VIRGILIO SANTOS,
                  Petitioner,

THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES,
                                                  Respondent.
 

Before us is a Petition for Review of the Court of Appeals[1] Decision dated October 19, 2000, in CA-G.R. CR No. 18994, which found the accused, Virgilio Santos, guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of Attempted Rape. chan robles virtual law library

On November 22, 1988, Transuelo de Jesus filed with the Regional Trial Court of Malolos, Bulacan a Criminal Complaint against Virgilio Santos, charging him with Attempted Rape committed as follows:  chan robles virtual law library

"That on or about the 10th day of May, 1987, in the municipality of Hagonoy, province of Bulacan, Philippines, and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the above-named accused did then and there wilfully, unlawfully and feloniously commence the commission of rape directly by overt acts, by then and there forcing one Transuelo Paguinto de Jesus to have sexual intercourse with him by dragging her to an uninhabited place and by means of force and violence; embracing and kissing her, touching her private parts and even undressing her with intent of having carnal knowledge of her; and if the accused was not able to accomplish his purpose, that is, to have carnal knowledge of the said Transuelo Peguinto de Jesus, it was not because of his voluntary desistance but because of the intervention of a third party.  chan robles virtual law library

Contrary to law."[2] chan robles virtual law library

On January 9, 1989, the accused was arraigned, and pleaded not guilty. Trial ensued. chan robles virtual law library

The prosecution established the following facts:  chan robles virtual law library

On May 10, 1987, between 8:00 and 9:00 in the evening, the private complainant, Transuelo P. de Jesus, an eighteen-year old housewife, was on her way to buy a mosquito coil or "katol" from the store of Marina Ablaza when she was grabbed by the accused, Virgilio Santos, and pulled into a vacant lot. The accused covered her mouth, and then started embracing and kissing her. He also touched her private parts. After forcibly raising the victim’s skirt and removing her underwear, the accused lowered his own pants and briefs, and began "poking" the victim’s vagina with his penis. Transuelo could only beg for mercy. She could not shout for help as the accused was holding a bladed weapon. At this point, they heard Transuelo’s mother-in-law, Emeteria de Jesus, calling her name. The accused immediately stood up and warned the victim not to tell anyone about what happened, otherwise, he would kill her. Still holding the bladed weapon, the accused left. chan robles virtual law library

Transuelo got up and headed home. She met her mother-in-law about 5 meters away from the place of the incident. When the latter asked where she came from, Transuelo replied that she went to buy "katol" but the store was already closed.  chan robles virtual law library

The following morning, Transuelo decided to tell her mother-in-law about the incident. She refused to tell her husband for fear that he would kill the accused. She did tell him, however, two days after the incident. On the same day, she was accompanied by her mother-in-law and reported the incident to the chairman of the barangay. She also filed a complaint with the Municipal Trial Court of Hagonoy, Bulacan, which, however, dismissed said complaint for lack of probable cause. Private complainant appealed the dismissal to the Provincial Prosecutor of Bulacan who likewise dismissed the complaint. Unfazed, the private complainant elevated her complaint to the Secretary of the Department of Justice who reversed the earlier rulings and issued an Order directing the Provincial Prosecutor of Bulacan to file an appropriate case against the accused. chan robles virtual law library

In defense, the accused claims that from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on the day of the incident, he played mahjong with Marina Ablaza and two other persons in Ablaza’s store. Then, he went home to his mother-in-law’s house, located "just opposite the store."[3] At 6:30 in the evening, he returned to the store to pay for his merienda, then went back home after thirty minutes, and never left again that evening. chan robles virtual law library

The accused avers that the complaint was filed by Transuelo because of a rumor circulating in their neighborhood that he embraced the latter. A misunderstanding between the wife of the accused and Transuelo’s mother-in-law developed. He presented witnesses - storeowner Marina Ablaza and neighbor Teodora Gonzales - to corroborate his testimony.[4] chan robles virtual law library

