The Supreme Court affirmed the conviction of police officers and security guards for the murder of an individual in their custody, emphasizing that law enforcement officials are not above the law and will be held accountable for criminal acts committed while on duty. This ruling underscores the importance of protecting detainees’ rights and ensuring justice when those in power abuse their authority, reinforcing the principle that no one, regardless of their position, is exempt from the consequences of their actions.

NAIA Detention Cell: Justice for Romeleo Quintos’s Death

The case of People of the Philippines vs. Marcelo Bustamante, et al. (G.R. No. 172357, March 19, 2010) revolves around the brutal killing of Romeleo Quintos inside a detention cell at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). Quintos was apprehended for an expired license, leading to a heated argument with police officers. He was then detained and subsequently found dead, hanging in his cell. The central legal question is whether the accused, including police officers and security guards, conspired to murder Quintos, and whether the evidence presented sufficiently proves their guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

The prosecution presented Noel Gabornes, a fellow detainee, as the key witness. Gabornes testified that he witnessed the appellants assaulting Quintos and ultimately strangling him with a plastic cord. He recounted the events inside the detention cell, identifying the roles each of the accused played in the victim’s death. Despite an affidavit of recantation later presented by Gabornes, the Court gave more weight to his original testimony, citing that retractions are viewed with disfavor unless proven credible in court.

The Court emphasized the principle that the testimony of a single witness, if credible, is sufficient for conviction. Both the trial court and the Court of Appeals (CA) found Gabornes’s testimony to be credible and detailed, devoid of any apparent motive to falsely accuse the appellants. In People v. Ballabare, the Supreme Court highlighted the importance of scrutinizing recantations:

It is absurd to disregard a testimony that has undergone trial and scrutiny by the court and the parties simply because an affidavit withdrawing the testimony is subsequently presented by the defense. In the first place, any recantation must be tested in a public trial with sufficient opportunity given to the party adversely affected by it to cross-examine the recanting witness.

Building on this principle, the Court assessed whether the prosecution successfully established the element of conspiracy. The appellants argued that they were not in the same location at the time of the crime, implying a lack of coordination. However, the Court noted that the distances between their claimed locations were short, making their presence at the scene of the crime plausible. More importantly, the Court emphasized that conspiracy does not require a prior agreement for an extended period; it is sufficient that the accused acted in concert with a common purpose at the time of the offense.

The Court highlighted the specific acts of the accused, such as boxing the victim, uttering phrases like “tapusin na natin ito” (let’s finish this), and handing the cord used for strangulation, as evidence of their collective intent. The court noted that the collective actions clearly show that all accused conspired, confederated, and helped one another in murdering the victim with abuse of superior strength by strangling and hanging the victim Romeleo Quintos causing him to die of asphyxia. In conspiracy, the act of one is the act of all. The Supreme Court in People v. Magalang has stated that:

For collective responsibility among the accused to be established, it is sufficient that at the time of the aggression, all of them acted in concert, each doing his part to fulfill their common design to kill the victim.

The Court then addressed the issue of whether the crime should be qualified as murder, considering the presence of aggravating circumstances. The appellants argued that abuse of superior strength was not specifically alleged in the Information. However, the Court clarified that the Information did explicitly state that the appellants acted “taking advantage of their superior strength.” Given that the appellants were law enforcement officers and security guards acting together against an unarmed detainee, the Court found that the circumstance of abuse of superior strength qualified the killing as murder.

The Court also addressed the liabilities of two other individuals involved in the case: Mutalib Abdulajid and Carlito Lingat. As regards Lingat, his death pending appeal and prior to the finality of conviction extinguished his criminal and civil liabilities. Moreover, the death of Lingat would result in the dismissal of the criminal case against him. On the other hand, because Abdulajid was never arraigned and remains at large, the trial court never obtained jurisdiction over him and his conviction was deemed invalid.

Finally, the Court addressed the matter of damages to be awarded to the victim’s heirs. The Court awarded the heirs of Romeleo Quintos the amounts of P50,000.00 as civil indemnity, P50,000.00 as moral damages, P25,000.00 as temperate damages, and P25,000.00 as exemplary damages. In addition, the Court considered the victim’s earning capacity at the time of his death, awarding P3,000,000.00 as compensation for lost income. Article 2206 of the Civil Code stipulates that:

That amount of damages for death caused by a crime or quasi-delict shall be at least Three Thousand Pesos, even though there may have been mitigating circumstances. In addition:
(1) the defendant shall be liable for the loss of the earning capacity of the deceased, and the indemnity shall be paid to the heirs of the latter, such indemnity shall in every case be assessed and awarded by the court, unless the deceased on account of permanent physical disability not caused by the accused, had no earning capacity at the time of his death.

FAQs

What was the key issue in this case?	The key issue was whether the accused police officers and security guards conspired to murder Romeleo Quintos inside a detention cell, and whether the evidence presented proved their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The Court had to assess the credibility of the eyewitness testimony and determine if the elements of conspiracy and murder were sufficiently established.
Why was the testimony of the lone eyewitness considered credible?	The Court found the lone eyewitness’s testimony credible because it was detailed, consistent, and devoid of any apparent motive to falsely accuse the appellants. Both the trial court and the Court of Appeals affirmed the credibility of the witness, emphasizing the absence of any ill intentions on his part.
How did the court define conspiracy in this case?	The court defined conspiracy as the existence of a common purpose and unity in execution at the time of the offense, not necessarily requiring a prior agreement for an extended period. The actions of the accused, such as assaulting the victim and providing the means for strangulation, demonstrated a concerted effort to achieve a common unlawful goal.
What qualified the killing as murder instead of homicide?	The killing was qualified as murder due to the presence of the aggravating circumstance of abuse of superior strength. As law enforcement officers and security guards acting against an unarmed detainee, the appellants took advantage of their authority and numbers to overpower and kill the victim.
What damages were awarded to the victim’s heirs?	The Court awarded the heirs of Romeleo Quintos P50,000.00 as civil indemnity, P50,000.00 as moral damages, P25,000.00 as temperate damages, P25,000.00 as exemplary damages, and P3,000,000.00 as compensation for lost income. These damages aimed to compensate the family for the loss of their loved one and the financial impact of his untimely death.
What happened to the accused who was at large?	Because Mutalib Abdulajid was never arraigned and remained at large, the trial court never obtained jurisdiction over him. As a result, his conviction was nullified by the Supreme Court.
What was the effect of one of the accused dying during the appeal?	With respect to Carlito Lingat, who died pending appeal and before his conviction became final, both his criminal and civil liabilities were extinguished. The criminal case against him was dismissed accordingly.
Why was the affidavit of recantation disregarded by the court?	The affidavit of recantation was disregarded because courts generally view retractions with disfavor, especially when the original testimony was credible and detailed. The recantation was not tested in a public trial, and the court found no compelling reason to overturn the initial findings based on the eyewitness’s original account.

This case serves as a reminder that law enforcement officers are not above the law and must be held accountable for their actions, especially when those actions result in the loss of life. The ruling reinforces the importance of due process and the protection of individuals in custody, ensuring that justice is served and that those who abuse their authority face appropriate consequences.

For inquiries regarding the application of this ruling to specific circumstances, please contact ASG Law through contact or via email at frontdesk@asglawpartners.com.

Disclaimer: This analysis is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific legal guidance tailored to your situation, please consult with a qualified attorney.
Source: People v. Bustamante, G.R. No. 172357, March 19, 2010