EN BANC September 5, 1930 G.R. Nos. 32394-95 THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, plainti appellee, vs.

SANDAL, ARIMAO, LONSING, MAMA, and PAMPANG, !e en!ants-appellants. Paulino Gullas for appellants. Attorney-General Jaranilla for appellee. AVANCEA, C.J.: "#e $oros San!al, Arimao, %onsin&, $ama, an! 'ampan& appeal rom t#e ()!&ment o t#e Co)rt o *irst +nstan,e o %anao ,on-i,tin& t#em o m)r!er ,ommitte! on t#e 1.t# o *ebr)ar/, 1929, )pon t#e person o Eleno %amorena, an! senten,in& ea,# o t#em to t0ent/ /ears o cadena temporal, 0it# t#e a,,essories o la0, to in!emni / t#e #eirs o t#e !e,ease! (ointl/ an! se-erall/ in t#e amo)nt o '1,000, an! to pa/ t#eir proportional part o t#e ,osts. 1n t#e !ate mentione!, in Aba&a, 2istri,t o $on)n&an, 'ro-in,e o %anao, +nambar, a $oro 0oman, #ear! t#e appellant San!al ,all t#e !e,ease!, an! later sa0 t#em en&a&e! in ,on-ersation. 3#ile t#e t0o 0ere tal4in&, appellant 'ampan& 0ent )p to t#em an! 0it# a #ammer str),4 t#e !e,ease! on t#e ba,4 o t#e ne,4, ellin& #im to t#e &ro)n!. San!al an! t#e rest o t#e appellants, %onsin&, Arimao, an! $ama, t#en ,lose! in on t#e allen man beatin& #im to !eat#. $oro 2imaponon& testi ie! t#at earl/ in t#e mornin& o t#at !a/, #e sa0 Eleno, t#e !e,ease!, in "omas 'ermites5 0are#o)se, 0#ile t#e appellants 0ere nearb/ ,onstr),tin& a #o)se. 3#en 0itness

ret)rne! to t#e 0are#o)se, #e sa0 neit#er t#e !e,ease! nor t#e !e en!ants 0#ere #e #a! seen t#em be ore. 1n t#at ni&#t as #e 0as &oin& #ome, 0itness sa0 appellants near a sa0mill, ,arr/in& t#e ,orpse o Eleno, 0#i,# t#e/ t#re0 into t#e ri-er. 2)rin& t#e in6)ir/ ma!e b/ t#e Constab)lar/ lie)tenant into Eleno5s !isappearan,e, 2imaponon& testi ie! to t#is e e,t, an! t#e ,orpse 0as o)n! in t#at part o t#e ri-er in!i,ate! b/ #im. 2o,tor 'ablo 7amo/ in t#e post-mortem e8amination o)n! t#e ollo0in& lesions9 "#e ri&#t si!e o t#e ne,4 an! t#e ri&#t s#o)l!er 0ere br)ise!: t#e ne,4 0as ra,t)re! an! t#e ri&#t s#o)l!er !islo,ate!: t#e ri&#t e/e 0as br)ise!: mar4e! ,/anosis an! a,)te #emorr#a&e o bot# e/es 0#i,# 0ere some0#at s)n4en: mar4e! ,/anosis o t#e lips 0it# t#e in,isors ()ttin& or0ar! an! loose ,/anosis an! #emorr#a&e o t#e &)ms, an! #emorr#a&e o t#e nose: ,/anosis o t#e 0#ole a,e, a 0o)n! in t#e le t arm an! orearm, an! a ,ont)sion on t#e breast an! ab!omen. "#e ollo0in& a,ts o re,or! e8plain t#e moti-e o t#e assa)lt9 3#en "omas 'ermites 0ent to $anila to loo4 a ter ,ertain matters #e le t Eleno in ,#ar&e o #is interests in $on)n&an. 3#ile 'ermites 0as in $anila, t#e appellants ,a)se! some in()ries to #is ,arabaos, as a res)lt o 0#i,# Eleno #a! a !isp)te 0it# t#em. Eleno sent 0or! o 0#at #a! #appene! to 'ermites in $anila, an! 0#en t#e latter ret)rne! to $on)n&an, #e -eri ie! t#e a,ts an! ile! a ,omplaint a&ainst t#e appellants. Eleno 0as to be t#e prin,ipal 0itness, an! t#e !e en!ants 4ne0 it. "#e appellants !enie! t#e a,ts set ort# an! attempte! to pro-e an alibi. ;pon ,onsi!eration o t#e e-i!en,e or bot# si!es, 0e a&ree 0it# t#e ,on,l)sion o t#e trial ,o)rt t#at t#e appellants 4ille! Eleno in t#e manner !es,ribe! abo-e. "#e ,o)rt belo0 !i! not err in 0ei&#in& t#e e-i!en,e.

