This case has been cited 1 times or more.
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2015-12-07 |
REYES, J. |
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| These arguments of Mercado fail to persuade the Court to rule on his acquittal. First, it is a settled doctrine that "factual findings of the trial court, its assessment of the credibility of witnesses and the probative weight of their testimonies and the conclusions based on these factual findings are to be given highest respect."[21] The Court considers the RTC's "unique position in directly observing the demeanor of a witness on the stand. From its vantage point, the trial court is in the best position to determine the truthfulness of witnesses."[22] Thus, the Court "accords great respect and even finality to the findings of credibility of the trial court, more so if the same were affirmed by the CA, as in this case."[23] Although jurisprudence cites certain exceptions to this doctrine, none of these exceptional circumstances attend the present case.[24] | |||||