People v. Pascua Galladan y Bunay

Summary

SPO4 Pascua Galladan was convicted of murder for shooting Sgt. Apolinario Galladan on June 12, 1995, due to a long-standing grudge. The victim and companions had left a wake to avoid confrontation with accused, but accused ambushed and shot victim point blank in the forehead. The Regional Trial Court found accused guilty of murder qualified by treachery, sentencing him to reclusion perpetua. On appeal, the Supreme Court affirmed the conviction, ruling that positive identification by two eyewitnesses prevailed over accused's alibi defense. The Court held that accused failed to establish physical impossibility of being at the crime scene, and minor inconsistencies in prosecution testimonies did not affect their credibility. The Supreme Court additionally awarded P50,000.00 civil indemnity for death, separate from the moral damages already awarded.