Facts:

• The case involves Luciano Albores y Taran, alias Dodong, charged with Murder and Frustrated Murder.
• The incidents occurred on May 10, 1987, at around 4:00 a.m. in Purok 2, sitio Ipunan, barangay Romago-oc, municipality of Kibawe, province of Bukidnon.
• Albores allegedly stabbed Eugenia Gumapac, causing her instantaneous death, and also stabbed Ellen Gumapac, causing injuries that would have been fatal without timely medical intervention.
• The trial court found Albores guilty beyond reasonable doubt, sentencing him to Reclusion Perpetua for Murder and an indeterminate penalty of six to twelve years for Frustrated Murder.
• Albores appealed, arguing that the trial court erred in favoring the prosecution's evidence over his alibi.
• The defense claimed Albores was in Kanapolo, Magsaysay, Davao del Sur, approximately 200 kilometers away, at the time of the incident.
• Defense witnesses testified seeing him at a church service on the morning of May 10, 1987.
• Prosecution's rebuttal witness, Myrna Casinabe, testified seeing Albores cast his vote in Romago-oc on May 11, 1987, contradicting his alibi.
• The trial court favored the testimony of Ellen Gumapac, the lone eyewitness, over the defense's alibi.

Issue:

• (Unlock)

Ruling:

• The Supreme Court reversed the trial court's decision and acquitted Luciano Albores y Taran based on reasonable doubt.
• He was ordered to be immediate...(Unlock)

Ratio:

• The Supreme Court emphasized the constitutional presumption of innocence and the need for the prosecution to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.
• The Court noted that while alibi is generally a weak defense, it should not be dismissed if it raises reasonable doubt about the accused's guilt.
• The trial court's reliance on Myrna Casinabe's testimony, which only contradicted the accused's whereabouts on May 11, 1987...continue reading