Republic of the Philippines

SUPREME COURT
Manila
FIRST DIVISION
G.R. NO. !"#$% &anua'( )"* )##+
D,P POO- OF .CCREDITED INSUR.NCE COMP.NIES* Petitione'*
/s.
R.DIO MIND.N.O NET0OR1* INC.* Respon2ent.
D E C I S I O N
.USTRI.3M.RTINE4* &.5
This 'efe's to the petition fo' ce'tio'a'i un2e' Rule !6 of the Rules of Cou't see7in8 the 'e/ie9 of the
Decision 2ate2 No/e:be' +* )### of the Cou't of .ppeals ;C.< in C.3G.R. CV No. 6+$6* the 2ispositi/e
po'tion of 9hich 'ea2s5
0he'efo'e* p'e:ises consi2e'e2* the appeale2 Decision of the Re8ional T'ial Cou't of Ma7ati Cit(* ,'anch
$= in Ci/il Case No. %#3+#) is he'eb( .FFIRMED 9ith MODIFIC.TION in that the inte'est 'ate is he'eb(
'e2uce2 to +> pe' annu:.
Costs a8ainst the 2efen2ants3appellants.
SO ORDERED.)
The assaile2 2ecision o'i8inate2 f'o: Ci/il Case No. %#3+#) ?le2 b( Ra2io Min2anao Net9o'7* Inc.
;'espon2ent< a8ainst D,P Pool of .cc'e2ite2 Insu'ance Co:panies ;petitione'< an2 P'o/i2ent Insu'ance
Co'po'ation ;P'o/i2ent< fo' 'eco/e'( of insu'ance bene?ts. Respon2ent o9ns se/e'al b'oa2castin8 stations
all o/e' the count'(. P'o/i2ent co/e'e2 'espon2ent@s t'ans:itte' eAuip:ent an2 8ene'atin8 set fo' the
a:ount of P$*66#*###.## un2e' Fi'e Insu'ance Polic( No. $#$6!* 9hile petitione' co/e'e2 'espon2ent@s
t'ans:itte'* fu'nitu'e* ?Btu'e an2 othe' t'ans:itte' facilities fo' the a:ount of P6*==$*+6#.## un2e' Fi'e
Insu'ance Polic( No. F3++=+#.
In the e/enin8 of &ul( )"* %==* 'espon2ent@s 'a2io station locate2 in SSS ,uil2in8* ,acolo2 Cit(* 9as 'aCe2
b( ?'e causin8 2a:a8e in the a:ount of P*#!!*#!#.##. Respon2ent sou8ht 'eco/e'( un2e' the t9o
insu'ance policies but the clai:s 9e'e 2enie2 on the 8'oun2 that the cause of loss 9as an eBcepte2 'is7
eBclu2e2 un2e' con2ition no. + ;c< an2 ;2<* to 9it5
+. This insu'ance 2oes not co/e' an( loss o' 2a:a8e occasione2 b( o' th'ou8h o' in conseAuence* 2i'ectl(
o' in2i'ectl(* of an( of the follo9in8 conseAuences* na:el(5
;c< 0a'* in/asion* act of fo'ei8n ene:(* hostilities* o' 9a'li7e ope'ations ;9hethe' 9a' be 2ecla'e2 o' not<*
ci/il 9a'.
;2< Mutin(* 'iot* :ilita'( o' popula' 'isin8* insu''ection* 'ebellion* 'e/olution* :ilita'( o' usu'pe2 po9e'.$
The insu'ance co:panies :aintaine2 that the e/i2ence sho9e2 that the ?'e 9as cause2 b( :e:be's of
the Co::unist Pa't( of the PhilippinesDNe9 People@s .':( ;CPPDNP.<E an2 conseAuentl(* 2enie2 the
clai:s. Fence* 'espon2ent 9as const'aine2 to ?le Ci/il Case No. %#3+#) a8ainst petitione' an2 P'o/i2ent.
