Source: http://lawlibrary.chanrobles.com/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=51699:gr-175692-2008&amp;catid=1510&amp;Itemid=566
Timestamp: 2019-04-18 19:03:42+00:00

Document:
ANGEL UBALES y VELEZ, Petitioner, v. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondent.
While the correctness of a Decision is not impaired solely by the fact that the writer took over from a colleague who had earlier presided at trial, it is the bounden duty of appellate courts to even more closely examine the testimonies of the witnesses whose deportment the writer was not able to observe.
This is a Petition for Review on Certiorari under Rule 45 of the Rules of Court seeking the reversal of the Decision1 of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CR No. 28813 dated 30 November 2006. The Court of Appeals affirmed with modification the Decision of the Regional Trial Court of Manila, Branch 33, in Criminal Case No. 01-196713 finding petitioner Angel Ubales y Velez (Ubales) guilty of the crime of homicide.
On the same date, the Executive Judge issued an Order of Release in view of a personal bail bond filed by Ubales.
On 19 November 2001, petitioner Ubales, assisted by counsel, pleaded not guilty of the offense charged.
The prosecution presented as witnesses Eduardo Galvan, SPO1 Eduardo E. Ko, Laila Cherry Cruz, SPO2 Rosales M. Fernandez, P/Chief Inspector Carlos G. Mendez, and Efigenia Santos. The prosecution also presented as evidence Medico Legal Report No. W-737-2001 and the receipt of the funeral expenses incurred.
Laila Cherry Cruz, the sister of Mark Santos, testified that on 16 October 2001, at about 8 p.m., petitioner Ubales and the deceased Mark Santos (Mark) were drinking liquor in front of the victim's house at 4334 Interior 5 Albina Street, Sta. Mesa, Manila. They were with a group which included a certain Jon-Jon, Solo Perez, and Jojo Santos. In the course of their carousal, Ubales and Mark engaged in an argument about the former calling the latter's cousin a homosexual. Mark told Ubales not to meddle because he (Ubales) did not know what was happening within his (Mark's) family. The argument was soon apparently resolved, with Ubales patting the shoulders of Mark.
The carousal ended at 1 a.m. the following day. Mark and Ubales went inside the house. Ubales asked permission from Laila Cruz to use their comfort room. Before Ubales went inside the comfort room, Laila Cruz saw Ubales place his gun with black stripes on top of the dining table. Mark asked permission from his mother to bring Ubales to his house in J.P. Laurel Street and also asked for money so that they could eat lugaw on their way there. Mark and Ubales then left.
Eduardo Galvan (Galvan), a 65-year old balut vendor and the best friend of the deceased Mark Santos, testified that at 3 a.m. in the morning of 17 October 2001, while he was selling balut near the MalacaÃ±ang area, he saw Mark and Ubales quarreling around a meter away from him. The argument lasted for about three minutes, culminating with Ubales taking out his gun and shooting Mark on the head. Galvan is certain about this, as he was still only one meter away from Mark and Ubales when the former shot the latter, and the place was well-illuminated. When Mark fell, Ubales ran towards Atienza Street. Galvan also testified that he was an acquaintance of Ubales for about five months prior to the incident.
SPO1 Eduardo Ko testified that he was assigned as the night-shift investigator of the Homicide Section of the Western Police District (WPD) when he received a report at around 3:55 a.m. of 17 October 2001 that a body was found at Jose P. Laurel St. corner Matienza St., San Miguel, Manila. Upon arrival thereat, he, together with SPO1 Benito Cabatbat, saw Mark's body, which had no injury other than a gunshot wound on the forehead, lying on its left side. The gunshot appeared to have been fired at close range because it had powder burns around the entry of the wound. They proceeded to interview people at the scene, during which time a barangay official named Abraham Sison turned over a .38 Caliber snub nose paltik revolver with three live bullets and one empty shell. The gun was recovered several meters away from where the victim's body was found.
SPO2 Rosales Fernandez testified that at around 3 p.m. of 25 October 2001, while he was at home, Laila Cruz approached him and asked for his assistance in apprehending Ubales who was spotted near the MalacaÃ±ang area. SPO2 Fernandez reported to the Homicide Section of the WPD that a murder suspect was seen in the vicinity of MalacaÃ±ang. SPO2 Fernandez and Laila Cruz then proceeded to J. P. Laurel Street, where Laila Cruz pointed at the person she identified to be the one who killed her brother. SPO2 Fernandez, introducing himself as a police officer, approached Ubales. SPO2 Fernandez found out that Ubales was a former member of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Special Action Force. He apprised Ubales of his rights and invited him to go to the PNP Field Force for proper investigation. Ubales told SPO2 Fernandez that he would voluntarily join him to prove to him that he was not in hiding. Before going to the PNP Field Force, SPO2 Fernandez and Ubales went to the Philippine General Hospital in order to have Ubales undergo a medical examination. SPO2 Fernandez and Ubales proceeded to the PNP MalacaÃ±ang Field Force to coordinate with them, since the latter made the initial investigation of the shooting incident. At the MalacaÃ±ang Field Force, Ubales was brought to the Homicide Section for investigation and description. SPO2 Fernandez admitted during cross examination that the arrest of Ubales came before witness Galvan appeared and executed a sworn statement.
