People vs. Ong, 62 SCRA 174, January 30, 1975

174 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
People s. Ong
21
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plain iff-appellee, .BENJAMIN ONG KHO, and

BIENVENIDO QUINTOS SUMALJAG, defendan -appellan .
C imi al la ; Kid a i g; Ci c m a ce ega i g allega i f kid a i g f a m. The follo ing

ci c m ance nega e he allega ion of kidnapping fo an om: a) ehemen denial he eof b he acc ed; b) non-
p od c ion in co of he alleged an om no e; c) n eliabili of e aj dicial a emen ad e ing o he an om
beca e of mal ea men of i ne ; d) incon i enc in he e imonie e pec ing he d a ing p of he an om
no e; and, finall , e) he fac ha he bod of he ic im a b ied along i h man p ecio a icle in hi
pe on.
Same; Same; Kid a i g i e e he e he de e i f he ic im a l i cide hi i e ded
m de . I eem clea ha he eigh of a ho i i in fa o of he p opo i ion ha he e he ic im a
aken f om one place o ano he , olel fo he p po e of killing him and no fo de aining him fo an leng h of
ime o fo he p po e of ob aining an om fo hi elea e, he c ime commi ed i m de , and no he comple
c ime of kidnapping i h m de . Thi ling i en i el con i en i h he la . A . 267 of he Re i ed Penal
Code penali e a pe on ho hall kidnap o de ain ano he , and he penal become capi al he e he
kidnapping o de en ion a commi ed fo he p po e of e o ing an om f om he ic im o an o he pe on.
Same; Agg a a i g ci c m a ce ; T eache ; The e i eache he e ic im a ied a d gagged bef e
bei g abbed. T eache (ale o ia) alified he killing o m de . Undi p ed fac ho ha Hen Ch a
hand e e ied and hi mo h a gagged i h a flannel clo h befo e he a abbed ice i h an icepick and
b ied in a hallo g a e nea a c eek. The e fac po a ell ha he ied hand of he ic im ende ed him
_______________
* EN BANC.
1 5
VOL. 62, JANUARY 30, 1975 175
People s. Ong
defen ele and helple he eb allo ing he acc ed o commi he c ime i ho i k a all o hei
pe on.
Same; C i ac ; T eache ma be ake agai he he c i a al h gh he did ake a i
he abbi g. The acc ed, ho e e , e e ick o in i ha eache ho ld no be aken again hem
beca e he did no do he ac al abbing ( hich a done b Fe nando Tan). Ea il , he eakne of hi
claim can be di ce ned. Con pi ac , conni ance and ni of p po e and in en ion among he acc ed e e
p e en h o gho in he e ec ion of hi c ime. The fo pa icipa ed in he planning and e ec ion of he
c ime and e e a he cene in all i age . The canno e cape he con e ence of an of hei ac e en if he
de ia ed in ome de ail f om ha he o iginall ho gh of. Con pi ac implie conce and de ign and no
pa icipa ion in e e de ail of e ec ion. Th , eache ho ld be con ide ed again all pe on pa icipa ing
o coope a ing in he pe pe a ion of he c ime.
Same; Agg a a i g ci c m a ce ; Nigh ime; Whe igh ime i ab bed b he agg a a i g
ci c m a ce f eache . Ina m ch a he eache con i ed in he fac ha he ic im hand e e ied a
he ime he e e bea en, he ci c m ance of nigh ime i no ab o bed in eache , b can be pe cei ed
/
di inc l he ef om, ince he eache e pon an independen fac al ba i . A pecial ca e he efo e i
p e en o hich he le ha nigh ime i ab o bed in eache doe no appl .
Same; Same; U i habi ed lace; Taki g f ic im i a aba d ed bdi i i i agg a a i g. The
p po i e elec ion of an ninhabi ed place (de poblado) i like i e clea f om he e idence. The killing a done
in Ba io Maka ipo, No aliche , Caloocan Ci , an i ola ed place ha e embled ha of an abandoned
bdi i ion. The place a ideal no me el fo b ing he ic im b al o fo killing him fo i a a place
he e he po ibili of he ic im ecei ing ome help f om hi d pe on a comple el ab en . The acc ed
o gh he oli de of he place in o de o be e a ain hei p po e i ho in e fe ence, and o ec e
hem el e again de ec ion and p ni hmen .
Same; Same; Ab e f c fide ce; Ab e f c fide ce i e e he e he e i ecial ela i f
c fide ce be ee he acc ed a d he ic im. No he e in he eco d doe i appea ha Hen Ch a epo ed
confidence pon he pe on of Benjamin Ong. If an , Hen Ch a a impl no af aid of Benjamin Ong, ha ing
old and b agged o he la e abo hi iolen e ploi in he pa and h ea ened him i h bodil ha m in ca e
of fail e o pa . He kne
1 6
176 SUPREME COURT REPORTS

ANNOTATED
People s. Ong
ha he a fa onge han Benjamin Ong in e m of infl ence and mone . He ho gh ha Benjamin

Ong o ld fea him. The fac ha Hen Ch a in i ed Ong fo nigh cl bbing ha fa al e ening and
accommoda ed him in hi ca on hei a home f om he nigh cl b doe no mean ha Hen Ch a had
confidence in him. The e a no pecial ela ion of confidence be een hem. He kne ha Benjamin o ed him
a b an ial amo n and ha i e lemen had long been o e d e hich fac i i a ed him e m ch.
Benjamin Ong and Hen Ch a e e oge he ha nigh in he nigh cl b a ell a in he ca no beca e of
aid confidence. I a impl beca e Benjamin Ong had ome acco n o e le i h him.
Same; Same; M ehicle; Ca e a ba , e f m ehicle agg a a e he c mmi i f he c ime f
m de . The Bi ca ne ca of Benjamin Ong a ed in ailing he ic im M ang ca f om Wig am
Nigh cl b p o he ime ha i a o e aken and blocked. I ca ied he ic im on he a o he cene of he
killing; i con ained a i baggage compa men he pick and ho el ed in digging he g a e; i a he fa
mean of fleeing and ab conding f om he cene. Again, he mo o ehicle facili a ed he a k happening. I ha
been held ha he e of a mo o ehicle i agg a a ing in m de he e he aid ehicle a ed in
an po ing he ic im and he acc ed.
Same; Same; C el ; C el i e e he e he acc ed did i e d he ic im ffe . C el
(en anamien o), a an agg a a ing ci c m ance, canno be con ide ed he e. The b ief of he Ac ing Solici o
Gene al ag ee i h ha of he acc ed in den ing he a endance of c el a an agg a a ing ci c m ance.
Indeed, a i appea f om he eco d, he g o p in ended me el o kill he ic im, b him, and flee f om he
locale of he fea f l c ime. Fo c el o e i , i m be ho n ha he acc ed enjo ed and deligh ed in
making hei ic im ffe lo l and g ad all , ca ing him nnece a ph ical o mo al pain in he
con mma ion of he c iminal ac .
Same; Same; E ide emedi a i ; Ci c m a ce h i g a e da ce f e ide emedi a i .
Concededl , he alif ing ci c m ance of e iden p emedi a ion (p emedi a ion conocida) a ended he
commi ion of he c ime. Wha el e can be e po a hi ci c m ance han he f e en mee ing of he fo
acc ed a he Ba io Fie a Re a an in o de o di c , la o he plan, and ec e he diffe en
pa aphe nalia con i ing of he ope, icepick, flannel clo h, fla hligh and ho el. Added o hi i he ca ef l
elec ion of an ideal i e fo he g i l happening. Simila l , he plan o go o Taipeh and Hongkong
immedia el af e he inciden pic e he p e ence of e iden p emedi a ion. The acc ed
/
VOL. 62, JANUARY 30, 1975 177
People s. Ong
medi a ed and enacio l pe i ed in he accompli hmen of he c ime and e e no p omp ed me el b

he imp l e of he momen .
Same; Same; Mi iga i g ci c m a ce ; Plea f g il ; Plea f g il c ide ed mi iga i g al h gh acc ed
di e me f he agg a a i g ci c m a ce alleged i he i f ma i . Al ho gh he confe ion a
alified and in od c ion of e idence became nece a , he alifica ion did no den he defendan g il and,
ha i mo e, a b e en l f ll j ified. I a no he defendan fa l ha agg a a ing ci c m ance
e e e oneo l alleged in he info ma ion and mi iga ing ci c m ance omi ed he ef om. If ch
alifica ion co ld dep i e he acc ed of he benefi of plea of g il , hen he p o ec ion co ld n llif hi
mi iga ing ci c m ance b co n e ac ing i i h nfo nded allega ion of agg a a ing ci c m ance .
Same; Agg a a i g ci c m a ce ; Pa i a d bf ca i ;Ca e a ba , ci c m a ce h i g a e da ce
f a i a d bf ca i . We hold ha he acc ed Benjamin Ong i like i e en i led o he mi iga ing
ci c m ance ha i analogo o pa ion and obf ca ion (A . 13, pa . 10, Re i ed Penal Code), ba ed on he
follo ing fac a ed in hi b ief:
a) Hen Ch a and hi companion en o he office of Benjamin Ong. In a lo d oice, i h ang ge e ,

and in he p e ence of hi bo dina e and fello emplo ee , Hen Ch a demanded pa men , and
h ea ened bodil ha m o him and hi famil .
b) Hen Ch a en a fa a o h ea en he life of Benjamin Ong nle hi obliga ion o Ch a a
paid. If o ea e o life o be e pa fi .
c) Beca e of hi inciden , he, Benjamin Ong, a h milia ed. d) Hi b o he -in-la , Ch a Pak, old him
ha he a holding a e e pon ible po i ion in he compan and o he ho ld no be in ol ed in an
candal.
e) He a di c edi ed and deg aded in f on of m b o he -inla . He a o emba a ed, he finall
ende ed hi e igna ion f om he compan .
f) Beca e of he h ea of Hen Ch a, he acc ed ied o ge mone f om all o ce b he a no
cce f l. The allo ed ime a o ho . To elie e him of he p e e b o gh o bea pon him o pa
hi gambling deb , he e en ho gh of embe ling mone belonging o he compan in hich he o ked.
g) Beca e of hi inabili o ai e mone o be paid o Hen Ch a, he became deepl dep e ed. He fel :
I a being ned in o a c iminal.

ANNOTATED
People s. Ong
h) He begged Hen Ch a o gi e him mo e ime o ai e he mone . Nagmamakaa a na ako a kan a.

Thi a he nigh befo e Hen Ch a a killed. If Hen Ch a had g an ed him ime he hole plan
o kill Hen Ch a migh no ma e iali e. B Hen Ch a, hile no elen ing, b pe hap in e
con emp and di dain of Benjamin Ong in ead decided o an fe f om Amihan o Wig am beca e he
an ed o be en e ained b a ho e .
Barredo, J.: Conc rring and Di en ing.
C imi al la ; Kid a i g; Ci c m a ce ega i g he c mmi i f kid a i g f a m. The

follo ing le o he po ibili ha he e a an elemen of an om in he aking of Ch a o he place of hi
killing: (1) The e idence of he p o ec ion ha ch an idea a in he mind of Ong da befo e Ap il 24, 1971 i
e l inc edible, being nna al and con a o h man e pe ience and official compo men of he mo
imple minded policeman; (2) he non-p od c ion of he alleged an om no e ha no been e plained a all; (3)
indi p abl , no demand a e e made pon an one fo he pa men of an an om; and (4) he ial co
/
fo nd, and hi finding i fi ml bo ne b he e idence p e en ed b bo h pa ie a he hea ing, ha Ong
e iden l paid no heed o he ppo ed p epa a ion o cop ing and igning of he alleged an om no e, a on he
po he e ol el , impa ien l and c l di ec ed hi co-acc ed, Pa a in na i an , i ho ega d o he
alleged an om no e, hich, o be e, doe no appea o ha e been alked abo hen b he acc ed a all.
Same; Agg a a i g ci c m a ce ; U i habi ed lace;Aba d ed bdi i i i a i habi ed lace.
In he ca e a ba , he cene of he c ime, acco ding o he p o ec ion, i an abandoned bdi i ion. To a
i h, ha e p e ion b i elf al ead nega e he idea of a place he e he e a e no ho e a all, a
con ide able di ance f om o n. A bdi i ion i de igned a a place fo habi a ion and o efe o i a
abandoned i of en an e agge a ion, nle he e ac impo of he o d i e plained. I i e, in e if ing
abo he eenac men , one of he NBI in e iga o , En i e Lacanilao, men ioned ha he e e e no ho e
he e. B ch a ca al a emen doe no con ince me of i acc ac and po i i ene , o a an he finding
ha he agg a a ing ci c m ance in e ion ma be held o legall e i . E en he fac ha Ong did men ion
in hi confe ion ha he con ide ed he place ideal beca e i a abandoned and ninhabi ed i no o m
mind indica i e eno gh ha aid appellan e of he e m ninhabi ed i p eci el ha he la conno e .
Be ide , if p eci ion of lang age i o be aken in o acco n , Ong did no efe o he place a ideal fo killing
Ch a, b , o o e him e ac l , o b him. The pic e
VOL. 62, JANUARY 30, 1975 179
People s. Ong
aken d ing he eenac men hich, in he o d of Hi Hono , ho ee , l h ege a ion and hick
cogon g a e hide he place, canno be concl i e, aken a he ha e been abo fi e mon h af e he
happening a i e. In an e en , con ide ing ha he app ecia ion o non-app ecia ion of hi agg a a ing
ci c m ance, hich no abl a no alleged in he info ma ion, co ld pell he diffe ence be een he
impo i ion of ei he ecl i e e a o dea h pon he acc ed he ein, I o ld a he gi e appellan he
benefi of m do b b making he finding ha o ld no make he con e ence of an mi ake of mine in
connec ion he e i h i e ie able.
Same; Same; Nigh ime i agg a a i g he e i i e eciall gh . Simila l , I am no fficien l
pe aded ha he ial co p ope l app ecia ed he agg a a ing ci c m ance of c idad. Ea lie , I ha e
p nc ali ed he ci c m ance clea l e abli hed in he eco d ha i a he ic im, Hen Ch a, ho
pecified he place and he ime of Ong mee ing i h him a Amihan on ha fa ef l nigh of Ap il 23, 1971.
Thi poin i o m mind impo an beca e noc ni i no nece a il an agg a a ing ci c m ance, and he
ame ho ld be aken in o con ide a ion acco ding o he ci c m ance o nding he commi ion of he
c ime. Whe e i i no e iden ha he defendan had p po el o gh he nigh ime o pe pe a e he c ime,
noc ni canno be con ide ed a an agg a a ing ci c m ance.
Same; Same; Same; Nigh ime i agg a a i g he e acc ed did c ide i ad a age i he
c mmi i f he c ime. Wi hal, follo ing a deci ion of he S p eme Co of Spain (of Feb a 28, 1884), hi
Co held in Uni ed S a e . Bag io, 14 Phil. 240, ha he app ecia ion of noc ni a an agg a a ing
ci c m ance (lie ) in he di c e ion of he co . I belie e ha he change I ha e efe ed o abo e in he
ph a eolog of he pe inen p o i ion of o penal code ha no dep i ed he S p eme Co of ha di c e ion,
pa ic la l he e he e ion of he he he dea h penal ho ld be impo ed o no hinge on he opinion of
he Co a o he p e ence o ab ence of ch agg a a ing ci c m ance. Fo m pa , he efo e, af e ma e
eflec ion and delibe a ion in he ligh of he omeho n e led con c ion of he pecific pe inen penal
p o i ion, I feel he e i ample g o nd o hold, a I do hold, ha he e an ci c m ance of he killing he e in
e ion do no a an he concl ion ha nigh ime ho ld be app ecia ed a ha ing agg a a ed he c ime
commi ed b he acc ed, fo he imple ea on ha he eco d i ba e of an indica ion ha he acc ed e e
con ide ed he ad an age of nigh ime in he commi ion of he offen e in e ion.
1 0

ANNOTATED
/
People s. Ong
Same; Mi iga i g ci c m a ce ; Plea f g il ; Plea f g il le e ffe e, al h gh ejec ed, ma be

c ide ed mi iga i g. In he ca e a ba , he Co i conf on ed i h a i a ion in hich he appellan
offe ed o plead g il o p eci el he le e offen e hich he had confe ed o f om he a of he NBI
in e iga ion befo e hi a aignmen . Tha offe a ejec ed b he fi cal, ho, e m p e me, a al ead
in po e ion of all he e idence hich he e en all p e en ed o he co , and hich he co ha fo nd a no
a an ing a all he g a e cha ge of kidnapping fo an om i h m de . Unde he e ci c m ance , I conc
in he main opinion ha he plea of g il ma be ega ded a mi iga ing.
Same; Same; Immedia e i dica i f g a e ffe e; Ca e a ba , he ac f he acc ed i a immedia e
i dica i f a g a e ffe e c mmi ed b he ffe ded a . Then he e e e he eiled h ea con e ed o
Ong b Ko King Pin ha Ch a a no a man o be p o oked o ange , hich Ong co ld no igno e, ha ih
Ch a o n o d , If o ea e o life, o be e pa fi , and ha he o ld n o e Ong bo ncing
check o o he people ho ill no be co eo an mo e. No e e man i gi en he e animi and calmne
needed o i h and all he e i ho b eaking do n in a dl and feeling opp e i el agg ie ed. Unde he e
ci c m ance , i o ld no be an e agge a ion o a ha he ge in he feeling of appellan o kill hi
o men o a le han p el ol n a , hich dimin ion i he ba i of he mi iga ing ci c m ance
con empla ed in A icle 13(5) of he Re i ed Penal Code. (Re e , C iminal La , Vol. I, p. 250.)
Same; Same; Plea f g il ; E aj dicial c fe i f acc ed be a al g l c ide ed a lea f
g il . The e i an addi ional ci c m ance hich o me i impo an in mea ing c iminal e pon ibili of
he appellan in hi ca e. I efe o he pec lia i ha e e i no fo he di clo e made b hem in hei
confe ion and d ing he eenac men , he p o ec ion o ld ha e had no ba i ha oe e fo i a emp ,
hich he Co ha f a ed b hi deci ion, o make hem an e fo he g a e offen e of kidnapping fo
an om i h m de accompanied b he ing of agg a a ing ci c m ance li ed in he info ma ion. One
canno ea il commi e a e i h kille , b con ide a ion of h man digni and fai ne demand ha he a e
no made o nde go an p ni hmen mo e han he fac , he la and j ice a an . And he la i inclined o
be mo e libe al o ho e ho af e commi ing an offen e e ince b hei cond c ome ign of emo e and
e igna ion o accep he penal ie ha he de e e, b admi ing hei g il . B in he p e en ca e, appellan
Ong ha gone f he . He did no onl confe he and co-acc ed killed he ic im, he f eel old hi
1 1
VOL. 62, JANUARY 30, 1975 181
People s. Ong
in e iga o e ac l ha happened o i la de ail , he eb making him elf bjec o he cha ge of

agg a a ing ci c m ance , no o he e idence of he go e nmen co ld ha e ppo ed, con ide ing ho and
he e he offen e a commi ed and he diffic l of ec ing i ne e fo he S a e o e if he eon. A I
ha e aid ea lie , i ho he help of he appellan , hi o ld ha e been no mo e han a ca e of m de . In
ie of hi con ide a ion, I belie e i o ld onl be con onan i h e i ing le in he app ecia ion of
mi iga ing ci c m ance ha appellan Ong be c edi ed i h an addi ional mi iga ing ci c m ance analogo
o he plea of g il .
Same; Acc m lice; O e h l acc m a ied he he acc ed i hei c ime i g il a a acc m lice.
A ega d he ca e of appellan Q in o , I am ck b he e idence ha a he la momen he ef ed o do
ha he a a igned o do ab he ic im. In o he o d , he did no ca o oi l ima e concl ion he
c iminal de ign he had in common i h hi co-acc ed. Indeed, in m e ie of he eco d I ha e no di ce ned
an clea e idence of he pecific pa icipa ion of hi appellan in he commi ion of he offen e in e ion. In
he b ief of he Solici o Gene al, he onl imp a ion o Q in o i ha he held he fla hligh hile Tan a
making Ch a p epa e a an om no e and ha Q in o held he leg of he ic im hen hi dead bod a
d mped in o he p e io l cho en hole fo hi b ial. And he e i a hin in he eco d o he effec ha Q in o
had hi fee on op of Ch a hen he la e a being aken o he place of killing. A o he alleged p epa a ion
of a an om no e, I ha e al ead demon a ed, i ha no been p o en be ond ea onable do b . Thi i al o he
holding in he main opinion. A o he o he ac a ib ed o him, I am no a i fied of hei concl i ene .
And ha ing in mind he ndi p ed de i ance of hi appellan , I o ld a ha hi e pon ibili a p incipal
/
doe no a i f m con cience. I hold him g il onl a accomplice beca e hi ac of accompan ing he o he
acc ed a an ac of coope a ion ho of di ec pa icipa ion.
AUTOMATIC APPEAL from a deci ion of he Circ i Criminal Co r of Ri al. Villal , J.
The fac are a ed in he opinion of he Co r .

