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SUMMARY: Godoy was convicted of raping and kidnapping hs 17-year-old student Mia. She was raped in her cousins boarding
house and locked in a hotel room for several days. Godoy claimed they were secret lovers. Mias family reported the matter to the
police and Godoys mother gave them P30,000 as settlement, which they accepted. However, they claimed this was an admission of
guilt. The SC reversed RTC and acquitted Godoy. The offer to compromise cannot be considered an admission of guilt because he
did not know, not until the trial proper, that his mother actually paid P30k for the settlement of the cases. It has been held that where
the accused was not present at the time the offer for monetary consideration was made, such offer of compromise would not save
the day for the prosecution. Also, the evidence for the defense overwhelmingly proves his innocence of the offense charged. What
actually transpired was an elopement or a lovers' tryst.
DOCTRINE: In criminal cases, an offer of compromise is generally admissible as evidence against the party making it. It is a legal
maxim, which assuredly constitutes one of the bases of the right to penalize, that in the matter of public crimes which directly affect
the public interest, no compromise whatever may be entered into as regards the penal action. It has long been held, however, that in
such cases the accused is permitted to show that the offer was not made under a consciousness of guilt, but merely to avoid the
inconvenience of imprisonment or for some other reason which would justify a claim by the accused that the offer to compromise
was not in truth an admission of his guilt or an attempt to avoid the legal consequences which would ordinarily ensue therefrom.
After the assault, she put her panty back on, Godoy Her father died 2 months after, supposedly because of
walked her to the gate, and they parted ways what happened
The next day, Godoy kidnapped her and locked her up in a Mia was brought to the District Hospital for examination
hotel room (Sunset Garden) and in his friend's house. The where she was found to have lacerations in her hymenal
alleged abduction lasted from Jan 22- Jan 27 '94 opening, indicating she had sexual intercourse. However, the
doctor could not say there was force applied because there
He went to Mia's house and asked her parents for were no scratches or bruises.
permission to let her accompany him in soliciting funds
GODOY'S DEFENSE: They were secret lovers Vallan found that there was no complaint filed yet, and
he told the couple to consult Naem, an imam/Muslim
Godoy claims he did not court Mia, but he fell in love leader.
with her because she often told him, "Sir, I love you,"
which started as a joke, but became a serious secret Naem suggested that Godoy marry Mia in Mislim
relationship rites, but Godoy refused because he was already
married
Dec 20, 1993: They first had sex. Mia went to his
quarters in Narra Pilot Elementary School where he was It was eventually agreed that Naem would just
the chess coach, and decided to spend the night mediate in behalf of appellant and make
arrangements for a settlement with Mia's parents.
Jan 21: Mia asked Godoy to meet her at her cousin's Later that day, Naem went to see Mia's parents at
boarding house to help with her monologue for Miss their house
PNS contest. When he got there, the house was dark
and they sat on the bench near the road for 15 mins.
After which, Mia returned to her boarding house across
the street. Because Mia could no longer afford hotel bills, they
transferred to Fernando Rubio's house where they stayed for 2
days. Here, Naem informed them that Mia's parents were
willing to talk to Godoy. He was invited to the police
Godoy claims Mia was the one who wanted to stay at station. He was not able to talk to Mia's parents and he
Sunset Garden, even threatening to kill herself should he was detained after they lodged a complaint for rape and
leave her. He admitted having sex with her, but only once kidnapping.
The following morning, Godoy informed Mia's Mia told him her father would kill her if she did not
parents that she stayed at the hotel and they said they testify against him, although by the time she did testify,
would fetch her. Godoy went back to sunset Garden and her father had already died
waited for them until 5pm
Detained since Jan 27, but the warrant of arrest was
When he did not arrive, he decided to have drinks only issued Jan 28.
with Isagani Virey. They went to Mia's room, which
was locked from the inside. They had to knock for her
to open it.
W/N trial court erred in concluding that there was implied In another case, this Court ruled that no implied
admission of guilt on the part of Godoy in view of the offer to admission can be drawn from the efforts to arrive at a
compromise -- YES settlement outside the court, where the accused did not
take part in any of the negotiations and the effort to
settle the case was in accordance with the established
tribal customs, that is, Muslim practices and traditions,
RATIO: There was no implied admission. in an effort to prevent further deterioration of the
relations between the parties.
1. GENERALLY, AN OFFER TO COMPROMISE IN A
CRIM CASE IS ADMISSIBLE AS EVIDENCE
AGAINST THE PARTY MAKING IT. It is a legal
maxim, which assuredly constitutes one of the bases of
the right to penalize, that in the matter of public crimes
which directly affect the public interest, no compromise
whatever may be entered into as regards the penal action.
