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Republic of the Philippines

SUPREME COURT
Manila

EN BANC

G.R. No. L-456 March 29, 1949

THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee,

vs.
CUCUFATE ADLAWAN, defendant-appellant.

C. de la Victoria & Ramon Duterte and Sotto & Sotto for appellant.
First Assistance Solicitor General Jose B.L. Reyes and Solicitor Jose B. Jimenez for appellee.

REYES, J.:

We are called upon in this case to review the sentence of death and a fine of P20,000 imposed by the People's
Court upon the appellants who was charged with treason but convicted of what the said court terms "complex crime
of crime of treason with murder robbery and rape."

The convicted is based on defendants plea of guilty to a complaint which as amended contains the following counts:

1. That on or about and during the period comprised between March 1943 and May 3, 1945 in the city of
Cebu. Philippines and within the Jurisdiction of this court the accused Cucufate Adlawan adhering to the
enemy the Empire of Japan and its Imperial Japanese forces with treasonable intent to give as he did give aid
and comfort to said enemy did then and there wilfully unlawfully feloniously and treasonably join and become
a member of the so-called Philippines Constabulary, an enemy-sponsored military organization knowing fully
well that the aims and purposes of said organization are among other to extend every aid and cooperation
with said enemy in the prosecution of her war efforts against the United States of America and the
Commonwealth of the Philippines and during the period aforesaid as a member of said enemy-sponsored
Philippines Constabulary the said accused further adhering to the enemy with treasonable intent to give as he
did give aid and comfort to them did go out on numerous patrol in company with Japanese soldier in search of
guerrilla and other elements and other elements resisting said enemy in the Philippines.

2. That on our about and during the period comprised between December 1, 1943 and May 3, 1945, and the
City of Cebu Philippines and within the Jurisdiction of this court the accused Cucufate Adlawan adhering to
the enemy the Empire of Japan and the Imperial Forces with treasonable to give as he did give aid and
comfort to said enemy in violation of his allegiance and fidelity to the United States of America and the
Commonwealth of the Philippines did then and there willfully unlawfully feloniously and treasonably join the
Japanese Military Police otherwise known as the Kempei-tai under the command of a T. Yushida, performing
the function and duties of an informer spy and chief undercover man of the Cebu district of said military police
and did during the period aforesaid in various places in the Province of Cebu Philippines and within the
jurisdiction of this Court in furtherance of his adherence to said enemy with treasonable intent to give as he
did give and comfort aid and comfort to them did in company with other member of the Japanese Military
Police go out on patrols to apprehend guerrilla as they did apprehend capture and torture guerrillas loot
civilians and otherwise commit acts of atrocities in furtherance of the hostile design of the enemy and to
weaken the cause of the United States of America in the Philippines.

3. That sometime in June 1944 in various places in the Province of Bohol Philippines and within the
jurisdiction of this Court the accused Cucufate Adlawan adhering to the enemy the Empire of Japan and the
Imperial Japanese Forces with treasonable intent to give as he did give aid and comfort to said enemy in his
capacity as a member of the enemy-sponsored constabulary attached to the Japanese Military Police and a
guide of the Japanese Army Jointly and in cooperation with soldier of the Japanese Imperial Army did then
and there wilfully unlawfully feloniously and treasonably conduct and carry out a so-called mopping up
operation for the purpose of suppressing guerrillas and other element engaged in resistance against said
enemy and as a result thereof ten guerrillas were killed.
4. That on or about during the period comprised between September 1944 and November 1944 in the City of
Cebu Philippines and within the Jurisdiction of this Court the accused Cucufate Adlawan adhering to the
enemy the Empire of Japan and the Imperial Japanese Forces with treasonable intent to give as he did give
aid and comfort to said enemy did then and there wilfully unlawfully feloniously and treasonably help in the a
construction of air raid shelters for the protection of Japanese soldier against allied air raids and did help in
the acquisition of as he did acquire food supplies for the enemy in preparation against the expected landing of
America forces.

5. That on or about August 18, 1944 in the municipality of Minglanilla province of Cebu Philippines the
accused Cucufate Adlawan adhering the enemy the Empire of Japan and the Imperial Japanese Forces with
treasonable intent to give as he did aid and comfort to the said enemy in company with Japanese Military
soldier of the Japanese Military Police and other Filipino enemy spies did then and there wilfully unlawfully
feloniously and treasonably arrest maltreat and otherwise torture Primitivo Cansancio in an effort to force the
latter to disclose the whereabouts of Lt. Antonio Karedo a guerrilla officer to cause said Primitivo Cansancio to
confess his guerrilla activities.

6. That on or about December 7, 1944 in the municipality of Minglanilla Province of Cebu Philippines and
within the jurisdiction of this Court Empire of Japan and the Imperial Japanese forces with treasonable intent
to give as he did give aid and comfort to said enemy in company with a patrol of Japanese soldier s of the
Japanese Military Police and other enemy spices and informers did then and there willfully, unlawfully,
feloniously and treasonably apprehend and arrest Francisco Larrobia and did kick said Francisco Larrobia
strike him on the face and head with a pistol and subsequently bayoneting and killing said Francisco Larrobia
on the suspicion that he was a guerrilla.

7. That on or about September 6, 1944 in the municipality of Talisay province of Cebu, Philippines and within
the Jurisdiction of this court the accused Cucufate Adlawan adhering to the enemy the Empire of Japan and
its Imperial Japanese Forces with treasonable intent to give as he did give aid and comfort to the said enemy
in his capacity as chief undercover man for the Japanese Military Police Cebu District in company with
Japanese soldier and Santiago Bernaba another Japanese spy did then and there willfully unlawfully
feloniously and treasonably arrest Numariano Bellesa on suspicion of being a guerrilla thereafter taking said
Numeriano Bellesa to Inayawan Cebu City and thereat herein accused did investigate said Numeriano
Bellesa about the latter's firearms in order to help said enemy in gathering up arms in gathering up arms in
furtherance of their hostile design and did strike said Numeriano Bellesa on the face and body and otherwise
maltreat him in the course of said investigation.

8. That on or about August 18, 1944 in Sitio Tubod municipality of Minglanilla Province of Cebu Philippines
and within the jurisdiction of this court the accused Cucufate Adlawan adhering to the enemy the Empire of
Japan and its imperial Forces with treasonable intent to give as he did give aid he did give aid and comfort to
said enemy acting in his capacity as chief undercover man informer and spy of the Japanese Military Police
Cebu District and in company with Japanese soldier of the Japanese Military Police did then and there wilfully,
feloniously and treasonably apprehend and arrest Cipriano Trazona and did investigate the latter as to the
whereabouts of guerrillas especially Nicolas Adlawan food procurement officer of the guerrilla and upon his
denial of knowledge of said whereabouts herein accused did torture said Cipriano Trazona by hanging the
latter by the arms so that his body dangled down striking his stomach and with an empty bottle inflicting
wounds on his head and finally striking his mouth with a flashlight splitting said Cipriano Trazona's lower lips.

9. That on or about October 2, 1944 in the municipality of Talisay Province of Cebu Philippines and within the
Jurisdiction of this court the accused Cucufate Adlawan adhering to the enemy the Imperial Japanese
Government and her armed forces with treasonable intent to give as he did give aid and comfort to said
enemy acting in his capacity as chief undercover man informer and spy in the employ of the Japanese Military
Police Cebu District in company with other informers said Military Police, did then and there apprehend and
arrest Albina Alpez and accused herein did wilfully and treasonably investigate said Albina Alpez as to the
whereabouts of her husband Ponciano Alpez, a guerrilla, attached to the 2nd Division Cebu Area Command
and when said Albina Alpez denied knowledge of her aforesaid husband's whereabouts herein accused did
slap kick and throw her to the ground hang her by the arms strike her on the breast with his revolver threaten
her with a dagger pointed at her throat and otherwise maltreat and torture said Albina Alpez.

