REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
                                                                                       
REGIONAL TRIAL COURT
                                                                              7th J
udicial Region
                                                                                     BRANCH 7
                                                                                      Cebu City

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES,
                                           Plaintiff,

                 - versus -                                                                  CRIM CASES NOS CBU-45303
                                                                                                                                      and -45304

FRANCISCO JUAN LARRANAGA @ "PACO";                   FOR:   KIDNAPPING AND SERIOUS
JOSMAN AZNAR, ROWEN ADLAWAN @ WESLEY;                           ILLEGAL DETENTION
ALBERTO CANO @ "PAHAK"; ARIEL
BALANSAG; DAVIDSON VALIENTE RUSIA @
"DAVID FLORIDO" @ "TISOY TAGALOG"; 
JAMES ANTHONY UY @ "WANGWANG" UY
AND JAMS ANDREW UY @ "MM" UY,
                                           Accused.
x - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -/
                                                                                T R A N S C R I P T
                                                                                            of the
                                                                 stenographic notes taken during the
                                                                 hearing of the above-entitled case
                                                                 before HON. MARTIN A. OCAMPO, Presi-
                                                                 ding Judge of Branch 7, Regional Trial
                                                                 Court of Cebu City on August 19, 1998 at
                                                                 2:15 o'clock in the afternoon.

Present:
                                                                 HON. MARTIN A. OCAMPO
                                                                 Presiding Judge

ASSISTED BY:
                                                                  MS. FARAH T. ABANGAN
                                                                  Court Stenographer

                                                                   MS. LUCIA C. BAJARIAS
                                                                   Court Interpreter

APPEARANCE:
                                                                   PROSECUTOR PRIMO C. MIRO
                                                                   PROSECUTOR CESAR ESTRERA
                                                                   PROSECUTOR RAMON JOSE DUYONGCO
                                                                   PROSECUTOR TERESITA GALANIDA
                                                                   PROSECUTOR REYNALDO ACOSTA
                                                                   (Appearing for the State)

                                                                   ATTY. HONORATO HERMOSISIMA
                                                                   ATTY. BIENVENIDO SANIEL
                                                                   (Appearing as private prosecutors)

PAGE 2
                                                                   ATTY. RAYMUNDO ARMOVIT
                                                                   ATTY. RAMON TELERON
                                                                   (Appearing for accused Larranaga)

                                                                    ATTY. EDGAR GICA
                                                                    ATTY. FIDEL GONZALES
                                                                    (Appearing for accused Aznar)

                                                                     ATTY. ALFONSO DELA CERNA
                                                                     (Counsel for accused Adlawan, Cano
                                                                      and Balansag)

                                                                      ATTY. LORENZO PAYLADO
                                                                      (Appearing for accused Uy brothers)

                                                                    ATTY. FERDINAND SAORNIDO
                                                                    (Counsel for accused Rusia)
                                                                    

                                                                      

COURT:   (TO COURT INTERPRETER)
          Call the cases.

COURT INTERPRETER: (CALLING THE CASES)
            CRIMINAL CASES NOS. CBU-45303 AND 45304 PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES PLAINTIFF VERSUS FRANCISCO JUAN LARRANAGA "PACO"; JOSMAN AZNAR; ROWEN ADLAWAN @ "WESLEY"; ALBERTO CANO @ "PAHAK"; ARIEL BALANSAG; DAVIDSON VALIENTE RUSIA @ "DAVID FLORIDO"@ "TISOY TAGALOG"; JAMES ANTHONY UY @ "WANGWANG"; AND JAMES ANDREW UY @ "MM" UY, ACCUSED FOR KIDNAPPING AND SERIOUS ILLEGAL DETENTION.

PROS. MIRO:
          We respectfully appear for the state, Your Honor.

ATTY. HERMOSISIMA:
          Appearing for the private prosecution, Your Honor, in collaboration with Atty. Saniel.

