Republic of the Philippines

SUPREME COURT
Manila
FIRST DIVISION
G.R. No. 202060 December 11, 2013
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee,
vs.
FERDINAND AN!UELA, Accuse-Appellant.
D ! " I S I O N
LEONARDO"DE CASTRO, J.:
The accuse-appellant Fe#inan $an%uela &$an%uela' challen(es in this
appeal the Au(ust )*, +,** Decision
*
p#o-ul(ate b. the "ou#t of
Appeals in "A-/.R. "R.-0.". No. ,)121, 3he#ein he 3as convicte fo#
Rape an Acts of 4asciviousness.
On 5ul. +6, +,,), $an%uela 3as cha#(e 3ith Rape an Atte-pte Rape
une# A#ticle ))6 of the Revise Penal "oe in #elation to Republic Act
No. 72*,
+
befo#e $#anch +,8, Re(ional T#ial "ou#t &RT"' of
Manalu.on( "it.. The Info#-ation #ea as follo3s9
I. Fo# Rape &"#i-inal "ase No. M",)-8*8-F"-0'
That so-eti-e :i;n Feb#ua#. +,,), in the "it. of Manalu.on(,
Philippines, a place 3ithin the <u#isiction of this 0ono#able "ou#t, the
above-na-e accuse, 3ith le3 esi(ns an b. -eans of fo#ce an
inti-iation, i, then an the#e 3illfull., unla3full. an feloniousl.
have ca#nal =no3le(e 3ith :AAA
)
;, -ino# &2 .ea#s ol', a(ainst he# 3ill
an consent, thus ebasin( an>o# e-eanin( the int#insic 3o#th an
i(nit. of the chil as a hu-an bein(.
?
II.Fo# Atte-pte Rape &"#i-inal "ase No. M",)-8*1-F"-0'
That so-eti-e in Feb#ua#. +,,), in the "it. of Manalu.on(,
Philippines, a place 3ithin the <u#isiction of this 0ono#able "ou#t, the
above-na-eaccuse, i then an the#e 3illfull., unla3full. an
feloniousl. atte-pt to have ca#nal =no3le(e of :$$$;, a (i#l seven
&7'.ea#s of a(e, b. then an the#e b#in(in( he# to a (#ass. po#tion of
Manalu.on( "e-ete#., -ae to lie o3n, un#esse he#, thus i#ectl.
b. ove#t acts but faile to pe#fo#- all acts of e@ecution 3hen a thi# pa#t.
helpe the victi- to (et a3a. f#o-the accuse.
6
$an%uela pleae not (uilt. to both cha#(es u#in( his a##ai(n-ent on
Nove-be# +,, +,,).
2
Afte# the co-pletion of the p#e-t#ial confe#ence on
5anua#.++, +,,?,
7
t#ial on the -e#its ensue.
The follo3in( na##ation of facts 3as -ae b. theRT" an the "ou#t of
Appeals9
Ve#sion of the P#osecution
So-eti-e in Feb#ua#. +,,), 3hile si@-.ea# ol AAA an seven-.ea# ol
$$$3e#e 3atchin( TV in AAAAs house,$an%uela app#oache the- an
as=e the- to (o 3ith hi- to the nea#b. ce-ete#.. AAA an $$$
#efuse, but $an%uela ca##ie AAA a3a.p#o-ptin($$$ to follo3suit.
Bpon #eachin( the ce-ete#., $an%uela blinfole $$$, 3ho the#eafte#
#e-ove the blinfol an loo=e fo# AAA an $an%uela. Mean3hile,
$an%uela lai AAA on a i#t. to-b, pulle up he# #ess, an #e-ove he#
une#3ea#. 0e the#eafte# #e-ove his sho#ts an b#iefs, -ounte AAA,
=isse he#, inse#te his penis in he# va(ina, an -ove his bo. up an
o3n a(ainst the c#.in( AAA. 0e th#eatene to =ill he# enti#e fa-il. if
she eve# spo=eof the incient. Chen $$$ finall. foun the-,$an%uela
hu##iel. pulle up his b#iefs an sho#ts an then #an a3a.. $$$
app#oache AAA an sa3 that the#e 3as bloo on the to-b f#o- AAAAs
va(ina. The. 3ipe the bloo 3ith a banana leaf, then p#oceee to
$$$As house, 3he#e AAA 3ashe he# blooie #ess an une#3ea#
befo#e (oin( bac= to AAAAs house.
1
Afte# the incient 3ith AAA, $an%uela use the sa-e -etho on $$$,
the au(hte# of his -othe#As half-b#othe#. One -o#nin( in Feb#ua#. +,,),
$an%uela as=e $$$ to (o 3ith hi- to the ce-ete#.. Chen $$$ #efuse,
$an%uela ca##iehe# out of the house an b#ou(hthe# to the ce-ete#..
$$$ c#ie, but $an%uela p#oceee to la.he# o3n on the (#oun,pulle
he# #ess up, #e-ove he# une#3ea#, an =isse he#. 0o3eve#, befo#e
$an%uela coul oan.thin( -o#e, a -an passe b. causin( $an%uela to
flee the scene. The -an the#eafte# inst#ucte $$$ to (o ho-e. Bpon
#eachin( he#house, $an%uela, 3ho 3as al#ea. the#e, th#eatene he#
a(ainst tellin( an.one of the incient, othe#3ise, he 3oul=ill eve#.one
in thei# house.
8
AAA, 3ith he# -othe#, sub-itte he#self fo# e@a-ination but both the
Initial Meico-4e(al Repo#t
*,
an the Meico-4e(al Repo#t No. M-,8*?-
,)
**
state that AAA 3as ph.sicall. in a vi#(in state, an he# h.-en
Dintact.D
Ve#sion of the Defense
$an%uela enie the accusations a(ainst hi-, clai-in( that he 3as
3o#=in( fo# at least t3elve &*+' hou#s a a. at $estflo3 Pu#ifie
D#in=in( Cate# Refillin( Station the 3hole -onth of Feb#ua#. +,,).To
p#ove this, hesub-itte photocopies of his Dail. Ti-e Reco# &DTR'
f#o- Nove-be# +,,+ to Feb#ua#. +,,).
*+
$an%uela ae that he i not
(o to the ce-ete#. the enti#e Feb#ua#. of +,,).
*)
Rulin( of theRT"
On Feb#ua#. +7, +,,8, the RT" convicte $an%uela of the c#i-es of #ape
of AAA an atte-pte #ape of $$$. The ispositive po#tion of the
Decision
*?
