G.R. No. 227363. March 12, 2019.*

 
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-
appellee, vs. SALVADOR TULAGAN, accused-appellant.

Remedial Law; Criminal Procedure; Appeals; Appellate courts

will not overturn the factual findings of the trial court in the
absence of facts or circumstances of weight and substance that
would affect the result of the case.—Factual findings of the trial
court carry great weight and respect due to the unique
opportunity afforded them to observe the witnesses when placed
on the stand. Consequently, appellate courts will not overturn the
factual findings of the trial court in the absence of facts or
circumstances of weight and substance that would affect the
result of the case. Said rule finds an even more stringent
application where the said findings are sustained by the CA.
Criminal Law; Statutory Rape; Rape by Sexual Assault; Rape
by Sexual Intercourse; Elements of.—Here, in Criminal Case No.
SCC-6210 for sexual assault, both the RTC and the CA found
AAA’s testimony to be credible, straightforward and unwavering
when she testified that Tulagan forcibly inserted his finger in her
vagina. In Criminal Case No. SCC-6211 for statutory rape, both
the RTC and the CA also found that the elements thereof were
present, to wit: (1) accused had carnal knowledge of the victim,
and (2) said act was accomplished when the offended party is
under twelve (12) years of age. Indubitably, the courts  a
quo  found that the prosecution was able to prove beyond
reasonable doubt Tulagan’s guilt for the crime of rape. We find no
reason to deviate from said findings and conclusions of the
courts a quo.
Remedial Law; Evidence; Credibility of Witnesses; The
variance in minor details has the net effect of bolstering instead of
diminishing the witness’ credibility because they discount the
possibility of a rehearsed testimony.—Jurisprudence tells us that
a witness’ testimony containing inconsistencies or discrepancies
does not, by such fact alone, diminish the credibility of such
testimony. In fact, the vari-

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* EN BANC.

 
 
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ance in minor details has the net effect of bolstering instead

of diminishing the witness’ credibility because they discount the
possibility of a rehearsed testimony. Instead, what remains
paramount is the witness’ consistency in relating the principal
elements of the crime and the positive and categorical
identification of the accused as the perpetrator of the same.
Same; Same; Same; No young girl, such as AAA, would
concoct a sordid tale, on her own or through the influence of her
grandmother as per Tulagan’s intimation, undergo an invasive
medical examination then subject herself to the stigma and
embarrassment of a public trial, if her motive was other than a
fervent desire to seek justice.—As for Tulagan’s imputation of ill
motive on the part of AAA’s grandmother, absent any concrete
supporting evidence, said allegation will not convince us that the
trial court’s assessment of the credibility of the victim and her
supporting witness was tainted with arbitrariness or blindness to
a fact of consequence. We reiterate the principle that no young
girl, such as AAA, would concoct a sordid tale, on her own or
through the influence of her grandmother as per Tulagan’s
intimation, undergo an invasive medical examination then subject
herself to the stigma and embarrassment of a public trial, if her
motive was other than a fervent desire to seek justice. In People v.
Garcia, 681 SCRA 465 (2012), we held: Testimonies of child
victims are normally given full weight and credit, since when a
girl, particularly if she is a minor, says that she has been raped,
she says in effect all that is necessary to show that rape has in
fact been committed. When the offended party is of tender age
and immature, courts are inclined to give credit to her account of
what transpired, considering not only her relative vulnerability
but also the shame to which she would be exposed if the matter to
which she testified is not true. Youth and immaturity are
generally badges of truth and sincerity. A young girl’s revelation
that she had been raped, coupled with her voluntary submission
to medical examination and willingness to undergo public trial
where she could be compelled to give out the details of an assault
on her dignity, cannot be so easily dismissed as mere concoction.
Criminal Law; Denial; Being a negative defense, the defense of
denial, if not substantiated by clear and convincing evidence, as in
the instant case, deserves no weight in law and cannot be given
greater evidentiary value than the testimony of credible witnesses,

 
 
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like AAA, who testified on affirmative matters.—We also

reject Tulagan’s defense of denial. Being a negative defense, the
defense of denial, if not substantiated by clear and convincing
evidence, as in the instant case, deserves no weight in law and
cannot be given greater evidentiary value than the testimony of
credible witnesses, like AAA, who testified on affirmative matters.
Since AAA testified in a categorical and consistent manner
without any ill motive, her positive identification of Tulagan as
the sexual offender must prevail over his defenses of denial and
alibi.
Same; Alibi; Physical Impossibility; Words and Phrases;
“Physical impossibility” refers to distance and the facility of access
between the crime scene and the location of the accused when the
crime was committed.—Here, the courts a quo did not give
credence to Tulagan’s alibi considering that his house was only 50
meters away from AAA’s house, thus, he failed to establish that it
was physically impossible for him to be at the locus criminis when
the rape incidents took place. “Physical impossibility” refers to
distance and the facility of access between the crime scene and
the location of the accused when the crime was committed. There
must be a demonstration that they were so far away and could not
have been physically present at the crime scene and its immediate
vicinity when the crime was committed. In this regard, Tulagan
failed to prove that there was physical impossibility for him to be
at the crime scene when the rape was committed. Thus, his alibi
must fail.
Same; Delay in Reporting Rape; Although the rape incidents
in the instant case were not immediately reported to the police,
such delay does not affect the truthfulness of the charge in the
absence of other circumstances that show the same to be mere
concoction or impelled by some ill motive.—Although the rape
incidents in the instant case were not immediately reported to the
police, such delay does not affect the truthfulness of the charge in
the absence of other circumstances that show the same to be mere
concoction or impelled by some ill motive.
Same; Acts of Lasciviousness; Elements of.—For the guidance
of the Bench and the Bar, We take this opportunity to reconcile
the provisions on Acts of Lasciviousness, Rape and Sexual Assault
under the Revised Penal Code (RPC), as amended by Republic Act
(R.A.) No. 8353 vis-à-vis Sexual Intercourse and Lascivious
Conduct under

 
 
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Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610, to fortify the earlier decisions of

the Court and doctrines laid down on similar issues, and to clarify
the nomenclature and the imposable penalties of said crimes, and
damages in line with existing jurisprudence. Prior to the
effectivity of R.A. No. 8353 or The Anti-Rape Law of 1997 on
October 22, 1997, acts constituting sexual assault under
paragraph 2, Article 266-A of the RPC, were punished as acts of
lasciviousness under Article No. 336 of the RPC or Act No. 3815
which took effect on December 8, 1930. For an accused to be
convicted of acts of lasciviousness, the confluence of the following
essential elements must be proven: (1) that the offender commits
any act of lasciviousness or lewdness; and (2) that it is done under
any of the following circumstances: (a) by using force or
intimidation; (b) when the offended woman is deprived of reason
or otherwise unconscious; or (c) when the offended party is under
twelve (12) years of age.
Same; Lascivious Conduct; Words and Phrases; The Rules
and Regulations on the Reporting and Investigation of Child
Abuse Cases states that “lascivious conduct means the intentional
touching, either directly or through clothing, of the genitalia, anus,
groin, breast, inner thigh, or buttocks, or the introduction of any
object into the genitalia, anus or mouth, of any person, whether of
the same or opposite sex, with an intent to abuse, humiliate,
harass, degrade, or arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any
person, bestiality, masturbation, lascivious exhibition of the
genitals or pubic area of a person.”—When R.A. No. 7610 or The
Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and
Discrimination Act took effect on June 17, 1992 and its
Implementing Rules and Regulation was promulgated in October
1993, the term “lascivious conduct” was given a specific definition.
The Rules and Regulations on the Reporting and Investigation of
Child Abuse Cases states that “lascivious conduct means the
intentional touching, either directly or through clothing, of the
genitalia, anus, groin, breast, inner thigh, or buttocks, or the
introduction of any object into the genitalia, anus or mouth, of any
person, whether of the same or opposite sex, with an intent to
abuse, humiliate, harass, degrade, or arouse or gratify the sexual
desire of any person, bestiality, masturbation, lascivious
exhibition of the genitals or pubic area of a person.”
Same; Rape; Rape by Sexual Assault; Committed by “inserting
penis into another person’s mouth or anal orifice, or any
instrument

 
 
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or object, into the genital or anal orifice of another person”

against the victim’s will, “sexual assault” has also been called
“gender-free rape” or “object rape.”—Upon the effectivity of R.A.
No. 8353, specific forms of acts of lasciviousness were no longer
punished under Article 336 of the RPC, but were transferred as a
separate crime of “sexual assault” under paragraph 2, Article 266-
A of the RPC. Committed by “inserting penis into another
person’s mouth or anal orifice, or any instrument or object, into
the genital or anal orifice of another person” against the victim’s
will, “sexual assault” has also been called “gender-free rape” or
“object rape.” However, the term “rape by sexual assault” is a
misnomer, as it goes against the traditional concept of rape, which
is carnal knowledge of a woman without her consent or against
her will. In contrast to sexual assault which is a broader term
that includes acts that gratify sexual desire (such as cunnilingus,
felatio, sodomy or even rape), the classic rape is particular and its
commission involves only the reproductive organs of a woman and
a man. Compared to sexual assault, rape is severely penalized
because it may lead to unwanted procreation; or to paraphrase
the words of the legislators, it will put an outsider into the woman
who would bear a child, or to the family, if she is married. The
dichotomy between rape and sexual assault can be gathered from
the deliberation of the House of Representatives on the Bill
entitled “An Act To Amend Article 335 of the Revised Penal Code,
as amended, and Defining and Penalizing the Crime of Sexual
Assault.”
Same; Acts of Lasciviousness; Other forms of acts of
lasciviousness or lascivious conduct committed against a child,
such as touching of other delicate parts other than the private
organ or kissing a young girl with malice, are still punished as
acts of lasciviousness under Article 336 of the Revised Penal Code
(RPC) in relation to Republic Act (RA) No. 7610 or lascivious
conduct under Section 5 of R.A. No. 7610.—Concededly, R.A. No.
8353 defined specific acts constituting acts of lasciviousness as a
distinct crime of “sexual assault,” and increased the penalty
thereof from prisión correccional to prisión mayor. But it was
never the intention of the legislature to redefine the traditional
concept of rape. The Congress merely upgraded the same from a
“crime against chastity” (a private crime) to a “crime against
persons” (a public crime) as a matter of policy and public interest
in order to allow prosecution of such cases even without the
complaint of the offended party, and to prevent extinguishment of
criminal liability in such cases through express pardon by

 
 
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the offended party. Thus, other forms of acts of lasciviousness

or lascivious conduct committed against a child, such as touching
of other delicate parts other than the private organ or kissing a
young girl with malice, are still punished as acts of lasciviousness
under Article 336 of the RPC in relation to R.A. No. 7610 or
lascivious conduct under Section 5 of R.A. No. 7610.
Same; Lascivious Conduct; In instances where the lascivious
conduct committed against a child victim is covered by the
definition under Republic Act (RA) No. 7610, and the act is
likewise covered by sexual assault under paragraph 2, Article 266-
A of the Revised Penal Code (RPC), the offender should be held
liable for violation of Section 5(b), Article III of R.A. No. 7610.—In
instances where the lascivious conduct committed against a child
victim is covered by the definition under R.A. No. 7610, and the
act is likewise covered by sexual assault under paragraph 2,
Article 266-A of the RPC, the offender should be held liable for
violation of Section 5(b), Article III of R.A. No. 7610. The ruling in
Dimakuta v. People, 773 SCRA 228 (2015), is instructive: Article
226-A, paragraph 2 of the RPC, punishes inserting of the penis
into another person’s mouth or anal orifice, or any instrument or
object, into the genital or anal orifice of another person if the
victim did not consent either it was done through force, threat or
intimidation; or when the victim is deprived of reason or is
otherwise unconscious; or by means of fraudulent machination or
grave abuse of authority as sexual assault as a form of rape.
However, in instances where the lascivious conduct is covered by
the definition under R.A. No. 7610, where the penalty is reclusion
temporal medium, and the act is likewise covered by sexual
assault under Article 266-A, paragraph 2 of the RPC, which is
punishable by prisión mayor, the offender should be liable for
violation of Section 5(b), Article III of R.A. No. 7610, where the
law provides for the higher penalty of reclusion temporal medium,
if the offended party is a child victim. But if the victim is at least
eighteen (18) years of age, the offender should be liable under Art.
266-A, par. 2 of the RPC and not R.A. No. 7610, unless the victim
is at least eighteen (18) years and she is unable to fully take care
of herself or protect herself from abuse, neglect, cruelty,
exploitation or discrimination because of a physical or mental
disability or condition, in which case, the offender may still be
held liable for sexual abuse under R.A. No. 7610. There could be
no other conclusion, a child is presumed by law to be incapable of
giving rational consent to any lascivious act, taking into

 
 
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account the constitutionally enshrined State policy to

promote the physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and social well-
being of the youth, as well as, in harmony with the foremost
consideration of the child’s best interests in all actions concerning
him or her. This is equally consistent with the declared policy of
the State to provide special protection to children from all forms
of abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation and discrimination, and
other conditions prejudicial to their development; provide
sanctions for their commission and carry out a program for
prevention and deterrence of and crisis intervention in situations
of child abuse, exploitation, and discrimination. Besides, if it was
the intention of the framers of the law to make child offenders
liable only of Article 266-A of the RPC, which provides for a lower
penalty than R.A. No. 7610, the law could have expressly made
such statements.
Same; Rape by Sexual Assault; If the acts constituting sexual
assault are committed against a victim under twelve (12) years of
age or is demented, the nomenclature of the offense should now be
“Sexual Assault under paragraph 2, Article 266-A of the Revised
Penal Code (RPC) in relation to Section 5(b) of Republic Act (RA)
No. 7610” and no longer “Acts of Lasciviousness under Article 336
of the RPC in relation to Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610,” because
sexual assault as a form of acts of lasciviousness is no longer
covered by Article 336 but by Article 266-A(2) of the RPC, as
amended by R.A. No. 8353.—Considering the development of the
crime of sexual assault from a mere “crime against chastity” in
the form of acts of lasciviousness to a “crime against persons” akin
to rape, as well as the rulings in Dimakuta and Caoili. We hold
that if the acts constituting sexual assault are committed against
a victim under 12 years of age or is demented, the nomenclature
of the offense should now be “Sexual Assault under paragraph 2,
Article 266-A of the RPC in relation to Section 5(b) of R.A. No.
7610” and no longer “Acts of Lasciviousness under Article 336 of
the RPC in relation to Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610,” because
sexual assault as a form of acts of lasciviousness is no longer
covered by Article 336 but by Article 266-A(2) of the RPC, as
amended by R.A. No. 8353. Nevertheless, the imposable penalty is
still reclusion temporal in its medium period, and not prisión
mayor.
Same; Lascivious Conduct; If the victim is twelve (12) years
old and under eighteen (18) years old, or 18 years old and above
under special circumstances, the nomenclature of the crime should
be “Las-

 
 
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civious Conduct under Section 5(b) of Republic Act (RA) No.

7610” with the imposable penalty of reclusion temporal in its
medium period to reclusion perpetua, but it should not make any
reference to the provisions of the Revised Penal Code (RPC).—If
the victim is 12 years old and under 18 years old, or 18 years old
and above under special circumstances, the nomenclature of the
crime should be “Lascivious Conduct under Section 5(b) of R.A.
No. 7610” with the imposable penalty of reclusion temporal in its
medium period to reclusion perpetua, but it should not make any
reference to the provisions of the RPC. It is only when the victim
of the sexual assault is 18 years old and above, and not demented,
that the crime should be called as “Sexual Assault under
paragraph 2, Article 266-A of the RPC” with the imposable
penalty of prisión mayor.
Same; Statutory Rape; Penalties; Under Section 5(b) of
Republic Act (RA) No. 7610, the proper penalty when sexual
intercourse is committed with a victim who is under twelve (12)
years of age or is demented is reclusion perpetua, pursuant to
paragraph 1(d), Article 266-A in relation to Article 266-B of the
Revised Penal Code (RPC), as amended by R.A. No. 8353, which in
turn amended Article 335 of the RPC.—Under Section 5(b) of R.A.
No. 7610, the proper penalty when sexual intercourse is
committed with a victim who is under 12 years of age or is
demented is reclusion perpetua, pursuant to paragraph 1(d),
Article 266-A in relation to Article 266-B of the RPC, as amended
by R.A. No. 8353, which in turn amended Article 335 of the RPC.
Thus: Section 5. Child Prostitution and Other Sexual Abuse.—
Children, whether male or female, who for money, profit, or any
other consideration or due to the coercion or influence of any
adult, syndicate or group, indulge in sexual intercourse or
lascivious conduct, are deemed to be children exploited in
prostitution and other sexual abuse. The penalty of reclusion
temporal in its medium period to reclusion perpetua shall be
imposed upon the following: x  x  x  x (b) Those who commit the
act of sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct with a child
exploited in prostitution or subject to other sexual abuse;
Provided, That when the victim is under twelve (12) years of age,
the perpetrators shall be prosecuted under Article 335, paragraph
3, for rape [sic] and Article 336 of Act No. 3815, as amended, the
Revised Penal Code, for rape or lascivious conduct, as the case
may be: Provided, That the penalty for lascivious conduct when
the victim is under twelve (12) years of age shall be reclusion
temporal in its medium period.

 
 
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Same; Same; Same; The penalty for statutory rape under

Article 335 is reclusion perpetua, which is still the same as in the
current rape law, i.e., paragraph 1(d), Article 266-A in relation to
Article 266-B of the Revised Penal Code (RPC), as amended by
Republic Act (RA) No. 8353, except in cases where the victim is
below seven (7) years of age where the imposable penalty is death.
—It was proposed in Quimvel that the penalty for acts of
lasciviousness committed against a child should depend on his/her
age: if the victim is under 12 years of age, the penalty is reclusion
temporal in its medium period, and if the victim is 12 years old
and below 18, or 18 or older under special circumstances under
Section 3(a) of R.A. No. 7610, the penalty is reclusion temporal in
its medium period to reclusion perpetua. Applying by analogy the
foregoing discussion in Quimvel to the act of sexual intercourse
with a child exploited in prostitution or subject to other sexual
abuse, We rule that when the offended party is under 12 years of
age or is demented, only the first proviso of Section 5(b), Article
III of R.A. No. 7610 will apply, to wit: “when the victim is under
twelve (12) years of age, the perpetrators shall be prosecuted under
Article 335, paragraph 3, for rape x x x.” The penalty for statutory
rape under Article 335 is reclusion perpetua, which is still the
same as in the current rape law, i.e., paragraph 1(d), Article 266-
A in relation to Article 266-B of the RPC, as amended by R.A. No.
8353, except in cases where the victim is below 7 years of age
where the imposable penalty is death.
Same; Exploited in Prostitution or Subjected to Other Sexual
Abuse; Unlike in rape, consent is immaterial in cases involving
violation of Sec. 5, Art. III of Republic Act (RA) No. 7610. The
mere fact of having sexual intercourse or committing lascivious
conduct with a child who is exploited in prostitution or subjected
to sexual abuse constitutes the offense.—An important distinction
between violation of Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610 and rape under
the RPC was explained in Malto v. People, 533 SCRA 643 (2007),
We ruled in Malto that one may be held liable for violation of Sec.
5(b), Article III of R.A. No. 7610 despite a finding that the person
did not commit rape, because rape is a felony under the RPC,
while sexual abuse against a child is punished by a special law.
Said crimes are separate and distinct, and they have different
elements. Unlike in rape, however, consent is immaterial in cases
involving violation of Sec. 5, Art. III of R.A. No. 7610. The mere
fact of having sexual intercourse or commit-

 
 
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ting lascivious conduct with a child who is exploited in

prostitution or subjected to sexual abuse constitutes the offense.
Same; Statutory Rape; Acts of Lasciviousness; The law
presumes that the victim who is under twelve (12) years old or is
demented does not and cannot have a will of her own on account of
her tender years or dementia; thus, a child’s or a demented
person’s consent is immaterial because of her presumed incapacity
to discern good from evil.—Recall that in statutory rape, the only
subject of inquiry is whether the woman is below 12 years old or is
demented and whether carnal knowledge took place; whereas
force, intimidation and physical evidence of injury are not
relevant considerations. With respect to acts of lasciviousness,
R.A. No. 8353 modified Article 336 of the RPC by retaining the
circumstance that the offended party is under 12 years old in
order for acts of lasciviousness to be considered as statutory and
by adding the circumstance that the offended party is demented,
thereby rendering the evidence of force or intimidation
immaterial. This is because the law presumes that the victim who
is under 12 years old or is demented does not and cannot have a
will of her own on account of her tender years or dementia; thus, a
child’s or a demented person’s consent is immaterial because of
her presumed incapacity to discern good from evil.
Same; Same; Even if the girl who is below twelve (12) years
old or is demented consents to the sexual intercourse, it is always a
crime of statutory rape under the Revised Penal Code (RPC), and
the offender should no longer be held liable under Republic Act
(RA) No. 7610.—It bears emphasis that violation of the first
clause of Section 5(b), Article III of R.A. No. 7610 on sexual
intercourse with a child exploited in prostitution or subject to
other sexual abuse, is separate and distinct from statutory rape
under paragraph 1(d), Article 266-A of the RPC. Aside from being
dissimilar in the sense that the former is an offense under special
law, while the latter is a felony under the RPC, they also have
different elements. Nevertheless, sexual intercourse with a victim
who is under 12 years of age or is demented is always statutory
rape, as Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610 expressly states that the
perpetrator will be prosecuted under Article 335, paragraph 3 of
the RPC [now paragraph 1(d), Article 266-A of the RPC as
amended by R.A. No. 8353]. Even if the girl who is below twelve
(12) years old or is demented consents to the sexual intercourse, it
is always a crime of statutory rape under the RPC, and the

 
 
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offender should no longer be held liable under R.A. No. 7610.

For example, a nine (9)-year-old girl was sold by a pimp to a
customer, the crime committed by the latter if he commits sexual
intercourse with the girl is still statutory rape, because even if the
girl consented or is demented, the law presumes that she is
incapable of giving a rational consent. The same reason holds true
with respect to acts of lasciviousness or lascivious conduct when
the offended party is less than 12 years old or is demented. Even
if such party consents to the lascivious conduct, the crime is
always statutory acts of lasciviousness. The offender will be
prosecuted under Article 336 of the RPC, but the penalty is
provided for under Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610. Therefore, there
is no conflict between rape and acts of lasciviousness under the
RPC, and sexual intercourse and lascivious conduct under R.A.
No. 7610.
Same; Exploited in Prostitution or Subjected to Other Sexual
Abuse; Principal by Inducement; Principal by Indispensable
Cooperation; If sexual intercourse is committed with a child under
twelve (12) years of age, who is deemed to be “exploited in
prostitution and other sexual abuse,” then those who engage in or
promote, facilitate or induce child prostitution under Section 5(a)
of  Republic Act (RA) No. 7610 shall be liable as principal by force
or inducement under Article 17 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) in
the crime of statutory rape under Article 266-A(1) of the RPC;
whereas those who derive profit or advantage therefrom under
Section 5(c) of R.A. No. 7610 shall be liable as principal by
indispensable cooperation under Article 17 of the RPC.—If sexual
intercourse is committed with a child under 12 years of age, who
is deemed to be “exploited in prostitution and other sexual abuse,”
then those who engage in or promote, facilitate or induce child
prostitution under Section 5(a) of R.A. No. 7610 shall be liable as
principal by force or inducement under Article 17 of the RPC in
the crime of statutory rape under Article 266-A(1) of the RPC;
whereas those who derive profit or advantage therefrom under
Section 5(c) of R.A. No. 7610 shall be liable as principal by
indispensable cooperation under Article 17 of the RPC. Bearing in
mind the policy of R.A. No. 7610 of providing for stronger
deterrence and special protection against child abuse and
exploitation, the following shall be the nomenclature of the said
statutory crimes and the imposable penalties for principals by
force or inducement or by indispensable cooperation: 1. Acts of
Lasciviousness under Article 336 of the RPC, in relation to
Section 5(a) or (c), as the case may be, of R.A.

 
 
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No. 7610, with the imposable penalty of reclusion temporal in

its medium period to reclusion perpetua; 2. Rape under Article
266-A(1) of the RPC, in relation to Article 17 of the RPC and
Section 5(a) or (c), as the case may be, of R.A. No. 7610 with the
imposable penalty of reclusion perpetua, pursuant to Article 266-B
of the RPC, except when the victim is below 7 years old, in which
case the crime is considered as Qualified Rape, for which the
death penalty shall be imposed; and 3. Sexual Assault under
Article 266-A(2) of the RPC, in relation to Section 5(a) or (c), as
the case may be, of R.A. No. 7610 with the imposable penalty of
reclusion temporal in its medium period to reclusion perpetua.
Same; Same; If the victim who is twelve (12) years old or less
than eighteen (18) and is deemed to be a child “exploited in
prostitution and other sexual abuse” because she agreed to indulge
in sexual intercourse “for money, profit or any other consideration
or due to coercion or influence of any adult, syndicate or group,”
then the crime could not be rape under the Revised Penal Code
(RPC), because this no longer falls under the concept of statutory
rape, and there was consent.—If the victim who is 12 years old or
less than 18 and is deemed to be a child “exploited in prostitution
and other sexual abuse” because she agreed to indulge in sexual
intercourse “for money, profit or any other consideration or due to
coercion or influence of any adult, syndicate or group,” then the
crime could not be rape under the RPC, because this no longer
falls under the concept of statutory rape, and there was consent.
That is why the offender will now be penalized under Section 5(b),
R.A. No. 7610, and not under Article 335 of the RPC [now Article
266-A]. But if the said victim does not give her consent to sexual
intercourse in the sense that the sexual intercourse was
committed through force, threat or intimidation, the crime is rape
under paragraph 1, Article 266-A of the RPC. However, if the
same victim gave her consent to the sexual intercourse, and no
money, profit, consideration, coercion or influence is involved,
then there is no crime committed, except in those cases where
“force, threat or intimidation” as an element of rape is substituted
by “moral ascendancy or moral authority,” like in the cases of
incestuous rape, and unless it is punished under the RPC as
qualified seduction under Article 337 or simple seduction under
Article 338.

 
 
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Same; Same; Rape; There could be no instance that an

Information may charge the same accused with the crime of rape
where “force, threat or intimidation” is the element of the crime
under the Revised Penal Code (RPC), and at the same time
violation of Section 5(b) of Republic Act (RA) No. 7610 where the
victim indulged in sexual intercourse because she is exploited in
prostitution either “for money, profit or any other consideration or
due to coercion or influence of any adult, syndicate or group” — the
phrase which qualifies a child to be deemed “exploited in
prostitution or other sexual abuse” as an element of violation of
Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610.—There could be no instance that an
Information may charge the same accused with the crime of rape
where “force, threat or intimidation” is the element of the crime
under the RPC, and at the same time violation of Section 5(b) of
R.A. No. 7610 where the victim indulged in sexual intercourse
because she is exploited in prostitution either “for money, profit
or any other consideration or due to coercion or influence of any
adult, syndicate or group” — the phrase which qualifies a child to
be deemed “exploited in prostitution or other sexual abuse” as an
element of violation of Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610.
Statutory Construction; It is basic in statutory construction
that in case of irreconcilable conflict between two (2) laws, the later
enactment must prevail, being the more recent expression of
legislative will.—It is basic in statutory construction that in case
of irreconcilable conflict between two laws, the later enactment
must prevail, being the more recent expression of legislative will.
Indeed, statutes must be so construed and harmonized with other
statutes as to form a uniform system of jurisprudence, and if
several laws cannot be harmonized, the earlier statute must yield
to the later enactment, because the later law is the latest
expression of the legislative will. Hence, Article 266-B of the RPC
must prevail over Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610.
Criminal Law; Exploited in Prostitution or Subjected to Other
Sexual Abuse; Exploited in Prostitution; The element of “exploited
in prostitution” does not cover a male child, who for money, profit
or any other consideration, or due to coercion or influence of any
adult, syndicate, or group, indulges in sexual intercourse.—The
element of “exploited in prostitution” does not cover a male child,
who for money, profit or any other consideration, or due to
coercion or influence of any adult, syndicate, or group, indulges in
sexual intercourse.

 
  
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This is because at the time R.A. No. 7610 was enacted in

1992, the prevailing law on rape was Article 335 of the RPC
where rape can only be committed by having carnal knowledge of
a woman under specified circumstances. Even under R.A. No.
8353 which took effect in 1997, the concept of rape remains the
same — it is committed by a man who shall have carnal
knowledge of a woman under specified circumstances. As can be
gathered from the Senate deliberation on Section 5(b), Article III
of R.A. No. 7610, it is only when the victim or the child who was
abused is a male that the offender would be prosecuted
thereunder because the crime of rape does not cover child abuse of
males.
Same; Same; Other Sexual Abuse; Words and Phrases; The
term “other sexual abuse” is broad enough to include all other acts
of sexual abuse other than prostitution.—The term “other sexual
abuse” is broad enough to include all other acts of sexual abuse
other than prostitution. Accordingly, a single act of lascivious
conduct is punished under Section 5(b), Article III, when the
victim is 12 years old and below 18, or 18 or older under special
circumstances.
Same; Acts of Lasciviousness; When the victim is under twelve
(12) years old, the proviso of Section 5(b) states that the perpetrator
should be prosecuted under Article 336 of the Revised Penal Code
(RPC) for acts of lasciviousness, whereby the lascivious conduct
itself is the sole element of the said crime.—When the victim is
under 12 years old, the proviso of Section 5(b) states that the
perpetrator should be prosecuted under Article 336 of the RPC for
acts of lasciviousness, whereby the lascivious conduct itself is the
sole element of the said crime. This is because in statutory acts of
lasciviousness, as in statutory rape, the minor is presumed
incapable of giving consent; hence, the other circumstances
pertaining to rape — force, threat, intimidation, etc. — are
immaterial.
Same; Same; Penalties; Where the victim of acts of
lasciviousness is under seven (7) years old, Quimvel cannot be
merely penalized with prisión correccional for acts of
lasciviousness under Article 336 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC)
when the victim is a child because it is contrary to the letter and
intent of Republic Act (RA) No. 7610 to provide for stronger
deterrence and special protection against child abuse, exploitation
and discrimination.—As pointed out by the ponente in Quimvel,
where the victim of acts of lasciviousness is under

 
 
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7 years old, Quimvel cannot be merely penalized with prisión

correccional for acts of lasciviousness under Article 336 of the
RPC when the victim is a child because it is contrary to the letter
and intent of R.A. No. 7610 to provide for stronger deterrence and
special protection against child abuse, exploitation and
discrimination. The legislative intent is expressed under Section
10, Article VI of R.A. No. 7610 which, among others, increased by
one degree the penalty for certain crimes when the victim is a
child under 12 years of age.
Same; Exploited in Prostitution or Subjected to Other Sexual
Abuse; A child is considered one (1) “exploited in prostitution or
subjected to other sexual abuse” when the child indulges in sexual
intercourse or lascivious conduct “under the coercion or influence
of any adult.”—We held that for purposes of determining the
proper charge, the term “coercion or influence” as appearing in
the law is broad enough to cover “force and intimidation” as used
in the Information; in fact, as these terms are almost used
synonymously, it is then “of no moment that the terminologies
employed by R.A. No. 7610 and by the Information are different.”
We also ruled that a child is considered one “exploited in
prostitution or subjected to other sexual abuse” when the child
indulges in sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct “under the
coercion or influence of any adult.” Thus, We rule that the above
quoted Information in Criminal Case No. SCC-6210 sufficiently
informs Tulagan of the nature and cause of accusation against
him, namely: rape by sexual assault under paragraph 2, Article
266-A of the RPC in relation to R.A. No. 7610.
Same; Civil Indemnity; Moral Damages; Exemplary Damages;
An award of civil indemnity ex delicto is mandatory upon a
finding of the fact of rape, and moral damages may be
automatically awarded in rape cases without need of proof of
mental and physical suffering. The award of exemplary damages
is also called for to set a public example and to protect the young
from sexual abuse.—It is settled that an award of civil indemnity
ex delicto is mandatory upon a finding of the fact of rape, and
moral damages may be automatically awarded in rape cases
without need of proof of mental and physical suffering. The award
of exemplary damages is also called for to set a public example
and to protect the young from sexual abuse. As to the civil
liability in Criminal Case No. SCC-6210 for sexual assault under
paragraph 2, Article 266-A of the RPC, in relation to Section 5(b)
of R.A. No. 7610, Tulagan should, therefore, pay AAA the
amounts of

 
 
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People vs. Tulagan

P50,000.00 as civil indemnity, P50,000.00 as moral damages,

and P50,000.00 as exemplary damages.
Same; Same; Same; Same; Legal Interest; The amount of
damages awarded shall earn interest at the rate of six percent (6%)
per annum from the finality of this judgment until said amounts
are fully paid.—Anent the award of damages in Criminal Case
No. SCC-6211 for statutory rape, We modify the same in line with
the ruling in People v. Jugueta, 788 SCRA 331 (2016), where We
held that “when the circumstances surrounding the crime call for
the imposition of reclusion perpetua only, there being no ordinary
aggravating circumstance, the proper amounts should be
P75,000.00 as civil indemnity, P75,000.00 as moral damages, and
P75,000.00 as exemplary damages.” Also in consonance with
prevailing jurisprudence, the amount of damages awarded shall
earn interest at the rate of six percent (6%) per annum from the
finality of this judgment until said amounts are fully paid.
Statutory Construction; It is a basic rule in statutory
construction that what courts may correct to reflect the real and
apparent intention of the legislature are only those which are
clearly clerical errors or obvious mistakes, omissions, and
misprints, but not those due to oversight, as shown by a review of
extraneous circumstances, where the law is clear, and to correct it
would be to change the meaning of the law.—Over and above the
foregoing, We observe that despite the clear intent of R.A. No.
7610 to provide for stronger deterrence and special protection
against child abuse, the penalty for violation of Section 5(b) of
R.A. No. 7610 [reclusion temporal medium] when the victim is
under 12 years old is lower compared to the penalty [reclusion
temporal medium to reclusion perpetua] when the victim is 12
years old and below 18. The same holds true if the crime of acts of
lasciviousness is attended by an aggravating circumstance or
committed by persons under Section 31, Article XII of R.A. No.
7610, in which case, the imposable penalty is reclusion perpetua.
In contrast, when no mitigating or aggravating circumstance
attended the crime of acts of lasciviousness, the penalty therefor
when committed against a child under 12 years old is aptly higher
than the penalty when the child is 12 years old and below 18. This
is because, applying the Indeterminate Sentence Law, the
minimum term in the case of the younger victims shall be taken
from reclusion temporal minimum, whereas as the minimum term
in the case of the older

 
 
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victims shall be taken from prisión mayor medium to

reclusion temporal minimum. It is a basic rule in statutory
construction that what courts may correct to reflect the real and
apparent intention of the legislature are only those which are
clearly clerical errors or obvious mistakes, omissions, and
misprints, but not those due to oversight, as shown by a review of
extraneous circumstances, where the law is clear, and to correct it
would be to change the meaning of the law. Thus, a corrective
legislation is the proper remedy to address the noted incongruent
penalties for acts of lasciviousness committed against a child.
Repeal of Laws; Republic Act (RA) No. 8353 did not expressly
repeal Article 336 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC), as amended.
Section 4 of R.A. No. 8353 only states that Article 336 of the RPC,
as amended, and all laws, rules and regulations inconsistent with
or contrary to the provisions thereof are deemed amended,
modified or repealed, accordingly.—We further note that R.A. No.
8353 did not expressly repeal Article 336 of the RPC, as amended.
Section 4 of R.A. No. 8353 only states that Article 336 of the RPC,
as amended, and all laws, rules and regulations inconsistent with
or contrary to the provisions thereof are deemed amended,
modified or repealed, accordingly. There is nothing inconsistent
between the provisions of Article 336 of the RPC, as amended,
and R.A. No. 8353, except in sexual assault as a form of rape. To
recall, R.A. No. 8353 only modified Article 336 of the RPC, as
follows: (1) by carrying over to acts of lasciviousness the
additional circumstances applicable to rape, viz.: threat and
fraudulent machinations or grave abuse of authority; (2) by
retaining the circumstance that the offended party is under 12
years old, and including dementia as another one, in order for acts
of lasciviousness to be considered as statutory, wherein evidence
of force or intimidation is immaterial because the offended party
who is under 12 years old or demented, is presumed incapable of
giving rational consent; and (3) by removing from the scope of acts
of lasciviousness and placing under the crime of rape by sexual
assault the specific lewd act of inserting the offender’s penis into
another person’s mouth or anal orifice, or any instrument or
object into the genital or anal orifice of another person. Hence,
Article 336 of the RPC, as amended, is still a good law despite the
enactment of R.A. No. 8353 for there is no irreconcilable
inconsistency between their provisions. When the lascivious act is
not covered by R.A. No. 8353,

 
 
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then Article 336 of the RPC is applicable, except when the

lascivious conduct is covered by R.A. No. 7610.
Criminal Law; Child Abuse; The Supreme Court (SC) had
been consistent in its rulings in Larin, Olivarez, and Garingarao,
Quimvel and Caoili, all of which uphold the intent of Republic Act
(RA) No. 7610 to provide special protection of children and
stronger deterrence against child abuse.—Despite the enactment
of R.A. No. 8353 more than 20 years ago in 1997, We had been
consistent in our rulings in Larin, Olivarez, and Garingarao,
Quimvel and Caoili, all of which uphold the intent of R.A. No.
7610 to provide special protection of children and stronger
deterrence against child abuse. Judicial stability compels to stand
by, but not to abandon, our sound rulings: [1] that Section 5(b),
Article III of R.A. No. 7610 penalizes not only child prostitution,
the essence of which is profit, but also other forms of sexual abuse
wherein a child engages in sexual intercourse or lascivious
conduct through coercion or influence; and [2] that it is
inconsequential that the sexual abuse occurred only once. Our
rulings also find textual anchor on Section 5, Article III of R.A.
No. 7610, which explicitly states that a child is deemed “exploited
in prostitution or subjected to other sexual abuse,” when the child
indulges in sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct for money,
profit or any other consideration, or under the coercion or
influence of any adult, syndicate or group, as well as on Section
3(b), Article I thereof, which clearly provides that the term “child
abuse” refers to the maltreatment, whether habitual or not, of the
child which includes sexual abuse.

 
PERLAS-BERNABE, J., Separate Opinion:

Criminal Law; Child Abuse; Exploited in Prostitution or

Subjected to Other Sexual Abuse; View that Section 5(b), Article
III of Republic Act (RA) No. 7610 only applies in instances where
the child victim is “exploited in prostitution or subject to other
sexual abuse.”—With all due respect, I disagree that RA 7610
would be generally applicable to all cases of sexual abuse
involving minors, except those who are under twelve (12) years of
age. After much reflection, I instead concur with the views
originally advanced by Senior Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio
(Justice Carpio) and Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin S.
Caguioa (Justice Caguioa) that Section 5(b), Article III of RA 7610
only applies in instances where the child vic-

 
 
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tim is “exploited in prostitution or subject to other sexual

abuse.” To my mind, this limited view, as opposed to the
ponencia’s expansive view, is not only supported by several
textual indicators both in the law and the deliberations, it also
squares with practical logic and reason.
Same; Same; View that when it comes to a prosecution under
Section 5(b), Article III of Republic Act (RA) No. 7610, consent at
the time the sexual act is consummated is, unlike in the Revised
Penal Code (RPC), not anymore a defense.—RA 7610 was enacted
to, practically speaking, protect those who, like the child victim in
Ritter, “willingly engaged” in sexual acts, not out of a desire to
satisfy their own sexual gratification, but because of their
vulnerable predisposition as exploited children. This
vulnerable predisposition is embodied in the concept of EPSOSA,
which, as opposed to the RPC, effectively dispenses with the need
to prove the lack of consent at the time the act of sexual abuse is
committed. Accordingly, when it comes to a prosecution under
Section 5(b), Article III of RA 7610, consent at the time the sexual
act is consummated is, unlike in the RPC, not anymore a defense.
It is in this light that RA 7610 fills in the gaps of the RPC. With
these in mind, it is thus my view that RA 7610, specifically with
its introduction of the EPSOSA element, is a lucid recognition by
Congress that a child need not be forced, intimidated or, in any
manner prevailed upon, at the time of the act’s commission to be
considered sexually abused or exploited; rather, it is enough that
the child is put under a vulnerable predisposition that leads him
or her to “consent” to the sexual deed. This niche situation,
whether based on monetary (“exploited in prostitution”) or
nonmonetary (“or subject to other sexual abuse”) considerations,
is what Section 5(b), Article III of RA 7610 uniquely punishes.
And in so doing, RA 7610 expands the range of existing child
protection laws and effectively complements (and not redundantly
supplants) the RPC.
Same; Same; View that Section 5, Article III of Republic Act
(RA) No. 7610 must be treated as a separate and distinct statutory
complement which works side-by-side with the Revised Penal Code
(RPC); it should not, as the ponencia assumes, be deemed as a
fully comprehensive statute which substantively subsumes and
even supplants the sexual abuse scenarios already covered by the
RPC.—A general view on the application of RA 7610 would also
lead to an

 
 
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People vs. Tulagan

unnerving incongruence between the law’s policy objective

and certain penalties imposed thereunder. For instance, if we
were to subscribe to the ponencia’s theory that RA 7610 would
generally apply to all sexual abuse cases involving minors twelve
(12) years of age and above, then why would RA 7610 — which
was supposedly intended to provide stronger deterrence and
special protection against child abuse — provide for a lower
penalty for child abuse committed through sexual intercourse than
that provided under the then existing RPC framework? For
context, under Article 335 of the RPC prior to its amendment by
RA 8353 (or the Anti-Rape Law of 1997), the crime of rape
committed against a minor, who is not under twelve (12) years of
age and not falling under the enumerated qualifying
circumstances, is punished with the penalty of reclusion perpetua
to death. On the other hand, under Section 5(b), Article III of RA
7610, the crime of sexual abuse committed through sexual
intercourse (or lascivious conduct) against a child EPSOSA is
punished with the penalty of reclusion temporal in its medium
period to reclusion perpetua. Clearly, it would not make sense for
Congress to pass a supposedly stronger law against child abuse if
the same carries a lower penalty for the same act of rape already
punished under the old RPC’s provision. This incongruence is only
made possible if one considers Section 5(b), Article III of RA 7610
to have overlapped with an act already punished under the
existing penal code. Verily, this could not have been the intent of
our lawmakers. On the other hand, respecting the
complementarity between RA 7610 and RPC would cogently
subserve the policy objective to provide stronger deterrence and
special protection against child abuse. As Justice Caguioa
astutely remarked, “[RA] 7610 and the RPC x  x  x have different
spheres of application; they exist to complement each other such
that there would be no gaps in our criminal laws.” Thus, given
that the application of RA 7610 is independent — and in fact,
mutually exclusive from the RPC’s rape and acts of
lasciviousness provisions, the penchant of the ponencia to
determine which law would apply based on which law provides
the higher penalty therefor becomes unneccessary. Simply put, if
(a) RA 7610 applies in a scenario where the accused sexually
abuses a child who “consents” to the deed but is nonetheless
EPSOSA, and (b) this case is treated separately and differently
from the RPC scenario wherein the child does not consent to the
sexual act because he is forced, intimidated, or otherwise
prevailed upon by the accused, then there would be no
quandary in choosing which law to apply based on which

 
 
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 provides the higher penalty therefor. Neither would
there be any need for corrective legislation as the ponencia
suggests if only RA 7610’s provisions are interpreted correctly.
Again, as originally and meticulously designed by Congress, the
laws on sexual abuse of minors have their own distinct spheres of
application: apply RA 7610 in scenario (a); apply the RPC in
scenario (b). In understanding the intent of Congress to fill in the
gaps in the law, it is my position that Section 5, Article III of RA
7610 must be treated as a separate and distinct statutory
complement which works side-by-side with the RPC; it should not,
as the ponencia assumes, be deemed as a fully comprehensive
statute which substantively subsumes and even supplants the
sexual abuse scenarios already covered by the RPC. If it were so,
then RA 7610 should not have been crafted as a special penal law
but as amendatory statute of the existing penal code.
Same; Same; View that the proviso under Section 5(b), Article
III of Republic Act (RA) No. 7610 — which provides that “when the
[victim] is under twelve (12) years of age, the perpetrators shall be
prosecuted under x  x  x the Revised Penal Code, for rape or
lascivious conduct, as the case may be” — is a textual indicator
that RA No. 7610 has a specific application only to children who
are predisposed to “consent” to a sexual act because they are
“exploited in prostitution or subject to other sexual abuse.”—The
proviso under Section 5(b), Article III of RA 7610 — which
provides that “when the [victim] is under twelve (12) years of age,
the perpetrators shall be prosecuted under x  x  x the Revised
Penal Code, for rape or lascivious conduct, as the case may be” —
is a textual indicator that RA 7610 has a specific application only
to children who are predisposed to “consent” to a sexual act
because they are “exploited in prostitution or subject to other
sexual abuse.” For reference, Section 5(b), Article III of RA 7610
reads in full: Section 5. Child Prostitution and Other Sexual
Abuse.—x  x  x x  x  x  x (b) Those who commit the act of sexual
intercourse or lascivious conduct with a child exploited in
prostitution or subject to other sexual abuse; Provided, That when
the victims is under twelve (12) years of age, the perpetrators
shall be prosecuted under Article 335, paragraph 3, for rape
and Article 336 of Act No. 3815, as amended, the Revised Penal
Code for rape or lascivious conduct, as the case may be: Provided,
That the penalty for lascivious conduct when the victim is under
twelve (12) years of age shall be reclusion temporal in its medium
period; x  x  x x  x  x  x x  x  x While the phrase “shall be prosecuted
under” has not been discussed in existing

 
 
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case law, it is my view that the same is a clear instruction by

the lawmakers to defer any application of Section 5(b), Article III
of RA 7610, irrespective of the presence of EPSOSA, when the
victim is under twelve (12). As a consequence, when an accused is
prosecuted under the provisions of the RPC, only the elements of
the crimes defined thereunder must be alleged and proved.
Necessarily too, unless further qualified, as in the second proviso,
i.e., Provided, That the penalty for lascivious conduct when the
victim is under twelve (12) years of age shall be reclusion temporal
in its medium period, the penalties provided under the RPC would
apply.
Same; Acts of Lasciviousness; View that the concept of consent
is altogether immaterial when a child is below twelve (12) years of
age because the latter is conclusively presumed to be incapable of
giving consent.—In this relation, it may thus be ruminated: why
did RA 7610 defer application to the RPC, when the victim is
under twelve (12) years of age? After much thought, it is my
opinion that this self-evident deference to the RPC hints on the
meaning of EPSOSA and consequentially, Section 5(b), Article III
of RA 7610’s niche application. As discussed, EPSOSA is a
circumstantial predisposition which effectively taints the child’s
consent. As a “consent-tainting” element which is integral and
unique to RA 7610, the proviso “shall be prosecuted under [the
RPC]” recognizes that one cannot prosecute a sex offender under
RA 7610 when a child is under twelve (12) years of age. This is
because the concept of consent is altogether immaterial
when a child is below twelve (12) years of age because the
latter is conclusively presumed to be incapable of giving
consent. In other words, since the question of consent will never
be at issue when the victim is under twelve (12) years of age, then
the application of Section 5(b), Article III of RA 7610 becomes
technically impossible. The foregoing analysis, to my mind,
reinforces the point that RA 7610 was meant to apply only to
cases where the consent of the child (insofar as his
predisposition to consent [which should be contradistinguished
from consent at the time of the act’s consummation which falls
under the RPC]) is at question. To this end, if RA 7610 was
intended to apply to “all forms of sexual abuse” under a general
reading of the law, then why does RA 7610 need to defer to the
RPC provisions on statutory rape or lascivious conduct? If RA
7610 overlapped with and equally covered the acts punished under
the RPC, then why the need of inserting a qualifying proviso when
the child victim is under twelve (12) years of

 
 
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age? Surely, if the intendment of RA 7610 was to

generally apply to all forms of sexual abuse, then it could
have very well applied to cases wherein the child is under
twelve (12) years of age. The explicit qualification contained in
the first proviso of Section 5(b), Article III of RA 7610 apparently
negates the ponencia’s theory of general applicability.
Same; Child Abuse; View that the general rule is that “[t]hose
who commit the act of sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct
with a child exploited in prostitution or subject to other sexual
abuse” should be punished under Section 5(b) of Republic Act (RA)
No. 7610 because this is the unique situation sought to be covered
by the special law.—The fact that Section 5(b), Article III of RA
7610 mentions the RPC does not automatically mean that it was
meant to cover the acts already punished in the RPC. To properly
interpret its sense, the context in which the RPC is mentioned
must be taken into consideration; after all, words do not simply
appear on the face of a statute without purposive and rational
intention. Here, the RPC is mentioned in a proviso. Jurisprudence
dictates that “[t]he office of a proviso is to limit the application of
the law. It is contrary to the nature of a proviso to enlarge the
operation of the law.” Simply stated, a proviso, by nature, is
meant to either be a qualifier or an exception. As aforediscussed,
it is my view that EPSOSA is a special element meant to address
a situation not contemplated under the RPC. The general rule is
that “[t]hose who commit the act of sexual intercourse of
lascivious conduct with a child exploited in prostitution or subject
to other sexual abuse” should be punished under Section 5(b) of
RA 7610 because this is the unique situation sought to be covered
by the special law. However, if a child is below 12 the law
conclusively presumes the lack of consent — may it be consent at
the time the crime is consummated or consent as a predisposition
to give in into a sexual act. Since consent is lacking in a case
where the child is 12 years old, EPSOSA which is intrinsically a
“consent-element” virtually vanishes from the equation.
Therefore, since there would never be a case of EPSOSA when the
child is less than 12, the proviso — being an exceptive clause
which limits the application of the law, i.e., Section 5(b), Article
III of RA 7610 — actually directs that the prosecution of accused
should fall under the RPC where EPSOSA is not material. In this
regard, the proviso serves as a statutory recognition of Section
5(b), Article III of RA 7610’s own limitations, hence, the need to
defer prosecution under the elements
  
 
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of the RPC. To my mind, this interpretation, which only

becomes possible under the proposed limited view of Section 5(b),
Article III of RA 7610, squares with the nature of a proviso.
Statutory Construction; View that it is a cardinal rule in
statutory construction that when the law is clear and free from any
doubt or ambiguity, there is no room for construction or
interpretation.—As plainly worded, the law punishes those who
commit the act of sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct with a
child “exploited in prostitution or subject to other sexual abuse.”
The word “subject” is a clear qualification of the term “child,”
which means it is descriptive of the same. Hence, if Congress
intended to equate the term “subject to other sexual abuse” with
the act of sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct itself, then it
could have easily phrased the provision as: “those who commit the
act of sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct with children.”
However, it is fairly evident that with the coining of the new
phrase “a child exploited in prostitution or subject to other sexual
abuse,” Congress intended to establish a special classification of
children, i.e., those EPSOSA, which is further suggested by the
term “deemed.” It is a cardinal rule in statutory construction that
when the law is clear and free from any doubt or ambiguity, there
is no room for construction or interpretation. There is only room
for application. As the statute is clear, plain, and free from
ambiguity, it must be given its literal meaning and applied
without attempted interpretation.
Criminal Law; Child Abuse; View that Republic Act (RA) No.
8353’s lesser penalty of prisión correctional imposed in general
cases of Sexual Assault cannot prevail over Section 5(b), Article III
of RA No. 7610’s penalty of reclusion temporal in its medium
period in cases where the lascivious conduct, irrespective of kind,
is committed against a child victim under twelve (12).—In cases of
Sexual Assault or Acts of Lasciviousness, it is my position that
the second proviso in Section 5(b), Article III of RA 7610, which
provides that “the penalty for lascivious conduct when the victim is
under twelve (12) years of age shall be reclusion temporal in its
medium period”: first, amended the prescribed penalty of prisión
correccional under Article 336 of the RPC on Acts of
Lasciviousness; and second, ought to prevail over the prescribed
penalty of prisión mayor under Article 266-A, par. 2, in relation to
Article 266-B, of the RPC, as amended by RA 8353, albeit the
latter law is the more recent statutory enactment. The reasons on
this

 
 
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second point are: (1) pursuant to its IRR, the concept of

lascivious conduct under Section 5, Article III of RA 7610 was
already broad enough to cover the specific acts prescribed under
Article 266-A, par. 2 of RA 8353 and, hence, already subsumes the
concept of Sexual Assault; (2) RA 8353 introduced the concept of
“sexual assault” essentially to punish graver forms of acts of
lasciviousness which were not accounted for in the RPC (not in
RA 7610); and (3) at any rate, the penalty imposed for Sexual
Assault under RA 8353 does not take into account the fact that
the act is committed against a child victim under twelve (12)
years of age. Accordingly, based on these substantive
considerations (and not solely on penalty gravity), RA 8353’s
lesser penalty of prisión correctional imposed in general cases of
Sexual Assault cannot prevail over Section 5(b), Article III of RA
7610’s penalty of reclusion temporal in its medium period in cases
where the lascivious conduct, irrespective of kind, is committed
against a child victim under 12.
Same; Same; View that Republic Act (RA) No. 8353 cannot
now overlap with the RA No. 7610 since the latter contains a
peculiar element which is unique to it; hence, applying the
principle of lex specialis derogant generali, Section 5(b), Article III
of RA No. 7610 ought to prevail when the Exploited in Prostitution
or Subjected to Other Sexual Abuse (EPSOSA) element is alleged
and proven in a particular case.—I am well-aware of the ruling in
People v. Ejercito, 869 SCRA 353 (2018), (Ejercito) wherein the
former Second Division of this Court had ruled that RA 8353
(amending the RPC) should now be uniformly applied in cases
involving sexual intercourse committed against minors, and not
Section 5(b), Article III of RA 7610. To recount, the conclusion was
largely based on the following premise: [T]he x  x  x provisions of
RA 8353 already accounted for the circumstance of minority
under certain peculiar instances. The consequence therefore
is a clear overlap with minority as an element of the crime
of sexual intercourse against a minor under Section 5(b) of
RA 7610. However, as it was earlier intimated, RA 8353 is not
only the more recent statutory enactment but more importantly,
the more comprehensive law on rape; therefore, the Court herein
clarifies that in cases where a minor is raped through sexual
intercourse, the provisions of RA 8353 amending the RPC ought
to prevail over Section 5(b) of RA 7610 although the latter also
penalizes the act of sexual intercourse against a minor. x  x  x
However, it must now be clarified that the above stated overlap

 
 
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on the concept of minority in the Ejercito case is an

observation only made possible when applying the then-prevailing
Quimvel ruling. Again, Quimvel did not recognize that EPSOSA is
a special and unique element that is peculiar to RA 7610.
However, as herein discussed, RA 7610 actually introduced the
EPSOSA element which was not contemplated under the RPC, as
amended by RA 8353. This means that RA 8353 cannot now
overlap with the RA 7610 since the latter contains a peculiar
element which is unique to it; hence, applying the principle of lex
specialis derogant generali, Section 5(b), Article III of RA 7610
ought to prevail when the EPSOSA element is alleged and proven
in a particular case.

