Republic SUPREME Manila SECOND DIVISION G.R. No.

149652

of

the

Philippines COURT

March 24, 2006 BAX NELA, Petitioner-Appellant,

EDUARDO L. vs T!E PEOPLE O" T!E P! L PP NES, Respon!ent-Appellee DECISION A#CUNA, J.:

Petitioner SPO" E!uar!o # $a%inela assails his conviction for the cri&e of ho&ici!e b' the Re(ional )rial Court of *alibo, A+lan, -R)C. in Cri&inal Case No /011, as affir&e! 2ith &o!ification b' the Court of Appeals -CA. in CA-3 R CR No "44/0 On 5ebruar' ,6, ,661, an Infor&ation char(in( $a%inela 2ith the cri&e of ho&ici!e 2as file! as follo2s7" )hat on or about the ,6th !a' of October , ,668, earl' in the &ornin(, at Poblacion, Municipalit' of *alibo, Province of A+lan, Republic of the Philippines, an! 2ithin the 9uris!iction of this :onorable Court, the above-na&e! accuse!, 2hile ar&e! 2ith a han!(un, 2ithout 9ustifiable cause an! 2ith intent to +ill, !i! then an! there 2i;l<lfull', unla2full' an! feloniousl' attac+, assault an! shoot one R=PER)O 5 #A>O, thereb' inflictin( upon the latter &ortal 2oun!s, to 2it7 ?A E@)ERNA# 5INDIN3S7 A B8 c& entrance (unshot 2oun! pro%i&al thir! lateral aspect left ar& 2ith fracture of the left hu&erus A , c& e%it 2oun! pro%i&al thir! &e!ial aspect left ar& A , c& entrance (unshot 2oun! anterior a%illar' line Bth intercostals space left chest $ IN)ERNA# 5INDIN3S A One liter of floo! left thoracic cavit' A Perforate! left !iaphra(& A One C t2o liters of bloo! in the ab!o&inal cavit' A " point perforation sto&ach A Multiple perforation s&all, an! lar(e intestines an! &esenteries A -D. Retroperitonial he&ato&a

DIA3NOSIS7 3unshot 2oun! left of ar& 2ith fracture of the hu&erus, penetratin( the -#. thoracic cavit' perforatin( the !iaphra(&, ab!o&en, sto&ach an!, intestines an! retroperitoneu& 2ith slu(s lo!(in( the vertebral colu&;n< CA=SE O5 DEA):7 Car!iopul&onar' arrest Secon!ar' to severe blee!in( Secon!ar' to (unshot 2oun! ? as per Autops' Report issue! b' Dr Roel A Escanillas, Me!ical Officer III, Dr Rafael S )u&bo+on Me&orial :ospital, *alibo, A+lan, 2hich 2oun!s !irectl' cause! the !eath of R=PER)O 5 #A>O, as per Certificate of Death, hereto attache! as Anne%es ?A? an! ?$? an! for&in( part of this Infor&ation )hat as a result of the cri&inal acts of the accuse! the heirs of the !ecease! suffere! actual an! co&pensator' !a&a(es in the a&ount of 5I5)E ):O=SAND PESOS -PBF,FFF FF. CON)RARE )O #AG On April 4F, ,661, $a%inela 2as arrai(ne! an! plea!e! NO) 3=I#)E 4 Durin( pre-trial, $a%inela infor&e! the R)C that he 2oul! be clai&in( the 9ustif'in( circu&stance of self-!efense / In accor!ance 2ith the Rules of Cri&inal Proce!ure, the !efense 2as the first to present evi!ence B )he first 2itness for the !efense 2as $%&. 'o() R(*+,($ 8 :e testifie! that on October ,6, ,668, at about ,"74B a & , he an! $a%inela 2ere 2al+in( alon( )otin( Re'es Street in *alibo, A+lan 2hen the' 2ere approache! b' a civilian na&e! Ro&' Manuba 2ho infor&e! the& of a !run+en person !ra2in( a (un an! creatin( trouble insi!e the Pla'bo' Disco Pub locate! on the secon! floor of the *in(s&en buil!in( 1 )he' i&&e!iatel' procee!e! to the reporte! place an!, upon arrival, reco(niHe! a for&er collea(ue, SPO/ #e(ar!a, 2ho 2as 2ith a co&panion #e(ar!a invite! the& to his table an! the t2o obli(e! #ater, 2hile seate! at the table, the' sa2 so&eone 2ith a han!(un visibl' tuc+e! at the bac+ of his 2aist about / &eters a2a' Re(i&en then instructe! $a%inela to ta+e a closer loo+ at this person 2hile he &a+es a call to the *alibo police station but before Re(i&en coul! stan! up, the &an 2ith a (un starte! to 2al+ to2ar!s the !oor As he passe! b' their table, $a%inela stoo! up, intro!uce! hi&self as a police&an an! as+e! the &an 2h' he ha! a (un 2ith hi& )he &an !i! not respon! an!, instea!, su!!enl' !re2 out his (un $a%inela then !re2 his si!ear& an! 2as able to fire first, hittin( the &an on his upper left ar& Ghen the &an fell !o2n, $a%inela too+ his (un an! 2allet an! han!e! the& over to Re(i&en Re(i&en then state! that he enliste! the services of the pubIs securit' (uar! to brin( the 2oun!e! &an to the hospital 2hile he an! $a%inela procee!e! to the *alibo Police Station an! reporte! the &atter to SPO/ Salva!or A!vincula )he' also 2ent to Ca&p Pastor Martelino to report the &atter to the Officer-in-Char(e, Col $ianson )he secon! 2itness for the !efense 2as Ro,- Ma$./a,0 2ho testifie! that on October ,6, ,668, at aroun! ,"74F a & , he 2as on the secon! floor of the *in(s&en buil!in( !rin+in( liJuor Ghile insi!e, he sa2 a !run+en &an 2earin( a 2hite polo shirt accostin( several persons 2ith a (un

