Co again e i ione .

SO ORDERED.

P (C.J., C a e ), Le a d -De Ca , Be a and V a a a, J ., JJ., conc .

Pe de ed.

No e. Re igna ion o be effec i e m be acce ed b com e en a ho i , ei he in e m o b

ome hing an amo n o an acce ance, ch a he a oin men of he cce o a blic office
canno abandon hi office befo e hi e igna ion i acce ed, o he i e he office i bjec o he
enal o i ion of A icle 238 of he Re i ed Penal Code. (Re b c . S , 548 SCRA 361
[2008])
o0o

G.R. No. 185195. Ma ch 17, 2010.*

VIOLETA BAHILIDAD, e i ione , . PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, e onden .

C a La ; P e fI ce ce; A ea ; E de ce; W e e e a a ec a f fac a

c e ac a c c , eC e ae e e e e fac a f d f e a c c
a ca e, e ca e f ce fa f a acc ed, c de a e a d e be b e
f c c . Well- e led i he le ha finding of fac of he ial co a e gi en g ea e ec . B
hen he e i a mi a ecia ion of fac a o com el a con a concl ion, he Co ill no he i a e o e e e
he fac al finding of he ial co . In ch a ca e, he cale of j ice m il in fa o of an acc ed,
con ide ing ha he and o lo e hi libe b i e of hi con ic ion. The Co m be a i fied ha he
fac al finding and concl ion of

_______________

* THIRD DIVISION.

598 SUPREME COURT REPORTS

ANNOTATED

Ba da . Pe e

he ial co , leading o an acc ed con ic ion, m ai f he anda d of oof be ond ea onable

do b .
Sa e; C ac ; F c ac e , e e a a e e be a c c de c a
ffe e c ac e d c f e a e a f ec ; T e e e e e ce f a acc ed a
ed c fac ac , e e a a f , a ac e a c a e a e, e f
e fc c . The e i con i ac hen o o mo e e on come o an ag eemen conce ning he
commi ion of a felon and decide o commi i . Con i ac i no e med. Like he h ical ac con i ing
he c ime i elf, he elemen of con i ac m be o en be ond ea onable do b . While con i ac need no
be e abli hed b di ec e idence, fo i ma be infe ed f om he cond c of he acc ed befo e, d ing and af e
he commi ion of he c ime, all aken oge he , ho e e , he e idence m be ong eno gh o ho he
comm ni of c iminal de ign. Fo con i ac o e i , i i e en ial ha he e m be a con cio de ign o
commi an offen e. Con i ac i he od c of in en ionali on he a of he coho . I i nece a ha a
con i a o ho ld ha e e fo med ome o e ac a a di ec o indi ec con ib ion o he e ec ion of he
c ime commi ed. The o e ac ma con i of ac i e a ici a ion in he ac al commi ion of he c ime i elf, o
/
i ma con i of mo al a i ance o hi co-con i a o b being e en a he commi ion of he c ime o b
e e ing mo al a cendanc o e he o he co-con i a o . Hence, he me e e ence of an acc ed a he
di c ion of a con i ac , e en a o al of i , i ho an ac i e a ici a ion in he ame, i no eno gh fo
o e of con ic ion.
Sa e; E e e e a f ac f a c e e e e ca be c e e e
c a d a ; A a e e a e, a ce a e a a c a fac , e a d ea ,
e e ed e f fe e b . The Sandiganba an fa l ed e i ione fo immedia el enca hing
he check, in i ing ha he ho ld ha e de o i ed he check fi . S ch in i ence i nacce able. I defie
logic. The check a i ed in e i ione name and, a a ee, he had he a ho i o enca h i . The
Di b emen Vo che (No. 101-2002-01-822) clea l a e ha he i he WIP ea e , and he o e of he
o che i o ca h ad ance financial a i ance f om g an and dona ion fo Wind Mal gon, Sa angani a e
o ing a e he e o a ached. Pe i ione ac ion canno , in i elf, be con ide ed a ecio . The e

