Source: http://lawlibrary.chanrobles.com/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=51709:gr-177237-2008&amp;catid=1510&amp;Itemid=566
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 08:20:08+00:00

Document:
WILLIAM CHING, Petitioner, v. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondent.
This Petition for Review on Certiorari under Rule 45 of the Rules of Court assails the Decision1 of the Court of Appeals dated 27 March 2007 in CA G.R. CR HC No. 00945 which affirmed in toto the 19 January 2004 Decision2 of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Manila, Branch 27, finding petitioner William Ching, alias Willy (Ching), guilty of violation of Section 15, Article III of Republic Act No. 6425, as amended, otherwise known as the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972.
When arraigned on 24 November 1998, petitioner pleaded not guilty. Thereafter, trial ensued.
The prosecution presented the following witnesses: (1) Senior Police Officer (SPO)1 Alfredo F. Cadoy (SPO1 Cadoy), the designated poseur-buyer of the team; (2) SPO1 Ruben M. Bernardo (SPO1 Bernardo), a member of the team who was specifically tasked to back-up SPO1 Cadoy; (3) Marilyn D. Dequito, the forensic chemist of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Crime Laboratory Office who examined the substance allegedly confiscated from Ching.
As documentary evidence, the prosecution offered the following: Exhibit "A" - Request for Laboratory Examination dated 20 October 1998 addressed to the PNP Crime Laboratory, Camp Crame of the three heat-sealed transparent plastic bags allegedly confiscated from Ching containing white crystalline substance suspected to be "shabu" and weighing approximately one kilogram each; Exhibit "B" - Initial Laboratory Report dated 20 October 1998 of the confiscated crystalline substance; Exhibit "C" - Final Report dated 20 October 1998 of the confiscated items; Exhibit "D" - Request for Physical/Medical Examination of Ching; Exhibits "E" to "K" - The seven one thousand peso-bills used in the buy-bust operation; Exhibit "L" - Booking Sheet and Arrest Report of Ching; Exhibit "M" - Affidavit of Arrest of Ching signed by SPO1 Cadoy and SPO1 Bernardo; Exhibit "N" - Letter to the Inquest Prosecutor dated 20 October 1998; Exhibit "O" - Green Plastic Bag bearing the name Prudential Bank, where the three heat-sealed transparent plastic bags containing white crystalline substance suspected to be "shabu" were kept; Exhibits "P" to "R" - the three transparent plastic bags containing white crystalline substance; Exhibit "S" - Sketch Drawn by SPO1 Cadoy of the Location of the Buy-Bust Operation; Exhibit "T" - Original Copy Booking Sheet and Arrest Report of Ching.
The confidential informant alighted from the vehicle and walked towards San Fernando Street.9 When the informant returned, he was accompanied by Ching who was carrying with him a green bag bearing the name Prudential Bank.10 The confidential informant introduced SPO1 Cadoy to Ching and told the latter that the former wanted to buy shabu.11 At once, Ching requested to see the money. SPO1 Cadoy showed the money inside the attaché case. After seeing the money, Ching handed the green bag to SPO1 Cadoy saying "Ito na ang tatlong kilo."12 SPO1 inspected the contents of the green bag which contained three plastic packs of white crystalline substance. Convinced that the white crystalline substances were illegal drugs, SPO1 Cadoy handed the attaché case to Ching.13 As soon as the money was in Ching's possession, SPO1 Cadoy executed the pre-arranged signal by removing his hat.14 SPO1 Cadoy introduced himself to Ching as a NARCOM agent, while the other members of the team rushed toward them and likewise introduced themselves to Ching as policemen and then SPO1 Cadoy and his team arrested William Ching.15 SPO1 Bernardo retrieved from Ching the marked money while SPO1 Cadoy marked the plastic packs containing white crystalline substance with "AFC," his initials. The arresting officers brought Ching to Camp Crame where he was subjected to custodial investigation. During the investigation, the arresting officers prepared the Affidavit of Arrest, Booking Sheet and Arrest Report, Request for Laboratory Examination, Request for Physical/Medical Examination and Referral to the Inquest Prosecutor.
A - Exh "A" One (1) heat sealed transparent plastic bag marked AFC containing 1013.16 of white crystalline substance.
B - Exh "B" One (1) heat sealed transparent plastic bag marked AFC containing 1026.5 g of white crystalline substance.
