248860348-rape-case - jurisprudence.docx

8/17/2019 248860348-Rape-Case - jurisprudence.docx

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Republic of the Philippines

SUPREME COURT

Manila

FIRST DIVISION

G.R. No. 188560 December 15, 2010

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee,

vs.

RIC! "LFREDO # NORM"N, Accuse-Appellant.

D ! " I S I O N

$EL"SCO, %R., J.:

T&e C'(e

This is an appeal f#o$ the Septe$be# %&, '&&( Decision) of the "ou#t of Appeals *"A+ in "A-.R.

"R-.". No. &')% entitle People of the Philippines v. Ric/0 Alf#eo 0 No#$an, 1hich affi#$e an

ea#lie# ecision' in "#i$inal "ase Nos. &)-"R-2')% an &)-"R-2')2of the Re3ional T#ial "ou#t

*RT"+, 4#anch 5' in 6a T#inia, 4en3uet. The RT" foun accuse-appellant Ric/0 Alf#eo 0

No#$an 3uilt0 be0on #easonable oubt of t1o counts of #ape.

T&e F'c)(

Accuse-appellant 1as cha#3e in t1o *'+ sepa#ate Info#$ations, the accusato#0 po#tions of 1hich

#ea7

"#i$inal "ase No. &)-"R-2')%

That so$eti$e in the pe#io f#o$ Ap#il '(-'8, '&&), at "aian, Topac, Municipalit0 of Ato/,

P#ovince of 4en3uet, Philippines, an 1ithin the 9u#isiction of this ono#able "ou#t, the above-

na$e accuse, b0 $eans of fo#ce, inti$iation an th#eats, i then an the#e 1illfull0, unla1full0

an feloniousl0 have ca#nal /no1le3e 1ith one :AAA;,% a thi#t0 si< *%5+ 0ea# ol 1o$an, a3ainst he#

1ill an consent, to he# a$a3e an p#e9uice.

"ONTRAR= TO 6A>.2

"#i$inal "ase No. &)-"R-2')2

That so$eti$e in the pe#io f#o$ Ap#il '(-'8, '&&), at "aian, Topac, Municipalit0 of Ato/,

P#ovince of 4en3uet, Philippines, an 1ithin the 9u#isiction of the ono#able "ou#t, the above-

na$e accuse, b0 $eans of fo#ce, inti$iation an th#eats, i then an the#e 1illfull0, unla1full0

an feloniousl0 co$$it an act of se


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"ONTRAR= TO 6A>.

On ?une '), '&&), accuse-appellant, 1ith the assistance of counsel, pleae not 3uilt0 to both

cha#3es. The#eafte#, t#ial on the $e#its ensue.

Du#in3 the t#ial, the p#osecution offe#e the o#al testi$onies of the victi$, AAA@ he# )&-0ea# ol son,444@ !#nesto ela "#u@ Police Office# % ?a$es Ruaap@ an D#. Al$a e-an3. On the othe# han,

the efense p#esente as its 1itnesses accuse-appellant hi$self@ his $othe#, Re$ina@ his siste#,

Ma#3a#et@ ove# "oti@ ?ona "anuto@ an Pina Menoa.5

The P#osecutionBs Ve#sion of Facts

In Ma#ch '&&), AAA, 1ho 1as si< $onths p#e3nant, 1ent ho$e to 4uti0ao, 4en3uet, alon3 1ith he#

fa$il0, to ha#vest the peppe#s plante in thei# 3a#en. On Ap#il 'C, '&&), AAA an he# son, 444,

#etu#ne to thei# sa0ote plantation in "aian, Topac, Ato/, 4en3uet to ha#vest sa0ote. The follo1in3

a0, o# on Ap#il '(, '&&), AAA ha the ha#veste sa0ote t#anspo#te to 4a3uio "it0. 6ate# that ni3ht,

she an he# son sta0e at thei# #ente shac/ an #eti#e ea#l0 to be.C

In the $ile of the ni3ht, AAA 1as a1a/ene b0 a bea$ of li3ht co$in3 f#o$ the 3aps in the 1alls

of the shac/ i#ectl0 illu$inatin3 he# face. She then inui#e 1ho the pe#son 1as, but nobo0

ans1e#e. Instea, the li3ht 1as s1itche off. Afte# a fe1 $inutes, the li3ht 1as s1itche on

a3ain.( The#eafte#, a $ale voice shoute, ERumwar kayo ditta no saan kayo nga rumwar paletpeten

kayo iti bala! E8 AAA #e$aine seate. Then, the $ale voice utte#e, ELukatam daytoy no saan mo

nga lukatan bilangan ka, maysa, duwa…E)& AAA i$$eiatel0 1o/e 444 up. ?ust then, the $ale

voice sai, EPabitaken kayo iti bala.E)) AAA c#ie out of fea#.)'

