G.R. No. 177144 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, VS. DIOSDADO CODILAN Y PALAJURIN, ACCUSED-.D E C I S I O N - Supreme Court E-Library

Ruling

WHEREFORE, judgment is hereby rendered, as follows: In Criminal Case No. 1487-M-99, this Court finds the accused GUILTY beyond reasonable doubt of Acts of Lasciviousness under Art. 336 of the Revised Penal Code and hereby sentences him to a prison term ranging from four (4) months and one (1) day of arresto mayor as minimum up to six (6) years of prision correccional as maximum and to pay the private complainant the amount of P20,000.00 as moral damages; In Criminal Case No. 1488-M-99, this Court finds the accused GUILTY beyond reasonable doubt of Rape under Arts. 266-A and 266-B of the Revised Penal Code and hereby sentences him to suffer the penalty of Reclusion Perpetua and to pay the private complainant the amount of P100,000.00 as moral damages; In Criminal Case No. 1489-M-99, this Court finds the accused GUILTY beyond reasonable doubt of Acts of Lasciviousness under Art. 336 of the Revised Penal Code and hereby sentences him to a prison term ranging from four (4) months and one (1) day of arresto mayor as minimum up to six (6) years of prision correccional as maximum and to pay the private complainant the amount of P20,000.00 as moral damages; and In Criminal Case No. 1490-M-99, this Court finds the accused guilty beyond reasonable doubt of Rape under Arts. 266-A(d) and 266-B of the Revised Penal Code and hereby sentences him to suffer the penalty of Reclusion Perpetua and to pay the private complainant the amount of P100,000.00 as moral damages. [10] (Underscoring supplied) On appeal to the Court of Appeals, appellant faulted the trial court in giving weight and credence to the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses and in convicting him of two counts of rape. Modifying the trial court's decision, the appellate court awarded AAA for each count of rape civil indemnity in the amount of P50,000, reduced the award of moral damages to P50,000, and awarded exemplary damages of P25,000. In awarding exemplary damages, the appellate court considered the aggravating circumstance of relationship, appellant being AAA's uncle by affinity, hence, a relative within the third civil degree. On the assailed credibility of AAA and the other prosecution witnesses, the appellate court cited settled jurisprudence that (1) the offended party's testimony, if credible, is sufficient to sustain a conviction, and (2) appellate courts will generally not disturb the findings of the trial court as the latter is in a better position to determine the credibility of witnesses whom it heard and whose deportment and manner of testifying it observed during trial. These jurisprudential rules, the appellate court held, are particularly significant given its finding that AAA was merely eight years old at the time the offenses were committed. Like the trial court, the appellate court found AAA's testimony candid and straightforward to merit full faith and credit. It further found AAA's answers during the rigorous and at times misleading cross-examination to be clear and unflin