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MANILA, Philippines — Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez believes that while the Supreme Court (SC) has generally frowned on recantations, the witnesses’ reversals in the complaints against him should be considered by the Office of the Ombudsman as these were done in the pre-trial stage.
In his supplemental counter affidavit, Romualdez said that SC’s disfavor only happens when witnesses recant their witnesses in the middle of trial — or those given in court already.
Romualdez cited the case of Balderama vs. People which stated that SC “looks with disfavor upon retractions of testimonies previously given in court” and that “an affidavit of desistance made by a witness after conviction of the accused is not reliable, and deserves only scant attention.”
READ: Guteza recants: Marcoleta, Defensor tapped me to accuse Romualdez
