G.R. No.

L-743

October 11, 1949

THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee,

vs.
POLICARPIO DUMAPIT, defendant-appellant.
Facts:
This is an appeal from a judgement of the Peoples Court.
Appellant, Policarpio Dumapit was found guilty of treason and was penalize with
reclusion perpetua. He was charged of six counts, but the Peoples Court based
appellants conviction only on count 4 and 6. The appellant is alleged to have caused,
with the aid of a group of constabulary soldiers, that 8 guerrillas were investigated and
tortured by the soldiers and the Japanese. But in the information gathered there was
insufficient evidence that Policarpio Dumapit committed treason:
In Count 4, 3 victims were presented but two of them admitted that they were
investigated for, and was suspected of arson, the other victim however admitted that the
appellant helped him and his companions to be released. In Count 6, there was only
one witness for the prosecution.
(the appellant was before a corporal of Manila Harbor Police and was the one entrusted
with the task of taking the personal properties of the family of President Quezon.)
Issue:
Whether or not defendant-appellant is guilty of treason.
Held:
No. The defendant-appellant is not guilty of treason. Aside from the fact that the
appellant denied having had any hand in the arrest in question, the circumstance
remains that said arrest was effected as a result of the common crime of arson. The
matter had no treasonous significance and those arrested were confined for almost the
whole period of their detention in the provincial jail, and not in the Japanese garrison.
The Supreme Court ruled that the appealed judgment be reversed and the appellant be
acquitted.

Thata Gayamat LLB 1

Thata Gayamat LLB 1