Valenton, Francis Angelo T.

Criminal Law 2

1S

People vs. Manero (G.R. Nos 86883-85)

Facts: The plaintiff-appellee is People of the Philippines. The accused are: Norberto Manero, Jr.,
Edilberto Manero, Elpidio Manero, Severino Lines, Rudy Lines, Efren Pleñago, Roger Bedaño,
Rodrigo Espia, Arsenio Villamor, Jr., John Doe and Peter Doe. The accused-appellants are:
Severino Lines, Rudy Lines, Efren Pleñago And Roger Bendaño. In the case at bar, the hereine
accused shot the hapless foreign religious minister. They danced and laughed as soon as they are
done killing the victim. They also kicked and scoffed at the prostrate of the deceased. Being
unsatisfied with the ignominy of their killing, the leader picked up the pieces of the splattered
brain of the deceased and displayed it to the spectators. Other witnesses would say that acts of
cannibalism ensued. The accused were found guilty of the crime of murder, attempted murder
and arson. Hence, they appeal.

Issue: Is the petitioners liable for murder.

Held: The Supreme Court said that the trial court is correct in finding them guilty for murder.
The Supreme Court affirmed the presence of the circumstances of abuse of superior strength,
cruelty and ignominy by deliberately and inhumanly augmenting the pain and anguish of the
herein accused. The acts of the accused as corroborated by the testimonies of the witnesses.
Such aforementioned acts are more than sufficient to affirm the presence of such circumstances.