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Peoplevs.Nicolas
*
G.R.No.135877.August22,2002.
PEOPLEOFTHEPHILIPPINES,plaintiffappellee,vs.ERNESTO
NICOLASyOCAMPO,accusedappellant.
Criminal Procedure Rape Complaint When the offended party has
executedandsubscribedtoacomplaint,theprosecutionbeforethecourtmay
be initiated by means of an information signed by the prosecutor alone
Thereisnothingintherulethatrequiresthecomplainttostillbeidentified
incourtduringtrial.Theruleisthatwhentheoffendedpartyhasexecuted
and subscribed to a complaint, the prosecution before the court may be
initiated by means of an information signed by the prosecutor alone. But
thereisnothingintherulethatrequiresthecomplainttostillbeidentifiedin
court during trial. The rule, in our view, is not vitiated by the fact that the
complaintwassignedbythedaughterofthedisabledandmentallyillvictim.
Otherwisetherulewouldberequiringtheimpossible,whichisabsurd.
_______________
*ENBANC.
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Same Same Same Any issue on the validity and sufficiency of the
complaintshouldberaisedinamotiontoquashtheinformationpursuantto
Section3,Rule117oftheRulesofCourt.Inanyevent,wehavepreviously
ruledinthecaseofPeoplevs.Barrientosthatanyissueonthevalidityand
sufficiency of the complaint should be raised in a motion to quash the
informationpursuanttoSection3,Rule117oftheRulesofCourt.Asinthe
citedcaseofBarrientos,thisCourtconsidersanyattackonthevalidityand
efficacyoftheaffidavitcomplaintatthistimeratherbelated.
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Same Same Same Rape has been reclassified from being a private
crimeintoacrimeagainstpersonsRapemaynowbeprosecuteddeoficio.
Under R.A. 8353, rape has been reclassified from being a private crime
intoacrimeagainstpersons.Asaresult,theprosecutionofthecrimeofrape
hasbeeneffectivelyremovedfromtheambitoftherequirementsofChapter
Five,TitleElevenoftheRevisedPenalCodeandSection5,Rule110ofthe
1985 Rules of Criminal Procedure. We note further that on December 1,
2000, the Revised Rules on Criminal Procedure took effect and, following
the amendments brought about by R.A. 8353, Section 5, Rule 110 thereof
hascorrespondinglybeenamended.Rapemaynowbeprosecuteddeoficio.
SameSameConstitutionalLawRighttoconfrontationhasatwofold
purpose.Therighttoconfrontationhasatwofoldpurpose:(1)primarily,
to afford the accused an opportunity to test the testimony of the witness by
crossexamination and (2) secondarily, to allow the judge to observe the
deportmentofthewitness.
Criminal Law Same Evidence Denial and alibi unsubstantiated by
clear and convincing evidence are negative and selfserving.Moreover, a
carefulperusaloftherecordsofthiscaseshowsthatappellantsdefenseof
denialisweak.Itwasnotpositivelycorroboratedevenbyhisnephew,who
merely testified as to the occurrences in the area prior to the time of the
alleged rape. Denial and alibi unsubstantiated by clear and convincing
evidence are negative and selfserving. They cannot be given greater
evidentiary weight over the testimonies of credible witnesses who testified
onaffirmativematters.
SameSameSame The presence of other people in the vicinity does
not deter the commission of rape there is no rule that rape can be
committedonlyinseclusion.In assailing the credibility of the prosecution
witnesses,appellantaverredthatitwasunlikelyforrapetobeperpetratedin
a crowded place, such as the house where Flaviana was staying. In a long
lineofcases,however,wehaveheldthatthepresenceofotherpeopleinthe
vicinitydoesnotdeterthecommissionofrapethereisnorulethat
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even under the new rape law, R.A. 8353, the death penalty would still be
improper. As the law now stands in Article 266B, paragraph 10, of the
Revised Penal Code as amended, knowledge of the offender of the mental
disability of the victim at the time of the commission of the crime of rape
qualifies the crime and makes it punishable by death. But such knowledge
must be alleged in the information since a crime can only be qualified by
circumstancespleadedintheindictment.Toholdotherwisewouldresultina
denialoftherightoftheaccusedtobeinformedofthechargesagainsthim,
henceadenialofdueprocess.
AUTOMATICREVIEWofadecisionoftheRegionalTrialCourtof
ParaaqueCity,Br.259.
ThefactsarestatedintheopinionoftheCourt.
TheSolicitorGeneralforplaintiffappellee.
PublicAttorneysOfficeforaccusedappellant.
QUISUMBING,J.:
1
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Peoplevs.Nicolas
Uponarraignment,appellant,assistedbycounsel,pleadednotguilty.
Trial commenced thereafter. Four witnesses testified for the
prosecution.
MA.VICTORIAPUNZALAN,adaughterofthevictimFlaviana
3
Mendoza, testifiedthatinAugust1997,hermotherwasbroughtto
the Philippine General Hospital for treatment. Upon being brought
4
home in September of that same year, Flavianas medical records
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4
Marasiganintherecords.
4Recordsp.358ExhibitsA13&A14.
5SometimesspelledOrmelita,Urmenetaintherecords.
6TSN,February24,1998,pp.315.
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Daisytestifiedthatevenpriortotheincident,Flavianawasalready
mentallyandphysicallyweak.Shesaidsheaccompaniedhersister
AnnalizaUrmelita,privatecomplainantinthiscase,tothebarangay
7
officetofileacomplaintagainstappellant.
JOELMENDOZA,sonofthevictim,corroboratedthetestimony
ofhissistersonwhattranspiredbetween2:003:00A.M.ofOctober
21, 1997. He added that upon seeing Ernesto atop his mother, he
shouted invectives at him and ordered him to stop what he was
doing.AppellantgotoffFlavianaandpretendedtobeasleep.Itwas
at this point where Joel saw that his mother also had her shorts
pulled down. As he was furious, his wife stopped him from
assaulting appellant and so he went to his other sisters house,
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adjacenttohisown,totellherabouttheincident.Later,theywent
back to see their mother. He recalled he was wielding a wooden
sticktohitappellant.HeandDaisytoldappellanttogetoutofthe
house. According to Joel, he remembered that Daisy slapped
appellantwhilehehittheappellant.Appellanthurriedlyleft.Joels
sistersthenwenttothebarangayofficialstoreporttheincidentand
8
lodgeacomplaintagainstappellant.
9
DR.LUDIVINO LAGATtestifiedthathewasthephysicianwho
conducted a physical and genital examination on the victim,
Flaviana Mendoza, on October 21, 1997, a few hours after the
alleged rape was committed. The victim was weak, needed
assistance to move,
and had difficulty answering questions. He
10
further testified that based on his examination, there could have
been prior sexual intercourse
without necessarily producing any
11
genitalinjuryonthevictim.
_______________
7TSN,March17,1998,pp.217.
8TSN,April14,1998,pp.221.
9SometimesreferredtoasLudivicointherecords.
10InaffirmationofConclusionNo.2containedintheLivingCaseReportstated
as:
2. Hymen obliterated and its orifice wide (3.0 cm. in diameter) as to allow a complete
penetrationbyanaveragesized,adultFilipinomaleorganinfullerectionwithoutproducing
anygenitalinjury.SeeRecords,p.15.
11TSN,April28,1998,pp.27.
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Forthedefense,appellantErnestoNicolasandhisnephewHerminio
Nicolastestified.
AppellantERNESTONICOLAStestifiedthatFlavianaMendoza
washisfirstcousinandthathelivedwithhisnephewsandniecesin
hisbrothershouse,locatedastreetawayfromthehouseofhisaunt,
Flavianas mother, where Flaviana was staying. On October 21,
1997,hewenttohisauntshouse,lookingforaplacetosleep,ashis
house was already closed. It was there that he saw Flaviana. Upon
seeing that there was no more space for him, he left. He also
testifiedthatearlierthatmorningFlavianassonJoelconfrontedhim
and told him to leave the house. Thereafter, he proceeded to his
brothershousenextdoor.Hewassleepingbythedoorwhenhewas
arrested by barangay officials. Thereafter, he was brought to the
CoastalPoliceStationwherehewasdetained.Heclaimedhedidnot
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knowthereasonforhisarrest.Hedeniedhavingsexualintercourse
with Flaviana and claimed that he had no idea why he was being
accusedofrapingher.HeadmittedthatheknewthatFlavianawas
12
almostparalyzed,mentallyandphysically.
Appellants nephew, HERMINIO NICOLAS, testified that at
around1:00A.M.ofOctober21,1997,ashearrivedfromaderby,
he saw Ernesto Nicolas sitting on a broken refrigerator. Appellant
said that he was just going to sleep where he sat, just 10 meters
away from where Flaviana was allegedly raped. At that time, the
witnesssaidhedidnotnoticeanythingunusualorstrange,onlythat
theoccupantsofthehousewerestillawake.Ataround2:00A.M.,
he saw appellant near his house, and by 3:00 A.M., he (Herminio)
13
wentinsidetosleep,andsawandheardnothingbeyond3:00A.M.
In its decision dated October 9, 1998, the trial court found
appellant guilty of the crime charged and rendered judgment as
follows:
WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, finding accused Ernesto
NicolasGUILTYbeyondreasonabledoubtforthecrimeofRapeasdefined
and penalized under No. 10, Art. 266B RA 8353, this Court hereby
sentenceshimtothemaximumpenaltyofDEATHandtosuffer
_______________
12TSN,July6,1998,pp.28.
13TSN,August26,1998,pp.220.
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_______________
161985RulesofCriminalProcedure,Rule110,Section5,paragraphs3and4:The
offensesofseduction,abduction,rapeoractsoflasciviousnessshallnotbeprosecuted
except upon a complaint filed by the offended party or her parents, grandparents or
guardian,nor,inanycase,iftheoffenderhasbeenexpresslypardonedbytheabove
named persons, as the case may be. In case the offended party dies or becomes
incapacitated before she could file the complaint and has no known parents,
grandparentsorguardian,theStateshallinitiatethecriminalactioninherbehalf.
The offended party, even if she were a minor, has the right to initiate the
prosecution for the above offenses, independently of her parents, grandparents, or
guardian,unlesssheisincompetentorincapableofdoingsoupongroundsotherthan
herminority.Wheretheoffendedpartywhoisaminorfailstofilethecomplaint,her
parents, grandparents, or guardian may file the same. The right to file the action
grantedtoparents,grandparentsorguardianshallbeexclusiveofallotherpersonsand
shallbeexercisedsuccessivelyintheorderhereinprovided,exceptasstatedinthe
immediatelyprecedingparagraph.
17SeeTSN,March17,1998,p.17.
18Rollo,pp.8789.
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Peoplevs.Nicolas
ThecontentionsoftheOSGarewelltaken.
Itistruethatatthetime,the1985RulesofCriminalProcedure
requiredasworncomplaintoftheoffendedpartyintheprosecution
of rape and other private crimes. The purpose of this requirement
wastoserveasaconditionprecedenttotheexercisebytheproper
19
authorities of the power to prosecute the guilty parties. The
overriding consideration in determining compliance with the
requirementistheintentanddeterminationoftheaggrievedpartyto
20
seek judicial redress. Once the requirement is satisfied by the
proper affidavit or complaint, the prosecutorial process is then
commenced, and the court could validly exercise its legally
mandatedjurisdictionovertherapecase.
The rule is that when the offended party has executed and
subscribedtoacomplaint,theprosecutionbeforethecourtmaybe
initiated
by means of an information signed by the prosecutor
21
alone. Butthereisnothingintherulethatrequiresthecomplaintto
stillbeidentifiedincourtduringtrial.Therule,inourview,isnot
vitiatedbythefactthatthecomplaintwassignedbythedaughterof
the disabled and mentally ill victim. Otherwise the rule would be
requiringtheimpossible,whichisabsurd.
AnnalizaUrmelitasaffidavitcomplaint,webelieve,issufficient
compliance with the rules. Annaliza swore to the contents of her
affidavitcomplaint, which was duly filed. Moreover, all of
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Flavianasotherchildrenhaveshowntheirintenttoproceedwiththe
case by actively participating in the trial. These include Ma.
Victoria, Joel, and Daisy, who were presented as witnesses. In our
view, it is clear that the offended partys children are firm in their
resolvetoseekjudicialredress.
