tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7121231314201529002024-03-08T00:55:17.557-08:00Expressium facit cessare tacitum"What is expressed puts an end to that which is implied." If only we say what we mean to say then at least the earth would be a bit of a better place. If we say everything there would be no assumptions because assumptions are mostly never even thought of and mostly the cause of all troubles ;) never assume. :) just saying...Keithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08494546103615211386noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-712123131420152900.post-10912042939028585442016-11-01T06:14:00.001-07:002016-11-01T06:14:09.248-07:00People vs. Salarza, G.R. No. 117682, August 18, 1997<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"><b>Facts: </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calisto MT"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Calisto MT"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Zareen Smith, British, came to the
Philippines and chose Boracay in Aklan and Port Barton in Palawan for her
vacation retreats. She met Enrico de Jesus, Filipino, 26,
caretaker of<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><i>Elsa's Place</i>, a
resort owned by his parents. Soon enough a mutual attraction developed between
them which ripened into an intense love affair that they would have sex almost
every night.<span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calisto MT"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Calisto MT"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Enrico
brought Zareen to<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><i>Mary's Cottage</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> in Sitio Sabang, Bgy. Cabayugan, and
introduced her to his granduncle Rogelio Marañon and grandaunts Nenita Marañon
and Maria Ausan who collectively owned and managed the resort. Enrico and
Zareen occupied Cottage No. 1. They spent the day at the beach where they drank
and swam. They were later joined in by Enrico's friend Silvino Salarza, Jr., a
tourist guide, a press relations officer and a fisherman.</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 40.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calisto MT"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Calisto MT"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">In the evening Enrico and Zareen
went to Sabang Centro together with Silvino, Julio Morales and a certain Tonton
to attend a dance. The dance however was canceled so they proceeded to<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><i>Coco Grove Restaurant</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> and
drank a bottle of rhum. Zareen did not drink as she preferred red wine which
was not available. At eleven o'clock the group returned to<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><i>Mary's Cottage</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> where
Enrico awakened his grandaunt Nenita and ask her for two (2) more bottles of
rhum, after which, they went back to the beach and continued drinking. This
time Zareen opted for a bottle of beer. After a while Zareen said she felt
tired and sleepy so she excused herself and retired to the cottage. She was
accompanied by Enrico who left her there to sleep. Back at the beach Enrico
asked his friends to go spearfishing. Although Silvino went with them he later
returned to the beach because he could not stand the cold and was feeling dizzy.</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calisto MT"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Calisto MT"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">According to the prosecution, at
two o'clock in the morning of 1 May 1994 Zareen woke up when she felt somebody
take off her underwear.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><sup> </sup></b></span><b><sup>1</sup></b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>The room was dark as the resort
management switched off the lights at ten o'clock. Zareen said she did not stop
the man from removing her panties as she thought it was Enrico, her boyfriend,
and she was half-asleep. The man in turn removed his briefs and placed himself
on top of her, spread her legs, penetrated her and executed<span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><i>push-and-pull</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>movements. Later, the man softly
whispered:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>"Zareen, it's
not Ricky</i>;<span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><i>it's Jun</i>.<span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><i>I love you</i>.<i>"</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>According to Zareen, when she heard
those words, she pushed him aside. She cried and became hysterical. She went to
the bathroom and washed herself, at the same time telling Silvino,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>"Why? Why did you do that to
me? You have ruined everything</i>.<span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><i>You
know that Ricky and I are trying to have a baby of our own, what will happen
now? I might get impregnated by what you did to me</i>.<i>"</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Silvino however assured her that
pregnancy was out of the question as he did not ejaculate<span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 40.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calisto MT"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Calisto MT"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">5.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">On the other hand, Silvino claims
that it was Zareen who was flirting with him. His version is that while at<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><i>Coco Grove Restaurant</i>, whenever Enrico was not looking, Zareen would
whisper to him and place her arm on his shoulder. She would talk to him about
her stay in Boracay with her sister Lucila and the men she met there. In turn,
he spoke to her about his former girlfriends. When Enrico invited him to go
spearfishing he went with the group but after a while he returned to the beach
saying he was feeling cold and dizzy having imbibed one too many. He even
stumbled and fell on the sand. As a result, he got sand all over his body so he
proceeded to the public restroom for a shower. On the way to get his t-shirt
and cigarettes he saw Zareen lying on the hammock. She asked him for a
cigarette and insisted that he take his shower inside her cottage instead of
the public restroom which was about a hundred meters away. He hesitated for a
while but finally acceded.<span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 40.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calisto MT"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Calisto MT"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">6.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">But the trial court was not persuaded by Silvino's
story. It pronounced him guilty of rape and imposed upon him the supreme
penalty of death.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 40.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calisto MT"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Calisto MT"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">7.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Quite interestingly, the
Information alleges that Silvino had carnal communication with Zareen<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><i>while she was asleep, with the use of force, against her will<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i>and<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>without her consent</i>. <span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">Issue: WON there was force or intimidation<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Calisto MT", serif;">Held: </span></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Under Art. 335 of the Revised Penal Code, as
amended by Sec. 11, RA 7659, rape is committed by having carnal knowledge of a
woman under any of the following circumstances: (a) by using force or
intimidation; (b) when the woman is deprived of reason or otherwise
unconscious; and, (c) when the woman is under twelve (12) years of age or is
demented. The facts of this case do not by any means show the existence of any
of these circumstances; thus we cannot see how the trial court have convicted
