Rommel Z. Borja v. People

Summary

The Supreme Court denied petitioner Rommel Borja's appeal of his conviction for physical violence against his live-in partner Aileen under RA 9262. On August 3, 2016, after returning from Manila, Borja became angry when Aileen requested they sleep face-to-face, grabbed a gun, and physically assaulted her by grabbing her shirt and punching her leg. Medical examination confirmed hematoma injuries requiring 3-9 days treatment. The RTC convicted Borja under Section 5(a) of RA 9262 but acquitted him of economic abuse charges. The CA affirmed, finding Aileen's testimony credible and supported by documentary evidence, while Borja's denial was unconvincing. The Supreme Court upheld the conviction, emphasizing that factual findings of lower courts are binding absent clear error. The Court modified the penalty to include a PHP100,000 fine and mandatory psychological counseling, reflecting the State's policy of special protection for women victims of violence. This case demonstrates the judiciary's commitment to enforcing anti-violence laws and the difficulty of overturning credibility findings on appeal.