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PEOPLE vs Wilfredo Dela Torre

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, appellant, vs. WILFREDO DELA TORRE, appellee.

G.R. Nos. 137953-58 | 2002-04-11

D E C I S I O N

PANGANIBAN, J.:

The prosecution cannot appeal a decision in a criminal case whether to reverse an acquittal or to increase the penalty imposed in a conviction.

The Case

The prosecution appeals the March 31, 1998 Decision[1] and June 3, 1998 Order[2] issued by the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Iba, Zambales (Branch 69)[3] in Criminal Cases Nos. 2179-I, 2180-I, 2181-I, 2182-I, 2183-I and 2184-I. The assailed Decision convicted Wilfredo Dela Torre of two counts of acts of lasciviousness and four counts of rape, while the challenged Order denied the Motion for Reconsideration filed by plaintiff (now appellant).

The...