1 Noriega’s Notes

EVIDENCE

1. Definitions
a. Factum probandum – ultimate fact or the fact sought to be established
b. Factum probans – evidentiary fact or the fact by which the factum probandum is to be
established
2. Classification of evidence
a. Object (Real)
 That which is directly addressed to the senses of the court and consists of tangible
things exhibited or demonstrated in open court, in an ocular inspection, or at a place
designated by the court for its view or observation of an exhibition, experiment or
demonstration
Documentary
 Evidence supplied by written instruments or derived from conventional symbols, such
as letter, by which ideas are represented on material substances
Testimonial
 That which is submitted to the court through the testimony or deposition of a witness
b. Relevant
 Evidence having any value in reason as tending to prove any matter provable in an
action
 Relevancy – logical relation of evidentiary fact to fact in issue
Material
 Evidence directed to prove a fact in issue
Competent
 One that is not excluded by law in particular case
c. Direct
 That which proves the fact in dispute without the aid of any inference or
presumption
Circumstantial
 The proof of the facts other than the fact in issue from which, taken either singly or
collectively, the existence of the particular fact in dispute may be inferred as a
necessary or probable consequence
d. Cumulative
 Evidence of the same kind and to the same state of facts
Corroborative
 Additional evidence of a different character to the same point for higher probative
value
e. Prima facie
 That which standing alone, unexplained or uncontradicted is sufficient to maintain a
proposition
Conclusive
 Class of evidence which the law does not allow to be contradicted
f. Primary or Best
 2 Noriega’s Notes
 That which the law regards as affording greatest certainty of the fact in question
Secondary or Substitutionary
 That which is inferior to the primary evidence and is permitted by law only when the
best evidence is not available
g. Positive
 The witness affirms that a fact did or did not occur
Negative
 The witness states that he did not see or know of the occurrence of a fact

RULE 129 WHAT NEED NOT BE PROVED

1. What do not need to be proved:
Matters of judicial notice
Judicial admissions
Facts presumed
Allegations in complaint or answer which are immaterial to the issue
Facts admitted or not denied in the answer, provided they have been sufficiently alleged
Those which are the subject of an agreed stipulation of facts between the parties, as well
as judicial admissions made in the course of the proceedings
Technical admission – when defendant fails to specifically deny the allegations of plaintiff
2. Doctrine of processual presumption – absent any evidence or admission, the foreign law in
question is presumed to be the same as that in the Philippines
3. Mandatory judicial notice [SLAPTONG]
States – existence, territory, political history, government, symbols of nationality
Law of nations
Admiralty and maritime courts and seals
Philippine – political constitution and history
Official acts
 Court cannot take judicial notice of a law or regulation that is not yet effective
 Decisions of SC are proper subjects of mandatory judicial notice
Laws of nature
Measure of time
Geographical division
4. Discretionary judicial notice
Matters which are of public knowledge
 Common and general knowledge
 Indisputable
Matters capable of unquestionable demonstration
Ought to be known by judges because of their judicial functions
 Newspaper reports not subject to judicial notice
 Courts cannot take judicial notice of custom. Custom must be proved as a matter of
fact.
 3 Noriega’s Notes
 Pardon is granted by the Chief Executive and as such is a private act which must be
pleaded and proved by the person pardoned.
5. Judicial Admissions:
 Verbal or written; made by a party in course of the proceedings in the same case
 May only be contradicted by showing that:
Made through palpable mistake; or
No such admission was made.
 Admissions made in a pleading later amended: lose their status as judicial admissions;
become merely extra-judicial admissions which must be offered.
 A stipulation made during a criminal proceeding is tantamount to a judicial admission and
need not be signed as required by R118, §4 to be binding on the accused.
 A court cannot take judicial notice of an admission made by a party in another case even
if the latter case is pending before the same sala or judge, except:
In the absence of objection;
With knowledge or upon request of the parties.

RULE 130 RULES OF ADMISSIBILITY

1. Admissibility of object evidence
Relevant to fact in evidence
Object must be authenticated before it is admitted
2. Production of documents under this rule and Under Rule 27 (modes of discovery),
distinguished
RULE 130 RULE 27
Production is procured by mere notice to Production is by proper motion in the trial
adverse party, and requirements for such court, and is permitted only upon good cause
notice must be complied with as a condition shown (mode of discovery)
precedent for the subsequent evidence by the
proponent
Presupposes that the document to be produced Contemplates situation wherein document is
is intended as evidence for the proponent who either assumed to be favorable to the party in
is presumed to have knowledge of its contents, possession thereof OR that the party seeking
secondary evidence thereof being available in its production is not sufficiently informed of the
case of its non-production contents of the same