VOL. 615, Ma ch 17, 2010 599

Ba da . Pe e

a no ho ing ha e i ione had fo ekno ledge of an i eg la i commi ed in he oce ing and

di b emen of he check, o ha he COA R le e i ed ha he check had o be de o i ed in he bank fi ,
o ha an e al a ion e o f om he o incial ag ic l i had o be bmi ed. E il in en m ni e i h
he nla f l ac fo a c ime o e i . Ac fac e , e ea. The e can be no c ime hen he
c iminal mind i an ing. A a gene al le, igno ance o mi ake a o a ic la fac , hone and eal, ill
e em he doe f om felonio e on ibili .
Sa e; P e fI ce ce; W e e a ce a ,e e a be a ed
a a a e f . The e i ea onable do b a o e i ione g il . Whe e he e i ea onable do b , an
acc ed m be ac i ed e en ho gh hi innocence ma no ha e been f ll e abli hed. When g il i no
o en i h mo al ce ain , e one a ion m be g an ed a a ma e of igh .

PETITION fo e ie on ce io a i of a deci ion of he Sandiganba an.

The fac a e a ed in he o inion of he Co .
Ca a &Q fo e i ione .
Ve a La Off ce collabo a ing co n el fo e i ione .
T eS c Gene al fo e onden .

NACHURA, J.:
Befo e i a e i ion fo e ie on ce a a ailing he Deci ion1 of he Sandiganba an in
C iminal Ca e No. 28326, con ic ing e i ione Viole a Bahilidad and co-acc ed Amelia Ca mela C.
Zole a of he com le c ime of Mal e a ion of P blic F nd h o gh Fal ifica ion of P blic
Doc men .

_______________

1 Penned b A ocia e J ice Jo e R. He nande , i h A ocia e J ice G ego S. Ong and Roland B. J ado,
conc ing; R , . 30-60.

600

600 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

Ba da . Pe e

Ac ing on a com lain filed b a Conce ned Ci i en of Sa angani P o ince i h he Office of he

Omb d man-Mindanao again Ma Ann Gadian, Amelia Ca mela Zole a, bo h a igned o he
Office of he Vice-Go e no , and a ce ain She ll De i ee Tangan, f om he Office of he
/
Sangg niang Panlala igan, fo hei alleged a ici a ion in he cheme of gi ing fic i io g an
and dona ion ing f nd of he o incial go e nmen , a ecial a di a cond c ed in Sa angani
o ince. The S ecial A di Team, c ea ed fo he o e, cond c ed i in e iga ion f om J ne 1 o
J l 31, 2003, and bmi ed he follo ing finding :
1. Relea e of financial a i ance in ended o NGO /PO and LGU e e f a d len l and illegall made
h local de elo men ojec do no e i e l ing in he lo of P16,106,613.00 on he a of he
go e nmen .
2. Financial A i ance e e al o g an ed o Coo e a i e ho e official and membe e e mo l
go e nmen e onnel o ela i e of he official of Sa angani P o ince e l ing o a age and mi e of
go e nmen f nd amo n ing o P2,246,481.00.2

Incl ded in he li of alleged fic i io a ocia ion ha benefi ed f om he financial a i ance

gi en o ce ain Non-Go e nmen al O gani a ion (NGO ), Peo le O gani a ion (PO ), and Local
Go e nmen al Uni (LGU ) a Women in P og e (WIP), hich ecei ed a check in he amo n of
P20,000.00, i ed in he name of he ein e i ione Bahilidad, a he T ea e he eof.
Ba ed on i finding , he S ecial A di Team ecommended he filing of cha ge of mal e a ion
h o gh fal ifica ion of blic doc men again he official in ol ed. Th , he follo ing
Info ma ion a filed:
Tha on Jan a 24, 2002, o io o b e en he e o in Sa angani P o ince, Phili ine , and i hin he
j i dic ion of hi Hono able Co , acc ed Feli e Ka Con an ino, a high- anking