 
LEONEN, J., Separate Concurring Opinion:

Criminal Law; Rape by Sexual Assault; View that the

insertion of a finger into a minor’s vagina deserves a higher
penalty than prisión mayor under Article 266-A, paragraph 2
(sexual assault) in relation to Article 266-B of the Revised Penal
Code (RPC).—I agree with the majority that the insertion of a
finger into a minor’s vagina deserves a higher penalty than
prisión mayor under Article 266-A, paragraph 2 (sexual assault)
in relation to Article 266-B of the Revised Penal Code. Republic
Act No. 7610 was enacted not only to protect children from
prostitution, but also to protect them from any sexual abuse due
to the coercion or influence of any adult.
Same; Rape by Carnal Knowledge; View that the
nonconsensual insertion of a finger in another’s genitals is rape by
carnal knowledge under Article 266-A, paragraph 1 of the Revised
Penal Code (RPC). The finger, when used in a sexual act, is not an
instrument or an object. It is as much a part of the human body as
a penis.—The nonconsensual insertion of a finger in another’s
genitals is rape by carnal knowledge under Article 266-A,
paragraph 1 of the Revised Penal Code. The finger, when used in
a sexual act, is not an instrument or an object. It is as much a
part of the human body as a penis. When consensual, it can be
used to give sexual pleasure. When forced, it can be used to defile
another’s body. Equating the finger to a separate instrument or
object misunderstands the gravity of the offense. Likewise, I
reiterate my view in Quimvel v. People, 823 SCRA 192 (2017), on
the doubtful effectivity of Article 336 of the Revised Penal Code.
Article 336 has already been rendered ineffec-

 
 
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tive with the passage of Republic Act No. 8353, or the Anti-
Rape Law of 1997.
Same; Child Abuse; View that under the law, the State must
“provide special protection to children from all forms of abuse,
neglect, cruelty exploitation and discrimination.”—Children
subjected to prostitution are those “who for money, profit, or any
other consideration. . . indulge in sexual intercourse or lascivious
conduct[.]” Children subjected to other sexual abuse are those who
“due to the coercion or influence of any adult, syndicate or group,
indulge in sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct[.]” Under the
law, the State must “provide special protection to children from
all forms of abuse, neglect, cruelty exploitation and
discrimination.” Children do not willingly indulge in sexual
intercourse or lascivious conduct with an adult. There is always
an element of intimidation or coercion involved. Thus, the crime is
not merely punishable under the Revised Penal Code, but also
under Republic Act No. 7610.
Same; Age of Sexual Consent; View that the age of sexual
consent in the Philippines is twelve (12) years old.—Girls may
believe themselves to have consented to sexual intercourse if they
thought themselves powerless to refuse. Marital rape is difficult
to prosecute if the woman believes that it is her “wifely duty” to
always give in to the husband’s sexual demands. The age of
sexual consent in the Philippines is 12 years old. According to
United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, this is
“one [1] of the lowest globally and the lowest in the Asia-Pacific
region.” The average age of consent is 16 years old. The age of
majority, however, is 18 years old. Minors, or those below 18, have
no capacity to enter into any contracts or marriage. Yet, strictly
reading the provisions of the Revised Penal Code, any minor
above 12 years old may validly consent to sexual intercourse and
lascivious conduct with an adult. This may have found support in
science. According to neurologists, the prefontal cortex and the
parietal cortex develop at puberty or around 12 years old. At this
age, children may already be cognitively aware of the concept of
consent. Among the policies espoused by Republic Act No. 7610,
however, is that the “best interests of children shall be the
paramount consideration in all actions concerning them[.]” This
means that despite victims reaching the age where they could
have reasonable discernment, courts still need to determine how
consent to sexual conduct was obtained.

 
 
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Same; Exploited in Prostitution or Subjected to Other Sexual

Abuse; View that Article III, Section 5(b) generally applies to those
who engage in sexual intercourse or are subjected to other sexual
abuse.—Article III, Section 5(b) generally applies to those who
engage in sexual intercourse or are subjected to other sexual
abuse. However, reference must be made to the law’s chapeau:
SECTION 5. Child Prostitution and Other Sexual Abuse.—
Children, whether male or female, who for money, profit, or any
other consideration or due to the coercion or influence of any adult,
syndicate or group, indulge in sexual intercourse or lascivious
conduct, are deemed to be children exploited in prostitution and
other sexual abuse. The law itself requires that children in
EPSOSA must have either consented due to money, profit, or
other consideration, or must have consented due to the “coercion
or influence of any adult[.]” The difference in age, by itself, is
indicative of coercion and intimidation. In People v. Errojo, 229
SCRA 49 (1994): At a tender age of fourteen, innocent of the ways
of the world, complainant is no match to the accused-appellant, a
forty-one-year-old married individual who sexually assaulted her.
The sheer force and strength of the accused-appellant would have
easily overcome any resistance that complainant could have put
up. What more if the assault was committed with a deadly knife,
the sight of which would have necessarily evoked fear in
complainant. Thus, it is understandable if she easily succumbed
to the sexual intrusion.
Same; View that Republic Act (RA) No. 8353 has rendered
ineffective the provision on acts of lasciviousness in the Revised
Penal Code (RPC).—Republic Act No. 8353 has rendered
ineffective the provision on acts of lasciviousness in the Revised
Penal Code. Article 336 defines acts of lasciviousness as:
ARTICLE 336. Acts of lasciviousness.—Any person who shall
commit any act of lasciviousness upon other persons of either sex,
under any of the circumstances mentioned in the preceding article,
shall be punished by prisión correccional. x  x  x Under this
provision, a lascivious act is punishable if it is committed under
the circumstances mentioned in Article 335 of the Revised Penal
Code.
Same; Repeal of Laws; View that Article 335 has already been
repealed by Republic Act (RA) No. 8353.—Article 335, however,
has already been repealed by Republic Act No. 8353. The
provisions on rape were transferred from Title Eleven to Title
Eight of the Revised

 
 
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Penal Code, reflecting its reconceptualization from being a

crime against chastity to being a crime against persons. In effect,
acts of lasciviousness cease to be a crime under Article 336 of the
Revised Penal Code. This provision is rendered incomplete and
ineffective since its elements can no longer be completed. The acts
constituting it no longer exist in the Revised Penal Code. In any
case, the ineffectivity of Article 336 does not preclude acts of
lasciviousness from being punishable under different laws such as
Republic Act No. 7610 or Republic Act No. 9262. These laws,
likewise, carry more severe penalties than Article 336, providing
better protection for victims of lascivious acts not constituting
rape.
Same; Rape; View that a woman who was raped through
insertion of a finger does not suffer less than a woman who was
raped by penile penetration.—A woman who was raped through
insertion of a finger does not suffer less than a woman who was
raped by penile penetration. One (1) crime is not less heinous
than the other. In People v. Quintos, 740 SCRA 179 (2014): The
classifications of rape in Article 266-A of the Revised Penal Code
are relevant only insofar as these define the manners of
commission of rape. However, it does not mean that one manner
is less heinous or wrong than the other. Whether rape is
committed by nonconsensual carnal knowledge of a woman or by
insertion of the penis into the mouth of another person, the
damage to the victim’s dignity is incalculable.  .  .  . [O]ne
experience of sexual abuse should not be trivialized just because it
was committed in a relatively unusual manner. “The prime
purpose of [a] criminal action is to punish the offender in order to
deter him and others from committing the same or similar
offense, to isolate him from society, reform and rehabilitate him
or, in general, to maintain social order.” Crimes are punished as
retribution so that society would understand that the act
punished was wrong. Imposing different penalties for different
manners of committing rape creates a message that one
experience of rape is relatively trivial or less serious than
another. It attaches different levels of wrongfulness to equally
degrading acts. Rape, in whatever manner, is a desecration of a
person’s will and body. In terms of penalties, treating one manner
of committing rape as greater or less in heinousness than another
may be of doubtful constitutionality.
Same; Same; View that providing a lesser punishment for the
forceful insertion of a finger into the vagina, solely because it will
not

 
 
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result in an unwanted pregnancy, is a step backwards.—

Providing a lesser punishment for the forceful insertion of a finger
into the vagina, solely because it will not result in an unwanted
pregnancy, is a step backwards. Sexual intercourse is more than a
means of procreation. It is a powerful expression of intimacy
between human beings. It “requires the shedding of all inhibitions
and defenses to allow humans to explore each other in their most
basic nakedness.” Sexual intercourse may involve penile
penetration, or a whole other spectrum of sexual acts that do not
require penetration at all. Ultimately, it is the human being’s
choice whom to be intimate with and what that intimacy may
involve. Rape is the violation of this choice. It is not punished
simply because a penis forcefully penetrated a vagina. The crime
is vile and heinous because it takes away a victim’s fundamental
autonomy to choose with whom she would share intimacy. It
violates a victim’s autonomy over her own body.
Same; Same; View that the finger is as much a weapon of
forced sexual penetration as the penis. All victims of forced sexual
acts suffer the same indignity. Thus, the offender must be charged
with the same crime.—This Court’s continued refusal to recognize
the forceful insertion of a finger into a woman’s vagina as rape by
sexual intercourse only shows that rape, at least in the eyes of
this Court, has remained a crime against chastity. Severe
punishment is still reserved only for acts that could potentially
embarrass the husband by introducing “an outsider” to his wife’s
womb. Lesser punishment is meted to acts that do not involve
male ejaculation, but nonetheless defile the woman and damage
her dignity. Laws punishing rape should be read from the point of
view of the victim. The finger is as much a weapon of forced
sexual penetration as the penis. All victims of forced sexual acts
suffer the same indignity. Thus, the offender must be charged
with the same crime.

 
CAGUIOA, J., Concurring and Dissenting Opinion:

Criminal Law; Child Abuse; Exploited in Prostitution or

Subjected to Other Sexual Abuse; View that the provisions of
 Republic Act (RA) No. 7610 should be understood in their proper
context, i.e., that they apply only to the specific and limited
instances where the victim is a child “exploited in prostitution or
subjected to other sexual abuse.”—Focusing first on R.A. 7610, I
ask the Court to consider anew the viewpoint I first put forth in
my Separate Dissenting Opin-

 
 
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 People vs. Tulagan

ion in Quimvel, that the provisions of R.A. 7610 should be

understood in their proper context, i.e., that they apply only to
the specific and limited instances where the victim is a
child “exploited in prostitution or subjected to other
sexual abuse.”
Statutory Construction; View that there is no room for
statutory construction when the letter of the law is clear.—As I
stated in my dissent in Quimvel, if the intention of R.A. 7610 is to
penalize all sexual abuses against children under its provisions to
the exclusion of the RPC, it would have expressly stated so and
would have done away with the qualification that the child be
“exploited in prostitution or subjected to other sexual abuse.”
Indeed, it bears to stress that when the statute speaks
unequivocally, there is nothing for the courts to do but to apply it:
meaning, Section 5(b), R.A. 7610 is a provision of specific and
limited application, and must be applied as worded — a separate
and distinct offense from the “common” or “ordinary” acts of
lasciviousness under Article 336 of the RPC. The ponencia
reasons that “when there is an absurdity in the interpretation of
the provisions of the law, the proper recourse is to refer to the
objectives or the declaration of state policy and principles” under
the law in question. While I agree that the overall objectives of
the law or its declaration of state policies may be consulted in
ascertaining the meaning and applicability of its provisions, it
must be emphasized that there is no room for statutory
construction when the letter of the law is clear. Otherwise stated,
a condition sine qua non before the court may construe or
interpret a statute is that there be doubt or ambiguity in its
language.
Criminal Law; Child Abuse; Exploited in Prostitution or
Subjected to Other Sexual Abuse; View that the letter of Section
5(b), Republic Act (RA) No. 7610 is clear: it only punishes those
who commit the act of sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct
with a child exploited in prostitution or subjected to other sexual
abuse.—The letter of Section 5(b), R.A. 7610 is clear: it only
punishes those who commit the act of sexual intercourse
or lascivious conduct with a child exploited in prostitution
or subjected to other sexual abuse. There is no ambiguity to
speak of that necessitates the Court’s exercise of statutory
construction to ascertain the legislature’s intent in enacting the
law. Verily, the legislative intent is already made manifest in the
letter of the law which, again, states that the person to be
punished by Section 5(b) is the one who com-

 
 
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mitted the act of sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct with

a child exploited in prostitution or subjected to other sexual abuse
(or what Justice Estela M. Perlas-Bernabe calls as EPSOSA, for
brevity).
Same; Same; Same; View that if the legislature intended for
Section 5(b), Republic Act (RA) No. 7610 to cover any and all types
of sexual abuse committed against children, then why would it
bother adding language to the effect that the provision applies to
“children exploited in prostitution or subjected to other sexual
abuse?”—Expressio unius est exclusio alterius. Where a statute, by
its terms, is expressly limited to certain matters, it may not, by
interpretation or construction, be extended to others. The rule
proceeds from the premise that the legislature would not have
made specified enumerations in a statute had the intention been
not to restrict its meaning and to confine its terms to those
expressly mentioned. In the present case, if the legislature
intended for Section 5(b), R.A. 7610 to cover any and all
types of sexual abuse committed against children, then
why would it bother adding language to the effect that the
provision applies to “children exploited in prostitution or
subjected to other sexual abuse?” Relevantly, why would it
also put Section 5 under Article III of the law, which is entitled
“Child Prostitution and Other Sexual Abuse?” A closer scrutiny of
the structure of Section 5 of R.A. 7610 further demonstrates its
intended application: to cover only cases of prostitution, or other
related sexual abuse akin to prostitution but may or may
not be for consideration or profit. In my considered opinion,
the structure of Section 5 follows the more common model or
progression of child prostitution or other forms of sexual
exploitation.
Same; Same; Same; View that in cases where any person,
under the circumstances of Section 5(a), procures, induces, or
threatens a child to engage in any sexual activity with another
person, even without an allegation or showing that the impetus is
money, profit or other consideration, the first sexual affront by the
person to whom the child is offered already triggers Section 5(b)
because the circumstance of the child being offered to another
already qualifies the child as one subjected to other sexual abuse.
—In cases where any person, under the circumstances of Section
5(a), procures, induces, or threatens a child to engage in any
sexual activity with another person, even without an allegation or
showing that the impetus is money, profit or

 
 
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other consideration, the first sexual affront by the person to

whom the child is offered already triggers Section 5(b) because the
circumstance of the child being offered to another already
qualifies the child as one subjected to other sexual abuse. Similar
to these situations, the first sexual affront upon a child shown to
be performing in obscene publications and indecent shows, or
under circumstances falling under Section 6, is already a violation
of Section 5(b) because these circumstances are sufficient to
qualify the child as one subjected to other sexual abuse. This is
also the reason why the definition of “child abuse” adopted by the
ponencia — based on Section 3, R.A. 7610 and Section 2(g) of the
Rules and Regulations on the Reporting and Investigation of Child
Abuse Cases — does not require the element of habituality to
qualify an act as “child abuse” or “sexual abuse.” However, this
absence of habituality as an element of the crime punished by
Section 5(b), R.A. 7610 does not mean that the law would apply in
each and every case of sexual abuse. To the contrary, it only
means that the first act of sexual abuse would be punishable by
Section 5(b), R.A. 7610 if done under the circumstances of being
“exploited in prostitution or subjected to other sexual abuse.” For
example, if the child victim was newly recruited by the
prostitution den, even the first person who would have sexual
intercourse with her under said conditions would be punished
under Section 5(b), R.A. 7610.
Statutory Construction; View that in the interpretation of a
penal statute, the tendency is to give it careful scrutiny, and to
construe it with such strictness as to safeguard the rights of the
defendant.—With utmost respect to the distinguished ponente,
these arguments unduly extend the letter of the Section 5(b) of
R.A. 7610 for the sake of supposedly reaching its objectives. For
sure, these arguments violate the well-established rule that penal
statutes are to be strictly construed against the government and
liberally in favor of the accused. In the interpretation of a
penal statute, the tendency is to give it careful scrutiny, and to
construe it with such strictness as to safeguard the rights of the
defendant. As the Court in People v. Garcia, 85 Phil. 651 (1950),
reminds: x  x  x “Criminal and penal statutes must be strictly
construed, that is, they cannot be enlarged or extended by
intendment, implication, or by any equitable considerations. In
other words, the language cannot be enlarged beyond the
ordinary meaning of its terms in order to carry into effect
the general purpose for which the statute was

 
 
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People vs. Tulagan

enacted. Only those persons, offenses, and penalties,

clearly included, beyond any reasonable doubt, will be
considered within the statute’s operation. They must come
clearly within both the spirit and the letter of the statute, and
where there is any reasonable doubt, it must be resolved in favor
of the person accused of violating the statute; that is, all questions
in doubt will be resolved in favor of those from whom the penalty
is sought.” x  x  x What is more, the aforementioned objective of
R.A. 7610 and the Constitution — that is, to afford special
protection to children from all forms of abuse, neglect, cruelty and
discrimination, and other conditions prejudicial to their
development — is actually achieved, not by the unwarranted
expansion of Section 5(b) in particular, but by the law itself read
as a whole.
Criminal Law; Child Abuse; View that that Republic Act (RA)
No. 7610 was the legislature’s attempt in providing a
comprehensive law to adequately protect children from all forms of
abuse, neglect, cruelty or exploitation, is best expressed in the law’s
Section 10(a) (not Section 5[b]).—To emphasize, R.A. 7610 was
being lauded for being the response to the Constitutional mandate
for the State to provide special protection to children from all
forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty or exploitation because it
provides for protection of children in special areas where
there were gaps in the law prior to its enactment. This is
the reason why, as the ponencia itself recognizes, “the enactment
of R.A. No. 7610 was a response of the legislature to the
observation of the Court [in People v. Ritter] that there was a gap
in the law because of the lack of criminal laws which adequately
protect street children from exploitation of pedophiles.” That R.A.
7610 was the legislature’s attempt in providing a comprehensive
law to adequately protect children from all forms of abuse,
neglect, cruelty or exploitation, is best expressed in the law’s
Section 10(a) (not Section 5[b]).
Same; Same; View that Republic Act (RA) No. 7610 as a whole
tried to cover as many areas where children experience abuse,
neglect, cruelty, or exploitation, and where it fails to explicitly
provide for one, the catch-all provision in Section 10(a) was crafted
to cover it.—To stress, R.A. 7610 as a whole tried to cover as many
areas where children experience abuse, neglect, cruelty, or
exploitation, and where it fails to explicitly provide for one, the
catch-all provision in Section 10(a) was crafted to cover it. Again,
these — the other provi-

 
 
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sions of R.A. 7610, complemented by its catch-all provision in

Section 10(a) — are the reasons why R.A. 7610 was being lauded
for providing protection to children from all forms of abuse,
neglect, cruelty, or exploitation. It is definitely not the
expanded interpretation of Section 5(b) created by
Dimakuta, Quimvel, and Caoili, as reiterated in the
ponencia.
Same; Same; Exploited in Prostitution or Subjected to Other
Sexual Abuse; View that Section 5(b) of Republic Act (RA) No.
7610 is a penal provision which has a special and limited
application that requires the element of being exploited in
prostitution or subjected to other sexual abuse for it to apply.—
Section 5(b) of R.A. 7610 is a penal provision which has a special
and limited application that requires the element of being
EPSOSA for it to apply. Differently stated, it is the element of
being EPSOSA that precisely triggers the application of
Section 5(b) of R.A. 7610. Hence, the provisos — both the
one referring the prosecution of the case back to the RPC,
and the other which increases the penalties for lascivious
conduct — would apply only when the victim is both below
12 years old and EPSOSA. The blanket claim that being
EPSOSA is irrelevant when the victim is below 12 years old leads
to the exact same evils that this opinion is trying to address, i.e.,
the across-the-board application of Section 5(b) of R.A. 7610 in
each and every case of sexual abuse committed against children,
although limited only to the instance that the victim is below 12
years old. This indiscriminate application of the provisos in
Section 5(b) of R.A. 7610 does not seem to matter when the act
committed by the accused constitutes rape by sexual intercourse.
To illustrate, the direct application of the RPC or its application
through the first proviso of Section 5(b) would lead to the exact
same result: a punishment or penalty of reclusion perpetua on the
accused upon conviction.
Same; Same; Same; View that children who are exploited in
prostitution or subjected to other sexual abuse may be considered a
class of their own, whose victimizers deserve a specific
punishment.—The classification between the children considered
as EPSOSA and those who are not is a reasonable one. Children
who are EPSOSA may be considered a class of their own, whose
victimizers deserve a specific punishment. For instance, the
legislature, in enacting R.A. 9262 or the Anti-Violence against
Women and Their Children Act, created a dis-

 
 
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tinction between (1) women who were victimized by persons

with whom they have or had a sexual or dating relationship and
(2) all other women victims of abuse. This distinction is valid, and
no one argues that R.A. 9262 applies or should apply in each and
every case where the victim of abuse is a woman.
Repeal of Laws; View that the position that Section 5(b),
Republic Act (RA) No. 7610 rendered Article 336 of the Revised
Penal Code (RPC) inoperative when the victim is a child, despite
the lack of a manifest intention to the effect as expressed in the
letter of the said provision, is unavailing.—Given the clear import
of the above — that the legislature expressly named the provisions
it sought to amend through R.A. 7610 — the ponencia cannot now
insist on an amendment by implication. The position that
Section 5(b), R.A. 7610 rendered Article 336 of the RPC
inoperative when the victim is a child, despite the lack of a
manifest intention to the effect as expressed in the letter of the
said provision, is unavailing. Differently stated, an implied
partial repeal cannot be insisted upon in the face of the
express letter of the law. I therefore believe that any continued
assertion that Section 5(b) of R.A. 7610 applies to any and all
cases of acts of lasciviousness committed against children,
whether under the context of being EPSOSA or not, is not in
accordance with the law itself.
Criminal Law; Child Abuse; Exploited in Prostitution or
Subjected to Other Sexual Abuse; View that for a person to be
convicted of violating Section 5(b), Republic Act (RA) No. 7610, the
following essential elements need to be proved: (1) the accused
commits the act of sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct; (2) the
said act is performed with a child “exploited in prostitution or
subjected to other sexual abuse”; and (3) the child whether male or
female, is below eighteen (18) years of age.—Both literal and
purposive tests, therefore, show that there is nothing in the
language of the law or in the Senate deliberations that supports
the conclusion that Section 5(b), R.A. 7610 subsumes all instances
of sexual abuse against children. Thus, for a person to be
convicted of violating Section 5(b), R.A. 7610, the following
essential elements need to be proved: (1) the accused commits the
act of sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct; (2) the said act is
performed with a child “exploited in prostitution or subjected to
other sexual abuse”; and (3) the child whether male or female, is
below 18 years of age.

 
 
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Same; Same; Same; View that a person can only be convicted

of violation of Article 336 in relation to Section 5(b), upon
allegation and proof of the unique circumstances of the child —
that he or she is “exploited in prostitution or subject to other sexual
abuse.”—There is no disagreement as to the first and third
elements of Section 5(b). The core of the discussion relates to the
meaning of the second element — that the act of sexual
intercourse or lascivious conduct is performed with a “child
exploited in prostitution or subjected to other sexual abuse.” To
my mind, a person can only be convicted of violation of Article 336
in relation to Section 5(b), upon allegation and proof of the
unique circumstances of the child — that he or she is
“exploited in prostitution or subject to other sexual
abuse.”
Same; View that it is the acts committed by the accused, and
the crime as defined by the legislature — not the concomitant
penalty — which determines the applicable law in a particular set
of facts.—There is no question that, in a desire to bring justice to
child victims of sexual abuse, the Court has, in continually
applying the principles laid down in Dimakuta, Quimvel, and
Caoili, sought the application of a law that imposes a harsher
penalty on its violators. However, as noble as this intent is, it is
fundamentally unsound to let the penalty determine the crime. To
borrow a phrase, this situation is letting the tail wag the dog. To
be sure, it is the acts committed by the accused, and the crime as
defined by the legislature — not the concomitant penalty — which
determines the applicable law in a particular set of facts.
Same; Child Abuse; View that the Supreme Court’s (SC’s)
continuous application of Republic Act (RA) No. 7610 in all cases
of sexual abuse committed against minors is, with due respect, an
exercise of judicial legislation which it simply cannot do.—While I
identify with the Court in its desire to impose a heavier penalty
for sex offenders who victimize children — the said crimes being
undoubtedly detestable — the Court cannot arrogate unto itself a
power it does not have. Again, the Court’s continuous application
of R.A. 7610 in all cases of sexual abuse committed against
minors is, with due respect, an exercise of judicial legislation
which it simply cannot do. At this point, it is important to point
out that, as a result of this recurrent practice of relating the crime
committed to R.A. 7610 in order to increase the penalty, the
accused’s constitutionally pro-

 
 
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tected right to due process of law is being violated. An

essential component of the right to due process in criminal
proceedings is the right of the accused to be sufficiently informed
of the cause of the accusation against him. This is implemented
through Rule 110, Section 9 of the Rules of Court.
 Remedial Law; Criminal Procedure; Information; View that it
is fundamental that every element of which the offense is composed
must be alleged in the Information.—It is fundamental that every
element of which the offense is composed must be alleged in the
Information. No Information for a crime will be sufficient if it does
not accurately and clearly allege the elements of the crime
charged. The law essentially requires this to enable the accused
suitably to prepare his defense, as he is presumed to have no
independent knowledge of the facts that constitute the offense.
From this legal backdrop, it may then be said that convicting an
accused and relating the offenses to R.A. 7610 to increase the
penalty when the Information does not state that the victim
was a child “engaged in prostitution or subjected to sexual
abuse” constitutes a violation of an accused’s right to due
process.
Same; Same; Same; View that the test for sufficiency of an
Information is that it must state the facts constituting the offense
in a manner that would enable a person of common understanding
to know what offense was intended to be charged.—The test for
sufficiency of an Information is that it must state the facts
constituting the offense in a manner that would enable a person
of common understanding to know what offense was intended to
be charged. Hence, the phrase “in relation to Republic Act No.
7610” in criminal Informations, much like in the one filed in this
case, does not cure the defect in the said Informations. Again, it is
my view that criminal Informations, to be considered under the
purview of Section 5(b), R.A. 7610, must state the child victim is
“exploited in prostitution or subjected to other sexual abuse” and
allege the particulars.
Statutes; Implied Repeal of Laws; Repeal of Laws; View that
repeals by implication are not favored. A law will only be declared
impliedly repealed when it is manifest that the legislative
authority so intended, or unless it is convincingly and
unambiguously demonstrated that the subject laws or orders are
clearly repugnant and patently inconsistent that they cannot
coexist.—It is well-settled that

 
 
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repeals by implication are not favored. A law will only be

declared impliedly repealed when it is manifest that the
legislative authority so intended, or unless it is convincingly and
unambiguously demonstrated that the subject laws or orders are
clearly repugnant and patently inconsistent that they cannot
coexist. In the absence of such showing, every effort must be used
to make all acts stand, and the later act will not operate as a
repeal of the earlier one, if by any reasonable construction, they
can be reconciled. As the Court said in Mecano v. COA, 216 SCRA
500 (1992): Repeal by implication proceeds on the premise that
where a statute of later date clearly reveals an intention on the
part of the legislature to abrogate a prior act on the subject, that
intention must be given effect. Hence, before there can be a
repeal, there must be a clear showing on the part of the
lawmaker that the intent in enacting the new law was to
abrogate the old one. The intention to repeal must be clear
and manifest; otherwise, at least, as a general rule, the later act
is to be construed as a continuation of, and not a substitute for,
the first act and will continue so far as the two acts are the same
from the time of the first enactment. x x x In the present case, I
do not discern any clear intent on the part of the legislature to
repeal the crime of acts of lasciviousness in enacting R.A. 8353.
Same; Same; Acts of Lasciviousness; View that the intention to
punish the crime of acts of lasciviousness remains, and a minor
modification in article numbers does not operate to revoke the said
intention.—Justice Leonen’s argument is based on the premise
that Article 335 was “repealed” by R.A. 8353. I submit that the
premise is misplaced because, in fact, the provision penalizing the
act of rape was only renumbered to reflect the paradigm shift
introduced by R.A. 8353 in treating rape as a crime against
persons instead of merely a crime against chastity, and amended
to reflect the policy changes with regard to how it is committed
and the circumstances which may aggravate the same. I find
nothing in R.A. 8353 to reasonably infer that it meant to affect
the crime of acts of lasciviousness apart from the renumbering
of Article 335 to Articles 266-A to 266-D. To me, this is not the
clear and manifest intention to repeal required by jurisprudence;
thus, every effort must be exerted to reconcile the provisions and
make all acts stand. Thus, it is my view that Article 336 is not
rendered incomplete and ineffective since its elements can still be
completed by simply construing the phrase “preceding article” to
mean Article 266-A, since the same act

 
 
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People vs. Tulagan

remains to be punished. To emphasize, the intention to

punish the crime of acts of lasciviousness remains, and a
minor modification in article numbers does not operate to revoke
the said intention.
Criminal Law; Rape; Marital Rape; View that another
important development introduced by Republic Act (RA) No. 8353
is the concept of marital rape, thus highlighting the significant
paradigm shift in our rape laws to give premium to women’s
consent to sexual activities and thereby further upholding the
autonomy of women.—Indeed, the country has gone far in terms of
enacting legislations to provide special protection to women. Due
to the enactment of R.A. 8353, the crime of rape has been
reclassified from a crime against chastity to a crime against
persons, thereby making the said crime a public crime. A new
species of crimes called “rape by sexual assault” was also created
by R.A. 8353 to expressly acknowledge that rape is nevertheless
committed when the sexual acts were done without the victim’s
consent, even when the acts performed do not involve vaginal
penetration by the penis. The acts constituting “rape by sexual
assault” — either by (a) inserting the penis into another person’s
mouth or anal orifice or (b) inserting any instrument or object into
the genital or anal orifice of another person, through force, threat
or intimidation — were previously denominated as mere acts of
lasciviousness and were thus “upgraded” to rape by the enactment
of R.A. 8353. Another important development introduced by R.A.
8353 is the concept of marital rape, thus highlighting the
significant paradigm shift in our rape laws to give premium to
women’s consent to sexual activities and thereby further
upholding the autonomy of women.
Same; Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act;
View that deviating from the traditional definition of violence
which was limited to physical and sexual violence, Republic Act
(RA) No. 9262 expanded the definition to include other forms of
violence, namely psychological and economic abuse.—In
recognition also of the fact that women are, more often than not,
the victims of domestic violence, the legislature enacted R.A. 9262
to provide protection against women and their children from
various forms of abuses committed against them by persons with
whom they have or had a sexual or dating relationship. Deviating
from the traditional definition of violence which was limited to
physical and sexual violence,

 
 
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 R.A. 9262 expanded the definition to include other forms of
violence, namely psychological and economic abuse.
Same; Rape; Rape by Sexual Intercourse; Rape by Sexual
Assault; View that the legislature, in the exercise of its wisdom,
enacted Republic Act (RA) No. 8353 with a distinction between
rape by penile penetration of the vagina as against acts considered
as rape by sexual assault.—Respectfully, it would be inaccurate to
claim that the legal framework on rape and sexual abuse — as
crafted by the legislature and interpreted by the Court — remains
to be based on ancient mindsets and outdated notions. As
illustrated by the foregoing, the different branches of government
have been active, within the respective scopes of power
granted to them by the Constitution, in reversing oppressive
structures that perpetrate and perpetuate violence against
women, particularly in the area of sexual violence. Apropos
thereto, the legislature, in the exercise of its wisdom, enacted R.A.
8353 with a distinction between rape by penile penetration of the
vagina as against acts considered as rape by sexual assault. To
my mind, the distinction created by the legislature should be
upheld in the absence of a clear and unmistakable showing that
it is unconstitutional. It bears to stress that the power to declare
something as a criminal act, and to prescribe the corresponding
penalty therefor, is a power vested solely by the Constitution on
the legislature — not on this Court.
Same; Same; Same; Same; View that the difference in the
penalties imposed was not meant to belittle the suffering of victims
of rape by sexual assault; rather, it is meant to recognize that
victims of rape by penile penetration of the vagina face risks that
none of the other victims are subjected to.—To my mind, the
difference in treatment is not based on an archaic notion about a
woman’s virtue, but has more to do with the possibility that, as a
result of the act, the victim would be forced to introduce another
life in this world — one that the woman victim would have
responsibility over for the rest of her life. To reiterate, it may be
true that all types of sexual abuse inflict the same amount of
suffering or trauma, but only rape by penile penetration of the
vagina could possibly impregnate the victim. This possibility is, to
my mind, at the heart of the difference in terms of penalties to be
imposed, not the perceived intensity of suffering caused on the
victim. Stated differently, the difference in the penalties imposed
was not meant to belittle the suffering of victims

 
 
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of rape by sexual assault; rather, it is meant to recognize that

victims of rape by penile penetration of the vagina face risks that
none of the other victims are subjected to. Therefore, I disagree
with the assertion that “[t]his Court’s continued refusal to
recognize the forceful insertion of a finger into a woman’s vagina
as rape by sexual intercourse only shows that rape, at least in the
eyes of this Court, has remained a crime against chastity,” as not
only suffering from a lack of factual basis, but also failing to
recognize that this policy decision to treat the two crimes
differently is within the province of the legislature to
decide.
Judicial Power; View that the power granted to the Supreme
Court (SC) by the Constitution is judicial power or the power to
interpret what the law means in a specific set of facts — it is not
the power to determine what the law should be.—It bears to stress
that the power granted to the Court by the Constitution is
judicial power or the power to interpret what the law means in
a specific set of facts — it is not the power to determine what the
law should be. It is immaterial whether we, as individual justices,
agree with the wisdom of the law, for our solemn power and duty
to apply the same remains so long as the said law is
constitutional.
APPEAL from a decision of the Court of Appeals.
The facts are stated in the opinion of the Court.
   Office of the Solicitor General for plaintiff-appellee.
    Public Attorney’s Office for accused-appellant.

 
PERALTA, J.:
 
This is an appeal from the Decision1 of the Court of
Appeals (CA) dated August 17, 2015 in C.A.-G.R. CR-H.C.
No. 06679, which affirmed the Joint Decision2 dated
February 10, 2014 of

_______________

1 Penned by Associate Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier (now a member of

this Court), with Associate Justices Celia C. Librea-Leagogo and Melchor
Q.C. Sadang, concurring; Rollo, pp. 2-38.
2 CA Rollo, pp. 38-50.

 
 
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the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of San Carlos City in

Criminal Case Nos. SCC-6210 and SCC-6211, finding
accused-appellant Salvador Tulagan (Tulagan) guilty
beyond reasonable doubt of the crimes of sexual assault
and statutory rape as defined and penalized under Article
266-A, paragraphs 2 and 1(d) of the Revised Penal Code
(RPC), respectively, in relation to Article 266-B.
In Criminal Case No. SCC-6210, Tulagan was charged
as follows:

That sometime in the month of September 2011, at x x x,

and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the
above named accused, by means of force, intimidation and
with abuse of superior strength forcibly laid complainant
AAA,3 a 9-year-old minor in a cemented pavement, and did
then and there, willfully, unlawfully and feloniously
inserted his finger into the vagina of the said AAA, against
her will and consent.
Contrary to Article 266-A, par. 2 of the Revised Penal
Code in relation to R.A. 7610.

_______________

3  The identity of the victim or any information to establish or

compromise her identity, as well as those of her immediate family or
household members, shall be withheld pursuant to Republic Act No. 7610,
“AN ACT PROVIDING FOR STRONGER DETERRENCE AND SPECIAL PROTECTION
AGAINST CHILD ABUSE, EXPLOITATION AND DISCRIMINATION, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES”; Republic Act No. 9262, “AN ACT DEFINING VIOLENCE AGAINST
WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN, PROVIDING FOR PROTECTIVE MEASURES FOR

VICTIMS, PRESCRIBING PENALTIES THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”; Section

40 of A.M. No. 04-10-11-SC, known as the “RULE ON VIOLENCE AGAINST
WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN,” effective November 15, 2004; People v.
Cabalquinto, 533 Phil. 703; 502 SCRA 419 (2006); and Amended
Administrative Circular No. 83-2015 dated September 5, 2017, Subject:
Protocols and Procedures in the Promulgation, Publication, and Posting on
the Websites of Decisions, Final Resolutions, and Final Orders Using
Fictitious Names/Personal Circumstances.

 
 
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350 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

People vs. Tulagan
 In Criminal Case No. SCC-6211, Tulagan was charged
as follows:

That on or about October 8, 2011 at x x x, and within the

jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the above named
accused, by means of force, intimidation and with abuse of
superior strength, did then and there, willfully, unlawfully
and feloniously have sexual intercourse with complainant
AAA, a 9-year-old minor against her will and consent to the
damage and prejudice of said AAA, against her will and
consent.
Contrary to Article 266-A, par. 1(d) of the Revised Penal
Code in relation to R.A. 7610.

 
Upon arraignment, Tulagan pleaded not guilty to the
crimes charged.
During the trial, BBB, aunt of the victim AAA, testified
that around 10:30 a.m. of October 17, 2011, she noticed a
man looking at AAA outside their house. When AAA asked
her permission to go to the bathroom located outside their
house, the man suddenly went near AAA. Out of suspicion,
BBB walked to approach AAA. As BBB came close to AAA,
the man left suddenly. After AAA returned from the
bathroom, BBB asked what the man was doing to her. AAA
did not reply. She then told AAA to get inside the house.
She asked AAA to move her panties down, and examined
her genitalia. She noticed that her genitalia was swollen.
AAA then confessed to her about the wrong done to her by
appellant whom AAA referred to as Badong or Salvador
Tulagan. AAA cried hard and embraced BBB tightly. AAA
asked BBB for her help and even told her that she wanted
Badong to be put in jail.
AAA, nine (9) years old, testified that sometime in
September 2011 while she was peeling corn with her cousin
who lived adjacent to her grandmother’s house, Tulagan
approached her, spread her legs, and inserted his finger
into her private part. She said that it was painful, but
Tulagan just pretended as if he was just looking for
something and went home.
 
 
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AAA, likewise, testified that at around 11:00 a.m. of

October 8, 2011, while she was playing with her cousin in
front of Tulagan’s house, he brought her to his house and
told her to keep quiet. He told her to lie down on the floor,
and removed her short pants and panties. He also
undressed himself, kissed AAA’s cheeks, and inserted his
penis into her vagina. She claimed that it was painful and
that she cried because Tulagan held her hands and pinned
them with his. She did not tell anyone about the incident,
until her aunt examined her private part.
Upon genital examination by Dr. Brenda Tumacder on
AAA, she found a healed laceration at 6 o’clock position in
AAA’s hymen, and a dilated or enlarged vaginal opening.
She said that it is not normal for a 9-year-old child to have
a dilated vaginal opening and laceration in the hymen.
For the defense, Tulagan claimed that he did not know
AAA well, but admitted that he lived barely five (5) meters
away from AAA’s grandmother’s house where she lived. He
added that the whole month of September 2011, from 8:00
a.m. to 1:00 p.m., he was gathering dried banana leaves to
sell then take a rest after 1:00 p.m. at their terrace, while
his mother cut the banana leaves he gathered at the back
of their kitchen. He said that he never went to AAA’s house
and that he had not seen AAA during the entire month of
September 2011. Tulagan, likewise, claimed that before the
alleged incidents occurred, his mother had a
misunderstanding with AAA’s grandmother, who later on
started spreading rumors that he raped her
granddaughter.
After trial, the RTC found that the prosecution
successfully discharged the burden of proof in two offenses
of rape against AAA. It held that all the elements of sexual
assault and statutory rape was duly established. The trial
court relied on the credible and positive declaration of the
victim as against the alibi and denial of Tulagan. The
dispositive portion of the Decision reads:
 
 
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People vs. Tulagan

WHEREFORE, premises considered, the Court finds the

accused GUILTY beyond reasonable doubt [of] the crime of
rape defined and penalized under Article 266-A, paragraph
1(d), in relation to R.A. 7610 in Criminal Case No. SCC-
6211 and is hereby sentenced to suffer the penalty of
reclusion perpetua and to indemnify the victim in the
amount of fifty thousand (P50,000.00) pesos; moral damages
in the amount of fifty thousand (P50,000.00) pesos, and to
pay the cost of the suit. Likewise, this Court finds the
accused GUILTY beyond reasonable doubt in Criminal Case
No. SCC-6210 for the crime of rape defined and penalized
under Article 266-A, paragraph 2 and he is hereby
sentenced to suffer an indeterminate penalty of six (6) years
of prisión correccional, as minimum, to twelve (12) years of
prisión mayor, as maximum, and to indemnify the victim in
the amount of thirty thousand (P30,000.00) pesos; and
moral damages in the amount of twenty thousand
(P20,000.00) pesos, and to pay the cost of suit.
SO ORDERED.4

 
Upon appeal, the CA affirmed with modification
Tulagan’s conviction of sexual assault and statutory rape.
The dispositive portion of the Decision reads:

ACCORDINGLY, the Decision dated February 10, 2014

is  AFFIRMED, subject to the
following MODIFICATIONS:
 
1. In Criminal Case No. SCC-6210 (Rape by Sexual
Assault), appellant is sentenced to an indeterminate
penalty of 12 years of  reclusion temporal, as
minimum, to 15 years of  reclusion temporal, as
maximum. The award of moral damages is increased
to P30,000.00; and P30,000.00 as exemplary damages,
are likewise granted.

_______________

4 CA Rollo, pp. 49-50.

 
 
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2. In Criminal Case No. SCC-6211 (Statutory Rape),

the awards of civil indemnity and moral damages are
increased to P100,000.00 each. Exemplary damages in
the amount of P100,000.00, too, are granted.
3. All damages awarded are subject to legal interest
at the rate of 6% [per annum] from the date of finality
of this judgment until fully paid.
SO ORDERED.5
 
Aggrieved, Tulagan invoked the same arguments he
raised before the CA in assailing his conviction. He alleged
that the appellate court erred in giving weight and
credence to the inconsistent testimony of AAA, and in
sustaining his conviction despite the prosecution’s failure
to prove his guilt beyond reasonable doubt. To support his
appeal, he argued that the testimony of AAA was fraught
with inconsistencies and lapses which affected her
credibility.
 
Our Ruling
 
The instant appeal has no merit. However, a
modification of the nomenclature of the crime, the penalty
imposed, and the damages awarded in Criminal Case No.
SCC-6210 for sexual assault, and a reduction of the
damages awarded in Criminal Case No. SCC-6211 for
statutory rape, are in order.
Factual findings of the trial court carry great weight and
respect due to the unique opportunity afforded them to
observe the witnesses when placed on the stand.
Consequently, appellate courts will not overturn the
factual findings of the trial court in the absence of facts or
circumstances of weight and substance that would affect
the result of the case.6 Said

_______________

5 Rollo, pp. 36-37. (Emphasis in the original)

6 People v. Gahi, 727 Phil. 642; 717 SCRA 209 (2014).

 
 
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People vs. Tulagan

rule finds an even more stringent application where the

said findings are sustained by the CA, as in the instant
case:

Time and again, we have held that when it comes to the

issue of credibility of the victim or the prosecution
witnesses, the findings of the trial courts carry great weight
and respect and, generally, the appellate courts will not
overturn the said findings unless the trial court overlooked,
misunderstood or misapplied some facts or circumstances of
weight and substance which will alter the assailed decision
or affect the result of the case. This is so because trial
courts are in the best position to ascertain and measure the
sincerity and spontaneity of witnesses through their actual
observation of the witnesses’ manner of testifying, their
demeanor and behavior in court. Trial judges enjoy the
advantage of observing the witness’ deportment and
manner of testifying, her “furtive glance, blush of conscious
shame, hesitation, flippant or sneering tone, calmness, sigh,
or the scant or full realization of an oath” — all of which are
useful aids for an accurate determination of a witness’
honesty and sincerity. Trial judges, therefore, can better
determine if such witnesses are telling the truth, being in
the ideal position to weigh conflicting testimonies. Again,
unless certain facts of substance and value were overlooked
which, if considered, might affect the result of the case, its
assessment must be respected, for it had the opportunity to
observe the conduct and demeanor of the witnesses while
testifying and detect if they were lying. The rule finds an
even more stringent application where the said findings are
sustained by the Court of Appeals.7

 
Here, in Criminal Case No. SCC-6210 for sexual assault,
both the RTC and the CA found AAA’s testimony to be
credible, straightforward and unwavering when she
testified that Tulagan forcibly inserted his finger in her
vagina. In Criminal Case No. SCC-6211 for statutory rape,
both the RTC and the CA also found that the elements
thereof were present, to wit: 

_______________

7 Id., at p. 658; pp. 227-228.

 
 
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(1) accused had carnal knowledge of the victim, and (2) said
act was accomplished when the offended party is under
twelve (12) years of age. Indubitably, the courts a quo
found that the prosecution was able to prove beyond
reasonable doubt Tulagan’s guilt for the crime of rape. We
find no reason to deviate from said findings and
conclusions of the courts a quo.
Jurisprudence tells us that a witness’ testimony
containing inconsistencies or discrepancies does not, by
such fact alone, diminish the credibility of such testimony.
In fact, the variance in minor details has the net effect of
bolstering instead of diminishing the witness’ credibility
because they discount the possibility of a rehearsed
testimony. Instead, what remains paramount is the
witness’ consistency in relating the principal elements of
the crime and the positive and categorical identification of
the accused as the perpetrator of the same.8
As correctly held by the CA, the fact that some of the
details testified to by AAA did not appear in
her  Sinumpaang Salaysay  does not mean that the sexual
assault did not happen. AAA was still able to narrate all
the details of the sexual assault she suffered in Tulagan’s
hands. AAA’s account of her ordeal being straightforward
and candid and corroborated by the medical findings of the
examining physician, as well as her positive identification
of Tulagan as the perpetrator of the crime, are, thus,
sufficient to support a conviction of rape.
As for Tulagan’s imputation of ill motive on the part of
AAA’s grandmother, absent any concrete supporting
evidence, said allegation will not convince us that the trial
court’s assessment of the credibility of the victim and her
supporting witness was tainted with arbitrariness or
blindness to a fact of consequence. We reiterate the
principle that no young girl, such as AAA, would concoct a
sordid tale, on her own or through the influence of her
grandmother as per Tulagan’s

_______________

8 People v. Appegu, 429 Phil. 467, 477; 379 SCRA 703, 710-711 (2002).

 
 
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intimation, undergo an invasive medical examination then

subject herself to the stigma and embarrassment of a
public trial, if her motive was other than a fervent desire to
seek justice. In People v. Garcia,9 we held:

Testimonies of child victims are normally given full

weight and credit, since when a girl, particularly if she is a
 minor, says that she has been raped, she says in effect all
that is necessary to show that rape has in fact been
committed. When the offended party is of tender age and
immature, courts are inclined to give credit to her account
of what transpired, considering not only her relative
vulnerability but also the shame to which she would be
exposed if the matter to which she testified is not true.
Youth and immaturity are generally badges of truth and
sincerity. A young girl’s revelation that she had been raped,
coupled with her voluntary submission to medical
examination and willingness to undergo public trial where
she could be compelled to give out the details of an assault
on her dignity, cannot be so easily dismissed as mere
concoction.10

 
We also reject Tulagan’s defense of denial. Being a
negative defense, the defense of denial, if not substantiated
by clear and convincing evidence, as in the instant case,
deserves no weight in law and cannot be given greater
evidentiary value than the testimony of credible witnesses,
like AAA, who testified on affirmative matters. Since AAA
testified in a categorical and consistent manner without
any ill motive, her positive identification of Tulagan as the
sexual offender must prevail over his defenses of denial
and alibi.
Here, the courts  a quo  did not give credence to
Tulagan’s  alibi  considering that his house was only 50
meters away from AAA’s house, thus, he failed to establish
that it was physically impossible for him to be at the locus
criminis when

_______________

9 695 Phil. 576; 681 SCRA 465 (2012).

10 Id., at pp. 588-589; pp. 477-478. (Citations omitted)

 
 
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the rape incidents took place. “Physical impossibility”

refers to distance and the facility of access between the
crime scene and the location of the accused when the crime
was committed. There must be a demonstration that they
were so far away and could not have been physically
present at the crime scene and its immediate vicinity when
the crime was committed. In this regard, Tulagan failed to
prove that there was physical impossibility for him to be at
the crime scene when the rape was committed.11 Thus, his
alibi must fail.
Further, although the rape incidents in the instant case
were not immediately reported to the police, such delay
does not affect the truthfulness of the charge in the absence
of other circumstances that show the same to be mere
concoction or impelled by some ill motive.12
For the guidance of the Bench and the Bar, We take this
opportunity to reconcile the provisions on Acts of
Lasciviousness, Rape and Sexual Assault under the
Revised Penal Code (RPC), as amended by Republic Act
(R.A.) No. 8353 vis-à-vis Sexual Intercourse and Lascivious
Conduct under Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610, to fortify the
earlier decisions of the Court and doctrines laid down on
similar issues, and to clarify the nomenclature and the
imposable penalties of said crimes, and damages in line
with existing jurisprudence.13
Prior to the effectivity of R.A. No. 8353 or The Anti-Rape
Law of 1997  on October 22, 1997, acts constituting sexual
assault under paragraph 2,14  Article 266-A of the RPC,
were 
_______________

11  People v. Barberan, 788 Phil. 103, 113; 794 SCRA 348, 360 (2016).
12   See People v. Ilogon, 788 Phil. 633, 643-644; 795 SCRA 201, 212
(2016).
13  People v. Jugueta, 783 Phil. 806; 788 SCRA 331 (2016).
14   Article 266-A. Rape; When And How Committed.—Rape is
Committed —
x x x x
2) By any person who, under any of the circumstances mentioned in
paragraph 1 hereof, shall commit an act of sexual assault

 
 
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punished as acts of lasciviousness under Article No.

