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THIRD DIVISION
[G.R. No. 110823. July 28, 1997]
THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. ROCHEL TRAVERO, Accused-Appellant.
D E C I S I O N
FRANCISCO, J.:
Thirteen-year old Agnes Cuba was barely in her teens when she met her tragic fate at the hands of herein accused-appellant Rochel Travero. On the night of October 3, 1992, the young Agnes was raped by accused-appellant.
Upon submission by Agnes of her complaint-affidavit accusing
Rochel Travero of the crime of rape, the corresponding criminal complaint was
filed by the City Prosecutor of Danao City before the Regional Trial Court of
Danao City, Branch 25.1
During the arraignment, accused-appellant pleaded not guilty.
However, at the conclusion of the trial, the
trial court found otherwise and convicted him of the crime charged, sentencing
him to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua and to indemnify Agnes
Cuba the sum of P40,000.2chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary
Accused-appellant is now before this Court seeking the reversal
of his conviction on account of the following errors allegedly committed by the
trial court: (1) in failing to scrutinize complainants testimony with extreme
caution; (2) in receiving complainants testimony with precipitate credulity;
(3) in disregarding strong indications pointing to the possibility that the
rape charge was merely motivated by some factors except the truth as to its
commission; (4) in failing to appreciate the consent of complainant to the
sexual congress; (5) in disregarding the existence of reasonable doubt as to
the guilt of accused-appellant, and (6) in rendering judgment which is contrary
to the evidence adduced.3chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary
The antecedents as summarized by the prosecution in their Brief are as follows:
At around 10 p.m. of October 3, 1992, Agnes Cuba, a 13-year old high school sophomore at the Cebu State College of Science and Technology (CSCST) was in Maslog, Danao City with her cousin, Washington Lawas, to attend a coronation ceremony which was about two kilometers from her house. They were already at the peryahan when Lawas companion from elementary days arrived. Lawas companion brought him to his grandmothers house to eat (TSN, January 19, 1993, pp. 27, 31-33).
After Lawas and his friend left, Agnes met her other cousin, Floresa Baclado who was with two friends. The latter asked Agnes to go with them to buy ice water, to which Agnes agreed. After buying ice water, the group left with Baclado and her companions walking five meters ahead of Agnes (TSN, Ibid., pp. 34-36).
Suddenly, appellant who was then a second year college student and an official of a school organization at CSCST grabbed Agnes from behind. He pointed a pistol at Agness head and ordered her not to shout, or else she will be shot. He held the gun with his left hand while his right hand held the girls left arm. He also threatened Agnes that if she will not go with him, he will kill her (TSN, ibid, pp. 35, 36, 38-40).
Appellant dragged Agnes to a dark place between a parked cargo truck and salwag trees, around ten meters form where people was holding the Fiesta Celebration. The truck was along the road. At the side of the road was an eight-feet high concrete wall two meters distant from the truck. The house of the girls grandmother was ten meters away from the cargo truck. The peryahan was about eighty meters from the house of her grandmother and sixty meters from the parked cargo truck. To the north of peryahan was the basketball court here the coronation night is being held. Seven meters away from the cargo truck, the friends of accused were drinking (TSN, ibid., pp. 10,11, 12, 14, 20, 26, 30-45; TSN, January 20, 1993, pp. 10-14, 40).
Agnes did not shout for help because of the threats made by the appellant. She was seized by extreme fear because appellant was big, stout fellow and he was holding her. When the appellant and Cuba were already by the side of the cargo truck, he removed her garter short pants and underwear. Thereafter, appellant tucked his gun at the back pocket of his pants, Agnes (sic) [should be appellant] lowered his pants a little and lifted one of her thighs. Thereupon, with both of them standing, he held his penis and inserted the same into her vagina. Cuba was shocked and was not able to stop the appellant. Agnes tried to push appellant but she was not able to (sic) [put] up much resistance because appellant had a big body and held her against steel portion of the cargo truck. Agnes felt pain when the penis was inserted into her vagina which lasted for about two minutes (TSN, January 19, 1993, pp. 23, 25, 40-41, 46-53; TSN, January 20, 1993, pp. 18-19, 22-23).
After the incident, appellant immediately left with a companion on the latters motorcycle, bringing with him Agnes panty. Agnes observed that her vagina was bleeding. She cried because of the intense pain in her vagina. She put on her garter short pants which she used together with the lower portion of her t-shirt in wiping the blood from her private parts. Not long after, a patrolman arrived (TSN, January 19, 1993, pp. 53-57; Exh.D, E; TSN, January 20, 1993, pp. 3-6, 9).