.fte' t'ial on the :e'its* the Re8ional T'ial Cou't of Ma7ati* ,'anch $=* 'en2e'e2 a 2ecision in fa/o' of
'espon2ent. The 2ispositi/e po'tion of the 2ecision 'ea2s5
IN VIE0 TFEREOF* Gu28:ent is 'en2e'e2 in fa/o' of plaintiH. Defen2ant P'o/i2ent Insu'ance Co'po'ation is
2i'ecte2 to pa( plaintiH the a:ount of P!6#*###.## 'ep'esentin8 the /alue of the 2est'o(e2 p'ope't(
insu'e2 un2e' its Fi'e Insu'ance Polic( plus )> le8al inte'est f'o: Ma'ch )* %%# the 2ate of the ?lin8 of
the Co:plaint. Defen2ant D,P Pool .cc'e2ite2 Insu'ance Co:panies is li7e9ise o'2e'e2 to pa( plaintiH the
su: of P+#)*+##.## 'ep'esentin8 the /alue of the 2est'o(e2 p'ope't( un2e' its Fi'e Insu'ance Polic( plus
)> le8al inte'est f'o: Ma'ch )* %%#.
SO ORDERED.!
,oth insu'ance co:panies appeale2 f'o: the t'ial cou't@s 2ecision but the C. aI':e2 the 2ecision* 9ith
the :o2i?cation that the applicable inte'est 'ate 9as 'e2uce2 to +> pe' annu:. . :otion fo'
'econsi2e'ation 9as ?le2 b( petitione' D,P 9hich 9as 2enie2 b( the C. pe' its Resolution 2ate2 &anua'(
$#* )##.6
Fence* he'ein petition b( D,P Pool of .cc'e2ite2 Insu'ance Co:panies*+ 9ith the follo9in8 assi8n:ent of
e''o's5
.ssi8n:ent of E''o's
TFE FONOR.,-E COURT OF .PPE.-S ERRED 0FEN IT FE-D TF.T TFERE 0ERE NO SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
SFO0ING TF.T TFE .PPROJIM.TE-K TENTK LsicM ;)#< .RMED MEN 0FO CUSED LsicM TFE FIRE .T
RESPONDENT@S RMN PROPERTK .T ,.CO-OD CITK 0ERE MEM,ERS OF TFE CPP3NP..
TFE FONOR.,-E COURT OF .PPE.-S ERRED 0FEN IT .D&UDGED TF.T RESPONDENT RMN C.NNOT
,EFE-D LsicM FOR D.M.GES .ND .TTORNEK@S FEES FOR INSTITUTING TFE PRESENT .CTION .G.INST TFE
PETITIONER UNDER .RTIC-ES )* ))#=* )))% .ND ))$) OF TFE CIVI- CODE OF TFE PFI-IPPINES."
Petitione' assails the factual ?n2in8 of both the t'ial cou't an2 the C. that its e/i2ence faile2 to suppo't its
alle8ation that the loss 9as cause2 b( an eBcepte2 'is7* i.e.* :e:be's of the CPPDNP. cause2 the ?'e. In
uphol2in8 'espon2ent@s clai: fo' in2e:nit(* the t'ial cou't foun2 that5
The onl( e/i2ence 9hich the Cou't can consi2e' to 2ete':ine if the ?'e 9as 2ue to the intentional act
co::itte2 b( the :e:be's of the Ne9 People@s .':( ;NP.<* a'e the testi:on( LsicM of 9itnesses -t. Col.
