G.R. No.

176389

December 14, 2010

ANTONIO LEJANO, Petitioner, vs. PEOPLE OF T E P ILIPPINE!, Respondent. x - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x G.R. No. 176864 PEOPLE OF T E P ILIPPINE!, Appellee, vs. "#ERT JEFFRE$ P. %E##, ANTONIO LEJANO, &I' AEL A. GAT' ALIAN, &IG"EL RODRIG"E(, PETER E!TRADA )*+ GERARDO #IONG, Appellants. DECISION A#AD, J.: #r,e- #)c./ro0*+ On June 30, !! Estrellita "i#$onde and %er dau&%ters Car'ela, nineteen (ears old, and Jenni)er, seven, *ere +rutall( slain at t%eir %o'e in Para,a-ue Cit(. .ollo*in& an intense investi&ation, t%e poli$e arrested a &roup o) suspe$ts, so'e o) *%o' &ave detailed $on)essions. /ut t%e trial $ourt s'elled a )ra'e-up and eventuall( ordered t%e' dis$%ar&ed. 0%us, t%e identities o) t%e real perpetrators re'ained a '(ster( espe$iall( to t%e pu+li$ *%ose interests *ere aroused +( t%e &rippin& details o) *%at ever(+od( re)erred to as t%e "i#$onde 'assa$re. .our (ears later in !!1, t%e National /ureau o) Investi&ation or N/I announ$ed t%at it %ad solved t%e $ri'e. It presented star*itness Jessi$a 2. Al)aro, one o) its in)or'ers, *%o $lai'ed t%at s%e *itnessed t%e $ri'e. S%e pointed to a$$used 3u+ert Je))re( P. 4e++, Antonio 50on( /o(5 6e7ano, Arte'io 5Don&5 "entura, 2i$%ael A. 8at$%alian, 3ospi$io 5P(9e5 .ernande#, Peter Estrada, 2i&uel 58in&5 Rodri&ue#, and Joe( .ilart as t%e $ulprits. S%e also ta&&ed a$$used poli$e o))i$er, 8erardo /ion&, as an a$$essor( a)ter t%e )a$t. Rel(in& pri'aril( on Al)aro:s testi'on(, on Au&ust 0, !!1 t%e pu+li$ prose$utors )iled an in)or'ation )or rape *it% %o'i$ide a&ainst 4e++, et al. 0%e Re&ional 0rial Court o) Para,a-ue Cit(, /ran$% ;<=, presided over +( Jud&e A'elita 8. 0olentino, tried onl( seven o) t%e a$$used sin$e Arte'io "entura and Joe( .ilart re'ained at lar&e.; 0%e prose$ution presented Al)aro as its 'ain *itness *it% t%e ot%ers $orro+oratin& %er testi'on(. 0%ese in$luded t%e 'edi$o-le&al o))i$er *%o autopsied t%e +odies o) t%e vi$ti's, t%e se$urit( &uards o) Piton& Daan Su+division, t%e )or'er laundr(*o'an o) t%e 4e++>s %ouse%old, poli$e o))i$er /ion&>s )or'er &irl)riend, and 6auro 8. "i#$onde, Estrellita>s %us+and. .or t%eir part, so'e o) t%e a$$used testi)ied, den(in& an( part in t%e $ri'e and sa(in& t%e( *ere else*%ere *%en it too9 pla$e. 4e++>s ali+i appeared t%e stron&est sin$e %e $lai'ed t%at %e *as t%en a$ross t%e o$ean in t%e ?nited States o) A'eri$a. 3e presented t%e testi'onies o) *itnesses as *ell as do$u'entar( and o+7e$t eviden$e to prove t%is. In addition, t%e de)ense presented *itnesses to s%o* Al)aro:s +ad reputation )or trut% and t%e in$redi+le nature o) %er testi'on(. /ut i'pressed +( Al)aro>s detailed narration o) t%e $ri'e and t%e events surroundin& it, t%e trial $ourt )ound a $redi+le *itness in %er. It noted %er $ate&ori$al, strai&%t)or*ard, spontaneous, and )ran9 testi'on(, unda'a&ed +( &ruelin& $ross-exa'inations. 0%e trial $ourt re'ained un)a#ed +( si&ni)i$ant dis$repan$ies +et*een Al)aro>s April ;@ and 2a( ;;, !!1 a))idavits, a$$eptin& %er explanation t%at s%e at )irst *anted to prote$t %er )or'er +o()riend, a$$used Estrada, and a relative, a$$used 8at$%alianA t%at no la*(er assisted %erA t%at s%e did not trust t%e investi&ators *%o %elped %er prepare %er )irst a))idavitA and t%at s%e )elt unsure i) s%e *ould &et t%e support and se$urit( s%e needed on$e s%e dis$losed all a+out t%e "i#$onde 9illin&s. In $ontrast, t%e trial $ourt t%ou&%t little o) t%e denials and ali+is t%at 4e++, 6e7ano, Rodri&ue#, and 8at$%alian set up )or t%eir de)ense. 0%e( paled, a$$ordin& to t%e $ourt, $o'pared to Al)aro>s testi'on( t%at ot%er *itnesses and t%e p%(si$al eviden$e $orro+orated. 0%us, on Januar( =, ;000, a)ter )our (ears o) arduous %earin&s, t%e trial $ourt rendered 7ud&'ent, )indin& all t%e a$$used &uilt( as $%ar&ed and i'posin& on 4e++, 6e7ano, 8at$%alian, .ernande#, Estrada, and Rodri&ue# t%e penalt( o) re$lusion perpetua and on /ion&, an indeter'inate prison ter' o) eleven (ears, )our 'ont%s, and one da( to t*elve (ears. 0%e trial $ourt also a*arded da'a&es to 6auro "i#$onde.3 On appeal, t%e Court o) Appeals a))ir'ed t%e trial $ourt>s de$ision, 'odi)(in& t%e penalt( i'posed on /ion& to six (ears 'ini'u' and t*elve (ears 'axi'u' and in$reasin& t%e a*ard o) da'a&es to 6auro "i#$onde. = 0%e appellate $ourt did not a&ree t%at t%e a$$used *ere tried +( pu+li$it( or t%at t%e trial 7ud&e *as +iased. It )ound su))i$ient eviden$e o) $onspira$( t%at rendered Rodri&ue#, 8at$%alian, .ernande#, and Estrada e-uall( &uilt( *it% t%ose *%o %ad a part in rapin& and 9illin& Car'ela and in exe$utin& %er 'ot%er and sister. On 'otion )or re$onsideration +( t%e a$$used, t%e Court o) Appeals: Spe$ial Division o) )ive 'e'+ers voted t%ree a&ainst t*o to den( t%e 'otion,1 %en$e, t%e present appeal.

O!PI'IO FERNANDE(,

On April ;0, ;0 0, as a result o) its initial deli+eration in t%is $ase, t%e Court issued a Resolution &rantin& t%e re-uest o) 4e++ to su+'it )or DNA anal(sis t%e se'en spe$i'en ta9en )ro' Car'ela>s $adaver, *%i$% spe$i'en *as t%en +elieved still under t%e sa)e9eepin& o) t%e N/I. 0%e Court &ranted t%e re-uest pursuant to se$tion = o) t%e Rule on DNA Eviden$e B to &ive t%e a$$used and t%e prose$ution a$$ess to s$ienti)i$ eviden$e t%at t%e( 'i&%t *ant to avail t%e'selves o), leadin& to a $orre$t de$ision in t%e $ase. ?n)ortunatel(, on April ;<, ;0 0 t%e N/I in)or'ed t%e Court t%at it no lon&er %as $ustod( o) t%e spe$i'en, t%e sa'e %avin& +een turned over to t%e trial $ourt. 0%e trial re$ord s%o*s, %o*ever, t%at t%e spe$i'en *as not a'on& t%e o+7e$t eviden$e t%at t%e prose$ution o))ered in eviden$e in t%e $ase. 0%is out$o'e pro'pted a$$used 4e++ to )ile an ur&ent 'otion to a$-uit on t%e &round t%at t%e &overn'ent>s )ailure to preserve su$% vital eviden$e %as resulted in t%e denial o) %is ri&%t to due pro$ess. Issues Presented A$$used 4e++>s 'otion to a$-uit presents a t%res%old issueC *%et%er or not t%e Court s%ould a$-uit %i' outri&%t, &iven t%e &overn'ent>s )ailure to produ$e t%e se'en spe$i'en t%at t%e N/I )ound on Car'ela>s $adaver, t%us deprivin& %i' o) eviden$e t%at *ould prove %is inno$en$e. In t%e 'ain, all t%e a$$used raise t%e $entral issue o) *%et%er or not 4e++, a$tin& in $onspira$( *it% 6e7ano, 8at$%alian, .ernande#, Estrada, Rodri&ue#, "entura, and .ilart, raped and 9illed Car'ela and put to deat% %er 'ot%er and sister. /ut, ulti'atel(, t%e $ontrollin& issues areC . 4%et%er or not Al)aro>s testi'on( as e(e*itness, des$ri+in& t%e $ri'e and identi)(in& 4e++, 6e7ano, 8at$%alian, .ernande#, Estrada, Rodri&ue#, and t*o ot%ers as t%e persons *%o $o''itted it, is entitled to +elie)A and ;. 4%et%er or not 4e++ presented su))i$ient eviden$e to prove %is ali+i and re+ut Al)aro>s testi'on( t%at %e led t%e ot%ers in $o''ittin& t%e $ri'e. 0%e issue respe$tin& a$$used /ion& is *%et%er or not %e a$ted to $over up t%e $ri'e a)ter its $o''ission. T1e R,/12 2o Ac30,22)4 D0e 2o Lo55 o- DNA E6,+e*ce 4e++ $lai's, $itin& /rad( v. 2ar(land,< t%at %e is entitled to outri&%t a$-uittal on t%e &round o) violation o) %is ri&%t to due pro$ess &iven t%e State>s )ailure to produ$e on order o) t%e Court eit%er +( ne&li&en$e or *ill)ul suppression t%e se'en spe$i'en ta9en )ro' Car'ela. 0%e 'edi$al eviden$e $learl( esta+lis%ed t%at Car'ela *as raped and, $onsistent *it% t%is, se'en spe$i'en *as )ound in %er. It is true t%at Al)aro identi)ied 4e++ in %er testi'on( as Car'ela>s rapist and 9iller +ut serious -uestions %ad +een raised a+out %er $redi+ilit(. At t%e ver( least, t%ere exists a possi+ilit( t%at Al)aro %ad lied. On t%e ot%er %and, t%e se'en spe$i'en ta9en )ro' Car'ela $annot possi+l( lie. It $annot +e $oa$%ed or allured +( a pro'ise o) re*ard or )inan$ial support. No t*o persons %ave t%e sa'e DNA )in&erprint, *it% t%e ex$eption o) identi$al t*ins.@ I), on exa'ination, t%e DNA o) t%e su+7e$t spe$i'en does not +elon& to 4e++, t%en %e did not rape Car'ela. It is t%at si'ple. 0%us, t%e Court *ould %ave +een a+le to deter'ine t%at Al)aro $o''itted per7ur( in sa(in& t%at %e did. Still, 4e++ is not entitled to a$-uittal )or t%e )ailure o) t%e State to produ$e t%e se'en spe$i'en at t%is late sta&e. .or one t%in&, t%e rulin& in /rad( v. 2ar(land! t%at %e $ites %as lon& +e overta9en +( t%e de$ision in Ari#ona v. Doun&+lood, 0 *%ere t%e ?.S. Supre'e Court %eld t%at due pro$ess does not re-uire t%e State to preserve t%e se'en spe$i'en alt%ou&% it 'i&%t +e use)ul to t%e a$$used unless t%e latter is a+le to s%o* +ad )ait% on t%e part o) t%e prose$ution or t%e poli$e. 3ere, t%e State presented a 'edi$al expert *%o testi)ied on t%e existen$e o) t%e spe$i'en and 4e++ in )a$t sou&%t to %ave t%e sa'e su+7e$ted to DNA test. .or, anot%er, *%en 4e++ raised t%e DNA issue, t%e rule &overnin& DNA eviden$e did not (et exist, t%e $ountr( did not (et %ave t%e te$%nolo&( )or $ondu$tin& t%e test, and no P%ilippine pre$edent %ad as (et re$o&ni#ed its ad'issi+ilit( as eviden$e. Conse-uentl(, t%e idea o) 9eepin& t%e spe$i'en se$ure even a)ter t%e trial $ourt re7e$ted t%e 'otion )or DNA testin& did not $o'e up. Indeed, neit%er 4e++ nor %is $o-a$$used +rou&%t up t%e 'atter o) preservin& t%e spe$i'en in t%e 'eanti'e. Parent%eti$all(, a)ter t%e trial $ourt denied 4e++>s appli$ation )or DNA testin&, %e allo*ed t%e pro$eedin& to 'ove on *%en %e %ad on at least t*o o$$asions &one up to t%e Court o) Appeals or t%e Supre'e Court to $%allen&e alle&ed ar+itrar( a$tions ta9en a&ainst %i' and t%e ot%er a$$used. 0%e( raised t%e DNA issue +e)ore t%e Court o) Appeals +ut 'erel( as an error $o''itted +( t%e trial $ourt in renderin& its de$ision in t%e $ase. None o) t%e a$$used )iled a 'otion *it% t%e appeals $ourt to %ave t%e DNA test done pendin& ad7udi$ation o) t%eir appeal. 0%is, even *%en t%e Supre'e Court %ad in t%e 'eanti'e passed t%e rules allo*in& su$% test. Considerin& t%e a$$used>s la$9 o) interest in %avin& su$% test done, t%e State $annot +e dee'ed put on reasona+le noti$e t%at it *ould +e re-uired to produ$e t%e se'en spe$i'en at so'e )uture ti'e. No*, to t%e 'erit o) t%e $ase.

