On appeal is the decision dated September 4, 1995, of the Regional Trial Court of Bulacan, Branch 141 [Judge Felipe N. Villajuan, Jr., presiding.] convicting appellant of the crime of murder, sentencing him to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua, and ordering him to pay the heirs of the victim the at amounts of P100,000.00, as indemnity, P15,000.00 as funeral expenses, and P50,000.00 as damages.

Appellant, a 17 year-old jeepney conductor, was charged with murder for the killing of Ma. Nympha Belen y Melano, a 21 year-old mental retardate.

The facts of the case are as follows:

On July 1, 1993, at about. 12:00 in the evening, prosecution witness Tolentino A. Colo was sleeping inside a jeepney parked at a garage in Francisco Homes, San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan. Suddenly, he was awakened when a woman cried out "Aruy!". Colo stood up and saw appellant coming out of a hut located some eight (8) meters away from the garage. Appellant was holding a curved knife in his hand. His t-shirt, hands, and knife were drenched with blood. Colo saw a woman inside the hut fall down on her face. Although it was nighttime, there was a light inside the hut and a mercury lamp some three (3) meters away which cast enough illumination for Colo to recognize appellant and the woman as Ma. Nympha Belen. When appellant saw Colo, he shouted "panglima ire" referring to the victim, and "panganim ka! referring to Colo. Scared out of his wits, Colo immediately jumped out of the window of the jeepney and hid in the roof of a nearby house. Appellant gave chase but when he could not find Colo, he finally gave up and left. Colo remained on the roof for five (5) long hours. At around 6:00 the following morning, he gingerly went down and drove the jeepney in his usual route. On July 2, 1993, at around 7:00 in the evening, Colo was arrested by the police and brought to the station for investigation. The following day, Colo told Mrs. Precila Melanio-Belen, mother of the victim, that it was appellant who killed her daughter.2 [TSN (Belen), December 13, 1993, p. 16; TSN (Colo), December 13, 1993, pp. 20- 50; TSN, January 24, 1994, pp. 8-10, 23.]

On August 3, 1993, appellant was charged with the crime of murder under the following Information:3 [Records, pp. 1-2.]

Upon arraignment on October 29, 1993, appellant entered a plea of not guilty.4 [Id. at 17.] At the pre-trial conference,5 [Id. at 25.] the sworn statements of Mrs. Precila Melanio-Belen6 [Exhibit "A", "A-1"; Records, p. 91.] and Tolentino Colo,7 [Exhibit "B", "B-1"; Records, p. 92.] the post-mortem examination8 [Exhibit "C", "C-1"; Records, p. 93.] and death certificate of Ma. Nympha Belen9 [Exhibit "D"; Records, p. 94.] were marked in evidence.

During trial, the prosecution presented the following witnesses: (1) Mrs. Precila Melanio-Belen, mother of the victim, who testified that her daughter was a mental retardate, and that their family paid more than P15,000.00. for the funeral of the victim;10 [TSN, December 13, 1993, pp. 7-8, 13-14.] (2) Tolentino A. Colo, a jeepney driver, who narrated the events he witnessed in connection with the stabbing incident; (3) SPO3 Rogelio Encina, a member of the Philippine National Police (PNP), San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan, who was tasked to bring to court the knife used in the killing from the Municipal Trial Court of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan;11 [TSN, January 24, 1994, pp. 30-31.] (4) Dr. Juan V. Zaldariaga, Jr., Medico-Legal Officer of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), who conducted the post-mortem examination and testified that the victim sustained six (6) stab wounds, five (5) of which were fatal.12 [TSN, October 14, 1994, pp. 10-11; Autopsy Report, Exhibit "H," "H-1" to "H-3," Records, p. 102.]

For the defense, appellant himself testified. He stated that in the evening of July 1, 1993, he was having a drinking spree with Jun, Gusing, Panis, Colo, and some others, at the garage in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan. At around 10:00 P.M., he left the group and being drunk, he decided to sleep inside the parked jeepney in the garage instead of going home. At around 12:10 in the morning, he was awakened by policemen and brought to the police detachment where he was questioned regarding the killing. He told the police that he did not know who killed the victim.13 [TSN, February 20, 1995, pp. 3-12; TSN, April 5, 1995, pp. 2-5.]