and, worse, sentenced the accused to die.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">First</span></i><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">, the complaining witness was not below twelve (12)
years of age at the time of the alleged commission of the offense. She was
already thirty (30) years old. Neither was she demented.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Second</span></i><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">, the Information avers use of force but the
evidence negates any use of force, nay, not even intimidation, in the
commission of the offense charged. In fact, as discussed hereunder, the sexual
advances of the accused were done<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>with
the consent</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>of the
complaining witness although she claimed she thought that the man who laid with
her was her boyfriend Enrico. Here it may be argued that consent to the sexual
act was given by Zareen only because of her erroneous belief that the man on
top of her was Enrico, thus implying that had she known it was someone else she
would have resisted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The explanation is not persuasive. The evidence shows that this mistake
was purely a subjective configuration of Zareen's mind — an assumption entirely
contrived by her. Our impression is that Silvino had nothing to do with the
formulation of this belief; he did nothing to mislead or deceive Zareen into
thinking that he was Enrico. In fact, Silvino precisely, and confidently, told
her,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>"Zareen, it's not
Ricky</i>;<span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><i>it's Jun</i>.<span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><i>I love you</i>.<i>"</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>It is thus obvious that whatever
mistake there was could only be attributable to Zareen — and her inexcusable
imprudence — and to nobody else. Clearly, the fault was hers. She had the
opportunity to ascertain the identity of the man but she preferred to remain
passive and allow things to happen as they did. Silvino never used force on her
and was even most possibly encouraged by the fact that when he pulled down her
panties<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>she never objected</i>;
when her legs were being parted<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>she
never objected</i>; and, when he finally mounted her<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>she never objected</i>. Where then
was force?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Third</span></i><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">, Zareen was not deprived of reason or otherwise
unconscious when the accused had intercourse with her. Her lame excuse was that
she was half-asleep. However she admitted that in the early morning of 1 May
1994 she<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>woke up</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>to find someone removing her
underwear. Thus wise it cannot be said that she was deprived of reason or
unconscious. She knew, hence was conscious, when her panties were being pulled
down; she knew, hence was conscious, when her legs were being parted to prepare
for the sexual act; she knew, hence was conscious, when the man was pulling
down his briefs to prepare himself likewise for the copulation; she knew, hence
was conscious, when the man mounted her and lusted after her virtue. Her
justification was that she never objected to the sexual act from the start
because she thought that the man was her boyfriend with whom she was having sex
almost every night for the past three (3) weeks as they were getting married
and wanted already to have a baby. In other words, her urge could not wait for
the more appropriate time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The prosecution would have the accused convicted of rape under its
hypothesis that the complaining witness was half-asleep,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>ergo</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>unconscious, when the sexual assault
took place. Obviously, it had in mind the doctrine enunciated in 1929 in<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>People v</i>.<span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><i>Corcino</i>,<span class="apple-converted-space"><b><sup> </sup></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>and later in 1935 in<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>People v</i>.<span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><i>Caballero</i>.<span class="apple-converted-space"><b><sup> </sup></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>These cases however do not apply
because the offended parties there were unquestionably<span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><i>fast asleep</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>— and not just<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>half-asleep</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>as in the instant case — when the act
was perpetrated. Consequently, there was no opportunity for them to either
object or give their consent as they were in deep slumber at the time of the
coition. It was only some time after they woke up that they realized that the
men having sex with them were not their husbands they thought them to be. In
convicting the accused, this Court held, as the trial courts did, that the
crime of rape had already been consummated even<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>before</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>the offended parties woke up from
their sleep. In<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Caballero</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>it was found that —<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">. . . when
Consorcia, the offended party, awoke the appellant had already introduced his
organ into her genitals and in fact he was already having sexual intercourse
with her. We mention this fact on account of a certain doubt arising from the
offended party's testimony during the direct examination relative to this
detail, but in the attempt of the attorney for the defense to clarify this
point during his cross-examination,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>the
offended party categorically affirmed that she had been unaware when the
appellant introduced his organ into hers<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i>.
. . . when the offended party awoke, the crime of rape committed by the
appellant was already consummated, having had carnal knowledge with the offended
party while she was unconscious for being asleep.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>The offended party's consent to the
act was subsequent thereto and it was given on the belief that the man lying
with her was her own husband</i>. (emphasis supplied).<span class="apple-converted-space"><b><sup> </sup></b></span><b><sup>5</sup></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The import of this pronouncement
is that it was no longer relevant, much less significant, that after waking up
the offended party continued to have sex with the man she thought was her
husband. Her "consent" to the act was<i>subsequent</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>to the rape, or after the crime was
already committed; the fact that the consent — even if only implied — was given
on the belief that the man was her spouse, was inconsequential. In the case of
Zareen, her "consent" was given<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>prior</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>to the carnal act,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>i</i>.<i>e</i>., the act was done
because of her passivity, if not consent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The record abounds with indicia to
discredit the theory of the prosecution that Zareen was dead drunk when the
alleged rape took placed. Having consumed only a small quantity of rhum during
the day, according to her, and a bottle of beer in the evening on a normal
pace, she could not have been so drunk as to be deprived of reason or otherwise
rendered unconscious. When she returned to her cottage she immediately fell
asleep as she was tired and remained so for some time. When she was supposedly
molested at around two-thirty the following morning she must have already been,
as we believe she was, in full possession of her mental and physical faculties.
