Civil%Law%Cases%%Art.

%11%%Trece%Martires%and%Friends%

People(v(Manaban(.(Art.(11(Self(Defense((Unlawful(aggression)(
FACTS:%Ramonito%Manaban%was%found%guilty%of%the%crim%of%homicide%by%the%RTC%and%CA.%
On%Oct.%11,%1996,%at%around%1:25%in%the%morning,%Joselito%Bautista,%a%father%and%a%member%of%UP%Police%Force,%
took%his%daughter,%Frinzi,%who%complained%of%difficulty%in%breathing,%the%the%UP%Health%Center.%There,%the%
doctors%prescribed%certain%medicines%to%be%purchased.%Bautista%who%had%taken%alcoholic%drinks%earlier,%went%to%
the%BPI%Kalayaan%Branch%to%withdraw%some%money%from%its%ATM.%
Bautista%failed%to%withdraw%the%money%and%he%started%kicking%and%pounding%on%the%machine.%The%security%
guard,%Ramonito%Manaban,%approached%and%asked%him%what%the%problem%was.%Bautista%complained%that%his%
ATM%card%was%retrieved%by%the%machine%and%that%no%money%came%out%of%it.%Manaban%checked%the%receipt%and%
he%found%that%Bautista%entered%a%wrong%PIN%and%he%advised%Bautista%to%return%the%next%morning.%This%angered%
Bautista%and%he%continue%pounding%on%the%machine.%When%Manaban%could%no%longer%pacify%him,%he%fired%a%
warning%shot.%That%diverted%the%attention%of%Bautista.%Instead%of%venting%his%ire%against%the%machine,%he%
confronted%Manaban.%After%some%exchange%of%words,%a%shot%rang%out%fatally%hitting%Bautista.%
As%Manaban's%defense,%he%claimed%Bautista%was%about%to%draw%his%gun%when%he%placed%his%right%hand%on%his%
waist%after%he%"bumalikwas"%or%he%turned%his%back.%Fearing%for%his%life,%he%pulled%the%trigger%and%shot%Manaban.%
Then%the%police%came,%Manaban%surrendered%himself%to%the%police.%
According%to%the%autopsy,%the%point%of%entry%of%the%bullet%was%at%the%back,%on%the%right%side%of%the%body.%%
Also,%Bautistas%gun%was%still%locked%at%the%holster%and%tucked%on%his%waist.%
Issue:%W/O%Manaban%is%guilty%of%Homicide%after%claiming%that%his%life%is%in%danger%that's%why%he%fired%as%a%self%
defense.%
Held:(YES.%Under%paragraph%1,%Article%11%of%the%Revised%Penal%Code,%the%three%requisites%to%prove%selfYdefense%
as%a%justifying%circumstance%which%may%exempt%an%accused%from%criminal%liability%are:%(1)%unlawful%aggression%
on%the%part%of%the%victim;%(2)%reasonable%necessity%of%the%means%employed%to%prevent%or%repel%the%aggression;%
and%(3)%lack%of%sufficient%provocation%on%the%part%of%the%accused%or%the%person%defending%himself.%Unlawful%
aggression%is%an%indispensable%requisite%of%selfYdefense.%SelfYdefense%is%founded%on%the%necessity%on%the%part%of%
the%person%being%attacked%to%prevent%or%repel%the%unlawful%aggression.%Thus,%without%prior%unlawful%and%
unprovoked%attack%by%the%victim,%there%can%be%no%complete%or%incomplete%selfYdefense.%
In%this%case,%there%was%no%unlawful%aggression%on%the%part%of%the%victim.%First,%Bautista%was%shot%at%the%back%as%
evidenced%by%the%point%of%entry%of%the%bullet.%Second,%when%Bautista%was%shot,%his%gun%was%still%inside%a%locked%
holster%and%tucked%in%his%right%waist.%Third,%when%Bautista%turned%his%back%at%Manaban,%Manaban%was%already%
pointing%his%service%firearm%at%Bautista%
The%allegation%of%Manaban%that%Bautista%was%about%to%draw%his%gun%when%he%turned%his%back%at%Manaban%is%
mere%speculation.%Besides,%Manaban%was%already%aiming%his%loaded%firearm%at%Bautista%when%the%latter%turned%
his%back.%In%that%situation,%it%was%Bautista%whose%life%was%in%danger%considering%that%Manaban,%who%had%already%
fired%a%warning%shot,%was%pointing%his%firearm%at%Bautista.%Bautista,%who%was%a%policeman,%would%have%realized%
this%danger%to%his%life%and%would%not%have%attempted%to%draw%his%gun%which%was%still%inside%a%locked%holster%
tucked%in%his%waist.%Furthermore,%if%Manaban%really%feared%that%Bautista%was%about%to%draw%his%gun%to%shoot%
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him,%Manaban%could%have%easily%disabled%Bautista%by%shooting%his%arm%or%leg%considering%that%Manabans%
firearm%was%already%aimed%at%Bautista.%
People(v(Alconga%Y(Art(11.(Self(Defense((Unlawful(Aggresion)(
FACTS:%The%deceased%Silverio%Barion%was%the%banker%in%the%game%of%black%jack%and%upon%invitation%of%Maria%de%
Raposo,%the%accused%Dioscoro%Alconga%joined%her%as%a%partner,%each%of%them%contributing%the%sum%of%P5%to%a%
common%fund.%Maria%played%while%the%said%accused%posted%himself%behind%the%deceased%and%communicating%
by%signs%to%his%partner.%The%deceased%appears%to%have%suffered%losses%in%the%game%then%upon%discovering%what%
the%said%accused%had%been%doing,%the%deceased%became%indignant%and%expressed%his%anger%at%the%former.%In%a%
fit%of%anger,%the%deceased%left%the%house%but%not%before%telling%the%accused%Alconga,%"tomorrow%morning%I%will%
give%you%a%breakfast",%which%expression%would%seem%to%signify%an%intent%to%inflict%bodily%harm%when%uttered%
under%such%circumstances.%%
2%days%later,%while%Dioscoro%Alconga%was%alone%in%the%guard%house%performing%his%duties%as%guard%or%'ronda'%in%
barrio%Santol,%the%deceased%Silverio%Barion%passed%by%with%a%'pingahan.'%That%was%the%first%time%the%deceased%
and%the%accused%Alconga%had%met%since%that%eventful%night%of%May%27th%in%the%gambling%house%of%Gepes.%Upon%
seeing%the%accused%Algonga,%who%was%then%seated%in%the%guard%house,%the%deceased%cried:%'Coroy,%this%is%now%
the%breakfast!'%These%words%of%warning%were%immediately%followed%by%two%formidable%swings%of%the%'pingahan'%
directed%at%the%accused%Alconga%which%failed%to%hit%him.%Alconga%was%able%to%avoid%the%blows%by%falling%to%the%
ground%and%crawling%on%his%abdomen%until%he%was%outside%the%guardhouse.%The%deceased%followed%him%and%
while%in%the%act%of%delivering%the%third%blow,%Dioscoro%Alconga%fired%at%him%with%his%revolver%thereby%stopping%
the%blow%in%midYair.%The%deceased%fell%to%the%ground%momentarily%and%upon%rising%to%his%feet,%he%drew%forth%a%
dagger.%The%accused%Alconga%resorted%to%his%bolo%and%both%persons%being%armed,%a%handYtoYhand%fight%
followed.%The%deceased%having%sustained%several%wounds%from%the%hands%of%Alconga,%ran%away%with%the%latter%
close%to%his%heels.%%
ISSUE:%Whether%or%not%the%accused%acted%in%selfYdefense%%
HELD:(No.%The%court%find%appellant%guilty%of%homicide.%Upon%the%foregoing%facts,%we%hold%that%appellant's%guilt%
of%the%crime%of%homicide%has%been%established%beyond%reasonable%doubt.%The%learned%trial%court%appreciated%
in%his%favor%two%mitigating%circumstances:%voluntary%surrender%and%provocation%on%the%part%of%the%deceased.%%
It%will%be%observed%that%there%were%two%stages%in%the%fight%between%appellant%and%the%deceased.%The%initial%
stage%commenced%when%the%deceased%assaulted%appellant%without%sufficient%provocation%on%the%part%of%the%
latter.%Resisting%the%aggression,%appellant%managed%to%have%the%upper%hand%in%the%fight,%inflicting%several%
wounds%upon%the%deceased,%on%account%of%which%the%latter%fled%in%retreat.%From%that%moment%there%was%no%
longer%any%danger%to%the%life%of%appellant%who,%being%virtually%unscathed,%could%have%chosen%to%remain%where%
he%was.%Resolving%all%doubts%in%his%favor,%and%considering%that%in%the%first%stage%the%deceased%was%the%unlawful%
aggressor%and%defendant%had%not%given%sufficient%provocation,%and%considering%further%that%when%the%
deceased%was%about%to%deliver%the%third%blow,%appellant%was%still%in%a%crawling%position%and,%on%that%account,%
could%not%have%effectively%wielded%his%bolo%and%therefore%had%to%use%his%"paltik"%revolverhis%only%remaining%
weapon;%we%hold%that%said%appellant%was%then%acting%in%selfYdefense.%%
But%when%he%pursued%the%deceased,%he%was%no%longer%acting%in%selfYdefense,%there%being%then%no%more%
aggression%to%defend%against,%the%same%having%ceased%from%the%moment%the%deceased%took%to%his%heels.%
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During%the%second%stage%of%the%fight%appellant%inflicted%many%additional%wounds%upon%the%deceased.%That%the%
deceased%was%not%fatally%wounded%in%the%first%encounter%is%amply%shown%by%the%fact%that%he%was%still%able%to%
run%a%distance%of%some%200%meters%before%being%overtaken%by%appellant.%Under%such%circumstances,%
appellant's%plea%of%selfYdefense%in%the%second%stage%of%the%fight%cannot%be%sustained.%There%can%be%no%defense%
where%there%is%no%aggression.%%
"Although%the%defendant%was%not%the%aggressor,%he%is%not%exempt%from%criminal%liability%for%the%reason%that%it%is%
shown%that%he%struck%several%blows,%among%them%the%fatal%one,%after%the%necessity%for%defending%himself%had%
ceased,%his%assailant%being%then%in%retreat.%Therefore%one%of%the%essential%ingredients%of%selfYdefense%specified%
in%No.%4,%Article%8%of%the%Penal%Code%is%wanting"%(now%Article%11,%Case%No.%1,%Revised%Penal%Code).%(United%
States%vs.%Dimitillo,%7%Phil.,%475,%476)%%
As%thus%modified,%the%judgment%appealed%from%is%hereby%affirmed.%%
People(v(Genosa%Y(Art(11.(Self(Defense((Unlawful(Aggresion)(
Facts:%That%Marivic%Genosa,%the%Appellant%on%the%15%November1995,%attacked%and%wounded%his%husband,%
which%ultimately%led%to%his%death.%According%to%the%appellant%she%did%not%provoke%her%husband%when%she%got%
home%that%night%it%was%her%husband%who%began%the%provocation.%The%Appellant%said%she%was%frightened%that%
her%husband%would%hurt%her%and%she%wanted%to%make%sure%she%would%deliver%her%baby%safely.%In%fact,%The%
Appellant%had%to%be%admitted%later%at%the%Rizal%Medical%Centre%as%she%was%suffering%from%eclampsia%and%
hypertension,%and%the%baby%was%born%prematurely%on%December%1,%1995.%%
The%Appellant%testified%that%during%her%marriage%she%had%tried%to%leave%her%husband%at%least%five%(5)%times,%but%
that%Ben%would%always%follow%her%and%they%would%reconcile.%The%reason%why%Ben%was%violent%and%abusive%
towards%her%that%night%was%because%'he%was%crazy%about%his%recent%girlfriend,%Lulu%Rubillos.%%
The%Appellant%after%being%interviewed%by%specialists,%has%been%shown%to%be%suffering%from%Battered%Woman%
Syndrome.%The%appellant%with%a%plea%of%selfYdefense%admitted%the%killing%of%her%husband,%she%was%then%found%
guilty%of%Parricide,%with%the%aggravating%circumstance%of%treachery,%for%the%husband%was%attacked%while%asleep.%
Issue:%Whether%or%not%(i)%Marivic%Genosa%be%granted%the%Justifying%circumstance%of%SelfYdefense;%and%(ii)%can%
she%be%held%liable%for%the%aggravating%circumstance%of%treachery.%%
Held:&No.%Since%selfYdefense%since%the%existence%of%Battered%woman%syndrome,%which%the%appellant%has%been%
shown%to%be%suffering%in%the%relationship%does%not%in%itself%establish%the%legal%right%of%the%woman%to%kill%her%
abusive%partner.%Evidence%must%still%be%considered%in%the%context%of%selfYdefense.%Without%continuous%
aggression%there%can%be%no%selfYdefense.%And%absence%of%aggression%does%not%warrant%complete%or%incomplete%
selfYdefense.%%
No.%treachery%is%present%when%one%commits%any%of%the%crimes%against%persons%by%employing%means,%methods%
or%forms%in%the%execution%thereof%without%risk%to%oneself%arising%from%the%defense%that%the%offended%party%
might%make.%
The%conviction%of%Appellant%Marivic%Genosa%for%parricide%is%hereby%AFFIRMED.%However,%there%being%two%(2)%
mitigating%circumstances%and%no%aggravating%circumstance%attending%her%commission%of%the%offense,%her%
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penalty%is%REDUCED%to%six%(6)%years%and%one%(1)%day%of%prision%mayor%as%minimum;%to%14%years,%8%months%and%1%
day%of%reclusion%temporal%as%maximum.%%
[1]%After%this%case%was%decided%by%the%Supreme%Court,%R.A.%9262,%otherwise%known%as%AntiYViolence%Against%
Women%and%their%Children%Act%of%2004%was%enacted.%Sec.%26%of%said%law%provides%that%"VictimYsurvivors%who%
are%found%by%the%courts%to%be%suffering%from%battered%women%syndrome%do%not%incur%any%criminal%and%civil%
liability%notwithstanding%the%absence%of%any%of%the%elements%for%justifying%circumstances%of%selfYdefense%under%
the%Revised%Penal%Code."%%
Senoja(v(People(.(Art.(11(Self(Defense((Test(of(Real(and(Imminent(Peril)((
FACTS:%First%incident%:%Senoja%and%his%companions%were%having%a%drinking%session.%Later,%Leon,%armed%with%a%
bolo,%arrived%in%the%hut%of%Crisanto,%looking%for%his%brother%Miguel%whom%he%was%angry%at.%The%victim%hacked%
the%wall%of%the%house%in%anger.%Leon%attempted%to%hack%Senoja%when%the%latter%tried%to%pacify%him;%
nevertheless,%the%latter%embraced%and%managed%to%pacify%the%former.%Forthwith,%a%certain%Jose%took%the%bolo%
of%the%victim%and%threw%it%away.%The%second%incident:%the%Leon%demanded%that%Calica%return%his%bolo%as%he%
wanted%to%go%home%already.%Because%he%had%thrown%away%the%victims%bolo,Calica%was,%thus,%impelled%to%give%
his%own.%The%victim%then%warned%the%petitioner%three%times,%May'mangyayari'sa'iyo,'kung'hindi'ngayon,'bukas,%
and%left%the%hut.%When%the%victim%had%already%gone%about%ten%meters%from%the%hut,%the%petitioner%followed%the%
victim.%The%victim%turned%around%and%told%the%petitioner,%Kung'hindi'lang'kita'inaanak.%Senoya%alleged%that%
Leon%hacked%him,%hitting%the%latter%on%the%left%side%of%his%head%and%thigh.%Believing%that%the%victim%would%attack%
him%anew,%the%petitioner%stabbed%the%victim%frontally%several%times.]%He%also%stabbed%the%victim%on%the%left%
buttock.%Leon%died%on%the%spot%with%five%fatal%wounds%in%chest%and%1%stabwound%on%his%buttocks.%Senoya%
admitted%that%he%killed%Leon,%but%only%because%of%selfYdefense.%
ISSUE:%WON%the%crime%made%by%Senoja%was%justified%for%having%done%it%in%selfYdefense?%
HELD:(NO.%Art.%11Y%Circumstances/%requisites%of%selfYdefense%unlawful%aggression%on%the%part%of%the%victim%is%a%
condition%sine'qua'non%to%selfYdefense.%it%is%essential%to%selfYdefense%that%it%should%be%a%defense%against%a%
present,%actual%or%imminent%unlawful%attack,%not%merely%a%threatening%or%intimidating%attitude.%An%assault%on%
his%person,%he%cannot%punish%when%the%danger%or%peril%is%over.%When%the%danger%is%over,%the%right%of%selfY
defense%ceases.%His%right%is%defense,%not%retribution.%This%is%not%present%in%the%case%at%bar.%First,%The%SC%agrees%
with%the%findings%of%CA%that:%It%is%clear%that%at%that%point%when%the%victim%was%simply%walking%toward%his%home;%
he%had%stopped%being%an%aggressor.%Hence,%the%threat%had%ceased.%It%was%the%appellant%who%left%the%hut%and%
wanted%a%confrontation.%Senoja%was%now%the%unlawful%aggressor%in%this%second%phase%of%their%confrontation..%It%
bears%mentioning%that%appellant%also%contradicted%himself%with%respect%for%(sic)%the%reason%why%he%left%the%hut.%
First,%it%was%to%pacify%Leon%and%the%second%reason%was%that%he%was%going%home.%The%petitioner%was%aware%of%
the%peril%to%his%life%if%he%followed%the%victim.If%he%is%really%threatened%by%the%words%of%Leon,%then%he%should%not%
have%left%the%hut%immediately%knowing%that%Leon%was%just%10%meters%away.%Second,%As%gleaned%from%Leons%
statement,%Kung'hindi'lang'kita'inaanak,%the%victim%was%not%disposed,%much%less%determined%to%assault%the%
petitioner.%
People(v.(Razon(.(Art.(11(Self(Defense((Reasonable(Necessity)((
Facts:%Razon,%a%taxicab%driver,%was%held%up%by%the%group%of%Gonzalo.%While%on%his%way,%Razon%stopped%when%he%
saw%a%police%officer,%PO1%Chopchopen,%and%report%the%incident.%The%Police%Officer%accompanied%him,%hesitant%
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at%first%but%eventually%went,%on%the%place%of%the%incident%to%check%if%the%persons%who%held%him%up%was%still%
there.%On%the%area,%the%police%officer%saw%a%man%soaked%in%blood%and%was%hardly%breathing%with%a%cane%of%the%
side%(Gonzalo,%polio%victim,%pronounced%dead%on%arrival).%He%then%asked%Razon%if%he%was%one%of%the%men%who%
held%him%up%but%answered%no.%During%the%police%investigation,%Razon%admitted%he%stabbed%Gonzalo,%one%one%of%
the%holdYuppers,%and%the%death%of%The%latter%was%only%a%result%of%selfYdefense%by%the%former.%The%RTC%
convicted%Razon%for%the%crime%of%homicide%without%mitigating%or%aggravating%circumstances.%%
Issue:%WON,%the%act%committed%by%Razon%was%only%selfYdefense.%%
Held:(No,%to%escape%criminal%liability,%the%person%claiming%self%defense%must%show%by%sufficient,%satisfactory%
and%convincing%evidence%that%:%(1)%the%victim%committed%unlawful%aggression%amounting%to%actual%or%imminent%
threat%to%the%life%and%limb%of%the%person%claiming%selfYdefense;%(2)%there%was%reasonable%necessity%in%the%means%
employed%to%prevent%or%repel%the%unlawful%aggression;%and%(3)%there%was%lack%of%sufficient%provocation%on%the%
part%of%the%person%claiming%selfYdefense%or%at%least%any%provocation%executed%by%the%person%claiming%selfY
defense%was%not%the%proximate%and%immediate%cause%of%the%victim's%aggression%(Article%11%of%the%Revised%Penal%
Code).%There%can%be%no%selfYdefense%unless%the%victim%committed%unlawful%aggression%against%the%person%who%
resorted%to%selfYdefense%(People%v.%Tagana,%G.R.%No.%133027).%Petitioner%claims%that%Gonzalo,%who%was%seated%
behind%him%in%the%taxicab,%declared%a%holdYup%and%poked%a%knife%at%the%base%of%his%neck,%there%was,%indeed%
unlawful%aggression.%But,%when%Razon,%in%a%Herculean%feat,%was%able%to%grab%the%knife%from%Gonzalo%and%freed%
his%right%hand%from%the%hold%of%Gonzalo's%two%companions,%the%aggression%no%longer%existed.%He%went%after%
Gonzalo%and%his%two%companions%and%started%swinging%the%knife%he%grabbed%from%Gonzalo,%Razon%became%the%
aggressor.%It%is%settled%that%the%moment%the%first%aggressor%runs%away,%unlawful%aggression%on%the%part%of%the%
first%aggressor%ceases%to%exist;%and%when%unlawful%aggression%ceases,%the%defender%no%longer%has%any%right%to%
kill%or%wound%the%former%aggressor;%otherwise,retaliation%and%not%selfYdefense%is%committed.%Retaliation%is%not%
the%same%as%selfYdefense.%In%retaliation,%the%aggression%that%was%begun%by%the%injured%party%already%ceased%
when%the%accused%attacked%him,%while%in%selfYdefense%the%aggression%was%still%existing%when%the%aggressor%was%
injured%by%the%accused.%The%defense%employed%by%petitioner%also%cannot%be%said%to%be%reasonable.%The%means%
employed%by%a%person%claiming%selfYdefense%must%be%commensurate%to%the%nature%and%the%extent%of%the%attack%
sought%to%be%averted,%and%must%be%rationally%necessary%to%prevent%or%repel%an%unlawful%aggression.%Thus,%the%
Supreme%Court%affirmed%the%decision%the%the%court%a%quo%with%modifications%in%the%indemnity%of%civil%damages.%%
People(vs(De(la(Cruz(.(Article(11((Reasonable(Necessity)(
Facts:%This%is%an%appeal%from%a%decision%of%the%Court%of%First%Instance%of%Nueva%Ecija,%finding%the%defendant%
guilty%of%homicide.%%On%the%evening%of%February%18,%1934.%%
About%nine%o'clock%the%defendant%and%her%friends%started%home%from%a%wake%of%one%Sion%and%was%followed%5%
minutes%later%by%Francisco%Rivera,%who%had%been%playing%cards%in%the%house%where%the%wake%was%held.%At%that%
time%the%members%of%the%defendant's%party%were%walking%in%single%file,%the%defendant%was%the%hindmost.%%
The%defendant%narrated%that%after%they%had%passed%a%fork%in%the%trail%and%reached%a%narrow%part%a%man%
suddenly%threw%his%arms%around%her%from%behind,%caught%hold%of%her%breasts%and%kissed%her,%and%seized%her%in%
her%private%parts;%that%she%tried%to%free%herself,%but%he%held%her%and%tried%to%throw%her%down;%that%when%she%
felt%weak%and%could%do%nothing%more%against%the%strength%of%the%man,%she%got%a%knife%from%her%pocket,%opened%
it,%and%stabbed%him%in%defence%of%her%honour.%She%further%testified%that%the%man%who%attacked%her%did%not%say%
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Civil%Law%Cases%%Art.%11%%Trece%Martires%and%Friends%

