Republic of the Philippines - Campaign
Republic of the Philippines - Campaign
Republic of the Philippines - Campaign
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APPELLANTS’ BRIEF<br />
People <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Philippines</strong> vs. Fortuna, et. al.<br />
S. C. G. R. No. 141660-64<br />
because <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir familiarity with <strong>the</strong> suspects, were able to recognize <strong>the</strong>m at <strong>the</strong> time<br />
<strong>the</strong>y commit <strong>the</strong> crime and can readily identify <strong>the</strong>m at any given time.<br />
However, such is not always <strong>the</strong> case. There are a lot <strong>of</strong> instances when witnesses<br />
do not personally know or are not even acquainted with <strong>the</strong> suspects whom <strong>the</strong>y might<br />
have seen only for <strong>the</strong> first time.<br />
In such instances <strong>the</strong> witness’ recollection <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> suspects should be subjected to a<br />
more rigorous test to rule out any mistake. It must not be enough that <strong>the</strong> witness<br />
cursorily point at <strong>the</strong> accused and tell <strong>the</strong> court that <strong>the</strong>se are <strong>the</strong> persons he has seen<br />
commit <strong>the</strong> crime but all <strong>the</strong> circumstances that aid <strong>the</strong> witness in recalling with certainty<br />
<strong>the</strong> identity <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> suspects must also be shown. Factors such as <strong>the</strong> distance <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
witness from <strong>the</strong> suspects, <strong>the</strong> length <strong>of</strong> time that <strong>the</strong> witness has seen <strong>the</strong> suspects, <strong>the</strong><br />
ability <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> suspect to recall, <strong>the</strong> presence or absence <strong>of</strong> any distraction that could affect<br />
<strong>the</strong> witness’ attention to <strong>the</strong> appearances <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> suspects, all become relevant and must all<br />
point to a certainty <strong>of</strong> establishing <strong>the</strong> identity <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> suspects. But more importantly, <strong>the</strong><br />
witness must be able to recall and relate certain specific characteristics <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> suspects<br />
that would establish a well-founded belief that <strong>the</strong> suspect could not have been any o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
person than <strong>the</strong> accused. While it might be too stringent a test to require that witnesses<br />
must be able to point certain characteristics unique to <strong>the</strong> suspects, or if not, at least<br />
several memorable characteristics that pertain to <strong>the</strong> suspects indicating a convincing<br />
reason why those characteristics stuck to <strong>the</strong> witness’ mind, yet, it might be <strong>the</strong> only<br />
safeguard to rule out any possibility <strong>of</strong> a mix-up or mistaken identity. Besides, this would<br />
be in keeping with <strong>the</strong> rule in criminal prosecution that <strong>the</strong> guilt <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> accused must be<br />
established beyond reasonable doubt.<br />
This, in fact, has been crystallized by this Court when it adopted <strong>the</strong> totality <strong>of</strong><br />
circumstances test in resolving <strong>the</strong> admissibility <strong>of</strong> and relying on out-<strong>of</strong>-court and in-<br />
court identification <strong>of</strong> suspects. This test was adopted by this Court in People vs.<br />
Teehankee, Jr. (G.R. Nos. 111206-08, October 6, 1995) and reiterated by in People vs.<br />
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