1 E8,l)sion o 3itnesses

Anot#er assi&nment o error alle&e! b/ t#e appellants in t#is instan,e !eals 0it# t#e trial ,o)rt5s re )sal to a!mit a ,ertain 0itness presente! b/ t#e !e ense. "#e ,o)rt too4 t#is stan! or t#e reason t#at t#is 0itness #a! been present !)rin& t#e #earin& not0it#stan!in& t#e ,o)rt5s or!er t#at all 0itnesses lea-e t#e ,o)rt room. ;n!er s),# ,ir,)mstan,es it lies 0it#in t#e ,o)rt5s !is,retion to a!mit or re(e,t t#e testimon/ o t#e 0itness. An! alt#o)&# 0e are o opinion t#at t#e ,o)rt belo0 s#o)l! #a-e a!mitte! t#e testimon/ o t#is 0itness, espe,iall/ 0#en #e state! t#at #e !i! not #ear 0#at t#e ot#er 0itnesses testi ie!, /et t#ere is not#in& to s#o0 t#at t#is error #as a e,te! t#e appellants5 !e ense. "#ere is not#in& to s#o0 0#at t#is 0itness 0o)l! #a-e testi ie! i a!mitte!, an! so it ,annot be #el! t#at #is ail)re to testi / #as materiall/ a e,te! t#e appellants5 !e ense. "#e appellants also assi&n as an error t#e a,t t#at t#e trial ,o)rt aile! to re6)ire t#e is,al to e8#ibit t#e testimon/ &i-en b/ t#e 0itnesses !)rin& t#e preliminar/ in-esti&ation ,on!),te! b/ t#e ()sti,e o t#e pea,e. B)t t#e onl/ e e,t o t#is ail)re 0as to entitle t#e !e ense to a!!),e se,on!ar/ e-i!en,e to),#in& t#e testimon/ o sai! 0itnesses, or t#e p)rpose o atta,4in& t#eir -era,it/, s#o)l! t#e/ #a-e been presente! as 0itnesses !)rin& t#e trial. Neit#er !i! t#e trial ,o)rt ,ommit an error in re )sin& t#e !e ense an e8tension o time to present 2o,tor *eli,iano, or t#is is a matter 0#oll/ 0it#in t#e ,o)rt5s !is,retion, t#e ab)se 0#ereo #as not been s#o0n, espe,iall/ in -ie0 o t#e a,t t#at it 0as not in orme! o t#e nat)re o t#is 0itness5s testimon/. 3#ere ore, t#e ()!&ment appeale! rom is a irme!, 0it# ,osts a&ainst t#e appellants. So or!ere!. Street, Villamor, Ostrand, Romualdez and Villa-Real, JJ., ,on,)r. Jo ns, J., ! dissents.

STATE v. BISHOP 492 P.2d !9 "#9$2% STATE &' O()*&n, R)s+&nd)n,, v. -&) B)((. BISHOP, A++)//an,. C&0(, &' A++)a/s &' O()*&n, D)+a(,1)n, 2. A(*0)d and S0213,,)d D)4)12)( 2, #9$#. D)43d)d -an0a(. 5, #9$2. Ga(. D. Ba24&46, P02/34 D)')nd)(, Sa/)1, a(*0)d ,7) 4a0s) and '3/)d ,7) 2(3)' '&( a++)//an,. -&7n 8. Os20(n, S&/. G)n., Sa/)1, a(*0)d ,7) 4a0s) '&( ()s+&nd)n,. 83,7 731 &n ,7) 2(3)' 9as L)) -&7ns&n, A,,.. G)n., Sa/)1. B)'&() SCH8AB, C.-., and LANGTR: and THORNTON, --. SC73AB, C#ie <)!&e. "#e !e en!ant 0as ,on-i,te! o sale an! possession o !an&ero)s !r)&s. 1RS 4=5.100. "#e 6)estion on appeal is 0#et#er t#e trial ,o)rt erre! in re )sin& to &rant a re6)est or t#e e8,l)sion o 0itnesses as a)t#ori>e! b/ 1RS 45.510.

