Republic of the Philippines SUPREME COURT Manila THIRD DIVISION

G.R. No.

! " Ma#ch !$ %&&%

PEOP'E O( THE PHI'IPPINES$ plaintiff)appellee$ *s. HEINRICH S. RITTER$ accuse+)appellant$ The Solicitor General for plaintiff-appellee. Esteban B. Bautista for accused-appellant.

GUTIERRE,$ -R.$ J.:p The appellant challen.es his con*iction of the c#i/e in*ol*in. a 0oun. .i#l of about %" 0ea#s ol+ 1ho ha+ been alle.e+l0 #ape+ an+ 1ho late# +ie+ because of a fo#ei.n ob2ect left insi+e he# *a.inal canal. Hein#ich Stefan Ritte# 1as cha#.e+ 1ith the c#i/e of #ape 1ith ho/ici+e un+e# an info#/ation 1hich #ea+s3 That on o# about the tenth 4%5th +a0 of Octobe#$ %& 6 in the Cit0 of Olon.apo$ Philippines$ an+ 1ithin the 2u#is+iction of this Hono#able Cou#t$ the abo*e) na/e+ accuse+ 1ith le1+ +esi.n an+ 1ith intent to 7ill one Rosa#io 8alu0ot$ a 1o/an un+e# t1el*e 4%"9 0ea#s of a.e$ +i+ then an+ the#e 1ilfull0$ unla1full0 an+ feloniousl0 ha*e ca#nal 7no1le+.e of sai+ Rosa#io 8alu0ot an+ inse#te+ a fo#ei.n ob2ect into the *a.inal canal of sai+ Rosa#io 8alu0ot 1hich cause+ he# +eath sho#tl0 the#eafte#$ to the +a/a.e an+ p#e2u+ice of he# #elati*es. 4669 :hen a##ai.ne+$ the accuse+ plea+e+ ;Not Guilt0;. The#eafte#$ the case 1as set fo# t#ial on the /e#its. To p#o*e the .uilt of the accuse+$ the p#osecuto# p#esente+ the follo1in. 1itnesses$ na/el03 4%9 -essie Ra/i#e<$ 4"9 Ma#ia 8u#.os 0 Tu#la$ 4=9 P>Cpl. Ma#iano Victo#ia$ 4?9 Polica#pio 8alu0ot$ 4!9 D#. Reino Rosete$ 469 Su/ulon. Daniel$ 4@9 -essica He##e#a$ 4 9 Siste# E*a Palencia$ 4&9 Con#a+o Salon.a$ 4%59 D#. De*onne 'oop$ 4%%9 D#. 'eo C#u<$ 4%"9 Paul Maclo#$ 4%=9 Ai+a Sa#/iento$ 4%?9 Pat#icia P#olla/anta 4%!9 Mel Santos$ 4%69 'o#na 'i/os$ 4%@9 E+ua#+ 'ee 8un.a#ne#$ 4% 9 Ronal+o Ma#Bue<$ 4%&9 To/ 8onte$ 4"59 "n+ Asst. Cit0 (iscal Nini Alcala$ 4"%9 lst Asst. Cit0 (iscal Do#entino ,. (lo#esta$ 4""9 Co#a<on Cabe#$ 4"=9 Ro+olfo Me#cu#io an+ 4"?9 (e Is#ael.

On the othe# han+$ the +efense offe#e+ in e*i+ence EChibits ;%; to ;"?; an+ the testi/onies of 4%9 Hein#ich S. Ritte#$ 4"9 (athe# RoBue Villanue*a$ 4=9 An.elita A/ulon. 4?9 Gaspa# Alcanta#a$ 4!9 D#. Val 8a#cinal an+ 469 D#. Pe+#o C. Solis. The facts of the case upon 1hich the lo1e# cou#t base+ its fin+in. of .uilt be0on+ #easonable +oubt a#e su//a#i<e+ in its +ecision$ as follo1s3 The peopleDs e*i+ence sho1 that on Octobe# %5$ %& 6 about /i+ni.ht$ accuse+ Hein#ich Stefan Ritte# b#ou.ht a bo0 an+ .i#l na/el03 -essie Ra/i#e< an+ Rosa#io 8alu0ot insi+e his hotel #oo/ at MGM Hotel alon. Ma.sa0sa0 D#i*e$ Olon.apo Cit0. These t1o 4"9 chil+#en 1e#e chosen f#o/ a/on. a bunch of st#eet chil+#en. Once insi+e the hotel #oo/ accuse+ tol+ the/ to ta7e a bath. -essie Ra/i#e<$ alias ;E.an;$ 1as the fi#st to ta7e a bath an+ 1hen he ca/e out Rosa#io 8alu0ot 1ent to the bath#oo/ to +o the sa/e. :hile Rosa#io 8alu0ot 1as insi+e the bath#oo/$ accuse+ Ritte# too7 out so/e pictu#es +epictin. +#esse+ up 0oun. bo0s$ an+ put the/ on top of the table. Othe# thin.s 1hich 1e#e ta7en out an+ place+ on top of a table 1e#e th#ee 4=9 othe# ob2ects 1hich he +esc#ibe+ as li7e that of a *ic7s inhale#. One of these ob2ects the accuse+ pla0e+ 1ith his han+s an+ place+ it on his pal/s. The colo# of 1hich is .#a0ish blue 1hich tu#ne+ out late# to be the fo#ei.n ob2ect 1hich 1as inse#te+ insi+e the *a.ina of Rosa#io 8alu0ot. The othe# ob2ects 1e#e late# establishe+ to be anti)nasal inhale#s a.ainst pollution pu#chase+ b0 the accuse+ in 8an.7o7 1hen he 1ent the#e as a tou#ist. :hile Rosa#io 1as in the bath#oo/$ accuse+ tol+ Ra/i#e< to la0 +o1n on be+$ an+ so +i+ the accuse+. He then sta#te+ /astu#batin. the 0oun. bo0 an+ also .ui+e+ the bo0Ds han+ fo# hi/ to be /astu#bate+$ so that the0 /astu#bate+ each othe#$ 1hile the0 1e#e both na7e+$ an+ he .a*e -essie Ra/i#e< an e#ection. :hen Rosa#io 8alu0ot ca/e out of the bath#oo/$ she 1as tol+ to #e/o*e he# clothes b0 accuse+ an+ to 2oin hi/ in be+. The accuse+ then place+ hi/self bet1een the t1o 4"9 chil+#en an+ accuse+ sta#te+ fin.e#in. Rosa#io. At this ti/e$ Ra/i#e< 1as al#ea+0 sleep0$ but Rosa#io touche+ hi/ to call his attention. He loo7e+$ an+ he sa1 accuse+ placin. his penis a.ainst the *a.ina of Rosa#io an+ that he 1as t#0in. to penet#ate the *a.ina but it 1oul+ not fit. Afte# 1hat he sa1$ Ra/i#e< +i+ not an0/o#e bothe# to loo7 because he 1as sleep0 an+ fell asleep. The follo1in. /o#nin.$ the accuse+$ 1ho/ the 2u*eniles +esc#ibe+ as an ;A/e#ican$ pai+ Ra/i#e< alias ;E.an; P"55.55 an+ Rosa#io P=55.55. He then left the/ in the hotel. Afte# the A/e#ican left$ the0 1ent +o1nstai#s$ an+ Rosa#io tol+ E.an that the A/e#ican inse#te+ so/ethin. in he# *a.ina. 8ut the0 coul+ not +o an0thin. an0/o#e$ because the A/e#ican ha+ al#ea+0 left$ an+ neithe# +i+ the0 #epo#t the /atte# to the police. So/eti/e the follo1in. +a0$ -essie sa1 Rosa#io an+ he as7e+ he# 1hethe# the ob2ect 1as al#ea+0 #e/o*e+ f#o/ he# bo+0 an+ Rosa#io sai+ ;Ees;. Ho1e*e#$ -essie Ra/i#e< clai/e+ that on the e*enin. of that sa/e +ate$ he sa1 Rosa#io an+ she 1as co/plainin. of pain in he# *a.ina an+ 1hen E.an as7e+ he#$ she sai+ that the

fo#ei.n ob2ect 1as not 0et #e/o*e+. Then the#e 1as anothe# occasion 1he#ein -essie 1as su//one+ an+ 1hen he ca/e he sa1 Rosa#io 1#ithin. in pain an+ 1hen he t#ie+ to tal7 to Rosa#io she scol+e+ hi/ 1ith +efa/ato#0 #e/a#7s. The#eafte#$ he +i+ not see Rosa#io an0/o#e because he al#ea+0 1ent ho/e to his auntDs house 1ho #esi+e+ at 8a##io 8a##etto an+ #esu/e+ his stu+ies in the p#i/a#0 .#a+es. On Ma0 %?$ %& @$ Gaspa# Alcanta#a$ a +efense 1itness$ 1hile .a#ba.e sca*en.in. at 'ot "%$ nea# the .ate of the U.S. Na*al 8ase sa1 Rosa#io at Ma.sa0sa0 D#i*e nea# the Happ0 8a7e Shop nea# 'ot "%$ bein. o.le+ b0 people because Rosa#ioDs s7i#t 1as bloo+ie+ an+ she 1as unconscious an+ foul s/ellin.. Since nobo+0 helpe+ Rosa#io$ he too7 pit0 on he# con+ition an+ b#ou.ht he# to the Olon.apo Cit0 Gene#al Hospital in an unconscious con+ition$ *ia 2eepne0. He 1ent to the Info#/ation +es7 an+ he 1as the one 1ho .a*e the pe#sonal ci#cu/stances of Rosa#io as to he# na/e$ a.e$ he# #esi+ence as Na.ba7ula1$ 'o1e# Fala7lan$ an+ Gaspa# Alcanta#a si.ne+ as ;.ua#+ian; of Rosa#io$ 1hile Rosa#io 1as al#ea+0 in the e/e#.enc0 #oo/. Althou.h Gaspa# Alcanta#a +enie+ that he +i+ not 7no1 the na/e of Rosa#io 8alu0ot 1hen he b#ou.ht he# to the hospital$ this is belie+ b0 the testi/on0 of the Info#/ation cle#7 'o#na 'i/os$ 1ho 1as then on +ut0. 'i/os testifie+ that it 1as Alcanta#a 1ho supplie+ the pe#sonal ci#cu/stances of Rosa#io. The Cou#t .i*es /o#e c#e+ence to the testi/on0 of Miss 'i/os as a.ainst Gaspa# Alcanta#a 1ho beca/e a +efense 1itness$ fo# the #eason that th#ou.h his o1n testi/on0$ Gaspa# Alcanta#a clai/e+ that e*en p#io# to Ma0 %?$ %& @$ he ha+ al#ea+0 7no1n Rosa#io 8alu0ot fo# /o#e than one 4%9 0ea#$ because he has seen the sai+ .i#l .o to the house of his t1in b#othe#$ Melcho# Alcanta#a$ 1ho is his i//e+iate nei.hbo#. Rosa#io use+ to *isit a .i#l b0 the na/e of ;No#a; 1ho 1as then in the custo+0 of his b#othe#. His b#othe# Melcho# 1as also li*in. 1ith thei# /othe#$ b#othe# an+ siste#)in)la1 an+ thei# t1o 4"9 chil+#en in his house. Rosa#io as pe# Gaspa#Ds testi/on0 e*en sta0s fo# one 1ee7 o# a fe1 +a0s at his b#othe#Ds house 1hen she *isits No#a. So the Cou#t can safel0 assu/e that of all the /o#e than one 4%9 0ea# that he ha+ #e.ula#l0 seen Rosa#io at his b#othe#Ds house$ he /ust ha*e al#ea+0 +i+ co/e to 7no1 the na/e of Rosa#io 8alu0ot inclu+in. he# a.e. In his testi/on0 in Cou#t he state+ that he e*en as7e+ Rosa#io fo# /o*ie an+ soft+#in7s /one0 1hich can safel0 be conclu+e+ that he 7no1s he# *e#0 1ell. It is a.ainst no#/al beha*io# especiall0 to a (ilipino 1ho ha*e a cha#acte#istic of cu#iosit0 not to ha*e foun+ out the #eal na/e of the .i#l he clai/s to 7no1 onl0 as ;To/bo0;. :hile Rosa#io 8alu0ot 1as confine+ at the Olon.apo Cit0 Gene#al Hospital$ nobo+0 1as atten+in. to he# since she is a st#eet chil+$ ha*in. sto1e+ a1a0 f#o/ the custo+0 of he# .#an+/othe#. Th#ee 4=9 .oo+ sa/a#itans 1ho belon. to #eli.ious an+ ci*ic o#.ani<ations$ in the pe#sons of -essica He##e#a$ (e Is#ael an+ S#. E*a Palencia$ in one of thei# /issions in the hospital chance+ upon Rosa#io 8alu0ot 1ho 1as all alone 1ith no #elati*es atten+in. to he# an+ afte# fin+in. out that she 1as onl0 %" 0ea#s ol+ +eci+e+ to help he#. Afte# a sho#t inte#*ie1 1ith Rosa#io$ #e.a#+in. he# na/e an+ a.e onl0 because she cla/pe+ up about he# #esi+ence an+ he# #elati*es$ the0 +eci+e+ to help he#

