People v.

Taroy
Facts: Des alleges that she was raped by Taroy in their home in Benguet when she was
still 10 years old. Taroy alleges, among others, that the offense took place not in
Benguet but in Baguio, therefore the T! of Benguet has no "urisdiction o#er the case.
$ssue: %&' T() T! *F B)'+,)T (-. /,$.D$!$T*' *0) T() !-.)1
(eld: 2es 0enue is "urisdictional in criminal cases. $t can neither be wai#ed nor sub"ected
to stipulation. The right #enue must e3ist as a matter of law. Thus, for territorial
"urisdiction to attach, the criminal action must be instituted and tried in the proper court of
the municipality, city, or pro#ince where the offense was committed or where any of its
essential ingredients took place. The uncorroborated assertion of Taroy that the offense
was committed in Baguio cannot o#erturnthe testimonies of 4ila and Des and the
affida#it of arrest. Besides, Taroy has already admitted in the pre trial that the T! of
Benguet has "urisdiction.
THIRD DIVISION


PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, G.R. No. 192466
Appellee,
Present:

VELASCO, JR., J., Chairperson,
- versus - PERALTA,
ABAD,
VILLARAMA, JR.,
*
an
ME!DO"A, JJ.
ALEJO TAROY y TARNATE,
Appellant. Pr#$ul%ate:

Septe$&er ', ()**
+ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- +

DECISION

ABAD, J.:


Apart ,r#$ t-e .uest/#n #, 0re/&/l/t1 #, test/$#n/es /n a pr#se0ut/#n ,#r
rape, t-/s 0ase res#lves t-e .uest/#n #, pr##, #, t-e terr/t#r/al 2ur/s/0t/#n #, t-e
tr/al 0#urt.

The Fac! a"# he $a!e

T-e pu&l/0 pr#se0ut#r 0-ar%e Ale2# Tar#1 y Tarnate 3Tar#14 5/t- t5#
0#unts #, rape /n Cr/$/nal Cases )(-CR-67'* an )(-CR-67'( &e,#re t-e
Re%/#nal Tr/al C#urt 3RTC4 #, La Tr/n/a, Ben%uet.
8*9


DES
8(9
5as t-e elest au%-ter #, MILA
8:9
&1 -er ,/rst $arr/a%e. MILA
$arr/e Tar#1 /n *;;' up#n t-e eat- #, -er ,/rst -us&an.
869
T-e 0#uple l/ve
5/t- MILA<s 0-/lren /n Pu0susan Barangay, It#%#n, Ben%uet, at t-e &#unar1
#, Ba%u/# C/t1.
8=9

DES test/,/e t-at s-e 5as al#ne /n t-e -#use #n Au%ust *), *;;' #/n%
s#$e 0lean/n% s/n0e -er $#t-er 5as at 5#r> an -er t5# s/&l/n%s 5ere #uts/e
pla1/n%. ?-en Tar#1 entere t-e -#use, -e l#0>e t-e ##r, 0l#se t-e
5/n#5s, re$#ve -/s 0l#t-es, an #rere DES t# re$#ve -ers. ?-en s-e
res/ste, Tar#1 p#>e a >n/,e at -er -ea an ,#r0e -er t# su&$/t t# -/s &est/al
es/res. Tar#1 5arne -er a,ter5ars n#t t# tell an1#ne a&#ut /t, lest MILA an
-er s/&l/n%s 5#ul su,,er s#$e -ar$. DES 5as *) 1ears #l t-en.
879

DES test/,/e t-at Tar#1 se+uall1 a&use -er a%a/n /n Septe$&er
*;;@. T-/s t/$e, -e entere -er r##$, l#0>e t-e ##r, 0l#se t-e 5/n#5s,
unresse -/$sel,, an #rere -er t# # t-e sa$e. ?-en s-e re,use, Tar#1
p#/nte a >n/,e at -er. T-/s 0#$pelle -er t# 1/el t# -/$.

A#ur 1ears later #r #n !#ve$&er *, ())(, 5-en DES 5as *=, s-e t#l -er
aunt an MILA a&#ut 5-at -a -appene &et5een Tar#1 an -er. T-e1
a00#$pan/e DES t# t-e !at/#nal Bureau #, Invest/%at/#n t# 0#$pla/n.

