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9/28/2016

G.R.No.208623

TodayisWednesday,September28,2016

RepublicofthePhilippines
SUPREMECOURT
Manila
FIRSTDIVISION
G.R.No.208623July23,2014
PEOPLEOFTHEPHILIPPINES,PlaintiffAppellee,
vs.
VIRGILIOANTONIOyRIVERA,AccusedAppellant.
RESOLUTION
REYES,J.:
Forreview1 is the Decision2 rendered by the Court of Appeals (CA) on October 8, 2012 in CAG.R. CRHC No.
04149affirming,albeitwithmodification8astothedamagesimposed,theJudgment3datedSeptember4,2009of
the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Tuguegarao City, Branch 4, in Criminal Case Nos. 1024410245, convicting
VirgilioAntonioyRivera(accusedappellant)oftwocountsofRapecommittedagainstAAA,4aminor.
Antecedents
TwoseparateinformationsforrapewerefiledagainsttheaccusedappellantbeforetheRTC,viz:
CriminalCaseNo.10244
Thatonoraboutandsometimeintheyear2001,intheMunicipalityofAlcala,Cagayanandwithinthejurisdiction
ofthisHonorableCourt,thesaidaccused,VI[R]GILIOANTONIO,withlewddesignandbytheuseofforce,threat,
andintimidation,did[then]andthere,willfully,unlawfullyandfeloniouslyhavesexualintercoursewiththeoffended
party,[AAA],aminor14yearsofage5againstherwill.
Thatinthecommissionoftheoffense[,]theaggravatingcircumstanceofuninh[a]bitedplacewaspresent.
Contrary[tolaw].6
CriminalCaseNo.10245
That on or about August 26, 2003, in the Municipality of Alcala, Province of Cagayan[,] within the jurisdiction of
thisHonorableCourt,thesaidaccused,VIRGILIOANTONIO,beingthentheguardianoftheprivatecomplainant
[AAA],aminor14yearsofage[,]whowasthenunderhiscareandcustody[,]withlewddesignandbytheuseof
force,threatandintimidation,did,thenandtherewillfully,unlawfully,andfeloniouslyhavesexualintercoursewith
theoffendedparty,[AAA],aminor14yearsof[age]againstherwill.
Contrarytolaw.7
Theaccusedappellantenteredanotguiltypleaduringthearraignment.
On February 23, 2005, pretrial was conducted. The prosecution proposed for the parties to stipulate on the
following, which the defense admitted: (a) the identity of the accusedappellant (b) his relationship as AAAs
godfather (c) the dates, times and places of the commission of rape and (d) AAAs minority at the time the
crimeswereallegedlyperpetrated.8
Theprosecutionmarkedandoffered:(a)AAAsbirthcertificateindicatingthatshewasbornonMay28,1989(b)
the medicolegal certificate dated September 2,2003, which was preparedby Dr. Rafael Sumabat (Dr. Sumabat)
and(c)AAAsaffidavit.Thedefense,onitspart,offerednodocumentaryevidence.9
Inthejointtrialthatensued,theprosecutionofferedthetestimoniesofAAAandDr.Sumabat.Ontheotherhand,
theaccusedappellantwasthedefenseslonewitness.
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VersionoftheProsecution
TheOfficeoftheSolicitorGeneral(OSG)aptlysummeduptheprosecutionsversionoftheeventsasfollows:
In March of 2001, eleven[]year old [AAA] began living with [accusedappellants] family in Maraburab, Alcala,
Cagayan Province after her parents had separated. [Accusedappellant] and his wife, Rose, are [AAAs]
godparents[,] who treated her as one of their own children x x x. Sometime in April 2001, [accusedappellant],
whomaintainsafarminthehighlandsofCagayan,asked[AAA]tohelphimharvestpalaythere.Alonetogether,
[accusedappellant] and [AAA], started for the farm very early that April morning. After an hours walk, they
reachedtheplaceandimmediatelybegantoharvestpalayxxx.
Just before lunch time, [accusedappellant] led [AAA] to a bamboo grove within the farm. Once there,
hethreatenedtokillherifshetoldanyoneregardingwhathewasabouttodo.[Accusedappellant]lostnotimein
making [AAA] lie down. After which, he took off her shorts and underwear. Although very much alarmed, he
