Back

PEOPLE vs Ricardo Balatazo

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, appellee, vs. RICARDO BALATAZO, appellant.

G.R. No. 118027 | 2004-01-29

D E C I S I O N

CALLEJO, SR., J.:

Before the Court is an appeal from the Decision[1] of the Regional Trial Court of Gumaca, Quezon, Branch 61, convicting the appellant, Ricardo "Dado" Balatazo, of rape, under paragraph 2 of Article 335 of the Revised Penal Code and sentencing him to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua.

The Charge

On July 31, 1991, a criminal complaint for rape under paragraph 1, Article 335 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended, was filed with the Regional Trial Court of Gumaca, Quezon, Branch 61. The accusatory portion of the complaint reads:

That on or about the 16th day of February 1991, at Sitio Mainit na...