Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
SUPREME COURT
Manila
EN BANC
PANGANIBAN, J.:
The Case
Before us for automatic review is the January 20, 1999 Decision1 of the Regional
Trial Court of Para�aque City (Branch 259) in Criminal Case Nos. 98-355/7, finding
Alfredo Baroy and Felicisimo Nacional guilty beyond reasonable doubt of three (3)
counts of qualified rape and sentencing them to death for each offense. The
dispositive portion of the assailed Decision reads as follows:
"WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, this Court finds accused Alfredo Baroy and
Felicisimo Nacional GUILTY beyond reasonable doubt [of] the crime of rape (three
counts) in Crim. Case Nos. 98-355/7 as defined and penalized under Republic Act.
8353 Art. 266-A and Art. 266 B through the use of force[,] threat or intimidation
with a deadly weapon upon the person of Emeliza Bueno with the aggravating
circumstances of nightime and confederation and there being no mitigating
circumstances, both accused are hereby sentenced [for] each count of rape (three
counts) the penalty of DEATH by lethal injection and to suffer the accessory
penalties provided by law specifically Art. 40 of the RPC. For the civil liability
each accused is hereby further condemned to indemnify the private complainant the
amount of P50,000.00 in each of the three counts of rape in line with existing
jurisprudence; P50,000.00 each for three counts for moral damages and P50,000.00
each for exemplary damages for each count."2
With the assistance of their counsel de oficio,3 appellants pleaded not guilty
during their arraignment on April 16, 1998.4 In three (3) separate identically
worded Informations,5 they were accused of sexually assaulting Emeliza Bueno
allegedly as follows:
"That on or about the 2nd day of March[,] 1998 in the Municipality of Paranaque,
Metro Manila, Philippines and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court[,]
the above-named accused ALFREDO GORRE BAROY, conspiring and confederating with
accused FELICISIMO HAMTIG NACIONAL, by means of force and intimidation, with the
use of a chisel, did then and there willfully, unlawfully and feloniously have
carnal knowledge of one Emeliza Bueno, against her will and consent."6
The Facts
The prosecution's version of the factual antecedents of the case are presented by
the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) as follows:
"Sometime on March 2, 1998 at around 2:30 in the morning, Emeliza Bueno, a guest
relations officer of Ringo Japanese Karaoke Bar in Pasay Road, Makati, left the
place of her work and proceeded to her home in Camella, Para�aque. While on board a
tricycle along U.N. St., Better Living Subd., two armed men who later on were
identified as appellants Alfredo Baroy and Felicisimo Nacional blocked the path
being traversed by the tricycle. Then, they asked money from the driver and pulled
Emeliza out from the tricycle.
"The tricycle driver however was able to escape but appellants succeeded in taking
Emeliza to a vacant lot. There, Emeliza begged for mercy but her pleas fell on deaf
ears. She struggled to get loose but appellants overpowered her. Baroy took off her
pants and underwear and pointing a chisel towards the victim succeeded in having
carnal knowledge with her while Nacional served as a lookout.
"After Baroy finished raping Emeliza, Nacional took turn in raping her. Afterwards,
Nacional left leaving behind Baroy who raped Emeliza x x x for the second
time.1�wphi1.n�t
"The tricycle driver Alfredo Vinuya who was able to escape proceeded to the
guardhouse of Better Living Subd. at 1618 Levitown and informed the guards of the
incident. Vinuya was able to convince the security guards to accompany him to the
place of the incident to look for the victim. When they searched the place, one of
the security guards noticed that someone went out of the bushes and there, they saw
the victim Emeliza and appellant Baroy. The guards apprehended Baroy while Vinuya
boarded the victim to his tricycle. Baroy was taken to the Barangay Hall and
thereafter to the police station where the police learned from him the place where
Felicisimo Nacional could be arrested."7 (Citations omitted)
"On the part of accused Felicisimo Nacional, it appeared that he was working as a
stay-in driver of a certain Mr. Vicente Saldana with residence at Betterliving
Subdivision. On the early morning of March 1, 1998, he delivered some garments at
Taytay, Rizal and went back after lunch. At around 1:30 p.m., he drove for Mr.
Saldana, who went to several factories and they returned home at around 10:00 o'
clock in the evening. At around 11:00 p.m., he again drove for Mr. Saldana, who
went to his friend in Merville. On the same night, he had a drinking spree with
Alfredo Baroy at a Videoke Bar. He left earlier, since he had work the next day. He
rode in a tricycle to his employer's house, however, when he arrived the door was
already closed. He went to the guard house in order to sleep there. He was
awaken(ed) when someone kicked the folding bed in which he was sleeping and he was
arrested by the police. He was being accused of committing rape. He denied the
charge and stated that the only time he saw the victim was in the courtroom.
