4/16/2021 E-Library - Information At Your Fingertips: Printer Friendly feloniously transport, without lawful authority 22.547 kilograms, more or less of heroin a prohibited drug, without the corresponding license or prescription. CONTRARY TO LAW.[5] Upon motion by the prosecution,[6] the two cases were consolidated.[7] During the arraignment, both Nzenza[8] and Williams[9] pleaded not guilty to the charges against them and thereafter, trial ensued. Seven witnesses were presented by the prosecution. SPO4 Roberto Medrano and Customs Examiner Gil Calixihan testified against Williams, while Customs Police Captain Juanito Algenio and Ninoy Aquino International airport (NAIA) Police Officer Gregorio Mendiola testified against accused- appellant Nzenza. Three other witnesses, namely, Customs Examiner Leopoldo Quisto, NAIA Police Captain Rodolfo Samala, Jr. and Philippine National Police (PNP) Forensic Chemist Noemi Austero also testified against both Williams and Nzenza. The prosecution presented the following version of the facts: On December 19, 1992, at about 1:30 in the afternoon, SPO4 Roberto Medrano, supervisor of the First Aviation District of the NAIA, was at the lobby of the NAIA Departure Area looking at the baggage x-ray machine monitor. At around that time, he noticed some rectangular objects inside two suitcases which were passing through. He inquired from a tall, dark man entering the walk-through if the latter owned the two pieces of luggage. The man, who identified himself as Austin Williams, nodded and acknowledged ownership of the said two suitcases.[10] Medrano then requested Williams to allow his two suitcases to be examined by Customs Examiner Gil Calixihan, who also caught sight of the rectangular objects.[11] Williams obliged and proceeded to open the first suitcase which had combination locks. After removing William's clothes therefrom, Medrano and Calixihan noticed that the suitcase had a shallow base and a false bottom. Suspicious of its contents, Medrano requested for a re-examination of the suitcase. [12] Calixihan likewise testified that while he was on duty at the NAIA departure area on December 19, 1992, at about 1:30 p.m., he also saw Williams pick up the two suitcases which just rolled out from the luggage x-ray area and place them on top of a pushcart. Upon reaching the Customs area, Calixihan requested Williams to open said pieces of luggage, which the latter acknowledged as his, for examination.[13] Leopoldo Quisto, another Customs Examiner, testified that when he was inspecting the suitcases passing through the x-ray machine, he saw some blurred rectangular objects inside the same. He waited for somebody to lift the suitcases. Shortly thereafter, he saw a black man, who was later identified as the accused Williams, lifting the same. https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocsfriendly/1/52099 2/15