[ G.R. No. 12693, August 11, 1917 ]
THE UNITED STATES, PLAINTIFF AND APPELLEE, VS. CAMILOY (NON-CHRISTIAN), LOPE GUITAGULAN, GAUDENCIO BEQUILLA, AND EPIPANIO CAINILLA, DEFENDANTS AND APPELLANTS.
D E C I S I O N
MALCOLM, J.:
The Attorney-General recommends that in view of the fact that there are present three aggravating circumstances, namely, those of taking advantage of superior strength, of employing means which brought about ignominy, and of commission in the nighttime, that the minimum of the maximum penalty provided by law should be imposed. The Attorney-General also recommends that the accused jointly and severally endow the offended party in the sum of P500, and support the offspring, should there be any, until its majority.
We not only agree with the Attorney-General but, considering the beastly character of the crime and the concurrence of three aggravating circumstances offset by no mitigating circumstance, would go further and impose the most severe penalty permitted by law. We accordingly sentence each of the accused to twenty years of reclusion temporal, with the accessory penalties of article 59 of the Penal Code, and to pay one-fourth of the costs in both instances. The accused are also jointly and severally condemned by way of indemnification to endow the offended woman in the sum of P500, and to support the offspring if there be any. So ordered.
Arellano, C. J., Johnson, Carson, Araullo, and Street JJ., concur.