Facts:
On April 24, 2002,
Antonino Venturina was accused of raping his daughter, [AAA], a minor. The incident occurred inside a
nipa hut in the field being cultivated by the girl’s father, where she was staying with her younger brothers [BBB] and [CCC], who were then sleeping. Her other brothers, [DDD] and [EEE], were reportedly in a nearby nipa hut about
eight to ten meters away. At around
eight o’clock in the evening, Venturina arrived at the hut, appearing
drunk, unable to breathe properly, and crying; AAA massaged his chest until he stopped crying. He then embraced and kissed her on the cheeks, removed his clothes and AAA’s clothes, brassiere, and panty despite her resistance, and laid on top of her while inserting his penis into her vagina, causing pain and prompting her to cry. When AAA’s four-year old brother woke up, Venturina dragged her outside to the area near the chicken pen and continued the assault by inserting his penis into her vagina again, placing AAA’s legs on his shoulders, and licking her private organ. At daybreak, he stopped ravishing AAA and
threatened her not to tell anyone, claiming he would go to his wife, AAA’s mother, to ask for money to pay the electric bill. AAA then left and reported the incident to her sister [FFF], and the matter was reported to the police where AAA executed a
Sinumpaang Salaysay. Dr. Ivan Richard Viray examined AAA and issued a
Medico-Legal Report MR-085-2002, finding, among others, that AAA was in a
non-virgin state physically and that there were
deep healed lacerations in the hymen at the
three and nine o’clock positions, with no external signs of trauma. Based on AAA’s complaint, Venturina was charged with
two counts of rape in Informations alleging, among others, that AAA was
sixteen (16) years old and that Venturina was her father. During trial, Venturina denied the charges, asserted that AAA left home without permission, claimed he was working and only went home earlier, stated that due to chest pains he fell on a wooden bed, and averred that he regained consciousness only at about
four o’clock in the early morning and was later arrested and forced to admit the crime. The
Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 85, Malolos, Bulacan, on
May 12, 2005, found him guilty beyond reasonable doubt of
two counts of rape and sentenced him to
death by lethal injection in both cases, with
civil indemnity of
P50,000.00 for each crime. On appeal, the
Court of Appeals (CA) on
October 23, 2007 affirmed with modification: it reduced the penalty to
reclusion perpetua without eligibility for parole, increased civil indemnity to
P75,000.00, awarded
moral damages of
P75,000.00 and
exemplary damages of
P25,000.00 per case. Venturina then appealed to the Supreme Court, mainly arguing that the prosecution failed to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt due to issues of
credibility.
Issues:
Whether the conviction of
Antonino Venturina for two counts of
rape—on the basis of AAA’s testimony and the corroborating medico-legal findings—was supported by proof beyond reasonable doubt, notwithstanding appellant’s denial and challenges to the credibility of the complainant.
Ruling:
Ratio:
Doctrine: