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PEOPLE vs Benito Lachica

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, appellee, vs. BENITO LACHICA y LLAMAS, appellant.

G.R. No. 143677 | 2002-05-09

D E C I S I O N

PANGANIBAN, J.:

The minority of the victim and her specific relationship with the offender must be alleged in the information and proven beyond reasonable doubt during the trial; otherwise the crime would be simple, not qualified, rape; and the proper penalty, reclusion perpetua -- not death. Also, the allegation in the information that the victim was below seven years old must be proven beyond reasonable doubt. Failure to do so cannot justify the imposition of the penalty of death.

The Case

For automatic review before this Court is the April 28, 2000 Decision[1] of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Bayombong, Nueva...