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11/24/2014 G.R. No. 202122, January 15, 2014 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff–Appellee, v. BERNABE PAREJA Y CRUZ, Accused–Appellant. : JANU…

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Philippine Supreme Court Jurisprudence > Year 2014 > January 2014 Decisions > G.R. No. 202122, January 15,
2014 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff–Appellee, v. BERNABE PAREJA Y CRUZ, Accused–Appellant.:

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ChanRobles Intellectual Property G.R. No. 202122, January 15, 2014
Division
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff–Appellee, v. BERNABE PAREJA Y CRUZ, Accused–
Appellant.

DE CIS ION

LEONARDO–DE CASTRO, J.:

The accused–appellant Bernabe Pareja y Cruz (Pareja) is appealing the January 19, 2012 Decision1
of the Court of Appeals in CA–G.R. CR.–H.C. No. 03794, which affirmed in toto the conviction for
Rape and Acts of Lasciviousness meted out by Branch 113, Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Pasay City in
Criminal Case Nos. 04–1556–CFM and 04–1557–CFM.2

On May 5, 2004, Pareja was charged with two counts of Rape and one Attempted Rape. The
Informations for the three charges read as follows:

I. For the two counts of Rape:
c h a n Ro b el s v ri t u a Ll a wbli r a r y

Criminal Case No. 04–1556–CFM

That on or about and sometime in the month of February, 2004, in Pasay City, Metro
Manila, Philippines and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the above–named
accused, Bernabe Pareja y Cruz, being the common law spouse of the minor victim’s
mother, through force, threats and intimidation, did then and there wil[l]fully, unlawfully
and feloniously commit an act of sexual assault upon the person of [AAA3 ], a minor 13
years of age, by then and there mashing her breast and inserting his finger inside her
vagina against her will.4

Criminal Case No. 04–1557–CFM

That on or about and sometime in the month of December, 2003, in Pasay City, Metro
Manila, Philippines and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the above–named
accused, Bernabe Pareja y Cruz, being the stepfather of [AAA], a minor 13 years of
age, through force, threats and intimidation, did then and there wil[l]fully, unlawfully and
feloniously have carnal knowledge of said minor against her will.5

II. For the charge of Attempted Rape:

Criminal Case No. 04–1558–CFM

That on or about the 27th day of March, 2004, in Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines
and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the above–named accused, BERNABE
PAREJA Y CRUZ, being the common law spouse of minor victim’s mother by means of
force, threats and intimidation, did then and there willfully, unlawfully and feloniously
commence the commission of the crime of Rape against the person of minor, [AAA], a
13 years old minor by then and there crawling towards her direction where she was
sleeping, putting off her skirt, but did not perform all the acts of execution which would
have produce[d] the crime of rape for the reason other than his own spontaneous
desistance, that is the timely arrival of minor victim’s mother who confronted the
accused, and which acts of child abuse debased, degraded and demeaned the intrinsic
worth and dignity of said minor complainant as a human being.6

On June 17, 2004, Pareja, during his arraignment, pleaded not guilty to the charges filed against him.7
After the completion of the pre–trial conference on September 16, 2004,8 trial on the merits ensued.

The antecedents of this case, as narrated by the Court of Appeals, are as follows:

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11/24/2014 G.R. No. 202122, January 15, 2014 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff–Appellee, v. BERNABE PAREJA Y CRUZ, Accused–Appellant. : JANU…

AAA was thirteen (13) years of age when the alleged acts of lasciviousness and sexual
abuse took place on three (3) different dates, particularly [in December 2003], February
2004, and March 27, 2004.

AAA’s parents separated when she was [only eight years old9 ]. At the time of the
commission of the aforementioned crimes, AAA was living with her mother and with
herein accused–appellant Bernabe Pareja who, by then, was cohabiting with her mother,
together with three (3) of their children, aged twelve (12), eleven (11) and nine (9), in x
x x, Pasay City.

The first incident took place [i]n December 2003 [the December 2003 incident]. AAA’s
mother was not in the house and was with her relatives in Laguna. Taking advantage of
the situation, [Pareja], while AAA was asleep, placed himself on top of [her]. Then,
[Pareja], who was already naked, begun to undress AAA. [Pareja] then started to suck
the breasts of [AAA]. Not satisfied, [Pareja] likewise inserted his penis into AAA’s anus.
Because of the excruciating pain that she felt, AAA immediately stood up and rushed
outside of their house.

Despite such traumatic experience, AAA never told anyone about the [December 2003]
incident for fear that [Pareja] might kill her. [Pareja] threatened to kill AAA in the event
that she would expose the incident to anyone.

Syracuse NY AAA further narrated that the [December 2003] incident had happened more than once.
Attorneys According to AAA, [i]n February 2004 [the February 2004 incident], she had again been
molested by [Pareja]. Under the same circumstances as the [December 2003 incident],
Attorneys For All Your with her mother not around while she and her half–siblings were asleep, [Pareja] again
Legal Needs Call Us Today laid on top of her and started to suck her breasts. But this time, [Pareja] caressed [her]
and held her vagina and inserted his finger [i]n it.
For A Consultation!
With regard to the last incident, on March 27, 2004 [the March 2004 incident], it was
AAA’s mother who saw [Pareja] in the act of lifting the skirt of her daughter AAA while
the latter was asleep. Outraged, AAA’s mother immediately brought AAA to the
barangay officers to report the said incident. AAA then narrated to the barangay
officials that she had been sexually abused by [Pareja] x x x many times x x x.

Subsequently, AAA, together with her mother, proceeded to the Child Protection Unit of
the Philippine General Hospital for a medical and genital examination. On March 29,
2004, Dr. Tan issued Provisional Medico–Legal Report Number 2004–03–0091. Her
medico–legal report stated the following conclusion:

c h a n Ro b le s v ri t u a Ll a wilb r a r y

Hymen: Tanner Stage 3, hymenal remnant from 5–7 o’clock area, Type
of hymen: Crescentic

xxx

Genital findings show Clear Evidence of Blunt Force or Penetrating
Trauma.

After the results of the medico–legal report confirmed that AAA was indeed raped, AAA’s
mother then filed a complaint for rape before the Pasay City Police Station.

To exculpate himself from liability, [Pareja] offered both denial and ill motive of AAA
against him as his defense. He denied raping [AAA] but admitted that he knew her as
she is the daughter of his live–in partner and that they all stay in the same house.

Contrary to AAA’s allegations, [Pareja] averred that it would have been impossible that
the alleged incidents happened. To justify the same, [Pareja] described the layout of
their house and argued that there was no way that the alleged sexual abuses could have
happened.

January-2014 Jurisprudence According to [Pareja], the house was made of wood, only about four (4) meters wide by
ten (10) meters, and was so small that they all have to sit to be able to fit inside the
A.C. No. 10135, January 15, 2014 - EDGARDO house. Further, the vicinity where their house is located was thickly populated with
AREOLA, Complainant, v. ATTY. MARIA VILMA houses constructed side by side. Allegedly, AAA also had no choice but to sleep beside
MENDOZA, Respondent. her siblings.

A.C. No. 5581, January 14, 2014 - ROSE BUNAGAN- All taken into account, [Pareja] asseverated that it was hard to imagine how he could
BANSIG, Complainant, v. ATTY. ROGELIO JUAN A. possibly still go about with his plan without AAA’s siblings nor their neighbors noticing
CELERA, Respondent. the same.

A.M. No. P-12-3043, January 15, 2014 - (Formerly Verily, [Pareja] was adamant and claimed innocence as to the imputations hurled
OCA I.P.I. No. 08-2953-P] - ATTY. MARCOS R. against him by AAA. He contended that AAA filed these charges against him only as an
SUNDIANG, Complainant, v. ERLITO DS. BACHO, Sheriff act of revenge because AAA was mad at [him] for being the reason behind her parents’
IV, Regional Trial Court, Branch 124, Caloocan City, separation.10
Respondent.
Ruling of the RTC

A.M. No. RTJ-14-2367, January 13, 2014 - (Formerly On January 16, 2009, the RTC acquitted Pareja from the charge of attempted rape but convicted him
OCA I.P.I. No. 12-3879-RTJ) - SR. REMY ANGELA JUNIO, of the crimes of rape and acts of lasciviousness in the December 2003 and February 2004 incidents,
SPC and JOSEPHINE D. LORICA, Complainants, v. JUDGE respectively. The dispositive portion of the Decision11 reads as follows:
MARIVIC A. CACATIAN-BELTRAN, BRANCH 3, REGIONAL
TRIAL COURT TUGUEGARAO CITY, CAGAYAN, WHEREFORE, the herein accused Bernabe Pareja y Cruz is hereby acquitted from the
Respondent. charge of attempted rape in Crim. Case No. 04–1558, for want of evidence.