"On the part of accused Afredo Baroy, it appeared that he was working for a certain
Atty. Galicia as caretaker of his chickens. He met the accused Nacional, when the
latter went to their barracks and asked him if he wants to work as a delivery boy.
On March 1, 1998 at around 10:00 p.., they had a drinking spree (in) a store at
Singapore Street. Nacional invited him to a nearby farm in order for a drink,
however it was already closed, so they went back to his barracks. While they were
walking at around 11:00 p.m. they passed by a videoke and they had a drinking and
singing session. They rode a tricycle and disembarked at U.N. Avenue where he slept
in a nearby store which was already closed. Nacional left and blocked a passing
tricycle. Nacional asked him to guard the driver and the former pulled down the
woman passenger after which he took her to a vacant lot. While Nacional was pulling
the woman towards the vacant lot, Baroy returned to the store. He heard the woman
crying and asking for help, so he went to the place and saw the woman lying down
with her pants pulled down. Nacional had already left. He helped the woman to put
on her pants and asked her what happened, but she could not speak. He accompanied
the woman in waiting for a tricycle in order to take her home. The first tricycle
which passed by did not stopped [sic]. The second one stopped and turned out to be
the tricycle earlier blocked by Nacional. The said tricycle was loaded with
barangay tanods, who thinking that he will escape, started to beat him and
apprehended him."8
The RTC gave full credence to the positive and unequivocal testimony of complainant
that appellants had taken turns in raping her. Corroborating her testimony was the
tricycle driver, who said that appellants had forcibly taken her from his vehicle
after holding him up. The RTC found the denial by appellants, who had given
conflicting statements regarding their participation in the crime, "totally bereft
of merit, self-serving and not deserving of any credibility."9
The Issues
In their Brief, appellants submit the following assignment of errors for our
consideration:
"I
The court a quo gravely erred in finding the accused-appellants guilty beyond
reasonable doubt of three (3) counts of rape.
"II
The court a quo gravely erred in considering the existence of nightime and
confederation as aggravating circumstances.
"III
The court a quo gravely erred in not appreciating the privilege mitigating
circumstance of minority in favor of accused-appellant Alfredo Baroy."11
Main Issue:
Appellants assert that the evidence presented by the prosecution was insufficient
to establish their guilt beyond reasonable doubt. They point to some alleged flaws
and inconsistencies in the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses, particularly
with respect to the exact location of the scene of the crime and the recovery of
the chisel used in its commission. According to them, highly doubtful is the claim
of the victim that she was raped on a vacant lot about 10 "arms length" away from
the place where the tricycle was blocked, because neither the victim nor any of the
accused was supposedly found in that place when the tricycle driver and the
security guards returned there.
We are not persuaded. We have carefully scrutinized the records of the case.
Contrary to the assertion of appellants, the prosecution was able to establish
clearly their acts of rape as well as their participation in its commission. The
alleged inconsistencies on matters relating to where exactly the rapes were
committed and where the chisel was recovered are minor details that do not form
part of the elements of the crime charged. By no means can we disturb the findings
and conclusions of the trial court on the basis of these contentions which do not
in any way contradict or, at the very least, cast serious doubt on the rape charge.
Whether the rapes were committed within the vicinity where the tricycle was stopped
or at a considerable distance therefrom is of no moment in proving the existence of
the crime. Likewise, regardless of whether the chisel was recovered from the crime
scene or from Appellant Baroy does not obscure, much less contravene, the
unequivocal and undeniable fact that appellants had carnal knowledge of the victim
against her will by means of force and intimidation.
Inconsistencies in minor details and collateral matters do not affect the weight,
the substance or the veracity of a witness' testimony as a whole12 with respect to
material and important facts.13 Such inconsistencies even serve to strengthen
rather than destroy one's credibility.14
To be sure, the victim narrated the libidinous transgressions committed against her
by appellants, her sordid experience of violence and sexual abuse in their hands,
as follows:
"Q Upon going home to Camella, do you recall of any incident that happened?
In the morning of March 2?
Q Where?
A At UN Avenue.
Q Do you recall who blocked the tricycle you were riding in at that time?
A Yes, sir.
Q Please look around the courtroom and point to this Honorable Court the
persons who blocked the tricycle you were riding in?
(WITNESS POINTED TO TWO MALE PERSONS INSIDE THE COURTROOM WHO WHEN ASKED THEIR
NAMES ANSWERED AS ALFREDO BAROY AND FELICISIMO NACIONAL)
Q You said they blocked the tricycle you were riding in, how did they block
it?
