CASE DIGEST: People of the Philippines v. Pisalvo

 


People of the Philippines v. Pisalvo
G.R. No. L-32886 | Oct.23, 1981

 

FACTS:

In the evening of Nov. 16, 1969, Narciso and his wife Anecita Iglesia, were loading their personal effects in a truck in front of the house of Benito Florendo. Narciso was going up the rear of the truck when he was suddenly shot. Narciso fell on the ground and dies. The shooting was witnessed by Anecita who was about 1 ½ meters from the truck. Florendon reported the killing to the police. The policemen found empty cartridges near the rear of the truck. Anecita told them that she suspected Pisalvo and Balatchica as the killers of her husband. She claimed that the 2 defendants, who are uncles of the victim, threated and attempted to kill him before the fatal night because the victim failed to bring them a lost gun they wanted.

ISSUE:

Whether or not proof of motive is sufficient to support a conviction

RULING:

Motive for killing alone cannot replace proof of reasonable doubt. The court ruled that even when there exists an apparent motivation for the murder, there is still need for evidence, both competent and credible to prove his guilt. During trial, Anecita’s testimony is cluttered with contradiction and so humanly unrealistic that her credibility is damaged.


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