Back

PEOPLE vs. Rufino Bacalto, et al.

THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee vs. RUFINO BACALTO, alias RUFING, ROBERTO BARTONICO, RICARDO BACALTO, NOEL GEMINO, CAMILO HENERAL, ALEJANDRO LIPALAM alias ANDOY and RENE GEMINO, accused -appellants.

G.R. Nos. 116307-10 | 1997-08-14

D E C I S I O N


NARVASA, C.J.:

It is said that superstition is merely an outward manifestation of an inner fear. This case, an appeal from the decisions of the Regional Trial Court of Isulan, Sultan Kudarat convicting the accused of murder and frustrated murder, 1 may well be cited as an example of how that fear can lead to murder, no other motive for the crimes charged having been clearly shown.

On the night of September 29, 1991, Rodillo Villanueva, William Villanueva, Endralin Villanueva and Juliet Estiva left their home in Sultan Kudarat for a nearby area to make ready for delivery to the market, corn recently harvested from their...