33615  of the RPC or Act No. 3815 which took effect on
December 8, 1930. For an accused to be convicted of acts of
lasciviousness, the confluence of the following essential
elements must be proven: (1) that the offender commits any
act of lasciviousness or lewdness; and (2) that it is done
under any of the following circumstances: (a) by using force
or intimidation; (b) when the offended woman is deprived of
reason or otherwise unconscious; or (c) when the offended
party is under twelve (12) years of age.16  In  Amployo v.
People,17 We expounded on the broad definition of the term
“lewd”:

The term lewd is commonly defined as something

indecent or obscene; it is characterized by or intended to
excite crude sexual desire. That an accused is entertaining a
lewd or unchaste design is necessarily a mental process the
existence of which can be inferred by overt acts carrying out
such intention, i.e., by conduct that can only be interpreted
as lewd or lascivious. The presence or absence of lewd
designs is inferred from the nature of the acts themselves
and the environmental circumstances. What is or what is
not lewd conduct, by its very nature, cannot be
pigeonholed into a precise definition. As early as U.S.
v. Gomez, we had already lamented that
 
It would be somewhat difficult to lay down any rule
specifically establishing just what conduct makes one
amenable to the pro

_______________

by inserting his penis into another person’s mouth or anal orifice, or any
instrument or object, into the genital or anal orifice of another person.
15  Art. 336. Acts of Lasciviousness.—Any person who shall commit
any act of lasciviousness upon other persons of either sex, under any of
the circumstances mentioned in the preceding article, shall be punished
by prisión correccional.
16 Sombilon, Jr. v. People, 617 Phil. 187, 195-196; 601 SCRA 405, 414
(2009).
17 496 Phil. 747; 457 SCRA 282 (2005).

 
 
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visions of Article 439 of the Penal Code. What constitutes

lewd or lascivious conduct must be determined from the
circumstances of each case. It may be quite easy to
determine in a particular case that certain acts are lewd
 and lascivious, and it may be extremely difficult in another
case to say just where the line of demarcation lies between
such conduct and the amorous advances of an ardent
lover.18

 
When R.A. No. 7610 or  The  Special Protection of
Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination
Act  took effect on June 17, 1992 and its Implementing
Rules and Regulation was promulgated in October 1993,
the term “lascivious conduct” was given a specific
definition. The Rules and Regulations on the Reporting and
Investigation of Child Abuse Cases  states that “lascivious
conduct means the intentional touching, either directly or
through clothing, of the genitalia, anus, groin, breast, inner
thigh, or buttocks, or the introduction of any object into the
genitalia, anus or mouth, of any person, whether of the
same or opposite sex, with an intent to abuse, humiliate,
harass, degrade, or arouse or gratify the sexual desire of
any person, bestiality, masturbation, lascivious exhibition
of the genitals or pubic area of a person.”
Upon the effectivity of R.A. No. 8353, specific forms of
acts of lasciviousness were no longer punished under
Article 336 of the RPC, but were transferred as a separate
crime of “sexual assault” under paragraph 2, Article 266-A
of the RPC. Committed by “inserting penis into another
person’s mouth or anal orifice, or any instrument or object,
into the genital or anal orifice of another person” against
the victim’s will, “sexual assault” has also been called
“gender-free rape” or “object rape.” However, the term
“rape by sexual assault” is a misnomer, as it goes against
the traditional concept of rape, which is carnal knowledge
of a woman without her consent or

_______________

18 Id., at p. 756; pp. 292-293. (Emphasis added)

 
 
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People vs. Tulagan

against her will. In contrast to sexual assault which is a

broader term that includes acts that gratify sexual desire
(such as cunnilingus, felatio, sodomy or even rape), the
classic rape is particular and its commission involves only
the reproductive organs of a woman and a man. Compared
to sexual assault, rape is severely penalized because it may
lead to unwanted procreation; or to paraphrase the words
of the legislators, it will put an outsider into the woman
who would bear a child, or to the family, if she is married.19
The dichotomy between rape and sexual assault can be
gathered from the deliberation of the House of
Representatives on the Bill entitled “An Act To Amend
Article 335 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended, and
Defining and Penalizing the Crime of Sexual Assault”:

INTERPELLATION OF MR. [ERASMO B.] DAMA-

SING:
 
x x x x
Pointing out his other concerns on the measure,
specifically regarding the proposed amendment to the
Revised Penal Code making rape gender-free, Mr.
Damasing asked how carnal knowledge could be committed
in case the sexual act involved persons of the same sex or
involves unconventional sexual acts.
Mr. [Sergio A. F.] Apostol replied that the Bill is divided
into two classifications: rape and sexual assault. The
Committee, he explained, defines rape as carnal knowledge
by a person with the opposite sex, while sexual assault is
 defined as gender-free, meaning it is immaterial whether
the person committing the sexual act is a man or a woman
or of the same sex as the victim.
Subsequently, Mr. Damasing adverted to Section 1 which
seeks to amend Article 335 of the Revised Penal

_______________

19  See Records of the Bicameral Conference Committee on the

Disagreeing Provisions of Senate Bill No. 950 and House Bill No. 6265
dated February 19, 1997.

 
 
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People vs. Tulagan

Code as amended by RA No. 7659, which is amended in the

Bill as follows: “Rape is committed by having carnal
knowledge of a person of the opposite sex under the
following circumstances.” He then inquired whether it is the
Committee’s intent to make rape gender-free, either by a
man against a woman, by a woman against a man, by man
against a man, or by a woman against a woman. He then
pointed out that the Committee’s proposed amendment is
vague as presented in the Bill, unlike the Senate version
which specifically defines in what instances the crime of
rape can be committed by a man or by the opposite sex.
Mr. Apostol replied that under the Bill “carnal
knowledge” presupposes that the offender is of the opposite
sex as the victim. If they are of the same sex, as what Mr.
Damasing has specifically illustrated, such act cannot be
considered rape — it is sexual assault.
Mr. Damasing, at this point, explained that the
Committee’s definition of carnal knowledge should be
specific since the phrase “be a person of the opposite sex”
connotes that carnal knowledge can be committed by a
person, who can be either a man or a woman and hence not
necessarily of the opposite sex but may be of the same sex.
Mr. Apostol pointed out that the measure explicitly used
the phrase “carnal knowledge of a person of the opposite
sex” to define that the abuser and the victim are of the
opposite sex; a man cannot commit rape against another
man or a woman against another woman. He pointed out
that the Senate version uses the phrase carnal knowledge
with a woman.”
While he acknowledged Mr. Apostol’s points, Mr.
Damasing reiterated that the specific provisions need to be
clarified further to avoid confusion, since, earlier in the
interpellation Mr. Apostol admitted that being gender-free,
rape can be committed under four situations or by persons
of the same sex. Whereupon, Mr. Damasing read the
specific provisions of the Senate version of the measure.

 
 
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362 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

People vs. Tulagan

In his rejoinder, Mr. Apostol reiterated his previous

contention that the Bill has provided for specific and
distinct definitions regarding rape and sexual assault to
differentiate that rape cannot be totally gender-free as it
must be committed by a person against someone of the
opposite sex.
With regard to Mr. Damasing’s query on criminal sexual
acts involving persons of the same sex, Mr. Apostol replied
 that Section 2, Article 266(b) of the measure on sexual
assault applies to this particular provision.
Mr. Damasing, at this point, inquired on the particular
page where Section 2 is located.
SUSPENSION OF SESSION
x x x x
INTERPELLATION OF MR. DAMASING
(Continuation)
Upon resumption of session, Mr. Apostol further
expounded on Sections 1 and 2 of the bill and differentiated
rape from sexual assault. Mr. Apostol pointed out that the
main difference between the aforementioned sections is that
carnal knowledge or rape, under Section 1, is always with
the opposite sex. Under Section 2, on sexual assault, he
explained that such assault may be on the genitalia, the
mouth, or the anus; it can be done by a man against a
woman, a man against a man, a woman against a woman or
a woman against a man.20

 
Concededly, R.A. No. 8353 defined specific acts
constituting acts of lasciviousness as a distinct crime of
“sexual assault,” and increased the penalty thereof
from prisión correccional to prisión mayor. But it was never
the intention of the legislature to redefine the traditional
concept of rape. The Congress merely upgraded the same
from a “crime against chastity” (a

_______________

20  Journal of the House of Representatives, Unfinished Business:

Second Reading of Committee Report No. 224 on House Bill No. 6265.

 
 
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People vs. Tulagan

private crime) to a “crime against persons” (a public crime)

as a matter of policy and public interest in order to allow
prosecution of such cases even without the complaint of the
offended party, and to prevent extinguishment of criminal
liability in such cases through express pardon by the
offended party. Thus, other forms of acts of lasciviousness
or lascivious conduct committed against a child, such as
touching of other delicate parts other than the private
organ or kissing a young girl with malice, are still punished
as acts of lasciviousness under Article 336 of the RPC in
relation to R.A. No. 7610 or lascivious conduct under
Section 5 of R.A. No. 7610.
Records of committee and plenary deliberations of the
House of Representative and of the deliberations of the
Senate, as well as the records of bicameral conference
committee meetings, further reveal no legislative intent for
R.A. No. 8353 to supersede Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610.
The only contentious provisions during the bicameral
conference committee meetings to reconcile the bills of the
Senate and House of Representatives which led to the
enactment of R.A. No. 8353, deal with the nature of and
distinction between rape by carnal knowledge and rape by
sexual assault; the threshold age to be considered in
statutory rape [whether Twelve (12) or Fourteen (14)], the
provisions on marital rape and effect of pardon, and the
presumptions of vitiation or lack of consent in rape cases.
While R.A. No. 8353 contains a generic repealing and
amendatory clause, the records of the deliberation of the
legislature are silent with respect to sexual intercourse or
lascivious conduct against children under R.A. No. 7610,
particularly those who are 12 years old or below 18, or
above 18 but are unable to fully take care or protect
themselves from abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation or
discrimination because of a physical or mental disability or
condition.
In instances where the lascivious conduct committed
against a child victim is covered by the definition under
R.A. No. 7610, and the act is likewise covered by sexual
assault
 
 
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People vs. Tulagan

under paragraph 2,21 Article 266-A of the RPC, the offender

should be held liable for violation of Section 5(b), Article III
of R.A. No. 7610. The ruling in Dimakuta v. People22 is
instructive:

Article 226-A, paragraph 2 of the RPC, punishes inserting

of the penis into another person’s mouth or anal orifice, or
any instrument or object, into the genital or anal orifice of
another person if the victim did not consent either it was
done through force, threat or intimidation; or when the
victim is deprived of reason or is otherwise unconscious; or
by means of fraudulent machination or grave abuse of
authority as sexual assault as a form of rape. However, in
instances where the lascivious conduct is covered by the
definition under R.A. No 7610, where the penalty
is  reclusion temporal  medium, and the act is likewise
covered by sexual assault under Article 266-A, paragraph 2
of the RPC, which is punishable by  prisión mayor, the
offender should be liable for violation of Section 5(b), Article
III of R.A. No. 7610, where the law provides for the higher
penalty of reclusion temporal medium, if the offended party
is a child victim. But if the victim is at least eighteen (18)
years of age, the offender should be liable under Art. 266-A,
par. 2 of the RPC and not R.A. No. 7610, unless the victim
is at least eighteen (18) years and she is unable to fully take
care of herself or protect herself from abuse, neglect,
cruelty, exploitation or discrimination because of a physical
or mental 

_______________

21  Article 266-A. Rape: When And How Committed.—Rape is

committed:
x x x x
2) By any person who, under any of the circumstances mentioned in
paragraph 1 hereof, shall commit an act of sexual assault by inserting his
penis into another person’s mouth or anal orifice, or any instrument or
object, into the genital or anal orifice of another person.
22 771 Phil. 641; 773 SCRA 228 (2015).

 
 
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disability or condition, in which case, the offender may still

be held liable for sexual abuse under R.A. No. 7610.23
There could be no other conclusion, a child is presumed
by law to be incapable of giving rational consent to any
lascivious act, taking into account the constitutionally
enshrined State policy to promote the physical, moral,
spiritual, intellectual and social well-being of the youth, as
well as, in harmony with the foremost consideration of the
child’s best interests in all actions concerning him or her.
This is equally consistent with the declared policy of the
State to provide special protection to children from all forms
of abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation and discrimination,
 and other conditions prejudicial to their development;
provide sanctions for their commission and carry out a
program for prevention and deterrence of and crisis
intervention in situations of child abuse, exploitation, and
discrimination. Besides, if it was the intention of the
framers of the law to make child offenders liable only of
Article 266-A of the RPC, which provides for a lower penalty
than R.A. No. 7610, the law could have expressly made such
statements.24

 
Meanwhile, if acts of lasciviousness or lascivious conduct
are committed with a child who is 12 years old or less than
18 years old, the ruling in Dimakuta25 is also on point:

Under Section 5, Article III of R.A. No. 7610, a child is

deemed subjected to other sexual abuse when he or she
indulges in lascivious conduct under the coercion or
influence of any adult. This statutory provision must be
distinguished from Acts of Lasciviousness under Articles
336 and 339 of the RPC. As defined in Article 336 of the
RPC, Acts of Lasciviousness has the following elements:

_______________

23 Id., at p. 670; pp. 264-265.

24 Id., at pp. 670-671; p. 265.
25 Id.

 
 
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366 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

People vs. Tulagan

(1) That the offender commits any act of

lasciviousness or lewdness;
(2) That it is done under any of the following
circumstances:
 
a. By using force or intimidation; or
b. When the offended party is deprived of
reason or otherwise unconscious; or
c. When the offended party is under 12 years
of age; and
 
(3) That the offended party is another person of
either sex.
 
Article 339 of the RPC likewise punishes acts of
lasciviousness committed with the consent of the offended
party if done by the same persons and under the same
circumstances mentioned in Articles 337 and 338 of the
RPC, to wit:
 
1. if committed against a virgin over twelve years
and under eighteen years of age by any person in
public authority, priest, home-servant, domestic,
guardian, teacher, or any person who, in any capacity,
shall be entrusted with the education or custody of
the woman; or
2. if committed by means of deceit against a woman
who is single or a widow of good reputation, over
twelve but under eighteen years of age.
 
Therefore, if the victim of the lascivious acts or conduct is
over 12 years of age and under eighteen (18) years of age,
the accused shall be liable for:
1. Other acts of lasciviousness under Art. 339 of
the RPC, where the victim is a virgin and consents
to the lascivious acts through abuse of confidence or
when the victim is single or a widow of good
reputation
  
 
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and consents to the lascivious acts through deceit, or;

2. Acts of lasciviousness under Art. 336 if the act of
lasciviousness is not covered by lascivious conduct as
defined in R.A. No. 7610. In case the acts of lasciviousness
[are] covered by lascivious conduct under R.A. No. 7610 and
it is done through coercion or influence, which establishes
absence or lack of consent, then Art. 336 of the RPC is no
longer applicable;
3. Section 5(b), Article III of R.A. No. 7610, where there
was no consent on the part of the victim to the lascivious
conduct, which was done through the employment of
coercion or influence. The offender may likewise be liable
for sexual abuse under R.A. No. 7610 if the victim is at least
eighteen (18) years and she is unable to fully take care of
herself or protect herself from abuse, neglect, cruelty,
exploitation or discrimination because of a phy-sical or
mental disability or condition.26

 
In  People v. Caoili,27  We prescribed the following
guidelines in designating or charging the proper offense in
case lascivious conduct is committed under Section 5(b) of
R.A. No. 7610, and in determining the imposable penalty:
 
1. The age of the victim is taken into consideration
in designating or charging the offense, and in
determining the imposable penalty.
 
2. If the victim is under twelve (12) years of
age, the nomenclature of the crime should be
“Acts of

_______________

26  Id., at pp. 668-669; pp. 262-264. (Emphasis, underscoring; italics

added in the original)
27  G.R. No. 196848, August 8, 2017, 835 SCRA 107; penned by
Associate Justice Noel Gimenez Tijam.

 
 
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368 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

People vs. Tulagan

Lasciviousness under Article 336 of the Revised

Penal Code in relation to Section 5(b) of R.A. No.
7610.” Pursuant to the second proviso in Section 5(b)
of R.A. No. 7610, the imposable penalty is reclusion
temporal in its medium period.
3. If the victim is exactly twelve (12) years of age, or more
than twelve (12) but below eighteen (18) years of age, or is
eighteen (18) years old or older but is unable to fully take
care of herself/himself or protect herself/
himself from abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation or
discrimination because of a physical or mental disability or
condition, the crime should be designated as “Lascivious
Conduct under Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610,” and the
imposable penalty is reclusion temporal in its medium
period to reclusion perpetua.28

 
Based on the  Caoili29  guidelines, it is only when the
victim of the lascivious conduct is 18 years old and above
that such crime would be designated as “Acts of
Lasciviousness under Article 336 of the RPC” with the
imposable penalty of prisión correccional.
Considering the development of the crime of sexual
assault from a mere “crime against chastity” in the form of
acts of lasciviousness to a “crime against persons” akin to
rape, as well as the rulings in  Dimakuta  and  Caoili.  We
hold that if the acts constituting sexual assault are
committed against a victim under 12 years of age or is
demented, the nomenclature of the offense should now be
“Sexual Assault under paragraph 2, Article 266-A of the
RPC in relation to Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610” and no
longer “Acts of Lasciviousness under Article 336 of the RPC
in relation to Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610,” because sexual
assault as a form of acts of lasciviousness is no longer
covered by Article 336 but by Article 266-A(2) of the RPC,
as amended by R.A. No. 8353. Nevertheless, 

_______________

28 Id., at pp. 153-154. (Emphasis added)

29 Id.

 
 
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the imposable penalty is still reclusion temporal in its

medium period, and not prisión mayor.
Whereas if the victim is 12 years old and under 18 years
old, or 18 years old and above under special circumstances,
the nomenclature of the crime should be “Lascivious
Conduct under Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610” with the
imposable penalty of reclusion temporal in its medium
period to reclusion perpetua,30 but it should not make any
reference to the provisions of the RPC. It is only when the
victim of the sexual assault is 18 years old and above, and
not demented, that the crime should be called as “Sexual
Assault under paragraph 2, Article 266-A of the RPC” with
the imposable penalty of prisión mayor.
 
Sexual intercourse with
a victim who is under 12
years old or is demented
is statutory rape
 
Under Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610, the proper penalty
when sexual intercourse is committed with a victim who is
under 12 years of age or is demented is reclusion perpetua,
pursuant to paragraph 1(d),31 Article 266-A in relation to

_______________

30 Id.
31  Article 266-A. Rape: When And How Committed.—Rape is
committed:
1) By a man who shall have carnal knowledge of a woman under any
of the following circumstances:
a) Through force, threat, or intimidation;
b) When the offended party is deprived of reason or otherwise
unconscious;
c) By means of fraudulent machination or grave abuse of authority;
and
d) When the offended party is under twelve (12) years of age or is
demented, even though none of the circumstances mentioned above be
present.

 
 
370
370 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
People vs. Tulagan

Article 266-B of the RPC, as amended by R.A. No.

8353,32  which in turn amended Article 33533  of the RPC.
Thus:

Section 5. Child Prostitution and Other Sexual Abuse.

—Children, whether male or female, who for money, profit,
or any other consideration or due to the coercion or
influence of any adult, syndicate or group, indulge in sexual
intercourse or lascivious conduct, are deemed to be children
exploited in prostitution and other sexual abuse.
The penalty of  reclusion temporal  in its medium period
to reclusion perpetua shall be imposed upon the following:
x x x x
(b) Those who commit the act of sexual
intercourse  or lascivious conduct with a child
exploited in prostitution or subject to other sexual
abuse;  Provided, That when the victim is  under
twelve (12) years of age, the  perpetrators shall be
prosecuted under Article 335, paragraph 3, for
rape  [sic] and Article 336 of Act No. 3815, as
amended, the Revised Penal Code, for rape or
lascivious conduct, as the case may be: Provided, That
the penalty for lascivious conduct when the victim is
under twelve

_______________

32  Article 266-B. Penalties.—Rape under paragraph 1 of the next

preceding article shall be punished by reclusion perpetua. x x x.
33 Art. 335. When and how rape is committed.—Rape is committed by
having carnal knowledge of a woman under any of the following
circumstances:
1. By using force or intimidation;
2. When the woman is deprived of reason or otherwise
unconscious; and
3. When the woman is under twelve years of age, even though
neither of the circumstances mentioned in the two next preceding
paragraphs shall be present.
The crime of rape shall be punished by reclusion perpetua.

 
 
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(12) years of age shall be reclusion temporal in its medium

period; x x x.34

 
In  Quimvel v. People,35  it was opined36  that the
two provisos under Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610 will apply
only if the victim is under 12 years of age, but not to those
12 years old and below 18, for the following reason:

“while the first clause of Section 5(b), Article III of R.A.

7610 is silent with respect to the age of the victim, Section
3, Article I thereof defines “children” as those below
eighteen (18) years of age or those over but are unable to
fully take care of themselves or protect themselves from
abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation or discrimination
because of a physical or mental disability. Notably,
two  provisos  succeeding the first clause of Section 5(b)
explicitly state a qualification that when the victim of
lascivious conduct is under 12 years of age, the perpetrator
shall be (1) prosecuted under Article 336 of the RPC, and (2)
the penalty shall be  reclusion temporal  in its medium
period. It is a basic rule in statutory construction that
the office of the proviso qualifies or modifies only the
phrase immediately preceding it or restrains of limits
 the generality of the clause that it immediately
follows. A proviso is to be construed with reference to
the immediately preceding part of the provisions, to
which it is attached, and not to the statute itself or
the other sections thereof.37  Accordingly, this case falls
under the qualifying  provisos  of Section 5(b), Article III of
R.A. 7610 because the allegations in the information make
out a case

_______________

34 Underscoring added.
35 G.R. No. 214497, April 18, 2017, 823 SCRA 192.
36 Id. See Separate Concurring Opinion and Majority Opinion.
37 Chinese Flour Importers Assn. v. Price Stabilization Board, 89 Phil.
439 (1951); Arenas v. City of San Carlos (Pangasinan), 172 Phil. 306; 82
SCRA 318 (1978).

 
 
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for acts of lasciviousness, as defined under Article 336 of the

RPC, and the victim is under 12 years of age x x x.”38

 
In view of the foregoing rule in statutory construction, it
was proposed39  in  Quimvel  that the penalty for acts of
lasciviousness committed against a child should depend on
his/her age: if the victim is under 12 years of age, the
penalty is  reclusion temporal  in its medium period, and if
the victim is 12 years old and below 18, or 18 or older
under special circumstances under Section 3(a)40  of R.A.
No. 7610, the penalty is  reclusion temporal  in its medium
period to reclusion perpetua.
Applying by analogy the foregoing discussion
in  Quimvel  to the act of sexual intercourse with a child
exploited in prostitution or subject to other sexual abuse,
We rule that when the offended party is under 12 years of
age or is demented, only the first  proviso  of Section 5(b),
Article III of R.A. No. 7610 will apply, to wit: “when the
victim is under twelve (12) years of age, the perpetrators
shall be prosecuted under Article 335, paragraph 3, for
rape  x  x  x.” The penalty for statutory rape under Article
335 is reclusion perpetua, which is still the same as in the
current rape law,  i.e., paragraph 1(d), Article 266-A in
relation to Article 266-B of the RPC, as amended by R.A.
No. 8353, except in cases where the victim is below 7 years
of age where the imposable penalty is death.41

_______________

38 Quimvel v. People, supra note 35 at pp. 268-269. (Emphasis added).

39 See Separate Concurring Opinion and Majority Opinion.
40 Section 3. Definition of Terms.—
(a) “Children” refers to a person below eighteen (18) years of age or
those over but are unable to fully take care of themselves or protect from
themselves from abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation or discrimination
because of a physical or mental disability or condition.
41  Item II(1) of A.M. No. 15-08-02-SC, entitled “GUIDELINES FOR THE

PROPER USE OF THE PHRASE ‘WITHOUT ELIGIBILITY FOR PAROLE’ IN INDIVISIBLE

PENATIES,” dated August 4, 2015 provides:

 
 
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 Note that the second proviso  of Section 5(b) of R.A. No.
7610 will not apply because it clearly has nothing to do
with sexual intercourse, and it only deals with “lascivious
conduct when the victim is under 12 years of age.” While
the terms “lascivious conduct” and “sexual intercourse” are
included in the definition of “sexual abuse” under Section
2(g)42  of the  Rules and Regulations on the Reporting and
Investigation of Child Abuse Cases, note that the definition
of “lascivious conduct”43  does not include sexual
intercourse. Be it stressed that the purpose of indicating
the phrase “under twelve (12) years of age” is to provide for
statutory lascivious conduct or statutory rape, whereby
evidence of force, threat or intimidation is immaterial
because the offended party, who is under 12 years old or is
demented, is presumed incapable of giving rational
consent.

_______________

(1) In cases where the death penalty is not warranted, there is no need
to use the phrase “without eligibility for parole” to qualify the penalty of
reclusion perpetua; it is understood that convicted persons penalized with
an indivisible penalty are not eligible for parole. x x x
42  Section 2(g) of the Rules and Regulations on the Reporting and
Investigation of Child Abuse Cases states that “sexual abuse” includes the
employment, use, persuasion, inducement, enticement or coercion of a
child to engage in or assist another person to engage in, sexual intercourse
or lascivious conduct or the molestation, prostitution, or incest with
children.
43  Section 3(h) of the Rules and Regulations on the Reporting and
Investigation of Child Abuse Cases states that “lascivious conduct” means
the intentional touching, either directly or through clothing, of the
genitalia, anus, groin, breast, inner thigh, or buttocks, or the introduction
of any object into the genitalia, anus or mouth, of any person, whether of
the same or opposite sex, with an intent to abuse, humiliate, harass,
degrade, or arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person, bestiality,
masturbation, lascivious exhibition of the genitals or pubic area of a
person.

 
 
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Malto ruling clarified

 
An important distinction between violation of Section
5(b) of R.A. No. 7610 and rape under the RPC was
explained in Malto v. People44 We ruled in Malto45 that one
may be held liable for violation of Sec. 5(b), Article III of
R.A. No. 7610 despite a finding that the person did not
commit rape, because rape is a felony under the RPC, while
sexual abuse against a child is punished by a special law.
Said crimes are separate and distinct, and they have
different elements. Unlike in rape, however, consent is
immaterial in cases involving violation of Sec. 5, Art. III of
R.A. No. 7610. The mere fact of having sexual intercourse
or committing lascivious conduct with a child who is
exploited in prostitution or subjected to sexual abuse
constitutes the offense.
In Malto,46 where the accused professor indulged several
times in sexual intercourse with the 17-year-old private
complainant, We also stressed that since a child cannot
give consent to a contract under our civil laws because she
can easily be a victim of fraud as she is not capable of full
understanding or knowing the nature or import of her
actions, the harm which results from a child’s bad decision
in a sexual encounter may be infinitely more damaging to
her than a bad business deal. Thus, the law should protect
her from the harmful consequences of her attempts at adult
sexual behavior. For this reason, a child should not be
deemed to have validly consented to adult sexual activity
and to surrender herself in the act of ultimate physical
intimacy under a law which seeks to afford her special
protection against abuse, exploitation and discrimination.
In sum, a child is presumed by law to be incapable of giving
rational consent to any lascivious conduct or sexual
intercourse.

_______________

44  560 Phil. 119; 533 SCRA 643 (2007); penned by Associate Justice
Renato C. Corona.
45 Id., at p. 138; pp. 660-661.
46 Id., at pp. 139-140; pp. 662-663.

 
 
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We take exception, however, to the sweeping conclusions

in Malto (1) that “a child is presumed by law to be
incapable of giving rational consent to any lascivious
conduct or sexual intercourse” and (2) that “consent of the
child is immaterial in criminal cases involving violation of
Section 5, Article III of RA 7610” because they would
virtually eradicate the concepts of statutory rape and
statutory acts of lasciviousness, and trample upon the
express provision of the said law.
Recall that in statutory rape, the only subject of inquiry
is whether the woman is below 12 years old or is demented
and whether carnal knowledge took place; whereas force,
intimidation and physical evidence of injury are not
relevant considerations. With respect to acts of
lasciviousness, R.A. No. 8353 modified Article 336 of the
RPC by retaining the circumstance that the offended party
is under 12 years old in order for acts of lasciviousness to
be considered as statutory and by adding the circumstance
that the offended party is demented, thereby rendering the
evidence of force or intimidation immaterial.47 This is
because the law presumes that the victim who is under 12
years old or is demented does not and cannot have a will of
her own on account of her tender years or dementia; thus, a
child’s or a demented person’s consent is immaterial
because of her presumed incapacity to discern good from
evil.48
However, considering the definition under Section 3(a)
of R.A. No. 7610 of the term “children” which refers to
persons below eighteen (18) years of age or those over but
are unable to fully take care of themselves or protect
themselves from abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation or
discrimination because of a physical or mental disability or
condition, We find that the opinion in Malto, that a child is
presumed by law to be

_______________

47 See Separate Concurring Opinion in Quimvel v. People, supra note

35.
48 People v. Brioso, 788 Phil. 292, 306; 794 SCRA 562, 573-574 (2016).

 
 
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incapable of giving rational consent, unduly extends the

concept of statutory rape or acts of lasciviousness to those
victims who are within the range of 12 to 17 years old, and
even those 18 years old and above under special
circumstances who are still considered as “children” under
Section 3(a) of R.A. No. 7610. While Malto is correct that
consent is immaterial in cases under R.A. No. 7610 where
the offended party is below 12 years of age, We clarify that
consent of the child is material and may even be a defense
in criminal cases involving violation of Section 5, Article III
of R.A. No. 7610 when the offended party is 12 years old or
below 18, or above 18 under special circumstances. Such
consent may be implied from the failure to prove that the
said victim engaged in sexual intercourse either “due to
money, profit or any other consideration or due to the
coercion or influence of any adult, syndicate or group.”
It bears emphasis that violation of the first clause of
Section 5(b), Article III of R.A. No. 7610 on sexual
intercourse with a child exploited in prostitution or subject
to other sexual abuse, is separate and distinct from
statutory rape under paragraph 1(d), Article 266-A of the
RPC. Aside from being dissimilar in the sense that the
former is an offense under special law, while the latter is a
felony under the RPC, they also have different elements.49
Nevertheless, sexual intercourse with a victim who is
under 12 years of age or is demented is always statutory
rape, as Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610 expressly states that
the perpetrator will be prosecuted

_______________

49  The elements of violation of the first clause of Section 5(b) of R.A.
No. 7610 are: (1) the accused commits the act of sexual intercourse or
lascivious conduct; (2) the act is performed with a child exploited in
prostitution or other sexual abuse; and (3) the child, whether male or
female, is 12 years old or below 18. On the other hand, the elements of
statutory rape under paragraph 1(d), Article 266-A of the RPC are: (1) the
offender is a man; (2) the offender shall have carnal knowledge of a
woman; and (3) the offended party is under 12 years of age or is demented.

 
 
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under Article 335, paragraph 3 of the RPC [now paragraph

1(d), Article 266-A of the RPC as amended by R.A. No.
8353].
Even if the girl who is below twelve (12) years old or is
demented consents to the sexual intercourse, it is always a
crime of statutory rape under the RPC, and the offender
should no longer be held liable under R.A. No. 7610. For
example, a nine (9)-year-old girl was sold by a pimp to a
customer, the crime committed by the latter if he commits
sexual intercourse with the girl is still statutory rape,
because even if the girl consented or is demented, the law
presumes that she is incapable of giving a rational consent.
The same reason holds true with respect to acts of
lasciviousness or lascivious conduct when the offended
party is less than 12 years old or is demented. Even if such
party consents to the lascivious conduct, the crime is
always statutory acts of lasciviousness. The offender will be
prosecuted under Article 33650 of the RPC, but the penalty
is provided for under Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610.
Therefore, there is no conflict between rape and acts of
lasciviousness under the RPC, and sexual intercourse and
lascivious conduct under R.A. No. 7610.
Meanwhile, if sexual intercourse is committed with a
child under 12 years of age, who is deemed to be “exploited
in prostitution and other sexual abuse,” then those who
engage in or promote, facilitate or induce child prostitution
under Section 5(a)51  of R.A. No. 7610 shall be liable as
principal by force or
_______________

50  Art. 336. Acts of Lasciviousness.—Any person who shall commit

any act of lasciviousness upon other persons of either sex, under any of
the circumstances mentioned in the preceding article, shall be punished
by prisión correccional.
51 Section 5. Child Prostitution and Other Sexual Abuse.—Children,
whether male or female, who for money, profit, or any other consideration,
or due to coercion or influence of any adult, syndicate or group, indulge in
sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct, are deemed to be children
exploited in prostitution and other sexual abuse.

 
 
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People vs. Tulagan

inducement under Article 1752  of the RPC in the crime of

statutory rape under Article 266-A(1) of the RPC; whereas
those who derive profit or advantage therefrom under
Section 5(c)53  of R.A. No. 7610 shall be liable as principal
by indispensable cooperation under Article 17 of the RPC.
Bearing in mind the policy of R.A. No. 7610 of providing for
stronger deterrence and special protection against child
abuse and exploitation, the following shall be the
nomenclature of the

_______________

The penalty of reclusion temporal in its medium period to reclusion

perpetua shall be imposed upon the following:
(a) Those who engage in or promote, facilitate or induce child
prostitution which include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) Acting as a procurer of a child prostitute;
(2) Inducing a person to be a client of a child prostitute by means
of written or oral advertisements or other similar means;
(3) Taking advantage of influence or relationship to procure a
child as prostitute;
(4) Threatening or using violence towards a child to engage him
as a prostitute; or
(5) Giving monetary consideration, goods or other pecuniary
benefit to a child with intent to engage such child in prostitution.
52  Article 17. Principals.—The following are considered principals:
1. Those who take a direct part in the execution of the act;
2. Those who directly force or induce others to commit it;
3. Those who cooperate in the commission of the offense by
another act without which it would not have been accomplished.
53   (c) Those who derive profit or advantage therefrom, whether as
manager or owner of the establishment where the prostitution takes
place, or of the sauna, disco, bar, resort, place of entertainment or
establishment serving as a cover or which engages in prostitution in
addition to the activity for which the license has been issued to said
establishment.

 
 
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said statutory crimes and the imposable penalties for

principals by force or inducement or by indispensable
cooperation:
1. Acts of Lasciviousness under Article 336 of the RPC,
in relation to Section 5(a) or (c), as the case may be, of
R.A. No. 7610, with the imposable penalty of reclusion
temporal in its medium period to reclusion perpetua;
2. Rape under Article 266-A(1) of the RPC, in relation to
Article 17 of the RPC and Section 5(a) or (c), as the
 case may be, of R.A. No. 7610 with the imposable
penalty of reclusion perpetua, pursuant to Article 266-
B of the RPC, except when the victim is below 7 years
old, in which case the crime is considered as Qualified
Rape, for which the death penalty shall be imposed;
and
3. Sexual Assault under Article 266-A(2) of the RPC, in
relation to Section 5(a) or (c), as the case may be, of
R.A. No. 7610 with the imposable penalty of reclusion
temporal in its medium period to reclusion perpetua.
 
If the victim who is 12 years old or less than 18 and is
deemed to be a child “exploited in prostitution and other
sexual abuse” because she agreed to indulge in sexual
intercourse “for money, profit or any other consideration or
due to coercion or influence of any adult, syndicate or
group,” then the crime could not be rape under the RPC,
because this no longer falls under the concept of statutory
rape, and there was consent. That is why the offender will
now be penalized under Section 5(b), R.A. No. 7610, and
not under Article 33554

_______________

54 Art. 335. When and how rape is committed.—Rape is committed by

having carnal knowledge of a woman under any of the following
circumstances:
1. By using force or intimidation;
2. When the woman is deprived of reason or otherwise
unconscious; and
3. When the whom is under twelve years of age, even though
neither of the circumstances men-

 
 
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People vs. Tulagan

of the RPC [now Article 266-A]. But if the said victim does
not give her consent to sexual intercourse in the sense that
the sexual intercourse was committed through force, threat
or intimidation, the crime is rape under paragraph 1,
Article 266-A of the RPC. However, if the same victim gave
her consent to the sexual intercourse, and no money, profit,
consideration, coercion or influence is involved, then there
is no crime committed, except in those cases where “force,
threat or intimidation” as an element of rape is substituted
by “moral ascendancy or moral authority,”55  like in the
cases of incestuous rape, and unless it is punished under
the RPC as qualified seduction under Article 33756  or
simple seduction under Article 338.57

_______________

tioned in the two next preceding paragraphs shall be

present.
The crime of rape shall be punished by reclusion perpetua.
x x x
55 People v. Bentayo, G.R. No. 216938, June 5, 2017, 825 SCRA 620,
626; People v. Mayola, 802 Phil. 756, 762; 813 SCRA 489, 496  (2016).
56  Art. 337. Qualified seduction.—The seduction of a virgin over
twelve years and under eighteen years of age, committed by any person in
public authority, priest, house-servant, domestic, guardian, teacher, or
any person who, in any capacity, shall be entrusted with the education or
custody of the woman seduced, shall be punished by prisión correccional in
its minimum and medium periods.
The penalty next higher in degree shall be imposed upon any person
who shall seduce his sister or descendant, whether or not she be a virgin
or over eighteen years of age.
Under the provisions of this Chapter, seduction is committed when the
offender has carnal knowledge of any of the persons and under the
circumstances described herein.
57 Article 338. Simple seduction.—The seduction of a woman who is
single or a widow of good reputation, over twelve but under eighteen years
of age, committed by means of deceit, shall be punished by arresto mayor.

 
 
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Rulings in Tubillo, Abay

and Pangilinan clarified
 
At this point, it is not amiss to state that the rulings in
People v. Tubillo,58 People v. Abay59 and People v.
Pangilinan60 should be clarified, because there is no need
to examine whether the focus of the prosecution’s evidence
is “coercion and influence” or “force and intimidation” for
the purpose of determining which between R.A. No. 7610 or
the RPC should the accused be prosecuted under in cases of
acts of lasciviousness or rape where the offended party is
12 years of age or below 18.
To recap, We explained in  Abay61  that under Section
5(b), Article III of R.A. No. 7610 in relation to R.A. No.
8353, if the victim of sexual abuse is below 12 years of age,
the offender should not be prosecuted for sexual abuse but
for statutory rape under paragraph 1(d), Article 266-A of
the RPC, and penalized with  reclusion perpetua. On the
other hand, if the victim is 12 years or older, the offender
should be charged with either sexual abuse under Section
5(b) of R.A. No. 7610 or rape under Article 266-A (except
paragraph 1[d]) of the RPC. However, the offender cannot
be accused of both crimes for the same act because his right
against double jeopardy might be prejudiced. Besides, rape
cannot be complexed with a violation of Section 5(b) of R.A.
No. 7610, because under Section 48 of the RPC (on complex
crimes), a felony under the RPC (such as rape) cannot be
complexed with an offense penalized by a special law.

_______________

58  People v. Tubillo, G.R. No. 220718, June 21, 2017, 828 SCRA 96;
penned by Associate Justice Jose Catral Mendoza.
59  599 Phil. 390; 580 SCRA 235 (2009); penned by Associate Justice
Renato C. Corona.
60  676 Phil. 16; 660 SCRA 16 (2011); penned by Associate Justice
Diosdado M. Peralta.
61 People v. Abay, supra at pp. 395-396; pp. 239-241.

 
 
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People vs. Tulagan

Considering that the victim in Abay was more than 12

years old when the crime was committed against her, and
the Information against appellant stated that the child was
13 years old at the time of the incident, We held that
appellant may be prosecuted either for violation of Section
5(b) of R.A. No. 7610 or rape under Article 266-A (except
paragraph 1[d]) of the RPC. We observed that while the
Information may have alleged the elements of both crimes,
the prosecution’s evidence only established that appellant
sexually violated the person of the child through force and
intimidation by threatening her with a bladed instrument
and forcing her to submit to his bestial designs. Hence,
appellant was found guilty of rape under paragraph 1(a),
Article 266-A of the RPC.
 In Pangilinan, where We were faced with the same
dilemma because all the elements of paragraph 1, Article
266-A of the RPC and Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610 were
present, it was ruled that the accused can be charged with
either rape or child abuse and be convicted therefor.
However, We observed that rape was established, since the
prosecution’s evidence proved that the accused had carnal
knowledge of the victim through force and intimidation by
threatening her with a samurai. Citing the discussion in
Abay, We ruled as follows:

As in the present case, appellant can indeed be charged

with either Rape or Child Abuse and be convicted therefor.
The prosecution’s evidence established that appellant had
carnal knowledge of AAA through force and intimidation by
threatening her with a samurai. Thus, rape was
established. Considering that in the resolution of the
Assistant Provincial Prosecutor, he resolved the filing of
rape under Article 266-A of the Revised Penal Code for
which appellant was convicted by both the RTC and the CA,
therefore, we merely affirm the conviction.62

_______________

62 People v. Pangilinan, supra note 60 at p. 37; p. 36.

 
 
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In the recent case of Tubillo where We noted that the

Information would show that the case involves both the
elements of paragraph 1, Article 266-A of the RPC and
Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610, We likewise examined the
evidence of the prosecution, whether it focused on the
specific force or intimidation employed by the offender or
on the broader concept of coercion or influence to have
carnal knowledge with the victim. In ruling that appellant
should be convicted of rape under paragraph 1(a), Article
266-A of the RPC instead of violation of Section 5(b) of R.A.
No. 7610, We explained:

Here, the evidence of the prosecution unequivocally

focused on the force or intimidation employed by Tubillo
against HGE under Article 266-A(1)(a) of the RPC. The
prosecution presented the testimony of HGE who narrated
that Tubillo unlawfully entered the house where she was
sleeping by breaking the padlock. Once inside, he forced
himself upon her, pointed a knife at her neck, and inserted
his penis in her vagina. She could not resist the sexual
attack against her because Tubillo poked a bladed weapon
at her neck. Verily, Tubillo employed brash force or
intimidation to carry out his dastardly deeds.63

 
With this decision, We now clarify the principles laid
down in  Abay,  Pangilinan  and  Tubillo  to the effect that
there is a need to examine the evidence of the prosecution
to determine whether the person accused of rape should be
prosecuted under the RPC or R.A. No. 7610 when the
offended party is 12 years old or below 18.
First, if sexual intercourse is committed with an
offended party who is a child less than 12 years old or is
demented, whether or not exploited in prostitution, it is
always a crime of statutory rape; more so when the child is
below 7 years old, in which case the crime is always
qualified rape.

_______________

63 Supra note 58 at p. 107.

  
 
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384 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

People vs. Tulagan

Second, when the offended party is 12 years old or below

18 and the charge against the accused is carnal knowledge
through “force, threat or intimidation,” then he will be
prosecuted for rape under Article 266-A(1)(a) of the RPC.
In contrast, in case of sexual intercourse with a child who
is 12 years old or below 18 and who is deemed “exploited in
prostitution or other sexual abuse,” the crime could not be
rape under the RPC, because this no longer falls under the
concept of statutory rape, and the victim indulged in sexual
intercourse either “for money, profit or any other
consideration or due to coercion or influence of any adult,
syndicate or group,” which deemed the child as one
“exploited in prostitution or other sexual abuse.”
To avoid further confusion, We dissect the phrase
“children exploited in prostitution” as an element of
violation of Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610. As can be
gathered from the text of Section 5 of R.A. No. 7610 and
having in mind that the term “lascivious conduct”64 has a
clear definition which does not include “sexual intercourse,”
the phrase “children exploited in prostitution”
contemplates four (4) scenarios: (a) a child, whether male
or female, who for money, profit or any other consideration,
indulges in lascivious conduct; (b) a female child, who for
money, profit or any other consideration, indulges in sexual
intercourse; (c) a child, whether male or female, who due to
the coercion or influence of any adult, syndicate or group,
indulges in lascivious conduct; and (d) a

_______________

64 “Lascivious conduct” means the intentional touching, either directly

or through clothing, of the genitalia, anus, groin, breast, inner thigh, or
buttocks, or the introduction of any object into the genitalia, anus or
mouth, of any person, whether of the same or opposite sex, with an intent
to abuse, humiliate, harass, degrade, or arouse or gratify the sexual desire
of any person, bestiality, masturbation, lascivious exhibition of the
genitals or pubic area of a person. [Section 2(h) Rules and Regulations on
the Reporting and Investigation of Child Abuse Cases]

 
 
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female, due to the coercion or influence of any adult,

syndicate or group, indulge in sexual intercourse.
The term “other sexual abuse,” on the other hand, is
construed in relation to the definitions of “child abuse”
under Section 3, Article I of R.A. No. 7610 and “sexual
abuse” under Section 2(g) of the Rules and Regulations on
the Reporting and Investigation of Child Abuse Cases.65 In
the former provision, “child abuse” refers to the
maltreatment, whether habitual or not, of the child which
includes sexual abuse, among other matters. In the latter
provision, “sexual abuse” includes the employment, use,
persuasion, inducement, enticement or coercion of a child
to engage in, or assist another person to engage in, sexual
intercourse or lascivious conduct or the molestation,
prostitution, or incest with children.
In  Quimvel, it was held that the term “coercion or
influence” is broad enough to cover or even synonymous
with the term “force or intimidation.” Nonetheless, it
should be emphasized that “coercion or influence” is used in
Section 566 of

_______________

65 Issued in October 1993.

66 Section 5. Child Prostitution and Other Sexual Abuse.—Children,
whether male or female, who for money, profit, or any other consideration
or due to the coercion or influence of any adult, syndicate or group,
indulge in sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct, are deemed to be
children exploited in prostitution and other sexual abuse.
The penalty of reclusion temporal in its medium period to reclusion
perpetua shall be imposed upon the following:
x x x x
(b) Those who commit the act of sexual intercourse or lascivious
conduct with a child exploited in prostitution or subject to other
sexual abuse; Provided, That when the victims is under twelve (12)
years of age, the perpetrators shall be prosecuted under Article 335,
paragraph 3, for rape and Article 336 of Act No. 3815, as amended,
the Revised Penal Code, for rape or lascivious conduct, as the case
may be: Provided, That the penalty for lascivious conduct when the
victim is under twelve (12)

 
 
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R.A. No. 7610 to qualify or refer to the means through

which “any adult, syndicate or group” compels a child to
indulge in sexual intercourse. On the other hand, the use of
“money, profit or any other consideration” is the other
mode by which a child indulges in sexual intercourse,
without the participation of “any adult, syndicate or group.”
In other words, “coercion or influence” of a child to indulge
in sexual intercourse is clearly exerted NOT by the offender
whose liability is based on Section 5(b)67  of R.A. No. 7610
for committing sexual act with a child exploited in
prostitution or other sexual abuse. Rather, the “coercion or
influence” is exerted upon the child by “any adult,
syndicate, or group” whose liability is found under Section
5(a)68  for engaging in, promoting, facilitating or inducing
child prostitution, whereby the sexual intercourse is the
necessary consequence of the prostitution.
For a clearer view, a comparison of the elements of rape
under the RPC and sexual intercourse with a child under
Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610 where the offended party is
between 12 years old and below 18, is in order.

_______________

years of age shall be reclusion temporal in its medium period; x x x.

(Emphasis supplied)
67 Id.
68 Section 5. Child Prostitution and Other Sexual Abuse.—x x x.
(a) Those who engage in or promote, facilitate or induce child
prostitution which include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) Acting as a procurer of a child prostitute;
(2) Inducing a person to be a client of a child prostitute by means
of written or oral advertisements or other similar means;
(3) Taking advantage of influence or relationship to procure a
child as prostitute;
(4) Threatening or using violence towards a child to engage him
as a prostitute; or
(5) Giving monetary consideration goods or other pecuniary
benefit to a child with intent to engage such child in prostitution.

 
 
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People vs. Tulagan

 
As can be gleaned above, “force, threat or intimidation”
is the element of rape under the RPC, while “due to
coercion or influence of any adult, syndicate or group” is
the operative phrase for a child to be deemed “exploited in
prostitution or other sexual abuse,” which is the element of
sexual abuse under Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610. The
“coercion or influence” is not the reason why the child
submitted herself to sexual intercourse, but it was utilized
in order for the child to become a prostitute. Considering
that the child has become a prostitute, the sexual
intercourse becomes voluntary and consensual because
that is the logical consequence of prostitution as defined
under Article 202 of the RPC, as amended by R.A. No.
10158 where the definition of “prostitute” was retained by
the new law:69

Article 202. Prostitutes; Penalty.—For the purposes of this

article, women who, for money or profit, habitually indulge
in sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct, are deemed to
be prostitutes.
Any person found guilty of any of the offenses covered by
this article shall be punished by arresto menor or a fine

_______________

69 AN ACT DECRIMINALIZING VAGRANCY, AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE ARTICLE 202 OF
ACT NO. 3815, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE REVISED PENAL CODE.

 
 
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not exceeding 200 pesos, and in case of recidivism, by

arresto mayor in its medium period to prisión correccional
in its minimum period or a fine ranging from 200 to 2,000
pesos, or both, in the discretion of the court.

 
Therefore, there could be no instance that an
Information may charge the same accused with the crime
of rape where “force, threat or intimidation” is the element
of the crime under the RPC, and at the same time violation
of Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610 where the victim indulged
in sexual intercourse because she is exploited in
prostitution either “for money, profit or any other
consideration or due to coercion or influence of any adult,
syndicate or group” — the phrase which qualifies a child to
be deemed “exploited in prostitution or other sexual abuse”
as an element of violation of Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610.
Third, if the charge against the accused where the
victim is 12 years old or below 18 is sexual assault under
paragraph 2, Article 266-A of the RPC, then it may happen
that the elements thereof are the same as that of lascivious
conduct under Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610, because the
term “lascivious conduct” includes introduction of any
object into the genitalia, anus or mouth of any person.70 In
this regard, We held in Dimakuta that in instances where a
“lascivious conduct” committed against a child is covered by
R.A. No. 7610 and the act is likewise covered by sexual
assault under paragraph 2, Article 266-A of the RPC
[punishable by prisión mayor], the offender should be held
liable for violation of Section 5(b) of

_______________

70  Section 3(h) of the Rules and Regulations on the Reporting and
Investigation of Child Abuse Cases states that “lascivious conduct” means
the intentional touching, either directly or through clothing, of the
genitalia, anus, groin, breast, inner thigh, or buttocks, or the introduction
of any object into the genitalia, anus or mouth, of any person, whether of
the same or opposite sex, with an intent to abuse, humiliate, harass,
degrade, or arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person, bestiality,
masturbation, lascivious exhibition of the genitals or public area of a
person.

 
 
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R.A. No. 7610 [punishable by reclusion temporal  medium],

consistent with the declared policy of the State to provide
special protection to children from all forms of abuse,
neglect, cruelty, exploitation and discrimination, and other
conditions prejudicial to their development. But when the
offended party is below 12 years of age or is demented, the
accused should be prosecuted and penalized under
paragraph 2, Article 266-A of the RPC in relation to Section
5(b) of R.A. No. 7610, because the crime of sexual assault is
considered statutory, whereby the evidence of force or
intimidation is immaterial.
Assuming that the elements of both violations of Section
5(b) of R.A. No. 7610 and of Article 266-A, paragraph 1(a)
of the RPC are mistakenly alleged in the same Information
— e.g., carnal knowledge or sexual intercourse was due to
“force or intimidation” with the added phrase of “due to
coercion or influence,” one of the elements of Section 5(b) of
R.A. No. 7610; or in many instances wrongfully designate
the crime in the Information as violation of “Article 266-A,
paragraph 1(a) in relation to Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610,”
although this may be a ground for quashal of the
Information under Section 3(f)71 of Rule 117 of the Rules of
Court — and proven during the trial in a case where the
victim who is 12 years old or under 18 did not consent to
the sexual intercourse, the accused should still be
prosecuted pursuant to the RPC, as amended by R.A. No.
8353, which is the more recent and special penal legislation
that is not only consistent, but also strengthens the policies
of R.A. No. 7610. Indeed, while R.A. No. 7610 is a special
law specifically enacted to provide special protection to
children from all forms of abuse, neglect, cruelty,
exploitation and discrimination and other conditions
prejudicial to their development, We hold 

_______________

71  Section 3. Grounds.—The accused may move to quash the

complaint or information on any of the following grounds:
x x x x
(f) That more than one offense is charged except when a single
punishment for various offenses is prescribed by law.