BEST EVIDENCE RULE

1. General Rule: When the subject of an inquiry is the contents of a document, no evidence
shall be admissible other than the original document itself. (If only the fact of
execution/existence/surrounding circumstances only is involved, Rule does not apply)
2. Exceptions to Best Evidence Rule:
a. Original is lost or destroyed, or cannot be produced in court without bad faith on the part
of the offeror;
When the original is in the custody of the party against whom the evidence is offered,
and the latter fails to produce it after reasonable notice;
 4 Noriega’s Notes
When the original consists of numerous accounts or other documents which cannot be
examined in court without great loss of time and the only fact sought to be established is
the general result of the whole; and
When the original is a public record in the custody of a public officer or is recorded in a
public office.
3. Meaning of “original” document
The one the contents of which are the subject of an inquiry
If in 2 or more copies executed:
At or about the same time; AND
With identical contents
 Then all copies are originals
If entry is
Repeated in regular course of business, with
One being copied from another;
At or near the time of the transaction,
 Then all entries are originals
4. If original is unavailable:
 Order of proof (but can be changed at court’s discretion):
Existence
Execution: Established by
Person who executed it;
The person before whom its execution was acknowledged
Any person who was present and saw it executed, and recognized the signature;
Any person to whom the parties to the instrument had previously confessed the
execution thereof
c. Loss or Destruction
 If there are several original copies, all copies must be accounted for before
secondary evidence may be received.
d. Contents
5. Proof of Contents of Lost Original or Original in custody/control of adverse party (Secondary
Evidence) – in order stated:
A copy
A recital of its contents in an authentic document
Testimony of witnesses
6. What must be proven if original in possession of adverse party
Opponent’s possession of original
Reasonable notice to opponent to produce the original
Satisfactory proof of its existence
Failure or refusal of opponent to produce original in court
 By opponent’s failure to produce the document on demand, he is now forbidden to
produce the document in order to contradict the other party ’s copy/evidence of its
contents
 5 Noriega’s Notes

PAROL EVIDENCE RULE

1. General Rule: When the terms of an agreement have been reduced into writing, it is
considered as containing all the terms agreed upon, and there can be, between the parties
and their successors in interest, no evidence of such terms other than the contents of the
written agreement
2. Exceptions to the Parol Evidence Rule: when a party puts in issue in his pleadings: [FIVE]
Intrinsic ambiguity, mistake or imperfection in the written agreement
Failure of the written agreement to express the true intent of the parties;
Validity of the written agreement; OR
Existence of other terms agreed upon subsequent to the execution of the written
agreement
NOTE: Parol = evidence aliunde whether oral or written which tends to deny or contradict
documented agreement.
 A “Receipt” or a “Deed” is not an exclusive memorial and facts contained therein may be
shown irrespective of the terms of the document.
 Distinction must be made between “statements of fact” expressed in an instrument and
the “terms” of the contractual act. The former may be varied by parol evidence.
3. Parol Evidence Rule and Best Evidence Rule Distinguished
PAROL EVIDENCE RULE BEST EVIDENCE RULE
Presupposes that the original document is The original writing is not available and/or
available in court there is a dispute as to whether said writing is
the original
Prohibits the varying of the terms of a written Prohibits the introduction of substitutionary
agreement evidence in lieu of the original documents,
regardless of whether or not it varies the
contents of the original
With the exception of wills, applies only to Applies to all kinds of writings
documents which are contractual in nature
(written agreements)
Can be involved only when the controversy is Can be invoked by any party to an action,
between the parties to the written agreements, regardless of whether such party participated
their privies or any party affected thereby in the writing involved
(does not apply to complete strangers)

QUALIFICATION OF WITNESSES
1. Persons Disqualified from becoming witnesses due to mental incapacity or immaturity:
a. Those whose mental condition, at the time of their production for examination, is such
that they are incapable of intelligently making known their perceptions to others; or
 A mental retardate is not, for this reason alone, disqualified from being a witness.
b. Children whose mental maturity is such as to render them incapable of perceiving the
facts respecting which they are examined and of relating them truthfully.

MARITAL DISQUALIFICATION RULE

 6 Noriega’s Notes
1. Marital Disqualification
 Wife may testify against the husband in a criminal case for falsification, where the
husband made it appear that the wife gave her consent to the sale of a conjugal house
(considered as a crime committed against the wife)
 If husband-accused defends himself by imputing the crime to the wife, he is deemed to
have waived all objections to the wife’s testimony against him.

DEAD MAN’ S STATUTE

1. Requisites for Application of Dead Man’s Statute [PACO]
a. The witness is a Party or assignor of a party to a case, or of a person on whose behalf a
case is prosecuted;
 Dead Man Statute not applicable to a corporation’s officers and stockholders in a suit
instituted by the corporation. Thus, the officers and stockholders may testify.
b. The action is Against an executor, administrator or other representative of a deceased
person, or against a person of unsound mind;
 Heirs of deceased person are considered “representatives ” of a deceased person.
c. The subject matter of the action is a Claim or demand against the estate of such
deceased person, or against such person of unsound mind;
d. The testimony refers to any matter of Fact occurring before the death of such deceased
person, or before such person became of unsound mind.
 Not covered by the Rule:
Counterclaim by defendant (plaintiff may testify in his defense)
Deceased contracted with plaintiff thru an agent of the deceased/insane (in the contract
which is the subject of the action) who is still alive and can testify (but the testimony
is limited to the acts performed by the agent)
If adverse party is called as a witness by the representative of the deceased/incompetent
or if representative introduced evidence as to the transactions or communications
with the deceased/incompetent
To cadastral proceedings, where there is no defendant or plaintiff

PRIVILEGED COMMUNICATIONS:
1. Kinds of Privileged Communications:
Marital privilege
Attorney-client
Doctor-patient
Priest-Penitent
Public Officer’s Privilege
2. Requisites for Marital Privilege
Valid marital relation must have existed
Privilege is claimed with respect to a communication made by one spouse to another
during the marriage;
Communication was made in confidence
3. Marital disqualification and marital privilege distinguished
 7 Noriega’s Notes
MARITAL DISQUALIFICATION MARITAL PRIVILEGE
Can be invoked only if one of the spouses is a Can be claimed whether or not the spouse is a
part to the action party to the action
Right to invoke belongs to the spouse who is a Right to invoke belongs to the spouse making
party to the action the communication
Applies only if the marriage is existing at the Can be claimed even after the marriage has
time the testimony is offered been dissolved
Constitutes a total prohibition against any Applies only to confidential communications
testimony for or against the spouse of the between spouses made during the marriage
witness (with certain exceptions)