b0 p#o*i+in. he# the /e+icine she nee+e+ +u#in. he# confine/ent in #ea+iness fo# an ope#ation. It 1as (e Is#ael 1ho 1as able to .et the na/e an+ a.e of Rosa#io 8alu0ot f#o/ Rosa#io 8alu0ot he#self 1hen she sa1 he# fo# the fi#st ti/e. (o# (e Is#ael$ the a.e of Rosa#io 8alu0ot 1as an i/po#tant facto# because thei# p#o.#a/ assiste+ onl0 in+i.ent patients f#o/ infants up to %= 0ea#s ol+. Rosa#ioDs fi#st ail/ent at the Olon.apo Cit0 Gene#al Hospital 1as loose bo1el /o*e/ent an+ *o/itin.$ 1hich 1as fi#st suspecte+ as .ast#o)ente#itis$ but 1hich ca/e out late# as s0/pto/s of pe#itonitis +ue to a /assi*e infection in the ab+o/inal ca*it0. SubseBuentl0$ on Ma0 %@$ %& @$ afte# she 1as eCa/ine+ b0 the ph0sicians at the hospital$ it 1as foun+ out that the#e 1as a fo#ei.n ob2ect lo+.e+ in he# *a.inal canal an+ she ha+ *a.inal +ischa#.e tin.e+ 1ith bloo+ an+ foul s/ellin. o+o# e/anatin. f#o/ he# bo+0. One of the +octo#s 1ho atten+e+ to he# 1as D#. 8a#cinal$ an O8)GENE. D#. 8a#cinal t#ie+ to eCt#act the fo#ei.n ob2ect b0 /eans of a fo#ceps$ but se*e#al atte/pts p#o*e+ futile because sai+ ob2ect 1as +eepl0 e/be++e+ in the *a.inal canal an+ 1as co*e#e+ b0 tissues. He# ab+o/en 1as enla#.e+$ ten+e# an+ +isten+e+$ s0/pto/s of pe#itonitis. The patient 1as fe*e#ish an+ incohe#ent 1hen she 1as sche+ule+ fo# ope#ation on Ma0 %&$ %& @$ afte# the fi#st atte/pt fo# an ope#ation on Ma0 %@ 1as abo#te+ alle.e+l0 because the consent of D#. Reino Rosete$ the hospital +i#ecto# 1as not obtaine+. The su#.eon 1ho ope#ate+ on he# 1as D#. Rosete hi/self. He testifie+ that Rosa#io ha+ to be ope#ate+ e*en in that con+ition in o#+e# to sa*e he# life. He# con+ition 1as .ua#+e+. This 1as co##obo#ate+ b0 D#. 'eo C#u<$ the anesthesiolo.ist +u#in. Rosa#ioDs ope#ation. It 1as in the e*enin. of Ma0 %& at about @355 p./. 1hen D#. Rosete opene+ he# ab+o/en b0 /a7in. a ! inch incision on he# sto/ach. He foun+ out that the fallopian tubes 1e#e con.este+ 1ith pus an+ so 1ith the pe#itonieu/$ an+ the pel*ic ca*it0$ an+ patches of pus in the li*e#$ althou.h the .allbla++e# an+ 7i+ne0 appea#e+ to ha*e septice/ia$ poisonin. of the bloo+. The pe#itonitis an+ septice/ia 1e#e t#ace+ to ha*e been cause+ th#ou.h infection b0 the fo#ei.n ob2ect 1hich has been lo+.e+ in the int#a)*a.inal canal of Rosa#io. The fo#ei.n ob2ect 1hich 1as al#ea+0 a.#ee+ upon b0 both pa#ties that it is a po#tion of a seCual *ib#ato# 1as eCt#acte+ f#o/ the *a.ina of Rosa#io 1hile un+e# anesthesia. Sai+ ob2ect 1as coate+ 1ith tissues$ pus an+ bloo+. D#. Rosete .a*e it to the assistin. su#.ical nu#se fo# safe7eepin. an+ .a*e inst#uctions to #elease it to the autho#i<e+ pe#son. This ob2ect 1as sho1n b0 the nu#se to D#. 'eo C#u<. D#. Rosete consi+e#e+ the ope#ation successful an+ the patient 1as ali*e 1hen he left he# un+e# D#. C#u<. D#. C#u< sta0e+ 1ith sai+ patient in the 1a#+ fo# about =5 /inutes an+ the#eafte# he left. The follo1in. +a0$ Rosa#io .ot se#ious an+ it 1as D#. 'eo C#u< 1ho p#onounce+ he# +eath at "355 to "3%! in the afte#noon of Ma0 "5$ %& @. The#eafte#$ a +eath ce#tificate 1as p#epa#e+ un+e# the +i#ection of D#. C#u< 1hich 1as in+icate+ the#ein that the cause of +eath 1as ca#+io)#espi#ato#0 a##est$ secon+a#0 to septice/ia cause+ b0 the fo#ei.n ob2ect lo+.e+ in the int#a ute#al *a.inal canal of Rosa#io 8alu0ot.

The fo#ei.n ob2ect 1as 1ashe+ b0 nu#se Obe+ina$ then place+ it in a t#anspa#ent s/all 2a# an+ labelle+ ;Rosa#io 8alu0ot;. -essica He##e#a as7e+ the nu#se fo# the fo#ei.n ob2ect$ an+ it 1as .i*en to he# un+e# p#ope# #eceipt. He##e#a then sho1e+ the sa/e to the pe#sons 1ho helpe+ financiall0 Rosa#ioDs case$ an+ afte#1a#+s she .a*e it to Siste# E*a Palencia. Sis. Palencia 1as in custo+0 of the sai+ ob2ect until M#. Salon.a ca/e an+ as7e+ he# fo# the ob2ect. Afte# Rosa#io 8alu0ot +ie+$ Sis. Palencia an+ a co/panion 1ent to Gaspa# Alcanta#a to as7 hi/ in locatin. the #elati*es of Rosa#io. The0 1e#e able to t#ace Rosa#ioDs .#an+/othe#$ M#s. Ma#ia 8u#.os Tu#la$ an+ info#/e+ he# that he# .#an++au.hte# 1as al#ea+0 +ea+ an+ l0in. in state at St. Ma#tin (une#al Pa#lo#. M#s. Tu#la 1ent the#e 1ith he# son$ 1ho shoul+e#e+ all the bu#ial eCpenses fo# Rosa#io. SubseBuentl0$ Sis. Palencia$ (#. Cullens an+ M#. Salon.a ca/e to he# #esi+ence at Sta. Rita an+ as7e+ he# if she 1as inte#este+ in filin. a case a.ainst the pe#son 1ho cause+ the +eath of he# .#an++au.hte#. Of cou#se she a.#ee+. Hence$ she 1as b#ou.ht to the (iscalDs 4Cit09 Office to file the sa/e. Afte# the case 1as file+ a.ainst the he#ein accuse+$ Att0. E+/un+o 'e.aspi 1ith his /essen.e# ca/e to he# house an+ tol+ he# that the accuse+ 1as 1illin. to settle the case$ but that accuse+ Ritte# ha+ onl0 P%!$555.55. The ol+ 1o/an +i+ not accept it because she 7no1s that the accuse+ is liable to pa0 +a/a.es an01a0. Afte# that$ she #ecei*e+ a lette# f#o/ Att0. 'e.aspi tellin. he# to .et a la10e# fo# he# case. 80 this ti/e$ M#s. Tu#la$ 1ho 1ante+ to ha*e the case settle+ once an+ fo# all .i*in. the #eason that she can no lon.e# bea# the situation$ sent he# nephe1$ Con#a+o Ma#celo to Att0. 'e.aspi. He# nephe1 obli.e+ an+ tol+ he# that she 1ill be pai+ at the office of Att0. 'e.aspi. On a +ate not clea# in the #eco#+s$ she 1ent 1ith he# nephe1 Con#a+o Ma#celo$ an+ Robe#to Sun+ia/$ an assistant ba#an.a0 tano+ of Sta. Rita$ an+ 1hile the0 1e#e the#e$ she sa1 Ritte# a##i*e at the la1 office. Ritte# an+ Att0. 'e.aspi tal7e+ at the office nea# the bath#oo/$ an+ the#eafte# Ritte# left. Afte# he left$ Att0. 'e.aspi tol+ Rosa#ioDs .#an+/othe# that the0 a#e 1illin. to settle fo# P"5$555.55$ but that Ritte# left onl0 P%!$555.55$ so she #ecei*e+ the /one0 1ith the un+e#stan+in. that the#e 1as a balance of P!$555.55 0et. She 1as /a+e to si.n a state/ent$ an+ she 1as as7e+ to chan.e the a.e of he# .#an++au.hte# Rosa#io. :ith the +ocu/ent p#epa#e+$ she an+ the la10e#Ds /essen.e# 1ent to the (iscalDs office to ha*e it subsc#ibe+$ an+ 1as subsc#ibe+ befo#e an assistant cit0 fiscal. 8ut the balance of P!$555.55 1as not pai+$ because late# on Att0. 'e.aspi beca/e the OIC of Olon.apo Cit0 an+ he coul+ no lon.e# atten+ to it. Att0. 'e.aspi$ +u#in. one of the hea#in.s befo#e the Cou#t e*en apolo.i<e+ to he#. As to the case$ P>Cpl. Ma#ino Victo#ia$ as c#i/inal in*esti.ato# of Station ;A;$ 1as +i#ecte+ b0 Col. Daos$ Station Co//an+e# of the Olon.apo Police Depa#t/ent to /a7e a follo1 up of the case of Rosa#io 8alu0ot. On the othe#

han+$ since the suspect 1ho inse#te+ the fo#ei.n ob2ect insi+e Rosa#ioDs *a.ina 1as sai+ to be an A/e#ican$ the NISRA Subic Na*al 8ase also con+ucte+ its in*esti.ation hea+e+ b0 c#i/inal in*esti.ato# A.ent Con#a+o Salon.a. Coo#+inatin. 1ith the local police an+ 1ith Siste# E*a Palencia$ since Rosa#io 1as a st#eet chil+ at Ma.sa0sa0 D#i*e$ the0 #oun+e+ up about ?= st#eet chil+#en an+ f#o/ so/e of the/ the0 lea#ne+ that Rosa#io 8alu0ot 1as 1ith -essie Ra/i#e< 1ith an A/e#ican at the MGM Hotel 1hen the fo#ei.n ob2ect 1as inse#te+ in he# *a.ina. Afte# fin+in. -essie Ra/i#e<$ the0 as7e+ hi/ about Rosa#io 8alu0ot. The0 foun+ out that in+ee+ he 1as 1ith Rosa#io 8alu0ot so/eti/e befo#e Ch#ist/as of %& 6 1ith an A/e#ican$ 1ho b#ou.ht the/ to the sai+ hotel. -essie Ra/i#e< 1as ta7en insi+e the U.S. Na*al 8ase$ Olon.apo Cit0 an+ too7 his state/ent. Then he 1as b#ou.ht to M#. E+1a#+ 'ee 8un.a#ne#$ a ca#to.#aphe#$ an+ out of the +esc#iption supplie+ b0 Ra/i#e<$ a co/posite +#a1in. 1as photocopie+ an+ copies the#eof 1e#e +ist#ibute+ to the local police an+ to the sent#ies at the .ate of the U.S. Na*al 8ase. So/e A/e#ican se#*ice/en 1ho ha+ #ese/blance to the co/posite +#a1in. 1e#e photo.#aphe+ an+ these 1e#e sho1n to -essie Ra/i#e<$ but the #esult 1as ne.ati*e. Asi+e f#o/ the ph0sical +esc#iption b0 Ra/i#e< about the appea#ance of the suspect$ he also +esc#ibe+ hi/ as ha*in. the /anne#is/s of a ho/o)seCual. Afte# obtainin. info#/ation that fo#ei.n ho/o)seCuals f#eBuente+ E#/ita$ Manila$ an+ thin7in. that the so)calle+ A/e#ican /a0 be Eu#opean o# Aust#alian national$ the tea/ co/pose+ of A.ent Salon.a$ M#. Heinsell$ P>Cpl. Ma#ino Victo#ia an+ P>Cpl. An+#es Montaon$ -essie Ra/i#e< an+ Michael -ohnson$ anothe# 2u*enile$ p#ocee+e+ to Manila. The0 fi#st 1ent to the Manila NISRA Office$ an+ the#eafte# chec7e+ in a hotel. That 1as on Septe/be# "=$ %& @. On the fi#st ni.ht$ the0 1ent to 'uneta Pa#7 1he#e fo#ei.n ho/o)seCuals 1e#e sai+ to be f#eBuentin.$ but the #esult 1as ne.ati*e. Then on Septe/be# "!$ at about %%355 p./.$ 1hile the0 1e#e stan+in. at the co#ne# of A. Mabini an+ M.H. +el Pila# St#eet$ a /ale caucasian 1ho loo7e+ li7e a ho/o)seCual stoppe+ b0 a+/i#in.l0 inf#ont of the t1o 4"9 2u*eniles$ Ra/i#e< an+ -ohnson. -essie Ra/i#e< then #epo#te+ to M#. Salon.a that this fo#ei.ne# ha+ a si/ila#it0 1ith the A/e#ican suspect$ so the t1o /ino#s 1e#e inst#ucte+ to follo1 the fo#ei.ne# an+ to st#i7e a con*e#sation. The0 +i+$ an+ 1hen the0 #etu#ne+$ -essie Ra/i#e< tol+ the/ that in+ee+ the sai+ fo#ei.ne# 1as the one 1ho b#ou.ht hi/ an+ Rosa#io 8alu0ot to the MGM Hotel. 8obb0 Salon.a tol+ Ra/i#e< that this fo#ei.ne# ha+ no bea#+ 1hile the one p#e*iousl0 +esc#ibe+ b0 Ra/i#e< ha+ a bea#+. -essie Ra/i#e< tol+ the/ that /a0be he ha*e 2ust sha*e+ it off. The sai+ caucasian then ente#e+ a ba#$ an+ afte# se*e#al /inutes he ca/e out$ an+ -essie Ra/i#e< upon his si.nal 1ith his thu/bs up$ as a si.nal to confi#/ that the sai+ fo#ei.ne# is the suspect$ a##este+ Ritte# an+ b#ou.ht hi/ to the Manila :este#n Police Dist#ict. It coul+ be /entione+ at this sta.e that in this ope#ation the0 1e#e acco/panie+ b0 t1o 4"9 police/en f#o/ the :este#n Police Dist#ict. The fo#ei.ne# 1as han+ cuffe+ an+ 1as tol+ that he 1as a suspect fo# Rape 1ith Ho/ici+e. Afte# the a##est$ the0 fi#st 1ent to the pension house of the suspect in E#/ita$ Manila to .et his shoul+e# ba. 1hich

