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PEOPLE vs. Joel Corea

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee vs. JOEL COREA alias "Digoy," accused-appellant.

G.R. No. 114383 | 1997-03-03

D E C I S I O N


PANGANIBAN, J.:

In seeking acquittal, appellant insists that complainant was his sweetheart who willingly consented to the sexual congress. However, the "sweethearts theory," even granting it is true, does not necessarily rule out force and intimidation. In the end, the conviction or acquittal of appellant rests upon the credibility of complainant and her testimony in regard to the use of force upon her person.

These matters are threshed out by the Court in resolving this appealfrom the Decision of the Regional Trial Court of Suralla, South Cotabato, Branch 26, 1 dated July 9, 1993, in Criminal Case No. 1196-Tb, finding...