_______________

2 Id., a . 39-40.

601

VOL. 615, Ma ch 17, 2010 601

Ba da . Pe e

blic office , being he Vice-Go e no of he P o ince of Sa angani, Ma ia D. Camana , P o incial Acco n an ,

Teodo ico F. Dia , P o incial Boa d Membe , Amelia Ca mela C. Zole a, E ec i e A i an III, all acco n able
blic official of he P o incial Go e nmen of Sa angani, b ea on of he d ie of hei office, con i ing and
confede a ing i h Viole a Balihidad, i a e indi id al, he blic office , hile commi ing he offen e in
ela ion o office, aking ad an age of hei e ec i e o i ion , did hen and he e illf ll , nla f ll and
felonio l ake, con e and mi a o ia e he amo n of TWENTY THOUSAND PESOS (P20,000.00),
Phili ine C enc , in blic f nd nde hei c od , and fo hich he a e acco n able, b fal if ing o
ca ing o be fal ified he co e onding Di b emen Vo che No. 101-2002-01-822 and i o ing
doc men , making i a ea ha financial a i ance had been o gh b Women in P og e , Mal ngon,
Sa angani, e e en ed b i P e iden Amelia Ca mela C. Zole a, hen in h and in fac , he acc ed f ll
kne ell ha no financial a i ance had been e e ed b he aid g o and he a ocia ion, no did Amelia
Ca mela C. Zole a and he a ocia ion ecei e he afo emen ioned amo n , he eb facili a ing he elea e of he
abo e-men ioned blic f nd in he amo n of TWENTY THOUSAND PESOS (P20,000.00) h o gh
enca hmen b he acc ed a he Land Bank of he Phili ine (LBP) Check No. 36481 da ed Jan a 24, 2002
i ed in he name of Viole a Bahilidad, hich amo n he b e en l mi a o ia ed o hei e onal e
and benefi and de i e demand, he aid acc ed failed o e n he aid amo n o he damage and ej dice
of he go e nmen and he blic in e e of he afo e aid m.

U on a aignmen , acc ed Con an ino, Zole a and Bahilidad led no g il o he cha ge ,

hile Camana and Dia did no a ea and emain a la ge o da e. The eaf e , d ing he
endenc of he ca e, Con an ino died. Con e en l , he Sandiganba an g an ed he mo ion o
di mi he ca e again him. A ega d Zole a and Bahilidad, he o ed bail and he ca e again
hem oceeded o ial.
The o ec ion e en ed in e idence he e imonie of he follo ing e on :
1. Helen Cailing, a S a e A di o IV a he Commi ion on A di (COA) and leade of he S ecial
A di Team (SAT) of

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 602

602 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

Ba da . Pe e

Sa angani P o ince. Cailing e ified ha he SAT, com o ed of he elf and h ee (3) membe , in he
co e of he a di , di co e ed ha he o che i ed b he Office of he Vice-Go e no o he WIP
iola ed ecific COA G ideline 3.1, 3.2, 3.4, 3.7, 3.10 and 4.4. The g ideline e i ed he
moni o ing, in ec ion and e al a ion of he ojec b he o incial enginee if an inf a- ojec and
b he o incial ag ic l i if i i a li elihood ojec . Cailing f he e ified ha , ba ed on hei
a di , WIP a ea ed o be headed b Zole a, ho a he da gh e of Vice-Go e no Con an ino,
and im l aneo l an E ec i e A i an III in he la e office.
2. L ian T oh, Region XII Di ec o of he Coo e a i e De elo men A ho i (CDA), e ified
on he ce ifica ion3 he i ed ha WIP and Women in De elo men (WID) e e no egi e ed
coo e a i e . T oh f he e ified ha (1) he ce ifica ion a ba ed on he li ing e a ed b he
A i an Regional Di ec o ; (2) he Ce ifica ion a i ed on he in c ion of he CDA
Chai man, ho ecei ed an in i f om he Office of he Omb d man on he he WIP and/o WID
e e coo e a i e egi e ed i h he CDA; and (3) he had no come ac o a egi e ed coo e a i e
named WIP.
3. Ma Ann Gadian, Bookbinde II, de igna ed a Com e O e a o III a he Office of he
Sangg niang Panlala igan of Sa angani f om J l 1993 o A g 2002, ho ac ed a a e i ne ,
admi ed in o en co ha he ook a in he e a a ion and oce ing of a di b emen
o che and i o ing doc men in ol ing a ca h ad ance fo WIP ome ime in 2002. Gadian,
like i e, e ified ha he a acc ed Con an ino, Camana , Dia , and Zole a ign he doc men ,
and he me el follo ed Zole a di ec i e and in c ion on he e a a ion of he di b emen
o che . Gadian f he admi ed an eda ing and

