G.R. No. 130590 - THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, VS. RANILLO PONCE HERMOSO ALIAS "ALLAN," ACCUSED-.D E C I S I O N - Supreme Court E-Library

Ruling

Accordingly, the trial court issued an order on the same day stating: "When the above-entitled case was called for continuation of trial for the purpose of presenting evidence of accused Ranillo Ponce Hermoso alias Allan, Prosecutor Edilberto Absin appeared for the state in collaboration with private prosecutor Atty. Marcial Empleo, while Atty. Pablito Pielago, Jr., appeared as counsel de oficio for the accused. In open court, Atty. Pablito Pielago, Jr., Manifested that the accused has intimated to him on his desire to change his plea of Not Guilty to one of GUILTY. When asked by the Court whether he has explained to the accused of the seriousness of the crime he is charged, Atty. Pablito Pielago, Jr., confirmed to the Court that he has explained in detail to the accused on the seriousness of the charge he is facing, but he still insisted on his desire to admit his guilt. In fact, according to Atty. Pielago, he went to the extent of telling the accused that it is possible that the Court may render the penalty of death, but accused insisted on his desire to change his plea of Not Guilty to one of Guilty. "With such manifestation of Atty. Pielago, the Court called on the accused and asked him through the interpreter in Cebuano dialect, which he confirmed to have known and understood, on his desire to change his plea of Not Guilty to one of Guilty, and in open court, in the presence of his counsel, the public prosecutor and the private prosecutor, accused voluntarily admitted his guilt of the charge filed against him in this case. "WHEREFORE, with such desire of the accused to change his plea from Not Guilty to one of Guilty, let him be arraigned anew. "SO ORDERED.