likewise removed his own shorts and underwear. [AAA] could not do anything as she was afraid because they
werealonexxx.
With both their private parts now uncovered, [accusedappellant] inserted his penis into [AAAs] vagina. She felt
pain course through her genitals. Helpless, [AAA] could only cry and mutter "aray". After awhile, she felt liquid
emittingfrom[accusedappellants]penis.Satiated,[accusedappellant]threatened[AAA]withdeathonceagainif
she reveals to anyone that he had abused her. They went home later that afternoon. Fearful of [accused
appellants]threat,[AAA]didnotdaretorevealtoanyoneregardingherordealandwentontostaywith[accused
appellant]andhisfamilyxxx.
OntheeveningofAugust26,2003,RoseAntonio,togetherwithhertwochildrenwith[accusedappellant],wentto
thetownproperofAlcalatocelebrateitsfiesta.[AAA]and[accusedappellant]wereleftaloneinthehouseonthat
night.Shewenttobedaroundeightintheevening.However,around10PM,shewasawakenedbytheweightof
[accusedappellant] bearing down on her body. [Accusedappellant] was wearing a shirt and nothing else. She
realizedtoherhorrorthathershortsandunderwearhadalreadybeenremoved.[Accusedappellant]soonbegan
toinserthispenisintohervagina.Hemadeapushpullmovementforawhile.[AAA]wasnotabletoshoutasingle
wordinsidetheroomwhichhadnolightonxxx.
[In] the morning of August 27, 2003, May Dumalay, [accusedappellants] niece, confronted[AAA] regarding her
suspicionsthatsomethinghappenedbetweenherand[accusedappellant].[AAA]finallyadmittedthat[accused
appellant]hadrapedher.MayDumalaythentold[accusedappellants]wife,RoseAntoniowhat[AAA]relatedto
her.Inturn,RoseAntoniotold[AAAs]fatherregardingtheunfortunatedevelopments.Whenherfatherandthe
barangay captain of Maraburab confronted [AAA], she told all the incidents of sexual abuse committed by
[accusedappellant]xxx.
OnAugust28,2003,BarangayCaptainReyDeLunaofMaraburabaccompanied[AAA]tothelocalofficeofthe
DepartmentofSocialWelfareandDevelopment(DSWD).Afterbeinginterviewed,[AAA]wasbroughttothepolice
stationinAlcala[,]Cagayanxxx.Eventually,shewasexaminedbytheMedicolegalOfficerofAlcala,Dr.Rafael
Sumabatxxx.Hisfindingson[AAA]were:1)Onexamination[,]abdomenissoft,palpablemassnoted.External
genitaliaandthighsarenormal.Noevidenceoftrauma2)Onexaminationofgenitalia,thereareoldlacerations
of hymen at 369 oclock respectively 3) Vagina admits one finger easily and presence of whitish secretions
insidevagina.Pregnancytestnegativexxx.10
VersionoftheDefense
Theaccusedappellantwasvehementindenyingthechargesagainsthim.HeinsistedthatAAAonlystartedliving
with them in May of 2002. Hence, he could not have perpetrated the rape ascribed to him which allegedly
occurredinAprilof2001.AstowhattranspiredinAugustof2003,henarratedthatRose,hiswife,andAAAleft
theirhousetoattendatownfiestaonAugust25,2003.ThetworeturnedhomedrunkonAugust28,2003.Rose
andtheaccusedappellantthenhadafightbecausethelatterreceivedaninformationthattheformerandAAA
hadamalecompanionwhileattendingthetownfestivities.RoseandAAAdeniedtheaccusation,whichirkedthe
accusedappellant,whointurnorderedthetwotoleavetheirhouse.11
RulingoftheRTC
OnSeptember4,2009,theRTCrenderedaJudgment12convictingtheaccusedappellantoftwocountsofrape.
ThetrialcourtfoundthatAAAhadnoillmotivetotestifyagainsttheaccusedappellant,whomshehadconsidered
as her guardian or foster father. Further, AAAs testimony as to the sordid acts committedby the accused
appellant was spontaneous and categorical, and her statements were corroborated by Dr. Sumabats medical
findings.Ontheotherhand,theaccusedappellantsdefensesofdenialandalibiwereweakandcouldnotprevail
overAAAspositivetestimony.ThedispositiveportionoftheRTCdecisionthusreads:

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ACCORDINGLY,accusedVIRGILIOANTONIOyRiveraisherebyfoundGUILTYbeyondreasonabledoubtforthe
crime of Rape for two (2) counts, in Criminal Case Nos. 10244 and 10245 defined and penalized under Article
335 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by Republic Act 7659 and further amended by Republic Act No.
8353 and Article 266 (A) No. 1 in relation to Article 266 (B) No. 1 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by
RepublicActNo.8353andherebysentenceshimtosufferthepenaltyofreclusionperpetuaineachcasetopay
[AAA] the amount of ONE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND ([P]150,000[.00]) PESOS as civil indemnity,
ONEHUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND ([P]150,000.00) PESOS as moral damages and FIFTY THOUSAND
([P]50,000.00)PESOSasexemplarydamages.
Thepreventiveimprisonmentoftheaccusedshallbecreditedinfullinhisfavorifheabidedinwritingbytherules
imposeduponconvictedprisoners.
Nopronouncementastocosts.
SOORDERED.13
TheContendingPartiesArgumentsBeforetheCA
The accusedappellant challenged the above disquisition before the CA. He pointed out that according to AAA
herself, Dr. Sumabat performed a physical examination on her on August 29, 2003, or three days after the
alleged second rape incident occurred. However, this did not complement Dr. Sumabats explanation that the
healed lacerations at "369 oclock" positions could have been inflicted at least seven days prior to the
examination. The accusedappellant further claimed that it was unusual for a rape victim, whose virtue was
allegedlyatstake,nottohave(a)shoutedatalltorepelthesexualadvances,(b)triedtoescapewhenshehad
thechancetodoso,and(c)preventedatallcostthatshebeleftaloneinthecompanyofherassailant.14
TheOSG,onitspart,arguedthatAAAsfailuretoshoutduringtherapeincidentsshouldnotaffectthecredibility
of her claims. AAA was then a minor, and understandably, she must have been overcome by feelings of
helplessnessespeciallysinceherassailantishergodfatheranddefactoguardian.AAAlikewisecriedduringthe
trialdispellinginsinuationsthathertestimonywasrehearsed.15
RulingoftheCA
On October 8, 2012, the CA rendered a Decision16 affirming the accusedappellants conviction and imposing
upon him the penalty of reclusion perpetuafor each of the two counts ofrape. However, for each count, the CA
reduced the award of (a) civil indemnity to P50,000.00, (b) moral damages to P50,000.00, and (c) exemplary
damagestoP30,000.00.
TheCAdeclaredthatanyinconsistencyinAAAstestimonyanentthedateshewasexaminedbyDr.Sumabatwas
not enough to destroy her credibility. As a child witness, she cannot be expected to perfectly remember all the
detailsofherharrowingexperience.Besides,Dr.Sumabatmerelymadenothingmorebutaroughestimatethat
AAAshymenallacerationscouldhavebeeninflictedatleastsevendayspriortotheexamination.CitingPeoplev.
Corpuz,17 the CA emphasized that AAA was intimidated by the accusedappellant and her alleged lack of
resistancedidnotsignifyvoluntarinessorconsenttothesexualadvances.
Anenttheappreciationoftheaggravatingcircumstancesallegedintheinformations,theCAslightlydifferedfrom
theRTCinthefollowingwise:
In Our review of the penalty imposed on [accusedappellant], We have noted that the trial court considered the
qualifying aggravating circumstance of relationship, since [accusedappellant] is supposedly the guardian of
[AAA].
InPeoplev.Flores,theSupremeCourtheldthattheguardianmustbeapersonwhohaslegalrelationshipwith
hisward.Thecourtadheredtothetheorythataguardianmustbeonewhohasbeenlegallyappointed.
In this case, however, We note withgreat significance that the fact of being a guardian was not alleged inthe
Informationsasaqualifyingaggravatingcircumstance.Instead,therewasmerelyastipulationduringthepretrial
hearingthataccusedappellantwasthe"godfather"of[AAA],withoutshowingthataccusedappellantwaslegally
constitutedinlawasthe"guardian"of[AAA].Ontheotherhand,thefactofminorityof[AAA]hasbeenprovenby
herbirthcertificateandconfirmedbyherphysicalappearance.
Consequently, on the first count of rape, We find the existence of the aggravating circumstances of minority of
[AAA]andcommissionofthesexualabuseinanuninhabitedplace.Onthesecondcountofrape,Wefindthefact
of minority of [AAA] as the sole aggravating circumstance. Both crimes are penalized by Reclusion Perpetua.
However, We shall reduce the award of civil indemnity from P75,000.00 to 50,000.00 and moral damages from
P75,000.00 to P50,000.00, for each count of rape since accusedappellantis only guilty of simple rape. On the
otherhand,theawardofexemplarydamagesintheamountofP25,000.00shouldbeincreasedtoP30,000.00,
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for each count of rape in line with the recent jurisprudence, to set an example for public good.18 (Citations
omitted)
Issue
Aggrieved,theaccusedappellantisnowbeforethisCourtonceagaininsistingonhisinnocenceandreiterating
theissueofwhetherornothisguiltforallegedlyhavingrapedAAAontwoseparateoccasionswasprovenbeyond
reasonabledoubt.
The accusedappellant and the OSG both dispensed with the filing of supplemental briefs and merely
adoptedtheirrespectiveargumentsraisedbeforetheCA.
RulingoftheCourt
The Court affirms the CAs verdict, but modifies the same by imposing interests upon the damages awarded to
AAA.
