People Vs Batalla GR 234323
People Vs Batalla GR 234323
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Divisio lerk of Court
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THIRD DIVISION
Promulgated:
JORDAN BATALLA y AQUINO,
Accused-Appellant. ~1.)~ry 7, 2019
x--------------------------------------------------------~~--~----x
DECISION
PERALTA, J.:
On leave.
Designated Additional Member per Special Order No. 2624 dated November 28, 2018.
Penned by Associate Justice Stephen C. Cruz, with Associate Justices
Jose C. Reyes, Jr. (now a member of this Court) and Nina G. Antonio-Valenzuela, concurring; rollo, pp. 2-
14.
2
Penned by Judge Jose S. Vallo; CA rollo, pp. 11-25.
Pursuant to R.A. No. 7610, "An Act Providing for Stronger Deterrence and Special Protection
against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination, and for Other Purposes;" R.A. No. 9262, "An Act
Defining Violence against Women and Their Children, Providing for Protective Measures for Victims,
Prescribing Penalties Therefore, and for Other Purposes;" Section 40 of A.M. No. 04-10-11-SC, known as
the "Rule on Violence against Women and Their Children," effective November 15, 2004; and People v.
Cabalquinto, 533 Phil. 703 (2006), the real name of the rape victim is withheld and, instead, fictitious
initials are used to represent her. Also, the personal circumstances of the victim or any other information
tending to establish or compromise her identity, as well as those of her immediate family or household d
members, is not disclosed (People v. CCC, G.R. No. 220492, July 11, 2018). {If
Decision -2- G.R. No. 234323
CONTRARY TO LA W. 4
she executed her· sworn statement before SP04 Casipit. On the same day,
she was examined by Dr. Tangonan, who found an old hymenal laceration at
the 5 o'clock position. 5
On February 26, 2016, the RTC rendered its Decision finding Batalla
guilty of the crime !charged, disposing of the case as follows:
! .
soo
The RTC folmd that AAA vividly and straightforwardly recounted the
sufficient details of the rape incident. When a woman, especially a minor
says that she has been raped, she says in effect all that is necessary to show
that rape was committed. The fact that AAA did not report the incident is of
no moment in view of settled jurisprudence that delay in the filing is not an
indication of falsehood. The trial court added that the fact that the sexual
assault was committed in a room adjacent to AAA's aunt and cousins does
not make her claim any less credible. Neither does the fact that she failed to
shout for help during the rape for as AAA stated, she was afraid of Batalla's
threats. As regards the absence of external signs of physical injuries as well
as the non-presentation of AAA's bloodied underwear and diary, the RT~
5
Id. at 4-5. (,/'
6
Id. at 5.
CA rollo p. 25.
Decision -4- G.R. No. 234323
held that proof of the same is not an element of rape nor are they
indispensable to the conviction of the accused. Finally, the trial court
rejected Batalla's defenses of denial and alibi. According to the RTC, it is
unbelievable for his mother Hilda to have kept an eye on him throughout her
birthday party since she was too busy entertaining her guests. The same is
true with Vincecruz who admitted that she was focused on the videoke. As
for his alibi that he was not present at the scene of the crime since he was at
his mother's birthday party in their house,, the RTC ruled that the distance
between his house and the house where AAA was at was only two (2) blocks
away and could be negotiated in just a five (5)-minute walk. 8
After a careful review of the records and the parties' submissions, the
Court finds no cogent reason to reverse the judgment of conviction. There is
no showing that the RTC or the CA committed any error in the findings of
fact and the conclusions of law. Settled is the rule that the trial court's
evaluation and conclusion on the credibility of witnesses in rape cases are
generally accorded great weight and respect, and at times even finality, and
that its findings are binding and conclusive on the appellate court, unless
there is a clear showing that it was reached arbitrarily or it appears from the
records that certain facts or circumstances of weight, substance or value
were overlooked, misapprehended or misappreciated by the lower court and
which, if properly considered, would alter the result of the case. Having seen
and heard the witnesses themselves and observed their behavior and manner
of testifying, the trial court stood in a much better position to decide the
question of credibility. Indeed, trial judges are in the best position to assess
whether the witness is telling a truth or lie as they have the direct and
singular opportunity to observe the facial expression, gesture and tone of
voice of the witness while testifying. I 1
10
II
Id. at 15-24.
Rollo, p. 31.
Id. at 25.
People v. Matutina, G.R. No. 227311, September 26, 2018.
c/
Decision -5- G.R. No. 234323
266-A, paragraph l(a) of the RPC. 12 During the trial, AAA vividly gave a
detailed narration of what transpired in the evening of August 5, 2011. In a
sincere and convincing manner, AAA painstakingly recounted how she was
suddenly awakened by Batalla who was on top her, how he kissed her very
hard, spread her legs, and took away her virginity by inserting his private
organ into hers. She re-lived that time when she had to keep the harrowing
experience to herself in fear of the threats made to her by Batalla; viz.:
Q: Other than started kissing you very hard, what happened next?
A: I could not breathe because I was suffocating under the ... because I am
claustrophobic sometimes and tired so I can't really breathe. I was
tryjng to.breathe through my nose. I was trying to push him away but I
guess he did not feel it because he was strong.
Q: When you said you kept silent, do you recall if those words were made
in English or in any language?
A: Made in English.
Q: What did you feel when this person told you to be quiet when he. is on
top of you?
A: I was scared.
