G.R. No. 117702 - People vs. Yparraguirre

Accused-appellant Crispin Yparraguirre was charged with the crime of rape under Article 335 of the Revised Penal Code.
The Information charged that on or about July 6, 1990, in the Municipality of Panabo, Province of Davao, the accused, armed with a hunting knife, by means of force and intimidation, forcibly had carnal knowledge of his housemaid Rosita Bacaling against her will.

Rosita Bacaling, a housemaid employed by the accused and his wife, was preparing porridge for the spouses’ two children in their room at around 7:00 in the evening on July 6, 1990.
Upon returning from work, the accused purportedly found the two children asleep and approached Rosita. He handed her a small white envelope purportedly containing medicine to treat her skin disease from rashes allegedly contracted from one of the children.
Inside the envelope were fifteen (15) tablets. Following the accused’s instruction, Rosita ingested all the tablets.
Shortly after ingestion, Rosita became weak and fell down, at which point the accused attempted to drag her to the spouses’ bed.

As Rosita tried to resist, the accused pushed her down on the bed and threatened her with a hunting knife pointed at her neck, ordering her not to move or he would kill her.
The accused removed her clothes, kissed various parts of her body, and ultimately entered her, with Rosita crying out in pain.
After the act, the accused punched Rosita in the stomach, rendering her unconscious.
Upon regaining consciousness, Rosita discovered blood on her private parts, wiped it off, and changed her clothes.
The accused then threatened to kill her if she reported the incident to her parents, after which he left the house.

Rosita did not immediately make any statement regarding the incident and continued to work for the Yparraguirre family for about one month.
Eventually, she returned to her mother's house in Barrio Cagangohan in a state of shock and with a marked inability to perform daily functions.
At the advice of her mother and following a physical and pelvic examination by the Municipal Health Officer, Dr. Imelda T. Bendijo, it was found that Rosita had an old laceration in the vaginal area, an incomplete hymen, and the internal examination suggested trauma.
Rosita was confined at the Davao City Mental Hospital, where after a week of treatment she was able to recount the events, thereby revealing that she had been raped by the accused.

The accused-appellant pleaded not guilty and claimed an alibi, asserting that on the night of the incident he was selling fish at the public market. He maintained that he was at the market from 4:00 in the morning until after 8:00 in the evening, continuously manning the stall.
Despite his alibi and other defenses, the trial court found him guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
The trial court sentenced the accused to reclusion perpetua, ordered him to pay moral damages of P50,000.00 to Rosita Bacaling, and imposed an additional P5,000.00 for attorney’s fees.
Additionally, evidence emerged that after Rosita disclosed the rape to her mother, the accused’s wife, Mary Ann Yparraguirre, attempted to negotiate with Rosita’s mother by offering money to dissuade her from filing a criminal complaint.

Whether the trial court erred in convicting the accused-appellant of the crime of rape beyond reasonable doubt, given the allegations and his defense.

Whether the trial court erred in finding that witness Mary Ann Yparraguirre had negotiated with Rosita’s mother on November 23, 1990, to compromise or drop the case by offering money.