anything;%that%she%asked%him%who%he%was%but%he%did%not%answer;%that%when%she%was%assaulted%she%cried%for%
help,%saying%"Madre%mia;%Dios%mio";%that%when%she%was%seized,%she%was%about%two%brazas%behind%her%nearest%
companion;%that%when%she%was%face%to%face%with%her%assailant%during%the%struggle%she%could%scarcely%recognize%
his%face%in%the%darkness%and%could%not%be%sure%that%it%was%Francisco%Rivera.%The%defendant%had%started%back%
towards%the%house%of%mourning,%when%the%defendant%reached%the%house%she%struck%the%knife%into%a%table%and%
said%that%she%stabbed%Francisco%Rivera%because%he%embraced%her.%Francisco%Rivera%was%taken%to%the%hospital,%
where%he%died%due%to%incurred%stabbed%under%his%right%breast.%%%
Issue:%%WON%the%defendant%acts%of%selfYdefense%was%justified?%
Held:(((Yes.%%An%attempt%to%rape%a%woman%constitutes%an%aggression%sufficient%to%put%her%in%a%state%of%legitimate%
defense%inasmuch%as%a%womans%honor%cannot%but%be%esteemed%as%a%right%as%precious,%if%not%more%than%her%
very%existence.%The%accused%was%acquitted.%%%%
%A%use%of%the%knife%in%repelling%what%she%believed%to%be%an%attack%upon%her%honor%since%she%had%no%other%means%
of%defending%herself.%%The%woman%thus%imperilled%may%kill%her%offender%if%that%is%the%only%meansleft%for%her%to%
protect%her%honor%from%so%grave%an%ourtrage.%%%%
(
%
People(vs.(Luague(.(Art.(11(Self(Defense((Reasonable(Necessity)%
FACTS:%One%morning,%the%accused%Natividad%Luague%was%in%her%house%with%her%three%children,%while%her%
husband%and%coYaccused%Wenceslao%Alcansare%was%grinding%corn%in%Juan%Garings%house%several%kilometers%
away.%Paulino%Disuasido%came%and%began%to%make%love%with%Luague,%drew%and%opened%a%knife%and%threatening%
her%with%death.%Paulino%began%to%embrace%and%touch%Natividads%breast%and%in%preparing%to%lie%with%her,%he%left%
the%knife%on%the%floor.%%
The%accused,%taking%advantage%of%the%situation,%picked%up%the%weapon%and%stabbed%him%in%the%abdomen;%and%
that%Paulino,%feeling%himself%wounded,%ran%away%jumping%through%the%window%and%falling%on%some%stones,%
while%the%accused%set%forth%immediately%for%the%Poblacion%to%surrender%herself%to%authorities%and%report%the%
incident.%
Paulino%Disuadido%had%a%different%version.%He%said%that%Alcansare%was%jealous%of%him%and%decided%to%get%rid%of%
him.%Disuasido%claimed%that%in%the%morning%of%the%crime,%Paulino%passed%through%the%couples%house%and%the%
latter%invited%Disuasido,%along%with%his%companion,%inside.%He%lend%his%knife%to%Natividad%to%cut%her%nails.%
Thereafter,%she%slashed%him%in%the%abdomen.%Paulino%tried%to%return%the%blow%but%the%accused%husband%picked%
up%a%stone%and%struck%him%in%the%forehead.%Paulino%fled.%This%version%of%Paulino%Disuadido%was%considered%
unsubstantial%by%the%court.%
ISSUE:%WON%the%accused%couples%acted%in%legitimate%selfYdefense.%
HELD:%We%hereby%hold%that%the%accused%Natividad%Luague%in%wounding%Paulino%Disuasido%to%death,%acted%in%
legitimate%selfYdefense,%and%that%the%other%accused%Wenceslao%Alcansare%had%no%participation%in%said%act;%
wherefore,%reversing%the%appealed%judgement,%we%hereby%acquit%both%accused.%
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Civil%Law%Cases%%Art.%11%%Trece%Martires%and%Friends%

