Christine Elaine M.

Honrade
L4A
Background of Facts
As I ran through the dark alleys of this labyrinth-liked city filled with gigantic buildings owned by the
elites and the reeking esteros of the destitute, I could feel the sweat falling on my forehead despite the
cold December wind piercing through my body. The whole city was probably already drowned in a deep
slumber for no one could be seen lurking around and nothing could be heard but the tapping of my shoes
as it hit the concrete. I had been roaming around this labyrinth for an hour already and trying to figure its
way out, and for the first time, I felt fatigued as if someone was slowly stealing my soul away from my
body. I stopped for a minute and grasped for air until I felt a cold slug dripping in my hands, and when I
saw it, it was covered in cold blood, and I remembered what happened earlier. I remembered everything.
Our paths crossed somewhere in Vienna, Austria where we had our first date in a rustic yet romantic
restaurant where she said the waiter was not service-oriented; our first argument when I chose not to give
money to the poet who recited a lovely poem for us; and our first kiss that turned into making love in an
open park. Somewhere in between, I asked her to marry me, and that was the start of a rocky road ahead.
When I asked for marriage, all I could picture out were happy memories with her and our future
children; a mother who cooking meals for the family, taking care of them, and showering them with her
love; a father working for the family and protecting them against all odds; a wife asking her husband how
was his day and how she could make it better; children bringing joy to their parents after a tiresome day;
and maybe, a night of making love every Friday when the children were at their grandmothers. But all of
these were almost too idealistic, almost too hard to make it into reality for Rosie and I. Almost.
The first five years of our marriage were the good years or probably the best for nothing good
followed after those joyous years. She did everything a woman does for her husband, and I did everything
a man does for his wife. Everything was good except that she could not bear a child for me, but still I
accepted such fact, I still accepted her. She still cooked for me while I worked for her, and we took care of
each other. We had no one for support but each other. At least, that is what I knew and believed in for a
long time.
She once told to me in our younger years that couples lose their ability to hear each other when they
reach old age; the woman loses her ability to hear low-pitched sounds while the man loses his ability to
hear high-pitched sounds. I guess we already reached that point in our marriage life and nullified each
other. We lost communication when we stopped caring for each other and when she blamed me for almost
everything even her own failure of not giving us a child. The love that we had for each other, the love that
connected us, the love that brought us back to each other every time we had a disagreement, that love
already died, and we died, too.
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But while we were still in the process of annulling our marriage, news reached me that she already
found another man, and she was resurrected while I remained buried six feet under the ground with my
dreams of a perfect marriage.
After I heard the news, I instantly left the coffee shop where I worked. I still had an hour before my
shift was done, but no one could stop me from confronting my now resurrected wife about such betrayal.
I rushed my car and immediately reached the new apartment she was renting with her new lover. I noticed
that the lights were turned on and assumed they were probably inside, so I knocked quite loudly than I
intended to. No one answered, and I knocked again. Still, no answer came. Unexpectedly, I was able to
open the door when I moved the knob. To my surprise, I saw both of them showing their bare bodies, my
wife lying on the florr and letting out the loudest moans I had never heard for five years while her lover
was on top of her, devouring her breasts. It seemed that they were not aware of my existence on that room
for they continued fucking each other out.
Such scenario disgusted me, angered me. The next thing I knew, I was holding a gun and shot both of
them, hoping that death would immediately greet them for their betrayal and lust. I continued the shooting
rampage for a minute, unaware that my wife and her lover already met their end. I saw nothing but their
bodies covered in cold, cold blood.
When consciousness reached me, I suddenly left the apartment and drove to nowhere until I reached
an unknown place where I left my car, and there, I ran, ran, and ran through the alleys, through the streets.
I cared not whether someone saw me. All I knew was that I must escape not from the cops, but I must
escape from the labyrinth that I created.
I stopped for a minute in an alley between two tall buildings and let out a loud cry. I did not feel any
resentment to what I did and cared not whether the cops arrested me. My hands tainted with blood were
still not washed and let it be like that.
Before sunrise, I managed to find where I left my car and returned to my house. I spent the entire day
reminiscing what happened earlier, what happened to Rosie and I, and our dead marriage. I expected the
cops to arrest me anytime of the day, so I did not come to work and chose not to inform my manager
about this because I saw no point in doing so. The day ended without accomplishing anything, and I laid
to rest.