G.R. No. 160600, January 15, 2014 - DOMINGO In Crim. Case No. 04–1556, the said accused is CONVICTED with Acts of Lasciviousness
GONZALO, Petitioner, v. JOHN TARNATE, JR., and he is meted out the penalty of imprisonment, ranging from 2 years, 4 months and 1
Respondent. day as minimum to 4 years and 2 months of prision [correccional] as maximum.

G.R. No. 161106, January 13, 2014 - WORLDWIDE In Crim. Case No. 04–1557, the said accused is CONVICTED as charged with rape, and
WEB CORPORATION and CHERRYLL L. YU, Petitioners, he is meted the penalty of reclusion perpetua.
v. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES and PHILIPPINE LONG
DISTANCE TELEPHONE COMPANY, Respondents.; G.R. The accused shall be credited in full for the period of his preventive imprisonment.
No. 161266 - PLANET INTERNET CORP.,Petitioner, v.
PHILIPPINE LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE COMPANY,
Respondent.

G.R. No. 164246, January 15, 2014 - HERMINIA The accused is ordered to indemnify the offended party [AAA], the sum of P50,000.00,
ACBANG, Petitioner, v. HON. JIMMY H.F. LUCZON, JR., without subsidiary imprisonment, in case of insolvency.12
PRESIDING JUDGE, REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, BRANCH
01, SECOND JUDICIAL REGION, TUGUEGARAO CITY, The RTC, in convicting Pareja of the crime of Rape and Acts of Lasciviousness, gave more weight to
CAGAYAN, and SPOUSES MAXIMO LOPEZ and HEIDI L. the prosecution’s evidence as against Pareja’s baseless denial and imputation of ill motive. However,
LOPEZ, Respondents. due to the failure of the prosecution to present AAA’s mother to testify about what she had witnessed
in March 2004, the RTC had to acquit Pareja of the crime of Attempted Rape in the March 2004
G.R. No. 164985, January 15, 2014 - FIRST UNITED

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CONSTRUCTORS CORPORATION and BLUE STAR incident for lack of evidence. The RTC could not convict Pareja on the basis of AAA’s testimony for
CONSTRUCTION being hearsay evidence as she had no personal knowledge of what happened on March 27, 2004
BAYANIHAN CORPORATION, Petitioners, v. because she was sleeping at that time.
Respondent.
AUTOMOTIVE CORPORATION, Ruling of the Court of Appeals

G.R. No 166995, January 13, 2014 - DENNIS T. Wanting to reverse his two convictions, Pareja appealed13 to the Court of Appeals, which on January
VILLAREAL, Petitioner, v. CONSUELO C. ALIGA, 19, 2012, affirmed in toto the judgment of the RTC in Criminal Case Nos. 04–1556 and 04–1557, to
Respondent. wit:

G.R. No.172551, January 15, 2014 - LAND BANK OF WHEREFORE, in view of the foregoing premises, the instant appeal is hereby DENIED
THE PHILIPPINES, Petitioner, v. YATCO AGRICULTURAL and, consequently, DISMISSED. The appealed Decisions rendered by Branch 113 of
ENTERPRISES, Respondent. the Regional Trial Court of the National Capital Judicial Region in Pasay City on January
16, 2009 in Criminal Cases Nos. 04–1556 to 04–1557 are hereby AFFIRMED in
G.R. No. 176043, January 15, 2014 - SPOUSES toto.14
BERNADETTE and RODULFO VILBAR, Petitioners, v.
ANGELITO L. OPINION, Respondent. Ch a n Ro b el s Vir t u a la wilb r a r y

G.R. No. 176439, January 15, 2014 - THE PRESIDENT Issues
OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY
SAINTS, Petitioner, v. BTL CONSTRUCTION Aggrieved, Pareja elevated his case to this Court15 and posited before us the following errors as he
CORPORATION, Respondent.; G.R. No. 176718 - BTL did before the Court of Appeals:
CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION,Petitioner, v. THE
PRESIDENT OF THE MANILA MISSION OF THE CHURCH I
OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS and BPI-MS
INSURANCE CORPORATION, Respondents. THE TRIAL COURT SERIOUSLY ERRED IN CONVICTING [PAREJA] OF THE CRIMES
CHARGED NOTWITHSTANDING THAT HIS GUILT HAS NOT BEEN PROVEN BEYOND
G.R. No. 178564, January 15, 2014 - INC. REASONABLE DOUBT.
SHIPMANAGEMENT, INC., CAPTAIN SIGFREDO E.
MONTERROYO AND/OR INTERORIENT NAVIGATION II
LIMITED, Petitioners, v. ALEXANDER L. MORADAS,
Respondent. THE TRIAL COURT GRAVELY ERRED IN CONVICTING [PAREJA] BASED SOLELY ON THE
PROSECUTION WITNESS’ TESTIMONY.16
G.R. No. 178564, January 15, 2014 : CONCURRING
AND DISSENTING OPINION - Brion, J. : INC. In his Supplemental Brief17 Pareja added the following argument:
SHIPMANAGEMENT, INC., CAPTAIN SIGFREDO E.
MONTERROYO AND/OR INTERORIENT NAVIGATION The private complainant’s actuations after the incident negate the possibility that she
LIMITED, Petitioners, v. ALEXANDER L. MORADAS, was raped.18
Respondent.

G.R. No. 183015, January 15, 2014 - REPUBLIC OF
THE PHILIPPINES, represented by THE SECRETARY OF
THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS
(DPWH), Petitioner, v. TETRO ENTERPRISES,
INCORPORATED, Respondent.

G.R. No. 183204, January 13, 2014 - THE Pareja’s main bone of contention is the reliance of the lower courts on the testimony of AAA in
METROPOLITAN BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, convicting him for rape and acts of lasciviousness. Simply put, Pareja is attacking the credibility of
Petitioner, v. ANA GRACE ROSALES AND YO YUK TO, AAA for being inconsistent. Moreover, he claimed, AAA acted as if nothing happened after the alleged
Respondents. sexual abuse.

G.R. No. 183860, January 15, 2014 - RODOLFO Ruling of this Court
LABORTE and PHILIPPINE TOURISM AUTHORITY,
Petitioners, v. PAGSANJAN TOURISM CONSUMERS This Court finds no reason to reverse Pareja’s conviction.
COOPERATIVE and LELIZA S. FABRICIO, WILLIAM
BASCO, FELICIANO BASCO, FREDIE BASCO, ROGER Core Issue: Credibility of AAA
MORAL NIDA ABARQUEZ, FLORANTE MUNAR, MARY
JAVIER, MARIANO PELAGIO ALEX EQUIZ, ALEX Pareja claims that AAA’s testimony cannot be the lone basis of his conviction as it was riddled with
PELAGIO ARNOLD OBIEN, EDELMIRO ABAQUIN, inconsistencies.19
ARCEDO MUNAR, LIBRADO MALIWANAG, OSCAR
LIWAG, OSCAR ABARQUEZ, JOEL BALAGUER, LIZARDO We find such argument untenable.
MUNAR, ARMANDO PANCHACOLA, MANUEL SAYCO,
EDWIN MATIBAG, ARNEL VILLAGRACIA, RODOLFO When the issue of credibility of witnesses is presented before this Court, we follow certain guidelines
LERON, ALFONSO ABANILLA, SONNY LAVA, AND that have overtime been established in jurisprudence. In People v. Sanchez,20 we enumerated them
DENNIS BASCO, Respondents. as follows:

G.R. No. 183918, January 15, 2014 - FRANCISCO LIM, First, the Court gives the highest respect to the RTC’s evaluation of the testimony of the
Petitioner, v. EQUITABLE PCI BANK, now known as the witnesses, considering its unique position in directly observing the demeanor of a
BANCO DE ORO UNIBANK, INC.,* Respondent. witness on the stand. From its vantage point, the trial court is in the best position to
determine the truthfulness of witnesses.
G.R. No. 185798, January 13, 2014 - FIL-ESTATE
PROPERTIES, INC. AND FIL-ESTATE NETWORK INC., Second, absent any substantial reason which would justify the reversal of the RTC’s
Petitioners, v. SPOUSES CONRADO AND MARIA assessments and conclusions, the reviewing court is generally bound by the lower
VICTORIA RONQUILLO, Respondents. court’s findings, particularly when no significant facts and circumstances, affecting the
outcome of the case, are shown to have been overlooked or disregarded.
G.R. No. 185922, January 15, 2014 - HEIRS OF DR.
MARIANO FAVIS SR. represented by their co-heirs and And third, the rule is even more stringently applied if the CA concurred with the RTC.
Attorneys-in-Fact MERCEDES A. FAVIS and NELLY (Citations omitted.)
FAVIS- VILLAFUERTE, Petitioners, v. JUANA GONZALES,
her son MARIANO G. FAVIS, MA. THERESA JOANA D.
FAVIS, JAMES MARK D. FAVIS, all minors represented
herein by their parents SPS. MARIANO FAVIS and
LARCELITA D. FAVIS, Respondents.

G.R. No. 186063, January 15, 2014 - PHILIPPINE The recognized rule in this jurisdiction is that the “assessment of the credibility of witnesses is a
NATIONAL BANK, Petitioner, v. SAN MIGUEL domain best left to the trial court judge because of his unique opportunity to observe their deportment
CORPORATION, Respondent. and demeanor on the witness stand; a vantage point denied appellate courts–and when his findings
have been affirmed by the Court of Appeals, these are generally binding and conclusive upon this
G.R. No. 190106, January 15, 2014 - MAGDALENA T. Court.”21 While there are recognized exceptions to the rule, this Court has found no substantial
VILLASI, Petitioner, v. FILOMENO GARCIA, substituted reason to overturn the identical conclusions of the trial and appellate courts on the matter of AAA’s
by his heirs, namely, ERMELINDA H. GARCIA, LIZA credibility.
GARCIA-GONZALEZ, THERESA GARCIA-TIANGSON,
MARIVIC H. GARCIA, MARLENE GARCIA-MOMIN, Besides, inaccuracies and inconsistencies in a rape victim’s testimony are generally expected.22 As
GERARDO H. GARCIA, GIDEON H. GARCIA and this Court stated in People v. Saludo23 :
GENEROSO H. GARCIA, and ERMELINDA H. GARCIA,
Respondents.

G.R. No. 190928, January 13, 2014 - TEAM ENERGY Rape is a painful experience which is oftentimes not remembered in detail. For such an
CORPORATION (formerly MIRANT PAGBILAO CORP.), offense is not analogous to a person’s achievement or accomplishment as to be worth
Petitioner, v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, recalling or reliving; rather, it is something which causes deep psychological wounds and
Respondent. casts a stigma upon the victim, scarring her psyche for life and which her conscious and
subconscious mind would opt to forget. Thus, a rape victim cannot be expected to
G.R. No. 191498, January 15, 2014 - COMMISSIONER mechanically keep and then give an accurate account of the traumatic and horrifying
OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Petitioner, v. MINDANAO II experience she had undergone. (Citation omitted.)
GEOTHERMAL PARTNERSHIP, Respondent.
c h a n r o b le s v ri t u a la wlib r a r y
G.R. No. 191555, January 20, 2014 - UNION BANK OF
THE PHILIPPINES, Petitioner, v. DEVELOPMENT BANK Since human memory is fickle and prone to the stresses of emotions, accuracy in a testimonial
OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondent.
account has never been used as a standard in testing the credibility of a witness.24 The
G.R. No. 192034, January 13, 2014 - ALPHA SHIP
MANAGEMENT CORPORATION/JUNEL M CHAN and/or inconsistencies mentioned by Pareja are trivial and non–consequential matters that merely caused

AAA confusion when she was being questioned. The inconsistency regarding the year of the

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CHUO-KAIUN COMPANY, LIMITED, Petitioners, v. December incident is not even a matter pertaining to AAA’s ordeal.25 The date and time of the
ELEOSIS V. CALO, Respondent. commission of the crime of rape becomes important only when it creates serious doubt as to the
commission of the rape itself or the sufficiency of the evidence for purposes of conviction. In other
G.R. No. 192371, January 15, 2014 - LAND BANK OF words, the “date of the commission of the rape becomes relevant only when the accuracy and
THE PHILIPPINES, Petitioner, v. EMMANUEL OÑATE, truthfulness of the complainant’s narration practically hinge on the date of the commission of the
Respondent. crime.”26 Moreover, the date of the commission of the rape is not an essential element of the
crime.27
G.R. No. 193517, January 15, 2014 - THE HEIRS OF
VICTORINO SARILI, NAMELY: ISABEL A. SARILI,* In this connection, Pareja repeatedly invokes our ruling in People v. Ladrillo,28 implying that our
MELENCIA** S. MAXIMO, ALBERTO A. SARILI, IMELDA rulings therein are applicable to his case. However, the factual circumstances in Ladrillo are
S. HIDALGO, all herein represented by CELSO A. prominently missing in Pareja’s case. In particular, the main factor for Ladrillo’s acquittal in that case
SARILI, Petitioners, v. PEDRO F. LAGROSA, was because his constitutional right to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation against
represented in this act by his Attorney-in-Fact him was violated when the Information against him only stated that the crime was committed “on or
LOURDES LABIOS MOJICA, Respondent. about the year 1992.” We said:

G.R. No. 193986, January 15, 2014 - EASTERN The peculiar designation of time in the Information clearly violates Sec. 11, Rule 110, of
SHIPPING LINES INC., Petitioner, v. BPI/MS INSURANCE the Rules Court which requires that the time of the commission of the offense must be
CORP. and MITSUI SUM TOMO INSURANCE CO. LTD., alleged as near to the actual date as the information or complaint will permit. More
Respondents. importantly, it runs afoul of the constitutionally protected right of the accused to be
informed of the nature and cause of the accusation against him. The Information is not
G.R. No. 195064, January 15, 2014 - NARI K. sufficiently explicit and certain as to time to inform accused–appellant of the date on
GIDWANI, Petitioner, v. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, which the criminal act is alleged to have been committed.
Respondent.
The phrase “on or about the year 1992” encompasses not only the twelve (12 ) months
G.R. No. 196047, January 15, 2014 - LEPANTO of 1992 but includes the years prior and subsequent to 1992, e.g., 1991 and 1993, for
CONSOLIDATED MINING CORPORATION, Petitioner, v. which accused–appellant has to virtually account for his whereabouts. Hence, the failure
BELIO ICAO, Respondent. of the prosecution to allege with particularity the date of the commission of the offense
and, worse, its failure to prove during the trial the date of the commission of the offense
G.R. No. 196156, January 15, 2014 - VISAYAS as alleged in the Information, deprived accused–appellant of his right to intelligently
COMMUNITY MEDICAL CENTER (VCMC), Formerly known prepare for his defense and convincingly refute the charges against him. At most,
as METRO CEBU COMMUNITY HOSPITAL (MCCH), accused–appellant could only establish his place of residence in the year indicated in the
Petitioner, v. ERMA YBALLE, NELIA ANGEL, ELEUTERIA Information and not for the particular time he supposedly committed the rape.
CORTEZ and EVELYN ONG, Respondents.
xxx
G.R. No. 196171, January 15, 2014 - RCBC CAPITAL
CORPORATION, Petitioner, v. BANCO DE ORO Indeed, the failure of the prosecution to prove its allegation in the Information that
UNIBANK, INC. (now BDO UNIBANK, INC.), accused–appellant raped complainant in 1992 manifestly shows that the date of the
Respondent.; G.R. No. 199238 - BANCO DE ORO commission of the offense as alleged was based merely on speculation and conjecture,
UNIBANK, INC., Petitioner, v. COURT OF APPEALS and and a conviction anchored mainly thereon cannot satisfy the quantum of evidence
RCBC CAPITAL CORPORATION, Respondents.; G.R. No. required for a pronouncement of guilt, that is, proof beyond reasonable doubt that the
200213 - BANCO DE ORO UNIBANK, INC., Petitioner, v. crime was committed on the date and place indicated in the Information.29 (Citation
RCBC CAPITAL CORPORATION and THE ARBITRAL omitted.)
TRIBUNAL IN ICC ARBITRATION REF. NO.
13290/MS/JEM AND/OR RICHARD IAN BARKER, NEIL In this case, although the dates of the December 2003 and February 2004 incidents were not
KAPLAN AND SANTIAGO KAPUNAN, in their official specified, the period of time Pareja had to account for was fairly short, unlike “on or about the year
capacity as Members of THE ARBITRATION TRIBUNAL, 1992.” Moreover, Ladrillo was able to prove that he had only moved in the house where the rape
Respondents. supposedly happened, in 1993, therefore negating the allegation that he raped the victim in that house
in 1992.30
G.R. No. 197760, January 13, 2014 - TEAM ENERGY
CORPORATION (Formerly MIRANT PAGBILAO While it may be true that the inconsistencies in the testimony of the victim in Ladrillo contributed to his
CORPORATION), Petitioner, v. COMMISSIONER OF eventual acquittal, this Court said that they alone were not enough to reverse Ladrillo’s conviction, viz:
INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent.
Moreover, there are discernible defects in the complaining witness’ testimony that
G.R. Nos. 198729-30, January 15, 2014 - CBK POWER militates heavily against its being accorded the full credit it was given by the trial court.
COMPANY LIMITED, Petitioner, v. COMMISSIONER OF Considered independently, the defects might not suffice to overturn the trial
INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent. court’s judgment of conviction, but assessed and weighed in its totality, and in
relation to the testimonies of other witnesses, as logic and fairness dictate, they exert a
G.R. No. 199226, January 15, 2014 - PEOPLE OF THE powerful compulsion towards reversal of the assailed judgment.31 (Emphasis supplied.)
PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. ROEL VERGARA y
CLAVERO, Accused-Appellant. It is worthy to note that Ladrillo also offered more than just a mere denial of the crime charged
against him to exculpate him from liability. He also had an alibi, which, together with the other
G.R. No. 200304, January 15, 2014 - PEOPLE OF THE evidence, produced reasonable doubt that he committed the crime as charged. In contrast, Pareja
PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. DONALD VASQUEZ y merely denied the accusations against him and even imputed ill motive on AAA.
SANDIGAN @ "DON," Accused-Appellant,
As regards Pareja’s concern about AAA’s lone testimony being the basis of his conviction, this Court
G.R. No. 201092, January 15, 2014 - PEOPLE OF THE has held:
PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. JOEL AQUINO y
CENDANA @ "AKONG," Accused-Appellant. Furthermore, settled is the rule that the testimony of a single witness may be sufficient
to produce a conviction, if the same appears to be trustworthy and reliable. If credible
G.R. No. 203028, January 15, 2014 - PEOPLE OF THE and convincing, that alone would be sufficient to convict the accused. No law or rule
PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. JOSELITO BERAN y requires the corroboration of the testimony of a single witness in a rape case.32
ZAPANTA @ "Jose", Accused-Appellant. (Citations omitted.)

UDK No. 14817, January 13, 2014 - IN THE MATTER Improbability of sexual abuse
OF THE PETITION FOR HABEAS CORPUS OF MINOR in their small house and in the
SHANG KO VINGSON YU SHIRLY VINGSON@ SHIRLY presence of AAA’s sleeping siblings
VINGSON DEMAISIP, Petitioner, v. JOVY CABCABAN,
Respondent. Pareja argues that it was improbable for him to have sexually abused AAA, considering that their
house was so small that they had to sleep beside each other, that in fact, when the alleged incidents
G.R. No. 188747, January 29, 2014 - MANILA WATER happened, AAA was sleeping beside her younger siblings, who would have noticed if anything unusual
COMPANY, Petitioner, v. CARLITO DEL ROSARIO, was happening.33
Respondent.
This Court is not convinced. Pareja’s living conditions could have prevented him from acting out on
G.R. No. 191189, January 29, 2014 - MANLAR RICE his beastly desires, but they did not. This Court has observed that many of the rape cases appealed
MILL, INC., Petitioner, v. LOURDES L. DEYTO, DOING to us were not always committed in seclusion. Lust is no respecter of time or place,34 and rape defies
BUSINESS UNDER THE TRADE NAME “J.D. GRAINS constraints of time and space. In People v. Sangil, Sr.,35 we expounded on such occurrence in this
CENTER” AND JENNELITA DEYTO ANG, A.K.A. “JANET wise:
ANG,” Respondents.
In People v. Ignacio, we took judicial notice of the interesting fact that among poor
G.R. No. 188653, January 29, 2014 - LITO LOPEZ, couples with big families living in small quarters, copulation does not seem to be a
Petitioner, v. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, problem despite the presence of other persons around them. Considering the cramped
Respondent. space and meager room for privacy, couples perhaps have gotten used to quick and
less disturbing modes of sexual congresses which elude the attention of family
G.R. No. 178184, January 29, 2014 - GRAND ASIAN members; otherwise, under the circumstances, it would be almost impossible to
SHIPPING LINES, INC., EDUARDO P. FRANCISCO AND copulate with them around even when asleep. It is also not impossible nor incredible for
WILLIAM HOW, Petitioners, v. WILFREDO GALVEZ, JOEL
SALES, CRISTITO GRUTA, DANILO ARGUELLES, RENATO
BATAYOLA, PATRICIO FRESMILLO,* JOVY NOBLE,
EMILIO DOMINICO, BENNY NILMAO, AND JOSE
AUSTRAL, Respondents.

A.M. No. P–13–3171 (formerly A.M. OCA IPI No. 11–
11–116–MeTC), January 28, 2014 - RE: HABITUAL
TARDINESS OF CESAR E. SALES, CASH CLERK III,
METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURT, OFFICE OF THE CLERK
OF COURT, MANILA.

G.R. No. 179367, January 29, 2014 - UNILEVER
PHILIPPINES, INC., Petitioner, v. MICHAEL TAN A.K.A.
PAUL D. TAN, Respondent.

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A.C. No. 9872, January 28, 2014 - NATIVIDAD P. the family members to be in deep slumber and not be awakened while the sexual
NAVARRO AND HILDA S. PRESBITERO, Complainants, v. assault is being committed. One may also suppose that growing children sleep more
ATTY. IVAN M. SOLIDUM, JR., Respondent. soundly than grown–ups and are not easily awakened by adult exertions and
suspirations in the night. There is no merit in appellant’s contention that there can be no
G.R. No. 159926, January 20, 2014 - PINAUSUKAN rape in a room where other people are present. There is no rule that rape can be
SEAFOOD HOUSE, ROXAS BOULEVARD, INC., committed only in seclusion. We have repeatedly declared that “lust is no respecter of
Petitioner, v. FAR EAST BANK & TRUST COMPANY, NOW time and place,” and rape can be committed in even the unlikeliest of places. (Citations
BANK OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS AND HECTOR IL. omitted.)
GALURA, Respondents.

A.M. No. P–12–3069, January 20, 2014 - ATTY. Demeanor of AAA
VIRGILIO P. ALCONERA, Complainant, v. ALFREDO T. as a rape victim
PALLANAN, Respondent.

