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People v. Tandingan Case Digest
People v. Tandingan Case Digest
Talingdan (Crim1)
The People of the Philippines, plaintiff-appellee, vs. Nemesio Talingdan, Magellan Tobias,
Augusto Berras, Pedro Bides and Teresa Domogma, accused-appellants
En Banc
Facts:
Teresa Domogma was the supposed wife of the deceased Bernardo Bagabag
o No certificate or any other proof of their marriage could be presented by the
prosecution
o They lived with their children in Sobosob, Salapadan, Abra
o Their relationship had been strained and beset with troubles for Teresa had
deserted her family home a couple of times and each time Bernardo took time
out to look for her
On 2 different occasions, appellant Nemesis Talingdan has visited Teresa in their house
while Bernardo was out at work, and during those visits Teresa had made Corazon, their
then 12-year old daughter to go down the house and leave them
Bernardo had gotten wind that an illicit relationship was going on between Talingdan and
Teresa
About a month before Bernardo was killed, Teresa had again left their house and did not
come back for a period of more than 3 weeks, and Bernardo came to know later that she
and Talingdan were seen together in the town of Tayum Abra during that time
Just two days before Bernardo was killed (Thursday), Bernardo and Theresa had a
violent quarrel; Bernardo slapped Theresa several times, resulting in Theresa seeking
the help of the police
Accused Talingdan, a policeman, came armed to the vicinity of Bernardo's house and
called him to come down; Bernardo ignored him; Talingdan instead left and warned
Bernardo that someday he would kill him
On Saturday, June 24, 1967, Bernardo was gunned down in his house
The defendants' and Corazon's accounts of what happened had variations
Corazon's version:
Friday morning: Corazon was in a creek to wash clothes. She saw her mother Teresa meeting
with Talingdan and their co-appellants Magellan Tobias, Augusto Berras, and Pedro Bides in a
small hut owned by Bernardo
She heard one of them say "Could he elude a bullet"
When Teresa noticed Corazon, she shoved her away saying "You tell your father that we will kill
him"
Saturday, after sunset: Corazon was cooking food for supper when she saw her mother go down
the house to go to the yard where she again met with the other appellants.
She noted the long guns the appellants were carrying.
Teresa came back to the house and proceeded to her room.
Corazon informed Bernardo, who was then working on a plow, about the presence of persons
downstairs, but Bernardo paid no attention
Bernardo proceeded to the kitchen and sat himself on the floor near the door
He was suddenly fired upon form below the stairs of the batalan
The four accused climbed the stairs of the batalan and upon seeing that Bernardo was still alive,
Talingdan and Tobias fired at him again
Bides and Berras did not fire at that precise time but when Corazon tried to call for helo, Bides
warned her that he will kill her if she calls for help
Teresa came out of her room and when Corazon informed her that she recognized the killers, the
former threatened to kill the latter if she reveals the matter to anyone
Teresa loved Bernardo dearly, they never quarreled, and her husband never maltreated her.
Teresa came to know Talingdan only when the latter became a policeman in Sallapadan; an illicit
relationship never existed between them
Talingdan was not in Sallapadan at the time of the killing on June 24; he escorted the Mayor in
Bangued from June 22 to June 26
Tobias, Bides, and Berras claimed to be in the house of one Mrs. Bayongan in Sallapadan, 250-
300 meters from the place of the killing
Issue:
Holding:
Ratio:
Male appellants sentenced to death. Guilty beyond reasonable doubt is Teresa Domogma,
sentenced to suffer the indeterminate penalty of 5 years of prision correccional as minimum to 8
years of prision mayor as maximum.