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PEOPLE vs Dionisio Bataller

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, appellee, vs. DIONISIO BATALLER y VARGAS, appellant.

G.R. Nos. 134540-41 | 2001-07-18

D E C I S I O N

PANGANIBAN, J.:

To justify the imposition of the capital punishment on a father accused of raping his own minor daughter, the prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt, not only that he committed the heinous act, but also that the victim was indeed below eighteen years of age when the dastardly deed took place.

The Case

For automatic review by this Court is the Joint Decision[1] dated June 4, 1998, promulgated by the Regional Trial Court of Ligao, Albay, Branch 13. The Decision found Dionisio Bataller y Vargas guilty beyond reasonable doubt of twice raping his 17-year-old daughter, acts for which the supreme...