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People Vs Egmedio Lampaza

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee, vs. EGMEDIO LAMPAZA, accused-appellant.

G.R. No. 138876 | 1999-11-24

D E C I S I O N

PANGANIBAN, J.:

The medical examination of a victim is not a requisite for the successful prosecution of rape. Even without a medical report, a court may convict an accused based on the offended party's credible testimony. The "sweetheart" defense cannot be given credence in the absence of corroborative proof like love notes, mementos, pictures or tokens. Love is not a license to rape.

The Case

Egmedio Lampaza appeals the March 14, 1994 Decision[1] of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of San Jose, Antique (Branch 10)[2] in Criminal Case No. 3692, finding him guilty of rape.

In an Information dated May 25, 1988 and "at the...