G.R. No. 200793 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, VS. MILAN ROXAS Y AGUILUZ, ACCUSED-.D E C I S I O N - Supreme Court E-Library

Ruling

WHEREFORE , premises considered, judgment is hereby rendered finding the accused GUILTY beyond reasonable doubt in all five (5) counts of rape as recited in the information[s] and sentences accused MILAN ROXAS: 1) In Crim. Case No. Q-00-91967 to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua, to indemnify the offended party [AAA] the sum of Php75,000.00, to pay moral damages in the sum of Php50,000.00, and to pay the costs; 2) In Crim. Case No. Q-00-91968 to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua, to indemnify the offended party [AAA] the sum of Php75,000.00, to pay moral damages in the sum of Php50,000.00, and to pay the costs; 3) In Crim. Case No. Q-00-91969 to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua, to indemnify the offended party [AAA] the sum of Php75,000.00, to pay moral damages in the sum of Php50,000.00, and to pay the costs; 4) In Crim. Case No. Q-00-91970 to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua, to indemnify the offended party [AAA] the sum of Php75,000.00, to pay moral damages in the sum of Php50,000.00, and to pay the costs; and 5) In Crim. Case No. Q-00-91971 to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua , to indemnify the offended party [AAA] the sum of Php75,000.00, to pay moral damages in the sum of Php50,000.00, and to pay the costs. To credit in favor of the herein accused the full period of his detention in accordance with law. Resultantly, all pending incidents are deemed moot and academic. [12] The RTC held that accused-appellant Roxas is not exempt from criminal responsibility on the ground that he cannot be considered a minor or an imbecile or insane person, since Dr. Aglipay merely testified that he was an eighteen-year old with a mental development comparable to that of children between nine to ten years old. The RTC found the testimony of AAA credible, and found the testimonies of the defense witnesses to be flimsy. Accused-appellant Roxas elevated the case to the Court of Appeals, where the case was docketed as CA-G.R. CR.-H.C. No. 03473. Accused-appellant Roxas submitted the following Assignment of Errors in the appellate court: I THE TRIAL COURT GRAVELY ERRED IN GIVING FULL WEIGHT AND CREDENCE TO THE PRIVATE COMPLAINANTS TESTIMONY. II THE TRIAL COURT GRAVELY ERRED IN FINDING ACCUSED-APPELLANT GUILTY BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT OF THE CRIME CHARGED. [13] On August 16, 2011, the Court of Appeals rendered the assailed Decision, modifying the Judgment of the RTC as follows: WHEREFORE , premises considered, the Judgment dated 11 December 2007 of the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City, Branch 94, in the case entitled People of the Philippines vs. Milan Roxas y Aguiluz, docketed therein as Criminal Case Nos. Q-00-91967 to Q-00-91971, is AFFIRMED with modification that accused-appellant is ordered to pay private complainant on each count civil indemnity in the amount of P75,000.00, moral damages in the amount of P75,000.00, and exemplary damages in the amount of P30,000.00, for each count of rape. [14] Hence, accus