Nicolas To''es an2 SPO$ -eona'2o Rocha' 9ho 9e'e a2:itte2l( not p'esent 9hen the ?'e occu''e2. Thei'
testi:on( LsicM 9as LsicM li:ite2 to the fact that an in/esti8ation 9as con2ucte2 an2 in the cou'se of the
in/esti8ation the( 9e'e info':e2 b( b(stan2e's that Nhea/il( a':e2 :en ente'e2 the t'ans:itte' house*
pou'e2 8asoline in ;sic< it an2 then li8hte2 it. .fte' that* the( 9ent out shoutin8 NMabuha( an8 NP.N ;TSN*
p. ).* .u8ust )* %%6<. The pe'sons 9ho: the( in/esti8ate2 an2 actuall( sa9 the bu'nin8 of the station
9e'e not p'esente2 as 9itnesses. The 2ocu:enta'( e/i2ence pa'ticula'l( EBhibits N6N an2 N63CN 2o not
satisfacto'il( p'o/e that the autho' of the bu'nin8 9e'e :e:be's of the NP.. EBhibit N63,N 9hich is a lette'
'elease2 b( the NP. :e'el( :entions so:e 2issatisfaction 9ith the acti/ities of so:e people in the :e2ia
in ,acolo2. The'e 9as no :ention the'e of an( th'eat on :e2ia facilities.=
The C. 9ent o/e' the e/i2ence on 'eco'2 an2 sustaine2 the ?n2in8s of the t'ial cou't* to 9it5
To 'ecapitulate* 2efen2ants3appellants p'esente2 the follo9in8 to suppo't its clai:* to 9it5 police blotte' of
the bu'nin8 of DKF,* ce'ti?cation of the Ne8'os Occi2ental Inte8'ate2 National Police* ,acolo2 Cit(
'e8a'2in8 the inci2ent* lette' of alle8e2 NP. :e:be's Celso Ma8silan8 clai:in8 'esponsibilit( fo' the
bu'nin8 of DKF,* ?'e in/esti8ation 'epo't 2ate2 &ul( )%* %==* an2 the testi:onies of -t. Col. Nicolas To''es
an2 SFO III -eona'2o Rochas. 0e eBa:ine2 ca'efull( the 'epo't on the police blotte' of the bu'nin8 of
DKF,* the ce'ti?cation issue2 b( the Inte8'ate2 National Police of ,acolo2 Cit( an2 the ?'e in/esti8ation
'epo't p'epa'e2 b( SFO III Rochas an2 the'e 0e foun2 that none of the: cate8o'icall( state2 that the
t9ent( ;)#< a':e2 :en 9hich bu'ne2 DKF, 9e'e :e:be's of the CPPDNP.. The sai2 2ocu:ents si:pl(
state2 that the sai2 a':e2 :en 9e'e Obelie/e2@ to be o' Osuspecte2@ of bein8 :e:be's of the sai2 8'oup.
E/en SFO III Rochas a2:itte2 that he 9as not su'e that the sai2 a':e2 :en 9e'e :e:be's of the CPP3
NP.* thus5
P
In fact the onl( pe'son 9ho see:s to be so su'e that that the CPP3NP. ha2 a han2 in the bu'nin8 of DKF,
9as -t. Col. Nicolas To''es. Fo9e/e'* thou8h 0e foun2 hi: to be pe'suasi/e in his testi:on( 'e8a'2in8 ho9
he ca:e to a''i/e at his opinion* 0e cannot ne/e'theless a2:it his testi:on( as conclusi/e p'oof that the
CPP3NP. 9as 'eall( in/ol/e2 in the inci2ent consi2e'in8 that he a2:itte2 that he 2i2 not pe'sonall( see the
a':e2 :en e/en as he t'ie2 to pu'sue the:. Note that 9hen -t. Col. To''es 9as p'esente2 as 9itness* he
9as p'esente2 as an o'2ina'( 9itness onl( an2 not an eBpe't 9itness. Fence* his opinion on the i2entit( o'
:e:be'ship of the a':e2 :en 9ith the CPP3NP. is not a2:issible in e/i2ence.