5earin( the &an 2ith the (un, he left the place to (o ho&e On his 2a' ho&e he sa2 Re(i&en an! $a%inela an! he reporte! to the& 2hat he ha! seen earlier )he thir! 2itness for the !efense 2as SPO4 N(&o,.c($o L(*ar0a 1R(2.3 6 :e testifie! that on October ,0, ,668, at about ,,7FF p & , he 2as insi!e the Superstar Disco Pub !rin+in( beer 2ith a co&panion na&e! )oto Dali!a At about ,"7/F a & , #e(ar!a sa2 Re(i&en an! $a%inela enter the pub an! he invite! the& over to his table #ater, as the' 2ere seatin( on the table, he notice! Re(i&en 2hisper so&ethin( to $a%inela an!, at the sa&e ti&e, pointin( to a &an 2ith a han!(un visibl' tuc+e! at the bac+ of his 2aist :e then observe! the ar&e! person hea!in( for the !oor $ut as he passe! b' their table $a%inela stoo! up, approache! the &an fro& behin! an! sai! ?Gh' !o 'ou have a (un I a& a police&an ? )he &an !i! not repl' an!, instea!, turne! aroun! an! !re2 his (un As the &an 2as turnin(, $a%inela also !re2 his (un an! 2as able to fire first, hittin( the &an on his left ar& After the &an fell on the floor, $a%inela (rabbe! the other &anIs firear& an! han!e! it over to Re(i&en Re(i&en then reJueste! one of the securit' (uar!s to transport the 2oun!e! &an to the hospital Re(i&en an! $a%inela then procee!e! to the *alibo Police Station 2hile #e(ar!a an! Dali!a 2ent ho&e Ba4+$()a too+ the 2itness stan! as the last 2itness for the !efense ,F :e testifie! that he an! Re(i&en 2ere 2al+in( alon( )otin( Re'es Street, loo+in( for a tric'cle to ta+e the& ho&e, 2hen the' 2ere &et b' Manuba Manuba reporte! to the& that there 2as an ar&e! person, !run+ insi!e the Superstar Disco Pub an! creatin( trouble )he' then procee!e! to the pub to verif' the report Once there, the' sa2 #e(ar!a occup'in( a table near the entrance 2ith a co&panion na&e! )oto Dali!a #e(ar!a invite! the& to sit at his table As the' 2ere sittin( !o2n, Re(i&en 2hispere! to hi& that there 2as a &an 2ith a (un tuc+e! at the bac+ of his 2aist an! tol! hi& to 2atch that person 2hile he tries to loo+ for a telephone to call the *alibo Police Station As Re(i&en 2as about to stan!, the ar&e! &an starte! to 2al+ to2ar!s the entrance Ghen he passe! their table, $a%inela stoo! up, intro!uce! hi&self as a police&an an! as+e! 2h' he ha! a (un )he &an !i! not respon! but turne! to face $a%inela, !ra2in( his (un $a%inela i&&e!iatel' !re2 his firear& an! beat hi& to the !ra2, hittin( the &an on his left ar& Ghen the &an fell to the floor, $a%inela pic+e! up the &anIs (un an! han!e! it over to Re(i&en $a%inela also too+ his 2allet for i!entification Re(i&en then tol! one of the securit' (uar!s to brin( the 2oun!e! &an to the hospital )hereafter, $a%inela an! Re(i&en 2ent to the *alibo Police Station to report the inci!ent an! turne! over the 2allet Ne%t, the' procee!e! to Ca&p Pastor Martelino an! also reporte! the inci!ent to Col $ianson )o rebut the clai& of self-!efense, the prosecution presente! as its first 2itness, A/()ar0o A)5ar(6 ,, AlvareH 2as a securit' (uar! assi(ne! to the *in(s&en buil!in( !urin( the inci!ent in Juestion :e testifie! that he 2as alrea!' acJuainte! 2ith $a%inela an! that he sa2 hi&, to(ether 2ith #e(ar!a an! Re(i&en, alrea!' in the Superstar Disco Pub as earl' as ,,7FF p & of October ,0, ,668 !rin+in( At aroun! ,"7FF a & to ,"74F a & there 2as a &inor altercation bet2een the !ecease! S(t #a9o an! another custo&er at the pub but eventuall' the t2o 2ere able to patch thin(s up #a9o 2as then on his 2a' out 2hen $a%inela follo2e! #a9o 2ith a (un alrea!' !ra2n out )hen, fro& behin!, $a%inela hel! #a9oIs left ar& an! sai! ?Ano +a ha'K Ma&-an &a' baril +aK?," :e then hear! #a9o respon! ?I a& a MI3, Pare? after that AlvareH hear! an e%plosion