4. Attorney-Client Privilege
There is an attorney-client relationship
There is a communication made by the client to the attorney
Such communication was made in the course of, or with a view to, professional
employment
 Extends to attorney’s secretary, stenographer or clerk; requires consent of both employer
and the client to testify as to matters learned in their professional capacity
 Exceptions:
Actions brought by client against his attorney
Communications made in presence of third persons
Communications regarding an intended crime
 General Rule: Lawyer may not invoke the privilege and refuse to divulge the name of his
client
Exception:
If there is a probability that the revealing the client ’s name would implicate the client to
the activity for which he sought the lawyer’s advice;
The disclosure would open the client to civil liability;
Where the identity is intended to be confidential
 Privilege not confined to verbal or written communications, but extends to all information
communicated by the client to the attorney by other means, such as when the attorney
is called to witness the preparation of a document.
5. Requisites for Physician-Patient privilege [CRANB]
The action is a Civil case
The Relation of physician-patient existed
The information was Acquired by the physician while attending to the patient in his
professional capacity
The information was Necessary for the performance of his professional duty
The disclosure of the information would tend to Blacken the character of the patient
 A patient’s husband is not prohibited from testifying on a report prepared by his wife ’s
psychiatrist since he is not the treating physician (although it would be hearsay)
 A physician is not prohibited from giving expert testimony in response to a strictly
hypothetical question in a lawsuit involving the physical or mental condition of a patient
he has treated professionally.
 8 Noriega’s Notes
6. Requisites for Priest-Penitent Privilege
Confession was made or advice given by the priest in his professional character in the
course of the discipline enjoined by the church to which the priest or minister belongs;
The confession must be confidential and penitent in character
7. Requisites for Public Officer’s Privilege
Communication made to a public officer in official confidence
Public interest would suffer by the disclosure
8. “Newsman’s privilege” – a publisher, editor, columnist or duly accredited reporter cannot be
compelled to disclose the source of news report or information appearing in the publication
which is related in confidence, the disclosure of which is not demanded by the security of the
state.

ADMISSIONS AND CONFESSIONS

1. Admission and Confession distinguished
ADMISSION CONFESSION
Statement of fact which does not involve an Involves acknowledgment of guilt or liability
acknowledgment of guilt or liability

May be express or tacit Must be express

May be made by third persons, and in certain Can be made only by the party himself, and in
cases, are admissible against a party some cases, are admissible against his co-
accused

NOTE: If a justification is alleged, it is merely an admission.

 Right against self-incrimination applies to the re-enactment of the crime by the accused
2. Requisites for admissibility of an admission
Involves a matter of fact, not of law
Categorical and definite
Knowingly and voluntarily made
Adverse to the admitter's interest, otherwise, self-serving and inadmissible as hearsay
3. Admissions and Declarations against self-interest distinguished
ADMISSIONS DECLARATION AGAINST INTEREST
Need not be, though will greatly enhance Must have been made against the proprietary
probative weight if made against the interest of or pecuniary interest of the parties
the declarant
Made by the party himself and is a primary Must have been made by a person who is
evidence and competent though he be present either deceased or unable to testify
in court and ready to testify
Can be made at any time Must have been made ante litem motam