#eas as follo3s9
C0!R!FOR!, in vie3 of the fo#e(oin(, <u(-ent is he#eb. #ene#e as
follo3s9
*.In "#i-inal "ase No. M",)-8*8-F"-0, finin( accuse F!RDINAND
$ANEB!4A (uilt. be.on #easonable oubt of the c#i-e of RAP!
une# A#ticle ))6 of the Revise Penal "oe, as a-ene b. R.A. 7268
an is he#eb. sentence to suffe# the penalt. of R!"4BSION
P!RP!TBAan to ine-nif. the victi-, :AAA;, of the su- of FIFTF
T0OBSAND &P6,,,,,.,,' P!SOS as civil ine-nit.G:an;
+.In "#i-inal "ase No. M",)-8*1-F"-0, finin( accuse F!RDINAND
$ANEB!4A (uilt. be.on #easonable oubt of the c#i-e of
ATT!MPT!D RAP!, an the#e bein( no -iti(atin( o# a((#avatin(
ci#cu-stances an pu#suant to A#ticle 6*, in #elation to A#ticle ))6 of the
Revise Penal "oe, as a-ene, is he#eb. sentence to suffe# an
inete#-inate penalt. of t3o &+' .ea#s, fou# &?' -onths an one &*' a.
of p#is:i;on co##eccionalas -ini-u- to ten .ea#s an one &*' a. of
p#ision -a.o#as -a@i-u- an to ine-nif. the victi-, :$$$; of the
su- of FIFT!!N T0OBSAND &P*6,,,,.,,' P!SOS.
*6
&!-phases
supplie.'
In AAAAs cha#(e of #ape, the RT" ee-e as insi(nificant the #esults of
the -eical e@a-ination thatAAAAs h.-en 3as still intact. The RT",
invo=in( establishe <u#isp#uence, sai that the -e#e touchin( of the
labia consu--ates #ape, an that a b#o=en h.-en is not an essential
ele-ent of #ape.The RT" ae that a -eical e@a-ination, in an. event,
3as not essential in the p#osecution of a #ape case, bein(-e#el.
co##obo#ative in cha#acte#.
*2
The RT" also foun the p#osecution to have p#ove its cha#(e of
atte-pte #ape a(ainst $$$as it 3as clea# that $an%uelaintene to have
se@ual con(#ess 3ith $$$ ha he not been une@pectel.istu#be.
*7
Anent $an%uelaAs efenseof alibi, the RT" i not (ive it -e#it fo# bein(
3ea=. The RT" shot o3n the DTRs $an%uela p#esente fo# not havin(
been authenticate an ve#ifie, an fo# havin( been 3ea=ene b. his
o3n testi-on..
*1
In essence, the RT" ecie in favo# of the p#osecutionue to AAAAs an
$$$As testi-onies, to 3it9
The testi-onies of AAA an $$$ a#e 3o#th. of c#eence as the. 3e#e
st#ai(htfo#3a#, spontaneous an Dbo#e the hall-a#=s of t#uth.DMo#e
notable is that the. 3e#eable to 3ithstan the #i(o#s of c#oss-e@a-ination
3ithout 3ave#in( o# bein( cau(ht in inconsistencies. Inee, it efies
belief that these victi-s, 3ho 3e#e belo3 *+ .ea#s ol, 3oul fab#icate a
so#i tale of se@ual abuse aninict thei# ve#. o3n cousin.
Thei#testi-onies of the sepa#ate incients of se@ual abuse that happene
to the- #ecounte vivi etails that coul not have been concocte b.
(i#ls of tene# a(e. The testi-on. of the co-plainants a#e consistent,
clea# an f#ee of se#ious cont#aictions.
*8
Rulin( of the "ou#t of Appeals
0avin( lost in the RT", $an%uela appeale to the "ou#t of Appeals,
+,
3hich, on Au(ust )*, +,**, #ene#e a ve#ict no bette# than the
RT"As,vi%9
FOR T0! STAT!D R!ASONS, the assaile Decision of the Re(ional
T#ial "ou#t &$#anch +,8' of Manalu.on( "it. is AFFIRM!D 3ith the
follo3in( MODIFI"ATION9
*.In "#i-inal "ase No. M",)-8*8-F"-0, Fe#inan $an%uela is
sentence to suffe# the penalt. of #eclusion pe#petua3ithout pa#ole an to
ine-nif. AAA the a-ounts of P76,,,,.,, as civil ine-nit. e@ elicto,
P76,,,,.,, as -o#al a-a(es, an P+6,,,,.,, as e@e-pla#. a-a(es.
+.In "#i-inal "ase No. M",)-8*1-F"-0, Fe#inan $an%uela is foun
(uilt. be.on #easonable oubt of acts of lasciviousness an sentence to
an inete#-inate penalt. of *+ .ea#s, an * a. of #eclusion te-po#al, as
-ini-u-, to *2 .ea#s, #eclusion te-po#al, as -a@i-u- an to ine-nif.
$$$ the a-ounts of P+6,,,,.,, as -o#al a-a(es an P*,,,,,.,, as
e@e-pla#. a-a(es.
+*
&"itation o-itte.'
In a(#eein( 3ith the RT"As finin( of (uilt, the "ou#t of Appeals sai that
$an%uela faile to est#o. the victi-sA c#eibilit. o# taint thei#
st#ai(htfo#3a# an cate(o#ical testi-onies.
++
0o3eve#, the "ou#t of Appeals i not a(#ee 3ith the RT"As finin( that
$an%uela atte-pte to #ape $$$. The "ou#t of Appeals, alluin( to
<u#isp#uence, sai that D:a;tte-pte #ape is co--itte 3hen the
Htouchin(A of the va(ina b. the penis is couple 3ith the intent to
penet#ateG othe#3ise, the#e can onl. be acts of lasciviousness.DThus, the
"ou#t of Appeals ecla#e, that because $an%uelaAs intent to #ape $$$
3as not clea#l. establishe, he coulonl. be convicte of acts of
lasciviousness.
+)
Issues
Bnaunte, $an%uela elevate his case to this "ou#t,
+?
assi(nin( the sa-e
e##o#s he i befo#e the appellate cou#t, to 3it9
ASSI/NM!NT OF !RRORS
I
T0! "OBRT A IBO/RAV!4F !RR!D IN /IVIN/ C!I/0T TO
T0! MAT!RIA44F IN"ONSIST!NT AND IN"R!DI$4!
T!STIMONI!S OF T0! PROS!"BTION CITN!SS!S.
II
T0! "OBRT A IBO/RAV!4F !RR!D IN "ONVI"TIN/ T0!
A""BS!D-APP!44ANT D!SPIT! T0! PROS!"BTIONAS FAI4BR!
TO PROV! 0IS /BI4T $!FOND R!ASONA$4! DOB$T.