On February 10, 1993, judgment was rendered by Judge Amante M. Laforteza of the Regional Trial Court of Malolos, Bulacan, Branch 20, finding the accused guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of attempted rape. The dispositive portion of the Decision states: chan robles virtual law library

"WHEREFORE, judgment is hereby rendered finding the accused Virgilio Santos guilty beyond a (sic) reasonable doubt of attempted rape with the aggravating circumstance of nighttime and hereby sentences him to suffer an indeterminate penalty of imprisonment of SIX (6) MONTHS AND ONE (1) DAY, as minimum, to TEN (10) YEARS and ONE (1) DAY, as maximum, and to indemnify the complainant Transuelo de Jesus the sum of ONE THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED TWENTY (P1,320.00) PESOS, Philippine Currency, as actual expenses, and the sum of SEVEN THOUSAND (P7,000.00) PESOS, Philippine Currency, as attorney’s fees. chan robles virtual law library

Costs againts the accused. chan robles virtual law library

SO ORDERED."[5] chan robles virtual law library

On February 22, 1993, the accused filed a Motion for New Trial or Reconsideration. Four days later, he filed a Supplemental Motion for New Trial or Reconsideration, with attached "Sinumpaang Salaysay" or Sworn Statements of private complainant Transuelo de Jesus and witness Emeteria de Jesus. On April 21, 1993, the Regional Trial Court, through pairing judge, Judge Cesar M. Solis, granted the motion and set aside the February 10, 1993 Decision, viz:

"The Motion for New Trial with the Provincial Prosecutor interposing ‘No Objection’ has been found to be tenable. In view thereof, the evidence received in the proceedings of March 5, 1993 shall be taken and considered together with the evidence already on record. Accordingly, the decision promulgated on February 10, 1993 is hereby set aside for a new judgment to be rendered therein. chan robles virtual law library

SO ORDERED."[6] chan robles virtual law library

On November 4, 1994, Judge Oscar C. Herrera of the RTC of Malolos, Bulacan, Branch 20, issued the following Order respecting the pending case:

"Pursuant to the Administrative Circular No. 14-94 of the Honorable Chief Justice Andres R. Narvasa, dated September 14, 1994, authorizing Assisting Judges assigned to the Regional Trial Courts of the National Capital Judicial Region and holding office at Judiciary Planning Development and Implementation Office (JPDIO), Supreme Court, to assist in the resolution of ‘inherited cases’ in Regions III, IV and V, and the communication to the Court dated September 28, 1994 of Justice Oscar R. Victoriano, Consultant/National Coordinator, JPDIO, Supreme Court that the records of the ‘inherited cases’ in this sala be forwarded to the said office, let the complete records of the above-entitled case, together with the transcripts of stenographic notes (TSNs) and the exhibits, be forwarded to the Judiciary Planning Development Implementation Office, Supreme Court, Manila for resolution/decision. chan robles virtual law library

SO ORDERED."[7] chan robles virtual law library

Assisting Judge Recaredo P. Barte then rendered a Decision, dated June 6, 1995, on the "inherited case," the dispositive portion of which states, thus:
WHEREFORE, judgment is hereby rendered finding the accused VIRGILIO SANTOS, guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of Attempted Rape and sentences him to suffer an indeterminate prison term of from four (4) years, two (2) months and one (1) day of prision correccional as minimum, to ten (10) years and one (1) day of prision mayor as maximum, the same being fixed in its maximum period considering the attendance of the aggravating circumstance of nighttime, in the absence of any mitigating circumstance, and to indemnify the offended party Transuelo de Jesus, the sum of P1,320.00 as actual expenses, and P7,000.00 for attorney’s fees and to pay the costs. chan robles virtual law library

SO ORDERED.[8] chan robles virtual law library

On appeal, the RTC Decision was affirmed in toto by the Court of Appeals. The accused moved to reconsider but his motion was denied. Hence, this appeal where he raises the following assignments of error: chan robles virtual law library
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The appeal is partly meritorious. chan robles virtual law library