 
 
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that it is contrary to the legislative intent of the same law
if the lesser penalty (reclusion temporal  medium
to reclusion perpetua) under Section 5(b) thereof would be
imposed against the perpetrator of sexual intercourse with
a child 12 years of age or below 18.
Article 266-A, paragraph 1(a) in relation to Article 266-B
of the RPC, as amended by R.A. No. 8353, is not only the
more recent law, but also deals more particularly with all
rape cases, hence, its short title “The Anti-Rape Law of
1997.” R.A. No. 8353 upholds the policies and principles of
R.A. No. 7610, and provides a “stronger deterrence and
special protection against child abuse,” as it imposes a
more severe penalty of reclusion perpetua under Article
266-B of the RPC, or even the death penalty if the victim is
(1) under 18 years of age and the offender is a parent,
ascendant, stepparent, guardian, relative by consanguinity
or affinity within the third civil degree, or common-law
spouse of the parent of the victim; or (2) when the victim is
a child below 7 years old.
It is basic in statutory construction that in case of
irreconcilable conflict between two laws, the later
enactment must prevail, being the more recent expression
of legislative will.72 Indeed, statutes must be so construed
and harmonized with other statutes as to form a uniform
system of jurisprudence, and if several laws cannot be
harmonized, the earlier statute must yield to the later
enactment, because the later law is the latest expression of
the legislative will.73 Hence, Article 266-B of the RPC must
prevail over Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610.
In sum, the following are the applicable laws and
penalty for the crimes of acts of lasciviousness or lascivious
conduct and rape by carnal knowledge or sexual assault,
depending on the age of the victim, in view of the
provisions of paragraphs 1 

_______________

72 Republic v. Yahon, 736 Phil. 397, 410; 726 SCRA 438, 453 (2014).
73 Id., at pp. 410-411; p. 453.

 
 
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and 2 of Article 266-A and Article 336 of the RPC, as

amended by R.A. No. 8353, and Section 5(b) of R.A. No.
7610:
 
Designation of the Crime & Imposable Penalty
 

_______________

74  The “children” refers to a person below eighteen (18) years of age

or those over but are unable to fully take care of themselves or protect
themselves from abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation or discrimination
because of a physical or mental disability or condition. [Section 3(a), R.A.
No. 7610]
“Child” shall refer to a person below eighteen (18) years
of age or one over said age and who, upon evaluation of a
qualified physician, psychologist or psychiatrist, is found to
be incapable of taking care of himself fully because of a
physical or mental disability or condition or of protecting
himself from abuse. [Section 2(a), Rules and Regulations on
the Reporting and Investigation of Child Abuse Cases]
75    “Lascivious conduct” means the intentional touching, either
directly or through clothing, of the genitalia, anus, groin, breast, inner
thigh, or buttocks, or the introduction of any object into the genitalia,
anus or mouth, of any person, whether of the same or opposite sex, with
an intent to abuse, humiliate, harass, degrade, or arouse or gratify the
sexual desire of any person, bestiality, masturbation, lascivious
exhibition of the genitals or pubic area of a person. [Section 2(h), Rules
and Regulations on the Reporting and Investigation of Child Abuse
Cases]

 
 
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_______________

76 Subject to R.A. No. 9346 entitled, “AN ACT PROHIBITING THE IMPOSITION
OF DEATH PENALTY IN THE PHILIPPINES.”
77  “Sexual abuse” includes the employment, use, persuasion,
inducement, enticement or coercion of a child to engage in or assist
another person to engage in, sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct or
the molestation, prostitution, or incest with children. [Section 3(g) of the
Rules and Regulations on the Reporting and Investigation of Child Abuse
Cases]

 
 
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For the crime of acts of lasciviousness or lascivious

conduct, the nomenclature of the crime and the imposable
penalty are based on the guidelines laid down in Caoili. For
the crimes of rape by carnal knowledge and sexual assault
under the RPC, as well as sexual intercourse committed
against children under R.A. No. 7610, the designation of
the crime and the imposable penalty are based on the
discussions in Dimakuta,78 Quimvel79 and Caoili, in line
with the policy of R.A. No. 7610 to provide stronger
deterrence and special protection to children from all forms
of abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation, discrimination, and
other conditions prejudicial to their development. It is not
amiss to stress that the failure to designate the offense by
statute, or to mention the specific provision penalizing the
act, or an erroneous specification of the law violated, does
not vitiate the information if the facts alleged clearly recite
the facts constituting the crime charged, for what controls
is not the title of the information or the designation of the
offense, but the actual facts recited in the information.80
Nevertheless, the designation in the information of the
specific statute violated is imperative to avoid surprise on
the accused and to afford him the opportunity to prepare
his defense accordingly.81
Justice Caguioa asks us to abandon our rulings
in Dimakuta, Quimvel and Caoili, and to consider anew the
viewpoint in his Separate Dissenting Opinion
in Quimvel that the provisions of R.A. No. 7610 should be
understood in its proper context, i.e., that it only applies in
the specific and limited instances where the victim is a
child “subjected to prostitution or other sexual abuse.” He
asserts that if the intention of R.A. No. 7610 is to penalize
all sexual abuses against children 

_______________

78 Dimakuta v. People, supra note 22.

79  Quimvel v. People, supra note 35; penned by Associate Justice
Presbitero J. Velasco, Jr.
80 People v. Ursua, G.R. No. 218575, October 4, 2017, 842 SCRA 165,
178; Malto v. People, supra note 44 at pp. 135-136; p. 657.
81 Id.

 
 
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under its provisions to the exclusion of the RPC, it would

have expressly stated so and would have done away with
the qualification that the child be “exploited in prostitution
or subjected to other sexual abuse.” He points out that
Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610 is a provision of specific and
limited application, and must be applied as worded — a
separate and distinct offense from the “common” or
ordinary acts of lasciviousness under Article 336 of the
RPC. In support of his argument that the main thrust of
R.A. No. 7610 is the protection of street children from
exploitation, Justice Caguioa cites parts of the sponsorship
speech of Senators Santanina T. Rasul, Juan Ponce Enrile
and Jose D. Lina, Jr.
We find no compelling reason to abandon our ruling in
Dimakuta, Quimvel and Caoili.
In his Separate Concurring Opinion in Quimvel, the
ponente aptly explained that if and when there is an
absurdity in the interpretation of the provisions of the law,
the proper recourse is to refer to the objectives or the
declaration of state policy and principles under Section 2 of
R.A. No. 7610, as well as Section 3(2), Article XV of the
1987 Constitution:

[R.A. No. 7610] Sec. 2. Declaration of State Policy and

Principles.—It is hereby declared to be the policy of the
State to provide special protection to children from
all forms of abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation and
discrimination, and other conditions prejudicial to
their development; provide sanctions for their
commission and carry out a program for prevention and
deterrence of and crisis intervention in situations of child
abuse, exploitation and discrimination. The State shall
intervene on behalf of the child when the parent, guardian,
teacher or person having care or custody of the child fails or
is unable to protect the child against abuse, exploitation
and discrimination or when such acts against the child are
committed by the said parent, guardian, teacher or person
having care and custody of the same.
It shall be the policy of the State to protect and
rehabilitate children gravely threatened or endangered by
  
 
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circumstances which affect or will affect their survival and

normal development and over which they have no control.
The best interests of children shall be the paramount
consideration in all actions concerning them, whether
undertaken by public or private social welfare institutions,
courts of law, administrative authorities, and legislative
bodies, consistent with the principle of First Call for
Children as enunciated in the United Nations Convention
on the Rights of the Child. Every effort shall be exerted to
promote the welfare of children and enhance their
opportunities for a useful and happy life. [Emphasis added]
 
[Article XV 1987 Constitution] Section 3. The State
shall defend:
 
x x x x
(2) The right of children to assistance, including
proper care and nutrition, and special protection
from all forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty,
exploitation, and other conditions prejudicial to
their development.82

 
Clearly, the objective of the law, more so the
Constitution, is to provide a special type of protection for
children from all types of abuse. Hence, it can be rightly
inferred that the title used in Article III, Section 5, “Child
Prostitution and Other Sexual Abuse” does not mean that
it is only applicable to children used as prostitutes as the
main offense and the other sexual abuses as additional
offenses, the absence of the former rendering inapplicable
the imposition of the penalty provided under R.A. No. 7610
on the other sexual abuses committed by the offenders on
the children concerned.

_______________

82 Emphasis supplied.

 
 
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Justice Caguioa asserts that Section 5(b), Article III of

R.A. No. 7610 is clear — it only punishes those who commit
the act of sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct with a
child exploited in prostitution or subjected to other sexual
abuse. There is no ambiguity to speak of that which
requires statutory construction to ascertain the
legislature’s intent in enacting the law.
We would have agreed with Justice Caguioa if not for
Section 5 itself which provides who are considered as
“children exploited in prostitution and other sexual abuse.”
Section 5 states that “[c]hildren, whether male or female,
who for money, profit, or any other consideration or due to
the coercion or influence of any adult, syndicate or group,
indulge in sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct, are
deemed to be children exploited in prostitution and other
sexual abuse.” Contrary to the view of Justice Caguioa,
Section 5(b), Article III of R.A. No. 7610 is not as clear as it
appears to be; thus, We painstakingly sifted through the
records of the Congressional deliberations to discover the
legislative intent behind such provision.
Justice Caguioa then asks: (1) if the legislature intended
for Section 5(b), R.A. No. 7610 to cover any and all types of
sexual abuse committed against children, then why would
it bother adding language to the effect that the provision
applies to “children exploited in prostitution or subjected to
other sexual abuse?” and (2) why would it also put Section
5 under Article III of the law, which is entitled “Child
Prostitution and Other Sexual Abuse?”
We go back to the record of the Senate deliberation to
explain the history behind the phrase “child exploited in
prostitution or subject to other sexual abuse.”
Section 5 originally covers Child Prostitution only, and
this can still be gleaned from Section 6 on Attempt to
Commit Child Prostitution, despite the fact that both
Sections fall under Article III on Child Prostitution and
Other Sexual Abuse. Thus:
 
 
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Section 6. Attempt To Commit Child Prostitution.—

There is an attempt to commit child prostitution under
Section 5, paragraph (a) hereof when any person who, not
being a relative of a child, is found alone with the said child
inside the room or cubicle of a house, an inn, hotel, motel,
pension house, apartelle or other similar establishments,
vessel, vehicle or any other hidden or secluded area under
circumstances which would lead a reasonable person to
believe that the child is about to be exploited in prostitution
and other sexual abuse.
There is also an attempt to commit child prostitution,
under paragraph (b) of Section 5 hereof when any person is
receiving services from a child in a sauna parlor or bath,
massage clinic, health club and other similar
establishments. A penalty lower by two (2) degrees than
that prescribed for the consummated felony under Section 5
hereof shall be imposed upon the principals of the attempt
to commit the crime of child prostitution under this Act, or,
in the proper case, under the Revised Penal Code.

 
Even Senator Lina, in his explanation of his vote, stated
that Senate Bill 1209 also imposes the penalty of reclusion
temporal in its medium period to reclusion perpetua for
those who commit the act of sexual intercourse or
lascivious conduct with a child exploited in prostitution.83
Senator Lina mentioned nothing about the phrases “subject
to other sexual abuse” or “Other Sexual Abuse” under
Section 5(b), Article III of R.A. No. 7610.
However, to cover a situation where the minor may have
been coerced or intimidated into lascivious conduct, not
necessarily for money or profit, Senator Edgardo Angara
proposed the insertion of the phrase “WHO FOR MONEY,
PROFIT, OR ANY OTHER CONSIDERATION OR DUE
TO THE COERCION OR INFLUENCE OF ANY ADULT,
SYN-

_______________

83 Record of the Senate, Vol. II, No. 58, pp. 793-794, December 2, 1991.

 
 
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DICATE OR GROUP, INDULGE” in sexual intercourse or
lascivious conduct, under Section 5(b), Article III of R.A.
No. 7610.84
Further amendment of then Article III of R.A. No. 7610
on  Child Prostitution  was also proposed by then
President  Pro Tempore  Sotero Laurel, to which Senator
Angara agreed, in order to cover the “expanded scope” of
“child abuse.” Thus, Article III was amended and entitled
“Child Prostitution and Other Sexual Abuse.”85 This is the
proper context where the element that a child be “exploited
in prostitution and other sexual abuse” or EPSOSA, came
to be, and should be viewed.
We hold that it is under President Pro Tempore Laurel’s
amendment on “expanded scope’’ of “child abuse” under
Section 5(b) and the definition of “child abuse” under
Section 3,86 Article I of R.A. No. 7610 that should be relied
upon in construing the element of “exploited under
prostitution and other sexual abuse.” In understanding the
element of “exploited under prostitution and other sexual
abuse,” We take into account two provisions of R.A. No.
7610, namely: (1) Section 5, Article III, which states that
“[c]hildren, whether male or female, who for money, profit,
or any other consideration or 

_______________

84 Record of the Senate, Vol. I, No. 7, p. 262, August 1, 1991.

85 Id.
86 Section 3. Definition of Terms.—
(b) “Child abuse” refers to the maltreatment, whether habitual or not,
of the child which includes any of the following:
(1) Psychological and physical abuse, neglect, cruelty, sexual
abuse and emotional maltreatment;
(2) Any act by deeds or words which debases, degrades or
demeans the intrinsic worth and dignity of a child as a human
being;
(3) Unreasonable deprivation of his basic needs for survival,  such
as food and shelter; or
(4) Failure to immediately give medical treatment to an injured
child resulting in serious impairment of his growth and
development or in his permanent incapacity or death.

 
 
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due to the coercion or influence of any adult, syndicate or

group, indulge in sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct,
are deemed to be exploited in prostitution and other sexual
abuse”; and (2) Section 3, Article I, which states that “child
abuse” refers to the maltreatment, whether habitual or not,
of the child, which includes, sexual abuse.
To clarify, once and for all, the meaning of the element
of “exploited in prostitution” under Section 5(b), Article III
of R.A. No. 7610,87 We rule that it contemplates 4
scenarios, namely: (a) a child, whether male or female, who
for money, profit or any other consideration, indulges in
lascivious conduct; (b) a child, whether male or female, who
due to the coercion or influence of any adult, syndicate or
group, indulges in lascivious conduct; (c) a female child,
who for money, profit or any other consideration, indulges
in sexual intercourse; and (d) a female, due to the coercion
or influence of any adult, syndicate or group, indulges in
sexual intercourse.
Note, however, that the element of “exploited in
prostitution” does not cover a male child, who for money,
profit or any

_______________
 87  Section 5. Child Prostitution and Other Sexual Abuse.—
Children, whether male or female, who for money, profit, or any other
consideration or due to the coercion or influence of any adult, syndicate or
group, indulge in sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct, are deemed to
be children exploited in prostitution and other sexual abuse.
The penalty of reclusion temporal in its medium period to reclusion
perpetua shall be imposed upon the following:
x x x x
(b) Those who commit the act of sexual intercourse of lascivious
conduct with a child exploited in prostitution or subject to other sexual
abuse; Provided, That when the victims is under twelve (12) years of age,
the perpetrators shall be prosecuted under Article 335, paragraph 3, for
rape and Article 336 of Act No. 3815, as amended, the Revised Penal
Code, for rape or for lascivious conduct, as the case may be: Provided,
That the penalty for lascivious conduct when the victim is under twelve
(12) years of age shall be reclusion temporal in its medium period.

 
 
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other consideration, or due to coercion or influence of any

adult, syndicate, or group, indulges in sexual intercourse.
This is because at the time R.A. No. 7610 was enacted in
1992, the prevailing law on rape was Article 335 of the
RPC where rape can only be committed by having carnal
knowledge of a woman under specified circumstances. Even
under R.A. No. 8353 which took effect in 1997, the concept
of rape remains the same — it is committed by a man who
shall have carnal knowledge of a woman under specified
circumstances. As can be gathered from the Senate
deliberation on Section 5(b), Article III of R.A. No. 7610, it
is only when the victim or the child who was abused is a
male that the offender would be prosecuted thereunder
because the crime of rape does not cover child abuse of
males.88
The term “other sexual abuse,” on the other hand,
should be construed in relation to the definitions of “child
abuse” under Section 3,89  Article I of R.A. No. 7610 and
“sexual abuse” under Section 2(g)90  of the  Rules and
Regulations on the Reporting and Investigation of Child
Abuse Cases.91 In the former provision, “child abuse” refers
to the maltreatment,  whether  habitual or not, of the
child which includes sexual abuse, among other matters. In
the latter provision, “sexual abuse” includes the
employment, use, persuasion, inducement, enticement or
coercion of a child to engage in, or assist another person to
engage in, sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct or the
molestation, prostitution, or incest with chil-

_______________

88 Record of the Senate, Vol. IV, No. 116, pp. 333-334, May 9, 1991.
89 Record of the Senate, Vol. I, No. 7, p. 262, August 1, 1991.
90  Section 2(g) of the Rules and Regulations on the Reporting and
Investigation of Child Abuse Cases states that “sexual abuse” includes the
employment, use, persuasion, inducement, enticement or coercion of a
child to engage in or assist another person to engage in, sexual intercourse
or lascivious conduct or the molestation, prostitution, or incest with
children.
91 Issued in October 1993.

 
 
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dren. Thus, the term “other sexual abuse” is broad enough
to include all other acts of sexual abuse other than
prostitution. Accordingly, a single act of lascivious conduct
is punished under Section 5(b), Article III, when the victim
is 12 years old and below 18, or 18 or older under special
circumstances. In contrast, when the victim is under 12
years old, the  proviso  of Section 5(b) states that the
perpetrator should be prosecuted under Article 336 of the
RPC for acts of lasciviousness, whereby the lascivious
conduct itself is the sole element of the said crime. This is
because in statutory acts of lasciviousness, as in statutory
rape, the minor is presumed incapable of giving consent;
hence, the other circumstances pertaining to rape — force,
threat, intimidation, etc. — are immaterial.
Justice Caguioa also posits that the Senate deliberation
on R.A. No. 7610 is replete with similar disquisitions that
all show the intent to make the law applicable to cases
involving child exploitation through prostitution, sexual
abuse, child trafficking, pornography and other types of
abuses. He stresses that the passage of the laws was the
Senate’s act of heeding the call of the Court to afford
protection to a special class of children, and not to cover
any and all crimes against children that are already
covered by other penal laws, such as the RPC and
Presidential Decree No. 603, otherwise known as the Child
and Youth Welfare Code. He concludes that it is erroneous
for us to rule that R.A. No. 7610 applies in each and every
case where the victim although he or she was not proved,
much less, alleged to be a child “exploited in prostitution or
subjected to other sexual abuse.” He invites us to go back to
the ruling in Abello that “since R.A. No. 7610 is a special
law referring to a particular class in society, the
prosecution must show that the victim truly belongs to this
particular class to warrant the application of the statute’s
provisions. Any doubt in this regard we must resolve in
favor of the accused.”
Justice Estela M. Perlas-Bernabe also disagrees that
R.A. No. 7610 would be generally applicable to all cases of
sexual
 
 
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abuse involving minors, except those who are under 12

years of age. Justice Perlas-Bernabe concurs with Justice
Caguioa that Section 5(b), Article III of R.A. No. 7610 only
applies in instances where the child victim is “exploited in
prostitution or subject to other sexual abuse” (EPSOSA).
She asserts that her limited view, as opposed to the
ponencia’s expansive view, is not only supported by several
textual indicators both in law and the deliberations, but
also squares with practical logic and reason. She also
contends that R.A. No. 7610 was enacted to protect those
who, like the child victim in People v. Ritter, willingly
engaged in sexual acts, not out of desire to satisfy their
own sexual gratification, but because of their “vulnerable
predisposition as exploited children. She submits that, as
opposed to the RPC where sexual crimes are largely
predicated on the lack of consent, Section 5(b) fills in the
gaps of the RPC by introducing the EPSOSA element
which effectively dispenses with the need to prove the lack
of consent at the time the act of sexual abuse is committed.
Thus, when it comes to a prosecution under Section 5(b),
consent at the time the sexual act is consummated is,
unlike in the RPC, not anymore a defense.
We are unconvinced that R.A. No. 7610 only protects a
special class of children, i.e., those who are “exploited in
prostitution or subjected to other sexual abuse,” and does
not cover all crimes against them that are already
punished by existing laws. It is hard to understand why the
legislature would enact a penal law on child abuse that
would create an unreasonable classification between those
who are considered as “exploited in prostitution and other
sexual abuse” or EPSOSA and those who are not. After all,
the policy is to provide stronger deterrence and special
protection to children from all forms of abuse, neglect,
cruelty, exploitation, discrimination and other conditions
prejudicial to their development.
 
 
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In the extended explanation of his vote on Senate Bill

No. 1209,92 Senator Lina emphasized that the bill
complements the efforts the Senate has initiated towards
the implementation of a national comprehensive program
for the survival and development of Filipino children, in
keeping with the Constitutional mandate that “[t]he State
shall defend the right of children to assistance, including
proper care and nutrition, and special protection from all
forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation, and other
conditions prejudicial to their development.”93 Senator Lina
also stressed that the bill supplies the inadequacies of the
existing laws treating crimes committed against children,
namely, the RPC and the Child and Youth Welfare Code, in
the light of the present situation, i.e., current empirical
data on child abuse indicate that a stronger deterrence is
imperative.94
In the same vein, Senator Rasul expressed in her
Sponsorship Speech the same view that R.A. No. 7610
intends to protect all children against all forms of abuse
and exploitation, thus:

There are still a lot of abuses and injustices done to our

children who suffer not only from strangers, but sadly, also
in the hands of their parents and relatives. We know for a
fact that the present law on the matter, the Child and
Welfare Code (PD No. 603) has very little to offer to abuse
children. We are aware of the numerous cases not reported
in media.
In the Filipino Family structure, a child is powerless; he
or she is not supposed to be heard and seen. Usually, it is
the father or the mother who has a say in family matters,
and children, owing to their limited ca-

_______________

92   AN ACT PROVIDING FOR STRONGER DETERRENCE AND SPECIAL PROTECTION AGAINST
CHILD ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION, PROVIDING LEGAL PRESUMPTIONS AND PENALTIES FOR ITS
VIOLATIONS.
93  Record of the Senate, Volume II, No. 58, pp. 793-794, December 2,
1991.
94  Id.

 
 
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pability, are not consulted in most families. Many children

may be suffering from emotional, physical and social abuses
in their homes, but they cannot come out in the open;
besides, there is a very thin line separating discipline from
abuse. This becomes wider when the abuse becomes grave
and severe.
Perhaps, more lamentable than the continuing child
abuses and exploitation is the seeming unimportance or the
 lack of interest in the way we have dealt with the said
problem in the country. No less than the Supreme Court, in
the recent case of People v. Ritter, held that we lack
criminal laws which will adequately protect street children
from exploitation of pedophiles. But as we know, we, at the
Senate have not been remiss in our bounden duty to sponsor
bills which will ensure the protection of street children from
the tentacles of sexual exploitation. Mr. President, now is
the time to convert these bills into reality.
In our long quest for solutions to problems
regarding children, which problems are deeply
rooted in poverty, I have felt this grave need to
sponsor a bill, together with Senators Lina and
Mercado, which would ensure the children’s
protection from all forms of abuse and exploitation,
to provide stiffer sanction for their commission and
carry out programs for prevention and deterrence to
aid crisis intervention in situations of child abuse
and exploitation.
Senate Bill No. 1209 translates into reality the provision
of our 1987 Constitution on “THE FAMILY,” and I quote:
 
Sec. 3. The State shall defend:
 
x x x x
(2) The right of children to assistance,
including proper care and nutrition, and special
protection from all forms of neglect, abuse,
cruelty, exploitation, and other con-ditions
prejudicial to their development.

 
 
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This is a specific provision peculiar to the Philippines. No

other Constitution in the whole world contains this
mandate. Keeping true to this mandate, Mr. President, and
the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child which has
been drafted in the largest global summit, of which we have
acceded, we should waste no time in passing this significant
bill into law. This is a commitment; thus, we should not
thrive on mere promises. We, the legislature of this country,
must have that political will to transform this promise into
a vibrant reality.
Children’s normal growth and development, considering
their young minds and fragile bodies, must not be stunted.
We legislators must pave the way for the sustained progress
of our children. Let not a child’s opportunity for physical,
spiritual, moral, social and intellectual well-being be
stunted by the creeping cruelty and insanity that sometimes
plague the minds of the adults in the society who, ironically,
are the persons most expected to be the guardians of their
interest and welfare.95

 
Justice Caguioa further submits that Section 5(b) of R.A.
No. 7610 cannot be read in isolation in the way
that Dimakuta, Quimvel and Caoili do, but must be read in
the whole context of R.A. No. 7610 which revolves around
(1) child prostitution, (2) other sexual abuse in relation to
prostitution and (3) the specific acts punished under R.A.
No. 7610, namely, child trafficking under Article IV,
obscene publications and indecent shows under Article V,
and sanctions for establishments where these prohibited
acts are promoted, facilitated or conducted under Article
VII. He adds that even an analysis of the structure of R.A.
No. 7610 demonstrates its intended application to the said
cases of child exploitation involving children “exploited in
prostitution or subjected to other sexual abuse.” Citing the
exchange between Senators Pimentel and Lina during the
second reading of Senate Bill No. 1209 with

_______________

95  Record of the Senate on Senate Bill No. 1209, Volume III, No. 104,
pp. 1204-1205. (Emphasis added)

 
 
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respect to the provision on attempt to commit child

prostitution, Justice Caguioa likewise posits that a person
can only be convicted of violation of Article 336 in relation
to Section 5(b), upon allegation and proof of the unique
circumstances of the children “exploited in prostitution or
subjected to other sexual abuse.”
We disagree that the whole context in which Section 5(b)
of R.A. No. 7610 must be read revolves only around child
prostitution, other sexual abuse in relation to prostitution,
and the specific acts punished under R.A. No. 7610. In fact,
the provisos of Section 5(b) itself explicitly state that it
must also be read in light of the provisions of the RPC,
thus: “Provided, That when the victim is under twelve (12)
years of age, the perpetrators shall be prosecuted under
Article 335, paragraph 3, for rape and Article 336 of Act No.
3815, as amended, the Revised Penal Code, for rape or
lascivious conduct, as the case may be; Provided, That the
penalty for lascivious conduct when the victim is under
twelve (12) years of age shall be reclusion temporal in its
medium period.”
When the first proviso of Section 5(b) states that “when
the victim is under 12 years of age shall be prosecuted
under the RPC,” it only means that the elements of rape
under then Article 335, paragraph 3 of the RPC [now
Article 266-A, paragraph 1(d)], and of acts of lasciviousness
under Article 336 of the RPC, have to be considered,
alongside the element of the child being “exploited in
prostitution and or other sexual abuse,” in determining
whether the perpetrator can be held liable under R.A. No.
7610. The second proviso of Section 5(b), on the other hand,
merely increased the penalty for lascivious conduct when
the victim is under 12 years of age, from prisión
correccional to reclusion temporal in its medium period, in
recognition of the principle of statutory acts of
lasciviousness, where the consent of the minor is
immaterial.
Significantly, what impels Us to reject Justice Caguioa’s
view that acts of lasciviousness committed against children
may be punished under either Article 336 of the RPC
[with
 
 
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prisión correccional] or Acts of Lasciviousness under

Article 336 of the RPC, in relation to Section 5(b) of R.A.
No. 7610 [with reclusion temporal medium]/Lascivious
Conduct under Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610 [with reclusion
temporal medium to reclusion perpetua], is the provision
under Section 10 of R.A. No. 7610.
As pointed out by the ponente in Quimvel, where the
victim of acts of lasciviousness is under 7 years old,
Quimvel cannot be merely penalized with prisión
correccional for acts of lasciviousness under Article 336 of
the RPC when the victim is a child because it is contrary to
the letter and intent of R.A. No. 7610 to provide for
stronger deterrence and special protection against child
abuse, exploitation and discrimination. The legislative
intent is expressed under Section 10, Article VI of R.A. No.
7610 which, among others, increased by one degree the
penalty for certain crimes when the victim is a child under
12 years of age, to wit:

Section 10. Other Acts of Neglect, Abuse, Cruelty or

Exploitation and Other Conditions Prejudicial to the Child’s
Development.—
xxxx
For purposes of this Act, the penalty for the commission
of acts punishable under Articles 248, 249, 262, paragraph
2, and 263, paragraph 1 of Act No. 3815, as amended, for
the crimes of murder, homicide, other intentional
mutilation, and serious physical injuries, respectively, shall
be reclusion perpetua when the victim is under twelve (12)
years of age. The penalty for the commission of acts
punishable under Article 337, 339, 340 and 341 of Act
No. 3815, as amended, the Revised Penal Code, for the
crimes of qualified seduction, acts of lasciviousness
with consent of the offended party, corruption of
minors, and white slave trade, respectively, shall be
one (1) degree

 
 
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higher than that imposed by law when the victim is

under twelve (12) years of age.96

 
The ponente  explained that to impose upon  Quimvel  an
indeterminate sentence computed from the penalty
of prisión correccional under Article 336 of the RPC would
defeat the purpose of R.A. No. 7610 to provide for stronger
deterrence and special protection against child abuse,
exploitation and discrimination.  First, the imposition of
such penalty would erase the substantial distinction
between acts of lasciviousness under Article 336 and acts of
lasciviousness with consent of the offended party under
Article 339,97  which used to be punishable by  arresto
mayor, and now by prisión correccional pursuant to Section
10, Article VI of R.A. No. 7610.  Second, it would
inordinately put on equal footing the acts of lascivi-

_______________

96  See Separate Concurring Opinion in Quimvel v. People, supra note

35. (Emphasis added)
97   ARTICLE 339. Acts of Lasciviousness with the Consent of the
Offended Party.—The penalty of arresto mayor shall be imposed to punish
any other acts of lasciviousness committed by the same persons and the
same circumstances as those provided in Articles 337 and 338.
ARTICLE 337. Qualified Seduction.—The seduction of a virgin over
twelve years and under eighteen years of age, committed by any person in
public authority, priest, house-servant, domestic, guardian, teacher, or
any person who, in any capacity, shall be entrusted with the education or
custody of the woman seduced, shall be punished by prisión correccional in
its minimum and medium periods.
The penalty next higher in degree shall be imposed upon any person
who shall seduce his sister or descendant, whether or not she be a virgin
or over eighteen years of age.
Under the provisions of this Chapter, seduction is committed when the
offender has carnal knowledge of any of the persons and under the
circumstances described herein.
ARTICLE 338. Simple Seduction.—The seduction of a woman who is
single or a widow of good reputation, over twelve but under eighteen years
of age, committed by means of deceit, shall be punished by arresto mayor.

 
 
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ousness committed against a child and the same crime

committed against an adult, because the imposable penalty
for both would still be  prisión correccional, save for the
aggravating circumstance of minority that may be
considered against the perpetrator.  Third, it would make
acts of lasciviousness against a child a probationable
offense, pursuant to the Probation Law of 1976,98  as
amended by R.A. No. 10707.99  Indeed, while the foregoing
implications are favorable to the accused, they are contrary
to the State policy and principles under R.A. No. 7610 and
the Constitution on the special protection to children.
Justice Caguioa also faults that a logical leap was
committed when the  ponencia posited that the Section 10,
Article VI, R.A. No. 7610 amendment of the penalties
under Articles 337, 339, 340 and 341 of the RPC, also
affected Article 336 on acts of lasciviousness. He argues
that given the clear import of Section 10 to the effect that
the legislature expressly named the provisions it sought to
amend through R.A. No. 7610, amendment by implication
cannot be insisted on.
We disagree. Articles 337 (Qualified Seduction), 339
(Acts of Lasciviousness with the Consent of the Offended
Party), 340 (Corruption of Minor) and 341 (White Slave
Trade) of the RPC, as well as Article 336 (Acts of
Lasciviousness) of the RPC, fall under Title Eleven of the
RPC on Crimes against Chastity. All these crimes can be
committed against children. Given the policy of R.A. No.
7610 to provide stronger deterrence and special protection
against child abuse, We see no reason why the penalty for
acts of lasciviousness committed 

_______________

98  Presidential Decree No. 968.

99  AN ACT AMENDING PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 968, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS
THE “PROBATION LAW OF 1976,” as amended. Approved on November 26,
2015. Section 9 of the Decree, as amended, provides that the benefits
thereof shall not be extended to those “(a) sentenced to serve a maximum
term of imprisonment of more than six (6) years.” Note: The duration of
the penalty of prisión correccional is 6 months and 1 day to 6 years.

 
 
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410 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

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against children should remain to be prisión correccional

when Section 5(b), Article III of R.A. No. 7610 penalizes
those who commit lascivious conduct with a child exploited
in prostitution or subject to other sexual abuse with a
penalty of reclusion temporal in its medium period when
the victim is under 12 years of age.
Contrary to the view of Justice Caguioa, there is,
likewise, no such thing as a recurrent practice of relating
the crime committed to R.A. No. 7610 in order to increase
the penalty, which violates the accused’s constitutionally
protected right to due process of law. In the interpretation
of penal statutes, the rule is to subject it to careful scrutiny
and to construe it with such strictness as to safeguard the
rights of the accused,100 and at the same time preserve the
obvious intention of the legislature.101 A strict construction
of penal statutes should also not be permitted to defeat the
intent, policy and purpose of the legislature, or the object of
the law sought to be attained.102 When confronted with
apparently conflicting statutes, the courts should endeavor
to harmonize and reconcile them, instead of declaring the
outright invalidity of one against the other, because they
are equally the handiwork of the same legislature.103 In
this case, We are trying to harmonize the applicability of
the provisions of R.A. No. 7610 vis-à-vis those of the RPC,
as amended by R.A. No. 8353, in order to carry out the
legislative intent to provide stronger deterrence and special
protection against all forms of child abuse, exploitation and
discrimination.
Pertinent parts of the deliberation in Senate Bill No.
1209 underscoring the legislative intent to increase the
penalties as 

_______________

100   Centeno v. Villalon-Pornillos, 306 Phil. 219, 230; 236 SCRA 197,
205 (1994).
101  U.S. v. Go Chico, 14 Phil. 128, 140 (1909)
102  People v. Manantan, 115 Phil. 657, 665; 5 SCRA 684, 692 (1962).
103   Akbayan-Youth v. Commission on Elections, 407 Phil. 618, 639;
355 SCRA 318, 336 (2001).

 
 
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a deterrent against all forms of child abuse, including those

covered by the RPC and the Child and Youth Welfare Code,
as well as to give special protection to all children, read:

Senator Lina. x x x
For the information and guidance of our Colleagues, the
phrase “child abuse” here is more descriptive than a
definition that specifies the particulars of the acts of child
abuse. As can be gleaned from the bill, Mr. President, there
is a reference in Section 10 to the “Other Acts of Neglect,
Abuse, Cruelty or Exploitation and Other Conditions
Prejudicial to the Child’s Development.”
We refer, for example, to the Revised Penal Code. There
are already acts described and punished under the Revised
Penal Code and the Child and Youth Welfare Code. These
are all enumerated already, Mr. President. There are
particular acts that are already being punished.
But we are providing stronger deterrence against child
abuse and exploitation by increasing the penalties when the
victim is a child. That is number one. We define a child as
“one who is 15 years and below.” [Later amended to those
below 18, including those above 18 under special
circumstances]
The President Pro Tempore. Would the Sponsor
then say that this bill repeals, by implication or as a
consequence, the law he just cited for the protection
of the child as contained in that Code just mentioned,
since this provides for stronger deterrence against
child abuse and we have now a Code for the
protection of the child?
Senator Lina. We specified in the bill, Mr.
President, increase in penalties. That is one. But, of
course, that is not everything included in the bill.
There are other aspects like making it easier to
prosecute these cases of pedophilia in our country.
That is another aspect of this bill.

 
 
412
412 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
People vs. Tulagan

The other aspects of the bill include the increase

in the penalties on acts committed against children;
and by definition, children are those below 15 years
of age.
So, it is an amendment to the Child and Youth
Welfare Code, Mr. President. This is not an
amendment by implication. We made direct reference
to the Articles in the Revised Penal Code and in the
Articles in the Child and Youth Welfare Code that are
amen-ded because of the increase in the penalties.
The President Pro Tempore. Would Senator Lina
think then that, probably, it would be more advisable to
specify the amendments and amend the particular provision
of the existing law rather than put up a separate bill like
this?
Senator Lina. We did, Mr. President. In Section 10,
we made reference to. . .
The President Pro Tempore. The Chair is not
proposing any particular amendment. This is just an
inquiry for the purpose of making some suggestions at this
stage where we are now in the period of amendments.
Senator Lina. We deemed it proper to have a separate
Act, Mr. President, that will include all measures to provide
stronger deterrence against child abuse and exploitation.
There are other aspects that are included here other
than increasing the penalties that are already
provided for in the Revised Penal Code and in the
Child and Youth Welfare Code when the victims are
children.
Aside from the penalties, there are other measures
that are provided for in this Act. Therefore, to be
more systematic about it, instead of filing several
bills, we thought of having a separate Act that will
address the problems of children below 15 years of
age. This is to emphasize the fact that this is a special
sector in our society that

 
 
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People vs. Tulagan

needs to be given special protection. So this bill is now

being presented for consideration by the Chamber.104

 
The aforequoted parts of the deliberation in Senate Bill
No. 1209 likewise negate the contention of Justice Perlas-
Bernabe that “to suppose that R.A. No. 7610 would
generally cover acts already punished under the Revised
Penal Code (RPC) would defy the operational logic behind
the introduction of this special law.” They also address the
contention of Justice Caguioa that the passage of the same
law was the Senate’s act of heeding the call of the Court to
afford protection to a special class of children, and not to
cover any and all crimes against children that are already
covered by other penal laws, like the RPC and P.D. No.
603.
As pointed out by Senator Lina, the other aspect of S.B.
No. 1209, is to increase penalties on acts committed against
children; thus, direct reference was made to the Articles in
the RPC and in the Articles in the Child and Youth Welfare
Code that are amended because of the increase in the
penalties. The said legislative intent is consistent with the
policy to provide stronger deterrence and special protection
of children against child abuse, and is now embodied under
Section 10, Article VI of R.A. No. 7610, viz.:
 For purposes of this Act, the penalty for the commission
of acts punishable under Articles 248, 249, 262, paragraph
2, and 263, paragraph 1 of Act No. 3815, as amended, the
Revised Penal Code, for the crimes of murder, homicide,
other intentional mutilation, and serious physical injuries,
respectively, shall be reclusion perpetua  when the victim is
under twelve (12) years of age. The penalty for the
commission of acts punishable under Article 337, 339, 340
and 341 of Act No. 3815, as amended, the Revised Penal
Code, for the crimes of qualified seduction, acts of
lasciviousness with the consent of the of-

_______________

104   Record of the Senate, Vol. I, No. 7, pp. 258-259, August 1, 1991.
(Emphasis added)

 
 
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414 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

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fended party, corruption of minors, and white slave trade,

respectively, shall be one (1) degree higher than that
imposed by law when the victim is under twelve (12) years
age.

 
Justice Perlas-Bernabe and Justice Caguioa are both
correct that R.A. No. 7610 was enacted to fill the gaps in
the law, as observed by the Court in People v. Ritter.
However, they may have overlooked that fact that the
Congressional deliberations and the express provisions of
R.A. No. 7610 all point to the intention and policy to
systematically address the problems of children below 15
years of age [later increased to below 18], which Senator
Lina emphasized as a special sector in our society that
needs to be given special protection.105
Justice Perlas-Bernabe also noted that a general view on
the application of R.A. No. 7610 would also lead to an
unnerving incongruence between the law’s policy objective
and certain penalties imposed thereunder. She pointed out
that under Article 335 of the RPC, prior to its amendment
by R.A. No. 8353, the crime of rape committed against a
minor who is not under 12 and below 18, is punished with
the penalty of reclusion perpetua, while under Section 5(b),
Article III of R.A. No. 7610, the crime of sexual abuse
against a child EPSOSA is punished only with a lower
penalty of  reclusion temporal  in its medium period
to  reclusion perpetua. She concluded that it would not
make sense for the Congress to pass a supposedly stronger
law against child abuse if the same carries a lower penalty
for the same act of rape under the old RPC provision.
Justice Perlas-Bernabe’s observation on incongruent
penalties was similarly noted by the  ponente  in his
Separate Concurring Opinion in  Quimvel,  albeit  with
respect to the penalties for acts of lasciviousness committed
against a child, but he added that the proper remedy
therefor is a corrective legislation:

_______________

105  Id.

 
 
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People vs. Tulagan
 Curiously, despite the clear intent of R.A. 7610 to provide
for stronger deterrence and special protection against child
abuse, the penalty [reclusion temporal medium] when the
victim is under 12 years old is lower compared to the
penalty [reclusion temporal medium to reclusion perpetua]
when the victim is 12 years old and below 18. The same
holds true if the crime of acts of lasciviousness is attended
by an aggravating circumstance or committed by persons
under Section 31,106 Article XII of R.A. 7610, in which case,
the imposable penalty is reclusion perpetua. In contrast,
when no mitigating or aggravating circumstance attended
the crime of acts of lasciviousness, the penalty therefor
when committed against a child under 12 years old is aptly
higher than the penalty when the child is 12 years old and
below 18. This is because, applying the Indeterminate
Sentence Law, the minimum term in the case of the
younger victims shall be taken from reclusion temporal
minimum, whereas as the minimum term in the case of the
older victims shall be taken from prisión mayor medium to
reclusion temporal minimum. It is a basic rule in statutory
construction that what courts may correct to reflect the real
and apparent intention of the legislature are only those
which are clearly clerical errors or obvious mistakes,
omissions, and misprints, but not those due to oversight, as
shown by a review of extraneous circumstances, where the
law is clear, and to correct it would be to change the
meaning of the law. To my mind, a corrective legislation is
the proper remedy to address the noted incongruent
penalties for acts of lasciviousness committed against a
child.107

_______________

106  Section 31. Common Penal Provisions.—

  x x x x
(c) The penalty provided herein shall be imposed in its maximum
period when the perpetrator is an ascendant, parent, guardian,
stepparent or collateral relative wi-thin the second degree
of consanguinity or affinity, or a manager or owner of an
establishment which has no license to operate or its license has
expired or has been revoked. [Emphasis added]

 
 
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To support his theory that the provisions of R.A. No.

7610 are intended only for those under the unique
circumstances of the children being “exploited in
prostitution or subjected to other sexual abuse,” Justice
Caguioa quoted pertinent portions of the Senate
deliberation on the provision on attempt to commit child
prostitution,” which concededly do not affect Article 336 of
the RPC on acts of lasciviousness. Senator Lina provided
with a background, not of the provision of Section 5(b), but
of Section 6 of R.A. No. 7610 on attempt to commit child
prostitution, thus:

Senator Lina. x  x  x Mr. President, Article 336 of Act

No. 3815 will remain unaffected by this amendment we are
introducing here. As a backgrounder, the difficulty in the
prosecution of so-called “pedophiles” can be traced to this
problem of having to catch the malefactor committing the
sexual act on the victim. And those in the law enforcement
agencies and in the prosecution service of the Government
have found it difficult to prosecute. Because if an old person,
especially foreigner, is seen with a child with whom he has
no relation—blood or otherwise — and they are just seen in
a room and there is no way to enter the room and to see
them in flagrante delicto, then it will be very difficult for the
prosecution to charge or to hale to court these pedophiles.
 So we are introducing into this bill, Mr. President, an act
that is already considered an attempt to commit child
prostitution. This, in no way, affects the Revised Penal Code
provisions on acts of lasciviousness or qualified seduction.108

 
Justice Caguioa’s reliance on the foregoing statements of
Senator Lina is misplaced. While Senator Lina was
referring to the specific provision on attempt to commit
child prostitution under Section 6, Article III of R.A. No.
7610, Senator 

_______________

107  Citations omitted.

108  Record of the Senate, Vol. IV, No. 116, pp. 334-335, May 9, 1991.

 
 
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Aquilino Pimentel, Jr.’s questions were directed more on

the general effect of Senate Bill No. 1209 on the existing
provisions of the RPC on child sexual abuse, which elicited
from Senator Lina the intent to provide higher penalties for
such crimes, to wit:

Senator Pimentel. I understand the Gentleman’s

opinion on that particular point. But my question really is
much broader. I am sorry that it would seem as if I am
trying to be very meticulous about this.
Senator Lina. It is all right.
Senator Pimentel. But the point is, there are
existing laws that cover the sexual abuse of children
already, particularly female children. What I am
trying to say is, what effect will the distinguished
Gentleman’s bill have on these existing laws,
particularly provisions of the Revised Penal Code.
That is why I tried to cite the case of rape — having
sexual intercourse with a child below 12 years of age,
seduction instances, qualified abduction, or acts of
lasciviousness, involving minors; meaning to say,
female below 18 years of age. There are already
existing laws on this particular point.
Senator Lina. Mr. President, there will also be a
difference in penalties when the person or the victim is 12
years old or less. That is another effect. So, there is a
difference.
For example, in qualified seduction, the penalty present
for all persons between age of 13 to 17 is prisión
correccional; for acts of lasciviousness under the proposal,
similar acts will be prisión mayor if the child is 12 years or
less.
Under qualified seduction, the present penalty is prisión
correccional, minimum and medium. Under the proposal, it
will be prisión correccional maximum to prisión mayor
minimum, and so on and so forth.
Even in facts of lasciviousness, with consent of the
offended party, there is still a higher penalty. In corrup-

 
 
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tion of minors, there will be a higher penalty. When murder

is committed, and the victim is under 12 years or less, there
will be a higher penalty from reclusion temporal to reclusion
 perpetua. The penalty when the culprit is below 12 years or
less will be reclusion perpetua. The intention is really to
provide a strong deterrence sand special protection against
child abuse and exploitation.
Senator Pimentel. So, the net effect of this
amendment, therefore, is to amend the provisions of
the Revised Penal Code, insofar as they relate to the
victims who are females below the age of 12.
Senator Lina. That will be the net effect, Mr.
President.
Senator Pimentel. We probably just have to tighten
up our provisions to make that very explicit. Mr. President.
Senator Lina. Yes. During the period of individual
amendments, Mr. President, that can be well taken care
of.109

 
Quoting the sponsorship speech of Senator Rasul and
citing the case of  People v. Ritter,110  Justice Caguioa
asserts that the enactment of R.A. No. 7610 was a response
of the legislature to the observation of the Court that there
was a gap in the law because of the lack of criminal laws
which adequately protect street children from exploitation
of pedophiles.
Justice Caguioa is partly correct. Section 5(b) of R.A. No.
7610 is separate and distinct from common and ordinary
acts of lasciviousness under Article 336 of the RPC.
However, when the victim of such acts of lasciviousness is a
child, as defined by law, We hold that the penalty is that
provided for under Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610
—  i.e.,  reclusion temporal  medium  in case the victim is
under 12 years old, and  reclusion
temporal medium to reclusion perpetua when the victim

_______________

109  Id., at pp. 336-337.

110  272 Phil. 532; 194 SCRA 690 (1991).

 
 
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is between 12 years old or under 18 years old or above 18

under special circumstances — and not merely prisión
correccional under Article 336 of the RPC. Our view is
consistent with the legislative intent to provide stronger
deterrence against all forms of child abuse, and the evil
sought to be avoided by the enactment of R.A. No. 7610,
which was exhaustively discussed during the committee
deliberations of the House of Representatives:

HON. [PABLO] P. GARCIA. Thank you, Mr.

Chairman. This problem is also bogging me for quite some
time because there has been so much cry against this evil in
our society. But, then until now, neither the courts nor
those in the medical world have come up with the exact
definition of pedophilia. I have two standard dictionaries —
Webster and another one an English dictionary, Random
Dictionary and the term “pedophilia” is not there. Although,
we have read so much literature, articles about pedophilia
and it is commonly understood as we might say a special
predilection for children. “Pedo” coming from the Greek
word “pedo.” But whether this would apply to children of
either sex, say male or female is not also very clear. It is a
sexual desire for its very unusual out of the ordinary desire
or predilection for children. Now, in our country, this has
gain[ed] notoriety because of activities of foreigners in
Pagsanjan and even in Cebu. But most of the victims I have
yet to hear of another victim than male. Of course,
satisfaction of sexual desire on female, young female, we
 have instances of adults who are especially attracted to the
young female children, say below the ages of 12 or 15 if you
can still classify these young female children. So our first
problem is whether pedophilia would apply only to male
victims or should it also apply to female victims?
I am trying to make this distinction because we have
already a law in our jurisdiction. I refer to the Revised
Penal Code where sexual intercourse with a child below 12
automatically becomes statutory rape whether with or
without consent. In other words, force or intimidation is not
a necessary element. If a person commits

 
 
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sexual intercourse with a child below 12, then he

automatically has committed statutory rape and the penalty
is stiff. Now, we have really to also think deeply about our
accepted definition of sexual intercourse. Sexual intercourse
is committed against.  .  . or is committed by a man and a
woman. There is no sexual intercourse between persons of
the same sex. The sexual intercourse, as defined in the
standard dictionaries and also as has been defined by our
courts is always committed between a man and a woman.
And so if we pass here a law, which would define pedophilia
and include any sexual contact between persons of different
or the same sexes, in other words, homosexual or
heterosexual, then, we will have to be overhauling our
existing laws and jurisprudence on sexual offenses.
For example, we have in our Revised Penal Code,
qualified seduction, under Article 337 of the Revised Penal
Code, which provides that the seduction of a virgin over 12
and under 18 committed by any person in public authority:
priest, house servant, domestic guardian, teacher, or person
who in any capacity shall be entrusted with the education
or custody of the woman seduced, shall be punished by etc.,
etc. Now, if we make a general definition of pedophilia then
shall that offender, who, under our present law, is guilty of
pedophilia? I understand that the consensus is to consider a
woman or a boy below 15 as a child and therefore a
potential victim of pedophilia. And so, what will happen to
our laws and jurisprudence on seduction? The Chairman
earlier mentioned that possible we might just amend our
existing provisions on crimes against chastity, so as to make
it stiffer, if the victim or the offended party is a minor below
a certain age, then there is also seduction of a woman who
is single or a widow of good reputation, over 12 but under
18. Seduction, as understood in law, is committed against a
woman, in other words, a man having sexual intercourse
with a woman. That is how the term is understood in our
jurisprudence. So I believe Mr. Chairman, that we should
rather act with caution and circumspection on this matter.
Let us hear everybody because we are about to enact a law
which would have very dras-

 
 
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tic and transcendental effects on our existing laws. In the

first place, we are not yet very clear on what is pedophilia.
We have already existing laws, which would punish these
offenses.
As a matter of fact, for the information of this
Committee, in Cebu, I think that it is the first conviction for
 an offense which would in our understanding amounts to
pedophilia. A fourteen-year-old boy was the victim of certain
sexual acts committed by a German national. The fiscal
came up with an information for acts of lasciviousness
under the Revised Penal Code and that German national
was convicted for the offense charged. Now, the boy was
kept in his rented house and subjected to sexual practices
very unusual, tantamount to perversion but under present
laws, these offenses such as. . . well, it’s too, we might say,
too obscene to describe, cannot be categorized under our
existing laws except acts of lasciviousness because there is
no sexual intercourse. Sexual intercourse in our jurisdiction
is as I have stated earlier, committed by a man and a
woman. And it is a sexual contact of the organ of the man
with the organ of the woman. But in the case of this
German national, if there was any sexual contact it was
between persons of the same sex. So, he was convicted. He’s
a detention prisoner and there is also deportation
proceeding against him. In fact, he has applied for
voluntary deportation, but he is to serve a penalty of prisión
correccional to prisión mayor. So, that is the situation I
would say in which we find ourselves. I am loath to
immediately act on this agitation for a definition of a crime
of pedophilia. There is no I think this Committee should
study further the laws in other countries. Whether there is
a distinct crime known as pedophilia and whether this can
be committed against a person of the same sex or of another
sex, or whether this crime is separate and distinct from the
other crimes against honor or against chastity in their
respective jurisdictions. This is a social evil but it has to be
addressed with the tools we have at hand. If we have to
forge another tool or instrument to find to fight this evil,
then I think we should make sure that we are not doing
violence for destroying the other existing tools we

 
 
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have at hand. And maybe there is a need to sharpen the

tools we have at hand, rather than to make a new tool to
fight this evil. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.111

 
Moreover, contrary to the claim of Justice Caguioa, We
note that the Information charging Tulagan with rape by
sexual assault in Criminal Case No. SCC-6210 not only
distinctly stated that the same is “Contrary to Article 266-
A, par. 2 of the Revised Penal Code in relation to R.A.
7610,” but it also sufficiently alleged all the elements of
violation of Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610, in this wise:
 

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111  Deliberation of the Committee on Justice, December 19, 1989.

