Dabalos v RTC Branch 59, Angeles City, Pampanga, GR No.

193960

Facts:
Dabalos is the alleged ex-boyfriend of complainant whom she had a dating
relationship with. The said violence constituted the pulling of hair, punching the
complainant's back, shoulder, and left eye which have demeaning and degrading
effects on the complainant's intrinsic worth and dignity as a human being, in violation
of Section 5 (a) of the Republic Act 9262. In Dabalos' defense, he averred that the
relationship had already ceased at the time of the alleged incident.
Issue: Whether or not RA 9262 be construed when the dating relationship was not the
proximate cause of the violence?

Held: Yes. The law provides that any act can be considered as a crime of violence
against women through physical harm when it is committed against a woman or her
child and the woman is the offender's wife, former wife, or with whom he has or had
sexual or dating relationship or with whom he has a common child, and when it
results in or is likely to result in physical harm or suffering. Applying the rule on
statutory construction that when the law does not distinguish, neither should the
courts, the punishable acts refer to all acts of violence against women with whom the
offender has or had a sexual or dating relationship. It did not distinguish that the act
of violence should be a consequence of such relationship.