Al)aro>s Stor( /ased on t%e prose$ution>s version, $ulled )ro' t%e de$isions o) t%e trial $ourt and t%e Court o) Appeals, on June ;!, !! at around @C30 in t%e evenin&, Jessi$a Al)aro drove %er 2itsu+is%i 6an$er, *it% +o()riend Peter Estrada as passen&er, to t%e A(ala Ala+an& Co''er$ial Center par9in& lot to +u( s%a+u )ro' Arte'io 5Don&5 "entura. 0%ere, "entura introdu$ed %er to %is )riendsC 3u+ert Je))re( P. 4e++, Antonio 50on( /o(5 6e7ano, 2i&uel 58in&5 Rodri&ue#, 3ospi$io 5P(9e5 .ernande#, 2i$%ael 8at$%alian, and Joe( .ilart. Al)aro re$alled )re-uentl( seein& t%e' at a s%a+u %ouse in Para,a-ue in Januar( !! , ex$ept "entura *%o' s%e %ad 9no*n earlier in De$e'+er !!0. As Al)aro s'o9ed %er s%a+u, 4e++ approa$%ed and re-uested %er to rela( a 'essa&e )or %i' to a &irl, *%o' s%e later identi)ied as Car'ela "i#$onde. Al)aro a&reed. A)ter usin& up t%eir s%a+u, t%e &roup drove to Car'ela>s %ouse at @0 "in#ons Street, Piton& Daan Su+division, /. 3o'es, Para,a-ue Cit(. Ridin& in %er $ar, Al)aro and Estrada trailed .ilart and Rodri&ue# *%o rode a 2a#da pi$9-up and 4e++, 6e7ano, "entura, .ernande#, and 8at$%alian *%o *ere on a Nissan Patrol $ar. On rea$%in& t%eir destination, Al)aro par9ed %er $ar on "in#ons Street, ali&%ted, and approa$%ed Car'ela>s %ouse. Al)aro pressed t%e +u##er and a *o'an $a'e out. Al)aro -ueried %er a+out Car'ela. Al)aro %ad 'et Car'ela t*i$e +e)ore in Januar( !! . 4%en Car'ela $a'e out, Al)aro &ave %er 4e++>s 'essa&e t%at %e *as 7ust around. Car'ela replied, %o*ever, t%at s%e $ould not &o out (et sin$e s%e %ad 7ust arrived %o'e. S%e told Al)aro to return a)ter t*ent( 'inutes. Al)aro rela(ed t%is to 4e++ *%o t%en told t%e &roup to drive +a$9 to t%e A(ala Ala+an& Co''er$ial Center. 0%e &roup %ad anot%er s%a+u session at t%e par9in& lot. A)ter so'eti'e, t%e( drove +a$9 +ut onl( Al)aro pro$eeded to "in#ons Street *%ere Car'ela lived. 0%e Nissan Patrol and t%e 2a#da pi$9-up, *it% t%eir passen&ers, par9ed so'e*%ere alon& A&uirre Avenue. Car'ela *as at t%eir &arden. S%e approa$%ed Al)aro on seein& %er and told t%e latter t%at s%e ECar'elaF %ad to leave t%e %ouse )or a *%ile. Car'ela re-uested Al)aro to return +e)ore 'idni&%t and s%e *ould leave t%e pedestrian &ate, t%e iron &rills t%at led to t%e 9it$%en, and t%e 9it$%en door unlo$9ed. Car'ela also told Al)aro to +lin9 %er $ar>s %eadli&%ts t*i$e *%en s%e approa$%ed t%e pedestrian &ate so Car'ela *ould 9no* t%at s%e %ad arrived. Al)aro returned to %er $ar +ut *aited )or Car'ela to drive out o) t%e %ouse in %er o*n $ar. Al)aro trailed Car'ela up to A&uirre Avenue *%ere s%e dropped o)) a 'an *%o' Al)aro +elieved *as Car'ela>s +o()riend. Al)aro loo9ed )or %er &roup, )ound t%e', and rela(ed Car'ela>s instru$tions to 4e++. 0%e( t%en all *ent +a$9 to t%e A(ala Ala+an& Co''er$ial Center. At t%e par9in& lot, Al)aro told t%e &roup a+out %er tal9 *it% Car'ela. 4%en s%e told 4e++ o) Car'ela>s 'ale $o'panion, 4e++>s 'ood $%an&ed )or t%e rest o) t%e evenin& E5+ad trip5F. 4e++ &ave out )ree $o$aine. 0%e( all used it and so'e s%a+u, too. A)ter a+out =0 to =1 'inutes, 4e++ de$ided t%at it *as ti'e )or t%e' to leave. 3e said, 5Pipila%an natin si(a GCar'elaH at a9o an& 'auuna.5 6e7ano said, 5A9o an& susunod5 and t%e ot%ers responded 5O9a(, o9a(.5 0%e( all le)t t%e par9in& lot in a $onvo( o) t%ree ve%i$les and drove into Piton& Daan Su+division )or t%e t%ird ti'e. 0%e( arrived at Car'ela>s %ouse s%ortl( +e)ore 'idni&%t. Al)aro par9ed %er $ar +et*een "i#$onde>s %ouse and t%e next. 4%ile *aitin& )or t%e ot%ers to ali&%t )ro' t%eir $ars, .ernande# approa$%ed Al)aro *it% a su&&estion t%at t%e( +lo* up t%e trans)or'er near t%e "i#$onde>s residen$e to $ause a +ro*nout E5Pasa+u&in 9a(a natin an& trans)or'er na ito5F. /ut Al)aro s%ru&&ed o)) t%e idea, tellin& .ernande#, 52ala9as lan& an& ta'a 'o.5 4%en 4e++, 6e7ano, and "entura *ere alread( +e)ore t%e %ouse, 4e++ told t%e ot%ers a&ain t%at t%e( *ould line up )or Car'ela +ut %e *ould +e t%e )irst. 0%e ot%ers replied, 5O si&e, dito lan& 9a'i, 'a&+a+anta( lan& 9a'i.5 Al)aro *as t%e )irst to pass t%rou&% t%e pedestrian &ate t%at %ad +een le)t open. 4e++, 6e7ano, and "entura )ollo*ed %er. On enterin& t%e &ara&e, "entura usin& a $%air 'ounted t%e %ood o) t%e "i#$ondes> Nissan Sentra and loosened t%e ele$tri$ +ul+ over it E5para da* *alan& ila*5F. 0%e s'all &roup *ent t%rou&% t%e open iron &rill &ate and passed t%e dirt( 9it$%en. Car'ela opened t%e alu'inu' s$reen door o) t%e 9it$%en )or t%e'. S%e and 4e++ loo9ed ea$% ot%er in t%e e(es )or a 'o'ent and, to&et%er, %eaded )or t%e dinin& area. As s%e lost si&%t o) Car'ela and 4e++, Al)aro de$ided to &o out. 6e7ano as9ed %er *%ere s%e *as &oin& and s%e replied t%at s%e *as &oin& out to s'o9e. As s%e eased %er *a( out t%rou&% t%e 9it$%en door, s%e sa* "entura pullin& out a 9it$%en dra*er. Al)aro s'o9ed a $i&arette at t%e &arden. A)ter a+out t*ent( 'inutes, s%e *as surprised to %ear a *o'an>s voi$e as9, 5Sino (anI5 Al)aro i''ediatel( *al9ed out o) t%e &arden to %er $ar. S%e )ound %er ot%er $o'panions 'illin& around it. Estrada *%o sat in t%e $ar as9ed %er, 5O9a( +aI5 A)ter sittin& in t%e $ar )or a+out ten 'inutes, Al)aro returned to t%e "i#$onde %ouse, usin& t%e sa'e route. 0%e interior o) t%e %ouse *as dar9 +ut so'e li&%t )iltered in )ro' outside. In t%e 9it$%en, Al)aro sa* "entura sear$%in& a lad(>s +a& t%at la( on t%e dinin& ta+le. 4%en s%e as9ed %i' *%at %e *as loo9in& )or, %e saidC 5I9a* na n&a dito, 'a&%anap 9a n& susi.5 S%e as9ed %i' *%at 9e( %e *anted and %e repliedC 5/asta 'a&%anap 9a n& susi n& 'ain door pati na rin n& susi n& 9otse.5 4%en s%e )ound a +un$% o) 9e(s in t%e +a&, s%e tried t%e' on t%e 'ain door +ut none )itted t%e lo$9. S%e also did not )ind t%e $ar 9e(. ?na+le to open t%e 'ain door, Al)aro returned to t%e 9it$%en. 4%ile s%e *as at a spot leadin& to t%e dinin& area, s%e %eard a stati$ noise Eli9e a television t%at re'ained on a)ter t%e station %ad si&ned o))F. Out o) $uriosit(, s%e approa$%ed t%e 'aster>s +edroo' )ro' *%ere t%e noise $a'e, opened t%e door a little, and pee9ed inside. 0%e unusual sound &re* even louder. As s%e *al9ed in, s%e sa* 4e++ on top o) Car'ela *%ile s%e la( *it% %er +a$9 on t%e )loor. 0*o +loodied +odies la( on t%e +ed. 6e7ano *as at t%e )oot o) t%e +ed a+out to *ear %is 7a$9et. Car'ela *as &a&&ed, 'oanin&, and in tears *%ile 4e++ raped %er, %is +are +utto$9s exposed.