containe+ his pe#sonal belon.in.s$ an+ f#o/ the#e the0 b#ou.ht hi/ to the :este#n Police Depa#t/ent. At the sai+ police hea+Bua#te#s$ the0 1e#e allo1e+ a pe#/issi*e sea#ch b0 the fo#ei.ne# of his clutch ba. an+ his s/all shoul+e# ba. an+ confiscate+ his passpo#t$ I.D.$ = inhale#s$ /one0 in the fo#/ of +olla#s an+ t#a*elle#s chec7s a/ountin. about G%$!55.55 an+ about P%55.55$ all +ul0 #eceipte+ fo#. (#o/ the passpo#t the0 lea#ne+ that the suspectDs na/e 1as Hein#ich Stefan Ritte#$ an Aust#ian national. Du#in. the Buestionin. of Hitte#$ Salon.a an+ his tea/ al#ea+0 left the hea+Bua#te#s an+ 1ent to thei# hotel$ because at this ti/e -essie Ra/i#e< 1as al#ea+0 sha7in. 1ith fea# afte# he i+entifie+ the accuse+. The follo1in. +a0$ the0 b#ou.ht the accuse+ to Olon.apo an+ 1as +etaine+ at the Olon.apo Cit0 -ail. The case fo# Rape 1ith Ho/ici+e 1as file+ a.ainst hi/ at the Cit0 (iscal of Olon.apo. At the p#eli/ina#0 in*esti.ation$ accuse+ 1as assiste+ b0 his o1n counsel. The p#i*ate co/plainant 1as Ma#ia 8u#.os Tu#la because it 1as she 1ho ha+ custo+0 of Rosa#io 8alu0ot afte# he# /othe# Anita 8u#.os +ie+ on -anua#0 %"$ %& "$ an+ thei# fathe# Polica#pio 8alu0ot ha+ left the/ un+e# he# custo+0. :hen this case 1as file+$ the fathe#Ds 1he#eabouts 1as un7no1n$ an+ he onl0 appea#e+ 1hen the t#ial of this case befo#e the Cou#t 1as al#ea+0 in p#o.#ess. An+ upon his 4Polica#pio 8alu0ot9 o1n a+/ission$ he onl0 lea#ne+ about the +eath of his +au.hte# Rosa#io 8alu0ot f#o/ the ne1spape#$ lon. afte# Rosa#io 1as al#ea+0 .one. The +efense t#ie+ to +islo+.e the case b0 clai/in. that the#e coul+ be no c#i/e of Rape 1ith Ho/ici+e because the suspect 1as +esc#ibe+ as an A/e#ican 1hile Ritte# is an Aust#ian. Also a+*ance+ b0 the +efense is that$ it is a case of /ista7en i+entit0. That Rosa#io 8alu0ot 1as at the ti/e of the co//ission of the offense$ al#ea+0 /o#e than %= 0ea#s ol+$ she ha*in. been bo#n on Dece/be# "6$ %&@= as pe# baptis/al ce#tificate$ 1he#ein it appea#s that Rosa#io 8alu0ot 1as bapti<e+ on Dece/be# "!$ %&@? an+ 1as bo#n on Dece/be# "6$ %&@= as testifie+ to b0 (#. RoBue Villanue*a of St. -a/es Pa#ish Chu#ch 1ho issue+ the 8aptis/al Ce#tificate$ ha*in. custo+0 an+ possession of the boo7 of baptis/ fo# the 0ea# %&@!$ but a+/itte+ that he ha+ no pe#sonal 7no1le+.e about the /atte#s o# ent#ies ente#e+ the#ein. 'i7e1ise$ the +efenseDs stan+ is that the accuse+ cannot be liable fo# Ho/ici+e because a *ib#ato# is not a 1eapon of +eath but it is a thin. fo# the pu#pose of .i*in. seCual pleasu#e$ an+ that the +eath of Rosa#io 8alu0ot 1as +ue to the inco/petence of D#. Rosete$ the su#.eon an+ Di#ecto# of the Olon.apo Cit0 Gene#al Hospital$ 1ho ope#ate+ on he#. 4 Rollo$ pp. %5&)%%69 On Ma#ch "&$ %& &$ the t#ial cou#t #en+e#e+ its +ecision. The +ispositi*e po#tion of the +ecision #ea+s as follo1s3 :HERE(ORE$ IN VIE: O( A'' THE (OREGOING$ the Cou#t hol+s$ that the p#osecution has establishe+ the GUI'T of the accuse+ be0on+ #easonable +oubt fo# the c#i/e of Rape 1ith Ho/ici+e as +efine+ an+ penali<e+ in A#t. ==! No. = of the Re*ise+ Penal Co+e$ an+ he#eb0 sentences HEINRICH STE(AN RITTER to a penalt0 of RECLUSI ! "ER"ETU#$ to

in+e/nif0 the hei#s of the +ecease+ in the su/ of SIHTE THOUSAND PESOS 4P65$555.559 Philippine Cu##enc0$ an+ TEN THOUSAND PESOS 4Pl5$555.559 b0 1a0 of atto#ne0Ds fees to the p#i*ate p#osecuto#s an+ to pa0 the costs. 4Rollo$ p. %"69 The accuse+ no1 co/es to this Cou#t on the follo1in. assi.ne+ e##o#s alle.e+l0 co//itte+ b0 the cou#t3 I THE TRIA' COURT GRAVE'E ERRED AND A8USED ITS DISCRETION IN (INDING THAT THE A''EGED O((ENSE :AS COMMITTED ON OCTO8ER %5$ %& 6 AND THAT IT :AS ACCUSED)APPE''ANT :HO COMMITTED IT. II THE TRIA' COURT GRAVE'E ERRED AND A8USED ITS DISCRETION IN (INDING THAT ROSARIO 8A'UEOT :AS 'ESS THAN T:E'VE 4%"9 EEARS O'D :HEN THE A''EGED O((ENSE :AS COMMITTED AND IN HO'DING THAT THERE :AS RAPE :ITH HOMICIDE. III THE TRIA' COURT GRAVE'E ERRED AND A8USED ITS DISCRETION IN GIVING CREDENCE TO AND NOT RE-ECTING THE PROSECUTIONDS EVIDENCE AND IN NOT UPHO'DING THAT O( THE DE(ENSE AND ACIUITTING THE ACCUSED. Inas/uch as it is the boun+en +ut0 of this Cou#t to affi#/ a 2u+./ent of con*iction onl0 if the .uilt of the accuse+ has been p#o*e+ be0on+ #easonable +oubt$ it behoo*es us to eCe#t the /ost painsta7in. effo#t to eCa/ine the #eco#+s in the li.ht of the a#.u/ents of both pa#ties if onl0 to satisf0 2u+icial conscience that the appellant in+ee+ co//itte+ the c#i/inal act 4See People *. VillapaJa$ %6% SCRA @= K%& L9. The appellant 1as con*icte+ b0 the t#ial cou#t of the c#i/e of #ape 1ith ho/ici+e of a 0oun. .i#l 1ho +ie+ afte# the #ape because of a fo#ei.n ob2ect$ belie*e+ to be a seCual *ib#ato#$ left insi+e he# *a.ina. As state+ b0 the t#ial cou#t one c#ucial issue in this case is the a.e of the *icti/M1hethe# o# not Rosa#io 8alu0ot 1as less than t1el*e 4%"9 0ea#s ol+ at the ti/e the alle.e+ inci+ent happene+ on Octobe# %5$ %& 6. The a.e is i/po#tant in +ete#/inin. 1hethe# o# not the#e 1as statuto#0 #ape$ A#ticle ==! of the Re*ise+ Penal Co+e +efines the thi#+ t0pe of #ape as ha*in. ca#nal 7no1le+.e of a 1o/an un+e# %" 0ea#s of a.e$ in 1hich case fo#ce$ inti/i+ation$ +ep#i*ation of #eason o# unconscious state +o not ha*e to be p#esent.

The t#ial cou#t foun+ that Rosa#io 1as belo1 %" 0ea#s ol+ 1hen she 1as seCuall0 abuse+ b0 the accuse+ an+$ the#efo#e$ #ape 1as co//itte+ inspite of the absence of fo#ce o# inti/i+ation. In #esol*in. the issue$ the t#ial cou#t put .#eat 1ei.ht on the testi/onies of the *icti/Ds .#an+/othe# an+ fathe# 1ho testifie+ that she 1as bo#n on Dece/be# ""$ %&@!. These o#al +ecla#ations 1e#e a+/itte+ pu#suant to then Rule %=5$ Section == of the Rules of Cou#t 1he#e$ in the absence of a bi#th ce#tificate$ the act o# +ecla#ation about pe+i.#ee /a0 be #ecei*e+ in e*i+ence on an0 notable fact in the life of a /e/be# of the fa/il0. Since bi#th is a /atte# of pe+i.#ee 1ithin the #ule 1hich pe#/its the a+/ission of hea#sa0 e*i+ence$ o#al +ecla#ations a#e the#efo#e a+/issible as p#oof of bi#th 4Decision$ p. !?9. The .#an+/othe#$ Ma#ia 8u#.os Tu#la$ testifie+ that she #e/e/be#e+ Rosa#ioDs bi#th +ate because he# b#othe# +ie+ in Pa/pan.a an+ he# +au.hte#$ Anita 4Rosa#ioDs /othe#9 1as the onl0 one 1ho faile+ to atten+ the fune#al because the latte# has 2ust .i*en bi#th alle.e+l0 to Rosa#io 4T.S.N. p. $ -an. %=$ %& 9. The fathe# li7e1ise testifie+ that as fa# as he coul+ #e/e/be#$ Rosa#io 1as bo#n on Dece/be# ""$ %&@! 4T.S.N.$ p. ?$ -an. "@$ %& 9 an+ he 1as ce#tain that Rosa#io 1as /o#e than one 4%9 0ea# ol+ 1hen she 1as bapti<e+ 4T.S.N.$ p. ?!$ -an. "@$ %& 9. The t#ial cou#t fu#the# a++e+ that thei# testi/on0 is suppo#te+ b0 the clinical #eco#+ an+ the +eath ce#tificate in+icatin. that she 1as %" 0ea#s ol+ 1hen she 1as a+/itte+ at the Olon.apo Cit0 Gene#al Hospital fo# t#eat/ent. The a.e 1as supplie+ b0 Rosa#ioDs alle.e+ .ua#+ian$ Gaspa# Alcanta#a to the hospitalDs clinical #eco#+ cle#7$ 'o#na 'i/os. (e Is#ael$ a social 1o#7e# 1ho inte#*ie1e+ Rosa#io 8alu0ot also testifie+ that she 1as tol+ b0 Rosa#io that she 1as %" 0ea#s ol+. The t#ial cou#t accepte+ this as a+eBuate e*i+ence of the t#uth. Mo#eo*e#$ -essie Ra/i#e<$ the p#incipal 1itness in this case +ecla#e+ that he 1as bo#n on Septe/be# !$ %&@= an+ that he 1as ol+e# than Rosa#io 8alu0ot. The#efo#e$ since he 1as %= 0ea#s ol+ in %& 6$ Rosa#io /ust ha*e been less than %" 0eas ol+ in %& 6. 4Decision$ p. !!9 The t#ial cou#t conclu+e+ that the o#al +ecla#ations of the .#an+/othe# an+ fathe# suppo#te+ b0 othe# in+epen+ent e*i+ence such as the clinical #eco#+$ +eath ce#tificate an+ the testi/onies of (e Is#ael an+ -essie Ra/i#e<$ #en+e#e+ the baptis/al ce#tificate p#esente+ b0 the +efense 1ithout an0 p#obati*e o# e*i+entia#0 *alue. 4Decision$ p. !!9 The fin+in.s of the t#ial cou#t 1ith #espect to Rosa#io 8alu0otDs a.e cannot stan+ the application of e*i+entia#0 #ules. The t#ial cou#t #elie+ on Section ==$ Rule %=5 4no1 Section ?5 of Rule %=5 of the %& & Re*ise+ Rules of Cou#t9. (o# o#al e*i+ence to be a+/issible un+e# this Rule$ the #eBuisites a#e3 4%9 That the +ecla#ant /ust be +ea+ o# outsi+e of the Philippines o# unable to testif0N 4"9 That pe+i.#ee is in issueN