C - Exh "C" One (1) heat sealed transparent plastic bag marked AFC containing 1036.6 g of white crystalline substance.
To determine the presence of prohibited and/or regulated drug.
Qualitative examination conducted on the above-stated specimen gave POSITIVE results for the presence of methamphetamine hydrochloride, a regulated drug.
The defense, on the other hand, put up the defense of denial and frame-up. To support this thesis, the defense presented petitioner and seven other witnesses, namely: (1) Li Ali (Ali), 17 - year old niece of Ching; (2) Chuang Li Fun (Fun), Ching's sister and mother of witnesses Li Ali and Li Jia Wang. Fun resides in No. 488, PeÃ±aranda Street, Binondo, Manila, where Ching was allegedly illegally arrested; (3) Li Jia Wang (Wang), the 13 - year old nephew of Ching who was his companion when he was arrested by the police officers; (4) Eduardo B. Peralta, a pedicab driver plying the route of PeÃ±aranda Street, Binondo, who allegedly saw Ching being dragged from the apartment by three men to an FX van; (5) Rafael A. Cantollas, utility boy of Ching; (6) Rosita C. Malait, a vendor whose place of business is across the apartment of Ching's sister; (7) Criselda E. Estrella, a housemaid residing in the same apartment and floor where Ching was allegedly arrested by the police officers.
From the testimonies of the defense witnesses, the defense's version of the incident is that on 19 October 1998, Ching stayed at his sister's apartment situated at No. 488, PeÃ±aranda St., Binondo, Manila. Ching was accompanied by his nephew Wang, his niece Ali, and his sister, Fun. At around 12:00 noon of the said day, Fun and Ali left the apartment to visit a granduncle who resides in Nueva St., Ongpin, Manila. Ching and Wang were left behind. Ching was reading a book, clad only with a T-shirt and short pants while Wang was watching TV. At about 2:00 p.m., somebody knocked at the door. Ching opened the door where he saw six or seven men in civilian clothes, whom he later discovered as policemen. One of the men asked him if he is William Ching. When Ching answered that he is William Ching, two of the men grabbed him by the arm and dragged him downstairs to an FX van parked at the corner of PeÃ±aranda and San Fernando Streets, Binondo, Manila. Ching was shoved to the back of the vehicle where he was manacled and blindfolded. A plastic bag was also placed over his head. While the vehicle was moving, his abductors demanded 10 million pesos from Ching and when he answered that he did not have such amount, he was mauled and threatened that he will be killed. After sometime, the vehicle stopped infront of a police station. He was brought to a small room where the men who seized him reiterated their demand for money. When he replied that he did not have said amount, he was again mauled and then his private part was electrocuted. When Ching could no longer bear the torture, he asked that he be allowed to call his sister. Because he insisted that he cannot grant their demand, his abductors took out three packages and told him that the same were taken from him and then he was made to sign a document.
Meanwhile three or four of the policemen remained in the apartment unit and made a warrantless search. The officers were still searching the room when Fun and Ali arrived. Fun tried to drive away the police officers who flashed their police identification cards. Later, Fun received a call from Ching, informing her that he was arrested.
After the defense had rested its case, the prosecution, on rebuttal, offered the oral testimonies of Police Inspector Ramon B. Arsenal (Inspector Arsenal), Police Chief Inspector Leonardo Suan (Police Chief Suan) and SPO1 Cadoy to rebut the claim of the defense that the team arrested Ching in his sister's apartment and that the buy-bust operation was a mere fabrication.
Inspector Arsenal, a police officer assigned at the Special Operations Division, Narcotics Group, PNP and a member of the team that conducted the purported buy-bust operation against Ching, testified that the buy-bust operation conducted at a gas station in San Fernando Street, Binondo, Manila on 19 October 1998, was pursuant to an information from a confidential informant. He stated that after the team was briefed by Police Chief Suan of the planned buy-bust operation, the team left for the target area on board four vehicles, namely: Tamaraw FX, a red Toyota Corolla, a white Toyota Corolla and a Lancer. He said that the confidential informant and the poseur-buyer boarded the Tamaraw FX. He arrived at the vicinity of the gas station at around 1:45 p.m. where he saw the confidential informant alight from the Tamaraw FX and walk towards San Fernando Street. Minutes later, the informant returned with Ching. He admitted that he did not see the actual exchange of shabu with the money; however, he saw the actual arrest of Ching. He denied that Ching was taken from the apartment unit in PeÃ±aranda Street. Inspector Arsenal, however, clarified that after Ching was arrested at the gasoline station in San Fernando Street, the team brought him to the corner of PeÃ±aranda and San Fernando Streets because he told them that the source of the shabu, a certain William Sy, will get the money at that place. He also denied the allegation that the team tortured and demanded P10 million from Ching.
