People v.

Siyoh
G.R. No. L-57292
Feb. 18, 1986
Topic: Piracy (Art. 122)

PARTIES:
 Petitioner: People
 Defendant: Julaide Siyoh, et.al.

FACTS:
 This is an automatic review of the decision of the COFI Basilan, imposing the death penalty.
 Defendants were accused of qualified piracy with triple murder and frustrated murder said to have been
committed on/about July 14, 1979 at Mataja Island, Municipality of Lantawan, Basilan.
 Defendants, being strangers and without lawful authority, armed with firearms and taking advantage of
their superior strength, conspiring and confederating together, aiding and assisting one another, with
intent to gain and by the use of violence or intimidation against persons and force upon things, did then
and there, fire their guns into the air and stop a pumpboat wherein 4 men were riding, travelling at the
time from Baluk-Balik Island towards Pilas.
 Defendants boarded the said pump boat and took, stole and carried away all their cash money, wrist
watches, stereo sets, merchandise and other personal belongings amounting to P18K.
 The accused took advantage that the said victims were at their mercy when they ordered them to jump
into the water, where the accused fired their guns at them which caused the death of 3 (triple murder)
and wounding the other (frustrated murder).
 An order of arrest was issued against all the accused and were apprehended. After the trial, the COFI
found the accused guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of Qualified Piracy with Triple Murder
and Frustrated Murder defined and penalized under PD 532, and thus sentenced them to death.
However, considering Sec. 106 of the Code of Mindanao and Sulu, the illiteracy or ignorance or
extreme poverty of the accused who are members of the cultural minorites, a commutation to life
imprisonment is recommended.
 Defendants argues that the lower court erred in finding that their guilt has been proved beyond
reasonable doubt.

RULING: For lack of necessary votes, the penalty imposed shall be reclusion perpetua; each of the appellants
shall be in solidum to the heirs of each of the deceased indemnity of P30K.

ISSUE: Credibility of the witness. Who should be believed, Antonio de Guzman (lone prosecution eye-witness)
or Siyoh and Kiram (accussed-appellants who claims that they were also the victims of the crime?)

RATIONALE:
1.