Case Digest (G.R. No. 218087)
Facts:
People of the Philippines v. XXX, G.R. No. 218087, July 06, 2021, First Division, Gaerlan, J., writing for the Court. The prosecution appealed an appellate ruling affirming a trial court conviction for two counts of rape; the accused-appellant (hereafter XXX) sought reversal.The accused was indicted in two separate Informations charging him with raping AAA on two occasions in November 2000. AAA was the niece by affinity of XXX (daughter of his wife’s sister) and was 18 years old at the time. The first alleged incident occurred in the first week of November 2000 at around midnight; the second on November 14, 2000 at around 1:00 a.m. The prosecution’s case relied primarily on AAA’s testimony that XXX entered her house through a kitchen door, physically assaulted and gagged her, and had carnal knowledge of her on both occasions; that he threatened to kill her or her family if she reported him; that AAA later discovered she was pregnant (medical certification placed gestation at about 20–21 weeks); and that the child born was fathered by XXX.
XXX admitted sexual intercourse but maintained it was consensual, asserting a “sweetheart” relationship with AAA. Defense witnesses (a neighbor, a close friend, and a nanny) testified to AAA and XXX’s intimate conduct—including an instance where they observed the two in bed together and other affectionate behavior—which the defense claimed corroborated consensual relations.
At the Regional Trial Court (Branch 40, Calapan City), after trial, the court convicted XXX beyond reasonable doubt of two counts of rape and sentenced him to two terms of reclusion perpetua and awarded damages to AAA. On appeal, the Court of Appeals affirmed with modification, reducing some damage awards but otherwise upholding the conviction. XXX filed an ordinary appeal under Rule 122 ...(Subscriber-Only)
Issues:
- Did the Court of Appeals err in upholding appellant XXX’s conviction for two counts of rape? ...(Subscriber-Only)
Ruling:
- (Subscriber-Only)
Ratio:
- (Subscriber-Only)
Doctrine:
- (Subscriber-Only)