ATTY. MACASAET:
Your Honor, since the evidence custodian is not around, may we reserve the
identification and marking of the chisel. What did they tell you when they blocked
the tricycle driver?
A Yes, sir.
A Nacional, sir.
A The tricycle driver was able to run and I was left behind and they brought
me to the vacant lot.
Q While they were pulling you, were you saying anything to them?
A Yes, sir.
Q What?
A Nagmamakaawa po ako sa kanila pero hindi nila ako pinakinggan tapos ni-rape
na po nila ako.
A Ginahasa na po ako.
Q While you were being raped by Baroy, where was the other one?
Q You said they had with them chisel and stone, while you were being raped,
were they still bringing those items?
A Yes, sir.
A Baroy was holding the chisel and Nacional was holding the stone.
A They held my hands and then the two of them raped me.
Q While you were being raped, were you telling them something?
A I will be killed."18
As can be gleaned from the foregoing testimony, the victim rendered a clear,
coherent and consistent account of the rape incidents and positively identified
appellants as the perpetrators. Indeed, she could not have been motivated by any
persuasion other than to prosecute the real culprits who had violated her. As a
rule, a rape victim will not come out in the open if her motive is not to seek
redress and obtain justice.19 Neither would she allow herself to suffer the social
scourge and the psychological stigma of rape if her testimony as to the identities
of the perpetrators are false or fabricated. It is an accepted doctrine that in the
absence of improper motive on the part of the victim of rape to falsely testify
against the accused, her testimony deserves utmost credence.20
On the other hand, appellants present divergent accounts that only reflect the
feigned and perfidious nature of their testimonies. Appellant Nacional denies
having had any knowledge of the circumstances leading to the rape incidents;
Appellant Baroy, however, readily admits their participation therein, pointing to
his co-appellant as the one who had raped the victim as follows:
"Q S[o] bale kayong dalawa ni Nacional, naglalakad doon sa United Nations
Avenue?
A Opo.
A Opo.
A Opo.
A Opo.
x x x  x x x x x x
A Opo.
A Opo.
A Opo. Tapos iyong babae, humawak siya doon sa sidecar. Tapos hinila niya.
Q Ayaw sumama ng babae, pero pinipilit n'yo naman siyang pababain. Kundi
popukpokin ng bato, ganun' ba?
A Opo.
Q At walang nagawa iyong babae kundi sumama na dahil sa takot, ganu'n ba?
A Opo.
Q Hindi ba't ikaw ang gumamit doon sa babae dahil nakatutuk iyong paet sa
kanya?
Q Hindi po.
The denials resorted to by appellants are not supported by clear and convincing
evidence.22 Moreover, their discordant and irreconcilable testimonies only indicate
a tendency to prevaricate and a desperate attempt to distort an otherwise
unequivocal factual scenario established by the prosecution. Bare denials by the
accused, unsubstantiated by convincing evidence, are not enough to engender
reasonable doubt in the light of sufficiently telling proof of guilt presented by
the prosecution.23 When the latter's evidence convincing connects the crime and the
culprit, the probative value of denial becomes quite negligible.24
Indeed, the Court will not interfere with the judgment of the trial court in
passing upon the credibility of the witnesses or the veracity of their testimonies
unless a material fact or circumstance has been overlooked which, if considered,
would affect the outcome of the case.28
The trial court found appellants guilty of three (3) counts of qualified rape �
with the use of a deadly weapon as the qualifying circumstance � the prescribed
penalty for which is reclusion perpetua to death. In imposing the maximum penalty
of death, it considered the aggravating circumstances of nighttime and
confederation. Now appellants question the appreciation of these circumstances and
argue that the imposition of the death penalty was erroneous and unjustified. We
agree.
The records reveal that they did not utilize the circumstance of nighttime to
conceal their identities, as there was sufficient illumination at the scene of the
crime that enabled both the tricycle driver and the victim to recognize them
easily.32 Moreover, the fact that they committed the crime at nighttime did not at
all facilitate it or ensure their escape, considering that they were immediately
apprehended soon after. Clearly then, they did not specifically or purposely seek
the cover of darkness, which was merely incidental, in the advancement of their
criminal pursuit.
Nocturnity is not aggravating when, other than the time, there is nothing on record
or even in the testimonies of the witnesses from which it may be inferred that the
accused particularly took advantage of the darkness of the night to facilitate
their criminal design.33 Certainly, the mere fact that the offense was committed at
night will not suffice to sustain a finding of nocturnity.34
Where rape is alleged and proven to have been committed with a deadly weapon and by
two persons, it is held to be qualified rape (due to the use of such weapon) with
the aggravating circumstance of superior strength (there being two rapists acting
in concert).35 However, like nighttime and confederation, the use of superior
strength was not alleged in the Information. Under the present Rules,36 aggravating
circumstances must be alleged; otherwise, they cannot be appreciated. Being
favorable to the accused, this new procedure may be given retroactive effect.37
While Appellant Baroy38 stated in his testimony that they had drunk about eight (8)
bottles of beer, Appellant Nacional39 admitted to having downed seven (7).
