182 People v. Bayotas, G.R. No. 102007, 2 September 1994
182 People v. Bayotas, G.R. No. 102007, 2 September 1994
FACTS
Case No. C-3217 filed before Branch 16, RTC Roxas City, Rogelio Bayotas y Cordova was charged with Rape
convicted thereof on June 19, 1991 in a decision penned by Judge Manuel E. Autajay.
Pending appeal of his conviction, Bayotas died on February 4, 1992 due to cardio respiratory arrest secondary to
hepatic encephalopathy secondary to hipato carcinoma gastric malingering.
Supreme Court in its Resolution of May 20, 1992 dismissed the criminal aspect of the appeal. However, it required the
Solicitor General to file its comment with regard to Bayotas' civil liability arising from his commission of the offense
charged.
ISSUE
Whether or not the death of appellant Bayotas extinguished his criminal liability and the civil liability
RULLING
Death of the accused pending appeal of his conviction extinguishes his criminal liability as well as the civil liability
Where the civil liability survives, as explained in Number 2 above, an action for recovery therefor may be pursued but
only by way of filing a separate civil action and subject to Section 1, Rule 111 of the 1985 Rules on Criminal
Procedure as amended.
file this separate civil action by prescription
cases where during the prosecution of the criminal action and prior to its extinction, the private-offended party
instituted together therewith the civil action
civil liability is deemed interrupted during the pendency of the criminal case, conformably with provisions of Article
1155
the death of appellant Bayotas extinguished his criminal liability and the civil liability based solely on the act
complained
WHEREFORE, the appeal of the late Rogelio Bayotas is DISMISSED with costs de oficio.