Forthwith, the policeman, an unidentified lady and Agnes went to her grandmothers house nearby to inform her relatives of the rape. Agnes was then accompanied to the police station by an aunt and two cousins. The girl complained to the police that she was raped by appellant. That same evening, she was also brought to a hospital where she was examined by Dr. Angelina Bartilet, a medico-legal officer (TSN, January 19, 1993, pp. 57-61; exh. C, C-1).
The medical examination showed that Agnes outer vaginal wall was
with blood clots.
There was a
laceration at 6 oclock, abrasion with laceration with 3 oclock, and
laceration at 9 oclock positions.
Her
hymen was broken with difficulty inserting one finger.
He feet was full of mud.
Her vaginal smear showed few blood cells
(TSN, January 19, 1993, pp. 14-15; Exh. A A-1 and A-2).4chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary
Accused-appellant, on the other hand, has a different version. He denies that he raped Agnes Cuba and instead claims that they were sweethearts. According to him, this was what transpired during that fateful night:
After buying ice water, Agnes left her companions and distanced herself 5 meters away to go near and chat with Rochel 10 meters away from the peryahan, a well lighted place where there were many people who participated and watched the parlor games there (pp. 36-37 TSN Jan. 19, 1993, Nuez).
"Rochel chatted with Agnes and then suggested that they stroll around, as what sweethearts usually do. Then they stopped beside a parked cargo truck on the east side of the road. As lovers, they conversed with each other, leaned on the truck and made occasional necking and petting (TSN p. 7 Feb. 10, 1993, Nuez).
However, their occasional kissing heightened their mutual passion, that they were able to go beyond the bounds of mere petting, by have had a pre-marital sex while standing (TSN 2/10/93 Nuez p. 7, and TSN Jan. 19, 1993, p. 47, Nuez)
Their sex act was consumated, without sexual climax on the part of Rochel, as on this stage, Agnes noticed there were people, including a police man on the cargo truck, clandestinely watching them (TSN, p. 14 Feb. 10, 1993 Nuez)
Agnes pushed Rochel and withdrew his penis which ejaculated outside (TSN p. 16 February 10, 1993, Nuez). They dressed hurriedly but Rochel noticed that Agnes was bleeding. This is however, normal, since Agnes was a virgin. Rochel took off his T-shirt and wiped the blood of Agnes.
They proceeded to the house of Arsenio Hermosilla, father-in-law of Zacarial Navales, neighbor of Rochel accompanied by Police Officer Salvador Basubas, among those people who watched them doing sex act, where Rochel tried to borrow a T-Shirt to wear in going home (TSN P. 27, Feb. 10, 1993, Nuez).
Later, the policeman told Rochel to just go home as he will escort Agnes home (TSN P. 10, Feb. 10, 1993, Nuez)
A rumor was then circulated that Rochel had raped a woman.
Upon the advice of his friends and for his
safety, Rochel went to the Police Headquarters to deny the charges of
rape.
But he was subsequently
detained.5chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary
In reviewing the evidence in rape cases, the Court is guided by
three (3) settled principles, namely: (1) an accusation of rape can be made
with facility; it is difficult to prove but more difficult for the person
accused, though innocent, to disprove; (2) in view of the intrinsic nature of
the crime of rape where two (2) persons usually involved, the testimony of the
complainant must be scrutinized with extreme caution; and (3) the evidence for
the prosecution must stand or fall on its own merits,, and cannot be allowed to
draw strength for the weakness of the evidence for the defense.6chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary
Herein accused-appellant contends that there is no evidence to merit his conviction. In his first and second assignment of error, he faults the trial court giving too much credence to the testimony of the complainant despite being fraught with inconsistencies vis--vis the declarations in her affidavit with regard to the following points: whether Agnes and his cousin were able to buy ice water before the incident or not; whether both her hands were being held by appellant while she was being dragged or only her right hand; whether there was a tricycle or not; whether appellant poked a gun at her head or at her body; whether there was policeman at the peryahan or not; whether 45 minutes elapsed after the incident before she reported the same to the police. Moreover, accused-appellant noted other fabrications which complainant allegedly made when she testified which dealt with whether the existence of the gun was proven whether there were houses in the vicinity of the crime scene; whether the weight of the.45 caliber pistol would have pulled down appellants pants; whether appellant left victim immediately after the incident; whether there was a policeman near the crime scene; whether the house nearest the church was visible; whether Agnes was shocked during the incident; and whether she was conscientious student.
We find the aforementioned protestations bereft of merit.
In the first place, discrepancies between
statements in an affidavit and those made on the witness stand would seldom
discredit the declarant.7
The reason being that testimonies given during trials are much more exact and
elaborate than those stated in sworn statements. Ex-parte affidavits are almost always incomplete and often
inaccurate for varied reasons, at times because of partial and innocent
suggestions or for want of specific inquiries.
Witness cannot be expected everytime, except when told, to distinguish
between what may be consequential and what may be mere insignificant details.8
Additionally, an extra-judicial statement or affidavit is generally not
prepared by the affiant himself but by another who uses his own language in
writing the affiants statement, hence, omissions and misunderstandings by the
writer are not infrequent.9chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary
Nevertheless, the alleged inconsistencies, if at all, are
inconsequential, herein considering that they are referred to trivial details
which have nothing to do with the essential fact in the commission of the crime
of rape, that is carnal knowledge through force or intimidation.
The Court has consistently adhered to the
rule that inconsistencies on minor details of the testimony of a witness serves
to strengthen his credibility as they are badges of truth rather than an indicia
of falsehood.10
A rapist cannot expect the hapless object of his lechery to have the memory of
an elephant and the cold precision of a mathematician because total recall of
the an incident is not expected of a witness, especially if it is the victim
herself who is on the witness stand.11
She cannot be expected to mechanically keep and then give an accurate account
of the traumatic and horrifying experience she had undergone.12
This is particularly true in this case where the rape victim is only thirteen
years of age and hails from a rural area, it being improbable for a young girl
like her and not one exposed to the ways of the world to impute a crime as
serious as rape to any man if it were not true.13chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary
Accused-appellants desperate attempt to assail complainants credibility becomes evident as he tried to make much of complainants failure to exhibit any emotional instability when she testified by not crying or appearing to be sad. According to the accused-appellant, the charge of rape against him was motivated by other factors except the truth, and insists that the filing of the case was instigated by complainants parents against her will.
The notion of equating emotional outbursts on the witness stand
with credibility is clearly misplaced.
A rape victims testimony is not rendered less credible if not
accompanied by emotional overtures.
Contrary to appellants claim, the trial court observed complainants
conduct and demeanor while testifying and found no reason to doubt the
same.
Accordingly, we are not inclined
to depart from its findings because the matter of accessing the credibility of
witness is an area within the almost exclusive province of a trial judge whose
findings and conclusions are normally accorded weight and respect.14
Anent appellants insinuation that complainant was merely forced by her parents
to file charges against him, we find the same baseless on account of
appellants failure to show any motive on the part of his accusers to implicate
him in such a serious charge.
Moreover,
it is hard to believe that a rape victim and her family would publicly disclose
the incident and thus sully their honor and reputation in the community unless
it is true.15chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary
In a bid to exculpate himself, accused-appellant also sought to
establish that the sexual intercourse took place with the consent of the
complainant owing to the fact that they were lovers and the absence of any
external injury on the part of the latter.
Appellant contends that it was improbable to have sexual intercourse in
standing position unless both parties act in concert. These contentions are equally devoid of merit.
In countless times, it has been held that
the absence of external signs of physical injuries does not negate the
commission of rape.16
Regarding the claim that sexual intercourse in a standing position is
impossible, it has already been held that sexual intercourse in a standing
position while perhaps uncomfortable, not improbable. 17
Appellants sweetheart theory must also be discarded, having failed to present
any evidence to support the same, such as love letters, tokens or pictures,
coupled with complainants total denial of any relations with appellant other
than being schoolmates.
Moreover, it
has been held that being lovers does not negate the commission of rape because
such fact does not give the accused the license to deflower the complainant
against her will, and will not exonerate him from the criminal charge of rape.18chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary
Neither are we impressed with appellants attempt to portray
complainant as an aggressive and uninhibited young girl who would easily fall
prey to the charms of an alleged school celebrity like appellant and succumb to
the latters sexual advances.
This
according to appellant, is due to the fact that the young people here, like
their foreign counterparts, are now more sexually active.
