People vs. Flora

THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, appellee,
vs.
HERMOGENES FLORA AND EDWIN FLORA, appellants.
G.R. No. 125909. June 23, 2000
FACTS:
On the evening of January 9, 1993, a dance party was held to celebrate
the birthday of Jeng-jeng Malubago in Sitio Silab, Barangay Longos, Kalayaan,
Laguna. Appellant Hermogenes Flora, allegedly a suitor of Jeng-jeng
Malubago, attended the party with his brother and co-appellant Edwin
Flora, alias "Boboy". Also in attendance were Rosalie Roma, then a high
school student; her mother, Emerita Roma, and her aunt, Flor Espinas. Ireneo
Gallarte, a neighbor of the Romas, was there too.
The dancing went on past midnight but at about 1:30, violence erupted. On
signal by Edwin Flora, Hermogenes Flora fired his .38 caliber revolver twice.
The first shot grazed the right shoulder of Flor Espinas, then hit Emerita
Roma, below her shoulder. The second shot hit Ireneo Gallarte who slumped
onto the floor. Rosalie, was shocked and could only utter,
"si Bodoy, si Bodoy", referring to Hermogenes Flora. Edwin Flora approached
her and, poking a knife at her neck, threatened to kill her before he and his
brother, Hermogenes, fled the scene.
The victims of the gunfire were transported to the Rural Health Unit in
Longos, Kalayaan, Laguna, where Emerita and Ireneo died.
Early that same morning of January 10, 1993, the police arrested Edwin
Flora at his rented house in Barangay Bagumbayan, Paete, Laguna.
Hermogenes Flora, after learning of the arrest of his brother, proceeded first
to the house of his aunt, Erlinda Pangan, in Pangil, Laguna but later that day,
he fled to his hometown in Pipian, San Fernando, Camarines Sur.
The autopsy conducted by the medico-legal officer, Dr. Ricardo R.
Yambot, Jr., revealed the following fatal wounds sustained by the deceased:
On February 26, 1993, Prosecution Attorney Joselito D.R. Obejas filed
three separate informations charging appellants as follows:
That on or about January 10, 1993, at around 1:30 oclock in the
morning thereof, in Sitio Silab, Barangay Longos, municipality of Kalayaan,
province of Laguna, and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court,
1. Accused Hermogenes Flora conspiring and confederating with
accused Edwin Flora , and mutually helping one another, while conveniently
armed then with a caliber .38 handgun, with intent to kill, by means of
treachery and with evident premeditation, did then and there wilfully,
unlawfully and feloniously attack, assault and shoot with the said firearm one
EMERITA ROMA y DELOS REYES, thereby inflicting upon the latter gunshot
wounds on her chest which caused her immediate death, to the damage and
prejudice of her surviving heirs.
2. Accused HERMOGENES FLORA conspiring and confederating with
accused Erwin [Edwin] Flora, and mutually helping one another, while
conveniently armed then with a caliber .38 handgun, with intent to kill, by
means of treachery and with evident premeditation, did then and there
willfully, unlawfully and feloniously attack, assault and shoot with the said
firearm one IRENEO GALLARTE y VALERA, thereby inflicting upon the latter
gunshot wounds on his chest which caused his immediate death, to the
damage and prejudice of his surviving heirs.
3. Accused Hermogenes Flora, conspiring and confederating with
accused Erwin [Edwin] Flora, and mutually helping one another, while
conveniently armed then with a caliber .38 handgun, with intent to kill, by
means of treachery and with evident premeditation, did then and there
willfully, unlawfully and feloniously attack, assault and shoot with the said
firearm one FLOR ESPINAS y ROMA, hitting the latter on her shoulder, and
inflicting upon her injuries which, ordinarily, would have caused her death,
thus, accused performed all the acts of execution which could have produced
the crime of Murder as a consequence but which, nevertheless did not
produce it by reason of a cause independent of their will, that is, by the
timely and able medical attendance given the said Flor Espinas y Roma,
which prevented her death, to her damage and prejudice."
During arraignment, both appellants pleaded not guilty. Trial thereafter
ensued. Resolving jointly Criminal Cases Nos. SC-4810, SC-4811 and SC4812, the trial court convicted both appellants for the murder of Emerita
Roma and Ireneo Gallarte, and the attempted murder of Flor Espinas.
ISSUE: W/N the trial court erred in convicting the two accused-appellants
despite the failure of the prosecution to morally ascertain their identities and
guilt for the crimes charged.
HELD: When Hermogenes Flora suddenly shot Emerita and Ireneo, both were
helpless to defend themselves. Their deaths were murders, not simply
homicides since the acts were qualified by treachery. Thus, we are compelled
to conclude that appellant Hermogenes Flora is guilty beyond reasonable
doubt of double murder for the deaths of Emerita Roma and Ireneo Gallarte,
and guilty of attempted murder of Flor Espinas.
Edwin Flora, equally guilty as his brother, in conspiracy between appellants

for murder of Ireneo Gallarte. For conspiracy to exist, it is not required that
there be an agreement for an appreciable period prior to the occurrence. It is
sufficient that at the time of the commission of the offense, the accused and
co-accused had the same purpose and were united in execution.
Edwin Flora demonstrated not mere passive presence at the scene of
the crime. He stayed beside his brother Hermogenes, right behind the
victims while the dance party drifted late into the night till the early hours of
the morning the following day. All the while, he and his brother gazed
ominously at Ireneo Gallarte, like hawks waiting for their prey. And then
Edwins flick of that lighted cigarette to the ground signaled Hermogenes to
commence shooting at the hapless victims. If ever Edwin appeared
acquiescent during the carnage, it was because no similar weapon was
available for him. And he fled from the crime scene together with his brother
but not after violently neutralizing any obstacle on their way. While getting
away, Edwin grabbed Rosalie Roma and poked a knife at her neck when the
latter hysterically shouted "si Bodoy, Si Bodoy," in allusion to Hermogenes
Flora, whom she saw as the gunwielder. All told, Edwin, by his conduct,
demonstrated unity of purpose and design with his brother Hermogenes in
committing the crimes charged. He is thus liable as co-conspirator.
However, we cannot find Edwin Flora similarly responsible for the
death of Emerita Roma and the injury of Flor Espinas. The evidence only
shows conspiracy to kill Ireneo Gallarte and no one else. For acts done
outside the contemplation of the conspirators only the actual perpetrators
are liable. And the rule has always been that co-conspirators are liable only
for acts done pursuant to the conspiracy. For other acts done outside the
contemplation of the co-conspirators or which are not the necessary and
logical consequence of the intended crime, only the actual perpetrators are
liable.
Therefore, Appellants Hermogenes Flora and Edwin Flora are found
GUILTY beyond reasonable doubt of the MURDER of Ireneo Gallarte.
Hermogenes Flora is found GUILTY beyond reasonable doubt of the
MURDER of Emerita Roma and the ATTEMPTED MURDER of Flor Espinas.
Appellant Edwin Flora is ACQUITTED of the murder of Emerita Roma
and the attempted murder of Flor Espinas.

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THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, appellee,

Edwin Flora, equally guilty as his brother, in conspiracy between appellants

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