"It is a fundamental rule that the trial courts factual findings, especially its assessment of the credibility of
witnesses,areaccordedgreatweightandrespectandbindinguponthisCourt,particularlywhenaffirmedbythe
[CA]. This Court has repeatedly recognized that the trial court is in the best position to assess the credibilityof
witnesses and their testimonies because of its unique position of having observed that elusive and
incommunicableevidenceofthewitnessesdeportmentonthestandwhiletestifying,whichopportunityisdenied
totheappellatecourts.Onlythetrialjudgecanobservethefurtiveglance,blushofconsciousshame,hesitation,
flippantorsneeringtone,calmness,sigh,orthescantorfullrealizationofanoath.Thesearesignificantfactorsin
evaluatingthesincerityofwitnesses,intheprocessofunearthingthetruth.Theappellatecourtswillgenerallynot
disturb such findings unless it plainly overlooked certain facts of substance and value that, if considered,
mightaffecttheresultofthecase."19
"Forconvictiontobehadinthecrimeofrape,thefollowingelementsmustbeprovenbeyondreasonabledoubt:
(1)thattheaccusedhadcarnalknowledgeofthevictimand(2)thatsaidactwasaccomplished(a)throughthe
useofforceorintimidationor(b)whenthevictimisdeprivedofreasonorotherwiseunconsciousor(c)whenthe
victimistwelveyearsofage,orisdemented."20
"[I]n rape through force or intimidation, the force employed by the guilty party need not be irresistible. Itis only
necessarythatsuchforceissufficienttoconsummatethepurposeforwhichitwasinflicted.Similarly,intimidation
shouldbeevaluatedinlightofthevictimsperceptionatthetimeofthecommissionofthecrime.Itisenoughthatit
producedthefearinthemindofthevictimthatifshedidnotyieldtothebestialdemandsofherravisher,some
evilwouldhappentoheratthatmomentoreventhereafter.Hence,whatisimportantisthatbecauseofforceand
intimidation,thevictimwasmadetosubmittothewilloftheappellant."21
Inthecaseatbar,theCourtfindstheRTCandCAsfactualfindingsassufficientlysupportedbyevidenceand
jurisprudence.
ThefollowingisAAAsaccountoftherapeincidentwhichhappenedinAprilof2001:
Q:Whatwasthatincidentthathappenedwhileyouandyourninongwereinthemountain?
A:Wewentinthebamboogroves,sir.
Q:Andwhenyoureachedthebamboogroves,whathappenedthere[,]madamwitness?
COURT:Makeitofrecordthatthewitnessstartedcrying.
A:Myninongthreatenedme,sir.
Q:Howdidhethreatenyou?
A:HetoldmethathewillkillmeifIwillreportthemattertoanybody,sir.
Q:Afterheutteredthosethreateningwordstoyou,whathappenednextiftherewasany?
A:Helaidmedown,sir.
Q:Afterthat[,]whathappenednextwhenhelaidyoudown?
A:Afterhelaidmedown,heremovedmyshortpantsandmyunderwearandafterthat[,]heremovedhispants
andbrief,sir.
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Q:Whenhewasremovinghispantsandbrief,whydidyounotran(sic)away?
A:BecauseIwasafraidbecausenobodywasthere[.][W]edo(sic)nothaveanycompanion,sir.
Q:Afterremovinghispantsandbrief,whathappenednext?
A:Heinsertedhisprivatepartintomyvagina,sir.
Q:Whatwasyourpositionwhenheinsertedhispenisinyourvagina[?]
A:Iwaslyingdown,sir.22
AAAlikewiserecountedthesecondrapeincident,whichoccurredonAugust26,2003,viz:
Q:YousaidthatyouwereleftbehindinthehouseofyourunclethenightofAugust26,2003[.][W]hattime[,]ifyou
canstillrecall[,]whenyouwenttobedtosleep?
A:8:00oclock,sir.
Q:HowaboutyourninongVirgilioAntonio[?][W]herewashewhenyouwenttosleep[,]madamwitness?
A:Healsowenttosleep,sir.
Q:Doyourecallifyoursleepwasinterrupted?
A:Yes,sir.
Q:Whattime[wasthat]whenyouwereawaken?(sic)
A:About10:00oclockintheevening,sir.
Q:Why,whathappenedduringthatnight?
A:WhenIwokeup,Inoticedthatmyninongwasontopofme,sir.
Q:Canyoudescribehisappearancewhenhewasontopofyou?
A:Hemovedinapushandpullposition.
Q:Washewithhispantsatthattime?
A:Hehas(sic)histshirtbuthewasnakeddown.
Q:Whatwereyouwearingwhenyousleptthatnight?
A:Tshirtandunderwear,sir.
Q:Whataboutyourclothing[?][W]hathappenedwithyourclothing?
A:WhenIwokeup[,]I[nolongerhad]myshort[s]andpanty.
Q:Whenyounoticedthatyouwerealreadynaked,didyounotshout?
A:Ishouted,sir.
Q:Whatdidyouutterwhenyoushouted?
A:Ididnotshout,sir.
Q:Asidefromnoticingthatyouwerenakeddown,whatdidyounotice?
A:Heinsertedhispenisinmyvagina,sir.
Q:Howlongdidheinserthispenisinyourvagina?
A:IcannotrememberbecauseIwassleepingatthattime,sir.
Q:Canyoudescribehisbodymovementwhenheinsertedhispenisinyourvagina?
A:Hewasdoingthepushandpullmovement[,]sir.23
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"Theeloquenttestimonyofthevictim,coupledwiththemedicalfindingsattestingtohernonvirginstate,should
beenoughtoconfirmthetruthofhercharges."24
AAAstestimoniesonthetworapeincidentswereimpressivelystraightforwardandcategorical. InAprilof2001,
while in the farm up in the mountain, the accusedappellant threatened her with death. Against her will, he
succeeded in having carnal knowledge of her. In her statements regarding the second rape incident on August
26, 2003, AAA did not mention that the accusedappellant threatened to kill her. Nonetheless, the accused
appellants moral ascendancy over AAA takes the place of the force and intimidation that is required in rape
cases.25 It is expected that for a minor like AAA, fear and memories from her previous harrowing experience
already loomed over her. They weremore than enough to cow her to submission at the time of the second
rapeincident. This is especially true here where the accusedappellant is AAAs own godfather and de facto
guardian.
1 w p h i1

