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PEOPLE vs. Clarita Bahatan

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee, vs. CLARITA BAHATAN y DULNUAN alias "JOVY BAHATAN", accused-appellant.

G.R. No. 121901 | 1998-01-28

D E C I S I O N

PANGANIBAN, J:

In rejecting this appeal, the Court reiterates the familiar rule that the assessment of the credibility of witnesses and their testimonies is best left to the discretion of the trial court.

The Case

Before us is a plea to overturn the Decision 1 dated May 31, 1995 of the Regional Trial Court 2 of Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, Branch 27, finding Clarita Bahatan y Dulnuan, alias "Jovy Bahatan," guilty beyond reasonable doubt of kidnapping or serious illegal detention. The dispositive portion of the assailed Decision reads: 3

"WHEREFORE, finding that accused Clarita Bahatan y Dulnuan is guilty beyond reasonable...