Facts:

The case involves the defendants-appellants Timoteo Cruz, alias Capt. Tommy, and Felipe de la Cruz, alias Philip, who were charged with the crime of murder. The incident occurred on August 9, 1955, at around 4:00 a.m. in Tondo, Manila. The victim, Manuel Valencia, was shot at close range while he was haggling with a fruit vendor. Eliseo Cruz, who was with Valencia at the time, witnessed the shooting and identified Felipe de la Cruz as the person who shot Valencia. Another shot was fired from a different location, and Eliseo saw Timoteo Cruz standing in the railroad track nearby. Valencia was brought to the hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. The issue in the case is the identity of the killer and his associates.

Issue:

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Ruling:

The Court of First Instance of Manila convicted appellants Timoteo Cruz and Felipe de la Cruz of the crime of murder and sentenced them to life imprisonment. The court also ordered them to jointly an...(Unlock)

Ratio:

1. The alibi defense presented by the accused is not tenable in the face of positive identification by disinterested witnesses. The testimony of the accused and his wife as to his whereabouts at the time of the occurrence cannot prevail over that of prosecution witnesses who did not know the accused prior to the incident and had no motive to falsely accuse him. The prosecution witnesses positively stated that the accused was at the scene of the crime.
2. The offense committed is murder qualified by treachery. The victim was fired upon from behind without any warning, ensuring the execution of the crime without any risk arising f...continue reading