Luagues%act%in%mortally%wounding%Paulino%Disuasido,%unaided%by%her%husband%and%coYaccused%Wenceslao%
Alcansare,%constitutes%exempting%circumstance%denned%in%Article%11,%subsection%1%of%RPC%because%aside%from%
right%to%life%which%rests%the%legitimate%defense%of%our%person,%we%have%the%right%to%property%acquired%by%us,%
and%the%right%to%honor%which%is%not%the%least%prized%of%mans%patrimony.%(1%Viada,%172,%173,%5th%edition).%
People(v(Jaurigue(.(Art.(11(Self(Defense((Reasonable(Necessity)(
FACTS:%Amado%Capina,%deceased%victim,%went%to%the%chapel%to%attend%religious%services%and%sat%at%the%front%
bench%facing%the%altar.%Avelina%Jaurigue%entered%the%chapel%shortly%after%the%arrival%of%her%father%for%the%same%
purpose%and%sat%on%the%bench%next%to%the%last%one%nearest%the%door.Upon%seeing%Avelina,%Amado%went%and%sat%
by%Avelinas%right%side%from%his%seat%on%the%other%side%of%the%chapel,%and%without%saying%a%word,%placed%his%
hand%on%the%upper%part%of%her%right%thigh.%Avelina%Jaurigue,%therafter,%pulled%out%with%her%right%hand%the%fan%
knife%which%she%had%in%a%pocket%of%her%dress%with%the%intention%of%punishing%Amados%offending%hand.%Amado%
seized%her%right%hand%but%she%quickly%grabbed%the%knife%on%her%left%hand%and%stabbed%Amado%once%at%the%base%
of%the%left%side%of%the%neck%inflicting%upon%him%a%wound.%Amado%Capina%died%a%few%minutes%after.%Nicolas%
Jaurigue%and%Avelina%Jaurigue%were%prosecuted%in%the%Court%for%the%crime%of%murder,%of%which%Nicolas%Jaurigue%
was%acquitted,%but%defendant%Avelina%Jaurigue%was%found%guilty%of%homicide%and%sentenced%to%an%
indeterminate%penalty%ranging%from%seven%years,%four%months%and%one%day%of%prision%mayor%to%thirteen%years,%
nine%months%and%eleven%days%of%reclusion%temporal,%with%the%accessory%penalties%provided%by%law,%to%
indemnify%the%heirs%of%the%deceased,%Amando%Capina,%in%the%sum%of%P2,000,%and%to%pay%oneYhalf%of%the%costs.%
She%was%also%credited%with%oneYhalf%of%the%period%of%preventive%imprisonment%suffered%by%her.%From%said%
judgment%of%conviction,%defendant%Avelina%Jaurigue%appealed%to%the%Court%of%Appeals%for%Southern%Luzon,%and%
in%her%brief%filed%therein%on%June%10,%1944.%Establishing%the%following%facts%of%mitigating%circumstances%before%
the%said%murder.%%
ISSUE:%WON%the%defendant%should%be%completely%absolved%of%all%criminal%responsibility%because%she%is%justified%
inhaving%acted%in%the%legitimate%defense.%%
HELD:%NO.%In%the%mind%of%the%court,%there%is%not%the%least%doubt%that,%in%stabbing%to%death%the%deceased%Amado%
Capina,%in%the%manner%and%form%and%under%the%circumstances%above%indicated,%the%defendant%and%appellant%
committed%the%crime%of%homicide,%with%no%aggravating%circumstance%whatsoever,%but%with%at%least%three%
mitigating%circumstances%of%a%qualified%character%to%be%considered%in%her%favor;%and,%in%accordance%with%the%
provisions%of%article%69%of%the%Revised%Penal%Code,%she%is%entitled%to%a%reduction%by%one%or%two%degrees%in%the%
penalty%to%be%imposed%upon%her.%And%considering%the%circumstances%of%the%instant%case,%the%defendant%and%
appellant%should%be%accorded%the%most%liberal%consideration%possible%under%the%law.%%
In%this%case,%There%was%a%reasonable%necessity%to%stop%the%deceased%from%doing%the%same%thing%or%more.%But%
there%was%no%necessity%to%use%a%knife%because%there%was%no%danger%to%her%chastity%or%honor.%To%be%entitled%to%a%
complete%selfYdefense%of%chastity,%there%must%be%an%attempt%to%rape.%%
People(v.(Apolinar(.(Article(11(Self(Defense((Defense(of(Property)(
FACTS:%HONTIVEROS,%J.,%Defendant%and%appellant,%Anastacio%Apolinar%alias%Atong%armed%with%a%shotgun%in%a%
parcel%of%land,%where%he%was%occupying,%was%overlooking%a%land%when%he%saw%a%man%carrying%a%bundle%of%palay%
on%his%shoulder.%He%called%the%attention%of%the%man%but%he%was%ignored%so%he%fired%at%the%air%and%then%at%the%
man%for%who%he%who%believed%was%a%thief.%After%the%incident%he%surrendered%to%the%authorities%right%after%the%
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Civil%Law%Cases%%Art.%11%%Trece%Martires%and%Friends%

incident%wherein%he%gave%a%sworn%statement%before%the%Justice%of%Peace%of%Umingan.%ISSUES:%Whether%or%not%
defendantYappellant%was%acting%on%defense%of%property%as%justifying%circumstance%of%the%crime%committed.%%
HELD:(No.%The%defense%of%property%can%only%be%invoked%when%it%is%coupled%with%an%attack%on%the%person%of%one%
entrusted%with%said%property.%In%the%case%at%bar,%defendantYappellant%has%not%encountered%any%attack%against%
him%when%he%was%overlooking%the%parcel%of%land.%It%has%been%justified%based%on%the%sworn%statement%that%he%
has%given%when%he%surrendered%to%the%authorities%immediately.%
People(v(Oriente((Art.(11(Self(Defense((Sufficient(Provocation)(
FACTS:%Arnel%Tanael%was%on%his%way%to%the%house%of%Romulo%Cario%y%Vallo(Deceased).He%passed%in%front%of%the%
house%of%[petitioner]%Manuel%Oriente%and%saw%the%latter%and%his%companions%having%a%drinking%spree%at%the%
terrace%of%the%house.%He%arrived%at%Romulos%house%where%the%latter%was%drinking%beer%alone.%Thereafter,%
Romulo%went%out%of%the%house%to%buy%cigarette.%While%watching%television%in%the%house%of%Romulo,%Arnel%
Tanael%heard%two%gunshots.%Hence,%he%rushed%outside.%He%saw%Romulo%Cario,%[petitioner]%Manuel%Oriente,%the%
latters%daughter%Marilou%Lopez%and%the%latters%husband,%Paul%Lopez%and%one%Rogelio%Gascon%arguing%along%the%
alley%beside%the%concrete%fence%in%front%of%Manuel%Orientes%house%where%there%was%a%lighted%fluorescent%light.%
He%heard%Paul%Lopez%telling%Romulo%Cario,Ikaw%Cario,%and%liitYliit%mo,%and%yabang%mo!%Then%Arnel%Tanael%saw%
Marilou%coming%out%from%their%house%with%a%lead%pipe%and%handed%it%over%to%Paul.%Paul%then%hit%Romulo%with%a%
lead%pipe%at%his%right%arm.%AccusedYappellant%got%the%lead%pipe%from%Paul%and%hit%Romulo%on%his%left%eyebrow.%
Romulo%reeled%and%fell%down.%Arnel%brought%Romulo%to%hospital%but%2%hours%later%he%died%due%to%Traumatic%
Head%Injury.%The%petitioner%has%his%own%version%of%the%story%and%he%insisted%that%Romulo%threatened%them%with%
a%gun.%The%deceased%told%them%that%he%will%fire%them%if%they%come%near%to%him.%And%before%that%they%had%an%
intense%argument.%%
ISSUE:%WON%the%accused%be%granted%an%opportunity%of%mitigating%circumstance,%due%to%the%premise%that%there%
was%lack%of%intent%and%that%there%was%sufficient%provocation%of%the%deceased?%%
HELD:%Provocation%is%defined%to%be%any%unjust%or%improper%conduct%or%act%of%the%offended%party,%capable%of%
exciting,%inciting,%or%irritating%anyone.%In%order%to%be%mitigating,%provocation%must%be%sufficient%and%should%
immediately%precede%the%act.%Provocation%is%sufficient%if%it%is%adequate%to%excite%a%person%to%commit%the%wrong,%
which%must%accordingly%be%proportionate%in%gravity.%That%the%provocation%must%immediately%precede%the%act%
means%that%there%should%not%be%any%interval%of%time%between%the%provocation%by%the%offended%party%and%the%
commission%of%the%crime%by%the%person%provoked.%The%fact%that%a%heated%or%intense%argument%preceded%the%
incident%is%not%by%itself%the%sufficient%provocation%on%the%part%of%the%offended%party%as%contemplated%by%law.%
Moreover,%petitioner%failed%to%establish%by%competent%evidence%that%the%victim%had%a%gun%and%used%it%to%
threaten%petitioner.%WHEREFORE,%the%petition%is%DENIED.%The%assailed%Decision%and%Resolution%of%the%Court%of%
Appeals%are%AFFIRMED%with%MODIFICATION.The%petitioner%is%found%GUILTY%beyond%reasonable%doubt%of%
Homicide%and%is%sentenced%to%suffer%the%penalty%of%an%indeterminate%sentence%of%six%(6)%years%and%one%(1)%day%
of%prision%mayor%as%minimum%to%fourteen%(14)%years,%eight%(8)%months,%and%one%(1)%day,%as%maximum.%The%
petitioner%is%further%ordered%to%pay%the%heirs%of%the%victim%the%amounts%of%P50,000.00%as%death%indemnity%and%
P41,500.00%as%actual%damages.%
People(vs.(Bumanglag((Art.(11(Self(Defense((Defense(of(Property)((
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Civil%Law%Cases%%Art.%11%%Trece%Martires%and%Friends%

