Case Digest (G.R. No. 263449)
Facts:
XXX v. People of the Philippines, G.R. No. 263449, November 13, 2023, Supreme Court Second Division, Lopez, J., writing for the Court.The accused-petitioner XXX was charged by Information with violating Section 5(i) of Republic Act No. 9262 (the Anti‑Violence Against Women and Their Children Act). The Information alleged that between November 1 and November 30, 2007 (and for some time prior and subsequent thereto) XXX, the husband of private complainant AAA, willfully and unlawfully left the conjugal dwelling and abandoned AAA after he eloped with their 17‑year‑old househelper BBB, causing AAA years of searching and later (in 2013) emotional anguish upon discovering via Facebook that XXX and BBB had a child believed born in May 2009. AAA testified to emotional distress, physical health deterioration (uterine abnormalities and surgery), and financial strain from unpaid conjugal debts.
At arraignment XXX pleaded not guilty. Trial on the merits followed. The Regional Trial Court (RTC) found AAA’s testimony credible, disbelieved XXX’s denial, and convicted XXX of violating Section 5(i) of RA 9262, sentencing him to an indeterminate term (prision correccional to prision mayor), imposing a PHP 100,000 fine, and ordering mandatory psychological counseling.
XXX appealed to the Court of Appeals (CA). In its January 24, 2022 Decision (CA‑G.R. CR No. 01923‑MIN), the CA affirmed the RTC, holding that AAA’s testimony was credible and that abandonment and marital infidelity constituted forms of psychological violence causing AAA’s emotional anguish. A subsequent CA Resolution dated July 29, 2022 denied XXX’s motion for reconsideration.
...(Subscriber-Only)Issues:
- Did the Court of Appeals err in sustaining XXX’s conviction for violating Section 5(i) of Republic Act No. 9262...(Subscriber-Only)
Ruling:
- (Subscriber-Only)
Ratio:
- (Subscriber-Only)
Doctrine:
- (Subscriber-Only)