Whatever intoxicating effect the rhum and beer might have had on her would have
already worn off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Zareen herself claimed that she
woke up when she felt someone removing her panties. This means she was<span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><i>fully conscious</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>when somebody approached her bed,
removed her panties, spread her legs "although not far apart but just
enough to get her underwear off," and then proceeded to perform coital
movements with her. Her testimony that she knew that the "intruder"
removed his own briefs; that his penis was already erect; that no effort to
foreplay was made before penetrating her in his first attempt; that the man did
not kiss her nor touch her breasts; that she did not even guide his penis into
the trough of her ferminity; and, that he "pushed-and-pulled" on top
of her for approximately less than a minute, all validate our conviction that
she was fully conscious — not asleep nor even half-asleep — of what was being
done to her from the beginning. She was also aware that there was no light as
the gas lamp inside the cottage was not lighted and the electricity was already
shut off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Most significantly, Zareen was
acutely aware of the manner by which Silvino identified himself — "<i>Zareen,
it's not Ricky</i>;<span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><i>it's
Jun</i>" — because she testified that " . . .<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>it was not preceeded by a question</i>.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>It was as if Jun wanted to wake me
up fully</i>."<span class="apple-converted-space"><b><sup> </sup></b></span><b><sup>6</sup></b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>To repeat, all these details vividly
recalled and recounted by her ineluctably indicate that she was awake all the
time and capable of comprehending the nature of the sexual act and of
exercising her own free will as to yield to or resist a Lothario's libido.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Zareen had known Enrico for three
(3) weeks and since then had been making love with him almost every night. It
strains credulity and understanding that she could have mistaken Silvino for
Enrico. Their constant lovemaking and togetherness would have already made her
familiar with the physical attributes of Enrico and accustomed to his
fornicating peculiarities. Zareen even asserted that Enrico was not inclined to
sexual intercourse when drunk and would usually indulge in foreplay before
actual copulation. These oddities are cues which reasonably engender suspicion
that the man she was having carnal communication with was not her lover but
someone else. She had the moral responsibility not only to herself but to
society itself to ascertain first the identity of her "ravisher"
before yielding completely to him. It can hardly be said that she was not
imprudent, reckless and irresponsible in giving in to her own sexual impulses.
Moreover, being almost a stranger in the place, Zareen should have been leery
of her surroundings especially at night. In this regard, she should not have
left her cottage door unlocked as much as she did leave pregnable and
unshielded the portals of her womanhood.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">In<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>People v</i>.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Bacalzo</i>,<span class="apple-converted-space"><b><sup> </sup></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>the accused boxed his victim into
unconsciousness. When the victim regained her consciousness she felt the
flaccid penis of her ravisher still inside her vagina and that thereafter he
removed his sexual organ. He then warned her not to divulge what had happened
or else she and her family would be killed. Force, which was used to knock the
victim into unconsciousness, was employed before the act was done to ensure its
consummation. In<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>People v</i>.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Corcino</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>the complaining witness was<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>totally asleep</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>and when she woke up the organ of the
accused was already inside her genitalia. In<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>People
v</i>.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Caballero</i><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><sup> </sup></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>the victim was<span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><i>fully asleep</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>when the accused had carnal
communication with her, such that when she woke up the crime of rape was
already consummated. The same was true in<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>People
v</i>.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Inot</i>.<span class="apple-converted-space"><b><sup> </sup></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>In<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>People
v</i>.<i>Dayo</i>,<span class="apple-converted-space"><b><sup> </sup></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>the rapist's organ was already in the
vagina of the offended party when she woke up, so she pushed him away and
screamed. But the accused pulled out his revolver and threatened to kill her if
she made any further outcry. She fainted, and the accused continued having sex
with her. In fine, in all these cases raped was already consummated before the
offended parties could even exercise their volition to grant or deny access to
erotic<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>consortium</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Under the circumstances we cannot
help entertaining serious doubts on the culpability of the accused. Rape is a
charge easy to make, hard to prove and harder to defend by the party accused,
though innocent. Experience has shown that unfounded charges of rape have
frequently been proferred by women actuated by some sinister, ulterior or
undisclosed motive. Convictions for such crime should not be sustained without
clear and convincing proof of guilt. On more than one occasion it has been
pointed out that in crimes against chastity the testimony of the injured woman
should not be received with precipitate credulity. When the conviction depends
on any vital point upon her uncorroborated testimony, it should not be accepted
unless her sincerity and candor are free from suspicion. A little insight into
human nature is of utmost value in judging matters of this kind.<span class="apple-converted-space"><b><sup> </sup></b></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">But even from the narration of
Zareen, the elements of the crime of rape are, regretfully, miserably wanting.
There was no force nor intimidation; Zareen was not deprived of reason nor
otherwise unconscious; and, she was not below twelve nor demented.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">WHEREFORE, the decision appealed
from is REVERSED and SET ASIDE and accused-appellant SILVINO SALARZA JR. is
ACQUITTED of the crime charged; consequently, h</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">e is ordered
immediately RELEASED from confinement unless held for some other lawful cause.