.nent the lette' of a ce'tain Celso Ma8silan8* 9ho clai:s to be a :e:be' of NP.3NIROC* bein8 an
a2:ission of pe'son 9hich is not a pa't( to the p'esent action* is li7e9ise ina2:issible in e/i2ence un2e'
Section ))* Rule $# of the Rules of Cou't. The 'eason bein8 that an a2:ission is co:petent onl( 9hen the
2ecla'ant* o' so:eone i2enti?e2 in le8al inte'est 9ith hi:* is a pa't( to the action.%
The Cou't 9ill not 2istu'b these factual ?n2in8s absent co:pellin8 o' eBceptional 'easons. It shoul2 be
st'esse2 that a 'e/ie9 b( ce'tio'a'i un2e' Rule !6 is a :atte' of 2isc'etion. Un2e' this :o2e of 'e/ie9* the
Gu'is2iction of the Cou't is li:ite2 to 'e/ie9in8 onl( e''o's of la9* not of fact.#
Mo'eo/e'* 9hen suppo'te2 b( substantial e/i2ence* ?n2in8s of fact of the t'ial cou't as aI':e2 b( the C.
a'e conclusi/e an2 bin2in8 on the pa'ties* 9hich this Cou't 9ill not 'e/ie9 unless the'e a'e eBceptional
ci'cu:stances. The'e a'e no eBceptional ci'cu:stances in this case that 9oul2 ha/e i:pelle2 the Cou't to
2epa't f'o: the factual ?n2in8s of both the t'ial cou't an2 the C..
,oth the t'ial cou't an2 the C. 9e'e co''ect in 'ulin8 that petitione' faile2 to p'o/e that the loss 9as
cause2 b( an eBcepte2 'is7.
Petitione' a'8ues that p'i/ate 'espon2ent is 'esponsible fo' p'o/in8 that the cause of the 2a:a8eDloss is
co/e'e2 b( the insu'ance polic(* as stipulate2 in the insu'ance polic(* to 9it5
P
.n( loss o' 2a:a8e happenin8 2u'in8 the eBistence of abno':al con2itions ;9hethe' ph(sical o'
othe'9ise< 9hich a'e occasione2 b( o' th'ou8h in conseAuence 2i'ectl( o' in2i'ectl(* of an( of the sai2
occu''ences shall be 2ee:e2 to be loss o' 2a:a8e 9hich is not co/e'e2 b( the insu'ance* eBcept to the
eBtent that the Insu'e2 shall p'o/e that such loss o' 2a:a8e happene2 in2epen2entl( of the eBistence of
such abno':al con2itions.
In an( action* suit o' othe' p'ocee2in8 9he'e the Co:panies alle8e that b( 'eason of the p'o/isions of this
con2ition an( loss o' 2a:a8e is not co/e'e2 b( this insu'ance* the bu'2en of p'o/in8 that such loss o'
2a:a8e is co/e'e2 shall be upon the Insu'e2.)
.n insu'ance cont'act* bein8 a cont'act of a2hesion* shoul2 be so inte'p'ete2 as to ca''( out the pu'pose
fo' 9hich the pa'ties ente'e2 into the cont'act 9hich is to insu'e a8ainst 'is7s of loss o' 2a:a8e to the
8oo2s. -i:itations of liabilit( shoul2 be 'e8a'2e2 9ith eBt'e:e Gealous( an2 :ust be const'ue2 in such a
9a( as to p'eclu2e the insu'e' f'o: nonco:pliance 9ith its obli8ations.$
The Nbu'2en of p'oofN conte:plate2 b( the afo'esai2 p'o/ision actuall( 'efe's to the Nbu'2en of e/i2enceN
;bu'2en of 8oin8 fo'9a'2<.! .s applie2 in this case* it 'efe's to the 2ut( of the insu'e2 to sho9 that the
loss o' 2a:a8e is co/e'e2 b( the polic(. The fo'e8oin8 clause not9ithstan2in8* the bu'2en of p'oof still
'ests upon petitione' to p'o/e that the 2a:a8e o' loss 9as cause2 b( an eBcepte2 'is7 in o'2e' to escape
an( liabilit( un2e' the cont'act.
