WHAT  ARE  THE  REQUISITES  IN  ORDER  FOR  A  PERSON  TO  BE DISCHARGED AS A STATE WITNESS?

1.    The  discharge  must  be  WITH  THE  CONSENT  OF  THE  ACCUSED sought to be a state witness

2.    There is ABSOLUTE NECESSITY for the testimony  of the accused whose discharge is requested;

3.    There is NO OTHER DIRECT EVIDENCE AVAILABLE for the proper prosecution  of  the  offense  committed,  except  the  testimony  of said accused;

4.    The   testimony   of   said   accused   can   be   SUBSTANTIALLY CORROBORATED in its material points;

5.    Said accused DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE THE MOST GUILTY; and

6.    Said  accused  has  not  at  any  time  been  convicted  of  any  offense involving MORAL TURPITUDE.

CAN THE COURT GRANT THE DISCHARGE BEFORE THE PROSECUTION HAS FINISHED PRESENTING ALL ITS EVIDENCE?

     No.    As  a  general  rule,  the  court  should  resolve  any  motion  to discharge  only  AFTER  the  prosecution  has  presented  all  of  its evidence since it is at this time when the court shall determine the
presence of the requisites above

     In some cases, HOWEVER, the SC held that the prosecution is not required to present all of its other evidence before an accused is discharged.    The  accused  may  be  discharged  at  any  time before
the defendants have entered upon their defense.
 

IS A HEARING OF THE MOTION TO DISCHARGE MANDATORY?

     So long as the motion is able to receive evidence for and against the  discharge  of  an  accused  to  become  a  state  witness,  its subsequent order granting or denying the motion for discharge is
in order notwithstanding the lack of actual hearing on the motion

WHAT  IS  THE  MEANING  WHEN  THE  TESTIMONY  OF  THE  ACCUSED CAN   BE   SUBSTANTIALLY   CORROBORATED   IN   ITS   MATERIAL POINTS?

     There  is  presence  of  indirect  testimony  or  evidence  that  could corroborate with the truthfulness of the testimony of the accused
 

WHAT  HAPPENS  IF  THERE  IS  LACK  OF  REQUISITES  PRESENT  IN THE MOTION FOR THE DISCHARGE OF THE ACCUSED?

     There is no need to allege all the requisites in the motion.  What is required  is  that  the  court  is  satisfied  that  the  requisites  are present for the discharge.

     The  evidence  for  the  discharge  may  be  presented  during  the hearing on the motion
 

WHAT IS  THE  MEANING OF ABSOLUTE   NECESSITY OF THE TESTIMONY OF THE PROPOSED STATE WITNESS?

     It means that there is no other evidence to establish the offense other than the testimony of the accused

     For  example,  where  an  offense  is  committed  in  conspiracy  and clandestinely,   the   discharge   of   one   of   the   conspirators   is necessary in order to provide direct evidence of the commission of
the crime

     No one else other than one of the conspirators can testify on what happened among them
 

DOES   ABSOLUTE   NECESSITY   MEAN   THAT   TESTIMONY   WOULD RESULT IN ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY OF CONVICTION?

     No
 

CAN   THERE   BE   MORE   THAN   ONE   ACCUSED   WHO   CAN   BE DISCHARGED?

     Yes
 

WHAT  IS  THE  REMEDY  OF  THE  PROSECUTION  IF  THE  COURT DENIES THE MOTION OF THE PROSECUTION?

     The State can file a petition for certiorari
 

THE ACCUSED PLEADED GUILTY TO THE CRIME CHARGED AND/OR ALREADY   TESTIFIED   AS   AN   ACCUSED,   CAN   HE   STILL   BE DISCHARGED?

     Yes
 

CAN A CO-CONSPIRATOR BE DISCHARGED AS A STATE WITNESS?

     RULE—a  co-conspirator  cannot  be  discharged  as  a  state  witness
against a co-conspirator

     EXCEPTION—if  the  crime  was  committed  clandestinely  and  there
is no way to prove the crime
 

WHAT IS AN IRREGULAR DISCHARGE?

     Irregular  discharge  is  a  discharge  where  one  or  all  of  the
conditions required for discharge didn’t really exist
 

IF  THE  STATE  WITNESS  REFUSES  TO  TESTIFY,  WILL  HIS  SWORN STATEMENT BE ADMISSIBLE AGAINST HIM?

     No, his sworn statement will not be admissible against him

     Otherwise, it violates his right against self-incrimination