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People vs. Arevalo, Jr. [DECISION]

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, appellee, vs. OLIVER AREVALO JR. y ABANILLA, and HERMINIGILDO ORGANISTA y ANDRES, appellants.

G.R. Nos. 150542-87 | 2004-02-03

D E C I S I O N
 
PANGANIBAN, J.:
 
Appellant is accused of multiple rape “by two or more persons,” for which Article 266-B of the Revised Penal Code prescribes the penalty of “reclusion perpetua to death.” Since the Information did not allege any aggravating circumstance, the proper penalty to be imposed is reclusion perpetua, not death.
 
 
The Case

For automatic review before this Court is the October 26, 2001 Decision[1] of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Makati City (Branch 62) in Criminal Case Nos. 01-419 to 01-464, finding Oliver Arevalo Jr. and Herminigildo Organista guilty...