People vs Mejia

Facts: Several persons on board a passenger jeepney driven by

Landingin attacked the latter and a passenger, Catugas inflicting
upon them multiple stab wounds. Landingin was dumped on the
shoulder of the road. One of the attackers took the wheel. Catugas
was thrown out to the middle of the road. Landingin died as a
consequence of the injuries he sustained. Catugas survived.

Mejia, Benito, Fabito and Paraan were taken into police custody.
Calimquim was found dead three days after the incident, the others
have remained at large. Three separate criminal complaints were
filed against them (MTC).
Despite subpoenas requiring submission of counter-affidavits, the
accused did not submit their counter-affidavits.

RTC convicted accused of the crime of murder and of frustrated

murder, with treachery as the qualifying circumstance and nighttime
and band as aggravating circumstances.

Issue: W/N the guilt of the accused was established beyond

reasonable doubt

Ruling: No. The prosecution had to rely solely on the testimony of

Virgilio Catugas. The totality of his testimony in the cases before the
RTC leaves much to be desired.
The RTC gave credence to the version of the prosecution and even
took the incident as offer of compromise, which may be considered
an implied admission of guilt. Said court misapplied Section 27 of
Rule 130 of the Rules of Court.