P/Chief Inspector Carlos G. Mendez, a forensic firearm examiner, testified that on 5 November 2001, he received a .38 caliber paltik revolver with three bullets and one empty shell from Desk Officer PO2 Lopez. He examined it by firing the same. The gun was marked as Exhibit "H". Laila Cruz then testified that said gun was the same one she saw Mark place on the dining table the night before her brother was killed.
The prosecution and the defense stipulated that the cause of death of Mark was a gunshot wound, frontal region, measuring 0.5 x 0.4 cm, 3 cm right of the anterior midline, with a uniform collar measuring 0.2 and an area of tattooing measuring 6x5 cm, directed posteriorward, downward and medialward, fracturing the frontal bone, lacerating both cerebral hemisphere of the brain, with a deformed slug recovered at the cerebellum as stated in the Crime Laboratory report prepared and signed by Dr. Romeo Salen, the medico-legal officer of OIC WPDCLO, documented as Medico-Legal Report No. W-737-2001.
After the prosecution rested its case, Ubales filed a Motion to File Demurrer to Evidence on the ground that the prosecution presented insufficient evidence to destroy the presumption of innocence of the accused. The trial court denied the Motion and accordingly set the hearing for presentation of the evidence of the defense.
Ubales testified that on 16 October 2001, at around 6 or 7 p.m., he went to the home of his friend Guido Almosera on Uli-Uli Street, where he saw Joseph Karunungan, Rico Sison, Eric Marquez and Henry Ponce.
The group was initially engaged in light conversation until Guido Almosera brought out some liquor while they were playing the guitar. Ubales stayed with the group until 10 p.m., when he left for Sta. Mesa to go to the house of a certain Alex to meet a man named Boy. He arrived at Alex's house at around 11 p.m., but left immediately when he learned that Boy was already asleep. Along the way, he saw Mark who had been having a drinking spree with other persons. He decided to join the group for a while before returning home.
At around 12 midnight, Ubales bade leave to go home. Mark went along with him to the place where he could get a ride home. They parted ways and Ubales got on a jeep which he rode to J.P. Laurel Street. He stopped by a 7-Eleven convenience store and bought something to eat before proceeding home.
On the way home, Ubales saw the group of Guido Almosera still having drinks. He decided to join them again until around 1 a.m. of 17 October 2001.
Ubales testified that although he is a former policeman, he no longer had a gun and that his sidearm is in the custody of the WPD. He stated further that he was arrested without a warrant.
The defense also presented the testimonies of Guido Almosera and Henry Norman Ponce. Both witnesses essentially corroborated the testimony of Ubales that he was with their group from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on 16 October 2001 and then from around 12:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. of 17 October 2001.
Ubales' sister, Irene Riparip, testified that her brother was at their home until around 7:00 p.m. on 16 October 2001, and he returned around 1 a.m. in the morning of 17 October 2001. She stated that Ubales did not leave the house after he returned because she stayed awake until 4 a.m.
WHEREFORE, the prosecution having established the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt, judgment is hereby rendered CONVICTING the accused as principal in the crime of homicide and he is sentenced to suffer the indeterminate penalty of ten (10) years of Prision Mayor as minimum, to fourteen (14) years, eight (8) months and one (1) day medium of Reclusion Temporal, as maximum.
WHETHER OR NOT THE EVIDENCE FOR THE PROSECUTION PROVES THAT PETITIONER COMMITTED THE CRIME CHARGED BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT.
Petitioner Ubales claims that the prosecution has failed to prove his guilt beyond reasonable doubt, and the Court of Appeals had erred in giving credence to Galvan's testimony which allegedly defies common experience.
After a meticulous review of the records of the case at bar, we are constrained to agree with petitioner Ubales.
Petitioner Ubales was arrested on 25 October 2001, eight days after Mark's body was found. Ubales' arrest was made by SPO2 Rosales Fernandez at the insistence of Laila Cruz, who approached SPO2 Fernandez for assistance in apprehending Ubales. Up to the time of this arrest, the only piece of evidence which remotely links Ubales to the killing of Mark Santos is the recovery of a gun resembling a gun allegedly seen by Laila Cruz in his (Ubales') possession the night Mark was killed. This gun found several meters away from where Mark's body was found but was never identified as the gun where the bullet that killed Mark came from. All that the forensic firearm examiner testified to about this gun was that this is a .38 caliber paltik revolver with three bullets and one empty shell. The slug found in the head of Mark was never subjected to a ballistic examination, either.
