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PEOPLE vs Constancio Merino and Arnulfo Siervo

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee, vs. CONSTANCIO MERINO and ARNULFO SIERVO, accused-appellants.

G.R. No. 132329 | 1999-12-17

D E C I S I O N

PANGANIBAN, J.:

In affirming the conviction of herein appellants, we reiterate these well-settled principles: a) the trial court's assessment of the credibility of witnesses is generally accorded great respect on appeal; b) in a conspiracy, the act of one is the act of all; and c) nocturnity, to be appreciated as an aggravating circumstance, must have purposely been sought to facilitate the commission of the crime or to prevent recognition of the perpetrator.

The Case

Constancio Merino and Arnulfo Siervo appeal the February 18, 1997 Decision1 [Written by Judge Marcelino F. Bautista Jr.] of the Regional Trial Court (RTC)...