EVI DENCE CE
1.A . ALAMA MANAH I SLAMI MI C I NVESTME MENT BANK OF THE HE PHI LI PPI NESALAMA MANAH I SLAMI MI CI NVESTME MENT NTBANK NK OFTHE HEPHI HI LI PPI NESvsCSC andMa Mal bun Facts Respondent /Appel l antMal bun wasf or mal l ychar ge d byt het henPAB Act i ngPre si dent Far ouk A.Carpi zof orNegl ectofDut y ,I neffic ffici encyand I ncomp mpet encear i si ngf r om t heal l eged unaut hor i z ed and i l l eg ale ncas hmentofcomm mmer ci alc hec ks dr awn agai ns tuncl ear ed and unf unded deposi t s.The al l ege d deposi t s wer e al l ege dl y approv ed by t he f or merCa Cashi er , Zenai da B. Say s on and al l wi t hdr awal s wer e made and appr ov e d by t he s ai d br anch acc ount antandappr ov edbyt heRes pondent /Appel l antanBr anchMa Manage r . The PAB Boar d ofDi r ect or s ,i ni t s Resol ut i on r esol v e dt o appr ov et he findi ng oft he I nvest i gat i ngComm mmi t t eet hatRespondent /Appel l antMal buni sgui l t yofNegl ectofDut ywi wi t han i mposabl epenal t yof" For ced Resi gnat i on wi t houtprej udi cet oRei nst at eme ment . "Thepet i t i oner bank fil e d a mo t i on f orr econsi der at i on oft he af or esai dr esol ut i on s t at i ng t her ei nt hatt he ci r cumst ance ofpri orconvi ct i on oft he pri vat er espondenti n 1979 f or" negl ectofdut y as chargedanduponsuspensi onf r om t heservi cef orf our( 4)mont hseffect i veuponr ecei ptoft hi s appr oval ,shoul dbeconsi der edi n det er mi ni ngt hepr operpenal t y( whi chshoul dbedi smi mi ssal ) t obei mposedont hepr i vat er espondent .
I ss ue:w/n t he pri orconvi ct i on oft he accused shal lbe consi der ed i n det er mi ni ng t he properpenal t yoft heaccused. Rul i ng We Weagr e ewi t ht hepe t i t i one rt hat" pr i orconvi ct i on"shoul dhav ebee nconsi der edbyt he Comm mmi ss i on i ni mposi ng t he pr oper penal t y on t he pri vat er es pondent al t hough i t was pr e s e nt e do nl yi nt hepe t i t i o ne r ' smo mo t i o nf o rr e c ons i de r a t i o n/mo t i o nf o rne wt r i al . I ti st ruet hatt hedocumentshowi ngthepri vat erespondent ' spri orconvi ct i on i n 1979 i snotanewl ydi scover edevi dencebut" f orgot t en evi dence"consi deri ngt hatt hesame meal r eady exi st ed orwas avai l abl ebef or eordur i ngt het r i alwhi ch was known and obt ai nabl ebyt he pe t i t i o ne rb anka ndc o ul dha v ebee n pr es e nt e dwe r ei tno tf ort heo ve rs i g htorf o r g e t f ul ne s so f t hepe t i t i o ne r( T uma ngv .Co ur to fAppe a l s ,172SCRA328[ 1989] ) ,a ndt he r e f o r e ,a ppl y i ngr i g i d t echni calrul es,such documenti snotadmi ssi bl easevi denceagai nstt hepri vat eres pondent .
uas i Howev er , admi ni st r at i ve agenci es l i ke t he Ci vi l Ser vi ce Comm mmi ssi on ex er ci si ng q j udi c i alf unc t i o nsar ef r e ef r o mt her i g i di t yofc e r t ai npr o c e dur a lr e q ui r e me me nt s .
We We r ul et hati nt he cas e oft he docume ntshowi ng pr i or convi ct i on oft he pr i vat e r es pondent ,such shoul d havebeen admi t t ed consi deri ng t hati ti sa publ i cdocumentand wi t hi nt he j udi ci alnot i ce oft he Commi mmi ssi on.Sect i on 12( 4)ofChapt er3,Book VI Ioft he Revi sedAdmi ni st r at i veCodeof1987pr ovi des: See .12,Rul e sofEv i de nce .— I nac ont e s t e dc a s e : 4.t he agency may t ake j udi ci alnot i ce ofj udi ci al l y cogni zabl ef act s and of g e ne r a l l yc o gni z a bl et e c hni c alo rs ci e nt i ficf ac t swi wi t hi ni t sspe c i al i z e dkno wl wl e dg e . Thepar t i esshal lbenot i fie dandaffor de danoppor t uni t yt ocont es tt hef act oso no t i c e d.
2. Ful l er ovs.Peopl e Facts Pe t i t i o nerFul l e r of e l o ni o us l yf a l s i f ya nd/o rc ause dt o be f a l s i fie d ag e nui ne publ i c document ,t hati swh when hepr epar ed hi sCS CSC 212 ( Per sonalDat a Shee t )f orsubmi ss i on t o Bur eau ofTel ecomm mmuni cat i on Regi onalOfficeNo.5,Legaz piCi t y ,hema madei tappeart hathe passedtheCi vi lEngi neer i ngBoar dExami nat i onsgi venbyProf essi onalRegul at i onComm mmi ssi on onMay30and31,1985wi wi t harat i ngof75. 8%; %;howev er ,uponver i ficat i oni ssuedbyPRC,sai d accusedt ookt heexami mi nat i oni nMay1984andanot herone[ i n]May ,1985wi t hgener alr at i ngs of56. 75% and56. 10% r espect i vel y . Pet i t i onerdeni ed exec ut i ngand submi t t i ngt hesubj ectPDS cont ai ni ngt hest at eme ment t hathe passe dt he 3031 May 1985 boar d exami mi nat i on f orci vi lengi neer i ng.He l i kewi se di sownedt hesi gnat ur eandt humbma mar kappeari ngt her ei n.Hecl ai medt hatt hest r okeoft he si gnat ur eappear i ngi nt hePDS di ffer sf r om t hest r oke ofhi sgenui nesi gnat ur e.[11] Headde d t hatt he l et t er s cont ai ned i nt he PDS DS he accomp mpl i shed and submi mi t t ed wer et ypewr i t t en i n c a pi t a ll e t t e r ss i ncehi st y pe wr i t erdoe snothav es ma ma l ll e t t e r s .Ass uc h,t hesubj e c tP DS DS c o ul d no tbehi sbec a usei tha dbo t hs ma ma l la ndc a pi t a lt y pe wr i t t e nl e t t e r s .Hef ur t he rar g ue dt ha tt he RTC had noj uri sdi ct i on t ot ryhi mt her ebei ngnoevi dencet hatt heal l egedf al si ficat i on t ook pl a cei nLe g az piCi t y .
I ssue: w/n t here i s a suffi ci ent evi dence t o convi ct t he accused of t he cr i me of f al si ficati on ofdocument s.
Rul i ng
I ti s a hor nbook doct r i ne t hatas bet ween bar e deni al s and posi t i ve t es t i mony on a ffir ma t i v ema t t e r s ,t hel a t t e ri sac c o r de dg r e a t e re v i de nt i ar ywe i g ht . Pet i t i oner cont ended t hat t he pros ecut i ons document ary ev i dence, consi st i ng of Exhi bi t sA,C,F,G,H,I ,J,K,L,M,N,O,P,Q andR andt hei rsubmarki ngs,arei nadmi ssi bl e i n evi dencef orbei nghearsay .Sect i on 36,Rul e130 oft heRevi sed Rul eson Evi dence,st at es t hatawi t nesscan t est i f yonl yt ot hosef act swhi ch heknowsoforcomesf r om hi sper sonal kno wl e dg e ,t ha ti s ,whi c ha r ede r i v e df r o m hi spe r c e pt i o n.A wi t ne s s ,t he r e f o r e ,ma yno tt e s t i f y ast owhathemer el yl earned f r om ot her sei t herbecausehewast ol d,orher eadorhear dt he same. Such t es t i monyi sconsi der edhear sayand maynotber ece i ve d asproofoft het r ut h of [ 5 7] whathehasl ear ned. Thi si sknownast hehear sayr ul e.
The l aw,howev er ,pr ovi des f or speci fic except i ons t ot he hear say r ul e.One oft he except i onsi st heent r i esi noffici alr ecor dsmadei nt heper f ormanceofdut ybyapubl i cofficer . I n ot herwords,offici alent ri esareadmi ssi bl ei n evi dencere gardl essofwhet hert heofficeror per so n who made t hem was pr es ent ed and t es t i fied i n co ur t ,s i nce t hese ent r i es ar e consi der e dpr e v i de nc eo ft hef a c t sst a t e dt he r e i n.Ot he rr e co g ni z e dr e a s onsf o rt hi s i ma f ac i e except i on arenecessi t yand t rust wort hi ness.Thenecessi t yconsi st si nt hei nconveni enceand di fficul t y of r equi r i ng t he offici al s at t endance as a wi t nes st ot es t i f yt o i nnumer abl e t r ansact i ons i nt he cour se ofhi s dut y .Thi s wi l lal so undul y hamper publ i c busi ness.The t rust wort hi nessconsi st si nt hepr esumpt i on ofr egul ari t yofperf ormanceofoffici aldut ybya publ i cofficer .
Wel l ent r enc hed i s t he r ul e t hat r esor t t o handwr i t i ng e xper t s i s not mandat ory .Handwri t i ngexpert s,whi l epr obabl yusef ul ,arenoti ndi spensabl ei nexami ni ngor [ 6 4] compari nghandwr i t i ngsorsi gnat ur es. Thi si sso si nceunderSect i on 22,Rul e132 oft he
Rev i se d Rul eson Evi dence ,t hehandwr i t i ngofa per son maybepr ov ed by anywi t nes swho bel i ev esi tt obet hehandwr i t i ngofsuc hper son,becausehehasseent heper sonwr i t e;orhas seenwr i t i ngpur port i ngt obehi supon whi cht hewi t nesshasact edorhasbeenchar ged,and has t husacqui r ed knowl edge oft hehandwr i t i ngofsuch per son.Mor eove r ,t heopi ni on ofa no ne x pe r twi t ne s s ,f o rwhi c hpr o pe rb as i si sg i v e n,ma yber e c ei v e di ne v i de nc er e g ar di ngt he handwr i t i ngorsi gnat ur eofaper sonwi t hwhi chhehassuffici entf ami l i ari t y .
3. Stat ePr osecutor svs.Muro Facts Respondentj udgei ssuedanOr derdi smi ssi ngel eve n( 11)casesfil edbyt heundersi gned compl ai nantprosec ut or sagai nstt heaccusedMr s.I mel daRomual dezMar cos,f orVi ol at i on of Cent r alBankForei gn ExchangeRest r i ct i ons.Cl ai mi ngt hatt her epor t edannouncementoft he Execut i veDepart menton t hel i f t i ngoff orei gn exchangeres t ri ct i onsbyt wonewspaper swhi ch arer eput abl eandofnat i onalci r cul at i on had t heeffectofr epeal i ngCent r alBankCi r cul arNo. 960,asal l ege dl y suppor t ed by Supre me Cour tdeci si onst he Cour tc ont ended t hati twas de pr i v e do fj ur i s di c t i o n,a nd,t he r e f o r e ,mo t u,pr o p( r ) i o ha dt o di s mi s sa l lt he e l e v e nc as e s af orement i oned" f ornott odosoopenst hi sCourtt ochargesoft ryi ngcasesoverwhi chi thas nomo r ej ur i s di c t i o n. Judge' sar r ogantandcaval i erpos t ur ei nt aki ngj udi ci alnot i cepur por t edl yasamat t er ofpubl i cknowl edgeamer enewspaperaccountt hatt hePres i denthadannouncedt hel i f t i ngof f o r e i g ne x c ha ng er e s t r i c t i o ns asbas i sf o rhi sa ss ai l e do r de rofdi s mi s s ali shi g hl yi r r e g ul ar , e r r o ne o usandmi s pl a c e d.Fo rt her e s p onde ntj udg et ot a kej udi c i a lno t i c et he r e o fe v e nbe f o r ei t i soffici al l yrel eased by t heCent r alBank and i t sf ul lt extpubl i shed asr equi r ed by l aw t obe effect i ve shows hi s pr eci pi t at e act i on i n ut t erdi sr egard oft he f undament alpre ceptofdue pr o c e s swhi c ht hePe o pl ei sal s oe nt i t l e dt oande x po s e shi sg r o s si g no r a nc eo ft hel a w,t he r e by t ar ni s hi ngpubl i cc onfide nc ei nt hei nt e g r i t yoft hej udi c i ar y .
