Professional Documents
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DECISION
PERALTA, C.J.:
Appeals (CA) Decision dated April 25, 2017, which affirmed with
1
Informations state:
CONTRARY TO LAW.
and there willfully, unlawfully, and feloniously insert his finger and
penis into the anal orifice and mouth of [the] complainant [AAA], 12
CONTRARY TO LAW. 4
Nocido pleaded not guilty to both charges. Trial on the merits
5
(Bagon) and Paul Justin Ventura (Ventura), who are both at-large.
Joseph Palmero, M.D. [PCI Palmero]); and (3) the victim AAA.
looked tired, scared and worried. On the other hand, it was PCI
o'clock in the morning, her friends walked her home until they
lick her vagina. Afterwards, [Ventura] lifted AAA and mounted her
(sic) his penis into AAA's anus, but failed; he used his finger
instead. Thereafter, [Bagon] tried to insert his penis into the mouth
they put on her jumper and gave her a t-shirt. [Bagon] carried her
towards an alley. xxx. She attempted to shout for help but [Bagon]
covered her mouth. [Bagon] threatened to kill her if she would tell
gathered her clothes and ran away without wearing any bra. She
leads to a vacant house. After some time, AAA tried to leave but
escape, [Bagon] held her and pushed her to a wall causing her to
but the latter prevailed. [Ventura] then carried AAA to the vacant
house. [Ventura] lit his lighter and watched [Bagon] having sexual
not able to leave the place and seek help; and that the door was
AAA outside the house, while [Bagon] threatened her not to tell the
her to the nearest store. He left the place, went home and slept
forcibly boarded him to a van and told him that he was being
09-1772 and Rape [by] Sexual Assault in Criminal Case No. 09-
1773.
of prision mayor.
For each case, the Court orders him to pay the complainant the
No costs.
Pending their apprehension, these cases shall
concerned.
IT IS SO ORDERED. 8
The RTC gave full weight and credit to the testimony of AAA, a
she was physically and sexually abused and raped, deserves full
credit. The RTC saw or itself how traumatic it was for a minor to
undergo the trouble and the humiliation of a public trial, she could
Nocido filed his appeal with the CA. The accused-appellant, and
CA Ruling
266-A (1) and Article 266-A (2), respectively, of the Revised Penal
following MODIFICATIONS:
a) In Criminal Case No. 09-1772, accused-appellant is not eligible
for parole;
damages.
SO ORDERED. 9
with respect to who held her arms when she was forcibly taken at
manner, AAA narrated to the trial court how Nocido and Bagon
denial. It was also established that the three accused acted in
15
(3) all of the accused slapped and punched AAA to overpower her;
(4) accused-appellant and accused [Bagon] removed AAA's
the place;
(5) all the accused simultaneously abused her until they were
satisfied.
Informations. 18
Issues
AAA's testimony.
A(2), respectively.
object. 21
the evidence failed to establish that his acts, and that of his co-
crime. 23
Our Ruling
women, especially Filipinos, would not admit that they have been
should stay away from such mindset and accept the realities of a
woman's dynamic role in society today; she who has over the
Through this, the Court can evaluate the weight and credibility of a
misconception. 27
stand. Since the trial judge is in the best position to determine the
29
Q: Will you please tell the Honorable Court how you were brought
to that vacant house from that alley you were mentioning before?
xxxx
Q: You mentioned that the two held you, how about the other, what
did he do while the two you mentioned here [were] holding you?
sir.
xxxx
A: Yes, sir.
Q: How about Neil Raymond Nocido alias Arabo, what was his
from there?
A: He was going ahead of us and he was the one who opened the
door, sir. 33
A: Si [Bagon] po.
A: At saka po si [Nocido].
conduct. The fact is that, AAA was pulled and led by appellant,
35
Nocido also pointed out AAA's testimony when she mentioned that
during her ordeal, she neither screamed nor offered any tenacious
xxxx
A:Opo.
A: Opo.
A: Opo. 39
The failure of AAA to shout and resist while the three accused
her consent.
to escape during the rape and/or sexual abuse, is not fatal to the
that whenever she struggled to get free from the three accused,
the latter beat her up, and when she was about to scream for help,
A: Kutsilyo po.
Q: Saan ka tinutukan?
A: Sa leeg po una.
leeg ay inilipat nya yung tutok nya sa iyong bewang, ano ang
nangyari?
at si [Nocido].
xxxx
A: Nanlaban po ako.
[Bagon].
Q: Saan ka sinuntok?
A: Sa mukha po.
xxxx
humingi ng tulong?
on AAA did not show hymenal laceration, this did not negate the
as amended.
The Court takes into consideration that AAA was twelve (12) years
old at the time of the commission of the crimes; and that when the
so when the child is below 7 years old, in which case the crime is
the crime could not be rape under the RPC, because this no longer
falls under the concept of statutory rape, and the victim indulged in
Applying these principles to the case at bar, the Court affirms the
7610, to wit:
xxxx
sexual abuse; Provided, That when the victims is under twelve (12)
335, paragraph 3, for rape and Article 336 of Act No. 3815, as
as the case may be: Provided, That the penalty for lascivious
conduct when the victim is under twelve (12) years of age shall
temporal as provided under Article 266-B of the RPC, for the crime
the crime charged. The actual facts recited in the information are
53
accordingly. 55
Sexual Assault.
clearly and candidly narrated to the court how Nocido and Bagon
Q: And after they were able to lower your short pants together with
INTERPRETER
FISCAL MATIRA
A: Yes, sir.
A: Yes, sir.
A: Yes, sir.
Q: By lips or by tongue?
A: By lips, sir.
Q: While [Bagon] was doing that act, what did [Ventura] and
[Nocido] do?