Inanyevent,wehavepreviouslyruledinthecaseofPeoplevs.
22
Barrientos that any issue on the validity and sufficiency of the
complaintshouldberaisedinamotiontoquashtheinformation
_______________
19SeePeoplevs.Bolado,226SCRA800(1993).
20Peoplevs.Barrientos,285SCRA221,234(1998).
21Peoplevs.Ramirez,136SCRA702,705(1985).
22Supra,note20,285SCRA221(1998)citingPeoplevs.Garcia,G.R.No.120093,
281SCRA463(1997).
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23
24
informationonanyofthefollowinggrounds:
(a) Thatthefactschargeddonotconstituteanoffense
(b) Thatthecourttryingthecasehasnojurisdictionovertheoffensechargedor
thepersonoftheaccused
(c) Thattheofficerwhofiledtheinformationhadnoauthoritytodoso
(d) Thatitdoesnotconformsubstantiallytotheprescribedform
(e) Thatmorethanoneoffenseischargedexceptinthosecasesinwhichexisting
lawsprescribeasinglepunishmentforvariousoffenses
(f) Thatthecriminalactionorliabilityhasbeenextinguished
(g) Thatitcontainsavermentswhich,iftrue,wouldconstitutealegalexcuseor
justificationand
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(h) That the accused has been previously convicted or in jeopardy of being
convicted,oracquittedoftheoffensecharged.
24ExceptionscitedintheGarciacasearethegroundsofnooffensecharged,lackof
jurisdictionovertheoffensecharged,extinctionoftheoffenseorpenalty,andjeopardy.
25
RECLASSIFYINGTHESAMEASACRIMEAGAINSTPERSONS,AMENDING
FORTHEPURPOSEACTNO.3815,ASAMENDED,OTHERWISEKNOWNAS
THEREVISEDPENALCODE,ANDFOROTHERPURPOSES.
26 R.A. 8353, Section 2. Rape as a Crime Against Persons.The crime of rape
shallhereafterbeclassifiedasaCrimeAgainstPersonsunderTitleEightofActNo.
3815,asamended,otherwiseknownastheRevisedPenalCode.xxx
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thecrimeofrapehasbeeneffectivelyremovedfromtheambitofthe
requirements of Chapter Five, Title Eleven of the Revised Penal
Code and Section 5, Rule 110 of the 1985 Rules of Criminal
Procedure. Wenote further thaton December 1, 2000, the Revised
Rules on Criminal Procedure took effect and, following the
amendments brought about by R.A. 8353,27Section 5, Rule 110
thereof has correspondingly
been amended. Rape may now be
28
prosecuteddeoficio.
As to the alleged violation of appellants right to confrontation,
wefindappellantscontentionwithoutmerit.
Therighttoconfrontationhasatwofoldpurpose:(1)primarily,
to afford the accused an opportunity to test the testimony of the
witness by crossexamination and (2) secondarily,
to allow the
29
judgetoobservethedeportmentofthewitness.
In this case, Annaliza was the one who signed the complaint,
considering the physical disability of her paralyzed mother.
However,itwashersisterDaisyandbrotherJoelwhosawwhathad
happenedonOctober21,1997.Theoccurrencesthatconstitutethe
crimechargedwereculledfromtheirtestimony.Notably,appellant
_______________
27 2000 Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure, Rule 110, Section 5, paragraphs 3
and 4: The offenses of seduction, abduction and acts of lasciviousness shall not be
prosecuted except upon a complaint filed by the offended party or her parents,
grandparentsorguardian,nor,inanycase,iftheoffenderhasbeenexpresslypardoned
byanyofthem.Iftheoffendedpartydiesorbecomesincapacitatedbeforeshecanfile
the complaint, and has no known parents, grandparents or guardian, the State shall
initiatethecriminalactioninherbehalf.
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Theoffendedparty,evenifaminor,hastherighttoinitiatetheprosecutionofthe
offenses of seduction, abduction and acts of lasciviousness independently of her
parents,grandparents,orguardian,unlesssheisincompetentorincapableofdoingso.
