This case has been cited 8 times or more.
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2008-09-25 |
CHICO-NAZARIO, J. |
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| Moreover, there was no indication that the wife and the daughter of the deceased victim were improperly motivated when they testified against the appellant. As a rule, absent any evidence showing any reason or motive for prosecution witnesses to perjure, the logical conclusion is that no such improper motive exists, and their testimonies are thus worthy of full faith and credit.[29] Leonisa was the wife of the deceased victim while Mailene was his daughter; thus, it would be unnatural for them, being relatives and interested in vindicating the crime, to implicate someone other than the real culprit, lest the guilty go unpunished. The earnest desire to seek justice for a dead kin is not served should the witness abandon his conscience and prudence, and blame one who is innocent of the crime.[30] In this case, Leonisa and Mailene's act of testifying against the appellant was motivated only by no other motive than their strong desire to seek justice for what had happened to the deceased victim. | |||||
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2007-09-28 |
CHICO-NAZARIO, J. |
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| From the foregoing, this Court finds Rolando's testimony plausible. His positive identification of the appellant as the perpetrator of the crime charged was categorical and consistent; hence, we cannot cast any doubt on his credibility as prosecution witness. Also, there was no indication that he was improperly motivated when he testified against the appellant. As a rule, absent any evidence showing any reason or motive for prosecution witnesses to perjure, the logical conclusion is that no such improper motive exists, and their testimonies are thus worthy of full faith and credit.[19] It bears stressing that Rolando was the brother of the victim and it would be unnatural for him, being a relative and interested in vindicating the crime, to implicate someone other than the real culprit lest the guilty go unpunished. The earnest desire to seek justice for a dead kin is not served should the witness abandon his conscience and prudence, and blame one who is innocent of the crime.[20] In this case, Rolando's act of testifying against the appellant was motivated only by no other than his strong desire to seek justice for what had happened to his brother. | |||||
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2003-09-10 |
VITUG, J. |
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| The relationship of Joelyn to the victim would not be a reason to either discredit her or disbelieve her testimony; in fact, it should be unnatural for an aggrieved relative to falsely accuse someone else other than the actual culprit himself.[8] Nothing was shown to indicate in any way that Joelyn was impelled by improper motive in testifying against appellant that should thus add to her credibility.[9] | |||||
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2001-01-22 |
DE LEON, JR., J. |
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| The credibility of the prosecution witnesses is not affected by their relationship with the deceased. The fact that witness Chito is the son of the victim while Annaluz's mother-in-law is the second cousin of the wife of the victim is of no consequence since mere relationship with the victim does not necessarily tarnish the testimony of a witness. When there is no showing of improper motive on the part of the witness in testifying against the accused, her relationship with the victim does not render her testimony less worthy of full faith and credence.[17] In fact, relationship itself could even strengthen credibility in a particular case, for it is highly unnatural for an aggrieved relative to falsely accuse someone other than the actual culprit. The earnest desire to seek justice for a dead kin is not served should the witness abandon his conscience and prudence to blame one who is innocent of the crime.[18] | |||||
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2000-10-16 |
QUISUMBING, J. |
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| When the issue is one of credibility of witnesses, appellate courts will generally not disturb the findings of the trial court, considering that the latter is in a better position to decide the question, having heard the witnesses themselves and observed their deportment and manner of testifying during the trial. The rule admits of certain exceptions, namely: (1) when patent inconsistencies in the statements of witnesses are ignored by the trial court, or (2) when the conclusions arrived at are clearly unsupported by the evidence.[18] The Court is likewise not precluded from making its own assessment of the probative value of the testimony of the witnesses on the basis of the transcript of stenographic notes (TSNs) thereof.[19] After conducting a thorough review of the records, including the transcripts of stenographic notes we find no cogent reason to reverse the findings of the trial and appellate courts. In this case, the minor consistencies pointed out by appellant do not refer to the crux of the matter, which is the positive identification of appellant as the one who stabbed the victim from behind, twice. Minor and inconsequential flaws in the testimony of witnesses strengthen rather than impair their credibility.[20] The test is whether their testimonies agree on the essential facts and substantially corroborate a consistent and coherent whole.[21] Contradictions between the contents of an affiant's affidavit and his testimony on the witness stand do not always militate against the witness' credibility because it has long been within judicial notice that affidavits, which are usually taken ex parte are often incomplete and inaccurate.[22] Further, appellant testified that he could not think of any reason why the prosecution witnesses would falsely implicate him in the commission of the crime.[23] Absent any evidence showing any reason or motive for prosecution witnesses to perjure, the logical conclusion is that no such improper motive exists, and their testimonies are thus worthy of full faith and credit.[24] | |||||
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2000-10-13 |
QUISUMBING, J. |
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| After conducting a thorough review of the records, however, we see no cogent reason to fault the factual findings of the trial court. The testimonies of the prosecution witnesses, when pieced together, jibe in material points to give the whole picture of the stabbing incident. Alejandra testified as to the circumstances surrounding the inception of the attack, while prosecution witnesses Elvira and Rogelio testified as to subsequent events which occurred outside the house. Further, the alleged inconsistencies pointed out by appellant pertain to minor details which do not detract from the credibility of the prosecution witnesses. The test is whether their testimonies agree on the essential facts and substantially corroborate a consistent and coherent whole.[15] When queried, appellant himself could not think of any reason why the prosecution witnesses would falsely implicate him in the commission of the crimes.[16] Absent any evidence showing any reason or motive for prosecution witnesses to perjure themselves, the logical conclusion is that no such improper motive exists, and their testimonies are thus worthy of full faith and credit.[17] | |||||
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2000-08-15 |
PUNO, J. |
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| motive exists, and their testimonies are thus worthy of full faith and credit.[48] In light of the positive identification of Raul Gallego as Wilfredo Lamata's assailant, the accused's defense of denial and alibi must fall. Time and again, this Court has ruled that positive identification of the accused will prevail over the defense of denial and | |||||
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2000-04-12 |
YNARES-SANTIAGO, J. |
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| We disagree. As has been ruled all too often and recently restated in People v. Quinciano Rendoque, Sr. y Amores, et al.[28] | |||||