On September 4, 1995, the trial court rendered a decision14 [Records, pp. 116-119.] finding appellant guilty of murder, the dispositive portion of which states:

Hence, the present appeal. Appellant contends that the trial court gravely erred in -

In his brief,16 [Rollo, pp. 24-36.] appellant assails the credibility of prosecution witness, Colo considering that the latter was also a suspect in the killing, and was under detention at the time he gave his statement pointing to appellant as the killer. Further, appellant claims, Colo had a motive in pointing to appellant as the assailant since they had a previous quarrel over money. Appellant also contends that Colo's behavior after witnessing the incident is not in consonance with normal human behavior, for instead of reporting the matter to the police, he merely went ahead plying his usual jeepney route. Appellant also avers that the murder weapon was not positively identified in court. Lastly, appellant insists that he was convicted on the basis of insufficient circumstantial evidence. And even assuming that appellant committed the crime, the lower court failed to take into consideration the privileged mitigating circumstance of minority, appellant being only seventeen (17) years old at the time of the commission of the crime.

For the State, the Office of the Solicitor General17 [Appellee's Brief, Rollo, pp. 47-76.] contends that Colo was released after investigation, suggesting the insufficiency of evidence to implicate him. Further, the OSG belies the imputation of ill-motive on the part of Colo to testify against appellant considering that the alleged quarrel over money was brought up to explain why appellant was no longer living with Colo, not why Colo would implicate appellant. The OSG also contends that there is also no standard form of behavior when one is confronted with a shocking incident. Hence, the OSG prays for the affirmance of the conviction for murder since the killing is qualified by abuse of superior strength. But, it recommends that indemnity be reduced to P50,000.00 pursuant to existing jurisprudence.

In sum, the issues center on the credibility of the prosecution witness Colo and the sufficiency of the circumstantial evidence to convict appellant of the crime charged.

Anent the issue of credibility of witnesses, the elementary rule is that appellate courts will generally not disturb the findings of the trial court. The latter is in a better position to decide the question, having heard the witnesses themselves and observed their deportment and manner of testifying during the trial, unless it has plainly overlooked certain facts of substance and value that, if considered, might affect the result of the case.18 [People v. Naguita, G.R. No. 130091, August 30, 1999, p. 11; People v. Hubilla, Jr., 252 SCRA 471, 478 (1996); People v. Gomez, 251 SCRA 455, 465 (1995); People v. Bantisil, 249 SCRA 367, 376 (1995).] The rule admits of certain exceptions, namely: (1) when patent inconsistencies in the statements of witnesses are ignored by the trial court, or (2) when the conclusions arrived at are clearly unsupported by the evidence.19 [People v. Malimit, 264 SCRA 167, 175 (1996).] No inconsistencies in Colo's testimony were pointed out by appellant. Neither does appellant contend that the trial court erred in relying on the evidence on record.

Appellant attempts to impeach the testimony at this late stage of the proceeding. The records show that appellant was afforded ample opportunity to cross examine Colo and to demonstrate any falsity or error in his allegedly biased testimony. Appellant failed, however, to undermine Colo’s credibility.

The fact that a witness may have been investigated in connection with the commission of the crime and that he had a previous quarrel with appellant are no grounds for disqualification of a witness under Section 20 of Rule 130 of he Rules of Court. By itself, prejudice against an accused cannot warrant the disqualification of witnesses or the total disregard of their testimonies.20 [People v. Maldo, G.R. No. 131347, May 19, 1999, p. 11.] Under the same rule, in general, any person can testify in court, regardless of personal interest in a case. At any rate, these circumstances may affect the credibility of the witness, the assessment of which is within the province of the trial court. Anent his motive in testifying, Colo repeatedly insisted that he offered to testify because he pitied the mother of the victim who could find no witnesses willing to shed light on the death of her daughter.21 [TSN, December 13, 1993 (Colo), p. 40.] The foregoing factors considered, we find no cogent reason to overturn the factual findings of the trial court.

As to the sufficiency of evidence to convict appellant, we have likewise held that direct evidence of the commission of a crime is not the only matrix wherefrom a trial court may draw its conclusion and finding of guilt.22 [People v. Lopez, G.R. No. 131151, August 25, 1999, p. 4; People v. Danao, 253 SCRA 146, 150-151 (1996).] Under Section 4 of Rule 130 of the Rules of Court, conviction may be had even on circumstantial evidence provided three requisites concur: (1) there is more than one circumstance; (2) the facts from which the inferences are derived are proven; and (3) the combination of all the circumstances is such as to produce a conviction beyond reasonable doubt.

