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PEOPLE Vs. Domingo Sta. Ana

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee, vs. DOMINGO STA. ANA y TUPIG, accused-appellant.

G.R. Nos. 115657-59 | 1998-06-26

D E C I S I O N

PANGANIBAN, J:

A rape case presents a "he said, she said" scenario. In this appeal, the Court is tasked to decide whom to believe - the appellant or the private complainant? This is not an easy undertaking. On the one hand, the Court has to keep in mind that a rape victim is a victim many times over. She is physically, psychologically, emotionally and socially scarred. Oftentimes she suffers in silence, and this may last a lifetime. Justice must be rendered to her. On the other hand, the Court must also remember that an accusation of rape can be made with facility, and while the accusation is difficult to prove, it is...