12
Article 266-A of the RPC provides that a rape is committed:
1) By a man who shall have carnal knowledge of a woman under any of the following
circumstances:
a) Through force, threat or intimidation;
b) When the offended party is deprived of reason or is otherwise unconscious;
c) By means of fraudulent machination or grave abuse of authority; r;1
d) When the offended party is under twelve (12) years of age or is demented, even thoug
none of the circumstances mentioned above be present.
. '
Decision -6- G.R. No. 234323
Q: While you were not able to move and talk because of fear, what did
this Jordan do?
A: He. then proceeded to open my_, rolled up my shirt and placed his
hand on my left shoulder.
Q: When you said he placed his hand over your shoulder, you felt
pressure?
A: Yes.
Q: When he was able to pin you as you claimed you were scared, what
happened next?
A: He rolled up my shirt and he placed his right hand on my left shoulder
with pressure and I was so scared you know. I am trying to fight back.
When I fall asleep, I usually don't come back with conscience a while
after so I am still a kind of sleepy, trying to push him away and then
he rolled up my shirt and he started kissing and squeezing on my
breast. It was very painful. It hurt a lot. I was trying to stop him but he
did not hear me. He doesn't want to.
xx xx
Q: Can you talk during that time or did you bother to make a sound?
A: I was too scared.
Q: While your legs were spread, what did the accused do to you?
A: He abused my femininity and he took away my virginity.
Q: When you say he took away your virginity, he inserted his private
organ to your private organ?
A: Yes.
Q: What did you feel when the accused has inserted his private organ to~
your private organ?
A: So much pain. It hurt so much. ·
Decision -7- G.R. No. 234323
xx xx
PROS. GUARDIANO:
Q: Do you remember ifthere were any tears that flowed from your eyes at
that time because you claimed you tried to make a sound but you
cannot because you were too scared?
A: Yes, sir.
Q: Despite the fact that you tried to fight back and resisted the advances
of the accused and the accused was able to penetrate your private
organ with his private organ, do you recall how long the incident
lasted?
A: Maybe ten (10) minutes.
Q: Meaning from the start that you were pinned down or you were
awaken by the weight on top of your body?
A: From the start, for half an hour.
xx xx
PRO. GUARDIANO:
Q: After the accused has successfully abused your femininity as you
claimed, what did the accused do?
A: He went back to sleep on the sofa above me and from then I tried to
pull my pants. I could not move. I tried but I have so much pain in my
body and then as much pain that I was in he got up maybe three
minutes after he did the same thing again. For a short amount of time
he went back to sleep. I have so much pain and I passed out.
Q: Passed out?
A: Yes.
Q: You mean to say that after the sexual abuse, the accused repeated to
sexually abuse you until you passed out?
A: Yes.
xx xx
Q: When you woke up, what did you see, if any, in your bed?
A: Well, I went to the bathroom. I feel a lot of pain. I was so limping and
I saw a lot of blood stains in my panty. I was so afraid, why is it like
this, so I washed and I went back to bed and there is a lot of blood
there and I was so shocked.
Q: Did you bother to report that matter to anybody on that morning or the
following day?
A: No. I did not.
Q: Will you tell us the reason why did you not report?
A: I was scared.
(/11
Q: Why were you still scared after the incident?
A: He threatened to kill me. 13
Apart from the reliability of the foregoing account, the Court finds
that the RTC and the CA duly rejected Batalla's claims and defenses. First
of all, the fact that AAA failed to shout for help and to immediately report
the rape ind.dent' does not affect her case. Settled is the rule that delay in
reporting the incident does not weaken AAA's testimony especially in view
of the threats Batalla made to kill her. Delay in revealing the commission of
a crime such as rape does not necessarily render such charge unworthy of
belief. This is because the victim may choose to keep quiet rather than
expose her defilement to the harsh glare of public scrutiny. Only when the
delay is unreasonable or unexplained may it work to discredit the
complainant. 14
14
~
People v. YYY, G.R. No. 234825, September 5, 2018.
15 People v. Lagbo, 780 Phil. 834, 846 (2016).
16 Peoplev. Cataytay, 746 Phil. 185, 195 (2014).
Decision -9- G.R. No. 234323
Indeed, when the trial court's findings have been affirmed by the
appellate court, said findings are generally binding upon the Court, unless
there is a clear showing that they were reached arbitrarily or it appears from
the records that certain facts of weight, substance, or value are overlooked,
misapprehended or misappreciated by the lower court which, if properly
considered, would alter the result of the case. After a circumspect study of
the records, the Court sees no compelling reason to depart from the
foregoing principle. 17
As for the penalty imposed, the Court notes that pursuant to the A.M.
No. 15-08-02-SC, 18 in cases where death penalty is not warranted, such as
this case, there is no need to qualify the sentence of reclusion perpetua with
the phrase "without eligibility for parole," it being understood that convicted
persons penalized with an indivisible penalty are not eligible for parole.
Moreover, pursuant to People v. Jugueta, 19 the amount of exemplary
damages awarded by the trial court should be increased to P75,000.00.
SO ORDERED.
WE CONCUR:
~\c::'.: ..sc:..-.-c.~
MARVIO-M:.V.F. LEONEN ,~
/ Associate Justice
On leave
ANDRES B. REYES, JR.
Associate Justice
RAMO~;?.~ERNANDO
Associate Justice
?
~~~~~~~~~·~
Associate Justice
ATTESTATION
I attest that the conclusions in the above Decision had been reached in
consultation before the case was assigned to the writer of the opinion of the
Court's Division.
Associa\e Justice
Chairperson, Third Division
CERTIFICATION