On the contrary however, this Court has
taken judicial cognizance of the fact that in rural areas in the Philippines,
young ladies are strictly required to act with circumspection and prudence, and
that great caution is observed so that their reputation shall remain untainted.19chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary
Appellants assertion that there was no proof that force and intimidation was employed on complainant because the prosecution failed to establish the existence of the gun allegedly used to threaten the complaint also deserves scant consideration. The non-presentation of the weapon used in the commission of the rape is not essential to the conviction of the accused. It suffices that the testimony of the rape victim is credible because the established rule is that the sole testimony of the offended party is sufficient to sustain the accuseds conviction if it rings the truth or is otherwise credible.20 What must be established is that there was indeed some form of force or intimidation at the time of the sexual assault. In fact, considering that human reactions vary and unpredictable, thus different persons react differently to the same situation, the force of intimidation must be viewed in the light of the victims perception and judgment at the time of the commission of the crime.21 The force and intimidation need not even be irresistible, it being enough that it is present and it brings about the desired result.22 Undoubtedly, considering the tender age of herein complainant, she was easily intimidated and cowed into submission by accused-appellant who, aside from being older and bigger, menacingly threatened to kill her with a gun if she resisted his sexual advances.
All told, it is beyond dispute that accused-appellants guilt was established beyond reasonable doubt. He was positively identified by complainant who did not waver in her testimony. On the other hand, appellant admitted that he had sexual intercourse with the complainant, but maintained that the latter consented. Unfortunately, the evidence on record proved otherwise.
It must be emphasized that no woman, especially one who is of
tender age, would concoct a story of defloration, allow an examination of her
private parts and thereafter permit herself to be subjected to a public trial,
if she is not motivated by the desire to have the culprit apprehended and
punished.23
Moreover, it is highly improbable for a barrio girl of tender age like the
complainant who is definitely inexperienced in sexual matters to fabricate
charges, for no reason at all, that will put herself and her family in a very
compromising situation which could even invite reprisal.24chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary
WHEREFORE, the appealed decision, finding appellant Rochel
Travero guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of rape and imposing him the
penalty reclusion perpetua, is hereby AFFIRMED subject to the
modification that he shall instead indemnify Agnes Cuba the increased sum of
Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) in conformity with present
jurisprudence.25chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary
SO ORDERED.
Davide, Jr., Melo, and Panganiban, JJ., concur.
Narvasa, C.J., (Chairman), on leave.
Endnotes:
1 Docketed as Criminal Case No. DNO-1084.
2 Decision, p. 9
3 Appellants Brief, pp. 1-2.
4 Appellees Brief, pp. 4-8.
5 Appellants Brief pp. 2-4.
6 People v. Florendo, 230 SCRA 599 (1994); People v. Batis, 216 SCRA 673 (1994).
7 People v. Peralta, 251 SCRA 6, 17 (1995); People v. Poneferada, 220 SCRA 46 (1993).
8 People v. Miranda, 235 SCRA 202, 213-214; People v. Marcelo, 223 SCRA 24 (1993).
9 People v. Reyes, 245 SCRA 785 (1995).
10 People v. Ponayo, 235 SCRA 226 (1994); People v. Silong, 232 SCRA 987 (1994); People v. Vivar, 235 SCRA 257(1994); People v. Bello, 237 SCRA 347 (1994); People v. Jimenez, 235 SCRA 322 (1994).
11 People v. Mandap, 244 SCRA 457 (1995).
12 People v. Cura, 240 SCRA 234 (1995); People v. Ching, 240 SCRA 267 (1995).
13 People v. dela Cruz, 251 SCRA 77 (1995); People v. Vitor, 245 SCRA 392 (1995).
14 People v. Dado, 244 SCRA 655 (1995); People v. Pija, 245 SCRA 80 (1995).
15 People v. Namayan, 246 SCRA 646 (1995).
16 People v. Monteverde, 142 SCRA 668 (1986); People v. Gapasan, 243 SCRA 53 (1995); People v. Rivera, 245 SCRA 22 (1994).
17 People v. Castro, 196 SCRA 679 (1991).
18 People v. Tacipit, 242 SCRA 241 (1995); People v. Tismo, 204 SCRA 535 (1991).
19 People v. Godoy, 250 SCRA 676 (1995).
20 People v. Martinez, 219 SCRA 502 (1993); People v. Vallena, 244 SCRA 685 (1995); People v. Dado, supra; People v. Rivera, 242 SCRA 26 (1995).
21 People v. Bantisil, 249 SCRA 367 (1995).
22 People v. Corro, 197 SCRA 121, 127 (1991); People v. Antonio, 233 SCRA 283 (1994).
23 People v. Sanchez, 250 SCRA 74 (1995); People v. Manzana, 290 SCRA 152 (1995).
24 People v. Guibao, 217 SCRA 64 (1993).
25 People v. Alimon, 257 SCRA 658(1996) citing People v. Escoto, 229 SCRA 430 (1994).