4=9 That the pe#son 1hose pe+i.#ee is in Buestion /ust be #elate+ to the +ecla#ant b0 bi#th o# /a##ia.eN 4?9 That the +ecla#ation /ust be /a+e befo#e the cont#o*e#s0 occu##e+ o# ante lite$ $ota$N an+ 4!9 That the #elationship bet1een the +ecla#ant an+ the pe#son 1hose pe+i.#ee is in Buestion /ust as a .ene#al #ule be sho1n b0 e*i+ence othe# than such act o# +ecla#ation. These #eBui#e/ents 1e#e not satisfie+ b0 the e*i+ence fo# the p#osecution no# +o the +ecla#ations fall 1ithin the pu#*ie1 of the #ule. The *icti/Ds .#an+/othe# an+ fathe# 1hose +ecla#ations #e.a#+in. Rosa#ioDs a.e 1e#e a+/itte+ b0 the t#ial cou#t a#e both ali*e$ in the Philippines an+ able to testif0 as the0 both +i+ testif0 in cou#t. Thei# +ecla#ations 1e#e /a+e at the t#ial 1hich is ce#tainl0 not befo#e the cont#o*e#s0 a#ose. The othe# 1itnesses 1ho testifie+ on Rosa#ioDs a.e a#e not /e/be#s of the *icti/Ds fa/il0. The testi/onies of Rosa#ioDs #elati*es /ust be 1ei.he+ acco#+in. to thei# o1n pe#sonal 7no1le+.e of 1hat happene+ an+ not as hea#sa0 e*i+ence on /atte#s of fa/il0 histo#0. At this point$ 1e fin+ the e*i+ence #e.a#+in. Rosa#ioDs a.e of +oubtful *alue. The t#ial cou#t 2ustifie+ the a+/issibilit0 of the .#an+/othe#Ds testi/on0 pu#suant to the #ulin. lai+ +o1n in U.S. %. Ber&antino$ 4= Phil.$ %% K%&5=L9 1he#e the Cou#t accepte+ the testi/on0 of the /othe# that he# +au.hte# 1as %? 0ea#s ol+ an+ ? /onths ol+. The /othe# state+ that she 7ne1 the a.e because the chil+ 1as bo#n about the ti/e of the chole#a epi+e/ic of % &. This 1as not hea#sa0$ but ca/e f#o/ one 1ho ha+ +i#ect 7no1le+.e of the chil+Ds bi#th. It is ho1e*e#$ eBuall0 t#ue that hu/an /e/o#0 on +ates o# +a0s is f#ail an+ unless the +a0 is an eCt#ao#+ina#0 o# unusual one fo# the 1itness$ the#e is no #easonable assu#ance of its co##ectness. 4People *. Dasi. &= Phil. 6% $ 6=" K%&!=L9 :ith #espect to the .#an+/othe#Ds testi/on0$ the +ate of the b#othe#Ds +eath o# fune#al 1as ne*e# establishe+$ 1hich in+icates that the +a0 1as #athe# insi.nificant to be #e/e/be#e+. The fathe#Ds +ecla#ation is li7e1ise not enti#el0 #eliable. His testi/on0 in cou#t +oes not at all sho1 that he ha+ +i#ect 7no1le+.e of his +au.hte#Ds bi#th. He 1as ce#tain thou.h that she 1as /o#e than one 4%9 0ea# ol+ at the ti/e she 1as bapti<e+. The othe# 1itnesses a#e not at all co/petent to testif0 on the *icti/Ds a.e$ no# 1as the#e an0 basis sho1n to establish thei# co/petence fo# the pu#pose. The clinical #eco#+s 1e#e base+ on Gaspa# Alcanta#aDs inco/petent info#/ation .i*en 1hen he b#ou.ht the *icti/ to the hospital. Alcanta#a ca/e to 7no1 he# onl0 about a 0ea# befo#e he# +eath. He ha+ absolutel0 no 7no1le+.e about the ci#cu/stances of Rosa#ioDs bi#th. The +eath ce#tificate #elie+ upon b0 the t#ial cou#t 1as /e#el0 base+ on the clinical #eco#+s. It is e*en less #eliable as a #eco#+ of bi#th.

All the e*i+ence p#esente+ b0 the p#osecution sho1in. that Rosa#io 8alu0ot 1as less than %" 0ea#s ol+ at the ti/e of the alle.e+ inci+ent a#e not a+eBuate to establish the eCact +ate of bi#th$ /uch less offset a +ocu/enta#0 #eco#+ sho1in. a +iffe#ent +ate. The +efense p#esente+ Rosa#io 8alu0otDs baptis/al ce#tificate 1hich the t#ial cou#t #e2ecte+ as bein. hea#sa0 an+ of no *alue. As a.ainst the o#al +ecla#ations /a+e b0 inte#este+ 1itnesses establishin. Rosa#ioDs a.e to be less than %" 0ea#s ol+$ the e*i+ence on #eco#+ is /o#e con*incin. an+ 1o#th0 of belief. 4See (ilin*est 'an+$ Inc. *. Cou#t of Appeals$ % = SCRA 66?$ 6@= K%&&5L9. 80 *i#tue of a subpoena duces tecu$ an+ ad testificandu$$ issue+ b0 the lo1e# cou#t to the St. -a/es Pa#ish Chu#ch$ Subic$ ,a/bales$ (#. RoBue Villanue*a a Ro/an Catholic p#iest testifie+ an+ state+ that he is the hea+ of sai+ pa#ish. He b#ou.ht 1ith hi/ 8aptis/al Re.iste# No. & entitle+ ;'ibe# 8aptisno#u/;$ a latin te#/ fo# baptis/al boo7 o# #eco#+. On pa.e %!%$ No. = of the sai+ Re.ist#0 8oo7$ the#e appea#s the na/e of Rosa#io 8alu0ot 1ho 1as bapti<e+ on Dece/be# "!$ %&@?$ an+ bo#n on Dece/be# "6$ %&@=. Pa#ents a#e Polica#pio 8alu0ot an+ Anita 8u#.os$ #esi+ents of Subic$ ,a/bales. E+ita R. Milan appea#s as the onl0 sponso# 1ith Olon.apo Cit0 as he# a++#ess. In the case of 'acadan&dan& %. Court of appeals 4%55 SCRA @= K%& 5L9$ 1e hel+ that3 CCC CCC CCC In ou# 2u#isp#u+ence$ this Cou#t has been /o#e +efinite in its p#onounce/ents on the *alue of baptis/al ce#tificates. It thus #ule+ that 1hile baptis/al an+ /a##ia.e ce#tificates /a0 be consi+e#e+ public +ocu/ents$ the0 a#e e*i+ence onl0 to p#o*e the a+/inist#ation of the sac#a/ents on the +ates the#ein specifie+Mbut not the *e#acit0 of the status o# +ecla#ations /a+e the#ein 1ith #espect to his 7insfol7 an+>o# citi<enship 4Paa *. Chan$ ')"!&?!$ Oct. =%$ %&6@9. A.ain$ in the case of (ortus %. !o%ero 4')""=@ $ "= SCRA %==% K%&6 L9$ this Cou#t hel+ that a baptis/al ce#tificate is conclusi*e p#oof onl0 of the baptis/ a+/iniste#e+$ in confo#/it0 1ith the #ites of the Catholic Chu#ch b0 the p#iest 1ho bapti<e+ the chil+$ but it +oes not p#o*e the *e#acit0 of the +ecla#ations an+ state/ents containe+ in the ce#tificate that conce#n the #elationship of the pe#son bapti<e+. Such +ecla#ations an+ state/ents$ in o#+e# that thei# t#uth /a0 be a+/itte+$ /ust in+ispensabl0 be sho1n b0 p#oof #eco.ni<e+ b0 la1. 4At pp. ?) !9 In the sa/e li.ht$ the ent#ies /a+e in the Re.ist#0 8oo7 /a0 be consi+e#e+ as ent#ies /a+e in the cou#se of business un+e# Section ?= of Rule %=5$ 1hich is an eCception to the hea#sa0 #ule. The baptis/s a+/iniste#e+ b0 the chu#ch a#e one of its t#ansactions in the eCe#cise of ecclesiastical +uties an+ #eco#+e+ in a boo7 of the chu#ch +u#in. the cou#se of its business. 4U.S. *. +e Ve#a$ " Phil. %5! K%&%?L Hence$ the ce#tificate 4EChibit ;"";9 p#esente+ b0 the +efense that Rosa#io 8alu0ot 1as bapti<e+ on Dece/be# "!$ %&@? /a0 be a+/itte+ in e*i+ence as p#oof of baptis/. Polica#pio 8alu0ot$ the *icti/Ds fathe# testifie+ that he ha+ in his possession a baptis/al ce#tificate +iffe#ent f#o/ the one p#esente+ in cou#t. Ho1e*e#$ no othe# baptis/al #eco#+ 1as e*e# p#esente+ to p#o*e a +ate +iffe#ent f#o/ that b#ou.ht b0 the official custo+ian. Since the baptis/al ce#tificate states that Rosa#io 1as

bapti<e+ on Dece/be# "!$ )*+,$ it is the#efo#e hi.hl0 i/p#obable that Rosa#io coul+ ha*e been bo#n on Dece/be# ""$ )*+-. She coul+ not ha*e been bapti<e+ befo#e she 1as bo#n. EChibit ;""; /a0 be p#oof onl0 of baptis/ but it puts a lie to the +ecla#ation that Rosa#io 1as bo#n in %&@!. :ith the fathe#Ds asse#tion that Rosa#io 1as /o#e than one 4%9 0ea# ol+ 1hen she 1as bapti<e+$ 1e a#e then /o#e incline+ to a.#ee that Rosa#io 1as bo#n in %&@= as state+ in the 8aptis/al Re.ist#0. In the case of "eople %. Rebancos 4%@" SCRA ?"! K%& &L9$ the Cou#t state+3 CCC CCC CCC . . . Althou.h no bi#th ce#tificate 1as p#esente+ because he# bi#th ha+ alle.e+l0 not been #e.iste#e+$ he# baptis/al ce#tificate$ couple+ b0 he# /othe#Ds testi/on0$ 1as sufficient to establish that Ma#0 Rose 1as belo1 t1el*e 0ea#s ol+ 1hen she 1as *iolate+ b0 Rebancos. 4At. p. ?"69 Unfo#tunatel0$ in the instant case$ nobo+0 coul+ co##obo#ate the +ate on a /o#e #eliable +ocu/ent as to Rosa#ioDs bi#th 1hich coul+ se#*e as sufficient p#oof that she 1as bo#n on Dece/be# "6$ %&@=. The#efo#e$ she 1as /o#e than %" 0ea#s ol+ at the ti/e of the alle.e+ inci+ent on Octobe# %5$ %& 6. Mo#eo*e#$ it is not incu/bent upon the +efense to p#o*e Rosa#ioDs a.e. The bu#+en of p#oof lies on the p#osecution to p#o*e that Rosa#io 1as less than %" 0ea#s ol+ at the ti/e of the alle.e+ inci+ent in a cha#.e of statuto#0 #ape. The p#osecution faile+ in this #espect. Since Rosa#io 1as not establishe+ to ha*e been un+e# %" 0ea#s of a.e at the ti/e of the alle.e+ seCual *iolation$ it 1as necessa#0 to p#o*e that the usual ele/ents of #ape 1e#e p#esentN i.e. that the#e 1as fo#ce of inti/i+ation o# that she 1as +ep#i*e+ of #eason o# othe#1ise unconscious in acco#+ance 1ith A#ticle ==! of the Re*ise+ Penal Co+e. :e a.#ee 1ith the +efense that the#e 1as no p#oof of such facts. On the cont#a#0$ the e*i+ence sho1s that Rosa#io sub/itte+ he#self to the seCual a+*ances of the appellant. In fact$ she appea#s to ha*e consente+ to the act as she 1as pai+ P=55.55 the neCt /o#nin. 1hile he# co/panion$ -essie Ra/i#e< 1as pai+ P"55.55 4T.S.N. p. !5$ -anua#0 6$ %& 9. The en*i#on/ental ci#cu/stances couple+ 1ith the testi/onies an+ e*i+ence p#esente+ in cou#t clea#l0 .i*e the i/p#ession that Rosa#io 8alu0ot$ a poo# st#eet chil+$ 1as a p#ostitute inspite of he# ten+e# a.e. Ci#cu/stances in life /a0 ha*e fo#ce+ he# to sub/it to seC at such a 0oun. a.e but the ci#cu/stances +o not co/e un+e# the pu#*ie1 of fo#ce o# inti/i+ation nee+e+ to con*ict fo# #ape. In *ie1 of these clea# facts 1hich the p#osecution faile+ to #efute$ no #ape 1as co//itte+. 8ut 1as Ritte# .uilt0 of ho/ici+eO The t#ial cou#t 2ustifie+ its #ulin. b0 sa0in. that the +eath of the *icti/ 1as a conseBuence of the inse#tion of the fo#ei.n ob2ect into the *icti/Ds *a.ina b0 the appellant. :e no1 as7 ;:as the appellant #esponsible fo# the seCual *ib#ato# left insi+e Rosa#ioDs *a.ina 1hich le+ to he# +eathO