,u'2en of p'oof is the 2ut( of an( pa't( to p'esent e/i2ence to establish his clai: o' 2efense b( the
a:ount of e/i2ence 'eAui'e2 b( la9* 9hich is p'epon2e'ance of e/i2ence in ci/il cases. The pa't(* 9hethe'
plaintiH o' 2efen2ant* 9ho asse'ts the aI':ati/e of the issue has the bu'2en of p'oof to obtain a fa/o'able
Gu28:ent. Fo' the plaintiH* the bu'2en of p'oof ne/e' pa'ts.6 Fo' the 2efen2ant* an aI':ati/e 2efense is
one 9hich is not a 2enial of an essential in8'e2ient in the plaintiH@s cause of action* but one 9hich* if
establishe2* 9ill be a 8oo2 2efense Q i.e. an Na/oi2anceN of the clai:.+
Pa'ticula'l(* in insu'ance cases* 9he'e a 'is7 is eBcepte2 b( the te':s of a polic( 9hich insu'es a8ainst
othe' pe'ils o' haCa'2s* loss f'o: such a 'is7 constitutes a 2efense 9hich the insu'e' :a( u'8e* since it has
not assu:e2 that 'is7* an2 f'o: this it follo9s that an insu'e' see7in8 to 2efeat a clai: because of an
eBception o' li:itation in the polic( has the bu'2en of p'o/in8 that the loss co:es 9ithin the pu'/ie9 of
the eBception o' li:itation set up. If a p'oof is :a2e of a loss appa'entl( 9ithin a cont'act of insu'ance* the
bu'2en is upon the insu'e' to p'o/e that the loss a'ose f'o: a cause of loss 9hich is eBcepte2 o' fo' 9hich
it is not liable* o' f'o: a cause 9hich li:its its liabilit(."
ConseAuentl(* it is suIcient fo' p'i/ate 'espon2ent to p'o/e the fact of 2a:a8e o' loss. Once 'espon2ent
:a7es out a p'i:a facie case in its fa/o'* the 2ut( o' the bu'2en of e/i2ence shifts to petitione' to
cont'o/e't 'espon2ent@s p'i:a facie case.= In this case* since petitione' alle8e2 an eBcepte2 'is7* then
the bu'2en of e/i2ence shifte2 to petitione' to p'o/e such eBception. It is onl( 9hen petitione' has
suIcientl( p'o/en that the 2a:a8e o' loss 9as cause2 b( an eBcepte2 'is7 2oes the bu'2en of e/i2ence
shift bac7 to 'espon2ent 9ho is then un2e' a 2ut( of p'o2ucin8 e/i2ence to sho9 9h( such eBcepte2 'is7
2oes not 'elease petitione' f'o: an( liabilit(. Unfo'tunatel( fo' petitione'* it faile2 to 2ischa'8e its
p'i:o'2ial bu'2en of p'o/in8 that the 2a:a8e o' loss 9as cause2 b( an eBcepte2 'is7.
Petitione' ho9e/e'* insists that the e/i2ence on 'eco'2 establishe2 the i2entit( of the autho' of the
2a:a8e. It a'8ues that the t'ial cou't an2 the C. e''e2 in not app'eciatin8 the 'epo'ts of 9itnesses -t. Col
To''es an2 SFO II Rocha' that the b(stan2e's the( inte'/ie9e2 clai:e2 that the pe'pet'ato's 9e'e
:e:be's of the CPPDNP. as an eBception to the hea'sa( 'ule as pa't of 'es 8estae.