4e++ &ave Al)aro a 'eanin&)ul loo9 and s%e i''ediatel( le)t t%e roo'. S%e 'et "entura at t%e dinin& area. 3e told %er, 5Prepare an es$ape. Aalis na ta(o.5 S%o$9ed *it% *%at s%e sa*, Al)aro rus%ed out o) t%e %ouse to t%e ot%ers *%o *ere eit%er sittin& in %er $ar or 'illin& on t%e side*al9. S%e entered %er $ar and turned on t%e en&ine +ut s%e did not 9no* *%ere to &o. 4e++, 6e7ano, and "entura $a'e out o) t%e %ouse 7ust t%en. 4e++ suddenl( pi$9ed up a stone and t%re* it at t%e 'ain door, +rea9in& its &lass )ra'e. As t%e t%ree 'en approa$%ed t%e pedestrian &ate, 4e++ told "entura t%at %e )or&ot %is 7a$9et in t%e %ouse. /ut "entura told %i' t%at t%e( $ould not &et in an('ore as t%e iron &rills %ad alread( lo$9ed. 0%e( all rode in t%eir $ars and drove a*a( until t%e( rea$%ed A&uirre Avenue. As t%e( &ot near an old %otel at t%e 0ropi$al Pala$e area, Al)aro noti$ed t%e Nissan Patrol slo* do*n. So'eone t%re* so'et%in& out o) t%e $ar into t%e $o&onal area. 0%e $onvo( o) $ars *ent to a lar&e %ouse *it% %i&% *alls, $on$rete )en$e, steel &ate, and a lon& drive*a( at /. Exe$utive "illa&e. 0%e( entered t%e $o'pound and &at%ered at t%e la*n *%ere t%e 5+la'in& session5 too9 pla$e. It *as %ere t%at Al)aro and t%ose *%o re'ained outside t%e "i#$onde %ouse learned o) *%at %appened. 0%e )irst to +e 9illed *as Car'ela>s 'ot%er, t%en Jenni)er, and )inall(, Car'ella. "entura +la'ed 4e++, tellin& %i', 5/a9it na'an pati (un& +ataI5 4e++ replied t%at t%e &irl *o9e up and on seein& %i' 'olestin& Car'ela, s%e 7u'ped on %i', +it %is s%oulders, and pulled %is %air. 4e++ &ot 'ad, &ra++ed t%e &irl, pus%ed %er to t%e *all, and repeatedl( sta++ed %er. 6e7ano ex$used %i'sel) at t%is point to use t%e telep%one in t%e %ouse. 2ean*%ile, 4e++ $alled up so'eone on %is $ellular p%one. At around ;C00 in t%e 'ornin&, a$$used 8erardo /ion& arrived. 4e++ ordered %i' to &o and $lean up t%e "i#$onde %ouse and said to %i', 5Pera lan& an& 9atapat n(an.5 /ion& ans*ered, 5O9a( lan&.5 4e++ spo9e to %is $o'panions and told t%e', 54e don>t 9no* ea$% ot%er. 4e %aven>t seen ea$% ot%erJ+a9a 'aulit (an.5 Al)aro and Estrada le)t and t%e( drove to %er )at%er>s %ouse. ; . 0%e -ualit( o) t%e *itness 4as Al)aro an ordinar( su+division &irl *%o s%o*ed up at t%e N/I a)ter )our (ears, +ot%ered +( %er $ons$ien$e or e&&ed on +( relatives or )riends to $o'e )or*ard and do *%at *as ri&%tI No. S%e *as, at t%e ti'e s%e revealed %er stor(, *or9in& )or t%e N/I as an 5asset,5 a stool pi&eon, one *%o earned %er livin& +( )raterni#in& *it% $ri'inals so s%e $ould s-ueal on t%e' to %er N/I %andlers. S%e %ad to live a li)e o) lies to &et re*ards t%at *ould pa( )or %er su+sisten$e and vi$es. A$$ordin& to Att(. Arte'io Sa$a&uin&, )or'er %ead o) t%e N/I Anti-Kidnappin&, 3i7a$9in&, and Ar'ed Ro++er( 0as9 .or$e EAK3ARF Se$tion, Al)aro %ad +een %an&in& around at t%e N/I sin$e Nove'+er or De$e'+er !!= as an 5asset.5 S%e supplied %er %andlers *it% in)or'ation a&ainst dru& pus%ers and ot%er $ri'inal ele'ents. So'e o) t%is in)or'ation led to t%e $apture o) notorious dru& pus%ers li9e C%ristop%er Cru# Santos and Orlando /a$-uir. Al)aro>s tip led to t%e arrest o) t%e leader o) t%e 52artil(o &an&5 t%at 9illed a poli$e o))i$er. /e$ause o) %er talent, t%e tas9 )or$e &ave %er 5ver( spe$ial treat'ent5 and s%e +e$a'e its 5darlin&,5 allo*ed t%e privile&e o) spendin& ni&%ts in one o) t%e roo's at t%e N/I o))i$es. 4%en Al)aro see'ed unprodu$tive )or so'eti'e, %o*ever, t%e( teased %er a+out it and s%e *as pi-ued. One da(, s%e unexpe$tedl( told Sa$a&uin& t%at s%e 9ne* so'eone *%o %ad t%e real stor( +e%ind t%e "i#$onde 'assa$re. Sa$a&uin& s%o*ed interest. Al)aro pro'ised to +rin& t%at so'eone to t%e N/I to tell %is stor(. 4%en t%is did not %appen and Sa$a&uin& $ontinued to press %er, s%e told %i' t%at s%e 'i&%t as *ell assu'e t%e role o) %er in)or'ant. Sa$a&uin& testi)ied t%usC A00D. ON8KIKOC L. Att(. Sa$a&uin&, %o* did Jessi$a Al)aro +e$o'e a *itness in t%e "i#$onde 'urder $aseI 4ill (ou tell t%e 3onora+le CourtI xxxx A. S%e told 'e. Dour 3onor, t%at s%e 9ne* so'e+od( *%o related to %er t%e $ir$u'stan$es, I 'ean, t%e details o) t%e 'assa$re o) t%e "i#$onde )a'il(. 0%at>s *%at s%e told 'e, Dour 3onor. A00D. ON8KIKOC L. And *%at did (ou sa(I xxxx A. I *as -uite interested and I tried to persuade %er to introdu$e to 'e t%at 'an and s%e pro'ised t%at in due ti'e, s%e *ill +rin& to 'e t%e 'an, and to&et%er *it% %er, *e *ill tr( to $onvin$e %i' to a$t as a state *itness and %elp us in t%e solution o) t%e $ase. xxxx L. Att(. Sa$a&uin&, *ere (ou a+le to intervie* t%is alle&ed *itnessI 4I0NESS SACA8?IN8C

A. No, sir. A00D. ON8KIKOC L. 4%( notI 4I0NESS SACA8?IN8C A. /e$ause Jessi$a Al)aro *as never a+le to $o'pl( *it% %er pro'ise to +rin& t%e 'an to 'e. S%e told 'e later t%at s%e $ould not and t%e 'an does not li9e to testi)(. A00D. ON8KIKOC L. All ri&%t, and *%at %appened a)ter t%atI 4I0NESS SACA8?IN8C A. S%e told 'e, 5eas( lan& 9a(o, Sir,5 i) I 'a( -uote, 5eas( lan& Sir, %u*a& 9a(on&J5 CO?R0C 3o* *as t%atI 4I0NESS SACA8?IN8C A. 5Eas( lan&, Sir. Sir, relax lan&, Sir, papapelan 9o, papapelan 9o na lan& M(an.5 xxxx A00D. ON8KIKOC L. All ri&%t, and *%at *as (our rea$tion *%en 2s. Al)aro stated t%at 5papapelan 9o na lan& (anI5 4I0NESS SACA8?IN8C A. I said, 5%indi pu*ede (an, 9asi %indi 9a na'an e(e *itness.5 A00D. ON8KIKOC L. And *%at *as t%e repl( o) 2s. Al)aroI 4I0NESS SACA8?IN8C A. 3indi si(a na9a9i+o, until s%e *ent a*a(. E0SN, 2a( ;@, !!B, pp. =!-10, 1@, <<-<!F Luite si&ni)i$antl(, Al)aro never re)uted Sa$a&uin&>s a+ove testi'on(. ;. 0%e suspi$ious details /ut *as it possi+le )or Al)aro to lie *it% su$% a+undant details so'e o) *%i$% even tallied *it% t%e p%(si$al eviden$e at t%e s$ene o) t%e $ri'eI No dou+t, (es. .irstl(, t%e "i#$onde 'assa$re %ad +een reported in t%e 'edia *it% di##(in& details. Ever(+od( *as tal9in& a+out *%at t%e poli$e )ound at t%e $ri'e s$ene and t%ere *ere lots o) spe$ulations a+out t%e'. Se$ondl(, t%e poli$e %ad arrested so'e 5a9(at-+a%a(5 &roup in Para,a-ue and $%ar&ed t%e' *it% t%e $ri'e. 0%e poli$e prepared t%e $on)essions o) t%e 'en t%e( appre%ended and )illed t%ese up *it% details t%at t%e eviden$e o) t%e $ri'e s$ene provided. Al)aro>s N/I %andlers *%o *ere doin& t%eir o*n investi&ation 9ne* o) t%ese details as *ell. Sin$e Al)aro %an&ed out at t%e N/I o))i$es and pra$ti$all( lived t%ere, it *as not too di))i$ult )or %er to %ear o) t%ese evidentiar( details and &ain a$$ess to t%e do$u'ents. Not surprisin&l(, t%e $on)essions o) so'e 'e'+ers o) t%e /arroso 5a9(at +a%a(5 &an&, $onde'ned +( t%e 2a9ati R0C as )a+ri$ated +( t%e poli$e to pin t%e $ri'e on t%e', s%o*s %o* $ri'e investi&ators $ould 'a9e a $on)ession rin& true +( 'at$%in& so'e o) its details *it% t%e p%(si$al eviden$e at t%e $ri'e s$ene. Consider t%e )ollo*in&C

a. 0%e /arroso &an& 'e'+ers said t%at t%e( &ot into Car'ela>s %ouse +( +rea9in& t%e &lass panel o) t%e )ront door usin& a stone *rapped in $lot% to deaden t%e noise. Al)aro $ould not use t%is line sin$e t%e $ore o) %er stor( *as t%at 4e++ *as Car'ela>s +o()riend. 4e++ %ad no reason to s'as% %er )ront door to &et to see %er. Conse-uentl(, to explain t%e s'as%ed door, Al)aro %ad to settle )or $lai'in& t%at, on t%e *a( out o) t%e %ouse, 4e++ pi$9ed up so'e stone and, out o) t%e +lue, %urled it at t%e &lass-paneled )ront door o) t%e "i#$onde residen$e. 3is a$tion reall( 'ade no sense. .ro' Al)aro>s narration, 4e++ appeared rational in %is de$isions. It *as past 'idni&%t, t%e %ouse *as dar9, and t%e( *anted to &et a*a( -ui$9l( to avoid dete$tion. 3urlin& a stone at t%at &lass door and $ausin& a tre'endous noise *as +i#arre, li9e invitin& t%e nei&%+ors to $o'e. +. 0%e $ri'e s$ene s%o*ed t%at t%e %ouse %ad +een ransa$9ed. 0%e re7e$ted $on)essions o) t%e /arroso 5a9(at-+a%a(5 &an& 'e'+ers said t%at t%e( tried to ro+ t%e %ouse. 0o explain t%is p%(si$al eviden$e, Al)aro $lai'ed t%at at one point "entura *as pullin& a 9it$%en dra*er, and at anot%er point, &oin& t%rou&% a %and+a& on t%e dinin& ta+le. 3e said %e *as loo9in& )or t%e )ront-door 9e( and t%e $ar 9e(. A&ain, t%is portion o) Al)aro>s stor( appears tortured to a$$o''odate t%e p%(si$al eviden$e o) t%e ransa$9ed %ouse. S%e never 'entioned "entura %avin& ta9en so'e valua+les *it% %i' *%en t%e( le)t Car'ela>s %ouse. And *%( *ould "entura ru''a&e a +a& on t%e ta+le )or t%e )ront-door 9e(, spillin& t%e $ontents, *%en t%e( %ad alread( &otten into t%e %ouse. It is a stor( 'ade to )it in *it% t%e $ri'e s$ene alt%ou&% ro++er( *as supposedl( not t%e reason 4e++ and %is $o'panions entered t%at %ouse. $. It is t%e sa'e t%in& *it% t%e &ara&e li&%t. 0%e poli$e investi&ators )ound t%at t%e +ul+ %ad +een loosened to turn o)) t%e li&%t. 0%e $on)essions o) t%e /arroso &an& $lai'ed t%at one o) t%e' $li'+ed t%e par9ed $ar>s %ood to rea$% up and dar9en t%at li&%t. 0%is 'ade sense sin$e t%e( *ere &oin& to ro+ t%e pla$e and t%e( needed ti'e to *or9 in t%e dar9 tr(in& to open t%e )ront door. So'e passers+( 'i&%t loo9 in and see *%at t%e( *ere doin&. Al)aro %ad to ad7ust %er testi'on( to ta9e into a$$ount t%at dar9ened &ara&e li&%t. So s%e $lai'ed t%at "entura $li'+ed t%e $ar>s %ood, usin& a $%air, to turn t%e li&%t o)). /ut, unli9e t%e /arroso 5a9(at-+a%a(5 &an&, 4e++ and %is )riends did not %ave an(t%in& to do in a dar9ened &ara&e. 0%e( supposedl( 9ne* in advan$e t%at Car'ela le)t t%e doors to t%e 9it$%en open )or t%e'. It did not 'a9e sense )or "entura to ris9 standin& on t%e $ar>s %ood and +e seen in su$% an a*9*ard position instead o) &oin& strai&%t into t%e %ouse. And, t%irdl(, Al)aro *as t%e N/I>s star *itness, t%eir +ad&e o) ex$ellent investi&ative *or9. lavvphil A)ter $lai'in& t%at t%e( %ad solved t%e $ri'e o) t%e de$ade, t%e N/I people %ad a sta9e in 'a9in& %er sound $redi+le and, o+viousl(, t%e( &ave %er all t%e preparations s%e needed )or t%e 7o+ o) +e$o'in& a )airl( &ood su+stitute *itness. S%e *as t%eir 5darlin&5 o) an asset. And t%is is not pure spe$ulation. As pointed out a+ove, Sa$a&uin& o) t%e N/I, a la*(er and a ran9in& o))i$ial, $on)ir'ed t%is to +e a $old )a$t. 4%( t%e trial $ourt and t%e Court o) Appeals )ailed to see t%is is '(sti)(in&. At an( rate, did Al)aro at least %ave a )ine 'e'or( )or )a$es t%at %ad a stron& e))e$t on %er, &iven t%e $ir$u'stan$esI Not li9el(. S%e na'ed 2i&uel 58in&5 Rodri&ue# as one o) t%e $ulprits in t%e "i#$onde 9illin&s. /ut *%en t%e N/I )ound a $ertain 2i$%ael Rodri&ue#, a dru& dependent )ro' t%e /i$utan Re%a+ilitation Center, initiall( suspe$ted to +e Al)aro>s 2i&uel Rodri&ue# and s%o*ed %i' to Al)aro at t%e N/I o))i$e, s%e ran +erser9, slappin& and 9i$9in& 2i$%ael, ex$lai'in&C 53o* $an I )or&et (our )a$e. 4e 7ust sa* ea$% ot%er in a dis$o one 'ont% a&o and (ou told 'e t%en t%at (ou *ill 9ill 'e.5 As it turned out, %e *as not 2i&uel Rodri&ue#, t%e a$$used in t%is $ase. 3 0*o possi+ilities existC 2i$%ael *as reall( t%e one Al)aro *anted to i'pli$ate to settle so'e s$ore *it% %i' +ut it *as too late to $%an&e t%e na'e s%e alread( &ave or s%e %ad '(opi$ vision, ta&&in& t%e *ron& people )or *%at t%e( did not do. 3. 0%e -ualit( o) t%e testi'on( 0%ere is anot%er t%in& a+out a l(in& *itnessC %er stor( la$9s sense or su))ers )ro' in%erent in$onsisten$ies. An understandin& o) t%e nature o) t%in&s and t%e $o''on +e%avior o) people *ill %elp expose a lie. And it %as an a+undant presen$e in t%is $ase. One. In %er desire to i'pli$ate 8at$%alian, .ernande#, Estrada, Rodri&ue#, and .ilart, *%o *ere supposed to +e 4e++>s $oprin$ipals in t%e $ri'e, Al)aro 'ade it a point to testi)( t%at 4e++ proposed t*i$e to %is )riends t%e &an&-rape o) Car'ela *%o %ad %urt %i'. And t*i$e, t%e( Ein$ludin&, i) one +elieves Al)aro, %er o*n +o()riend EstradaF a&reed in a $%orus to %is proposal. /ut *%en t%e( &ot to Car'ela>s %ouse, onl( 4e++, 6e7ano, "entura, and Al)aro entered t%e %ouse. 8at$%alian, .ernande#, Estrada, and Rodri&ue# supposedl( sta(ed around Al)aro>s $ar, *%i$% *as par9ed on t%e street +et*een Car'ela>s %ouse and t%e next. So'e o) t%ese 'en sat on top o) t%e $ar>s lid *%ile ot%ers 'illed on t%e side*al9, visi+le under t%e street li&%t to an(one *%o $ared to *at$% t%e', parti$ularl( to t%e people *%o *ere %avin& a drin9in& part( in a near+( %ouse. O+viousl(, t%e +e%avior o) 4e++>s $o'panions out on t%e street did not )i&ure in a planned &an&-rape o) Car'ela. 0*o. "entura, Al)aro>s dope supplier, introdu$ed %er )or t%e )irst ti'e in %er li)e to 4e++ and %is )riends in a par9in& lot +( a 'all. So *%( *ould s%e a&ree to a$t as 4e++>s 'essen&er, usin& %er &as, to +rin& %is 'essa&e to Car'ela at %er %o'e. 2ore inexpli$a+l(, *%at 'otivated Al)aro to sti$9 it out t%e *%ole ni&%t *it% 4e++ and %is )riendsI 0%e( *ere pra$ti$all( stran&ers to %er and %er +o()riend Estrada. 4%en it $a'e to a point t%at 4e++ de$ided *it% %is )riends to &an&-rape Car'ela, $learl(, t%ere *as not%in& in it )or Al)aro. Det, s%e stu$9 it out *it% t%e', as a poli$e asset *ould, %an&in& in t%ere until s%e %ad a $ri'e to report, onl( s%e *as not (et an 5asset5 t%en. I), on t%e ot%er %and, Al)aro %ad +een too soa9ed