+6
$an%uela is attac=in( the c#eibilit. of the 3itnesses fo# bein( Dhi(hl.
inconsistent, unusual, oubtful an thus insufficient to sustain a
conviction.D $an%uela clai-e that AAAAs testi-on. 3as full of
inconsistencies an cont#aictions, such as ho3 she -ana(e to #e-ove
his han f#o- he# -outh an .et she i not shout fo# help, ho3
$an%uela -ana(e to blinfol $$$ 3hile still ca##.in( he#,an -o#e
i-po#tantl.,ho3 confuse she 3as as to 3hethe# his penis actuall.
penet#ate he#o# si-pl. touche he# (#oin a#ea. $an%uela a#(ue that the
fact that AAA 3as still a vi#(in 3as confi#-eb. the -eico-le(al
e@a-ination, an as the -eico le(al office# sai u#in( his testi-on.,
althou(h the consensus3as that it is possible fo# a 3o-an to #e-ain a
vi#(in ph.sicall. espite penet#ation, he hi-self has ha no pe#sonal
encounte# of such a case.
+2
Mo#eove#, $an%uela sai, even $$$Js actions 3e#e hi(hl. unusual,
consie#in( the ci#cu-stances of he# situation. Fi#st, $an%uela sai, $$$
continue to follo3 hi- an AAA espite bein( blinfole, instea of
tu#nin( bac= an callin( fo# help. Secon,in vie3 of 3hat $$$ 3itnesse
happene to AAA ea#lie# that -onth, it 3as cont#a#. to hu-an natu#e,
$an%uela ave##e, that she i not #esist o# t#. to att#act the attention of
he# nei(hbo#s 3hen he b#ou(ht he# to the ce-ete#..
+7
Finall., $an%uela #easone, the p#osecution cannot p#ofit f#o- the
3ea=ness of his efense in li(ht of thei# failu#e to establish his (uilt
be.on #easonable oubt. Thus, he sai, he shoul be acKuitte of the
cha#(es a(ainst hi-.
+1
Rulin( of this "ou#t
Ce fin no #eason to #eve#se the conviction of $an%uela.
In essence, $an%uelaAs appeal is hin(e on the p#oposition that the
victi-s 3e#e not c#eible 3itnesses fo# havin( -ae seve#al inconsistent
state-ents 3hen the. testifie in cou#t.
Ce o not a(#ee.
"#eibilit. of the 3itnesses
The (uielines to follo3, 3hen this "ou#t is conf#onte 3ith the issue of
c#eibilit. of 3itnesses on appeal, a#e establishe in <u#isp#uence. In
People v. Sanche%,
+8
3e enu-e#ate the- as follo3s9
Fi#st, the "ou#t (ives the hi(hest #espect to the RT"As evaluation of the
testi-on. of the 3itnesses, consie#in( its uniKue position in i#ectl.
obse#vin( the e-eano# of a 3itness on the stan. F#o- its vanta(e point,
the t#ial cou#t is in the best position to ete#-ine the t#uthfulness of
3itnesses.
Secon, absent an. substantial #eason 3hich 3oul <ustif. the #eve#sal of
the RT"As assess-ents an conclusions, the #evie3in( cou#t is (ene#all.
boun b. the lo3e# cou#tAs finin(s, pa#ticula#l. 3hen no si(nificant
facts an ci#cu-stances, affectin( the outco-e of the case, a#e sho3n to
have been ove#loo=e o# is#e(a#e.
An thi#, the #ule is even -o#e st#in(entl. applie if the "A concu##e
3ith the RT". &"itations o-itte.'
It is 3ell-settle in this <u#isiction that the ete#-ination of the
c#eibilit. of the 3itnesses is co##ectl. assi(ne to the t#ial cou#t, 3hich
is in the best position to obse#ve the e-eano# an boil. -ove-ents of
all the 3itnesses.
),
!luciatin( on the #ationale fo# this #ule, this "ou#t, in
People v. Sapi(ao, 5#.,
)*
sai9
It is 3ell settle that the evaluation of the c#eibilit. of 3itnessesan thei#
testi-onies is a -atte# best une#ta=en b. the t#ial cou#t because of its
uniKue oppo#tunit. to obse#ve the 3itnesses fi#sthan an to note thei#
e-eano#, conuct, an attitue une# (#illin( e@a-ination. These a#e
i-po#tant in ete#-inin( thet#uthfulness of 3itnesses an in unea#thin(
the t#uth, especiall. in the face of conflictin( testi-onies. Fo#, inee, the
e-phasis, (estu#e, an inflection of the voice a#e potent ais in
asce#tainin( the 3itnessA c#eibilit., an the t#ial cou#t has the
oppo#tunit. an can ta=e avanta(e of these ais. These cannot be
inco#po#ate in the #eco# so that all that the appellate cou#t can see a#e
the col 3o#s of the 3itness containe in t#ansc#ipt of testi-onies 3ith
the #is= that so-e of 3hat the 3itness actuall. sai -a. have been lost in
the p#ocess of t#ansc#ibin(.As co##ectl. state b. an A-e#ican cou#t,
DThe#e is an inhe#ent i-possibilit. of ete#-inin( 3ith an. e(#ee of
accu#ac. 3hat c#eit is <ustl. ue to a 3itness f#o- -e#el. #eain( the
3o#s spo=en b. hi-, even if the#e 3e#e no oubt as to the ientit. of the
3o#s. 0o3eve# a#tful a co##upt 3itness -a. be, the#e is (ene#all., une#
the p#essu#e of a s=illful c#oss-e@a-ination, so-ethin( in his -anne# o#
bea#in( on the stan that bet#a.s hi-, an the#eb. est#o.s the fo#ce of
his testi-on.. Man. of the #eal tests of t#uth b. 3hich the a#tful 3itness
is e@pose in the ve#. natu#e of thin(s cannot be t#ansc#ibe upon the
#eco#, an hence the. can neve# be consie#e b. the appellate
cou#t.D&"itations o-itte.'
In the case at ba#, both the RT" an the "ou#t of Appeals foun the
testi-onies of the 3itnesses to be c#eible. Fu#the#-o#e, this "ou#tAs o3n
inepenent e@a-ination of the #eco#s leas us to the sa-e conclusion.
)+
As the "ou#t of Appeals sai, both AAAAs an $$$As testi-onies 3e#e
st#ai(htfo#3a#, etaile, an consistent.
))
Thei# c#eibilit. is fu#the#
st#en(thene b. thei# clea# lac= of ill-otive to falsif. such a cha#(e
a(ainst thei# cousin, 3ho shatte#e thei# .outh an innocence.
)?
