This case has been cited 8 times or more.
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2012-07-09 |
REYES, J. |
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| Courts use the following principles in deciding rape cases: (1) an accusation of rape can be made with facility; it is difficult to prove but more difficult for the person accused, though innocent, to disprove; (2) due to the nature of the crime of rape in which only two persons are usually involved, the testimony of the complainant must be scrutinized with extreme caution; and (3) the evidence for the prosecution must stand or fall on its own merits and cannot be allowed to draw strength from the weakness of the evidence for the defense. Due to the nature of this crime, conviction for rape may be solely based on the complainant's testimony provided it is credible, natural, convincing, and consistent with human nature and the normal course of things.[10] | |||||
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2011-02-23 |
MENDOZA, J. |
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| Alibi, on the other hand, is the weakest of all defenses for it can be easily contrived. For alibi to prosper, it is not enough for the accused to prove that he was somewhere else when the crime was committed; he must likewise demonstrate that it was physically impossible for him to have been at the scene of the crime at the time of its commission.[39] In this case, not a shred of evidence was adduced by the accused to substantiate his alibi. | |||||
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2010-07-05 |
VELASCO JR., J. |
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| The award of civil indemnity of PhP 50,000 in simple rape cases without need of pleading or proof is correct. In addition, moral damages of PhP 50,000 were also properly awarded. These are automatically granted in rape cases without need of proof other than the commission of the crime in accordance with prevailing jurisprudence.[45] We, however, additionally grant exemplary damages in the amount of PhP 30,000, in line with current jurisprudence,[46] for the special aggravating circumstance of the use of a deadly weapon attended the commission of the rape.[47] | |||||
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2010-04-20 |
VELASCO JR., J. |
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| The healed lacerations on the victim's hymen do not disprove that accused-appellant raped the victim and cannot serve to acquit him. Proof of hymenal laceration is not even an element of rape, so long as there is enough proof of entry of the male organ into the labia of the pudendum of the female organ.[16] Moreover, as the appellate court noted, the finding of healed lacerations does not prove that it was AAA's uncle who raped her and not accused-appellant. No corroborating evidence was presented to back up the claim that AAA was raped by someone else. Unfortunately, the argument only suggests that if accused-appellant's defense is to be believed, AAA was raped by two different men. | |||||
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2010-04-14 |
NACHURA, J. |
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| The civil indemnity and moral damages are separately granted in rape cases without need of proof other than the commission of the crime.[9] Civil indemnity is mandatorily awarded to the rape victim on the finding that rape was committed.[10] It is in the nature of actual or compensatory damages.[11] | |||||
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2010-02-01 |
VELASCO JR., J. |
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| As regards the award of damages, the appellate court correctly reduced the award of civil indemnity from PhP 75,000 to PhP 50,000 in favor of the victim. In cases of simple rape, civil indemnity of PhP 50,000 is automatically awarded without need of pleading or proof.[28] The award of moral and exemplary damages was also in order. We, however, increase the award of exemplary damages to PhP 30,000 following current jurisprudence on the matter.[29] | |||||