Practice question
Police produce number slips that they say came from Nico. Material contradictions leave the court reasonably doubtful whether the slips were actually recovered from him or connected to the charged illegal numbers game. The prosecutor invokes Section 4 and the weakness of Nico's denial as enough to convict. Applying Bustillo, which is correct?
- The presumption eliminates the need to establish possession reliably.
- Any number on paper proves guilt.
- The prosecution must first reliably establish the relevant possession and criminal facts; reasonable doubt cannot be replaced by a weak defense.
- Every evidentiary discrepancy automatically requires conviction.
- All gambling paraphernalia is exempt from authentication.
Legal references
- RA 9287, Sections 2–9, illegal numbers games: https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2004/ra_9287_2004.html
- PD 1602, illegal gambling, as amended by RA 9287: https://lawphil.net/statutes/presdecs/pd1978/pd_1602_1978.html
- Bustillo v People, G.R. No. 216933, March 15, 2021, main decision, illegal numbers games and proof: https://lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2021/mar2021/gr_216933_2021.html
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