Costs<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><i>de oficio</i>.<span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Keithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08494546103615211386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-712123131420152900.post-63664983412855834882016-11-01T05:57:00.002-07:002016-11-01T05:57:58.621-07:00PEOPLE PF THE PHILIPPINES vs. Bernabe Pareja y Cruz, G.R. no. 202122, January 15, 2014<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Facts: <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 40.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calisto MT"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Calisto MT";">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Pareja
was charged with two counts of Rape and one Attempted Rape.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 40.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calisto MT"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Calisto MT";">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">RTC
convicted him of Rape and Acts of Lasciviousness which was affirmed in toto by
the CA.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 40.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calisto MT"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Calisto MT";">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">To exculpate himself from liability, [Pareja] offered both
denial and ill motive of AAA against him as his defense. He denied raping
[AAA] but admitted that he knew her as she is the daughter of his live–in
partner and that they all stay in the same house.</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 40.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calisto MT"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Calisto MT";">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Contrary to AAA’s allegations, [Pareja] averred that it would
have been impossible that the alleged incidents happened. To justify the
same, [Pareja] described the layout of their house and argued that there was no
way that the alleged sexual abuses could have happened.</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 40.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calisto MT"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Calisto MT";">5.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">According to [Pareja], the house was made of wood, only about
four (4) meters wide by ten (10) meters, and was so small that they all have to
sit to be able to fit inside the house. Further, the vicinity where their
house is located was thickly populated with houses constructed side by
side. Allegedly, AAA also had no choice but to sleep beside her siblings.</span>
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 40.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calisto MT"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Calisto MT";">6.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">All taken into account, [Pareja] asseverated that it was hard
to imagine how he could possibly still go about with his plan without AAA’s
siblings nor their neighbors noticing the same.</span> <span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 40.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calisto MT"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Calisto MT";">7.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Verily, [Pareja] was adamant and claimed innocence as to the
imputations hurled against him by AAA. He contended that AAA filed these
charges against him only as an act of revenge because AAA was mad at [him] for
being the reason behind her parents’ separation.</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 40.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calisto MT"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Calisto MT";">8.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">he RTC acquitted Pareja from the charge of attempted rape but
convicted him of the crimes of rape and acts of lasciviousness in the December
2003 and February 2004 incidents, respectively.</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 40.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calisto MT"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Calisto MT";">9.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Wanting to reverse his two convictions, Pareja appealed</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>to the Court of Appeals, which affirmed<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><em><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">in toto</span></em><span class="apple-converted-space"> the judgment of the RTC</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; margin-left: 40.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calisto MT"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Calisto MT"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">10.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Aggrieved, Pareja
elevated his case to the SC</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"><br />
<br />
I<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">Issues:
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 40.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calisto MT"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Calisto MT"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"><br />
THE TRIAL COURT SERIOUSLY ERRED IN CONVICTING [PAREJA] OF THE CRIMES CHARGED
NOTWITHSTANDING THAT HIS GUILT HAS NOT BEEN PROVEN BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 40.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calisto MT"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Calisto MT"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"><br />
THE TRIAL COURT GRAVELY ERRED IN CONVICTING [PAREJA] BASED SOLELY ON THE PROSECUTION
WITNESS’ TESTIMONY.<sup>16</sup><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Held:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">When
the issue of credibility of witness is presented before this Court, we followe
certain guidelines that have overtime been established in jurisprudence. In <i>People
v. Sanchez</i>, we enumerated them as follows:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<b><i><u><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">First</span></u></i></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">,
the Court gives the highest respect to the RTC’s evaluation of the testimony of
the witnesses, considering its unique position in directly observing the
demeanor of a witness on the stand. From its vantage point, the trial
court is in the best position to determine the truthfulness of witnesses.<br />
<br />
<b><i><u>Second</u></i></b>, absent any substantial reason which would justify
the reversal of the RTC’s assessments and conclusions, the reviewing court is
generally bound by the lower court’s findings, particularly when no significant
facts and circumstances, affecting the outcome of the case, are shown to have
been overlooked or disregarded.<br />
<br />
<b><i><u>And third</u></i></b>, the rule is even more stringently applied if
the CA concurred with the RTC. (Citations omitted.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"><br />
<span style="background: white;">The recognized rule in this jurisdiction is that
the “assessment of the credibility of witnesses is a domain best left to the
trial court judge because of his unique opportunity to observe their deportment
and demeanor on the witness stand; a vantage point denied appellate courts–and when
his findings have been affirmed by the Court of Appeals, these are generally
binding and conclusive upon this Court.”<sup>21</sup> While there
are recognized exceptions to the rule, this Court has found no substantial
reason to overturn the identical conclusions of the trial and appellate courts
on the matter of AAA’s credibility.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Besides, inaccuracies and inconsistencies in a
rape victim’s testimony are generally expected. As this court stated inPeople
vs. Saludo: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">Rape is a painful experience which is oftentimes
not remembered in detail. For such an offense is not analogous to a
person’s achievement or accomplishment as to be worth recalling or reliving;
rather, it is something which causes deep psychological wounds and casts a
stigma upon the victim, scarring her psyche for life and which her conscious
and subconscious mind would opt to forget. Thus, a rape victim cannot be
expected to mechanically keep and then give an accurate account of the
traumatic and horrifying experience she had undergone. (Citation omitted.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"><br />
<span style="background: white;">Since human memory is fickle and prone to the
stresses of emotions, accuracy in a testimonial account has never been used as
a standard in testing the credibility of a witness.<sup>24</sup>
The inconsistencies mentioned by Pareja are trivial and non–consequential
matters that merely caused AAA confusion when she was being questioned.
