Back

PEOPLE vs Ernesto Fernandez

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, appellee, vs. ERNESTO FERNANDEZ, appellant.

G.R. Nos. 139341-45 | 2002-07-25

D E C I S I O N

PANGANIBAN, J.:

When the prosecution's evidence, consisting mainly of the complainant's testimony, fails the test of moral certainty demanded by the law and the rules, the accused must be acquitted. It then becomes this Court's duty to uphold the constitutional right of the accused to be presumed innocent regardless of the weakness of the defense.

The Case

For automatic review before this Court is the September 30, 1998 Decision[1] of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Agoo, La Union (Branch 32) in Criminal Case Nos. A-3177, A-3274, A-3275, A-3276 and A-3277, finding Ernesto Fernandez guilty beyond reasonable doubt of...