Facts:

• Pedro Daramay Jr. appeals his conviction for rape.
• The Regional Trial Court of Iriga City convicted Daramay Jr. of the crime of rape for sexually abusing his married neighbor, Diana Estadilla.
• The court imposed the penalty of reclusion perpetua.
• Daramay Jr. denied any incident of rape but admitted to having consensual sexual intercourse with the complainant on another occasion.

Issue:

• (Unlock)

Ruling:

• The court affirmed the decision of the trial court and denied the appeal.
• The court ruled that the appellant's denial cannot prevail over the complainant's direct, positive, and categorical assertion, which rings with truth.
• Denial is inherently a weak defense and cannot outweigh the complainant's positive testimony.
• The court found the complainant's testimony to be credible and gave more weight to it.
• The court also noted that it is highly inconceivable for a simple and unsophisticated wife and mother like the complainant to fabricate a tale of rape, conside...(Unlock)

Ratio:

• The appellant's denial is not enough to overturn the complainant's direct, positive, and categorical assertion.
• Denial is a weak defense in rape cases and cannot outweigh the complainant's testimony.
• The lone testimony of the victim, if credible, is sufficient to sustain a conviction in rape cases.
• The court found the complainant's testimony to be credible and gave more weight to it.
• It is highly unlikely for a simple and unsophisticated wife and mother to fabricate a tale of rape, considering the potential humiliation and damage to her family.
• The trial court is ...continue reading