4. Compromises
 Civil Cases: not admission of liability
 Criminal Cases: implied admission of guilt.
 9 Noriega’s Notes
Except: quasi-offenses or those allowed by law to be compromised, or when made to
avoid risks of criminal actions against him.
 Also, offer to pay expenses occasioned by injury not admissible as proof of civil or
criminal liability for the injury.
 A plea of forgiveness made with the knowledge, consent or acquiescence of the accused
is tantamount to an offer to compromise by the accused.
 If the purpose of the offer is to buy peace and avoid litigation, then the offer is
inadmissible.
5. Requisites for Admission by Silence (Adaptive Admissions)
The party heard and understood the statement
He was at liberty to interpose a denial
Statement was with respect to some matter affecting his rights or in which he was then
interested, and calling, naturally, for an answer
Facts were within his knowledge
Facts admitted or inference to be drawn from his silence is material to the issue
 If private complainant in a rape case fails to rebut testimonies of defense witnesses that
she and accused were sweethearts and that they had previous sexual encounters, she is
deemed to have impliedly admitted the truth of the facts asserted by said witnesses.
10 Noriega’s Notes
6. Res inter alios acta alteri nocero non debet
a. First branch
 Section 20, the rights of a party cannot be prejudiced by an act, declaration or
omission of another
 EXCEPTIONS: where the third person is a partner, agent, joint owner, joint debtor or
has a joint interest with the party, or is a co-conspirator or a privy of the party,
during the existence of the partnership, conspiracy, etc. as established by evidence
other than such act or declaration, or while holding title to property in relation to
such
b. Second branch
 Sec. 34, evidence that one did or did not do a certain thing at one time not
admissible to prove that he did or did not do the same/similar thing at another time
 Exceptions: [KISSHICUP] it may be received to prove a specific intent or knowledge,
identity, plan, system, scheme, habit, custom, or usage
7. Admission by a Co-Partner or Agent
Partnership, agency or joint interest is established by evidence other than the act or
declaration
Act or declaration is within the scope of the partnership, agency or joint interest
Act or declaration must have been made during the existence of the partnership, agency
or joint interest
8. Admission by Co-conspirator
 Requisites apply only to extrajudicial acts or statements, and not to testimony during trial
Conspiracy is shown by evidence other than the act or declaration
Admission was made during existence of the conspiracy
Admission relates to the conspiracy itself
 An extra-judicial confession of an accused is not admissible in evidence against his co-
accused when the latter had not been given the opportunity to hear him testify and
cross-examine him. Such confession is not admissible as an Admission by co-conspirator
because it was made after the conspiracy had ended and after the commission of the
crime.
9. Admissions by Privies
Must be a relation of privity between the party and the declarant
Admission was made while declarant as predecessor in interest, while holding title to the
property
Admission is in relation to said property
 HOWEVER, such evidence is still not admissible to contradict the terms of the written
instrument
10. Opinion of a witness
Expert – special knowledge, skill experience or training
Ordinary
Identity of person about whom he has adequate knowledge
Handwriting, if with sufficient familiarity
Mental sanity, if sufficiently acquainted
11 Noriega’s Notes
Impressions on emotion, behavior, condition or appearance which he has observed
Ordinary matters common to all men of common perception
12 Noriega’s Notes
HEARSAY RULE
1. Exceptions to hearsay rule
Dying declaration – ante mortem or in articulo mortis
Declaration against interest
Act or declaration against pedigree
Family reputation or traditions regarding pedigree
Common reputation
Res gestae
Entries in course of business
Entries in official records
Commercial lists and the like
Learned treatises
Court takes judicial notice; or
Testified to by an expert
Testimony or deposition at a former proceeding
 Newspaper clippings are hearsay and have no evidentiary value unless substantiated by
persons with personal knowledge of the facts.
2. Doctrine of independently relevant statements
 Independent of whether the facts stated are true, they are relevant since they are the
facts in issue or are circumstantial evidence of the facts in issue
 Not covered by the hearsay rule
 Example: The statements or writings attributed to a person who is not on the witness
stand are being offered, not to prove the truth of the facts stated therein, but only to
prove that such statements were actually made or such writings were executed, or to
prove the tenor thereof.
3. Requisites of Declaration Against Interest
a. Declarant dead or unable to testify
 Mere absence from jurisdiction does not make declarant “unable to testify. ”
Exception contemplates that the declarant is dead, mentally incompetent or
physically incapacitated
b. Declaration was against his own interest
c. Reasonable man in declarant’s position would not have made the declaration unless he
believed it to be true
 Declarations by accused against his interest are inadmissible if done in violation of his
constitutional rights
4. Requisites of Act or Declaration about Pedigree
Declarant dead or unable to testify
Declarant is related to the person whose pedigree is in question
Made ante litem motam
Relationship between declarant and person whose pedigree is in question showed by
evidence other than the declaration
5. Requisites of Family Reputation/Tradition regarding Pedigree
13 Noriega’s Notes
Reputation or tradition exists in family of person whose pedigree is in question
Reputation or tradition existed previous to the controversy
Witness testifying thereon is a surviving member of that family, by either affinity or
consanguinity
 A person’s statement as to the date of his birth and age, as he learned of these from his
parents or relatives, is an ante litem motam declaration of family reputation.
6. Requisites of Common Reputation
Facts to which the reputation refers are of public or general interest
Reputation is ancient (or more than 30 years old)
Reputation must have been formed among a class of persons who were in a position to
have some sources of information and to contribute intelligently to the formation of the
opinion
Reputation must exist ante litem motam
 HOWEVER, if the reputation concerns marriage or moral character, the requisite that
the reputation must be ancient does NOT apply
7. Requisites of Dying Declarations
a. Declaration must concern cause and surrounding circumstances of declarant’s death
 Cannot be admitted to establish fact of robbery; strictly limited to criminal
prosecutions for homicide/murder as evidence of the cause and surrounding
circumstances of the death
b. Declaration was made under consciousness of impending death
c. Declaration was freely and voluntarily made
d. Declarant’s testimony, if alive, would have been competent (eg: dying declaration would
not be admissible if it consisted of hearsay, or of the declarant’s opinion)
8. Res gestae
 2 kinds/classes:
a. Spontaneous statements;
 Requisites:
There is a startling occurrence
Statement must relate to the circumstances of the occurrence
Statement is unconscious and unpremeditated
 Factors to be considered in determining spontaneity of statement:
Time that elapsed between occurrence and the making of the statement
Place where statement was made
Condition of the declarant when he made the statement
Presence or absence of intervening occurrences between the occurrence and the
statement
Nature and circumstances of the statement itself
b. Verbal acts:
 Requisites:
Res gestae or principal act must be equivocal
Act material to issue
14 Noriega’s Notes
Statements must accompany equivocal act
Statements must give legal significance to equivocal act
15 Noriega’s Notes
9. Res gestae and Dying Declarations distinguished
RES GESTAE DYING DECLARATIONS
Statement of the killer himself after or during Can be made only by the victim
the killing, or that of a third person (e.g.,
victim)
Statement may precede, accompany or be Made only after the homicidal attack has been
made after the homicidal act was committed committed
Justified by the spontaneity of the statement Trustworthiness is based upon its being given
under awareness of impending death

