then eleven (11) years old, together with her mother, BBB, and two (2) siblings, stayed
for free in the house of her paternal uncle, accused-appellant herein, located at Block 5,
XXX Street, Sitio XXX, Western XXX, XXX. Because AAA's father, DDD, was in jail for
murder, accused-appellant helped BBB in taking care of her children.
Sometime in April 2011, AAA went with accused-appellant, whom she called CCC, to
the YYY Camp, Sitio XXX, to buy some bananas. Accused-appellant would buy bananas
everyday and AAA helped him in selling banana cue as she was still on vacation from
school.
While on their way to the YYY Camp, accused-appellant suddenly dragged AAA towards
the grassy portion of a vacant lot. Then and there, he had carnal knowledge with AAA
by inserting his penis inside her vagina. After satisfying his lust, accused-appellant
pushed AAA out of the road and proceeded to buy some bananas. He threatened AAA
that should she tell anyone about the incident, he would eject her family from his house
and he would not feed them. Subsequently, accused-appellant would sexually abuse
AAA almost every day at the same place.
Later, on September 11, 2011, at around 10:00 o'clock in the evening, at the house of
accused-appellant, he molested AAA by caressing and touching her vagina. AAA did not
tell anyone about accused-appellant's bestial acts against her because she was afraid
that the latter would evict them and kill her.
On the following day, when AAA was at school, she revealed her ordeal to her teacher
who was then suspicious of her odd behavior. On that same day, accused-appellant's
live-in-partner disclosed to BBB that she saw him insert his finger into AAA's vagina.
BBB immediately went to AAA's school to verify the information. Thereat, BBB sought
the help of AAA's teacher and they went to the barangay to lodge a complaint.
The barangay referred them to the police station.
Thereafter, they proceeded to the PNP Crime Laboratory in Camp Crame wherein PCI
Shane Lore Detaballi (PCI Detaballi) conducted a genital examination and found the
presence of deep-healed lacerations at the 3, 6 and 9 o'clock positions in AAA's hymen,
showing blunt penetrating trauma. AAA then gave her sworn statement before the
Women and Children Protection Desk to confirm the veracity of her allegations.
Evidence of the Defense
On the other hand, the defense presented accused-appellant as its sole witness. He
vehemently denied the accusations against him. Instead, he claimed that the charges
were fabricated by BBB, AAA's mother, because she was mad and angry at DDD, her
husband and brother of accused-appellant. He also added that BBB was coaching her
children to testify against him and that she threatened to physically harm them should
they refuse to follow her.
The RTC Ruling
In a Decision, dated June 26, 2014, the RTC found accused-appellant guilty beyond