SC affirms Singcol's parricide conviction, reduces sentence

The Supreme Court has affirmed Leopoldo Singcol's conviction for parricide but reduced his sentence due to mitigating circumstances.

Singcol killed his father after years of abuse triggered a sudden emotional outburst during an argument, leading to the conviction and modified penalty.

The high court ruled that passion or obfuscation resulting from long-term emotional trauma qualifies as a mitigating factor under Article 13 of the Revised Penal Code.

Both the Regional Trial Court and the Court of Appeals had convicted Singcol for parricide but did not consider the mitigating circumstances, which the Supreme Court emphasized corroborated by his self-harm after the incident.

Singcol was sentenced to reclusion perpetua, or up to 40 years in prison, along with damages for each victim's heirs.

The court also upheld Singcol's conviction and sentence of reclusion perpetua for the murder of his sister-in-law.