I would like to discuss two very different court experiences below.

I went to the Regional Trial Court Branch 32 last November 5, 2018,

Monday, to observe but it was cut short due to the earthquake. I only stayed for
less than thirty minutes when we were all requested to go out of the vicinity.
Lawyers, court attendees, and the judge all rushed out of the hall using the stairs
when the said earthquake happened. However, since I attended a criminal court,
I delayed my walk a little bit to see what would happen to the inmates who were
sitting on the side waiting for their trial. They were the last people to go out of the
room and they formed a line with the assistance of a police officer. After which,
they were allowed to go out. During my short observation, the court was pretty
chaotic. I did not understand what they judge was saying and everyone was
noisy. People kept going in and out of the court room and I even saw some
people using their phones. When I went in, I saw one inmate standing on the
right side. His legal counsel who was baeside him mentioned that he was
pleading guilty to one section of the ​Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition
Regulation Act but not the others. With all the commotion going on and being
seated in the back seat, I couldn’t hear everything even if I tried my best. I
assume it was a rearraignment. After a few more minutes, the next accused
stood up. The honorable judge talked to him directly and explained that he would
be transferred from Balay Dalayunan in Lapuz to thr Bureau of Jail Management
and Penology in Ungka. This instance was very short. After the third inmate
stood up, the earthquake started and we made our way out. I don’t believe this
was a very helpful court observation. The lines between the cases tried were not
clear to me as an observer. I also did not witness any significant happenings, in
my opinion, except for the earthquake.

This is why I would like to talk about my court observation last September
5, 2017 instead. We observed ​the Regional Trial Court Branch 36. The difference
was significant in my opinion. People who went out of the courtroom made sure
to ask permission from the honorable judge first. It had a different aura to it. I felt
that the rule about not using phones was taken very seriously. I, along with some
of my classmates, observed a trial of the case between the People of the
Philippines versus Harbe Taleon y Paccial with Criminal case Numbers
16-78065, 16-78066, and 16-78067 for violation of Article II, Section 5 (Selling of
dangerous Drugs), 11 (Illegal Possession of Dangerous Drugs), and 12 (Illegal
Possession of Equipment, Instrument, Apparatus, and Other Paraphernalia for
Dangerous Drug) of Republic Act 9165 otherwise knowna s the Comprehensive
Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, committed on June 28, 2016 at Brgy. Maspasan
Calinog, Iloilo.

The defendant was apparently caught via buy bust operation. Before the
trial started, one of the policemen who would be serving as the witness to be
cross-examined worked with the Prosecutor and arranged the evidences that
were brought. These evidences were carefully laid down on the table of the
Prosecution. We saw packs of white powder, a gun whose trigger and nozzle
was taped, Three Hundred Pesos Cash, lighters, tin foil, and other things. The
accused was handcuffed and sitting on one of the benches behind us.

The trial started with PO2 Arroyo being called on the witness stand. He
was asked to tell his story again. He spoke in Ilonggo but the court translator
translated everything he said in English. He narrated the story that he and his
team acted on a tip that the defendant was selling shabu in Calinog. They formed
a team to conduct surveillance and upon positive results, they conducted their
buy-bust operation with Three Hundred Pesos (Php 300.00) subscribed marked
money consisting of one piece One Hundred Peso Bill (Php 100.00) and Two
Hundred Peso bill (Php 200.00). He also claimed that he was introduced to the
defendant as the buyer of the “Shabu” and after receiving the item, “scratched”
his head to signal the consummation of the sale. This signal is also taken as a
sign for the other police team members to arrest Taleon. Before he was
arrested,PO2 Arroyo claimed that he had a hand grenade which prompted one of
the policemen to shoot at his leg. The grenade turned out to be fake.

After his narration, the Prosecution began examining first asking him
about other details. The Prosecutor also asked him if he could recognize Taleon
and if he could, point to him. PO2 Arroyo stood up and pointed directly at the
man in handcuffs sitting behind us. The Defense Public Attorney stood up and
made an objection. He said that he Taleon was the only person in court (aside
from us) and the judge acknowledged that. When the Public Attorney began his
examination, he asked about the inconsistency of the dates in the report of the
police and why they were following orders under the lead of a person who was
no longer on duty at the time of the buy-bust. These questions were all in
English. PO2 Arroyo seemed to have no problem understanding these questions
but his answers were all in Ilonggo. He promptly answered the questions until the
examination was over. After his statement, he asked permission to leave the
courtroom and the judge allowed him to do so. The trial went on for a few more
minutes until the judge adjourned us.
 With the express permission of the court, we were able to take pictures of
ourselves. The honorable judge also allowed us to get a transcript of this certain
case. He was kind enough to talk to us inside his chambers and answer any
question that we may have. We thanked him for a very good experience.

Although the case was intense, the courtroom was not very dramatic, nor
was it very formal. However, witnessing a cross-examination first hand was more
than enough for us. Up to this date, it was still one of the best experiences I ever
had.