Key Points ADDENDUM TO HUMAN RIGHTS ADVISORY CHR A2019-006 ON PROVIDING VIDEO-LINK EVIDENCE IN COURT PROCEEDINGS IN THE PHILIPPINES Dated November 25, 2019 1. The Philippine Supreme Court allowed Mary Jane Veloso to testify through deposition in the human trafficking case against her illegal recruiters. The Court October 9, in People 2019, vs. states Sergio, that dated there are compelling reasons to liberally construe the procedural rules and apply suppletorily the Rule of Civil Procedure in order to upheld and safeguard the fundamental rights of the parties. 2. The benchmark of the right to due process in criminal justice is to ensure that all the parties have their day in court. 3. The right to confrontation is part of due process and has a two-fold purpose: (i) to afford the accused an opportunity to test the testimony of the witness by cross-examination, judge to observe witness. a) The accused and of the recruiters were provided ample opportunity Mary Jane by interrogatories. b) (ii) to allow the the deportment to cross-examine way of written The trial court judge’s presence, as a requirement for the taking of depositions, provided the judge the opportunity to observe the demeanor of the witness Mary Jane. §- ] 13 t}‘ - Ih;n LY. WY "\ { .a:'|oost.. ] ‘ 4...‘ : R | i