This case has been cited 3 times or more.
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2002-04-17 |
VITUG, J. |
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| Like in many rape cases appealed to this Court, the issue raised is one that attempts to put in doubt the credibility of the victim. The crime of rape is essentially, at least almost always, one committed in relative isolation or even secrecy; hence, it is usually only the victim who can testify in respect to the forced coitus. The case for the prosecution thus virtually depends on the credibility of the complainant. If found credible, the lone declaration of the facts given by the victim would suffice to sustain a conviction. Expectedly, an accused would assail the reliability of the complainant. The proper response to this question is made by the trial court which has the full chance to observe the deportment and demeanor of the witness. Not being in a position to enjoy that same opportunity, an appellate court would, naturally, respect the judgment of the trial court on the matter and disturb it only, as has been so often repeated by the Court, when there exists a fact or circumstance of weight and substance which has apparently been ignored or misconstrued.[5] | |||||
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2002-02-15 |
YNARES-SANTIAGO, J. |
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| It bears stressing that the victims herein are minors, whose testimonies therefore deserve full credence.[18] Courts usually give greater weight to the testimony of the victim of a sexual assault, especially a minor. No woman would be willing to undergo a public trial and put up with the shame, the humiliation and the dishonor of exposing her own degradation were it not to condemn an injustice and to have the offender apprehended and punished. The embarrassment and stigma she suffers in allowing an examination of her private parts and testifying in open court on the painfully intimate details of her ravishment effectively rule out the possibility of a false accusation of rape. Her account of her horrible ordeal evinces sincerity and truthfulness.[19] | |||||
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2001-08-30 |
QUISUMBING, J. |
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| Finally, in line with current jurisprudence and considering the need to deter commission of a bestial offense against a minor, aside from the civil indemnity of P50,000.00 for each rape, appellant should be made to pay the additional amounts of P50,000.00 as moral damages and P25,000.00 as exemplary damages for every count of rape.[46] | |||||