G.R. No. 189093 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, VS. CHRISTOPHER BRINGAS Y GARCIA, BRYAN BRINGAS Y GARCIA, JOHN ROBERT NAVARRO Y CRUZ, ERICKSON PAJARILLO Y BASER (DECEASED), AND EDEN SY CHUNG, ACCUSED-.D E C I S I O N - Supreme Court E-Library

Ruling

Accordingly, on August 22, 1997, Ticsay filed his Demurrer to Evidence. [89] On December 3, 1997, the trial court granted the demurrer and acquitted Ticsay. [90] Subsequently, on June 10, 1998, the motions to grant bail filed by the other accused were denied by the trial court. [91] The Ruling of the RTC and CA The RTC, finding the testimonies of prosecution witnesses more credible, rendered, on March 26, 1999, its Joint Decision [92] finding accused-appellants and the other accused guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crimes charged. The fallo reads: WHEREFORE, viewed in the light of the foregoing, judgment is hereby rendered: In Criminal Case No. 95-136 for CARNAPPING, defined and penalized under Republic Act No. 6539, finding accused CHRISTOPHER BRINGAS y Garcia; JOHN ROBERT NAVARRO y Cruz; ARUEL ROSS y Picardo; ROGER CALAGUAS y Jimenez; ERICKSON PAHARILLO y Baser; EDGARDO SULAYAO y Petilla and EDEN SY CHUNG GUILTY beyond reasonable doubt, they are hereby sentenced to suffer the indeterminate penalty of imprisonment of nineteen (19) years as minimum to twenty-seven (27) years, as maximum. For failure of the prosecution to prove the guilt of BRYAN BRINGAS y GARCIA, he is hereby ACQUITTED. In Criminal Case No. 95-137, for KIDNAPPING FOR RANSOM, defined and penalized under Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by Republic Act no. 7659, finding accused CHRISTOPHER BRINGAS y Garcia; JOHN ROBERT NAVARRO y Cruz; ARUEL ROSS y Picardo; BRYAN BRINGAS y Garcia; ROGER CALAGUAS y Jimenez; ERICKSON PAHARILLO y Baser; EDGARDO SULAYAO y Petilla; and EDEN SY CHUNG guilty beyond reasonable doubt, they are hereby sentenced to suffer the supreme penalty of DEATH. Likewise, accused JOHN ROBERT NAVARRO y Cruz is hereby directed to pay Eric Teng the sum of PhP100,000.00 as actual damages with interest thereon at the legal rate from December 15, 1994 until fully paid and all the accused are directed to pay Eric Teng jointly and severally the amount of PhP5,000,000.00 as moral damages; PhP2,000,000.00 as exemplary damages and to pay the costs. Let Alias Warrants of Arrest issued against GLEN SANGALANG and RICKY CASTILLO for their immediate apprehension which need not be returned until after they have been arrested. SO ORDERED.