- Petitioner
- Aaa261422
- Respondent
- Xxx261422
- Citation
- G.R. No. 261422
- Court
- Supreme Court
- Division
- Second Division
- Ponente
- Lazaro-Javier, J.
- Decided
- November 13, 2023
Summary
Criminal case where RTC acquitted XXX261422 of rape and acts of lasciviousness charges against his 13-year-old stepdaughter AAA261422, finding the allegations were likely fabricated by the victim's father's family. When AAA261422's petition for certiorari was dismissed by CA for lack of standing without OSG conformity, the Supreme Court reversed both lower courts. SC found the RTC judgment violated due process by failing to properly evaluate prosecution evidence and merely adopting defendant's theory. Applying pre-Austria jurisprudence allowing private complainants to file certiorari petitions questioning criminal aspects, SC found XXX261422 guilty of three counts of lascivious conduct under RA 7610 and imposed appropriate penalties and damages totaling PHP495,000.