The inconsistency regarding the year of the December incident is not even a
matter pertaining to AAA’s ordeal. The date and time of the commission of the
crime of rape becomes important only when it creates serious doubt as to the
commission of the rape itself or the sufficiency of the evidence for purposes
of conviction. In other words, the “date of the commission of the rape
becomes relevant only when the accuracy and truthfulness of the complainant’s
narration practically hinge on the date of the commission of the crime.”
Moreover, the date of the commission of the rape is not an essential element of
the crime.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<em><b><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Improbability of sexual abuse</span></b></em><span style="background: white; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
<em><b><span style="color: #333333;">in their small house and in the</span></b></em><br />
<em><b><span style="color: #333333;">presence of AAA’s sleeping
siblings<o:p></o:p></span></b></em></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">Pareja argues that it was improbable for him to
have sexually abused AAA, considering that their house was so small that they
had to sleep beside each other, that in fact, when the alleged incidents
happened, AAA was sleeping beside her younger siblings, who would have noticed
if anything unusual was happening<br />
<br />
This Court is not convinced. Pareja’s living conditions could have
prevented him from acting out on his beastly desires, but they did not.
This Court has observed that many of the rape cases appealed to us were not
always committed in seclusion. Lust is no respecter of time or place, and
rape defies constraints of time and space. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<em><b><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Demeanor of AAA</span></b></em><b><i><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
<em>as a rape victim<o:p></o:p></em></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Pareja
asseverates that AAA’s demeanor and conduct belie her claim that she was raped.
He said that “the ordinary Filipina [would have summoned] every ounce of her
strength and courage to thwart any attempt to besmirch her honor and blemish
her purity.” Pareja pointed out that they lived in a thickly populated
area such that any commotion inside their house would have been easily heard by
the neighbors, thus, giving AAA the perfect opportunity to seek their help.</span><sup>36</sup><span class="apple-converted-space"> Moreover, Pareja said, AAA’s
delay in reporting the incidents to her mother or the authorities negates the
possibility that he indeed committed the crimes. AAA’s belated
confession, he claimed, “cannot be dismissed as trivial as it puts into serious
doubt her credibility.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">A person accused of a serious crime such as rape
will tend to escape liability by shifting the blame on the victim for failing
to manifest resistance to sexual abuse. However, this Court has
recognized the fact that no clear–cut behavior can be expected of a person
being raped or has been raped. It is a settled rule that failure of the
victim to shout or seek help do not negate rape. Even lack of resistance
will not imply that the victim has consented to the sexual act, especially when
that person was intimidated into submission by the accused. In cases
where the rape is committed by a relative such as a father, stepfather, uncle,
or common law spouse, moral influence or ascendancy takes the place of
violence.<sup>38</sup> In this case, AAA’s lack of resistance was
brought about by her fear that Pareja would make good on his threat to kill her
if she ever spoke of the incident.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">AAA’s conduct,<i> i.e</i>., acting like
nothing happened, after being sexually abused by Pareja is also not enough to
discredit her. Victims of a crime as heinous as rape, cannot be expected
to act within reason or in accordance with society’s expectations. It is
unreasonable to demand a standard rational reaction to an irrational
experience, especially from a young victim. One cannot be expected to act
as usual in an unfamiliar situation as it is impossible to predict the workings
of a human mind placed under emotional stress. Moreover, it is wrong to
say that there is a standard reaction or behavior among victims of the crime of
rape since each of them had to cope with different circumstances. <sup>39</sup></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Likewise, AAA’s delay in reporting the incidents
to her mother or the proper authorities is insignificant and does not affect
the veracity of her charges. It should be remembered that Pareja
threatened to kill her if she told anyone of the incidents. In <i>People
v. Ogarte</i>,<sup>40</sup> we explained why a rape victim’s deferral in
reporting the crime does not equate to falsification of the accusation, to wit:</span><br />
<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">The failure of complainant to disclose her
defilement without loss of time to persons close to her or to report the matter
to the authorities does not perforce warrant the conclusion that she was not
sexually molested and that her charges against the accused are all baseless,
untrue and fabricated. Delay in prosecuting the offense is not an
indication of a fabricated charge. Many victims of rape never complain or
file criminal charges against the rapists. They prefer to bear the
ignominy and pain, rather than reveal their shame to the world or risk the
offenders’ making good their threats to kill or hurt their victims. (Citation
omitted.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">In Criminal Case No.
04–1557–CFM or the December 2003 incident, Pareja was charged and convicted of
the crime of rape by sexual assault. The enactment of Republic Act No.
8353 or the Anti–Rape Law of 1997, revolutionized the concept of rape with the
recognition of sexual violence on “sex–related” orifices other than a woman’s
organ is included in the crime of rape; and the crime’s expansion to cover
gender–free rape. “The transformation mainly consisted of the
reclassification of rape as a crime against persons and the introduction of
rape by ‘sexual assault’ as differentiated from the traditional ‘rape through
carnal knowledge’ or ‘rape through sexual intercourse.’”<sup>44</sup>
Republic Act No. 8353 amended Article 335, the provision on rape in the Revised
Penal Code and incorporated therein Article 266–A which reads:</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"><br />
<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">Article 266–A. <i>Rape, When and How Committed</i>.