in dru&s to t%in9 $learl( and 7ust )ollo*ed alon& *%ere t%e &roup too9 %er, %o* $ould s%e re'e'+er so 'u$% details t%at onl( a dru&-)ree 'ind $anI 0%ree. 4%en Al)aro *ent to see Car'ela at %er %ouse )or t%e se$ond ti'e, Car'ella told %er t%at s%e still %ad to &o out and t%at 4e++ and %is )riends s%ould $o'e +a$9 around 'idni&%t. Al)aro returned to %er $ar and *aited )or Car'ela to drive out in %er o*n $ar. And s%e trailed %er up to A&uirre Avenue *%ere s%e supposedl( dropped o)) a 'an *%o' s%e t%ou&%t *as Car'ela>s +o()riend. Al)aro>s trailin& Car'ela to sp( on %er un)ait%)ulness to 4e++ did not 'a9e sense sin$e s%e *as on li'ited errand. /ut, as a $riti$al *itness, Al)aro %ad to provide a reason )or 4e++ to )rea9 out and de$ide to $o'e *it% %is )riends and %ar' Car'ela. .our. A$$ordin& to Al)aro, *%en t%e( returned to Car'ela>s %ouse t%e t%ird ti'e around 'idni&%t, s%e led 4e++, 6e7ano, and "entura t%rou&% t%e pedestrian &ate t%at Car'ela %ad le)t open. No*, t%is is *eird. 4e++ *as t%e &an& leader *%o de$ided *%at t%e( *ere &oin& to do. 3e de$ided and %is )riends a&reed *it% %i' to &o to Car'ela>s %ouse and &an&-rape %er. 4%( *ould Al)aro, a *o'an, a stran&er to 4e++ +e)ore t%at ni&%t, and o+viousl( *it% no role to pla( in t%e &an&-rape o) Car'ela, lead %i' and t%e ot%ers into %er %ouseI It 'ade no sense. It *ould onl( 'a9e sense i) Al)aro *anted to )ei&n +ein& a *itness to so'et%in& s%e did not see. .ive. Al)aro *ent out o) t%e %ouse to s'o9e at t%e &arden. A)ter a+out t*ent( 'inutes, a *o'an ex$lai'ed, 5Sino (anI5 On %earin& t%is, Al)aro i''ediatel( *al9ed out o) t%e &arden and *ent to %er $ar. Apparentl(, s%e did t%is +e$ause s%e 9ne* t%e( $a'e on a sl(. So'eone ot%er t%an Car'ela +e$a'e $ons$ious o) t%e presen$e o) 4e++ and ot%ers in t%e %ouse. Al)aro *al9ed a*a( +e$ause, o+viousl(, s%e did not *ant to &et involved in a potential $on)rontation. 0%is *as supposedl( %er )ra'e o) 'indC )ear o) &ettin& involved in *%at *as not %er +usiness. /ut i) t%at *ere t%e $ase, %o* $ould s%e testi)( +ased on personal 9no*led&e o) *%at *ent on in t%e %ouseI Al)aro %ad to $%an&e t%at )ra'e o) 'ind to one o) +oldness and re$9less $uriosit(. So t%at is *%at s%e next $lai'ed. S%e *ent +a$9 into t%e %ouse to *at$% as 4e++ raped Car'ela on t%e )loor o) t%e 'aster>s +edroo'. 3e %ad apparentl( sta++ed to deat% Car'ela>s 'o' and %er (oun& sister *%ose +loodied +odies *ere spra*led on t%e +ed. No*, Al)aro testi)ied t%at s%e &ot s$ared Eanot%er s%i)t to )earF )or s%e %urriedl( &ot out o) t%e %ouse a)ter 4e++ supposedl( &ave %er a 'eanin&)ul loo9. Al)aro -ui$9l( *ent to %er $ar, not 'indin& 8at$%alian, .ernande#, Estrada, Rodri&ue#, and .ilart *%o sat on t%e $ar or 'illed on t%e side*al9. S%e did not spea9 to t%e', even to Estrada, %er +o()riend. S%e entered %er $ar and turned on t%e en&ine +ut s%e testi)ied t%at s%e did not 9no* *%ere to &o. 0%is *o'an *%o a )e* 'inutes +a$9 led 4e++, 6e7ano, and "entura into t%e %ouse, 9no*in& t%at t%e( *ere de$ided to rape and %ar' Car'ela, *as suddenl( too s%o$9ed to 9no* *%ere to &oN 0%is e'otional pendulu' s*in& indi$ates a *itness *%o *as $on)used *it% %er o*n lies. 4. T1e 5077o5e+ corrobor)2,o*5 Intendin& to provide $orro+oration to Al)aro>s testi'on(, t%e prose$ution presented six additional *itnessesC Dr. Pro57ero A. ')b)*)8)*, t%e N/I 2edi$o-6e&al O))i$er *%o autopsied t%e +odies o) t%e vi$ti's, testi)ied on t%e sta+ *ounds t%e( sustained = and t%e presen$e o) se'en in Car'ela>s &enitalia, 1 indi$atin& t%at s%e %ad +een raped. Norm)4 E. %1,2e, Jr., *as t%e se$urit( &uard on dut( at Piton& Daan Su+division )ro' < p.'. o) June ;! to < a.'. o) June 30, !! . 3e &ot a report on t%e 'ornin& o) June 30 t%at so'et%in& unto*ard %appened at t%e "i#$onde residen$e. 3e *ent t%ere and sa* t%e dead +odies in t%e 'aster>s +edroo', t%e +a& on t%e dinin& ta+le, as *ell as t%e loud noise e'anatin& )ro' a television set. B 4%ite $lai'ed t%at %e noti$ed 8at$%alian and %is $o'panions, none o) *%o' %e $ould identi)(, &o in and out o) Piton& Daan Su+division. 3e also sa* t%e' alon& "in#ons Street. 6ater, t%e( entered Piton& Daan Su+division in a t%ree-$ar $onvo(. 4%ite $ould not, %o*ever, des$ri+e t%e 9ind o) ve%i$les t%e( used or re$all t%e ti'e *%en %e sa* t%e &roup in t%ose t*o instan$es. And %e did not noti$e an(t%in& suspi$ious a+out t%eir $o'in& and &oin&. /ut 4%ite>s testi'on( $annot +e relied on. 3is initial $lai' turned out to +e ina$$urate. 3e a$tuall( sa* 8at$%alian and %is &roup enter t%e Piton& Daan Su+division onl( on$e. 0%e( *ere not &oin& in and out. .urt%er'ore, Al)aro testi)ied t%at *%en t%e $onvo( o) $ars *ent +a$9 t%e se$ond ti'e in t%e dire$tion o) Car'ela>s %ouse, s%e alone entered t%e su+division and passed t%e &uard%ouse *it%out stoppin&. Det, 4%ite *%o supposedl( 'anned t%at &uard%ouse did not noti$e %er. Surprisin&l(, 4%ite )ailed to note /ion&, a poli$e o))i$er, enterin& or exitin& t%e su+division on t%e earl( 'ornin& o) June 30 *%en %e supposedl( 5$leaned up5 "i#$onde residen$e on 4e++>s orders. 4%at is 'ore, 4%ite did not noti$e Car'ela arrive *it% %er 'o' +e)ore Al)aro>s )irst visit t%at ni&%t. Car'ela supposedl( le)t *it% a 'ale $o'panion in %er $ar at around 0C30 p.'. +ut 4%ite did not noti$e it. 3e also did not noti$e Car'ela reenter t%e su+division. 4%ite a$tuall( dis$redited Al)aro>s testi'on( a+out t%e 'ove'ents o) t%e persons involved. .urt%er, *%ile Al)aro testi)ied t%at it *as t%e 2a#da pi$9-up driven +( .ilart t%at led t%e t%ree-ve%i$le $onvo(, < 4%ite $lai'ed it *as t%e Nissan Patrol *it% 8at$%alian on it t%at led t%e $onvo( sin$e %e *ould not %ave let t%e $onvo( in *it%out as$ertainin& t%at 8at$%alian, a resident, *as in it. Se$urit( &uard 4%ite did not, t%ere)ore, provide $orro+oration to Al)aro>s testi'on(.1avvphi1

J052o ')b)*)c)*, t%e se$urit( supervisor at Piton& Daan Su+division testi)ied t%at %e sa* 4e++ around t%e last *ee9 o) 2a( or t%e )irst *ee9 o) June !! to prove %is presen$e in t%e P%ilippines *%en %e $lai'ed to +e in t%e ?nited States. 3e *as 'annin& t%e &uard %ouse at t%e entran$e o) t%e su+division o) Piton& Daan *%en %e )la&&ed do*n a $ar driven +( 4e++. 4e++ said t%at %e *ould see 6ilet S(. Ca+ana$an as9ed %i' )or an ID +ut %e pointed to %is ?nited /. 3o'es sti$9er and said t%at %e resided t%ere. Ca+ana$an replied, %o*ever, t%at Piton& Daan %ad a lo$al sti$9er. Ca+ana$an testi)ied t%at, at t%is point, 4e++ introdu$ed %i'sel) as t%e son o) Con&ress'an 4e++. Still, t%e supervisor insisted on seein& %is ID. 4e++ &rud&in&l( &ave it and a)ter seein& t%e pi$ture and t%e na'e on it, Ca+ana$an returned t%e sa'e and allo*ed 4e++ to pass *it%out +ein& lo&&ed in as t%eir Standard Operatin& Pro$edure re-uired. @ /ut Ca+ana$an:s testi'on( $ould not +e relied on. Alt%ou&% it *as not $o''on )or a se$urit( &uard to $%allen&e a Con&ress'an>s son *it% su$% ve%e'en$e, Ca+ana$an did not lo& t%e in$ident on t%e &uard%ouse +oo9. Nor did %e, $ontrar( to pres$ri+ed pro$edure, re$ord t%e visitor>s entr( into t%e su+division. It did not 'a9e sense t%at Ca+ana$an *as stri$t in t%e 'atter o) seein& 4e++>s ID +ut not in re$ordin& t%e visit. &,4) G)6,o4) used to *or9 as laundr( *o'an )or t%e 4e++s at t%eir %ouse at /. 3o'es Exe$utive "illa&e. S%e testi)ied t%at s%e sa* 4e++ at %is parents> %ouse on t%e 'ornin& o) June 30, !! *%en s%e &ot t%e dirt( $lot%es )ro' t%e roo' t%at %e and t*o +rot%ers o$$upied at a+out =.a.'. S%e sa* %i' a&ain pa$in& t%e )loor at ! a.'. At a+out p.'., 4e++ le)t t%e %ouse in ts%irt and s%orts, passin& t%rou&% a se$ret door near t%e 'aid>s -uarters on t%e *a( out. .inall(, s%e sa* 4e++ at = p.'. o) t%e sa'e da(. ! On $ross-exa'ination, %o*ever, 8aviola $ould not sa( *%at distin&uis%ed June 30, !! )ro' t%e ot%er da(s s%e *as on servi$e at t%e 4e++ %ouse%old as to ena+le %er to distin$tl( re'e'+er, )our (ears later, *%at one o) t%e 4e++ +o(s did and at *%at ti'e. S%e $ould not re'e'+er an( o) t%e details t%at %appened in t%e %ouse%old on t%e ot%er da(s. S%e proved to %ave a sele$tive p%oto&rap%i$ 'e'or( and t%is onl( da'a&ed %er testi'on(. 8aviola tried to $orro+orate Al)aro>:s testi'on( +( $lai'in& t%at on June 30, !! s%e noti$ed +loodstains on 4e++:s t-s%irt. ;0 S%e did not $all t%e attention o) an(+od( in t%e %ouse%old a+out it *%en it *ould %ave +een a point o) $on$ern t%at 4e++ 'a( %ave +een %urt, %en$e t%e +lood. /esides, "i$toria "entoso, t%e 4e++s: %ouse'aid )ro' 2ar$% !@! to 2a( !!;, and S&t. 2i&uel 2u,o#, t%e 4e++s: se$urit( aide in !! , testi)ied t%at 8aviola *or9ed )or t%e 4e++s onl( )ro' Januar( !! to April !! . "entoso )urt%er testi)ied t%at it *as not 8aviola:s dut( to $olle$t t%e $lot%es )ro' t%e ;nd )loor +edroo's, t%is +ein& t%e *or9 o) t%e %ouse'aid $%ar&ed *it% $leanin& t%e roo's. 4%at is 'ore, it *as 'ost unli9el( )or a laundr(*o'an *%o %ad +een t%ere )or onl( )our 'ont%s to $olle$t, as s%e $lai'ed, t%e laundr( )ro' t%e roo's o) %er e'plo(ers and t%eir &ro*n up $%ildren at )our in t%e 'ornin& *%ile t%e( *ere asleep. And it did not 'a9e sense, i) Al)aro>s testi'on( *ere to +e +elieved t%at 4e++, *%o *as so $are)ul and $lever t%at %e $alled /ion& to &o to t%e "i#$onde residen$e at ; a.'. to $lean up t%e eviden$e a&ainst %i' and %is &roup, *ould +rin& %is +loodied s%irt %o'e and put it in t%e %a'per )or laundr(*o'an 8aviola to $olle$t and *as% at = a.'. as *as %er supposed %a+it. Lo4,2) De #,rrer *as a$$used /ion&>s &irl)riend around t%e ti'e t%e "i#$onde 'assa$re too9 pla$e. /irrer testi)ied t%at s%e *as *it% /ion& pla(in& 'a%7on& )ro' t%e evenin& o) June ;!, !! to t%e earl( 'ornin& o) June 30, *%en /ion& &ot a $all at around ; a.'. 0%is pro'pted %i', a$$ordin& to De /irrer, to leave and &o to /.. So'eone sittin& at t%e +a$9seat o) a taxi pi$9ed %i' up. 4%en /ion& returned at < a.'. %e *as%ed o)) *%at loo9ed li9e dried +lood )ro' %is )in&ernails. And %e t%re* a*a( a )oul-s'ellin& %and9er$%ie). S%e also sa* /ion& ta9e out a 9ni)e *it% alu'inu' $over )ro' %is dra*er and %id it in %is steel $a+inet.; 0%e se$urit( &uard at Piton& Daan did not noti$e an( poli$e investi&ator )las%in& a +ad&e to &et into t%e villa&e alt%ou&% /ion& supposedl( $a'e in at t%e un%ol( %our o) t*o in t%e 'ornin&. 3is departure +e)ore < a.'. also re'ained unnoti$ed +( t%e su+division &uards. /esides, i) %e %ad $leaned up t%e $ri'e s$ene s%ortl( a)ter 'idni&%t, *%at *as t%e point o) %is returnin& t%ere on t%e )ollo*in& 'ornin& to dispose o) so'e o) t%e eviden$e in t%e presen$e o) ot%er poli$e investi&ators and on-loo9ersI In )a$t, *%( *ould %e steal valua+le ite's )ro' t%e "i#$onde residen$e on %is return t%ere %ours later i) %e %ad t%e opportunit( to do it earlierI At 'ost, /irrer>s testi'on( onl( esta+lis%ed /ion&>s t%e)t o) $ertain ite's )ro' t%e "i#$onde residen$e and &ross ne&le$t )or )ailin& to 'aintain t%e san$tit( o) t%e $ri'e s$ene +( 'ovin& around and alterin& t%e e))e$ts o) t%e $ri'e. /irrer>s testi'on( )ailed to $onne$t /ion&:s a$ts to 4e++ and t%e ot%er a$$used. L)0ro 9,:co*+e testi)ied a+out %o* deepl( %e *as a))e$ted +( t%e loss o) %er *i)e and t*o dau&%ters. Car'ella spo9e to %i' o) a re7e$ted suitor s%e $alled 5/a&(o,5 +e$ause %e *as a Para,a-ue politi$ian>s son. ?n)ortunatel(, 6auro did not appear $urious enou&% to insist on )indin& out *%o t%e re7e$ted )ello* *as. /esides, %is testi'on( $ontradi$ts t%at o) Al)aro *%o testi)ied t%at Car'ela and 4e++ %ad an on-&oin& relation. Indeed, i) Al)aro *ere to +e +elieved, Car'ela *anted 4e++ to $o'e to %er %ouse around 'idni&%t. S%e even le)t t%e 9it$%en door open so %e $ould enter t%e %ouse. 1. 0%e 'issin& $orro+oration

0%ere is so'et%in& trul( re'ar9a+le a+out t%is $aseC t%e prose$ution>s $ore t%eor( t%at Car'ela and 4e++ %ad +een s*eet%earts, t%at s%e %ad +een un)ait%)ul to %i', and t%at it *as )or t%is reason t%at 4e++ +rou&%t %is )riends to %er %ouse to &an&-rape %er is totall( un$orro+oratedN .or instan$e, nor'all(, i) 4e++, a Con&ress'an>s son, $ourted t%e (oun& Car'ela, t%at *ould +e ne*s a'on& %er $ir$le o) )riends i) not around to*n. /ut, %ere, none o) %er )riends or even t%ose *%o 9ne* eit%er o) t%e' $a'e )or*ard to a))ir' t%is. And i) 4e++ %an&ed around *it% %er, tr(in& to *in %er )avors, %e *ould surel( +e seen *it% %er. And t%is *ould all t%e 'ore +e so i) t%e( %ad +e$o'e s*eet%earts, a relation t%at Al)aro tried to pro7e$t *it% %er testi'on(. /ut, ex$ept )or Al)aro, t%e N/I asset, no one a'on& Car'ela>s )riends or %er )riends> )riends *ould testi)( ever %earin& o) su$% relations%ip or ever seein& t%e' to&et%er in so'e popular %an&outs in Para,a-ue or 2a9ati. Al)aro>s $lai' o) a )ive-%our dra'a is li9e an alien pa&e, rudel( and un$onne$tedl( inserted into 4e++ and Car'ela>s li)e stories or li9e a pie$e o) 7i&sa* pu##le tri''ed to )it into t%e s%ape on t%e +oard +ut does not +elon& +e$ause it $las%es *it% t%e surroundin& pie$es. It %as neit%er ante$edent nor $on$o'itant support in t%e veri)ia+le )a$ts o) t%eir personal %istories. It is -uite unreal. 4%at is 'ore, Al)aro testi)ied t%at s%e sa* Car'ela drive out o) %er %ouse *it% a 'ale passen&er, 2r. O, *%o' Al)aro t%ou&%t t%e *a( it loo9ed *as also Car'ela>s lover. 0%is *as t%e all-i'portant reason 4e++ supposedl( %ad )or *antin& to %ar' %er. A&ain, none o) Car'ela>s relatives, )riends, or people *%o 9ne* %er ever testi)ied a+out t%e existen$e o) 2r.O in %er li)e. No+od( %as $o'e )or*ard to testi)( %avin& ever seen %i' *it% Car'ela. And despite t%e &rueso'e ne*s a+out %er deat% and %o* 2r. O %ad pla(ed a role in it, %e never presented %i'sel) li9e an(one *%o %ad lost a spe$ial )riend nor'all( *ould. O+viousl(, 2r. O did not exist, a 'ere &%ost o) t%e i'a&ination o) Al)aro, t%e *o'an *%o 'ade a livin& in)or'in& on $ri'inals. %ebb;5 ".!. A4,b, A'on& t%e a$$used, 4e++ presented t%e stron&est ali+i. a. 0%e travel preparations 4e++ $lai's t%at in !! %is parents, Senator .reddie 4e++ and %is *i)e, Eli#a+et%, sent t%eir son to t%e ?nited States E?.S.F to learn t%e value o) independen$e, %ard *or9, and 'one(.;; 8loria 4e++, %is aunt, a$$o'panied %i'. Ra7a% 0ours +oo9ed t%eir )li&%t to San .ran$is$o via ?nited Airlines. Jose)ina Nolas$o o) Ra7a% 0ours $on)ir'ed t%at 4e++ and %is aunt used t%eir plane ti$9ets. 4e++ told %is )riends, in$ludin& %is nei&%+or, Jenni)er Claire Ca+rera, and %is +as9et+all +udd(, Joselito Orendain Es$o+ar, o) %is travel plans. 3e even invited t%e' to %is despedida part( on 2ar$% @, !! at .a$es Dis$o alon& 2a9ati Ave. ;3 On 2ar$% @, !! , t%e eve o) %is departure, %e too9 &irl)riend 2ila&ros Castillo to a dinner at /un$%u's at t%e 2a9ati Cine'a S-uare. 3is +as9et+all +udd( Ra)ael Jose *it% 0ina Cal'a, a +lind date arran&ed +( 4e++, 7oined t%e'. 0%e( a)ter*ards *ent to .a$es Dis$o )or 4e++:s despedida part(. A'on& t%ose present *ere %is )riends Paulo Santos and Ja( Orte&a. ;= +. 0%e t*o i''i&ration $%e$9s 0%e )ollo*in& da(, 2ar$% !, !! , 4e++ le)t )or San .ran$is$o, Cali)ornia, *it% %is Aunt 8loria on +oard ?nited Airlines .li&%t @0@.;1 /e)ore +oardin& %is plane, 4e++ passed t%rou&% t%e P%ilippine I''i&ration +oot% at t%e airport to %ave %is passport $leared and sta'ped. I''i&ration O))i$er, .erdinand Sa'pol $%e$9ed 4e++>s visa, sta'ped, and initialed %is passport, and let %i' pass t%rou&%.;B 3e *as listed on t%e ?nited Airlines .li&%t>s Passen&er 2ani)est. ;< On arrival at San .ran$is$o, 4e++ *ent t%rou&% t%e ?.S. I''i&ration *%ere %is entr( into t%at $ountr( *as re$orded. 0%us, t%e ?.S. I''i&ration Naturali#ation Servi$e, $%e$9in& *it% its Non-i''i&rant In)or'ation S(ste', $on)ir'ed 4e++:s entr( into t%e ?.S. on 2ar$% !, !! . 4e++ presented at t%e trial t%e INS Certi)i$ation issued +( t%e ?.S. I''i&ration and Naturali#ation Servi$e,;@ t%e $o'puter-&enerated print-out o) t%e ?S-INS indi$atin& 4e++:s entr( on 2ar$% !, !! ,;! and t%e ?S-INS Certi)i$ation dated Au&ust 3 , !!1, aut%enti$ated +( t%e P%ilippine Depart'ent o) .orei&n A))airs, $orre$tin& an earlier Au&ust 0, !!1 Certi)i$ation.30 $. Details o) ?.S. so7ourn In San .ran$is$o, 4e++ and %is aunt 8loria *ere 'et +( t%e latter>s dau&%ter, 2aria 0eresa Kea'e, *%o +rou&%t t%e' to 8loria>s %ouse in Dal( Cit(, Cali)ornia. Durin& %is sta( *it% %is aunt, 4e++ 'et C%ristop%er Paul 6e&aspi Es&uerra, 8loria>s &randson. In April !! , 4e++, C%ristop%er, and a $ertain Dap%ne Do'in&o *at$%ed t%e $on$ert o) Deelite /and in San .ran$is$o.3 In t%e sa'e 'ont%, Dorot%( 4%eelo$9 and %er )a'il( invited 4e++ to 6a9e 0a%oe to return t%e 4e++s> %ospitalit( *%en s%e *as in t%e P%ilippines.3; In 2a( !! , on invitation o) anot%er aunt, Susan /rott'an, 4e++ 'oved to Ana%ei' 3ills, Cali)ornia. 33 Durin& %is sta( t%ere, %e o$$upied %i'sel) *it% pla(in& +as9et+all on$e or t*i$e a *ee9 *it% Steven Keeler 3= and *or9in& at %is $ousin-inla*>s pest $ontrol $o'pan(.31 4e++ presented t%e $o'pan(>s lo&+oo9 s%o*in& t%e tas9s %e per)or'ed, 3B %is pa($%e$9,3< %is ID, and ot%er e'plo('ent papers. On June =, !! %e applied )or a driver:s li$ense 3@ and *rote t%ree letters to %is )riend Jenni)er Ca+rera.3!