Anhen she

#efuse, accuse-appellant bohen she also atte$pte to

stop accuse-appellant, the latte# an3#il0 slappe he# face. "o$pletel0 na/e, AAA 1as a3ain

o#e#e to 1al/ uphill.)

pon #eachin3 a 3#ass0 po#tion an a stu$p about one foot hi3h, accuse-appellant o#e#e AAA to

stop an lie on top of the stu$p, afte# accuse-appellant bo


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Accuse-appellant also hel AAABs b#east, as 1ell as the othe# pa#ts of he# bo0. e shifte the

flashli3ht f#o$ one han to anothe# 1hile he $ove his buttoc/s up an o1n. AAA c#ie as she felt

seve#e pain in he# lo1e# abo$en. Accuse-appellant stoo up an i#ecte the bea$ of the

flashli3ht on he# afte# he 1as satisfie.)C

Ten $inutes late#, accuse-appellant 1ent on top of AAA a3ain an inse#te his penis into he# va3inaan $ove his buttoc/s up an o1n. Afte# bein3 satisfie, accuse-appellant stoo up an lit a

ci3a#ette.)(

Afte#1a#s, accuse-appellant 1ent on top of AAA a3ain an t#ie to inse#t his penis in the latte#Bs

va3ina. is penis, ho1eve#, has al#ea0 softene. F#ust#ate, accuse-appellant /nelt an inse#te

his fin3e#s in he# va3ina. Afte# #e$ovin3 his fin3e#s, accuse-appellant hel a t1i3 about )& inches

lon3 an the sie of a s$all fin3e# in ia$ete# 1hich he use to pie#ce he# va3ina. Dissatisfie,

accuse-appellant #e$ove the t1i3 an inse#te the flashli3ht in he# va3ina.)8

Afte# accuse-appellant #e$ove the flashli3ht f#o$ AAABs va3ina, he 1ent on top of he# a3ain,

p#essin3 his elbo1s on he# uppe# b#easts an bo


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pon seein3 1hat AAA 1as oin3, accuse-appellant shoute at he#, p#o$ptin3 AAA to #un a1a0

1ith he# son an leave the sac/ of sa0ote. >hen the0 left, accuse-appellant sta#te placin3 the

ha#veste sa0ote in the sac/. e 1as able to fill ei3ht sac/s. Re$e$be#in3 that his $othe# tol hi$

that he 1oul be able to fill )& sac/s all in all, accuse-appellant 1ent to the shac/ of AAA afte#

b#in3in3 the ei3ht sac/s nea# the #oa. e suspecte that she an he# son 1e#e the ones 1ho too/

the t1o $issin3 sac/s of sa0ote.

'

>hen he a##ive at the place 1he#e AAA an he# son 1e#e sta0in3, accuse-appellant alle3el0 sa1

the$ pac/in3 sa0ote, an he also supposel0 sa1 a sac/ of sa0ote 1ith the na$e of his fathe#

p#inte on it. Fo# this #eason, accuse-appellant 3ot $a an tol AAA to 3o a1a0 an leave the

place because 1hat the0 1e#e oin3 1as 1#on3. AAA #eplie b0 sa0in3 that she 1oul 1ait fo#

ove# "oti, the o1ne# of the sa0ote plantation an the shac/, to as/ fo# pe#$ission to leave. All this

ti$e, accuse-appellant 1as alle3el0 spea/in3 in an an3#0 but non-th#eatenin3 voice. Nonetheless,

1hile he 1as conf#ontin3 AAA, he# son #an into the shac/ an sta0e the#e.'5

4efo#e leavin3 the place, accuse-appellant tol AAA that the sac/s of sa0ote belon3e to his fa$il0,

althou3h he ecie not to ta/e the$ bac/ an0$o#e. e supposel0 left afte# five oBcloc/ in theafte#noon an a##ive at thei# house at a#oun seven oBcloc/ in the evenin3. Du#in3 this ti$e, all his

fa$il0 $e$be#s 1e#e 1atchin3 television on "hannel %. Accuse-appellant 9oine the$ in 1atchin3

a Ta3alo3 $ovie. e then alle3el0 1ent to be at )& oBcloc/ in the evenin3, 1hile his pa#ents

