Gentlemen:

Quoted hereunder, for your information, is a resolution of this Court dated JAN 18 2005.

G.R. No. 155031 (People of the Philippines vs. Loreto Maputo y Gayuso.)

The Court Resolved to NOTE the Reply Brief dated 2 December 2004 filed by counsel for appellant in compliance with the resolution of 21 September 2004.

Conformably with the decision promulgated on 7 July 2004 in G.R. Nos. 147678-87, entitled The People of the Philippines vs. Efren Mateo y Garcia, modifying the pertinent provisions of the Revised Rules on Criminal Procedure, more particularly Section 3 and Section 10 of Rule 122, Section 13 of Rule 124, Section 3 of Rule 125 and any other rule insofar as they provide for direct appeals from the Regional Trial Courts to the Supreme Court in cases where the penalty imposed is death, reclusion perpetua or life imprisonment, as well as the resolution of the Supreme Court en banc, dated 19 September 1995, in "Internal Rules of the Supreme Court" in cases similarly involving the death penalty, pursuant to the Court's power to promulgate rules of procedure in all courts under Article VIII, Section 5 of the Constitution, and allowing an intermediate review by the Court of Appeals before such cases are elevated to this Court, the Court further Resolved to TRANSFER this case to the Court of Appeals, for appropriate action and disposition.

LET all the pertinent records of this case be TRANSFERRED to the Court of Appeals.

Davide, Jr., C.J., on sick leave.

Puno, Acting C.J.

Very truly yours,

(Sgd.) LUZVIMINDA D. PUNO

Clerk of Court