The t#ial cou#t con*icte+ the accuse+ base+ on ci#cu/stantial e*i+ence. Unfo#tunatel0$ the ci#cu/stances a#e capable of *a#0in. inte#p#etations an+ a#e not enou.h to 2ustif0 con*iction. -essie Ra/i#e<$ the p#incipal 1itness +i+ not actuall0 see the ob2ect inse#te+ in Rosa#ioDs *a.ina. Neithe# coul+ he i+entif0 the ob2ect 4EChibit ;C)";9 ta7en f#o/ Rosa#io as the sa/e ob2ect 1hich the appellant 1as hol+in. at that ti/e of the alle.e+ inci+ent. In his s1o#n state/ent .i*en to the police in*esti.ato# on Septe/be# ?$ %& @$ he ans1e#e+ that3 CCC CCC CCC T Haban. 7a0o a0 nasa loob n. 7u1a#to n. otel$ /a0#oon 7a ban. napansin na inilabas n. 7ano sa 7an0an. +ala+alahan 7un. /a0#oon /anO S An. A/e#i7ano a0 /a0 +ala)+alan. shoul+e# ba. na 7ula0 iti/$ at napansin 7o na /a0 inilabas si0a sa 7an0an. ba. na pa#an. *ic7s inhale#$ na 7an0an. ina/o0)a/o0 haban. nasa otel 7a/i at pa.7atapos ni0a a0 inilapa. ni0a sa la/iseta. T Ila#a1an /o n.a sa a7in an. ba.a0 na na7ita /on. inilabas n. A/e#i7anoO S Ito a0 /a0 haban. tatlon. pul.a+a at an. ta7ip nito a0 /a0 haban. +ala1an. pul.a+a. I0on. ta7ip a0 bilo. na patulis at /a0 taban. /.a 7alahatin. pul.a+a. Hin+i 7o napansin an. hu.is n. +ulo n. ba.a0 na /a0 ta7ip +ahil natata7pan n. 7a/a0 at ilon. n. A/e#i7ano. T Ipina7i7ita 7o sa i0o an. isan. la#a1an. Ti.nan /on. /abuti an. la#a1an. ito at sabihin /o n.a sa a7in 7un. /a7i7ilala /o an. /.a ba.a0 na nasa la#a1an. ito$ na /a0 7inala/an sa na7ita /on. 7inuha n. A/e#i7ano sa 7an0an. ba.O S Napansin 7o na an. 7ula0 asul na ba.a0 sa la#a1an a0 7atula+ na 7atula+ noon. ta7ip n. ba.a0 na inilabas n. A/e#i7ano sa 7an0an. ba.. .a/a lan& a/ ba0it na&in& 0ula/ asul &a/on& n& $a0ita 0o ito a/ 0ula/ puti O 4EChibit ;A;$ p. "N E/phasis Supplie+9 P#esu/abl0$ 1hat -essie Ra/i#e< sa1 1as /e#el0 the Vic7s inhale# 1hich the appellant +oes not +en0 ha*in. possesse+ at that ti/e. He 1as ce#tain that the ob2ect 1as 1hite. 4T.S.N. p. &%$ -anua#0 6$ %& 9 'ate#$ Ra/i#e< #et#acte+ an+ co##ecte+ hi/self. He sai+ that it 1as .#a0ish in colo# 1ith colo# blue 4Me+0o 7ula0 abo na /a0 7ula0 na pa#an. blue9. 4T.S.N. p. &"$ -anua#0 6$ %& 9

The inconsistenc0 of the 1itnessD testi/on0 casts +oubt as to the *e#acit0 of the state/ents /a+e especiall0 1hen he ans1e#e+ on a++itional c#oss)eCa/ination that the #eason 1h0 he conclu+e+ that EChibit ;C)"; 1as the sa/e ob2ect bein. hel+ b0 Ritte# 1as because it 1as the onl0 one sho1n to hi/ b0 the p#osecution 4T.S.N. pp. %5&)%%5$ -anua#0 6$ %& 9. -essie Ra/i#e< 1as not all ce#tain about the seCual *ib#ato# because he +i+ not actuall0 see it in the possession of the appellant. :hat he /e#el0 #e/e/be#s is the #e*elation /a+e b0 Rosa#io the neCt /o#nin. that the fo#ei.ne# inse#te+ so/ethin. insi+e he# *a.ina. The t#ial cou#t a+/itte+ such state/ent as pa#t of the res &estae. In a st#aine+ effo#t to accept such state/ent as pa#t of res &estae$ the t#ial cou#t focuse+ the test of a+/issibilit0 on the lapse of ti/e bet1een the e*ent an+ the utte#ance. (o# the a*e#a.e %= 0ea#s ol+$ the inse#tion of a /echanical +e*ice o# an0thin. fo# that /atte# into the *a.ina of a 0oun. .i#l is un+oubte+l0 sta#tlin.. (o# Rosa#io an+ -essie$ ho1e*e#$ the#e /ust be /o#e e*i+ence to sho1 that the state/ent$ .i*en afte# a ni.htDs sleep ha+ inte#*ene+$ 1as .i*en instincti*el0 because the e*ent 1as so sta#tlin. Res &estae +oes not appl0. 4Section ?"$ Rule %=5$ Rules of Cou#t9 E*en if it 1e#e establishe+ that the appellant +i+ inse#t so/ethin. insi+e Rosa#ioDs *a.ina$ the e*i+ence is still not a+eBuate to i/pute the +eath of Rosa#io to the appellantDs alle.e+ act. -essie Ra/i#e< testifie+ that Rosa#io 1as able to #e/o*e the ob2ect inse#te+ in he# *a.ina. :e Buote3 I No1$ 0ou also state+ on +i#ect eCa/ination that late# on Rosa#io e*en cate.o#icall0 a+/itte+ to 0ou that she 1as al#ea+0 able to #e/o*e the ob2ect alle.e+l0 inse#te+ insi+e he# *a.ina$ is that co##ectO A Ees$ si#. CCC CCC CCC ATTE. CARAAN3 I :ill 0ou 7in+l0 tell to this Hono#able Cou#t the eCact 1o#+s use+ b0 Rosa#io 8alu0ot late# on 1hen 0ou /et he# 1hen 0ou as7e+ he# an+ 1hen she tol+ 0ou that she 1as al#ea+0 able to #e/o*e that ob2ect f#o/ he# *a.inaO A ;O0$ -essie$ natan..al na$ ;she tol+ /e that. I as7e+ he#$ ;:as it al#ea+0 #e/o*e+O; An+ she ans1e#e+$ ;Ees$ it 1as #e/o*e+.; 8ut the sa/e ni.ht$ she a.ain co/plaine+ of pain of he# sto/ach. She sent one of he# f#ien+s to call fo# /e. An+ as a /atte# of fact$ To/bo0 1as utte#in. +efa/ato#0 1o#+s a.ainst /e as she 1as .#oanin. in pain. 4TSN$ -an. 6$%& $ pp. @")@=9

This encounte# happene+ on the ni.ht of the +a0 follo1in. the +a0 afte# both chil+#en 1e#e in*ite+ b0 the fo#ei.ne# to the hotel. 4T.S.N. p. @=$ -anua#0 6$ %& 9. Rosa#io 1as sai+ to be .#oanin. in pain so 1e can 2ust i/a.ine the +ist#ess she 1as un+e#.oin. at this point in ti/e. If the +e*ice inse#te+ b0 the appellant cause+ the pain$ it is hi.hl0 inconcei*able ho1 she 1as able to en+u#e the pain an+ +isco/fo#t until Ma0$ %& @$ se*en 4@9 /onths afte# the alle.e+ inci+ent. E*i+ence /ust not onl0 p#ocee+ f#o/ the /outh of a c#e+ible 1itness but it /ust be c#e+ible in itself such as the co//on eCpe#ience an+ obse#*ation of /an7in+ can app#o*e as p#obable un+e# the ci#cu/stances. 4People *s. Pato.$ %?? SCRA ?"& K%& 6L9. At this 2unctu#e$ 1e fin+ D#. Pe+#o SolisD testi/on0 #athe# si.nificant. D#. Pe+#o Solis$ a 1itness fo# the +efense is consi+e#e+ an eCpe#t 1itness. 4A Docto# of Me+icine an+ a .#a+uate of the State Uni*e#sit0 in %&?5$ a +e.#ee of 8achelo# of 'a1s an+ /e/be# of the 8a# %&?&$ an+ a .#a+uate of the Institute of C#i/inolo.0 Uni*e#sit0. He 1as a1a#+e+ Post G#a+uate Diplo/a in C#i/inolo.0 in %&6=$ an+ also a .#a+uate of Unite+ Nations Asia an+ (a# East Asia Institute on the P#e*ention of C#i/es in To70o -apan %&6!. He 1as appointe+ Me+ico 'e.al Office# of the National 8u#eau of In*esti.ation in %&?5 until %&??. He beca/e Chief Me+ico 'e.al Office# in %&@5 an+ beca/e the Deput0 Di#ecto# of the N8I up to %& ?. He is at p#esent a P#ofesso#ial 'ectu#e# on 'e.al Me+icine at the UP$ (EU$ UE$ an+ (ati/a Colle.e of Me+icineN a Me+ico 'e.al Consultant of the PGH Me+ical Cente#$ Ma7ati Me+ical Cente#$ UERM Me+ical Cente#$ MCU Me+ical Cente#. He has been 1ith the N8I fo# ?= 0ea#s. He has atten+e+ no less than %= confe#ences ab#oa+. He is the autho# of the teCtboo7s entitle+ ;'e.al Me+icine; an+ ;Me+ical -u#isp#u+ence;.9 :ith his i/p#essi*e le.al an+ /e+ical bac7.#oun+$ his testi/on0 is too autho#itati*e to i.no#e. :e Buote the pe#tinent po#tions of his testi/on03 I No1 D#. Solis$ 1oul+ 0ou 7in+l0 .o o*e# this ob2ect /a#7e+ as ECh. ;C)"; 1hich ob2ect 1as +esc#ibe+ as a pa#t of a seCual *ib#ato# batte#0 ope#ate+. No1$ .i*en this 7in+ of ob2ect$ 1oul+ 0ou 7in+l0 tell us 1hat 1oul+ be the p#obable effect upon a %" 0ea#s ol+ .i#l 1hen it is inse#te+ into he# *a.inaO A :ell$ this *ib#ato# /ust be consi+e#e+ a fo#ei.n bo+0 place+ into a hu/an bein. an+ as such be consi+e#e+ a fo#ei.n ob2ect. As a fo#ei.n ob2ect$ the ten+enc0 of the bo+0 /a0 be3 No. %M eCpel the fo#ei.n bo+0MNo. ".MThe ten+enc0 of the bo+0 is to #eact to that fo#ei.n bo+0. One of the #eactions that /a0be /anifeste+ b0 the pe#son 1he#ein such fo#ei.n bo+0 is conce#ne+ is to co*e# the fo#ei.n bo+0 1ith hu/an tissue$ in a 1a0 to a*oi+ its fu#the# in2u#0 to the bo+0. No1$ the secon+ #eaction is i##itation the#eb0 p#o+ucin. ce#tain /anifest s0/pto/s an+ chan.es in the a#ea 1he#e the fo#ei.n bo+0 is locate+. In se*e#e cases$ the s0/pto/s /anifestation /i.ht not onl0 be locali<e+ but /a0 be felt all o*e# the bo+0$ 1e call it s0ste/ic #eaction. No1$ consi+e#in. the fact that this fo#ei.n bo+0 as sho1n to /e is al#ea+0 not co/plete$ this sho1s eCposu#e of