S G a E P. M a, A a S G a Sa a M.
Ka a and S C P. Y a a for plain iff-appellee.
D a La &A a for appellan Benjamin Ong.
1 2

People s. Ong
J RQ &L a V. B for appellan Bien enido Q in o .
FERNANDEZ, J.:
Thi i an a oma ic appeal from a deci ion of he Circ i Criminal Co r , Se en h J dicial Di ric
in Criminal Ca e No. CCC-VII-922 Ri al, da ed Oc ober 11, 1971, he di po i i e par of hich read
a follo :
WHEREFORE, finding he acc ed Benjamin Ong Kho and Bien enido Q in o S maljag, GUILTY, be ond
ea onable do b of he c ime of Kidnapping i h M de a defined nde A icle 248 of he Re i ed Penal
Code, in ela ion o A icle 267 he eof, a cha ged in he Info ma ion, he Co he eb en ence each one of
hem o ffe he penal of DEATH; o indemnif he hei of he decea ed Hen Ch a, he amo n of
P12,000.00; o pa mo al damage in he amo n of P50,000.00, and ano he P50,000.00 a e empla damage
join l and e e all ; and o pa hei p opo iona e ha e of he co . 1
The informa ion filed b he Pro incial Fi cal of Ri al, B. Jo e Ca illo again (1) Benjamin Ong
Kho, (2) Bien enido Q in o S maljag, (3) Fernando Tan, alia O car Tan, and (4) Baldomero
Ambro io alia Val , he la er o being hen a large, read :
Tha on o abo Ap il 23 o Ap il 24, 1971, incl i e, in he m nicipali of Pa a a e, p o ince of Ri al,
Philippine , and i hin he j i dic ion of hi Hono able Co , he abo e-named acc ed, being hen p i a e
indi id al , con pi ing and confede a ing oge he and m all helping one ano he did hen and he e ilf ll ,
nla f ll and i h eache and kno n p emedi a ion and fo he p po e of killing one Hen Ch a and
he eaf e e o ing mone f om hi famil h o gh he e of a an om no e, kidnap(ped) and ca (ied) a a
aid Hen Ch a, ini iall b mean of a f iendl ge e and la e h o gh he e of fo ce, in an a omobile,
and la e af e ha ing aken him o an ninhabi ed place in Caloocan Ci , i h he e of fo ce de ained him
(Hen Ch a) and kill(ed) him in he follo ing manne o i : The acc ed af e gagging and ing p Hen
Ch a and epea edl h ea ening him i h dea h, a ed him ha if he o ld i e and ign a an om no e fo
he pa men b hi famil of he m of $50,000.00 (US), he o ld no be killed and o ld be elea ed pon
eceip of he an om mone , b af e aid Hen
_______________
Se e ce , R , . 40.
1 3
VOL. 62, JANUARY 30, 1975 183

People s. Ong
Ch a ag eed and did e ec e ch a an om no e, he a again gagged and ied p b he acc ed, and
he eaf e abbed in he abdominal egion, e e al ime i h an icepick, inflic ing pon him (Hen Ch a)
/
mo al o nd on hi i al o gan , hich di ec l ca ed hi dea h.
All con a o la i h he follo ing gene ic agg a a ing ci c m ance :
(a) E iden p emedi a ion;

(b) G a e ab e of confidence;
(c) Nigh ime;
(d) U e of a mo o ehicle;
(e) U e of pe io eng h; and
2
(f) C el .
Pe al Ci c m a ce f he T A ella
A he ime of he rial before he lo er co r in Sep ember of 1971, he acc ed Benjamin Ong a

31 ear old, emplo ed i h he Acme Shoe , R bber and Pla ic Corpora ion, a firm o ned b hi
bro her-in-la , Ch a Pak. for he pa 11 ear , he la 6 of hich a a an a i an manager. He
a alread recei ing a mon hl alar of P1,800.00 e cl ding earl bon e of P30,000.00 and
o her repre en a ion allo ance or a o al ann al income of from P60,000.00 o P70,000.00. He had
hi elemen ar chooling a he A mp ion Academ in San Fernando, Pampanga; hi fir and
econd ear of high chool a Chiang Kai- hek High School in Manila; and hi hird and fo r h ear
a he Map a In i e of Technolog . He a a hird ear Commerce den , majoring in acco n ing
a he Uni er i of he Ea , hen he q i chooling in 1959. He married A hena Ca Si Tee Ong
on No ember 25, 1962 a he S . J de Ca holic Ch rch, b hom he alread had fo 3
r children:
Connie Lo i , 7 ear old; Denni , 5 ear old; Edgar, 3 ear old; and Fann , 1 ear old.
On he o her hand, acc ed Bien enido Q in o a 39 ear old, ingle, an nlicen ed r e or
and comp er for o ear alread a he Robe Franci co Real Corpora ion i h a rela i el
mall income. He a a hird ear engineering den hen he opped d ing. In 1954 he a
charged of
_______________
2 Information , Rollo, pp. 2-3.
3TSN, Records, September 22, 1971, 2:00 p.m., pp. 5-11.
1 4

People s. Ong
4
Re i ing Arre and A a l Upon an Agen in A hori b hi ca e a e led amicabl .
B ief S i f he Te im f he P ec i Wi e e
The pro ec ion pre en ed e eral i ne e o pro e i charge of kidnapping i h m rder. Fir o
e if a Pa rolman Marciano Roq e of he Crime again Proper Di i ion of he De ec i e
B rea of he Caloocan Ci Police Depar men ho declared ha : He kne Benjamin Ong for abo
6 ear alread beca e he all in e iga ed hef and robber ca e a he Acme Firm and a
ime recei ed ome mone from Ong. In a erie of 6 mee ing i h Benjamin Ong ar ing from he
fir eek of April, 1971, Benjamin Ong confided o him hi plan o ge a man ho chea ed him in
gambling b a m ch a P150,000; ha he o ld a k for mone from he la er paren ; and ha
af er hich, he o ld kill he ic im. Benjamin Ong de ermina ion a ho n hen hi god on a
e en in rod ced o him a one ho o ld help him. Benjamin Ong bro gh him o Barrio Maka ipo in
No aliche , Caloocan Ci and de cribed i a a i able place here o bring he ic im. Ong al o old
him ha he had acq ired a bag, fla hligh and a piece of clo h. He a pre ailed pon b Benjamin
/
Ong o par icipa e in hi plan a ring ha he co ld re ign from he go ernmen er ice once he
mone i collec ed. Pa rolman Roq e re ealed hi plan o hi Di i ion Chief, Cap . D e a , he
Officer-in-Charge, L . Manapa , and he Chief of Police, Cele ino Ro ca. Ho e er, he hree did no
belie e ha Benjamin Ong had he g o do i . Af er he inciden , Pa rolman Roq e aid ha he
and Police Chief Ro ca me i h A . Ne or Gon ale of he Na ional B rea of In e iga ion o
ppl he earl lead
5
in hi ca e al ho gh he did no find a race of he crime hen he en o
Barrio Maka ipo.
Mi Liga a Tama o e ified ne . She declared ha : She orked a an en er ainer a he
Wig am Nigh cl b in Para aq e, Ri al and kne Henr Ch a er ell. A aro nd
________________
4Ibid, pp. 2, 4; Extrajudicial Statement of Bienvenido Quintos, Exhibit O , Records, September 3, 1971, pp. 49-50.
5TSN, Records, September 16, 1971, pp. 2-59.
1 5
VOL. 62, JANUARY 30, 1975 185

People s. Ong
1:30 o clock in he earl morning of April 24, 1971, he and Mi Mickie Yaro had Henr Ch a and
Benjamin Ong for heir g e . The o alked in Chine e and had ome drink . Benjamin Ong
ho ed her a check in fa or of Henr Ch a hich he claimed ha he la er on in a gambling game.
She, ho e er, did no ac all ee him gi e i . A aro nd 1:30 ha ame morning, 6
he accompanied
he o o he door and a hem lea e he place and ride in a M ang car.
S Yap, older bro her of Henr Ch a, a he hird i ne . He e ified ha : He a ihA .
Ne or Gon ale and o her agen of he NBI on Sep ember 2, 1971 in Barrio Maka ipo af er
Benjamin Ong pinpoin ed he place of b rial, and here he a he decompo ing bod of he ic im
nder he gro nd, immer ed in a er. He a and iden ified he follo ing per onal effec fo nd i h
he bod : a hi e gold a ch hich opped a he ho r of 6:22 and da e of 24 ; Dri er Licen e No.
32219 i h he name of S Sing Biok alia Henr Ch a; Diner card Diner Gro p 0004149-1; pa
i ed b he B rea of C om for Henr Ch a da ed Jan ar 19, 1971; receip for pa men of he
licen e of he car; re idence cer ifica e; ligh er; alle ; c rrencie in differen denomina ion ; hir
jacke ; pair of hoe ; ock ; brief; 7nder hir ; T- hir ; and ro er i h a mark E peciall ailored
for Henr Ch a, 2-2-71, No. 95812.
Dr. Ricardo G. Ibarrola, Jr., Medico-Legal Officer of he NBI, appeared a he fo r h i ne . He
e ified on hi po mor em e amina ion made on Sep ember 2, 1971 a La F neraria Pa , of he
decea ed Henr Ch a, 31 ear old, ingle, and on hi necrop repor , E hibi M . He aid ha he
decea ed ained o o nd on he li er and large in e ine ca ed b a long poin ed c lindrical
in r men imilar o an icepick. He added ha mo likel , he a ailan a in fron of and on a
higher le el han he ic im. Al ho gh hi did no appear in hi repor , he heori ed ha he o
o nd ere no he immedia e ca e of dea h ince here a onl a ligh degree of hemorrhage in
he icini of he p nc red o nd . He aid ha he li er and large in e ine had no fficien ime
o bleed beca e ome hing el e m ha e happened hich a he a ph ia ion or ffoca ion of
he ic im d e o hi b rial. He
_______________
7Ibid.
Ibid, pp. 74-97.
1 6

/
People s. Ong
a ed, ho e er, in hi necrop repor , E hibi M , ha he ca e of dea h of he decea ed a

p nc red o nd of he abdomen.
Mi Clari a Teh, ra el agen of Sk a Tra el Ser ice loca ed a Ongpin S ., S a. Cr , Manila,
declared ha : A abo 4:00 p.m. of April 22, 1971, Benjamin Ong called her p b phone o a k for a
re er a ion icke for Hongkong and Taipei. On he morning of April 23, 1971, Benjamin Ong en o
her office b forgo o bring along hi paper incl ding hi Alien Cer ifica e of Regi ra ion. In he
af ernoon of April 24, 1971, Benjamin Ong en back o he office, hi ime i h he per inen paper
pl P4,000 ca h. She aid ha he changed hi de ina ion from ha of Hongkong and Taipei o ha
of Canada. Ho e er, he needed P7,000 for hi p rpo e. On April 29, 1971, Mr . Ong go back he
P4,000 beca e he la er aid ha her h band did no ha e eno gh mone .
Pa rolman Gener S. E rella, m nicipal policeman of Bali ag, B lacan, follo ed ne on he
i ne and. He a ed ha on April 25, 1971, he a on hi o r of d from 4:00 o clock o 8:00
o clock a.m. a he poblacion hen he recei ed informa ion ha an niden ified car a parked in a
ga oline a ion. He herefore o gh he compan of Pa rolman Ceferino Ca ro and he en o
Barrio Tibag here he a he locked M ang car parked in a ga oline a ion i h pla 10
e n mber
16-02B, L-P.C., erie 71. The repor ed he ma er o heir head, L . Herminio Angele .
Se ero Bo Ro lin, mechanic, ga e he ne e imon . He kne Fernando Tan ince 1965. On
April 29, 1971, earl morning, he a Fernando Tan and ano her, in rod ced o him a Alfredo
Hernande , ho happened o be Benjamin Ong. Fernando Tan req e ed him o bring hem o he
airpor and ob ain airplane ea for he Vi a a . He accompanied hem b he failed in hi
endea or o ha he proceeded o he pier. Like i e, he ere fr ra ed in ge ing a pa age o
he So h. The ended p aking a rain ride o L cena Ci . Ro lin aid ha he en back o Manila
ha ame da . On Ma 1, 1971, he and Fernando Tan en o he ho e of Bien enido Q in o near
Abad San o S . in Manila. The did no ee him o ha he had o come back a noon. The hen
ook him i h
________________
TSN, Records, September 17, 1971, pp. 2-8.

10Ibid,
pp. 8-12.
1 7
VOL. 62, JANUARY 30, 1975 187

People s. Ong
hem and af er pa ing b a la ndr hop, he en o Singalong here he picked p Benjamin

Ong a aro nd 7:00 p.m. Ro lin claimed ha he ere ing hi Che car. The en o Barrio
Bal go, Oa , Alba and a ed a hi paren ho e. He, Q in o , and Tan a ed here for one 11
half
mon h here he ook hem el e in o imming a he ri er. The lef Benjamin Ong here.
Enriq e Lacanilao, an NBI agen , e ified ha : E hibi N and O are he ol n ar ri en
a emen igned re pec i el b Benjamin Ong on Sep ember 1, 1971 and b Bien enido Q in o on
Sep ember 3, 1971. He aid ha Benjamin Ong pinpoin ed o hem he place of b rial a Barrio
Maka ipo, and S Yap a i h hem d ring he e amina ion. The fo nd he mo h of he ic im
gagged and hi hand ied. I a in a a e of decompo i ion. The ic im bod a facing do n ard
i h he b ock pro r ding p. The hand ere ied j abo e he che hile he fee ere far
apar . The b ock ere one foo from he rface hile he face a one and a half fee belo facing
do n. There ere no ho e in he area hich he belie ed a he Arane a bdi i ion. He direc ed
he reenac men of he crime. I appeared in heir reenac men ha Fernando Tan and Bien enido
Q in o ere he one ho grabbed Henr Ch a from hi M ang car hen Benjamin Ong a
rina ing; ha he ic im mo h a gagged hile hi hand ere ied a he back; ha d ring he
making of he ran om no e. Tan a holding he g n hile Q in o a foc ing he fla hligh ; ha
/
af er ard , Henr Ch a hand ere ied again, hi ime in fron ; ha he a abbed af er he a
made o lie do n facing p; ha Baldomero Ambro io and Bien enido Q in o p lled he ic im o
he hole; ha Baldomero Ambro io ho elled hile Bien enido Q in o held he fla hligh ; ha a
he ime he ran om no e a being prepared Benjamin Ong a near he car, abo 50 me er from
he hole, o ha hi per on did no appear in he pic re of he reenac men of hi por ion. Benjamin
Ong a aken b he NBI in o c od from he 2nd PC Zone on Sep ember 1, 1971 a aro nd 6:30 in
he e ening here pon a 10:00 p.m. of ha ame nigh , hi ri en e imon a aken do n p o
pa 12:00 midnigh . He had a mall bandage aro nd hi ri beca e of an a emp ed icide on hi
par . Bien enido Q in o , on he o her hand, he aid, a arre ed on Sep ember 3, 1971 and hi
e raj dicial
________________
11 Ibid, pp. 12-23.

People s. Ong
12
a emen a aken on he ame da a aro nd 7:00 or 8:00 p.m.
Diego H. G ierre , al o an NBI agen , e ified la for he pro ec ion. He iden ified E hibi Q
and R a he ol n ar pplemen ar e raj dicial a emen re pec i el of Bien enido Q in o
and Benjamin Ong. G ierre e imon foc ed on Bien enido Q in o admi ion ha he hole 13a
d g and co ered i h fre h ig af er he gro p econd mee ing a he Barrio Fie a Re a ran .
B ief S i f he Te im f he Wi e e f he Defe e
The defen e ar ed he pre en a ion of heir e idence i h he e imon of Dr. Mariano P. Lara,
re ired Chief Medico-Legal Officer of he Manila Police Depar men . Hi e imon cen ered on he
ma er of a ph ia ion. He aid ha a ph ia ion a he po ible ca e of dea h a no here
reflec ed on he necrop repor of Dr. Ibarrola of he NBI; and14 ha he dea h of he ic im co ld
ha e been d e o hock a a re l of he o nd inflic ed on him.
Rene Ag a , BIR e aminer and fir co in of Bien enido Q in o , hen e ified. He aid ha he
en o he NBI on Sep ember 8, 1971 in order o follo p he clearance paper of hi decea ed
fa her. B coincidence, he di co ered ha Q in o a de ained here, o, he ried o ge in o ch
i h him. He ga hered ha Q in o a oka al ho gh la er on he la er re ealed ha he a h r
al o.15
Ar emio R. Q in o , an engineer and fa her of acc ed Bien enido Q in o , follo ed ne . He aid
ha he i i ed hi on on Sep ember 3, 1971 along i h A . Bonicilla a aro nd 7:00 p.m. a he
NBI. The g ard ref ed o ell him here hi on a o ha he follo ing da , Sep ember 4, he en
back o he NBI in he morning a ell a in he e ening. S ill he did no find hi on. On Sep ember
5, he deli ered clo he for he e of hi on o he jailer, Benjamin Lafor e a, and a i ed a
receip herefor. On Sep ember 6, he bro gh a le er
________________
12Ibid,
pp. 2-88.
14TSN, Records, September 21, 1971, 2:00 p.m., pp. 3-13.
VOL. 62, JANUARY 30, 1975 189

/
People s. Ong
addre ed o he Direc or of he NBI req e ing him ha he be allo ed o ee hi on. I a onl on

Sep ember 7, a 4:00 p.m. he claimed, ha he me hi on. He aid ha Bien enido Q in o ho ed
o him hi omach i h ome bl i h di colora
16
ion a he na el. On ha da , he al o recei ed hi on
dir clo he and fo nd blood ain on i .
Bien enido Q in o hen ook he i ne and. He re ealed ha he came o kno Fernando Tan
hen he ere ill in Dag pan Ci long ime ago. He aid ha he a in i ed on April 23, 1971 b
Fernando Tan and ha he me a aro nd 7:00 p.m. of ha da . The proceeded o he Barrio Fie a
Re a ran in Caloocan Ci here he a in rod ced o Benjamin Ong and Baldomero Ambro io for
he fir ime. A 9:00 p.m., he en o Bro n Derb S pper Cl b in Q e on Ci af er hich he
proceeded o Amihan Nigh cl b a aro nd 10:30 p.m. a Ro a Bo le ard. He, Fernando Tan, and
Baldomero Ambro io ere lef in he car. La er, Benjamin Ong en o of he Amihan Nigh cl b
and ook Fernando Tan i h him. Fernando Tan re rned and af er a hile he a in i ed o he
nearb Wig am Nigh cl b. The h rriedl lef he place and Fernando Tan ook he fron ea of he
Bi ca ne car hile he ook he back ea and follo ed a cer ain car. When ha car opped, he a
Benjamin Ong omi ing. Fernando Tan and Baldomero Ambro io en do n and Fernando Tan
p lled o hi g n. The ic im a dragged and forced in o he rear par of heir car. The ic im
hand and fee ere ied b Baldomero Ambro io hile he mo h a gagged b Fernando Tan i h
a flannel clo h. Bien enido Q in o made clear in hi e imon ha he ic im a l ing on hi back
in ide he car o ha hi face a p and hi hand ere on hi brea . Fernando Tan hen
hrea ened him i h hi g n ho ld he no coopera e i h hem. A Barrio Maka ipo, he ic im laid
do n on he gro nd and Benjamin Ong go he ho el and fla hligh and ga e hem o Fernando Tan.
The ic im a made o alk a li le di ance and hen lie do n again face p. Benjamin Ong ga e o
Fernando Tan an icepick ho hen ga e i o Baldomero Ambro io and in rn ga e i o him. He
ref ed o ab he ic im o ha he re rned i o Fernando Tan ho made he ac al abbing on
he ic im che ice. According o him, here a alread a hole in ha place. He al o claimed
ha
________________
16Ibid, pp. 17-35.
1 0

People s. Ong
E hibi O a no a ol n ar a emen of hi and ha he a mal rea ed b more or le 5 men.

He aid ha he en o Oa , Alba on Ma 1, 1971 b ha he a ne er con ac ed b he gro p
be een April 24 and 30. A a cer ain poin d ring he proceeding 17
, he co r pended hi
e imon for abo 15 min e af er he complained of an aching head.
Benjamin Ong e ified la for he defen e. He rela ed ha Henr Ch a a a friend and ha
he ere ligh l rela ed o each o her. He fel ha he a chea ed beca e he a he onl one ho
con in o l lo in heir mahjong e ion . Henr Ch a gro p, incl ding Ko King Pin, Go Bon Kin
and Marcelo Tanlimco, en o hi office and h milia ed him here. O A 21, 1971, H C a
a a A a N a
.H a H C a a a a a
.H a a a a .H a a a
F a Ta a Ba A a . H
Pa a Ma a R a a a . He belie ed ha Henr Ch a kne
ha he had a gr dge again him d ring ha fa al da . He ai ed for hem o dig and co er he hole
hich ook abo one ho r and a half af er he abbing. He a emp ed icide b la hing hi ri 7
or 8 ime hile he a ill in he c od of he P.C. a Camp Vicen e Lim in Lag na. He a al o
/
bro gh b he NBI o he Salem Mo el here he a in e iga ed from 8:30 in he e ening p o 5:30
in he morning of he ne da . E hibi N , hi e raj dicial a emen , a aken hile he a
grogg and er eak. He like i e pinpoin ed he gra e. A a a B a O
, a a
O a a a a a ,B a
O , , a a a .B a O a a
H C a A 28, 1971. H a a a
a a , a , a . He en o he Sk a
Tra el Ser ice onl af er he inciden . He, ho e er, changed hi
________________
17Ibid, pp. 2-100.
1 1
VOL. 62, JANUARY 30, 1975 191

People s. Ong
de ina ion and an ed o go in ead o Canada and E rope. The rea on h he a no able o
p r e hi depar re a beca e S Yap called him p and a ked him abo hi bro her
hereabo o ha he erio l fel ha he a hori ie ere alread af er him. He lef Manila on
April 29, 1971 and en o Lega pi Ci i h Fernando Tan b fo nd no acq ain ance here o ha
he en back o Manila. I a Fernando Tan ho con ac ed Bo Ro lin and Bien enido Q in o
af er hich he en o Oa , Alba and a ed here for abo o o hree da . He hid him elf on
op of he mo n ain i h an old man. F r hermore, he aid ha Henr Ch a a a are ha he
re en ed him. Benjamin
1
Ong like i e denied ha ing called Fernando Tan a an ime, o come in i h
him o he nigh cl b.
N -C flic i g Fac
Non-conflic ing fac , a ho n in he e imonie of he acc ed and i ne e in open co r , and

rei era ed in he re pec i e brief of he par ie , are a follo : For more or le one ear and a half
prior o he dreadf l inciden , he acc ed Benjamin Ong ed o pla mahjong i h he decea ed
Henr Ch a and he la er companion , Ko King Pin, Go Bon Kim and Marcelo Tanlimco. In ho e
e ion , he lo b an iall ha a one ime, i amo n ed o a m ch a P150,000.00. He pec ed
ha he lo in nfair game and a comple el chea ed b Henr Ch a and he la er companion ,
ho made hing or e b pre ing him o pa hi gambling deb i h a hrea of bodil harm pon
hi per on and ha of hi famil . The decea ed and hi companion embarra ed Benjamin Ong,
inciden af er inciden , e peciall hen he en ime and again o Benjamin Ong office a he
Acme Shoe , R bber and Pla ic Corpora ion o confron him. The e en of hi embarra men a
made manife b he fac ha he had o re ign from hi job.
On April 21, 1971, Henr Ch a repea ed hi demand for earl e lemen of hi gambling deb
and, a ch, in i ed Benjamin Ong o ee him on April 23, 1971 a he Amihan Nigh cl b and bring
i h him he mone o ed (P50,000.00). Tha ame da ha Henr Ch a phoned Benjamin Ong, he
la er con ac ed and o gh he a i ance of Fernando Tan, a
_______________
1 TSN, Records, September 22, 1971, 2:00 p.m., pp. 3-90.
1 2

/
People s. Ong
echnical per i or al o of he Acme Firm. Benjamin Ong old Fernando Tan abo hi gr dge and
plan again Henr Ch a in order o a enge he embarra men and h milia ion he ffered before
he e e of hi bordina e . 1
Fernando Tan, ho inciden all , o ed Benjamin Ong hi job , a er accommoda ing and he
hared Ong20
feeling again Henr Ch a. And, according o Benjamin Ong, Tan aid Wh no j
kill him. Tan immedia el con ac ed Baldomero Ambro io, Benjamin Ong god on in marriage and
a former Acme emplo ee, and like i e called pon hi bo hood friend Bien enido Q in o a he
la er office a he Robe Franci co Real Corpora ion.
On April 23, 1971, he fo r me a he Barrio Fie a Re a ran in Caloocan Ci and finali ed
heir plan o liq ida e Henr Ch a. The gro p, riding in Benjamin Ong Bi ca ne car, hen en o
he Amihan Nigh cl b and arri ed here a pa nine o clock in he e ening. The o, Benjamin Ong
and Henr Ch a me here and had a co ple of drink . Benjamin Ong a ked for pa ience and lenienc
i h regard o hi indeb edne and ample ime for i e lemen .
From he Amihan he o en o he nearb Wig am Nigh cl b here he abled o ho e e ,
Liga a Tama o and Mickie Yaro and had ome more drink . A aro nd 1:30 a.m. of he follo ing da ,
April 24, 1971, he d o lef he place and rode in Henr M ang car. Fernando Tan, Bien enido
Q in o and Baldomero Ambro io, riding in Ong Bi ca ne car, follo ed he co ple do n Ro a
Bo le ard, hen o Q iapo and Q e on Bo le ard E en ion in Q e on Ci here, af er pa ing he
S o. Domingo Ch rch, he made a rn o ard a dir road leading o Del Mon e A en e. When he
reached a dark and ecl ded place, Benjamin Ong rged Ch a o op he car in order o rina e, o
hich he la er obliged. I a a hi ime ha he Bi ca ne car arri ed and opped in fron of he
M ang car here pon Fernando Tan and Baldomero Ambro io aligh ed i h a fla hligh and
pre ended o be policemen. Fernando Tan poked hi g n a Henr Ch a and p lled him do n from
hi M ang car i h Baldomero Ambro io gi ing him help. The hen g ided and forced him in ide
he rear par of he Bi ca ne. He a made o lie, face
________________
1 Extrajudicial Statement of Benjamin Ong, Exhibit N , Records, September 1, 1971, p. 43.
20TSN, Records, September 22, 1971, p. 30.
1 3
VOL. 62, JANUARY 30, 1975 193

People s. Ong
p. Hi hand ere ied and hi mo h gagged i h a flannel clo h. Fernando Tan and Bien enido
Q in o hen re ed heir fee on him. Baldomero Ambro io dro e he Bi ca ne hile Benjamin Ong
dro e he M ang and follo ed hem from behind.
The gro p ook Del Mon e A en e, Roo e el A en e, and hen E. de lo San o A en e, righ o
he Nor h Di er ion Road, and righ again o No aliche n il he reached a de er ed place ha
looked like an idle bdi i ion in Barrio Maka ipo, No aliche , Caloocan Ci . I a here ha Henr
Ch a a abbed ice i h an icepick, allegedl b Fernando Tan, and b ried here i h all hi
belonging i h him con i ing of a Piage a ch, ligh er, alle con aining P50 bill , dri er licen e,
diner card, e c.
Af er hi , he gro p proceeded o Barrio Tibag, Bali ag, B lacan i h Benjamin Ong and
Fernando Tan on he M ang. There he lef i locked near a ga oline a ion. The fo r ome hen
regro ped in he Bi ca ne and proceeded back o Caloocan Ci here he epara ed a abo 7:00
o clock in he morning.
On A g 29, 1971, ome here in Barrio Bal go, Oa , Alba , Benjamin Ong a arre ed b
opera i e of he 2nd PC Zone and la er rned o er o he NBI. On he o her hand, Bien enido
/
Q in o a apprehended on Sep ember 2, 1971 in hi re idence a Ta aba S ., in S a. Cr , Manila
b member of he MPD and la er rned o er o he NBI al o.
Im a P i fC flic
The pro ec ion add more o ha he defen e claim and conflic appear in ario in ance . One
ch in ance a he e imon of he fir pro ec ion i ne , Pa rolman Marciano Roq e of
Caloocan Ci , o he effec ha one mon h or o before he e ec ion of he crime, Benjamin Ong
olici ed hi help in con mma ing hi plan. Pa rolman Roq e e ified ha he ried hi be o
con ince Benjamin Ong o de i b o no a ail. I a hi i ne ho re ealed Benjamin Ong
plan o a k for mone from he rich famil of he 21
decea ed and, i h aid mone , he, Roq e, co ld
alread re ign from hi job ho ld he par icipa e.
________________
1 4

People s. Ong
In hi e imon22 before he lo er co r , Benjamin Ong ehemen l denied ha ing re ealed ch plan

o he i ne . Ho e er, in hi brief, acc ed Benjamin Ong claim ha hi e imon if e er here
a ch, doe no re eal hi in en ion o kill Henr Ch a23 ha earl . A mo , he aid, i a a mere
infan ile ho gh of i hing omeone dead and no more.
On hi poin , co n el for he acc ed Ong, arg ed a follo in heir ell- ri en brief:
Pa . Ro e ha no ca ego icall a e ed ha he a a f iend of Benjamin Ong. The came o kno each o he
hen he, a a policeman, in e iga ed hef and obbe ca e on he complain of he Acme Shoe and R bbe
Co po a ion he e Benjamin Ong o ked a A i an Manage , (pp. 5-7, . .n., Sep . 16, 1971) A o h
Benjamin o ld e eal a plan o kidnap ano he o a policeman, in he ab ence of a clo e and long a ocia ion, i
j oo inc edible o me i belief. Pa . Ro e aid ha Benjamin Ong confided o me ha I am he onl pe on
hom he can o he f he en me a ed a de ail ha he in ended o ge a mone and a k fo he mone
f om he pa en of he ic im. (Id., p. 10) A o h he me i ed he of Benjamin Ong, he did no a .
Pa . Ma ciano Ro e aid ha he ha no c iminal eco d (Id., p. 42). He ha no con e ed o Benjamin Ong
an info ma ion ha he i a g n fo hi e (p. 43), no doe he ha e ha ep a ion (Id., p. 43). If he e e a
c iminal o he had a ep a ion a a p ofe ional kille , i i pe hap po ible fo one in Benjamin Ong po i ion
o ha e made he p opo i ion o him. Mo eo e , hen he a c o -e amined on he alleged in en ion o collec
an om, he commi ed ma e ial con adic ion ch a o ai e e io do b on he e aci of hi e imon . He
co ld no ca ego icall a e he he he alleged in en ion of Benjamin Ong a o kill he ic im fi and
demand mone f om hi pa en af e , o de ain him fi , and af e ecei ing an om mone , kill he ic im.
ATTY. QUISUMBING:
Q Yo r e imon i a follo : ha he old o ha af er demanding he mone o kill he man, o
remember ha ?
A Tha a ha he aid.
Q In o her ord , hi a no he a he old o , ha he o ld grab he man o ha he co ld ge
he mone b e or ion or b ran om?
A He aid ha af er ha ing in hi po e ion hi in ended ic im he o ld demand ome mone from
hi paren .
________________
23Brief for the Accused Benjamin Ong Kho, p. 91.
/
1 5
VOL. 62, JANUARY 30, 1975 195

People s. Ong
Q I ill recall in o r direc e imon . . . o aid ha af er ard if he co ld ge he mone he ill

kill he man, ha a o r fir e imon , hich i correc ?
A He lo one h ndred fif ho and.
Q And he needed mone and o he o ld demand mone from he fa her or paren of he ic im, i
ha no o r e imon ?
A Ye , ir.
Q And af er ard he an ed o kill he man?
A No, ir.
Q And o ha i o r e imon no ?
A Af er he go he man he ill demand mone from he paren or ran om mone from he paren of
he ic im.
Q So i i he o her a . He fir o ld kill he man and af er ard ge he mone .
ATTY. DE SANTOS
The q e ion i mi leading.
COURT:
An er.
WITNESS:
A No, ir, he aid ha af er recei ing he mone he man ma be killed.
Q I ha o r e imon ? Tha he ill kill he ic im or he ic im ma be killed?
A No, ir.
Q So hich i hich?
A He ill kill he ic im.
Q Af er ge ing he mone ?
A Ye ir. (pp. 38-41,, . .n., Sep . 16, 1971)
Ano her poin of conflic i he claim of he pro ec ion ha a ran om no e a indeed ri en and
copied b Henr Ch a from a prepared no e before he la er a icepicked and b ried. I appear
ha co-acc ed Bien enido Q in o a ed in hi pplemen ar e raj dicial a emen before he
NBI ha :
Ye i . Af e e ha e b o gh ic im ome me e a a f om he oad, FERNANDO TAN o de ed ic im o lie
face do n on he g o nd a he ame ( ime) he n ied ic im and emo ed he gag hile hi g n a ill poin ed
a he head of Vic im. The eaf e he o de ed he ic im o cop a p epa ed an om no e in a piece of ello pape .
I a he fig e $50,000.00 beca e I a holding hen he fla hligh . I a onl af 24
e he an om no e a
i en and a bmi ed o BENJAMIN ONG ha FERNANDO TAN e ned o .
_______________
24 Supplementar Sworn Statement of Bienvenido Quintos, Exhibit Q , Records, September 4, 1971, p. 63.
1 6

People s. Ong
Thi i hear a a again Benjamin Ong. And Ong ehemen l denied he ame in hi e imon in
open co r hen he aid pon q e ioning:
/
Q In hi a emen E hibi N , o admi ed ha Henr Ch a a aken from he M ang car
and ran ferred o he Vi cain ( ic) car and hen bro gh o ha ninhabi ed place in Barrio
Maka ipo; ha a o r p rpo e in ha ing he la e Henr Ch a aken from hi car and bro gh
o Maka ipo?
A M p rpo e a j o kill him, and here i ( ic) no going o be an dela .
Q Wa here an p rpo e of de aining him for ome ime?
25
A No, here a no p rpo e o de ain him an f r her.
Al o, in hi e raj dicial a emen , he aid:
Q When o ha ched he plan o kill HENRY CHUA, did i e er occ r o o o demand or a k for
an ran om mone from he famil of HENRY CHUA? 26
A Ne er, he q e ion of ran om mone ne er en ered m mind?
Admi edl , no ch gen ine ran om no e a recei ed b he famil of he decea ed. Undo b edl ,
i pre27 ence in he crime co ld aggra a e i , allo ing he impo i ion of he capi al p ni hmen of
dea h.
_______________
26 Extrajudicial Statement of Benjamin Ong. Exhibit N , Records, September 1, 1971, p. 46.
27Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended provides:
ART. 267. Kidnapping and serious illegal detention.—A i a e i di id a h ha id a de ai a he , i a he a e

de i e hi f hi ibe , ha ffe he e a f reclusion perpetua dea h:
1. If he id a i g de e i ha ha e a ed e ha fi e da .
2. If i ha ha e bee c i ed i a i g b ic a h i .
3. If a e i h ica i ie ha ha e bee i f ic ed he e id a ed de ai ed; if h ea i hi ha ha e
bee ade.
4. If he e id a ed de ai ed ha be a i , fe a e a b ic ffice .
The penalty shall be death where the kidnapping or detention was committed for the purpose of extorting ransom
1 7
VOL. 62, JANUARY 30, 1975 197

People s. Ong
Al o conflic ing i he ma er of Bien enido Q in o par icipa ion a he ime Henr Ch a a

dragged in o he Bi ca ne car. The brief of bo h par ie end o ho ha i a Fernando Tan and
Baldomero Ambro io ho2 p lled Henr Ch a o of hi M ang car, forced him in o he Bi ca ne
car, ied and gagged him. Ho e er, Agen Lacanilao e ified ha in he reenac men of he crime i
a ho n2 ha Bien enido Q in o and Fernando Tan ere he one ho dragged Henr Ch a o
of hi car. Added o hi30 i he claim of Benjamin Ong ha Baldomero Ambro io merel dro e he
Bi ca ne for he gro p.
The pro ec ion like i e claim in i brief ha a earl a a eek 31
before he inciden , he gro p
alread cho e a i e and prepared a hole here o b r Henr Ch a; ha hi gro p a in con an
earch of he ic 32im along he nigh cl b ro in Ro a Bo le ard d ring he cceeding e ening b
failed o ee him; ha a da before he nfor na e e ening, Ong con ac ed Mi Clari a Teh of he
Sk a Tra el Ser ice a Ongpin S ., S 33a. Cr , Manila, and a ked for a booking for Hongkong and
Taipei, and depo i ed P4,000.00 herein. Similarl , i i alleged ha on April 29, 1971, a fe da
af er he inciden , Tan and Ong con ac ed Se ero Bo Ro34 lin, a long- ime friend of Tan, o help
hem ob ain airplane ea for he Vi a a , b he failed; ha he al35 o proceeded o he pier o
eek pa age o he So h on a boa b he ere like i e fr ra ed; ha in ead, he ook a
/
rain36 ride o L cena Ci here Ro lin lef hem and af er hich, he con in ed o Lega pi
Ci ; ha finding no acq ain ance here,
________________
from the victim or any other person, even if none of the circumstances above mentioned were present in the commission of
the offense. (As amended b Rep. Acts Nos. 18 and 1084, effective June 15, 1954, Italics ours.)
2 Brief for the Defendant-Appellant (Bienvenido Quintos), pp. 5-6; Brief for the Plaintiff-Appellee, p. 10.
2 TSN, Records, September 18, 1971, p. 8.
31Brief for the Plaintiff-Appellee, p. 6.
32Ibid., p. 7.
33Ibid.
34Ibid., pp. 13-14.
35Ibid., p. 14.
36Ibid.

People s. Ong
37
he en back o Manila; ha on Ma 1, 1971, Tan again engaged Ro lin er ice and i h he
la er dri ing hi car, he picked p Q in o3 and Ong and en o Barrio Bal go, Oa , Alba and
a ed here in he ho3 e of Ro lin paren ; ha Ong a lef here hile Ro lin, Tan and Q in o
en back o Manila.
A reenac men of he crime a had b Benjamin Ong, Bien enido Q in o and ome 40NBI and
MPD agen ho pla ed he role of heir co-acc ed Fernando Tan and Baldomero Ambro io.
The rial of hi ca e in he lo er co r proceeded i h commendable peed, al ho gh epara e
rial for he o acc ed ho had been arre ed o far a ha ime ere held pon he la er
req e . Bo h en ered a plea of no g il o he crime charged pon arraignmen on Sep ember 4,
1971. Ho e er,41
in he ca e of Benjamin Ong, he in oked he doc rine laid do n in he ca e of People
. Y rriaga o he e en ha he pro ec ion ho ld no n llif he mi iga ing circ m ance of a
plea of g il , b co n erac ing i i h nfo nded allega ion of aggra a ing circ m ance in he
informa ion.
42
In o her ord , he admi ed hi g il in o far a he crime of imple m rder a
concerned. Before hi Co r , he acc ed Benjamin Ong main ain ha :
The Co a o e ed in finding he acc ed g il of he c ime of kidnapping i hm de beca e
(a) The e a no e idence offe ed again he acc ed hich o ld p o e ha he c ime of kidnapping a

commi ed a all;
(b) Kidnapping canno be comple ed i h m de ;
(c) In ho e ca e he e he S p eme Co con ic ed he acc ed of Kidnapping i h M de , he e a
ho n an in en ion o dep i e he ic im of hi libe , and i a held ha he kidnapping a a
nece a mean o commi he c ime of m de .
________________
37Ibid.
3 Ibid.
3 Ibid.
40Pictures, Exhibit P to P-20 , Records.
4186 Phil. 534 (1950).
42 Manifestation, September 14, 1971, Records, pp. 24-25.
/
VOL. 62, JANUARY 30, 1975 199
People s. Ong
II
The co a o e ed in finding ha he killing of he decea ed a a ended b he gene ic agg a a ing

ci c m ance of
(a) Ab e of pe io eng h;
(b) Nigh ime;
(c) Uninhabi ed place;
(d) Ab e of confidence;
(e) U e of mo o ehicle; and
(f) C el .
and he alif ing ci c m ance of
(a) Ale o ia
(b) E iden p emedi a ion.
III
A ming ha he killing of Hen Ch a a a ended b he agg a a ing ci c m ance of ale o ia, he

agg a a ing ci c m ance of ab e of pe io eng h and nigh ime, if p e en , a e ab o bed b eache .
IV
The co a o e ed in no app ecia ing (a) plea of g il , and (b) ci c m ance of a imila na e o
analogo o A icle 13, pa ag aph 1 o 9 of he Re i ed Penal Code a mi iga ing.
The co a o e ed in impo ing he dea h penal pon he acc ed.
VI
43
The co a o e ed in en encing he acc ed o pa e ce i e damage .
For hi par , he acc ed Bien enido Q in o arg e ha :
1. The lo er co r erred in gi ing f ll eigh and credi o he e raj dicial a emen of he

defendan -appellan .
2. The lo er co r erred in no finding ha here a no con pirac be een defendan -
appellan Bien enido Q in o and he o her acc ed.
________________
43 Brief for the Accused Benjamin Ong Kho, pp. a-d.
200

People s. Ong
44
3. The lo er co r erred in no acq i ing defendan -appellan Bien enido Q in o .
/
OUR RULING The E ide ce he Alleged W i i g f a Ra m N e i I fficie
S a Fi di g i Fa f he P ec i :
Fir , Benjamin Ong ehemen l denied a king for ran om.

In he e aj dicial a emen of Benjamin Ong, he a a ked hi e ion: Q. When o ha ched he plan o
kill HENRY CHUA, did i e e occ o o o demand o a k fo an an om mone f om he famil of HENRY
CHUA? o hich he an e ed: Ne e , he e ion of an om mone ne e en e ed m mind. (Q e ion No. 5,
E h. N.)
Secondl , no ran om no e a pre en ed a e idence b he pro ec ion, nor did he la er ho ha

a demand
45
for mone a made pon he famil of he ic im. In he ca e of People . Man anero,
Jr. , We held:
F he mo e, ha co ld ha e been he mo i e fo he kidnapping? Acco ding o he ial co , he an om
mone a needed b Man ane o o def a he h ge e pen e fo he da - o-da li ing of hi la f l ife and
e en child en, and of hi mi e and hi fi e child en b he , and hi epai hop ha a ea ning onl abo
P1,000 mon hl co ld ha dl mee he ala ie of hi 16 o ke and mechanic . B i i c edible ha
Man ane o, being he in elligen and h e d man ha he appea o be, acco ding o he ial co , co ld e en
ha e en e ained he ill ion ha he kidnapping ha he a o pe pe a e o cl m il and ama e i hl o ld
be p ofi able o him, and he co ld e cape f om c iminal p o ec ion? A d ha i a ge i , if he a m e
a i deed i e , h a i e e e e ed i e ide ce? The claim ha i a l i belie able. Tha
a m e, if i e e e i ed, a he m im a iece f e ide ce ha c ld he ec i he
ha he kid a i g a f a m. Ce ai l , ha iece f e ide ce h ld be ke a d e e ed. N la ible
e la a i a gi e h ha a m e g l . Nei he he fa he m he f Fl e i a a made
e if ega di g he alleged a m e.
_______________
44 Brief for the Defendant-Appellant (Bienvenido Quintos), pp. 17, 31, 37.
45L-33698, December 20, 1973, 54 SCRA 335, 344.
201
VOL. 62, JANUARY 30, 1975 201

People s. Ong
Mo eo e , if an om a he p po e of he kidnapping., h did Man ane o o ea il , and i ho appa en

ea on, gi e p hi alleged c iminal en e p i e, hen he co ld ha e p ed i o a cce f l end? If he e a
eall ha a m e, a d ha a m e a e , he m l gical hi g ha Ma a e ld ha e d e
a e di ci Fl e i a famil h , he , a d h m he a m m e h ld be deli e ed.
The e i e ide ce ha Ma a e e e made a f ll i de ge he a m.
F he mo e, ba el o da af e he alleged kidnapping fo an om, Man ane o, i ho ha ing ob ained
e en pa of he an om mone , elea ed Flo e i a. W ld a kid a e , a Ma a e a alleged be, eadil
elea e he ic im i h eali i g hi e? (I alic S pplied)
Thirdl , he e raj dicial a emen of acc ed Q in o herein he a ed ha Fernando Tan ordered

Henr Ch a o prepare a ran om no e herein he a he fig re $50,000.00, i ain ed i h erio
do b d e o he apparen
46
mal rea men ha Q in o recei ed 47
from he NBI and MPD men on
Sep ember 3, 1971. The medical cer ifica e and ca e record i ed b he Philippine General
Ho pi al ppor he finding and remark of he e amining ph ician, Dr. Florencio L cero, ha in
he per on of acc ed Q in o , in rama c lar hema oma i e iden . Be ide , i i hear a and
herefore incompe en e idence again Benjamin Ong. And in he reenac men , a e ified o b NBI
agen Lacanilao, hile he ran om no e a being prepared, Benjamin Ong a abo 50 me er
a a from he place here he no e a being prepared.
Fo r hl , al ho gh bo h par ie in heir brief agree ha he ic im hand ere ied af er he a
ho ed in o he rear floor of he Bi ca ne car, nei her make a ca egorical claim ha he hand ere
/
g
ied a hi back. In fac Ac ing 4Solici or General Hec or C. F le bmi in hi brief ha he ic im
a made o lie do n face p . Thi lead o he concl ion ha he rope aro nd he ic im hand
a ne er remo ed a an in ance p o he ime ha he a b ried and e h med. Thi di co n
he idea ha before he ic im a made o cop a prepared ran om no e, he hand a hi back ere
ied, and af er he ri ing, hi hand ere again ied, hi ime in fron .
_______________
46TSN, Records, September 22, 1971, pp. 63-65, 73, 77.
47 Medical Certificates, September 23 and 27, 1971, Records, pp. 108-109; Case Record, Exhibit 4a-b, Records, pp. 118-
121.
4 Brief for the Plaintiff-Appellee, p. 10.
202

People s. Ong
Bien enido Q in o in open co r po i i el4 a ed ha he ic im a made o lie on hi back in ide

he car and hi hand ied on hi brea . The con rar e idence on hi poin are ho e of Agen
Lacanilao on he reenac
50
men of he crime hich a ba ed on he e ra-j dicial a emen of
Bien enido Q in o . Ho e er, a ho n abo e, hi a emen i of d bio eraci .
Finall , ha appellan ne er in ended o make mone o of he m rder of Henr Ch a, can be
clearl ded ced from he fac ha Ch a a b ried i h e er hing in hi per on; and d ring he
e h ma ion of hi bod , hi bro her, S Yap Ch a, iden ified he ar icle fo nd in he bod of he
decea ed, ch a a Piage a ch or h aro nd P10,000.00 (E h. B), a alle oge her i h mone ,
i h P50 bill and o her denomina ion .
In he ligh of he foregoing fac and circ m ance , We canno gi e an credence o he e imon
of Pa rolman Roq e ha abo he fir eek of April, 1971, Benjamin Ong confided o him hi plan
o ge a man ho chea ed him in gambling b a m ch a P150,000.00; ha he o ld a k for mone
from he la er paren and af er hich he o ld kill he ic im. And he fac bro gh o on cro
e amina ion of hi i ne , hich We ha e di c ed earlier, ho he incredibili of Ong confiding
o Pa rolman Roq e hi criminal in en ion, par ic larl , hi in en ion o a k mone from he paren
of he in ended ic im. A a ma er of fac , hi i ne , on cro e amina ion, go lo , o o peak, on
he poin of he her according o Ong, he o ld fir kill he in ended ic im and demand mone
from hi paren af er ard , or de ain him fir and, af er recei ing a ran om mone , kill he ic im.
F r hermore, from he fir eek of April, 1971, hen hi in en ion a allegedl re ealed b Ong o
hi i ne , Ong co ld ha e changed hi mind i h re pec o he demand for mone hen he
ic im a ac all aken and killed in he earl morning of April, 1971.
T a K a Ma C aC K a M
________________
4 TSN, Records, September 22, 1971, pp. 27-28.
50TSN, Records, September 18, 1971, pp. 9-10; Extrajudicial Statement of Bienvenido Quintos, Exhibit O , Records,
September 3, 1971, p. 48.
203
VOL. 62, JANUARY 30, 1975 203

People s. Ong
/
The e raj dicial confe ion (E hibi N) of acc ed Benjamin Ong a affirmed and confirmed b him
in open co r , h :
Q I show you this document marked as Exhibit N ,

statement of Benjamin Ong, dated September 1,
1971, do you admit that this is your statement
given to the NBI?
A Yes, sir.
Q In this statement, Exhibit N , you admitted that
Henry Chua was taken from the Mustang car
and transferred to the Biscayne car and then
brought to the uninhabited place in Barrio
Makatipo, what was your purpose in having the
late Henry Chua taken from his car and brought
to Makatipo?
A My purpose was just to kill him, and there is not
going to be any delay.
Q Was there any purpose of detaining him for
sometime?
A No, there was no purpose to detain him any
further.
And he e idence on record ho clearl ha he decea ed Henr Ch a and Benjamin Ong lef he
Wig am Nigh cl b a Para aq e, a abo 1:30 a.m. on April 24, 1971, in he car of Ch a. Ch a en
ol n aril i h Ong, o m ch o ha Ch a him elf dro e hi car. The ere alread in Del Mon e
A en e, near he place in Caloocan here Ch a a killed and b ried hen he ied he hand of
he decea ed; ha here ere ill di agreemen among he fo r acc ed on ho o ld kill he
decea ed, n il finall i a he co-acc ed Fernando Tan ho abbed him i h an icepick; and ha
he fo r acc ed, incl ding o o her , par ed from each o her a 7:00 o clock in he earl morning of
April 24, 1971 af er he bro gh he car of Ch a and lef i in Bo. Tibag, Bali ag, B lacan.
In ie of he foregoing fac and circ m ance , We hold ha here a no kidnapping, b onl
m rder, beca e he de en ion of Ch a a onl a o he main objec i e of m rdering him
and a no a nece ar mean for he commi ion of he m rder. From he Commen arie on he
Re i ed Penal Code of J ice Aq ino, an ackno ledged a hori in criminal la , We find he
follo ing:
If he de e i f he ic im i l i cide al he mai bjec i e f m de i g him, a d i a ece a
mea f he c mmi i f he m de , he c ime i l m de a d he c m le e f m de h gh
kid a i g. In he G e e o ca e, he acc ed H k b o gh o he mo n ain o pe on , fa he and on. The
fa he a killed. The on, a 14- ea old mino , a able o e cape on he econd nigh follo ing hi de en ion.
HELD: The acc ed e e
204

People s. Ong
g il of m de a o he fa he and kidnapping a o he on.

