PEOPLE vs. GANOHON, G.R. Nos. 74670-74 April 30, 1991
Criminal Case Digest:
Digested Cases
Facts: In the evening of
August 16, 1982, a brutal and gruesome massacre was perpetrated in barangay
Ticalaan, Municipality of Talakag, province of Bukidnon, wherein Eduardo Anoos,
Elina Pantao Anoos, Edgar Nuera, Gina Anoos and Tuto Anoos met unexpected
violent deaths. No one ever witnessed the horrible incident, but accused Charly
Ganohon y Samia alias Dongdong Ganohon, together with a certain Gerardo
Obod alias "Meka" who is still at large, were charged of. 5
separate cases of murders.
Issue: WON the denials of the
accused are sufficient to rebut the incriminating circumstances testified to by
the prosecution witnesses.
Held: It is a
well-entrenched rule in evidence that before conviction can be had upon
circumstantial evidence, the circumstances proved should constitute an unbroken
chain which leads to one fair and reasonable conclusion pointing to the
defendant, to the exclusion of all others, as the author of the crime.
The circumstantial evidence attendant and relied
upon by the trial court is sufficient for conviction. There is more than one
circumstance. The facts from which the inferences are derived are proven. The
combination of all circumstances is such as to produce a conviction beyond
reasonable doubt.
The accused-appellant is held guilty of murder.
With the presence of the aggravating circumstance of dwelling. The
accused-appellant is sentenced to twenty (20) years of reclusion temporal
each in Criminal Cases Nos. 71(3313) and 72(3314); and to reclusion perpetua
each in Criminal Cases Nos. 73(3315), 74(3316) and 75(3317). The civil
indemnity is increased to P50,000.00 for each of the five victims.