its +iffe#ent pa#ts fo# the bo+0 to #eact. If the#e is /echanis/ to cause the fo#ei.n bo+0 to *ib#ate$ the#e /ust be so/e so#t of po1e# f#o/ 1ithin an+ that po1e# /ust be a +#0 cell batte#0. KTheL co/position of the batte#0 a#e$ /an.anese +ioCi+e a//oniu/$ salts$ 1ate# an+ an0 substance that 1ill cause cu##ent flo1. All of these substances a#e i##itants inclu+in. a#eas of the containe# an+ as such$ the p#i/a#0 #eaction of the bo+0 is to cause i##itation on the tissues$ the#eb0 infla//ato#0 chan.es +e*elop an+ in all li7elihoo+$ asi+e f#o/ those infla//ato#0 chan.es 1oul+ be a supe#*enin. infection in a 1a0 that the 1hole .ene#ati*e o#.an of the 1o/an 1ill suffe# f#o/ +isease+ p#ocess causin. he# the s0ste/ic #eaction li7e fe*e#$ s1ellin. of the a#ea$ an+ othe# s0ste/ic s0/pto/s. . . . . 4TSN.$ pp. %=)%!$ Octobe# %&$%& 9 CCC CCC CCC I No1$ .i*en this ob2ect$ ho1 lon. 1oul+ it ta7e$ Docto# befo#e an0 #eaction such as an infection 1oul+ set in$ ho1 /an0 +a0s afte# the inse#tion of this ob2ect in the *a.ina of a %" 0ea# ol+ .i#lO A In the eCa/ple .i*en to /e$ consi+e#in. that one of the en+s is eCpose+$ in a 1a0 that *a.inal sec#etion has /o#e chance to .et in$ 1ell$ libe#ation of this i##itant che/icals 1oul+ be enhance+ an+ the#efo#e in a shorter period of ti$e$ the#e bein. this *a.inal #eaction. I Ho1 /an0 +a0s o# 1ee7s 1oul+ 0ou sa0 1oul+ that follo1 afte# the inse#tionO A As I sai+$ 1ith /0 eCpe#ience at the N8I$ insertion of an/ forei&n bod/ in the %a&inal canal usuall/ de%eloped 1ithin2 a period of t1o 345 1ee0s . . . CCC CCC CCC I . . . KTLhe sub2ect in this case 1as alle.e+l0 #ape+$ an+ a seCual *ib#ato# 1as inse#te+ in he# *a.ina on Octobe# %5$ %& 6 an+ she 1as ope#ate+ on$ on Ma0 %&$ %& @ the follo1in. 0ea#$ so it too7 /o#e than @ /onths befo#e this 1as eCt#acte+$ 1oul+ 0ou sa0 that it 1ill ta7e that lon. befo#e an0 a+*e#se infection coul+ set in insi+e the *a.inaO A Infection an+ infla/ato#0 chan.es 1ill +e*elop in a sho#te# ti/e. 4TSN.$ Oct. %&$%& $ p. % 9 CCC CCC CCC

I :hen 0ou sai+ sho#te#$ ho1 lon. 1oul+ that be$ Docto#O A As I sai+$ in /0 pe#sonal eCpe#ience$ hai# pins$ cottonballs an+ e*en this lipstic7 of 1o/en usuall0$ there are onl/ about t1o 345 1ee0s ti$e that the patient suffer so$e abnor$al s/$pto$s. I !o12 considerin& that this is a bi&&er ob6ect to the ob6ect that /ou $entioned2 this ob6ect has a shorter ti$e7 A 8es2 Sir shorter ti$e. 4TSN.$ Oct. %&. %& $ p. "59

The t#ial cou#t$ ho1e*e#$ #ule+ that ;the#e is no ha#+ an+ fast #ule as to the ti/e f#a/e 1he#ein infection sets in upon inse#tion of a fo#ei.n bo+0 in the *a.ina canal. (o# D#. Solis$ the ti/e f#a/e is not /o#e than %5 /onths$ an+ this case is still 1ithin the sai+ ti/e f#a/e.; A /o#e .ene#ous ti/e inte#*al /a0 be allo1e+ in non)c#i/inal cases. 8ut 1he#e an accuse+ is facin. a penalt0 of reclusion perpetua$ the e*i+ence a.ainst hi/ cannot be base+ on p#obabilities 1hich a#e less li7el0 than those p#obabilities 1hich fa*o# hi/. It shoul+ be cla#ifie+ that the ti/e f#a/e +epen+s upon the 7in+ of fo#ei.n bo+0 lo+.e+ insi+e the bo+0. An eCa/ination of the ob2ect .a*e the follo1in. #esults3 4%9 Colo#3 8lue Si<e3 4a9 Ci#cu/fe#enceM=.5=% inches 4b9 'en.thMapp#oCi/atel0 ".%@& inches. Co/position3 Sho1e+ the .ene#al cha#acte#istics of a st0#ene)buta+iene plastic. 4"9 The speci/en can be elect#icall0 ope#ate+ b0 /eans of a batte#0 as pe# ce#tification +ate+ 5% -une %& $ si.ne+ b0 M#. Ro+olfo D. Me#cu#ic$ Shipboa#+ Elect#ical S0ste/s Mechanics$ (o#e/an II$ SR( Shop !%$ Subic 4see attache+ ce#tification9. 4=9 No co/pa#ati*e eCa/ination 1as /a+e on speci/en P% an+ *ib#ato# +epicte+ in the catalo. because no actual ph0sical +i/ensions an+>o# /echanical cha#acte#istics 1e#e sho1n in the catalo.. 4EChibit ;'';9 The *ib#ato# en+ 1as fu#the# sub2ecte+ to a /ac#o)photo.#aphic eCa/ination on the open en+ po#tion 1hich #e*eale+ the follo1in.3 Result of ECa/ination Mac#o)photo.#aphic eCa/ination on the open en+ po#tion of speci/en P% sho1s the follo1in. insc#iption3 MA8UCHI MOTOR -APAN RE %? PAT 4EChibit ;MM;9

(#o/ the abo*e #esults$ the sub2ect ob2ect is ce#tainl0 not consi+e#e+ as ine#t an+ base+ on D#. SolisD testi/on0$ it is /o#e li7el0 that infection shoul+ set in /uch ea#lie#. Consi+e#in. also that the ob2ect 1as inse#te+ insi+e the *a.ina 1hich is pa#t of the .ene#ati*e o#.an of a 1o/an$ an o#.an 1hich is line+ 1ith a *e#0 thin la0e# of /e/b#ane 1ith plent0 of bloo+ suppl0$ this pa#t of the bo+0 is /o#e susceptible to infection. 4T.S.N. p. =?$ Octobe# %&$ %& 9 The t#uth of D#. SolisD testi/on0 is /o#e p#obable un+e# the ci#cu/stances of the case. :e see no #eason 1h0 his opinions Bualifie+ b0 t#ainin. an+ eCpe#ience shoul+ not be cont#ollin. an+ bin+in. upon the Cou#t in the +ete#/ination of .uilt be0on+ #easonable +oubt. 4People *. Tolentino$ %66 SCRA ?6& K%& L9. D#. 8a#cinal$ anothe# 1itness fo# the +efense also testifie+ that he eCa/ine+ Rosa#io 8alu0ot on Ma0 %@$ %& 6 as a #efe##al patient f#o/ the Depa#t/ent of Su#.e#0 to .i*e an O8)GEN clea#ance to the patient p#io# to ope#ation. 4T.S.N. p. 6$ Septe/be# " $ %& 9 I An+ ho1 /an0 ti/es +i+ 0ou eCa/ine this patient Rosa#io 8alu0ot on that +a0O A I eCa/ine+ he# t1ice on that +a0. I The fi#st ti/e that 0ou eCa/ine+ he#$ 1hat is the #esult of 0ou# fin+in.s$ if an0O A M0 fi#st eCa/ination$ I eCa/ine+ the patient insi+e the +eli*e#0 #oo/. The patient 1as brou&ht to the deli%er/ roo$ 1heel-chaired then fro$ the 1heel chair2 the patient 1as a$bi&ator/ 3sic5. She 1as able to 1al0 fro$ the door to the e9a$inin& table. n e9a$ination2 the patient is conscious $ she 1as fai#l0 nou#ishe+$ fai#l0 +e*elope+$ she ha+ fe*e#$ she 1as uncoope#ati*e at that ti/e an+ eCa/ination +eals /o#e on the ab+o/en 1hich sho1s sli.htl0 +isten+e+ ab+o/en 1ith /uscle .ua#+in. 1ith ten+e#ness all o*e#$ 1ith /aCi/u/ ten+e#ness o*e# the h0po.ast#ic a#ea. 4T.S.N. p. !$ Septe/be# " $ %& 9 CCC CCC CCC I :hat about 0ou# secon+ eCa/ination to the patient$ 1hat 1as 0ou# fin+in.s$ if an0O A In /0 secon+ eCa/ination$ I #epeate+ the inte#nal eCa/ination 1he#ein I place+ /0 in+eC fin.e# an+ /i++le fin.e# insi+e the *a.ina of the patient an+ 1as able to palpate a ha#+ ob2ect. Afte# 1hich$ I /a+e a speculu/ eCa/ination 1he#ein I 1as able to *isuali<e the inne# po#tion of the *a.inal canal$ the#e I sa1 pu#ulent foul s/ellin.$ bloo+ tints$ +ischa#.e in the *a.inal canal an+ a fo#ei.n bo+0 in*a+e+ on the poste#io# pa#t of the *a.inal canal.

CCC CCC CCC A I #efe##e+ bac7 to D#. (e#nan+e< about /0 fin+in.s an+ he as7e+ /e to t#0 to #e/o*e the sai+ fo#ei.n ob2ect b0 the use of fo#ceps 1hich I t#ie+ to +o so also but I faile+ to eCt#act the sa/e. I All this ti/e that 0ou 1e#e eCa/inin. the patient Rosa#io 8alu0ot both in the fi#st an+ secon+ instance$ Rosa#io 8alu0ot 1as conscious an+ 1e#e 0ou able to tal7 to he# 1hen 0ou 1e#e eCa/inin. he#O A Ees$ si#. I An+ +i+ 0ou as7 he# 1h0 the#e is a fo#ei.n ob2ect lo+.e insi+e he# *a.inaO A Ees$ Si# I as7e+ he#. I An+ 1hat +i+ she tell 0ou$ if an0O A She said in her o1n 1ords that :GI!#'IT #. #T SI8# #!G !#GL#G#8 !IT .: !G !EGR

I Di+ she also tell 0ou 1hen$ this Ne.#o 1ho use+ he# an+ 1ho inse#te+ an+ place+ the fo#ei.n ob2ect on he# *a.inaO A Ees$ Si# I as0ed her and she said he used $e three 3;5 $onths a&o fro$ the ti$e I e9a$ined her . I No1$ 0ou sai+ that 0ou #efe##e+ the patient to the 1a#+$ 1hat happene+ neCt 1ith 0ou# patientO A To /0 7no1le+.e$ the patient is al#ea+0 sche+ule+ on ope#ation on that +ate. I Meanin.$ Ma0 %@$ %& @O A Ees$ Si# I 1as p#esu/in. that the patient 1oul+ un+e#.o su#.e#0 afte# thatO 4TSN$ Sept. " $%& $ pp. )&N E/phasis supplie+9

The t#ial cou#t +ebun7e+ D#. 8a#cinals testi/on0 consi+e#in. Rosa#ioDs con+ition at that ti/e. It #ule+ that it is inconcei*able that she 1oul+ be st#i7in. a no#/al con*e#sation 1ith the +octo#s an+ 1oul+ be sittin. on the eCa/ination table since Gaspa# Alcanta#a state+ that 1hen he b#ou.ht Rosa#io 8alu0ot to the hospital$ she 1as unconscious an+ 1#ithin. in pain.