In a 1902 ca e, he ic im a aken f om hi ho e and hen b o gh o an ninhabi ed place, he e he a
m de ed. HELD: The c ime a m de onl . The e a no illegal de en ion ince i doe no appea ha i
a he p po e of he acc ed o commi hi offen e. The p ima objec i e a o kill he ic im.
/
Whe e af e he obbe commi ed in a ho e, h ee of i inma e e e aken o a place nea he i e one
kilome e f om he ho e, he e he e e killed, he kidnapping a deemed ab o bed in he c ime of obbe
i h homicide.
Whe e he appellan kidnapped he ic im a hi ho e a A ile S ee , Manila and fo ced him o ide in a
ca , b hile he ca a a he in e ec ion of Libe ad S ee , Pa a Ci , he ic im j mped f om he ca and
a ho o dea h, he c ime a held o be m de onl . (I Re i ed Penal Code b J ice A ino).
And We q o e from he brief of appellan Ong:

The c ime commi ed a onl m de .
A ea l a he ca e of US . Nicola Anche a, e al. (No. 422, Ma ch 14, 1902; 1 Phil. 165), i a held ha
he e he acc ed kidnapped he ic im, Ven a Q in o, ook him o a place called Radap, and he e b o de of
Nicola Anche a and Seba ian Da ag, he ic im a killed, he c ime commi ed b hem a m de . The ac
commi ed b he acc ed do no con i e he c ime of illegal de en ion ince he decea ed a cap ed in hi
ho e and aken b he acc ed o an ninhabi ed place elec ed b hem fo he p po e of killing hem he e.
(A p. 169). In he ca e of US . Teodo o de Leon (No. 522, Ma ch 10, 1902; 1 Phil. 163), he e a a demand fo
he pa men of an om. Ne e hele , he acc ed a fo nd g il no of kidnapping i h m de b of
m de onl . In hi ca e, he decea ed, Don J lio Ban on, a fo cibl emo ed f om hi ho e b Fabian
Tolome, b o de of Teodo o de Leon, He a o ed and mal ea ed b he defendan n il he a i ed a a
place called B l ong. No a i fied i h o ing he decea ed b him elf he (Teodo o de Leon) o de ed Tolome
o gi e him a blo pon he che i h a bolo. Don J lio begging fo me c , he defendan en one of hi
e an o he ife of he decea ed o a k fo $1,000.00 fo hi an om. Af e he e an had been en all e e
led o a place called Co me and pon a i ing he e he defendan o de ed Fabian and Tolome o cond c Don
J lio o a di ch. A he ame ime he i ne and hi h ee companion e e gi en hei libe b he
defendan , ho emained i h hi o companion and i h Don J lio. Don J lio a ne e af e a d een
ali e and hi headle bod a fo nd o o h ee da la e in hi ame place. The acc ed a fo nd g il
of he c ime of m de . Simila l , in he ca e of US . Emiliano
205
VOL. 62, JANUARY 30, 1975 205

People s. Ong
Caja on, e al. (No. 981, Oc . 8, 1903; 2 Phil. 570) el e a med men kidnapped T an ilino To e and ook him
i h hem o he ba io Maliig, in he o n of L bang, Ca i e p o ince, he e he killed him and b ied him in
a hole d g fo ha p po e. I a held ha he c ime commi ed a m de . The pe inen fac of he ca e a e
a ed b iefl a follo : Abo 20 a med men fo ced hei a in o he ho e of Feli Ma in, made him and hi
on p i one , and ca ied hem off i h hei a m ied behind hei back . F om he e he p oceeded o he
ho e of he head man of he ba io hich he e on fi e, and af e cap ing all he inma e , b o gh hem o
an e e o called he Pa ig he e he e all p i one f ee, e cep Feli Ma in and I abel Bel an. The e o
he ook a a in a boa and ca ied o a cl mp of mangla e , a he edge of he e e o, he e Ma i , ill bo nd,
a decapi a ed b one of he band i h a ingle oke of a bolo. I abel Bel an a e f ee. I ill be no ed ha
a o I abel Bel an, he on of Feli Ma in and he o he , ho e e made p i one , he e a dep i a ion of
libe . Ne e hele , he acc ed a fo nd g il of m de , and no of kidnapping i h m de . In he ca e
of People . Magno Q in o, e al. (L-1963, Dec. 22, 1948; 82 Phil. 467), i a e abli hed ha G ego io Galing
a picked p a hi home in Flo idablanca, Pampanga b a band of H kbalahap on he nigh of Decembe 9,
1945 and aken o he bank of he G main Ri e , G ego io Caling a in e iga ed in connec ion i h hi a m ,
mal ea ed, and b e en l killed. The j dgmen finding him g il of m de a affi med. In he ca e
of People . J an B la ao (L-2186, Jan. 29, 1949; 82 Phil. 743), one Jo e Tan a fo cibl aken b fo a med
men, among hem he acc ed. The follo ing mo ning, he ic im a fo nd dead. I a al o held ha he
acc ed a g il of m de . In he ca e of People . E f acio Lan ang (L-1187, Jan. 25, 1949; 82 Phil. 662) he
acc ed ho pa icipa ed in he kidnapping of he ic im ho a he eaf e killed a fo nd g il a an
accomplice in he c ime of m de . The ca e of People . Alejand o Mendiola, e al. (L-1642, Jan. 29, 1949; 82
Phil. 740) i mo e ignifican . In hi ca e he SUPREME Co aid:
‘The circumstances of the case, as proved by the evidence, lead us to the conclusion that each and everyone of appellant took
part with Taciano V. Rizal in a conspiracy to kidnap as they did Teofilo Ampil and they are all equally responsible for his
killing, which was perpetrated in accordance with the plan of the kidnappers. Once the kidnapping has been decided, the
authors necessarily had to entertain the killing as one of the means of accomplishing the purposes of kidnapping.
/
‘The three appellants were correctly found by the trial court guilty as authors of the crime of murder x x x.’ In the case
of People vs. Francisco Moreno (L-2335, March 7, 1950; 85 Phil. 731), several armed men went to the house of Manuel
Artates
206

People s. Ong
in ba io Pogoncile. Ag ila . Panga inan, and ook him o he Ma ap do Mo n ain in Manga a em he e, he

oge he i h one Jo e Ja min, a beheaded. The eaf e , he defendan F anci co ca ioned all he men ho
ook pa in o i ne ed he e ec ion a ell a he kidnapping of he o men no o e eal o an one ha
he had een ha nigh nde penal of p ni hmen . The deci ion of he ial co finding he appellan
g il of m de a affi med. In he ca e of People . Alf edo Ripa ip, e al (L-2408, Ma 31, 1950; 85 Phil.
526), one En i e Roldan a on Decembe 27, 1944 kidnapped and on he follo ing da killed b ce ain
g e illa ni . The acc ed e e fo nd g il of he c ime of m de . In People . Ga dencio Villapa. e al. (L-
4259, Ap il 30, 1952; 91 Phil. 189), he decea ed Fede ico Agonia , a aken b he acc ed f om he ho e of
G ille mo Cali o in ba io San Ma celino, Bal ngao. Panga inan, and he a killed abo 50 me e f om he
ho e. The e e fo nd g il of m de . In People . Eme e io Sa a a, e al. (L-3544, Ap il 18, 1952; 91 Phil.
111), i appea ed ha he fo acc ed ook he ic im Sabiano B cad f om hi ho e, placed him in a banca and
ailed o a d he oppo i e ho e of he Ba o lake he e he ic im a mal ea ed and killed b he acc ed. I
a held ha he c ime commi ed a m de . In he ca e of People . Eligio Camo and B ena en a
Man anido (L-4741, Ma 7, 1952; 91 Phil. 240), he acc ed ook he decea ed Pa icio Ma ndan f om hi ho e
in he ba io of Conda o he ba io of Talaan, bo h of he M nicipali of Sa ia a, Q e on. Upon eaching a
place nea he mang o e , he g o p opped, and acc ed Camo ho and killed he ic im. The acc ed e e
cha ged i h he c ime of m de i h kidnapping. The S p eme Co held:
‘The Solicitor-General next contends that the offense committed was the complex crime of kidnapping with murder. Again, we
are inclined to agree with the trial court that the crime committed was simple murder. It is true that Patricio was taken from
his home but it was not for detaining him illegally for any length of time or for the purpose of obtaining ransom for his
release. In quite a number of cases decided by this court where the victim was taken directly from his house to the place
where he was killed, kidnapping was not considered to raise the offense to the category of a complex.’ (At p. 246)
In People . Ne o io Remalan e (L-3512, Sep . 26, 1952; 92 Phil. 48), he acc ed i h abo 10 a med men
me Me cede Tobia , accompanied b E ebio Ge illa and L cia Pilo, on he a o he home in he ba io of
G ia ona, m nicipali of Dagami, P o ince of Le e. The acc ed ook hold of Me cede Tobia and d agged he ,
hile a he ame ime iking he i h he b of hi ifle a diffe en pa of he bod . E ebio Ge illa and
L cia Pilo a
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People s. Ong
Me cede being d agged o a d he i io of Sa ahan. Ha dl had he alked one kilome e hen he hea d
g n epo . The follo ing da , Me cede a fo nd dead in Sa ahan i h o g n ho o nd . Ne o io
Remalan e a cha ged and fo nd g il b he ial co of he c ime of kidnapping i h m de . A o he
cha ge of kidnapping, he S p eme Co held:
‘There is no sufficient evidence of intention to kidnap because from the moment Mercedes Tobias was held and dragged to the
time when the gun reports were heard nothing was done or said by the appellant or his confederates to show or indicate that
the captors intended to deprive her of her liberty for sometime and for some purposes and thereafter set her free or kill her.
The interval was so short as to negative the idea implied in kidnapping. Her short detention and ill-treatment are included or
form part of the perpetration of the crime.’ (at p. 51)
In he ca e of People . Sil ino G e e o, e al., (L-9559, Ma 14, 1958; 103 Phil. 1136, Un ep.), he
appellan e e fo nd g il fo he m de of Candido Di enga o and he kidnapping of Pa lo Di enga o. A o
he killing of Candido Di enga o, i a held:
/
‘As the court a quo has correctly held, appellants cannot be convicted of the complex crime of kidnapping with murder under
Article 48 of the Revised Penal Code, for the reason that kidnapping was not a necessary means to commit the murder.
Candido was detained and brought to the mountains to be killed—this we have held may not be considered kidnapping with
murder but mere murder. (People v. Camo, G.R. No. L-4741, May 7, 1952; People vs. Remalante, G.R. No. L-3512, 48 O.G.
3881-3883; People vs. Villapa, et al., G.R. No. L-4259, April 30, 1952) [13 Velayo’s Digest (new series) 337; please see also 103
Phil. 1136]’
In People . San o Umali, e al. (L-8860-70, Jan a 23, 1957; 100 Phil. 1095 Un ep.), he acc ed e e
cha ged and con ic ed b he ial co of kidnapping i h m de . The e idence ho ha he decea ed a
killed in f on of hi ho e. The c ime commi ed i onl m de . (13 Vela o Dige [Ne Se ie ], p. 340).
In People . Cenon Se ano alia Peping, e al. (L-7973, Ap il 27, 1959; 105 Phil. 531), he acc ed e e
cha ged i h illegal de en ion i h m de . Af e a d inking p ee, he acc ed, Cenon Se ano, gge ed o he
decea ed Pablo Na a o o lea e Bacolo , Pampanga fo San Fe nando fo a good ime, o hich gge ion he
la e ag eed. While he ic im oge he i h he acc ed Cenon Se ano and o he e e on he a o San
Fe nando, Cenon Se ano gge ed
20

People s. Ong
ha he p oceed o Angele fo a good ime o hich Pablo Na a o ag eed. Upon eaching ba io San I id o.
Cenon Se ano o de ed he d i e o p oceed o ba io Dolo e , Bacolo , Pampanga he e he decea ed a
de ained and e ioned a he ockade of he ci ilian g a d . Tha ame af e noon, Pablo Na a o a aken
o of he ockade and a b o gh o i io Ca ilang Mala i he e he decea ed a ho and killed. The ial
co fo nd he defendan g il of he c ime of m de . The deci ion a affi med b he S p eme Co .
In People . Ro a io Lao, e al. (L-10473, Jan a 28, 1961; 1 SCRA 42), one Ro a Bal a a a aken b o of
he acc ed and killed be ide a c eek abo 6 o 10 me e a a f om he ha che of he Lao po l fa m he e
he a a ing. The ial co fo nd hem g il of he c ime of kidnapping i h m de . The S p eme Co
held ha he c ime commi ed i no kidnapping i h m de a a ed in he i le of he info ma ion b
m de .
In People . Felipe Saca anan (L-15024-25, Dec. 31, 1960; 110 Phil. 588), a g o p of fi e a med men fo cibl
ook f om hei ho e he ic im J an Gala aga and Vic o Alama o a place abo 40 me e a a f om he
ho e he e he e e ho . J an Gala aga died. Vic o Alama a e io l o nded. The ial co
con ic ed he acc ed of he comple c ime of kidnapping i h m de . The S p eme Co held ha hi a
e o . No hing a aid o done b he acc ed on hi confede a e o ho ha he in ended o dep i e hei
ic im of hei libe fo ome ime and fo ome p po e. The e a no app eciable in e al be een hei
being aken and hei being ho f om hich kidnapping ma be infe ed. (See People . Remalan e, 92 Phil. 48;
O.G. [9] 38881). F om he fo egoing di c ion, i eem clea ha he eigh of a ho i i in fa o of he
p opo i ion ha he e he ic im a aken f om one place o ano he , olel fo he p po e of killing him and
no fo de aining him fo an leng h of ime o fo he p po e of ob aining an om fo hi elea e, he c ime
commi ed i m de , and no he comple c ime of kidnapping i h m de . Thi ling i en i el con i en
i h la . A . 267 of he Re i ed Penal Code penali e a pe on ho hall kidnap o de ain ano he , and he
penal become capi al he e he kidnapping o de en ion a commi ed fo he p po e of e o ing an om
f om he ic im o an o he pe on.
In he ca e a ba , he onl e idence app eciable again he appellan Benjamin Ong ega ding he
o nding ci c m ance of Hen Ch a dea h a e (1) he e aj dicial a emen of Benjamin Ong, (2) he
e imon of Benjamin Ong d ing he ial, (3) he e imon of agen En i e Lacanilao abo he eenac men
of he c ime.
20
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People s. Ong
/
In he e aj dicial a emen (E hibi N) Benjamin Ong aid ha f om he Wig am nigh cl b, Hen Ch a and
he ode on Hen M ang ca i h he la e d i ing i . Fe nando Tan and hi f iend e e in he Bi ca ne ca
of Benjamin Ong follo ing he M ang. (An e o Q e ion No. 40, p. 3, E h. N). A A ane a A en e in
Q e on Ci , Benjamin Ong e e ed Hen Ch a o op he ca o enable him o ina e. When Hen Ch a
complied, Fe nando Tan and hi f iend opped in f on of he M ang ca , p e ending o be policemen, and
o de ed Hen Ch a o go i h hem o he police p ecinc . (Id., p. 5) Fe nando Tan d o e he Bi ca ne ca , hile
Benjamin Ong in Hen Ch a ca follo ed. F om A ane a A en e, Fe nando Tan d o e o No aliche he e
Hen Ch a a killed. (Id.) I ill be no ed ha no app eciable ime elap ed f om a i al a No aliche p o
he ime Hen Ch a a killed, o indica e a epa a e in en ion o dep i e he la e of hi libe . When
Benjamin Ong e ified on Sep embe 22, 1971, he affi med hi admi ion of e pon ibili fo he dea h, of
Hen Ch a ( . .n., Sep . 22, 1971, p. 26). He f he e ified a follo :
ATTY. QUISUMBING:
Q In this statement Exhibit N , you admitted that
Henry Chua was taken from the mustang car and
transferred to the biscayne car and then brought
to that uninhabited place in having the late
Henry Chua taken from his car and brought to
Makatipo?
A My purpose was just to kill him, and there is not
going to be any delay.
Q Was there any purpose of detaining him for
sometime?
xxxxx
A No, there was no purpose to detain him any
further. (Id., pp. 27-28)
The na a ion of agen En i e Lacanilao abo he e-enac men of he c ime ho ed ha he e a no

de en ion of he decea ed Hen Ch a fo an leng h of ime. He a killed and p omp l b ied. (Plea e ee pp.
43-47, . .n., Sep . 18, 1971). On he ba i of he fo egoing e idence, he acc ed can ha dl be held liable fo
kidnapping a ell. I ma no be ami o a e ha an acc ed i en i led o ac i al nle hi g il i ho n
b p oof be ond ea onable do b . (R le 133, Sec ion 1, Re i ed R le of Co ). The e idence a hand ha dl
a i fied he e i emen of p oof be ond ea onable do b a o he cha ge of kidnapping. The nece a e l
i ha he acc ed can be held liable onl fo he killing of Hen Ch a. [B ief fo he Appellan Benjamin Ong
Kho, pp. 43 o 56]
And he e idence on record clearl ho ha Henr Ch a a en i h Benjamin Ong hen

he lef he
210

People s. Ong
Wig am Nigh cl b a Para aq e a abo 1:30 a.m. on April 24, 1971, o m ch o a

a C aa a C a . The o dro e raigh do n Ro a Bo le ard,
hen o Q iapo, and Q e on Bo le ard E en ion in Q e on. Ci ; and af er pa ing S o. Domingo
Ch rch, he made a rn o ard a dir road leading o Del Mon e A en e. When he reached a
dark and ecl ded place, Benjamin Ong rged Ch a o op he car for he former o rina e o hich
he la er obliged. The Bi ca ne car here Fernando Tan, Bien enido Q in o and Baldomero
Ambro io ere riding, opped. Fernando Tan poked hi g n a Ch a and p lled him do n from hi
M ang car i h Ambro io gi ing help. Hi hand ere ied, hi mo h gagged i h a flannel clo h,
and he a placed in he Bi ca ne car. Tan and Bien enido Q in o hen re ed heir fee on him.
/
Then Ambro io dro e he Bi ca ne hile Ong dro e he M ang. The proceeded o ard Barrio
Maka ipo, No aliche , Caloocan Ci , here Henr Ch a a abbed o dea h and b ried.
In o her ord , he ime in er al hen he decea ed Henr Ch a a ac all depri ed of hi
liber a hor (from Del Mon e A en e o Barrio Maka ipo, No aliche , Caloocan); and he ame
a onl a o he main objec i e of m rdering him.
The onl a hori ci ed b he pro ec ion on hi poin i ha of he ca e of Par lan .
Roda (88 Phil. 615). B he r ling in he Par lan ca e canno be applied o he ca e a bar, beca e
in he Par lan ca e, he Co r fo nd ha he kidnapping a a nece ar mean for he p rpo e of
e or ing ran om from he ic im and killing him if he de ired amo n co ld no be gi en; and ha
he defendan had o kidnap or carr he ic im from Manila ( here he a alread depri ed of hi
liber , i h Par lan poking hi g n on he ic im), o a fara a and ecl ded place (a ri er in
Bambang, B lacan) in order o be er ec re he con en of he ic im hro gh fear o pa he
ran om, and kill him if he ref e o accede o heir demand , a in fac he a killed b Par lan
beca e of hi ( ic im ) ref al o pa he ran om.
We H ld ha B h A ella a e G il fM de
The killing of he ic im in hi ca e a a ended b e eral q alif ing and aggra a ing

circ m ance . The fac on record
211
VOL. 62, JANUARY 30, 1975 211

People s. Ong
pro e hi , be ond rea onable do b , e en if e ere o di regard he e raj dicial confe ion of
Benjamin Q in o hich he denied and a allegedl e rac ed from him hro gh force and
in imida ion.
Treacher (ale o ia) q alified he killing o m rder. Undi p ed fac ho ha Henr Ch a
hand ere ied and hi mo h a gagged i h a flannel clo h before he a abbed ice i h an
icepick and b ried in a hallo gra e near a creek. The e fac por ra ell ha he ied hand of he
ic im rendered him defen ele 51and helple hereb allo ing he acc ed o commi he crime
i ho ri k a all o heir per on.
The acc ed Benjamin Ong and Bien enido Q in o , ho e er, ere q ick o in i ha hi
circ m ance ho ld no be aken again hem beca e he did no do he ac al abbing ( hich
a done b Fernando Tan). Ea il , he eakne of hi claim can be di cerned. Con pirac ,
conni ance and ni of p rpo e and in en ion among he acc ed ere pre en hro gho in he
e ec ion of hi crime. The fo r par icipa ed in he planning and e ec ion of he crime and ere a
he cene in all i age . The canno e cape he con eq ence of an of heir ac e en if he
de ia ed in ome de ail from ha he originall 52 ho gh of. Con pirac implie concer of de ign
and no par icipa ion in e er de ail of e ec ion. Th , reacher 53 ho ld be con idered again all
per on par icipa ing or coopera ing in he perpe ra ion of he crime.
Wi h regard o he aggra a ing circ m ance of ab e of perior reng h, he ame ho ld be
deemed ab orbed in reacher . Thi po i ion i i54 elf ppor ed b he Ac ing Solici or General in hi
brief and i ained in a long line of deci ion .
_______________
51People vs. Suda , L-33572, Oct. 10, 1974; People vs. Antonio, L-25845, August 25, 1970, 34 SCRA 401; U.S. vs.
Indanan, 24 Phil. 203(1913); U.S. vs. Colombo, 8 Phil. 391 (1907); U.S. vs. Cobe, 1 Phil. 265(1902).
52People vs. Mojica, L-17234, March 31, 1964, 10 SCRA 515.
53People vs. Carandang, et al., 54 Phil. 503 (1930).
54People vs. Ordiales, L-30956, Nov. 23, 1971, 42 SCRA 238; People vs. Brioso, L-28482, Jan. 30, 1971, 37 SCRA 336; People
vs. Espejo, L-27708, Dec. 19, 1970, 36 SCRA 400; People vs. La son, L-25177, Oct. 31, 1969, 30 SCRA 92; People vs.
Lumantas, L-28355, Jul
/
212