In the physical examination performed after the second rape incident, Dr. Sumabat found lacerations in AAAs
hymen. The accusedappellant alleged that there were inconsistencies in the dates of the commission of the
crime, on one hand, and the conduct of the physical examination, on the other. However, this stance, taken
together with the accusedappellants uncorroborated defenses of denial and alibi, pales visvisAAAs positive
testimonyandthemedicalevidencewhichprovethat,indeed,AAAshymensustainedlacerations,albeithealed.
AsweheldinPeoplev.Laog,26
1 w p h i1

Discrepancies referring only to minordetails and collateral mattersnot to the central fact of the crimedo not
affecttheveracityordetractfromtheessentialcredibilityofwitnessesdeclarations,aslongasthesearecoherent
andintrinsicallybelievableonthewhole.Foradiscrepancyorinconsistencyinthetestimonyofawitnesstoserve
as a basis for acquittal, it must establish beyond doubt the innocence of the appellant for the crime charged. It
cannot be overemphasized that the credibility of a rape victim is not diminished, let alone impaired, by minor
inconsistenciesinhertestimony.27(Citationsomitted)
The Court agrees with the CAs findings that only the generic aggravating circumstances of commission of the
crimeinanuninhabitedplaceandminoritycanbeappreciatedrelativetothefirstrapeincident.Asregardsthe
second rape incident, guardianship was alleged in the information28 and was not assailed by the defense. The
Courtnotes,too,thatthepartiesstipulatedduringthepretrialthattheaccusedappellantwasAAAsgodfather.29
Notwithstandingtheforegoing,jurisprudencestrictlydictatesthattheguardianmustbeapersonwhohasalegal
relationshipwithhisward,30whichdoesnotobtaininthecasebeforethisCourt.Ineluctably,guardianshipcannot
beconsideredasaqualifyingcircumstanceandtheaccusedappellantcanonlybeconvictedofsimplerape.
Nonetheless,thisCourtsustainsthepenaltyofreclusionperpetuaimposedbytheRTCandCAontheaccused
appellantforeachofthetwocountsofrapewhichhecommitted.Theaggravatingcircumstancesofminority31and
commissionofthecrimeinanuninhabitedplacewerepresentasregardsthefirstrapeincident.Thesecondrape
was,ontheotherhand,aggravatedbyminorityalonesincelegalguardianshipwasnotproven.Theaggravating
circumstances attendant in the instant case are all merely generic and not qualifying. Generic aggravating
circumstances increase the penalty for the crime to its maximum period, but it cannot increase the same o the
nexthigherdegree.32Intheaccusedappellant'scase,thetwocountsofrapewerecommittedthroughtheuseof
force and intimidation. The crime falls under Article 266A(l)(a) of the Revised Penal Code. Article 266B of the
same code provides that the said crime is punishable by reclusion perpetua, which is an indivisible penalty.
Therefore, despite the attendance of generic aggravating circumstances, the penalty imposable upon the
accusedappellantforeachcountofraperemainsthesame.
In precis, the Court finds no compelling ground to reverse the accusedappellant's conviction for two counts of
simplerapebyboththeRTCandtheCA.TheCourtlikewisefindspropertheCA'smodificationoftheamountof
civilindemnityanddamagesimposedbytheRTC.However,toconformtoprevailingjurisprudence,aninterestof
sixpercent(6%)perannumonallthedamagesawardedshallbeimposed,tobecomputedfromthedateofthe
finalityofthisjudgmentuntilfullypaid.33
INVIEWOFTHEFOREGOING,theDecisionoftheCourtofAppealsdatedOctober8,2012,inCAG.R.CRHC
No.04149,isAFFIRMEDwithMODIFICATIONthatVirgilioAntonioyRiveraisdirectedtopayinterestattherate
ofsixpercent(6%)perannumonallthedamagesawardedtoAAA,tobecomputedfromthedateofthefinality
ofthisjudgmentuntilfullypaid.
SOORDERED.
BIENVENIDOL.REYES
AssociateJustice
WECONCUR:
MARIALOURDESP.A.SERENO
ChiefJustice
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Chairperson
TERESITAJ.LEONARDODECASTRO
AssociateJustice

