Practice question
After conviction, the only witness identifying the accused recants. Special circumstances supported by the record cast serious doubt on the original identification, and no other evidence sustains the conviction against the accused. Counsel argues recantation must always be rejected without inquiry. Under Fernando v. People, which is sound?
- Every recantation automatically requires acquittal
- The stated exceptional conditions may support a new trial; recantation is neither automatically accepted nor universally rejected
- Recantations can never matter
- The recanting witness now decides the judgment
- The prosecutor must dismiss without judicial action
Legal references
- https://lawphil.net/courts/rules/rc_110-127_crim.html — Rules 120 §§4–6, 121 §§1–6, 122 §§1–3,6,11, and 126 §§1,3–5; read appellate periods with Rodriguez and current appellate routes.
- https://lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2025/jul2025/gr_259589_2025.html — Fernando v. People, G.R. No. 259589, July 29, 2025, MAIN decision (newly discovered evidence and qualified recantation ground).
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