The inconsistenciesin AAAAs testi-on., as catalo(ue b.$an%uela inhis
b#ief,
)6
have no bea#in( in the ete#-ination of his (uilt o# innocence, an
a#e too t#ivial in cha#acte# to a-a(e AAAAs c#eibilit.. The -ate#ial
etails of the #ape 3e#e clea#l. establishe,
)2
an $$$ co##obo#ate
AAAAs testi-on. on eve#. #elevant point. As this "ou#t state in People
v. Saluo
)7
9
Rape is a painful e@pe#ience 3hich is oftenti-es not #e-e-be#e in
etail.Fo# such an offense is not analo(ous to a pe#sonAs achieve-ent o#
acco-plish-ent as to be 3o#th #ecallin( o# #elivin(G #athe#, it is
so-ethin( 3hich causes eep ps.cholo(ical 3ouns an casts a sti(-a
upon the victi-, sca##in( he# ps.che fo# life an 3hich he# conscious an
subconscious -in 3oul opt to fo#(et.Thus, a #ape victi- cannot be
e@pecte to -echanicall. =eep an then (ive an accu#ate account of the
t#au-atic an ho##if.in( e@pe#ience she ha une#(one.&"itation
o-itte.'
$$$ 3as li=e3ise cani, st#ai(htfo#3a#, an etaile in he# na##ation
of not onl. ho3 AAA 3as #ape, but also of ho3 she al-ost suffe#e the
sa-e fate. 0e# alle(eunusual actions u#in( AAAAs o#eal, an late#he#s,
a#e not enou(h to isc#eit he#. It has been establishe that a victi- of a
heinous c#i-e such as #ape cannot be e@pecteto act 3ith #eason o# in
confo#-it. 3ith societ.As e@pectations. This acKui#es (#eate# si(nificance
3he#e the victi- is a chil of tene# a(e. The 3o#=in(s of a hu-an -in
place une# e-otional st#ess cannot be p#eicteG an people cannot be
e@pecte to act as usual in an unfa-ilia# situation. Fu#the#-o#e, it is not
accu#ate to sa. that the#e is a stana# #eaction o# no#- of behavio#
a-on( #ape victi-s, as each of the- ha to eal 3ithiffe#ent
ci#cu-stances.
)1
"#i-e of Rape p#oven
be.on #easonable oubt
Se@ual inte#cou#se 3ith a 3o-an belo3 *+ .ea#s of a(e, 3hethe# she
consente to it o# not, is punishable as #ape une# ou# la3s. As such,
p#oof of fo#ce, th#eat, o# inti-iation is unnecessa#. in cases of statuto#.
#ape, the., not bein( ele-ents of the c#i-e. Chen the co-plainant is
belo3 *+ .ea#s ol, the absence of f#ee consent is conclusivel.
p#esu-eas the la3 supposes that a 3o-an belo3 this a(e oes not
possess isce#n-ent an is incapable of (ivin( intelli(ent consent to the
se@ual act.
)8
In o#e# to successfull. convict an accuse ofstatuto#. #ape, the
p#osecution -ust p#ove the follo3in(9
*.The a(e of the co-plainantG
+.The ientit. of the accuseG an
).The ca#nal =no3le(e bet3een the accuse an the co-plainant.
?,
The fi#st ele-ent 3as establishe b. the p#osecution upon the
p#esentation an sub-ission to the cou#t of a "e#tification f#o- the
Office of the Municipal "ivil Re(ist#a#of Manalu.on( "it. ate
Au(ust+?, +,,? statin( that AAA 3as bo#n on Septe-be# *,, *882.
?*
0ence, she 3as onl. 2 .ea#s ol 3hen the #ape 3as co--itte in
Feb#ua#. +,,).
The secon ele-ent3as clea#l. satisfie 3hen AAA positivel. an
consistentl. ientifie $an%uela as he# offene#.
?+
As #e(a#s the thi# ele-ent,it is inst#uctive to efine Dca#nal =no3le(eD
in the conte@t it is use in the Revise Penal "oe9
H:";a#nal =no3le(e,A unli=e its o#ina#. connotation of se@ual
inte#cou#se, oes not necessa#il. #eKui#e that the va(ina be penet#ate o#
that the h.-en be #uptu#e. The c#i-e of #ape is ee-e consu--ate
even 3hen the -anAs penis -e#el. ente#s the labia o# lips of the fe-ale
o#(an o#, as once so sai in a case, b. the H-e#e touchin(of the e@te#nal
(enitalia b. a penis capable of consu--atin( the se@ual act.
?)
&"itations
o-itte.'
This ele-ent 3as p#oven 3hen AAA etaile in open cou#t ho3
$an%uela fo#cefull. inse#te his se@ o#(an into he# (enitalia in Feb#ua#.
+,,) an ho3 she felt pain u#in( he# o#eal.
$an%uela -a=es -uch of the fact that the -eico-le(al e@a-ination
.iele ne(ative #esults, i.e.,that AAA #e-aine a vi#(in. This "ou#t, in
People v. $o#o-eo,
??
suitabl. #efute that a#(u-ent, vi%9
P#oof of h.-enal lace#ation is not an ele-ent of #ape.An intact h.-en
oes not ne(ate a finin( that the victi- 3as #ape.To sustain a
conviction fo# #ape, full penet#ation of the fe-ale (enital o#(an is not
necessa#..It is enou(h that the#e is p#oof of ent#. of the -ale o#(an into
thelabiaof thepuenu-of the fe-ale o#(an. Penet#ation of the penis b.
ent#. into the lips of the va(ina, even 3ithout lace#ation of the h.-en, is
enou(h to constitute #ape,an even the b#iefest of contact is ee-e
#ape.As lon( as the atte-pt to inse#t the penis #esults in contact 3ith the
lips of the va(ina, even 3ithout #uptu#e o# lace#ation of the h.-en, the
#ape is consu--ate.@ @ @. &"itations o-itte.'
Si(nificantl., as this "ou#t has hel befo#e,
?6
the pain that AAA suffe#e
is, in itself, an inicato# of the co--ission of #ape.Mo#eove#, AAAAs
o#eal 3as 3itnesse b. $$$, 3ho in fact 3as the one 3ho tol AAAAs
-othe# about the incient.Thus, cont#a#. to $an%uelaAs asse#tions, this
"ou#t is convince that the p#osecution 3as able to establish that he ha
ca#nal =no3le(e of AAA, -a=in( hi- (uilt. be.on #easonable oubt
of thec#i-e of #ape.
