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Rule 131 Burden of Proof and Presumptions
Rule 131 Burden of Proof and Presumptions
BURDEN OF
PROOF AND PRESUMPTIONS
Section 1. Burden of Proof the Duty of a
party to present evidence on the facts in
issue necessary to establish his claim by
the amount of evidence required by law.
This is also known as the Onus Probandi
I. Introduction.
Relationship between allegation and proof. He who alleges must prove.
Allegations do not prove themselves. Although plaintiffs causes of
actions are couched in the strongest terms and most persuasive language,
the allegations are of no consequence unless they are substantiated.
Similarly, in criminal cases, the offense and the aggravating
circumstances charged in an Information remain just accusations until they
are shown to be true by the presentation of evidence. Defendant is not
relieved from liability simply because the raises a defenses.
3. Points of distinction:
a). The former never shifts but remains constant with the party while the
latter shifts from one party to the other as the trial progresses
b). In civil cases where it leis is determined by the pleadings while the
latter is determined by the rules of logic.
The foregoing rests on the maxim: EL INCOMBIT PROBOTION QUI DECIT NON QUI
NEGAT ( He who asserts, not he who denies, must prove}
B. By the Accused
1. Non-Liability
a). His Affirmative Defenses by clear, positive and convincing
evidence
b). His negative defenses such as denial alibi, or mistake in
identity
2 Lesser liability: the offenses is a lesser offense or lesser stage of
commission, or that his participation is of lesser degree
3. Mitigating circumstances
2. Criminal Cases:
b). (i) If the negative of an issue does not permit of direct proof or
(ii) the facts are more immediately within the knowledge of the accused in
which case the onus probandi rest upon the accused ( PP. vs. Macalaban,
395 SCRA 461)
6. As to negative allegations
PRESUMPTIONS
I. Introduction: The facts in issue are
either (i) proved by the presentation of
testimonial, documentary or object evidence
or they are (ii) presumed
II. Concept: An assumption or conclusion as
to the existence of a fact based on another
fact or group of facts which were already
established. These are based on human
experience or common sense, or laws of
nature.
III. Classification:
presumption or
b). Juris et de Jure: conclusive or those which the law does not
be contradicted
allow to
V. Components of a Presumption
1. The Ultimate Fact or the Presumed Fact
2. The basic fact or factual basis because a presumption can not arise or
be based on another presumption. This may either be:
a). A fact within Judicial Knowledge in which case the presumption becomes
operative at the moment the case is filed or at any time thereafter. The
basic fact need not be proven.
For example: The presumption of a child being that of the husband arises
only after it is proven: that the parents were validly married and the
child was born thereafter. The presumption that a public officer was
regularly appointed or elected after it is first shown he was acting as a
public officer. Likewise the presumption of survivorship.
Note: There must be a rational connection between the Ultimate Fact and
the Basic Fact
1. Requirements:
a). As to the party estopped: (i). a conduct amounting to false
representation or concealment of material facts (ii). an intention that
the conduct be acted upon or that it will influence the other party and
(iii) knowledge of the true facts
b). As to the party claiming estoppel: (i) an absolute lack of knowledge
or of the means of knowledge as to the true facts, not lack of diligence
(ii) reliance in good faith upon the conduct of the other party and (iii)
the action or inaction resulted to his damage or injury
2. Illustrations
a). A man who represents himself to be the true owner in a sale will not
be permitted later to deny the sale after he acquire title thereto
b). Estoppel to deny validity of sale as when the wife, in collusion with
the husband, concealed her true status induce her parents to believe she
is single and to a property which in truth is conjugal. The husband
cannot deny the validity of the deed
c). The heirs who represented the minors in a suit for partition cannot
impugn the validity of the judgment for lack of proper authorization
d) Jurisdiction by estoppel
e). Agency/Partnership by estoppel
f) But estoppel does not apply to the government for acts of the public
officials
3. However the downside of the law is that it does not jibe with the
proposition that the land should be owned by those who actually till and
utilize the land over those whose sole connection to the land is merely a
piece of document.