Facts:%On%the%night%of%January%2,%1909,%Rafael%Bumanglag,%an%inhabitant%of%the%pueblo%of%San%Nicolas,%Province%
of%Ilocos%Norte,%missed%4%baares%or%40%bundles%of%palay%which%were%kept%in%his%granary,%,%he%found%them%in%an%
inclosed%filed%which%was%planted%with%sugar%cane,%for%the%purpose%of%ascertaining%who%had%done%it,%he%left%the%
palay%there,%and%that%night,%accompanied%by%Gregorio%Bundoc,%Antonio%Ribao,%and%Saturnino%Tumamao,%he%
waited%near%the%said%field%for%the%person%who%might%return%to%get%the%palay.%A%man,%who%turned%out%to%be%
Guillermo%Ribis,%made%his%appearance%and%approaching%the%palay,%attempted%to%carry%it%away%with%him,%but%at%
that%instant%Bumanglag,%Bundoc,%and%Ribao%assaulted%the%presumed%thief%with%sticks%and%cutting%and%stabbing%
weapons;%as%a%result%of%the%struggle%which%ensued%the%person%attacked%fell%down%and%died%instantly,%
Bumanglag%and%his%companions%believing%that%Guillermo%Ribis%was%the%author%of%several%robberies%and%thefts%
that%had%occurred%in%the%place.%%
In%view%of%the%foregoing,%the%provincial%fiscal%filed%a%complaint%on%January%15,%1909,%charging%Rafael%
Bumanglag,%Gregorio%Bundoc,%and%Antonio%Ribao%with%the%crime%of%homicide,%and%the%trial%judge,%on%February%
5%of%the%present%year,%rendered%judgment%in%the%case,%sentencing%the%three%accused%persons%to%the%penalty%of%
fourteen%years%eight%months%and%one%day%of%reclusin'temporal,%with%the%accessories,%and%to%the%payment%of%
an%indemnity%of%P1,000%to%the%heirs%of%the%deceased,%and%the%costs%in%equal%parts,%from%which%decision%only%
Gregorio%Bundoc%appealed.%From%the%facts%above%mentioned,%fully%proven%in%this%case,%the%commission%of%the%
crime%of%homicide,%defined%and%punished%by%article%404%of%the%Penal%Code,%is%inferred,%inasmuch%as%Guillermo%
Ribis%was%violently%deprived%of%his%life%in%consequence%of%serious%wounds%and%bruises,%some%of%them%of%a%
mortal%nature,%as%appears%from%a%certificate%issued%by%a%physician%who%examined%the%body%of%the%deceased,%
and%who%ratified%said%certificate%at%the%trial%under%oath.%%
The%accused%Bundoc,%the%only%appellant,%pleaded%not%guilty,%but,%in%the%absence%of%justification,%and%his%
exculpatory%allegation%being%unreasonable,%it%is%not%proper%to%hold%that%he%assaulted%and%killed%the%deceased,%
with%the%help%of%his%codefendants,%in%order%to%defend%himself%from%an%attack%made%by%the%former%with%a%bolo.%
Issue:%Whether%or%not%the%appellant,%coYaccused%guilty%of%the%crime%charged?%%
Held:%Yes,%however%the%judgment%appealed%from%being%reversed%with%respect%to%Gregorio%Bundoc%only,%the%
latter%should%be,%and%is%hereby,%sentenced%to%the%penalty%of%six%years%and%one%day%of%prisin'mayor,%to%the%
accessories%of%article%61%of%the%code,%to%indemnify%the%heirs%of%the%deceased%jointly%or%severally%with%his%coY
defendants,%in%the%sum%of%P1,000,%and%to%pay%oneYthird%the%costs%of%both%instances.%%
Article%11(%justifying%circumstances)%of%the%same%code%should%be%also%considered%in%favor%of%the%accused,%in%
view%of%the%erroneous%and%quite%general%belief%that%it%is%legal%to%punish,%even%to%excess%the%thief%who,%in%
defiance%of%law%and%justice,%while%refusing%to%work,%devotes%himself%to%depriving%his%neighbors%of%the%fruits%of%
their%arduous%labors%.%
People(Vs(Narvaez,(121(SCRA(339((
Facts:%Mamerto%Narvaez%has%been%convicted%of%murder%of%David%Fleisher%and%Flaviano%Rubia.%The%crime%
transpired%in%South%Cotabato%in%1968,%during%the%time%when%the%two%deceased%were%constructing%a%fence%that%
would%prevent%Narvaez%from%getting%into%his%house%and%rice%mill.%One%afternoon,%the%appellant%suddenly%woke%
up%from%his%rest%when%he%heard%noises%from%the%construction%and%saw%the%fence%being%made.%He%tried%to%
negotiate%with%Rubia%and%asked%them%to%stop%the%construction%and%talk%things%over%first.%Fleisher%refused%and%
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Civil%Law%Cases%%Art.%11%%Trece%Martires%and%Friends%

instructed%his%men%to%continue.%After%this%appellant%grabbed%his%shotgun%and%fired%at%Fleisher,%resulting%to%the%
latters%death.%Then%he%shot%Rubia;%whom%he%saw%running%towards%the%jeep%where%a%gun%is%placed.%%
Prior%to%this%incident,%Fleischers%company%is%involved%in%a%legal%battle%against%the%land%settlers%in%Cotobato,%
including%the%appellant.%The%case%was%still%on%going%at%the%time%of%the%shooting%and%the%said%disputed%property%
has%no%legal%owners%yet.%However,%the%appellant%agreed%to%pay%lease%to%Fleischer%in%order%to%avoid%trouble.%Not%
being%able%to%pay,%he%was%given%6%months%to%vacate%the%property%but%the%deceased%conducted%the%fencing%
barely%two%months%since%the%notice.%Appellant%was%found%guilty%of%murder%by%the%trial%court.%Narvaez%averred%
that%he%should%not%be%convicted%as%he%committed%the%crime%in%defense%of%his%rights%and%property.%%
Issue:%Whether%or%not%the%lower%court%erred%in%convicting%the%appellant%although%he%acted%in%defense%of%his%
rights%and%property%%
Held:(Yes.%Defense%of%a%persons%rights%and%properties%is%treated%as%a%justifying%circumstance%in%Art.%11,%Par.%1%
of%the%Revised%Penal%Code%given%that:%(1)%there%is%unlawful%aggression,%(2)%there%is%a%reasonable%necessity%of%the%
means%employed%and%(3),%there%is%lack%of%sufficient%provocation%on%the%part%of%the%person%defending%himself.%In%
the%case%at%bar,%the%deceased%had%no%right%to%destroy%or%cause%damage%to%the%appellants%house%as%this%
amounts%to%unlawful%aggression.%The%owner%of%the%property%has%the%right%to%repel%an%unlawful%physical%
invasion.%Moreover,%the%court%finds%that%there%is%no%provocation%at%all%on%the%part%of%the%appellant%as%he%was%
sleeping%at%first%when%the%fencing%started%and%even%pleaded%the%deceased%and%their%men%to%stop.%However,%the%
second%element%for%justification%is%absent%as%the%reasonableness%of%the%means%employed%(firing%of%shotgun%
from%the%window)%for%the%resistance%was%disproportionate%to%the%attack%on%his%property.%%
Since%not%all%of%the%elements%for%justification%are%present,%the%appellants%act%in%killing%is%not%justifiable.%Narvaez%
was%convicted%with%two%counts%of%homicide%and%not%murder,%as%treachery%is%absent%and%the%crime%was%proven%
to%be%not%premeditated.%%
People(v(Chua(Hiong((CA)((Art(11.(Self(Defense((Libel)(
FACTS:%The%appellant%being%attacked%by%his%nephews,%and%another%man,%assumes%full%authorship%on%the%alleged%
libelous%publication%that%contains%explanation/%information%about%the%defamation%that%his%nephew,%Gocheco,%
and%a%certain%Solipco,%have%done%to%him.%Thus,%the%fiscal%decided%that%the%appellant%meant%and%intended%to%
convey%false%and%malicious%implications,%declaring%him%guilty%of%the%crime%libel.%Thus,%the%appellant%appealed,%
stating%that%what%he%published%was%an%act%of%selfYdefense%against%the%defamation%of%Gocheco%and%Solipco.%
With%the%evidences,%the%appellant%argued%that%the%former%should%be%the%one%to%be%accused%of%libel.%
ISSUE:%WON%the%appellant%was%justified%when%he%gave%the%alleged%libelous%matter%for%publication.%
HELD:%The%court%ruled%that%the%publication%that%the%appellant%published%was%not%libelous%since%it%was%intended%
to%counteract%the%accusations%of%the%other%party.%Clearly,%referring%to%the%Article%11%of%the%RPC,%the%act%that%
Hiong%have%done%is%just%a%selfYdefense%against%the%threat%of%Gocheco%and%Soplico.%%
(
People(v(Pelayo((Art(11.(Self(Defense((Libel)%
FACTS:%Appeal%from%a%judgment%convicting%the%accusedYappellant,%Pantaleon%V.%Pelayo%Jr.%of%the%crime%light%
oral%defamation%and%sentencing%him%to%suffer%an%imprisonment%of%twenty%days%of%arresto%menor;%to%indemnify%
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Civil%Law%Cases%%Art.%11%%Trece%Martires%and%Friends%

the%offended%party%in%the%concept%of%nominal%damages%for%injury%to%reputation%in%the%sum%of%PHP%1,000.00,%and%
in%case%of%insolvency%to%suffer%the%corresponding%subsidiary%imprisonment%which%shall,%however,%not%exceed%
one%third%of%the%principal%penalty;%and%to%pay%the%costs%In%the%office%of%Atty.%Clapano,%Pelayo%told%the%latter,%
within%the%hearing%of%Francisco%Baez,%Rafael%Mascarias%and%Prisco%Parmisano,%that%while%making%one%of%his%
rounds%to%investigate%the%existence%of%gambling%in%the%community,%Lim%Peng%(Chinese%operator)%told%him%that%
the%Gov.%Almendras%used%to%receive%from%the%Chinese%PHP%500.00%protection%money.%Thus%Pelayo%told%
Clapano:%%
Another'operator'whom'I'be'friended,'confided'to'me'that'he'used'to'give'Almendras'PHP'500.00'monthly.'
The'governor'was'not'satisfied'and'instead'demanded'that'amount'to'be'hiked'to'PHP'1000.00'a'month'but'
because'I'could'no'longer'afford'that'amount'I'gave'to'Almendras'my'watch'costing'PHP'250.00.'Failure'to'
give'PHP'1,000.00'a'month,'Gov.'Almendras'raided'my'place,'and'other'of'similar'import.'%
On%the%following%day,%Pelayo%delivered%a%privileged%speech%during%the%regular%session%of%the%City%Council%of%
Davao%City%wherein,%although%without%directly%mentioning%the%governor%as%receiving%tongs,%the%reference%to%
the%latter%after%a%series%of%interpellations%and%answers%during%the%speech,%became%obvious.%Appellant%does%not%
deny%but%even%admits%having%uttered%these%words%and%phrases%to%Clapano.%However,%he%offered%as%defences%
the%following:%%
1.%That%he%uttered%those%words%and%phrases%in%confidence%to%Clapano%and%that%they%are%covered%by%the%urge%on%
privileged%communication;%%
2.%That%since%the%crime%as%charged%which%is%for%serious%slander%is%different%from,%and%not%included%in,%the%crime%
as%proved%which%is%intriguing%against%honor,%the%conviction%id%illegal;%%
3.%That%he%uttered%these%words%and%phrases%in%selfYdefense%to%what%then%Gov.%Almendras%in%the%latters%speech%
had%stated%of%him%in%another%place%a%few%days%before;%%
4.%The%award%for%nominal%damages%should%have%been%set%iff%by%what%he%was%also%entitled%to%as%a%result%to%
slander%made%to%him%by%Gov.%Almendras%on%a%previous%occasion.%%
ISSUE:%W/N%accused%is%liable%of%the%crime%light%oral%defamation.%%
HELD:%YES.%In%appropriate%cases,%selfYdefense%in%libel,%as%well%as%in%slander,%may%be%invoked%as%a%legitimate%
defense.%But%the%situation%obtaining%in%the%instant%case%is%not%one%of%those%whose%that%defense%can%be%validly%
invoked.%%
*%For%selfYdefense%to%exist,%the%accused%should%not%retaliate%with%scurrilous%words%that%are%entirely%
independent%of,%and%apart%from,%the%alleged%imputation%made%to%him%by%the%complainant,%or%should%not%go%
beyond%explaining%what%was%previously%said%of%him%for%the%purpose%of%repairing%or%minimizing%if%not%entirely%
removing%the%effect%of%the%damage%caused%to%him,%unless,%by%explaining%he%must%of%necessity%have%to%use%
slanderous%remarks.%%
Tan(v(Standard(Vacuum(Oil(Co.,(.(Art.(11(Justifying(Circumstances((State(of(Necessity)((
FACTS:%The%Standard%Vacuum%Oil%Company%ordered%the%delivery%of%gasoline%to%the%Rural%Transit%Company%at%its%
garage%at%Rizal%Avenue%Extension,%Manila.%%
Page%11%of%22%
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Civil%Law%Cases%%Art.%11%%Trece%Martires%and%Friends%

The%gasoline%tankYtruck%trailer%was%driven%by%Julito%Sto.%Domingo,%with%Igmidio%Rico.%While%being%discharged%to%
the%underground%tank,%the%gasoline%caught%fire.%And%so,%Sto.%Domingo%drove%the%truck%across%Rizal%Avenue%
Extension%and%abandoned%it%upon%reaching%the%middle%of%the%street.%This%burned%and%destroyed%the%buildings%
on%the%opposite%side%of%the%street.%Anita%Tan%(plaintiff)%was%among%those%affected.%
The%driver%and%his%helper%were%charged%with%arson%through%reckless%imprudence%but%were%acquitted.%The%
plaintiff,%brought%the%action%against%Standard%Vacuum%Oil%Company%and%the%Rural%Transit%Company%instead,%to%
recover%the%damages%she%has%suffered%for%the%destruction%of%her%house.%%
ISSUE:%Whether%or%not%Julito%Sto.%Domingo%and%Igmidio%Rico%were%criminally%liable%to%the%crime%charged.%
HELD:(No.%The%ruling%made%was%that%the%two%were%not%criminally%liable%and%responsible%for%the%fire%that%
destroyed%the%house%of%the%plaintiff.%As%per%the%court's%decision,%the%fire%was%due%to%a%fortuitous%event%for%
which%the%accused%were%not%to%blame.%The%defendants%had%only%taken%such%damage,%because%if%the%action%
made%was%not%taken,%a%bigger%conflagration%and%several%deaths%would%have%occurred%in%Rizal%Avenue%
Extension.%
The%case%at%bar%justifies%Article%11%of%Revised%Penal%Code,%"Any%person,%who%in%order%to%avoid%an%evil%or%injury,%
does%an%act%which%causes%damage%to%another,%provided%that%the%following%requisites%are%present:%First,%that%the%
evil%sought%to%be%avoided%actually%exists;%Second,%that%the%injury%feared%be%greater%than%that%done%to%avoid%it;%
Third,%that%there%be%no%other%practical%and%less%harmful%means%of%preventing%it.%
Soplete(v(People(.(Art.(11(Self(Defense((additional(case)%
FACTS:(Rogelio%and%his%first%cousin%Nicanor%Soplete%were%jointly%charged%with%frustrated%homicide%for%
wounding%of%Eduardo%Leyson%VI%and%with%Homicide%for%killing%of%Joel%Notarte.%The%incident%took%place%during%a%
fiesta,%the%respondents%claimed%that%it%was%the%Soplete%cousins%that%was%looking%for%a%trouble%during%that%night%
and%their%witnesses%says%that%Rogelio%stabbed%Leyson%and%Nicanor%stabbed%Notarte,%Notarte%died%because%of%
that%incident.%%
On%the%other%hand,%Rogelio%admitted%that%he%stabbed%both%Leyson%and%Notarte,%and%he%claimed%that%he%only%
did%that%to%defend%himself.%
Another%witness%named%Joy%MaligYon%said%that%she%even%talked%to%Rogelio%and%she%was%informed%that%Leyson%
and%his%group%is%harassing%and%provoking%Nicanor%but%they%did%not%mind%Leyson's%group.%%
Elena%Cafi%(Bukay)%asked%her%cousins%Rogelio%and%Nicanor%to%accompany%her%in%looking%for%her%children%who%
was%also%watched%the%singing%contest,%after%Bukay%found%her%children%they%all%headed%home.%While%on%their%
way%home,%Rogelio%suddenly%found%himself%surrounded%by%10%persons%led%by%Ledson.%He%shouted%Nicanor%to%
run%and%Nicanor%fled.%Leyson%drew%his%gun%and%fired%at%Rogelio%but%he%was%able%to%parry%Leyson's%grip%to%the%
gun,%then%he%stabbed%Leyson%once.%
After%stabbing%Leyson,%Notarte%started%mauling%Rogelio,%to%protect%himself,%he%stabbed%Notarte,%which%caused%
his%death.%
Nicanor%was%acquitted%on%both%cases,%while%Rogelio%was%only%acquitted%against%the%case%that%was%filed%by%
Leyson.%
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Civil%Law%Cases%%Art.%11%%Trece%Martires%and%Friends%

Rogelio%was%found%guilty%by%the%RTC%and%CA%of%Homicide%because%of%the%death%of%Notarte.%
Issue:(WON%there%is%a%complete%self%defense%on%Rogelio's%side%when%he%stabbed%Notarte.%%
Held:(Yes.%As%concluded%by%the%trial%court,%the%Soplente%cousins%were%surrounded%by%Leyson%and%his%
companions,%some%of%whom%were%armed.%Leyson%had%drawn%first%and%fired%first.%At%this%juncture,%Rogelio%had%
every%reason%to%believe%that%it%was%not%only%Leyson%who%meant%him%harm,%but%that%Leysons%companions%were%
of%the%same%mindset.%The%fact%that%Leysons%aggression%had%already%been%repelled%did%not%eliminate%the%threat%
to%Rogelios%wellYbeing%in%the%hands%of%Leysons%companions.%The%kicks%employed%by%Notarte%did%nothing%but%
remind%Rogelio%that%the%threats%to%his%life%or%limb%had%not%ceased%(Unlawful(Agression),%even%if%those%from%
Leysons%had.%
The%second%element%which%is%reasonable(necessity%of%the%means%employed%to%prevent%or%repel%the%unlawful%
aggression%was%likewise%present%in%the%case%at%bar.%The%knife%Rogelio%habitually%carried%was%the%only%weapon%
he%had%in%his%person.%It%was%but%logical%that%the%knife%would%be%the%only%thing%he%could%use%against%his%attackers%
since%the%latter%were%collectively%armed%with%canes%and%a%handgun.%%
The%third%element%of%selfYdefense,%there%was%no%evidence%to%show%that%Rogelio%had%provoked%Notarte%into%a%
fight.%The%lower%courts%finding%on%this%point%is%backed%by%the%evidence%on%record.%As%the%lower%court%held,%it%is%a%
fact%that%Rogelio%had%not%done%anything%to%provoke%the%victim%prior%to%or%at%the%time%of%the%fatal%encounter.%
All%the%elements%of%selfYdefense%having%been%established%through%the%uncontradicted%testimony%of%Rogelio.%
Under%Article(11(of(RPC,%a%person%does%not%incur%any%criminal%liability%if%the%act%committed%is%in%defense%of%his%
person.%
WHEREFORE,%the%decision%appealed%from%is%REVERSED%and%appellant%Rogelio%Soplente%is%ACQUITTED%of%the%
crime%charged.%
PEOPLE(V.(TANGAN%(Article(11((Self(Defense)%
G.R.%No.%103613,%February%23,%2001%
Facts:%Generoso%Miranda%was%driving%his%car%with%his%uncle,%Manuel%Miranda,%when%firecrackers%were%thrown%
in%Generosos%way%causing%him%to%swerve%and%cut%Navy%Captain%Eladio%C.%Tangans%path.%The%accelerated%and%
overtook%Generoso,%but%when%he%got%in%front,%Tangan%reduced%speed%and%kept%blocking%Generosos%lane.%
Generoso%passed%him,%pulled%over%and%got%out%of%the%car%with%his%uncle%with%Tangan%doing%the%same.%Both%
parties%exchanged%expletives.%With%this,%Tangan%went%to%his%car%and%got%his%.38%caliber%handgun%on%the%front%
seat.%%
The%subsequent%events%per%account%of%the%parties'%respective%witnesses%were%conflicting%for%the%prosecution%
witnesses,%including%Manuel%Miranda,%claimed%that%Tangan%shot%the%victim%pointYblank%in%the%stomach%at%a%
distance%of%about%one%foot.%On%the%other%hand,%Tangan%and%his%witness,%alleged%that%when%he%grappled%with%
Generoso%and%Manuel%Miranda%for%possession%of%the%gun,%it%fell%to%the%ground%and%accidentally%fired,%hitting%
the%victim.%%
The%trial%court%charged%Tangan%with%homicide%and%with%llegal%possession%of%unlicensed%firearm%but%he%was%
acquitted%of%illegal%possession%of%firearm,%but%convicted%of%homicide.%The%privileged%mitigating%circumstance%of%
incomplete%selfYdefense%and%the%ordinary%mitigating%circumstances%of%sufficient%provocation%on%the%part%of%the%
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Civil%Law%Cases%%Art.%11%%Trece%Martires%and%Friends%

offended%party%and%of%passion%and%obfuscation%were%appreciated%in%his%favor;%Tangan%was%released%from%
detention%after%the%promulgation%of%judgment%and%was%allowed%bail%in%the%homicide%case.%%
Subsequently,%Tangan%appealed%to%the%Court%of%Appeals,%which%affirmed%the%judgment%of%the%trial%court%to%find%
that%the%shooting%was%not%accidental,%increasing%the%award%of%civil%indemnity%to%P50,000.00.%Then,%Tangan%
appealed%to%this%court.%%
Issue:%Whether%or%not%the%accused%acted%in%selfYdefense%%
Held:%No.%The%court%ruled%that%the%accused%did%not%act%in%selfYdefense%because%not%all%the%elements%of%justifying%
circumstances%are%present.%%
Under%Article%11%of%the%Revised%Penal%Code,%the%following%do%not%incur%any%criminal%liability:%Anyone%who%acts%
in%defense%of%his%person%or%rights,%provided%that%the%following%circumstances%concur:%(a)%Unlawful%aggression,%
(b)%Reasonable%necessity%of%the%means%employed%to%prevent%or%repel%it%and%(c)%Lack%of%sufficient%provocation%
on%the%part%of%the%person%defending%himself.%%
In%this%case,%the%exchange%of%insulting%words%and%invectives%between%Tangan%and%Generoso%Miranda,%no%
matter%how%objectionable,%could%not%be%considered%as%unlawful%aggression,%except%when%coupled%with%physical%
assault.%%
The%third%requisite%of%lack%of%sufficient%provocation%on%the%part%of%the%person%defending%himself%is%not%
supported%by%evidence.%By%repeatedly%blocking%the%path%of%the%Mirandas%for%almost%five%times,%Tangan%was%in%
effect%the%one%who%provoked%the%former.%The%repeated%blowing%of%horns,%assuming%it%was%done%by%Generoso,%
may%be%irritating%to%an%impatient%driver%but%it%certainly%could%not%be%considered%as%creating%so%powerful%an%
inducement%as%to%incite%provocation%for%the%other%party%to%act%violently.%%
It%may%be%said%that%Tangan%had%no%intention%of%killing%the%victim%but%simply%to%retain%possession%of%his%gun.%
However,%the%fact%that%the%victim%subsequently%died%as%a%result%of%the%gunshot%wound,%though%the%shooter%may%
not%have%the%intention%to%kill,%does%not%absolve%him%from%culpability.%Therefore,%having%caused%the%fatal%wound,%
Tangan%is%responsible%for%all%the%consequences%of%his%felonious%act.%He%brought%out%the%gun,%wrestled%with%the%
Mirandas%but%anticipating%that%the%gun%may%be%taken%from%him,%he%fired%and%fled.%%
WHEREFORE,%the%accused%is%GUILTY%of%Homicide%and%the%appealed%decision%is%AFFIRMED%with%modifications.%%
%
People(v(Narvaez(Apr(20,(1983((Defense(of(Property)(
FACTS:%Mamerto%Narvaez%has%been%convicted%of%murder%(qualified%by%treachery)%of%David%Fleischer%and%
Flaviano%Rubia.%On%August%22,%1968,%Narvaez%shot%Fleischer%and%Rubia%during%the%time%the%two%were%
constructing%a%fence%that%would%prevent%Narvaez%from%getting%into%his%house%and%rice%mill.%The%defendant%was%
taking%a%nap%when%he%heard%sounds%of%construction%and%found%fence%being%made.%He%addressed%the%group%and%
asked%them%to%stop%destroying%his%house%and%asking%if%they%could%talk%things%over.%Fleischer%responded%with%
"No,%gadamit,%proceed,%go%ahead."%Defendant%lost%his%"equilibrium,"%and%shot%Fleisher%with%his%shotgun.%He%
also%shot%Rubia%who%was%running%towards%the%jeep%where%the%deceased's%gun%was%placed.%Prior%to%the%
shooting,%Fleischer%and%Co.%(the%company%of%Fleischer's%family)%was%involved%in%a%legal%battle%with%the%
defendant%and%other%land%settlers%of%Cotabato%over%certain%pieces%of%property.%At%the%time%of%the%shooting,%the%
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Civil%Law%Cases%%Art.%11%%Trece%Martires%and%Friends%

civil%case%was%still%pending%for%annulment%(settlers%wanted%granting%of%property%to%Fleisher%and%Co.%to%be%
annulled).%At%time%of%the%shooting,%defendant%had%leased%his%property%from%Fleisher%(though%case%pending%and%
ownership%uncertain)%to%avoid%trouble.%On%June%25,%defendant%received%letter%terminating%contract%because%he%
allegedly%didn't%pay%rent.%He%was%given%6%months%to%remove%his%house%from%the%land.%Shooting%was%barely%2%
months%after%letter.%Defendant%claims%he%killed%in%defense%of%his%person%and%property.%CFI%ruled%that%Narvaez%
was%guilty.%Aggravating%circumstances%of%evident%premeditation%offset%by%the%mitigating%circumstance%of%
voluntary%surrender.%For%both%murders,%CFI%sentenced%him%to%reclusion%perpetua,%to%indemnify%the%heirs,%and%
to%pay%for%moral%damages.%%
ISSUE:%Whether%or%not%the%court%erred%in%convicting%defendantYappellant%although%he%acted%in%defense%of%his%
rights.%%
HELD:(Yes.%However,%the%argument%of%the%justifying%circumstance%of%selfYdefense%is%applicable%only%if%the%3%
requirements%are%fulfilled%(See%Article%11%par.%1%of%the%Revised%Penal%Code).%Defendant%guilty%of%homicide%but%
w/%mitigating%circumstances%and%extenuating%circumstance%of%incomplete%selfYdefense.%Penalty%is%4%months%
arresto%mayor%and%to%indemnify%each%group%of%heirs%4,000%w/o%subsidiary%imprisonment%and%w/o%award%for%
moral%damages.%Appellant%has%already%been%detained%14%years%so%his%immediate%release%is%ordered.%%
%
(
People(v.(Fernandez(Art.(11((Defense(of(strangers)((
G.R.(Nos.(L.32322.23(
FACTS:%There%was%a%location%shooting%of%the%motion%picture%"Ako%Ang%Sasagupa"%somewhere%in%Quezon%City.%
Accused%Eduardo%Fernandez%was%playing%the%leading%man's%role,%Rosanna%Ortiz%starring%as%the%leading%lady.%%
Renato%Pangilinan%(the%deceased)%together%with%his%driver%Apolinario%Lopez%and%another%companion,%Hilario%
Sigua,%arrived%at%the%place%purportedly%to%see%Rosanna.%As%Fernandez%and%Labra%were%then%drinking%they%
invited%Pangilinan%and%Sigua%to%join%them,%which%the%latter%two%did.%Fernandez,%voiced%his%resentment%about%
Rosanna's%having%caused%delay%in%their%location%shooting%that%day.%%
Later%that%day,%two%policemen%arrived%by%reason%of%some%information%that%there%are%people%carrying%guns%in%
that%location.%Pangilinan%and%Sigua%admitted%but%claimed%that%their%guns%were%licensed.%Nonetheless%they%were%
invited%in%the%police%station.%Ortiz%and%Fernandez,%together%with%some%crew,%rode%a%jeep%and%followed%them.%
Pangilinan%and%Siguas%guns%were%cleared%on%the%same%day.%
However,%when%Rosana%saw%that%Pangilinan%and%his%group%were%already%coming%out%of%the%precinct,%she%did%not%
go%back%to%the%jeep%but%instead%went%to%ride%in%Pangilinan'%s%car%and%instead%of%proceeding%towards%the%scene%
of%the%location%shooting,%the%car%turned%right%heading%for%Manila.%Fernandez%and%his%companions%followed%
them.%When%the%car%came%to%a%full%stop%because%of%traffic%jam,%Fernandez%and%Antido,%armed%with%firearms,%
approached%Pangilinan's%car.%Fernandez%warned%them%not%to%move%if%they%do%not%want%to%get%hurt%and%berated%
Rosanna%for%taking%French%leave%and%not%going%back%to%their%work.%Pangilinan%said%"Talagang%asar%and%
tarantadong%ito.%Sige,%Totoy,%tirahin%mo%na."%And%ready%as%he%was,%Sigua%shot%Fernandez.%Antido%fired%at%
Pangilinan%and%Lopez%to%avoid%them%from%joining%Sigua's%assault%upon%his%master%Fernandez.%It%was%proved%that%
Fernandez%also%fired%his%gun%however%it%does%not%appear%that%he%had%hit%anyone.%Pangilinan%died.%%
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Civil%Law%Cases%%Art.%11%%Trece%Martires%and%Friends%

ISSUE:%WON%the%acts%of%Antido%are%justified%by%reason%of%defense%of%strangers%%
HELD:(NO.%The%requisite%of%lack%of%sufficient%provocation%is%absent.%The%acts%of%Fernandez%and%Antido%
Fernandez%and%Antido,%both%of%them%brandishing%their%respective%firearms,%having%approached%Pangilinan's%
car,%and%with%Fernandez%berating%Ortiz,%constituted%sufficient(provocation%for%Pangilinan%and%his%companions%
to%react.%%
There(was(sufficient(provocation(on(the(part(of(Fernandez(and(Antido.(But(there(was(unlawful(aggression(
on(the(part(of(Sigua.%The%court%appreciated%the%mitigating%circumstance%of%having%acted%in%incomplete(
defense(of(Fernandez.%He%only%reacted%to%the%assault%upon%Fernandez%by%Sigua,%sensing%evidently%that%
Pangilinan%and%Lopez%might%join%Sigua.%
Inasmuch%as%the%provocation%came%principally%from%Fernandez%and%it%is%satisfactorily%proven%that%he%also%fired%
his%gun,%he%must%also%be%liable%for%the%death%and%injuries%that%resulted%from%his%acts,%even%if%it%does%not%appear%
that%he%himself%hit%Pangilinan%and%Lopez.%As%in%the%case%of%Antido,%he%tried%to%repeal%an%aggression%with%means%
which%cannot%be%said%to%be%unreasonably%uncalled%for%in%the%premises.%%
FERNANDEZ%AND%ANTIDO%BOTH%GUILTY%OF%HOMICIDE%AND%FRUSTRATED%HOMICIDE%%
People(v.(Boholst((Caballero((Self(Defense((Defense(of(Relative)(%
Facts:(Convicted%for%having%killed%her%husband,%Cunigunda%BoholstYCaballero,%accusedYappellant,%seeks%a%
reversal%of%the%judgment%of%the%Court%of%First%Instance.%The%accused%was%married%to%Francisco%Caballero.%Their%
marriage%was%not%a%happy%one%because%the%couple%separated.%The%accused%was%then%lived%with%her%parents%
together%with%their%child.%One%night,%after%the%accused%was%gone%for%a%caroling,%she%met%her%drunk%husband.%
Francisco%held%her%collar%then%asked,%Where%have%you%been%prostituting?%You%are%a%son%of%a%bitch.%
Afterwards,%Francisco%held%her%by%the%hair%and%slapped%her%until%her%nose%bled%then%pushed%her%towards%the%
ground.%When%she%fell%to%the%ground,%Francisco%knelt%over,%her%held%her%neck,%and%choked%her%saying.%"Now%is%
the%time%I%can%do%whatever%I%want.%I%will%kill%you".%With%no%other%recourse,%the%accused%pulled%the%knife%of%her%
husband%and%thrust%it%at%him.%In%the%morning%after%the%incident,%the%accused%then%surrendered%herself%to%the%
police%and%gave%her%statement.%Francisco%died%after%being%taken%to%the%hospital.%Thus,%this%case%was%forwarded%
to%the%Supreme%Court%for%the%penalty%imposed%was%Reclusion%Perpetua.%%
Issue:(WON,%the%accusedYappellant%acted%in%selfYdefense%of%her%person.%%
Held:(Yes,%the%SC%ruled%that%all%the%requisites%of%selfYdefense%were%present%with%the%case%at%bar.%(1)%The%
element%of%unlawful%aggression%has%been%clearly%established%by%the%acts%committed%by%her%husband;%(2)%
reasonable%necessity%for%the%means%employed%is%likewise%present.%Here%we%have%a%woman%who%being%strangled%
and%choked%by%a%furious%aggressor%and%rendered%almost%unconscious%by%the%strong%pressure%on%her%throat%had%
no%other%recourse%but%to%get%hold%of%any%weapon%within%her%reach%to%save%herself%from%impending%death.%
Reasonable%necessity%of%the%means%employed%in%selfYdefense%does%not%depend%upon%the%harm%done%but%rests%
upon%the%imminent%danger%of%such%injury.%(U.S.%vs.%Paras,%1907,%9%Phil.%367,%citing%Decision%of%Dec.%22,%1887)%
And%so%the%fact%that%there%was%no%visible%injury%caused%on%the%body%of%the%appellant%which%necessitated%
medical%attention,%a%circumstance%noted%by%the%trial%court,%is%no%ground%for%discrediting%selfYdefense;%what%is%
vital%is%that%there%was%imminent%peril%to%appellant's%life%caused%by%the%unlawful%aggression%of%her%husband.%The%
knife%tucked%in%her%husband's%belt%afforded%appellant%the%only%reasonable%means%with%which%she%could%free%
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and%save%herself%from%being%strangled%and%choked%to%death.%Equally%relevant%is%the%timeYhonored%principle:%
Necessitas'Non%habet'legem.%Necessity%knows%no%law;%(3)%Lack%of%sufficient%provocation%on%the%part%of%the%
person%defending%himself.%Undoubtedly%appellant%herein%did%not%give%sufficient%provocation%to%warrant%the%
aggression%or%attack%on%her%person%by%her%husband,%Francisco.%All%that%appellant%did%was%to%provoke%an%
imaginary%commission%of%a%wrong%in%the%mind%of%her%husband,%which%is%not%a%sufficient%provocation%under%the%
law%of%selfYdefense.%Thus,%the%Supreme%Court%acquitted%the%accusedYappellant.%%
People(vs(Toring%G.R.(No.(L.56358%October(26,(1990%
Facts:(Samuel%Augusto%(victim/deceased)%with%his%family%attended%a%benefit%dance%to%support%her%daughter%in%
the%town's%pageant.%As%the%tipsy%victim%stepped%out%of%the%dancing%area%to%answer%the%call%of%nature,%he%was%
stabbed%in%the%abdomen%by%Luis%Toring,%accompanied%by%Carmelo%Berdin%and%Diosdado%Berdon.%A%barangay%
tanod,%Felix%Berdin%saw%what%happened%and%tried%to%catch%the%three%but%failed.%Augusto%died%of%massive%
hemorrhage%secondary%to%the%stab%wound%on%the%abdomen.%The%death%weapon%used%was%a%kitchen%knife,%later%
recovered%from%Toring's%house.%The%three%were%charged%of%conspiracy%in%killing%the%victim%in%a%treacherous%
manner.%It%was%alleged%that%Berdon%supplied%the%weapon%and%Berdin%concealed%the%weapon%to%prevent%its%
discovery%by%the%police.%The%three%pleaded%not%guilty.%Toring%testified%that%he%did%not%intend%to%kill%the%victim%
and%only%reacted%such%way%to%defend%his%cousin%because%Samuel%thrust%his%shotgun%on%his%cousin's%chin.%Toring%
contends%that%the%act%made%was%justifiable%by%Article%11%(3)%of%RPC.%Lower%court%ruled%out%the%existence%of%
conspiracy.%It%was%held%that%the%three%have%different%liabilities%for%Samuel's%death.%Appellants%seek%the%reversal%
of%Circuit%Criminal%Court%where%in%Luis%Toring,%Diosdado%Berdon,%and%Camelo%Berdin%was%charged%of%murder,%
with%treachery%as%qualifying%circumstance.%%
Issue:(Whether%or%not%the%act%done%by%defendants%are%justified%by%defense%of%stranger.%%
Held:%Lower%court's%decision%is%AFFIRMED.%The%Court%convicts%Luis%Toring%as%principal%in%the%murder%of%Samuel%
Augusto%and%Diosdado%Berdon%as%an%accomplice%in%the%crime%performed.%Carmelo%Berdin,%however,%was%
acquitted.%It%was%found%that%Toring%was%the%"aggressor%acting%in%retaliation%or%revenge%by%reason%of%a%running%
feud%or%longYstanding%grudge"%between%his%gang%and%the%group%of%Samuel.%It%was%also%mentioned%that%a%year%
before%the%incident,%Toring%was%shot%by%Edgar%Augusto%(Samuel's%brother)%and%hence,%in%his%desire%to%avenge%
himself,%Toring,%needed%but%a%little%excuse%to%do%away%with%the%object%of%his%hatred.%Thus,%he%was%motivated%by%
revenge,%resentment%or%evil%motive.%
Ty(vs.(People(.(State(of(Necessity%
FACTS:(Vicky%Tys%mother%and%sister%were%confined%at%Manila%Doctors%Hospital%with%total%hospital%bills%
amounting%to%P%1,075,592.95.%Ty%executed%a%promissory%note%wherein%she%assumed%payment%of%the%obligation%
in%installments.%To%assure%payment%of%the%obligation,%she%drew%several%postdated%checks%against%Metrobank%
payable%to%the%hospital.%These%seven%checks%were%all%dishonored%by%the%drawee%bank%and%returned%unpaid%to%
the%hospital%due%to%insufficiency%of%funds,%with%the%Account%Closed%advice.%Ty%was%charged%violating%Batas%
Pambansa%(BP)%22,%otherwise%known%as%the%Bouncing%Checks%Law.%
For%here%defense,%Ty%claimed%that%she%issued%the%checks%because%of%an%uncontrollable%fear%or%greater%injury.%
She%averred%that%she%was%forced%to%issue%the%checks%to%obtain%release%for%her%mother%whom%the%hospital%
inhumanely%and%harshly%treated%and%would%not%discharge%unless%the%hospital%bills%are%paid.%She%said%that%her%
mothers%deprivation%of%room%facilities%(aircon%refrigerator%and%television)%and%inconveniences%(cutting%of%
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Civil%Law%Cases%%Art.%11%%Trece%Martires%and%Friends%

telephone%line,%late%delivery%of%food%and%refusal%to%change%gown%and%bedsheets)%affected%her%mothers%mental,%
psychological%and%physical%health%that%the%latter%contemplated%suicide%if%she%would%not%be%discharged%from%the%
hospital.%
ISSUE:(WON%the%justifying%circumstance%of%state%of%necessity%under%par.%4,%Art.%11%of%the%Revised%Penal%Code%
may%find%application%in%this%case.%
HELD:(The%Court%do%not%agree.%The%law%prescribes%that%three%requisites%to%exempt%the%actor%from%liability%
under%this%paragraph:%(1)%that%the%evil%sought%to%be%avoided%actually%exists;%(2)%that%the%injury%feared%be%greater%
that%the%one%done%to%avoid%it;%(3)%that%there%be%no%other%practical%and%less%harmful%means%of%preventing%it.%
In%the%instant%case,%the%evil%sought%to%be%avoided%is%merely%expected%or%anticipated.%If%the%evil%sought%to%be%
avoided%is%merely%expected%or%anticipated%or%may%happen%in%the%future,%this%defense%is%not%applicable.%Ty%could%
have%taken%advantage%of%an%available%option%to%avoid%committing%a%crime.%By%her%own%admission,%she%had%the%
choice%to%give%jewelry%or%other%forms%of%security%instead%of%postdated%checks%to%secure%her%obligation.%
Moreover,%for%the%defense%of%state%of%necessity%to%be%availing,%the%greater%injury%feared%should%not%have%been%
brought%about%by%the%negligence%or%imprudence,%more%so,%the%willful%inaction%of%the%actor.%In%this%case,%the%
issuance%of%the%bounced%checks%was%brought%about%by%Tys%own%failure%to%pay%her%mothers%hospital%bills.%
The%Court%also%thinks%it%rather%odd%that%Ty%has%chosen%the%exempting%circumstance%of%uncontrollable%fear%and%
the%justifying%circumstance%of%state%of%necessity%to%absolve%her%of%liability.%It%would%not%have%been%half%as%
bizarre%had%Ty%been%able%to%prove%that%the%issuance%of%the%bounced%checks%was%done%without%her%full%volition.%
Under%the%circumstances,%however,%it%is%quite%clear%that%neither%uncontrollable%fear%nor%avoidance%of%a%greater%
evil%or%injury%prompted%the%issuance%of%the%bounced%checks.%
People(vs(Oanis((Art.(11(Fulfillment(of(Duties((
Fact:%Charged%with%the%crime%of%murder%of%one%Serapio%Tecson,%the%accused%Antonio%Z.%Oanis%and%Alberto%
Galanta,%chief%of%police%of%Cabanatuan%and%corporal%of%the%Philippine%Constabulary,%respectively,%were,%after%
due%trial,%found%guilty%by%the%lower%court%of%homicide%through%reckless%imprudence.%Received%from%Major%
Guido%a%telegram%of%the%following%tenor:%"Information%received%escaped%convict%Anselmo%Balagtas%with%
bailarina%and%Irene%in%Cabanatuan%get%him%dead%or%alive."%Serapio%Tecson,%paramour%of%Irene%Requinea%was%
sleeping%in%his%room%with%his%back%towards%the%door,%Oanis%and%Galanta,%on%sight,%fired%at%him%simultaneously%
or%successively%that%causes%the%victims%death,%believing%him%to%be%Anselmo%Balagtas%but%without%having%made%
previously%any%reasonable%inquiry%as%to%his%identity.%%
Issue:%Whether%or%not%the%defendant%acts%of%fulfillment%of%duties%were%justified?%
Held:%No.%The%accused%exceeded%in%the%fulfillment%of%their%duty%when%they%killed%a%sleeping%person%whom%they%
believed%to%be%the%wanted%criminal%without%making%any%previous%inquiry%to%his%death.%The%doctrine%is%restated%
in%the%new%Rules%of%Court%thus:%
"No%unnecessary%or%unreasonable%force%shall%be%used%in%making%an%arrest,%and%the%person%arrested%shall%not%be%
subject%to%any%greater%restraint%than%is%necessary%for%his%detention."%%
In%case%at%bar,%the%appellants,%found%no%circumstances%whatsoever%which%would%press%them%to%immediate%
action.%The%person%in%the%room%being%then%asleep,%appellants%had%ample%time%and%opportunity%to%ascertain%his%
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identity%without%hazard%to%themselves,%and%could%even%effect%a%bloodless%arrest%if%any%reasonable%effort%to%that%
end%had%been%made,%as%the%victim%was%unarmed,%according%to%Irene%Requinea.%
BAXINELA(V.(PEOPLE((Art.(11(FULFILLMENT(OF(DUTIES(
FACTS:%Petitioner%SPO2%Eduardo%Baxinela%was%in%a%PUB%drinking%with%two%other%policemen%on%October%18,%
1986.%There%was%a%minor%altercation%between%the%deceased%Lajo%and%another%customer%at%the%pub%but%
eventually%the%two%were%able%to%patch%things%up.%From%behind,%Baxinela%held%Lajo's%left%arm%and%asked%why%he%
was%carrying%a%gun.%Thereafter,%an%explosion%coming%from%Baxinela's%gun%was%heard.%Lajo,%still%standing,%Took%
two%steps%and%then%fell%down.%
ISSUE:%Whether%or%not%fulfillment%of%duty%may%validly%be%invoked%by%the%petitioner.%%
HELD:%NO.%SPO2%Baxinela's%duty%is%to%investigate%the%reason%why%Lajo%had%a%gun,%By%firing%upon%Lajo%who%was%
not%resisting%at%all%the%officer%already%exceeded%his%duty.%The%decision%of%the%Court%of%Appeals%is%MODIFIED.%
The%conviction%of%appellant%Eduardo%Baxinela%for%the%crime%of%HOMICIDE%is%AFFIRMED%but%his%sentence%is%
reduced%to%an%indeterminate%penalty%of%four%(4)%years%and%two%(2)%months%of%prison%correccional%medium,%as%
minimum,%to%eight%(8)%years%of%prison%mayor%minumum,%as%maximum.%The%awards%of%damages%are%affirmed.%No%
costs.%
POMOY(vs.(People((Art.(11((Fulfilment(of(Duty)(
FACTS:%Tomas%Balboa%was%a%master%teacher%of%the%Concepcion%College%of%Science%and%Fisheries%in%Concepcion,%
Iloilo.%He%was%arrested%by%police%officer%allegedly%in%connection%on%a%Robbery%case.%Balboa%was%taken%to%the%
Headquarters%of%the%already%defunct%321st%Philippine%Constabulary%Company%at%Camp%Jalandoni,%Sara,%Iloilo.%
He%was%detained%in%jail.%Later%that%day,%about%a%little%past%2%oclock%in%the%afternoon,%petitioner,%who%is%a%police%
sergeant,%went%near%the%door%of%the%jail%where%Balboa%was%detained%and%directed%the%latter%to%come%out,%
purportedly%for%tactical%interrogation%at%the%investigation%room,%as%he%told%Balboa:%Lets%go%to%the%investigation%
room.%The%investigation%room%is%at%the%main%building%of%the%compound%where%the%jail%is%located.%The%jail%guard%
on%duty,%Nicostrado%Estepar,%opened%the%jail%door%and%walked%towards%the%investigation%room.%At%that%time,%
petitioner%had%a%gun,%a%.45%caliber%pistol,%tucked%in%a%holster%which%was%hanging%by%the%side%of%his%belt.%The%gun%
was%fully%embedded%in%its%holster,%with%only%the%handle%of%the%gun%protruding%from%the%holster.%When%
petitioner%and%Balboa%reached%the%main%building%and%were%near%the%investigation%room,%two%(2)%gunshots%were%
heard.%When%the%source%of%the%shots%was%verified,%petitioner%was%seen%still%holding%a%.45%caliber%pistol,%facing%
Balboa,%who%was%lying%in%a%pool%of%blood,%about%two%(2)%feet%away.%The%witnesses%(Erna%Basa,%Eden%Legaspi)%
heard%some%noise%and%exchange%of%words%which%were%not%clear,%but%it%seemed%there%was%growing%trouble;%Erna%
opened%the%door%to%verify%and%saw%Roweno%Pomoy%and%Tomas%Balboa%grappling%for%the%possession%of%the%gun;%
she%was%inside%the%room%and%one%meter%away%from%the%door;%Pomoy%and%Balboa%while%grappling%were%two%to%
three%meters%away%from%the%door;%the%grappling%happened%so%fast%and%the%gun%of%Pomoy%was%suddenly%pulled%
out%from%its%holster%and%then%there%was%explosion.%Balboa%died.%%
ISSUE:%WON%Self%defense%exists%as%the%accused%acted%in%fulfilment%of%his%duty%as%a%police%officer%and%the%act%is%
lawful?%%
HELD:%YES.%Petitioner%is%ACQUITTED.%It%was%in%the%lawful%performance%of%his%duty%as%a%law%enforcer%that%
petitioner%tried%to%defend%his%possession%of%the%weapon%when%the%victim%suddenly%tried%to%remove%it%from%his%
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holster.%As%an%enforcer%of%the%law,%petitioner%was%dutyYbound%to%prevent%the%snatching%of%his%service%weapon%
by%anyone,%especially%by%a%detained%person%in%his%custody.%Such%weapon%was%likely%to%be%used%to%facilitate%
escape%and%to%kill%or%maim%persons%in%the%vicinity,%including%petitioner%himself.%Petitioner%cannot%be%faulted%for%
negligence.%He%exercised%all%the%necessary%precautions%to%prevent%his%service%weapon%from%causing%accidental%
harm%to%others.%As%he%so%assiduously%maintained,%he%had%kept%his%service%gun%locked%when%he%left%his%house;%he%
kept%it%inside%its%holster%at%all%times,%especially%within%the%premises%of%his%working%area.%Petitioner%advanced%
selfYdefense%as%an%alternative.%Granting%arguendo%that%he%intentionally%shot%Balboa,%he%claims%he%did%so%to%
protect%his%life%and%limb%from%real%and%immediate%danger.%SelfYdefense%is%inconsistent%with%the%exempting%
circumstance%of%accident,%in%which%there%is%no%intent%to%kill.%On%the%other%hand,%selfYdefense%necessarily%
contemplates%a%premeditated%intent%to%kill%in%order%to%defend%oneself%from%imminent%danger.%%
Angcaco(vs.(People(.(G.R.(No.(146664(.(February(28,(2002%%
FACTS:(Petitioner%John%Angcaco%and%his%coYaccused%in%the%trial%court,%namely,%Ramon%Decosto,Protacio%Edep,%
Lydio%Lota,%and%Mario%Felizarte,%were%members%of%the%Integrated%National%Police%of%Taytay,%Palawan.%At%the%
time%of%the%incident,%they%were%serving%a%warrant%of%arrest%issued%by%the%Municipal%Trial%Court%of%Taytay%on%
Restituto%Bergante,%who%was%wanted%in%connection%with%a%robbery%case.%Edep%was%acting%station%commander,%
while%Restituto%Bergante%was%the%barangay%captain%of%Bato,%Taytay,%Palawan.%Prosecution%presented%witnesses%
stating%that%Edep%fired%his%carbine%looking%for%Bergante%but%was%informed%by%Noel,%son%of%Bergante,%that%his%
father%was%not%in%the%house%for%he%went%to%Puerto%Princesa.%Afterwards,%they%were%ordered%by%Edep%to%go%
down%and%they%were%flanked%by%Angcaco%ob%the%right%and%Decosto%on%the%left%side.%Noel%and%Freddie%
Ganancial,%their%cousin,%joined%Noel.%Protacio%Edep%approached%Freddie%saying,%You%are%tough,%and%pushed%
him.%Then,%shots%rang%out%from%the%armalite%and%short%firearm%of%Decosto%and%Edep,%as%a%result%of%which%
Freddie%Ganancial%turned%around%and%dropped%to%the%ground%face%down.%Decosto%was%around%three%meters%
away%from%Freddie.%On%the%other%hand,%defense%stated%that%when%they%reached%the%house,%Edep%and%his%men%
took%positions%as%they%had%been%warned%that%Restituto%Bergante%might%resist%arrest.%Decosto%and%Angcaco%
were%each%armed%with%armalites,%Lota%had%a%carbine,%Felizarte%a%revolver,%and%Edep%a%carbine%and%a%revolver.%
Decosto%was%on%the%left%side%of%Edep,%around%seven%to%10%meters%from%the%latter.%Angcaco,%on%the%other%hand,%
was%on%right%side%of%Edep,%around%four%to%seven%meters%from%the%latter.%Edep%called%Restituto%Bergante%to%
come%out%of%the%house%as%he%(Edep)%had%a%warrant%for%his%arrest.%Restitutos%wife%replied%that%her%husband%was%
not%in%the%house,%having%gone%to%Puerto%Princesa%.A%commotion%then%took%place%inside%the%house%and,%shortly%
after,%petitioner%saw%a%man%coming%down%the%house.%They%fired%warning%shots%to%stop%the%man,%but%petitioner%
saw%another%person%with%a%bolo%near%Edep.%He%shouted,%Sarge,%this%is%the%man%who%tried%to%hack%you!,%and%shot%
the%unidentified%man,%who%fell%to%the%ground%face%up.%At%the%time%of%the%incident,%Decosto%was%on%the%left%side%
of%Edep,%while%petitioner,%Felizarte,%and%Lota%were%on%the%right%side%of%Edep.%They%later%learned%that%the%person%
killed%was%Freddie%Ganancial.%
The%Regional%Trial%Court%(RTC)%and%the%Court%of%Appeals%(CA)%found%Angcaco%guilty%of%murder%hence;%a%petition%
for%review%on%certiorari%was%filed.%%
ISSUES:(Whether%or%not%Angcaco%is%exempted%from%criminal%liability%under%the%justifying%circumstance%of%
fulfillment%of%duty.%%
HELD:(NO.(No%evidence%was%presented%to%prove%that%Ganancial%attempted%to%prevent%petitioner%and%his%fellow%
officers%from%arresting%Restituto%Bergante.%There%was%in%fact%no%clear%evidence%as%to%how%Freddie%Ganancial%
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Civil%Law%Cases%%Art.%11%%Trece%Martires%and%Friends%