10. Requisites of Entries in the course of business

Entrant is deceased or unable to testify
Entries made at or near the time of the transaction to which they relate
Entries made by entrant in his professional capacity or in the performance of a duty
Entries were made in the ordinary or regular course of business
Entrant must have been in a position to know the facts therein stated
 Heirs of Conti vs. CA - baptismal certificates are admissible as entries in the ordinary
course of business, even absent the testimony of the officiating priest or official recorder
11. Requisites of Entries in official records
Entry was made by public officer of the Philippines or by a person especially enjoined by
law to make such entry
Entry was made in the performance of entrant’s duty
Entrant must have been in a position to know the facts therein stated
 Baptismal certificates or parochial records are not public or official records and are not
proof of relationship or filiation of the child baptized.
12. Entries in the course of business and Entries in official records distinguished
ENTRIES IN THE COURSE OF BUSINESS ENTRIES IN OFFICIAL RECORDS

Sufficient that entrant made the entries entrant is a public officer in performance of
pursuant to a duty either legal, contractual, duty, or if a private individual, must have acted
moral or religious, or in the regular course of pursuant to a specific legal duty (specially
business or duty enjoined by law)
The person who made such entries must be there is no such requirement for admissibility
dead or unable to testify

13. Requisites of Testimony or Deposition in former proceeding

Witness whose testimony is offered is dead or unable to testify
Party against whom the evidence is offered, or his privy, was a party to the former case
or proceeding, judicial or administrative
Testimony or deposition relates to the same subject matter
Adverse party had opportunity to cross-examine
 Testimony given during preliminary investigation where the defense had the opportunity
to cross-examine the unavailable witness is admissible in the criminal case
14. Modes of Extra-judicial Identification of Accused
16 Noriega’s Notes
Show-ups – where accused alone is brought face-to-face with the witness for
identification
Mug shots – where photographs are shown to the witness for identification
Line-ups – where a witness identifies the suspect from a group of persons lined up for
the purpose
 Identification will be admissible if it passes the totality of circumstances test which
considers the following factors:
The witness’ opportunity to view the criminal at the time of the crime
Witness’ degree of attention at that time
Accuracy of any prior description by the witness
The level of certainty demonstrated by the witness at the identification
Length of time between the crime and identification
Suggestiveness of the identification procedure
15. The SC approved an additional exception to the hearsay rule in its A.M. no. 00-4-07-SC
approving the Proposed Rule on Examination of a Child Witness.*
 A statement made by a child describing any act or attempted act of child abuse NOT
otherwise admissible under the hearsay rule, may be admitted in evidence in any criminal
or non-criminal proceeding subject to the following rules:
Before such statement may be admitted, its proponent shall make known to the
adverse party the intention to offer such statement and its particulars to allow him
an opportunity to object.
If the child is available
 The court shall require the child to be present at the presentation of the
hearsay statement for cross-examination by the adverse party.
If the child is unavailable
 The fact of such circumstance must be proved by the proponent.
In ruling on the admissibility of such hearsay statement, the court shall consider the
time, content and circumstances thereof which provide sufficient indicia of reliability.
It shall consider the following factors:
Whether there is a motive to lie
The general character of the declarant child
Whether more than one person heard the statement
Whether the statement was spontaneous
The timing of the statement and the relationship between the declarant child and witness.
Cross-examination could not show the lack of knowledge of the declarant child.
The possibility of faulty recollection of the declarant child;
The circumstances surrounding the statement are such that there is no reason to suppose the
declarant child misrepresented the involvement of the accused.
The child witness shall be considered unavailable in the following situations:
i. Is deceased, suffers from physical infirmity, lack of memory, mental illness or will
be exposed to severe psychological injury;

*
The resolution came out last November 21, 2000. The rule took effect last December 15, 2000.
17 Noriega’s Notes
Is absent from the hearing and the proponent of his statement has been unable to
procure his attendance by process or other reasonable means.
d. When the child witness is unavailable, his hearsay testimony shall be admitted only if
corroborated by other admissible evidence.
18 Noriega’s Notes
RULE 131 BURDEN OF PROOF AND PRESUMPTIONS
1. Presumptions of law
May be conclusive or absolute, or disputable or rebuttable
A certain inference must be made whenever the facts appear which furnish the basis of
the inference
Reduced to fix rules and form a part of the system of jurisprudence
2. Presumptions of fact
A discretion is vested in the tribunal as to drawing the inference
Derived wholly and directly from the circs of the particular case by means of the common
experience of mankind
3. Burden of proof
 Onus probandi
 Obligation imposed upon a party who alleges the existence of facts necessary for the
prosecution of his action or defense to establish the same by the requisite presentation
of evidence
 In civil cases, it is on the party who would be defeated if no evidence is given on either
side; in criminal cases, the prosecution has the burden of proof.
 Does not shift; remains on party upon whom it is imposed
 Determined by pleadings filed by party
4. Burden of evidence
 Lies with party asserting affirmative allegations
 Shifts during trial, depending on exigencies of the case
 Determined by developments at trial or by provisions of law (presumptions, judicial
notice, admissions)
 In criminal cases, a negative fact must be proven if it is an essential element of the crime.
 People vs. Macagaling – in a charge of illegal possession of firearms, the burden is on the
prosecution to prove that the accused had no license to possess the same.
 People vs. Manalo – in a charge for selling regulated drugs without authority, it was held
that although the prosecution has the burden of proving a negative averment which is an
essential element of the crime (i.e. lack of license to sell), the prosecution, in view of the
difficulty of proving a negative allegation, need only establish a prima facie case from the
best evidence obtainable. In this case, the lack of license was held to have been
established by the circumstances that the sale of the drug was consummated not in a
drug store or hospital, and that it was made at 10:00 PM.

