ciminal case nos cbu-45303 & 45304
pp vs larrañaga et al
hearing aug 12, 1998
pages 30 to 35

PAGE 30

                                                            DIRECT-EXAMINATION OF THE WITNESS
                                                    BY ATTY. HONORATO HERMOSISIMA

     Q    Mr. Rusia, what is your highest educational attainment?

     A    I was a Senior high school. 

     Q    Where?

     A    In Menchville Newport News, in Virginia, USA.

     Q    And how about your elementary?

     A    Also in Newport News, Virginia.

     Q    Mr. Rusia, do you know the accused in these cases Francisco Juan Larranaga alias Paco Larranaga?

     A    Yes, sir.

     Q    Why do you know him?

     A    I was introduced by Rowen Adlawan, sir.

ATTY. HERMOSISIMA:
     Q    When was that introduction made?

WITNESS:
     A    Two (2) months before July 16, 1997, sir.

     Q    If accused Larranaga is inside this courtroom, will you be able to identify him?

     A    Yes, sir.

     Q    Please do so?

     A    That one over there, sir. (Witness pointing to a person sitting on the prisoners deck who when asked answered that his name is Francisco Paco Larranaga).

     Q    How about the other accused, Josman Aznar, do you know him?

     A    Yes, sir.

     Q    Can you tell the Court under what circumstances did you come to know him?

PAGE 31 
WITNESS:
     A    I met him before 1991, sir.

ATTY. HERMOSISIMA:
     Q    Can you specify when and where?

     A    In Southwestern University, sir.

     Q    If accused Aznar is inside the courtroom, will you able to point to him?

     A    Yes, sir.

     Q    Please do so?

     A    That one, sir. (Witness pointing to a person sitting on the prisoners deck who when asked answered that his name is Josman Aznar).

     Q    We go to the third accused Rowen Adlawan, do you know him?

     A    Yes, sir.

     Q    Why do you know him?

     A     I met him five (5) months before July 16, 1997.

     Q     If inside this courtroom, will you be able to identify Rowen Adlawan?

     A     Yes, sir.

     Q    Please point him to the Court?

     A    Right there, sir. (Witness pointing to a person sitting on the prisoners deck who when asked answered that his name is Rowen Adlawan).

     Q    Accused "MM" Uy, do you know him?

     A    Yes, sir.

     Q    Why?

     A    The same as I had met Rowen Adlawan five (5) months before July 16, 1997, sir.

     Q    If "MM" U is inside this courtroom, will you be able to identify him?

PAGE 32
WITNESS:
     A    Yes, sir.

ATTY. HERMOSISIMA:
     Q    Please point him to the Court?

     A    Right there, sir. (Witness pointing to a person sitting on the prisoners deck who when asked answered that his name is "MM" Uy).

     Q    Accused "WANGWANG" Uy, do you know him?

     A    Yes, sir.

     Q    Why do you know him?

     A    The same as I met Rowen Adlawan and "MM" Uy.

     Q    You mean you met them together?

     A    Yes, sir.

     Q    And when was that?

     A    Five (5) months before July 16, 1997, sir.

     Q    Where?

     A    In Ayala, sir.

     Q    If accused "WANGWANG" Uy is inside this courtroom, will you be able to identify him?

     A    Yes, sir.

     Q    Please point him to the Court?

     A    Right there, sir. (Witness pointing to a person sitting on the prisoners deck who when asked answered that his name is "WANGWANG" Uy).

     Q    Accused Alberto Cano, do you know him?

     A    Yes, sir.

     Q    Why do you know him?

     A    I met him July 16, 1997 in the evening.

PAGE 33
ATTY. HERMOSISIMA:
     Q    If inside this courtroom, will you be able to identify Alberto Cano?

WITNESS:
     A    Yes, sir.

     Q    Please do so?

     A    Right there, sir. (Witness pointing to a person sitting on the prisoners deck who when asked answered that his name is Alberto Cano).

PROS. GALANIDA:
          We would like to manifest for the record, Your Honor, that while our witness is pointing to this Cano, this Cano is pointing a finger at this witness.

PROS. DUYONGCO:
          For four (4) times, Your Honor.

COURT:
          What is his purpose of pointing to the witness?

PROS. DUYONGCO:
          He is pointing like that, Your Honor. (Prosecutor demonstrating by pointing his finger).

PROS. GALANIDA:
          To Rusia, Your Honor.

PROS. DUYONGCO:
          For four (4) times I saw him.

COURT:
          Tell him to stop pointing- will you put handcuffs? Where is the guard? Tie the two(2) hands of cano.

PROS. DUYONGCO:
          He is pointing for four (4) times, Your Honor.

PAGE 34
COURT:
          Proceed.

ATTY. HERMOSISIMA:
     Q    Let us go to the next accused Ariel Balansag. Do you know him?

WITNESS:
     A    Yes, sir.

     Q    Why do you know him?

     A    I met him on July 16, 1997 in the evening, sir.

     Q    If inside this courtroom, will you be able to identify him?

     A    Yes, sir.

     Q    Please do so?

     A    Right there, sir. (Witness pointing to a person sitting on the prisoners deck who when asked answered that his name is Ariel Balansag).

     Q    On July 15, 1997 at about 10:00 in the evening, where were you?

     A    I was at the lobby of Cebu Plaza Hotel.

     Q    What were you doing there?

     A    I was talking to Rowen Adlawan.

     Q    What were you talking about?

     A    He just asked me what's my agenda for the evening how come I stayed there and I told him that I will stay there hanging around and then he told me that we will meet at Ayala on the following day at about 2:00 P.M.

     Q    The following day July 16, 1997 as agreed, did you meet Rowen at Ayala at 2:00 P.M.?

     A    Yes, sir.

     Q   What conversation if any transpire between you and him?

PAGE 35  
WITNESS:
     A    Rowen Adlawan told me to stay put in Ayala and he will come back to me in the evening and we gonna have a big happening.

COURT/to witness:
     Q    Did he describe what that big happening was going to be? Did he tell you beforehand?

     A    No, Your Honor.

     Q    He did not.

ATTY. HERMOSISIMA:
          Your Honor, may I be allowed to say something to this accused? The Stenographer suggest that you talk louder and slowly.

COURT/to witness:
          Slowly, do not eat your words, we want everybody to hear you.

PROS. GALANIDA:
          Excuse me, Your Honor, it is understandable that he has an American accent because he studied in the United States. In fact he studied there from elementary to high school.

COURT:
          Alright try to speak understandably, slowly and loudly.

WITNESS:
     A    Yes, Your Honor.

ATTY. HERMOSISIMA:
     Q    When told to just stay put because you will have a big happening that evening, what did you understand by big happening?

WITNESS:
     A    Groups party, scrounge, have fun.