Republic of the Philippines

NUEVA ECIJA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

College of Criminology
Sumacab Este, Cabanatuan City

NARRATIVE REPORT ON COURT PROCEEDING OBSERVATION

COURT TESTIMONY (CLJ 5)

On January 23, 2018, we submitted a formal letter of request at RTC branch 25 to allow
us to observe in their actual court room proceeding and to understand the interplay of legal
theories and the applications of laws in each case.

On February 7, 2018, the first date of our observation, we observed that there are so many
cases in every session and most of this was violation of R.A. 9165 commonly known as
Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Every Wednesday, we came early to attend hearings. The hearing starts at 2:00 o’clock
in the afternoon. Most of the hearing was arraignment of the accused and they were always plead
not guilty. When the witness is on the witness stand of the prosecution, they are asked some
questions for direct examination and after that, the defense counsel conduct a cross-examination
to ensure that the testimony of the witness is correct and to find a reason to impeach them.

It takes a long period of time to promulgate judgment in some cases, mostly in drugs and
the accused will wait some years inside the jail. The last hearing we attended was on March 07,
2018.

Observers:
Diaz, Raden
Diaz, Willmher A.
Libao, Rufino Jr.
Zoleta, Mark Robert C.
Natividad, Samuel U.
Rivera, Jayson
Concepcion, Lee Jae
Tolentino, Donnalyn
Gabriel, Jeffrey James
Folloso, Mark Louie
Viernes, John Merwil
 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA ECIJA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
College of Criminology
Sumacab Este, Cabanatuan City

NARRATIVE REPORT ON COURT PROCEEDING OBSERVATION

COURT TESTIMONY (CLJ 5)

On January 23, 2018, we submitted a formal letter of request at Municipal Trial Court of
Cabanatuan City Branch 1 to allow us to observe in their actual court room proceedings and to
understand the interplay of all legal theories and the application of laws in each case.

On the same date was the first date of our observation. The hearings started at *:30 in the
morning. Before the hearing proceed, there is a court prayer prior to the court proceedings. There
are so many cases tried in every proceeding.

Every Monday, we came early to attend hearings, most common that we observed was
arraignment of the accused. And when it comes to the witness before they testify, they took an
oath to assure that they only tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. When the
witness is on the witness stand, the prosecutor asked some questions for direct examination
related to the crime committed and after the direct examination, the examination will be conducted
by the defense counsel to ensure that the testimony of the witness is correct and to find a reason
to impeach him.

The most important that we observed that it takes long period of time to promulgate
judgment in some cases and the accused will wait some years inside the jail. The last hearing we
attended was on March 05, 2018.

Observers:
Diaz, Raden
Diaz, Willmher A.
Libao, Rufino Jr.
Zoleta, Mark Robert C.
Natividad, Samuel U.
Rivera, Jayson
Concepcion, Lee Jae
Tolentino, Donnalyn
Gabriel, Jeffrey James
Folloso, Mark Louie
Viernes, John Merwil