April 1903 - Philippine Supreme Court Decisions/Resolutions
Philippine Supreme Court Jurisprudence
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G.R. No. 1185 April 8, 1903 - UNITED STATES v. VENTURA BETIONG
002 Phil 126:
002 Phil 126:
EN BANC
[G.R. No. 1185. April 8, 1903. ]
HE UNITED STATED, Complainant-Appellee, v. VENTURA BETIONG, Defendant-Appellant.
W . H . Lawrence for Appellant.
Solicitor-General Araneta for Appellee.
SYLLABUS
1. CRIMINAL LAW; PLEA. — Where a defendant charged with aiding band of brigands in his own defense admits the fact and alleges that he did so through fear of his life his statement must be regarded as a plea of not guilty.
2. ID.; ID.; COMPLAINT; LOCUS. — The complaint must show jurisdiction by alleging the place where the crime was committed.
2. ID.; ID.; COMPLAINT; LOCUS. — The complaint must show jurisdiction by alleging the place where the crime was committed.
D E C I S I O N
LADD, J. :
The complaint charges the defendant with the offense of aiding and abetting a band of brigands by supplying them with food. (Act No. 518, sec. 4). Upon being arraigned in the Court of First Instance, the defendant, who had no counsel, having elected to defend himself, stated that the facts charged in the complaint were true, but that he supplied the brigands with food through fear that if he did not do so they would kill him. Without hearing any evidence, the court thereupon found the defendant guilty, and sentenced him to ten years’ imprisonment.
What the defendant stated when arraigned amounted to a denial of criminal responsibility, based on facts which, he conceived, constituted a lawful excuse for his conduct. It was virtually a plea of not guilty. (See United States v. Padilla, decided November 18, 1902.) It is quite apparent that the court regarded it as a plea of guilty, and for this error the cause must be sent back for a new trial.
The place where the alleged crime was committed is not stated in the complaint. This defect should be supplied by amendment.
The judgment of the court below will be reversed and the cause returned to that court for proceedings in conformity with this opinion. So ordered.
Arellano, C.J., Torres, Cooper, Willard and Mapa, JJ., concur.
McDonough, J., did not sit in this case.
What the defendant stated when arraigned amounted to a denial of criminal responsibility, based on facts which, he conceived, constituted a lawful excuse for his conduct. It was virtually a plea of not guilty. (See United States v. Padilla, decided November 18, 1902.) It is quite apparent that the court regarded it as a plea of guilty, and for this error the cause must be sent back for a new trial.
The place where the alleged crime was committed is not stated in the complaint. This defect should be supplied by amendment.
The judgment of the court below will be reversed and the cause returned to that court for proceedings in conformity with this opinion. So ordered.
Arellano, C.J., Torres, Cooper, Willard and Mapa, JJ., concur.
McDonough, J., did not sit in this case.
