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The People of the Phil. Vs. Arturo Domingo Y Gatchalian

THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Appellee, versus ARTURO DOMINGO y GATCHALIAN, Appeellant.

G.R. No. 177136 [Formerly G.R. Nos. 153295-99] | 2008-06-30

D E C I S I O N


Tinga, J.:

Plain and elementary in criminal law jurisprudence is the rule that in rape cases, the evidence for the prosecution must stand on its own merit and not merely draw strength from the weakness of the defense. We have pored over the records of the instant case and have found not only that the evidence of the defense is weak but also that the evidence of the prosecution is strong enough to overcome the constitutional presumption of innocence. We therefore dismiss the appeal.

The antecedents follow.

In five (5) similarly-worded Informations[1] filed with the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Malolos, Bulacan,...