ATTY. TELERON:
          For accused Larranaga, Your Honor, in collaboration with Atty. Rafael Armovit. 

ATTY. GICA:
          Appearing for accused Aznar, Your Honor, in collaboration with Atty. Fidel Gonzales.

PAGE 3
ATTY. DELA CERNA: 
          For accused Adlawan, Cano and Balansag, Your Honor. 

COURT: 
          Are you ready to conduct cross-examination? 

ATTY. GICA: 
          Your
Honor please, there are other counsels representing some accused, who are not yet present. Like for example, Mr. Rusia who is represented by Atty. Saornido is not around, he is an accused. The counsel of the Uy brothers,
Your Honor. 

COURT: 
          Where is Atty. Saornido? 

ATTY. GICA: 
          It might be a reversible error without the
assistance of counsel, Your Honor. 

COURT: 
          But we can designate a counsel de oficio for the accused. 

ATTY. GICA: 
          Atty. Paylado is here, Your Honor. 

ATTY. PAYLADO: 
         
Appearing for accused Uy brothers, Your Honor. 

COURT: 
          Alright I designate Atty. Paylado as - - - 

ATTY. GICA: 
         
He is already representing the Uy brothers, Your Honor. 

COURT: 
         
I can appoint him to represent fellow accused. We will not hold this trial because Saornido

PAGE 4
COURT:   (CONTINUATION) 
          does not appear. What do you think I am? I an not stupid. 

ATTY. GICA: 
          We are just trying to- - - 

COURT: 
          Because one (1) lawyer chooses not to appear I will suspend the trial? We will go ahead. I appoint Atty. Paylado as de oficio counsel for Rusia. We have to go ahead. 

ATTY. GICA: 
         
I don't know, Your Honor- - - 

COURT: 
          You cannot do anything because the Court can appoint a panel or a defense attorney as stated in the Order of this Court, in case of the absence of a lawyer- - - We cannot cancel the hearing because just one (1) lawyer chooses not to appear. 

ATTY. GICA: 
          But that is the Rules, Your Honor. I'm just invoking- - - 

COURT: 
          Well, I will hold him in contempt. I will hold this Saornido in contempt but I can appoint
counsel de oficio in the meantime so that the hearing can go on. 

ATTY. GICA: 
          That is, Your Honor, if the accused Uy would agree and also accused Rusia would agree­ - 

COURT: 
         
They does not have to agree. I'm appointing him as de oficio counsel- - 

ATTY. GICA: 
          Under the Rules, Your Honor, it should be with the consent and upon his choice, Your Honor.

PAGE 5
ATTY. GICA:     (CONTINUATION) 
of the accused. 

COURT: 
         
Look, there is an Order that in case of absence of a defense counsel, the Court may appoint a
lawyer from the defense Panel to represent that accused and the accused Rusia is an accused. 

ATTY. GICA: 
          Yes. 

COURT: 
          Why Saornido did not appear? 

PROS. DUYONGCO: 
          He maybe coming, Your Honor. So. in the meantime- - - 

C0URT: I am beginning to get suspicious again. Last time it was the PAO counsel who refused to appear for him. Ngayon, ito naman si Saornido. (Now, it is this Saordino.)

PROS. DUYONGCO: 
          Just like yesterday, Your Honor, he came in late. So, he will be coming also, Your Honor. 

COURT: 
          You cannot help by becoming suspicious. There seems to be a concerted effort to delay this proceeding of this trial. 

ATTY. GICA: 
          May we raise some more points to take, I mean, this is an opportunity, Your Honor- - - 

COURT: 
          You have to raise some points? 

ATTY. GICA: 
         
This is an opportunity for us to raise some points because we believe there are important

(NOTE: For the benefit of our foreign readers, blue wordings is our translation from Tagalog (Philippine language) to English ...the webmaster).