Where the offended party, who is a minor, fails to file the complaint, her parents,
grandparents, or guardian may file the same. The right to file the action granted to
parents,grandparents,orguardianshallbeexclusiveofallotherpersonsandshallbe
exercised successively in the order herein provided, except as stated in the
immediatelyprecedingparagraph.
28Peoplevs.Yparraguirre,G.R.No.124391,335SCRA69(2000).
29
PRIMER,164(3rded.,1997).
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hadtheopportunitytoconfrontbothDaisyandJoel,alongwiththe
otherprosecutionwitnesses.DaisyandJoelwerepresentedincourt,
and their testimonies were adequately tested by the defense who
subjectedthemtocrossexamination.Likewise,thejudgehadample
opportunitytoobservetheirdemeanorwhiletestifying,andevaluate
their testimony. The judge
found their testimony candid,
30
straightforwardandcredible. Itwasnot,inourview,indispensable
under the circumstances of this case to present Annaliza on the
witnessstand.
Now, we resolve the second issue. Has appellants guilt been
provedbeyondreasonabledoubt?
Rape is committed by, interalia, having carnal knowledge
of a
31
woman who is deprived of reason or otherwise unconscious. The
prosecution needs to prove in this case (1) the fact of sexual
intercoursebetweentheaccusedandthevictimand(2)themental
disability of the latter. Being deprived of reason
means to suffer
32
frommentalabnormality,deficiencyorretardation.
Atthetrial,boththementalandthephysicalstatesofthevictim
wereprovedbytestimoniesofwitnessesandbyherclinicalrecords
presentedbytheprosecution.Witnessestestifiedthat
_______________
30Rollo,p.62.
31UnderArticle335,oftheRevisedPenalCode,asamendedbyR.A.7659,which
provides:
ART. 335. When and how rape is committed.Rape is committed by having carnal
knowledgeofawomanunderanyofthefollowingcircumstances:
1. Byusingforceorintimidation
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2. Whenthewomanisdeprivedofreasonorotherwiseunconsciousand
3. Whenthewomanisundertwelveyearsofageorisdemented.
xxx
32Peoplevs.Magabo,G.R.No.139471,350SCRA126,131(2001),citingPeople
vs.Reyes,G.R.No.113781,315SCRA563,577(1999),citingPeoplevs.Andaya,G.R.
No.126545,306SCRA202,214(1999),citingPeoplevs.Guerrero,G.R. No. 95031,
242SCRA606,617(1995).
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33 TSN, February 24, 1998, p. 7 TSN, April 14, 1998, pp. 1819. See also TSN,
March17,1998,pp.1213.
34TSN,February24,1998,p.7.
35TSN,July6,1998,pp.1112.
36Rollo,p.62.
37Peoplevs.Balgos,G.R.No.126115,323SCRA372,380(2000).
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Peoplevs.Nicolas
rences in the area prior to the time of the alleged rape. Denial and
alibiunsubstantiatedbyclearandconvincingevidencearenegative
and selfserving. They cannot be given greater evidentiary weight
over the testimonies
of credible witnesses who testified on
38
affirmativematters.
Inassailingthecredibilityoftheprosecutionwitnesses,appellant
averredthatitwasunlikelyforrapetobeperpetratedinacrowded
place,suchasthehousewhereFlavianawasstaying.Inalongline
ofcases,however,wehaveheldthatthepresenceofotherpeoplein
thevicinitydoesnotdeterthecommissionofrapethereisnorule
39
thatrapecanbecommittedonlyinseclusion. Lustisnorespecter
of time or place rape can be committed in small, confined places
like a oneroom
shack, and in the presence of other family
40
members.
According to appellant, the behavior of prosecution witness
DaisyMendoza,wholefttocallherbrotherwhenshesawappellant
sexuallymolestinghermother,wasunnatural.Appellantinsiststhat
the natural reaction would have been for Daisy to immediately
retaliateorwakehergrandparentstoaskforhelp,insteadofleaving
thehouse.
But as pointed out by the Office of the Solicitor General in its
brief for the appellee, witness Daisy Mendoza was only 15 years
old,andsheadmitteditwasherfirsttimetobeconfrontedwithsuch
41
asituation. Shewasinnopositiontostopagrown39yearoldman
intheheatofpassion.Sheevenconsideredhimasanuncle.Itwas
the most natural thing for her to summon her older brother, who
could better deal with the beastly situation. The fact that her
grandparents were not awakened when she went out
is immaterial.
