GR 126282; (June, 2000) (Digest)
G.R. No. 126282 ; June 20, 2000
THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee, vs. WILSON DREU alias “ADANG DREU,” accused-appellant.
FACTS
On the evening of May 10, 1986, Josephine Guevarra attended a dance in Rangas, Juban, Sorsogon. While walking home in the early morning of May 11, her friend Minda Dollesin invited her to pass by Minda’s house. Josephine agreed, but Minda instead led her to a store. Minda entered, leaving Josephine outside. Accused-appellant Wilson Dreu emerged, covered Josephine’s head with a rugby-scented jacket, held her hands from behind, and pressed a bladed weapon to her side. He dragged her to a grassy area, removed her pants, and proceeded to have carnal knowledge of her. Josephine pleaded with him to stop but lost consciousness. She awoke about thirty minutes later, bleeding, and saw accused-appellant leaving.
Josephine was found weeping by her brother. The incident was reported, and a medical examination revealed vaginal lacerations. An information for rape was filed against Dreu and Dollesin. The trial court acquitted Dollesin due to insufficient evidence but convicted Dreu of rape, sentencing him to reclusion perpetua and ordering him to pay P30,000 in moral damages.
ISSUE
Whether the trial court erred in convicting accused-appellant of rape based on the prosecution’s evidence.
RULING
The Supreme Court affirmed the conviction. The Court found the appeal without merit, rejecting accused-appellant’s claim of a consensual “sweetheart” relationship as utterly baseless and unsupported by evidence. The Court upheld the trial court’s assessment of Josephine’s testimony as credible, natural, and consistent. Minor inconsistencies regarding the exact time she lost consciousness were deemed inconsequential and did not affect her core narrative of forcible sexual assault. The Court emphasized that the medical findings corroborated her account of a violent defloration.
Furthermore, accused-appellant’s post-incident conduct was indicative of guilt. His offer of marriage to Josephine, which she rejected, was correctly treated as an implied admission of wrongdoing. His subsequent flight from town after the offer was spurned further evidenced a guilty conscience. The Court modified the damages, increasing the moral damages to P50,000 and awarding an additional P50,000 as civil indemnity, in line with prevailing jurisprudence. The penalty of reclusion perpetua was sustained.