People s. Ong
In he ame ein, he acc ed o ld like he aggra a ing circ m ance of nigh ime (noc rnidad) o
be ab orbed in reacher in ha i form par of he pec liar reachero
55
mean and manner adop ed
o in re he e ec ion of he crime. The ca e of People . Berdida pro ide he e cep ion o hi
r le and i applicable o he ca e a bar. I a here held ha :
F om he fac and e idence of eco d in hi ca e, i i clea ha appellan ook ad an age of nigh ime in
commi ing he felonie cha ged. Fo i appea ha o ca o a en ence he had p ono nced pon An onio
Ma a illa and Fede ico Ca ale e fo he dea h of one Pabling, he had e iden l cho en o e ec e hei ic im
nde he co e of da kne , a he dead of nigh , hen he neighbo hood a a leep. Ina m ch a he eache
con i ed in he fac ha he ic im hand e e ied a he ime he e e bea en, he ci c m ance of
nigh ime i no ab o bed in eache , b can be pe cei ed di inc l he ef om, ince he eache e pon
an independen fac al ba56i , A pecial ca e he efo e i p e en o hich he le ha nigh ime i ab o bed in
eache doe no appl .
Thi aggra a ing circ m ance a correc l apprecia ed b he lo er co r regardle of he her or

no he ame a p rpo el and delibera el o gh b he acc ed for i i clear ha 57he darkne of
he nigh facili a ed he commi ion of he crime and a aken ad an age of b hem.
The p rpo i e elec ion of an ninhabi ed place (de poblado) i like i e clear from he e idence.
The killing a done in Barrio Maka ipo, No aliche , Caloocan Ci , an i ola ed place ha re embled
ha of an abandoned bdi i ion. The place
________________
17, 1969, 28 SCRA 764; People vs. Nabual, L-27758, Jul 14, 1969, 28 SCRA 747; People vs. Re es, L-21445, Ma 30,
1967, 20 SCRA 304; People vs. Agustin, L-18368, March 31, 1966, 16 SCRA 467; People vs. Develes, L-18866, Jan. 31, 1966, 16
SCRA 47; People vs. Redona, 87 Phil. 743(1950); People vs. Mabe, 81 Phil. 58 (1948).
55L-20183, June 30, 1966, 17 SCRA 520.
56See also the cases of People vs. Luna, L-28812, Jul 31, 1974, 58 SCRA 148; People vs. Sera Josep, 52 Phil.
206 (1928); U.S. vs. Pere , 32 Phil. 163 (1915): U.S. vs. Bredejo and Sudoles, 21 Phil. 23 (1911); U.S. vs. Salgado, 11 Phil.
56 (1908).
57People vs. Villas, L-20953, April 21, 1969, 27 SCRA 947; People vs. Apduhan, L-19491, August 30, 1968, 24 SCRA
801; People vs. Bauba , L-13901, September 19, 1961, 3 SCRA 24; People vs. Corpu , L-10104, Januar 28, 1961, 1 SCRA 33.
213
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People s. Ong
a ideal no merel for b r ing he ic im b al o for killing him for i a a place here he
po ibili of he ic im recei ing ome help from hird per on a comple el ab en . The acc ed
o gh he oli de of he place in order o be er a 5 ain heir p rpo e i ho in erference, and o
ec re hem el e again de ec ion and p ni hmen . A ap l a ed in he Sen ence of he lo er
co r :
. The po ibili of he ic im calling fo cco o a i ance f om an hi d pe on a led o b he
cho en i e. T ee , l h ege a ion and hick cogon g a e hide he place he e he c ime a commi ed f om
he ie of e en a chance pa e b . The choice of an ninhabi ed place fo he killing of Hen Ch a, he efo e,
f he agg a a ed he offen e5 commi ed b he acc ed, (People . C iano, L-15256-57, Oc obe 31,
1962; U.S. . Vi g, 17 Phil. 1).
/
In he ca e of he aggra a ing circ m ance of ab e of confidence (ab o de confian a), i appear
ha he lo er co r rongl apprecia ed hi circ m ance. In order for hi circ m ance o ob ain,
i i nece ar ha here be a rela ion of r and confidence be een he acc ed and he one
again hom
60
he crime a commi ed, and ha he acc ed made e of ch rela ion o commi
he crime. I i e en ial oo ha he confidence be a mean of facili a ing he commi ion of he
crime, he c61 lpri aking ad an age of he offended par belief ha he former o ld no ab e aid
confidence.
No here in he record doe i appear ha Henr Ch a repo ed confidence pon he per on of
Benjamin Ong. If an , Henr Ch a a impl no afraid of Benjamin Ong, ha ing old and bragged
o he la er abo 62
hi iolen e ploi in he pa and hrea ened him i h bodil harm in ca e of
fail re o pa . He kne ha he a far ronger han Benjamin Ong in erm of infl ence and
mone . He ho gh ha Benjamin Ong o ld fear him. The fac ha Henr Ch a in i ed Ong for
nigh cl bbing ha fa al e ening and accommoda ed him in hi
_______________
5 People vs. Cornelio, L-1289, June 10 1971, 39 SCRA 435; People vs. Arpa, L-26789, April 25, 1969, 27 SCRA 1037; People
vs. Luneta, 79 Phil. 815 (1947); People vs. Aguinaldo, 55 Phil. 610 (1931).
5 Sentence, Rollo, p. 36.
60U.S. vs. Rodrigue , 19 Phil. 150 (1911).
61People vs. Luchico, 49 Phil. 689 (1926).
214

People s. Ong
car on heir a home from he nigh cl b doe no mean ha Henr Ch a had confidence in him.
There a no pecial rela ion of confidence be een hem. He kne ha Benjamin o ed him a
b an ial amo n and ha i e lemen had long been o erd e hich fac irri a ed him er
m ch. Benjamin Ong and Henr Ch a ere oge her ha nigh in he nigh cl b a ell a in he car
no beca e of aid confidence. I a impl 63beca e Benjamin Ong had ome acco n o e le i h
him. Th , in he ca e of U.S. . Cr , e al., i a held ha :
. The fac of Caba a ha ing im la ed f iend hip and de i e fo o k, oge he i h he companion ho
en i h him, and he fac ha he ecei ed food and o k immedia el pon being accep ed b he Ame ican
o o k in he mine , i no , a a ed in he j dgmen , a deg ee of eache , acco ding o la , fficien o
con i e he agg a a ing ci c m ance of ab e of confidence. I ma ho e e , be a g ed a n o h cond c
and ing a i de, b no a ab e of confidence. I i nece a fi o ho ha ha been he confidence
g an ed o gi en in o de o de e mine he he he e a o a no an ab e of i , and in he p e en ca e he e
i no hing o ho ha he confidence gi en o conceded o Caba a a , ha co ld facili a e he commi ion of
he c ime.
64
Like i e, in he ca e of People . Brocal, i a held ha :
The e i no ab e of confidence in a emp ed ape he e on he da of he c ime he acc ed a in he
compan of he offended gi l, no beca e of he confidence in him, b beca e he e e pa ne in a ce ain
b ine .
More con incing hi ime i he aggra a ing circ m ance of e of mo or ehicle in he commi ion
of he crime. The Bi ca ne car of Benjamin Ong a ed in railing he ic im M ang car from
Wig am Nigh cl b p o he ime ha i a o er aken and blocked. I carried he ic im on he a
o he cene of he killing; i con ained a i baggage compar men he pick and ho el ed in
digging he gra e; i a he fa mean of fleeing and ab conding from he cene. Again, he mo or
ehicle facili a ed he ark happening. I ha been held ha he e of a mo or ehicle i aggra a ing
in
/
_______________
634 Phil. 252, 255 (1905).
64CA, 36 O.G. 858 (1937).
215
VOL. 62, JANUARY 30, 1975 215

People s. Ong
65
m rder here he aid ehicle a ed in ran por ing he ic im and he acc ed.
Cr el (en a amien o), a an aggra a ing circ m ance, canno be con idered here. The brief of
he Ac ing Solici or General agree i h ha of he acc ed in den ing he a endance of cr el a
an aggra a ing circ m ance. Indeed, a i appear from he record, he gro p in ended merel o kill
he ic im, b r him, and flee from he locale of he fearf l crime. For cr el o e i , i m be
ho n ha he acc ed enjo ed and deligh ed in making heir ic im ffer lo l and grad 66
all ,
ca ing him nnece ar ph ical or moral pain in he con mma ion of he criminal ac . E en
gran ing ha he ic im died beca e of a ph 67 ia ion hen he a b ried and no hemorrhage from
ab o nd , a e ified o b Dr. Ibarrola , hich ho e er, ha been con radic ed b hi o n
necrop repor hich ho ha he ca e of dea h a he p nc red o nd in he abdomen,
and b Dr. Lara ho e ified ha he o o nd co ld ha e prod ced dea h d e o hock, i
appear ha he ic im b rial a no mean o make him ffer an longer b impl o conceal
hi bod and he crime i elf.
Concededl , he q alif ing circ m ance of e iden premedi a ion (premedi acion conocida)
a ended he commi 6
ion of he crime. Wha el e can be er por ra hi circ m ance han he
freq en mee ing of he fo r acc ed a he Barrio Fie a Re a ran in order o di c , la o he
plan, and 6ec re he differen paraphernalia con i ing of he rope, icepick, flannel clo h, fla hligh70
and ho el . Added o hi i he caref l elec ion of an ideal i e for he gri l happening .
Similarl , he plan o go o Taipeh and Hongkong
________________
65People vs. Mitra, et al., 107 Phil. 851 (1960); People vs. Fortin, 97 Phil. 983 (1955); People vs. Valeriano, 90 Phil.
15 (1951); People vs. Cru , 85 Phil. 577 (1950).
66People vs. Llanera. L-21604-6, Ma 25, 1973, 51 SCRA 48; People vs. Da ug and Bannoisan, 49 Phil. 423 (1926); U.S. vs.
Rivera, 41 Phil. 472(1921).

6 Supplementar Extrajudicial Statement of Bienvenido Quintos.
6 Extrajudicial Statement of Benjamin Ong, Exhibit N , Records, September 1, 1971, p. 41.
70Ibid, p. 45.
216

People s. Ong
immedia el af er he inciden pic re he pre ence of e iden premedi a ion 1. The acc ed
medi a ed and enacio l per i ed 72in he accompli hmen of he crime and ere no promp ed
merel b he imp l e of he momen .
The claim of he acc ed Benjamin Ong ha he mi iga ing circ m ance of plea of g il ho ld
be apprai ed in hi fa or, i hereb ained. Indeed, he kidnapping por ion of he crime canno be
apprecia ed here be ond rea onable do b a a ed a he o e . F r hermore, i can be een ha
he pro ec ion alleged o man aggra a ing circ m ance hich ho ld be ab orbed in one or he
o her. To plead g il o hi informa ion na rall o ld be mo nfair for he acc ed e peciall
here he penal o ld be he capi al p ni hmen of dea h. The acc ed ho ed ign of
/
remor ef lne pon hi arre hen he coopera73ed i h he police a hori ie in he ol ion of he
crime. A held in he ca e of People . Y rriaga ,
. I onl emain o con ide b iefl he he he defendan plea of g il in he fo m i a en e ed
con i e a ol n a confe ion of g il befo e he co a defined in he ame b ec ion of A icle 13. We
hink i doe .
Al ho gh he confe ion a alified and in od c ion of e idence became nece a , he alifica ion did
no den he defendan g il and, ha i mo e, a b e en l f ll j ified. I a no he defendan
fa l ha agg a a ing ci c m ance e e e oneo l alleged in he info ma ion and mi iga ing ci c m ance
omi ed he ef om. If ch alifica ion co ld dep i e he acc ed of he benefi of plea of g il , hen he
p o ec ion co ld n llif hi mi iga ing ci c m ance b co n e ac ing i i h nfo nded allega ion of
agg a a ing ci c m ance .
We hold ha he acc ed Benjamin Ong i like i e en i led o he mi iga ing circ m ance ha i
analogo o pa ion and obf ca ion (Ar . 13, par. 10, Re i ed Penal Code), ba ed on he follo ing
fac a ed in hi brief:
a) Henr Ch a and hi companion en o he office of Benjamin Ong. In a lo d oice, i h angr
ge re , and in he pre ence of hi bordina e and fello emplo ee , Henr
________________
72People vs. Hanasan, L-25989, September 30, 1969, 29 SCRA 534; People vs. Sarmiento, L-19146, Ma 31, 1963, 8 SCRA
263; People vs. Bautista, 79 Phil. 652 (1947).
7386 Phil. 534, 539 (1950).
217
VOL. 62, JANUARY 30, 1975 217

People s. Ong
Ch a demanded pa men , and hrea ened bodil harm o him and hi famil .
b) Henr Ch a en a far a o hrea en he life of Benjamin Ong nle hi obliga ion o Ch a
a paid. If o rea re o r life, o be er pa fir .
c) Beca e of hi inciden , he, Benjamin Ong, a h milia ed.
d) Hi bro her-in-la , Ch a Pak, old him ha he a holding a er re pon ible po i ion in he
compan and o he ho ld no be in ol ed in an candal.
e) He a di credi ed and degraded in fron of m bro her-in-la . He a o embarra ed, he
finall endered hi re igna ion from he compan .
f) Beca e of he hrea of Henr Ch a, he acc ed ried o ge mone from all o rce b he a
no cce f l. The allo ed ime a o hor . To relie e him of he pre re bro gh o bear pon
him o pa hi gambling deb , he e en ho gh of embe ling mone belonging o he compan in
hich he orked.
g) Beca e of hi inabili o rai e mone o be paid o Henr Ch a, he became deepl depre ed.
He fel : I a being rned in o a criminal.
h) He begged Henr Ch a o gi e him more ime o rai e he mone . Nagmamakaa a na ako a
kan a. Thi a he nigh before Henr Ch a a killed. If Henr Ch a had gran ed him ime he
hole plan o kill Henr Ch a migh no ma eriali e. B Henr Ch a, hile no relen ing, b
perhap in er con emp and di dain of Benjamin Ong in ead decided o ran fer from Amihan o
Wig am beca e he an ed o be en er ained b a ho e . Henr Ch a, i ill be no ed, a ell
kno n o Wig am ho e , Liga a Tama o. Benjamin Ong a een b her for he fir ime ha
e ening.
i) So hile Ch a enjo ed him elf, Benjamin Ong a orried, a he pleaded i h Henr Ch a in
ain for more ime o pa he obliga ion.
/
In People . Timo eo Olgado, e al (L-4406, March 31, 1952; 91 Phil. 908 Unrep.), he o acc ed
ere pro oked o commi o m rder beca e of he indecen propo i ion made o he omen b
Jal mio and hi companion . For Mario Aninia ,
21

People s. Ong
hi i74 he mi iga ing circ m ance of pa ion and obf ca ion or indica ion of a gra e offen e o hi
ife.
In hi regard, acc ed Benjamin Ong filed on Oc75ober 10, 1973 before hi Co r a Pe i ion for
Ne Trial and/or o Con ider Ca e a Simple M rder. In hi pe i ion, Benjamin Ong ife, A hena
Ca Si Tee Ong, alleged in an affida i an inciden hen her h band ref ed o allo her o e if
on d ring he reg lar rial in he lo er co r . She aid ha Benjamin Ong ppre ed i beca e i
o ld be a o rce of grea hame o heir famil . Indeed, he 76
record ho ho Benjamin Ong
co n el ainl con inced him o ell i b he ref ed o do o. La el , Benjamin Ong ha changed
hi mind and ha con en ed o hi ife di lging he or . Said or impl con i of Henr
Ch a propo al of lo e and a emp ed rape allegedl commi ed on he per on of A hena on April 15,
1971 hich Henr Ch a a ked in lie of he pa men of he gambling deb . Ho e er, hi ma er i
no academic beca e i o ld onl end o bol er he mi iga ing circ m ance ha i analogo o
pa ion and obf ca ion, hich e ha e j con idered in fa or of he acc ed Benjamin Ong.
IN VIEW OF ALL THE FOREGOING, he o acc ed-appellan Benjamin Ong Kho and
Bien enido Q in o S maljag, are hereb fo nd g il be ond rea onable do b of he crime of
m rder i h he a endan q alif ing circ m ance of reacher , and he aggra a ing circ m ance
of e iden premedi a ion and e of mo or ehicle. The e o circ m ance are off e b he
mi iga ing circ m ance of plea of g il and one imilar or analogo o pa ion or obf ca ion
hich are apprecia ed in fa or of acc ed-appellan Benjamin Ong ho i hereb en enced
o a. J ice Teehankee and Maka iar, ho e er, are of he opinion ha he crime
commi ed b he o acc ed-appellan Benjamin Ong and Bien enido Q in o i kidnapping i h
m rder and ha he kidnapping a concei ed for he p rpo e of e or ing ran om, among o her
mo i e . The member of he Co r failed o arri e a a clear con en on he e i ence of he
aggra a ing circ m ance of nigh ime and ninhabi ed place ( hich J ice Barredo, in
_______________
74Brief for the Appellant Benjamin Ong, pp. 121-123, 124.
75 Petition for New Trial and/or to Consider Case as Simple Murder, Rollo, p. 188.
76TSN, Records, September 22, 1971, pp. 3, 41-47.
21
VOL. 62, JANUARY 30, 1975 219

People s. Ong
hi conc rring and di en ing opinion, concl ded do no ob ain in hi ca e).

Wi h re pec o he acc ed-appellan Bien enido Q in o , al ho gh no mi iga ing circ m ance
can be apprecia ed in hi fa or, and he ho ld herefore be en enced o dea h, he Co r hereb
impo e pon him he penal of a and no dea h, beca e of O r concl ion ha hi
co-acc ed-appellan Benjamin Ong ho ld be en enced onl o a, and beca e
J ice Barredo, in hi conc rring and di en ing opinion, e en concl ded ha Bien enido Q in o i
g il onl a an accomplice; and hence, in an e en , We o ld no ha e he nece ar en o e for
he impo i ion of he dea h penal pon aid acc ed-appellan .
/
A We hereb en ence he o acc ed-appellan Benjamin Ong and Bien enido Q in o o
ffer he penal of a, We affirm ha par of he deci ion nder re ie , hich
en enced hem join l and e erall o indemnif he heir of he decea ed Henr Ch a in he
amo n of P12,000.00; o pa moral damage in he amo n of P50,000.00, and ano her P50,000.00 a
e emplar damage ; and o pa heir propor iona e hare of he co , a We find no rea on o di rb
he ame.
Ma a a , C.J., T a , Ma a a , A , E a, M Pa a and A , JJ.,

conc r.
Ca , J., conc r in he re l .
F a , J., did no ake par .
Ba , J., conc r and di en in a epara e opinion.
BARREDO, J.: Conc rring and Di en ing
I f ll conc r in he finding in he main opinion of Mr. J ice Fernande ha herein acc ed-
appellan Benjamin Ong Kho and Bien enido Q in o S maljag are g il of he m rder of
Henr Ch a. The con pirac among Ong, Q in o and heir co-acc ed hich re l ed in he killing
of heir ic im in he earl morning of April 24, 1971 appear pro en in he record be ond rea onable
do b . So al o he manner in hich he offen e a commi ed. No le han Ong him elf admi hi
re pon ibili for i . Indeed, I en re he ho gh ha hi ca e co ld ha e been ermina ed earlier
i h he con ic ion of appellan ere i no for he nj ified
220

People s. Ong
in i ence of he pro ec ion o e ac from hem more han ha I con ider, in he ligh of he pro en
circ m ance , o be demanded b j ice and he p blic in ere .
A he arraignmen , Ong co n el made i plain ha e en a hi clien a en ering a plea of no
g il , he a doing o i h he in en ion o in oke he r ling of hi Co r in People . Felipe
Y rriaga, (86 Phil. 535), meaning in effec ha hile Ong a illing o plead g il o he m rder
charged in he informa ion, he co ld no do o onl beca e he acc a ion ha no onl ba ele l
comple ed i i h kidnapping for ran om b alleged e eral aggra a ing circ m ance hich he fel
are nfo nded, hence he o ld in d e ime a k he co r ha he be credi ed i h he mi iga ing
circ m ance of he plea of g il , af er he hall ha e cceeded in ho ing ha he pro ec ion i
making he charge again hem appear gra er han ha he ha e ac all commi ed.
A i rned o la er and a borne b he record, o ide of he confe ion of he appellan and
heir e imonie in open co r , he pro ec ion had no independen e idence a o ho he offen e
here in q e ion a commi ed. Indeed, from he er na re of he er ion of he acc ed, hich
he People accep , regarding he manner in hich Henr Ch a died in heir hand , he ame o ld
ha e remained nkno n o he in e iga ing a hori ie and he fi cal, here i no for he ol n ar
re ela ion con ained in aid confe ion . No abl no por ion of Ong confe ion ha been rep dia ed.
Th , i ma be aid ha for he go ernmen , hi o ld ha e been no more han a plain ca e of
m rder q alified b reacher , hich co ld be ded ced b he fac ha hen he corp e of Ch a a
di in erred, hi hand ere ied a he back and hi mo h a gagged, had no he acc ed gone
f r her han admi ing ha he had killed heir pre . Wha e er q alifica ion of he killing appear
no in he informa ion, m ha e been ba ed b he Fi cal on hi o n concl ion from he fac
f rni hed b he appellan , no from he finding of an in e iga or. And nfor na el for he
acc ed, he Fi cal concl ion , erroneo a he are, made he ca e again hem m ch m ch
gra er han ha i ac all i .
The record ho ha appellan Ong and he decea ed Ch a ere clo e friend and e en di an
rela i e . For more han one ear and a half he ere of en oge her i h ome o her friend of
Ch a, namel Go B n Kin, Marcelo Tanlimco and Ko
/
221
VOL. 62, JANUARY 30, 1975 221