We will jointly resolve the first, second and fourth assignments of error. The accused contends that credence should be given to the affidavits of desistance of the private complainant and her witness even though filed after his conviction. The affidavits of desistance allegedly cast serious doubt on his criminal liability, especially when taken in conjunction with the private complainant’s initial complaint entered in the barangay and the police blotters, which contains no allegation of attempted rape. He also stressed the dismissal of the complaint during the preliminary investigation by the municipal trial judge, and subsequently, by the provincial prosecutor. chan robles virtual law library

We are not convinced. It is settled that an affidavit of desistance made by a witness after conviction of the accused is not reliable, and deserves only scant attention.[10] The affidavits of desistance filed by the private complainant and her witness were executed twelve (12) days after the promulgation of judgment of conviction, and are clearly mere afterthoughts. Hence, they cannot have the effect of negating a previous credible declaration. As we held in the case of People vs. Dalabajan:[11] chan robles virtual law library

"A recantation does not necessarily cancel an earlier declaration. Like any other testimony, it is subject to the test of credibility based on the relevant circumstances and especially the demeanor of the witness on the stand. Moreover, it should be received with caution as otherwise it could ‘make solemn trial a mockery and place the investigation of truth at the mercy of unscrupulous witnesses.’ [People vs. Davatos, 229 SCRA 647 (1994)] chan robles virtual law library

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We have previously held that mere retraction by a prosecution witness does not necessarily vitiate the original testimony if credible. [People vs. Dulay, 217 SCRA 103 (1993)] The Court looks with disfavor upon retractions of testimonies previously given in court. The rationale for the rule is obvious: Affidavits of retraction can easily be secured from witnesses, usually through intimidation or for a monetary consideration. Recanted testimony is exceedingly unreliable. There is always the probability that it will later be repudiated. [Lopez vs. Court of Appeals, 239 SCRA 562 (1994)]"[12] chan robles virtual law library

Rationalizing its unwillingness to give weight to the belated affidavits, the trial court aptly held, viz: chan robles virtual law library

"Besides, the affidavits of retraction of both the offended party and her mother-in-law, Emeteria de Jesus, had not been subjected to an exhaustive and probing cross-examination, if only to discover the motives that prompted complainant to repudiate her open court declarations and previous written statement executed before Municipal Judge Jose Torres. Had the desistance of offended party come at a seasonable time at least before she had told everything on the witness stand that convinced the trial judge and this Court of her sincerity, or had the accused thought of and earnestly sought the cooperation of offended party before the full dress presentation of prosecution evidence, it would have been less difficult for the court to set aside its judgment of conviction. But here lies already before the Court, a quantum of evidence supportive of the accused’s guilt that is beyond obliteration or capable of being expunged from the court’s record, without committing a miscarriage of justice or judicial anomaly."[13] chan robles virtual law library

The accused contends that the entries of Transuelo’s complaint in the barangay and the police blotters prove the innocence of the accused of the crime charged. chan robles virtual law library

The entry in the barangay blotter provides, viz: chan robles virtual law library

"Si Bebot ay nagreklamo sa punong barangay na siya ay niyakap ni Ver noong Linggo ng gabi sa pagitan ng alas 8:00 at alas 9:00 ng gabi, Mayo 10, 1987."[14]

On the other hand, the certification of the entry in the police blotter provides the following: chan robles virtual law library

"‘ACT OF LASCIVIOUSNESS’ The person of Mrs. Transuelo de Jesus, 19 years old, married, of Bgy. Carillo, this [municipality] complained to this [Headquarters] one @ Ver Santos of Bgy. Iba, this [municipality], for Act of Lasciviousness. According to reportee, suspect forcibly touch (sic) the different parts of her body and threaten (sic) her to kill (sic). Incident happened at Bgy. Iba, this [municipality] on 10 May ’87, between the hour (sic) of 2000H and 2100H.