10. That on or about December 25, 1944 in the municipality of Minglanilla province of Cebu Philippines and
within the jurisdiction of this court the accused. Cucufate Adlawan adhering to the enemy the Empire of Japan
and its Imperial of Japan its Imperial Japanese Forces with treasonable intent to give as he did give aid and
comfort said enemy in company with five Japanese soldier and fourteen agent of the Japanese Military Police
otherwise known as the Kempei-Tai and his capacity Military Police for the Cebu District did then and there
wilfully, unlawfully, feloniously and treasonably apprehend and arrest Victoriano Primacio and one Juan
Unadia on suspicion of being guerrillas and said accused did box, beat slap and strike said Victoriano
Primacio and Juan Unadia with his rifle several times and did turn over said Victoriano Primacio and Juan
Unadia to the Japanese Military Police on the ground that said person were guerrilla and as a result of which
said Victoriano Primacio and Juan Unadia have not been heard of ever since then.

11. That on or about January 27, 1944 at sitio Tacba, Cebu City, Philippines and within the jurisdiction of this
court the accused Cucufate Adlawan adhering to the enemy the Empire of Japan and its Imperial Japanese
Forces with treasonable intent to give as he did give aid and comfort to said enemy acting in his capacity as
chief undercover man informer and spy of the Japanese Military Police Cebu District, did, then and there,
wilfully, unlawfully, feloniously and treasonably shoot and kill Lt. Miguel Dacallos, a USAFFE officer, in
furtherance of the hostile designs of said enemy.

12. That on or about September 6, 1944, at sitio San Isidro, municipality of Talisay, Province of Cebu,
Philippines, and within furtherance of his adherence to the enemy, the Empire of Japan and its Imperial
Japanese Forces, with treasonable intent to give, as he did give aid and comfort to said enemy, acting in his
capacity as chief undercover man, informer and spy of the Japanese Military Police, Cebu District, and inn
company with Japanese soldier, did, then and there wilfully, unlawfully, feloniously and treasonably arrest one
Jose Murillo on suspicion that the latter was a guerrilla.

13. That on or about November 13, 1944 in the City of Cebu, Philippines, and within the jurisdiction of this
Court, the accused, Cucufate Adlawan, adhering to the enemy, the Empire of Japan and its Imperial
Japanese Forces, with treasonable intent to give, as he did and comfort to said enemy, did then and there,
wilfully, feloniously and treasonably apprehend and arrest Basilia Arong and did take the latter to
headquarters of the Japanese Military Police and thereat herein accused did question and investigate said
Basilia Arong as to the whereabouts by the enemy of guerrilla activities, and when said Basilia Arong denied
knowledge of their whereabouts, herein accused did said Basilia Arong by her arms, strip her of her clothing,
severely beat her and otherwise torture her, finally forcing said Basilia Arong to sign a letter addressed to her
aforesaid husband, Pedro Arong asking the latter to report top the Japanese Kempei-Tai headquarters and
when said Pedro C. Arong did report to said headquarters in compliance of said letter, he not been seen ever
since.

14. That on or about August 10, 1944, at Sitio Gapas, Gaps Island, in the Province of Cebu, Philippines and
within the jurisdiction of this Court the accused Cucufate Adlawan, adhering to the enemy, the Empire of
Japan and its Imperial Japanese Forces, with treasonable to give as he did give aid comfort to, said enemy,
acting in his capacity as chief undercover man, informer and spy of the Japanese Military Police of Cebu
District and in company with Japanese Kempei-Tai informers and spies, did then and there wilfully, feloniously
and treasonably apprehend and arrest Pedro Cabanada and did question the latter as the whereabouts of
Alejandrino Ciriaco, a guerrilla Intelligence operative, and, in the course of said investigation, the accused did
hang said Pedro Cabanada by his arms, strike him with clubs and an iron pipe thereby inflicting several
wounds on his head for the latter's refusal to divulge said guerrilla whereabouts.