42
Bothgrandparentswerealreadyabout97yearsold at
_______________
38Peoplevs.Llamo,G.R.No.132138,323SCRA791,806(2000).
39Peoplevs.Bato,G.R.No.134939,325SCRA671,678(2000).
40Peoplevs.LagartoandCordero,G.R.Nos.118828&119371,326SCRA693,746
(2000).
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41Rollo,pp.8081.
42 TSN, March 17, 1998, p. 17. See also TSN, April 14, 1998, p. 22, where Joel
Mendozatestifiedthathisgrandmotherwas94yearsoldwhiletheirgrandfatherwas
96yearsold.
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43
thattime,andalsodidnotevennoticeappellantentertheirhouse.
Likeher,theywouldbehelplesstodealwiththerepulsivebehavior
ofappellant.
In sum, we hold that appellants guilt has been established
beyondreasonabledoubtbytheprosecution.However,inourview,
it was error for the trial court to impose the penalty of death on
appellant.
As aforementioned, the trial court convicted appellant based on
R.A.
8353, particularly under the provisions of Article 266B, No.
44
10 thereof.Thisiserroneous.R.A.8353tookeffectonOctober22,
45
1997, which was one day after the commission of the crime on
46
October 21, 1997. The Constitution prohibits ex post facto laws.
WhatproperlyappliestothepresentcasearetheprovisionsofR.A.
47
7659, which was the law in effect on the day when the rape was
committed.
48
Under Sec. 11 of R.A. 7659, only seven circumstances called
for the mandatory imposition of death on the offender. The
qualifying
_______________
43TSN,March17,1998,p.20.
44ART.266B.Penalties.xxx
Thedeathpenaltyshallbeimposedifthecrimeofrapeiscommittedwithanyofthefollowing
aggravating/qualifyingcircumstances.
xxx
10.) When the offender knew of the mental disability, emotional disorder and/or physical
handicapoftheoffendedpartyatthetimeofthecommissionofthecrime.
xxx
45 See R.A. 8353, Section 5 stating that the Act shall take effect 15 days after
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xxx
Thedeathpenaltyshallalsobeimposedifthecrimeofrapeiscommittedwithanyofthe
followingcircumstances:
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Aclosereadingoftheamendedinformationfiledbytheprosecutor
showsthatthefactofappellantsknowledgeofFlavianascondition
at the time the rape was committed was not alleged therein. This
omission rules out any finding of qualified rape as defined by
statute. Thus, notwithstanding proof of such knowledge, appellant
couldonlybeheldliableforthecrimeofsimplerape.
As to appellants 50civil liability, we find in order the award of
51
P50,000asindemnity andofanotherP50,000asmoraldamages.
However, the award of P50,000 as exemplary damages should
be
52
reducedtoonlyP25,000,pursuanttocurrentjurisprudence.
WHEREFORE, the decision of the Regional Trial Court of
Paraaque City, Branch 259, is hereby MODIFIED. Appellant
ERNESTO NICOLAS is found GUILTY beyond reasonable doubt
of the crime of Rape. He is sentenced to suffer the penalty of
reclusionperpetua.Heisalsoorderedtopaytotheconcernedheirs
of the victim, Flaviana Mendoza, P50,000 as civil indemnity,
P50,000 as moral damages, and P25,000 as exemplary damages,
togetherwiththecosts.
SOORDERED.
Bellosillo(Actg.C.J.),Puno,Vitug,Mendoza,Panganiban,
YnaresSantiago,Carpio,AustriaMartinezandCorona,JJ.,concur.
Davide,Jr.(C.J.)andSandovalGutierrez, JJ., On official
leave.
Judgmentmodified.
_______________
50Peoplevs.Garcia,G.R.No.141125,February28,2002,p.14,378SCRA266.
51Peoplevs.Garcia,G.R.No.139753,May7,2002,p.13,381SCRA722.
52Peoplevs.Lachica,G.R.No.143677,May9,2002,p.24,382SCRA162.
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