G.R. No. 202122, January 15, 2014 - PEOPLE OF THE Pareja asseverates that AAA’s demeanor and conduct belie her claim that she was raped. He said
PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff–Appellee, v. BERNABE PAREJA Y that “the ordinary Filipina [would have summoned] every ounce of her strength and courage to thwart
CRUZ, Accused–Appellant. any attempt to besmirch her honor and blemish her purity.” Pareja pointed out that they lived in a
thickly populated area such that any commotion inside their house would have been easily heard by
G.R. No. 189618, January 15, 2014 - RIVELISA the neighbors, thus, giving AAA the perfect opportunity to seek their help.36 Moreover, Pareja said,
REALTY, INC., REPRESENTED BY RICARDO P. AAA’s delay in reporting the incidents to her mother or the authorities negates the possibility that he
VENTURINA, Petitioner, v. FIRST STA. CLARA BUILDERS indeed committed the crimes. AAA’s belated confession, he claimed, “cannot be dismissed as trivial
CORPORATION, REPRESENTED BY RAMON A. as it puts into serious doubt her credibility.”37
PANGILINAN, AS PRESIDENT, Respondent.

G.R. No. 186439, January 15, 2014 - UNIVERSAL A person accused of a serious crime such as rape will tend to escape liability by shifting the blame on
ROBINA SUGAR MILLING CORPORATION AND RENE the victim for failing to manifest resistance to sexual abuse. However, this Court has recognized the
CABATI, Petitioners, v. FERDINAND ACIBO, ROBERTO fact that no clear–cut behavior can be expected of a person being raped or has been raped. It is a
AGUILAR, EDDIE BALDOZA, RENE ABELLAR, DIOMEDES settled rule that failure of the victim to shout or seek help do not negate rape. Even lack of resistance
ALICOS, MIGUEL ALICOS, ROGELIO AMAHIT, LARRY will not imply that the victim has consented to the sexual act, especially when that person was
AMASCO, FELIPE BALANSAG, ROMEO BALANSAG, intimidated into submission by the accused. In cases where the rape is committed by a relative such
MANUEL BANGOT, ANDY BANJAO, DIONISIO BENDIJO, as a father, stepfather, uncle, or common law spouse, moral influence or ascendancy takes the place
JR., JOVENTINO BROCE, ENRICO LITERAL, RODGER of violence.38 In this case, AAA’s lack of resistance was brought about by her fear that Pareja would
RAMIREZ, BIENVENIDO RODRIGUEZ, DIOCITO make good on his threat to kill her if she ever spoke of the incident.
PALAGTIW, ERNIE SABLAN, RICHARD PANCHO,
RODRIGO ESTRABELA, DANNY KADUSALE AND AAA’s conduct, i.e., acting like nothing happened, after being sexually abused by Pareja is also not
ALLYROBYL OLPUS, Respondents. enough to discredit her. Victims of a crime as heinous as rape, cannot be expected to act within
reason or in accordance with society’s expectations. It is unreasonable to demand a standard rational
G.R. No. 196435, January 29, 2014 - PEOPLE OF THE reaction to an irrational experience, especially from a young victim. One cannot be expected to act as
PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff?Appellee, v. JOEL CRISOSTOMO usual in an unfamiliar situation as it is impossible to predict the workings of a human mind placed
Y MALLIAR, Accused?Appellant. under emotional stress. Moreover, it is wrong to say that there is a standard reaction or behavior
among victims of the crime of rape since each of them had to cope with different circumstances. 39
G.R. No. 185922, January 15, 2014 - HEIRS OF DR.
MARIANO FAVIS, SR., REPRESENTED BY THEIR CO? Likewise, AAA’s delay in reporting the incidents to her mother or the proper authorities is insignificant
HEIRS AND ATTORNEYS?IN?FACT MERCEDES A. FAVIS and does not affect the veracity of her charges. It should be remembered that Pareja threatened to
AND NELLY FAVIS?VILLAFUERTE, Petitioners, v. JUANA kill her if she told anyone of the incidents. In People v. Ogarte,40 we explained why a rape victim’s
GONZALES, HER SON MARIANO G. FAVIS, MA. THERESA deferral in reporting the crime does not equate to falsification of the accusation, to wit:
JOANA D. FAVIS, JAMES MARK D. FAVIS, ALL MINORS
REPRESENTED HEREIN BY THEIR PARENTS, SPS. The failure of complainant to disclose her defilement without loss of time to persons
MARIANO FAVIS AND LARCELITA D. FAVIS, close to her or to report the matter to the authorities does not perforce warrant the
Respondents. conclusion that she was not sexually molested and that her charges against the accused
are all baseless, untrue and fabricated. Delay in prosecuting the offense is not an
G.R. No. 161308, January 15, 2014 - RICARDO indication of a fabricated charge. Many victims of rape never complain or file criminal
MEDINA, JR. Y ORIEL, Petitioner, v. PEOPLE OF THE charges against the rapists. They prefer to bear the ignominy and pain, rather than
PHILIPPINES, Respondent. reveal their shame to the world or risk the offenders’ making good their threats to kill or
hurt their victims. (Citation omitted.)
G.R. No. 201156, January 29, 2014 - PEOPLE OF THE
PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff–Appellee, v. JOSELITO MORATE Medical examination
Y TARNATE, Accused–Appellant. not indispensable

G.R. No. 186622, January 22, 2014 - PEBLIA ALFARO Pareja avers that the Medico–Legal Report indicating that there is evidence of blunt force or
AND THE HEIRS OF PROSPEROUS ALFARO, NAMELY: penetrating trauma upon examination of AAA’s hymen, “cannot be given any significance, as it failed
MARY ANN PEARL ALFARO & ROUSLIA ALFARO, to indicate how and when the said signs of physical trauma were inflicted.” Furthermore, Pareja said,
Petitioners, v. SPOUSES EDITHO AND HERA the findings that AAA’s hymen sustained trauma cannot be utilized as evidence against him as the
DUMALAGAN, SPOUSES CRISPIN AND EDITHA alleged sexual abuse that occurred in December, was not by penetration of the vagina.41
DALOGDOG, ET. AL., Respondents.
This Court has time and again held that an accused can be convicted of rape on the basis of the sole
G.R. No. 156407, January 15, 2014 - THELMA M. testimony of the victim. In People v. Colorado,42 we said:
ARANAS, Petitioner, v. TERESITA V. MERCADO,
FELIMON V. MERCADO, CARMENCITA M. SUTHERLAND, [A] medical certificate is not necessary to prove the commission of rape, as even a
RICHARD V. MERCADO, MA. TERESITA M. ANDERSON, medical examination of the victim is not indispensable in a prosecution for rape. Expert
AND FRANKLIN L. MERCADO, Respondents. testimony is merely corroborative in character and not essential to conviction. x x x.

G.R. No. 173188, January 15, 2014 - THE CONJUGAL Therefore, the absence of testimony or medical certificate on the state of AAA’s anus at the time she
PARTNERSHIP OF THE SPOUSES VICENTE CADAVEDO was examined is of no consequence. On the contrary, the medical examination actually bolsters
AND BENITA ARCOY-CADAVEDO (BOTH DECEASED), AAA’s claim of being raped by Pareja on more than one occasion, and not just by anal penetration.
SUBSTITUTED BY THEIR HEIRS, NAMELY: HERMINIA, However, as the prosecution failed to capitalize on such evidence and prove the incidence of carnal
PASTORA, HEIRS OF FRUCTUOSA, HEIRS OF RAQUEL, knowledge, Pareja cannot be convicted of rape under paragraph 1 of Article 266–A of the Revised
EVANGELINE, VICENTE, JR., AND ARMANDO, ALL Penal Code.
SURNAMED CADAVEDO, Petitioners, v. VICTORINO
(VIC) T. LACAYA, MARRIED TO ROSA LEGADOS,
Respondents.

G.R. No. 178564, January 15, 2014 - INC
SHIPMANAGEMENT, INC., CAPTAIN SIGFREDO E.
MONTERROYO AND/OR INTERORIENT NAVIGATION
LIMITED, Petitioners, v. ALEXANDER L. MORADAS,
Respondent.

