G.R. No. 121668 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, VS. JOEL TAÑEZA Y DACAL, ACCUSED-.D E C I S I O N - Supreme Court E-Library

Ruling

WHEREFORE, upon all the foregoing considerations, the Court finds the accused, Joel D. Tañeza, guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of Murder as defined and penalized under Article 248 of the Revised Penal Code. Accordingly, applying the Indeterminate Sentence Law, the Court hereby sentences: In Criminal Case No. 2156 1. the accused, Joel D. Tañeza, to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua ; 2. the accused, Joel D. Tañeza, to indemnify Aida Esgrina the amount of Forty Three Thousand Twenty Nine Pesos and Ninety Five Centavos (P43,029.95), as actual damages she incurred in connection with the medical treatment, hospital bills, wake, burial and funeral services rendered to the deceased victim, Emerson Umandam; 3. The accused, Joel D. Tañeza, to indemnify the heirs of the deceased victim, Emerson Umandam: (a) the amount of P10,000.00 as moral damages; (b) the amount of P5,000.00 as exemplary damages; (c) the amount of P50,000.00 as statutory indemnity for the death of the said deceased victim; and to pay the costs. The homemade .38 caliber snub-nose revolver (Exh. "A") is hereby confiscated and forfeited in favor of the Government, and (shall) be disposed of in accordance with law. Being a detention prisoner, the accused is entitled to full credit of the entire period of his preventive imprisonment in accordance with Article 29 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by R.A. No. 6127, provided he had agreed in writing to abide, by the same disciplinary rules imposed upon convicted prisoners, otherwise, with only four-fifths (4/5) thereof. For want of sufficient evidence to prove the guilt of the accused, Joel D. Tañeza, beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of Illegal Possession of Firearm in Criminal Case No. 2157, the said accused is hereby ACQUITTED, with costs de oficio . IT IS SO ORDERED.