Police Chief Suan, for his part, declared that he received information from alias "Ricky" regarding a drug deal with Ching. After receiving the information, he formed a team to conduct a buy-bust operation and the designated poseur-buyer was SPO1 Cadoy, with SPO1 Bernardo as back-up. He gave seven pieces of genuine one thousand-peso bill to be used as the marked money. It was also agreed in the briefing that the pre-arranged signal to indicate that the exchange of illegal drugs and money is consummated was for the poseur-buyer to remove his hat. After the briefing, he instructed Inspector Arsenal to lead the team to the target place near San Fernando Street, Binondo, Manila. He proceeded to the agreed place using his own car. He arrived at the vicinity and positioned himself near the Binondo Church. Since his position is far from the target area, he monitored the operation through a radio. At about 2:00 p.m., he was informed that the operation was consummated. He was told to wait for a while since the arresting team would go to the corner of PeÃ±aranda and San Fernado Streets to wait for the source of the shabu. He was then informed that the source did not show up, so he ordered the team to proceed to Camp Crame.
SPO1 Cadoy, clarified that he failed to mention the street where the buy-bust operation took place because he was not familiar with the name of the streets in that place. He likewise contradicted the defense's version that the team took Ching from the apartment in No. 488, PeÃ±aranda Street. He insisted that there was a buy-bust operation conducted on the day in question.
On rebuttal, the prosecution presented the following documentary evidence: (1) Exhibit "A" Rebuttal, a judgment of the RTC Quezon City, Branch 79, finding Ching guilty for selling methamphetamine hydrochloride in violation of Section 15, Article III of R.A. 6425 to prove that Ching is a recidivist; (2) Exhibit "B" Rebuttal, a Sketch drawn by Inspector Arsenal of the place of the buy-bust operation.
On 28 September 2001, the RTC rendered a decision finding Ching guilty of the crime charged. In the decision, the RTC appreciated the aggravating circumstance of recidivism. With this, the supreme penalty of death was imposed against Ching.
On 5 October 2001, Ching filed Motions for Reconsideration/Re-opening of Proceedings. A Supplement to Motions for Reconsideration/Re-opening of Proceedings dated 15 October 2001 was also filed by Ching.
The RTC denied the motion for reconsideration in an order dated 11 April 2002. However, the RTC, to avoid miscarriage of justice, granted the re-opening of the proceedings to allow Ching to adduce sur-rebuttal evidence.
On sur-rebuttal, the defense did not present any witness. It merely submitted certifications from the clerks of courts of Bacoor and Imus, Cavite, certifying that there is no Branch 197 in the RTC of Cavite, nor was there a drug case entitled "People v. Lares" in any of the branches in any of the RTC branches in Bacoor and Imus. It must be noted that during cross-examination, SPO1 Cadoy was confused as to whether it was his team or Ching that arrived first at the target place. SPO1 Cadoy explained this confusion, saying that he just came from Cavite where he also testified in a drug case in which he was also the poseur buyer and the buy-bust operation in that case also took place near a gasoline station. These certifications were presented to destroy SPO1 Cadoy's credibility to prove that he was lying when he said that he testified in another drug case in Cavite, since no such case exists in the courts of the said place.
WHEREFORE, IN VIEW OF ALL THE FOREGOING, the Court finds accused WILLIAM CHING a.k.a. "WILLY", "GUILTY", beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of Violation of Section 15, Article III, Republic Act 6425, as amended by RA 7659 and considering that neither mitigating nor aggravating circumstance is attendant in the commission thereof, hereby sentences him [to] Reclusion Perpetua and to pay a fine of Three Million (P3,000,000.00) Pesos.
Whether The Arrest Of The Petitioner Was Illegal.
Whether The Search Conducted On the Premises Is Illegal.