For the whole week, I did the same routine.
Arrest
Exactly a week has passed before I committed the crime, and I was awakened by the noise outside my
apartment. When I looked at the window, I saw two police cars parked outside the house, at least six cops
probably looking for me, and a mob curious at what was happening. I went downstairs and faced the cops
without anxiety.
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Good morning, sir, said the cop with much excitement. I am Inspector Mario Mendoza, and I am
looking for a certain Theodore Ramirez. Do you happen to know such person?
Yes. In fact, I am Theodore Ramirez, I replied lazily.
Very well, then, with a little confusion, the inspector looked at his fellow policemen and replied.
We are arresting you for the murder of Mrs. Rosie Lopez Ramirez and Mr. Kristoff De Guzman. Here
is a search warrant issued by the judge of the Regional Trial Court of Makati, Branch 13.
I let them cuffed my hands while they read to me my rights.
Do you understand, asked the Inspector Mendoza.
I gave them a quick nod and replied, I do, sir.
Very well, he replied while they directed me inside the police car.
The police station was not that far from my apartment, but due to the heavy traffic, we reached it in
less than an hour. There, I was taken a mugshot and inspected. I was, then, told that I would be sent to the
Office of the Public Prosecutor for Inquest. They explained to me what it was, and I nodded as if I
understood every detail of it.
In the Office of the Public Prosecutor, I met my counsel, Atty. Hazel Manalo who asked me several
questions such as my name, age, address, status, where I worked, and the case charged against me.
Before leaving and returning to the police station, I met the mother of my ex-wife with her other
daughter. She looked aged but well-dressed, and I noticed the redness of her already swollen eyes
probably due to shedding off of so much tears. I did not know how to react and tried not to meet her gaze
filled with misery over her daughters death and rage towards her murderer, me. Before she could say
anything, she burst into tears and was comforted by her daughter who was also shedding tears.
I deeply apologize, I whispered.
No amount of apologies could bring my daughter back to life, Mrs. Lopez bawled.
I did not notice that my eyes were already wet and tears were already falling.
The policemen led me to the police car and headed towards the police station where I was locked with
the other inmates dressed in yellow like me.
After several days, I was visited by my counsel where she explained to me the arraignment that would
be done in a week.
In the arraignment, the judge will read to you criminal complaint in an open court, and you would be
asked of your plea. You may plead guilty or not guilty. If you plead guilty, you she explained.
I want to plead guilty, I interrupted her.
Are you sure about this? You see, if you plead guilty, the judge will sentence you of the
corresponding penalty. In your case, I assumed you will be charged with reclusion perpetua. That will be
twenty to forty years in prison, she further explained.
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Indeed. I committed it, Atty. I killed my wife, I raised my voice to emphasize what I did.
I suggest you better think about this. Your future relies on this, she said with great concern.
All Right. What future, anyway? I meekly replied.
Arraignment
During the arraignment, I was seated in the front row behind the two bars with my other inmates. The
trial started with clerk of court asking for everyone to rise as soon as the judged entered the court room.
He was seated in the uppermost seat indicating of his supremacy in the court. The counsels, clerk of court,
interpreter, and stenographer were seated at a lower level. The two bars divided the counsel from the
public. Indeed, the courtroom was crowded.
The clerk of court enumerated the cases to be tried at such day and asked the corresponding counsels
for such cases if they were present. When it was my turn, I stood and the interpreter recited the allegations
as stated in the criminal complaint.
Do you plead guilty of the crime charged against you that on the second day of December 2005, you
went to the apartment of your wife and did then and there willfully and feloniously shot them with your .
45 caliber gun five times each in the head causing their immediate death, asked the interpreter quite
robotically.
I did not know what to answer, and it took me a few seconds before I finally decided my plea.
Not guilty, your honor, I shook my head.
The judge, then, scheduled for another hearing three months from now. I looked at my counsel, but
she seemed not to understand of what was happening because she was still busy browsing her papers.
This irritated me for a bit because I realized that she did not care for me, at all.
The policemen lead me outside the courtroom, and I had a quick conversation with my counsel where
she repeated of my scheduled hearing on March 15, 2006. She explained that such step is the pre-trial.
