Court of Appeals once again writes decision in Filipino

MANILA, Philippines — The Court of Appeals issued another criminal case decision entirely in Filipino on Dec. 30, 2024, a departure from the traditional use of English in judicial proceedings. 

This was done in an 11-page decision penned by Court of Appeals Associate Justice Apolinario Bruselas Jr., which upheld the conviction of homicide against the appellant.

The appellate court explained that the decision was written in Filipino to ensure that the accused, who testified in Filipino, could fully understand the ruling.

However, this is not the first time the appellate court has issued a decision in Filipino.

In 2022, the Court of Appeals also issued a criminal case decision in Filipino, which was also penned by Bruselas.

The case is an appeal of a homicide conviction. The accused challenged the decision of the Calamba Regional Trial Court.

During the proceedings in the lower court, the appellate court stated that the accused faced the accusers and cross-examined them.

“Tanging ang nasasakdal ang humarap upang usisain ang mga testigo ng taga-usig,” a portion of the ruling read.

The accused also asserted that he was acting in self-defense, preventing the victim from attacking him.

“Pinigilan lamang niya ang biktima na saktan  siya  kaya  naman  aksidenteng  nahampas  ng  cabra  ang  biktima.  Wala din siyang ginawang masama upang himukin ang biktima na saktan siya,” a portion of the decision outlining the information against the accused read. 

(He merely stopped the victim from hurting him, which is why the victim was accidentally hit with the crowbar. He also did nothing wrong to provoke the victim into harming him.)

The appellate court affirmed the homicide conviction, saying that the accused's testimonies did not align with the medical findings, and that the testimony of the witness against him was consistent.

“Hindi tumpak ang sinasabi ng nasasakdal na nangyari sa kalagayan ng biktima at ang naging sanhi ng kaniyang kamatayan,” the court’s decision read.

(The accused's account of the events leading to the victim's death is inaccurate.)

“Pangalawa,malinaw sa salaysay ng saksi sa mga kaganapan na si [witness], ang ginawang pagpatay ng nasasakdal. Hindi