This case has been cited 2 times or more.
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2014-06-30 |
REYES, J. |
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| Time and again, the Court has emphasized that a woman's conduct immediately after the alleged assault is of critical value in gauging the truth of her accusations.[43] One important test is that it must coincide with logic and experience.[44] If indeed she was raped, AAA's utter failure not only to resist Rondina's advances but also to shout for help before, during or after the rape are truly baffling, and defy the ordinary standards of human behavior. A stranger suddenly materialized who obviously had unholy intentions, he quickly placed himself on top of her and raped her, yet AAA did not shout for help, knowing that the neighbors were just nearby. Incomprehensibly, too, after the dastardly rape, which went on for a "long time," AAA stayed half naked and supine, and with her face looking up she carried on a hushed conversation with her supposed attacker, who just sat still beside her, also half-naked like her. While a rape victim is not expected to resist until death, it is contrary to human experience that AAA did not even make an outcry or put up a resistance,[45] particularly since throughout her ordeal, her hands were free of restraint, and Rondina's knife lay by her side most of the time, if indeed he had a knife. | |||||
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2001-05-17 |
BELLOSILLO, J. |
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| We now proceed to review and analyze in detail the testimony of the offended party, being the only evidence presented by the prosecution on how the alleged rape was perpetrated; consequently, the conviction of accused-appellant rests on the credibility of such testimony. In reviewing the testimony of Era, it may be practical to ask: Had she evinced the natural behavior of a victim of rape? Or, had her actuations been such that her claim to having been violated becomes doubtful? Had she shown genuine grief, tried to flee from the scene of her violation, shunned her violator? Or, could it have been out of pique, on her part or on her family, that impelled her to cry rape?[14] Although the findings of trial courts are normally respected and not disturbed on appeal, numerous circumstances revealed through the foregoing questions discredit the testimony of complaining witness, thus prodding this Court to reverse the guilty verdict based on an erroneous appreciation of evidence. | |||||