  
 
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In Quimvel, We ruled that the Information in Olivarez v.
Court of Appeals112 is conspicuously couched in a similar
fashion as the Information in the case against Quimvel. We
explained that the absence of the phrase “exploited in
prostitution or subject to other sexual abuse” or even a
specific mention of “coercion” or “influence” was never a bar
for us to uphold the finding of guilt against an accused for
violation of R.A. No. 7610. Just as We held that it was
enough for the Information in Olivarez to have alleged that
the offense was committed by means of ‘‘force and
intimidation,” We must also rule that the Information in
the case at bench does not suffer from the alleged infirmity.
We likewise held in  Quimvel  that the offense charged
can also be elucidated by consulting the designation of the
offense as appearing in the Information. The designation of
the offense is a critical element required under Sec. 6, Rule
110 of the Rules of Court for it assists in apprising the
accused of the offense being charged. Its inclusion in the
Information is imperative to avoid surprise on the accused
and to afford him of opportunity to prepare his defense
accordingly. Its import is underscored in this case where
the preamble states that the crime charged is “Acts of
Lasciviousness in relation to Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610.”
We held that for purposes of determining the proper
charge, the term “coercion or influence” as appearing in the
law is broad enough to cover “force and intimidation” as
used in the Information; in fact, as these terms are almost
used synonymously, it is then “of no moment that the
terminologies employed by R.A. No. 7610 and by the
Information are differ-

_______________

112  503 Phil. 421; 465 SCRA 465 (2005).

 
 
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ent.”113 We also ruled that a child is considered one

“exploited in prostitution or subjected to other sexual
abuse” when the child indulges in sexual intercourse or
lascivious conduct “under the coercion or influence of any
adult.”114 Thus, We rule that the above quoted Information
in Criminal Case No. SCC-6210 sufficiently informs
Tulagan of the nature and cause of accusation against him,
namely: rape by sexual assault under paragraph 2, Article
266-A of the RPC in relation to R.A. No. 7610.
We also take this opportunity to address the position of
Justice Caguioa and Justice Perlas-Bernabe, which is
based on dissenting opinions115  in  Olivarez  and  Quimvel.
Citing the Senate deliberations, the dissenting opinions
explained that the phrase “or any other consideration or
due to coercion or influence of any adult, syndicate or
group,” under Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610, was added to
merely cover situations where a child is abused or misused
for sexual purposes without any monetary gain or profit.
The dissenting opinions added that this was significant
because profit or monetary gain is essential in prostitution;
thus, the lawmakers intended that in case all other
elements of prostitution are present, but the monetary gain
or profit is missing, the sexually abused and misused child
would still be afforded the same protection of the law as if
he or she were in the same situation as a child exploited in
prostitution.116
We partly disagree with the foregoing view. The
amendment introduced by Senator Edgardo Angara not
only covers cases wherein the child is misused for sexual
purposes not because of money or profit, and coercion or
intimidation, but likewise expanded the scope of Section 5
of R.A. No. 7610 to

_______________

113  People v. Ejercito, G.R. No. 229861, July 2, 2018, 869 SCRA 353.
114  Id.
115  Penned by Senior Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio.
116   See Justice Carpio’s Dissenting Opinion in Quimvel v. People,
supra note 35.

 
 
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cover not just child prostitution but also “other sexual

abuse” in the broader context of child abuse, thus:

Senator Angara. I refer to line 9, “who for money or

profit.” I would like to amend this, Mr. President, to cover a
situation where the minor may have been coerced or
intimidated into this lascivious conduct, not necessarily for
money or profit, so that we can cover those situations and
not leave a loophole in this section.
This proposal I have is something like this: WHO FOR
MONEY, PROFIT, OR ANY OTHER CONSIDERATION
OR DUE TO THE COERCION OR INFLUENCE OF ANY
ADULT, SYNDICATE OR GROUP INDULGE, et cetera.
The President Pro Tempore. I see. That would mean
also changing the subtitle of Section 4. Will it no longer be
child prostitution?
Senator Angara. No, no. Not necessarily, Mr.
President, because we are still talking of the child who is
being misused for sexual purposes either for money or for
consideration. What I am trying to cover is the other
consideration. Because, here, it is limited only to the child
being abused or misused for sexual purposes, only for
money or profit.
I am contending, Mr. President, that there may be
situations where the child may not have been used for profit
or. . .
The President Pro Tempore. So, it is no longer
prostitution. Because the essence of prostitution is profit.
Senator Angara. Well, the Gentleman is right. Maybe
the heading ought to be expanded. But, still, the President
will agree that that is a form or manner of child abuse.
The President Pro Tempore. What does the Sponsor
say? Will the Gentleman kindly restate the amendment?

 
 
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ANGARA AMENDMENT
Senator Angara. The new section will read something
like this, Mr. President: MINORS, WHETHER MALE OR
 FEMALE, WHO FOR MONEY, PROFIT OR ANY OTHER
CONSIDERATION OR DUE TO THE COERCION OR
INFLUENCE OF ANY ADULT, SYNDICATE OR GROUP
INDULGE IN SEXUAL INTERCOURSE, et cetera.
Senator Lina. It is accepted, Mr. President.
The President Pro Tempore. Is there any objection?
[Silence] Hearing none, the amendment is approved.
How about the title, “Child Prostitution,” shall we
change that too?
Senator Angara. Yes, Mr. President, to cover the
expanded scope.
The President Pro Tempore. Is that not what we
would call probably “child abuse”?
Senator Angara. Yes, Mr. President.
The President Pro Tempore. Is that not defined on
line 2, page 6?
Senator Angara. Yes, Mr. President. Child
prostitution and other sexual abuse.
The President Pro Tempore. Subject to rewording. Is
there any objection? [Silence] Hearing none, the amendment
is approved. Any other amendments?117

 
Indeed, the Angara amendment explains not just the
rationale of the body of Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610 to
cover a loophole or situation where the minor may have
been coerced or intimidated to indulge in lascivious
conduct. The amendment of President Pro Tempore Laurel,
however, also affects the title of Article III, Section 5 of
R.A. No. 7610,  i.e., “Child Prostitution and Other Sexual
Abuse.” It is settled that if a 

_______________

117  Record of the Senate, Vol. I, No. 7, p. 262, August 1, 1991.

 
 
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chapter and section heading has been inserted merely for

convenience or reference, and not as integral part of the
statute, it should not be allowed to control
interpretation.118 To our mind, however, the amendment
highlights the intention to expand the scope of Section 5 to
incorporate the broader concept of “child abuse,” which
includes acts of lasciviousness under Article 336 of the RPC
committed against “children,” as defined under Section 3 of
R.A. No. 7610. Records of the Senate deliberation show
that “child prostitution” was originally defined as “minors,
whether male or female, who, for money or profit, indulge
in sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct are deemed
children exploited in prostitution.”119 With the late addition
of the phrase “or subject to other sexual abuse,” which
connotes “child abuse,” and in line with the policy of R.A.
No. 7610 to provide stronger deterrence and special
protection of children against child abuse, We take it to
mean that Section 5(b) also intends to cover those crimes of
child sexual abuse already punished under the RPC, and
not just those children exploited in prostitution or
subjected to other sexual abuse, who are coerced or
intimidated to indulge in sexual intercourse or lascivious
conduct. This is the reason why We disagree with the view
of Justice Perlas-Bernabe that the first proviso under
Section 5(b) — which provides that “when the victim is
under twelve (12) years of age, the perpetrators shall be
prosecuted under x x x the Revised Penal Code, for rape or
lascivious conduct, as the case may be” — is a textual
indicator that R.A. No. 7610 has a specific application only
to children who are predisposed to “consent” to a sexual act
because they are “exploited in prostitution or subject to
other sexual abuse,” thereby negating the ponente’s theory
of general applicability.
In  People v. Larin,120  We held that a child is deemed
exploited in prostitution or subjected to other sexual abuse,

_______________

118  Commissioner of Customs v. Relunia, 105 Phil. 875 (1959).

119  Records of the Senate, Vol. IV, No. 116, p. 33, May 9, 1991.
120  357 Phil. 987; 297 SCRA 309 (1998).

 
 
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when the child indulges in sexual intercourse or lascivious

conduct (a) for money, profit, or any other consideration; or
(b) under the coercion or influence of any adult, syndicate
or group. Under R.A. No. 7610, children are “persons below
eighteen years of age or those unable to fully take care of
themselves or protect themselves from abuse, neglect,
cruelty, exploitation or discrimination because of their age
or mental disability or condition.” Noting that the law
covers not only a situation in which a child is abused for
profit, but also one in which a child, through coercion or
intimidation, engages in any lascivious conduct, We ruled
that Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610 penalizes not only child
prostitution, the essence of which is profit, but also other
forms of sexual abuse of children. We stressed that this is
clear from the deliberations of the Senate, and that the law
does not confine its protective mantle only to children
under twelve (12) years of age.
In Amployo v. People,121 citing Larin, We observed that
Section 5 of R.A. No. 7610 does not merely cover a situation
of a child being abused for profit, but also one in which a
child engages in any lascivious conduct through coercion or
intimidation. As case law has it, intimidation need not
necessarily be irresistible. It is sufficient that some
compulsion equivalent to intimidation annuls or subdues
the free exercise of the will of the offended party. This is
especially true in the case of young, innocent and immature
girls who could not be expected to act with equanimity of
disposition and with nerves of steel. Young girls cannot be
expected to act like adults under the same circumstances or
to have the courage and intelligence to disregard the
threat.

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121  Amployo v. People, supra note 17.

 
 
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In Olivarez v. Court of Appeals,122 We held that a child

is deemed subjected to other sexual abuse when the child
indulges in lascivious conduct under the coercion or
influence of any adult. We found that the 16-year-old
victim in that case was sexually abused because she was
coerced or intimidated by petitioner to indulge in a
lascivious conduct. We stated that it is inconsequential that
the sexual abuse occurred only once because, as expressly
provided in Section 3(b) of R.A. 7610, the abuse may be
habitual or not. We also observed that Article III of R.A.
7610 is captioned as “Child Prostitution and Other Sexual
Abuse” because Congress really intended to cover a
situation where the minor may have been coerced or
intimidated into lascivious conduct, not necessarily for
money or profit, hence, the law covers not only child
prostitution but also other forms of sexual abuse.
In  Garingarao v. People,123  We ruled that a child is
deemed subject to other sexual abuse when the child is the
victim of lascivious conduct under the coercion or influence
of any adult. In lascivious conduct under the coercion or
influence of any adult, there must be some form of
compulsion equivalent to intimidation which subdues the
free exercise of the offended party’s free will. We further
ruled that it is inconsequential that sexual abuse under
R.A. No. 7610 occurred only once. Section 3(b) of R.A. No.
7610 provides that the abuse may be habitual or not.
Hence, the fact that the offense occurred only once is
enough to hold an accused liable for acts of lasciviousness
under R.A. No. 7610.
In Quimvel,124 We stressed that Section 5(a) of R.A. No.
7610 punishes acts pertaining to or connected with child
pros-

_______________

122  Olivarez v. Court of Appeals, supra note 112. Penned by Associate

Justice Consuela Ynares-Santiago, with Associate Justices Leonardo A.
Quisumbing and Adolfo S. Azcuna, concurring; and Chief Justice Hilario
G. Davide, Jr. joining the dissent of Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio.
123  669 Phil. 512; 654 SCRA 243 (2011).
124  Quimvel v. People, supra note 35.

 
 
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titution wherein the child is abused primarily for profit. On

the other hand, paragraph (b) punishes sexual intercourse
or lascivious conduct committed on a child subjected to
other sexual abuse. It covers not only a situation where a
child is abused for profit but also one in which a child,
through coercion, intimidation or influence, engages in
sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct. Hence, the law
punishes not only child prostitution but also other forms of
sexual abuse against children. This is even made clearer by
the deliberations of the Senate, as cited in the landmark
ruling of  People v. Larin. We also added that the very
definition of “child abuse” under Section 3(b) of R.A. No.
7610 does not require that the victim suffer a separate and
distinct act of sexual abuse aside from the act complained
of, for it refers to the maltreatment whether habitual or
not, of the child. Thus, a violation of Section 5(b) of R.A.
No. 7610 occurs even though the accused committed sexual
abuse against the child victim only once, even without a
prior sexual offense.
In Caoili,125 We reiterated that R.A. No. 7610 finds
application when the victims of abuse, exploitation or
discrimination are children or those “persons below 18
years of age or those over but are unable to fully take care
of themselves or protect themselves from abuse, neglect,
cruelty, exploitation or discrimination because of a physical
or mental disability or condition.” It has been settled that
Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610 does not require a prior or
contemporaneous abuse that is different from what is
complained of, or that a third person should act in concert
with the accused. Section 5 of R.A. No. 7610 does not
merely cover a situation of a child being abused for profit,
but also one in which a child is coerced to engage in
lascivious conduct.
Meanwhile, Justice Marvic Mario Victor F. Leonen
partly agrees with the  ponencia  that insertion of a finger
into a minor’s vagina deserves a higher penalty
than prisión mayor

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125  People v. Caoili, supra note 27 at p. 186.

 
 
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under Article 266-A, paragraph 2 in relation to Article 266-

B of the RPC. However, he asserts that non-consensual
insertion of a finger in another’s genitals is rape by carnal
knowledge under Article 266-A, paragraph 1 of the RPC.
He also reiterates his view in People v. Quimvel that
Article 336 of the RPC has already been rendered
ineffective with the passage of R.A. No. 8353.
We stand by our ruling in Caoili that the act of inserting
a finger in another’s genitals cannot be considered rape by
carnal knowledge, thus:

The language of paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 266-A of

the RPC, as amended by R.A. No. 8353, provides the
elements that substantially differentiate the two forms of
rape, i.e., rape by sexual intercourse and rape by sexual
assault. It is through legislative process that the dichotomy
between these two modes of rape was created. To broaden
the scope of rape by sexual assault, by eliminating its legal
distinction from rape through sexual intercourse, calls for
judicial legislation which We cannot traverse without
violating the principle of separation of powers. The Court
remains steadfast in confining its powers within the
constitutional sphere of applying the law as enacted by the
Legislature.
In fine, given the material distinctions between the two
modes of rape introduced in R.A. No. 8353, the variance
doctrine cannot be applied to convict an accused of rape by
sexual assault if the crime charged is rape through sexual
intercourse, since the former offense cannot be considered
subsumed in the latter.126

 
We also maintain the majority ruling in  Quimvel  that
Sec. 4 of R.A. No. 8353 did not expressly repeal Article 336
of the RPC for if it were the intent of Congress, it would
have expressly done so.  Apropos  is the following
disquisition in Quimvel:

_______________

126  Id., at p. 143.

 
 
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432 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

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x  x  x Rather, the phrase in Sec. 4 states: “deemed

amended, modified, or repealed accordingly” qualifies
“Article 335 of Act No. 3815, as amended, and all laws, acts,
presidential decrees, executive orders, administrative orders,
rules and regulations inconsistent with or contrary to the
provisions of [RA 8353].”
As can be read, repeal is not the only fate that may befall
statutory provisions that are inconsistent with RA 8353. It
may be that mere amendment or modification would suffice
to reconcile the inconsistencies resulting from the latter
 law’s enactment. In this case, Art. 335 of the RPC, which
previously penalized rape through carnal knowledge, has
been replaced by Art. 266-A. Thus, the reference by Art. 336
of the RPC to any of the circumstances mentioned on the
erstwhile preceding article on how the crime is perpetrated
should now refer to the circumstances covered by Art. 266-A
as introduced by the Anti-Rape Law.
We are inclined to abide by the Court’s long-standing
policy to disfavor repeals by implication for laws are
presumed to be passed with deliberation and full knowledge
of all laws existing on the subject. The failure to
particularly mention the law allegedly repealed indicates
that the intent was not to repeal the said law, unless an
irreconcilable inconsistency and repugnancy exists in the
terms of the new and old laws. Here, RA 8353 made no
specific mention of any RPC’s provision other than Art. 335
as having been amended, modified, or repealed. And as
demonstrated, the Anti Rape Law, on the one hand, and
Art. 336 of the RPC, on the other, are not irreconcilable.
The only construction that can be given to the phrase
“preceding article” is that Art. 336 of the RPC now refers to
Art. 266-A in the place of the repealed Art. 335. It is,
therefore, erroneous to claim that Acts of Lasciviousness
can no longer be prosecuted under the RPC.
It is likewise incorrect to claim that Art. 336 had been
rendered inoperative by the Anti-Rape Law and argue in
the same breath the applicability of Sec. 5(b) of RA 7610. x x
x

 
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People vs. Tulagan

x x x x
If Art. 336 then ceased to be a penal provision in view of
its alleged incompleteness, then so too would Sec. 5(b) of RA
7610 be ineffective since it defines and punishes the
prohibited act by way of reference to the RPC’s provision.
The decriminalization of Acts of Lasciviousness under
the RPC, as per Justice Leonen’s theory, would not
sufficiently be supplanted by RA 7610 and RA 9262,
otherwise known as the Anti-Violence Against Women and
their Children Law (Anti-VAWC Law). Under RA 7610, only
minors can be considered victims of the enumerated forms
of abuses therein. Meanwhile, the Anti-VAWC law limits
the victims of sexual abuses covered by the RA to a wife,
former wife, or any women with whom the offender has had
a dating or sexual relationship, or against her child.
Clearly, these laws do not provide ample protection against
sexual offenders who do not discriminate in selecting their
victims. One does not have to be a child before he or she can
be victimized by acts of lasciviousness. Nor does one have to
be a woman with an existing or prior relationship with the
offender to fall prey. Anyone can be a victim of another’s
lewd design. And if the Court will subscribe to Justice
Leonen’s position, it will render a large portion of our
demographics (i.e., adult females who had no prior
relationship to the offender, and adult males) vulnerable to
sexual abuses.127

 
To be sure, deliberation of Senate Bill No. 950 which
became R.A. No. 8353 reveals the legislative intent not to
repeal acts of lasciviousness under Article 336 of the RPC
as a crime against chastity, but only to reclassify rape as a
crime against persons, thus:

_______________

127  Quimvel v. People, supra note 35 at pp. 249-250.

 
  
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434 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

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Senator Enrile. x x x
As I indicated last week, I will support this bill but I
would like to clarify some points just to set the matters into
the Record.
Mr. President, the first thing I would like to find out is
the status of this bill — whether this is going to be a
statutory crime or a part of the crimes defined in the
Revised Penal Code.
There is a big difference between these two concepts, Mr.
President, because all of us who have studied law know in
our course in Criminal Law two of crimes: Crimes which we
call malum prohibitum which are statutory crimes and
mala in se or crimes that would require intent. That is why
we always recite the principle that actus non facit reum,
nisi mens sit rea. Because in every crime defined in the
Revised Penal Code, we required what they call a mens rea,
meaning intent to commit a crime in almost all cases:
attempted, frustrated and consummated.
Now, am I now to understand, Madam Sponsor, that this
type of crime will be taken out of the Revised Penal Code
and shall be covered by a special law making it a statutory
crime rather than a crime that is committed with the
accompaniment of intent.
Senator Shahani. Mr. President, we will recall that
this was the topic of prolonged interpellations not only by
Senator Enrile, but also by Senator Sotto. In consultation
with Senator Roco — we were not able to get in touch with
Senator Santiago — we felt that the purpose of this bill
would be better served if we limited the bill to amending
Article 335 of the Revised Penal Code, at the same time
expanding the definition of rape, reclassifying the same as a
crime against persons, providing evidentiary requirements
and procedures for the effective prosecution of offenders,
and institutionalizing measures for the protection and
rehabilitation of rape victims and for other purposes. In
other words, it stays within the Revised Penal Code, and
rape is associated with criminal intent.

 
 
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People vs. Tulagan

Having said this, it means that there will be a new

chapter. They are proposing a new chapter to be known as
Chapter III on rape, under Title 8 of the Revised Penal
Code. There it remains as a crime against persons and no
longer as a crime against chastity, but the criminal intent is
retained.
Senator Enrile. So, the distinction between rape
as a crime, although now converted from a crime
against chastity to a crime against persons, and
seduction and act of lasciviousness would be
maintained. Am I correct in this, Mr. President?
Senator Shahani. That is correct, Mr.
President.128

 
In light of the foregoing disquisition, We hold that
Tulagan was aptly prosecuted for sexual assault under
paragraph 2, Article 266-A of the RPC in Criminal Case.
No. SCC-6210 because it was alleged and proven that AAA
was nine (9) years old at the time he inserted his finger
into her vagina. Instead of applying the penalty under
Article 266-B of the RPC, which is  prisión mayor, the
proper penalty should be that provided in Section 5(b),
Article III of R.A. No. 7610, which is reclusion temporal  in
its medium period. This is because AAA was below twelve
(12) years of age at the time of the commission of the
offense, and that the act of inserting his finger in AAA’s
private part undeniably amounted to “lascivious
conduct.”129 Hence, the proper nomenclature of the offense

_______________

128  Record of the Senate, Bill on Second Reading, S. No. 950- Special
Law on Rape, July 29, 1996.
129   Section 3(h) of R.A. No. 7610 states that “lascivious conduct”
means the intentional touching, either directly or through clothing, of the
genitalia, anus, groin, breast, inner thigh, or buttocks, or the introduction
of any object into the genitalia, anus or mouth, of any person, whether of
the same or opposite sex, with an intent to abuse, humiliate, harass,
degrade, or arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person, bestiality,
masturbation, lascivious exhibition of the genitals or pubic area of a
person.

 
 
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436 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

People vs. Tulagan

should be Sexual Assault under paragraph 2, Article 266-A

of the RPC, in relation to Section 5(b), Article III of R.A.
No. 7610.
Applying the Indeterminate Sentence Law, the
maximum term of the indeterminate penalty shall be that
which could be properly imposed under the law, which is
fifteen (15) years, six (6) months and twenty (20) days of
reclusion temporal. On the other hand, the minimum term
shall be within the range of the penalty next lower in
degree, which is reclusion temporal in its minimum period,
or twelve (12) years and one (1) day to fourteen (14) years
and eight (8) months. Hence, Tulagan should be meted the
indeterminate sentence of twelve (12) years, ten (10)
months and twenty-one (21) days of reclusion temporal, as
minimum, to fifteen (15) years, six (6) months and twenty
(20) days of reclusion temporal, as maximum.
In Criminal Case No. SCC-6211 for statutory rape, We
affirm that Tulagan should suffer the penalty of reclusion
perpetua in accordance with paragraph 1(d), Article 266-A
in relation to Article 266-B of the RPC, as amended by R.A.
No. 8353.
 
Damages
 
For the sake of consistency and uniformity, We deem it
proper to address the award of damages in cases of Sexual
Assault under paragraph 2, Article 266-A of the RPC in
relation to Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610, and Acts of
Lasciviousness under Article 336 of the RPC in relation to
Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610. Considering that the
imposable penalties for the said two crimes are within the
range of reclusion temporal, the award of civil indemnity
and moral damages should now be fixed in the amount of
P50,000.00 each. The said amount is based on People v.
Jugueta130 which awards civil 

_______________

130  Supra note 13.

 
 
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People vs. Tulagan

indemnity and moral damages in the amount of P50,000.00

each in cases of homicide where the imposable penalty
is  reclusion temporal. In case exemplary damages are
awarded due to the presence of any aggravating
circumstance, to set a public example, or to deter elders
who abuse and corrupt the youth, then an equal amount of
P50,000.00 should likewise be awarded.
The said award of civil indemnity, moral damages and
exemplary damages should be distinguished from those
awarded in cases of: (1) Acts of Lasciviousness under
Article 336 of the RPC where the imposable penalty
is  prisión correccional, the amount of civil indemnity and
moral damages should now be fixed at P20,000.00 while
exemplary damages, if warranted, should also be
P20,000.00; (2) Sexual Assault under paragraph 2, Article
266-A of the RPC where the imposable penalty is  prisión
mayor, the award of civil indemnity and moral damages
should be fixed at P30,000.00 each, while the award of
exemplary damages, if warranted, should also be
P30,000.00 pursuant to prevailing jurisprudence;131 and (3)
Lascivious conduct under Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610,
when the penalty of reclusion perpetua is imposed, and the
award of civil indemnity, moral damages and exemplary
damages is P75,000.00 each.
The justification for the award of civil indemnity, moral
damages and exemplary damages was discussed in  People
v. Combate,132 as follows:

First,  civil indemnity  ex delicto  is the indemnity

authorized in our criminal law for the offended party, in the
amount authorized by the prevailing judicial policy and
apart from other proven actual damages, which itself is
equivalent to actual or compensatory damages in civil law.
This award stems from Article 100 of the RPC which

_______________

131   People v. Brioso, supra note 48; Ricalde v. People, 751 Phil. 793;
747 SCRA 542 (2015).
132  653 Phil. 487; 638 SCRA 797 (2010).

 
 
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438 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

People vs. Tulagan

states, “Every person criminally liable for a felony is also

civilly liable.”
Civil liability ex delicto may come in the form of
restitution, reparation, and indemnification. Restitution is
defined as the compensation for loss; it is full or partial
compensation paid by a criminal to a victim ordered as part
of a criminal sentence or as a condition for probation.
Likewise, reparation and indemnification are similarly
defined as the compensation for an injury, wrong, loss, or
damage sustained. Clearly, all of these correspond to actual
or compensatory damages defined under the Civil Code.
x x x x
The second type of damages the Court awards are moral
damages, which are also compensatory in nature. Del
Mundo v. Court of Appeals expounded on the nature and
purpose of moral damages, viz.:
Moral damages, upon the other hand, may be
awarded to compensate one for manifold injuries such
as physical suffering, mental anguish, serious
anxiety, besmirched reputation, wounded feelings and
social humiliation. These damages must be
understood to be in the concept of grants, not punitive
 or corrective in nature, calculated to compensate the
claimant for the injury suffered. Although incapable
of exactness and no proof of pecuniary loss is
necessary in order that moral damages may be
awarded, the amount of indemnity being left to the
discretion of the court, it is imperative, nevertheless,
that (1) injury must have been suffered by the
claimant, and (2) such injury must have sprung from
any of the cases expressed in Article 2219 and Article
2220 of the Civil Code x x x.
Similarly, in American jurisprudence, moral damages
are treated as “compensatory damages awarded for mental
pain and suffering or mental anguish resulting

 
 
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People vs. Tulagan

from a wrong.” They may also be considered and allowed

“for resulting pain and suffering, and for humiliation,
indignity, and vexation suffered by the plaintiff as result of
his or her assailant’s conduct, as well as the factors of
provocation, the reasonableness of the force used, the
attendant humiliating circumstances, the sex of the victim,
[and] mental distress.”
The rationale for awarding moral damages has been
explained in Lambert v. Heirs of Rey Castillon: “[T]he award
of moral damages is aimed at a restoration, within the
limits possible, of the spiritual status quo ante; and
therefore, it must be proportionate to the suffering
inflicted.”
Corollarily, moral damages under Article 2220 of the
Civil Code also does not fix the amount of damages that can
be awarded. It is discretionary upon the court, depending on
the mental anguish or the suffering of the private offended
party. The amount of moral damages can, in relation to civil
indemnity, be adjusted so long as it does not exceed the
award of civil indemnity.
x x x x
Being corrective in nature, exemplary damages,
therefore, can be awarded, not only due to the presence of
an aggravating circumstance, but also where the
circumstances of the case show the highly reprehensible or
outrageous conduct of the offender. In much the same way
as Article 2230 prescribes an instance when exemplary
damages may be awarded, Article 2229, the main provision,
lays down the very basis of the award. Thus, in People v.
Matrimonio, the Court imposed exemplary damages to deter
other fathers with perverse tendencies or aberrant sexual
behavior from sexually abusing their own daughters. Also,
in People v. Cristobal, the Court awarded exemplary
damages on account of the moral corruption, perversity and
wickedness of the accused in sexually assaulting a pregnant
married woman. In People of the Philippines v. Cristino
Cañada, People of the Philippines v. Pepito Neverio and
People of the Philippines v. Lorenzo Layco, Sr., the Court
awarded exem-

 
 
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440 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

People vs. Tulagan

plary damages to set a public example, to serve as deterrent

to elders who abuse and corrupt the youth, and to protect
the latter from sexual abuse.133
 
In summary, the award of civil indemnity, moral
damages and exemplary damages in Acts of Lasciviousness
under Article 336 of the RPC, Acts of Lasciviousness in
relation to Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610, Lascivious
Conduct under Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610, Sexual
Assault under paragraph 2, Article 266-A of the RPC, and
Sexual Assault in relation to Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610,
are as follows:
 

_______________

133   Id., at pp. 504-508; pp. 811-815. (Emphasis added; citations

omitted)
134    If an aggravating circumstance is present or to set as a public
example to deter sexual abuse.

 
 
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It is settled that an award of civil indemnity ex delicto is
mandatory upon a finding of the fact of rape, and moral
damages may be automatically awarded in rape cases
without need of proof of mental and physical suffering. The
award of exemplary damages is also called for to set a
public example and to protect the young from sexual abuse.
As to the civil liability in Criminal Case No. SCC-6210 for
sexual assault under paragraph 2, Article 266-A of the
RPC, in relation to Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610, Tulagan
should, therefore, pay AAA the amounts of P50,000.00 as
civil indemnity, P50,000.00 as moral damages, and
P50,000.00 as exemplary damages.
Anent the award of damages in Criminal Case No. SCC-
6211 for statutory rape, We modify the same in line with
the ruling in People v. Jugueta,135 where We held that
“when the circumstances surrounding the crime call for the
imposition of 

_______________

135  Supra note 13.

 
 
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442 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

People vs. Tulagan

reclusion perpetua  only, there being no ordinary

aggravating circumstance, the proper amounts should be
P75,000.00 as civil indemnity, P75,000.00 as moral
damages, and P75,000.00 as exemplary damages.” Also in
consonance with prevailing jurisprudence, the amount of
damages awarded shall earn interest at the rate of six
percent (6%) per annum from the finality of this judgment
until said amounts are fully paid.
Over and above the foregoing, We observe that despite
the clear intent of R.A. No. 7610 to provide for stronger
deterrence and special protection against child abuse, the
penalty for violation of Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610
[reclusion temporal medium] when the victim is under 12
years old is lower compared to the penalty [reclusion
temporal medium to reclusion perpetua] when the victim is
12 years old and below 18. The same holds true if the crime
of acts of lasciviousness is attended by an aggravating
circumstance or committed by persons under Section 31,136
Article XII of R.A. No. 7610, in which case, the imposable
penalty is reclusion perpetua. In contrast, when no
mitigating or aggravating circumstance attended the crime
of acts of lasciviousness, the penalty therefor when
committed against a child under 12 years old is aptly
higher than the penalty when the child is 12 years old and
below 18. This is because, applying the Indeterminate
Sentence Law, the minimum term in the case of the
younger victims shall be taken from reclusion temporal
minimum,137 whereas as the minimum term in the case of
the older victims shall be taken from prisión mayor
medium to reclusion tem-

_______________

136  Section 31. Common Penal Provisions.—

x x x x
(c) The penalty provided herein shall be imposed in its maximum
period when the perpetrator is an ascendant, parent, guardian, stepparent
or collateral relative within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity,
or a manager or owner of an establishment which has no license to
operate or its license has expired or has been revoked.
137  Ranging from 12 years and 1 day to 14 years and 8 months.

 
 
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People vs. Tulagan

poral  minimum.138  It is a basic rule in statutory

construction that what courts may correct to reflect the real
and apparent intention of the legislature are only those
which are clearly clerical errors or obvious mistakes,
omissions, and misprints,139 but not those due to oversight,
as shown by a review of extraneous circumstances, where
the law is clear, and to correct it would be to change the
meaning of the law.140 Thus, a corrective legislation is the
proper remedy to address the noted incongruent penalties
for acts of lasciviousness committed against a child.
We further note that R.A. No. 8353 did not expressly
repeal Article 336 of the RPC, as amended. Section 4 of
R.A. No. 8353 only states that Article 336 of the RPC, as
amended, and all laws, rules and regulations inconsistent
with or contrary to the provisions thereof are deemed
amended, modified or repealed, accordingly. There is
nothing inconsistent between the provisions of Article 336
of the RPC, as amended, and R.A. No. 8353, except in
sexual assault as a form of rape. To recall, R.A. No. 8353
only modified Article 336 of the RPC, as follows: (1) by
carrying over to acts of lasciviousness the additional
circumstances141  applicable to rape,  viz.: threat and
fraudulent machinations or grave abuse of authority; (2) by
retaining the circumstance that the offended party is under
12 years old, and including dementia as another one, in
order for acts of lasciviousness to be considered as
statutory, wherein evidence of force or intimidation is
immaterial because the offended party who is under 12
years old or demented, is presumed incapable of giving
rational consent; and (3) by removing from the scope of acts
of lasciviousness and placing under the crime of rape by
sexual assault the specific lewd act of inserting the
offender’s penis into another person’s 

_______________

138  Ranging from 8 years, 1 day to 14 years and 8 months.

139  Lamb v. Phipps, 22 Phil. 456 (1912).
140  People v. De Guzman, 90 Phil. 132 (1951).
141  Aside from the use of force or intimidation, or when the woman is
deprived of reason or otherwise unconscious.

 
 
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444 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

People vs. Tulagan

mouth or anal orifice, or any instrument or object into the

genital or anal orifice of another person. Hence, Article 336
of the RPC, as amended, is still a good law despite the
enactment of R.A. No. 8353 for there is no irreconcilable
inconsistency between their provisions. When the
lascivious act is not covered by R.A. No. 8353, then Article
336 of the RPC is applicable, except when the lascivious
conduct is covered by R.A. No. 7610.
We are also not unmindful of the fact that the accused
who commits acts of lasciviousness under Article 336 of the
RPC, in relation to Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610, suffers
the more severe penalty of reclusion temporal in its
medium period, than the one who commits Rape Through
Sexual Assault, which is merely punishable by prisión
mayor.
In People v. Chingh,142 We noted that the said fact is
undeniably unfair to the child victim, and it was not the
intention of the framers of R.A. No. 8353 to have disallowed
the applicability of R.A. No. 7610 to sexual abuses
committed to children. We held that despite the passage of
R.A. No. 8353, R.A. No. 7610 is still a good law, which must
be applied when the victims are children or those “persons
below eighteen (18) years of age or those over but are
unable to fully take care of themselves or protect
themselves from abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation or
discrimination because of a physical or mental disability or
condition.”143
In  Dimakuta, We added that where the lascivious
conduct is covered by the definition under R.A. No. 7610,
where the penalty is  reclusion temporal  medium and the
said act is, likewise, covered by sexual assault under Art.
266-A, paragraph 2 of the RPC, which is punishable
by prisión mayor, the offender should be liable for violation
of Section 5(b), Article III of R.A. No. 7610, where the law
provides the higher penalty of reclusion temporal  medium,
if the offended party is a 

_______________

142  661 Phil. 208; 645 SCRA 573 (2011).

143  R.A. No. 7610, Art. I, Sec. 3(a).

 
  
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People vs. Tulagan

child. But if the victim is at least eighteen (18) years of age,

the offender should be liable under Art. 266-A, par. 2 of the
RPC and not R.A. No. 7610, unless the victim is at least 18
years old and she is unable to fully take care of herself or
protect herself from abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation or
discrimination because of a physical or mental disability or
condition, in which case, the offender may still be held
liable of sexual abuse under R.A. No. 7610. The reason for
the foregoing is that with respect to lascivious conduct,
R.A. No. 7610 affords special protection and stronger
deterrence against child abuse, as compared to R.A. No.
83.53 which specifically amended the RPC provisions on
rape.
Finally, despite the enactment of R.A. No. 8353 more
than 20 years ago in 1997, We had been consistent in our
rulings in Larin, Olivarez, and Garingarao, Quimvel and
Caoili, all of which uphold the intent of R.A. No. 7610 to
provide special protection of children and stronger
deterrence against child abuse. Judicial stability compels to
stand by, but not to abandon, our sound rulings: [1] that
Section 5(b), Article III of R.A. No. 7610 penalizes not only
child prostitution, the essence of which is profit, but also
other forms of sexual abuse wherein a child engages in
sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct through coercion or
influence; and [2] that it is inconsequential that the sexual
abuse occurred only once. Our rulings also find textual
anchor on Section 5, Article III of R.A. No. 7610, which
explicitly states that a child is deemed “exploited in
prostitution or subjected to other sexual abuse,” when the
child indulges in sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct
for money, profit or any other consideration, or under the
coercion or influence of any adult, syndicate or group, as
well as on Section 3(b), Article I thereof, which clearly
provides that the term “child abuse” refers to the
maltreatment, whether habitual or not, of the child which
includes sexual abuse.
If the lawmakers disagreed with our interpretation, they
could have easily amended the law, just like what they did
 
 
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446 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

People vs. Tulagan

when they enacted R.A. No. 10591144 [Amendment on the

provision of use of firearm in the commission of a crime],
R.A. No. 10951145 [Amendments to certain penalty and
fines under the Revised Penal Code] and R.A. No. 10707146
[Amendments to the Probation Law] after We rendered
People v. Ladjaalam,147 Corpuz v. People,148 Colinares v.
People and Dimakuta v. People, respectively, and their
silence could only be construed as acquiescence to our
rulings.
WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, the
appeal is DENIED. The Joint Decision dated February 10,
2014 of the Regional Trial Court in Criminal Case Nos.
SCC-6210 and SCC-6211, as affirmed by the Court of
Appeals’ Decision dated August 17, 2015 in C.A.-G.R. CR-
H.C. No. 06679, is AFFIRMED with MODIFICATIONS.
We find accused-appellant Salvador Tulagan:
 
1.  Guilty beyond reasonable doubt of  Sexual Assault
under paragraph 2, Article 266-A of the Revised Penal
Code, in relation to Section 5(b) of Republic Act No.
 7610, in Criminal Case No. SCC-6210, and is
sentenced to suffer the indeterminate penalty of
twelve (12) years, ten (10) months and twenty-one
(21) days of  reclusion temporal, as minimum, to
fifteen (15) years, six (6) months and twenty (20) days
of  reclusion temporal, as maximum. Appellant
is ORDERED to PAY AAA the amounts of P50,000.00
as civil indemnity,

_______________

144    AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A COMPREHENSIVE LAW ON FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION

AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS THEREOF.
145    AN ACT ADJUSTING THE AMOUNT OR THE VALUE OF PROPERTY AND

DAMAGE ON WHICH A PENALTY IS BASED, AND THE FINES IMPOSED UNDER THE

REVISED PENAL CODE, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE ACT NO. 3815, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS “THE REVISED PENAL CODE,” as amended.
146  Presidential Decree No. 968.
147  395 Phil. 1; 340 SCRA 617 (2000).
148  734 Phil. 353; 724 SCRA 1 (2014).

 
 
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P50,000.00 as moral damages, and P50,000.00 as

exemplary damages.
2. Guilty beyond reasonable doubt of Statutory Rape
under Article 266-A(1)(d) and penalized in Article 266-
B of the Revised Penal Code, in Criminal Case No.
SCC-6211, and is sentenced to suffer the penalty of
reclusion perpetua with modification as to the award
of damages. Appellant is ORDERED to PAY AAA the
amounts of P75,000.00 as civil indemnity, P75,000.00
as moral damages, and P75,000.00 as exemplary
damages.
 
Legal interest of six percent (6%) per annum is imposed
on all damages awarded from the date of finality of this
Decision until fully paid.
Let a copy of this Decision be furnished the Department
of Justice, the Office of the Solicitor General, the Office of
the Court Administrator, and the Presiding Justice of the
Court of Appeals, for their guidance and information, as
well as the House of Representatives and the Senate of the
Philippines, as reference for possible statutory
amendments on the maximum penalty for lascivious
conduct under Section 5(b), Article III of R.A. No. 7610
when the victim is under 12 years of age [reclusion
temporal medium], and when the victim is 12 years old and
below 18, or 18 or older under special circumstances
[reclusion temporal medium to reclusion perpetua] under
Section 3(a) of R.A. No. 7610.
SO ORDERED.

Bersamin (CJ.), Carpio, Del Castillo, A. Reyes, Jr.,

Gesmundo, J. Reyes, Jr., Hernando and Carandang, JJ.,
concur.
Perlas-Bernabe, J., Please see Separate Opinion.
Leonen, J., Concurring in the result. See Separate
Opinion.

 
 
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 Jardeleza, J., I join Separate Concurring and
Dissenting Opinion of J. Caguioa.
Caguioa, J., Please see Separate Concurring and
Dissenting Opinion.
Lazaro-Javier, J., No part.

 
SEPARATE OPINION
 
PERLAS-BERNABE, J.:
 
While I agree with the resulting verdict against accused-
appellant Salvador Tulagan (Tulagan), I tender this
Opinion to address the relevant points stated in the
ponencia anent the proper application of Section 5(b),
Article III of Republic Act No. (RA) 7610149 in sexual abuse
cases involving minors. As will be made evident below,
there is a fundamental difference between the ponencia’s
and my underlying postulations, which therefore precludes
me from concurring with the majority.
At its core, the  ponencia  propounds an expansive view
on the application of Section 5(b), Article III of RA 7610.
Citing  Quimvel v. People150  (Quimvel),
the  ponencia  explains that RA 7610 does not only cover a
situation where a child is abused for profit but also one in
which a child, through coercion or intimidation, engages in
sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct.151  To recall, the
majority ruling in  Quimvel  observed that “[a]lthough the
presence of an offeror or a pimp is the typical set up in
prostitution rings, this does not foreclose the possibility of a
child voluntarily submitting himself or herself to

_______________

149  Entitled “AN ACT PROVIDING FOR STRONGER DETERRENCE AND SPECIAL
PROTECTION AGAINST CHILD ABUSE, EXPLOITATION AND DISCRIMINATION,
PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR ITS VIOLATION, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES,” approved
on June 17, 1992.
150  G.R. No. 214497, April 18, 2017, 823 SCRA 192.
151  See Ponencia, p. 430.

 
 
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another’s lewd design for consideration, monetary or

otherwise, without third-person intervention.”152  As such,
“[i]t is immaterial whether or not the accused himself
employed the coercion or influence to subdue the will of the
child for the latter to submit to his sexual advances for him
to be convicted under paragraph (b). [Section 5, Article III]
of RA 7610 even provides that the offense can be committed
by ‘any adult, syndicate or group,’ without
qualification.”153  Based on these pronouncements,
the  ponencia  therefore concludes that the mere act of
sexual abuse against any child qualifies him or her to be
“subject to other sexual abuse,” and hence, under the
coverage of RA 7610.154
In addition, the ponencia points out that the policy of RA
7610 is “to provide stronger deterrence and special
protection to children from all forms of abuse, neglect,
cruelty, exploitation, discrimination and other conditions
prejudicial to their development.”155  It further cites the
sponsorship speeches of Senators Jose Lina (Sen. Lina) and
Santanina Rasul (Sen. Rasul) to explain that the intent of
RA 7610 is to protect all children against all forms of
abuse,156 as well as the amendment introduced by Senator
Edgardo J. Angara (Sen. Angara),  i.e., the addition of the
phrase “or other sexual abuse” to “exploited in
prostitution,” which supposedly highlights the intention of
Congress to expand the scope of Section 5, Article III of RA
7610 to incorporate the broader concept of “child
abuse.”157  With these in tow, the  ponencia  thus finds it
“hard to understand why the legislature would enact a
penal law on child abuse that would create an
unreasonable classification

_______________

152  Quimvel v. People, supra note 2 at p. 239.

153  Id., at pp. 239-240.
154   See Ponencia, p. 427. See also Concurring Opinion of Associate
Justice Diosdado M. Peralta in Quimvel v. People, supra note 2 at pp. 272-
285.
155  Id., at p. 402.
156  Id., at pp. 403-405.
157  Id., at p. 427.

 
 
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between those who are considered [‘exploited in prostitution

or subject to other sexual abuse’ (EPSOSA for brevity)] and
those who are not.”158 However, the ponencia qualifies that
RA 7610 would not apply if the minor is under twelve (12)
years of age since the accused would be punished under the
provisions on statutory rape.159
With all due respect, I disagree that RA 7610 would be
generally applicable to all cases of sexual abuse involving
minors, except those who are under twelve (12) years of
age. After much reflection, I instead concur with the views
originally advanced by Senior Associate Justice Antonio T.
Carpio (Justice Carpio) and Associate Justice Alfredo
Benjamin S. Caguioa (Justice Caguioa)160 that Section 5(b),
Article III of RA 7610 only applies in instances where the
child victim is “exploited in prostitution or subject to other
sexual abuse.” To my mind, this limited view, as opposed to
the  ponencia’s expansive view, is not only supported by
several textual indicators both in the law and the
deliberations, it also squares with practical logic and
reason, as will be explained below:
(1) As the law’s title itself denotes, RA 7610 was
intended to provide  stronger deterrence  and  special
protection  against child abuse, exploitation and
discrimination.161  The idea of providing “stronger
deterrence” and “special protection” connotes that Congress
was not only establishing a more robust form of penal
legislation, it was also creating something new. Thus, to
suppose that RA 7610 would generally cover acts already
punished under the Revised Penal Code (RPC) would defy
the operational logic behind the introduction of this special
law. Notably, the Court can take judicial notice of the fact
that in the past decades of increasing mod-

_______________

158  Id., at p. 402.

159  Id., at pp. 369-370.
160  See Dissenting Opinions of Justice Carpio and Justice Caguioa in
Quimvel v. People, supra note 2 at pp. 253-263, 296-323, respectively.
161  See also Section 2 of RA No. 7610.

 
 
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ernity, Congress has been passing laws to penalize
reprehensible acts which were not contemplated under the
RPC. With respect to children, special penal laws such as
the Child and Youth Welfare Code,162  the Anti-Child
Pornography Act of 2009,163 and the Anti-Violence Against
Women and Their Children Act of 2004164  created new
havens of protection which were previously uncharted by
the RPC. As I see it, RA 7610, especially with its peculiar
signification of children “exploited in prostitution or subject
to other sexual abuse,” should be similarly regarded as
these laws.
To expound, neither the old provisions of the RPC nor
existing jurisprudence at the time RA 7610 was passed
ever mentioned the phrase “exploited in prostitution or
subject to other sexual abuse.” Commonsensically therefore,
the concept of EPSOSA should be deemed as a novel
introduction by legislature. The driving force behind this
legislative innovation can be gleaned from the
deliberations. As explicated in her Sponsorship Speech,
Sen. Rasul recognized that one of the reasons for
introducing Senate Bill No. 1209 (which later became RA
7610) was to address the lack of criminal laws involving
abused children as noted by the Supreme Court in the case
of People v. Ritter  (Ritter).165  Notably, in  Ritter, the Court
acquitted the accused of rape on the ground that the child
was not proven to be below the statutory age of twelve (12)
years old nor was it proven that the sexual intercourse

_______________

162  Presidential Decree No. 603 approved on December 10, 1974.

163   RA 9775 entitled, “AN ACT DEFINING THE CRIME OF CHILD
PORNOGRAPHY, PRESCRIBING PENALTIES THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES,”
approved on November 17, 2009.
164  RA 9262 entitled, “AN ACT DEFINING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND

THEIR CHILDREN, PROVIDING FOR PROTECTIVE MEASURES FOR VICTIMS,

PRESCRIBING PENALTIES THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES,” approved on
March 8, 2004.
165  272 Phil. 532; 194 SCRA 690 (1991).

