G.R. No. 244843 - THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, VS. RONALD LAGUDA Y RODIBISO A.K.A. "BOKAY," ACCUSED-.D E C I S I O N - Supreme Court E-Library

Ruling

Accordingly, Ronald was charged with the complex crime of robbery with homicide before the Regional Trial Court (RTC), to wit: That on or about April 19, 2012, in the City of Manila, Philippines, the said accused, conspiring and confederating with others, whose true names, real identities and present whereabouts are still unknown and helping one another, did then and there willfully, unlawfully and feloniously, with intent to gain and by means of force, violence and intimidation upon the person of HERMINIA SONON y BOLANTES and MARIETA DELA ROSA y APELADO, by then and there boarding a passenger jeepney, which was travelling at the corner of Marzan and Dimasalang Streets, Sampaloc, this City, announcing a hold-up at knifepoint and poking a gun upon them, and divesting from the latter the following: From HERMINIA SONON y BOLANTES: P4,000.00 cash Nokia 7210-P7,000.00 ATM Card Veterans Bank GSIS Card, PS-Bank, Avon Card Blue Book Reading glass and assorted important documents From MARIETA DELA ROSA y APELADO: Two (2) cellular phones, Galaxy Y and Nokia 1280 worth P500.00 more or less Two (2) BDO cheques P800.00 cash and Assorted personal belongings or all in the total amount of P12,300.00, belonging to HERMINIA SONON y BOLANTES and MARIETA DELA ROSA y APELADO against their will, and that on the occasion or by reason of said the [ sic ] robbery, the said accused, in pursuance of their conspiracy, with intent to kill, with the qualifying circumstances of abuse of superior strength and treachery, upon one PO2 JOEL MAGNO, by then and there shooting the latter with a caliber .38, thereby inflicting upon him mortal gunshot wound, which was the direct and immediate cause of his death thereafter. Contrary to law. [9] Ronald pleaded not guilty. [10] At the trial, Ronald denied the accusation and claimed that on the night of April 19, 2012, he accompanied his common-law wife to her workplace and stayed at a computer shop until 3:00 a.m. the following day. [11] On November 16, 2015, the RTC convicted Ronald of the crime charged. It held that Ronald forcibly took personal properties from Herminia and Marieta and that he conspired in killing PO2 Magno, [12] thus: WHEREFORE, all premises considered, accused Ronald Laguda y Rodibiso is hereby found guilty beyond reasonable doubt of robbery with homicide and is sentenced to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua and to indemnify the heirs of PO2 Joel Magno the amounts of Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) as civil indemnity, Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) as moral damages, Thirty Thousand Pesos (P30,000.00) as exemplary damages and Fifty Four Thousand Pesos (P54,000.00) as actual damages and the amount of Four Million Thirty Two Thousand Pesos and Ninety Nine Centavos (P4,032,000.99) as damages for lost income plus legal interest on all damages awarded at the rate of 6% from the date of the finality of this decision. Furnish the Public Prosecutor, the heirs of PO2 Joel Magno represented by Mary Ann Magno, the acc