People v. De Guzman

 

People v. De Guzman

G.R. No. 224212

November 27, 2019

FACTS:

                The RTC and CA convicted accused for the crime of two counts of Qualified Rape. That on May 9, 2011, in Las Pinas, the accused with lewd designs had carnal knowledge of AAA, a 15 year old minor without her consent by means of force threat and intimidation and by taking advantage of his moral ascendancy over her, he being her step-parent, thereby subjecting her to sexual abuse; the act complained of is prejudicial to the physical, psychological and moral development of the said minor and which degrades or demeans her intrinsic worth and dignity as a human being.

ISSUE:

                Whether or not the CA erred in affirming the RTC

HELD:

                Yes. The element of qualified rape are 1.) sexual congress 2.) with a woman 3. Done by force and without consent 4.) the victim is under 18 years of age at the time of the rape and 5.0 the offender is either a parent (whether legitimate, illegitimate or adopted), [ascendant, stepparent, guardian, relative by consanguinity or affinity within the 3rd civil degree or the common-law spouse of the parent] of the victim.”

                In this case, AAA’s minority was properly alleged and indisputably proven during trial. She was below 18 years old at the time the crimes were committed against her. Moreover, it was proven by evidence that De Guzman forced AAA into engaging in sexual congress by using threats and intimidation and without her consent, in addition to his moral ascendancy over her. Corollarily, it was alleged in the Informations that De Guzman was AAA’s stepfather. However this fact was not sufficiently proved. Wherefore, Romeo De Guzman guilty of Simple Statutory Rape.

 

 

 

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