G.R. No. 137518 - THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, VS. EDITHO SUYUM AND PEDRO OCANIA, ACCUSED-.D E C I S I O N - Supreme Court E-Library

Ruling

Accordingly, she went out to find out about the incident. On her way to the place of the incident, she met accused-appellant Editho Suyum, who was carrying a bloodstained bladed weapon approximately two feet long, with blood on his hand. Upon reaching the scene, Glenda said she saw her brother Rommel Ampo lying in a pool of his own blood on the ground. Glenda called for policemen and, with their help, brought the body of her brother Rommel to Funeraria Malaya. She further testified that she and her family spent P12,500.00 for the funeral of Rommel, P5,000.00 for food during the wake, and P5,000.00 for carpentry, electricity, and transportation expenses. [3] Edgar Luid, a construction worker and a resident of Aratiles Street, Parañaque, also identified both accused-appellants. He said that he witnessed the killing of Rommel on January 12, 1997, at around 2:30 p.m. He claimed that he and the victim Ampo were having drinks in his (Luids) house on Aratiles Street when accused-appellants Suyum and Pedro Ocania, alias Kiti-Kiti approached them. Suyum was armed with a bolo about two feet long. Sensing trouble, as Suyum was approaching them with his bolo raised above his head, Luid said he shouted at Ampo to run. Luid himself fled to a rest room about 13 meters from the place where they were drinking. After a few minutes, Luid came out of his hiding place and went to a nearby house from where he saw accused-appellant Ocania holding Ampos hands at the back. Suyum hacked Ampo, hitting him on the left side of the neck, as a result of which Ampo fell on his knees. Suyum then stabbed Ampo on the left shoulder. When Ampo fell to the ground, Luid said he saw Suyum place an x mark on Ampos face, using the tip of the bolo for this purpose, after which accused-appellants fled. [4] Darlindo Coyno, a resident of Aratiles Street, also identified accused-appellants as the perpetrators of the crime. He testified that on January 12, 1997, at around 3 oclock in the afternoon, while he was at the billiard hall on Aratiles Street, he noticed accused-appellant Suyum brandishing a bolo and Ocania a knife. He saw the two approach the victim Ampo, who was standing in front of a bakery. Suyum struck Ampo with his bolo, hitting him on the left side of the neck. Ocania, who was standing on the right side of the victim, was accidentally hit on the back by Suyum. As Ampo fell on his knees, Suyum again stabbed him, hitting him on the left shoulder. Suyum then placed an x mark on the left side of Ampos face with the use of his bolo and then he and Ocania left. [5] Dr. Eduardo Tan Vargas, medico-legal specialist, conducted the postmortem examination on the body of Rommel Ampo. He issued Autopsy Report No. N-97-88 dated January 12, 1997 (Exhibit J). [6] He testified that Ampo sustained six incised wounds on the face and one stab wound on the upper portion of the chest, which was the fatal wound, all of which could have possibly been inflicted with a bolo. Dr. Vargas stated t