I ss ue:w/n j udgeMur oact edwi t h gr aveabuseofdi scr et i on i n di smi ss i ngthe11caseson accountnewspaperr epor twhi ch wasnotyetpubl i shed att heti meofdi smi ss al .Hence, notj udi ci alnoti ce. Rul i ng Ge ne r a l l ys pe a ki ng ,ma t t e r so fj udi c i a lno t i c e ha v et hr e e ma t e r i a lr e q ui s i t e s :( 1)t he mat t ermustbeoneofcommon andgener alknowl edge;( 2)i tmustbewel landaut hori t at i vel y set t l edandnotdoubt f uloruncer t ai n;and( 3)i tmustbeknown t obewi t hi nt hel i mi t soft he j ur i sdi ct i onoft hecour t . Tosayt hatacour twi l lt akej udi ci alnot i ceofaf acti sme r el yanot herwayofsayi ngt hat t heusualf orm ofevi dencewi l lbedi spensed wi t hi fknowl edge oft hef actcan beot her wi se acqui r ed T . hi si sbecauset hecour tassume st hatt hemat t eri ssonot or i oust hati twi l lnotbe di sput ed.Butj udi ci alnot i cei snotj udi ci alknowl edge.Themer eper sonalknowl edgeoft he j udgei snott hej udi ci alknowl edgeoft hecour t ,andhei snotaut hor i z edt omakehi si ndi vi dual kno wl e dg eo fa f a c t ,no tg e ne r a l l yo rpr o f e s s i o na l l y kno wn,t heba s i so fhi sac t i o n.Judi c i a l cogni zancei st akenonl yoft hosemat t er swhi char e" commonl y"known.Respondentj udge,i n t he gui seofe xer ci si ng di scr et i on and on t he basi s ofa mer e newspaperaccountwhi ch i s somet i mes eve nr ef er r ed t o as hear say evi dence t wi ce r emoved,t ook j udi ci alnot i ce oft he
supposedl i f t i ngoff ore i gnexchangecont r ol s,amat t erwhi chwasnotandcannotbeconsi der ed ofcommon knowl edgeorofgener alnot ori et y .Wor se,het ook cogni zanceofan admi ni st r at i ve r egul at i on whi ch wasnotye ti nf or cewhen t heorderofdi smi ssalwasi ssued.Jur i sprudence 19
di c t a t e st ha tj udi c i a ln ot i c ec a nno tb et a ke no fa s t a t ut e be f o r ei tb e c ome se ffe c t i v e . The r eason i s si mpl e.A l aw whi ch i s notye ti nf orceand hence,st i l li nexi st ent ,cannotbe of common knowl edgecapabl eofr eadyand unques t i onabl edemonst r at i on,whi ch i soneoft he r e q ui r e me nt sbe f o r eac our tc ant a kej udi c i alno t i c eofaf ac t .
4. Car andangvs.CA Facts The spouses Feder i co V.Car andang and Rosamyr na P.Car andang who wer et he cont r ol l i ng st ockhol der sofF. V.CarandangConst ruct i on,I nc.ent er ed i nt o a Land Pur chase Agr eeme ntwi t h RoyalMonar c h RealEs t at eCor por at i on,byvi r t ueofwhi c ht hef or me rbought f r o mt hel a t t e rf o rP8, 355, 441. 25o nehundr e d( 100)r e s i de nt i a ll o t s . F. V. Car andang Const r uct i on, I nc. co nt r act ed Puz on I ndus t r i al Dev el opment Co r po r a t i o nt obui l d,a ti t sown c o s t ,s i x t e e n( 16)ho us i nguni t si nt hesai ds ubdi v i s i o na ta n agreedcont r actpri ceofP1, 200persquaremet er ,wi t hapr ovi si ont hatPuzonwoul dbepai df or i t s const r uct i on wor k by assi gni ng t oi tt he sal es col l ect i ons f r om t he housi ng uni t s const r uct ed. Puz o n fil e dac i v i lc as eag ai ns tt hepe t i t i o ne ra l l e g i ngt ha tde s pi t et hec ompl e t i o no ft he si xt een( 16)housi nguni t son August24,1982att hecostofP971, 050. 17,t hedef endant shad no tpa i dPuz o nt hef ul la mo unto ft heco nt r a c tpr i c ee x c e ptP61, 292. 95,c a us i ngt hepl a i nt i fft o suffer ac t ualdamag es.The amended compl ai nt was f ur t her amended by i mpl eadi ng as addi t i onalpart ydef endantt heSt at eI nves t mentHouseI nc.( SI HI )wi t h whom t heCarandangs and Roy alMonar c h ex ec ut edaMemor andum ofAgr ee mentdat edApr i l29,1983,wher ebyt he CarandangsandRoyalMonarc h( whi chhad def aul t edi nt hepaymentofi t sl oan obl i gat i onst o SI HI ) ,as s i g ne dt oSI HIa l lt he i rr e c e i v abl e sf r o mt hes al e sofl o t sandho us e s Puz onfil edamot i onf orsummar yj udgmentwi t hsupport i ngdocument arye vi denceand a swor ns t at ementofi nt er es tdueand damage s.On i t ssummar yj udgment ,Puz on won t he case,rul i ngt hatSI HIandCarangdangar esol i daryl i abl ewi t hPuzon.
I ssue: w/n t he act s of t he pet i t i oner si n not opposi ng t he summar yj udgment i s t ant amountt oj udi ci aladmi ss i on oft hedueexecut i on ofact i onabl edocument s. Rul i ng Thesummar yj udgme nti nCi vi lCaseNo.Q38378waspr oper .I twasr ender edent i r el y i n accor dancewi t ht he Rul esofCour tand appl i cabl ej ur i sprudence as t he pl eadi ngsand
admi ssi onson fil eshowedt hatt her eexi st ednogenui nei ssueast oanymat er i alf actandt hat t hemovantwasent i t l edt oaj udgmentasamat t erofl aw ( Sec.3,Rul e34,Rul esofCourt ) . Def endant s'f ai l ur et o deny t he genui neness and due exe cut i on oft he act i onabl e document sappendedt ot hecompl ai ntwast ant amountt oaj udi ci aladmi ssi on byt hem oft he genui nenessand dueexecut i on oft hosedocument s( Sec.8,Rul e8,Rul esofCour t ) .Judi ci al admi ssi onsdonotr equi r epr oofandmaynotbecont r adi ct edi nt heabsenceofapr i orshowi ng t hatt headmi ssi onshadbee nmadet hr oughpal pabl emi st ake.
5. Chi ngvs .CA Facts Pet i t i onerwaschargedbef oret heRegi onalTri alCourtofMakat i( RTC-Makat i ) ,Br anch 58,wi t hf o urc o unt sofe s t a f apuni s ha bl eunde rAr t i c l e315pa r .1( b)o ft heRe v i s e dPe na lCo de , i nr e l a t i o nt oPr e s i de nt i a lDe c r e e115,o t he r wi s ekno wna st he" T r us tRe c e i pt sL aw" . Pe t i t i o ne re x e c ut e d at r us tr e c e i ptag r e e me nti nf a v o rofAl l i e d Ba nki ngCo r po r a t i o ni n consi der at i onoft her ecei ptbythesai daccusedofgoodsdescr i bedas12Cont ai ner s( 200M/T) Magt arBr and Dol omi t es ;18 Cont ai ner s( Zoom M/T)Magt arBr and Dol omi t es ;Hi gh Fi r ed Ref r act ory Sl i di ng Nozzl e Bri cks;and Hi gh Fi r ed Ref r act ory Sl i di ng Nozzl e Bri cks f orwhi ch t her ei snow duet hesum of( P278,917. 80;P419, 719. 20;P387,551.95;andP389,085. 14 r espect i vel y)undert het er msofwhi ch t heaccusedagreedt osel lt hesamef orcash wi t ht he expres sobl i gat i on t or emi tt ot hecompl ai nantbank t heprocee dsoft hesal eand/ort ot ur n overt hegoods,i fnotsol d,on demand,butt heaccused,oncei n possessi on ofsai dgoods,f ar f r om compl yi ngwi t h hi sobl i gat i on and wi t h gr aveabuseofconfidence ,di dt hen and t her e, wi l l f ul l y ,unl awf ul l yandf el oni ousl ymi sappr opr i at e,mi sappl yandconv er tt ohi sown per sonal useand benefitt hesai d goodsand/ort hepr oceedsoft hesal et her eof ,and despi t ere peat ed demands,f ai l ed and r ef used and st i l lf ai l s and r ef uses,t o accountf or and/or r emi tt he pr oceedsofsal et her eoft otheAl l i edBanki ngCorpor at i on t othedamageandpr ej udi ceoft he sai d
compl ai nant
bank
i n
t he
af or ement i oned
amount
of
(P278, 917. 80;P419, 719. 20;P387, 551. 95;andP389, 085. 14) . Chi ng and Phi lBl oomi ng Mi l l s fil ed a ci vi lc ase f or t he decl arat i on ofnul l i t y of document s and damagesagai nstAl l i ed Bank.Subsequent l y ,Chi ng fil ed a pet i t i on f ort he suspensi on ofcr i mi nalpr oceedi ngon t heground ofprej udi ci alquest i on.Butt hesamewas deni ed.
I ssue: w/n t he amended pl eadi ng super seaded t he j udi ci al admi ssi on made i nt he ori gi nalpl eadi ng Rul i ng
Asel uci dat edi n Samovs.Peopl r us tr e c e i pti sco ns i de r e das e c ur i t yt r a ns ac t i o n e,at i nt ended t oai di n financi ngi mport er sand r et ai ldeal er swhodonothavesuffici entf undsor r es our cest ofinancet hei mport at i on orpur chaseofmer chandi se,andwhomaynotbeabl et o acqui r e cr edi t except t hr ough ut i l i zat i on, as col l at er al , of t he mer chandi se i mport ed or pur c ha se d.Cl e ar l y ,at r us tr e c e i ptpar t ake st hena t ur eofas e c ur i t yt r a ns ac t i o n.I tc o ul dne v e r beame r eaddi t i onalorsi dedocume ntasal l eged bype t i t i oner .Ot her wi se,apar t yt oat r us t r ece i ptagr eementcoul d easi l yr enege on i t s obl i gat i ons t her eunder ,t hus under mi ni ng t he i mport ance and def eat i ng wi t h i mpuni t yt he pur pose of s uch an i ndi spensabl et ool i n commer ci alt r ansact i ons.Sppedj o TheRTCMani l a,Br anc h 53,admi t t ed t heame nded compl ai nt .Accor di ngl y ,wi t ht he l owerc our t sadmi ssi on oft heamended compl ai nt ,t hej udi ci aladmi ssi on madei nt heori gi nal compl ai ntwas,i neffect ,super seded.Mi so Undert heRul es ,pl eadi ngssuper se ded oramended di sappearf r om t here cor d,l ose t hei rs t at usaspl eadi ngsandceaset obej udi ci aladmi ssi ons.Whi l et heymaynonet hel essbe ut i l i z e da g ai ns tt hepl e a de ra se x t r a j udi c i a la dmi s s i o ns ,t he ymus t ,i no r d e rt oha v es uc he ffe c t , bef or mal l yoffer edi nevi dence.I fnotoffer edi nevi dence,t headmi ssi oncont ai nedt her ei nwi l l no tbeco ns i de r e d. Consequent l y ,t he ori gi nalcompl ai nt ,havi ng been amended,l osti t s char act eras a j udi ci aladmi ssi on,whi c h woul d hav er equi r ed nopr oof ,and becameme r el yan ext r aj udi ci al
n vi rt uethereof , a dmi s s i o n,t headmi s s i bi l i t yo fwhi c h,a se v i de nc e ,r e q ui r e di t sf o r ma lo ffe r.I t he amended compl ai nt t akes t he pl ace of t he ori gi nal . The l at t er i sr egar ded as abandoned and ceas es t o perf orm any f urt her f unct i on as a pl eadi ng.The ori gi nal compl ai ntnol ongerf ormspartoft her ecord.
6. Peopl evs .Agr avant e Facts
Mari at est i fied t hatshewasbornon August27,1980,t hechi l d ofaccusedappel l ant byhi swi f e,Ev el yn Var gas. 4I n 1994,shewasaf r eshman att heMat acong( San Lor enz oRui z Nat i onal )Hi gh Schooll ocat ed sev en ki l omet er sf r om t hei rhousei n Mat acong,San Lorenzo Rui z,Camari nesNort e.Becauseoft hedi st anceoft hei rhouset ot hehi ghschool ,Mari ast ayed i n aboar di nghouseownedbyAdel i naRacho,goi nghomeonl yon Sat ur daymor ni ngs .Mar i a wasr apedbyherf at hert hr i cebutaf r ai dt ot el li tt oanyonebecauseoff earf orherf at her . Howev er ,whenshet ol dSusanRacho,t hedaught eroft heowneroft heboar di nghouse, t hatshewasnotgoi nghomet hatwee kend becauseofwhathadhappenedt oher .Susant ol d
Mari a’ sst oryt ohermot her ,Adel i naRacho,whot ook Mari at oDannyManabat ,ami ni st erof t heI g l e s i aniKr i s t o( I NK) .Ma na ba ta ndEnr i c oAmo r ,apo l i c ec a pt a i n,i nt ur nt o okt he mt ot he Phi l i ppi neNat i onalPol i ce.Shewasexami nedbyDr .Abasandf oundoutt hatt her earet hr ee hy me na ll a c er a t i o nsc oul dha v ebe e nc a us e db yt he" f o r c i bl epe ne t r a t i o n"o fa" t ur g i do re r e c t e d peni s. "He expl ai ned t hatt he " ol dl acer at i ons"wer e atl eastfive t o sev en days ol d si nce l acerat i onshealaf t ert hr eedays.Asf ort heabsenceofsper m,Dr .Abasopi nedt hatt hesame mi ghthavebeenwashedawaydur i ngur i nat i on. The def ense pr esent ed as wi t nesses Mar i a’ s hi gh sc hooladvi ser ,Rosal i a Mer ca;t he bar angaycapt ai n ofGui nobat an,Bacud,Camar i nesNor t e,NoelGadi l ;accusedappel l ant ;and t he l a t t e r ’ s ne i g hbo r ,Li l i a Fr a g a Me do l l a r .The a c c us e d de ni e dt he a l l e g a t i o no fr a pi ng he r daught er ,heal l ege dt hats hefil ed a casebecauseofshe was gi ve nl ashesby hi m f ornot a t t e ndi nghe rc l a s s esa ndj o i ne dt heI NC.Thet r i a lc o ur tc o nv i c t e dt hea c c us e d. Accusedappel l antfil ed a mo t i on f or new t r i alon t he gr ound ofne wl y di scov er ed ev i dencebased on an affidavi tex ecut ed by hi sni ece ,Cr i se l da Agr avant e,on Nove mber27, 1999.I n heraffidavi t ,Cr i sel da st at ed t hat ,l i ke Mari a,s hewas r ecr ui t ed i nt ot heI NK and per suadedbyAdel i naRachot owor kasahouse hel pbecauseshemi ghtj ustbecomet hevi ct i m ofi ncest uousr apewhi chwasthe" t r endoft het i mes" ;t hatshest ayedi nAdel i naRacho’ shouse unt i lherf at herRobert ocamet ot akeher ;t hati n sever alconver sat i ons,Mari at ol d herhow muchshee nj oy edhermember shi pi nt heI NK andhow shehat edher" st epmot her , "whobeat her ,andherf at her ,whodi dnotprot ectherf r om bei ngabused;andt hatsheknew t hatMari a had been sl eepi ngwi t h herboyf r i end Ni ño.Thet r i alcour tdeni ed t hemot i on on t heground t ha tt hee v i de nc ei sno tc o ns i de r e dne wl ydi s c o v e r ede v i de nc e .