– Rape is committed –<br />
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="mso-cellspacing: 0in; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 100%px;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 5.0%;" valign="top" width="5%">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">1)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">By a man who shall have carnal
knowledge of a woman under any of the following circumstances:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 5.0%;" width="5%">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 92.0%;" width="92%">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">a)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">Through force, threat or
intimidation;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">b)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">When the offended party is deprived
of reason or is otherwise unconscious,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">c)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">By means of fraudulent machination
or grave abuse of authority;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">d)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">When the offended party is under
twelve (12) years of age or is demented, even though none of the
circumstances mentioned above be present;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">2)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">By any person who, under any of the
circumstances mentioned in paragraph 1 hereof, shall commit an act of sexual
assault by inserting his penis into another person’s mouth or anal orifice,
or any instrument or object, into the genital or anal orifice of another
person.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"><br />
<span style="background: white;">Thus, under the new provision, rape can be
committed in two ways:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">1. Article 266–A paragraph 1 refers
to Rape through sexual intercourse, also known as “organ rape” or “penile
rape.” <sup>45</sup> The central element in rape through sexual
intercourse is carnal knowledge, which must be proven beyond reasonable doubt.<sup>46</sup></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">2. Article 266–A paragraph 2 refers
to rape by sexual assault, also called “instrument or object rape,” or
“gender–free rape.”<sup>47</sup> It must be attended by any of the
circumstances enumerated in subparagraphs (a) to (d) of paragraph 1.<sup>48</sup></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">In <i>People v. Abulon</i>,<sup>49</sup> this
Court differentiated the two modes of committing rape as follows:</span><br />
<span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="mso-cellspacing: 0in; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 100%px;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 5.0%;" valign="top" width="5%">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">(1)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 94.0%;" valign="top" width="94%">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">In the first mode, the offender is
always a man, while in the second, the offender may be a man or a woman;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">(2)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">In the first mode, the offended
party is always a woman, while in the second, the offended party may be a man
or a woman;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">(3)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">In the first mode, rape is
committed through penile penetration of the vagina, while the second is
committed by inserting the penis into another person’s mouth or anal orifice,
or any instrument or object into the genital or anal orifice of another person;
and<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">(4)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">The penalty for rape under the
first mode is higher than that under the second.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"><br />
<span style="background: white;">Under Article 266–A, paragraph 2 of the Revised
Penal Code, as amended, rape by sexual assault is “[b]y any person who, under
any of the circumstances mentioned in paragraph 1 hereof, shall commit an act
of sexual assault by inserting his penis into another person’s mouth or anal
orifice, or any instrument or object, into the genital or anal orifice of
another person.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">AAA positively and consistently stated that
Pareja, in December 2003, inserted his penis into her anus. While she may
not have been certain about the details of the February 2004 incident, she was
positive that Pareja had anal sex with her in December 2003, thus, clearly
establishing the occurrence of rape by sexual assault. In other words,
her testimony on this account was, as the Court of Appeals found, clear,
positive, and probable.<sup>50</sup></span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="background: white;">However</span></b><span style="background: white;">, since the charge in the Information for the December 2003 incident is <b>rape
through carnal knowledge</b>, Pareja cannot be found guilty of rape by sexual
assault even though it was proven during trial. This is due to the
material differences and substantial distinctions between the two modes of
rape; thus, the first mode is not necessarily included in the second, and
vice–versa. Consequently, to convict Pareja of rape by sexual assault
when what he was charged with was rape through carnal knowledge, would be to
violate his constitutional right to be informed of the nature and cause of the
accusation against him.<sup>51</sup></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Nevertheless, Pareja may be convicted of the
lesser crime of acts of lasciviousness under the variance doctrine embodied in
Section 4, in relation to Section 5, Rule 120 of the Rules of Criminal
Procedure,<sup>52</sup> to wit:</span><br />
<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">SEC. 4. Judgment in case of variance between
allegation and proof. – When there is a variance between the offense charged in
the complaint or information and that proved, and the offense as charged is
included in or necessarily includes the offense proved, the accused shall be
convicted of the offense proved which is included in the offense charged, or of
the offense charged which is included in the offense proved.<br />
<br />
SEC. 5. When an offense includes or is included in another. – An offense
charged necessarily includes the offense proved when some of the
essential elements or ingredients of the former,
as alleged in the complaint or information, constitute the latter. And an
offense charged is necessarily included in the offense proved, when the essential
ingredients of the former constitute or form part of those constituting the
latter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"><br />
<span style="background: white;">Article 336 of the Revised Penal Code provides:</span><br />
<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">Art. 336. Acts of lasciviousness. —
Any person who shall commit any act of lasciviousness upon other persons of
either sex, under any of the circumstances mentioned in the preceding article,
shall be punished by<i> prisión correccional.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">The
elements of the above crime are as follows:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="mso-cellspacing: 0in; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 100%px;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 5.0%;" valign="top" width="5%">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">(1)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">That the offender commits any act
of lasciviousness or lewdness;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
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<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 5.0%;" width="5%">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 90.0%;" width="90%">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">(2)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">That it is done under any of the
following circumstances:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
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<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">a.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">By using force or intimidation; or<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">b.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">When the offended party is deprived
of reason or otherwise unconscious; or<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">c.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">When the offended party is under 12
years of age; and<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">(3)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">That the offended party is another
person of either sex.<sup>53</sup> (Citation omitted.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;">Clearly, the
above–mentioned elements are present in the December 2003 incident, and were
sufficiently established during trial. Thus, even though the crime
charged against Pareja was for rape through carnal knowledge, he can be
convicted of the crime of acts of lasciviousness without violating any of his
constitutional rights because said crime is included in the crime of rape.<sup>54</sup></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Nonetheless, the Court takes this case as an
opportunity to remind the State, the People of the Philippines, as represented
by the public prosecutor, to exert more diligence in crafting the Information,
