Case Digest (G.R. No. 215201)
Facts:
People of the Philippines v. Mark Anthony Roaquin y Navarro, G.R. No. 215201, December 09, 2015, Third Division, Villarama, Jr., J., writing for the Court.The complainant, identified in the record as AAA (a 17‑year‑old minor), executed a sworn statement and an Information was filed on October 17, 2007 charging Mark Anthony Roaquin y Navarro with rape under Article 266‑A(1) of the Revised Penal Code. The criminal case was docketed as Criminal Case No. 07‑2524 before the Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 136, Makati City.
According to the prosecution, on the evening of October 7, 2007 AAA was blocked by a certain Marlon and forced into a billiard hall where she was made to drink substantial amounts of liquor. She became drowsy, was taken to the house of Kevin Sales, fell asleep, and later woke to find Marlon raping her; she lost consciousness from an asthma attack and later awoke to find the appellant on top of her who then had sexual intercourse with her without consent. AAA testified she struggled, was bitten on the right arm, and returned bleeding to her boarding house. A medico‑legal examination on October 9, 2007 recorded multiple abrasions on the right arm, vaginal bleeding and a deep healed laceration at the 9 o’clock position; the report concluded there was evidence of blunt penetrating trauma.
Appellant denied the allegations, testified that he first met AAA on October 7 while playing billiards and claimed he left the place two hours later; he asserted that AAA had previously filed similar complaints to extort money. The RTC found appellant guilty beyond reasonable doubt, sentenced him to reclusion perpetua, and ordered P50,000 civil indemnity and P50,000 moral damages (Decision dated September 29, 2010). On appeal the Court of Appeals (CA) affirmed the conviction but modified the award by adding exemplary damages of P30,000 (CA Decisi...(Subscriber-Only)
Issues:
- Did the Court of Appeals err in upholding the trial court’s credibility findings and affirming appellant’s conviction?
- Was the crime of rape proven beyond reasonable doubt despite apparent inconsistencies in AAA’s testimony and the medico‑legal finding of h...(Subscriber-Only)
Ruling:
- (Subscriber-Only)
Ratio:
- (Subscriber-Only)
Doctrine:
- (Subscriber-Only)