People v. Perez, 83 Phil. 1
People v. Perez, 83 Phil. 1
People v. Perez, 83 Phil. 1
1.CRIMINAL LAW; TREASON; ADHERENCE TO THE ENEMY, EXTENT AND SCOPE OF.
—In a broad sense, the law of treason does not prescribe all kinds of
social, business and political intercourse between the belligerent
occupants of the invaded country and its inhabitants. In the nature of
things, the occupation of a country by the enemy is bound to create
relations of all sorts between the invaders and the natives. What aid
and comfort constitute treason must depend upon their nature,
degree and purpose. To draw a line between treasonable and
unreasonable assistance is not always easy. The scope of adherence to
the enemy is comprehensive, its requirement indeterminate.
2.ID. ; ID. ; ID.—As a general rule, to be treasonous the extent of the aid
and comfort given to the enemies must be to render assistance to
them as enemies and not merely as individuals and, in addition, be
directly in furtherance of the enemies' hostile designs. To make a
simple distinction: To lend or give money to an enemy as a friend or
out of charity to the beneficiary so that he may buy personal
necessities is to assist him as an individual and is not technically
traitorous. On the other hand, to lend or give him money to enable
him to buy arms or ammunition to use in waging war against the
giver's country enhances his strength and by the same count injures
the interest of the government of the giver. That is treason.
3.ID.; ID.; COMMANDEERING OF WOMEN TO SATISFY THE LUST OF THE ENEMY IS
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TUASON, J.:
Susano Perez alias Kid Perez was convicted of treason
by the 5th Division of the People's Court sitting in Cebu
City and sentenced to death by electrocution.
Seven counts were alleged in the information but the
prosecution offered evidence only on counts 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6,
all of which, according to the court, were substantiated. In
a unanimous decision, the trial court found as follows:
"As regards count No. 1—
"Count No. 1 alleges that the accused, together with the other
Filipinos, recruited, apprehended and commandeered numerous
girls and women against their will for the purpose of using them,
as in fact they were used, to satisfy the immoral purpose and
sexual desire of Colonel Mini, and among such unfortunate
victims, were Felina Laput, Eriberta Ramo alias Miami Ramo,
Eduarda Daohog, Eutiquia Lamay, Feliciana Bonalos and
Flaviana Bonalos.
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delivering them to said Japanese Officer, satisfied first their lust; the
accused Susano Perez raping Eduarda S. Daohog, and his companion,
Vicente Bullecer, the other girl Eutiquia Lamay. Eduarda S. Daohog,
testifying, said: that while on the way to Tagbilaran, the accused through
force and intimidation, raped her in an uninhabited house; that she
resisted with all her force against the desire of the accused, but of no
avail; that upon arriving in Tagbilaran, she was delivered to the
Japanese Officer named Takibayas who also raped her. Eutiquia Lamay
testified that on July 16, 1942, the accused and his companion, Bullecer,
went to her house to take her and her sister; that her sister was then out
of the house; that the accused threatened her with a revolver if she
refuses to go; that she was placed in a car where Eduarda Daohog was;
that while they were in the car, the accused carried Eduarda out of the
car, and their companion Bullecer took the other witness (Eutiquia
Lamay); that when the accused and Eduarda returned to the car, the
latter, Eduarda, covered her face, crying; that later, she and Eduarda
were taken to the Governor's house; that on arriving and in the presence
of the Puppet Governor Hontañosas, the Governor exclaimed: 'I did not
call for these girls'; but the accused replied saying: ‘ These girls talked
bad against the Japs, and that is why we arrested them'; that the said
Governor Hontañosas then, said: 'Take them to the Japs'; that the
accused and Bullecer brought the two girls to the Japanese
headquarters; that Eduarda was taken to one room by the Japanese
Captain called Dr. Takibayas, and she (Eutiquia Lamay) was taken to
another room by another Japanese living in that house; that she was
raped by that Jap while in the room; that she resisted all she could, but
of no avail.
"In the light of the testimonies of these two witnesses, Eduarda S.
Daohog and Eutiquia Lamay, all the allegations in Count No. 4 were
fully proven beyond reasonable doubt.