People s. Ong
King Pin. The ed o gamble pla mahjong i h he pec liari ha he con an lo er a Ong.
Hi lo e mo n ed o clo e o P150,000, and a he ime of he killing of Ch a, Ong ill o ed him
P50,000. Thing came o a poin ha in he mind of Ong, he pec ed ha he a being chea ed and
Ch a a he c lpri . On he o her hand, Ch a a a id o in demanding pa men of hi
inning . So m ch o ha abo one mon h before he ragic occa ion in q e ion, Ch a,
accompanied b he o her pla er aforenamed, en o he office of Acme Shoe and R bber Prod c ,
here Ong a emplo ed a a i an manager, and demanded, ho ing and ge ring in he
proce , pa men of he P50,000. Thi inciden h milia ed Ong beca e i happened in he pre ence
of hi perior and bordina e ; he had pleaded i h hi i i or no o crea e an candal, b he
per i ed; Ong lo face; hi bro her-in-la , he o ner of he firm admoni hed him ha he
re pon ible po i ion he a occ p ing ho ld be pared from ch candal . Thing became harder
and harder for Ong o bear; he had o re ign. Ko King Pin had b eq en l re rned o ha office
o or hree ime , a he in ance of Ch a, on hich occa ion , he did no onl demand pa men , he
gge ed o Ong ha Ch a a no a man o be angered; and Ong had e er rea on o belie e he
eiled hrea , ince Ch a ed o brag o him abo iolen inciden here he a in ol ed; in fac ,
Ch a old him once Yo do no ha e mone , h do o ha e o gamble? Are o no a hamed of
o r elf? If o rea re o r life, o be er pa fir . Th cornered, Ong rned o all hi o rce
of f nd , b e en hi al lender ere no longer a ailable.
On April 21, 1971, Ch a called him b phone and in angr one informed him ha he check he
(Ong) had i ed in pa men of hi gambling lo e had been di honored b he bank. Ch a
hrea ened o rn o er he check o o her people ho ill no be co r eo an more. And Ch a
demanded ha he mee a Amihan Nigh Cl b on April 23, 1971, and ha Ong ho ld bring he
mone i h him. The cho en ho r: 9:00 p.m.
E iden l facing a dead end in hi effor o rai e he nece ar f nd , he ho gh of doing a a
i h he life of Ch a hen he o ld mee ha nigh rec rred o hi mind. He had been pre io l
cr ing o er he ho lder of ano her clo e friend, hi co-acc ed Fernando Tan, and he la er had
222

People s. Ong
broached he idea, Wh no j kill him. In fac , Tan agreed o ake par in he killing. A rela ed
in he People brief:
. A eek befo e Ap il 23, 1971, Fe nando Tan phoned hi f iend Bien enido Q in o a he la e office a
Robe F anci co Real and made an appoin men i h him he ea he di c ed he plan of Ong o hich
Q in o ag eed ( n., p. 4, Sep . 22, 1971; Q in o an e o No . 7-9 in hi econd o n a emen [E h. Q],
ec., p. 61). Soon, he io (Ong, Tan and Q in o ) me a he Ba io Fie a Re a an a Caloocan Ci and af e
ea ing dinne , he lef and bo gh a ho el and pick a ha d a e o e ome he e a Ri al A en e E en ion
Caloocan Ci (An . o Q. No. 13, E h. Q. ec., p. 62). F om he e, and ing Ong ca , he io p oceeded o
No aliche o look fo a i e he e o b hei in ended ic im. Ong elec ed a pa ic la place, a ing I o ang
mab i , af e hich he e ned o Caloocan Ci and pa ed a (An . o Q. No. 16, E h. Q, ec., p. 62). On
he follo ing e ening, he io me again a he Ba io Fie a Re a an and a hi mee ing, he e e joined
b Baldome o Amb o io, alia Val , a fo me Acme emplo ee and a god on of Ong b ma iage ( n, p. 31, Sep .
22, 1971; E h. R, ec., p. 65). Af e ea ing dinne , he all ode on Ong ca and p oceeded o he i e in
No aliche , elec ed he p e io da b Ong (An . o Q, No. 17, E h. Q, ec., p. 62). Upon eaching he i e, Ong
opened he back compa men of hi ca and in c ed Val o ge he ho el and pick. The fo alked fo a
di ance of abo hi me e f om he oad, af e hich Val a in c ed o dig a hole. Wi h Q in o holding
/
a fla hligh , Val d g he hole hile Tan and Ong a ched he digging, af e hich he co e ed he hole i h
f e h ig . Thence, he e ned o Caloocan Ci he e he epa a ed (An . o Q. No. 18, E h. Q, ec., p. 62).
Regarding ha happened immedia el before, d ring and af er he mee ing of Ch a and Ong a
Amihan a 9:00 p.m., April 23, 1971, I find he folio ing concl ion of he rial co r o be ppor ed
b he e idence, e cep a o (1) one a pec of ha mee ing a Amihan, for herea he deci ion
impl a ha Ch a and Ong me , i omi he pi o al rele an poin ha i a he decea ed ho
fi ed he ime and place of aid mee ing and (2) he e i ence of he alleged ran om no e, hich doe
no appear o be clearl e abli hed, a ill be di c ed la er:
On Ap il 20 o 21, 1971, Benjamin alked o Hen Ch a o e he elephone. The ag eed o mee a he
Amihan Nigh cl b on Ro a Cl b Bl d., Pa a a e, Ri al, a a o nd 9:00 o clock in he e ening of F ida , Ap il
23, 1971. The age a e fo he ca ing o of hi plan , o on Ap il 22, 1971, Benjamin Ong con ac ed
Cla i a Teh of he
223
VOL. 62, JANUARY 30, 1975 223

People s. Ong
Sk a T a el Agenc and e e ed no onl booking b al o he p epa a ion of hi a el pape , de ina ion

Taipei. Ob io l , hi a a nece a ep o in e hi e cape immedia el af e he e ec ion of hi plan o
kidnap and m de Hen Ch a.
A 7:30 o clock, in he e ening of Ap il 23, 1971, Benjamin Ong me Fe nando Tan, Val and Bien enido
Q in o a he Ba io Fie a in Caloocan Ci . The e he plan of he g o p e e finali ed and af e dinne he
p oceeded o Amihan Nigh cl b.
Benjamin Ong joined Hen Ch a in ide he Cl b hile Fe nando Tan, Val and Q in o emained in Ong
Bi ca ne ca and ai ed o ide he cl b. A ho hile la e , Benjamin Ong came o of he Amihan Nigh cl b
and old Fe nando Tan o come in ide. Ob io l , hi a a nece a ep o enable Fe nando Tan o kno he
iden i of he in ended ic im. Q in o and Val emained in he ca . Some ime la e , Fe nando Tan came o of
he Amihan Nigh cl b and a ked Q in o o go i h him o he Wig am Nigh cl b hich i ne doo o he
Amihan Nigh cl b.
Af e pl ing Hen Ch a i h b and in ide he Amihan Nigh cl b, Benjamin Ong, on he p e e ha he
ho e of hi ac ain ance a no he e, ged he fo me o mo e o he Wig am Nigh cl b. The e he abled
o ho e e kno n o hem, one of hem being Liga a Tama o. Ong con in ed o pl Hen Ch a i h b and .
In he mean hile, Fe nando Tan and Q in o ook a epa a e able in ide he Wig am Nigh cl b o he co ld
a ch Benjamin Ong and Hen Ch a hen he a o lea e he place. A a o nd 1:30 a.m., Ap il 24, 1971,
Hen Ch a and Benjamin Ong lef he Wig am Nigh cl b and go in o Hen Ch a M ang ca . Fe nando
Tan and Bien enido Q in o follo ed and go in o Ong Bi ca ne ca , and hen he Ch a ca pa ed b , he
follo ed, i h Val d i ing he Bi ca ne.
The Ch a ca lef he Wig am Nigh cl b in Pa a a e, Ri al, p oceeded h o gh Manila, pa ing Q e on
B idge, hen o Q e on Ci , pa ing Q e on Bo le a d E en ion, pa ed S o. Domingo Ch ch, he e i made
a U- n and hen ned igh on a di oad leading o Del Mon e A en e. Reaching a pa ed po ion of he oad
leading o Del Mon e A en e, Ong old Ch a o op he ca on he p e e of an ing o ina e. A oon a Ong
go o of he pa ked Ch a ca , Val pa ked he Bi ca ne ca ahead of he M ang, blocking i a , and
Fe nando Tan and Val aligh ed. The p oceeded o he pa ked M ang ca he e Fe nando Tan poked a g n a
Hen Ch a and Val opened he doo a he d i e ide and d agged Hen Ch a f om he M ang ca and
fo ced him in o he back ea of he Bi ca ne ca . Hen Ch a a hen fo ced o lie do n face p on he floo of
he ca hile hi hand and fee e e bo nd b Fe nando Tan i h piece of ope and a flannel clo h ied o e
hi mo h o gag him. Benjamin Ong go behind he heel of he M ang ca and follo ed
224

People s. Ong
he Bi ca ne ca hich had a ed o mo e o a d No aliche .
/
A i ing a he i e p e io l cho en in Ba io Maka ipo, bo h ca opped. Fe nando Tan and Benjamin
Ong, ha ing aligh ed f om he ca he e e iding in, alked, hile Val p lled Hen Ch a o of he Bi ca ne
ca . Ong hen ook a ho el and a fla hligh f om he nk compa men a he back of he Bi ca ne ca . He
handed he ho el o Q in o . The ope binding Hen Ch a fee a n ied, b hi hand emained ied and
hi mo h a ill gagged, a he acc ed led him o he i e he e a hole had p e io l been d g o .
A ha place, Hen Ch a hand and mo h e e n ied and ngagged, al ho gh Fe nando Tan held hi
g n poin ed a Hen Ch a head. He a hen o de ed o cop a p epa ed an om no e di ec ing ha
$50,000.00 an om mone be paid. Hen Ch a complied, b pleaded H ag nin o akong pa a in, ha? , o
hich Fe nando Tan an e ed, Paba aan mo, maka i ka. Hen Ch a hand e e again ied in f on of
him and he gag o e hi mo h ied again. He a made o lie on he g o nd, face p. Benjamin Ong hen
handed he icepick o Fe nando Tan and aid Pa a in na i an! Fe nando Tan handed he icepick o Val, ho in
n, handed i o Q in o . B Q in o , ob io l did no ha e he ne e o kill Ch a, j if ing hi inac ion b
a ing he had no g dge again Ch a. Fe nando Tan hen g abbed he icepick e ing he o d , Hindi ka pa
pala p ede. The fla hligh a hen handed b Tan o Val ho foc ed i on Hen Ch a b ea . Fe nando Tan
hen abbed Hen Ch a, ice, i h he icepick. The bod of hei ic im a hen d agged o he p epa ed
hole, Val p lling he bod hile Q in o a holding he leg , and d mped in a c o ching po i ion, face do n,
i h he ied hand held in f on of hi b ea . The hole a hen co e ed i h oil, hen he mo nd omped on
b Benjamin Ong.
Benjamin Ong and Fe nando Tan boa ded he M ang hile Q in o and Val ode in he Bi ca ne ca . Wi h
Ong d i ing he M ang and Val he Bi ca ne, he p oceeded o Ba io Tibag, Bali ag, B lacan, he e he
M ang ca a locked and abandoned nea a Shell ga oline a ion. All fo hen e ned o Manila in Ong
Bi ca ne ca . The pa ed f om each o he compan a a o nd 7:00 o clock in he mo ning of Ap il 24, 1971. On
he follo ing da , bo h Benjamin Ong and Bien enido Q in o epo ed o hei e pec i e place of o k a if
no hing ini e had aken place. (Appellan B ief [Ong], pp. XIV-XIX)
In connec ion i h he mee ing a Amihan, he onl e idence on record a o ho he place and ime
hereof ere fi ed i he follo ing por ion of E hibi N, he e raj dicial confe ion of Ong:
30. Q. What did you do after you were

embarrassed and degraded as you
mentioned?
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VOL. 62, JANUARY 30, 1975 225

People s. Ong
A. Some ime on Ap il 20 o 21, 1971, HENRY CHUA called me p b phone a m office and i a a hi ime
ha I decided o kill him. He a ked me hen I co ld make e lemen of m obliga ion and he a ked me if I am
a ailable on F ida , Ap il 23, 1971 o ee him a AMIHAN CLUB a Ro a Bl d. and I aid e , p omi ing ha I
o ld pa him. (Appellan b ief [Ong], No. 30, p. 22)
I a Ch a hen ho e ch place and ime. A ill be el cida ed la er, hi par ic lar de ail i
deci i e in de ermining he her or no appellan p rpo el o gh he co er of he nigh darkne
in commi ing he crime for hich he S a e i demanding a onemen i h heir o n li e .
Wi h re pec o he ppo ed ran om no e, I m make i clear a he o e ha in m ie of
he ca e a bar, i i of no ignifican con eq ence he her or no here a in fac ch a no e. B if
i co ld be in an en e ma erial, I o ld b cribe o he ie in he main opinion ha i
nonprod c ion con iderabl impair credence a o he po ibili of i ac al e i ence. And a I ill
e plain a a more appropria e place in he b eq en di c ion, he o her rela ed circ m ance
e an in he record end o belie, in m opinion, ha an hing abo ran om a e er aken p on
he occa ion in q e ion.
S bjec o he foregoing re er a ion , I o ld a ha he ba ic concl ion of fac of he rial
co r find ample ppor in he e idence before i . Indeed, in he ligh of aid fac , i i be ond
rea onable do b ha appellan Ong and Q in o ho ld be held criminall re pon ible for he
killing of Henr Ch a. And from ha I ga her from appellan Ong po i ion ince he ime he a
/
in e iga ed b he agen of he Na ional B rea of In e iga ion, he i no hirking ha
re pon ibili .
In ofar a appellan Q in o i concerned, hile he admi ha ing been i h hi co-acc ed hen
Ch a life a aken, he claim ha hi par in he hole affair a ei her innoc o or impelled b
ncon rollable fear. A lea one damaging poin , ho e er, i q i e clear in hi o n e imon . He
admi ha ing been handed he ice pick for him o kill Ch a, and al ho gh he claim he ref ed o
e i , he ha no pro en ha he e er ed an effor o di ade hi companion from comple ing and
accompli hing heir criminal de ign. A an ra e, he di c ion and finding in he main opinion ha
Q in o a one of he con pira or ha fficien ba i in he record o arran hi con ic ion, and I
conc r herein, e en a I do no hare he concl ion, a I ill pre en l poin o , ha he and
226

People s. Ong
Ong de er e he e reme penal of dea h.

Hi Honor held ha he crime commi ed b appellan i kidnapping for ran om i h m rder, an
offen e inel dabl p ni hed preci el i h dea h. E en for kidnapping for ran om alone, ch i he
ene orable penal pro ided b la . (Ar icle 267, Re i ed Penal Code, a amended b Rep blic Ac
1084.) The per inen pro i ion read h :
The penal hall be dea h he e he kidnapping o de en ion a commi ed fo he p po e of e o ing
an om f om he ic im o an o he pe on, e en if none of he ci c m ance abo e-men ioned e e p e en in
he commi ion of he offen e.
Ho e er, I conc r f ll in he main opinion ha ch holding i comple el erroneo and canno be

pheld.
A Mr. J ice Fernande er ell poin o , i i ba ic and elemen ar ha he e ence of he

crime of kidnapping nder Ar icle 267 of he Re i ed Penal Code i de en ion. Indeed, from he er
beginning of Philippine j ri pr dence in Vol me I of he Philippine Repor , he S preme Co r
alread ook he ie ha aking he ic im from hi home o a i able place and hen and here
killing him e ince no hade of illegal de en ion, ince i o ld no appear ha he in en ion i o
depri e him of hi liber , b ra her of hi life. (Uni ed S a e . Anche a, 1 Phil. 165, 169.) There
ha been no r ling o her i e ince hen.
I i o m mind incorrec o a ha in he o Par lan ca e , Par lan . Roda , 78 Phil.
855 and People . Par lan, 88 Phil. 615, hi Co r held ha he offen e of kidnapping or illegal
de en ion can be comple ed i h he crime of m rder p r an o Ar icle 48 of he Re i ed Penal
Code hen i i ho n ha he p rpo e of he apprehen ion and de en ion of he ic im i o ake him
o he place of killing, a here he kidnapping i re or ed o a a mean for hi killing, hereb
o err ling he doc rine in Anche a, pra. I ha e read and died bo h Par lan deci ion , b I
canno find herein an hing along he legal propo i ion gge ed. Thi i ha appear in J ice
Feria opinion in he fir ca e:
F om a c o e amina ion of he fo egoing i clea l appea ha he c ime cha ged i kidnapping and
m de and he fo me a commi ed b he defendan a a nece a mean fo he p po e of e o ing
an om f om he ic im o killing him if he de i ed amo n of mone co ld no be gi en, ha i , ha he
defendan had o kidnap o ca he ic im o a fa a a and ecl ded place in o de o
227
VOL. 62, JANUARY 30, 1975 227

People s. Ong
/
be e ec e he con en of he ic im h o gh fea o pa he an om, and kill him i h ce ain en e of
imp ni and ce ain ha no o he pe on ma i ne he commi ion of he offen e b he defendan if he
ic im ef e o accede o hei demand, and ha in fac he a killed b he defendan beca e of hi ef al
o pa he an om.
And hi i ha J ice Pablo aid in he econd ca e:
La con encion de e el J gado de P ime a In ancia de Manila no iene j i diccion ob e la ca a, a e a

e el a po e e ib nal en Pa lan c a Roda , 78 Phil., 855. En dicho ec o el ac ado imp gno la
j i diccion del J gado de P ime a In ancia de Manila, alegando e el ec e o a e ina o on do di in o
c imene ; e el a e ina o e come io en B lacan , po an o, el J gado de e a p o incia e la e enia
j i diccion e cl i a ob e la ca a. E e T ib nal decla o e el c imen den nciado e el deli o complejo de
ec e o con a e ina o; e el ec e o e eali o como medio nece a io pa a a anca dine o de la ic ima o
ma a le i la can idad pedida no lo die e; e c al ie j gado de p ime a in ancia en e e ha a come ido
c al ie elemen o e encial de dicho c imen complejo iene j i diccion; e denego la olici d.
Wha i o me clear from he e q o a ion i ha i i he elemen of demand for ran om and

b eq en fr ra ion in ge ing he ame e i ing in Par lan ha make he difference be een i
and Anche a, herein aid elemen a ab en . Which i nder andable, beca e hen he p rpo e
of he kidnapping i ran om, he offender o ld nece aril ha e o de ain hi ic im hile ai ing
for he re l of he demand, and kill him onl in ca e ch re l i nega i e. In o her ord , in
Par lan he kidnapping a defini el for ran om and no nece aril o kill, herea in he in an
ca e i a olel o kill. When he ole p rpo e of he kidnapping i o kill, I main ain ha he
Anche a r ling ill hold , preci el beca e in ch a ca e he in en o commi de en ion hich i
he e ence of kidnapping i ab en . S rikingl parallel, indeed, o he circ m ance of he ca e a
bar ere ho e of Anche a. Said he Co r herein:
F he mo e, in ie of he na e and ci c m ance of he m de fo hich hi ca e i p o ec ed i i
e iden ha he fac ha he decea ed a cap ed in hi ho e and aken b he defendan o an ninhabi ed
place elec ed b hem fo he p po e of killing him he e, doe no con i e he c ime of illegal de en ion,
ince i doe no appea ha i a he p po e of he acc ed o
22

People s. Ong
commi hi offen e. On he con a he ei ed he nfo na e Q in o in hi ho e i h he ole objec of

ca ing him a a o a i able place, hich he b e en l poin ed o o he a ho i ie , and of he e
m de ing him.
A caref l re ie of he e idence in hi ca e fail o ho an indica ion ha Ong and hi co-acc ed

e er en er ained he ho gh of de aining he decea ed for ran om. I i r e a cer ain Pa rolman
Marciano Roq e of he Caloocan Ci Police e ified regarding alleged con er a ion he had i h
Ong herein he la er ppo edl re ealed o him a plan o kidnap Ch a for ran om. Le hearken
in hi connec ion o he finding of he rial j dge him elf:
The fi i ne p e en ed a Pa . Ma ciano Ro e of he Caloocan Police Depa men . He e ified o
ha ing kno n Benjamin Ong fo mo e han fi e ea a he la e a he A i an Manage of he Acme Shoe,
R bbe and Pla ic Co po a ion, a compan i a ed in Caloocan Ci , o ned b Ch a Pak, Ong b o he -in-la .
Some ime d ing he fi eek of Ap il, 1971, he en o he Acme office o ge a pai of bbe andal and a
he e me b Benjamin Ong ho in i ed him o ide in hi ca and he e e ealed hi plan o kidnap a pe on
hom he belie ed had chea ed him in a gambling game. The i ne di aded he acc ed Benjamin Ong f om
ca ing o hi plan b he la e pe i ed and ei e a ed hi e e fo a i ance d ing he e e al
mee ing hich follo ed. On one occa ion, acco ding o hi i ne , he a aken o Ba io Maka ipo, Caloocan
Ci , b Benjamin Ong and ho n he place he e aid acc ed in ended o b he pe on he a planning o
kidnap and kill. Benjamin Ong ied o con ince he i ne o join in hi plan o effec a kidnapping b a ing
him ha he al ead had a comple ed plan, ha a god on of hi o ld al o help o , and ha he fa he of he
in ended ic im a e ich and ha f om he an om mone he o ld ecei e f om he fa he of he ic im,
/
he i ne co ld al ead lea e he police fo ce and e i e. Wi ne al o e ified ha he ied hi be o a oid
Ben Ong, and a hei la mee ing ged him o fo ge he hole hing. Al ho gh he info med Cap . D e a and
L . Manaba of he Caloocan Police, and ill la e Chief of Police Cele ino Ro ca of Benjamin Ong plan, he did
no kno he iden i of he in ended ic im n il he fi eek of Ma , 1971 hen he a called b Chief of
Police Cele ino Ro ca ho info med him ha a Chinaman b he name of Hen Ch a a mi ing and ha
Benjamin Ong a being o gh b he NBI. (Pp. III-IV, Appellan B ief [Ong].)
One doe no ha e o arr for more han a momen o ee ho prepo ero Pa rolman Roq e
e imon i . Wha
22
VOL. 62, JANUARY 30, 1975 229