MILA an a 0erta/n Alu$n# test/,/e t-at t-e1 later a00#$pan/e DES t#
t-e -#sp/tal ,#r e+a$/nat/#n. MILA 0#rr#&#rate DES< test/$#n1 re%ar/n%
-#5 s-e reveale t# -er an an aunt t-e eta/ls #, t-e rape /n0/ents. T-e #0t#r
5-# e+a$/ne DES test/,/e t-at t-e latter -a t5# narr#5 n#t0-es /n -er
-1$en at t-ree #<0l#0> an ,/ve #<0l#0> p#s/t/#ns. S-e e+pla/ne t-at t-ese
n#t0-es #r V-s-ape #r s-arp /nent/#ns #ver t-e -1$enal e%es su%%este a
-/st#r1 #, prev/#us &lunt ,#r0e #r trau$a p#ss/&l1 0ause &1 t-e /nsert/#n #, an
ere0t $ale pen/s.

A#r t-e e,ense, Tar#1 en/e rap/n% DES #n t-e #00as/#ns
$ent/#ne. Be averre t-at t-e test/$#n1 5as a ,a&r/0at/#n $ae up#n t-e
pr#/n% #, -er aunt 5-# /sl/>e -/$.

T-e RTC ,#un Tar#1 %u/lt1 #, t5# 0#unts #, rape an senten0e -/$ t#
su,,er t-e penalt1 #, reclusion perpetua. It als# #rere -/$ t# pa1 DES ,#r
ea0- 0#unt:P'=,))).)) as 0/v/l /ne$n/t1, P'=,))).)) as $#ral a$a%es,
an P(=,))).)) as e+e$plar1 a$a%es.
8'9
T-e RTC ,#un t-e test/$#n1 #, DES
0re/&le an 5#rt-1 #, &el/e,.

Tar#1 0-allen%e t-e Ben%uet RTC<s 2ur/s/0t/#n #ver t-e 0r/$es
0-ar%e, -e -av/n% test/,/e t-at t-e/r res/en0e 5-en t-e alle%e #,,enses t##>
pla0e 5as /n Pu0susanBarangay, Ba%u/# C/t1. T-e RTC -el, -#5ever, t-at
Tar#1<s test/$#n1 t-at t-e/r res/en0e 5as /n Ba%u/# C/t1 / n#t str/p t-e 0#urt
#, /ts 2ur/s/0t/#n s/n0e -e 5a/ve t-e 2ur/s/0t/#nal re.u/re$ent.

On Januar1 *;, ()*) t-e C#urt #, Appeals 3CA4 a,,/r$e t-e e0/s/#n #,
t-e RTC.
8@9
T-e CA %ave 5e/%-t t# t-e RTC<s assess$ent #, DES< 0re/&/l/t1
an ,#un n# ev/l $#t/ve /n -er. T-e CA als# -el t-at t-e pr#se0ut/#n -as
su,,/0/entl1 esta&l/s-e t-e 2ur/s/0t/#n #, t-e RTC t-r#u%- t-e test/$#n1 #,
MILA, DES, an Alu$n#. Tar#1 see>s -/s a0.u/ttal ,r#$ t-/s C#urt.




The I!!%e! P&e!e"e#

T-e /ssues presente t# t-e C#urt are:

*. ?-et-er #r n#t t-e RTC #, La Tr/n/a, Ben%uet, -as 2ur/s/0t/#n
t# -ear an e0/e t-e 0ases #, rape a%a/nst Tar#1C an

(. ?-et-er #r n#t t-e pr#se0ut/#n -as pr#ve -/s %u/lt /n t-e t5# 0ases
&e1#n reas#na&le #u&t.

The $o%&'! R%()"*!

