People V Alburo, People V Godines
People V Alburo, People V Godines
People V Alburo, People V Godines
Alburo
FACTS:
From their school in Jones Avenue, the victim Evelyn Cantina and her two
classmates were walking towards Colon Street in Cebu City to buy some medicine.
Not long after, a passenger jeepney stopped by the side of the road. Its driver,
accused Ronilo Alburo invited and insisted the trio to board his jeepney despite the
proximity of Colon St. When the jeepney stopped at a juncture, Evelyns classmates
disembarked. Evelyn was about to alight but was prevented from doing so under
threats by Alburo. Evelyns efforts to disembark proved futile. The accused drove to
places until he stopped at an isolated area in Brgy. Oppra. Whilst pointing a knife at
Evelyn, he pushed her head to the steering wheel rendering her unconscious and
while in that state, accused had carnal intercourse with her. She later regained her
senses and was reunited with her mother when the jeep was spotted coming from
Capitol.
ISSUE:
Whether or not the conviction of Alburo for the complex crime of forcible
abduction with rape was proper.
RULING:
Yes.
RATIO:
In reviewing the evidence adduced by the prosecution for this crime of Rape,
we have likewise been guided by three well-known principles, namely, (1) that an
accusation of rape can be made with facility, is difficult to prove, but more difficult
for the person accused, though innocent, to disprove; (2) that in view of the
intrinsic nature of the crime of rape where only two persons are usually involved,
the testimony of the complainant must be scrutinized with extreme caution; and (3)
that the evidence for the prosecution must stand or fall on its own merits, and
cannot be allowed to draw strength from the weaknesses of the evidence for the
defense.
The factual milieu of this criminal charge before us gives us no reason to
depart from these established rules. On the contrary, we find that Appellant had
taken Evelyn away against her will, with lewd designs, subsequently forced her to
submit to his lust and rendering her unconscious in the process, thereby justifying
his conviction for the complex crime of Forcible Abduction with Rape under Article
48 in relation to Articles 335 and 342 of the Revised Penal Code, with which he has
herein been charged.