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People vs. John Gabriel Gamboa

THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee, vs. JOHN GABRIEL GAMBOA, defendant-appellant. The Solicitor General for plaintiff-appellee. Josefa K. Cauton for defendant-appellant.

G.R. No. 91374 | 1991-02-25

D E C I S I O N

GANCAYCO, J.:

Essential in the success of the prosecution of an offense is the proof of the identity of the offender. This is usually attained through the testimony of eyewitnesses during, before, or even after the commission of the offense. In the absence of such primary evidence the prosecution generally falls back on such other evidence as the ballistic examination of the murder weapon, a handwriting expert, the extrajudicial confession or similar resources.

Otherwise, circumstantial evidence is resorted to which consists in the piercing together of tiny bits of evidence with a view towards ascertaining the accused as the...