G.R. No. 225339 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, V. xxxxxxxxxxx ACCUSED-.

Ruling

WHEREFORE, finding accused XXX guilty beyond reasonable doubt of rape, defined under Article 266-A and penalized under Article 266-B, all of the [Revised Penal Code], said accused is hereby sentenced to suffer a prison term of reclusion perpetua and to pay unto private complainant [xxx] P75,000 as civil indemnity; P75,000 as moral damages and; P30,000 as exemplary damages. SO ORDERED, (words in brackets added) [14] The trial court gave credence to AAA's factual narration and her positive identification of appellant as the man who sexually ravaged her. It rejected appellant's defense of denial. The Proceedings Before the Court of Appeals On appeal, appellant faulted the trial court for rendering a verdict of conviction against him despite the alleged leading questions asked of AAA, her inconsistent answers, and the improbable scenario that her three (3) younger brothers were not roused from sleep while rape was being committed in their presence. [15] The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), through Assistant Solicitor General Marissa Macaraig-Guillen and State Solicitor Jayrous L. Villanueva defended the verdict of conviction. The OSG maintained that AAA's testimony was firmly corroborated by BBB and Dr. Ng-Hua. The alleged inconsistencies in AAA's testimony did not dwell on the elements of the crime, hence, did not diminish her credibility. [16] The Court of Appeals' Ruling The Court of Appeals affirmed with modification, viz .: WHEREFORE, premises considered, the instant appeal is DENIED. The assailed January 21, 2013 Judgment is MODIFIED in that: (1) Appellant XXX shall not be eligible for parole; and (2) Appellant XXX is ORDERED to pay interest at the legal rate of six percent (6%) per annum on all monetary awards from the date of finality of this judgment until fully paid. SO ORDERED.