G.R. No.

209786

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee,

DECISION

LEONARDO-DE CASTRO, J.:

The Court decides the appeal filed by the accused-appellant Jerry C. Palates from the
Decision  dated June 28, 2013 of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CEB-CR.-H.C. No. 01301, which
1

affirmed with modification the Decision  dated February 10, 2011 of the Regional Trial Court (RTC)
2

of Cebu City, Branch 14, in Criminal Case No. CBU-78851. The trial court adjudged the accused-
appellant guilty of one count of rape.

On January 5, 2007, the prosecution charged the accused-appellant of committing rape against
AAA  in the following manner:
3

That on or about July, 2005 and for sometime prior and subsequent thereto, in the City of Cebu,
Philippines, and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the said accused, with deliberate
intent, did then and there willfully and unlawfully have carnal knowledge with one [AAA], a 14-year
old MINOR with the mental abilities of an 8 to 9-year old child, without the consent and against the
will of the latter and knowing the mental disability of said minor at the time of the commission of the
crime. 4

The accused-appellant pleaded not guilty upon his arraignment.  During trial, the prosecution
5

presented the testimonies of the following witnesses: (1) AAA,  the private complainant; (2) BBB, the
6 7

mother of AAA; (3) Dr. Naomi N. Poca,  the medico-legal officer who examined AAA; and (4)
8

Rosemarie C. Gonato,  a psychologist who examined AAA. The defense, on the other hand,
9

presented the testimonies of (1) the accusedappellant Jerry Palotes;  (2) Rose Bistes,  a friend of
10 11

the accusedappellant’s common-law wife; and (3) Marina Abella,  the owner of the house rented by
12

the accused-appellant. Thereafter, Loren J. Borines,  a forensic chemist from the National Bureau of
13

Investigation (NBI), testified on the results of the court ordered Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) test that
she conducted.

The Prosecution’s Version of Events

As summarized in the Brief for the Appellee  filed before the Court of Appeals, the prosecution’s
14

pertinent factual allegations are as follows:

The fourteen (14) years old minor victim, AAA, also known as ["ZZZ,"] lives with her mother BBB and
her father CCC in YYY, Cebu City. AAA has the mental abilities of an 8-9 years old child. She is an
illiterate and no longer goes to school.

Sometime prior to July 2005, AAA was asked by her neighbor, Dimple, to buy a diaper. While AAA
was on her way back to her neighbor’s house, she was pulled by appellant Jerry Palotes inside the
latter’s house. Appellant then held AAA, laid her down, removed her short pants and underwear. He
then lowered down his brief up to hi ees, kissed AAA’s lips and neck and inserted his penis into
AAA’s vagina. When AAA felt pain, appellant stopped and told her to go home. Upon reaching
home, she did not tell her mother about what happened because she was scared.
The second time that the appellant had sexual intercourse with AAA was when her friend called her
to take care of her niece while Jerry was also inside the same house. Appellant then invited the
minor victim to enter the house, pulled her inside and closed the door. He held AAA’s hands, laid her
down, removed her short pants and underwear, kissed her lips and neck and inserted his penis and
pushed it inside AAA’s vagina despite her pleas not to continue. When appellant kept on pushing his
penis inside [her] vagina, AAA felt that her vagina was wet. Appellant Palotes took off his shirt and
wiped her vagina with it. He advised AAA not to tell anyone about what happened and the latter went
home.

The third time that appellant had sexual intercourse with AAA was when he was washing clothes in
front of the minor victim’s house. They had a chat, with appellant telling AAA that she was beautiful.
She just smiled. He then rushed washing his clothes and told AAA to get inside the house while he
hang dry his clothes. When AAA was inside the house, the appellant followed her and removed her
short pants and panty.

He then inserted his penis inside AAA’s vagina just like what he did last time. He then told AAA not
to tell anyone and it would be between the two of them. Afterwards, AAA went home.  (Citations
15

omitted.)

