PEOPLE VS. SANTIAGO No.

27972 October 31, 1927

FACTS:

On November 23, 1926, herein appellant Felipe Santiago raped Felicita

Masilang, his wife’s niece, in an uninhabited place across a river in Gapan,
Nueva Ecija. After the deed, he took her to the house of his brother, Agaton
Satiago, who in turn fetched a protestant minister who there and then officiated
the ceremony of their marriage. After having given money by Felipe, Felicita
proceeded home to her father and told what had just occurred.

ISSUE: Whether or not the marriage executed by the protestant minister is of

legal effect.

HELD: The marriage ceremony was a mere ruse by which the appellant hoped
to escape from the criminal consequence of his act. It shows that he had no
bona fide intention of making her his wife and the ceremony cannot be
considered binding on her because of duress. The marriage was therefore void
for lack of essential consent, and it supplies no impediment to the prosecution
of the wrongdoer.
PEOPLE V. MANGITNGIT

FACTS

That sometime during the month of May, 1993, at around midnight, and on or
about the 21st day of January, 1999, at around 4:00 o'clock in the morning, the
said accused with lewd design and by means of force, threat and intimidation,
did then and there wilfully, unlawfully and feloniously have carnal knowledge
with his own daughter [AAA],5 15 years of age, against her will and consent to
her damage and prejudice.

That on or about the 29th day of January,1999, at around 2:00 o'clock in the
morning, the said accused with lewd design and by means of force, threat and
intimidation, did then and there wilfully, unlawfully and feloniously have carnal
knowledge with his own daughter [CCC], 12 years of age, against her will and
consent to her damage and prejudice.

Issue

Whether or not Mangitngit is guilty of raping his own daughters

Ruling

YES

Courts give full weight and credence to testimonies of child-victims of rape.

Youth and immaturity are generally badges of truth.49 It is highly improbable that
12-year old and 15-year old girl like CCC and BBB would impute a crime as
serious as rape to their own father, undergo the humiliation of a public trial and
put up with the shame, humiliation and dishonor of exposing their own
degradation were it not to condemn an injustice and to have the offender
apprehended and punished.

Accordingly, in resolving rape cases, primordial consideration is given to the

credibility of the victim's testimony.41 If the testimony of the victim is credible,
natural, convincing and consistent with human nature, and the normal course
of things, the accused may be convicted solely on the victim's testimony
PEOPLE V. TEOPE

FACTS

Sometime in August, 2000, complainant Alma Agapay, a 22-year old mental

retardate, was on the railroad tracks near their house at Daang Bakal, Public
Market, San Pablo City when appellant approached her and said, "I don’t know
you but I know your mother." He then pulled Alma and brought her inside an old
abandoned train car. He tied her hands above her head and made her lie
down on the floor covered with a flattened carton box. He removed her dress
and panties, after which he also undressed. While holding a knife with his right
hand, he kissed her then inserted his penis into her vagina, causing it to bleed.
Alma felt pain. She shouted and tried to fight back but her efforts were in vain
since she could not move her right arm due to a stroke she suffered before. After
raping her three or four times, appellant threatened to kill her and her mother if
she would tell anybody what happened.

ISSUE

Whether or not Teope is guilty of the crime of rape

RULING

YES

It is undisputed that the victim is a retardate or suffering from a sort of mental

deficiency. Her manner of testifying as well as deportment in Court bespeak of
her mental defect. However, the Court has observed that she could perceive
and make known or express her perceptions to others. In the instant case, she
clearly explained her perceptions of what happened when she was ravished
sexually by the accused. Her behaviour at the witness stand pointing to the
accused as the one who raped her and requested that accused be brought to
the police and be sentenced to death were clearly expressed in a
straightforward manner, thus the Court was impressed of her positive
identification of the accused.