[Nocido].
A: It was [Bagon], sir.
xxxx
Q: So [Ventura] did not even attempt to insert his penis into your
vagina?
A: No, sir.
Q: And while [Nocido] was able to insert his penis into your vagina,
insert his penis into my vagina instead he tried to insert his penis in
to my anus, sir.
Q: Because you said the penis was not able to penetrate into your
A: Yes, sir.
Q: Let us clear the facts of the case, [Bagon was] the one who
kissed your lips up to your vagina was able to insert his penis into
A: Yes, sir.
xxxx
Q: Then followed by the act attempting to insert his penis into your
anus but was not able to do so and instead using his finger to
A: Yes, sir.
Q: [Ventura] did not insert or attempt to insert his penis into your
A: Yes, sir.
A: Yes, sir.
Q: Did he touch any part of your body while keeping the light
lighted?
Q: The first who kissed you and was able to insert his penis into
your vagina for the first time, did he attempt for the second time?
clarified that Nocido did not personally commit the crime of rape
Atty. Aldovino
Q: Binanggit mo rin [AAA] na itong si [Nocido] ay ipinasok din niya
A: Hindi po.
A: Opo.
Interpreter: Sa likod?
Court: Sa puwit. 57
xxxx
A: Opo.
A: Sa puwit po.
A: Hindi po.
niya?
A: Opo.
A: Opo. 58
Nocido and the other two accused took advantage of her. The
was brought to the secluded area, Bagon poked the knife at AAA's
neck, while Nocido and Ventura cornered her. Second, Nocido and
committed.
exemplary damages.
The Penalties
The Damages
Jugueta. 69
in People v. Tulagan. 70
Section 5(b) of Republic Act No. 7610, in Criminal Case No. 09-
1773, and is sentenced to suffer the penalty of eight (8) years and
fully paid.
SO ORDERED.
J. Reyes, Jr., Lazaro-Javier, and Lopez, JJ., concur.
Footnotes
1
Penned by Associate Justice Henri Jean Paul B. Inting (now a
2
Penned by Presiding Judge Rico Sebastian D. Liwanag;
CA rollo pp. 47-54.
3
The identity of the victim or any information to establish or
No. 7610, "An Act Providing for Stronger Deterrence and Special
and for Other Purposes"; Republic Act No. 9262, "An Act Defining
4
Records, pp. 2-6.
5
Id. at 53.
6
Rollo, pp. 4-5. (Citations omitted)
7
Id. at 5-6.
8
CA rollo, p. 53.
9
Rollo, pp. 21-22.
10
Id. at 8.
11
Id. at 9.
12
Id.
13
Id. at 10.
14
Id. at 12.
15
Id.
16
Id. at 17.
17
Id. at 19.
18
Id.
19
CA rollo, p. 36.
20
Id. at 39.
21
Id.
22
Id. at 41.
23
Id.
24
People v. Taño, 109 Phil. 912, 915 (1960).
25
G.R. Nos. 225642-43, January 17, 2018.
26
Id.
27
Id.
28
People v. Barberan, et al., 788 Phil. 103, 109 (2016).
29
People v. XXX, G.R. No. 225793, August 14, 2019.
30
Id.
31
Id.
32
Id.
33
TSN, July 26, 2012, pp. 4-7.
34
TSN, September 20, 2013, pp. 22-23.
35
People v. XXX, G.R. No. 229836, July 17, 2019.
36
People v. Camat, et al., 692 Phil. 55, 74 (2012).
37
Id. at 74-75.
38
TSN, July 26, 2012, pp. 10-11.
39
TSN, September 20, 2013, p. 26.
40
People v. Ballacillo, 792 Phil. 404, 418 (2016).
41
Id.
42
Id.
43
People v. Joson, 751 Phil. 450, 460 (2015).
44
TSN, June 26, 2013, pp. 3-4.
45
Id. at 7.
46
People v. ZZZ, G.R. No. 229862, June 19, 2019.
47
Id.
48
Id.
49
People v. YYY, G.R. No. 224626, June 27, 2018.
50
Id.
51
G.R. No. 227363, March 12, 2019.
52
Id.
53
People v. Moya, G.R. No. 228260, June 10, 2019.
54
Id.
55
Id.
56
TSN, July 26, 2012, pp. 14-18.
57
TSN, September 20, 2013, p. 31.
58
Id. at 35-36.
59
People v. Pal, G.R. No. 223565, June 18, 2018.
60
Id.
61
SEC. 8. Designation of the offense. - The complaint or
pronounce judgment.
62
People v. Lapore, G.R. No. 191197, June 22, 2015.
63
Article 63(2) of the RPC provides:
xxxx
In all cases in which the law prescribes a penalty composed of two
application thereof:
xxxx
shall be applied.
64
R.A. 7610, § 31.
(a) The penalty provided under this Act shall be imposed in its
of this Act shall suffer the penalty imposed in its maximum period;
(e) The penalty provided for in this Act shall be imposed in its
and
65
Article 64(1) of the Revised Penal Code provides:
1. When there are neither aggravating nor mitigating
66
Art. 64, RPC.
67
People v. Tulagan, G.R. No. 227363, March 12, 2019.
68
Id.
and Sexual Assault in relation to Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610, are
as follows:
xxx
Section
5(b) of R.A.
No. 7610
P50,000.00 (If P50,000.00 (If P50,000.00 (If
[Victim is a
penalty penalty penalty
child 12
imposed is imposed is imposed is
years old
within the within the within the
and below
range range range
18, or
of reclusion of reclusion of reclusion
above 18
temporal medi temporal medi temporal medi
under
um) um) um)
special
circumstan
ces]
xxx
69
People v. Jugueta, 783 Phil. 806 (2016).
70
Id.