Case Digest (G.R. No. 225642-43)
Facts:
People of the Philippines v. Juvy D. Amarela and Junard G. Racho, G.R. Nos. 225642-43, January 17, 2018, Supreme Court Third Division, Martires, J., writing for the Court. The accused-appellants (Amarela and Racho) were charged in two separate Informations with rape committed against a single complainant, “AAA,” on February 10 and 11, 2009 in Davao City (Crim. Case Nos. 64,964-09 and 64,965-09). The cases were jointly tried before the Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 11, Davao City.The prosecution’s factual narrative was that on February 10, 2009 Amarela pulled AAA away from a beauty contest toward a makeshift day-care stage, punched her, undressed her and had carnal knowledge of her; about five hours later Racho allegedly took AAA along the way to her aunt’s house, forced her into a shanty, boxed her abdomen, undressed and raped her. AAA testified at trial as sole material eyewitness and positively identified both accused. The medico-legal examination dated 12 February 2009 noted complete hymenal lacerations at 9 and 3 o’clock with hyperemia but otherwise “normal findings,” and characterized the anogenital findings as diagnostic of blunt force or penetrating trauma.
Both accused denied the charges. Amarela testified he drank and slept elsewhere; Racho testified he accompanied AAA only to her aunt’s house and relied on a prior arm injury and a medical certificate to explain limited use of his arm; Racho’s mother corroborated parts of his account. The RTC, in a 26 June 2012 Joint Judgment, found AAA credible and convicted Amarela and Racho of rape, sentencing each to reclusion perpetua and awarding P50,000 civil indemnity and P50,000 moral damages. The accused separately appealed to the Court of Appeals (CA), which consolidated the appeals on 13 November 2015 and, in a 17 February 2016 decision, affirmed the R...(Pro-only)
Issues:
- Did the Court of Appeals err in giving conclusive deference to the RTC’s credibility findings and affirming the convictions?
- Did the prosecution prove the guilt of Amarela and Racho for rape beyond reasonable doubt (identity of the perpetrators and the use of forc...(Pro-only)
Ruling:
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Ratio:
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Doctrine:
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