PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES vs.

IGNAS

GR No. 140514-15

September 30, 2003

FACTS:

In the amended decision dated June 2, 1999, the Regional Trial Court of La Trinidad, Benguet,
Branch 8, found appellant June Ignas guilty of murder aggravated especially by the use of an
unlicensed firearm. Initially, Ignas was sentenced to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua.
However, after the prosecution filed a motion for reconsideration, the penalty was upgraded to
death by lethal injection. The victim was Nemesio Lopate, a man who was revealed to be the
paramour of his wife.

Prosecution witnesses Annie Bayanes and Marlon Manis claimed to have seen the gunman’s
profile and identified the gunman as June Ignas, based on his gait and build. Mona Barredo,
another prosecution witness, testified that the appellant came to her residence at Pico, La
Trinidad, and asked her to dispose of the handgun’s empty shells out the window. Barredos
complied because of nervousness. The police investigators later recovered the spent gun shells
from Barredos’ sweet potato garden. When the appellant was brought in for questioning, he
admitted to prosecution witnesses, Julio Bayacsan, his friend, Pauline Gumpic, the victim’s
sister, and SPO4 Arthur Bomagao, that he had shot and killed Nemesio. However, he later on
denied these statements and claimed that he was baking bread in Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya
when the crime had occurred. This alibi was corroborated by Ben Anoma, his business partner.

The appellant was found guilty of murder. Both prosecution and defense filed their respective
motions for reconsideration. The prosecution sought the imposition of the death penalty while
the defense sought acquittal on the ground of reasonable doubt.

ISSUES/RATIO:

1. Whether or not the nature of the crime committed was murder.

2. Whether or not the prosecution’s evidence is sufficient to prove the appellant’s guilt.

RULING:

1. NO.​ 2000 Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure requires that the qualifying and
aggravating circumstances must be specifically alleged in the information.
Circumstances of treachery, evident premeditation, and nocturnity were absent. Thus,
the amended information for which the appellant was charged and arraigned, at best,
indicts him only for the crime of homicide.
 2. YES. ​Circumstantial evidence suffices to convict if (1) there is more than one
circumstance; (2) the facts from which inferences are derived and are proven; and (3)
the combination of all the circumstances is such as to produce a conviction beyond
reasonable doubt. The circumstances in this case, as provided by the witnesses, clearly
show that the appellant had the motive, the opportunity, and the means to commit the
crime at the place and time in question. The court then finds that the prosecution’s
evidence suffices to sustain the appellant’s conviction for homicide.

The Regional Trial Court of La Trinidad, Benguet, Branch 8, in Criminal Case No. 95-CR-2522 is
MODIFIED as follows:

Appellant June Ignas is found GUILTY beyond reasonable doubt of the crimes of HOMICIDE as
defined and penalized under Article 249 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended. He is hereby
sentenced to suffer an indeterminate penalty of 10 years and 1 day of ​prison mayor​ as
minimum, to 14 years, 8 months, and 1 day of ​reclusion temporal​ as maximum. Appellant June
Ignas is ORDERED TO PAY the heirs of the victim, Nemesio Lopate, the following sums: a) Php
7,000 as actual damages; b) 1,020,000 for loss of earning capacity; c) Php 50,000 as civil
indemnity; d) Php 25,000 as temperate damages; and e) Php 20,000 as attorneys’ fee. Costs ​de
oficio​.