2 E8,l)sion o 3itnesses

3#en t#e ,ase 0as ,alle! or trial, !e ense ,o)nsel re6)este! all 0itnesses be e8,l)!e!. 2)rin& t#e brie !is,)ssion t#at ollo0e!, t#e prose,)tor state! t#at most o #is 0itnesses 0ere poli,e o i,ers. Co)nsel or t#e !e en!ant ar&)e! #is ,lient 0o)l! be pre()!i,e! b/ allo0in& t#e o i,ers to remain9 ?"#e onl/ a!-anta&e or t#em bein& in t#e ,o)rtroom is to #ear t#e ,ross e8amination b/ !e ense ,o)nsel, to !etermine 0#at t#e t#eor/ o t#e !e ense is in t#is ,ase, an! to !etermine t#ese t#in&s instea! o ,omin& in on t#e 6)estions ,ol! @ @ @.? "#e trial ()!&e !enie! t#e motion an! e8plaine! #is a,tion in t#ese terms9 ?@ @ @ No0, it 0as apparent in /ester!a/5s trial t#at some o t#e pra,ti,es o t#e poli,e in ,onne,tion 0it# t#e ,)sto!/ o e-i!en,e ,o)l! be 6)estione!. @ @ @ A+Bt seems to me #i&#l/ !esirable rom t#e p)bli, stan!point @ @ @ t#at @ @ @ o i,ers #a-e an opport)nit/ to learn 0#at it is abo)t t#eir poli,e pra,ti,es t#at is bein& 6)estione!, an! to &i-e ,are )l t#o)&#t to t#eir o0n pra,ti,es @ @ @.? "#e ()!&e )rt#er e8plaine! t#at some o t#e poli,e o i,ers 0ere in-ol-e! in motions to s)ppress in ?t#is &ro)p o ,ases? an! s#o)l! be allo0e! to see t#e trials ?t#at in-ol-e t#e e orts t#at t#e/5-e ma!e.? 3#en 0e #a-e pre-io)sl/ ,onsi!ere! t#e 6)estion o 0#et#er t#e ail)re to &rant a motion to e8,l)!e 0itnesses is error, 0e #a-e merel/ sai! t#at t#is matter is 0it#in t#e !is,retion o t#e trial ,o)rt. See, e.&., State -. 2a-is, 1r. App., 93 A!-.S#. =.4, 4.9 '.2! 9.. C19=1D. "#e ,ase at bar #as ,on-in,e! )s t#at t#is problem re6)ires ,loser anal/sis.
3 E8,l)sion o 3itnesses

1RS 45.510 pro-i!es9 ?+ eit#er part/ re6)ires it, t#e ()!&e ma/ e8,l)!e rom t#e ,o)rtroom an/ 0itness o t#e a!-erse part/ not at t#e time )n!er e8amination, so t#at #e ma/ not #ear t#e testimon/ o ot#er 0itnesses.? "#e 1re&on S)preme Co)rt ,ases 0#i,# #a-e interprete! t#is stat)te are State -. 3ilson, 1== 1r. E3=, 1E4 '.2! =22 C1945D, an! State -. E!e, 1E= 1r. E40, 11= '.2! 235 C1941D. "#e stat)te #as also been mentione! in State -. Fen!ri,4, 239 1r. 512, 39. '.2! 4=1 C19E5D: "rotter -. "o0n o Sta/ton, 45 1r. 301, == '. 395 C1904D: an! S,#nei!er -. 7aas, 14 1r. 1=4, 12 '. 23E, 5. Am.Rep. 29E C1..=D. State -. 3ilson, s)pra, an! State -. E!e, s)pra, s)&&est t#at a motion to e8,l)!e normall/ s#o)l! be &rante!. +n "de t#e ,o)rt interprete! t#e stat)te not as permissi-e, b)t, rat#er, as ?!ire,tor/ in orm @ @ @.? 1E= 1r. at E42, 11= '.2! 235. An! t#is same i!ea 0as impli,it in #ilson 0#ere t#e 0itnesses 0ere e8,l)!e! an! t#e S)preme Co)rt o 1re&on )p#el! t#e e8,l)sion on appeal.1 ;492 P.2d ##< State -. 3ilson, s)pra, intimates t#at o)r stat)te is a ,o!i i,ation o t#e ,ommon la0. Co)rts, s),# as t#e e!eral ,o)rts 0#i,# still ollo0 t#e ,ommon la0 on t#is 6)estion, stron&l/ a-or &rantin& e8,l)sion rom t#e ,o)rtroom. ?"#e pra,ti,e o e8,l)!in& 0itnesses rom t#e ,o)rtroom e8,ept 0#ile ea,# is testi /in& is to be stron&l/ re,ommen!e!, parti,)larl/ 0#ere t#e testimon/ o t#e 0itnesses is in an/ meas)re ,)m)lati-e or ,orroborati-e @ @ @.? 3illiamson -. ;nite! States, 310 *.2! 192, 19. C9t# Cir.19E2D.

