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PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee, vs. RODRIGO MALDO and REYNALDO MALDO, accused. / RODRIGO MALDO, appellant.

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee, vs. RODRIGO MALDO and REYNALDO MALDO, accused. / RODRIGO MALDO, appellant.

G.R. No. 131347 | 1999-05-19

D E C I S I O N

PANGANIBAN, J.:

The Court reiterates that (1) prejudice, by itself, does not suffice to discredit a witness totally; (2) the trial court's assessment of the credibility of witnesses and their testimonies is entitled to great respect; and (3) treachery cannot be appreciated when the prosecution fails to establish how the attack on the victim commenced.

The Case

Rodrigo Maldo appeals the 53-page Judgment[1] in Criminal Case No. SC-5301 of the Regional Trial Court of Santa Cruz, Laguna (Branch 28), which convicted him of murder and sentenced him to reclusion perpetua.

In an information[2] dated May 16, 1994, First...