Monday, November 28, 2016

Sample "Comment" to "Offer of Evidence"

This a sample "Comment" to the "Offer of Evidence" in a criminal case prepared by our law office. We are sharing it for legal research purposes of our readers/followers. 



COMMENT
(To: PROSECUTION’S “FORMAL OFFER
OF DOCUMENTARY EXHIBITS”)

            THE ACCUSED x x x by counsel, respectfully states:

1.       Re: Exhibit “A”, with submarkings, of the Offer, the accused xxx objects to Purposes of the Offer, for the reason that the said statements or allegations of purposes are self-serving, that the same are mere conclusions of law, and that the same are not supported by the evidence on record.

1.1.             To stress: Allegations in a Complaint are not evidence per se. There is no proof of harassment, threat and coercion extant in the said exhibit other than the bare allegation of the private complainant.

2.      Re: Exhibit “B”, with submarkings, of the Offer, the accused xxx objects to the Purposes of the Offer, for the reason that the said statements or allegations of purposes are self-serving, that the same are mere conclusions of law, and that the same are not supported by the evidence on record.

2.1.            To stress: Allegations in a Salaysay are not evidence per se. There is no proof of harassment, threat and coercion extant in the said exhibit other than the bare allegation of the private complainant, showing that the accused xxx made threatening calls to and poked a gun at the private complainant.  

2.2.           Neither is such an allegation (conclusion of law) a proof of the presence of conspiracy between the two accused xxx2.

3.           The exhibit was marked as PROVISIONAL only. There  is no proof that the original was offered to the Court for the record.

3.      Re: Exhibit “C”, with submarkings, of the Offer, the accused xxx objects to the Purposes of the Offer, for the reason that the said statements or allegations of purposes are self-serving, that the same are mere conclusions of law, and that the same are not supported by the evidence on record.

3.1.            To stress: Allegations in a Salaysay are not evidence per se.

3.2.           There is no proof of harassment, threat and coercion extant in the said exhibit other than the bare allegation of the private complainant, showing that the accused xxx poked a gun at the private complainant or that the two accused xxx had conspired.

3.3.           As to the entrapment conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), it should be noted that the Regional Trial Court, Branch xxx, of xxx City, under Hon. Judge xxx ACQUITTED the accused xxx of illegal possession of firearms filed by the NBI against the accused xxx, per its AMENDED DECISION, dated January 21, 2016 which in due time shall be presented in evidence by the accused xxx

4.      Re: Exhibit “D”, with submarkings, of the Offer, the accused xxx objects to the Purpose of the Offer, for the reason that the said statements or allegations of purposes are self-serving, that the same are mere conclusions of law, and that the same are not supported by the evidence on record.

4.1.            To stress: Allegations in a Salaysay are not evidence per se.

4.2.           There is no proof of harassment, threat and coercion extant in the said exhibit other than the bare allegation of the affiant thereof, showing that the accused xxx banged loudly on the gate of the home of the private complainant, that the accused xxx poked a gun at the private complainant and that the two accused xxx had conspired.

4.3.           The affiant xxx did not personally testify before the Court to affirm her subject Affidavit, dated June 28, 2010, and she was not subjected to cross examination by the two defense counsel, thus, the said exhibit is HEARSAY under the Rules of Evidence and violates the constitutional right of confrontation/cross examination of the accused xxx

5.       Re: Exhibit “E”, with submarkings, of the Offer, the accused xxx objects to the Purposes of the Offer, for the reason that the said statements or allegations of purposes are self-serving, that the same are mere conclusions of law, and that the same are not supported by the evidence on record.

5.1.             To stress: Allegations in a Salaysay are not evidence per se.

5.2.            There is no proof of harassment, threat and coercion extant in the said exhibit other than the bare allegation of the affiant thereof, showing that the accused xxx threatened the life of the private complainant and his family, that the private complainant did not freely mortgaged his car to the accused xxx and that the accused xxx issued the threatening words quoted in the said Salaysay.

5.3.            The exhibit was marked as PROVISIONAL only. There  is no proof that the original was offered to the Court for the record.

6.       Re: Exhibit “F”, with submarkings, of the Offer, the accused xxx objects to the Purposes of the Offer, for the reason that the said statements or allegations of purposes are self-serving, that the same are mere conclusions of law, and that the same are not supported by the evidence on record.

6.1.            To stress: Allegations in a Salaysay are not evidence per se.

6.2.           There is no proof of harassment, threat and coercion extant in the said exhibit other than the bare allegation of the affiant thereof, showing that the accused xxx made threatening phone calls to the private complainant, that the accused xxx poked a gun at the private complainant, and that the two accused xxx had conspired.

