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G.R. No. L-4174 March 9, 1908
UNITED STATES vs. QUINTIN TABAL, ET AL. -->

EN BANC

G.R. No. L-4174 March 9, 1908

THE UNITED STATES,Plaintiff-Appellee, vs. QUINTIN TABAL, ET AL.,Defendants-Appellants.

Fernando de la Cantera for appellants.
Attorney-General Araneta for appellee.

ARELLANO, C.J. :chanrobles virtual law library

In this case the death penalty was imposed on the accused Luis Narvasa, Hilarion Ogat, Paulino Gacosta, and Bernabe Abapo.chanroblesvirtualawlibrary chanrobles virtual law library

As to these four defendants the case is before this court en consulta.chanroblesvirtualawlibrary chanrobles virtual law library

The following defendants appealed: Mateo Buljot, Regino Matinguha, Eduardo Naverte, Nicasio Limosnero, Julio Gacuba, Alvaro Labitad, Manuel Zafra, Ambrosio Zafra, Esteban Cabasi, Domingo Ibo, Mamerto Labitad, Sinforoso Tecson, Mauro Capin, Florentino Cogay, Agustin Cocido, Jorge Alera, Telesforo Claros, Maxima Cogay, Sinforosa Lumpag, Pedro Arcete, and Ramon Ogat.chanroblesvirtualawlibrary chanrobles virtual law library

The prosecution, in its brief filed before this court, requests:chanrobles virtual law library

1. As to Luis Narvasa, that the death penalty imposed upon him be affirmed.chanroblesvirtualawlibrary chanrobles virtual law library

2. That Hilarion Ogat be sentenced to imprisonment for life.chanroblesvirtualawlibrary chanrobles virtual law library

3. That Paulino Gacosta and Bernabe Abapo be sentenced to thirty years' imprisonment.chanroblesvirtualawlibrary chanrobles virtual law library

4. That Ramon Ogat, who was sentence to twenty years' imprisonment, be acquitted.chanroblesvirtualawlibrary chanrobles virtual law library

5. That as regards the rest of the appellants, who were to be imprisoned for twenty years, the judgment be affirmed.chanroblesvirtualawlibrary chanrobles virtual law library

The death penalty imposed upon Luis Narvasa is in conformity with the law and with the rule laid down by this court in the cases of United States vs. Aguasa and United States vs. Logario (4 Phil. Rep., 274 and 411). This penalty is proper, inasmuch as the defendant was the leading chieftain of the band of Quintin Tabal.chanroblesvirtualawlibrary chanrobles virtual law library

Such is not the case, however, with the other three defendants who are sentenced to suffer the same penalty, notwithstanding the fact that Hilarion Ogat, although not participating in the killing of the person murdered or cut to pieces by Narvasa, was one of those who witnessed the cruel and inhuman act.chanroblesvirtualawlibrary chanrobles virtual law library

With the exception of Ramon Ogat, against whom no charges appear in the record, the charges against the other defendants, who are sentenced to twenty years' imprisonment, are fully justified.chanroblesvirtualawlibrary chanrobles virtual law library

We, therefore, reverse the judgment now before us for review as to the death penalty imposed on Hilarion Ogat, Paulino Gacosta, and Bernabe Abapo; we sentence Ogat to imprisonment for life and Gacosta and Abapo each to thirty years' imprisonment. Ramon Ogat is acquitted, with the costs de oficio in both instances; and we hereby affirm the death penalty imposed on Luis Narvasa and the imprisonment for twenty years imposed on Mateo Buljot and other defendants mentioned in the judgment, with the exception of Ramon Ogat, and each of the said accused, as found guilty and condemned, must bear their respective shares of the costs of this instance. So ordered.chanroblesvirtualawlibrary chanrobles virtual law library

Torres, Mapa, Johnson, Carson, Willard, and Tracey, JJ., concur.