co&in( fro& $a%inelaIs (un $a%inela then (ot a (un fro& #a9oIs 2aist an! han!e! it over to Re(i&en After2ar!s $a%inela hel! both of #a9oIs ar&s, 2ho 2as still stan!in(, an! pushe! hi& a(ainst the 2all an! repeate! his Juestion #a9o ans2ere! ?Gh' !i! 'ou shoot &eK I a& also a &ilitar' ? At this point #a9o (ot out his 2allet an! (ave it to $a%inela $a%inela opene! the 2allet an! loo+e! at an ID After2ar!s $a%inela an! Re(i&en 9ust left an! !i! nothin( to ai! #a9o AlvareH an! his fello2 securit' (uar!, Rolan!o 3abriel, then pic+e! up #a9o an! boar!e! hi& on a tric'cle 3abriel brou(ht hi& to the hospital, 2hile AlvareH re&aine! at his post )he secon! 2itness of the prosecution 2as Ro)a$0o Ga/r+() ,4 3abriel substantiall' corroborate! the testi&on' of AlvareH on 2hat occurre! on the ni(ht in Juestion :e testifie! that he notice! the presence of #a9o insi!e the pub at aroun! ,F74F p & of October ,0, ,668 2hile he first sa2 $a%inela, Re(i&en an! #e(ar!a there as earl' as ,,7FF p & At aroun! ,"7/B a & , he 2itnesse! #a9o (oin( to2ar!s the entrance of the pub 2here $a%inela 2as alrea!' stan!in( an! hol!in( a /B caliber pistol $a%inela approache! #a9o fro& behin! an! hel! his left shoul!er as+in( ?Gho are 'ouK? #a9o respon!e! ?I a& MI3 ? After2ar!s he 2as shot b' $a%inela $a%inela then (ot #a9oIs (un fro& his 2aist an! (ave it to Re(i&en )hereafter, $a%inela, 2ith both han!s, pushe! #a9o a(ainst the 2all an! a(ain as+e! ?Ghat are 'ouK? #a9o (ot his 2allet fro& his bac+ poc+et an! han!e! it over to $a%inela After openin( the 2allet $a%inela an! Re(i&en left the !isco pub #a9o, still stan!in(, too+ t2o steps an! then fell !o2n 3abriel an! AlvareH then pic+e! #a9o up an! carrie! hi& to a tric'cle 2hich too+ hi& to the hospital 3abriel also state! that ten &inutes before the shootin( inci!ent there 2as another inci!ent 2here #a9o accoste! so&e custo&er but after2ar!s he sa2 that the t2o shoo+ han!s an! e&brace! each other )he thir! 2itness for the prosecution 2as Sa)5a0or A05+$c.)a, the PNP Des+ Officer 2ho entere! in the police blotter the inci!ent that occurre! in Superstar Disco Pub :e also testifie! on the events that occurre! insi!e the precinct 2herein the (un of #a9o acci!entall' fell on the table an! fire! )he last 2itness for the prosecution 2as the 2ife of #a9o, 'a$(2 O. La7o, 2ho testifie! as to !a&a(es ,/ As a sur-rebuttal 2itness, the !efense presente! Ro$a)0 Nah+) 2ho testifie! that he 2as on the (roun! floor of *in(s&en buil!in( 2ith AlvareH an! 3abriel 2hen the' hear! a shot rin( out fro& the secon! floor ,B After receivin( all of the evi!ence, the R)C foun! the version of the prosecution, that $a%inela shot #a9o as the latter 2as turnin( aroun! an! 2ithout havin( !ra2n his (un, &ore convincin(, an! ren!ere! a !ecision convictin( $a%inela )he R)C, ho2ever, consi!ere! in favor of $a%inela the &iti(atin( circu&stances of voluntar' surren!er an! provocation )he !ispositive portion of the !ecision is as follo2s7,8 G:ERE5ORE, the court fin!s the accuse! SPO" ED=ARDO $A@INE#A (uilt' be'on! reasonable !oubt of the cri&e of :o&ici!e, an! consi!erin( the &iti(atin( circu&stances of voluntar' surren!er an! provocation, an! appl'in( the In!eter&inate Sentence #a2, he is hereb' sentence! to suffer the penalt' of i&prison&ent of / 'ears of prision correccional &e!iu& as &ini&u&, to 0 'ears an! , !a' of prision ma'or &e!iu& as &a%i&u&