Ching faults the RTC and the Court of Appeals for not giving credence to his version of what happened on the day in question. He vigorously insists that on the day he was arrested, a group of men swooped down upon him and dragged him from his sister's apartment unit and took him to a vehicle where his captors demanded a huge amount of money from him, and after his refusal to heed to their demands, he was tortured and his captors planted evidence against him. Without the said buy-bust or entrapment operation, there was no valid basis for his warrantless arrest. Hence, the operatives violated his constitutional right against warrantless arrest. He also claims that the search done in the apartment unit was illegal since such was effected following an illegal arrest.
Ching finds the buy-bust incredulous, as an illegal transaction such as sale of shabu could not have been done in a crowded place and during busy hours of the day. Thus, the charge was fabricated by the police officers.
However, in view of the fact that at stake here is no less than the liberty of appellant, this Court thoroughly examined the entire records of this case and scrutinized the testimonies and the pieces of documentary evidence tendered by both parties and observed them at close range. Regrettably for Ching, this Court failed to identify any error committed by the RTC and the Court of Appeals both in their respective appreciation of the evidence presented before them and in the conclusion they arrived at.
A: When we arrived at San Fernando St., we saw alias Willy. I was introduced to him by the informant as the one who will buy shabu.
A: For a while only Sir, because when we arrived, Alias Willy was already there waiting for us, Sir.
A: At the side of a gasoline station along San Fernando St.
A: He was carrying a bag, Sir.
A: Alias Willy was talking like "parang barok at gusto niyang Makita ang pera." That is what I understood.
A: Yes, sir. I showed him the money, genuine and the boodle money I was carrying.
A: The informant who talked with him earlier, your Honor.
A: After I had shown the buy-bust money to Alias Willy and he was convinced, then, he handed to me, stating "eto na ang tatlong (3) kilo."
A: He was showing to me a bag and saying, this is the three kilos and then, I asked him, that it be shown to me.
A: The three (3) separate plastic pack of one kilo each pack was shown to me.
A: When I told him, let me see, then, he opened the bag and showed to me the contents.
A: I will see if I can recognize it.
A: This is the one, Sir.
A: Because I placed my initial in that bag.
A: I told him the drugs is okay, so, I gave him the money and he gave me the three (3) plastic bags (nagkaliwaan kami).
A: I placed my initial, sir.
A: That is my signature, Sir.
A: I removed my hat as our pre-arranged signal.
The testimonies of the witnesses for the prosecution clearly showed that the sale of the 3 kilos of shabu actually happened. The rest of the prosecution witnesses corroborated SPO1 Cadoy's testimony, that indeed the arrest of Ching was pursuant to a buy-bust operation. Their accounts dovetailed each other and described the incident as a successful and effective buy-bust operation against a drug dealer.
A: I am at the office.
A: At about 12:00 o'clock in the morning I received information from our informant regarding an arranged drug deal.
A: Selling arrangement with drug dealer they mentioned a certain Willy.
A: I am the team leader, Arsenal, Cadoy, Velazquez, San Luis, Bernardo and others.
A: During that briefing, Cadoy was the poseur-buyer.
A: I remember SPO1 Bernardo was one of the back-up of Cadoy on the buy bust operation.
A: During that time I gave seven (7) pieces of P1,000.00 peso bill to be used as marked money in the plan buy-bust operation.
A: I supposed [the] boodle money will be used in the buy bust operation.
A: Yes, sir. During the briefing, instruction was given to SPO1 Cadoy. The pre-arranged signal was as soon as the buy bust operation was consummated, [SPO1 Cadoy was to remove] his hat.
A: I position my car near the Binondo church and contacted thru the radio.
A: I don't know what actually happened. I was not in the real place or area in the actual place of buy bust operation, sir.
A: I heard it was already consummated.
A: There was an information that the suspect was arrested by Arsenal and was told to wait a while. The source of shabu will come near from San Fernando and PeÃ±aranda Street.
A: Arsenal told me that they were waiting for few minutes at San Fernando St. because the suspect told them that [the source of the] shabu will be coming and going to get the money.
A: At the office, sir.
A: Until 12:00 o'clock we received an information that there is a buy-bust conducted at San Fernando, Binondo, Manila, sir.
A: Major Suan conducted a briefing regarding that buy bust operation. And designated SPO1 Cadoy as poseur buyer, Bernardo as the back up and the rest as the perimeter and the advance party.
A: More or less eight (8).
A: Major Suan, Cadoy, Bernardo, Velasquez, San Luis, Cutsero, Congyan and Anasta.
A: One for the poseur buyer and three for the operatives.
A: I ride in Toyota Corolla color red.
