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PEOPLE vs Rizal Espiritu

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee, vs. RIZAL ESPIRITU y KINAO, accused-appellant.

G.R. No. 128287 | 1999-02-02

D E C I S I O N


PANGANIBAN, J.:

A counsel-assisted voluntary confession of guilt is evidence of strong persuasive weight. It becomes overwhelming when it is corroborated by independent prosecution evidence pointing to appellant as the perpetrator of a killing.

The Case

Rizal Espiritu y Kinao appeals the Decision1 [Penned by Judge Ruben C. Ayson.] of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 6, Baguio City, convicting him of murder.

Before the Regional Trial Court of Baguio City on May 3, 1996, Prosecutor II Romeo N. Carbonell filed against Rizal Espiritu, along with two others -- Gerald Alicoy and Fred Malicdan -- an Information which reads:2...