 
 
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People vs. Tulagan

was attended with force or intimidation.166  Thus, it was

observed:

[Sen.] Rasul. x x x

x x x x
But undoubtedly, the most disturbing, to say the least, is
the persistent report of children being sexually exploited
and molested for purely material gains. Children with ages
ranging from three to 18 years are used and abused. x x x
x x x x
x x x No less than the Supreme Court, in the recent case
of People v. Ritter, held that we lack criminal laws which
will adequately protect street children from
exploitation by pedophiles. x x x.167

 
Borne from this legal hiatus, RA 7610 was enacted to,
practically speaking, protect those who, like the child
victim in Ritter, “willingly engaged” in sexual acts, not out
of a desire to satisfy their own sexual gratification, but
because of their vulnerable predisposition as exploited
children. This vulnerable predisposition is embodied in
the concept of EPSOSA, which, as opposed to the
RPC, effectively dispenses with the need to prove the lack
of consent at the time the act of sexual abuse is committed.
Accordingly, when it comes to a prosecution under Section
5(b), Article III of RA 7610, consent at the time the sexual
act is consummated  is, unlike in the RPC, not anymore a
defense. It is in this light that RA 7610 fills in the gaps of
the RPC.
With these in mind, it is thus my view that RA 7610,
specifically with its introduction of the EPSOSA element, is
a 

_______________

166  Id., at pp. 546-570; pp. 701-702.

167  Record of the Senate, Vol. III, No. 104, p. 1204, March 19, 1991.

 
 
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lucid recognition by Congress that a child need not be

forced, intimidated or, in any manner prevailed upon, at
the time of the act’s commission to be considered sexually
abused or exploited; rather, it is enough that the child is
put under a vulnerable predisposition that leads him or her
to “consent” to the sexual deed. This niche situation,
whether based on monetary (“exploited in prostitution”) or
nonmonetary (“or subject to other sexual abuse”)
considerations, is what Section 5(b), Article III of RA 7610
uniquely punishes. And in so doing, RA 7610 expands the
range of existing child protection laws and effectively
complements (and not redundantly supplants) the RPC.
This intended complementarity is extant in Sen. Lina’s
sponsorship speech on RA 7610, viz.:

[Sen.] Lina. x x x

Senate Bill No. 1209, Mr. President is intended to
provide stiffer penalties for abuse of children and to
facilitate prosecution of perpetrators of abuse. It is
intended to complement the provisions of the
Revised Penal Code where the crimes committed are
those which lead children to prostitution and sexual
abuse, trafficking in children and use of the young in
pornographic activities.
x x x x168 (Emphasis and underscoring supplied)

 
(2) In relation to the first point, it is noteworthy that a
general view on the application of RA 7610 would also lead
to an unnerving incongruence between the law’s policy
objective and certain penalties imposed thereunder. For
instance, if we were to subscribe to the  ponencia’s theory
that RA 7610 would generally apply to all sexual abuse
cases involving minors twelve (12) years of age and above,
then  why would RA 7610  —  which was supposedly
intended to provide stronger deterrence and special
protection against child abuse — provide for 

_______________

168  Record of the Senate, Vol. IV, No. 111, pp. 190-191, April 29, 1991.

 
 
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People vs. Tulagan

a lower penalty for child abuse committed through sexual

intercourse than that provided under the then existing RPC
framework? For context, under Article 335 of the RPC prior
to its amendment by RA 8353 (or the Anti-Rape Law of
1997), the crime of rape committed against a minor, who is
not under twelve (12) years of age and not falling under the
enumerated qualifying circumstances, is punished with the
penalty of reclusion perpetua to death. On the other hand,
under Section 5(b), Article III of RA 7610, the crime of
sexual abuse committed through sexual intercourse (or
lascivious conduct) against a child EPSOSA is punished
with the penalty of reclusion temporal in its medium period
to reclusion perpetua. Clearly, it would not make sense for
Congress to pass a supposedly stronger law against child
abuse if the same carries a lower penalty for the same act
of rape already punished under the old RPC’s provision.
This incongruence is only made possible if one considers
Section 5(b), Article III of RA 7610 to have overlapped with
an act already punished under the existing penal code.
Verily, this could not have been the intent of our
lawmakers. On the other hand, respecting the
complementarity between RA 7610 and RPC would
cogently subserve the policy objective to provide stronger
deterrence and special protection against child abuse. As
Justice Caguioa astutely remarked, “[RA] 7610 and the
RPC x x x have different spheres of application; they exist
to complement each other such that there would be no gaps
in our criminal laws.”169 Thus, given that the application of
RA 7610 is independent — and in fact, mutually
exclusive from the RPC’s rape and acts of lasciviousness
provisions, the penchant of the ponencia170 to determine
which law would apply based on which law provides the
higher penalty therefor becomes unneccessary. Simply put,
if (a) RA 7610 applies

_______________

169  See Concurring and Dissenting Opinion of Justice Caguioa, p. 542.

170  See Ponencia, pp. 393-394. See also Dimakuta v. People, 771 Phil.
641, 670-671; 773 SCRA 228, 262 (2015).

 
 
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in a scenario where the accused sexually abuses a child

who “consents” to the deed but is nonetheless EPSOSA,
and (b) this case is treated separately and differently from
the RPC scenario wherein the child does not consent to the
sexual act because he is forced, intimidated, or otherwise
prevailed upon by the accused, then  there would be no
quandary in choosing which law to apply based on
which provides the higher penalty therefor. Neither
would there be any need for corrective legislation as
the  ponencia  suggests171  if only RA 7610’s provisions are
interpreted correctly. Again, as originally and meticulously
designed by Congress, the laws on sexual abuse of minors
have their own distinct spheres of application:  apply RA
7610 in scenario (a); apply the RPC in scenario (b). In
understanding the intent of Congress to fill in the gaps in
the law, it is my position that Section 5, Article III of RA
7610 must be treated as a  separate and distinct statutory
complement which works side-by-side with the RPC; it
should not, as the ponencia assumes, be deemed as a fully
comprehensive statute which substantively subsumes and
even supplants the sexual abuse scenarios already covered
by the RPC. If it were so, then RA 7610 should not have
been crafted as a special penal law but as amendatory
statute of the existing penal code.
(3) The  proviso  under Section 5(b), Article III of RA
7610 — which provides that “when the [victim] is under
twelve (12) years of age, the perpetrators  shall be
prosecuted under  x  x  x  the Revised Penal Code, for
rape or lascivious conduct, as the case may be”  —  is
a textual indicator that RA 7610 has a specific application
only to children who are predisposed to “consent” to a
sexual act because they are “exploited in prostitution or
subject to other sexual abuse.” For reference, Section 5(b),
Article III of RA 7610 reads in full:

_______________

171  Id., at p. 443.

 
 
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456 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

People vs. Tulagan

Section 5. Child Prostitution and Other Sexual

Abuse.—x x x
x x x x
(b) Those who commit the act of sexual intercourse or
lascivious conduct with a child exploited in prostitution or
subject to other sexual abuse; Provided, That when the
victims is under twelve (12) years of age, the perpetrators
shall be prosecuted under Article 335, paragraph 3, for
rape and Article 336 of Act No. 3815, as amended, the
Revised Penal Code, for rape or lascivious conduct, as the
case may be: Provided, That the penalty for lascivious
conduct when the victim is under twelve (12) years of age
shall be reclusion temporal in its medium period. x x x
x x x x (Emphasis and underscoring supplied)

 
While the phrase “shall be prosecuted under” has not
been discussed in existing case law, it is my view that the
same is a clear instruction by the lawmakers to defer any
application of Section 5(b), Article III of RA 7610,
irrespective of the presence of EPSOSA, when the victim is
under twelve (12). As a consequence, when an accused is
prosecuted under the provisions of the RPC, only the
elements of the crimes defined thereunder must be alleged
and proved. Necessarily too, unless further qualified, as in
the second proviso, i.e., Provided, That the penalty for
lascivious conduct when the victim is under twelve (12)
years of age shall be reclusion temporal in its medium
period, the penalties provided under the RPC would apply.
In this relation, it may thus be ruminated: why did RA
7610 defer application to the RPC, when the victim is under
twelve (12) years of age? After much thought, it is my
opinion that this self-evident deference to the RPC hints on
the meaning of EPSOSA and consequentially, Section 5(b),
Article III of RA 7610’s niche application. As discussed,
EPSOSA is a circumstantial predisposition which
effectively taints the
 
 
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child’s consent. As a “consent-tainting” element which is

integral and unique to RA 7610, the proviso “shall be
prosecuted under [the RPC]” recognizes that one cannot
prosecute a sex offender under RA 7610 when a child is
under twelve (12) years of age. This is because the
concept of consent is altogether immaterial when a
child is below twelve (12) years of age because the
latter is conclusively presumed to be incapable of
giving consent.172 In other words, since the question of
consent will never be at issue when the victim is under
twelve (12) years of age, then the application of Section
5(b), Article III of RA 7610 becomes technically impossible.
 The foregoing analysis, to my mind, reinforces the point
that RA 7610 was meant to apply only to cases where the
consent of the child  (insofar as his  predisposition  to
consent [which should be contradistinguished from consent
at the time of the act’s consummation which falls under the
RPC]) is at question. To this end, if RA 7610 was intended
to apply to “all forms of sexual abuse” under a general
reading of the law, then why does RA 7610 need to defer to
the RPC provisions on statutory rape or lascivious conduct?
If RA 7610 overlapped with and equally covered the acts
punished under the RPC, then why the need of inserting a
qualifying proviso when the  child victim  is under twelve
(12) years of age? Surely, if the intendment of RA 7610
was to generally apply to all forms of sexual abuse,
then it could have very well applied to cases wherein
the child is under twelve (12) years of age. The explicit
qualification contained in the first  proviso  of Section 5(b),
Article III of RA 7610 apparently negates the  ponencia’s
theory of general applicability.
Notably, the  ponencia  utilizes  the fact that the first
proviso of Section 5(b), Article III of RA 7610 explicitly
mentions the RPC  as basis to support its position that
Section 5(b), Article

_______________

172   See People v. Manaligod, G.R. No. 218584, April 25, 2018, 862
SCRA 751.

 
 
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458 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

People vs. Tulagan

III of RA 7610 should not only be limited to the unique

context of “child prostitution, other sexual abuse in relation
to prostitution, and the specific acts punished under RA
7610.”173 In other words, the ponencia theorizes that since
Section 5(b), Article III of RA 7610 mentions the RPC in its
provisos, then ipso facto RA 7610 was meant to generally
cover even acts of sexual abuse previously punished under
the already existing RPC. Accordingly, it submits the
following interpretation: “[w]hen the first proviso of Section
5(b) states that ‘when the victim is under 12 years of age[,
the perpetrators] shall be prosecuted under the RPC,’ it
only means that the elements of rape under then Article
335, paragraph 3 of the RPC [now Article 266-A, paragraph
1(d)], and of acts of lasciviousness under Article 336 of the
RPC, have to be considered, alongside the element of the
child being ‘exploited in prostitution and or other sexual
abuse.”’174
I respectfully disagree. The fact that Section 5(b), Article
III of RA 7610 mentions the RPC does not automatically
mean that it was meant to cover the acts already punished
in the RPC. To properly interpret its sense, the context in
which the RPC is mentioned must be taken into
consideration; after all, words do not simply appear on the
face of a statute without purposive and rational intention.
Here, the RPC is mentioned in a  proviso. Jurisprudence
dictates that “[t]he office of a  proviso  is to limit the
application of the law. It is contrary to the nature of
a  proviso  to enlarge the operation of the law.”175  Simply
stated, a  proviso, by nature, is meant to either be a
qualifier or an exception. As aforediscussed, it is my view
that EPSOSA is a special element meant to address a
situation not contemplated under the RPC. The general
rule is that “[t]hose who commit the act of sexual
intercourse of lascivious conduct with a child exploited in
prostitution or subject to other sexual abuse” should be
punished under Section 5(b) of RA 7610
_______________

173  Ponencia, p. 406.

174  Id.
175  Borromeo v. Mariano, 41 Phil. 322, 326 (1921).

 
 
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because this is the unique situation sought to be covered by

the special law. However, if a child is below 12 the law
conclusively presumes the lack of consent — may it be
consent at the time the crime is consummated or consent as
a predisposition to give in into a sexual act. Since consent
is lacking in a case where the child is 12 years old,
EPSOSA which is intrinsically a “consent-element”
virtually vanishes from the equation. Therefore, since there
would never be a case of EPSOSA when the child is less
than 12, the  proviso  — being an exceptive clause which
limits the application of the law,  i.e., Section 5(b), Article
III of RA 7610 — actually directs that the prosecution of
accused should fall under the RPC where EPSOSA is not
material. In this regard, the  proviso  serves as a statutory
recognition of Section 5(b), Article III of RA 7610’s own
limitations, hence, the need to defer prosecution under the
elements of the RPC. To my mind, this interpretation,
which only becomes possible under the proposed limited
view of Section 5(b), Article III of RA 7610, squares with
the nature of a proviso.
Besides, the ponencia’s above interpretation of the first
proviso of Section 5(b), Article III of RA 7610 (i.e., that the
elements of the RPC should be read alongside with the
element of EPSOSA) does not carry any practical value
since the elements of rape and acts of lasciviousness when
considered alongside the element of EPSOSA already
constitute the crime punished under the general clause prior
to the proviso. In particular, the opening phrase of Section
5(b), Article III of RA 7610 already punishes “[t]hose who
commit the act of sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct
with a child exploited in prostitution or subject to other
sexual abuse.” Thus, under the ponencia’s interpretation,
the first proviso of Section 5(b) would practically add
nothing to the law since when one is prosecuted under the
opening phrase, the elements of rape and acts of
lasciviousness176 are already considered. As such,

_______________

176  The elements of rape are: “(1) sexual congress, (2) with a woman,
(3) by force and without consent x x x.” Meanwhile, “[t]he

 
 
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460 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

People vs. Tulagan

the opening phrase of Section 5(b) of RA 7610 would have

served the purpose of punishing a sex offender who has
sexual intercourse or commits acts of lasciviousness
against a child, even without the first proviso.
(4) In the deliberations of RA 7610, Sen. Lina
explained that despite the presence of monetary
considerations, the prosecution of the accused will still be
under Article 335 of the RPC, and the concept of Rape
under the RPC shall be followed, viz.:
 Senator Pimentel. At any rate, Mr. President, before
a clean copy is finally made available, perhaps, the
distinguished Gentleman can tell us already what will be
the effect of this particular amendment on the rape
provisions of the Revised Penal Code. Would it mean
that the rape of a female child below 12 years old, whether
or not there is force, but there is no profit motive constitutes
rape? In other words, are we limiting the scope of the crime
of rape of a child below 12 years old to that particular
instance?
[Sen.] Lina. No, Mr. President, as stated in the
Committee amendment which has just been approved but
which, of course, can still stand some individual
amendments during the period of individual amendment, it
is

_______________

elements of the crime of acts of lasciviousness are: (1) that the offender
commits any act of lasciviousness or lewdness; (2) that it is done (a) by
using force or intimidation or (b) when the offended party is under 12
years of age; and (3) that the offended party is another person of either
sex.” (People v. Dela Cuesta, 430 Phil. 742, 751-752; 381 SCRA 122, 131
[2002])
With the exception of the EPSOSA element, the above stated elements,
when committed against a child, are substantively present in the crime of
violation of Section 5(b), Article III of RA 7610: (a) the accused commits
the act of sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct; (b) the said act
is performed with a child exploited in prostitution or subjected to other
sexual abuse; and (c) the child, whether male or female, is below 18 years
of age. (See Olivarez v. Court of Appeals, 503 Phil. 421, 431; 465 SCRA
465, 473 [2005])

 
 
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stated that, “PROVIDED, THAT WHEN THE VICTIM IS

TWELVE (12) YEARS OR LESS, THE PERPETRATOR
SHALL BE PROSECUTED UNDER ARTICLE 335, PAR. 3,
AND ARTICLE 336 OF R.A. 3815, AS AMENDED.”
Article 335 of the Revised Penal Code, Mr. President, is,
precisely, entitled: “When And How Rape Is Committed.”
So, prosecution will still be under Article 335, when
the victim is 12 years old or below.
Senator Pimentel. Despite the presence of
monetary considerations?
[Sen.] Lina. Yes, Mr. President. It will still be rape.
We will follow the concept as it has been observed
under the Revised Penal Code. Regardless of monetary
consideration, regardless of consent, the perpetrator
will still be charged with statutory rape.
x x x x177 (Emphases and underscoring supplied)

 
Hence, to support the preceding point, there seems to be
a conscious  delineation  by members of Congress between
the concept of Rape under the RPC and the violation under
Section 5, Article III of RA 7610.
To be sure, the fact that the original phrase “exploited in
prostitution” was later extended to include the phrase “or
subject to other sexual abuse” is not sufficient basis to
break this delineation. As the deliberations further show,
the intent behind the addition is to plug the loophole on
exploitative circumstances that are not based on
nonmonetary considerations:

[Sen.] Angara. I refer to line 9,  “who for money or

profit.” I would like to amend this, Mr. President, to
cover a situation where the minor may have been
 coerced or intimidated into this lascivious conduct,
not necessarily for money or

_______________

177  Record of the Senate, Vol. IV, No. 116, pp. 333-334, May 9, 1991.

 
 
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462 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

People vs. Tulagan

profit, so that we can cover those situations and not

leave loophole in this section.
The proposal I have is something like this: WHO FOR
MONEY, PROFIT, OR ANY OTHER CONSIDERATION
OR DUE TO THE COERCION OR INFLUENCE OF ANY
ADULT, SYNDICATE OR GROUP INDULGE, et cetera.
The President Pro Tempore. I see. That would mean
also changing the subtitle of Section 4. Will it no longer be
child prostitution?
[Sen.] Angara. No, no. Not necessarily, Mr. President,
because we are still talking of the child who is being
misused for sexual purposes either for money or for
consideration. What I am trying to cover is the other
consideration. Because, here, it is limited only to the
child being abused or misused for sexual purposes,
only for money or profit.
I am contending, Mr. President, that there may be
situations where the child may not have been used for profit
or. . .
The President Pro Tempore. So, it is no longer
prostitution. Because the essence of prostitution is profit.
[Sen.] Angara. Well, the Gentleman is right. Maybe
the heading ought to be expanded. But, still, the President
will agree that that is a form or manner of child abuse.
The President Pro Tempore. What does the Sponsor
say? Will the Gentleman kindly restate the amendment?
 
ANGARA AMENDMENT
 
[Sen.] Angara. The new section will read something
like this, Mr. President: MINORS, WHETHER MALE OR
FEMALE, WHO FOR MONEY, PROFIT, OR ANY OTHER
CONSIDERATION OR INFLUENCE OF ANY ADULT,
SYNDICATE OR GROUP INDULGE IN

 
 
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VOL. 896, MARCH 12, 2019 463

People vs. Tulagan

SEXUAL INTERCOURSE, et cetera.178 (Emphases

supplied)

 
As Justice Carpio rationalized in Quimvel, “[t]he phrase
‘or any other consideration or due to the coercion or
influence of any adult, syndicate or group’ was added to
merely cover situations where a child is abused or misused
for sexual purposes without any monetary gain or profit.
This was significant because profit or monetary gain is
essential in prostitution. Thus, the lawmakers intended
that in case all the other elements of prostitution are
present, but the monetary gain or profit is missing, the
sexually abused and misused child would still be afforded
the same protection of the law as if he or she were in the
same situation as a child exploited in prostitution.”179
 Clearly therefore, the phrase “or subject to other sexual
abuse” was meant only to expand the range of
circumstances that are nonetheless, relevant to the child’s
circumstantial predisposition and hence, should not be
confounded with the act of sexual abuse which is a separate
and distinct element under the law.180
(5) Finally, a literal reading of the law itself confirms
that the phrase “exploited in prostitution or subject to
other sexual abuse” was intended to be appreciated
separately from the act of sexual abuse itself. For
reference, Section 5, Article III of RA 7610 states:

Section 5. Child Prostitution and Other Sexual Abuse.

—Children, whether male or female, who for money, profit,
or any other consideration or due to the coercion or
influence of any adult, syndicate or group, indulge in sex-

_______________

178  Record of the Senate, Vol. I, No. 7, pp. 261-263, August 1, 1991.
179   See Dissenting Opinion of Justice Carpio in Quimvel v. People,
supra note 2 at pp. 257-258.
180  Id., at pp. 256-260.

 
 
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464 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

People vs. Tulagan

ual intercourse or lascivious conduct, are deemed to be

children exploited in prostitution and other sexual
abuse.
The penalty of reclusion temporal in its medium period to
reclusion perpetua shall be imposed upon the following:
x x x x
(b) Those who commit the act of sexual intercourse
or lascivious conduct with a child exploited in
prostitution or subject to other sexual abuse. x x x
x x x x (Emphases and underscoring supplied)

 
As plainly worded, the law punishes those who commit
the act of sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct with a
child “exploited in prostitution or subject to other sexual
abuse.” The word “subject” is a clear qualification of the
term “child,” which means it is descriptive of the same.
Hence, if Congress intended to equate the term “subject to
other sexual abuse” with the act of sexual intercourse or
lascivious conduct itself, then it could have easily phrased
the provision as: “those who commit the act of sexual
intercourse or lascivious conduct with children.”
However, it is fairly evident that with the coining of the
new phrase “a child exploited in prostitution or subject to
other sexual abuse,” Congress intended to establish a
special classification of children, i.e., those EPSOSA, which
is further suggested by the term “deemed.” It is a cardinal
rule in statutory construction that when the law is clear
and free from any doubt or ambiguity, there is no room for
construction or interpretation. There is only room for
application.181 As the statute is clear, plain, and free from
ambiguity, it must be given its

_______________

181   Amores v. House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal, 636 Phil.

600, 608; 622 SCRA 593, 598 (2010), citing Twin Ace Holdings
Corporation v. Rufina and Company, 523 Phil. 766, 777; 490 SCRA 368,
376 (2006).

 
 
465
 VOL. 896, MARCH 12, 2019 465
People vs. Tulagan

literal meaning and applied without attempted

interpretation.182
 
Conclusion
 
Based on the foregoing analysis, I therefore submit the
following table of application:
 

_______________

182  Padua v. People, 581 Phil. 489, 501; 559 SCRA 519, 531 (2008).
183    Or “is 18 years or older but under special circumstances (as
defined in RA 7610) and engaged in prostitution or subjected to other
sexual abuse.”
184  The word “Statutory,” while not stated in the law, has been used
as a matter of practice to indicate that the sexual act is committed against
a child below the age of twelve (12), as in its application in its often-used
term “Statutory Rape.”
185    The phrase “in relation to” is used, as a matter of practice, to
indicate that a provision of a penal law which defines the crime is related
another provision that provides the penalty imposable therefor.

 
 
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466 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

People vs. Tulagan

_______________

186  Section 2(h) of the IRR (Rules and Regulations on the Reporting

and Investigation of Child Abuse Cases) provides:
Section 2. Definition of Terms.—x x x
x x x x
h) “Lascivious conduct” means the intentional touching, either
directly or through clothing, of the genitalia, anus, groin, breast,
inner thigh, or buttocks, or the introduction of any object into the
genitalia, anus or mouth, of any person, whether of the same or
opposite sex, with an intent to abuse, humiliate, harass, degrade,
or arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person, bestiality,
 masturbation, lascivious exhibition of the genitals or pubic area of
a person.
x x x x
187  By operation of the second proviso of Section 5(b), Article III of RA
No. 7610; see discussion on pp. 14-15.

 
 
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VOL. 896, MARCH 12, 2019 467

People vs. Tulagan

_______________

188  See footnote 38.
189  By operation of the second proviso of Section 5(b), Article III of RA
No. 7610; see discussion on pp. 14-15.

 
 
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468 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

People vs. Tulagan

 
Notably, as earlier mentioned, when the child victim is
under twelve (12) years of age and, hence, conclusively
presumed to be incapable of giving consent, Section 5(b),
Article III of RA 7610 instructs that the prosecution of the
accused shall be under the provisions of the RPC and,
hence, making it unnecessary to determine the presence or
absence of EPSOSA. Accordingly:

190  Section 2(g) of the IRR (Rules and Regulations on the Reporting

and Investigation of Child Abuse Cases) provides:
Section 2. Definition of Terms.—x x x
x x x x
 g) “Sexual abuse” includes the employment, use, persuasion,
inducement, enticement or coercion of a child to engage in, or
assist another person to engage in, sexual intercourse or lascivious
conduct or the molestation, prostitution, or incest with children.
x x x x

 
 
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46 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

People vs. Tulagan

Under Twelve (12) Years Old Cases

 
(1) If done through sexual intercourse, the crime is
“Rape” under Article 266-A(1) of the RPC, as amended by
RA 8353;
(2) If done through acts classified as sexual assault,
the crime is “Sexual Assault” under Article 266-A(2) of the
RPC, as amended by RA 8353; and
(3) If done through lascivious conduct not classified as
sexual assault, the crime is “Acts of Lasciviousness” under
Article 336 of the RPC.
In instances of Rape, the prescribed penalty is reclusion
perpetua, subject to the existence of qualifying
circumstances.
However, in cases of Sexual Assault or Acts of
Lasciviousness, it is my position that the second proviso in
Section 5(b), Article III of RA 7610, which provides that
“the penalty for lascivious conduct when the victim is under
twelve (12) years of age shall be reclusion temporal in its
medium period”: first, amended the prescribed penalty of
prisión correccional under Article 336 of the RPC on Acts of
Lasciviousness; and second, ought to prevail over the
prescribed penalty of prisión mayor under Article 266-A,
par. 2, in relation to Article 266-B, of the RPC, as amended
by RA 8353, albeit the latter law is the more recent
statutory enactment. The reasons on this second point are:
(1) pursuant to its IRR, the concept of lascivious conduct
under Section 5, Article III of RA 7610 was already broad
enough to cover the specific acts prescribed under Article
266-A, par. 2 of RA 8353191 and, hence, already subsumes
the concept of Sexual Assault; (2) RA 8353 introduced the
concept of “sexual assault” essentially to punish graver
forms of acts of lasciviousness which were not accounted for
in the RPC (not in RA 7610); and (3) at any rate, the
penalty imposed for Sexual Assault under RA 8353 does
not take into account the fact that the act is committed
against a child victim under twelve (12)

_______________

191  See footnote 38.

 
 
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470 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

People vs. Tulagan

years of age. Accordingly, based on these substantive

considerations (and not solely on penalty gravity)192, RA
8353’s lesser penalty of  prisión correctional  imposed in
general cases of Sexual Assault cannot prevail over Section
5(b), Article III of RA 7610’s penalty of  reclusion
temporal in its medium period in cases where the lascivious
conduct, irrespective of kind, is committed against a child
victim under 12.
As a final note, I am well-aware of the ruling in People v.
Ejercito193 (Ejercito) wherein the former Second Division of
this Court had ruled that RA 8353 (amending the RPC)
should now be uniformly applied in cases involving sexual
intercourse committed against minors, and not Section
5(b), Article III of RA 7610.194  To recount, the conclusion
was largely based on the following premise:

[T]he x x x provisions of RA 8353 already accounted for the

circumstance of minority under certain peculiar
instances.  The consequence therefore is a clear
overlap with minority as an element of the crime of
sexual intercourse against a minor under Section
5(b) of RA 7610. However, as it was earlier intimated, RA
8353 is not only the more recent statutory enactment but
more importantly, the more comprehensive law on rape;
therefore, the Court herein clarifies that in cases where a
minor is raped through sexual intercourse, the provisions of
RA 8353 amending the RPC ought to prevail over Section
5(b) of RA 7610 although the latter also penalizes the act of
sexual intercourse against a minor.195  (Emphasis and
underscoring supplied)

 
However, it must now be clarified that the above stated
overlap on the concept of minority in the Ejercito case is an 

_______________

192   See People v. Ejercito, G.R. No. 229861, July 2, 2018, 869 SCRA
353.
193  Id.
194  Id.
195  Id.

 
 
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People vs. Tulagan

observation only made possible when applying the then-

prevailing Quimvel’s ruling. Again, Quimvel did not
recognize that EPSOSA is a special and unique element
that is peculiar to RA 7610. However, as herein discussed,
RA 7610 actually introduced the EPSOSA element which
was not contemplated under the RPC, as amended by RA
8353. This means that RA 8353 cannot now overlap with
the RA 7610 since the latter contains a peculiar element
which is unique to it; hence, applying the principle of lex
specialis derogant generali,196 Section 5(b), Article III of RA
7610 ought to prevail when the EPSOSA element is alleged
and proven in a particular case.
To this end, it goes without saying that when the
circumstance of a child EPSOSA is not alleged in the
Information and later, proven during trial, it is erroneous
to prosecute — much more, convict — the accused under
Section 5(b), Article III of RA 7610, else his constitutional
right to be informed of the nature and cause of the
accusation against him be violated.197  Insofar as this case
is concerned, the EPSOSA element is missing from both
Informations in Criminal Case Nos. SCC-6210 and SCC-
6211. Nonetheless, EPSOSA is immaterial given that the
child victim is, in both instances, under twelve (12) years of
age. Hence, same as the result reached by
the  ponencia  albeit  our fundamental differences in
reasoning, Tulagan should be convicted of:

_______________

196   See Barcelote v. Republic, G.R. No. 222095, August 7, 2017, 834
SCRA 564, 578.
197  “It must be stressed that in all criminal prosecutions, the accused
shall be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation against him to
ensure that his due process rights are observed. Thus, every indictment
must embody the essential elements of the crime charged with reasonable
particularity as to the name of the accused, the time and place of
commission of the offense, and the circumstances thereof. Hence, to
consider matters not specifically alleged in the Information, even if proven
in trial, would be tantamount to the deprivation of the accused’s right to
be informed of the charge lodged against him.” (People v. Bagamano, 793
Phil. 602, 608-609; 801 SCRA 209, 215-216 [2016]; citations omitted)

 
 
472

472 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

People vs. Tulagan

 
(a) In Criminal Case No. SCC-6210, Statutory Sexual
Assault under Article 266-A(2) of the RPC, as amended by
RA 8353, in relation to the second proviso of Section 5(b),
Article III of RA 7610, and thereby, meted with the penalty
of reclusion temporal in its medium period; and
(b) In Criminal Case No. SCC-6211, Statutory Rape
under Article 266-A(1)(d) of the RPC, as amended by RA
8353, and thereby, meted with the penalty of reclusion
perpetua.
Meanwhile, anent the damages to be awarded, I fully
support the ponencia’s prudent decision to adjust the same
based on the jurisprudential50 equivalence of the above
stated penalties. Hence, Tulagan should pay the adjusted
amounts of: (a) in Criminal Case No. SCC0-6210,
P50,000.00 as civil indemnity, P50,000.00 as moral
damages, and P50,000.00 as exemplary damages; and (b) in
Criminal Case No. SCC-6211, P75,000.00 as civil
indemnity, P75,000.00 as moral damages, and P75,000.00
as exemplary damages.
 
SEPARATE CONCURRING OPINION
 
LEONEN, J.:
 
I concur in the result.
This case involves a nine (9)-year-old minor who was
raped and subjected to sexual assault. The majority and
the various separate opinions appear to have used this case
as an opportunity to interpret Republic Act No.
7610,198 Article III, Section 5(b)199 in relation to the sexual
abuse of minors aged 12 to below 18 years old.

_______________

50  See People v. Jugueta, 783 Phil. 806, 847-853; 788 SCRA 331, 382-
388 (2016).
1  THE SPECIAL PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AGAINST ABUSE, EXPLOITATION AND

DISCRIMINATION ACT (1992).

2  Rep. Act No. 7610, Art. III, Sec. 5 provides:

 
 
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People vs. Tulagan

It is a unanimous Court that will agree that the rape

and sexual abuse of a child below 12 years old deserves the
full enforcement of the provisions under Article 266-A200 of
the Revised Penal Code and Republic Act No. 7610.
Several permutations of the penalties have been
suggested. Various tables, charts, and diagrams have been
submitted to discuss penalties relating to the crime —
which Associate Justice Estela Perlas-
_______________

Section 5. Child Prostitution and Other Sexual Abuse.—Children,

whether male or female, who for money, profit, or any other consideration
or due to the coercion or influence of any adult, syndicate or group,
indulge in sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct, are deemed to be
children exploited in prostitution and other sexual abuse.
. . . .
(b) Those who commit the act of sexual intercourse of lascivious
conduct with a child exploited in prostitution or subject to other sexual
abuse; Provided, That when the victims is under twelve (12) years of age,
the perpetrators shall be prosecuted under Article 335, paragraph 3, for
rape and Article 336 of Act No. 3815, as amended, the Revised Penal
Code, for rape or lascivious conduct, as the case may be: Provided, That
the penalty for lascivious conduct when the victim is under twelve (12)
years of age shall be reclusion temporal in its medium period[.]
200  REV. PEN. CODE, Art. 266-A provides:
Article 266-A. Rape: When And How Committed.—Rape is committed:
1) By a man who shall have carnal knowledge of a woman under any
of the following circumstances:
a) Through force, threat, or intimidation;
b) When the offended party is deprived of reason or otherwise
unconscious;
c) By means of fraudulent machination or grave abuse of
authority; and
d) When the offended party is under twelve (12) years of age or
is demented, even though none of the circumstances mentioned
above be present.

 
 
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474 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

People vs. Tulagan

Bernabe (Associate Justice Perlas-Bernabe) refers to as

EPSOSA (or children exploited in prostitution or subject to
other sexual abuse)201 — committed against victims aged
12 to below 18 years old. Considering, however, that the
victim here was below 12 years old, every discussion on
victims aged 12 to below 18 years old will be mere obiter
dictum.
I wish, however, to offer a few points.
I agree with the majority that the insertion of a finger
into a minor’s vagina deserves a higher penalty
than  prisión mayor  under Article 266-A, paragraph
2202  (sexual assault) in relation to Article 266-B203  of the
Revised Penal Code. Republic Act No. 7610204 was enacted
not only to protect children from prostitution, but also to
protect them from any sexual abuse due to the coercion or
influence of any adult.
I must, however, reiterate my opinion in  People v.
Caoili.205
The nonconsensual insertion of a finger in another’s
genitals is rape by carnal knowledge under Article 266-A,
paragraph 1206 of the Revised Penal Code.

_______________

201  See Dissenting Opinion of J. Perlas-Bernabe, p. 463.

202  REV. PEN. CODE, Article 266-A provides:
Article 266-A. Rape; When And How Committed.—Rape is committed
—
. . . .
2) By any person who, under any of the circumstances mentioned in
paragraph 1 hereof, shall commit an act of sexual assault by inserting his
penis into another person’s mouth or anal orifice, or any instrument or
object, into the genital or anal orifice of another person.
203  REV. PEN. CODE, Article 266-B. Penalty.—
. . . .
Rape under paragraph 2 of the next preceding article shall be punished
by prisión mayor.
 204    THE SPECIAL PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AGAINST ABUSE, EXPLOITATION AND

DISCRIMINATION ACT.
205   See J. Leonen, Dissenting Opinion in People v. Caoili, G.R. No.
196342, August 8, 2017, 835 SCRA 107.

 
 
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People vs. Tulagan

The finger, when used in a sexual act, is not an

instrument or an object. It is as much a part of the human
body as a penis. When consensual, it can be used to give
sexual pleasure. When forced, it can be used to defile
another’s body. Equating the finger to a separate
instrument or object misunderstands the gravity of the
offense.
Likewise, I reiterate my view in Quimvel v. People207 on
the doubtful effectivity of Article 336 of the Revised Penal
Code. Article 336 has already been rendered ineffective
with the passage of Republic Act No. 8353, or the Anti-
Rape Law of 1997.
The present case involves an appeal from the August 17,
2015 Decision of the Court of Appeals, finding accused-
appellant Salvador Tulagan guilty beyond reasonable
doubt of sexual assault under Article 266-A, paragraph 2
and statutory rape under Article 266-A, paragraph 1(d) of
the Revised Penal Code.208
Accused-appellant was charged in two (2) separate
Informations. In Criminal Case No. SCC-6210:

That sometime in the month of September 2011, at.  .  .

and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, 

_______________

206  REV. PEN. CODE, Article 266-A provides:

Article 266-A. Rape; When And How Committed.—Rape is committed
—
1) By a man who shall have carnal knowledge of a woman under any
of the following circumstances:
a) Through force, threat, or intimidation;
b) When the offended patty is deprived of reason or otherwise
unconscious;
c) By means of fraudulent machination or grave abuse of
authority; and
d) When the offended party is under twelve (12) years of age or
is demented, even though none of the circumstances mentioned
above be present.
207  See J. Leonen, Dissenting Opinion in Quimvel v. People, G.R. No.
214497, April 18, 2017, 823 SCRA 192.
208  Ponencia, p. 348-349.

 
 
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476 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

People vs. Tulagan

the above named accused, by means of force, intimidation

and with abuse of superior strength forcibly laid
complainant AAA, a 9-year-old minor in a cemented
pavement, and did then and there, willfully, unlawfully and
feloniously inserted his finger into the vagina of the said
AAA, against her will and consent.

 
In Criminal Case No. SCC-6211:
 That on or about October 8, 2011 at. . . , and within the
jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the above named
accused, by means of force, intimidation and with abuse of
superior strength, did then and there, willfully, unlawfully
and feloniously have sexual intercourse with complainant
AAA, a 9-year-old minor against her will and consent to the
damage and prejudice of said AAA, against her will and
consent.209

 
According to the majority’s narration of facts, sometime
in September 2011, AAA was peeling corn with her cousin
when accused-appellant, a neighbor of AAA’s grandmother,
approached her, opened her legs, and inserted his finger in
her vagina.210
On another occasion, at around 11:00 a.m. on October 8,
2011, AAA was playing with her cousin in front of accused-
appellant’s house. Accused appellant brought her inside his
house. He ordered her to keep quiet and lie on the floor
while he removed her short pants and underwear. He then
undressed himself, kissed her cheeks, and inserted his
penis into her vagina. AAA felt pain and cried but accused-
appellant held her down. AAA kept quiet about the
incident until her aunt examined her and found her
genitals swollen.211

_______________

209  Id., at p. 350.

210  Id.
211  Id.

 
 
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People vs. Tulagan

Upon examination by Dr. Brenda Tumacder, it was

found that AAA had a healed laceration at the 6 o’clock
position in her hymen and a dilated and enlarged vaginal
opening.212
Both the Regional Trial Court and the Court of Appeals
found accused-appellant guilty beyond reasonable doubt of
sexual assault and statutory rape.
The majority affirms the convictions but modified the
disposition, as follows:

WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, the appeal

is DENIED. The Joint Decision dated February 10, 2014 of
the Regional Trial Court in Criminal Case Nos. SCC-6210
and SCC-6211, as affirmed by the Court of Appeals’
Decision dated August 17, 2015 in C.A.-G.R. C.R.- H.C. No.
06679, is AFFIRMED with MODIFICATIONS. We find the
accused-appellant Salvador Tulagan:

1. Guilty beyond reasonable doubt of Sexual Assault

under paragraph 2, Article 266-A of the Revised Penal
Code, in relation to Section 5(b) of Republic Act No.
7610, in Criminal Case No. SCC-6210, and is
sentenced to suffer the indeterminate penalty of
twelve (12) years, ten (10) months and twenty-one
(21) days of  reclusion temporal, as minimum, to
fifteen (15) years, six (6) months and twenty (20) days
of  reclusion temporal, as maximum. Appellant is
ORDERED to PAY AAA the amounts of P50,000.00 as
civil indemnity, P50,000.00 as moral damages, and
P50,000.00 as exemplary damages.
2. Guilty beyond reasonable doubt of Statutory Rape
under Article 266-A(1)(d) and penalized in Article
266-B of the Revised Penal Code, in Criminal Case
No. SCC-6211, and is sentenced to suffer the penalty
of  reclusion perpetua  with modification as to the
 award of damages. Appellant is ORDERED to PAY
AAA the amounts of

_______________

212  Id., at p. 351.

 
 
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478 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

People vs. Tulagan

P75,000.00 as civil indemnity, P75,000.00 as moral

damages, and P75,000.00 as exemplary damages[.]

Legal interest of six percent (6%) per annum is imposed

on all damages awarded from the date of finality of this
Decision until fully paid.
Let a copy of this Decision be furnished the Department
of Justice, the Office of the Prosecutor General, the Office of
the Court Administrator, and the Presiding Justice of the
Court of Appeals, for their guidance and information, as
well as the House of Representatives and the Senate of the
Philippines, as reference for possible statutory amendments
in light of the foregoing observations.
SO ORDERED.213 (Emphasis supplied)

 
I take no issue with the majority’s findings of fact or
conclusion that accused-appellant is guilty of statutory
rape. I do, however, wish to address a few points in the
Decision and the opinions submitted by Associate Justice
Alfredo Benjamin S. Caguioa (Associate Justice Caguioa)
and Associate Justice Perlas-Bernabe.
 
I
 
Much of the debate here centers on the proper
interpretation of Article III, Section 5(b) of Republic Act
No. 7610.
Article III, Section 5 reads:

ARTICLE III
Child Prostitution and Other Sexual Abuse
 
SECTION 5. Child Prostitution and Other Sexual
Abuse.—Children, whether male or female, who for money,
profit, or any other consideration or due to the coercion or
influence of any adult, syndicate or group, indulge in sex-

_______________

213  Id., at pp. 446-447.

 
 
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People vs. Tulagan

ual intercourse or lascivious conduct, are deemed to be

children exploited in prostitution and other sexual abuse.
The penalty of reclusion temporal in its medium period to
reclusion perpetua shall be imposed upon the following:
 
(a) Those who engage in or promote, facilitate or
induce child prostitution which include, but are not
limited to, the following:

(1) Acting as a procurer of a child prostitute;

 (2) Inducing a person to be a client of a child
prostitute by means of written or oral
advertisements or other similar means;
(3) Taking advantage of influence or
relationship to procure a child as
prostitute;
(4) Threatening or using violence towards a
child to engage him as a prostitute; or
(5) Giving monetary consideration goods or
other pecuniary benefit to a child with
intent to engage such child in prostitution.

(b) Those who commit the act of sexual intercourse

or lascivious conduct with a child exploited in
prostitution or subjected to other sexual abuse;
Provided, That when the victims is under twelve (12)
years of age, the perpetrators shall be prosecuted
under Article 335, paragraph 3, for rape and Article
336 of Act No. 3815, as amended, the Revised Penal
Code, for rape or lascivious conduct, as the case may
be: Provided, That the penalty for lascivious conduct
when the victim is under twelve (12) years of age
shall be reclusion temporal in its medium period; and
(c) Those who derive profit or advantage therefrom,
whether as manager or owner of the establishment
where the prostitution takes place, or of the sauna,
disco, bar, resort, place of entertainment or
establishment serving as a cover or which engages in
prostitution in addition to the activity for

 
 
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which the license has been issued to said

establishment. (Emphasis in the original)

 
I cannot subscribe to Associate Justice Caguioa’s
interpretation that Section 5 only refers to children
subjected to prostitution. A plain reading of this provision
shows two (2) offenses: (1) child prostitution and (2) other
sexual abuse.
Children subjected to prostitution are those “who for
money, profit, or any other consideration.  .  . indulge in
sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct[.]” Children
subjected to other sexual abuse are those who “due to the
coercion or influence of any adult, syndicate or group,
indulge in sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct[.]”
Under the law, the State must “provide special
protection to children from all forms of abuse, neglect,
cruelty exploitation and discrimination.”214 Children do not
willingly indulge in sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct
with an adult. There is always an element of intimidation
or coercion involved. Thus, the crime is not merely
punishable under the Revised Penal Code, but also under
Republic Act No. 7610.
As Associate Justice Diosdado M. Peralta eloquently
explained in Dimakuta v. People:215

Article 226-A, paragraph 2 of the RPC, punishes

inserting of the penis into another person’s mouth or anal
orifice, or any instrument or object, into the genital or anal
orifice of another person if the victim did not consent either
it was done through force, threat or intimidation; or when
the victim is deprived of reason or is otherwise unconscious;
or by means of fraudulent machination or grave abuse of
authority as sexual assault as a form of rape. However, in
instances where the lascivious conduct is covered by the
definition under R.A. No. 7610, where the penalty
is reclusion temporal medium, and the act is
_______________

214  Rep. Act No. 7610 (1992), Art. I, Sec. 2.

215  771 Phil. 641; 773 SCRA 228 (2015) [Per J. Peralta, En Banc].

 
 
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likewise covered by sexual assault under Article 266-A,

paragraph 2 of the RPC, which is punishable by prisión
mayor, the offender should be liable for violation of Section
5(b), Article III of R.A. No. 7610, where the law provides for
the higher penalty of reclusion temporal medium, if the
offended party is a child victim. But if the victim is at least
eighteen (18) years of age, the offender should be liable
under Art. 266-A, par. 2 of the RPC and not R.A. No. 7610,
unless the victim is at least eighteen (18) years and she is
unable to fully take care of herself or protect herself from
abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation or discrimination
because of a physical or mental disability or condition, in
which case, the offender may still be held liable for sexual
abuse under R.A. No. 7610.
There could be no other conclusion, a child is presumed
by law to be incapable of giving rational consent to any
lascivious act, taking into account the constitutionally
enshrined State policy to promote the physical, moral,
spiritual, intellectual and social well-being of the youth, as
well as, in harmony with the foremost consideration of the
child’s best interests in all actions concerning him or her.
This is equally consistent with the declared policy of the
State to provide special protection to children from all forms
of abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation and discrimination,
and other conditions prejudicial to their development;
provide sanctions for their commission and carry out a
program for prevention and deterrence of and crisis
intervention in situations of child abuse, exploitation, and
discrimination. Besides, if it was the intention of the
framers of the law to make child offenders liable only of
Article 266-A of the RPC, which provides for a lower penalty
than R.A. No. 7610, the law could have expressly made such
statements.216

 
Consent, within the context of sexual relations, is
structured around questions of patriarchy and sexual
maturity.

_______________

216   Id., at pp. 670-671; p. 265, citing Malto v. People, 560 Phil. 119,
139-142; 533 SCRA 643, 664 (2007) [Per J. Corona, First Division]; and
Rep. Act No. 7610 (1992), Art. I, Sec. 2.

 
 
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Girls may believe themselves to have consented to

sexual intercourse if they thought themselves powerless to
refuse. Marital rape is difficult to prosecute if the woman
believes that it is her “wifely duty” to always give in to the
husband’s sexual demands.
The age of sexual consent in the Philippines is 12 years
old.217 According to United Nations International
Children’s Emergency Fund, this is “one [1] of the lowest
globally and the lowest in the Asia-Pacific region.”218 The
average age of consent is 16 years old.219
The age of majority, however, is 18 years old.220 Minors,
or those below 18, have no capacity to enter
into  any  contracts221  or marriage.222  Yet, strictly reading
the provisions of the Revised Penal Code, any minor above
12 years old may validly consent to sexual intercourse and
lascivious conduct with an adult.
This may have found support in science. According to
neurologists, the prefontal cortex and the parietal cortex
develop at puberty or around 12 years old.223  At this age,
children may already be cognitively aware of the concept of
consent. Among 

_______________

217  See REV. PEN. CODE, ART. 266-A(d), as amended.

218  UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES MANILA, THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH,
CHILD PROTECTION NETWORK FOUNDATION AND UNICEF PHILIPPINES, A
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF THE DRIVERS OF VIOLENCE AFFECTING CHILDREN IN THE

PHILIPPINES. MANILA: UNICEF PHILIPPINES (2016). Available at

<https://resourcecentre.savethechildren.ne
t/sites/default/files/documents/a_systematic_literature_review_of_the_drivers_of_vac.pdf>
(last accessed on March 11, 2019).
219  Id.
220  FAMILY CODE, Art. 234, as amended.
221  CIVIL CODE, Art. 1327(1).
222  FAMILY CODE, Art. 35.
223   Choudhury, Suparna, Blakemore, Sarah-Jayne, Charman, Tony,
Social Cognitive Development during Adolescence, Social Cognitive and
Affective Neuroscience, Vol. 1, pp. 165-174 (2006), available at
<https://doi.org/10.1093/scan/ns1024> (last visited on March 11, 2019).

 
 
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the policies espoused by Republic Act No. 7610, however, is

that the “best interests of children shall be the paramount
consideration in all actions concerning them[.]”224  This
means that despite victims reaching the age where they
could have reasonable discernment, courts still need to
determine how consent to sexual conduct was obtained.
Article III, Section 5(b)  generally  applies to those who
engage in sexual intercourse or are subjected to other
sexual abuse. However, reference must be made to the
law’s chapeau:

SECTION 5. Child Prostitution and Other Sexual

Abuse.—Children, whether male or female, who for money,
profit, or any other consideration  or  due to the coercion or
influence of any adult, syndicate or group, indulge in sexual
intercourse or lascivious conduct, are deemed to be children
exploited in prostitution and other sexual abuse.

 
The law itself requires that children in EPSOSA must
have either consented due to money, profit, or other
consideration, or must have consented due to the “coercion
or influence of any adult[.]”
The difference in age, by itself, is indicative of coercion
and intimidation. In People v. Errojo:225

At a tender age of fourteen, innocent of the ways of the

world, complainant is no match to the accused-appellant, a
forty-one-year-old married individual who sexually
assaulted her. The sheer force and strength of the accused-
appellant would have easily overcome any resistance that
complainant could have put up. What more if the assault
was committed with a deadly knife, the sight of which
would have necessarily evoked fear in 
_______________

224  Rep. Act No. 7610 (1992), Art. I, Sec. 2.

225  299 Phil. 51; 229 SCRA 49 (1994) [Per J. Nocon, Second Division].

 
 
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484 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

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complainant. Thus, it is understandable if she easily

succumbed to the sexual intrusion.226

 
Similarly, in People v. Clado:227

This Court has noted in several cases that minors could be

easily intimidated and cowed into silence even by the
mildest threat against their lives. At the time of the
commission of the crimes, Salve was a fifteen-year-old girl
who had just arrived in town to tend the beauty parlor of
her sister. She was left all alone that night and intimidation
would explain why she did not put up a determined
resistance against her defiler.228 (Citation omitted)

 
In these cases, this Court determined that the minor’s
age played a major part in whether he or she could
rationally give consent to any sexual act with an adult.
This Court had to consider that the vast difference in age
between the victim and the offender could be indicative of
coercion and intimidation. For this reason, Republic Act
No. 7610 penalizes sexual offenses against children not
covered by the statutory age of consent.
However, there are simply factual situations that cannot
be fully encompassed by the permutations suggested.
For example, it is unclear whether a 19-year-old person
can be prosecuted for this crime if he or she had sexual
intercourse with a minor aged 17 and a half years old. It
cannot be determined if that minor was under the “coercion
or influence” of the adult if it appears that it was a
consensual sexual relationship.
It also cannot be fathomed if a 12-year-old child
will willingly  engage in sexual conduct with a 25-year-old
adult. With

_______________

226  Id., at p. 60; p. 57.

227  397 Phil. 813; 343 SCRA 729 (2000) [Per J. Gonzaga-Reyes, Third
Division].
228  Id., at p. 826; p. 740.

 
 
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age disparity and the moral ascendancy the adult exercises

over the child, there may be some form of coercion or
intimidation against the child for the child to succumb to
the adult’s sexual advances.
Hence, this is not the proper time to discuss the
permutations of the different penalties to be imposed under
Republic Act No. 7610. Any suggested permutations of the
penalties should be discussed when the proper factual
situations appear before this Court.
 
II
  
The majority notes that “[Republic Act] No. 8353 did not
expressly repeal Article 336 of the [Revised Penal Code], as
amended.”229
I disagree.
Republic Act No. 8353230  has rendered ineffective the
provision on acts of lasciviousness in the Revised Penal
Code.
Article 336 defines acts of lasciviousness as:

ARTICLE 336. Acts of lasciviousness.—Any person who

shall commit any act of lasciviousness upon other persons of
either sex, under any of the circumstances mentioned in the
preceding article, shall be punished by prisión correccional.
(Emphasis supplied)

 
 
Under this provision, a lascivious act is punishable if it
is committed under the circumstances mentioned in Article
335 of the Revised Penal Code, which provides:

ARTICLE 335. When and how rape is committed.—

Rape is committed by having carnal knowledge of a woman
under any of the following circumstances:

_______________

229  Ponencia, p. 433.

230  THE ANTI-RAPE LAW OF 1997.

 
 
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People vs. Tulagan

1. By using force or intimidation;

2. When the woman is deprived of reason or
otherwise unconscious; and
3. When the woman is under twelve years of age or
is demented.

The crime of rape shall be punished by reclusion

perpetua.
Whenever the crime of rape is committed with the
use of a deadly weapon or by two or more persons, the
penalty shall be reclusion perpetua to death.
When by reason or on occasion of the rape, the
victim has become insane, the penalty shall be death.
When the rape is attempted or frustrated and a
homicide is committed by reason or on occasion
thereof, the penalty shall be reclusion perpetua to
death.
The death penalty shall also be imposed if the
crime of rape is committed with any of the following
attendant circumstances:
 
1. when the victim is under eighteen (18) years
of age and the offender is a parent, ascendant,
stepparent, guardian, relative by consanguinity
or affinity within the third civil degree, or the
common-law spouse of the parent of the victim.
2. when the victim is under the custody of the
police or military authorities.
3. when the rape is committed in full view of
the husband, parent, any of the children or other
relatives within the third degree of
consanguinity.
4. when the victim is a religious or a child
below seven (7) years old.
5. when the offender knows that he is afflicted
with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
(AIDS) disease.
 6. when committed by any member of the
Armed Forces of the Philippines or the
Philippine National Police or any law
enforcement agency.
7. when by reason or on the occasion of the
rape, the victim has suffered permanent
physical mutila-

 
 
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tion. (As amended by R.A. No. 7659) (Emphasis in the

original)

 
Article 335, however, has already been repealed by
Republic Act No. 8353.231 The provisions on rape were
transferred from Title Eleven to Title Eight of the Revised
Penal Code, reflecting its reconceptualization from being a
crime against chastity to being a crime against persons.
In effect, acts of lasciviousness cease to be a crime under
Article 336 of the Revised Penal Code. This provision is
rendered incomplete and ineffective since its elements can
no longer be completed. The acts constituting it no longer
exist in the Revised Penal Code.
In any case, the ineffectivity of Article 336 does not
preclude acts of lasciviousness from being punishable
under different laws such as Republic Act No. 7610 or
Republic Act No. 9262.232 These laws, likewise, carry more
severe penalties233 

_______________

231  Rep. Act No. 8353, Sec. 4 provides:

SECTION 4. Repealing Clause.—Article 335 of Act No. 3815,
as amended, and all laws, acts, presidential decrees, executive
orders, administrative orders, rules and regulations inconsistent
with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are deemed amended,
modified or repealed accordingly.
232  ANTI-VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN ACT OF 2004.
233  Rep. Act No. 7610 (1992), Art. III, Sec. 5 provides:
Section 5(b) .  .  . That the penalty for lascivious conduct when the
victim is under twelve (12) years of age shall be reclusion temporal in its
medium period[.]
Rep. Act No. 9262, Secs. 5 and 6 provides:
SECTION 5. Acts of Violence against Women and Their
Children.—The crime of violence against women and their children
is committed through any of the following acts:
. . . .
(g) Causing or attempting to cause the woman or her child
to engage in any sexual activity which does not constitute
rape, by force or threat of force, physical harm, or through

 
 
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488 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

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than Article 336,234  providing better protection for victims

of lascivious acts not constituting rape.
 
III
 
I stated in  Caoili  that “[t]he persistence of an archaic
understanding of rape relates to our failure to disabuse
ourselves of the notion that carnal knowledge or sexual
intercourse is merely a reproductive activity.”235  That
pattern continues here, where the majority states:

[T]he term “rape by sexual assault” is a misnomer, as it

goes against the traditional concept of rape, which is carnal
knowledge of a woman without her consent or against her
will. In contrast to sexual assault which is a broader term
that includes acts that gratify sexual desire (such as
cunnilingus, felatio, sodomy or even rape), the classic rape
is particular and its commission involves only the
reproductive organs of a woman and a man.  Compared to
sexual assault; rape is severely penalized because it may lead
to unwanted procreation; or to paraphrase the words of the
legislators, it will put an outsider into the woman who
would bear a child, or to the family, if she is
married.236 (Emphasis supplied)

 
This explanation, however, defies reality. A woman who
was raped through insertion of a finger does not suffer less
than a 

_______________

intimidation directed against the woman or her child or

her/his immediate family[.]
SECTION 6. Penalties.—The crime of violence against women
and their children, under Section 5 hereof shall be punished
according to the following rules:
. . . .
(e) Acts falling under Section 5(g) shall be punished by
prisión mayor[.]
234  This crime is punishable by prisión correccional.
235  Supra note 8.
236  Ponencia, pp. 359-360.