?"#e e8,l)sion o 0itnesses rom t#e ,o)rtroom !)rin& trial is a time-#onore! pra,ti,e !esi&ne! to pre-ent t#e s#apin& o testimon/ b/ #earin& 0#at ot#er 0itnesses sa/ @ @ @.? "a/lor -. ;nite! States, 3.. *.2! =.E, =.. C9t# Cir.19E=D. 'ro essor 3i&more a-ors ma4in& e8,l)sion a matter o ri&#t9 ?A e0 Co)rts ,on,e!e t#at se6)estration is !eman!able as o ri&#t. B)t, t#e remain!er, ollo0in& t#e earl/ En&lis# !o,trine, #ol! it &rantable onl/ in t#e trial Co)rt5s !is,retion: !e,larin& )s)all/, #o0e-er, t#at in pra,ti,e it is ne-er !enie!, at an/ rate or an a,,)se! in a ,riminal ,ase. "#ere is no reason or a !istin,tion bet0een ,i-il an! ,riminal ,ases: s),,ess )l per()r/ is an e6)all/ !eplorable res)lt, in 0#ate-er orm it o-er0#elms its -i,tims.? E 3i&more, E-i!en,e G 1.3=39, 35.-59 C3! e! 1940D. ?@ @ @ B)t 0#en all allo0an,es are ma!e, it remains tr)e t#at t#e e8pe!ient o se6)estration is Cne8t to ,rosse8aminationD one o t#e &reatest en&ines t#at t#e s4ill o man #as e-er in-ente! or t#e !ete,tion o liars in a ,o)rt o ()sti,e. +ts s)preme e8,ellen,e ,onsists in its simpli,it/ @ @ @.? E 3i&more, E-i!en,e G 1.3., 354 C3! e! 1940D. "#ese a)t#orities mean, 0e belie-e, t#at 0#en one part/ mo-es to e8,l)!e 0itnesses an! t#e ot#er part/ -oi,es no ob(e,tion, t#e motion s#o)l! al0a/s be &rante! an! 0e so interpret 1RS 45.510.2 3#en t#e motion is oppose!, t#e trial ,o)rt5s !is,retion ,omes into pla/. +n t#is ,onte8t, as ot#ers, ()!i,ial !is,retion !oes not mean t#at t#e 6)estion o 0#et#er to e8,l)!e 0itnesses is le t to t#e trial
4 E8,l)sion o 3itnesses

,o)rt5s 0#im or &ra,e. Cf., "emple Enterprises -. Combs, 1E4 1r. 133, 15., 100 '.2! E13, 12. A.%.R. .5E C1940D. +nstea!, ()!i,ial !is,retion is ?to be e8er,ise! in ,on ormit/ 0it# t#e spirit o t#e la0 an! in a manner to s)bser-e an! not !e eat t#e en!s o ()sti,e.? Fin& -. $it,#ell, 1.. 1r. 434, 214 '.2! 993, 99=, 21E '.2! 2E9 C1950D. Spe,i i,all/, t#e trial ,o)rt m)st 0ei&# t#e ?&oo! ,a)se @ @ @ s#o0n,? State -. E!e, s)pra, 1E= 1r. E42, 11= '.2! 235, or not e8,l)!in& 0itnesses a&ainst t#e poli,/ a-orin& e8,l)sion. 3#at ,onstit)tes &oo! ,a)se not to e8,l)!e 0itnesses #as been re,o&ni>e! in prior 1re&on ,ases. *or e8ample, S,#nei!er -. 7aas, s)pra, ma4es it ,lear t#at a part/ to a pro,ee!in& 0#o 0ill later be ,alle! as a 0itness ,annot be e8,l)!e!. "rotter -. "o0n o Sta/ton, s)pra, s)&&ests b/ impli,ation t#at 0#en a ,orporation is a part/, it ma/ be inappropriate to e8,l)!e a prin,ipal o i,er o t#e ,orporation 0#o possesses some spe,ial 4no0le!&e an! 0#ose presen,e is ne,essar/ to prote,t t#e ,orporation5s interests. State -. E!e, s)pra, #el! it 0as not error to e8,l)!e all 0itnesses e8,ept a 2epartment o A&ri,)lt)re o i,ial 0#o 0as assistin& t#e prose,)tion in a trial or lar,en/ o a ,o0. 1n t#e ot#er #an!, some ,ases 0#ere a re-ersal res)lte! rom !en/in& e8,l)sion 0it#o)t &oo! ,a)se are State -. 2) en, 104 N.<.S)per. 302, 250 A.2! 23 C19E9D Cno so)n! reason or t#e !enial s#o0nD: 'eople ;492 P.2d #2< -. 2i8on, 23 +ll.2! 13E, 1== N.E.2! 20E C19E1D Ctrial ()!&e merel/ sai!, ?3ell, + !on5t li4e to !o t#at.?D: an! State -. 3illiams, 22E S.C. 525, .5 S.E.2! .E3 C1955D Ct#e !e en!ant5s 0itnesses 0ere ,#ain &an& prisoners 0#o 0ere ser-in& )n!er t#e prose,)tion5s 0itnesses H t#eir &)ar!sD. "#)s, i t#e re,or! ,ontains some s#o0in& o &oo! ,a)se or not e8,l)!in& t#e 0itnesses, an! i t#e trial ,o)rt ma!e a reasonable ,#oi,e bet0een t#e &oo! ,a)se s#o0n an! t#e poli,/ a-orin&