_______________

3 Da ed Ma 9, 2006.

603

VOL. 615, Ma ch 17, 2010 603

Ba da . Pe e

changing he da e of a Jan a 24, 2002 le e - e e f om WIP o Jan a 7, 2002 in o de o make

he le e a ea a hen ic.
4. She ll De i ee Jane Tangan, Local Legi la i e S aff a he Office of he Vice-Go e no in
2002, ho al o ac ed a a e i ne , admi ed in o en co ha , on o de of Zole a, he hel ed
e a e and oce he e e of WIP. Tangan di clo ed ha he a ed o igning fo o he
e on , a in c ed b Zole a, hene e hei office had legal an ac ion ; in hi in ance, he
fo ged he igna e of Melanie Rem l a, he o ed ec e a of WIP. Tangan hen eco n ed
ha he accom anied e i ione Bahilidad o claim and enca h he check fo WIP. Af e enca hmen ,
Bahilidad ga e he a hi e en elo e con aining he P20,000.00 ca h. She no iced Bahalidad
nea ine . She a old b Zole a ha Bahilidad a me el a d mm fo ha di b emen .
Tangan ga e he mone o Zole a ho old he ha he o ld ake ca e of Bahilidad.
The defen e e en ed, a i ne e Bahilidad, Zole a and Rem l a. On he hole, he defen e
denied he o ec ion cha ge of mal e a ion. The i ne e e ified ha WIP and WID e e
egi e ed coo e a i e . To o he con en ion ha WIP and WID e e legi ima e coo e a i e ,
Bahilidad e en ed a Ce ifica ion f om Ba anga Ca ain Jo e Mo e a con aining a li of he
o ed office of he e coo e a i e . Bahilidad in i ed ha he amo n of P20,000.00 ha he
ecei ed f om he Office of he Vice-Go e no a , in n, o e l di ib ed b WIP a loan o i
/
membe . Rem l a co obo a ed Bahilidad o on hi oin . A fo Zole a, he com le el denied
kno ing Bahilidad.
Af e ial, he Sandiganba an fo nd e i ione Bahilidad and Zole a g il be ond ea onable
do b of Mal e a ion of P blic F nd h o gh Fal ifica ion of P blic Doc men , and di o ed, a
follo :
ACCORDINGLY, acc ed Amelia C. Zole a ( Zole a ) and Viole a Bahilidad ( Bahilidad ), a e fo nd g il
be ond ea onable
604

