79 People Vs Baloloy - Digested

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, vs.
JUANITO BALOLOY
FACTS: Juanito Baloloy was accused of a crime of rape with homicide by means of force and
intimidaton, did then and there, willfully, unlawfully and feloniously have carnal knowledge with one
Genelyn Camacho, a minor against the latters will and on said occasion and by reason of the rape, the
said Genelyn Camacho died as a result of personal violence inflicted upon her by the accused. Antonio
Camacho, a cousin of Jose (father of the victim), together with Edgar Sumalpong and Andres Dolero,
went to the waterfalls to trace the path up to where the victim was found. They found a black rope and
an umbrella. Barangay Captain Ceniza asked those who were at the wake whether anyone of them
owned the rope. Juanito answered that he owned it. Thereafter Ceniza talked to Juanito. Andres Dolero
corroborated the testimony of Antonio on the recovery of the black rope and umbrella at the waterfalls
where the victim’s body was found.
Juanito answered: I have to claim this as my rope because I can commit sin to God if I will not claim this
as mine because this is mine. Juanito told Ceniza that his intention was only to frighten the victim and
not to molest and kill her. When she ran away, he chased her and raped her.
Judge Dicon asked Juanito whether he was aware of what he had done to Genelyn. He responded that
he was demonized, and he spontaneously narrated that after he struck Genelyn’s head with a stone he
dropped her body into the precipice
The sole witness for the defense was Juanito, who invoked denial and alibi. JUANITO was then detained
and investigated at the police station. During his investigation by the police officers and by Judge Dicon,
he was never assisted by a lawyer. The trial court found JUANITO guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the
crime of rape with homicide. Hence, this review.
ISSUE: Whether or not the alleged confession of the accused to Ceniza and Judge Dicon are admissible
as evidence.
RULING: It has been held that the constitutional provision on custodial investigation does not apply to a
spontaneous statement, not elicited through questioning by the authorities but given in an ordinary
manner whereby the suspect orally admits having committed the crime. Neither can it apply to
admissions or confessions made by a suspect in the commission of a crime before he is placed under
investigation. What the Constitution bars is the compulsory disclosure of incriminating facts or
confessions. The rights under Section 12 of the Constitution are guaranteed to preclude the slightest use
of coercion by the state as would lead the accused to admit something false, not to prevent him from
freely and voluntarily telling the truth.
In the instant case, Junaito voluntarily narrated to Ceniza that he raped Genel and thereafter threw her
body into the ravine. This narration was a spontaneous answer, freely and voluntarily given in an
ordinary manner. It was given before he was arrested or placed under custody for investigation in
connection with the commission of the offense.
However, there is merit in Juanito’s claim that his constitutional rights during custodial investigation
were violated by Judge Dicon when the latter propounded to him incriminating questions without
informing him of his constitutional rights. It is settled that at the moment the accused voluntarily
surrenders to, or is arrested by, the police officers, the custodial investigation is deemed to have
started. So, he could not thenceforth be asked about his complicity in the offense without the assistance
of counsel.
Juanito’s extrajudicial confession before Judge Dicon was made without the advice and assistance of
counsel and hence inadmissible in evidence, it could however be treated as a verbal admission of the
accused, which could be established through the testimonies of the persons who heard it or who
conducted the investigation of the accused.
Even if JUANITOs confession or admission is disregarded, there is more than enough evidence to
support his conviction. Guilt may be established through circumstantial evidence provided that the
following requisites concur: (1) there is more than one circumstance; (2) the inferences are based
on proven facts; and (3) the combination of all circumstances produces a conviction beyond
reasonable doubt of the guilt of the accused. All these requisites are present in the case at bar.
The Court found the accused-appellant Juanito Baloloy guilty of the crime of rape with homicide.

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PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, vs.

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