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PEOPLE vs Roberto Mariano

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee, vs. ROBERTO MARIANO alias ATO, accused-appellant.

G.R. No. 134309 | 2000-11-17

D E C I S I O N

BELLOSILLO, J.:

ROBERTO MARIANO alias Ato was accused of raping five-year old Khristine Dandan Custan before the Regional Trial Court of Pasig City. On 7 May 1998 the court a quo found him guilty as charged and sentenced him to death;[1] hence, this automatic review of his conviction.

The family of Khristine Custan rented a room in a small bungalow owned by accused Roberto Mariano where his family lived in an adjoining room. Only lawanit and flattened carton boxes divided the two quarters. Mariano's wife worked in Malaysia. Like typical neighbors in depressed areas, with nowhere else to spend their leisure time,...