People s. Ong
immedia el rike me i ha allegedl Ong did no onl confe o him hi diabolical plan o kidnap
Ch a for ran om, Ong ac all in i ed Roq e o join in he commi ion of ch capi al offen e. If ch
e imon ere in an a r e, I am re he pre en ca e o ld no ha e come o be a all Ch a
o ld no ha e been killed and Ong o ld probabl ha e long been in jail for a non-capi al offen e
ini ia ed b no le han he Caloocan Ci Police. For I canno concei e of a fai hf l and lo al
policeman o hom a propo al o commi ch a heino crime can be made i ho hi aking
corre ponding ac ion in he p blic in ere , j a i i for me diffic l o imagine ho Ong or an
man co ld ha e had he co rage and a daci o e en merel gge ch an idea o a member of he
police, here being no hing in he e idence ho ing ha ch a clo e and in ima e rela ion e i ed
be een hem o permi ha a ma er o ric l per onal and confiden ial in na re be di c ed b
hem j like ha . The hing become more ab rd and l dicro hen i i con idered ha
Pa rolman Roq e added ha he had or of repor ed Ong propo al earlier o hi perior Cap ain
D e a and Lie enan Manaba and la er o he Chief of Police him elf, Cele ino Ro ca. One ha o
be comple el nai e o belie e ha he e high officer of he Caloocan Ci Police j la ghed off he
repor of Pa rolman Roq e merel beca e allegedl Ong did no re eal o him he name of he
in ended ic im, e en if i a alread apparen o Roq e ha Ong a reall erio and per i en
in hi propo al. The Co r ha con i en l ref ed o gi e an credi o e imonie ha on heir
face do no accord i h he ordinar e perience of man and he al co r e of official cond c , and
rel , in m opinion, We m rejec hi one for being ob io l a p re canard. Indeed, if onl o
ha he police in hi co n r are made a are of he nece i for all of hem o al a ac
con i en l i h he demand of p blic in ere on occa ion imilar o he pre en one, herein a
policeman ei her impo e pon he good fai h of he co r b elling i a cock-and-b ll or or reac
o an in i a ion for him o ake par in he commi ion of a capi al offen e a if i ere no hing more
ca al han a per onal and pri a e ma er o him, I feel ha he record of he e imon in q e ion
ho ld be bro gh o he a en ion of he Na ional Police Commi ion.
B e en if here ere a a of con idering he aid e imon a r e, ill, he fac o ld be ha
ha e er
230

People s. Ong
propo i ion i a ha Ong made o Pa rolman Roq e, no here in he record ha i been

demon ra ed ha Ong e er carried o he ame ei her alone or oge her i h hi co-acc ed in hi
ca e, m ch le i h he a i ance of Roq e hich admi edl a ne er gi en. There i nei her
e imon of an i ne nor a emen of an of he acc ed indica ing an link be een Tan
alleged ac of making Ch a cop a ran om no e and ign i and Ong. If ch a link co ld be a ma er
of inference or ome hing co ered b he r le ha he ac of an of he con pira or con i i e of an
/
inc lpa or elemen or circ m ance of he offen e i he ac of all, he con pirac being pro en, hi
legal conjec re o ld be pa en l belied b he ndi p ed proof o he effec ha , a fo nd b Hi
Honor, af er Ch a had prepared and igned he ppo ed ran om no e, and e en a he a pleading
H ag nin o akong pa a in, ha? and Fernando Tan a a ring him Paba aan mo, maka i
ka , hi (Ch a ) hand ere ied again and he gag o er hi mo h ied again. He a made o lie on
he gro nd face p. Benjamin Ong hen handed he ice-pick o Fernando Tan and aid Pa a in na
i an , and i ho f r her lo of ime, i a o done. In o her ord , e en a ming a ha
Ong had e er made a propo i ion o Pa rolman Roq e o join him in a kidnapping for ran om, he fac
i ha ha idea ne er pa ed he age of a mere propo al, hence i no p ni hable nder Ar icle 8 of
he Re i ed Penal Code, and ha ac all a commi ed b Ong and hi companion a no more
han m rder, he ran om idea, if i a e er ho gh of, ha ing been abandoned comple el a lea
in ofar a Ong a concerned. The pro ec ion did no pre en an e idence, pre mabl beca e
here a none, ha an bod , no o peak of he member of he Ch a famil , one of hom, S Giap,
a bro her of he decea ed, e ified a he rial, e er recei ed a demand for ran om from an of he
acc ed.
The follo ing, herefore, r le o he po ibili ha here a an elemen of ran om in he
aking of Ch a o he place of hi killing: (1) The e idence of he pro ec ion ha ch an idea a in
he mind of Ong da before April 24, 1971 i erl incredible, being nna ral and con rar o
h man e perience and official compor men of he mo imple minded policeman; (2) he non-
prod c ion of he alleged ran om no e ha no been e plained a all; (3) indi p abl , no demand a
231
VOL. 62, JANUARY 30, 1975 231

People s. Ong
e er made pon an one for he pa men of an ran om; and (4) he rial co r fo nd, and hi finding
i firml borne b he e idence pre en ed b bo h par ie a he hearing, ha Ong e iden l paid no
heed o he ppo ed prepara ion or cop ing and igning of he alleged ran om no e, a on he po he
re ol el , impa ien l and c r l direc ed hi co-acc ed, Pa a in na i an , i ho regard o he
alleged ran om no e, hich, o be re, doe no appear o ha e been alked abo hen b he
acc ed a all.
In ie of he foregoing, I am o all con inced ha he offen e commi ed b he acc ed in he
in an ca e canno be more han m rder; cer ainl , i a no kidnapping for ran om i h m rder.
Th , he onl q e ion ha remain o be de ermined i , ere here an circ m ance a ending
he commi ion of he offen e or rela ed here o ha co ld legall be con idered a mi iga ing or
aggra a ing he ame for p rpo e of impo ing he appropria e penal ?
According o he informa ion, he m rder in q e ion a q alified b reacher and ha i a
a ended b he follo ing generic aggra a ing circ m ance : (1) e iden premedi a ion; (2) gra e
ab e of confidence; (3) nigh ime; (4) e of mo or ehicle; (5) e of perior reng h and (6)
cr el . B a earlier a ed, a he arraignmen , appellan Ong offered in effec o plead g il o
m rder, in ead of o kidnapping for ran om i h m rder, and challenged he proprie of he
aggra a ing circ m ance h alleged. In con ic ing he appellan of kidnapping for ran om i h
m rder, he rial co r apprecia ed again hem he aggra a ing circ m ance of
nigh ime, a or ninhabi ed place, ab e of confidence, e of mo or ehicle and cr el .
Addi ionall , in Hi Honor o n ord , i a hi finding ha he killing of he ic im a q alified
b e iden premedi a ion . . . . . . . The killing of Henr Ch a a , herefore, al o q alified b he
circ m ance of reacher or ale o ia , hence, nei her of he e o circ m ance a con idered a
generic aggra a ing. And i h re pec o he bmi ion of appellan Ong ha appl ing he doc rine
in Y rriaga, pra, he ho ld be credi ed i h he mi iga ing circ m ance of plea of g il , he
learned rial j dge di po ed of he con en ion a follo :
In a manife a ion filed befo e en e ing ial, he acc ed Benjamin Ong ei e a ed he fac ha he en e ed a
plea of no g il
/
232

People s. Ong
o he info ma ion a ead o him, b in oked he doc ine in he ca e of People . Y iaga. 86 Phil. 534, 539.
ha he p o ec ion ma no n llif he mi iga ing ci c m ance of a plea of g il and dep i e he acc ed of
he benefi of ch a plea, b co n e -ac ing i i h nfo nded allega ion of agg a a ing ci c m ance in he
info ma ion.
Thi Co , ho e e , belie e ha he Y iaga doc ine canno be in oked in hi ca e in ie of he
concl ion eached ha he c ime commi ed a he comple offen e of kidnapping i h m de fo hich he
la p e c ibe he indi i ible penal of dea h. F he mo e, ha ing eached he concl ion ha fi e
agg a a ing ci c m ance a ended he commi ion of he c ime, e en if he plea of g il o imple m de
e e o be c edi ed in fa o of he acc ed Benjamin Ong, he ame ill no ffice o off e en i el he impac of
he agg a a ing ci c m ance hich impel hi Co o impo e he ma im m penal p e c ibed b he la
e en if he c ime commi ed e e onl m de . (Appellan b ief [Ong] p. XXXIII.)
I i m con idered ie ha he rial co r erred in he apprecia ion of he differen circ m ance

a ending he killing of he decea ed, e cep a o he aggra a ing circ m ance of e of mo or
ehicle, hich appear o ha e been properl aken in o acco n . I do no ee fficien ba i , he her
in fac or in la , for Hi Honor apprecia ion of he circ m ance of a and a ,
j a I conc r in he main opinion in rejec ing al o ab e of perior reng h and cr el , for he
rea on herein gi en o hich I find i nnece ar o add an . I al o conc r in ha in ead of ing
bo h ale o ia and e iden premedi a ion a q alif ing circ m ance , one of hem, e iden
premedi a ion ho ld be con idered a a generic aggra a ing circ m ance. In o her ord , m
concl ion a hi poin i ha onl o aggra a ing circ m ance ma be apprecia ed again
appellan , namel , e iden premedi a ion and e of mo or ehicle. I hold f r her
ha a and a ma no be o con idered, and I bmi he follo ing con idera ion
in hi regard:
Anen he aggra a ing circ m ance of a ,in Uni ed S a e . Salgado, 71 Phil. 56, he
S preme Co r of he Philippine q o ed appro ingl he defini ion of an ninhabi ed place
con empla ed in Ar icle 14 (6) of he Re i ed Penal Code gi en b he S preme Co r of Spain in i
deci ion of Jan ar 9, 1884 o he effec ha i i one here here are no ho e a all, a
con iderable di ance from o n, or here he ho e are ca ered a grea di ance from each o her.
(a
233
VOL. 62, JANUARY 30, 1975 233

People s. Ong
p. 58) S ch ha in order ha a ma be aggra a ing, i i nece ar ha he proof ho

affirma i el ha he crime a commi ed in an ninhabi ed place. (Aq ino, Re i ed Penal Code,
Vol. I, p. 306) Th , in a parricide ca e here he di ance of he ho e o he cene of he crime a
no ho n, hi Co r held ha a co ld no be apprecia ed a aggra a ing. (Uni ed S a e
. A ao, 4 Phil. 114) Thi i ho J ice Mapa p i:
The p o ec ion a ha he m de a pe pe a ed in an ninhabi ed place, and i h he conc ence of hi
agg a a ing ci c m ance, a k ha he penal of dea h be impo ed pon he appellan . We do no ag ee i h
hi ie , al ho gh he complain e abli he ha he place called Denden, he e he c ime a commi ed, i
ninhabi ed; he e idence in he ca e doe no p o e fficien l ha i a eall o. The onl i ne ho a
in e oga ed abo hi ma e a Fa ina Bobile , ho e ified ha a he place in e ion he e a e
ho e , al ho gh he a e a a di ance f om he i e he e he decea ed a o nded. Thi di ance no being
clea l pecified, he e i no a good ba i f om hich o de e mine acc a el he he he i e a inhabi ed o
no , and he defendan ho ld be gi en he benefi of he do b .
/
In he ca e a bar, he cene of he crime, according o he pro ec ion, i an abandoned bdi i ion.
To ar i h, ha e pre ion b i elf alread nega e he idea of a place here here are no ho e
a all, a con iderable di ance from o n. A bdi i ion i de igned a a place for habi a ion and o
refer o i a abandoned i of en an e aggera ion, nle he e ac impor of he ord i e plained. I
i r e, in e if ing abo he reenac men one of he NBI in e iga or , Enriq e Lacanilao,
men ioned ha here ere no ho e here. B ch a ca al a emen doe no con ince me of i
acc rac and po i i ene , o arran he finding ha he aggra a ing circ m ance in q e ion ma
be held o legall e i . E en he fac ha Ong did men ion in hi confe ion ha he con idered he
place ideal beca e i a abandoned and ninhabi ed i no o m mind indica i e eno gh ha
aid appellan e of he erm ninhabi ed i preci el ha he la conno e . Be ide , if preci ion
of lang age i o be aken in o acco n , Ong did no refer o he place a ideal for killing Ch a, b ,
o q o e him e ac l , o b r him. (E h. N.) The pic re aken d ring he reenac men hich, in
he ord of Hi Honor, ho ree , l h ege a ion and hick cogon gra e hide he
234

People s. Ong
place , canno be concl i e, aken a he ha e been abo fi e mon h af er he happening a i e.

In an e en , con idering ha he apprecia ion or non-apprecia ion of hi aggra a ing circ m ance,
hich no abl a no alleged in he informa ion, co ld pell he difference be een he impo i ion of
ei her a or dea h pon he acc ed herein, I o ld ra her gi e appellan he benefi
of m do b b making he finding ha o ld no make he con eq ence of an mi ake of mine in
connec ion here i h irre rie able.
Similarl , I am no fficien l per aded ha he rial co r properl apprecia ed he aggra a ing
circ m ance of a . Earlier, I ha e p nc ali ed he circ m ance clearl e abli hed in he
record ha i a he ic im, Henr Ch a, ho pecified he place and he ime of Ong mee ing i h
him a Amihan on ha fa ef l nigh of April 23, 1971. Thi poin i o m mind impor an beca e
noc rni i no nece aril an aggra a ing circ m ance, and he ame ho ld be aken in o
con idera ion according o he circ m ance rro nding he commi ion of he crime. Where i i
no e iden ha he defendan had p rpo el o gh he nigh ime o perpe ra e he crime,
noc rni canno be con idered a an aggra a ing circ m ance. While i i r e ha he defendan
in he ca e nder con idera ion killed he decea ed abo eigh o clock a nigh , i i no ho n ha
he p rpo el o gh hi ho r for hi p rpo e. (Uni ed S a e . Balag a , 19 Phil. 164, 173.) M
impre ion from all he circ m ance di clo ed b he e idence rro nding he commi ion of he
offen e in he in an ca e i ha i o ld no ha e ma ered o he decea ed he her he killing a
o ake place a nigh or in he da ime. E en if he place hich he acc ed had cho en o be ideal
for heir p rpo e, ma no , a I ha e demon ra ed, be con idered in he criminal la a
ninhabi ed for p rpo e of i being an aggra a ing circ m ance and hence ma no be deemed o
ha e afforded hem he en e of imp ni con empla ed in he la , a regard nigh ime, here i no
indica ion a all ha he ac all delibera ed on he nece i or con enience of ai ing for he co er
of he nigh darkne in carr ing o heir plan.
I am no na are ha Balag a a decided nder he aegi of he Old Penal Code hich pro ided
in Ar icle 10 (15) ha noc rni , band or a hall be aken in o con idera ion b he co r
according o he na re and
235
VOL. 62, JANUARY 30, 1975 235

People s. Ong
/
inciden of he crime and ha , on he o her hand, Ar icle 14 (6) of he Re i ed Penal Code ha
elimina ed ha q alifica ion and in ead con ider i a aggra a ing ha he crime be commi ed in
he nigh ime, or in an ninhabi ed place or b a band, hene er ch circ m ance ma facili a e
he commi ion of he offen e. In fac , here are deci ion of hi Co r j if ing he apprecia ion
of a a aggra a ing e en hen, i ho p rpo el eeking he nigh darkne o commi
he crime, he offender had aken ad an age of i in order o facili a e he commi ion of he crime or
for he p rpo e of imp ni . (Ca e ci ed in Aq ino, op. ci . a pp. 301-304; Padilla, Criminal La ,
Vol. I, 1974 ed. pp. 377-383.) B in People . Ma bagon, 60 Phil. 887, J ice Vicker poke for he
majori of he Co r h :
The ne e ion i he he o no noc ni ho ld be aken in o acco n a an agg a a ing ci c m ance in
hi ca e.
No. 15 of a icle 10 of he Penal Code p o ided ha i a an agg a a ing ci c m ance ha he c ime be
commi ed in he nigh ime, o in an ninhabi ed place, o b a band of mo e han h ee a med men (e
c ad illa); ha hi ci c m ance ho ld be aken in o con ide a ion b he co acco ding o he na e and
inciden of he c ime.
No. 6 of a icle 14 of he Re i ed Penal Code p o ide ha i i an agg a a ing ci c m ance ha he c ime
be commi ed in he nigh ime, o in an ninhabi ed place, o b a band, hene e ch ci c m ance ma
facili a e he commi ion of he offen e; ha hene e mo e han h ee a med malefac o hall ha e ac ed
oge he in he commi ion of an offen e i hall be deemed o ha e been commi ed b a band.
The e appea o be no ma e ial diffe ence be een he p o i ion of he Re i ed Penal Code and ha of he
Penal Code. In con ing he p o i ion of he Penal Code ela ing o noc ni o ld be con ide ed a an
agg a a ing ci c m ance onl hen i appea ed ha i a e peciall o gh b he offende o ha he had
aken ad an age he eof in o de o facili a e he commi ion of he c ime o fo he p po e of imp ni .
I a aid in he ca e of People . T ma a and Baliga a (49 Phil., 192), ha noc ni ho ld no be
e ima ed a an agg a a ing ci c m ance, ince he ime fo he commi ion of he c ime a no delibe a el
cho en b he acc ed; ha if i appea f om he eco d ha he acc ed ook ad an age of he da kne fo he
mo e cce f l con mma ion of hi plan , o p e en hi being ecogni ed, and ha he c ime migh be
pe pe a ed nmole ed, he agg a a ing ci c m ance of noc ni ho ld be applied (U.S. . Billedo, 32
236

People s. Ong
Phil., 574, 579).

In he p e en ca e none of he fo egoing ea on e i fo app ecia ing noc ni a an agg a a ing
ci c m ance. The a ack made b he defendan pon he decea ed a b a e el o he figh a he cockpi ,
hich had aken place half an ho befo e. If he defendan had killed he decea ed in he figh a he cockpi ,
p obabl no one o ld con end ha noc ni ho ld be app ecia ed a an agg a a ing ci c m ance in ha
ca e. I o ld be p el acciden al, and o i a in he p e en ca e.
The S p eme Co of Spain in i deci ion of Ma 23, 1885 held ha e en in he ca e of obbe ih
homicide he fac ha he c ime a commi ed a nigh i no o be app ecia ed a an agg a a ing ci c m ance
hen i ma be infe ed ha he da kne a no in en ionall o gh o aken ad an age of, b in e ened
ca all : Con ide ando e ampoco e de e ima en pe j icio de lo mencionado eo Oli a R i B inga la
ci c n ancia de habe e ejec ado el deli o de noche, e e la 15 del ci ado a ic lo 10, po e no e efec o
alg no legal en en ido de ag a a la pena imponible i lo c lpable no la han elegido pa a eali a nejo
malo p opo i o , o como medio de con eg i la imp nidad, lo c al no con a e hicie an a ello al ma a
oba al Lope , oda e e hallando e lo e con f ec encia en na habi acion independien e de la dem e
oc paban o o ecino , no pa ece e le f e a nece a ia na ho a p eci a pa a pe pe aci n, ded ci ndo e
in g an e f e o e, i el deli o e come i de noche, f in e b cada e p ofe o, in e iniendo e a
ci c n ancia ca almen e .
In i deci ion of Jan a 25. 1888, ela ing o a m l o aff a a nigh , he ame co held ha he fac
ha he offen e a commi ed a nigh ho ld no be ega ded a an agg a a ing ci c m ance, beca e i a
no cho en o o gh fo b he acc ed, b a p el acciden al.
On he o he hand, in i deci ion of Ap il 14, 1888, he S p eme Co of Spain held ha he agg a a ing
ci c m ance of noc ni ho ld be app ecia ed hen he acc ed cho e he nigh ime o ook ad an age of i
o commi he c ime mo e ea il o o ec e hi imp ni .
/
Viada commen on hi e ion i a follo : En a ello deli o , c a na ale a no empece a la
ap eciaci n de la ci c n ancia de la noche, hab e di ing i : c ando apa e ca e el a o del
hecho b c la noche, o po lo meno e a ech de ella pa a facili a la ejec ci n del deli o, o log a , a e
po ible, imp nidad, debe ap ecia e e a ci c n ancia de ag a aci n; c ando apa e ca lo con a io, e o e ,
e la noche no ha ido ag a dada ni ap o echada con in enci n po el delinc en e pa a ejec a en ella el deli o,
en e e ca o no debe a oma e en con ide aci n la ci c n ancia de
237
VOL. 62, JANUARY 30, 1975 237

People s. Ong
noc nidad, ef p amen e accide al, pa a ag a a la e pon abilidad de c lpable. (2 Viada, 262, 5 h ed.)
1
J ice H ll, i h hom J ice Villareal and B e conc rred, ro e a di en in hich he arg ed
ha The e fi ed b he a e i an objec i e one , and ha a bjec i e e ( a ) fi ed b he
majori opinion. To m kno ledge, hi di pari of ie a o he her he e ho ld reall be
objec i e or bjec i e ha no been defini el re ol ed in an b eq en deci ion of hi Co r . I
i h hi ca e ere con idered b he Co r a he appropria e one o la do n he la on he ma er
i h more clari , b ince i eem ha no all m colleag e are di po ed o go along ch
direc ion, I o ld e pre m o n con idered ie ha a eemingl concei ed b he Old Penal
Code, he e ho ld be bjec i e.
A J ice Vicker el cida ed in Ma bagon, o ake ad an age of a fac or circ m ance in
commi ing a crime clearl implie an in en ion o do o, and one doe no a ail one elf of he
darkne nle one in ended o do o. In he q o a ion from Viada in ha ame ca e, i i impor an
o no e ha he make i plain ha in a ca e here la noche no ha ido g ardada ni apro echada
por el delinc en e para ejec ar en ella el deli o, en e e ca o no debera omar e en
con ideracion la circ n ancia de noc rnidad. (I alic mine)
In he Co r per c riam deci ion in People . Bo le , G. R. No. L-15308, Ma 29, 1964, 11 SCRA
88, hi i ha i aid:
The lo e co app ecia ed noc ni again he appellan olel on he ba i of he fac on eco d ha he
c ime a commi ed a abo 5:00 o clock in he mo ning. Thi pa ic la finding can and co ec ion. B and of
i elf, nigh ime i no an agg a a ing ci c m ance. I become o onl hen i i e peciall o gh b he
offende and aken ad an age of b him o facili a e he commi ion of he c ime o in e hi imm ni f om
cap e (People . Alcala, 46 Phil. 739; People . Ma bagon, 60 Phil. 887; People . Pa do. 79 Phil. 658). S a ed
diffe en l , in defa l of an ho ing o e idence ha he pec lia ad an age of nigh ime a p po el and
delibe a el o gh b he acc ed, he fac ha he offen e a commi ed a nigh ill no ffice o
ain c idad. I m conc i h he
________________
1J ice Ma c a d G dda d a di e ed b a diffe e g d. Whi e he a i he d ha he c i e c i ed a h icide,
he e di e e i ed i a de a ified b eache .
23

People s. Ong
in en o de ign of he offende o capi ali e on he in in ic imp ni affo ded b he da kne of nigh .

