CRIMINAL PROCEDURE | GRANA VS. PEOPLE G.R. No. 202111, 2019
GRANA VS. PEOPLE
G.R. No. 202111, 2019
TOPIC/DOCTRINE
Section
11(a), Rule 122 of the Rules of Court provides that “[a]n appeal taken by one
or more of several accused shall not affect those who did not appeal, except
insofar as he judgment of the appellate court is favorable and applicable to
the latter.”
FACTS
Complainant
filed before the MeTC, an Information5 for malicious mischief against Teddy Grana (Teddy), Gil Valdes6 (Gil), Ricky Dimaganti (Ricky), Olive Grana (Olive),
and Teofilo Grana (Teofilo), and another Information for Other Forms of
Trespass to Dwelling, docketed only against Teddy, Gil and Ricky.
The MeTC rendered
a Joint Decision finding all accused guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the
crime of Malicious Mischief, while Teddy and Gil were both convicted of Other
Forms of Trespass. The RTC affirmed in toto the
findings of the MeTC. The CA affirmed the conviction of Teddy, Gil, Olive and
Teofilo for the crime of Malicious Mischief while Teddy and Gil were acquitted
of the crime of Other Forms of Trespass. Teddy, Gil, Olive and Teofilo
filed a Partial Motion for Reconsideration which was likewise denied for lack
of merit. Hence, the present Petition for Review on Certiorari filed by petitioners Teddy and Teofilo. The two other
accused, Gil and Olive, did not appeal their case.
ISSUE
Whether Gil and
Olive, then they should benefit from the reduction of the sentence considering
that they did not appeal their case.
RULING
Yes.
The court ruled that Section
11(a), Rule 122 of the Rules of Court provides that “[a]n appeal taken by one
or more of several accused shall not affect those who did not appeal, except
insofar as he judgment of the appellate court is favorable and applicable to
the latter.”
Here, the
court ruled that The value of the damage cause to private complainant by
petitioners is only P7,500.00. Consequently, pursuant to Article 329 of the
RPC, as amended by R.A. 10951, petitioners’ original sentence of a straight
penalty of imprisonment of four (4) months should be reduced to arresto
menor or imprisonment of one (1) day to thirty (30) days. We note
that Gil and Olive did not appeal their case before the Court of Appeals. [However]
considering the reduction of the sentence imposed on the crime committed, which
is favorable and applicable to Gil and Olive, then they should benefit from the
reduction of the sentence imposed on them.