A: On one car, white Toyota Corolla Major Suan, the driver and on Tamaraw FX, Cadoy and the CI.
A: Yes, sir. And the other car I think Velasquez and Bernardo.
A: Upon arrival of the Tamaraw FX, CI alighted and proceeded toward the direction of San Fernando Street from the gasoline station. So he proceeded to the direction of San Fernando and after more or less ten minutes they return together with one Chinese looking.
A: After that I saw Bernardo running towards the direction of FX and suddenly there was apprehension.
A: Then we let them ride on the Tamaraw FX and then we conducted investigation as to who was this source. So he said that the source will wait for him at PeÃ±aranda corner San Fernando Street to that money from us he will give to this source of that shabu.
A: The two finally met sir. SPO1 Cadoy exchange the boodle money with the goods from the accused and after exchanging, SPO1 Cadoy made the pre-arranged signal.
A: SPO1 Cadoy took off his hat.
A: We were on board our vehicle sir.
Forensic Chemist, Marilyn D. Dequito, who examined the confiscated crystalline substance weighing 3,076.28 grams, found the same positive for methamphetamine hydrochloride.
Comparing the defense version with that of the arresting/entrapping police officers as to what occurred in the afternoon of 19 October 1998, this Court finds, as did the RTC and the Court of Appeals, the accounts of the latter more credible. Aside from the presumption that they - the police operatives - regularly performed their duties, this Court notes that these operatives, as prosecution witnesses, gave consistent and straightforward narrations of what transpired on the day in question. The police officers uniformly testified of having apprehended the appellant in a buy-bust operation.
The version depicted by the prosecution, through the testimonies of the entrapping officers, could only be described by people who actually witnessed the event that took place on 19 October 1998. Only trustworthy witnesses could have narrated with such detail and realism what really happened on the date referred to.
Once again this Court stresses that a buy-bust operation is a legally effective and proven procedure, sanctioned by law at that, for apprehending drug peddlers and distributors.30 It is often utilized by law enforcers for the purpose of trapping and capturing lawbreakers in the execution of their nefarious activities.31 This Court, of course, is not unaware that in some instances law enforcers resort to the practice of planting evidence to extract information or even to harass civilians. But the defense of frame-up in drug cases requires strong and convincing evidence because of the presumption that the law enforcement agencies acted in the regular performance of their official duties. Moreover, the defense of denial or frame-up, like alibi, has been viewed by the court with disfavor for it can just as easily be concocted and is a common and standard defense ploy in most prosecutions for violation of the Dangerous Drugs Act.
In the case under consideration, there is no evidence of any improper motive on the part of the police officers who apprehended Ching. His allegations that the police officers beat him up in their attempt to extract money from him is belied by the absence of any proof to that effect. He did not present any medical record that he was physically abused. If the police officers indeed tried to extort money from Ching by beating him up, he could have filed the proper charges against the erring police officers. The fact that no administrative or criminal charges were filed lends cogency to the conclusion that the alleged frame-up was merely concocted as a defense ploy. In addition, if indeed the supposed disinterested witnesses of the defense, i.e., the pedicab driver and the vendor, really saw Ching being forcibly dragged by unidentified men, they could have at least informed the local authorities of such fact. This they did not do. Thus, the story of the defense is simply implausible.
As to Ching's contention that the buy-bust operation is improbable since no person possessed of his wit would close a 2.1 million-peso deal in broad daylight and in a crowded place, this Court finds the same unavailing.
This Court observed in many cases that drug pushers sell their prohibited articles to any prospective customer, be he a stranger or not, in private as well as in public places, even in the daytime.32 Indeed, drug pushers have become increasingly daring, dangerous and, worse, openly defiant of the law.33 Hence, what matters is not the time and venue of the sale, but the fact of agreement and the acts constituting sale and delivery of the prohibited drugs.
(a) When, in his presence, the person to be arrested has committed, is actually committing, or is attempting to commit an offense.