"As regards count No. 5—
"Count No. 5 alleges: That on or about June 4, 1942, the said accused
commandeered Feliciana Bonalos and her sister Flaviana Bonalos on the
pretext that they were to be taken as witnesses before a Japanese
Colonel in the investigation of a case against a certain Chinese (Insik
Eping), and upon arriving at Tagbilaran, Bohol, the accused brought the
aforesaid two girls to the residence of Colonel Mini, Commander of the
Japanese Armed Forces in Bohol and by means of violence, threat and
intimidation, said Japanese Colonel abused and had sexual intercourse
with Flaviana Bonalos; that the accused subsequently brought Flaviana
Bonalos to a small house near the headquarters of Colonel Mini and
through violence, threat and intimidation, succeeded in having carnal
knowledge with her against
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her will; that about two days, later, upon the pretext of conducting
the unfortunate girls to their home, the said accused brought the other
girl Feliciana Bonalos to a secluded place in Tagbilaran, Bohol, and in
the darkness, by means of threat and violence had carnal knowledge
with her against her will.
"The information given by Feliciana to her mother is admitted in
evidence as a part of the res gestae regardless of the time that had
elapsed between the occurrence and the time of the information. In the
manner these two witnesses testified in Court, there could be no doubt
that they were telling the absolute truth. It is hard to conceive that these
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girls would assume and admit the ignominy they have gone through if
they were not true. The Court is fully con-
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vinced that all the allegations contained in Count No. 5 have been
proven by the testimonies of these two witnesses beyond reasonable
doubt.
"As regards count No. 6—
"Count No. 6, alleges: That the accused, together with his Filipino
companions, apprehended Natividad Barcinas, Nicanora Ralameda and
Teotima Barcinas, nurses of the provincial hospital, for not having
attended a dance and reception organized by the Puppet Governor in
honor of Colonel Mini and other Japs high ranking officers, which was
held in Tagbilaran market on June 25, 1942; that upon being brought
before the Puppet Governor, they were severely reprimanded by the
latter; that on July 8, 1942, again said nurses were forced to attend
another banquet and dance in order that the Jap officers Mini and
Takibayas might make a selection which girl would suit best their fancy;
that the real purpose behind those forcible invitations was to lure them
to the residence of said Japanese Officer Mini for immoral purposes.
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only on its physical attributes but also, mainly, on the
morale of its soldiers" (citing the annual report of the Chief
of Staff, United States Army, for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1933).
If furnishing women for immoral purposes to the
enemies was treason because women's company kept up
their morale, so fraternizing with them, entertaining them
at parties, selling them food and drinks, and kindred acts,
would be treason. For any act of hospitality without doubt
produces the same general result. Yet by common
agreement those and similar manifestations of sympathy
and attachment are not the kind of disloyalty that are
punished as treason.
In a broad sense, the law of treason does not prescribe
all kinds of social, business and political intercourse be-
tween the belligerent occupants of the invaded country and
its inhabitants. In the nature of things, the occupation of a
country by the enemy is bound to create relations of all
sorts between the invaders and the natives. What aid and
comfort constitute treason must depend upon their nature,
degree and purpose. To draw a line between treasonable
and untreasonable assistance is not always easy. The scope
of adherence to the enemy is comprehensive, Ha
requirement indeterminate, as was said in Cramer ra.
United States, 89 Law. ed., 1441.
As a general rule, to be treasonous the extent of the aid
and comfort given to the enemies must be to render assist-
ance to them as enemies and not merely as individuals and.
in addition, be directly in furtherance of the enemies'
hostile designs. To make a simple distinction: To lend or
give money to an enemy as a friend or out of charity to the
beneficiary so that he may buy personal necessities is to
assist him as an individual and is not technically
traitorous. On the other hand, to lend or give him money to
enable him to buy arms or ammunition to use in waginf
war against the giver's country enhances his strength and
by the same count injures the interest of the government of
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the giver. That is treason. (See United States vs. Fricke,