was%shot.%Indeed,%as%already%stated,%any%attempt%by%the%victim%to%arrest%the%wanted%person%was%pointless%as%
Restituto%Bergante%was%not%in%his%house.%As%regards%the%second%requisite%of%Par.'5,'Art.'11'of'the'Revised'Penal'
Code,%there%can%be%no%question%that%the%killing%of%Freddie%Ganancial%was%not%a%necessary%consequence%of%the%
arrest%to%be%made%on%Restituto%Bergante.%Moreover,%there%was%no%unlawful%aggression%on%the%part%of%Freddie%
Ganancial.%It%was%only%contented%that%the%victim,%armed%with%bolo,%approached%Sgt.%Protacio%Edep%menacingly.%
But%there%was%no%other%competent%evidence%to%support%this%selfYserving%claim.%This%only%means%that%the%first%
requisite%of%Article'11'of'the'Revised'Penal'Code%has%not%been%insufficiently%proven%by%the%accused.%The%court%
has%AFFIRMED%with(MODIFICATION%the%petition.%%
People(vs(Beronilla(Art.(11((Lawful(Order)(
Facts:%Accused%Manuel%Beronilla,%along%with%his%coYaccused%Paculdo,%Velasco%and%Adriatico%was%indicted%for%
the%crime%of%murder%after%sentencing%Arsenio%Borjal%to%death%by%hanging,%upon%instruction%from%a%military%
superior,%one%Lt.%Col.%RH%Arnold%of%the%15th%Infantry%USAFIP.%Beronilla,%then%a%military%mayor,%tried%and%
sentenced%Borjal,%after%finding%the%latter%guilty%of%war%crimes.%Arsenio%Borjal%was%a%former%town%mayor%of%La%
Paz,%Abra%and%responsible%for%the%torture%and%capture%of%guerilla%and%American%soldier%during%Japanese%
occupation.%%
Beronilla%was%sentenced%by%a%court%of%first%instance%to%suffer%the%penalty%of%imprisonment%of%17%yrs%and%4%
months.%The%same%was%appealed%to%a%high%Court.%%
Issue:%Whether%or%not%the%accused%guilty%of%the%crime%of%murder%under%a%lawful%order?%%
Held:%No,%the%accusedYappellant%was%acquitted%by%the%Court.%%
Under%the%law,%any%person%who%acts%in%the%obedience%to%an%order%issued%by%a%superior%for%some%lawful%purpose%
incurred%no%criminal%liability%under%the%doctrine%of%justifying%circumstances.(article%11,%par%6%RPC)%%
That%the%accusedYappellant%in%this%case%merely%acted%base%on%the%instruction%given%to%him%by%his%superior%to%
administer%the%function%of%his%office,%for%a%subordinate%cannot%question%his%superiors%order.%That%he%only%acted%
in%good%faith,%without%being%aware%of%the%illegality,%without%any%fault%or%negligence%on%his%part,%he%is%not%
criminally%liable.%%
People(Vs(Barroga((Art.(11((Lawful(Order)(
Facts:%The%Defendant%Luciano%Barroga%is%convicted%by%the%trial%court%of%falsification%of%a%private%document.%The%
defendant%admitted%that%he%prepared%the%falsified%documents%with%full%knowledge%of%its%falsity;%but%he%alleged%
that%he%did%so%from%data%furnished%by%his%immediate%chief,%the%now%deceased%Baldomero%Fernandez,%and%only%
in%obedience%to%instructions%from%him.%%
Issue:%Whether%or%not%the%defendant%is%liable%for%the%crime%of%falsification%of%a%private%document.%%
Held:(Yes.%The%decision%of%the%trial%court%was%affirmed.%The%court%is%not%convinced%that%the%defendant%
committed%the%acts%charged%against%him%in%obedience%to%the%instructions%of%his%superior.%It%has%been%
sufficiently%proven%that%the%data%were%not%supplied%by%Fernandez,%but%by%the%head%of%the%pressmen.%Even%
supposing%that%Fernandez%gave%the%instructions,%this%does%not%relieve%the%defendant%of%criminal%liability%as%the%
latters%obedience%was%not%legally%due.%Par.%6%of%Art%11%of%the%Revised%Penal%Code%states%that%any%person%who%
acts%in%obedience%to%an%order%issued%by%a%superior%for%some%lawful%purpose%shall%not%incur%criminal%liability.%To%
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Civil%Law%Cases%%Art.%11%%Trece%Martires%and%Friends%

invoke%this%as%a%justifying%circumstance,%the%act%must%be:%(1)%an%order%that%has%been%issued%by%the%superior;%(2)%
that%such%an%order%must%be%for%some%lawful%purpose,%and%(3)%that%the%means%used%by%the%subordinate%to%carry%
out%said%order%is%lawful.%In%the%case%at%bar,%the%defendant%was%aware%of%the%illegality%of%the%order%and%still%
pursued%with%the%act.%Therefore,%the%third%requisite%of%Par.%6%Article%11%is%not%present%and%this%renders%his%
defense%of%obedience%to%an%order%for%a%lawful%purpose%invalid.%%
Tabuena(VS.(Sandiganbayan((Art11.((Obedience(to(an(Order)(
FACTS:(The%accused,%Luis%Tabuena,%was%the%General%Manager%of%Manila%International%Airport%Authority%(MIAA).%
During%his%term,%Tabuena,%together%with%Gerardo%Dabao%(Assistant%General%Manager),%caused%the%released%of%
Php%55%million%of%MIAA%funds%by%means%of%3%withdrawals.%This%was%done%as%obedience%to%the%instruction%of%
then%President%Marcos%through%verbal%and%memorandum%means%stating%that%Tabuena%was%directed%to%pay%
immediately%to%the%Philippine%National%Construction%Corporation%(PNCC).%Despite%of%the%disbursement,%which%
was%paid%in%cash,%the%PNCC%affirmed%that%there%were%no%payments%made%by%MIAA.%On%the%defense%of%Tabuena,%
he%was%acting%in%good%faith%when%he%disbursed%the%money%and%stated%that%he%was%only%complying%to%the%
Marcos%memorandum%which%ordered%him%to%forward%immediately%to%the%Office%of%the%President%P55%Million%in%
cash%as%partial%payment%of%MIAAs%obligations%to%PNCC,%and%that%he%(Tabuena)%was%of%the%belief%that%MIAA%
indeed%had%liabilities%to%PNCC.%However,%the%Sandiganbayan%rejected%their%defense%which%results%to%his%
conviction%with%the%crime%charged%of%intentional%malversation.%Thus,%the%accused%appeal%the%Sandiganbayan%
decision.%%
ISSUE:(Whether%or%not%the%accused%should%be%liable%despite%of%his%defense%that%he%acted%in%good%faith,%obeying%
the%instruction%of%President%Marcos.%%
HELD:(NO.%The%court%decided%to%ACQUIT%the%accused.%According%to%Article%11,%the%subordinate%is%not%liable%for%
carrying%out%an%illegal%order%of%his%subordinate,%if%he%is%not%aware%of%the%illegality%of%the%order%and%he%is%not%
negligent.%In%the%case%at%bar,%it%was%proved%that%the%Tabuena%acted%in%good%faith%by%following%the%command%of%
the%President.%Also,%the%subordinateYsuperior%relationship%between%Tabuena%and%Marcos%is%clear%since%
Tabuena%was%working%on%a%governmentYowned%agency,%which%was%also%under%the%command%of%the%highest%
official%(Marcos).%Thus,%on%the%belief%that%MIAA%had%liabilities%on%PNCC,%it%is%justifiable%that%the%disbursement%
made%by%Tabuena%was%without%evil%intent.%
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