continue to 1atch television until )) oBcloc/ in the evenin3.'C

The follo1in3 $o#nin3, on Ap#il '8, '&&), accuse-appellant 1o/e up bet1een si< to seven oBcloc/ in

the $o#nin3. Afte# havin3 b#ea/fast, he helpe his $othe# clean the sa0ote fa#$. At a#oun ei3ht

oBcloc/ in the $o#nin3, he sa1 AAA b0 the #oa 1aitin3 fo# a #ie 1ith a ba33a3e place in a ca#ton

bo!R!FOR!, in vie1 of the fo#e3oin3, the "ou#t fins RI"G= A6FR!DO 0 NORMAN 3uilt0 be0on

#easonable oubt of the c#i$e of Rape in "#i$inal "ase No. &)-"R-2')% an sentences hi$ to

suffe# the penalt0 of reclusion perpetua incluin3 all the accesso#0 penalties i$pose b0 la1.

The "ou#t, li/e1ise, fins hi$ 3uilt0 be0on #easonable oubt of the c#i$e of Rape in "#i$inal "aseNo. &)-"R-2')2 an sentences hi$ to suffe# the inete#$inate penalt0 of i$p#ison$ent of th#ee *%+

0ea#s, t1o *'+ $onths an one *)+ a0 of prision correccional , as $ini$u$, an ei3ht *(+ 0ea#s, t1o

*'+ $onths an one *)+ a0 of prision mayor , as $a


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Pu#suant to A$inist#ative "i#cula# No. 2-8'-A of the "ou#t A$inist#ato#, the P#ovincial ?ail >a#en

of 4en3uet P#ovince is i#ecte to i$$eiatel0 t#ansfe# the sai accuse, Ric/0 Alf#eo 0 No#$an to

the custo0 of the 4u#eau of "o##ections, Muntinlupa "it0, Met#o Manila afte# the ea#en of 4en3uet P#ovince fo# hisinfo#$ation, 3uiance an co$pliance.

SO ORD!R!D.'8

Pu#suant to ou# p#onounce$ent in People v. Mateo,%& $oif0in3 the pe#tinent p#ovisions of the

Revise Rules on "#i$inal P#oceu#e insofa# as the0 p#ovie fo# i#ect appeals f#o$ the Re3ional

T#ial "ou#t to this "ou#t in cases in 1hich the penalt0 i$pose b0 the t#ial cou#t is eath, reclusion

perpetua, o# life i$p#ison$ent, the case 1as t#ansfe##e, fo# app#op#iate action an isposition, to

the "A.

On Au3ust )C, '&&5, accuse-appellant file his 4#ief fo# Accuse-Appellant,%)

1hile the People ofthe Philippines, th#ou3h the Office of the Solicito# ene#al, file its 4#ief fo# the Plaintiff-Appellee%' on

?anua#0 )(, '&&C.

Rulin3 of the Appellate "ou#t

As state above, the "A, in its Decision ate Septe$be# %&, '&&(, affi#$e the 9u3$ent of

conviction b0 the t#ial cou#t.%%

naunte, accuse-appellant file a $otion fo# #econsie#ation, 1hich 1as enie b0 the "A in its

Resolution ate Ma#ch )8, '&&8.%2

On Ap#il '), '&&8, accuse-appellant file his Notice of Appeal% f#o$ the "A Decision ate

Septe$be# %&, '&&(.

In ou# Resolution ate Septe$be# )2, '&&8,%5 1e notifie the pa#ties that the0 $a0 file thei#

#espective supple$ental b#iefs if the0 so esi#e. On Nove$be# 8, '&&8, the People of the

Philippines $anifeste that it is no lon3e# filin3 a supple$ental b#ief, as it believe that all the issues

involve in the p#esent cont#ove#s0 have been succinctl0 iscusse in the 4#ief fo# the Appellee.%C On

the othe# han, on ?anua#0 '5, '&)&, accuse-appellant file his supple$ental b#ief.

T&e I((*e(

Accuse-appellant contens in his supple$ental b#ief that7

I.