RULE 132 PRESENTATION OF EVIDENCE

1. Use immunity
 Prohibits use of the witness' compelled testimony and its fruits in any manner in
connection with the criminal prosecution of the witness
 Where the statute grants only use immunity, merely testifying and/or producing evidence
does not render the witness immune from prosecution despite his invocation of the right
against self-incrimination
2. Transactional immunity
19 Noriega’s Notes
 Grants immunity to the witness from prosecution for an offense to which his compelled
testimony related
3. When leading questions allowed
On cross
On preliminary matters
Difficulty in getting direct and intelligible answers
Unwilling or hostile witness
Adverse party or an officer, director or a corporation or partnership which is an adverse
party
 A misleading question, though not objected to, will not be evidence of the fact assumed
by the improper question.
 NOTE: One who voluntarily offers a witness ’ testimony is bound by such ( i.e. cannot
impeach or contradict), except:
Hostile witness
Adverse party or rep. of adverse party
Not voluntarily offered but required by law (e.g., subscribing witnesses to a will)
4. Impeaching witness of adverse party
Contradictory evidence from testimony in same case
Evidence of prior inconsistent statement
Evidence of bad character/general reputation for truth, honesty, integrity
Evidence of bias, interest, prejudice or incompetence
5. Impeaching own witness
 General Rule: Party not allowed to impeach own witness
Exceptions:
Unwilling or adverse witness so declared by the court
Witness who is also an adverse party
Witnesses required by law (e.g., subscribing witnesses to a will)
 May be impeached in all respects as if called by other party, EXCEPT by evidence of bad
moral character
 When a witness who is partly cross-examined dies, his direct examination cannot be
expunged
6. Requisites of revival of present memory
Memorandum has been written by him or under his direction; and
Written by him:
When the fact occurred or immediately thereafter; or
At any other time when the fact was fresh in his memory and he knew that the same
was correctly recorded
7. Requisites of Revival of Past Recollection
Witness retains no recollection of the particular facts;
But he his able to swear that the record or writing correctly stated the transaction when
made
8. Revival of present memory and Revival of past recollection distinguished
20 Noriega’s Notes
PRESENT RECOLLECTION REVIVED PAST RECOLLECTION RECORDED
Applies if the witness remembers the facts Applies where the witness does not recall the
regarding his entries facts involved
Entitled to greater weight Entitled to lesser weight
9. Additional modes of authenticating a private writing
Doctrine of self-authentication
 Where the facts in the writing could only have been known by the writer
Rule of authentication by the adverse party
 Where reply of the adverse party refers to and affirms the sending and his receipt of
the letter in question, a copy of which the proponent is offering as evidence
10. Authentication not required:
Ancient document
More than 30 years old
Contains no alterations or circumstances of suspicion
Produced from a custody in which it would naturally be found if genuine
Public document or record
Notarial document acknowledged, proved or certified
Authenticity and due execution has been expressly or impliedly admitted ( e.g., actionable
documents, failure to deny under oath)
 Computer printouts are inadmissible unless properly authenticated by a witness attesting
that they came from the computer system or that the data stored in the system were not
and could not have been tampered with before the same were printed out.
11. Handwriting: evidence of genuineness
Witness actually saw person writing the instrument
Familiar with handwriting and witness can give opinion
Comparison of questioned handwriting and admitted genuine specimens
Expert evidence
OFFER AND OBJECTION
The court shall consider no evidence which has not been formally offered. The purpose for
which the evidence is offered must be specified.
Exception: If there was repeated reference thereto in the course of the trial by adverse
party’s counsel and of the court, indicating that the documents were part of the prosecution ’s
evidence.
 Two requisites must concur (People vs. Napta)
a. The document must have been duly identified by testimony duly recorded.
b. The document must have been incorporated to the records of the case.
A party who has introduced evidence is not entitled as matter of right to withdraw it in
finding that it does not answer his purpose; BUT he may withdraw an offer of an exhibit any
time before the court has passed on its admissibility.
Evidence offered is presumed to be admissible or competent until the contrary has been
established.
 Thus, the opposing party must OBJECT to its introduction.
21 Noriega’s Notes
When to object
OFFER TIME TO OBJECT
Offered orally Made immediately after the offer is made
Question propounded in the course of the oral Shall be made as soon as the grounds thereof
examination of a witness shall become reasonably apparent
Offer of evidence in writing Shall be objected to within 3 days after notice
of the offer unless a different period is allowed
by the court.

When is a motion to strike out answer proper?

a. When the witness answered the question before the counsel has a chance to object
Where a question which is not objectionable may be followed by an objectionable
unresponsive answer
Where a witness has volunteered statements in such a way that the party has not been able
to object thereto
Where a witness testifies without a question being addressed to him
Where a witness testifies beyond the ruling of the court prescribing the limits within which he
may answer
When a witness dies or becomes incapacitated to testify and the other party has not been
given the opportunity to cross-examine the witness.
There must be an objection first before a motion to strike. If the party slept on his
right to object, he cannot later on avail a motion to strike to exclude the evidence.
When is a motion to strike out improper?
A party cannot insist that competent and relevant evidence be stricken out for reasons
going to his weight, sufficiency or credibility
One cannot move to strike it out because it proves unfavorable to him
7. If court improperly excludes an otherwise admissible evidence, remedy is to tender the
excluded evidence, also known as offer of proof:
Documentary – by attaching the document or making it part of the record
Testimonial – by stating the personal circumstances of witness and the substance of
proposed testimony

RULE 133 WEIGHT AND SUFFICIENCY OF EVIDENCE

1. Proof beyond reasonable doubt
 Does not mean such degree of proof as, excluding possibility of error, produces absolute
certainty
 Moral certainty only is required, or that degree of proof which produces conviction in an
unprejudiced mind
2. Circumstantial evidence to sustain conviction must:
More than one circumstance
Facts from which inferences are derived are proven
Combination of all circumstances such as to produce conviction beyond reasonable doubt
3. Substantial evidence
22 Noriega’s Notes
 That amount of relevant evidence which a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to
justify a conclusion.

