Case Digest (G.R. No. 122507)
Facts:
- The case involves the People of the Philippines as the plaintiff-appellee against Romeo Lapinoso y Liangao, the accused-appellant.
- The Supreme Court rendered its decision on February 25, 1999.
- The case originated from the Regional Trial Court of Iligan City, which convicted Lapinoso of rape on June 15, 1995.
- Lapinoso was sentenced to life imprisonment and ordered to pay the victim, Maria Luna Capta, P50,000.00 as indemnity.
- At the time of the crime, Lapinoso was 42 years old, single, and a cousin of the victim's father, living with the Capta family since 1981.
- Maria Luna Capta was an 18-year-old third-year high school student.
- On May 19, 1994, after a disagreement with her parents, Maria left home and sought refuge at Saint Michael Cathedral.
- Lapinoso found her there and persuaded her to accompany him to Iligan City, promising to buy her a dress and shoes.
- They stayed at various friends' homes, and on the night of May 21, 1994, Lapinoso allegedly threatened Maria with a knife and forced her to have sexual intercourse.
- Despite her cries for help, Lapinoso continued the assault.
- The following day, Maria's father discovered them, leading to a police report and Maria filing a complaint for rape on May 24, 1994.
- The trial featured testimonies from Maria and her father, while Lapinoso denied the allegations.
Issue:
- (Unlock)
Ruling:
- The Supreme Court affirmed the trial court's decision, finding Romeo Lapinoso guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of rape.
- The Court modified the penalty from life imprisonment to reclusion perpetua. ...(Unlock)
Ratio:
- The Supreme Court emphasized the importance of the complainant's credibility in rape cases, noting that the trial court is best positioned to assess witness demeanor.
- The Court found no significant inconsistencies in Maria's testimony that would undermine her credibility.
- It acknowledged that victims' behavior under emotional stress can be unpredictable and that trusting a relative, as Maria did with Lapinoso, is not unusual.
- The Court addressed the appellant's argument regarding reliance on the weakness of the defense's evidence, reiterating that the prosecution's evidence must stand on its own merits.
- Upon reviewing the record, the Court concluded that the prosecution suf...continue reading
Case Digest (G.R. No. 122507)
Facts:
The case involves the People of the Philippines as the plaintiff-appellee against Romeo Lapinoso y Liangao, the accused-appellant. The decision was rendered on February 25, 1999, by the Second Division of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. The case originated from the Regional Trial Court of Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, Branch 1, which convicted Lapinoso of rape on June 15, 1995, sentencing him to life imprisonment and ordering him to pay the victim, Maria Luna Capta, P50,000.00 as indemnity. At the time of the alleged crime, Lapinoso was 42 years old, single, and a cousin of the victim's father. He had been living with the Capta family since 1981. The victim, Maria Luna Capta, was an 18-year-old third-year high school student.
On May 19, 1994, following a disagreement with her parents regarding her summer class enrollment, Maria left her home in Buru-un, Iligan City, and sought refuge at the nearby Saint Michael Cathedral. Lapinoso found her there and persuaded her to accompany him to Iligan City, promising to buy her a dress and shoes. They traveled together, staying at various friends' homes over the next few days. On the night of May 21, 1994, while staying at a friend's house, Lapinoso allegedly threatened Maria with a knife and forced her to have sexual intercourse with him. Despite her cries for help, which attracted the attention of the house owner, Lapinoso continued the assault. The following day, Maria's father found them, and after a series of events, they reported the incident to the police. Maria filed a complaint for rape on May 24, 1994, leading to Lapinoso's arrest and subsequent trial. During the trial, the prosecution pr...