PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES v.

NORBERTO CATAO, ET AL,

FACTS:
Felix Nacua invited Norberto Catao, Adolfo Canoy, and Iluminado Nacua to his
house. During their conversation, Felix told them that whoever could kill the two Nacua
brothers (Quirino and Dioscoro) shall be rewarded money. Norberto and Adolfo replied
that they were willing to do the task, while Iluminado was disgusted by the evil proposal.
During election day, Dioscoro was appointed as watcher for the Nacionalista
Party. He then saw Adolfo peeping at voters who were preparing their ballots. When
Dioscoro called the attention of the inspectors, Adolfo started to make a commotion.
Adolfo and Norberto aimed their guns at Dioscoro. They also chased after Dioscoro when
he was able to escape, but they continued to fire at him as they ran. When Felix caught
sight of Dioscoro near his house, he fired at him which caused his instantaneous death.
Afterwards, Felix ordered herein defendants to execute Quirino, which they successfully
did.
Appellant denied any active participation in the killing of Dioscoro Nacua. He
declared that after he cast his vote, he returned home and stayed there until 10 o'clock
when he went down to supervise the repair of his house. In exculpation, he averred that
it was Norberto Catao who was solely responsible for the death of Dioscoro Nacua.

ISSUE:
Whether or not there was conspiracy between Felix and the other assailants.
(YES)

RULING:
To prove conspiracy, the prosecution need not establish that all the parties
thereto agreed to every detail in the execution of the crime or that they were actually
together at all stages of the conspiracy. It is enough that from the individual acts of each
accused, it may reasonably deduced that they had a common plan to commit the felony.
Besides, it appears that it was appellant who masterminded the criminal plot.
In this case, Felix’s part in the conspiracy was established by the testimony of
Iluminado Nacua who was present when Felix made his proposal to Canoy and Catao, and
the latter two agreed to execute the criminal plot. And Felix's active participation in the
killing was related by two eyewitnesses, Arcadia Alcantara and Dioscoro Caballes.