I ss ue:w/n t heevi dencepr esent ed i ssuffi ci entt o puni sh t heaccusedoft hepenal t y of death.
Rul i ng Nowoman,muchl essonewhoi soft enderage,woul dconcoctachar geofse xualabuse and endur et hedegr adat i on and humi l i at i on ofa publ i ct r i al ,wher eshewoul d bef or ced t o r e v e a lt hel ur i dde t ai l sofhe rmi s f o r t une ,i fs hehadno tr e al l ybe e nr a pe d.Thi si spar t i c ul a r l y so wher e,as i nt hesecases ,t he accuse di s compl ai nant ’ s own f at herf orwhom,i tmay be assumed,ever ychi l dhast hedeepestr ever enceandr especti nourcul t ur e. I nt hesecases,whi l et hei nf ormat i onsal l eget hatcompl ai nantwasa " mi norf ourt een y ear sofage"att het i meoft hecommi ssi on oft her apesand t hataccusedappel l anti st he " f at heroft heoffended part y , "onl yt her el at i onshi p ofaccused-appel l antt ot hecompl ai nant hasbeensuffici ent l yest abl i shed. 36Tobesur e,t hemi nori t yofcompl ai nant( 14yearsofageat t het i meoft hec ommi s s i o no ft her a pe s )wa st hes ubj e c to ft hepa r t i e s ’s t i pul a t i o no ff a c t s . 37 However ,t hest i pul at i on off act swasnotsi gnedbyaccusedappel l antasrequi r edbyRul e118,
§2oft heRevi sedRul esofCr i mi nalProcedur ewhi chprovi dest hat" Noagre ementoradmi ssi on madeorent er edduri ngt hepr et ri alconf er enceshal lbeusedi n evi denceagai nstt heaccused unl essr educedt owr i t i ngandsi gnedbyhi m andhi scounsel . "Thi sr equi r ementi smandat ory .
Nor i st here suffi ci ent evi dence of compl ai nant ’ s age. The t es t i moni es of compl ai nant concer ni ng her age and t hat of her f at her , her ei n accusedappel l ant, concer ni ng t hi smat t erar ei nsuffi ci ent.Asno i ndependentevi dence waspresented by t hepr osecut i on t opr ovet hemi nori t y ofcompl ai nant ,i twaser r orf orthe t r i alcour tt o findaccusedappel l antgui l t yofqual i fiedr apeandt osent encehi mt odeat h.
7. Republ i cvs.Kenri chDevel opmentCor p Facts Thi s case s t emmed f r om t he cons t r uct i on by r espondent Kenr i c k De v el opme nt Corpor at i on ofaconcr et eperi met erf encearoundsomeparcel sofl andl ocat edbehi ndt heCi vi l Avi at i on Tr ai ni ngCent eroft heAi rTr anspor t at i on Office( ATO)i n 1996.Asar esul t ,t heATO wasdi spossessedofsome30, 228squar eme t er sofpr i mel and.Respondentj us t i fiedi t sact i on wi t hacl ai m ofowner shi pov ert hepr oper t y .I tpr esent edTr ansf erCer t i ficat eofTi t l e( TCT)Nos. 135604,135605 and135606 i ss uedi ni t snameandwhi chal l eg edl yor i gi nat edf r om TCTNo. 17508 r egi st er ed i nt he name ofone Al f onso Concepci on.Howev er ,t he Land Regi st r at i on Aut hor i t yhasnor ecor d ofTCT 17508.Thel and al l egedl ycov er ed byr espondent ’ st i t l eswas al sof ound t obewi t hi n Vi l l amorAi rBase.Byvi rt ueoft her eport ,t heOfficeoft heSol i ci t or Gener al( OSG) ,fil ed acompl ai ntf orre vocat i on,annul mentand cancel l at i on ofcer t i ficat esof t i t l ei nbe ha l fo ft heRe publ i coft hePhi l i ppi ne s .Ther e s p onde ntwa sde c l a r e di nde f a ul to nt he gr ound t hatt he answeri sconsi der ed a unsi gned pl eadi ng consi deri ng t he counseldi d not assentoraut hori zesomeonet osi gni nhi sbehal fandt heRepubl i cwaspermi t t edt osubmi ti t s e v i de nc ee xpar t e .
I ss ue:W/n t hepl eadi ngmaybeadmi t t edundert hepr i nci pl eofadopt i veadmi ss i on. Rul i ng
A par t yma y ,byhi swor dsorconduct ,v ol unt ar i l yadoptorr at i f yanot her ss t at eme nt . Wher ei t appear st hat a par t y cl ear l y and unambi guousl y assent ed t o or adopt ed t he st at ement s ofanot her ,evi denceoft hose st at ement si sadmi ssi bl eagai nsthi m.Thi si sthe essenceoft hepr i nci pl eofadopt i veadmi ssi on.An adopt i veadmi ssi on i sapart ysreact i on t oa st at ementoract i on byanot herpersonwheni ti sreasonabl et ot r eatt hepart ysre act i on asan
admi ssi on ofsomet hi ngst at edori mpl i edbyt heot herper son.Byadopt i veadmi ssi on,at hi r d per sons st at ementbecomest headmi ss i on oft hepar t y embraci ngorespousi ng i t .Adopt i ve admi ss i on mayoccurwhen a par t y:( a)expr ess l y agr ee st o orconcur si n an or alst at ement made by anot her ;( b)hear s a st at ementand l at er on esse nt i al l yr epeat si t ;( c)ut t er s an accept ance orbui l ds upon t he asser t i on ofanot her ;( d)r epl i es by way ofr ebut t alt o some speci fic poi nt srai sed by anot herbuti gnor esf ur t herpoi nt swhi ch heorshehas hear dt he ot hermakeor( e)r eadsandsi gnsawr i t t enst at ementmadebyanot her .
Her e,r espondentaccept ed t hepr onouncement sofAt t y.Garl i t osand bui l ti t scaseon t hem.Atnoi nst ancedi di te verdenyorcont r adi cti t sf ormercounsel sst at ement s.Evi dent l y , r espondentcompl et el y adopt ed At t y .Gar l i t os st at ement s as i t s own.Respondent s adopt i ve admi ssi onconst i t ut edaj udi ci aladmi ssi onwhi chwasconcl usi veoni t .
OBJECTEVI DENCE
8. Peopl evs .Rul l epa Facts On compl ai nt of Cyr a May Fr anci sco Buenaf e, ac cuse dappe l l ant Ronni e Rul l epay Gui nt owascharg edwi t hRapebef or et heRegi onalTri alCour t( RTC)ofQuez on Ci t y, s heal l e g e dt ha tt hel a t t e rr e mo v e dhe rpa nt y ,ki s s e dhe rl i psandv a gi naandt he r e a f t e rr ubbe d hi s peni s and i nser t ed t he same t ot he i nner port i on oft he vagi na oft he under si gned compl ai nant ,3 year sofage,ami nor ,agai nstherwi l land wi t houtherconsent .Theaccused admi t t edt hecommi ssi onofr apet ot hemot heroft hevi ct i m.However ,t heaccusedal l egedthat such admi ss i on i s made out off ear , Hence,i nadmi ss i bl e as ev i dence . Fur t her mor e,t he t e s t i mo nyoft hev i c t i mi sno ta cc ur a t eandpo s i t i v e .
I ss ue: w/n t heaccusedpuni shmentofdeat hi spr operi nt heabsenceofdocument ar y evi denceest abl i shi ngthe ageoft hevi ct i m.And w/n t heappear anceoft hevi ct i m wi l l const i t ut eobj ectevi dence. Rul i ng
I n vi ew oft heuncer t ai nt yofLI ZETTEsexactage,cor r obor at i veevi dencesuch asher bi r t hcer t i ficat e,bapt i smalcer t i ficat eoranyot heraut hent i cdocume ntshoul dbei nt r oducedi n e v i de nc ei no r d e rt ha tt hequa l i f y i ngc i r c ums t a nc eofbe l o ws e v e n( 7)y e a r sol di sappr e c i a t e d agai nstt heappel l ant .Thel ack ofobj ect i on on t hepartoft hedef enseast oheragedi d not excuset hepr osecut i onf r om di schar gi ngi t sbur den.Thatt hedef ensei nvokedLI ZETTEst ender agef orpur posesofquest i oni nghercompet encyt ot est i f yi snotnecessar i l yan admi ssi on t hat shewasbel ow 7year sofagewhenPRUNAr apedheron3Januar y1995.Suc hbei ngt hec ase , PRUNA cannotbeconvi ct edofqual i fied r ape,andhencet hedeat h penal t ycannotbei mposed on hi m.A per so nsappearance,a se v i de nc eo fage ( f ore xampl e ,o fi nf anc y ,orofbei ngunder ,i sus ua l l yr e g ar d e da sr e l e v ant ;and,i fs o ,t het r i buna l t he ageofconsentt oi nt er cour se) may pr oper l y obser ve t he per son br ought bef or e i t .Exper i ence t eac hes t hat cor por al appear ancesar eappr oxi mat el yan i ndexoft heage o ft he i rbe ar e r ,par t i c ul ar l yf o rt hema r ke d ext r emesofol dageandyout h.I neve rycasesuchevi denceshoul dbeaccept edandwei ghedf or war dphysi c al whati tma ybei neac hcasewor t h.I npar t i cul ar ,t heout appearanceofanal l eged
mi normaybeconsi der ed i nj udgi nghi sage;acont r aryrul ewoul df orsuch an i nf er encebe pe da nt i c a l l yov e r c a ut i o us .Co ns e q ue nt l y ,t hej ur yort hec our tt r y i nga ni s s ueoff a c tma ybe al l owedt oj udget heageofper sonsi ncourtbyobserv at i onofsuchper sons.Thef ormalofferof t heper son as evi dencei snotneces sary .Theexami nat i on and cr ossexami nat i on ofa part y bef or et hej ur yar eequi val entt oe xhi bi t i nghi m bef or et hej ur yandan offerofsuc h per sonas ane x hi bi ti spr o pe r l yr e f us e d.
9. Ci t i bank vs.Sabeni ano Facts RespondentModest aR.Sabeni anowasacl i entofbot h pet i t i oner sCi t i bankandFNCB Fi nance .Regr et t abl y ,t he busi ness r el at i ons among t he par t i es subsequent l y went awr y . Respondentfil ed a compl ai ntagai nstt he pet i t i onerf or havi ng a subst ant i aldeposi t s and moneymar ketpl acement swi t ht hepet i t i oner s,aswel lasmoneymar ketpl acement swi t ht he Ayal aI nv es t me ntandDev el opme ntCor por at i on( AI DC) ,t hepr oceedsofwhi c hwer esupposedl y deposi t ed
aut omat i cal l y
and
di r ec t l y
t o
r es pondent ’ s
acc ount s wi t h
pet i t i oner
Ci t i bank.Respondental l egedt hatpet i t i oner sr ef usedt or et urnherdeposi t sandt hepr oceeds ofhermoneymar ketpl acement sdespi t eherr epeat eddemands.Howev er ,t heCi t ybankon i t s answeral l egedt hatt hesai dcl ai m wasal r eadyoffset t edbyRespondent ’ sl oant oCi t ybank.
