PHILIPPINES: SC AFFIRMS RAPE CONVICTION OF 2 MEN

the Philippine Supreme Court affirmed the conviction of two sexual offenders who were both found guilty of incestuous rape, but downgraded the penalty imposed on them from death to life imprisonment. Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr affirmed the July 8, 2003, decision of the Cavite Regional Trial Court, Branch 18, Tagaytay City, finding Florante Ela guilty of raping his then 13 year old daughter on April 14, 1997. In a separate decision also penned by Velasco, upheld the May 10, 2006 decision of the Court of Appeals, which sustained the May 21, 2001 judgment of the Surigao City Regional Trial Court, Branch 32, that found Carmelito Capwa guilty of sexually abusing his 15 year old daughter on September 4, 1998, 1998 at their home in Sitio Maibay and imposed upon him the death penalty.