Case Digest (G.R. No. 87781)
Facts:
The People of the Philippines v. Boyet Pomentel y Lesniana, G.R. No. 87781, December 11, 1992, the Supreme Court First Division, Bellosillo, J., writing for the Court. The judgment below (Regional Trial Court, Sta. Cruz, Laguna, Br. 28, Criminal Case No. SC‑3393) convicted accused-appellant Boyet Pomentel y Lesniana of rape, sentenced him to reclusion perpetua, and ordered P20,000.00 indemnity to Belinda P. Diaz; in a companion case (Crim. Case No. SC‑3392) he was earlier acquitted because the complaining witness did not testify.Two young female missionaries, Erlinda Dionisio (22) and Belinda Diaz (19), stayed overnight at the house of fellow missionary Zeny Coroza in Dagat‑dagatan, Liliw, Laguna on 19–20 February 1986. In the early morning of 20 February, an intruder woke them, ordered lights off, threatened to kill them, and forced them at knife‑point to submit. The intruder allegedly raped Erlinda first while Belinda watched; after an interval he returned, switched on the light (enabling Belinda to observe a distinctive “white scar” on his chest and that he wore red shorts), and raped both women again in successive episodes. The victims later reported the incident, underwent medico‑legal examination (showing recently healed lacerations compatible with the date), and executed sworn statements on 17 March 1986; informations were filed on 22 October 1986.
At trial Belinda positively identified appellant by the chest scar and other circumstances. Appellant offered an alibi supported by his wife, who testified he slept at their in‑laws’ house in Dagatan, Nagcarlan, that night and was with her when their baby woke at about 2 a.m. The trial court rejected the alibi as “too shallow,” found appellant guilty of rape, and imposed sentence and indemnity. Appellant appealed, contesting the weight given to Belinda’s uncorroborated testimony, the rejection of his alibi, and the physical possibility of multiple rapes in the t...(Pro-only)
Issues:
- Did the trial court err in convicting appellant when the prosecution relied primarily on the uncorroborated testimony of the victim and other attendant circumstances?
- Should appellant’s alibi have been credited so as to bar conviction?
- Was the conviction supported beyond reasonable doubt despite questions about the alleged number and sequencing of the rapes and the physiological capacity of appellant?
- Should the civil indemnity aw...(Pro-only)
Ruling:
- (Pro-only)
Ratio:
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Doctrine:
- (Pro-only)