PAGE 6
ATTY.  GICA:      (CONTINUATION) 
points. We believe, we respect this Honor
able Court as well as the Presiding Judge, especially me personally, Your Honor, that the Honorable Presiding Judge is a recipient of an International award for Human Rights. Now, Your Honor, I have observed that the accused are bound together again in handcuffs, Your Honor. May we request, Your Honor- - - 

COURT: 
         
I directed that they be bound only two by two. 

ATTY.  GICA: 
          Your Honor please, for humanitarian reasons, and with the kind indulgence of this Honorable Court, under pain, Your Honor, and it is suppose to be our responsibility also, Your Honor, the demeanor of our clients inside the courtroom during the trial and in my word of honor as well as the word of honor of the other defense counsels, Your Honor, we will warrant this Honorable Court that none of the accused in the accused bench, Your Honor, would make any untoward gestures against any prosecution witness, Your Honor, and we will request- - - 

COURT: 
          What is wrong if they are bound together two by two? There is no- - - 

ATTY. GICA: 
          They are not yet convicts, Your Honor. They are still suspects. They are still presumed to be innocent. 

COURT: 
          They are suspects, alright. But they are suspects in a non-bailable offense. 

ATTY. GICA: Yes. 
         
But the shotguns around, Your Honor- - - 

COURT: 
          Your Motion is denied. What is your next
motion?

PAGE 7
ATTY. GICA: 
          May we ask for a reconsideration, Your Honor? 

COURT: 
          Denied. 

ATTY. GICA: 
          Thank you, Your Honor. 

COURT: 
          What is your next motion? 

ATTY. GICA: 
          Our next motion, Your Honor, is we want to clarify matters raised yesterday by City Prosecutor Galanida especially in the accusations that this representation as counsel for accused Josman Aznar, Your Honor, made some misleading quotations regarding the inclusion of the crime of Theft as one of the crimes listed under the judicial authority that we have cited to this Honorable Court as one involving moral torpitude. 

PROS. GALANIDA: 
          The case involving People vs. Barsa and Isada to be particular about it. 

ATTY. GICA: 
      We contended, Your Honor- - - 

COURT: 
          Wait a minute, Panero (my fellow lawyer) Gica, I think that requires research and study. 

ATTY. GICA: 
          We have. 

COURT: 
          That is a written Decision. Now can I determine who is correct between you when I have to read that Decision myself. I cannot do that now. You could submit a written Manifestation.

(NOTE: For the benefit of our foreign readers, blue wordings is our translation from Tagalog (Philippine language) to English ...the webmaster).

PAGE 8
COURT:   (CONTINUATION)

          or Memorandum but let us not discuss that case now here. We will have to conduct a trial. We are not suppose to engage a dilatory actuations. 

ATTY.  GICA: 
          Because there was an invitation, Your Honor- -  

COURT: 
          Alright, I am cutting it short. You want to discuss it, discuss it by means of a written Manifestation. 

ATTY. GICA: 
          Thank you, Your Honor. We will do that, Your Honor. 

COURT: 
          Not here because in the first place this is a trial. This is not a research room. Please, what is your next motion? 

ATTY. GICA: 
          Our next motion, Your Honor, again we will subscribe to the suggestion of the Court that we will raise it under a written pleading, Your Honor, regarding the applicability as cited by this Honorable Court in its latest Order issued yesterday to each and every lawyer, prosecution as well as the defense, Your Honor, regarding the applicability of Rule 116, Section 3, regarding the reception of evidence by the prosecution in the event that an acussed pleads guilty to the offense charged in the information. 

COURT: 
         
Yes, that is what the Rules says that the Court shall require the prosecution to prove the guilt of the accused and the degree of his culpability. What are you saying now, that does not apply?

