G.R. No. 122757 -61 November 28, 1997
People of the Philippines, plaintiff-appellee, vs. Eduardo “Edwin” Taton, accused-appellant.

FACTS

Accused-appellant Eduardo Taton appealed his conviction by the Regional Trial Court of Iloilo City for five counts of rape. The complaints, filed by 13-year-old Ma. Lourdes Padin, alleged that on January 19, January 26, February 9, February 23, and March 1, all in 1992, in Tubungan, Iloilo, the accused, armed with a knife, used force and intimidation to have carnal knowledge of the victim against her will. Lourdes had been suffering from skin lesions and was advised by her uncle, Antonio Tacaisan, to consult the accused, a quack doctor. The first consultation was on December 15, 1991. The alleged rapes occurred during follow-up treatment sessions every other Sunday, starting January 19, 1992, inside the bathroom of her uncle’s house. During these sessions, after a 30-minute treatment involving inhaling smoke from burning twigs and leaves, the accused would sexually molest Lourdes at knifepoint, threatening to kill her and her family if she told anyone. Lourdes kept silent out of fear. Her mother, Teresita Padin, unaware of the rapes, insisted she continue the treatments. Lourdes later exhibited symptoms including a swollen abdomen. In August 1992, when her family mentioned consulting Dr. Edgar Jalago about the swelling, the accused became nervous and claimed Lourdes had a tumor that would become cancerous. On October 7, 1992, Lourdes gave birth to a baby boy at home, after which she revealed the accused was the father. The defense presented alibi and denial, claiming the accused was elsewhere on the dates in question and that the only treatment was in December 1991 in the presence of her uncle.

ISSUE

Whether the accused-appellant is guilty beyond reasonable doubt of five counts of rape.

RULING

The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the trial court convicting the accused-appellant of five counts of rape. The Court found the testimony of the victim, Ma. Lourdes Padin, to be credible, straightforward, and consistent. Her detailed account of the rapes, including the use of a knife and threats, was corroborated by the subsequent birth of her child and the behavior of the accused when confronted about her condition. The Court held that the defenses of denial and alibi could not prevail over the positive and credible identification by the victim. The delay in reporting the crime was sufficiently explained by the accused’s threats and the victim’s young age and fear. The Court modified the civil indemnity, increasing it from P30,000.00 to P50,000.00 for each count of rape, for a total of P250,000.00. The conviction was affirmed with this modification.