4= T! NATR! OF T! OFF!NS! IN T! T>O *'+ INFORMATIONS FI6!D AAINST

A""S!D-APP!66ANT, T! 6ATT!R AS NO OT!R P6ASI46! D!F!NS! !H"!PT

http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2010/dec2010/gr_188560_2010.html#fnt29http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2010/dec2010/gr_188560_2010.html#fnt29http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2010/dec2010/gr_188560_2010.html#fnt30http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2010/dec2010/gr_188560_2010.html#fnt31http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2010/dec2010/gr_188560_2010.html#fnt32http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2010/dec2010/gr_188560_2010.html#fnt32http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2010/dec2010/gr_188560_2010.html#fnt33http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2010/dec2010/gr_188560_2010.html#fnt34http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2010/dec2010/gr_188560_2010.html#fnt35http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2010/dec2010/gr_188560_2010.html#fnt36http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2010/dec2010/gr_188560_2010.html#fnt36http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2010/dec2010/gr_188560_2010.html#fnt36http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2010/dec2010/gr_188560_2010.html#fnt37http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2010/dec2010/gr_188560_2010.html#fnt29http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2010/dec2010/gr_188560_2010.html#fnt30http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2010/dec2010/gr_188560_2010.html#fnt31http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2010/dec2010/gr_188560_2010.html#fnt32http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2010/dec2010/gr_188560_2010.html#fnt33http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2010/dec2010/gr_188560_2010.html#fnt34http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2010/dec2010/gr_188560_2010.html#fnt35http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2010/dec2010/gr_188560_2010.html#fnt36http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2010/dec2010/gr_188560_2010.html#fnt37


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A6I4I TAT SO6D NOT ?ST 4! 4RS!D ASID! IF T!R! AR! MAT!RIA6

IN"ONSIST!NSI!S IN T! "6AIMS OF T! >ITN!SS!S FOR T! PROS!"TION@

II.

T! D!"ISION "ONVI"TIN A""S!D-APP!66ANT !AVI6= R!6I!D ON T!D!M!ANOR OF T! >ITN!SS!S FOR T! PROS!"TION DRIN T! TRIA6 >!N

T! PONN OF T! D!"ISION DID NOT AV! AN= OPPORTNIT= TO !AR T!

>ITN!SS!S@

III.

T! T!N AND T!R! "OND"T OF A""S!D-APP!66ANT IS N6IG!6= TO =I!6D A

I6T= V!RDI"T.%(

T&e Co*r)+( R*-/

>e sustain accuse-appellantBs conviction.

"-b- -( ' -&ere)# e' e3e(e

In his supple$ental b#ief, accuse-appellant contens that he coul not offe# an0 othe# efense

e


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In aition, even if the alibi of accuse-appellant appea#s to have been co##obo#ate b0 his $othe#,

Re$ina, an his siste#, Ma#3a#et, sai efense is un1o#th0 of belief not onl0 because accuse-

appellant 1as positivel0 ientifie b0 AAA, but also because it has been hel that alibi beco$es

$o#e un1o#th0 of $e#it 1he#e it is establishe $ainl0 b0 the accuse hi$self an his o# he#

#elatives, f#iens, an co$#aes-in-a#$s,2% an not b0 c#eible pe#sons.22

"( be)ee )&e ()')eme) m'e - ' '33-'4-) ' )&') /-4e - oe co*r), )&e '))er -(

(*er-or

Accuse-appellant contens also that the#e 1e#e $ate#ial inconsistencies in the testi$onies of the

p#osecution 1itnesses an in the latte#Bs #espective affiavits, to 1it7 *)+ 1hethe# accuse-appellantBs

penis 1as e#ect o# not@ an *'+ 1hethe# AAA inee #eco3nie accuse-appellant 1hen the0 1e#e

al#ea0 on the $ountain o# 1hile the0 1e#e still in the shac/.2

AAA testifie in open cou#t that accuse-appellant t#ie to inse#t his penis into he# va3ina seve#al

ti$es but 1as unable to o so since his penis has al#ea0 softene.25 On the othe# han, AAA state

in he# affiavit that Ethe suspect o#e#e $e to la0 :sic; flatl0 on the 3#oun an the#e he sta#te toli3ht an vie1 $0 1hole na/e bo0 1hile #e$ovin3 his pant :sic; an t#ie to inse#t his pennis :sic;

on :sic; $0 va3ina but I 1one# it oes not e##ect :sic;.E2C The#e is no inconsistenc0 bet1een AAABs

testi$on0 an he# affiavit. The onl0 iffe#ence is that she faile to state in he# affiavit that befo#e

accuse-appellant unsuccessfull0 t#ie to inse#t his penis into AAABs va3ina, he ha al#ea0

succeee t1ice in penet#atin3 he# p#ivate o#3an.