604 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

Ba da . Pe e

do b fo Mal e a ion of P blic F nd h Fal ifica ion of P blic Doc men nde A icle 217 of he Re i ed
Penal Code, in ela ion o A icle 171[,] a [.] 2[,] and A icle 48 of he ame Code and a e en enced o ffe in
i on he enal of 14 ea [,] 8 mon h and 1 da o 16 ea [,] 5 mon h and 11 da of ec e a.
The al o ha e o ffe e e al di alifica ion f om holding an blic office and o a back he P o ince of
Sa angani he amo n of Ph 20,000.00 l in e e on i com ed f om Jan a 2002 n il he f ll amo n i
aid.
No ono ncemen i made fo o again Con an ino, aid acc ed ha ing died d ing he endenc of hi
ca e, hi e onal and ec nia enal ie and liabili ie e e o all e ing i hed on hi dea h. Thi Co
ha al ead o de ed he di mi al of he ca e again him.
Since he Co did no ac i e j i dic ion o e he e on of he o he acc ed, Teodo ico Dia and Ma ia
Camana , he ca e a i e ain o hem i in he mean ime a chi ed. I hall be e i ed hen he Co
ac i e j i dic ion o e hei e on. Le an alia a an of a e be hen i ed again hem.
Co again acc ed Zole a and Bahilidad. 4

Hence, hi a eal b Bahilidad, e ioning he con ic ion b he Sandiganba an.

We find fo e i ione .
Well- e led i he le ha finding of fac of he ial co a e gi en g ea e ec . B hen
he e i a mi a ecia ion of fac a o com el a con a concl ion, he Co ill no he i a e o
e e e he fac al finding of he ial co . In ch a ca e, he cale of j ice m il in fa o of
an acc ed, con ide ing ha he and o lo e hi libe b i e of hi con ic ion. The Co m
be a i fied ha he fac al finding and concl ion of he ial co , leading o an acc ed
con ic ion, m a i f he anda d of oof be ond ea onable do b .

_______________

4 Id., a . 59.

605

VOL. 615, Ma ch 17, 2010 605

Ba da . Pe e

In he in an ca e, e i ione a fo nd g il of con i ing i h Zole a and o he blic official

in he commi ion of he c ime of Mal e a ion of P blic F nd h o gh Fal ifica ion of P blic
Doc men . The ial co elied on he dic m ha he ac of one i he ac of all. The
Sandiganba an e lained e i ione com lici in he c ime, o i :
The fac aken oge he o ld o e he e i ence of con i ac . Zole a, a e iden of an ine i en
a ocia ion and a co- e min em lo ee a he office of he fa he , [acc ed Con an ino,] ini ia ed he e e
fo obliga ion of allo men and ce ified and o ed he di b emen o che . The e i no do b ha acc ed
Con an ino facili a ed he illegal elea e of he f nd b igning he e ioned o che . Wi ho he igna e
of acc ed Con an ino, Zole a and Bahilidad, he amo n co ld no ha e been di b ed on ha a ic la da .
When he o che ihi o ing doc men a e en ed o acc ed Con an ino, Dia and Camana fo
/
a o al and igna e, he eadil igned hem i ho f he ado, de i e he lack of o e doc men a ion
and non-com liance of he le . Zole a had con ac i h he a ee of he check, Bahilidad, and ecei ed he
amo n . Thei combined ac , co led i h he fal ifica ion of he igna e of Rem l a, all lead o he concl ion
ha he acc ed con i ed o def a d he go e nmen .
Con i ac e i hen o o mo e e on come o an ag eemen conce ning he commi ion of a felon and
decide o commi i . Con i ac need no be o en b di ec e idence and ma be infe ed f om he cond c of
he acc ed befo e, d ing and af e he commi ion of he c ime, hich a e indica i e of a join o e,
conce ed ac ion and conc ence of en imen . In con i ac , he ac of one i he ac of all. Con i ac i
e en hen one conc i h he c iminal de ign of ano he , indica ed b he e fo mance of an o e ac
leading o he c ime commi ed. I ma be ded ced f om he mode and manne in hich he offen e a
e e a ed.
The ci c m ance ha Zole a laced he ini ial on he o che kno ing ha he e a eall no WIP, ha
he o he acc ed like i e ignified hei a o al o he di b emen and allo ed a men , and ha a ee
ecei ed and enca hed he check o of he f nd of he o incial go e nmen in ead of de o i ing i , ho ha
he e a conni ance be een he acc ed. The na oidable concl ion i ha he acc ed e e in cahoo o
def a d he
606