15. That on or about June 2, 1944, in sitio Basac, Mambaling, in the City of Cebu Philippines and within the
Jurisdiction of this court the accused, Cucufate Adlawan, adhering to the enemy, the Empire of Japan and its
Imperial Japanese Forces, with treasonable intent to give, as he did give aid comfort to said enemy, acting in
his capacity as chief undercover man, informer and spy in the employ of the Japanese Military Police of the
Cebu District, in company with two Japanese soldiers and three other Japanese informers and spies, did then
and there wilfully, unlawfully, feloniously and treasonably apprehend and arrest Marciano Alejandro, Carlos
Numera and Jose Rada, killing said Marciano Alejandro, and Carlos Numera, and wounding said Jose Rada
on the charge that said person had contact with guerrillas.

16. That on or about October 8, 1943, in the municipality of Tisa, Province of Cebu, Philippines, and within the
jurisdiction of this court, the accused Cucufate Adlawan, adhering to the enemy, the Empire of Japan and its
Imperial Japanese Forces, with treasonable intent to give, as he did give aid and comfort to said enemy,
acting in his capacity as an informer and spy of said enemy, did, then and there wilfully, unlawfully, feloniously
and treasonably shoot and kill Bernardo Laborte, a guerrilla soldier for the latter's guerrilla activities and
resistance to said enemy.

17. That sometime in the month of April, 1944, in different place in the Province of Cebu, Philippines,
particularly in the area comprised between Tubano and Minglanilla, and within the jurisdiction of this Court,
the accused, Cucufate Adlawan, adhering to the enemy, thee Empire of Japan and its Imperial Japanese
Forces, with treasonable intent to give, as he did give aid and comfort to said enemy, as member of the
enemy-sponsored constabulary and as informer and spy of the Japanese Army, did then and there, willfully,
unlawfully, feloniously and treasonable join and take part in the general mopping up operation conducted by
the Japanese Army under the command of Sergeant T. Yushida, particularly in the area of Tubonok to
Minglanilla for the Purpose of apprehending guerrillas and other elements engaged in resisting said enemy.

18. That on or about August 19, 1944, in the municipality of Cordoba, Province of Cebu, Philippines and
within the jurisdiction of this Court, the accused, Cucufate Adlawan, adhering to the enemy, Empire of Japan
and its Imperial Japanese Forces, with treasonable intent to give, as he did give aid and comfort to said
 enemy, acting in his capacity as chief informer and spy under the employ of the Japanese Military Police,
Cebu District, in company with the member of said Japanese Military Police under the command of Sergeant
T. Yushida of the Japanese Army, did, then and there wilfully, unlawfully, feloniously and treasonably arrest,
maltreat and torture Martin Francisco and did expose the latter's wife and some Filipino girls naked, raping
them, and, did steal and carry away the following articles belonging to said Martin Francisco:

2 diamond rings, a ring and one wrist watch

P500 in Cebu Emergency and Currency Notes
P1,858 in Japanese Military Notes
3 pairs white pants
2 out shirts
2 pairs shoes
1 buntal hat
1 wedding ring

on suspicion that said Martin Francisco was a guerrilla.

19. That sometime in 1944, at sitio Cabadiangan, Province of Cebu, Philippines, and within the Jurisdiction of
this Court, the accused, Cucufate Adlawan, adhering to the enemy, the Empire of Japan and its Imperial
Japanese forces, with treasonable intent to give, as he did give aid and comfort to said enemy, acting as an
informer to the enemy and in company with soldiers of the Japanese Army, did then and there wilfully,
unlawfully, feloniously and treasonably conduct and carry out a raid for the purpose of apprehending guerrillas
and as a result of which, Governor Hilario Abellana of Cebu then in hiding from said enemy, was captured.

20. That on or about February 12, 1944, in the City of Cebu, Philippines and within the Jurisdiction of this
Court, the accused, Cucufate Adlawan, adhering to the enemy, the Empire of Japan and its Imperial
Japanese Forces, with treasonable intent give, as he did give aid and comfort to said enemy, acting in his
capacity as chief undercover man, informer and spy of the Japanese Military Police, Cebu District, did then
and there, wilfully, unlawfully, feloniously and treasonably beat and strike Vicente Padilla with a baseball bat,
hang said Vicente Padilla by the arms, and otherwise torture him in an effort to extract confession of the
latter's connection with guerrillas.