LUCASP.BERSAMIN
AssociateJustice

MARTINS.VILLARAMA,JR.
AssociateJustice
CERTIFICATION
PursuarittoSection13,ArticleVIIIoftheConstitution,IcertifythattheconclusicnsintheaboveResolutionhad
beenreachedinconsultationbeforethecLsewasassignedtothewriteroftheopinionoftheCourt'sDivision.
MARIALOURDESP.A.SERENO
ChiefJustice

Footnotes
1

Rollo,pp.1415.

PennedbyAssociateJusticeManuelM.Barrios,withAssociateJusticesRemediosA.SalazarFernando
andNormandieB.Pizarro,concurringCArollo,pp.110121.
3

IssuedbyJudgeLylihaL.AbellaAquinoid.at1425.

Therealnameofthevictim,herpersonalcircumstancesandotherinformationwhichtendtoestablishor
compromise her identity, as well as those of her immediate family or household members, shall not be
disclosed to protect her privacy and fictitious initials shall, instead, be used, in accordance with People v.
Cabalquinto(533Phil.703[2006]),andA.M.No.041109SCdatedSeptember19,2006.
5

AccordingtoAAAsbirthcertificateandthepartiesstipulation,shewasbornonMay28,1989,thus,she
was11yearsoldandnot14whentheallegedfirstrapeincidenttookplaceinAprilof2001CArollo,p.17.
6

Id.at14.

Id.at15.

Id.

Id.at16.

10

Id.at8688.

11

Id.at55.

12

Id.at1425.

13

Id.at2425.

14

PleaseseeBrieffortheAccusedAppellantid.at5659.

15

PleaseseeBriefforthePlaintiffAppellee,id.at93,98.

16

Id.at110121.

17

597Phil.459(2009).

18

CArollo,pp.119120.

19

People of the Philippines v. Hermenigildo Delen y Esco Billa, G.R. No. 194446, April 21, 2014, citing
Peoplev.Leonardo,G.R.No.181036,July6,2010,624SCRA166,193.
20

Peoplev.Valdez,466Phil.116,129(2004),citingPeoplev.Colisao,423Phil.229,238(2001).

21

Id.at129130,citingPeoplev.Flores,423Phil.687,698699(2001).

22

CArollo,pp.116117.

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