PERTINENT PROVISIONS OF THE IMPLEMENTING RULES OF THE E-COMMERCE ACT:

CHAPTER II LEGAL RECOGNITION OF ELECTRONIC DATA MESSAGES AND ELECTRONIC DOCUMENTS

Section 7. Legal Recognition of Electronic Data Messages and Electronic Documents. -

Information shall not be denied validity or enforceability solely on the ground that it is in the form
of an electronic data message or electronic document, purporting to give rise to such legal effect.
Electronic data messages or electronic documents shall have the legal effect, validity or
enforceability as any other document or legal writing. In particular, subject to the provisions of
the Act and these Rules:
A requirement under law that information is in writing is satisfied if the information is in the form
of an electronic data message or electronic document.
A requirement under law for a person to provide information in writing to another person is
satisfied by the provision of the information in an electronic data message or electronic
document.
A requirement under law for a person to provide information to another person in a specified
non-electronic form is satisfied by the provision of the information in an electronic data message
or electronic document if the information is provided in the same or substantially the same form.
Nothing limits the operation of any requirement under law for information to be posted or
displayed in specified manner, time or location; or for any information or document to be
communicated by a specified method unless and until a functional equivalent shall have been
developed, installed, and implemented.

Section 8. Incorporation by Reference. - Information shall not be denied validity or

enforceability solely on the ground that it is not contained in an electronic data message or
electronic document but is merely incorporated by reference therein.

Section 9. Use Not Mandatory. - Without prejudice to the application of Section 27 of the Act
and Section 37 of these Rules, nothing in the Act or these Rules requires a person to use or
accept information contained in electronic data messages, electronic documents, or electronic
signatures, but a person's consent to do so may be inferred from the person's conduct.
Section 10. Writing. - Where the law requires a document to be in writing, or obliges the parties
to conform to a writing, or provides consequences in the event information is not presented or
retained in its original form, an electronic document or electronic data message will be sufficient
if the latter:
Maintains its integrity and reliability; and
Can be authenticated so as to be usable for subsequent reference, in that:
It has remained complete and unaltered, apart from the addition of any endorsement and any
authorized change, or any change which arises in the normal course of communication, storage
and display; and
It is reliable in the light of the purpose for which it was generated and in the light of all relevant
circumstances.

Section 11. Original. - Where the law requires that a document be presented or retained in its
original form, that requirement is met by an electronic document or electronic data message if –
There exists a reliable assurance as to the integrity of the electronic document or electronic data
message from the time when it was first generated in its final form and such integrity is shown
by evidence aliunde (that is, evidence other than the electronic data message itself) or otherwise;
and
The electronic document or electronic data message is capable of being displayed to the person
to whom it is to be presented.
23 Noriega’s Notes
For the purposes of paragraph (a) above:
The criteria for assessing integrity shall be whether the information has remained
complete and unaltered, apart from the addition of any endorsement and any
change which arises in the normal course of communication, storage and
display; and
The standard of reliability required shall be assessed in the light of the purpose for
which the information was generated and in the light of all relevant
circumstances.
An electronic data message or electronic document meeting and complying with the
requirements of Sections 6 or 7 of the Act shall be the best evidence of the agreement and
transaction contained therein.

Section 12. Solemn Contracts. - No provision of the Act shall apply to vary any and all
requirements of existing laws and relevant judicial pronouncements respecting formalities
required in the execution of documents for their validity. Hence, when the law requires that a
contract be in some form in order that it may be valid or enforceable, or that a contract is proved
in a certain way, that requirement is absolute and indispensable.

LEGAL RECOGNITION OF ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES

Section 13. Legal Recognition of Electronic Signatures. An electronic signature relating to an

electronic document or electronic data message shall be equivalent to the signature of a person
on a written document if the signature:
Is an electronic signature as defined in Section 6(g) of these Rules; and
Is proved by showing that a prescribed procedure, not alterable by the parties interested in the
electronic document or electronic data message, existed under which:
A method is used to identify the party sought to be bound and to indicate said
party’s access to the electronic document or electronic data message necessary
for his consent or approval through the electronic signature;
Said method is reliable and appropriate for the purpose for which the electronic
document or electronic data message was generated or communicated, in the
light of all circumstances, including any relevant agreement;
It is necessary for the party sought to be bound, in order to proceed further with the
transaction, to have executed or provided the electronic signature; and,
The other party is authorized and enabled to verify the electronic signature and to
make the decision to proceed with the transaction authenticated by the same.
The parties may agree to adopt supplementary or alternative procedures provided
that the requirements of paragraph (b) are complied with.
For purposes of subparagraphs (i) and (ii) of paragraph (b), the factors referred to in
Annex “2” may be taken into account.

