TV news video on house visit cited in Marzan case

A video shown on television showing the house of a couple accused of illegally detaining their househelp and inflicting serious physical injuries on her was the center of the argument of the prosecution against a motion for ocular inspection requested by the pair’s lawyer.

The TV Patrol video newscast posted on the ABS-CBN network’s website on September 18 offered audiences a peek into Analiza and Reynold Marzan’s home in Las Villas del Cielo, Visayas Avenue, Quezon City.

Reporter Jing Castañeda and defense lawyer Joel Ferrer were seen inspecting the house on the video.

Counter-argument

According to the counter-argument submitted in writing to Judge Germano Francisco Legaspi of Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 77 by Assistant City Prosecutor Irene Resurreccion, the crime scene is no longer a credible and useful object of evidence to be utilized by either of the parties.

“The Marzan residence, which is the object of evidence, may have been altered intentionally or unintentionally with the visit of TV Patrol and the defense team,” Resurreccion said.

Ferrer admitted they conducted an ocular inspection on their own, while Castañeda asked to join them.

Helpful

“An ocular inspection would be very helpful to us during the cross-examination of (househelp) Bonita Baran since she described three places in the house where she was allegedly detained,” he said.

Baran had mentioned in her testimony a room, a storage room and a toilet where the Marzans allegedly kept her under lock and key.

Resurreccion, on the other hand, said the prosecution also wanted to inspect the house, but had their doubts after the visit made by the defense team.