This case has been cited 5 times or more.
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2009-07-17 |
CARPIO MORALES, J. |
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| In reviewing rape cases, this Court observes the following guiding principles: (1) an accusation for rape can be made with facility; it is difficult to prove but more difficult for the person accused, though innocent, to disprove; (2) in view of the intrinsic nature of the crime where only two persons are usually involved, the testimony of the complainant must be scrutinized with extreme caution; (3) the evidence for the prosecution must stand or fall on its own merits, and cannot be allowed to draw strength from the weakness of the evidence for the defense.[35] | |||||
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2007-03-14 |
CHICO-NAZARIO, J. |
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| It is well-settled both in law and jurisprudence that the guilt of an accused must be proven beyond reasonable doubt before he can be convicted of the crime charged.[24] Absolute guarantee of guilt is not demanded by law to convict a person of a criminal charge but there must, at least, be moral certainty on each element essential to constitute the offense and on the responsibility of the offender. Proof beyond reasonable doubt is meant to be that, all things given, the mind of the judge can rest at ease concerning its verdict.[25] | |||||
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2005-04-06 |
GARCIA, J. |
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| Similarly, the Court had to acquit an accused charged of rape in People vs. De Jesus[6] on ground of reasonable doubt, to wit:With seeds of doubt planted in our minds by the conduct of proceedings on record, we are unable to accept the lower court's conclusion to convict appellant. His conviction is founded on the sole testimony of Agnes, but though a credible witness despite her mental retardation, she showed unnecessary dependence on her mother when identifying the father of her child. Maternal coaching taints her testimony. That her mother had to be ordered by the judge to go outside the courtroom impresses us as significant. We are unable to accept as sufficient the quantum of proof required to convict appellant of rape based on the alleged victim's sole testimony. Hence, here we must fall back on a truism of the law, in dubilis reus est absolvendus. All doubts must be resolved in favor of the accused. | |||||
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2000-07-20 |
GONZAGA-REYES, J. |
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| Finally, we rule that the petitioner is not guilty of a "special specie" of forum shopping even if it raises the same issues raised in the Court of Appeals in CA G.R. SP No. 44080. There is forum shopping whenever, as a result of an adverse decision in one forum, a party seeks a favorable opinion (other than by appeal or certiorari) in another.[15] Considering that the petitioner is questioning the Court of Appeals' ruling in CA G.R. SP No. 44080 which held that the respondent judge did not commit grave abuse of discretion in issuing a writ of injunction by virtue of a petition for certiorari to this Court on purely questions of law, the petitioner cannot be guilty of forum shopping. To rule otherwise would render nugatory the PEZA's right to appeal the decision of the Court of Appeals to the Supreme Court on purely questions of law. | |||||