offer?

A That is already their counter proposal, sir.

Q What you want to tell the Honorable Court is that you agreed to pay you P80,000.00 but he cannot
pay you at that very moment?

A Yes, sir.

COURT:

Proceed.

ATTY. TAMINAYA:

Q Did you agree for the amount of P80,000.00?

COURT:

That is the settlement money.

ATTY. TAMINAYA:

Q So, it is clear that if only they have given P80,000.00, you should not have testified in this case?

A PROSECUTOR MARATA:

Improper, your honor.

ATTY. TAMINAYA

As follow-up question, you Honor.

COURT:

Sustained. Hypothetical.

ATTY. TAMINAYA:
Q You said that there was the agreed date, what happened on the agreed date?

A The date has not yet arrived but I have already testified, sir.

COURT:

Q When you said you have already testified, you are referring to your testimony in RTC Branch 44?

A Yes, sir.71

In the LARON court, efforts were made by the prosecution to cushion the impact of Catugas' demand for
payment of P80,000 in consideration of his exculpatory testimony. It wanted to prove that the parents
of the appellants were in fact the ones who proposed. But the testimony of Conrado Benito, which the
prosecution failed to satisfactorily rebut, is that the parents went to see him to verify whether their
children had indeed committed the crimes; but Catugas replied that since the appellants were the ones
apprehended, he would just pinpoint them so that he could recover what he had spent. He then
demanded P80,000, which he equally apportioned among the parents of the four appellants. Conrado
Benito testified as follows:

Q What did you tell him?

A I told him that our children telling us that they did not commit any wrong and I told them to tell the
truth and we are not consenting them to whatever they have done if they done something wrong.

Q What was the answer of Virgilio Catugas?

A He said, he suffered several wounds and that he spent so much for his hospitalization, and he said also
that they were the persons who were apprehended and so, I will just tell a lie for the same because how
could I collect for the amount I spent if I will not tell a lie?

COURT:

Q You consider Virgilio Catugas as a liar and you are not a liar?

A Yes, sir.

ATTY. TAMINAYA:

Q Can you tell this Court what did you tell him about that expenses?

A I said, "then we can at least help you", because he is saying that he suffered several wounds.

Q How much did Virgilio Catugas tell you?

A The last time that we talked, he ask[ed] us to give P20,000.00 each.

COURT:

Q How many times did he tell your?

A For 5 to 6 times because he told us to return to him. 72

But the parents could not deliver the P20,000 each was to pay, for they could not afford it. Conrado so
declared, thus:
ATTY. TAMINAYA:

Q When Virgilio Catugas told you to give P20,000.00, can you tell this court if he made mention to the
wife of Teofilo Landingin?

A Because he is collecting from us P20,000.00, he told us that we would not tell the same to Mrs.
Landingin.

Q Were you able to give that P20,000.00?

A No sir, not even a single centavo.

Q Why?

A We cannot pay because even payment for attorney's fees, we cannot afford. 73

The LARON court gave credence to the version of the prosecution and even took the incident as offer of
compromise, which may be considered an implied admission of guilt. Said court misapplied Section 27 of
Rule 130 of the Rules of Court. 74 There is no evidence whatsoever that any of the appellants authorized
his parents to approach Catugas or knew the matter of payment of P80,000. Moreover, if one were to
believe the explanation of Catugas that the amount of P80,000 represented the expenses he incurred
for his hospitalization and medical bills, then the offer to reimburse it is not admissible in evidence as
proof of criminal liability pursuant to the last paragraph of Section 27 of Rule 130.

On the whole then we entertain, unavoidably, serious doubt on the participation of the appellants in the
commission of the crimes charged.

WHEREFORE, the challenged decisions in Criminal Case No. 94-00617-D (for Murder) and Criminal Case
No. 94-00619-D (for Frustrated Murder) of Branch 44 and in Criminal Case No. 94-00620-D (violation of
Anti-Carnapping Act of 1972) of Branch 43 of the Regional Trial Court of Dagupan City are REVERSED.
Accused-appellants Gregorio Mejia, Edwin Benito, Pedro Paraan, and Joseph Fabito are ACQUITTED on
the ground that their guilt therefor has not been proved beyond reasonable doubt or with moral
certainty. Their immediate release from detention is hereby ordered, unless other lawful and valid
grounds for their further detention exist.

No costs.