People v. Romeo Canare y Mendoza

Summary

This criminal case involves the rape prosecution of Romeo Canare y Mendoza for the sexual assault of victim XXX on August 4, 1998 at Wise Hotel in Pasay City. The victim, a naive woman from Lucena City who lost her money and sought help at Baclaran Church, was befriended by the accused who took her to lunch then to a hotel where he raped her. The victim identified her attacker months later at the same church, leading to his arrest. The RTC convicted Canare and sentenced him to reclusion perpetua, which was affirmed by both the CA (with modification deleting exemplary damages) and the Supreme Court. The case demonstrates the principle that credible victim testimony alone can sustain a rape conviction, and that alibi cannot overcome positive identification. The decision reinforces that rape victims need not prove tenacious resistance and that different people react differently to traumatic experiences.