. 9itness can testif( onl( to those facts 9hich he 7no9s of his pe'sonal 7no9le28e* 9hich :eans those
facts 9hich a'e 2e'i/e2 f'o: his pe'ception.% . 9itness :a( not testif( as to 9hat he :e'el( lea'ne2 f'o:
othe's eithe' because he 9as tol2 o' 'ea2 o' hea'2 the sa:e. Such testi:on( is consi2e'e2 hea'sa( an2
:a( not be 'ecei/e2 as p'oof of the t'uth of 9hat he has lea'ne2. The hea'sa( 'ule is base2 upon se'ious
conce'ns about the t'ust9o'thiness an2 'eliabilit( of hea'sa( e/i2ence inas:uch as such e/i2ence a'e not
8i/en un2e' oath o' sole:n aI':ation an2* :o'e i:po'tantl(* ha/e not been subGecte2 to c'oss3
eBa:ination b( opposin8 counsel to test the pe'ception* :e:o'(* /e'acit( an2 a'ticulateness of the out3of3
cou't 2ecla'ant o' acto' upon 9hose 'eliabilit( on 9hich the 9o'th of the out3of3cou't state:ent
2epen2s.)#
Res 8estae* as an eBception to the hea'sa( 'ule* 'efe's to those eBcla:ations an2 state:ents :a2e b(
eithe' the pa'ticipants* /icti:s* o' spectato's to a c'i:e i::e2iatel( befo'e* 2u'in8* o' afte' the
co::ission of the c'i:e* 9hen the ci'cu:stances a'e such that the state:ents 9e'e :a2e as a
spontaneous 'eaction o' utte'ance inspi'e2 b( the eBcite:ent of the occasion an2 the'e 9as no
oppo'tunit( fo' the 2ecla'ant to 2elibe'ate an2 to fab'icate a false state:ent. The 'ule in 'es 8estae
applies 9hen the 2ecla'ant hi:self 2i2 not testif( an2 p'o/i2e2 that the testi:on( of the 9itness 9ho
hea'2 the 2ecla'ant co:plies 9ith the follo9in8 'eAuisites5 ;< that the p'incipal act* the 'es 8estae* be a
sta'tlin8 occu''enceE ;)< the state:ents 9e'e :a2e befo'e the 2ecla'ant ha2 the ti:e to cont'i/e o' 2e/ise
a falsehoo2E an2 ;$< that the state:ents :ust conce'n the occu''ence in Auestion an2 its i::e2iate
atten2in8 ci'cu:stances.)
The Cou't is not con/ince2 to accept the 2ecla'ations as pa't of 'es 8estae. 0hile it :a( conce2e that
these state:ents 9e'e :a2e b( the b(stan2e's 2u'in8 a sta'tlin8 occu''ence* it cannot be sai2 ho9e/e'*
that these utte'ances 9e'e :a2e spontaneousl( b( the b(stan2e's an2 befo'e the( ha2 the ti:e to
cont'i/e o' 2e/ise a falsehoo2. ,oth SFO III Rocha' an2 -t. Col. To''es 'ecei/e2 the b(stan2e's@ state:ents
9hile the( 9e'e :a7in8 thei' in/esti8ations 2u'in8 an2 afte' the ?'e. It is 'easonable to assu:e that 9hen
these state:ents 9e'e note2 2o9n* the b(stan2e's al'ea2( ha2 enou8h ti:e an2 oppo'tunit( to :ill
a'oun2* tal7 to one anothe' an2 eBchan8e info':ation* not to :ention theo'ies an2 speculations* as is the
usual eBpe'ience in 2isAuietin8 situations 9he'e h(ste'ia is li7el( to ta7e place. It cannot the'efo'e be
asce'taine2 9hethe' these utte'ances 9e'e the p'o2ucts of t'uth. That the utte'ances :a( be :e'e i2le
tal7 is not 'e:ote.
.t best* the testi:onies of SFO III Rocha' an2 -t. Col. To''es that these state:ents 9e'e :a2e :a( be
consi2e'e2 as in2epen2entl( 'ele/ant state:ents 8athe'e2 in the cou'se of thei' in/esti8ation* an2 a'e
a2:issible not as to the /e'acit( the'eof but to the fact that the( ha2 been thus utte'e2.))
