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People vs Amestuzo

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee, vs. VALERIANO AMESTUZO y VINAS, FEDERICO AMPATIN y SABUSAB, ALBINO BAGAS y DALUHATAN and DIASCORO VI?AS y ODAL, accused, / ALBINO BAGAS y DALUHATAN, accused-appellant.

G.R. No. 104383 | 2001-07-12

D E C I S I O N

KAPUNAN, J.:

One of the cardinal rules of criminal law is that the guilt of the accused must be proven beyond reasonable doubt by the prosecution. If the inculpatory facts and circumstances are capable of two or more explanations, one of which is consistent with the innocence of the accused and the other consistent with his guilt, then the evidence does not fulfill the test of moral certainty and is not sufficient to support a conviction.[1] In the present case, there being a doubt as to the guilt of accused-appellant, the constitutional presumption of innocence stands and he must be acquitted.

This is an appeal from the...