The#e is li/e1ise no inco$patibilit0 bet1een AAABs affiavit statin3 that she ca$e to /no1 of

accuse-appellant as the culp#it 1hen the0 1e#e on the $ountain an his flashli3ht illu$inate his

face as he la0 on top of he#, an he# testi$on0 that 1hile the0 1e#e still in the shac/, AAA 1as Enot

then su#eE but al#ea0 suspecte that he# #apist 1as accuse-appellant Ebecause of his hai#.E2( In

othe# 1o#s, AAA 1as not 0et su#e 1hethe# accuse-appellant 1as the culp#it 1hile the0 1e#e still inthe shac/, as she onl0 beca$e positivel0 ce#tain that it 1as hi$ 1hen the flashli3ht illu$inate his

face 1hile the0 1e#e on the $ountain.28

Neve#theless, isc#epancies o not necessa#il0 i$pai# the c#eibilit0 of a 1itness, fo# affiavits, bein3

ta/en e" parte, a#e al$ost al1a0s inco$plete an often inaccu#ate fo# lac/ of sea#chin3 inui#ies b0

the investi3atin3 office# o# ue to pa#tial su33estions, an a#e, thus, 3ene#all0 consie#e to be

infe#io# to the testi$on0 3iven in open cou#t.&

T&e 4'--)# o3 co4-c)-o -( o) '4er(e# '33ec)e b# )&e 3'c) )&') )&e */e &o reere

*/me) '( o) )&e oe &o &e'r )&e -)e((e(

Accuse-appellant contens fu#the# that the 9u3e 1ho penne the appeale ecision is iffe#ent

f#o$ the 9u3e 1ho hea# the testi$onies of the 1itnesses an 1as, thus, in no position to #ene# a

9u3$ent, as he i not obse#ve fi#sthan thei# e$eano# u#in3 t#ial.

>e o not a3#ee. The fact that the t#ial 9u3e 1ho #ene#e 9u3$ent 1as not the one 1ho ha the

occasion to obse#ve the e$eano# of the 1itnesses u#in3 t#ial, but $e#el0 #elie on the #eco#s of

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the case, oes not #ene# the 9u3$ent e##oneous, especiall0 1he#e the evience on #eco# is

sufficient to suppo#t its conclusion.) As this "ou#t hel in People v. #ompetente7

T&e c-rc*m()'ce )&') )&e %*/e &o reere )&e */me) '( o) )&e oe &o &e'r )&e

-)e((e(, oe( o) e)r'c) 3rom )&e 4'--)# o3 )&e 4er-c) o3 co4-c)-o. !ven a cu#so#0

pe#usal of the Decision 1oul sho1 that it 1as base on the evience p#esente u#in3 t#ial an thatit 1as ca#efull0 stuie, 1ith testi$onies on i#ect an c#oss e


9/11

Pa#ticula#l0, AAA testifie that accuse-appellant th#eatene to #ile he# an he# son 1ith bullets if

the0 o not open the oo# of thei# shac/. Accuse-appellant the#eafte# fo#cibl0 pulle he# hai# an

#a33e he# to the $ountains. AAA pleae fo# he# life. Nonetheless, accuse-appellant boe e


10/11

ualif0in3, ha been p#oven to have attene the co$$ission of the c#i$e, even if the sa$e 1as not

alle3e in the info#$ation. This is in acco#ance 1ith the afo#esai A#ticle ''%&. o1eve#, 1ith the

p#o$ul3ation of the Revise Rules, cou#ts no lon3e# consie# the a33#avatin3 ci#cu$stances not

alle3e an p#oven in the ete#$ination of the penalt0 an in the a1a# of a$a3es. Thus, even if

an a33#avatin3 ci#cu$stance has been p#oven, but 1as not alle3e, cou#ts 1ill not a1a# e


11/11

o*)r'/eo*( co*c). I e-)&er c'(e, )&e(e 'm'/e( 're -)ee - /oo me'(*re )o e)er

)&e ro/oer ' o)&er( -e &-m 3rom (-m-'r co*c) - )&e 3*)*re.

@e-/ correc)-4e - ')*re, e=em'r# 'm'/e(, )&ere3ore, c' be ''re, o) o# - )&e

re(ece o3 ' '//r'4')-/ c-rc*m()'ce, b*) '(o &ere )&e c-rc*m()'ce( o3 )&e c'(e

(&o )&e &-/&# rere&e(-be or o*)r'/eo*( co*c) o3 )&e o33eer. In $uch the sa$e 1a0as A#ticle ''%& p#esc#ibes an instance 1hen e

248860348-rape-case - jurisprudence.docx

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