As regards the subsequent events and the medical examinations conducted on AAA, the
prosecution stated that:

On September 23, 2005, AAA was brought by her mother, BBB, to her grandmother in [XXX], Cebu.
Her grandmother noticed that AAA did not have her monthly period. BBB and the grandmother
brought AAA to a Health Center in [XXX] where it was known that AAA was already pregnant for five
(5) months. When BBB tried to ask AAA who impregnated her, AAA would just keep her silence and
say nothing.

They then brought AAA to the Pink Room of VSMMC for medical examination where it was
confirmed that AAA was indeed pregnant. AAA finally told her mother that it was Jerry Palotes whom
she had sexual intercourse [with] but she cannot recall when it happened. BBB identified appellant
Jerry Palotes as their neighbor who lives in front of their house. She then asked the appellant but he
strongly denied it. AAA gave birth last April 5, 2006.

Dr. Naomi Poca, a resident physician at the Women and Children Protection Center of the Vicente
Sotto Memorial Hospital in Cebu City, brought the medical records of the minor victim particularly the
medical chart which includes the Medical Certificate, Intake Form, and Medico- Legal Certificate.
She interviewed the victim and her mother and together with Dr. Amadora, the OB gynecologist
connected with the Center, conducted a physical examination on AAA. The medical report stated
that AAA suffered "a complete transection at 6 o’clock position extending to the fossa navicularis and
her ano-genital examination findings are definite for blunt or penetrative trauma to the hymen. Dr.
Poca noted that the transection indicates that blunt forces were applied to the hymen of the vagina
and the blunt penetrating trauma applied to the hymen caused its laceration.

Dr. Rosemarie Gonato, a psychiatrist, conducted a psychological evaluation on AAA. She confirmed
that AAA’s mental age is equivalent to 6 to 7 years of age and places her functioning within the mild
mental retardation [range].  (Citations omitted.)
16

The prosecution presented the following documentary evidence: (1) Exhibit A – the Affidavit  of AAA;
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(2) Exhibit B – the Affidavit  of BBB; (3) Exhibit B-1 – the Birth Certificate  of AAA; (4) Exhibit C – the
18 19

Medico-Legal Certificate  of AAA; (5) Exhibit C-1 – the results of the Anogenital Examination  on
20 21
AAA; (6) Exhibit C-2 – the Interview Sheet  reflecting the interview of AAA conducted at the Vicente
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Sotto Memorial Hospital; and (7) Exhibit D – the Psychological Evaluation Report  on AAA.
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The Defense’s Evidence

The defense countered the prosecution’s statement of facts with the testimonies of its own witnesses
which were condensed in the Brief for the Accused-Appellant  filed before the Court of Appeals,
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thusly:

To refute the allegations of the prosecution, the defense presented the accused Jerry C. Palotes,
Marina Abella and Rose Bistes.

Accused Jerry C. Palotes strongly denied the allegations against him and alleged that when this
case was initially filed at the Office of the Barangay [YYY], [AAA] could not identify or remember who
sexually abused her. She was merely prodded by her relatives to point him as the perpetrator in their
desperate effort to get financial support for the child. He surmised that since the complainant gave
birth to the child in April 2006, he could not have been the father of the child since he was always not
in his rented house. Moreover, since he has a live-in partner, there was no opportunity for him to do
the alleged act aside from the fact that he does not have any sexual desire on her because he
treated her as a younger sister considering her mental condition and her being a child of tender age.
Further, he heard from among the neighbors that the complainant would usually go with other people
and was even seen sleeping together with a certain Junjun, a balut vendor. There are also rumors
that a certain Berto, a taxi driver, who frequently visited the place, was also seen together with
complainant. Since complainant is very susceptible to suggestion, she merely adopted the
suggestion by some of her relatives including her mother that he [the accused] should be pointed out
as the one who fathered her new born child. Furthermore, on two occasions, [he] was approached
by the mother of the complainant telling him that she would not pursue the filing of the case if he
promise[d] to shoulder the hospital expenses when the complainant would give birth as well as the
expenses for food, milk and other needs of the child.