 
 
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woman who was raped by penile penetration. One (1) crime

is not less heinous than the other. In People v. Quintos:237

The classifications of rape in Article 266-A of the Revised

Penal Code are relevant only insofar as these define the
manners of commission of rape. However, it does not mean
that one manner is less heinous or wrong than the other.
Whether rape is committed by nonconsensual carnal
knowledge of a woman or by insertion of the penis into the
mouth of another person, the damage to the victim’s dignity
is incalculable. . . . [O]ne experience of sexual abuse should
not be trivialized just because it was committed in a
relatively unusual manner.
“The prime purpose of [a] criminal action is to punish the
offender in order to deter him and others from committing
the same or similar offense, to isolate him from society,
reform and rehabilitate him or, in general, to maintain
social order.” Crimes are punished as retribution so that
society would understand that the act punished was wrong.
Imposing different penalties for different manners of
committing rape creates a message that one experience of
rape is relatively trivial or less serious than another. It
attaches different levels of wrongfulness to equally
degrading acts. Rape, in whatever manner, is a desecration
of a person’s will and body. In terms of penalties, treating
one manner of committing rape as greater or less in
heinousness than another may be of doubtful
constitutionality.238 (Citations omitted)

 
 The idea that one (1) kind of rape is punished more
severely than the other because of “unwanted procreation”
only serves to undermine the law’s reconceptualization of
rape as a crime against persons. It reduces a woman to an
untouched hymen that must be protected by the man who
will eventually

_______________

237   746 Phil. 809; 740 SCRA 179 (2014) [Per J. Leonen, Second
Division].
238  Id., at pp. 832-833; pp. 204-205.

 
 
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claim her — or worse, as a mere womb for the propagation

of that man’s seed.
The worth of a woman’s dignity is not measured solely
by her virtue. This Court cannot continue to convict rapists
on the basis that women need to be kept chaste and
virginal. Rape is a crime against the victim. It is not a
crime against her father’s or husband’s honor.
This Court has already taken strides to address our
prudish views on women’s sexuality. People v. Amarela239
recognized that the stereotype of a demure and reserved
Filipina has no place in a modern society. A Filipina can
either be as demure or as promiscuous as she desires. Her
sexual proclivities, or lack thereof, has no bearing on
whether she can be a victim of rape. The commission of the
crime is solely attributable to the rapist, not the victim.
Thus:

The “women’s honor” doctrine surfaced in our

jurisprudence sometime in 1960. In the case of  People v.
Taño, the Court affirmed the conviction of three (3) armed
robbers who took turns raping a person named
Herminigilda Domingo. The Court, speaking through
Justice Alejo Labrador, said:
 
It is a well-known fact that women, especially
Filipinos, would not admit that they have been
abused unless that abuse had actually happened. This
is due to their natural instinct to protect their honor.
We cannot believe that the offended party would have
positively stated that intercourse took place unless it
did actually take place.
 
This opinion borders on the fallacy of non sequit[u]r. And
while the factual setting back then would have been
appropriate to say it is natural for a woman to be reluctant
in disclosing a sexual assault; today, we simply cannot be
stuck to the Maria Clara stereotype of a demure and re-

_______________

239  G.R. Nos. 225642-43, January 17, 2018, 852 SCRA 54.

 
 
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served Filipino woman. We, should stay away from such

mindset and accept the realities of a woman’s dynamic role
in society today; she who has over the years transformed
 into a strong and confidently intelligent and beautiful
person, willing to fight for her rights.240

 
This Court explained further in  Perez v. People241  that
we must be careful in correcting gender stereotypes in rape
cases. Despite strides to change long-held misconceptions,
we cannot deny the continued existence of a patriarchal
dominance in social relationships. We must acknowledge
that due to this pervasive cultural norm, it will still take
courage for women to come forward and testify against the
men who dominate them:

This Court in  Amarela, however, did not go as far as

denying the existence of patriarchal dominance in many
social relationships. Courts must continue to be sensitive to
the power relations that come clothed in gender roles. In
many instances, it does take courage for girls or women to
come forward and testify against the boys or men in their
lives who, perhaps due to cultural roles, dominate them.
Courts must continue to acknowledge that the dastardly
illicit and lustful acts of men are often veiled in either the
power of coercive threat or the inconvenience inherent in
patriarchy as a culture.
Even if it were true that AAA was infatuated with the
accused, it did not justify the indignity done to her. At the
tender age of 12, adolescents will normally be misled by
their hormones and mistake regard or adoration for love.
The aggressive expression of infatuation from a 12-year-old
girl is never an invitation for sexual indignities. Certainly,
it does not deserve the accused’s mashing of her breasts or
the insertion of his finger into her vagina.
Consistent with our pronouncement in  Amarela, AAA
was no Maria Clara. Not being the fictitious and general-

_______________

240  Id., at pp. 67-68, citing People v. Taño, 109 Phil. 912 (1960) [Per J.
Labrador, En Banc].
241  G.R. No. 201414, April 18, 2018, 861 SCRA 626.

 
 
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492 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

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ized demure girl, it does not make her testimony less

credible especially when supported by the other pieces of
evidence presented in this case.242 (Emphasis in the
original)

 
Thus, providing a lesser punishment for the forceful
insertion of a finger into the vagina, solely because it will
not result in an unwanted pregnancy, is a step backwards.
Sexual intercourse is more than a means of procreation.
It is a powerful expression of intimacy between human
beings. It “requires the shedding of all inhibitions and
defenses to allow humans to explore each other in their
most basic nakedness.”243  Sexual intercourse may involve
penile penetration, or a whole other spectrum of sexual acts
that do not require penetration at all. Ultimately, it is the
human being’s choice whom to be intimate with and what
that intimacy may involve.
Rape is the violation of this choice. It is not punished
simply because a penis forcefully penetrated a vagina. The
crime is vile and heinous because it takes away a victim’s
fundamental autonomy to choose with whom she would
share intimacy. It violates a victim’s autonomy over her
own body.
This Court’s continued refusal to recognize the forceful
insertion of a finger into a woman’s vagina as rape by
sexual intercourse only shows that rape, at least in the
eyes of this Court, has remained a crime against chastity.
Severe punishment is still reserved only for acts that could
potentially embarrass the husband by introducing “an
outsider” to his wife’s womb. Lesser punishment is meted
to acts that do not involve male ejaculation, but
nonetheless defile the woman and damage her dignity.
Laws punishing rape should be read from the point of
view of the victim. The finger is as much a weapon of forced
sexual penetration as the penis. All victims of forced sexual
acts 

_______________

242  Id., at p. 645.

243  Supra note 8.

 
 
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suffer the same indignity. Thus, the offender must be

charged with the same crime.
Nonetheless, I reiterate that this case is not the right
vehicle to fully discuss the permutations of the law for
victims aged 12 to below 18 years old. Any discussion will
only amount to hypotheticals and an almost advisory
opinion on the matter, considering that the victim here is
not between those ages. I propose that this Court await the
proper case to deal with the factual situations that will
arise in the application of the law when the victim is aged
12 to below 18 years old.
Hence, I can only concur in the result.
Accordingly, I vote to DISMISS the appeal. The
Regional Trial Court’s February 10, 2014 Joint Decision, in
Criminal Case Nos. SCC-6210 and SCC-6211, and the
Court of Appeals’ August 17, 2015 Decision, in C.A.-G.R.
C.R.-H.C. No. 06679, should be AFFIRMED with the
necessary modifications.
 
CONCURRING AND DISSENTING OPINION
 
CAGUIOA, J.:
 
I concur partly in the result, but express my
disagreement with some pronouncements in the ponencia.
My view of the relevant laws and their respective
applications is straightforward and simple: apply Section
5(b) of Republic Act No. (R.A.) 7610 upon the concurrence
of both allegation and proof that the victim is “exploited in
prostitution or subjected to other sexual abuse,” and in its
absence — or in all other cases — apply the provisions of
the Revised Penal Code (RPC), as amended by R.A. 8353.
To illustrate the simplicity of my position, which I argue is
the correct interpretation of the foregoing laws, I took the
liberty of presenting it using the flowchart below:
 
 
494

494 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

People vs. Tulagan
  
The ponencia attempts at length to reconcile, for the
guidance of the Bench and the Bar, the provisions on Acts
of Lasciviousness, Rape and Sexual Assault under the
RPC, as amended by R.A. 8353, and the provisions on
Sexual Intercourse and Lascivious Conduct under Section
5(b) of R.A.
 
 
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7610. In the ponencia, the following matrix244 is put forth

regarding the designation or nomenclature of the crimes
and the corresponding imposable penalties, depending on
the age and circumstances of the victim:
 

_______________

244  See Ponencia, pp. 391-392.

245    As defined under Section 3(a), R.A. 7610, “Children” refers to
persons below eighteen (18) years of age or those over but are unable to
fully take care of themselves or protect themselves from abuse, neglect,
cruelty, exploitation or discrimination because of a physical or mental
disability or condition.

 
 
496

496 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

People vs. Tulagan
  
The above table is recommended by the  ponencia  in
recognition of the fact that the  current state of
jurisprudence on the matter is confusing.
I salute this laudable objective of the ponencia.
However, I submit that the said objective could be
better achieved by reexamining the landmark cases on the
matter, namely the cases of  Dimakuta v.
People246  (Dimakuta),  Quimvel v. People247  (Quimvel),
and  People v. Caoili248  (Caoili) and recognizing that these
were based on misplaced premises.
For one, the rulings in the aforementioned cases were
based on the mistaken notion that it is necessary to apply
R.A. 7610 to all cases where a child is subjected to sexual

_______________

246  771 Phil. 641; 773 SCRA 228 (2015).

247  G.R. No. 214497, April 18, 2017, 823 SCRA 192.
248  G.R. No. 196342, August 8, 2017, 835 SCRA 107.

 
 
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abuse because of the higher penalties therein; that is, there

was always a need to look at the highest penalty provided
by the different laws, and apply the law with the highest
penalty because this would then be in line with the State
policy “to provide special protection to children from all
forms of abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation and
discrimination, and other conditions prejudicial to their
development.”249 This way of thinking was first
implemented in Dimakuta where the Court held:

Article 226-A, paragraph 2 of the RPC, punishes

inserting of the penis into another person’s mouth or anal
orifice, or any instrument or object, into the genital or anal
orifice of another person if the victim did not consent either
it was done through force, threat or intimidation; or when
the victim is deprived of reason or is otherwise unconscious;
or by means of fraudulent machination or grave abuse of
authority as sexual assault as a form of rape. However, in
instances where the lascivious conduct is covered by
the definition under R.A. No. 7610, where the penalty
is reclusion temporal medium, and the act is likewise
covered by sexual assault under Article 266-A,
paragraph 2 of the RPC, which is punishable
by  prisión mayor, the offender should be liable for
violation of Section 5(b), Article III of R.A. No. 7610,
where the law provides for the higher penalty
of  reclusion temporal  medium, if the offended party
is a child victim. But if the victim is at least eighteen (18)
years of age, the offender should be liable under Art. 266-A,
par. 2 of the RPC and not R.A. No. 7610, unless the victim
is at least eighteen (18) years and she is unable to fully take
care of herself or protect herself from abuse, neglect,
cruelty, exploitation or discrimination because of a physical
 or mental disability or condition, in which case, the offender
may still be held liable for sexual abuse under R.A. No.
7610.

_______________

249  R.A. No. 7610, Sec. 2.

 
 
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There could be no other conclusion, a child is presumed

by law to be incapable of giving rational consent to any
lascivious act, taking into account the constitutionally
enshrined State policy to promote the physical,
moral, spiritual, intellectual and social well-being of
the youth, as well as, in harmony with the foremost
consideration of the child’s best interests in all
actions concerning him or her. This is equally
consistent with the declared policy of the State to
provide special protection to children from all forms
of abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation and
discrimination, and other conditions prejudicial to
their development; provide sanctions for their
commission and carry out a program for prevention and
deterrence of and crisis intervention in situations of child
abuse, exploitation, and discrimination. Besides, if it was
the intention of the framers of the law to make child
offenders liable only of Article 266-A of the RPC, which
provides for a lower penalty than R.A. No. 7610, the law
could have expressly made such statements.250 (Additional
emphasis and underscoring supplied)

 
This premise, which I believe should be revisited, was
based on another premise, which I also believe to be
erroneous and should likewise be revisited: that R.A. 7610
was enacted to cover any and all types of sexual abuse
committed against children.
Focusing first on R.A. 7610, I ask the Court to consider
anew the viewpoint I first put forth in my Separate
Dissenting Opinion in Quimvel, that the provisions of R.A.
7610 should be understood in their proper
context,  i.e.,  that they apply only to the specific and
limited instances where  the victim is a child
“exploited in prostitution or subjected to other
sexual abuse.”

_______________

250  Dimakuta v. People, supra note 3 at pp. 670-671; pp. 264-265.

 
 
 
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Foremost rule in construing

a statute is verba legis; thus,
when a statute is clear and
free from ambiguity, it must
be given its literal meaning
and applied without at-
tempted interpretation
 
 As I stated in my dissent in Quimvel, if the intention of
R.A. 7610 is to penalize all sexual abuses against children
under its provisions to the exclusion of the RPC, it would
have expressly stated so and would have done away with
the qualification that the child be “exploited in prostitution
or subjected to other sexual abuse.” Indeed, it bears to
stress that when the statute speaks unequivocally, there is
nothing for the courts to do but to apply it: meaning,
Section 5(b), R.A. 7610 is a provision of specific and limited
application, and must be applied as worded — a separate
and distinct offense from the “common” or “ordinary” acts
of lasciviousness under Article 336 of the RPC.251
The  ponencia  reasons that “when there is an absurdity
in the interpretation of the provisions of the law, the proper
recourse is to refer to the objectives or the declaration of
state policy and principles”252 under the law in question.
While I agree that the overall objectives of the law or its
declaration of state policies may be consulted in
ascertaining the meaning and applicability of its
provisions, it must be emphasized that there is no room for
statutory construction when the letter of the law is clear.
Otherwise stated, a condition sine qua non before the court
may construe or interpret a

_______________

251  J. Caguioa, Dissenting Opinion in Quimvel v. People, supra note 4

at p. 298.
252  Ponencia, p. 394. Emphasis supplied.

 
 
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statute is that there be doubt or ambiguity in its

language.253 In this case, Section 5(b) of R.A. 7610 states:

SEC. 5. Child Prostitution and Other Sexual Abuse.—

x x x
The penalty of  reclusion temporal  in its medium period
to reclusion perpetua shall be imposed upon the following:
 
x x x x
(b) Those who commit the act of sexual
intercourse or lascivious conduct with a child
exploited in prostitution or subjected to other sexual
abuse; Provided, That when the victim is under twelve (12)
years of age, the perpetrators shall be prosecuted under
Article 335, paragraph 3, for rape and Article 336 of Act No.
3815, as amended, the Revised Penal Code, for rape or
lascivious conduct, as the case may be:  Provided, That the
penalty for lascivious conduct when the victim is under
twelve (12) years of age shall be  reclusion temporal  in its
medium period[.] (Emphasis and underscoring supplied)

 
The letter of Section 5(b), R.A. 7610 is clear: it only
punishes those who commit the act of sexual
intercourse or lascivious conduct  with a child
exploited in prostitution or subjected to other sexual
abuse. There is no ambiguity to speak of that necessitates
the Court’s exercise of statutory construction to ascertain
the legislature’s intent in enacting the law.
Verily, the legislative intent is already made manifest in
the letter of the law which, again, states that the person to
be punished by Section 5(b) is the one who committed the
act of sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct with a child
exploited in pros-

_______________
 253   United Paracale Mining Company, Inc. v. Dela Rosa, 293 Phil.
117, 123-124;  221 SCRA 108, 114 (1993).

 
 
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titution or subjected to other sexual abuse (or what Justice

Estela M. Perlas-Bernabe calls as EPSOSA, for brevity).
 
Even with the application
of the aids to statutory
construction, the Court
would still arrive at the
same conclusion
 
The ponencia disagrees, and asserts that “[c]ontrary to
the view of Justice Caguioa, Section 5(b), Article III of R.A.
No. 7610 is not as clear as it appears to be.”254 This
admission alone should have ended the discussion,
consistent with the fundamental established principle that
penal laws are strictly construed against the State and
liberally in favor of the accused, and that any reasonable
doubt must be resolved in favor of the accused.255
In addition, even if it is conceded, for the sake of
argument, that there is room for statutory construction, the
same conclusion would still be reached.
Expressio unius est exclusio alterius. Where a statute, by
its terms, is expressly limited to certain matters, it may
not, by interpretation or construction, be extended to
others.256  The rule proceeds from the premise that the
legislature would not have made specified enumerations in
a statute had the intention been not to restrict its meaning
and to confine its terms to those expressly mentioned.257 In
the present case, if the legislature intended for
Section 5(b), R.A. 7610 to cover any and all types of
sexual abuse committed against

_______________

254  Ponencia, p. 396.

255   J. Ynares-Santiago, Dissenting Opinion in People v. Lacson, 459
Phil. 330, 380; 413 SCRA 20, 70 (2003).
256   Centeno v. Villalon-Pornillos, 306 Phil. 219, 228; 236 SCRA 197,
203 (1994).
257  Id.

 
 
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children, then why would it bother adding language

to the effect that the provision applies to “children
exploited in prostitution or subjected to other sexual
abuse?” Relevantly, why would it also put Section 5 under
Article III of the law, which is entitled “Child Prostitution
and Other Sexual Abuse?”
A closer scrutiny of the structure of Section 5 of R.A.
7610 further demonstrates its intended application: to
cover only cases of prostitution, or other related sexual
abuse akin to prostitution but may or may not be for
consideration or profit. In my considered opinion, the
structure of Section 5 follows the more common model or
progression of child prostitution or other forms of sexual
exploitation. The entire Section 5 of R.A. 7610 provides:
 SEC. 5. Child Prostitution and Other Sexual Abuse.—
Children, whether male or female, who for money, profit, or
any other consideration or due to the coercion or influence
of any adult, syndicate or group, indulge in sexual
intercourse or lascivious conduct, are deemed to be children
exploited in prostitution and other sexual abuse.
The penalty of reclusion temporal in its medium period to
reclusion perpetua shall be imposed upon the following:
 
(a) Those who engage in or promote, facilitate or induce
child prostitution which include, but are not limited to, the
following:
 
(1) Acting as a procurer of a child prostitute;
(2) Inducing a person to be a client of a child
prostitute by means of written or oral advertisements
or other similar means;
(3) Taking advantage of influence or relationship
to procure a child as prostitute;
(4) Threatening or using violence towards a child
to engage him as a prostitute; or

 
 
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(5) Giving monetary consideration, goods or other

pecuniary benefit to a child with intent to engage
such child in prostitution.
 
(b) Those who commit the act of sexual intercourse or
lascivious conduct with a child exploited in prostitution or
subjected to other sexual abuse: Provided, That when the
victim is under twelve (12) years of age, the perpetrators
shall be prosecuted under Article 335, paragraph 3, for rape
and Article 336 of Act No. 3815, as amended, the Revised
Penal Code, for rape or lascivious conduct, as the case may
be: Provided, That the penalty for lascivious conduct when
the victim is under twelve (12) years of age shall be
reclusion temporal in its medium period; and
(c) Those who derive profit or advantage therefrom,
whether as manager or owner of the establishment where
the prostitution takes place, or of the sauna, disco, bar,
resort, place of entertainment or establishment serving as a
cover or which engages in prostitution in addition to the
activity for which the license has been issued to said
establishment.

 
From the above, it is clear that Section 5(a) punishes the
procurer of the services of the child, or in layman’s
parlance, the pimp. Section 5(b), in turn, punishes the
person who himself (or herself) commits the sexual abuse
on the child. Section 5(c) finally then punishes any other
person who derives profit or advantage therefrom, such as,
but are not limited to, owners of establishments where the
sexual abuse is committed.
This is the reason why I stated in my opinion in Quimvel
that no requirement of a prior sexual affront is required to
be charged and convicted under Section 5(b) of R.A. 7610.
Here, the person who has sexual intercourse or performs
lascivious acts upon the child, even if this were the very
first act by the child, already makes the person liable under
Section 5(b), because the very fact that someone had
procured the child to be used for another person’s sexual
gratification in exchange for money, profit or other
consideration already qualifies the child as a child
exploited in prostitution.
 
 
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504 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

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Thus, in cases where any person, under the

circumstances of Section 5(a), procures, induces, or
threatens a child to engage in any sexual activity with
another person, even without an allegation or showing that
the impetus is money, profit or other consideration, the
first sexual affront by the person to whom the child is
offered already triggers Section 5(b) because the
circumstance of the child being offered to another already
qualifies the child as one subjected to other sexual abuse.
Similar to these situations, the first sexual affront upon a
child shown to be performing in obscene publications and
indecent shows, or under circumstances falling under
Section 6, is already a violation of Section 5(b) because
these circumstances are sufficient to qualify the child as
one subjected to other sexual abuse.
This is also the reason why the definition of “child
abuse” adopted by the ponencia — based on Section 3,258
R.A. 7610 and Section 2(g) of the Rules and Regulations on
the Reporting and Investigation of Child Abuse Cases —
does not require the element of habituality to qualify an act
as “child abuse” or “sexual abuse.”259 However, this absence
of habituality as an element of the crime punished by
Section 5(b), R.A. 7610 does not mean that the law would
apply in each and every case of sexual abuse. To the
contrary, it only means

_______________

15  (b) “Child abuse” refers to the maltreatment, whether habitual or

not, of the child which includes any of the following:
(1) Psychological and physical abuse, neglect, cruelty, sexual
abuse and emotional maltreatment;
(2) Any act by deeds or words which debases, degrades or
demeans the intrinsic worth and dignity of a child as a human
being;
(3) Unreasonable deprivation of his basic needs for survival,
such as food and shelter; or
(4) Failure to immediately give medical treatment to an injured
child resulting in serious impairment of his growth and
development or in his permanent incapacity or death.
16  Ponencia, pp. 400.

 
 
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that the first act of sexual abuse would be punishable by

Section 5(b), R.A. 7610 if done under the circumstances of
being “exploited in prostitution or subjected to other sexual
abuse.” For example, if the child victim was newly
recruited by the prostitution den, even the first person who
would have sexual intercourse with her under said
conditions would be punished under Section 5(b), R.A.
7610.
Moreover, the deliberations of R.A. 7610 support the
view that Section 5(b) is limited only to sexual abuses
committed against children that are EPSOSA. I thus quote
anew Senator Rasul, one of R.A. 7610’s sponsors, who, in
her sponsorship speech, stated:

Senator Rasul. x x x

x x x x
But undoubtedly, the most disturbing, to say the least, is
the persistent report of children being sexually exploited
and molested for purely material gains. Children with
 ages ranging from three to 18 years are used and abused.
We hear and read stories of rape, manhandling and sexual
molestation in the hands of cruel sexual perverts, local and
foreigners alike. As of October 1990, records show that 50
cases of physical abuse were reported, with the ratio of six
females to four males. x x x
x x x x
x x x No less than the Supreme Court, in the recent case
of People v. Ritter, held that we lack criminal laws which
will adequately protect street children from
exploitation by pedophiles. x  x  x260 (Emphasis and
underscoring supplied)

_______________

260  Record of the Senate, Vol. III, No. 104, p. 1204, March 19, 1991.

 
 
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506 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

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To recall, People v. Ritter261 is a 1991 case which

involved an Austrian national who was charged with rape
with homicide for having ultimately caused the death of
Rosario, a street child, by inserting a foreign object into her
vagina during the course of performing sexual acts with
her. Ritter was acquitted based on reasonable doubt on
account of, among others, the failure of the prosecution to
(1) establish the age of Rosario to be within the range of
statutory rape, and (2) show force or intimidation as an
essential element of rape in the face of the finding that
Rosario was a child prostitute who willingly engaged
in sexual acts with Ritter. While the Court acquitted
Ritter, it did make the observation that there was, at that
time, a “lack of criminal laws which will adequately protect
street children from exploitation by pedophiles, pimps, and,
perhaps, their own parents or guardians who profit from
the sale of young bodies.”262
The enactment of R.A. 7610 was the response by
the legislature to the observation of the Court that
there was a gap in the law. Of relevance is the exchange
between Senators Enrile and Lina, which I quote anew,
that confirms that the protection of street children from
exploitation is the foremost thrust of R.A. 7610:

Senator Enrile. Pareho silang hubad na hubad at

naliligo. Walang ginagawa. Walang  touching  po, basta
naliligo lamang. Walang akapan, walang touching, naliligo
lamang sila. Ano po ang ibig sabihin noon? Hindi po ba
puwedeng sabihin, kagaya ng  standard  na ginamit natin,
na UNDER CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH WOULD LEAD A
REASONABLE PERSON TO BELIEVE THAT THE CHILD
IS ABOUT TO BE SEXUALLY EXPLOITED, OR ABUSED.
Senator Lina. Kung mayroon pong balangkas  or
amendment to cover that situation, tatanggapin ng Rep-

_______________

18  272 Phil. 532; 194 SCRA 690 (1991).

19  Id., at p. 569; p. 723. Emphasis and underscoring supplied.

 
 
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People vs. Tulagan

resentation na ito. Baka ang sitwasyong iyon ay hindi na

ma-cover nito sapagkat, at the back of our minds, Mr.
 President, ang sitwasyong talagang gusto nating ma-
address ay maparusahan iyong tinatawag na
“pedoph[i]lia” or prey on our children. Hindi sila
makakasuhan sapagkat their activities are undertaken or
are committed in the privacy of homes, inns, hotels, motels
and similar establishments.263 (Emphasis and underscoring
supplied)

 
And when he explained his vote, Senator Lina stated the
following:

With this legislation, child traffickers could be easily

prosecuted and penalized. Incestuous abuse and those
where victims are under twelve years of age are penalized
gravely, ranging from  reclusion temporal  to  reclusion
perpetua, in its maximum period.  It also imposes the
penalty of  reclusion temporal  in its medium period
to  reclusion perpetua, equivalent to a 14-30-year prison
term  for those  “(a) who promote or facilitate child
prostitution; (b)  commit the act of sexual intercourse
or lascivious conduct with a child exploited in
prostitution; (c) derive profit or advantage whether as
manager or owner of an establishment where the
prostitution takes place or of the  sauna, disco, bar resort,
place of entertainment or establishment serving as a cover
or which engages in a prostitution in addition to the activity
for which the license has been issued to said
establishment.264 (Emphasis and underscoring supplied)

 
The Senate deliberations on R.A. 7610 are replete with
similar disquisitions that all show the intent to make the
law applicable to cases involving child exploitation through
prostitution, sexual abuse, child trafficking, pornography
and other

_______________

263  Record of the Senate, Vol. I, No. 7, pp. 264-265, August 1, 1991.
264   Record of the Senate, Vol. II, No. 58, pp. 793-794, December 2,
1991.

 
 
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508 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

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types of abuses. To repeat, the passage of the law was the

Senate’s act of heeding the call of the Court to afford
protection to a special class of children and not to
cover any and all crimes against children that are
already covered by other penal laws, such as the
RPC and Presidential Decree No. 603, otherwise
known as the Child and Youth Welfare Code.
The Angara Amendment, which added the phrase “who
for money, profit, or any other consideration or due to
coercion or influence of any adult, syndicate or group,
indulge in sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct” in
Section 5(b), relied upon by the ponencia to support its
argument that the law applies in each and every case
where the victim of the sexual abuse is a child,265 does not
actually support its proposition. The deliberations on the
said Angara Amendment are quoted in full below if only to
understand the whole context of the amendment

Senator Angara. I see. Then, I move to page 3, Mr.

President, Section 4, if it is still in the original bill.
Senator Lina. Yes, Mr. President.
Senator Angara. I refer to line 9, “who for money or
profit.” I would like to amend this, Mr. President, to cover a
situation where the minor may have been coerced or
intimidated into this lascivious conduct, not necessarily for
 money or profit, so that we can cover those situations and
not leave a loophole in this section.
The proposal I have is something like this: “WHO FOR
MONEY, PROFIT, OR ANY OTHER CONSIDERATION
OR DUE TO THE COERCION OR INFLUENCE OF ANY
ADULT, SYNDICATE OR GROUP INDULGE, et cetera.
The President Pro Tempore. I see. That would mean
also changing the subtitle of Section 4. Will it no longer be
child prostitution?

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265  Ponencia, p. 396.

 
 
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Senator Angara. No, no. Not necessarily, Mr. President,

because we are still talking of the child who is being
misused for sexual purposes either for money or for
consideration. What I am trying to cover is the other
consideration. Because, here, it is limited only to the child
being abused or misused for sexual purposes, only for
money or profit.
I am contending, Mr. President, that there may be
situations where the child may not have been used for profit
or. . .
The President Pro Tempore. So, it is no longer
prostitution. Because the essence of prostitution is profit.
Senator Angara. Well, the Gentleman is right. Maybe
the heading ought to be expanded. But, still, the President
will agree that that is a form or manner of child abuse.
The President Pro Tempore. What does the Sponsor
say? Will the Gentleman kindly restate the amendment?
 
ANGARA AMENDMENT
 
Senator Angara. The new section will read something
like this, Mr. President: MINORS, WHETHER MALE OR
FEMALE, WHO FOR MONEY, PROFIT, OR ANY OTHER
CONSIDERATION OR DUE TO THE COERCION OR
INFLUENCE OF ANY ADULT, SYNDICATE OR GROUP
INDULGE IN SEXUAL INTERCOURSE, et cetera.
Senator Lina. It is accepted, Mr. President.266
(Emphasis and underscoring supplied)

 
Clear from the said deliberations is the intent to still
limit the application of Section 5(b) to a situation where the
child is used for sexual purposes  for a consideration,
although it need not be monetary.  The Angara
Amendment, even as it

_______________

266  Record of the Senate, Vol. I, No. 7, pp. 261-262, August 1, 1991.

 
 
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510 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

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adds the phrase “due to the coercion or influence of

any adult, syndicate or group,” did not transform the
provision into one that has universal application,
like the provisions of the RPC. To repeat, Section 5(b)
only applies in the specific and limited instances where the
child victim is EPSOSA.
The ponencia further argues that the interpretation of
Section 5(b), R.A. 7610 in the cases of Dimakuta, Quimvel,
and Caoili is more consistent with the objective of the
law,267 and of the Constitution,268 to provide special
protection to children from all forms of abuse, neglect,
cruelty, exploitation and discrimination, and other
conditions prejudicial to their development. It adds that:

The term “other sexual abuse,” on the other hand, should

be construed in relation to the definitions of “child abuse”
under Section 3, Article I of R.A. No. 7610 and “sexual
abuse” under Section 2(g) of the  Rules and Regulations on
the Reporting and Investigation of Child Abuse Cases. In the
former provision, “child abuse” refers to the
maltreatment,  whether habitual or not, of the child
which includes sexual abuse, among other matters. In the
latter provision, “sexual abuse” includes the employment,
use, persuasion, inducement, enticement or coercion of a
child to engage in, or assist another person to engage in,
sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct or the molestation,
prostitution, or incest with children. x  x  x269  (Emphasis in
the original)

 
With utmost respect to the distinguished ponente, these
arguments unduly extend the letter of the Section 5(b) of
R.A. 7610 for the sake of supposedly reaching its objectives.
For sure, these arguments violate the well-established rule
that

_______________

267  Expressed in its Declaration of State Policy and Principles (Section

2).
268  1987 CONSTITUTION, Art. XV, Sec. 3(2).
269  Ponencia, pp. 400-401.

 
 
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penal statutes are to be strictly construed against the

government and liberally in favor of the accused.270 In
the interpretation of a penal statute, the tendency is to give
it careful scrutiny, and to construe it with such strictness
as to safeguard the rights of the defendant.271 As the Court
in People v. Garcia272 reminds:

x  x  x “Criminal and penal statutes must be strictly

construed, that is, they cannot be enlarged or extended by
intendment, implication, or by any equitable
considerations. In other words, the language cannot be
enlarged beyond the ordinary meaning of its terms in
order to carry into effect the general purpose for
which the statute was enacted. Only those persons,
offenses, and penalties, clearly included, beyond any
reasonable doubt, will be considered within the
statute’s operation. They must come clearly within both
the spirit and the letter of the statute, and where there is
any reasonable doubt, it must be resolved in favor of the
person accused of violating the statute; that is, all questions
in doubt will be resolved in favor of those from whom the
penalty is sought.” x  x  x273  (Emphasis and underscoring
supplied)

 
What is more, the aforementioned objective of R.A. 7610
and the Constitution — that is, to afford special protection
to children from all forms of abuse, neglect, cruelty and
discrimination, and other conditions prejudicial to their
development — is actually achieved, not by the
unwarranted expansion of Section 5(b) in particular, but by
the law itself read as a whole.

_______________

270  People v. Subido, 160-A Phil. 51, 59; 66 SCRA 545, 551 (1975).
271  Id., at p. 59; p. 551.
272  85 Phil. 651 (1950).
273  Id., at p. 656, citing Crawford, Statutory Construction, pp. 460-462.

 
 
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512 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

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The statements of Senators Lina and Rasul,274 relied

upon by the ponencia, to the effect that R.A. 7610 was
passed in keeping with the Constitutional mandate that
“[t]he State shall defend the right of children to assistance,
including proper care and nutrition, and special protection
from all forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation, and
other conditions prejudicial to their development” do not
support the expanded interpretation of Section 5(b) at all.
In fact, the Senators were lauding the enactment into law
of R.A. 7610 because it provided a holistic approach in
protecting children from various abuses and forms of
neglect that were not punished by law before its
enactment. To illustrate, the following are the novel areas
for the protection of children that are covered through the
enactment of R.A. 7610:
 
1. Protection of children from  Child Prostitution and
Other Sexual Abuse  (Sections 5 and 6, Article III,
R.A. 7610);
2. Protection of children against  Child
Trafficking (Sections 7 and 8, Article IV, R.A. 7610);
3. Protection of children from being used in  Obscene
Publications and Indecent Shows  (Section 9,
Article V, R.A. 7610);
4. Other forms of abuse, including the use of children
for illegal activities  (Section 10, Article VI, R.A.
7610);
5. Protection of children against  Child Labor  (Section
12, Article VIII, R.A. 7610);
6. Special protection for  Children of Indigenous
Cultural Communities  (Sections 17-21, Article IX,
R.A. 7610); and
7. Rights of  Children in Situations of Armed
Conflict (Sections 22-26, Article X, R.A. 7610).

_______________

31  See Ponencia, pp. 403-405.

 
 
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The ponencia further uses the extended explanation by

Senator Lina of his vote on the bill that became R.A. 7610
to support its position. The ponencia argues:

In the extended explanation of his vote on Senate Bill

No. 1209, Senator Lina emphasized that the bill
complements the efforts the Senate has initiated towards
the implementation of a national comprehensive program
 for the survival and development of Filipino children, in
keeping with the Constitutional mandate that “[t]he State
shall defend the right of children to assistance, including
proper care and nutrition, and special protection from all
forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation, and other
conditions prejudicial to their development.” Senator Lina
also stressed that the bill supplies the inadequacies of the
existing laws treating crimes committed against children,
namely, the RPC and the Child and Youth Welfare Code, in
the light of the present situation, i.e., current empirical data
on child abuse indicate that a stronger deterrence is
imperative.275

 
For full context, however, Senator Lina’s explanation is
quoted in its entirety below:

EXPLANATION OF VOTE OF
SENATOR LINA
 
x x x x
The following is the written Explanation of Vote
submitted by Senator Lina:
 
In voting for this measure, we keep in mind some thirty
(30) million children who are below 18 years of age, of which
about 25.3 million are children below fifteen years of
age. Of these number, it is estimated that at least one
percent (1%) are subject to abuse, exploitation,
neglect, and of crimes related to trafficking.

_______________

32  Id., at p. 403.

 
 
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These are the vulnerable and sensitive sectors of

our society needing our care and protection so that
they will grow to become mature adults who are
useful members of the society and potential leaders
of our Nation.
This bill which is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 487,
(one of the earlier bills I filed), and Senate Bill No. 727
authored by Senator Mercado with amendments introduced
by Senators Rasul, Shahani, Tañada and the members of
the Committee on Women and Family Relations,
complements the efforts we have initiated towards the
implementation of a national comprehensive program for
the survival and development of Filipino children, in
keeping with the Constitutional mandate that “The State
shall defend the right of the children to assistance, including
proper care and nutrition, and special protection from all
forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation, and other
conditions prejudicial to their development” (Article XV,
Section 3, par. 2), and also with the duty we assumed as
signatory of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of
the Child.
Republic Act No. 6972 (which was approved on
November 23, 1990), The Barangay Level Total
Development and Protection of Children Act provides the
foundation for a network of barangay-level crises
intervention and sanctuaries for endangered children up to
six years of age who need to be rescued from an unbearable
home situation, and RA 7160, The Local Government Code
of 1991 (which was approved on November 26, 1991)
mandates every barangay, as soon as feasible, to set up
such center to serve children up to six years of age. These
laws embody the institutional protective mechanisms while
 this present bill provides a mechanism for strong deterrence
against the commission of abuse and exploitation.
This bill which I cosponsored supplies the inadequacies
of our existing laws treating crimes committed against
children, namely, the Revised Penal Code and the Child and
Youth Welfare Code, in the light of the present situation.
Current empirical data on child abuse indicate that a
stronger deterrent is imperative.

 
 
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Child abuse is now clearly defined and more

encompassing as to include “the act of unreasonably
depriving a child of basic needs for survival, such as food
and shelter or a combination of both or a case of an isolated
event where the injury is of a degree that if not immediately
remedied could seriously impair the child’s growth and
development or result in permanent incapacity or death.”
With this legislation, child traffickers could be
easily prosecuted and penalized. Incestuous abuse and
those where victims are under twelve years of age are
penalized gravely, ranging from reclusion temporal to
reclusion perpetua, in its maximum period. It also imposes
the penalty of reclusion temporal in its medium
period to reclusion perpetua, equivalent to a 14-30-
year prison term for those “(a) who promote or
facilitate child prostitution; (b) commit the act of
sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct with a child
exploited in prostitution; (c) derive profit or
advantage whether as manager or owner of an
establishment where the prostitution takes place or
of the sauna, disco, bar resort, place of entertainment
or establishment serving as a cover or which engages
in a prostitution in addition to the activity for which
the license has been issued to said establishment.[”]
Attempt to commit child prostitution and child
trafficking, including the act of inducing or coercing
a child to perform in obscene publications or
indecent shows whether live or in video, are also
penalized. And additional penalties are imposed if the
offender is a foreigner, a government official or employee.
For the foregoing reasons, I vote Yes, and I believe that
as an elected legislator, this is one of the best legacies that I
can leave to our children and youth.276 (Emphasis and
underscoring supplied)

_______________

33  Record of the Senate, Vol. II, No. 58, pp. 793-794, December 2, 1991.

 
 
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If read in its entirety — instead of placing emphasis on

certain paragraphs — the vote of Senator Lina, therefore,
supports the argument that the law applies only to
specific and limited instances. Senator Lina even
discussed Section 5(b) in particular in the above extended
explanation, still within the context of prostitution.
Thus, to emphasize, R.A. 7610 was being lauded for
being the response to the Constitutional mandate for the
State to provide special protection to children from all
forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty or exploitation because it
provides for protection of children in special areas
where there were gaps in the law prior to its
enactment. This is the reason why, as the ponencia itself
recognizes, “the enactment of R.A. No. 7610 was a response
of the legislature to the observation of the Court [in People
v. Ritter] that there was a gap in the law because of the
lack of criminal laws which adequately protect street
children from exploitation of pedophiles.”277
That R.A. 7610 was the legislature’s attempt in
providing a comprehensive law to adequately protect
children from  all  forms of abuse, neglect, cruelty or
exploitation, is best expressed in the law’s Section 10(a)
(not Section 5[b]), which provides:

SEC. 10. Other Acts of Neglect, Abuse, Cruelty or

Exploitation and Other Conditions Prejudicial to the Child’s
Development.—
(a) Any person who shall commit  any other acts of
child abuse, cruelty or exploitation or be responsible
for other conditions prejudicial to the child’s
development  including those covered by Article 59 of
Presidential Decree No. 603, as amended, but not covered
by the Revised Penal Code, as amended, shall suffer the
penalty of prisión mayor in its minimum period. (Emphasis
and underscoring supplied)

_______________

34  See Ponencia, p. 418.

 
 
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To stress, R.A. 7610 as a whole tried to cover as many

areas where children experience abuse, neglect, cruelty, or
exploitation, and where it fails to explicitly provide for one,
the catch-all provision in Section 10(a) was crafted to cover
it. Again, these — the other provisions of R.A. 7610,
complemented by its catch-all provision in Section 10(a) —
are the reasons why R.A. 7610 was being lauded for
providing protection to children from all forms of abuse,
neglect, cruelty, or exploitation. It is definitely not the
expanded interpretation of Section 5(b) created by
Dimakuta, Quimvel, and Caoili, as reiterated in the
ponencia.
 
Other reasons put forth by
the ponencia
 
In further rebutting the point I and Justice Perlas-
Bernabe raised — that a person could be convicted of
violation of Article 336 in relation to Section 5(b) only upon
allegation and proof of the unique circumstance of being
EPSOSA — the ponencia reasons that “the provisos of
Section 5(b) itself explicitly state that it must also be read
in light of the provisions of the RPC, thus: ‘Provided, That
when the victim is under twelve (12) years of age, the
perpetrators shall be prosecuted under Article 335,
paragraph 3, for rape and Article 336 of Act No. 3815, as
amended, the Revised Penal Code, for rape or lascivious
conduct, as the case may be[:] Provided, That the penalty for
lascivious conduct when the victim is under twelve (12)
years of age shall be reclusion temporal in its medium
period.”’278
With due respect, I fail to see how the
above provisos supposedly negate the points Justice Perlas-
Bernabe and I raised. The  provisos  only provide that the
perpetrators shall be prosecuted under the RPC when the
victim is below 12 years old, and then impose the
corresponding penalty there-
_______________

278  Id., at p. 406.

 
 
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for. The provisos provide for nothing more. To

illustrate clearly, the provisos only provide for the
following:

General rule: when the child victim is “exploited in

prostitution and other sexual abuse” or EPSOSA, then the
perpetrator should be prosecuted under Section 5(b), R.A.
7610. Penalty: reclusion temporal medium period to
reclusion perpetua.

a. Effect of first proviso only: if (1) the act

constitutes Rape by sexual intercourse and (2)
the child victim, still EPSOSA, is below 12 years
old, then the perpetrator should be prosecuted
under the Rape provision of the RPC. Penalty:
reclusion perpetua.
b. Effect of the first and second provisos, combined:
if (1) the act constitutes Lascivious Conduct279
and (2) the child victim, still EPSOSA, is below
12 years old, then the perpetrator should be
prosecuted under the Acts of Lasciviousness or
Rape by Sexual Assault provisions of the RPC.
Penalty: reclusion temporal in its medium
period.

_______________

36  Which includes all other acts not sexual acts not constituting Rape
by Sexual Intercourse because the Implementing Rules and Regulations of
RA 7610 defines “lascivious conduct” as “the intentional touching, either
directly or through clothing, of the genitalia, anus, groin, breast, inner
thigh, or buttocks, or the introduction of any object into the genitalia,
anus or mouth, of any person, whether of the same or opposite sex, with
an intent to abuse, humiliate, harass, degrade, or arouse or gratify the
sexual desire of any person, bestiality, masturbation, lascivious exhibition
of the genitals or pubic area of a person[.]” Rules and Regulations on the
Reporting and Investigation of Child Abuse Cases, Sec. 2(h).

 
 
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Verily, it is hard to see how the provisos supposedly

negate the assertion that Section 5(b) only applies when
the child victim is EPSOSA.
At this juncture, I would like to digress and thresh out a
point of divergence between my view and Justice Perlas-
Bernabe’s. According to her, the aforequoted provisos are “a
textual indicator that RA 7610 has a specific application
only to children who are predisposed to ‘consent’ to a sexual
act because they are ‘exploited in prostitution or subject to
other sexual abuse.”’280 She further explains her view:
While the phrase “shall be prosecuted under” has not
been discussed in existing case law, it is my view that the
same is a clear instruction by the lawmakers to defer any
application of Section 5(b), Article III of RA
7610,  irrespective of the presence of EPSOSA, when
the victim is under twelve (12). As a consequence, when an
accused is prosecuted under the provisions of the RPC, only
the elements of the crimes defined thereunder must be
alleged and proved. Necessarily too, unless further
qualified, as in the second proviso,  i.e.,  Provided, That the
penalty for lascivious conduct when the victim is
under twelve (12) years of age shall be reclusion temporal in
its medium period, the penalties provided under the RPC
would apply.281 (Emphasis and underscoring supplied)
On her proposed table of penalties, Justice Perlas-
Bernabe reiterates her point that the element of being
EPSOSA becomes irrelevant when the victim is below 12
years old because of the operation of the provisos under
Section 5(b) of R.A. 7610.
I partially disagree.
I concur with Justice Perlas-Bernabe’s view only to the
extent that when Section 5(b), R.A. 7610 defers to the
provisions

_______________

280  J. Perlas-Bernabe, Separate Opinion, p. 455.

281  Id., at p. 456.

 
 
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of the RPC when the victim is below 12 years old, then this
means that “only the elements of the crimes defined
thereunder must be alleged and proved.”282 However, I
would have to express my disagreement to the sweeping
statement that when the victim is below 12 years old, that
the element of being EPSOSA becomes irrelevant.
Again, at the risk of being repetitive, Section 5(b) of R.A.
7610 is a penal provision which has a special and limited
application that requires the element of being EPSOSA for
it to apply.  Differently stated, it is the element of
being EPSOSA that precisely triggers the
application of Section 5(b) of R.A. 7610.  Hence,
the  provisos  —  both the one referring the
prosecution of the case back to the RPC, and the
other which increases the penalties for lascivious
conduct — would apply only when the victim is both
below 12 years old and EPSOSA.
The blanket claim that being EPSOSA is irrelevant
when the victim is below 12 years old leads to the exact
same evils that this opinion is trying to address,  i.e., the
across-the-board application of Section 5(b) of R.A. 7610 in
each and every case of sexual abuse committed against
children, although limited only to the instance that the
victim is below 12 years old.
This indiscriminate application of the provisos in Section
5(b) of R.A. 7610 does not seem to matter when the act
committed by the accused constitutes rape by sexual
intercourse. To illustrate, the direct application of the RPC
or its application through the first  proviso  of Section 5(b)
would lead to the exact same result: a punishment or
penalty of  reclusion perpetua  on the accused upon
conviction.
The same is not true, however, when the act constitutes
only lascivious conduct. I refer to the tables below for ease
of reference:

_______________

282  Id.

 
 
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Thus, as shown by the foregoing table, the element of
being EPSOSA is relevant when the victim is below 12
years old as the penalties will be increased to those
provided for by R.A. 7610.
The ponencia further points out that “[i]t is hard to
understand why the legislature would enact a penal law on
child abuse that would create an unreasonable
classification between those who are considered as x  x  x
EPSOSA and those who are not.”283

_______________

283  Ponencia, p. 402.

 
 
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On the contrary, the reasons of the legislature are not

that hard to understand.
The classification between the children considered as
EPSOSA and those who are not is a reasonable one.
Children who are EPSOSA may be considered a class of
their own, whose victimizers deserve a specific
punishment. For instance, the legislature, in enacting R.A.
9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their
Children Act, created a distinction between (1) women who
were victimized by persons with whom they have or had a
sexual or dating relationship and (2) all other women
victims of abuse. This distinction is valid, and no one
argues that R.A. 9262 applies or should apply in each and
every case where the victim of abuse is a woman.
The ponencia then insists that a perpetrator of acts of
lasciviousness against a child that is not EPSOSA cannot
be punished by merely prisión correccional for to do so
would be “contrary to the letter and intent of R.A. 7610 to
provide for stronger deterrence and special protection
against child abuse, exploitation and discrimination.”284
The ponencia makes the foregoing extrapolation from the
second to the last paragraph of Section 10 of R.A. 7610,
which provides:

For purposes of this Act, the penalty for the commission

of acts punishable under Articles 248, 249, 262, paragraph
2, and 263, paragraph 1 of Act No. 3815, as amended, the
Revised Penal Code, for the crimes of murder, homicide,
other intentional mutilation, and serious physical injuries,
respectively, shall be reclusion perpetua  when the victim is
under twelve (12) years of age.  The penalty for the
commission of acts punishable under Articles 337,
 339, 340 and 341 of Act No. 3815, as amended, the
Revised Penal Code, for the crimes of qualified
seduction, acts of lasciviousness with the consent of
the offended party, corruption of minors, and white
slave trade, respectively, shall be one (1)

_______________

41  Id., at p. 407.

 
 
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degree higher than that imposed by law when the

victim is under twelve (12) years of age. (Emphasis and
underscoring supplied)

 
Again, I submit that a logical leap is committed: since
R.A. 7610 increased the penalties under Articles 337, 339,
340 and 341 of the RPC, the ponencia posits that this
likewise affected Article 336 of the RPC or the provisions
on acts of lasciviousness. However, as the deliberations of
R.A. 7610, quoted285 by the ponencia itself, show:

Senator Lina. x x x

For the information and guidance of our Colleagues, the
phrase “child abuse” here is more descriptive than a
definition that specifies the particulars of the acts of child
abuse. As can be gleaned from the bill, Mr. President, there
is a reference in Section 10 to the “Other Acts of Neglect,
Abuse, Cruelty or Exploitation and Other Conditions
Prejudicial to the Child’s Development.”
We refer, for example, to the Revised Penal Code. There
are already acts described and punishable under the
Revised Penal Code and the Child and Youth Welfare Code.
These are all enumerated already, Mr. President. There are
particular acts that are already being punished.
But we are providing a stronger deterrence against child
abuse and exploitation by increasing the penalties when the
victim is a child. That is number one. We define a child as
“one who is 15 years and below.
The President  Pro Tempore. Would the Sponsor
then say that this bill repeals, by implication or as a
consequence, the law he just cited for the protection of the
child as contained in that Code just mentioned, since this
provides for stronger deterrence against child abuse 

_______________

285   Id., at p. 411; Record of the Senate, Vol. I, No. 7, pp. 258-259,
August 1, 1991.

 
 
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and we have now a Code for the protection of the child?

Would that Code be now amended by this Act, if passed?
Senator Lina. We specified in the bill, Mr. President,
increase in penalties. That is one. But, of course, that is not
everything included in the bill. There are other aspects like
making it easier to prosecute these cases of pedophilia in
our country. That is another aspect of the bill.
The other aspects of the bill include the increase in the
penalties on acts committed against children; and by
 definition, children are those below 15 years of age.
So, it is an amendment to the Child and Youth
Welfare Code, Mr. President. This is not an
amendment by implication. We made direct reference
to the Articles in the Revised Penal Code and in the
Articles in the Child and Youth Welfare Code that are
amended because of the increase in penalties.
(Emphasis and underscoring supplied)

 
Given the clear import of the above — that the
legislature expressly named the provisions it sought to
amend through R.A. 7610 — the ponencia cannot now
insist on an amendment by implication. The position
that Section 5(b), R.A. 7610 rendered Article 336 of the
RPC inoperative when the victim is a child, despite the lack
of a manifest intention to the effect as expressed in the
letter of the said provision, is unavailing. Differently
stated, an implied partial repeal cannot be insisted
upon in the face of the express letter of the law. I
therefore believe that any continued assertion that Section
5(b) of R.A. 7610 applies to any and all cases of acts of
lasciviousness committed against children, whether under
the context of being EPSOSA or not, is not in accordance
with the law itself.
 
 
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When Section 5(b), R.A.

