Atty.

Fernandez, please help us understand the principles as regards personal knowledge in the
impeachment proceedings of the former Chief Justice Corona Day 19.

Questions:

1. Does the Register of Deeds ( Atty. Randy) have personal knowledge the registration process of
the certificate of titles?

a. If yes, kindly share why

b. If No, is it because it is hearsay? And is there an exception to hearsay in this case? And can
Section 44 of Rule 130 be an exception?

2. Can the certificate of titles be under section 44 of rule 130?

3. In the case impeachment of CJ Corona, the Court subpoena the Register of Deeds of Taguig to
produce and testify on the certificate of titles registered in the name of the Corona(s), but in
reality, certificate of titles can be presented as evidence without the need of the presence of the
Register of Deeds right?

Transcription of the Impeachment proceedings of the former Chief Justice Corona

Register of Deeds ( Atty. Randy Rutaquio): I am custodian of the records of the lands

Prosecution: May we formally offer the testimony of the witness, the witness will testify that he is the
register of deeds ,testifying pursuant to the subpoena. And identify the documents not covered in the
saln

Register of Deeds ( Atty. Randy Rutaquio) : My principal duties as register of deeds,

we are the custodian of the records and land titles of the City of Taguig and Pateros of the issuance of
certificate of titles.

Prosecution: why are you present?

Register of Deeds: I was subpoenaed by the impeachment court to testify and bring the documents.

Enrile: the subpoena issued by the court, required you to submit the documents

Prosecution: in the subpoena which you have given in 1(a) you were required to submit TCT number
5582 in the name of Mrs. Corona.
Prosecution: You have represented the condominium certificate of title 5582

did you bring a copy

Register of deeds: yes sir

Prosecution : Certificate of title 5582 , give the reason how this title comes into existence

Atty. Serafin Cuevas as defense counsel: register of deeds has no basis in personally drafting the
documents, it is not part of his principal duties.

Controversy: deed of sale of the condominium unit of Cristina corona

Enrile : who did the inscription of the original title in the computer?

Register of Deeds: the encoding clerk in our office because it undergoes a process

from the entry, to the payment of the fees and to the encoding clerk

Enrile: can you describe to us the manner a condominium title reaches your computer system

Register of Deeds: ordinarily a deed of sale is presented to us for registration by any of the parties

enrile: normally that presents is who

Register of Deeds: the developer of the Condominium Corporation. Then after that our registry
information officer and then referred to our entry clerk.

Then she processes it, it goes to our cashier, so that the payment of fees will be paid, then the cashier
gives it to our encoding employee. Where the entries of the sale of documents are process then to the
land registration examiner, for examination to see to it that all the requirements for registration are
processed then after that it goes to the register of deeds for approval and for final examination then
after that it is being printed and uploaded.

Enrile : what is printed

Register of Deeds: the owner's copy or the title based on the deed of sale, including the details of the
registered owner, the area and the lot.

Enrile: the condominium of certificate of title is released to the owner?

Enrile : what is released? the date from the computer?

Register of Deeds: when there is a seller, the title of seller is cancelled and issued to the buyer, that is the
title released to the owner

Enrile: what is the source of the data in the computer? is it the copy held of the condominium owner or
the official copy in possession of the registered of deeds

Register of Deeds: the details is copied from the old title

Enrile: the only change is the new name in the new title?

Register of Deeds: yes owner

Defense:

Atty. Serafin Cuevas : what is the basis of your knowledge in the process of registration which led to the
issuance of this titles brought to this honorable court?

Register of Deeds : my basis sir , is that there is a process in the registration of the documents

And it will not reach the approval stage without going through the stages

Atty. Serafin Cuevas: my question is what personal knowledge do you have in the process of the
registration, because you made me believe that this process is done by the employees in your office or
by the people under your command.

Register of Deeds: yes

Atty. Serafin Cuevas: but that is not my question, your personal knowledge is it involved in the process?
Register of Deeds: my personal knowledge is that it went to the process as mandated in our office, but if
what you are asking if I was personally there when it was entered and when it was presented to cashier,
my answer would be not sir, but in some cases I was personally there.

Atty. Serafin Cuevas: in among the documents your brought, can you show us which document were you
present in all stages of the process? i supposed none

prosecution: well your honor the counsel is giving an answer before an answer could be given

Atty. Serafin Cuevas: that is part of my question

Enrile : no that is part of cross examination

Prosecution: that's 2 questions your honor, the question should be made one by one under the rule of
evidence

Atty. Serafin Cuevas: what is your ground of objection?

Your honor he is already arguing, what the law provides is to state the objection only and not to make
any explanation.

Prosecution: my objection is before another question is propounded, the witness should be first
permitted to answer the previous question

that is very basic your honor, and i happen to learn that from my remedial law professor, who happens to
be no less than the defense counsel

Atty. Serafin Cuevas: maybe you were absent when you discussed that

( people laughing)

Enrile: order order