opics:

Evidence: Best Evidence Rule

Republic v. Marcos-Manotoc;
G. R. No. 171701; February 8, 2012
SERENO,
J.

Facts:

The transcript of stenographic notes (TSN) of the proceedings purportedly
before the PCGG, the plaintiffs exhibit Q, may be a public document, but what
was presented by the plaintiff was a mere photocopy of the purported TSN andwas not
signed by the stenographer who supposedly took down theproceedings. Such document
may link the Marcos siblings
and Gregorio AranetaIII to the ill-gotten wealth case of the former President Marcos.

Issue:

Is Exh Q admissible?

Ruling:
No

Analysis:

Under Sec. 7 of Rule 130 of the Rules of Court provide that when the originaldocument
is in the custody of a public officer or is recorded in a public office, itscontents may be
proved by a certified copy issued by the public officer in
custody thereof. Exhibit Q was not a certified copy and it wa
s not even signedby the stenographer who supposedly took down the proceedings.
Thus, absent any convincing evidence to hold otherwise, petitioner fails to itfollows
that petitioner failed to prove that the Marcos siblings and GregorioAraneta III
collaborated with former President Marcos and Imelda R. Marcos and
participated in the first couples alleged accumulation of ill
-gotten wealth