PAGE 9
ATTY. GICA: 

          That does not apply, Your Honor, in the case of Rusia because Rusia, Your Honor, did not enter a plea of guilt at the inception during arraignment, Your Honor. Actually he pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned sometimes in July of this year, Your Honor. And then later on when he was presented after the prosecution filed a Motion to Discharge him as an accused because they want to utilize him as a state witness, he was presented on the witness stand even before other witnesses represented in order to support that Motion and even before this Honorable Court issued the Order that the Discharge Motion shall be hold or deferred in the meantime. 

COURT: 
          Is that not substantially what happened he changed of his plea of not guilty to guilty in effect which he can do, including any of these accused here can do if they want to. 

ATTY.  GICA: 
          It would not because if that is the case, Your Honor, there should always be a rearraignment. 

COURT: 
          Re-arraignment? 

ATTY.  GICA: 
          Yes. Because that is a change of plea from not guilty to guilty. So, naturally, Your Honor, if we have to follow strictly the provisions of the Rules, then there should be a re-arraignment. They should be re-arraigned and then ask again whether- - -  

COURT: 
          So, your position is 116- - - 

ATTY. GICA: 
          Is not applicable to the- - -

PAGE 10
COURT: 
          What do you- - - - 

ATTY. GICA: 
          So as to kill the Motion of Atty. Teleron, Your Honor. 

COURT: 
          So, what do you propose the Court to do now,
to sentence him already or to convict him? 

ATTY. GICA: 
          To consider the Motion of Atty. Teleron, Your Honor, regarding his request to this Honorable Court inasmuch as there was a spontaneous and done in open court admission of guilt for the crime of Rape by one of the principal accused in these cases who appears to be the most guilty, Your Honor, at this point in time, then the proper penalty should be imposed. This Honorable Court should consider that Motion, Your Honor. 

COURT: That I should convict him already. That is your position. 

ATTY. GICA: 
          Our position is for the Court to consider the Motion not necessarily to grant him- - - 

COURT: 
         
What do you mean to consider? We will cancel the trial and I will think it over? 

ATTY. GICA: 
          I believe so, Your Honor. That would be the most appropriate thing to do. 

COURT: 
          We will not cancel any trial.

PAGE 11
ATTY. GICA: 
         
We will submit to the Honorable Court.  

COURT: 
         
I am just asking you, e, ano ang gusto ninyong gawin ko ngayon? (So, what do you want me to do now?) You want me to convict him? What is your position? Basta (Just) consider- consider ... I considered it already. What do want me to do? Convict him now? 

ATTY. GICA: 
         
Yes, we are actually, Your Honor, adopting a pro position to the Motion of Atty. Teleron. 

COURT: 
          That is why, what do you went the Court to
do now? I shall issue an Order convicting him? 

ATTY. GICA: 
          I believe so, Your Honor. 

COURT: 
          Let us hear from the prosecution. 

ATTY. GICA: 
          Thank you, Your Honor. 

COURT: 
          Give them a chance to be heard. 

ATTY. GICA: 
          That's right-- 

ATTY. SANIEL: 
          May I say something, Your Honor? 

COURT: 
          Yes.

(NOTE: For the benefit of our foreign readers, blue wordings is our translation from Tagalog (Philippine language) to English ...the webmaster).

PAGE 12
ATTY. SANIEL: 
         
The Information in these cases is very clear- the charge in the Information is for Kidnapping and Serious Illegal Detention. If Rape is mentioned in the Information it is because Rape is considered to be a qualifying aggravating circumstance under the law. That is why when Rape is committed on the occasion of Kidnapping, the maximum penalty shall be imposed. That's why the allegation of Rape in the Information is an allegation of a qualifying aggravating circumstance. 

COURT: 
          I want to know what is your Comment to his proposal that I convict Rusia now. Shall I do so or not? 

ATTY. SANIEL: 
          He cannot be convicted of Rape, Your Honor, because that is not the charge in the Information. The charge is for Kidnapping and Serious illegal Detention. Therefore he cannot be convicted of Rape. 

COURT: 
          But do you want me to convict him of Rape only? 

ATTY. SANIEL: 
          I
t cannot be. 

