Unit III

QUANTUM OF EVIDENCE (WEIGHT AND SUFFICIENCY OF EVIDENCE)

• Weight of Evidence
It is the probative value given by the court to particular evidence admitted to prove a fact
in issue. (Kung gaano kabigat ang evidence mo para mag prove doon sa allegations ko
weight kung gaano siya kapani pani-paniwala it talks about the credibility of your
evidence)

• When is an evidence credible?

It is credible if it is admissible and believable and worthy of belief such that it can be
used by the courts in deciding a case. (yung kapani-paniwalang evidence that used in
trial court)
Evidence, to be worthy of credit, must not only proceed from a credible source but must
also be credible in itself. It must be natural, reasonable and probable as to make it easy
to believe.

• Equipoise Doctrine
This doctrine refers to a situation where the evidence of the parties are evenly balanced
or there is doubt on which side the evidence preponderates. In such case, the decision
should be against the party with the burden of proof.
In criminal cases, the equipoise rule provides that where the evidence is evenly
balanced, the constitutional presumption of innocence tilts the scales in favor of the
accused. (prosecution and defense ang naglalaban sa korte.) In criminal case ang may
burden of proof ay ang prosecution na nagsasabing may kasalan si Mr. A ay siya ang
may responsibilidad na patunayan na may kasalanan si Mr. A. What if kung pantay ang
evidence between prosecution and Defense ang mananalo dito ang ang Defense
because there is a presumtion of innocence at kung nanalo ang defense
mapapawalang sala ang akusado.
•PROOF BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT
- It only requires moral certainty or that degree of proof which produces conviction in an
unprejudiced mind. It does not mean the degree of proof as to exclude the possibility of
error or absolute certainty. (enought na yung moral certainty that produce
- In a every criminal case, the prosecution must prove 2 points:
- commission of the crime
- identity of the accused as the perpetrator of the crime

• CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE

- It is the degree of proof which produces in the mind of the court, a firm belief for
conviction as to the allegation sought to be established.
- It is the quantum of evidence in specific cases as provided by the rules of court as well
as by jurisprudence such as when invoking self-defense, the allegation of frame up and
extortion of police officers and others.

• PREPONDERANCE OF EVIDENCE
- It means the superiority of the weight of evidence in a civil case. It is not the number
that matters but the weight taking into consideration the surrounding facts and
circumstances of the case.

• SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE
- It means the amount of relevant evidence which a reasonable mind might accept as
adequate to justify a conclusion.
- Substantial evidence is sufficient only in cases before administrative or quasi-judicial
bodies, a fact may be deemed established if it is supported by substantial evidence.