Moreover, the tricycle driver affirmed this fact in his testimony when he said that
appellants' eyes were flaring when they blocked the path of the tricycle.40 Indeed,
under normal circumstances, a glass of beer is not so intoxicating as to diminish a
man's rational capacity.41 But in this case, the quantity consumed by appellants
could certainly have affected their capacity to realize or contemplate the
wrongfulness of their actions.1�wphi1.n�t
Article 15, paragraph 3 of the Revised Penal Code, explicitly provides as follows:
"Q Sa iyong mukha, ang tingin ng husgado ay 20 anyos ka nang mahigit. Ano ba
talaga ang totoo sa kapanganakan mo?
A Kasi sabi po sa akin ng nanay ko, pag daw may nagtanong sasabihin ko ang
birthday ko ay January 19.
A Hindi ko po alam.
A Opo.
A Kasi ho noong nakakulong na ako, dinalaw ako ng nanay ko. Tapos sabi sa
akin ng nanay ko pag tinanong daw kung ilang taon na ako ay sasabihin kong 17 years
old ako."49 (Italics ours)
Finally, we take note of the observation of the trial court regarding the
deviousness and the criminal propensity of Appellant Baroy, as well as its
recommendation as to the appropriate penalty to be imposed. We quote from its
ruling:
"x x x. One final word on accused Baroy, this Court has observed hundred, nay even
thousands of persons suspected or accused of having committed crimes but never has
anyone made an imprint of deviousness as said accused and if for any reason he is
able to escape the claws of death for his pernicious acts, then the court
recommends that he be not given a day of freedom more than what is necessary to
make him pay for his crime."50
WHEREFORE, the appeal is PARTLY GRANTED; the appealed Decision is hereby AFFIRMED,
with the MODIFICATION that the penalty of death to reclusion perpetua for each
count of rape. The civil awards are also AFFIRMED, consistent with prevailing
jurisprudence.51 No pronouncement as to costs.
SO ORDERED.
Davide, Jr., Bellosillo, Melo, Puno, Vitug, Kapunan, Mendoza, Quisumbing, Ynares-
Santiago, De Leon, Jr., Sandoval-Gutierrez, Carpio, Austria-Martinez, and Corona,
JJ., concur.
Footnote
1 Rollo, pp. 18-30; records, pp. 759-771; penned by Judge Zosimo V. Escano.
4 Records, p. 35.
7 Appellee's Brief, pp. 4-5; rollo, pp. 109-110. This was signed by Assistant
Solicitor General Cecilio O. Estoesta and Solicitor Ma. Antonia Edita C. Dizon.
8 Appellants' Brief, pp. 6-8, rollo, pp. 56-58. This was signed by Attys. Amelia C.
Garchitorena and Marvin R. Osias of the Public Attorney's Office.
10 This case was deemed submitted for resolution on September 19, 2001, upon
receipt by this Court of Appellant Baroy's Supplemental Reply signed by Atty. Noel
R. del Prado.
11 Appellants' Brief, pp. 1-2; rollo, pp. 51-52. Original in upper case.
35 Regalado, Criminal Law Conspectus, 1st ed., 2000, p. 481, citing People v.
Amiscus, 37 SCRA 813, February 27, 1971.
39 Ibid., p. 28.
45 Aquino, The Revised Penal Code, supra, p. 442, citing U.S. v. Fitzgerald, 2
Phil. 419, August 18, 1903; U.S. v. Gasal, 3 Phil. 354, February 23, 1904; U.S. v.
Reca�o, 4 Phil. 91, December 28, 1904; U.S. v. Highfill, 4 Phil. 384, April 8,
1905; U.S. v. Macuti, 26 Phil. 170, November 26, 1913; People v. Dungka, 64 Phil.
421, July 1, 1937; People v. Refuerzo, 82 Phil. 576, January 20, 1949; People v.
Wigan, CA 49 OG 5439, August 3, 1953; People v. Dacanay, 105 Phil. 1265, March 30,
1959; People v. Ablao, 109 Phil. 976, October 31, 1960; People v. Bautista, 30 SCRA
558, November 28, 1969.
51 People v. Perez, GR No. 113265, March 5, 2001; People v. Queigan, supra; People
v. Dagpin, GR No. 136254, December 4, 2000.
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