I ss ue:w/n t he bestevi dence r ul ei sappl i cabl ei ft he exi st ence oft he documenti si n quest i on. Rul i ng
No.Butev en wi t hr espec tt o document ary ev i dence,t he beste vi dence r ul e appl i esonl ywhent hec ofsuchdocumenti st hesubj ectoft hei nqui ry .Wher et he o nt e nt i ssuei sonl yast owhet hersuchdocumentwasact ual l yexec ut ed,orexi st s,oron t he c i r c ums t a nc e sr e l e v a ntt oors ur r o undi ngi t se x e cut i o n,t hebe s te v i de nc er ul edo e sno t a ppl yandt e s t i mo ni a le v i de nc ei sa dmi s s i bl e( 5Mo r an,o p.c i t . ,pp.7666;4Mar t i n,o p. .Anyo t he rs ubs t i t ut i o nar ye v i de nc ei sl i k e wi s ea dmi s s i bl ewi t ho utne e df o r c i t . ,p.78) account i ngf ort heori gi nal .Thus,when adocumenti spr esent edt opr ovei t sexi st ence o rc o ndi t i o ni ti so ffe r e dno ta sdo c ume nt a r y ,buta sr e a l ,e v i de nc e .Pa r o le v i de nc eoft he f a c to fe x e c ut i o no ft hedo c ume nt si sal l o we d
Thi sCour tdi dnotvi ol at et hebes tevi dencer ul ewheni tconsi der edandwei ghed i nevi dencet hephot ocopi esandmi cr ofil m copi esoft hePNs,MCs,andl et t er ssubmi t t ed byt hepe t i t i oner st oes t abl i sht heexi s t enceofr espondent sl oans.Thet er msorcont ent s oft hesedocument swer enev ert he poi ntofcont ent i on i nt he Pet i t i on atbar .I twas r espondent sposi t i on t hatt hePNsi nt hefir stset( wi t ht heexcept i on ofPN No.34534) neve rexi st ed,whi l et hePNsi nt hesecond se t( agai n,excl udi ng PN No.34534)wer e mer el yexecut edt ocoversi mul at edl oan t r ansact i ons.Asf ort heMCsre pr esent i ngt he pr oceedsoft hel oans,t herespondentei t herdeni edr ecei ptofcer t ai n MCsoradmi t t ed r ec ei ptoft he ot herMCs butf oranot herpur pose.Res pondentf ur t heradmi t t ed t he l et t er s she wr ot e per sonal l y or t hr ough herrepres ent at i ves t o Mr .Tan ofpet i t i oner Ci t i bankacknowl edgi ngt hel oans,exceptt hatshecl ai medt hatt hesel et t er swer ej ust meantt o keep up t heruseoft hesi mul at ed l oans.Thus,r espondentques t i oned t he document sast othei rexi st enceorexecut i on,orwhent hef ormeri sadmi t t ed,ast ot he pur pose f orwhi c ht he document s wer e ex ec ut ed,mat t er s whi ch ar e,undoubt edl y , ext er nalt ot hedocument s,andwhi chhadnot hi ngt odowi t ht hecont ent st her eof .
10. Ar ceovs.Peopl eoft hePhi l i ppi nes Facts Ar ceo obt ai ned a l oan t o CENI ZAL an amo untof150k,t hi swassecur ed bya c hec k v al ued 150k byAr ceo i nf av orofCeni z alBank.When t heduedat ecome ,t hebank di d not deposi tt hecheckon t hegroundoft hepr omi seoft hepet i t i onert hathewi l lpaythebanki n cash.( Pr omi semadever bal l y7 t i mes)Subsequent l y ,t hebank encashed t hesai d check,t he samebounce dbecauseofi nsuffici encyoff unds. The bank execut ed bef or et he pr osecut or an affidavi tand submi t t ed docume nti n supportofi t scompl ai ntf ores t af a and vi ol at i on ofBP 22. Thecheck i n quest i on and t he
r e t ur ns l i pwe r eho we v e rl o s tb y[ Ce ni z a l ]a sar e s ul to fafir et h ato c c ur r e dne arhi sr e s i de nc e soheexecut edanaffidavi tofl ossf ort hesame.Thet ri alcourtconvi ct edt heaccused.
I ssue:w/n t hebestevi dencerul eshal lappl y Rul i ng The gr av ame n oft he offense i st he actofdr awi ng and i ssui ng a wor t hl ess c hec k. 6 Hence,t he subj ectoft he i nqui ryi st he f actofi ssuanceorexecut i on oft he check,noti t s c o nt e nt .The r e f o r e ,be s te v i de nc er ul ewi l lno ta ppl y . Her e,t hedueexecut i onandexi st enceoft hecheckwer esuffici ent l yest abl i shed.Ceni zal t est i fied t hathe pr esent ed t he ori gi nal s oft he check,t he r et urn sl i p and ot herper t i nent document s bef or et he Officeoft he Ci t y Pr os ec ut orofQuez on Ci t y when he e xe cut ed hi s compl ai nt affidavi tdur i ng t he pr el i mi nary i nves t i gat i on.The Ci t y Pr osecut orf ound a pr i ma f ac i ec ase agai nstpet i t i onerf orvi ol at i on ofBP 22 and fil ed t he corr espondi ng i nf ormat i on basedon t hedocume nt s.Al t hough t hec hec kandt her e t ur n sl i pwer eamo ngt hedocume nt s l ostby Ceni z ali n a firet hatoc cur r ed nearhi sre si denceon Sept ember16,1992,hewas never t hel essabl et oadequat el yest abl i sh t hedueexecut i on,exi st enceand l ossoft hecheck a ndt her e t ur ns l i pi na na ffida v i to fl o s sa swe l la si nhi st e s t i mo nydur i ngt het r i a lo ft hec as e . Moreov er ,pet i t i onerhi msel fadmi t edt hathei ssuedt hecheck.Heneverdeni edt hatt he chec k waspr es ent ed f orpaymentt ot hedr aweebank and wasdi shonor ed f orhavi ngbee n drawnagai nsti nsuffici entf unds.
11.Vi l l areyTransi tI nc.vs.Ferr er Facts Vi l l ar amawasan oper at orofa bust r anspor t at i on,undert hebusi nessnameofVi l l a ReyTr ansi t ,pur suantt ocer t i ficat esofpubl i cconveni encegrant ed hi m by t hePubl i cServi ce Commi ss i on. He sol d t he af or ement i oned t wo ce r t i ficat es of publ i c conve ni ence t ot he Pangasi nan Tr ansport at i on Company ,I nc.( ot her wi seknown as Pant r anco) ,f orP350, 000. 00 wi t ht hecondi t i on,amo ngot her s,t hatt hesel l er( Vi l l ar ama)" shal lnotf oraper i odof10year s f r o mt heda t eo ft hi ss al e ,a ppl yf o ra nyTPU s e r v i c ei de nt i c a lo rc o mpe t i ngwi t ht hebuy e r . Vi l l a ReyTr ansi t ,I nc.bough tfiv e r t i fic a t e so fpubl i cc o nv e ni e nc e ,f o r t y ni nebus e s , ec t ool sandequi pmentf r om oneVal ent i n Fer nando.Thever ysamedayt hatt heaf or ement i oned cont r actofsal e was execut ed,t he part i es t her et oi mmedi at el y appl i ed wi t ht he PSC f ori t s appr oval ,wi t h a pr ayerf ort he i ssuance ofa pr ovi si onalaut hori t yi nf avoroft he vendee Corporat i on t o oper at et heser vi cet her ei ni nvol ved.Thesamewas gr ant ed.Bef or et hePSC c o ul dt a kefina la c t i o no ns a i da ppl i c a t i o nf o ra ppr o v alo fs a l e ,ho we v e r ,t heShe r i ffo fMa ni l a , woo ft hefiv ec e r t i fic at e so fpubl i cc o nv e ni e nc ei on Jul y7,1959,l ev i ed on t nv o l v e dt he r e i n, namel y ,t hosei ssuedunderPSC case sNos.59494and63780,pur suantt oawr i tofexe cut i on i s s ue db yt heCo ur to fFi r s tI ns t a nc eo fPa ng a s i na ni nCi v i lCa s eNo .13798,i nf a v o ro fEus e bi o Fe r r e r ,pl a i nt i ff,j udg me ntc r e di t o r ,a g ai ns tVa l e nt i nFe r na ndo ,de f e nda nt ,j udg me ntde bt o r .The
Sher i ff madeandent er edt hel ev yi nt her ecor dsoft hePSC.On Jul y16,1959,apubl i csal e wasconduct edbyt heSher i ff oft hesai dt e r t i fic a t e sofpubl i cc onv e ni e nc e .Fe r r e rwa st he woc hi g he s tbi dde r ,a ndac e r t i fic a t eo fs a l ewa si s s ue di nhi sna me . Fer r er sol d t he t t i ficat es of publ i c conveni ence t o Pant r anco, and j oi nt l y wo cer submi t t ed f orappr ovalt hei rcorr espondi ng cont r actofsal et ot hePSC. 2 Pant r anco t her ei n pr ayed t hati tbe aut hori zed pr ovi si onal l yt o oper at et he servi ce i nvol ved i nt he sai d t wo c e r t i fic at e s . Ques t i on r egar di ng who wi l l oper at ed t he sai dt wo cer t i ficat es was r ai sed t ot he Supr emeCourt ,and t hehi ghestcourtrul ed t hati twas t heVi l l areyshal loper at eunt i lt he o wne r s hi po fc PC i sfina l l ys e t t l e d. Pet i t i onerfil edwi t ht heCFIf ort heannul mentofsal ebysher i ff oft hesai dCPC andt he subsequentsal et her eofPangasi nanTr anspo.
I ss ue:w/n t hephot ocopyoft hel edgersandvoucher smaybeadmi t t edasevi dence. Rul i ng Exhi bi t s6 t o 19 and Exh.22,whi ch ar e phot ost at i c copi es ofl edgerent r i es and v ouc her s showi ng t hatVi l l ar ama had comi ngl ed hi s per sonalf unds and t r ansact i ons wi t h t hosemadei nt henameoft heCorporat i on,arever yi l l umi nat i ngevi dence.Vi l l arama has a s s ai l e dt headmi s s i bi l i t yo ft he s ee x hi bi t s ,c o nt e ndi ngt ha tnoe v i de nt i ar yv al uewha t s o e v er shoul d begi ven t ot hem si nce" t heywer emer el yphot ost at i ccopi esoft heori gi nal s,t hebest evi dencebei ngt heori gi nal st hemsel ves. "Accor di ngt ohi m,att het i mePant r ancooffer edt he s ai de x hi bi t s ,i twa st hemo s tl i ke l ypo s se s s oro ft heor i g i nal st he r e o fbe c aus et he ywe r es t o l e n f r om t hefil esoft heCorpor at i on andonl yPant r ancowasabl et opr oducet heal l egedphot ost at c o pi e st he r e o f . Sec t i on 5 of Rul e 130 of t he Rul es of Cour t pr ovi des f or t he r equi si t es f or t he admi ssi bi l i t yofsecondaryevi dencewhen t heori gi nali si nt hecust odyoft headver separt y, t hus :( 1)o ppo ne nt ' spo s s e s s i o no ft heor i g i na l ;( 2)r e a s ona bl eno t i c et oo ppo ne ntt opr o duc et he or i g i nal ;( 3)s at i s f ac t or ypr o ofo fi t sex i s t e nc e ;a nd( 4)f ai l ur eorr e f us alofo ppo ne ntt opr o duc e t heor i g i na li nc o ur t .Vi l l a r a maha spr a c t i c a l l yadmi t t e dt hes e c onda ndf o ur t hr e q ui s i t e s . 12As t ot het hi r d,headmi t t e dt he i rp r e vi o use x i s t e nc ei nt hefil e so ft heCo r po r a t i o na nda l s ot ha t hehadseensomeoft hem. 13Regardi ngt hefir stel ement ,Vi l l arama' st heoryi st hatsi nceeve n att het i meoft hei ssuanceoft he subpoena ducest heor i g i na l swe r eal r e a dymi s s i ng , ec um,t t her ef or e, t he Cor porat i on was no l onger i n posses si on of t he same.Howev er ,i ti s not necessaryf ora part yseeki ngt oi nt r oducesecondaryevi dencet oshow t hatt heori gi nali si n t heact ualposses si on ofhi sadver sary .I ti senough t hatt heci r cumst ancesar e such as t o i ndi c at et ha tt hewr i t i ngi si nhi spo s se s s i o no runde rhi sc ont r o l .Ne i t he ri si tr e qui r e dt hatt he part yent i t l edt ot hecust odyoft hei nst rumentshoul d,on bei ngnot i fiedt opr oducei t ,admi t havi ngi ti nhi spossessi on.Hence,secondaryevi dencei sadmi ssi bl ewher ehedeni eshavi ngi t i n hi spossessi on.Thepart ycal l i ngf orsuch evi dencemayi nt r oducea copyt her eofasi nt he c a s eo fl o s s .Fo r ,a mo ngt hee x c e pt i o nst ot hebe s te v i de nc er ul ei s" whe nt heo r i g i na lha sbe e n
l o s t ,de s t r o y e d,o rc a nno tbepr o duc e di nc o ur t . " 15 Theor i g i na l soft hev o uc he r si nq ue s t i o n mustbedeemedt ohavebeenl ost ,asev ent heCorporat i onadmi t ssuchl oss.Vi ewedupont hi s l i g ht ,t he r ec a n benodo ubta st ot hea dmi s s i bi l i t yi ne v i de nc eo fEx hi bi t s6t o19a nd22. Thef or egoi ngci r cums t ancesar es t r ongper suasi v eevi denceshowi ngt hatVi l l ar amahas been t oomuc hi nv ol v edi nt heaffai r soft heCor por at i on t oal t oge t hernegat i v et hecl ai mt hat hewasonl yapart t i megeneralmanager .Theyshow beyonddoubtt hatt heCorporat i on i shi s al t e rego.He nce,t herest ri ct i vepr ovi si on oft hecont r actent er ed byhi m and t hePangasi nan Tr anspoi sbi ndi nguponhi m andt hecor por at i on.