Marina Abella testified that she is the owner of the house rented by the accused. She also lives
within said vicinity and she can attest to the fact that accused is not usually at the rented house as
he was busy in his work as a janitor. She also attests to the fact that she saw [AAA] in the company
of several people; children, men, women and even strangers. The charge against accused was
merely a product of prodding by some of the relatives of the complainant for the purpose of getting
support from accused.

Rose Bistes testified that she is one of the neighbors of the accused. She can attest to the fact that
accused is known to be good in their place.  (Citations omitted.)
25

The defense also submitted in evidence the following documents: (1) Exhibit 1 – the Counter-
Affidavit  of the accused-appellant; (2) Exhibit 2 – the Affidavit  of Rose Bistes; and (3) Exhibit 3 –
26 27

the Affidavit  of Marina Abella.

During trial, the defense requested for the conduct of a DNA test in order to prove that the accused-
appellant was not the father of AAA’s child.  The RTC granted this request in an Order  dated May
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21, 2009.

On May 6, 2010, Loren J. Borines, the NBI forensic chemist who conducted the DNA testing,
testified that she analyzed the buccal swabs and blood samples taken from the accused-appellant,
AAA and DDD, AAA’s child.
The results of her examination were contained in a report designated as DNA Case No. DNA-09-32,
wherein she concluded that "there is a 99.9995% Probability of Paternity that [the accused-appellant]
is the biological father of [DDD]."
31

The prosecution marked as its Exhibits E and E-1, respectively, the report of Borines entitled DNA
Case No. DNA-09-32 and the visual aid  she displayed when she testified in court.
32 33

The Decision of the RTC

The RTC convicted the accused-appellant of one count of rape in its Decision dated February 10,
2011. The dispositive portion thereof provides:

WHEREFORE, in view of the foregoing premises, judgment is rendered finding accused, GERRY C.
PALOTES, GUILTY as principal beyond reasonable doubt of RAPE pursuant to Article 266-A of the
Revised Penal Code, as amended, by R.A. 8353 and sentences him to an indivisible penalty of
reclusion perpetua under the first paragraph of Article 266-B.

He is also ordered to pay the minor through h[er] parents the amount of FIFTY THOUSAND
(Php50,000.00[)], for and as civil damages.

Costs de oficio. 34

The trial court ruled that the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses established the fact that AAA
was not only a 14-year old minor but she had the mental abilities of an eight to nine-year old child.
According to the RTC, the accused-appellant himself admitted that he treated AAA as a younger
sister given her mental condition and her being a child of tender age. Likewise, Marina Abella, a
witness for the defense, acknowledged that AAA was mentally deficient.

The RTC ascribed greater weight to the testimony of AAA. The trial court noted that the same was
replete with specifics on how the accusedappellant sexually abused AAA and she alone could have
supplied such details. The RTC further observed that AAA’s testimony was given in a straightforward
manner. If there were inconsistencies therein, the trial court deemed the same inconsequential given
AAA’s mental condition. As regards the corroborative testimonies of the defense witnesses Marina
Abella and Rose Bistes, the trial court concluded that the same were hearsay evidence. Given that
so many persons allegedly talked to said witnesses, not one of them testified for the defense. The
RTC added that the insistence of the accused-appellant that he be subjected to a DNA test together
with AAA and DDD, and the positive result of said test, had no bearing on the outcome of the case
since paternity is not an element of rape.

