Case Digest (G.R. No. 268654)
Facts:
People of the Philippines v. XXX, G.R. No. 268654, June 10, 2024, Supreme Court Second Division, Lopez, J., writing for the Court.In three separate informations (Criminal Case Nos. 7465–7467), XXX (accused-appellant) was charged with three counts of rape through sexual intercourse against his daughter, AAA, for incidents that occurred in October 2013, December 29, 2013, and November 23, 2014. The informations alleged that the accused, by force, intimidation, and by taking advantage of his moral ascendancy as the victim’s father, willfully and feloniously had carnal knowledge of AAA, then aged 9–11. When arraigned, XXX pleaded not guilty; pretrial and trial on the merits then followed.
At trial the prosecution presented AAA as its lone witness. She testified, in detail and consistently, that on the three occasions her father removed her clothing, kissed and licked her genitalia, mashed her breasts, and inserted his penis into her vagina despite her resistance; she described being prevented from disclosing the acts by her father until she later told her mother, BBB, who assisted in filing the complaint. The prosecution also introduced a Medico‑Legal Certificate from Dr. Arnel Tuanqui Borja noting a “non‑intact hymen” and a “healed hymenal laceration noted along 7 o’clock side,” and AAA’s birth certificate showing she was born November 22, 2003, establishing her age and filial relationship to the accused.
XXX testified in his own defense, denying the incidents and asserting alternative explanations (e.g., that AAA and siblings slept beside their grandfather at relevant times), but he did not produce corroborating evidence of an alibi and admitted he stayed in the same house with his children when the incidents occurred. The Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 12, rendered a February 18, 2021 Joint Decision convicting XXX of three counts of qualified rape and sentenced him to reclusion perpetua for each case and awarded PHP 100,000 each for civil indemnity, moral and exemplary damages.
XXX appealed to the Court of Appeals (CA). In a March 8, 2023 Decision (CA‑G.R. CR‑HC No. 15409, Sixth Division), the CA affirmed with mo...(Pro-only)
Issues:
- Did the Court of Appeals err in convicting accused‑appellant XXX of three counts of qualified statutory rape in Criminal Case Nos. 7465, 7466, and ...(Pro-only)
Ruling:
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Ratio:
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Doctrine:
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