21. That on or about July 19, 1944 at Cebu, City Philippines and within the Jurisdiction of this Court, the
accused, Cucufate Adlawan, adhering to the Empire of Japan and its Imperial Japanese Forces, with
treasonable intent to give, as he did give aid and comfort to said enemy, acting as chief informer and spy of
the Japanese Military Police of the Cebu District, in company with Japanese soldier and other agent of the
Japanese Military Police otherwise known as the Kempei-tai, did then and there, wilfully, unlawfully,
feloniously and treasonably arrest Bartolome Rosal, Antonio de la Serna, and Braulio Padilla and did tie up
the hands of said persons, severely inflicting wounds on them, on suspicion of being guerrillas and as
consequence of said maltreatment and torture, Braulio Padilla died a few days thereafter.

22. That on or about December 20, 1944, in the city of Cebu, Philippines and within the Jurisdiction of this
Court, the accused, Cucufate Adlawan, adhering to the enemy, Empire of Japan and its Imperial Japanese
Forces, with treasonable intent to give, as did give and comfort to said enemy, acting in his capacity as chief
informer, spy and undercover man of the Japanese Military Police of the Cebu District, did and there wilfully
unlawfully, feloniously arrest at the point of his gun, Paulita Delgado and "John Doe" her husband, on
suspicion that said persons were cooperating and helping the guerrillas and did thereafter bring said Paulita
Delgado and her husband to the Kempei-Tai headquarters and once thereat herein accused did torture them
by hanging them by their arms did otherwise maltreat them.

23. That sometime in September, 1944, at Pasil Market, Cebu City, Philippines and within the jurisdiction of
this Court the accused Cucufate Adlawan, adhering to the enemy, the Empire of Japan and Imperial
Japanese Army, with treasonable intent to give, as he did give aid and comfort to said enemy, acting in his
capacity as member of the enemy-sponsored Philippines Constabulary attached to the Japanese Military
Police, did then and there, wilfully, unlawfully, feloniously and treasonably kill Dionisio Abatol, a guerrilla, for
his activities and resistance to the said enemy.

By his plea of guilty appellant admit having committed the treasonous acts alleged in the information. But he now
pleads for modification of the sentence, contending that the lower court erred:

1. In not taking into consideration, as mitigating circumstances, the following facts:(1) voluntary surrender; (2)
the facts that the accused has been and is being utilized as witness by the CIC in cases against Japanese
soldiers under trial by the military commission; on and (3) the facts that the accused helped and saved the
lives of many civilian and from death in the hands of the Japanese;

2. In making as a matter of set-off the plea of guilty entered by the defendant-appellant on the strength of the
assurance that no death penalty would be imposed upon him;
 3. In considering, as aggravating circumstances, treachery, abuse of superiority and unnecessary cruelty;

4. In holding that the crime committed by then accused is a complex crime of treason with murder, rape and
robbery;

5. In sentencing the accused to death and to pay a fine of P20,000.

Taking up first the fourth alleged error, we find merit in the contention that appellant should not have been convicted
of the so-called "complex crime of treason with murder, robbery, and rape." The killings, robbery, and raping
mentioned in the information are therein alleged not as specific offenses but as mere elements of the crime of
treason for which the accused is being prosecuted. Being merged in and identified with the general charge, they can
not be used in combination with treason to increase the penalty under article 48 of the Revised Penal Code. (People
vs. Prieto,1 L-399, January 29, 1948.) Appellant should, therefore, be held guilty of treason only.

Appellant's claim of voluntary surrender has not been satisfactorily proved. On the other hand, his admission that he
was "taken" from the house of his mother by an agent of the CIC, is proof that he was in fact arrested. Where there
has been actual arrest the mitigating circumstance of voluntary surrender cannot be invoked (People vs. Conwi,2 40
Off. Gaz. [14th Supp.], No. 23, p. 166; People vs. Siojo, 61 Phil., 307.)