It 1as not i/p#obable fo# Rosa#io 8alu0ot to still be conscious an+ a/bulant at that ti/e because the#e 1e#e se*e#al instances testifie+ to b0 +iffe#ent 1itnesses that she 1as still able to tal7 p#io# to he# ope#ation3 4%9 (e Is#ael$ a 1itness fo# the p#osecution an+ a /e/be# of the Olon.apo Catholic Cha#is/atic Rene1al Mo*e/ent testifie+ that as a /e/be# of this .#oup she *isits in+i.ent chil+#en in the hospital e*e#0 Satu#+a0 an+ afte# office hou#s on 1o#7in. +a0s. On the Satu#+a0 p#io# to Rosa#ioDs +eath 1hich 1as Ma0 %@$ she 1as still able to tal7 to Rosa#io 8alu0ot. In fact$ one of he# .#oup/ates helpe+ Rosa#io .o to the co/fo#t #oo/ to u#inate. 4T.S.N.$ pp. %6)%&$ Ma0 "!$ %& 9 4"9 An.elita A/ulon.$ a 1itness fo# the +efense is anothe# pa#a social 1o#7e# 1ho 1o#7e+ at Pope -ohn "=#+ Co//unit0 Cente# un+e# Siste# E*a Palencia. In one of he# hospital *isits$ she encounte#e+ Rosa#io 8alu0ot in the /onth of Ma0$ %& @. She actuall0 sa1 a chil+ 1ho happene+ to be Rosa#io 8alu0ot seate+ on the ce/ent floo# an+ 1hen she as7e+ 1h0 she 1as seate+ the#e$ she 1as tol+ that it 1as too hot in the be+. She sa1 Rosa#io 8alu0ot fo# about " o# = +a0s successi*el0. 4T.S.N. pp. %5)%=$ Septe/be# @$ %& 9 4=9 Gaspa# Alcanta#a$ the pe#son 1ho b#ou.ht Rosa#io to the hospital actuall0 testifie+ that she 1as conscious 4T.S.N. p. =6$ Septe/be# %?$ %& 9 but 1#ithin. in pain. He too7 pit0 on he# so he b#ou.ht he# to the hospital 4T.S.N. p. %"$ Septe/be# %?$ %& 9 (#o/ the abo*e testi/onies$ it is clea# that Rosa#io 1as still conscious an+ coul+ still ans1e# Buestions as7e+ of he# althou.h she 1as co/plainin. of sto/ach pains. Unfo#tunatel0$ the /e+ical attention .i*en to he# faile+ to halt the a..#a*ation of he# con+ition. The ope#ation on Ma0 %& 1as too late. Rosa#io +ie+ because of septice/ia$ 1hich in la0/anDs lan.ua.e is bloo+ poisonin.$ an+ pe#itonitis$ 1hich is /assi*e infection$ in the ab+o/inal ca*it0 cause+ b0 the fo#ei.n ob2ect o# the cut seCual *ib#ato# lo+.e+ in the *a.ina of the *icti/. This le+ to the infection f#o/ the ute#us to the fallopian tubes an+ into the pe#itoneu/ an+ the ab+o/inal ca*it0. The t#ial cou#t con*icte+ the accuse+ citin& the #ationale of A#ticle ? of the RPC He 1ho is the cause of the cause is the cause of the e*il cause+. 8ut befo#e the con*iction is affi#/e+$ 1e /ust fi#st follo1 the #ule as state+ in the case of Urbano %s.Inter$ediate #ppellate Court 4%!@ SCRA % K%& L9 to 1it3 The #ule is that the +eath of the *icti/ /ust be the direct2 natural an+ lo&ical conse<uence of the 1ounds inflicted upon hi$ b/ the accused . An+ since 1e a#e +ealin. 1ith a c#i/inal con*iction$ the p#oof that the accused caused the %icti$=s death $ust con%ince a rational $ind be/ond reasonable doubt . 4E/phasis supplie+9 In "eople %. Te$pon&0o2 Jr.$ 4%?? SCRA ! =$ !&" K%& 6L9$ 1e eCplaine+ that3

CCC CCC CCC The basic p#inciple in e*e#0 c#i/inal p#osecution is that accusation is not s0non0/ous 1ith .uilt. The accuse+ is p#esu/e+ innocent until the cont#a#0 is p#o*e+ b0 the p#osecution. If the p#osecution fails$ it fails utte#l0$ e*en if the +efense is 1ea7 o#$ in+ee+$ e*en if the#e is no +efense at all. The +efen+ant faces the full panopl0 of state autho#it0 1ith all ;The People of the Philippines; a##a0e+ a.ainst hi/. In a /anne# of spea7in.$ he .oes to bat 1ith all the bases loa+e+. The o++s a#e hea*il0 a.ainst hi/. It is i/po#tant$ the#efo#e$ to eBuali<e the positions of the p#osecution an+ the +efense b0 p#esu/in. the innocence of the accuse+ until the state is able to #efute the p#esu/ption b0 p#oof of .uilt be0on+ #easonable +oubt. 4At. p. !&"9 The e*i+ence fo# the accuse+ /a0be nu/e#icall0 less as a.ainst the nu/be# of 1itnesses an+ p#epon+e#ance of e*i+ence p#esente+ b0 the p#osecution but the#e is no +i#ect an+ con*incin. p#oof that the accuse+ 1as #esponsible fo# the *ib#ato# left insi+e the *icti/Ds *a.ina 1hich cause+ he# +eath se*en 4@9 /onths afte# its inse#tion. :hat the p#osecution /ana.e+ to establish 1e#e /e#e ci#cu/stances 1hich 1e#e not sufficient to o*e#co/e the constitutional p#esu/ption of innocence. :hile ci#cu/stantial e*i+ence /a0 suffice to suppo#t a con*iction it is i/pe#ati*e$ thou.h$ that the follo1in. #eBuisites shoul+ concu#3 4a9 The#e is /o#e than one ci#cu/stanceN 4b9 The facts f#o/ 1hich the infe#ences a#e +e#i*e+ a#e p#o*enN an+ 4c9 The co/bination of all the ci#cu/stances is such as to p#o+uce a con*iction be0on+ #easonable +oubt. 4Rule %==$ Sec. ? Re*ise+ Rules of Cou#t9 (o# the 1ell)ent#enche+ #ule in e*i+ence is that ;befo#e con*iction can be ha+ upon ci#cu/stantial e*i+ence$ the ci#cu/stances p#o*e+ shoul+ constitute an unb#o7en chain 1hich lea+s to one fai# an+ #easonable conclusion pointin. to the +efen+ant$ to the e9clusion of all others$ as the autho# of the c#i/e 4People *. Subano$ @= Phil. 6&" K%&?"LN E/phasis supplie+9. It /ust fai#l0 eCclu+e e*e#0 #easonable h0pothesis of innocence 4Do#a+o *. Cou#t of Appeals$ %!= SCRA ?"5$ ?== K%& @L9. In this case the ci#cu/stantial e*i+ence p#esente+ b0 the p#osecution +oes not conclusi*el0 point to the liabilit0 of the appellant fo# the c#i/e cha#.e+. 4People *. Tolentino$ supra9 :e a#e a1a#e of the 1i+e publicit0 .i*en to the pli.ht of Rosa#io 8alu0ot an+ ho1 he# +eath eCe/plifie+ sta#7l0 the +ail0 te##o#s that /ost st#eet chil+#en encounte# as the0 sell thei# bo+ies in o#+e# to su#*i*e. At an a.e 1hen innocence an+ 0outhful 2o0s shoul+ p#epon+e#ate in thei# li*es$ the0 eCpe#ience life in its /ost hea#tless an+ inhu/an fo#/. Instea+ of nothin. /o#e than .entle +isappoint/ents occup0in. thei# 0oun. /in+s$ the0 +ail0 cope 1ith t#a.e+ies that e*en a+ults shoul+ ne*e# be /a+e to ca##0. It is 1ith +ist#essin. #eluctance that 1e ha*e to see/in.l0 set bac7 the effo#ts of Go*e#n/ent to +#a/ati<e the +eath of Rosa#io 8alu0ot as a /eans of .al*ani<in. the nation to ca#e fo# its st#eet chil+#en. It 1oul+ ha*e /eant a lot to social 1o#7e#s an+ p#osecuto#s ali7e if one pe+ophile)7ille# coul+ be b#ou.ht to 2ustice so that his eCa/ple 1oul+ a#ouse

public conce#n$ sufficient fo# the fo#/ulation an+ i/ple/entation of /eanin.ful #e/e+ies. Ho1e*e#$ 1e cannot con*ict on an0thin. less than p#oof be0on+ #easonable +oubt. The p#otections of the 8ill of Ri.hts an+ ou# c#i/inal 2ustice s0ste/ a#e as /uch$ if not /o#e so$ fo# the pe#*e#ts an+ outcasts of societ0 as the0 a#e fo# no#/al$ +ecent$ an+ la1)abi+in. people. The #eBui#e/ent of p#oof 1hich p#o+uces in an unp#e2u+ice+ /in+ /o#al ce#taint0 o# con*iction that the accuse+ +i+ co//it the offense has not been satisfie+. 80 1a0 of e/phasis$ 1e #eite#ate so/e of the facto#s a#ousin. #easonable +oubt3 %. The e*i+ence on Rosa#io 8alu0otDs baptis/ c#eates #easonable +oubt about he# bein. less than %" 0ea#s ol+ 1hen the ca#nal 7no1le+.e too7 place. If the e*i+ence fo# the p#osecution is to be belie*e+$ she 1as not 0et bo#n on the +ate she 1as bapti<e+. ". Since the p#oof of Rosa#ioDs bein. un+e# %" 0ea#s of a.e is not satisfacto#0$ the p#osecution has to p#o*e fo#ce$ inti/i+ation$ o# +ep#i*ation of #eason in o#+e# to con*ict fo# #ape. The#e is no such p#oof. In fact$ the e*i+ence sho1s a 1illin.ness to sub/it to the seCual act fo# /oneta#0 consi+e#ations. =. The onl0 1itness to the fact of Ritte#Ds placin. a *ib#ato# insi+e the *a.ina of Rosa#io 1as -essie Ra/i#e<. This 1itness +i+ not see Ritte# inse#t the *ib#ato#. The /o#nin. afte# the inse#tion$ he 1as onl0 tol+ b0 Rosa#io about it. T1o +a0s late#$ he alle.e+l0 /et Rosa#io 1ho info#/e+ hi/ that she 1as able to #e/o*e the ob2ect. An+ 0et$ Ra/i#e< testifie+ that on the ni.ht of that secon+ encounte#$ he sa1 Rosa#io .#oanin. because of pain in he# sto/ach. She 1as e*en hu#lin. in*ecti*es. Ra/i#e<D testi/on0 is not onl0 hea#sa0$ it is also cont#a+icto#0. ?. It 1as i/p#obable$ acco#+in. to eCpe#t /e+ical testi/on0$ fo# a fo#ei.n ob2ect 1ith acti*e p#ope#ties to cause pain$ +isco/fo#t$ an+ se#ious infection onl0 afte# se*en /onths insi+e a 0oun. .i#lDs *a.inal canal. Infection 1oul+ ha*e set in /uch ea#lie#. -essie Ra/i#e< #ecalle+ that the inci+ent happene+ in Dece/be# of %& 6. 4TSN.$ -anua#0 6$ %& $ pp. %!)%@9 The e*i+ence$ ho1e*e# sho1s that the appellant 1as not he#e in the Philippines that Dece/be#. As pe# the Co//ission on I//i.#ation A##i*al an+ Depa#tu#e Repo#t$ Hein#ich Ritte# a##i*e+ in the Philippines on Octobe# @$ %& 6 an+ left on Octobe# %"$ %& 6. He ne*e# #etu#ne+ until Septe/be# "=$ %& @ 4EChibits ;DD; an+ ;EE;9 The inci+ent coul+ ha*e happene+ onl0 in Octobe#$ but then it 1oul+ ha*e been hi.hl0 i/p#obable fo# the seCual *ib#ato# to sta0 insi+e the *a.ina fo# se*en 4@9 /onths 1ith the 7in+ of se#ious co/plications it c#eates. !. The .0necolo.ist 1ho atten+e+ to Rosa#io +u#in. he# hospital confine/ent testifie+ that she tol+ hi/ ;Gina/it a7o n. Ne.#o at si0a an. na.la.a0 nito.; The accuse+ is not a blac7. Note1o#th0 is the fact that nothin. 1as /entione+ about Rosa#ioDs acti*ities afte# the hotel inci+ent. Consi+e#in. D#. 8a#cinalDs testi/on0 in+icatin. that she 1as ;use+; b0 a ;Ne.#o; th#ee 4=9 /onths p#io# to a+/ission in the hospital an+ Rosa#ioDs unfo#tunate p#ofession$ the#e is al1a0s the possibilit0 that she coul+ ha*e allo1e+ he#self to be *iolate+ b0 this pe#*e#se 7in+ of seCual beha*io# 1he#e a *ib#ato# o# *ib#ato#s 1e#e inse#te+ into he# *a.ina bet1een Octobe#$ %& 6 an+ Ma0$ %& @.

Mo#eo*e#$ the lon. +ela0 of se*en 4@9 /onths afte# the inci+ent in #epo#tin. the alle.e+ c#i/e #en+e#s the e*i+ence fo# the p#osecution insufficient to establish appellantDs .uilt0 connection 1ith the #eBuisite /o#al ce#taint0. 4 See People *. Mula C#u<$ %"& SCRA %!6 K%& ?L9. The establishe+ facts +o not enti#el0 #ule out the possibilit0 that the appellant coul+ ha*e inse#te+ a fo#ei.n ob2ect insi+e Rosa#ioDs *a.ina. This ob2ect /a0 ha*e cause+ he# +eath. It is possible that the appellant coul+ be the .uilt0 pe#son. Ho1e*e#$ the Cou#t cannot base an affi#/ance of con*iction upon /e#e possibilities. Suspicions an+ possibilities a#e not e*i+ence an+ the#efo#e shoul+ not be ta7en a.ainst the accuse+. 4People *. Tolentino$ supra9 :ell)establishe+ is the #ule that e*e#0 ci#cu/stance fa*o#able to the accuse+ shoul+ be +ul0 ta7en into account. This #ule applies e*en to ha#+ene+ c#i/inals o# those 1hose bi<a##e beha*iou# *iolates the /o#es of ci*ili<e+ societ0. The e*i+ence a.ainst the accuse+ /ust su#*i*e the test of #eason. The st#on.est suspicion /ust not be allo1e+ to s1a0 2u+./ent. 4See Saca0 *. San+i.anba0an$ %?" SCRA !&= K%& 6L9. As state+ in the case of "eople %. !& 4%?" SCRA 6%! K%& 6L93 . . . K(L#o/ the ea#liest 0ea#s of this Cou#t$ it has e/phasi<e+ the #ule that #easonable +oubt in c#i/inal cases /ust be #esol*e+ in fa*o# of the accuse+. The #eBui#e/ent of p#oof be0on+ #easonable +oubt calls fo# /o#al ce#taint0 of .uilt. It has been +efine+ as /eanin. such p#oof ;to the satisfaction of the cou#t$ 7eepin. in /in+ the p#esu/ption of innocence$ as p#eclu+es e*e#0 #easonable h0pothesis eCcept that 1hich it is .i*en to suppo#t. It is not sufficient fo# the p#oof to establish a p#obabilit0$ e*en thou.h st#on.$ that the fact cha#.e+ is /o#e li7el0 to be t#ue than the cont#a#0. It /ust establish the t#uth of the fact to a #easonable an+ /o#al ce#taint0Ma ce#taint0 that con*inces an+ satisfies the #eason an+ the conscience of those 1ho a#e to act upon it. 4Mo#eno$ Philippine 'a1 Dictiona#0$ %&@" E+ition$ p. =@&$ citin& U.S. *. Re0es$ = Phil. =9. . . . In the instant case$ since the#e a#e ci#cu/stances 1hich p#e*ent ou# bein. /o#all0 ce#tain of the .uilt of the appellant$ he is$ the#efo#e$ entitle+ to an acBuittal. This not1ithstan+in.$ the Cou#t can not i.no#e the acts of the appellant on the chil+#en$ -essie Ra/i#e< an+ Rosa#io 8alu0ot in Octobe#$ %& 6 at the MGM Hotel. Inspite of his flat +enials$ 1e a#e con*ince+ that he co/es to this count#0 not to loo7 at histo#ical si.hts$ en#ich his intellect o# in+ul.e in le.iti/ate pleasu#es but in o#+e# to satisf0 the u#.in.s of a sic7 /in+. :ith the positi*e I+entification an+ testi/on0 b0 -essie Ra/i#e< that it 1as the appellant 1ho pic7e+ hi/ an+ Rosa#io f#o/ a/on. the chil+#en an+ in*ite+ the/ to the hotelN an+ that in the hotel he 1as sho1n pictu#es of 0oun. bo0s li7e hi/ an+ the t1o /astu#bate+ each othe#$ such actuations clea#l0 sho1 that the appellant is a pe+ophile. :hen app#ehen+e+ in E#/ita$ he 1as si<in. up 0oun. chil+#en. D#. Solis +efine+ pe+ophilia in his boo7 entitle+ 'e.al Me+icine$ %& @ e+ition$ as follo1s3

Pe+ophiliaMA fo#/ of seCual pe#*e#sion 1he#ein a pe#son has the co/pulsi*e +esi#e to ha*e seCual inte#cou#se 1ith a chil+ of eithe# seC. Chil+#en of *a#ious a.es pa#ticipate in seCual acti*ities$ li7e fellatio$ cunnilin.us$ fon+lin. 1ith seC o#.ans$ o# anal seCual inte#cou#se. Usuall0 co//itte+ b0 a ho/oseCual bet1een a /an an+ a bo0 the latte# bein. a passi*e pa#tne#. Ritte# 1as p#osecute+ fo# #ape 1ith ho/ici+e an+ not pe+ophilia$ assu/in. this is a c#i/e b0 itself. Pe+ophilia is clea#l0 a beha*io# offensi*e to public /o#als an+ *iolati*e of the +ecla#e+ polic0 of the state to p#o/ote an+ p#otect the ph0sical$ /o#al$ spi#itual an+ social 1ell)bein. of ou# 0outh. 4A#ticle II$ Section %=$ %& @ Constitution9 4Ha#*e0 *. Defenso# Santia.o$ %6" SCRA ?5$ ? K%& &L9. Pe+ophiles$ especiall0 th#ill see7in. aliens ha*e no place in ou# count#0. In this case$ the#e is #easonable .#oun+ to belie*e that the appellant co//itte+ acts in2u#ious not onl0 to Rosa#io 8alu0ot but also to the public .oo+ an+ +o/estic t#anBuilit0 of the people. The state has eCp#essl0 co//itte+ itself to +efen+ the #i.ht of chil+#en to assistance an+ special p#otection f#o/ all fo#/s of ne.lect$ abuse$ c#uelt0$ eCploitation an+ othe# con+itions p#e2u+icial to thei# +e*elop/ent. 4A#t. HV$ Section = K"L . . . 4Ha#*e0 *. Santia.o$ supra9. The appellant has abuse+ (ilipino chil+#en$ enticin. the/ 1ith /one0. The appellant shoul+ be eCpelle+ f#o/ the count#0. (u#the#/o#e$ it +oes not necessa#il0 follo1 that the appellant is also f#ee f#o/ ci*il liabilit0 1hich is i/plie+l0 institute+ 1ith the c#i/inal action. 4Rule III$ Section %9 The 1ell)settle+ +oct#ine is that a pe#son 1hile not c#i/inall0 liable$ /a0 still be ci*ill0 liable. :e #eite#ate 1hat has been state+ inUrbano %. I#C2 supra. . . . :hile the .uilt of the accuse+ in a c#i/inal p#osecution /ust be establishe+ be0on+ #easonable +oubt$ onl0 a p#epon+e#ance of e*i+ence is #eBui#e+ in a ci*il action fo# +a/a.es. 4A#ticle "&$ Ci*il Co+e9. The 2u+./ent of acBuittal eCtin.uishes the ci*il liabilit0 of the accuse+ onl0 1hen it inclu+es a +ecla#ation that the facts f#o/ 1hich the ci*il liabilit0 /i.ht a#ise +i+ not eCist. 4Pa+illa *. Cou#t of Appeals$ %"& SCRA !!&9. The #eason fo# the p#o*isions of A#ticle "& of the Ci*il Co+e$ 1hich p#o*i+es that the acBuittal of the accuse+ on the .#oun+ that his .uilt has not been p#o*e+ be0on+ #easonable +oubt +oes not necessa#il0 eCe/pt hi/ f#o/ ci*il liabilit0 fo# the sa/e act o# o/ission$ has been eCplaine+ b0 the Co+e Co//ission as follo1s3 The ol+ #ule that the acBuittal of the accuse+ in a c#i/inal case also #eleases hi/ f#o/ ci*il liabilit0 is one of the /ost se#ious fla1s in the Philippine le.al s0ste/. It has .i*en #ise to nu/be#less instances of /isca##ia.e of 2ustice$ 1he#e the acBuittal 1as +ue to a #easonable +oubt in the /in+ of the cou#t as to the .uilt of the accuse+. The #easonin. follo1e+ is that inas/uch as the ci*il #esponsibilit0 is +e#i*e+ f#o/ the c#i/inal

offense$ 1hen the latte# is not p#o*e+$ ci*il liabilit0 cannot be +e/an+e+. This is one of those causes 1he#e confuse+ thin7in. lea+s to unfo#tunate an+ +eplo#able conseBuences. Such #easonin. fails to +#a1 a clea# line of +e/a#cation bet1een c#i/inal liabilit0 an+ ci*il #esponsibilit0$ an+ to +ete#/ine the lo.ical #esult of the +istinction. The t1o liabilities a#e sepa#ate an+ +istinct f#o/ each othe#. One affects the social o#+e# an+ the othe#$ p#i*ate #i.hts. One is fo# the punish/ent o# co##ection of the offen+e# 1hile the othe# is fo# the #epa#ation of +a/a.es suffe#e+ b0 the a..#ie*e+ pa#t0. The t1o #esponsibilities a#e so +iffe#ent f#o/ each othe# that a#ticle % %= of the p#esent 4Spanish9 Ci*il Co+e #ea+s thus3 ;The#e /a0 be a co/p#o/ise upon the ci*il action a#isin. f#o/ a c#i/eN but the public action fo# the i/position of the le.al penalt0 shall not the#eb0 be eCtin.uishe+.; It is 2ust an+ p#ope# that$ fo# the pu#poses of the i/p#ison/ent of o# fine upon the accuse+$ the offense shoul+ be p#o*e+ be0on+ #easonable +oubt. 8ut fo# the pu#pose of in+e/nif0in. the co/plainin. pa#t0$ 1h0 shoul+ the offense also be p#o*e+ be0on+ #easonable +oubtO Is not the in*asion o# *iolation of e*e#0 p#i*ate #i.ht to be p#o*e+ onl0 b0 a p#epon+e#ance of e*i+enceO Is the #i.ht of the a..#ie*e+ pe#son an0 less p#i*ate because the 1#on.ful act is also punishable b0 the c#i/inal la1O (o# these #easons$ the Co//ission #eco//en+s the a+option of the #efo#/ un+e# +iscussion. It 1ill co##ect a se#ious +efect in ou# la1. It 1ill close up an ineChaustible sou#ce of in2usticeMa cause fo# +isillusion/ent on the pa#t of the innu/e#able pe#sons in2u#e+ o# 1#on.e+. Rosa#io 8alu0ot is a st#eet chil+ 1ho #an a1a0 f#o/ he# .#an+/othe#Ds house. Ci#cu/stances fo#ce+ he# to succu/b an+ ente# this unfo#tunate p#ofession. Nonetheless$ she has left behin+ hei#s 1ho ha*e ce#tainl0 suffe#e+ /ental an.uish$ anCiet0 an+ /o#al shoc7 b0 he# su++en an+ inc#e+ulous +eath as #eflecte+ in the #eco#+s of the case. Thou.h 1e a#e acBuittin. the appellant fo# the c#i/e of #ape 1ith ho/ici+e$ 1e e/phasi<e that 1e a#e not #ulin. that he is innocent o# bla/eless. It is onl0 the constitutional p#esu/ption of innocence an+ the failu#e of the p#osecution to buil+ an ai#ti.ht case fo# con*iction 1hich sa*e+ hi/$ not that the facts of unla1ful con+uct +o not eCist. As ea#lie# state+$ the#e is the li7elihoo+ that he +i+ inse#t the *ib#ato# 1hose en+ 1as left insi+e Rosa#ioDs *a.inal canal an+ that the *ib#ato# /a0 ha*e cause+ he# +eath. True, we cannot convict on probabilities or possibilities but civil liability does not require proof beyond reasonable doubt. The Court can order the payment of indemnity on the facts found in the records of this case. The appellant ce#tainl0 co//itte+ acts cont#a#0 to /o#als$ .oo+ custo/s$ public o#+e# o# public polic0 4see A#ticle "% Ci*il Co+e9. As ea#lie# /entione+$ the appellant has abuse+

(ilipino chil+#en$ enticin. the/ 1ith /one0. :e can not o*e#st#ess the #esponsibilit0 fo# p#ope# beha*io# of all a+ults in the Philippines$ inclu+in. the appellant to1a#+s 0oun. chil+#en. The seCual eCploitation co//itte+ b0 the appellant shoul+ not an+ can not be con+one+. Thus$ consi+e#in. the ci#cu/stances of the case$ 1e a#e a1a#+in. +a/a.es to the hei#s of Rosa#io 8alu0ot in the a/ount of P=5$555.55. An+ finall0$ the Cou#t +eplo#es the lac7 of c#i/inal la1s 1hich 1ill a+eBuatel0 p#otect st#eet chil+#en f#o/ eCploitation b0 pe+ophiles$ pi/ps$ an+$ pe#haps$ thei# o1n pa#ents o# .ua#+ians 1ho p#ofit f#o/ the sale of 0oun. bo+ies. The p#o*isions on statuto#0 #ape an+ othe# #elate+ offenses 1e#e ne*e# inten+e+ fo# the #elati*el0 #ecent influC of pe+ophiles ta7in. a+*anta.e of #a/pant po*e#t0 a/on. the fo#.otten se./ents of ou# societ0. Ne1spape# an+ /a.a<ine a#ticles$ /e+ia eCposes$ colle.e +isse#tations$ an+ othe# stu+ies +eal at len.th 1ith this se#ious social p#oble/ but pe+ophiles li7e the appellant 1ill continue to ente# the Philippines an+ fo#ei.n publications cate#in. to the/ 1ill continue to a+*e#tise the a*ailabilit0 of (ilipino st#eet chil+#en unless the Go*e#n/ent acts an+ acts soon. :e ha*e to acBuit the appellant because the 8ill of Ri.hts co//an+s us to +o so. :e$ ho1e*e#$ eCp#ess the Cou#tDs conce#n about the p#oble/ of st#eet chil+#en an+ the e*ils co//itte+ a.ainst the/. So/ethin. /ust be +one about it. :HERE(ORE$ the appeale+ 2u+./ent is REVERSED an+ SET ASIDE. Appellant HEINRICH STE(AN RITTER is ACIUITTED on .#oun+s of #easonable +oubt. The appellant is o#+e#e+ to pa0 the a/ount of P=5$555.55 b0 1a0 of /o#al an+ eCe/pla#0 +a/a.es to the hei#s of Rosa#io 8alu0ot. The Co//issione# of I//i.#ation an+ Depo#tation is he#eb0 +i#ecte+ to institute p#ope# +epo#tation p#ocee+in.s a.ainst the appellant an+ to i//e+iatel0 eCpel hi/ the#eafte# 1ith p#e2u+ice to #e)ent#0 into the count#0. SO ORDERED. (ernan2 C.J.2 (eliciano2 Bidin and >a%ide2 Jr.2 JJ2 concur.