pronounced:
chanrob1es v irt ual 1aw l ibra ry
Clearly, in the crime of rape, from the moment the offender has carnal knowledge of his
victim, he actually attains his purpose and, from that moment also all the essential
elements of the offense have been accomplished. Nothing more is left to be done by the
offender, because he has performed the last act necessary to produce the crime. Thus,
the felony is consummated. In a long line, of cases (People v. Oscar, 48 Phil. 527;
People v. Hernandez, 49 Phil. 980; People v. Royeras, G.R. No. L-31886, April 29,
1974, 56 SCRA 666; People v. Amores, G.R. No. L-32996, August 21, 1974, 58 SCRA
505), We have set the uniform rule that for the consummation of rape, perfect
penetration is not essential. Any penetration of the female organ by the male organ is
sufficient. Entry of the labia or lips of the female organ, without rupture of the hymen
or laceration of the vagina is sufficient to warrant conviction. Necessarily, rape is
attempted if there is no penetration of the female organ (People v. Tayaba, 62 Phil.
559; People v. Rabadan, Et Al., 53 Phil. 694; United States v. Garcia, 9 Phil. 434)
because not all acts of execution was performed. The offender merely commenced the
commission of a felony directly by overt acts. Taking into account the nature, elements
and manner of execution of the crime of rape and jurisprudence on the matter, it is
hardly conceivable how the frustrated stage in rape can ever be committed.
Of course, We are aware of our earlier pronouncement in the case of People v. Eriñia,
50 Phil. 998 [1927] where We found the offender guilty of frustrated rape there being
no conclusive evidence of penetration of the genital organ of the offended party.
However, it appears that this is a ‘stray’ decision inasmuch as it has not been reiterated
in Our subsequent decisions. Likewise, We are aware of Article 335 of the Revised Penal
Code, as amended by Republic Act No. 2632 (dated September 12, 1960) and Republic
Act No. 4111 (dated March 29, 1965) which provides, in its penultimate paragraph, for
the penalty of death when the rape is attempted or frustrated and a homicide is
committed by reason or on the occasion thereof. We are of the opinion that this
particular provision on frustrated rape is a dead provision. The Eriñia case, supra, might
have prompted the law-making body to include the crime of frustrated rape in the
amendments introduced by said laws.
chanrob1e s virtua1 1aw 1ib rary
The Court is not unaware that Republic Act No. 7659, amending Article 335 of the
Revised Penal Code, has retained the provision penalizing with reclusion perpetua to
death an accused who commits homicide by reason or on the occasion of an attempted
or frustrated rape. Until Congress sees it fit to define the term frustrated rape and
thereby penalize it, the Court will see its continued usage in the statute book as being
merely a persistent lapse in language. (Emphasis ours)
Thus, it was error for the trial court to convict appellant of frustrated rape. Besides,
after a careful review of the records, we find that the rape was in fact consummated.
Jessica initially testified that, although appellant did not succeed in inserting his penis in
her vagina, she felt his sex organ touch hers and she saw and felt semen come out of
his penis and smear her vagina. 25 In response to the clarificatory questions asked by
the prosecutor, Jessica testified that the appellant was able to slightly penetrate her
because she felt pain and her vagina bled. 26 It has been held that, to be convicted of
rape, there must be convincing and sufficient proof that the penis indeed touched the
labia or slid into the female organ, and not merely stroked the external surface thereof.
27 Nevertheless, we have also ruled in cases where penetration is not established that