EMCEE SCRIPT: Seminar on Anti-Illegal Drugs Operations, Investigation, and
Prosecution
Date: September 9, 2025
Venue: Conference Room, Camp Downes, Ormoc City
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM: PRELIMINARIES
Emcee: Good morning, everyone! May I please have your attention? Kindly take your
seats as we are about to formally begin our day.
To our distinguished guests from the Prosecution Service, the Public Attorney’s Office,
and the Occidental Leyte Bar Association; to our brave men and women of the Ormoc
City Police Office Drug Enforcement Units; to our colleagues from the OCPO—a very
warm and wonderful welcome to you all.
We will begin our program this morning with an invocation to seek divine guidance for
our fruitful activity. May I please ask everyone to rise for the prayer.
Emcee: Thank you. Please be seated.
Emcee: my I call our Ormoc City Legal Officer, PCPT MARCO O ARPON, for his
welcome remarks.
Emcee: thank you sir. PCPT MARCO O ARPON,
Ladies and gentlemen, it is now my distinct honor and privilege to introduce our Officer-
In-Charge, who will give us inspirational message and set the tone for our learning
today. Let’s please give a round of applause for the Officer-In-Charge of the Ormoc
City Police Office! PLTCOL JOEL R. CAMACHO sir,
(OIC delivers Inspirational message)
Emcee: Thank you, Sir, for those inspiring and purposeful words.
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM: SESSION 1
Emcee: As the Greek philosopher Aristotle once said, "The law is reason, free from
passion." This reminds us that our procedures must be meticulous, objective, and
grounded in clear rules.
This leads us perfectly to our first topic. Understanding the proper handling of evidence
from the very moment of seizure is the bedrock of any successful prosecution.
It is my privilege to introduce our first lecturer, a key figure in our city’s pursuit of justice.
He will be discussing Administrative Matter No. 21-02-01-SC, or the "Rule on the
Destruction and Disposal of Seized Dangerous Drugs, Other Substances and
Instruments Prior to the Filing of an Information."
Let us all give a warm and respectful welcome to Prosecutor Edouard Sandoval from
the Ormoc City Prosecution Service!
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM: SESSION 2
Emcee: A fantastic thank you to Prosecutor Sandoval for that incredibly clear and vital
briefing on the rules of destruction. Your expertise is greatly appreciated.
Now, if the first rule is about the end of the evidence's journey, the next is about
its entire journey. As the legal maxim goes, "The chain of custody must be
unbroken, like the thread of Theseus in the labyrinth; a single break can make the
entire case unravel."
Our next speaker needs no introduction to many of you. He will be guiding us through
the critical details of the "Chain of Custody and the Essentials of Affidavit Making."
A huge round of applause, please, for Prosecutor Melchor B. Dumlao!
11:00 AM - 12:00 NN: SESSION 3
Emcee: Thank you, Prosecutor Dumlao, for that thorough breakdown. It’s clear that
every signature and every log entry carries immense weight.
Now, building a strong case is one thing; presenting it effectively in court is another. To
quote legendary trial lawyer Louis Nizer, "A trial is a contest of persuasions, not just
a recitation of facts."
We are truly fortunate to have Prosecutor Dumlao return to the podium to share his
expertise on "How to Present Evidence and Common Objections During Trial."
Let’s welcome him back once more!
AWARDING CEREMONY & PHOTO OPS (Morning Session)
They say that excellence is best rewarded with recognition. Today, we have been
blessed with a wealth of knowledge from our incredible resource speakers. They have
shared their time, their expertise, and their passion for justice, all to help us become
better protectors of our community.
It is therefore our great honor and privilege to present to them a Plaque of Appreciation
– a small symbol of our immense thanks for their invaluable contribution to this seminar
and to the cause of justice in Ormoc City.
To assist me in this awarding ceremony, may I please call upon our Officer-In-Charge
(Any available PCO) to please come forward.
Emcee: First, our awardee is a pillar of our Prosecution Service, who provided us with
a masterclass on the rules of evidence and procedure in the destruction of seized illegal
drugs. A huge round of applause for Prosecutor Edouard Sandoval!
Emcee: Next, we honor a man who took the time to give us not one, but two brilliant
lectures on the chain of custody and trial presentation. His expertise is a great asset to
our city. Let's put our hands together for Prosecutor Melchor B. Dumlao!