ADDITIONAL ISSUES:
HOWEVER, THE ACCUSED IS PERMITTED TO Re rape and kidnapping: GODOY WAS ACQUITTED
SHOW THAT THE OFFER WAS NOT MADE because his testimony was well corroborated by his
UNDER A CONSCIOUSNESS OF GUILT, BUT friends, in contrast to Mia's inconsistent testimony. Mia's
MERELY TO AVOID THE INCONVENIENCE OF letters were also proof of their secret relationship. The
IMPRISONMENT or FOR SOME OTHER REASON rape charge was merely an offshoot of the discovery by her
WHICH WOULD JUSTIFY A CLAIM BY THE parents of the intimate relationship between her and
ACCUSED THAT THE OFFER TO COMPROMISE Godoy. In order to avoid retribution from her parents,
WAS NOT AN ADMISSION OF HIS GUILT OR together with the moral pressure exerted upon her by her
ATTTEMPT TO AVOID THE LEGAL mother, she was forced to concoct her account of the
CONSEQUENCES WHICH WOULD ORDINARILY alleged rape. What actually transpired was an elopement
ENSUE THEREFROM or a lovers' tryst, immoral though it may be.
2. In this case, a primary consideration is that the evidence 1. The prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable
for the defense overwhelmingly proves his innocence doubt that Godoy had sex with Mia against her will
of the offense charged. Mia claims Godoy was already waiting for her in the
The supposed offer of marriage did not come from boarding house, planning to rape her. But it is
him but was actually suggested by a certain Naem, who perplexing how he could have known she was going to
likewise informed appellant that he could be converted the boarding house at that time, considering she doesnt
into a Muslim so he could marry complainant. even live there
As a matter of fact, when said offer was first made to The place where the alleged crime was committed is
appellant, he declined because of the fact that he was
not an ordinary residence but a boarding house where hands on the bench outside the boarding house
several persons live and where people are expected to
come and go. The prosecution did not even bother to Mia was not crying, nor did it appear that Godoy was
elucidate on whether it was the semestral break or that pleading with her
the boarding house had remained closed for some time,
in order that it could be safely assumed that nobody was She previously talked Mia out of the relationship, but
expected to arrive at any given time to no avail.
That Godoy walked her to the gate after she was She identified Mia's handwriting on love letters
raped is inconceivable. It is not in accord with human presented as evidence, claiming she was familiar with
experience for appellant to have let himself be seen it, being her former teacher
with the complainant immediately after he had
Isagani Virey, Godoy's friend
allegedly raped her
He asked Mia what they were doing in Sunset Garden
Complainant mentioned in her narration that right
and she said it was of her own free will, but her father
after the incident she went directly to her boarding
could not know because he would kill her
house where she saw her landlady. Yet, the landlady
was never presented as a witness to corroborate the He claims the couple looked very happy
story of complainant
Fernando Rubio, Godoy's acquaintance (see above)
Element of force was not established. The findings of
the doctor were mediocre and do not establish rape. Rubio claimed they were very happy, they were
The finding that there were no evident signs of extra- intimate and sweet to each other, they always ate
genital injuries tends to show absence of struggle together, and it was very obvious that they were
having a relationship
She was not threatened to leave her parent's house.
Godoy even respectfully asked permission from her While at his house, Mia was free to come and go as
parents. Complainant's enigmatic behavior after her she pleased. She would buy food at the market, her
alleged ravishment can only be described as room was never locked because the lock was
paradoxical: it was so strangely normal as to be destroyed. Mia told him she really loved Godoy. She
abnormal. calls him Papa
Jan 21: She saw Mia and Godoy talking and holding Mia never explained how she was threatened with the
knife in such a manner that she was always cowed into their neighbors witnessing their departure. It is difficult
having sex. SC says this is "appears to be a common to comprehend how one could deduce from these
testimonial expedient and face-saving subterfuge" normal and innocuous arrangement any felonious intent
of appellant to deprive complainant of her liberty
She claimed Godoy never slept, but she also said he
would be in bed beside her whenever she'd wake up Mia declared that when they left her house, she was
bringing with her a plastic bag which later turned out to
She alleged she could not go out of the room because contain her clothes. We cannot conceive of a ridiculous
it was locked, but the door could actually be locked situation where the kidnap victim was first allowed to
from the inside prepare and pack her clothes, as if she was merely
leaving for a pleasant sojourn with the criminal, all
In Sunset Garden, she did not ask for help or attempt these with the knowledge and consent of her parents
to free herself despite interacting with the cashier and who passively looked on without comment
room boy. If indeed she was bent on fleeing, she could
have grabbed every possible opportunity to escape. When asked about the kind of lock on the door, she
Inexplicably, she did not. pointed to the doorknob in the courtroom, which could
be opened from the inside. She admitted that the two
When they left the house together and walked in locks in the room at Sunset Garden could also be
going to the highway. In her own testimony, she stated opened from the inside in the same manner
that appellant went ahead of her. It is highly
improbable, if appellant really had evil motives, that he The allegation of Helen Taha that she made a report
would be that careless. to the police about her missing daughter was not
supported by any corroborative evidence, such as the
That Mia was dropped from school and not allowed police blotter, nor was the police officer to whom she
to graduate is absurd. Rather than support and allegedly reported the incident ever identified or
commiserate with the ill-fated victim of rape, it would presented in court.
appear that the school authorities were heartless people
who turned their backs on her and considered her an
outcast. But her parents never complained about this
apparent injustice. Such complacency cannot but make
one think and conclude that there must necessarily have
been a valid justification for the drastic action taken by
the school and the docile submission thereto by the
Taha family.
LETTERS:
27 Feb. 94
desperation and exasperation with the way she was Kumusta kana? Kong ako hito hindi na makatiis sa sakit.
being treated by her parents, complainant threw all
Sir, sumulat ako sa inyo dahil gusto kong malaman mo ang situation ko. Sir,
caution to the winds when she wrote: "Oo, aaminin ko kong mahal mo ako gagawa kang paraan na mailayo ako dito sa bahay.
nagkasala ako sa iyo, pinabilanggo kita dahil nagpanig nalaman ng nanay at tatay ko na delayed ang mens ko ng one week.
ako sa mga magulang ko nadala nila ako sa sulsul nila, pinapainom nila ako ng pampalaglag pero ayaw ko. pagnalaman nila na hindi
hindi ko naipaglaban ang dapat kong ipaglaban," ko ininom ang gamot sinasaktan nila ako.
Sir, kong maari ay huwag ng maabutan ng Martes. dahil naabutan nila akong
maglayas sana ako. kaya ngayon hindi ako makalabas ng bahay kong wala
5. It is basic that for kidnapping to exist, there must be akong kasama, kong gaano sila kahigpit noon doble pa ngayon. ang mga
indubitable proof that the actual intent of the gamit ko ngayon ay wala sa lalagyan ko. tinago nila hindi ko makita, ang
narito lang ay ang bihisan kong luma. Sir kong manghiram ka kaya ng motor
malefactor was to deprive the offended party of her na gagamitin sa pagkuha sa akin. Sa lunes ng gabi manonood kami Ng Veta
liberty. In the present charge for that crime, such eksakto alas 9:00 ay dapat dito ka sa lugar na may Veta. tanungin mo lang kay
intent has not at all been established by the Lorna kong saan ang Veta nila Navoor Lozot. Mag busina ka lang ng tatlo
prosecution. bilang senyas na lalabas na ako at huwag kang tatapat ng bahay dahil nandoon
ang kuya ko. kong ano ang disisyon mo maari bang magsulat ka at ipahatid
In Mia's own words, Godoy courteously asked her kay Lorna.
parents to permit her to help him solicit contributions
alang-alang sa bata. Baka makainon ako ng gamot dahil baka pagkain ko
for her candidacy. When they left the house, appellant
hahaluan nila.
walked ahead of her, obviously with her parents and
Please sir . . . iniisip mong minahal lang kita dahil sa may kailangan lang ako sa iyo
(Sgd.) Mia Taha 70 nagkakamali ka. alam ng Diyos na hindi ganon ang hangarin ko sa iyo. higit
_______________________________________________________________ pa sa binilanggo ang kalagayan ko kong alam mo. kinukunsinsiya, nagtitiis na
3/1/94
saktan at pagsasakripisyo ng damdamin ko na gusto kang makita at yakapin ka
Dane, pero ano ang magagawa ko kong ang paglabas ko ng bahay ay hindi ako
makalabas ng mag isa may guardiya pa. tanungin mo si Lorna kong ano
I'm sorry kong problem ang ipinadala o sinulat sa iyo sa halip sa kasiyahan. oo ginagawa nilang pagbantay sa akin para akong puganti. hindi ito ayon sa
nag usap na tayo nagawa ko lang naman ang sumulat sa iyo dahil naiinis na kagustuhan ng mga magulang ko sarili kong plano ito. Magtitiis pa ba akong
ako sa pagmumukha ng mga magulang kong suwapang. Ang paglayas ko sana hindi makakain maghapon tubig lang ang laman ng tiyan, kong may masama
ay dahil sa narinig ko. Sir narinig ko na magreklamo si nanay kay Arquero akong hangarin sa iyo.
yong superentende sa Palawan high tapos ang sabi ay magreklamo itong si
Arquero sa DECS para matanggal ka sa pagtuturo yan ang dahilan kong bakit Oo, magtiis ako para maipakita kong mahal rin kita. March 2 darating ako sa
naisipan kong lumayas ng wala sa oras at wala akong tensyon na masama bahay na sinasabi mo. hindi ko matiyak kong anong oras dahil kukuha pa ako
laban so iyo. hindi ko sinabi sa kanila na delayed ako ay sinabi sa iyo ni Eden ng tiyempo na wala rito ang tatay ko. Alam mo bang pati ang kapatid kong si
na sa harap niya mismo binigyan ako ng gamot samantalang noong Sabado ng Rowena ay inuutusan akong lumayas dahil naawa no siya sa situation ko. siya
gabi lang nalaman dahil gusto kong masuka. Oo aaminin ko nagkasala ako sa lang ang kakampi ko rito sa bahay malaki ang pag-asa kong makalabas ako ng
iyo, pinabilanggo kita dahil nagpanig ako sa mga magulang ko nadala nila ako bahay sa tulong niya.
sa sulsul nila. hindi ko naipaglaban ang dapat kong ipaglaban ngunit kong Love you, (Sgd.) Mia Taha