6.3.           As to the entrapment conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), it should be noted that the Regional Trial Court, Branch xxx, of xxx City, under Hon. Judge xxx ACQUITTED the accused xxx of illegal possession of firearms filed by the NBI against the accused xxx, per its AMENDED DECISION, dated January 21, 2016 which in due time shall be presented in evidence by the accused xxx

6.4.           The affiant xxx did not personally testify before the Court to affirm his subject Affidavit, dated July 8, 2010, and he was not subjected to cross examination by the two defense counsel, thus, the said exhibit is HEARSAY under the Rules of Evidence and violates the constitutional right of confrontation/cross examination of the two accused.

6.5.            The exhibit was marked as PROVISIONAL only. There  is no proof that the original was offered to the Court for the record.

7.       Re: Exhibit “G”, with submarkings, of the Offer, the accused xxx objects to the Purposes of the Offer, for the reason that the said statements or allegations of purposes are self-serving, that the same are mere conclusions of law, and that the same are not supported by the evidence on record.

7.1.             To stress: Allegations in a Salaysay are not evidence per se.

7.2.            There is no proof of harassment, threat and coercion extant in the said exhibit other than the bare allegation of the affiant thereof, showing that the accused xxx made threatening phone calls to the private complainant, that the accused xxx poked a gun at the private complainant, and that the two accused xxx had conspired.

7.3.            As to the entrapment conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), it should be noted that the Regional Trial Court, Branch xxx, of xxx City, under Hon. xxx ACQUITTED the accused xxx of illegal possession of firearms filed by the NBI against the accused xxx, per its AMENDED DECISION, dated January 21, 2016 which in due time shall be presented in evidence by the accused xxx

7.4.            The three affiants, who are NBI agents, namely, xxx, xxx, xxx,  did not personally testify before the Court to affirm their subject Joint Affidavit, dated July 8, 2010, and they were not subjected to cross examination by the two defense counsel, thus, the said exhibit is HEARSAY under the Rules of Evidence and violates the constitutional right of confrontation/cross examination of the two accused.

8.      Re: Exhibit “H”, with submarkings, of the Offer, the accused xxx objects to the Purposes of the Offer, for the reason that the said statements or allegations of purposes are self-serving, that the same are mere conclusions of law, and that the same are not supported by the evidence on record.

8.1.            To stress: Allegations in a Salaysay are not evidence per se.

8.2.           There is no proof of harassment, threat and coercion extant in the said exhibit other than the bare allegation of the affiants thereof or that the accused xxx poked a gun  on the private complainant.

8.3.           As to the entrapment conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), it should be noted that the Regional Trial Court, Branch xxx, of xxxCity, under Hon. Judge xxx ACQUITTED the accused xxx of illegal possession of firearms filed by the NBI against the accused xxx, per its AMENDED DECISION, dated January 21, 2016 which in due time shall be presented in evidence by the accused xxx.


8.4.           The affiant, who an NBI agent, namely, xxx , did not personally testify before the Court to affirm their subject Joint Affidavit, dated July 8, 2010, and he was not subjected to cross examination by the two defense counsel, thus, the said exhibit is HEARSAY under the Rules of Evidence and violates the constitutional right of confrontation/cross examination of the two accused.


9.       Re: Exhibit “I”, with submarkings, of the Offer, the accused xxx objects to the Purposes of the Offer, for the reason that the said statements or allegations of purposes are self-serving, that the same are mere conclusions of law, and that the same are not supported by the evidence on record.

9.1.            To stress: Allegations in the Memorandum of Agreement, dated February 16, 2010, are not evidence per se of threat and coercion. It is merely an evidence of a business transaction.  

9.2.           There is no proof of harassment, threat and coercion extant in the said exhibit other than the bare allegation of the affiant-private complainant. There is no proof that the private complainant was forced to sign the MOA and to mortgage his car or that he was forced, threatened and coerced by the accused xxx to pay the debt subject matter thereof. The MOA with a Deed of Chattel Mortgage was a regular business loan transaction duly executed by the parties, including the private complainant.  


10.   Re: Exhibits “J”, “K”, and “L”, with submarkings, of the Offer, which are Cash Vouchers and Bank Deposit Slips, the accused xxx opez objects to the purposes for which they are being offered, for the reason that the said statements or allegations of purposes are self-serving, that the same are mere conclusions of law, that the same are not supported by the evidence on record, and that the purposes stated are irrelevant and immaterial to the allegation of threat and coercion allegedly committed by the accused xxx 

10.1.        A voucher and a bank deposit slip are not proofs of threat, coercion, harassment, and compulsion. They are merely proofs of payment by the debtor and proofs of receipt of such payment by the creditor.

