Robert Sierra Y Caneda vs People of the Philippines

G.R. No. 182941

941 July 3, 2009
009

FACTS: Private
Private complainant was playin wit! !er "rien#
"rien# w!en petitioner
petitioner arrive# wit! a
$ni"e. %t was allee# t!at petitioner succee#e# in rapin t!e private complainant an# !er 
"rien#. &!e private complainant su'se(uently #isclose# t!e inci#ent to !er teac!er an#
t!e mot!er o" !er classmate. )pon p!ysical e*amination, it was reveale# t!at t!ere was
a laceration on !er !ymen w!ic! supports !er claim o" se*ual a'use. Petitioner was
c!are# wit! rape an# t!e Reional &rial +ourt convicte# t!e petitioner. )pon appeal,
petitioner invo$e# pararap! 1, section  o" R- No 9344 to e*empt !im "rom criminal
lia'ility consi#erin t!at !e was only 1 years ol# at t!e time o" t!e commission o" t!e
crime. Petitioner conten#e# t!at t!ere is no nee# to present a 'irt! certi"icate to invo$e
R- No 9344 'ecause t!e 'ur#en o" #isprovin !is claim lies wit! t!e prosecution.

ISSUE/ !et!er or not petitioner can invo$e pararap! 1, section  o" R- No 9344 to
e*empt !im "rom any criminal lia'ility

HELD/ es, petitioner can invo$e section  o" R- No 9344 to e*empt !im "rom any
crimin
criminal
al lia'il
lia'ility
ity.. &!e +ourt
+ourt o" -ppeal
-ppeals
s was wron
wron w!en
w!en it reect
reecte#
e# t!e testim
testimoni
onial
al
evi#ence s!owin t!at petitioner was only 1 years ol# at t!e time !e committe# t!e
crime. &!e ae o" t!e c!il# may 'e #etermine# "rom !is 'irt! certi"icate, 'aptismal
certi"icate, or ot!er pertinent #ocuments. %n t!e a'sence o" t!ese #ocuments, ae may
'e 'ase# on in"ormation "rom t!e c!il# !imsel" or !ersel", testimonies o" ot!er persons,
t!e p!ysical appearance o" t!e c!il# an# ot!er relevant evi#ence. %n t!e case at 'ar, t!e
petitioner an# !is mot!er 'ot! testi"ie# rear#in !is minority.

owever, t!e contention o" petitioner t!at t!e prosecution !as t!e 'ur#en o" 
#isprovin
#isprovin !is claim is untena'le. &!e #e"ense !as t!e 'ur#en o" s!owin
s!owin 'y
' y evi#ence
t!at petitioner was in#ee# 1 years ol# w!en !e committe# t!e crime c!are#.