)he accuse! is further or!ere! to pa' a. the su& of PBF,FFF FF as civil in!e&nit' for the !eath of S(t Ruperto 5 #a9oL b. then su& of P0,,FFF FF as actual an! co&pensator' !a&a(esL an! c. the su& of P4F,FFF FF as &oral !a&a(esL plus costs of suit SO ORDERED On appeal, the CA &o!ifie! $a%inelaIs conviction b' !isallo2in( the &iti(atin( circu&stance of sufficient provocation Accor!in(l', the !ispositive portion of the appellate courtIs !ecision rea!s as follo2s7,1 IN #I3:) O5 A## ):E 5ORE3OIN3, the Decision appeale! fro& fin!in( the Appellant (uilt' be'on! reasonable !oubt of the cri&e char(e! is A"" RMED, 2ith the MOD " CAT ON, that the Appellant is hereb' &ete! an in!eter&inate penalt' of fro& EI3:) -0. EEARS an! ONE -,. DAE O5 Prision Mayor, as Mini&u&, to )GE#VE -,". EEARS, )EN -,F. MON):S an! )GEN)E ONE -",. DAES of Reclusion Temporal, as Ma%i&u& SO ORDERED $a%inela file! the present petition for revie2 on certiorari citin( the follo2in( (roun!s7 A ):A) ):E CO=R) O5 APPEA#S AND ):E RE3IONA# )RIA# CO=R) ERRED IN 3IVIN3 CREDENCE )O ):E VERSION O5 ):E PROSEC=)ION $ ):A) ):E CO=R) O5 APPEA#S ERRED IN DENEIN3 ):E >=S)I5EIN3 CIRC=MS)ANCES O5 SE#5 DE5ENSE OR IN ):E A#)ERNA)IVE ):E #AG5=# PER5ORMANCE O5 O55ICIA# D=)E =NDER AR)IC#E ,, PARA3RAP:S , AND B, RESPEC)IVE#E, O5 ):E REVISED PENA# CODE C ):A) ):E CO=R) O5 APPEA#S AND RE3IONA# )RIA# CO=R) ERRED IN CONVIC)IN3 ):E ACC=SED D ):A) ):E CO=R) O5 APPEA#S AND RE3IONA# )RIA# CO=R) ERRED IN NO) CONSIDERIN3 ):E M=A#I5IED MI)I3A)IN3 CIRC=MS)ANCES IN 5AVOR O5 ):E ACC=SED Resolution of the petition 2ill entail an initial !eter&ination of 2hich version of the inci!ent 2ill be accepte! )he !efense alle(es that $a%inela procee!e! to the Superstar Disco Pub in response to the infor&ation (iven b' Manuba that there 2as an ar&e! !run+en &an accostin( several people insi!e the pub Once the' arrive!, the' sa2 #a9o 2ith a han!(un visibl' tuc+e! behin! his 2aist Ghen $a%inela intro!uce! hi&self as a police&an an! as+e! 2h' he ha! a han!(un, #a9o su!!enl' !re2 on hi& pro&ptin( $a%inela to pull out his (un an! fire upon #a9o, criticall' 2oun!in( hi& )hereafter, the !efense clai&s that Re(i&en or!ere! the securit' (uar!s to brin( #a9o to the hospital 2hile the' procee! to the police station to report the inci!ent )he prosecution, on the other han!, conten!s that $a%inela 2as alrea!' in the pub !rin+in( 2ith Re(i&en an! #e(ar!a for &ore than a couple of hours prior to the shootin( inci!ent After 2itnessin( an altercation bet2een #a9o an! another custo&er, $a%inela !eci!e! to confront #a9o on 2h' he ha! a (un 2ith hi& $a%inela approache! #a9o fro& behin! an! hel! the latter on the