The Judgment of the Court of Appeals

On appeal,  the Court of Appeals affirmed the conviction of the accused-appellant for one count of
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rape in this wise:

WHEREFORE, the appeal is DENIED for lack of merit. Accordingly, the February 10, 2011 Decision
of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 14 of Cebu City is AFFIRMED subject to the MODIFICATION
that the accused-appellant JERRY PALOTES is ORDERED to pay AAA, [through] her parents, the
amount of Fifty Thousand Pesos (Php50,000.00) as civil indemnity plus interest of 6% per annum
reckoned from the finality of this judgment until full payment thereof.
36
The Court of Appeals found that despite AAA’s mental condition, she clearly identified the accused-
appellant as the perpetrator of the rape and the father of her child. The appellate court posited that
AAA’s testimony was complete with specifics on how the accused-appellant sexually abused her.
Her categorical and consistent identification of the accused-appellant was devoid of any showing of
ill motive and the same, therefore, prevailed over the latter’s defenses of alibi and denial. The Court
of Appeals also ruled as credible and consistent the sworn statement of AAA dated April 27, 2006,
wherein she made a candid and straightforward narration of how the accused-appellant raped her.
To the appellate court, AAA’s mental retardation per se did not affect her credibility and the
inconsistencies in AAA’s testimony on collateral and minor matters were not enough to discredit the
same. Moreover, AAA’s assertion that the accused-appellant had sexual intercourse with her was
substantially corroborated by the medical findings on her vaginal injuries.

The Ruling of the Court

In his appeal  before this Court, the accused-appellant reiterated his argument that the trial court
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erred in convicting him of the crime charged despite the fact that the prosecution failed to prove his
guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The accused-appellant admitted that he knew of AAA’s mental
handicap and he claimed that other people merely prompted AAA to execute her sworn statement.
The accused-appellant further alleged that the testimony of AAA was unclear and inconsistent, thus
falling short of the required credibility to be the basis of the accused-appellant’s conviction. As the
evidence of the prosecution failed to establish his guilt beyond reasonable doubt, he argued that his
acquittal must follow.

The Court finds no merit in the accused-appellant’s appeal.

Article 266-A of the Revised Penal Code defines the crime of rape by sexual intercourse as follows:

ART. 266-A. Rape, When and How Committed. — Rape is committed —

1. By a man who shall have carnal knowledge of a woman under any of the following
circumstances:

a. Through force, threat or intimidation;

b. When the offended party is deprived of reason or is otherwise unconscious;

c. By means of fraudulent machination or grave abuse of authority;

d. When the offended party is under twelve (12) years of age or is demented, even
though none of the circumstances mentioned above be present.

Thus, for a charge of rape to prosper under the above provision, the prosecution must prove that: (1)
the offender had carnal knowledge of a woman; and (2) he accomplished such act through force,
threat, or intimidation, or when she was deprived of reason or otherwise unconscious, or when she
was under twelve years of age or was demented.

The element of carnal knowledge in this case was adequately established by the testimony of AAA.
Before the trial court, AAA stated that a neighbor asked her to buy diapers. After buying the diapers,
she was on her way to her neighbor’s house when she encountered the accusedappellant. The latter
made AAA get inside his house and made her lie on the floor. The accused-appellant removed his
shorts and underwear and that of AAA’s. He lay beside AAA and started kissing her lips and neck.
He then inserted his penis into AAA’s vagina and she felt pain. Afterwards, AAA went home. AAA did
not tell her mother about the incident because she was afraid of the accused-appellant. AAA also
positively identified the accusedappellant in open court and she denied that her mother merely
forced her to wrongly accuse him. 38

The RTC found worthy of credence the above testimony of AAA and her positive and consistent
identification of the accused-appellant as the perpetrator of the crime. The Court of Appeals similarly
held AAA to be a credible witness when it affirmed the accused-appellant’s conviction. After
reviewing the testimony of AAA, as well as the records of this case, the Court finds no reason to
deviate from the factual findings of the lower courts. Verily, we see no justification to disturb the
lower courts’ appreciation of the credibility of AAA’s testimony. As discussed in Dizon v. People :39

Jurisprudence instructs that when the credibility of a witness is of primordial consideration, as in this
case, the findings of the trial court, its calibration of the testimonies of the witnesses and its
assessment of the probative weight thereof, as well as its conclusions anchored on said findings are
accorded respect if not conclusive effect. This is because the trial court has had the unique
opportunity to observe the demeanor of a witness and was in the best position to discern whether
they were telling the truth. When the trial court’s findings have been affirmed by the appellate court,
as in the present case, said findings are generally binding upon this Court. (Citation omitted.)