It was at this point, when Angel Ubales had already been arrested despite the lack of evidence clearly linking him to the crime, that Mark Santos' best friend, balut vendor Eduardo Galvan, appeared and executed a sworn statement that he was an eyewitness to the killing of Mark Santos. He proceeded to identify Angel Ubales without the benefit of a police line-up. Thereafter, he became the star witness in the prosecution of Angel Ubales.
A: I forgot the name of the street.
A: I forgot the surname but the name is Mark.
A: I cannot recall the surname.
Q: Now you said there was a quarrel between Angel and Mark. Where were you when you saw them quarreling, how far were you from them?
A: About one (1) meter more or less.
Q: How long did they quarrel?
A: About three (3) minutes.
A: Angel suddenly drew something.
A: Gun, sir, a shining gun.
May we put on record that witness is demonstrating his hand pulling a gun pointing upward.
A: From his right waist and shot.
A: Shot and hit the victim.
A: He fell to the ground.
Q: How far were you from these two (2) people Angel and Mark when Angel shot Mark?
A: Only one (1) meter away, I was near the flower box.
Q: And what is the condition of the place, what (sic) it dark or bright?
A: There was a light there.
A: There is an electric bulb.
Q: How far were these two people referring to Mark and Angel Ubales when Angel Ubales shot Mark?
A: About one (1) meter away.
A: About one (1) arm length.
Q: You said that after Ubales shot Mark he fell down, what happened to Ubales?
Since the alleged eyewitness was the best friend and acquaintance of the victim since childhood, Galvan's testimony pointing to the accused as the perpetrator must be subjected to a rigid test which should demonstrate beyond cavil his truthfulness, honesty and rectitude as actual eyewitness to the perpetration of the criminal act.8 Galvan's account is nowhere probable under the circumstances. As argued by the defense, there can be only two ways by which Galvan could have witnessed the altercation based on his testimony that he saw the whole thing within one meter from him. First, Galvan walked towards the protagonists and stopped within one meter from them during their three minutes of altercation. Second, Galvan was already at the place where he saw the protagonists, who walked towards him, and stopped within one meter from him to engage in their quarrel.
Upon further inquiry from Judge Romulo Lopez, the judge who had heard the testimony of Galvan, but not the one who penned the RTC Decision, we learned from Galvan that it was the first of the two options: he was walking from the checkpoint at MalacaÃ±ang towards Legarda Street before the incident.
At the onset, we can easily see that Galvan's version of the facts raises very serious questions. Why would Eduardo Galvan, a 65-year old man, stop one meter away from two quarreling men at the very dangerous hour of 3 a.m. and stay there to watch for three minutes as if what he was witnessing is a movie scene? How come neither Angel Ubales, nor Galvan's best friend, Mark, acknowledge Galvan's presence for the entire three minutes that they were all were barely one meter from each other, and in a well-illuminated place at that? After Angel Ubales ran away following his shooting of Mark, why did Galvan simply leave his bloodied best friend to die on the pavement? We should take note that Eduardo Galvan could not claim to be afraid at this point, as he had already seen Angel Ubales flee.
A: I cannot estimate how far is the place of the incident and the house of Mark.
A: From 8:00 o'clock in the evening up to 3:00 o'clock in the morning.
A: It was only delivered to me.
A: In the house of my friend.
Q: Where is that Palawan St.
A: About thirty (30) pieces.
A: I cannot estimate, I just walk and walk.
A: About 3:00 o'clock in the morning.
A: 3:00 o'clock in the morning.
A: I do not know the owner of the balot, it was just delivered to me.
A: 40 pieces of balot.
A: The balot was delivered to me.
A: When I went to the place.
Q: How about the sisters and brothers, do you know them?
A: I don't know but I know his face.
A: Also I know her by face.
Q: How many brothers has this Mark?
A: I do not know Your Honor.
A: He has sister how many I do not know Your Honor.
A: I do not know the school.
A: I came from Legarda.
A: I cannot tell the time I was just walking.
He do not know the exact place.
That is why I am asking leading question to the witness Your Honor.
A: I cannot remember the gate.
A: I cannot remember because it was night time.
A: I do not know the schools.
Do you know St. Jude Church?
Q: You also do not know the hospital in front or opposite St. Jude church?
Q: I am asking you facing the gate of MalacaÃ±ang, do you know the first street in the right when you are standing at Mendiola?
A: I went to the police station myself.
A: Because I was bothered by my conscience.
A: On the following day I narrated it to them the incident.
A: The wake was held at the Arlington.
