Case Summary (G.R. No. L-38413)

Appeal Overview

• The case involves an appeal by Crisanto Baderes y Mapisa against a conviction for rape.
• The original decision sentenced him to reclusion perpetua and ordered him to pay damages to the victim, Irene Aonuevo.
• The appeal centers on the credibility of the victim's testimony, which Baderes contests, claiming the encounter was consensual.

Prosecution's Evidence

• The prosecution presented Irene Aonuevo, a 13-year-old, who testified about being attacked after a passion play.
• She reported being threatened with a sharp object by Baderes, who then took her to a house where he and three accomplices assaulted her.
• Medical examination findings indicated physical trauma consistent with sexual intercourse, although no extragenital injuries were noted.

Defense's Evidence

• Baderes claimed that he and Irene were in a consensual relationship and that she asked him to take her home.
• He testified that they spent time together in a secluded area and engaged in consensual sexual activity.
• The defense presented witnesses who corroborated Baderes's account of the events leading to their encounter.

Trial Court's Findings

• The trial court found the prosecution's evidence credible, citing the consistency of Irene's testimony and the medical findings.
• The court dismissed the defense's claims, asserting that there was no motive for Irene to fabricate her story.

Scrutiny of Medical Findings

• The appellate court examined the medical findings, noting that while there were hymenal lacerations, they did not definitively indicate rape.
• The absence of extragenital injuries and the victim's coherent state post-incident raised doubts about the prosecution's claims.

Credibility of the Victim's Testimony

• The appellate court questioned the plausibility of Irene's actions following the alleged assault, including her decision to walk home alone at night.
• The court found inconsistencies in her statements, particularly regarding the circumstances of her encounter with Baderes.

Defense Witness Testimonies

• The defense presented testimonies from friends of both Baderes and Irene, which supported the claim of consensual relations.
• Evelyn Alcantara, a close friend of Irene, testified that Irene had expressed affection for Baderes and did not indicate that she had been raped.

Conclusion on Evidence

• The...continue reading