12. Enr i quezvs.Ramos Facts Ramospur chasedf r om Enr i quez20 par ce l sofl and f ort heamountof235k ofwhi c h onl yt heamountofP35, 056. 00 waspai dont hedat eofsal e,t hebal anceofP200, 000. 00bei ng payabl ewi t hi nt woyearsf r om t hedat eofsal e,wi t h 6% i nt er estperannum dur i ngt hefir st y ear ,and t her emai ndert odr aw 12% i nt er es tperannum i fpai dt her eaf t er ,pr ovi ded t hatat l eastP100, 000. 00 shoul d bepai d dur i ngt hefir styear ,ot her wi set hewhol eunpai d bal ance woul d become i mmedi at el y demandabl e; t hat t o secur et he payme nt of t he bal ance of P200, 000. 00def endante xecut edamort gagei nf avorofpl ai nt i ffsupon t he20par cel sofl and sol dandon ahal fi nt er es tove rapar ce lofl andi n Bul acan whi chwasembodi edi nt hesame de e do fs al e . Def endantbroke cer t ai n st i pul at i ons cont ai ned i n sai d deed ofs al e wi t h mort gage, pl a i nt i ffsi ns t i t ut e dt hepr e s e ntf o r e c l o s ur epr o c e e di ng s . Def endantse tupasaffir mat i vedef enset hatt hecont r actment i onedi nt hecompl ai nt does notexpr ess t he t r ue agr eement oft he par t i es because cer t ai ni mport antcondi t i ons agr ee d upon wer e noti ncl uded t her ei n by t he counselwho pre par ed t hecont r act ;t hatt he st i pul at i ont hatwasomi t t edf r om t hecont r actwast hepr omi seassumedbypl ai nt i ffst hatt hey woul dcons t r uctr oadsi nt hel andswhi c hwer et obesubdi vi dedf orsal eonorbef or eJanuar y , 1959;andt hatt het r ueamounti snot235kbut185konl y . Pl ai nt i ffs,on t heot herhand,di sput etheabovecont ent i on arg ui ngt hatt her ewasno suchor alagr eementorunder st andi ngbec auseal lt hatwasagr ee d upon bet wee nt hepart i es wasal r eady e xpr essed and i ncl uded i nt hecont r actofsal eExhi bi tA execut ed be t ween t he part i es,and si nce def endantf ai l ed t o pay t he bal ance ofherobl i gat i on wi t hi nt he per i od st i pul at edt hewhol eobl i gat i on becamedueanddemandabl et husgi vi ngpl ai nt i ffst heri ghtt o f orec l oset hemort gagei naccordancewi t hl aw.
I ss ue:w/n t heor alagr eementcannotbeadmi t t edbecauseofpar olevi dencerul e. Rul i ng Thecondi t i on t obeexpect edbyaper son whodesi r est opur c haseabi gpar celofl and f orpur posesofsubdi vi si on.I nasubdi vi si on t hemai ni mpr ovementt obeundert akenbef orei t
c o ul dbes ol dt ot hepubl i ci sf e e de rr o adsaso t he r wi s ei two ul dbei na c c e ss i bl eandv a l ue l e s s and woul d offerno at t r act i on t ot hebuyi ngpubl i c.And soi ti scorr ectt opr esumewasthe courtaquodi d,t hatwhent hesal ei nquest i on wasbei ngnegot i at edt heconst ruct i on ofr oads i nt hepros pect i vesubdi vi si on musthavebee n upper mosti nt hemi nd ofdef endantf orher pur p os ei npur c ha s i ngt hepr o pe r t ywa st ode v e l o pi ti nt oas ubdi v i s i o n. I ti sar gued t hatt hecourtaquoe r r e di na l l o wi ngpr e s e nt a t i o no fp ar o l ee v i de nc et o pr ovet hatacont eporaneousoralagreementwasal soreached bet ween part i esr el at i vet ot he const r uct i on oft her oadsf orsamei si n vi ol at i on ofourrul ewhi ch provi dest hatwhen t he t ermsofan agreementhadbeenr educedt owri t i ngi ti st obeconsi der edascont ai ni ngal lt hat has bee n agr ee d upon and t hatno ev i dence ot hert han t he t er ms t her e can be admi t t ed be t ween t he par t i es ( Sect i on 22,Rul e 123) .Thi sr ul e,howev er ,onl y hol ds t r ue i ft her ei s a l l e g a t i o nt ha tt hea gr e e me ntd oe sno te x pr e s st hei nt e nto ft hepa r t i e s .I ft he r ei sa nd t hi s de m. cl ai mi si ni ssuei nt hepl eadi ngs,t hesamemaybet hesubj ectparol eevi dence(I ) .Thef ac t t hatsuchf ai l ur ehasbeenputi ni ssuei nt hi scasei spat enti nt heanswerwher ei ndef endant ha ss pe c i fic a l l ypl e a de dt ha tt hec ont r a c to fs a l ei nq ue s t i o n do e sno te x pr e s st het r uei nt e nto f t hepar t i e swi t hr e g ar dt ot hec o ns t r uc t i o no ft her o a ds .
13. Lechugasvs.CA Facts Lechugas al l eged t hatshe boughta l and subj ectofl i t i gat i on t o Lasangue.( Deed of Absol ut eSal e)pl ai nt i ff hadt hel and segr egat edf r om t hebi ggerpor t i on of12 hect ar esowned byLeonci aLasanguebycont r act i ngapr i v at el andsur v ey or ,pai dt axesont hesamel and,and has t aken posses si on oft hel and t hr ough hert enant sJesusLeonci o,Robert a Losari t a and Si meon Gui nt a,who shar ed onehal foft he pr oduce oft he r i ce l and wi t h her ,whi l e she shoul der edsomeoft heexpensesi ncul t i vat i on andseeds,andonet hi r dsharei not herc r ops, l i kecoffeebeans,bamboos,coconut s,corn and t hel i ke.Hert enantt est i fied t hatt hepri vat e r es pondent sf or ced hert o akcnowl edget hem as l andl or ds,and t heyeve n harv es tt hecr ops pl ant edbyhert ot hedet ri mentoft heowner ,Lechugas. Def endant s,on t he ot herhand,mai nt ai nt hatt he l and whi ch pl ai nt i ff boughtf r om Leonci aLasanguei n 1950asevi dencedbyt hedeed exhi bi tA,i sdi ffer entf r om t hel andnow subj ectoft hi sact i on. t hi swassupport edoft het est i moni esofLasanguewhosol dt hepr opert y t oLec hugas.
I ssue: W/n par ol evi dence t hat i st he t es t i mony of Las angue may be admi t t ed as evi dencedespi t et heagreementi sbei ngi nwr i t i ng. Hel d. Ase xpl ai nedbyal eadi ngcomment at oron ourRul esofCour t ,t hepar ole vi dencer ul e doesnotappl y ,and maynotproperl ybei nvoked by ei t herpart yt ot hel i t i gat i on agai nstt he ot her ,wher eatl eastoneoft hepart i est ot hesui ti snotpart y ora pri vyofa part yt ot he
wr i t t en i ns t r ume nti n ques t i on anddoesnotbaseacl ai m on t hei ns t r ume ntorasser tar i ght o r i g i nat i ngi nt hei ns t r ume nto rt her e l a t i o ne s t a bl i s he dt he r e b y . The pe t i t i oner ' sr el i ance on t he par olevi dence r ul ei s mi spl aced.The r ul ei s not appl i cabl ewher et hecont r over syi sbet ween oneoft hepart i est ot hedocumentand t hi r d per sons.Thedeedofsal ewasexecut edbyLeonci aLasanguei nf avorofVi ct ori aLechugas.The di sput eoverwhatwasact ual l ysol di sbet ween pet i t i onerand t hepri vat erespondent s.I nt he caseatbar ,t hr ough t het est i monyofLeonci a Lasangue,i twasshown t hatwhatshere al l y i nt endedt osel landt obet hesubj ectofExhi bi tA wasLotNo.5522butnotbei ngabl et oread andwr i t eandf ul l yr e l y i ngon t hego odf a i t ho fhe rfir s tc ous i n,t hepe t i t i o ne r ,s hej us tpl ac e d hert humbmar konapi eceofpaperwhi chpet i t i onert ol dherwast hedocumentevi denci ngt he s al eo fl and.Thede e do fs al ede s c r i be dt hedi s put e dl o ti ns t e ad.
Di squal i ficat i on ofWi t ness /Admi ss i on/Conf ess i on
14. Peopl evs.Del eon Facts he cr i me of De l eon and Manayao had been f ound gui l t y oft he t r i alcourt oft e c l us i o n pe r pe t ua mur derand se nt enci ngeach oft hem t o suffert hepenal t yof r byshoot i ng behi ndatt heheadSant i agoby. 45cal i bergunandar mal i t e. The pr osecut i on pr esent ed t hr ee wi t nesses: t he t wo e yewi t nesses, name l y , Si mo n Mari ano,af armerf r om Angat ,Bul acan,andRamonChave z ,anempl oye eofRobalTr ansi t ;and SPO2Al f r edoBart ol ome.Thesubst anceoft hei rt est i monywast hatatapproxi mat el y9: 30a. m. of23August1992i nt hevi ci ni t yoft heRobalTransi tTer mi nali nAngat ,Bul acan,t heysaw t he accusedgun down Marc el i noSant i ago,oneoft hemanager sofRobalTransi t ,whi l et hel at t er wasdr i vi nghi sj eep.Mar i anowaswal ki ngi nt heopposi t edi r ect i on t hatt hej eepwasheaded, whi l e Chav ezwasf ol l owi ng t he v ehi cl eoft he vi ct i m ast he f or me rwant ed t ot el lt he l at t er somet hi ng.Thet esmonyoft hedoct orwhoconduct edt heaut opsyst at i ngt hatt hevi ct i m di ed t hr ought heuseofarmal i t e. I mme di a t e l ya f t e rt het e r mi na t i o no ft het e s t i mo nyo fBa r t o l o me ,t het r i a lco ur to r a l l y de ni e dt hea ppl i c a t i o nf o rba i lbe c a us et hee v i de nc eo fg ui l toft hea c c us e di ss t r o ng .I tt he n r e q ui r e dt hepr o s e c ut i o nt opr e s e nti t sot he rwi t ne s s e s .Theappe l l a nti nt e r p os e da l i bia shi s def ense.Hepres ent ed t hr eewi t nesse st ocor r obor at ehi sst ory ,namel y ,El merTosoc,Manuel Sant os,andCez arSant os.
I ssue:w/n t hedef enseofal i biwi l lpr evai lovert est i moni esofthe wi t nessesi nt hecase atbar Rul i ng
Wehav et i meandagai nr ul ed t hatal i bii st heweakes tofal ldef enses,f ori ti seasyt o f abr i c at eanddi ffic ul tt opr o v e ;i tc anno tp r e v a i lo v e rt hepo s i t i v ei de nt i fic at i o no ft heac c us e d byt hewi t nesses.49Mor eov er ,f ort hedef enseofal i bit opr osper ,t her equi r eme nt soft i meand pl acemustbest r i ct l ymet .I ti snotenought opr ovet hatt heaccusedwassomewher eel sewhen t hecr i mewascommi t t ed,buthemustal sodemonst r at ebycl earandconvi nci ngevi dencet hat i twasphysi cal l yi mpossi bl ef orhi mt ohavebeenatt hesceneoft hecri meatt het i met hesame wascommi t t ed. I nt hei nst antcase,such physi cali mpossi bi l i t ywasnotshown t ohaveexi st ed.Byt he appel l ant ' sown admi ssi on,t hepl acewher ehecl ai medt obewasonl yaboutei ghtki l omet er s awayf r om t hesceneoft hecr i meandt hati twoul dhavet akenonl yhal fan hourt ot r aver set he di st anceby busorpassengerj eep.Such di st ancewasnotsogre atast opr ecl udehi shavi ng beenatt hesceneoft hecr i mewhent heshoot i ngoccur r ed.
15. Peopl evs.Mej i a Facts Al ongt heexpr esswayatBarangayVent i ni l l a,St a.Barbar a,Pangasi nan,sever alper sons on boardapassengerj eepneydr i venbyTeofil oLandi ngi n at t ackedt hel at t erandapassenger , Vi r gi l i oCat ugas,t her ebyi nfli ct i ngupont hem mul t i pl es t abwounds.Landi ngi nwaspul l edout f r om hi sseatanddumpedont heshoul deroft her oad.Oneoft heat t acker st ookt hewheelof t he j ee pne y and dr ov eaway .Cat ugaswas t hr own outt ot he mi ddl eoft her oad when t he j eepne ys t ar t ed t omo v eaway .Landi ngi n di ed asaconsequenceoft hei nj ur i eshesus t ai ned. Cat ugassurv i ved. Becauseoft hei nci dent ,t heaccusedMej i aetalwascharg ed oft hecri meofmur der , f r us t r a t e dmur de ra ndv i o l a t i o no fAnt i c a r na ppi ngl a w. The pr osecut i on pr esent ed t he f ol l owi ng wi t nesses: Vi r gi l i o Cat ugas, pol i ceme n Domi ngui l l oGul en and Ber nar do Cl ement e,Dr .Cr i st i t oGar ci a,Ma.Nor aLandi ngi n,and Dr . Ro be r t oVal e nz ue l a .Vi r g i l i oCat ug aswa sr e c al l e dasr e but t alwi t ne s s .I nt he i rde f e ns e ,ac c us e d Mej i a,Beni t o,Par aan,and Fabi t ot ook t hewi t nessst and.Theyal sopr esent ed asaddi t i onal wi t nesses Rober t o Lambot ,Shi r l ey Lomboy ,Conr ado Beni t o,pol i ceman Ber nar do Cl eme nt e, a ndFe l i c i da dFa bi t oi nt he i re v i de nc ei nc hi e fa ndJul i aPa r a ana ss ur r e but t a lwi t ne s s . Thet r i alconvi ct edt heaccusedon t hebasi soft het es t i mo nyofCat ugaswhosur vi v ed t heunf o r t una t ei nc i de ntt o g e t he rwi t ht hes uppo r t i ngt e s t i mo ni e so fo t he rwi t ne s s e s .