which contains the charge against an accused. The primary duty of a
lawyer in public prosecution is to see that justice is done<sup>55</sup> –
to the State, that its penal laws are not broken and order maintained; to the
victim, that his or her rights are vindicated; and to the offender, that he is
justly punished for his crime. A faulty and defective Information, such
as that in Criminal Case No. 04–1556–CFM, does not render full justice to the
State, the offended party, and even the offender. Thus, the public
prosecutor should always see to it that the Information is accurate and
appropriate.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH;"><o:p>Some issues raised were not touched on this digest. reading the entire case won't consume 5 minutes. :)</o:p></span></div>
Keithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08494546103615211386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-712123131420152900.post-89738787207453762522016-11-01T05:16:00.001-07:002016-11-01T05:16:17.587-07:00PEOPLE vs. NATALIO HILARION y LALIAG, G.R. No. 201105, November 25, 2013 <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Facts: <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: navy; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">The RTC found the appellant guilty beyond
reasonable doubt of the crime of rape under Article 266-A, in relation to
Article 266-B, of the Revised Penal Code</span>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: navy; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">It gave credence to the testimony of AAA</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="rnt3"></a><a href="http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2013/nov2013/gr_201105_2013.html#fnt3"><sup><span style="background: white; color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.0pt;">3</span></sup></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: navy; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span><span style="background: white; color: navy; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">that the
appellant inserted his penis into her vagina. It further held that AAA’s
testimony was corroborated by the medical findings of the Philippine National
Police medico-legal officer stating that the victim had "deep healing
laceration at 3 o’clock position"</span></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="rnt4"></a><a href="http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2013/nov2013/gr_201105_2013.html#fnt4"><sup><span style="background: white; color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.0pt;">4</span></sup></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: navy; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span><span style="background: white; color: navy; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">on her hymen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: navy; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"> The RTC
sentenced the appellant to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua, and
ordered him to pay AAA<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><s>P</s>50,000.00
as civil indemnity and<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><s>P</s>50,000.00
as moral damages.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: navy; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">The CA decision affirmed in toto</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">5.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: navy; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">The CA held that AAA positively identified the
appellant as the person who inserted his penis into her vagina in a grassy area</span>;<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">6.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: navy; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Her testimony was corroborated by Medico-Legal
Report No. 3472-02 showing that AAA had deep-healing hymenal lacerations, and
that her posterior fourchette had been "abraded." It further held
that the victim's age had been sufficiently proven by the written and oral
testimonies of AAA's mother, BBB. The CA also rejected the appellant's denial
for his failure to substantiate his defense.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">7.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">In his brief,<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="rnt5"></a><a href="http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2013/nov2013/gr_201105_2013.html#fnt5"><sup><span style="color: red; font-size: 7.0pt;">5</span></sup></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>the appellant maintained that the
prosecution failed to prove the elements of force and intimidation; he also
claimed that the victim's age had not been proven with certainty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: navy; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Issues:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Elements of force and intimidation<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Proof of victim’s age<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: navy; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Held: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Affirmative: <span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">As
an element of rape, force, threat or intimidation need not be irresistible, but
just enough to bring about the desired result."</span></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="rnt7"></a><a href="http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2013/nov2013/gr_201105_2013.html#fnt7"><sup><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: red; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 7pt;">7</span></sup></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: navy; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: navy; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">In the present
case, AAA testified that she cried when the appellant inserted his penis into
her vagina. As a child of tender years, she could not reasonably be expected to
resist in the same manner that an adult would under the same or similar
circumstances. Nonetheless, AAA's act of crying during the rape is sufficient
indication that the appellant's act was against her will. AAA also revealed
that the appellant threatened to kill her parents if she disclosed the incident
to anyone.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">In People v. Buado Jr.,<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="rnt9"></a><a href="http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2013/nov2013/gr_201105_2013.html#fnt9"><sup><span style="color: red; font-size: 7.0pt;">9</span></sup></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>the Court reiterated the guidelines in
appreciating the victim's age, either as an element of the crime or as a
qualifying circumstance, thus:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: navy; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">In order to remove any confusion that may be engendered by the
foregoing cases, we hereby set the following guidelines in appreciating age,
either as an element of the crime or as a qualifying circumstance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: navy; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">1. The
best evidence to prove the age of the offended party is an original or
certified true copy of the certificate of live birth of such party.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: navy; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">2. In the
absence of a certificate of live birth, similar authentic documents such as
baptismal certificate and school records which show the date of birth of the
victim would suffice to prove age.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: navy; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">3. If the
certificate of live birth or authentic document is shown to have been lost or
destroyed or otherwise unavailable, the testimony, if clear and credible, of
the victim's mother or a member of the family either by affinity or
consanguinity who is qualified to testify on matters respecting pedigree such
as the exact age or date of birth of the offended party pursuant to Section 40,
Rule 130 of the Rules on Evidence shall be sufficient under the following
circumstances:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: navy; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">a. If the
victim is alleged to be below 3 years of age and what is sought to be proved is
that she is less than 7 years old;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: navy; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">b. If the
victim is alleged to be below 7 years of age and what is sought to be proved is
that she is less than 12 years old;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: navy; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">c. If the
victim is alleged to be below 12 years of age and what is sought to be proved
is that she is less than 18 years old.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: navy; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">4. In the
absence of a certificate of live birth, authentic document, or the testimony of
the victim s mother or relatives concerning the victim s age, the complainant s
testimony will suffice provided that it is expressly and clearly admitted by
the accused.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: navy; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">5. It is
the prosecution that has the burden of proving the age of the offended party.
