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PEOPLE vs Ernesto Padao

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, appellee, vs. ERNESTO P. PADAO, appellant.

G.R. Nos. 140734-35 | 2002-09-11

D E C I S I O N

PANGANIBAN:

By her own testimony, complainant lost her consciousness after being knocked out by appellant. Thus, she could not have really known what actually happened during the time she was unconscious. Mere suspicion or speculation that she was raped does not constitute proof beyond reasonable doubt.

The Case

Before us for automatic review is the "Joint Decision"[1] of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte (Branch 11), dated September 10, 1999. The RTC Decision convicted Ernesto P. Padao of two (2) counts of incestuous rape and sentenced him to death in Criminal Case No. S-2800, and to...