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Crim Law 1 Case Digest: People v. Fernando 1926

People v. Fernando

G.R. No. L-24978 March 27, 1926

Lessons Applicable: when negligent, mistake of fact is not a defense

Laws Applicable:

FACTS:
·         Before the day of crime: Moro prisoners had escaped from the Penal Colony of San Ramon, Zamboanga
·         3 suspicious looking persons who were prowling around the place alarmed the residents
·         As municipal policeman Fernando de Fernando, Paciencia Delgado daughter of Remigio Delgado told him that her father wished to see him
·         Remigio Delgado informed him that the 3 suspicious persons in blue were lurking in his house
·         About 7pm: De Fernando seated on a bench near the window talking to Paciencia when about 4 meters from the stairs was a person in dark clothes with 3 bolos tied together calling out “Nong Miong” without answering the inquiry of De Fernando.
o    De Fernando took out his revolver and fired a shot in the air but the person still continued to go up the stairs so he shot him at the base of the neck at the right side
o    The shot person turned out to be Buenventura Paulino, nephew of Remigio, who ran to their neighbor Leon Torres’ house, placing the bolo on the table, fell on the floor and died
·         de Fernando called the police chief to relay what happened
·         CFI of Zamboanga:  guilty of the crime of murder

ISSUE: W/N de Fernando is guilty of negligence

HELD: YES. reversing the appealed judgment, guilty of the crime of homicide through reckless negligence

·         De Fernando failed to use the ordinary precaution that he should have used before taking such fatal action
o    The calling of “Nong Miong” indicated that the owner of the house might be an older relative of the one calling, or an intimate friend
o    De Fernando failed to ask Paciencia Delgado who was it was that was calling her father with such familiarity
·         NO malicious intent because he though at the time that he was justified in acting as he did
·         homicide through reckless negligence under article 568, in relation with article 404, of the Penal Code