Facts:

• The case "People vs. Bustos" (G.R. No. L-35475) involves Delfin Bustos, who was charged with the murder of Cristorey Lopez on September 18, 1968, at Lopez Apartments in San Matias, Sto. Tomas, Pampanga.
• The incident arose from a rivalry over a taxi-dancer.
• Evidence indicated that Bustos, along with his uncle Engracio and co-accused Pablito Bungay, forcibly removed Lopez from an apartment before Bustos shot him with a .22 caliber revolver.
• Eyewitness Rodolfo Ortoleza, a 13-year-old boy, testified that he witnessed the shooting.
• Before dying two hours later, Lopez informed his brother Jesus that Bustos was his attacker.
• The trial court convicted Delfin of murder, acquitted Engracio due to reasonable doubt, and archived the case against Pablito pending arrest.
• Delfin appealed, challenging the sufficiency of the evidence.

Issue:

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Ruling:

• The Supreme Court affirmed the trial court's decision, upholding Delfin Bustos's conviction for murder.
• The court found the evidence, including eyewitness testimony and the victim's dying declaration, sufficient for conviction.
• It determined that treachery was present and that Busto...(Unlock)

Ratio:

• The Supreme Court emphasized the significance of the trial court's factual findings, which were supported by credible eyewitness accounts.
• Rodolfo Ortoleza's testimony was considered direct and reliable, with minor inconsistencies not affecting his credibility.
• The court noted that the accused's denials could not outweigh the positive identification of Bustos as the shooter.
• The vi...continue reading