G.R. No. 109881 May 18, 1994
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee, vs. DEMETRIO SULTE y NULLEN ALIAS “ETENG”, accused-appellant.

FACTS

Accused-appellant Demetrio Sulte was charged with the rape of his 11-year-old grandniece, Lailanie A. Sulte, sometime in July 1989 in Liliw, Laguna. The Information alleged the act was committed by means of force, threat, violence, and intimidation while armed with a fan knife. Upon arraignment, he pleaded not guilty. After trial, the Regional Trial Court found him guilty beyond reasonable doubt of rape under Article 335 of the Revised Penal Code and sentenced him to reclusion perpetua, ordering him to pay moral, exemplary, and consequential damages.
The prosecution evidence established that: (1) In July 1989, Lailanie caught appellant peeping at her through a hole in the comfort room door. (2) Several weeks later, appellant, armed with a fan knife, forced Lailanie to the basement of their house, threatened her, and made her remove her pants and panty. He then inserted his penis into her vagina while both were standing, kissed her neck and breasts, and licked her vagina. (3) Appellant repeated the abuse on two subsequent occasions in the same basement, using threats to kill her and her parents to ensure compliance. In one instance, he raped her while both were sitting on chairs. (4) Lailanie testified appellant sexually assaulted her more than twenty times. (5) She eventually revealed the rapes to her mother and grandmother because she could no longer bear the abuse and feared appellant. The disclosure affected her studies, causing her to stop schooling. (6) Dr. Amy Virina’s medical examination revealed Lailanie’s vagina was lax and easily admitted two fingers, with gaping labia and a healed laceration at the 9 o’clock position, consistent with frequent sexual intercourse. The defense contended the acts described were physically unlikely and highlighted Lailanie’s delay of over two years in reporting the incidents.

ISSUE

Whether the trial court erred in finding accused-appellant Demetrio Sulte guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of rape.

RULING

The Supreme Court AFFIRMED the trial court’s decision. The Court held that the medical findings of Dr. Amy Virina conclusively proved Lailanie had been subjected to frequent sexual intercourse. Lailanie’s testimony, which was candid, positive, categorical, and consistent, was given full credence. The Court emphasized that the testimony of a young rape victim, who had no motive to falsely accuse, is credible. The delay in reporting the crime was justified due to appellant’s repeated death threats against Lailanie and her family, which cowed the 11-year-old victim into silence. The Court found no reason to disturb the trial court’s findings on witness credibility, as it is in the best position to observe demeanor, and no significant fact was overlooked that would alter the case. The penalty of reclusion perpetua and the award of damages were sustained.