left shoul!er 2ith one han! 2hile hol!in( on to his /B caliber service firear& 2ith the other As #a9o 2as turnin( aroun!, to see 2ho 2as confrontin( hi&, $a%inela shot hi& $a%inela then (ot #a9oIs 2allet an! fle! the scene 2ith Re(i&en As &entione!, the R)C an! CA accepte! the prosecutionIs version )he Court fin!s no reason to !isturb such fin!in(s 5actual fin!in(s of the trial court, 2hen a!opte! an! confir&e! b' the CA, are final an! conclusive unless circu&stances are present that 2oul! sho2 that the lo2er courts have overloo+e!, &isun!erstoo! or &isconstrue! co(ent facts that &a' alter the outco&e of the case ,0 It !oes not appear that the conclusions that le! to the conviction of $a%inela 2ere arbitraril' reache! b' the lo2er courts an! $a%inela has faile! to point out an' relevant circu&stance that 2oul! convince the Court that a re-e%a&ination of the facts is 2arrante! On the contrar', $a%inelaIs version is challen(e! b' his o2n contra!ictin( testi&on' an! other !ocu&entar' evi!ence Earl' in his testi&on', $a%inela &aintaine! that #a9o ha! alrea!' pulle! his han!(un an! 2as ai&in( at hi& 2hen he fire!7 M Ghat else !i! 'ou !o after i!entif'in( 'ourself as a police&an an! as+;in(< 2h' he has a (unK A :e !i! not respon! M Ghat else happene! if an'thin( happene!K A :e i&&e!iatel' !re2 his (un turnin( to2ar!s &e an! ai&e! it at &e ,6 SubseJuentl', 2hen the trial court propoun!e! clarificator' Juestions, $a%inelaIs ne2 assertion 2as that the firear& 2as still at the bac+ of #a9o7 M At the &o&ent that 'ou fire!, 2as he alrea!' able to !r;a<2 his firear& or not 'etK A Ees sir, alrea!' pulle! out but still at the bac+ "F 5urther&ore, the follo2-up investi(ation con!ucte! b' the police 'iel!e! a !ifferent picture of 2hat happene! )his 2as entere! into the police recor!s as Entr' No 44B6 an! it rea!s in part7 ", % % % SPO" E!uar!o $a%inela accoste! the victi& 2h' he ha;!< in his possession a firear& an! 2hen the victi& S3) Ruperto #a9o PA 2as about to (et his 2allet on his bac+ poc+et for his ID, SPO" E!uar!o $a%inela anticipate! that the victi& 2as !ra2in( his firear& on his 2aist pro&ptin( sai! police&an to shoot the victi& % % % )he Court no2 procee!s to !eter&ine if, follo2in( the prosecutionIs version of 2hat happene!, $a%inela can clai& the 9ustif'in( circu&stances of self-!efense an! fulfill&ent of a !ut' or la2ful e%ercise of a ri(ht or office )he reJuisites for self-!efense are7 ,. unla2ful a((ression on the part of the victi&L ". lac+ of sufficient provocation on the part of the accuse!L an! 4. e&plo'&ent of reasonable &eans to prevent an! repel an! a((ression "" $' invo+in( self-!efense, $a%inela, in effect, a!&its +illin( #a9o, thus shiftin( upon hi& the bur!en of the evi!ence on these ele&ents )he first reJuisite is an in!ispensable reJuire&ent of self-!efense It is a con!ition sine qua non, 2ithout 2hich there can be no self-!efense, 2hether co&plete or inco&plete "4 On this

reJuisite alone, $a%inelaIs !efense fails =nla2ful a((ression conte&plates an actual, su!!en an! une%pecte! attac+ on the life an! li&b of a person or an i&&inent !an(er thereof, an! not &erel' a threatenin( or inti&i!atin( attitu!e "/ )he attac+ &ust be real, or at least i&&inent Mere belief b' a person of an i&pen!in( attac+ 2oul! not be sufficient As the evi!ence sho2s, there 2as no i&&inent threat that necessitate! shootin( #a9o at that &o&ent >ust before $a%inela shot #a9o, the for&er 2as safel' behin! the victi& an! hol!in( his ar& It 2as #a9o 2ho 2as at a !isa!vanta(e In fact, it 2as $a%inela 2ho 2as the a((ressor 2hen he (rabbe! #a9oIs shoul!er an! starte! Juestionin( hi& An! 2hen #a9o 2as shot, it appears that he 2as 9ust turnin( aroun! to face $a%inela an!, Juite possibl', reachin( for his 2allet None of these acts coul! conceivabl' be !ee&e! as unla2ful a((ression on the part of #a9o Ne%t, 2e consi!er the alternative !efense of fulfill&ent of a !ut' In or!er to avail of this 9ustif'in( circu&stance it &ust be sho2n that7 ,. the accuse! acte! in the perfor&ance of a !ut' or in the la2ful e%ercise of a ri(ht or officeL an! ". the in9ur' cause! or the offense co&&itte! is the necessar' conseJuence of the !ue perfor&ance of !ut' or the la2ful e%ercise of a ri(ht or office "B Ghile the first con!ition is present, the secon! is clearl' lac+in( $a%inelaIs !ut' 2as to investi(ate the reason 2h' #a9o ha! a (un tuc+e! behin! his 2aist in a public place )his 2as 2hat $a%inela 2as !oin( 2hen he confronte! #a9o at the entrance, but perhaps throu(h an%iet', e!(iness or the !esire to ta+e no chances, $a%inela e%cee!e! his !ut' b' firin( upon #a9o 2ho 2as not at all resistin( )he shootin( of #a9o cannot be consi!ere! !ue perfor&ance of a !ut' if at that ti&e #a9o pose! no serious threat or har& to $a%inela or to the civilians in the pub Essentiall', $a%inela is tr'in( to convince the Court that he shoul! be absolve! of cri&inal liabilit' b' reason of a &ista+e of fact, a !octrine first enunciate! in United States v. Ah Chong "8 It 2as hel! in that case that a &ista+e of fact 2ill e%e&pt a person fro& cri&inal liabilit' so lon( as the alle(e! i(norance or &ista+e of fact 2as not !ue to ne(li(ence or ba! faith In e%a&inin( the circu&stances atten!ant in the present case, the Court fin!s that there 2as ne(li(ence on the part of $a%inela #a9o, 2hen he 2as shot, 2as si&pl' turnin( aroun! to see 2ho 2as accostin( hi& Moreover, he i!entifie! hi&self sa'in( ?I a& MI3 ? )hese circu&stances alone 2oul! not lea! a reasonable an! pru!ent person to believe that $a%inelaIs life 2as in peril )hus, his act of shootin( #a9o, to the &in! of this Court, constitutes clear ne(li(ence $ut even if the Court assu&es that #a9oIs actions 2ere a((ressive enou(h to appear that he 2as (oin( for his (un, there 2ere a nu&ber of proce!ures that coul! have been follo2e! in or!er to avoi! a confrontation an! ta+e control of the situation $a%inela, 2ho& the Court assu&es not to be a roo+ie police&an, coul! have ta+en precautionar' &easures b' si&pl' &aintainin( his hol! on to #a9oIs shoul!ers, +eepin( #a9o facin( a2a' fro& hi&, forcin( #a9o to raise his han!s an! then ta+e #a9oIs 2eapon )here 2as also Re(i&en 2ho shoul! have assiste! $a%inela in !isablin( an! !isar&in( #a9o )he events insi!e the !isco pub that unnecessaril' cost the life of #a9o !i! not have to happen ha! $a%inela not been ne(li(ent in perfor&in( his !ut' as a police officer )he Court 2ill, ho2ever, attribute to $a%inela the inco&plete !efense of fulfill&ent of a !ut' as a privile(e! &iti(atin( circu&stance In Lacanilao v. Court o Appeals,"1 it 2as hel! that if the first con!ition is fulfille! but the secon! is 2antin(, Article 86 of the Revise! Penal Co!e is applicable so that the penalt' lo2er than one or t2o !e(rees than that prescribe! b' la2 shall be

i&pose! "0 Accor!in(l', the Court (rants in favor of $a%inela a privile(e! &iti(atin( circu&stance an! lo2er his penalt' b' one !e(ree :is entitle&ent to the or!inar' &iti(atin( circu&stance of voluntar' surren!er is also reco(niHe!, thereb' further re!ucin( his penalt' to its &ini&u& )he Court co&&iserates 2ith our police&en 2ho re(ularl' thrust their lives in Hones of !an(er in or!er to &aintain peace an! or!er an! ac+no2le!(es the apprehensions face! b' their fa&ilies 2henever the' (o on !ut' $ut the use of unnecessar' force or 2anton violence is not 9ustifie! 2hen the fulfill&ent of their !ut' as la2 enforcers can be effecte! other2ise A ?shoot first, thin+ later? attitu!e can never be countenance! in a civiliHe! societ' 8!ERE"ORE, the !ecision of the Court of Appeals is MOD " ED )he conviction of appellant E!uar!o $a%inela for the cri&e of ho&ici!e is A"" RMED but his sentence is re!uce! to an in!eter&inate penalt' of four -/. 'ears an! t2o -". &onths of prision correccional &e!iu&, as &ini&u&, to ei(ht -0. 'ears of prision mayor &ini&u&, as &a%i&u& )he a2ar!s of !a&a(es are affir&e! No costs