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PEOPLE vs Angeles Sta. Teresa

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, appellee, vs. ANGELES STA. TERESA, appellant.

G.R. No. 130663 | 2001-03-20

D E C I S I O N

PANGANIBAN, J.:

In convicting an accused who has pleaded "guilty," the trial court should not be satisfied by his admission of guilt of the crime charged. By the same token, the defense counsel is duty bound to defend his client, protect his rights and fulfill the stringent standard set by the Constitution and the Rules of Court on due process. For the rank failure of both the trial court and the defense counsel to observe appellant's right to due process, this Court cannot affirm his conviction. A remand to the trial court is thus in order.

The Case

For automatic review by this Court is the Decision[1] dated May 28,...