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People vs. Rapeza [DECISION]

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Appellee, versus JERRY RAPEZA y FRANCISCO, Appellant.

G.R. No. 169431 [Formerly G.R. Nos. 149891-92] | 2007-04-03

D E C I S I O N
 
TINGA, J.:
 
In the complex but exquisite scheme laid down by the Constitution, the Bill of Rights occupies a position of primacy, way above the articles on governmental power.[1] Once again, the Court extends fresh vitality to the rights of a person under custodial investigation, which, beginning with the 1987 Constitution, has been accorded equal but segregate weight as the traditional right against self-incrimination, to tip the scales of justice in favor of the presumption of innocence and the lot of an unlettered confessant.

This treats of the appeal from the Decision[2] dated 1 July 2005 of the Court...