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Rieta vs People 436 SCRA 273

FELICISIMO RIETA, Petitioner, vs. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondent.

G.R. No. 147817 | 2004-08-12

DECISION 
 
PANGANIBAN, J.: 
 
Corpus delicti refers to the fact of the commission of the crime. It may be proven by the credible testimonies of witnesses, not necessarily by physical evidence. In-court identification of the offender is not essential, as long as the identity of the accused is determined with certainty by relevant evidence. In the present case, there is no doubt that petitioner was the same person apprehended by the authorities and mentioned in the Information. His possession of the smuggled cigarettes carried the prima facie presumption that he was engaged in smuggling. Having failed to rebut this...