FACTS:

Paciano de la Torre was charged with two counts of violating the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972. In the first case, he was found in possession of marijuana leaves, while in the second case, he was accused of selling dried marijuana leaves. He was acquitted in the first case but convicted in the second. The trial court based its conviction on the prosecution's evidence, which included a successful "test-buy" operation where de la Torre sold two packets of dried marijuana leaves to NARCOM operatives. De la Torre denied the allegations and claimed he was at home during the alleged transaction. The trial court sentenced him to life imprisonment and a fine of twenty thousand pesos. De la Torre appealed the conviction, raising issues regarding the inconsistencies in the testimonial evidence and the credibility of the witnesses.

ISSUES:

1. Did the trial court err in considering the inconsistencies in the testimonial evidence of the prosecution witnesses in the conviction of the accused?

2. Did the trial court err in not believing the testimonial evidence of the accused and his witnesses?

3. Did the trial court err in not acquitting the accused in Criminal Case No. C-2791?

RULING:

1. The court ruled that the trial court did not err in convicting the accused in Criminal Case No. C-2791.

PRINCIPLES:

• Inconsistencies in the testimonial evidence of the prosecution witnesses do not necessarily warrant the acquittal of the accused. The trial court has the discretion to evaluate the credibility of witnesses and their testimonies.

• The trial court is the best position to assess the credibility of witnesses and determine the weight to be given to their testimonies. The trial court's findings on credibility are entitled to great weight and should not be disturbed on appeal, unless there is a clear showing of arbitrariness or palpable error in the evaluation of the evidence.