Is Mendoza’s Testimony Hearsay?

August 12, 2005

Sen. Miriam Santiago was in the news today for again coming to the aid of an upopular President.  She’s razor sharp and articulate (in her own inimitable way). To her critics (and those of the President’s), the clarity she brings to a legal situation must be a source of frustration.  You don’t agree with her but damn it, she’s right!

This latest episode involving Capt. Carlo Mendoza’s testimony against Commr.  Garcillano falls in that category.  The Inquirer reports:

Santiago managed to elicit an admission from Mendoza that he had no personal knowledge of cheating in the 2004 election and that his testimony was based primarily on what he had heard Garcillano say when he served as the latter’s chief security officer from April to June last year.

This prompted another Arroyo-defender and lawyer, Sec. Bunye to comment:

Bunye also told reporters that “many people [were] fed up with the continued presentation of witnesses who merely give hearsay testimonies.”

But is that statement really true or just half-true? (more…)