COURT: 
          Or you want me to convict him of the entire Information? 

ATTY. GICA: 
          Of Rape, Your Honor. 

COURT: 
          Rape only? Puede ba yon, (Can that be done,)  rape only? 

ATTY. SANIEL: 
         
That cannot be. That's why we maintain, Your Honor, that accused Rusia cannot be- - -  

(NOTE: For the benefit of our foreign readers, blue wordings is our translation from Tagalog (Philippine language) to English ...the webmaster).  

PAGE 13
COURT: 

          In fact, the
Information is Kidnapping and Serious Illegal Detention. 

ATTY. SANIEL: 
          The allegation of Rape is a qualifying aggravating circumstance. Under which if the accused is- - - 

COURT: 
          So, he is charged of Kidnapping. And you
want me to convict his of Rape. Baka naman mini-mislead na naman ako. (Maybe you are again misleading me.)

ATTY. TELERON: 
          Your Honor please, the nature of the charge is determined from the allegations in the Information and never by the caption of the
Information. 

COURT: 
         
Well, this Rusia is accused of kidnapping not only rape and then this Rule that you have cited it says he should be allowed to present evidence of his defense. 

ATTY. GICA: 
          Sec. 3, Rule 116- - - 

COURT:
          Wala
pa.
(None yet.) Did we hear his defense already? Assuming that there is no need for the prosecution to prove his guilt, he has not yet even finished testifying and you want me to convict him already. Baka gusto naman ninyo akong mabobola na naman. (Maybe you what to fool me again.) (Hindi pa tapos itong testimony nong tao (It is not yet finished, the testimony of the person) you want me to convict him. You do not know if I may, he will say because of your cross-examination he might recant. 0, Papano alam ba natin kung ano ang  sasabihin niya hindi pa naman tapos (So, how do we know what he will say, he has not finished testifying yet)  and you want me to convict him already? 0, ano, ipabilanggo na natin? (So, what, you want us to jail him already?)

ATTY. GICA: 
      That is the nature- - - 

(NOTE: For the benefit of our foreign readers, blue wordings is our translation from Tagalog (Philippine language) to English ...the webmaster).

PAGE 14
COURT: 
          You don't care if I made a mistake or not but I care. You want me to just follow your- 

ATTY. GICA: 
          No, Your Honor. Actually, Your Honor, everybody cares if anyone of us- - - - we are all officers of the Court. 

COURT: 
          That's why we are asking you hindi pa tapos yong testimony niya (his testimony has not ended yet) and besides there is that provision that if he pleads guilty that's equivalent to pleading guilty and this is a capital offense. The philosophy of the law is paq ganoon kamatayan ang parusa, (if the sentnece is death sentence) the prosecution has to prove his guilt and he has to be given a chance to present evidence. Did he has given a chance? Wala pa naman, a. (Not yet.) In fact, he has not yet finished testifying. He has been cross-examined by you. You want me to convict him? Ano ba yon may due process ba yon? (What is that, is there due process there?)

ATTY. GICA: 
          We believe so, Your Honor. 

COURT: 
          I don't believe so. So, we have to cut short the discussion because I don't believe so. 

ATTY. GICA: 
          We submit, Your Honor. 

COURT: 
          I believe that Rule 116, Sec. 3 is applicable. Alright, what is your next motion? 

ATTY. GICA: 
          No more, Your Honor. 

ATTY. TELERON: 
         
Your Honor please, may I say something, Your Honor?

(NOTE: For the benefit of our foreign readers, blue wordings is our translation from Tagalog (Philippine language) to English ...the webmaster).

PAGE 15
COURT: 
          Yes. 

ATTY. TELERON: 
         
Your Honor please, we made that Motion for Judgment on the conviction of Davidson Rusia considering that it should be a timely Motion in view of the effects of the discharge of the accused, that if discharge he will be deemed acquitted. 

COURT: 
          I
have not yet discharged him. 

