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People vs Nelson Esperanza

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, appellee, vs. NELSON ESPERANZA, appellant.

G.R. Nos. 139217-24 | 2003-06-27

D E C I S I O N

DAVIDE, JR., C.J.:

Before us for automatic review[1] is the consolidated decision[2] of 24 June 1999 of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 13, Ligao, Albay, in Criminal Cases Nos. 3680-3687, finding appellant Nelson Esperanza guilty beyond reasonable doubt of eight counts of rape committed against his 12-year-old niece Irma P. Esperanza and sentencing him in each count to suffer the penalty of death and to pay the amount of P50,000 for the "civil aspect" of the case.

The information in Criminal Case No. 3680[3] alleges that Nelson committed the crime of rape as follows:

That on June 16, 1997, at about 4:00 o'clock in the...