G.R. Nos. 110803-04 November 25, 1994
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee, vs. RODOLFO VILLARUEL, accused-appellant.

FACTS

On July 22, 1991, siblings Adelina Garcia (13) and Hayna Garcia (11) left their home in Barangay Nanipsan, Mandaon, Masbate, with their cousins Margielyn and Arobil Villaruel (daughters of the accused-appellant) to gather seashells at the fishpond of Fortunato de la Este. At around 10:00 a.m., prosecution witness Rosaleo Cagado heard a child’s shout and ran to the location, where he saw a naked Rodolfo Villaruel having sexual intercourse with a struggling Adelina Garcia, with a bolo stuck in the ground nearby. Hayna Garcia was seen floating motionless in the shallow waters of the pond a few meters away. Stricken with fear, Cagado ran home but continued to watch as appellant later stood up, carried the limp body of Adelina and dumped it into the fishpond, and did the same to Hayna’s body before proceeding to his brother’s house. The bodies were later recovered. Dr. Luis Aguirre, the Municipal Health Officer, testified that both victims had been raped, as shown by perineal lacerations and the presence of spermatozoa, and that they died from strangulation, not drowning. Appellant was charged with two counts of the special complex crime of rape with homicide. At trial, he denied the charges and interposed the defense of alibi, claiming he was at home all morning repairing his kitchen and cooking, and was corroborated by his daughter Margielyn. The trial court convicted him and sentenced him to two penalties of reclusion perpetua and ordered him to pay indemnity to the heirs of each victim.

ISSUE

Whether the trial court erred in convicting accused-appellant Rodolfo Villaruel of two counts of rape with homicide despite his defense of alibi and his challenges to the credibility of the prosecution witnesses.

RULING

The Supreme Court AFFIRMED the judgment of the trial court. The Court held that the findings of the trial court on the credibility of witnesses are entitled to great respect and accorded the highest consideration, absent any showing that it ignored or overlooked significant facts. The prosecution evidence, including the categorical testimonies of eyewitnesses Rosaleo Cagado, Barangay Captain Manuel Mortel, Jerry Cortes, and Felix Mitra, who all knew appellant well and placed him at the crime scene, firmly established appellant’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The Court found the defense of alibi weak and unavailing, as appellant was positively identified. The Court also ruled that the initial reluctance and delay of witnesses in reporting the crime, due to fear for their lives and the natural reticence to get involved, did not impair their credibility. The medical findings corroborated the commission of rape and homicide. Thus, the constitutional presumption of innocence was overcome.