ATTY. TELERON: 
          Precisely, Your Honor, we made that timely Motion and Placed it on the record. 

COURT: 
          Yes, you have an Opposition to his discharge but it has not vet been proven whether he is qualified or not. I have not yet discharge him, e, ano ang renereklamo ninyo? (So, what are you complaining about?) He is still an accused. I may still convict him together with his co-accused. E, ano ba ang renereklamo natin? (So, what are we complaining about?) That fellow wants to make a judicial confession. Ano, pipigilan ba natin? (What, we will not allow him?) Huwag ka mag-confess. (Do not confess.) Saka pagtatawanan tayo nang tao rito. (Besides, the people here will laugh at us.) Bakit ayaw ninyong palabasin na nag-confess yong tao, gusto nang umamin nang kasalanan niya, pipigilan ninyo? (Why can't you accept that the person has confessed, he already wants to admit his sins and you will stop him?) Hayaan mo siya. (Let him alone.)  Kaya pinakokros-eksamin sa inyo. (That's why you are cross-examining him.) What are we complained about? I don't see-  let us proceed with the trial. Call Mrs. Chiong for cross-examination. 

ATTY. GICA: 
          What about Mr. Rusia, Your Honor? Are we not going to cross-examine him? 

COURT: 
         
Yes. you will still cross-examine him when he is well enough otherwise e, di kulang yong testimony niya, di ba? (so, his testimony will be lucking, wouldn't it be?)

(NOTE: For the benefit of our foreign readers, blue wordings is our translation from Tagalog (Philippine language) to English ...the webmaster).  

PART 16
ATTY. GICA: 
         
Yes, Your Honor, we understand. 

COURT: 
          He has not been cross-examine fully. You can question that before
a higher court, di ba? (Can't you?) Papano, pipiiitin natinq may sakit, gusto nating ma-cross-examine yong tao­ - (How, we will force him if even his sick, we want to cross-examine him- -) 

ATTY. GICA: 
          May we move for the exclusion of other witnesses, Your Honor. 

PROS. GALANIDA: 
          No other witness this afternoon, Your Honor. 

COURT: 
          She will be testifying under the same oath.
Now, who will conduct the cross? 

ATTY. TELERON: 
          I will conduct the cross-examination today, Your Honor. 

                                                                           (Witness to the stand) 

COURT INTERPRETER: (to the witness) 
          You are reminded that you will be testifying under the same oath. 

WITNESS: 
          Yes, I am. 

COURT INTERPRETER: 
          (Witness Thelma Jimenea Chiong testifying under the same oath for cross-examination) 

ATTY. TELERON: 
          May it please this Honorable Court.

(NOTE: For the benefit of our foreign readers, blue wordings is our translation from Tagalog (Philippine language) to English ...the webmaster).  

PAGE 17
COURT: 
          Proceed. 

ATTY. TELERON: 
          We would like to open our cross-examination, Your Honor, that in behalf of the Larranaga family, we expressed our deepest sympathy to the Chiong family over the fate of their daughters and we joined Mrs. Thelma Chiong in her quest. 

COURT: 
          You may proceed. 

                                                   CROSS-EXAMINATION OF THE WITNESS 
                                                            BY ATTY. RAMON TELERON 

      Q    Mrs. Chiong, before you took the witness stand yesterday, did you have any opportunity to narrate the sets of facts and circumstances which you stated to the Court yesterday to anybody? 

      A Yes, sir. 

      Q    Particularly whom? 

      A    The whole story? 

      Q    Yes, madam. 

      A    For the death of my daughters? 

      Q    Yes, madam. 

      A    And the loss of my daughters? 

      Q    Yes, madam. 

      A    I have been speaking forums of many schools and I talked about this so many times. 

      Q    And you have stated those same sets of facts and circumstances over the witness stand yesterday? Is that correct? 

      A    Yes, some of them.

