Facts:

• The case involves the murder of Federico Bangayan in Narra, Palawan.
• The accused-appellants, Eddie Fontanilla and Bobby Soriano, were charged with the crime of murder.
• Two prosecution witnesses, Rosalinda Bangayan and Alfonso Ducejo, identified the accused-appellants as the assailants.
• Rosalinda Bangayan's identification was based on the suggestion of third parties and she only revealed the identity of the accused-appellants during the trial, seven months after the crime.
• Alfonso Ducejo's testimony was pure conjecture and speculation as he did not witness the actual killing.
• The court found that the identification of the accused-appellants was not reliable.
• The prosecution failed to establish a motive for the alleged robbery, as no evidence was presented to prove that anything was taken from the victim's house.
• The widow's act of giving money to the police authorities was considered a bribe and compromised the fairness of the investigation.
• The extrajudicial confession of Eddie Fontanilla was inadmissible as it was taken without the assistance of counsel.

Issue:

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Ruling:

• The charge against the accused-appellants must be dismissed.
• The decision of the lower court is reversed....(Unlock)

Ratio:

• A judgment of conviction demands positive identification of the accused beyond reasonable doubt.
• Rosalinda Bangayan's identification of the accused-appellants was not reliable as it was based on the suggestion of third parties and she only revealed their identity during the trial, seven months after the crime.
• Alfonso Ducejo's testimony was pure conjecture and speculation as he did not witness the actual killing.
• The prosecution failed to establish a motive for the alleged robbery ...continue reading