Upon reading Galvan's testimony, we do not find the same sufficient to prove Ubales' guilt beyond any reasonable doubt. While the correctness of a Decision is not impaired solely by the fact that the writer took over from a colleague who had earlier presided at trial, it is the bounden duty of appellate courts to even more closely examine the testimonies of the witnesses whose deportment the writer was not able to observe.
The prosecution seeks to establish Ubales' motive in killing Mark by the alleged altercation between the two during their drinking spree. However, as testified by Laila Cruz herself, the argument was soon apparently resolved, with Ubales patting the shoulders of Mark Santos.
Furthermore, in both versions of the facts, Mark had been gracious enough to accompany Ubales after their carousal, clearly showing that whatever misunderstanding they had during their drinking spree was already resolved. If Galvan's version of the facts is to be believed, Ubales and Mark had even been together for a several hours more before Mark was killed. We have ruled that though the general rule is that motive is not essential to a conviction especially where the identity of the assailant is duly established by other competent evidence or is not disputed, the absence of such motive is important in ascertaining the truth as between two antagonistic theories or versions of the killing.11 Proof as to motive is essential when the evidence on the commission of the crime is purely circumstantial or inconclusive.12 Verily, the dominating rule is that, with respect to the credibility of witnesses, this Court has always accorded the highest degree of respect to the findings of the trial court, unless there is proof of misappreciation of evidence - which is precisely the situation in the case at bar.
Ubales told SPO2 Fernandez that he would voluntarily join him to prove to him that he was not in hiding. Ubales then cooperated fully with SPO2 Fernandez, allowing himself to undergo a medical examination, which apparently yielded nothing as the findings thereof was not presented as evidence, and going with the SPO2 Fernandez to the PNP MalacaÃ±ang Field Force. Flight evidences guilt and guilty conscience: the wicked flee, even when no man pursues, but the righteous stand fast as bold as a lion.13 In all, we find it hard to lend credence to the testimony of the lone alleged eyewitness.
We have said that it is better to acquit ten guilty individuals than to convict one innocent person.14 Every circumstance against guilt and in favor of innocence must be considered.15 Where the evidence admits of two interpretations, one of which is consistent with guilt, and the other with innocence, the accused must be given the benefit of doubt and should be acquitted.16 In the instant case, while it is possible that the accused has committed the crime, there is also the possibility, based on the evidence presented, that he has not. He should be deemed to have not for failure to meet the test of moral certainty. Finally, an accused should not be convicted by reason of the weakness of his alibi. It is fundamental that the prosecution must prove its case beyond reasonable doubt and must not rely on the weakness of the evidence of the defense.17 Since there are very serious doubts in the testimony of the lone eyewitness to the killing of Mark Santos, we have no choice but to acquit petitioner Angel Ubales on the ground of reasonable doubt.
Having ruled that the prosecution has failed to prove the guilt of petitioner beyond a reasonable doubt, the second issue, which relates to the temperate damages which petitioner would have been liable for had he been found guilty, is now mooted.
WHEREFORE, the Decision of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CR No. 28813 dated 30 November 2006 is REVERSED and SET ASIDE. Petitioner Angel Ubales y Velez is hereby ACQUITTED of the crime of homicide on account of reasonable doubt.
* Per Special Order No. 531, dated 20 October 2008, signed by Acting Chief Justice Leonardo A. Quisumbing, designating Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio to replace Associate Justice Ma. Alicia Austria-Martinez, who is on leave.
** Per Special Order No. 521, dated 29 September 2008, signed by Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno, designating Associate Justice Adolfo S. Azcuna to replace Associate Justice Ruben T. Reyes, who is on official leave.
*** Associate Justice Arturo D. Brion was designated to sit as additional member replacing Associate Justice Antonio Eduardo B. Nachura per Raffle dated 22 October 2008.
1 Penned by Associate Justice Mariflor P. Punzalan Castillo with Associate Justices Andres B. Reyes, Jr. and Hakim S. Abdulwahid concurring. Rollo, pp. 18-40.
6 TSN, 22 January 2002, pp. 4-9.
7 People v. Mala, 458 Phil. 180, 193 (2003).
8 People v. Delmendo, 196 Phil. 121, 140 (198).
9 TSN, 22 January 2002, pp. 14-22.
11 People v. Boholst - Caballero, 158 Phil. 827, 840 (1974).
12 People v. Aniel, 185 Phil. 122, 132-133 (1980).
13 People v. Acosta, Sr., 444 Phil. 385, 415 (2003), citing People v. Rabanal, 402 Phil. 709, 717 (2001); People v. Gregorio, 325 Phil. 689, 706 (1996).
14 Reyes v. Court of Appeals, 335 Phil. 206, 217 (1997).
15 People v. Clores, 210 Phil. 51, 59 (1983).
16 People v. Mijares, 358 Phil. 154, 166 (1998).
17 People v. Tabayoyong, 192 Phil. 234, 256-257 (1981).

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