Pre-trial
Three months have passed since I last entered this crowded courtroom. The same routine went where
the clerk of court asked us to rise as the judge entered. I noticed almost the same people in the same
position.
As the judge read and marked the pieces of evidence, such as the bullets found on the scene of the
crime, my fingerprints, and the gun used in the commission of the crime, complaint-affidavit executed by
the neighbor of my wife and the lover of my wife, I felt sudden nervousness which I had never felt for a
long time now. Still, I managed to remain composed although I could feel the burning eyes of the family
and friends of the victims glaring at me.
I was so deep in my thoughts that I did not notice that the pre-trial was over until the policeman was
tapped me on my shoulder instructing us to leave already. He probably noticed that I was lost in my
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thoughts that he told me that another trial was scheduled on June 15, 2015 to which I nodded
unconsciously.
Trial
On the day of my trial, the same routine was followed with the same people I saw the last time I had
been here three months ago. Several cases were enumerated, and as time passed by, more people left the
courtroom until I was the only one left with the private petitioners.
The first witness, Amie Rodriguez, took the stand. She was neighbor and friend of my wife and her
lover. She was asked to be in the witness stand, place her left hand on the bible and raise her right hand
while taking the oath.
State your name, age, and status, said the interpreter.
I am Amie P. Rodriguez, 28 years old, married, said the witness.
How do you know the victims, asked the counsel of the petitioners.
She was my neighbor and friend, sir, answered the witness.
For how long have you become neighbors?
For about 6 months when she first transferred to our village, sir.
What do you know about Mrs. Rosie Lopez-Ramirez with regard to her marital affairs?
She is still married to Mr. Theodore Ramirez, but they were in the process of annulling their
marriage because for the past five years, they were always in disagreement with each other. Due to these
constant fights, she decided to move out of their house and transferred to our village.
What do you know about her relationship with Mr. Kristoff De Guzman?
He was her boyfriend, sir.
Did she tell you when they started dating each other?
Yes, sir. About three months after she transferred to our village.
So, they were together even if Mrs. Ramirez was still married to Mr. Ramirez?
Yes, sir.
Where were you at eleven oclock in the evening of the second of December 2005?
I was in my apartment which was located beside Mrs. Ramirez apartment.
What were you doing at such time?
I was cross-stitching, sir.
Then, what happened? Did you see someone or hear anything from the nearby apartment?
I did not see anyone, but at that time, I heard several gunshots coming from Mrs. Ramirez
apartment.
Approximately, how many gunshots?
About fifteen, sir.
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Then, what happened?

I panicked but did not go out of the house out of fear. I just checked on my friend if she was okay
after half an hour. Then, I saw Mr. De Guzman lying on top of Mrs. Ramirez. Both of them were lifeless,
naked and were in a pool of blood. I also noticed several stray bullets scattered in the living room and a
gun lying near the couple.
Can you identify what kind of gun you saw?
I dont know any kinds of gun, sir.
It is a .45 caliber gun. Where exactly is the gun located?
About five inches away from the head of Mrs. Ramirez, sir.
How many stray bullets did you find?
About five, sir
Did you hear anyone who shouted or cried from the said apartment during such time?
No, sir.
Did Mr. De Guzman or Mrs. Ramirez own a .45 caliber gun?
No, sir.
So, the gun that you found was not owned by either of them?
Yes, sir.
Thats all, Your Honor, said the counsel to the judge.
I was, then, called to take the witness stand and to follow the same thing done by the witness. I placed
my left hand on the top of the bible, raised my right hand, and took the oath.
State your name, age, and status, said the interpreter.
I am Theodore R. Ramirez, 35 years old, single, I answered.
How well do you know Mrs. Rosie Lopez-Ramirez, asked Atty. Manalo.
She was my wife, I replied.
How long were you married?
For ten years.
The first five years of our marriage was a good one, but during the last five years, we did nothing but
argue, so she decided to annul our marriage and left me for good.
Do you know her new address?
Yes, she gave it to me six months ago when we met to talk about our annulment.
Do you often visit her there?
No.
Were you aware that she was dating Mr. Kristoff De Guzman?
Yes.
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When did you receive such information?

Last December 2, 2015.
Who told you of such information?
My friend and co-worker in Sevs Cafe who was also a friend of my wife.
How did you react to such news?
I was angered by it.