The failure of the accused to object to the testimonial evidence regarding age
shall not be taken against him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: navy; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">6. The
trial court should always make a categorical finding as to the age of the
victim.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: navy; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: navy; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">In the present case, the records are completely devoid of evidence
that the certificates recognized by law have been lost or destroyed or were
otherwise unavailable. The mother simply testified without prior proof of the
unavailability of the recognized primary evidence. Thus, proof of the victim s
age cannot be recognized, following the rule that all doubts should be
interpreted in favor of the accused.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />Keithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08494546103615211386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-712123131420152900.post-59531529120499643482012-03-09T07:06:00.002-08:002020-08-15T15:42:22.377-07:00My favorite quotes from law school<div style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", "bitstream charter", times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
These are some of the quotes I got from cases. We were once told: "When you study the Law you cease to be a lay man" Nevertheless, these apply even to lay people.</div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", "bitstream charter", times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
1. What is to be avoided is an interpretation that "may work injustice rather than promote justice." -Borromeo vs. CA</div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", "bitstream charter", times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
2. Who did not need to be told, nevertheless inquired:</div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", "bitstream charter", times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
“Didst thou eat of the forbidden fruit?”—thereby giving him a chance to be heard.</div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", "bitstream charter", times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
3. If all are to be equal before the law, all must be approximately equal in intelligence.-Rubi vs. Prov. Board of Mindoro</div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", "bitstream charter", times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
4. what is expressed puts an end to that which is implied. Expressium facit cessare tacitum.- Lung center vs. Quezon City</div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", "bitstream charter", times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
5. The closed mind has no place in the open society- ynot vs. IAC</div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", "bitstream charter", times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
6. The strength of democracy lies not in the rights it guarantees but in the courage of the people to invoke them whenever they are ignored or violated. Rights are but weapons on the wall if, like expensive tapestry, all they do is embellish and impress. Rights, as weapons, must be a promise of protection. They become truly meaningful, and fulfill the role assigned to them in the free society, if they are kept bright and sharp with use by those who are not afraid to assert them.- ynot vs. IAC</div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", "bitstream charter", times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
7. Freedom to differ is not limited to things that do not matter much. That would be a mere shadow of freedom. The test of its substance is the right to differ as to things that touch the heart of the existing order.--Justice Robert A. Jackson, quoted in Ang ladlad</div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", "bitstream charter", times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
8. One unavoidable consequence of everyone having the freedom to choose is that others may make different choices – choices we would not make for ourselves, choices we may disapprove of, even choices that may shock or offend or anger us. However, choices are not to be legally prohibited merely because they are different, and the right to disagree and debate about important questions of public policy is a core value protected by our Bill of Rights. Indeed, our democracy is built on genuine recognition of, and respect for, diversity and difference in opinion.---Ang ladlad (forgot who said it)</div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", "bitstream charter", times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
9. the enforcement of no statute is of sufficient importance to justify indifference to the basic principles of government. -People vs. Aruta search and seizure</div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", "bitstream charter", times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
10. it is less evil that some criminals escape than that the government should play an ignoble part.- Oliver Wendell Holmes</div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", "bitstream charter", times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
11. Between the security of the State and its due preservation, on the one hand, and the constitutionally-guaranteed right of an individual, on the other hand, which should be held to prevail? There is no choice to my mind not for any other reason than because there is, in the first place, utterly no need to make a choice. The two are not incompatible; neither are they necessarily opposed to each other. Both can be preserved; indeed, the vitality of one is the strength of the other.</div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", "bitstream charter", times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
Assoc. justice vitug- Aniag v. Comelec, 237 SCRA 424</div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", "bitstream charter", times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
12. We cannot both be free and ignorant –thomas Jefferson</div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", "bitstream charter", times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
13. The interest of society and the maintenance of good government demand a full discussion of public affairs. Complete liberty to comment on the conduct of public men is a scalpel in the case of free speech. The sharp incision of its probe relieves the abscesses of officialdom. Men in public life may suffer under a hostile and unjust accusation; the wound can be assuaged with the balm of clear conscience.</div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", "bitstream charter", times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
-Justice Malcom, US vs. Bustos</div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", "bitstream charter", times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
This post is originally from my wordpress account I just wanted to place it here. </div>
Keithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08494546103615211386noreply@blogger.com0