People v. Leodegario Bascugin y Agquiz

Summary

This criminal appeal involved Leodegario Bascugin who was convicted of rape with homicide for attacking victim AAA on June 4, 1999 in Balayan, Batangas. The victim was last seen boarding Bascugin's tricycle and was later found dead with 13 stab wounds and evidence of sexual assault. The case went through multiple proceedings due to invalid initial arraignment, with the accused changing pleas several times. The conviction was based on strong circumstantial evidence including the victim being last seen with the accused, physical evidence linking him to the crime (bloodstained clothes, DNA evidence), and most decisively, his judicial confession admitting to raping and killing the victim. The Supreme Court affirmed the conviction, emphasizing that the judicial confession was freely given and consistent with the circumstantial evidence. The Court modified the penalty to reclusion perpetua due to the abolition of the death penalty and awarded damages totaling P250,000 to deter similar crimes and provide justice to the victim's family.