People v. Dazo and Tiangzon

Summary

This 1933 Supreme Court En Banc decision involved the appeal of Donato Dazo and Filomeno Tiangzon from their rape convictions. The defendants challenged the trial court's reliance on the complaining witness's testimony and rejection of defense evidence. The Supreme Court affirmed the conviction, establishing important precedent that corroboration is not essential for rape convictions when the prosecutrix's testimony is inherently probable and consistent. The Court found that the circumstances of the case sufficiently corroborated the victim's clear and contradiction-free testimony. The decision also clarified the application of aggravating circumstances in rape cases, rejecting claims of nocturnity and ignominy. This case demonstrates early jurisprudence on evidence standards in sexual assault cases and the weight given to victim testimony in the Philippine criminal justice system.