The prosecution also established the identity of the shabu subject matter of the sale as the very same drug submitted for laboratory examination and later presented before the RTC. SPO1 Cadoy testified that during the buy-bust operation Ching handed him the green bag with the Prudential Bank logo and inside it were three transparent plastic bags containing three kilos of shabu. SPO1 Cadoy declared that he personally made the markings "AFC" (representing his initials) on the items seized which were turned over to the SPO3 Pio G. Titong, the police investigator.36 The police investigator made an inventory of the confiscated items and prepared a letter request to the PNP Crime Laboratory to examine the seized items which had "AFC" markings.37 A certain PO1 Pascua personally brought the said items to the PNP Crime Laboratory with a request for laboratory examination and was duly received thereat as evidenced by the stamp signifying receipt thereof on the request itself.38 Forensic Chemist Marilyn D. Dequito personally received from PO1 Pascua the subject specimens.39 When the specimens were quantitatively examined by the forensic chemist, the same weighed a little more than three kilos. The forensic chemist likewise found the specimens to be positive for shabu. When the seized items marked "AFC" were presented during the trial, SPO1 Cadoy positively identified the said pieces of evidence as the same items he received from Ching and identified his initials written on the plastic bags. Forensic Chemist Dequito also testified that the substances she examined positive for shabu had the markings "AFC." With these pieces of evidence adduced by the prosecution, the identity of the drugs has been duly preserved and established.
In sum, the positive identification made by the police officers and the laboratory report, not to mention the incredulous defense of frame-up to which Ching resorts, sufficiently prove beyond reasonable doubt that he committed the crime charged.
The Court of Appeals imposed against petitioner the penalty of reclusion perpetua and to pay a fine of Three Million (P3,000,000.00) Pesos.
In the instant case, the report of Forensic Chemist Marilyn D. Dequito shows that the three (3) plastic plastic bags contained the total weight of 3,076.28 grams. Since the quantity of the shabu weighs more than 250 grams, the proper penalty should be reclusion perpetua to death. Since the penalty of reclusion perpetua to death consists of two indivisible penalties, Ching was correctly meted the lesser penalty of reclusion perpetua, conformably with Article 63(2) of the Revised Penal Code that when there are neither mitigating nor aggravating circumstances in the commission of the deed, the lesser penalty shall be applied. As to the fine, considering that the amount of shabu sold was 3,076.28 grams, this Court finds the amount of P3,000,000.00 imposed by the RTC as reasonable.
WHEREFORE, the Decision of the Court of Appeals in CA G.R. CR HC No. 00945, which affirmed in toto the Decision of the Regional Trial Court of Manila, Branch 27, convicting William Ching for violation of Section 15, Article III of Republic Act No. 6425, as amended by Republic Act No. 7659, and sentencing him to suffer the penalty of Reclusion Perpetua and ordering him to pay the fine of P3,000,000.00, is AFFIRMED in toto.
* Assigned as additional member in place of Justice Antonio Eduardo B. Nachura who was the Solicitor General of that time, per raffle date of 22 September 2008.
1 Penned by Associate Justice Myrna Dimaranan Vidal with Associate Justices Jose L. Sabio, Jr. and Jose C. Reyes, Jr., concurring. Rollo, pp. 27-48.
2 Penned by Judge Teresa P. Soriaso. CA rollo, pp. 36-50.
4 TSN dated 16 February 2001, p. 4.
5 TSN dated 19 March 1999, p. 7.
6 TSN dated 16 February 2001, p. 5.
7 TSN dated 19 March 1999, p. 13.
9 TSN dated 15 December 2000, p. 11.
10 TSN dated 19 March 1999, pp. 22 and 29.
18 G.R. NOS. 147678-87, 7 July 2004, 433 SCRA 640.
19 CA rollo, p. 295.
21 People v. Matito, 468 Phil. 14, 24-25 (2004).
23 People v. Piedad, 441 Phil. 818, 838-839 (2002).
24 People v. Castillo, G.R. No. 118912, 28 May 2004, 430 SCRA 40, 50.
25 People v. Padasin, 445 Phil. 448, 461 (2003).
26 TSN dated 19 March 1999, pp. 21-37.
27 TSN dated 16 February 2001, pp. 3-11.
28 TSN dated 8 December 2000, pp.12-27.
29 TSN dated 14 January 2000, pp. 17-18.
30 People v. Chua Uy, 384 Phil. 70, 85 (2000).
32 People v. Nario, G.R. No. 94863, 19 July 1993, 224 SCRA 647, 650.
35 People v. Cabugatan, G.R. No. 172019, 12 February 2007, 515 SCRA 537, 552-553.
36 TSN dated 19 March 1999, pp. 41-45.
38 TSN dated 5 February 1999, p. 10.
40 People v. Remerata, 449 Phil. 813, 823 (2003).

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