Reports say that there were friends of friends (FFs) who were not original invitees to the soirée. In that case, it might not be the friends (Fs) themselves who did the crime but the FFs. Do the Fs have any liability in that case?

Possible scenarios which will make the Fs guilty:

1) If the prosecution is able to prove that the Fs have expressly conspired with the FFs to commit the crime.

For example, the FFs saw Fs together with the victim in an instagram post and thereafter proposed to the Fs their plan to rape the victim and the Fs agreed, or vice versa. Ito yung sinasabing “sinet up” yung victim.

2) If there is an implied conspiracy, meaning, there was no original plan to rape the victim. It happened in a spur of a moment but the Fs and the FFs did several acts towards a common criminal objective.

For example, F invited an FF and there was no agreed plan to rape the victim. FF brought drugs. While under the influence of drugs, Fs and FFs all raped the victim.

NB: In both types of conspiracy, the Fs and FFs shall be equally liable for the crime regardless of their participation. In conspiracy, the act of one is the act of all.

3) If there is no criminal intent on the part of the Fs, meaning, nag-invite lang talaga sila ng friends in good faith, they may still be liable as accessories if it is proven that they concealed/destroyed evidence, assisted the escape of the main offenders, etc.

Be careful on who you trust. Be prudent in inviting outside guests. Know your limits (alcohol man yan o drugs). Don’t be afraid/shy to say no if you’re uncomfortable. Most of all, stop victim blaming, cos puta, tanga ka ba?

What if ito naman? Depende sa acts nila before, during, or after the commission of the crime. In any case, there must be an overt act performed by the accused in pursuance of the criminal design. https://twitter.com/benedict_cua/status/1346121537368125442

In Pp v. Tuballas, the appellant was declared to be a co-conspirator kahit di naman niya technically ni-rape yung victim. It was proven that he recorded the incident and prevented a person who tried to stop the raping. May overt act na intended to achieve the criminal design.

I’m with you in seeking #JusticeForChristineDacera. Nevertheless, let’s all be careful in sharing the photos of the suspects and maligning them online, lest we expose ourselves to a possible case of cyber libel. Ingat lang po.