Section 14. Presumption Relating to Electronic Signatures. - In any proceeding involving an

electronic signature, the proof of the electronic signature shall give rise to the rebuttable
presumption that:
The electronic signature is the signature of the person to whom it correlates; and
The electronic signature was affixed by that person with the intention of signing or approving the
electronic data message or electronic document unless the person relying on the electronically
signed electronic data message or electronic document knows or has notice of defects in or
unreliability of the signature or reliance on the electronic signature is not reasonable under the
circumstances.

MODES OF AUTHENTICATION
24 Noriega’s Notes
Section 15. Method of Authenticating Electronic Documents, Electronic Data Messages, and
Electronic Signatures. - Electronic documents, electronic data messages and electronic
signatures, shall be authenticated by demonstrating, substantiating and validating a claimed
identity of a user, device, or another entity in an information or communication system.
Until the Supreme Court, by appropriate rules, shall have so provided, electronic
documents, electronic data messages and electronic signatures, shall be authenticated, among
other ways, in the following manner:
The electronic signature shall be authenticated by proof that a letter, character, number or other
symbol in electronic form representing the persons named in and attached to or logically
associated with an electronic data message, electronic document, or that the appropriate
methodology or security procedures, when applicable, were employed or adopted by a person
and executed or adopted by such person, with the intention of authenticating or approving an
electronic data message or electronic document;
The electronic data message or electronic document shall be authenticated by proof that an
appropriate security procedure, when applicable was adopted and employed for the purpose of
verifying the originator of an electronic data message or electronic document, or detecting error
or alteration in the communication, content or storage of an electronic document or electronic
data message from a specific point, which, using algorithm or codes, identifying words or
numbers, encryptions, answers back or acknowledgement procedures, or similar security devices.

Section 16. Burden of Authenticating Electronic Documents or Electronic Data Messages. - The
person seeking to introduce an electronic document or electronic data message in any legal
proceeding has the burden of proving its authenticity by evidence capable of supporting a finding
that the electronic data message or electronic document is what the person claims it to be.

MODES FOR ESTABLISHING INTEGRITY

Section 17. Method of Establishing the Integrity of an Electronic Document or Electronic Data
Message. In the absence of evidence to the contrary, the integrity of the information and
communication system in which an electronic data message or electronic document is recorded
or stored may be established in any legal proceeding, among other methods
By evidence that at all material times the information and communication system or other similar
device was operating in a manner that did not affect the integrity of the electronic document or
electronic data message, and there are no other reasonable grounds to doubt the integrity of the
information and communication system;
By showing that the electronic document or electronic data message was recorded or stored by a
party to the proceedings who is adverse in interest to the party using it; or
By showing that the electronic document or electronic data message was recorded or stored in
the usual and ordinary course of business by a person who is not a party to the proceedings and
who did not act under the control of the party using the record.

ADMISSIBILITY AND EVIDENTIAL WEIGHT

Section 18. Admissibility and Evidential Weight of Electronic Data Messages and Electronic
Documents. - For evidentiary purposes, an electronic document or electronic data message shall
be the functional equivalent of a written document under existing laws. In any legal proceeding,
nothing in the application of the rules on evidence shall deny the admissibility of an electronic
data message or electronic document in evidence:
On the sole ground that it is in electronic form; or
On the ground that it is not in the standard written form.
The Act does not modify any statutory rule relating to the admissibility of electronic data
messages or electronic documents, except the rules relating to authentication and best evidence.
25 Noriega’s Notes
In assessing the evidential weight of an electronic data message or electronic document,
the reliability of the manner in which it was generated, stored or communicated, the reliability of
the manner in which its originator was identified, and other relevant factors shall be given due
regard.

Section 19. Proof by Affidavit and Cross-Examination. - The matters referred to in Section 12 of
the Act on admissibility and evidentiary weight, and Section 9 of the Act on the presumption of
integrity of electronic signatures, may be presumed to have been established by an affidavit
given to the best of the deponent’s or affiant’s personal knowledge subject to the rights of parties
in interest to cross-examine such deponent or affiant as a matter of right. Such right of cross-
examination may likewise be enjoyed by a party to the proceedings who is adverse in interest to
the party who has introduced the affidavit or has caused the affidavit to be introduced.
Any party to the proceedings has the right to cross-examine a person referred to in
Section 11, paragraph 4, and sub-paragraph (c) of the Act.

RETENTION OF ELECTRONIC DATA MESSAGE AND ELECTRONIC DOCUMENT

Section 20. Retention of Electronic Data Message and Electronic Document. - Notwithstanding
any provision of law, rule or regulation to the contrary:
a. The requirement in any provision of law that certain documents be retained in their
original form is satisfied by retaining them in the form of an electronic data message or
electronic document which:
Remains accessible so as to be usable for subsequent reference;
Is retained in the format in which it was generated, sent or received, or in a format
which can be demonstrated to accurately represent the electronic data message
or electronic document generated, sent or received; and,
Where applicable, enables the identification of its originator and addressee, as well
as the determination of the date and the time it was sent or received.
The requirement referred to in paragraph (a) is satisfied by using the services of a third
party, provided that the conditions set forth in subparagraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) of
paragraph (a) are met.
Relevant government agencies tasked with enforcing or implementing applicable laws
relating to the retention of certain documents may, by appropriate issuances, impose
regulations to ensure the integrity, reliability of such documents and the proper
implementation of Section 13 of the Act.