259 F., 673; 63 C. J., 816, 817.)
Applying these principles to the case at bar, appellant's
first assignment of error is correct. His "commandeering" of
women to satisfy the lust of Japanese officers or men or to
enliven the entertainments held in their honor was not
treason even though the women and the entertainments
helped to make life more pleasant for the enemies and
boost their spirit; he was not guilty any more than the
women themselves would have been if they voluntarily and
willingly had surrendered their bodies or organized the
entertainments. Sexual and social relations with the
Japanese did not directly and materially tend to improve
their war efforts or to weaken the power of the United
States. The acts herein charged were not, by fair
implication, calculated to strengthen the Japanese Empire
or its army or to cripple the defense and resistance of the
other side. Whatever favorable effect the defendant's
collaboration with the Japanese might have in their
prosecution of the war was trivial, imperceptible, and
unintentional. Intent of disloyalty is a vital ingredient in
the crime of treason, which, in the absence of admission,
may be gathered from the nature and circumstances of
each particular case.
But the accused may be punished for the rape of
Eriberta Ramo, Eduarda Daohog, Eutiquia Lamay and
Flaviana Bonalos as principal by direct participation.
Without his cooperation in the manner above stated, these
rapes could not have been committed.
Conviction of the accused of rapes instead of treason
finds express sanction in section 2 of Commonwealth Act
No. 682, which says:
"Provided further, That where, in its opinion, the
evidence is not suflficient to support the offense (treason)
charged, the People's Court may, nevertheless, convict and
sentence the accused for any crime included in the acts
alleged in the information and established by the
evidence."
All the above mentioned rapes are alleged in the
information and substantiated by the evidence.
28660—21
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PARAS, J.:
I reserve my vote.
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MONTEMAYOR, J.:
I concur in the result.
PABLO, M., disidente:
Disiento. En mi opinión, los hechos probados constituyen
delito de traición.
El acusado, al reclutar con sus compañeros, muchas
señoritas de buena reputación en Bohol para ponerlas a
disposición de los oficiales del ejercito enemigo, ha ayudado
a ellos en la obra de destrucción. En la guerra se emplea la
destrucción para triunfar, y la destrucción se realiza en las
cosas y en las personas. Inutilizar para el trabajo o para la
guerra a los habitantes del país invadido es destruirles en
mayor o menor grado y violar o deshonrar a las mujeres es
también destruirlas material y moralmente y es peor aun
que matar y aniquilar. En el caso presente, el acusado
ayudo al Coronel Mini y Dr. Takibayas en deshonrar a
varias señoritas, poniéndolas en una situación peor que la
de las esclavas. Si el reclutar a hombres o mujeres para ser
obligados a construir trincheras para el ejercito invasor
constituye delito de traición; si el apoderarse del arroz de
los ciudadanos en sus casas para dárselo a los soldados
hambrientos del ejercito japonés es traición; ¿por que no ha
de constituir traición el reclutar a señoritas para ser
utilizadas por los enemigos en sus deseos bestiales, como
un medio de entretenimiento o alivio de sus trabajos? Fla-
viana y Feliciana Bonalos, ilegalmente arrestadas y entre-
gadas después a los dos oficiales-bestias, en su declaración,
han dicho que hubieran preferido morir que ser violadas.
El argumento del Procurador General, que merece seria
consideración, es del tenor siguiente:
"In the United States Army, and we believe this is also true in the
Japanese Imperial Forces, a unit known as the United Services
Organization (U. S. O.) functions with the primordial aim and view to
keep at peak the morale of the soldiers. Ta achieve this, varied
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forms of entertainment like movies, dances, stage shows and the like
are provided for at an enormous expense. In fine, the soldiers are
surrounded with all the comforts and opportunities that they ordinarily
enjoy in their normal civilian life. The reason for this is to tone their
nerves and minimize as much as possible, the heavy strain on them
incident to the nature of their mission in time of war. Such
entertainment becomes the more imperative when it comes to soldiers
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No es exagerado suponer que dichos oficiales japoneses
hayan dejado en su país hijos, esposas y madres a quienes
quieren de corazón, y en sus momentos de soledad, de
tristeza y de nostalgia, no es imposible que se acuerden de
ellos y lleguen a decir para si mismos: "¿Que sacamos de
esta guerra de invasión, dejando a nuestros hijos, nuestras
familias y nuestros hogares abandonados solo para
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