4/16/2021 E-Library - Information At Your Fingertips: Printer Friendly Quisto asked the latter if he owned the suitcases and Williams answered in the affirmative. When Williams was ordered to open the suitcases, he voluntarily opened the same.[14] Quisto assisted Calixihan in examining the suitcases and saw Williams' photo albums and other personal belongings. Since the suitcases remained heavy after the contents were removed, they became suspicious and they reported the matter to Mrs. Tablante, their supervisor, who ordered them to break open the suitcases.[15] At the departure lobby, the suitcases were again opened before Calixihan, Medrano, NAIA police agents Gregorio Mendiola, Leoncio De la Cruz, Rodolfo Samala, Jr. and Customs Narcotics Interjection Unit (CNIU) agents surnamed Biteng and Bese. The suitcases were again carried back to the examining table when Medrano asked Williams to slash the side of one of the suitcases showing a false bottom. Williams consented, but it was Calixihan and Quisto who slashed the sides thereof with a fan knife.[16] Calixihan continued to remove the plywood covering the false bottom and found rectangular objects wrapped in white plastic pack covered with Chinese characters. Each of the rectangular objects contained a white powdery substance, which turned out to be heroin when field-tested by CNIU agents Biteng and Bese.[17] Medrano and Calixihan affixed their respective signatures on both sides of the slashed luggage and Williams did the same.[18] In accordance with their supervisor's instructions, the rectangular objects found inside the luggage were brought to the office of the Collector of Customs. Williams also informed the persons examining his luggage that he had a companion, a black man, who was also transporting prohibited drugs.[19] Williams' second suitcase was also subjected to examination. Both sides showing false bottoms were slashed, revealing rectangular objects identical to those found in the first luggage. The objects also contained a white powdery substance, which turned out to be heroin. A total of sixty-three (63) rectangular objects were confiscated from Williams.[20] Williams denied the charges against him and presented a different story to the trial court. He claimed that on December 13, 1992, he arrived in the country to do research on Philippine traditions and culture.[21] He denied having any companion in coming to the Philippines. He likewise denied that he knew his co-accused Nzenza.[22] He stated further that on December 19, 1992, he went to the NAIA since he was leaving for Bangkok. He had four (4) pieces of luggage with him: one suit carrier, two slim bags and one duty-free plastic bag. [23] In compliance with standard operating procedure, he placed his bags on the baggage conveyor which moved the bags through the x-ray machine monitor. Thereafter, he collected the bags and placed these at the Customs desk for marking. He arranged them in a pushcart and was heading towards the check-in counter of his airline when his attention was caught by a gentleman who was pointing at the x-ray machine and telling him that he forgot one of his bags. Williams replied that the bag was not his, since all his bags were inside the pushcart. When the gentleman insisted that the bag was Williams', the latter said "Don't kid me, that is not my bag."[24] He then noticed one black bag being brought to the customs desk. [25] He told the NAIA personnel that https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocsfriendly/1/52099 3/15