Manila court dismisses vandalism case vs 3 PUP students
MANILA, Philippines – The Manila Metropolitan Trial Court (MeTC) has dismissed the vandalism case against three students from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.
MeTC Branch 16 Presiding Judge Minerva Alexandria Bautista granted the demurrer to evidence filed by the students, noting that the prosecution failed to prove their participation in the alleged act.
Granting a demurrer to evidence is tantamount to a dismissal of the case due to the failure of the prosecution to prove that the evidence is strong enough to warrant a conviction.
“In this jurisdiction, no less than proof beyond reasonable doubt is required to support a judgment of conviction. While the law does not require absolute certainty, the evidence adduced by the prosecution must produce in the mind of the Court a moral certainty of the guilt of the accused’ guilt. When there is even a scintilla of doubt, the Court must acquit,” said the ruling promulgated on April 29, 2025 but only made public on May 27.
“After a judicious perusal of the records, the Court grant the accused’ demurrer to evidence,” the court added, as it ordered the dismissal of the case for “insufficiency of evidence.”
The students were charged with vandalism by the police for allegedly spray painting military-motivated messages at the portion of the center island along España Boulevard in Manila last Sept. 19, 2024, which is a violation of City Ordinance No. 8609.
Two police officers were presented as witnesses who testified that they were passing by the area and caught the three students committing vandalism.
But the court said the prosecution failed to prove that the three students were the same individuals involved in the alleged vandalism.
“From the testimony of both prosecution witnesses, the Court finds that the prosecution was unable to prove that it [was the] accused [who] was committing vandalism on a structure built and owned by the City of Government of Manila, by then and there spray painting and writing militantly motivated messages on or at some portions of center island along España Boulevard, Sampaloc,” the court said, adding that during re-cross, the police admitted that he cannot understand what was written on the center island.
The court also ordered the return of the P500 cash bond posted by the accused for temporary liberty.
