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PEOPLE vs Ricardo De Guzman

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee, vs. RICARDO DE GUZMAN, accused-appellant.

G.R. No. 134844-45 | 2001-01-17

D E C I S I O N

MELO, J.:

The Court is one of the principal pillars in the protection of the State and the people against criminality, most specially, a crime heinous in character. The crime of rape committed by a parent, ascendant, step-parent, guardian, the common-law spouse of a parent of the victim, or a relative by consanguinity or affinity within the third civil degree, who are among those who are entrusted with the responsibility of rearing the youth, is one of the most disgusting crimes often committed these days. When the victim of rape by any of these persons is under eighteen years of age, the penalty is death. This explains...