G.R. No. 176043, January 15, 2014 - SPOUSES In People v. Perez,43 this Court aptly held:
BERNADETTE AND RODULFO VILBAR, Petitioners, v.
ANGELITO L. OPINION, Respondent. This Court has held time and again that testimonies of rape victims who are young and
immature deserve full credence, considering that no young woman, especially of tender
G.R. No. 164985, January 15, 2014 - FIRST UNITED age, would concoct a story of defloration, allow an examination of her private parts, and
thereafter pervert herself by being subject to a public trial, if she was not motivated
CONSTRUCTORS CORPORATION AND BLUE STAR solely by the desire to obtain justice for the wrong committed against her. Youth and
immaturity are generally badges of truth. It is highly improbable that a girl of tender
CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION, Petitioners, v. years, one not yet exposed to the ways of the world, would impute to any man a crime
so serious as rape if what she claims is not true. (Citations omitted.)
BAYANIHAN AUTOMOTIVE CORPORATION,

Respondent.

G.R. No. 194612, January 27, 2014 - PEOPLE OF THE
PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. FLORO MANIGO Y
MACALUA, Accused-Appellant.

G.R. No. 164246, January 15, 2014 - HERMINIA Criminal Case No. 04–1557–CFM:
ACBANG, Petitioner, v. HON. JIMMY H.F. LUCZON, JR., The December 2003 Incident
PRESIDING JUDGE, REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, BRANCH
01, SECOND JUDICIAL REGION, TUGUEGARAO CITY, In Criminal Case No. 04–1557–CFM or the December 2003 incident, Pareja was charged and convicted
CAGAYAN, AND SPOUSES MAXIMO LOPEZ AND HEIDI L. of the crime of rape by sexual assault. The enactment of Republic Act No. 8353 or the Anti–Rape Law
LOPEZ, Respondents. of 1997, revolutionized the concept of rape with the recognition of sexual violence on “sex–related”
orifices other than a woman’s organ is included in the crime of rape; and the crime’s expansion to
G.R. No. 192479, January 27, 2014 - DIONES BELZA, cover gender–free rape. “The transformation mainly consisted of the reclassification of rape as a
Petitioner, v. DANILO T. CANONERO, ANTONIO N.

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ESQUIVEL AND CEZAR I. BELZA, Respondents. crime against persons and the introduction of rape by ‘sexual assault’ as differentiated from the
traditional ‘rape through carnal knowledge’ or ‘rape through sexual intercourse.’”44 Republic Act No.
G.R. No. 201860, January 22, 2014 - PEOPLE OF THE 8353 amended Article 335, the provision on rape in the Revised Penal Code and incorporated therein
PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. MARCELINO DADAO, Article 266–A which reads:
ANTONIO SULINDAO, EDDIE MALOGSI (DECEASED) AND
ALFEMIO MALOGSI,* Accused-Appellants. Article 266–A. Rape, When and How Committed. – Rape is committed –

G.R. No. 163753, January 15, 2014 - DR. 1) By a man who shall have carnal knowledge of a woman under any of the following
ENCARNACION C. LUMANTAS, M.D., Petitioner, v. HANZ circumstances:
CALAPIZ, REPRESENTED BY HIS PARENTS, HILARIO
CALAPIZ, JR. AND HERLITA CALAPIZ, Respondent.

G.R. No. 200804, January 22, 2014 - A.L. ANG a) Through force, threat or intimidation;
NETWORK, INC., Petitioner, v. EMMA MONDEJAR, b) When the offended party is deprived of reason or is otherwise unconscious,
ACCOMPANIED BY HER HUSBAND, EFREN MONDEJAR, c) By means of fraudulent machination or grave abuse of authority;
Respondent. d) When the offended party is under twelve (12) years of age or is demented,

G.R. No. 162365, January 15, 2014 - ROBERTO R. even though none of the circumstances mentioned above be present;
DAVID, Petitioner, v. EDUARDO C. DAVID, Respondent.
2) By any person who, under any of the circumstances mentioned in paragraph 1
G.R. No. 198804, January 22, 2014 - CARLITO hereof, shall commit an act of sexual assault by inserting his penis into another
VALENCIA Y CANDELARIA, Petitioner, v. PEOPLE OF THE person’s mouth or anal orifice, or any instrument or object, into the genital or anal
PHILIPPINES, Respondent. orifice of another person.

G.R. No. 160758, January 15, 2014 - DEVELOPMENT Thus, under the new provision, rape can be committed in two ways:
BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES, Petitioner, v. GUARIÑA
AGRICULTURAL AND REALTY DEVELOPMENT 1. Article 266–A paragraph 1 refers to Rape through sexual intercourse, also known as “organ rape”
CORPORATION, Respondent. or “penile rape.” 45 The central element in rape through sexual intercourse is carnal knowledge, which
must be proven beyond reasonable doubt.46
G.R. No. 160600, January 15, 2014 - DOMINGO
GONZALO, Petitioner, v. JOHN TARNATE, JR., 2. Article 266–A paragraph 2 refers to rape by sexual assault, also called “instrument or object
Respondent. rape,” or “gender–free rape.”47 It must be attended by any of the circumstances enumerated in
subparagraphs (a) to (d) of paragraph 1.48
G.R. No. 184045, January 22, 2014 - SPOUSES
NICASIO C. MARQUEZ AND ANITA J. MARQUEZ, In People v. Abulon,49 this Court differentiated the two modes of committing rape as follows:
Petitioners, v. SPOUSES CARLITO ALINDOG AND
CARMEN ALINDOG, Respondents. (1) In the first mode, the offender is always a man, while in the second, the offender
may be a man or a woman;
G.R. No. 173540, January 22, 2014 - PEREGRINA
MACUA VDA. DE AVENIDO, Petitioner, v. TECLA HOYBIA (2) In the first mode, the offended party is always a woman, while in the second, the
AVENIDO, Respondent. offended party may be a man or a woman;

A.C. No. 10135, January 15, 2014 - EDGARDO
AREOLA, Complainant, v. ATTY. MARIA VILMA
MENDOZA, Respondent.

G.R. No. 170701, January 22, 2014 - RALPH P. TUA, (3) In the first mode, rape is committed through penile penetration of the vagina, while
Petitioner, v. HON. CESAR A. MANGROBANG, the second is committed by inserting the penis into another person’s mouth or anal
PRESIDING JUDGE, BRANCH 22, REGIONAL TRIAL orifice, or any instrument or object into the genital or anal orifice of another person;
COURT, IMUS, CAVITE; AND ROSSANA HONRADO-TUA, and
Respondents.
(4) The penalty for rape under the first mode is higher than that under the second.
A.M. No. RTJ-11-2287 (Formerly OCA I.P.I. No. 11-
3640-RTJ), January 22, 2014 - OFFICE OF THE COURT Under Article 266–A, paragraph 2 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended, rape by sexual assault is
ADMINISTRATOR, Complainant, v. HON. CADER P. “[b]y any person who, under any of the circumstances mentioned in paragraph 1 hereof, shall commit
INDAR, AL HAJ, PRESIDING JUDGE AND ABDULRAHMAN an act of sexual assault by inserting his penis into another person’s mouth or anal orifice, or any
D. PIANG, PROCESS SERVER, BRANCH 14, BOTH OF THE instrument or object, into the genital or anal orifice of another person.”
REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, BRANCH 14, COTABATO CITY,
Respondents.