Emcee says while awarding: "Thank you so much, Prosecutor Dumlao."
12:00 NN - 1:00 PM: LUNCH BREAK
Emcee: What an incredibly insightful morning! A massive thank you to our brilliant
prosecutors for sharing their wealth of knowledge.
We will now break for lunch. Please enjoy the meal prepared for you, recharge, and we
highly encourage you to network and discuss what we’ve learned so far.
We will resume promptly at 1:00 PM. Please be back in your seats by then as we
have another fantastic lineup of speakers.
Thank you. Enjoy your lunch!
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: SESSION 4
(At 12:55 PM, gently encourage people to return to their seats. Start at 1:00 PM
sharp.)
Emcee: Good afternoon, everyone! I hope you all had a refreshing lunch. Welcome
back.
This next session is perhaps one of the most anticipated. It’s about the art of defense
and how to stand firm within it. To set the stage, consider this: "Cross-examination is
the greatest legal engine ever invented for the discovery of truth." - Justice John
Henry Wigmore.
This afternoon, we will learn this art from the other side of the aisle to better prepare
ourselves. Our next topic is "The Art of Cross Examination: On how to properly
answer questions by defending counsel."
It is my pleasure to introduce our guest from the Occidental Leyte Bar
Association, Atty. Michael Sevilla!
A round of applause, please.
2:00 PM - 2:30 PM: SESSION 5
Emcee: A fascinating and strategic session. Thank you, Atty. Sevilla, for giving us a
invaluable perspective from the defense table.
Knowledge of procedure is power, but knowing one's rights is paramount. Our next
lecture ensures that in our zeal to enforce the law, we never forget to uphold the rights
of every individual, as enshrined in our Constitution and laws.
Please welcome from the Public Attorney's Office - Ormoc City, Atty. Kirby Joseph
Calipayan, who will discuss "Rights of the Accused and Republic Act No. 7438
(Rights of the person under custodial investigation)."
Let's give him a warm welcome.
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM: OPEN FORUM & CLOSING
Emcee: Thank you, Atty. Calipayan, for that crucial and enlightening discussion on
rights.
Ladies and gentlemen, we now arrive at the Open Forum. This is your opportunity to
ask any burning questions to our brilliant pool of resource speakers. We have about an
hour for this session.
Please raise your hand, wait for the microphone, and please state your name and unit
before your question. Let’s begin.
Emcee: That seems to be the last question. On behalf of everyone here, a truly heartfelt
and massive thank you to our incredible resource speakers: Prosecutor Sandoval,
Prosecutor Dumlao, Atty. Calipayan, and Atty. Sevilla. Your generosity with your time
and knowledge today has been invaluable.
AWARDING CEREMONY & PHOTO OPS (Afternoon Session)
They say that excellence is best rewarded with recognition. Today, we have been
blessed with a wealth of knowledge from our incredible resource speakers. They have
shared their time, their expertise, and their passion for justice, all to help us become
better protectors of our community.
It is therefore our great honor and privilege to present to them a Plaque of Appreciation
– a small symbol of our immense thanks for their invaluable contribution to this seminar
and to the cause of justice in Ormoc City.
To assist me in this awarding ceremony, may I please call upon our Officer-In-Charge
(Any available PCO) to please come forward.
Emcee: First, may I call upon our good friend from the Occidental Leyte Bar
Association. His perspective on the art of cross-examination was truly invaluable. A
warm round of applause, please, for Atty. Michael Sevilla!
(Atty. Sevilla approaches. The OIC hands him the plaque. They shake hands.)
Emcee says while awarding: "Thank you, Atty. Sevilla."
Emcee: Next, we would like to honor our dedicated public servant from the Public
Attorney's Office. His discussion on the rights of the accused is a crucial reminder of
our duty to balance enforcement with justice. Let's hear it for Atty. Kirby Joseph
Calipayan!
(Atty. Calipayan approaches. The OIC hands him the plaque. They shake hands.)
Emcee says while awarding: "Thank you, Atty. Calipayan."
Emcee: To our participants, your active engagement is what makes a seminar like this a
success. Let’s give ourselves a round of applause for a productive day.
This concludes our Seminar on Anti-Illegal Drugs Operations, Investigation, and
Prosecution. Please proceed with your assigned tasks. Thank you, everyone, and
have a safe and productive afternoon