"#i-e of Atte-pte Rape not establishe
but c#i-e of Acts of 4asciviousness
p#ovenbe.on #easonable oubt
Bpon appeal, the "ou#t of Appeals foun no evience to p#ove3ith the
-o#al ce#taint. #eKui#e b. la3that $an%uela intene to have ca#nal
=no3le(e of $$$, thus, it -oifie the c#i-e the RT" convicte
$an%uela of f#o- Atte-pte Rape une# A#ticle+22-A, pa#a(#aph *&' in
#elation to A#ticle6* of the Revise Penal "oe, to Acts of 4asciviousness
une# A#ticle ))2 of the Revise Penal "oein #elation to Republic Act
No. 72*,.
This "ou#t a(#ees 3ith the "ou#t of Appeals. In an atte-pt to co--it a
felon., the offene# co--ences the co--ission of such felon. i#ectl.
b. ove#t acts, but oes not pe#fo#- all the acts of e@ecution, 3hich shoul
p#ouce the felon. b. #eason of so-e cause o# accient othe# than his
o3n spontaneous esistance.
?2
In othe# 3o#s, a c#i-e is in its atte-pte
sta(e 3hen the offene# has al#ea. pe#fo#-e the acts p#eli-ina#. to the
consu--ation of the c#i-e. 0o3eve#, because of so-e #eason besies
his o3n spontaneous esistance, he is not able to pe#fo#- all the acts
necessa#. to consu--ate the c#i-e. The ele-ents, the#efo#e, of an
atte-pte felon. a#e as follo3s9
*. The offene# co--ences the co--ission of the felon. i#ectl. b.
ove#t actsG
+. 0e oes not pe#fo#- all the acts of e@ecution 3hich shoul p#ouce the
felon.G
). The offene#As act be not stoppe b. his o3n spontaneous esistanceG
an
?. The non-pe#fo#-ance of all acts of e@ecution 3as ue to cause o#
accient othe# than his spontaneous esistance.
?7
&"itation o-itte.'
In the c#i-e of #ape, penet#ation, ho3eve# sli(ht, is an essential act of
e@ecution that p#ouces such felon.. Thus, fo# $an%uela to be convicte
of the c#i-e of atte-pte #ape, he -ust have al#ea. co--ence the act
of inse#tin( his se@ual o#(an in the va(ina of $$$, but ue to so-e cause
o# accient, e@cluin( his o3n spontaneous esistance, he 3asnAt able to
even sli(htl. penet#ate $$$.
?1
It has not escape this "ou#t that #ape an acts of lasciviousness a#e
c#i-es of the sa-e natu#e.0o3eve#, the intent to lie 3ith the 3o-an is
the funa-ental iffe#ence bet3een the t3o, as it is p#esent in #ape o#
atte-pt of it,an absent in acts of lasciviousness.
?8
DAtte-pte #ape is
co--itte 3hen the Htouchin(A of the va(ina b. the penis is couple3ith
the intent to penet#ateG othe#3ise, the#e can onl. be acts of
lasciviousness.D
6,
In this case, $an%uelaAs acts ofla.in( $$$on the (#oun,un#essin(
he#,an =issin( he#,Do not constitute the c#i-e of atte-pte #ape, absent
an. sho3in( that :$an%uela; actuall. co--ence to fo#ce his penis into
:$$$As; se@ual o#(an.D
6*
The fact that $an%uelae-plo.e on $$$ the e@actsa-e tactics he use
on AAALf#o- the invitation to (o to the ce-ete#.to visit thei# ea
#elatives, to the ca##.in( of the chil 3hen she #efuse, to the la.in(
o3n of the chil, un#essin( he#, an =issin( he#, cannot <ustif. the
p#esu-ption that he intene to #ape $$$, <ust li=e he i AAA. DSuch a
p#esu-ption ha#l. constitutes p#oof be.on #easonable oubt of the
c#i-e of atte-pte #ape. The (au(e in ete#-inin( 3hethe# the c#i-e of
atte-pte #ape ha been co--itte is the co--ence-ent of the act of
se@ual inte#cou#se,i.e., penet#ation of the penis into the va(ina,befo#e the
inte##uption.D
6+
0e#e, $an%uela 3as not even able to co--ence the act of
se@ual inte#cou#se as he still ha his pants on. Chatthe p#osecution 3as
able to establish in "#i-inal "ase No. M",)-8*1-F"-0 is that $an%uela
3as able to la. o3n $$$, un#ess he#, an =iss he#,befo#e the unti-el.
a##ival of a thi# pa#t..Such acts, as the "ou#t of Appeals sai,
6)
constitute
lascivious conuct.
A#ticle ))2 of the Revise Penal "oep#ovies fo# the c#i-e of acts of
lasciviousness as follo3s9
A#t. ))2.Acts of lasciviousness.MAn. pe#son 3ho shall co--it an. act
of lasciviousness upon othe# pe#sons of eithe# se@, une# an. of the
ci#cu-stances -entione in the p#ecein( a#ticle, shall be punishe b.
p#ision co##eccional.
Its ele-ents a#e9
&*' That the offene# co--its an. act of lasciviousness o# le3nessG
&+' That it is one une# an. of the follo3in( ci#cu-stances9
a. $. usin( fo#ce o# inti-iationG o#
b. Chen the offene pa#t. is ep#ive of #eason o# othe#3ise
unconsciousG o#
c. Chen the offene pa#t. is une# *+ .ea#s of a(eG an
&)' That the offene pa#t. is anothe# pe#son of eithe# se@.
6?
&"itation
o-itte.'
The fo#e(oin( ele-ents a#e clea#l. p#esent in $$$As case, an 3e#e
sufficientl. establishe u#in( t#ial. Althou(h the c#i-e cha#(e a(ainst
$an%uela 3as fo# atte-pte #ape, convictin( hi- fo# the c#i-e of acts of
lasciviousness oes not violate an. of his #i(hts as such c#i-e is inclue
in the c#i-e of #ape.
66
Anent $$$As actions o# inaction, suffice it to sa. that $$$ 3as i#ect
an consistent in na##atin( he# o3n e@pe#ience 3ith $an%uela.The
a#(u-ent that she i not st#u((le, as=e fo# help, o# shout f#o- 3hen
she3as ca##ie out of he# house an b#ou(ht to the ce-ete#. isunavailin(.
D:F;ailu#e of the offene pa#t. to -a=e a st#u((le o# outc#. is i--ate#ial
in the #ape of a chil belo3 t3elve .ea#s of a(e because the la3 p#esu-es
that the victi- on account of he# a(e oes not an cannot have a 3ill of
he# o3n.D
62
$an%uelaAs Defense
Ce a(#ee 3ith the lo3e# cou#ts that $an%uelaAs efense of alibi ha#l.
ese#ves c#eit. Such efense is one of the 3ea=est not onl. because it is
inhe#entl. f#ail an un#eliable, but also because it is eas. to fab#icate an
ifficult to chec= o# #ebut.
