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PEOPLE vs. Nicomedes Fabro, et al.

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee vs. NICOMEDES FABRO, FRANCISCO DIMALANTA, AMADO ALCALA, WILLIAM HOGE and "JOHN DOE," accused, NICOMEDES FABRO, accused-appellant.

G.R. No. 95089 | 1997-08-11

D E C I S I O N


PANGANIBAN, J.:

The 1987 Constitution guarantees persons undergoing custodial investigation the rights to remain silent and to have competent and independent counsel. These rights cannot be waived except in writing and in the presence of counsel. The Constitution impels strict compliance with these requirements because a confession of guilt given during such investigation constitutes formidable evidence against the accused on the principle that no one will knowingly, freely and deliberately admit authorship of a crime unless prompted by truth and conscience, particularly where the facts given could have been known only...