5.Peoplev.

Abello
G.R.No.151952
25March2009
Sec6:Acomplaintorinformationissufficientifitstatesthenameoftheaccused;thedesignationoftheoffense
givenbythestatute;theactsoromissioncomplainofasconstruingtheoffense;thenameoftheoffendedparty,the
approximatedateofthecommissionoftheoffense,andtheplacewheretheoffensewascommitted.Whenanoffense
iscommittedbymorethanoneperson,allofthemshallbeincludedinthecomplaintorinformation.

Facts: AppellantHeracleoAbelloyFortada(Abello)wasconvictedofonecountofrapeby
sexualassaultandtwocountsofsexualabuseundertheChildAbuseLawcommittedagainsthis
stepdaughter,AAA.Thefollowinginformationforrapewasfiledagainsttheappellant:(note
therearethreeInformationsfiled,oneforrapeandtwoforsexualassault).
1.Thatonoraboutthe8thdayofJuly1998,inNavotas,MetroManila,andwithinthe
jurisdictionofthisHonorableCourt,theabovenamedaccused,beingastepfather(sic)of
victimAAA,4withlewddesignandbymeansofforceandintimidation,didthenand
therewillfully,unlawfullyandfeloniouslyputtinghispenisinsidethemouthofsaid
AAA,againstherwillandwithoutherconsent

Thevictimwasa21yearoldgirlwhocontractedpoliowhenshewasjust7months.On
June30,1998ataround4:00oclockmorning,AAAwassleepingintheirhouseinNavotaswith
hersisterinlawandnephew.ShewassuddenlyawakenedwhenAbellomashedherbreast.Come
July 2, 1999 at around 3:00 a.m, Abello again mashed the breast of AAA under the same
situationwhilethelatterwassleeping.InthesetwooccasionsAAAwasabletorecognizeAbello
becauseofthelightcomingfromoutside.ThenonJuly8,1998,ataround2:00a.m,Abello
placedhissoftpenisinsidethemouthofAAA.Thevictimonthesamedatereportedtheincident
tohersisterinlawandmother.
TheRTCfoundAbelloguiltyunderallthreeInformations.TheCAaffirmedAbellos
convictiononappealandincreasedthepenaltiesimposed.Abellonowappealshisconvictionfor
rapeonthegroundthatthemodeofcommissionprovidedforintheinformationisdifferentfrom
thatprovenduringthetrial.HealsoquestionshisconvictionforsexualabusesinceAAAdoes
notfallunderthoseprotectedbyRA7610(ChildAbuseLaw).
Issue:
1.
WoNtheappellantshallbeacquittedduetothedifferencebetweenthemodesof
commissionprovidedforintheInformationforrapeandthatprovenatthetrial.
2.
WoNappellantisguiltyofsexualabuseundertheChildAbuseLaw.Ifhesnot,
ifhecanbeliableforanoffenseotherthanthatstatedintheinformation.
3.WoNthealternativecircumstanceofstepfatherstepdaughterrelationshipshould
beconsideredasanaggravatingcircumstance.
4.WoN aggravating circumstances not mentioned in the Information can be
consideredtoincreasethepenalty.
Held:

1. NO,varianceinthemodeofcommissionoftheoffenseisbindinguponthe
accused if he fails to object to evidence showing that the crime was
committed in a different manner than what was alleged. The Information
alleges force and intimidation as the mode of commission. However, AAA
testifiedduringthetrialthatshewasasleepatthetimeithappenedandonly
awoketofindAbellosmaleorganinsidehermouth.Thisvarianceisnotfatalto
Abellos conviction for rape by sexual assault. A variance in the mode of
commissionoftheoffenseisbindingupontheaccusedifhefailstoobjectto
evidenceshowingthatthecrimewascommittedinadifferentmannerthanwhat
was alleged. In the present case, Abello did not object to the presentation of
evidenceshowingthatthecrimechargedwascommittedinadifferentmanner
than what was stated in the Information. Thus, the variance is not a bar to
AbellosconvictionofthecrimechargedintheInformation.
2. NO,appellantcannotbeheldguiltyundertheChildAbuseLawbuthecan
beheldforActsofLasciviousness. AAAcannotbeconsideredachildunder
Section3(a)ofR.A.No.7610whichstatesthatChildrenreferstopersonbelow
18yearsofageorthoseoverbutareunabletofullytakecareofthemselvesor
protect themselves from abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation or discrimination
becauseofaphysicalormentaldisabilityorcondition.AAAwasneitherbelow
18norwasshefullyunabletotakecareofherself.ThoughAbellocannotbeheld
liableunderRA7610,heisstillliableforactsoflasciviousnessunderArticle336
of the RPC. The character of the crime is not determined by the caption or
preambleoftheinformationorfromthespecificationoftheprovisionoflaw
allegedtohavebeenviolated;thecrimecommittedisdeterminedbytherecitalof
the ultimate facts and circumstances in the complaint or information. In the
presentcase,althoughthetwoInformationswronglydesignatedR.A.No.7610as
the law violated; the allegations therein sufficiently constitute acts punishable
underArticle336oftheRPCwhoseelementsare:
a. Thattheoffendercommitsanyactoflasciviousness;
b. Thattheoffendedpartyisanotherpersonofeithersex;and
c. Thatitisdoneunderanyofthefollowingcircumstances:
i. Byusingforceorintimidation;or
ii. When the offended party is deprived of reason or otherwise
unconscious;or
iii. Whentheoffendedpartyisunder12yearsofageorisdemented.
3. NO, the relationship should not be considered as an aggravating
circumstance. Though the three Informations all alleged the stepfather
stepdaughter relationship between AAA and Abello, this modifying
circumstance,wasnotdulyproveninthepresentcase.Theprosecutionfailedto
presentthemarriagecontractbetweenAbelloandAAAsmother.Ifthefactof
marriagecameoutintheevidenceatall,itwasonlyviaanadmissionbyAbello
ofhismarriagetoAAAsmother.Thisadmissionisinconclusive.Thecourtis

strict on considering relationship as an aggravating circumstance because it

increases the imposable penalty, and hence must be proven by competent
evidence.
4. NO,theaggravatingcircumstancesofdwellingandknowledgeofdisability
cannotbeconsidered.Althoughnotallegedintheinformation,theaggravating
circumstanceofdwellingwasprovenduringthetrial.Additionally,Article266B
(penaltiesforrape)oftheRPCrecognizesknowledgebytheoffenderofthe
mentaldisability,emotionaldisorderand/orphysicalhandicapoftheoffended
partyatthetimeofthecommissionofthecrimeasaqualifyingcircumstance.
ThisknowledgebyAbelloofAAAspoliowasalsoprovenduringthetrialbut
not alleged in the Information. Though these aggravating and qualifying
circumstancesofdwellingandAbellosknowledgeofAAAsphysicaldisability
werenotconsideredinimposingthepenalty,theymaybeappreciatedinawarding
exemplarydamages.
Therefore,appellantisfoundguiltyofrapebysexualassaultandactsoflasciviousness.
1) Forthecrimeofrape,heissentencedhimtosufferanindeterminateprison
termofsixyearsofprisioncorreccional,asminimum,totenyearsofprision
mayor, as maximum. He is ordered to pay P30,000.00 as civil liability;
P30,000.00asmoraldamagesandP25,000.00asexemplarydamages;
2) Foreachcountofactsoflasciviousness,heissentencedtoanindeterminate
prisontermofsixmonthsofarrestomayor,asminimum,tofouryearsand
twomonthsofprisioncorreccional,asmaximum.Heisfurtherorderedtopay
AAA the amounts of P20,000.00 as civil indemnity; P30,000.00 as moral
damagesandP2,000.00asexemplarydamages,ineachcase.