This case has been cited 2 times or more.
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2008-12-18 |
CHICO-NAZARIO, J. |
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| The absence of scars on AAA's body cannot be considered to diminish her credibility. As correctly pointed out by the OSG, the absence of scars on her hands and feet is not an indication that she had not been raped and that she was lying about the rapes committed on 20 September 1997 and 25 December 1997. Absence of external signs or physical injuries does not negate the commission of rape, since proof of injuries is not an essential element of the crime.[41] It bears stressing that AAA was examined by Dr. Besario- Tan on 24 March 1999 or almost two years from the time the rapes were committed. Thus, it is not impossible that AAA's scars or injuries caused by the tying of her hands and feet with a rope, if she ever sustained any physical injury, must have already faded. | |||||