Where were you at the second of December 2015 at around eleven oclock in the afternoon?
I was at my wifes apartment.
Was it your first time to be there?
Yes.
Why were you there?
To confront her about her extra-marital relationship with Mr. De Guzman.
What happened when you were there already?
I knocked three times, but no one answered. I tried to turn the knob, and it opened. I immediately
saw them having sexual intercourse. I was appalled and angered at such sight, so I immediately pulled the
gun out that was attached to my belt and fired it to them.
I could hear the whispers and cries of the relatives of my wife and of Kristoff. I could see their angry
stares at me. I could hear the shocked reactions marked in their faces. I could see their disgust, their
resentment, their abhorrence towards what I did, towards me.
Order in the court, the judge almost shouted.
So, you admit murdering your wife, Atty. Manalo asked in dismay.
Yes, I answered quite nervously. But I only did that out of passion, anger and shock! I was
cheated, betrayed even! We were still married. The annulment had not yet prospered, and there she went
with another man. There she went having an extra-marital affair. I am betrayed! Thus, I have just the right
to feel resentful!, I continued, unaware that I just and was already shouting and standing.
The courtroom was in silence for what they heard from me. The judge was also not able to react from
what I did. Then, the courtroom once again erupted in whispers and shouts.
Order in the court, the judge once again shouted.
Thats all, Your Honor, Atty. Manalo said calmly and proceeded to her seat.
Amie was once again called to be in the witness stand for cross-examination. The judge reminded her
that she was still under oath.
Have you seen Mr. Theodore Ramirez before asked Atty. Manalo.
Yes, but in a picture Mrs. Ramirez showed me, answered Amie.

And are you certain that the man in the picture Mrs. Ramirez showed you is also here in the
courtroom?
Yes.
Can you point out who that person is?
Yes, she answered while pointing at me.
But you did not personally see him or his car enter or pass by Mrs. Ramirez apartment?
No.
Then what made you conclude or assumed that it was Mr. Ramirez who fired fifteen gunshots at
eleven oclock at night of the second of December?
BecauseuhhI it was only him that I know has a motive for killing Mrs. Ramirez and Mr. De
Guzman.
Why?
Because Mrs. Ramirez was having extra-marital affair with Mr. De Guzman.
Thats all, Your Honor, said Atty. Manalo to the judge.
I was called next for a cross-examination and was once again reminded by the judge that I was still
under oath. The counsel of the petitioners was glaring at me as if he knew something that I did not know
of.
You said earlier that you shot Mrs. Ramirez and Mr. De Guzman out of passion, anger and shock,
right?
Yes.
Where were you before the incident happened?
At Sevs Caf where I was working as a barista.
Until what time did you stay there?
Until ten oclock in the evening.
Why did you leave?
Because I wanted to go to my wifes apartment to confront her about her relationship with another
man.
So, you left immediately after you heard the news about your wifes relationship with another man?
Yes.
And what time did you reach his apartment?
A few minutes before eleven.
How do you know that for sure?
I looked at my watch

So, at exactly eleven oclock you were able to open the door, saw your wife having a sexual
intercourse with another man, and immediately fired gunshots to them?
Yes.
Did you have any second thoughts?
No, I was shocked at what I saw and immediately fired them the gun.
Why do you have your gun, anyway?
I always bring it whenever I go except for work where I left it on my car.
Thats all, Your Honor, said the counsel reluctantly.
Judgment and Execution
Three months had passed since my last trial, and today I would be judged. My anxiety level reached
the highest point today compared to the other days when I felt anxious. Different thoughts clouded my
mind that I did not notice where I was and what happened for the last few months. I just felt conscious
again when the clerk of court asked us to rise.
wherefore, premises considered, in Criminal Case No. RTC-2006-0083, the Court finds accused,
Theodore R. Ramirez guilty beyond reasonable doubt of Murder with a mitigating circumstance of
passion and obfuscation in accordance with Article 13, paragraph 6 of the Revised Penal Code and an
aggravating circumstance being that the crime was committed during night time in accordance with
Article 14, paragraph 6 of the Revised Penal Code, and sentences him to suffer the penalty of
imprisonment of twenty (20) years, a fine of 200,000.00 pesos, and pay the heirs of the offended party the
sum of 300,000.00 pesos, and costs of suit.