The meritorious acts which appellant claims to have performed in aid of the CIC and his countrymen have not been
established by satisfactory proof and may not in any event be considered as mitigating circumstances under the
Revised Penal Code.

There is nothing to the claim that appellant entered a plea guilty on the assurance that he would not be sentenced to
death. The claim is not supported by proof. On the other hand, it is denied by both the prosecution and the trial
court, the latter stating in its order denying appellant' motions for reconsideration that "No responsible judge can or
would advance his opinion in connection with the decision to be rendered in any case before he has properly
deliberated on the merit of the same."

There is, however, merit in the contention that the aggravating circumstances of treachery and abuse of superior
strength should not have been considered. These circumstances are "by their nature, inherent in the offense of
treason and may not be taken to aggravate the penalty." (People vs. Racaza, 82 Phil., 623) But the facts alleged in
the information show that appellant in committing the crime of treason, deliberately augmented the wrong by being
unnecessarily cruel to captured guerrilla suspects, subjecting them to barbarous forms of torture and finally putting
them to death, and as appears in count No. 18, he also chose to add ignominy to his treasonous act in arresting and
maltreating a guerrilla suspect by stripping his wife of her clothes and then abusing her together with other Filipino
girls. Clearly shown as they are by the allegations of the complaint and deemed admitted by appellant's plea of
guilty, these two aggravating circumstances of unnecessary cruelty and ignominy may be appreciated against him.
As this said in the case of People vs. Racaza, supra.

But the law does abhor inhumanity and the abuse of strength to commit acts unnecessary to the commission
of treason. There is no incompatibility between treason and decent, human treatment of prisoners. Rapes,
wanton robbery for personal grain and other forms of cruelties are condemned and their perpetration will be
regarded as aggravating circumstances of ignominy will be regarded as aggravating circumstances of
ignominy and of deliberately augmenting unnecessary wrong to the main criminal objective under paragraphs
17 and 21 of article 14 of the Revised Penal Code. The atrocities above mentioned of which the appellant is
beyond doubt guilty, fall within the term of the above paragraphs.

For the very reason that premeditation treachery and use of superior strength are adsorbed in treason
characterized by killings, the killings themselves and other and other accompanying crimes should be taken in
to consideration for measuring the degree and gravity of criminal responsibility irrespective of the manner in
which they were committed. Were not this the rule treason, the highest crime known to law, would confer on
its perpetrators advantages that are denied simple murderers. To avoid such incongruity and injustice, the
penalty in treason will be adapted, within the range provided in the Revised Penal Code, to the danger and
harm to which the culprit has exposed his exposed his country and his people and to the wrongs and injuries
that resulted from his deed. The letter and pervading spirit of the Revised Penal Code just penalties to the
perversity of the mind that conceived and carried the crime into execution. Where the system of graduating
penalties by the prescribed standards is inapplicable, as in the case of homicides connected with treason, the
method of analogies to fit the punishment with the enormity of the offense may be summoned to the service of
justice and consistency and in furtherance of the law's aims.

The penalty prescribed for the crime of treason is reclusion temporal to death and a fine of not to exceed P20,00
Giving the appellant the benefit of the mitigating circumstances of voluntary confession of guilty, but appreciating
against him the aggravating circumstances of ignominy and unnecessary cruel, the said penalty should be imposed
in its maximum. But since five member of this court are opposed to the imposition of the death penalty in this case,
the appellant can only be sentenced to reclusion perpetua and a fine of P20,000.
Wherefore, the judgment below is modified in the sense that the appellant is declared guilty of treason and
sentenced to reclusion perpetua and to pay a fine of P20,000, with costs in this instance de oficio.

Moran, C.J., Paras, Feria, Pablo, Perfecto, Bengzon, Briones, Tuason and Montemayor, JJ., concur.

Footnotes
2 71 Phil., 595.

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