On June ;@, !! , 4e++>s parents visited %i' at Ana%ei' and sta(ed *it% t%e /rott'ans. On t%e sa'e da(, %is )at%er introdu$ed 3onesto Ara&on to %is son *%en %e $a'e to visit.=0 On t%e )ollo*in& da(, June ;!, 4e++, in t%e $o'pan( o) %is )at%er and Ara&on *ent to Riverside, Cali)ornia, to loo9 )or a $ar. 0%e( +ou&%t an 2R; 0o(ota $ar. = 6ater t%at da(, a visitor at t%e /rott'an>s, 6ouis 4%itta$9er, sa* 4e++ loo9in& at t%e plates o) %is ne* $ar. =; 0o prove t%e pur$%ase, 4e++ presented t%e Pu+li$ Re$ords o) Cali)ornia Depart'ent o) 2otor "e%i$le=3 and a $ar plate 56E4 4E//.5== In usin& t%e $ar in t%e ?.S., 4e++ even re$eived tra))i$ $itations.=1 On June 30, !! 4e++, a&ain a$$o'panied +( %is )at%er and Ara&on,=B +ou&%t a +i$($le at Oran&e C($le Center.=< 0%e Center issued 4e++ a re$eipt dated June 30, !! .=@ On Jul( =, !! , Independen$e Da(, t%e 4e++s, t%e /rott'ans, and t%e "a$a )a'il( %ad a la9eside pi$ni$.=! 4e++ sta(ed *it% t%e /rott'ans until 'id Jul( and rented a pla$e )or less t%an a 'ont%. On Au&ust =, !! %e le)t )or 6on&*ood, .lorida, to sta( *it% t%e spouses Ja$9 and Son7a Rodri&ue#.10 0%ere, %e 'et Ar'ando Rodri&ue# *it% *%o' %e spent ti'e, pla(in& +as9et+all on *ee9ends, *at$%in& 'ovies, and pla(in& +illiards.1 In Nove'+er !! , 4e++ 'et per)or'in& artist 8ar( "alen$iano, a )riend o) Ja$9 Rodri&ue#, *%o *as invited )or a dinner at t%e Rodri&ue#>s %ouse. 1; 3e le)t t%e Rodri&ue#>s %o'e in Au&ust !!;, returned to Ana%ei' and sta(ed *it% %is aunt I'elda Pa&aspas. 3e sta(ed t%ere until %e le)t )or t%e P%ilippines on O$to+er ;B, !!;. d. 0%e se$ond i''i&ration $%e$9s As *it% %is trip &oin& to t%e ?.S., 4e++ also *ent t%rou&% +ot% t%e ?.S. and P%ilippine i''i&rations on %is return trip. 0%us, %is departure )ro' t%e ?.S. *as $on)ir'ed +( t%e sa'e $erti)i$ations t%at $on)ir'ed %is entr(.13 .urt%er'ore, a Diplo'ati$ Note o) t%e ?.S. Depart'ent o) State *it% en$losed letter )ro' A$tin& Dire$tor De+ora A. .ar'er o) t%e Re$ords Operations, O))i$e o) Re$ords o) t%e ?S-INS stated t%at t%e Certi)i$ation dated Au&ust 3 , !!1 is a true and a$$urate state'ent. And *%en %e +oarded %is plane, t%e Passen&er 2ani)est o) P%ilippine Airlines .li&%t No. 03,1= $erti)ied +( A&nes 0a+uena11 $on)ir'ed %is return trip. 4%en %e arrived in 2anila, 4e++ a&ain *ent t%rou&% t%e P%ilippine I''i&ration. In )a$t, t%e arrival sta'p and initial on %is passport indi$ated %is return to 2anila on O$to+er ;<, !!;. 0%is *as aut%enti$ated +( Car'elita Alipio, t%e i''i&ration o))i$er *%o pro$essed 4e++>s reentr(.1B ?pon %is return, in O$to+er !!;, Paolo Santos, Joselito Erondain Es$o+ar, and Ra)ael Jose on$e a&ain sa* 4e++ pla(in& +as9et+all at t%e /.:s P%ase III +as9et+all $ourt. e. Ali+i versus positive identi)i$ation 0%e trial $ourt and t%e Court o) Appeals are one in re7e$tin& as *ea9 4e++>s ali+i. 0%eir reason is uni)or'C 4e++>s ali+i $annot stand a&ainst Al)aro>s positive identi)i$ation o) %i' as t%e rapist and 9iller o) Car'ela and, apparentl(, t%e 9iller as *ell o) %er 'ot%er and (oun&er sister. /e$ause o) t%is, to t%e lo*er $ourts, 4e++>s denial and ali+i *ere )a+ri$ated. /ut not all denials and ali+is s%ould +e re&arded as )a+ri$ated. Indeed, i) t%e a$$used is trul( inno$ent, %e $an %ave no ot%er de)ense +ut denial and ali+i. So %o* $an su$% a$$used penetrate a 'ind t%at %as +een 'ade $(ni$al +( t%e rule drilled into %is %ead t%at a de)ense o) ali+i is a %an&'an>s noose in t%e )a$e o) a *itness positivel( s*earin&, 5I sa* %i' do it.5I 2ost 7ud&es +elieve t%at su$% assertion auto'ati$all( doo's an ali+i *%i$% is so eas( to )a+ri$ate. 0%is -ui$9 stereot(pe t%in9in&, %o*ever, is distressin&. .or %o* else $an t%e trut% t%at t%e a$$used is reall( inno$ent %ave an( $%an$e o) prevailin& over su$% a stone$ast tenetI 0%ere is onl( one *a(. A 7ud&e 'ust 9eep an open 'ind. 3e 'ust &uard a&ainst slippin& into %ast( $on$lusion, o)ten arisin& )ro' a desire to -ui$9l( )inis% t%e 7o+ o) de$idin& a $ase. A positive de$laration )ro' a *itness t%at %e sa* t%e a$$used $o''it t%e $ri'e s%ould not auto'ati$all( $an$el out t%e a$$used>s $lai' t%at %e did not do it. A l(in& *itness $an 'a9e as positive an identi)i$ation as a trut%)ul *itness $an. 0%e l(in& *itness $an also sa( as )ort%ri&%tl( and une-uivo$all(, 53e did itN5 *it%out +lin9in& an e(e. Rat%er, to +e a$$epta+le, t%e positive identi)i$ation 'ust 'eet at least t*o $riteriaC .irst, t%e positive identi)i$ation o) t%e o))ender 'ust $o'e )ro' a $redi+le *itness. S%e is $redi+le *%o $an +e trusted to tell t%e trut%, usuall( +ased on past experien$es *it% %er. 3er *ord %as, to one *%o 9no*s %er, its *ei&%t in &old. And se$ond, t%e *itness> stor( o) *%at s%e personall( sa* 'ust +e +elieva+le, not in%erentl( $ontrived. A *itness *%o testi)ies a+out so'et%in& s%e never sa* runs into in$onsisten$ies and 'a9es +e*ilderin& $lai's. 3ere, as alread( )ull( dis$ussed a+ove, Al)aro and %er testi'on( )ail to 'eet t%e a+ove $riteria. S%e did not s%o* up at t%e N/I as a spontaneous *itness +ot%ered +( %er $ons$ien$e. S%e %ad +een %an&in& around t%at a&en$( )or so'eti'e as a stool pi&eon, one paid )or 'ixin& up *it% $ri'inals and s-uealin& on t%e'. Poli$e assets are o)ten $ri'inals t%e'selves. S%e *as t%e prose$ution>s *orst possi+le $%oi$e )or a *itness. Indeed, %er superior testi)ied t%at s%e volunteered to pla( t%e role o) a *itness in t%e "i#$onde 9illin&s *%en s%e $ould not produ$e a 'an s%e pro'ised to t%e N/I. And, alt%ou&% %er testi'on( in$luded details, Al)aro %ad prior a$$ess to t%e details t%at t%e investi&ators 9ne* o) t%e $ase. S%e too9 advanta&e o) %er )a'iliarit( *it% t%ese details to in$lude in %er testi'on( t%e $learl( in$o'pati+le a$t o) 4e++ %urlin& a stone at t%e )ront door &lass )ra'es even *%en t%e( *ere tr(in& to slip a*a( -uietl(P7ust so s%e $an a$$o''odate t%is $ri'e