The following circumstances, when pieced together, lead to the ineluctable conclusion that appellant stabbed the victim: (1) Appellant, by his own admission, was at the locus criminis at around the time of stabbing incident.23 [TSN, February 20, 1995, p. 3.] (2) He was seen leaving the hut, barely seconds after the killing, by witness Colo.24 [TSN, December 13, 1993 (Colo), pp. 21, 23.] (3) He was seen leaving the hut holding a bloodied knife, and his t shirt and hands drenched with blood.25 [TSN, December 13, 1993 (Colo), pp. 31, 43.] (4) The knife, which had one blunt extremity and one sharp extremity , was presented in evidence, was akin to the knife used to inflict the wounds sustained by the victim.26 [TSN, October 14, 1994, p. 8.] (5) He was heard exclaiming "pang lima ire" referring to the victim and "pang-anim ka' referring to Colo.27 [TSN, December 13, 1993, p. 23.]7 (6) Appellant, still holding the knife, even chased Colo, but eventually left when he could not find Colo.28 [Id. at 49-50.]

The most incriminating piece of evidence against appellant is Colo's testimony that he saw appellant holding a bloodied curved knife, with his t- shirt and hands drenched with blood, leaving the locus criminis. Thus, in People v. Malimit,29 [264 SCRA 167, 172, 178 (1996).] one of the circumstantial evidence considered in convicting appellant of the crime of Robbery with Homicide is the testimony of two witnesses that they saw appellant holding a blood-stained bolo in his right hand, rushing out of the victim's store mere seconds prior to their discovery of the crime.

For circumstantial evidence to be sufficient to support a conviction, all circumstances must be consistent with each other, consistent with the hypothesis that the accused is guilty, and at the same time inconsistent with the hypothesis that he is innocent and with every other rational hypothesis except that of guilt.30 [People v. Lopez, G.R. No. 131151, August 25, 1999, p. 4; People v. De Guia, 280 SCRA 141 (1997).] Thus, conviction based on circumstantial evidence can be upheld, provided the circumstances proven constitute an unbroken chain which leads to one fair and reasonable conclusion that points to the accused, to the exclusion of all others, as the guilty person,31 [People v. Lopez, G.R. No. 131151, August 25, 1999, p. 6; People v. Bionat, 278 SCRA 454, 467 (1997); People v. Grefaldia, 273 SCRA 591, 605 (1997); People v. Salvame, 270 SCRA 766, 773 (1997); People v. Villaran, 269 SCRA 630, 635 (1997); People v. Tabag, 268 SCRA 115, 127 (1997).] a conclusion adequately proven in this case.

Appellant's defense of denial is unavailing. For the defense of denial and alibi to prosper, it must be clearly established by positive, clear and satisfactory proof that (1) the accused was somewhere else when the offense was committed, and (2) it was physically impossible for the accused to have been physically present at the scene of the crime or its immediate vicinity at the time of its commission.32 [People v. Francisco, G.R. No. 110873, September 23, 1999, p. 8; People v. Baniel, 275 SCRA 472, 483 (1997); People v. Patawaran, 274 SCRA 130, 139 (1997); People v. Henson, 270 SCRA 634, 640 (1997).] Appellant was right smack in the midst of the locus criminis at the time of the commission of the crime. Hence, his defense of denial and alibi miserably failed to comply with the strict requirements of time and place.33 [People v. Bernaldez, 294 SCRA 317, 331 (1998).]

As to the crime committed, the Information alleged three qualifying circumstances - abuse of superior strength, evident premeditation, and treachery. The trial court appreciated abuse of superior strength and evident premeditation without specifying which one qualified the crime to murder. We find, however, that only abuse of superior strength qualified the killing to murder.

In several cases,34 [People v Amoto, 111 SCRA 39, 46 (1982); People v. Braña, 30 SCRA 307, 315 (1969); People v. Reyes, 20 SCRA 304, 307 (1967); People v. Guzman, 107 Phil. 1122, 1127 (1960); People v. Quesada, 62 Phil. 446, 450; United States v. Consuelo, 13 Phil. 612, 614 (1909).] we have held that an attack made by a man with a deadly weapon upon an unarmed and defenseless woman constitutes the circumstance of abuse of that superiority which his sex and the weapon used in the act afforded him, and from which the woman was unable to defend herself. This is the exact scenario in this case.

