GR L 758; (May, 1948) (Digest)
G.R. No. L-758; May 12, 1948
THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee, vs. RUSTICO NOBLEZALA, defendant-appellant.
FACTS
The defendant-appellant, Rustico Noblezala, was convicted of treason by the People’s Court. The prosecution alleged that in 1943, while Noblezala was a crew member of a Japanese patrol launch, he reported a sailboat to his Japanese commander, leading to its capture. He was also accused of finding a purported “Usaffe” pass on the sailboat and turning it over to the Japanese, which allegedly caused the Japanese to execute the sailboat’s eleven passengers.
ISSUE
Whether the evidence presented by the prosecution is sufficient to prove the appellant’s guilt for the crime of treason beyond a reasonable doubt.
RULING
No. The Supreme Court reversed the conviction and acquitted the appellant. The Court found the evidence insufficient and contradictory on material points. Key prosecution witnesses gave inconsistent testimonies regarding who reported the sailboat and how the appellant discovered and announced the “Usaffe” pass. The Court also found the witnesses’ behavior unnatural and noted a complete lack of proof that the eleven passengers were actually killed or that the appellant’s actions caused their deaths. The appellant was therefore entitled to the benefit of a reasonable doubt.
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