Fu'the':o'e* a2:issibilit( of e/i2ence shoul2 not be eAuate2 9ith its 9ei8ht an2 suIcienc(.)$
.2:issibilit( of e/i2ence 2epen2s on its 'ele/ance an2 co:petence* 9hile the 9ei8ht of e/i2ence pe'tains
to e/i2ence al'ea2( a2:itte2 an2 its ten2enc( to con/ince an2 pe'sua2e.)! E/en assu:in8 that the
2ecla'ation of the b(stan2e's that it 9as the :e:be's of the CPPDNP. 9ho cause2 the ?'e :a( be
a2:itte2 as e/i2ence* it 2oes not follo9 that such 2ecla'ations a'e suIcient p'oof. These 2ecla'ations
shoul2 be calib'ate2 /is3R3/is the othe' e/i2ence on 'eco'2. .n2 the t'ial cou't aptl( note2 that the'e is a
nee2 fo' a22itional con/incin8 p'oof* /iC.5
The Cou't ?n2s the fo'e8oin8 to be insuIcient to establish that the cause of the ?'e 9as the intentional
bu'nin8 of the 'a2io facilities b( the 'ebels o' an act of insu''ection* 'ebellion o' usu'pe2 po9e'. E/i2ence
that pe'sons 9ho bu'ne2 the 'a2io facilities shoute2 NMabuha( an8 NP.N 2oes not fu'nish lo8ical
conclusion that the( a'e :e:be' LsicM of the NP. o' that thei' act 9as an act of 'ebellion o' insu''ection.
.22itional con/incin8 p'oof nee2 be sub:itte2. Defen2ants faile2 to 2ischa'8e thei' 'esponsibilit( to
p'esent a2eAuate p'oof that the loss 9as 2ue to a 'is7 eBclu2e2.)6
0hile the 2ocu:enta'( e/i2ence p'esente2 b( petitione'* i.e.* ;< the police blotte'E ;)< the ce'ti?cation
f'o: the ,acolo2 Police StationE an2 ;$< the Fi'e In/esti8ation Repo't :a( be consi2e'e2 eBceptions to the
hea'sa( 'ule* bein8 ent'ies in oIcial 'eco'2s* ne/e'theless* as note2 b( the C.* none of these 2ocu:ents
cate8o'icall( state2 that the pe'pet'ato's 9e'e :e:be's of the CPPDNP..)+ Rathe'* it 9as state2 in the
police blotte' that5 Na 8'oup of pe'sons acco:panie2 b( one ;< 9o:an all belie/e2 to be CPPDNP. P :o'e
o' less )# pe'sons suspecte2 to be CPPDNP.*N)" 9hile the ce'ti?cation f'o: the ,acolo2 Police station
state2 that NP so:e )# o' :o'e a':e2 :en belie/e2 to be :e:be's of the Ne9 People@s .':( NP.*N)=
an2 the ?'e in/esti8ation 'epo't conclu2e2 that N;I<t is the'efo'e belie/e2 b( this In/esti8atin8 Tea: that
the cause of the ?'e is intentional* an2 the a':e2 :en suspecte2 to be :e:be's of the CPPDNP. 9he'e
;sic< the ones 'esponsible PN)% .ll these 2ocu:ents sho9 that in2ee2* the Nsuspecte2N eBecuto' of the ?'e
9e'e belie/e2 to be :e:be's of the CPPDNP.. ,ut suspicion alone is not suIcient* p'epon2e'ance of
e/i2ence bein8 the Auantu: of p'oof.
.ll tol2* the Cou't ?n2s no 'eason to 8'ant the p'esent petition.
0FEREFORE* the petition is DISMISSED. The Cou't of .ppeals Decision 2ate2 No/e:be' +* )### an2
Resolution 2ate2 &anua'( $#* )## 'en2e'e2 in C.3G.R. CV No. 6+$6 a'e .FFIRMED in toto.
SO ORDERED.