Furthermore, the testimony of AAA that she suffered sexual abuse was bolstered by the Medico-
Legal Certificate (Exhibit C) issued by Dr. Naomi N. Poca, a physician at the Vicente Sotto Memorial
Hospital in Cebu City, which revealed that AAA was in a non-virginal state and was in fact pregnant.
Dr. Poca concluded that: "[a]nogenital examination findings are definite for blunt or penetrative
trauma to the hymen. Pregnancy, uterine, 20-24 weeks age of gestation by fundal height." 40

To disprove the charge against him, the accused-appellant denied AAA’s accusations and
interposed an alibi. In his counter-affidavit that was made part of his testimony, the accused-
appellant claimed that at the time when the alleged sexual abuse occurred in July 2005, he was
busy looking for a job so he was not always in his rented house in YYY, Cebu City. Moreover, the
accused-appellant alleged that he had a live-in partner such that there was no opportunity for him to
commit the crime charged. Said refutations, however, ring hollow.

Denial and alibi are inherently weak defenses; unless supported by clear and convincing evidence,
the same cannot prevail over the positive declaration of the victim.  In the case of an alibi, the
41

requirements of time and place should be strictly complied with by the defense, meaning that the
accused must not only show that he was somewhere else but that it was physically impossible for
him to have been at the scene of the crime at the time it was committed. 42

The accused-appellant in the instant case utterly failed to substantiate his allegations. In his cross-
examination, he stated that in July 2005, he was indeed the neighbor of AAA in YYY, Cebu City. At
that time, he said he was busy looking for work but only within the city. Furthermore, he would return
to his house in YYY everyday after his job hunting.  Clearly, the alibi of the accused-appellant is at
43

most unspecific and vague as to his exact whereabouts and the fact that he goes back everyday to
his house – the locus criminis in this case – does little in proving the requisite physical impossibility
of his presence therein when the crime was committed.

Other than his own flimsy testimony, he presented the testimonies of defense witnesses Rose Bistes
and Marina Abella.  However, said testimonies were insufficient to validate the accused-appellant’s
44

averments.
Rose Bistes merely stated that the accused-appellant could not have committed the crime charged
because he was known in their locality to be a good person,  but she admitted in her cross-
45

examination that her knowledge of the case was only derived from what a certain Fe Berdin told
her.  Marina Abella, on the other hand, stated that the accused-appellant could not have raped AAA
46

because he was "not usually at [his] rented house as he was busy in his work as [a] janitor" and that
she saw AAA in the company of other male persons anyone of whom could have fathered AAA’s
child.  On cross-examination, however, Marina Abella said that she could not even remember the
47

month and year when the accused-appellant was busy working as a janitor, nor could she recall the
time when AAA was supposedly raped by the accused-appellant.  Clearly, the testimonies of the
48

above witnesses hardly provide any concrete corroboration of the accused-appellant’s allegations.

Set against the credible testimony of AAA and her positive identification of the accused-appellant as
her abuser, the latter’s self-serving denial and alibi cannot absolve him of the crime charged.

Carnal knowledge of a woman who is mentally deficient constitutes rape under Article 266-A,
paragraph 1(b) of the Revised Penal Code, as amended, as such a woman is automatically
considered incapable of giving consent to a sexual act. We held in People v. Caoile  that "the phrase
49

deprived of reason under paragraph 1(b) has been interpreted to include those suffering from mental
abnormality, deficiency, or retardation." Accordingly, what needs to be proven are the facts of sexual
congress between the accused and the victim, and the mental retardation of the latter. 50