In he ca e p e en l on appeal, We no e ha o he han he ime of he c ime, no hing el e ha oe e
gge he agg a a ing ci c m ance of nigh ime. No one of he p o ec ion e idence, o al o doc men a ,
make he ligh e indica ion ha he p o ec ion of nigh da kne a delibe a el a ailed of b he
appellan . In ie of hi deficienc in he ca e fo he Go e nmen , We a e con ained o di allo he aid
ci c m ance e en a , echnicall , i ma ha e been accep ed b hem hen he pleaded g il on a aignmen .
/
I canno reall imagine ho an one can be criminall held re pon ible for aking ad an age of
nigh ime, hen here i no e idence ha he benefi or gain o be deri ed from i darkne a in
an a con idered, m ch le in ended or de igned b he acc ed, e peciall , hen, a in he ca e
a bar, he hr of he go ernmen proof i ha Ong a o ben on killing hi ic im and, o m
mind, o ld ha e cared le if he did i in he da ime. There ma be in ance here he
circ m ance ma indica e po i i el , e en in he ab ence of an ord coming from he acc ed,
ha nigh i being aken ad an age of, b I am no read o a ha i i o in hi ca e nder o r
con idera ion no .
Wi hal, follo ing a deci ion of he S preme Co r of Spain (of Febr ar 28, 1884), hi Co r held
in Uni ed S a e . Bag io, 14 Phil. 240, ha he apprecia ion of noc rni a an aggra a ing
circ m ance (lie ) in he di cre ion of he co r . I belie e ha he change I ha e referred o abo e in
he phra eolog of he per inen pro i ion of o r penal code ha no depri ed he S preme Co r of
ha di cre ion, par ic larl here he q e ion of he her he dea h penal ho ld be impo ed or
no hinge on he opinion of he Co r a o he pre ence or ab ence of ch aggra a ing
circ m ance. For m par , herefore, af er ma re reflec ion and delibera ion in he ligh of he
omeho n e led con r c ion of he pecific per inen penal pro i ion, I feel here i ample gro nd
o hold, a I do hold, ha he e an circ m ance of he killing here in q e ion do no arran he
concl ion ha nigh ime ho ld be apprecia ed a ha ing aggra a ed he crime commi ed b he
acc ed, for he imple rea on ha he record i bare of an indica ion ha he acc ed e er
con idered he ad an age of nigh ime in he commi ion of he offen e in q e ion. In hi
connec ion, i migh be rele an o recall ha in Bo le , pra, he acc ed had alread pleaded
23
VOL. 62, JANUARY 30, 1975 239

People s. Ong
g il o he informa ion hich charged a , and ill he Co r , af er hearing he e idence,

di carded he ame for an of e idence of in en or de ign in ha re pec .
Coming no o he con en ion of appellan Ong ha he ho ld be credi ed i h he mi iga ing
circ m ance of plea of g il , I agree i h he main opinion ha he con en ion i j ified b he
fac of record. To rei era e, hi appellan made i manife from he ar of he pre en proceeding
in he co r belo ha in d e ime he o ld in oke Y rriaga, pra, beca e he pro ec ion a
indic ing him for an offen e m ch gra er han ha he had commi ed and a f r hermore alleging
aggra a ing circ m ance n arran ed b he fac he had confe ed o or co ld be pro en. A i ha
rned o , appellan ini ial po i ion a o he offen e he ha commi ed and he circ m ance
a ending he ame i in he main he correc one. More han ha , if more effor had onl been
e er ed b he fi cal o be a acc ra e a po ible in de igna ing he offen e imp able o he herein
acc ed, he ab ence of he elemen of ran om o ld ha e been ob io o him. I i no fair o le el
again an one a charge of ha ing commi ed an offen e generall p ni hable i h dea h, hich in
i elf ho ld ca e ncalc lable men al or re, hen i h a li le more delibera ion and d , i
ho ld be apparen ha a ligh er offen e can fficien l indica e he p blic in ere in ol ed. I do
no mean o rge pro ec ing officer o be nnece aril liberal. Wha I i h o di co rage i
o er ealo ne ha can ha e nj and oppre i e con eq ence . The o ch one of a democra ic
criminal pro ec ion i no hing le han fairne in he charge, he rial and con ic ion.
Sec ion 4 of R le 118 allo he acc ed, i h he con en of he fi cal and he co r , o plead
g il of an le er offen e han ha charged hich i nece aril incl ded in he offen e charged in
he complain or informa ion. Under hi pro i ion, once he con en of he fi cal and he co r i
ec red, and pon he informa ion being corre pondingl amended, he acc ed ac all en er a plea
of g il , he i ill en i led o he benefi of he plea of g il a a mi iga ing circ m ance hen he
co r en ence him for ch le er offen e, e en if he offer, he amendmen and he plea are made
af er he pro ec ion ha ar ed i e idence, (People . Or i , 15 SCRA 352) albei i ma be
men ioned ha he rea oning p r ed in hi deci ion
240
/
People s. Ong
i ha af er he amendmen , he plea i o an en irel ne informa ion a o hich no e idence ha

e been pre en ed, h adhering ric l o he lang age of Ar icle 13 (7) of he Re i ed Penal Code
req iring ha he acc ed ho ld ha e ol n aril confe ed hi g il before he co r prior o he
pre en a ion of he e idence of he pro ec ion. Where no e idence ha e been pre en ed b he
pro ec ion, i i do b le ha he benefi of he plea of g il nder he abo e pro i ion in re o
he acc ed. (People . In al, 101 Phil. 306.) In People . Noble, 77 Phil. 93, here he acc ed
offered o plead g il o he le er offen e of homicide in ead of m rder i h hich he a charged
and he fi cal ref ed o agree, he Co r held, af er finding he acc ed g il of m rder, ha he
mere offer o plead g il o homicide a no a mi iga ing circ m ance.
In he ca e a bar, he Co r i confron ed i h a i a ion in hich he appellan offered o plead
g il o preci el he le er offen e hich he had confe ed o from he ar of he NBI in e iga ion
before hi arraignmen . Tha offer a rejec ed b he fi cal, ho, e m pre me, a alread in
po e ion of all he e idence hich he e en all pre en ed o he co r , and hich he co r ha
fo nd a no arran ing a all he gra er charge of kidnapping for ran om i h m rder. Under he e
circ m ance , I conc r in he main opinion ha he follo ing dic m in Y rriaga applie :
. I onl emain o con ide b iefl he he he defendan plea of g il in he fo m i a en e ed
con i e a ol n a confe ion of g il befo e he co a defined in he ame b ec ion of a icle 13. We
hink i doe .
Al ho gh he confe ion a alified and in od c ion of e idence became nece a , he alifica ion did
no den he defendan g il and, ha i mo e, a b e en l f ll j ified. I a no he defendan
fa l ha agg a a ing ci c m ance e e e oneo l alleged in he info ma ion and mi iga ing ci c m ance
omi ed he ef om. If ch alifica ion co ld dep i e he acc ed of he benefi of plea of g il , hen he
p o ec ion co ld n llif hi mi iga ing ci c m ance b co n e ac ing i i h nfo nded allega ion of
agg a a ing ci c m ance .
The rial co r ref ed o con ider he foregoing r ling, aking he pragma ic ie ha ina m ch a
i had fo nd he offen e commi ed o be one p ni hable i h he indi i ible penal of dea h, and,
e en if i ere m rder, here ere fi e
241
VOL. 62, JANUARY 30, 1975 241

People s. Ong
aggra a ing circ m ance pre en , i a incon eq en ial o di c he applicabili of Y rriaga a

in he end i o ld no affec he re l . For he rea on I ha e alread di c ed abo e, i i e iden
ha Hi Honor po i ion canno be ained.
The main opinion al o credi appellan Ong i h a mi iga ing circ m ance analogo o pa ion
and obf ca ion. Indeed, in pa ing j dgmen o er he criminal re pon ibili of hi appellan , i i
b j ha he Co r ho ld con ider he ca e or rea on ha m ha e impelled him o ha e
Ch a life aken. Af er all, he i no a king o be ab ol ed. He ha freel confe ed hi g il ; he i
onl eeking nder anding of hi mo i e , hopef ll o ec re hereb ha e er ligh ening effec he
ame ma ha e on he penal he o ld ha e o ndergo in a onemen for hi ac . I am cer ain he
doe no e pec he Co r o e emp him from criminal liabili . In o her ord , he refer o he
rea on for hi crime no o j if i , b onl o ho ab ence of real depra i or an inheren
criminal na re. If he did premedi a e and premedi a ing did per i in going ahead i h hi deci ion
o kill hi friend, he rge a acciden al, no inborn. The freq en and per i en demand for
pa men of hi gambling deb perhap ho ld ha e been e pec ed, b he manner in hich he e
ere made i ome hing el e. A alread no ed earlier, ch impor ning bo hered he bo of Ong,
/
he anno ed and candali ed Ong co- orker in he office, o hom he lo face being he
a i an manager; o m ch o ha he had o gi e p hi job. Then here ere he eiled hrea
con e ed o Ong b Ko King Pin ha Ch a a no a man o be pro oked o anger, hich Ong co ld
no ignore, ha i h Ch a o n ord , If o rea re o r life, o be er pa fir , and ha he
o ld rn o er Ong bo ncing check o o her people ho ill no be co r eo an more. No e er
man i gi en he eq animi and calmne needed o i h and all he e i ho breaking do n
in ardl and feeling oppre i el aggrie ed. Under he e circ m ance , i o ld no be an
e aggera ion o a ha he rge in he feeling of appellan o kill hi ormen or a le han p rel
ol n ar , hich dimin ion2
i he ba i of he mi iga ing circ m ance con empla ed in Ar icle 13(5)
of he Re i ed Penal Code. (Re e , Criminal La , Vol. I, p. 250.)
_______________
2 That the act was committed in the immediate vindication of a grave offense to the one committing the felon (delito), his
spouse,
242

People s. Ong
Indeed, ra her han con ider he mo i e behind Ong offen e o be analogo o pa ion or
obf ca ion a he main opinion doe , I am more inclined o hold ha he re ol ion o do a a ih
he life of Ch a rged from he re en men of Ong o er he impor ning and hrea of Ch a and
hi companion , and ina m ch a e iden premedi a ion i being apprecia ed again him, in he
fa hion of People . G man e al. L-7530, A g. 30, 1958, he co ld be gi en, b analog , he benefi
of hi mi iga ing circ m ance. An a , i can be con idered al erna i el i h pa ion or
obf ca ion, i h hich i canno co-e i . (People . Doniego, 9 SCRA 541.)
There i no defini e cri erion of ha i a gra e offen e for he p rpo e of Ar icle 13(5) of he
Re i ed Penal Code. Each ca e ho ld be decided according o he pec liar milie pro en o ha e
been he e ing of he offen e. In People . Ro el, 66 Phil. 323, he Co r held ha he remark of he
inj red par before he g e ha he acc ed a li ing a he e pen e of hi ife a ch an
offen e nder hi ar icle. Where he inj red par had in l ed he fa her of he acc ed b
con emp o l elling him: Ph e, ich ra mong lalake (P ha , o are b a hrimp), he acc ed
a held o ha e ac ed in indica ion of a gra e offen e again hi fa her. And i ma er no ha he
killing of Ch a a no immedia el af er Ong a h milia ed, hrea ened and oppre ed, i being
clear o me ha he infl ence of ch impor ning la ed n il he commi ion of he offen e. (People
. Parana, 64 Phil. 331.)
I reali e ha he circ m ance I ha e poin ed o canno j if he killing of Ch a. B a I ha e
alread a ed earlier, hi di c ion i no in ended o e onera e him. I ha e j looked, a i ere,
in o he rel per rbed mind of appellan in he nigh in q e ion, o de ermine he degree of
per er i and criminal endencie herein, and I am con inced ha he a mo i a ed b he
circ m ance I ha e el cida ed on ra her han b p re criminali . A hi poin , I am no e en
aking in o acco n , beca e of proced ral and echnical impedimen , ha appellan Ong ha filed a
mo ion for ne rial rongl indica ing ha a he rial he ehemen l ref ed o di lge for rea on
er per onal o him, namel , ha he decea ed had made amoro ad ance o hi ife and
a emp ed o rape her on April 15, 1971, hich Ch a a ked in
________________
ascendants, descendants, legitimate, natural, or adopted brothers or sisters, or relatives b affinit within the same
degrees.
243
/
VOL. 62, JANUARY 30, 1975 243
People s. Ong
e change for her h band gambling deb . No do b , if he ife had e ified o ch fac a he
rial, appellan o ld be en i led o a f ll credi of he mi iga ing circ m ance nder di c ion.
There i an addi ional circ m ance hich o me i impor an in mea ring criminal re pon ibili
of he appellan in hi ca e. I refer o he pec liari ha ere i no for he di clo re made b
hem in heir confe ion and d ring he reenac men , he pro ec ion o ld ha e had no ba i
ha oe er for i a emp , hich he Co r ha fr ra ed b hi deci ion, o make hem an er for
he gra er offen e of kidnapping for ran om i h m rder accompanied b he ring of aggra a ing
circ m ance li ed in he informa ion. One canno ea il commi era e i h killer , b
con idera ion of h man digni and fairne demand ha he are no made o ndergo an
p ni hmen more han he fac , he la and j ice arran . And he la i inclined o be more
liberal o ho e ho af er commi ing an offen e e ince b heir cond c ome ign of remor e and
re igna ion o accep he penal ie ha he de er e, b admi ing heir g il . B in he pre en
ca e, appellan Ong ha gone f r her. He did no onl confe he and hi co-acc ed killed he ic im,
he freel old hi in e iga or e ac l ha happened o i la de ail , hereb making him elf
bjec o he charge of aggra a ing circ m ance , no o her e idence of he go ernmen co ld ha e
ppor ed, con idering ho and here he offen e a commi ed and he diffic l of ec ring
i ne e for he S a e o e if hereon. A I ha e aid earlier, i ho he help of he appellan ,
hi o ld ha e been no more han a ea e of m rder. In ie of hi con idera ion, I belie e i o ld
onl be con onan i h e i ing r le in he apprecia ion of mi iga ing circ m ance ha appellan
Ong be credi ed i h an addi ional mi iga ing circ m ance analogo o he plea of g il .
A regard he ca e of appellan Q in o , I am r ck b he e idence ha a he la momen he
ref ed o do ha he a a igned o do ab he ic im. In o her ord , he did no carr o oi
l ima e concl ion he criminal de ign he had in common i h hi co-acc ed. Indeed, in m re ie
of he record I ha e no di cerned an clear e idence of he pecific par icipa ion of hi appellan in
he commi ion of he offen e in q e ion. In he brief of he Solici or General, he onl
244

People s. Ong
imp a ion o Q in o i ha he held he fla hligh hile Tan a making Ch a prepare a ran om
no e and ha Q in o held he leg of he ic im hen hi dead bod a d mped in o he pre io l
cho en hole for hi b rial. And here i a hin in he record o he effec ha Q in o had hi fee on
op of Ch a hen he la er a being aken o he place of killing. A o he alleged prepara ion of a
ran om no e, I ha e alread demon ra ed, i ha no been pro en be ond rea onable do b . Thi i
al o he holding in he main opinion. A o he o her ac a rib ed o him, I am no a i fied of heir
concl i ene . And ha ing in mind he ndi p ed de i ance of hi appellan , I o ld a ha hi
re pon ibili a principal doe no a i f m con cience. I hold him g il onl a accomplice
beca e hi ac of accompan ing he o her acc ed a an ac of coopera ion hor of direc
par icipa ion.
Accordingl , m o e i o find appellan Benjamin Ong g il a principal of he crime of m rder,
i h he aggra a ing circ m ance of e of mo or ehicle and e iden premedi a ion al ho gh he e
are off e b he mi iga ing circ m ance of plea of g il , pa ion or obf ca ion al erna i el ih
indica ion of a gra e offen e and he di clo re of all he de ail of he offen e ha enabled he
pro ec ion o allege aggra a ing circ m ance hich o her i e co ld no ha e been kno n, hich
in m opinion i analogo o he plea of g il b epara e and di inc herefrom. In con eq ence,
aid appellan ho ld ffer an inde ermina e en ence of from 12 ear of pri i n ma or a
minim m o 20 ear of recl ion emporal a ma im m, i h he acce or penal ie of he la .
/
Like i e, I find he appellan Bien enido Q in o g il of m rder, b onl a an accomplice,
i h he aggra a ing circ m ance of e iden premedi a ion and e of mo or ehicle off e onl b
one mi iga ing circ m ance imilar o ha in he ca e of Ong hich i analogo o he plea of g il
ina m ch a Q in o al o re ealed de ail ha he go ernmen o ld no ha e kno n o her i e.
Accordingl , he ho ld be en enced o 6 ear of pri i n correccional a minim m o 17 ear and 4
mon h of recl i n emporal a ma im m, i h all he acce or penal ie of he la .
In all o her re pec , I conc r in he di po i i e por ion of he main opinion.
Before clo ing, I o ld like o e plain ha I had o prepare hi epara e opinion beca e I belie e
ha in order for me o
245
VOL. 62, JANUARY 31, 1975 245

People s. Medroso, Jr.
a e an per on acc ed of a capi al offen e from he dea h penal i m appear ha from a

comp a ion of he a ending aggra a ing and mi iga ing circ m ance , he dea h penal i no
impo able. In o her ord , I canno o e for le han he e reme penal of dea h hen he Co r
find ha here are aggra a ing circ m ance no fficien l off e b mi iga ing circ m ance .
D a a .
N e . Pa a a . Wi h re pec o o m nicipal policemen, charged i h do ble

m rder and fr ra ed m rder in connec ion i h he o nding and killing of ome of he member
of a gro p of o ng men ho had made indecen propo i ion o o omen, one of hom a he
ife of one of he defendan , and he o her he mi re of he o her, i a held ha he mi iga ing
circ m ance of ac ing nder pa ion and obf ca ion a a ailable o he former, b no he la er,
beca e hi o n rela ion i h he lad affron ed ere illegi ima e. (People . Olgado, L-4406,
March 31, 1952).
The mi iga ing circ m ance of o raged feeling or pa ion a pre en i h re pec o a killing
here he e idence for he pro ec ion ho ed ha acc ed had di co ered he decea ed on one
occa ion embracing and fondling hi ife and belie ed he had been g il of illici rela ion . (People
. Camo, L-4741, Ma 7, 1952).
The mi iga ing circ m ance of pa ion and obf ca ion co ld be con idered a pre en here he
a ack on decea ed, re l ing in hi dea h, ook place on he e ening of he ame da in hich
decea ed a emp ed o collec a deb from acc ed, in he co r e of hich a erio arg men ook
place and acc ed charged decea ed i h an ing o ee hi famil ar e. (People . A ila, L-4640,
Mar. 23, 1953).
o0o

People vs. Ong, 62 SCRA 174, January 30, 1975

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People vs. Ong, 62 SCRA 174, January 30, 1975

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174 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plain iff-appellee, .BENJAMIN ONG KHO, and

C imi al la ; Kid a i g; Ci c m a ce ega i g allega i f kid a i g f a m. The follo ing

VOL. 62, JANUARY 30, 1975 175

176 SUPREME COURT REPORTS

ha he a fa onge han Benjamin Ong in e m of infl ence and mone . He ho gh ha Benjamin

medi a ed and enacio l pe i ed in he accompli hmen of he c ime and e e no p omp ed me el b

a) Hen Ch a and hi companion en o he office of Benjamin Ong. In a lo d oice, i h ang ge e ,

178 SUPREME COURT REPORTS

h) He begged Hen Ch a o gi e him mo e ime o ai e he mone . Nagmamakaa a na ako a kan a.

Barredo, J.: Conc rring and Di en ing.

C imi al la ; Kid a i g; Ci c m a ce ega i g he c mmi i f kid a i g f a m. The

VOL. 62, JANUARY 30, 1975 179

180 SUPREME COURT REPORTS

Same; Mi iga i g ci c m a ce ; Plea f g il ; Plea f g il le e ffe e, al h gh ejec ed, ma be

VOL. 62, JANUARY 30, 1975 181

in e iga o e ac l ha happened o i la de ail , he eb making him elf bjec o he cha ge of

AUTOMATIC APPEAL from a deci ion of he Circ i Criminal Co r of Ri al. Villal , J.

The fac are a ed in he opinion of he Co r .

182 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

J RQ &L a V. B for appellan Bien enido Q in o .

VOL. 62, JANUARY 30, 1975 183

(a) E iden p emedi a ion;

A he ime of he rial before he lo er co r in Sep ember of 1971, he acc ed Benjamin Ong a

184 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

VOL. 62, JANUARY 30, 1975 185

Ibid, pp. 74-97.

186 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

a ed, ho e er, in hi necrop repor , E hibi M , ha he ca e of dea h of he decea ed a

TSN, Records, September 17, 1971, pp. 2-8.

VOL. 62, JANUARY 30, 1975 187

hem and af er pa ing b a la ndr hop, he en o Singalong here he picked p Benjamin

188 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

VOL. 62, JANUARY 30, 1975 189

addre ed o he Direc or of he NBI req e ing him ha he be allo ed o ee hi on. I a onl on

190 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

E hibi O a no a ol n ar a emen of hi and ha he a mal rea ed b more or le 5 men.

VOL. 62, JANUARY 30, 1975 191

Non-conflic ing fac , a ho n in he e imonie of he acc ed and i ne e in open co r , and

192 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

VOL. 62, JANUARY 30, 1975 193

194 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

In hi e imon22 before he lo er co r , Benjamin Ong ehemen l denied ha ing re ealed ch plan

VOL. 62, JANUARY 30, 1975 195

Q I ill recall in o r direc e imon . . . o aid ha af er ard if he co ld ge he mone he ill

196 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

Al o, in hi e raj dicial a emen , he aid:

ART. 267. Kidnapping and serious illegal detention.—A i a e i di id a h ha id a de ai a he , i a he a e

VOL. 62, JANUARY 30, 1975 197

Al o conflic ing i he ma er of Bien enido Q in o par icipa ion a he ime Henr Ch a a

198 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

The Co a o e ed in finding he acc ed g il of he c ime of kidnapping i hm de beca e

(a) The e a no e idence offe ed again he acc ed hich o ld p o e ha he c ime of kidnapping a

The co a o e ed in finding ha he killing of he decea ed a a ended b he gene ic agg a a ing

and he alif ing ci c m ance of

A ming ha he killing of Hen Ch a a a ended b he agg a a ing ci c m ance of ale o ia, he

The co a o e ed in impo ing he dea h penal pon he acc ed.

For hi par , he acc ed Bien enido Q in o arg e ha :

1. The lo er co r erred in gi ing f ll eigh and credi o he e raj dicial a emen of he