11.    Re: Exhibits “M”, “O”, and “P”, with submarkings, of the Offer, the accused xxx objects to the Purposes of the Offer, for the reason that the said statements or allegations of purposes are self-serving, that the same are mere conclusions of law, that the same are not supported by the evidence on record, and that the alleged threat and coercion are not shown in and by said documents.

11.1.          The author of Exh. “P” (NBI transmittal letter to the Chief Prosecutor of xxx City), i.e., NBI Dep. Dir. xxx was not presented in court to authenticate the said document and he was not cross examined. He had no personal knowledge of the crimes charged in the instant cases. He merely relied on the hearsay statement of NBI agent xxx as part of his transmittal letter to the Chief Prosecutor of xxx City.

12.  Re: Exhibit “Q”, with submarkings, of the Offer, the accused xxx objects to the Purposes of th Offer, for the reason that the said statements or allegations of purposes are self-serving, that the same are mere conclusions of law, that the same are not supported by the evidence on record, that the stated purposes are irrelevant and immaterial to the nature and contents of the Certificate of Incorporation of the subject Corporation issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and that the attached document thereto, entitled “Extraction/Hustlings/Stockpiling/Hauling and Loading Contract” is not part of the said exhibit and was not issued by the SEC and was not marked as a submarkings of the said exhibit. It was merely  inserted in the Offer for unfair reasons.

13.   Re: Exhibit “R” (Letter of Understanding), with submarkings, of the Offer, the accused xxx objects to Purposes of the Offer, for the reason that the said statements or allegations of purposes are self-serving, that the same are mere conclusions of law, that the same are not supported by the evidence on record, and, most of all, that the said exhibit does not prove the crimes of threat and coercion, and that the said exhibit is simply a proof of a regular business transaction.

13.1.         The said exhibit is PROVISIONAL only. There is no proof that the original thereof had been submitted to the court for the record. It is not the best evidence for the purposes for which it is now being offered.

14.  Re: Exhibit “S”, with submarkings, of the Offer, the accused xxx objects to the Purpose of said Offer, for the reason that the said statements or allegations of purposes do not prove the crimes of threats and coercion. It merely proves probable cause (a duty of the Office of the Prosecutor to establish after a preliminary investigation).

14.1.         Further, the said exhibit is PROVISIONAL only. There is no proof that the original thereof had been submitted to the court for the record. It is not the best evidence for the purposes for which it is now being offered.

15.    Re: Exhibit “U”, ”V”, and “W”, with submarkings, of the Offer, the accused xxx objects to the Purposes of the Offer, for the reason that the said statements or allegations of purposes are self-serving, that the same are mere conclusions of law, that the same are not supported by the evidence on record, and that the subject matters of the said documents and contracts is extraneous, irrelevant and immaterial to the crimes of threat and coercion charged in the instant cases.

16.  Re: Exhibit “X” (judicial affidavit of xxx with submarkings, of the Offer, the accused xxx objects to the Purposes of the Offer, for the reason that the said statements or allegations of purposes are self-serving, that the same are mere conclusions of law, that the same are not supported by the evidence on record, that the  same does not prove beyond reasonable doubt the crimes of threat and coercion charged in the instant cases, and that it does not corroborate the testimony of the private complainant as allege din the Purpose Column.

WHEREFORE, in the interest of justice, it is respectfully prayed that the foregoing comments/objections be considered by the Court in resolving the prosecution’s “Formal Offer of Documentary Exhibits”.

Las Pinas City, November 3, 2016.


LASERNA CUEVA-MERCADER
LAW OFFICES
Counsel for Accused xxx 
Unit 15, Star Arcade, CV Starr Ave.
Philamlife Village, Las Pinas City 1740
Tel. Nos. 8725443 & 8462539

X x x.
Cc:

OFFICE OF THE CITY PROSECUTOR
Hall of Justice
X X X
            Reg. Rec. No.
            Date                                        PO

Atty. x x x.
Private Prosecutor
X x x x .
            Reg. Rec. No.
            Date                                        PO



EXPLANATION

Copies hereof are served on the Court, the opposing counsel and the public prosecutor via LBC Express Corp./registered mail due to the lack of field staff of undersigned counsel at this time and due to the urgency of filing the same.



x x x