has pointed out that some of them have found the courage early on to publicly
denounce the abuses they experienced, but still there were others who have opted
to initially keep their harrowing ordeals to themselves and to just move on with
their lives as if nothing had happened, until the limits of their tolerance were
reached. Also, the immature and inexperienced could not be expected to measure
up to the same standard of conduct and reaction that would be expected from
adults whose maturity in age and experience could have brought them to stand up
more quickly to their interest. Lastly, long silence and delay in reporting the crime
of rape to the proper authorities have not always been considered as an indication
of a false accusation.[15]
Appellant's claim of ill motive on the part of private complainant AAA as the prime
reason the latter has accused him of committing the crime is untenable. It is highly
unthinkable for the victim to falsely accuse her father solely by reason of ill motives
or grudge."[16] Furthermore, motives such as resentment, hatred or revenge have
never swayed this Court from giving full credence to the testimony of a minor rape
victim.[17] In People v. Manuel,[18] this Court ruled:
Evidently, no woman, least of all a child, would concoct a story of defloration, allow
examination of her private parts and subject herself to public trial or ridicule if she
has not, in truth, been a victim of rape and impelled to seek justice for the wrong
done to her being. It is settled jurisprudence that testimonies of child-victims are
given full weight and credit, since when a woman or a girl-child says that she has
been raped, she says in effect all that is necessary to show that rape was indeed
committed. It must be remembered that as to appellant's defense of denial and
alibi, bare assertions thereof cannot overcome the categorical testimony of the
victim. Denial is an intrinsically weak defense which must be buttressed with strong
evidence of non-culpability to merit credibility. On the otherhand, for alibi to
prosper, it must be demonstrated that it was physically impossible for appellant to
be present at the place where the crime was committed at the time of
commission.[19]
As to the penalty imposed, the RTC and the CA were correct in imposing the
penalty of reclusion perpetua, instead of death by virtue of R.A. No. 9346, as the
rape is qualified by private complainant AAA's minority and appellant's paternity.
However, in the award of damages, a modification must be made per People v.
Ireneo Jugueta.[20] Where the penalty imposed is Death but reduced to reclusion
perpetua because of R.A. No. 9346, the amounts of damages shall be as follows:
1.
Civil
2.
Moral
3. Exemplary Damages- P100,000.00
IndemnityDamages-
P100,000.00
P100,000.00
WHEREFORE, the appeal of Jesus Mayola y Picar is DISMISSED for lack merit and
the Decision dated May 21, 2014 of the Court of Appeals, affirming the Decision
dated September 11, 2009 of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 55, Alaminos City,
Pangasinan in Criminal Case No. 4758-A convicting appellant of the crime of
qualified rape defined and penalized under Article 266-A (1) (a) in relation to Article