That AAA was mentally deficient – thus, deprived of reason – when the accused-appellant
succeeded in having sexual intercourse with her was clearly established in this case. Dr. Rosemarie
Gonato, a psychologist at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Hospital, testified that she conducted a
psychological evaluation of AAA. The results thereof indicated that "[AAA’s] mental age [was]
equivalent to a child [of] 6 to 7 years of age and x x x her functioning [was] within the mild mental
retardation."  Dr. Gonato also issued a Psychological Evaluation Report, which was marked in
51

evidence by the prosecution. Moreover, as found by the trial court, the accused-appellant himself
admitted that he knew of AAA’s mental deficiency  and defense witness Marina Abella likewise
52

attested that AAA had a mental problem.  Therefore, the Court sustains the conviction of the
53

accused-appellant of the crime charged.

Incidentally, the Court notes that the prosecution filed only one information for rape against the
accused-appellant yet in the statement of facts set out in the Brief for the Appellee filed before the
Court of Appeals, the prosecution related three instances of rape committed by the
accusedappellant against AAA. Nonetheless, we agree with the lower courts that the accused
should be penalized for only one count of rape. This is so as AAA testified to only one count of rape,
without any mention at all of any other instance of sexual abuse. No other evidence was presented
to substantiate the alleged second and third incidents of rape. Settled is the rule that every charge of
rape is separate and distinct crime so that each of them should be proven beyond reasonable
doubt. 54

The Proper Penalty

The accused-appellant’s knowledge of AAA’s mental deficiency at the time he committed the rape
qualifies the crime and makes it punishable by death in accordance with Article 266-B of the Revised
Penal Code, as amended. Said provision pertinently provides:

ART. 266-B. Penalties. – x x x.

xxxx
The death penalty shall also be imposed if the crime of rape is committed with any of the following
aggravating/qualifying circumstances:

xxxx

10) When the offender knew of the mental disability, emotional disorder and/or physical handicap of
the offended party at the time of the commission of the crime.

Since the accused-appellant’s knowledge of AAA’s mental condition was specifically alleged in the
information, proven by the evidence of the prosecution and admitted by the accused-appellant
during trial, said qualifying circumstance is applicable. Thus, the proper imposable penalty in this
case is death. However, in accordance with Section 2 of Republic Act No. 9346,  the penalty of
55

reclusion perpetua shall instead be imposed.

As to the accused-appellant’s civil liability, the trial court ordered him to pay AAA the amount of
P50,000.00 as "civil damages." The Court of Appeals, thereafter, modified the same by awarding
P50,000.00 as civil indemnity plus interest of 6% per annum reckoned from the finality of judgment
until full payment thereof.

Following our recent ruling in People v. Cataytay,  which is akin to the present case involving the
56

crime of qualified rape punishable by death but reduced to reclusion perpetua, the Court increases
the amounts of indemnity and damages to be imposed against the accused-appellant as follows:
Pl00,000.00 as civil indemnity; Pl00,000.00 as moral damages; and Pl00,000.00 as exemplary
damages. Additionally, we impose 6% interest per annum from finality of judgment until fully paid.

WHEREFORE, the appeal is DENIED. The Decision dated June 28, 2013 of the Court of Appeals in
CA-G.R. CEB-CR.-H.C. No. 01301 is hereby AFFIRMED with the MODIFICATION that the amounts
of indemnity and damages are increased as follows: Pl00,000.00 as civil indemnity; Pl00,000.00 as
moral damages; and Pl00,000.00 as exemplary damages.  All amounts are also subject to interest at
1âwphi1

the rate of 6o/o per annum from the date of finality of this judgment until fully paid.

SO ORDERED.

TERESITA J. LEONARDO-DE CASTRO

WE CONCUR:

MARIA LOURDES P. A. SERENO

LUCAS P. BERSAMIN JOSE PORTUGAL PEREZ

ESTELA M. PERLAS-BERNABE
Associate Justice

CERTIFICATION
Pursuant to Section 13, Article VIII of the Constitution, I certify that the conclusions in the above
Decision had been reached in consultation before the case was assigned to the writer of the opinion
of the Court's Division.

MARIA LOURDES P.A. SERENO

Footnotes

Rollo, pp. 4-17; penned by Executive Justice Pampio A. Abarintos with Associate Justices
1

Gabriel T. Ingles and Marilyn B. Lagura-Yap, concurring.

2
Records, pp. 120-127; penned by Presiding Judge Raphael B. Yrastorza, Sr.

The real names of the private complainant and those of her immediate family members are
3

withheld in accordance with Republic Act No. 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against
Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act); Republic Act No. 9262 (Anti-Violence
Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004); and A.M. No. 04-10-11-SC effective
November 15, 2004 (Rule on Violence Against Women and Their Children). See People v.
Cabalquinto, 533 Phil. 703 (2006).

Thus, the private offended party shall be referred to as AAA, and her nickname shall
be ZZZ. The initials BBB shall refer to the mother of the private offended party,
whereas CCC shall stand for the name of the father of the private offended party.
The initials DDD shall refer to the child of AAA. The initials YYY shall denote the
specific place where the crime was allegedly committed, and the initials XXX shall
stand for the place where AAA subsequently resided after the crime charged was
allegedly committed.

4
 Records, p. 1.

5
 Id. at 34.

6
 TSN, April 18, 2008.

7
 TSN, February 5, 2009.

8
 TSN, April 30, 2009.

9
 TSN, May 7, 2009.

10
 TSN, May 21, 2009.

11
 TSN, June 11, 2009.

12
 TSN, June 25, 2009.
  TSN, May 6, 2010.
13

 CA rollo, pp. 47-61.

 Id. at 51-53.
15

 Id. at 53-55.
16

 Records, pp. 8-10.

 Id. at 11-12.
18

 Id. at 13.
19

 Id. at 14.
20

 Id. at 82.
21

 Id. at 84-85.
22

 Id. at 92-94.
23

 CA rollo, pp. 18-29.

 Id. at 23-25.
25

 Records, pp. 21-23.

 Id. at 24-25.
27

 Id. at 26-27.
28

 TSN, May 21, 2009, p. 6.

 Records, p. 98.
30

 Id. at 108.
31

 Id. at 114-117.
32

 Although properly identified and marked, Exhibits E and E-1 did not appear to have been
33

formally offered as evidence by either party.

 Records, p. 127.
34

 Id. at 129.
35

 Rollo, pp. 16-17.

 TSN, April 18, 2008, pp. 4-9.

 616 Phil. 498, 512 (2009).

 Records, p. 14.
40

 People v. Sulima, 598 Phil. 238, 253-254 (2009).

 People v. Pili, 351 Phil. 1046, 1068-1069 (1998).

 TSN, May 21, 2009, pp. 4-6.

 Rose Bistes and Marina Abella executed their respective Affidavits dated July 4, 2006
44

(Records, pp. 24-27) and the same were made part of their direct testimonies (TSN, June 11,
2009, p. 4; TSN, June 25, 2009, p. 4).

 Records, p. 24.
45

 TSN, June 11, 2009, p. 7.

 Records, p. 26.
47

 TSN, June 25, 2009, pp. 4-5.

 G.R. No. 203041, June 5, 2013, 697 SCRA 638, 649.

 People v. Castillo, 641 Phil. 570, 583 (2010).

 Records, p. 93.
51

 Id. at 21-22.
52

 Id. at 26.
53

 People v. Tabio, 568 Phil. 144, 155-156 (2008).

 Republic Act No. 9346 is entitled An Act Prohibiting the Imposition of Death Penalty in the
55

Philippines. The law took effect on June 30, 2006. Section 2 thereof relevantly states:

SEC. 2. In lieu of the death penalty, the following shall be imposed:

a. the penalty of reclusion perpetua, when the law violated makes use of the
nomenclature of the penalties of the Revised Penal Code[.]

 G.R. No. 196315, October 22, 2014, citing People v. Lumaho, G.R. No. 208716,
56

September 24, 2014, 736 SCRA 542, 555-556.