Death Caused in a Tumultuous Affray, kasong dulot ng rambulan

ni Atty. Persida Rueda-Acosta @Magtanong Kay Attorney | Mar. 14, 2025

Dear Chief Acosta,

May nagsabi sa amin na may krimen diumano na tinatawag na Death Caused in a Tumultuous Affray o ang kamatayan na naidulot sa isang magulong awayan. Aniya, ito diumano ang tamang kaso at hindi Homicide kapag “rambulan” ang dahilan ng pagkasawi.  Kaugnay nito, tama ba na gamitin ang nasabing probisyon ng batas kapag ang ebidensya ay tinutukoy na mayroong tatlong lalaki ang sangkot sa isang awayan na tila nagrambulan, bagaman lumalabas din na napagtulungan ng dalawa ang isa? — Celine

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Dear Celine, 

Ang sagot sa iyong mga katanungan ay binigyang-linaw ng ating batas at mga kaugnay na desisyon ng Korte Suprema. Para sa iyong kaalaman, ang basehan ng krimeng tinatawag na Death Caused in a Tumultuous Affray, o kamatayan na naidulot sa isang magulong awayan, ay matatagpuan sa Artikulo 251 ng Act No. 3815, o mas kilala sa tawag na “Revised Penal Code of the Philippines,” viz.:

“Article 251. Death caused in a tumultuous affray. - When, while several persons, not composing groups organized for the common purpose of assaulting and attacking each other reciprocally, quarrel and assault each other in a confused and tumultuous manner, and in the course of the affray someone is killed, and it cannot be ascertained who actually killed the deceased, but the person or persons who inflicted serious physical injuries can be identified, such person or persons shall be punished by prision mayor.

If it cannot be determined who inflicted the serious physical injuries on the deceased, the penalty of prision correccional in its medium and maximum periods shall be imposed upon all those who shall have used violence upon the person of the victim.” 

Kaugnay ng nasabing probisyon ng batas, binigyang-linaw sa kasong Bitol vs. People (G.R. No. 213792, 22 June 2015) sa panulat ni Honorable Associate Justice Estela M. Perlas-Bernabe, ang mga alituntunin at requisites upang masabi na nangyari ang nasabing krimen:

 “The elements of Death Caused in a Tumultuous Affray are as follows: 

(a) that there be several persons; 

(b) that they did not compose groups organized for the common purpose of assaulting and attacking each other reciprocally; 

(c) that these several persons quarreled and assaulted one another in a confused and tumultuous manner; 

(d) that someone was killed in the course of the affray; 

(e) that it cannot be ascertained who actually killed the deceased; and 

(f) that the person or persons who inflicted serious physical injuries or who used violence can be identified.

Based on case law, a tumultuous affray takes place when a quarrel occurs between several persons and they engage in a confused and tumultuous affray, in the course of which some person is killed or wounded and the author thereof cannot be ascertained.” 

Gamit ang nabanggit na desisyon ng Korte Suprema, malinaw na mahalaga ang pagkakaroon ng kaguluhan at magulong pag-aaway o alitan, bukod sa kapwa gantihan at agresyon. Sa madaling salita, nararapat na ang mga taong sangkot ay nag-away at inatake ang isa’t isa sa isang magulong paraan. 

Sa iyong nailahad, lumabas na hindi ganito ang sitwasyon sapagkat iyong nasambit na napagtulungan ng dalawang tao ang isang biktima. Sa ganitong sitwasyon, tulad ng nabanggit ng Korte Suprema sa kaparehong kasong Bitol vs. People:

“In the instant case, there was no tumultuous affray between groups of persons in the course of which Aro died. On the contrary, the evidence clearly established that there were only two (2) persons, Wacoy and Quibac, who picked on one defenseless individual, Aro, and attacked him repeatedly, taking turns in inflicting punches and kicks on the poor victim.  There was no confusion and tumultuous quarrel or affray, nor was there a reciprocal aggression in that fateful incident.  Since Wacoy and Quibac were even identified as the ones who assaulted Aro, the latter's death cannot be said to have been caused in a tumultuous affray. Therefore, the CA correctly held that xxx the latter’s death; and as such, they must be held criminally liable therefor, specifically for the crime of Homicide.” 

Samakatuwid, kung natukoy ang salarin, lalo kung lumalabas pa na pinagtulungan ang biktima na namatay tulad ng iyong nailahad, maaaring hindi ito maituring na Death Caused in a Tumultuous Affray katulad sa naging hatol ng Korte Suprema sa nabanggit na kaso. 

Sana ay nabigyan namin ng linaw ang iyong katanungan. Ang payong aming ibinigay ay base lamang sa mga impormasyon na iyong inilahad at maaaring magbago kung mababawasan o madaragdagan ang mga detalye ng iyong salaysay. 

Maraming salamat sa iyong patuloy na pagtitiwala.