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PEOPLE vs Cupino, Dejoras, Galos/Cupino and Dejoras

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee, vs. IGNACIO CUPINO,1 [Also spelled "Copino" in the records.] VINCENT DEJORAS and RAMON GALOS a.k.a. Jun, accused. / IGNACIO CUPINO and VINCENT DEJORAS, accused-appellants.

G.R. No. 125688 | 2000-04-03

D E C I S I O N

PANGANIBAN, J.:

Conspiracy must be established by proof beyond reasonable doubt. In the present appeal, the prosecution eyewitness testified that one of the appellants had joined the other accused in approaching the victim, but subsequently tried to prevent them from stabbing this same victim. Such dubious participation is insufficient to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the said appellant conspired with the others in committing the offense. Accordingly, the constitutional presumption of innocence must be upheld. He must be acquitted.

The Case

Vincent Dejoras and Ignacio Cupino2 [Spelled "Copino" in the Appellants'...