606 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

Ba da . Pe e

o incial go e nmen and o camo flage he def a da ion b ing a d mm o gani a ion a a a ee. 5

The e i con i ac hen o o mo e e on come o an ag eemen conce ning he commi ion

of a felon and decide o commi i . Con i ac i no e med. Like he h ical ac con i ing
he c ime i elf, he elemen of con i ac m be o en be ond ea onable do b . While
con i ac need no be e abli hed b di ec e idence, fo i ma be infe ed f om he cond c of he
acc ed befo e, d ing and af e he commi ion of he c ime, all aken oge he , ho e e , he
e idence m be ong eno gh o ho he comm ni of c iminal de ign. Fo con i ac o e i , i
i e en ial ha he e m be a con cio de ign o commi an offen e. Con i ac i he od c of
in en ionali on he a of he coho .6
I i nece a ha a con i a o ho ld ha e e fo med ome o e ac a a di ec o indi ec
con ib ion o he e ec ion of he c ime commi ed. The o e ac ma con i of ac i e a ici a ion
in he ac al commi ion of he c ime i elf, o i ma con i of mo al a i ance o hi co-con i a-
o b being e en a he commi ion of he c ime o b e e ing mo al a cendanc o e he o he
co-con i a o .7 Hence, he me e e ence of an acc ed a he di c ion of a con i ac , e en
a o al of i , i ho an ac i e a ici a ion in he ame, i no eno gh fo o e of con ic ion.8
In he in an ca e, e find e i ione a ici a ion in he c ime no ade a el o en i h
mo al ce ain . Undeniabl , e i ione , a a i a e indi id al, had no hand in he

_______________

5R , . 56-57.
6 Ma c . Sa d a ba a , G.R. No. 101545, Jan a 3, 1995, 240 SCRA 13, 18.
7 Pec . Pe e, G.R. No. 111399, Se embe 27, 1996, 262 SCRA 518, 530-531.
8 Sa . Sa d a ba a , G.R. No . 71523-25, Decembe 8, 2000, 347 SCRA 386, 420.

607

VOL. 615, Ma ch 17, 2010 607

Ba da . Pe e

e a a ion, oce ing o di b emen of he check i ed in he name. A c o look a he

di b emen o che (No. 101-2002-01-822) e eal he follo ing igna e : igna e of Boa d
Membe Teodo ico Dia ce if ing ha he ca h ad ance i nece a , la f l and inc ed nde hi
/
di ec e i ion; igna e of P o incial Acco n an Camana ce if ing o he com le ene and
o ie of he o ing doc men and o he li ida ion of e io ca h ad ance ; igna e of
Moi e Magallona, J . o e he name of P o incial T ea e Ce a M. Cagang ce if ing ha ca h i
a ailable; igna e of Con an ino, i h he ini ial of Zole a adjacen o hi name, ce if ing ha
he di b emen i a o ed fo a men , and i h e i ione igna e a he a ee.9
The SAT e o ed ha he check a a able o he alleged T ea e , Bahalidad, in ead of o
Women in P og e ; ha he check a enca hed hen i ho ld ha e been fo de o i onl ; and ha
he e a al o fail e of he o incial ag ic l i o moni o and bmi an e al a ion e o on
10
he ojec . Ba ed on hi SAT e o , he Sandiganba an a ic la l oin ed o e i ione
indi en able a ici a ion in he c ime, being he a ee of he check, beca e i ho he igna e,
he check o ld no ha e been enca hed, and he f nd o ld no ha e been aken f om he coffe of
he o incial go e nmen . O he han he being named a he a ee, ho e e , he e e e no o e
ac a ib ed o he ade a e o hold he e all g il of he offen e o ed. The e a no ho ing
ha e i ione had a hand in he e a a ion of he e i emen bmi ed fo he di b emen of
he check. The e a no e idence e en ed ha he a in men al o he i ance of he check in
fa o of WIP, no a he e an ho ing ha he in e ceded fo he a o al of he check. Wh he
check a i ed in he name and no in he name of WIP i be ond ca il, b hi a no inc mben
on he o e ion.

