(the future) Atty.

Marielllliiieee ^^,

Random musings of a surviving law student :)

Villareal vs People (Lenny Villa Case)

Facts:

February 1991- 7 freshmen law students of ADMU signified their intention to join the Aquila Legis
fraternity. They were met by members of AL at the lobby of Ateneo Law. They were informed that
there will be physical beatings and that they can quit anytime. The rites were scheduled to last 3
days. They were subjected to traditional Aquilan initiation rites such as the Indian Run, Bicol
Express, Rounds, Auxies Privilege Round, rough basketball, comic plays, and other forms of
paddling. Lenny received several blows, one of which was so strong that it sent him sprawling to
the ground. When they were already sleeping, the neophytes were roused by Lennys shivering
and mumblings. He was brought to the hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Held:

No crime without a law punishing it

Thus, having in mind the potential conflict between the proposed law and the core principle
of mala in seadhered to under the Revised Penal Code, Congress did not simply enact an
amendment thereto. Instead, it created a special law on hazing, founded upon the principle
of mala prohibita. This dilemma faced by Congress is further proof of how the nature of hazing
unique as against typical crimes cast a cloud of doubt on whether society considered the
act as an inherently wrong conduct or mala in seat the time.
Consequently, the collective acts of the fraternity members were tantamount to recklessness,
which made the resulting death of Lenny a culpable felony. It must be remembered that
organizations owe to their initiates a duty of care not to cause them injury in the process. With
the foregoing facts, we rule that the accused are guilty of reckless imprudence resulting in
homicide. Since the NBI medico-legal officer found that the victims death was the cumulative
effect of the injuries suffered, criminal responsibility redounds to all those who directly
participated in and contributed to the infliction of physical injuries
Our finding of criminal liability for the felony of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide
shall cover only accused Tecson, Ama, Almeda, Bantug, and Dizon. Had the Anti-Hazing Law
been in effect then, these five accused fraternity members would have all been convicted of the
crime of hazing punishable by reclusion perpetua(life imprisonment). Since there was no law
prohibiting the act of hazing when Lenny died, we are constrained to rule according to existing
laws at the time of his death.
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MAY 8, 2015 BY MARIELDAVID

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