e8,l)sion, its !e,ision 0ill not be !ist)rbe! on appeal. B)t i t#e re,or! ,ontains no reason or not e8,l)!in& 0itnesses, or an ins) i,ient reason, t#en t#e trial ,o)rt #as ab)se! its !is,retion. ")rnin& to t#e a,ts o t#e ,ase at bar, 0e in! t#e reasons a!-an,e! b/ t#e trial ,o)rt to e8plain its re )sal to e8,l)!e to be ina!e6)ate. As note! abo-e, t#e trial ,o)rt 0ante! t#e poli,e o i,ers 0#o 0o)l! be 0itnesses to be able to -ie0 t#e trial as an e!),ational e8perien,e, an! 0ante! t#em to be able to see t#e r)its o t#eir labors. "#ese reasons, 0#ile )n!o)bte!l/ sal)tar/ as an e!),ational !e-i,e, 0ere not rele-ant to t#e p)rpose o t#e trial H namel/, t#e !etermination o 0#et#er t#e !e en!ant 0as &)ilt/ o t#e ,rime ,#ar&e!. Balan,e! a&ainst t#e !an&er t#at t#e 0itnesses5 memories mi&#t be ,on )se! b/ ot#er testimon/, an! t#e ot#er reasons or t#e r)le o se6)estration, see E 3i&more, s)pra, t#e reasons a!-an,e! b/ t#e ,o)rt 0ere ins) i,ient. "#e remainin& iss)e is 0#et#er !e en!ant 0as pre()!i,e! b/ t#e ail)re to e8,l)!e 0itnesses. Resol)tion o t#is iss)e t)rns on 0#et#er it s#o)l! be t#e !e en!ant5s b)r!en to pro-e a,t)al pre()!i,e or t#e state5s b)r!en to pro-e la,4 o pre()!i,e. 3e belie-e t#e latter is t#e better r)le. "#e pra,ti,e o e8,l)!in& 0itnesses is !esi&ne! to pre-ent one 0itness bein& in l)en,e!, ,ons,io)sl/ or )n,ons,io)sl/, b/ #earin& t#e testimon/ o prior 0itnesses. +t 0o)l! be !i i,)lt, i not impossible, or a liti&ant to establis# t#at t#e presen,e o prospe,ti-e 0itnesses in t#e ,o)rtroom !)rin& t#e trial res)lte! in t#e testimon/ o an/ one o t#em bein& in l)en,e! b/ 0#at #e #ear! be ore ,alle! to t#e 0itness stan!. "#)s, 0#en a trial ,o)rt #as ab)se! its !is,retion b/ not e8,l)!in& 0itnesses, 0e m)st ass)me pre()!i,e )nless t#e re,or! a irmati-el/ re le,ts t#e ,ontrar/. "#e best e8ample o a re,or! t#at 0o)l! establis# no possible pre()!i,e is one in 0#i,# t#e 0itnesses all testi ie! to totall/ )nrelate! e-ents. B)t t#is is not s),# a ,ase. 7ere most o t#e state5s
5 E8,l)sion o 3itnesses

0itnesses testi ie! to t#e same e-ents an! o,,)rren,es. "#eir testimon/ 0as ,)m)lati-e an! ,orroborati-e. 1n t#is re,or!, 0e ,annot sa/ t#at !e en!ant 0as not pre()!i,e!. Re-erse! an! reman!e!.