67
Thus, fo# alibi to succee as a efense, the
follo3in( -ust be establishe b. clea# an convincin( evience9
*. The accuseAs p#esenceat anothe# place at the ti-e of the pe#pet#ation
of the offenseGan
+. The ph.sical i-possibilit. of the accuseAsp#esence at the scene of the
c#i-e.
61
$an%uela hi-self a-itte the p#o@i-it. of his 3o#= place an his
#esience to the houses of AAA an $$$ an the ce-ete#.. As such, his
alibi is ne(ate b. the fact that it 3as not ph.sicall. i-possible fo# hi- to
have been at the ce-ete#. 3he#ethe c#i-es occu##e.
68
The p#esentation of $an%uelaAs DTRs is also unpe#suasive fo# lac= of
co##obo#ation. The DTRs 3e#e -e#e photocopies, $an%uela hi-self -ae
the ent#ies the#ein, an the. bo#e no si(natu#ef#o- an. of his e-plo.e#s.
If in fact the o3ne# of the #efillin( station 3as no lon(e# in the count#.,
his fo#-e# -ana(e# o# the b#othe# of the o3ne#, f#o- 3ho- $an%uelaAs
-othe# 3as able to p#ocu#e the photocopie DTRs coul have testifie to
confi#- the ve#acit. of the ent#ies the#ein. $an%uelaAs alibi the#efo#e
cannot p#evail ove# the c#eible testi-onies an positive ientification
that he 3as thepe#pet#ato# of the c#i-es, b. AAA an $$$, 3ho have
=no3n hi- p#io# to the incients, as thei# cousin.
4iabilit. fo# Rape
A#ticle +22-A, pa#a(#aph &*' of the Revise Penal "oe, as a-ene b.
Republic Act No. 1)6),
2,
3hich is the basis of statuto#. #ape, p#ovies as
follo3s9
A#ticle +22-A. RapeG Chen an 0o3 "o--itte. LRape is co--itte L
*' $. a -an 3ho shall have ca#nal =no3le(e of a 3o-an une# an. of
the follo3in( ci#cu-stances9
@ @ @ @
' Chen the offene pa#t. is une# t3elve &*+' .ea#s of a(eo# is
e-ente, even thou(h none of the ci#cu-stances -entione above be
p#esent.
Bnoubtel., AAA 3as belo3 *+ .ea#s ol at the ti-e she 3as #ape.
0o3eve#, the la3 Kualifies the c#i-e of statuto#. #ape 3hen it is
co--itte on a chil belo3 seven .ea#s ol, to 3it9
A#ticle +22-$. Penalties. LRape une# pa#a(#aph * of the ne@t p#ecein(
a#ticle shall be punishe b.#eclusion pe#petua.
@ @ @ @
The eath penalt. shall also be i-pose if the c#i-e of #ape is co--itte
3ith an. of the follo3in( a((#avatin(>Kualif.in( ci#cu-stances9
@ @ @ @
6' Chen the victi- is a chil belo3 seven &7' .ea#s ol.
Fo# havin( been foun (uilt. of the c#i-e of Kualifie #ape, AAA bein( a
chil belo3 seven .ea#s of a(e 3hen the c#i-e occu##e, the eath
penalt. shoul have been i-pose on $an%uela. 0o3eve#, Republic Act
No. 8)?2,
2*
3hich too= effect on 5une +?, +,,2, p#ohibits the i-position
of the eath penalt.. Bne# this Act, the lo3e# cou#ts co##ectl. i-pose
upon $an%uela the penalt. of #eclusion pe#petua3ithout eli(ibilit. fo#
pa#ole
2+
in lieu of the eath penalt..
2)
4iabilit. fo# Acts of 4asciviousness
The "ou#t of Appeals convicte $an%uela of acts of lasciviousness une#
A#ticle))2 of the Revise Penal "oein #elation to Section 6&b' of
Republic Act No. 72*,. Fo# $an%uela to be convicte as such, both the
#eKuisites of acts of lasciviousness une# A#ticle))2 of the Revise Penal
"oeas ea#lie# iscusse, an se@ual abuse une# Section6 of Republic
Act No. 72*,,-ust be -et an establishe b. the p#osecution.
2?
The
follo3in( a#e the ele-ents of se@ual abuse une# Section6, A#ticle III of
Republic Act No. 72*,9
&*' The accuse co--its the act of se@ual inte#cou#se o# lascivious
conuctG
&+' The sai act is pe#fo#-e 3itha chil e@ploite in p#ostitution o#
sub<ecte to othe# se@ual abuseG an
&)' The chil, 3hethe# -ale o# fe-ale, is belo3 *1 .ea#s of a(e.
26
A #evie3 of the Info#-ation file a(ainst $an%uela #eveals that the#e 3as
no alle(ation of the secon ele-ent of Section 6, A#ticle III of Republic
Act No. 72*, Lthat the act is pe#fo#-e 3ith a chil e@ploite in
p#ostitution o# sub<ecte to othe# se@ual abuse. The#e 3as also noatte-pt
to p#ove that ele-ent, as it 3oul have been a violation of $an%uelaAs
constitutional #i(ht to be info#-e of the natu#e an cause of the
accusation a(ainst hi-. Althou(h the Info#-ation state that the c#i-e
bein( cha#(e 3as in #elation to Republic Act No. 72*,, it is a 3ell-
settle #ule that Dthe cha#acte# of the c#i-e is ete#-ine neithe# b. the
caption o# p#ea-ble of the info#-ation:,;no# b. the specification of the
p#ovision of la3 alle(e to have been violate, the. bein( conclusions of
la3, but b. the #ecital of the ulti-ate facts an ci#cu-stances in the
info#-ation.D
22
The#efo#e, $an%uela can onl. be punishe une#
A#ticle))2 of the Revise Penal "oe.
The penalt. fo# acts of lasciviousness une# A#ticle))2 of the Revise
Penal "oeis p#ision co##eccionalin its full #an(e. Appl.in( the
Inete#-inate Sentence 4a3,
27
the -ini-u- of the inete#-inate penalt.
shall be ta=en f#o- the full #an(e of the penalt. ne@t lo3e# in e(#ee,
21
i.e., a##esto -a.o#, 3hich #an(es f#o- * -onth an * a.to 2 -onths.
28
The -a@i-u- of the inete#-inate penalt. shall co-e f#o- thep#ope#
penalt.
7,
that coul be i-pose une# the Revise Penal "oefo# Acts of
4asciviousness.
7*
In this case, since the#e a#e neithe# a((#avatin( no#
-iti(atin( ci#cu-stances, the i-posable penalt. is the -eiu- pe#io of
p#ision co##eccional, 3hich #an(es f#o- + .ea#s, ? -onths an * a. to ?