s$ene )eature. S%e also %ad "entura ru''a&in& a +a& on t%e dinin& ta+le )or a )ront door 9e( t%at no+od( needed 7ust to explain t%e p%(si$al eviden$e o) t%at +a& and its s$attered $ontents. And s%e %ad "entura $li'+in& t%e $ar>s %ood, ris9in& +ein& seen in su$% an a*9*ard position, *%en t%e( did not need to dar9en t%e &ara&e to )or$e open t%e )ront doorP7ust so to explain t%e dar9ened li&%t and )oot prints on t%e $ar %ood. .urt%er, %er testi'on( *as in%erentl( in$redi+le. 3er stor( t%at 8at$%alian, .ernande#, Estrada, Rodri&ue#, and .ilart a&reed to ta9e t%eir turns rapin& Car'ela is in$on&ruent *it% t%eir indi))eren$e, exe'pli)ied +( re'ainin& outside t%e %ouse, 'illin& under a street li&%t, visi+le to nei&%+ors and passers+(, and s%o*in& no interest in t%e develop'ents inside t%e %ouse, li9e i) it *as t%eir turn to rape Car'ela. Al)aro>s stor( t%at s%e a&reed to serve as 4e++>s 'essen&er to Car'ela, usin& up %er &as, and sta(in& *it% %i' till t%e +i#arre end *%en t%e( *ere pra$ti$all( stran&ers, also taxes in$redulit(. 0o provide +asis )or 4e++>s outra&e, Al)aro said t%at s%e )ollo*ed Car'ela to t%e 'ain road to *at$% %er let o)) a lover on A&uirre Avenue. And, inexpli$a+l(, alt%ou&% Al)aro %ad onl( pla(ed t%e role o) 'essen&er, s%e $lai'ed leadin& 4e++, 6e7ano, and "entura into t%e %ouse to &an&-rape Car'ella, as i) Al)aro *as esta+lis%in& a reason )or later on testi)(in& on personal 9no*led&e. 3er s*in& )ro' an e'otion o) )ear *%en a *o'an *o9e up to t%eir presen$e in t%e %ouse and o) a+solute $oura&e *%en s%e nonet%eless returned to +e$o'e t%e lone *itness to a &ri' s$ene is also -uite inexpli$a+le. ?lti'atel(, Al)aro>s -ualit( as a *itness and %er in$onsistent, i) not in%erentl( un+elieva+le, testi'on( $annot +e t%e positive identi)i$ation t%at 7urispruden$e a$9no*led&es as su))i$ient to 7ettison a denial and an ali+i. -. A +oc0me*2e+ )4,b, 0o esta+lis% ali+i, t%e a$$used 'ust prove +( positive, $lear, and satis)a$tor( eviden$e 1< t%at EaF %e *as present at anot%er pla$e at t%e ti'e o) t%e perpetration o) t%e $ri'e, and E+F t%at it *as p%(si$all( i'possi+le )or %i' to +e at t%e s$ene o) t%e $ri'e. 1@ 0%e $ourts +elo* %eld t%at, despite %is eviden$e, 4e++ *as a$tuall( in Para,a-ue *%en t%e "i#$onde 9illin&s too9 pla$eA %e *as not in t%e ?.S. )ro' 2ar$% !, !! to O$to+er ;<, !!;A and i) %e did leave on 2ar$% !, !! , %e a$tuall( returned +e)ore June ;!, !! , $o''itted t%e $ri'e, erased t%e )a$t o) %is return to t%e P%ilippines )ro' t%e re$ords o) t%e ?.S. and P%ilippine I''i&rations, s'u&&led %i'sel) out o) t%e P%ilippines and into t%e ?.S., and returned t%e nor'al *a( on O$to+er ;<, !!;. /ut t%is rulin& pra$ti$all( 'a9es t%e deat% o) 4e++ and %is passa&e into t%e next li)e t%e onl( a$$epta+le ali+i in t%e P%ilippines. Courts 'ust a+andon t%is un7ust and in%u'an paradi&'. I) one is $(ni$al a+out t%e P%ilippine s(ste', %e $ould pro+a+l( $lai' t%at 4e++, *it% %is )at%er>s $onne$tions, $an arran&e )or t%e lo$al i''i&ration to put a 2ar$% !, !! departure sta'p on %is passport and an O$to+er ;<, !!; arrival sta'p on t%e sa'e. /ut t%is is pure spe$ulation sin$e t%ere %ad +een no indi$ation t%at su$% arran&e'ent *as 'ade. /esides, %o* $ould 4e++ )ix a )orei&n airlines> passen&er 'ani)est, o))i$iall( )iled in t%e P%ilippines and at t%e airport in t%e ?.S. t%at %ad %is na'e on t%e'I 3o* $ould 4e++ )ix *it% t%e ?.S. I''i&ration>s re$ord s(ste' t%ose t*o dates in its re$ord o) %is travels as *ell as t%e dates *%en %e supposedl( departed in se$ret )ro' t%e ?.S. to $o''it t%e $ri'e in t%e P%ilippines and t%en return t%ereI No one %as $o'e up *it% a lo&i$al and plausi+le ans*er to t%ese -uestions. 0%e Court o) Appeals re7e$ted t%e eviden$e o) 4e++>s passport sin$e %e did not leave t%e ori&inal to +e atta$%ed to t%e re$ord. /ut, *%ile t%e +est eviden$e o) a do$u'ent is t%e ori&inal, t%is 'eans t%at t%e sa'e is ex%i+ited in $ourt )or t%e adverse part( to exa'ine and )or t%e 7ud&e to see. As Court o) Appeals Justi$e 0a&le said in %is dissent,1! t%e pra$ti$e *%en a part( does not *ant to leave an i'portant do$u'ent *it% t%e trial $ourt is to %ave a p%oto$op( o) it 'ar9ed as ex%i+it and stipulated a'on& t%e parties as a )ait%)ul reprodu$tion o) t%e ori&inal. Stipulations in t%e $ourse o) trial are +indin& on t%e parties and on t%e $ourt. 0%e ?.S. I''i&ration $erti)i$ation and t%e $o'puter print-out o) 4e++>s arrival in and departure )ro' t%at $ountr( *ere aut%enti$ated +( no less t%an t%e O))i$e o) t%e ?.S. Attorne( 8eneral and t%e State Depart'ent. Still t%e Court o) Appeals re)used to a$$ept t%ese do$u'ents )or t%e reason t%at 4e++ )ailed to present in $ourt t%e i''i&ration o))i$ial *%o prepared t%e sa'e. /ut t%is *as unne$essar(. 4e++>s passport is a do$u'ent issued +( t%e P%ilippine &overn'ent, *%i$% under international pra$ti$e, is t%e o))i$ial re$ord o) travels o) t%e $iti#en to *%o' it is issued. 0%e entries in t%at passport are presu'ed true.B0 0%e ?.S. I''i&ration $erti)i$ation and $o'puter print-out, t%e o))i$ial $erti)i$ations o) *%i$% %ave +een aut%enti$ated +( t%e P%ilippine Depart'ent o) .orei&n A))airs, 'erel( validated t%e arrival and departure sta'ps o) t%e ?.S. I''i&ration o))i$e on 4e++>s passport. 0%e( %ave t%e sa'e evidentiar( value. 0%e o))i$ers *%o issued t%ese $erti)i$ations need not +e presented in $ourt to testi)( on t%e'. 0%eir trust*ort%iness arises )ro' t%e sense o) o))i$ial dut( and t%e penalt( atta$%ed to a +rea$%ed dut(, in t%e routine and disinterested ori&in o) su$% state'ent and in t%e pu+li$it( o) t%e re$ord. B 0%e Court o) Appeals o) $ourse 'a9es $apital o) t%e )a$t t%at an earlier $erti)i$ation )ro' t%e ?.S. I''i&ration o))i$e said t%at it %ad no re$ord o) 4e++ enterin& t%e ?.S. /ut t%at erroneous )irst $erti)i$ation *as a'pl( explained +( t%e ?.S. 8overn'ent and Court o) Appeals Justi$e 0a&le stated it in %is dissentin& opinion, t%usC 4%ile it is true t%at an earlier Certi)i$ation *as issued +( t%e ?.S. INS on Au&ust B, !!1 )indin& 5no eviden$e o) la*)ul ad'ission o) 4e++,5 t%is *as alread( $lari)ied and dee'ed erroneous +( no less t%an t%e ?S INS O))i$ials. As explained +( *itness 6eo 3errera-6i', Consul and Se$ond Se$retar( o) t%e P%ilippine E'+ass( in 4as%in&ton D.C., said Certi)i$ation did not pass t%rou&% proper diplo'ati$ $%annels and *as o+tained in violation o) t%e rules on proto$ol and standard pro$edure &overnin& su$% re-uest.

0%e initial re-uest *as 'erel( initiated +( /ID Co''issioner "er$eles *%o dire$tl( $o''uni$ated *it% t%e P%ilippine Consulate in San .ran$is$o, ?SA, +(passin& t%e Se$retar( o) .orei&n A))airs *%i$% is t%e proper proto$ol pro$edure. 2r. Steven /u$%er, t%e a$tin& C%ie) o) t%e Re$ords Servi$es /oard o) ?S-INS 4as%in&ton D.C. in %is letter addressed to P%ilip Ant*eiler, P%ilippine Des9 O))i$er, State Depart'ent, de$lared t%e earlier Certi)i$ation as in$orre$t and erroneous as it *as 5not ex%austive and did not re)le$t all availa+le in)or'ation.5 Also, Ri$%ard 6. 3u)), Co-Dire$tor o) t%e O))i$e o) In)or'ation and priva$(, ?S Depart'ent o) Justi$e, in response to t%e appeal raised +( Consul 8eneral 0eresita ". 2ar#an, explained t%at 5t%e INS nor'all( does not 'aintain re$ords on individuals *%o are enterin& t%e $ountr( as visitors rat%er t%an as i''i&rantsC and t%at a notation $on$ernin& t%e entr( o) a visitor 'a( +e 'ade at t%e Noni''i&rant In)or'ation s(ste'. Sin$e appellant 4e++ entered t%e ?.S. on a 'ere tourist visa, o+viousl(, t%e initial sear$% $ould not %ave produ$ed t%e desired result inas'u$% as t%e data +ase t%at *as loo9ed into $ontained entries o) t%e na'es o) I22I8RAN0S and not t%at o) NON-I22I8RAN0 visitors o) t%e ?.S..B; 0%e trial $ourt and t%e Court o) Appeals expressed 'ar9ed $(ni$is' over t%e a$$ura$( o) travel do$u'ents li9e t%e passport as *ell as t%e do'esti$ and )orei&n re$ords o) departures and arrivals )ro' airports. 0%e( $lai' t%at it *ould not %ave +een i'possi+le )or 4e++ to se$retl( return to t%e P%ilippines a)ter %e supposedl( le)t it on 2ar$% !, !! , $o''it t%e $ri'e, &o +a$9 to t%e ?.S., and openl( return to t%e P%ilippines a&ain on O$to+er ;B, !!;. 0ravel +et*een t%e ?.S. and t%e P%ilippines, said t%e lo*er $ourts too9 onl( a+out t*elve to )ourteen %ours. I) t%e Court *ere to su+s$ri+e to t%is extre'el( s9epti$al vie*, it 'i&%t as *ell tear t%e rules o) eviden$e out o) t%e la* +oo9s and re&ard suspi$ions, sur'ises, or spe$ulations as reasons )or i'pea$%in& eviden$e. It is not t%at o))i$ial re$ords, *%i$% $arr( t%e presu'ption o) trut% o) *%at t%e( state, are i''une to atta$9. 0%e( are not. 0%at presu'ption $an +e over$o'e +( eviden$e. 3ere, %o*ever, t%e prose$ution did not +ot%er to present eviden$e to i'pea$% t%e entries in 4e++>s passport and t%e $erti)i$ations o) t%e P%ilippine and ?.S.> i''i&ration servi$es re&ardin& %is travel to t%e ?.S. and +a$9. 0%e prose$ution>s re+uttal eviden$e is t%e )ear o) t%e un9no*n t%at it planted in t%e lo*er $ourt>s 'inds. <. E))e$t o) 4e++>s ali+i to ot%ers 4e++>s do$u'ented ali+i alto&et%er i'pea$%es Al)aro:s testi'on(, not onl( *it% respe$t to %i', +ut also *it% respe$t to 6e7ano, Estrada, .ernande#, 8at$%alian, Rodri&ue#, and /ion&. .or, i) t%e Court a$$epts t%e proposition t%at 4e++ *as in t%e ?.S. *%en t%e $ri'e too9 pla$e, Al)aro>s testi'on( *ill not %old to&et%er. 4e++>s parti$ipation is t%e an$%or o) Al)aro>s stor(. 4it%out it, t%e eviden$e a&ainst t%e ot%ers 'ust ne$essaril( )all. CONC6?SION In our $ri'inal 7usti$e s(ste', *%at is i'portant is, not *%et%er t%e $ourt entertains dou+ts a+out t%e inno$en$e o) t%e a$$used sin$e an open 'ind is *illin& to explore all possi+ilities, +ut *%et%er it entertains a reasona+le, lin&erin& dou+t as to %is &uilt. .or, it *ould +e a serious 'ista9e to send an inno$ent 'an to 7ail *%ere su$% 9ind o) dou+t %an&s on to one>s inner +ein&, li9e a pie$e o) 'eat lod&ed i''ova+le +et*een teet%. 4ill t%e Court send t%e a$$used to spend t%e rest o) t%eir lives in prison on t%e testi'on( o) an N/I asset *%o proposed to %er %andlers t%at s%e ta9e t%e role o) t%e *itness to t%e "i#$onde 'assa$re t%at s%e $ould not produ$eI 43ERE.ORE, t%e Court RE"ERSES and SE0S ASIDE t%e De$ision dated De$e'+er 1, ;001 and Resolution dated Januar( ;B, ;00< o) t%e Court o) Appeals in CA-8.R. CR-3.C. 0033B and ACL?I0S a$$used-appellants 3u+ert Je))re( P. 4e++, Antonio 6e7ano, 2i$%ael A. 8at$%alian, 3ospi$io .ernande#, 2i&uel Rodri&ue#, Peter Estrada and 8erardo /ion& o) t%e $ri'es o) *%i$% t%e( *ere $%ar&ed )or )ailure o) t%e prose$ution to prove t%eir &uilt +e(ond reasona+le dou+t. 0%e( are ordered i''ediatel( RE6EASED )ro' detention unless t%e( are $on)ined )or anot%er la*)ul $ause. 6et a $op( o) t%is De$ision +e )urnis%ed t%e Dire$tor, /ureau o) Corre$tions, 2untinlupa Cit( )or i''ediate i'ple'entation. 0%e Dire$tor o) t%e /ureau o) Corre$tions is DIREC0ED to report t%e a$tion %e %as ta9en to t%is Court *it%in )ive da(s )ro' re$eipt o) t%is De$ision. SO ORDERED. RO#ERTO A. A#AD Asso$iate Justi$e