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PEOPLE v. ALVIN J. LABAGALA

FACTS:

Appellants Alvin J. Labagala and Romeo Labagala, together with their co-accused, were charged with robbery with homicide. The incident occurred on June 12, 2002, in Cabanatuan City. According to the prosecution's version, the appellants and their co-accused entered the victim's premises, with Alvin Labagala poking a gun at the victim and whipping him with it while the others held him. Alvin took the victim's jewelry and then dragged him inside the house, where he was eventually found dead. The defense raised denial and alibi as their defenses. They claimed that Romeo Labagala was in Nueva Ecija during the incident, while Alvin Labagala was in Tanza, Navotas. The Regional Trial Court (RTC) convicted appellants of robbery with homicide, acquitted one co-accused, and archived the cases against the others. The RTC held that the prosecution had established conspiracy among the appellants. The Court of Appeals affirmed the RTC decision, finding the testimony of the witness credible and sufficient to sustain a judgment of conviction. The appellants raised the issues of whether the prosecution sufficiently proved the elements of the crime and whether there was conspiracy among the accused.

ISSUES:

  1. Whether the prosecution was able to sufficiently prove the elements of the crime of robbery with homicide, considering that Jun's testimony narrating the incident was uncorroborated by another witness.

  2. Whether appellants, together with their co-accused who are at large, acted in conspiracy in committing the crime charged.

RULING:

  1. The Court held that the prosecution was able to sufficiently prove the elements of the crime of robbery with homicide and that appellants, together with their co-accused, acted in conspiracy in committing the crime charged.

PRINCIPLES:

  • The prosecution is not required to present corroborating witnesses as long as the testimony of a single witness is credible, positive, and convincing.

  • Conspiracy exists when two or more persons come to an agreement of the mind to commit a felony and decide to commit it.

  • Conspiracy may be inferred from the conduct of the accused showing a common purpose and design, concerted action, and community of interests.