O"e. Venue /s 2ur/s/0t/#nal /n 0r/$/nal 0ases. It 0an ne/t-er &e 5a/ve
n#r su&2e0te t# st/pulat/#n. T-e r/%-t venue $ust e+/st as a $atter #, la5.
8;9
T-us, ,#r terr/t#r/al 2ur/s/0t/#n t# atta0-, t-e 0r/$/nal a0t/#n $ust &e
/nst/tute an tr/e /n t-e pr#per 0#urt #, t-e $un/0/pal/t1, 0/t1, #r pr#v/n0e
5-ere t-e #,,ense 5as 0#$$/tte #r 5-ere an1 #, /ts essent/al /n%re/ents t##>
pla0e.
8*)9

T-e In,#r$at/#ns
8**9
,/le 5/t- t-e RTC #, La Tr/n/a state t-at t-e
0r/$es 5ere 0#$$/tte /n t-e v/0t/$ an t-e #,,ener<s -#use /n C/t1 L/$/t,
Tu/n%, Mun/0/pal/t1 #,It#%#n, Pr#v/n0e #, Ben%uet. T-/s alle%at/#n 0#n,erre
terr/t#r/al 2ur/s/0t/#n #ver t-e su&2e0t #,,enses #n t-e RTC #, La Tr/n/a,
Ben%uet. T-e test/$#n/es #, MILA an DES as 5ell as t-e a,,/av/t #,
arrest
8*(9
p#/nt t# t-/s ,a0t. Clearl1, Tar#1<s un0#rr#&#rate assert/#n t-at t-e
su&2e0t #,,enses t##> pla0e /n Ba%u/# C/t1 /s n#t ent/tle t# &el/e,. Bes/es, -e
a$/tte ur/n% t-e pre-tr/al /n t-e 0ase t-at /t 5as t-e RTC #, La Tr/n/a t-at
-a 2ur/s/0t/#n t# -ear t-e 0ase.
8*:9
Ta>en alt#%et-er, t-at RTC<s 2ur/s/0t/#n t#
-ear t-e 0ase /s &e1#n /spute.

T+o. ?-at /s ne0essar1 ,#r t-e pr#se0ut/#n t# ensure 0#nv/0t/#n /s n#t
a&s#lute 0erta/nt1 &ut #nl1 $#ral 0erta/nt1 t-at t-e a00use /s %u/lt1 #, t-e 0r/$e
0-ar%e.
8*69
Bere, t-e pr#se0ut/#n -as su,,/0/entl1 pr#ve t-e %u/lt #, Tar#1
&e1#n reas#na&le #u&t. DES< test/$#n1 /s 5#rt-1 #, &el/e,, s-e -av/n% n#
/ll-$#t/ve t# ,a&r/0ate 5-at s-e sa/ a%a/nst -er step,at-er.

M#re, 0#ntrar1 t# t-e 0la/$s #, Tar#1, t-ere /s n#t-/n% /n t-e test/$#n1 #,
DES t-at 5#ul el/0/t susp/0/#n as t# t-e vera0/t1 #, -er st#r1. A#r #ne t-/n%,
t-e ,a0t t-at s-e / n#t s-#ut ,#r -elp #r res/st t-e se+ual avan0es #, Tar#1
#es n#t /spr#ve t-e ,a0t t-at -e rape -er. ?#$en 5-# e+per/en0e trau$at/0
an terr/,1/n% e+per/en0es su0- as rape # n#t rea0t /n a un/,#r$ pattern #,
-1ster/a an &rea>#5n.

Lastl1, t-ere /s n#t-/n% unusual ,#r DES t# re$a/n /n t-e ,a$/l1 5ell/n%
esp/te t-e /n0/ents t-at -a -appene t# -er. S-e 5as 2ust a 0-/l. ?-ere else
5#ul s-e %# e+0ept sta1 5/t- -er $#t-er 5-# -appene t# &e $arr/e t# t-e
$an 5-# a&use -erD

?-/le 5e # a,,/r$ t-e %u/lt #, Tar#1 ,#r t-e 0r/$e #, rape, 5e $#/,1
t-e a5ar #, e+e$plar1 a$a%es /n a00#ran0e 5/t- People v. Araojo.
8*=9
T-e
pr#se0ut/#n -as su,,/0/entl1 esta&l/s-e t-e relat/#ns-/p #, Tar#1 t# t-e v/0t/$,
as 5ell as t-e $/n#r/t1 #, DES ne0ess/tat/n% t-e /n0rease #, t-e a5ar #,
e+e$plar1 a$a%es ,r#$ P(=,))).)) t#P:),))).)).

