(To witness Enrique Lagondino) —
Q: I will direct your attention to the incident on February 20, 1994, can you still recall where you were on said date?
A: Yes, sir . . . . I was in the vegetable plantation, sir.
Q: Whose vegetable plantation?
A: The owner was Carlos Taclan, sir.
Q: You are referring to the victim in this case?
A: Yes, sir.
Q: What were you doing at the vegetable plantation of the late Carlos Taclan?
A: Gathering vegetables, sir.
Q: While you were gathering vegetables, do you recall having met other persons within the vicinity?
A: I saw only, sir.
Q: Whom did you see?
A: I saw Carlos, Juan and Danny, all surnamed Taclan, sir.
Q: Where did you see them?
A: In the nipa hut of Carlos, sir.
Q: What were they doing there?
A: I just saw them, Mang Carlos, Mang Juan and Danny, sir.
Q: While they were there, what happened?
A: I heard somebody said (sic): "Putang ina mo, lumabas ka diyan."
Q: Who was that somebody who uttered that?
A: Juan Taclan, sir.
Q: Did you come to know to whom he directed these words?
A: To his brother Carlos, sir.
Q: And after Juan uttered that (sic) words, do you know what Carlos do (sic), if any?
A: Mang Carlos hang (sic) his jacket and bolo and he approached Mang Juan.
Q: Where did he hang his jacket? and bolo?
A: In the nipa hut, sir.
Q: After hanging his jacket and bolo what did he do?
A: He again entered his nipa hut and continued what he was doing, sir.
Q: After that what did Juan Taclan do, if any?
A: He did not leave the place, sir.
Q: When he did not leave, what happened?
A: It was Mang Carlos who left the place, he took his bolo and jacket and proceeded to San Felix, Victoria, Laguna, sir.
Q: Before Carlos Taclan left for San Felix, Victoria, Laguna, do you know if he talked to Juan Taclan?
A: No more, sir.
Q: After Carlos Taclan left for San Felix, what did you do?
A: I went home, sir.
Q: What time did you leave for home that morning of February 20, 1994?
A: More or less 8:00 o'clock in the morning, sir.
Q: And in the afternoon, what did you do?
A: I returned to our fishpond at around 2:00 o'clock in the afternoon, sir.
Q: Where is that fishpond where you went to, in relation to the vegetable plantation of Carlos Taclan?
A: It is near, sir.
Q: And what did you do in that afternoon after you returned to the fishpond?
A: I caught fish, sir.
Q: And while catching fish, do you recall having seen or met any person or persons within the vicinity that afternoon of February 20, 1994?
A: I saw, sir.
Q: Whom did you see?
A: I saw Juan Taclan, Danny Taclan, Memeng and Pecto, sir.
Q: In relation to where you were, from what direction did they come from?
A: From the ricefield, sir.
Q: Where did they proceed after you saw them coming?
A: They proceeded to the guava trees and banana plants, sir.
Q: What did they do after going near the banana plants and guava trees?
A: They hid there (nagsipagtago), sir.
Q: What did you do when you saw them hiding?
A: I also hid myself, sir.
Q: Where did you hide yourself?
A: In the Dapdap tree, sir.
Q: Thereafter, what transpired?
A: I saw Mang Carlos passing by at the place where they were hidden at around 4:00 o'clock that afternoon, sir.
Q: What happened when Mang Carlos passed by near the place where the accused were hiding?
A: Somebody made a signal, sir.
Q: Who made the signal?
A: Juan Taclan, sir.
Q: To whom did he make the signal?
A: To his companions, Danny, Memeng and Pecto, sir.
Q: How did he make the signal?
A: (Witness demonstrating by using his right hand waving the same from inside going outside).
Q: After accused Juan Taclan made the signal to his companions, what transpired next?
A: Carlos passed where Juan Taclan was hidden, sir.
Q: What did Juan Taclan do, if any, while Carlos was passing?
A: Juan Taclan hit Carlos at the head (witness pointing at the back portion of his lower head).
Q: After that what happened to Carlos Taclan?
A: Carlos fell downward (tumaob), and then Mang Juan again made a signal.
Q: Thereafter, what followed next?
A: They carried Mang Carlos towards the guava tree, sir.
Q: When you said they, to whom are you referring?
A: I am referring to Mang Juan, Memeng, Danny and Pecto, sir.
Q: How did they carry the victim Carlos Taclan in the direction near the bayabas tree?
A: Mang Juan held Carlos by the hand, Memeng held Carlos by his body, while Pecto, and Danny held Carlos by his feet, sir.
Q: And after they brought the victim near the bayabas tree, what happened next?
A: Danny Taclan pulled out his bolo and hacked Carlos, sir.
Q: How about the other accused, what did they do?
A: Memeng also stabbed Carlos, Danny dropped his bolo and took from his back pocket a knife and stabbed Carlos.
ATTY. ALVERO: Your Honor, I would like to request that the motion executed by the witness putting his left hand drawing from the back of his pants something be indicated on the record.
COURT: Enter into the record what Atty. Alvero have (sic) just stated.
ATTY. CONSUNTO: You said that Danny Taclan hit Carlos Taclan with a bolo, do you know where the victim was hit?
A: Carlos was hit on his right arm (witness pointing to the upper portion of his right arm).
ATTY. ALVERO: I would like also to put on record that the witness initially placed his right hand on his left shoulder and later on turn (sic) the left hand and put it in (sic) his right shoulder.
COURT: Put that on record.
ATTY. CONSUNTO:
Q: You said that Memeng likewise hit the victim with a bolo, where was the victim hit?
A: Also on his right arm, sir.
Q: You likewise said that Danny Taclan drew out his knife and stabbed the victim, do you know where the victim was hit?
A: On the thigh, sir.
Q: After Danny and Memeng hit the victim with bolo, where was the other accused Perfecto Gasta and what was he doing at that time?
A: He went to the fishpond (to) get some water and poured water on Carlos, sir.
Q: And thereafter what did he do?
A: Nothing more, sir.
Q: After water was poured on the body of Carlos Taclan, what happened?
A: I do not know anything more because I left the place already, sir.
