People of The Philippines vs. Manalili
People of The Philippines vs. Manalili
People of The Philippines vs. Manalili
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* SECOND DIVISION.
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307
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PEREZ, J.:
Before this Court for automatic review is the Decision1
dated 19 October 2009 of the Court or Appeals (CA) in CA-
G.R. CR.-H.C. No. 03356, which affirmed with
modifications the Decision2 of the Regional Trial Court
(RTC) of Manila, Branch 38 dated 29 April 2008, finding
Apolinario Manalili y Jose guilty beyond reasonable doubt
of the crime of statutory rape.
In a Resolution3 dated 07 April 2010, we required the
parties to file their respective supplemental briefs. The
parties, however, manifested that they have exhausted
their argu-
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1 Rollo, pp. 2-17; Penned by Associate Justice Sesinando E. Villon with
Associate Justices Hakim S. Abdulwahid and Mario V. Lopez concurring.
2 Records, pp. 177-180; Penned by Presiding Judge Ma. Celestina C.
Mangrobang.
3 Rollo, pp. 24-25.
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VOL. 704, AUGUST 28, 2013 309
People vs. Manalili
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4 Id., at pp. 27-29 and 31-33.
5 The real names of the victim and of the members of her immediate
family are withheld pursuant to Republic Act No. 7610 (Special Protection
of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act)
and Republic Act No. 9262 (Anti-Violence Against Women and Their
Children Act of 2004). See People v. Cabalquinto, 533 Phil. 703; 502 SCRA
419 (2006).
6 Records, pp. 58-59.
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7 Id., at p. 88.
8 Id., at p. 92.
9 Id., at p. 103; Exhibits “I” & “I-1.”
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10 TSN, 10 November 2004, p. 5.
11 Id., at p. 6.
12 Records, p. 24; Exhibits “G” and “G-1.”
13 Id.; Exhibit “G-2.”
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14 Id., at p. 128; Exhibit “B-3.”
15 TSN, 26 September 2005, p. 7.
16 Records, pp. 172-176.
17 Id., at pp. 175-176.
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The CA Decision
In the assailed decision, the CA affirmed with
modification the judgement of conviction of the RTC. The
CA ruled that the prosecution was able to prove the
existence of all the essential elements of statutory rape
beyond reasonable doubt. The dispositive portion of the CA
decision reads:
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18 Id., at p. 180.
19 CA Rollo, p. 37; Brief for the Accused-Appellant.
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20 Rollo, p. 16.
21 Id., at p. 9.
22 Id. citing People v. Molleda, G.R. No. 153219, 1 December 1993, 417 SCRA
53.
23 Id. citing People v. Antonio, G.R. No. 145726, 26 March 2003, 399 SCRA 585.
315
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24 People v. Tuazon, 563 Phil. 74, 88; 537 SCRA 494, 508 (2007) citing
People v. Intong, 466 Phil. 73, 742; 422 SCRA 134, 140 (2004).
25 People v. Reyes, 369 Phil. 61, 76; 309 SCRA 622, 634-635 (1999).
26 People v. Perez, G.R. No. 182924, 24 December 2008, 575 SCRA 653,
672 citing People v. Balajadia, G.R. No. 96988, 2 August 1993, 225 SCRA
22, 28.
27 Id. citing People v. Limon, 366 Phil. 29, 38; 306 SCRA 367, 376
(1999).
316
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28 Vidar v. People, G.R. No. 177361, 1 February 2010, 611 SCRA 216,
230.
29 People v. Lomerio, 383 Phil. 434, 452; 326 SCRA 530, 549 (2000).
30 People v. Tuazon, supra note 24 at p. 510 citing People v. Malones,
469 Phil. 301, 327; 425 SCRA 318, 337 (2004); Rollo, pp. 85-86; Brief for
the Plaintiff-Appellee.
31 People v. Perez, supra note 26 at p. 671 citing People v. Villafuerte,
G.R. No. 154917, 18 May 2004, 428 SCRA 427, 433
317
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32 People v. Balunsat, G.R. No. 176743, 28 July 2010, 626 SCRA 77, 92
citing People v. Flores, 448 Phil. 840, 856; 400 SCRA 677, 689 (2003).
33 People v. Perez, supra note 26 at p. 677 citing People v. Freta, 406
Phil. 854, 861; 354 SCRA 385, 392 (2001).
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34 People v. Villafuerte, G.R. No. 154917, 18 May 2004, 428 SCRA 427,
435.
35 People v. Sanchez, 426 Phil. 19, 31; 375 SCRA 355, 365 (2002).
36 People v. Flora, 389 Phil. 601, 611; 334 SCRA 262, 272 (2000).
37 People v. Teodoro, G.R. No. 175876, 20 February 2013, 691 SCRA
324.
38 Records, p. 103; Exhibit “I.”
39 People v. Teodoro, supra note 37.
40 Id. citing People v. Begino, G.R. No. 181246, 20 March 2009, 582
SCRA 189, 198-199; People v. Pabol, G.R. No. 187084, 12 October 2009,
603 SCRA 522, 532; People v. Matunhay, G.R. No. 178274, 5 March 2010,
614 SCRA 307, 321; People v. Tormis, G.R. No. 183456, 18 December 2008,
574 SCRA 903, 920.
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** Per Special Order No. 1525 dated 22 August 2013.