G.R. No.

L-2189         November 3, 1906

THE UNITED STATES, plaintiff-appellee,

vs.
FRANCISCO BAUTISTA, ET AL., defendants-appellants.

Aguedo Velarde and Pineda and Escueta, for appellants.

Office of the Solicitor-General Araneta, for appellee.

Facts: In 1903 a junta was organized and a conspiracy entered into by a number of
Filipinos in Hongkong, for the purpose of overthrowing the government of the
United States in the Philippine Islands by force of arms and establishing a new
government.
Francisco Bautista (1), a close friend of the chief of military forces (of the
conspirators) took part of several meetings. Tomas Puzon (2) held several
conferences whereat plans are made for the coming insurrection; he was appointed
Brigadier-General of the Signal Corps of the revolutionary forces. Aniceto de
Guzman (3) accepted some bonds from one of the conspirators. The lower court
convicted the three men of conspiracy. Bautista was sentenced to 4 years
imprisonment and a P3,000 fine; Puzon and De Guzman to 3 years imprisonment
and P1,000.

Issue: Whether or not the accused are guilty of conspiracy.

Held: Judgment for Bautista and Puzon CONFIRMED. Judgment for de Guzman
REVERSED. Yes, Bautista and Puzon are guilty of conspiracy. Bautista was fully
aware of the purposes of the meetings he participated in, and even gave an
assurance to the chief of military forces that he is making the necessary
preparations. Puzon voluntarily accepted his appointment and in doing so assumed
all the obligations implied by such acceptance. This may be considered as
an evidence of the criminal connection of the accused with the conspiracy.
However, de Guzman is not guilty of conspiracy. He might have been helping the
conspirators by accepting bonds in the bundles, but he has not been aware of the
contents nor does he was, in any occasion, assumed any obligation with respect to
those bonds.