Evident premeditation, however, was not sufficiently proven by the prosecution. The following requisites must be established before evident premeditation may be considered in imposing the proper penalty: (a) the time when the accused determined to commit the crime; (b) an act manifestly indicating that the accused clung to his determination; and (c) a sufficient lapse of time between such determination and execution to allow him to reflect upon the consequences of his act.35 [People v. Marcelino, et. al., G.R. No. 126269, October 1, 1999, pp. 10-11; People v. Gutierrez, Jr., 302 SCRA 643, 664 (1999); People v. Realin, 301 SCRA 495, 513 (1999).] Given the attendant factual circumstances in this case, we find them insufficient to establish evident premeditation.

Treachery likewise did not attend the commission of the crime. The qualifying circumstance of treachery can not be taken into consideration in the absence of evidence showing the manner of attack and what ensued inside the hut. Nobody witnessed the actual killing, only its immediate aftermath. Where treachery is alleged, the manner of attack must be proven.36 [People v. Tambis, G.R. No. 124452, July 28, 1999, p. 8; People v. Santillana, G.R. No. 127815, June 9, 1999, p. 15; People v. Asis, 286 SCRA 64, 74 (1998).]. It cannot be presumed or concluded merely on the basis of the resulting crime.37 [Ibid.] When no particulars are known regarding the manner in which the aggression was made or how the act which resulted in the death of the victim began and developed, it cannot be established from mere supposition that the accused perpetrated the killing with treachery.38 [People v. Sioc, G.R. No. 66508, November 24, 1999, p. 11; People v. Bahenting, G.R. No. 127659, February 24, 1999, pp. 9-11; People v. Sumaoy, 263 SCRA 460, 469-470 (1996).]

The trial court erred in appreciating nighttime as a generic aggravating circumstance. Nighttime only becomes an aggravating circumstance when (1) it is especially sought by the offender; (2) it is taken advantage of by him; or (3) it facilitates the commission of the crime by ensuring the offender's immunity from capture.39 [People v. Monsayac, G.R. No. 126787, May 24, 1999, p. 13.] Here, other than the time of the crime, there is nothing else to suggest that appellant deliberately availed himself or took advantage of the circumstances of nighttime. Further, when the place of the crime is illuminated by light, as in this case, nighttime is not aggravating.40 [People v. Gailo, G.R. No., 116233, October 13, 1999, p. 14; People v. Bato, 21 SCRA 1445, 1448 (1967).]

In sum, we find the crime committed by appellant to be murder because killing was qualified by abuse of superior strength. At the time of the commission f the crime, the penalty for murder was reclusion temporal maximum to death.41 [As amended by R.A. No. 7659, which took effect on December 31, 1993, murder is now punishable with reclusion perpetua to death.] Appellant having been born on May 16, 1976,42 [TSN, February 20, 1995, p. 5.] he was 17 years, 1 month and 15 days old, at the time of the commission of the crime. The existence of the privileged mitigating circumstance of minority requires the imposition of the penalty next lower in degree43 [Art. 68, second par. of the Revised Penal Code.] which is prision mayor maximum to reclusion temporal medium. Applying the Indeterminate Sentence Law, the maximum penalty to be imposed upon appellant shall be taken from the medium period of the imposable penalty, which is reclusion temporal minimum, while the minimum shall be taken from the penalty next lower in degree, which is prision correccional maximum to prision mayor medium.

As to the amount of damages, the death indemnity should be lowered to P50,000.00 pursuant to existing jurisprudence.44 [People v. Verde, 302 SCRA 690, 707 (1999); People v. Espanola, 271 SCRA 689, 716 (1997).] As to actual damages, the records do not contain any receipts for the funeral expenses incurred by the family of the victim. The mother of the victim likewise did not testify as to the moral damages sustained as a result of the death of her daughter. Hence, for lack of competent proof, we cannot award either actual or moral damages.45 [People v. Guillermo, 302 SCRA 257, 275 (1999); People v. Noay, 296 SCRA 292, 308 (1998).]

WHEREFORE, the decision of the trial court finding appellant Madelo Espina Cañasares guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of murder is hereby AFFIRMED WITH MODIFICATION regarding the penalty imposed so that appellant is hereby sentenced to an indeterminate prison term of four (4) years, ten (10) months and twenty (20) days of prision correccional maximum as minimum, to twelve (12) years, four (4) months and ten (10) days of reclusion temporal minimum as maximum, to pay the heirs of the victim the amount of P50,000.00 as death indemnity, and to pay the costs.

Bellosillo, (Chairman), Mendoza, and De Leon, Jr., JJ., concur.

Buena, J., on official leave.