(SGD.) TRANSUELO DE JESUS chan robles virtual law library

RECORDED BY: chan robles virtual law library

PAT. ROLANDO B. RONQUILLO INP
Desk Officer"[15] chan robles virtual law library

The above reports may be wanting in details of the incident, but they do not negate the charge of attempted rape. The entry in the barangay blotter merely states that private complainant was embraced ("niyakap") by the accused. This may be attributed to inaccurate reporting or to the victim’s incomplete narration of events, whether or not intentionally done. Well-known is the Filipina trait of being shy and coy, "not readily prone to reveal any violation against her private person such as rape due to concomitant shame and embarrassment."[16] There might have also been a lack of fair opportunity for the victim to narrate her full story. The incompleteness and inaccuracy of reports in the barangay and police blotters inspired our ruling in the case of Santiago vs. Court of Appeals,[17] viz:
chan robles virtual law library
"xxx [T]he entries in the police blotter should not be given significance or probative value, as they do not constitute conclusive proof of the truth thereof. These entries are usually incomplete and inaccurate, as ‘[s]ometimes they are taken from either partial suggestion or inaccurate reporting and are hearsay, untested in the crucible of a trial on the merits."[18] chan robles virtual law library

Next, the accused argues that the dismissal of the complaint by the municipal trial court, and subsequently, by the provincial prosecutor, during its preliminary investigation, should be taken into account in determining whether the accused is criminally liable. The appellate court dismissed the contention with the following ruling, viz:  chan robles virtual law library

"It may be stated that although the instant case had been earlier dismissed during its preliminary investigation and said dismissal was later sustained by the provincial prosecutor, said case however was allowed to be refiled by the Department of Justice upon appeal of the dismissal of the case thereto.
The previous dismissal of the case during its preliminary investigation stage before the fiscal is immaterial for the records gathered therein do not even form part of the present records of the present case. Section 8, Rule 112 of the Rules on Criminal Procedure provides:  chan robles virtual law library

‘Sec. 8. Record of preliminary investigation - The record of preliminary investigation whether conducted by a judge or a fiscal shall not form part of the record of the case in the Regional Trial Court. However, the said court, on its own initiative or that of any party may order the production of the record or any part thereof whenever the same shall be necessary in the resolution of the case or any incident therein, or shall be introduced as evidence by the party requesting for its production.’"[19] chan robles virtual law library

In the case of People vs. Crispin,[20] this Court held that the record of the preliminary investigation does not form part of the regional trial court records unless introduced as evidence during the trial. Absent such introduction, the records of preliminary investigation cannot be treated as evidence in court; neither may the trial court be compelled to take judicial notice of the same.[21] A careful review of the records of this case, however, will show that the accused presented, and formally offered as evidence,[22] the records of the preliminary investigation. Nonetheless, we remain unconvinced that these records will exculpate the accused. The dismissal of the case by the investigating municipal trial judge and by the provincial prosecutor was based on the report in the barangay blotter which we earlier held as highly unreliable and undeserving of any probative value. For good reasons, the dismissal of the case was reversed by the Secretary of Justice. chan robles virtual law library

On the second assignment of error, the accused contends that the material discrepancies in the sworn statements of the private complainant and her mother-in-law, Emeteria de Jesus, erode their credibility. He alleges that in their sworn statements before Patrolman Mario Reyes of the Hagonoy Police Station and in their answer to the inquiry of the municipal trial judge during the preliminary investigation, both the private complainant and her mother-in-law claimed that it was on the day after the incident that the private complainant revealed to her mother-in-law about the incident. However, in their sworn statements before the provincial prosecutor, they claimed that the private complainant told her mother-in-law about the incident right after it occurred. Also, the statements made by Emeteria de Jesus before the police officer in Hagonoy and the investigating judge were to the effect that she met her daughter-in-law on the street, coming from the vacant lot where the incident happened. She declared before the provincial prosecutor, however, that she found her daughter-in-law in the place where "she also saw the accused emerge."[23] chan robles virtual law library