_______________

9 Ma c . Sa d a ba a , a.
10 R , . 40.

60

608 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

Ba da . Pe e

On being info med b Melanie Rem l a ha WIP e e fo financial a i ance a g an ed,

e i ione en o he o incial ca i ol o claim he check, beca e he check a i ed in he name
a he T ea e of WIP. She la e enca hed he check and di ib ed he oceed o he diffe en
membe of WIP. The e e e ackno ledgmen ecei da ed Feb a 7, 2002, igned b he
diffe en membe of he coo e a i e, in a ing amo n of P3,000.00, P2,000.00 and P500.00, all of
hich o e ha he amo n of P20,000.00 a di b ed fo he benefi of he membe of he
11
coo e a i e.
The Sandiganba an fa l ed e i ione fo immedia el enca hing he check, in i ing ha he
ho ld ha e de o i ed he check fi . S ch in i ence i nacce able. I defie logic. The check a
i ed in e i ione name and, a a ee, he had he a ho i o enca h i . The Di b emen
Vo che (No. 101-2002-01-822) clea l a e ha he i he WIP ea e , and he o e of he
o che i o ca h ad ance financial a i ance f om g an and dona ion fo Wind Mal gon,
Sa angani a e o ing a e he e o a ached. Pe i ione ac ion canno , in i elf, be
con ide ed a ecio . The e a no ho ing ha e i ione had fo ekno ledge of an i eg la i
commi ed in he oce ing and di b emen of he check,12 o ha he COA R le e i ed ha
he check had o be de o i ed in he bank fi , o ha an e al a ion e o f om he o incial
ag ic l i had o be bmi ed. E il in en m ni e i h he nla f l ac fo a c ime o
e i . Ac fac e , e ea. The e can be no c ime hen he c iminal mind i
an ing. A a gene al le, igno ance o mi ake a o a ic la fac , hone and eal, ill e em
he doe f om felonio e on ibili .13

_______________

11 R , . 464-474.
12 See Ma c . Sa d a ba a , Id.
13 Leca . Sa d a ba a , G.R. No. 130872, Ma ch 25, 1999, 305 SCRA 396, 408.
/
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VOL. 615, Ma ch 17, 2010 609

Ba da . Pe e

All old, he e i ea onable do b a o e i ione g il . Whe e he e i ea onable do b , an

acc ed m be ac i ed e en ho gh hi innocence ma no ha e been f ll e abli hed. When
g il i no o en i h mo al ce ain , e one a ion m be g an ed a a ma e of igh .14
Finall , e ei e a e ha e ha e long enjoined:
Time and ime again, hi Co ha em ha i ed he need o am o g af and co ion in
he go e nmen . Indeed, he en acle of g eed m be c and he offende ni hed. Ho e e , hi
objec i e can be accom li hed onl if he e idence e en ed b he o ec ion a e he e of
mo al ce ain . Whe e do b linge , a in hi ca e, he Co i manda ed o hold he
15
e m ion of innocence g a an eed b o Con i ion o he acc ed.
WHEREFORE, he e i ion i GRANTED. The a ailed Deci ion i SET ASIDE. Pe i ione i
ACQUITTED on ea onable do b .
SO ORDERED.

C a (C a e ), Ve a c , J ., Pe a a and Me d a, JJ., conc .

Pe a ed, d e e a de. Pe e ac ed.

No e. When he ci c m ance o nding he alleged commi ion of c ime a e ca able of o

infe ence , one fa o ing he innocence of he acc ed and he o he he g il , he infe ence fo he
innocence m e ail, con i en i h he Con i ional e m ion of he innocence. (E e .
Pe e, 549 SCRA 433 [2008])
o0o

_______________

14 M e e de . Pe e, G.R. No. 139610, A g 12, 2002, 387 SCRA 196, 215.

15 Id., a . 200.