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Lejano vs. People [SEPARATE CONCURRING OPINION, SERENO, J.]

ANTONIO LEJANO, Petitioner, vs. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondent. x - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x G.R. No. 176864 PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Appellee, vs. HUBERT JEFFREY P. WEBB, ANTONIO LEJANO, MICHAEL A. GATCHALIAN, HOSPICIO FERNANDEZ, MIGUEL RODRIGUEZ, PETER ESTRADA and GERARDO BIONG, Appellants.

G.R. No. 176389 and G.R. No. 176864 | 2010-12-14

SEPARATE CONCURRING OPINION
 
SERENO, J.:
 
The duty of the prosecution is not merely to secure a conviction, but to secure a just conviction.
 
This highly publicized case became the center of the nation’s attention owing to the public outrage over the atrocious nature of the crime committed in what was then thought to be a relatively secure neighborhood. Worse, it brought inconsolable grief to a husband and father who lost his entire family to senseless violence while he was working overseas. Events soon after the occurrence of the crime on 30 June 1991 would only help fuel civic indignation. Just two days thereafter,...