A.M. No. P-12-3043 [Formerly OCA I.P.I. No. 08- AAA positively and consistently stated that Pareja, in December 2003, inserted his penis into her
2953-P], January 15, 2014 - ATTY. MARCOS R. anus. While she may not have been certain about the details of the February 2004 incident, she was
SUNDIANG, Complainant, v. ERLITO DS. BACHO, positive that Pareja had anal sex with her in December 2003, thus, clearly establishing the occurrence
SHERIFF IV, REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, BRANCH 124, of rape by sexual assault. In other words, her testimony on this account was, as the Court of Appeals
CALOOCAN CITY, Respondent. found, clear, positive, and probable.50

A.M. No. P-08-2574 (Formerly A.M. OCA IPI No. 08- However, since the charge in the Information for the December 2003 incident is rape through carnal
2748-P), January 22, 2014 - RAUL K. SAN knowledge, Pareja cannot be found guilty of rape by sexual assault even though it was proven during
BUENAVENTURA, Complainant, v. TIMOTEO A. trial. This is due to the material differences and substantial distinctions between the two modes of
MIGRIÑO, CLERK OF COURT III, METROPOLITAN TRIAL rape; thus, the first mode is not necessarily included in the second, and vice–versa. Consequently, to
COURT, BRANCH 69, PASIG CITY, Respondent. convict Pareja of rape by sexual assault when what he was charged with was rape through carnal
knowledge, would be to violate his constitutional right to be informed of the nature and cause of the
A.C. No. 8644 [Formerly CBD Case No. 11-2908], accusation against him.51
January 22, 2014 - AIDA R. CAMPOS, ALISTAIR R.
CAMPOS AND CHARMAINE R. CAMPOS, Complainants, v. Nevertheless, Pareja may be convicted of the lesser crime of acts of lasciviousness under the
ATTY. ELISEO M. CAMPOS, Respondent. variance doctrine embodied in Section 4, in relation to Section 5, Rule 120 of the Rules of Criminal
Procedure,52 to wit:
A.C. No. 5581, January 14, 2014 - ROSE BUNAGAN-
BANSIG, Complainant, v. ATTY. ROGELIO JUAN A.
CELERA, Respondent.

A.M. No. P-13-3141 [Formerly OCA I.P.I. No. 08- SEC. 4. Judgment in case of variance between allegation and proof. – When there is a
2875-P], January 21, 2014 - ATTY. RHEA R. variance between the offense charged in the complaint or information and that proved,
ALCANTARA-AQUINO, Complainant, v. MYLENE H. DELA and the offense as charged is included in or necessarily includes the offense proved, the
CRUZ, CLERK III, OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT, accused shall be convicted of the offense proved which is included in the offense
REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, SANTA CRUZ, LAGUNA, charged, or of the offense charged which is included in the offense proved.
Respondent.
SEC. 5. When an offense includes or is included in another. – An offense charged
A.M. No. P-05-2051, January 21, 2014 - OFFICE OF necessarily includes the offense proved when some of the essential elements or
THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR, Complainant, v. ATTY. ingredients of the former, as alleged in the complaint or information, constitute the
MONA LISA A. BUENCAMINO, CLERK OF COURT IV, latter. And an offense charged is necessarily included in the offense proved, when the
DAVID E. MANIQUIS, CLERK OF COURT III, AND essential ingredients of the former constitute or form part of those constituting the
CIELITO M. MAPUE, SHERIFF III, ALL OF THE OFFICE OF latter.
THE CLERK OF COURT, METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURT,
CALOOCAN CITY, Respondents.; A.M. No. 05-4-118- Article 336 of the Revised Penal Code provides:
MeTC - RE: REPORT ON THE FINANCIAL AUDIT
CONDUCTED IN THE METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURT,
OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT, CALOOCAN CITY

G.R. No. 197760, January 13, 2014 - TEAM ENERGY Art. 336. Acts of lasciviousness. — Any person who shall commit any act of
CORPORATION (FORMERLY MIRANT PAGBILAO lasciviousness upon other persons of either sex, under any of the circumstances
CORPORATION), Petitioner, v. COMMISSIONER OF mentioned in the preceding article, shall be punished by prisión correccional.
INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent.
The elements of the above crime are as follows:
G.R. No. 191555, January 20, 2014 - UNION BANK OF
THE PHILIPPINES, Petitioner, v. DEVELOPMENT BANK (1) That the offender commits any act of lasciviousness or lewdness;
OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondent.

G.R. No. 183880, January 20, 2014 - COMMISSIONER (2) That it is done under any of the following circumstances:
OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Petitioner, v. TOLEDO POWER, a. By using force or intimidation; or
INC., Respondent.

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G.R. No. 180972, January 20, 2014 - JONAS MICHAEL b. When the offended party is deprived of reason or otherwise unconscious; or
R. GARZA, Petitioner, v. COCA-COLA BOTTLERS PEREZ,
AND PHILIPPINES, INC. CHRISTINE BANAL/ CALIXTO c. When the offended party is under 12 years of age; and
MANAIG, Respondents.
(3) That the offended party is another person of either sex.53 (Citation omitted.)
G.R. No. 192034, January 13, 2014 - ALPHA SHIP
MANAGEMENT CORPORATION/JUNEL M. CHAN AND/OR Clearly, the above–mentioned elements are present in the December 2003 incident, and were
CHUO-KAIUN COMPANY, LIMITED, Petitioners, v. sufficiently established during trial. Thus, even though the crime charged against Pareja was for rape
ELEOSIS V. CALO, Respondent. through carnal knowledge, he can be convicted of the crime of acts of lasciviousness without violating
any of his constitutional rights because said crime is included in the crime of rape.54
G.R. No. 176439, January 15, 2014 - THE PRESIDENT
OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY Nonetheless, the Court takes this case as an opportunity to remind the State, the People of the
SAINTS, Petitioner, v. BTL CONSTRUCTION Philippines, as represented by the public prosecutor, to exert more diligence in crafting the
CORPORATION, RESPONDENT.; G.R. No. 176718 - BTL Information, which contains the charge against an accused. The primary duty of a lawyer in public
CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION, Petitioner, v. THE prosecution is to see that justice is done55 – to the State, that its penal laws are not broken and order
PRESIDENT OF THE MANILA MISSION OF THE CHURCH maintained; to the victim, that his or her rights are vindicated; and to the offender, that he is justly
OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS AND BPI-MS punished for his crime. A faulty and defective Information, such as that in Criminal Case No. 04–
INSURANCE CORPORATION, Respondents. 1556–CFM, does not render full justice to the State, the offended party, and even the offender. Thus,
the public prosecutor should always see to it that the Information is accurate and appropriate.
G.R. No. 185798, January 13, 2014 - FIL-ESTATE
PROPERTIES, INC. AND FIL-ESTATE NETWORK, INC., Criminal Case No. 04–1556–CFM:
Petitioners, v. SPOUSES CONRADO AND MARIA The February 2004 Incident
VICTORIA RONQUILLO, Respondents.
It is manifest that the RTC carefully weighed all the evidence presented by the prosecution against
G.R. No. 190928, January 13, 2014 - TEAM ENERGY Pareja, especially AAA’s testimony. In its scrutiny, the RTC found AAA’s declaration on the rape in the
CORPORATION (FORMERLY MIRANT PAGBILAO CORP.), December 2003 incident credible enough to result in a conviction, albeit this Court had to modify it as
Petitioner, v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, explained above. However, it did not find that the same level of proof, i.e., beyond reasonable doubt,
Respondent. was fully satisfied by the prosecution in its charge of attempted rape and a second count of rape
against Pareja. In Criminal Case No. 04–1556–CFM, or the February 2004 incident, the RTC
G.R. No. 201011, January 27, 2014 - THERESITA, considered AAA’s confusion as to whether or not she was actually penetrated by Pareja, and
JUAN, ASUNCION, PATROCINIA, RICARDO, AND eventually resolved the matter in Pareja’s favor.
GLORIA, ALL SURNAMED DIMAGUILA, Petitioners, v.
JOSE AND SONIA A. MONTEIRO, Respondents. This Court agrees with such findings. AAA, in her Sinumpaang Salaysay,56 stated that aside from
sucking her breasts, Pareja also inserted his finger in her vagina. However, she was not able to give
G.R. No. 187973, January 20, 2014 - LZK HOLDINGS a clear and convincing account of such insertion during her testimony. Despite being repeatedly
AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, Petitioner, v. asked by the prosecutor as to what followed after her breasts were sucked, AAA failed to testify, in
PLANTERS DEVELOPMENT BANK, Respondent. open court, that Pareja also inserted his finger in her vagina. Moreover, later on, she added that
Pareja inserted his penis in her vagina during that incident. Thus, because of the material omissions
G.R. No. 196231, January 28, 2014 - EMILIO A. and inconsistencies, Pareja cannot be convicted of rape in the February 2004 incident. Nonetheless,
GONZALES III, Petitioner, v. OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT Pareja’s acts of placing himself on top of AAA and sucking her breasts, fall under the crime of acts of
OF THE PHILIPPINES, ACTING THROUGH AND lasciviousness, which, as we have discussed above, is included in the crime of rape.
REPRESENTED BY EXECUTIVE SECRETARY PAQUITO N.
OCHOA, JR., SENIOR DEPUTY EXECUTIVE SECRETARY Verily, AAA was again positive and consistent in her account of how Pareja sucked both her breasts in
JOSE AMOR M. AMORANDO, OFFICER-IN-CHARGE - the February 2004 incident. Thus, Pareja was correctly convicted by the courts a quo of the crime of
OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY EXECUTIVE SECRETARY FOR acts of lasciviousness.
LEGAL AFFAIRS, ATTY. RONALDO A. GERON, DIR.
ROWENA TURINGAN-SANCHEZ, AND ATTY. CARLITO D. Defense of Denial
CATAYONG, Respondents.; G.R. No. 196232 - WENDELL and Improper Motive
BARRERAS-SULIT, Petitioner, v. ATTY. PAQUITO N.
OCHOA, JR., IN HIS CAPACITY AS EXECUTIVE Pareja sought to escape liability by denying the charges against him, coupled with the attribution of ill
SECRETARY, OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, ATTY. DENNIS motive against AAA. He claims that AAA filed these cases against him because she was angry that he
F. ORTIZ, ATTY. CARLO D. SULAY AND ATTY. FROILAN caused her parents’ separation. Pareja added that these cases were initiated by AAA’s father, as
D. MONTALBAN, JR., IN THEIR CAPACITIES AS revenge against him.57
CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF OFFICE OF MALACAÑANG
LEGAL AFFAIRS, Respondents. Such contention is untenable. “AAA’s credibility cannot be diminished or tainted by such imputation of
ill motives. It is highly unthinkable for the victim to falsely accuse her father solely by reason of ill
motives or grudge.”58 Furthermore, motives such as resentment, hatred or revenge have never
swayed this Court from giving full credence to the testimony of a minor rape victim.59 In People v.
Manuel,60 we held:

Evidently, no woman, least of all a child, would concoct a story of defloration, allow
examination of her private parts and subject herself to public trial or ridicule if she has
not, in truth, been a victim of rape and impelled to seek justice for the wrong done to
her being. It is settled jurisprudence that testimonies of child–victims are given full
weight and credit, since when a woman or a girl–child says that she has been raped, she
says in effect all that is necessary to show that rape was indeed committed.

Ithaca, NY Residents Are `Rattled` By New Website Liability for Acts of Lasciviousness

The penalty for acts of lasciviousness under Article 336 of the Revised Penal Code is prisión
correccional in its full range. Applying the Indeterminate Sentence Law,61 the minimum of the
indeterminate penalty shall be taken from the full range of the penalty next lower in degree,62 i.e.,
arresto mayor, which ranges from 1 month and 1 day to 6 months.63 The maximum of the
indeterminate penalty shall come from the proper penalty64 that could be imposed under the Revised
Penal Code for Acts of Lasciviousness,65 which, in this case, absent any aggravating or mitigating
circumstance, is the medium period of prisión correccional, ranging from 2 years, 4 months and 1 day
to 4 years and 2 months.66

In line with prevailing jurisprudence, the Court modifies the award of damages as follows: P20,000.00
as civil indemnity;67 P30,000.00 as moral damages; and P10,000.00 as exemplary damages,68 for
each count of acts of lasciviousness. All amounts shall bear legal interest at the rate of 6% per
annum from the date of finality of this judgment.

WHEREFORE, premises considered, the Decision of the Court of Appeals in CA–G.R. CR.–H.C. No.
03794 is hereby AFFIRMED with MODIFICATION. We find accused–appellant Bernabe Pareja y
Cruz GUILTY of two counts of Acts of Lasciviousness, defined and penalized under Article 336 of the
Revised Penal Code, as amended. He is sentenced to two (2) indeterminate prison terms of 6 months
of arresto mayor, as minimum, to 4 years and 2 months of prisión correccional, as maximum; and is
ORDERED to pay the victim, AAA, P20,000.00 as civil indemnity, P30,000.00 as moral damages, and
P10,000.00 as exemplary damages, for each count of acts of lasciviousness, all with interest at the
rate of 6% per annum from the date of finality of this judgment.

Ch a n Ro b le s Vir t u a la wlbi r a r y

SO ORDERED.

Sereno, C.J., (Chairperson), Bersamin, Villarama, Jr., and Reyes, JJ. concur.

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Endnotes:

1Rollo, pp. 2–15; penned by Associate Justice Isaias P. Dicdican with Associate Justices
Jane Aurora C. Lantion and Rodil V. Zalameda, concurring.
2 CA rollo, pp. 17–27.
3 Under Republic Act No. 9262 also known as “Anti–Violence Against Women and Their
Children Act of 2004” and its implementing rules, the real name of the victim and those
of her immediate family members are withheld and fictitious initials are instead used to
protect the victim’s privacy.
4 CA rollo, p. 10.
5 Id. at 11.
6 Id. at 53.
7 Records, p. 20.
8 Id. at 37–38.
9 TSN, November 4, 2004, p. 3.
10Rollo, pp. 4–7.
11 CA rollo, pp. 52–62.
12 Id. at 62.
13 Id. at 28.
14Rollo, pp. 14–15.
15 Id. at 16–18.
16 CA rollo, pp. 45–46.
17Rollo, pp. 31–35.
18 Id. at 31.
19 CA rollo, pp. 48–49.
20 G.R. No. 197815, February 8, 2012, 665 SCRA 639, 643.
21People v. Manalili, G.R. No. 191253, August 28, 2013.
22People v. Rubio, G.R. No. 195239, March 7, 2012, 667 SCRA 753, 762.
23 G.R. No. 178406, April 6, 2011, 647 SCRA 374, 388.
24People v. Zafra, G.R. No. 197363, June 26, 2013.
25 Id.
26People v. Cantomayor, 441 Phil. 840, 847 (2002).
27People v. Escultor, 473 Phil. 717, 727 (2004).
28 377 Phil. 904 (1999).
29 Id. at 911–915.
30 Id. at 915.
31 Id. at 912.
32People v. Manalili, supra note 21.
33 CA rollo, p. 46.
34People v. Mangitngit, 533 Phil. 837, 854 (2006).
35 342 Phil. 499, 506–507 (1997).
36 CA rollo, p. 47.
37Rollo, pp. 31–32.
38People v. Pacheco, G.R. No. 187742, April 20, 2010, 618 SCRA 606, 615.
39People v. Saludo, supra note 23 at 394.
40 G.R. No. 182690, May 30, 2011, 649 SCRA 395, 412.
41 CA rollo, p. 48.
42 G.R. No. 200792, November 14, 2012, 685 SCRA 660, 673.
43 G.R. No. 182924, December 24, 2008, 575 SCRA 653, 671.
44People v. Abulon, 557 Phil. 428, 452–453 (2007).
45 Id. at 453–454.

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46People v. Soria, G.R. No. 179031, November 14, 2012, 685 SCRA 483, 497.
47People v. Abulon, supra note 44 at 454.
48People v. Soria, supra note 46 at 497.
49 Supra note 44 at 454.
50Rollo, p. 13.
51People v. Abulon, supra note 44 at 455.
52 Id.
53People v. Dominguez, Jr., G.R. No. 180914, November 24, 2010, 636 SCRA 134, 158.
54Perez v. Court of Appeals, 431 Phil. 786, 797 (2002).
55 Code of Professional Responsibility, Rule 6.01.
56 Records, pp. 142–143.
57 TSN, May 27, 2008, p. 6.
58People v. Zafra, supra note 24.
59People v. Mangitngit, supra note 34 at 852.
60 358 Phil. 664, 674 (1998).
61 Republic Act No. 4103, as amended.
62 Id., Section 1.
63 Revised Penal Code, Articles 25 and 27.
64 Id., Article 64(1).
65 Republic Act No. 4103, as amended, Section 1.
66 Revised Penal Code, Article 77.
67People v. Garcia, G.R. No. 200529, September 19, 2012, 681 SCRA 465, 480–481.
68Sombilon, Jr. v. People, G.R. No. 175528, September 30, 2009, 601 SCRA 405, 421.

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