Time and again, we hold that not all kinds of discrepancies and inconsistencies in testimonies have the effect of discrediting a witness. On the contrary, some discrepancies may actually strengthen the witness’ credibility as they erase the suspicion of a rehearsed testimony.[24] These are the discrepancies and inconsistencies which refer to minor details outside the essential elements of the crime charged.[25] chan robles virtual law library

In the case at bar, the alleged discrepancies and inconsistencies refer to the time and place when the private complainant met and told her mother-in-law about the incident. These are mere collateral matters inconsequential in the determination of the criminal liability of the accused. More important is the spontaneous, categorical and straightforward testimony of the private complainant on the violation against her person. She never faltered in her narration of the essential elements of the subject offense, whether before the investigating judge or prosecutor, or the trial judge. chan robles virtual law library

We quote the pertinent portions of the private complainant’s testimony during the trial of the case, to wit: chan robles virtual law library

DIRECT EXAMINATION OF THE WITNESS BY ATTY. KLIATCHKO: chan robles virtual law library
 

Finally, we consider the defense of alibi. The accused claims to be in the house of his mother-in-law as early as 7:00 p.m. on the day of the incident, and that he never went out of the house again that evening. We find this alibi weak and unconvincing. For alibi to prosper, it must preclude any doubt on the physical impossibility of the presence of the accused at the scene of the crime or its vicinity.[29] In this case, the house of the accused’s mother-in-law is "just opposite the store"[30] of Marina Ablaza, which is only about 8 to 12 meters away from the vacant lot where the incident happened.[31] The accused could have left the house of his mother-in-law sometime between 8:00 and 9:00 p.m., committed the crime (which according to the victim lasted for only about 5 minutes)[32] and returned to the house unnoticed. chan robles virtual law library

Anent the aggravating circumstance of nighttime, we note that this is not even alleged in the information. Sections 8 and 9 of Rule 110 of the Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure provide, thus: chan robles virtual law library

Sec. 8. Designation of the Offense. The complaint or information shall state the designation of the offense given by the statute, aver the acts or omissions constituting the offense, and specify its qualifying and aggravating circumstances. If there is no designation of the offense, reference shall be made to the section or subsection of the statute punishing it. chan robles virtual law library

Sec. 9. Cause of the accusation."The acts or omissions complained of as constituting the offense and the qualifying and aggravating circumstances must be stated in ordinary and concise language and not necessarily in the language used in the statute but in terms sufficient to enable a person of common understanding to know what offense is being charged as well as its qualifying and aggravating circumstances and for the court to pronounce judgment."
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According to the foregoing provisions, any circumstance that would qualify or aggravate the crime charged must be specified in the information. Following the established rule that a penal statute, whether substantive or procedural, shall be given a retroactive effect if favorable to the accused,[33] we hold that the aforequoted provisions are applicable to this case, and accordingly, rule that the aggravating circumstance of nighttime cannot be appreciated.
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WHEREFORE, the assailed Decision of the Court of Appeals dated October 19, 2000, affirming the Decision dated June 6, 1995 of the Regional Trial Court of Malolos, Bulacan, Branch 20 which found the accused, Virgilio Santos, guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of Attempted Rape, is hereby AFFIRMED with MODIFICATION that the accused is sentenced to an indeterminate penalty of two (2) years, four (4) months and one (1) day of prision correccional medium, as the minimum penalty, and eight (8) years and one (1) day of prision mayor medium, as the maximum penalty. chan robles virtual law library

SO ORDERED. chan robles virtual law library

Panganiban, Sandoval-Gutierrez, Corona and Carpio-Morales, JJ., concur. chan robles virtual law library
 
 

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Endnotes: