SECOND DIVISION
[G.R. No. 224630. January 23, 2017.]
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee, vs. RONALD BROWN Y MACAYAYUNG, accused-appellant.
NOTICE
Sirs/Mesdames :
Please take notice that the Court, Second Division, issued a Resolution dated 23 January 2017 which reads as follows:
"G.R. No. 224630 — (People of the Philippines v. Ronald Brown y Macayayung)
The records of this case were elevated to this Court on June 8, 2016, pursuant to the Court of Appeals (CA) Resolution, 1 dated April 21, 2016, which gave due course to the notice of appeal filed by Ronald Brown y Macayayung (accused-appellant).
In a Resolution, 2 dated August 3, 2016, the Court required the parties to submit their respective supplemental briefs, if they so desired, within thirty (30) days from notice.
In its Manifestation (in Lieu of Supplemental Brief), 3 dated September 26, 2016, the Office of the Solicitor General averred that it would not be filing a supplemental brief because the relevant factual and legal issues had been adequately adduced in the Appellee's Brief before the CA. In his Manifestation (in lieu of Supplemental Brief), 4 dated September 16, 2016, accused-appellant explained that he would no longer file a Supplemental Brief in order to avoid being repetitious because he had exhaustively discussed the assigned errors in his appeal brief filed before the CA.
After a perusal of the records of the case, the Court finds that accused-appellant failed to sufficiently show reversible error in the challenged decision to warrant the exercise of the Court's appellate jurisdiction.
The Court, however, finds that the award of damages by the CA should be modified to conform with recent jurisprudence. 5 The moral damages should be increased to P75,000.00 and civil indemnity and exemplary damages at P75,000.00 each should be awarded. In addition, the award of damages shall be subject to an interest at the rate of six percent (6%) per annum computed from the finality of judgment until fully paid.
WHEREFORE, the October 21, 2013 Decision of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 125, Caloocan City, in Criminal Case No. C-80613, is AFFIRMED with MODIFICATION. The Court finds accused-appellant Ronald Brown y Macayayung GUILTY beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of Rape and sentences him to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua, to pay AAA P75,000.00 as civil indemnity, P75,000.00 as moral damages and P75,000.00 as exemplary damages. The amounts of damages awarded shall earn an interest at the rate of six percent (6%) per annum computed from the date of finality of judgment until fully paid.
SO ORDERED." AHCETa
Very truly yours,
MA. LOURDES C. PERFECTODivision Clerk of Court
By:
(SGD.) TERESITA AQUINO TUAZONDeputy Division Clerk of Court
Footnotes
1.Rollo, pp. 16-17.
2.Id. at 20.
3.Id. at 21-23.
4.Id. at 25-27.
5.People v. Jugueta, G.R. No. 202124, April 5, 2016.