PEOPLE v.

CERILO ILOGON
FACTS:
AAA, a six year old child, was raped by Iloy. AAA was brought to the Hospital for physicalexamination
and was found that her hymen had healed lacerations.
Appellant was charged with the crime of rape. He pleaded not guilty and merelyinterposed the defense of
denial.
RTC convicted appellant and was affirmed by the CA.
ISSUE:
WON the lower court erred in convicting appellant?
HELD:
NO. Of primary importance in rape cases is the credibility of the victim's testimony because the accused
may be convicted solely on said testimony provided it is credible, natural, convincing and consistent with
human nature and the normal course of things.
Testimonies of child victims are given full weight and credit, for when a woman or a girl-child says that
she has been raped, she says in effect all that is necessary to show thatrape was indeed committed. Youth
and maturity are generally badges of truth andsincerity.
In the examination of witness, some lead questions were asked to AAA. The court heldthat, A child of
tender years may be asked leading questions under Section 10(c), Rule132 of the Rules of Court. Section
20 of the 2000 Rule on Examination of a Child Witnessalso provides that the court may allow leading
questions in all stages of examination of achild if the same will further the interests of justice.
This rule was formulated to allow children to give reliable and complete evidence,minimize trauma to
children, encourage them to testify in legal proceedings andfacilitate the ascertainment of truth.
Hence, appellant is guilty based on the testimony of AAA. Also, the prosecutionpresented proof of the
required elements of statutory rape. AAA's age, only six (6) years old at the time of the crime, was
evidenced by her Birth Certificate.