I. Preliminaries

a.) Case Title: Arraignment & Pre-trial Conference; Motion for

Reconsideration for Qualified Theft

b.) Presiding judge: Hon. Ma. Lynna Adviento

c.) Counsels/lawyers (both parties): Atty. Vincent S. Isles (accused); ACP

Rhodna Alcala-Bacatan (state)

d.) Litigants or Parties Concerned: PP vs. Dee Mark M. Anor (accused)

II. Facts/ Nature of the case

The accused was charged with theft.

The accused was assigned to distribute the payroll to the employees.

Abaca Group, Inc. uses an internet-based banking program to do the said

process.

The only money left in the account amounted to Php 4843.69, and the

other supposed amount of money was found in the Metrobank account of

the accused.

Accused pleaded not guilty.

III. Observation of the court visit

While I was observing the arraignment, I was expecting more formality

from the presiding judge, the stenographic reporter, and the interpreter with the

reading of the case to the criminal. What I witnessed was more casual, more of

the giddy talks; it’s a lot less than what I should be expecting.

Though that was just a part of the affair, the criminal was asked by the

presiding judge a number of times (3, if I remembered it correctly) if he is guilty or

not about the crime that was told to be committed by him.

As far as I have witnessed, I also noticed the presence of the interpreter

and how important his/her role is in the court hearing, especially when the client/s

are not articulate, mainly because the client/s cannot understand, or because

fear makes them not understandable. A time when Dee Mark (accused) was

confused about a term told by the presiding judge, the interpreter explained it in a

way the accused could comprehend easily.

The stenographic reporter, as I have seen, kept all of the paperwork and

documents about the case. It took her long to find the details of the case in her

pile of papers, though.

What I liked about most is how the presiding judge used laptop to view

about the case--- she was typing most of the things that Atty. Isles were stating,

and at the same time how every idea of the hearing comes together.

IV. Conclusion

Every person that makes up the court has specific roles to do, and each

role contributes to the flow and the totality of the case. Even the accused should

have a cooperative role--- unconsciously or not--- when it comes to the ideas of

the case. Moreover, technological advancement paved way to aid the court staff

in recording details preceding, during, and after the court hearing.

V. Recommendation

Formality-wise, the court staff could have minimized chitchats not related

to the case, and exclude their personal life, as well, especially in this kind of

affair. Additionally, the stenographic reporter could have prepared the data about

the case beforehand instead of scanning through the documents during court

hearing--- it destroys the momentum of the case, and it lengthens the time

duration of the court hearing.