G.R. No. 170848-49 ; March 7, 2007
People of the Philippines, Plaintiff-Appellee, vs. Eduardo Moran, Jr. y Gordula, Accused-Appellant.

FACTS

The victim, AAA, a 14-year-old student, was sleeping in her aunt’s house after attending a wake on the night of November 3, 1994. She was awakened when an assailant struck her abdomen, rendering her unconscious. Upon regaining consciousness, she found her shorts and underwear removed and saw the appellant, Eduardo Moran, Jr., standing beside her. He covered her mouth, poked a pointed object at her, covered her with a blanket, punched her again, and threatened to kill her if she reported the incident. Her cousin, CCC, witnessed parts of the assault. AAA later identified appellant with the aid of a nearby lightpost. A medico-legal examination confirmed AAA was in a non-virgin state, with healed hymenal lacerations and congestion of the labia, though no spermatozoa was found and there were no external signs of violence.
The defense presented a different version, claiming AAA’s family fabricated the charge due to a prior grudge. The Regional Trial Court convicted Moran of rape and sentenced him to reclusion perpetua. The Court of Appeals affirmed the conviction but modified the damages awarded.

ISSUE

Whether the prosecution proved the guilt of the accused for the crime of rape beyond reasonable doubt.

RULING

Yes, the Supreme Court affirmed the conviction. The Court upheld the credibility of AAA’s testimony, which was straightforward, consistent, and candid. The medical findings, while noting the absence of sperm and fresh lacerations, were consistent with her account. The healed lacerations corroborated loss of virginity, and the congestion indicated recent friction. The Court emphasized that in rape cases, the victim’s testimony, if credible, is sufficient to sustain a conviction. The defense of alibi and frame-up was weak and unsubstantiated. The failure to immediately report the crime was satisfactorily explained by the victim’s young age and the threats made against her. The Court affirmed the penalty of reclusion perpetua and the awards of P50,000.00 as civil indemnity and P50,000.00 as moral damages.