MURAO, JOSE PEPITO III

I. Article III Section 14, Right to Counsel:

People v. Pedres G.R. 129533

Facts:
On January 5, 1996, Maribel Pedres was sleeping with her two siblings at their home in Barangay
Macalidong, Ligao, Albay when she was awakened around midnight by the sensation that someone was on
top of her and was tying her limbs. She identified the person as his father, herein accused-appellant Antonio
Pedres, who allegedly raped her that unfortunate night. The following night, Maribel went with her mother
to Manila to work as a housekeeper and she only told her immediate family on June 29, 1996 or more than
6 months after she was raped. Maribel’s allegation was strengthened by the testimony of her sister who said
that her sister told her of the rape and by the physician who examined Maribel who testified that there were
lacerations in Maribel’s private part but it is indeterminable when such lacerations were inflicted but it was
certainly possible that the lacerations were inflicted 6 months befor the examination.
For herein accused Antonio Pedres, his defense centered on the assertion that he was working in his sister-
in-law’s ricefield in Bagsa, Oas, Albay from January 4- January 7 and that on that particular night, January
5, he had a drinking session with his co-workers and his brother-in-law, which makes it impossible for him
to do such deed. He also notes that there is no regular means of transportation from Bagsa to Ligao,
especially at night. He also forwards that he is being charged with the rape of his daughter because his
father-in-law and the latter’s family has been harboring ill feelings towards him as he allegedly abandoned
his family for some other women, with two of the women related to his father-in-law. He even posits that
his father-in-law made him to be subject by investigation of the New People’s Army. His sister-in-law
Angelita Bron and his co-worker in the ricefield Norberto Bulacan attested to these allegations. Lastly,
Pedres marred the reputation of Maribel by stating that he caught her letting her alleged boyfriend sleep in
their home before she left for Manila and that he was told by a certain Manay Lourdes that Maribel was
sent away by her employer out of fear that she might get pregnant by a tricycle driver. The Trial court
found Antonio Pedres guilty of raping his daughter Maribel.
Issue: W/N the trial court erred in convicting Antonio Pedres?
Held:
NO. Although there are unnatural pieces of the incident as propounded by Maribel, this does not destroy
the credibility of her statement, as it is possible that the incidents did occur. Details like looking at her
watch while her father was tying her mouth with a piece of cloth or not physically resisting her father are
entirely plausible as there is no clear way or normal way to respond to such traumatic experience especially
when a loved one is responsible. In view of the strength of Maribel’s allegations and the disposition of the
court towards alibis, the judgment finding Antonio Pedres guilty beyond reasonable doubt of rape is
AFFIRMED.