PAGE 18
ATTY. TELERON: 

          When you presented the pictures of your daughter Marijoy yesterday to show her standing beauty, we would like to ask you whether she had plenty of suitors? 

PROS. GALANIDA: 
          We object to the portion of the question, Your Honor, standing beauty, that is not the purpose when she presented that. 

ATTY. TELERON: 
          That was the comment of the Lady Prosecutor yesterday, Your Honor, that she was a beautiful lady. 

PROS. GALANIDA: 
          Yes, but Mrs. Chiong did not say I am presenting this because of her standing beauty. That is also unfair because Mrs. Chiong never said that. That's why we are objecting to that portion only when he mentioned- - - 

COURT: 
          You reform your question to avoid the objection. 

ATTY. TELERON: 
      Q   
You were just plainly asked, did Marijoy have plenty of suitors? 

WITNESS: 
      A    If you so many,
no, but she had suitors. 

      Q    Would you be able to recall those suitors of Marijoy? 

PROS. GALANIDA: 
          What's the materiality, Your Honor? May we ask for the materiality? 

COURT: 
          What is the materiality?

PAGE 19
ATTY. TELERON: 
          Material, Your Honor, because we are trying to test the credibility of her recollection and the identity- - - 

COURT: 
          Yes, but remember we would be dealing here with
other people who may not wish to be identified as suitors of a young girl who was kidnapped and raped. So, let us respect the feelings of those suitors. Mrs. Chiong may not want to mention them and besides we would be revealing their names without their consent. 

ATTY. TELERON: 
          Your Honor please, that is actually- - 

COURT: 
          Why are we going to bring in those
other suitors? 

ATTY. TELERON: 
          To test her recollection capacity, Your
Honor, considering that she remembers events which were even occurred way back in 1994. 

COURT: 
          Yes, but I believe it is not
proper for Mrs. Chiong to reveal the names, maybe she can mention the number of suitors and the ages. Maybe she could mention their professional standing but not their names because kung ayaw naman yong mga taong masabi rito sa husgado ang mga pangalan nila, bakit, (what if those people wouldn't want their names mentioned here in court, why) why are we going to involve these people? 

ATTY. TELERON: 
          There is no damage to the mention of names, Your Honor. 

COURT:
          Aba
, ako, ayaw ko. (Well, if it is me, I will not like it.) If I were one of the suitors ayaw ko masabi roon, o, si Martin
Ocampa nanliligaw pala doon sa biktima, (I don't want it mentioned here, oh this Martin Ocampo was also courting the victim,)

(NOTE: For the benefit of our foreign readers, blue wordings is our translation from Tagalog (Philippine language) to English ...the webmaster).  

PAGE 20
COURT:     (CONTINUATION) 

ayaw ko niyon. (I don't like that) Bakit ako idadamay doon wala naman akong pakialam doon. (Why should they include me there, I have nothing to do there.) Bakit labag ba sa batas ang manligaw nang babae? (Why is it against the law to court a girl?) 

ATTY. TELERON: 
          But with due respect, Your Honor, the personal feelings of His Honor, cannot be applied to other people. 

COURT: 
          Alright objection sustained. The names of the other suitors may not be revealed. 

ATTY. TELERON: 
      Q   
Did those other suitors of Marijoy visit your house? 

COURT: 
          You ask her- how many suitors, more or less? Itanong mo- (Ask her- ) how many suitors did she have more or less, Mrs. Chiong, how many other suitors? 

WITNESS: 
      A    Five (5) or six (6),  Your Honor. 

COURT: 
          About six (6)-  that is enough. I think no need to bring out their names. 

ATTY. TELERON: 
     
Q    Since 1994, Mrs. Chiong? 

WITNESS: 
      A    Yes. 

      Q    And these suitors of Marijoy visit your house? 

      A    Some of them, yes. 

      Q    Was there any time, Mrs. Chiong, that your daughters, Marijoy and Jacqueline ever lived