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People vs Cachola

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, appellee, vs. DOMINADOR CACHOLA y SALAZAR, ERNESTO AMAY y PASCUA, NESTOR MARQUEZ y MANUEL, BENJAMIN LAEGEN y CAMADO, RODOLFO SAGUN y JIMENEZ, RODEMIR GUERZO y LATAOAN, MELLKE IGNACIO y SALVADOR, and NELSON C. ECHABARIA, appellants.

G.R. Nos. 148712-15 | 2004-01-21

D E C I S I O N

PER CURIAM:

In just an instant, 12-year-old Jessie E. Barnachea lost his mother, an elder brother, an uncle, and a cousin as a result of the carnage that took place at around 6:00 p.m. of 28 December 1999 right inside their house in Barangay Calumbaya, Bauang, La Union. Their horrible death was attributed to herein appellants, who, however, pleaded not guilty to the four separate informations for murder.

At the trial before the Regional Trial Court of Bauang, La Union, Branch 67, the prosecution presented as witnesses Jessie and his brother and neighbors, as well as several police officers. Their testimonies disclose as...