Source: http://lawlibrary.chanrobles.com/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=49789:gr-155153-2007&amp;catid=1494&amp;Itemid=566
Timestamp: 2019-04-26 04:07:02+00:00

Document:
SPO1 LORETO NERPIO, Petitioner, v. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondent.
This is a Petition for Review on Certiorari2 under Rule 45 assailing the December 3, 2001 Decision3 of the Court of Appeals (CA) and its September 5, 2002 Resolution4 which denied petitioner's Motion for Reconsideration in CA-G.R. CR No. 21493 entitled People of the Philippines v. SPO1 Loreto Nerpio. The CA affirmed the October 20, 1997 Decision5 of the Caloocan City Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 122, convicting petitioner of homicide in Criminal Case No. C-46871.
During arraignment on June 29, 1994, petitioner, assisted by his counsel,7 pleaded not guilty to the charge.8 Thereafter, trial ensued.
On October 3, 1993, petitioner SPO1 Loreto Nerpio, a member of SWAT-Intelligence Investigation Division in Sangandaan, Caloocan City, held a children's birthday party for his son at his residence at No. 13 Milagrosa Street, Bagong Barrio, Caloocan City. At about eleven (11) o'clock in the morning to twelve (12) noon, Mario Salazar and Kid Espiritu passed by petitioner's house. Petitioner then invited Salazar and Espiritu to join him and his other guests in their drinking session. Salazar left petitioner's house at around two (2) o'clock in the afternoon.
Thereafter, Nelly Villanueva, who was then waiting for a friend along Pita Street, saw Salazar walking along Tindalo Street. She also saw a man emerge from the same street who called Salazar twice. Salazar looked back, waived his right hand, and approached the man who called his name. When Salazar reached the man, the latter placed his arm over Salazar's shoulder, poked a gun at the right side of Salazar's neck, and fired it. Salazar slumped on a wall at the side of Tindalo Street. Salazar then attempted to escape but four men appeared and mauled him. Upon reaching the corner of Pita and Tindalo Streets, Salazar was shot several times and died.
The autopsy report of Dr. Florante Baltazar revealed that Salazar died of multiple gunshot wounds. He found five (5) gunshot woundsthree (3) on the head area and two (2) on the body. He also discovered one hematoma on the victim's right eye and multiple abrasions on the right side of his body.
During trial, Villanueva identified petitioner as the malefactor. However, petitioner denied the imputation and claimed alibi as defense. He maintained that on the day of the crime, he never left his house until after he heard about a shooting incident involving his cousin and Salazar. When he rushed to the scene of the crime, he saw that Salazar was already dead.
WHEREFORE, judgment is hereby rendered CONVICTING the accused, SPO1 LORETO NERPIO of the crime of Homicide under Art. 249 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended and hereby sentences him to suffer the penalty of TWELVE (12) YEARS as minimum to TWENTY (20) YEARS as maximum, with accessory penalties prescribed by law and to pay the heirs of the victim Mario Salazar the sum of [PhP] 50,000 as indemnity for the death of the said victim and to pay the amount of [PhP] 40,000 as actual and compensatory damages and to pay the costs.
Petitioner appealed to the CA. However, as earlier stated, the CA dismissed the appeal.
Whether or not the Honorable Court of Appeals seriously erred in affirming the conviction of petitioner on the basis of the lone testimony of prosecution witness Nely Villanueva.
Applying the foregoing guidelines in this case, we find no reason to overturn the factual findings of the trial and appellate courts. A careful review of the records and the transcripts shows that the RTC correctly gave credence to Villanueva's testimony.
In the present case, absent any allegation of any justifying and qualifying circumstances, the prosecution had the burden of proving the death of the victim and the responsibility of the person who caused such death. Dr. Baltazar testified to the fact of Salazar's death. However, petitioner contends that the prosecution failed to establish that he was the malefactor. He argues that testimony of the prosecution's lone witness to the crime is not credible.
In the present case, the geographical proximity of petitioner to the scene of the crime at the time of its commission was clearly established by the prosecution. Petitioner claims that at the time of the alleged killing, he was at home hosting a party. However, he also testified that it was only 150 meters away from the crime scene. He even admitted that he went to the crime scene but only after the shooting took place. Apparently, petitioner failed to show, by clear and convincing proof, that it was physically impossible for him to have been at the locus criminis.
Also, denial is a negative, self-serving evidence that cannot prevail over the positive and categorical assertion of a credible witness that accused perpetrated the crime.28 In this case, petitioner has not given strong evidence of his inculpability.
To stress, the positive assertions of the prosecution witness deserve more credence and evidentiary weight than the negative averments of the accused. Certainly, the testimony of a single eyewitness, if positive and credible, is sufficient to support a conviction29 for homicide.
WHEREFORE, the instant petition is DENIED for failure to show that a reversible error had been committed by the appellate court. The December 3, 2001 Decision and September 5, 2002 Resolution of the CA in CA-G.R. CR No. 21493 and the October 20, 1997 Decision of the Caloocan City RTC, Branch 122 in Criminal Case No. C-46871 are AFFIRMED. Costs against petitioner.
1 21 Am Jur 2d, Alibi, - 136, pp. 205-206 (2nd ed., 1965).
3 Id. at 47-63. The Decision was penned by Associate Justice Perlita J. Tria Tirona and concurred in by Associate Justices Ramon A. Barcelona and Bernardo P. Abesamis.
8 Supra note 6, at 15.
10 Supra note 2, at 60.
12 Supra note 2, at 33; original in capital letters.
13 People v. Galido, G.R. NOS. 148689-92, March 30, 2004, 426 SCRA 502, 513; People v. Penaso, G.R. No. 121980, February 23, 2000, 326 SCRA 311, 319.
18 People v. Sancha, G.R. NOS. 131818-19, February 3, 2000, 324 SCRA 646, 654.
19 People v. dela Cruz, G.R. No. 131035, February 28, 2003, 398 SCRA 415, 431; citing People v. Estorco, G.R. No. 111941, April 27, 2000, 331 SCRA 38, 51.
20 Supra note 2, at 50-60.
21 L. Reyes, The Revised Penal Code Book II 431 (13th ed., 1993).
22 People v. Malejana, G.R. No. 145002, January 24, 2006, 479 SCRA 610, 624.
23 People v. Werba, G.R. No. 144599, June 9, 2004, 431 SCRA 481, 495; People v. Malones, G.R. NOS. 124388-90, March 11, 2004, 425 SCRA 318, 339.
24 People v. Agomo-o, G.R. No. 131829, June 23, 2000, 334 SCRA 279, 301.
25 People v. Abendan, G.R. No. 131813, September 29, 2000, 341 SCRA 404, 413; People v. Fabro, G.R. No. 109578, August 27, 1997, 278 SCRA 304, 310.
26 People v. Valdez, G.R. No. 127753, December 11, 2000, 347 SCRA 594, 602.
27 People v. Manzano, G.R. No. 138303, November 26, 2001, 370 SCRA 515, 528.
28 People v. Bulan, G.R. No. 143404, June 8, 2005, 459 SCRA 550, 576; People v. Espinosa, G.R. No. 138742, June 15, 2004, 432 SCRA 86, 100; People v. Layugan, G.R. NOS. 130493-98, April 28, 2004, 428 SCRA 98, 115.
29 People v. Pascual, G.R. No. 127761, April 28, 2000, 331 SCRA 252, 262; People v. Pirame, G.R. No. 121998, March 9, 2000, 327 SCRA 552, 563.

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