Court finds band member innocent

CEBU, Philippines - For the failure of the prosecution to prove his guilt beyond reasonable doubt, Judge Gilbert Moises of Regional Trial Court Branch 18 acquitted a member of a band from charges of estafa through falsification of public documents.

In his six-page decision, Moises said that based on the evidence at hand, he found no deceit to prove the case filed against accused Eric John Orbigozo, a resident of Spring Wood Subdivision, Minglanilla town, Cebu.

“Taking into consideration the evidences presented by both the prosecution and the defense, the court finds the evidence presented by the prosecution lacking and wanting to sufficiently establish the guilt of the accused beyond any shadow of doubt,” the decision reads.

Moises was acquitted but was bound to pay the lending company P488,862 the amount he had loaned plus the legal interest rate of 12 percent per annum from the filing of the complaint until fully paid. (FREEMAN)