Facts:
Bernabe Eulalio y Alejo, accused-appellant, was charged in two Informations dated September 7, 2004 with rape in relation to
Republic Act No. 7610 for two incidents occurring in Malabon City: an August 2004 episode in which he allegedly summoned eleven-year-old
AAA, threatened to kidnap one of her siblings to compel her compliance, undressed her, rubbed his genitalia against hers, kissed her, forced her to lie on a bed, spread her legs and inserted his penis into her vagina while covering her mouth; and a September 5, 2004 episode in which he again summoned AAA, made her lie on a bed and kissed her, an act observed by her father,
BBB. AAA underwent a medical examination that disclosed a deep healing laceration in her hymen, and the prosecution presented her birth certificate, her sworn statement, and the tanod’s account; during trial Eulalio pleaded not guilty and later waived his right to present evidence after the prosecution rested. The Regional Trial Court of Malabon City, Branch 169, in a Decision dated August 23, 2012, convicted Eulalio of statutory rape in Criminal Case No. 31438-MN and of acts of lasciviousness in Criminal Case No. 31439-MN, imposed reclusion perpetua and an indeterminate term respectively, and ordered civil, moral and exemplary damages; the Court of Appeals, in an April 15, 2014 Decision, affirmed the convictions but modified the monetary awards, and Eulalio appealed to the Supreme Court, contending that his guilt had not been proven beyond reasonable doubt.
Issues:
Was
Bernabe Eulalio y Alejo proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt of statutory rape for the August 2004 incident? Was
Bernabe Eulalio y Alejo proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt of acts of lasciviousness for the September 5, 2004 incident and, if so, were the penalties and damages imposed by the courts below proper?
Ruling:
Ratio:
Doctrine: