This is another case of unreasonable delay in the disposition of criminal case which took almost 15 years and 4 months and 3 days from the time that the accused Rolando Rondina was arraigned in court for the alleged “Rape” under Art. 266-A of the Revised Penal Code as amended by R.A. 8553 otherwise known as the “Anti-Rape Law of 1997” until he was finally acquitted by the Supreme Court per its decision dated June 30, 2014.
Case Of Alleged “Rape”
Rolando Rondina was arraigned in court on February 8, 1999 for the alleged “Rape” under Art. 266-A in relation to R.A. 8553 otherwise known as “The Anti-Rape Law of 1997”.
During his arraignment the accused has entered a plea of not guilty to the charge.
After the trial, the Regional Trial Court Basey Samar Branch 30 has rendered its decision convicting the accused for the crime of “Rape” under Art. 266-A in relation to R.A. 8353 otherwise known as “The Anti-Rape Act of 1997” and imposing upon him the penalty of reclusion perpetua (imprisonment of 20 years and 1 day to 40 years) plus to pay civil indemnity and moral damages.
He appealed his conviction before the Court of Appeal, contending among other things, that the prosecution has failed to prove his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
The Court of Appeal however has sustained the judgment of conviction of the Regional Trial Court Basey Samar Branch 30 in its entirety per its decision dated September 27, 2012.
Thus, he brings the ruling of the Court of Appeal before the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court on June 30, 2014, has reverse and set aside the decision of the Court of Appeal and acquitted the accused for the crime of “Rape” under Art. 266-A in relation to R.A. 8353 otherwise known as “The Anti-Rape Act of 1997.”
Unreasonable Delay In The Disposition Of Criminal Case
It took almost 15 years and 7 months and 5 days from the time that the accused was arraigned on February 8, 1999 until the Regional Trial Court Basey Samar Branch 30 has rendered a decision dated September 13, 2004.
It took almost 8 years and 14 days from the date the Regional Trial Court of Basey Samar Branch 30 has rendered it decision until the Court of Appeal has made a decision dated September 27, 2012.
Likewise, it took almost 1 year and 9 months and 3 days from the time that the Court of Appeal has rendered its decision until the Supreme Court has finally ruled the matter on June 30, 2014.
In truth, this is another case of justice delayed is justice denied situation under the Philippine laws and jurisprudence.
How many more persons are languishing in jail for quite a long time until their criminal cases are finally resolved and decided by the Supreme Court?
There must be some other ways and means to make the constitutional right of the accused to a speedy trial a living reality.
Case reference: People of the Philippines vs. Rolando Rondina G.R. No. 207763
http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/pdf/web/viewer.html?file=/jurisprudence/2014/june2014/207763.pdf
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View Comments
This is the worst thing that can happen to an individual. To have languished in jail for so many years, then to be proven innocent eventually.
What's the use of the justice when you have already suffered so much in jail for a crime you didn't commit. And to think that it is rape. How could that happen to a man, when a simple test of the sperm can detect whether it's the same as that found in the victim?