I ssue:w/n t herei san i mpl i edadmi ssi on ofgui l t . Rul i ng Unf o r t una t e l y ,t heCASTI LLO c o ur tr e l i e d he a v i l yo nt heent r i e si nt hepo l i c ebl o t t e r so ft he po l i c est a t i o nso fSua la ndSt a .Ba r ba r a .Thes i l e nc eoft hee nt r i e son wha tt hea ppe l l a nt sha d de c l a r e di nc o ur ti sno tc o nc l us i v ee v i de nc et ha tt he ydi dno tr e po r tt hei nc i de ntt ot hepo l i c e
a ut ho r i t i e s .The yha d nopa r t i c i pa t i o ni nt hepr e pa r a t i o no ft hee nt r i e s .Ent r i e si nt hepo l i c e bl ot t er s shoul d notbe gi v en undue si gni ficance orpr obat i v e val ue,f or t he y ar e nor mal l y i nc o mpl e t ea ndi na c cur a t es o me t i me sf r o me i t he rpar t i a ls ug g e s t i o no ff o rwa nto fs ug g e s t i o no r i nqui r i e s T . heent r i esi n ques t i on ar esadl ywant i ngi n mat er i alpar t i cul ar s.Att hev er ymo s t , t he yo nl yr e c o r de dt hei mpr e s s i o nt ha tt hea ppe l l a nt swe r e" s us pe c t s . " Ye t ,nof ur t herques t i onswer easked f orhi mt oconvi nci ngl yshow t hatt heappel l ant s i nfli ct ed any oft he s t ab wounds on hi s body .Fur t her c ompoundi ng t he unce r t ai nt y and unr el i abi l i t yofCat uga' st est i mony ,hecandi dl yadmi t t ed on cr ossexami nat i on t hatonl yone per sonst abbedhi m. TheLARON cour tgav ecr edencet ot hev er si on oft hepr osecut i on and ev en t ook t he i nci dentasofferofcompr omi se,whi chmaybeconsi der edan i mpl i edadmi ssi on ofgui l t .Sai d courtmi sappl i edSect i on27ofRul e130oft heRul esofCourt .Ther ei snoevi dencewhat soever t hatanyoft heappel l ant saut hori ze d hi spare nt st oapproach Cat ugasorknew t hemat t erof paymentofP80, 000.Mor eove r ,i fone wer et o bel i ev et he expl anat i on ofCat ugas t hatt he amountofP80, 000 r epres ent edt heexpenseshei ncurr ed f orhi shospi t al i zat i on and medi cal bi l l s,t hen t heoffert or ei mbur sei ti snotadmi ssi bl ei ne vi denceaspr oofofcr i mi nall i abi l i t y pur suantt ot hel astparagraphofSect i on27ofRul e130.
16. Ger al dezvs.Cour tofAppeal s Facts An act i on f ordamagesbyr eason ofcont r act ualbr eac h wasfil edbype t i t i onerLydi aL. Ger al dezagai nstpr i vat er espondentKenst arTr avelCorpor at i on.Thi s was aros ef r om t he cont r actoft ouri n Eur opeon t heal l eged br each ofpri vat erespondent ,wher eby,duri ngt he t our ,she wasver yuneasyand di sappoi nt ed when i tt ur ned outt hat ,cont r aryt o whatwas st at ed i nt hebr ochur e,t her ewasnoEur opean t ourmanagerf ort hei rgr oup oft our i st s,t he hot el si n whi chsheandt hegroupwer ebul l i t edwer enotfirst cl ass,t heUGC Leat herFact ory whi c h wasspeci fical l yadded asahi ghl i ghtoft het ourwasnotvi si t ed,and t heFi l i pi nol ady t ourgui debypri vat er espondentwasafir stt i mer ,t hati s,shewasperf ormi ngherdut i esand r e s po ns i bi l i t i e sass uc hf o rt hefir s tt i me .TheKe ns t a ral l e g e dt ha tc o mpl a i nto fo nl yo neouto f 18par t i c i pant spr o v e st hatt hes e r v i c e spr o v i de dbyt heKe ns t ara r es at i s f ac t o r y .
I ssue:w/n t heomi ssi on ofothert ocompl ai ntwi l lpr ej udi cet heri ght sofanother . Rul i ng Wecannotacceptt hi sar gume nt .Sect i on 28,Rul e130 oft heRul esofCour tdecl ar es mi s s i o n t ha tt her i g ht sofapa r t yc anno tbepr e j udi c e dbyana c t ,de c l a r a t i o n,o ro o fa no t he r ,a st at ut oryadapt at i on oft hefir stbr anchoft hehornbookrul eofr whi c hwedo esi nt eral i o sac t a nothavet obel aborher e.Besi des,i ti sa commonl yknown f actt hatt her ear et our i st swho, al t hought het ourwasf arf r om whatt het ouroper at orunder t ookundert hecont r act ,chooset o r emai n si l entand f oregorecour set oa sui tj ustt oavoi dt heexpenses,hassl eand r ancorof l i t i gat i on,andnotbecauset het ourwasi naccordwi t hwaspr omi sed.
17. Bordal bavs. Cour tofAppeal s Facts Thei ns t antcont r ov er sy s t emmed f r om LotNo.1242 ( LotNo.799C)wi t h an ar ea of 1, 853 squar emet er sand l ocat ed atBarr i o Looc,MandaueCi t y .Thesubj ectl oti spartofa par celofl and si t uat ed on t he cor nerofMabi niand Pl ari delSt r eet si n Mandaue Ci t y ,and or i gi nal l yownedbyt hel at es pousesCar menoJaymeandMar gar i t aEspi nadeJayme.I n1947, [ 3] an e xt r a j udi c i alpar t i t i o n, wr i t t en i nt he Spani sh l anguage was exe cut ed,di sposi ng t he pr oper t yi n 3 par t s.Howeve r ,t hesai dl otwasoccupi edby t hehouseofNi canorJaypesi nce 1945.Pet i t i onerfil ed wi t ht he Bur eau ofLand a Pat entf ort he sai dl and.The Pat entwas gr ant ed.Uponknowl edgeoft hei ssuanceofPat entandOCTpr i vat er espondent sfil edwi t ht he RTC acompl ai ntpr ayi ngt hatt hesai dOCTandPat endbedecl ar edvoi dandor der edcancel l ed. Thet r i alcour t ,findi ngt hatf r audwasempl oy edbype t i t i oneri nobt ai ni ngFr eePat entNo.( VI I I ) 11421 and OCT No. 0571 ( FP) , dec l ar ed sai d pat ent and t i t l e vo i d and or der ed i t s cancel l at i on.Pet i t i oner cont ends t hat t he t est i moni es gi ven by t he wi t nesses f or pri vat e r es pondent swhi cht ouched on mat t er soccur r i ngpr i ort ot hedeat h ofhermot hershoul dnot havebeenadmi t t edbyt het ri alcourt ,ast hesamevi ol at edt hedeadman’ sst at ut e.
I ss ue: w/n t het est i moni esgi ven by pr i vat er espondent son mat t eroccur r i ngpr i ort o t hedeathoft heor i gi nalownerar edi squal i fiedorcannotbeadmi t t ed. Rul i ng Ast ot heal l eged vi ol at i on oft hedead man’ ss t at ut e,sufficei tt os t at et hatsai dr ul e findsnoappl i cat i on i nt hepr esentcase.Thedead man’ sst at ut edoesnotoper at et ocl oset he mout h ofawi t nes sast oanymat t eroff actcomi ngt ohi sknowl edgei n anyot herwayt han t hr oughper sonaldeal i ngswi t ht hedec ease dper son,orc ommuni cat i onmadebyt hedec ease d t ot hewi t ne s s .Si nc et hec l a i mo fpr i v a t er e s ponde nt sandt het e s t i mo nyoft he i rwi t ne s s e si n t hepr esentcase i sbased,i on t he1947 Deed ofExt r aj udi ci alPart i t i on and ot her nt eral i a, document s,and noton deal i ngs and communi cat i ons wi t ht he dec eas ed,t he ques t i oned t e s t i mo ni e swe r ep r o pe r l yadmi t t e db yt het r i a lc o ur t .
18. Peopl evs.Paragsa Facts Mi r asol ,whowast hen al i t t l eovert wel veand ahal f( 12½)yearsol d( Exhi bi tB,p.7, r ec. ) ,was al one i n herpare nt s'house i n Si t i o Tabagac ofBarr i o Bunacan,Muni ci pal i t y of Madr i dej os,Cebu,cooki nghogf eed.when t heacc used,Bi enveni do Paragsa,armed wi t ha hunt i ngkni f e,ent er edt hehouseandcl osedt hedooraf t erhi m.Appr oachi ngf r om behi nd,he pl aced hi sl ef tar m ar ound Mi r asol ' sneck,enci r cl ed herabdomen wi t h hi sri ghtarm,att he samet i mepoi nt i ngt hehunt i ngkni f ewi t hsri ghthandatherbr east ,andt hr eat enedhernott o shoutot herwi se she woul d be ki l l ed.Ther eaf t er ,t he accused succes sf ul l yr aped Mi r asol . Appel l antadmi t s havi ng sexuali nt er cour se wi t h Mi r asol ,t he compl ai ni ng wi t ness,buthe st out l ydeni edt hathedi dsobyempl oyi ngf orceori nt i mi dat i on agai nstMi r asol .Hecl ai mshe
andMi r asolwer esweet heart s;t hatont hedayoft hei nci dent ,i twasMi r asolwhoi nvi t edhi m t ot hel at t er ' shousewher et heyhad sexuali nt er cour seaf t erki ssi ngeach ot her ;andt hatt he i nt er cour set heyhad t hataf t ernoon was,asa mat t eroff act ,t hei rt hi r d sexuali nt er cour se. Ma r i s o lr e ma i nss i l e nc eont heal l e g a t i o no ft heac c us e da ndf a i l e dt oi nt e r p os eade ni a l .
I ssue:w/n t hesi l enceofMari solconst i t ut eani mpl i edadmi ss i on Rul i ng Ther ul eal l owi ngsi l enceofaper sont obet akenasani mpl i edadmi ssi onoft het r ut hof t hes t a t e me nt sut t e r e di nhi spr e s e nc ei sappl i c a bl ei nc r i mi na lc a s es .Butbe f o r et hes i l e nc eof apart ycan bet aken asan admi ssi on ofwhati ssai d,i tmustappear :( 1)t hathehear d and unders t ood t he st at ement ;( 2)t hathe was atl i ber t yt oi nt er pose a deni al ;( 3)t hat t he st at ement was i nr es pectt o some mat t er affec t i ng hi sr i ght s or i n whi ch he was t hen i nt e r e s t e d,a ndc a l l i ng ,na t ur a l l y ,f o ran a ns we r ;( 4)t ha tt hef a c t swe r ewi t hi n hi skno wl e dg e ; and( 5)t hatt hef actadmi t t edort hei nf er encet obedr awn f r om hi ssi l encewoul dbemat er i al t ot hei ssue( I V Fr anci sco,TheRevi sed Rul esofCourti nt hePhi l i ppi nes,1973 ed. ,p.316) . Theser equi si t esofadmi ssi on bysi l enceal lobt ai ni nt hepr esentcase.Hence,t hesi l enceof Mi r asolon t hef act sasser t edbyt heaccusedandhi swi t nesse smaybesaf el yconst r uedasan admi ssi onoft het rut hofsuchassert i on.
19. Peopl evs.Agust i n Facts I nfivese par at ei nf ormat i onsfil edon 22May1987wi t ht heRegi onalTri alCour t( RTC) , Br anch3,Bagui oCi t y ,t heaccusedwer echar gedwi t hmur derwi t hf r ust r at edmur derandwi t h at t empt ed.Thecr i meswer e al l eg edl y commi t t ed on 6 Sept ember1986 i n Bagui o Ci t y and r es ul t edi nt hedeat hsofDr .Napol eonBayquenandAnnaTher esaFranci sc oandt hewoundi ng ofAnt hony Bay quen, Domi ni c Bay quen, and Danny Anchet a. The def ense pr ese nt ed t he appel l antand hi swi f e,El i zabet h Agust i n.Theappel l ant ,whoi saf armerand whosehi ghest e duc a t i o na la t t a i nme ntwa sg r a df o ur ,i mpug ne dt hev al i di t yofhi se xt r a j udi c i a ls t a t e me nt .he al l eg edt hati nt hemor ni ngof10Febr uary1987,hewentt oCarmen,Pangasi nan,t obuysome f er t i l i ze randupon hi sr et ur n hewasmetbyt woarmedmenwhot ookhi mt ot hei rcarwher e t wo ot herc ompani ons,ar med wi t h ar mal i t es ,wer e wai t i ng.Theyt hen br oughthi m outof Pangasi nan.Hel at erl earned t hatt heywer eon t hei rwayt oBagui oCi t y .Thatt headmi ssi on madebyt heaccusedwast ai nt edwi t hf earandt hr eatandt hatt hel awyerofhi schoi cewasnot gr ant edandhewasi nt er r ogat edbyt hel anguagehecannotunder st and.
I ssue:w/n t heextr aj udi ci aladmi ssi on madebytheaccusedi sadmi ssi bl easevi dence. Rul i ng Thee xt r aj udi ci aladmi ssi on — note xt r aj udi ci alconf essi on — oft heappel l ant ,whi c hi s t heonl yevi denceoft hepr osecut i on l i nki nghi m t ot hecommi ssi on oft hecr i mecharg ed,i s whol l yi nadmi ssi bl e because i t was t aken i n vi ol at i on of Sect i on 12, Ar t i cl eI I I of t he
Const i t ut i on.We al so seei nt hesecases a bl at antdi sr egard oft he appel l ant ' s ri ghtunder Se c t i o n2o fAr t i c l eI I Iwhe nhewa sunl a wf ul l yar r e s t e d. A conf essi on i san ac knowl edgme nti ne xpr esst er ms ,byapar t yi n acr i mi nalcase,of hi sgui l toft hecr i mechar ged,whi l ean admi ssi on i sa st at ementbyt heaccused,di r ector i mpl i e d,o ff ac t spe r t i ne ntt ot hei s s ue ,andt e ndi ng ,i nc onne c t i o n wi t hpr o o fo fo t he rf ac t s ,t o pr ovehi sgui l t .I n ot herwords,andadmi ssi on i ssomet hi ngl esst han aconf essi on,andi sbut an acknowl edgmentofsomef actorc i r cumst ancewhi chi ni t sel fi si nsuffici entt oaut hori zea convi ct i on,andwhi cht endsonl yt oest abl i sh t heul t i mat ef actofgui l t .Wehaveexami nedt he assai l ed ext r aj udi ci alst at ementoft he appel l ant ,and we aresat i sfied t hatnot hi ng t her ei n i ndi cat es t hat he expr es sl y acknowl edged hi s gui l t ; he mer el y admi t t ed some f act s or ci r cumst anceswhi ch i nt hemsel ve sar ei nsuffici entt oaut hor i zea convi ct i on and whi ch can o nl yt e ndt oe s t a bl i s ht heul t i mat ef ac to fg ui l t .
20. Bost on Bankoft hePhi l i ppi nesvs.Manal o Facts XEIpr esi dentEme r i t oRamo s,Jr .cont r act ed t heser vi cesofEngr .Car l osManal o,Jr . who was i n busi nessofdr i l l i ng deep wat erwel l s and i ns t al l i ng pumps undert he busi ness name Hur r i cane Commer ci al ,I nc.ForP34, 887. 66,Manal o,Jr .i nst al l ed a wat erpump at Ramos r es i dence at t he co r ner of Aur or a Boul e var dandKat i punan Ave nue,Quez on Ci t y . Manal o,Jr .t hen proposed t o XEI ,t hr ough Ramos,t o pur chase a l ot i nt he Xavi er vi l l e subdi vi si on,and offer ed aspar toft hedownpaymentt heP34, 887. 66 Ramosowed hi m.XEI , t hr ough Ramos ,agr ee d.The r es er v at i on was co nfir med f ort he Lot1 and 2.The spouse s Manal ot ook possess i on oft hepr oper t y ,const r uct ed a houset her eon,and i nst al l ed a f ence aroundt heper i met eroft hel ot s.Manal o,Jr .const ruct edabusi nesssi gni nt hesi dewal knear hi s house .Subsequent l y , XEI t ur ned ov er i t s sel l i ng oper at i ons t o OBM, i ncl udi ng t he r ecei vabl esf orl ot sal r eadycont r act edandt hoseyett obesol d.OBM warnedManal o,Jr . ,t hat put t i ngupo fabus i ne s ssi g ni ss pe c i fic al l ypr o hi bi t e dbyt he i rc o nt r a c to fc o ndi t i o na ls al eand t ha thi sf a i l ur et oc ompl ywi t hi t sde ma ndwo ul di mpe li tt oav a i lo ft her e me di e saspr o v i de di n t hei rcont r actofcondi t i onalsal e.CBM fil edan unl awf uldet ai nercaseagai nstt heManal osf or f ai l ur et opr oducedocument sevi denci ngt hei rowner shi p.
I ss ue:w/n t he f actt hatot herbuyer swer e al l owed t o pay t he bal ance oft he pur chase pr i ceofl otspur chasedby t hem i n 120 or180 mont hl yi nst al l ment sconst i t ut eevi dence t hatXEIal soagr eedtogi vet her espondent st hesamemodeand t i mel i neofpaymentof t heP278, 448. 00. Rul i ng
UnderSect i on 34,Rul e130 oft heRev i sed Rul esofCour t ,ev i dencet hatone di da cer t ai nt hi ngatonet i mei snotadmi ssi bl et opr ovet hathedi dt hesameorsi mi l art hi ngat
anot hert i me,al t houghsuchevi dencemayber ecei vedt opr ovehabi t ,usage,pat t er nofconduct o rt hei nt e nto ft hepar t i e s .
dencet hatonedi d ordi d notdo a cer t ai n Si mi l arac t sase v i de nc e .Evi t hi ngatonet i mei snotadmi ssi bl et opr ovet hathedi dordi dnotdot hesameor asi mi l a rt hi ngata no t he rt i me ;buti tma yber e c ei v e dt opr o v eas pe c i fici nt e nt orknowl edge,i dent i t y ,pl an,syst em,scheme,habi t ,cust om orusage,and t he l i ke.
Ho we v e r ,r e s po nde nt sf a i l e dt oa l l e g ea ndpr o v e ,i nt het r i a lc o ur t ,t ha t ,a sama t t e ro f busi nessusage,habi torpat t er n ofconduct ,XEIgr ant ed al ll otbuy er st her i ghtt opayt he bal ance oft he pur c hase pr i ce i ni ns t al l me nt s of120 mo nt hs offixed amo unt s wi t h pr ecomput ed i nt er es t s,and t hatXEIand t her es pondent shad i nt ended t oadoptsuch t er msof paymentr el at i ve t ot he sal e oft he t wo l ot si n quest i on.I ndeed,r espondent s adduced i n e v i de nc et het hr e ec o nt r a c t so fc o ndi t i o na ls a l ee x e c ut e dbyXEIa ndo t he rl o tbuy e r s mer o el yt pr o v et ha tXEIc o nt i nue dt os el ll o t si nt hes ubdi v i s i o na ss a l e sag e nto fOBM a f t e ri ta c qui r e d s ai dl ot s ,nott opr oveusage,habi torpat t er n ofconducton t hepartofXEIt or equi r e al ot ll buy er si nt hesubdi vi si ont opayt hebal anceoft hepur c hasepr i ceofsai dl ot si n120mo nt hs. I tf ur t he rf ai l e dt opr i v et ha tt het r i alc o ur tadmi t t e dt hes ai dde e dsaspar to ft het e s t i mo nyof r espondentManal o,Jr .
21. Peopl evs.Reynal do Facts Thi si sanappealf r om t heDeci si ondat edOct ober29,1991oft heRegi onalTr i alCour t of I l oi l o,Si xt h Judi ci alRegi on, Br anch 25 i n Cr i mi nal Case No. 31084 findi ng accused Endr i qui t oReynal do al i asQui t ogui l t yoft hecri meofRapeand sent enci nghi mt osuffert he e c l us i o npe r pe t ua,t pe nal t yo fr oi ndemni f yt hecompl ai nantAnacylBarr er ai nt hesum ofThi rt y Thousand Pesos( P30, 000. 00)andt opaycos t s.Appel l antdeni ed havi ngcommi t t ed t hecr i me a ndi nt e r p os e dt hede f e ns eofa l i bi .Heal l e g e dt ha ta tt het i meoft hei nc i de nt ,hewa swi t ha c e r t a i n Ro g e l i oNo r a daa tt hel a t t e r sho us ei nBa r a ng a yKi r a y an,a nds l e ptt he r ef o rt heni g ht , l eavi ngonl ythe f ol l owi ng morni ng t o peddl efish i n BarangayTi kdal an. Hearr i ved athi s houseatt wo ocl ock i nt he af t er noon,wher e he was l at erar r es t ed by pol i cemen beari ng a war r ant .
I ss ue: w/n t he i dent i t y of t he accused i s est abl i shed beyond r eas onabl e doubt as pr ovi dedbythet est i moni esoft hevi cti m. Rul i ng
I ti snotnecessaryt hatt hewi t nesssknowl edgeoft hef actt owhi chhet est i fiesshoul d havebeenobt ai nedi nanypart i cul armanner ,andhemayt est i f yt owhathehears,f eel s,t ast es, s me l l s ,o rse e s .Thus ,i de nt i fic a t i o n byt hes oundo ft hev oi c eoft hepe r s o ni de nt i fie dha sbe e n hel dsuffici ent ,andi ti san accept abl emeansofi dent i ficat i on wher ei ti sest abl i shedt hatt he wi t nessandt heaccusedhadknown eac h ot herper sonal l yandcl osel yf oranumberofyear s. Her e,t he compl ai nantt est i fied t hatshe had known appel l antf orseve n year spr i ort ot he i nci dentbecausehel i vedonl ya houseawayf r om t hei r s.Appel l anthi msel fadmi t t ed havi ng known t hecompl ai nantby namei nt het hr eet of oury ear st hathehad st ay ed i n Bar anga y Bambanan.Asobser vedbyt het r i alcour t ,t hecompl ai nantand appel l antwer ef ami l i arwi t h eachot hers i ncet heyl i vedt oget heri nt hesamebarangayandt hehouseoft hecompl ai nanti s bar el yt en ar ms l engt h awayf r om t hehousewher et heaccused l i v ed.I ndeed,peopl ei nr ur al communi t i esg ener al l yknow eac h ot herbot h byf aceand byname,and maybeexpect edt o kno we a c ho t he r sd i s t i nc ta ndpa r t i c ul a rf e a t ur e sandc ha r a c t e r i s t i c s .
22. Cui sonvs.Cour tofAppeal s Facts RespondentPres i di ngJudgerul edconvi ct i ngCui son f ort hecri meofdoubl ehomi ci de. On appeal ,t heCA modi fiedonl yt heci vi ll i abi l i t yt o50t housand.TheSupr emeCour tdeni ed t heappealoft hesamebutr emanded t hecaset oRTC f ort hepr omul gat i on oft hedeci si on. Ho we v e r ,t her e s po nde ntj udg epr o mul g a t e dt hede c i s i o no nl ywi t hr e s pe c tt oc i v i ll i a bi l i t y .A mot i on f orc l ari ficat i on wasmade,and anew promul gat i on ofj udgmentwasgi ve n.Thi swas opposed by t he accused on t he gr ound ofv i ol at i on ofc onst i t ut i onalr i ght s agai nstdoubl e j eopar dy .
I ssue:W/n t her ei sdoubl ej eopardy Rul i ng
TheCour ti snotper suaded.Asar ul e,acr i mi nalpr osecut i oni ncl udesaci vi lact i onf or t herecov eryofi ndemni t y .Hence,adeci si on i nsuchcasedi sposesofbot ht hecri mi nalaswel l ast hec i v i ll i abi l i t i e so fa n ac c us e d.He r e ,t r i alc our tp r o mul g at e do nl yt hec i v i las pe c to ft he case,butnott hecri mi nal .Asearl i erobserved,t hepr omul gat i on oft heCA Deci si on wasnot c o mpl e t e .I nf a c ta ndi nt r ut h,t hepr o mul g at i o nwa sno tme r e l yi nc o mpl e t e ;i twa sa l s ov oi d.I n e x c es sofi t sj ur i s di c t i o n,t het r i alj udg er e nde r e das ubs t ant i a l l yi nc o mpl e t epr o mul g at i o no n Apr i l4,1995,and her epeat ed hi smi s t akei n hi sApr i l12,1996 Or der .Weemphasi z et hat grav eabuseofdi scr et i on r ender ed t heaf orement i oned actoft het ri alcour tvoi d.Si ncet he cr i mi nalcaseshavenoty etbeen t er mi nat ed,t hefirstj eopar dy hasnoty etat t ached.Hence, doubl ej eopar dycannotpr osperasadef ense.
23. Cal i cdan vs.Cendaña
Facts Thei ns t antcont r ov er syi nv ol v esa760squar eme t erpar celofunr egi s t er edl andl ocat ed i n Pobl aci on,Mangal dan,Pangasi nan.Thel and wasf or mer l yowned by Si xt oCal i cdan,who di edi nt est at eon November4,1941.Hewassurv i vedbyhi swi f e,Fermi na,andt hr eechi l dr en nt ervi v os ( Pe t i t i o ne r s ) .Fe r mi nae x e c ut e dade e do fdo na t i o ni wher ebysheconvey edt hel andt o 4 r espondentSi l ver i o Cendaña, who i mmedi at el y ent er ed i nt o posses si on oft he l and,bui l ta f encearound t hel and and const r uct ed a t wost or eyre si dent i alhouset her eon somet i mei n 1949,wher e he r esi ded unt i lhi s deat hi n 1998.pet i t i oner ,t hr ough her l eg alguar di an Guadal upe Cast i l l o,fil ed a compl ai ntf or" Reco ve ryofOwner shi p,Posse ssi on and Damages " a g ai ns tt her e s po nde nt ,a l l e g i ngt ha tt hedo na t i o nwa sv oi d.
I ss ue”w/n t het est i monyofr espondentast otheacqui si t i on oft hepr oper t yi n whi chhe hasnoper sonalknowl edgemaybeadmi t t edasevi dence. Rul i ng UnderRul e130,Sect i on 36 oft heRul esofCour t ,awi t nesscan t est i f yonl yt ot hose f act s whi ch he knows ofhi s own per sonalknowl edge,i . e. ,whi ch ar e deri ve df r om hi s own per cept i on; ot her wi se,such t es t i mony woul d be hear say . Hear say ev i dence i s defined as " ev i dencenotofwhatt hewi t nessknowshi mse l fbutofwhathehashear df r om ot her s. "The hear sayrul ebarst het est i monyofawi t nesswhomer el yre ci t eswhats omeoneel sehast ol d i c e nt ev .P eo pl e,wehel hi m,whe t he ro r a l l yo ri nwr i t i ng .I n Sanv dt hatwhenevi dencei sbased
on whatwassupposedl yt ol dt hewi t ness,t hesamei swi t houtanyevi dent i arywei ghtf orbei ng pat ent l yhearsay .Fami l i arandf undament ali stherul et hathearsayt est i monyi si nadmi ssi bl e as evi dence.TheCour tofAppeal st huserr ed i nr ul i ngbased on r espondent ’ sbar ehear say t est i monyasev i denceoft hedonat i onmadebyFermi na.
24.Peopl evs.Si l vest re Facts Theaccused,JoseSi l v es t r eyCr uzal i asJoj o Bungo,wasc har ged wi t ht hecr i meof mur derby shoot i ng one LUI SI TO PALENCI A y TOBI AS hi t t i ng hi m f our ( 4)t i meson t he di ffer entpar t sofhi sbody ,asaconsequences ai dLUI SI TO PALENCI AyTOBI AS,andsust ai ned i nj ur i e swhi c hdi r e c t l yc aus e dhi sde a t h.T o r r e st e s t i fie da sbe i ngt hes ol ewi t ne s soft hec r i me commi t t edwhenhewasi nt hesc eneoft hecr i me,shesaw someonehol di ngagunandshota per sonont hegr ound.Andt hatshehear dsomeonewhi sper ed“ Bi nari lnaniJoj osiPal enci a” .
I ssue:w/h t hewi t nesspresent edbyt hepr osecut i on i scr edi bl eandposi t i ve. Rul i ng
Fel i ci t asTorr escat egori cal l yst at edt hatshesaw t heaccusedJoseSi l vest r ewhom she i dent i fiedi nCour t ,shootatt hef al l enman t wot i mesaf t erhear i ngt wogunshot s.Whi l eshedi d notse et he accusedappel l antact ual l y firet he firs tt wo shot s,shet ur ned herhead upon hear i ngt het wogunshot sandsaw amansl umpedont heg r oundandamanwi t hagun bes i de hi m.Af t erseeki ngcoverf orashortwhi l e,shesaw t heman wi t ht hegunshoott hef al l enman t wo mor et i mesmoment saf t ert he firs tt wo shot swer e fire d.Thi sl eads t o no ot herl ogi cal co ncl usi on t han t hatt heacc use dappel l antwast he one who fir ed t hem and t hesamewas corr oborat edbyt heaut opsyre port .
25. Peopl evs.Hon.CusiJr . Facts Ar cadi o Puesca,Wal t erApa,Jose Gus t i l o,Fi l ome no Macal i nao,Ri car do Dai r o,and MagnoMont anower echar ge dwi t hr obber yi n bandwi t h homi ci de,t owhi cht heypl eadednot gui l t y .Duri ng t het ri al ,and whi l eSgt .Luci o Bano oft hePol i ceForc e ofDi gos,Davao was t est i f yi ngasapr osecut i on wi t nessregar di ngt heext r aj udi ci alc onf essi on madet ohi m by t he a c c us e d Ar c a di oPue s c a,hes ai dt ha tt hel a t t e r ,a s i def r o m a dmi t t i nghi spa r t i c i pa t i o ni nt he commi ssi on oft he offense char ged,r ev eal ed t hatot herper sons conspi r ed wi t h hi m t ot o commi tt heoffense,ment i oni ngt henameofeac h and ev er yone oft hem.Fol l owi ng up t hi s t est i mony ,t hepr osecut i ngofficeraskedt hewi t nesst oment i oni ncour tt henamesofPuesca' s a l l e g e dc o c o ns pi r a t o r s .Co uns e lf o rt hea cc us e dMa c al i na o,Gus t i l oandDa i r oobj e c t e dt ot hi s , upon t hegr ound t hatwhat ev ert hewi t nesswoul d saywoul d behear sayasf arashi scl i ent s wer econcer ned.Ther espondentj udger esol v ed t heobj ect i on di r ect i ngt hewi t nesst oanswer t heques t i on butwi t houtment i oni ngorgi vi ngt henamesoft heacc usedwhohad i nt er posed t heobj ect i on.I not herwords,t hewi t nesswasal l owedt oanswert hequest i onandnamehi scoconspi r at orsexceptt hosewhohadr ai sedt heobj ect i on.
I ss ue:W/n t he hear sayevi dence t hatest abl i shes t he t r ut h oft he f act soft enoroft he st at ementmaybeadmi t t ed. Rul i ng Ther ei snoquest i on t hathearsayevi dence,i ft i mel yobj ect edt o,maynotbeadmi t t ed. Butwhi l et he t es t i mony ofa wi t nes sr eg ar di ng a s t at ementmade by anot herper son,i f i nt ended t o est abl i sh t he t rut h oft he f act s assert ed i nt he st at ement ,i s cl earl y hearsay evi dence,i ti sot herwi se i ft he purpose ofpl aci ng t he st at ementi nt he r ecord i s mer el yt o est abl i sh t hef actt hatt hest at ementwasmadeort het enorofsuchst at ement .I nt hepr esent case,t hepur poseoft hepr osecut i ngofficer ,asmani f est edbyhi mi nt hedi scussi onsbel ow,i s not hi ngmor et han t oest abl i sh t hef actt hatt heaccusedPuescahad ment i onedt oSgt .Bano t henamesoft hosewhoconspi r edwi t h hi mt ocommi tt heoffensechar ged,wi t houtcl ai mi ng t hatPues ca' sst at ementort he answert o be gi ve n by Sgt .Bano woul d be compet entand admi ssi bl eevi dencet oshow t hatt heper sonssonamedr eal l yconspi r edwi t h Puesca.Fort hi s l i mi t edpur pose,webel i evet hatt hequest i on propoundedt ot hewi t nesswasproperand t he l a t t e rs ho ul dha v ebe e na l l o we dt oa ns we ri ti nf ul l ,wi t ht heunde r s t a ndi ng ,ho we v e r ,t ha thi s
answershal lnott obet akenascompet entevi dencet oshow t hatt hepers onsnamedre al l yand act ual l yconspi r edwi t hPuescaandl at ert ookparti nt hecommi ssi onoft heoffense.
26. Comi l angvs.Burcena Facts Fr anci scoBur cena and Mari ano Bur ce na ( r espondent s) ,t oge t herwi t ht hei rmot her , Domi ngaRec l usadoVda.deBur ce na( Domi nga) ,fil edacompl ai ntf orannul mentofdocument wi t h damagesagai ns tSal vadorComi l ang( pe t i t i oner ) .Forexecut i ngadeedofdonat i on i nf av or of t he l at t er by t aki ng advant age of Domi nga’ s bl i ndness,ol d age and physi cali nfir mi t y ( Admi ni st r at oroft hel and owned by t herespondent s) .Pet i t i onercont endst hat :t heDeed of Donat i on was f r eel y and vol unt ari l y exec ut ed by Domi nga i n consi derat i on ofherl oveand affect i onf orhi m.Dur i ngt hependencyoft hecaseandbef or eshecoul dt aket hewi t nessst and, Do mi ng adi e d.Fo l l o wi ngpr e t r i a l ,t r i a lo nt heme r i t se ns ue d.Wi t ne s s e sf o rt hepl a i nt i ffswe r e r espondent s and t hei raunt ,Margari t a Bur cena ( Margari t a) ;whi l epet i t i onert est i fied on hi s ownbehal f .
I ss ue:W/n t het est i monyofMar gar i t ar ei t er at i ngwhatDomi ngasai d/admi ss i on t hatt he money used f ort hepur chased oft hesubj ectl and bel ongst ot hepet i t i oneri shear say evi dence. Rul i ng AnentMar gar i t a’ st es t i mo ny t hatDomi nga t ol d her t hatt he r espondent s senther ( Domi nga)moneyt o buyt hesubj ectpr oper t y ,i tc annotbecat egor i ze d as hear sayevi dence. Margari t a’ st est i monywasnotpresent ed t opr ovethe t rut ht her eof ,butonl yt oest abl i sh t he f actt hatDomi nganarr at edt oMar gari t at hesour ceoft hef undsusedi nt hepur chaseoft he subj ectpr oper t y .Whatwassoughtt obeadmi t t edi nevi dence,andwhatwasact ual l yadmi t t ed i ne vi dence , was t he f act t hat t he s t at ement was made by Domi nga t o Mar gar i t a,not ne c e s s ar i l yt ha tt hema t t e r ss t a t e dbyhe rwe r et r ue .Thes ai dut t e r a nc ei si nt hena t ur eo fa n i ndependent l yr el ev ant s t at ement whi ch may be admi t t ed i n ev i dence as such, but not ne c e s s ar i l yt opr o v et het r ut ht he r e o f .Thus ,whi l ei ti st r uet ha tt het e s t i mo nyo fa wi t ne s s r egardi nga st at ementmadebyanot herperson,i fi nt ended t oest abl i sh t het r ut h oft hef act as s e r t e di nt hes t at e me nt ,i sc l e ar l yhe ar s a ye v i de nc e ,i ti sot he r wi s ei ft hepur po s eo fpl a ci ng t hest at ementi nt her ecor di smer el yt oest abl i sht hef actt hatt hest at ementwasmadeort he t e no ro fs uc hs t a t e me nt .Re g ar dl e s soft het r ut ho rf a l s i t yofas t a t e me nt ,whe nt hef a c tt ha ti t hasbee n madei sr el ev ant ,t hehear sayr ul edoesnotappl yandt hest at ementmaybeshown. Asamat t eroff act ,evi denceast ot hemaki ngoft hes t at eme nti snotsecondar ybutpr i mar y , f o rt hes t a t e me nti t s e l fma yc ons t i t ut eaf ac ti ni s s ue ,o rbec i r c ums t ant i a l l yr e l e v anta st ot he exi st enceofsuch a f act .Fort hi sr eason,t hest at ementat t r i but ed t oDomi ngar egardi ngt he sour ceoft hef undsusedt opur chasethesubj ectpr opert yrel at edt ot hecourtbyMargari t ai s admi ssi bl ei fonl yt oest abl i sht hef actt hatsuchst at ementwasmadeandt het enort her eof .
27. Peopl evs.Al i cando
Facts Ther ecor dsr e v ealt hatappel l antAr nelAl i cando wasc har ged wi t ht hecr i meofr ape wi t h homi ci de. Byt hen andt her epi nni ngdown oneKHAZI E MAE PENECI LLA,ami nor ,f our y ear sofage,c hoki ngherwi t h hi sr i ghthand,succeededi n havi ngcar nalknowl edgewi t h her andasar esul tt her eofshesuffer edasphyxi abyst r angul at i on f r act ur edcer vi calver t ebr aand l acerat i onsoft hevagi nalandr ect alopeni ngscausi ngpr of usehemorr hagesandot heri nj uri es whi c h ar e necessar i l yf at aland whi c h wer et he di r ectcause ofherdeat h.Appel l antwas arr est ed and i nt er r ogat ed by PO3 Dani l o Tan.He ver bal l y conf esse d hi s gui l twi t houtt he assi st ance of c ounsel .On t he basi s ofhi s uncounsel l ed ver bal c onf essi on and f ol l ow up i nt er r ogat i ons,t hepol i cecamet oknow and r ecov er ed f r om appel l ant ' shouse,Khazi eMae' s g r e e ns l i ppe r s ,apai ro fg ol de ar r i ng s ,abur ima t ,as t a i ne dpi l l o wa ndas t ai ne dT s hi r tal lo f whi c hwer epr esent edase vi dencef ort hepr osecut i on.
I ss ue:w/n t heconvi ct i on oft heaccusedand penal t yofdeat hi sproperconsi der i ngthe t hathi sconf ess i on wasverbal l y made,wi t houtt he ass i st ance ofhi scounseland was madei nEngl i shoral anguagenotgener al l yknownbytheaccused. Rul i ng I nt hec as eatba r ,t her ec o r dsdono tr e v e a lt ha tt heI nf o r ma t i o na g ai ns tt heappe l l a nt wasr ead i nt hel anguageordi al ectknown t ohi m.TheI nf or mat i on agai ns tt heappel l anti s wr i t t en i nt heEngl i sh l anguage.I ti sunbeknown whe t hert heappel l antknowst heEngl i sh l anguage.Nei t heri si tknown whatdi al ecti sunder st ood by t heappel l ant .Nori st her eany showi ngt hatt heI nf ormat i on couched i n Engl i sh wast r ansl at ed t ot heappel l anti n hi sown di a l e c tbe f o r ehi spl e aofg ui l t .Onene e dno tdr a w api c t ur et os ho wt ha tt hea r r a i g nme nto ft he appel l ant i s a nul l i t y .I t vi ol at ed sect i on 1( a) of Rul e 116, t he rul ei mpl ement i ng t he c o ns t i t ut i o na lr i g hto ft heappe l l a ntt obei nf o r me do ft hena t ur eandc a us eoft heac c us a t i o n a g ai ns thi m.I ta l s ode ni e da ppe l l a nthi sc o ns t i t ut i o na lr i g htt oduepr o c e s so fl a w.I ti sur g e d t hatwemustpre sumet hatt hearr ai gnmentoft heappel l antwasre gul ar l yconduct ed.When l i f ei sats t ake,wecannotl eanont hi sr ebut t abl epr esumpt i on.Wecannotassume.Wemustbe s ur e .Al s ot hec o ur tf a i l e dt oma keani nq ui r ya st ot h ev o l unt a r i ne s so ft hec o nf e s s i o na ndf ul l osec ut i on evi dence, offer compr ehensi on of t he co nse quence s of t he pl ea. Some pr ed i nde pe nde nt l yo ft hepl e ao fg ui l t yo ft hea ppe l l a nt ,we r ei e t ,we r ec ons i de r e db y nadmi s s i bl e,y t het r i alc our ti nc onv i c t i ngt heappe l l antc o ns i de r i ngt hee v i de nc eofTs hi r twi t hbl o ods t ai ne d wasobt ai nedbyt hepol i cedur i ngcus t odi ali nv es t i gat i oni nt heabsenceoft hecounself ort he accused.
