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PEOPLE , et al. Vs. Villaluz, Onofre A., et al.

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES AND FAUSTINO F. TUGADE AND W. ESPIRITU TAGANAS, in their capacity as private prosecutors, petitioners, vs. HONORABLE ONOFRE A. VILLALUZ, in his capacity as Presiding Judge, CCC Pasig, Rizal, AND PEDRO BERROYA, respondents.

G.R. No. L-33459 | 1983-10-20

D E C I S I O N


PLANA, J.:

Private respondent Pedro Berroya was charged with murder before the then Circuit Criminal Court at Pasig, Rizal presided over by former Judge Onofre A. Villaluz. In the course of the trial, the prosecution presented all its witnesses except two vital ones (Alejandro Gonzaga and Alfredo Gadiar) for the reason that they could not be located despite the combined efforts of national and local law enforcement agencies to do so for the purpose of executing the orders of arrest issued by the trial court to compel them to appear and testify.

Since the two witnesses could not be found, Lydia Ver, the attending...