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Punishable Means Possible
Punishable Means Possible
Punishable Means Possible
Pursuant to Article 192 of PD 603, if the court should find that the youthful
offender below 21 years old has committed the crime charged against him
it may suspend the execution of the sentence and commit such minor to
the custody or care of the Department of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD) or to any training institution operated by the government or any
responsible person, until he/she has reached 21 years of age or for a
shorter period as it may deem proper. The benefits of this Article shall not
however apply to youthful offenders convicted of an offense punishable by
death or life imprisonment. If he is convicted of such offense but the Court
sentences him to a lower penalty than death or reclusion perpetua, can the
youthful offender still avail of said law? This is the question resolved in this
case of Glen Roque.
When charged with the crime of murder for willfully, unlawfully and
feloniously attacking, assaulting and stabbing his teacher Kristina Roces
with evident premeditation and abuse of superior strength, Glen pleaded
guilty. So, based on his plea and the other evidence presented particularly
the post-mortem report of the rural health doctor, the RTC rendered
judgment finding Glen guilty of murder and sentencing him to 12 years and
one day to 17 years of imprisonment as well as to pay the heirs of Mrs.
Roces the civil indemnity of P75,000 moral damages, P50,000 plus actual
damages consisting of unearned income in the sum of P1,370,000.70. His
parents and the teacher-in-charge of the school were jointly and
subsidiarily held liable in case of insolvency. However, the court suspended
the sentence of Glen and ordered his commitment to the Regional
Rehabilitation for Youth in their province.
But the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Peter. The court declared that
being the surviving spouse of the deceased and the offended party, Peter
has sufficient personality to file the special civil action of certiorari. Besides,
the Solicitor General also eventually filed its own petition. The SC said that
in the interest of speedy justice and to avoid further litigations, it may take
cognizance of the case already considering the importance of the issues
involved.
The SC said that the RTC is wrong in suspending the sentence because
Glen was charged with murder punishable by death or life imprisonment or
reclusion perpetua. The term punishable refers to the possible, not the
actual sentence. The disqualification for availing the benefits of a
suspended sentence is based on the nature of the crime charged and the
imposable penalty and not on the penalty imposed by the court after trial
(Declarador vs. Hon Gubaton and Bansales, G.R. 159208, August 18,
2006).