.ea#s an + -onths.
7+
$an%uela is he#eb. sentence to suffe# the penalt. of 2 -onths ofa##esto
-a.o#, as -ini-u-, to ? .ea#s an + -onthsofp#ision co##eccional, as
-a@i-u-.
7)
In line 3ith p#evailin( <u#isp#uence, the "ou#t inc#eases the a3a# of
e@e-pla#. a-a(es f#o-P+6,,,,.,, toP),,,,,.,,to AAA &#ape'G
7?
an
a3a#s P+,,,,,.,,as civil ine-nit., P),,,,,.,,as -o#al a-a(es,
anP*,,,,,.,,as e@e-pla#. a-a(es to $$$ &acts of lasciviousness'.
76
C0!R!FOR!, p#e-ises consie#e, the Decision of the "ou#t of
Appeals in "A-/.R. "R.-0.". No. ,)121 is he#eb. AFFIRM!D3ith
MODIFI"ATION.
*. In "#i-inal "ase No. M",)-8*8-F"-0, 3e fin accuse-appellant
Fe#inan $an%uela/BI4TF ofRape efine an penali%e
une#A#ticles+22-A an +22-$ of the Revise Penal "oe, as a-ene.
0eis sentence to#eclusion pe#petua3ithout the possibilit. of pa#oleG an
is ORD!R!D to pa. the victi-, AAA,P76,,,,.,, as civil
ine-nit.GP76,,,,.,, as -o#al a-a(esGanP),,,,,.,, as e@e-pla#.
a-a(es, all 3ith inte#est at the #ate of 2N pe# annu-f#o- the ate of
finalit. of this <u(-entGan
+. In "#i-inal "ase No. M",)-8*1-F"-0, 3e fin accuse-appellant
Fe#inan $an%uela/BI4TFof Acts of 4asciviousness, efine an
penali%e une# A#ticle ))2 of the Revise Penal "oe, as a-ene. 0e
is sentence toan inete#-inate p#ison te#- of2 -onths ofa##esto -a.o#,
as -ini-u-, to ? .ea#s an + -onths ofp#ision co##eccional, as
-a@i-u-G an isORD!R!Dto pa. the victi-, $$$,P+,,,,,.,, as civil
ine-nit.,P),,,,,.,, as -o#al a-a(es, anP*,,,,,.,, as e@e-pla#.
a-a(es, all 3ith inte#est at the #ate of 2N pe# annu-f#o- the ate of
finalit. of this <u(-ent.
SO ORD!R!D.
Republic of the Philippines
SUPREME COURT
Manila
!N $AN"
G.R. No. L"1#$22 M%& 2', 1(60
IGNACIO MESINA, plaintiff-appellant,
vs.
EULALIA PINEDA )DA. DE SON!A, ET AL., efenants.
EULALIA PINEDA )DA. DE SON!A, efenant-appellee.
Agustin C. Bagasao for appellant.
Luis Manalang and Associates for appellee.
AUTISTA ANGELO, J.*
Plaintiff b#ou(ht this action befo#e the "ou#t of Fi#st Instance of Nueva
!ci<a p#a.in( that O#i(inal "e#tificate of Title No. P-**)7 of the Re(iste#
of Dees of Nueva !ci<a be o#e#e cancelle an that the #e(ist#ation
case penin( befo#e the sa-e cou#t cove#in( the p#ope#t. esc#ibe
the#ein be (iven ue cou#se an that efenants be o#e#e to pa.
plaintiff P*,,,,.,, as atto#ne.Js fees an costs.
Defenants file a -otion to is-iss on the (#oun that plaintiffJs action
is al#ea. ba##e b. the statute of li-itations. The #easons avance a#e9
the co-plaint 3as file on Ma#ch +6, *861. The ec#ee of #e(ist#ation o#
issuance of patent ove# the p#ope#t. 3as issue Dso-eti-e on Septe-be#
*+, *86) o# the#eaboutD, 3hile the t#ansfe# ce#tificate of title cove#in( the
sa-e 3as issue on Septe-be# *2, *86). The p#esent action 3hich calls
fo# the cancellation of sai ec#ee an title has, the#efo#e, been file afte#
the elapse of -o#e than fou# .ea#s, 3hich cannot be one, because the
title has al#ea. beco-e inefeasible an incont#ove#tible. The cou#t
sustaine this -otion an is-isse the co-plaint. 0ence the p#esent
appeal.
Plaintiff clai-s that he is the o3ne# in fee si-ple of 4ot No. )+68, 3ith
i-p#ove-ents the#eon, situate in San Antonio, Nueva !ci<aG that he has
been in actual possession the#eof since *8*?, publicl., openl., peacefull.
an a(ainst the 3hole 3o#l an up to the p#esent ti-e he is the onl. one
3ho benefits f#o- the p#ouce the#eofG that sai lot is at p#esent the
sub<ect of #e(ist#ation p#oceein(s penin( in the sa-e cou#t =no3n as
Re(ist#ation "ase No. N-)7+, 4.R.". "a. Reco# No. N-*++)1G that
so-eti-e in Septe-be# *+, *86), the Di#ecto# of 4ans, 3ithout
e@e#cisin( ue ca#e, an in spite of his =no3le(e that efenants ha not
co-plie 3ith the =no3le(e that efenants ha not co-plie 3ith the
#eKui#e-ents of "o--on3ealth Act No. *?*, issue a ho-estea patent
in thei# favo# as a conseKuence of 3hich a ce#tificate of title 3as issue in
thei# na-e b. the #e(iste# of eesG that sai title 3as p#ocu#e b.
efenants th#ou(h f#aus, eception an -is#ep#esentation since the.
=ne3 that the lot belon(e to the plaintiffG an that the Di#ecto# of 4ans
has no autho#it. no# <u#isiction to issue a patent cove#in( sai lan
because it is a p#ivate p#ope#t. of plaintiff. Fo# these #easons, plaintiff
p#a.s that sai ec#ee an title be cancelle.
Republic Act No. *8?+, 3hich too= effect on 5une ++, *867 &a-enin(
Section ?1-b of "o--on3ealth Act *?*', p#ovies9
&b' Those 3ho b. the-selves o# th#ou(h thei# p#eecesso#s in inte#est
have been in open, continuous, e@clusive an noto#ious possession an
occupation of a(#icultu#al lans of the public o-ain, une# a bona fide
clai- of acKuisition of o3ne#ship, fo# at least thi#t. .ea#s i--eiatel.
p#eceein( the filin( of the application fo# confi#-ation of title e@cept
3hen p#evente b. 3a# o# force majeure. These shall be conclusivel.
p#esu-e to have pe#fo#-e all the conitions essential to a /ove#n-ent
(#ant an shall be entitle to a ce#tificate of title une# the p#ovisions of
this chapte#.
In the case of Susi vs. Razon, et al., ?1 Phil., ?+?, it 3as obse#ve that
3he#e all the necessa#. #eKui#e-ents fo# a (#ant b. the /ove#n-ent a#e
co-plie 3ith th#ou(h actual ph.sical possession openl., continuousl.,
an publicl., 3ith a #i(ht to a ce#tificate of title to sai lan une# the
p#ovisions of "hapte# VIII of Act No. +17?, a-enin( Act No. 8+2
&ca##ie ove# as "hapte# VIII of "o--on3ealth Act No. *?*', the
possesso# is ee-e to have al#ea. acKui#e b. ope#ation of la3 not
onl. a #i(ht to a (#ant, but a (#ant of the /ove#n-ent, fo# it is not
necessa#. that a ce#tificate of title be issue in o#e# that sai (#ant -a.
be sanctione b. the cou#t M an application the#efo# bein( sufficient
une# the p#ovisions of Section ?7 of Act No. +17? &#ep#ouce as
Section 6,, "o--on3ealth Act No. *?*'. Thus, the follo3in( is 3hat
this "ou#t sai on the -atte#9
It clea#l. appea#s f#o- the evience that Valentin Susi has been in
possession of the lan in Kuestion openl., continuousl., ave#sel. an
publicl., pe#sonall. an th#ou(h his p#eecesso#s, since the .ea# *11,,
that is, fo# about fo#t.-five .ea#s. ... Chen on Au(ust *6, *8*?, An(ela
Ra%on applie fo# the pu#chase of sai lan, Valentin Susi ha al#ea.
been in possession the#eof pe#sonall. an th#ou(h his p#eecesso#s fo#
thi#t.-fo#t. .ea#s. An if it is ta=en into account that Ne-esio Pinlac ha
al#ea. -ae sai lan a fish pon 3hen he sol it on Dece-be# *),
*11,, it can ha#l. be esti-ate 3hen he be(an to possess an occup. it,
the pe#io of ti-e bein( so lon( that it is be.on the #each of -e-o#.. ...
In favo# of Valentin Susi, the#e is, -o#eove# the p#esu-ption juris et de
jure establishe pa#a(#aph &b' of section ?6 of Act No. +17?, a-enin(
Act No. 8+2, that all the necessa#. #eKui#e-ents fo# a (#ant b. the
/ove#n-ent 3e#e co-plie 3ith, fo# he has been in actual an ph.sical
possession, pe#sonall. an th#ou(h his p#eecesso#s, of an a(#icultu#al
lan of the public o-ain openl., continuousl., e@clusivel. an publicl.
since 5ul. +2, *18?, 3ith a #i(ht to a ce#tificate of title to sai lan une#
the p#ovisions of "hapte# VIII of sai Act. So that 3hen An(ela Ra%on
applie fo# the (#ant in he# favo#, Valentin Susi ha al#ea. acKui#e, b.
ope#ation of la3, not onl. a #i(ht to (#ant, but a (#ant of the /ove#n-ent,
fo# it is not necessa#. that ce#tificate of title shoul be issue in o#e# that
sai (#ant -a. be sanctione b. the cou#ts, an application the#efo# is
sufficient, une# the p#ovisions of section ?7 of Act No. +17?. If b a
legal fiction, !alentin Susi "ad ac#uired t"e land in #uestion b a grant
of t"e State, it "ad alread ceased to be of t"e public domain and "ad
become private propert, at least b presumption, of !alentin Susi,
beond t"e control, of t"e $irector of Lands. Conse#uentl, in selling t"e
land in #uestion to Angela Razon, t"e $irector of Lands disposed of a
land over %"ic" "e "ad no longer an title or control, and t"e sale t"us
made %as void and of no effect, and Angela Razon did not t"ereb
ac#uire an rig"t. &!-phasis supplie'
Such is the situation in 3hich the plaintiff clai-s to be in his co-plaint.
0e alle(es that he is the o3ne# in fee si-ple of the lot in Kuestion, 3ith
the i-p#ove-ents the#eon, situate in San Antonio, Nueva !ci<a, an that
he has been in actual possession the#eof since *8*?, publicl., openl.,
peacefull. an a(ainst the 3hole 3o#l, an that up to the p#esent ti-e he
is the onl. one 3ho benefits f#o- the p#ouce the#eof. 0e fu#the# clai-s
that sai lot is p#esent the sub<ect of a #e(ist#ation p#oceein( penin( in
the sa-e cou#t, =no3n as Re(ist#ation "ase No. N-)7+, 4.R.". "a.
Reco# No. N-*++)1. If b. le(al fiction, as state in the Susi case,
plaintiff is ee-e to have acKui#e the lot b. a (#ant of the State, it
follo3s that the sa-e ha cease to be pa#t of the public o-ain an ha
beco-e p#ivate p#ope#t. an, the#efo#e, is be.on the cont#ol of the
Di#ecto# of 4ans. "onseKuentl., the ho-estea patent an the o#i(inal
ce#tificate of title cove#in( sai lot issue b. the Di#ecto# of 4ans in
favo# of the efenants can be sai to be null an voi, fo# havin( been
issue th#ou(h f#au, eceit an -is#ep#esentation.
"onsie#in( that this case 3as is-isse b. the t#ial cou#t -e#el. on a
-otion to is-iss on the (#oun that plaintiffJs action is al#ea. ba##e b.
the statute of li-itations, 3hich appa#entl. is p#eicate on the theo#.
that a ec#ee of #e(ist#ation can no lon(e# be i-pu(ne on the (#oun of
f#au one .ea# afte# the issuance an ent#. of the ec#ee,
*
3hich theo#.
oes not appl. he#e because the p#ope#t. involve is alle(el. p#ivate in
natu#e an has cease to be pa#t of the public o-ain, 3e a#e of the
opinion that the t#ial cou#t e##e in is-issin( the caseoutrig"t 3ithout
(ivin( plaintiff a chance to p#ove his clai-. It 3oul have been -o#e
p#ope# fo# the cou#t to en. the -otion on the (#oun that its ob<ect oes
not appea# to be inubitable, #athe# than to have is-isse it, as 3as one
b. the t#ial cou#t.
Che#efo#e, the o#e# appeale f#o- is set asie. The case is #e-ane to
the t#ial cou#t fo# fu#the# p#oceein(s. No costs.
&aras, Bengzon, C.'., &adilla, Labrador, Concepcion, Barrera, and
(utierrez $avid, ''., concu#.