,HEREFORE, t-/s C#urt DIS-ISSES t-e appeal an AFFIR-S t-e
C#urt #, Appeals e0/s/#n /n CA-E.R. CR-BC ):=*) ate Januar1 *;, ()*)
5/t- t-e-ODIFI$ATION t-at t-e a5ar #, e+e$plar1 a$a%es &e /n0rease
,r#$ P(=,))).)) t# P:),))).)).



SO ORDERED.


ROBERTO A. ABAD
Ass#0/ate Just/0e


,E $ON$.R/




PRESBITERO J. VELAS$O, JR.
Ass#0/ate Just/0e
C-a/rpers#n




DIOSDADO -. PERALTA -ARTIN S. VILLARA-A, JR.
Ass#0/ate Just/0e Ass#0/ate Just/0e




JOSE $ATRAL -ENDO0A
Ass#0/ate Just/0e




ATTESTATION

I attest t-at t-e 0#n0lus/#ns /n t-e a&#ve De0/s/#n -a &een rea0-e /n
0#nsultat/#n &e,#re t-e 0ase 5as ass/%ne t# t-e 5r/ter #, t-e #p/n/#n #, t-e
C#urt<s D/v/s/#n.



PRESBITERO J. VELAS$O, JR.
Ass#0/ate Just/0e
C-a/rpers#n, T-/r D/v/s/#n









CERTIFICATION

Pursuant t# Se0t/#n *:, Art/0le VIII #, t-e C#nst/tut/#n an t-e D/v/s/#n
C-a/rpers#n<s Attestat/#n, I 0ert/,1 t-at t-e 0#n0lus/#ns /n t-e a&#ve De0/s/#n
-a &een rea0-e /n 0#nsultat/#n &e,#re t-e 0ase 5as ass/%ne t# t-e 5r/ter #,
t-e #p/n/#n #, t-e C#urt<s D/v/s/#n.




RENATO $. $ORONA
C-/e, Just/0e
*
Des/%nate as a/t/#nal $e$&er /n l/eu #, Ass#0/ate Just/0e Mar/a L#ures P. A. Seren#, per Spe0/al Orer
*)'7 ate Septe$&er 7, ()**.
8*9
Bran0- ;.
8(9
Pursuant t# Repu&l/0 A0t ;(7(, #t-er5/se >n#5n as t-e FAnti-Violence Against Women and Their Children
Act of !!"G an /ts /$ple$ent/n% rules, t-e real na$e #, t-e v/0t/$, t#%et-er 5/t- t-e real na$es #, -er
/$$e/ate ,a$/l1 $e$&ers, /s 5/t--el an ,/0t/t/#us /n/t/als are use t# represent -er, &#t- t# pr#te0t -er
pr/va01 3People v. Ca#al$uinto, E.R. !#. *7'7;:, Septe$&er *;, ())7, =)( SCRA 6*;, 6(*-6(74.
8:9
I.
869
Re0#rs, V#l. I, p. ;;.
8=9
I. at (( 3TS!, Jul1 *, ()):, p. 64.
879
I. at =, E+-/&/t FAG.
8'9
De0/s/#n ate Mar0- *), ())@, CA rollo, pp. 7)-'(.
8@9
D#0>ete as CA-E.R. CR-BC ):=*).
8;9
%igueroa v. People, E.R. !#. *6'6)7, Jul1 *6, ())@, ==@ SCRA 7:, '*, 0/t/n% People v. Casiano, *** P-/l.
':, ;: 3*;7*4.
8*)9
See Rev/se Rules #, Cr/$/nal Pr#0eure, Rule **), Se0t/#n *=.
8**9
Re0#rs, V#l. I, p. *C Re0#rs, V#l. II, p. *.
8*(9
I. at ;.
8*:9
I. at *=-*7, Pre-Tr/al Orer ate Mar0- :, ()):.
8*69
RHLES OA COHRT, Rule *::, Se0t/#n (.
8*=9
E.R. !#. *@=():, Septe$&er *', ());, 7)) SCRA (;=, :);.