7610 applies
 
As demonstrated above, both literal and purposive tests,
therefore, show that there is nothing in the language of the
law or in the Senate deliberations that supports the
conclusion that Section 5(b), R.A. 7610 subsumes all
instances of sexual abuse against children.
Thus, for a person to be convicted of violating Section
5(b), R.A. 7610, the following essential elements need to be
proved: (1) the accused commits the act of sexual
intercourse or lascivious conduct; (2) the said act is
performed with a child “exploited in prostitution or
subjected to other sexual abuse”; and (3) the child whether
male or female, is below 18 years of age.286
The unique circumstances of the children “exploited in
prostitution or subjected to other sexual abuse” — for
which the provisions of R.A. 7610 are intended — are
highlighted in this exchange:

The Presiding Officer  [Senator Mercado]. Senator

Pimentel.
Senator Pimentel. Just this question, Mr. President,
if the Gentleman will allow.
Will this amendment also affect the Revised Penal
Code provisions on seduction?
Senator Lina. No, Mr. President. Article 336 of Act
No. 3815 will remain unaffected by this amendment we are
introducing here.  As a backgrounder, the difficulty in
the prosecution of so-called “pedophiles” can be
traced to this problem of having to catch

_______________

286   People v. Abello, 601 Phil. 373, 392; 582 SCRA 378, 394 (2009).
Decided by the Second Division; penned by Associate Justice Arturo D.
Brion, with Associate Justices Dante O. Tiñga, Ma. Alicia Austria-
Martinez, Renato C. Corona and Presbitero J. Velasco, Jr., concurring.

 
 
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526 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

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the malefactor committing the sexual act on the

victim. And those in the law enforcement agencies and in
the prosecution service of the Government have found it
difficult to prosecute. Because if an old person, especially a
foreigner, is seen with a child with whom he has no relation
— blood or otherwise — and they are just seen in a room
and there is no way to enter the room and to see them in
flagrante delicto, then it will be very difficult for the
prosecution to charge or to hale to court these pedophiles.
So, we are introducing into this bill, Mr. President, an
act that is considered already an attempt to commit child
prostitution. This, in no way, affects the Revised Penal
Code provision on acts of lasciviousness or qualified
seduction.287 (Emphasis and underscoring supplied)

 
Bearing these in mind, there is no disagreement as to
the first and third elements of Section 5(b). The core of the
discussion relates to the meaning of the second element —
that the act of sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct is
performed with a “child exploited in prostitution or
subjected to other sexual abuse.”
 
To my mind, a person can only be convicted of violation
of Article 336 in relation to Section 5(b), upon allegation
and proof  of the unique circumstances of the
child — that he or she is “exploited in prostitution or
subject to other sexual abuse.” In this light, I quote in
agreement Justice Carpio’s dissenting opinion in  Olivarez
v. Court of Appeals:288

Section 5 of RA 7610 deals with a situation where the

acts of lasciviousness are committed on a child already
either exploited in prostitution or subjected to  “other
sexual abuse.” Clearly, the acts of lascivious-

_______________

287  Record of the Senate, Vol. IV, No. 116, pp. 334-335, May 9, 1991.
288  503 Phil. 421; 465 SCRA 465 (2005).

 
 
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ness committed on the child are separate and distinct from

the other circumstance — that the child is either exploited
in prostitution or subjected to “other sexual abuse.”
x x x x
Section 5 of RA 7610 penalizes those “who commit the act
of sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct with a child
exploited in prostitution or subjected to other sexual abuse.”
The act of sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct may be
committed on a child already exploited in prostitution,
whether the child engages in prostitution for profit
or someone coerces her into prostitution against her
will. The element of profit or coercion refers to the
practice of prostitution, not to the sexual intercourse
or lascivious conduct committed by the accused. A
person may commit acts of lasciviousness even on a
prostitute, as when a person mashes the private parts of a
prostitute against her will.
The sexual intercourse or act of lasciviousness may be
committed on a child already subjected to other sexual
abuse. The child may be subjected to such other sexual
 abuse for profit or through coercion, as when the child is
employed or coerced into pornography. A complete stranger,
through force or intimidation, may commit acts of
lasciviousness on such child in violation of Section 5 of RA
7610.
The phrase “other sexual abuse” plainly means that
the child is already subjected to sexual abuse other than
the crime for which the accused is charged under Section 5
of RA 7610. The “other sexual abuse” is an element
separate and distinct from the acts of lasciviousness that
the accused performs on the child. The majority opinion
admits this when it enumerates the second element of the
crime under Section 5 of RA 7610 — that the lascivious “act
is performed with a child x x x subjected to

 
 
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other sexual abuse.”289 (Emphasis and underscoring

supplied)

 
Otherwise stated, in order to impose the higher penalty
provided in Section 5(b) as compared to Article 336, it must
be  alleged  and  proved  that the child — (1) for money,
profit, or any other consideration or (2) due to the coercion
or influence of any adult, syndicate or group — indulges in
sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct.
In  People v. Abello290  (Abello), one of the reasons the
accused was convicted of rape by sexual assault and acts of
lasciviousness,  as penalized under the RPC and not
under Section 5(b), was because there was no showing of
coercion or influence required by the second element. The
Court ratiocinated:

In  Olivarez v. Court of Appeals, we explained that the

phrase, “other sexual abuse” in the above provision covers
not only a child who is abused for profit, but also one who
engages in lascivious conduct  through the coercion or
intimidation by an adult. In the latter case, there must be
some form of compulsion equivalent to intimidation which
subdues the free exercise of the offended party’s will.
In the present case, the prosecution failed to present
any evidence showing that force or coercion attended
Abello’s sexual abuse on AAA; the evidence reveals
that she was asleep  at the time these crimes happened
and only awoke when she felt her breasts being fondled.
Hence, she could have not resisted Abello’s advances as she
was unconscious at the time it happened. In the same
manner, there was also no evidence showing that Abello
compelled her, or cowed her into silence to bear his sexual
assault, after being roused from sleep. Neither is there
evidence that she had the time to 

_______________

289  Id., at pp. 445-447; pp. 487-490.

290  Supra note 43.

 
 
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manifest conscious lack of consent or resistance to Abello’s

assault.291 (Emphasis and underscoring supplied)
 
The point of the foregoing is simply this: Articles 266-A
and 336 of the RPC remain as operative provisions, and the
crime of rape and acts of lasciviousness continue to be
crimes separate and distinct from a violation under Section
5(b), R.A. 7610.
The legislative intent to have the provisions of R.A. 7610
to operate side by side  with the provisions of the RPC —
and a recognition that the latter remain effective — can be
gleaned from Section 10 of the law, which again I quote:

SEC. 10. Other Acts of Neglect, Abuse, Cruelty or

Exploitation and Other Conditions Prejudicial to the
Child’s Development.—
(a) Any person who shall commit  any other acts of
child abuse, cruelty or exploitation or be responsible for
other conditions prejudicial to the child’s development
including those covered by Article 59 of Presidential Decree
No. 603, as amended,  but not covered by the Revised
Penal Code, as amended, shall suffer the penalty
of  prisión mayor  in its minimum period. (Emphasis and
underscoring)

 
This is confirmed by Senator Lina in his sponsorship
speech of R.A. 7610, thus:

Senator Lina. x x x

x x x x
Senate Bill No. 1209, Mr. President, is intended to
provide stiffer penalties for abuse of children and to
facilitate prosecution of perpetrators of abuse.  It is
intended to complement provisions of the Revised
Penal Code where the crimes committed are those

_______________

291  Id., at p. 393; p. 395.

 
 
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which lead children to prostitution and sexual abuse,

trafficking in children and use of the young in
pornographic activities.
These are the three areas of concern which are
specifically included in the United Nations Convention o[n]
the Rights of the Child. As a signatory to this Convention,
to which the Senate concurred in 1990, our country is
required to pass measures which protect the child against
these forms of abuse.
x x x x
Mr. President, this bill on providing higher penalties for
abusers and exploiters, setting up legal presumptions to
facilitate prosecution of perpetrators of abuse, and
complementing the existing penal provisions of crimes
which involve children below 18 years of age is a part of a
national program for protection of children.
x x x x
Mr. President, subject to perfecting amendments, I am
hopeful that the Senate will approve this bill and thereby
add to the growing program for special protection of
children and youth. We need this measure to deter abuse.
We need a law to prevent exploitation. We need a
framework for the effective and swift administration of
justice for the violation of the rights of children.292
(Emphasis and underscoring supplied)

 
It is thus erroneous to rule that R.A. 7610 applies in
each and every case where the victim is a minor although
he or she was not proved, much less alleged, to be a child
“exploited in prostitution or subjected to other sexual
abuse.” I invite the members of the Court to go back to the
mindset and ruling adopted in  Abello  where it was held
that “since R.A. No. 7610 is a special law referring to
a particular class in society, 

_______________

292  Record of the Senate, Vol. IV, No. III, pp. 191-193, April 29, 1991.

 
 
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the prosecution must show that the victim truly

belongs to this particular class to warrant the
application of the statute’s provisions. Any doubt in
this regard we must resolve in favor of the
accused.”293
There is no question that, in a desire to bring justice to
child victims of sexual abuse, the Court has, in continually
applying the principles laid down in  Dimakuta,  Quimvel,
and Caoili, sought the application of a law that imposes a
harsher penalty on its violators. However, as noble as this
intent is, it is fundamentally unsound to let the penalty
determine the crime. To borrow a phrase, this situation is
letting the tail wag the dog.
To be sure, it is the acts committed by the accused, and
the crime as defined by the legislature — not the
concomitant penalty — which determines the applicable
law in a particular set of facts. As the former Second
Division of the Court in People v. Ejercito,294 a case penned
by Justice Perlas-Bernabe and concurred in by the ponente,
correctly held:

Neither should the conflict between the application of

Section 5(b) of RA 7610 and RA 8353 be resolved based on
which law provides a higher penalty against the
accused. The superseding scope of RA 8353 should be
the sole reason of its prevalence over Section 5(b) of
RA 7610. The higher penalty provided under RA 8353
should not be the moving consideration, given that penalties
are merely accessory to the act being punished by a
particular law. The term “‘[p]enalty’ is defined as
‘[p]unishment imposed on a wrongdoer usually in the form
of imprisonment or fine’; ‘[p]unishment imposed by lawful
authority upon a person who commits a deliberate or
negligent act.’” Given its accessory nature, once the proper
application of a penal law is determined over another, then
the imposition of the penalty attached to that 

_______________

293   Supra note 43 at p. 394; p. 396. Emphasis, italics and

underscoring supplied.
294  G.R. No. 229861, July 2, 2018, 869 SCRA 353.

 
 
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act punished in the prevailing penal law only follows as a

matter of course. In the final analysis, it is the
determination of the act being punished together with
its attending circumstances — and not the gravity of
the penalty ancillary to that punished act — which is
 the key consideration in resolving the conflicting
applications of two penal laws.
x x x x
x x x Likewise, it is apt to clarify that if there
appears to be any rational dissonance or perceived
unfairness in the imposable penalties between two
applicable laws (say for instance, that a person who
commits rape by sexual assault under Article 266-A in
relation to Article 266-B of the RPC, as amended by RA
8353 is punished less than a person who commits lascivious
conduct against a minor under Section 5[b] of RA 7610),
then the solution is through remedial legislation and
not through judicial interpretation. It is well-settled
that the determination of penalties is a policy matter
that belongs to the legislative branch of government.
Thus, however compelling the dictates of reason
might be, our constitutional order proscribes the
Judiciary from adjusting the gradations of the
penalties which are fixed by Congress through its
legislative function. As Associate Justice Diosdado M.
Peralta had instructively observed in his opinion in Cao[i]li:
 
Curiously, despite the clear intent of R.A. 7610 to
provide for stronger deterrence and special protection
against child abuse, the penalty [reclusion temporal
medium] when the victim is under 12 years old is
lower compared to the penalty [reclusion temporal
medium to reclusion perpetua] when the victim is
12 years old and below 18. The same holds true if the
crime of acts of lasciviousness is attended by an
aggravating circumstance or committed by persons
under Section 31, Article XII of R.A. 7610, in which

 
 
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case, the imposable penalty is reclusion perpetua. In

contrast, when no mitigating or aggravating circumstance
attended the crime of acts of lasciviousness, the penalty
therefor when committed against a child under 12 years old
is aptly higher than the penalty when the child is 12 years
old and below 18. This is because, applying the
Indeterminate Sentence Law, the minimum term in the
case of the younger victims shall be taken from reclusion
temporal minimum, whereas as [sic] the minimum term in
the case of the older victims shall be taken from prisión
mayor medium to reclusion temporal minimum. It is a
basic rule in statutory construction that what courts
may correct to reflect the real and apparent
intention of the legislature are only those which are
clearly clerical errors or obvious mistakes, omissions,
and misprints, but not those due to oversight, as
shown by a review of extraneous circumstances,
where the law is clear, and to correct it would be to
change the meaning of the law. To my mind, a
corrective legislation is the proper remedy to address
the noted incongruent penalties for acts of
lasciviousness committed against a child.295
(Additional emphasis and underscoring supplied)

 
Therefore, while I identify with the Court in its desire to
impose a heavier penalty for sex offenders who victimize
children — the said crimes being undoubtedly detestable —
the Court cannot arrogate unto itself a power it does not
have. Again, the Court’s continuous application of R.A.
7610 in all cases of sexual abuse committed against minors
is, with due
_______________

295  Id., at pp. 381-384.

 
 
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respect, an exercise of judicial legislation which it simply

cannot do.
At this point, it is important to point out that, as a
result of this recurrent practice of relating the crime
committed to R.A. 7610 in order to increase the penalty,
the accused’s constitutionally protected right to due process
of law is being violated.
An essential component of the right to due process in
criminal proceedings is the right of the accused to be
sufficiently informed of the cause of the accusation against
him. This is implemented through Rule 110, Section 9 of
the Rules of Court, which states:

SEC. 9. Cause of the accusation.—The acts or

omissions complained of as constituting the offense and the
qualifying and aggravating circumstances must be stated in
ordinary and concise language and not necessarily in the
language used in the statute but in terms sufficient to
enable a person of common understanding to know what
offense is being charged as well as its qualifying and
aggravating circumstances and for the court to pronounce
judgment.

 
It is fundamental that every element of which the
offense is composed must be alleged in the Information. No
Information for a crime will be sufficient if it does not
accurately and clearly allege the elements of the crime
charged.296 The law essentially requires this to enable the
accused suitably to prepare his defense, as he is presumed
to have no independent knowledge of the facts that
constitute the offense.297 From this legal backdrop, it may
then be said that convicting an accused and relating the
offenses to R.A. 7610 to increase the penalty when the
Information does not state that the victim was a
child “engaged in prostitution or subjected

_______________

296  Dela Chica v. Sandiganbayan, 462 Phil. 712, 719; 417 SCRA 242,
246 (2003).
297  Id.

 
 
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to sexual abuse” constitutes a violation of an

accused’s right to due process.
The ponencia counters that “[c]ontrary to the view of
Justice Caguioa, there is likewise no such thing as a
recurrent practice of relating the crime committed
to R.A. No. 7610 in order to increase the penalty,
which violates the accused’s constitutionally protected
right to due process of law.”298
Yet, no matter the attempts to deny the existence of
such practice, the inconsistencies in the  ponencia  itself
demonstrate that its conclusions are driven by the desire to
apply whichever law imposes the heavier penalty in a
particular scenario. For instance, when discussing the
applicable law when the act done by the accused
constitutes “sexual intercourse,” the  ponencia  has this
discussion on the difference between the elements of “force
or intimidation” in Rape under the RPC, on one hand, and
“coercion or influence” under Section 5(b) of R.A. 7610, on
the other:

In  Quimvel, it was held that the term “coercion or

influence” is broad enough to cover or even synonymous
with the term “force or intimidation.” Nonetheless, it should
be emphasized that “coercion or influence” is used in
Section 5 of R.A. No. 7610 to qualify or refer to the means
through which “any adult, syndicate or group” compels a
child to indulge in sexual intercourse. On the other hand,
the use of “money, profit or any other consideration” is the
other mode by which a child indulges in sexual intercourse,
without the participation of “any adult, syndicate or
group.”  In other words, “coercion or influence” of a
child to indulge in sexual intercourse is clearly
exerted NOT by the offender whose liability is based
on Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610 for committing sexual
act with a child exploited in prostitution or other
sexual abuse. Rather, the “coercion or influence” is
exerted upon the child by “any adult, syndi-

_______________

298  Ponencia, p. 410.

 
 
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cate, or group” whose liability is found under Section

5(a) for engaging in, promoting, facilitating, or
inducing child prostitution, whereby sexual
intercourse is the necessary consequence of the
prostitution.
x x x x
As can be gleaned above, “force, threat or intimidation” is
the element of rape under the RPC, while “due to coercion
or influence of any adult, syndicate or group” is the
operative phrase for a child to be deemed “exploited in
prostitution or other sexual abuse,” which is the element of
sexual abuse under Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610. The
“coercion or influence” is not the reason why the
child submitted herself to sexual intercourse, but it
was utilized in order for the child to become a
prostitute. x x x
x x x x
Therefore, there could be no instance that an
Information may charge the same accused with the
crime of rape where “force, threat or intimidation” is
the element of the crime under the RPC, and at the
same time violation of Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610
where the victim indulged in sexual intercourse because she
is exploited in prostitution either “for money, profit or any
other consideration or due to coercion or influence of any
adult, syndicate or group” — the phrase which qualifies a
child to be deemed “exploited in prostitution or other sexual
abuse” as an element of violation of Section 5(b) of R.A. No.
7610.299 (Emphasis and underscoring supplied; emphasis in
the original omitted)

 
The  ponencia, however, refuses to apply the above
analysis when the act constitutes “sexual assault” or
“lascivious conduct.” It merely reiterates the  Dimakuta’s
ruling, and again anchors its conclusion on the policy of the
State to provide special protection to children.
The ponencia explains:

_______________

299  Id., at pp. 385-388.

 
 
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Third, if the charge against the accused where the victim

is 12 years old or below is sexual assault under paragraph
2, Article 266-A of the RPC, then it may happen that the
elements thereof are the same as that of lascivious conduct
under Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610, because the term
“lascivious conduct” includes introduction of any object into
the genitalia, anus or mouth of any person. In this regard,
We held in Dimakuta that in instances where a lascivious
conduct” committed against a child is covered by R.A. No.
7610 and the act is likewise covered by sexual assault under
paragraph 2, Article 266-A of the RPC [punishable by
prisión mayor], the offender should be held liable for
violation of Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610 [punishable by
reclusion temporal medium], consistent with the declared
policy of the State to provide special protection to children
from all forms of abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation and
discrimination, and other conditions prejudicial to their
development. x x x300

 
In another part of the  ponencia, it partly concedes yet
insists on its point, again by invoking the legislative intent
behind the law. Thus:

Justice Caguioa is partly correct. Section 5(b) of R.A. No.

7610 is separate and distinct from common and ordinary
acts of lasciviousness under Article 336 of the RPC.
However, when the victim of such acts of lasciviousness is a
child, as defined by law, We hold that the penalty is that
provided for under Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610
—  i.e.,  reclusion temporal  medium in case the victim is
under 12 years old, and  reclusion temporal  medium
to reclusion perpetua  when the victim is between 12 years
old or under 18 years old or above 18 under special
circumstances — and not
merely  prisión  (sic)  correccional  under Article 336 of the
RPC. Our view is consistent with the legislative intent to
provide stronger deterrence against all forms of child abuse,
and the evil sought to be avoided by the enactment of R.A.
No. 7610, which was

_______________

300  Id., at pp. 388-389.

 
 
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exhaustively discussed during the committee deliberations

of the House of Representatives[.]301

 
Clear from the foregoing is that the  ponencia is willing
to apply the inherent differences between the provisions of
the RPC and R.A. 7610 when it comes to rape by sexual
intercourse, and it is because the RPC imposes the heavier
penalty of  reclusion perpetua  compared with the  reclusion
temporal medium to reclusion perpetua of Section 5(b), R.A.
7610. It is unwilling, however, to extend the same
understanding of the differences between the provisions of
the RPC and R.A. 7610 — and in the process contradicts
itself — when the act constitutes “sexual assault,” “acts of
lasciviousness” or “lascivious conduct” for the reason that
the RPC punishes the said acts with only  prisión
correccional302 or prisión mayor.303
Another instance in the  ponencia  that reveals that the
penalty imposed is the primordial consideration in the
choice of applicable law is the discussion on whether R.A.
8353 has superseded R.A. 7610. In the earlier part of
the ponencia, it says:

Records  of committee and plenary deliberations of the

House of Representative (sic) and of the deliberations of the
Senate, as well as the records of bicameral conference
committee meetings, further reveal no legislative intent
for R.A. No. 8353 to supersede Section 5(b) of R.A. No.
7610. x  x  x  While R.A. No. 8353 contains a generic
repealing and amendatory clause, the records of the
deliberation of the legislature are silent with respect
to sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct against
children under R.A. No. 7610, particularly those who are
12 years old or below 18, or above 18 but are unable to fully
take care or protect themselves from abuse, neglect, cruelty,
exploitation or

_______________

301  Id., at pp. 418-419.

302  In cases of Acts of Lasciviousness under Art. 336, RPC.
303  In cases of Sexual Assault under Article 266-A(2), RPC.
 

 
 
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discrimination because of a physical or mental disability or

condition.304 (Emphasis and underscoring supplied)

 
Despite the clear pronouncement  of
the  ponencia  quoted above  that R.A. 8353
did not supersede R.A. 7610, it would later on say:

x  x  x Indeed, while R.A. No. 7610 is a special law

specifically enacted to provide special protection to children
from all forms of abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation and
discrimination and other conditions prejudicial to their
development,  We hold that it is contrary to the
legislative intent of the same law if the lesser
penalty (reclusion temporal medium to reclusion perpetua)
under Section 5(b) thereof would be imposed against the
perpetrator of sexual intercourse with a child 12 years of
age or below 18.
Article 266-A, paragraph 1(a) in relation to Article 266-B
of the RPC, as amended by R.A. No. 8353, is not only
the more recent law, but also deals more particularly with
all rape cases, hence, its short title “The Anti-Rape Law of
1997.” R.A. No. 8353 upholds the policies and principles of
R.A. No. 7610, and provides a “stronger deterrence and
special protection against child abuse,” as it imposes a more
severe penalty of reclusion perpetua  under Article 266-B of
the RPC, or even the death penalty if the victim is (1) under
18 years of age and the offender is a parent, ascendant,
stepparent, guardian, relative by consanguinity or affinity
within the third civil degree, or common-law spouses of the
 parent of the victim; or (2) when the victim is a child below
7 years old.
It is basic in statutory construction that in case of
irreconcilable conflict between two laws, the later
enactment must prevail, being the more recent expression
of legislative will. Indeed, statutes must be so construed
and harmonized with other statutes as to form a uniform
system of jurisprudence, and if several laws cannot be 

_______________

304  Ponencia, p. 363.

 
 
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harmonized, the earlier statute must yield to the later

enactment, because the later law is the latest expression of
the legislative will. Hence, Article 266-B of the RPC
must prevail over Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610.305
(Emphasis and underscoring supplied)

 
It is again plainly evident from the above that the
conclusion is heavily influenced by the corresponding
penalties contained in the respective laws.
It is apparent, therefore, that the  ponencia’s choice of
applicable law is primarily driven by the penalty imposed,
all in the name of the State’s policy to provide special
protection to children. However, this would be in clear
disregard of the right of the accused to be punished
only to the extent that the law imposes a specific
punishment on him.
This practice, without doubt, violates the rights of
the accused in these cases. In  Dimakuta, for example,
one of the three oft cited cases of the ponencia in reaching
its conclusions, the crime was related to R.A. 7610 to
increase the penalty even if the Information in the said
case did not even mention the said law nor was there
any allegation that the victim was EPSOSA. The
Information in Dimakuta states:

That on or about the 24th day of September 2005, in the

City of Las Piñas, Philippines, and within the jurisdiction of
this Honorable Court, the above named accused, with lewd
designs, did then and there willfully, unlawfully and
feloniously commit a lascivious conduct upon the person of
one AAA, who was then a sixteen (16)-year-old minor, by
then and there embracing her, touching her breast and
private part against her will and without her consent and
the act complained of is prejudicial to the physical and
psychological development of the complainant.306

_______________

305  Id., at pp. 389-390.

306  Dimakuta v. People, supra note 3 at p. 652; p. 245.

 
 
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The Information filed in this case likewise did not

specify that the victim was “exploited in prostitution or
subjected to other sexual abuse,” and in fact indicated
“force and intimidation” as the mode of committing the
crime — which, by the own ponencia’s arguments above,
triggers the application of the RPC, not Section 5(b) of R.A.
7610. The Information reads:

That sometime in the month of September 2011, at x x x,

and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the
above named accused, by means of force, intimidation
and with abuse of superior strength forcibly laid
complainant AAA, a 9-year-old minor in a cemented
pavement, and did then and there willfully, unlawfully and
feloniously inserted his finger into the vagina of the said
AAA, against her will and consent.307 (Emphasis and
underscoring supplied)

 
Again, by the  ponencia’s pronouncements — that: (1)
“there could be no instance that an Information may charge
the same accused with the crime of rape where ‘force,
threat or intimidation’ is the element of the crime under
the RPC, and at the same time violation of Section 5(b) of
R.A. No. 7610”;308  and (2) that ‘“coercion or influence’ of a
child to indulge in sexual intercourse is clearly exerted
NOT by the offender whose liability is based on Section 5(b)
of R.A. No. 7610 for committing sexual act with a child
exploited in prostitution or other sexual abuse. Rather, the
‘coercion or influence’ is exerted upon the child by ‘any
adult, syndicate, or group’ whose liability is found under
Section 5(a),”309 — then the accused-appellant in this case
should be convicted only of Sexual Assault under Article
266-A(2) of the RPC, punishable by prisión mayor, instead
of Sexual Assault, in relation to Section

_______________

307  Ponencia, p. 349.

308  Id., at p. 388.
309  Id., at p. 386.

 
 
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5(b), R.A. 7610, punishable by reclusion temporal  medium,

as the ponencia did.
It is true that because of Dimakuta and other similar
cases, many prosecutors have opted to put the phrase “in
relation to Republic Act No. 7610” in Informations they file
with the courts, just like in this case, concerning rape or
sexual abuse. This practice, however, does not mean that
the violation of due process has stopped. In Canceran v.
People,310 the Court stressed:

The Court is not unmindful of the rule that “the real

nature of the criminal charge is determined, not from  the
caption or preamble of the information nor from  the
specification of the law alleged to have been
violated — these being conclusions of law — but by the
actual recital of facts in the complaint or information.” In
the case of Domingo v. Rayala, it was written:
 
What is controlling is not  the title of the
complaint,  nor the designation of the offense
charged or the particular law or part thereof
allegedly violated, these being mere conclusions
of law  made by the prosecutor, but the
description of the crime charged and the
particular facts therein recited. The acts or
omissions complained of must be alleged in such form
as is sufficient to enable a person of common
understanding to know what offense is intended to be
charged, and enable the court to pronounce proper
 judgment. No information for a crime will be
sufficient if it does not accurately and clearly allege
the elements of the crime charged. Every element of
the offense must be stated in the information. What
facts and circumstances are necessary to be in-

_______________

310  762 Phil. 558; 761 SCRA 293 (2015).

 
 
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cluded therein must be determined by reference to the

definitions and essentials of the specified crimes. The
requirement of alleging the elements of a crime in the
information is to inform the accused of the nature of the
accusation against him so as to enable him to suitably
prepare his defense.311 (Additional emphasis and
underscoring supplied)

 
To recall, the test for sufficiency of an Information is
that it must state the facts constituting the offense in a
manner that would enable a person of common
understanding to know what offense was intended to be
charged.312  Hence, the phrase “in relation to Republic Act
No. 7610” in criminal Informations, much like in the one
filed in this case, does not cure the defect in the said
Informations. Again, it is my view that criminal
Informations, to be considered under the purview of Section
5(b), R.A. 7610, must state the child victim is “exploited in
prostitution or subjected to other sexual abuse” and allege
the particulars.
In addition, even if it was alleged in the Information
that the act is contrary to, or in violation of, R.A. 7610, if,
during the trial, it was not proved that the victim was a
child engaged in prostitution or subjected to other sexual
abuse, it would be error to convict the said accused under
Section 5(b), R.A. 7610. This is because it is well-
established that the following are the elements of the
crime:

(1) The accused commits the act of sexual intercourse or

lascivious conduct;
(2) The said act is performed with a child exploited in
prostitution or subjected to other sexual abuse; and

_______________

311  Id., at pp. 568-569; pp. 304-305.

312   See People v. Delector, G.R. No. 200026, October 4, 2017, 841
SCRA 647, 663.

 
 
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544 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

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(3) The child, whether male or female, is below 18 years

of age.313 (Emphasis and underscoring supplied; emphasis
in the original omitted)

 
It cannot really be gainsaid that the second element of
the crime defined in R.A. 7610 requires that the child
victim be one that is exploited in prostitution or subjected
to other sexual abuse — and not just simply any child. In
the present case, for instance, the information states that
the act committed by the accused was “[c]ontrary to Article
266-A, par. 2 of the Revised Penal Code in relation to R.A.
7610”314 and yet, it was not proved, much less alleged,
that the victim was engaged in prostitution or was
subjected to other sexual abuse. According to
the ponencia, the victim AAA was merely peeling corn with
her cousin when the accused, who lived adjacent to her
grandmother’s house, approached her and opened her legs,
and inserted his finger into her private part.315  There is
nothing in the ponencia from which it could be reasonably
inferred that AAA was engaged in prostitution or subjected
to other sexual abuse — and yet, the accused Salvador
Tulagan is being adjudged guilty of “Sexual Assault under
paragraph 2, Article 266-A of the Revised Penal Code,  in
relation to Section 5(b) of Republic Act No. 7610.”316
When the statute speaks unequivocally, there is nothing
for the courts to do but to apply it.  The accused in this
case is clearly guilty only of Sexual Assault, defined
and penalized under Article 266-A, par. 2 of the RPC,
as amended by R.A. 8353  —  and  not  in relation to
R.A. 7610.
To reiterate, R.A. 7610 and the RPC, as amended by
R.A. 8353, have  different spheres of application; they
exist  to complement each other  such that there would
be no gaps in our criminal laws. They were not meant to
operate simul-

_______________

313  People v. Caoili, supra note 5 at p. 145.

314  Ponencia, p. 349.
315  Id.
316  Id., at p. 464.

 
 
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taneously in each and every case of sexual abuse

committed against minors. In this connection, I agree with
the ponencia as it lays down the following guidelines in
determining which law should apply when the victim is a
minor and the sexual act done constitutes rape by sexual
intercourse:

Even if the girl who is below twelve (12) years old or is

demented consents to the sexual intercourse, it is always a
crime of statutory rape under the RPC, and the offender
should no longer be held liable under R.A. No. 7610. x x x
x x x x
If the victim who is 12 years old or less than 18 and is
deemed to be a child “exploited in prostitution and other
sexual abuse” because she agreed to indulge in sexual
intercourse “for money, profit or any other consideration or
due to coercion or influence of any adult, syndicate or
group,” then the crime could not be rape under the RPC,
because this no longer falls under the concept of statutory
rape, and there was consent. That is why the offender will
now be penalized under Section 5(b), R.A. No. 7610, and not
under Article 335 of the RPC [now Article 266-A]. But if the
said victim does not give her consent to sexual intercourse
in the sense that the sexual intercourse was committed
through force, threat or intimidation, the crime is rape
under paragraph 1, Article 266-A of the RPC. However, if
the same victim gave her consent to the sexual intercourse,
and no money, profit, consideration, coercion or influence is
involved, then there is no crime committed, except in those
cases where “force, threat or intimidation” as an element of
rape is substituted by “moral ascendancy or moral
 authority,” like in the cases of incestuous rape, and unless it
is punished under the RPC as qualified seduction under
Article 337 or simple seduction under Article 338.”317

_______________

317  Id., at pp. 377-380.

 
 
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Verily, in the above guidelines of the ponencia, the Court

has already taken the right steps forward in streamlining
which law is applicable in a particular set of facts. It is
thus my view to extend the same set of guidelines not just
in cases where the act done constitutes rape by sexual
intercourse, but also in cases where the act done
constitutes rape by sexual assault or acts of lasciviousness.
Respectfully, the objective of the ponencia to finally
reconcile the seemingly conflicting laws and the resulting
confusing state of jurisprudence would better be achieved if
the Court adopts the foregoing understanding. To
illustrate, if the Court decides to adopt the foregoing, the
proposed table by the ponencia would look like this:
 

_______________

318  Or is 18 years or older but under special circumstances (as defined

in R.A. 7610) and engaged in prostitution or subjected to other sexual
abuse.

 
 
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People vs. Tulagan
  
On the supposed repeal of
Article 336 of the Revised
Penal Code
 
I would also like to take this opportunity to offer my
point of view on the points raised by Justice Marvic M.V.F.
Leonen in his separate opinion.
Justice Leonen argues that the enactment of R.A. 8353
rendered ineffective the provision on acts of lasciviousness
in the RPC. According to him, Article 336 of the RPC
punishes “[a]ny person who shall commit any act of
lasciviousness upon other persons of either sex, under any
of the circumstances mentioned in the preceding
article” and since the preceding article referred to was the
old provision on rape supposedly “repealed”319  by R.A.
8353, he then concludes that Article 336 of the RPC is no
longer operative.
I respectfully disagree with my esteemed colleague.

_______________

319  J. Leonen, Separate Concurring Opinion, p. 487.

 
 
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It is well-settled that repeals by implication are not

favored. A law will only be declared impliedly repealed
when it is manifest that the legislative authority so
intended,320 or unless it is convincingly and unambiguously
demonstrated that the subject laws or orders are clearly
repugnant and patently inconsistent that they cannot
coexist.321 In the absence of such showing, every effort
must be used to make all acts stand, and the later act will
not operate as a repeal of the earlier one, if by any
reasonable construction, they can be reconciled.322 As the
Court said in Mecano v. COA:323

Repeal by implication proceeds on the premise that where a

statute of later date clearly reveals an intention on the part
of the legislature to abrogate a prior act on the subject, that
intention must be given effect.  Hence,  before there can
be a repeal, there must be a clear showing on the part
of the lawmaker that the intent in enacting the new
law was to abrogate the old one. The intention to
repeal must be clear and manifest; otherwise, at least,
as a general rule, the later act is to be construed as a
continuation of, and not a substitute for, the first act and
will continue so far as the two acts are the same from the
time of the first enactment.324 (Emphasis and underscoring
supplied)

 
In the present case, I do not discern any clear intent on
the part of the legislature to repeal the crime of acts of
lasciviousness in enacting R.A. 8353.

_______________
 320   See United Harbor Pilots’ Association of the Philippines, Inc. v.
Association of International Shipping Lines, Inc., 440 Phil. 188, 199; 391
SCRA 522, 531-532 (2002).
321  Id., at p. 199; p. 532.
322  Smith, Bell & Co. v. Estate of Maronilla, 41 Phil. 557, 562 (1916).
323  290-A Phil. 272; 216 SCRA 500 (1992).
324  Id., at p. 280; pp. 505-506.

 
 
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Justice Leonen’s argument is based on the premise that

Article 335 was “repealed” by R.A. 8353. I submit that the
premise is misplaced because, in fact, the provision
penalizing the act of rape was only renumbered to reflect
the paradigm shift introduced by R.A. 8353 in treating rape
as a crime against persons instead of merely a crime
against chastity, and amended to reflect the policy
changes with regard to how it is committed and the
circumstances which may aggravate the same.
I find nothing in R.A. 8353 to reasonably infer that it
meant to affect the crime of acts of lasciviousness apart
from the renumbering of Article 335 to Articles 266-A
to 266-D. To me, this is not the clear and manifest
intention to repeal required by jurisprudence; thus, every
effort must be exerted to reconcile the provisions and make
all acts stand. Thus, it is my view that Article 336 is not
rendered incomplete and ineffective since its elements can
still be completed by simply construing the phrase
“preceding article” to mean Article 266-A, since the same
act remains to be punished. To emphasize, the intention
to punish the crime of acts of lasciviousness remains,
and a minor modification in article numbers does not
operate to revoke the said intention.
In further arguing for the “ineffectivity” of Article 336,
Justice Leonen reasons that:

In any case, the ineffectivity of Article 336 does not

preclude acts of lasciviousness from being punishable under
different laws such as Republic Act No. 7610 [or the Special
Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation
and Discrimination Act] or Republic Act No. 9262 [or the
Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of
2004]. These laws, likewise, carry more severe penalties
than Article 336, providing better protection for victims of
lascivious acts not constituting rape.325

_______________

325  J. Leonen, Separate Concurring Opinion, p. 487-488.

 
 
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Again, I differ with my learned colleague. With due

respect, I cannot subscribe to the foregoing ratiocination
because — to reiterate — R.A. 7610 was enacted only to
address a specific set of victims, as it only covers children
exploited under prostitution or subjected to other sexual
abuse. But even if we accept, for the sake of argument, that
R.A. 7610 covers all types of sexual abuse committed
against any child, without qualification, I am still
unconvinced by the argument for such construction
would create a huge gap in our criminal laws that
would protect women victims of acts of
lasciviousness who are either (1) no longer minors or
(2) were not abused by a person with whom they
have or had a sexual or dating relationship. To
illustrate, if the Court decides to adopt Justice Leonen’s
proposed construction, there would be no crime committed
in case a random stranger touches a 19-year-old woman’s
private parts without her consent.
 
On the distinction between
rape by penile penetration
and other forms of sexual
abuse
 
Justice Leonen reiterates his view as expressed in Caoili
that “[t]he persistence of an archaic understanding of rape
relates to our failure to disabuse ourselves of the notion
that carnal knowledge or sexual intercourse is merely a
reproductive activity.”326 In driving home his point, he
quotes his decision in People v. Quintos,327 which states:

The classifications of rape in Article 266-A of the Revised

Penal Code are relevant only insofar as these define the
manners of commission of rape. However, it does not mean
that one manner is less heinous or wrong than the other.
Whether rape is committed by nonconsensual

_______________

326  Id., at p. 488.

327  746 Phil. 809; 740 SCRA 179 (2014).

 
 
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carnal knowledge of a woman or by insertion of the penis

into the mouth of another person, the damage to the
victim’s dignity is incalculable. Child sexual abuse in
general has been associated with negative psychological
impacts such as trauma, sustained fearfulness, anxiety,
self-destructive behavior, emotional pain, impaired sense of
self, and interpersonal difficulties. Hence, one experience of
sexual abuse should not be trivialized just because it was
committed in a relatively unusual manner.
“The prime purpose of [a] criminal action is to punish the
offender in order to deter him and others from committing
the same or similar offense, to isolate him from society,
reform and rehabilitate him or, in general, to maintain
social order.” Crimes are punished as retribution so that
society would understand that the act punished was wrong.
Imposing different penalties for different manners of
committing rape creates a message that one experience of
rape is relatively trivial or less serious than another. It
attaches different levels of wrongfulness to equally
degrading acts. Rape, in whatever manner, is a desecration
of a person’s will and body. In terms of penalties, treating
one manner of committing rape as greater or less in
heinousness than another may be of doubtful
constitutionality.328

 
While I fully understand the underlying considerations
of Justice Leonen’s viewpoint, I respectfully disagree with
his proposed approach.
I agree with Justice Leonen that “[a] woman who was
raped through insertion of a finger does not suffer less than
a woman who was raped by penile penetration.”329  I
likewise concur with the following statements of Justice
Leonen:
 Sexual intercourse is more than a means for procreation.
It is a powerful expression of intimacy between human
beings. It “requires the shedding of all inhibitions 

_______________

328  Id., at pp. 832-833; pp. 204-205.

329  J. Leonen, Separate Concurring Opinion, p. 489.

 
 
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and defenses to allow humans to explore each other in their

most basic nakedness.” Sexual intercourse may involve
penile penetration, or a whole other spectrum of sexual acts
that do not require penetration at all. Ultimately, it is the
human being’s choice whom to be intimate with and what
that intimacy may involve.
Rape is the violation of this choice. It is not punished
simply because a penis forcefully penetrated a vagina. The
crime is vile and heinous because it takes away a victim’s
fundamental autonomy to choose with whom she would
share intimacy. It violates a victim’s autonomy over her own
body.330 (Underscoring supplied)

 
However, despite the truth in the foregoing statements,
I cannot agree to Justice Leonen’s suggestion that the
Court should treat them equally, such that the Court would
apply the penalty prescribed by law for rape by sexual
intercourse (i.e.,  reclusion perpetua) to acts of rape by
sexual assault. To do so would be an act of  judicial
legislation which, as I have stressed in this Opinion many
times, the Court cannot do.
Indeed, the country has gone far in terms of enacting
legislations to provide special protection to women. Due to
the enactment of R.A. 8353, the crime of rape has been
reclassified from a crime against chastity to a crime
against persons, thereby making the said crime a public
crime. A new species of crimes called “rape by sexual
assault” was also created by R.A. 8353 to expressly
acknowledge that rape is nevertheless committed when the
sexual acts were done without the victim’s consent, even
when the acts performed do not involve vaginal penetration
by the penis. The acts constituting “rape by sexual assault”
— either by (a) inserting the penis into another person’s
mouth or anal orifice or (b) inserting any instrument or
object into the genital or anal orifice of another

_______________

330  Id., at p. 492.

 
 
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person, through force, threat or intimidation331 — were

previously denominated as mere acts of lasciviousness and
were thus “upgraded” to rape by the enactment of R.A.
8353. Another important development introduced by R.A.
8353 is the concept of marital rape, thus highlighting the
significant paradigm shift in our rape laws to give premium
to women’s consent to sexual activities and thereby further
upholding the autonomy of women.
 In recognition also of the fact that women are, more
often than not, the victims of domestic violence, the
legislature enacted R.A. 9262 to provide protection against
women and their children from various forms of abuses
committed against them by persons with whom they have
or had a sexual or dating relationship. Deviating from the
traditional definition of violence which was limited to
physical and sexual violence, R.A. 9262 expanded the
definition to include other forms of violence, namely
psychological and economic abuse.
These legislations, to name a few, reflect an evolving
understanding of consent, autonomy of women, and the
role of laws in curbing patriarchal structures that
perpetuate violence against women. In a similar way, it
also reflects a progressive thrust towards protection of
women.

_______________

331  Because rape may be committed through different means. Article

266-A of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by R.A. 8353, provides:
Article 266-A. Rape; When And How Committed.—Rape is
committed —
1. By a man who shall have carnal knowledge of a woman
under any of the following circumstances:
a. Through force, threat, or intimidation;
b. When the offended party is deprived of reason or otherwise
unconscious;
c. By means of fraudulent machination or grave abuse of
authority; and
d. When the offended party is under twelve (12) years of age or
is demented, even though none of the circumstances mentioned
above be present.

 
 
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In this connection, I take exception to Justice Leonen’s

statement that “[w]e cannot continue to convict rapists on
the basis that women need to be kept chaste and
virginal.”332 As shown above, the legislature had already
taken steps in enacting legislation based on society’s
improving understanding of consent and female sexuality.
Moreover, the Court itself, in its numerous decisions, has
taken strides in reversing outdated notions about these
concepts. Examples of these include the following, where
the Court held that:
 
(1) “[A] love affair does not justify rape, for the
beloved cannot be sexually violated against her will.
Love is not a license for lust”;333
(2) “Husbands do not have property rights over their
wives’ bodies. Sexual intercourse,  albeit  within the
realm of marriage, if not consensual is rape”;334
(3) “A victim should never be faulted for her lack of
resistance to any forms of crime particularly as
grievous as rape. Failure to shout or offer tenacious
resistance does not make voluntary the victim’s
submission to the perpetrator’s lust”;335 and
(4) “Even a complainant who was a woman of loose
morals could still be the victim of rape. Even a
prostitute may be a victim of rape.”336
 
Respectfully, it would be inaccurate to claim that the
legal framework on rape and sexual abuse — as crafted by
the

_______________

332  J. Leonen, Separate Concurring Opinion, p. 490.

 333  People v. Bisora, G.R. No. 218942, June 5, 2017, 826 SCRA 38, 44-
45. Italics in the original omitted.
334  People v. Jumawan, 733 Phil. 102, 110; 722 SCRA 108, 117 (2014).
335   People v. Barberan, 788 Phil. 103, 111-112; 794 SCRA 348, 358
(2016).
336  People v. Court of Appeals, 755 Phil. 80, 112; 751 SCRA 675, 709-
710 (2015).

 
 
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legislature and interpreted by the Court — remains to be

based on ancient mindsets and outdated notions. As
illustrated by the foregoing, the different branches of
government have been active, within the respective
scopes of power granted to them by the Constitution,
in reversing oppressive structures that perpetrate and
perpetuate violence against women, particularly in the
area of sexual violence.
Apropos thereto, the legislature, in the exercise of its
wisdom, enacted R.A. 8353 with a distinction between rape
by penile penetration of the vagina as against acts
considered as rape by sexual assault. To my mind, the
distinction created by the legislature should be upheld in
the absence of a clear and unmistakable showing that it
is unconstitutional. It bears to stress that the power to
declare something as a criminal act, and to prescribe the
corresponding penalty therefor, is a power vested solely by
the Constitution on the legislature — not on this Court.
Moreover, it is my considered opinion that the
distinction is valid because rape by penile penetration of
the vagina may result in an unwanted pregnancy which
may subject the woman to a lifelong responsibility of
rearing a child as a result of the dastardly act. The same
cannot be said, however, for other acts of rape that are not
committed through penile penetration of the vagina. In
other words, the severity of punishment imposed on the
crime of rape by sexual intercourse does not spring from
the archaic notion that sexual intercourse is merely a
reproductive activity. On the contrary, the distinction is
based on the possibility that the victim might incur a
perpetual responsibility — one that is not present in acts
constituting rape by sexual assault. Thus, while the
trauma faced by victims of either forms of abuse are
concededly equal, victims of rape by sexual intercourse are
subjected to another “residual” and “permanent” form of
victimization (i.e., pregnancy) to which victims of other
forms of sexual abuse are not subjected.
 
 
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I thus disagree with Justice Leonen’s statements that

“[t]he idea that one (1) kind of rape is punished more
severely than the other because of ‘unwanted procreation’
only serves to undermine the law’s reconceptualization of
rape as a crime against persons”337 and that “providing a
lesser punishment for the forceful insertion of a finger into
the vagina, solely because it will not result in an unwanted
pregnancy, is a step backwards.”338
To my mind, the difference in treatment is not based on
an archaic notion about a woman’s virtue, but has more to
do with the possibility that, as a result of the act, the
victim would be forced to introduce another life in this
world — one that the woman victim would have
responsibility over for the rest of her life. To reiterate, it
may be true that all types of sexual abuse inflict the same
amount of suffering or trauma, but only rape by penile
penetration of the vagina could possibly impregnate the
victim. This possibility is, to my mind, at the heart of the
difference in terms of penalties to be imposed, not the
perceived intensity of suffering caused on the victim.
Stated differently, the difference in the penalties imposed
was not meant to belittle the suffering of victims of rape by
sexual assault; rather, it is meant to recognize that victims
of rape by penile penetration of the vagina face risks that
none of the other victims are subjected to.
Therefore, I disagree with the assertion that “[t]his
Court’s continued refusal to recognize the forceful insertion
of a finger into a woman’s vagina as rape by sexual
intercourse only shows that rape, at least in the eyes of this
Court, has remained a crime against chastity,”339  as not
only suffering from a lack of factual basis, but also failing
to recognize that this policy decision to treat the two
crimes differently is within the province of the
legislature to decide.

_______________

337  J. Leonen, Separate Concurring Opinion, p. 489.

338  Id., at p. 492.
339  Id.

 
 
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It bears to stress that the power granted to the Court by

the Constitution is judicial power or the power to
interpret what the law means in a specific set of facts — it
is not the power to determine what the law should be. It is
immaterial whether we, as individual justices, agree with
the wisdom of the law, for our solemn power and duty to
apply the same remains so long as the said law is
constitutional.
In the matter at hand, R.A. 8353 treats rape by penile
penetration of the vagina differently from rape by sexual
assault. While I join Justice Leonen on his call to not
measure a woman’s dignity on the sole basis of her
virtue,340 and to recognize that all victims of forced sexual
acts suffer the same indignity,341 it is equally important for
the Court to recognize its place in our Constitutional
government: that it is but one of only three coequal
branches of the government and it is not its task to
set the corresponding penalties to be imposed on
certain criminal acts.
This is not to say that there is no merit in his point that
our evolving understanding of human sexuality should lead
us to treat both types of rape — by sexual intercourse and
by sexual assault — equally. Sexual intercourse, indeed, is
more than a means for procreation, and I also agree that
rape, at its core, is essentially a violation of a person’s
choice on when and with whom to be physically
intimate.  The policy decision, however, lies not with
the Court but with Congress.
 
A final note
 
At this juncture, I would like to again laud
the  ponencia’s efforts to determine the intent of the
legislature — including revisiting the Senate’s
deliberations — in enacting R.A. 7610. However, as our
respective study of the deliberations yielded 

_______________
 340  Id., at p. 490.
341  Id., at pp. 492-493.

 
 
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different results, I once again make the point that the

language of a penal statute cannot be enlarged beyond the
ordinary meaning of its terms in order to carry into effect
the general purpose for which the statute was enacted.
Only those persons, offenses, and penalties, clearly
included, beyond any reasonable doubt, will be considered
within the statute’s operation. The fact alone that there
are different interpretations as to the applicability
of Section 5(b) should impel the Court to construe
the law strictly; with any reasonable doubt resolved
in favor of the person charged.342 As the Court reminds
in one case:

The statute, then, being penal, must be construed with

such strictness as to carefully safeguard the rights of the
defendant and at the same time preserve the obvious
intention of the legislature. If the language be plain, it will
be construed as it reads, and the words of the statute given
their full meaning; if ambiguous, the court will lean more
strongly in favor of the defendant than it would if the
statute were remedial. In both cases it will endeavor to
effect substantial justice. x x x343

 
Lest it be misconstrued, I am not stubbornly arguing for
my position in this case in order that a guilty person may
go scot-free. As the Court in  People v. Purisima344  held:
“[t]he purpose is not to enable a guilty person to escape
punishment through a technicality but to provide a precise
definition of forbidden acts.”
In the end, this Opinion is only meant to pursue one
thing: that is, so that justice can be properly dispensed not
just to the minors victimized by sexual predators, but also
to the latter who, even though they have violated the
law, nev-

_______________

342   See People v. Atop, 349 Phil. 825; 286 SCRA 157 (1998).
343   U.S. v. Go Chico, 14 Phil. 128, 140-141 (1909), citing Bolles v.
Outing Co., 175 U.S. 262, 265; U.S. v. Wiltberger, 5 Wheat. 76, 95; U.S. v.
Reese, 92 U.S. 214.
344  176 Phil. 186, 208; 86 SCRA 542, 562 (1978).

 
 
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ertheless have the right to be punished only to the

extent of the specific punishment imposed on them
by the law.
Based on these premises, I vote to DENY the instant
appeal and AFFIRM with MODIFICATION the Decision
of the Court of Appeals dated August 17, 2015, as follows:
“The Court finds accused-appellant Salvador Tulagan:
 
1. Guilty beyond reasonable doubt of Sexual
Assault under paragraph 2, Article 266-A of
the Revised Penal Code, in Criminal Case No.
 SCC-6210, and is sentenced to suffer the
indeterminate penalty of four (4) years and two
(2) months of prisión correccional, as minimum,
to ten (10) years of prisión mayor, as maximum.
He is further ORDERED to PAY AAA the
amounts of P50,000.00, as civil indemnity,
P50,000.00 as moral damages, and P50,000.00
as exemplary damages.
2. Guilty beyond reasonable doubt of Statutory
Rape under Article 266-A(1)(d) and
penalized in Article 266-B of the Revised
Penal Code, in Criminal Case No. SCC-6211,
and is sentenced to suffer the penalty of
reclusion perpetua with modification as to the
award of damages. Appellant is ORDERED to
PAY AAA the amounts of P75,000.00 as civil
indemnity, P75,000.00 as moral damages, and
P75,000.00 as exemplary damages.
 
Legal interest of six percent (6%) per annum is imposed
on all damages awarded from the date of finality of this
Decision until fully paid.
SO ORDERED.”

Appeal denied, Joint Decision affirmed with

modifications.

Notes.—By jurisprudence, an accused charged in the

Information with rape by sexual intercourse cannot be
found

 
 
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People vs. Tulagan

guilty of rape by sexual assault, even though the latter

crime was proven during trial. (People vs. Caoili,  835
SCRA 107 [2017])
Statutory rape is committed by sexual intercourse with
a woman below twelve (12) years of age regardless of her
consent, or the lack of it, to the sexual act. (People vs.
Ramirez, 857 SCRA 435 [2018])

 
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