November 2011 - Philippine Supreme Court Resolutions
Philippine Supreme Court Resolutions
[G.R. No. 197248 : November 14, 2011]
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES v. ROMULO DUTERTE
G.R. No. 197248 (People of the Philippines v. Romulo Duterte). - The records of this case were elevated to this Court on May 13, 2011, pursuant to the Court of Appeals Resolution dated February 25, 2011 which gave due course to the notice of appeal filed by the accused-appellant Romulo Duterte.
In compliance with the Court's Resolution dated July 13, 2011, both the accused-appellant and the Office of the Solicitor General filed their respective manifestations and waiver stating that they were no longer filing their Supplemental Briefs with this Court; and that they were adopting all the allegations, issues and arguments adduced in their respective briefs filed before the Court of Appeals.
After a perusal of the records of the case, the Court resolves to DISMISS the appeal for failure of the accused-appellant to sufficiently show reversible error in the challenged decision warranting the exercise of the Court's appellate jurisdiction. Thus, the decision of the Court of Appeals is affirmed except with the following modifications: [1] that the accused-appellant pay the victim the amount of P30,000.00 as exemplary damages, and [2] that the accused-appellant pay the victim the amounts of P75,000.00 as civil indemnity, P75,000.00 as moral damages, and P30,000.00 as exemplary damages, for each count of rape.
WHEREFORE, the Court ADOPTS the findings of fact and conclusions of law in the Decision dated September 22, 2010 of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CEB CR HC No. 00309 finding the accused-appellant guilty beyond reasonable doubt of two (2) counts of Qualified Rape, and sentencing him to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua, without eligibility for parole, and to pay the victim, AAA, the amounts of P75,000.00 as civil indemnity, P75,000.00 as moral damages, and P30,000.00 as exemplary damages, for each count.
SO ORDERED.
Very truly yours,
(Sgd.) LUCITA ABJELINA-SORIANO
Division Clerk of Court